Shortly after the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the Texas GOP published a statement thanking former President Donald Trump while continuing to claim widespread election fraud played a part in Trump's defeat in the 2020 election.

The Republican Party of Texas published the statement on its website, thanking Trump for "putting America first." In its closing paragraph, the Texas GOP alleged "massive election irregularities" resulted in Trump's loss.

"It took a global pandemic, a thoroughly corrupt media, and massive election irregularities for President Trump to be removed from office," the GOP wrote. "However, what he started will not end today. America First is not going away. We will not surrender this nation to the false song of globalism, and progressive socialism."

After sending the statement out to news agencies, Texas GOP director of communications Luke Twombly took to Twitter to claim that the party's words had been censored before reaching the public. Twombly claims the word "irregularities" in the party's closing statement had been replaced with the word "censored" bolded and in parentheses.

"We also got censored and werent allowed to use the word irregularities for our email blast," Twombly wrote on Twitter. "Censorship sure is fun."

The official account for the Republican Party of Texas retweeted Twombly's claim and wrote in a prior tweet that the email platform Texas GOP used for the blast censored the party's statement. Texas GOP did not reveal the email platform used.

Texas GOP previously published statements supporting legal action "against electoral illegalities in battleground states" and expressing support of Sen. Ted Cruz's objection in certifying the election results.

The 2020 presidential election results were certified on Jan. 6, hours after a violent pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol, resulting in the death of five people and a delay in the certification.

Trump refused to concede the election to Biden until Jan. 7, repeating baseless claims of widespread election fraud and continuing to falsely claim he had won the election. Trump and his campaign lost more than 50 court cases challenging the election results, including a case at the Supreme Court brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other members of the Republican party.

Followers of QAnon, the pro-Trump conspiracy theory, have spent weeks anticipating that Wednesday would be the Great Awakening  a day, long foretold in QAnon prophecy, when top Democrats would be arrested for running a global sex trafficking ring and President Trump would seize a second term in office.

But as President Biden took office and Mr. Trump landed in Florida, with no mass arrests in sight, some believers struggled to harmonize the falsehoods with the inauguration on their TVs.

Some QAnon believers tried to rejigger their theories to accommodate a transfer of power to Mr. Biden. Several large QAnon groups discussed on Wednesday the possibility that they had been wrong about Mr. Biden, and that the incoming president was actually part of Mr. Trumps effort to take down the global cabal.

The more I think about it, I do think its very possible that Biden will be the one who pulls the trigger, one account wrote in a QAnon channel on the messaging app Telegram.
NewsX was recently joined by Actor Shiv Panditt for an exclusive conversation as a part of its special series, NewsX A-list where he talked about his film Khuda Haafiz. Speaking about the TV premier of Khud Haafiz, Shiv said, Yes, now that you mention it the film premiered on the 27th of December. I dont remember the rating agency but I saw somewhere that for that week from 24th to 31st we topped the charts in terms of viewership all across the board. So we are very happy about that

Talking about his role in the film, the appreciation and a possible sequel Shiv remarked that, It was unprecedented, to be honest with you. One, was hoping for a theatrical release but around the time of the release was the feeling that we should be grateful for what we are getting while theres so much of problems outside. So, were happy that we got a release but what followed with the release was unprecedented and the adulation which we received from all across the board that was something that one did not expect at all so very very happy about that. Our little labor of love got so much love and appreciation and appreciation in terms of a sequel being announced by our producer. So only because it was an economically viable proposition for the producer the first part did so well for him thats why hes going ahead for part two now.

When asked about his learnings and takeaways from 2020 Shiv said, The biggest learning was that we can do with a whole lot less, like genuinely we can do with a whole lot less in life whether it is materialistic things or whether it is comforts. I literally survived the pandemic on two pieces of clothing because I had gone to Delhi for a day for my moms birthday and immediately as soon as I got there the lockdown got announced and nobody in that house had my size. So until July or mid-June when the shops started opening and delivery started happening in Delhi, I was actually surviving on two or three pieces of clothing which I used to wear one and keep circulating amongst themselves. What I realized was that who my friends were, I realized who are the people I really wanted to reach out to and speak to. So I just feel in life we sort of getting carried away with the rat race and materialism. But I think this pandemic has taught us to really figure out what is really near and dear to us in that sense.

Also Read: Gen Z and millennials are driving new-age coffee consumption: Bharat Sethi, Founder of Rage Coffee

Talking about his New Year resolutions Shiv jokingly remarked that, My record of actually keeping a resolution has been 3 hours, I have literally broken new years resolutions within 3 hours so Ive stopped keeping resolutions but its just not my cup of tea. Speaking about how he managed to exercise with gyms closed in the lockdown and keeping fit Shiv told that In my bedroom, there was a small little four by four kind of a corner which I used as pretty much everyone else even found a nook and corner in their house and literally with resistance bands or with some sort of weight at home which was doubled up as workout weights and stuff like that and a lot of these fitness websites started doing online training and that was pretty helpful and a lot of me and my friends work out together. So definitely being connected online was a big help and a big boost because otherwise without the internet, this pandemic wouldve been a whole lot worse.

Talking about what his game-changing moment or game-changing film has been Panditt said that, There have been about three or four such instances and Ive never really realized going into the project that this would be a game-changer. Its so funny that when you actually do a film the films you actually feel are the ones or you have a feeling that this is the one or this is the role which is going to take me to the next level for me somehow those projects have never been the ones to take me one step forward. It has always been the surprising ones that come out of the blue and you get surprised and people love you for that. So I would say for me it would have to definitely be my debut Shaitan, it would have to be Khuda Haafiz and I have done a Netflix film called Loev and a show called FIR that I did back in the day. These four specifically would be my game-changing moments and Khuda Haafiz definitely in the most recent times, it has to be it for sure.

Sharing about the reason he became an actor Shiv said, I actually got fired from a job and I was living off the severance fee and having a ball in Bombay and my money was running out and one of my colleagues from Delhi who I had known from the theatre circuit had come and become an assistant director here in commercials and he just called me out of the blue and said listen I saw you the other day youre looking exactly like what we need just come and audition. I never knew that I could actually ever be in front of the camera so I literally went for that audition and I got that part, it was a commercial which was my first time facing the camera and it was such a heavily front-loaded commercial because the director of that commercial was Amit Sharma, the director of Badhai Ho and all these films. Mr. Vinod Pradhan was the cinematographer, Mr. Nitish Tiwari, the director of Dangal was the creative head on that commercial and that was my first commercial and my first time facing the camera and I had such a great experience facing the camera and I was like man this is it I have been wasting my time all my life and this is what I need to do. So this is the story of how I got into acting in front of the actor

When asked if not an actor what career would he likely pursue Shiv replied, Now if you ask me that question I would tell you trying to become an actor but if not an actor I dont know Im clueless now I dont know what I would be now maybe just lounging around watching movies.

Answering the question about what Shiv is looking forward to in 2021 he said, With me what happened was that I have done 4 or 5 projects in 2019 which were all gearing up for release. There is a film which is very dear to my heart called Sher Shah which is coming out with Dharma Productions, its the story of Captain Vikram Batra which is being played by Sid Malhotra and thats a film which is very close to my heart. So I think maybe this year, not sure about the platform, but hopefully this year one should get to see that. Apart from that, I have got a web series coming out. I have acted in that with Prateek Babbar and Simran Kaur Mundi and Mr. Ashish Vidyarthi so this is another one that should be out maybe this month or maybe next month and platform and stuff Im not really sure about. But it should definitely be out in January or February.

Lastly sharing his success mantra and giving a piece of advice to upcoming actors Shiv said, Well, to be honest, it is a really great ego boost when you keep telling me that we are achievers and were doing well in life. I would certainly like to help as many people as I possibly can because when I was coming up the ladder there were people who helped me, guided me, and took my phone calls. So what I would definitely like to tell people who want to become actors and professionals of some kind is that just keep the faith and all you need to do is keep going, if you really really believe in yourself, which you should is the first key to actually becoming and really going out there and getting something. So dont get deterred keep believing in yourself, keep moving forward and the number of times that I have failed its I cant even count. So the fact of the matter is that Im here today because I kept going. Its as simple as that, just keep going.

Also Read: If you are happy and confident about your talent, then you should showcase it: Singer Muskan Modi
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/19/2021



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[ Spoiler Warning: This report contains spoilers on whether Jovi and Yara ever got married and are still together].

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Yara Zaya and Jovi Dufren reportedly welcomed their first child together last year!Jovi, a 29-year-old from New Orleans, LA, and Yara, a 25-year-old from Ukraine, reportedly had a baby only a few months before Season 8 of premiered on TLC in December, In Touch Weekly reported It appears Yara delivered the couple's child in September 2020.Pregnancy rumors have been floating around ever since Yara posted a December 31 Instagram photo that appeared to show two unique ornaments on a Christmas tree she was posing next to.Eagle-eyed fans noticed one of the ornaments was a baby and the other was a pink heart with the word "mom" written on it.Yara also reportedly created an Amazon baby registry last year under the name "Yara Dufren," which would seem to not only provide evidence that she was expecting a child, but also that the couple got married during her K-1 visa trip to the United States.The baby registry was posted on January 4, 2020, according to In Touch, and the items Yara listed were for a baby girl due in September 2020.The registry has since been removed from Amazon.According to the magazine, Yara and Jovi got married in a wedding ceremony in Las Vegas, NV, in February 2020.As shown on the eighth season of , Yara wanted to have a small, intimate ceremony in Las Vegas without a bridal party and Jovi's family members in attendance, much to the dismay of Jovi's New Orleans-based mother Gwen.Yara told the cameras that if her own family members couldn't attend and be a part of the wedding, then she didn't want to exchange vows with Jovi just for his family and friends.The latest episode of , which aired Sunday night on TLC, teased that Yara might be pregnant with Jovi's child while she was still trying to adjust to life in Louisiana.Yara complained to a friend on FaceTime while Jovi was away for work that she was feeling nauseous and sick all the time, and the friend questioned whether Yara could be pregnant.Yara said she wasn't ready to have a child and hadn't been throwing up.Yara also pointed out she hadn't even been in the United States for a month yet and she and Jovi had been "careful.""I cannot even [think] about having a baby right now. I am not ready yet. I don't even know if I want to get married and live here," Yara complained.Part of the reason Yara didn't seem ready for a baby at the time was because she and Jovi had previously suffered through a miscarriage.The miscarriage appeared to be a traumatizing event for Yara, especially because she said Jovi had left her alone in Albania to return to work.Yara felt totally neglected during her time of need and had to undergo a medical procedure that Jovi wasn't around for after she lost the baby.Jovi said on that he never intended to treat Yara that way and had no idea the miscarriage would result in complications or require subsequent medical attention.Based on Jovi and Yara's Instagram accounts, it appears they are still together.To read more spoilers on the current status of their relationship, click here Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
BRIDGEPORT  A 20-year veteran of the citys police force has been let go over an excessive force incident involving a local resident, officials announced Wednesday.

Officer Richard Cretella was terminated after an April 1, 2020, incident which prompted an internal affairs investigation.

In a brief statement, Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia said after review of the evidence and rebuttal information provided during a due process hearing, it was found that Cretella used excessive force during the incident.

Garcia said Cretellas termination was effective Wednesday.

Officer Cretella engaged in inappropriate behavior that is not reflective of the department and will not be condoned or tolerated, Garcia said, without further expanding on what happened.

When asked for more details on the incident, city officials said there was no additional information available at this time.

Rowena White, the citys director of communications, did not return a request for comment from the mayor on the officers firing.

Sgt. Brad Seely, President of the Bridgeport Police Union, said in a statement the union will file a grievance over the firing.

All citizens have a right to due process and Officer Cretella is no exception. The Union will take the necessary steps to ensure Officer Cretella's rights are preserved, Seely said. The accusations against Officer Cretella are serious, and should be evaluated by a neutral third party.

This isnt the first incident involving Cretella to make headlines.

On June 7, 2018, Cretella was involved in an incident involving former mayoral candidate Enrique Rick Torres.

Cretella was on an overtime detail at a construction site when he was approached by Torres, who allegedly started to yell at the officer and accuse him of being rude to his daughter-in-law, police said at the time.

Torres, who was arrested that day, said the officer was confrontational, police said. Torres told Hearst that Cretella allegedly shouted at his daughter-in-law after she made a wrong turn at the construction site. He claimed to Hearst that the officer made her cry.

The one-term councilman, who has run unsuccessfully three times for mayor, was charged with second-degree breach of peace, interfering with a police officer and operating without a drivers license. Those charges have since been dismissed.
By Sonali Paul and Shu Zhang MELBOURNE/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Wednesday, adding to solid gains overnight, on expectations the incoming U.S. administration will go ahead with massive stimulus spending that would boost fuel demand and draw down crude stocks. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed 37 cents, or 0.7%, to $53.35 a barrel at 0427 GMT, building on a 1.2% rise on Tuesday. Brent crude futures rose 35 cents, or 0.6%, to $56.25 a barrel, adding to a 2.1% gain on Tuesday. U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's Treasury Secretary nominee ...
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
TORONTO, Jan. 20, 2021 /CNW/ - REALPAC and its member organizations are pleased to announce an industry initiative to support the national vaccination rollout, through providing governments and health networks across Canada with the free use of vacant commercial space (such as retail space in malls, big box space, conference centres, hotels, industrial units, parking lots and office buildings) for use as vaccination sites.

"We see every day how hospitals are facing increasingly fragile scenarios, with provision of vital services being put on hold to divert resources to the COVID-19 response effort," said Michael Brooks, CEO, REALPAC. "We also understand from governments that for Canada to successfully vaccinate its population by the intended September 2021 target, a very regimented approach will need to be taken."

REALPAC, in partnership with its member organizations, has undertaken an initiative to identify unused commercial real estate space across Canada, to make available for free to governments and health networks to assist with the logistical rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. The goal is to provide an easily scalable portfolio of real estate assets that can form part of Canada's distribution network to support the country's vaccine mobilization effort. As reported by the BBC, a similar process is seeing success in the U.K., where the government is repurposing spaces such as convention centers and halls to serve as vaccination clinics.

REALPAC has secured the support of numerous CEOs, CFOs and COOs in its membership to participate in this initiative. These real estate owners are large, national operators with considerable real estate assets from coast to coast to coast, and are willing and eager to loan free space to government.

Participating members confirmed at this time include:

Brookfield Properties (brookfieldproperties.com)

Cadillac Fairview (cadillacfairview.com)

(cadillacfairview.com) CAPREIT (caprent.com)

Colliers International (collierscanada.com)

Cominar REIT (cominar.com)

Crestpoint (cclgroup.com/crestpoint/en)

Fengate Asset Management (fengate.com)

Fiera Real Estate (fierarealestate.com)

First Capital (fcr.ca)

Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) (hoopp.com)

Ivanhoe Cambridge (ivanhoecambridge.com)

(ivanhoecambridge.com) Kingsett Capital (kingsettcapital.com)

Manulife Investment Management (manulife.com)

Morguard (morguard.com)

RioCan REIT (riocan.com)

SmartCentres REIT (smartcentres.com)

Strathallen (strathallen.com)

Triovest (triovest.com)

"Activating vacant real estate space as clinics for either vaccination or other medical services could reduce the logistical burden on hospitals and healthcare settings," added Brooks. "REALPAC members are keen to work with the government to repurpose their unused spaces to function as vaccination sites, or storage spaces for vaccines, essential equipment, and medical supplies, which could greatly assist the vaccination rollout effort."

REALPAC welcomes the opportunity to discuss this initiative with governments, policy makers, public health officials and healthcare networks, and direct inquiries to our participating members.

The commercial real estate industry remains committed to working with governments and healthcare networks to identify areas where space is needed and meet their needs to the best of our abilities. The industry would also like to sincerely thank governments, healthcare providers and front-line workers for their continued efforts to support Canadians during this pandemic.

About REALPAC

Founded in 1970, REALPAC is the national leadership association dedicated to advancing the long-term vitality of Canada's real property sector. Our members include publicly-traded real estate companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), pension funds, private companies, fund managers, asset managers, developers, government real estate agencies, lenders, investment dealers, brokerages, consultants/data providers, large general contractors, and international members. Our members represent all asset classes in Canada  office, retail, industrial, apartment, hotel, seniors residential  from coast, to coast, to coast.

SOURCE REALPAC

For further information: on this initiative, please contact: Michael Brooks, CEO, [email protected], 416.642.2700 x225, www.realpac.ca

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Courtesy: Rare Beauty

Texas native Selena Gomez was seen on the set of filming Hulu's new series 'Only Murders in the Building' in New York City on Tuesday morning, according to Daily Mail.

The 28-year-old actress will star alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short as they play three strangers obsessed with true crime while working together to solve a murder in their New York City apartment, described on the Hulu website.

Reid took a moment to chat about gerrymanderings impact, and how the problem could get worse with the nationwide redistricting process set to take place this year.

Is it safe to say that gerrymandering has helped radicalize a considerable part of the Houses Republican caucus?

This is a bit of a chicken-and-egg question, but all the incentives of a gerrymandered legislature  both in Washington and in state capitols  are to pay the most attention to primary electorates. During the Trump era, that was less about radicalizing Republican members than it was about maintaining their loyalty to Trump no matter what.

You chose to focus on Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio as an example of an extremely pro-Trump Republican in a wonky district. What does he symbolize about this issue?

Take a look at Jordans district  it looks like a duck. Stretching across parts of 14 counties in five media markets, the district appears designed to make it virtually impossible for any kind of challenger to gain traction. Add to that Jordans aggressive fealty to Trump, and he is easily one of the members of Congress most incentivized to play only to the Republican base.

Democrats didnt gain control of a single state legislature in the November elections. Republicans now control both the legislature and the governorship in 23 states. When states redraw their congressional district lines later this year in that once-in-a-decade redistricting process, are we likely to see gerrymandering grow even more severe in some places?

Yes. Florida and Texas are likely to gain seats in Congress, and in each state Republicans will have sole authority to draw the new district lines. Democratic states like Illinois and New York will lose seats and have newly empowered Democratic legislatures that may draw fewer Republican seats than have existed in the 2010s.
- "As an ordinary person and the president of Serbia, I am convinced of the quality of the Chinese vaccine, which will be decided by our competent agency," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said.

- Specialists decided that "the best vaccine for Azerbaijan is the vaccine of the Sinovac company," as it has passed clinical tests in many countries, said Azerbaijani Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev.

BEIJING -- With Chinese-made vaccine shots reaching people in more countries, booming vaccine cooperation with China worldwide is injecting confidence into the global fight against the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

VACCINATION DRIVE

Serbian health authorities approved the use of Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccines on Monday evening, two days after a million doses were imported from China, enabling the country to start mass immunization of its population.

One million doses of Sinopharm's vaccine arrived in Serbia on Saturday and were welcomed at the Belgrade Airport by President Aleksandar Vucic, who confirmed that he will receive the vaccine himself.

Meanwhile, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved the Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use amid rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.

A handout by DRAP on its official website late Monday read that Sinopharm, one of the two vaccines approved by the authority, has been given emergency use authorization after evaluating its safety and quality.

Also on Monday, Brazil launched its mass vaccination campaign against the virus simultaneously in each state, after Brazil's health regulatory agency on Sunday authorized the emergency use of two vaccines, one by the Chinese company Sinovac as well as the other by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

In Azerbaijan, senior health officials on Monday took their first inoculation of the Sinovac vaccine, marking the beginning of mass immunization against COVID-19 in the country, according to state-run news agency AZERTAC.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK

The Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of Serbia and its employees "assessed the necessary documentation and scientific evidence in a highly professional and thorough manner according to all European Union and World Health Organization (WHO) standards, which confirmed the quality, efficiency, and above all the safety of the Chinese vaccine," Pavle Zelic, an official with the agency, told local media.

"As an ordinary person and the president of Serbia, I am convinced of the quality of the Chinese vaccine, which will be decided by our competent agency," Vucic said when welcoming the arrival of the Chinese vaccine on Saturday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday he did not see any side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine that he received the previous day.

On Thursday, Turkey started its mass vaccination program with the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Sinovac.

Specialists decided that "the best vaccine for Azerbaijan is the vaccine of the Sinovac company," as it has passed clinical tests in many countries, said Azerbaijani Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev, when addressing local media after being inoculated on Monday.

Similarly, "Azerbaijan got the most safe and effective vaccine," said Shahmar Movsumov, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan, as he praised the Chinese-made jab two days earlier.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

As an increasing number of countries started mass vaccination, the world finally sees the light at the end of the tunnel. Yet, even in some developed countries, the public is not satisfied with the vaccination campaigns.

In the United States, health experts and officials have blamed states for slow vaccine rollout. The country planned to immunize 20 million Americans by the end of 2020. However, only about 12.28 million total doses have been administered as of Jan. 15, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Also, the slowdown in vaccine arrivals has sparked complaints in Europe.

More worryingly, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday warned of the moral consequences of the lack of COVID-19 vaccines for poorer countries, saying that the higher-income countries are privileged compared to the developing countries.

"More than 39 million doses of vaccine have now been administered in at least 49 higher-income countries. Just 25 doses have been given in one lowest-income country. Not 25 million, not 25 thousand, just 25," he said.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for solidarity with developing countries in the context of COVID-19 and pre-exisiting inequalities and injustices.

Vaccines must be a global public good, available to everyone, everywhere, he said.

The good news is that China has, on various occasions, pledged continuous efforts in global COVID-19 response.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has recently said that China will continue to advance global cooperation on epidemic response, strengthen joint prevention and control, and assist countries and regions in need.

"We were the first to pledge to make vaccines a global public good, bearing in mind the greater good of humanity," he said.

James Nyirenda, a biochemist in Zambia, said China is providing support to Africa at a critical time to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

"China has really helped. We are yet to see test kits or even vaccines from the West and other big countries," said Nyirenda.
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[January 20, 2021] UK Consultancy Sector Expected To Grow By 9% In 2021 Despite COVID-19 Restrictions As Industry Supports Future Economic Recovery, According To The MCA

LONDON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Consulting leaders expect the industry to grow by 9% in the next 12 months with the greatest area of growth in digital technology highlighting the critical importance of the sector in the economic recovery and urgent digital transformation of UK businesses

Despite a tough 2020 for the UK economy and declines in some private sector markets most consultants still felt consulting activity met or exceeded expectations (83%) with growth up overall 2.5% in the year

The repercussions of increased flexible and remote working are cited as having the biggest impact of the consulting sector going forward (73%), and 40% of young consultants say their training and development has suffered working remotely highlighting a need for return to offices to support the talent of the future.

The number of younger consultants who attended Oxbridge is at its lowest level for 20 years as firms diversify their talent pools and increase efforts to improve social mobility Despite continuing restrictions due to COVID-19 and the repercussions of Brexit changes, growth of 9% is still expected in the management consultancy sector in 2021, according to the latest Annual Member Survey from the Management Consultancies Association (MCA). In 2020 the consulting sector grew by 2.5%, less than anticipated but still slightly up, reflecting the resilience of the consulting sector and the huge efforts made by firms to react quickly to events and cater to new client demands. It also fundamentally highlights the importance of the sector and external support and trusted advice during critical periods of business disruption and transformation. Over 500 consultants from a diversity of MCA Member Firms participated in the independent survey, conducted by Savanta, from Heads of Consulting to junior management consultants. Although growth was less than expected for 2020, nearly two thirds of consulting leaders said that consulting activity had met or exceeded expectations in the past 12 months (64%). This was despite the disruption of COVID-19 throughout the year and highlights that, while some firms did well, others, especially those focusing on aviation, transport and retail saw a downturn in activity as their clients were heavily impacted by lockdown restrictions. 88% of consultants predict the greatest demand for assistance from clients will be In the digital and technology sector over the next two years though activity is expected to say strong in life sciences, health, infrastructure and the public sector. The survey highlights a range of advantages from the switch to remote working for clients with less money spent on travel and hotels, a greater pool of consultants available due to less restrictions by location and an increase in time servicing clients. 87% of consultants believed clients' needs were fully met during the pandemic; however consultants also cited a number of disadvantages from the increased move to remote working[1]. 73% said they had less interaction with clients and 49% saying it made it harder to tackle sensitive subjects due to reduced face-to-face meetings[2]. Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive of the Management Consultancies Association (MCA), said: "Despite the continuing turmoil of the pandemic, the UK management consulting sector has demonstrated great resilience and flexibility in supporting clients and has achieved stable growth in 2020 from buyers of consultancy, highlighting the essential need for high quality external professiona support during times of crisis. Our industry will play a critical role in the future economic recovery and net zero ambitions over the next couple of years, reshaping businesses and continuing to fast-track digital transformation and consequently our forecasts look positive."



Respondents said one of the biggest challenges for the industry over the next few years will be the requirement for more flexible working and increased remote work (73%) and many firms are actively looking at how the new hybrid model of office use and working from home will be structured in the future. The impact of the pandemic and remote working on training and development is raised as a concern and over a third (36%) of consultants stated they had not received as much training as usual or that the quality of training had declined highlighting why the return to office and face to face training may be essential to support staff in the future. Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive of the Management Consultancies Association (MCA), added:

"Talent is the bedrock of our industry and firms have continued to recruit graduates, apprentices and experienced hires throughout the pandemic securing thousands of jobs across the UK. Providing induction and training courses and creating a sense of company culture to people who have never met their colleagues face to face or stepped into an office has been challenging. As companies and clients plan their expected return to safe offices in the summer months it's key that training and development is prioritised as many younger staff have felt disadvantaged in recent months." The MCA Member Survey 2021 findings confirm that the consulting industry continues to be more accessible to graduates from a diverse range of backgrounds. The number of younger consultants attending a Russell Group University or Oxbridge has continued to fall highlighting the work firms have done in increasing social mobility and more opportunities for those not attending university. There has been a steady decline from 73% attending a Russell Group University in 2011 to 44% in 2020 while the number of young consultants who attended Oxbridge is only 3%  a fall of 10% from nine years ago. Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive of the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) said: "As with many sectors, the management consulting industry has undertaken a wide range of initiatives to encourage social mobility. For the best results, economic productivity and growth, firms need to reflect society and the wide variety of skills, knowledge and different views that it encompasses. There is still more to do but these latest figures show that there are more opportunities for students who have not attended university to enter and succeed in the sector." When asked to highlight the environmental topics and trends MCA Members expect to have a significant impact on their clients' needs in the next 12-24 months, 69% say their clients will need to review business models for sustainability. Over half (56%) say the same of sustainability supply chains reflecting the increased public and political scrutiny of businesses and the importance of net zero. Oliver Worsfold, Associate Director at Savanta, added: "It's encouraging to see the management consulting industry constantly improving its approach to social mobility, becoming increasingly reflective of both its clients and wider society. The year-on-year decreases in the proportion of young consultants coming from Russell Group universities and specifically Oxbridge, are indicative of a broader inclusivity push within the sector. "At the same time, improving diversity remains a major priority, with two in five consultants (42%) saying that the growing societal demand for a more diverse representation at all levels in firms will be a significant issue in the coming 12-24 months." Independent market research agency Savanta partnered with the MCA to collect and analyse member data for the 2021 report. Media Contact: Caroline Florence (Caroline.florence@mca.org.uk /Tel: +44 (0)207 645 7959 or +44 (0)7973 400264) The Management Consultancies Association (MCA): The MCA is the representative body for the UK's leading management consulting firms. For over 60 years, the MCA has been the voice of the consulting industry, promoting the value of consulting to business, the public sector, media commentators and the general public. The MCA's mission is to promote the value of management consultancy for the economy and society as a whole. The MCA's member companies comprise over 50% of the UK consulting industry work with over 90 of the top FTSE 100 companies and almost all parts of the public sector. The UK consulting industry is amongst the best in the world and a vital part of the business landscape. Click to see the full list of current MCA members see link. Compliance with the MCA's tough entry criteria and adherence to the principles of Consulting Excellence means that MCA member companies are widely acknowledged to provide high quality services to their clients. Many of their achievements are recognised in the annual MCA Awards. Savanta Savanta is a fast-growing data, research and advisory firm. We inform and inspire our clients through powerful data, empowering technology and high-impact consulting. All designed to help our clients make better decisions and achieve faster progress. Get in touch: Savanta  www.savanta.com

[1] How well did you serve your clients' needs when working remotely during the recent lockdown? 87% clients' needs were fully met; 10% partially met; 1% needs not met; 2% don't know. [2] What have been the biggest challenges with clients when working remotely? (Ranked Top 3) Less interaction with clients 73%; Less opportunities to explore and discuss future work 56%; Inability to tackle sensitive subjects due to less face-to-face meetings 49%; Clients slower to adopt tech tools to support remote working 29%; inadequate technology 26%; Client security issues 21%.

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Pegatron Corporation, one of the biggest manufacturers of Apple iPhones, has leased close to 500,000 square feet in Chennais Casa Grande Industrial Park for its mobile manufacturing facility in India.

The Taiwanese company plans to invest Rs 1,100 crore ($150 million) in the Tamil Nadu facility, Business Standard reported.

Senior state government officials and real estate firm JLL confirmed the news while Pegatron and Casa Grande did not respond to queries, the report said.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

The move is in line with Pegatron Corporations sanction of Rs 1,100 crore for its growth plans in the country through subsidiary Pegatron Technology India.

Experts told the paper that a key reason for Pegatron choosing Tamil Nadu as its base was Apple putting Wistron - another Apple supplier - on probation due to violence at its Bengaluru factory. Incentives and connectivity were also factors, they added. Foxconn is also based in Tamil Nadu.

Research from JLL showed that Chennai had been top choice in terms of manufacturing space hogging 36 percent of transactions and leasing 6.6 million square feet in 2020.

Tamil Nadu hosts electronics majors such as BYD, Flex, Foxconn, Motorola, Nokia and Samsung. Tata Electronics is also said to be in talks to invest $676 million in a mobile parts facility at Hosur.
Four years ago, President Xi Jinping delivered a speech titled Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. His vision has drawn extensive attention from the international community. Throughout these four years, faced with unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism, and especially in the struggle against COVID-19 in 2020, all countries have become more aware of the importance of creating a community of shared future for mankind.

Development is at the root of various global issues that resulted from economic globalization. Only by achieving common development can we ensure the basic rights of the people of all countries, fulfill the desires of all peoples for a better life, and become equal members of the international community. Until then, we must uphold the idea of building a community with shared future for mankind, strengthen the cooperation and coordination between nations, and jointly build an open development platform.

COVID-19 Pandemic Intensified Outstanding Contradictions in Global Economic Development

In recent years, world economic growth was weak, and gaps between the rich and the poor and the South and the North enlarged. President Xi pointed out three critical issues as the root causes at the opening ceremony of the 2017 World Economic Forum, namely lack of robust driving forces for global growth, inadequate global economic governance, and uneven global development. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the worst condition of the world economy since the Great Depression. The mission to achieve mutual development became more and more urgent.

The global economy lacks drivers of growth. According to the Global Economic Prospects released by the World Bank in January 2021, the world economy declined by 4.3% in 2020, and the growth rate dropped by 6.6% over the previous year. At the same time, developed economies shrank by 5.4% with the growth rate decreasing by 7% compared to the previous year. The growth rate of emerging markets and developing economies decreased by 6.2% from the year before. The pandemic not only caused a short-term economic recession, but also increased the risk of a long-term downturn in the global economy. Although many estimated that the global economy will welcome a sharp rebound in 2021, it still faces various uncertainties in the short term. Plus, with many limiting factors, it is very difficult to liven up potentials in technological progress as well as reform and innovation, and better the division of labor based on specialization

Global economic governance lags seriously. For a long time, the global governance system has failed to reflect the new pattern of international economic power balance. The voice of emerging markets and developing countries have been drastically neglected, resulting in the lack of vitality and motivation in global economic governance. Since the pandemic outbreak, whether in trade, investment, or finance, traditional rules have not been able to meet new demands and deal with new economic risks. Under the influence of certain countries, the problem of global economic governance became more prominent. The global multilateral trading system has encountered unprecedented challenges, and global economic governance mechanisms such as G20 have failed to give full play to their due cooperation functions.

Global development became more unbalanced. The pandemic affected peoples incomes in various countries, but the different impacts on different countries and groups have accelerated the imbalanced distribution of global wealth. In December 2020, the Global Wage Report 2020-21 released by the International Labor Organization showed that the average wage of all groups in the first half of 2020 decreased by 6.5%, and the wages of the lowest 50% workers decreased by 17.3%. This suggests that the pandemic has brought more severe impacts on low-income workers.

Steer Global Development with the Vision of Building a Community with Shared Future for Mankind

In some countries and regions, and under certain conditions, rules such as the law of the jungle, winner takes all, and zero-sum game are still in play, while gaps between the rich and the poor and the South and the North increase. Poverty, hunger, diseases, and social conflicts keep disrupting human society. Especially under the impact of the pandemic, global wealth and development gaps enlarged, which contradicts the vision of building a community with shared future for mankind. However, the pandemic has brought people from all countries together to join hands and fight the virus. The international community has realized that solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat the virus. Likewise, in the face of increasing development issues, only under the guidance of the vision of building a community with shared future for mankind can we grasp the direction of global development.

On one hand, we must build a new type of global development partnership that is more equal and balanced. In 2014, President Xi pointed out that China should call for building a community with shared future for mankind, pursing common development of all countries and expanding common interests while pursuing their own development. A new type of global development partnership is based on equal rights and balanced responsibilities. For developed countries, their responsibility and obligation are to help developing countries and narrow the gap between the North and the South. Meanwhile, developing countries should promote their own development capabilities and take corresponding responsibilities and obligations.

On the other hand, we must build an inclusive and invigorated pattern of global development governance. In September 2016, President Xi proposed at the G20 Summit that we should jointly facilitate an inclusive and interconnected pattern of global development governance to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and jointly advance the well-being of mankind. At present, countries should rise above differences and divergences, give full play to their respective advantages, reduce global development imbalances, and promote economic globalization to become more open, inclusive, and balanced.

Chinas Practice Provides Strong, Sustained Impetus to Global Development

The vision of building a community with shared future for mankind eliminates the boundaries of nations and states, viewing the entire mankind as an organic whole. It is Chinas solution to the various global challenges facing the world today. As the largest developing country in the world, Chinas development provides valuable experience to the world.

In terms of development concept, China advocates and practices the new development concept which is innovative, coordinative, green, open, and shared, and regards shared development as the ultimate goal of development. Shared development is to promote the concept of sharing in the process of economic and social development and gain benefits for people in the fields of politics, economy, society, culture, and ecology. It also means to gradually transfer from unbalanced to balanced development, so that all people can gain from development and move towards common prosperity.

Domestically, China made great achievements in poverty alleviation and thereby contributed global poverty reduction. In 2012, China launched its all-round battle against poverty based on previous achievements in poverty alleviation. After eight years of efforts, China lifted all counties out of poverty in 2020, which has benefited nearly 100 million rural people. China achieved the target of poverty alleviation ahead of schedule, greatly boosted global confidence, and contributed Chinese wisdom and strength to global poverty reduction and development.

In terms of international cooperation, China has stayed committed to achieving shared growth through consultation and collaboration and promoted high-quality development with the Belt and Road Initiative. So far, China has signed 204 cooperation documents with 140 countries and 31 international organizations. Even when the pandemic was severely impacting the global economy, Chinas international cooperation didnt stop. In January 2021, according to Chinas General Administration of Customs, Chinas imports and exports to Belt and Road countries reached 9.37 trillion yuan in 2020, an increase of 1%. Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that Chinas non-financial direct investment in these countries reached 15.96 billion U.S. dollars from January to November 2020, increased by 24.9% year-on-year. These results show that the Belt and Road Initiative is a diverse, open, effective, and results-oriented global development partnership and also an important driving force for common global development.

Contributed by Xu Xiujun, Deputy director of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Deputy Secretary-general of Chinas Society of Emerging Economies

Translated by Ren Meiqi

[ Editor: Zhang Zhou ]
New Delhi, Jan 20 : Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde on Wednesday expressed his dissatisfaction at the absence of senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing eight farmer unions protesting against the farm laws, from the hearing in connection with the laws last week.

Citing the hearing where Dave was not present, the Chief Justice said: "We remember saying that we are not passing any orders and keeping it (the matter) for tomorrow." Dave submitted before the bench also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian that he had sought time to seek instructions from his clients.

At this, the Chief Justice noted that Dave was not there the next day. "You always appear, you were not expected not to appear," he said.

"This is not proper... if you were interested in the matter, then you should have appeared. Everybody appears when we dictate orders," he added.

Dave replied that there was a genuine misunderstanding. The Chief Justice said: "We normally know you were happy to appear, but do not know why you didn't appear." After this, he closed the topic.

The observation was made by Chief Justice during hearing on an application by Rajasthan-based farmer union, Kisan Mahapanchayat, seeking modification of its order January 12, which named the four expert members on the committee to resolve the deadlock between farmer unions and Centre over the farm laws.

The farmers union contended that all the four members have been staunchly and ardently advocating the implementation of farm laws, and it is important to include members who are against the laws to create a balance.

However, the Chief Justice said: "The purpose of the appointment (of the four-member committee) was clearly to listen to the grievances of the parties affected by the laws with reference to provisions enacted. Adjudicatory power has not been conferred on the committee. The committee role is to share the grievances of parties affected by law." The Chief Justice also held a brief discussion with advocate Prashant Bhushan, who was also representing the farmer unions, along with Dave.

"We are asking what solution can be found. We are calling upon you to counsel your litigants to bring about peace," he told Bhushan.

As Bhushan said that the farmer unions want to repeal these laws, the Chief Justice replied the only thing in democracy other than repeal is setting aside the law through the court and cited the stay on the implementation of the laws.

Bhushan also said that farmers want to take out a tractor rally on the Outer Ring Road in the capital, as they intend to celebrate the Republic Day. He added that farmers also want to hold peaceful protest.

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal contested this, saying "5,000 tractors in the city cannot be allowed, as they can go all over the city." He also cited violence in Haryana's Karnal, where the protestors did not allow Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to hold a Kisan Mahapanchayat.

However, the Chief Justice said: "We trust Bhushan's statement that their clients want to be peaceful." Concluding the hearing, the top court issued notice on Kisan Mahapanchayat application. The court also sought response from the Centre to fill up the vacancy created after recusal of Bhartiya Kisan Union President B.S. Mann from the committee.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
EDs searches revealed that Mantena group has had a surge in successful bids in the last few years either directly or in association with other Hyderabad-based companies.  DC Image

HYDERABAD: The founder-chairman of a Hyderabad-based firm and his associate from Bhopal were arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in connection with a Rs 3,000 crore money laundering fraud pertaining to the e-tender rigging scam in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday.

Srinivas Raju Mantena, chairman of Mantena Constructions, and his associate Aditya Tripathi of Arni Infra and a resident of Bhopal, were placed under arrest after they were booked under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), ED officials revealed, adding that the two have been sent to judicial custody till February 3 by a court.

According to ED, Mantena and Tripathi conspired with a large number of infrastructure companies, mostly based in Hyderabad, and a few senior government officials and IT service providers of MPSEDC (Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd) to tamper e-tenders and illegally obtain big contracts.

The investigating agency was acting on the basis of an FIR filed by Bhopal police against Hyderabad-based Max Mantena Micro JV and GVPR Engineers Limited in April, 2019.

As per the FIR, the Madhya Pradesh e-Procurement Portal is managed by MPSEDC and Antares Systems Limited, Bengaluru, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

They were given a five-year contract for maintenance and operation of the portal. According to the FIR, it has been established from the IP access logs that Osmo IT Solutions Pvt Limited of Vinay Choudhary and Varun Chathurvedi had misused the login credentials provided by Antares and had illegally tampered the e-tenders and changed the bid values of certain companies to make them the lowest bidder, the ED said.

In return, they took gratification from the bidding companies and Max Mantena JV had illegally won a tender worth Rs 1,030 crore, officials said, adding that there are a large number of other tenders that are also under scrutiny and are suspected to have been won using a similar modus operandi.

EDs searches revealed that Mantena group has had a surge in successful bids in the last few years either directly or in association with other Hyderabad-based companies. The sleuths had raided more than 20 premises of the accused and others linked to the case in Hyderabad, Bhopal and Bengaluru this month and seized some digital devices and recorded statements of some people.

"Mantena has played a crucial role in the entire scam. With the assistance of his friend Tripathi he set up a front entity Arni Infra in Bhopal and used it to route funds for hawala activities. Both have admitted that Mantena Constructions have given sub-contracts of earth works worth around Rs 93 crore to Tripathi" added the officials.

Arni Infra was created to book fictitious work orders, generate cash and to pay bribes to senior government officials and for tampering with e-tenders, they said.

The office of Arni Infra is located in a new large building, but is mostly empty and none of the employees were aware of any real ground level works and were serving on paltry salaries.

"Fund-trail has shown unexplained financial transactions between Mantena Constructions and Arni Infra with the accused directors of Osmo IT Solutions, who are already in the custody of Economic Offences Wing (EOW)," the officials said.
[January 20, 2021] Blackline Safety G7 EXO Area Gas Monitor Now Shipping in North America

Blackline Safety Corp. (TSX.V: BLN), a global leader of gas detection and connected safety solutions, is now shipping its G7 EXO area gas monitor to clients across North America and throughout international markets. G7 EXO is a next-generation area monitor with 4G cellular connectivity that operates on more than 350 mobile networks and across more than 100 countries. Never before has area monitoring been this robust yet more considerate of customers' diverse needs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005200/en/ Blackline Safety launches G7 EXO cloud-connected area gas detection into North America and internationally (Photo: Business Wire) Until now, conventional area monitors have suffered complicated or inadequate connectivity while also being challenging to configure into a seamless network. With direct-to-cloud connectivity, G7 EXO eliminates the need for mesh networks that limit the range between devices, restrict the number of devices on a network and impose a maximum number of hops that a message can take before being dropped. Similarly, the need for Wi-Fi networks is removed, as they are expensive to deploy and maintain, require the provisioning of devices on the network, often lack available coverage throughout a facility and often need IT team approvals. The result is an area monitor that can be set up in one tenth of the time of a traditional area monitor, while delivering unsurpassed connectivity. "G7 EXO is one more incredible achievement from Blackline's product development team. This is the most rugged, easy to use - and the first true Internet of Things (IoT) - area gas monitor in the world." said Sean Stinson, CRO of Blackline Safety. "On top of a robust gas sensing platform, G7 EXO uses 4G connectivity to automatically stream situational data directly to the people that need it. Our best-in-class communication services, paired with user-centered design mean that EXO can be set up in minutes, every time. Integrated, reliable coverage means that no alert will ever be lost, and no worker or site left vulnerable to environmental hazards." G7 EXO direct-to-cloud connectivity, drop-and-go deployment and 100-day battery life instantly connects worksites during shutdowns, turnarounds and construction projects, while also monitorig tank farms, drilling rigs, confined spaces, site perimeters and more. As soon as it's turned on, G7 EXO automatically becomes a part of a larger connected ecosystem, eliminating the traditionally time-consuming setup and maintenance associated with other area monitoring systems.



4G connectivity powers wireless device configurations, data collection and two-way communication. Businesses can manage G7 EXO device functionality in their Blackline Live cloud-hosted portal account where they are provided with a full picture of a site's real-time safety status and complete control over its area monitors' operations. All G7 EXO data is available alongside that of G7 wearable devices through Blackline Analytics, where users can leverage automated reporting and data visualization to drive informed decision making. The world has never experienced an area monitor this easy to use and this hard to damage. G7 EXO sets the bar for a new era of area gas monitoring, with features including:

A rugged cast aluminum frame, durable rubber bumpers and IP65 ingress protection, having undergone aggressive validation testing at Ontario's Tech University ACE Climactic Wind Tunnel.

A world-leading gas sensor portfolio with over 20 individual sensors supported by Blackline's convenient plug-and-play sensor cartridges, reducing new sensor configuration time to just seconds.

Affordable optional push-to-talk voice services, compatible with G7c wearable devices, enables workers to communicate with any team anywhere in the world using 100 channels.

Exclusive 24/7 live monitoring and emergency response management services through Blackline's in-house Safety Operations Center located in Calgary, Canada with mass notification capabilities to trigger proactive evacuation management workflows.

Integrated GNSS technology and the ability to leverage location beacons mean it's never a question where devices are placed, even if they've been moved or power-cycled, without ever having to manually log locations. While G7 EXO is already the world's definitive solution to area monitoring challenges, development is underway on additional innovative features to further advance its capabilities. Coming early 2021, Blackline is delivering a satellite communication module that can be added on to any G7 EXO that needs it, to deliver true global coverage in even the most remote locations via the Iridium (News - Alert) satellite network. Also launching early in the new year, G7 EXO users will be able to add a four-channel pump module to their units, to support simultaneous remote sampling of up to four different areas of a facility, each up to 100 feet apart from the unit. To learn more about Blackline's G7 EXO area gas monitors and connected portfolio, visit blacklinesafety.com/g7exo. About Blackline Safety: Blackline Safety is a global connected safety leader that helps to ensure every worker gets their job done and returns home safe each day. Blackline provides wearable safety technology, personal and area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software and data analytics to meet demanding safety challenges and increase productivity of organizations in more than 100 countries. Blackline Safety wearables provide a lifeline to tens of thousands of men and women, having reported over 100 billion data-points and initiated over five million emergency responses. Armed with cellular and satellite connectivity, we ensure that help is never too far away. For more information, visit BlacklineSafety.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005200/en/

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Japan has reached an agreement with the U.S. Pfizer pharmaceutical company on the supply of 144 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against the novel coronavirus within the year, the Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday.

According to the news agency, the agreement secures an additional 24 million doses after the Japanese government in 2019 agreed with Pfizer on the delivery of 120 million doses of the vaccine.

The doses of the vaccine would be sufficient to inoculate 60 million people, or roughly half of the countrys 126-million population.

Apart from Pfizer, Japan also reached deals with UK-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca for another 120 million doses and U.S. company Moderna for 50 million doses.

ALSO READ: India to send coronavirus vaccines to 6 neighbouring countries

The Asian country is expected to start mass vaccination of its population in February, with medical workers being the first to receive shots.

(Sputnik/NAN)
(CNN)  Jack Ma just made his first public appearance in months as his tech empire continues to grapple with challenges from Chinese regulators.

The billionaire co-founder of Alibaba resurfaced Wednesday in a video published online by Tianmu News, a subsidiary of the Zhejiang government's official newspaper. Zhejiang province is home to Hangzhou, the city where Alibaba is based.

Ma had not made a public appearance or social media post since late October, just over a week before Alibaba financial affiliate Ant Group was scheduled to list on Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges. The IPO was blocked at the last minute by Chinese regulators, and his companies have since been targeted as part of an escalating crackdown on tech by Beijing.

In the video, which Tianmu News says was shot Wednesday morning, Ma is shown speaking to dozens of teachers in rural China for an award ceremony that coincides with the Chinese holiday the Laba Festival. Ma, a former English teacher, has made education a major priority for his foundation  and he has increased his philanthropic efforts in recent years after retiring from Alibaba.

"We'll meet again after the epidemic is over," Ma said in the video, telling the teachers that the traditional in-person celebration for the ceremony has been canceled because of Covid-19.

The video posted by Tianmu News also shows footage of Ma visiting an elementary school in Hangzhou city earlier this month.

Alibaba's Hong Kong-listed shares surged 6% after the video was published.

This story was first published on CNN.com.
New Delhi: There seems to be no respite for filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar after his debut web-series 'Tandav' sparked ire of many for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The political drama released on OTT giant Amazon Prime Video and has been at the receiving end ever since.

After the filmmaker released an official statement on behalf of Tandav cast and crew, seeking an apology for unintentionally hurting the sentiments, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has reacted to the whole fiasco.

He said: We have received a complaint related to web-series Tandav and will take due action, on the basis of the FIR registered. The central government should constitute a law for OTT. The Lucknow police has informed us and they have always cooperated with us. Complaints regarding OTT content have been made several times and now there should be some regulation in place.

On Tuesday, Ali Abbas Zafar released a fresh statement saying the team has decided to implement changes in 'Tandav' web-series in order to address the raising concerns.

An FIR was registered at Lucknows Hazratganj Kotwali against Amazon Primes India head of original content, Ali Abbas Zafar, producer of the show Himanshu Krishna Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki and others for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

Tandav stars Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Gauahar Khan, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Kumud Mishra amongst various others in pivotal roles.

[January 20, 2021] Deutsche Telekom Goes Cloud-Native With a Disaggregated, Open BNG

Deutsche Telekom (News - Alert) has connected the first live customer to its disaggregated broadband network, using routing software from RtBrick running on bare-metal switch hardware, to deliver up to 1000Mbps of internet connectivity. "Disaggregation represents a new era for our network, and RtBrick joins us in providing full stack BNG (Broadband Network Gateway (News - Alert) ) running on the Access 4.0 spine/leaf fabric connected to our IP core production network," said Hans-Joerg Kolbe, Chief Product Owner Access 4.0 at Deutsche Telekom. "We wanted to embrace a new cloud-native approach to building and running our network. Disaggregation allows us to independently select the best hardware and software for any job, it's simpler to automate and it's more flexible and open than using traditional systems. That's why we are one of several operators who have recently highlighted the benefits of open BNG software, like that provided by RtBrick, in the Open BNG white paper and further pursue this path as part of the TIP (te Telecom Infra Project) community."



The first subscriber was connected to an exchange in Stuttgart, Germany, with a wider roll-out being planned. This followed an extensive period of testing and a pilot that included comprehensive integration into operational support systems. "Connecting real customers over a disaggregated network of this scale is a significant milestone for the whole industry," said Hannes Gredler, founder and chief technology officer at RtBrick. "The shift to building networks using open software, rather than proprietary systems, is probably the most important development the industry has seen since the arrival of the Internet, and this deployment is proof that cloud-native networks are ready for the mainstream."

The RtBrick routing software acts as the BNG in Deutsche Telekom's network, which terminates broadband subscriber traffic, along with providing other functions, such as quality of service, lawful intercept and IPTV (News - Alert) . The software runs in a Linux container on bare-metal-switches, configured using ZTP (Zero-Touch-Provisioning) and programmed through RtBrick's open APIs. It replaces traditional chassis-based routing systems. RtBrick's open BNG is the first use-case of its FullStack IP/MPLS routing software, which brings the benefits of cloud-native infrastructure to carrier access networks. To learn more about RtBrick's pioneering approach to networking and the latest features of its open BNG routing software, visit rtbrick.com. About RtBrick

RtBrick has pioneered carrier routing software that runs on off-the-shelf hardware. It has applied the same approach to networks that the huge 'cloud-natives' have used to build and operate their web-scale IT services. RtBrick is a privately held company, with staff located in India, Europe and the USA. The information was submitted for publication at 10:00 CET on JANUARY 20, 2021. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005085/en/

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KYODO NEWS - Jan 20, 2021 - 18:07 | All, Coronavirus, Japan

West Japan Railway Co. said Wednesday it will place part of its workforce on temporary leave in February, targeting 27,500 employees to cope with a slump in travel demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The company known as JR West, which operates shinkansen bullet train services in some areas, said about 1,000 employees a day will be on leave between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28. The measure is the second of its kind for the Osaka-based train operator and the number of workers affected will be larger than the last time when about 18,000 were targeted.

The train operator said it is seeking to maintain employment while reducing the risk of coronavirus infections among its workers.

Travel demand has been depressed by the spread of the novel coronavirus, with the central government declaring a fresh state of emergency until Feb. 7 for 11 of the country's 47 prefectures as the country scrambles to curb coronavirus infections. Central Japan Railway Co. is also planning to have about 9,500 employees take several days off between Jan. 25 and the end of February.

Between Jan. 1 and 14, JR West saw the number of passengers using its Hokuriku and Sanyo Shinkansen lines plunge about 70 percent from a year ago.

Although hard lockdowns similar to those in countries hit hard by the virus have not been imposed, people in the targeted prefectures are asked to stay home. The administration of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has been forced to suspend its subsidy program to support local tourism.

Japan's first state of emergency over the virus was put in place last spring and JR West used the same method between May and July. At the time, maintenance staff for train tracks were not subject to the measure.
Nicole Y. Silver, International Arbitration & Litigation Practice shareholder at global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, will participate in the Global Arbitration Review (GAR) Interactive: BITs virtual conference on Jan. 21.

Silver will serve as one of the judges during the GAR Interactive debate from 1:45 PM-2:45 PM ET. In the interactive session, junior practitioners will debate the motion: This house believes that big tech will embrace investment arbitration. Afterward, the panel of experts will weigh-in on what they heard, before choosing which side to support, and giving reasons for their decisions.

Silver, based in the firms Washington, D.C. office, focuses her practice on international litigation and dispute resolution. She advises Sovereign States and private clients in international arbitration proceedings, including arbitrations before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) under the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules, in a wide array of sectors, including energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, and the environment. She also represents clients in complex civil litigation, including products liability litigation and white-collar criminal defense.

Greenberg Traurig is also a sponsor of this virtual conference.

About Greenberg Traurigs International Arbitration & Litigation Practice: Greenberg Traurigs International Arbitration & Litigation Practice assists clients in navigating international conflicts, whether conducting high-stakes litigation or transnational arbitration, enforcing foreign judgments and arbitral awards, or designing creative procedures and contract provisions to minimize disputes or resolve them as efficiently as possible.

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


In his final hours as President, Donald Trump pardoned more than 140 individuals, including his former chief strategist Steve Bannon, rap performers as well as ex-members of Congress. A federal pardon in the United States is the action of the President of the United States that completely sets aside punishment for a federal crime. A pardon is one form of the clemency power of the president. Under the Constitution, the president's clemency power extends to all federal criminal offences, except in cases of impeachment. The president's pardon power is limited to federal offenses; the Constitution only grants the president the power to pardon "offences against the United States." The latest list of pardon by Trump was heavily populated by more conventional candidates whose cases had been championed by criminal justice activists. Take a look at some of the names of pardon recipients. (Image: AP)

Trumps former chief strategist Steve Bannon was charged with swindling donations for the wall. Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of donors who believed their money would be used to fulfil Trumps chief campaign to build a wall along the southern border. (Image: AP)

Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy was charged for acting as an unregistered foreign agent and looting Malaysian wealth fund. (Image: AP)

Ken Kurson, a confidante of Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, was charged in a case of cyber-stalking and harassing three people during a heated divorce. (Image: kenkurson.com)

Rapper Lil Wayne was convicted on weapon charges. (Image: Reuters)

Former representative Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican served three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges. (Image: Wikimedia)

Former representative Duke Cunningham of California was convicted of accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. Cunningham, who was released from prison in 2013, received a conditional pardon. (Image: AP)

Trump also commuted the prison sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served about seven years behind bars out of his 28-year prison sentence for a racketeering and bribery scheme. (Image: Reuters)

Anthony Levandowski, former Google engineer, who was charged for stealing 14,000 google files before leaving the company to join Uber Technologies Incs rival unit. Levandowski was sentenced to 18 months in prison last year in August. (Image: Wikimedia)


The US Supreme Court building (File Image)

The United States Supreme Court received a bomb threat on January 20, reported CNN. The threat was reported around 9:30 am, less than an hour before US President-elect Joe Bidens swearing-in ceremony.

CNN reported increased national guard presence outside the Supreme Court building following the bomb threat.

The courts public information officer has stated that no one was asked to leave the premises, but the building was searched following the threat.

The bomb threat comes as people have been gathering at the US Capitol for the inauguration Joe Biden.

Biden's inauguration ceremony will be taking place at the US Capitol, which is located right across the street from the US Supreme Court building.
BRIDGEPORT  Mayor Joe Ganims long relationship with outgoing President Donald Trump didnt get him a spot on a list of pardons in connection with his prior federal prison sentence.

The White House released a list Wednesday of the 73 people granted pardons and the 70 who had their sentences commuted by Trump before he left office. Ganims name was not on that list.

While the names and information were released early Wednesday, Trump had the authority to grant additional pardons until President Elect-Joe Biden was sworn in Wednesday at noon.

Trumps administration is also not required to announce all of the pardons.

But whether that means Ganim is being considered, or could secretly be granted a pardon, isnt clear.

The mayor did not immediately respond to request for comment Wednesday morning.

Ganim and Trumps relationship dates back to when the president unsuccessfully tried to build a casino in the Park City in the late 1990s  during Ganims first run as mayor.

Four years later, in 2003, Ganim was convicted after a lengthy FBI investigation on 16 counts of racketeering, extortion and bribery. Investigators found that Ganim had used his political office to grant business and contracts in exchange for money or other perks.

Ganim completed his sentenced in July 2010.

He was again elected mayor of the states biggest city in 2015, after running an improbable but ultimately successful comeback. In 2019, Bridgeport residents reelected him for another four years.

Records from the U.S. Department of Justice show that Ganim has a pending request for a pardon. He previously requested a commutation of sentence from the justice department and White House. But the Office of the Pardon Attorney closed that request in March 2009, records show.

Larry Kupers, former head of the U.S. Office of the Pardon Attorney under Trump until 2019, said Trump was likely Ganims last chance for a pardon.

With someone who commits a crime when in political office, the chances of him getting a favorable recommendation from DOJ are basically slim to none because that sort of abuse of the public trust is considered a really negative factor for the clemency recommendation, Kupers told Hearst Connecticut Media earlier this month. But once it goes over to (President Joe) Biden, hes going to be out of luck most likely.

Early last month, there were more than 14,000 pending applications for pardons or commutations of sentences, according to DOJ data.
Scott Morrison was left red-faced after he was trapped inside a stalled lift for 10 minutes during a visit to a regional coal mine.

The Australian prime minister was stuck in the mine shaft in McKinlay in northwestern Queensland on Wednesday after it suffered a technical fault.

Workers were seen scrambling to fix the problem and trying to find an emergency key to help get the lift moving again.

When he finally emerged, the PM tried to make light of the situation by making a joke about one of his ministers' girth.

'Would have been tight if Scotty Buchholz was in there,' he said in reference to the Assistant Minister for Road Safety Freight Transport.

The Australian prime minister was stuck in a small mine shaft lift in McKinlay in north-western Queensland before finally emerging to defend his coal emissions policies

Mr Morrison renewed his support for the coal mining industry - declaring Australia's lucrative coal mines still had decades left of productivity left.

'These mines have got, you know, 10, 20, 30 years to run,' he said during his appearance at the South32 Cannington Mine.

'I think people who work in these sectors know that things change over time. And they understand that.

'So long as they comply with all the environmental standards and all the environmental requirements, well, they should get on with their business.'

Mr Morrison has been a fervent supporter of Australia's coal industry during his tenure as prime minister.

He famously brought a lump of coal into Parliament in 2017 when he was the treasurer.

His speech on Wednesday came as Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese accused Mr Morrison of pandering to outgoing US President Donald Trump.

The prime minister has declined to directly criticise Mr Trump for the Washington riot which caused five deaths, despite being impeached by Congress over claims he incited the protest ahead of lawmakers certifying the presidential election result.

When he finally emerged from the confines of the tiny lift, Mr Morrison renewed his support for the coal mining industry

'Recently, unlike most world leaders, Scott Morrison refused to disavow President Trump's incitement of the storming of the Capitol,' Mr Albanese said.

'He remains afraid of the far-right extremist fringe dwellers who make up the bedrock of his personal support  and who he cultivates through the avatars of Trumpists and conspiracy theorists like Craig Kelly and George Christensen.'

Mr Morrison defended his stance on Mr Trump to Sydney radio 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley.

'It has been very, very disturbing what we've seen, particularly around Capitol Hill, but it's been a year full of violence in many ways last year in the United States,' he said.

Mr Morrison's comments echoed those of Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack who also drew parallels between the Capitol Hill riots and the violence of the BLM movement, which arose after the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer in May 2020.

Mr Morrison had a message for those slamming him for not directly criticising the outgoing Republican president, who leaves office on Thursday morning, Australian time.

'It's the most important relationship we have. And if people want to have a crack at me because I worked with the President of the United States, that reflects more on them than me,' he said.
Actors Oh Jung-se, left, and Yoo Da-in pose after a press conference for the film "I Don't Fire Myself" held in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Jin Jin Pictures



By Kwak Yeon-soo



Writer-director Lee Tae-gyeom said he wanted depict the plight of powerless workers and tackle the issue of labor abuse in his new film "I Don't Fire Myself."



"When I was going through tough times after being turned down repeatedly for projects, I came across a news article about a middle-aged woman who was dispatched to the countryside for no good reason and endured humiliation," Lee said during a press conference for the film, Tuesday.



"I realized that for all of us, work is a matter of survival. The more time you spend at the workplace, the more you may feel like your work is your life. That's why a sudden layoff leads to an increased risk of suicide. I wanted to address this issue in our film," he added.



Inspired by a true story, the upcoming film is a tale of employees who stand up against injustice in the workplace while they are on the verge of being laid off.



It follows white-collar worker Jeong-eun (Yoo Da-in) who suffers from workplace discrimination and is dispatched to a subcontractor for one year. Despite the management's attempt to edge her out, Jeong-eun intends to hold on to her job and return to the head office a year later.



Climbing up high-voltage transmission towers is challenging, but Jeong-eun slowly adjusts to her new job with the help of Choong-sik (Oh Jung-se).



Lee explained that the transmission towers symbolize Jeong-eun's dire situation.



"Transmission towers are enormous, complex and are made of cold-formed steel. Just thinking about them makes her feel overwhelmed due to their complexity. Jeong-eun feels the same way with her life," he said.





A scene from the film "I Don't Fire Myself" / Courtesy of Jin Jin Pictures
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Philadelphia officials plan to launch a website this week for residents to register to receive information about the coronavirus vaccine  but thousands of residents have already registered with a third-party organization that has caused some confusion.

Philly Fighting COVID, an organization that is partnering with the city to vaccinate residents, has a registration website that Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said is not affiliated with the city.

Theres been a lot of confusion around this, Farley said. That is not the citys website.

Philadelphia city officials, including Mayor Jim Kenney, Councilmembers Bobby Henon and Cindy Bass, and acting Deputy Health Commissioner Caroline Johnson, were in attendance at the launch of Philly Fighting COVIDs mass vaccine clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The Philly Fighting COVID website directs visitors to its own signup page, telling them to get on the waitlist by pre-committing now. Its COVIDReadi system allows users to log in and asks for personal information to pre-register for the vaccine, including date of birth, cell phone number, race, employer, and medical conditions.

 READ MORE: Where can I get a COVID-19 vaccine in the Philly area? Use our lookup tool

While Philly Fighting COVID will continue to receive some of the citys available doses of the vaccine and will help distribute it to eligible residents, that pre-registration site is not the citys official registration page. The personal information that residents provide is not being shared with city government and the website is not affiliated with the city.

The Health Department has access to data on patients who have been vaccinated but we dont have access to information on people who have gone to that site and registered, Farley said.

The citys own registration site will allow individuals and organizations that employ essential workers to sign up to be notified when they become eligible for the vaccine. Farley said it could take weeks or months for people to receive notification through that website, due to the low number of vaccine doses shipped to the city each week.

A city Health Department spokesperson said that officials hope to eventually work with organizations such as Philly Fighting COVID to integrate their database with the citys own registration system.

Meanwhile, Farley said residents who are now eligible for the vaccine due to their job, age, or health condition, should hear from their doctors or employers for scheduling.

We do think that most people who become eligible will become notified through these other mechanisms we have  through lists with health care providers or through their employers, Farley said.

The Department of Health says theres no harm in registering with both the city and Philly Fighting COVID. If youve already registered through PFC, youre encouraged to also register with the citys website once it goes live.
Ending the war in Donbas must remain a priority for the OSCE, and it is important to raise the issue of restoration of Ukraines sovereignty over the temporarily occupied Crimea.

President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed these issues during a meeting with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde on January 19, the President's Office informs.

In particular, Zelensky thanked Linde for her position that ending the war in Donbas is a real priority and said that the issue of returning the temporarily occupied Crimea should be actively raised. To this end, Ukraine has initiated the creation of international Crimean Platform.

"It is very important for us to recognize that both Crimea and Donbas are Ukraine," the President said.

The President of Ukraine told OSCE Chairperson-in-Office about the security situation in Donbas, as well as about the efforts of the Ukrainian party to achieve peace.

"We would like to express gratitude from Ukraine to all representatives of the OSCE mission for supporting Ukraine, our sovereignty and our territorial integrity," he said.

Zelensky stressed that Ukraine had fulfilled all the agreements reached at the meeting of the Normandy Four leaders in December 2019. However, on the other hand, only one checkpoint has been opened, and the remaining checkpoints built by Ukraine for humanitarian purposes, which are supposed to provide comfortable services to people, were not opened in the occupied territory. The reciprocal return of detainees is being slowed down, the access of the International Committee of the Red Cross to detainees, the work of the OSCE mission in the occupied territories, demining and disengagement of troops in new areas is being blocked.

At the same time, the Head of State noted progress in the issue of the permanent ceasefire in Donbas, as the regime of silence has lasted for more than six months already. Although it is sometimes provocatively violated by militants, the measures taken since July 27, 2020, have managed to reduce the number of military and civilian casualties.

The meeting was attended by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Oleksiy Reznikov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, Chairman of the Delegation of Ukraine to the Trilateral Contact Group, First President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Ruslan Demchenko.

The officials discussed issues related to the activities of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. Volodymyr Zelensky informed the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office about Ukraine's expectations from the work of the OSCE SMM. Emphasis was placed on the need to strengthen the organizational capacity of the mission, its technical capacity and financial support.

As reported, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde makes a two-day working visit to Kyiv.

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SALEM, Ore.  The Oregon Department of Education updated its guidance for school reopening on Tuesday.

Local school districts have had the power to decide when to return students to in-person learning since Jan. 1, but the updates to the Ready Schools, Safe Learners guide reach beyond that to help districts make informed decisions.

Updated Guidance Serves As A Guide For Schools Returning Students To In-Person Instruction

Read the release: https://t.co/QnBSExlhS6  OR Dept of Education (@ORDeptEd) January 19, 2021

Updated advisory metrics now allow for in-person classes for elementary students at higher levels of community case rates than previously recommended.

RELATED: Klamath County School Board calls emergency meeting after news of in-person learning liability

A new requirement is that schools provide on-site COVID-19 testing for symptomatic students and staff members and for those who have had a known exposure to a positive case.

State officials say there are multiple new resources to support learning outside, field trips, equitable grading practices, attendance best practices, contact tracing partnerships, COVID-19 testing and more.

We are providing school leaders with the information they need to make local decisions about returning to in-person instruction, said ODE Director Colt Gill. We all know that in-person instruction provides our children and families with access to an equitable education. Schools are a center of services to students and families, offering nutritious meals, access to social-emotional and mental health supports, as well as physical health services. This guidance provides new resources to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and better meet students needs in this time.

Two critical factors should guide districts, state officials say: community case counts and rates remaining low enough and the ability to implement health and safety protocols diligently.

The new guidance takes effect immediately.
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When filming the series, was there a location that was particularly memorable?

M: The Red Centre. I always thought we were coastal beach people  and we are  but holidaying in the Red Centre was just amazing. We'd been to Uluru before, we had a fly-in fly-out long weekend where we stayed at Sails and visited the rock and then flew home and thought, 'OK, we've been there, done that.' But we were really lucky, we got the opportunity to go back this time and spend a lot more time there, and hire a car and go out into the outback. You'll have to watch for yourself, but we'd definitely say we had a much more authentic Red Centre experience this time around. We got to meet a lot of the locals this time.

Did you get to indulge your critical side on the show?

M: Oh, you mean are we honest? Absolutely, we're honest but I think we're also quite grateful travellers. So we do tend to put things in context, and things we might expect in one location, in one type of accommodation, we might not expect in another. In general I'd like to think we're pretty grateful.

B: We're definitely not travel snobs. Having said that, we do like the finer things in life if they're on offer.

Comedian Denise Scott narrates the new season of Travel Guides. Credit:James Penlidis

You've said one thing you will never do on holiday is go to McDonald's.

M: You can go to McDonald's at home. If you're going to go away, you've got to eat the local food and put the money into the local economy. A Big Mac is the same here or if you're buying it in Darwin  it's still a Big Mac! And McDonald's don't serve breakfast cocktails either. You can take your own but they don't like that.

Were you a fan of Travel Guides before ending up on it?

M: We were. We booked holidays based on Travel Guides  which we had to cancel because we were on Travel Guides.
Prolific childrens book author and former editor Kathleen Krull, widely acclaimed for her skill at crafting detailed and entertaining biographies and other narrative nonfiction, died on January 15 following a brief illness. She was 68.

Krull was born July 29, 1952 in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and then her family moved to Wilmette, Ill., where she grew up playing several musical instruments and was an early and avid reader. In her website biography, she credits two nuns at her Catholic elementary and middle school with being particularly encouraging of her writing. Krull wrote that her eighth-grade teacher Sister Della was the first person who told me I might be a writer when I grew up, and had remained an important person in Krulls life, long after her school years.

As a teenager, Krulls passions for music, reading, and writing were in full force as she gave piano lessons to local children and played the organ at her church. She also noted in her biography that she was fired from a part-time job at the public library in Wilmettea favorite destination of hersbecause she was reading too much rather than completing her prescribed tasks. Following high school, Krull studied music at Northwestern University and then earned her B.A., magna cum laude, majoring in English and minoring in music, from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., in 1974.

Krull embarked on her editorial career in childrens books the day after I graduated, she shared in her bio. She began as an editorial assistant at Harper & Row in Evanston, Ill., and rose through the ranks, holding positions as associate editor at Western Publishing in Racine, Wis., from 197479; managing editor at Raintree Publishing in Milwaukee from 197983, and then landed a spot as a senior editor at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in San Diego from 198284. During this time Krull continued writing and had work published in the Trixie Belden mystery series (under the pseudonym Kathryn Kenny) as well as titles in the Beginning to Learn About series for Raintree, among other projects.

In 1984 Krull left corporate publishing and became a full-time writer. Among her earlier projects was the childrens music book Songs of Praise (Harcourt, 1989), for which Krull served as piano arranger and editor, and which was illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. Krull and Hewitt would collaborate again for Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought) (Harcourt, 1993), the first in their series of critically acclaimed and popular anthologies of brief profiles of historical figures.

Illustrated biographies became Krulls format of choice, and she was often praised in reviews for her lively writing and her knack for including quirky or unusual tidbits about her subjects. She said in interviews that that she enjoyed playing detective in researching her books; when explaining her approach to nonfiction she wrote the following on her site: To hold their own against all the competition for a childs time, nonfiction books have to reflect something special. I try to make fresh, contemporary choices from my researchlittle ironies, amusing juxtapositions, concrete details, strengths and weaknesses. I use a warts and all approach because I want to write biographies for kids living in the real world. I know readers have to survive all kinds of hurts and traumas; my way of helping is to dramatize how people in the past have done it.

In addition to the Lives Of series, Krull created the Giants of Science and the Women Who Broke the Rules biography series. She also wrote numerous standalone biographies, sometimes partnering with her husband, childrens author and illustrator Paul Brewer, whom she married in 1989. The duos projects include The Beatles Were Fab (And They Were Also Funny), illustrated by Stacy Innerst (Harcourt, 2013) and Stay Curious! A Brief History of Stephen Hawking, illustrated by Boris Kulikov (Crown, 2020).

Krulls oeuvre grew to more than 100 books for children in all. Her title Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez (Harcourt, 2003), illustrated by Yuyi Morales, was a 2004 Pura Belpre Honor Book, and her titles were frequently selected as ALA Notable books and chosen for state childrens book awards lists. Krulls works received numerous distinctions from review journals and educational organizations as well.

Susan Cohen, senior literary agent at Writers House, represented Krull for more than 30 years. Our partnership began about the same time as her marriage to Paul. to her husband and co-author, Paul Brewer, Cohen told PW. She was not only talented, but always brimming with great new ideas, and her books were both critically acclaimed and widely popular. Editors always wanted to keep working with her. A critic once dubbed her The Queen of Kids Nonfiction. 

To say she wrote picture book biographies is to underestimate the breadth of her curiosity and creativity, Cohen said. Her books were about folks both well-known and obscure. She always found the kind of obscure fun facts that kids love, or new ways of looking at well-known figures, as through their humor. With due respect to my other clients, Kathy was about the wittiest. It was an honor and true pleasure to work with her. Im still hearing her voice in my head and Im glad her voice will still be speaking to kids for many years.

Emily Easton, co-publisher and v-p of Crown Books for Young Readers, who worked closely with Krull on many projects, remembered her author and friend this way: I first met Kathleen when I approached her to write about Harry Houdini after reading her book, They Saw the Future. I thought the subject matter might intrigue herand it did. So many of our 14 books followed that same path to publicationa question about whether we had a shared curiosity about a person or subjectfrom Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for president, to our most recent book about astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. Curiosity was Kathys superpower, though she also liked to think about it as just being nosy! That combination of a seeking mind and a wicked sense of humor made Kathys books a delight for all ages and hooked many young readers on nonfiction and reading in general. I will miss our conversations and quests to unearth the juiciest and most fascinating nuggets from history. But more importantly, I will miss her delight in the human spirit. And I will simply miss my friend. How fitting that our last book together has the title Stay Curious!

Maria Modugno, executive editorial director at Random House Studio, recalled how she came to know Krull decades ago. Kathy was the first editor I hired when I became director of childrens books at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in San Diego, Modugno said. After I interviewed Kathy, I knew she would be the perfect senior editor. I wondered if it was okay to hire someone who could easily be my friend. Kathy was talented, personable, and quietly commanding.

Kathy was relocating from the Midwest to San Diego. Having just relocated from New York myself, I assured her that she could take the time she needed to settle in and unpack before coming in to the office. After a week passed by and Kathy didnt show up, I panicked. Did I make a mistake? What if she never came in? I gave her a call to see if my concern proved to be right. But unfazed, Kathy calmly said she was still unpacking her books and invited me to stop at her house that evening for a glass of wine. I was still worried. How many books could she possibly have? As I soon found out, Kathy had a book collection that could rival that of a major metropolitan public library. She really was still unpacking!

My visit marked the beginning of an editorial collaboration and a friendship that endured long after Kathy left publishing to become a remarkable and celebrated author.

Jeannette Larson, Krulls longtime editor at HMH and now consulting editor for Flyaway Books, paid fond tribute to her author and friend. Kathy made an editors role easy, because her own excellent work was complemented by her openness to collaboration and her appreciation for what an adventurous illustrator can bring to a text, Larson said. Most important, she never forgot that her primary readers were kids. Although she didnt compromise her deep research, she had a knack for highlighting an angle or tidbit that a kid would find fascinating or funny. Through our many books together, I saw that over and over across a remarkable range of subjectsa talent that spilled over from her own curiosity and sense of humor.

Even the mail carrier got a glimpse of her personality; her envelopes are collectors items! Despite the email era, Kathy continued to send cards or packages adorned with a ridiculous or flattering, or both, nickname for the recipient, often written in giant letters and complemented by an array of cartoons or stickers. Her love of fun echoed in so much of what she did, whether in work or friendship.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Addressing climate change is the key to a healthy recovery and to building a sustainable future because the economy of the future is a green economy, said Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE).

He made the remark in his keynote address at the opening of the ADSW Summit 2021 taking place in the UAE capital from January 18 to 21, 2021, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2021 consists of a series of high-level virtual events, bringing together experts and leaders to define new pathways for delivering a green recovery in a post-Covid-19 world, a WAM report said.

"Today, as we rebuild our world in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we recognise more than ever the need to decarbonise our infrastructures, to promote sustainable consumption and production of essential resources, and to enhance our resilience to climate change," Al Marar noted.

The keynote speech focused particularly on how to make water more sustainable. The DoE Chairman cited two main reasons for selecting the topic. "Firstly, because of the opportunities that efficient water production and a decarbonised water infrastructure can offer to mitigate climate change risks to water availability, quality, and quantity, and secondly, because of the water-food-energy nexus and how the integration of these three sectors can improve security and support a green economic transition, making water a national priority."

"According to the 2020 United Nations World Water Development Report, global water use has increased six-fold over the past century and global water demand is rising by about one percent every year, with this trend expected to continue until 2050. Over two billion people live in countries experiencing high water stress, and about four billion people experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year," he explained, adding that climate change will further aggravate the situation.

"By improving water management and water production efficiencies, we can improve resilience to climate change and maximise the provision of a sufficient supply of potable water on a global scale," he added.

"We rely on desalination as the primary source of drinking water and the main alternative for the water resources we need to sustain human life, agricultural activities and industrial processes," Al Marar explained, noting that the UAE is the second-largest producer of desalinated water after Saudi Arabia, producing around 14 percent of the worlds desalinated water, accounting for nearly all of the UAEs potable water.

"Here in Abu Dhabi, we have nine desalination plants with a total capacity of up to 960 million imperial gallons per day," he said. "While we continue to expand our water infrastructure and build new desalination plants, we recognise the environmental impact of desalination and, therefore, we capitalise on continued innovation in desalination technologies, brine reduction techniques, and new water demand management strategies. Four of our current desalination plants in Abu Dhabi utilise Reverse Osmosis technology and represent around 15% of the emirates desalinated water production. This share is expected to grow to 30% by 2022 when the new AED2 billion RO desalination facility at the Al Taweelah Power Complex comes online."

ADSW 2020 welcomed 45,000 attendees from more than 170 countries, including the UAEs leadership, 10 heads of state, 180 international ministers, and over 500 world media representatives.

-- Tradearabia News Service
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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.


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TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

BOSTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Investment Management, a company of Manulife Investment Management, has announced three new strategic roles in the distribution organization. The roles were created to further support clients and to create additional synergies within the firm as it looks to meet and exceed the evolving needs and expectations of financial professionals.

"We're thrilled to announce these new roles and I know that each team is well positioned to create further value for our clients," said Jeffrey O. Duckworth, CRPC, head of intermediary distribution at John Hancock Investment Management. "It's now more important than ever to challenge ourselves to assure we have the best structure in place to service our clients in this fast-changing world we're in."

Head of strategic relationships and investment specialists

Andrew J. McFetridge has been named head of strategic relationships and investment specialists. Formerly co-head of U.S. sales, Andy is now responsible for broader distribution objectives, including national accounts, investment consulting, education savings, exchange-traded funds, and separately managed accounts. Andy began his career with the firm in 1994 as an internal wholesaler and went on to serve as a regional wholesaler and divisional sales manager. Andy earned a B.A. from California State University, Long Beach, and holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor and Chartered Retirement Plan Counselor designations. He'll continue to report to Jeff Duckworth.

Head of sales

Darren D. Smith has been appointed the sole head of U.S. sales, still reporting to Jeff Duckworth; formerly, he was co-head of U.S. sales. All John Hancock Investment Management divisional sales managers and 58 external wholesalers will now report to Darren. Darren joined John Hancock Investment Management in 2001 and previously held roles as a divisional sales manager and wholesaler for the company. Prior to entering the financial services industry as a retail financial advisor, he served in the U.S. Army, and is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. He earned a finance degree from Brigham Young University and holds the Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor designations.

Head of value add

Kathleen Pritchard was recently hired in a newly created position of head of value add and will report to Katie L. McKay, head of sales enablement and distribution strategy. Prior to joining John Hancock Investment Management, Kathleen was a partner at Purpose Consulting Group, a practice management firm working with broker-dealers, asset management firms, insurance companies, custodians, elite advisory teams, and industry organizations. Previously, she headed the advisor business development team supporting the U.S. retail and institutional businesses and the U.K. advisory business at Legg Mason. She also held various marketing and communications positions at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Sage Life Assurance of America, American Skandia Marketing, and Essex Corporation. Kathleen attended St. Mary's College, Notre Dame and holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor, Chartered Retirement Plan Counselor, Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, and Chartered Fund Specialist designations.

"We've worked very closely with advisors during the work-from-home mandates and quarantines over the past year; however, we feel we've only scratched the surface of what's possible to offer in this new environment. I have tremendous respect for both Andy and Darren and look forward to working closely with Kathleen. I know they will take us to an entirely new level of service," Jeff added.

 2021 John Hancock Investment Management. All rights reserved.

About John Hancock Investment Management

John Hancock has helped individuals and institutions build and protect wealth since 1862. Today, we're one of the strongest and most-recognized financial brands. John Hancock Investment Management, a company of Manulife Investment Management, serves investors globally through a unique multimanager approach: We search the world to find proven portfolio teams with specialized expertise for every strategy we offer, then we apply robust investment oversight to ensure they continue to meet our uncompromising standards and serve the best interests of our shareholders. Our approach to asset management has led to a diverse set of investments deeply rooted in investor needs, along with strong risk-adjusted returns across asset classes.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 17 countries and territories. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement.

As of September 30, 2020, Manulife Investment Management had CAD$923 billion (US$692 billion) in assets under management and administration. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management

President Trump's last speech on his exit is the message that America is just beginning, not ending. Even with the pall of the next four years, he tells Americans to be strong as one nation.

On Tuesday afternoon, the president gave his last speech and shared his thoughts on the previous four years. He prays that the next administration will do as much.

He said that America should always be the land of hope, light, and glory to the world. A new administration is coming, and it should keep the country as safe and prosperous as the last administration. Trump said that what was needed to be done was done, and more for America's greatness, reported the Epoch Times.

Most important is the American government serves the will of the people. The government should be answerable to the people.

In the speech, this was highlighted

He mentioned that in America, everyone is part of the process of democracy. All Americans should be heard no matter what.

As president, he took the hard road and the hard battles and making the most challenging choices because he was elected to do it. Reiterating that it is not whether it is leftist or rightist, Republican or Democrat, because the nation's good is what counts most. It must be the whole nation, not just a part of it.

President Trump said that on Wednesday, a new chapter would begin for America, with the legacies he left that he hopes will be used for the good of all America.

Also read: Trump Gives Legion of Merit to Moroccan King for Israeli Reconciliation in the Middle East

Foreign policy for America

The commander-in-chief did the unthinkable, and part of it is an overhaul of foreign policy. These efforts include having a better relationship with significant allies in the middle east.

He took on Iran and imposed sanctions on Tehran for nuclear infractions, easing tensions on its neighbors. Another threat of the Chinese Communist Party is now part of U.S. policy, which angered Beijing.

There have been no new conflict for America in four years, as president trump dealt with older threats from other administrations. The first time in four years that pulling out American service members is the goal.

The U.S. and its allies co-partnered to stop China from worsening activities that undermined the security in the Indo-Pacific region. In the middle east, there was an unprecedented number of peace deals that included the Abraham Accords.

Countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, with other Islamic states, were co-signees on the Abraham Accords to deal with a rising Iranian threat. The president made good his promise and reduced U.S. troops in the middle east.



He thanked the support of First Lady Melania Trump, family members, various staffers, and the U.S. Secret Service during his time in office. Adding they were a vital part of the administration too.

Despite one sore point on January 6, he rejected any violence from anyone, especially his supporters. It cost him the presidency but took the welfare of the nation and people first.

The last part of his speech gave hope because he cited the help of patriotic Americans, a movement that has started for all of America. Trump called it only just the beginning.

Related article: Trump Allows Federal Prosecutors to Carry Concealed Firearms with Expanded Conditions for Personal Protection

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A former Bachelor star has been advised to remove her breast implants after doctors discovered one ruptured inside her chest.

And on Tuesday, Nina Rolleston, who appeared on Sam Wood's season in 2015, expressed fears for her upcoming explant surgery with fans.

The Brisbane-based wedding planner, 33, wrote: 'After years of health issues and finding out one of my implants is ruptured its finally time to get them removed.'

Oh no! Bachelor star Nina Rollesten is fearful for upcoming explant surgery after doctors discovered one of her breast implants had ruptured. Pictured on Bachelor In Paradise in 2018

Nina underwent her breast augmentation in February 2013, but now eight years later has decided to rid her body of the 'poison sacks'.

Nina had her breast augmentation done in Bangkok, Thailand, where she increased her bust from an A cup to a sizable FF.

'February 2021 - When Ill say goodbye to my poison sacks forever!' she said of the upcoming procedure.

'I am terrified for my surgery, but also really excited to get my health back on track,' Nina continued, referring to recent health issues over the past few years.

'I'll say goodbye to my poison sacks forever!' Nina underwent her breast augmentation in February 2013, but now eight years later has decided to remove them for good

What happens when breast implants rupture? All types of breast implants have the potential to tear. This is known as a rupture. When a saline implant ruptures (or its valve fails) the saline quickly leaks out and is absorbed by the body, leaving the breast looking deflated in a matter of days. It is less obvious to identify when a silicone implant ruptures, as the gel takes much longer to ooze out of the rupture than saline. The silicone is not absorbed, and can therefore spread to other parts of the body. The body may react to the silicone implant rupture by forming scar tissue, sometimes causing a distortion of the breast's shape. Advertisement

'I'm really excited to get my health back on track': Nina appeared to reference 'breast implant illness' as a potential reason for some of her recent health woes over the past few years

In May 2019, Nina revealed that she almost died after doctors diagnosed her with deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Four of the six main veins in her right leg were blocked with blood clots at the time.

Nina told Daily Mail Australia at the time that the shock diagnosis forced her to change her lifestyle in ways she never expected - including avoiding moderate-impact sports, long runs, drinking, and wearing high heels.

Health woes: In May 2019, Nina revealed that she almost died after doctors diagnosed her with deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

'At this stage, doctors think it will be six to nine months [before the condition clears up] because of the severity of the clots,' she said in July 2019.

'2021 - My year for better health,' Nina wrote optimistically in her latest upload.

Nina's BIP co-star Tara Pavlovic commented on the post, writing: 'All the best with this Nina. I can't wait for you to feel yourself again', while Bachelor 2015 Heather Maltman offered to 'help out' with anything Nina needed during her recovery.

Sage advice: Nina encouraged her fans to research and understand the risks before getting breast implants

Nina also believes she is suffering from 'breast implant illness' and advised those considering implants to research and understand the risks before doing so.

Breast implant illness is a term used by women who self-identify symptoms they feel are directly connected to breast implants.

The symptoms may include fatigue, chest pain, headaches, chills and chronic pain.

Remember this? Nina appeared on Sam Wood's season of The Bachelor in 2015
Trumps Anti-Communist Legacy

President Donald Trump didnt campaign in 2016 on a promise to confront the global spread of communism, but his efforts over the past four years against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), its proxies, and other elements of the communist specter have become the centerpiece of his legacy.

Viewed through this lens, the America First slogan was a fitting one for a campaign against a communist adversary and a medley of the causes it has co-opted in a decades-long campaign to supplant the United States as the most powerful nation in the world.

The CCP has spent decades plundering American wealth through the theft of trade secrets, protectionist trade policies, and market distortion. The regime has used this wealth to fund a behemoth soft power campaign, undermining U.S. interests in every domain and gaining influence over multinational institutions.

Despite significant interference from within his own government, Trump confronted the menace head-on in China, around the world, and in the United States. When he campaigned for reelection in 2019, communism versus freedom was one of the key themes, but the economic disaster and global havoc caused by the CCP virus, forced other priorities to the forefront.

Nevertheless, and despite little fanfare, Trumps efforts against communism continued.

The CCP

The Trump administration confronted the CCP directly on several fronts, including by supporting Taiwan and Hong Kong, cutting off revenue streams from private firms tied to the Peoples Liberation Army, and blocking the espionage threat posed by Chinese technology.

The administration defied decades-old protocols to begin normalizing relations with Taiwan, a Democratic republic thats the antithesis of the repressive communist regime in Beijing. The CCP claims sovereignty over the island and has long played rough defense about the issue on the international stage.

In September last year, Keith Krach, the undersecretary of state for economic growth, led a delegation to Taiwan, becoming the highest-ranking State Department official to visit the island since 1979, when the U.S. government transferred diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei.

The historic visit signaled the continuation of increasing support for Taiwan, in defiance of the CCP. The significance of the visit wasnt lost on Beijing.

We were greeted with fighter jets and bombers, Krach said. Beijing breached Taiwans airspace at least 46 times during the week of his visit.

During the final days of the Trump administration, the State Department removed all self-imposed restrictions on contacts with Taiwanese officials, laying the groundwork for even closer relations with the democratic island.

Orlando Gutierrez Boronat, an author and co-founder of the Cuban Democratic Directorate, told The Epoch Times that Trumps policy on Taiwan was monumental for the success of the nations democracy.

I think the support for Taiwan was monumental in all terms: political, economic, military, Boronat said. The Republic of China is a longtime ally of the United States and theres no reason why it should be treated any differently. Theyve been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy and freedom for decades, and what theyve achieved in Taiwan is incredible to behold. As an achievement for humanity, his support for Taiwan is outstanding.

CCP Virus

Considering Taiwans vehement opposition to communism, it may not be a coincidence that the island nation continues to experience miraculously low levels of the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Despite a tourism industry that thrives on a massive number of visitors from the mainland, only seven people have died from the CCP virus in Taiwan since the outbreak of the pandemic. Circumstantial evidence suggests theres a nexus between how close a locale has been to the CCP and the severity of the outbreak.

Trumps response to and rhetoric around the virus has had a major effect on the perception of the Chinese communist regime around the world. The president dispensed with optics and banned travel from China on Jan. 31, 2020, less than two weeks after the first infection was confirmed in the United States. He has repeatedly referred to the virus as the China virus and lambasted the CCP for suppressing early warnings about the outbreak while locking down Wuhan internally and allowing international flights to leave the city, spreading the plague worldwide.

Rooting Out Trade-Secret Theft

On the home front, Trumps Department of Justice initiated an unprecedented crackdown on the CCPs trade-secret theft and related crimes. Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions launched the effort, named The China Initiative, in late 2018. By February 2020, the FBI was conducting roughly 1,000 investigations into Chinas attempted theft of trade secrets. According to a review of DOJ press releases, the department has brought more indictments related to Chinese infiltration of the United States since 2019 than during the entire eight years of the Obama administration.

We believe that no country poses a greater threat than communist China, FBI Assistant Director John Brown said in February 2020. From our vantage point, the United States has not faced a similar threat like this since the Soviet Union and the Cold War.

Today, investigations related to the government of China make up a greater percentage of our counterintelligence workload than at any other time in the FBIs history.

Cutting Off CCP-Linked Companies

The Trump administration targeted Chinas so-called private firms, none of which are immune to direct influence from the CCP. U.S. officials have long warned that Chinese technology, both software and hardware, may be used by Beijing for spying, due to security laws that require companies to cooperate with Chinese intelligence.

The Trump administration banned purchases of equipment and software from some firms while prohibiting trade with a long list of others. The list of no-trade entities now contains hundreds of Chinese firms, many of which were blacklisted due to their ties to the Peoples Liberation Army.

In a major financial blow to companies tied to the Chinese military, the Trump administration in late December strengthened restrictions on such firms by prohibiting U.S. persons from holding stocks in them.

[The prohibition] ensures U.S. capital does not contribute to the development and modernization of the Peoples Republic of Chinas military, intelligence, and security services, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

Sanctioning Human Rights Abusers

The CCP has long been extremely sensitive about its abhorrent human rights record being exposed on the international stage. The Trump administration broke decades of silence on these abuses by sanctioning CCP officials responsible.

In July 2020, the United States sanctioned a CCP official involved in the persecution of Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and members of other minority groups in Xinjiang. On Human Rights Day in December, the State Department sanctioned an official involved in gross human rights violations against practitioners of Falun Gong, a meditation practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. The sanctions, imposed on Xiamen Public Security Bureau Wucun Police Station Chief Huang Yuanxiong, marked the first time the United States took punitive action against the CCP in the more than two decades since the CCP initiated a brutal persecution on some 100 million Falun Gong practitioners in China.

Communism Around the World

The CCPs influence has extended far beyond its official apparatus and private companies. By quitting multinational institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Trump administration sent a clear message that the United States wont contribute to or participate in international organizations that have sacrificed their stated goals to cater to regimes such as the CCP.

Upon withdrawing from the UNHRC, Ambassador Nikki Haley called it an organization that is not worthy of its name because its membership includes notorious human rights abusers such as the communist regimes in China and Cuba. Trump said he withdrew the United States from the WHO because the CCP pressured the health organization to mislead the world about when the CCP virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities.

Through sanctions and other means, the president weakened other communist and socialist regimes, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. In some cases, the administrations achievements in other parts of the world dealt a blow to the communist movement, even though they were never presented as such. In supporting Israel, for example, including by recognizing Jerusalem as its capital, Trump took a stand against the global anti-Israel movement, which is composed of communist and communist-allied regimes.

The anti-Israel movement around the world is essentially communist, Trevor Loudon, an expert on communist infiltration, told The Epoch Times. When [Trump] stands for Israel, he is standing against communism because the main enemies of Israel are communist regimes or communist-allied regimes like Iran.

USA

Trump stood up to decades of communist infiltration of the United States. While communism entirely abolishes private property and free enterprise, ballooning levels of taxation and regulation achieve the same goal over time. The presidents tax cuts and deregulation dealt a blow to the incremental encroachment of the government on peoples assets and businesses.

Lower taxes, combined with an executive order ensuring that regulations are slashed over time, triggered an economic boom in 2018 and 2019, leading to record-low levels of unemployment, rising wages, and a soaring stock market. With economic conditions improving, millions of Americans quit welfare programs, loosening the grip of the welfare state, the growth of which had previously brought the United States closer to socialism, which is itself a preliminary stage of communism.

The president proved to be a stalwart defender of tradition. He took action to promote religious freedom, restore respect for Americas founding principles, and defend the right to life for unborn children. At every step of the way, he respected the boundaries set by the Constitution, fortifying the document that has guaranteed American freedoms for hundreds of years. Many of the presidents executive actions were challenged in court. In each instance, he let the courts decide.

The president caused a seismic cultural shift by making it acceptable to talk about communism in the United States again by labeling his far-left opponents as socialists and communists. He threw down the gauntlet during the 2019 State of the Union address, telling Congress, with several self-identified Democratic socialists listening, that America will never be a socialist country.

The president carried the rhetoric over to his campaign rallies and Twitter feed, fueling a discussion about socialism at a time when the Democratic Party had taken a hard lurch to the left. President-elect Joe Bidens platform was formed through a merger with that of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a Democratic socialist. Bidens first legislative proposal, a CCP virus relief measure, includes the $15 minimum wage mandate that Sanders has promoted for years.

In speeches before world leaders and ordinary Americans alike, Trump has condemned communism as a deadly menace. In a presidential message on the National Day for the Victims of Communism, he excoriated communism as an oppressive ideology that, without fail, leaves in its wake misery, destruction, and death.

While Marxism promises equality, peace, and happiness, in practice, it results only in inequality, violence, and despair, Trump said.

Cathy He, Mimi Nguyen Ly, and Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  When President Joseph R. Biden finished his oath office on Wednesday, Democrats in Connecticut were on mute, but they clapped from their living rooms and typed their cheers into their Zoom call chat.

Behind her computer screen, Suzanne Benton of Ridgefield wept.

After all weve been through, Im weeping now, Benton said after the historic event concluded. Its just been beautiful to hear him... Im hopeful.

Unable to attend the inauguration in person due to a deadly pandemic and ongoing security threats, she and other Democrats watched the historic event on television and shared the moment together  like so many others over the past year  online.

Outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., members of Congress, limited media, a few government officials, some friends and family members, three ex-presidents and vast law enforcement forces were the only groups who attended the inauguration of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in person. The Connecticut Congressional delegation packed into the rows of seats with other lawmakers, jubilant that their candidate  a man that U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and Reps. Rosa DeLauro and John Larson have known for decades  was returning to the White House.

The senator slated to sit next to Sen. Chris Murphy for the inauguration didnt show, so Murphy watched side-by-side with a young volunteer who helped prepare the event.

She was brimming with excitement, near tears at the majesty of the day, Murphy tweeted. So lucky to have the chance to see the ceremony through her eyes.

Stephen Jewett, a Democratic consultant, watched the festivities from home. He figured he and his firm probably would have been involved in organizing an inauguration event in a normal world. But he was far from bitter.

We needed to show a sign of strength and security around the Capitol after what happened, said Jewett, whose firm, Penn Avenue Consulting, is in Washington D.C. and Connecticut. Its a Secret Service-run event and thats the way it should be.

Fabrice Houdart, who lives in Newtown, attended the inauguration as a guest of Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif. From the inaugural stands, he took in the expanse of colorful flags planted in the grass of the National Mall in place of human spectators and squinted to make out whos who behind their masks.

A year ago that inauguration would have looked crazy, but in 2021 it made total sense  the isolation, the military, said Houdart, managing director at Out Leadership, a think tank that places LGBTQ people on corporate boards. The last inauguration I went to was Obamas and you could see millions of people on the Mall.

Connecticut Democrats organized a Zoom watch party for people to take in the inauguration together Wednesday. Approximately 60 people attended.

I can exhale now... said former Bloomfield Councilwoman Jennifer Marshall-Nealy, after Biden made his first speech as president, urging unity and healing for a nation in crisis. She previously tried to get tickets to the inauguration, but even hundreds of miles away from the action, she said the watch party made her feel right there.

This gives me hope that our country is going to heal, she said.

Another would-be in-person attendee, Erick Russell, vice chairman of the Connecticut Democratic Party, said he was emotional while watching the inauguration on Zoom.

While he was delivering his speech it was crystal clear to me that President Biden is the perfect person to be leading our country at this moment in history, Russell said. Its a time for unity, hope and truth, and President Bidens sense of decency, idealism and character are exactly what we need to bring the country together.

Columnist Dan Haar contributed reporting

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
Sleep.

The best meditation, according to the Dalai Lama.

The cousin of death is the slightly less cheery opinion of veteran American rapper Nas.

Whether your view chimes better with that of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the controversial musician, or somewhere in between, the fact is we all need it  particularly during the last year.

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Whatsapp The Dalai Lama and the US rapper Nas have slightly different views on sleep (Niall Carson/Yui Mok/PA)

The coronavirus pandemic has played havoc with almost every facet of our waking lives, from work, education and finances, to travel, leisure and social freedoms.

And it seems it has also had a knock-on impact on our slumber time, too.

Here, the PA news agency seeks the opinion of Professor Mark Blagrove, a leading expert in sleep and dreaming at Swansea Universitys Department of Psychology, on how much sleep we need and why, and what to do if we have nightmares.

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Whatsapp Professor Mark Blagrove, a leading expert in sleep and dreaming (Swansea University/PA)

 Why is sleep important?

Despite the temptation to squeeze every last waking second out of one of the most depressing and, frankly, boring years in many peoples lives, the fact is humans need sleep.

One of the reasons is biological, as sleep protects the brain from conditions such as Alzheimers by flushing out harmful toxins, Prof Blagrove says.

But it also allows us to connect the memories during the day and sieve through which ones are important.

It allows us to summarise what we learnt, according to the expert, rather than storing all of the memories during the day.

Expand Close Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher is reckoned to have got by on around four hours sleep per night (PA) PA / Facebook

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 How much sleep is needed then?

History is peppered with world leaders famed for their relatively brief periods of shut-eye.

But the likes of Donald Trump and Margaret Thatcher  both of whom were said to rely on around four hours sleep per night  are in the minority.

Prof Blagrove recommends sleeping for at least six or seven hours a night.

If you get too little sleep, it does affect your mood, how fast you can think, and your ability to learn, he says.

If people are getting far less sleep than they need, that will show.

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 So how has the coronavirus pandemic affected sleep patterns?

It is not all bad. People working from home may have found the precious time previously spent commuting can be redistributed elsewhere  including sleep.

Others, however, will have found that the stresses and strains of life under lockdown will keep them up all night.

People may be having less sleep because of the worries they have in the working day, Prof Blagrove says.

One of the causes of insomnia is resentment  if people feel resentful of others, it can add to insomnia.

The effects of the pandemic will be that some people have been badly hit, while others will not notice or indeed benefit.

Expand Close Professor Blagrove suggests between six and seven hours sleep per night  although some may wish to catch up when they can (Gareth Fuller/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Professor Blagrove suggests between six and seven hours sleep per night  although some may wish to catch up when they can (Gareth Fuller/PA)

 OK then  how do we give ourselves a fighting chance of getting our precious sleep allowance?

The standard recommendation for people who are not sleeping too well is to stick to a set wake-up time rather than trying to recoup sleep they may have lost by sleeping in.

So, that means if you wake up at 7am five days of the working week, you ought to try to stick to it at the weekends. Those with young children may wish to adjust the start time accordingly.

The body clock will wake you up and get you ready for bed, by starting to decrease the body temperature when ready for bed, says Prof Blagrove.

If you have a chaotic sleep life, then that body clock isnt so robust.

Prof Blagrove also recommends trying to reduce the number of things bothering a person before they get their head down.

Let go of the things that are really vexatious for people at the moment, he says.

Let it go in the half an hour before sleep.

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 What about booze and scrolling Twitter  will that keep me up at night?

Alcohol is a curious one. While it can make someone fall asleep quicker, it metabolises during sleep so can often result in waking up four or five hours later.

High levels of alcohol  aside from whatever else they are good or bad for  theyre not good for your sleep, even if people think they have loads of worries and it will knock them out, Prof Blagrove says.

Its not the best way of doing so.

Mobile phones and tablets can also have a negative impact, he says, by stimulating the brain with mini bursts of information rather than relaxing it.

Instead, try reading.

Books take more thoughtfulness, Prof Blagrove says, they can be less problematic because they are more relaxing.

You have to take all the words in and contemplate them.

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 Is it alright just to binge-sleep at the weekend?

Sadly, it seems that consistency is key to a healthy sleep pattern, and that means trying to get to bed at the same time each night, rising the same time the following morning.

If you really are regular for the majority of the nights, it may be not so bad to have a night thats different, Prof Blagrove says.

On a regular basis, its not that helpful to keep disrupting your body clock by having a much later bedtime.

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Whatsapp The coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on almost all aspects of life  including sleep (Simon Cooper/PA)

 Getting sleep isnt a problem  its what happens to my dreams that is the worrying part. Any tips?

Changes to peoples lives have, anecdotally, seemed to have an impact on peoples dreams.

If people are having a distressing waking life, it may present in their dreams, Prof Blagrove said.

Thankfully, there are some tried and tested tips on how to reduce nightmares.

Share you dreams, tape record them and tell to someone later if necessary, Prof Blagrove said.

The other option is to think about the whole nightmare, and think about what change youd like to make, and imagine the changed element for 10 minutes.

Its called re-scripting or image rehearsal therapy  the altered version stops your brain during the night automatically going back to that distressing version.

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WASHINGTON - Democrats claimed control of the Senate by the thinnest possible margin Wednesday as Vice President Kamala Harris swore in three new Democratic senators, bringing Republicans and Democrats to an even 50-50 split in the chamber.

Harris, appearing in her role as Senate president just hours after her inauguration as vice president, will serve as the tiebreaker, giving her party a one-vote majority - and thus the power to set the agenda in Senate committees and on the Senate floor.

The changing of the guard took second billing Wednesday to Joe Biden's ascension to the White House. But with Democrats already in control of the House, the transition in the Senate holds enormous implications for Biden's ability to staff executive agencies and pass legislation at the dawn of his presidency.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., the incoming majority leader, has laid out ambitious goals for the opening weeks of the new Senate, balancing the need to confirm Biden's most important nominees with the new president's desire to pass another pandemic relief bill, at a cost of nearly $2 trillion. Meanwhile, Schumer expects to conduct an impeachment trial for former president Donald Trump, who stands accused of fomenting a mob attack on the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago.

Rising for the first time as majority leader, Schumer pledged to "do business differently" and to take action to combat racial injustice, economic inequality and climate change.

"This Senate will legislate," Schumer said, a dig at Republicans who focused on confirming Trump's nominees. "It will be active, responsive, energetic and bold."

Schumer called for bipartisanship, asserting that "the Senate works best when we work together."

But partisan divisions remained deep, and it was unclear until late Wednesday whether the Senate would be able to confirm any of Biden's nominees by the end of his first day in office, a shift from tradition. Trump won two confirmations on his first day as president, while Barack Obama won six and George W. Bush won seven.

After Schumer spoke, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., agreed to lift his objection to Avril Haines, Biden's choice to serve as director of national intelligence; the Senate voted to confirm Haines, on a vote of 84 to 10.

However, four other nominees - Janet Yellen for treasury secretary, Gen. Lloyd Austin for defense secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas for homeland security secretary and Antony Blinken for secretary of state - were left waiting amid procedural hurdles and GOP objections.

Amid the wrangling, the Senate welcomed three new Democrats. Alex Padilla, 47, the former California secretary of state and the son of Mexican immigrants, was appointed to fill the remaining two years of Harris's term.

Also sworn in were media executive Jon Ossoff, 33, and Baptist minister Raphael Warnock, 51, who defeated Republican incumbents in a Jan. 5 runoff in Georgia that sealed Democratic control of both chambers of Congress. Warnock is the first African American senator in Georgia history.

"Today, America is turning over a new leaf," Ossoff told reporters. "Georgia has sent a young Jewish man and a Black pastor to represent our state in the U.S. Senate. It's a sign of generational and epochal change for our state."

It is also a reflection of the contemporary Democratic coalition, which over the past decade has been increasingly built on a rising number of affluent White voters along with large majorities of the nation's Black and Latino voters. They join a Democratic caucus intent on delivering early, tangible results for the new president, starting with an improved response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed roughly 400,000 Americans and wreaked economic devastation.

In his inaugural address Wednesday, delivered from a rostrum overrun by violent pro-Trump rioters just two weeks ago, Biden called on Americans - and his former Senate colleagues - to "step up" and confront a "time of testing."

"We face an attack on our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis," Biden said, adding: "It's time for boldness, for there's so much to do. And this is certain - I promise you we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era."

Democratic senators leaving the speech said they would meet Biden's challenge.

"I'm excited about a chance to show America what we can do when we're in the majority," said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.

But there are signs of considerable obstacles ahead: Schumer and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the top Republican leader, have yet to agree how the Senate will operate under a 50-50 split. Such an agreement is essential to form committees, set staff budgets and smoothly operate a chamber that handles a vast amount of business by unanimous consent.

McConnell signaled this week that he is looking for assurances from Democrats that they will not abandon the filibuster, the Senate rule that requires 60 senators to agree to end debate and proceed to a final vote.

With the Senate evenly divided and the Democratic majority in the House down to single digits, McConnell hinted that any attempt to steamroll Republicans would invite calamity. "The people intentionally entrusted both political parties with significant power to shape our nation's direction," he said. "May we work together to honor that trust."

Democrats are under pressure from liberal activists to ditch the filibuster to make it easier to pass major planks of Biden's agenda, from civil rights and climate legislation to spending and tax bills that historically have been the focus of pitched partisan battles.

The last time the Senate was evenly divided, in 2001, the two parties agreed to a far-reaching power-sharing arrangement that kept committees evenly split but otherwise gave the party with the vice presidency - in that case, the GOP - the crucial power to set the agenda. But that was a less partisan era on Capitol Hill, and the filibuster was not under threat as it is now.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the No. 3 GOP leader, said it was prudent for McConnell to insist on assurances given the partisan environment. He noted that Republicans insisted on maintaining the filibuster in the first two years of Trump's presidency, when the GOP controlled both the House and the Senate.

If Democrats seek to eliminate the filibuster, he said, "I think it would be very destructive."

Other Republicans adopted a more conciliatory tone, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, one of a clutch of centrist senators who helped negotiate last month's pandemic relief bill.

"We're going to have some issues that we just fundamentally disagree with," Murkowski said. "But, I think, to the president's words, you can still disagree from a policy perspective and you can do so in ways that are still respectful and allow you to continue to work toward other goals."

However, the difficulty in securing quick nominations threw a pall over the happy talk on Wednesday. In addition to Haines, Treasury Department pick Janet Yellen is the most likely nominee to be quickly confirmed, according to aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions.

But securing an immediate vote requires all 100 senators, Republican and Democrat, to agree to expedited procedures.

The delays vexed Democrats, who acknowledged that the late date of the Georgia runoffs had played a role. But they laid greater blame on the unusually bitter transition period since the Nov. 3 election.

"Look, the transition was delayed far too long by President Trump's baseless conspiracy theories about how he won the election," said Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., a Biden confidant. "There were confirmation hearings for a whole series of [Biden's] seasoned and capable Cabinet nominees . . . really capable folks. We should be confirming them today."
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Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia
At 10:15 a.m., troopers from the ISP Lowell Post stopped a maroon 2006 Honda in the northbound lanes on I-65 for a traffic violation, a release said. While speaking with the occupants, the odor of smoked marijuana was detected and other observations led troopers to believe that other criminal activity was taking place, the release said.
HOLLAND, MI - High winds sweeping across Lake Michigan are expected to build waves up to 12 feet from Holland to points north today. This could lead to beach and shoreline erosion along an area already hard-hit by erosion issues in the last couple years, according to the National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids.

Beginning about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, southwest winds are forecast to ramp up, with gusts hitting as high as 45 mph.

The highest waves are expected to build from Holland and northward. The NWS has issued a Gale Warning for that part of Lake Michigan, starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday and lasting until 1 a.m. Thursday.

The risk for lakeshore flooding is low, but the risk for beach and dune erosion is high due to wave action, NWS meteorologists said. Southwest-facing shoreline will be most at risk for erosion.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Periods of rain. Thunder possible. High 59F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 43F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
FP Trending

Vivo has expanded its Y series of smartphones with the launch of Vivo Y31 in India. The device comes with a 48 MP AI triple camera setup at the back. The Y31 has been priced at Rs 16,490 for the 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage variant. The ROM is expandable up to 1 TB. Also, the company is offering the latest smartphone in two colour options, namely the Racing Black variant and the Ocean Blue. It is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging.

People can purchase the Vivo Y31 online from the official website of Vivo India or via the e-commerce websites of Amazon and Flipkart. It will be also available on Paytm and across all partner retail stores. Vivo is offering certain discounts and EMI options with purchase through certain banks that are only valid till the end of January 2021.

According to a company release, the Vivo Y31 boasts of a 48 MP primary camera at the back which offers high-quality photo-processing algorithms. The device also has a 2 MP Bokeh lens and a super night mode for the rear camera. This lens uses the multi-frame noise reduction algorithm to reduce the noise in the photos thereby correcting the quality of pictures taken at night. Vivo Y31 also uses the Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) technology in the rear camera setup that will help users crop and align individual frames better.

There is a feature to stabilise the unstable movements while capturing videos on the phone. On the front, the Y31 comes with a 16 MP camera for clicking distinct selfies.

Along with a full HD+ 2408  1080 resolution, the device is suitable for those interested in immersive video experience as well as gamers. The Y31 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6-series processor and it runs on the latest Funtouch OS 11 which is based on Android 11.like other Vivo phones, this product has been manufactured at their Greater Noida unit under the initiative of Make in India.
President Joe Biden said the U.S. will engage partners and allies to meet tomorrow's challenges in his first speech as commander in chief.

Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, where a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters broke into the building Jan. 6. He was surrounded by 25,000 National Guard members, who descended on the nation's capital in recent days over security concerns surrounding the transfer of presidential powers.

"We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again, not to beat yesterday's challenges, but today's and tomorrow's challenges. And we'll lead not merely by the example of our power but by the power of our example," Biden told an Inauguration Day crowd that was significantly scaled down due to security concerns and the coronavirus pandemic.

Read Next: Capitol Police Hero and Army Vet Eugene Goodman Promoted, Escorts VP to Inauguration

"We will be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security," he added.

Though he didn't mention him by name, Biden's remarks seemed to rebuke Trump's America First approach to foreign policy that alienated some partners and allies over the last four years.

Trump broke with tradition Wednesday by leaving Washington, D.C., ahead of Biden's inauguration, opting against attending. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence, who was in the Capitol two weeks ago when it was overtaken, was present, sitting behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris made history, becoming the nation's first female, Black and Asian-American vice president. She was escorted by U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, a former Army infantryman, who led a mob of protesters away from lawmakers during the riot and has been promoted to acting deputy House sergeant at arms.

Lady Gaga sang the national anthem; Jennifer Lopez and the President's Own Marine Band performed "This Land Is Your Land;" and Garth Brooks closed the ceremony with "Amazing Grace."

Biden's speech was light on comments about how he'll lead the military, instead focusing largely on rebuilding unity during a period of great political division. The rise of extremism, white supremacy and domestic terrorism must be confronted and defeated, he said.

That echoed remarks Biden's defense secretary nominee laid out before a Senate committee Tuesday. Lloyd Austin, a retired Army general on track to be the first Black defense secretary, said during his Senate confirmation hearing that he'll rid the ranks of extremists and other personnel dividing the ranks.

Americans are being tested, Biden said, referencing what he called an attack on democracy two weeks ago and a war on truth. At the same time, he added, the coronavirus pandemic continues sickening and killing thousands of Americans daily, and the country is fighting to stamp out racism.

Biden pledged to prioritize the nation's response to the pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 400,000 Americans.

"Any one of these [problems] will be enough to challenge us in profound ways," Biden said. "But the fact is, we face that all at once, presenting the nation with one of the greatest responsibilities we've had. ... Are we going to step up?"

In calling for unity, Biden stressed that he's a president serving all Americans. A recent NBC News poll found that 35% of voters -- including 74% of Republicans, 30% of Independents and 3% of Democrats -- believe Biden did not win the election legitimately. That's after former Attorney General William Barr said the Justice Department uncovered no evidence of widespread voter fraud that would have changed the election's outcome.

Biden called for an end to the "uncivil war" he says is pitting Americans against each other depending on how they look, where they worship, or where they get their news.

"We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts," he said. "If we're willing to stand in the other person's shoes, as my mom would say, just for a moment."

Biden is scheduled to review the readiness of military troops in a pass-in-review ceremony Wednesday. Members of all the military branches typically participate, during which newly sworn-in presidents receive their first salute as commander in chief.

Biden, the first lady, Harris and the second gentleman are scheduled to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, where they'll lay a wreath Wednesday afternoon.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Joe Biden Has Been Elected President. Here's What That Means for the Military
Governor John Bel Edwards speaks at his press conference updating the state's COVID-19 response, Jan. at the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
At the Military Medical University (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Twenty volunteers received the second shots of Nanocovax - a Vietnam-developed COVID-19 vaccine at the Military Medical University on January 20.

Among them, three people, who had been injected a dose on December 26, 2020, were given a dose of 50mcg and the remainders got a dose of 25 mcg. All of the volunteers are now in stable conditions.

Vietnam has so far gone through more than half of the first stage of clinical vaccine trials.

Associate Prof. Ho Anh Son, Deputy Director of the Military Medical Universitys Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy,said the test results 7,14 and 28 days after the injection showed that the vaccine is capable of producing immunity and ensuring safety.

Out of over 500 applicants for the vaccine trial, more than 200 underwent health check-ups, of whom 51 people are eligible for the first stage.

The second stage, starting from February, is expected to conduct trials on 400-600 people aged between 12-17.

The Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will also join in the vaccine research.

The third stage, scheduled for August, will see trials on 10,000 - 30,000.

If successful, Vietnam will begin mass production of the COVID-19 vaccine in early 2022.
Farmers' Protest: Centre-farmers to hold tenth round of talks today

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 20: The tenth round of talks between the central government and farmers will take place on Wednesday at 2 pm in Delhi. The talks were earlier slated for Tuesday, but the Agriculture Ministry delayed it by a day.

Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said the scheduled meeting of a Group of Ministers with agitating farmer organisations for January 19 has been postponed to January 20 due to some unavoidable reasons.

'Trusted partner' India to supply Covid vaccine to 6 countries, Bhutan to be first recipients

Though the Supreme Court has stayed the implementation of these laws and set up an expert committee to resolve the issue, the Centre has kept open the channel of dialogue with the farmers' unions.

Meanwhile, Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar has expressed hope that farmers will discuss alternatives other than repeal of the laws.

"I am hoprful that farmers will discuss alternatives so that we can reach a solution," Tomar had said while making an appeal to the farmers not to go ahead with their proposed tractor rally on Republic Day in the national capital.

Biden-Harris pay tribute to Americans who lost their lives to COVID-19

The previous nine rounds of formal talks between the Centre and 41 farmer unions have failed to yield any concrete results to end the long-running protest at Delhi's borders as the latter have stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three acts.

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

Besides being adamant on repealing the three Union farm laws, farmers are also demanding a legal guarantee for procurement of crops at the Minimum Support Price.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 9:16 [IST]
Bangladesh foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen (center) briefs reporters in Dhaka after a virtual meeting with China and Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation, Jan. 19, 2021.

Bangladesh and Myanmar resumed China-brokered talks on Rohingya repatriation for the first time in a year on Tuesday, with Dhaka urging the neighboring country to create conditions in which refugees would agree to return, officials said.

The two sides tentatively discussed a fresh attempt to begin repatriation in the second quarter of the new year, though it was not immediately clear what guarantees Rohingya would receive about their safety and livelihood under the plan.

Today we again heavily emphasized on creating a conducive environment for Rohingya repatriation  The conducive environment is inextricably linked with voluntary repatriation, Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters after the 90-minute virtual meeting.

He also asked Myanmar to expedite its vetting and verifying of Rohingya refugees as a prerequisite for their return, amid recent revelations that Myanmar had approved only 42,000 names from a list of 840,000 compiled by Dhaka.

Two earlier attempts to begin repatriation to Myanmar  in November 2018 and August 2019  failed, with Rohingya leaders saying at the time that refugees would not return until their safety, security, and rights were guaranteed in that country.

[W]e werent successful in giving two dates previously. Were taking lessons from that, and looking for ways to succeed, Momen said Tuesday.

Myanmar shot down Bangladeshs proposal for village-based repatriation, insisting instead on beginning with people from its list of 42,000 verified names, Momen said.

I had to say two or three times, that number is not important here. It is important to see whether they know each other or not, he said. We want to send together people who came from the same area, so that they feel comfortable.

After a visit to Rakhine state in August 2018 by then-Bangladeshi Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali, a ministry official who accompanied him said conditions for the sustainable return of the refugees had yet to be created.

The houses of the Muslims were under barricade. The commercial establishments of the Muslims were completely shut. There is no livelihood opportunity for them, Habibul Kabir Chowdhury told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, at the time.

Terrorist elements

Bangladesh also proposed repatriations in the first three months of 2021, but Myanmar said any attempt would have to wait for the second quarter due to the need for logistical arrangements, according to Momen.

A statement about the meeting issued by Naypyidaw claimed that Myanmar has made all necessary arrangements for the repatriation and reaffirmed Myanmars readiness to receive the verified displaced persons in line with the bilateral agreements.

Hau Do Suan, Myanmars deputy minister of international cooperation, meanwhile urged Bangladesh to address the issue of terrorist elements intimidating and posing threats to the displaced persons not to return to Myanmar, the statement said.

He was evidently referring to members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), which claims to be fighting for the rights of the stateless and oppressed minority in Myanmar.

ARSA attacks on police posts in Myanmars Rakhine state in August 2017 killed nine and led to a military crackdown on the Rohingya population that led some 740,000 people to flee to Bangladesh over the following months.

[W]e dont allow any insurgents or terrorist groups on our soil. There are some criminal groups, but they dont have any religious or political identities, Momen said he told the meeting in response to this point.

The Chinese framework

China has been attempting to facilitate Rohingya repatriation since late 2017.

The last such engagement was a mid-level meeting in Dhaka on Jan. 20, 2020, a local official told BenarNews at the time. Efforts then ground to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On Tuesday, the two sides agreed to hold a joint working group meeting with bigger teams in the first week of February, Momen said.

Tuesdays meeting was chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui via video link to the three capitals.

In a statement, the Chinese diplomat avoided the word Rohingya in stating Chinas position that the issue of displaced people from Rakhine is ultimately a bilateral one. As part of its marginalization of the Rohingya, Myanmar refuses to acknowledge their ethnic identity.

The international community, China included, should play a constructive role instead of further complicating the situation, the statement said.

Bangladesh initially resisted this framework for negotiations, according to a foreign ministry official who spoke to BenarNews in 2017.

The essence of the Chinese proposal is that we resolve the Rohingya problem bilaterally with Myanmar. The Chinese proposal is almost similar to Myanmars, the director said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Basically, China wants Bangladesh to stop putting international pressure on Myanmar through the U.N. and other international bodies. They [China] want to dictate the Rohingya issue, he said.

Bhashan Char visit

In other developments Tuesday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal traveled to the Bay of Bengal isle where Bangladesh has controversially relocated more than 3,500 Rohingya to relieve pressure on overcrowded refugee camps in the countrys southeast.

Khan, the highest ranking government official to visit Bhashan Char so far, inaugurated its first police station.

International aid agencies have expressed concern that refugees may not be safe on the low-lying island, which is vulnerable to cyclones. But Bangladesh claims it has developed the island with facilities to guard against such threats, and that Rohingya have moved there voluntarily.

From Bhasan Char, the home minister flew by helicopter to the Kutupalong refugee camp in mainland Coxs Bazar district, where he met with Rohingya leaders and administrative officials.

There, he called up about 36 Rohingya leaders to ensure that refugees stay put in the camps and refrain from any activities that can embarrass the government or disturb law and order, according to one attendee, Mohammad Rafique.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

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Tesla models are the number two or three best selling cars in many markets

The launch of the first all-electric Mercedes-Benz SUV today will offer some strong competition against s new Model Y compact crossover.

Mercedes parent (OTCMKTS:DMLRY) on Wednesday said the Mercedes-Benz EQA was an urban entry model with a range of 265 miles on a full charge, with a 310-mile model in the pipeline.

This launch follows the first all-electric Mercedes-Benz model, the EQC, and there are plans to launch another five Mercedes-Benz EQ models by 2022.

The EQA will be on sale in Europe from early next month, with prices starting under 40,000 in the UK including grants.

, as it is a shareholder in StoreDot, the company that earlier this week produced a lithium-ion battery from its factory that is capable of being fully charged in five minutes, will be looking at this as another way to gain an edge on its EV electric vehicle (EV) rivals.

In the first nine months of 2020, sales of electric and hybrid cars in the EU surged 122%, while across the globe are estimated to have risen 43% over the year to more than 3mln, with December at double the number year-on-year.

In the UK, sales of pure EVs rocketed up 186% to 108,000 over the whole year, while hybrids registrations were up over 90% to almost 67,000, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) early this month.

The UK has laid out plans to phase out the sale of new cars and vans run on traditional fuels by 2030.

Outside Europe growth of EVs was slower, but still significant, said consultancy EV-volumes this week.

China EV sales were up by 12% for the year, while in the USA increased by just 4%, despite the start of Tesla Model-Y.

Tesla is the top selling manufacturer of EV, according to EV-volumes, with 62% of all plug-in vehicle sales and 79% of all US battery EV sales.

But Elon Musks company is not the number one seller in many European markets. For example, in Norway, a leading EV market with 54.3% of all new cars being plug-in models in 2020, the VWs Audi e-tron was the top seller, with the Tesla Model 3 pushed into second place a year after being number one.

And overall in Europe in November, the Renault Zoe was the best seller and the Volkswagen ID.3 in second, with the Model 3 in third.

Tesla is due to launch and make first deliveries of its Model Plaid, a souped-up version of the Model S that will go head-to-head with the Porsche Taycan, by the end of 2021.

Investors in Tesla have enjoyed a 20% rise in the company's shares already in 2021, with the next big event on the horizon being quarterly results from the California-based company on January 27.
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The departure of US President Donald Trump and the likely demise of the so-called Deal of a Century as a framework to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has renewed hopes for more democratic management of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and for Palestinian-Palestinian reconciliation after a 13-year rupture.

Cairo has been one of the key players in the drive to generate momentum for the peace process. Towards this end President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi visited Jordan this week to promote coordination and joint action with Amman. In an effort to re-order the Palestinian front a meeting between Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian intelligence chiefs was held at the same time as Al-Sisis visit to Jordan and the recent announcement that Palestinian general elections will be held in May further reinforces hopes that significant movement is afoot. The peace quartet that Egypt formed with Jordan, France and Germany on the fringes of the Munich Security Conference last year is also a cause for optimism. The quartet held its first meeting in Amman in September and its second in Cairo two weeks ago.

An informed source told Al-Ahram Weekly that this three-track movement aims to resume the negotiating process and Cairo has been working on all three tracks in tandem.

Last month Cairo hosted representatives of the Palestinian factions in order to kick-start the resumption of the reconciliation process preparatory to the envisioned general elections. A possible reshuffle of the Hamas political bureau may help in this regard.

Former Palestinian minister Hassan Asfour said that now that Egypt has revived its regional role Cairo has been moving forward on multiple fronts, as shown by the creation of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum and the above-mentioned Arab-European quartet.

Major General Mohamed Ibrahim, deputy director of the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Thought and Studies and formerly a key official involved in the file, agrees that Egypt has been working to build the momentum needed to overcome past obstacles and inject fresh dynamism in the process. He added that Egypt and Jordan will spearhead Arab efforts to promote a settlement and that the Egyptian president and the Jordanian King saw eye to eye on all matters of mutual concern in their talks which occurred the day after the meeting between the Egyptian and Jordanian intelligence chiefs with PA President Abu Mazen in Ramallah.

Egyptian and Jordanian support for the Palestinian cause will have positive results in the near future, Ibrahim said. Egypt and Jordan view the Palestinian cause as a national security matter and fully agree on the need to apply the two-state solution as a framework for the peace process. The two-state solution calls for the creation of an independent Palestinian state in the pre-1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.

Observers predict that results of the current Egyptian-Jordanian drive will appear by summer. By then new US President Joe Bidens position on the issues will be clear and the dust from Israeli and Palestinian elections will have settled if they occur, as hoped, in May.

Said Okasha, an expert on Israeli affairs at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, told the Weekly that Cairo and Amman fully intend to contain the fallout from the Trump legacy on Palestinian cause.

Implementation of the Deal of the Century would have come at Jordans expense and it is hard to imagine Palestinians accepting a state on less than 70 per cent of the West Bank that legitimises the Israeli settlements there. A broad front is needed, spearheaded by Jordan and Egypt, to overcome that proposal, he said.

Okasha predicts that the forthcoming Israeli Knesset elections  the fourth in two years  will strengthen the Israeli right, giving it 70 to 72 seats in the Knesset. However, the right is itself sharply divided, even if current opinion polls suggest Benyamin Netanyahu will secure another term in office. His Likud Partys main rival will be the New Hope Party led by Gideon Saar which could win 17 seats, more than Benny Gantzs Israel Resilience Party. According to the polls, the centre right Yesh Atid could win 15 seats, while the historic Labour Party may disappear altogether now that its leader Amir Peretz has announced his retirement from politics.

Right wing seats in the Knesset will be occupied by an array of ultranationalists and religious conservatives at a time when Biden will be addressing his administrations position on Iran as well as, perhaps, the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. It is not surprising, therefore, the Israeli right would want to usher Netanyahu back into power because of his success in mobilising Congress against actions he disapproves of, as he displayed regularly during the Obama era.

On the Palestinian front, says Okasha, Palestinian general elections are an Egyptian-Jordanian pressure card to advance the unification of Palestinian opinion in advance of any negotiations.

Hassan Asfour believes that there is an opportunity for what he characterises as a possible solution to the conflict. He cites a number of positive indicators such as growing acceptance of the concept of a land swap of around 5.5 to 7.5 per cent of West Bank territory with Israel as part of the final arrangements. There are also signs of Palestinian willingness to recognise the Temple of the Mount in Jerusalem.

Now that Jordan a major stakeholder in the equation will impact on the negotiating process, especially as pertains to the status of Jerusalem, security and the Jordan Valley where Israel wants complete sovereignty over airspace. Ultimately, the feasible solution, given changes in Palestinian and Israeli attitudes, is neither Torah Zionist nor hard-line Arab nationalist as was the case in the past. The feasible opens the way for a point of convergence.

In Asfours opinion, recent normalisation processes may also serve to advance the new peace drive. Above all, they put paid to the long sustained Israeli line that Israel was alone in a hostile Arab environment. He also believes that main challenge to holding Palestinian elections will come less from the lack of Palestinian resolve than from possible Israeli attempts to impede them. Israel has already made it clear that it opposes the participation of Palestinians in East Jerusalem in the elections.

Ibrahim agrees that plans to hold Palestinian elections will face obstacles and wonders whether the Palestinian factions will be able to overcome Israels pre-emptive conditions in preparatory talks on the electoral process.

If the elections do go ahead they will do so, says Ibrahim, for four reasons: the need to re-establish the legitimacy of Palestinian parliamentary and government agencies in order to set the Palestinian cause on track; the need to stimulate unity of cause and action on the domestic front after a decade and a half of stagnation and schism; the importance of asserting the ability of the Palestinian leadership to introduce genuine reforms into government institutions, and the absolute necessity to deliver a message to the international community that the Palestinian leadership has the resolve to promote democratisation when circumstances are conducive.

In short, Ibrahim believes clarification of the Biden administrations stance on the peace process, the results of the Israeli elections and the results of the Palestinian elections if they happen, will have a major impact on the Middle East peace process and on the prospects of propelling the political situation forward.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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New Delhi, Jan 20 : The Delhi High Court has pulled up the municipal corporations for the non-payment of salaries and pensions to their employees, noting that paucity of funds cannot be an excuse and that right to receive pay is a fundamental right enshrined under the Constitution of India.

A division bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli was hearing a batch of petitions in relation to the non-payment of salaries and pensions to the employees of Delhi municipal corporations, particularly North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NrDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).

"Reason assigned for non-payment of timely salaries is stated to be paucity of funds which, as is well settled, cannot be an excuse for non-payment, keeping in view the fact that the right to receive salary and pension is a fundamental right enshrined under Article 21 of Constitution and non-payment would have direct bearing on quality of life," the court stated.

The court further said that it is absolutely necessary that payment of salaries and pensions is made to the employees and retired employees of the corporations, which also include doctors, paramedical staff and health workers -- who are rendering their services in the time of pandemic and serving the citizens of Delhi.

The division bench further said that non-availability of funds "cannot be and shall not" be accepted by it as an excuse for timely payment of salaries. "The payment of salaries and pensions has to be prioritised over other discretionary expenses that the corporations are incurring." "We, therefore, direct the Municipal Corporations to place before us the different heads of expenditure in respect to the Municipal Counsellors, Class-I officers and Class-II officers. The amounts incurred in providing perks to them should be clearly disclosed under each specific head," the bench ordered, slating the next hearing to January 21.

Employees of the municipal corporations have gone on strike in recent months over the non-payment of their salaries. Thousands of civic body staffers went on an indefinite strike on January 7, demanding their pay and pension to be released.
All foreign experts and flight crew entering Vietnam will have to compulsorily undergo a 14-day centralized quarantine as Covid-19 prevention measures are strengthened ahead of Tet.

A government directive has stopped all short-term and home quarantine provisions. Earlier, allowances were made for some foreign experts and flight crew to be quarantined for less than 14 days or to be self-isolated at home or other accommodations, like dormitories, factories, hotels and offices.

The new rule was announced at a Wednesday meeting by Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long, according to the ministry's portal.

Only special diplomats identified as such by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be exempt from the centralized quarantine rule, Long said.

The latest move comes as the country of 96 million people tightens Covid-19 prevention measures ahead of Tet, the Lunar New Year, which is Vietnam's biggest and most important holiday. The holiday usually sees millions of Vietnamese from within and outside their country return to their homes to welcome the New Year with traditional rituals.

This year, the Year of the Buffalo, peaks on February 12.

The Vietnamese government has also limited inbound flights from now until the Lunar New Year holiday in light of new variants of the novel coronavirus spreading fast in many countries. Only flights with approval from the Ministries of Health, Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Public Security and Transport can enter the country, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said earlier this month.

On January 5, the Vietnamese government had suspended flights from countries and territories with the new variants, starting with the U.K. and South Africa.

Vietnam suspended all inbound international commercial flights late March, but the government has been operating repatriation flights to bring home Vietnamese citizens stuck abroad amid the pandemic, and has allowed special flights to carry foreign experts and investors to the country.

Illegal entrants

Minister Long said he was still worried about an increasing number of illegal entrants trying to enter the country through unmanned paths and trails to avoid being quarantined. Such people would heighten the risks of another Covid-19 outbreak, he said.

The Ministry of National Defense has ordered the military to bolster troop numbers along borders to prevent illegal entry, since a large number of Vietnamese working in neighboring countries like Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and China are seeking to return home for Tet in many ways.

Vietnams success in containing the pandemic has been rooted in its strict quarantining and tracking measures. Thus far, the nation has recorded 1,540 infections and 35 deaths, and has not reported any community transmission for the last 47 days.
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Jewish Committee (AJC) mourns the passing of Howard Friedman, who served as president of the premier global Jewish advocacy organization from 1983 to 1986. He was 92 years old.

A longtime partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Loeb and Loeb, Friedman served as Deputy Attorney General for the State of California from 1955 to 1957. Before being elected AJC President, the first person on the West Coast to hold the position, he served as Chair of AJC's Board of Governors, Chair of AJC's Board of Trustees, and President of AJC Los Angeles. He was an AJC Honorary President from 1986 till his death.

"I had the privilege of knowing Howard during the years of his presidency and thereafter," said AJC CEO David Harris. "Without any exaggeration, he had one of the sharpest minds I have ever encountered. An exceptionally gifted speaker and writer, he was a consummate ambassador and advocate for AJC in the halls of power, both at home and abroad. The Jewish people were incredibly fortunate to benefit from his leadership and passion."

During his presidency, the organization deepened its interactions with Germany, begun shortly after the end of World War II. AJC was well-positioned, as the pioneering Jewish organization engaged in dialogue with Germany, to reach out to President Reagan regarding his controversial visit, in May 1985, to the Bitburg cemetery, where SS officers are buried. Friedman, together with AJC Associate Director William Trosten and AJC International Relations Director Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum, shuttled among Bonn, New York, and Washington. On April 29, 1985, an AJC delegation led by Friedman met with President Reagan at the White House.

At AJC's suggestion, President Reagan and Chancellor Kohl added to the visit the gravesite of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, where Reagan spoke about Adenauer's sense of shame for the Holocaust as well as his support for the State of Israel. In addition, the two leaders visited the former concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen, where they spent more time than planned and President Reagan delivered a highly emotional speech.

In July 1987, Friedman was honored by the Federal Republic of Germany for his work to promote greater understanding between American Jews and West Germany. He was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, "in recognition of the actions and initiatives he had taken as president and representative of the American Jewish Committee to further develop contacts, dialogues, and cooperation, to foster mutual understanding between his country and the Federal Republic of Germany."

Over the decades, Friedman held numerous leadership positions in Jewish organizations, and was committed to Commentary Magazine. He learned Jewish values from his parents Sam and Emma, who founded The Southwest Jewish Chronicle, 1932-1991, which circulated and united the small Jewish communities of the American Southwest.

He served for 18 years (1996-2014) as the founding Chairman of the Board of the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, and as an Emeritus Governor of the Board of Overseers of the Hebrew Union College.

A native of Chicago, Friedman received a BA, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Oklahoma, an MA from the University of Chicago, and an LLB from Yale Law School, where he was an Editor of the Law Journal. At the end of the Korean War, he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force JAG Corps. He then moved to California to teach at Stanford University Law School. Friedman spent his career at Loeb & Loeb, where he was the managing partner and head of the litigation department, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

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, Jaydev pointed out that YSRC governments campaign alleging such trading is totally false.  DC Image

VIJAYAWADA: Guntur MP Galla Jayadev of Telugu Desam said he will raise the issue of Amaravati being the only capital of the AP state in the forthcoming session of the Parliament.

He was speaking after participating in the Amaravati Sankalpa Rally organised to coincide with 400 days of continuous protests by people of the city for retaining Amaravati as the sole capital.

Activists of Telugu Yuvatha, Communist parties and farmers joined the procession taken out on the occasion in which the TDP Lok Sabha member drove a tractor in support of Amaravati farmers.

Recalling the High Court verdict on alleged insider trading in Amaravati lands, Jaydev pointed out that YSRC governments campaign alleging such trading is totally false. He observed that judges can be changed but justice cannot change. He expressed confidence that Amaravati farmers will get justice from courts.

The Guntur MP charged YSRC government of not being sensitive to farmers launching the Amaravati movement. He emphasised on the need to convert Amaravati agitation into a state-wide movement of the masses.

Senior TDP leader Devineni Umamaheswara Rao tried to join the Amaravati Sankalpa Rally but police did not allow him out of his house. He thus held a Deeksha at his home to express solidarity with Amaravati farmers.

Telugu Desam state secretary Kasibhatla Satyasainath Sharma described civil supplies minister Kodali Nani as a mental patient because of the fear that he will lose his ministership in another eight months.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday at Kamalapuram, Satyasainath Sharma said YSRC leaders are unable to bear the rising popularity of Chandrababu Naidu. Some of them like Kodali Nani are criticising their party chief without rhyme or reason. The TD leader pointed out that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy himself has imposed a two-and-a-half-year term limit on ministers. This is causing anxiety and fear among the ministers such as Nani.

Those present at Satyasainaths press conference included Janardan Rao, former coordinator of Brahmin Corporation in the district.
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What odds an ex-gambling minister gets expelled from the ALP? Marlene Kairouz, part of the Adem Somyu-wreckage from the branch stacking allegations that hit the Andrews government last year has been asked to show cause why she should not be expelled from the party she has served for more than 20 years.

This explosive development could reignite the simmering factional feuds that intermittently threaten the stability of the Andrews government. While dealing with COVID-19, the economy, infrastructure blowouts and tantrums from spoilt brat tennis stars, the Premier also has to soothe the ego and ambition of factional warlords or risk brawling in his party.

Former minister Marlene Kairouz. Credit:Eddie Jim

In mid 2020, forensic reports in The Age led to three ministers either quitting or being sacked from the state government. Marlene Kairouz, her mentor Adem Somyurek, who was then minister for local government, and finance minister Robin Scott all departed. Former premier Steve Bracks and former senior federal minister Jenny Macklin took the unenviable job of auditing the membership and establishing a clear path out of the scandal. The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission was asked to investigate if any crimes had been committed, and that is continuing.

The Bracks/Macklin report was released just before Christmas. Amid COVID, Trump and the holiday season it had little scrutiny. Now it can be revealed that half a dozen "perpetrators" of branch stacking have been sent show cause notices, with Kairouz the highest-profile of them.
WASHINGTON  Californias Kamala Harris became the highest-ranking woman and woman of color ever in American politics when she was sworn in as the 49th vice president of the United States on Wednesday, a historic moment of celebration amid pain in the nations capital.

It was a day filled with symbolic choices that called attention to the significance of Harris vice presidency, and solemn rituals that both signaled the normalcy and the unusual nature of her and President Bidens inauguration.

Harris was administered the oath of office at 11:41 a.m. EST by another barrier-breaking woman, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina on the high court.

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The new vice president placed her hand on two Bibles. One, the same Bible she used when being sworn in as California attorney general and U.S. senator, was a nod to her upbringing in the East Bay. It belonged to Regina Shelton, a neighbor she knew as Mrs. Shelton, who became like a second mother to Harris. The second Bible belonged to Justice Thurgood Marshall, the seminal civil rights lawyer and first Black Supreme Court justice.

She was escorted at the ceremonies by Eugene Goodman, the Black Capitol Police officer who heroically faced down rioters loyal to former President Donald Trump who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 and led them away from where senators were hiding.

In another gesture to the historic nature of her vice presidency, Harris selected a Black designer for her inaugural outfit, a purple suit ensemble created by Christopher John Rogers of Los Angeles.

Harris, 56, earned her place in the history books in a relatively short time. In 2003, she won her first race for elected office as San Francisco district attorney. She was elected state attorney general in 2010, and was two years into her second term in 2016 when she was elected to the Senate. Just two years after arriving in Washington, she began her own campaign for president, and though it failed, she landed on the ticket as Bidens running mate.

In each post, Harris was a pioneer  the first woman or first woman of color ever to hold that office. But she often says being the first never intimidated her.

I have in my career been told many times, Its not your time. Its not your turn, Harris said in a campaign video posted in November. And let me just tell you, I eat no for breakfast.

Biden acknowledged Harris historic election in his inaugural address, noting that as he spoke from the Capitol, he looked out upon the National Mall where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech in 1963 and where women marching for the right to vote were met with thousands of protesters 50 years before that.

Today, we mark the swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office  Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden said. Dont tell me things cant change.

The pomp and circumstance of Harris inauguration stood in contrast with the heavily militarized Capitol and White House, fortified by tens of thousands of National Guard troops in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection that left five dead, including a Capitol Police officer.

Instead of being packed with hundreds of thousands of people, as it was when Barack Obama became the first Black president in 2009, the silent National Mall was filled with flags representing Americans who could not be there because of the coronavirus pandemic. On the eve of the inauguration, Harris and Biden held a memorial for the more than 400,000 Americans who have lost their lives to the disease.

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The solemnity of the day continued as Biden and Harris traveled via motorcade to Arlington National Cemetery, where the new president and vice president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Around Washington, there were only brief glimpses of the typical inauguration festivities. Outside the security fencing enclosing the area around the White House, small crowds formed to listen to Bidens address on speakers. A larger group of Biden and Harris supporters mingled on the street designated as Black Lives Matter Plaza, directly across from the White House. Along the street, a few vendors set up tables to sell Biden-Harris merchandise.

The new president and vice presidents traditional walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House was truncated, though not entirely eliminated. Gone were the crowds of spectators. In their place stood law enforcement officers, most of whom saluted as Harris and Bidens motorcades passed by.

In another symbolic choice, Harris was escorted toward the White House during the abbreviated parade by the drum line of Howard University, her alma mater. Harris is the first graduate of a historically Black college or university to be vice president.

Harris and her family, including husband Doug Emhoff, walked the last few hundred yards, as Biden and his family did shortly before. Harris held hands with one of her grandnieces and waved and grinned behind her face mask at the few spectators along the sidewalk. When a reporter shouted, How are you feeling? she yelled back, Great!

With the Army Herald Trumpets playing from along the White House fence, she continued to the stairs of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, greeting cheering staffers. At the top, she turned and waved, then entered the building.

Harris takes office with the country staggering not just from the pandemic but from a year of social justice unrest and the white-supremacist-linked insurrection. In addition to how effectively she supports Biden, she and her actions will be scrutinized with an eye toward whether she may one day succeed the 78-year-old president.

Biden has yet to identify where he wants Harris to focus her time and attention, but has said he wants her to assume a level of responsibility similar to what he had under Obama.

One task waiting for her is presiding over the Senate, a typically honorary role for the vice president. On Wednesday afternoon, Harris swore three new Democratic senators into office, including her replacement from California, former Secretary of State Alex Padilla, creating a 50-50 partisan split in the upper chamber.

As the tiebreaker, Harris secures the majority for Democrats, and will be called to her former home in the Capitol anytime her vote is needed.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
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PHOENIX, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the appointments of Larry Fisher, a seasoned human resources leader with nearly three decades of experience across various industries, as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Scott Seiffert, a 25-year financial services industry veteran who has held executive-level accounting, finance and audit roles at several prominent companies, as Chief Accounting Officer (CAO), effective immediately.

The new senior management team additions follow the appointments of President, Advice and Wealth Management Greg Cornick, Chief Financial Officer Jon Frojen and Senior Vice President, Digital Solutions Peter Clemson a former senior leader at Charles Schwab. The onboarding of Mr. Fisher and Mr. Seiffert to Advisor Group's executive leadership team provides another illustration of the company's focus on leveraging its scale and extensive resources to attract talent who will help its 11,000-plus financial professionals achieve outsized growth.

Mr. Fisher will report to Advisor Group President and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Price, while Mr. Seiffert will report to Mr. Frojen.

Mr. Price said, "Larry Fisher and Scott Seiffert will play crucial roles in Advisor Group's ongoing effort to build on our momentum as the nation's leading network of wealth management firms, and we are excited to welcome them to our leadership team. Bringing aboard and nurturing top talent is core to our business strategy, and I cannot think of a better partner on the human resources side than Larry Fisher, whose broad-based perspective from his work across industries will be a great asset to us. Additionally, with his wealth of experience from supporting some of the biggest names in the investment management and accounting spaces, Scott Seiffert's track record of integrity and professionalism in our industry is clear to see. I'm very excited to have professionals of their caliber on our team."

Prior to joining Advisor Group, Mr. Fisher served as chief people officer at Arizona College, an educational institution that prepares students for healthcare careers, and as vice president, human resources and development at Cadence Education, an operator of private preschools and elementary schools across the country. He previously worked overseas as head of human resources at Orica Mining Services.

Mr. Fisher said, "It's an honor to join a network of wealth management firms with the reputation for growth and innovation that Advisor Group holds. This is a truly outstanding organization with a strong culture built on the ideals of transparency, collegiality and a dedication to service. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the country to continue strengthening our commitment to our employees and financial professionals."

Before joining Advisor Group, Mr. Seiffert was managing director and chief accounting officer at TD Ameritrade. Prior to that, he served in senior finance roles at Wells Fargo Advisors and in audit roles at Edward Jones, Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr. Seiffert said, "Advisor Group's size, scale and commitment to innovation lead the independent wealth management industry, and it continues to make the strategic investments to foster further growth. It is my privilege to join this organization and its exceptional executive leadership team, and I look forward to contributing to its ongoing success."

Mr. Price concluded, "On behalf of our entire network of firms, we are excited to welcome Larry and Scott as they join the Advisor Group family. Having seasoned professionals who bring a diverse range of experiences to our team will only bolster our collective ability to serve financial professionals in all the ways they need to operate successful practices. In the end, our role as a network is to invest in the strategies and initiatives that will help financial professionals grow, and the addition of these two executives puts us in an even stronger position to do just that."

About Advisor Group

Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 11,100 financial professionals and overseeing over $450 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com.

Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379.

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SOURCE Advisor Group

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 20:01:54|Editor: huaxia

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BISHKEK, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan reported 162 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, raising the total infections to 83,430 nationwide.

According to data of the Republican Headquarters for Combating COVID-19, 124 more recoveries were registered over the past day, taking the count to 79,373.

The pandemic has so far claimed 1,392 lives in Kyrgyzstan, up by two in the past 24 hours, said the headquarters.

Currently, 726 coronavirus patients are receiving treatment in hospitals throughout the country, with 40 of them in critical condition, while another 1,010 patients are treated at home.

Over the past day, 2,692 tests for the virus have been carried out in the country.

Kyrgyzstan's health authorities are taking additional measures to prevent the import of a new strain of COVID-19.

Deputy Minister of Health Nurbolot Usenbaev said at a briefing on Tuesday that the ministry has developed a new algorithm in connection with the threat of a new strain of coronavirus.

"The work of sanitary and quarantine posts has been strengthened. All passengers arriving in Kyrgyzstan from abroad have been questioned. Also, all citizens arriving in the country must have negative PCR tests for COVID-19," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 19:37:10|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam recorded four new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing its total tally to 1,544 with 35 deaths, according to its Ministry of Health.

All the new cases are Vietnamese citizens who recently entered the country from abroad and were quarantined upon arrival.

The ministry also reported that four more patients have been given the all-clear, raising the total number of recoveries to 1,406 as of Wednesday.

Meanwhile, nearly 18,200 people are being quarantined and monitored, the ministry said.

The Asian country has gone through 50 consecutive days without any new COVID-19 cases in the community, according to the ministry. Enditem
D onald Trump has said the political movement he created is only just beginning as the outgoing president gave his farewell address.

Mr Trump said he will "pray for the success" of Joe Biden's administration, but he did not mention his successor by name or congratulate him.

The outgoing president said the country had been "horrified" by the rioting by his supporters at the Capitol in Washington DC earlier this month.

"Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated, Mr Trump said in his farewell message on Tuesday.

Donald Trump Presidency - In pictures 1 /47 Donald Trump Presidency - In pictures 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 on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC Getty Images Republican president-elect Donald Trump gives a thumbs up to the crowd during his acceptance speech at his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of 9 November 2016 in New York Getty Images U.S. Republican presidential candidate, real estate mogul and TV personality Donald Trump poses with his family after formally announcing his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during an event at Trump Tower in New York on 16 June 2015 Reuters Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds babies at a campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 29 July 2016 Reuters Donald Trump eating KFC on his private jet in August 2016 Donald Trump Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump kisses a "Women for Trump" placard during a rally at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida on 12 October 2016 AFP/Getty Images Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, America on 09 October 2016 AP U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at his election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S. on 09 November 2016 Reuters The future is orange: Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump hugs a U.S. flag Reuters Donald Trump and wife Melania being interviewed on 13 November 2016 by Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes 60 Minutes/CBS US President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump meet in the Oval Office of the White House on 10 November 2016 EPA Republican president-elect Donald Trump embraces his wife Melania Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of 09 November 2016 in New York Getty Images Donald Trump poses on the cover of Time Magazine after being named its person of the year, in a picture provided by the publication in New York on 7 December 2016 Time Magazine Donald Trump and musician Kanye West pose for media at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York on 13 December 2016 Reuters President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive for a VIP reception and dinner with donors in Washington on 19 January 2017 AP Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump walk along The Colonnade of the West Wing at The White House on January 27, 2017 in Washington, DC Getty Images Pope Francis walks along with US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump during a private audience at the Vatican in May 2017 AFP/Getty Images President Donald Trump examines a fire truck from Wisconsin-based manufacturer Pierce on the South Lawn during a "Made in America" product showcase event at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 17, 2017 AFP/Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 15, 2017 Reuters US President Donald Trump inspects border wall prototypes in March 2018 AFP/Getty Images Activists inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby during a demonstration against Trump's visit to the UK in Parliament Square, London July 2018 AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump with The Queen in July 2018 AP German Chancellor Angela Merkel deliberates with US president Donald Trump on the sidelines of the official agenda on the second day of the G7 summit on June 9, 2018 in Charlevoix, Canada Getty Images President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sentosa Island in Singapore on 12 June 2018 AP U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland in July 2018 Reuters Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian posed for a photograph together at the White House meeting Donald Trump U.S. first lady Melania Trump climbs into her motorcade vehicle wearing a Zara design jacket with the phrase "I Really Don't Care. Do U?" on the back as she returns to Washington from a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border area in Texas, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., June 21, 2018 Reuters A White House staff member reaches for the microphone held by CNN's Jim Acosta as he questions U.S. President Donald Trump during a news conference in November 2018 Reuters President Donald Trump looks over tables of fast food for the the college football playoff champion Clemson Tigers in the State Dining Room of the White House in January 2019 Reuters Donald Trump with Nigel Farage when they met met face-to-face on 2nd March 2019 The White House/PA US President Donald Trump with First Lady Melania Trump and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe' Akie Abe (R) watch a sumo battle during the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on May 26, 2019 AFP/Getty Images Swedish environmental activist GrSwedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg watches as Donald Trump enters the United Nations to speak with reporters on September 23, 2019eta Thunberg watches as Donald Trump enters the United Nations to speak with reporters Reuters The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall meets US President Donald Trump and wife Melania at Clarence House, central London, as Nato leaders gather to mark 70 years of the alliance on 3 December 2019 PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a welcoming ceremony at the NATO leaders summit in Watford on December 4, 2019 Reuters Donald Trump in an online address on 13 January 2020 The White House Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) rips up the speech of U.S. President Donald Trump after his State of the Union address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on 4 February Reuters US President Donald Trump holds up a newspaper that displays a headline "Acquitted" as he arrives to speak at the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast on February 6, 2020 in Washington,DC AFP via Getty Images picturesoftheyeargeorgefloydv1.jpg A protester carries the carries a U.S. flag upside, a sign of distress, next to a burning building on 28 May in Minneapolis during the George Floyd protests AP President Donald Trump holds a Bible as he visits outside St. John's Church across Lafayette Park from the White House on 1 June in Washington AP US President Donald Trump arrives for the Independence Day events at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, July 3, 2020 AFP via Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat while looking at exhibits during a Spirit of America Showcase in the Entrance Hall of the White House July 02, 2020 in Washington, DC Getty Images Ivanka Trump, daughter and Advisor to the US President, introduces US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump ahead of his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on August 27, 2020. AFP via Getty Images A car with US President Trump drives past supporters in a motorcade outside of Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland AFP via Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump works in the Presidential Suite while receiving treatment after testing positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland via Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump removes his mask upon return to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 05, 2020 in Washington Getty Images An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington Reuters Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) displays a signed an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on January 13, 2021 in Washington, DC Getty Images

"As I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning."

Meanwhile, president-elect Mr Biden landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, after bidding farewell to his home state of Delaware.

Mr Biden will spend the night at the presidential guest house Blair House before his inauguration on Wednesday.

Under his leadership, President Trump claimed the US had "revitalised our alliances and rallied the nations of the world to stand up to China like never before".

He said: "As a result of our bold diplomacy and principled realism, we achieved a series of historic peace deals in the Middle East.

It is the dawn of a new Middle East and we are bringing our soldiers home."

He also said he was "especially proud" to be the first president in decades who has "started no new wars.

Referring to the riot at the US Capitol on January 6, he said: "All Americans were horrified by the assault on the Capitol... It can never be tolerated."

Currently locked out of his personal social media accounts, Mr Trumps video was recorded on Monday and released via the government's official social media.

"We did what we came here to do - and so much more," he said.

"I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices  because thats what you elected me to do."

Mr Trumps speech was released on the last full day of his presidency, and as the US exceeded 400,000 coronavirus deaths.

BAGHDAD  In the upscale shisha lounge of one of Baghdads new restaurants, customers puffing on fragrant fruit-scented tobacco sit at gold-rimmed tables flanked by a giant video screen and views of the Tigris River. Its a weekday night but the Dawa restaurants Sky Lounge is crowded with people partying like its 2019: no masks, no distancing, no problem.

I live the lifestyle of 2019 before the coronavirus, said Ali al-Khateeb, 37, a businessman, as he sat at a green velvet chair pulling smoke from a gold-embossed glass water pipe. As Iraqis we dont have a fear of death. Its a psychological factor that can strengthen a human beings immunity.

His friend, Rami Riadh, 34, also a businessman, said he threw away his mask at the airport when he returned to Baghdad from Amman, Jordan, a week ago. It feels like we live in another world here, he said.

As coronavirus rates have fallen, Iraqis are flouting the recommended virus precautions en masse, many subscribing to a dubious belief in their own immunity. That conviction, derided by scientists, has been publicly endorsed by regional and local health officials and some religious leaders.


"I will be in the news one day for going off. I will be like a time bomb that is going to explode ... [I'm] a very sadistic person so much that it scares me and will probably put me in jail one day."

Those were the words of Brock Wall, 10 days before he bludgeoned his pregnant girlfriend Fabiana Palhares, 34, to death with an axe and stomped on her stomach.

Fabiana Palhares was 34 when she was murdered in her Gold Coast home.

Wall is serving a life sentence for the murder of Ms Palhares, who was 10 weeks pregnant, in her Varsity Lakes home on the Gold Coast on February 2, 2015. He pleaded guilty in July 2018.

At 1.53pm on February 2, 2015, Ms Palhares called triple zero. She didnt have time to identify herself but said: "please help me".
Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar, minister of railways, Piyush Goyal and minister of state for commerce Som Prakash attended the meeting.

The tenth round of talks between the Centre and the representatives of farmers' unions concluded on January 20 with the government offering to suspend the implementation of farm laws for one to one-and-half years.

The government agreed to submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court citing suspension of farm laws implementation for a year or more. The top court has already a hold on the implementation of these laws until further orders.

"During discussions, we said that government is ready to put on hold the farm laws for one or one-and-half years. I'm happy that farmer unions have taken this very seriously and said that they would consider it tomorrow and convey their decision on January 22" Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar was quoted by news agency ANI after the meeting.

Som

Prakash



I feel that talks are progressing in the right direction and there is a possibility of finding a resolution on Jan 22: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar https://t.co/QqChrpXL9E

 ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2021

Tomar, one of the three union ministers representing the government during the negotiations, said that he was hopeful of finding a resolution in the next round of talks. Minister of railways, Piyush Goyal and minister of state for Commerce, apart from agriculture minister Tomar, represented the government side, apart from minister Tomar.

The Unions said they will decide on the government's proposal on January 21 before taking a final call. They will convey their decision to the government in the next meeting, they said.

"The government said that it will submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that it can suspend the implementation of farm laws for a year or two. We will discuss this and give our decision," Hannah Mollah, All India Kisan Mahasabha general secretary and CPI (M) leader said after the meeting.

Follow our LIVE BLOG here on updates on Farmers' Protest

Thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points for nearly two months, demanding the repeal of the laws, and a legal guarantee on minimum support prices (MSP) for their crops.

The meeting on January 20 that was scheduled for 2 pm at Vigyan Bhawan, began after a delay of 50 minutes.

In the first half of the meeting, the farm leaders raised the issue of NIA notices being issued to various union leaders, sources said. The government sought the list of union leaders who have been served noticed by the national investigation agency (NIA), they said. The issue of arrest of agitating farmers in Himachal Pradesh was also raised in the meeting accusing the government of trying to intimidate the protestors.

The government assured the farmers that no innocents will be punished by the BJP government.

The farmers also reportedly displayed placards in Punjabi translating to same ministers, same tone and same rhetoric, will there be another meeting? during the meeting. The meeting stopped for lunch an hour after discussions.

The meeting resumed after a long lunch break at around 5: 30 pm. During the lunch break the government kept repeating that it wont repeal the laws and that the unions can approach the Supreme Court for the repeal of the laws.

Read | Farm bills have potential to represent significant step forward for agricultural reforms in India: IMF

The farmers are preparing for their proposed tractor rally on Republic Day, even as the official's permission from Delhi police is yet to be worked out.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court asked Centre to withdraw the plea against the proposed tractor rally. The Court also took a "serious objection" to farmers' criticism of the committee it formed to resolve impasse over farm laws. It also warned the farmers against casting aspersions on the Court.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan and senior advocate Dushyant Dave submitted before the top court that the farmers' Unions are totally convinced that the farm laws need to be repealed and therefore they will not appear before the SC-appointed committee to discuss amendments

The top court had on January 12 ordered a stay on the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders besides setting up a committee of experts that will talk to both sides and suggest changes where ever needed in the enactments as opposed by the farmers. The farmers refused to appear before the committee. They alleged that all the four members of the SC-appointed committee were pro-laws

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also tweeted against the farm laws on January 20.



              -          APMC                            ! pic.twitter.com/SPrdcfJfAN  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 20, 2021

After farmers refused to appear before the SC-appointed panel, Bhupinder Singh Mann, the national president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), one of the four members, recused himself from the committee. Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat, International Food Policy Research Institute's Pramod Kumar Joshi, and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati are on the panel, apart from Mann.

Also read | Farm laws will help increase the income of farmers: Amit Shah

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.


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Washington: US President Donald Trump has vowed that his political movement is only just beginning in a farewell video message released on his final full day in the White House.

In the 20-minute speech Trump described himself as the "only true outsider ever to win the presidency" and said that his administration had achieved more than anyone had thought possible in four years.

Donald Trump said he was proud of his achievements during his presidency. Credit:The White House

Trump did not concede he had lost the election or mention President-elect Joe Biden's name, but wished the incoming administration luck.

"This week we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous," Trump said. "We extend our best wishes and we also want them to have luck - a very important word."
The presidency has tackled the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, over his order asking all herders to vacate forest reserves in the state within seven days.

Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity in a statement he signed on Tuesday encouraged the state government to tackle all forms of criminality but not breach the rights of herders in the state.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Akeredolu on Monday gave an ultimatum to herders to vacate all forests while meeting with leaders of Hausa/Fulani and Ebira communities at his office in Alagabaka, Akure, the state capital.

He cited how the activities of the herders have long been threatening the security of the state.

The state then mandated those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities within the next seven days or risk evacuation from the state.

Presidency reacts

In reaction to this, Mr Shehu said rather the ultimatum and contradiction that may follow the order, the state government and the leadership of the Fulani communities in Ondo state should dialogue for a good understanding that will bring to an urgent end, the nightmarish security challenges facing the state.

He said Mr Akeredolu will be the least expected to unilaterally oust thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state on account of the infiltration of the forests by criminals.

If this were to be the case, rights groups will be right in expressing worries that the action could set off a chain of events which the makers of our constitution foresaw and tried to guard against.

The presidency argued that insecurity is not alien to any group, the language they speak, their geographical location or their faith.

We need to delink terrorism and crimes from ethnicity, geographical origins and religionto isolate the criminals who use this interchange of arguments to hinder law enforcement efforts as the only way to deal effectively with them.

The government of Ondo, and all the 35 others across the federation must draw clear lines between the criminals and the law-abiding citizens who must equally be saved from the infiltrators. Beyond law and order, the fight against crime is also a fight for human values which are fundamental to our country, he said.

Lawyer reacts

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on the move by the governor, a Lagos-based lawyer, Ademola Owolabi, said Mr Akeredolu has the power issue vacation notice on the herders.

He (Akeredolu) has the power and every right to issue the order. He asked herdsmen to vacate the place first because the reserve is the state government asset and the right of Nigeria to live anywhere is not absolute because the security of lives and properties of citizens is also the duty of the governor to ensure.

Reacting to the presidencys position on the order, the lawyer simply said: The law is on the side of the governor to issue such directive. The order by Akeredolu is simply an executive order that is apt, if not too late.

For years, there have been debates around federalism and restructuring, which would allow state governors control state police that would aid then in curbing rising insecurity across the nation.

Insecurity challenges

PREMIUM TIMES has repeatedly reported how killings and kidnappings for ransom have become rampant on the nations highways and farms.

We reported the abduction of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, by armed herders on his farm in Akure. Despite efforts by police to free him, the chieftain still paid N5 million to regain his freedom.

Olufunke Olakurin, the daughter of the Afenifere chieftain, Reuben Fasoranti, was also shot and killed while on her way to Lagos by suspected herdsmen along Ore road.

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READ ALSO: Akeredolu orders herdsmen to vacate Ondo forests within seven days

All these led to the creation of Operation Amotekun by the South-west governors, a security outfit that is not completely independent of the existing security structure but supports the police and others.

Akeredolu gets more support

Meanwhile, a monarch in Ondo State, Olowo of Owo, Ajibade Ogunoye, has commended Mr Akeredolu for asking herders to vacate all the forest reserves in the state.

He said in a statement that the action is accurate in combating the security challenges facing the state.

As the chief security officer of the State, the governor could not sit, watch and fold his arms while the citizens are being kidnapped at will by bandits.

The security of lives and properties of the people of the state are important to the government, therefore, all efforts of the government in this regard must be supported by all.

Sunday Igboho, an advocate of Yoruba nation who resides in Oyo State, also urged Governor Seyi Makinde to make a similar pronouncement in the state to eradicate the killings and kidnapping of farmers in Ibarapa axis of the state.

Meanwhile, the chief press secretary to Mr Akeredolu, Segun Ajiboye could not be reached for a reaction on the comment by the presidency as of the time of filing this report.

He did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES calls and text messages seeking Mr Akeredolus position on issues raised by the presidency.

Italy plans to take legal action against the American drugmaker Pfizer for delays in the delivery of coronavirus vaccines, Domenico Arcuri, Italys special commissioner for the pandemic, said in a statement on Tuesday night.

On Friday, Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, said they would deliver fewer doses than expected to European Union countries this week because they were changing the production process to increase future supply. They said deliveries would return to the original schedule next week.

Italian officials discussed the situation with company officials on Tuesday.

The result of todays dialogue with Pfizer did not have the effect we were hoping for, Mr. Arcuri wrote, announcing that Italy would press charges, both civil and criminal, where possible in coming days.

Mr. Arcuri said that Pfizer would not make up the shortfall in next weeks delivery, which would instead be smaller than previously expected. Italian officials worried that a shortage of doses could dangerously slow the countrys vaccination program, which has reached more than 1.2 million people so far, starting with health care workers and nursing-home residents.
There have been 93 further deaths related to Covid-19 in Ireland today.

There have also been a further 2,001 new confirmed cases.

Of the deaths reported today, three occurred in December and 89 occurred in January. Officials said that there is one death where the date of death is still under investigation.

The death toll reported is the highest daily total since the pandemic began. The previous highest daily death toll recorded was 77 deaths on April 20.

The median age of those who died was 82 years and the age range was 41-99 years.

The Department of Health said that there are no newly reported deaths in healthcare workers. There are also no newly reported deaths in a young person under the age of 30.

701 of today's cases are in Dublin, 204 are in Cork, and 102 are in Waterford.

A further 98 of today's cases are in Meath, 90 in Donegal and the remaining 806 cases are spread across all other counties.

Of today's cases:

892 are men / 1,098 are women

55% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 42 years old

As of 2pm today, 1,949 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 202 were in ICU at 11am.

There have now been a total of 2,708 deaths related to Covid-19 in Ireland, while there have been 176,839 confirmed cases.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan warned that the public cannot let the guard drop in fighting the virus.

"While we are starting to see the early results of our collective efforts to minimise the transmission of the virus, we are very sadly reporting an additional 93 deaths today," he said.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan. File picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

"We cannot afford to drop our guard against the very high levels of infection that remain in the community at present.

"Covid-19 ICU and hospitalisation numbers are of critical concern to us, representing a very significant pressure on our healthcare workers and on the provision of acute medical and surgical non-Covid care.

"We need everyone to stay at home, other than for essential reasons.

"The more that each individual follows this advice in their everyday lives, the more we can drive down the spread of Covid-19 and minimise the impact on vital healthcare services, patients and frontline workers.

Earlier today, the Cabinet formally gave its approval to allow GPs and pharmacists administer Covid-19 vaccines.

Senior Government sources have confirmed to the Irish Examiner that GPs and pharmacists will be used to vaccinate 1.5m people, in a scheme which will cost 91m.

The plan, as signed off by ministers, will cover the administration of the vaccine in GP surgeries.
Muranga Governor Mwangi Wa Iria is eyeing a run for the presidency in 2022 after the end of his second term as county boss.

Speaking in Muranga town, Wa Iria said after his tenure as governor, he will not retire from politics but will vie for the top seat. He noted that he will not wait to be anointed and that he already has a political party that he will use to run for the presidency.

Wa Iria said he will soon start popularising his new party and call for voter registration in the larger Mount Kenya region and other parts of the country.

I have the freedom to go for any seat, my philosophy being Usawa kwa wote (equality for all). Ill be on the ballot as a presidential candidate. At the moment, we have a President and were totally behind Uhuru Kenyatta, whom we respect so much, and will continue to do so even when he retires, he said.

The governor said Central Kenya should be part of the next government and needs a leader who will champion its interests.

According to Wa Iria, running for presidency amid calls for a rotational president does not mean he is tribal. He explained that any Kenyan from any community can become president provided they are qualified and are ready to serve all Kenyans.

The Muranga governor also rubbished some Muranga leaders who have downplayed his presidential plan, saying he will not be distracted by anybody.

At the same time, Mwangi wa Iria urged politicians seeking various political seats to refrain from dragging his name into their campaigns.

I want to run for president. Others seeking various seats, including the governors, should know I was there seven years ago. Im not competing with them, he said.
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Pius Kamau, M.D., general surgery, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships; co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and president of the Consortium of African Diasporas in the U.S.A. He has been a National Public Radio commentator and a blogger, and is author of The Doctors Date with Death.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

New Delhi, Jan 20 : The exotic island of Seychelles known for its pristine beaches reopens borders to all countries worldwide. The much-anticipated news by the tourism industry, considering the recent launch of the immunisation campaign, was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde during a joint press briefing with his counterpart from the Health Ministry, Peggy Vidot.

This announcement has come at a time when the Indian government has signed an air bubble agreement with Seychelles allowing 'Air Seychelles' to fly into the destination from India.

If you're planning to visit Seychelles island anytime soon, keep these important dos and don'ts in mind.

Vaccinated Visitors: In the first phase of the opening, travellers would be required to produce proof of a valid vaccination certificate from the National Health Authority (minimum of two weeks since administration of the second dose of the vaccine) along with a negative Covid-19 PCR report obtained less than 72 hours prior to travel. These visitors need not quarantine upon arrival to Seychelles.

Non-Vaccinated Visitors: The Seychelles islands is currently open to Indian visitors through private jet transfers only. Such travellers would be required to submit a negative Covid-19 PCR report obtained less than 72 hours prior to travel. Visitors who haven't taken the complete dose of vaccination or not travelling via private jets, would not be permitted entry into Seychelles. This would be in force until mid-March once Seychelles has vaccinated a large majority of its adult population.

Mid-march Onwards: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government donated 50,000 doses of a Chinese-manufactured Covid-19 vaccine to Seychelles while the Indian government has offered 1,00,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of January. By the ongoing numbers, the country has forecasted that 25 per cent of its population is likely to be vaccinated by mid-March which would witness the rollout of the second phase of welcoming international tourists to the island nation. The country would open up to all visitors, vaccinated or not. Travellers planning a vacation during this time would only have to present a negative Covid-19 PCR certificate with the test taken maximum of 72 hours prior to departure with no quarantine upon arrival into the country.

Irrespective of when one might travel to Seychelles, visitors have to abide by the existing health measures (like wearing face masks, social distancing etc.) which remain applicable as per the travel advisory published on the Department of Tourism website.

Similarly, all tourism operators would still be required to follow their existing Covid-19 standard operating procedures and protocols.

Speaking of an optimistic future, Lubaina Sheerazi, CEO & Co-founder, BRANDit, the Marketing and PR office for the Seychelles Tourism Board in India said, "2021 has kicked off on a positive note presenting us with a wide scope to promote safe holidays to the Seychelles islands. Until now, the destination was limited to visitors only through private jet transfers but this move will offer a much-needed new option to Indians looking for an international holiday." The ongoing trend of leisure travel is expected to prosper in the coming months as there is a pent-up demand for long pending vacations with family and friends. Seychelles welcoming tourists with limited restrictions is certainly a positive step towards tourism recovery worldwide.

More details about the new measures are published in the Seychelles Travel Advisory that can be accessed on www.tourism.gov.sc.

Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 84F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low near 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
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MECCA and MEDINA, Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar, who is heading a delegation to Saudi Arabia to meet with Saudi officials, had the honour to perform the Umrah Hajj, Tuesday evening.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and his accompanying delegation after pilgrimage of the Kaaba and performing two rak'ats of prayer in the Holy Mosque prayed to Almighty God for lasting peace, unity among Afghans, prosperity of Muslims and the prosperity of our beloved homeland Afghanistan.

After performing the rituals of Umrah in Mecca, Minister Atmar left for Medina where he, on Wednesday morning, performed two rak'ats of prayer in the Holy Shrine and prayed in front of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Mosque. He prayed for peace and tranquility in Afghanistan.
The special election to fill a vacancy in the 27th state senate district is scheduled for early March, said state officials.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced the election to replace former state Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford, will take place on March 2, almost two months after Leones resignation from the legislature.

Leone recaptured his state Senate seat, which represents much of Stamford and parts of Darien, in November by a nearly 28-percent margin against Republican challenger Eva Maldonado. Just one day before the new legislative session, Leone resigned from his seat to serve in the Lamont administration as special adviser to Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti.

Democratic City Committee Chair Josh Fedeli confirmed in the days after Leones resignation that longtime Stamford politician Rep. Patricia Billie Miller will likely be the Democratic nominee in the upcoming special election.

Miller has served the 145th House District since 2009. She is a former member of the Stamford Board of Representatives and was a longtime manager at the Stamford Housing Authority.

I think its a great opportunity for her. She is a proven leader with seniority, and she earned it on merit with her time served in the legislature to date. Shes tremendously respected in Hartford, and Im excited for her, Fedeli told The Stamford Advocate in early January.

Miller did not respond to request for comment.

Miller currently serves as assistant majority leader in the House, as chair of the Bonding Subcommittee, and as a member of the Education Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee.

Republican Town Committee Chair Fritz Blau told The Advocate that Stamford Republican Joshua Esses would seek the nomination at their nominating convention scheduled for Wednesday.

Esses on Tuesday confirmed his likely nomination, and said he hopes to focus his campaign on what it means to be a Republican on the local level.

I am so thrilled to have the November elections behind us, Esses said. I think people on both sides of the aisle slowly will come back and ... focus on whats happening in Hartford, whats happening in Stamford, where we really can make a difference as just an individual.

Esses, a restructuring and bankruptcy lawyer for international firm Proskauer Rose LLP, ran for the Stamford Board of Education in its November election and discovered that the election that was improperly scheduled, a matter that is set to be reviewed by the state Supreme Court.

While Fedeli said he expects Miller to seize the nomination without opposition, a formal nominating convention for the Democrats is slated for Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The multi-town convention is open to the general public.
A pedestrian died on Wednesday after a bus ran over her in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

At 8:30 am on Tuesday, bus No. 150 was traveling on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street from the Dinh Tien Hoang Street direction to Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1, according to authorities report.

The bus slammed into a 55-year-old woman who was crossing the street when it was about 50 meters away from the Nguyen Dinh Chieu-Mac Dinh Chi intersection in Da Kao Ward, District 1.

The vehicle ran over the woman and killed her instantly at a spot roughly five meters from a bus stop.

Police officers arrived at the scene shortly after being informed of the crash.

Bus No. 150 travels from Cho Lon Bus Terminal in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City to Tan Van T-Junction in neighboring Binh Duong Province and vice versa.

The bus makes 400 journeys, lasting about 80 minutes each, on the 30.9km route every day from 04:30 am to 9:00 pm.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 06:00:13|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue a special-event stamp sheet to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The stamp sheet, which is scheduled for issuance on Friday, consists of 10 stamps of a denomination of 1.20 U.S. dollars each, with the UN logo on the left and a paper-cut image of an ox on the right, as the Chinese lunar year for 2021 is the Year of the Ox.

This is the 12th sheet issued for UNPA's Lunar New Year stamp series, which completes the entire Chinese zodiac cycle.

The tabs of the stamps and background design feature artwork by Wang Huming of China, said UNPA. The sheet can be personalized.

The Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for Chinese around the world. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 12. Enditem
CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Jefri Van Arsdall has been appointed to Interim Benton County Sheriff for the remainder of Sheriff Scott Jacksons current term.

Van Arsdall, current Baker County Undersheriff, was selected by Benton County commissioners in a unanimous vote (3-0) on Tuesday. His appointment is dependent on him meeting all the requirements for the position, including passing an extensive background check. The background check can take up to three weeks to complete. During the time between Sheriff Jacksons departure and Van Arsdalls background check completion, Benton County Undersheriff Greg Ridler will act as Benton County Sheriff.

Undersheriff Van Arsdall began his career with Washington County, Oregon as a reserve deputy, worked at the Corvallis Police Department from 2004 to 2015, earning the rank of Patrol Lieutenant, and joined Baker County Sheriffs Office in 2017 and became Undersheriff in 2018.

Sheriff Jackson will retire on February 1, 2021, after 25 years with the Benton County Sheriffs Office. Under the terms of the Benton County Charter, it falls to the Board of Commissioners to appoint someone for the position through the end of the positions term if the vacancy occurs with less than half of the term remaining. The current term ends in January 2023.

In addition to an Interim Sheriff appointment, the Benton County commissioners passed a resolution condemning the January 6, 2021 attacks on the U.S. Capitol Building. In discussing the resolution, Chair Xan Augerot remarked, I dont think any of us take this lightly. I believe in the sanctity of our republican democracy. I dont believe invading the Capitol is ever appropriate and certainly never fanning the flames of violence.

The commissioners cited a concern that growing incidents of violence towards public officials would lead to the need for additional safety measures, ultimately resulting in decreased public access to elected and public officials.
A bag of cement which usually costs approximately $50 has more than tripled in price at some places since Covid-19 invaded the country in March 2020.

Some people are paying as much as $150 and more for a bag of cement.
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On the eve of Joe Bidens presidential inauguration, the Oregon Republican Party issued a statement condemning the 10 Republican members of Congress who voted to impeach President Donald Trump and aligning itself with conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol building.

The statement and accompanying resolutions  passed by the partys executive committee -- were issued by the party establishment itself, not elected lawmakers. However, the executive committee includes Becky Mitts, the chief of staff for Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, who was stripped of his committee assignments after he helped violent right-wing protesters enter the Capitol building on Dec. 21, when it was closed to the public.

Chris Barreto, the wife of former Rep. Greg Barreto, R-Cove is also a member of the executive committee, which is chaired by Bill Currier of Adair Village in Benton County and vice-chaired by Tracy Honl of Hillsboro.

The executive committee of the party includes its six-member leadership team plus congressional district chairs, vice chairs and alternate vice chairs. Mark Shull, recently elected to the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, is the partys alternate vice chair in that county. He is facing bipartisan calls to resign for his derogatory statements on social media about Black Lives Matter, Islam and transgender people.

The news release described the Republican votes in favor of impeachment as a profound betrayal, and the impeachment vote itself as a sham process without an investigation and in contradiction to the known and emerging facts.

This type of sham process has become the norm for Democrats, but no Republican should support or give in to such an abuse of our Constitutional system, Oregon Republican Party Chairman Bill Currier was quoted in the news release.

Members of the partys leadership team did not return calls for comment.

The set of resolutions passed by the executive committee also said the transcript of Trumps speech contradicted Democrats claims that he incited the insurrection. It called the insurrection a false flag operation designed to discredit Trump and support Bidens introduction of new domestic terrorism legislation, and cited a variety of right-wing pundits and publications that have advanced the same theories.

This provided the sham motivation to impeach President Trump in order to advance the Democrat goal of seizing total power, in a frightening parallel to the February 1933 burning of the German Reichstag, the resolutions said.

The resolution also thanked U.S. Rep Cliff Bentz for challenging presidential electors from Pennsylvania in one of his first acts as Oregons newest congressional representative, and said U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader had accurately described the impeachment as a lynching. The Oregon Democrat has since apologized profusely for the comment and promised to take diversity, equity and inclusion training.

A variety of Republican lawmakers have attempted to pin the blame for the Capitol riot on left wing groups. The FBI originally said there was no indication that was the case, though one liberal activist from Utah was arrested last week on federal charges that he took part. More broadly, courts and federal investigators have found no evidence that there was widespread fraud in the November election, though Trump has continued to repeat those lies for two months, and fed them to his backers at the rally on the morning of the riot, urging them to march on the capitol and fight like hell against the stolen election.

The Justice Department has arrested more than 100 people since the Jan. 6 riot, and the Washington Post reported Monday that the FBI was zeroing in several right-wing extremist groups that appeared to be more prepared and organized, including the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Three Percenters.

Portland area pollsters and other observers said they were puzzled by the strategy behind Tuesdays statement by Oregon Republicans, beyond appealing to the partys base. However, they said, it perfectly reflected the growing schism in the Republican party nationally.

It is a really curious strategy for a political party that is so weak in the state right now to try to find a way back, said John Horvick, a pollster with DHM Research. Republicans havent won the governors mansion since Vic Atiyeh. Theyve won two statewide races in the last two decades. Theyre in the wilderness in the Legislature and they spent the summer trying to recall Kate Brown.

Maybe this represents their base to some extent, but it doesnt make any sense to me as a short-, medium-, or long-term strategy.

About 26% of registered voters in Oregon are Republican, versus 36% as Democrats and 39% who identify as non-affiliated or other. A CNN poll conducted by the independent research company SSRS that was released Sunday found that nationally, three in four Republican voters dont believe Biden legitimately won the election. Earlier polls by Fox news returned similar numbers.

Jim Moore, a political scientist at Pacific University in Forest Grove, said the resolutions simply highlight the fact that party leadership in Oregon and nationally is still perfectly aligned with Trump, and that people elected into party positions over the last four years needed to be Trumpist.

Moore said it was interesting that it came on a day when Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell publicly said that the mob who stormed the capitol had been provoked by the president and other powerful people and that the mob was fed lies.

Moore said party officials are usually much more to the right or the left than the general electorate. But, he said, they may be more aligned with the right than usual now. He said that because the Republicans have had such a weak stable of candidates for statewide office, the people who are running tend to reflect more extreme views, such as Jo Rae Perkins, a follower of the QAnon conspiracy theories who won the Republican nomination to run for U.S. Senate against Jeff Merkley. Merkley won the election easily, by 57% to 39%, almost exactly the same margins that Biden won by in the presidential election in Oregon.

Conspiracy theories seem to be a perfectly reasonable way to go right now, Moore said, Its doubling down and appealing to your base. But as a way to grow the party its a dead end.

-- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger
Alejandro Mayorkas, President-elect Joe Biden's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary nominee, vowed to help Congress pass an amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Mayorkas was on board with the incoming Biden administration's plans on amnesty.

He said he "would be privileged" to help passing amnesty for some 11 to 22 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S., reported Breitbart.

In his confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Mayorkas added that amnesty would be provided as long as the immigrants have been in the U.S. January 1, 2021.

"I would be privileged to work with Congress to pass immigration reform legislation that provides that path and provides a permanent solution to what is clearly a broken system," he said when asked about the plan.

Mayorkas was the deputy DHS secretary under the Obama administration and the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Related story: Biden to Prioritize Paving Path to Legal Status for Millions of Immigrants

If confirmed for the position of DHS secretary, he would be the first immigrant and first Latino to lead the department. He arrived in the U.S. with his family in the 1960s.

Previously, he came under fire from the GOP for intervening with Democrats in providing visas during his stint at the department, noted The Blaze.

GOP Senators Question Mayorkas's Immigration Plans

Senate Republicans were quick to ask pointed questions about Mayorkas during Tuesday's hearing, although none were directly opposing his nomination, said a report from USA Today.

The harshest jabs were related to the disputes in a visa program during his earlier stint and what seemed to be an "appearance of favoritism."

As always, combatting illegal immigration became a divisive topic for Republicans and Democrats, a topic that wasn't skipped by members of the committee's questioning.

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley was one of the GOP members who made it clear he opposed Mayorkas's nomination.

According to Breitbart, he said an amnesty would have negative jobs and wage impact to roughly 18 million jobless Americans and another six million who are unemployed.

He blocked a quick consideration of Mayorkas, citing his concerns on amnesty and border security, a report from Fox News said.

"Mr. Mayorkas has not adequately explained how he will enforce federal law and secure the southern border given President-elect Biden's promise to roll back major enforcement and security measures," Hawley said in a statement.

Read also: First Lady Melania Trump Talks About Legacy in Farewell Message

After Mayorkas answered questions in his confirmation hearing, committee members moved to bypass full committee consideration but Hawley objected.

Mayorkas 'Proud to Implement' DACA Program

Under the Biden immigration plan unveiled on Wednesday, immigrants could have an eight-year path to citizenship, along with other measures.

Green cards for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programs were also part of the plan.

"President-Elect Biden also has committed to reinstating the DACA program that I was proud to implement," he said, referring to his time as Citizenship and Immigration Services head.

He added that he was looking forward to executing the president-elect's plans on immigration if he gets confirmation as DHS head.
Cheyenne, WY (82001)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High around 75F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 47F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph.
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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

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On Tuesday January 19, Iran imposed sanctions on Donald Trump and various members of his administration due to their alleged role in support of terrorism. As per reports by AP, spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that sanctions were imposed on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, CIA chief Gina Haspel and six other ranking US officials. However, the nature of sanctions was not revealed.

Sanctions on US

The sanctions were based on Iranian law, said Khatibzadeh. He also said that the sanctions were imposed due to Trumps role in killing top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Also, his support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians is one of the reasons.

Read: Iran And Six Other African Nations Lose Right To Vote In UNGA Over Unpaid Dues

In a separate development, Iran and six other nations lost their voting rights in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) over unpaid dues, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. According to reports, Iran has to pay over $16 million in dues to the UNGA, a delay the country has blamed on US sanctions. Iran has to pay more than all other countries who lost their voting rights recently, including war-torn Libya, South Sudan, Niger, the Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, and Zimbabwe.

Iran has blamed the non-payment of UN dues on US embargos, saying the funds designated for the United Nations currently remain frozen in South Korean banks. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that Tehran's $7 billion remain stuck in two South Korean banks because of US sanctions, saying those funds also include the money meant for the UN. Iran has demanded the UN make arrangements for these funds to be transferred without using American banks because Tehran fears if the money goes out of the South Korean banks through US institutions it may be seized.

Read: Iran Kicks Off Ground Forces Drill On Coast Of Gulf Of Oman

According to reports, UN chief Antonio Guterres wrote a letter to UNGA President Volkan Bozkir, informing him that the aforementioned countries will lose their voting rights because of unpaid dues. UN member states have to make financial contributions to the global body, which if they fail to do so for more than 2 years, the UN Charter gives the right to suspend their voting rights, as in the case of Iran and the six other nations.

Read: 'Deeply Concerned' By Nuke Deal Violation, Germany, France & UK Ask Iran To 'back Off'

Also Read: UN Chief Says Iran And Nine African Countries In Arrears On Dues, Could Lose Voting Rights

(Image Credits: AP)
Bank staff held in HK$6.3bn money laundering case

Bank staff held in HK$6.3bn money laundering case

Wong Yin-ting reports

Police say they have arrested seven current and former bank staff over an alleged money laundering case involving HK$6.3 billion.



Superintendent Yip Wing-lam from the Commercial Crime Bureau said it is the first time that local bank staff have been arrested in relation to alleged international money laundering syndicates.



He said the money involved is the biggest sum in recent cases of this kind, and HK$7.8 million in cash was seized from just one flat.



Yip said the suspects all worked as customer service officers, and they had allegedly approved false documents submitted by accomplices who opened 14 bank accounts.



The suspects are alleged to have received several thousand dollars as remuneration.



According to the force, 16 people from the mainland and Belgium posed as directors of trading or manufacturing firms, and submitted false documents, like fake ID cards and trading contracts, to the banks.



Officers said the investigation is still on-going and the force will continue to liaise with law enforcement bodies from the mainland and in Europe.
Union Home Minister and BJP president will attend the golden jubilee function of Statehood Day at the Ridge ground here on January 25, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Wednesday.

The chief minister visited the Ridge to review the arrangements for the function.

He directed officers to ensure foolproof arrangements to celebrate this occasion in a befitting manner and said that efforts should be made to ensure no inconvenience was caused to the general public and tourists during the event.

Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Mayor Satya Kaundal, Deputy Mayor Shailender Chauhan, Chief Secretary Anil Khachi, J.C. Sharma the principal secretary to the chief minister, ADGP Himanshu Mishra, ADC Apoorv Devgan and SP Mohit Chawla were present on the occasion.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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With both slates of Democratic candidates set to appear on April 6 ballots, there is a risk of a diluted vote. Consolidated elections traditionally are marked by low turnout. Often, fewer than 20% of registered voters participate. Low turnout could create an opening for Republicans, despite Rich Townships political traditions as a deep blue enclave.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
1 of 1

SBI PO Prelims result 2020 declared, check here



The State Bank of India (SBI) has released the SBI PO Prelims results on the official website of SBI-sbi.co.in. The exams for bank PO were conducted by the State Bank of India on January 4, 5, and 6. As per the SBI PO Official announcement, SBI PO Mains Exam is scheduled on January 29, 2021.



How to check result:-

- Visit the official website, sbi.co.in

- On the homepage, click on careers in the top-right corner

- Click on SBI PO Pre result link written under the SBI PO category under latest notification

- Log-in using registration number, date of birth

- Result will appear, download
Advertisement

Photographs showing decades of rapid change in Paris have been given new life in a series of colourised pictures, capturing key historical events in the city's development.

Ranging from 1856 to 1937, the pictures show France's capital as it went through a period of change and development, in the form of the industrial revolution, followed by conflict in the First World War and a grim foreshadowing of Nazi conquest during World War Two.

One image captures the Statue of Liberty under construction in Paris in 1884 - a gift from France to the United States inscribed with the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence - that has since become a globally-recognised icon.

Another shows Nazi Germany's Third Reich pavilion in front of the Eiffel Tower, build at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris in a bid to out-do the Soviet Union - just three years before the Nazi invasion of France during the Second World War.

A picture from 1919 shows American military police on duty along the Place de la Concorde following the end of the war and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, while another features a derailed train as it hurtled out of a large glass window at Montparnasse railway station on October 22, 1895.

The driver approached the station too quickly to make up for earlier delays, with the crash killing a woman on the street below and injuring six others. The driver was sentenced to two months in prison and fined 50 francs.

Colouriser Jean-Marie Gillet, 39, from the suburbs of Paris, brought the stunning images to life after getting into colourisation when he transformed a selection of family photos several years ago.

'I have a special personal history with Paris but also, this city centralises my passions for history and culture,' Jean-Marie said. 'Many things have happened here - that have influenced both the rest of France and the world.'

Pictured left: 1884 - New York's Statue of Liberty under construction in Paris. The statue was gifted to the United States from France, and dedicated in 1886. Pictured right: 1937 - Nazi Germany's Third Reich constructed a pavilion in front of the Eiffel Tower in a bid to out do the Soviet Union at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris - just three years before Germany invaded France

1919: American military police on duty along Place de la Concorde, at the end of the First World War and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The American Expeditionary Forces helped the French army, along with the British, Canadian and Australian armies, to repel German forces from Paris and France

1895: A railway crash at Montparnasse Station on October 22, 1985. The train overran the puffer stop after the train was running late, and the driver was trying to make up for lost time. The train crashed through the buffer, crossed the station concourse and crashed through the station wall, falling onto he Place de Rennes below, where it stood on its nose. A woman in the street below was killed by falling stones, while six people were injured

1856: A view across the centre of Paris, including the construction of the Pont du Change bridge, with Notre-Dame in the distance. The bridge was constructed during the reign of Napoleon III, and bears his imperial insignia

Left: 1892 - French tourists visiting the Eiffel Tower shortly after it was painted from Venetian red to brown ochre. Right: 1867 - Saint-Jacques Tower, originally built in the 16th century - which was the highest building in Paris before the Eiffel Tower was built. The tower is 171 feet (52 metres) tall, and is all that remains of the former 16th-century Church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie after it was demolished during the French Revolution in 1797

1900: The Palais de la Navigation which housed exhibits on boats and sea trade at the Paris World's Fair. The fair was held to celebrate the achievements of the past century, and to accelerate development into the next. It was visited by nearly 50 million people, and demonstrated many technological advancements, including the Grande Roue de Paris Ferris wheel, the moving sidewalk, diesel engines, talking films, escalators, and the telegraphone

1935: Cafe de la Paix, a famous cafe situated on Boulevard des Capucines. It was designed by the architect Alfred Armand, who also designed the InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel in which the cafe is located

1900: A representation of what Paris would've looked like during the Medieval period exhibited at the World's Fair in Paris

1918: The Children's Bureau Office building and the French Prisoner of War Office located on 12 rue Boissy d'Anglas
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Aerial view of the Suncor mine facility along the Athabasca River near Fort McMurray, Alta., in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh)

Inquiry Into Alleged Foreign Funding of Anti-Oilsands Campaigns Will Soon Deliver Report

Albertas public inquiry into the role foreign money may be playing in undermining the energy sector will deliver its report at the end of January.

Accountant Steve Allan has been tasked with the inquirys mandate to examine whether any foreign organization that has evinced an intent harmful or injurious to the Alberta oil and gas industry has provided financial assistance to a Canadian organization. Special attention is to be paid to any Canadian organization that has spread misleading or false information about that industry, received grants from any level of government in Canada, or has charitable status in Canada.

The inquiry follows in the footsteps of Vivian Krause, a Vancouver resident whose research drew public attention to the money trail connecting Canadian environmental groups to the U.S.-based Tides Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and others.

Krause confirmed to The Epoch Times that she made a submission to Allans inquiry.

What I did was provide him information, helped him in the gathering of the facts, the gathering of the original source documents, because if they had had to start from scratch it would have taken them years, she said.

I am grateful to Premier [Jason] Kenney for having the courage to address this, Krause said, noting that the inquiry has the power to do what she could not.

They have lawyers and accountants that they can be relying on instead of only a lay ex-nutrition officer from UNICEF like me. Thats the point here, that this exercise is supposed to transcend from being a citizen bringing forward information from her lay perspective to be a proper inquiry conducted by proper legal and accounting experts.

In 2018, Krause retained a Calgary law firm that presented legal options to the previous NDP government, including a public inquiry, but no action was taken. Kenneys United Conservative Party took power the following year and announced in July 2019 that they would do just that.

The inquiry has not held public hearings, despite subpoena power, something Krause has mixed feelings about.

I wanted litigation in the first 100 days of the commissionnothing less, she said. I want to see the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation on the steps of a court in Calgary. I want to see the Rockefellers forced to come to Alberta and explain to the people of Alberta why the Rockefellers did not touch Texas.

Yet, Krause also sees wisdom in the inquirys approach.

Environmental activists have demonstrated the ability to cause a very costly ruckus, and I dont speak for the commissioner, but I think it was important to get through the paperwork incurring millions of dollars in security costs.

The $3.5 million inquiry invited many industry groups, environmental organizations, thinks tanks, governments, and individuals to apply for standing as a participant to provide input. It also extended an open invitation to all interested parties to apply. In the end, 11 individuals or organizations applied and were granted standing. One participant called the inquirys research papers textbook examples of climate change denialism in his submission to the inquiry.

Inquiry spokesperson Alan Boras told The Epoch Times that the discussions around climate change and the status of climate as defined there is not a topic that the inquiry is going to make findings on. So people have raised that, but its not in the core issues.

It is really at the core a focus on a forensic accounting exercise on foreign funds that are coming into Alberta and into Canada from outside the country to obstruct oil and natural gas and energy development, he said.

Barry Cooper, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, penned one of the three papers commissioned by the inquiry. The research showed the findings of social scientists that philanthropic organizations, including environmental ones, targeted more of their efforts toward advocacy and activism in recent decades than in those prior.

[My report] dealt with changes in the activities of charities in North America and with the influence of foreign, mostly American, charities on Canadian public policy, Cooper said in an email. Often these foreign charities have supported Canadian affiliates or similarly disposed bodies.
If youre worried about stopping your social spending, we have the solutions for you!

In the aftermath of January's disruption at the Capitol in Washington D.C., several brands are pausing their planned social media ads.

The marketing experts at DigDev Direct know halting social spend can be catastrophic for a brand. They suggest three alternate promotion avenues:



Permission-based email marketing: Companies don't spam uninterested consumers with notes. Instead, they ask before they hit the "send" button.

SEO: Helpful content that answers a user's question allows companies to vault to the top of results on sites like Google.

B2B data. Research prospects before the first connection. Insights help companies to craft content that seems tailor-made for the prospects that receive it.

"We know plenty of companies think spending on social media is dangerous right now," says a DigDev Direct Thomas Manfredi. "We understand the hesitation. But we hope to encourage people to stay involved with their prospects. Dropping campaigns mid-stream can be catastrophic for a brand. With these three alt strategies, we think many companies can see success even without social media in the mix."

DigDev Direct's model allows customers to mix and match the products that suit them. A customer might use B2B data to identify a prospect, and that same database might allow for targeted, permission-based email marketing. That same customer might use SEO services to ensure that prospects see their messages repeated on search engines.

Combinations like this can be incredibly powerful, the company Thomas Manfredi says. And were encouraging all of our clients to take advantage. Were living in disrupted times, but with a comprehensive plan, anyone can succeed. Wed love to help companies get started.

About DigDev Direct

Located in Florida, DigDev Direct has been in business for 9 years. During that time, more than 47,000 clients have worked with the agency. Top products include email marketing, B2B data, and SEO services. The company also offers creative services. Find out more on the company website.

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Unifin Financiera, S.A.B. de C.V. ("Unifin") announced today the commencement of an exchange offer targeting three series of Unifin's outstanding notes due 2022, 2023 and 2025 (the " Offer ").

The Offer consists of an offer to exchange Unifin's outstanding notes set forth in the table below (the " Old Notes ") for up to US$200 million aggregate principal amount (the " Offer Cap ") of 9.000% Senior Notes due 2029 (the " New Notes "):

Series of Old Notes

CUSIP/ISIN

Principal

Amount

Outstanding

Acceptance

Priority

Level

Late

Participation

Consideration(1)

Early

Participation

Premium(1)

Early

Participation

Consideration(1)(2) 7.000% Senior Notes

due 2022

90471MAB8;

P9485MAB5 /

US90471MAB81;

USP9485MAB56

US$200,000,000

1

US$950.00

US$50.00

US$1,000.00 7.250% Senior Notes

due 2023

90470TAA6;

P94461AB9 /

US90470TAA60;

USP94461AB96

US$398,021,000

2

US$950.00

US$50.00

US$1,000.00 7.000% Senior Notes

due 2025

90470TAB4;

P94461AC7 /

US90470TAB44;

USP94461AC79

US$442,550,000

3

US$905.00

US$50.00

US$955.00

_____________________________________

(1) Principal amount of New Notes per US$1,000 principal amount of the applicable series of Old Notes validly tendered and accepted for exchange. Eligible Holders (as defined below) whose Old Notes are validly tendered and accepted for exchange will also receive Accrued Interest (as defined below) to the applicable Settlement Date (as defined below), if any, which will be paid in cash and will be in addition to the applicable Exchange Consideration (as defined below).

(2) Includes the applicable Early Participation Premium

The Offer is being made on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer Statement, dated January 20, 2021 (the " Exchange Offer Statement " and together with the related eligibility letter and the letter of transmittal, the " Offer Documents "), which sets forth in more detail the terms and conditions of the Offer.

The Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on February 17, 2021 unless earlier terminated or extended by Unifin (such time and date, as it may be extended, the " Expiration Date "). Old Notes tendered may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 2, 2021, unless extended, but not thereafter.

Eligible Holders of Old Notes validly tendered on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 2, 2021 (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the " Early Participation Date ") and accepted for exchange pursuant to the Offer will be eligible to receive the applicable early participation consideration reflected in the table above (the " Early Participation Consideration "), which includes the applicable early participation premium applicable to the relevant series of Old Notes as set forth in the table above (the " Early Participation Premium "). Eligible Holders of Old Notes validly tendered after the Early Participation Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date and accepted for exchange pursuant to the Offer will be eligible to receive the late participation consideration reflected in the table above (the " Late Participation Consideration ") applicable to the relevant series of Old Notes, which is equal to the applicable Early Participation Consideration less the applicable Early Participation Premium. Eligible Holders will also receive an amount in cash (such amount, " Accrued Interest ") consisting of accrued and unpaid interest on Old Notes accepted for exchange in the Offer from, and including, the last interest payment date for each of the Old Notes to, but not including, the applicable settlement date of the Offer (the " Settlement Date "), plus any additional amounts thereon less any interest accrued on New Notes exchanged therefor from the time of initial issuance thereof, to the extent such interest accrued on such New Notes does not exceed the accrued and unpaid interest on such accepted Old Notes. If the interest accrued on such New Notes exceeds the accrued and unpaid interest on such accepted Old Notes, then the amount of Accrued Interest paid will be zero.

Following the Early Participation Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date, Unifin will have the right to elect to accept the Old Notes validly tendered on or prior to the Early Participation Date, provided that all conditions of the Offer have been satisfied or, where applicable, waived by Unifin (the " Early Settlement Right "). If Unifin exercises its Early Settlement Right, Unifin expects to settle the Offer in respect of Old Notes validly tendered on or prior to the Early Participation Date that are accepted for exchange (the " Early Settlement Date ") promptly following the date on which Unifin accepts for exchange such Old Notes (the " Early Acceptance Date "). Assuming that Unifin exercises the Early Settlement Right and all conditions of the Offer have been satisfied, or where applicable, waived by Unifin, Unifin expects that the Early Settlement Date will occur on the second business day following the Early Participation Date.

For any Old Notes that have been validly tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date (other than any Old Notes that have been accepted for exchange and settled on the Early Settlement Date) and that are accepted for exchange, Unifin expects to settle such Old Notes promptly following the Expiration Date (the " Final Settlement Date "). Assuming that such Final Settlement Date is not extended and all conditions of the Offer have been satisfied or, where applicable, waived by Unifin, Unifin expects that the Final Settlement Date will occur on the second business day following the Expiration Date.

Unifin's obligation to accept and exchange the Old Notes of any series validly tendered pursuant to the Offer is conditioned on the successful closing of a concurrent offering of notes in the international markets (the " New Cash Notes ") on or prior to the applicable Settlement Date. In addition, the Offer is conditioned on the satisfaction of other conditions described in the Exchange Offer Statement, including that Unifin will not be obligated to complete the Offer (i) unless the New Notes are treated as part of the "same issue" as the New Cash Notes or (ii) if the issuance of the New Notes in exchange for a series of Old Notes would result in the New Notes having more (if any) original issue discount than the New Cash Notes, in each case for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Unifin reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to waive any and all conditions to the Offer.

The following acceptance priority procedures and proration procedures will apply to the Offer:

If the exchange of all Old Notes tendered on or prior to the Early Participation Date would cause Unifin to issue an aggregate principal amount of New Notes that would result in an aggregate principal amount of such New Notes to be issued as consideration in the Offer (the " Exchange Consideration ") in excess of the Offer Cap, then the Offer will be oversubscribed at the Early Participation Date, and Unifin will not accept for exchange any Old Notes tendered after the Early Participation Date and will (assuming satisfaction or, where applicable, the waiver of the conditions to the Offer) accept for exchange on the Early Acceptance Date (or, if there is no Early Acceptance Date, the Expiration Date) the Old Notes tendered on or prior to the Early Participation Date pursuant to the acceptance priority procedures described below (the " Acceptance Priority Procedures "). If the Offer is not oversubscribed at the Early Participation Date and the exchange of all Old Notes validly tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date would cause Unifin to issue an aggregate principal amount of New Notes that would result in an aggregate Exchange Consideration in excess of the Offer Cap, then the Offer will be oversubscribed at the Expiration Date, and Unifin will (assuming satisfaction or, where applicable, the waiver of the conditions to the Offer), accept for exchange all Old Notes tendered on or prior to the Early Participation Date and then accept for exchange any Old Notes tendered after the Early Participation Date pursuant to the Acceptance Priority Procedures.



") in excess of the Offer Cap, then the Offer will be oversubscribed at the Early Participation Date, and Unifin will not accept for exchange any Old Notes tendered after the Early Participation Date and will (assuming satisfaction or, where applicable, the waiver of the conditions to the Offer) accept for exchange on the Early Acceptance Date (or, if there is no Early Acceptance Date, the Expiration Date) the Old Notes tendered on or prior to the Early Participation Date pursuant to the acceptance priority procedures described below (the " "). If the Offer is not oversubscribed at the Early Participation Date and the exchange of all Old Notes validly tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date would cause Unifin to issue an aggregate principal amount of New Notes that would result in an aggregate Exchange Consideration in excess of the Offer Cap, then the Offer will be oversubscribed at the Expiration Date, and Unifin will (assuming satisfaction or, where applicable, the waiver of the conditions to the Offer), accept for exchange all Old Notes tendered on or prior to the Early Participation Date and then accept for exchange any Old Notes tendered after the Early Participation Date pursuant to the Acceptance Priority Procedures. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to the Offer, Unifin will accept for exchange validly tendered Old Notes in the order of the related acceptance priority level set forth in the table above (the " Acceptance Priority Level "), beginning with the lowest numerical value of Acceptance Priority Level first.



"), beginning with the lowest numerical value of Acceptance Priority Level first. Subject to the procedures described below for an undersubscribed Offer by the Early Participation Date, if the aggregate principal amount of New Notes to be issued in exchange for all validly tendered Old Notes corresponding to an Acceptance Priority Level, when added to the aggregate principal amount of New Notes to be issued in exchange for all Old Notes accepted for exchange corresponding to each higher Acceptance Priority Level (lower numerical value), if any, would cause Unifin to issue an aggregate principal amount of New Notes that would result in an aggregate Exchange Consideration that does not exceed the Offer Cap, then Unifin will accept for exchange all such Old Notes of such series and will then apply the foregoing procedure to the next lower Acceptance Priority Level (next higher numerical value). If the condition described in the foregoing sentence is not met, Unifin will accept for exchange the maximum aggregate principal amount of tendered Old Notes of such series (on a prorated basis) such that the aggregate principal amount of New Notes issued in exchange for the series of Old Notes with the lowest Acceptance Priority Level (the highest numerical value) accepted, when considered together with the aggregate principal amount of New Notes issued in exchange for Old Notes with higher Acceptance Priority Levels (lower numerical values), comes as close as possible to the amount of the Offer Cap without exceeding such amount.



Tendered Old Notes with an Acceptance Priority Level lower than the Acceptance Priority Level that would cause Unifin to issue an aggregate principal amount of New Notes that would result in an aggregate Exchange Consideration in excess of the Offer Cap will not be accepted for exchange, provided that, if the Offer is not fully subscribed as of the Early Participation Date, tendered Old Notes at or before the Early Participation Date will be accepted for exchange in priority to other Old Notes tendered after the Early Participation Date, even if such Old Notes tendered after the Early Participation Date have a higher Acceptance Priority Level than Old Notes tendered prior to the Early Participation Date.

If proration of a series of tendered Old Notes is required, Unifin will determine the final proration factor as soon as practicable after the Early Participation Date or Expiration Date, as applicable, and will inform Eligible Holders of such series of Old Notes of the results of the proration. In the event proration is required with respect to a series of Old Notes, Unifin will multiply the principal amount of each valid tender of such series of Old Notes by the applicable proration rate and round the resulting amount down to the nearest US$1,000 principal amount in order to determine the principal amount of such tender that will be accepted pursuant to the Offer. The excess principal amount of Old Notes not accepted from the tendering Eligible Holders will be promptly returned to such Eligible Holders. If, after applying such proration factor, any Eligible Holder would be entitled to a credit or return of a portion of tendered Old Notes of a series that is less than the authorized denominations, then, in our sole discretion, (i) all of the Old Notes of such series tendered by such Eligible Holder will be accepted without proration, (ii) a portion of the Old Notes of such series tendered by such Eligible Holder will be rejected such that only Old Notes of such series in the Authorized Denominations are credited or returned or (iii) none of the Old Notes of such series tendered by such Eligible Holder will be accepted.

D.F. King & Co., Inc. will act as the Information and Exchange Agent for the Offer. Questions or requests for assistance related to the Offer or for additional copies of the Offer Documents may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (800) 515-4479 (toll free) or (212) 232-3233 (collect). You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.

Unifin has retained Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC to act as global coordinators and lead dealer managers in connection with the Offer, and Banco BTG Pactual S.A.Cayman Branch, Santander Investment Securities Inc. and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. to act as dealer managers in connection with the Offer (collectively, the " Dealer Managers ").

Eligible Holders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Old Notes as to when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from such Eligible Holder in order for that Eligible Holder to be able to participate in, or withdraw their instruction to participate in, an Offer, before the deadlines specified herein and in the Offer Documents. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and The Depositary Trust Company for the submission and withdrawal of tender instructions will also be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified herein and in the Offer Documents.

The New Notes offered for exchange are being so offered only (1) to holders of Old Notes who are "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " Securities Act ") in a private transaction in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof and (2) outside the United States, to holders of Old Notes other than "U.S. persons" (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) and who are not acquiring such New Notes for the account or benefit of a U.S. person, in offshore transactions in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, and who are non-U.S. qualified offerees (as defined under "Transfer Restrictions on the New Notes" in the Exchange Offer Statement). Only holders who have returned a duly completed eligibility letter certifying that they are within one of the categories described in the immediately preceding sentence are authorized to receive and review the Exchange Offer Statement and to participate in the Offer (such holders, "Eligible Holders"). The eligibility letter can be accessed at the following link: www.dfking.com/unifin

The New Notes and the guarantees thereof to be issued pursuant to the Offer have not been and will note be registered under the Securities Act or any state or other jurisdiction's securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

This announcement is for informational purposes only. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or buy or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of any securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer Documents. The Offer is not being made to holders of Securities in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer will be deemed to be made on behalf of Unifin by the Dealer Managers for the Offer or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

The New Notes are not intended to be offered, or otherwise made available to and should not be offered or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area ("EEA"). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended, the "Insurance Distribution Directive"), where the customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering the New Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA, has been prepared and therefore offering the New Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.

The New Notes are not intended to be offered or otherwise made available to, and should not be offered or otherwise made available to, any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("EUWA"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the "FSMA") and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance Distribution Directive (EU), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering the New Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering the New Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

In the United Kingdom, this communication is for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Order"), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Order or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue of any New Notes may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This communication is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature or which relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the transactions described herein will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions. Unifin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason.

Contact:

Lucia Badiola

Investor Relations

Tel. +52 (55) 4162.8270

[email protected]

SOURCE Unifin Financiera, S.A.B. de C.V.
PARLAMENTUL REPUBLICII MOLDOVA

 2010

The Moldovan Parliaments website design was supported by the Democracy Support Programme in Moldova"  an initiative financed by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe
First of all, listed for sale by Classic Auto Mall, this 1956 Ford we highlighted earlier this week comes with an obvious amount of rust, which makes sense for a car this old, especially because it likely spent some time abandoned in the barn where it was found. Unfortunately, were not being provided with any specifics regarding this location, though at first glance, it looks like it wasnt necessarily the worst place to park a car.It certainly wasnt the best either, as rust has invaded the door panels, the rocker panels, as well as the fenders and the chrome parts. The original colors, Raven Black and Fiesta Red, can barely be seen right now, but judging from the pics in the gallery, theres nothing a thorough restoration cant deal with.The interior brings more bad news, as the 1956 Ford Victoria looks like its been the victim of a flood, with obvious water damage to seats, floors, headliner, and trunk. So while fixing the exterior doesnt look that much of a challenge, the same thing can't be said about the interior, where youll definitely have a lot of work to do.And now its time for some good news. Despite the overall poor condition, the engine under the hood is the original and unrestored 292ci (4.8-liter) V8 installed by Ford, though at this point, its still not known if it runs or not. The odometer, however, indicates just 2,549 miles (4,102 km), so the $3,500 price tag might come as a little surprise for some.And then theres this 1949 Ford Custom Convertible; it's also a barn find and also in a condition allowing for an easy restoration.This time, things are a lot better on the car, though you still need to deal with a bunch of scratches and a bit of rust. On the other hand, the body looks good, and the 1949 patina actually gives it a unique feeling so many people are going to love.The same goes for the interior, where some improvements are needed, but the good news is the dash, the steering wheel, and the seats are fully original. However, make sure you pay attention to the rust on the floor, as this should be considered a top priority by whoever buys the car.The engine this time is a 239ci (3.9-liter) V8 unit paired with a 3-speed manual transmission that was running two years ago but whose condition is currently unknown. Needless to say, given its better condition, the 1949 Ford is a little bit more expensive than its 56 sibling, and it can be yours today for $21,900.
ONTARIO, Calif., Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MONITORAPP, a security solution vendor, has announced its partnership with OGX Networks, a Malaysia based IT networking company specializing in networking equipment ranging from smart racks to cybersecurity, to further penetrate the global cybersecurity market.

OGX Networks was founded in 1996 under the name of Originex Group and OGX is an extension of Originex Group that was incorporated back in 2007. The company specializes in IT enterprise distribution and services with its main focus on IT networking, wireless networking, networking security, and data center implementation. OGX networks pride themselves in their service and value creation and have certified engineers to assist any customer needs.

"We are excited to announce our partnership with OGX Networks," said the CEO of MONITORAPP, Kyle Lee, "OGX Networks has been in the industry for a long time and we trust their expertise and partnership can help further MONITORAPP's presence in Malaysia."

MONITORAPP added that the decision to partner with OGX Networks was a strategic move based on OGX Network's reputation in the high-tech business sector in Malaysia. MONITORAPP has expressed their excitement about the new partnership and says the company has high hopes in the partnership due to OGX Network's excellent service and well-qualified engineering staff.

MONITORAPP and OGX Networks will work closely together to provide the best website protection and secure internet access experience for all its users.

MONITORAPP believes that the value of cybersecurity extends beyond our borders and has been reaching out to various distributors and resellers around the world to establish partnerships. MONITORAPP offers various partnership opportunities varying from technology partners to MSS partners. With MONITORAPP's SECaaS brand, AIONCLOUD, a cybersecurity service partnership is also available. AIONCLOUD is an all-in-one cybersecurity platform on a SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) platform that provides website security and secure internet access. AIONCLOUD offers various partnership opportunities.

MONITORAPP offers access to marketing, sales, and technical resources along with a certification and education program to all its partners. If you are interested in becoming MONITORAPP's partner please contact, [email protected] or [email protected].

Website: https://www.monitorapp.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MONITORAPPinc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MONITORAPP/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/monitorapp-co-ltd-/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSHyuHkxQS6PZdgs4tBdq-g

SOURCE MONITORAPP
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
WINSTED  Theres a lot going on behind the scenes, according to American Mural Project Executive Director Amy Wynn said.

And now some of that work can move forward, as the American Mural Project has received a $21,500 contribution from Northwest Community Bank, a $4,931 donation from Webster Bank, and a $3,452 gift from ConnectiCare.

The $29,883 in donations were made using the Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program. The program is designed to provide funding for municipal and tax exempt organizations by allowing a corporation business tax credit for businesses that make cash contributions to an organization.

Wynn credited the town of Winchesters facilitation of its application for the funds.

Its a new program that Winsted qualifies for, Wynn said. Other nonprofits have used it, but not many. My fellow arts organizations gave me some advice on how to apply for it.

The assistance program allows corporations to receive a state tax credit equal to 60-100 percent of their donation to qualifying nonprofits that have met the requirements for proposals, according to the programs website, located at https://portal.ct.gov/DRS/Credit-Programs.

The money allows nonprofits to use the donations for energy efficiency projects and to create programs for underserved communities. AMP qualifies for both of those requirements, by renovating and improving its mill buildings on Whiting Street in Winsted, and by offering local programs for students and adults involving the mural project.

What we had to do as a nonprofit is submit a project to our town for consideration, Wynn said. Then the town, as our liaison, looks to see if it qualifies. Once the town sends the application to the state, both town and state have to agree on what were asking for.

The donated funds will go toward replacing energy-inefficient windows that are in disrepair in one wing of the mural building, as well as addressing drainage and moisture issues in the small house that temporarily serves as AMPs administrative offices, Wynn said.

After the application process, Wynn said, Its really about finding corporations to donate, and how to get their attention.

That was unknown territory for me this year, reaching out to find businesses, Wynn said. The paperwork itself isnt hard, and our town is very supportive. Once we got the paperwork done we reached out to different businesses, and we got three supporters (Webster Bank, Northwest Community Bank, and ConnectiCare).

The banks and the health care provider were familiar with the tax credit donation program, but Wynn wants to spread the word to other entities.

Weve been trying to introduce this idea to a lot of businesses in the area, which is why were announcing that we received this funding, she said. What it does is help businesses really invest in their communities. Its a great program.

The pandemic has slowed programming and events at the American Mural Project, but its not stopping the small nonprofit from continuing its work on the inside, Wynn said.

We had a few tours in December, and they were very controlled, she said. It wasnt to the scope of the past, where with open mill tours, wed easily have 100 or more people. We had groups of about 16 people instead. So our public face is curtailed for a bit.

But theres a lot going on behind the scenes, Wynn said. Were making hay behind closed doors as best we can. This is going to be a really exciting year.

A new series for children ages 7-11, Love Works@AMP begins in February. Participants will use a custom-made art kit to create valentines and thank-you notes to give to the people in their lives whose work they want to celebrate: family members, teachers, community members, and more. Children will use collage, printmaking, watercolor, and mixed media drawing to make their gratitude-filled cards. LoveWorks @AMP is led by Meredith Arcari, one of AMPs professional teaching artists. For more information or to register, visit americanmuralproject.org.

The advantage to virtual programs, Wynn said, is that it allows AMP to reach people from around the state.

Meanwhile, AMP founder and artist Ellen Griesedieck is hard at work on the mural. Ellens installation is about 70 percent completed on one side, and she continues to work on it every day, Wynn said. Were running the business, so she only has to oversee things. She can focus her time on the mural.

As the mural work continues, Wynns goal is to get the AMP building completed. Were hoping fervently to do that by next year, to open it to the public, she said. When you cant do a lot externally, you turn internally to prepare for the time when, as a nonprofit, we can participate in the economic recovery of the state. We know we can be part of the solution for the state and the northeast.

Launched in 2002 by artist Ellen Griesedieck, the American Mural Project, a tribute to American workers, is creating the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world  a mural 120 feet long, 48 feet high, and up to 10 feet deep, the AMP announcement said. More than 15,000 children and adults have helped create pieces of the mural, which will be housed in two former mill buildings on Whiting Street. Scope Construction finished renovations on the mural building in fall of 2018, and the process of assembling and installing the mural is now underway.

YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called Azerbaijans latest Armenophobic postage stamp unacceptable and compared it with similar postage stamps that the Nazi Germany used to issue.

Speaking in parliament during a Q&A, he told lawmakers that they should show the stamps to the international community at different platforms.

The issuance of this stamp is unacceptable. The Azeri leadership is lately often speaking about so-called Armenian fascism, but it is obvious that we are seeing manifestations of fascism in Azerbaijan, because as far as we know similar stamps existed only in Nazi Germany. Parliamentary diplomacy also has a role here, these stamps should be presented in international platforms, Pashinyan said when asked about the matter by MP Gor Gevorgyan.

Pashinyan noted that the 2020 Artsakh War has brought its aftershocks, and their objective is to manage this situation.

The illustration accompanying the postage stamps which focus on COVID-19 medics and soldiers issued in Azerbaijan show a hazmat medic standing over an Azeri map and spraying disinfectant onto Nagorno Karabakh  a deplorable anti-Armenian propaganda trying to depict the population there as a virus.

This propaganda was also condemned by the Armenian Human Rights Defender.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
With just under one month to go until the start of the Lunar New Year, known locally as Tet, shops on Hang Ma Street in Hanoi downtown have been making meticulous preparations for the upcoming festival

by putting a range of colourful ornaments on display, thereby allowing visitors to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Crowds of local people tend to flock to Hang Ma Street each year in order to purchase traditional objects and decorations for the Lunar New Year.

Visitors to the street can view an array of lanterns, flowers, and other decorative items on show.

Locals squeeze into shops as they purchase essentials for the upcoming Tet.

Decorative items which celebrate the upcoming lunar Year of Buffalo are among the favourite items on sale this year.

Colourful stickers sending wishes of luck and prosperity ahead in the Lunar New Year can be seen throughout the street.

Peach and apricot flowers made of cloth and plastic are used for decoration.

With Tet fast approaching, young people view the street as an ideal place in which to snap memorable photos.

A mother goes with her child to shop for decorative items on the bustling Hang Ma Street.

Envelopes for lucky money are an indispensable part of every Tet holiday. A package containing 10 envelopes costs around VND10,000 to VND15,000, equal to US$0.43 to US$0.65.

Hang Ma Street is a popular place for both residents and tourists in Hanoi to celebrate Tet each year.

VOV/ Tienphong
DETROIT  Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,500 reward for information regarding the Christmas weekend shooting death of Wayne State student 18-year-old Casey Willis, FOX 2 Detroit reports.

Willis was sitting in a vehicle with a male friend around 2 a.m. on Dec. 26 in Highland Park when two individuals approached. One of them had a long gun and fired several times into the vehicle, killing Willis; the male victim was uninjured. The suspects then ran to a vehicle, which police say could have been a light-colored Chevy Impala, and fled the scene. The incident was captured by a home surveillance system.

RELATED: Wayne State student, 19, killed in holiday weekend shooting

The investigation is ongoing; no suspects have been identified.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Detroit Police Department Homicide Unit at 313-596-2260 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

Crime Stoppers will award $10,500 for information leading to an arrest related to the case, the TV station reports.

Family members created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. As of noon Wednesday, Jan. 20, it had raised $32,000. The campaign information says Willis was a Wayne State student and worked two jobs, including at Alternatives for Girls - an organization dedicated to helping homeless and high-risk girls avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation - where she was a board member.

READ MORE:

Couple charged for assaulting Spirit Airlines gate agents

Parents to adopt own biological babies in surrogate controversy

Great Lakes fishing companies say Michigan DNR order pretty much puts us out of business

Michigan restauranteur accused of fatally shooting wife
Goodbye Sheldon Adelson: The malignant toad is dead

By Philip Giraldi

January 19, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - Casino magnate and Israeli patriot multi-billionaire Sheldon Adelson, one of the worlds richest men, died in Las Vegas on January 11th at age 87. He had been suffering from cancer and has been buried at the Mount of Olives Cemetery in Israel. When his body arrived in Israel it was met by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Jonathan Pollard, the most damaging spy in United States history. Tributes to the fallen hero poured in from the political class in both the United States and Israel and it has even been reported that President Donald Trump was intending to hoist the American flag at half mast over federal buildings to honor the great humanitarian philanthropist. Unfortunately, the flag was already at half mast honoring the death of Capitol Police Force officer Brian Sicknick, who was murdered in the Capitol building last Wednesday.

Trump has not mentioned the service unto death of Sicknick and the flag lowering itself was apparently a bit of an afterthought on behalf of the White House, but he had plenty to say about his good buddy Adelson, who has been the principal funder of the Republican Party over the past five years. As he can no longer use Twitter, the presidents condolences were posted on the White House site: Melania and I mourn the passing of Sheldon Adelson, and send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Miriam, his children and grandchildren. Sheldon lived the true American dream. His ingenuity, genius, and creativity earned him immense wealth, but his character and philanthropic generosity his great name. Sheldon was also a staunch supporter of our great ally the State of Israel. He tirelessly advocated for the relocation of the United States embassy to Jerusalem, the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and its neighbors. Sheldon was true to his family, his country, and all those that knew him. The world has lost a great man. He will be missed.

Missing from the Trump eulogy is any mention of what Adelson did for the United States, which is his country of birth and where he made his fortune engaging in activity that many would consider to be a vice. In fact, Adelson was all about the Jewish state, positioning himself as the principal funder of the Republican Party under Donald Trump and receiving in return as a quid pro quo the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement (JCPOA), the move of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the recognition of Israeli annexation of the Syrian Golan Heights, and a virtual concession that the Jewish state could do whatever it wants vis-a-vis the Palestinians, to include expelling them from Palestine. Adelson once commented that Israel does not have to pretend to be a democracy but it must be Jewish, presumably to help the process of Arab genocide move along.

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Adelsons mechanism, initiated under George W. Bush, is familiar to how the Israel Lobby operates more generally. It consisted of the exploitation of the incessant need of campaign money by the GOP, which Adelson provided with strings attached. He worked with the Republicans to completely derail the admittedly faux peace process begun under Bill Clinton, which depended on a two-state solution, and instead give the Jewish state a free hand to implement its own unilateral Greater Israel Project extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean. As part of that expansion, Israel has been building illegal settlements while also bombing and killing Lebanese, Syrians, and Iranians and assassinating scientists and technicians throughout the region.

All of the interventions against Israels neighbors took place even though the Jewish state was not technically at war with anyone. The U.S. meanwhile funded Israeli aggression and watched the spectacle without any complaint, providing political cover as necessary, while also maintaining a major military presence in the Middle East to protect Israel, as Trump recently admitted.

In short, Sheldon Adelson committed as much as half a billion dollars from his vast fortune to buy control over a major element of U.S. foreign policy and subordinated American interests to those of Israel. In addition to direct donations to both major political parties, he also paid for Congressional fact finding trips to Israel and funded a number of pro-Israel lobbies, so-called charities and other related Jewish projects. It is indisputable that he wielded an incredible degree of power to shape Washingtons actions in the Middle East. In her own tribute to her dead husband, Miriam Adelson, an Israeli, described how he crafted the course of nations.

Adelson was actively engaged on Israels behalf until the week before his death. He provided his casinos private 737 luxury executive jet to transport Jonathan Pollard home to Israel. Pollard has served 30 years in prison after being convicted of espionage and was on parole, which restricted his travel. As yet another a gift to Israel, Donald Trump lifted that restriction, allowing him to fly to Israel where he received a heros welcome. It is generally agreed that Pollard was the most damaging spy in American history, having stolen the keys to accessing U.S. communications and information gathering systems. A month after Pollards arrest in 1985, C.I.A director William Casey stated: The Israelis used Pollard to obtain our war plans against the USSR  all of it: the co-ordinates, the firing locations, the sequences, and Israel sold that information to Moscow for more exit visas for Soviet Jews.

Sheldon Adelson used his wealth and political connections to shield himself from any criticism due to his openly expressed preference for Israel over the land of his birth. He famously publicly stated that he wished he had worn the Israeli Army uniform instead of that of the U.S. Army, where he served briefly as a draftee. He also expressed his desire that his son would serve as an Israeli army sniper, presumably allowing him to blow the heads off of Palestinians. In 2013 Adelson advocated ending nuclear negotiations with Iran and instead detonating a nuclear weapon in the middle of the [Iranian] desert, followed by a threat to annihilate the capital city Tehran, home to 8.6 million, to force Iran to surrender its essentially non-existent nuclear program.

Other acknowledgements of the impact of Adelson came from officials in the Trump Administration. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo commented how his efforts to strengthen the alliance between Israel and the United Statesthe world, Israel and the United States are safer because of his work. Yeah, right Mike.

So, the world is definitely a better place due to the passing of Sheldon Adelson. Or is it? His Israeli wife Miriam owns more than 40% of Las Vegas Sands Corp Casinos Inc., estimated to be worth in excess of $17 billion. She has proposed that a new chapter be included in the Jewish bible, the Book of Trump, and has pledged herself to continue her husbands work. Trump had previously given her the highest award that a president can bestow, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Freedom, of course, does not apply to Palestinians. And if one is concerned that the Democrats will not be cooperative, they too have their own major donor similar to Adelson. He is an Israeli film producer named Haim Saban, who, echoing a similar statement by Adelson, said that he is a one issue guy and that issue is Israel.

A few days ago, Sony pushed the Android 11 stable update to its Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 units. Fast forward to now, the company is now seeding the Android 11 update to Xperia 5 II.

Notably, Sony Xperia 5 II is the companys current compact flagship. The Sony Xperia 5 II was launched back in October 2020. It is powered by the then-latest Snapdragon 865 processor coupled with 8GB of RAM.

The phone packs a 6.1-inch OLED 120Hz display that also features a Triluminos display and X-Reality Engine. The Xperia 5 II shipped with Android 10 out of the box. And was planned to be updated with Android 11 in the future.

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And now, the time has come and it is finally receiving the stable Android 11 update. The update is right on time because as per Sonys official update schedule, Sony Xperia 5 II was expected to grab the update at the end of January.

As far as Android 11 features are concerned, the update brings a new conversations tab, built-in screen recorder, chat bubbles, smart home, and media controls, improved accessibility and privacy controls, etc.

There would be some extra features also from Sonys side with this update. However, the screenshot of the update shared by a Redditor reveals nothing about these features.

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The Xperia 5 II is picking up the Android 11 update in select regions

According to XDA, the Sony Xperia 5 II Android 11 update with version number 58.1.A.1.178 is now live for European units (model number XQ-AS52) and Asian (model number XQ-AS72) dual-SIM model in Russia and South East Asia.

Moreover, the SoftBank Japan-exclusive Xperia 5 II single-SIM model (A002SO) is also picking up the update. The update for the SoftBank variant is arriving with version 58.1.D.0.331.

The update weighs around 709.7MB in size. So, you should consider downloading the Android 11 update on your Xperia 5 II device on a stable and fast Wi-Fi internet connection.

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Usually, OEMs roll out the updates via OTA in batches. Meaning that it will take some time before it becomes available for every user. Good thing is that you can check for the update manually if you are in the region where the update is live.

To do that, head over to your phones Settings menu. From there, go to the Software Update section and see if it detects the latest update. We expect Sony to release the update in more countries in the coming weeks.

If there is no luck with the in-built software update checker, then you can skip the queue and grab the update package file from community-created tools like XperiFirm and Newflasher. The files are straight from the companys update server for manual flashing.
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.

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.
All 77 BJP MLAs in Bengal to have central security cover

West Bengal Elections 2021: Mamata says BJP more dangerous than Maoists

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Kolkata, Jan 20: Terming the BJP as more dangerous than the Maoists, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the saffron party of making false promises to the people before elections.

The TMC supremo, whose party is witnessing an exodus ahead of the assembly elections due in April-May, asserted that politics is a solemn ideology and philosophy and one cannot daily change ideologies like clothes.

"The BJP is more dangerous than the Maoists," Banerjee said while addressing a rally in Purulia district, which was once a hotbed of Left-wing extremism.

'Bhabanipur is my younger sister': Mamata Banerjee may contest from two constituencies

"Those who want to join the BJP can leave but we will never bow our heads to the saffron party," she said.

Several TMC leaders have left the ruling party in the state to join the BJP.

She claimed that the BJP leaders misled the Adivasi people of the Jangalmahal area, within which Purulia is situated, with false promises and did not visit them after winning the Lok Sabha elections.

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

BJP candidates won all the seats in the Jangalmahal area including Purulia in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 9:17 [IST]
Sleep in your workout clothes. If you're trying to start a morning exercise routine, make it easy to get dressed for a morning run or workout. Sleep in some or all of your workout clothes. Put your shoes and socks by the bed. Put hand weights by your desk. Keep light hand weights nearby and do some reps while you're on a conference call. Hang hooks by your door. Whether you're always losing your keys or forgetting your mask, creating a station of hooks or shelves by the door for masks, keys or any other essentials you need when you leave the house will help you make mask-wearing a habit. Stand on one leg while brushing. Standing on one leg while brushing your teeth is a way to practice balance. (Change legs after a minute of brushing.)

Buy kitchen tongs. You'll be amazed how much easier it is to cook, toss a salad or serve noodles with the right set of tongs. In general, having the right gadgets for your kitchen is a way to make cooking easier. Loading Organise your fridge. Often the tipping point in a kitchen is the refrigerator. When your fridge is a mess, it's hard to know what you have available to cook, what food might spoil soon and what you need from the store. Watch the jellyfish. One of the best mindfulness tips I came across this year was from Cord Jefferson, the television writer who thanked his therapist on national television when he won an Emmy. Jefferson told me he struggled with traditional meditation, but he enjoys watching the feed from a web camera showing the jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Bookmark the jelly-cam on your phone or laptop browser and get lost in the jellyfish for a short mindfulness break during your workday.

Complete a 1-minute task. One of my favorite health tips for dealing with stress is the one-minute rule. It comes from Gretchen Rubin, author of Better Than Before, a book about forming new habits. This simple advice helps you decide what to tackle on a long to-do list. Just do the one-minute tasks on the list first. Hang up a coat. Read some emails. Clear and wipe the kitchen counter. Tidy a bookshelf. Whenever you take on a one-minute task, you'll get a sense of accomplishment. Do a five-finger meditation. This is an easy way to calm yourself, no matter where you are. Start by holding your hand in front of you, fingers spread. Using your index finger on the other hand, start tracing the outline of your hand. Trace up your pinkie, and down. Trace up your ring finger and down. As you do this, breathe in as you trace up, and out as you trace down. Continue finger by finger until you've traced your entire hand. Now reverse the process and trace from your thumb back to your pinkie, making sure to inhale as you trace up, and exhale as you trace down. Loading Create a Sunday basket. I learned this tip from Lisa Woodruff, author of The Paper Solution. She suggests dumping your bills, receipts and various papers into a basket. Once a week, sort your actionable papers (those that need attention) from your archive papers (those that can be filed.) The Sunday basket approach (she claims it will add five extra hours to your week) is part of a larger system proposed by Woodruff that uses three-ring binders rather than a filing cabinet. (She suggests five binders for financial information, medical needs, household reference, school items and daily operations.) For me, the Sunday basket is enough, but if you feel chronically overwhelmed by paper, you can learn more at Organize365.com. Buy partly prepared food. Buying chopped up food and meal kits costs more, but it does save time. "I always used to avoid buying cut fruits and vegetables in the grocery store, but I found I actually use them sooner, so in the end it kind of pays off," Wood said.
As South Africans are once again dumped into darkness, many are wondering how Eskom went from the most efficient power producer in the world to a company which cannot keep the lights on.

To answer this question, it is necessary to look at Eskoms past and what happened to destroy the company which won the Global Power Company of the Year award less than 20 years ago.

Eskom was founded in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission (Escom) and started to produce electricity in 1925.

The company showed incredible growth as the demand for electricity increased and built a transmission system lines linking all major cities in the country.

Eskom was so successful that it supplied more than half the electricity in Africa by the end of 1990.

It was also highly efficient. Eskom highlighted in its 1994 annual report that it was the worlds lowest-cost producer of electricity.

The company was a globally respected power producer which won numerous awards and boasted many international accolades. These included:

The Matla power station set an accident-free world record of 11,847,026 man-hours which stands to this day.

On commissioning in 1993, Kendal power station became the worlds largest indirect dry-cooled power station.

Majuba, which became fully operational in 2001, was the only power station in the world that combined wet and dry cooled technologies.

In December of 2001 at the Global Energy Awards ceremony held in New York, Eskom was presented with the Power Company of the Year Award.

In 2004 Eskom was named as South Africas most admired brand in the Markinor/Sunday Times Top Brands Survey.

Today the power producer is a shadow of its former self and is dogged by mismanagement, corruption, power outages, and crippling debt.

This raises the question of how such a brilliant company has been brought to its knees.

Eskoms path to destruction

In a recent presentation for the Free Market Foundations Free Marketeers Podcast, energy expert Ted Blom shared his views on what went wrong at Eskom.

He said there were five main reasons for Eskoms decline over the last 20 years.

A change in Eskoms ownership model and governance. Accelerated BBBEE, which resulted in fronting and losing skills. Cadre deployment. Political interference. Grand looting and state capture.

To understand the beginning of the decline, Blom said, one has to go back to the late nineties when Eskom was still a public enterprise.

In 1998 the government decided to restructure the energy industry, which resulted in the Eskom Amendment Act which made Eskom a limited liability company with share capital and falling under the Companies Act.

Eskom was no longer run as a public enterprise, but rather as a public company with share capital with a board of directors which was appointed by the relevant minister.

Blom said this was the beginning of the end for Eskom, and it has been downhill ever since from there.

He added that the current investigation into Eskom at the Zondo Commission only starts at 2010, which is a mistake. By 2010 the seeds were already sowed, Blom said.

Blom said accelerated broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) also caused tremendous damage to the power utility.

At the time when it was first implemented, there were very few competent and well-financed black suppliers, which meant fronting was commonplace.

At the same time, they were also expelling top skills inside the organisation, Blom said.

He said cadre deployment at Eskom replaced employment based on merit, which has become commonplace over the last few years.

Another problem for Eskom is political interference, which included ministers and the president running the show instead of knowledgeable people at Eskom.

Political ideologies were forced onto Eskom, which included changing the profile of their workforce, Blom said.

The combination of these factors culminated in grand looting and state capture at Eskom, which Blom said started in 2006.

The corruption and tender irregularities included tenders related to the Medupi, Kusile, and Ingula power stations, new coal procurement plans, and nuclear builds.

The result of the corruption and mismanagement at Eskom is regular load-shedding and a company which is now saddled with crippling debt and a bloated workforce.

New management team fighting to save Eskom

With load-shedding hampering an already struggling economy and hurting small businesses, it is hard to defend Eskom.

Its plan to increase electricity prices to fill the massive hole created by mismanagement, corruption, and theft by Eskom employees makes it even harder.

There are, however, some signs that new Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter and his management team are starting to make progress to turn the company around.

Eskoms latest interim results showed improved profitability before finance charges and interest to R15.4 billion, up from R12.5 billion a year earlier. Eskom reported a net profit of R83 million in the period, compared to a net loss of R1.9 billion.

The good news is that Eskoms debt has also been reduced. On 30 September 2020 Eskoms outstanding debt stood at R463.7 billion, down from R483.7 in March 2020. The gearing ratio has improved to 72% in September 2020, down from 75% in September 2019.

De Ruyter has also been able to reduce the staff headcount by around 2,000 people without any forced retrenchments.

This has helped contain employee benefit costs to R16.7 billion from R16.4 billion in September 2019.

Current processes to further reduce headcount are also underway, again without resorting to forced retrenchments.

Eskom has also highlighted that the current bout of load-shedding, which is expected to last until September, was planned to improve the reliability of its fleet of power stations.

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha added that four generation units at Medupi had their design defects repaired, and the last two are being worked on.

The work will carry on at the Kusile power station and we hope to have a stable supply of 9,000MW from the two new power stations to reduce the risk of load-shedding, he said.

The company has also shown that it is serious about fighting corruption and has joined forces with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to recover R3.8 billion from Eskom executives, former board members, the Gupta family, and their associates.

Eskom said the funds were lost in a concerted effort to corruptly divert financial resources from the company.
Covid-19 vaccines may not be fully effective in people who are suffering from obesity, as experts on Tuesday suggested that the process of healing may be slower in obese people as compared to the healthy ones.

According to a report on Nature, obesity correlates with a dulled immune response to Covid-19. And vaccines for a handful of other conditions often don't work as well in obese people, suggesting that a shot for Covid-19 might not provide as much protection as researchers would like.

"The severity of Covid-19 is potentially high in obese or diabetic people. The fact is that the immunity and the process of healing may be slower in an obese person than a healthy person," Navneet Sood, Pulmonary Consultant, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, told IANS.

"Such conditions also influence the immune system's response to vaccines. Same is applied on Covid-19 vaccine. But there is no study yet which strongly confirms the direct relation between Covid-19 vaccines' effectiveness and obesity," Sood added.

Obesity can cause chronic, low-grade inflammation, which is thought to contribute to the increased risk of conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. As a result, people who are obese might have higher levels of a variety of immune-regulating proteins, including cytokines.

The immune responses unleashed by cytokines can damage healthy tissue in some cases of severe Covid-19, according to the report.

According to a recently released study, published in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science, suggests that depression, stress, loneliness and poor health behaviours can weaken the body's immune system and lower the effectiveness of new Covid-19 vaccines.

The researchers emphasise that environmental factors, as well as an individual's genetics and physical and mental health can weaken the body's immune system, slowing the response to a vaccine.

"In addition to the physical toll of COVID-19, the pandemic has an equally troubling mental health component, causing anxiety and depression, among many other related problems. Emotional stressors like these can affect a person's immune system, impairing their ability to ward off infections," said the researcher of the study Annelise Madison from the Ohio State University in the US.

Health experts also suggest that there are several factors that may lower the effectiveness of new Covid-19 vaccines and therefore it should be avoided.

"Immune system of people with severe health conditions and low immunity may influence the response to the vaccine," said Jyoti Mutta, Senior Consultant, Microbiology, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, New Delhi.

"People on steroids, severe liver diseases, uncontrolled diabetes or with immunosuppressed conditions like cancer patients, severe kidney patients may come in this category. Also alcohol consumption should be avoided. If one is leading a healthy lifestyle there is no apparent contra indication," Mutta added.

The Cabinet of Ministers intends to sign several additional agreements between the government, the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund (USIF) and the German state bank KfW on the development of social infrastructure in the country for the amount of EUR 36.5 million.

The relevant draft documents were adopted at a government meeting on Wednesday.

In particular, a draft supplementary agreement to the agreement dated April 19, 2018 signed with KfW for UAH 9 million was approved for the Promotion of Social Infrastructure Development Project; a draft supplementary agreement to the agreement dated May 20, 2019 signed with KfW for the amount of EUR 14.45 million for the Promotion of Social Infrastructure Development. Improvement of Rural Basic Health Project; a draft agreement with KfW for the amount of UAH 13.1 million for the Promotion of Social Infrastructure Development Project.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov was authorized to sign the documents.
On the occasion of the 176th anniversary of the first arrival of Indian immigrant labourers to these shores, I intend to comment briefly, through a couple of letters to the press, on the current status of Indo-Trinidadians after their presence here for over a century and a half. They may be regarded as ethnic-focused, divisive and contentious, or may be deemed irrelevant and inconsequential in these times.
Jess Wright declared she is 'very proud' of her brother, Mark, as she posted a series of family snaps to acknowledge his 34th birthday on Wednesday.

The former TOWIE star, 35, shared a collection of images as she honoured the UK's third lockdown by wishing him a 'great day' over social media instead of in person.

The brother and sister duo recently revealed they watched their parents, Carol and Mark, suffer from 'severe health complications' after contracting coronavirus.

Family first: Jess Wright declared she is 'very proud' of her brother Mark as she posted a series of family snaps to acknowledge his 34th birthday on Wednesday

In the first photo uploaded to her Instagram, Jess rocked jeans and a black vest, revealing her bronzed complexion, as her brother wrapped his arm around her for the photo opportunity.

The brunette beauty returned the favour as she rested her arm on Mark's shoulder in a separate picture from their childhood.

The pair appeared to try their hand at make-up as they sported wobbly lipsticks and spots of blush on their cheeks while clutching toys.

A hair roller dangled at the front of Jess' chestnut locks as she beamed for the camera.

Sweet: The former TOWIE star, 35, shared a collection of images as she honoured the UK's third lockdown by wishing him a 'great day' over social media instead of in person

The reality star also uploaded two different red carpet snaps including one alongside their younger sister, Natalya, 20.

Jess highlighted her hourglass silhouette in a sculpted gown complete with striped sheer fabric and shoulder pads.

Natalya also showed off her stunning decolletage in a ruffled off-the-shoulder mini dress, meanwhile Mark looked dapper in a navy three-piece suit.

Jess also made sure to include a couple of photos alongside their mother, 60, and one vintage photo which featured their father, Mark. Snr, 64.

Working their best angles: Jess also uploaded two different red carpet snaps including one alongside their younger sister, Natalya, 20

She penned in the accompanying caption: 'Been posing together since day 1 Happy birthday @wrighty_.

'You have been my bestie / annoyance for 34 years now & Im very, very proud of you. Keep smashing it love you, have a great day '. (sic)

Last week, Mark, said that their father is still 'not completely better' and that his family 'worried for his life' while he was in hospital battling coronavirus.

The former TOWIE star's parents announced on New Year's Eve they had been struck down by Covid-19, but Mark. Snr has since returned home.

Sister act: She highlighted her hourglass silhouette in a sculpted gown complete with striped sheer fabric while Natalya displayed her decolletage in an off-the-shoulder mini dress

Mark also revealed that two of his uncles are currently in hospital due to the virus with his uncle Eddie, 65, the father of his reality star cousin Elliott, in a coma and intensive care unit (ICU).

Speaking on his Heart Evening Show last Monday night, the presenter made an impassioned plea for people to observe government guidelines to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Mark also revealed that he had tested positive for Covid-19 last year but said it didn't affect him like it has his family.

The emotional reality star said: 'I want my life back. I want my family to be well again. I don't want my family to have to worry anymore.

Dressed to the nines: Jess also made sure to include a couple of photos alongside their mother, Carol, 60, and one vintage photo which featured their father, Mark. Snr, 64 (pictured)

Bond: She penned on the heartfelt Instagram post: 'You have been my bestie / annoyance for 34 years now & Im very, very proud of you. Keep smashing it love you, have a great day '

'I don't want you to worry anymore. If you want to get your life back, the only way this will happen is if we obey by the government rules.'

Mark noted that people obeyed the government guidelines and rules 'so much better' during the first lockdown compared to the third lockdown, which was imposed in England towards the start of January.

He said: 'Now last time when this happened, last year's lockdown, I saw such a difference. Everybody was sticking to the rules so much better than it feels this time and it's coming back to bite us, harder, faster and tougher.

'Do you want to see your family members go through what I'm seeing right now? I understand if it hasn't affected your family like it has affected mine, bloodlines are different, I don't know the science of it.

Putting on a brave face: Last week, Mark, said that their father is still 'not completely better' and that his family 'worried for his life' while he was in hospital after contracting Covid-19

Shocking diagnosis: Mark also revealed that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus last year but he said it didn't affect him like it has his family

'But what I do know is that my father, my dad was suffering in hospital and we worried for his life for two weeks, he's now home, he's not completely better, he knows that and we know it.

'My other uncle, his brother, is in hospital right now, receiving oxygen, and their other brother, my uncle Eddie who I love dearly is currently in a coma in the ICU.'

Mark admitted that he wasn't trying to get 'too dark' but by sharing personal information about how it has impacted his family, it will highlight how important the guidelines are.

He continued: 'Now I'm trying not to be too dark but I'm trying to give you a personal from me, because I am seeing first hand, and I know if you haven't seen it and you haven't felt it the way I have, I understand it's hard to believe it.

Fear: Speaking on his Heart FM Show last Monday night, the presenter made an impassioned plea for people to observe government guidelines to stop the spread of coronavirus

'It's easy to sit and think, "You know what, it's just for people that have got real underlying health issues, they were going to die of something anyway." That's not the case.

'A) that shouldn't be a good excuse anyway because they don't deserve to take this badly just because they've got an underlying health condition. And b) it's not just that. My dad is a healthy man, so are my uncles.'

He added: 'So look, I want to move on from this subject, but I just wanted to clear it up because it's made a bit of the headlines from what I said on Good Morning Britain.

'My dad is doing okay, and I want him to know I love him very much. But look, please going forward, we stick together, we do this together and we do what we can to get us back to normal.

'Get us back to holidays, get us back to seeing our friends and dancing on the dance floor.'

Mark also admitted that he understands it's a 'tough situation' and that he is aware that the virus affects everyone differently.

Health battle: The former TOWIE stars' parents announced on New Year's Eve they had been struck down by coronavirus but Mark. Snr has since returned home

He continued: 'It is a tough situation, I understand, because there's so many conspiracy theories that you hear from people.

'Many people that don't believe how real what is going on actually is, and I hear it first hand from friends of mine, very close friends of mine.

'"Oh it's just like a cold, it's just like a flu," "I know someone who had it," "I had it, I was just tired, it didn't hurt, it was fine" and I know that. We know that. It doesn't affect everybody to the point of the way it affects some.'

He continued: 'It didn't affect me when I had it back last year, the way it affected my family members, the way it is affecting my family members.

'I've always done my best to stand by what the government say, and the reason I do that is because I know the experts working with the government, are the best experts we have and that's why they're working for the government.'

Heartbreaking: Mark also revealed that two of his uncles are currently in hospital due to the virus with his uncle Eddie, 65, the father of his reality star cousin Elliott, in a coma and intensive care unit (ICU) (Elliott and Eddie pictured in February 2020)

Jess also took to Instagram towards the start of January to share her experience with the virus.

She wrote: 'Covid has ripped through my family in the past month and it has been absolutely horrendous. Please stay safe everyone, stay home, wear masks and also check on loved ones regularly.

'The fight isn't over for us yet, we are taking every day as it comes and praying a lot. This new strain seems to be spreading like wildfire.

'Thank you the well wishes for those who have known, for my family members that have been hospitalised by this awful, awful virus.'

Jess added it was important to also focus on mental health and help build others up as the nation navigates the third lockdown.
Sasan has played a leadership role in the growth of both our Tax Practice and our Nashville office. He will play a critical role in enhancing our growth in Tennessee, building on our focus of delivering exceptional client experience.

Frazier & Deeter, a Top 50 accounting and advisory firm with offices in the US and the UK, announced today a new Nashville Managing Partner. Sasan Zamani has been named the new Office Managing Partner for the Nashville office, which serves clients across Tennessee as well as other states and internationally.

We are excited to name Sasan as the Office Managing Partner in Nashville, said Seth McDaniel, Managing Partner of Frazier & Deeter. Sasan has played a leadership role in the growth of both our Tax Practice and our Nashville office. He will play a critical role in enhancing our growth in Tennessee, building on our focus of delivering exceptional client experience.

Sasan Zamani, CPA, is a Partner in Frazier & Deeters Tax Practice. He serves clients in a variety of industries, specifically healthcare, technology, private equity, manufacturing & distribution and professional services. Zamanis expertise is in Corporate Tax, ASC 740, Consolidated Corporate and Multi-State tax compliance, Transaction Advisory Services, Partnership Tax and State & Local Tax. He has been a frequent speaker in Nashville regarding evolving tax compliance requirements under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the CARES Act.

Im honored to serve as the leader of Frazier & Deeters excellent team of professionals in Nashville, said Zamani. I look forward to continuing to drive value for our clients as we grow both our services and our client base.

Zamani joined Frazier & Deeter in Atlanta in 2007 but moved to Nashville in 2014 to assist in expanding the firms footprint. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Auburn University and a Master of Taxation from Georgia State University.

About Frazier & Deeter

Frazier & Deeter is an award-winning accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The firm provides a wide range of tax, audit, accounting and advisory services to serve the emerging needs of clients as they evolve. Frazier & Deeter and its FD family of brands have nine offices across the United States and one in the United Kingdom. The firm has been recognized repeatedly as a Best of the Best Accounting firm, a Best Firm to Work For in the U.S. and a Best Firm for Women in Leadership. Frazier & Deeters brand promise is Investing in Relationships to Make a Difference.
First lady Melania Trump bids farewell to the nation in a recorded video she posted on Twitter on Monday.
As a tribute, an artist based in Odisha's Bhubaneshwar has created a miniature portrait of US President-elect Joe Biden in a glass bottle ahead of his inauguration ceremony on Wednesday.

According to a report by ANI, the artist named L Eswar Rao made the miniature piece of art in seven days. He used stone, glass, paper and clay to make it. It measures 6.5 inch X 4 inch and is fitted inside a glass bottle. Rao told ANI he hopes that relations between India and the US will strengthen after Biden's administration comes into power.

Many other Indian artists have also created artworks to extend their best wishes to the new administration.

An artist from Amritsar in Punjab created portraits of Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and said that he wants to gift it to them ahead of their oath taking ceremony.

Punjab: An artist in Amritsar paints portrait of US President-elect Joe Biden & Vice President-elect Kamala Harris."I want to gift these to them as they'll be taking oath tomorrow. It's matter of great pride to see Kamala Harris becoming Vice President," says Jagjot Singh Rubal pic.twitter.com/g7HtzrO7aQ ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2021

In just a few more hours, the United States will get its new President and Vice President. Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the USA, while Indian-origin politician Kamala Harris will take oath as the 49th Vice President on Wednesday. Kamala will also become the first woman Vice President of the USA.

Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office to 78-year-old Biden just after the clock strikes 12 (local time) at the West Front of the Capitol - the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies.

The historic inauguration will be held under an unprecedented security umbrella of more than 25,000 National Guards, who have transformed the capital into a garrison city, mainly because of the threat of more violent protests by the supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump, who is skipping the event.

Biden will take the oath on his 127-year-old family Bible, which will be held by his wife, Jill Biden.

Not just Biden, Kamala Harris too has a huge fan following in India, especially because of her Indian-American roots. Harris is set to make history as the first woman, first woman of color and first person of South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency.

A tiny village in Tamil Nadu has been rallying behind Harris ever since her candidature was announced. They had even performed a special pooja for her before the US Election results last year. Now, ahead of her oath taking ceremony, the village has been celebrating her victory.

Read: Kamala Harris' Ancestral Village in Tamil Nadu Cheers for Her Before Swearing-in as American VP

Read: Idlis, Shoes, Victory Speeches and Vogue: The Times Kamala Harris Made Headlines in India

In her maternal grandfathers hometown of Thulasendrapuram, about 350 kilometers (215 miles) from the southern coastal city of Chennai, people were jubilant and gearing up for celebrations.
Well honor them and become the people and nation we know we can and should be. So I ask you, lets say a silent prayer for those who have lost their lives and those left behind and for our country.

Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth. A raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis. Any one is enough to challenge us in ways. The fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities weve had. Now were going to be tested.

Are we going to step up, all of us? Its time for boldness, for there is so much to do. And this is certain. I promise you, we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era. We will rise to the occasion is the question.

Will we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we must. Im sure you do as well. I believe we will.

And when we do, well write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America, the American story, a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me.

Its called American Anthem.

Theres one verse that stands out, at least for me, and it goes like this.

The work and prayers of century have brought us to this day. What shall be our legacy, what will our children say. Let me know in my heart when my days are through. America, America, I gave my best to you. Lets add, lets us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation. If we do this, then when our days were through, our children and our childrens children will say of us, they gave their best. They did their duty. They healed a broken land.
Last year, some of the solar funds saw significant share price weakness related to falls in power prices and the analysts said, we think there is scope for some recovery in share prices

Recent spikes in spot power prices offer potential for a boost to net asset values for green energy funds, including ( ) and Greencoat UK Wind ( ), broker Stifel says.

The spot power price has seen some significant spikes in recent weeks, reaching an average daily price of 199 per megawatt-hour (MWh) on January 13, 2021, compared with a typical price before of around 50/MWh.

This is being driven by low wind and solar production at a time of high demand for heat and light, analysts at the broker said, noting that has issued alerts due to shortages of power being generated in the UK at a time of high demand.

There was one alert last week and another two weeks earlier.

While this is a short term move and it is unlikely to have a material impact on the funds' revenues, the recovery in electricity pricing that we saw in H2 2020 should at least underpin NAVs at the 31/12/20 valuation point, the analysts said.

If prices remain above 50/MWh in the months ahead, there may be some positive impact on NAVs during 2021, they added.

Last year, some of the solar funds saw significant share price weakness related to falls in power prices and the analysts said, we think there is scope for some recovery in share prices.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) probe into Amazon is on the premise that the firm is running the inventory-based model of e-commerce, but in reality, it is a market-based model of online retail, Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium argued before the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday. The allegation that we (Amazon) have preferred sellers, is completely wrong, Subramanium contended, according to the law platform Bar & Bench. There is no direct relationship between me or any seller.

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Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 76F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

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KYIV : Ukraine is in talks with Indian medical firm Serum Institute on supplying Covid-19 vaccines, Interfax Ukraine news agency quoted a deputy Ukrainian health minister as saying on Wednesday.

"Negotiations are underway with an Indian manufacturer, Serum Institute, which can produce the American Novovax vaccine and has the ability to produce the AstraZeneca vaccine at the moment," Interfax quoted Ihor Ivashchenko as saying.

He gave no further details.

India will initially only ship the AstraZeneca vaccine, made by The Serum Institute, the world's biggest vaccine maker, which brands the shot as Covishield.

Ukraine, which registered more that 1.17 million coronavirus cases and 21,258 deaths, has already agreed to buy some vaccines from China and also expects to secure some under the global COVAX programme for poorer countries.

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Renowned Electronic appliances company, Hisense has yet again extended support to Ghana society.



The multiple award-winning company donated ten pieces of brand new Hisense Air Conditioners to the Airforce Base Accra Training School at Burma Camp.



Brand ambassador for Hisense, Nana Ama-Mc Brown yesterday at the Airforce Base said the gesture was part of the company's quest to support institutions and individuals in the country and beyond.



She said "This forms part of Hisense's Corporate Social Responsibility programs. We believe our high profile air-conditioners will go a long way in supporting the officers at the training school.



"This is the beginning of a long term relationship we intend building with your outfit."



She promised to provide the Airforce Base training school with Hisense SmartBoard for their programs at Training School.



Air Crd. Joshua Mensah-Lakai, Base Commander, Airforce Base Accra expressed profuse thanks to officials of Hisense for the kind gesture.



He said "Already, the installation of Hisense products in some of our offices goes to show that we have absolute trust in your products. We look forward to a healthier union. We are indeed grateful for the gesture."

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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WASHINGTON  As President-elect Joe Biden prepared to be sworn in Wednesday, Texas Democrats were cheering the historic day as the end of a shameful era and a time to unite  and Texas Republicans who fought to deny Bidens electoral win called for a peaceful transfer of power.

Wednesday was a new day for the nation, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat, tweeted: Hoy es un nuevo dia para nuestro pais, nuestra gente, y nuestro futuro. The work begins today.

In a separate tweet, Garcia called it an honor to attend the swearing-in of the first female vice president, Kamala Harris, along with U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso. Garcia and Escobar were the first Latinas elected to represent Texas in Congress.

ON DAY ONE: Biden proposes path to citizenship to 1.7 million Texans

The sun has set on the horrible Trump presidency for the last time, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett tweeted. At long last.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady tweeted a Ronald Reagan quote cheering the orderly transfer of authority.

In the eyes of many in the world, this every 4-year ceremony we accept as normal is nothing less than a miracle, Brady said.

Even Texas Republicans who sued to overturn Bidens win in four battleground states  and some in Congress who voted against certifying his victory  said during a live-streamed version of the pre-inauguration Black Tie and Boots Ball that it was time to celebrate the transfer of power.

FIGHTING THE FEDS: A new crop of Texas-led lawsuits awaits Joe Bidens White House

In a season of politics like were experiencing in our country, theres never been a better time to unite around our common values as Texans, including love of country, love of family and neighbors and a commitment to ensuring democracy lives on for future generations, said U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, a Lubbock Republican who voted to reject Bidens electoral victory earlier this month.

Here is what other Texas lawmakers had to say:

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz

It is deeply troubling that most of Joe Bidens first acts as president were to protect illegal immigrants and encourage illegal immigration at the expense of American jobs and workers, Cruz wrote in a statement. I will continue to fight for measures to secure our border, reform our legal immigration system, and uphold the rule of law.

Gov. Greg Abbott

I congratulate Joe Biden on his inauguration as president, and pray that he is guided by God and follows the Constitution as he assumes leadership of the greatest country in the history of the world, Abbott tweeted. May we forever remain that way.

George P. Bush, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office

I congratulate President Biden. As he discharges the most important duties of the land, let me be clear: as a part of the loyal opposition, I will fight for Texas values, whether thats standing up against left-wing plans to curtail the energy industry, raise taxes or put identity politics first, Bush said in a statement.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Congrats, President Biden. On Inauguration Day, I wish our contry the best, Paxton said in a statement. I promise my fellow Texans and Americans that I will fight against the many unconstitutional and illegal actions that the new administration will take, challenge federal overreach that infringes on Texans rights, and serve as a major check against the administrations lawlessness. Texas First! Law & Order always!

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Houston

On day 1, Biden is making clear that the era of prioritizing regular Americans is over, Crenshaw tweeted in response to a summary of executive actions Biden plans to sign Wednesday. Instead, the priorities will be acquiescing to China, ceding energy dominance to Russia and Saudi Arabia, and unfettered illegal immigration. The America First agenda is gone.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio

Congratulations to Joe Biden! Castro tweeted. The 46th President of the United States. I look forward to working hard in the years ahead to bring our nation together and build back better. Its a new day in America!

U.S. Rep. Al Green of Houston

The inauguration symbolizes more than our typical quadrennial transference of power, Green tweeted. It represents the end of a shameful, incitive presidency that brought harm to our nation and the beginning of a pivotal opportunity for our nation to build back better.

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess of Pilot Point

Our country is unique that every four years or every eight years were able to witness a peaceful transfer of power,

Former presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke

The will of the people has been heard. Democracy has prevailed. Congratulations President Biden and Vice President Harris. Thank you America, he tweeted.

Former San Antonio Mayor and presidential candidate Julian Castro

Two years ago I asked folks to imagine the day our nation gets to say adios to Donald Trump. Today is that day. This #InaugurationDay. Ill be wearing my #AdiosTrump shirt proudly, hopeful for a brighter future for our nation under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Castro wrote in one of several tweets about the inauguration.

In his 1961 inaugural, JFK declared, In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. Today I have hope knowing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead our nation in one of those moments, he said in another.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio

A peaceful transition of power is one of the pillars of American democracy, and I feel grateful to have witnessed it in person today, Gonzales said in a statement. Im ready to work with the new administration on areas of agreement, while standing up against President Bidens policies that send our nation in the wrong direction.

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo

Today is a new beginning for our democracy. In a couple hours, we will have a new administration that reflects America and our values, Cuellar tweeted. Congratulations to President Biden and Vice President Harris! It is an honor to be a part of this historic day. We will work every day to unite our country for the American people.

U.S. Rep. Van Taylor of Plano

President Biden takes office in a time of immense challenge. Americans have lost loved ones, they have lost livelihoods, and many have lost hope that a deeply divided government, and nation, can work together again, Taylor said in a statement.

Just as I have always done with other leaders on both sides of the aisle, I will look for opportunities to work with President Biden to solve the problems facing our country. Great collaboration and passionate debate lie ahead, but today we come together to witness the peaceful transition of power and wish President Biden, Vice President Harris, and their families to very best as they begin this journey.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan of Beaumont

May God give wisdom and grace to President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris, he tweeted. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

State Rep. Matt Krause of Fort Worth

Today one presidential admin ends, and one begins. I'll approach the latter as I've done the former. When Biden does something good, I'll praise & support him. When he does something wrong, I'll criticize the decision. (that part has earned me a lot of backlash the last 4 yrs), Krause tweeted.

And do what I can to help protect TX from any harmful policies that might be pursued in DC. I'll be praying for the health & safety of President Biden & the First Lady. I'll be praying for wisdom & discernment for the President, Vice-President Harris, their cabinet, & Congress.

State Rep. James Talarico of Round Rock

Our long national nightmare is over, Talarico tweeted alongside an image of Bidens swearing-in.

cayla.harris@express-news.com

ben.wermund@chron.com
Many Americans will exhale at 9 a.m Wednesday, relieved to have survived the Donald Trump presidency. Four years of chaos and lies and the presidential encouragement of Americas most malevolent elements will end when Joe Biden takes the oath of office.

But is America ready for what Biden promised: a return to normalcy?

Thats the big question: Can we return to normal after the Trump presidency? said Elaine Kamarck, author of Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed Again.

Everybody wants a return to some kind of normalcy, but given all the stuff that Trump got away with, people are wondering if thats possible, said Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

Thats the twisted state of the America that Biden inherits  one where there is actually a question about whether people know what normal looks like.

The good news for Biden is that after Trump, the bar to clear normal has dropped to its lowest rung in a generation.

Trumps approval rating bottomed out at 34% after he encouraged a mob of his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol, according to a new Gallup Poll. Thats not much better than Richard Nixons 24% approval after he resigned the presidency in 1974 and equal to the final Gallup grades of Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush  placing those four on the bizarro Mount Rushmore.

Looking back on the Trump administration, Biden has it easy in some ways. All he has to do to appear normal is:

 Not incite a mob to storm the U.S. Capitol by whipping them up with lies about a stolen election.

 Not be impeached. Twice.

 Not say there are good people on both sides of a protest when one side consists of white supremacists chanting the Jews will not replace us and carrying Nazi symbols.

 Not separate immigrant children from their families at the border and then lose track of 545 of the kids families.

Thats just a partial list of no-brainer moves not to make. But given our tortured times, achieving normal wont be easy. Heres where Biden must start:

Master one huge task: Biden will enter office just as the COVID-19 death toll crests 400,000 people, representing nearly 1 in 830 Americans alive when the pandemic arrived a year ago.

Biden has just one job, Kamarck said. End this pandemic.

Thats a major challenge given the poor-to-nonexistent coordination to date between the federal, state and local governments, which has extended to the vaccine rollout. On Tuesday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the city could exhaust its supply of vaccine by Thursday.

If Biden improves the federal response and the country reaches his goal of vaccinating 100 million additional Americans in 100 days, the new president can show that government works, Kamarck said. Then, all sorts of things flow from that.

If he does it right, then the economy will improve  and that will make a difference to everyone, said Michael Genovese, a professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University and author of How Trump Governs.

Find GOP friends: Biden plans to undo much of Trumps legacy by issuing dozens of executive orders in the coming days, many of which will reverse the outgoing presidents executive orders. Biden is expected to direct the U.S. to rejoin the Paris climate accords and repeal the ban on travel from Muslim-majority countries, among other orders.

The only thing he cant undo are the Trump tax cuts and the judges that Trump appointed, Kamarck said.

But passing major legislation will require Republican help when Democrats hold a slim majority in the House and the narrowest of advantages in the Senate.

So far that doesnt look likely. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky ignored precedent and didnt call the Senate back into session until Tuesday, robbing Biden of a chance of confirming his Cabinet nominees before he took office, unlike most new presidents. The Senate confirmed 12 of Ronald Reagans 14 Cabinet picks within his first two days in the White House and 13 of Bill Clintons choices within a day.

Kamarck remains optimistic, estimating there could be more than a dozen GOP senators who could be coaxed into siding with Biden at times. They appear capable of being swayed either because they bucked Trump to certify the election results or they were just re-elected and wont face the imminent threat of a Republican primary challenger.

Their first chance to support Biden will come soon, when he introduces an immigration plan that would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents.

There are plenty of Republican immigration hardliners in the Senate. Nevertheless, Genovese thinks an immigration plan has a shot at passing with GOP help.

Republicans want to get rid of the immigration issue, because it hurts them with Latino voters, Genovese said. So both parties want to get it off the table.

Ignore Trump and Trumpists: Trumps Senate impeachment trial will begin shortly after Biden takes office, enabling the former president to cast a shadow over the new administrations crucial early days. Biden will be asked repeatedly to weigh in on the impeachment and every one of Trumps post-presidential moves.

Genoveses advice: He should walk away. Saying less is more. Let others do it. Hes got to be above the fray.

But Bidens challenge with Republicans goes deeper than Trump. Three in four Republicans dont think Biden won the election legitimately, according to a CNN poll.

Kamarck said its going to be very hard to connect with those people. Trump has embedded a lot of misinformation in them.

Know normal isnt enough: Some Democrats particularly people of color and low-income Americans were put off by Bidens call for a return to normal.

Normalcy sucked for a lot of people, Kamarck said. If youre poor or youve faced discrimination in your life, everything hits you harder in life. Thats why this pandemic exacerbated inequality.

Genovese added: Biden has to call not just for a return to normalcy. But for a new normal.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
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The White House acknowledges that Davidson was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the murder of Howard, but adds that "witnesses who testified against Mr. Davidson later recanted their testimony in sworn affidavits and further attested that Mr. Davidson had no involvement."

In court papers it's stated that Davidson wanted to rob Luther Gregory, who was actually a confidential informant working with Howard, at a planned drug sale. But, according to the documents, he instructed his associates not to execute the robbery if Gregory had anyone with him. Howard was with Gregory when the shooting occurred.

There were also witnesses in the case who said that Davidson wasn't in Syracuse when Howard was murdered. Davidson and the witnesses said he was in New York City at the time.

"Although Mr. Davidson has been incarcerated for nearly 29 years, the admitted shooter (Lawrence) has already been released from prison," the White House added. "Following the commutation of his sentence, Mr. Davidson will continue legal efforts to clear his name."

While in prison, Davidson tutored more than 1,000 inmates who earned their general education development certificates. According to the White House, Davidson was praised by prison officials "for his dedication to helping others."
(CNN)  Barack Obama greeted Kamala Harris with a fist bump at the inauguration on Wednesday, a gesture that carried symbolic weight as the history-making former president prepared to watch Harris make some of her own.

The moment came as Harris walked to her seat on the inaugural stage Wednesday morning shortly before being sworn in as vice president. After turning to greet the former president, she softly pounded her gloved fists into Obama's, who had held up his own gloved hands moments earlier.

The gesture was heavy with symbolism as Obama and Harris made history as the first African Americans to serve as president and vice president, respectively. After greeting the 44th president, Harris similarly fist bumped Michelle Obama, who had made history as the country's first African American first lady.

Harris on Wednesday became America's first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president.

The shared gesture with the Obamas was also a clear sign of the times: the inauguration took place as the coronavirus pandemic ravages the country. The virus has caused people to refrain from physically interacting too much with others, for fear that the virus could be transmitted during close interactions.

The ceremony also contained a number of other coronavirus precautions, including face masks, socially distanced seating and a limited number of attendees.

Following the ceremony, Harris joined President Joe Biden for a few planned inaugural events before she returned to the US Capitol to swear in three new Democratic senators: Georgia's Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, and California's Alex Padilla, her successor in the chamber.

Harris will wield power as the Senate's crucial tie-breaking vote, helping the Biden administration confirm its appointments and giving Democrats the gavels of committees in charge of holding oversight hearings and crafting far-reaching legislation.
Guwahati, Jan 20 : Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said on Wednesday that the Assembly elections in Assam would be held taking into consideration the Bihu festival in mid April and the CBSE board examinations.

Arora, who was accompanied by Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar and other senior officials, told the media that the elections would be held following the social distancing norms in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The CEC said that the election schedule would be prepared keeping in mind the examinations to be conducted by the Central Board Secondary Education for students of Classes X and XII in May-June.

The full bench of the poll panel had arrived in Guwahati on Monday and held a series of meetings with the political parties, police nodal officers, election related regulatory agencies, district deputy commissioners and police officers, state home secretary and other senior Central and state officials to review the poll preparedness in the state.

The poll panel also held meetings with Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah, Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, and Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade.

According to the officials, the EC team left Guwahati for Kolkata on Wednesday and during its three-day stay there, it would hold a similar exercise about the West Bengal Assembly polls.

Arora said that political parties have requested the EC to keep in mind the dates for the Bihu festival while finalising the poll schedule.

"Representatives of political parties said that such a schedule would encourage more voter turnout and would help avoid the period of monsoon too. Keeping in view the Covid norms of ensuring social distancing, political parties desired that the number of polling booths be increased and the list of such auxiliary polling booths be made available in time so that parties can organise their booth committees and logistics in time," he said.

People in Assam celebrate two important festivals -- Bhogali Bihu, a harvest festival also called Magh Bihu in January, and the Rongali Bihu, a spring festival that marks the onset of Assamese New Year in April.

The CEC said that in view of the Covid norms, the maximum number of electors at a polling station has been reduced from 1,500 to 1,000.

Accordingly, for Assam, the number of polling stations would go up by about 5,000 and are likely to be more than 33,000 for the forthcoming elections. This increase in the number of polling stations in turn would have other logistics and manpower implications.

He said that the ECI has always recognised that after the voters, the political parties are the most important stakeholders in the election process. Poll panel officials have been holding repeated meetings with local officials and taking stock of the ground situations.

"The Commission has zero tolerance about misuse of money power or government machinery. In this regard, a specific meeting was held with the enforcement agencies to crack the whip wherever required. As per well-established norms, the Commission deploys experienced officers as observers from outside the state in every election after due scrutiny.

"If required, special observers would also be deployed in the sensitive and critical constituencies and districts to monitor and ensure that elections are conducted in a totally free and fair manner. During the door-to-door campaign by the political parties, only five persons would be allowed in a group or team," the CEC said.

Ahead of the declaration of Assembly polls in five states, the full bench of ECI headed by the CEC is likely to visit the states to review the preparations for the elections.

Assembly elections are expected to take place in Assan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry in April-May.

A six-member team of the Election Commission led by Director General Dharmendra Sharma had held several meetings with senior Assam government officials last week to review the preparedness for the Assembly polls.

The five-year term of the 126-member Assam Assembly would expire on May 31.
Residents of Watergrasshill, in north east Cork are being urged to check their EuroMillions tickets today after one lucky ticketholder won the 500,000 EuroMillions Plus top prize in Tuesday nights draw.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was sold on Tuesday at Rosss Centra store in the centre of Watergrasshill village.

It was one of 46,000 prizes won on tickets sold in Ireland.

The EuroMillions jackpot was worth almost 68m.

Ken Ross, owner of the Rosss Centra store in Watergrasshill for the past 16 years, said that his first big lottery win was well worth the wait.

Mr Ross said he was happy to see one of his "deserving" customers picking up a life-altering 500,000 prize.

A player in Cork has won tonights #EuroMillions Plus top prize of 500,000! #ItCouldBeYou pic.twitter.com/tXnkh244dZ  The Irish National Lottery (@NationalLottery) January 19, 2021

He said: This is some way for one of our customers to beat the January blues!

Its a difficult time of year at the best of times anyway so this win will give the entire community a lovely little lift today knowing that one of them is a half million euro richer after Tuesdays EuroMillions draw.

"Of course, with the travel restrictions in place, we are seeing mostly locals in the store at the moment but we also have quite a number of frontline workers stopping in as they come and go from work.

"Whoever is the lucky winner is, we know for sure that they are most deserving of the win, there will be no doubt about that, he added.

It is the latest in a series of big wins for Irish players in the EuroMillions, with a lucky player in Clare winning 500,000 just three weeks ago.

Last July, a ticket sold in Ireland won the grand prize of some 49.5m.
Image by Doug Mills/The New York Times

U.S. President Donald Trump has granted clemency to former White House aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations he will issue during his final hours in office, a senior administration official said.

Trump was not expected to pardon himself, members of his family or lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who was at the forefront of unsuccessful efforts to get the results of the 2020 presidential election overturned, according to sources.

Trump leaves office on Wednesday, when Joe Biden is sworn in as the nation's next president.

Trump also pardoned rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black who were prosecuted on federal weapons offenses, as well as former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was serving a 28-year prison term on corruption charges, a senior administration official said.

Bannon, who was a key adviser in Trump's 2016 presidential run, was charged last year with swindling Trump supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the president's wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty.

White House officials had advised Trump against pardoning Bannon. The two men have lately rekindled their relationship as Trump sought support for his unproven claims of voter fraud, an official familiar with the situation said.

Bannon, 67, is the latest prominent political ally to receive clemency from Trump, who has often used the powers of the executive branch to reward loyalists and punish his enemies.

Trump previously pardoned former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI about his conversation with the former Russian ambassador, and he commuted the prison term for Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Bannon can still be charged in state court in New York, where a pardon would not help him, said Daniel R. Alonso, a former prosecutor now at the Buckley law firm. Fraud prosecutions are frequently brought by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Alonso said.

Lil Wayne, 38, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., pleaded guilty in federal court in December to illegally possessing a firearm and faced up to 10 years in prison. He has expressed support for Trump's criminal justice reform efforts.

Kodak Black, 23, who was born Bill Kahan Kapri, is in federal prison for making a false statement in order to buy a firearm.
1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone.

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

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

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

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

Vote

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Coal mining will continue to generate wealth for Australians for decades to come, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared in a new statement fending off calls to phase out fossil fuels and toughen action on climate change.

Mr Morrison backed the industry during a visit to regional Queensland and said he was willing to visit a coal mine even though such a tour hasnt been on my schedule since he became Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wears a hard hat and face mask during a visit to South32 Cannington Mine in McKinlay, Queensland on Wednesday. Credit:AAP

But he ruled out government subsidies for coal mines and said mining workers knew that things change over time without elaborating on what those changes might be.

These mines have got, you know, 10, 20, 30 years to run, Mr Morrison said of coal mining during a media appearance in McKinlay, a Queensland town east of Mount Isa.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Australia held a powerful online meeting last Sunday to commemorate the life of Barry Jobson, a former railway worker and veteran socialist, who died aged 78 on December 11.

Jobson joined the Trotskyist movement in 1974 and dedicated his adult life to the struggle for Trotskyism and socialist internationalism in the working class..

SEP national secretary Cheryl Crisp chaired the meeting, which was addressed by Nick Beams, Terry Cook and Max Boddy, who reviewed different aspects of Jobsons political contribution and their relevance for today. Crisp, Beams and Cook are all founding members of the Socialist Labour League, the SEPs predecessor, established in 1972.

The two-hour event, which displayed photographs from the partys archives and featured an extended Q&A session, was attended by over 150 people. Participants logged in from across Australia. Others attended from Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Korea, New Zealand, Romania, Sri Lanka, the UK and the US.

The full video of the meeting is available here.

Opening the event, Crisp outlined the deepening crisis of global capitalism, intensified by the devastating impact of the COVID-19 on millions of people while a small wealthy elite continued to further enrich itself. Pointing to US President Donald Trumps attempted January 6 fascist coup in Washington, she warned that the turn toward dictatorial forms of rule in the US was a global process and posed extreme dangers to the working class.

New generations of young people and workers were being radicalised by these developments and would enter revolutionary struggles against capitalism, she said. They would turn to the International Committee of the Fourth International, she added, and be inspired by working-class comrades, such as Barry Jobson, who committed his energy, his talents, his patience to the fight for its perspective.

SEP national committee member and former national secretary Nick Beams reviewed the key national and international political events that underpinned Jobsons political development. Barry Jobson understood, Beams said, the critical importance of studying and assimilating the writing of the Marxist movement and grasping the strategical historical lessons of the 20th century.

Terry Cook worked with Jobson over two decades at the Electric Car (Elcar) rail workshops in Chullora, western Sydney. He reviewed the support they won from railway workers in the fight against the Stalinist and trade union leaderships and the regressive prices and incomes Accords imposed by the Hawke and Keating Labor governments of 1983 to 1996 and enforced by the unions. He outlined their determined work to establish a socialist and anti-war culture in the railway workshops, organising meetings inside Elcar addressed by visiting international Trotskyists, such as Fred Mazelis and Helen Halyard.

Barry Jobson was not attracted to the party because it had a large membership, substantial material resources or a pathway to a lucrative trade union or political career, Cook said. He joined because of his agreement with its revolutionary socialist principles, program and perspective and he was prepared to swim against the streama quality essential for a revolutionary fighter.

The final speaker, SEP assistant national secretary Max Boddy, explained that he first met Jobson after attending an IYSSE meeting at the University of Newcastle. By then, Jobson had retired but regularly campaigned at the campus, discussing the fight for Marxism with students.

Like millions of other young people around the world, Boddy said, he had opposed the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. But it was through the struggle to build the IYSSE on campus and working in collaboration with Barry Jobson, that he came to understand the critical importance of studying the writings of the Marxist movement, particularly those of Leon Trotsky.

The intervention of worker revolutionaries like Barry, who fought against the numerous petty-bourgeois ideologies vigorously promoted at universities, was critical in the establishment of the partys presence on campus It is now the responsibility of a new generation of revolutionaries to continue and deepen our turn to the working class, Boddy said.

Audience members raised questions or made comments in the chat field. Over $3,100 was collected for the SEPs Monthly Fund.

After the meeting several participants spoke about the impact and contemporary significance of Jobsons political work.

Brenton

Brenton, a cleaner from Warrnambool in southwestern Victoria, said the meeting was a really valuable experience. He particularly appreciated Nick Beams overview of the past century and the context in which Barry Jobson joined the revolutionary socialist movement.

My main takeaway about the political issues surrounding Barrys life was the complete abandonment by the reformist organisations, whether the unions or the Labor Party, of even having a reformist agenda. They went completely over to being agents of imperialism. In the context of Barrys life that was the most important developmentan understanding that the Labor Party is dead for even reforms

What is remarkable about Barrys life is that the socialist movement provided him with the opportunity and encouragement to raise his level of education and consequently his social, political and economic consciousness.

For those coming into contact with the Socialist Equality Partyit doesnt matter where theyre at personally, what their level of understanding is, what level of confidence they have. Barry demonstrates that anyone with the determination personally and with the encouragement of the party can rise to a much higher level of consciousness and have an impact of thousands and thousands of people.

The current period weve entered is one of rapidly increasing social inequality and the drive to war and dictatorship. The only force that can challenge and overcome this is the working class, acting on the highest political and theoretical level This is the tool that will collectively enable us to raise society to the socialist overturn.

James, an Australia Post worker in Sydney, said: It was very interesting to hear about Barrys involvement in the railways and on campuses. I also heard a lot of other names [of party members] mentioned in different industries, including Australia Post.

This is intriguing because Ive never heard of all these little struggles and the involvement of SEP members who participated. Its almost like a hidden history. I never met Barry but I did like the comment someone else made that he was the prime example of an individuals efforts to build a greater movement.

John, a young worker from regional New South Wales (NSW), said he appreciated the meetings analysis of the Labor Party. The Labor Party was not as popular back then as historical documents paint them. There was an under-swelling of workers developing against them... When the Gulf war was launched [1990-91] Bob Hawke didnt wait for the US to call, he offered to help right away.

Now there is a rebellion underway against the trade unions. Hundreds of train drivers in Melbourne quit the Rail Tram and Bus Union because they were being forced to drive on the same tracks multiple times a day which could lead to complacency, lack of attention and possible fatalities.

The rebellion is similar to that being undertaken against the United Auto Workers in the US. There is a very good window of opportunity to build a socialist movement today as an alternative to the major parties.

David

David, a regional NSW high school science teacher, said: I never knew Barry personally but I joined the IYSSE and have enjoyed the benefits of the work that he had done. He really cemented the position of the club at Newcastle campus.

Barrys life really shows you what needs to be done. Genuine opposition to the ruling elite wont happen spontaneouslywe need to fight to develop it. Theyve got the apparatus of the state, which will squash spontaneous struggles of workers. The police and the unions will fight to suppress these struggles.

The struggles that he undertook at Elcar and developing the IYSSE, among many other things that he accomplished, points to the amount of work that is required and the impact that a person within the party can have in the workplace. The perspective he fought for changes the way that I view my position. Once you are aware of the historical importance of the working class it changes your entire perspective of the world.

Further interviews with meeting participants will be published by the WSWS.
Former Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham, a Navy "TOPGUN" legend and ace fighter pilot in Vietnam who pleaded guilty to taking bribes from defense contractors, was among the 73 who received a pardon Tuesday night from President Donald Trump.

The 79-year-old Cunningham, who represented California as a Republican and now lives in Arkansas, was released from prison in 2013. He served seven years for taking bribes while in office to fund an extravagant lifestyle including yachts, Persian rugs, hunting trips, a Rolls-Royce and a $2.55 million home, according to the charges against him.

The White House statement said that Cunningham was granted a conditional pardon, usually meaning that it is contingent on continued good behavior.

Read Next: Who Was the Designated Survivor for the Inauguration? Outgoing Administration Doesn't Say

The statement noted that Cunningham was "a combat veteran, an ace fighter pilot, and a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart."

He tutored other prisoners to get their GEDs, and "he continues to serve his community by volunteering with a local fire department and is active in Bible study," it added.

In Vietnam, Cunningham and his Navigator/Radar Intercept Officer William Driscoll, flying an F-4 Phantom from the aircraft carrier Constellation, recorded five victories against North Vietnamese MiG-21 and MiG-17 aircraft between January and May 1972. Both received the Navy Cross.

Cunningham later served as an instructor at the Navy's Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN, at Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego. He left the Navy as a commander in 1987.

Trump issued a total of 73 pardons and 70 sentence commutations Tuesday in one of his last acts as president.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: Trump Pardon of Security Contractors Sparks Outrage in Iraq
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Top left and the bottom right are Google Earth satellite images of the Brumadinho tailings dam taken before and after the collapse on 25 January 2019. Top right and bottom left show precursory movement across the dam (red and yellow colours), which the researchers analysed to find that the collapse could have been predicted. Credit: University of Nottingham

One of Brazil's worst environmental disastersa dam collapse that also killed more than 200 peoplecould have been foreseen with the latest satellite radar imaging technique, according to a new study by the University of Nottingham and Durham University.

The high-profile catastrophe took place on 25 January 2019 at a tailings dam near the Corrego doFeijao iron ore mine, close to the town of Brumadinho, in Minas Gerais state, south-east Brazil.

When the dam collapsed, it caused a torrent of sludge to cover surrounding land; taking lives, destroying homes and livelihoods and polluting rivers with toxic material.

Owned by Vale, Brazil's largest mining company, the tailings dam was used for more than 40 years to hold waste from the mine. While it is not uncommon for such dams to move as more material is added and it compacts and shifts, accelerated movement shouldn't happen; it's a precursor that failure will occur. Brumadinho was the second Vale-owned mining dam to collapse in recent years and one of many widely-reported failures worldwide.

There are growing concerns about the stability of this particular type of dam and a significant number need enhanced monitoring says lead author Assistant Professor Stephen Grebby from the Nottingham Geospatial Institute at the University.

Dr. Grebby, an expert at mapping the Earth's surface from space, said: "Most mining companies currently rely upon ground-based sensors to monitor the stability of dams. However, these typically offer an inadequate coverage of measurements over the whole of the dam, which can make it difficult to detect movement or other signs of distress."

Applying InSAR (satellite radar imaging) to check for small ground movements in and around dams is not current standard practice and this is something Dr. Grebby would like to see change.

He collaborated with Durham University and University of Nottingham spin-out company Terra Motion Ltd on the study to identify whether failure at Brumadinho could have been foreseen.

They used an advanced InSAR technique called Intermittent Small Baseline Subset (ISBAS), developed by the University of Nottingham and Terra Motion, which can help overcome the limitations faced when using some of the more conventional InSAR techniques over vegetated terrain. Another benefit of this technology, over on-the-ground sensors, is it looks down from above and offers a more complete picture of ground movements with millimeter-level accuracy.

Dr. Grebby adds: "Our ISBAS InSAR results revealed that different areas of the dam were moving at different rates and some of these were seen to accelerate suddenly during the two months preceding the collapse. Despite the dam being monitored by the mining company using standard techniques with no apparent warning raised, our analyzes of the precursory movement indicate the timing of the collapse was foreseeable.

"If monitored routinely, using the ISBAS InSAR technique, the failure date could have been predicted to within a week of it happening. Crucially, this prediction would have been possible around 40 days prior to the collapse, allowing time for a warning to be raised that the dam was becoming unstable. This could have led to more in-depth monitoring or other mitigation measures to avert the loss of life and environmental disaster that tragically unfolded."

The full findings have just been published in the paper "Advanced analysis of satellite data reveals ground deformation precursors to the Brumadinho Tailings Dam collapse' in the Nature journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Professor David Toll, Co-Director of the Institute for Hazard, Risk and Resilience at Durham University, said "Identifying an acceleration of ground movements during a period of wetting, just prior to the failure, helped to corroborate the anticipated failure mechanism. The collapse of thetailings dam can be explained by areduction in suction in the tailings contributing tointernal strains that couldinduce static liquefaction in the brittle materials."

Professor Jon Gluyas, Executive Director of Durham Energy Institute at Durham University said, "The novel use of InSAR satellite data to monitor the stability of dams is a real breakthrough as it means that you don't need to instrument the ground in and around the dam to monitor it. Monitoring is thus no longer solely in the hands of the operating company."

Dr. Andrew Sowter, CTO of Terra Motion Limited and inventor of the ISBAS advanced InSAR technique said, "This work would not have been possible without the availability of free satellite data from the Sentinel-1 mission which has global reach and is sustainable for the foreseeable future. Along with the innovative approach described in this paper and our unique InSAR products, this means that a low-cost operational remote tailings monitoring system is within reach at local, regional and even national scales anywhere in the world."

The researchers are now looking to develop the technology as a software that could be offered to the mining industry, which is looking out for a reliable, early warning system to predict the risk of imminent collapse at tailing dams. Combined with on-the-ground sensors, Dr. Grebby sees advanced InSAR techniques as a valuable addition to the monitoring tool box to evacuate and protect life.

Explore further New tool predicts geological movement and the flow of groundwater in old coalfields

More information: Stephen Grebby et al. Advanced analysis of satellite data reveals ground deformation precursors to the Brumadinho Tailings Dam collapse, Communications Earth & Environment (2021). Stephen Grebby et al. Advanced analysis of satellite data reveals ground deformation precursors to the Brumadinho Tailings Dam collapse,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-020-00079-2
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Naas woman Aishling Conway was born in September 1980 in Bessborough mother and baby home in Cork.

That December, at three months old, she arrived at her new home in Kingsfurze, Naas.

She is the youngest of three children adopted from Bessborough by a local couple, and says she is one of the lucky ones, having gone to a kind and caring family in Ireland.

Last weeks Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation Report revealed that thousands of children died at those homes during the last century; while countless more were shipped abroad for adoption.

The Leinster Leader photographer, who is well known for her involvement in Naas Musical Society, is now married to husband Shane Byrne, with her own little girl, Ella-May.

Growing up, she and their siblings were made aware early that they were adopted, and Aishling said she had always wondered about her background.

At the age of 18 she obtained some basic medical information from Bessborough, but it wasnt until she was 27 that she decided to begin her search in earnest.

Myself and mam went down to have a meeting, just to start the search, and it was harrowing going in there, she said, describing the Cork institution as like something from a horror film.

I found them very secretive about everything. It wasnt like an agency. Some of my friends are adopted from agencies in Dublin, and when they were doing searches, they had counsellors, not nuns [to deal with].

We went in, and it was very strict where we were allowed to go, we were only allowed in one room. Mam walked in, and she said this is the room where we got you. There was the same chair in the same corner that she had been told to sit in when the nun brought me in.

The visit did not yield much information, and Aishling found frustrating the sense that the Order washed their hands of her once she was done.

However, she later learned that her birth mother believed that they had both left Bessborough at the same time.

Thats a question that I have to live with, said Aishling. What happened in those three months? Was there vaccinations? she said, referring to the Commissions identification of 13 vaccine trials in Irish institutions in the 1960s and 1970s.

Other expectant mothers at the home helped nurse and care for young infants left in the nurseries.

My birth mother told me that when she was pregnant they used to go into those rooms. They used to take it in turns to hold the kids, feed them and give them a bit of love. She said just to let you know, you werent just left there, the other mothers were there and they would have went in.

Aishling slams the culture of secrecy and bureaucracy around the homes, which has had a lasting effect on children born there.

Three years ago, before her wedding, she tried to obtain her original baptismal certificate  but was told that the files had been moved from Bessborough. Sent on a wild goose chase to two other parishes and Tusla, none of which could find the records, she now believes that files relating to children like herself may have been destroyed.

She describes being in a state, and even questioning whether she could get married in a church without the certificate  but has nothing but praise for the lovely priest conducting the ceremony who let the couple go ahead without the document.

Aishling, along with other survivors, is now calling for a thorough investigation into what went on at Irelands Mother and Baby Homes; and statements and apologies from the religious orders involved.

For me, the report has given a voice to people that were made feel like an absolute secret. The mothers were made a secret, but it was really handed down through the generations, she said, noting the lingering stigma in Ireland with such adoptions.



I know my experience isnt half as bad as some, and I am one of the lucky ones, but the stigma is still there, she said. My adoption might be a success story, but its still something you have to live with.
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Distell has taken on Camus as the distributor of its spirits portfolio in the Cognac company's home market.

Distell's spirits portfolio includes a raft of Scotch whisky brands

Distribution division Camus Wines & Spirits was put in charge of Distell's spirits range at the start of this month. The move, which covers the on- and off-premise channels as well as online, builds on the two companies' current partnership in China, where Camus handles three of Distell's Scotch brands on a distribution basis.

Among the brands that Camus will work with in France are the Bunnahabhain single malt Scotch whiskies, Black Bottle blended Scotch and flagship liqueur Amarula. Specific details of the arrangement - including the duration of the deal - were not disclosed.

"Since earlier last year, Camus has begun evolving from a purely traditional distribution strategy to a  direct approach to address another category of brown spirits lovers," Camus said this week. "With the launch of the [sea-aged] Caribbean Expedition Cognac in September  Camus presented an  opportunity to purchase an innovative concept  and encouraged online to offline experiences."

Almost exactly a year ago, Camus' CMO, Jean-Dominique Andreu, announced his pending departure, with marketing responsibilities set to move to global brand manager Pier Paolo Catucci.

What's coming up in aged spirits in 2021? - Predictions for the Year Ahead
On Monday, the country celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr.  an icon of the civil rights movement and a champion for racial equality.

On Tuesday, Texans observed Confederate Heroes Day, a state holiday remembering Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and other Confederate leaders who fought in the Civil War to preserve slavery in the South.

A group of Democratic state lawmakers is working to make this years Confederate Heroes Day the last.

There is no reason to celebrate the Confederacy at all, said state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston, at a Tuesday press conference condemning the holiday. As the (Confederate) vice president proudly proclaimed, one of the cornerstones of the Confederacy was the enslavement of Black Americans. Its culture was rooted in white supremacy and runs rampant even today.

TEXAS TAKE: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday

For nearly half a century, some state workers have taken a paid day off on Jan. 19, Lees birthday, to commemorate the holiday. It was created by the state Legislature in 1973 to combine separate days celebrating Lee and Davis.

Past efforts to remove the holiday have been resisted by Republicans who strive to preserve the history of the Confederacy in Texas. The GOP controls both chambers of the state Legislature and the governors office.

This year, Johnson has already introduced legislation in the state House of Representatives to remove the holiday from the calendar, with a companion bill also filed in the Senate. A second House bill, introduced by Rep. Shawn Thierry, D-Houston, has the same intent.

As Americans and as Texans, we must search out the remnants of the Confederate culture and strike them from our governance and our celebrations, Johnson said.

Texas is one of nine states that memorialize Confederate leaders throughout the year. The holidays defenders support it for various reasons  to remember history, to celebrate soldiers, to honor the dead  while its opponents denounce the day as rooted in racism and white supremacy.

No one is forced to observe Confederate Heroes Day, said Terry Ayers, the only person to defend the holiday before a House committee in 2019. Ayers, a spokesman for the Austin-based nonprofit Descendants of Confederate Veterans, said the effort to remove the day was rooted in bigotry.

RELATED: After two-year push, board votes to remove pro-Confederacy plaque from Texas Capitol

But while previous efforts to rename the holiday or eliminate it entirely have failed, legislators say the timing of this years legislative session  months after a summer of racial unrest and outcry over police brutality against Black Americans  may yield different results.

State lawmakers returned to Austin for the opening day of session just days after an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol  a violent event attended by right-wing extremists and hate groups. A man was pictured holding up a Confederate flag in the Capitol hallways.

I dont think its ever been as important as it is today in light of what has happened in our country in the last two weeks, said Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, and the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

Lawmakers hope to tackle a number of bills this year addressing racial equity and police use of force, including a bill named for George Floyd, the Black man who was killed in May when a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

If we are truly to build a more perfect union, then we must eliminate those matters that divide us, said Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, and the chairwoman of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Also on Tuesday, state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, filed a bill to remove confederate monuments, memorials and statues from the state Capitol. It would also rename a state office building named for John H. Reagan, a Texan who served as postmaster general in Davis cabinet.

These monuments and memorials in and around our Capitol dishonor and insult the many representatives, staff, and visitors who are descendants of slaves, Anchia said in a release. The Texas Capitol is a symbol of solidarity, as lawmakers from various backgrounds and perspectives come together to create change for our communities. The presence of Confederate memorials on the Capitol grounds undermine the unifying work that lawmakers strive to undertake.

cayla.harris@express-news.net
Michigan Democrats hope the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris signals the start of better times, as civil unrest and the coronavirus pandemic force unique circumstances on Wednesdays ceremony.

Bidens inauguration as the 46th president of the United States was already set to look considerably different from his predecessors due to COVID-19; supporters were encouraged not to attend and celebratory events were moved online. A violent riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 further altered the ceremony, causing heightened security measures and the deployment of 25,000 National Guardsmen to Washington, D.C.

The inaugural ceremonies will begin around 11:30 a.m. Harris and Biden will be sworn-in as the next vice president and president around noon, then Biden will deliver his inaugural address.

A sign of the times, Kalamazoo resident Erika Perry is planning a virtual tailgate with friends to commemorate the occasion.

It is disappointing that we cant have a proper inauguration, especially for our first female person of color vice president; its really disappointing that were not able to properly celebrate this historic moment, Perry said. But you know, safety is most important and Im just honestly looking forward to see what theyre going to be doing and how we can push them to be even more progressive going into the future.

Mason resident Rachel Brander also plans to tune in virtually with family. Brander, who visited the Capitol four years ago during the Womens March on Washington, said the restrained inauguration ceremony is one more disappointment added to the heap of 2020s frustrations.

Im homeschooling my children instead of them going to public school; I teach virtually one day a week instead of teaching full-time; theres no storytimes or playdates or museums, its all at home, Brander said. To me, the inauguration is not even like a Trump or Biden thing, its just a COVID thing, and the reason that doesnt get to feel as joyful and exciting as it would is because of COVID.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, is bringing her 11-year-old grandson to the ceremony. Members of Congress are usually given tickets to share with government officials and activists from their home state, but not this year.

Stabenow said barbed wire fences, patrols of National Guardsmen and other security measures visible around the Capitol reminds her of visiting the diplomatic Green Zone in Iraq. Michigans senior senator said its important that the U.S. proceed with the peaceful transfer of power after insurrectionists attempted to overturn the election.

The whole thing has been frightening and heartbreaking at the same time, but Im also very hopeful about tomorrow and excited, Stabenow said. I think that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the right leaders for this moment in our history.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, described the increased security as depressing but necessary to manage ongoing threats of political violence.

Dingell expressed optimism Biden can unite the country as it deals with an economic downturn and surge in COVID-19 deaths.

Last week, Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion response proposal to expand coronavirus vaccinations and testing while providing $1,400 stimulus checks and other steps to jump-start the economy. The president-elect held a ceremony mourning the deaths of 400,000 Americans to COVID-19 on Tuesday as part of his inauguration program.

Hes got a grasp of policy in all kinds of different areas, but has a heart and a soul and empathy and compassion and understands how people feel, Dingell said. I think this country needs somebody that can help heal them.

Ann Arbor resident Ken Holsgrove lost his father and his job to the coronavirus last year. He and his mother contracted the virus in October, and Holsgrove is set to receive the new vaccine on the same day Biden is sworn-in.

Holsgrove said he doesnt directly blame Trump for his fathers death but believes the outgoing president failed to provide a roadmap for states to deal with the coronavirus, prolonging Americas struggle to contain outbreaks.

In general, I blame the Trump administration for the number of deaths and the number of cases, Holsgrove said. I dont think anybody really knows for sure, but my belief is that a different response where the federal government was more directly in charge and the response was uniform across the country would have produced fewer cases.

Biden supporters who spoke with MLive said theyre looking forward to the change in leadership.

Im super excited because I heard a quote from Biden that I really resonated with; he said he just was so excited to manage the hell out of the situation, Brander said. I keep thinking about John Lewis talking about doing good, hard work ... I know our incoming administration really knows how to do that effectively.

Trump, who was impeached for a second time for fomenting riots at the Capitol, will not attend the Wednesday ceremony. He released a farewell address Tuesday touting his efforts to improve the nation as a whole.

Trump offered his best wishes to the incoming administration, though he did not refer to Biden by name. Trump denounced the attack on the Capitol and said the country should rise above the partisan rancor but predicted the movement we started is only just beginning.

Dingell said the Biden administration and her colleagues need to listen to Trump supporters instead of ignoring them for the next four years.

Perry, the Kalamazoo resident, said Trump leaves behind a legacy of radicalized supporters who dont believe in the election result. Shes concerned that the disinformation Trump spread about his loss will remain a source of division throughout Bidens term.

Now we have to build bridges with one another in any capacity we can, also educating one another compassionately, Perry said. I think its just going to take a lot of time. I think Trump has done a lot of damage to our democracy and it cant be undone overnight.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

Michigan police on guard for threats to state Capitol surrounding Bidens inauguration

Whitmer unveils $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus response, economic recovery

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to attend Biden inauguration in D.C.
MONTREAL, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Accedian, a leader in performance analytics and end user experience solutions, and UnderDefense, a leader in supporting organizations around the world to plan, manage, and run successful security operations, today announced the launch of a suite of cyber resiliency services, including 24/7 monitoring of network traffic, to support C-suites, boards, and cybersecurity professionals as they assess their cybersecurity and risk management investments. In the face of today's unrelenting and ever increasing cyber-attacks, the partnership will offer customers unrivaled end-to-end hybrid enterprise and cloud infrastructure observability, continuous monitoring of network traffic for insights into anomalous behavior, responsive action to incidents, and cyber resiliency consulting.

Cybersecurity professionals are drowning in alerts and are often unaware of the state of their continuously changing assets. This leads to a lack of control in defending their infrastructure as they digitally transform their business. Accedian and UnderDefense's partnership delivers what customers now expect and demand: the implementation of a customized cyber resiliency readiness program, including traffic monitoring services, that enables both comprehensive insights, as well as immediate action for remediation.

With attackers continuously adapting to evolving security defenses, a comprehensive cyber resiliency framework gives businesses end-to-end visibility, allowing them to adjust dynamically in the face of new security threats and potential breaches. A layered cybersecurity prevention model is needed to reinforce the barriers to accessing critical business assets, and Accedian's network traffic analysis is an integral layer.

"Companies have invested in tools, but have underinvested in security integration, testing, training, and automation within IT ecosystems for comprehensive cyber resiliency during the last twenty-four months. Instead they have rushed to deploy cloud applications across private, hybrid, multi-operator and multi-cloud infrastructure, leaving their security posture exposed," says Nazar Tymoshyk, CEO and Founder of UnderDefense. "Accedian and UnderDefense have invested heavily to bring greater speed of reaction, discovery, and threat mitigation to both give control back to CIOs and to provide our clients with a dynamically-adaptive Detection & Response, IR, and Ethical Hacking framework. You can invest in solutions like MDR, a SIEM, or a SOC, but you're buying technology without context if you don't address cyber resiliency through a business continuity lens and incorporate network based threat analytics."

According to McKinsey, cyber-attacks are the number one threat to today's digital economy. As such, digital security resilience is foundational to business continuity and should be a top priority in any sustainable risk management strategy. Furthermore, as demonstrated in recent, well-publicized breaches, security solutions must include network traffic analysis for early stage threat actor reconnaissance detection.

"Cyber resiliency addresses every thread in the tapestry of an organization; it's a must in today's business environment, given that a cyber-attacker only needs to find one loose thread to unravel the organization's business continuity and threaten financial sustainability," says Michael Rezek, VP Cybersecurity Strategy at Accedian. "C-suites and boards simply cannot maintain financial viability if a nefarious organization owns their security keys, intellectual property, trade secret information, or pricing."

Accedian and UnderDefense's cyber resiliency offering is a suite of services options that includes: cyber resiliency and business continuity consulting; assessment, gap analysis and hardening for sustainable risk management; application, perimeter, and organizational penetration tests; ethical hacking, managed detection and response with advanced network traffic analysis; and incident response, powered by Accedian's Skylight security and performance product and services portfolio.

To learn more about the offering, please contact us at accedian.com/contact.

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John Hummel

Hummel is the district attorney in Deschutes County. He lives in Bend.

Deschutes County is one of Oregons few purple counties, and criminal justice is one of the few issues that transcends political lines. Residents in conservative La Pine and liberal Bend regularly tell me the same things: Lets help those who need it, lets identify the innocent, lets punish those who deserve it, lets treat all people with respect and lets make policing as effective and transparent as possible. These are goals that I hope all Oregonians support.

Oregon should move forward with the things we agree on and continue to debate the things we disagree about.

Last summer, during a special session, the Oregon Legislature passed six criminal justice reform bills. Spurred on by Oregonians who took to the streets to demand changes, and with the leadership of the People of Color Caucus, the Legislature made significant progress toward establishing a criminal justice system that delivers what Oregonians want: justice for all.

The Legislature this year should continue to make progress on reforms that have broad, bipartisan support. Among the priorities it should pursue:

 Mandate police body cameras and fund a program to help financially strapped cities and counties purchase the cameras. Body cameras ensure that prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, suspects, victims of crime and the public have as much information as possible about alleged criminal activity. Transparency protects the innocent, ensures justice is done for the guilty and for victims of crime, and increases the publics trust in Oregons system of justice.

 Establish and fund a dedicated unit in the Oregon Department of Justice to investigate all cases involving officers who use deadly physical force. My office works closely with law enforcement officers on thousands of investigations every year. Then, once or twice a year, Im called on to investigate whether an officers decision to shoot their gun was legally justified. While I believe I am fair and impartial in my reviews, I also recognize that implicit bias might influence my decisions because of the close working relationship I have with officers in Deschutes County. The public is right to question the integrity of investigations led by local district attorneys of the officers we work with. Independent investigations could prevent such bias and increase public confidence in the outcomes.

 Fund the Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division at a level that results in fair, accurate , and timely testing of forensic evidence. Victims of crime and people suspected of committing crimes deserve swift, thorough , and accurate forensic analysis of evidence. This does not happen in Oregon because our crime labs are woefully underfunded and understaffed. Long wait times  often many months  result in innocent people being locked up while awaiting test results and victims of crime having their cases drawn out far too long.

 Fully fund the treatment components of Measure 110 that were vetted and approved by Oregon voters a mere two months ago. In November, Oregonians joined me in supporting Measure 110, which recognized substance use disorders as a medical matter, not a criminal justice one. The measure identified funding to establish accessible, culturally competent, evidence-based , and affordable treatment programs for people suspected of possessing small amounts of drugs. Alas, the budget Gov. Kate Brown sent to the Legislature proposes delaying until 2022 the funding for this enhanced treatment. Oregonians shouldnt have to wait another year to help people suffering from addiction.

When it comes to criminal justice, Oregonians agree on much. Lets enact those improvements now and continue to debate the topics about which we disagree.

Subscribe to our free weekly Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email:


LONDON, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- European High Growth Opportunities ManCo S.A. as the management company of European High Growth Opportunities Securitization Fund ("EHGO"), a fund based in Luxembourg, has responded on behalf of EHGO to certain incorrect allegations made by Iconic Labs ("Iconic") in a press release on 18th January 2021. In a statement, EHGO said: "Iconic alleges that EHGO refused to 'provide the investment monies due under a loan note for which it had subscribed'. What Iconic did not say, however, is that EHGO never subscribed for the loan note referred to by Iconic, as the conditions precedent to EHGO's obligation to do so had not been met by Iconic. Among other things, Iconic were in breach of our financing agreement by not having share issuance authorities in place to cover the conversion of existing and new notes. Accordingly it was Iconic that did not meet the necessary conditions for the drawdown and EHGO did not breach its financing agreement with Iconic. "Iconic have also incorrectly stated that there was an agreement in principal between EHGO and Iconic which was "reneged" by EHGO.A It is true that EHGO negotiated with Iconic in good faith to try to find a resolution to Iconic's financing needs and breach of our financing agreement, and made several proposals which were summarily rejected by Iconic and its board (litigation is always a last resort for EHGO). Sadly it was Iconic (and not EHGO) who eventually abandoned negotiations over a settlement (most recently at the end of December) with respect to our financing agreement. "That said, we are glad that Iconic has confirmed that it 'has always been and remains open to reaching a settlement with EHGOF on commercially practical and sensible terms'. If they genuinely wish to engage again in dialogue with us we will, of course, be delighted to do so and await their contact. "From the start of the current management's journey with Iconic, we have consistently provided significant support for Iconic and its management team, as we have for all the businesses that we invest in. "Although EHGO is very disappointed that they have chosen to take this path which has led to litigation, EHGO has a fiduciary duty to its investors to pursue repayment of amounts owed to EHGO under the current notes outstanding. With this in mind, EHGO will not litigate this matter in the public domain, but rather through the courts as appropriate." Notes to editors About European High Growth Opportunities Securitization Fund European High Growth Opportunities Securitization Fund is an institutional investment company based in Luxembourg which focuses on financing innovative companies globally that are deemed to be significantly undervalued. Media Contact For further information please contact: Edward Keller: keller@ehgo.co A A A
Due to the continued spread of the coronavirus, businesses in Kurdish Iraq are remaining closed, creating an unemployment crisis for Syrian refugees living in the region writes North Press.

The unemployment rate of Syrian refugees in Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRG) has increased due to the decrease in job opportunities following the spread of the coronavirus.

According to the latest official statistics, the number of coronavirus infections in KRG reached 105,171, including 87,748 recovered cases and 3,441 deaths.

Closed facilities

For about eight months, the lockdown measures have affected restaurants and many tourist facilities that housed Syrian workers, and according to statistics from the Association of Restaurants and Hotels in Duhok Governorate, which received about 100,000 Syrian refugees in 2019, 30 percent of those refugees worked in the tourism sector.

Dilshad Abe, a Syrian refugee in KRG who fled the city of Hassakeh in 2011, said that he lost his job after the outbreak of coronavirus.

Abe, who makes sweets and shawarma, said that after many complete lockdowns to confront the outbreak of coronavirus, some restaurants in the region closed their doors, while others were forced to lay off a number of their workers to adapt to the new conditions.

Syrian refugee Hussein Muhammad also lost his job amid the pandemic. He told North Press, the livelihood is difficult, and there are few opportunities for getting a job. We do not dare leave the house due to the risks of coronavirus, but staying at home without a job is also not good for us.

Returning home voluntarily

The UNHCR in Iraq recorded an increase in returns to Syria, according to press statements by UNHCR media officer Rashid Hussein. 500 Syrian refugees in Duhok Governorate have registered with the UNHCR for voluntary return to Syria, he explained.

He added, The main reasons for the voluntary return, according to refugees, are the economic conditions and the decline in job opportunities in the KRG.

Nuri Qasim is a former Syrian refugee who returned to his hometown of Derik three months ago after spending a year and a half in the city of Zakho in KRG. Qasim worked as a construction worker, but his work stopped due to coronavirus and the lack of aid provided by relief organizations to refugees, in addition to some health problems that forced him to return.

Hundreds of monthly returnees

Sherzad Othman, an administrator in the Relations Office at Semalka Border Crossing, said many refugees in the KRG began returning about six months ago with the outbreak of coronavirus there, and the work stopped at a faster rate than in northeastern Syria.

He added that between 100 and 150 refugees a day returned home at the beginning of the outbreak last year and they handed over their Iraqi residency, indicating that they do not intend to return to the KRG again.

Othman pointed out that the number of returnees has recently decreased, and it ranges between 30 and 40 per day who possess Iraqi residency he added.

The Semalka Border Crossing between the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria and KRG is open Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

The number of returnees from KRG to the Autonomous Administration in the second half of last year was some 6,000, according to Othman.

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.
Update: Theft charges added against Harrisburg-area woman accused of stealing Nancy Pelosis laptop

A Harrisburg area woman has been imprisoned as she awaits potential charges that she stole House Speaker Nancy Pelosis laptop, a federal prosecutor said in a hearing Tuesday.

Riley June Williams, 22, is currently charged with the unlawful entry of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, but prosecutors said a federal magistrate judge in Washington D.C. is evaluating new offenses against her.

If the charges are approved, which the federal prosecutor said is a fluid matter in D.C., they include one count of theft of government property and aiding and abetting the commission of that offense, with the property being Pelosis laptop.

Riley June Williams, 22, was booked into the Dauphin County Prison as a federal prisoner on Jan. 18 in connection with the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020.

Williams could also be charged with obstructing, influencing and impeding the House session that was ongoing at the time of the riot.

These two offenses carry sentences of up to 20 years in prison. The offenses that Wiliams is currently accused of carry sentences of up to a year in prison.

Because of the possibility of new charges, Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson decided to wait for the ruling in D.C. before he could hold a detention hearing for Williams. That hearing will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday.

During the hearing, Williams was appointed a federal criminal defense attorney, Lori Ulrich, who objected to her client being held while awaiting the new hearing.

She had a horrific night in Dauphin County Prison, Ulrich said, adding that a lot of these allegations are false.

Due to Carlson wanting clarity on what charges Williams would be facing and Williams own refusal to have a hearing through a video conference, Thursday was the earliest time possible for the hearing. She would be held until that time.

The allegations

The Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School grad went to the Capitol with her father, who lives in Camp Hill, according to court records.

Video surveillance shows Williams encouraging people to go into the Capitol and pushing them further inside, while also pointing and directing members of the mob once inside, FBI Agent Jonathan Lund wrote in charging docs.

Court records also show claims by an ex-boyfriend that Williams stole Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosis laptop during the riot and tried to sell it to Russias foreign intelligence service but was unsuccessful.

Williams either has it or destroyed it, Lund wrote in court documents.

Read more on PennLive:
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 14:26:46|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Key nominees in U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's national security team appeared Tuesday in confirmation hearings that jammed the Senate a day before Biden's inauguration, vowing to keep their agencies apolitical and tackle domestic violence.

Those who were vetted by senators were the nominees for homeland security secretary, director of national intelligence (DNI) and defense secretary.

The first woman to lead the office of the DNI if confirmed, Avril Haines told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee that she would keep politics out of the intelligence community.

"To be effective, the DNI must never shy away from speaking truth to power -- even, especially, when doing so may be inconvenient or difficult," she said. "To safeguard the integrity of our intelligence community, the DNI must insist that, when it comes to intelligence, there is simply no place for politics ever."

The anticipated intelligence chief said the conducts by President Donald Trump's supporters were "truly disturbing" and that the intelligence community would "examine "connections between folks in the U.S. and externally."

Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden's pick for homeland security secretary, called the threat of domestic extremism "one of the greatest challenges the Department of Homeland Security confronts," and said that the events on Jan. 6 on Capitol Hill were "horrifying," pledging that if confirmed, he would make sure that "the tragic loss of life, the assault on law enforcement, the desecration" of the Capitol "will not happen again."

The first Latino to lead the Department of Homeland Security once confirmed, Mayorkas said he would study the authority the federal government has in ending the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a signature of Trump's harsh immigration policy. "We don't need nor should we have a monolithic answer to that varied and diverse challenge" at the U.S. southern border, he said.

Mayorkas also said he supported Biden's sweeping immigration overhaul to give aliens now living in the United States without legal status an eight-year pathway to citizenship. Biden is expected to formally introduce the plan Wednesday.

Austin Lloyd, a former four-star army general who retired four years ago, needs a waiver agreed by both the House and the Senate to become the country's first African American defense secretary, since U.S. law requires former military leaders to retire for at least seven years to head the Pentagon.

He said he is devoted to "civilian control of our armed forces," assuring the senators that if confirmed, he would make sure his commander in chief "will not be a military person."

The former head of U.S. Central Command said he would "fight hard ... to rid our ranks of racists and extremists."

"The job of the Department of Defense is to keep America safe from our enemies," Austin said. "But we can't do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks." Enditem

National infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said this would occur when 70% to 85% of the American population is vaccinated.

Not quite. Researchers still dont know whether the vaccines can prevent a person from spreading the coronavirus . All agree its imperative to continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing until we reach herd immunity via the vaccine.

But there is confusion about the guidelines  and they are evolving as availability increases. Millions of Americans have medical problems  heart disease, diabetes, hepatitis, the list goes on and on  and the guidelines have raised questions about who is being prioritized.

Cancer patients are basically Phase 1C at the moment, unless they meet other criteria, he said. Theyre early in the process. If youre trying to stop community transmission, you focus on groups at high-risk for transmission and complications first. We all want to prioritize high-risk groups, but we also need to do it in a way thats equitable.

Then come people with additional medical issues, such as cancer.

Dr. Steve Pergam , director of infection prevention at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, said the vaccine is going first to the groups most at risk: health care workers, people in long-term care facilities, people over 75 and front line essential workers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a committee that determines how to equitably distribute all vaccines. Known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP , it currently recommends COVID-19 vaccines be distributed in phases and tiers.

Read on for their insights and answers or delve deeper into how Fred Hutch scientists are helping to defeat this deadly virus.

We checked in with patients and the national experts, clinicians and infectious disease experts with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, which used the longstanding infrastructure of its HIV Vaccine Trials Network to create the COVID-19 Prevention Network (or CoVPN ) that directed many of the COVID-19 vaccine trials.

Does that mean cancer patients should be first in line for their shot  or last? If theyre in treatment, could a vaccine make them sicker? What about those with metastatic disease who are always in treatment  can they get it? And are survivors the same as the general public?

Patients with cancer are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 because of the immunocompromising nature of cancer treatments. On top of that, progressing cancer itself depletes the immune system and leaves patients susceptible to infection.

But what do we do now that states are ramping up the vaccination efforts to eligible groups?

Other COVID-19 vaccines are in development and will be available in the months ahead. Additional trials involving subpopulations (think children, pregnant women, people with health issues) are also in the works.

The two Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, each requiring two shots a few weeks apart, were more than 94% effective at keeping this new coronavirus in check in testing on thousands of volunteers in clinical trials. But only a handful of the clinical-trial participants were cancer patients.

Not so incredibly, theres a lot of confusion among cancer patients  as well as their oncologists and caregivers  as to whether the vaccine is a good idea or a bad idea for somebody dealing with cancer.

The initial batch of COVID-19 vaccines are now available in the U.S. following incredibly fast  warp speed  development and testing.

Metastatic breast cancer patient and family doctor Dr. Carla Kakuta of Winters, California, receives her first COVID-19 shot, before heading off to cancer treatment. "I went straight from vaccination to the infusion center because Im awesome like that," she wrote on Twitter. I've been seeing patients in person through the pandemic. Since Thanksgiving the % positive rate of the people I test has been 15 to 20%. Grateful Ive been able to avoid bringing it home to my family."

I have no real concerns that there will be big surprises when it comes to safety for the cancer patient population, he said. The risk to these patients from COVID is high and the risks from the vaccines appear very low. Most should be vaccinated. At the same time, we need to learn from these patients and follow them closely for both efficacy and safety.

Lyman, who helped launch the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium, or CCC19 , felt the vaccine was a much safer bet than the risk of COVID-19 infection and its complications for those in active treatment.

Using the flu vaccine as a prototype, it seems to be significantly better to give the vaccine between cycles rather than at the same time as the cytotoxic [cell-killing] therapy, he said.

Patients in treatment should work with their oncologists to time the two-shot vaccine, he said.

Most cancer patients, even those in treatment, should go ahead and get vaccinated when it becomes available, he said. Ideally between cycles of systemic immunosuppressive therapy.

Cancer patients were excluded from vaccine trials if theyd received chemotherapy or immune modifying drugs within six months of screening. This is standard operating procedure in vaccine development. Pregnant women, children and those with other immunosuppressive conditions were also excluded from early trials. New trials are underway to ensure the vaccines safety and effectiveness in all of these vulnerable populations. Trials were large and rigorous, conducted on more than 50,000 people.

The data we have on these vaccines shows theyre remarkably safe in the general population based on the trials, he said. Admittedly, very few patients with active cancer or in active therapy were included in the trials. But having gone through all the documentation for both of these vaccines, it looks remarkably safe.

Public health researcher and oncologist Dr. Gary Lyman said its clear the vaccine is safe for most people  and that includes most cancer survivors on the other side of treatment. Those in active treatment, he said, should also be vaccinated and at the earliest opportunity.

Phase 1, Tier C: People 65 to 74 years old; people aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions that increase the risk for severe COVID-19, and essential workers not previously included in the previous phases. This includes people in transportation and logistics, water and wastewater, food service, construction, finance (such as bank tellers), information technology and communications, energy, legal, media, public safety (like engineers), and public health.

Phase 1, Tier B: People 75 and over and front line essential workers. This includes first responders (firefighters and police officers); corrections officers; food and agricultural workers; U.S. Postal Service workers; manufacturing workers; grocery store workers; public transit workers, and those who work in education, such as teachers, support staff and child care workers.

Below are ACIP guidelines for the first three tiers of vaccine distribution in the U.S. for Phase 1. They are meant to be flexible and adaptable, said CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield. New guidance is coming out daily. As of this writing , the CDC is recommending vaccines for anyone 65 and older . Washington state offers this guidance .

Dr. Steve Pergam, a Fred Hutch researcher and the director of infection prevention at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, receives his first COVID-19 vaccine. Pergam said it's imperative for people to continue to wear masks and socially distance since it's not yet unknown whether vaccinated people can still spread the virus. Pergam was part of the FDA's Vaccine Advisory Committee for the COVID-19 vaccines..

Special consideration should be given to patients with hematologic malignancies and lung cancer, they wrote.

Early vaccination should go to patients who are currently receiving treatment for cancer or have an advanced cancer that may result in increased risk of complications from COVID-19.

We conclude that patients with an active cancer should be considered for priority access to COVID-19 vaccination, along with other particularly vulnerable populations with risk factors for adverse outcomes with COVID-19, they wrote in AACRs Cancer Discovery journal .

A recent review by members of the American Association of Cancer Researchs COVID-19 and Cancer Task Force strongly recommended priority vaccination for patients with active cancer.

I would treat these patients as I would the general population  or someone who was months or years out from treatment who has a relatively active immune response, he said.

When it comes to non-cytotoxic therapies such as PARP inhibitors or anti-hormonal therapies often used in breast and prostate cancer management, Lyman said vaccinating should be fine.

Cancer patients are not expected to be at risk for complications of the vaccine, he said. They are at risk for acquisition and complications of the virus.

Pergam, a high-risk essential worker and cancer survivor who got his shot last week, agreed that the vaccine was likely safe for all cancer patients, even those in active treatment.

Fauci specifically recommended vaccinating blood and marrow transplant patients during the recent American Society of Hematology conference: If youre immunosuppressed, history tells us you wont have as big of a protective response. But some is better than none.

I would prioritize patients with active cancer as well as those on active cancer therapy, he said. Were fighting a pandemic where cancer patients are at three, four, or five times greater risk for fatality than others. Its a risk-benefit equation. Their risk from COVID-19 is exceptionally high.

Lyman agreed with their assessment, adding that the risk for serious COVID-19 complications increases considerably in those with progressing cancer, the elderly and those with additional medical conditions.

Fred Hutch's Dr. Gary Lyman, top, strongly recommends a COVID-19 vaccine for patients in active treatment and otherwise. Cancer survivor and political strategist Lisa Rice, bottom, of Washington, D.C., has severe allergies and is waiting for results of a different vaccine trial.

Fred Hutch's Dr. Gary Lyman, left, strongly recommends a COVID-19 vaccine for patients in active treatment and otherwise. Cancer survivor and political strategist Lisa Rice, right, of Washington, D.C., has severe allergies and is waiting for results of a different vaccine trial.

Should people whove already had COVID-19 also get vaccinated?



Short answer: yes.

According to the CDC, those whove been infected and recovered from COVID-19 will have some natural antibodies to the virus. The vaccine will boost that response and make sure theres long-lasting protection.

What are the side effects?

Pergam, who went through both a kidney transplant and cancer in years past, said he had mild arm soreness from his COVID-19 vaccine, but that was it.

No real side effects at all, he said.

Pergam shared his shot on Twitter, as have many in health care  including oncologists, who are passing on the intel to the cancer community.

Note significant lymph node swelling after COVID-19 vaccine, Maryland breast cancer oncologist Dr. Tatiana Prowell commented via tweet when Dr. Erika Hamilton shared a picture of the adenopathy she developed in her neck after each of her shots.

To be clear, this is not a dangerous thing, Prowell wrote. Heads up for people with cancer, the clinicians who care for them in or out of clinical trials, and radiologists reading studies. Dont mistake this for progression.

Lymph node swelling  or lymphadenopathy  was seen in 0.4% of subjects in the Pfizer trial, a total of 38 cases; three were found in the placebo arm. Lymph nodes, which are found in the neck, under the arms, around the clavicle and throughout the body, are part of the bodys immune system.

Hamilton said her swelling went away after four to five days. But for someone with a history of cancer?

Theyd be worried about progression/recurrence if they found this in their neck, she said.

Breast cancer patients and others whove had lymph nodes taken surgically should note this side effect as it might trigger lymphedema. Lyman said patients with lymphedema, if concerned, should talk to their doctor and possibly get vaccinated elsewhere on their body.

Many have breezed through with few issues. Kathi Kolb, a 66-year old breast cancer survivor and physical therapist from South Kingstown, Rhode Island, was a little tired from her first shot, but that was about it.

Part one of this COVID-19 vaccine was easier than the flu vaccine, she said. It didnt even make a mark on my arm."

The second shot, however, left her with arm soreness, fatigue and a headache.

Pergam encouraged those who get vaccinated to sign up for the CDCs V-Safe tool, which is tracking reactions to the vaccine.

You sign up when youre vaccinated and then six hours later, you get a text asking you to fill out any side effects, he said. Then they text you once a day so you can continue to document any symptoms. Its going to provide early insight into the side effects of the vaccines.

The American Cancer Societys website, which also recommends cancer patients discuss the vaccine with their doctor, said side effects that have been reported include pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills and fever (all of these are short-term).

What about allergic reactions?

Lisa Rice, a 59-year-old political strategist and nonprofit executive from Washington, D.C., was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and has been out of treatment for a few years. As a survivor, she could get vaccinated as soon as her category opens up.

But shes holding off. Not over concerns about cancer, but allergies.

I have several severe allergies, which rules out the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, she said. For me, it wouldnt be worth the risk to my health to take [them]. Ill just wait for a single-dose vaccine. There are several in trial now.

Rice, whos had bad, bad allergies since she was a child, said she's particularly interested in a single-dose vaccine, like the Johnson & Johnson version, currently in third-phase testing."

An article published in the journal,Science said the severe allergy-like reactions seen in 12 people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech may be due to a compound in the packaging of the messenger RNA that forms the vaccines main ingredient. The Moderna vaccine contains the same compound  polyethylene glycol or PEG  which has not been used in a vaccine before but is commonly used in toothpaste, shampoo, various gels and many drugs, occasionally triggering severe allergic reactions  anaphylaxis.

Last week, the CDC reported a total of 29 cases of anaphylaxis following approximately 5.3 million doses of one or the other COVID-19 vaccines, and Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, stressed the importance of continued vaccinations because of the severe nature of pandemic. Lyman agreed.

The rate of serious adverse events in both the trials and the larger vaccinated population appears to be very low, he said.



By comparison, COVID-19 is currently claiming around 3,000 lives a day in the U.S. (killing 1 in 1,000 people). Many who contract it develop long-term complications. Its now the third-leading cause of death in the U.S.

Lyman, Dr. Josh Hill and others on an ASCO/Infectious Disease Society of America webinar about the COVID-19 vaccine and cancer patients said only those with a history of anaphylaxis to an mRNA vaccine (most people have not received them) or to drugs that include the PEG component should hold off on the current vaccines.

Those with lesser allergic reactions from other vaccines and injectable therapies should be monitored for up to 30 minutes. Monitoring, they all agreed, is crucial.

The CDC provided a report on 21 allergic reactions from the Pfizer-BioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine as well as a table with additional information on outcomes.

Patience, patients

As for the slow rollout, Pergam stressed that patients are already being vaccinated because many are part of other high-risk groups.

Many of those people are also cancer patients, he said. There are health care workers who are cancer patients. There are many essential workers who are currently getting cancer care. Its not just about what your disease is, but what your risk is. Cancer patients and others will be included in all these groups in a subset.

And even those at high risk may need to be extra patient as the rollout revs up.

I impatiently called my doctor's office and tried the fact that I am old (almost 73), had cancer and a bone marrow transplant and live in Los Angeles, but I have to wait, wrote Dr. Susan Love, cancer survivor, researcher and author of whats often termed the breast cancer bible. Meanwhile sheltering in place!
The man wanted in the Dec. 23 killing of a Gloucester Township hunter was linked to the crime within four days because his fingerprints were found on the victims cellphone, according to court documents.

Shawn Massey, 38, of Gibbsboro, who also allegedly left his phone at the crime scene, was charged with murder Saturday and arrested in Bensalem, Pennsylvania Tuesday after authorities announced they were searching for him.

The manhunt occurred after Masseys family told authorities they hadnt seen him since Dec. 23, the same day the hunter, Joseph Bottino, 54, was found dead from stab and blunt force wounds on the Pine Hill Scout Reservation in Pine Hill, according to court documents.

Police were able to match the fingerprints found on the phone to Massey because he has a criminal record including several violent crimes, documents show. He was most recently released from prison in March of 2020, records show.

His family told police that he had substance abuse and mental health issues, but had stopped taking his medication and was paranoid people were trying to kill him, according to the affidavit of probable cause police filed in court.

Bottino, a husband and father of two, went hunting at the reservation on Watsontown-New Freedom Road that day as he had many times before. But he didnt come home.

Joe was an incredibly lovely spirit, with an infectious kindness in his heart, which he led with at all times. An enormous heart equates to an enormous loss, which the family is still coming to terms with, a message on a fundraiser for Bottinos family said.

The probable cause statement said a person called 911 around 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 23 after finding his body. Police noted he had stab wounds and blunt force trauma injuries, and there was a knife and bloody cinder blocks nearby.

Some of Bottinos possessions were sitting on small utility trailers nearby, police wrote, including his cellphone. The Camden County Sheriffs Departments Identification Bureau identified the fingerprints lifted from the phone as Masseys.

On Dec. 27, police visited Masseys home but didnt find him. In addition to his mental health issues, the family told police that he often took long walks in the woods but it was unusual for him not to return within a day, according to the document. The affidavit said police have been looking for him ever since.

Police said they subsequently searched the entire reservation and came across new evidence hidden under leaves at the crime scene - a cellphone with a cracked screen and tape over both camera lenses that they believe belongs to Massey  but its not clear exactly when the search occurred.

Murder charges were filed Saturday and the prosecutors office released photographs of Massey Monday, asking the public to be on the lookout for him but not to approach him. Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer on Monday said police had launched an extensive search for the alleged killer, boosted patrols in the area and received dozens of tips in the case.

A Bensalem police officer driving Tuesday recognized Massey and arrested him without incident, the office said. He is jailed in the Bucks County Correctional Facility awaiting extradition to New Jersey, the office said.

Massey has been convicted of violent crimes before. He most recently served a three-year prison term for aggravated assault after authorities said he broke into a home in Gloucester Township Feb. 19, 2018, attacking his ex-girlfriend and hitting a man there with a vase, according to court documents. He had previously stalked her, she told police, but those charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

That was the fifth time Massey had been charged with aggravated assault in 10 years, court records show. The charges were dismissed in plea deals twice but he was convicted of the charges in the case of a 2013 beating and a 2017 assault on a police officer, in addition to the attack on his ex-girlfriend in 2018, records show.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who two weeks ago was credited with potentially saving lives when he diverted members of the mob who stormed the building away from the Senate chamber, escorted Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to the inaugural platform.

Goodman was in uniform and alone Jan. 6 when he is credited for bravely standing between a crowd of angry rioters and the door to the Senate floor. Yelling back up, Goodman led the mob up two flights of stairs, where other officers were stationed.

In recognition of his actions, Goodman was named an acting deputy House sergeant-at-arms for Inauguration Day so he could escort Harris to the platform.

On Wednesday Goodman was in civilian clothes, wearing a brown overcoat and blue scarf. as Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff exited their limousine on the Capitol East Front. He walked up to the steps alongside the incoming vice president and just behind President-elect Joe Biden, peeling off as Harris and Biden climbed the stairs.

A few minutes later, Goodman led Harris down the stairs onto the outdoor stage for the inauguration ceremony.

Three members of Congress introduced a bill last week to honor Goodman with the Congressional Gold Medal for his bravery and quick thinking.

Goodman was also expected to meet Vice President Mike Pence, who was in the Senate chamber on Jan. 6.

___

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New Orleans, LA, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It is a common practice for people to develop New Year resolutions that form the basis of setting goals and aspirations. Ideally, these resolutions set the pace and are geared toward helping individuals make specific, deliberate steps to record better outcomes. As the new year begins, Michael Everest DeMarco has been clear about what he wants 2021 to look like.





When asked whether he will attend the famous NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival, Michael Everest DeMarco candidly responded that he would love to attend the festival because of its all-encompassing spirit. The last time he found time to attend the festivals was three years ago, something that he says he misses fondly yet recalls nostalgically. But what is so unique about DeMarco apart from the fact that he's a big fan of New Orleans? Besides being a big name in the theater industry in the city, Michael says that there are certain things in which he would want to engage in during this year. For example, he fondly misses the Saints game organized at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.





Michael's fondness for the city of New Orleans and Louisiana is one without measure. During the middle years of his career, the famed thespian did not fall prey to the fame and lucrative career opportunity when he was offered a moment in Hollywood. Instead, he deliberately chose to remain in his city of birth to give back to the community through training and raising talents that had for so long been left unidentified. His full-time devotion towards the New Orleans theater scenes development is one thing he wishes to continue into the New Year. He looks forward to working tirelessly towards making his dream for the city real and alive.





What's core to Michael this new year is making remarkable impressions through philanthropy. He says that giving back to the community that saw him become who he remains at the center of his activities in 2021. Besides the fact that New Orleans is Michael Everest Demarco's hometown and birthplace, there's more that connects him to this place---he says he would love spending more time doing the things he loves most about New Orleans. He says he feels so lucky and blessed to be a native of the city, thanks to the festive spirit that New Orleans is widely known for. In his own words, Michael says New Orleans exudes cheerfulness. He is certain that his birthplaces unique spirit has and continues to play a crucial role in shaping his career, character, and personality.





There is no doubt that this background reinforces why he named the French Quarter as his favorite destination of all time. He says that since he started visiting the Quarter during his teenage years, he still finds it good to go back there and feel its relatively unchanged ambiance.





While I have done fairly well in terms of my philanthropic work and giving back to the society that raised me, I still feel I owe New Orleans and its people a debt of gratitude for the good things he has realized from the town, Michael Everest Demarco explained. For this reason, he has earmarked the city for a series of visits, all aimed at ensuring that he rejuvenates the theater and vivacious spirit that has defined the city for decades.





He looks forward to working with younger, budding actors and helping them nurture their talents going forward. He knows the extent of struggle and challenges young talents go through trying to find a bearing in the industry. He reveals that he will frequently be stopping by to have a quick snack, dinner, or bear in some of the little-known cafes, restaurants in New Orleans and its neighborhoods.
By Francesca Laguardia

On September 11th, 2001, the country awoke to a threat it had studiously ignored for a decade. Suddenly realizing how large that threat was, law enforcement scrambled to respond. Prosecutors and federal agents swiftly and intelligently jumped into action, though, detaining many on no charges at all, and, where possible, finding charges with which to hold hundreds more in prison.

The strategy was one of pretextual prosecution  targeting individuals based on suspicion of a particular crime but prosecuting them for another  for the purposes of preventive incapacitation. As we near Wednesdays inauguration, this preventive strategy can be a valuable tool to ensure the security of the event and the weeks that follow.

Preventive prosecutions serve a number of purposes for law enforcement in its response to broadly dispersed, inchoate threats, like organized crime and terrorism.

The first is the chance to incapacitate actors who may soon be dangerous. But other purposes include offering probable cause to engage in surveillance that may aid in mapping the network, as well as finding informants. In the early 2000s, the United States government was woefully uninformed about the hierarchy of terrorist organizations, and prosecutions offered an opportunity to investigate defendants connections and communications, and to apply pressure in order to obtain information as part of cooperation in plea bargains.

This strategy always has its critics (myself included). As research director at the Center on Law and Security at New York University School of Law, and specifically directing the Terrorist Trial Report Card Project, I also complained of the possibility that the tactic led to over-harsh punishments for relatively minor infractions, hid relevant information, and may have facilitated bias in the criminal justice system. I have no doubt these criticisms are valid.

But, these risks pale in comparison to the extraordinary ones we presently face as a nation. The attack on the Capitol offers a unique opportunity  one that was not available in 2001  to make use of this strategy while detaining only those who have committed crimes.

Given the weak law enforcement preparation, it appears we may be drastically uninformed about the structure of right-wing extremist organizations. The attack on the Capitol included trained and heavily armed terrorists, as well as, four planted improvised explosive devices. In the wake of the attack, reports have come out that Republican legislators feel incapable of rejecting the extremist wing of their party, due to personal threats against their families.

Incapacitating the leaders of these groups and of the insurrection  which is being used publicly as a recruiting tool  can undermine the chances for the groups to train or organize new members, and the accompanying prosecutions will likely involve searches that help map the threat and position law enforcement to respond as the organizations change.

In pursuing those prosecutions, their online communications can and should also be exhaustively examined, including who else in the crowd may have been involved in their violence. And those who were not violent, but who vandalized the building, pushed aside barriers, and formed support as police were brutally assaulted, should also be prosecuted appropriately. In this way, we incapacitate only the criminals and broaden our reach into the network of potential violent extremists.

These events should not have been a surprise. Law enforcement sources have warned about the seriousness of the domestic threat from right-wing terrorism for decades, with the calls only growing more frantic in the past four years and the threat becoming more real. Portions of the FBI and the NYPD warned of the oncoming violence but these warnings seem to have gone unheeded.

Incarcerating those who took steps toward criminality, and only for the crimes they actually committed, offers the opportunity to incapacitate them during the inauguration and for the later periods that is likely to continue to be full of calls for violence.

We are at an extraordinary inflection point in America, exemplified by the violent assault on the Capitol Building and the public and ongoing calls for future attacks. We should not let the opportunity to prevent future events go by.

Francesca Laguardia is an associate professor of Justice Studies at Montclair State University.

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Washington: Within hours of his inauguration, US President Joe Biden returned the US to the international Paris Agreement to fight climate change, the centrepiece of a raft of day-one executive orders aimed at restoring US leadership in combating global warming.

The announcements also included a sweeping order to review all of former President Donald Trump's actions weakening climate change protections, the revocation of a vital permit for TC Energy's Keystone XL oil pipeline project from Canada, and a moratorium on oil and gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that Trump's administration had recently opened to development.

President Joe Biden signs his first executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House. Credit:AP

The orders by the newly sworn-in President will mark the start of a major policy reversal in the worlds second-largest greenhouse gas emitter behind China, after the Trump administration pilloried climate science and rolled back environmental regulation to maximise fossil fuel development.

Biden has promised to put the United States on a track to net-zero emissions by 2050 to match the steep and swift global cuts that scientists say are needed to avoid the most devastating impacts of global warming, using curbs on fossil fuels and massive investments in clean energy.
A retired forensic engineer has been appointed to investigate the death of a doctor at a racecourse in Northern Ireland.

Paul Conn, 60, from Lisburn, died in a collision at Kirkistown in Co Down in July 2019.

Big changes to the way that farmers and landowners are awarded funding took effect from 1 January 2021  but 'the full picture is still to emerge'.

Farmers are being urged to make sure they 'watch closely' as the new Agriculture Act takes shape, starting with the end of the Basic Payment System (BPS).

Agricultural lawyer Alexandra Phillips said it was still not clear what opportunities and schemes would replace that support.

The BPS is being phased out over the next seven years during the agricultural transition period, starting with the UK leaving the Common Agricultural Policy.

The new Act will instead provide financial support to reward farmers for work to improve air, water and soil quality, flood management efforts and the protection of wildlife.

But the form that this will take has not yet been set in stone, said Ms Phillips, a senior associate at mfg Solicitors.

Government has been very up front about scaling back BPS, with the funding due to be halved by 2024, but frustratingly it isnt clear whats going to happen in the final three years after that," she said.

We know the government is working to develop new schemes to replace it, along with the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme which is currently being trialled for roll out in 2024 and the Sustainable Farming Incentive, the core elements of which are due to be introduced from 2022."

She said the aim was to move away from what the government said was an 'overly bureaucratic policy', and one toward maximising the land to produce sustainable food with a focus on 'public goods'.

These changes took effect from the start of the year, but it is a moveable feast," Ms Phillips added.

"Therefore everyone in farming needs to watch closely how it develops and see how it affects them, because the final shape of the replacement for BPS still needs to be decided.
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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Oregonians marked President Joe Bidens first day in office Wednesday with celebrations and protests of the nations 46th president.

Fears of armed riots in Oregons capital never materialized amid heightened law enforcement presence and the fortification of buildings including the Capitol.

Yet protests continued to unfold late Wednesday in Portland as demonstrators pushed for more rapid policy changes than what Biden has promised.

On Wednesday night, a crowd of at least 100 gathered in South Portlands Elizabeth Caruthers Park with plans to march to a nearby Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Around 9 p.m. the crowd began to move, chanting slogans protesting the United States detention and caging of migrant children. Protesters also decried Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and President Joe Biden and chanted, Abolish ICE. Upon reaching the building, several people spray-painted Reunite families now onto the wall of the ICE building.

The gathering was declared an unlawful assembly around 9:30 and the crowd was told that those who trespassed on federal property with weapons or other dangerous items would be arrested. Federal officers used tear gas and munitions several times; at one point, the air was so thick with gas and smoke that it was difficult to see. As of 10 p.m., Portland police had arrested at least one person.

Earlier Wednesday, a crowd of about 200 people, including self-described anarchists, marched in the citys Central Eastside area and smashed windows at the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters. Some of the demonstrators carried a sign that read We dont want Biden, we want revenge! in response to police murders and imperialist wars. Portland police said they arrested eight people.

The Democratic Party issued a statement expressing the groups disappointment at the damage to its headquarters.

None of this should take away from the fact that today is a joyous day for America, the group said in its statement.

Gov. Kate Brown called the inauguration of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris a new chapter for our country and praised the new administrations diverse cabinet nominees, as well as Harris historic role as the first female, Black and Asian vice president.

Some demonstrations in Portland also struck a more celebratory chord. On Northeast Broadway from 14th to 15th avenues, roughly a dozen people held signs supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. The noontime crowd was met with almost constant honks of approval  the only breaks coming when the streetlights turned red.

Betty Scholten, 86, said she has been demonstrating at the site almost daily since August, every time holding the same Black Lives Matter sign. She said she feels joyful and hopeful because she expects equal rights for Black people to be more of a focus for Biden and his administration. Im hoping, she said. He said it would be.

Still, she recognizes change wont come overnight  even under a new administration that she said is a step in the right direction.

Scholten said she and others will keep demonstrating along Broadway until we dont need to anymore.

Still, she thinks that day is a long way down the road.

PORTLAND CELEBRATIONS

Many Oregonians cheered both Bidens inauguration and Trumps departure from power, while making it clear that they would continue to push the new administration to make major reforms.

An Inaugurate Justice car caravan started at Portland Community Colleges Cascade Campus Wednesday afternoon and proceeded to Irving Park on Northeast Fremont Street and 10th Avenue, for a rally and march planned by groups including the Defend Democracy Coalition.

About 150 people, including volunteers and media, were at the event around 5 p.m.

As the event started, people chanted messages in support of Black Lives Matter and a drumline played, cheering the day while calling for more progressive changes.

This is such a monumental day, a speaker told the crowd. Because today is the day we dump Trump. But we need to embrace resistance too. The fight is just beginning.

One of the events organizers, Ray Austin, called for the total abolition of police.

A veteran who introduced himself as Vietnam Don told the crowd that the people who rioted in the national Capitol on Jan. 6 represented a regressive way of thinking.

Suzie Kassouf, an educator at Grant High School and a founder of the climate justice organization Sunrise PDX, asked the crowd if they thought Biden wanted to see rapid movement for climate justice  to which they responded no.

All movements for justice are one, she said. Its no accident that the people that are hurt first and worst by the climate crisis and environmental injustice are Black and brown.

Destiny Houston, one of the organizers, said the goal of the rally was to focus on various issues on the progressive agenda, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, immigration and climate change.

Were really hoping that on Inauguration Day, well be able to celebrate the new administration, while simultaneously making it clear that were going to hold them accountable, Houston said.

As speakers addressed the crowd, a car flipped over about a block away. Several demonstrators gathered around the car to see if anyone was hurt, and protesters pulled a little girl and her mother out of the car before the fire department arrived. Neither were seriously injured.

The car accident on Fremont Street, within earshot and eyesight of the Irving Park event, highlighted tensions between protesters and law enforcement. Protesters who rushed to help the family who flipped their car were adamant about not wanting officers to respond, saying they inflict more harm by being there. Protesters at the event called for defunding police.

No matter if we believe Black Lives Matter, if we see something thats supposed to be done, we stand to action, said Reese Monson, 31, a member of local protest group Black Unity PDX. Were glad the firetruck came instead of the police. We really dont like the police coming and being involved. Last time the police came they brought a big tear gas canister for an individual who was mentally ill.

Monson said he thought the driver was attempting to avoid hitting a car driving in the opposite lane of traffic, swerved into a car parked in the street and flipped her car.

PROTESTS AND POLICING

Earlier in the day, a crowd gathered at Southeast Portlands Revolution Hall on Wednesday for J20, an event decrying the government, including Bidens presidency, and focused on various cries for justice, including reforming policing and improving education and foster care. A poster for the event called for Land Back  a movement to return land to Indigenous people.

58 Inauguration Day Portland Protests

The event, which had about 200 people at its peak, was described as a direct action march, a term that in recent months that has described demonstrations that ended in property damage, such as broken windows or graffiti.

Shortly after the event began, about a dozen police officers on bicycles showed up and began questioning protesters, raising tension.

As marchers headed toward the river, they chanted, calling for an end to the sweeps of homeless camps and decrying both Biden and former President Donald Trump. They ended up at the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters, where some smashed windows. Protesters were met by police at Benson High School. The mayors office confirmed that as of 4 p.m., police had arrested three people suspected of using crowbars to smash out windows at the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters.

Before the crowd started marching from the hall, some demonstrators reflected on why they were at the event.

Two demonstrators from Black Unity PDX said the new administration has a lot of work to do.

With this Biden administration, I dont want people to forget that Black lives still matter  they never stopped mattering, said Princess Warner, 20.

Teal Lindseth, 22, said the new administration needs to focus on improving things like education and foster care.

My child should see Black history stuff, she should be able to understand everything thats going on and be told. We dont even learn enough about that stuff, Lindseth said. Theres so much wrong with this world and it needs to change.

CAPITOL STAYS QUIET

Only a handful of demonstrators  including both Trump supporters and critics  turned out in front of the Oregon Capitol Wednesday.

One pro-Biden demonstrator toted a pair of signs, one of which read: Lock Trump up!!! in all capital letters.

The Capitols windows remained boarded up, and the entrance was protected by a chain-link fence.

The heightened sense of alert came after a right-wing insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, when pro-Trump extremists tried to stop Congress from certifying the presidential election results. Far-right demonstrators also breached Oregons Capitol and allegedly assaulted police and journalists during a Dec. 21 special legislative session.

The scene at Washington states capital in Olympia also remained calm Wednesday afternoon.

ELSEWHERE IN PORTLAND

Earlier Wednesday, about 20 demonstrators gathered outside a South Portland U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building as part of a vigil for detainees.

The group stood against the backdrop of a large white cloth with Abolish ICE written on it in red and black letters. A collection of candles and chalk markings on the sidewalk promoted the same slogan.

One of the vigils organizers, who asked to not be named for fear of right-wing retaliation, said ICE was committing genocide and that demonstrators ultimate goal was to abolish the agency.

We have to fight for that no matter who is president, she said.

A second Abolish ICE protest was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. at Elizabeth Caruthers Park, which is near the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

The Democratic Party of Oregon hosted a virtual inauguration party streamed on Facebook and the partys website at 4:45 p.m.

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland was holding a 5:30 p.m. virtual service to celebrate the peaceful transition of power, by reading, among other works, the poetry of Walt Whitman, Maya Angelou and Emma Lazarus and singing Dolly Partons Light of a Clear Blue Morning.

The Rhythm Nation Inauguration Celebration had an hourlong public policy panel scheduled to start at 7 p.m. A livestream dance party with DJs at Holocene bar and nightclub was to follow the event.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive staff
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde has said during her visit to the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Donbas that she fully supports Ukraine on its road to achieving peace, the press service of the JFO headquarters has reported on Facebook.

"I want to assure you of my full support for Ukraine. One of the priorities for our organization will be resolving the crisis in and around Ukraine. The basis for this will be OSCE principles and commitments. We also want to reduce the negative consequences felt by civilians in Donbas," Linde said.

According to the report, together with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and representatives of the Ukrainian Joint Forces command, the delegation visited Luhansk region. In particular, Linde noted that this was her first working visit as Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Acting Commander of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, Major General Viktor Hanushchak, informed the foreign delegation about the current situation in the JFO area and stressed that the main purpose of the enemy shelling Ukrainian positions was to provoke the Joint Forces to return fire and accuse Ukraine's top military and political leadership of violating the agreements reached by the Trilateral Contact Group regarding a full and comprehensive ceasefire on the contact line.

"The enemy is trying to adhere to the ceasefire, but for provocations it fires from small arms and 120mm and 82mm mortars," Hanushchak said.

The press service also reported that Lindeplanned to visit the Zolote entry-exit checkpoint.
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Mayfield Pair Face Drug, Other Charges

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MAYFIELD - Two Mayfield men face drug and gun charges following a traffic stop on Tuesday.An officer with the Mayfield Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 26-year old Tommy Brown of Mayfield. Police say Brown had an active warrant for his arrest out of Fulton County. During the stop, police allegedly found illegal drugs and other items consistent with the sale of drugs. Brown, who is a convicted felon, was also reportedly in possession of a firearm.A passenger in the vehicle, 22-year-old Roger Thomas Jr., was also found to be in possession of illegal drugs.Brown is charged with first degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine, second offense), possession of marijuana, trafficking in methamphetamine (second offense), tampering with physical evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and the warrant for theft by unlawful taking (shoplifting) out of Fulton County.Thomas is charged with first degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).Both men were taken to the Graves County Jail.
Dr. John Swartzberg watched the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday with tears in his eyes.

After nearly a year of fighting misinformation and disjointed efforts to control a virus that has claimed more than 400,000 American lives, the UC Berkeley infectious disease specialist said he was just relieved to see a rational speech from the president and a science-based pandemic plan from the federal administration.

Its heartbreaking what weve had to go through with this pandemic, Swartzberg said. Were going to see a big difference, mark my words.

Many Bay Area doctors felt hope on Wednesday as President Biden was sworn in, even as they recognized the immense challenges that remain in tackling the worst health crisis in a century, one that has killed nearly as many Americans as World War II.

Last week, Biden unveiled an ambitious plan to give 100 million shots in his first 100 days and invoke the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to make more vaccines. He also introduced a $1.9 trillion proposal to build up testing to reopen schools, boost the economy and help workers and their families hurting after nearly a year of a crippling recession. By his side from the Bay Area will be three UCSF doctors, part of a team of experts from across the country.

We are entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus, Biden said during his inaugural address in Washington. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.

After the inauguration, Biden signed executive orders that included mandates to wear masks on federal property and directives to rejoin international efforts to confront the pandemic that the former administration shunned, including membership in the World Health Organization.

The top priority is manufacturing and distributing more vaccines and getting them into arms. Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that if she were Biden, the first call she would make as president would be to the CEO of pharmaceutical company Pfizer to find out how many vaccines there are  and how many more the country can get.

We can only get out of this fundamentally by vaccines, Gandhi said. We have proven that its too endemic, we cannot test and isolate ourselves out of this. That ship has sailed.

The Trump administration, which health experts applauded for approving a vaccine in record time, was opaque about supply and distribution. Last week, the federal government promised an already depleted stash of shots to states, leaving local health departments in the dark. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the public health system in the city could run out of vaccines by Thursday.

Its that last mile, getting the vaccine into peoples arms that is so darn critical and thats where were failing, said Dr. Warner Greene, a senior investigator with the Gladstone Institutes. Lets make sure production is the limiting factor, not distribution.

Using wartime law to force companies to make more vaccines will help long-term, but the ramp-up might not happen quickly enough to meet current needs, Swartzberg said.Health experts said the previous administrations decision to leave vaccine distribution to states led to lack of coordination, and they hoped that a new administration  which has a $20 billion plan for deployment  would make improvements.

Would we fight a war with each of the 50 states carrying out the battle by themselves in an uncoordinated fashion? Would you expect to win the battles or the war? Swartzberg said. Its the same thing with the pandemic. We cant do well without a plan that the United States carries out.

The CEO of Amazons worldwide consumer business sent a letter to Biden on Wednesday offering assistance on distribution, Reuters reported.

Public health experts stressed that the government must ensure vaccine equity for the elderly, people with literacy or language barriers and minority communities. The virus has infected and killed Latino and Black Californians at higher rates than their white counterparts, and the economic recession has hit these communities harder. Experts were pleased to see that Bidens proposal tackled both the interconnected pandemic and economic crises.

We cannot open an economy if our low-wage, essential workers cannot keep themselves safe from transmission from the virus, said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UCSF. She added: Our fate is tied up with the fates of everybody else in our economy right now.

The new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that the agency will review all existing COVID-19 guidance, update it if necessary, and work to rapidly accelerate testing and vaccination and confront inequities.

Swartzberg wanted to see money put toward developing cheaper and more accurate rapid testing and building up a contact tracing workforce to track the virus once it becomes more contained. He also expected that under a new administration, federal science agencies would be unmuzzled and less politicized.

Its got to be better, Gandhi said. We were all waiting for this day.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench
On Tuesday, Jan. 19, SBS News revealed that Park Si Yeon was involved in a drunk driving incident in broad daylight.

According to reports, actress Park Si Yeon collided with a car that was stopped at a traffic light in Seoul, South Korea. During the time of the incident, Park Si Yeon's blood alcohol concentration level was measured to be 0.097%. That level is high enough to have her driver's license confiscated. The accident is reported to have happened on Sunday, Jan. 17, at around 11:30 AM KST.

During the police investigation, Park Si Yeon admitted to having consumed alcohol and to the drunk driving charged. Luckily, no one was injured during the crash. Park Si Yeon has been booed by the police and is currently undergoing investigation.

Shortly after reports about the incident started making their rounds on the internet, YTN Star reported a started from Park Si Yeon's agency, Mystic Story, concerning the recent accident.

According to Mystic Story, Park Si Yeon did not consume alcohol the day of the accident and had actually drunk the night before. They acknowledged the mistake she had done but stressed that the accident was not international.

Their statement reads,

"She (Park Si Yeon) had drunk the night before (Saturday, Jan. 16). By morning, she had assumed she was sober enough to drive. It was wrong of her to drive without realizing she was still intoxicated. But she did not drink in broad daylight."

Since then, Park Si Yeon has taken to her social media to acknowledge her mistake and her wrongdoings. in her post, she apologizes for causing such a disturbance. She acknowledges that no matter what the reason is, nothing excuses her poor choice of action. Park Si Yeon tells fans that she regrets what she has done and is deeply reflecting on it. Additionally, the actress apologized to all the people who were cheering her on and support her.

Her whole statement reads:

"This is Park Si Yeon.

I think it is only fitting that I personally apologize, so I am cautiously dedicating a post on this on my personal account. First, I genuinely apologize for causing such a disturbance. Regardless of whatever reason or excuse, I should not have done what I did. I deeply regret my carelessness and am currently reflecting on my actions. I want to also apologize to everyone who has supported me and cheered me on. Once again, I would like to apologize and promise that I will reflect on my mistake."

What do you think of the situation?

Park Si Yeon first entered the industry as a Miss Korea pageant contest in 2000, which she used as a way to launch her acting career. Her most recent was Jang Seo Kyung in the tvN drama "When My Love Blooms." The drama aired every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 p.m. KST from April 25 to June 14, 2020.

Her last leading role was in the SBS drama "Should We Kiss First?", which aired from Feb. 20 to April 24, 2020. The show spanned 40 episodes. The story followed middle-aged men and women who have given up any dreams of a loving romance but are all afraid of living and dying alone.
Evive, the leader in digital engagement and communication technology, today announced that Built In Chicago honored the company with two 2021 Best Places to Work Awards. Evive earned second place on Built In Chicagos list of 100 Best Midsize Places to Work and tenth place on the 100 Best Places to Work. Evive has made the Chicago list of best midsize companies to work for three consecutive years, moving up 
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KALAMAZOO, MI -- A Western Michigan University professor has found a new way to help you quit smoking.

Assistant Professor Ricky Stulls research advances the strategy of using enzymes to degrade nicotine in the body, flushing it from the persons system without the typical adverse effects, according to a news release from WMU.

People try to go cold turkey all the time. The problem is that there are withdrawal symptoms, said Stull, who teaches chemistry.

His research, published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, corrects a flaw in a previous study on the use of enzymes to quit smoking. The original study found rats addicted to nicotine  when injected with a lab-engineered form of the enzyme NicA2, which occurs naturally in bacteria found in tobacco fields  kicked their addiction.

They didnt have any evidence of relapse, any evidence of withdrawal  all great things, Stull said. But there was a problem with the NicA2 enzyme in that study. The enzyme, as they were using it, degraded nicotine so slowly they had to use outrageous amounts in order to see all these beneficial effects; you could never translate it to people.

Stull worked with undergraduate lab assistant Chris Clark and collaborators at the University of Michigan, the release said.

I think the application where this would most be useful would be in an individual who is attempting to quit smoking and is at high risk of relapse, Stull said.

The next step is for scientists to put the research into practice and test its viability, the release said.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness in the world, Stull said. If we could come up with a new treatment that can help people get over their nicotine addiction or tobacco use, we could make a pretty big impact on human health.

Also on MLive:

Live coverage: Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th U.S. President today

COVID-19 vaccinations surpass 500K in Michigan

Parents to adopt own biological babies in surrogate controversy

Michigans whole Dam Store is now on the market for a cool half a million dollars
[January 20, 2021] Spectroscopy Announces L. Robert Baker the Winner of the 2021 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award

Spectroscopy has named Robert Baker, associate professor at The Ohio State University, the winner of the 2021 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award. The award will be presented to Baker on Feb. 24 at the Spectroscopy Virtual Symposium, 'Atomic Spectroscopy in Practice,' where he will give a plenary lecture. "Robert Baker is a brilliant young scientist and embodies the values and qualities we look for when selecting the Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award winner," said Mike Hennessy Jr., president and CEO of MJH Life Sciences, parent company of Spectroscopy. "His extensive background in the fields of physical chemistry, surface science, catalysis and spectroscopy make him truly deserving of this noteworthy award." Baker received his Bachelor of Science in 2007 from Brigham Young University and his doctorate in 2012 from the University of California, Berkeley under the supervision of Gabor A. Somorjai, a pioneer in the fields of surface science and catalysis. Baker then performed postdoctoral research with Stephen R. Leone, an American chemist and the John R. Thomas Endowed Chair in Physical Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley before joining The Ohio State University in 2014. Baker's work focuses on understanding electron dynamics in photocatalytic systems using time-resolved X-ray spectroscopy. Understanding these dynamics and how they influence device efficiency is key to making new, high-performance materials. In this work, Baker has designed and constructed a tabletop ultrafast extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray light source. Because X-ray absorption is eement specific, this technique can track electron dynamics with site-selective resolution by measuring transient oxidation and spin state changes in real time.



Baker has also published 35 papers in peer-reviewed journals and been an author on more than 70 oral presentations at scientific conferences, including 56 invited talks. In addition to the Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award, Baker has received multiple other awards, including the Benjamin Boussert Memorial Award from the University of California, Berkeley; the Early Career Award from the Department of Energy; the Young Investigator Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research; the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award; and the Journal of Physical Chemistry-Physical Chemistry Division Lectureship Award from the American Chemical Society. The Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award, awarded annually since 2017, recognizes the achievements and aspirations of a talented young atomic spectroscopist, selected by an independent scientific committee.

For more information on how to nominate a young scientist for the 2022 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award, click here. About Spectroscopy Spectroscopy is a multimedia platform dedicated to analytical spectroscopy through peer-reviewed articles, tutorials, web seminars and more. Spectroscopy aims to enhance productivity, efficiency and the overall value of spectroscopic instruments and methods as a practical analytical technology across a variety of fields. The magazine and its website provide scientists, technicians and laboratory managers with content to help them improve their practice. Spectroscopy is a brand of MJH Life Sciences, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005504/en/

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ROME - Rome prosecutors on Wednesday requested that four Egyptian intelligence-service officials be sent to trial for the 2016 abduction, torture and murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Egypt.

General Tariq Sabir and three subordinates, Athar Kamel Mohamed Ibrahim, Uhsam Helmi, and Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif, are accused of crimes that range from aggravated involvement in homicide to kidnapping and grevious bodily harm.

Rome prosecutors say that Regeni was tortured for days, resulting in "acute physical suffering" by being subjected to kicks, punches, beaten with sticks and bats and cut with sharp objects, and also being burned with red-hot objects and slammed into walls.

The suspects are likely to be tried in absentia in Italy if the indictment requests are upheld.

Egypt's prosecutor general, Hamada al Sawi, has said "there is insufficient evidence to prove the charges".

Witnesses have told the Rome prosecutors that Regeni was picked up by members of the Egyptian security services.

The witnesses, deemed reliable by the prosecutors, say the 28-year-old Cambridge doctoral researcher was abducted by agents of the Egyptian National Security Agency on January 25, 2016, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the uprising that ousted former strongman Hosni Mubarak, and taken to at least two barracks in the subsequent hours.

The young man from Friuli was seen in a barracks near the Dokki metro stop in Cairo, the witnesses said, and later at another barracks where young foreigners are usually taken.

Regeni was found dead in a ditch on the Cairo-Alexandria highway on February 3, 2016, a week after disappearing. He had been tortured so badly that his mother said she only recognised him by the tip of his nose. At various times Egypt has advanced differing explanations for his death including a car accident, a gay lovers' tiff and abduction and murder by an alleged kidnapping gang that was wiped out after Regeni's documents were planted in their lair.

The student was researching Cairo street sellers unions for the British university, a politically sensitive subject.

The head of the street hawkers union had fingered Regeni as a possible spy. Lack of cooperation on the case by Egypt led to Rome's temporarily withdrawing its ambassador from Cairo. Rome recently drew condemnation from Regeni's parents by announcing the sale of two frigates to Egypt.
18:00 | Lima, Jan. 19.

The release of this new wheat variety was made official by Administrative Resolution No. 009-2021-INIA , published on Tuesday in the official gazette El Peruano
The list of persons to serve as ministers and deputy ministers in the second term of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo may not exceed 85, Jubilee House sources have hinted Asaase News.



The president is expected to release his ministerial list this week to coincide with the establishment of the Appointments Committee of Parliament.



With President Akufo-Addo having been sworn into office nearly two weeks ago, though having designated persons to serve as his representatives in Ministries, there has been anxiety, especially amongst former appointees of government and the general public, with speculations rife as to who will be appointed.



Asaase News is reliably informed that President Akufo-Addo, since his swearing-in for a second term, has taken a number of significant decisions with regards to appointments to be made. Among the decisions taken, for which Asaase News can confirm, is that there will be a considerable reduction in the number of ministers and deputy ministers to be announced.



From the 126 ministers who served in the first term of the Akufo-Addo administration, sources at the Office of the President indicate that the number of ministers, regional ministers and deputy ministers to be appointed will not exceed 85. Indeed, the number of Ministries is also set to reduce from 36 to not more than 29 in his second term.



A blend of new faces

The Ministers and Deputy Ministers to be appointed will be a blend of new faces and old members of the Presidents last government. It will be national in character, and the Ministries to be announced by President Akufo-Addo will reinforce his focus for the second term, accelerate job and wealth creation, strengthen the private sector, and see to the rapid development of the country, the source familiar with the appointments indicated.



Additionally, the source revealed that MPs who served either as ministers or deputy ministers, but did not secure re-election in the parliamentary elections of 7 December 2020, will not find themselves in the new government of President Akufo-Addo.



Already, the President has taken the decision to take away matters to do with the phenomenon of illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey, from the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, back to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.



The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) has also been dissolved by President Akufo-Addo.

Source: asaaseradio









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Marshall Library Starts Laptop Lending Program

By West Kentucky Star Staff

BENTON - The Marshall County Public Library has announced a new laptop and hotspot lending program in an effort to bridge the digital divide.The library is one of 20 Kentucky libraries awarded a grant for the program from The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. As part of the grant, the library will receive five laptops and hotspots for adults that are in need of a computer and internet access for job searches.The kits will have a lending period of two weeks, with an automatic two-week renewal if there are no holds on the kit. Each of the kits will contain instructions for basic computer tasks, brochures on how to access and use workforce development resources, and instructional videos.The program is set to begin on Wednesday.Lenisa Jones, branch manager of the Benton location, said the Marshall County Public Library is proud to support students and employees that are working from home to keep our community safe."We are so glad to be able to offer a lending program like this to help bridge any digital divide due to lack of internet access at home," Jones said.For additional information about the kits, contact the library at 270-527-9969.
Business-risk prognosticators are focused on the future of workand the challenges that an increasingly remote workforce could continue to posein 2021.

The transformation of work in the past year, due in large part to the coronavirus pandemic, has heightened dangers related to business continuity, cybersecurity, culture and talent management, organizations that monitor enterprise risks say.

In the year ahead, organizations are expected to face those and new risks related to returning to the officeranging from employee retention, workplace safety and liability issues raised by employees, risk management organizations say.

The World Economic Forum on Tuesday warned that companies and their workforces are under pressure as a result of financial, digital and reputational threats resulting from the pandemic.

As businesses transform their workplaces, new vulnerabilities are emerging," Carolina Klint, a risk management leader at insurance brokerage Marsh, said in a statement accompanying the release of WEFs Global Risks Report 2021. Rapid digitalization is exponentially increasing cyber exposures, supply chain disruption is radically altering business models, and a rise in serious health issues has accompanied employees shift to remote working," Ms. Klint said.

Some of those risks emanate from employees depending on home networks, which can be less stable and less secure than corporate networks, risk management experts say.

Companies also face challenges as they ask more employees to return to the office. Businesses are working through ways to ensure safe work environments, such as determining how many people can occupy an elevator at one time. Some are also grappling with whether to require employees to be vaccinated, according to executives at Navex Global Inc. The Lake Oswego, Ore.-based risk and compliance software company listed network security and return-to-office issues among its top risk trends for the year ahead.

Theres a lot of risk to employers in 2021 rushing to bring their people back to the office," said Bob Conlin, Navexs chief executive. Employers need to be aware of what the legal ramifications will be if there are health-related issues related to employees coming back," Mr. Conlin said.

Companies could face lawsuits from employees who contract Covid-19 at the office, risk management experts said.

Another key risk: Employees who have become accustomed to working at home may be reluctant to return to the office. Companies may need to offer more generous work-from-home options to retain and compete for talent in the future, according to the Institute of Internal Auditors, which listed talent management as one of the most relevant" risks facing organizations in its 2021 outlook.

There could be knock-on legal risks related to hiring a remote workforce in new jurisdictionsfrom ensuring local labor, employment and data security laws are followed to ensuring external business partners are also managing issues such as cyber risks, said Anthony J. Pugliese, who will become the IIAs chief executive in March.

Someone can burrow their way into a companys network by someone who has an unprotected laptop or uses an open computer that doesnt have a [virtual private network] attached to it," Mr. Pugliese said. It increases the risk for any kind of proprietary data that a company would have."

Remote work could also put some business relationships at riskparticularly those that rely on in-person meetings, said David Fisher, a partner at McLean, Va.-based advisory firm Guidehouse.

Every entity is going to be trying to figure out what are the ongoing risks of my client base becoming more in-person again but my employees dont want to be?" he said in an interview. How do I manage that?"

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Special school teachers have been offered State subsidies for childcare costs and flexibility on leave under a Government deal aimed at getting vulnerable children back to school this week.

Special school teachers who are pregnant can also temporarily work from home as part of a package offered to teacher unions by Education Minister Norma Foley.

The same package is being offered to Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

The minister has sought to address the concerns raised by teachers ahead of plans to reopen special schools on Thursday.

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A Government source said the minister is eager to get the most vulnerable children in society back to school this week but added that they cannot offer the unions much more than what is in the proposed package.

The package includes an increase in subsidies for childcare costs for teachers working in special schools. Flexibility will also be offered on parental and personal leave which means teachers can take extra time off even if they have used up all their allocated days.

Pregnant teachers will also be able to choose to work from home under the deal the Government hope will be agreed by unions this evening.

Thursday had been earmarked for students in special classes to return to classes. However, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and Forsa raised concerns about the plan.

Yesterday, the INTO called on Government to reconsider plans to resume special education on Thursday.

The union said teachers safety concerns had not been adequately addressed at a public health webinar organised by Ms Foley.

The INTO accused the Education Minister of not engaging with teacher representatives. However, a Government source insisted they have been in daily contact with the unions on this issue for weeks.

There have been on-going disagreements between the unions and the Government over plans to reopen schools during the third wave of Covid-19.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (Asti) prevented Leaving Cert students returning after Christmas. The Cabinet is set to review the closure of schools on January 31.
CSG has supported integrated implementations in multiple states, says Tim Lenning, Director of CSGs Program Modernization practice. Our objective is to help assure that the new system meets the needs of IDR and the taxpayers of Iowa.

CSG Government Solutions, a national leader in government program modernization, today announced that it has been selected by the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR) to provide Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) services for the Tax Modernization Program.

The Tax Modernization Program is replacing IDRs existing tax processing systems with an integrated system that provides centralized tax and revenue management. CSG will review project planning and processes and provide ongoing analysis of project risks, issues, and mitigation strategies. CSG will publish monthly project health status reports to project stakeholders.

CSG has supported integrated implementations in multiple states, says Tim Lenning, Director of CSGs Program Modernization practice. Our objective is to help assure that the new system meets the needs of IDR and the taxpayers of Iowa.

CSG Government Solutions deploys highly experienced teams and innovative methods, knowledge, and tools to help governments modernize complex programs. CSG clients include 46 state and territory governments, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and large municipal governments.

Contact:

Tim Lenning

Director, Program Modernization Practice

CSG Government Solutions

180 N. Stetson Ave

Suite 3200

Chicago, IL 60601

Office: 312.444.2760 Fax: 312.938.2191

tlenning@csgdelivers.com

About CSG Government Solutions:

CSG Government Solutions is a leading government operations consulting firm focused on helping states modernize critical programs. Our highly experienced teams and industry-leading Centers of Excellence help governments leverage innovative technology and processes to meet the challenges of administering complex programs. Founded in 1997, CSG has established itself as a trusted adviser to government agencies across the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.csgdelivers.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Airbnb has canceled all bookings in Washington DC this week in an attempt to prevent people from traveling there for President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration in the wake of the January 6th US Capitol riot. The company is also said it is attempting to ban anyone who took part in the insurrection, as well as those with links to known hate groups. It seems Airbnb has actually been working for years to root out people in the latter group, and it has used social media monitoring as part of those efforts.

The company has used dummy accounts on Facebook, Twitter and forums to identify users with ties to white nationalism and other possibly dangerous groups, according to The Information. Six or so employees in the trust and safety unit are said to have been tasked with tracking down users connected to those groups and kicking them off Airbnb's platform.

The trust and safety employees reportedly don't interact with others using the dummy accounts. They only search public posts. Many Airbnb users link their accounts to Facebook, which could make it easier to kick out those with connections to hate groups.

Airbnb has adopted such practices since the lead up to the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017 and it has taken a more aggressive approach since January 6th. The company, which prohibits "violent racist groups" from using its services, is said to have banned more than 100 accounts of people with links to hate groups.

In 2019, Airbnb banned more than 60 users after cross-referencing leaked email addresses from a neo-Nazi forum. The company also banned a Proud Boy forum member who booked an Airbnb as part of plans to attend a Washington DC rally in November.

The likes of Twitter, Facebook and other platforms have been kicking people connected to hate groups and those who post QAnon-related content off of their services in recent months. As such, Airbnb may find it more difficult to use social media to monitor those people.

"When signals suggest a hate group member may be using Airbnb, we investigate and take appropriate action," Airbnb spokesperson Ben Breit told Engadget. "This information can come to us in many ways including flags from members of our community, social media users or news articles."

Update 1/20 11:55am ET: Added a statement from Airbnb.
(Alliance News) - Burberry Group PLC on Wednesday said its full price sales recovered during its festive quarter, helped by growth in mainland China, though trading in Europe continued to be hurt by Covid-19 restrictions.

The retailer expects "regional disruptions" due to Covid-19 for the remainder of its financial year, and it warned that the UK will lose its attractiveness as a luxury shopping destination following the end of the VAT retail export scheme. The policy allowed non-EU tourists to get VAT refunds.

Burberry shares were up 4.5% at 1,815.50 pence each in London on Wednesday morning, the best large-cap performer.

In the 13 weeks to December 26, its third quarter and a period which includes the crucial Christmas stretch, retail revenue fell 4.3% year-on-year to GBP688 million from GBP719 million a year earlier. Comparable store sales fell 9%, following growth of 3% a year earlier, the luxury brand added.

"Despite the challenging external environment, we made good progress on our strategic priorities in the quarter. We saw a strong increase in full-price sales as our collections and communication resonated well with new, younger clientele as well as existing customers. Our localised plans and digital capabilities helped drive growth in rebounding markets and we implemented our planned reduction in markdown," Chief Executive Officer Marco Gobbetti said.

By region, Asia Pacific comparable store sales rose 11% annually, "with strong growth in mainland China and Korea".

In the Americas, comparable store sales were down 8%, with a "mid-teens" climb in full price sales being offset by planned reductions.

The decline in the Europe, the Middle East, India, & Africa region was much greater, however. Burberry, famed for its checked print and trench coats, saw its wings clipped by travel restrictions with comparable store sales tumbling 37%.

Luxury goods brands like Burberry generate hefty amounts of sales through tourism. Travel restrictions therefore, closed off big revenue contributors.

Burberry hailed its online growth, however.

"In the Covid-19 context, digital remains a key driver of growth for the business. In the quarter, our digital innovations such as pop-ups and local activations on .com supported more than 50% full-price growth in the channel. In addition, we continued to use our digital capabilities to link customers to our stores in periods of limited traffic or lockdowns, including through our new live chat functionality on .com, virtual appointments and virtual client events," the company explained.

Burberry said it currently has 15% of its stores closed with 36% operating with reduced hours or other restrictions.

"Given this outlook, we expect trading will remain susceptible to regional disruptions as we close the financial year," the company said.

Looking ahead, it also expects a "modest increase in border trade compliance costs" as a result of the UK's Brexit trade deal with the EU.

"The VAT retail export scheme previously allowing VAT refunds for non-EU tourists has now been stopped. This development, which will reduce the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for luxury shopping, will have limited impact on revenue in the current year given the low levels of tourist traffic, but is expected to have a more significant impact when travel flows resume with sales likely to shift between countries. We are looking at ways to mitigate any impact this has as tourists return to mainland Europe," Burberry commented.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
FOSHAN, China, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited ("Bright Scholar," the "Company," "we" or "our") (NYSE: BEDU), a global premier education service company, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2020.

First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 Financial Highlights

(in comparison to the same period of the last fiscal year):

RMB in million Except EPS and % First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2019 YoY % Change Revenue 1,051.5 1,098.0 (4.2%) Gross Profit 442.8 473.8 (6.5%) Gross Margin 42.1% 43.1% (1.0%) Operating Income 228.4 267.2 (14.5%) Operating Margin 21.7% 24.3% (2.6%) Net Income 190.9 204.3 (6.6%) Net Margin 18.2% 18.6% (0.4%)







Adjusted Gross Profit (1) 450.0 484.8 (7.2%) Adjusted Gross Margin (1) 42.8% 44.2% (1.4%) Adjusted Operating Income (2) 236.3 288.3 (18.0%) Adjusted Operating Margin (2) 22.5% 26.3% (3.8%) Adjusted Net Income (3) 197.1 223.0 (11.6%) Adjusted Net Margin (3) 18.7% 20.3% (1.6%) Adjusted EBITDA (4) 320.6 352.5 (9.0%) Adjusted EBITDA Margin (4) 30.5% 32.1% (1.6%)







Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share 1.56 1.59 (1.9%) Adjusted Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share (5) 1.61 1.74 (7.5%)

______________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Adjusted gross profit/(loss) is defined as gross profit/(loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets. Adjusted gross margin is defined as adjusted gross profit/(loss) divided by revenue. 2. Adjusted operating income/(loss) is defined as operating income/(loss) excluding share-based compensation expense and amortization of intangible assets. Adjusted operating margin is defined as adjusted operating income/(loss) divided by revenue. 3. Adjusted net income/(loss) is defined as net income/(loss) excluding share-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets and tax effect of amortization of intangible assets. Adjusted net margin is defined as adjusted net income/(loss) divided by revenue. 4. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income/(loss) excluding interest income/(expense), net; income tax expense/benefit; depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. 5. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per share is defined as adjusted net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders (net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets and tax effect of amortization of intangible assets) divided by the weighted average number of basic and diluted ordinary shares or American depositary shares (each an "ADS"), each representing one Class A ordinary share of the Company, on an as-converted basis.

For more information on these adjusted financial measures, please see the section captioned under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the tables captioned "Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this release.

BUSINESS PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

(in comparison to the same period of the last fiscal year)

Domestic K-12 Schools

The domestic K-12 schools business comprises our international schools, bilingual schools and kindergartens in China.

The average number of students increased by 11.7% to 54,318

Revenue increased by 10.9% to RMB742.4 million and accounted for 70.6% of the total revenue

and accounted for 70.6% of the total revenue Gross margin increased to 48.8% from 48.5%, and operating margin increased to 38.2% from 37.4%

Overseas Schools

The overseas schools business comprises our overseas schools including Bournemouth, St. Michael's, Bosworth and CATS.

Revenue amounted to RMB134.2 million and accounted for 12.8% of the total revenue

and accounted for 12.8% of the total revenue Gross margin was 12.8% and operating margin was (39.0%)

Education Technology ("EdTech")

The education technology business comprises online career counselling, online Academic Olympiad training, and online international school.

Revenue amounted to RMB36.7 million and accounted for 3.5% of the total revenue

and accounted for 3.5% of the total revenue Gross margin was 54.8% and operating margin was 24.4%

Complementary Education Services

The complementary education services business comprises language training, overseas study counselling, camps and study tours, and others.

Revenue amounted to RMB138.2 million and accounted for 13.1% of the total revenue

and accounted for 13.1% of the total revenue Gross margin was 31.2% compared to 34.7%, and operating margin was 17.7% compared to 20.2%

"While overseas K-12 and overseas related businesses were adversely impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, all of Bright Scholar's other major businesses in China have shown major improvement in terms of year-over-year revenue growth in the first fiscal quarter of 2021. Demand for domestic K-12 remains solid with enrolment and average tuition and fees growth for our international and bilingual school businesses. Our domestic training and camp businesses have also recorded year-over-year revenue growth. Revenue from our EdTech services grew by 64.0% year-over-year due to the acquisition of Linstitute. At the same time, vaccines offer hope for ending the pandemic across the globe. These positive momentums, along with our extensive reduction in overhead expense and progressive streamlining of operational structure helped to lessen the impact on the Company's bottom-line and cash position. If the overseas school operations are stabilized and business conditions are improved in the second half of fiscal 2021, the advantage of our low cost structure should quickly turn into profitability and increased cash flow," said Jerry He, Executive Vice Chairman of Bright Scholar.

"In the 2021 fiscal year, our strategy is to continue to build upon the four strategic pillars. First, focus on maintaining organic growth in our domestic K-12 business which provides the cash flow to fuel new growth initiatives and acquisitions. Second, focus on cost management to lower our cost base and improve our long-term operating leverage and profit margin. Third, optimize integration planning to unlock new revenue and cost synergies, and expand complimentary education offerings. Finally, continue to invest in education technology and complementary education services, and deploy capitals in strategic acquisitions for long-term growth," Mr. He continued.

"We are off to a very promising start in the first fiscal quarter. As life in China continues to return to 'new' normal, demand for our K-12 grew," said Ms. Wanmei Li, Chief Executive Officer of Domestic K-12. "In the quarter, enrolment of international schools, bilingual schools and kindergartens grew by 9.7%, 8.0% and 17.0%, respectively. Average tuition and fees of international and bilingual schools has also recorded a year-over-year increase of 1.9% and 5.0%, respectively. The strength of our brand reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering quality education." Ms. Li continued, "As of January 15, approximately 60.5% of students in the 2021 graduating class of our international schools have received over 400 offers from global top 50 institutions with 6 conditional offers from Oxford, 2 from University of Chicago, 2 from Cornell University, 4 from New York University, and 1 from Northwestern University. We expect more students will receive offers from these elite institutions, and the academic performance of our students will continue to improve across all age groups."

"Ongoing pandemic in Europe and rising US-China tensions continued to have an adverse impact on our overseas related complementary businesses including overseas study counselling, whose revenue dropped by 49.4% in the quarter," commented by Zi Chen, Chief Executive Officer of Complementary Education Services. "However, there are growing opportunities with regulatory tailwinds beginning to build in areas of online courses, after-school training business and study camp businesses in the domestic market. In the quarter, the revenues of after-school training business and study camps increased by 7.7% and 635.3%, respectively, compared with the same period of last fiscal year."

Mr. He commented on the performance of overseas school business, "In the quarter, we remain intently focused on both supporting our schools, students, parents and teaching staff as they adapt to COVID-19 disruptions and delays, as well as managing the negative effect of COVID-19 on our student enrolment and financials. As we continue to lower costs and increase efficiency, taking steps to reduce operating cost and optimize our operation and improve our IT infrastructure. The benefits realized from cost cutting measures and the investments taken over the last two quarters should bring long-term improvements to the cost structure of our overseas business as well as opportunities for significant gains in profitability once the operating environment resumes to normalcy."

Mr. He continued on the performance of education technology business, "The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the importance of education technology for learning. Digital adoption in home and school education continues to accelerate at a fast pace. We are gaining more traction for 3i Global Academy and other EdTech initiatives as we expand our blended traditional and digital learning solutions to meet the fast-evolving needs of students, parents and teachers."

"Looking forward, in spite of the continuing uncertainty in our overseas business in the coming quarter, we believe we will be able to improve our financial performance once the operating environment improves. We also see many opportunities to grow our businesses driven by our core expertise and global network. At the same time, we will build a competitive cost base to ensure we emerge even stronger and better positioned to deliver long-term value to our stakeholders," Mr. He concluded.

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL RESULTS for the FIRST FISCAL QUARTER ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2020

Revenue

Revenue First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2019 YoY % Change

(RMB in million) (% of Total Revenue) (RMB in million) (% of Total Revenue)

Domestic K-12 Schools 742.4 70.6% 669.7 60.9% 10.9% International Schools 304.3 28.9% 273.9 24.9% 11.1% Bilingual Schools 260.8 24.8% 229.8 20.9% 13.5% Kindergartens 177.3 16.9% 166.0 15.1% 6.8% Overseas Schools 134.2 12.8% 259.2 23.6% (48.2%) Education Technology 36.7 3.5% 22.4 2.0% 64.0% Complementary Education 138.2 13.1% 146.7 13.5% (5.8%) Total 1,051.5 100.0% 1,098.0 100.0% (4.2%)

Revenue for the quarter was RMB1,051.5 million, as compared to RMB1,098.0 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. The changes in revenue was primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 on overseas schools and overseas related complementary business.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue for the quarter was RMB608.7 million, down 2.5% as compared to RMB624.2 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. The reduction in cost of revenue was primarily due to the effective implementation of cost control measures and streamlining initiatives for our overseas operation to mitigate impact from COVID-19.

Gross Profit, Gross Margin and Adjusted Gross Profit

Gross Profit First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2019 YoY % Change

(RMB in million) (Margin %) (RMB in million) (Margin %)

Domestic K-12 Schools 362.4 48.8% 325.1 48.5% 11.5% International Schools 152.4 50.1% 140.5 51.3% 8.5% Bilingual Schools 125.0 47.9% 103.9 45.2% 20.4% Kindergartens 85.0 48.0% 80.7 48.6% 5.4% Overseas Schools 17.2 12.8% 83.4 32.2% (79.4%) Education Technology 20.2 54.8% 14.4 64.5% 39.2% Complementary Education 43.0 31.2% 50.9 34.7% (15.3%) Total 442.8 42.1% 473.8 43.1% (6.5%)

Gross profit for the quarter was RMB442.8 million, as compared to RMB473.8 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Gross margin was 42.1% for the quarter, as compared to 43.1% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted gross profit for the quarter was RMB450.0 million, as compared to RMB484.8 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Adjusted gross margin was 42.8% for the quarter, as compared to 44.2% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses and Adjusted SG&A Expenses (6)

SG&A Expenses First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2019 YoY % Change

(RMB in million) (% of Total

Revenue) (RMB in million) (% of Total

Revenue)

Domestic K-12 Schools 79.7 7.6% 75.4 6.9% 5.8% International Schools 33.3 3.2% 30.3 2.8% 9.7% Bilingual Schools 25.5 2.4% 25.7 2.3% (0.8%) Kindergartens 20.9 2.0% 19.4 1.8% 8.4% Overseas Schools 71.4 6.8% 74.5 6.8% (4.2%) Education Technology 11.7 1.1% 7.3 0.7% 58.7% Complementary Education 22.5 2.1% 22.1 2.0% 2.2% Unallocated Corporate Expenses (7) 36.7 3.5% 30.6 2.7% 19.7% Total 222.0 21.1% 209.9 19.1% 5.7%

Adj. SG&A Expenses (6) First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2019 YoY % Change

(RMB in million) (% of Total

Revenue) (RMB in million) (% of Total

Revenue)

Domestic K-12 Schools 79.1 7.6% 74.1 6.7% 6.8% International Schools 33.2 3.2% 30.1 2.7% 10.3% Bilingual Schools 25.2 2.4% 25.0 2.3% 0.7% Kindergartens 20.7 2.0% 19.0 1.7% 9.3% Overseas Schools 71.4 6.8% 74.5 6.8% (4.2%) Education Technology 11.7 1.1% 7.3 0.7% 58.7% Complementary Education 22.6 2.1% 21.6 2.0% 4.5% Unallocated Corporate Expenses (8) 36.5 3.4% 22.4 2.0% 63.9% Total 221.3 21.0% 199.9 18.2% 10.7%

______________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Adjusted SG&A expenses is defined as selling, general and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation expense. 7. Unallocated corporate expenses are mainly from headquarter, including staff cost, share-based compensation expense and other office expenses. 8. Adjusted unallocated corporate expenses is defined as unallocated corporate expenses excluding share-based compensation expense.

Total SG&A expenses for the quarter were RMB222.0 million, representing a 5.7% increase from RMB209.9 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Adjusted SG&A expenses for the quarter were RMB221.3 million, representing a 10.7% increase from RMB199.9 million for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Operating Income, Operating Margin and Adjusted Operating Income

Operating Income/(Loss) First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 First Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2019 YoY % Change

(RMB in

million) (Margin %) (RMB in

million) (Margin %)

Domestic K-12 Schools 283.6 38.2% 250.5 37.4% 13.2% International Schools 119.3 39.2% 110.3 40.3% 8.2% Bilingual Schools 99.6 38.2% 78.4 34.1% 27.0% Kindergartens 64.7 36.5% 61.8 37.2% 4.7% Overseas Schools (52.4) (39.0%) 8.8 3.4% (693.2%) Education Technology 9.0 24.4% 8.1 36.2% 10.6% Complementary Education 24.4 17.7% 29.6 20.2% (17.5%) Unallocated Corporate Expenses (36.2) - (29.8) - (21.5%) Total 228.4 21.7% 267.2 24.3% (14.5%)

Operating income for the quarter was RMB228.4 million, as compared to RMB267.2 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Operating margin was 21.7% for the quarter, as compared to 24.3% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted operating income for the quarter was RMB236.3 million, as compared to RMB288.3 million for the same period of the last fiscal year. Adjusted operating margin was 22.5% for the quarter, as compared to 26.3% for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Net Income and Adjusted Net Income

Net income for the quarter was RMB190.9 million, as compared to RMB204.3 million for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted net income for the quarter was RMB197.1 million, as compared to RMB223.0 million for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Earnings per ordinary share/ADS and Adjusted Earnings per ordinary share/ADS

Basic and diluted net income per ordinary share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders/ADS holders for the quarter were RMB1.56 and RMB1.56, respectively, as compared to RMB1.59 and RMB1.59, respectively, for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted basic and diluted net income per ordinary share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders/ADS holders for the quarter were RMB1.61 and RMB1.61, respectively, as compared to RMB1.74 and RMB1.74, respectively, for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was RMB320.6 million, as compared to RMB352.5 million for the same period of the last fiscal year.

Cash and Working Capital

As of November 30, 2020, the Company's cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash were RMB1,697.2 million (US$258.1 million), as compared to RMB4,423.9 million as of August 31, 2020. As of November 30, 2020, we also had short-term investments of RMB2,175.4 million (US$330.8 million). For the first fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2020, the Company's capital expenditure was approximately RMB45.2 million, down 25.8% compared to the same period of last fiscal year.

REVISED GUIDANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2021

The Company revised its guidance for the 2021 fiscal year and expects its revenue to be in a range of RMB3.59 billion and RMB3.69 billion, representing a year-over-year growth of 7% to 10%, and its average student enrolment in our domestic and overseas schools to be between approximately 56,000 and 57,000, representing a year-over-year increase of 8% to 10%.

This guidance is based on the current market and operating conditions and reflects the Company's current and preliminary estimates of such market and operating conditions and market demand, which are all subject to change.

Conference Call

BEDU's management will host a conference call at 8:00 am US Eastern Time (9:00 pm Beijing/Hong Kong Time) on January 21, 2021 to discuss its quarterly results and recent business activities.

To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time:

Mainland China: 4001-201-203 Hong Kong: 852-301-84992 United States: 1-888-346-8982 Canada Toll Free: 1-855-669-9657 International: 1-412-902-4272

* No passcode is required for the call. Please request to join Bright Scholar Education Holdings Ltd.'s call as you dial in.

The Company will also broadcast a live audio webcast of the conference call. The webcast will be available at http://ir.brightscholar.com/.

Following the earnings conference call, an archive of the call will be available by dialling:

United States: 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Canada Toll Free: 855-669-9658 Replay Passcode: 10150607 Replay End Date: January 28, 2021

CONVENIENCE TRANSLATION

The Company's business is primarily conducted in China and the majority of revenue generated are denominated in Renminbi ("RMB"). However, periodic reports made to shareholders will include current period amounts translated into U.S. dollars using the prevailing exchange rates at the balance sheet date, for the convenience of readers. Translations of balances in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, and the related condensed consolidated statements of operations, and cash flows from RMB into U.S. dollars as of and for the quarter ended November 30, 2020 are solely for the convenience of the readers and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00=RMB6.5760, representing the noon buying rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board on November 30, 2020. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on November 30, 2020 or at any other rate.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In evaluating our business, we consider and use certain non-GAAP measures, including primarily adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income/(loss), adjusted gross profit/(loss), adjusted SG&A expenses, adjusted operating income/(loss), adjusted net earnings/(loss) per share attributable to ordinary shareholders basic and diluted as supplemental measures to review and assess our operating performance. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We define adjusted gross profit/(loss) as gross profit/(loss) excluding amortization of intangible assets and adjusted gross margin as adjusted gross profit/(loss) divided by revenue. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income/(loss) excluding interest income/(expense), net; income tax expense/benefit; depreciation and amortization; share-based compensation expense, and adjusted EBITDA margin as adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. We define adjusted net income/(loss) as net income/(loss) excluding share-based compensation expense; amortization of intangible assets; tax effect of amortization of intangible assets, and adjusted net margin as adjusted net income/(loss) divided by revenue. We define adjusted SG&A expenses as selling, general and administration expense excluding share-based compensation expense. We define adjusted operating income/(loss) as net operating income/(loss) excluding share-based compensation expense; amortization of intangible assets and adjusted operating margin as adjusted operating income/(loss) divided by revenue. Additionally, we define adjusted net earnings/(loss) per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted, as adjusted net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders (net income/(loss) to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expense; amortization of intangible assets and tax effect of amortization of intangible assets) divided by the weighted average number of basic and diluted ordinary shares or American depositary shares, each representing one Class A ordinary share of the Company, on an as-converted basis.

We incur amortization expense of intangible assets related to various acquisitions that have been made in recent years. These intangible assets are valued at the time of acquisition and are then amortized over a period of several years after the acquisition. We believe that exclusion of these expenses allows greater comparability of operating results that are consistent over time for the Company's newly-acquired and long-held business as the related intangibles do not have significant connection to the growth of the business. Therefore, we provide exclusion of amortization of intangible assets to define adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income/(loss), adjusted net income/(loss), and adjusted net earnings/(loss) per share attributable to ordinary shareholders, basic and diluted.

We present the non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance and formulate business plans. Such non-GAAP measures include adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income/(loss), adjusted gross profit/(loss), adjusted SG&A expenses, adjusted operating income/(loss), adjusted net earnings/(loss) per share attributable to ordinary shareholders basic and diluted. Non-GAAP financial measures enable our management to assess our operating results without considering the impact of non-cash charges, including depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expense, and without considering the impact of non-operating items such as interest income/(expense), net; income tax expense/benefit; share-based compensation expense; amortization of intangible assets and tax effect of amortization of intangible assets. We also believe that the use of these non-GAAP measures facilitates investors' assessment of our operating performance.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. One of the key limitations of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect our operations. Interest income/(expense), net; income tax expense/benefit; depreciation and amortization; share-based compensation expense; and tax effect of amortization of intangible assets, have been and may continue to be incurred in our business and are not reflected in the presentation of these non-GAAP measures, including adjusted EBITDA or adjusted net income/(loss). Further, these non-GAAP measures may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited.

About Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited

Bright Scholar is a global premier education service company, dedicated to providing quality international education to global students and equipping them with the critical academic foundation and skillsets necessary to succeed in the pursuit of higher education. Bright Scholar also complements its international offerings with Chinese government-mandated curriculum for students who wish to maintain the option of pursuing higher education in China. As of November 30, 2020, Bright Scholar operated 94 schools across twelve provinces in China and eight schools overseas, covering the breadth of K-12 academic needs of its students.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company's business plans and development, which can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

IR Contact:

GCM Strategic Communications

Email: [email protected]

Media Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86-757-6683-2507

BRIGHT SCHOLAR EDUCATION HOLDINGS LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Amounts in thousands)





















As of





August 31,

November 30,





2020

2020





RMB

RMB

USD ASSETS













Current assets













Cash and cash equivalents 3,377,684

679,566

103,340



Restricted cash 1,044,853

1,016,226

154,536



Short-term investments(1) 13,695

2,175,429

330,813



Accounts receivable, net 19,271

36,185

5,503



Amounts due from related

parties, net 18,521

19,059

2,898



Other receivables, deposits and

other assets, net 198,593

173,240

26,344



Inventories 28,013

24,542

3,733

Total current assets 4,700,630

4,124,247

627,167



















Restricted cash  non-current 1,400

1,400

213



Property and equipment, net 1,076,590

1,062,056

161,505



Land use rights, net 86,076

85,545

13,009



Intangible assets, net 597,527

572,680

87,086



Goodwill, net 2,284,109

2,230,299

339,157



Long-term investments 55,137

54,376

8,269



Prepayment for construction

contract 4,822

4,183

636



Deferred tax assets, net 35,678

44,842

6,819



Other non-current assets, net 16,654

72,985

11,099



Operating lease right-of-use a

ssets 1,964,686

1,911,027

290,606

Total non-current assets 6,122,679

6,039,393

918,399 TOTAL ASSETS 10,823,309

10,163,640

1,545,566















________________________________________________________________________________



1. As of November 30, 2020, majority of short-term investments principal are guaranteed by a related party of the Company.

BRIGHT SCHOLAR EDUCATION HOLDINGS LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS-CONTINUED (Amounts in thousands)





















As of





August 31,

November 30,





2020

2020





RMB

RMB

USD LIABILITIES AND EQUITY











Current liabilities













Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the

consolidated Variable interest entities ("VIEs")

without recourse to Bright Scholar of RMB

28,691 and RMB30,446 as of August 31, 2020

and November 30, 2020, respectively) 93,090

117,184

17,820



Amounts due to related parties (including amounts

due to related parties of the consolidated VIEs

without recourse to Bright Scholar of RMB

52,567 and RMB52,764 as of August 31, 2020

and November 30, 2020, respectively) 86,563

87,293

13,274



Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

(including accrued expenses and other current

liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without

recourse to Bright Scholar of RMB 394,880 and

RMB369,422 as of August 31, 2020 and

November 30, 2020, respectively) 633,397

604,386

91,908



Short term loan (including short term loan of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to Bright

Scholar of RMB 7,500 and RMB15,000 as of

August 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020,

respectively) 938,300

945,800

143,826



Income tax payable (including income tax payable of

the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Bright

Scholar of RMB 34,992 and RMB41,696 as of

August 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020,

respectively) 118,716

160,435

24,397



Contract liabilities (including contract liabilities of

the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Bright

Scholar of RMB 1,291,781 and RMB676,256 as

of August 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020,

respectively) 1,544,184

910,367

138,438



Refund liabilities (including refund liabilities of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to Bright

Scholar of RMB 23,804 and RMB8,828 as of

August 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020,

respectively) 70,711

17,045

2,592



Operating lease liabilities (including operating lease

liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without

recourse to Bright Scholar of 30,601 and

RMB30,403 as of August 31, 2020 and November

30, 2020, respectively) 210,082

213,154

32,414

Total current liabilities 3,695,043

3,055,664

464,669



Contract liabilities  non-current (including contract

liabilities  non-current of the consolidated VIEs

without recourse to Bright Scholar of RMB 1,772

and RMB1,517 as of August 31, 2020 and

November 30, 2020, respectively) 1,772

1,517

231



Deferred tax liabilities, net (including deferred tax

liabilities, net of the consolidated VIEs without

recourse to Bright Scholar of RMB 34,641 and

RMB33,475 as of August 31, 2020 and November

30, 2020, respectively) 57,826

55,562

8,449



Other non-current liabilities due to related parties

(including other non-current liabilities due to

related parties of the consolidated VIEs without

recourse to Bright Scholar of RMB 26,843 and

RMB27,365 as of August 31, 2020 and November

30, 2020, respectively) 26,843

27,365

4,161



Other non-current liabilities (including other non-

current liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without

recourse to Bright Scholar of RMB 11,364 and

RMB12,904 as of August 31, 2020 and November

30, 2020, respectively) 19,612

13,949

2,122



Bond payable 2,017,369

1,940,533

295,093



Long term loan (including long term loan of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to Bright

Scholar of RMB77,500 and RMB70,000 as of

August 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020,

respectively) 77,919

70,405

10,706



Operating lease liabilities  non-current (including

operating lease liabilities  non-current of the

consolidated VIEs without recourse to Bright

Scholar of RMB 222,693 and RMB213,539 as of

August 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020,

respectively) 1,802,544

1,735,178

263,865

Total non-current liabilities 4,003,885

3,844,509

584,627 TOTAL LIABILITIES 7,698,928

6,900,173

1,049,296















EQUITY















Share capital 8

8

1



Additional paid-in capital 1,854,262

1,845,329

280,616



Statutory reserves 65,567

65,567

9,971



Accumulated other comprehensive income 185,371

161,157

24,507



Accumulated retained earnings 632,722

815,059

123,945

Shareholders' equity 2,737,930

2,887,120

439,040

Non-controlling interests 386,451

376,347

57,230

Total equity 3,124,381

3,263,467

496,270 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 10,823,309

10,163,640

1,545,566

BRIGHT SCHOLAR EDUCATION HOLDINGS LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Amounts in thousands, except for shares and per share data)













Three Months Ended November 30,

2019

2020

RMB

RMB

USD Revenue 1,097,953

1,051,546

159,907 Cost of revenue (624,202)

(608,737)

(92,569) Gross profit 473,751

442,809

67,338 Selling, general and administrative expenses (209,930)

(221,952)

(33,752) Other operating income 3,419

7,572

1,151 Operating income 267,240

228,429

34,737 Interest expense, net (29,588)

(36,977)

(5,623) Investment income 21,032

44,720

6,800 Other income/(expenses) 3,642

(4,774)

(726) Income before income taxes and share of equity in loss of

unconsolidated affiliates 262,326

231,398

35,188 Income tax expense (58,015)

(40,280)

(6,125) Share of equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates (27)

(250)

(38) Net income 204,284

190,868

29,025 Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 12,998

4,286

652 Net incomeattributable to ordinary shareholders 191,286

186,582

28,373











Net earnings per share attributable to

ordinary shareholders







Basic 1.59

1.56

0.24 Diluted 1.59

1.56

0.24











Weighted average shares used in

calculating net earnings per ordinary share/ADS:



Basic 120,584,500

119,414,474

119,414,474 Diluted 120,631,807

119,414,474

119,414,474

BRIGHT SCHOLAR EDUCATION HOLDINGS LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Amounts in thousands)













Three Months Ended November 30,

2019

2020

RMB

RMB

USD Net cashused in operating activities (399,757)

(479,431)

(72,906) Net cash used in investing activities (406,412)

(2,166,134)

(329,400) Net cash used in financing activities (1,183)

(23,905)

(3,635) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash

equivalents, and restricted cash (31,112)

(57,275)

(8,710) Net change in cash and cash equivalents,

and restricted cash (838,464)

(2,726,745)

(414,651) Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash

at beginning of the period 3,265,014

4,423,937

672,740 Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash

at end of the period 2,426,550

1,697,192

258,089

Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results









(Amounts in thousands, except for shares and per share data)



























Three Months Ended November 30,



2019

2020



RMB

RMB

USD













Gross profit 473,751

442,809

67,338

Add: Amortization of intangible assets 11,040

7,229

1,099 Adjusted gross profit 484,791

450,038

68,437













Operating income 267,240

228,429

34,737

Add: Share-based compensation expense 10,032

641

97

Add: Amortization of intangible assets 11,040

7,229

1,099 Adjusted operating income 288,312

236,299

35,933













Net income 204,284

190,868

29,025

Add: Share-based compensation expense 10,032

641

97

Add: Amortization of intangible assets 11,040

7,229

1,099

Add: Tax effect of amortization of intangible assets (2,330)

(1,634)

(248) Adjusted net income 223,026

197,104

29,973













Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders 191,286

186,582

28,373

Add: Share-based compensation expense 10,032

641

97

Add: Amortization of intangible assets 11,040

7,229

1,099

Add: Tax effect of amortization of intangible assets (2,330)

(1,634)

(248) Adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders 210,028

192,818

29,321













Net income 204,284

190,868

29,025

Add: Interest expense, net 29,588

36,977

5,623

Add: Income tax expense 58,015

40,280

6,125

Add: Depreciation and amortization 50,580

51,870

7,888

Add: Share-based compensation expense 10,032

641

97 Adjusted EBITDA 352,499

320,636

48,758













Selling, general and administrative expenses 209,930

221,952

33,752

Less: Share-based compensation expense 10,032

641

97 Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses 199,898

221,311

33,655













Weighted averageshares used

in calculating earnings per ordinary share/ADS:









Basic 120,584,500

119,414,474

119,414,474 Diluted 120,631,807

119,414,474

119,414,474













Adjusted net earnings per share attributable

to ordinary shareholders









Basic 1.74

1.61

0.25 Diluted 1.74

1.61

0.25

SOURCE Bright Scholar Education Holdings Ltd.

Related Links

http://ir.brightscholar.com/


Detectives say a 20-year-old Palmer Lake woman was fatally shot last Thursday by her ex-boyfriend, who reportedly stalked her outside her workplace hours before and threatened to kill her a week earlier, according to court documents released Wednesday.

After a 24-hour manhunt, local authorities arrested 35-year-old Jose Alfredo Romero on suspicion of killing 20-year-old Keyry Estefania Hernandez-Marroquin, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office and El Paso County Coroners Office.

Romero allegedly shot Hernandez-Marroquin through her car window, after he sped in front of her car, cutting her off late afternoon Jan. 14 in the parking lot of a mobile trailer home park at 702 Highway 105, according to court documents.

A witness who lived nearby told a detective he saw a man get out of his black SUV and start to yell at the driver's side of the womans car, documents stated. The witness said he heard gunshots and ran toward the woman, who appeared to have been shot in her abdomen and shoulder. Then, he said he saw the man drive away, court papers said.

Hernandez-Marroquin's brother said he saw Romero drive through the trailer park and got a sinking feeling that he had done something to his sister, according to the documents.

Another witness told detectives he saw Hernandez-Marroquin roll down her car window before he heard four gunshots, documents stated. The witness called 911 as his father tried to help the woman, he said.

One of the womans relatives told detectives that Hernandez-Marroquin and Romero had dated for about six months and the three had lived together, before Hernandez-Marroquin ended the relationship and moved out due to Romero reportedly physically and verbally abusing her, court documents stated. She said Hernandez-Marroquin didnt report the abuse to police, documents stated.

Romero and Hernandez-Marroquins families had known each other for a long time after both moved from El Salvador to live in the United States, the relative told detectives.

Hours before she was killed, Hernandez-Marroquin called her relative and told her that she had seen Romero outside her workplace, watching her, and that it wasnt the first time he had stalked her, according to Romeros arrest affidavit.

A week prior to the woman's death, the relative said Romero threatened to kill Hernandez-Marroquin, noting that Romero was jealous of her new boyfriend, documents stated.

Hernandez-Marroquins death marks the first homicide in El Paso County this year.
President-elect Joe Biden takes office this week with a far-reaching set of plans for his first 100 days, but he must grapple with narrow Democratic majorities in Congress and an unsettled country as he seeks to roll back some of his Republican predecessors policies and curb the pandemic.

Mr. Bidens agenda includes some moves he can make quickly, like executive orders reversing some of President Trumps actions and rejoining international agreements. He also has goals that require congressional cooperation, including a $1.9 trillion Covid relief package and getting cabinet nominees confirmed, that will play out as the 50-50 Senate takes up the presidents second impeachment trial over the charge that he incited the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol seeking to keep him in power.

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A new administrations first 100 days are typically scrutinized for signs of a presidents governing style and priorities. Past presidents have ushered in big initiatives, as President Barack Obama did with the passage of an economic-stimulus bill, or begun work on a major deal like President George W. Bush with his tax-cut package. But they also feature stumbles, such as Mr. Trumps inability to immediately overhaul health care. And Mr. Biden will have narrower margins in Congress than Mr. Trump did when he took office.

Its a difficult 100 days. They always are. Even though Democrats control Congress, its not an overpowering majority. Its clear the current president retains a lot of support, and were in the middle of a pandemic," said Princeton University history professor Julian Zelizer.

Mr. Biden is planning a rush of executive actions for his first 10 days. On Inauguration Day, that includes rejoining the Paris climate accord; reversing a travel ban from several majority-Muslim and African countries; requiring masks to be worn on federal property and during interstate travel on airlines, trains and transit systems; and extending restrictions on evictions and foreclosures.

President-elect Biden will take actionnot just to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administrationbut also to start moving our country forward," said his incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain, in a memo to future White House staff.

White House spokesman Judd Deere described Mr. Bidens plans to reverse Trump policies as a a grave error that will make the United States less secure, slow our economic recovery and hurt the American worker."

Mr. Bidens executive actions might not go as far as some in his partys liberal wing would like, signaling a clash that could continue throughout his presidency. For example, while he plans to extend a suspension of interest-free student-loan payments, some Democrats have pushed for an order to forgive most or all of Americans $1.6 trillion in federal student debt.

During a December conversation with opinion columnists, Mr. Biden questioned whether he had that executive power. Trump administration lawyers have argued such a move would be illegal.

In the following days, Mr. Biden also plans a number of moves on the coronavirus crisis and economic relief. And in the subsequent week he is expected to take actions on criminal justice, climate change and immigration, including efforts to reunite families that the Trump administration separated at the border.

Democrats have long criticized Mr. Trumps executive moves as an overreach of his authority. Mr. Obama was attacked on similar grounds for using executive power to take actions like setting up Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the program offering some deportation protections to young immigrants living in the country without authorization.

Mr. Biden could face similar criticism from conservatives. In his memo, Mr. Klain argued that the legal footing for the planned moves was sound, saying it represents a restoration of an appropriate, constitutional role for the President."

He also said Mr. Biden would send an immigration bill to Congress on his first day in office. The president-elect has promised legislation outlining broad immigration changes including a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants in the U.S. who lack permanent legal status. A transition official said Monday that the plan would include an eight-year path to citizenship, confirming details first reported in the Washington Post.

Comprehensive immigration legislation has eluded the last three presidents, and such a measure faces slim odds of passage in a 50-50 Senate.

On the coronavirus, Mr. Biden has pledged 100 million vaccine doses in his first 100 days and reopening most K-8 schools during the same time. He is promising to work with Congress on the $1.9 trillion relief package, which would expand vaccinations, improve testing and treatment, provide more economic aid and deliver funding to cities and schools.

To speed up vaccinations, he is planning to increase the governments role in distribution, including by setting up federally supported community centers and mobile clinics for delivering shots. He plans to expand the use of a national-security mobilization law known as the Defense Production Act to boost manufacturing of vaccines and vaccination supplies.

If companies earlier projections hold up, Mr. Bidens 100-million dose goal should be achievable by his target date, according to manufacturing and supply-chain experts. Efforts to significantly accelerate vaccinations and slow the spread of the virus will also depend on state partnerships and public support for some public-health measures.

Mr. Bidens $1.9 trillion plan includes funding to expand testing at schools, as well as $130 billion to help schools reopen. Because reopening decisions are made at the local level, that funding is described as flexible and could go to reducing class sizes, modifying facilities, buying protective gear or investing in mitigation efforts.

While most bills require 60 votes to advance in the Senate, Democrats could pass some of Mr. Bidens proposed policies through a process called reconciliation, which allows a simple majority for certain legislation. That path comes with restrictions, including a limit on how many times it can be used and rules confining reconciliation bills to tax and fiscal matters.

Allies have argued that his 36 years in the Senate would help Mr. Biden negotiate with Congress. He is talking with Republicans leaders in the Senate more than you realize," said Sen. Chris Coons, (D., Del.), a longtime friend of the president-elect.

A number of Republicans have said Mr. Bidens coronavirus aid package is too expensive, previewing a renewed focus on spending and the national debt that was often muted during Mr. Trumps tenure. Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) said Mr. Bidens proposal would be a colossal waste and economically harmful."

Mr. Biden will also face a challenging path within his own party, given the scale of his proposals and the need to keep liberal and moderate Democrats united in both chambers of Congress.

On foreign policy, Mr. Biden is expected to continue many of Mr. Trumps policies toward China. He told the New York Times that he wouldnt make any immediate moves to remove tariffs Mr. Trump placed on some Chinese imports or to alter the outgoing administrations phase one" trade deal with China.

Mr. Biden plans to return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal from which Mr. Trump withdrew using executive authority, though the timing isnt clear. The president-elect has conditioned any action on whether Iran reverses all its breaches of the agreement restraining its nuclear activities.

Past administrations have also sought to move quickly in their first 100 days.

Rahm Emanuel, who served as Mr. Obamas first chief of staff, said they entered office with different plans for one month, 100 days and one year. They did some things quickly, like an executive order seeking to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, before turning to negotiating the stimulus bill. He said the goal was to signal that this is a new day."

Ari Fleischer, who served as press secretary for Mr. Bush, recalled early progress on the tax cuts and education as well as a high-profile clash with Beijing over a collision between a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese jet fighter. But he also noted that they tried to avoid evaluations of their first 100 days.

We initially wanted to downplay everything about 100 days because we felt it was a phony measure that comes too soon," he said. But real life didnt work that way. The media will do the stories anyway."

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text

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This is the heart-stopping moment a Tesla autopilot swerved on an icy road in a desperate, but successful, bid to avoid hitting a moose.

Dashcam footage shows the smart vehicle, a Tesla Model S, quickly turning to the side after its on-board camera spotted the wild animal crossing a road in Sweden in the dark.

The electronic car managed to steer between the adult moose and her calves, which was following behind her, and then stabilise itself after going into a slide on the icy road - and was left without a scratch.

Dashcam footage shows the smart vehicle, Tesla Model S, quickly turned to its side after its installed camera spotted the wild animal casually crossing the dark road in Sweden

The video begins with the car driving down a dark icy road, with snow stacked up on either side.

Two moose calves suddenly appear on the side of the road. Whilst one makes a dash into the darkness, the other one casually crosses the road.

The driver hits the brakes but the icy conditions elongate the stopping distance. It seems the car is certain to collide with the animal.

However, the Tesla driver, named David, uses cat-like reactions to swerve around the moose and avoids catastrophe.

The car fishtails dangerously but it soon straightens out thanks in part to some clever technology on the vehicle.

The electronic car was left without a scratch as it managed to stabilise itself after swerving on the icy road to prevent crashing into the wild moose crossing the road

The Tesla Model S (file photo) is designed to prevent the car from sliding out of control

David later posted on Facebook: 'I can barely believe it to be true myself. And that I also managed it without visiting a workshop.'

Remarkably, there is a car test that originated in Sweden called 'the Moose test' during which cars have to swerve round a set of cones, to simulate a moose walking into the road.

Swedish car-makers Saab and Volvo both use this test when making their vehicles.

The Tesla Model S is particularly designed to prevent the car from sliding out of control.

With four-wheel drive, it would send differing power levels to each wheel in order to control the vehicle.

Prayagraj : , Jan 20 (IANS) The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has informed the Allahabad High Court that it has filed a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking the transfer of all the writ petitions, related to the recent ordinance against religious conversion, from the High Court to the Supreme Court for adjudication.

Additional advocate general, Manish Goyal, representing the state government, informed the court during the hearing of a bunch of writ petitions against the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery said, "In view of the statement so given, we deem it appropriate to adjourn this petition for writ. Let this petition along with other similar petitions be listed for final hearing at this stage on January 25, 2021".

The court passed this order on a PIL filed by one Saurabh Kumar.

The anti-conversion ordinance, which was enforced in November last year, has been challenged through multiple PILs and writs in the high court.

The government recently approached the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of all the pending writ petitions from the Allahabad high court to the apex court.

In addition to it, an application was also filed in the high court on behalf of the Association for Advocacy and Legal Initiatives through its managing trustee Tulika Srivastava to join the writ proceedings.

The court allowed this application for the reasons mentioned therein, saying "The Association for Advocacy and Legal Initiatives through its Managing Trustee, Tulika Srivastava is allowed to participate in the writ proceedings as an intervenor." The court further directed the counsel for the intervenor to supply the grounds on which she wanted to support the writ petition to additional advocate general, Manish Goyal.
DGAP-News: Africa Oil & Power / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Africa Oil & Power: Senegal, Home of West African Gas Megaprojects, Hosts Major Energy Transition Event



20.01.2021 / 10:25

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Senegal, Home of West African Gas Megaprojects, Hosts Major Energy Transition Event

- MSGBC Oil, Gas and Power 2021, organized by Africa Oil & Power under the auspices of H.E. President Macky Sall, will be held on 26-27 October 2021, in Dakar.

- This event will be the leading investment platform for West Africa's oil, gas and power industries. It will showcase the region's investment appeal as one of the most exciting energy hotspots in Africa, with major hydrocarbons discoveries and vast renewable potential.

- MSGBC Oil, Gas and Power 2021 is held in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, COS Petrogaz, Petrosen and various US and Canadian energy industry associations, and it will gather all stakeholders and investors to promote the development and expansion of West Africa's energy sector and open a dialogue on the African Energy Transition.

Dakar, 20 January 2021 - Africa Oil & Power is proud to announce that, under the auspices of H.E. President Macky Sall and in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, COS Petrogaz, Petrosen and various US and Canadian energy industry associations, it will organize the first MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021 conference and exhibition. The event covers the entire region from Mauritania to Guinea, and also invites other important players in the region such as Algeria, Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire to hold talks with investor delegations from the United States, Australia, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021 will be held on 26-27 October, 2021 in Dakar and will be the elite energy gathering for one of Africa's most compelling energy investment destinations. The US-Africa Committee of the African Energy Chamber has provided its full support and endorsement. "Senegal and the region have historically welcomed US investment. This is now more important than ever. Looking ahead, American firms have a critical role in financing and providing technology to drive gas developments and the energy transition," said Jude Kearney, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Service Industries and Finance at the US Department of Commerce and currently President of Kearney Africa Advisors.

Senegal has succeeded in fast-tracking its oil and gas developments, despite recent uncertainty caused by COVID-19, and has attracted investment in wind and solar, establishing itself as West Africa's leader in the energy transition. The government of Senegal is keen to expand this narrative to encompass neighboring countries, with the goal of generating cross-border business and collaboration, and improving quality of life for potentially hundreds of millions of people.

Within West Africa, Senegal has gained most attention with the Sangomar field development - a $4.2 billion investment with production potential of up to 100,000 barrels per day - as well as the Great Tortue Ahmeyim development led by BP and Kosmos, that is estimated to hold 100 million barrels of oil equivalent in natural gas reserves. Looking beyond Senegal, the massive 50 trillion cubic feet natural gas discovery made by Kosmos in Mauritania in 2019, the nearly 5 billion barrels of oil estimated to be present in Gambia's blocks A1, A2, A4 and A5, and new entries and drilling programs in Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and elsewhere in the region, show that opportunities abound.

The region has very strong economic ties to North America, having a long legacy of welcoming US investment as well as US private companies operating in the energy sector. This strong connection was further reinforced in 2020 with the signing of an MoU between Senegal's national utility Senelec and national sovereign fund FONSIS with General Electric for investments in health and power infrastructure worth $200 million. This connection is expected to be further reinforced in the coming years and will be at the very center of MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021.

"There is no better time to be in West Africa than now, and Senegal is at the heart of the opportunities. The projects are there, many investors have already succeeded, but viable projects across the value-chain still need FDI. The regional market is full of opportunity for the right investor, particularly those with a holistic view of the energy sector and a long-term eye on the energy transition," said Renee Montez-Avinir, Managing Director at Africa Oil & Power.

"MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021 will provide just the place for the right investors to discover deals, partners and clients that will not only benefit their companies, but the energy sector and the region's economy at large", added Montez-Avinir.

MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021 is the sole event in Senegal with full government support that opens up national and regional opportunities across the scope of the energy transition. The 2021 program will unite leaders and projects representing the full spectrum of energy activities, from oil and gas exploration to renewable energy developments, local goods and service provision, infrastructure, finance and power production and distribution. The organizer will work with all actors in the MSGBC region and international delegations in oil, gas and power sectors, from government officials to private sector players, to define opportunities and help new and existing investors find success in the market.



Find out more about Senegal's energy industry and about the event at www.africaoilandpower.com.

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LOS ANGELES - A California cannabis industry group announced Tuesday that it reached an agreement with a state credit union that will provide checking, wire transfers and other banking services for more marijuana companies, helping ease what has been an obstacle for many businesses.

LOS ANGELES - A California cannabis industry group announced Tuesday that it reached an agreement with a state credit union that will provide checking, wire transfers and other banking services for more marijuana companies, helping ease what has been an obstacle for many businesses.

Most Americans live in states where cannabis is legally available in some form, and broad legal marijuana sales began in California in 2018. But theres been a problem when it comes to banks: Many don't want anything to do with money from the cannabis industry for fear it could expose them to legal trouble from the federal government, which still considers marijuana illegal.

As a result, many marijuana companies in Californias multibillion-dollar market have been left to do business largely in cash, making them appealing targets for crime.

Under the partnership, the California Cannabis Industry Association said its members will gain access to banking services through the California-based North Bay Credit Union.

Since California legalized cannabis, operators have faced significant struggles with banking and payment services, given the federal governments continued ban on cannabis products, the group said in a statement. The agreement is intended to alleviate the banking obstacles that cannabis operators face, so they can focus on their core business.

Industry experts say the number of state financial institutions willing to handle cannabis-linked funds is gradually growing, and a state law enacted last year was designed to provide legal safeguards for banks and credit unions engaging with marijuana companies.

The credit union said on its website that it has been offering banking services to the cannabis industry since 2017. Medicinal cannabis sales have been legal in California for over two decades.

Jerred Kiloh, who heads the Los Angeles-based United Cannabis Business Association, said the agreement represents another encouraging step as more financial institutions open their doors to the industry.

With growing acceptance of cannabis nationwide, along with regulatory changes, there are more banks that are willing to tell people they are willing to accept cannabis accounts, he said.

As of Sept. 30, federal regulators reported that 677 banks and credit unions were providing services for marijuana business. That represents a small fraction of the overall banking industry, and the figure had declined slightly in 2020, a drop attributed in part to business closings caused by coronavirus restrictions.

Efforts to broaden banking access for pot companies have stalled in Congress.

The House in September passed a bill to allow businesses legitimately operating under state laws to access loans, lines of credit and other banking services, while sheltering financial institutions from prosecution for handling marijuana-linked money, but it didn't clear the Senate.

The industry is hoping for regulatory gains in Washington with the arrival of the new administration and Democratic control of the Senate.

President-elect Joe Biden was once known as an anti-drug warrior but has softened his tone over time. He has said he would decriminalize  but not legalize  the use of marijuana, while expunging all prior cannabis use convictions and ending jail time for drug use alone. However, legalization advocates recall with bitterness that he was a leading Senate supporter of a 1994 crime bill that sent droves of minor drug offenders to prison.

Even if there are doubts within the industry about Biden, the Democratic Party is clearly more welcoming to cannabis reform, especially its progressive wing. Both the House and Senate will be under Democratic control this year, and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris has said making pot legal at the federal level is the smart thing to do.
WASHINGTON  A Connecticut man accused of a barbaric attack on a police officer during the breach of the U.S. Capitol grounds two weeks ago has been arrested, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Patrick Edward McCaughey III, of Ridgefield, was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officer or employees, civil disorder, entering restricted building or grounds, and violent entry or disorderly conduct.

The charges stemmed from his alleged role in what was described as a violent assault on an officer protecting the Capitol from a group of President Donald Trump supporters who stormed the building on Jan. 6 in protest of the presidential election results.

Dozens of protesters have since been charged for their alleged crimes that day, including at least two other Connecticut residents, who were taken into custody outside the building on Jan. 6.

McCaughey, who was arrested in Westchester County, appeared Wednesday in federal court in White Plains, N.Y.

McCaugheys Stamford criminal defense Mark Sherman said the judge denied his client bond and ordered him detained. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled for next month as the case is moved to federal court in D.C., Sherman said.

"It was noted in court that he did try to offer assistance to the injured officer," Sherman said.

However, Steven M. DAntuono, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said the savage beating on D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges showed McCaugheys blatant disregard for human life.

The vicious attack on Officer Hodges was abhorrent and quintessentially un-American, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin said in a statement. It is my pledge that anyone involved in violent attacks on law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. McCaugheys alleged actions were an assault on Officer Hodges, the Capitol, and the rule of law itself.

In a Jan. 15 press release, the Metropolitan police released a be-on-the-lookout bulletin with a suspect image and information about the attack on Hodges.

The same day police shared images of the suspect, an individual contacted law enforcement and identified the suspect as McCaughey, the arrest warrant affidavit said. The document said the person reported having known McCaughey since they were children.

The person, who last saw McCaughey about a year ago, said they heard from mutual friends that McCaughey had gone to the Capitol on Jan. 6.

A video posted to YouTube captured a large group of rioters trying to break through a line of law enforcement officers during the insurrection at the Capitol, officials said. The video showed an individual, later identified as McCaughey, allegedly using a clear police riot shield to push Hodges, officials said. Video that has been widely aired showed the officer pinned between the shield and a door. Officials said Hodges was loudly crying out in pain.

As McCaughey had Hodges pinned, officials said, another rioter violently ripped Hodges gas mask off, exposing the officers bloodied mouth. Authorities said several other rioters behind and around McCaughey appeared to add more pressure against Hodges.

Patrick McCaugheys actions were violent, barbaric, and completely out of control, DAntuono said. The FBI will relentlessly pursue individuals who took part in this activity and we will continue our unwavering commitment to ensure all those responsible for assaults on law enforcement officers are brought to justice.

Hodges has spoken to the media about the attack and said one person tried to gouge his eye out.

In a YouTube video, described throughout the affidavit, McCaughey can be seen pushing the clear police riot shield up against Hodges and repeatedly telling the officer to go home, the court document said.

About two minutes later, someone can be heard on the video saying in reference to Hodges, this guy is pretty hurt, let him back, let him back, the affidavit said. The document said its not clear if McCaughey was the one who said it.

Soon after, McCaughey touches Officer Hodges helmet and lowers Officer Hodges helmets shield, the document said. Seconds later, the affidavit said, McCaughey appears to say, let this guy through, hes hurt, hes hurt, let him back, while pointing to Hodges. The officer behind Hodges appears to nod, then apparently waves in help.

The person who called police to identify the suspect provided investigators with four photos and a short video sent by McCaughey to mutual friends, the affidavit said.

One photo was a selfie apparently taken on the scaffolding of the west front of the U.S. Capitol, the affidavit said.

Im not doing anything, McCaughey can be heard saying on a video prior to his alleged attack on Hodges. Im just a regular person like everybody else here.

When the person recording the video asked McCaughey his name and where he was from, the Ridgefield resident initially hesitated to answer and then said it wasnt important, according to the affidavit.

When the camera pans away, a voice believed to be McCaughey says Connecticut, Connecticut, the affidavit said. The affidavit stated McCaughey has a Ridgefield address listed with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.

Although the individual referred to in the affidavit said they were 100 percent certain the suspect authorities were looking for was McCaughey, there were other tipsters mentioned in a footnote of the document who tried to help police.

The affidavit said four other citizens submitted tips that identified four different individuals as the person in the BOLO. Investigators confirmed none of those were the suspect they were looking for, the document said.

Two anonymous tips referenced a McCoughey, one anonymous tipster identified the individual as Ridgefield resident Patrick McCoughey and another anonymous tipster from Ridgefield identified him as Patrick McCoy, the affidavit said.

A phone message left at the number for McCaugheys listed address in Ridgefield was not returned on Wednesday.

Anyone with information is asked to call 800-225-5324 or submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
With the current school closures, I worry about sixth year students for many reasons. One of these reasons is the little unnecessary panics they may have. Through no fault of their own or their guidance counsellors, they may not be able to access someone who can answer these questions. So, here are some of the things students should be aware of.

HPAT Closing deadline

The closing deadline for registration for the HPAT is today at 5.15pm. In order to register, students should create an account on hpat-ireland.acer.org, for which they require a 2021 CAO. This means applicants must have registered and paid their fee for the CAO. They will also need a credit/debit card to pay the HPAT fee of 152.80.

This year the HPAT will be conducted online in the form of an online protracting test. Online protracting involves sitting the test under live supervision using your own computer in a suitable location, for example at home. Candidates will have to use a laptop or computer to complete the test. Phones or tablets will not be suitable. The test will take place over February 20 and 21. Candidates will receive an allotted time and date.

Closing date for CAO The closing deadline for the CAO is February 1 at 5.15pm. However, today is the deadline for applying at the discounted rate of 30. After today the fee will increase to 45. Applicants do not have to enter courses to avail of the discounted rate. They simply need to create an account and pay their fee. UCAS The deadline for applying for college in Britain and Northern Ireland has been extended to January 29. The extension gives applicants and teachers a little bit more time to complete personal statements, references and gather predicted grades. Language Exemptions Students who have an official exemption from studying Irish or a third language will also be exempt from presenting this requirement at third level. However, students must submit an application to the relevant institutions in order to avail of it. Requests for exemptions should be received no later than 21 days after completing the CAO. Exemptions applications will need to be signed by the principal and may need to be accompanied by the official exemption cert. Virtual Open Days Higher education institutions are holding virtual open days, as are PLC colleges. It is imperative that anyone considering any type of study after Leaving Cert attends as many open days as possible in order to compare options. There are also a large number of faculty-run events available online. A full calendar of events can be found on careersportal.ie/media/index.php Aoife Walsh is a guidance counsellor at Malahide Community School, Co Dublin
London: Britain suffered its worst day in the pandemic, with more than 1800 deaths recorded in 24 hours, as Boris Johnson's Chief Scientific Adviser warned some hospitals now look "like a war zone."

The record daily toll takes the total number of people who have died within 28 days of a positive test in the UK to 93,290. Almost 40,000 patients are now receiving treatment in British hospitals.

England is in its third national lockdown and similar measures are in place across Britain, but while the restrictions have started to bring infection rates down, officials say the death rates and pressures on the National Health Service will continue to grow.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street. Credit:Getty

"This is very, very bad at the moment, with enormous pressure," Patrick Vallance, the government's Chief Scientific Adviser, told Sky News when asked about the situation in hospitals. "In some cases it looks like a war zone."
Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny has accused Vladimir Putin of using state cash to fund his secret mistresses.

Navalny, 44, claimed that the Russian leader - who he labels the world's richest man - uses a 'slush fund' to cover the expenses of his other women and their families including his 17-year-old love child.

He has also claimed that Putin has a 1billion palace on the Black Sea with a red velvet pole-dancing boudoir and a casino.

Navalny, 44, claimed that the Russian leader Vladimir Putin (pictured) - who he labels the world's richest man - uses a 'slush fund' to cover the expenses of his other women and their families including his 17-year-old love child

The Russian leader is said to have had an affair with Svetlana Krivonogikh and fathered Elizaveta, 17, during his first term as president

Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny has accused Vladimir Putin of using state cash to fund his secret mistresses, including alleged partner Alina Kabaeva, a former gold-medal winning Olympic gymnast (pictured in a file photo in Moscow on September 16, 2016)

Navalny claims that Putin has a 1billion palace (pictured) on the Black Sea with a red velvet pole-dancing boudoir and a casino

The opposition leader - who was allegedly poisoned by a chemical nerve agent planted by an FSB hit squad - makes the allegations in a new video issued after his arrest in Moscow.

This comprises alleged partner Alina Kabaeva, a former gold-medal winning Olympic gymnast, and ex-mistress Svetlana Krivonogikh, who is reportedly the mother of his love child, Elizaveta now aged 17, he alleged.

The lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner claimed: 'Putin - as befits a person who imagines himself a monarch - has a rich and eventful personal life.'

'The needs of our humble president are not at all limited to the Black Sea palace,' said Navalny in a video report prepared before he flew back to Moscow and faced immediate arrest on Sunday.

'What about the relatives?

'You do not expect that they, like some ordinary people, will live on a salary?'Everyone needs a place to live. Everyone needs a plane. Everyone needs a yacht.

Vladimir Putin's rumoured gymnast lover Alina Kabaeva, pictured, is now earning more than 7.5million a year as the boss of a pro-Kremlin media giant, according to leaked tax records

'All this must be paid for. This means that we need a financial scheme and people who will fill this scheme with money.

'This slush fund.is used by Putin in order to cover the expenses of family members.'

Former cleaner Krivonogikh, 45, 'was just a pretty young girl, but now she has turned into an incredibly rich woman, a shareholder of Rossiya Bank.

'No-one can understand how such happiness fell on Krivonogikh, who once worked as a cleaner.

'Here's the answer.

'Krivonogikh met Putin in the late 1990s, and in 2003, according to Proekt (media), she gave birth to his daughter Elizaveta.'

Putin and Kabaeva during a meeting between the Russian president and Olympic team at the Kremlin in 2004

Navalny claims to be in possession of leaked floor plans of Putin's lavish property on Russia's southern Black Sea coast which have been used to draw up artists' impressions of the palace's interior. Pictured: Navalny claims 'Putin's palace' includes a casino fitted with a number of poker tables and chandeliers

She then received a number of luxury apartments via oligarch friends of Putin, said Navalny.

'After Krivonogikh gave birth to Putin's child, a bunch of assets - including a 3 per cent stake in Rossiya Bank - were registered for her' - as was a yacht, the 118-ft yacht Aldoga.

'There can be no random women in this scheme,' he alleged.

'This is another example of how Putin's friends steal from the entire country, and as a token of gratitude they support Putin's mistress and her child.

'Putin's personal life concerns only him.

'He can even have 20 families if he desires, it's none of our business.

'We pay attention to something else.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Russian gymnasts Alina Kabayeva (centre) and Svetlana Khorkina ahead of the Olympics in 2004

Alexei Navalny has claimed a theatre - fitted with red curtains and a golden ceiling - is among a series of luxurious rooms inside President Putin's 1billion 'palace'

'His tumultuous relationship is paid for by bribes and corruption.

'Get this - there are 20 million beggars in the country, and he buys a yacht for his mistress.'

But this was a 'trifle' compared with the funding of Kabaeva, he claimed.

'Billions of stolen money are being spent on supporting another woman of Putin,' he said.

Kabaeva's grandmother received an apartment in St Petersburg from an oligarch close to Putin, Gennady Timchenko, he alleged.

The grandmother also received two houses, Navalny claimed.

Meanwhile, Kabaeva controls major newspapers and TV stations in Russia as chairman of National Media Group, which belongs to another close Putin oligarch Yury Kovalchuk.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his then-wife Lyudmila Putin (pictured) in the Kremlin Palace in Moscow. They announced their divorce in July 2013

'Kabaeva is the best in the world at jumping with a ball and a ribbon, but she would not have been able to manage television companies and newspapers if not for her connection with Putin,' he said.

Her official salary is 7.8 million.

He taunted Putin: 'The life of a polygamist brings not only pleasure, but also problems.'

Putin provided for the mothers of Kabaeva and Krivonogikh via a Gazprom subsidiary called Teplo Invest, he claimed.

Gazprom's slogan is 'national treasure'.

'I think they need to change the slogan,' he said.

'Gazprom: Using the national treasure to support Putin's mother-in-laws.'

Navalny, who was arrested on his return to Russia last weekend, has claimed a strip club, casino and a theatre are among a series of luxurious rooms inside President Putin's 1billion 'palace'.

Astonishing 3D images of the estate's interior allege 'Putin's palace' features an arcade room with slot machines and a dance mat, a spa and a theatre inside the mansion, along with an underground ice rink and even vineyards in the grounds.

Navalny claims the estate, which also includes a church and strip club fitted with a lap dancers' pole, is 39 times the size of Monaco.

The images are part of a mammoth investigation published on Navalny's blog with a two-hour Youtube video recorded before his arrest.

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was arrested on his return to Russia last weekend, has claimed a strip club, casino and a theatre are among a series of luxurious rooms inside President Putin's 1billion 'palace'. Pictured: An interactive 3D image of a strip club fitted with a lap dancers' pole allegedly inside Putin's property

Astonishing 3D images of the estate's interior allege 'Putin's palace' features an arcade room (pictured), a spa and a theatre inside the mansion, along with an underground ice rink and even vineyards in the grounds

'There are impregnable fences, its own port, its own security, a church, its own permit system, a no-fly zone and even its own border checkpoint. It is absolutely a separate state within Russia,' Navalny says.

The opposition figure accused Putin of owning the estate, which he claims cost 1billion and was allegedly funded through an elaborate corruption scheme involving Putin's inner circle.

The report includes detailed interactive floor plans that Navalny says were leaked to his team by a contractor.

They were able to create 3D images of the interiors based on the floor plans, which included a gym, swimming pool and an underground wine cellar.

Navalny claims the estate and grounds that Russian media had linked to Putin years ago was paid for 'with the largest bribe in history'.

The investigation alleged that the estate, located in a secluded area that is heavily guarded by Russia's security forces, also had a tunnel from the mansion to the shore.

Navalny's team were able to create 3D images of the interiors based on the floor plans, which this reading room, which features accents of gold throughout

The images are part of a mammoth investigation published on Navalny's blog with a two-hour Youtube video recorded before his arrest. Pictured: A artists' impression of a luxurious bathroom in Putin's palace

The opposition figure accused Putin of owning the estate, which he claims cost 1billion and was allegedly funded through an elaborate corruption scheme involving Putin's inner circle. Pictured: A large swimming pool is claimed to be within the estate

Navalny claims the estate and grounds that Russian media had linked to Putin years ago was paid for 'with the largest bribe in history'. Pictured: The large estate is also said to include a gym which is fitted with the latest equipment

'It is the most secretive and guarded facility in Russia,' Navalny says in the video. 'It isn't a country house or a residence - it's an entire city, or rather a kingdom.'

The investigation was published a day after Navalny, who was detained after returning from Germany for the first time since he was poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent in August, was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Navalny claims that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) owns some 7,000 hectares of land surrounding the property and that the complex was financed by Putin's close allies, including Igor Sechin, chief of Russian oil giant Rosneft, and billionaire tycoon Gennady Timchenko.

'It is a separate state within Russia. And in this state there is a single and irreplaceable tsar. Putin,' Navalny says.

Navalny claimed Putin had been able to grant his powerful old friends high-profile positions on lucrative government projects and hide his wealth through his allies.

'Putin's friends, who received from him the right to steal whatever they wanted in Russia, thanked him a lot. But they also chipped in, collected 100 billion rubles and built a palace for their boss with this money,' Navalny said.

Navalny claims that Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) owns some 7,000 hectares of land surrounding the property and that the complex was financed by Putin's close allies. Pictured: A 3D image released by Navalny of one of Putin's many living rooms

An artists' impression of Putin's Palace also includes this sitting area with a large sofa for guests to relax

Navalny claimed Putin had been able to grant his powerful old friends high-profile positions on lucrative government projects and hide his wealth through his allies. Pictured: A 3D image which shows one of the many grand bedrooms in the property

Navalny claims Putin ordered the poisoning which left him fighting for his life in August, an allegation the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.

On February 2 a court will begin deliberating over whether a suspended sentence of three years and six months that Navalny received in 2014 for fraud charges should be converted into prison time.

The Kremlin opponent on Monday called for his supporters to take to the streets in response to his arrest, with his allies planning rallies in Moscow and in cities across the country on Saturday.

The new investigation, which ends on a call for Russians to rise up against the authorities, echoes a 2017 YouTube video in which Navalny accused then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of controlling a luxury property empire.

Alexei Navalny was led away in handcuffs after being remanded in custody for 30 days by a makeshift court in Moscow - as he waits to hear whether a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence will be converted into real jail time

That investigation sparked large-scale opposition protests.

The existence of the Black Sea property and its links to Putin first became known in 2010 when whistle-blower businessman Sergei Kolesnikov described them in a public letter to Medvedev.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday brushed aside the claims in comments to the state news agency RIA Novosti, calling them 'untrue'.

The video accompanying Navalny's investigation had garnered three million views within the first two hours after it was published Tuesday.

A Moscow court on Wednesday postponed the start of the trial of detained Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on charges of defaming a World War II veteran, his lawyers said.

Olga Mikhailova, a lawyer for Navalny, told journalists the court pushed back the trial until February 5 because the opposition figure is currently in virus quarantine after returning from Germany on Sunday and being immediately put behind bars.

The court ruled that the 'hearing has to take place with his participation', Mikhailova said, adding that Navalny's allies supported the decision.

Navalny was detained in a Moscow airport after returning for the first time since he was flown to Berlin in August following a poisoning attack.

Lawyers Vadim Kobzev (pictured right) and Olga Mikhailova (left) of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speak outside the Babushkinsky district court in Moscow on Wednesday

The 44-year-old anti-graft campaigner is accused of violating probationary terms of his 2014 suspended sentence on fraud charges by not appearing at Russia's prison service for checks twice a month.

On Monday, a makeshift court at a police station ordered Navalny placed in custody until February 15. He was then moved to Moscow's Matrosskaya Tishina detention centre, where he is spending his first 14 days in quarantine.

The libel charges due to be heard Wednesday are part of a separate case launched in June by the Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes.

The Committee charged Navalny with 'discrediting the honour and dignity' of the veteran after describing him and others who appeared in a pro-Kremlin video as 'the shame of the country' and 'traitors' in a June tweet.

The video was in favour of constitutional amendments that passed last summer allowing President Vladimir Putin to remain in office until 2036.

The Investigative Committee had suspended the probe while the Kremlin critic was hospitalised following the near-fatal poisoning attack with a nerve agent.

Navalny accuses Putin of ordering the attack, a claim the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.

On February 2, a court will consider whether Navalny's 2014 suspended sentence of three years and six months on fraud charges should be converted to jail time.

Last month investigators also opened a criminal probe into Navalny for large-scale fraud, alleging he used more than 356million rubles (3.5million) of donations to his organisations for personal purposes including holidays abroad.

The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Navalny and his supporters believe all three cases are politically motivated.

The Kremlin critic hit back Tuesday with a report into a lavish Black Sea property he claimed is owned by Putin alongside a call for donations to his Anti-Corruption Foundation to produce more investigations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said the main purpose of the report - which was published alongside a YouTube video that has 20 million views - was to syphon off money.

'We caution all citizens - particularly given the large number of views: Think before transferring money to people who are actually crooks,' Peskov said.
San Antonio police have arrested a fourth person in connection with the death of a 19-year-old mother in July.

Alissa Weese, 22, was charged Tuesday with capital murder for serving as the getaway driver after the shooting death of Jasmine Williams, according to to an arrest affidavit.

Three others  Kyle Phillips, 18, Dorian Murphree, 22, and Johntavion Sounders, 18  have already been charged with capital murder in connection with the case. Phillips and Murphee were arrested in September and Sounders in November.

Police said Weese took the three men home after the July 14 shooting in the 8600 block of Limpkin Court.

Williams' fiance called police after he returned home to find Williams in the bedroom bloodied and unresponsive, according to reports.

READ ALSO: Third man arrested in connection with West Side shooting that left a 19-year-old mother dead

Three witnesses who were at the house said Phillips, Sounders and a juvenile defendant entered the house and went to Williams' room demanding money, the affidavit said. Moments later, they said they heard five to six gunshots, though the witnesses told police "they were much quieter than they expected gunfire to be," according to the affidavit.

At the time of the incident, three teenagers and two children under the of age of 2 were in the home.

Phillips allegedly used a long gun to kill Williams, the witnesses said. According tot he affidavit, the suspects took two pairs of shoes, a piggy bank full of change, Williams' credit card and her phone

After the shooting, the three teenagers in the home left with the three suspects and drove away in Weese's vehicle with Murphree in the passenger seat, the affidavit continued.

The witnesses said Murphree was on the phone with Phillips during the shooting, getting real time audio of what was happening inside the home, the affidavit said.

Weese's bail was set at $500,000.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
A former Eugene elementary school teacher on Tuesday pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a 15-year-old girl.

Federal prosecutors will seek a prison sentence of 13 years and four months for William Cantu Hamann, 38, when hes sentenced in U.S. District Court in Eugene on March 1.

Theyll ask that the sentence run consecutive to a proposed state prison term of one year and eight months, according to global plea negotiations from both federal and state cases.

Hamann is accused of sexual abuse and sodomy in Lane County Circuit Court and has not formally entered any pleas in the state case. A trial is set there for March 10.

The victim was not a student of Hamanns, according to prosecutors. He had taught at Spring Creek Elementary in Eugene and operated the Frightuary haunted house at Lane Events Center in October 2018, according to Eugene police.

Hamann met the girl on social media, paid the girl for oral sex and recorded her performing sex acts between 2018 and July 2019, according to federal prosecutors. She was 15 at the time Hamann first met her.

Eugene police detectives and FBI agents arrested Hamann on July 26, 2019, when he arrived at a local school to meet the teen, according to Eugene police. He was accused of meeting the girl, then 16, for oral sex, on that day, according to his plea agreement. Agents searched his cellphone and found a recording of one of the sex acts, according to court documents.

As part of the federal plea agreement, Hamann has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount of restitution to his victim.

Eugene police said at the time of Hamanns arrest that they had no indication that any children at the school where Hamann taught were victims.

--The Oregonian/OregonLive

Bail in criminal cases is meant to ensure that defendants appear for court proceedings.

In Pennsylvania and across the country, however, cash bail assigned to the poorest defendants, prior to their trials, often translates into jail sentences without any findings of guilt.

A 2019 study by the Vera Institute for Justice found that 64% people in local jails across the country have not been convicted of any crime.

Some of those are charged with violent felonies that are exempt from bail, but those cases are a small minority.

Its much more common for low-income people charged with lesser crimes to be unable to come up with cash bail.

The costs are enormous for the individuals, their families and taxpayers.

Its in everyones best interest if charged suspects  who by constitutional principle and law are innocent until proven otherwise  can continue to work and be with their families.

And the cost of incarceration in Pennsylvania, fully funded by taxpayers, is about $45,000 per inmate per year.

It makes scant sense to incarcerate suspects months at a time because they cant make bail that most often is far less than the cost of keeping them in prison.

That is all the more so given a 2018 analysis by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, who found no difference in court appearance rates among people under cash bail and those under no bail or a different type of bail.

And those elements are just the practical aspects of the system.

In 2016, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia found that Pennsylvanias use of a cash bail to be a threat to equal justice under the law.

State Rep. Summer Lee, an Allegheny County Democrat, plans to introduce a criminal justice reform bill that includes eliminating cash bail.

The Legislature should adopt the reform in the cause of economy by, even more so, for fairness.

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Appointment

20 January 2021

AHC Hospitality announces the promotion of Ross Bartlett to regional general manager of the historic Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton in downtown Grand Rapids' Hotel District. Most recently serving as the assistant general manager at the historic hotel, Bartlett will continue to provide day-to-day leadership for the property in his expanded role, as well as lead AHC's newest project, the city's extended-stay, pet-friendly Morton Hotel, and oversee the security and parking departments for AHC Hospitality.

Ross began his tenure with AHC Hospitality in January 2016 as the director of rooms for the Amway Grand Plaza and was promoted to assistant general manager in early 2019 to support overall hotel operations. Ross was recognized in 2018 as AHC Hospitality's Operations Manager of the Year and has most recently led the Epsilon Class of the AHC Leadership Academy. A graduate of Michigan State University, Bartlett received a degree in hospitality business and also holds an executive certificate in hospitality & tourism management from Florida Atlantic University. In 2018, he was recognized by Hotel Management Magazine on its annual 30 Under 30, The Hotel Industry's Top Rising Stars list. Bartlett currently serves on the board of directors for the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan, the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University and Real Men Wear Pink for the American Cancer Society. He is also a member of The Economic Club of Grand Rapids.
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Mike Pence did what Donald Trump refused to do Wednesday, attending Joe Biden's inauguration and setting a new tone for his own political future.

Trump's VP's ugly public split with Trump was put on full display as he returned to the Capitol where two weeks ago a baying MAGA mob chanted: 'Hang Mike Pence.'

Trump and Pence are only known to have spoken once since the January 6 riot but the outgoing president tried to make some gesture of public reconciliation on Wednesday morning as he thanked Pence for his service during his farewell speech at Joint Base Andrews.

'I want to just, in leaving, thank our Vice President Mike Pence and Karen,' Trump said to a crowd of his supporters.

Pence was not there to witness it however, and instead he went with his wife Karen to the Capitol about an hour after Trump spoke.

He set a glaringly different tone to his former boss: saluted as he walked in hand-in-hand with second lady Karen, he spoke to Kamala Harris, his successor, and to a list of Trump's enemies: he chatted with Nancy Pelosi and greeted George W. Bush.

The display of civility and respect for the transfer of power puts Pence's future sharply in focus.

With a shattered Republican party deeply divided by Trump's desperate campaign to overthrow the election and now his second impeachment, Pence's presence at the inauguration after years of deep loyalty to Trump may let him straddle both wings.

Vice President Mike Pence arrives at Joe Biden's inauguration as Donald Trump refuses to participate for the transition of power

Moment of unity: Mike Pence and Kamala Harris spoke on the dais in the Capitol - something Trump refused to do with Biden

Unmasked: Country singer Garth Brooks, a Republican, shook hand with Pence after singing Amazing Grace

Change of tone: Mike Pence chatted with Nancy Pelosi before the swearing-in

Pence speaks with former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush before Biden is sworn in

Pence, in his final moments as vice president, walks through the Capitol with his wife Karen as they arrived at the inauguration of Biden as the 46th President of the United States

Bad romance with Trump is over: Mike Pence stood with his hand on his heart

It's over: Mike and Karen Pence leave the Capitol to find a new political future

The Pence's maintained tradition by walking down the steps of the Capitol with their successors First Gentleman Doug Emhoff (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris

Despite wearing masks, it's obvious Harris and Emhoff were all smiles as they sent off the former vice president and second lady

The couple waved goodbye to Mike and Karen Pence as they depart Washington, D.C.

Trump has been outraged with his vice president since the election, claiming he did not do enough to help overturn the results. He also falsely claimed Pence, as president of the Senate, could do something in Congress to stop them from certifying the Electoral College outcome.

Pence posted a farewell tweet Tuesday evening and reposted Wednesday morning with images of his time as vice president  none of the four pictures included one of him with Donald Trump, only those with his wife and his children

Despite the reported bitterness between the two leaders, the Washington Post reported Trump and Pence met in person Thursday and spoke on the phone on Friday  five days before the end of their term together.

On Tuesday evening, Pence sent a farewell tweet, including four pictures of his time in office  none including images of him with President Trump.

'Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Vice President these past four years, it has been the greatest honor of my life,' Pence tweeted and reposted Wednesday morning.

'On behalf of our Wonderful Second Lady, Karen Pence, and our entire Family, Thank You and God Bless America,' he continued with an emoji of an American flag.

He posted two images with his family and two others with his wife, Karen Pence.

Trump made final remarks as president before leaving Washington, D.C. for Palm Beach, Florida on Air Force One Wednesday morning with his family.

Donald and Melania Trump departed Washington, D.C. Wednesday morning and landed in Palm Beach at the same moment Biden's inauguration ceremony kicked off. Pence was not present at the remarks where Trump thanks his No. 2

The former first couple deplane Air Force One for the last time as Melania changed during the flight into more Florida-appropriate attire

'I want to just, in leaving, thank our Vice President Mike pence and Karen, Trump said to a crowd of his supporters gathered on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.

He also extended his thanks to Congress and promised to 'be back in some form' before boarding Air Force One one final time.

'Have a good life, we will see you soon,' he said.

Pence was not present at the speech because, his spokespeople claim, it would not be logistically possible to attend both the outgoing president's remarks and incoming president's swearing-in.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton  along with their respective spouses  attended the inauguration. Jimmy Carter, 96, the other remaining living president, decided not to attend in the midst of a deadly pandemic.

In the absence of a meeting with his predecessor Wednesday morning, Biden attended mass at a church in Washington, D.C.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the top Republicans in Congress, attended the service. Democrats Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi were also present.

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

Time zones can pose a challenge for a news operation that covers the breadth of the world. But they can also serve as an advantage.

With reporter-staffed bureaus in some 30 countries, The New York Times can report quickly on breaking news happening almost anywhere. But with three main hubs of newsroom operations  New York, London and an Asia hub that has been based in Hong Kong but is transitioning to Seoul, South Korea  The Times can also continuously cover a story no matter the hour, one newsroom picking up where another left off as one hemisphere goes to sleep and the other awakens.

At the end of the workday in New York, where The Timess central newsroom is based, editors will hand off both domestic and international coverage to editors in Hong Kong and Seoul, who are currently 13 and 14 hours ahead on the clock. As editors in Asia wind down their day, a waking London newsroom will take over as the primary hub. Several hours later, that team will pass the baton back to New York, and it all repeats again, a rotation that is critical for a 24-hour news operation with subscribers in more than 200 countries.
Five individuals convicted of crimes in Texas were among Donald Trump's 73 pardons and 70 commutations he issued during the final hours of his presidency Tuesday night.

Several notable names on the list included Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon and rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black. A number of pardons also went to individual who were serving lengthy sentences for low-level drug crimes.

The four of Texas convicts were serving time on drug-related charges. The fifth was imprisoned for her role in the burning of a Tyler car dealership.

Below are the Texas convicts who received pardons Tuesday night:

Kenneth Charles Fragoso

The 66-year-old U.S. Navy veteran was serving 30 years for a non-violent drug crime committed in Houston. He was indicted in 1990 after selling 10 kilogrmas of cocaine to a Drug Enforcement Administration informant.

Because it was his third offense, Fragoso was sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute.

James Brian Cruz

Cruz was convicted of a drug crime in 2001 out of the Western District of Texas and was sentenced to 40 years in Seagoville. Trump commuted his sentence to time served with five years of probation.

According to nbcdfw.com, Cruz was convicted for his role in a meth-dealing ring.

Syrita Rashida Steib

Steib was convicted in 2000 at the age of 19 for her role in an auto theft that ended in the burning of a car dealership in Tyler. She served nine years of her 120-month sentence and released in 2009.

James Romans

In 2010, Romans was originally sentenced to probation for buying drugs from a supplier in Mexico and then distributing them in Texas and Indiana.

While on work release, he began selling drugs again because he needed money but was eventually caught with 22 pounds of marijuana with 15 others. They were charged with numerous drug offenses. Romans received life in prison.

Ferrell Damon Scott

Because it was his third strike, Scott was given a life sentence for transporting shipments of marijuana in 2007 and had served more than 11 years of his sentence in a Beaumont prison before the former president commuted his sentence.

He applied for clemency in 2016 under the Obama administration but was denied.

Supporters of the clemency said they believe Scott wouldn't have received such a harsh sentence under today's marijuana sentencing guidelines, NBCNews reported.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
In late December, scientists in California began searching coronavirus samples for a fast-spreading new variant that had just been identified in Britain.

They found it, though in relatively few samples. But in the process, the scientists made another unwelcome discovery: California had produced a variant of its own.

That mutant, which belongs to a lineage known as CAL.20C, seemed to have popped up in July but lay low till November. Then it began to quickly spread.

CAL.20C accounted for more than half of the virus genome samples collected in Los Angeles laboratories on Jan. 13, according to a new study that has not yet been published.

We had our own problem that didnt cross over from Europe, said Jasmine Plummer, a research scientist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who worked on the new study. It really originated here, and it had the chance to start to emerge and surge over the holiday.

Theres no evidence that CAL.20C is more lethal than other variants. And scientists have to conduct more research to determine whether CAL.20C is in fact more contagious than other forms of the virus.

But Eric Vail, the director of molecular pathology at Cedars-Sinai, said it was possible that CAL.20C is playing a large part in the surge of cases that has overwhelmed Southern Californias hospitals. Im decently confident that this is a more infectious strain of the virus, Vail said.

Dr. Charles Chiu, a virologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said that across the state, he and his colleagues are finding the variant in roughly 20% to 30% of samples being sequenced. It just popped up under our noses, and now its rising in multiple counties, he said. On the whole, its safe to say its going to spread outside of California.

Researchers are also looking in other states for CAL.20C, Plummer said, and have so far found it in Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, as well as the District of Columbia. Its not clear yet how common it is outside California.

Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out a formal warning about the variant swamping Britain. Although that mutant, called B.1.1.7, is still relatively rare in the United States, accounting for less than 0.5% of infections, the agency said it could be responsible for the majority of the nations cases by March.

An agency spokesman said that the CDC is working with California to learn more about the new variant. Currently, its not known whether this variant is any different from other SARS-CoV-2 viruses, whether those differences may have contributed to its emergence, or whether this emergence was merely a random event, he said.

Ill say this particular variant is one to watch, said Kristian Andersen, a virologist at Scripps Research Institute who discovered one of the first samples of B.1.1.7 in the United States. But he cautioned that its still unclear whether CAL.20C is getting more common because it has some biological advantage, or just by chance.

If both B.1.1.7 and CAL.20C are both more contagious than other variants, its not clear how a competition between the two of them will sort out. CAL.20C has a big head start, Vail said. Even if B.1.1.7 is more infective overall, we may never see a big surge from it here in LA.

Ever since scientists first identified the new coronavirus a year ago in China, theyve been tracking the emergence of new mutations, which arise at random and get passed down to new generations of viruses as they replicate in our bodies.

Many mutations are harmful to the virus and make it worse at replicating. Many others are neutral. But researchers have now discovered several that are worrisome because they seem to help the virus infect people more efficiently.

In the early months of the pandemic, a mutation arose in a lineage that then became dominant across much of the world. Known as D614G, the mutation is now believed to make the virus more easily transmitted from person to person, compared with variants without it.

In December, researchers in Britain found B.1.1.7, which is about 50% more transmissible than previous versions of the virus. The variant is a driving factor in the surge of cases and hospitalizations there now.

B.1.1.7 was in the United States in early November, according to a study posted online Tuesday by University of Arizona biologists Brendan Larsen and Michael Worobey. That would mean the variant had been circulating for two months before being detected.

In California, researchers looking for B.1.1.7 began noticing an unusual mutation in their samples. The mutation, called L452R, alters the shape of a protein, called spike, which decorates the surface of the coronavirus.

We stumbled on this really unexpected finding and went with it from there, Vail said.

The mutation has popped up in different viral lineages over the past year. Scientists have studied L452R because it might help coronaviruses stick to our cells and infect them.

In California, Vail, Plummer and their colleagues found that whenever they came across a variant with the L452 mutation, it also carried four other distinctive mutations. That combination, they said, indicated that they were dealing with a single lineage that had emerged at some point in California. The researchers named any virus carrying all five mutations CAL.20C.

The California Department of Health held a news conference Sunday night to announce that the L452 mutation was becoming more common in California. On Monday night, Cedars-Sinai issued a news release about its study, which will soon be posted on the preprint website MedRxiv.

The Cedars-Sinai team is part of a statewide network of researchers who have been tracking mutations in the coronavirus. They randomly selected nasal swabs from patients who tested positive for COVID-19, and then collected genetic material from the swabs.

The researchers pieced the fragments together to reconstruct the viruss entire genome, and then looked for distinctive mutations. They then compared their own findings to other viral genomes sequenced across the state and country.

The researchers found the earliest sample of CAL.20C in July in Los Angeles. They couldnt find another sample until October. The variant became more common in November, reaching 36% of the samples from Cedars-Sinai in December and 50% last week.

Outside scientists are concerned about the new findings, but say its still unclear whether the California variants mutations are giving it an edge  or whether its showing up so much just by chance.

There might be a bias in the samples that scientists are looking at, for example. Its also possible that CAL.20C happened to become more common thanks to some big super-spreader events.

I think we need to be careful before concluding that any particular lineage is spreading due to a transmission advantage rather than because it happened to ride a wave caused by human behaviors, Worobey said.

If it does turn out to be more contagious, Plummer said, then CAL.20C may turn out to be partly responsible for the recent crippling surge of cases in Southern Californias hospitals.

As the total number of cases increased, Plummer and her colleague found, the percentage of CAL.20C also went up. That would be consistent with the idea that this is a more contagious variant. I mean, the numbers speak for themselves, she said.

Chiu also noted that the variant was involved in a number of outbreaks where large numbers of people got infected. There are worrisome signs that this variant may be highly transmissible, he said.

Chiu and his colleagues are now growing the variant in cells to see how quickly they multiply compared with other variants. The researchers are also going to observe how well antibodies produced by vaccines work against CAL.20C.

Other scientists are also looking more closely at the rise in frequency of the variant in California. Theyre searching for evidence that could determine whether biology or chance is to blame for its rise.

Thats the work that needs to be done, Vail said. We just dont have that information.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
The Williamstown Historical Commission plans to move this 19th-century barn to its property on Route 7.

Williamstown Historical Commission Backs Museum's CPA Request

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Williamstown Historical Commission on Tuesday voted to endorse a request from the Williamstown Historical Museum for $50,000 in Community Preservation Act funds.

The museum is seeking town funds to pay about 17 percent of the $301,600 cost of dismantling, preserving and reassembling an historic Williamstown barn on the institution's grounds.

"We're hopeful we'll get at least a portion of the funding for this project," said Sarah Currie, a member of the commission who also serves as executive director for the museum. "It's important, we think to save this barn because this is one of an ever dwindling collection of barns like this.

"They often fall into disrepair and are demolished, and their stories can't be told. It's significant to the town because agriculture was so significant to the town."

The goal is to preserve the 19th-century Dolan-Jenks barn and erect it on a to-be-installed concrete slab toward the rear of the museum property, the site of the former South Center School on New Ashford Road (Route 7).

"Opportunities for interpretation about the life of the barn and its owners abound and will be of value to current-day residents who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the town and its agricultural history," the museum's CPA application reads.

Currie told the commission that the barn, which likely will be torn down by the owners if not restored by the museum, houses wagons that also will be added to the museum's collection and displayed in the historic structure.

"I can't speak for [the owners], but I suspect it might pose a liability risk potentially," Currie said in answer to a question from a fellow commissioner. "It's an old barn.  They tried a number of times to donate or find new owners for the barn and didn't find success. They thought it was time for them to move forward with this project.

"After a lot of consideration on the [WHM] board and good fortune to find significant donors, we thought it was time to move forward, even given COVID."

If the town comes across with $50,000 to support the project, the museum would need to raise another $60,600, about 20 percent of the project's cost, in order to go forward. It already has $171,000 in dedicated donations and another $20,000 pledged from donors, according to its CPA application.

Historical Commission Chair Gerrit Blauvelt called it an exciting project, and the panel granted Currie's request that it send a letter to the CPC finding that the restoration would be a significant work of historic preservation in the town.

The Community Preservation Committee will hear from the Williamstown Historical Museum and three other applicants for CPA funds at its first meeting of the winter, moved from Wednesday to Jan. 27.

In other business on Tuesday, the Historical Commission elected Nate Buddington to serve as vice chair and discussed its strategy for compiling an inventory of historic properties in town.

It also held a preliminary conversation about how the body will weigh in on a Massachusetts Department of Transportation proposal to build a rotary at the Five Corners intersection on South Williamstown.

Since the area is a National Historic District, the local Historical Commission and the Massachusetts Historical Commission in Boston would be asked to comment on the change if and when it moves from the conceptual stage to the development phase, Community Development Director Andrew Groff told the commissioners.

He encouraged members of the commission to check out MassDOT's interactive presentation, where the state agency is accepting comments on the proposal through Feb. 3.

"I think [a roundabout] would be more compatible with a historic district than the bunch of blinking lights we have today," Groff said.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday hailed the end of "tyrant" Donald Trump's rule as he slammed his US counterpart for a corruption-filled tenure with a lot of injustices towards Americans and the rest of the world. Rouhani, while addressing the members of his cabinet, said today marks the end of a tyrant's menacing rule, referring to Donald Trump's four years as US President. Rouhani also welcomed Joe Biden administration and said Iran is willing to fulfil its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal if Washington returns back to the agreement, from which Trump withdrew in 2018.

Read: Iran Imposes Sanctions On Donald Trump Due To His Alleged Role In Soleimani's Killing

Rouhani said that the political career of Donald Trump will end today, adding his "maximum pressure" policy has completely failed. Rouhani, during the televised address also said that the nuclear deal is still alive for the US to rejoin. Iran started violating the deal in 2019 by enriching uranium above the purity level set under the deal. Iran may be violating the deal, but it is still enriching uranium way below the purity level required to develop a nuclear weapon.

Read: Iran And Six Other African Nations Lose Right To Vote In UNGA Over Unpaid Dues

What's in box for Iran after Biden takeover?

The US-Iran relations slumped to its all-time low during Trump's rule, worse than it was after the 1979 overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's regime. The Trump administration not only withdrew the United States from Obama-era nuclear deal but also reimposed economic sanctions against Tehran to exert "maximum pressure" on the Iranian government and its allies. However, Joe Biden has hinted at rejoining the 2015 nuclear deal, giving Iran hope that things could return back to normal after January 20.

Read: Iran Kicks Off Ground Forces Drill On Coast Of Gulf Of Oman

Antony Blinken, who has been nominated by Biden as his Secretary of State, on Tuesday, said that the new administration will make a quick decision on whether to rejoin the Iran deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran and the rest of the world would be gripping tight on their chairs to see if the US under Biden rejoins the deal, of which other members of the UN Security Council, including Germany is also a party.

Read: India Strengthens Chabahar Port's Cargo Handling Capacity, Supplies Mobile Harbour Cranes


HONG KONG, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GS1 Hong Kong (GS1 HK) and Zenecom International Group Co. Ltd (Zenecom) formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement to launch "HK Trusted Market + WJH" initiative. Capitalising on the cross-border "Big Health" e-commerce platform WJH, the programme aims to bring premium Hong Kong's over-the-counter medicines, health supplement, beauty and skincare products (Coin as "Big Health" below) to Mainland China O2O (online-to-offline) platforms.

The pandemic-driven "Big Health" industry stands out in the sluggish global economy. According to "Healthy China 2030" blueprint issued by The State Council, the scale of China's health service industry is expected to reach 16 trillion RMB in 2030. The national policy, coupled with an aging population and the lasting epidemic, has resulted in the soaring growth for medical, healthcare products and online shopping. Meanwhile, thanks to the pilot project of importing pharmaceutical products for cross-border e-commerce by the Chinese government, Zenecom, a cross-border e-commerce pilot enterprise approved by the government, is going to bring tremendous opportunities for the "Big Health" industry in Hong Kong.

Anna Lin, Chief Executive of GS1 HK stated, "Our members revealed numerous obstacles to develop in the Mainland China. To help resolve their issues, GS1 HK decides to join hands with Zenecom to launch this programme that pledges authentic products, paving the way for Hong Kong & overseas companies to flourish under the O2O new retail model in the mainland."

The cross-border e-marketplace "HK Trusted Market+WJH" by GS1 HK and Zenecom is designed to enable Hong Kong & overseas business to bank on the growing "Big Health" opportunities in Mainland China. Zenecom will provide one-stop services covering online and offline product listing, marketing, and sales operations. Products listed onto the platform via the programme will be given an exclusive anti-counterfeiting QR code, "REAL Barcode" provided by GS1 HK to ensure the authenticity of its source, enhancing confidence of consumers in Mainland China. By scanning the REAL label with electronic device, GS1 HK's REAL Barcode app (or its webpage) will be activated to allow consumers scan and authenticate the products.

Mr. Roy Lei, Chief Executive of Zenecom stated, "WJH aims to provide mainland consumers with genuine and authentic "Big Health" products. As a cross-border e-commerce platform with integrated marketing strategy, we look forward to developing the "Big Health" market in Mainland China with overseas brands."

The "HK Trusted Market + WJH" programme provides comprehensive one-stop omni-channel marketing services, ranging from customs declaration, products listing, cross-border and Mainland China's logistics and storage, diversified online promotion to offline product display, etc. The process of customs declaration for cross-border products can be completed within 15 days, then the merchants can ship large quantities of goods to Zenecom's well-equipped bonded warehouse in Huangpu District, Guangzhou. The products will be delivered directly from the bonded warehouse in Mainland China to the customers after their online purchase, which is time-saving.

Website: www.gs1hk.org

Website: www.zenecomgp.com

For media inquiries,

Email: beryl@LTheyday.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423417/Zenecom.jpg
Just few hours left for Vice President-elect Kamala Devi Harris to take over as the first ever female vice president of the United States. As Harris prepares to take her oath, in India, people are cracking their heads whether the recent renaming of the dragon fruit was a way to pay tribute to Harris's upcoming leadership.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, on Tuesday said that the government has applied for a patent to change the nomenclature of dragon fruit to 'Kamalam'. According to Rupani, the word 'dragon 'for the fruit sounded inappropriate, following which the government had decided for the fruit to be called as 'Kamalam'.

The CM made the announcement during the launch of the Chief Minister Horticulture Development Mission. She said, "We have applied for the patent of the Dragon fruit to be called as Kamalam. But as of now, we the Gujarat government have decided to call the fruit as Kamalam."

Rupani pointed out that 'Kamalam' is a Sanskrit word and the fruit does have the shape of the lotus. However, she cleared that "there's nothing political about it."

ALSO READ: Idlis, Shoes, Victory Speeches and Vogue: The Times Kamala Harris Made Headlines in India

But desis online have taken the matter beyond Indian politics by trying to establish a link between the fruit's recent name-change and the much admired Kamala Harris, whose Indian roots have given our fellow countrymen all the more reasons to rejoice her victory. The first time Senator has scripted history by becoming first woman of colour and Indian-American vice president of the United States.

As congratulatory messages pour in for the 56-year-old California Senator on Indian social media, author Veena Venugopal, too took to Twitter to convey her best wishes to Harris for her 'new job' and something else too!

"What an exciting day for Kamala Harris. Congratulations for being the new name for dragon fruit. Oh and the new job," said Venugopal.

What an exciting day for Kamala Harris. Congratulations for being the new name for dragon fruit. Oh and the new job pic.twitter.com/8uIkIFAxRS Veena Venugopal (@veenavenugopal) January 20, 2021

Similarly, plenty other netizens wondered whether there's any subtle message behind Rupani's action.

I know why he renamed the dragon fruit as kamala(m) its because kamala is the new dragon in town! :D (((Dominique Fisherwoman)))  (@AbbakkaHypatia) January 20, 2021

Maybe the dragon fruit is a tribute to Kamala Harris. Yes? No? Moon (@moonsez) January 20, 2021

If Dragon fruit = KamalamKamala Harris = Dragon Harris. Madhu |   (@bmadhu) January 20, 2021

I am sure Gujarat CM renamed Dragon Fruit as #Kamalam in honour of Kamala Harris making history as first woman (& Indian origin) ever taking oath as Vice President of USA! Very very well thought of!! Timing is just so perfect!  Rishabh Bafna (@rishabhbafna6) January 20, 2021

Dragon fruit renamed as kamalam after Kamala Harris  Kay ! (@kayrayoke) January 20, 2021

This is a very sweet gesture .. Renaming the dragon fruit #Kamalam just in time for #KamalaHarris inauguration..Respect. https://t.co/zyU3uDxgq6 Aiyappa CG (@yaps9) January 20, 2021

Harris is known for many firsts including being one of the only three Asian Americans in the Senate and she's the first Indian-American ever to serve in the chamber.

Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris will take oath as the first woman Vice President, amidst heightened security concerns after a mob of pro-Trump extremists violently breached the Capitol two weeks ago.

( with inputs from IANS )

The news from the latest monthly sales tax report was encouraging for some cities in the Pasadena area and not so good for others.

On the good side, the Jan. 8 Texas Comptrollers Office report for November receipts showed that several cities  La Porte, South Houston and Shoreacres  saw year-on-year increases in monthly sales tax revenue. Several other cities showed declines.

The report detailed the sales tax revenue generated during the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Sales tax revenue reports are issued two months after the fact. The December sales tax revenue report will come out in mid-February.

Deer Park saw the biggest local slide in sales tax revenue from the same period the year before. Novembers total was $752,848, some $125,122, or 14.3 percent less, than the $877,970 produced during the same period in 2019.

Sales tax revenue in Deer Park has seen year-on-year declines for nine consecutive months, dating to last spring when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Sales tax revenue slipped slightly in Pasadena from November 2019. Last Novembers revenue came in at $2.94 million  $37,314 less than the $2.98 million brought in over the same period the year before. That drop represented a 1.3 percent year-on-year decline.

November marked the second straight month where Pasadenas sales tax revenue lagged behind that seen a year earlier.

Morgans Point also saw revenue generated by sales tax go downhill in November. The city suffered an 8.2 percent year-on-year drop when $73,358 came in, as opposed to the $79,937 produced in 2019.

The dip in sales tax revenue was the lowest Morgans Point has seen in six months.

On the bright side, several cities saw sales tax revenue increases when compared to 2019.

In La Porte, sales tax revenue rose by $46,097 when compared to the same time period of the previous year. In 2020 the city took in $969,723, as compared with November 2019s total of $923,625. The increase represented a 5 percent rise.

The increase may be a sign of a turnaround for La Porte as it marked the second time in three months that sales revenue increased after seeing funds generated fall sharply for two months.

South Houston also saw a solid increase in sales tax funds that came in during November, totaling $272,205, a 6.2 percent increase over the $256,359 generated in 2019.

South Houstons economy has been a bright spot for several months, as sales tax revenue has shown year-on-year increases in seven of the last nine months, averaging a 4.8 percent rise each month.

Shoreacres saw a sizable rise in sales tax by percentage in November, if not in actual dollars. The 2020 figures saw $12,050.35 come in, as opposed to the $10,037 brought in the year before. That $2,012 difference represented a 20 percent increase year-on-year.

The city is on a tear of late showing five consecutive months where sales tax revenue was greater than that seen a year earlier.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.

Maputo, Mozambique (PANA) - UN agencies voiced deep concern on Wednesday over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Mozambiques Cabo Delgado province, where attacks by armed groups have forced more than 565,000 to flee their homes
WARREN, N.J. and BANGALORE, India, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mindtree, a leading digital transformation and technology services company, today announced that it has worked with Aflac to develop an enhanced mobile application, called MyAflac Mobile, that enables users to conveniently file claims directly from their mobile device, simplifying the claims process. As policyholders navigate their way through a stressful time due to the global pandemic, Aflac is focused on easing the claims process driven by automated, self-service tools to further improve the user experience and deliver on greater customer centricity.

The enhanced mobile app, MyAflac Mobile, enables policyholders to file claims at their convenience, receive notifications, and upload the correct documents easily and quickly so that claims can be processed faster. Customers can also set up direct deposit through the app so they are able to receive payments without any additional steps. The enhanced app utilizes a modern technology stack and provides a more responsive and mobile friendly experience.

"Our primary goal at Aflac is ensuring our customers feel supported and are able to pay for expenses health insurance doesn't cover," said Tyler Bennett, Vice President, Digital Services at Aflac. "Our supplemental insurance offering gives customers peace of mind that we will be there for them when they need us. It was a complex project but Mindtree's team rose to the challenge, collaborated with the Aflac team, and helped create an experience that delivers a tangible business impact and improved customer engagement."

MyAflac, which was developed in an exclusive collaboration between Mindtree and Aflac, is now available on Google Play and in the App Store. Within the first three days of its launch, it was downloaded more than 60,000 times.

"Aflac is recognized in the industry as a standout brand when it comes to simplifying customer experience," said Venu Lambu, Executive Director and President, Global Markets, Mindtree. "We applaud them for recognizing their customers' need for a simple, streamlined claims process, an initiative part of their larger transformation agenda. We are proud to collaborate with them to develop the new experience, which helps meet their brand promise of delivering solutions for policyholders quickly and painlessly during a difficult time."

About Mindtree

Mindtree (NSE: MINDTREE) is a global technology consulting and services company, helping enterprises marry scale with agility to achieve competitive advantage. "Born digital," in 1999 and now a Larsen & Toubro Group Company, Mindtree applies its deep domain knowledge to 275+ enterprise client engagements to break down silos, make sense of digital complexity and bring new initiatives to market faster. We enable IT to move at the speed of business, leveraging emerging technologies and the efficiencies of Continuous Delivery to spur business innovation. Operating in more than 15 countries across the world, we're consistently regarded as one of the best places to work, embodied every day by our winning culture made up of over 22,000 entrepreneurial, collaborative and dedicated "Mindtree Minds."

To learn more about us, visit www.mindtree.com or follow us @Mindtree.

For more information, contact:

INDIA

Tanuja Singh

Mindtree Ltd

+91-9741 000 266

[email protected]

SOURCE Mindtree
2 1 of 2 Courtesy photo /U.S. Border Patrol Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Courtesy photo /U.S. Border Patrol Show More Show Less



U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered six immigrants in the cargo area of a U-Haul, authorities said.

A white U-Haul box truck arrived on Monday afternoon at the checkpoint on U.S. 83. A K-9 unit then allegedly alerted to the vehicle during an immigration inspection of the driver.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez said he has received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine made by American company Moderna.

He said in a statement released by the Philippine Embassy on Tuesday that he was inoculated as part of Washington D.C.'s vaccination program days before the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The Philippine diplomat will reportedly attend the momentous event on Wednesday (Thursday, Philippine time).

Romualdez is one of the officials working to close the deal for the Philippines to secure up to 20 million vaccines doses from Moderna. Romualdez is one of the officials working to close the deal for the Philippines to secure up to 20 million vaccines doses from Moderna. Once the deal is closed, he said the vaccines will be delivered to the country by mid-year.

Moderna is one of the vaccine brands now being used in the US, along with Pfizer. The Moderna vaccine has been found 94.1% effective in preventing coronavirus infection, while Pfizer's has an efficacy rate of 95%. Moderna's vaccine does not require ultra-cold storage and can be kept at about minus 20 degrees Celsius, unlike Pfizer's vaccine which has to be stored at minus 75 degrees Celsius.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 19:43:53|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers are considering more stringent penalties for workplace safety violations as the country seeks to amend its law governing the area to enhance supervision and prevent accidents.

A draft amendment to the Law on Workplace Safety was submitted on Wednesday to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for the first reading.

The draft increases fines for violations across the board. The "principal leading members of a production or business unit" who fail to perform the work-safety control duty as provided for in the law shall receive a fine as much as their annual income if a serious accident happens, according to the draft.

In severe cases, recidivists may have their licenses revoked or be banned for life from the industry, says the draft.

Those breaching the law shall face criminal penalties if their violations constitute crimes.

China's workplace safety law was enacted in 2002 and amended in 2009 and 2014.

According to an explanatory document on the draft, the law has played a significant role in preventing workplace safety accidents and protecting people's lives and property.

But it does not fully adapt to new and higher workplace safety demands and modifications are needed to cope with new risks and hazards accumulated over time, says the document.

On Jan. 10, a gold mine explosion trapped 22 miners in the city of Qixia in east China's Shandong Province. While rescue work is still underway, leading officials of Qixia have been sacked. Those responsible for the accident have been identified and will be investigated and severely punished per the law and regulations, according to local authorities.

Lawmakers will deliberate the law in group discussions during the session, which will run through Friday. Enditem
A student nurse witnessed a patients toe coming off in his sock, the Dail has been told.

A student nurse told me recently that when helping a patient to shower, the patients toe came off in his sock, Kildare South Sinn Fein TD Patricia Ryan said during a debate on the new allowance of 100 a week for the trainees.

The student nurse was on her own and could not leave the patient alone  imagine, she doesnt get paid for that, she said.

Ms Ryan said she had heard of other student nurses who had been thrown straight into the task of laying out the dead.

Opening a party motion on the issue, Sinn Fein spokesman on health David Cullinane meanwhile contrasted the new 100 allowance with the decision taken to increase the salary of the new secretary general of the Department of Health, Robert Watt.

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A pay rise of 81,000 for Mr Watt  to an annual salary of almost 300,000  says everything about the Governments claim to value student nurses, he said

The new 100 allowance for first, second and third-year student nurses and midwives, on the other hand, was being seen quite rightly as a slap in the face, Mr Cullinane said.

You hatched out a plan in your department for a pay rise of 81,000 to bring that salary close to 300,000 a year, he said. How can you say that is fair and reasonable, and that is you as a minister valuing the work on the front line and the work that student nurses and midwives do.

He said the minister was prioritising a single individual over those who had done trojan work since the pandemic struck. He cited letters from student nurses who had contracted Covid-19, one of whom said it is not worth working as a nurse in this country.

Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy said the 100 allowance was insulting and patronising and sums up this Government. Robert Watts pay increase of 81,000 was far more than the annual salaries of individual nurses, and would now reach 292,000, he said.

He called on every TD to stand by those who have stood by us.

Sinn Fein TD Sean Crowe said student nurses had always been seen as a source for free or cheap labour. The Government did not live on the same planet as the rest of us if it could give such a pay rise to someone already earning more than 200,000 in the health sector.

Mr Cullinane said he had raised the issue of pay for student nurses and midwives in July, September, October and November of last year, before the Government had voted down another partys motion on the subject before

Christmas.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly paid tribute to the dedication of all health professionals as they continued to grapple with the pandemic.

He said he hoped the 100 a week allowance, recommended in a report by expert Tom Collins, would be backdated to the start of the academic year, last September.
Cybersecurity

Trump issues last-minute order targeting foreign cyber threats

Donald Trump issued an executive order on the final night of his presidency aimed at forcing cloud providers to capture more complete records about foreign customers.

"Foreign actors use United States [cloud services] for a variety of tasks in carrying out malicious cyber-enabled activities, which makes it extremely difficult for United States officials to track and obtain information ... before these foreign actors transition to replacement infrastructure," according to a letter from Trump to Congress publicly released in the evening of Jan. 19.

To address those threats, the EO states, the government will move to require cloud providers to keep more complete records of foreign entities that they sell to and potentially require companies to limit "certain foreign actors" access.

The secretaries of commerce, state, treasury, defense, homeland security, the attorney general and the director of national intelligence have discretion on which foreign entities could be barred through the executive order.

Crowdstrike founder and former CTO Dmitri Alperovitch said on Twitter that the policy outlined in the order could have helped the government gather more information in the wake of the SolarWinds Orion breach.In that breach, Alperovitch said, hackers "exclusively used US cloud infrastructure to make it difficult for US intelligence community to track them." Headded that "requirements like this one can go a long way to move these actors offshore and make it easier for [the government] to track them. One potential downside - the requirements can be quite onerous/expensive for smaller providers and may lose them foreign business."

It is not clear whether President-elect Joe Biden's administration will enforce the executive order. Ahead of the inauguration, Biden's transition team published a list of executive orders he'd immediately sign to undo certain Trump administration policies.

The Trump order has a six-month comment period.
Millions of Australians are in for a scorching weekend as a heatwave sweeps across large swathes of the country.

The temperature will soar in the south and east in the lead up to Australia Day, with Adelaide hitting 41C on Sunday and parts of Sydney's west reaching a blistering 43C.

A heatwave is forecast for all of South Australia, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory over the weekend.

Parts of every other state and territory will not be spared from the sizzling temperatures, as thousands of Australians take advantage of the Tuesday public holiday to enjoy a four-day weekend.

Sydneysiders will be flocking to the beach, including at Bondi (pictured), in droves over the weekend as the city swelters under heatwave conditions

Sydney will experience four consecutive days of temperatures of 30C and above starting from Friday, with the city's west reaching as high as 43C on Monday. Pictured, Bondi Beach

On Saturday, 'extreme' heatwave conditions are forecast for parts of the nation's most populous areas.

'Severe heatwave conditions are forecast broadly over most of Victoria, the southern half of NSW, eastern SA and northeast and northwestern Tasmania,' the Bureau of Meteorology said.

'An area of extreme heatwave is forecast at the Victoria/NSW border extending to just south of Sydney.'

The nation's capital, Canberra, will hit 37C on Saturday and 38C on Sunday.

Further inland, Albury, on the NSW/Victoria border is in for 40C on Saturday, 42C on Sunday and by Monday it is expected to reach as high as 43C.

Melbourne is bracing for a high of 38C on Sunday.

The beach will be the cool place to be for Sydneysiders on the weekend as temperatures in the harbour city soar to 33C. Pictured, Bondi Beach

Areas along Australia's east coast will experience extreme heatwave conditions from Friday, while much of the rest of the country will be under severe or low-intensity heatwave conditions

Sydney will experience a weekend of temperatures in the low to mid 30s.

Saturday will be 30C in the harbour city, on Sunday the temperature will get to 33C and on Monday it will soar to 34C.

Penrith, in the city's west, will be even hotter, with temperatures expected to hit 37C on Saturday, 42C on Sunday and 43C on Monday.

The heat follows periods of cloudy weather and showers.

'Thursday onwards we are seeing a gradual return of northerly to northwesterly winds transporting warm air to Sydney and (mostly) sunny forecasts, pushing up the maximum temperatures,' the Bureau's Meteorologist Melody Sturm told Daily Mail Australia.

'Friday there is a slight chance of a shower or a thunderstorm. The (long) weekend is expected to be very warm to hot and mostly sunny, although a chance of a shower could return for Monday.

'With the heat we will be seeing severe heatwave conditions for Sydney this weekend.'

While the water will be the cool place to be over the weekend, beachgoers are being reminded to stay Covid safe and follow the directions of lifeguards.

Beachgoers are being reminded to stay Covid safe and swim between the flags. Pictured, Mona Vale on Sydney's Northern Beaches

Adelaide's Glenelg Beach (pictured) will be a popular place to be for residents with the South Australian capital set to swelter on Sunday with 41C forecast

'If you're planning on heading down... please remember to stay one towel length apart from other beachgoers, and don't forget to swim between the flags,' Waverley Council, which takes in Bondi Beach, said.

Meanwhile, Victorian fire authorities are bracing for a weekend of severe fire danger through northern parts of the state.

With the temperature forecast to climb into the 40s in some areas, Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp has warned Victorians to make sure their bushfire preparations are up-to-date.

He said Mildura will start to warm up on Thursday, while Sunday and Monday are set to be spike days.

'It will be a challenging weekend for us,' he said.

'There is every chance we will see total fire bans for Sunday and Monday... with fire danger ratings, particularly up in the north of the state, around "severe".'
Passengers being stopped at the entrance of a railway station as the city cuts outside transport links and bans residents from leaving, after the large COVID-19 outbreak in Shijiazhuang, in northern China's Hebei Province on Jan. 7, 2021. (STR/CNS/AFP via Getty Images)

Strict Lockdown Measures Leave 300,000 Chinese Migrant Workers Stranded Outside Beijing

The COVID-19 outbreak in central Hebei Province continues to worsen. In order to prevent the spread of the disease into Beijing, 300,000 migrant workers living in the neighboring town of Yanjiao were recently banned from entering the capital city. Unable to go to work, these people are having a tough time trying to make ends meet amid the pandemic.

Yanjiao is a town under the administration of Sanhe City in Hebei, bordering Tongzhou district in Beijing. Yanjiao is about 21 miles away from Beijing and is the closest area outside Beijings administrative district.

These young migrant workers in Yanjiao are called bei piao in Chinese. They came to Beijing to work but could not afford to live in the city. Instead, they collectively live in Yanjiao where housing is affordable and the commute to Beijing is close.

Officials in Hebei Province have confirmed hundreds of COVID-19 cases. But Chinese citizens have expressed incredulity at official figures, given the Chinese regimes past coverups.

Due to the latest surge of COVID-19 infections in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei, many areas of the province have announced lockdowns, including Shijiazhuang, Xingtai, and Langfang.

COVID-19 is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Quarantine and COVID-19 Testing for Residents in Sanhe City

A local real estate agent in Yanjiao, surnamed Zhao, spoke with The Epoch Times on Jan. 15. He said that the town will be locked down until Jan. 20.

He said that local authorities have not made an announcement on the current situation, but all residents in Langfang have to undergo nucleic acid testing. Sanhe city (where Yanjiao is located) is administered by Langfang prefecture. Then, they will need to quarantine at home for seven days. Zhao just took the nucleic acid test.

Sanhes epidemic prevention and control team issued a notice on Jan. 12, which declared an emergency deployment of the first round of nucleic acid tests for the entire city. The notice stated that residents must quarantine at home for seven days after taking the test. Then after the isolation period, one will get tested for a second time.

The announcement also stated that starting from noon on Jan. 12, residents will be strictly monitored as they are not allowed to leave their homes, except for essential workers such as those in healthcare. This group of people would need a special pass, a valid nucleic acid test result, a letter from the employer, a personal ID and photo in order to exit and enter their community.

In addition, people from medium- and high-risk areas are not allowed to enter Sanhe city.

On the same day, Sanhes epidemic prevention and control team issued a notice about a resident, surnamed Zhang, who tested positive for COVID-19 and shared the same office with a person from Guan county who also tested positive. Guan county is also under the jurisdiction of Langfang.

The notice provided a list of Zhangs activities and his whereabouts from Jan. 5 to Jan. 10, in an effort to start the contact tracing process. Those who may have been in close contact with Zhang during that time period must notify local authorities, the document stated.

300,000 Migrant Workers Stranded in Yanjiao

A real estate agent in Yanjiao, surnamed Wang, told the publication that starting from noon on Jan. 12, all buses and trains going between Yanjiao and Beijing stopped operating. Residents are allowed to enter but not leave their communities. During this period, real estate transactions such as renting and buying a home are suspended, but will resume after the lockdown is lifted.

About 300,000 migrant workers living in Yanjiao ride the bus to Beijing to get to work every day.

A Chinese netizen felt sorry for the people in Yanjiao and talked about the difficult situation in Hebei and Beijing on social media.

Another netizen shared how a colleague has not been able to return to work since the city was shut down on Jan. 12.

There were other netizens who expressed concern that workers may not get their year-end bonuses and could lose their jobs if they cant return to work.

The company that runs Beijings public transportation also announced on its Weibo account that 21 bus lines that run across Beijing and Hebei would stop operating on Jan. 13 and said that ground crew (many of whom are migrant workers) should work from home.

A video thats been circulating online shows local community leaders guarding and scolding a group of people, saying that government regulations prohibit them from entering or leaving the community unless they can show proof that its a family emergency.

In order to prevent Hebei residents and migrant workers from entering Beijing, some people said that local authorities installed a barbed wire fence along the west bank of the Bai River, which separates Yanjiao from Tongzhou city. Security personnel are also being stationed in the area.

Some social media users criticized the decision to install a fence. One netizen said: How serious it must be [for the people] to flee, braving the severe cold. [And now authorities] installed barbed wire. Such suffering for our country and our people.

Another video shows that after Yanjiao was locked down, a large number of people were waiting to be let out of a community in the early morning hours of Jan. 13. They were upset over the lack of electricity, water, and gas.

Also, on Jan. 13, hundreds of residents in the Fucheng community gathered to protest against the lockdown and demanded an explanation from local authorities. The incident was caught on video.

Food Prices Soar

A resident surnamed Zhang, who owns a business in Langfang, told The Epoch Times on Jan. 15 that one or two cases were confirmed in the city more than ten days ago, but local officials did not make an official announcement. Now that Langfang is locked down, residents are required to register if they need to leave their housing communities, he said. The local supermarket is still open, but food prices have increased by 20 to 30 percent, Zhang added.

Zhang said that he had just done the second round of nucleic acid testing on Jan. 15. Its only the beginning of the new year and he is worried that the COVID-19 outbreak has become serious in Hebei Province. He said he felt helpless.

Official Data

The official announcements on the COVID-19 outbreak in Hebei does not cover the entire province and has so far focused on Shijiazhuang, Xingtai, and Langfang. In fact, The Epoch Times found out that Dingzhou, a county-level city in Hebei, is also under lockdown.

Dingzhou resident surnamed Liu told this publication that local authorities did not confirm any COVID-19 cases, but his village has already been locked down. Roads were closed off and only one exit was left open. He said that residents who leave the village will not be allowed to return, and social interaction with neighbors is forbidden.

My sister-in-law works in Shijiazhuang. She cant come back now. My brother cant take care of himself. He is almost out of food. He is quite known to the local people. I have a relative who lives close to my brothers village, and he would come in through that entrance and help to cook for my brother, he said.

He added: My nephew got a job in Shijiazhuang, and my sister-in-law went to see him. They have already undergone the second full examination [for COVID-19]. My elder brother said that they probably wont be able to return to Dingzhou before the Chinese New Year. The Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 12.

Whilst all of our Kansas City newsies pondered the fate of the Republic whilst pretending to be Anderson Cooper on low-turnout Zoom calls . . . A major 12th & Oak move has been mostly unnoticed.

Kansas City recently announced new department directors with a curiously low-key presser.



First the mission statement that focuses on diversity and not qualifications . . .



"City Manager Brian Platt has announced new directors for several city departments. These women and men will provide strong leadership as we improve city services such as snowplowing, trash collection and street maintenance. A shift in responsibilities for two departments will include a new initiative to invest in additional staffing and resources to build a more inclusive and supportive culture and reduce systemic racism within city operations.



Our current focus is empowering our many great leaders and supporting them to be the best they can be, Platt said. I am excited to be working alongside these new department directors as we work together to improve delivery of city services.

Even better, a 12th & Oak love connection has been heretofore unnoticed . . .



THE NEW PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MICHAEL SHAW IS MARRIED TO COUNCIL LADY RYANA PARK-SHAW!!!



Minor but important point that our readership also wanted to point out . . .

Mr. Shaw is the first public works director who doesn't have an engineering degree. Since around the 1960s this has been a requirement for the job. Mr. Parks earns this promotion after managing Solid Waste Services.

Off-the-record a member of council raises an eyebrow at the new hire . . .

"He did a great job picking up trash and now he's running public works. That's one heck of a leap! I'm sure it has nothing to do with his connections or the new city manager looking to effectively 'improve' his relationship with the council bloc that voted against him. Still, it's an important position that administers TENS OF MILLIONS in resources. I wish him luck."



However, other city hall insiders are more skeptical and worry about conflicts of interest that might arise . . .

"This the same situation that occurred with a former Council woman and her firefighter husband. Eventually, she divorced him because of a great deal of pressure. She also did a lousy job of recusing herself from tough votes. Councilmember Shaw is on the Finance & Governance committee, I wonder if she'll recuse herself from SEVERAL decisions that involve Public Works. Will the mayor now keep watch??? Because this is an ethical nightmare that the legal department should've reviewed more carefully."



Sadly, there's no mention of ethics in the hiring announcement that instead focused on the battle against alleged systemic racism amid today's "mostly peaceful" transition of power.



Developing . . .


Vietnam Airlines was projected to have made losses of nearly $625 million last year

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is proceeding with its plan to issue VND8 trillion ($347.8 million) worth of shares for its existing stakeholders in a move to boost its recovery from the pandemic and return to profitability by 2023.

Vietnam Airlines chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa said the issuance would be completed by June and all capital raised will pay off outstanding debts. We have suffered from the worst crisis ever due to restrictions of governments around the world to curb the spread of the virus, Hoa said.

State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) has been authorised to buy the shares as stated in Resolution No.194/NQ-CP on supporting policies for Vietnam Airlines to ease difficulties caused by the pandemic.

On January 13 senior leaders of Vietnam Airlines met with SCIC counterparts at the latters headquarters in Hanoi to discuss implementation of Resolution 194.

The parties were set to sign a commitment of confidentiality for SCIC and consulting units to analyse and evaluate the issuance plan as well as a restructuring plan of Vietnam Airlines.

Although the new share issuance would, in normal times, seem a good opportunity for existing shareholders to increase their position, struggling Japanese group ANA Holdings will likely have to wait in order to realise its dream to expand its status in Vietnams aviation industry.

The only overseas investor with a stake in the Vietnam Airlines is ANA, which holds 8.77 per cent. ANA Holdings has suffered much from the pandemic. In October, the group incurred a record regional net loss of 530 billion ($5.04 billion) for the business year through March.

The company has decided on a plan to reduce the number of employees by some 3,500 people by fiscal year 2022 in an effort to survive the coronavirus crisis. It is also set to receive about 400 billion ($3.8 billion) in subordinated loans from five lenders.

ANA began its strategic partnership with Vietnam Airlines in 2016 as part of efforts to tap into the potential of the Asia-Pacific market.

Vietnams flag carrier received a lifebuoy in November with Resolution 194, which enabled the airline to receive two preferential loans of VND4 trillion ($174 million) at a refinancing rate of 0 per cent from the end of last year. The refinancing period is maxed out at 365 days, but can be automatically extended twice to a maximum of three years.

After issuance of the shares, Vietnam Airlines will look to pay off overdue debts and offset capital shortage in production and business. However, the cash cannot be used for investment activities or any activity not directly serving production and business.

Nguyen Chi Thanh, general director of SCIC said, Vietnam Airlines immediately began to work out a plan to issue shares to increase its charter capital, reporting to the State Securities Commission for comments. It is SCICs role to determine a fair issue price to buy. We are working with Vietnam Airlines to determine the issue price of shares.

In order to determine the price of the shares, the valuation of Vietnam Airlines must be determined. To do so, a 5-year business plan is required  something that will be a complex task amidst current flight chaos and no way of knowing how many international passengers there will be.

This deal will not be easy. Decisions must comply with the law and must meet the ultimate goal of preserving and developing capital. Vietnam Airlines must find a way to develop safely, Thanh added.

The national flag carrier, 86 per cent owned by the government, was expected to make losses of over VND14.4 trillion ($624.6 million) in 2020, about VND2.4 trillion ($104 million) less than previously expected.

According to Pham Van Hao, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the countrys aviation industry could take three years to return to 2019 levels.
On January 20, 2021, we honor the 31st anniversary of what is known as Black January, a day when over 26,000 Soviet troops stormed Azerbaijans capital city of Baku and committed a brutal massacre upon the civilian population, killing and wounding hundreds of men, women, children and the elderly, Nasimi Aghayev, a Consul General of Azerbaijan to the Western US, writes in the article Remembering Black January: Finding Hope in the Wake of Unspeakable Tragedy for Medium.

Black January was preceded by a series of events with tragic repercussions for Azerbaijan and the region. In 1987, anti-Azerbaijani pogroms broke out in Armenia. Armenian mobs, supported by officials in Yerevan, attacked Azerbaijani-populated villages, killing hundreds of innocent civilians. Their designs of turning Armenia into an Azerbaijani-free country were soon realized, as over 250,000 Azerbaijanis, the countrys largest ethnic minority, who had lived in Armenia for millennia, were forced to flee their ancestral lands, becoming refugees in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani refugees fleeing pogroms in Armenia

Meanwhile, Armenia raised groundless territorial claims against Azerbaijan, launching a wave of violence that would result in a painful war between the two nations. All these injustices, backed by pro-Armenian Soviet leadership in Moscow, caused public outrage in Azerbaijan and led to mass anti-Soviet demonstrations in Baku, which soon turned into a national freedom movement. This powerful movement for freedom was recognized by Newsweek, which used a photo of one of the demonstrations in Baku as a cover for its December 1989 issue titled Standing Up for Freedom. PEOPLE OF THE YEAR.

The movement made the Soviet leadership tremendously nervous. By invading Baku and killing peaceful demonstrators they wanted to instill terror in any nation that dared to challenge the hopeless grip of Soviet tyranny. In its report Black January in Azerbaijan, the Human Rights Watch stated: Indeed, the violence used by the Soviet Army on the night of January 1920 was so out of proportion to the resistance offered by Azerbaijanis as to constitute an exercise in collective punishment. the punishment inflicted on Baku by Soviet soldiers may have been intended as a warning to nationalists, not only in Azerbaijan but in the other republics of the Soviet Union.

Long Live Free Azerbaijan Without USSR and Comparty of SU! reads the writing on the wall of a government building in Baku, Azerbaijan in protest to Soviet brutality. January 1990

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev hoped that the brutality of Black January would make Azerbaijan relinquish its fight for freedom. But his crime led to one of the most powerful demonstrations of human perseverance in modern history. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, as literal blood and slain bodies soaked the streets, a strict and threatening Soviet curfew was enacted, promising a more horrific response if it were violated. Despite that, over 1 million Azerbaijanis took to the streets of Baku, literally flooding them, to demonstrate as a bold collective against the insanity of terror and tyranny and to honor and mourn the victims of the bloodshed.

A million Azerbaijanis gathering in Bakus main square (back then Lenin Square, now Freedom Square) in January 1990, carrying the coffins of Black Januarys victims and condemning the Soviet savagery

Muslim, Jewish and Christian faith leaders held public prayers together, as a message of our shared faith, hope, and the indomitability of our values.

Heydar Aliyev, who would later become the founder of modern Azerbaijan, came to Azerbaijan SSRs office in Moscow and fiercely denounced the bloodshed. His defiance helped to inspire the Azerbaijani people and Aliyev became a leader of the struggle for liberty.

Thus the Soviet brutality backfired, and in October 1991, Azerbaijan fully regained freedom from Soviet rule and oppression. Because of that, this year we also celebrate the 30th anniversary of restoration of Azerbaijans independence.

Azerbaijan was one of the first nations to assert post-Soviet independence, and we have a history of firsts when it comes to our independence. Azerbaijan was originally declared as a democratic republic in May 1918 and celebrated two years as the first and sole democracy in the Muslim world, before its Soviet invasion in 1920. The key ingredients to our drive and success as a nation have been our rewarding approach to multiculturalism, a value system and practice that dates back millennia. Azerbaijan has been the home to a uniquely diverse population of Muslims, Christians and Jews, and has maintained domestic tranquility across the centuries because, unlike most of the world throughout most of time, Azerbaijan proactively protects and celebrates diverse faiths and cultures. Those standards have influenced the course of our history and have set the stage we stand on today.

Since the restoration of independence, Azerbaijan has gone from strength to strength. Under the visionary leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan is now economically dynamic, politically stable, and an important geopolitical power. It is the biggest economy in the South Caucasus, and one of the biggest in the whole of the former Soviet Union. International investors have been attracted by the countrys business climate, and Azerbaijan is the centerpiece of the Caspian oil and gas developments, vital for global energy security, as well as other regional mega-projects.

Our values have seen us through hard times, even in very recent months. Just this past autumn, Azerbaijan liberated its territories from Armenias nearly 30-year-long, illegal, U.N.-condemned occupation. This will allow for over a million forcibly displaced Azerbaijanis to finally return home. We now begin the process of rebuilding and returning, and with peace finally achieved, the strength and vitality of our independence, and the values that led us there, are strong and invigorated, ready to take on the challenges of a new decade, in all their complexity.

Remembering Black January in 2021 is important, not only in memorial of the victims, in recognition of the human tragedy and unthinkable brutality, but especially in the message of perseverance. Today, our entire world faces upheaval, of a kind most of us have not seen in our lifetime. Yet the values that have kept an entire nation strong, despite enduring profound tragedy and hardship, are the same values that can propel our world today, as we endure the uncertainty and tribulations of a truly global pandemic. Today, as we experience such an extreme and lasting interruption from what we know as normal life, it is crucial that we hold close the principles of acceptance and tolerance that have shown throughout time to be the ingredients for survival, recovery, and peace.
Cha Eun Woo and Hwang In Yeop are getting closer and expected to embrace changes unto their friendship in the upcoming episode of "True Beauty."

Six more episodes left before the drama comes to an end, but the story is becoming more interesting, especially the sudden shift in the relationship that between the cast.

On Jan. 20, tvN unveiled new photos of longtime best friend turned enemy Lee Su Ho and Han Seo Jun, played by actors Cha Eun Woo and Hwang In Yeop, respectively.

Spoiler alert!

In the previous episode (10), the two main leads were involved in a traffic accident making both of them rushed to the hospital. It was because Lee Su Ho found out that his father Lee Joo Heon, portrayed by actor Jung Joon Ho, tried to hide his scandal before by sacrificing Jung Se Yeon, best friend of Lee Su Ho and Han Seo Jun.

After knowing the mistake of his father, Lee Su Ho ran off and unexpectedly, Han Seo Jun saw him and chased after him. They were in the middle of the street when a car suddenly hit both of them.

Meanwhile, to give the viewers a glimpse of what to expect in the next episode, a series of photos showing a not so typical cute moment between the two best friends Lee Su Ho and Han Seo Jun.

It can be seen that after the incident they are sharing the same hospital room, giving them the chance to be closer with each other and bring back the kind of friendship that they once had. The two are lying in their own hospital beds and are facing each other -- Lee Su Ho is blankly staring out of nowhere, while Han Seo Jun looks concerned for the guy whom he is sharing the room with.

Showing a soft side towards others is very unusual for Han Seo Jun, but now, he is already starting to feel the change.

On the other hand, the two are seen leaning to each other and they had a shocking reaction when they saw someone coming to their room. They seem out of guard with their unexpected visitor.

Viewers are excited to watch the remaining episodes because they want nothing but the best for all the characters, especially the main leads. The tension between Lee Su Ho, Im Ju Gyeong, and Han Seo Jun are becoming more intense, as they are stuck both in a love triangle and solid friendship.

But for you to find out what's gonna happen, watch the next episode of "True Beauty," airing on Jan. 20 at 10:30 p.m (KST)!

What are you most excited about in the last six episodes of the drama "True Beauty"? Share your comments 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
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CES is quite a bit different this year. In this recent video from WIRED, they give an in-depth look into the annual trade show that is organized by the Consumer Technology Association.

For the first time ever, CES is entirely virtual, but that doesnt mean there isnt plenty to talk about. Senior Writer Lauren Goode talks with WIRED staff about the newest tech from the show, including TCLs rollable phones, shower head speakers, UV phone chargers, Samsungs microLED televisions, the future of ARM processors and much more.

To see the full video, check here.
After a devastating 2020, Rystad Energy projected demand for oil products in the US to grow by 1.08 million bpd in 2021 to 19.1 million bpd. This projection left politics aside but if President Joe Biden lives up to his promises after his inauguration, we see an upside to US products demand of about 350,000 bpd, as a result of the planned short-term economic stimulus and his infrastructure plan.

The expected stimulus package includes financial aid to low-income American families, extended unemployment insurance payments, and billions of dollars in support to state and local governments to avoid layoffs of state employees. Together with a sizeable infrastructure package and an increased likelihood of additional short-term stimulus packages down the road, the Democratic policies create a definite oil products demand upside.

These measures present a very bullish cocktail for US products demand in 2021. This infrastructure spending will certainly stimulate demand for oil in the short term because of increased construction activity, as well as in the medium term due to more efficient ports, bridges and roads that will enhance economic activity and passenger vehicle usage, says Chris Page, oil markets analyst at Rystad Energy.

The final details of Bidens stimulus plan will be inked when the new President takes office, but they will certainly be subject to negotiations in Congress. However, assuming that Congress approves the short-term aid in February, we would expect to see an upside to US oil products demand of approximately 285,000 bpd for 2021.

When it comes to the separate infrastructure spending in particular, we expect that the funds will be spread out over the course of 24 months, as was the case with the 2009 stimulus, and thus it will take some time for this spending to fully translate into increased oil demand. Accordingly, we estimate that the demand impact from these projects will be marginal in 2021, at approximately 60,000 bpd, before rising in 2022 to 330,000 bpd as much of the construction and impacts of the projects begin. Related: IEA Slashes Oil Demand Outlook For 2021

Some of this infrastructure spending is expected to be directed towards creating green jobs, or projects that seek to limit future carbon emissions. Nonetheless, Rystad Energy believes that Bidens team will need to tread carefully to avoid losing the senator votes whose states rely heavily on fossil fuel production.

Therefore, we believe that any green focus of the infrastructure bill will be mostly additive to overall short-term oil products demand due to construction activity, with risks mostly limited to medium-term oil demand, depending on the scope and success of the projects.

The long-term effect

If the Democrat plans bear fruit, we expect that demand could rise by an additional 350,000 bpd for 2021 and 900,000 bpd (including a China tariff cancellation impact* of 300,000 bpd) for 2022 relative to the status quo. However, as environmental regulations, particularly for fuel economy, start to take more effect, we believe that Bidens presidency will ultimately cause demand to drop, particularly as we head towards the latter part of the 2020s.

China* upside potential

Nevertheless, with different countries and industries jockeying for relief from tariffs, and with Biden saying that trade talks will take a backseat to a domestic recovery, we believe that changes to tariffs and overall US policies in relation to China will proceed somewhat slowly. These tariffs serve as a key bargaining chip with China, and we believe it is unlikely that Biden will simply give them up easily without concessions from the Middle Kingdom.

Therefore, while we anticipate that Biden will ultimately veer towards canceling the tariffs, we believe that the impact will likely be delayed to as late as 2022. A full cancellation of tariffs between the US and China would increase maritime oil demand by approximately 300,000 bpd.

Fuel economy and electric vehicle regulations

Bidens election brings an end to Trumps plan to decelerate proposed fuel economy increases from 2022 through 2026, from Obamas standard of 4.7% per year to only 1.5% per year. However, there are reasons to doubt that Biden will immediately revert back to the Obama-era standards.

To start with, the US auto industry has been hit hard by the pandemic: sales fell by approximately 15% year-on-year to between 14.4 million and 14.6 million vehicle sales in 2020. Automakers may lack the R&D and marketing funds to achieve the Obama-era standards by as soon as 2022.

Also, amid cheaper prices for gasoline, Americans appear to be gravitating towards light duty trucks, with such vehicles comprising 56% of vehicle sales in 2019, leading to a y/y decline in fuel economy. This lack of interest in sedans and other more fuel-efficient vehicles may make compliance with aggressive fuel economy standards (which involves purchasing credits from electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla) much more costly for manufacturers.

Therefore, we expect that Biden will adopt the deal that California struck with several major automakers to increase fleet-wide efficiency to 51 mpg (versus 54.5 mpg under Obama and 40.4 mpg under Trump). Given that several major auto manufacturers have already agreed to (and theoretically likely have begun preparing for) these rules, we believe this could be an easy way for Biden to strike a compromise early on, while still achieving significant efficiency gains.

A full return to Obama-era standards would lead to approximately 500,000 bpd in lower oil demand by 2025 compared to a second Trump term. Under the California deal, we expect that the impact on oil demand would fall to approximately 370,000 bpd. Since several auto manufacturers had already agreed to this standard before the election, we have not revised our demand forecast downward due to these likely regulations. For 2025, at the moment we expect that the US will consume approximately 20.0 million bpd of oil products.

By Rystad Energy

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The mechanism will get vaccines to poorer countries before COVAX is fully operational.

The European Union wants to set up a mechanism that would allow the sharing of surplus COVID-19 vaccines with poorer neighbouring states and Africa, the EU health chief said on Tuesday  a move that may undercut a WHO-led global scheme.

With a population of 450 million, the EU has already secured nearly 2.3 billion COVID-19 vaccines and candidates from six companies, although most of them still need regulatory approval, Reuters reported.

"We are working with member states to propose a European mechanism to share vaccines beyond our borders," Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EU lawmakers on Tuesday, confirming a Reuters report from December.

Read alsoUIA ready to transport vaccines against COVID-19She stressed the mechanism would get vaccines to poorer countries "before COVAX is fully operational," referring to the global scheme co-led by the World Health Organisation set up last summer to ensure a fair distribution of COVID-19 shots across the world.

Kyriakides said the EU vaccine-sharing scheme should prioritise health workers and most vulnerable people in the Western Balkans, North Africa, Middle East and poorer sub-Saharan African countries.

Vaccines against COVID-19

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, 2020, Ukrainian 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 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.

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.

On January 8, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that rich countries have the majority of the supply of a COVID-19 vaccine.

On January 13, Stepanov said the ministry plans to strike new deals soon for the supply of vaccines against COVID-19.

Reporting by UNIAN
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The State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) plans to invest 8 trillion VND (approximately 345.6 million USD) in Vietnam Airlines JSC (HVN). The amount is equal to 25 percent of HVNs charter capital.

Vietnam Airlines will issue 8 trillion VND of shares to existing shareholders (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Airlines will issue 8 trillion VND in shares to existing shareholders to raise its charter capital. And SCIC represents the Government to buy the shares, Nguyen Chi Thanh, General Director of SCIC, said during a recent press conference.

The two sides had a meeting to work out the HVN share price, Thanh added.

Vietnam Airlines is creating a share offering plan to raise its charter capital and needs to get opinions from the State Securities Commission of Vietnam. Meanwhile, SCICs mission is to price HVN's share value.

In order to define the share offering price, Vietnam Airlines has to evaluate its own value based on its five-year business plan. But COVID-19 is a biggest challenge for the carriers business plan since there is no indication of when the pandemic will be over and international flights can resume.

Amid the spread of COVID-19 around the world, it is very difficult to create a business plan for Vietnam Airlines. If there is no business plan, we cannot judge the enterprises value. Only when Vietnam Airlines opens international flights, can its business improve, Thanh said.

So to price Vietnam Airlines, SCIC will select a well-known accounting firm with a good reputation to assess the carriers value. That accounting firm can use one of a number of business valuation methods, Thanh added.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, HVN's share price declined 0.65 percent to finish January 18 at 30,650 VND. The shares increased nearly 7.4 percent since the beginning of 2021.

In its third-quarter result, Vietnam Airlines posted a decline of more than 70 percent to 7.6 trillion VND in consolidated revenue. It reported a loss of nearly 4 trillion VND in profit after tax.

As for the carrier's performance in 2020, its consolidated revenue reached 42.5 trillion VND, including 33 trillion VND from its parent company. The results exceeded their respective targets by 1.9 trillion VND and 448 billion VND.

It was projected to suffer a loss of 14.4 trillion VND. Of the total, its parent companys loss in 2020 was estimated at more than 12 trillion VND, which was 2.42 trillion VND lower than the previous forecast./.VNS

Vietnam Airlines logs less-than-expected loss Vietnam Airlines Corporation anticipated a loss of 12 trillion VND, or 2.42 trillion VND lower than previous prediction, it said at the extraordinary shareholders meeting on December 29.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden has spent a few of the first moments of his term at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring fallen veterans with three former presidents and their families.

The president, first lady Jill Biden, and newly sworn-in Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, presided over a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Wednesday.

After cannon fire rumbled in the distance, Biden saluted as a military band played the national anthem.

Biden and Harris later briefly touched the wreath before bowing their heads in prayer. The president also made the sign of the cross, then he and Harris stood somberly for the playing of taps.

Joining them at the ceremony were former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura and former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary.

Former President Donald Trump flew to Florida before Biden was sworn into office.
WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WTHI) - Areas of the Wabash Valley will receive a major grant to help with health care.

It's all thanks to the US Department of Labor.

The Western Indiana Development Board was part of nine boards to come together to apply for the grant.

The department granted $250,000 across the State of Indiana.

The money will go to help healthcare workers in rural areas.

Duke Energy told us this money is a great thing for the community.

"It's going to help a lot of people. Don't know what the number is. Anywhere, maybe from 75 to maybe 150 people. Just depending on the level of needs there," Rick Burger from Duke Energy said.

The money will allow leaders to work with local hospitals, nursing homes, and colleges.
OTTAWA - Controversial MP Derek Sloan was kicked out of the Conservative caucus Wednesday, a move party leader Erin O'Toole said was due to a "pattern of destructive behaviour" that had become a distraction.

Conservative MP Derek Sloan arrives to a meeting in Ottawa on September 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Controversial MP Derek Sloan was kicked out of the Conservative caucus Wednesday, a move party leader Erin O'Toole said was due to a "pattern of destructive behaviour" that had become a distraction.

O'Toole's acknowledgment that Sloan's dismissal was not solely over a donation he'd taken from a white nationalist came after hours of heated debate within caucus that saw MPs castigate both Sloan for his record and O'Toole for how he'd handled the issue.

Sloan said he will now sit as an Independent and will continue to fight for conservatives voices.

"No matter how ugly  how undemocratic  the events of the last two days have been, always remember that the Conservative Party of Canada is not the personal property of Erin OToole, nor is it the personal property of the cabal that surrounds him," he wrote.

O'Toole had formally triggered the effort to boot Sloan after revelations Monday that Sloan accepted a donation last year from a known white nationalist, news that broke one day after O'Toole declared there's no room in his party for far-right extremism or racism.

Sloan claimed he was not aware of the donation previously, and as soon as he learned of it, asked the party to return the money.

But Sloan's extreme socially conservative views had been a thorn in the party's side and there had been mounting pressure on O'Toole to kick him out.

During his 15 months as an MP, Sloan has faced accusations he's racist, drawn condemnation for his views on LGBTQ rights and for his anti-abortion stance, all leading to periodic calls he be tossed from the party's benches.

"Ive worked well with many social conservatives in our party over the years. They are welcome in our party, but Derek Sloans behaviour is not," wrote former Conservative cabinet minister John Baird on social media this week.

That O'Toole initially billed the decision to oust him as being based on the donation was a source of frustration for many MPs. Any one of them, in theory, could have accepted and overlooked a similar contribution as vetting the pedigree of each contributor would be impossible.

Several told O'Toole during the meeting he had to come clean about why Sloan was getting the boot, otherwise he was setting too high a bar for them all.

"The Conservative caucus voted to remove Derek Sloan not because of one specific event, but because of a pattern of destructive behaviour involving multiple incidents and disrespect towards the Conservative team for over a year," O'Toole said in his statement after the meeting,

"These actions have been a consistent distraction from our efforts to grow the party and focus on the work we need to do. Events of the past week were simply the last straw and led to our caucus making the decision it did today."

O'Toole won leadership of the party, however, partially on the strength of Sloan's supporters, and he took pains Wednesday to try to assuage concerns the move was meant as a swipe at them.

I did not vote to remove Derek Sloan from our caucus because he is a social conservative. We have members of Parliament of deep compassion and unmatched character, who like many Canadians, draw strength from their faith," he said.

"The Conservative party is a big tent that is reflective of all Canadians."

But the most recent knock against Sloan was his effort to mobilize supporters to participate in a Conservative policy convention in March.

The party is investigating whether his use of robocalls to get people to register for the convention runs afoul of telecommunications regulations. His use of the party's membership list to encourage delegates to register also ruffled feathers and is under review and the party has said he's been unco-operative in that process.

While socially conservative groups are traditionally quite active at Conservative conventions, their ranks swelled during the leadership race, given both Sloan's and Leslyn Lewis's campaigns explicitly targeted those constituencies.

With strong enough numbers, resolutions they want to advance have a better chance of passing, including one that would delete a policy pledging that a Conservative government will not regulate abortion.

That in turn would jeopardize O'Toole's efforts to present the party as more centrist.

In his email Wednesday, Sloan urged his backers not to give up, a spirit echoed by the Campaign Life Coalition, which accused O'Toole of trying to deflate people's enthusiasm.

"Don't give O'Toole exactly what he wants," the coalition's Jack Fonseca wrote in the email.

"We are so close to winning at the convention that even if Derek gets expelled, we need to stay engaged in the convention to make the party more socially conservative in its policy declaration."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 20, 2021.
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A man suspected of repeatedly shoplifting has been banned from Home Depot.

On Jan. 7, police responded to a shoplifting call at the Commons Boulevard Office Depot, where they spoke to a loss prevention officer. She was watching video of a black male entering the store with a white male. The black male was wearing jeans, a red jacket, and a Chicago Bulls hat, while the white male was wearing a brown jacket, grey and black sweatpants, and a beanie.

Police said the video showed them walking around the store and putting several items into the cart, and then walking out with the cart without paying for anything. The cart had a Rigid box, three Milwaukee drills, and a Mikitta saw. Police said the merchandise was valued at $1,095.

The loss prevention officer told police that she could identify the black male as Dismond Allen, 24, who was described as a repeat offender. The white male was not able to be identified at the time. Allen was later arrested and booked for theft.

On Tuesday, another police officer responded to another shoplifting report at the Northpoint Boulevard Home Depot. An employee told police he saw a man later identified as Allen walking out with Makita power tools still in the spider wrapped blue box, without paying for them.

Police said a witness told them they saw Allen carry those tools behind the Northgate Mall. Police went there and saw him carrying a blue box through the parking lot. Police said Allen made eye contact with the officers, put the box down, and kept walking. When police told him to stop, police said Allen began to run away instead.

After a short chase, Allen got stuck in a drainage ditch and gave himself up. Police retrieved the stolen power tools and took Allen back to the Home Depot. Several witnesses confirmed Allens identity, and Allen was banned from all Home Depots for the next three years.

Allen was charged with numerous counts of theft of property and resisting arrest.

Who'd have thought Lady Gaga would not only behave but steal the show!

She left the meat dress and the ridiculous platforms at home and gave the world not only a note-perfect rendition of the National Anthem, but a couture outfit that spoke absolute volumes.

Peace! Her dove brooch was so big it could be seen from outer space, never mind China.

Non-isolationism and trade deals! Her show-stopping gown was the creation of a French fashion house, Maison Schiaparelli (even if its designer, Daniel Roseberry, is American).

Her tailored navy bodice meant America is all about business. And as for the voluminous red faille skirt that threatened to transport her, Mary Poppins fashion, into the clouds at any moment? Well, it was just joyous. It spelt hope. Dear Lord, she wasn't even wearing a mask, so we could appreciate her matching pillar-box mouth.

Who'd have thought Lady Gaga would not only behave but steal the show!

I know she was singing, but if anything yesterday marked the end of a dour, depressing era, it was the red flag of the tiny American pop star.

Other than La Gaga and Jennifer Lopez  who wore flowing white trousers and a bejewelled belt to remind us that America not only gave us McDonald's but also Elvis  what we saw from the White House women yesterday was a rainbow of warm, cinched princess coats from creamy dreamy American royalty.

On this occasion, there were no hats: with all the masks, we would never have known who was who.

Kamala Harris did not disappoint in a 4,000 purple coat with matching dress by black American designers Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson. I loved its low cut, perfect for an ample bust, and wide shoulders, which narrowed her waist.

She accessorised her look with a stars-and-stripes flag brooch by American jewellery designer David Yurman and signature pearls by Puerto Rican jeweller Wilfredo Rosado.

There was nothing frivolous about her choices: boy, she wasn't even carrying a handbag, indicating she's gonna grasp her job with both hands.

Kamala Harris did not disappoint in a 4,000 purple coat with matching dress by black American designers Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson

Jill Biden's coat-and-dress combo  everyone was channelling Nicole Kidman in The Undoing, even down to the warm gloves  was a standout, shot through with crystals, which made her twinkle warmly at every turn.

Her designer of choice was Alexandra O'Neill of the U.S. luxury label Markarian (no, me neither) and is thought to have cost around the 3,000 mark. What I loved about it was the sheer panel at the throat, terrific for a woman in her 60s.

Both she and Kamala got the lengths just right: no exposed knees while sitting for the speeches.

Jill Biden's coat-and-dress combo  everyone was channelling Nicole Kidman in The Undoing, even down to the warm gloves  was a standout, shot through with crystals, which made her twinkle warmly at every turn

It was all very respectful and tasteful, not least from Michelle Obama, the former First Lady not just of the U.S. but of fashion, who chose to wear beneath her cashmere coat a sweater and trousers, again by Sergio Hudson

It was all very respectful and tasteful, not least from Michelle Obama, the former First Lady not just of the U.S. but of fashion, who chose to wear beneath her cashmere coat a sweater and trousers, again by Sergio Hudson. The look showed she can relax, now a Democrat is back in the White House.

Last, but never least, came Melania Trump. Her exit from Washington had all the drama of Dynasty. Off she teetered on her 600 Louboutin trotters (and my goodness, that woman wears heels better than anyone on the planet) in head-to-toe black.

She chose Dolce & Gabbana va va voom that shouted: 'I'm off for La Dolce Vita.' A 5,000 Chanel jacket with statement asymmetric buttons that yelled, Liberte!

Last, but never least, came Melania Trump. Her exit from Washington had all the drama of Dynasty. Off she teetered on her 600 Louboutin trotters (and my goodness, that woman wears heels better than anyone on the planet) in head-to-toe black

Oh, and here's the best bit. She carried a 50,000 Hermes Birkin bag made out of crocodile that snapped: it ain't over till the lady with zero body fat sings!

You gotta admire her balls, inscrutable behind 350 Bottega Veneta sunnies: she alone could reverse global warming with just one icy stare!

Best of all, though, was when she emerged at the other end of America, and what must have been a really boring four years, to set a pointy toe in Florida at long last (I'm surprised she didn't kiss the Tarmac, but she's so brittle I doubt she bends), having changed into a 2,400 hexagon riot by Gucci and 'Audrey Hepburn' pumps so comfy she was almost skipping.

She even cracked a smile! My goodness, we are going to miss her immaculate outfits, the helmet hair, the inscrutable gaze, the rictus grin, the trolley- dolly demeanour.

Because you know what? Fashion may be frivolous. It will doubtless get on Kamala Harris's and Jill Biden's nerves for the next four years, as we all continue to want to know whose shirt they wear.

But Melania's sartorial swansong was priceless. What a shot in the arm  something we all need now more than ever.

[January 20, 2021] Business Productivity at Risk as Skills Fall Behind Increased Pace of Change

Businesses risk missing out on opportunities because they are struggling to keep up with the pace of change. In a new report, Questionmark, the online assessment provider, sets out how employers can develop the right skills they need to thrive amid constant change. Too often, skills development focuses on fixing the problems of yesterday, not meeting the challenges of tomorrow, the new report "Continuous skills improvement" argues. World Economic Forum data shows that less than 30% of firms have the digital skills they need.1 Analysts warn that 30% of the skills workers relied on three years ago are nearing irrelevance.2 Overall, $97.5 billion is wasted every year on ineffective training.3 The report argues that by regularly reviewing priority skills requirements and assessing how widespread those skills are among the workforce, employers can create a "continuous cycle of improvement." The continuous improvement cycle The continual-improvement approach focuses on regularly reviewing which skills are needed, identifying areas of weakness and then driving improvement by eliminating that weakness. The cycle has six steps: Identify priority skills: an employer must regularly review what priority skills are needed for each business function. Isolate the biggest areas of weakness: through staff skills tests, managers must measure the prevalence of these skills and identify where gaps or weaknesses exist. Select or create the appropriate training: which programs will strengthen the necessary skills? Which team members need to participat? Determine whether the training was effective: once done, did team members understand the training while it was taking place? Did they retain the knowledge after the program finished? Identify high potential and areas of strength: although correcting weakness is the primary objective, tests will generate information that could indicate high performance. Regularly repeat this process: employers can ensure improvement programs stay focused.



"By continually reviewing priority skills and understanding the current state of play, employers can drive improvement by constantly eliminating areas of weakness. Online skills assessments will give them a clear read on where areas of strength and weakness exist. They can ensure that training programs are working."

For more information on supporting employees to reach their potential, download the full report: "Continuous skills improvement: developing relevant skills in a changing business environment". The report forms part of the "Questionmark Viewpoint" series which explores the challenges that Questionmark customers face, and how Questionmark helps address them. www.questionmark.com Ends Notes to editors About Questionmark Questionmark unlocks performance through reliable and secure online assessments. Questionmark provides a secure enterprise-grade assessment platform and professional services to leading organizations around the world, delivered with care and unequalled expertise. Its full-service online assessment tool and professional services help customers to improve their performance and meet their compliance requirements. Questionmark enables organizations to unlock their potential by delivering assessments which are valid, reliable, fair and defensible. Questionmark offers secure powerful integration with other LMS, LRS and proctoring services making it easy to bring everything together in one place. Questionmark's cloud-based assessment management platform offers rapid deployment, scalability for high-volume test delivery, 24/7 support, and the peace-of-mind of secure, audited U.S., Australian and European-based data centers. 1 https://www.progressivepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SkillsGapFinal.pdf

2 https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/stop-training-employees-in-skills-theyll-never-use/

3 https://trainlikeachampion.blog/infographic-why-corporate-training-is-a-colossal-waste-and-what-to-do-about-it/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005139/en/

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Nigeria on Tuesday logged another relatively high daily death tally from COVID-19 with 15 people dying from the disease. This took the death toll in the last three days to 44.

A total of 113,305 infections have now been reported across the nation after 1,301 new cases were found in 22 states on Tuesday.

This is coming barely hours after the countrys National Strategic Cold Stores announced that it has secured ultra-cold freezers for storing some COVID-19 vaccines Nigeria is expecting to receive later this month.

As Nigerians expect the vaccines and the country continues to record more coronavirus cases, the direct adverse impact has been more fatalities, data from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) shows.

On Sunday Nigeria recorded 15 deaths before reporting 14 fatalities on Monday.

Last Friday, Nigeria announced its deadliest day of the pandemic with 23 lives lost.

Last week, which is the third week of the new year, the country recorded 70 deaths, the weekly highest in the new year. The country also recorded 50 and 48 deaths in the first and second week of 2021 respectively.

In the past four weeks, there have been over 200 deaths as a result of COVID-19 complications in Nigeria.

The rise in mortally shows that the second wave of the pandemic is deadlier than the first as more patients require breathing support not just in Nigeria but globally.

On Saturday, the global coronavirus death toll surpassed 2 million. About 400 thousand of those deaths were reported in the U.S.

Meanwhile, active cases in Nigeria rose sharply from about 3,000 about two months ago to over 20, 000 due to a rise in new infections.

Of the over 113,000 cases so far, 91,200 patients have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.

Specifics

The 1,301 new cases were reported from 22 states  Lagos (551), FCT (209), Oyo (83), Plateau (65), Kaduna (64), Enugu (61), Rivers (44), Ondo (39), Benue (37), Akwa Ibom (31), Kano (19), Delta (18), Gombe (18), Ogun (16), Edo (15), Kebbi (10), Ebonyi (9), Jigawa (4), Osun (3), Zamfara (3), Borno (1) and Nasarawa (1).

Lagos, again, led with 551 new cases on Tuesday. The commercial city is Nigerias coronavirus epicentre with a total of over 40,000 confirmed cases and over 270 deaths.

The Minister of State for Health, Mr Mamora, warned Nigerians against complacency in containing the COVID-19 pandemic as the much-awaited vaccines may not arrive the country as soon as expected.

So far, Nigeria has conducted over 1.2 million COVID-19 tests.
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As the global pandemic ground many aspects of life to a standstill, millions of people still managed to fly around the country, including more than 29 million on U.S. airlines in October alone.

Among those passengers was Aditya Singh. But on Oct. 19, he did what few passengers had ever done: He walked off his aircraft, entered an airport and simply never left.

Mr. Singh, 36, of Orange County, Calif., who managed to avoid detection for three months at OHare International Airport, was arrested on Saturday and charged with impersonation in a restricted area of the airport and theft of less than $500, said the Chicago police public information officer Karie James.

Mr. Singh appeared in court on Sunday, when his bond was set at $10,000. He remained at the Cook County jail on Tuesday, according to the Cook County Sheriffs Office.
 SCOTUS adds a qualified immunity case to its docket | Main | You be the judge: what federal sentence for "Dance Mom" star after her guilty plea to financial crimes? 

January 19, 2017

"Dear President Trump: Heres How to get Right on Crime, Part 2"

As noted in this prior post, the Marshall Project this week has a timely three-part series in which leading conservatives working on and advocating for criminal justice reform are setting out the conservative case for reforms. The first commentary was authored by Pat Nolan and carried the subheadline "Focus on intent, tailor the punishment to the crime, prepare prisoners for life after incarceration."

The second in the series here is authored by Vikrant Reddy and carries the subheadline "End overcriminalization, reward success, pay attention to the heroin crisis." Here are excerpts:

Criminal justice reform advocates are pessimistic about the prospects for federal sentencing reform under the new presidential administration. Federal sentencing, however, is only one component of Americas vast criminal justice system. There are several other areas where the administration and reformers could find common cause. Here are just three reforms widely supported by advocates which are also consistent with a Trumpian worldview. They should be at the forefront of a serious federal reform agenda over the next four years. Scaling Back Overcriminalization There are now over 5,000 obscure federal crimes, such as shipping lobster in plastic rather than cardboard boxes, that are more appropriately treated as administrative or regulatory matters. Furthermore, the mens rea or state of mind portions of many criminal statutes (which specify whether the conduct must be purposeful, knowing, reckless, or negligent) are frequently left out when laws are drafted. Reversing this overcriminalization has long been a priority for conservatives. Yet it has also been a priority for prominent progressive voices, such as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and U.S. Representatives John Conyers and Bobby Scott.... Performance-Incentive Funding One of the most widely-admired strategies for improving criminal justice outcomes is performance-incentive funding (PIF). The idea is simple: Governments should fund prisons (and community corrections programs, for that matter) based on outcomes achieved, not merely on the number of people incarcerated. A government that contracts for lower recidivism rates and increased restitution payments to victims is more likely to find that its prisons are encouraging education and job training behind bars. People from the business world who are more concerned with results than with ideologies  such as Donald Trump  are likely to understand this truth intuitively: You get what you pay for.... Combating Heroin Addiction On Election Day, Trump performed unusually well in communities ravaged by heroin abuse. He seemed to understand that he owes it to these voters  his base  to take the issue seriously. His administration will likely pursue a law enforcement solution that attacks the supply side of the heroin problem, as Trump frequently promised on the campaign trail. There is also a demand side to the problem, however, and Trump must treat this side of the problem with equal urgency. This means redirecting scarce resources from incarceration to less costly and more effective diversion programs that treat addiction.

Prior related post:

January 19, 2017 at 10:07 PM | Permalink

Comments

Marshall Project? A Trojan Horse for government employment, worthless make work jobs. Dismissed.

Trump or the President after him should do a Duterte. Duterte has successfully transformed the Philippines into a nice place to live.

Trump should declare open hunting season on criminals. These should include lawyers violating their oaths, and disloyal to the constitution. The latter prohibits judicial review in Article I Section 1. These should include rent seeking regulators, where rent seeking is a synonym for armed robbery. If the murder victim is in those categories, the murderer in public self help should be immunized, as a matter of executive policy. If a lawyer chooses to prosecute one, hunt him too, and any judge allowing the prosecution to proceed. To deter.

The heroin epidemic is a benefit to the nation, and no intervention is necessary. It is clearing our nation of the lawyer clients, the criminals, thus the phony hand wringing. Even the loved ones of the victims of the drug dealer syndicate delivered carfentanyl, an elephant tranquilizer, are better off. Chronic pain patients trying to get back to work are not affected by it. The latter complain of dizziness and sedation on the tiniest doses of opiate analgesics, and cut them in half on their own. Each of these deaths prevents hundreds of crimes a year for the prevented lifespan of addicts. That adds up to thousands of crimes prevented. If you price each crime at $10,000 in economic value destroyed in our economy, each death adds $tens of millions of value of destruction prevented. If the addict is an intelligent and productive criminal, the value may be in the $hundred million range.

Posted by: David Behar | Jan 20, 2017 1:16:34 AM

Behar, try pulling your head out of you ass once in awhile and join the human race again.

Posted by: Pat | Jan 23, 2017 5:51:03 PM

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US President Donald Trump is rumoured to be considering a pardon for Steve Bannon (Gerald Herbert/AP)

US President Donald Trump is expected to pardon his former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a flurry of last-minute clemency action, a source said.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that Mr Trump has flip-flopped repeatedly as he mulls his final clemency action, and warned the decision could be reversed until it is formally unveiled.

Mr Trump is expected to offer pardons and commutations to as many as 100 people in the hours before he leaves office at noon on Wednesday, according to two people briefed on the plans.

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The list is expected to include names unfamiliar to the American public  regular people who have spent years languishing in prison  as well as politically connected friends and allies like those he has pardoned in the past.

Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of investors who believed their money would be used to fulfil Mr Trumps chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border.

Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

Mr Trump has already pardoned a slew of long-time associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his long-time friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
[January 20, 2021] Ehave, Inc. Closes 20/20 Global Transaction, Mycotopia Therapy Now Operating as a Publicly Traded Company with Intent to Focus on Psychedelic Sector

MIAMI, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ehave, Inc. (OTC Pink: EHVVF) (the Company), a leader in digital therapeutics, announced today the Company has closed the transaction to sell 100% of its Mycotopia Therapy subsidiary to 20/20 Global Inc. (OTC Pink: TWGL). As a result of the transaction closing, Ehave controls approximately 75.77% of the outstanding shares of 20/20 Global. 20/20 Global Inc. plans to file with FINRA to change the name of the company to Mycotopia Therapy. Ehave, Inc. and 20/20 Global will file applicable 8k and 6k filings for the transaction with the SEC and SEDAR.

Ehave Chairman and CEO Ben Kaplan will serve as Chairman and CEO of both Ehave and 20/20 Global. All payments have been made and stock certificates transferred to complete the transaction. In the future, Ehave management intends to present a plan to the Board to provide its shareholders an opportunity to participate in the transaction. Details of the distribution of shares will be provided at a later date when details are available. The Board of Directors of 20/20 Global has stepped down and Ben Kaplan has been named CEO of Global 20/20, as well as Ehave, Inc. In addition to Mr. Kaplan, Mark Croskery has been appointed to the Board of Directors of 20/20 Global. In addition to his responsibilities to the Board of 20/20 Global, Mr. Croskery serves as Chairman and CEO of Croskery Capital Limited in Kingston, Jamaica. The transaction has been well received in Jamaica and was the subject of an article in the Jamaica Gleaner, a leading Jamaican newspaper that has been published since 1834. The article titled "Ehave Magic Mushroom Company To Enter Jamaica - Taps Croskery As Director Of Subsidiary, Kaya As Wellness Adviser And Partner" can be found at http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20210115/ehave-magic-mushroom-company-enter-jamaica-taps-croskery-director . 20/20 Global and Mycotopia Therapies will be a pure play on the psychedelic space and own 10% of PsyTech , which produces of the psychedelic professional conferences regarding the science of psychedelics and related business opportunities company along with psychedelic tour and travel related businesses. Ehave will continue develop Ketadash, the Ehave Dashboard, its MegaTeam video game applications for children with ADHD, the safety and security of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), improving mental health, and combatting mental illness. Ehave CEO Ben Kaplan said "We look forward to developing Mycotoias business plan as a stand-alone public company. Our goal is to expand the presence of both Ehave and 20/20 Global as separate ecosystems in the psychedelic sector and continue to develop new opportunities." Mr. Kaplan continued, "We also plan to distribute some of the 20/20 Global shares held by Ehave to its shareholders. We are considering several options and will provide more information once we have ascertained the most beneficial method of distribution for our shareholders."



Additional Ehave Inc. Information We are truly grateful for the support of EHVVF shareholders! Please join the conversation on our Ehave supporters telegram group at https://t.me/EhaveInc .

The company posts important information and updates through weekly videos from the official company YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnyW1mgMd0qmYkEMq3O6FWA . Please follow Ehave on Twitter @Ehaveinc1 About Ehave, Inc. Ehave, Inc. (EHVVF) is a leader of digital therapeutics delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients. Our primary focus is on improving the standard care in therapeutics to prevent or treat brain disorders or diseases through the use of digital therapeutics, independently or together, with medications, devices, and other therapies to optimize patient care and health outcomes. Our main product is the Ehave Telemetry Portal, which is a mental health informatics platform that allows clinicians to make objective and intelligent decisions through data insights. The Ehave Infinity Portal offers a powerful machine learning and artificial intelligence platform with a growing set of advanced tools and applications developed by Ehave and its leading partners. This empowers patients, healthcare providers, and payers to address a wide range of conditions through high quality, safe, and effective data-driven involvement with intelligent and accessible tools. Additional information on Ehave can be found on the Companys website at: www.ehave.com . About Mycotopia Therapy Mycotopia Therapy focuses on helping you heal and reclaim your life. Your journey of healing is an understanding of the causes and works to mental wellness through psychedelic enhanced psychotherapy, integrated with a professional team of mental wellness practitioners and cutting-edge technology. Psychedelic therapy is a holistic and spiritual approach providing healing and has shown successful treatment for many years. Additional information on Mycotopia Therapy can be found on the Companys website at: https://www.mycotopiatherapies.com . Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words intends, may, will, plans, expects, anticipates, projects, predicts, estimates, aims, believes, hopes, potential or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Companys research, manufacturing and other development efforts; (ii) the Companys ability to advance its products to successfully complete development and commercialization; (iii) the manufacturing, development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Companys products; (iv) the lack of sufficient funding to finance the product development and business operations; (v) competitive companies and technologies within the Companys industry and introduction of competing products; (vi) the Companys ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vii) loss of key management personnel; (viii) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its products and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (ix) potential failure to comply with applicable health information privacy and security laws and other state and federal privacy and security laws; and (x) the difficulty of predicting actions of the USA FDA and its regulations. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement unless required by law. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in Ehave, Inc.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 24, 2015, as amended, which is available on the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov. Contact for Ehave Inc and 20/20 Global Media Inquiries: Gabe Rodriguez Gabe@Ehave.com Investor Relations: Email: Ir@Ehave.com Phone: (623) 261-9046



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Russias sovereign wealth fund RDIF has filed for registration of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine in the European Union and expects it to be reviewed in February, as Moscow seeks to speed up its availability worldwide.

The official account promoting the vaccine tweeted the latest development on Wednesday, moving it a step closer for approval as countries across the world plan massive vaccine rollouts to stem the pandemic.

The Sputnik V vaccine has been approved in Argentina, Belarus, Serbia and several other countries.

The Sputnik V and European Medical Agency (EMA) teams held a scientific review of the vaccine on Tuesday, the Sputnik V account said, adding the EMA will take a decision on the authorization of the vaccine based on the reviews.

While vaccines from Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc have started rolling out in several countries, experts have said multiple vaccines will be necessary to control the pandemic that has killed over two million people globally.

Mexico, which is seeing a reduction in deliveries of COVID-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer Inc, has said it aimed to make up for the shortfall with doses from other providers.

Russia would submit a formal application to the European Union in February for approval of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, RDIF chief Kirill Dmitriev had said in an interview at the Reuters Next conference last week.

Emergency use approval of the vaccine was recently delayed in Brazil, after the countrys health regulator said documents supporting the application did not meet its minimum criteria.
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable on Venezuela at Iglesia Doral Jesus Worship Center in Doral, Fla., on July 10, 2020. (Evan Vucci/ AP Photo)

Trump Issues Memo Protecting Some Venezuelans Living in US From Deportation

President Donald Trump on Tuesday has approved the deferral of deportation of eligible Venezuelan nationals who fled to the United States when an economic crisis swept the socialist country.

Trump issued a memo directing the secretary of state and the secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate measures to defer for 18 months the deportation of any national of Venezuela, or alien without nationality, who last resided in Venezuela, subject to a list of exceptions.

The grant of a Deferred Enforced Departure only applies to individuals who are currently present in the United States and allows recipients of the deferral to live and work in the United States.

The autocratic government of Nicolas Maduro has consistently violated the sovereign freedoms possessed by the Venezuelan people, Trump wrote in his memo. Through force and fraud, the Maduro regime is responsible for the worst humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere in recent memory.

The South American country became an international focal point in early 2019 after socialist leader Nicolas Maduro refused to step down over mounting international pressure.

In mid-January of that year, Venezuelas duly elected National Assembly declared Maduros presidency illegitimate. The United States refused to recognize Maduro as the Venezuelan leader because of a fraudulent election, and had instead officially recognized his opponent, Juan Guaido, as the interim president. But Maduro has refused to give up control.

The standoff between the two became a global referendum on socialism, with free-world nations including the United States, the UK, Germany, and Australia siding with Guaido, and socialist and communist regimes, such as China, North Korea, and Cuba, backing Maduro.

Venezuelan regime leader Nicolas Maduro gives a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)

Venezuela had since spiraled into deeper political chaos, exacerbated by its ruined economy, and food and medicine shortages.

The deteriorative condition within Venezuela, which presents an ongoing national security threat to the safety and well-being of the American people, warrants the deferral of the removal of Venezuelan nationals who are present in the United States, Trump said.

The Trump administration had imposed sanctions against Maduro and his regime, he added.

Venezuela nations who are not eligible for the measures include individuals who have voluntarily returned to Venezuela, individuals who have not continuously resided in the United States since Jan. 20, 2021; inadmissible under federal immigration law, individuals who have been convicted of any felony, individuals who were already deported, individuals who are subjected to extradition, and people who present danger to public safety.

Trump has repeatedly condemned the brutality of Maduros regime, saying that his socialist policies drove what was once the wealthiest country in South America into a state of abject poverty and despair.

He also invited Guaido to attend his 2020 state of the union address in Congress.

Socialism destroys nations. But always remember: Freedom unifies the soul, Trump said at the time.

President-elect Joe Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, said on Tuesday that the incoming administration will continue to recognize Guaido as Venezuelas president.

Blinken also told the Senate that Biden would seek to more effectively target sanctions on the socialist country while looking to provide more humanitarian assistance to the nation.
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Russel G. Lower Jr., 72, of Tower City, passed away Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, at UPMC-Pinnacle, Harrisburg, after a courageous fight against COVID-19.

Born July 8, 1948, in Pottsville, he was a son of the late Russel Sr. and Lillian Johs Lower.

Russ was a 1966 graduate of Williams Valley High School. He was an Air Force veteran. He retired as a chief master sergeant with Pennsylvania Air National Guard and was employed for 36 years as a technician for Pennsylvania Air National Guard. After retiring, he worked for 10 years in the administrative office for Pennsylvania Air National Air Guard, all based out of the headquarters at Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville.

He was a member of Williamstown United Methodist Church, a life member of Liberty Hose Company No. 1, Williamstown; a life member of Dauphin County Firemans Association; a life member of Williamstown American Legion Post 239 and its former military band; a member of West End Fire Company. He also participated with Williams Valley Alumni Band and was formerly active with Williams Valley Marching Band Boosters.

Russ was very community minded; he was instrumental in forming the Porter-Tower Girls Softball Association. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his granddaughter, Laila, the apple of his eye. He was a fan of the Eagles, Phillies, Penn State and Williams Valley sports. Russ took great pride in his home, and always looked forward to decorating for every holiday.

Surviving are his wife of 39 years, Brenda Girton Lower; two daughters, Lauren Shutt and her husband, Larry, of Orwin, and Heather Zerembo and her husband, Robert, of Tower City; one granddaughter, Laila Shutt.

A public walk-through viewing following all CDC guidelines will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Chapel of Dimon Funeral Home Inc., Tower City. Russ will be laid to rest privately with military honors in Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Russ name should be made to West End Fire Company, 326 Rear, W. Grand Ave., Tower City, PA 17980, or Williamstown United Methodist Church, 150 East St., Williamstown, PA 17098. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.dimonfuneralhome.com.
CCP Virus Updates: UK Hits Another Record Daily Deaths

The UK recorded 1,820 deaths related to the CCP virus on Wednesday, the highest daily death toll since the pandemic began last spring.

There have been 38,905 new cases within the latest 24-hour period, according to official figures.

Beijing City Detects UK Variant Virus Patients

Authorities in Beijing announced that the capital detected the countrys first outbreak of the new UK variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Due to the lack of transparent information from Chinese authorities, it is unclear whether there have been other outbreaks of the UK variant in the country, nor exactly how many people were detected with the mutated virus.

Meanwhile, several more regions in northern China went under lockdown in an attempt to curb the spread of the CCP virus.

35.9 Million Doses of Vaccines Distributed

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it had administered 16,525,281 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the country as of Wednesday morning and distributed 35,990,150 doses.

The tally of vaccine doses are for both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, vaccines as of 6:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, the agency said.

Portugal Sets Records in One of Worlds Worst Pandemic Surges

Portugals new daily virus cases jumped to more than 14,600 to set a new national record Wednesday, as the country weathers one of the worst pandemic surges in the world.

Health authorities officially reported 14,647 new infectionsabout 3,600 more than the previous daily record set four days ago. The surge shows no sign of easing, with the government and health experts predicting it will peak next week.

Netherlands Proposes First Curfew Since WWII

The Dutch government on Wednesday proposed the first nationwide curfew since World War Two and a ban on flights from South Africa and Britain in its toughest moves yet to limit the spread of the CCP virus in the Netherlands.

The flight ban, which Prime Minister Mark Rutte said also will apply to all South American countries, will begin on Saturday. The curfew was expected to take effect this weekend, he said. The curfew would allow only people with pressing needs to leave their homes between 8:30 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. local time.

Lidl Offers $200 to US Workers to Get Vaccination

German discount supermarket chain Lidl said on Wednesday it is providing an extra $200 to all its U.S. employees who get vaccinated for COVID-19, as states make shots more widely available.

The announcement follows similar moves from peers Aldi and Dollar General Corp, as well as grocery delivery firm Instacart, with Lidls incentive among the biggest a company has offered its U.S. workers so far.

China, WHO Should Have Acted Quicker, Panel Says

A panel of experts commissioned by the World Health Organization has criticized China and other countries for not moving to stem the initial outbreak of the CCP virus earlier, and questioned whether the UN health agency should have labeled it a pandemic sooner.

What is clear to the panel is that public health measures could have been applied more forcefully by local and national health authorities in China in January, said the panel, which was led by former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

US Death Toll Tops 400,000

The U.S. death toll from the CCP virus eclipsed 400,000 on Tuesday, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. It is nearly equal to the number of Americans killed in World War II.

It is just short of the estimated 409,000 Americans who died in 2019 of strokes, Alzheimers disease, diabetes, flu, and pneumonia combined. A widely cited model by the University of Washington projects the death toll will reach nearly 567,000 by May 1.

California Rep. Ruiz Tests Positive Hours Before Inauguration

Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) announced Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19, hours before the presidential inauguration.

Ruiz said in a statement on Twitter that he had taken multiple tests for the CCP virus in recent days ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

India to Supply Vaccine to Neighboring Nations

India began supplying CCP virus vaccines to its neighboring countries on Wednesday, as the worlds largest vaccine making nation strikes a balance between maintaining enough doses to inoculate its own people and helping developing countries without the capacity to produce their own shots.

Indias Foreign Ministry said the country would send 150,000 shots of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, manufactured locally by Serum Institute of India, to Bhutan and 100,000 shots to the Maldives on Wednesday. Vaccines will also be sent to Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and the Seychelles in the coming weeks, the ministry said.

Chinese Locals Claim Authorities Are Concealing Outbreaks Severity

The severity of the recent surge of COVID-19 infections in Qiqihar, the second-largest city in Chinas northeastern Heilongjiang Province, has been concealed by officials, locals say. The Epoch Times interviewed Qiqihar residents on Jan. 18 and learned that the city has been locked down since last week, and many residential buildings were sealed off by authorities as part of measures to curb the spread of the CCP virus.

A Qiqihar resident, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, confirmed that the city has been in a state of lockdown since last week. He told The Epoch Times that trains and buses have halted services, locals are unable to travel, express delivery has been suspended, shopping malls and restaurants are closed, and only some small shops are open for business.

Billionaire Australian Andrew Forrest Hospitalized

Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest tested positive for the CCP virus during a global tour to seek out renewable energy projects. Despite being hospitalized with high-level care in a Swiss hospital for several days, he managed to complete his four-month tour, which lasted from August to December and spanned 47 countries.

I would rather have not caught COVID but it hasnt harmed me. Im still as fit as a fiddle but the big thing is that it enabled us to put together a suite of assets to create a supply of renewable fuels and products which could rival the fossil-fuel sector, he said. Forrest was fortunate enough to not need a respirator and continued his work while being hospitalized.

UK Variant Found in Czech Republic

The fast-spreading CCP virus variant first identified in the UK has been found in the Czech Republic, a health official confirmed. The National Institute of Public Health confirmed its findings after it announced over the weekend it was testing suspected samples.

Health Minister Jan Blatny said the variant accounts for about 10 percent of all sequenced samples in the country. No further details were provided.

Alexander Zhang, Nicole Hao, Zachary Stieber, Alex Wu, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Priti Patel has claimed in a leaked recording that she pushed for the UK to close its borders at the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year.

Ms Patel said on the question of whether British borders should have been closed earlier 'the answer is yes, I was an advocate of closing them last March'.

The remarks, made during a Zoom call last night with the Conservative Friends of India group and first published by the Guido Fawkes website, will pile the pressure on Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister has faced sustained criticism from Labour over why the Government failed to roll-out tougher border restrictions earlier in the Covid-19 crisis.

A requirement for all arrivals in the UK to have a negative test came into force on Monday this week but critics have been calling for months for the Government to introduce the measure.

Priti Patel said in a leaked recording that she had pushed for the UK's borders to be closed at the start of the pandemic in March last year

Ms Patel told the meeting of Tory supporters: 'On 'should we have closed our borders earlier' the answer is yes, I was an advocate of closing them last March''

A Home Office Spokesman said: 'We have strong measures at the border in place which are vital as we roll out the vaccine.'

The comments are likely to ignite a political firestorm, with Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party immediately pouncing on them as he tweeted: 'What a pity Boris Johnson didn't listen to Priti Patel.'

Earlier this month Labour had accused the Government of 'leaving a substantial gap in the nation's defences against this terrible virus' by failing to introduce tougher border measures.

Responding to the leaked recording, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labour's shadow home secretary, said: 'This is a shocking admission from the Home Secretary about the Government's failure to secure the UK's borders against Covid.

'Priti Patel's admission, coupled with the complete lack of strategy for testing of travellers, means that the Government has left our doors open to the virus and worrying mutations.

'Ministers now need to - urgently - review and overhaul border policy, whilst taking responsibility for the huge damage their incompetence has done to our national safety and security.'

Ms Patel's comments were raised at Prime Minister's Questions at lunchtime as Sir Keir Starmer asked Mr Johnson why he had 'overruled' the Home Secretary.

Mr Johnson replied: I think it was last March that the right honourable gentleman along with many others was actually saying that we didnt need to close borders but as usual Captain Hindsight has changed his tune to suit events.

He added: We are doing everything we can to protect the British public which I think is what he would expect and that is why we have instituted one of the toughest border regimes in the world, that is why we insist that you have to get a test 72 hours before you fly, there must be a passenger locator form which you have to provide and then you must quarantine for 10 days or five days if you do a second test.

Sir Keir accused the PM of dodging the question and said: He talks of hindsight, what the Home Secretary said last night, it is not disrupted, is that she was saying last March, this is not hindsight, she, the Home Secretary, was saying to the Prime Minister you need to shut your borders. She was saying it.

So I repeat the question the Prime Minister avoided: Why did he overrule the Home Secretary who claims that she said last March that we should shut our borders?

Mr Johnson replied: We have instituted one of the toughest border regimes in the world and it was only last March that he along with many others in his party were continuing to support an open border approach.

I must say that the whole experience of listening to the right honourable gentleman over the last few months has really been like watching a weather vane spin round and round depending on where the breezes are blowing.

Sir Keir Starmer today asked Boris Johnson why he had 'overruled' the Home Secretary on border measures. The PM insisted the UK has 'one of the toughest border regimes in the world'

Arrivals in the UK now have to have a negative test for coronavirus before travelling - a requirement which came into force on Monday this week. Heathrow Airport is pictured.

Asked why Mr Johnson had 'ignored' Ms Patel on the issue, the PM's Official Spokesman said: I am not going to get into the detail of private conversations but I would point back to the measures that we have introduced to ensure that we are not allowing the virus to be re-imported into the UK given the hard work that the public has undertaken to suppress and try and control the virus.

Asked if the PM still has full confidence in the Home Secretary, the spokesman said: Yes he does.'

In mid-March, the UK abandoned asking people to quarantine for two weeks after arriving from areas with high infection rates, such as Hubei province in China and Italy.

The decision was in contrast to many other countries, such as New Zealand, which has been widely praised for getting the pandemic under control, partly through strict quarantine measures for arrivals.

The UK Government introduced blanket quarantine restrictions in June for all international travellers, except those coming from Ireland, while 'travel corridors' with countries deemed to have safe levels of infection were established a month later.

Ministers this week suspended all travel corridors and introduced new rules requiring arrivals to produce a negative coronavirus test taken up to 72 hours before departure and to self-isolate for up to 10 days after entering the UK, in a move designed to prevent new strains of Covid-19 being imported.

Ms Patel insisted during a broadcast round this morning that the Government had followed scientific advice over border controls.

She told BBC Breakfast: 'Government has listened to a range of advice and followed advice from professionals and advisers  medical and scientific  from day one of this pandemic and there has been collective decision making across the board.

'When it comes to border measures, for example, there was a lot of work that took place last year, both in transport and in the Home Office, but also working with the scientists who advised us at the time when coronavirus was incredibly high that it would not have made a difference to have taken border measures.'

Mr Johnson announced the latest changes to border control at a Downing Street press conference on Friday January 15.

He said: 'To protect us against the risk of as yet unidentified new strains, we will also temporarily close all travel corridors from 0400 on Monday.

'Following conversations with the devolved administrations, we will act together so that this applies across the whole of UK

'This means that if you come to this country, you must have proof of a negative Covid test that you have taken in the 72 hours before leaving and you must have filled in your Passenger Locator Form, and your airline will ask for proof of both before you take off.

'You may also be checked when you land and face substantial fines for refusing to comply

'And, upon arrival, you must then quarantine for ten days  not leaving your home for any reason at all, or take another test on day 5 and wait for proof of another negative result. And we will be stepping up our enforcement  both at the border and in-country.'
s main product candidate is Vyrologix, an injectable antibody that shows promise as an anti-viral agent

The company is preparing to release data from a Phase 2b/3 coronavirus study

Two Phase 3 HIV trials have been completed

What CytoDyn does:

CytoDyn Inc ( ), a Vancouver, Washington-based late-stage biotechnology company, is developing Vyrologix (leronlimab or PRO 140) to battle multiple diseases. Most significantly, it is working to develop a significant advance in HIV treatment beyond the AIDS cocktail combination of pills that has kept millions of people alive since the mid-1990s.

Vyrologix is an injectable antibody that shows promise as an antiviral agent with fewer side effects, lower toxicity and less frequent doses than daily therapies currently in use for the treatment of HIV.

The drug targets CCR5, a cell receptor that is the entry point for most strains of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. The company agreed in 2012 to acquire Vyrologix from its developer, Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc ( ).

Vyrologix has been granted Fast Track designation by the FDA for the treatment of HIV in combination with the cocktail known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, which a rare variety of the condition that doesnt respond to some treatments.

CytoDyn is also exploring Vyrologix's use in the treatment of cancer, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases and even the coronavirus (COVID-19).

How is it doing:

On the COVID-19 front, CytoDyn has completed a Phase 2 clinical trial (CD10) for mild-to-moderate affected patients in the US. which produced statistically significant results for NEWS2.

The company has also completed enrollment of 390 patients in a Phase 2b/3 randomized clinical trial for severe-to-critical COVID-19 patients and expects to release results in early 2021.

In December, 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted a request for an open-label extension to the Phase 3 trial (CD12), meaning that hospitals previously participating in the trial have the option of enrolling additional eligible patients until further notice from the FDA or CytoDyn.

Additionally, the company filed a protocol with the FDA in November for a Phase 2 trial of Vyrologix for coronavirus long-haulers, whose symptoms persist even after the virus has left the body. The plan is to enroll 102 patients at 10 sites.

Meanwhile, Cytodyn also announced in December that the first patient has been enrolled for its Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The trial is designed to test whether Vyrologix may inhibit the devastating liver fibrosis associated with NASH, which it had success doing in previous animal models.

With regard to HIV and AIDS, CytoDyn has successfully completed a pair of Phase 3 pivotal trials: one of which tested Vyrologix in combination with standard antiretroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients and another which examined Vyrologix as a once-weekly monotherapy for HIV-infected patients.

The company plans to initiate a registration-directed study of Vyrologix monotherapy indication, which, if successful, could support a label extension. Clinical results to date from multiple trials have shown that Vyrologix can significantly reduce viral burden in people infected with HIV.

CytoDyn is also currently conducting a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of Vyrologix in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

Inflection points:

Results from Phase 3 COVID-19 trial expected soon

Address feedback from the FDA with regard to INDs and BLAs

Continue to secure funding

What the boss says:

CytoDyn CEO Nader Pourhassan has said: "We believe [Vyrologix] will be an important part of many therapeutics including HIV, cancer and now NASH. We also hope to play a critical role in reducing mortality in patients infected with COVID-19.

As a pre-revenue public company, we are always mindful of funding. With [Vyrologix]s many potential indications and finishing our quarter-end with significant cash on hand, we believe we are well-positioned to move this company forward.

Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel
PODGORICA -- Montenegro's parliament has approved changes to a controversial law on religion that has dominated politics in the Balkan country for more than a year.

The amendments to the Law on Freedom of Religion were backed by 41 deputies in the 81-seat legislature in a January 20 vote that was boycotted by the opposition.

The amendments repeal provisions that have been contested by the Serbian Orthodox Church, its supporters, and pro-Serbian parties.

Thousands of people have protested against amending the law, calling it "treason."

Lawmakers had already passed the changes in December, after the long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) lost its majority in parliament following general elections in August.

But President Milo Djukanovic, who heads the now opposition DPS, refused to sign the amendments citing "procedural reasons."

According to the constitution, the president cannot refuse to sign the legislation after a second vote in parliament.

However, the Constitutional Court must still rule on the constitutionality of parliament's actions on December 29, when the amendments were initially approved.

The original law, adopted in December 2019, required religious communities to prove property ownership from before 1918.

That is the year when predominantly Orthodox Christian Montenegro joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes -- and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church was subsumed by the Serbian Orthodox Church, losing all of its property in the process.

Under the new amendments, the government needs to launch legal proceedings if it wants to dispute the ownership of any properties.

After taking over last month, the coalition government of Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic proposed rewriting the law to ensure that properties stay in the hands of the church, which is based in neighboring Serbia.
Brett Coomer / Staff photographer

Harlandale Independent School District is encouraging families to switch back to at-home learning for the next few weeks in response to the rise in local COVID-19 cases.

HISD Superintendent Gerardo Soto sent a letter to families in the district asking them to consider transitioning back to online learning if possible.
The objective of the incoming Biden Administration is to continue elevating the US' defense partnership with India, the Defense Secretary nominee told lawmakers. If confirmed, my overarching objective for our defense relationship with India would be to continue elevating the partnership, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. President-elect Joe Biden has nominated him as his Defense Secretary.

I would further operationalise Indias 'Major Defense Partner' status and continue to build upon existing strong defense cooperation to ensure the US and Indian militaries can collaborate to address shared interests, Austin said in response to a question submitted before his confirmation hearing.

He said he would also seek to deepen and broaden the defense cooperation between India and the US through the Quad security dialogue and other regional multilateral engagements. Austin said his understanding is that Pakistan has taken constructive steps to meet US requests in support of the Afghanistan peace process. Pakistan has also taken steps against anti-Indian groups, such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, although this progress is incomplete, he said.

Many factors in addition to the security assistance suspension may impact Pakistans cooperation, including Afghanistan negotiations and the dangerous escalation following the Pulwama terrorist attack, Austin said.

President Donald Trump had suspended all the financial and security aid to Pakistan in 2018 citing lack of cooperation from Islamabad in the fight against terrorism. If confirmed, Austin said he will press Pakistan to prevent its territory from being used as a sanctuary for militants and violent extremist organizations. Continuing to build relationships with Pakistans military will provide openings for the United States and Pakistan to cooperate on key issues, he said.

Austin said he will focus on the shared interests which include training future Pakistan military leaders through the use of International Military Education and Training funds. Pakistan will play an important role in any political settlement in Afghanistan. We also need to work with Pakistan to defeat al-Qaeda and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and to enhance regional stability, he said.

Observing that Pakistan is an essential partner in any peace process in Afghanistan, Austin said that if confirmed, he will encourage a regional approach that garners support from neighbours like Pakistan, while also deterring regional actors from serving as spoilers to the Afghanistan peace process.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Mining Capital's Alastair Ford talks to Proactive about 's ( ) who unveiled results this week from their preliminary economic assessment (PEA) of the Parys Mountain copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver project.

Ford discusses the potential for the mine in terms of production as well as the prospect of creating 120-150 new jobs for the community, Anglesey Mining represents an exciting opportunity for the area.
The nutraceutical products are expected to serve as an entry point into a new product category in Asia via various Alibaba platforms

FastForward Innovations Ltd ( ) has flagged a deal between two of its investee companies, Group and Yoona Corp.

Under the new agreement, Asia-focused CBD and wellness social commerce company Yooma Corp has been given an exclusive license to EMMAC's wellness brands, including Blossom, MYO, Hello Joya and What the Hemp, for distribution and sale in China, Japan, Taiwan and Australia, as well as non-exclusive distribution rights in certain other global markets.

EMMACs Blossom brand is a premium quality CBD skincare and wellness products, MYO is a nutritional supplements brand combining high-quality plant ingredients with cannabinoids and other active ingredients, while What The Hemp and Hello Joya are both plant-based hemp snack brands currently sold in France and the UK.

Toronto-headquartered Yooma said it intends to integrate the EMMAC brands into its existing sales channels in Asia, including cross-border ecommerce in China on various Alibaba platforms, such as TMall.

Yooma chief executive Ron Wardle said the nutraceutical products will serve as an entry point for Yooma into this new product category, and exclusive licensing of Blossom will facilitate the opening of a TMall flagship store.

EMMAC boss Antonio Costanzo, CEO of EMMAC, said: We are very pleased to be partnering with Yooma. Their expertise in CBD Lifestyle brands as well as their established footprint in Asia will bring immediate scale and expertise to our exciting portfolio of wellness brands. We look forward to seeing increased momentum in product sales in new and emerging markets, as well as building momentum in Europe.

FastForward has a 2.3% interest in the issued stock of EMMAC and a 10.65% interest in the issued stock of Yooma.

BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Bilfinger said that Tom Blades has resigned as a member of the executive board and chief executive officer with immediate effect. The company's chief financial officer Christina Johansson assumes the duties of CEO and Labor Director on an interim basis, retaining her current functions. The company stated that, in order to ensure a smooth transition, Tom Blades has agreed to be available to provide further support to the company. 'The Supervisory Board of Bilfinger SE and CEO Tom Blades (64) today mutually have agreed to comply with Tom Blades' request today not to extend his contract beyond June 30, 2021 for personal reasons and against the background of his reaching the age of 65,' Bilfinger said in a statement. The company confirmed its outlook for the 2020 financial year. For 2021, the company expects a significant improvement in sales and earnings. The company noted that it will publish the preliminary figures for financial year 2020 and the forecast for 2021 on February 11, 2021. 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.
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(Natural News) A health worker in Portugal died just two days after she received Pfizers coronavirus vaccine. Forty-eight-year-old Sonia Acevedo passed away Jan. 1 after being vaccinated for COVID-19 on Dec. 30. The mother of two and health worker at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology (IPO) in the city of Porto did not report any adverse effects following immunization.

Sonias father Abilio Acevedo told Portuguese paper Correio da Manha that she was okay and had no health problems. She had the COVID-19 vaccine, but she didnt have any symptoms. I dont know what happened. I just want answers. I want to know what lead to my daughters death, he said.

According to the elder Acevedo, he received a call informing him that Sonia was found dead the morning of Jan. 1. He remarked that they even ate together on New Years Eve, saying: My daughter left home and I never saw her alive again.

Acevedo had worked at IPO Porto for more than a decade, being assigned at the pediatrics department. She lived with her family in the municipality of Maia near Porto, but died at her partners residence in the Trofa municipality. Sonias daugher Vania Figueredo said her mother had only complained about the normal discomfort in the area where she was injected, but otherwise she felt fine.

The IPO confirmed that the 48-year-old health worker at the Porto IPO pediatrics ward had been vaccinated Dec. 30. It added that Acevedo did not report any undesirable effect following her vaccination. Nevertheless, it said in a statement: The [Porto IPO] board of directors  expresses sincere regret to family and friends in the certainty that this loss is also felt here.

The hospitals statement continued: The explanation of the cause of death will follow the usual procedures in these circumstances. An autopsy on Acevedo is expected to take place. Meanwhile, the Portuguese Ministry of Health had been informed of the unfortunate incident.

Acevedo was among more than 500 Porto IPO staff members vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab after it received emergency use approval in Europe. Wuhan coronavirus cases in Portugal rose sharply after a relatively mild first wave, and have spiked again since Christmas.

Based on Johns Hopkins University data, Portugal has a 431,623 COVID-19 caseload with 344,419 recoveries and 7,196 deaths.

Acevedos death is just one of many serious health risks reported from Pfizers coronavirus jab

Even before Acevedos sudden death, there have been reports of adverse reactions from people being injected with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, four volunteers who participated in the vaccines clinical trials developed Bells palsy  a form of facial paralysis  sometime after receiving the jab. The volunteers affected by the facial paralysis eventually recovered. The American regulator revealed the side effect in a report it released days before it reviewed the emergency use authorization for the vaccine. Nevertheless, it approved the Pfizer/BioNTech jab Dec. 11  with mass immunizations commencing soon after.

Following the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccines authorization in both the U.S. and the U.K., health workers and elderly citizens were the first ones to receive the vaccines. However, health workers themselves experienced adverse reactions during mass immunization programs meant to protect them from the Wuhan coronavirus.

Two health workers from the U.K. National Health Service experienced severe anaphylactoid reactions after being injected with the vaccine last Dec. 8. As a result of this reported issue, the British medical regulator issued new guidance warning that any person with a history of a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food should not receive Pfizers vaccine. (Related: UK to deploy resuscitation facilities in coronavirus vaccination centers to treat wave of allergic reactions caused by vaccines.)

Meanwhile, an American health worker fainted moments after she received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine last Dec. 17. Nurse manager Tiffany Dover lost consciousness amid coronavirus vaccinations at CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Fortunately, one of the doctors behind Dover managed to catch her. When she regained consciousness, Dover told News Channel 9 that she often faints whenever she feels pain.

CHI Memorial Medical Director for Critical Medicine Dr. Jesse Tucker said what happened to Dover is a reaction that can happen very frequently with any vaccine. The medical director who was also vaccinated on that day remarked: No reason to suspect that [Dovers fainting was] due to the vaccine whatsoever.

Visit VaccineDeaths.com to read more about the dangers of vaccines against the Wuhan coronavirus.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk 1

Coronavirus.JHU.edu

DailyMail.co.uk 2

FDA.gov

WSJ.com

NewsChannel9.com
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The body of a British man has been found in a remote Austrian mountain hut after he died from carbon monoxide poisoning two months previously.

The man, 36, who has not been named, had been living in the municipality of Buers in the district of Bludenz where he had a job as a ski instructor in the winter months and a guide in the summer months.

He is thought to have been dead for months before his body was found frozen in the hut, located 1,600 metres up the mountain.

The body of a British man has been found in a remote Austrian mountain hut , pictured above and below, after he died from carbon monoxide poisoning two months previously

He is thought to have been dead for months before his body was found frozen in the hut, located 1,600 metres up the mountain

Police say it was unclear if the man was caught unexpectedly in the mountains, and had decided to seek shelter there rather than trying to make it back down into the valley, or whether he had been squatting there.

Either way, authorities said that he had forced his way into the Alpine hut, unaware that part of the procedure of securing the huts for the winter also involved removing the chimney and sealing it with a metal plate to ensure snow cannot get inside.

This had been done on November 15 when the hut was last visited.

The man lit a fire inside the hut and subsequently died from carbon monoxide poisoning after failing to unseal the metal plate from the chimney.

After the fire died down, temperatures inside of the hut then plummeted, freezing the man's body which was found two months later by two members of the Austrian Alpine Association.

Police have confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the man's death.

A police spokesman said: 'We believe he forced his way into the hut in order to spend the night there.

The man, 36, who has not been named, had been living in the municipality of Buers in the district of Bludenz. File image of Bludenz above

'We know that the body was there for some time, but the exact amount of time is under investigation.

'It's also unclear whether he was squatting there or had been seeking shelter overnight.

'We found some evidence that he had used a gas heater for a while, before then using the fire when that ran out.'

The spokesperson added: 'The Sarotla-Huette mountain hut is located 1600m up the mountain and is actually three huts combined into one.

'One is a small restaurant, another is for local farmers and shepherds, and the third is organised by the Austrian Alpine Association, responsible for maintaining alpine huts.'

The incident comes after 39-year-old British man Jamie Clark lost his life in an avalanche on the Swiss Alps earlier this week.

Clark was killed when snow engulfed ten people off-piste in Les Attelas area near Verbier at around 10.20am on Monday morning.

Helicopters, ski patrol and dog teams rushed to the avalanche to save the skiers, but Mr Clark was declared dead at the scene.

Jamie Clark, 38, from Doncaster, died on Monday morning in an avalanche in Verbier, Switzerland

The budding chocolatier, originally from South Yorkshire, had been living in Verbier for much of the last decade.

The avalanche happened below the Attelas ski lift area when snow came loose.

The local police force said: 'At around 10.20am, a skier was driving down a corridor below the "Attelas" area.

'A snow drift came loose and carried the skier as well as another person who had been further down at the time. The flow then buried eight other skiers who were even lower.'
ROME - A large fire that broke out over the night in the main oil refinery in the Syrian city of Homs caused significant material damage. The incident came as the country is again suffering a serious lack of fuel for vehicles and home use due to repeated attacks attributed to the Islamic State (ISIS) on oil tankers bringing crude oil from eastern regions towards Homs. The Syrian government-run SANA news agency and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) both stated that the cause of the fire is unclear but that it involved at least three to four oil tankers that were unloading crude oil into storage tanks at the Homs refinery. SANA quoted the oil ministry as saying that no one was hurt in the fire. The government had recently reduced the amount of fuel distributed to petrol stations and increased the price of oil derivatives. The Damascus authorities claim that ISIS are behind attacks that for days have been targeting oil traffic from Deir al-Zor towards Homs. About 10 oil tankers have been set alight or blown up in the past two weeks and in recent days Damascus has resumed accusing the US - which laid down more sanctions on Syria in recent months - of suffocating the economy of the country at war and dealing with a prolonged lack of fuel, grains, and other basic materials.
Appointment

20 January 2021

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announces the appointment of Tobias Schulz as Senior Director of F&B Business Development across EMEA. Tobias will be working alongside owners, properties and key partners on business opportunities and collaborations for Hilton's portfolio of F&B concepts across EMEA. He brings in-depth industry knowledge and experience, following a 13-year career working at leading hospitality and restaurant companies.

Tobias has a BA in Hospitality Management from Hotelschool The Hague and started his career working for Hyatt in Europe. In 2011, he joined HMSHost International where he worked in various roles from concept development, marketing and most recently as Director of Business Development Asia Pacific, based in Vietnam.

Tobias brings multi-market experience, having worked in London, Europe, Australia and across Asia. He specialises in Business and Restaurant Development, as well as Food Service operations. He speaks four languages and recently completed a High Impact Leadership programme at Insead University in Singapore. He will be based at the Hilton's Dubai regional office, reporting directly to Hilton's VP of F&B, Emma Banks.

Hilton has 549 hotels trading in EMEA, of which 58 are in the Middle East. Hilton operates more than 540 managed restaurants and bars across EMEA, and more than 290 managed restaurants and bars across the Middle East as part of a range of different F&B concepts.
January 20 : Actor Kunaal Roy Kapur, who has recently starred in a film titled Tribhanga - Tedhi Medhi Crazy, has said that he wasnt sure about playing character of Milan in a social drama film as he has played most of comical roles in the past. He added saying that films director Renuka Shahane had faith in him and after that things got easy for him while shooting for the film.

Kunaal Roy Kapur was interacting with News Helpline on Tuesday in Mumbai.

Written and directed by Renuka Shahane, Tribhanga - Tedhi Medhi Crazy stars Kajol, Tanvi Azmi and Mithila Palkar in the leading roles, the film revolves around a dysfunctional family of three women and their unconventional life choices. The title is derived from an indian classical dance pose from Odissi, which is described as imperfect but beautiful quite like the lives of the three women.

In the film, Kapur plays the role of Milan, a writer who is helping Nayantara (Tanvi Azmi) in writing her autobiography. Talking about his role in the film, Kapur said, Renuka (Shahane) and Siddharth P Malhotra (producer of the film) approached me for this role. When I went through the whole script, I wasnt very confident because my background is not very similar to the character, so I was quite concerned whether I would be able to play the character but Renuka had full faith in me.

He added, It was a very different role for me because I have mostly played comedy roles in the past. Even this role had some subtle comical elements but its a very serious role otherwise but Renuka instilled that confidence in me. In the film, I speak very fluent Hindi but in real life, I speak very Mumbaiya Hindi, so it was a bit difficult for me but I took it up as a challenge to try and do something different, so it was a great experience for me working on this film.

Talking about audience feedback about his character in the film, Kapur said, I have been getting a lot of messages and calls from my family and friends. They are very happy with the film and my performance in it, so I am lapping up all the love and attention. It feels nice when your work is appreciated, so I am feeling happy at the moment.

Talking about his experience working with Kajol in the film who is considered as one of prominent actresses of the film industry, he said, She is very outspoken as a person in this film and in real life as well. She doesnt have that many inhibitions as a person. It didnt feel like I am working with a superstar of Indian film industry. She was very cooperative on the sets of the film, so it was a very comfortable environment while shooting for the film.

Tribhanga - Tedhi Medhi Crazy released on Netflix on 15th January.

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(TNS)  Oklahoma's mobile ID app will now let residents upload documents needed for a REAL ID-compliant license to their phone.This latest version of the app debuts less than a year before Oklahomans will need REAL ID to board an airplane, enter federal buildings or visit military bases.By uploading a copy of theircard, birth certificate and two proofs of residence through their phone's mobile ID app, state officials hope they can shorten in-person wait times at tag agencies andoffices. At some locations, an appointment can only be scheduled two months out."All of our offices completely closed to the public for about a month at the beginning of the pandemic, said DPS spokeswoman. "And then we also had to have employees serving in functions like taking peoples' temperature when they came in the front door, and making sure they sign the log."All that happened soon afterfinally implemented a way for residents to acquire a REAL ID card.What is REAL ID?REAL ID is the federal standard adopted 15 years ago that increased security and authentication procedures for driver's licenses and identity cards.lawmakers resisted adopting the standards for state IDs, and only recently began handing out cards that meet REAL ID standards.In October, anyone boarding a commercial aircraft, entering a federal building or visiting a military base will need a REAL ID-compliance card. Passports and military IDs already meet those standards, but those using only a state-issued card will need the updated version.With the newest version ofmobile ID app, users can start their REAL ID application from home.is really excited about that feature of the app, because it's going to cut down on in-person office times and allow people to start from the comfort of their own home," Stewart said.After uploading the necessary documents, you'll make an appointment with a tag agent or DPS office, because the law still requires in-person verification with the actual documents.Using the app, however, is meant to avoid the time it takes scanning each document in the office."We have to lay our eyes on it, but you don't have to scan them in so it makes the process a lot quicker," Stewart said.It also ensures residents have all the correct documents they'll need before arriving at the office.Aboutmobile IDMobile ID is a digitized version of a physical driver's license that allows citizens to store their identity via an app on their smartphone. According to, the company that developed the app and also maintainsphysical ID infrastructure, the technology will transform the way citizens display their identity with unprecedented security and privacy controls that allows the individual to determine who they share personal information with, and what information they share.The app can be downloaded through theor Google Play store.was the first state to fully roll out a mobile ID. With an ID on their smartphone, users can verify their identity online while limiting which information to send to a retailer or government agency that's requesting verification.Users can also use the ID in face-to-face transactions where it's accepted."You can share your legal identity and have it verified without having to hand over something physically, which obviously in a corporate world is something that businesses and people alike are trying to minimize," said, senior vice president of civil identity forThe company is developing applications to help businesses and government agencies communicate with the app."That's going to just drive the usage of it, because at the end of the day, a credential is only as good as the number of places you can use it," Thompson said.Mobile ID safety and privacyconsiders a mobile ID to have more "baked-in" privacy protections than a physical ID card that someone might carry in their wallet. Personal information is stored only on the phone and at theNo information is stored on the cloud. The app can only be accessed through security features that prevent others from accessing your phone, like a fingerprint or facial verification.The app lets you disclose only the information you want to give out. Thompson said the barcode on the back of a physical ID contains all the information on the front of the card."In many cases, businesses strip and pull down all that data, and you don't know what they're pulling down and you don't know what they're storing," Thomspon said.But with the mobile ID, he said, the user must consent to what information they're willing to share.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 23:00:48|Editor: huaxia

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MUSCAT, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Omani health ministry on Wednesday announced 171 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the sultanate to 132,317, the official Oman News Agency reported.

Meanwhile, 181 people recovered during the past 24 hours, taking the overall recoveries to 124,579, while no new death was reported, keeping the tally at 1,516, according to a ministry statement quoted by ONA.

The ministry urged everyone to adhere to social distancing instructions by the supreme COVID-19 committee. Enditem
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
(Source: Fullerton Health)

By Elffie Chew and Joyce Koh

(Bloomberg) -- Singaporean medical services provider Fullerton Healthcare Corp. has chosen Bank of America Corp. to advise it on a sale as the coronavirus pandemic drives increasing interest in health care companies, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The potential sale would not include Fullerton Healths operations in Australia, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is private. The owners of the medical chain, including Singaporean private equity firm SIN Capital Group, are reviving the previously stalled sale because the pandemic has helped boost Fullerton Healths business, said one of the people.

The companys annualized earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for 2020 were about S$149 million ($112 million), another person said. The sale process could begin as soon as this quarter, the person said.

Deliberations are ongoing and the owners could choose not to proceed with the sale, the people said. A representative for Bank of America declined to comment. Representatives for Fullerton Health and SIN Capital did not respond to requests for comment.

The owners of the Singaporean firm would join Malaysias Sunway Group in seeking to sell a health-care business in the region, Bloomberg News has reported. A transaction would add to the $14.4 billion in health-care services deals that were completed in Asia Pacific in the past 12 months, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Fullerton Health was exploring options including a sale of the company or a spinoff of its digital unit in last year, Bloomberg News reported. The Singapore-based hospital operator had also sought an initial public offering back in 2018 in the U.S. after shelving plans to list in the city-state in 2016, people familiar with the matter said at the time.

Fullerton Health, which was founded in 2010, operates medical facilities in nine Asia-Pacific markets from China to Malaysia and Australia, offering general practitioner, screening and diagnostics services, according to its website. Backed by Ping An Insurance Group Co., the company is also working with WeDoctor in China to set up primary care and specialist outpatient clinics.

 2021 Bloomberg L.P.
[January 20, 2021] Lleida.net's number of investors increased by 19% in the last three months

MADRID, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of investors in the Spanish listed company Lleida.net (BME: LLN) (OTCQX: LLEIF) (EPA: ALLLN) increased by 19% in the last three months, according to official data.



Currently, it counts with 2755 investors, active in the markets of Madrid, Paris and New York are part of its capital.



Of these, 121, or 4.4 per cent, are institutional investors and companies, both in Spain, France and the United States.



This figure represents a significant increase over the 2232 shareholders the listed company had in October 2020.



"The increase in the number of shareholders the company has experienced over the last year is a clear sign that the market's confidence in us continues to be very strong," explained Sisco Sapena, CEO and founder of the company.



Sapena, as the company informed the market on January 4, continues to be its majority shareholder, with 37.49 per cent of the shares.



Last year, it became one of the best-performing companies in the European stock market, with astock valuation of over 940%.







A leader in the Digital Signature industry, it has almost 200 patents in electronic contracting and notification, granted by more than 50 countries in the five continents. Its intellectual property portfolio is one of the most important in the industry worldwide.





Currently, more than 75 countries recognise the legal validity of its electronic methods as a means of certifying legal notices in contracting processes.



The company, founded in 1995, is listed on the OTCQX index in New York, on Euronext Growth in Paris and on BME Growth in Madrid.



Early this year, the company announced a new contract with Emirates Post for the exclusive distribution of its entire suite of electronic signature and certified electronic notification services in the United Arab Emirates.



Similarly, last week, it announced the award of a new patent, for its method of producing certified electronic contracts, by the China Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).



The company, which is worth more than one hundred million euros, has increased its value by more than four per cent since it began in 2021. Contact :

The Paloma Project

Media, rpl@thepalomaproject.com

+356-7946-7486

https://Lleida.net View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lleidanets-number-of-investors-increased-by-19-in-the-last-three-months-301211577.html SOURCE Lleida.net

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The European Union's executive arm, the EU Commission, called on member states Tuesday to speed up their COVID-19 vaccination programs, saying nations should have at least 80 percent of their priority populations -- front-line workers and people over 80 -- vaccinated by March.

At a news conference in Brussels, Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas said the goal is to have 70 percent of the EU's adult population immunized by summer.

The EU has sealed six vaccine contracts for more than 2 billion doses, with Moderna, AstraZeneca-Oxford, Sanofi-GSK, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Pfizer-BioNTech and CureVac.

But only the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been approved for use so far in the bloc, enough to vaccinate 380 million people, more than 80 percent of the bloc's population.


While Johnny Depp is currently in continuous legal battles with ex Amber Heard, this is far from his most notable relationship. Back in the 90s, Depp was with fellow actor Winona Ryder, and the two seemed genuinely crazy about each other. Unfortunately, they couldnt make their relationship work.

So, what is the age difference between Depp and Ryder? Heres what we know.

Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder had a whirlwind romance that ended due to media attention

Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp during the Edward Scissorhands Premiere | Barry King/WireImage

Depp and Ryder were the it couple of the late 80s to early 90s, and its still a pairing fans talk about today. The two first met at a movie premiere in a New York theater, and Depp said it was love at first sight for the both of them. They then embarked on a whirlwind romance and decided to get engaged after dating for only five months.

Im being really honest with you when I say that theres been nothing ever throughout my twenty-seven years thats comparable to the feeling I have with Winona, Depp explained to Rolling Stone at the time. Its like this weird, bounding atom or something. You can think something is the real thing, but its different when you feel it. The truth is very powerful.

Sadly, as much as the two loved each other, they couldnt make their romance last. They split in 1993 due to being hassled too much by the media. My relationship with Winona was my mistake to be as open as we were, Depp explained. I thought if we were honest, it would destroy that curiosity monster. Instead, it fed it, gave people license to feel they were part of it.

Depp is about 8 years older than Ryder

Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder attend the 1990 NATO/ShoWest Convention | Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

When Depp first locked eyes with Ryder, its unclear if he knew just how young she was. Ryder was born in 1971 and was engaged at just 19 years old. Depp was born in 1963 and was in his late 20s when engaged. While both Ryder and Depp were quite young to be going through a public romance, engagement, and breakup, Ryder was significantly younger.

Ryder noted her dramatic response to her breakup was also due to her age. I was very depressed after breaking off my engagement with Johnny, she explained to Cinema.com. I was embarrassingly dramatic at the time, but you have to remember I was only 19 years old.

Also, due to Ryders age, Depp ended up being her first real relationship and first sexual experience with anyone. When I met Johnny, I was pure virgin, she said. He changed that. He was my first everything. My first real kiss. My first real boyfriend. My first fiance. The first guy I had sex with. So hell always be in my heart. Forever. Kind of funny, that word.

Depp reportedly wanted to marry another woman 30 years younger than him

Johnny Depp performs on stage at Celebrity Theatre on Dec. 14, 2019 | Daniel Knighton/Getty Images

RELATED: Is This Proof Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie Were Romantically Involved?

Now, Depp and Ryder have gone their separate ways. But Depps built up a reputation for dating much younger women. While his age difference with Ryder was acceptable at the time, hes since had rumored romances with women over 20 years younger than him. Heard, for example, is 23 years younger than Depp.

One of Depps most notorious dating blunders was with a woman who was 30 years younger than him. According to The Sun, Depp was dating dancer Polina Glen when he was 55. She was in her 20s.

Polina said that they are going to get married and that he wants to go to Russia to meet her parents, a source told The Sun in 2019.

It seems the marriage didnt happen, though. And its likely for the best, as Depp would certainly be scrutinized for dating yet another woman whos half his age.

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Nine years after Carrol A. Butch Thomas retired as the first Black superintendent of Beaumont ISD, his name and the legacy of his 16-year tenure are again the topic of debate.

The School Board on Thursday is set to discuss, and vote on, a proposal to rename the districts football stadium to honor him and emblazon his name across its concrete exterior, which is visible from Interstate 10 on the citys western edge.

A board appointed by the Texas Education Agency to run the district voted in 2018 to strip Thomas name from the facility and rename it Memorial Stadium in the wake of serious financial mismanagement under his leadership. That included a $388.6 million bond issue that included funds for the stadium.

The removal of Thomas name was completed a year ago, but it has never set well with the many in the Black community.

I dont think the board of managers should have had the authority to take it down, trustee Darrell Antwine said Tuesday. That should have been left to an elected board.

Antwine, who said he has not yet decided how he will vote on the matter, argues that much of the blame over the mismanaged funds is misplaced.

There is no way in the world as a board member I am going to let (Superintendent Shannon) Allen control $389 million, he said. That is the boards job. And when the board allowed Thomas to have that much authority  that is their fault.

The decision to rename the $45 million stadium came after a three-year debate in which detractors cited mismanagement of the bond issue and the subsequent state takeover after Thomas retired in 2012.

A forensic audit of the bond issue completed in 2015 harshly criticized Thomas and his administration for mismanagement of the money, including approving payment for work that was not done and agreeing to budget changes without board oversight.

Last month, BISD board members quietly slipped an item about a potential name change onto a meeting agenda. No one at the time would discuss any specifics of what alternative was being considered, and the public discussion was delayed.

There was no confirmation until Monday night, when a pair of agenda items  to name both the field and the stadium for Thomas  were placed on the agenda for this weeks meeting.

The lack of information didnt stop tensions from boiling over. BISD faced a heated backlash on social media. Antwine said he got a call from someone who thought he had placed the item on the agenda. The caller spewed a hateful racial epithet.

I hung up the phone in their face, Antwine told The Enterprise in an interview. Ive never thought about putting it on the agenda. My thing since the time Ive been on the board, and 25 years of volunteering has always been about the kids and the teachers.

Board President Thomas Sigee told The Enterprise that the unnamed caller was irresponsible.

In my opinion, that is the mark of a coward, he said. That is not fair for anyone who has served the public as a servant, and he didnt call back and apologize to him once he found out he was not the one who put it on the agenda. There is no place in the world to be calling someone that name.

Thomas, hired in 1996, was credited with getting the district out from under the scrutiny of two TEA monitors and improving test scores, according to a 1999 Enterprise article.

He also was able to marshal enough public and business support to pass a bond issue in 2007 after years of failed attempts.

His $152,800 annual salary rose over the years to $361,399 at the time of his departure. That made him one of the highest-paid superintendents in the state.

But that high salary and controversial decisions, including the demolition of the South Park campus, took their toll on his popularity. Shortly after he left, the TEA was back in control of the district. A conservator is still in place.

The forensic audit also found that Thomas, along with other administrators and the bond management firm Parsons, deliberately withheld information from the board about changes or provided false information.

The rapid increase in the cost of the multi-purpose complex at the heart of the current debate was among those concealed in a concerted effort by administrators, according to the reports.

After Thomas assistant superintendent, Timothy Chargois, took over as superintendent, several cases of corruption surfaced, landing four district associates in federal prison. Two others have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to probation.

Before he left the district in 2012, Thomas told The Enterprise, I wish we could have explained (the stadium project) better. I wish we could have explained bids better. If there was some misunderstanding in the bond issue, I wish I could have explained that better. But to say Im not happy with the way things are would be wrong.

Reached by phone on Tuesday, Thomas declined to comment for this article.

Irmalyn Thomas, who attended public schools in Beaumont during desegregation, is among those who find the arguments against restoring Thomas name hypocritical. She cited another building in the district that is named for a superintendent who was known to be opposed to desegregation.

So I am saying if we start changing names based on what administrations did, then we have a problem, she said.

Irmalyn Thomas, who is not related to Carrol Thomas, and others believe the deeper issue is honoring a Black man who held power in the district.

One of Thomas most vocal critics, Beaumont City Councilman Mike Getz, denied that race has anything to do with it.

I hope that the board reads the forensic audit before they vote, or at least that theyre familiar with it to understand his culpability in the mismanagement of bond funds, he said, echoing many statements he has made over the years. And that they decide that it is not appropriate to name that facility after him given that type of malfeasance.

Getz didnt disagree that the former superintendent Mike Taylor, for whom the Taylor Career Center is named, did not endear himself to the African-American community.

I dont have any feelings or opposition one way or the other about taking his name off of a building, but that hasnt been posed, he said. It hasnt been considered  that would be something that could be discussed, but thats not really before us.

Irmalyn Thomas didnt deny that funds were mismanaged in BISD.

Im not saying there arent some wrong things, she said. And Thomas has to take ownership for that. But you also have to acknowledge the good things. He rebuilt schools.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

twitter.com/isaacdwindes
(Natural News) U.S Secretary Of State Mike Pompeo issued another warning about the threats of Communist China.

(Article republished from ThePalmieriReport.com)

JUST IN  Pompeo: "Communist China is already within our borders."pic.twitter.com/XsG3PScvkf  Disclose.tv  (@disclosetv) January 16, 2021

More from his Twitter:

We cracked down on CCP influence ops inside our borders by ending United Front operations disguised as cultural exchanges, and more. Other countries are now following suit. #NoMoreAppeasement https://t.co/h0ZWfz3HkI pic.twitter.com/5ji2cD6Kvd  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 16, 2021

Protecting American universities from the CCPs malign influence is essential to academic freedom. We exposed Confucius Institutes for what they really are: hubs for disinformation and propaganda arms of the CCP. They are being closed fast across America. #NotTiredofWinning pic.twitter.com/1pdOjn8nia  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 16, 2021

This is the real story that the Mainstream Press refuses to tell you about.

China is a threat to our country.

They have spies all across our country. They have made many of our biggest corporations dependent on them.

Former Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell said that a lot more is coming out regarding Chinas connections to U.S politicians.

He pointed to China having leverage on them.

Cant wait to see what else is going to come out.

We covered a few days ago Chinas censoring of a professor claiming that China owns many U.S Politicians:

A video has surfaced of a Chinese professor bashing President Trump for taking on China.

He also said that the Chinese own people at the top of the U.S.

Leili here is a link to the original video as best as I can tell. It might be easier to read from here.https://t.co/l2JXmNUdSj  SlackerX (@SlackerX) December 8, 2020

Tucker explained everything in a segment on his show:

MUST WATCH:

Tucker Carlson segment on a video deleted from Chinese social media of a professor saying that China "has people at the top of America's core inner circle of power & influence." pic.twitter.com/h3Ygy6UlHk  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 8, 2020

Remember this next time they attack President Trump. Isnt it amazing how everything the left and the Media have claimed has been so false. It hasnt just been false either. The opposite has actually been true.

They claimed Trump was owned by Wall Street:

They were owned by Wall Street.

They claimed Trump colluded with Russia:

They colluded with China and other foreign governments.

They claimed Trump was a national security threat:

They were the National Secruity threat.

And if you think this is just some conspiracy theory. Maybe the fact the DNI has come out and said this as well will change your mind:

DNI Ratcliffe tells @CBS_Herridge that China is using blackmail, bribery and covert influence to target members of Congress and make sure only laws that are favorable to China are passed" pic.twitter.com/3hQ23hXvtF  Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) December 3, 2020

Scary stuff folks.

Read more at: ThePalmieriReport.com
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Health Department working to fix call center problems

Although it upgraded its phone operation to try to accommodate an overwhelming number of calls seeking Covid-19 vaccination appointments, the Henderson County Department of Public Health said Wednesday morning that two problems had cropped up.

The call center reopened for approximately 700 Covid-19 vaccination appointments at 8:30 a.m.

"At least one of the Call Center lines this morning was inadvertently set to funnel messages to a voicemail," the health department said. "This was an error within a new system setup that is being tested with high volume public demand for the first time today. Within minutes, hundreds of messages were left on the voicemail with no other options being provided to callers. The error has now been resolved. We regret this mistake, but need to ask anyone who left a message to please call back 828-585-4700 to schedule an appointment.



"The Health Department is also aware of an issue where some callers are being kicked out after approximately 30 minutes of waiting on hold. We are working to resolve this issue.

Before noon, Public Health Director Steve Smith said the 700 vaccine appointments had been filled.
For decades, countless children have been trapped in failing government schools. In my Administration, these children are forgotten no longer, said President Trump in a February 4, 2020 briefing. The president charted government school failure in some detail and closed out by noting that he reauthorized the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and reversed an Obama-era policy that denied scholarships to low-income students. That is true, but there was more to it.

The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, run by Congress, allows low-income students to attend the independent schools of their choice. The program is popular with African American parents but opposed by the education establishment, particularly teacher unions. The Obama administration took the establishment side by rescinding scholarships that had already been granted. The point man for the takeaway was white education secretary Arne Duncan.

As a senator and vice president, Joe Biden was never an advocate for school choice. His pick for education secretary is Miguel Cardona, who heads the government school system in Connecticut. Under the incoming administration, school choice is more likely to be rolled back than expanded.

In his first year, President Trump withdrew or delayed 1,579 planned regulatory actions accounting for some $570.4 million in savings. Excess regulations, Trump said, represents hidden tax and harmful burdens to American workers and American businesses. What Trump did not do was eliminate any wasteful federal agencies.

Widespread unemployment, and fathomless debt prevailed when the Obama administration created the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2011. The CFPB was created with no hint that government policy, regulation, or failure could have played any role in the financial crisis. The new agency was based on the premise that consumers were unable to look out for themselves without help from the federal government.

As senator or vice president, Joe Biden was never an advocate for regulatory reform, so a restoration of the Trump cuts would not be a surprise. Calls by Joe Biden to eliminate any federal agency are hard to find, and according to Marketwatch, regulatory experts expect the CFPB to be much more aggressive over the next four years.

President Trumps 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) reduced individual, estate and corporate taxes, lowered from 35 to 21 percent. As a senator and vice president, Joe Biden was never known as a tax cutter or advocate of fiscal responsibility. Joe Biden is on record that Im going to get rid of the bulk of Trumps $2 trillion tax cut, and raise the corporate rate to 28 percent.

Embattled workers might recall that through withholding, a practice dating from World War II, the government gets the workers money before the workers who earned it through their labor. No president, not even Reagan or Trump, has sought to eliminate that money-grab.

Embattled parents know that prominent Republicans and Democrats, while sending their own children to the best private schools, have not been champions of school choice for all Americans. Parents might wonder when the right to choose the school their children attend was taken away, and when, if ever, it will be restored.

Meanwhile, whatever they think about Donald Trump or Joe Biden, if Americans expect four years of reversals it would be hard to blame them.

Lloyd Billingsley is a policy fellow at the Oakland, California-based Independent Institute.

Image: GoEThe
Not only was 1/20/21 the first palindrome Inauguration Day, it wont happen again for a thousand years.

Many of the Wednesdays events also fell into the once-in-a-lifetime category.

There were the sounds. One was the hush that enveloped the National Mall in contrast to celebratory blares of the past. The other sound was a virtual one  of a glass ceiling finally shattering with Kamala Harris swearing in as vice president. It has taken our nation far too long to elect a woman to serve in the White House.

There were the masks. Yes, they have become as much a wardrobe staple as shoes, but seeing them on the faces of new President Joe Biden and predecessors Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George Bush was a grim reminder that they were making their debut at a tradition that dates back to George Washingtons inauguration in 1789.

There was the phalanx of security summoned to Washington, D.C., in the wake of the Jan. 6 riots. Its not the first time a president has been sworn in under fire. Abraham Lincoln was surrounded by the cavalry as he rode by carriage to his first ceremony. After Lincoln was elected, 11 Southern states seceded.

There was Donald Trumps absence. The image of the outgoing commander-in-chief boarding an aircraft can be inspiring, an American symbol of the transfer of power. But a petulant Trump chose to skip Bidens party, the first such snub since Andrew Johnson, who had also been impeached, did so 152 years ago.

Four years ago, we invited Americans to make a common pledge hoping for Trumps success. In the wake of the riots, it is even more important for Americans to rally behind Biden.

Biden spoke at the podium Wednesday of the next chapter in the American Story. That chapter cannot be written without considering the lessons of the past. The fabric of our flag seems sturdy enough in 2021 that we neednt fear states seceding.

In this case, recent history must take precedence. Bidens reference to more American lives certain to be lost to COVID-19 than were sacrificed in World War II was in stark contrast to Trumps last public address as president, in which he spoke of the pandemic as though it had passed.

The next page for Connecticut is promising. Trump and George H.W. Bush are the only presidents of the past 40 years to serve a single term, and both are one-time Greenwich residents. But Trump, who has changed his party affiliation several times, was openly hostile to blue states during his administration.

Our members of Congress responded in kind. We look forward to U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, as well as Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, focusing on their home state instead of parrying with Trump. The delegation must seize this opportunity, for example, to secure federal funding for overdue infrastructure enhancements that Trump deflected.

We dont know what the next thousand years will bring, but a better tomorrow seems possible.
Armstrong Fluid Technology, an innovator in the design, engineering and manufacturing of intelligent fluid flow equipment, control solutions and digital technologies, will be organising a virtual fire safety experience for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region from January 17 to 20.

The fire safety experience will provide a digital platform for the fire safety industry to share industry updates, showcase innovations and forge new partnerships, said the company in a statement.

A major player in the region focusing on HVAC, plumbing, gas transmission and fire safety applications, Armstrong provides energy-efficient and cost-effective solutions to building and facility professionals around the world.

The event will include an opening address from Todd Rief, CEO of Armstrong Fluid Technology.

Reflecting on the planned event, Rief states: We aim to connect industry experts to discuss and collaborate new innovations and ideas within the fire safety industry. This virtual event reflects how, as an industry leader, we continue to push boundaries and make changes to positively impact the world around us.

The four-day virtual experience will include informative webinars, updates on innovative fire safety solutions and an interactive Ask the Expert session.

Live chat sessions will allow participants to ask questions and engage with industry experts throughout the show, said the company in its statement.

Leading solutions on display will include Armstrong Design Envelope Fire Pumps, Packaged Fire Solutions, and Armstrong Vertical In-Line and Horizontal Split-Case pumps, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
File image: VK Sasikala

Nearly a week before her release, ex-AIADMK leader Sasikala has been admitted to the Government Bowring Hospital after she complained of fever and breathlessness.

The Bowring Hospital has now clarified that her condition is stable with supportive measures, antibiotics, and oxygen. She will be further evaluated and monitored.

According to a PTI report, the expelled AIADMK leader was getting treated for fever and breathlessness in the jail hospital. But later was rushed to the government hospital in an ambulance and was taken inside in a wheelchair.

According to reports, Sasikala suffered a breathing problem inside the Central Prison after which she was rushed to Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru.

Officials suspect she has been infected with COVID-19. A rapid antigen test for the same had come back negative, but to be sure her swab samples were tested using the more reliable RT-PCR method.

VK Sasikala has been in jail since February 2017 when the Supreme Court upheld her conviction by a special court in Bengaluru in a disproportionate assets case and sentenced her to four years imprisonment.

She has also been probed for her alleged involvement in former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's death.

She is all set to be released from jail on 27 January after paying Rs 10 crore fine. Interestingly her release comes just a few months before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. There's a good chance that the leader can sway the election results if she still manages to garner some of the influence she had before going to jail.
The website is just one part of a larger effort by TaxCompass to ensure that people can spend less time worrying about tax debt and spend more time growing their businesses and building their futures.

TaxCompass.org has just announced that the company has launched a brand-new website offering cutting-edge online tax education. The state-of-art website is aimed at individuals, small business owners, and the self-employed that are looking for dependable online resources for both corporate and personal tax return information.

The site boasts an innovative search platform, that lets users select a specific tax issue from a dropdown menu and instantly access a repository of tax insights. Topics range from tax liens and back taxes to detailed information about an IRS Payment Plan and more. The platform offers enriched corporation and services content, top-line functionality, and unbiased tax resources for users.

The new site features a clean, modern design with an easy to use interface. Users will be impressed with how simple it is to retrieve tax guides with comprehensive information to help individuals and business owners with a variety of tax issues. Unlike other antiquated, onerous tax resource websites, taxcompass.org, is user-friendly, but still incorporates the latest technological advances and enhanced content to give clients a well-rounded experience on each page of the site.

Visitors to the site will know immediately that the group behind TaxCompass is committed to efficiency, convenience, and customer service. While other websites provide more general information on tax service, TaxCompass provides content crafted based on feedback from individual taxpayers, business filers, and tax professionals.

The company is focused on ensuring that people struggling with tax debt can receive the clarity they need to move forward confidently in their financial decisions. Visitors to the site will be able to access reliable, objective advice, and helpful tools. Advisors work empathetically and collaboratively with clients to help them build, measure, learn, and reach the best solutions for their specific circumstances.

The website is just one part of a larger effort by TaxCompass to ensure that people can spend less time worrying about tax debt and spend more time growing their businesses and building their futures. This work is especially critical as the entire country faces the COVID-19 pandemic, and so many companies and individuals are experiencing financial distress.

TaxCompass has committed to ensuring that individual taxpayers and business owners have the tools they need to be successful, regardless of the type of climate they encounter. Right now there are so many people struggling and the importance of these online tax education resources is greater than ever. The site was designed with real people in mind and aims to help those in need come out on the other side of their debt even stronger.

The website could not have been released at a better time, especially as more and more states are enforcing social distancing guidelines. The online platform is a convenient way to provide critical services while remaining safe and still reaching as many people as possible.

For individual taxpayers looking for access to comprehensive resources on a variety of tax issues, TaxCompass is an ideal platform. The homepage of the website includes information on multiple tax subjects, free-of-charge.

The platform also breaks down the information in a way that is digestible and easy to understand. For additional information about TaxCompass and its available resources, visit http://www.TaxCompass.org.
On Jan. 6, 2021, our government building, the U.S. Capitol, was attacked by domestic terrorists. Those terrorists included white supremacists and KKK people. They were encouraged by President Trump and his supporters. He encouraged these people and led them to believe he won on Nov. 3. Trump failed to uphold the Constitution against foreign and domestic enemies. Donald Trump is the ring leader against our democracy and must be held accountable for his actions. Trump encouraged these people to destroy, terrorize and kill. Trump is impeached for the second time in his four years. He is guilty of that, no question about it. It was history on our TV screens; the proof is all there. Five people were killed, many injured and just outright scared to death.

Donald Trump is a dangerous president and should never be able to run for office again. He is guilty of inciting an insurrection, a mob riot. Rudy Giuliani, Don. Jr., members of congress did too. They should be thrown out of office or censured. I watched all of the impeachment debate. Ten Republicans voted for impeachment, including U.S. Rep. John Katko, Liz Cheney and others. I give John Katko credit for voting for impeachment because he voted for what was the right thing to do.
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THE Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in Northern Ireland has decided to prosecute one person in connection with historical sexual abuse allegations in Co Fermanagh, Independent.ie can reveal.

A major investigation by the PSNI over the past 18 months has been examining claims of historical sexual abuse against children by several people over many decades.

Now one of those accused will end up in court after the PPS reviewed all the available evidence in an investigation file submitted by police.

Both the individual and the alleged victims were notified about the development by the PPS last month by specialist detectives working on the case.

Its believed the PSNI will soon pass additional investigation files to the PPS in due course and decisions will then be taken on whether to prosecute others.

However, a spokeswoman for the PPS said due to the ongoing police investigation, it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this stage.

To date, more than a dozen people have been arrested in connection with allegations of historical sexual abuse in Co Fermanagh. Last August, 11 of those arrests took place in counties Fermanagh, Antrim and Derry and one property was also searched.

While the PSNI said the organisation does not comment on individual cases, a spokesman confirmed files "will continue to be submitted to the PPS for consideration.

Our inquiries into the allegations of historical sexual abuse in Co Fermanagh are ongoing and Public Protection detectives are actively working on all of the reports made to us and are focused on gathering all relevant evidence, she said.

The police investigation into the claims was sparked by a long-standing investigation by Enniskillen-based newspaper The Impartial Reporter which published dozens of allegations from men and women who came forward to say they had been abused decades ago.

The allegations also prompted protests on the streets, public rallies and were the subject of radio and television documentaries.

The following essay was written by my good friend Mike Wagner from Texas. Mike wrote the song Unclaimed that we use on The GOTMFV Show podcast for the Flint Water Crisis update segment. His thoughtful words are important to consider on the day when Donald Trump leaves the presidency and America turns to a new day. Those who enabled Trumps criminality, immorality, and un-American actions have a big role to play in ensuring America moves forward and puts this shameful era in our past. It remains to be seen if they are patriotic enough to play that role.

Obviously there are no silver bullets that solve all the problems that have been building for the last several decades. And some could rightly say since the birth of the country. But the question remains: How do we begin to change America? How do we unite the country? A few thoughts.

The first thing that can be done, something that requires no governmental action, is for those who supported this President to publicly apologize. This means your friends, family, neighbors, those in public office, etc. Get on Facebook, Twitter, whatever medium is appropriate, and where possible contact personally, whoever they may have hurt and apologize to them for the damage and carnage they have done. Words of apology must be expressed. This is a requirement. Dont snicker at it. It matters. If people or representatives you know wont apologize that means they support what has happened. It means they are good with the racism, the corruption, the damage to peoples lives, and untold deaths from the lies told about the corona virus. Their support has directly resulted in the damage done. They want unity? It starts with them. It starts with an apology. We need to know where they stand and it must be clear and unequivocal.

Of course that doesnt solve the problems we face, and apologies are meaningless without action. One of the largest problems in this country is that a minority of the country has had, can have, and exert incredible power in this country. The minority rule for the last two decades has been corrosive to the rule of law, suppressed minority representation, targeted the vulnerable, and ultimately resulted in an armed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The reason that a minority can rule is that representation is not based on the number of voters. It is based on land. How much does each vote count? It depends on where you live.

Presidential, Congressional and judicial representation over the last 20 years is nowhere near represented by the number of votes received. The Republican Party has been able to appeal to a minority of the country. And that minority is white and racist. And because political representation is based more on land than people, they have, and had, far more power than the number of their voters warrants. In the last 20 years they have won two presidential elections while getting substantially less popular votes, they have controlled the Senate despite consistently representing fewer Americans (and far fewer persons of color), and used gerrymandering to win control of the House far out representing votes for their members. And because of winning two Presidential elections and Senate control with a minority they have exerted undue control of the

Judicial branch of government. Again, not because they got the most votes, but because their votes counted more. Allowing the country to be manipulated by this racist minority is the largest problem in the country. Luckily, it can be easily rectified. And if the unity crowd is serious they can take the following concrete steps:

Eliminate the Electoral College and move to one person one vote. Move to support a voting rights law and punish voter suppression with prison sentences. Pass anti-gerrymandering laws and require states to redraw districts that disproportionately represent a specific party. Change the basis of representation in the United States Senate. Wyoming should not have the same number of votes as California.

These are actions for equal representation and access to the ballot. You know: Unity.
LONDON  Relief and skepticism in Europe. Anger in China over a parting shot. And concern in Russia over what the next four years herald for Moscow's activities on the world stage.

The whole world watched Wednesday as Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th U.S. president  and outgoing President Donald Trump departed the White House one last time for Florida, turning the page on an administration that has hurt the U.S. image abroad and exposed some of America's most glaring social, economic and racial fault lines.

'This is America's day': Biden inaugurated as 46th president, Harris sworn in as vice president

Florida-bound: Trump plans to end his presidency at Mar-a-Lago as Biden takes oath

"Europeans like Biden, but they do not think that America will come back as a global leader. Most think the U.S. political system is broken, that China will be more powerful than the USA and that Washington will not defend them," said Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, a London-headquartered think tank.

Leonard's comments accompanied a new European Council on Foreign Relations survey that found that two-thirds of Europeans don't believe, despite their admiration for Biden, that they can always rely on the U.S. to come to their defense, few are confident the U.S. will stage a comeback as the preeminent global player under his leadership, and the majority want to remain neutral in any U.S.-China conflict.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took their oaths in Washington, D.C., in a scaled-down ceremony amid the coronavirus pandemic and heightened security after a siege of the U.S. Capitol building this month by a pro-Trump mob. Harris is the first woman, the first Black person and first Asian person to serve as vice president.

"We learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile and at this moment, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden said in his inaugural speech. "Now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitols very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries."

Story continues

President Joe Biden delivers an address during the 2021 Presidential Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the U.S. Capitol.

Biden, a Democrat, called on all Americans to "unite" and "start afresh" in conciliatory comments that appeared aimed at Republicans and other opponents.

"My whole soul is in this, in bringing America together," he said.

Biden also spoke about restoring America's reputation overseas.

"Heres my message to those beyond our borders: America has been tested. And weve come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again."

Inauguration Day like no other: Dignitaries arrive at the U.S. Capitol

Trump pardons: Donald Trump grants clemency to 143 people in final hours of presidency

Ivan Krastev, chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies, a policy research institute in Sofia, Bulgaria, said that "Donald Trump is no Evita Peron. Few will cry to see him go," referring to the Argentine political figure.

"Yet, it's clear that his tumultuous presidency has left an indelible imprint on Europes attitude towards the United States."

Trump's foreign policy did make some gains: He hasn't started any new wars and delivered on his promise to reduce U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan and Iraq. Trump's White House brokered historic "normalization" agreements signed between some Arab states and Israel. But Trump's divisive rhetoric and strict adherence to an "America First" theme alienated allies, buoyed dictators and undermined decades of multilateralism seen as integral to fighting climate change, global disease, nuclear proliferation and preserving hard-won battles connected to democracy promotion and human rights.

Trump abroad: Even Trump's fiercest critics say he got some world affairs right

In the early days of his presidency, Biden is expected to quickly move to transform U.S. domestic and foreign policy through dozens of executive orders and official directives. He announced Wednesday the first of these actions aimed at altering the course of the coronavirus pandemic, rejoining the Paris climate accord, addressing racial inequalities and stopping construction of a border wall with Mexico.

Shifting relations with American adversaries will take more time.

Tension with China

U.S.-China relations sharply deteriorated under the Trump administration over disputes on trade and the coronavirus pandemic, and Biden's first few days in office could be a diplomatic challenge after outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared Tuesday that China's violent repression of its Uighur population constituted "genocide." It was the strongest such condemnation yet by the U.S. government of the Chinese authorities' campaign of mass internment of more than 1 million Muslim minorities.

America's next top diplomat?: 'The worlds on fire' and other takeaways from Biden's secretary of state confirmation hearing

Bidens campaign claimed, well before the Nov. 3 presidential election, that genocide was occurring in China's western Xinjiang region, and human rights groups have documented evidence of forced labor, sterilizations and other human rights violations against Uighurs. But the official "genocide" determination by Pompeo's State Department, supported by Biden's secretary of state nominee, Antony Blinken, is a more diplomatically sensitive allegation and has drawn a strong rebuke from China.

China's embassy in Washington described the claim as a "lie and farce," and Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday that Pompeo's characterization amounted to "poison" and that Pompeo had turned "himself into a doomsday clown and joke of the century" with his "lies."

China's dislike for the Trump administration was made clear in a tweet by its official state Xinhua News Agency, which offered the following remark: "good riddance, Donald Trump!"

Just minutes after Biden was sworn in, China's foreign affairs ministry announced sanctions on 28 Trump administration officials, including Pompeo.

Tension with Russia

Top officials in the Kremlin, meanwhile, are worried Biden could take a more combative stance against Russia than Trump, whose critics have long alleged that he has been inexplicably soft on Moscow over the past four years, whether in his effusive praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, his refusal to discuss with Putin U.S. intelligence reports accusing Russia of offering bounties to Taliban fighters to kill U.S. troops, or Trump's apparent shrugging off of a massive cyberattack targeting multiple U.S. federal agencies. Lawmakers and cybersecurity experts have blamed Russia for the attack.

"Biden has not yet said anything positive about Russia. On the contrary, his rhetoric has always been openly unfriendly, harsh, even aggressive," wrote Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russia president, in a lengthy opinion piece published by Russian state news agency Tass on Saturday. "He has repeatedly stated that Russia is the biggest threat to the United States in terms of undermining our security and alliances," Medvedev said in the op-ed, headlined: "America 2.0 after the election."

He added that Biden's team "includes politicians who hold similar views and have no interest whatsoever in improving relations between Moscow and Washington."

Putin gave no formal reaction to Biden's inauguration, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did not foresee a change in the U.S.-Russia relationship.

"Russia will continue to live just the way it has lived for hundreds of years, seeking good relations with the U.S.," he told reporters. "Whether Washington has reciprocal political will for that will depend on Mr. Biden and his team."

'Law, order and democracy have prevailed'

As Biden officially became president, words of encouragement filtered in from overseas.

"The events at the U.S. Capitol shocked us so much," said Charles Michel, president of the European Council  the body that shapes the European Union's overall political direction  in a speech to the European Parliament.

Michel was referring to the uprising on Jan. 6 when supporters of Trump stormed the Capitol, leading to five deaths and more than 100 charges related to the siege. About 25,000 troops guarded inauguration ceremonies in Washington after the riot.

Republican leader McConnell: Attack at the Capitol was provoked by the president

"But the darkness of violence will never dim the light of democracy. Law, order and democracy have prevailed over this disgraceful attempt to overturn the election," Michel added. "Today is more than a transition. Today is an opportunity to rejuvenate our transatlantic relationship, which has greatly suffered in the last four years."

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier released a video statement on his website before the inauguration, calling it a "good day for democracy."

Steinmeier said the U.S. had "faced tremendous challenges and endured."

He said that "despite the attempts to tear at Americas institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress have proven strong. I am greatly relieved that, today, Joe Biden is being sworn in as president and will be moving into the White House. I know many people in Germany share this feeling."

There were similar remarks from leaders in Spain, France and Italy.

And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to work "hand in hand" with Biden on a range of shared interests, including security and "defending democracy."

For Iran, it was also an opportunity to make a fresh pitch to the incoming administration to lift U.S. sanctions on Tehran and rejoin the 2015 nuclear agreement exited by Trump.

"The ball is in the U.S. court now," Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised address. "Today, we expect the incoming U.S. administration to return to the rule of law and commit themselves, and if they can, in the next four years, to remove all the black spots of the previous four years."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden's inauguration vow to weary world: U.S. will 'repair alliances'
Health Emergency Officer, New Delhi, India

Organization: World Health Organization (WHO)

Country: India

City: New Delhi, India

Office: WHO New Delhi, India

Grade: P-4

Closing date: Thursday, 28 January 2021

Health Emergency Officer

( 2004649 )

Grade : P4

Contractual Arrangement : Fixed-term appointment

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : Two Year

Job Posting: Jan 7, 2021, 10:21:49 AM

The mission of WHOs Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States in the South-East Asia Region, to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The Emergency Operations Unit of WHE is responsible for ensuring that emergency-affected populations have access to timely and effective health services. This includes ensuring a strong emergency management system (based on incident management), effective and inclusive coordination mechanisms, joint assessments and planning of the response with partners, implementation of operations and services according to agreed standards, and strong logistics and operational support. The expansion and strengthening of operational partnerships is a key priority. EMO also leads on humanitarian policy and guidance, guidance and in this context develops new standards and shapes the global policy of the response to health emergencies. Finally, EMO engages in representation to key interagency bodies

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the delegated authority, and under the direct supervision of the Programme Area Manager, Emergency Management Operations (EMO) and overall guidance of Regional Emergency Director (RED),the incumbent shall support SEAR Member States by carrying out the following responsibilities:

Coordinate technical and operational support to the member states for country-level operations for public health emergencies related to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, in line with established technical standards, best practices, protocols and guidelines.

Liaise with technical departments across the Organization and support country offices on issues related to the response to public health emergencies of international concern.

Promote the overall strategic, operational and technical coherence and consistency of WHO emergency operations (infectious hazards related emergencies), including through strengthened support to the design of programmes and development of Humanitarian Response Plans.

Facilitate the efficient flow of partner contributions in support of country response operations with particular attention to project cycle management, carrying out assessments, establishing partnerships, planning, human resources, logistics, resource mobilization, monitoring, information-sharing and reporting.

Lead the capacity-building, training activities and simulation exercises to strengthen operational capacities of WHO and partners; contribute to development of policies, technical standards, guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring the adherence to interagency policies.

Undertake country support missions, make recommendations to senior management on related priorities and issues; and capture lessons learned and promote their integration into broader WHO policy and practice.

Provide regular updates and reports to senior management on key developments, challenges, operational implications, and propose recommendations for all Grade 3 and Grade 2 (infectious hazards related emergencies) emergencies of the Region;

Contribute to the development of briefings for senior staff and to the development of communications products.

Participate in the WHE Emergency Support Team for acute emergencies, in support to other Regional and Country Offices, as needed; deploy immediately to acute emergencies, as requested.

Advise, as assigned, the Regional departments and units in the development and review of information products and briefings, such as developing talking points for press briefings, donor-related briefs and reports and other communication materials, to enhance WHO and WHE visibility at time of emergencies and its response, in liaison with communication team.

Perform all other related duties as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in medicine or health related sciences with post graduate degree in public health or health related discipline.

Desirable: Familiarity with WHO Policies and practices. Capability in programme monitoring and evaluation.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years field experience, some of which should have been obtained in an international context, in health emergency response, health response support, public health needs assessments, risk analysis or early recovery.

Desirable: Strong knowledge in developing and implementing public health policies and strategies in the context of emergencies is an asset. Experience with WHO, UN or UN agency or a health cluster member organization including the development of global strategies, guidelines and tools for health in emergency actions.

Skills

Proven experience and expertise in the management of the health response to humanitarian emergencies or outbreaks; technical knowledge, and operational skills, including early recovery/transition, combined with knowledge of UN, interagency humanitarian systems and process. Excellent communication skills to negotiate/enlist cooperation from a broad range of actors from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Strong organizational skills complemented with ability to work in a proactive and independent manner, multi-task and produce results under pressure. Diplomacy, tact and discretion. Strong presentation and writing skills.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork

Communication

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Tags early recovery emergency management health emergencies health services human resources humanitarian emergencies humanitarian response infectious diseases logistics monitoring and evaluation needs assessment resource mobilization risk analysis

Producing results

Ensuring the effective use of resources

Other skills (eg. IT): Computer literacy. Proven ability to write technical documents in a precise manner.

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 73,516 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2034 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Please note applications should be submitted through WHOs online recruitment portal. Please visit www.who.int/careers to complete an online profile and to apply to this vacancy.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

The written test for shortlisted candidates will tentatively be held between 15-19 Feb 2021. Candidates are advised to make themselves available during that period.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

For information on WHOs operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

WHOs workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired San Diego, Calif.-based Atlas General Holdings LLC, dba Atlas General Insurance Services.

Mike Mathews, Charles Lasher and their associates will remain in their current location under the direction of Joel Cavaness, president of Risk Placement Services Inc., Gallaghers U.S.-based wholesale brokerage division.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Atlas is a multiline program manager and managing general agency offering workers compensation, commercial lines and specialty property programs nationwide.

Arthur J. Gallagher is a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Topics Mergers California A.J. Gallagher
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.
Princess Charlene of Monaco has praised 'loyal' Prince Albert in her first comments since claims arose he is facing a paternity suit over a third love child.

The mother-of-two, 42, shocked royal fans around the world when she debuted a striking punk shaved haircut in December.

Days later it emerged her husband, 62, is set to appear in court in the coming months to fight explosive claims he fathered a third love child with a secret girlfriend.

After appearing alongside her husband in snaps over the Christmas period, the former Olympic swimmer has made her first comments in an interview in which she hailed Prince Albert as 'loyal, determined and courageous'.

Speaking with Point du Vue, she revealed: 'When my husband has problems, he tells me about it. I often tell him, "No matter what, no matter what, I'm a thousand percent behind you. I'll stand by you whatever you do, in good times or in bad."

Princess Charlene of Monaco, 42, has praised 'loyal' Prince Albert, 62, in her first comments since claims arose he is facing a paternity suit over a third love child

Last month, Princess Charlene unveiled a striking new punk style haircut at a Christmas market

The mother-of-two went on to say she also often tells her husband she will 'protect him' and will 'always be by his side.'

Meanwhile Princess Charlene revealed her drastic new haircut was 'her decision', explaining she had wanted the cut 'for a long time' because the 'style pleases her.'

She said she had dismissed comments about the style 'not being royal', adding: 'And I have nothing to answer them, except that we are in 2021, and that in these times so troubled, so difficult, other much more important subjects deserve our attention.'

And after being asked 'are you happy', the royal responded: 'There are times more or less easy, it is the case for everyone.

The mother-of-two said she often tells her husband she will 'protect him' and will 'always be by his side' (pictured, with their two children, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella)

'But I am happy as I am, fulfilled by what I am going through, I know I am very privileged.'

Sources in the Mediterranean principality say Charlene has had a 'terrible' year as lawyers for the billionaire couple brace themselves for the court case that opens in Milan in February.

The couple have been sharing snaps and videos together over the past few weeks, standing side-by-side for Prince Albert's annual New Years speech last month.

The royal used his traditional annual speech, which was shared on Facebook, to talk about his hope for the future and his determination to lead the principality towards better times.

Prince Albert stood side by side with Princess Charlene for his New Year's message which was shared weeks ago amidst claims he is facing a paternity suit

The message was shared online just days after Princess Charlene posted a series of festive snaps of her family Christmas.

The photos were interpreted as a show of unity amid reports Prince Albert faces a paternity suit over a third love child.

Albert, who already supports two illegitimate children, is alleged to have had a relationship with a 34-year-old Brazilian woman which resulted in a daughter in on July 4, 2005.

The claim, which his lawyers dismissed as a 'hoax', is particularly painful as he was dating Charlene at the time, having met the former Olympic swimmer in 2000.

Last month, Princess Charlene posted a series of festive snaps of her family Christmas, which were interpreted as a show of unity

Albert received a handwritten letter from the child, who is now 15, in September this year reading: I don't understand why I grew up without a father, and now that I have found you, you don't want to see me.

Legal papers were also filed, as lawyers for the claimant called on Albert to undergo a DNA test  just as he did before finally being identified as the father of two illegitimate children born in the 1990s and early 2000s.

This was before Charlene and Albert were an item, but the latest case covers a time when she was already in love with him, said a source who works closely with the Monaco Royal household.

Charlene has had a terrible year, with one family crisis after another including Albert going down with Coronavirus, and now shes gearing herself up for this hell.

A second picture showed Albert II, sporting red Christmas pyjamas and matching crocs, as well a a 'Joyeux Noel' Santa hat while hugging his six-year-old twins Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella

The princess, whose maiden name was Charlene Wittstock, was an Olympic swimmer for South Africa when she first met Albert at a Monaco aquatic competition in 2000.

They began dating soon afterwards, before Charlene married into the House of Grimaldi at a star-studded wedding in July 2011.

Their twins  daughter Gabriella and son Jacques  were born three years later and are the family's official heirs.

A third - a solo shot of Charlene - showed her kissing the family's pet dog, while she donned pearl earrings and gave fans a close up of her new hair style

By this time, Charlene had come to terms with Alberts hard fought legal battles with women who eventually won financial settlements over children they had with Albert  even though he originally denied their claims.

Princess Charlene's life in the Monaco royal family 1987 - Bea Fiedler, a German topless model, claims her son Daniel was the prince's son. 1992 - An American national files a paternity lawsuit against the Prince, claiming that he was the father of her daughter, Jazmin Grace. 2000 - Princess Charlene meets Prince Albert at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monte Carlo 2005 - In May, a former flight attendant claims that her youngest son, whom she named Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, was Prince Albert's child. She states that his parentage had been proven by DNA tests requested by the Monegasque government. On 6 July, a few days before he was enthroned on 12 July, the Prince officially confirms via his lawyer Lacoste that Alexandre was his biological son. 2006 - After a DNA test confirmed the child's parentage, Albert admitted, via statement from his lawyer, that he is Jazmin Grace's father. 2010 - Princess Charlene and Prince Albert announce their engagement 2011 - Princess Charlene was said to have bolted two days before the royal wedding after hearing Prince Albert had a third love child during their relationship. It was alleged that Charlene tried to flee home to South Africa three times before her 'arranged marriage', at one point taking refuge inside her country's embassy in Paris. Monaco officials were said to have coaxed her back by brokering a deal between the Prince and his reluctant bride that she provide him with a legitimate heir. After that she would be free to leave of her own free will. During the wedding, Charlene was in floods of tears, while her husband looked on impassively. Later in the year, Princess Charlene confessed she felt 'very lonely' in Monaco 2012 - Princess Charlene was reported to be 'depressed' at her failure to provide her husband with a legitimate heir. 2014 - Pregnancy was announced in May. In December Charlene gave birth to twins Princess Gabriella and heir to the throne Prince Jacques. 2017 - Princess Charlene visits Africa, tells media: 'I am African and this is my heritage. It will always be. Its in my heart and in my veins.' 2019 - In a rare interview, Princess Charlene confessed it is 'sometimes hard to smile' and said the year had been 'very painful' In another interview, she said she found motherhood 'exhausting' Advertisement

In May 2005, just before he was enthroned as Prince of Monaco, Albert confirmed he was the biological father of Alexandre, whose mother was Nicole Coste, a former Air France flight attendant from Togo.

A DNA test in May 2006 also confirmed Albert was the father of Jazmine Grace, the result of an affair with Tamara Rotolo, an American estate agent he met while she was on holiday in the South of France.

Jazmine was born in the 1990s and Alexandre in 2003. The Brazilian woman says she travelled around the world with the Prince in the 2000s.

Her Italian lawyer is, by coincidence, called Erich Grimaldi  the name of the Grimaldi Royal Household of which Albert and Charlene are a part.

Mr Grimaldi said he had filed papers with specific details of his clients love affair with Albert, including trips to Brazil, the USA, France and Russia.

While in Moscow, the lovers are even said to have had a meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, who gave the Brazilian a warm hug, according to court papers.

Now Albert is said to be ignoring all correspondence from his alleged third daughter, instead leaving the matter to his legal team.

Alberts lawyer, Thierry Lacoste, has described the allegations as a a hoax, saying: There are no intimate photos, no tangible facts surrounding a possible relationship.

Mr Lacoste said he was also considering filing a counter claim for attempted fraud and blackmail because the claimant threatened to publicise her story if no cash was forthcoming, Mr Lacoste told Frances Le Point magazine.

Neither Alberts daughter Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, now 28, nor his son, Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, 17, can claim the throne of Monaco, according to negotiated financial agreements.

The line of succession instead favours Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, who have just turned six, and who frequently appear in their parents social media posts.

Charlene is known for being exceptionally quiet and soft-spoken, leading another Monte Carlo resident who has known the couple since before their marriage to speculate that her new hairstyle may be a sign of distress.

She pointed to a series of unsettling incidents in Charlenes career as a royal, which included the princess being in floods of tears throughout her wedding to Albert.

They were saying she was very home sick, and was desperate to get back to Africa, said the friend.

This was a time when there were already rumours that Albert had yet another love child conceived during his time with Charlene.

It was said that Charlene got news of the child when she was being fitted for a bridal gown in Paris. The rumours subsided for a while, but now they have exploded again.

In an interview with the South African magazine Huisgenoot a year ago, Charlene confirmed that her fairytale lifestyle came with deep problems.

Charlene said: People are very quick to say, Oh, why isn't she smiling in the photos?.

Well, sometimes it's hard to smile. They don't know what's going on in the background.

She added: I have the privilege of having this life, but I miss my family and my friends in South Africa and I'm often sad because I cannot always be there for them.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) will issue a special set of stamps to commemorate the Year of the Ox in the Chinese lunar calendar, which will begin on February 12.

The New Year of the Ox series, featuring a decorated ox mask, was designed by art director Antonio Alcala with original art from artist Camille Chew. It is scheduled for release on February 2, but those interested can place their orders in advance through the USPS official website.

"The star in the center of the ox's head references the celestial theme of the Chinese zodiac," the USPS said in its description of the upcoming collection. The ox is the second of the 12 animal-themed zodiac signs associated with the Chinese lunar calendar, following the rat.

According to the agency, the ox mask in the stamp design incorporates elements and patterns with symbolic meanings, featuring the style of Asian textiles and purple flowers that represent the arrival of spring.

"Calling to mind the elaborately decorated masks used in the dragon or lion dances often performed during Lunar New Year parades, these three-dimensional masks are a contemporary take on the long tradition of paper-cut folk art crafts created during this auspicious time of year," the USPS said in a statement released last November.

The USPS issued the first series of twelve zodiac signs from 1992 to 2005 to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. The second series was issued from 2008 to 2019, and the third began last year with the Year of the Rat series.

These stamps are being issued as a "Forever stamp," whose face value is equal to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price, said the USPS. People can buy them online or at local post offices after they're releases.
Taxpayers are facing a headache like never before as pandemic pandemonium means millions could miss the tax return deadline this year.

More than 12 million people are due to file their self-assessment tax returns online by the end of the month.

But with millions still yet to file, accountants are warning that long waiting times at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and extra work created by coronavirus means as many as 2.5 million taxpayers could miss the deadline and receive a 100 penalty.

Deadline looming: More than 12 million people are due to file their self-assessment tax return online by the end of the month

The taxman has promised to be merciful this year because of the Covid crisis, and has pledged to let off anyone badly affected by the virus.

It has also made it easier to put off payments and spread bills over a year - but with interest piled on top.

As the deadline fast approaches:

Taxpayers grieving or battling the virus will still get a 100 penalty and have to appeal it if they miss the deadline.

Accountants are struggling to speak to anyone at HMRC  with some waiting three days to talk online.

Hard-up households are on track to pay an extra 1.8 million by spreading the payments.

Selfemployed workers whose incomes have not recovered face double tax bills after deferring payments from last year.

Tax advisers warn penalties for innocent errors could surge as they cannot meet face to face with clients.

The self-employed, retirees and people who made money from investments or property are among those required to file an online return by Sunday, January 31, to cover the 2019/20 tax year.

Anyone who misses the deadline to file is automatically fined 100. The penalty will then rise by 10 a day after three months.

FINED EVEN IF IN HOSPITAL

Penalties will be waived only if you can provide a good enough reason, and HMRC has said it will now accept coronavirus-related excuses.

But it means that those who miss the deadline because they are in hospital battling the virus or lose a family member will still be fined. To avoid the penalty they will have to appeal the decision to HMRC after the penalty arrives in the post.

Dawn Register, head of tax dispute resolution at accountancy advisory firm BDO, says it is not right to fine those hit by Covid.

She says: 'It can be quite alarming (to be fined). It is not about the money value, it is actually quite a horrible thing to happen to you. And you still have to appeal it, so it creates work for you.'

How you can stay out of tax trouble Dawn Register is head of tax dispute resolution at accountancy advisory firm BDO Dawn Register, head of tax dispute resolution at accountancy advisory firm BDO, says: 1. Don't forget your claims Use the tax return to claim a refund or reduce the overall tax bill, for example, pension tax relief and gift aid on charitable donations. For those who have lost their job or ceased trading, then there may be an opportunity to claim back unused personal allowances and offset any losses before their business closed. HMRC also published updated guidance on claiming allowances when many people have switched to working from home. 2. File come what may (By January 31) Even if you cannot pay in full, it is still best to file on time to avoid or minimise penalties. Both late payment and late filing penalties can be charged by HMRC, and these are usually issued automatically after January 31. 3. Go online and set up a payment plan Set up a Time to Pay arrangement online if you cannot afford to pay in full. You must wait 48 hours after your tax return is filed, then if the liability is less than 30,000 you can set this up online yourself without needing to speak to HMRC. 4. Communicate with HMRC Phone HMRC in advance if you cannot pay in full and you cannot use the online facility. As part of the Treasury's response to Covid-19, HMRC has allocated more resources through phone and web chat support for taxpayers who need bespoke Time to Pay arrangements. For firms, this may be across all taxes. 5. Reduce your payments if needed Check if you can reduce your 2020-21 payments on account. Owing to the impact on business income of Covid restrictions since March last year, it is to be expected that many individuals' income in 2020-21 will be lower compared with 2019-20. In these cases, it may be that reducing payments on account to HMRC can help cashflow. This can be done online through the gov.uk personal tax account or by post with a SA303 form.

HMRC says each appeal will be handled on a case-by-case basis too, so there is no guarantee of avoiding the 100 penalty if you fail to file on time even if you believe you have a legitimate excuse.

Jamie Morrison, head of private client at accountancy firm HW Fisher, adds: 'HMRC may have added the option to appeal against the penalty for missing the deadline due to coronavirus. However, the guidelines remain far too vague on what exactly counts as a coronavirus-related excuse.

'HMRC is likely to take each situation on a case-by-case basis, so we would advise anyone who needs to submit a tax return to continue to take the January deadline seriously.'

COMPLICATED CHAOS...

This year is also unique in that government support packages are counted as taxable income - adding extra complications.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) predicts as many as 2.5 million people will be fined this year because of delays.

The group says the pandemic has created so much extra work that there isn't time to process all of their customers' returns.

Richard Halsey, of Halsey and Co in Cheam, Surrey, says: 'We now have to spend on average three days trying to reach HMRC on webchat just to make contact as our letters and calls go unanswered. That is one of the main reasons we are behind in filing.

'My staff are simply having to spend disproportionate amounts of time dealing with HMRC issues and assisting with the various government Covid schemes.'

Other members blamed backlogs on staff being off dealing with childcare, while others said they could not get what they needed from elderly clients because of lockdown measures. Ms Register fears a rise in fines for errors as older clients are unable to meet their tax adviser in person.

HMRC penalises taxpayers for their mistakes - even if they were made innocently. Fines for careless errors can be as much as 30 per cent of the extra money owed.

Figures uncovered by the Labour Party showed the number of callers who gave up trying to speak to someone at HMRC after waiting on hold had soared fourfold since 2016.

Interest So far, more than 25,000 people have chosen to spread payments for debts totalling nearly 70m - meaning they will pay an extra 1.8m in interest

Government figures reveal one in two customers was waiting more than ten minutes to speak to someone, and the average time on hold was 12 minutes 45 seconds.

Bridget Phillipson, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, says: 'It's crucial that people and businesses can get the tax advice that they need, when they need it.'

PROLONGING THE INEVITABLE

HMRC has promised to help those struggling to pay their bills, offering the chance to spread payments for bills up to 30,000 over 12 months by applying online. Interest on the debt will be added at 2.6 per cent - an extra 780 on a 30,000 bill.

So far, more than 25,000 people have chosen to spread payments for debts totalling nearly 70 million - meaning they will pay an extra 1.8 million in interest, accountancy advisory firm BDO says.

Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst at investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown, says plenty more will try to put off their bills, adding: 'As the last-minute tax returns flood in, HMRC is likely to be inundated with requests to spread the cost.'

Experts also warn many could be tempted to spread payments using the 'Time to Pay' scheme  getting needlessly in debt.

Ms Register says: 'It is potentially open to some form of misuse. People could take the Time to Pay when they don't really need it.'

BILLS WILL LEAVE SOME SEEING DOUBLE

Self-employed workers whose incomes have been decimated in the pandemic will be hit with double tax bills when they file.

This is because, as well as clearing the final bill from the 2019/20 year, they are required to make 'payments on account' to cover their anticipated bill for 2020/21.

These bills are predicted based on previous earnings, so those who earned a lot of money before will still face bills based on that income even if they have earned nothing in the pandemic.

I may have to sell home to pay Louise Kenrick fears she may have to sell her house to pay her 12,000 tax bill. The events worker previously earned around 70,000 a year but is now living off just 409.89 a month via Universal Credit. Louise, 50, completed her tax return in May and knew she would have to pay 12,000 by the end of this month - so set the money aside. But after her six-month mortgage holiday came to an end she was still unable to work - forcing her to dip into savings to cover the 1,200 monthly repayments and other household bills. By next month she will have exhausted all of her savings. Louise may be able to apply for a Bounce Back Loan, but does not want to saddle herself with more debt. Even if she were able to pay her tax bill in monthly instalments, her benefits would not cover them  meaning she may have to sell the home she shares with her mother in Addlestone, Surrey. She says: 'I feel so frustrated that I am expected to contribute when I've had no help from the Government other than Universal Credit . . . It's devastating to think I may have to sell my home.'

Payments on account are usually split into two bills: January and July. However, the Government allowed self-employed workers to defer payments on the summer balance, interest free, until the end of January. It now means these workers will need to make both payments.

These taxpayers can spread the bill over a year, and also apply to have their payment-on-account bill reduced to reflect loss of earnings. But if they underestimate earnings, they will be charged interest on the missing tax owed until it is paid.

Research from consumer lobby group Which? revealed one in four self-employed workers planned to delay their tax bill, and one in six said they did not know how they would pay their bill.

Wedding cake maker Kate Tynan, 42, from Marple, Greater Manchester, made around 55,000 a year before the pandemic struck.

But while she has made around 12,000 in the current financial year, she still faces a 2,000 tax bill after receiving around 11,000 in government support.

The mother-of-two says: 'I have had to close my business temporarily to home-school my children.

I'm going to do my best to pay it off in full, as it just seems wrong in principle that HMRC should charge interest on monthly payments in circumstances like these. I fear it will break some people.'

Nimesh Shah, of tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, says the Government should automatically defer tax bills for the self-employed and charge no interest.

Rising costs: Anyone who misses the deadline to file and pay their bill is automatically fined 100. The penalty will then rise by 10 a day if still not paid after three months

He says: 'Many of the self-employed are struggling more now than they were last July and the Chancellor needs to throw a much-needed lifeline.'

Alasdair Hutchison, from The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed, adds: 'In these extreme and unprecedented circumstances, [the Government] should certainly not penalise late payment of taxes owed, which would only feel like another kick in the teeth after a difficult year.'

Jane Tully, of the Money Advice Trust, the charity that runs Business Debtline, called on the Government to do more to ensure struggling self-employed workers could afford repayment plans.

She says: 'Our concern is that with many self-employed people likely to feel the impact of the outbreak for some time, the need to meet repayment deadlines as bills stack up could lead to a financial cliff edge for some further down the line.'

An HMRC spokesman says: 'We want to encourage as many people as possible to file on time even if they can't pay their tax straight away, but where a customer is unable to do so because of the impact of Covid-19 we will accept they have a reasonable excuse and cancel penalties, provided they manage to file as soon as possible after that.

'Support is in place for those who may struggle to pay.'

b.wilkinson@dailymail.co.uk
A mother-of-three with no previous convictions was told under threat to smuggle heroin into Mountjoy prison, a court has heard.

Laura Lambe (35) had heroin and Valium type tablets hidden in her bra when she went in to visit her then partner in the prison in November 2017.

Simon Matthews BL, defending, told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the night before this, a man visited her and said he knew she was going into the prison the next day. He threatened her and her children before giving her the drugs and telling her to smuggle them in.

The woman appeared nervous when going through the prison security and when prison officials began to search her she voluntarily told them she had the drugs hidden in her bra.

The court heard the estimated street value of the heroin was 1,933 and there was 24 Alprazone tablets, worth 2 each.

Lambe of Basin Street, Dublin city pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into prison on November 11, 2017.

Mr Matthews told the court that his client was a vulnerable person who was easy prey for people who were prepared to threaten her for their own means. He said she has no other convictions and has not come to garda attention since this offence.

Judge Melanie Greally said that Lambe was not a serious criminal and that this was a once off lapse. She said Lambe has made efforts to address her own addiction issues.

She suspended a prison term of two years on condition she be of good behaviour.
DALLAS, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks Associates today announced the new whitepaper "Next Evolution of Health IoT: Moving Towards the Edge," developed in cooperation with Softeq Development Corporation, which tracks the need for data collection, decision analysis, and integration in health services as telehealth, virtual care, and adoption of connected health solutions are all increasing.

High Intent to Purchase Connected Medical Products Parks Associates

The research firm reports the percentage of consumers who had a remote visit in the previous twelve months rose from 15% of US broadband households in 2019 to 41% in 2020, a nearly threefold increase. Consumers are also adding more connected health products to their household, with 29% planning to buy at least one new health-related connected product in the next 12 months, which will introduce more data sources that can enhance the connected care experience.

"The COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive increase in telehealth and health tech adoption among both consumers and care professionals," said Kristen Hanich, Senior Analyst, Parks Associates. "2020 forced both groups to rely on virtual care, and with our data showing high levels of satisfaction among users, many consumers will be reluctant to revert back to in-person services and lose the convenience of virtual visits."

Many experts in the health space expect demand for remote health platforms to remain at a heightened level compared to 2019. Widespread adoption of virtual care has also increased demand for solutions that can integrate connected devices with physician workflows in order to analyze data and deliver actionable and meaningful results and improved outcomes. Product development executives are faced with increasingly complex choices when building connected devices and services. Advances in connectivity speed, cloud computing, edge computing, and machine learning require proven technical competency from end-to-end solutions providers like Softeq.

"Virtual visits deliver convenience to consumers and offer greater operational efficiencies to healthcare professionals," Hanich said. "They also open the opportunity to bring more tools to support both patients and physicians."

Parks Associates will host the virtual session "New Connected Health Use Cases: Contact Tracing and Televigilance" on January 27, as part of Connected Health Summit, which features virtual sessions throughout 2021. More information is at www.connectedhealthsummit.com.

To download the whitepaper, visit http://www.parksassociates.com/whitepapers/healthiot-wp2021. To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific research data, please contact Rosey Ulpino at [email protected] or 972-490-1113.

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions. http://www.parksassociates.com

ABOUT SOFTEQ

Founded in 1997 in Houston, TX, Softeq Development Corporation provides technical solutions to enterprise technology companies and innovative startups. As a full-stack software and hardware development service provider, Softeq bridges technology gaps in knowledge-intensive projects and builds end-to-end IT solutions from the ground up. To help clients make the transition from analog to digital, the company provides expertise in a variety of trending technologies including the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Industrial Automation, Robotics, Blockchain, and AR/VR. The company designs IT systems and connected devices for increased security and scalability. Softeq customers include Verizon, Epson, Microsoft, Lenovo, AMD, Disney, Intel, NVIDIA, and others. Learn more at softeq.com.

Media Contact:

Rosey Ulpino

Parks Associates

972.490.1113

[email protected]

SOURCE Parks Associates

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http://www.parksassociates.com


In recent years, the SAT has come under increasing fire from critics who say that standardized testing exacerbates inequities across class and racial lines. Some studies have shown that high school grades are an equal or better predictor of college success.

More than 1,000 four-year colleges did not require applicants to submit standardized test scores before the pandemic, and the number rose  at least temporarily  as the coronavirus forced testing centers to close and made it difficult for many students to safely take the test.

Perhaps the biggest hit came in May, when, following a lawsuit from a group of Black and Hispanic students who said the tests discriminated against them, the influential University of California system decided to phase out SAT and ACT requirements for its 10 schools, which include some of the nations most popular campuses.

The College Board acknowledged that the coronavirus had played a role in the changes announced on Tuesday, saying in a statement that the pandemic had accelerated a process already underway at the College Board to simplify our work and reduce the demands on students.

But David Coleman, the chief executive of the College Board, a nonprofit organization that in the past has reported more than $1 billion a year in revenue, said that financial concerns were not behind the decisions, and that despite the growing number of schools making the SAT optional, demand for the test was still stronger than some would expect.

He said the organizations goal was not to get more students to take A.P. courses and tests, but to eliminate redundant exams and reduce the burden on high school students. Anything that can reduce unnecessary anxiety and get out of the way is of huge value to us, he said.

Some experts, though, said eliminating the subject matter tests could have the opposite effect, increasing pressure on students to take A.P. courses and exams, especially in their junior year, so credits can be submitted in time for college admissions decisions.
SBDCs Look Forward to Working with New Leadership to Continue to Build American Small Businesses Tweet this

"America's SBDC congratulates President Joe Biden and we applaud his nomination of such a dedicated small business advocate and SBA alum, Isabel Guzman," said Charles "Tee" Rowe, President and CEO of America's SBDC. "We are excited to connect and collaborate with the new administration to continue tackling the problems small businesses are experiencing due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rebuild a better economy. Isabel is a long-time partner of SBDC network, a natural leader and team player, and we are thrilled to have the chance to work with her to support small businesses in the years to come."

"America's SBDC is excited by President Biden's support for small business and his focus on disproportionate small business populations. SBDCs nationwide are poised and ready to offer their services in support," said Michele Abraham, Chairman of the America's SBDC Board of Directors and State Director of the South Carolina SBDC Network. "Now more than ever, we must not only address the problems that face all small businesses, but also serve the needs of minority and rural populations including those who encounter racial and gender bias. Together we can help build a small business economy that works for all."

Founded in 1980, America's SBDC is a nonpartisan partnership program uniting universities, colleges, and economic development organizations. Funded in part by the U.S. Congress through a partnership with the SBA, SBDCs serve emerging and aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses through no-cost consulting, training, and resources.

America's SBDCs provide measurable economic results, in 2020 SBDCs helped generate; 91,767 jobs, $7 billion in sales growth; $6 billion in capital investments; and started 20,374 new businesses proving once again, SBDCs are leaders in job creation and economic growth.

About America's SBDC and Small Business Development Centers: America's SBDC represents the Nation's 63 Small Business Development Centers, a national network of partnerships uniting higher education, state and local nonprofit economic development organizations, private enterprise and government. It is the Small Business Administration's largest partnership program, providing management and technical assistance to help Americans start, run and grow their own businesses. Learn more at www.AmericasSBDC.org

Media Contact:

April Youngblut

[email protected]

SOURCE America's SBDC

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Barbara Held

Most recently Held, Bowdoins Barry N. Wish Professor of Psychology and Social Studies Emerita, writes about failure to distinguish opinion and fact, and what she calls Post-Truth/Hypertruth Anxiety Disorder.



She also warns of rhetorical tricks that make fiction seem like fact, and of confirmation bias, the tendency to accept dubious information if it supports our pre-existing beliefs. Read Survival and Sanity in Post-Truth, Hypervigilant America in the Portland Press Herald.

Truth and its exposition have been themes in Helds life. In her New York Daily News piece she offered advice on talking with children about Old Saint Nick, wrapped in her account of outing the Santa stranger that visited her Bronx preschool.



Hearing claims of voter fraud by those who called into question the fairness of the election prompted her return to her precocious preschool years for lessons about moral courage, with a shout-out to Mr. Rogers.

The more youre scared to tell the truth, the more you need to tell it, Held writes. If you dont, you just might create a monster even scarier than the truth. Read Truth and Consequences for Preschoolers and Politicians, which appeared on MSN News and in half a dozen newspapers across Connecticut.

Last summer, Held wrote of COVID-19 anxiety, recalling the polio scares of her childhood, including the time relatives spit polio germs on her birthday cake when helping to blow out the candles.



The self-described defensive pessimist imparted advice she says has held her in good stead: Think about what can go wrong in feared situations, take all possible precautions and face the situation fortified with plans for coping if the fears are realized. This controls debilitating anxiety, so anxiety-prone people like me can function better and keep moving forward. Read Managing COVID Anxiety in MaineWith Strategies from New Yorks Polio Years in the Portland Press Herald.

In her scholarly work, Held has focused on striving for objective knowledge in the face of postmodernist denial of just that. She wrote, Philosopher Richard Rorty said that to know your desires . . . is to know the criterion of truth. That means desires play a role in deciding what is true and what is not. But if what we accept as true is nothing more than what we desire, while ignoring objective evidence, then were swimming in a sea of relativism so vast that we may all drownin a virus, or climate change, or racial injustice, or whatever we prefer not to see. Read Understanding Science, Truth Properly Can Help Defeat Denial, Distortion in the Portland Press Herald.


Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 09:41:18|Editor: huaxia

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BRASILIA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Brasilia on Tuesday launched vaccination against COVID-19 with the CoronaVac vaccine developed by Chinese laboratory Sinovac in collaboration with the Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute.

The first capital resident to receive the vaccine was 31-year-old nurse Lidia Rodrigues Dantas at the Da Asa Norte Regional Hospital, followed by five other frontline healthcare workers.

Federal District Governor Ibaneis Rocha, city Health Secretary Osnei Okumoto and other local officials were on hand for the event, which officially kicked off the city's immunization campaign.

"We hope that the entire population will be vaccinated as soon as possible" to put an end to the pandemic, said Ibaneis, adding that all on-duty hospital staff were to be vaccinated Tuesday.

The CoronaVac vaccine arrived in the city on Monday from Sao Paulo, and since early Tuesday more than 105,000 doses have been distributed to 15 public hospitals.

Brasilia has reported 265,274 COVID-19 cases with 4,427 deaths from the disease.

The emergency use of the CoronaVac vaccine was approved by the directors of the country's health regulatory agency Anvisa during an emergency meeting Sunday afternoon, at which they said "it is safe, has quality and is effective."

Various Brazilian experts have underscored the significance of Brazil being able to rely on the CoronaVac to combat its COVID-19 outbreak, the third largest in the world after the United States and India.

Mellanie Fontes-Dutra, a biochemist at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and founder of the COVID-19 Analysis Network, described CoronaVac as "a good vaccine" that underwent rigorous trials, including in Brazil.

More than 8.5 million people in Brazil have tested positive for COVID-19 and over 210,000 people have died from the disease, according to the Ministry of Health. Enditem
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  The number of online tips about alleged activities involving online sexual exploitation of children or OSEC rose to 1.2 million in 2020, said the countrys Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.

This is three times the 400,000 reports received in 2019, the council said.

In a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on the Welfare of Children Thursday, Department of Justice Assistant State Prosecutor Yvette Coronel clarified these numbers reflect tips or reports given to the agency, and not actual cases.

The cyber tipline reports yielded only nine cases referred for investigation, said Coronel.

No explanation was given to lawmakers about why only a small number of cases were referred, but Coronel said reports are triaged and assessed for authorities action.

The Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center or PICACC and the NBIs Anti-Human Trafficking Division also saw increases in their data.

PICACC reported 58 operations in 2020 compared to 36 in 2019. During these operations, 35 people were arrested, while 172 were rescued.

The NBI-AHTAD also reported 14 operations in 2020  much higher than the previous year. In their data, eight were arrested, while 19 were rescued, up from two operations, two arrests and four rescues in 2019.

Areas identified as hotspots for the online sexual exploitation of children include Metro Manila, Zambales, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Leyte, Bohol, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte, according to data provided by the International Justice Mission.

Coronel said these crimes happen because of two key factors: the non-fulfillment of responsibilities by internet providers set by the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, as well as limitations encountered by law enforcers in conducting surveillance.

Under RA 9775, internet service providers, upon the request of proper authorities, shall furnish the particulars of users who gained or attempted to gain access to an internet address which contains any form of child pornography, as well as to install available technology to block access and transmission of child porn.

Coronel also said they are looking at various approaches to combat the threat, such as increased use of online portals for reporting child sexual exploitation and the establishment of protocols in handling cases as well as victims and survivors.

The IACAT defines online sexual exploitation of children as either acts, means, or purposes by which minors are subject to sexual activities published or transmitted online for a third party.

Solons are set to hold further meetings on proposals to investigate online sexual exploitation of children at a later date.
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

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ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

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Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

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Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

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Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

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
Burma Myanmar Villagers Agree to Relocate From China-Backed Copper Mine

Letpadaung copper mine in 2014. / The Irrawaddy

Yangon  Villagers near a China-backed copper mining project in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region, have agreed to relocate to a new site after years of disputes over compensation for confiscated land.

China Wanbao Engineering Company has been operating the controversial Letpadaung copper mine in partnership with the military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Company (UMEHL) since 2010. Protests began in 2012 against the mine, with villagers saying it cost them their livelihoods and damaged the environment while demanding compensation.

In November 2012 more than 70 monks and around 10 civilians, who were peacefully protesting, were injured when security forces used highly toxic white phosphorus against them. In 2014 a female protester was shot dead by police.

Se Te villagers have agreed to move on condition that they receive the compensation they claim, said Sagaing Region municipal minister U Myint Kyi.

When we made concessions, the farmers agreed to relocate. We have negotiated with the [Chinese] company to fulfill their demands where it is possible, he said.

We have also negotiated with the company to yield to the villagers if they dont want to relocate to the proposed site and ask to move to another site, he added.

Sagaing Region lawmaker Dr. Thein Naing said it took five years to agree a new site with the villagers.

They said that they would agree if they received backdated compensation. It will be calculated from 2013. And there will be an additional payment considering currency depreciation, said Dr. Thein Naing.

U Myint Kyi said: The [military-appointed] security and border affairs minister, agriculture minister, lawmakers and I negotiated on behalf of the government.

Se Te villagers said they refused to relocate to the proposed site and picked a different location but the Chinese firm has not yet bought the land.

The company said the village will be moved to the new site we prefer but the company has not bought the land yet, a villager said.

Following the brutal crackdown on Letpadaung mine protesters in November 2012, U Thein Seins government formed an investigation commission led by the then opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The commission launched an inquiry and the agreement was amended and signed in July 2013.

According to an amended agreement, Myanmars government gets 51 percent of shares from royalties and commercial and income taxes. Wanbaos share is 30 percent and UMEHLs is 19 percent.

The 3,160-hectare mine has a 60-year land grant from September 2012.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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In one of his final acts as president, Donald Trump on Wednesday granted a full pardon to Aviem Sella, the recruiter of convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, as part of a wave of clemency actions.

Pollard, a former Navy intelligence analyst, sold military secrets to Israel while working at the Pentagon in the 1980s.

Sella, 75, a retired Israeli air force colonel, enlisted Pollard to spy for Israel and fled the United States after Pollard was arrested in 1985.

Sella was indicted in absentia by a federal grand jury in 1987 on three counts of espionage carrying a life sentence, but was never extradited to the US from Israel.

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Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Aviem Sella, 75, Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard's former handler

Sella (left), a retired Israeli air force colonel, enlisted Pollard to spy for Israel and fled the US after Pollard was arrested in 1985. Pollard pleaded guilty to spying on the US in 1986

Pollard speaking during an interview in a conference room at the Federal Correction Institution in Butner, North Carolina, in 1998

The Pollard case severely strained relations between Israel and the US.

The White House said in a statement that Sella's request for clemency received backing from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli ambassador in Washington, the American ambassador to Israel, and Miriam Adelson, the widow of Republican megadonor and Trump supporter Sheldon Adelson who died last week.

'The State of Israel has issued a full and unequivocal apology, and has requested the pardon in order to close this unfortunate chapter in U.S.-Israel relations,' the White House said.

Pollard spent 30 years in US prison for spying for Israel. He was released on parole in 2015. Last month, Pollard immigrated to Israel and was welcomed on the tarmac by Netanyahu.

Pollard issued a statement welcoming Sella's pardon.

Pollard is seen falling to his knees alongside his wife in Israel on December 30 and being welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu handed the Pollards Israeli ID cards on the tarmac

'This puts an end to the open wound of the episode after 35 years,' Pollard said. 'After the long years of suffering we endured, Esther and I want to focus solely on the future and not on the wounds of the past.'

One of Pollard's attorneys called on Sella to tell the whole truth about what happened three decades ago.

'We are happy about Sella's pardon, but we hope he will finally tell the truth and enable justice to see light,' lawyer Nitsana Darshan-Leitner told the Jerusalem Post. 'Pollard has been suffering for 35 years from malicious lies and false accusations that Sella could have easily proven untrue.

'The time has come for Sella to step out of the shadows and tell exactly what he knows about this patriot who suffered for 30 years in an American prison.'

Pollard leaves a New York courthouse following his release from prison early after 30 years on November 20, 2015

Sella's was one of 73 pardons that were issued by the outgoing president during his final days in office, along with the commutations of sentences of an additional 70 people.

Trump pardoned a raft of prominent allies, most notably his former chief strategist Steve Bannon, who was accused of swindling MAGA supporters as part of a $25million to build the border wall, as well as rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black.

Trump did not pardon himself, despite speculation that he would, in the face of potential federal investigations. He had previously asserted that he had the authority to do so. He also did not pardon his children or his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 13:38:25|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI -- At least 13 people were killed and 18 others injured, some of them critically, after several vehicles collided in India's eastern state of West Bengal early Wednesday, police said.

The accident took place in Dhupguri city of Jalpaiguri district, about 645 km north of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal. (India-Road Accident)

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ADDIS ABABA -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday revealed it had found Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia in desperate need of supplies and services after the Tigray conflict had forced humanitarian workers to withdraw from the region.

A statement from the UN refugee agency, quoting UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch, said that the UNHCR led the first humanitarian mission to Mai Aini and Adi Harush refugee camps to conduct a needs assessment. (Ethiopia-Eritrean-Refugee-Camps)

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WASHINGTON -- Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday delivered his farewell speech to the nation, in which he touted what he had achieved during the four-year term, while asking Americans to pray for the success of Joe Biden, the incoming president.

"As I conclude my term as the 45th President of the United States, I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together," Trump said in a pre-taped video released Tuesday afternoon. (US-Trump-Farewell Speech)

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BERLIN -- Thirty-two percent of Europeans no longer believed that Americans can be trusted after electing Donald Trump president in 2016, according to a pan-European survey of over 15,000 people in 11 countries published on Tuesday.

In Germany, 53 percent of respondents said that they strongly agreed or agreed that Americans can no longer be trusted after the 2016 election, the think tank European Council on Foreign Relations found in the survey. (Europe-US-Poll) Enditem
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Kyiv's Court of Appeal upheld the arrest of former head of Ukrbud Maksym Mykytas on suspicion of organizing the abduction of the capital's lawyer.

The court made the relevant decision on Wednesday, thus refusing to sustain the appeal of Mykytas' defense against the decision of Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv to elect Mykytas as a preventive measure in the form of detention.

"The determination of Shevchenkivsky District Court on the choice of a preventive measure in the form of detention until February 27, 2021, should be left unchanged, the appeals of the defense [...] left without satisfaction," the court said in the decision.

During the meeting, Mykytas declared his innocence to the crime incriminated to him, said that the decision of the court of first instance was made with violations.

In turn, the representatives of the prosecution pointed to the sufficiency of evidence of Mykytas' involvement in organizing the abduction of the capital's lawyer and noted the existence of risks for the investigation of the case if the measure of restraint is mitigated.

The trial was broadcast on the Sudova Vlada YouTube channel.
A Portage man charged in a 2009 homicide in a case that had gone cold until a tipster came forward to police almost nine years later has the intellectual capability of a third-grader and an IQ that places him in the range of someone with an intellectual disability, a clinical psychologist said during a court hearing this week.
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - Tunisia Wednesday welcomed the vote of members of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) for mechanism of selection of candidates for the managing positions for the temporary unified Executive Authority adopted by the consultative committee during the meetings held from 13-16 January
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
President Biden should follow Lincolns lead

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On January 20th, President-elect Joe Biden will become President Joe Biden when he takes the oath of office. If he follows the lead of most of his predecessors (going back to George Washington), hell do so on an open Bible. The seriousness of the moment, the public trust invested in the executive branch, seems to demand an appeal to the divine. Then, hell have an opportunity to address the nation to set a tone for his administration. The best inaugural addresses connect to the broader American tradition, and in our moment, the new President could do much worse than following Abraham Lincolns lead.

Inaugural addresses over the past two centuries have sought to speak to specific moments while connecting to long-standing American principles. Addresses aim to set a clear tone, like Franklin Roosevelts declaration, taking office during the Great Depression, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Presidents may attempt to communicate an approach to the problems faced, as when Ronald Reagan asserted, In the present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. The best call for active response, along the lines of John F. Kennedys Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country.

These strategies will be in Mr. Bidens mind as he prepares his address. He begins his presidency confronting both the on-going challenges of COVID-19 and the deep political polarization which has not only strained national unity but broken out into political violence at the Capitol. In light of these problems, Mr. Biden would do well to turn back to President Lincolns 1861 First Inaugural.

Lincoln had just come through a hotly contested and divisive election not unlike last Novembers. Lincoln carried the standard for the upstart Republican party. The Democratic party, formerly a national party, had itself fractured, nominating two candidates, Stephen Douglas and John C. Breckinridge. John Bell ran on the Constitutional Union ticket.

When the votes were counted, Lincoln had a majority of electoral votes and so achieved the presidency according to constitutional guidelines. This stunned many southerners. They could legitimately claim that they didnt know anyone who had voted for Lincoln, since the Republican ticket had been denied ballot access across the South. The question of legitimacy swirled.

Lincoln faced more than just hard feelings; he confronted the very real danger of political violence. Southern fire-eaters, once the election returns came in, began laying the groundwork to leave the Union. Their endeavors bore fruit when South Carolina voted to secede. Six other Deep South states would follow them. Lincoln had largely remained silent. His inaugural address was thus his opportunity to speak to a nation on the brink of dissolution. How did he speak to a nation tearing itself apart?

Lincoln addressed his hearers with honesty. He acknowledged differences between the sections, rooted in the legal standing of slavery. He didnt ignore or paper over those differences, yet he believed the issues could be negotiated carefully. However, Lincoln also was honest in the consequences awaiting the secessionists. Pushing further down their course would elicit a strong response. I shall have the most solemn [oath] to preserve, protect, and defend the government and the Constitution, Lincoln told them, signaling the steps he would take in the days after the ceremony.

Next, Lincoln called for patient reflection. Think calmly and well, he cautioned. Nothing valuable can be lost by taking time. Rather than hot haste, the wiser course facing a divided people was to pause and reflect on consequences. The optimistic predictions among the secessionists represented mere braggadocio. A more realistic, sober assessment would bring the parties back to the table.

Third, Lincoln sought to recreate national unity through reminding his listeners of historical ties, to recover a common identity in a shared history. Although alluded to several times, this theme was front and center in his conclusion: Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. Lincoln intended these lines  now famous  to evoke a loyalty that could go beyond transient differences to produce long-term concord.

Finally, Lincoln placed the divides within a transcendent framework. The Almighty Ruler of nations, with his eternal truth and justice was overseeing the conflict and would render a judgment, according to Lincoln. Disunionists would have to reckon, not only with the consequences of their actions, but with the evaluation of a just God.

The great irony is that Lincolns inaugural did not revive Americas better angels. When Lincoln decided to resupply Ft. Sumter in Charleston Harbor, the Confederate batteries opened fire, launching the Civil War. Over the next four years, Americans would slaughter one another, leaving over 600,000 dead and thousands more permanently maimed. President Lincoln lived long enough to see the War end and to issue a call to bind up the nations wounds, but his efforts would be cut short by an assassins bullet.

Yet, Lincolns appeal to his countrymen echoes today. Mr. Bidens Inaugural Address would do well to draw his listeners to the four elements of Lincolns. Americans need to look at their differences with honesty, resisting the habit of finding and then magnifying the worst examples of those with whom we disagree. Further, we need to face facts honestly, even if we dont like them or they dont confirm our prior assumptions. Second, it might be good to slow down and practice some patient reflection, rather than jumping from one hot take to another. Third, the address could call the country back to a shared purpose, recognizing our connections to an American past. That past is not perfect. Its marred in significant ways  as Lincoln knew well  but it also has resources in both principles and the many examples of those who called for the country to be better. Finally, this endeavor works best when it is understood that our civic actions are not just for ourselves. Following Lincoln, an appeal to Him, who has never yet forsaken this favored land would not be out of order.
Gardai stopped this lorry in the Carlow area heading for Galway.

The vehicle was carrying a load of large straw bales on an extended flatbed trailer - however the whole rig measured over 23 metres.

Gardai said: "This well exceeded the legal limit."

The driver was instructed to park up the lorry until the load was adjusted.

The driver is also expected to appear in court charged under the Road Traffic Act.
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[January 20, 2021] Cobwebs Technologies Discusses the European Commission's New Counter-Terrorism Agenda and How It Can Be Tackled Using Automated Web Investigation Technologies

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /CNW/ -- The European Commission published "A Counter-Terrorism Agenda for the EU: Anticipate, Prevent, Protect, Respond" and announced in the EU Security Union Strategy for 2020 to 2025 the goal of boosting the EU's resilience. In a section titled "Reinforcing early detection capacity", the Agenda emphasizes the crucial role modern technology can play in terror activities and the importance of anticipating threats in order to equip law enforcement with the tools they need to prevent attacks. To achieve this, the Agenda states the EU security research will build initiatives focused on analytical solutions dealing with large amounts of online content, i.e, AI-powered WEBINT for enhanced cybersecurity and threat intelligence. The EU will fund security research to increase early detection capacity and discover new ways of addressing radicalization. Artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions are vital to monitoring and analyzing relevant data throughout the web's open and hidden layers, which is too vast for manual analysis. In an effort to provide operational support to strengthen Europol and improve response activity, the Agenda states that Europol must be able to support investigations with big data analyses. In today's digital world, the ability to analyze and generate insights from large data sets (i.e., big data) is an integral part of police work and cannot be achieved without AI and machine learning capabilities. In a section titled "Strengthening information exchange", the Agenda discusses the importance of effective communication between authorities responsible for preventing, investigating, and prosecuting criminal offenses. Europol will need to improve its cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor's Office as part of a reinforced mandate by the Commission. This will include providing analytical support to the work of the Prosecutor's Office, and effetive and ongoing information exchange between Europol, the Prosecutor's Office, and the European Anti-Fraud Office.



Throughout the Agenda are mentions of automated systems and their critical role as forensic tools to provide timely insights. One example is mentioned in a section for border security and maritime border protection, stating "The effectiveness of systematic checks depends on the quality and interoperability of EU information systems", which are expected to be upgraded on a large scale to streamline security and external border controls. It is clear throughout the Agenda that, in order to improve efforts to prevent terror attacks in today's digital and connected world, the EU and law enforcement agencies will have to adopt solutions that enable large scale data analysis. Information critical to investigations can be found on the open, deep, and dark web, and requires AI and machine learning to effectively aggregate, monitor, and analyze for actionable insights and investigations. The Agenda's strategy is stated in the title in four main steps:

? Anticipate:

Anticipating possible attacks or criminal activity can be done by analyzing relevant content, activity, and sentiment on social media and hidden forums in the deep and dark web. Cobwebs' prediction capabilities pinpoint indications of possible organized terror or criminal activity, enabling law enforcement agencies to stay one step ahead of criminals and anticipate their next move. ? Prevent:

Cobwebs' WEBINT platform provides a visual link analysis, connecting the dots between analyzed data (i.e., content, connections, and more) and displaying it in a visual graph that is easy to understand. This is done by conducting an in-depth analysis of relevant content on the open, deep, and dark web, and generating real-time alerts to enable investigators to prevent criminal activity before it happens. ? Protect:

Cobwebs conducts in-depth, automated web investigations that generate insights based on extracted and analyzed data from the open, deep, and dark web. The AI-powered WEBINT platform analyzes the data and provides in-depth insights and reports with detailed information about topics, locations, demographics, sentiment, and more for smarter, data-driven decisions. ? Respond:

Using AI and machine learning algorithms, Cobwebs' WEBINT platform analyzes data throughout the web's open and hidden sources in real-time, and generates real-time alerts that help national security agencies respond to threats and attacks as they happen. Enhanced public safety in today's digital world is only possible with supporting technology that uses AI and machine learning to fill in the gaps where human capabilities simply can't deliver. Cobwebs Technologies offers innovative, cutting-edge WEBINT solutions to national security agencies to assist in investigations and help them protect civilians. For further details, please contact us @: info@cobwebs.com Related Images ai-powered-web-investigation.png

AI-Powered Web Investigation Platform

Our cutting-edge location solution automatically reveals and analyzes location-based data using interactive maps. Related Links Webloc: Location Intelligence Platform View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cobwebs-technologies-discusses-the-european-commissions-new-counter-terrorism-agenda-and-how-it-can-be-tackled-using-automated-web-investigation-technologies-301202787.html SOURCE Cobwebs Technologies

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New presidents want to look forward, not back, and Joseph R. Biden Jr. is no exception, taking office with a lengthy menu of plans and an aggressive timetable for scrubbing away the policies of his predecessor.

But Mr. Bidens often-expressed desire not to dwell on the sins or even the potential crimes of President Trump, in the name of national unity, is clashing with the will of Democratic voters who want to fully air any wrongdoing and punish Mr. Trump and his enablers, after an election in which many Biden voters were inspired less by passion for him than by rage at the president.

Starting with a split-screen inauguration week, in which Mr. Trumps Senate impeachment trial could begin as soon as Thursday, the opening chapters of the new administration are likely to be marked by tension among Democrats about how to move forward. Party institutionalists led by Mr. Biden want to hammer out deals with congressional Republicans, while the Democratic base is eager for Mr. Trump, his allies and his family members to be held fully accountable.

Many of us voted to get Trump out, not necessarily to be pro-Biden, said Nancy MacEoin, 47, a criminal defense lawyer in Philadelphia. Backing off any sort of prosecution of Trump is going to alienate those people.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa on President Biden's selection of James Fredricks and Joseph Hughes to serve in top positions in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

"The safety and health of the nation's workers is under attack like never before due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But during the past year, not enough was done to make sure hardworking Americans were protected. That will end, however, once James Fredricks and Joseph Hughes assume their positions at OSHA.

"Fredericks, who will serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, knows all about worker safety because he spent 25 years overseeing it as part of his work with the United Steelworkers. He has the expertise to get the job done.

"Hughes, who will serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pandemic and Emergency Response for OSHA, previously was director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Education and Training Program. Unions and employers have benefitted from his service.

"America's workers will be better off having both of them looking out for their safety and health."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Ted Gotsch, (703) 899-0869

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Related Links

http://www.teamster.org


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Greece posts 80% annual decrease in migrant flows Government announce sharp fall in figures for 2020

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, 19 JANUARY - Greece's government may be coming under fire from all sides on its handling of the ongoing migrant crisis, but the country's Migration Ministry continues to stick to its positive narrative, announcing on Tuesday that it has reduced the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Greece by 80 percent in 2020.



That was the key message delivered by Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis, who presented the 25-page annual report in Parliament.



The document contains data collected by all the agencies involved in handling migration, including the refugee reception and identification centers, and the asylum service.



And according to the numbers, arrivals fell by 87 percent in the Greek islands, while posting a 62 percent fall in Greece's northeastern border region of Evros.



"The year of 2020 is one that marks a milestone in immigration, as there was a drastic change and substantial improvement in all sectors; it was a year of regaining control of the immigration crisis," said Mitarakis.



He added: "We reduced the flows of people trying to enter Greece by 80%, implementing an overall policy with tangible results. We have reduced the migrant population by 28,000 across the country, closing 57 accommodation facilities in 2020, while only three new structures for asylum seekers were created. We are now reducing the effects of the crisis on local communities." The report said that the Asylum Service issued around 106,000 decisions last year, of which 33 percent were refugee status approvals. Even though the undecided asylum cases were reduced by 43 percent in 2020, there are still some 80,000 decisions still pending, as outlined by Mitarakis.



Mitarakis said that he considered "the prevention of a humanitarian crisis in Moria after the arson incident" to be "a critical step", as well as the way the government handled the Covid-19 pandemic.



He concluded: "In 2021, we will continue on the same path, with the same determination, aiming at the final confrontation of the immigration crisis in our country.



Meanwhile, living conditions in many of the migrant camps around the Greek islands has become the hot topic of the media agenda, with images and videos filling social media accounts of humanitarian and human rights organizations operating in the various locations on Lesvos and Chios, among others.



The biggest facility on Lesvos, the so-called 'tent city' at Kara Tepe was hit by snowstorms over the weekend, where 7,300 people are living in large tents, many of them without a proper floor.



The camp, which has already been flooded three times during autumn and winter, was struggling to provide a proper power supply to the residents, after one of the facility's generators broke down. Local media said repairs were scheduled for this week.



The Greek arm of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) lamented the situation in a tweet, saying: "Greece has made progress at the emergency tented camp that replaced Moria, but 7,300 residents are now experiencing grim conditions amid the cold, despite efforts by humanitarian partners to help Greece fill emergency gaps. Long-term solutions like transfers to appropriate shelter, better integration prospects and relocation to other EU states are needed to help the vulnerable." Finally, in related developments, Greece's Coast Guard announced on Tuesday that one man died near Lesvos after jumping out of a vessel as it approached the shore in a remote part of the south coast of the island. Three men who were missing were found, after the boat carrying 24 people was located following a search and rescue operation involving an open sea vessel and a helicopter, as well as two Army speedboats.



According to local reports, three people jumped into the icy sea before the boat reached the rocky shore.



Only last month, a woman drowned off the coast of Lesvos in another incident which saw 32 people picked up by the Greek Coast Guard in a rescue operation.



(ANSAmed). (ANSA).




20 January 2021

Type Event Proceeding



On a recent Farm Business Options Webinar, which took place on Tuesday, 19 January, host, Barry Caslin, Energy & Rural Development Specialist, Teagasc was joined by Liam Donohue, Technological University Dublin (Hemp Insulation); Alan Jackson, farmer grower and Killian McGrath, Remedy Health to discuss the opportunities for Industrial Hemp in Irish Agriculture.



This webinar gave an insight into the various uses for industrial hemp and its impacts on the modern day world! Over the years, the hemp industry has experienced a lot of ups and downs, but with the recent explosion in the popularity of CBD and a shift in demand for natural products, the industry is experiencing a renaissance. But what exactly is hemp? Is it legal and safe to use? How exactly can hemp be used? Barry Caslin, Teagasc dives into these questions with farmers and industry specialists.

View presentations below:

View webinar recording below:

Find out more about the series or register for future webinars here: Farm Business Options Webinars
We keep reporting low [coronavirus] numbers and people think that the virus is gone and they shouldnt bother to take extra precautions and follow safety rules, said Gayane Sahakian, the deputy director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

We already have an increase in the viruss reproduction rate. It will naturally lead to an increase in cases which we will observe over the next 14 days, Sahakian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

According to the Armenian Ministry of Health, the daily numbers of new coronavirus cases have fallen significantly in the last two months after surging following the outbreak of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 27.

The ministry has reported an average of some 350 cases a day over the past week, sharply down from more than 2,000 cases routinely recorded in late October and early November. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian seized upon this downward trend on Tuesday to again defend his governments response to the pandemic strongly criticized by the Armenian opposition.

The countrys coronavirus numbers began falling in mid-November even though the Armenian police had practically stopped fining people and businesses to enforce anti-epidemic rules set by the government.

As the COVID-19 crisis worsened in June the government made it mandatory for everyone to wear a mask not only in all enclosed spaces but also outdoors. Thousands of citizens were fined 10,000 drams ($20) in the following months for failing to comply with this requirement which remains in force.

Many Armenians no longer wear masks in public areas, including buses. In Yerevan, anecdotal evidence suggests that they also have no trouble entering shops and offices without masks.

I wont wear a mask unless I am required to because I cant easily breathe through it, said one such Yerevan resident.

The numbers have fallen and people have become complacent, said another, masked citizen. This is also the result of a weaker enforcement.

In a short statement to RFE/RLs Armenian Service, the police confirmed that people not wearing masks are rarely fined these days.

In view of the existing situation, the police take a more lenient approach and officers on duty mainly warn [citizens violating the safety rules,] the statement said.

Sahakian said that this leniency has also made Armenians more careless about the pandemic, which has already killed at least 3,016 people in the country of about 3 million.
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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.
Anyone that's ever watched a Married At First Sight cocktail party knows to expect plenty of drama and glam.

So it's no wonder some of the show's most memorable stars dressed to impress to film the much anticipated grand reunion in Sydney last month.

From Martha's $1390 maxi dress to Nasser's $27 budget ensemble, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at what the returning brides and grooms decided to wear.

Style: Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the Married At First Sight reunion looks. (Pictured: Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli)

Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli, 2019

Martha, 32, stunned in a laid back Christopher Esber Crystal Interweave maxi dress worth $1390.

The sleeveless high-neck design is offset with crystal-embellished detailing that showed off her toned midriff.

Fashionable: Martha, 32, stunned in a laid back Christopher Esber Crystal Interweave maxi dress worth $1390

Stylish: The sleeveless high-neck design is offset, with crystal-embellished detailing that showed off her toned midriff

Suave: Michael, 30, opted for an all black ensemble featuring a collared shirt and boots

She paired the look with a matching grey purse and styled her blonde locks into an updo.

The makeup artist-turned-influencer opted for bold makeup, sporting grey eyeshadow, accentuated brows and nude lips.

Michael, 30, opted for an all black ensemble featuring a collared shirt and boots.

Pretty: The 31-year-old had her caramel coloured hair straightened for the occasion and accessorised her look with dangling earrings

Cyrell Paule, 2019

Cyrell also opted for a very eye-catching gown, arriving in a fitted gold sequin mini dress.

She paired it with metallic heels and an oversized envelope clutch, while choosing a vampy smokey eye shadow.

She had her caramel coloured hair straightened for the occasion and accessorised her look with dangling earrings.

Ready to shine! Cyrell Paule (pictured) also opted for a very eye-catching gown, arriving in a fitted gold sequin mini dress

She's back! Making a very dramatic entrance was Jessika Power (pictured), who chose a show-stopping $120 white dress from Sydney Dress Hire with short skirt and long train

Jessika Power, 2019

Making a very dramatic entrance was Jessika, who chose a show-stopping $120 white dress from Sydney Dress Hire with short skirt and long train.

Her blonde hair in a bob, the beauty absolutely beamed on arrival as she left her car - but suffered a bit of a wardrobe malfunction.

Jessika had to scramble to pull down her skirt as it rode up as she approached the doorway, before striking a pose.

Beauty: Her blonde hair in a bob, the beauty absolutely beamed on arrival as she left her car - but suffered a bit of a wardrobe malfunction

Happier times: Lizzie looked sensational in a skintight black dress that showed off her inked midriff. Her former partner Seb looked smart in a pair of white jeans and a black shirt

Elizabeth Sobinoff and Seb Guilhaus, 2020

Lizzie, 29, looked sensational in a skintight black dress that showed off her inked midriff.

In her typically over the top fashion, she wore a number of accessories with glittering bangles on her wrists and rings on her hands.

Her former partner Seb looked smart in a pair of white Aylesbury jeans worth $150 and a black shirt from Oxford.

Fashionable: In her typically over the top fashion, she wore a number of accessories with glittering bangles on her wrists and rings on her hands

Ines Basic, 2019

Ines looked every inch the star in a navy blue, off-the-shoulder Bianca & Bridgett dress mini dress worth $290 that clung to her impressive figure.

She added a pair of towering dark Tony Bianco stilettos.

She completed her look wearing her brunette hair down around her shoulders.

Ready for her comeback: Ines Basic, 30, (pictured) looked every inch the star in a navy-blue, off-the-shoulder Bianca & Bridgett dress mini dress worth $290

Fancy: She added a pair of towering dark Tony Bianco stilettos. She completed her look wearing her brunette hair down around her shoulders

Jo 'Foxy Jojo' McPharlin, 2018

Jo, 42, looked almost unrecognisable as she showed off her impressive 40 kilo weight loss in a $59 a little black dress from Fashion Pop Boutique.

The pint-sized star was all glammed up for the occasion and wore makeup which included red lipstick, black eyeshadow and mascara.

She completed her look wearing dangling earrings.

Impressive! Jo 'Foxy Jojo' McPharlin, 42, looked almost unrecognisable as she showed off her impressive 40 kilo weight loss in a $59 a little black dress from Fashion Pop Boutique

Dean Wells, 2018

Dean opted for his signature casual look, arriving in jeans and a white T-shirt, over which he wore a black jacket.

He paired it with a pair of sneakers, and appears to have stuck to the closely cropped hairdo he sported in the series.

Remember me? Dean Wells, 42, (pictured) opted for his signature casual look, arriving in jeans and a white t-shirt, over which he wore a black jacket

Ryan Gallagher, 2018

Ryan, 32, was sporting a new, darker hairdo, with a slicked back coif, for day one of filming.

The reality star opted for a white and blue tropical themed shirt, and black skinny jeans worn with boots.

He appeared to suffer some trepidation as he approached the doorway, stopping to look up and ponder before making his way inside.

New look: Ryan Gallagher, 32, was sporting a new, darker hairdo, with a slicked back coif, for day one of filming

Tracey Jewel, 2018

Tracey, 38, was famously paired with Dean Wells on the experiment in 2018.

And while they have since moved on from each other, she showed him what he was missing in a chic black off the shoulder dress Ripe Maternity dress.

She wore her brunette hair in long curls and carried a luxury Yves Saint Laurent clutch.

Bumping along: Tracey Jewel looked chic in a black, off the shoulder dress that showed off her baby bump

Sarah Roza, 2018

Sarah showed off her sensational figure wearing a bright yellow $25 bodycon dress and $25 heels from boohoo.com.

The 42-year-old beauty specialist accessorised her look wearing a evil eye pearl bracelet.

She explained: 'I wore it to ward off evil and toxic people and situations and it keeps me safe... I definitely needed it for this MAFS reunion.'

Sarah proved she was her own best advertisement as she showed her upcoming jewellery range, which she plans on launching in the coming months.

Affordable Style: Sarah Roza, 42, (pictured) showed off her sensational figure wearing a bright yellow $25 bodycon dress and $25 heels from boohoo.com

Charlene Perera, 2018

Charlene, from season five, looked stylish in a one-shoulder frock.

She accessorised her look wearing a black Gucci handbag and strappy heels.

Remember me? Charlene (left) from season five, looked stylish in a one-shoulder frock. Meanwhile her co-star Troy Delmege (right) flashed his famous grin while rocking a navy blue business suit

Dressed up: Ashley Irvine (left) looked very glamorous in a eye-popping red bodycon dress that showed off her ample cleavage. Meanwhile Mike Gunner (right), 45, arrived sporting an especially clean shaven head, opting for a grey suit and black shirt underneath

Troy Delmege, 2018

Troy flashed his famous grin while rocking a navy blue business suit.

The reality star, who also appeared on season five looked only too happy to be invited back for the show.

Ashley Irvin, 2018

Ashley, 31, looked very glamorous in a eye-popping red bodycon dress that showed off her ample cleavage.

She wore her blonde tresses curled and added height wearing strappy heels.

Mike Gunner, 2019

Mike, 45, arrived sporting an especially clean shaven head, opting for a grey suit and black shirt underneath.

Ready for his return to the spotlight: Nasser, 53, showed up in a smart suit under which he wore a loud, tropical $7 themed shirt

'Australia's Favourite Celebrity': Nasser told Daily Mail Australia that he was so excited to have got a call to return to the show he went to buy an outfit especially for the show

Nasser Sultan, 2018

Nasser, 53, showed up in a smart suit under which he wore a loud, tropical $7 themed shirt.

He wore a pair of sunglasses, and appeared to be wrestling with this jacket on his way inside.

Nasser told Daily Mail Australia that he was so excited to have got a call to return to the show he went to buy an outfit especially for the show.

'My shirt was only $7, brand new from Wayside Chapel op shop and I went and bought it two days before filming.'

'The jeans were $15 and belt $5, I was left with $3 change.'

It's back! Channel Nine dropped its first official trailer for the show's much-anticipated reunion series on Sunday. Pictured: Cyrell Paule

It comes as Channel Nine treated viewers to a sneak peek of the highly-anticipated reunion series.

According to Nine, the special will see 'old flames reunite, friendships formed, and broken ones mended' as past conflicts resurface.

However, the trailer also suggests others 'will be held accountable for their actions'.

Married At First Sight Grand Reunion will air over two big nights on Sunday, January 31, at 7.00pm and Sunday, February 7, at 7.00pm on Nine and 9Now
THUNDER BAY, ON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: AIR) (OTCQB: CLRMF) (FRA: CKU) is pleased to announce that the Company has released an updated Indicated and Inferred mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") for the Company's 100%-owned Thunder Bay North Project (the "Project") which includes both the Current Lake and Escape Lake deposits.

The mineral resource estimate was prepared by Nordmin Engineering Ltd. ("Nordmin") and is based on an underground ramp-access constrained resource model with a cutoff value equating to 1.56 g/tonne PdEq (2.56 g/tonne PtEq) using 3-year trailing average metal prices for all metals except cobalt, which used a 2-year trailing average as described below in Table 8. A technical report will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of the date of this news release.

The Current Lake Deposit contains an Indicated mineral resource of 11,999,177 tonnes grading 3.44 g/t PdEq and an Inferred mineral resource of 6,406,960 tonnes grading 2.02 g/tonne PdEq (See Table 1; Figure 2).

The Escape Lake Deposit contains an Indicated mineral resource of 4,286,220 tonnes grading 3.67 g/t PdEq and an Inferred mineral resource of 3,445,179 tonnes grading 2.23 g/tonne PdEq (See Table 2; Figure 3).

Highlights

Indicated mineral resources at Thunder Bay North Project are approximately 1.33 million oz PdEq in the Current Lake Deposit and 0.50 million oz PdEq in the Escape Lake Deposit.

Inferred mineral resources at Thunder Bay North Project are approximately 0.41 million oz PdEq in the Current Lake Deposit and 0.25 million oz PdEq in the Escape Lake Deposit.

The underground resource at the Current Lake Deposit will now be the focus of a Preliminary Economic Assessment which will include specific work on geotechnical analysis and bench scale testing on a drilled bulk sample of mineralized material to verify metallurgical recoveries.

The Indicated mineral resource is developed in multiple zones which exhibit a variable grade profile with highest grades occurring at relatively shallow depths, including the lower Current Zone and Bridge Zone in the Current Lake Deposit. (See Table 3; Figure 1).

The initial mineral resource at Escape Lake is geologically open and will be the target of an extensive systematic drilling program planned for 2021.

Current Lake and Escape Lake are polymetallic deposits with a roughly 1:1 platinum to palladium ratio and comparable geological attributes and metal grades.

Nickel and Copper contribute significant metal values and will be tested for metallurgical flotation and recovery potential.

Gold, Silver, Cobalt and Rhodium are potentially valuable byproducts in the metal mix at Thunder Bay North Project.

Table 1: Thunder Bay North Project - Grade Summary

Story continues



Grade Category Tonnes Pt (g/t) Pd

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Rh

(g/t) Co

(g/t) Cu (%) Ni (%) PtEq

(g/t) PdEq

(g/t) Indicated - Current Lake 11,999,177 1.48 1.40 0.07 1.32 0.04 137 0.28 0.17 5.79 3.44 Indicated - Escape Lake 4,286,220 0.92 1.18 0.12 2.45 0.06 209 0.52 0.28 6.16 3.67 TOTAL INDICATED RESOURCE 16,285,396 1.33 1.34 0.08 1.62 0.05 156 0.34 0.20 5.89 3.50 Inferred - Current Lake 6,406,960 0.68 0.65 0.06 0.95 0.01 123 0.30 0.14 3.40 2.02 Inferred - Escape Lake 3,445,179 0.64 0.73 0.07 1.13 0.00 173 0.33 0.18 3.75 2.23 TOTAL INFERRED RESOURCE 9,852,138 0.67 0.68 0.07 1.01 0.01 140 0.31 0.15 3.52 2.10

Notes: See section "Input Parameters for Resource Calculation" below. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Table 2: Thunder Bay North Project - Contained Metal



Metal Category Tonnes Pt (Oz) Pd (Oz) Au

(Oz) Ag (Oz) Rh (Oz) Co

(Tonnes) Cu

(Tonnes) Ni

(Tonnes) PtEq

(Oz) PdEq

(Oz) Indicated - Current Lake 11,999,177 569,176 538,181 26,121 508,434 16,998 1,649 33,751 20,969 2,233,575 1,328,789 Indicated - Escape Lake 4,286,220 127,090 162,337 16,928 337,946 8,009 896 22,390 12,016 849,481 505,369 TOTAL INDICATED RESOURCE 16,285,396 696,266 700,517 43,050 846,380 25,008 2,544 56,141 32,985 3,083,056 1,834,158 Inferred - Current Lake 6,406,960 140,400 133,333 12,888 195,484 1,836 785 19,155 9,113 700,621 416,810 Inferred - Escape Lake 3,445,179 70,520 80,989 7,754 124,809 71 595 11,293 6,046 414,932 246,850 TOTAL INFERRED RESOURCE 9,852,138 210,919 214,322 20,642 320,293 1,907 1,380 30,449 15,159 1,115,553 663,660

Notes: See section "Input Parameters for Resource Calculation" below. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Webinar

Clean Air Metals will be conducting a webinar to discuss the resource update with Amvest Capital on January 26th at 4:05pm EST. Please see the link below:

Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3724157345636755725?source=co

Executive Comments

Abraham Drost, P.Geo., CEO of Clean Air Metals stated, "We are very pleased for our shareholders and participating First Nations with this milestone mineral resource study. An underground ramp-access mine planning approach by Nordmin Engineering has been the key to unlock value at the Thunder Bay North Project. We look forward to a busy year ahead as we continue drilling with two drills in an effort to increase and upgrade mineral resources at the Escape Lake. We also plan on adding a drill at the Current Lake Deposit focused on upgrading Inferred material to Indicated and testing nearby greenfields exploration targets with massive sulphide potential."

Jim Gallagher, P.Eng., Executive Chairman of Clean Air Metals stated, "The broad suite of metals contained in the Thunder Bay North deposits is quite unique and positions the Company well for participation in the transition to a low carbon transportation future. Tougher emissions standards worldwide have significantly increased loadings of Palladium and Rhodium in auto catalysts pushing prices to near record levels. Platinum prices have risen sharply in the last several months as hydrogen and fuel cells become a viable alternative especially in the trucking and long-distance transportation sectors. Nickel, Copper and Cobalt are key to the battery electric revolution and Gold and Silver provide a potential sweetener to a future revenue stream. Subject to future feasibility studies around economic viability, this could give Clean Air Metals a natural hedge against fluctuating metal prices regardless of which technology becomes dominant."

Table 3: Current Lake Deposit  Grade Summary



Grade Category Area Tonnes Pt

(g/t) Pd

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Rh

(g/t) Co

(g/t) Cu

(%) Ni

(%) PtEq

(g/t) PdEq

(g/t) Indicated - Current Lake Upper Current 1,089,212 1.60 1.50 0.08 1.72 0.07 148 0.35 0.20 6.50 3.87

Current 1,534,911 2.10 1.96 0.11 2.25 0.05 142 0.41 0.21 7.97 4.74

Bridge 3,355,050 1.72 1.67 0.08 1.49 0.05 130 0.35 0.17 6.67 3.97

Beaver 4,481,507 1.23 1.14 0.05 1.00 0.03 139 0.20 0.16 4.82 2.87

Cloud 1,538,497 0.93 0.89 0.04 0.66 0.04 136 0.17 0.16 4.00 2.38

437-SE 0 - - - - - - - - - - TOTAL INDICATED RESOURCE 11,999,177 1.48 1.40 0.07 1.32 0.04 137 0.28 0.17 5.79 3.44 Inferred - Current Lake Upper Current 0 - - - - - - - - - -

Current 0 - - - - - - - - - -

Bridge 0 - - - - - - - - - -

Beaver 1,735,331 0.80 0.75 0.05 0.79 0.02 146 0.20 0.18 3.72 2.21

Cloud 0 - - - - - - - - - -

437-SE 4,671,629 0.64 0.61 0.07 1.01 0.01 114 0.34 0.13 3.28 1.95 TOTAL INFERRED RESOURCE 6,406,960 0.68 0.65 0.06 0.95 0.01 123 0.30 0.14 3.40 2.02

Notes: See section "Input Parameters for Resource Calculation" below.

Table 4: Current Lake Deposit - Contained Metal



Metal Category Area Tonnes Pt

(Oz) Pd

(Oz) Au

(Oz) Ag

(Oz) Rh

(Oz) Co

(Tonnes) Cu

(Tonnes) Ni

(Tonnes) PtEq

(Oz) PdEq

(Oz) Indicated - Current Lake Upper Current 1,089,212 56,185 52,487 2,692 60,154 2,342 161 3,800 2,150 227,801 135,523

Current 1,534,911 103,563 96,875 5,220 111,114 2,677 218 6,328 3,259 393,310 233,986

Bridge 3,355,050 185,255 179,929 8,702 160,257 5,079 436 11,851 5,832 720,020 428,351

Beaver 4,481,507 177,932 164,879 7,292 144,294 4,842 625 9,168 7,343 694,657 413,262

Cloud 1,538,497 46,241 44,010 2,216 32,615 2,058 209 2,604 2,385 197,787 117,667

437-SE 0 - - - - - - - - - - TOTAL INDICATED RESOURCE 11,999,177 569,176 538,181 26,121 508,434 16,998 1,649 33,751 20,969 2,233,575 1,328,789 Inferred - Current Lake Upper Current 0 - - - - - - - - - -

Current 0 - - - - - - - - - -

Bridge 0 - - - - - - - - - -

Beaver 1,735,331 44,527 41,708 2,718 44,020 1,031 253 3,446 3,203 207,495 123,442

Cloud 0 - - - - - - - - - -

437-SE 4,671,629 95,873 91,625 10,170 151,464 806 533 15,709 5,910 493,125 293,368 TOTAL INFERRED RESOURCE 6,406,960 140,400 133,333 12,888 195,484 1,836 785 19,155 9,113 700,621 416,810

Notes: See section "Input Parameters for Resource Calculation" below.

Table 5: Escape Lake Deposit  Grade Summary



Grade Category Area Tonnes Pt

(g/t) Pd

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Rh

(g/t) Co

(g/t) Cu

(%) Ni

(%) PtEq

(g/t) PdEq

(g/t) Indicated - Escape Lake Steepledge North 135,650 0.71 0.81 0.06 1.28 0.01 157 0.28 0.18 3.87 2.30

Steepledge South 45,180 0.87 1.02 0.05 1.14 0.00 141 0.28 0.17 4.25 2.53

Escape South Perimeter 1,754,080 0.48 0.58 0.08 1.45 0.03 176 0.37 0.21 3.78 2.26

Escape South High-Grade Zone 2,351,310 1.27 1.65 0.16 3.29 0.08 238 0.66 0.34 8.11 4.82 TOTAL INDICATED RESOURCE 4,286,220 0.92 1.18 0.12 2.45 0.06 208.95 0.52 0.28 6.16 3.67 Inferred - Escape Lake Steepledge North 148,609 0.44 0.52 0.05 0.53 0.00 150 0.26 0.21 3.14 1.87

Steepledge South 2,287,589 0.74 0.84 0.07 1.15 0.00 173 0.32 0.16 3.96 2.36

Escape South Perimeter 915,422 0.43 0.53 0.08 1.13 0.00 173 0.35 0.19 3.35 1.99

Escape South High-Grade Zone 93,559 0.43 0.34 0.09 1.45 0.01 191 0.38 0.20 3.29 1.96 TOTAL INFERRED RESOURCE 3,445,179 0.64 0.73 0.07 1.13 0.00 173 0.33 0.18 3.75 2.23

Notes: See section "Input Parameters for Resource Calculation" below.

Table 6: Escape Lake Deposit  Contained Metal



Metal Category Area Tonnes Pt

(Oz) Pd

(Oz) Au

(Oz) Ag

(Oz) Rh

(Oz) Co

(Tonnes) Cu

(Tonnes) Ni

(Tonnes) PtEq

(Oz) PdEq

(Oz) Indicated - Escape Lake Steepledge North 135,650 3,087 3,545 266 5,577 43 21 383 238 16,897 10,053

Steepledge South 45,180 1,258 1,485 79 1,653 0 6 125 76 6,175 3,673

Escape South Perimeter 1,754,080 27,083 32,687 4,689 81,633 1,970 308 6,458 3,617 213,401 127,264

Escape South High-Grade Zone 2,351,310 95,662 124,619 11,894 249,083 5,996 560 15,424 8,085 613,007 364,380 TOTAL INDICATED RESOURCE 4,286,220 127,090 162,337 16,928 337,946 8,009 896 22,390 12,016 849,481 505,369 Inferred - Escape Lake Steepledge North 148,609 2,119 2,462 255 2,508 0 22 394 309 14,985 8,915

Steepledge South 2,287,589 54,498 61,920 4,869 84,680 0 396 7,321 3,771 291,351 173,329

Escape South Perimeter 915,422 12,884 15,314 2,353 33,246 42 158 3,226 1,775 98,690 58,709

Escape South High-Grade Zone 93,559 1,019 1,293 276 4,375 29 18 353 190 9,905 5,896 TOTAL INFERRED RESOURCE 3,445,179 70,520 80,989 7,754 124,809 71 595 11,293 6,046 414,932 246,849

Notes: See section "Input Parameters for Resource Calculation" below.

Figure 1: Thunder Bay North Project Plan View (CNW Group/Clean Air Metals Inc.)

Figure 2: Current Lake Deposit Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource (CNW Group/Clean Air Metals Inc.)

Figure 3: Escape Lake Deposit Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource (CNW Group/Clean Air Metals Inc.)

Figure 4: Current Lake Deposit Breakdown by Zone (CNW Group/Clean Air Metals Inc.)

Figure 5: Escape Lake Deposit Breakdown by Zone (CNW Group/Clean Air Metals Inc.)

2021 Exploration Update

A 2021 drill program on the initial resource at the Escape Lake Deposit will commence immediately with two drills, expanding the Escape Lake South high-grade zone area, upgrading Inferred material and filling in the gaps along the 3 km long conduit where geological potential for resource growth exists.

A third drill, commencing in Q2, 2021 will mobilize to the Current Lake Deposit area and upgrade Inferred material in the Beaver Lake Zone. Drilling will also test certain geophysical anomalies identified in last year's work in the Feeder Zone area underlain by the Escape Lake Fault at the southern base of the Current Lake intrusion. The target in this area is the source of certain narrow, high grade massive sulphide lenses, found injected further up in the Current Lake conduit.

Social Engagement

Clean Air Metals and its wholly-owned subsidiary Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Limited acknowledge that the Escape Lake Property and the Current Lake Property, which collectively make up the Thunder Bay North Project, are on the traditional territories of the Fort William First Nation, Red Rock Indian Band and Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishinabek. The parties have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement as Cooperating Participants and are committed to ongoing updates and dialogue around the Thunder Bay North Project.

Input Parameters for Resource Calculation

Mining Cutoff Grade

The cutoff value used for the mineral resource is US$77/tonne (CA$101/tonne) insitu contained value, 1.58g/tonne Palladium Equivalent (PdEq) (US$77 / (US$1,516.82/31.10305)) or 2.65g/tonne Platinum Equivalent (US$77 / (US$902.38/31.10305)). The cutoff value is calculated based on estimations as follows: direct mining operating cost, onsite milling operating cost, tailings management facility operating cost, indirect operating cost, general and administration (G&A) cost, onsite milling metal recoveries, offsite smelting metal recoveries, and smelter metal payable percentages. A total estimated operating cost of CA$66.91/tonne of mill feed is comprised of;

Direct mining operating cost for underground mining of CA$35.88/tonne mill feed, consisting of the weighted average; 75% longhole open stope mining CA$30.45/tonne mill feed and 25% drift and fill mining CA$52.19/tonne mill feed,

Onsite milling and tailings management facility operating cost of CA$18.00/tonne mill feed,

Total indirect operating cost and G&A cost of CA$13.03/tonne mill feed.

Onsite estimated mill metal recoveries, offsite estimated smelting metal recoveries and estimated smelter payable percentages used for mineral resource cutoff grade calculations are summarized in Table 7. For resource cutoff calculation purposes, a mining recovery of 100.0% and 0.0% mining dilution were applied. The applicable metal prices are summarized in Table 8.

Table 7: Contained Metals Parameters of Mineral Resource Cutoff Grade Calculations

Parameter Pd Pt Ag Au Cu Ni Co Rh Onsite Mill Metal Recoveries 75.00% 75.00% 50.00% 50.00% 90.00% 90.00% 90.00% 75.00% Offsite Smelting Metal Recoveries 85.00% 85.00% 85.00% 85.00% 85.00% 90.00% 50.00% 85.00% Smelter Payable Percentages 98.00% 98.00% 85.00% 97.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 98.00%

Note: Values taken from Panoramic Resources "AMEC Technical Report dated 6 October 2010".

Geological Domaining

Nordmin examined and modelled the mineralization within the Current Lake and Escape Lake deposits for the purpose of grade concentration and isolation of composites, while including lithological, geochemical, and structural correlations between rock types that are influencing the mineralization at each respective deposit.

Domain wireframes were modelled for seven grade elements, including combined Platinum ("Pt") and Palladium ("Pd"), Gold ("Au"), Silver ("Ag"), Copper ("Cu"), Nickel ("Ni"), Cobalt ("Co"), and Rhodium ("Rh"). Each domain was built using geology, mineralization, and grade bin for a combination of Background grade ("BG"), Low Grade ("LG"), Medium Grade ("MG"), and High Grade ("HG"). Background grades were isolated through applying the overall conduit wireframe. The criteria include:

Current Lake Deposit

Platinum and Palladium: Platinum and Palladium grades were summed and the resulting total used to model with the following criteria: BG Pt+Pt < 2 g/t, LG Pt+Pt 2 g/t to 6 g/t, MG Pt+Pd 6 g/t to 12 g/t, HG Pt+Pd > 12 g/t Gold: BG Au < 0.25 g/t, HG Au > 0.25 g/t Silver: BG Ag < 5 g/t, HG Ag > 5 g/t Copper: BG: < 1% Cu, LG 1% to 2% Cu, MG 2% to 4% Cu, HG > 4% Cu Nickel BG < 0.25% Ni, LG 0.25% to 0.5% Ni, MG 0.5% to 1% Ni, HG > 1% Ni Cobalt: BG Co < 250 g/t, LG Co 250 g/t to 500 g/t, HG Co > 500 g/t Rhodium: BG Rh < 0.25 g/t, LG Rh 0.25 g/t to 0.5 g/t, MG Rh 0.5 to 1.0 g/t, HG Rh > 1.0 g/t

Escape Lake Deposit

Platinum and Palladium: Platinum and Palladium grades were summed and the resulting total used to model with the following criteria: BG Pt+Pt < 2 g/t, LG Pt+Pt 2 to 6 g/t, MG Pt+Pd 6 to 12 g/t, HG Pt+Pd > 12 g/t Gold: BG Au < 0.25 g/t, HG Au > 0.25 g/t Silver: BG Ag < 2.5 g/t, LG Ag 2.5 g/t to 5 g/t, HG Ag > 5 g/t Copper: BG: < 1% Cu, LG 1% to 2% Cu, HG > 2% Cu Nickel BG < 0.25% Ni, LG 0.25% to 0.5% Ni, MG 0.5% to 1% Ni, HG > 1% Ni Cobalt: BG Co < 250 g/t, LG Co 250 g/t to 500 g/t, HG Co > 500 g/t Rhodium: BG Rh < 0.25 g/t, LG Rh 0.25 g/t to 0.5 g/t, MG Rh 0.5 g/t to 1.0 g/t, HG Rh > 1.0 g/t

Wireframes were initially created on 10 m to 20 m plan sections and adjusted on vertical section views to edit and smooth each wireframe where required. When not cut off by drilling, the wireframes terminate at the contact of the conduit or due to lack of drilling, whichever was most appropriate. No wireframe overlapping exists within a given domain, but all domains are independent of each other.

The use of explicit modelling allows for mineralization in context with the deposit geology and associated geochemistry to be considered. It is Nordmin's opinion that the explicit modelling approach minimizes risks compared to using implicit modelling for each deposit.

Compositing

Compositing of samples is a technique used to give each sample a relatively equal length to reduce the potential for bias due to uneven sample lengths; it prevents the potential loss of sample data and reduces the potential for grade bias due to the possible creation of short and potentially high-grade composites that are generally formed along the zone contacts when using a fixed length.

The raw sample data was found to have a relatively narrow range of sample lengths. Samples captured within all zones were composited to 1.0 m regular intervals based on the observed modal distribution of sample lengths, which supports a 5.0 m x 5.0 m x 5.0 m block model (with sub-blocking). An option to use a slightly variable composite length was chosen to allow for backstitching shorter composites that are located along the edges of the composited interval. All composite samples were generated within each mineral lens with no overlaps along boundaries. The composite samples were validated statistically to ensure there was no loss of data or change to the mean grade of each sample population.

Block Model Resource Estimation

A "soft boundary" was used for the application of composites for all mineralized domains except for the background domains, as follows:

Background Grade: Selected composites include only background domain composites.

Low Grade: Selected composites included background and low-grade domain composites.

Medium Grade (where applicable): Selected composites included medium and low-grade domain composites.

High Grade (where applicable): Selected composites included high grade and medium grade domain composites.

A series of upfront test modelling was completed to define an estimation methodology to meet the following criteria:

Representative of the deposit geology and structural models.

Accounts for the variability of grade, orientation, and continuity of mineralization.

Controls the smoothing (grade spreading) of grades and the influence of outliers.

Accounts for most of the mineralization.

Is robust and repeatable within the mineral domains.

Supports multiple domains.

Multiple test scenarios were evaluated to determine the optimum processes and parameters to use to achieve the stated criteria. Each scenario was based on Natural Neighbour (NN), Inverse Distance Squared (ID2), Inverse Distance Cubed (ID3), and Ordinary Kriging (OK) spatial interpolation and weighted averaging methods.

All test scenarios were evaluated based on global statistical comparisons, visual comparisons of composite samples versus block grades, and the assessment of overall smoothing. Based on results of the testing, it was determined that the final resource estimation methodology would constrain the mineralization by using hard wireframe boundaries to control the spread of high to grade and low to grade mineralization. OK was selected as the best representative interpolation method.

Equivalency

Equivalency formulas were calculated and used for reporting purposes. The derivation of the equivalency formulas is based on accepted industry practices. All equivalencies are reported as in-situ grades and are calculated using the trailing average commodity price deck referenced in Table 8.

Platinum equivalency ("Pt Eq") and Palladium Equivalency ("Pd Eq") was calculated for each deposit through the following formulas, using components from platinum ("Pt"), palladium ("Pd"), gold ("Au"), silver ("Ag"), copper ("Cu"), nickel ("Ni"), cobalt ("Co"), and rhodium ("Rh"):

Notes:

All percentage grades referenced in the formulas for Cu and Ni are numeral percentage rather than decimal percentages (i.e., 2% is 2.0, not 0.02).

0.06857 is used for troy ounce and pound conversion.

2204 is used for tonne and pound conversion.

10,000 is used to convert from numerical percentage to grams.

Platinum and Palladium Equivalencies (CNW Group/Clean Air Metals Inc.)

Additional

The Independent and Qualified Person responsible for the Mineral Resource Estimate is Glen Kuntz, P.Geo. of Nordmin Engineering Ltd., Thunder Bay, Ontario, and the effective date of the estimate is January 18, 2021.

CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves were used for the Thunder Bay North Project mineral resource estimate.

3-year trailing average prices were used for all calculations with the exception of cobalt which used a 2-year trailing average price as itemized in Table 8.

Resource excludes all material immediately below Current Lake, above a minimum crown pillar thickness of 20m which is assumed to be not recoverable by underground methods.

Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues.

Minor variations may occur during the addition of rounded numbers.

Calculations used metric units (meters (m), tonnes (t) and grams/tonne (g/t).

Table 8: Commodity Prices Used in Resource Calculation

Commodity Units Assumption

(USD$) Palladium per oz $ 1,516.82 Platinum per oz $ 902.38 Silver per oz $ 17.35 Gold per oz $ 1,469.60 Copper per lbs $ 2.87 Nickel per lbs $ 6.15 Cobalt per tonne $ 34,839.16 Rhodium per oz $ 4,910.67

Note: 3-year trailing average except Cobalt is 2-year trailing average.

Qualified Persons

The Mineral Resource estimate was independently prepared under the supervision of Mr. Glen Kuntz, P.Geo. (Ontario) of Nordmin Engineering Ltd., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Verification included a site visit to inspect drilling, logging, density measurement procedures and sampling procedures, and a review of the control sample results used to assess laboratory assay quality. In addition, a random selection of the drill hole database results was compared with original records.

About Clean Air Metals Inc.

Clean Air Metals' flagship asset is the Thunder Bay North Project, a platinum, palladium, copper, nickel project located near the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Lac des Iles Mine owned by Impala Platinum Holdings. The Clean Air Metals project hosts the Current Lake Deposit and magma conduit and the Company is actively exploring the Escape Lake Deposit, a twin structure to the Current Lake Deposit. Executive Chairman Jim Gallagher, P.Eng. and CEO Abraham Drost, P.Geo. lead an experienced team of geologists and engineers who are using the Norilsk magma conduit stratigraphic and mineral deposit model to guide ongoing exploration and development studies. As the former CEO of North American Palladium Ltd. which owned the Lac des Iles Mine prior to the sale to Impala Platinum in December, 2019, Jim Gallagher and team are credited with the mine turnaround and creation of significant value for shareholders.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Abraham Drost"

Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc.

For further information, please contact:

Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc.

Phone: 807-252-7800

Email: adrost@cleanairmetals.ca

Website: www.cleanairmetals.ca

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.

Cautionary Note

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including statements regarding the potential of the Thunder Bay North Project and the Escape Lake and Current Lake deposits and timing of technical studies and mineral resource estimates. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projection.

Cision

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SOURCE Clean Air Metals Inc.
Prosecutors have released a new photograph that they say is from Riley Williams' camera phone and shows the moment Nancy Pelosi's laptop was stolen from her office during the January 6 riots.

Williams' former boyfriend told investigators that the 22-year-old stole the HP machine and 'attempted to sell it to Russians'.

The ex, referred to in court documents as W1, told investigators that friends of Williams had played him a video that showed her stealing the device.

They said, according to the court documents, that she 'intended to send the computer device to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia's foreign intelligence service'.

Riley Williams, in a brown trench coat and glasses, was seen inside the Capitol on January 6

She had traveled to Washington DC with her father from her Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, home

Prosecutors on Tuesday published a still which they believe was taken from Williams' phone

The plan fell through, and Williams was arrested in Pennsylvania on Monday on charges of entering a restricted building, violent entry, and disorderly conduct.

The care worker had traveled from her Harrisburg home, where she lived with her mother, with her father to the Trump 'Stop the Steal' rally. The pair became separated and did not reunite until the evening, for the journey home.

Williams was arrested on Monday and new theft charges were added on Tuesday

On Tuesday prosecutors filed an amended complaint, which added an additional charge of aiding and abetting theft of government property - a charge for which she could be sentenced to ten years in prison.

The amended documents included a screenshot of a four-second video found on a cell phone, which they had obtained on Monday.

In the clip, prosecutors say, the person holding the cell phone camera is standing, angling the camera down toward a wooden desk with an HP laptop. Prosecutors believe Williams is holding the phone.

The FBI special agent investigating Williams' case said that the voiceover for the clip matched that of Williams, as seen in footage from Britain's ITV News.

The agent stated: 'A female voice that I believe to be WILLIAMS' based on my review of the ITV YouTube video described above can be heard saying, 'Dude, put on gloves.'

Investigators with the FBI said that Williams was clearly identifiable at the riots on January 6

'Next, what appears to be a man's arm then reaches toward the laptop, with a black glove covering his hand, and begins to lift the laptop off the table.

'There is text across the video clip that reads: 'they got the laptop.''

Messages which prosecutors say were from Williams read: 'I stole s*** from Nancy Polesi (sic).'

Another read: 'I domt care I took Nancy Polesis hard drives I dont care kill me.'

Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, tweeted two days after the attack that a laptop stolen was from a conference room that was used for presentations.

Williams is still being held in custody.

Before being detained, Williams had reportedly fled the Harrisburg apartment she shared with her mother (left), frantically packing a bag and telling her she'd return 'in a few weeks'

Williams became increasingly supportive of Trump and posed with a rifle on social media

Before being detained, Williams had reportedly fled the Harrisburg apartment she shared with her mother, telling her she'd return 'in a few weeks'.

In video footage captured by ITV, Williams can be seen inside the Capitol, wearing a green T-shirt and brown trench coat, holding a zebra-print bag

In the clip she is heard repeatedly yelling: 'Upstairs, upstairs, upstairs,' and can be seen physically directing other intruders to proceed up a staircase.

The staircase in question leads to the office of Speaker Pelosi, the FBI said.

Her mother told police that she recognized her daughter in the video footage inside the Capitol and that her daughter had recently taken a sudden interest in Trump's politics and 'far-right message boards.'

Prior to her capture, the FBI said that Williams has changed her phone number and deleted her accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Telegram and Parler. She then ran away from home.

More than 125 people have been arrested so far on charges related to the violent insurrection led by Trump supporters at the Capitol.

Charges range from curfew violations to serious federal felonies related to theft and weapons possession.

Five people were killed during the siege, including one US Capitol Police officer who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher.

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies continue to search for the identities of several other individuals who were photographed rioting in the Capitol.
Social media law specialist and founder of The Digital Law Company, Emma Sadleir, has issued a warning regarding Telegrams Groups Nearby feature.

This is in the context of a major backlash against WhatsApps privacy policy, which allows it to share users data with other Facebook services.

Facebook recently issued a notice within WhatsApp informing users that they need to accept its updated terms of service and privacy policy or lose access to the app from 8 February.

The ultimatum resulted in a backlash against WhatsApp on social media, with many people looking for alternatives to the popular instant messaging app.

While messages between people on WhatsApp remain end-to-end encrypted and cant be read by Facebook, many remain concerned over the amount of personally-identifying data the social networking giant is gathering through WhatsApp.

As a result of the ultimatum, WhatsApp users have been flocking to alternative platforms such as Telegram and Signal.

However, Sadleir has warned that parents may want to take care when allowing their children to install and use Telegram.

URGENT URGENT!!! If your child has downloaded Telegram please urgently make sure the location is turned off and that they cannot turn it back on. There is a People Nearby feature which allows you to see nearby groups (without joining) with the most horrific pornography etc. 1/2  Emma Sadleir (@EmmaSadleir) January 12, 2021

Groups Nearby and People Nearby  location-based connection on Telegram

In an interview on 702 and CapeTalk, Sadleir said that she looked into Telegrams Groups Nearby feature after receiving an email from a concerned parent.

As an example, Sadleir pointed out one of the groups in her area which contained disturbing pornographic images.

I picked up Sluts of Randburg and all these groups where there is the mostand I must say Im hardy because Ive seen it allthe most horrific, affecting pornography. You can see it without even joining the groups, said Sadleir.

Sadleir said that parents who are concerned about their children stumbling across this feature should disable Telegrams access to their phones location services.

However, she also warned that there is nothing stopping children from just turning these location permissions back on.

Vulnerability in Telegrams People Nearby

Earlier this year Ars Technica reported that independent security researcher Ahmed Hassan discovered a vulnerability in Telegrams People Nearby feature that makes it easy for a hacker to find the precise location of other Telegram users who have the feature enabled.

The attack exploits the fact that Telegram on Android reports your distance from other nearby users who have enabled People Nearby.

An attacker can spoof their location and get three different distance readings to another user, then triangulate their exact location.

Even if they cant spoof their location, they can simply walk or drive around an area to get the distance readings and use those.

Ars noted that fixing the vulnerability is technically easy. However, Telegram has told Hassan that it wont be fixing the issue and that it isnt covered by its bug bounty programme.

Users in the People Nearby section intentionally share their location, and this feature is disabled by default. Its expected that determining the exact location is possible under certain conditions, Telegram stated.

Easy to find inappropriate groups on Telegram

It should also be noted that blocking Telegram from using location services wont prevent children from finding inappropriate groups through Telegrams search function.

The group Sadleir referred to was not discoverable via search at the time of publication, but many other groups that are not suitable for children are.

Telegram does not offer any age restriction features and its had a complicated relationship with pornography on its platform.

The companys terms of service do not outright ban pornography from its platform, but it does allow users to report pornography and according to reports, Telegram has cracked down on such content.

A Change.org petition from three years ago asked Telegram to allow channels that are marked 18+ specifically for pornography. This feature was not implemented.

Despite the crackdown, pornographic material is still available in public groups on Telegram.

Its also worth noting that Telegram has no minimum age except in the EU and UK.

Telegrams current terms of service are short and simple:

By signing up for Telegram, you accept our Privacy Policy and agree not to: Use our service to send spam or scam users. Promote violence on publicly viewable Telegram channels, bots, etc. Post illegal pornographic content on publicly viewable Telegram channels, bots, etc. We reserve the right to update these Terms of Service later. Citizens of EU countries and the United Kingdom must be at least 16 years old to sign up.

Now read: WhatsApp compared to alternatives Telegram and Signal

The National Mall is filled with a display of U.S. flags during a rehearsal for the inaugural ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Jan. 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty Images)
(CNN) -- The man who calls the shots at Samsung was just sent to prison for the second time in less than five years. Even if the South Korean tech giant can keep its day-to-day business humming in his absence, the verdict is still likely to cast a long shadow.su

The Seoul High Court sentenced vice chairman Lee Jae-yong, also known as Jay Y. Lee, to 2 1/2 years behind bars on Monday after finding him guilty of embezzlement and bribery. Lee's lawyer has called the decision "regrettable," but it's not yet clear whether he intends to appeal. The legal team representing Lee did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Lee's prison sentence means the company is losing a key decision-maker at a time of strategic upheaval in some of Samsung's core industries. China and the United States are caught in a cold war over companies such as Huawei and SMIC,there's a global shortage of semiconductors and carmakers and tech firms are getting together to shape the future of the auto industry.

The scandal also marks the latest twist in a long line of legal troubles for Lee, who was found guilty of bribery and other corruption charges in 2017 as part of a massive influence-peddling scandal that brought down the government of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Lee walked free after less than a year when an appeals court threw out some of the charges and suspended his sentence. But the country's Supreme Court later ordered a retrial, leading to Monday's verdict.

A vacuum at the top

Samsung  South Korea's largest chaebol, or family-run conglomerate  trades in everything from electronics and theme parks to life insurance. It has been the world's top smartphone seller for several years and is a key supplier of memory chips and display screens for rivals such as Apple and Huawei.

Lee, meanwhile, has been the company's de facto leader since his father fell into a coma in 2014. He died last year.

"Lee's role was in guiding new projects," said Daiwa analyst SK Kim. He pointed out that the vice chairman has had a hand in big deals at the firm, such as the $8 billion acquisition of Harman International, a US firm that makes infotainment, safety and security systems for cars.

"These are decisions that involve tens of billions of dollars," Kim added. "In Lee's absence, Samsung will make conservative decisions in making risky investments."

Samsung declined to comment for this story.

The appearance of a leader in prison is also a problem for Samsung, according to Jeff Dongwon Kim, deputy head of research at KB Securities, a Korean investment firm.

"Imagine the global business impact if [Apple CEO] Tim Cook was imprisoned for bribing the US government for millions of dollars," KB's Kim said, adding that investing firms have also become more socially conscious in recent years, and may wish to distance themselves from a company tainted by scandal.

Good for South Korea?

The verdict might ultimately have some positive effects, according to Chung Sun-sup who is the chief editor at Chaebol.com, a website that specializes in analyzing Korea's family run conglomerates.

Analysts have long said that the trading of favors, bribes and political influence between politicians and businessmen is practically endemic in the country.

Lee's father, the former chairman of Samsung, was convicted of bribery and tax evasion, but avoided prison and received presidential pardons. And other chaebol chiefs have been found guilty of criminal wrongdoing  only to be let off with light sentences and allowed to return to running their businesses.

Sending Lee back to prison might suggest that the country is willing to take the problem more seriously.

"This is the beginning of untangling the corrupt relationship between government and businesses," Chung said. "It is a good thing for the Korean economy in the long term."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Samsung heir's prison sentence casts a shadow on South Korea's tech titan"
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) President Rodrigo Duterte has advised vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to walk out from the Senate hearing should anyone become "verbally abusive" against them, Malacanang said Wednesday.

Secretary Galvez and Secretary Duque  if the Senate hearing will have a hearing this Friday - will be there, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told CNN Philippines The Source. But with instruction that if anyone becomes verbally abusive to them, they have the license to stand up and leave.

Roque said Galvez previously asked if he could skip the hearings on the vaccine plans with the resumption of talks with vaccine developers. Secretary Galvez was saying because of the Senate hearings, he has lost two weeks worth of negotiations with drug suppliers, the spokesperson said.

But in fairness to the President, his answer was No, go to the Senate. Continue answering questions, continue in the way the manner youve been answering. And if they become abusive to you verbally, just stand up and leave. And if they cite you in contempt, I will come and fetch you, Roque quoted the President as saying.

Roque also said Duterte could not understand why the lawmakers supposedly had a war-like demeanor during the past inquiries.

There was like already an attitude as if there was corruption going on when it was fact-finding in fact, Roque said. So the President thought despite the separation of powers and despite the power of oversight, he does not give the Senators the license to be abusive.

Senate President Tito Sotto refuted the claim, saying he could not recall any colleague who had been war-like in past sessions.

Perhaps argumentative but not warlike. Why? Does he expect us to treat our resource persons with tender loving care? Sotto said in response.

Galvez said he would attend the hearing and would not run away from his responsibility.

Both houses of Congress have launched inquiries on the government's vaccine plans, with lawmakers highlighting controversial issues such as the cost of procuring some of the products. Galvez was also earlier ordered to share vaccine procurement details with Sotto for "transparency.
Sue Spooner this week went looking for the scrapbook she kept as a teenager, an artifact from that time in life when a kid hangs onto everything. The handwritten note is still there, glued down next to the original envelope, a note thanking Spooner for the wonderful and exquisite gift.

Spooner hardly saw it as a piece of history. She saved it for the meaning it held at the time, based on the lasting impact of one particular teacher.

She could not anticipate, some 55 years later, that it would link her to the inauguration of a president.

When Joe Biden took the oath Wednesday and became the 46th president of the United States, Spooner  like dozens of others in their late 60s, raised in her old neighborhood  was thinking of the teacher they once called "Miss Hunter," but the one they now simply describe as Neilia.

Spooner lives just outside Syracuse, where Biden settled while attending law school at Syracuse University. That makes him the first president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt  so deeply linked to Hyde Park  to have lived in upstate New York, and Spooner was there to see the reason why.

In seventh and eighth grade, her English teacher at the old Bellevue Academy was Neilia Hunter, an Auburn native who met Biden on spring break when they were both in college, and whose presence played a central role in why he attended Syracuse. We all loved her in the neighborhood, said Spooner, who figures that even in a country so divided over politics, it is worth taking a communal moment to remember the life, impact and vast loss she associates with the teacher who was Joe Bidens first wife.

Biden has been married since 1977 to Jill Tracy Biden, also an educator. In December 1972, Neilia died with their 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, in a Delaware car crash, after a collision with a tractor-trailer. The two young Biden sons, Beau and Hunter, were badly injured but survived, though Beau would die years later, at 46, from brain cancer.

Spooner was working as an administrative assistant at a Syracuse television station when her boss put a newspaper on her desk after the crash, which is how she learned Neilia had been killed. Biden was preparing for his first term as a U.S. senator from Delaware, but Spooner's grief had nothing to do with politics.

Oh my God. Thats my old teacher, she said out loud, stunned that such a tragedy could befall a young woman revered by her students.

If you think back on the uncertainties of being 13 or 14, Spooner said, Neilia was one of those teachers who brought an extra dimension of understanding. We call it going to Neilialand when we talk about those days, Spooner said, describing how she and Syracuse-area residents Rosalie Parrillo Reap and Sally Braunitzer, her closest friends, still reflect on Neilia's lasting influence on many city school kids of the time.

They loved her sense of fashion, the way she carried herself with a palpable sense of joy and empathy. After their marriage, Neilia and Biden lived in an apartment not far from the school, a familiar part of the city landscape. Spooner recalls Biden walking past and stopping to shoot the breeze with her dad while he worked on a ladder at the house.

At school, at quiet moments after classes ended, students lingered for the chance to speak with Neilia.

We all loved her, said Spooner, who will join many Bellevue graduates in thinking today of their teacher.

Pat Cowin Wojenski, 66, a Syracuse resident who is fighting through the harsh cough and headaches of Covid-19, still intended to watch the inauguration. She has worked for about a quarter-century in what is now Bellevue Elementary School, an educational passion Neilia helped to kindle.

When Wojenski was in junior high, her parents had divorced and her mother had grown ill. The weight of holding together the family fell on Wojenski's oldest brother. Neilia somehow sensed the girl's anxiety, Wojenski said, "and always encouraged me, made time for me, made me feel better about myself."

As for Spooner, a few years older than Wojenski, she went to the Biden wedding with a group of classmates that included Reap and Braunitzer, close friends she met routinely for pizza until the pandemic intervened. Neilia was their eighth grade homeroom teacher, and while some parts of the memory are vague, Reap believes about 20 teens from that group showed up for at least part of the celebration.

The reception was in Skaneateles, not far from where Neilias parents ran Hunters Dinerant, the landmark restaurant in Auburn. Spooner recalls how she rode a bus to downtown Syracuse to pick out a gift, a red candy dish with a distinctive handle, and then went on a mission to deliver it.

Neilia, in her wedding dress, spotted the teen despite all the demands of a reception. She grabbed her husband, and for a moment the Bidens made Spooner their center of attention. As the 14-year-old watched, her teacher opened the gift and made a big deal about the candy dish, providing a sense of importance, of belonging, Spooner remembers to this day.

Not long afterward, she received the thank you note, and the line that mattered most was the last one:

"It was wonderful," Neilia wrote, your being at the wedding.

Like many who lived near the school, Spooner and her friends recall the couple's presence in the larger neighborhood. Bidens affection for German shepherds, for instance, did not begin with the dogs he and Jill are bringing to the White House. In Syracuse, their neighbors included JoAnne DelVecchio, a dog lover who had returned from teaching in Puerto Rico with a German shepherd named Flaquita.

The dog had puppies. Neilia loved to go to the window and watch them playing in the yard, and DelVecchio said Biden noticed, then bought one for his wife as a surprise. In line with his aspirations, the couple named the puppy Senator, and Reap remembers how the Bidens often took the dog for strolls around the neighborhood.

A lovely person, just beautiful in every way, said DelVecchio, now in Florida, of Neilia.

She left the same impression on Syracuse resident Mark McCarthy, a Marine Corps veteran whose family owned a nearby seafood restaurant that he managed even as he and Biden attended law school. McCarthy and his wife, Peggy, often joined Joe and Neilia at a table there for Friday fish fries, and the two women forged a quiet bond.

They were like the rest of us, struggling along, said McCarthy, now 83.

From Syracuse, the Bidens moved to Delaware, where Neilia and Naomi died barely four years after Neilia last taught at Bellevue. Spooner and Wojenski, like dozens of students, felt aching loss and disbelief that still lingers today. More than 10 years ago, shortly after Biden became vice president, he paid a visit to meet with children at the Bellevue school and to tell them stories about Neilia, before he surprised the Secret Service by walking a few blocks for an emotional stop at the house where they once lived.

The general sense of disbelief, Spooner said, has gone up yet another notch.

All of what were talking about was a while back, she said, and now hes going to be the president.

If not for Covid, Wojenski knows where she would have left flowers Wednesday. Working with then-principal Joanne Harlow, she played a central role in having a memorial to Neilia built at Bellevue. About a decade ago, the school district brought in a boulder with a plaque, and Wojenski donated a flowering tree as a touch of life and color. While she and Spooner were in different grades, they both offer the highest praise any teacher can receive.

If this White House tale had never happened, they would still remember Neilia.

Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Buffalo News. Email him at skirst@buffnews.com.

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A priest conducts Mass outdoors at the historic Our Lady Queen of Angels (La Placita) Church amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles, Calif. on Dec. 12, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Survival Mode Forces People to Accept Socialism, Communism: Pastor, Refugee From Communist Romania

When people are in desperate need of survival they will be able to accept any solution that gives them hope including government-imposed mandates. Even progressivism, socialism, or communism can be accepted by an anti-communist society, as it happened to Romania after World War II and can be seen in America right now, said Pastor Cristian Ionescu, a Romanian immigrant and Chicago pastor who fled persecution in communist Romania as a religious refugee.

When you condition a society to collectively think in terms of surviving, [being] desperate for survival you will get them to accept anything, Ionescu said in a recent interview on The Epoch Times Crossroads program.

This is the reason any time the government imposes something and mandates something Im very suspicious.  A government should be able in a democracy to convince people to accept something [for the common good], not mandate itthis is the difference between totalitarianism and democracy, Ionescu continued.

A rush to impose mandates is being seen in America now with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, forcing people to fight for their own survival, pastor Ionescu said, citing the governments decision to close churches in response to COVID-19.

The reaction to the virus is an orchestrated effort to destroy the church, to destroy conservatives, to destroy people with basic values and traditional values in a society. At worst it was programmed and originated deliberately, at best it was exploited and used for their purpose, he said adding however that the challenge posed by the virus is real.

Government officials should have known better than everybody to what degree this pandemic is dangerous, but they have not acted like that, Ionescu said. They afforded themselves some privileges that they cut everybody else from having so, he explained.

I saw the hypocrisy when they condone rather large demonstrations with no restrictions [due to pandemic] but then they banned others which were [democratic] and religious in nature, Ionescu said.

People should understand the church is not a video game, a church is not an online affair. Church has to be physical, and it has to be gathering, and has to be fellowship, physical fellowship. This is the core and is an elemental basic survival prerogative of a church and religious activity obviouslyfor me closing down churches was a death sentence for the church, Ionescu said.

Communist Rule in Romania is a Warning to America

Pastor Cristian Ionescu of Elim Romanian Pentecostal Church in Chicago. (Courtesy of Cristian Ionescu)

During communist rule in Romania, students were taught in school that communism and Marxism can never be imposed in a society in a peaceful wayit can only be done via a revolution, Ionescu said. This is because people will never voluntarily give up their freedoms, their possessions, and their privileges so you need to take them away  by force, he added.

To take total control of a society, the government has to create as much hate and as much division as possible, Ionescu said, based on his experience of living in communist Romania.

Although in Romania socialism was imposed by the Soviet Army, the communist party needed to maintain its control over the society, Ionescu said. To achieve this, the government created a society of fear, of survival, lacking basics, and getting them as a result of the government handouts, he explained.

In Romania, people had a little bit of meat, bread, milk, they had jobs provided by the communist government as long as they would fall in line and would not be individualistic about their opinions or religion, Ionescu recalled.

He is amazed to see the Americans, who were bred to be self-reliant and innovative, diverted towards that mindset that the government should provide handouts for people.

Communism is a cannibalistic society at its core and they have absolutely no problems with throwing their own to the wolves  once a person had ended [his] usefulness, Ionescu continued.

An example was Lucretiu Patrascanu, a Romanian lawyer, who was one of the intellectuals that cooperated with communists and Soviets in taking over Romania but later found himself loving his country and being a nationalist, Ionescu said.

He disagreed with the Soviet domination imposed on Romania which led to conflicts with communist party leaders. As a result, Patrascanu was purged from the party, imprisoned, and executed in 1954.

A desperate need for survival was also exploited in Romania during World War II, Ionescu said. The Romanian society was so anti-communist and anti-Bolshevik that the countrys government struck a deal with Hitler and Germany against the Soviets, which was a terrible situation, he explained, they found themselves aligning with the devil to fight the devil.

Romania was a very prosperous and successful monarchy in the 1920s and 1930s and at that time the affluence of the people, the culture, and everything went through the roof, Ionescu said.

During these years the Romanians believed that socialism and communism practiced by their neighbor the Soviet Union would never work in their country, explained Ionescu.

Romanian people loved their king and even after communists took power organized huge demonstrations, hundreds of thousands of people protesting all over Romania in favor of the king, Ionescu continued.

The Romanian communist party only had under a thousand members before communism was imposed upon Romania by the Soviet Army, Ionescu said, so it took force to impose it.

It took communist rulers in Romania a few years to get rid of private property, it took them even longer to take away lands from the peasants but the war against religion was relentless and lasted up to the point of the revolution in 1989 which overthrew the Romanian communist regime, Ionescu said.

In America today, the education system, the media, and all these trigger points of society have been taken over by Marxism, Ionescu said, America is heading towards that system and these are signs.

True intellectualism is oppressed in America, we have a pseudo-intellectualism in America, true prosperity in America has been replaced by greed and exploitation, he said adding the same happened in Romania but it took less in Romania to do that because of the Soviet Army occupation.

In America, it has to be done in a way where the younger generation is covertly assimilated into that kind of thinking and it has happened for the last few decades, Ionescu said.

Ionescu advises Americans to exercise their faith in an authentic way, focus more on communities trying to influence people there for good.

The left has worked every day for the last 5060 years to conquer step by step almost the whole society, including the education system and churches, Ionescu said.

America has to get back to its belief in God and thats where it should start a spiritual revival, Ionescu concluded.
US President Trump on Wednesday granted clemency to more than 100 people in one of his final acts as commander-in-chief, including his former Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon.

Trump announced a wave of pardons and commutations shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Bannon, rapper Lil Wayne, GOP fundraiser Elliot Broidy and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick were among the notable figures to receive clemency, along with dozens of lower profile individuals whose cases were raised by criminal justice reform advocates, The Hill reported.

Trump granted clemency to 143 individuals in total, just hours before leaving office: 73 received pardons, while 70 were granted commutations.

The Bannon pardon was perhaps the most surprising of the batch, given the former Breitbart News editor had a high-profile falling out with the Trump family after denigrating Donald Trump Jr. in Michael Wolff's 2018 book, "Fire and Fury".

"Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen," press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in announcing Bannon's pardon.

Bannon was a top adviser on Trump's 2016 campaign and served as the Chief White House Strategist for roughly seven months. He was arrested and charged last August with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors who contributed to a fundraising campaign for a private border wall.

The President reportedly went back and forth over whether to grant clemency to Bannon before deciding to do so.

Trump, who had branded Bannon as "sloppy Steve" upon the release of Wolff's book, distanced himself from his former adviser upon news of the charges.

"I don't like that project. I thought it was being done for showboating reasons," Trump said at the time. "It was something that I very much felt was inappropriate to be doing."

Trump also pardoned Broidy, a former top Republican National Committee (RNC) fundraiser, who was charged last year with conspiring to act as an unregistered foreign agent as part of a back channel effort to lobby the Justice Department.

Kilpatrick, the former Democratic mayor of Detroit, was convicted in 2008 of perjury and obstruction of justice.

And Lil Wayne faces prison time after pleading guilty to federal gun charges. The rapper, whose birth name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., met with Trump on the campaign trail in a meeting the campaign later touted as it courted Black voters.

Trump also commuted the sentence of Bill Kapri, better known as the rapper Kodak Black, who sentenced to 46 months in prison for making a false statement on a federal document. He had served less than half of his sentence.

The President issued pardons to several individuals who were charged with non-violent drug offenses, including Tena Logan, MaryAnne Locke and Caroline Yeats and. Alice Johnson, who Trump pardoned and who became a face of the White House's criminal justice reform efforts, advocated for several of the individuals granted clemency on Wednesday.

Johnson was among those who advocated for clemency for Kilpatrick as well.

Trump has come under scrutiny for favoring political allies and well connected individuals in doling out pardons and commutations. Past recipients of clemency include ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, longtime Trump associate Roger Stone and ex-Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Following his election loss, Trump issued two sizable patches of pardons last month, including those for ex-Republican lawmakers Chris Collins and Duncan Hunter; his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort; longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and Charles Kushner, his son-in-law Jared Kushner's father. He also pardoned Michael Flynn, his onetime national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in connection with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

There had been much speculation leading up to Tuesday's announcement about who Trump would ultimately choose to grant clemency in his waning hours as President. Some Republicans had pushed for Trump to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange or former National Security Agency official Edward Snowden, but neither was given clemency.

Presidents typically issue a flurry of pardons or commutations in their final day in office. There was speculation in recent weeks that Trump would move to preemptively pardon himself or his adult children to shield them from federal charges after leaving office. Trump opted against doing so, though he still faces a Senate impeachment trial in the coming weeks and the prospect of state investigations.


Hospitalizations of those suffering from COVID-19 declined sharply in recent days across north Alabama, a signal that perhaps the novel coronavirus pandemic is loosening its grip even as health officials caution more spikes could still take place.

The drop in those needing inpatient treatment also yields a measure of relief for weary healthcare workers and overcrowded hospitals.

The numbers today look a lot better than they have in a while, Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers said Tuesday.

Related: Understanding Alabamas sudden surge in coronavirus deaths: Week in review

In the Huntsville Hospital Healthcare System across north Alabama, COVID-related hospitalizations have dropped more than 24 percent since its peak on Jan. 4. In Madison County, home of Huntsville, the drop has been even more dramatic  more than 31 percent.

On Jan. 4, Huntsville Hospital reported 507 coronavirus patients at hospitals throughout the system. On Tuesday, that number had fallen to 384 patients. And in Madison County, hospitalizations have dropped from 270 to 186.

The trend line is good, Spillers said. We need for that to continue. No time for people to quit social distancing and sanitizing and wearing your mask. At least its giving us a little bit of relief in the hospital right now.

Last week, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle acknowledged the downturn in hospital cases, saying, We are hoping we have topped out on our spike.

The vaccine is still months away from having a widespread impact on positive cases and hospitalizations, Spillers said. And he said the effect of new coronavirus variants remains unknown.

Will that variant, which seems to be much more infectious than the current  although its not any more severe  it just spreads much more easily, if that creates a spike with people in the community with COVID then you will have a spike to follow in hospitalizations, Spillers said.

The drop in hospitalizations, however, is only a first step in a long recovery, officials said. In Morgan County  one of the hardest hit areas in the region  Decatur Morgan Hospital President Kelli Powers said Tuesday, Im happy to report our numbers are down a little bit.

At the same time, she said the hospitals intensive care unit is still full  occupied by both COVID and non-COVID patients.

I dont think were anywhere close to being out of the woods yet, Spillers said. Weve got to continue to stay vigilant to keep people from getting COVID, get everybody we can vaccinated and that will better prepare us for the next spike if it comes.

It will not surprise me if we have another spike. I hope it doesnt reach the degree we saw over Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think everybody let their guard down over Thanksgiving and it showed up in the number of hospitalizations here and nationwide. Hopefully we wont get that high again.

As Huntsville city Administrator John Hamilton said Tuesday, Near term trends are good. We have got to continue doing what were doing.
Volunteers Feed Hundreds on MLK Day of Service

By Easton Sanders

PADUCAH - Several groups, businesses, and Paducah residents spent their Martin Luther King Jr. Day working together to distribute food and other items to local families in need.The McCracken County Democrats organized the event in collaboration with Project Pomona, Family Service Society, Heart USA, Feeding America, and others. Volunteers handed out bags containing food and personal care items to approximately 200 Morgan Elementary families.Jennifer Smith with the McCracken County Democrats spoke with West Kentucky Star about the event."It doesn't matter whether you're Democrat, Republican, Independent, or don't care about politics at all, there are people suffering." Smith said, "I thought it was a really good day to celebrate Martin Luther King and his vision for our beloved community."Smith hopes others will be inspired to volunteer their time in the community as well."Identify a need in your community, get a friend, and go volunteer. It makes you feel more hopeful and positive. It's just a good thing you can do for your community," she said.Todd Holloman, a volunteer with Project Pomona, said it was a humbling experience."It was great to see our community come together on a day where we honor a man who was known for taking action, and being able to take action ourselves by providing some meals and groceries to hungry people in our community." Holloman continued, "Food insecurity in a place even like Paducah is a huge problem."
Some 21 bricks of cocaine hidden in banana shipments ended up at grocery shops in Canada following a bungled drug-trafficking operation, authorities have confirmed.

A local store owner in Kelowna, a small town in Central Okanagan, British Columbia province, alerted authorities after finding 12 packages of what appeared to be cocaine among a banana shipment on 24 February 2019.

The packages were seized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for further investigation into their origins and intended destination.

Later that day, a second grocery shop owner contacted RCMP saying they had also discovered what they believed was a haul of the Class-A drug.

Front line officers attended and confiscated an additional nine individually wrapped bundles.

Kelowna RCMP and Canada's Border Service Agency (CBSA) subsequently launched an investigation, which concluded on Tuesday and confirmed the packages, each weighing around 1kg, were cocaine.

Investigators said the cocaine had come from Colombia and ended up in Kelowna as a result of a failed drug deal.

"The drug section of the Kelowna RCMP Street Enforcement Unit worked collaboratively with the CBSA to determine that these shipments originated in Colombia," Cpl Jeff Carroll of the Kelowna RCMP Drug Section said in a statement.

"Our investigation leads us to believe these illicit drugs were not meant to end up in the Central Okanagan and arrived here in the Okanagan Valley as a result of a missed pickup at some point along the way."

Experts estimated that the packages would have introduced upwards of 800,000 doses of crack cocaine into the Canadian illicit drug market, according to Kelowna RCMP.

That's enough for every resident in the City of Kelowna to receive nearly 6 doses each, the force added.
The Telegraph

She promised she would wear a pink dress and yesterday, the Duchess of Cambridge gamely kept to her word. To the clear delight of five-year-old Mila Sneddon, the Duchess looked like a real princess as they finally met a year after her portrait was chosen as a finalist in her Hold Still lockdown photography exhibition. Taken by her mother, Lynda, the image showed Mila, who has cancer, kissing the window as her father stood outside. Mrs Sneddon and Mila spoke to the Duchess on the phone last autumn and a six-minute video of the conversation was released by Kensington Palace earlier this month. Mila asked the Duchess if she was wearing a costume. "I'm not wearing a princess costume right now, I'm afraid, Mila," she said, before it was established that the little girl's favourite colour was pink. OK, well I have to make sure I go and try and find myself a pink dress so that when one day hopefully we'll get to meet, I'll remember to wear my pink dress for you. That day came yesterday, as Milas family, from Falkirk, were invited to meet the Duchess at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh as the Cambridges' wrapped up a week-long tour of Scotland. The Duchess donned a 450 pink silk shirt dress from ME+EM for the occasion, causing the youngster's face to light up as she entered the room.

Dave Ginis of Ginis Goldsmiths in Midland is used to receiving requests for custom jewelry. Recently, he made a rather unique piece for Theresa Cook of Kalamazoo, who has supported his business for decades.

The store is a hidden jewel in Michigan, Theresa said.

Theresa began conducting business with Ginis roughly 25 years ago after hearing about Ginis Goldsmiths through word of mouth. Since then, she has been highly impressed with the work the Ginises have done, including eight personal pieces she commissioned.

Every one of them is one of a kind. (Dave Ginis) is a genius artist, Theresa said. You can give him an idea and he runs with it. He comes up with something better than you thought of.

Theresas most recent request was certainly a unique one for Ginis. Theresas husband, Tom Cook, died in April 2019, and she had some of his ashes made into a blue diamond. The process, conducted by LifeGem, took over a year to complete. The diamond is just over a karat and is certified by the Gemological Institute of America.

He was known for his beautiful blue eyes, and so I wanted to remember that, Theresa stated.

Theresa contacted Ginis, asking for a necklace pendant to hold the diamond. The pendant took Ginis about six months to finish, as the flood and pandemic had affected the business. Ginis met once with Theresa to go over ideas and pass along the gem and continued corresponding through email to discuss progress.

Ginis constructed the pendant using computer-aided design (CAD) to print a 3D model, which was then used to cast the final piece. The pendant is comprised of 18 karat white and yellow gold and made from three pieces. The design includes inlaid diamonds, four hearts and is reverseable.

She pretty much let me go and come up with ideas, Ginis said.

One special piece of the pendant was the addition of a capital T and lowercase t, as Tom and Theresas couple nickname was Big T, Little T.

I wanted something of him that I could wear all my life because he was the love of my life, Theresa said.

Ginis explained that when it comes to jewelry to honor deceased loved ones, he usually gets requests to resize rings, making pendants to carry cases of ashes or make new pieces from old jewelry.

Sometimes, there are some good materials we can reuse, Ginis said. We get a lot of different requests for a lot of different things. Were sometimes surprised by what were asked to do.

Ginis Goldsmiths is located at 20 Ashman Circle and can be reached at 989-835-6534. It is open only by appointment due to the pandemic.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Marmorstein: You might soon be living in a million dollar home  unfortunately
Loop has inked a pilot agreement with PharmAssist Solutions to implement its AI-driven analytics platform in multiple independent pharmacy locations

Loop chalked up the pilot deal to the signing of a referral agreement in October last year with retail industry guru Steve Grays UK-based SG-retail

Loop Insights Inc ( ) ( ), a provider of contact tracing and artificial intelligence to drive automated marketing, revealed on Thursday that it had signed a pilot agreement with PharmAssist Solutions (Pharmassist) to implement Loops analytics platform in multiple independent pharmacy affiliated locations.

Pharmassist is an independent pharmacy solutions provider that serves 12,000 independent pharmacies representing 15% of the UK market. On successful completion of the pilot, both parties intend to implement Loops AI-driven analytics platform across 12,000 pharmacies in the UK.

In a statement, Pharmassist founder and Managing Director Amar Randhawa said: Loop Insights data analytics solution is a game-changer for independent pharmacies here in the UK. PharmAssist has been integral to the success of the independent chain, and adding Loops ability to understand transaction details, shopping behaviors and habits, trends, and other powerful pieces of information once thought lost, will provide a massive benefit to each individual pharmacy.

Understanding what products have been sold and prescribed, gives these independents the ability to offer personal, relevant, and adjacent over-the-counter products to consumers, increasing sales, and delivering a more personal experience in-store. We are excited to be the first solutions provider in the UK market to offer this, and expect great uptake of the solution to our growing customer base.

On November 4, 2020, Loop said it completed a similar pilot at 20 stores and was rolling out its AI-driven analytics platform to all 550 retail locations of Your CBD Store. The company's Insights pricing model estimated making US$50 per month per till, with an average of four tills per retail location, which would equate to potential monthly recurring revenue of US$2.4 million or US$28.8 million.

In addition, Loop said that when its automated marketing "Engage" service and wallet pass loyalty applications are layered in, the numbers quickly multiply by 5-10x and provide the company with an even more significant potential revenue stream.

Signing this pilot with Pharmassist in the very early days of 2021 serves as a strong indication of Loops anticipated penetration into the UK and European markets, said Loop Insights CEO Rob Anson.

Coupled with our recently announced LOI to acquire Passcreator and take control of our technology in anticipation of major business developments in 2021, I can unequivocally say that Loop is heading into a major growth phase.

Loop chalked up the pilot deal to the signing of a referral agreement in October last year with retail industry guru Steve Grays UK-based SG-retail to expand Loop's services and products into the UK and Europe. The Vancouver, British Columbia-based advanced tech company has gained traction in the US by signing a slew of deals, and Gray will tap the momentum to roll Loops products and services into the 3.55 trillion European market.

Significantly, Loop is now on SG-retail's coveted technology partner list. SG-retail is also introducing and reselling Loop's services to clients that include Virgin Megastores, ( ) (OTCMKTS:TSCDY) (FRA:TCO), Kroger Co ( ) (FRA:KOG), Sephora, ( ) (OTCMKTS:JSNSF) (FRA:SUY1), Asda, Morrisons, John Lewis, Waitrose, Boots, Woolworths, Coles, Petrovich, Esprit, and Net-a-Porter.

Todays announcement represents the first deal through SG-retail, noted the company.

Steve Gray, Managing Director of SG-retail, said: "Rob and his team have built the type of innovative solution that our retail and brand clients across Europe have been desperately searching for.

As Loop has demonstated in previous retail deployments with Telus and Your CBD Store, Loops Fobi device provides valuable real-time data applications that enables retailers to improve on operational efficiencies with automated supply chain and inventory management tools.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive

Bharat Biotech International Ltd will soon ramp up manufacturing of its covid-19 vaccine Covaxin by about 40-50 million, taking its total annual capacity to around 700 million doses, a spokesperson for the company said.

We are scaling up in three facilities at Hyderabad, as well as a facility at Bengaluru. We are soon increasing the capacity by about 40 million doses per month," the spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The capacity expansion has been delayed from its earlier timeline of December.

Bharat Biotech executive director Sai Prasad in an interview to Mint in October said that it was spending 120-150 crore in scaling up manufacturing capacity that will be operational by December.

Also Read | Why server stacks are the new realty play

The capacity expansion comes at a time when the company is rushing to meet the demand for its vaccines from India as well as for exports. After sending 5.5 million doses to the government last week, it has received a fresh letter of comfortor a preliminary orderfor 4.5 million doses which will be dispatched when the ministry wants it, a Press Trust of India report said on Tuesday.

The 4.5 million doses include over 800,000 doses that will be sent to Mauritius, Philippines and Myanmar by the ministry of external affairs free of cost as a goodwill gesture, the report said.

A company spokesperson declined to comment on the fresh letter of comfort.

Covaxin, along with Serum Institute of Indias Covishield, was approved by Drugs Controller General of India V.G. Somani earlier this month for vaccination against covid-19.

Both firms have seen strong demand, not just domestically but also globally. Bharat Biotech last week signed a pact with Precisa Medicamentos for the supply of Covaxin to Brazil.

Serum plans to sell 30 million Covishield doses in Bangladesh through a tripartite pact between the company, Bangladeshi drugmaker Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd and the government of Bangladesh. It also has a pact to sell 1.5 million doses in South Africa and 200 million doses to Covaxa World Health Organization-backed facility aimed at equitable access to covid-19 vaccines.

The pact for the supply to Covax includes Covishield as well as CovavaxSerums version of the vaccine originally developed by US-based Novavax that is expected to be launched in a few months.

The government started its vaccination drive on Saturday. As of Tuesday, more than 630,000 people have been given the first dose. However, the pace has been slow, with only 54% of the target met. The government has not provided a breakup of how many people have received Covishield and how many Covaxin.

On Tuesday, NITI Aayog member-health V.K. Paul said both Covishield and Covaxin are not recommended for certain people with compromised immune systems, bleeding disorders and those using blood thinners. Contraindications to covid vaccines have been clarified in SOP (standard operating procedures). For example, neither of the two vaccines is recommended for pregnant women or if you had a reaction to the previous dose... Those criteria should be followed," Paul said.

His statement came after Bharat Biotech made its fact sheet public on Monday, where it said people who have compromised immune systems or are on medicines that affect the immune system should not take Covaxin. Usually, HIV-positive and cancer patients are immune-compromised, as are people who have had organ transplants and are on immunosuppressant medicines.

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After serving Android 11 update to the premium flagship devices, Samsung has now turned its attention towards mid-range smartphones. Notably, Galaxy M31 is getting the Android 11 One UI 3.0 update.

Interestingly, Galaxy M31 is the first mid-range Samsung smartphone to get updated with Android 11 update. FYI, it was also the first mid-range Samsung smartphone to undergo the One UI 3.0 beta program.

The update is currently live for Galaxy M31 users in India. Samsung introduced the Galaxy M31 back in February 2020. It came with Android 10 out of the box.

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This new Android 11 One UI 3.0 update will be the devices first Android firmware update. Moreover, not only it brings all the latest goodies of Android 11 and One UI 3.0, but it also includes the latest January 2021 security patch.

Users of Galaxy M31 have reported about the reception of this latest update on Samsungs official community forum.

Talk about One UI 3.0 features, it brings Quick Settings toggle, notification bubbles, redesigned volume controls, revamped home screen design, new icons, video enhancer, improved privacy and security controls, etc.

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It also brings productivity, media and device control improvements, better AOD and calls background customizations, and more.

Galaxy M31 One UI 3.0 update arrives with firmware version M315FXXU2BUAC

Galaxy M31 users in India are receiving this update with firmware version M315FXXU2BUAC. It weighs around 407.62MB in size. We would advise the owners to download this update on a stable Wi-Fi connection.

One important thing to note about this Android 11 One UI 3.0 update for Galaxy M31 is that it does not include Samsung DeX (wired or wireless) feature. It should not be a surprise because the Samsung DeX feature is meant for flagships.

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As per the screenshots of the update shared on the community forum, some of the apps are required to be updated separately after installing the One UI 3.0 update.

Samsung is seeding this One UI 3.0 update for Galaxy M31 users in India via OTA in batches. But we expect the update to start rolling out in more regions in the coming weeks.

Since the updates are arriving via OTA, it will not be straightaway available for all users. However, you can check for the update manually by heading over to Settings.

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Then navigate to System updates. From there, tap the Download and install option. You can proceed with downloading and installation of the update if a new update is available.

Besides, if the update is not available, then you may need to wait for the rollout to expand for more users.
During the talks, Party leader Trong congratulated the LPRP on the successful organisation of the 11th National Congress and Sisoulith on his election to the Party General Secretary post.

He expressed his hope that under the leadership of the LPRP and General Secretary Sisoulith, Lao people will gain greater achievements in the national building and defence and renewal cause.

Sisoulith, in turn, thanked Vietnamese leaders for sending congratulatory messages to the LPRP and him, and briefed Trong on the outcomes of the just-ended 11th National Party Congress of Laos.

He also showed his belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country will reap more fruits and successfully organize the upcoming 13th National Party Congress.

The Vietnamese leader spoke highly of the outcomes of Laos 11th Congress, stressing that this is an important milestone in the countrys development process and a great encouragement for Vietnam during its preparation and organization of the 13th National Party Congress.

He affirmed Vietnams strong and comprehensive support for Laos national building and safeguarding and renewal cause.

Both leaders showed their delight at the constant development of the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity, which has benefited the two countries people.

Continuously consolidating and developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries is a strategic mission crucial to the protection of national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and socialism building in each country, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, they emphasised.

They also vowed to do their utmost to protect and foster the special relations in any circumstances.

Both leaders invited each other to visit their respective countries at an appropriate time.



Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also extended congratulations to the new General Secretary of the Lao party.
As Joe Biden took oath as the 46th president of the United States of America bringing an end to Donald Trump's turbulent four years in office, and Kamala Harris created history by becoming the first woman vice president of America, wishes poured in from India.

Congratulating the duo for heralding a new chapter in the USA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looked forward to working with the new US President to strengthen India-US strategic partnership.

My best wishes for a successful term in leading USA as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security."

"The India-US partnership is based on shared values. We have a substantial and multifaceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages. Committed to working with President @JoeBiden to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights, the PM tweeted.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu echoed Modi's sentiments. "Congratulations & best wishes to Joe Biden & Kamala Harris on being sworn in as President & Vice President of USA. India-US ties are based on many shared values & I'm sure that partnership between the two nations will get further cemented in coming years," he said in a tweet.

"Congratulating the USA on a new chapter of their democracy," said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Congratulating the USA on a new chapter of their democracy. Best wishes to President Biden and Vice-President Harris.#InaugurationDay Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 20, 2021

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav wrote on Twitter: "Hope under the great leadership of President

@JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris, America & American democracy will take a new stride."
Biden to appoint first openly trans-identified individual to federal post at HHS

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President-elect Joe Biden announced that he will be appointing an individual who, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, will be the first openly trans-identified person to hold a federal government position.

In an email to supporters on Tuesday, Biden announced the appointment of Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Levine, who is a biological male and originally named Richard Levine, presently holds the position of secretary of health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In a statement included in the announcement, Biden said that he believed Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic.

[Levine will] meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond. [He] is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administrations health efforts, Biden continued.

Levine garnered controversy last May over his decision to allow hospitals to discharge COVID-19 positive patients who were sent back to nursing homes, thus putting large numbers of elderly people at risk of death by further spreading the virus.

This prompted some, including state Sen. Doug Mastriano, to call for Levine's resignation, equating the decision to that of medical malpractice.

Our secretary of health, Dr. Levine, decided that it would be good to allow COVID-positive patients to be returned to elder-care facilities. And as a result of that, it broke out like fire, Mastriano said, according to triblive.com.

The very same people our secretary of health said were going to be vulnerable  It unleashed heck upon our dearly beloved fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles. I think thats unconscionable, unacceptable, and that secretary needs to be held accountable for that awful decision.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf defended Levine, arguing that Levine has done a phenomenal job of making sure that we do what we need to do in keeping Pennsylvanians safe.

I think its a tribute to [him] that Pennsylvania has actually done a better job than many of our surrounding states in terms of the infection rate and the death rate, he continued, as reported by triblive.com.

While adding more rules and restrictions to state nursing homes, Levine garnered attention when local news outlet ABC27 reported that his own mother recently vacated a personal care home in the state.

Many in Harrisburg wondered what kind of message it sends  when a close relative of the person tasked with overseeing those types of facilities doesnt choose to stay in one. Levine countered that [he] is working to protect the health of all Pennsylvanians, ABC27 reported last May.
[January 20, 2021] Wintermute Raises $20M Series B Funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners and Pantera Capital to Scale its OTC, Derivatives and Asian Operations

Wintermute, an algorithmic liquidity provider for digital assets, today announced the close of a $20M Series B round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners ("Lightspeed") with participation from Pantera Capital. Jeremy Liew, Partner at Lightspeed, will join Wintermute's Board of Directors. Other investors joining the round include Sino Global Capital, Kenetic Capital, Rockaway Blockchain Fund, Hack VC, DeFi Alliance, and Avon Ventures, a venture capital fund affiliated with FMR LLC, the parent company of Fidelity Investments. All existing investors, including Blockchain.com Ventures, also participated. "Wintermute has grown almost 25x since Lightspeed led the company's Series A round just six months ago. That rarely happens! We are excited to continue supporting Wintermute and their ambitious expansion plans going forward," says Jeremy Liew, Partner at Lightspeed. "As crypto markets grow in size and complexity, and as decentralized exchanges begin to more directly connect market makers and users, the space will require liquidity providers that can evolve in tandem and keep markets efficient," says Joey Krug, Co-CIO of Pantera Capital. "We believe that Wintermute's agile and sophisticated approach to market making will be key to unlocking liquid and efficient markets for this growing financial system." Wintermute is a crypto-native market maker, focused on building a decentralized financial system by creating efficient, liquid markets with transparent prices. Since the company's launch in 2017, the team has become one of the larges liquidity providers in crypto markets, covering thousands of pairs across almost 50 crypto exchanges and trading platforms on CeFi, DeFi and OTC.



The company has seen tremendous growth in 2020 growing at a 60% monthly rate and reaching $30B monthly trading volume by December. Wintermute also provided liquidity for some of the most prominent projects in 2020 and is planning to support many more in 2021. The team has big growth plans for 2021. Wintermute is currently piloting its own RFQ platform with beta counterparties and is planning to launch it for institutional players within the first quarter. "Since we have some of the most competitive pricing in the market, we were literally pulled into this business by our counterparties and partners that we work with. The algorithms we use for OTC are the same we use for our proprietary trading, so we have an advantage when it comes to pricing," says Evegny Gaevoy, CEO of Wintermute. "We take no fees on our OTC activities so counterparties can eliminate intermediaries and cut fees by trading with us directly. With the launch of RFQ we'll be able to offer OTC trades at a greater scale."

Wintermute is also looking to scale the derivatives business. "We have historically focused on spot, but coming from traditional HFTs like Optiver, we have all the expertise in house to provide liquidity in derivatives markets across perpetuals, futures and options," says Gaevoy. While most of the team is based in London, Wintermute has always operated globally across venues in Asia, US and Europe. The firm believes that with the launch of its RFQ and derivatives businesses, it will also expand its physical presence into Asia. Wintermute plans to open its first international office in Singapore in the first quarter of 2021. This latest round of funding comes on the heels of the Series A round the company closed in June 2020, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and the institutional seed funding round led by Blockchain.com Ventures in January 2020. For more information on Wintermute, visit: www.wintermute.com. About Wintermute Wintermute is a global algorithmic liquidity provider for digital assets. Wintermute's mission is to create liquid, efficient and transparent markets for institutional and retail investors across all vetted trading platforms and its own RFQ platform. Founded and managed by experienced traders and engineers from traditional financial markets, Wintermute brings the best practices of algorithmic and high-frequency trading into digital asset markets. www.wintermute.com About Lightspeed Venture Partners Lightspeed Venture Partners is a multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, and Health sectors. Over the past two decades, the Lightspeed team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 400 companies globally, including Snap, Affirm, Nutanix, AppDynamics, MuleSoft, OYO, Guardant, StitchFix, and GrubHub. Lightspeed and its affiliates currently manage $10.5B across the global Lightspeed platform, with investment professionals and advisors in Silicon Valley, Israel, India, China, Southeast Asia and Europe. www.lsvp.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005071/en/

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(Natural News) George Mullen, What if Big Tech was censoring black speech instead of conservative speech? And what if Parler was primarily an African-American social networking site being targeted for shutdown by Twitter, Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon?

(Article republished from SpeakingAboutNews.com)

We know exactly what would happen. There would be cataclysmic outrage across the board, and justifiably so. The bigger question is, why isnt there cataclysmic outrage right now over what is happening to conservative speech? If these monopolies can effectively censor a massive group of 75 million people, they can surely come after your group next. Wake up, America.

Imagine if the old AT&T chose to police all telephone calls on their platform in order to bleep-out falsehoods and certain types of political speech they didnt like. Sounds outrageous, like something from the old communist Soviet Union, right? Yet, this is exactly what the Big Tech monopolies are doing today. Their actions are a tacit declaration of war against America and the spirit of 1776.

As George Washington University Law School Professor Jonathan Turley writes, Twitter serves the same communicative function between consenting parties; it simply allows thousands of people to participate in such digital exchanges. Those people do not sign up to exchange thoughts only to have Dorsey or some other internet overlord monitor their conversations and protect them from errant or harmful thoughts.

Freedom of Speech is the centerpiece of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution for a reason  because it is the cornerstone constitutional right that enables and protects all our other rights. And the Big Tech monopolies are taking a hammer to it.

The leaders of at least six different nations have condemned the recent Big Tech censorship of conservative speechincluding Mexican President Manuel Lopez Obrador and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Yet, in the United States, this censorship is being applauded by academics and most everyone in the Democratic Party. George Orwell was more prescient than he ever could have imagined.

With respect to conservative speech being shut down, we suddenly have tens of millions of new believers in the free-market on the socialist left as well. Most repeating the same talking-point that these are private companies and thus can censor whomever they wish. Our hands are tied, they say (with a smile). Oh really? And would this be their stance if it were black speech being targeted? Of course not.

We all know what is happening is wrong  whether you are being censored for your skin color, hair color, religion, creed, political viewpoint, or anything else. We are individuals and should each be judged as such. If a person is not breaking the law and not at their employment, that persons freedom of speech should always be honored and defended. Freedom of speech is the core of America.

Donald Trump is not the threat to democracy the media gargoyles would have you believe, but Big Tech most certainly is.

As Voltaire famously said, I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. And, yes, that means for President Trump as well. Freedom of speech is fundamental to a democratic society, period. The Big Tech Monopolies need to immediately alter course to preserve this fundamental core of America, as well as to provide for their own personal safety. But that is unlikely  arrogance tends to be all consuming and self destructive.

Thus, we are witnessing the death of free speech on the internet. Humanity is diving headfirst into dystopia.

With this in mind, perhaps Elon Musk (who has plans to put 42,000 Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit) and other forward thinkers would consider establishing a satellite-based new internet where freedom of speech is defended at all times for all law-abiding citizens around the globe. There are close to 8 billion people ready to sign on.

The dystopian overlords can keep their old internet.

Read more at: SpeakingAboutNews.com and Censorship.news.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Today, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States. Kamala Harris became the 49th Vice-President, the first woman and person of color to serve in the office. Voto Latino is optimistic that the new administration will be able to heal the wounds and tensions that have been created over the last four years and move us forward on a united, progressive path.

"Congratulations to President Biden and Vice President Harris," said Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino. "There are numerous issues in our country that must be addressed immediately. The level of leadership and experience in this administration is enough to return the United States to its past standing and beyond. That is why Voto Latino chose to endorse Joe Biden, the first time we had ever done so. There is work to be done and Voto Latino is prepared to counsel and assist in repairing this nation and creating a more perfect democracy."

Voto Latino was a crucial part of the Biden victory, registering 601,300 voters for the 2020 general election  a $34.2 million dollar effort  with most of those in the key battleground states of Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Florida, and mobilized 3.7 million low propensity voters to the polls. This cycle, Voto Latino's work helped flip Arizona and Georgia, defended Nevada and Wisconsin, sent four new Senators to Washington, and turned Texas and North Carolina purple, demonstrating the overwhelming contribution Latinx voters made to deliver the White House. The organization also engaged with the Biden campaign on the concerns of the Latinx community, resulting in an extensive agenda to address Latinx issues over the next four years. Voto Latino plans to both assist in ensuring the success of the policies that will help our community and hold the administration accountable as we continue to build long term Latinx political power across the country.

Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.

Contact:

Danny Turkel, [email protected]

SOURCE Voto Latino
Albert Mohler has new competition in the race to become the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Two pastors, Ed Litton and Mike Stone, accepted upcoming nominations in the past week, each representing different emphases for the future of the SBC as the denomination grapples with an escalating debate over its approach to race.

Mohler has been in the running for over a year; the SBC canceled its previous election along with its 2020 annual meeting due to COVID-19.

Mohler is already a big name in the SBC. The president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, hes currently the longest-serving entity head in the denomination and regularly weighs in on current issues on his daily podcast, The Briefing.

But with that platform and prominence has come controversy, especially in recent months. Southern Baptists and evangelical onlookers saw the former Never Trumper endorse the president for reelection, decry Trumps role in the attempted insurrection, and defend his decision to vote for him. He also led seminary presidents in a letter condemning critical race theory as incompatible with SBC beliefs.

Dr. Mohlers shifting positions on political issues have left a significant number of Southern Baptists dissatisfied with his candidacy, said Dave Miller, editor of the SBC Voices blog and a pastor in Iowa. Others feel he has enough power and control already and does not need to add SBC president to his other positions of power.

Stone, a senior pastor in South Georgia and former chairman of the Executive Committee of the SBC, was named as a contender last week. He immediately garnered endorsements from Tom Ascol, president of Founders Ministries, and Gerald Harris, retired editor of the Christian Index who, like Stone, belongs to the steering council of the Conservative Baptist Network.

Founders and the Conservative Baptist Network have been among the most vocal challengers to what they see as the influence of critical race theory and social justice in the denomination. Stone acknowledges that, the convention, at least on paper, is squarely within the mainstream of conservative theology, but along with other network members has voiced concerns about woke beliefs in SBC entities and seminaries.

Litton, a senior pastor in Mobile, Alabama, and former SBC Pastors Conference president, was put forward Tuesday by the denominations first and only African American president, Fred Luter.

Litton was among the group of white and black pastors who issued a joint statement on the gospel, reconciliation, and justice last fall, and both he and Luter signed onto a recent statement in opposition to any movement in the SBC that seeks to distract from racial reconciliation through the gospel and that denies the reality of systemic injustice.

I have known Ed Litton for over 20 years. Our relationship started when we preached for each other as part of the SBC Racial Reconciliation Sunday during the month of February, Luter, who led the SBC from 2012 to 2014, told Baptist Press. From there our relationship developed to more than just colleagues to bring races together. We both shared the hope of drawing people closer to a relationship with Jesus Christ and then growing disciples for Christ. In both of our churches our focus has been the same all of these years.

The Convention will vote on the candidates at its annual meeting in Nashville in June, installing officers for two-year terms. While SBC churches are self-governed, the president wields influence by setting missional priorities for the denomination, serving as a figurehead and spokesperson, and appointing committee members.

Outgoing president J. D. Greear made headway during his term by addressing sexual abuse and diversity. He offered new initiatives to address sexual abuse in the wake of a massive report on incidents within SBC churches, affirmed black lives matter, and appointed the most diverse slate of committee members in SBC history.

Now, the denomination will look to Greears successor to either build on his efforts or set new priorities; experts in SBC polity generally say it takes two presidential terms to make a lasting impact on the direction of the organization.

All candidates see the need for the declining denomination to improve evangelism and build up membership and giving; the 14.5 million-member convention has been shrinking for years and saw its biggest decline in a century in 2019.

Stone has emphasized the sufficiency of Scripture and the role of everyday Southern Baptists in convention businesstwo of the biggest concerns raised by the Conservative Baptist Network.

I  want to champion the sufficiency of Scripture. It is a doctrine Southern Baptists have long held, but recently there are uncertain sounds about this issue that are originating in many corners of the Convention, Stone told the Baptist Message. I want to foster greater involvement of grassroots Southern Baptists. We acknowledge ecclesiastically that we are not a top-down hierarchy. However, increasingly, we are being led by smaller and smaller groups of decision makers.

Stone, who leads Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Georgia, stepped down as Executive Committee chairman in February 2020, just as the Conservative Baptist Network was formed. He faced backlash for his efforts last year to nominate subcommittee chairmen during his final meeting rather than allowing the incoming chairthe first black pastor to hold the positionto do so. In a response, he shared an explanation and critiqued the cancel culture of todays SBC social media.

Stone also served on the committee tasked with recommending whether a church should disfellowship with the SBC due to abuse, racism, or theological violations alongside Littons wife, Kathy, who is a director at the North American Mission Board and the first woman elected registration secretary in SBC history.

Stone said he spoke to Mohler last week about entering the race. While he doesnt see his candidacy in opposition to any others, Stone said, I truly feel the SBC will be best led by a pastor. With deep gratitude for an entity leaders influence, the SBC is a convention of churches and needs leadership that is daily in tune with the local church.

Mohler, who also became president of the Evangelical Theological Society last year, accepted his 2021 candidacy back in October. At the time, he said to the Southern Baptist Texan:

Anything that has happened in the last several months has only amplified the reasons I was willing this year to be nominated and now next year since the convention was delayed. I think Southern Baptists face some incredible challenges and some very real issues, and I think we need to have the kinds of conversations that will clarify issues and bring Southern Baptists together.

Litton, lead pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, has been a critic of the Conservative Baptist Network, telling CT last year, Honestly, I do not understand why they exist. I do not know a single professor, seminary, or for that matter a single SBC pastor who does not wholeheartedly stand with the inerrancy of Scripture. In the Baptist Press report about his planned nomination, he spoke up about the need for Southern Baptists to reemphasize their common mission.

Recently, I shared with my church, A deeply divided nation needs a deeply united church, he said. Simply and honestly, we are not there as a convention of churches. I fear our credibility is faltering. While the world waits deeply in need of Jesus, we have seen division grow in our SBC family. We have been blessed as Southern Baptists with strong churches, strong pastors, leaders and theologians, but what we need is a broken and contrite heart. We need to reemphasize our common mission, committed together and following Jesus.
Upset with the state's decision to shut down outdoor dining this past December, a consortium of over 50 restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms and suppliers across Napa and Sonoma counties has filed a lawsuit Tuesday against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, The Chronicle reported. The group of restaurant owners says there is "no rational basis" for the ban on outdoor dining, calling December's order "arbitrary, irrational, and unfair."

Pointing to the lack of scientific evidence stating that outdoor dining furthers the spread of COVID-19  among other issues with the ban  the lawsuit says December's shutdown order constitutes a violation under the California Constitution's equal protection and due process.

"The greatest catastrophe of this ban is that it is senseless," the lawsuit reads in part. "It has no scientific basis, does nothing to protect public safety, and, in fact, likely undermines public health. Its only effect is to ravage the regions businesses, community members, and workers."

Newsom is named in the lawsuit, along with Tomas Aragon, the state's public health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health. The Napa and Sonoma county businesses involved in the lawsuit include Filippi's Pizza Grotto, Canard Vineyard, Trancas Steakhouse, Farmhouse Inn and others.

Carl Dene, owner of Brannan Cottage Inn and Sam's General Store in Calistoga, Calif., is part of the Wine Country Coalition for Safe Reopening, which is spearheading the lawsuit. Dene told SFGATE that the restaurant industry is centered around safety and health regulations, and that prior to the pandemic, restaurants already followed strict health guidelines and cleaning protocols to keep the public safe. To him, with the new safety rules the restaurant industry has been following, Napa Valley wasn't seeing a spike in COVID-19 over the summer when outdoor dining was open, saying there's no proof that restaurants are causing the increase in COVID-19 cases. In fact, some medical experts have cast some doubt as to whether outdoor dining furthers COVID spread.

"We've added so many new protocols to keep people safe, and looking at it and then looking at [these] arbitrary closures ... they know this is not based on science and data," Dene said, referencing Newsom and Aragon. "It's about time somebody does something about it, because we can't just keep sitting here and watching this deteriorate, and watching our industry be demonized as part of the reason for the spread of COVID."

Dene said that he and other restaurant owners have spent plenty of money adapting to the state's COVID-19 safety requirements, including setting up outdoor spaces, procuring space heaters and even taking on the added expense of takeout containers, which he said had doubled in cost during the pandemic. Yet, despite restaurants following new protocols, "the rug's pulled out from us again," he said.

To add insult to injury, Dene said he's visited retail stores, such as Home Depot or Lowe's, which he alleged have not been following COVID-19 rules. Retail stores have been allowed to remain open during the shutdown, following social-distancing guidelines, whereas restaurants have been asked to turn to takeout only.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," Dene said of a recent trip to the big box hardware store. "I couldn't find any hand sanitizer anywhere in the place, you're touching all these products, no social distancing  no one's following anything in there, and the place was mobbed. I did not feel comfortable.

"To me it seems like union-controlled big business has a voice in this [order] and that's why they're open," he later added. "And as small businesses and small wineries and small tasting rooms, we don't have a voice. That's why we [filed this lawsuit], because we need to have a voice, finally."

Restaurants have been forced to shutter their outdoor dining services in the Bay Area (and across the state) when a regional stay-at-home order issued by Newsom on Dec. 3, 2020, went into effect. California was divided into five regions that were forced to close services such as outdoor dining if that area's intensive-care-unit bed capacity dropped below 15%.

This lawsuit against Newsom is the latest in a number of lawsuits filed around the state over the shutdown of outdoor dining. A Sherman Oaks restaurant owner filed a lawsuit against the state last month; the California Restaurant Association (CRA) has also sued to stop the ban on outdoor dining in Los Angeles County. An appeals court, however, has allowed Los Angeles County's outdoor dining ban to remain intact until a hearing scheduled for Feb. 10.

Dene argued that banning outdoor dining is merely helping the COVID-19 figures skyrocket higher. California, as of Tuesday, has confirmed 2.9 million confirmed cases to date and over 33,000 COVID-related deaths. By shutting down outdoor dining, Dene said, Newsom is creating a "Prohibition-type attitude" that is forcing residents to gather indoors at each other's homes, rather than in a safer, outdoor environments like a restaurant.

"We're the most locked-down state in the country, we're the only ones with outdoor dining closed, yet our numbers are going in the opposite direction," Dene said. "So for me, the story that it tells  and I've witnessed it  [is] cutting [employees'] hours at work and putting them out of work is only going to make them gather with their friends and family more. Keeping people busy and working, they go home at night and they're tired, they're not gathering with family and friends. But the second you take everybody out of work, they're going to be gathering with family and friends. And where's the number one place people are getting it, 78% of it, [is] family and friends gathering. So I feel like it's had the opposite effect [of reducing COVID-19 figures]."

The governor's office, for its part, told SFGATE in a statement that it plans to defend against this most recent lawsuit.

"We will vigorously defend against this lawsuit challenging public health orders implemented to save lives and prevent the regional medical system from collapsing, so all residents can access lifesaving treatment," said Jesse Melgar, a spokesman for Newsom. "We are confident the court will uphold the order, as have numerous courts that have recently considered similar challenges."
Kevin Frazier

Frazier is a second-year law student at the UC Berkeley School of Law temporarily living in San Francisco and the editor of The Oregon Way, an online publication.

Oregons approach to elections is a lot like a shiny apple with a rotten core. From the exterior, it is a model for the rest of the country to follow. From mail-in voting to automatic voter registration, Oregon has done a lot to make democracy easy. But at the core, partisanship undermines efforts to make the states democracy more participatory and inclusive. Who cares how easy it is to vote if you dont get to participate in every stage of the election, especially in what is arguably the most important stage?

In every primary election, the state of Oregon permits the two major parties to deprive non-affiliated and third-party voters of a fundamental rightthe right to self-determination  unless they change their registration to join one of the major parties. The states closed-primary system, funded by taxpayers of all political stripes, shuts approximately one million Oregon voters out of the most crucial stage of the election in which the major parties choose their nominees. As the most recent election demonstrated, whoever wins the Democratic primary in this largely Democratic state is the heavy favorite to win the general election in Oregon-wide races such as attorney general and secretary of state.

Rather than putting parties at the center of our elections, we should place people first. Rather than force voters to pick a party, we should free voters to choose their preferred candidate regardless of party affiliation. Its time for Oregonians to re-evaluate our primary system and consider how to concentrate power in voters hands  not parties; in doing so, the core of our democracy can turn on the ability of officials to get things done, instead of their ability to adhere to partisan priorities.

One possibility? Follow Alaskas lead. Last November, Alaska eliminated partisan primaries. In their place, Alaskans will now have the chance to vote on all candidates, regardless of party, in a single primary election. The four candidates who receive the most votes will move on to the general election. At that stage, voters will use ranked choice voting to decide the winner. In that format, voters rank each of the candidates; if no candidate receives more than 50% of the first-place votes, then the candidate with the fewest such votes is eliminated. Voters who prioritized the now-eliminated candidate will have their second-place votes distributed to the remaining candidates. The process continues until one candidate has received more than 50% the votes.

Think of how thankful Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska must be for this system. She no longer has to fear getting primaried by a challenger to her right. As a result, she can focus on making the best decision for all Alaskans, rather than playing to a Republican base.

There are other proposals for making Oregons elections more democratic and putting people, not parties, at the core of our elections. Oregon Open Primaries, a volunteer group of folks from around the state and across the political aisle, is exploring various possibilities for an initiative for the 2022 ballot. If sidelining a million voters reeks of undemocratic behavior, then you can help Oregon live up to its reputation as model of inclusive democratic practices and join the effort. You can find more information at www.oregonopenprimaries.org.

The past four years have made clear that we need to eliminate aspects of our system that incentivize partisanship. Its time to cut the partisan core out of our elections.

Subscribe to our free weekly Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email:


(Alliance News) - Vaccines are not doing enough "heavy lifting" at the moment and case rates need to drop further before the UK government can think of easing restrictions, the UK's chief scientific adviser has said.

Patrick Vallance said the country still had a long way to go in battling coronavirus but in a direct message to the public said there was "light at the end of the tunnel".

It comes as calculations by the PA news agency show the government needs to hit an average of 384,000 first doses per day to reach a target of vaccinating 15 million of the most vulnerable by February 15.

The government has pledged that all those in the top priority groups, including the over-70s and frontline health and social care workers, will have received an offer to have had their first dose of the jab given to them by mid-February.

In a Q&A with Sky News viewers, Vallance was asked if the lockdown would be kept in place if infection figures stayed the same or dropped.

"The advice at the moment is vaccines are not going to do the heavy lifting for us at the moment, anywhere near it," he said.

"This is about, I'm afraid, the restrictive measures which we're all living under and carrying on with those.

"The numbers are nowhere near where they need to be at the moment, they need to come down quite a lot further a we need to make sure we stick with it.

"You go for a walk in the park or something, life looks normal; you go for a walk in a hospital, if you work in a hospital, you will see life not looking normal at all.

"This is a really difficult, dangerous situation we're in, and we need to get the numbers down, so I don't see a release of these measures as being a sensible thing to do in the short term."

He said it was hoped that as the vaccine took effect and cases dropped, it would be possible to start a gradual release of some of the measures.

But he warned: "I think it's important to recognise this is not going to be a sort of big bang, 'great, take the lid off, everything's fine, we can all go back to normal'.

"This is going to be a slow release, monitoring carefully, understanding the effects."

Vallance said that through the summer and into winter "things will be a lot better" because a large proportion of the population will have been vaccinated.

He said some restrictions may be needed next winter such as mask-wearing in certain places, keeping up with hand washing and "being sensible" about interacting indoors, but he would "be very surprised if we go on year on year with needing to do things more than that".

In a direct message to the public, Vallance said: "There's light at the end of the tunnel, science is going to get us out of this, and we're on the way.

"We need to carry on doing what we're doing and a big thank you to everybody.

"It's really tough to keep these restrictions in place, it's really tough on children, it's really tough on all of us.

"Please keep going because if we can keep this under control, if we can drive these numbers down, that's what's going to get us out of this sooner."

Vallance said scientists and the government had learned lessons over the last year but his message had continuously been to "go earlier than you think you want to, go a bit harder than you think you want to, and go a bit broader than you think you want to, in terms of applying the restrictions.

"I'm afraid that's a grim message but that is what the evidence says a you've got to go hard, early and broader if you're going to get on top of this.

"Waiting and watching simply doesn't work."

Calum Semple, from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, which advises ministers, told Sky News he agreed it was "not the time to relax" restrictions and some measures may be required next winter.

Speaking in a personal capacity, he said: "One in eight to one in 10 people have had this illness and, although we have vaccinated the most very susceptible people, there are a large number of people, perhaps 80% to 90% of the population, [who] are still susceptible to getting severe disease that would cause hospitalisation and put them at risk of long Covid."

Elsewhere, Home Secretary Priti Patel stressed that the UK would see "inconsistencies" in vaccine supply due to changes at manufacturing plants.

Pfizer Inc has said it is reducing deliveries for the next three to four weeks while it makes improvements to its factory in Belgium, while AstraZeneca PLC expects to scale up to two million doses per week before or by mid-February.

Patel told Good Morning Britain manufacturing reconfigurations make it challenging in terms of having a streamlined approach to the delivery of the vaccine, adding: "There are going to be inconsistencies in terms of vaccine rollout and we are seeing that."

Asked about the UK's high death toll, she said there were a "range of reasons" for the UK's "appalling" death toll, mentioning how people with "comorbidities" are "more susceptible to this virus".

She told Good Morning Britain the death toll was "catastrophic" but argued that it could not have been known how deadly coronavirus would be when the outbreak struck last year.

It comes as the British Medical Association criticised the UK government over a lack of transparency around vaccine supply which is impacting the speed at which jabs are rolled out.

In a statement to PA, GP committee Chair Richard Vautrey said the past few weeks "has seen an enormous effort on the part of GPs and other healthcare workers to roll out the vaccination to as many people as possible".

But he added: "Unfortunately, we are hearing of supply issues which are impacting the speed of the rollout of the vaccine.

"Despite having the staff and resources available, some GP-led sites are not able to vaccinate patients at the rate at which they could if they had continued access to the vaccine.

"As well as accelerating the delivery of supplies to ready and willing sites across the country, the government needs to be honest both with the public and practices about what supplies are available."

It comes as Sherwood Forest Hospitals and University Hospitals Birmingham were confirmed as the first sites to pilot the delivery of Covid vaccines 24/7.

By Jane Kirby, PA Health Editor

source: PA

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Check out the news you should not miss today:

Society

-- The number of domestic flights in peak time during Tet (Vietnam's Lunar New Year holiday which falls on February 12 this year) is expected to increase 28 percent compared with the same period last year, with up to 1,200 flights a day, according to Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

-- Statistics from the Vietnam Register showed 16,452 expired cars, including 12,436 freight vehicles and 4,016 passenger carriers, were discarded in 2020.

-- The People's Court in northern Vinh Phuc Province on Tuesday sentenced Nguyen Thi Nga, 51, to two years in jail for organizing for people to enter and stay in Vietnam illegally." Nga helped three Chinese people to unlawfully enter Vietnam to do business during the COVID-19 outbreak.

-- Vietnams COVID-19 tally on Tuesday night reached 1,540, with 1,402 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Business

-- Vietnam's economic growth accelerated to 4.5 percent in the last quarter of 2020, resulting in an annual growth rate of 2.9 percent and making it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday, quoting the World Bank.

-- Vietnam is Canada's second-largest importer of agricultural products and foods in the ASEAN region, with last years import value reaching nearly US$314 million, the Consulate General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City said at an event on Tuesday to promote Canadian ginseng for the first time in the southern city.

-- Vietnams 2021 GDP growth is projected to hit 5.49 percent in the normal scenario, 6.9 percent in the optimistic outlook, and 3.48 percent in the worst-case scenario, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Vietnam Institute of Economics under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

Education

-- The British Council Vietnam has recently announced the GREAT Scholarships for a Sustainable Future, worth 10,000 ($13,625) each for 26 candidates from five countries, including Vietnam, the British Embassy in Hanoi announced on its verified Facebook page on Tuesday.

Lifestyle

-- Eighty paintings of a variety of materials depicting the image of buffalo in Vietnamese culture by the artist group G39 will be displayed at an exhibition to welcome the coming Vietnamese Lunar New Year at 29 Hang Bai Gallery in Hanoi from January 23 to 29.

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has called on the federal government to reconsider the long-term suspension of international travel, saying a Pacific bubble should be established this year.

Ms Berejiklian's push for a faster approach to international travel during the pandemic comes after Australia's Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly this week said it would be "one of the last things to change" after a coronavirus vaccine rollout.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Health Brad Hazzard during a video hook up for Wednesday's crisis cabinet meeting. Credit:Louise Kennerley

There is no reason why we shouldnt aim to travel to New Zealand or some of the Pacific Islands well within the next 12 months," Ms Berejiklian told the Herald on Wednesday.

Professor Kelly warned on Tuesday Australia had to be cautious in restarting international travel given the country was in an "envious position" compared to most of the world.

Paul Stephen/San Antonio Express-News

"Tr*mp is out of office!!!" is the tagline for Little Death's Inaugural Ball, this Jan. 20 from 4 p.m. to close.

The event was shared three days ago on the Instagram for the "worst wine bar in S.A." and already has well over 900 likes. The premise is simple with Champagne and cava by the glass being offered on the patio for the evening, along with $1 hot dogs and pizza slices from neighboring Pizza Party.
(Newser)  Leaders across the globe welcomed the arrival of President Biden and the end of the often confrontational presidency of Donald Trump, noting the worlds most pressing problems, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, require multilateral cooperation, an approach Trump ridiculed. Many expressed hope Wednesday that Biden would right the worlds largest democracy two weeks after they watched rioters storm the Capitol, shaking the faith of those fighting for democracy in their own countries, the AP reports. Governments targeted and sanctioned under Trump embraced the chance for a fresh start with Biden, while some heads of state who lauded Trumps blend of nationalism and populism were more restrained in their expectations for the Biden administration.

French President Emmanuel Macron noted the urgency of addressing the perils the world faces from climate change after Trump withdrew the US from the Paris climate accord, a move Biden was to reverse in the first hours of his presidency. With Biden, "we will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet," he tweeted. "Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!"

story continues below

"This new dawn in America is the moment weve been awaiting for so long," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, hailing Bidens arrival as "resounding proof that, once again after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House."

European Council President Charles Michel said that trans-Atlantic relations have "greatly suffered in the last four years. In these years, the world has grown more complex, less stable and less predictable." "We have our differences and they will not magically disappear. America seems to have changed, and how its perceived in Europe and the rest of the world has also changed," added Michel.

In Germany, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued a video statement, calling Biden's inauguration a "good day for democracy." "Despite the attempts to tear at Americas institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress have proven strong," he said.

Pope Francis urged Biden to help foster reconciliation in the US and build up a society "marked by authentic justice and freedom" and looking out especially for the poor.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formed close ties with Trump, noted a "warm personal friendship" with Biden. "I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran, Netanyahu said.

(Read more Inauguration Day stories.)
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A 99-million-year-old beetle that researchers recently discovered has unlocked the evolutionary puzzle that needed to be solved in terms of how these little animals got their light abilities.

According to a CNN report, the discovery specified in a study published in The Royal Society journal now answers the questions about these bioluminescent insects, which has long fascinated scientists despite the little knowledge about their capabilities.

The beetle discovered, Latin name Cretophengodes, was detected "fossilized in a piece of amber in Northern Myanmar."

Chengyan Cai, a Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing said that the tropical site was filled with insect life during the Cretaceous period.

Cai, also the study author added, they even have "records of dinosaur remains" from the similar amber deposit "the Cretophengodes was found in."

ALSO READ: New Study Shows How Beetles Keep Rivals Off to Feed Their Future Offspring

Cretophengodes

Each of the antennae of the insect was found to have 12 segments that branched off it, although what caught the study author's eye was the light organ snuggled into its abdomen.

Cai explained, that organ provided the beetle bioluminescence with "the ability for a living organism to produce its own light."

Modern-day insects, which include fireflies and glowworms, are a part of Elateroidea, a similar classification of superfamily animals that newly discovered beetle comes from.

Essentially, cretophengodes is one of the oldest bioluminescent beetles to be discovered, and thus, provides researchers with an understanding of the "early evolutionary building blocks" of such a superfamily.





Reason Beetles Being Bioluminiscent Remains Unknown

The reason for the beetles being bioluminescent remains unknown although based on relatives, the study author suspected that the function was utilized as a protective mechanism.

To date, a number of young beetle larvae in the same superfamily are found to have used light to shield themselves from predators. More so, adult bees have been known for using their light abilities to attract mates.

Moreover, as indicated in the study, modern-day fireflies produce light via a chemical reaction in their body.

When a set of ingredients which includes the compound luciferin, as well as the enzyme luciferase are interacting with oxygen, it produce a flickering light.

Erik Tihelka, study author and a paleobiology student at the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom said, he wants to spend time for research on what predators were driving evolution of bioluminescence in Cretaceous beetles.

Among his hypotheses have comprised birdlike dinosaurs and digging animals that were feeding on the forest floor. Tihelka explained, he finds it fascinating that "we may ow the glow of fireflies to an ancient predator-prey arms race with dinosaurs."

Similar to fireflies, a luminescent beetle is characterized by light-producing organs. Such organs are under this insect and provide it with a "blue-green yellow" light.

According to InsectIdentification, "bioluminescent is not widespread in the insect world." Therefore, having it makes the said beetle very special.

As mentioned, its ability to use its "light" capabilities helps the insect move away from certain threats like predators. Like all beetles, the luminescent beetle can also fly.

ALSO READ: Surprising Similarity Between Honey Bee and Human Interaction Unveiled





Check out more news and information on Beetles in Science Times.
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After a year marked by navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, officials in the city of Oak Ridge North in south Montgomery County are looking ahead to 2021 as projects continue and business development efforts increase.

Oak Ridge North City Manager Heather Neeley said some of the highest priority projects include improvements and widening of Robinson Road in the eastern section of the city, continued research, outreach and efforts to grow the business community and maintaining a good safety record in regard to the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Oak Ridge North begins water system assessment

We received the funding for the Robinson Road project. Thats been a number one priority for several years. We do plan on working on the widening and realigning of that. Our hopeful start date is the second quarter of 2021, Neeley said. That is the number one priority because we feel it will drive the business (development) and then lessen traffic, moving people through and adding some (businesses) for people to stop at.

Issues related to Robinson Road have been present for years, although a recently completed upgrade to the Interstate 45 overpass at The Woodlands Parkway as well as a re-design of the unusual on- and off-ramp interchange on the east side of I-45 have helped mitigate congestion, Neeley noted. The second part of those efforts, she added, are to the east where Robinson Road will need to be realigned, widened and updated with traffic control improvements.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Robinson Road, I-45 overpass project aims to reduce congestion, improve safety

We do not have an agreement with (Precinct 3) yet, but they finished The Woodlands Parkway project and were hoping to finalize an agreement soon, Neeley added. The new portion to the business park is mainly realigning the road. It will straighten out that three point turn that really backs people up at peak hours. The road was originally intended for 10,000 trips per day and we have 25,000 trips per day now. (The improvements) will really help move the congestion through.

Andrew DuBois, manager of precinct projects for Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack, said attorneys for both Precinct 3 and Oak Ridge North are currently in discussions to hash out an agreement on the future renovations and upgrades to Robinson Road. He also said Noack fully supports the project and planned upgrades.

The county and city are working on hashing out an agreement. The commissioner is in full support of that project and the city moving forward with it, DuBois said. I do not know when it will be finalized, but they are working toward that.

Neeley aside from business development along the Robinson Road corridor, the expansion and upgrades will significantly help ameliorate traffic and mobility congestion issues in the city as well as around south Montgomery County. The city received $8.3 million in funds from certificates of obligation loans, of which about $7 million will be used on the Robinson Road project.

The more homes you build on Highway 99, the more people are working in The Woodlands, the more were going to need those east-west corridors. Right now, you have Rayford Road and Sawdust Road, she added. Until there is a third option, we really need to get this road widened to both support our businesses and move traffic through. The design is done, and hopefully soon well look at bidding and so forth. Instead of fixing these tiny things over and over again, it is time to get it all done at once.

Business development

Neeley said although nothing has been set in stone, the city hopes to continue to both explore new business partnerships, attract businesses to the city and also improve infrastructure in order to attract potential businesses to Oak Ridge North.

It is one of those things, were in talks with a lot of people. one of our biggest goals is reaching out with the (Extraterritorial jurisdiction) to see if there is anyway we can annex parts of that ETJ and bring businesses in, she said. The zoning had changed over there several years ago. Our goal is to be able to pull in developers and builders.

The citys water plant has been a focus of officials over the past few years, but Neeley said the facility is in good shape. Some smaller projects are underway, though, she added.

We are doing the state of Texas required vulnerability study. Well be doing that with (consultants) Jones and Carter, it will help find out where our water system is vulnerable and making sure there are no breaches. We are still working on our Spring Pines detention pond to relieve flooding in the south part of the city. They have started on Phase 1 of that. Phase 2 will be digging the pond deeper and installing a (water) pump to help mitigate flooding. That has to be completed by September of 2021 as part of our CDBG grant.

COVID safety

When it comes to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, city officials across Texas have their hands full, something Oak Ridge North  which has about 40 employees  knows full well. Over the past 10 months, a few employees have contracted the virus but all have fully recovered, Neeley said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: More Shenandoah, Oak Ridge North staff test positive for COVID-19

Knock on wood, we have been very lucky. In the beginning, kind of in the summer, we had a few cases, she explained. Weve been wearing our masks in our (workplace) common areas and being careful. But weve been lucky. Just like everyone else, were looking forward thing things getting back to some sense of normalcy.

May elections

Three incumbents on the Oak Ridge North City Council are up for election on May 1.

The election day is Saturday, May 1, with early voting beginning April 19, and continuing through April 24, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a second early voting period this year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 26, and April 27. The last day to register to vote is April 1.

Elizabeth Harrell, city secretary in Oak Ridge North, said two incumbents on the council  Seat 4 member Dawn Candy and Seat 5 member Frances Planchard  have filed papers seeking re-election to another two year term in office.

Neeley on Tuesday confirmed that the third incumbent up for election on May 1, Seat 2 member Clint McLaren, has also filed candidate papers seeking another term in office.

As of Tuesday, Neeley noted, there are no challengers who have filed candidacy papers.

jeff.forward@chron.com
Actress Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday tweeted that her Twitter account has been restricted temporarily.

This comes after she made controversial remarks about "Tandav" creators through a post. In the now-deleted tweet, Kangana had said that it was "time to take their heads off", for allegedly insulting Hindu gods in the web series.

Now, the actress has slammed the "liberal community" who reported her account to Twitter, going on to call Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey "chacha".

Read: Is Tandav Row a Fresh Call for OTT Censorship?

"Librus cried to their chacha @jack and got my account temporarily restricted," she wrote.

She continued: "They are threatening me mera account/virtual identity kabhi bhi desh keliye shaheed ho sakti hai,magar my reloaded desh bhakt version will reappear through my movies.Tumhara jeena dushwar karke rahungi.(They are threatening me that my account and my virtual identity might get martyred for the country anytime. But my reloaded patriotic spirit will reappear through my movies. I will make your life miserable."

Librus cried to their chacha @jack and got my account temporarily restricted, they are threatening me mera account/virtual identity kabhi bhi desh keliye shaheed ho sakti hai,magar my reloaded desh bhakt version will reappear through my movies.Tumhara jeena dushwar karke rahungi.  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 20, 2021

Anti nationals are trending #SuspendKanganaRanaut .... please do, when they suspended Rangs I came and made their lives even more miserable,now if they suspend me will exit virtual world and in real world will show you real Kangana Ranaut- the mother of all fathers #babbarsherni pic.twitter.com/Msl2PosqDK  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 20, 2021

"Tandav" has come under fire with several people alleging that it provokes communal disharmony and hurts the sentiments of the Hindus. According to the complaints, a scene featuring Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub performing a college play insults the Hindu deity Shiv.

Read: Action Will be Taken as Per the Law: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tandav Controversy

Show creator Ali Abbas Zafar has apologised on behalf of the entire cast and crew, saying they did not intend to offend anyone or insult any religion and political party. They have even said that they will make changes in the content "to address concerns".
Rahul Gandhi demands withdrawal of new regulations in Lakshadweep; Writes to PM Modi

Mamata arrives 30 minutes late for Cyclone Yaas review meet with PM Modi, leaves after handing over documents

PM pays homage to Guru Gobind Singh on his ''Parkash Purab''

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid homage to Guru Gobind Singh on his birth anniversary and said the 10th Sikh Guru''s life was devoted to create a just and inclusive society.

"I bow to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on the pious occasion of his Parkash Purab. His was a life devoted to creating a just and inclusive society," Modi said in a tweet on the occasion of the 354th birth anniversary of the Sikh Guru.

Guru Gobind Singh was unwavering when it came to upholding his principles, he said.

Supreme Court to hear on Centre's plea seeking injunction against farmers' tractor parade today

"We also recall his courage and sacrifices," the prime minister said and tagged a video of his address in the past highlighting Guru Gobind Singh''s efforts for creating an inclusive society and his valour.

"The Guru Sahibs have a special Kripa on me that the 350th Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji took place during the tenure of our Government. I recall the grand celebrations in Patna, where I also had the opportunity to go and pay my respects," Modi said.

He also tweeted his messages in Punjabi.

Prakash Purab at Bangla Sahib | Birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh | Oneindia News

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, was a spiritual master, warrior, poet and philosopher.
Upcoming political events in the Bay Area. Events take place online unless otherwise noted:

MONDAY

Rep. Ro Khanna: East Bay Democrat holds a town hall meeting. Noon. Submit question in advance here; join meeting here.

TUESDAY

History of racism: Tyler Stovall, history professor and dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Fordham University, traces the relationship between freedom and race from the Age of Revolution to today. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 3 p.m. More information is here.

Dolores Huerta and Luis Valdez: A conversation with United Farm Workers civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, and playwright, Luis Valdez, on the history, land and people of the Santa Clara Valley and greater California. Hosted by the Peninsula Open Space Trust. 7 p.m. More information is here.

THURSDAY

Series on Race: Fremont Democratic Rep. talks with Clayborne Carson, director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University, as part of Khannas livestream Series on Race. 3 p.m. More information is here.

How to Make a Slave: Jerald Walker on his new book about being a Black man in America, How to Make a Slave and Other Essays. Hosted by KPFA-FM. 7 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 3

Jennifer Siebel Newsom: Californias first partner and filmmaker discusses the documentary The Great American Lie with student filmmakers whose work looks at social justice and gender equity issues. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 3 p.m. More information is here.

Mothers of civil rights movement: Anna Malaika Tubbs discusses her new book, The Three Mothers, about the mothers of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 6 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 4

Racial justice: The Rev. William Barber II of the Poor Peoples Campaign and his daughters, social epidemiologist Dr. Sharrelle Barber and Rebekah Barber, a public policy masters student and fellow at the Institute for Southern Studies, discuss racial justice and how the coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately affected communities of color. Hosted by Mother Jones. 11 a.m. More information is here.

Black womens history: Historians Daina Ramey Berry of the University of Texas and Kali Nicole Gross of Rutgers University discuss their new book, A Black Womens History of the United States. Hosted by KPFA-FM. 7 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 10

Fighting disinformation: An online conversation about the future of journalism and the movement to push back on the spread of disinformation through social media. With Geeta Anand, dean of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, and Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist and star of the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. Hosted by Cal Performances and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. 7 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 12

Anita Hill documentary: Screening of Freida Lee Mocks 2013 documentary, Anita Speaking Truth to Power, on Anita Hills testimony against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas confirmation during 1991 Senate hearings. Hosted by the Mechanics Institute. 6 p.m. More information is here.

To list an event, please email Chronicle politics editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com
India will be celebrating its 72nd Republic Day on January 26. UKs PM Boris Johnson was invited to India to attend the celebrations, but now, due to Coronavirus restrictions, he wont be able to visit India.

However, this years celebrations wont be extremely grand due to the pandemic. But, one lucky girl from UPs Gorakhpur will have the honor of witnessing the Republic Day parade from the Prime Ministers box.

 BCCL

Divyangi Tripathi topped the district in class 12th CBSE board exams last year and scored 99.6%. She is extremely excited to sit in the VIP box, along with other meritorious students from all over the country.



Divangis father Umesh Nath Tripathi who is a chemistry professor said that it is a matter of pride for him and his entire family that his daughter has been invited.

According to a report by TOI, Divyangi's mother said that they got the invitation from the Union government on January 13.

 BCCL

Divyangi said, It is like a dream come true for me to watch the Republic Day parade with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is my favorite leader. I am very happy.



She also expressed that she aims to become a doctor and she has been preparing for the NEET exam. I want to serve the country as a doctor, she said.

 BCCL

This years Republic Day will also be different as the number of participating children and folk artists has now been restricted to 400 instead of 600 last year. The decision was taken due to the COVID 19 restrictions.


PIRG estimates the equivalent of one dump truck filled with clothing and other textiles from around the world is sent to a landfill or incinerator every second

US advocacy group, The US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), has launched a campaign urging states to stop fashion companies from destroying unsold clothing.

The campaign, launched last week, is calling on US states to hold the industry accountable for its overproduction of clothing and to ban the destruction of overstock.

"We are making more clothes than we can wear. Millions of garments produced each year are never even worn before heading to a landfill or incinerator," says Olivia Sullivan, Zero Waste Program associate at US PIRG. "Throwing away unwanted clothing isn't a valid solution to overproduction. It compounds the problem by reinforcing the belief that everything is disposable."

Clothing companies commonly destroy, incinerate or send to the landfill unsold and unused clothing, known as overstock, to make way for new merchandise, PIRG says.

"Clothing and other textile waste now make up the fastest growing waste stream in the US. Meanwhile, the practice of disposing of overstock has gotten out of control in the fashion industry. Burberry reported in its 2018 annual report that the company burned US$36.8m worth of unsold clothing."

The company did, however, say that on the occasions when disposal of products was necessary, it did so "in a responsible manner".

PIRG says apparel companies are "very secretive" about what happens with their overstock merchandise, adding, "some companies ... hide their waste in plain sight in their impact reports and waste policies, cleverly calling the incineration of unsold goods "energy recovery" or "waste to energy".

The advocacy group is calling on state and local governments to take action to ensure the overproduction of clothing does not continue to fuel a mounting waste crisis.

France recently passed a law banning companies from destroying unsold products, including clothing.

"Waste is a design flaw, yet it is inherent in the fashion industry's business model," Sullivan says. "When fashion brands are hyper-focused on endlessly pumping out the next trend, massive amounts of waste are inevitable. Clothing manufacturers and retailers should not be overproducing clothing just to throw it out. That's why we need state governments to take action."

W ashington sealed off as Joe Bidens inauguration just hours away

Joe Bidens inauguration is just hours away and more than 25,000 National Guard have been drafted in for the swearing-in ceremony.

The US is still reeling from last weeks attack on the Capitol Building and security is tight over fears of more violence later today.

President-elect Mr Biden last night made a sober entrance to Washington ahead of his inauguration, as he paid tribute to the countrys coronavirus victims.

In the final hours of Donald Trumps last full day as US leader, the countrys Covid death toll has passed the grim milestone of 400,000.

Scientists warn Covid deaths will continue to rise after record daily toll

Deaths from coronavirus will continue to rise for some days to come, scientists have warned after the UK recorded its highest daily death toll since the pandemic began.

Officials believe there are signs the various lockdown measures in place around the country are having an effect as the vaccines are rolled out, with infection rates continuing to fall.

But the lag between people becoming infected and then being admitted to hospital means the rate of deaths will probably not start coming down until towards the end of the month.

Ministers to halt plans for daily Covid tests in schools

Ministers are reportedly set to halt plans for daily coronavirus tests in Englands secondary schools.

It comes after teachers raised concerns that the flagship policy had not been approved by regulators.

The Department for Education is said to be preparing to announce the move, only five weeks after the 78m programme was unveiled.

Theresa May accuses PM of abandoning UKs global moral leadership

Theresa May has accused her successor Boris Johnson of abandoning Britains position of global moral leadership.

The former prime minister warned Mr Johnsons threat to override the UKs treaty obligations in the Brexit divorce settlement risked signalling a retreat from the UKs global commitments.

In an article in the Daily Mail to mark the inauguration of Joe Biden as the US president, she hit out at the way Donald Trump had whipped up his supporters to storm the Capitol after refusing to accept the election result.

Storm Christoph could bring two months of rain in under three days

Parts of the UK could see two months worth of average rainfall in just two-and-a-half days as Storm Christoph moves in.

Weather warnings for heavy rain are in force across the country, and the unsettled conditions could also bring significant flooding, high winds and snowfall as the storm engulfs the country through the middle of the week.
A Capitol Police Officer who led pro-Donald Trump supporters away from the Senate Chamber during the riots escorted Kamala Harris during the inauguration ceremony.

The Vice president-elect received a big round of applause as she arrived at the Capitol accompanied by her husband, Douglas Emhoff, who will be known as the Second Gentleman.

She was lad up the stairs of the Capitol by Eugene Goodman, who protected the lives of senators on January 6 when a mob of rioters breached the Capitol building in Washington.

Mr Goodman is now the new acting deputy House Sergeant at Arms.

Ms Harris made history as she became the first woman to become vice president after she was sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

The former US senator from California is also the first black person and first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and is the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

Getty Images

With heightened security and a lack of crowds because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Biden and Ms Harris ceremony will differ from the usual lavish affairs.

He will not be applauded by his predecessor who flouting tradition, left the White House on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration, instead of accompanying his successor to the Capitol.

Have a good life, and we will see you soon, said Donald Trump before boarding Air Force One to fly to his beach home in Florida.

Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures 1 /33 Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Joe Biden is sworn in as U.S. President during his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty Images Kamala Harris is sworn in as U.S. Vice President as her spouse Doug Emhoff holds a bible during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington REUTERS President Joe Biden signs three documents including an inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations in the President's Room at the US Capitol after the inauguration ceremony AP Lady Gaga arrives to sing the National Anthem during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington REUTERS Jennifer Lopez performs during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington REUTERS U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive at Biden's inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty Images Vice President-elect Kamala Harris greets former U.S. President Barack Obama ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden REUTERS Doug Emhoff, U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Jill Biden and President-elect Joe Biden wave as they arrive on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration Getty Images U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff Getty Images Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden arrive AP Former U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush arrive to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton arrive before the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States REUTERS Lady Gaga arrives at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden o Getty Images Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (R) and her husband Doug Emhoff (L) attend services at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle Getty Images US President-elect Joe Biden and incoming First Lady Jill Biden attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, AFP via Getty Images Joe Biden House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, left, and her husband Paul Pelosi attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle during Inauguration Day ceremonies AP Former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez arrives at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images The motorcade of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrives at the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Getty Images Outgoing President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive on Marine One before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base AP Two US Marines take up positions on the West Front of the US Capitol as preparations are made prior to the 59th inaugural ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Marine One flies by the Washington Monument on its way to the White House in Washington, DC POOL/AFP via Getty Images US flags are seen in the early morning as preparations continue for the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden AFP via Getty Images A military band arrives at the U.S Capitol early morning ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images Socially distanced seating is seen on the West front of the Capitol before Joe Biden's presidential inauguration in Washington REUTERS Preparations are made at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for the departure of outgoing US President Donald Trump AFP via Getty Images A jumbotron is seen ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images Diagram shows who will sit where during the inauguration ceremony AP US flags representing those who could not attend the inauguration due to Covid-19, flutter in the wind at the Mall before the Inauguration of US President-Elect Joe Biden in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Garth Brooks performs Getty Images Amanda Gorman recites a poem REUTERS U.S. President Joe Biden hugs his wife Dr. Jill Biden after being sworn in as president, as their children Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden look on Getty Images A general view of the Capitol during the inauguration of Joe Biden REUTERS

The theme of Mr Bidens approximately 30-minute speech will be America United, and aides said it would be a call to set aside differences during a moment of national trial.

Mr Biden will then oversee a Pass In Review, a military tradition that honours the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander in chief.

Then, Mr Biden, Ms Harris and their spouses will be joined by a bipartisan trio of former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama  to lay a wreath at the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony.

Later, Mr Biden will join the end of a slimmed-down inaugural parade as he moves into the White House.
The Top Mountain Crosspoint Motorcycle Museum was both the highest museum in the world and a true gem. Opened in 2016 by brothers Alban and Attila Scheiber, it was situated in Timmelsjoch Pass, on the border between Austria and Italy, and housed over 230 historic motorcycles, replicas, and rare vintage cars.According to Fire World , local firefighters were called at around 4.30 in the morning by the two staff members on the museum grounds after theyd been woken up by the fire alarm. One of them tried to put out flames with a portable fire extinguisher, but he was forced to evacuate due to heavy smoke.By the time firefighters got there, the buildings false ceiling was engulfed in flames. Because the entire structure was made of wood, everything happened in quick succession  and the firefighters intervention had little effect.In less than two hours, the entire building was burning, despite efforts to contain the blaze to one particular area. Around 60 firefighters were involved in the intervention, using both water canons and snow blowers to extinguish the blaze. It is believed that not a single vehicle was rescued. There are no reported injuries.Authorities are looking into the cause of the fire, and a rough estimate for the kind of damage done has not been made yet. Safe to say, though, that countless collectibles were lost: if you check out the official website , you get a near-appreciation of the gems housed there.The first two videos at the bottom of the page show the museum burning down, as well as what was left in the aftermath. The third one is The Bike Shows review of the museum, from the amazing location to the beautiful construction and some exhibit highlights, like a rare 1912 Humber racing motorbike.
Club La Costa World, whose headquarters are in Mijas on Spain's Costa del Sol, has announced that it has been placed into liquidation.

The bankruptcy administrator, Juan Carlos Robles, has told SUR that the liquidation affects seven companies in Spain and one in the United Kingdom.

The administrator stressed that this liquidation does not affect the real estate property titles - the 'timeshare' business.

Faced with the "avalanche" of calls, Robles has clarified that these will remain "intact". He said however that a large part of the services will not be in full operation during the coming months.

Club La Costa World has around 700 workers who could lose their job, both at the Mijas headquarters and in Tenerife. Many of them have been laid off since last year through the Erte furloughing scheme.

Therefore, the administrator said that the first objective of this process is to try "at least" to save half of these jobs.

To do this, he proposes creating a series of "productive units" that can be sold off.

Robles clarified that he is trying to maintain a minimum activity in some areas - such as maintenance - because this would facilitate the sale of these units with "greater ease".

Brexit and Covid

Club La Costa has issued a brief statement saying that with regret it has had to make "some difficult decisions".

It added that the situation of its resorts, current partners and customers will remain "as usual" - within what Covid restrictions allow - and it is currently working to save as many jobs as possible in Tenerife and on the Costa del Sol.

According to the bankruptcy administrator, both the Covid virus and Brexit have affected the business equally.

"You can't last a year with no activity," said Robles.

Town hall hopes as many jobs as possible will be saved

News of the liquidation has shaken Mijas as a large part of the employees of CLC World are local people.

The town hall sent out a message this week in which it maintains its hope that CLC World will get back on track.

"It has always been a benchmark in tourism, not just in the province [of Malaga] but in southern Europe," said municipal sources.

They added that CLC was known for its "great involvement in the town", and that it hoped that as many jobs as possible could be preserved "given the circumstances".
Adams, Madison, Hamilton, and the other founders of the Republic recognized the difficulty of forming a democracy. They understood the necessity of developing processes, structures, and laws that struck a balance between tyranny and mob rule. While they succeeded in setting up that system, they ultimately knew that success depended upon the willingness of the people and leaders to believe in those rules  to have faith that democracy worked.

In the summer of 1864, the belief and faith in democracy were sorely tested. The White people of the South had rejected the basic tenet of majority rule and had lost faith in the democratic processes. Now, three years after secession, the nation and the democracy were on the brink of dissolution. The United States Army of Tennessee under William Sherman was stalled outside of Atlanta while the Army of the Potomac was in a bloody stalemate outside of Richmond. The Union Armies were losing approximately 2,000 men a day that summer. The northern population was weary, resistant to the draft, and sickened by loss of life. Dissent was so vociferous that martial law was declared in parts of the nation, an Ohio Congressman was expelled for sedition, and newspapers and the mail were censured for printing seditious calls to resist the government. The nation was falling apart.
Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The ESOP Association looks forward to working with President Joe Biden and his incoming Administration to make employee ownership available to the vast majority of privately employed Americans. The ESOP Association believes that employee ownership strengthens our free enterprise economy, increases productivity through greater employee participation and satisfaction, and maximizes human potential by enhancing self-worth, dignity, and the well-being of working Americans.

"I am thrilled to see that many of President Biden's highest-ranking nominees arrive knowing that ESOPs can help close the wealth and income inequality gap, improve business performance, and bolster our nation's economy," said James Bonham, President and CEO of The ESOP Association. "With our nation facing significant issues borne from growing income and wealth gaps, the need has never been greater for all parties to work together in search of solutions. ESOPswith their long list of benefits for American workers, businesses, and local economieshave always engendered bipartisan support, gaining the backing of leaders with policy agendas as varied as Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). We look forward to continuing that tradition with our new President and the leadership of the 117th Congress."

President Biden has nominated several top officials who have previously voiced support for ESOPs and employee ownership, including:

Isabel Guzman , nominated to lead the Small Business Administration, supports creating more ESOPs and encourages educating retiring business owners about the advantages of these plans.

, nominated to lead the Small Business Administration, supports creating more ESOPs and encourages educating retiring business owners about the advantages of these plans. Jared Bernstein , named to the Administration's Council of Economic Advisors, recently released his second study detailing the advantages of ESOPs and endorsing efforts to increase awareness of these plans.

, named to the Administration's Council of Economic Advisors, recently released his second study detailing the advantages of ESOPs and endorsing efforts to increase awareness of these plans. Marty Walsh , nominated to be the Secretary of Labor, has personally visited ESOP companies and his agenda as Mayor of Boston aligns with the benefits ESOPs provide in narrowing the wealth inequality gap.

"There are currently more than 10 million employee owners working at ESOP companies, but there should be more," added Bonham. "Turning employees into owners so they can share in the wealth they help create is an invaluable component to a free-enterprise economy. It is also an approach all sides can agree on. We look forward to working with the incoming administration and the 117th Congress to pursue our common goals of keeping businesses running strong and keeping employee owners on the job, engaged in moving their companies toward an ever-brighter future."

The ESOP Association

The ESOP Association (TEA) represents the interests of ESOP companies in the United States, including small and large employee owned companies in every sector and in all 50 states. In total, ESOP companies employ more than 10.6 million people and contribute $1.377 trillion to the U.S. economy annually. The ESOP Association is the powerful voice of the ESOP community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps employee owned companies compete, grows employee ownership here and abroad, and creates jobs across the United States. For more information about TEA or to follow us on social media, please visit www.esopassociation.org.

Employee Stock Ownership Plans

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a tax-qualified retirement plan authorized and encouraged by federal tax and pension laws. ESOPs are similar toand governed by some of the same laws and regulations as401(k) plans. In other ways, however, ESOPs are quite different from 401(k)s. When companies launch an ESOP, they form a trust that purchases some or all the company's shares and holds these shares in retirement accounts for employees. When the stock value increases or decreases, so does the value of employees' accounts. Unlike 401(k)s, most ESOPs require no out-of-pocket contribution from employees. For employees who feel hard pressed to make an out-of-pocket contribution to a 401(k), an ESOP might be the only plan in which they can afford to participate.

SOURCE The ESOP Association

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WASHINGTON - During his first moments in the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Joe Biden moved to return the United States to the Paris climate accord and directed federal agencies to begin unraveling Donald Trump's environmental policies - the first step in what Biden has vowed will be a sustained effort to safeguard the nation's air and water, protect endangered species and combat climate change at home and abroad.

Biden's executive order recommitting the United States to the international struggle to slow global warming fulfilled a campaign promise and represented a repudiation of the "America First" approach of Trump, who officially withdrew the nation from the Paris agreement Nov. 4 after years of disparaging it.

Biden also ordered federal agencies to review scores of climate and environmental policies enacted during the Trump years and, if possible, to quickly reverse them. Nearly half of the regulations the new administration is targeting come from the Environmental Protection Agency, on issues as varied as potable water, dangerous chemicals and gas-mileage standards.

"A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear," Biden, who has listed tackling climate change as one of his core priorities, said in his inaugural address Wednesday. Listing the challenges the nation faces, he pointed to "the battle to save our planet by getting the climate under control."

Biden's new national climate adviser, Gina McCarthy, told reporters this week that the moves will "begin undoing some of the harmful actions that happened in the previous administration's watch, so that we can move forward in combating the climate crisis."

McCarthy said Biden would sign "a broad executive order that takes steps that are imperative to address our climate crisis, and will also create good union jobs and advance environmental justice while reversing more than 100 of the previous administration's harmful policies."

Biden is expected to take more action Jan. 27, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post. He plans to sign an executive order elevating climate in domestic and national security policy; direct "science and evidence based decision-making" in federal agencies; reestablish the Presidential Council of Advisers on Science and Technology and announce that U.S. data that will help underpin the Climate Leadership Summit that Biden will host in Washington in late April.

Although incoming presidents often sign executive orders on their first day, the chasm between Biden's agenda and Trump's legacy is one of the widest in recent decades. Nowhere is that contrast more pronounced than on climate change - which Trump largely dismissed - and the environment, where Trump and his deputies scaled back protections to benefit the fossil fuel industry.

Biden comes to office with a sense of urgency about climate change that is unmatched by any previous occupant of the White House, and he is installing throughout the government people who share his views. The regulations he is instructing agencies to review include a recent Labor Department rule preventing environmentally sustainable mutual funds from being default retirement investments and a Transportation Department regulation making it easier to transport liquefied natural gas by rail.

"At this moment of profound crisis, we have the opportunity to build a more resilient, sustainable economy, one that will put the United States on an irreversible path to achieve net-zero emissions economywide no later than 2050," McCarthy said.

That pledge came as welcome news to many in the international community, which has forged ahead with efforts to combat climate change in recent years without cooperation from the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

"The United States is such an important actor internationally. So this day today has been creating a lot of expectation everywhere," Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, said in an interview. "Very few generations have the opportunity to really influence a historical change in the way that humanity evolves. This is one of those moments. So it means a lot to have the U.S. back."

Although many of Biden's actions on Wednesday will take effect over time - the country will again formally become a party to the Paris agreement 30 days from now - his most immediate action will be to rescind the presidential permit Trump granted the Keystone XL pipeline to transport crude oil from Canada across the border into the United States. The project became a flash point for climate activists during the Obama administration, and Biden pledged during the campaign to block it.

Industry executives made it clear Wednesday that they were prepared to work with Biden but warned him against pushing to abolish fossil fuels.

The American Petroleum Institute's chief executive, Mike Sommers, said in a statement that though his members "support the ambitions of the Paris Agreement," the new administration should keep in mind "models show that this agreement between nations cannot be achieved without access to natural gas."

And he took issue with Biden's decision on the Keystone pipeline permit, saying, "Revoking the Keystone XL pipeline is a significant step backwards both for environmental progress and our economic recovery."

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, foreshadowed the opposition Biden's agenda could face in Congress. "In these next four years, it is imperative that Congress aggressively exercises oversight and pushes back on the worst impulses of Washington bureaucrats," she said.

Conservationists lauded the quick push to roll back so many of Trump's policies.

"Today we are feeling the first rays of hope after four dark years where racial violence and injustice, destruction of our environment and disdain for climate science became standard operating procedure for a government that was supposed to represent us all," said Jamie Williams, president of the Wilderness Society.

Dozens of steps that Biden began during his first hours in office will take months, if not longer, to complete.

He is instructing the EPA and the Transportation Department to strengthen fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks, which Trump weakened. He asked two other departments - interior and commerce - to review the boundaries and protections Trump had scaled back for national monuments in Utah and off the coast of New England.

Biden can change the boundaries of a national monument with the stroke of a pen, and though U.S. automakers probably are willing to strike a deal with the new administration on more-ambitious gas-mileage standards for the nation's cars and pickup trucks, reversing other Trump policies will be more challenging.

Biden plans to impose a temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to caribou, polar bears and Indigenous people. On Tuesday, the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) signed and issued nine leases it auctioned earlier this month, spanning 437,804 acres on the refuge's coastal plain.

All but two of the new leases were won by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, an arm of the state government. The sale raised a total of about $14 million, less than 2% of what congressional Republicans projected when they opened the near-pristine reserve to drilling in 2017.

BLM Alaska Director Chad Padgett said Tuesday that the leases "reflect a solid commitment by both the state and industry to pursue responsible oil and gas development on the Alaska's North Slope."

In some instances, Biden is setting the stage for changes that will reverberate throughout the federal government. For instance, he will revive an interagency working group Trump disbanded in 2017 that sets the "social cost of carbon," an estimation of the economic damage caused by the release of a ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Policymakers factor this figure into the cost-and-benefit calculations they make on a host of issues, including permitting new oil wells and imposing stricter pollution controls on coal- and gas-fired power plants. Under the Obama administration's formula, the price per ton would now stand at $52, but Trump officials reduced it to between $1 and $7 per ton.

Many economists suggest that the Biden administration start at $125 per ton to better reflect new research on the economic damage of climate change and market realities.

"It is the one way you can uniformly incorporate the cost of climate change into decisions across all of government," Kevin Rennert, who directs the Social Cost of Carbon Initiative at the environmental think tank Resources for the Future, said in an interview.

Biden's environmental push on Day 1 far surpassed that of any other president, but only time will show how much of his agenda he can achieve - and how successfully he can rebuild the nation's image around the world, particularly when it comes to leading on climate action.

"Rejoining the Paris agreement is only the beginning, and the incoming administration appears to know this," Brandon Wu, director of policy and campaigns at ActionAid USA, said in an email. "In order to make truly meaningful progress towards global cooperation on climate, the Biden administration must follow up with concrete actions. There's simply no reason for other countries to trust our word if we fail, again, to act on our own emissions and use the significant resources at our disposal to support the world's most vulnerable countries."
State health officials confirmed another 3,987 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the number of active statewide cases to 90,154. Wednesdays case total is based on 82,567 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health.

The number of new COVID cases in the state has declined since reaching a pandemic peak the week of Jan. 3. Cases last week dropped by about 27% from the week before.

Officials also announced another 78 COVID-related fatalities Wednesday, bringing the total number of deaths from the respiratory infection in Massachusetts to 13,547. Although deaths had been steadily climbing for 11 weeks, they leveled out two weeks ago and showed a slight decline last week.

The average age of those hospitalized with the virus lowered from 73 last week to 71 this week. The average age of people who tested positive was 39 and the average age of COVID deaths in Mass. went from 81 at the end of December to 79 now.

As of Wednesday, there are 2,209 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 444 patients in intensive care, 299 of whom are intubated. Hospitalizations had been on the rise, but have leveled out in the past week.

The seven-day average of positive tests is now 5.86%

The latest numbers come as health officials confirm a second case of the highly infectious strain of COVID-19, with the first announced on Sunday.

Officials confirmed the first case of B.1.1.7 on Sunday in a Boston woman in her 20s, but did not elaborate on the second case.

The woman infected with the new variant had traveled to the United Kingdom, where the virus has been spreading rapidly, and became ill the day after she returned. She had tested negative prior to leaving the UK.

On Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced the state will be expanding its COVID vaccine rollout to CVS Health and Walgreens pharmacies across the state. As part of that expansion, Baker also confirmed that Fenway Park will become the states second mass vaccination site, after announcing Gillette Stadium as the first last week.

Fifteen CVS and Walgreens stores across Massachusetts will be getting 10,000 doses of vaccine this week, officials said. Those stores are located in Greenfield, Fall River, Salem, South Yarmouth, Pittsfield, Lee, Holden, Gardner, Hyannis, Mashpee, Somerset, Fairhaven, Haverhill, Saugus and Danvers.

Total COVID cases by county:

Barnstable County: 7,590

Berkshire County: 4,123

Bristol County: 45,847

Dukes County: 683

Essex County: 72,391

Franklin County: 1,637

Hampden County: 33,910

Hampshire County: 5,139

Middlesex County: 94,631

Nantucket County: 1,005

Norfolk County: 36,130

Plymouth County: 32,626

Suffolk County: 66,466

Worcester County: 54,502

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January 20 : Sara Ali Khan has been quite busy post lockdown. While her film Coolie No 1 opened on an OTT platform, she resumed shoot for Atrangi Re in Delhi and Agra with Dhanush and Akshay Kumar. Soon after wrapping the Agra schedule of the film, Sara jetted off to Maldives for a short vacation to unwind amidst the sand and sea.

Sharing some gorgeous pictures on her Instagram handle, Sara wrote: Sandy Toes & Sunkissed Nose. The actress, who is stationed at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, looked stunning in a multicoloured sarong-style co-ord set by the designer duo Shiva and Naresh. Clad in the perfect beach wear, the actress is seen soaking in the sun with a mesmerising blue sea as the backdrop. She also shared a glimpse of a picturesque island on her Instagram stories.

The Love Aaj Kal actress, who checked into the island nation on Tuesday, teased her fans with some pictures on her Instagram stories in the evening. Sharing a picture on her Instagram stories, the diva wrote: Go with the flow.

Earlier, Ananya Panday, Ishaan Khatter, Disha Patani, Tiger Shroff, Kiara Advani, and more, made their fans crave for a vacation in Maldives by sharing their holiday pictures from the Maldives. It is now Sara, who is sharing her sultry pictures from the serene land of sand and sea.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sara Ali Khan was last seen in David Dhawans film Coolie No 1 opposite Varun Dhawan. The film failed to make the expected impact on the viewers. Saras earlier film Love Aaj Kal was also not accepted by the audiences. The actress is currently shooting for Atrangi Re, wherein she will be seen sharing screen space with Akshay Kumar and Dhanush.
A staff member checks the packaging quality of COVID-19 inactivated vaccine products at a packaging plant of the Beijing Biological Products Institute Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

- "As an ordinary person and the president of Serbia, I am convinced of the quality of the Chinese vaccine, which will be decided by our competent agency," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said.

- Specialists decided that "the best vaccine for Azerbaijan is the vaccine of the Sinovac company," as it has passed clinical tests in many countries, said Azerbaijani Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev.

BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- With Chinese-made vaccine shots reaching people in more countries, booming vaccine cooperation with China worldwide is injecting confidence into the global fight against the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

VACCINATION DRIVE

Serbian health authorities approved the use of Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccines on Monday evening, two days after a million doses were imported from China, enabling the country to start mass immunization of its population.

One million doses of Sinopharm's vaccine arrived in Serbia on Saturday and were welcomed at the Belgrade Airport by President Aleksandar Vucic, who confirmed that he will receive the vaccine himself.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (C) and China's ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo (L) welcome the shipment of China's Sinopharm inactivated coronavirus vaccines at the Belgrade Airport, Serbia, Jan. 16, 2021. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua)

Meanwhile, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved the Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use amid rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.

A handout by DRAP on its official website late Monday read that Sinopharm, one of the two vaccines approved by the authority, has been given emergency use authorization after evaluating its safety and quality.

Also on Monday, Brazil launched its mass vaccination campaign against the virus simultaneously in each state, after Brazil's health regulatory agency on Sunday authorized the emergency use of two vaccines, one by the Chinese company Sinovac as well as the other by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

Dulcinea da Silva Lopes (R), a 59-year-old mediacal worker, receives a dose of China's COVID-19 vaccine in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jan. 18, 2021. (Brazilian National News Agency/Handout via Xinhua)

In Azerbaijan, senior health officials on Monday took their first inoculation of the Sinovac vaccine, marking the beginning of mass immunization against COVID-19 in the country, according to state-run news agency AZERTAC.

POSITIVE FEEDBACK

The Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of Serbia and its employees "assessed the necessary documentation and scientific evidence in a highly professional and thorough manner according to all European Union and World Health Organization (WHO) standards, which confirmed the quality, efficiency, and above all the safety of the Chinese vaccine," Pavle Zelic, an official with the agency, told local media.

"As an ordinary person and the president of Serbia, I am convinced of the quality of the Chinese vaccine, which will be decided by our competent agency," Vucic said when welcoming the arrival of the Chinese vaccine on Saturday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday he did not see any side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine that he received the previous day.

On Thursday, Turkey started its mass vaccination program with the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Sinovac.

A medical worker receives a dose of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Sabiha Uzun Maternal Child Health Center in Ankara, Turkey on Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

Specialists decided that "the best vaccine for Azerbaijan is the vaccine of the Sinovac company," as it has passed clinical tests in many countries, said Azerbaijani Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev, when addressing local media after being inoculated on Monday.

Similarly, "Azerbaijan got the most safe and effective vaccine," said Shahmar Movsumov, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan, as he praised the Chinese-made jab two days earlier.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

As an increasing number of countries started mass vaccination, the world finally sees the light at the end of the tunnel. Yet, even in some developed countries, the public is not satisfied with the vaccination campaigns.

In the United States, health experts and officials have blamed states for slow vaccine rollout. The country planned to immunize 20 million Americans by the end of 2020. However, only about 12.28 million total doses have been administered as of Jan. 15, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Residents receive COVID-19 vaccines in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, the United States, Jan. 15, 2021. (Xinhua)

Also, the slowdown in vaccine arrivals has sparked complaints in Europe.

More worryingly, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday warned of the moral consequences of the lack of COVID-19 vaccines for poorer countries, saying that the higher-income countries are privileged compared to the developing countries.

"More than 39 million doses of vaccine have now been administered in at least 49 higher-income countries. Just 25 doses have been given in one lowest-income country. Not 25 million, not 25 thousand, just 25," he said.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for solidarity with developing countries in the context of COVID-19 and pre-exisiting inequalities and injustices.

Vaccines must be a global public good, available to everyone, everywhere, he said.

The good news is that China has, on various occasions, pledged continuous efforts in global COVID-19 response.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has recently said that China will continue to advance global cooperation on epidemic response, strengthen joint prevention and control, and assist countries and regions in need.

"We were the first to pledge to make vaccines a global public good, bearing in mind the greater good of humanity," he said.

James Nyirenda, a biochemist in Zambia, said China is providing support to Africa at a critical time to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

"China has really helped. We are yet to see test kits or even vaccines from the West and other big countries," said Nyirenda.
A Cork GP has said that he is chomping at the bit following the Cabinets decision to ramp up Covid-19 vaccinations with the aid of GPs and pharmacists.

Dr Mike Thompson of Imokilly Medical Centre in Midleton said he is delighted that a plan has finally been agreed upon to allow GPs and pharmacists administer the vaccine.

I think were all chomping at the bit to get going. We are human too and we'd like to get back to normality, he said.

He said that there will be strict protocols in place and that the provisional order in which people in Ireland are to be vaccinated will be followed, beginning with people aged 70 and over.

Our biggest fear is that there would be an announcement and our reception would be met with a tsunami of requests, so it's going to be very controlled, very scheduled, and very strict.

We have been trusted with this by society, the Government and the HSE and it's up to GPs and pharmacists to respond to that appropriately, ethically and quickly, he said.

He said that if it is the case that all of his patients over 70 have been vaccinated and there are some additional doses left that he will have a standby list of people that can get to him within 20 minutes and be administered with the vaccine.

The plan is to focus on the age group first and then open it up to the general population and we have that advantage as GPs because we know who the next most vulnerable people are, he said.

He said that time has already been spent on getting information and consent forms and seating in order as there definitely is a 15 minute observation period after the vaccine.

Dr Thompson hopes the HSE will roll out a national information programme where questions in relation to the vaccine would be answered centrally.

City centre pharmacist Rose Murphy of Murphys Pharmacy said that they are 110% behind anything that gets us to the stage of having some bit of normality back for everyone.

City centre pharmacist Rose Murphy of Murphys Pharmacy said that they are 110% behind anything that gets us to the stage of having some bit of normality back for everyone.

We want to do whatever it takes to get the vaccine to as many people as quickly as we can. Every person who can help is needed.

People are anxious to get it as quickly as possible and the sooner everyone gets it the sooner the sooner we can get back to some sort of normality.

Were ready to go in that we vaccinate for flu as it is, any training required will be done quickly and we know what were doing so it's really just a matter of supplying us with the vaccine now. Our procedures are in place, she said.
The Springfield Museums current showing of The Outwin: American Portraiture Today marks the New England premiere of the exhibit that is the result of the National Portrait Gallerys triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.

In the last competition, judges selected 46 works for the exhibit from more than 2,600 entries.

Viewers should expect works that are large and small, naturalistic and stylized, arresting and dynamic, said Maggie C. North, curator of art for the museums. Viewers should also expect to, through the works on view, share in the stories of many people, historic and contemporary, who were made visible by the artists that depicted them. The people represented are workers, artists, activists, immigrants, soldiers, members of the LGBTQ+ community and others.

The smallest work on view in the show is Legacy by Wayde McIntosh, which measures 10 inches high by 8 inches wide, unframed. The largest work in the exhibition is Nekisha Durretts James Baldwin which is 84 by 84 inches. inches. Durretts large work greets the viewer as they walk into the Springfield exhibition.

The Outwin first-prize winner is artist Hugo Crosthwaite, who is the first Latinx artist to receive this prestigious award since the national competition was founded in 2006. His prize-winning stop-motion drawing animation, A Portrait of Berenice Sarmiento Chavez, recounts a womans journey from Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States in pursuit of the American dream.

North pointed out a work by Antonius-Tin Bui called Vanguard. The work, measuring more than 6 feet tall and more than 3 feet wide, was cut out by hand, using an X-acto knife and depicts Aiden Khanh Nguyen, a community leader and a mentor to the artist. The work is a beautiful tribute to an individual who has greatly impacted the life of the artist and amplified the voices of an intersectional community, she said.

Submissions for the competition were to respond to the current political and social context, and this resulting presentation offers perspectives on some of todays most pressing issues.

Art can often help us to understand and process current events, North said. Artists today are constantly interpreting the world in which we all live, providing a valuable lens through which viewers are invited to look.

The Smithsonians National Portrait Gallerys competition welcomed these perspectives on the changeable world, making for a timely and relevant exhibition. I am inspired to see how the works in this timely exhibit do not apply only to the space within the museums walls but are grounded in the real world and remain in my thoughts, North said.

Topics such as the status of the American worker, the Black Lives Matter movement, LGBTQ+ rights and immigration are addressed through the works on view.

The Springfield Museums opened The Outwin: American Portraiture Today last fall, following a summer marked by calls for social justice, activism and protest in the United States. Although the photograph was created some two years earlier, in 2018, it felt remarkably relevant to install Quinn Russell Browns striking portrait of the prominent and devoted Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson, North pointed out. It was just one of many portraits included in The Outwin: American Portraiture Today that was directly linked to the current moment.

The portraits were done in a range of media  painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, time-based media art, installation and performance  but all are keenly aware of portraitures potential to insist on the presence, and importance, of every human being. Hundreds of years ago, portraits were reserved for the wealthy few who could afford them and frequently resulted from a direct interaction between artist and sitter, North explained. As technologies improve and the boundaries of art expand, so does the definition of portraiture.

Most of the people represented in The Outwin: American Portraiture Today are not members of the wealthy few, but are average people. The broad cross-section of America depicted in the exhibition include the most vulnerable in society, and those who are most in need of representation, North said. In this way, many portraits in The Outwin subvert the traditional hierarchies inherent in the history of portraiture and in society itself. They draw our focus to the human rights, human presence and human dignity of all people.

Virginia Outwin Boochever (19202005), for whom the competition is named, is a 1941 Smith College graduate who a docent at the National Portrait Gallery. The local connection to this exhibition is serendipitous, and it lends special meaning to Springfields display, North said.

Today, the competition that she endowed promotes artists, and the artworks challenges us to think, grow and ask questions. I hope that artists and supporters of the arts living in our region will consider the impact that the competition and Boochevers legacy has made, and be inspired to make an impact of their own.

This exhibition, on loan from the Smithsonians National Portrait Gallery, was first displayed in Washington, D.C.; it is on display through April 4 at the DAmour Museum of Fine Arts.

The Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and related exhibition has served as a springboard for the careers of emerging artists. In 2016, the emerging artist Amy Sherald won the competition with her painting Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance). This award was only the beginning for Sherald, who was later selected to paint the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama, North said. I know that, in the future, the competition will continue to shed light on outstanding works of art by artists who have not yet received their due.

For more information, go to springfieldmuseums.org/exhibitions/outwin.
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PITTSBURGH, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "While spraying my tires the overspray came in contact with the rims which required me to clean the rims twice," said an inventor from Canton, Ohio. "This inspired me to develop a means to cover the rims when employing chemical solutions for the tires."

He developed COVER-IT to save valuable time and effort when detailing rims and tires. This lightweight, simple and easy to use product could improve tire polishing for an enhanced appearance. Additionally, it could prevent residue on rims that may attract unsightly dirt, brake dust and debris.

The original design was submitted to the Cleveland sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-FGC-191, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

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Police officers have been captured scrambling through bushes and over a fence to arrest burglary suspects who said they were police before handcuffing a couple in their own home.

Body-cam footage shows the officers leap into action after receiving reports a couple were being burgled by three men pretending to be police officers.

The man and woman were cuffed by the burglars, who said they were carrying out intelligence checks before taking jewellery, watches and cash.

They then fled from the scene on Hawthorn Close, in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, in a black Ford Focus at 1.15am this morning.

Police officers scramble through bushes and over a fence to arrest burglary suspects who said they were police before handcuffing a couple in their own home in Birmingham this morning

Police recovered a partial number plate and checks on roads cameras showed a similar vehicle had travelled from London to the West Midlands before the offence.

Traffic cops then intercepted a car, which was found to have been stolen in Ilford, Essex on January 12, on the M6 near the M1 and began to give chase.

The vehicle crashed into bushes and the occupant tried to flee on foot before officers pursued him through pitch black fields at around 2.15am.

In the video, an officer runs down to the crashed car and says: 'There's no one else in it, there's only one runner.'

He pushes through the brambles and scales a fence before joining an other officer who has the suspect on the ground.

A 55-year-old man tried to flee on foot from police officers after they tracked down a stolen black Ford Focus to the M6 near Catthorpe, Leicestershire

The arresting officer says: 'We've got him, we've got him.'

Speaking to the suspect, he says: 'You're also under arrest for aggravated burglary, robbery and dangerous driving.'

Jewellery and a police uniform were recovered from the vehicle as well as abandoned in the field near Catthorpe, Leicestershire.

A 55-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, car theft, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, and robbery.

The suspect, from Dagenham, remains in police custody while police enquiries continue.
By Boo Hyeong-wook





During the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared important development directions for the North Korean military. He made clear that his country would develop tactical nuclear weapons as well as a super-large nuclear warhead.



He also announced a plan for the procurement of a nuclear-powered submarine and other "luxuries" such as military satellites, drones, MIRVs multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), hypersonic missiles and so forth.



These are strange braggadocios. We have become used to North Korea's abnormal behavior in showing off its weapon systems and its occasional mysterious bluffs. However, this time it seems to have gone too far. We all know that North Korea's economy has suffered from decades-long international sanctions and the country has had to pour its national resources into recovery from recent natural disasters.



These developments even led Kim to confess that his economic projects had failed. Under such circumstances, any rational calculation would conclude that North Korea simply cannot afford those military programs.



North Korea should have been very careful in showing off its assets to an external audience, considering nuclear weapons and missiles are the most important assets for its regime's survival. However, it haphazardly revealed the assets' defects, and strategic errors. The North's recent moves in military affairs are therefore highly incomprehensible. They are trying to accomplish unreachable goals. Let's take a closer look.



North Korea abruptly announced the completion of a nuclear weapon in November 2017, raising questions among experts. Their arguments were as follows: We have to admit North Korea has made some progress, as proved by its 250 kiloton detonation yields.



We also have to admit its ability to launch longer range missiles, which could reach the U.S. mainland. However, despite such progress, North Korea was yet to demonstrate the re-entry capability of its missiles and the miniaturization of a nuclear warhead.



North Korea has other problems as well. Its ICBMs use a liquid propellant which is almost a half-century old technology for military missiles. How can North Korea fight against the ROK-U.S. alliance with such weapons? North Korean missiles take so much time to fuel, making it difficult for the North to quickly respond to incoming surgical strikes against its cherished ICBM transporter erector launchers (TELs).



Moreover, it doesn't have early warning systems, satellites or decent intelligence systems. Even though many commentators and experts argue that North Korea's capability is growing, from the military operation perspective, the situation is still at a manageable level.



Some commentators pointed out that North Korea demonstrated a monster ICBM last year and that it will pump up military threats, quoting Kim's recent announcement. Indeed, the North's threats are serious. However, there is no need to panic.



Let's look at the monster-ICBM, for example. The missile seemed like a mock-up and still adopted a liquid propellant. Some experts argued that North Korea needed the monster ICBM because it could not make enough technological progress to miniaturize a nuclear warhead.



SLBM development might have also been motivated in the same situation. Originally, North Korea seemed to have planned to "operate" its SLBM from a diesel submarine  a submarine that makes so much noise. Recognizing its vulnerability in anti-submarine operations, it has now announced a procurement plan for a nuclear-powered submarine. North Korea does not have such technology.



Do we need to believe what the North is saying? I think, to an extent, North Korea's plans for new weapons systems are for show, like concept cars displayed at a motor show. Producing a prototype weapon system is somewhat of an easy task. However, mass-producing and fielding the weapons systems is a totally different project.



It costs a lot of money and time. Again, North Korea cannot afford such programs. It has already spent so much money on its nuclear programs. There is therefore a need to further meticulously interpret the North Korean military's unusual moves. One of the most promising analyses is that North Korea is adopting a show-off strategy  the aforementioned concept cars display strategy  to impress the internal and external audience. Nothing more than that.



North Korea's economy is deteriorating due to sanctions, natural disasters, and COVID-19. Nuclear weapons are its only hope  but it went too far. Establishing a solid deterrence against the U.S. is an impossible project for North Korea. Nevertheless, it wants to have nuclear-powered submarines, military satellites, hypersonic missiles and much more.



Why is North Korea announcing such unattainable military goals? It may be a signal of frustration. We need to take this moment and make a breakthrough. Our policy direction is still effective. The "phased approach" and the Korean version of a "dual-track policy," which is to strengthen ROK-U.S. military capabilities and to actively engage with North Korea at the same time, would work.



With this approach, we may realize a Gorby-Reagan moment on the peninsula. The first step is to make clear to North Korea that hoping for sanctions relief and keeping nuclear weapons just cannot be juxtaposed. Having a victim mentality does not help. We need to admit that North Korea is in a very difficult situation and that they need to compromise. If we have the guts, we can make North Korea wake up.





Boo Hyeong-wook is a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. He was deputy presidential secretary for peace and arms control at Cheong Wa Dae.




Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low near 55F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
The All Saints' administration is strongly refuting claims being circulated in a Whatsapp message that all patients and staff at the Gordon Home for Senior Citizens have contracted COVID-19 and that an elderly person died from the virus. However they confirm that unfortunately a number of persons, both staff and patients, have tested positive for the pathogen.
Missing millionaire Melissa Caddick may have spent months planning her own disappearance, according to her scorned brother-in-law.

The businesswoman, 49, vanished on November 12, two days after an AFP raid on her $6.1million Sydney home for allegedly siphoning money from her clients to fund her lavish lifestyle.

Chris Koletti now claims his sister-in-law likely meticulously staged her disappearance and didn't tell her husband Anthony Koletti because he was 'too dumb' and 'can't keep a secret'.

He also said she would probably return to face the music when she 'runs out of money'.

Melissa Caddick vanished from her Dover Heights home on or about November 12 last year and hasn't been seen since. The timing was conspicuous, coming two days after she was raided

Anthony Koletti, 38, is understood to be spending his time at his in-laws place in Edgecliff - rather than his missing wife's $7million mansion. Above, having a coffee in Bondi

'She'll come back, she can't run forever, she'll come back when she's run out of money, or when she wants to see her son,' he told Daily Telegraph on Wednesday,

Mr Koletti speculated Ms Caddick was 'always' going to run away, despite admitting he only met her once in the eight years she dated his DJ brother, whom he claimed turned his back on his family once seduced by the mother-of-one.

'She doesn't want anything to do with us, Anthony made the choice to go into that life, he doesn't want to deal with us, that's fine, he stopped talking to us she's stuck up, she had a life she wanted to lead good luck to them,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia revealed police are working under the assumption Ms Caddick is 'very much alive' and could have fled to Queensland after leaving her Dover Heights clifftop home 69 days ago.

Ms Caddick's $6.1 million cliffside home can be 'possessed' by receivers under recent court orders

Anthony Koletti (left) met Ms Caddick while working as a hairdresser at Joh Bailey's Bondi Junction. The businesswoman vanished from her Dover Heights home two days after ASIC raided it

At that time, the Queensland border was closed to residents of the greater Sydney region.

But the state's borders opened to Sydney on December 1 and remained that way for a few weeks before the Covid outbreak in the city's northern beaches.

The Queensland theory came to light as NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller all but confirmed that investigators believe Ms Caddick is alive.

'We are treating the case as she is still alive,' the commissioner confirmed to Radio 2GB's Ben Fordham breakfast program on Tuesday.

Mr Fuller said police are still searching for CCTV footage, doorknocking Dover Heights residents and 'downloading information from her cars (and) computers'.

Ms Caddick, 49, used to live an extravagant lifestyle with her husband (on right, she is wearing a Stefano Canturi necklace she claims was valued at $250,000)

The day before corporate watchdog ASIC and AFP searched her home looking for clues as to how she managed her company, Maliver Pty Ltd, and dealt with investor money.

Ms Caddick is accused of doctoring fake CommSec documents showing her clients were making extraordinary returns.

The publication reported that is it believed she was operating without a licence.

Melissa Caddick, 49, was last seen at her Dover Heights home in Sydney's east on November 12

According to documents filed in the Federal Court, more than $20million of investor funds, largely comprising the savings of her wealthy friends, trickled into Ms Caddick's accounts between January 2018 and September 18, 2020.

Bank statements showed that she spent an extravagant amount of money on holidays, mortgage repayments, limousines and protein shakes.

Investigators questioned whether she left her multimillion-dollar home at 5.30am on November 12 because her son told police he heard a 'click' of the front door when she left to go for a run.

'That click could have been anything, we cannot base an entire investigation on that, we are open to the theory she could have gone missing any time from the night the warrant was completed to any time after 5.30am the next day on Thursday, November 12,' a senior police source told the Daily Telegraph.

Ms Caddick's baffling disappearance is just weeks away from crossing a critical threshold in the world of police missing person's investigations.

The Federal Court heard that Ms Caddick's disappearance left Mr Koletti broke, with just $1.95 left in transaction account as of early December.

Ms Caddick's baffling disappearance is just weeks away from crossing a critical threshold in the world of police missing person's investigations (pictured with Anthony)

That admission spurred the court to sign off on an interim increase to his weekly allowance from Ms Caddick's assets to $1,700 per week.

A source with knowledge of Mr Koletti's movements believes he hasn't lived at his family's Wallangra Rd mansion for weeks.

Instead, he is understood to have shacked up with Ms Caddick's parents at their flat in nearby Edgecliff, which Ms Caddick also owns.

Mr Koletti, who has seldom spoken publicly about his wife's disappearance, said he last saw his wife when they went to bed on the evening of Wednesday, November 11.

Everything had been 'normal' and the next morning she got up to go for her usual run about 5.30am.

At a press conference in December, he told her: 'Just come home. Everything's taken care of. You're not in trouble.'

Joe Bidens inauguration

When: Wednesday, Jan. 20

Where: U.S. Capitol

Start time: 11:15 a.m. Eastern

Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday on the same Capitol steps that were swarmed with rioters hoping to nullify his victory.

Bidens inauguration will be like no other in history. Since the Jan. 6 insurrection that left five people dead, 25,000 National Guard troops have been deployed in the city and have locked down the National Mall, where flags are replacing the thousands of people who ordinarily would be on hand when Biden takes the oath of office.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, there will be no public parade from the Capitol to the White House and inaugural balls have been replaced with a star-studded virtual celebration. Biden has asked his supporters to stay home and avoid the city to help limit the spread of the virus.

 READ MORE: Live inauguration coverage: Joe Biden prepares to assume presidency as Trump flies to Florida

In another twist, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wont be in attendance for Wednesdays ceremony, the first time the outgoing president hasnt overseen the transfer of power since Andrew Johnson in 1869. Instead, the Trumps are expected to leave Washington onboard Air Force One on Wednesday morning and arrive at their private Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida hours before Biden takes the oath.

Heres everything you need to know to watch or stream Bidens inauguration:

What time does the inauguration start?

The inaugural ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. with an invocation by the Rev. Leo J. ODonovan, the former president of Georgetown University and a longtime friend of the Biden family.

Andrea Hall, the first Black woman promoted to fire captain in the South Fulton Fire Rescue Department in South Fulton, Ga., will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Grammy Award-winning artist Lady Gaga will perform the national anthem.

Also performing will be Jennifer Lopez and country-music legend Garth Brooks, who told reporters he viewed his inclusion in the event as a statement of unity.

What time will Joe Biden be sworn in as president?

Joe Biden will be sworn in at noon EST on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. John Roberts, the chief justice of the United States, will lead Biden in the oath of office. Biden will rest his hand on a large Bible held by Jill Biden thats been in his family since 1893. His late son, Beau Biden, used the same Bible when he was sworn in as Delawares attorney general in 2007.

Its just been a family heirloom on the Biden side of the family, and every important date is in there, Biden told late-night host Stephen Colbert last month. For example, every time Ive been sworn in for anything, the date has been on that and is inscribed on the Bible.

As far as where to watch the ceremony, its going to be hard to miss. All major broadcast channels plan to break into their regular programming to cover the inauguration live, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS. The ceremony will also be shown live on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, as well as C-SPAN.

You can watch a livestream of the ceremony here, courtesy of PBS:

Kamala Harris will be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Just before Biden takes the oath of office, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a history-making event in which the first Black, South Asian, and female vice president will take her oath of office from the first Latina justice.

Sotomayor also swore in Biden as vice president in 2013.

Harris will use two Bibles for the swearing-in, one of which belonged to Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court justice. In July, she called Marshall a fighter in the courtroom and said he was one of the main reasons I wanted to be a lawyer. Like Harris, Marshall was also a graduate of Howard University, among the most prestigious historically black universities in the country.

Who is attending the inauguration?

While the Trumps wont be in attendance, Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence are expected to be on hand.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama are also expected to attend the ceremony, as are former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush will also be attendance, saying in a statement that despite their political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country.

Not attending the inauguration will be former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who opted against traveling to Washington amid the pandemic. The Carters sent Biden and Harris their best wishes and look forward to a successful administration, according to a spokesperson.

Why is the inauguration on a Wednesday?

Blame the Great Depression.

The 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, moved the start and end of the presidential term to Jan. 20 from March 4. The goal was to eliminate a four-month lame-duck period that affected Franklin D. Roosevelts efforts to battle the Great Depression.

Trumps inauguration took place on a Friday (but day one of his administration didnt begin until the following Monday). Former President Barack Obamas first and second inaugurations took place on a Tuesday and a Monday, respectively.

Washington is fortified due to the deadly attack on the Capitol

More than 25,000 National Guard troops will be on hand Wednesday. To place that number into context, its five times the number of troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

The National Mall is completely closed to the public, Metro has closed 13 stations inside the security perimeter, Amtrak has canceled all Northeast Regional trains south of Washington, and many of the streets surrounding the Capitol are barricaded and closed.

Because of coronavirus, a different kind of inaugural celebration

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, were not getting inaugural balls. Instead, well get Tom Hanks.

The Academy Award-winning actor will host Celebrating America, a virtual celebration of Bidens inauguration that will air Wednesday from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, PBS, and MSNBC (Fox and Fox News are sticking with their regular programming).

Among the artists expected to perform are Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, the Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi, Eva Longoria, and South Jersey native Ant Clemons.

The Associated Press and other wire services contributed to this article.
In the US, today is Inauguration Day, and as Joe Biden took the oath as our 46th president, its worth taking a look back at the discussions four years ago. Back then, the most tech-savvy president exited as all eyes turned to Donald Trump trading in his Android Twitter machine for a secure device.

We know how things went after that. Donald Trump isnt tweeting anymore (at least not from his main accounts), and the country is struggling through a pandemic. The outgoing president just saw his temporary YouTube ban extended and, in one of his last official acts, pardoned Anthony Levandowski for stealing self-driving car secrets from Googles subsidiary Waymo.

On the other hand, the new chief executive is coming under scrutiny for owning a Peloton. Security of his exercise equipment aside, Bidens administration took over the designated social media handles after hes sworn in, and Twitter already provided a breakdown of how that works this time.

 Richard Lawler

You know youre curious.

So whats inside a pair of $599 headphones? Apparently, lots of screws. You can almost feel the implicit praise in the both intricate and overbuilt description of the electromechanical hinge, which serves as a justification of that hefty price. Even better is knowing you can pop out the headband from the ear cups with a SIM tool or paperclip to further aid repairability. Check out the full teardown for more information, plus some bonus looks at the innards of competing headphones from Sony and Bose.

Continue reading.

After nearly six successive loss-making years and a $5 billion commitment.

The Korea Herald reports that CEO Kwon Bong-seok said in a message to staffers its about time for LG to make a cold judgment on the ailing mobile division. Citing fierce competition in the handset market, the CEO said hes looking at sale, withdrawal and [a] downsizing of the smartphone business.

In 2016, Engadget asked when LG would finally lose patience with its loss-making mobile division after it fell into a second deep slump. The company had managed to claw its way back to profitability after a loss-making 2013, but after slipping again in 2015, it never seemed close to a recovery.

Continue reading.

Ten more patients are approved for trials in Israel.

Developed by a company called CorNeat, the KPro is the first implant that can be integrated directly into the eye wall with no donor tissue to replace scarred or deformed corneas. Immediately after the surgery, the 78-year-old patient was able to recognize family members and read numbers on an eye chart. The CorNeat transplant is a relatively simple procedure compared to existing implants and uses a biomimetic material that supposedly stimulates cellular proliferation, leading to progressive tissue integration.

Continue reading.

ViacomCBS is ready to make a real streaming push.

On the same day Netflix revealed it has over 200 million paying customers, ViacomCBS revealed a rebranding for its streaming service. This spring, CBS All Access will become Paramount+ in the US, before it launches in Nordic countries, Australia and Canada later in the year.

Where All Access was originally focused on CBS and internet-only originals, the new offering includes shows from a host of ViacomCBS channels as well as Paramounts movie library. In theory, you should have more reasons to subscribe beyond following the latest Star Trek series.

Continue reading.

But wait, theres more...

Mercedes-Benz' EQA crossover is its first sub-$50,000 EV

Chrome 88 makes it easier to manage and change passwords

Samsung's latest rugged tablet gets a Dex and WiFi 6 update

Tesla is hiring people to handle complaints people tweet at Elon Musk

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 870 is a souped-up version of last year's flagship

Samsungs 870 Evo boosts the performance of entry-level SSDs

'Fortnite' gets soccer skins from major clubs and a Pele emote

What's on TV this week: 'Hitman 3,' 'They Live' and 'Pixar Popcorn'

Korg Gadget-VR takes music producing from the studio to the headset

Sensel's force sensing tech comes to Lenovo's latest laptop

'The Muppet Show' finally hits Disney+ on February 19th

Microsoft teams up with Cruise and GM on self-driving cars
Sales generated with adhesives across Europe are expected to grow by 0.5 per cent per year until 2027, according to a forecast made by Ceresana, which has now examined the European market for adhesives for the fourth time. In 2019, a total of around 3.51 million tonnes were utilized, it said.

Electric motor, hybrid, or fuel cell? It is still not clear which drive system will prevail; however, it is certain that future mobility will depend on innovative joining technology. Even today, a new car contains around 18 kg of adhesives - from heat-dissipating protective layers for battery cells to lightweight chassis and crash-proof windows. Where screws, rivets, or welds were used in the past, the automotive industry is now increasingly using adhesives, the market researcher said in its report.

Combining established and innovative materials

This study not only examines the use of adhesives in the automotive industry, where aluminum and fibre-reinforced plastics have to be joined with steel in a strain-free manner. An astonishing amount of paper is still needed in spite of digitalisation and an increasing number of plastics: The most significant sales market for adhesives in 2019 was the segment paper and packaging  with around 29 per cent of total European usage. The construction industry came in second by a slight margin. Other major application areas for adhesives are wood processing, shoes and leather, as well as other consumer goods.

Plastics with special properties

Vinyl adhesives, which offer a particularly broad range of applications, constituted the most important product type in 2019. Adhesives based on polyvinyl acetate (PVAC) are also among the most important grades. Polyvinyl acetate is additionally used to produce polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which is likewise used as an adhesive, e.g. for porous materials such as paper, cardboard, wood, cork, or leather. The primary consumers of vinyl adhesives are the paper, packaging, wood products, and construction industries, which use mainly water-based products and hotmelt adhesives.

Looking for alternatives to solvents

Physically setting adhesives in particular contain between 30 and 60 per cent (by weight) of organic solvents, which evaporate from glued surfaces and from open tubes or bottles. Aromatic hydrocarbons are considered to be not only a fire hazard but also a health risk: Their vapours, such as those of xylene or toluene, can be addictive and are suspected of being carcinogenic and mutagenic. Alternatives that are less harmful to health and the environment are therefore increasingly sought after.

In Europe, water-based adhesives already accounted for over 50 per cent of total consumption in 2019. However, if an adhesive contains only water as a solvent, then preservatives must be added to it, which can in turn be problematic for people suffering from allergies. The study provides a breakdown of the adhesives market by technologies: water-based adhesives, hotmelt adhesives, solvent-based adhesives, reactive adhesives, and other products.

The most important manufacturers include: 3M, Bolton, Dow, Fuller, Henkel, Lohmann, Saint-Gobain, and tesa.TradeArabia News Service
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High near 60F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 42F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC on Wednesday said Enhertu has been granted conditional approval in the EU as a monotherapy to treat adult patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer.

Drug maker Astra is jointly developing and commercialising Enhertu, the brand name for trastuzumab deruxtecan, with Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd.

This recent approval is for patients with unresectable or metastatic - meaning it cannot be surgically removed or has spread to another part of the body - HER2-positive breast cancer, who have received two or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens.

HER2 is a protein expressed on the surface of many tumour types, including breast cancer. Overexpressing HER2 may be associated with a type of HER2 gene alteration called HER2 amplification and is often associated with aggressive diseases as well as a poor prognosis in breast cancer.

The drug, Enhertu, is a HER2-directed antibody drug conjugate, a type of medicine that delivers chemotherapy to cancer cells though a linker attached to a monoclonal antibody. This antibody binds to a specific target expressed on cancer cells.

This EU approval for Enhertu was based on positive results from the Destiny-Breast01 phase 2 trial, where the drug "showed clinically meaningful and durable antitumour activity ". It follows recommendation for approval by the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use.

Dave Fredrickson, executive vice president of Astra's Oncology Business Unit, said: "Enhertu is already transforming outcomes for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in the US and Japan, and this approval enables us to bring the benefits of this medicine to patients in the EU. We will continue to explore the potential of Enhertu in this setting, as well as in earlier lines of treatment and stages of disease, with the ambition of improving the lives of patients with HER2-targetable breast cancer."

Shares in Astra were up 0.1% at 7,728.00 pence in London on Wednesday morning.

By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.


Beijing: China's move to sanction former Trump administration officials was "unproductive and cynical", a spokeswoman for incoming US President Joe Biden's National Security Council said on his first day in office, urging Americans from both parties to condemn the action.

Around the time Biden was sworn in as President on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), China announced sanctions against "lying and cheating" outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 other top officials under former president Donald Trump, a striking repudiation of its relationship with Washington under Trump.

China also said it wanted to cooperate with Biden's new administration.

The move was a sign of China's anger, especially at an accusation Pompeo made on his final full day in office that China had committed genocide against its Uighur Muslims, an assessment that Biden's choice to succeed Pompeo, Anthony Blinken, said he shared.
Due to the new Covid-19 variant, the Philippine government has extended the temporary ban for foreign nationals until January 31. During this period, only Filipino citizens will be accepted on flights from Dubai, Hong Kong, Nagoya (Japan), Singapore, and Seoul (South Korea).

Cebu Pacific will not accept foreign nationals who originated from, transited via, or visited within 14 days prior to arrival in the Philippines, any of the 34 countries specified by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

Passengers affected by the temporary ban may avail of any of the following options:

 Free rebooking within 90 days  waived rebooking fee and fare difference

 Full travel fund, valid for two years

 Full refund

In compliance with IATF regulations, Filipinos who wish to proceed with their travel plans will be subjected to a mandatory 14-day quarantine at an accredited facility upon arrival in Manila.

Cebu Pacific will continue to operate its domestic and international flights as scheduled. Before going to the airport, passengers are advised to check the real-time status of flights on the website. - TradeArabia News Service
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker vetoed a sweeping climate change bill Thursday, just days after top Democratic lawmakers on Beacon Hill vowed to immediately refile and pass it again if the Republican refused to sign the legislation.

The bill had been approved earlier this month in the waning days of the prior legislative session.

Bakers press secretary said the administration supports many parts of this bill but was unable to try to improve on the legislation through the use of amendments because of how late it passed in the session.

As currently written, this bill could increase the cost of housing, possibly prevent the construction of affordable developments and potentially impact large sectors of the economy just as the Commonwealth is beginning to recover from the pandemic recession, Sarah Finlaw, Bakers press secretary, said in a written statement.

The Governor hopes to address these issues quickly now that the Legislature is committed to revisiting the bill so soon, she added.

Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano issued a joint statement Wednesday saying they would push ahead with the bill and swiftly pass it again in the new Legislative session, which has already begun.

Climate change is the greatest existential threat facing our state, our nation, and our planet, and so Governor Baker should sign the climate change bill that is now on his desk, the two Democrats said in a written statement.

Should he not take this important step, the Senate and House are united in our intention to refile and pass the conference committee bill in its entirety and get it onto the governors desk in the coming days, they added.

There was little opposition to the bill, which passed by near unanimous votes in the House and Senate, suggesting lawmakers could pass it over any Baker objections.

Bakers veto drew swift criticism from a range of environmental groups.

The Environmental League of Massachusetts issued a statement faulting Baker, saying the bill had broad support among environmental activists, business leaders, unions and others.

We cannot go back to the drawing board after two years spent crafting what would have been the strongest climate bill in the nation, the group said in a statement. Stalling these critical advances is excruciating, particularly when there is vigorous agreement between the Legislature and the Administration on most of the key elements.

The bill would overhaul the states climate laws, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create renewable energy jobs and protect poorer communities that can be at higher risk from pollution.

A highlight of the bill is the goal of attaining a net-zero greenhouse gas emission limit by 2050 in part by setting new statewide limits every five years to help the state reach the goal.

The bill would also increase requirements for purchasing offshore wind energy and write into state law the criteria used to define environmental justice populations  communities with lower incomes, larger numbers of non-English speaking adults, or with a nonwhite population of 25% or more.

Baker has also released a plan that seeks to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, includes a requirement that all new cars sold in the state be electric by 2035 and converting 1 million homes from fossil fuel to electric heat.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Climate Change Massachusetts
Joe Biden has formally nominated the members of his cabinet, as he prepares to take office in the White House on 20 January.

Mr Bidens team vetted potential candidates for cabinet positions after he was announced as the winner of 3 Novembers election, despite Donald Trump repeatedly refusing to concede and initially blocking the transition process.

Mr Trump seemed to soften his stance in late November, as he accepted that a formal transition for Mr Biden to take office should begin, though still has not accepted defeat.

After the General Services Administration acknowledged Mr Biden as the apparent winner of the presidential election in late November, Mr Trump said that the agency must do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols.

Read more: Inauguration day schedule

Vice-president elect Kamala Harris, Mr Bidens chief of staff Ron Klain and his deputy chief of staff Jen OMalley Dillon were previously announced as part of the president-elects team, before he revealed more nominations in late November and December. He filled out the final positions in January.

A number of Mr Bidens first picks for his national security and foreign policy teams have worked with him before, while the hires are more diverse than any previous US cabinet.

Here are Mr Bidens picks for his cabinet.

Follow Inauguration Day 2021  live: Bidens attends Mass with McConnell as JLo and Bush family among first arrivals

Antony Blinken, secretary of state

Antony Blinken was announced as Mr Bidens pick for secretary of state on Monday 23 November, to replace Mike Pompeo in Mr Trumps administration.

Mr Blinken was born in New York City. He went on to study at Harvard University and earned a law degree from Columbia Law School.

Between 1994 and 2001 he served on the National Security Council at the White House and then worked as staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He joined Mr Bidens unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign, before he was selected by Barack Obama as his running mate.

The longtime diplomat was part of the Obama transition team in 2008. He worked directly with Mr Biden when he was vice president, serving as national security adviser from 2009 to 2013.

Recommended Biden set to formally introduce his national security team

Mr Blinken then served as deputy secretary of state from 2015 to 2017 during president Obamas second term.

He reunited with Mr Biden to work as a foreign policy adviser for his 2020 campaign and has publicly spoken about the president-elects plans in regards to foreign policy.

In October, he said that the Biden administration will undertake a strategic review of Americas relationship with Saudi Arabia, and confirmed that it will will continue non-nuclear sanctions against Iran.

He previously called Brexit a total mess and compared the decision to the far-right French politician Marine Le Pen.

However, Mr Blinken has praised the Trump administrations normalisation agreement between Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Mr Obama described Mr Blinken as outstanding. Smart, gracious, a skilled diplomat, well-regarded around the world.

John Kerry, special presidential envoy for climate

John Kerry was announced as Mr Bidens special presidential envoy for climate on 23 November, becoming only the second person appointed to the role.

Mr Kerry, former secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee, retired from government service in 2017 when Mr Trump was inaugurated as president.

The longtime public official served as a Massachusetts senator from 1985 to 2013. He then served as secretary of state for four more years under Mr Obama.

While in the role, he played an important part in the creation of the Paris climate agreement, which commits countries to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Trump then withdrew the US from the agreement but Mr Biden has promised to immediately rejoin it.

Mr Kerry was part of the climate taskforce during Mr Bidens presidential campaign. The president-elects transition team said that his appointment shows that Mr Biden sees climate change as an urgent national security issue.

Mr Kerry tweeted: America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is.

He does not need to be confirmed by the Senate for his role.

Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security

Mr Biden announced the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday, 23 November.

Mr Mayorkas, was born in Havana, Cuba, and if confirmed will become the first immigrant to hold the position and the first Latino person in the role.

He moved to Miami, Florida with his parents in the 1960s after his family fled Cuba as refugees, before then settling in California a few years later.

After working as a US attorney in the Central District of California, he joined the Obama administration in 2009 as the director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The agency is in charge of applications for green cards, naturalisation ceremonies and work permits, according to CBS News.

He was then nominated by president Obama to be the deputy DHS secretary in 2013, which made him the highest ranking Cuban-American in the US government.

After Mr Obamas presidency ended, Mr Mayorkas worked for the international law firm WilmerHale.

Following the announcement on Monday, Mr Mayorkas wrote: When I was very young, the United States provided my family and me a place of refuge.

Now, I have been nominated to be the DHS Secretary and oversee the protection of all Americans and those who flee persecution in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones.

Avril Haines, director of National Intelligence

On 23 November, Mr Biden nominated Avril Haines to serve as the director of National Intelligence.

If confirmed by the Senate, Ms Haines will become the first woman to serve in the role.

Ms Haines was born in New York City, and studied at the University of Chicago before gaining her law degree from Georgetown University.

She first worked with Mr Biden between 2007 and 2008, as the deputy chief counsel for the Majority Senate Democrats, while the president-elect served as the chairman.

Recommended Republicans attack appointment of John Kerry as Biden climate envoy

Under the Obama administration, Ms Haines worked as both the White House deputy national security adviser and deputy director of the CIA. She was the first woman to hold both titles.

Ms Haines also serves on the boards of the Nuclear Threat Initiative and Refugees International, and previously worked as a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University.

In the position as the director of National Intelligence, Ms Haines will oversee the National Intelligence Programme, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. She will also serve as an adviser to the president.

Speaking to NPR about Ms Haines appointment, former CIA director John Brennan said that she is widely respected among intelligence professionals, and her superior intellect, humility and legendary work ethic are deeply admired by the thousands of intelligence officers with whom she worked during the Obama Administration.

Jake Sullivan, national security adviser

Mr Biden announced Jake Sullivans nomination as his national security adviser, replacing Robert OBrien in Mr Trumps administration.

Mr Sullivan, who is the youngest of Mr Bidens picks at 44, was born in Vermont but moved to Minnesota with his family when he was a child.

He attended Yale University and went on to earn a law degree from the school.

After working as chief counsel to Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar, he served as an adviser for Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primaries, and then to Mr Obama for the 2008 presidential election.

After Ms Clinton was made secretary of state during Mr Obamas presidency, Mr Sullivan worked as her deputy chief of staff and director of policy planning until she stepped down in 2013.

He then taught at Yale Law School and joined the London and New Yorkbased firm, Macro Advisory Partners.

A statement from Mr Bidens transition team read: During his time in government, Sullivan was a lead negotiator in the initial talks that paved the way for the Iran nuclear deal and played a key role in the US-brokered negotiations that led to a ceasefire in Gaza in 2012.

He also played a key role in shaping the Asia-Pacific rebalance strategy at both the State Department and the White House.

Mr Sullivan also tweeted that president-elect Biden taught me what it takes to safeguard our national security at the highest levels of our government. Now, he has asked me to serve as his national security advisor.

In service, I will do everything in my power to keep our country safe.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, UN ambassador

Linda Thomas-Greenfield was announced as Mr Bidens pick for UN ambassador, replacing Kelly Craft who has served in that role for the Trump administration since 2019.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield was born in Louisiana, where she gained a bachelor of arts from the state university. The following year she gained a masters degree in political science from the University of WisconsinMadison.

A longtime diplomat, Ms Thomas-Greenfield joined the US foreign service in 1982 and served in numerous positions, including the deputy assistant secretary at the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.

She also served as the US ambassador to Liberia between 2008 and 2012 and later as the director general of the Foreign Service and director of human resources.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield was terminated from the State Department in 2017 by President Trump, as part of a purge of several senior officials in the department.

Ms Thomas-Greenfield was named as a volunteer for Mr Bidens transition team earlier in November, before being announced as his pick for the UN ambassador.

Following the announcement, Ms Thomas-Greenfield wrote on Twitter: My mother taught me to lead with the power of kindness and compassion to make the world a better place.

I've carried that lesson with me throughout my career in Foreign Service  and, if confirmed, will do the same as ambassador to the United Nations.

Janet Yellen, treasury secretary

Announced as Mr Bidens pick for treasury secretary on 23 November, Janet Yellen will replace Steven Mnuchin who has served in that role since February 2017.

Ms Yellen was born in Bay Ridge, New York City, and attended Brown University, where she graduated with a degree in economics, before attaining a PhD in the same subject at Yale University.

She then worked as an assistant professor at Harvard from 1971 to 1976, before she joined the Federal Reserve Board of Governors to research international monetary reform.

Ms Yellen continued to work as a professor in both the UK and US for the next 20 years, before former president Bill Clinton appointed her as a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, which she served between 1994 and 1997.

The economist worked as the president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from 2004 to 2010 and then as the vice chair of the Federal Reserve from 2010 to 2014, before she was sworn in as the chair at the end of her term.

Since leaving the position in 2017, Ms Yellen has served as a distinguished fellow in residence at think tank the Brooking Institution and has publicly criticised President Trumps economic policies.

If she is confirmed by the Senate, Ms Yellen will become the first women to serve as the US treasury secretary.

Neera Tanden, director of the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Neera Tanden was announced as the president-elects pick for the OMB director on 30 November 2020, replacing Mick Mulvaney, who was appointed to the position in May 2020.

Ms Tanden, was born in Bedford, Massachusetts, to parents who emigrated to the US from India. If confirmed to her position, she will be the first woman of colour, and only the third woman to hold the title of the OMB director.

She first got a degree from the University of California in 1992, before she graduated from Yale Law School in 1996 with a law degree.

Ms Tanden, who is a personal friend of former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, worked as policy director for Ms Clintons successful Senate campaign in 2000 and her unsuccessful run for president in 2008.

She then joined Mr Obamas successful presidential campaign and served as a senior adviser to secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the Department of Health and Human Services during his administration.

Ms Tanden also serves as the president of the advocacy organisation, the Centre for American Progress, which she co-founded in 2003.

The OMB director pick is a prolific Twitter user, which has drawn some criticism from Republicans.

After being nominated, Ms Tanden tweeted: Every American  Republican, Democrat, and Independent  deserves to know that their government has their back.

If I have the honour of being confirmed, Ill never lose sight of that.

Xavier Becerra, Health and Human Services secretary

Xavier Becerra was announced as Mr Bidens pick for the US Health and Human Services secretary on 8 December 2020, replacing Alex Azar, who has held the position since January 2018.

Mr Becerra was born in Sacramento, California. His father was born in the US but raised in Tijuana, Mexico, while his mother is from Guadalajara. If confirmed, he will be the first Latino person to run the department.

He first studied at the University of Salamanca in Spain, before he completed an economics degree from Stanford University. Like many of Mr Bidens cabinet picks, he went on to get a law degree, which he obtained from Stanford University.

After working as a lawyer for a number of years and then as a deputy attorney general in the California Department of Justice, Mr Becerra was elected as a congressman in California.

The 62-year-old was in Congress from 1993 to 2017, and served as the chair of the House Democratic Caucus between 2013 and 2017.

He then became the California attorney general in 2017, before Mr Biden selected him as his pick for the US Health and Human Services secretary.

General Lloyd Austin, defence secretary

Lloyd Austin was announced as the president-elects pick for US defence secretary on 8 December 2020, replacing the acting secretary Christopher Miller, who has held the position since November.

General Austin was born in Alabama, but raised in Georgia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1975 and obtained a masters from Auburn University's College of Education in 1986 and a masters of business administration from Webster University in 1989.

Having served in the US army in locations across the US and Germany, General Austin was assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, DC, where he worked as chief of the Joint Operations Division.

A four-star officer, General Austin served as the commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division during the war in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2005, before becoming the commanding general of US Forces in Iraq in 2010.

He was nominated by Mr Obama to the position of commander of the United States Central Command in 2013, which saw him work with Mr Biden on foreign policy .

General Austin was the first Black general to command an army division in combat and will be the first Black person to lead the Pentagon if he is confirmed by the Senate.

Jeff Zients, coronavirus coordinator

Jeff Zients was announced by Mr Biden as his coronavirus coordinator on 7 December, to lead the team distributing Covid-19 vaccines to US citizens.

Mr Zients was born in Washington, DC, and raised in Kensington, Maryland. He received a degree in political science from Duke University in 1984.

After working in management consulting at Mercer Management Consulting for a number of years, Mr Zients was appointed to the position of chief operating officer of DGB Enterprises in 1996.

He was then promoted to chief executive officer in 1998 and chairman in 2001, which he served as until 2004.

During the Obama administration, Mr Zients was the acting director of the OMB in two spells between 2010 and 2013, and was tasked with fixing the website for the Affordable Care Act, which had launched with errors.

He then served as assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council from 2014 to 2017. After leaving government, Mr Zients chaired Facebooks Audit and Risk Oversight Committee.

Mr Zients was a co-chair of the Biden transition team, before he was appointed as the coronavirus coordinator and a counselor to the president in December.

Vivek Murthy, surgeon general

Dr Vivek Murthy was announced as Mr Bidens pick for the US surgeon general on 7 December 2020, replacing vice admiral Jerome Adams, who has served in the role since 2017. Dr Murthy previously served in the role under Mr Obama.

He was born in Huddersfield, England, in 1977, to parents who emigrated from Karnataka, India. A year later, the family moved to Newfoundland, off the coast of Canada. When Dr Murthy was three, his family moved again to Miami.

Dr Murthy graduated from Harvard University with a degree in biochemical sciences in 1994 and then earned an MD from Yale School of Medicine and an MBA from Yale School of Management in 2003.

Having worked as a physician for a number of years, Dr Murthy was appointed by Mr Obama to the role of surgeon general, which he served as from 2013 until 2017.

After his nomination, Dr Murthy tweeted: The best doctor is not an authority figure who writes prescriptions, but rather a partner in healing  someone who sees patients in their fullest humanity and empowers them to take charge of their health.

Thats what I will always strive to be as Americas doctor.

Pete Buttigieg, secretary of transportation

Pete Buttigieg was announced as Mr Bidens secretary of transportation on 15 December 2020, replacing Elaine Chao who held the position from 2017 until 11 January 2021.

He was born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1982, and went on to attend Harvard University, where he majored in history and literature.

After he graduated, Mr Buttigieg was awarded a scholarship to study at the University of Oxford, in England, where he graduated in 2007 with a bachelor of arts in philosophy, politics, and economics.

Mr Buttigieg worked on both Mr Kerrys 2004 presidential campaign and Indiana politician Joe Donnellys successful 2006 congressional campaign.

He then worked between the private sector and campaigns, before he joined the US Navy Reserve in 2009. Mr Buttigieg was elected as the mayor of South Bend in 2011 and in 2014 took a seven-month leave of absence to be deployed in Afghanistan.

Mr Buttigieg served two terms as the mayor of South Bend between 2012 and 2020 and was the second youngest mayor in the citys history after he was elected at 29.

He came out as gay in 2015, and in his final year as mayor, he ran for the Democratic nomination for president, but was unsuccessful. He was the first openly LGBT+ candidate to win primary delegates from a major party.

If approved, Mr Buttigieg would be the first openly LGBT+ person to be a permanent member of a US cabinet.

Miguel Cardona, secretary of education

Miguel Cardona was announced as the Biden administrations secretary of education on 22 December 2020, replacing Betsy DeVos who served in the position from 2017 until 8 January 2021.

Mr Cardona was born in 1975 in Meriden, Connecticut, to parents from Puerto Rico. He grew up with Spanish as his first language.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Central Connecticut State University, before he obtained a master of science in bilingual and bicultural education at University of Connecticut. Mr Cardona became a doctor of education in 2011.

After starting his career teaching fourth-grade students, Mr Cardona became the principal at Hanover Elementary School in 2003, becoming Connecticuts youngest principal for 10 years.

He later worked as an adjunct professor of education in the University of Connecticut's department of educational leadership and as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning in Meriden.

In 2019, Mr Cardona was appointed the states commissioner of education, becoming the first Latino person to hold that position.

He has been vocal in his support to get children back to school amid the coronavirus pandemic, and seems like a good fit for Mr Biden, who has set a goal of reopening a majority of US schools by his 100th day in office.

Merrick Garland, attorney general

Merrick Garland was announced as Mr Bidens choice for US attorney general on 7 January 2021, replacing Jeffrey Rosen, who took over from the previous attorney general William Barr following his resignation in December 2020.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1952, and was raised in a conservative Jewish tradition.

After receiving a scholarship, Mr Garland attended Harvard University, graduating with a degree in social studies. He then completed a law degree at Harvard Law School before he served as a law clerk for justice William Brennan of the US Supreme Court.

Mr Garland worked in both the private sector and the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, before he was confirmed to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in 1997.

He then became the chief judge of the DC circuit in 2013. His seven-year term ended in 2020 but he is still an active member of the court.

Judge Garland was nominated to the US Supreme Court by Mr Obama in 2016, but never had his confirmation hearing. He is seen as a political moderate.

Jennifer Granholm, secretary of energy

Jennifer Granholm was announced as Mr Bidens nominee for the US secretary of energy on 17 December 2020, replacing Dan Brouillette who has served in the role since 2019.

Ms Granholm was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1959, but moved with her parents to California when she was just four years old. She became a naturalised US citizen at the age of 21.

After working on John B Andersons presidential campaign in 1980, she studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated with a degree in political science and French. She then gained a law degree from Harvard University.

She became an assistant US attorney in Michigan in 1991 and became attorney general in 1998. In 2002, she was elected as the governor of the state.

Ms Granholm served two terms as Michigans governor and also worked as part of Mr Obamas economic advisory team after he was elected president.

In a tweet after being nominated, Ms Granholm wrote: Been doing a deep dive into the Department of @ENERGY since being nominated.

Awed by the work of the scientists at the DOE labs doing critical research into next-gen clean energy technologies. So hopeful for our planet.

Isabel Casillas Guzman, administrator of the Small Business Administration

Isabel Casillas Guzman was announced as Mr Bidens nominee for the administrator of the Small Business Administration on 7 January 2021, replacing Jovita Carranza who has served in the role since 2020.

Ms Guzman was born in Burbank, California, in the early 1970s and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

She previously worked as the deputy chief of staff and senior adviser at the Small Business Administration in California, and now serves as the director of California's Office of the Small Business Advocate.

After her nomination was announced, Ms Guzman tweeted: We have to build our economy back better from this pandemic.

Small businesses and their employees will be core to our recovery and I will work around the clock to help them re-open and thrive.

Deb Haaland, secretary of the interior

Deb Haaland, 60, was announced as the Biden administrations secretary of the interior on 17 December 2020, replacing David Bernhardt who has served in the role since January 2019.

She was born in 1960 in Winslow, Arizona, and after working in a bakery enrolled to the University of New Mexico at age 28, where she earned a bachelor of arts in English in 1994.

Ms Haaland then earned her juris doctor in Indian law from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2006.

During Mr Obamas 2012 reelection campaign, Ms Haaland worked as the vote director for Native Americans in New Mexico before then serving as the chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico Native American Caucus from 2012 to 2013.

She ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor of New Mexico in 2014 before becoming the chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in 2015. She became the first Native American woman to lead a state party.

In 2018, Ms Haaland became one of the first two Native American women in congress, when she was elected as a House representative in New Mexico.

Ms Haaland has been vocal in her support of climate change policies. If confirmed to the role, she would be the first Native American to head the department and be the first Native American Cabinet secretary.

Marcia Fudge, secretary of housing and urban development

Marcia Fudge was announced as Mr Bidens secretary of housing and urban development on 10 December 2020, replacing Ben Carson who has served in the role since 2017.

She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952 and went on to earn a bachelor of science in business from Ohio State University in 1975. Ms Fudge then earned a law degree from Cleveland State University ClevelandMarshall College of Law in 1983.

After working as a law clerk and an auditor, Ms Fudge served as the mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, from 2000 until 2008. She was the towns first African American and first female mayor.

She then became a House representative for Ohio in 2008 and has served in that role for more than 12 years.

Ms Fudge publicly mulled a bid to replace Nancy Pelosi as house speaker in 2018, but in the end decided to support the incumbent, who was once again reelected.

She currently chairs the House Administration Committee's subcommittee on elections and the Agriculture Committee's subcommittee on nutrition, oversight and department operations, and previously chaired the Congressional Black Caucus.

Denis McDonough, secretary of veterans affairs

Denis McDonough was announced as the Biden administrations nominee for the secretary of veterans affairs on 10 December 2020, replacing Robert Wilkie who has served in the role since 2018.

Mr McDonough was born in Stillwater, Minnesota, in 1969, and graduated from Saint John's University with a degree in history and Spanish in 1992. In 1996, he then graduated from Georgetown University's Edmund A Walsh School of Foreign Service with an MSFS degree.

After working as an aide and adviser in numerous roles in politics, Mr McDonough became Mr Obamas chief foreign policy adviser during his 2008 presidential campaign.

During Mr Obamas time in office, Mr McDonough worked as the deputy national security adviser and then as his chief of staff.

Following the end of Mr Obamas presidency, Mr McDonough worked at the Markle Foundation. If his position is confirmed, he would be just the second non-veteran to serve in the role of secretary of veterans affairs

CNN reported that Mr McDonough has a close relationship with Mr Biden.

Gina Raimondo, commerce secretary

Gina Raimondo was announced as the Biden administrations commerce secretary on 7 January 2021, replacing Wilbur Ross who has served in the role since 2017.

Ms Raimondo was born in 1971 in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and graduated from Harvard College with a degree in economics in 1993. She then received MA and DPhil degrees at the University of Oxford. She also earned a law degree from Yale University in 1998.

After working as a law clerk, Dr Raimondo co-founded Rhode Islands first venture capital firm before it later relocated to Boston.

Her first foray into politics came when she was elected as the general treasurer of Rhode Island in 2010, before she then became the states governor in 2014. Dr Raimondo is the states first female governor.

Dr Raimondo was also considered as Mr Bidens health and human services secretary, before being nominated for commerce.

In a tweet after her nomination was announced, Dr Raimondo wrote: Rhode Island may be small, but our economy is mighty on the strength of our small businesses and innovative technologies.

As secretary of commerce, I will harness that same American ingenuity to create good-paying union jobs and build our economy back better than ever before.

Michael S Regan, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Michael S Regan was announced as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 17 December 2020, replacing Andrew R Wheeler who had served in the role since 2019.

He was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, in 1975 and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in earth and environmental science from North Carolina A&T State University.

He then received a master of public administration degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Mr Regan worked as an environmental regulator for the EPA from 1998 to 2008, before he became the associate vice president for clean energy and a southeast regional director for the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF).

He then became the secretary of North Carolinas Department of Environmental Quality in January 2017, where he has overseen the state's climate change interagency council.

If confirmed to his position, he would be the first African American man to lead the EPA.

Following his nomination, Mr Regan tweeted: We will be driven by our conviction that every person has the right to clean air, clean water, and a healthier life  no matter how much money they have in their pocket, the colour of their skin, or what community they live in.

And thats what well pursue together 

Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture

Tom Vilsack was announced as Mr Bidens nominee for the US secretary of agriculture on 10 December 2020, replacing Sonny Perdue, who has served in the role since 2017.

Mr Vilsack was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1950, and earned a bachelors degree from Hamilton College in 1972. He then received a law degree from Albany Law School in 1975.

He volunteered as part of Mr Bidens presidential campaign in 1987 before he became the mayor of Mount Pleasant in Iowa later that year.

Mr Vilsack was elected to the Iowa Senate in 1992 and then became the states governor in 1998. He served in this role until 2007 and was the first Democratic governor in the state for 30 years.

He ran for president in 2007, but later dropped out and offered his support to Ms Clintons unsuccessful campaign.

Mr Vilsack was Mr Obamas secretary of agriculture throughout his eight years in office and became the president and chief executive of the US Dairy Export Council following the end of that administration.

Martin Walsh, secretary of labour

Martin Walsh was announced as Mr Bidens secretary of labour on 7 January 2021, replacing Eugene Scalia who has served in the role since September 2019.

He was born in Dorchester, Boston, in 1967, and later in life received a bachelor's degree from the Woods College of Advancing Studies at Boston College in 2009.

Mr Walsh first joined the Laborers' Union Local 223 at age 21, and went on to serve as its president until 2013. He also led Boston's Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents ironworker and electrician unions.

He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1997 and became the mayor of Boston in 2013. He has a good relationship with Mr Biden, and was called by him after he became the mayor of Boston.

In a tweet after his nomination was announced, Mr Walsh wrote: Working people, labour unions, and those fighting every day for their shot at the middle class are the backbone of our economy and of this country.

As secretary of labour, Ill work just as hard for you as you do for your families and livelihoods. You have my word.

Katherine Tai, United States trade representative

Katherine Tai was announced as the Biden administrations United States trade representative on 10 December 2020, replacing Robert Lighthizer who has served in the role since 2017.

Ms Tai was born in Connecticut but grew up in Washington, DC. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Taiwan before she was born. She is fluent in Mandarin.

She initially earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Yale University, before she received a law degree from Harvard Law School.

After teaching English at Sun Yat-sen University as a Yale-China Fellow, she went on to work in the Trade Representative's Office of General Counsel. Ms Tai was named chief trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee in 2017.

Ms Tai oversaw trade enforcement for China during Mr Obamas administration and negotiated policy in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that was signed in 2020.

Cecilia Rouse, chair of the Council of Economic Advisors

Cecilia Rouse was announced as Mr Bidens nominee for the chair of the Council of Economic Advisors on 30 November 2020, replacing Tyler Goodspeed who served in the role from 2020 until 7 January 2021.

Ms Rouse was born in California and went on to receive a bachelor of arts in economics from Harvard University in 1986 and a PhD in economics in 1992.

Following her studies, Ms Rouse taught at Princeton University and became a professor of economics and public affairs. She also served as the dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Ms Rouse served as a member of Bill Clintons Council of Economic Advisers and then again for Mr Obama between 2009 and 2011.

After her nomination was announced, Ms Rouse tweeted: I am focused on the task ahead. This job is about advising the President on how to rebuild and revive our economy. The planning for a fairer economy, grounded in facts and evidence, begins now.

Im proud to be nominated as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers.

A majority of Mr Bidens nominations still need to be confirmed by congress before starting in their roles following his inauguration on 20 January.

Note: the section about Jake Sullivan previously referred to the law firm Macro Advisory Partners. The company is not a law firm and we updated this article on 2 December 2020, by removing the word law .
The government agency comprising the national tax and customs services reported that the company, Grand Tobacco, paid 50.7 billion drams ($97.5 million) in various taxes. Excise tax on cigarettes generated two-thirds of the sum.

The national gas distribution company owned by Russias Gazprom giant was the second most important contributor to the Armenian state budget, followed by the countrys largest mining company, the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC). The SRC collected 45.5 billion drams and 41.7 billion drams respectively from these companies in 2020.

Armenias 20 leading businesses also include other tobacco and mining firms, fuel importers, telecommunication operators, a supermarket chain and the Metsamor nuclear plant. The SRC detailed their fiscal payments in a quarterly report listing the countrys 1,000 largest corporate taxpayers.

The latter paid a combined 987.6 billion drams ($1.9 billion) in taxes in 2020, according to the report. The figure accounted for more than 72 percent of all taxes and other duties collected by the SRC.

Grand Tobacco and two other local tobacco firms are part of the Grand Holding group founded by Hrant Vartanian, a prominent businessman who died in 2014.The conglomerate, which also comprises the countrys largest chocolate and confectionery manufacturer, is now owned and run by Vartanians two sons. Much of the tobacco used by it is grown in Armenia.

The Armenian cigarette manufacturers have rapidly expanded since 2013 on the back of their soaring exports to the Middle East and Iraq in particular.

According to government data, Armenian exports to Iraq stood at $149 million in January-November 2020. Cigarettes accounted for most of those exports.

Grand Tobacco became Armenia second largest taxpayer in 2018 and topped the tax rankings in 2019 with 57 billion drams in total payments.
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WASHINGTON - A Connecticut man has been charged in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol after he was allegedly identified in video that shows an officer crying out in pain while being pinned against a door frame by rioters.

Patrick Edward McCaughey was arrested Tuesday in South Salem, N.Y., and charged with assaulting or resisting government officers and riot as well as Capitol trespassing-related charges in the violent confrontation with District of Columbia police officer Daniel Hodges.

Information about McCaughey's attorney was not immediately available.

In a widely shared video of the violence against police that day, charging papers say, McCaughey appears to be the individual in a tan jacket seen thrusting a looted police riot shield against Hodges while the crowd he is with chants "Heave-ho" and presses its weight against it. The video shows a phalanx of police behind Hodges trying to push back the mob.

McCaughey engaged with Hodges shortly before the crowd sprayed tear-gas-like substances and ripped off the officer's gas mask to expose his bloodied mouth, charging papers said.

"Come on man, you are going to get squished just go home," a voice is heard consistent with McCaughey's tone and volume, an FBI affidavit said.

"Just go home. . . . Don't try and use that stick on me boy," McCaughey is identified as saying as he continued to push against Hodges, who held a police baton, the FBI said.

For the next 45 seconds, Hodges repeatedly cried out in pain while a crowd of dozens of rioters continued to push, chant and wave Trump and U.S. flags, charging papers said.

Eventually, McCaughey appeared to reset the officer's dislodged helmet and urged an officer behind him to let Hodges fall back, charging papers said.

"Hey you, this guy isn't doing too well," McCaughey said, according to the FBI, before repeating, "Let this guy through, he's hurt, he's hurt, let him back."

But McCaughey allegedly kept hold of the riot shield, even as the crowd behind him withdrew and, in the video "begins striking other uniformed law enforcement officers with the shield," the affidavit said.

McCaughey was charged after a witness claimed to identify him with 100% certainty based on photographs, including a lookout notice sent by D.C. police on Jan. 11, the FBI said.

The witness shared images McCaughey sent to mutual friends, including a selfie taken on Capitol scaffolding, that aligned with Capitol surveillance and other video recorded Jan. 6., the FBI said.

In announcing McCaughey's arrest with the FBI's Washington Field Office, Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for D.C., called the attack on Hodges "abhorrent and quintessentially un-American" and an assault on "the Capitol and the rule of law itself."

Sherwin added: "It is my pledge that anyone involved in violent attacks on law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Hodges, 32, has returned to duty.

"The zealotry of these people is absolutely unreal," Hodges previously told The Washington Post. "I didn't want to be the guy who starts shooting, because I knew they had guns - we had been seizing guns all day."

"And the only reason I could think of that they weren't shooting us was they were waiting for us to shoot first," Hodges said. "And if it became a firefight between a couple hundred officers and a couple thousand demonstrators, we would have lost."

Also on Wednesday, a Florida man wanted in the Capitol siege was arrested in northern Virginia while headed back to D.C., according to the FBI's Washington Field Office and a law enforcement document.

Samuel Camargo, 26, of Broward County, Fla., was detained by Alexandria, Va., police on four federal counts related to alleged actions during the mob attack Jan. 6, the FBI said in a statement.

It's unclear why Camargo was headed back to Washington on Inauguration Day. An arrest warrant was issued for him Friday.

A friend of Camargo contacted authorities Jan. 6 to report that Camargo had posted photos and messages on social media claiming that he had participated in the riot that resulted in the deaths of one police officer and four rioters and damaged the Capitol, according to charging documents in federal court in D.C.

In one of the posts, Camargo said he removed a piece of the Capitol he called "memorabilia" and posted a photo of what appeared to be a long piece of metal, according to the charging documents.

Another video showed Camargo struggling with a Capitol Police officer at an entrance to the Capitol, according to charging documents.

An FBI agent who interviewed Camargo wrote in court documents that Camargo acknowledged that he had been present at the Capitol riot.

Afterward, Camargo posted on social media that he had spoken with an FBI agent and wrote that "I believe I've been cleared," according to charging documents.

Camargo is facing charges of civil disorder, knowingly entering a restricted building, knowingly engaging in disorderly conduct in a restricted building, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

No attorney for Camargo was listed in court documents. Alexandria police referred questions about his case to federal authorities.
A former state lawmaker from Morgan County who pleaded guilty to federal charges for theft of government property received a last minute pardon from President Donald Trump.

William Ed Henrys pardon comes three years after he pleaded guilty.

Henry served probation for two years and paid a fine.

His pardon was supported by freshman Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville.

Henry was also a delegate for Trump in 2016 at the Republican National Convention after having served as a co-chair of Trumps 2016 Alabama campaign team.

He had initially been charged with more than a dozen counts of money laundering, conspiracy and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, but many of those charges were dismissed when he pleaded guilty to the one count of aiding and abetting the theft of government property by offering three doctors a thing of value in exchange for referring their Medicare patients to his business.

Henry served in the Alabama Legislature between 2011 and 2018.
The Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Securitys approval for 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas jets by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is welcome news.

Way back in 1983, a decision was taken by the government to design a new combat aircraft in India in a bid to reduce dependency on imports and encourage those aspiring for a career in aeronautics.

However, HAL, which had been absent from the scene for over 20 years, did not have the capacity to take on this task. As an alternative, under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) was created to design and develop the LCA, with the production to be undertaken by HAL.

ADA was the brainchild of Dr VSR Arunachalam, then head of DRDO. With no designers and facilities, a nucleus was formed at ADA with 250 engineers drawn from HAL on deputation. A new facility was built on an open plot behind HAL. Dr Kota Harinarayana, the Chief Residential Engineer of Directorate of Aeronautics at HAL, Nashik, was made the Programme Director of ADA. A bright and energetic aeronautical engineer, with a smile even under extraordinary circumstances, was suited for the job that would involve facing a series of challenges.

The Roadblocks

A search was initiated for a suitable design for the LCA. Two designs from Germany were evaluated. They were unique but unfamiliar and did not generate enthusiasm in the Indian Air Force (IAF). The IAF was then in the process of procuring the Mirage-2000. The aircraft was test-flown by the IAF team, which was impressed by its design and performance.

The ADA invited M/s Dassault Aviation for design assistance in developing a lightweight combat aircraft (The Air Force had the Gnat in mind and was looking to replace the Mig-21s). Dassault agreed to support the Project Definition Phase (PDP) wherein the Indian engineers would participate. The aim was to come up with the basic design for the aircraft. The work was carried out in France, using the French facilities.

Similarly, L.M. Ericsson of Sweden was roped in for the PDP to develop the design of Air Interception (AI) Radar. The radar design that was presented did not meet the performance expectations of the Air Force.

The idea was dropped, and instead, it was decided the radar would be developed indigenously at HAL, Hyderabad, following the guidelines from the PDP. After working on it for a while, the HAL gave up. It was then decided that radars would be imported to equip the initial batch of aircraft and would be indigenously developed subsequently. The attempt to develop an indigenous engine, Kaveri, met a similar fate. A hunt for a suitable engine for the LCA culminated in the selection of the GE-F404 of General Electric from USA.

Building the Best

The design that emerged looked very much like a mini-Mirage-2000 but there was nothing in common between the two aircraft. The performance projection for the LCA, deduced from the PDP, was found falling short in some areas.

To overcome doubts, it was decided that two Technology Demonstrators would be built. This decision eased the pressure and the Demonstrator programme provided an opportunity to refine and improve the design. Designing digital fly-by-wire controls was a difficult task and American help was sought. Extensive simulations were conducted in the US and Indian test pilots got the feel of it, flying in variable stability aircraft at Calspan, US.

The enthusiasm of the ADA silenced the naysayers. The ADA brought in IT engineers for the job. Flight control hardware was sourced from the US. The basic design of the LCA was even more unstable than the F-16 or the Gripen, which was being developed in Sweden. One of the Gripen prototypes crashed while landing (due to over-sensitive flight control close to the ground). This made the Indian designers a bit nervous; discussions were held with the Gripen team that cleared the doubts. Flight control laws of the LCA were made more robust.

Today, the LCA is recognized as having one of the best flight controls in the worldstate-of-the-art, offering excellent and safe handling.

The body of the LCA was to be made of carbon-composites  first such attempt in India. Special sanction had to be obtained from the US for carbon fibre material and the production technology besides the GE-F404 engine.

When the HAL was about to start series production, the production drawings were not ready. The longer-than-expected delay resulted in cost overruns. But once the government committed to the project, there was no turning back.

Success and Key Learnings

Thirty-five years have gone by since the formation of the ADA. It would take a few years for the order for 83 aircraft to fructify. Currently, the programme is managed by a string of committees, the apex one being the ADA Governing Body, headed by the defence minister. The three organisations concerned with the development and production of the LCA are ADA, HAL and the Air Force. Each organisation works independently and is not directly accountable to the othertogether, they function under the Ministry of Defence.

The ADA has come a long way. The LCA project has been an enormous learning experience for the Indian team and the industry. The biggest learning being that all participants must be integrated at all levels from day one.

The initial roadblocks have been overcome, but it is important to improve the organisational structure based on the lessons learnt. Strong supervision and directions are necessary to help the programme stay on course.

The nation is indeed proud of Tejas and looks forward to more impressive indigenous aircraft designs. The atmanirbhar principle has strengthened our determination.

The author is a retired Air Chief Marshal, who was Chief of Staff, Indian Air Force, 2001-2004. Views are personal.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 07:09:42|Editor: huaxia

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KIEV, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held talks regarding the conflict resolution and the security situation in the East of Ukraine with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde during her working visit to Ukraine, the press service of Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Kuleba noted the importance of the OSCE's effective involvement in responding to security challenges in Europe, including the ongoing conflict in the East of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian foreign minister also expressed the hope that Sweden's chairmanship in the OSCE will help achieve greater progress in implementing the agreements of the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy Four.

Kuleba and Linde also discussed coordinating efforts to counter the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccinate the population.

Earlier on Tuesday, Linde began a two-day working visit to Ukraine. This is her first trip abroad as OSCE chairperson-in-office. On Wednesday Linde will visit Donbas together with Kuleba.

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has claimed the lives of some 14,000 people and left as many as 40,000 wounded, began in April 2014. Enditem

No Trump moment, through this presidency of endless new and appalling moments, has been invoked in the popular memory more often than the first one, his escalator ride down the commercial halls of Trump Tower to announce his bid for the job. Its lasted because of its absurd visual messageDonald Trump deigning to come down from the tiptop of his ugly fortress to engage with the people via escalator, an inherently ridiculous form of transport. The whole scene looks amateurish: Theres no natural light, and the setup makes it hard to capture any sense of a crowd (the president immediately exclaims that there are thousands! of people; in reality he offered to pay actors to attend). When I recently rewatched it, I realized that maybe it has stuck because the escalator is the ultimate symbol of the man himselfsupposedly luxurious, but ultimately conjuring the artificial aesthetic of a shopping mall. While other presidential candidates might feel the need to energetically jog to the stage or physically express some sort of excitement when launching a campaign, Donald Trump gets on the moving stairway behind a stony, sleeveless Melania and just stands there, letting it carry him.

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Donald Trumps entire life has been an escalator ride. He has been carried by his name and his money and his father for as far back as it goes. Its how he got into college and business school, (his niece, Mary Trump, claims that her uncle paid someone to take the SAT for him), how he got his real estate empire, how he thought that he could have his way with any woman he wanted. Back in October 2016, before he had won the presidency but after he had weathered the storm of the Access Hollywood tape, I tried to understand the mans bizarre character, to assess if his extreme, unbelievable narcissism was, in fact, a mental disorder. The most useful assessment that I found came from this admission, from a doctor writing in Psychology Today: Some of the DSM criteria are less relevant to Trump given his birth to money and life as a plutocrat that guarantees contact with high-status persons and being fawned over as a VIP.

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Throughout Donald Trumps entire life, his pathologies have only ever launched him forward. He does not suffer consequences, and his lack of suffering consequences reaffirms for him, again and again and again, that he is bulletproof, leading him to increasing shamelessness and transgression. He gets away with the Central Park Five ad, so he moves on to birtherism and later to very fine people on both sides. He uses bankruptcies to his strategic advantage, leveraging them to pay no taxes, and then gets people to sign up for a for-profit university on the presumption that hes good at business. He wins the top job in government while degrading the very concept of government.

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It is one of the reasons his presidency has been psychologically stressful for so many peopleboth his supporters and his detractors. Some people see his actions and cannot help but be bothered by what it means that he can get away with that, while others see them and think, Why shouldnt I get away with that too? There are a lot of ways the country has been severely harmed since Trump took office, but most of what has been happening boils down to the simple question of who gets the benefit of the doubt in America, and how far that extreme can be taken for the lucky few.

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Except for, maybe, now. Donald Trump leaving the presidency will be the most dramatic transition in his life. His embarrassment at losing is so great that he cannot even admit that it happened. Its a reaction both to being rejected and, I think, to what awaits him on the other side. Because when he departs the presidency, he is going to find himself in the middle of an unprecedented number of legal quagmires and financial disastersunprecedented even for him.

Trump is about to find himself in the middle of an unprecedented number of legal quagmires and financial disastersunprecedented even for him.

Before the election, Jane Mayer made the convincing case that Trump could not actually afford to lose. Her story, in the New Yorker, is one part laundry list of pending legal cases and one part assessment by former associates of how Trump is going to handle it (universal conclusion: not well). The other tour de force of this genrethe reported list of what faces Donald Trump on the other side of the presidencyran in the New York Times Magazine, from Jonathan Mahler. Here is a partial list of what Trump might be on the hook for: The district attorney of Manhattan, Cy Vance, is investigating the Trump Organization in a criminal probe that expanded its scope just last week. New Yorks attorney general, Letitia James, is conducting a separate investigation into Trumps business practices. The IRS is involved in a decadelong audit of Trumps taxes, which extensive reporting from the New York Times has suggested might result in federal prosecution for tax fraud. Vance is also investigating the legality of the Trump campaigns payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, made to keep the women quiet about their affairs with Donald Trump, and an August court filing shows Vance has sought to expand the scope of that probe as well. E. Jean Carroll is still suing Trump for defamation, after he denied her accusations of sexual assault by saying she was not my type, and Summer Zervos is pursuing a similar case because he called her a liar after she claimed he sexually assaulted her. Trumps inaugural committee likely violated the law by paying above-market rates to Trump properties to host events, and the committee falsified records of who donated to the effort. Trumps use of the White House lawn during the Republican National Convention might violate the criminal portions of the Hatch Act, from which the president is not exempt. State officials in Georgia are looking into the legality of the calls Trump made attempting to overturn the election. Last week, Trump was impeached for a second time by the House of Representatives, for inciting violence at the Capitol.

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Again, this is not even a complete list of the problems Trump faces. He also has at least $300 million in debtand maybe $900 millioncoming due during the next four years. His incitement of violence at the Capitol has left his already uncertain business future looking even shakier; entities as distinct as the city of New York and the PGA of America ended contracts with him after the violence.

It feels like a bit of a fools errand to try to make a guess at exactly what will happen to Donald Trump once he leaves office. His collection of troubles looks spectacularly bad, but it depends on what is really there. It depends on how hard prosecutors pursue their cases, and it depends on how Trump fights backhis long history of fighting lawsuits by taking advantage of his access to money and shamelessness has served him well so far.

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What is interesting about what is about to happen next is that if he suffers significant losses in any of these cases, it will be a triumph of rules that should be routinely enforced but in reality rarely are. Mahlers piece in particular is peppered with lines that make this explicitwealthy businesspeople are generally able to take extraordinary liberties with their taxes without fear of prosecution, for example, or obstructing justice is the mechanism by which powerful people try to place themselves above the law. Americas legal and financial systemshow they were built, how they are enforced, whom they prioritizehave always been that stupid escalator carrying Trump.

But here is the thing: Of all the awful things the Trump presidency has doneand the list is too long for me to even attemptone silver lining might be that it has pulled the curtain back too far. We have spent years being battered over the head with who Trump really is. It is so obvious that this guy doesnt deserve all the things that he has. And sure, everyone knew the system was rigged. But seeing that its this rigged is too muchenough to make you want to do something about it. Which is why I would venture that after leaving the presidency, Trump will have to answer for things that he would never have had to answer for before he became the most powerful person in the world. He cant just wriggle out of it. Too many eyes are on him now.

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And too many people want to see him pay for what hes done. Here is a small example: Earlier this month, Macaulay Culkin joined calls to edit Donald Trumps secondslong cameo out of Home Alone 2. This is mostly a dumb joke. But back in December, director Chris Columbus explained how Trump got the cameo in the first place: The president bullied his way into it. Columbus only decided to leave it in because at the first screening of the movie, back in 1992, viewers reacted positively to the scene. Prior to his presidency, Donald Trump was a jerk, sure, but maybe he was a charming jerk. He was a joke, certainly, but maybe he was in on it. Now, everyone knows exactly who Donald Trump is. Which means theres no going back up the escalator.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 17:02:03|Editor: huaxia

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People gather for free Laba congee in Zigui County of Yichang, central China's Hubei Province on the Laba Festival in 2020. (Photo by Wang Gang/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Laba Festival, celebrated on the eighth day of the 12th month of the lunar Chinese calendar, falls on Jan. 20 this year.

It is traditionally regarded as the prelude to Spring Festival, the most important festival for people of Chinese origin, reminding people to start their preparations for the coming festivities and for wanderers to return home and reunite with the family.

The ingredients for making Laba congee. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

The ancient Chinese custom was to sacrifice dried vegetables and meat to the god of agriculture, to pray for a good harvest on the next Laba festival.

The Laba congee generally contains at least eight ingredients, a fortunate number in Chinese culture. There's a wide variety: glutinous rice, red beans, millet, Chinese sorghum, peas, dried lotus seeds and some other materials like dried dates or chestnut meat.

People eat Laba congee in Xi'an City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Jan. 20, 2021, on the Laba Festival. (Xinhua/Liu Xiao)

Citizens get free Laba congee at the Laba Festival in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province on the Laba Festival in 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Volunteers prepare free Laba congee for local citizens at Hanshan Temple in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province on the Laba Festival in 2020. (Photo by Hang Xingwei/Xinhua)

In the Buddhist tradition, eating and sharing congee commemorates the legend of Sakyamuni, saved by a girl who gave him a bowl of milk on the day he attained nirvana and became a sage. Many temples today have the tradition of giving out Laba congee to the public.

Children learn to make Laba garlic, a vinegar-preserved green and slightly spicy dish, at a kindergarten in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province on the Laba Festival in 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Xiao)

The festival is also the day for people to put garlic in vinegar, to pickle for more than 20 days before the Chinese New Year. The garlic turns emerald green, and this Laba garlic will be eaten with dumplings on Chinese New Year's Day.

Customs vary across the country. People in Qianxian County, east China's Anhui Province, will eat the Laba tofu basked several days before. In Xining City, northwest China's Qinghai Province, locals will eat wheat kernel rice boiled with beef and mutton.

Volunteers go to present Laba congee and Spring Festival couplets to villagers at Wushan Village in east China's Zhejiang Province, Jan. 20, 2021, on the Laba Festival. (Photo by Hu Jianhuan/Xinhua)

As an old Chinese saying goes, Spring Festival comes right after the Laba Festival, so get ready for a bowl of congee while expecting the long-awaited family reunion.

This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 12.
In one of his final gestures before leaving office, President Trump pardoned one of New Yorks best-known art dealers, Hillel Nahmad, known as Helly, a member of a wealthy, influential family of art collectors that has been a fixture in auction houses for decades.

Mr. Nahmad had served five months in federal prison in 2014 after pleading guilty to a charge that he had led a sports gambling ring. Investigators had said the ring had ties to Russian-American organized crime figures, several of whom were also charged in the case.

Mr. Nahmad did not respond to a request for comment on his pardon from Mr. Trump, who has been something of his neighbor in New York. Mr. Nahmad bought every unit on the 51st floor of Trump Tower in Manhattan starting almost two decades ago. Bloomberg reported in 2016 that he paid more than $18.4 million to amass the entire floor.

Mr. Nahmads pardon was one of 143 pardons and commutations Mr. Trump granted during his final hours in office, including pardoning Stephen K. Bannon, his former chief strategist, and Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., the musician known as Lil Wayne.


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Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump granted clemency to former White House aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations issued in his final hours in the office.

Trump leaves office on January 20, when Joe Biden is sworn in as the nation's next president.

On the last day in office, Trump did not pardon himself, members of his family, or lawyer Rudy Giuliani. White House officials had argued to Trump that he should not pardon himself or his family because it might look like they are guilty of crimes, reported Reuters citing a source familiar with the situation.

In the video farewell message released by the White House, Trump, 74, said he embarked on a mission to make America great again for all Americans.

This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck -- a very important word, Trump said on the eve of his departure from the White House for his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Also Read | Joe Biden Inauguration Day 2021: Date, time, TV schedule - everything you need to know

Trump bids farewell to the White House hours before President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated. That will make him the first outgoing president since Andrew Johnson in 1869 to skip the Inauguration Day ceremony marking the formal transfer of power, in a final display of pique at his failure to win re-election.

Here is a list of things that Donald Trump will not do on his last day in office in a break from tradition:

> Trump will be the first president in modern history to boycott his successors inauguration as he continues to stew about his loss and privately maintains the election that President-elect Joe Biden fairly won was stolen from him.

> Trump has refused to participate in any of the symbolic passing-of-the-torch traditions surrounding the peaceful transition of power, including inviting the Biden over for a get-to-know-you visit.

> Aides had urged Trump to spend his final days in office trying to salvage his legacy by highlighting his administration's achievements like passing tax cuts, scaling back federal regulations, normalizing relations in the Middle East, and more. But Trump largely refused, taking a single trip to the Texas border and releasing a video in which he pledged to his supporters that the movement we started is only just beginning.

(With inputs from agencies)
After the Delhi Police sought an injunction on the rally, the Supreme Court said a decision on it has to be taken by the Centre and police

New Delhi: A group of farm union leaders will meet top officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday to discuss the route and arrangements for their tractor rally on 26 January to protest against the three farm laws, a union leader said.

Farmers have been protesting against the three farm laws for the last 56 days on the borders of the national capital.

Leaders of all 40 farm unions, which are taking part in the protest, will meet three cabinet ministers for the 10th round of talks this afternoon in an effort to end the impasse.

"A group of farm union leaders including Balbir Singh Rajewal and others will meet top officials of Delhi Police to discuss the route and other arrangements for their protest march on Republic Day against the three farm laws," Jamuri Kisan Union leader, Kalwant Singh Sandhu, told PTI.

The Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) SS Yadav will coordinate the meeting from Delhi Police, according to sources.

Police officials from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will also be present at the meeting, sources said.

Farmer unions agitating against the new agri laws have said their preparations are in full gear and authorities should facilitate the "peaceful march", instead of stopping it.

After the Delhi Police sought an injunction on the tractor rally, the Supreme Court on Monday said the decision on it has to be taken by the Centre and the police, and the official permission is yet to be worked out.

Protesting unions, which plan to hold the rally on the Outer Ring Road in Delhi on 26 January, have begun holding tractor rallies at villages in Punjab to mobilise people for the parade and and said more farmers will be heading to the national capital in batches later this week.
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Digital Editor
The stars are coming out for the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will be at the swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

So will former New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez. Seriously. He tweeted a photo of himself at the Capitol on Wednesday morning.

Also in attendance is Rodriguezs fiancee, Jennifer Lopez.

Lopez arrived in D.C. on Thursday and showed her appreciation for the troops.

What an honor to spend a few moments with these brave men and women. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. I honor you today and everyday.  Tomorrow I sing for you and all Americans.  #inauguration2021 pic.twitter.com/xgk64I1bRr  jlo (@JLo) January 19, 2021

Lopez and Rodriguez are among a select group of people in attendance Wednesday. The National Mall in Washington, D.C. is closed to the public as a security precaution following the insurrection by rioters loyal to Donald Trump. Thousands stormed the Capitol two weeks ago in a mob which led to the death of five people.

As a result, Bidens inauguration will take place before some 25,000 National Guard troops who are assigned to protect our nations capital.

Rodriguez will be there, but Trump wont. The 45th President departed the White House Wednesday morning, holding a rally at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One for the final time.

Vice President Mike Pence will represent the Trump administration at the inauguration, as Biden is sworn by Chief Justice John Roberts.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

Production continues on the highly-anticipated Netflix film Don't Look Up, with stars Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett spotted on set.

Netflix released the first snippet of footage from writer-director Adam McKay's upcoming satire last week, though filming is still under way in Boston.

While the streaming service hasn't issued a release date, filming is expected to continue until at least mid-February, according to Boston.com.

On set: Production continues on the highly-anticipated Netflix film Don't Look Up, with stars Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett spotted on set

Lawrence was seen sporting her unique auburn locks with bangs as she stepped out of a limo donning a cozy grey sweater.

She also wore form-fitting black jeans and black combat boots, as she was followed out of the limo by DiCaprio.

The actress completed her look with a grey backpack that was dangling from her shoulder.

Jen's look: Lawrence was seen sporting her unique auburn locks with bangs as she stepped out of a limo donning a cozy grey sweater

DiCaprio was seen wearing a dark green wool suit coat over a plaid dress shirt with blue jeans and grey New Balance sneakers.

Blanchett was seen getting out of a separate limo, wearing a burgundy dress and black pumps, as she was seemingly in a rush.

Don't Look Up also stars Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, Timothee Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi.

Cate's look: Blanchett was seen getting out of a separate limo, wearing a burgundy dress and black pumps, as she was seemingly in a rush

The brief clip from the Netflix trailer showcased JLaw's character Kate Dibiasky and Leonardo DiCaprio's Dr. Randall Mindy.

They're both seen standing at the edge of an empty cargo plane, holding their own roller bags as the bay doors begin to open.

Mindy, sporting jet black hair and beard with wire-rimmed glasses, shoots a nervous glance towards Dibasky, a redhead with a nose piercing, who looks calm as can be.

Characters: The brief clip from the Netflix trailer showcased JLaw's character Kate Dibiasky and Leonardo DiCaprio's Dr. Randall Mindy

Plane: They're both seen standing at the edge of an empty cargo plane, holding their own roller bags as the bay doors begin to open

The sneak peek ends with both characters walking off of the plane, which will likely be the last sneak peek we'll see for quite some time.

The story follows Dibiasky and Mindy, described as, 'two low-level astronomers' who are tasked with embarking on a 'giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth.'

Adam McKay directs from his own original screenplay, while also producing alongside Kevin J. Messick.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) has reiterated its commitment to lead the unified community campaign to protect the Kashmiri Pandit temples and shrines and support the passage of a legislative bill led by Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust.

"After 31 years of determined depredation by forces vested in the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits coupled with State neglect and apathy, the condition of our temples is pitiable indeed', stated Surinder Kaul, Co-Founder GKPD.

Utpal Kaul, GKPD International Coordinator India continued, 'The complete burning down of the Arya Samaj mandir in Motiyar Rainawari which had been occupied illegally is the most recent sordid story to emerge from the Valley. We urge Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ji to institute a time bound enquiry to identify the perpetrators, provide exemplary justice and return the property back to the Trust who are its rightful owners. GKPD has been coordinating with the Arya Samaj Motiyar Trust, the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Jammu & Kashmir from inception and also with the apex body Arya Saravdeshik Sabha.' B.L. Jalali, Rainawari Kashmiri Pandits Action Committee stated, 'The community has repeatedly shared the onslaught of transgressions on our temples but the authorities have refused to act. A field survey shows that desecration, destruction, vandalizing, looting, encroachment is the norm of the land. It is shocking that even as the community celebrates the 400th anniversary of Mata Shree Roopbhawani, the temple is being misused for immoral purposes.

Jalali continued, 'The age old, Shiva linga of Bodh Mandir Kraliyar Rainawari was uprooted, desecrated and thrown in the river. The local Police has recovered the moorty (idol) but has refused to return it back to the community. Similar stories are to be found in the ten to fifteen temples in Rainawari.' 'Wholesale illegal sale of temple lands has made a mockery of the religious rights of the Kashmiri Pandits who have been ethnically cleansed from the valley,' stated R.L. Bhat of PNB Memorial Trust, 'We urge the Lieutenant Governor to pass a much delayed ordnance for the governance of the temples and shrines which are now facing near extinction. This is cultural genocide happening in front of us".
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WEDNESDAY PUZZLE  An administrivial alert regarding the comments system: Thank you for your patience during the systemwide glitch. The developers on the community team have located the problem and are working on fixing it today, so Im told.

The Jewish Association Serving the Aging, or JASA, has run a class on crossword construction for quite a few years, but it was limited to aspiring constructors in the New York City area.

In February, the teachers  Natan Last and Andy Kravis, constructors who are well-known to New York Times Crossword solvers  will hopefully bring the class to a much wider audience when it opens for registration (information is below, in the Constructor Notes). The class has been meeting virtually because of the pandemic, so it is open to anyone who registers.
Burma Myanmar and Japan Talk of Continued Expansion of Investment and Military Relation

Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Watanabe Hideo, a chairman of Japan-Myanmar Association (JMA) pose for the photo after the meeting in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar on Jan. 18, 2020 / State Counselor office / Facebook

YANGONMyanmar and Japan are discussing expansion of Japanese investment in Myanmar during the upcoming second term of the civilian government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD). The two countries also discussed to promote military-to-military relations, during a visit to Myanmar by the chairman of the Japan-Myanmar Association.

Watanabe Hideo, a chairman of Japan-Myanmar Association (JMA) who is also a former member of the House of Councilors of Japan, met Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and other high-level officials in Naypyitaw on Monday and Tuesday.

The Myanmar State Counselor office and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (MIFER) said that they discussed with Watanabe ways to enhance economic and investment cooperation in Myanmar in coming years.

The Myanmar State Counselor office said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Watanabe had a frank negotiation on further expansion of Japanese investments in Myanmar during the NLDs upcoming term.

Japans continued support for socio-economic development assistance, including in the education and health sectors, was also discussed, the state counselors office said.

During the period from the 2016-2017 fiscal year to the 2020-2021 fiscal year, Japan was the fifth-largest investor in Myanmar, with a total of 37 permitted enterprises. It has invested more than US $1.3 billion under the NLD administration, according to the Myanmars Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).

DICA said that Japan invested more than $60 million in 2016-2017, $384 million in 2017-2018, $176 million in 2018-2019 and $768 million in 2019-2020.

The Tatmadaw (military) True News Information Team said that both sides discussed the promotion of relations between the Japanese and Myanmar military during the meeting between Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing and Watanabe.

Watanabe visited Myanmar a number of times under the former military regime. He has made frequent visits to Myanmar since 2008. Last year in March, he visited Naypyitaw and met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, others senior economic ministers and commander-in-chief of defence services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to discuss the promotion of Japanese investment in Myanmar and assistances to peace process.

JMA plays a private institutional role to promote private sector investment promotion, trade expansion, technology cooperation between Myanmar and Japan. A number of the largest Japanese business firms are members of JMA.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Terminates Thai-Led Consortiums Involvement in Dawei Mega Project

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WASHINGTON, D.C.  Despite receiving conditional approval from federal regulators early last year, the Jordan Cove LNG project hit another snag on Tuesday stemming from key Oregon environmental permits.

The proposed Jordan Cove LNG project would see a pipeline constructed from the town of Malin in Klamath County to an export terminal in Coos Bay.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) gave its blessing to the Jordan Cove project in March of last year. But multiple state permits have eluded Pembina, the Canadian energy company backing Jordan Cove.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality denied a water quality certification for the project in 2019. In early 2020, Jordan Cove was forced to withdraw its application for a state removal fill permit. And in July, the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) reversed an earlier approval for dredging around the proposed terminal facility in Coos Bay.

Facing those stiff headwinds on the state level, Jordan Cove petitioned the FERC, arguing that Oregon DEQ had waived its authority to issue Clean Water Act certification for the project.

The FERC ruled on Tuesday that Jordan Cove had failed to request certification, and DEQ could not have waived its authority to issue certification for a request it never received.

The federal decision received an immediate outpouring of support from opponents of the project  including southern Oregon Tribes, environmental groups, and landowners who have resisted granting easement to the pipeline.

The FERC decision is very encouraging. It is certainly our hope that Pembina will give up on this devastating project once and for all, said Chairman Don Gentry of the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Tribes.

Todays decision confirms Oregon's right to protect its communities and waters from big polluters like the proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline, said Andrew Hawley, attorney at the Western Environmental Law Center. We have battled this harmful behemoth for decades and defeated it at every turn. With everything we know today about climate change this project must never again rise from the ashes.
(Natural News) As America watched, a decrepit, mentally incompetent Joe Biden was sworn in today, with almost no members of the public in attendance, but with Biden surrounded by now a reported 65,000 troops, just like youd see in a Third World dictatorship.

In truth, Biden wasnt sworn into anything. The election was illegal, unconstitutional and fraught with deliberate malfeasance. The theft of the election renders the Biden regime null and void, carrying no legal weight whatsoever.

Everything the Biden regime attempts to do from this day forward isnt rooted in law; its rooted in coercion. Rule by brute force, in other words. Gunpoint enforcement by a brutal, authoritarian regime that can only browbeat the population into submission through intense censorship, false flag operations and relentless media propaganda.

Thats why this isnt over. Biden has no legitimacy, and the proof of election fraud still exists in abundance. Its recorded in the ballots themselves, which must be saved for 22 months according to federal law. Any honest assessment of the ballots would reveal the Biden election theft, and legal efforts are still under way to reveal the truth.

In fact, just today, one hour after the inauguration of fake president Biden, a statement from Arizona Senate President Fann reveals that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has agreed to the voting machine audit theyve been hiding all this time. They waited until after Biden was sworn in, of course, because they know they cheated.

Biden also knows the election was stolen. He admitted before the election that dems were running the most elaborate vote fraud organization in the history of American politics. On camera, no less.

Now, Democrats are pushing to label all those who demand election integrity domestic terrorists. This is a blatant attempt to weaponize the federal government to target and intimidate anyone pointing to the mountain of vote fraud evidence that already exists.

As of today, they think theyve successful stolen the election, but they know the evidence still exists that proves they cheated, so now they have to go into overdrive to complete their cover-up and try to suppress (or intimidate) anyone who tells the truth.

Thats why dems are now calling for actual secret police to be launched in America to spy on conservatives. One of the key factors theyll be looking for is people who say Joe Biden is an illegitimate president, or that the election was stolen.

Yet every honest American knows it was stolen. And so do most democrats, who are universally satisfied that their election theft was justified because they really, really hate Donald Trump. And when the Left has sufficient hatred, they can justify absolutely anything, including door-to-door genocide of Christians, Whites, Trump supporters, gun owners and conservatives.

Thats where this is all moving toward now: A left-wing cultural revolution ethnic cleansing in America. And if the military doesnt step in and take charge to save our constitutional republic, this nation will descend into a brutal left-wing regime that weaponizes the government against its own citizens and calls for mass killings of conservatives by labeling them all domestic terrorists.

It has already begun, in fact.

Todays Situation Update for Jan 20th lays out more details of what were witnessing:

Trumps farewell speech was not a concession speech.

Focused on family, life and opposing censorship. Don. Trump Jr., The best is yet to come!

Why the GOP is dead and a new Patriot party will likely be launched.

Why we must have faith in God as we navigate uncharted waters.

The Dems wanted us to know it was stolen. They want America to react so they can label everyone domestic terrorists.

Where Trump had real people at his inauguration, Bidens team sticks flags in the ground and is mostly abandoned. (What a complete joke.)

Russiagate declass documents confirmed and partially released.

12 members of the National Guard removed after FBI vetting. Also a complete joke.

Mike Pompeo declares China to be engaged in genocide and crimes against humanity. (Today, China has sanctioned Pompeo and 27 other people, including Steve Bannon.)

Why the military buildup in DC? Its clearly not for an inauguration thats mostly empty.

National Guard chief admits now 65,000 troops in DC. Now 4,300 have been deputized as US Marshals. Who are they planning on arresting, especially since there are no protesters there?

Bloody Gina Haspel resigns from CIA. Michael Ellis put in place at NSA. Haspels resignation was a marker claimed by Dr. Steve Pieczenik, who insists Trump will still be president.

Haspel was a key person blocking the declass effort.

Highway signs tell travelers to avoid going to DC.

A preview of the horrors to come if Biden seizes power: A nightmare of radical trans activist clowns will attempt to rule over America.

Sec. of Defense nominee Gen. Austin wants to turn the US military into a woke festival of LGBT troops and eliminate all Whites, conservatives and Christians from the military. (Get ready for the Gay Marines and the Lesbian Air Force.)

The rise of digital fascism: The Left knows they lied and cheated and stole the election, and they fear the people and the military.

Steve Bannon warns of the formation of the new Stasi secret police to spy on Americans.

Laura Loomer put on secret no-gun red flag list by vengeful FBI.

Big Tech censorship goes into overdrive, unleashing a one way trip to Hell for America if this isnt reversed.

Pelosi launches attack on people who dont support abortion.

Mainline conservative publishers and personalities ordered to toe the line on pushing vaccines.

Brighteon.com/5a0b0b1a-8721-43ec-bc7e-5e11d7de2aaa

I will be publishing a new Situation Update on both Thursday and Friday. Find them at Brighteon.com:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport
Hong Kong's government is seeking to amend the city's immigration laws to enable security chiefs to ban passengers from taking any form of transport in or out of the city, sparking concern that the authorities may be getting ready to stop people from leaving amid a crackdown on dissent under the national security law.



The move comes amid growing fears that the city's airport is already under routine surveillance by national security police, after a Hong Kong-based Youtuber filmed a group of unidentified people with no luggage lingering in the departure hall and watching passengers board their flights.



A planned amendment to the Immigration Ordinance debated in the city's Legislative Council (LegCo) on has been billed by the government as a crackdown on asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants, making easier for the authorities to deport them.



But it also includes a clause enabling border guards to prevent a person from boarding a flight or any other form of transportation out of the city, paving the way for exit bans on any of Hong Kong's seven million residents or visiting foreign nationals.



The proposed amendment to Section 6A of the existing law will "empower the Director to direct that a passenger or a member of the crew of a carrier may or may not be carried on board the carrier," according to copies of the draft amendments posted by the government.



The amendment, which looks likely to be passed in a LegCo now devoid of any opposition members, also sets up an advanced passenger information system that will funnel the data of people arriving in the city to the immigration department for vetting, making it easier for people to be denied entry or detained on arrival.



Secretary for security John Lee told LegCo recently that amendments will also be required to existing firearms legislation to enable border guards to carry guns, the Apple Daily newspaper reported on .



This would enable the Immigration Department to "deploy manpower more flexibly and carry out its own training, improving detention centers' ability to respond to emergencies and conduct law enforcement operations."



Former opposition lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting told the paper that the potential for exit bans "would seriously violate the rights of Hong Kong's residents to come and go freely, because the director of immigration will be able to restrict individuals' movements without the need for a court order."



He said the move to arm border guards was also worrying, as it would create a "reserve" of weapons-trained law enforcement officers, the paper reported.



Bob's Your Uncle

The Hong Kong Youtuber who runs a travel review channel called "Bob's Your Uncle," spotted a group of people lingering around the departure hall of Hong Kong International Airport as he took a flight to the U.K. and reviewed Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class flight to London on Dec. 14, 2020.



"Just as we were heading to the entrance, we saw four tossers [jerks] standing by the road, all of whom were packed way too light for a trip, be it leisure or business," Uncle Bob narrates in the video, using English subtitles.



After taking note of the unidentified individuals' clothing, Uncle Bob later finds a man and a woman from the group wandering the corridors and standing watching passengers leave via the departure gate.



"The jackets were there again by the time we reached the gate," he reports. "Rarely do you see passengers flying long haul without a single carry, not even a backpack."



He continues that the couple didn't seem to board the flight, based on a quick visual check of the cabin, and just stood at the boarding gate watching people get on the flight.



"Less than 30 years [after the 1997 handover to Chinese rule], and we're already on par with Pyongyang," he comments.



Hong Kong police told RFA on that they might "arrange patrols when appropriate by uniformed or plainclothes officers." But they declined to comment on operational details.



Google search engine results in indicated a sharp rise in the number of searches for emigration-related topics from Hong Kong since China first mooted the draconian national security law for the city, which took effect from .



"Emigrating to Taiwan" and "emigrating to Canada" were among top searches from Hong Kong in that month, along with keywords relating to offshore accounts with foreign-based banks including HSBC, suggesting that the city's middle-class families are at least thinking about leaving.



Analysts estimate that hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of the five million people eligible for the U.K.'s British National Overseas (BNO) passport will apply for a pathway to citizenship offered in the wake of the national security law.



Tens of thousands more have been offered automatic visa extensions and a pathway to citizenship by Australia, while the democratic island of Taiwan has also offered to smooth the paths of Hongkongers fleeing arrest.



Soaring paperwork applications

Applications to the authorities for certificates of no criminal record -- a crucial stage in any emigration application -- soared to around 3,000 a month in the wake of last year's protest movement, which was triggered by plans to allow extradition to mainland China.



Applications dipped in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to less than 2,000 a month in May, but bounced back in June, where they have stayed at around 2,600 a month since.



District councilor Lee Yue Shun said it would "not be surprising" if there were national security police at entry and exit points in the city, but said he had been unable to confirm the identities of the people in the YouTube video independently.



"Hong Kong has always been an international interchange for people from many different countries, and we have always had freedom of entry and exit," Lee told RFA.



"But if the national security police are now monitoring immigration and stalking ordinary citizens, then of course that's going to have a hugely negative impact on the image of Hong Kong International Airport," Lee told RFA.



The former Cathay Dragon air crew union leader Rebecca Sy told RFA that plainclothes police, private security guards and immigration officers often patrolled the area, making it hard to tell who they represented.



"It's hard to say whether they are police, immigration personnel, or airport security," Sy said. "It's hard to know what they were doing there, although in sensitive times like these, people are bound to think they are special police looking to arrest people."



In , former pro-democracy lawmaker Baggio Leung also reported being followed by suspicious individuals as he left the city to claim political asylum in the United States.



"I saw a lot of strange-looking people at the airport ... there was a guy who was clearly not dressed for travel; he looked like a Hongkonger, middle-aged, wearing headphones," Leung told RFA after arriving in the U.S.



"I went to the automatic passport gate and tried to scan my passport but it wouldn't let me through," he said. "I had to go to the manned counter, where the customs officer stared at me for two or three minutes [before letting me pass]."



Reported by Chan Yun Nam, Lu Xi and Lau Siu Fung for RFA's Cantonese and Mandarin Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The inauguration of President Joe Biden looked different than any other inauguration in U.S. history.

The pandemic forced the cancellation of many of the usual events surrounding the celebration in Washington, D.C., and others have been moved online.

Those that still happen in person will be under much tighter security than usual after a mob of pro-Trump rioters overran the Capitol on Jan. 6. In the aftermath of the deadly attack, some declared they would return for the inauguration and now much of downtown Washington has been transformed into a militarized no-go zone.

Closer to home, demonstrations  on the left and the right in support of and in opposition to Bidens inauguration  are expected in Portland and possibly in Salem. But nothing had materialized at the state Capitol as of 10 a.m.

Heres what you need to know as the nation heads into a one-of-a-kind transfer of power.

IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WHAT TIME IS THE INAUGURATION: Biden took his oath of office around 9 a.m. PST.

THE SCENE: The transition team went forward with a traditional inauguration ceremony on the Capitol steps, though hundreds of thousands of state flags replaced the usual crowd of onlookers because of security and social distancing concerns.

WHOS GOING? Vice President Mike Pence attended the ceremony, but Donald Trump departed the White House before the inauguration began, marking the first time a sitting president has failed to attend his successors swearing-in since Andrew Johnson. The ceremony also included appearances by a number of celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga.

SECURITY: Much of the area surrounding the Capitol complex is under a strict lockdown. A week ahead of the inauguration, U.S. Secret Service tightened security in and around the Capitol with the city center marked by blocked streets, checkpoints, tall fencing and thousands of National Guard troops.

Defense officials, worried about a potential insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing the event, pushed the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops coming into the area. Authorities relieved roughly a dozen of duty after finding they had ties to right-wing militia groups or posed other potential security threats.

IN OREGON

WE GENERALLY LIKE BIDEN: Oregonians overwhelmingly voted to reject Trump and usher in a Democratic successor. Statewide, Biden won 1.34 million votes to Trumps 958,000. Biden took 56.5% of the vote in a race with five candidates on the Oregon ballot. Trump landed 40%. In the three-county Portland metro area, 69% of voters chose Biden and just 28% voted for the sitting president.

SALEM SECURITY: The statehouse in Salem was boarded up and shut down last week, fortified with concrete blocks and temporary fencing. Anticipated weekend protests largely failed to materialize, except for a small group of armed demonstrators who gathered Sunday, but many restrictions are still in effect at the state Capitol and police remain at the ready.

Oregons U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said he was disgusted by the siege of the U.S. Capitol and warned that any similar or copycat acts of violence in Oregon or elsewhere will be prosecuted with the same urgency for anyone planning on engaging in criminal conduct.

POLITICS ON PAUSE: Legislative sessions planned for this week have been canceled or postponed so that no lawmakers or staffers will need to be at the Capitol when there could be violence. Workers in several large state office buildings near the Capitol also were directed to work from home Wednesday.

DEMONSTRATIONS IN SALEM: Authorities dont have a lot of information about what to expect, said Salem Police Lt. Treven Upkes. But theyll be ready, he said. Salem police will assist Oregon State Police outside the state Capitol and Capitol Mall. The Salem police mobile response team, which does crowd management, will be activated. The department brought in extra patrol officers to work and will have Marion County sheriffs deputies available for any response, Upkes said. The departments SWAT team also will be available, he said.

DEMONSTRATIONS IN PORTLAND: Two separate events are planned for the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility in Southwest Portland: a vigil for detainees that begins at 11 a.m. and an abolish ICE protest that is set to start at 8 p.m. at nearby Elizabeth Caruthers Park.

An amorphous group of anti-government demonstrators has advertised an afternoon J20 protest starting at 2 p.m. at Revolution Hall with a poster showing a capitol building in flames and decrying police, the state and Biden. Past calls to gather have ended in extensive property damage  smashed windows and other vandalism  in downtown and along shopping districts elsewhere in the city. Others are promoting a morning vigil for ICE detainees and an evening Abolish ICE gathering.

A separate group has advertised a Rally to Inaugurate Justice from 4 to 7 p.m. at Irving Park with a to-do list that includes defunding police, coronavirus relief, Medicare for all and immigration protections.

POLICE PRESENCE IN PORTLAND: Police said Tuesday they know of no specific threat of violence, but local, state and federal law enforcement agencies remain on heightened alert. Police Chief Chuck Lovell urged demonstrators to stay peaceful.

The Police Bureau, Lovell said, will work to deter opposing groups from feuding in the citys streets and try to prevent violence and property damage in the city, though the bureau hasnt had a lot of success in doing either in the past year.

Criminal activity will be addressed as swiftly as resources allow, Lovell said in a statement.

People who engage in criminal activity are subject to arrest, especially those whose actions degrade the overall tenor of an otherwise peaceful gathering. Arrests may happen at the time crimes occur, he said. Portland Police will aggressively pursue criminals, investigate crimes and make arrests days or even weeks later if necessary.

Oregonian reporters Hillary Borrud and Maxine Bernstein contributed to this report.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States at a ceremony held at the Capitol Wednesday.



U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Biden, 78.



Kamala Harris, 56, was sworn into office as the first woman U.S. Vice President by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.



Born to parents of Indian and Jamaican origins, Harris has become the first black and Asian-American to be elevated to the post.



Biden helmed a Democratic return to power by defeating incumbent President Donald Trump in the hotly contested presidential election. Trump, who has not yet conceded defeat alleging that his opponent stole the election, departed the White House on Wednesday morning, breaking the long-held tradition of welcoming the incoming President and attending the inaugural ceremony.



In the wake of Covid restrictions, the 2021 presidential inauguration was held without mass participation and cheering crowds. White House, Capitol Hill and other crucial spots in the capital were fortified against possible protests by right-wing extremists.



The day-long events of the inauguration kicked off with Joe Biden, a Catholic, attending mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in the morning. His wife Dr. Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff also attended the service.



Delivering inaugural address at the West front of the Capitol, Biden vowed that he will be a president for all Americans. 'I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did,' he told the nation.



Biden said the country must confront the rise of white supremacy, and reject manufactured facts.



After swearing in as the oldest President in U.S. history, Biden outlined the biggest challenges facing the country - a devastating pandemic, massive job losses, a threatened environment, calls for racial justice, and a resurgence in political extremism.



Biden pledged to repair Washington's alliances and 'engage with the world once again.'



He asked the audience to hold a silent moment of prayer for Covid victims.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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National Police officers have arrested three men - all of them private security guards - who allegedly beat up a colleague and tied up a couple to rob luxury homes on a residential development in Estepona.

Police say that the robbers were hooded and armed when they launched their attack on the security gate house, assaulting the on-duty security guard and immobilising him with their own handcuffs.

The first property that the gang raided was uninhabited at the time, since its owners were travelling abroad. The thieves seized numerous jewels that were later valued by the owners at more than 70,000 euros.

The second home was occupied by a Belgian couple. According to investigators, they were tied up by the assailants who seized cash and their credit cards.

When police arrived on the scene they went through all the rooms of the second property one by one but could not find the couple. They had vanished.

After a few minutes later they found them. The couple were hiding on a roof. They had climbed there terrified by the assault and in fear that the criminals would return.

Although the events occurred last August, the investigation has only just concluded.
Connecticuts economy was barely prepared to withstand the pandemic-induced lockdowns of 2020. The impact on jobs, wealth, population and state government finances was severe, leaving Connecticut dangerously exposed to greater economic pain when the next crisis occurs.

How prepared was Connecticut to deal with the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns? What was the impact of those restrictions throughout 2020? Is Connecticuts economy more, or less prepared to deal with some future crisis?

Heading into the crisis, Connecticuts economy was in a weakened state. In November 2019, Connecticuts unemployment rate stood at 3.8 percent, a little higher than the national rate of 3.5 percent.

Moreover, the states government finances were atrocious. According to the Pew Charitable Trust, in 2018 Connecticut ranked third from the bottom on funding government pensions, with only Kentucky, New Jersey and Illinois lower. The amount of unfunded liabilities for pensions is about $35 billion, more than ten times the states rainy day fund. Connecticut remains a wealthy state, with sufficient resources to face the next crisis. Sadly, that wealth reserve has frayed significantly. One measure: The increase in housing prices in Connecticut during the five years ending in the third quarter of 2020 ranks fourth from the bottom. Much of this lackluster performance was driven by outward migration of Connecticut residents: U.S. Census data shows that Connecticut was one of only three states to lose population over the period 2010-18. (The other two were Illinois and West Virginia.) Connecticut headed into the pandemic armed with government finances and attractiveness to new residents resembling states historically dependent on a dying - and dirty - industry, coal mining.

How did Connecticuts economy perform, once the pandemic hit? Badly.

While the national unemployment rate increased from 3.5 percent to 6.7 percent (November 2019 to November 2020), Connecticuts rate more than doubled, going from 3.8 percent to 8.2 percent. One hundred thousand were thrown into dependency on unemployment checks, resulting in a 434 percent dollar increase from September 2019 to September 2020. Small businesses, the core of any functioning economy, were devastated. In a Christmastime article, the Wall Street Journal reported that one in three small businesses have closed their doors in Connecticut since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

In perhaps the most depressing result, during spring 2020, the Connecticut Food Bank experienced a 44 percent increase in demand combined with a 60 percent reduction in corporate food donations.

To deal with a once-a-century phenomenon, unemployment checks went out and food banks stepped up, leaving Connecticuts economy and government finances highly stressed. Unemployment is historically high, businesses remain restricted and government financial resources to deal with the next crisis are frighteningly constrained. Those 100,000 unexpected monthly unemployment checks represented a massive unbudgeted expense.

Gov. Ned Lamont has steadfastly resisted tapping into the states record-level $3 billion rainy day fund. One could argue that a pandemic defines a rainy day, and that we should spend that money right now to ease the stress on the hungry and unemployed. One would be wrong. The real rainy day will come when all those unfunded government liabilities come due.

John Rosen is adjunct professor of economics at the University of New Haven. Kyle Longo is a senior at the University of New Haven and a leader in the Liberty Initiative, a Transformative Education program at the university.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Syracuse, N.Y.  President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Jaime A. Davidson, who has served nearly 29 years in prison for his role in the 1990 murder of Syracuse police officer Wallie Howard Jr.

Davidson was the leader of a New York City-based drug ring that also included Robert Bam-Bam Lawrence. Lawrence was acting under Davidsons orders when he shot Howard in the head during a botched robbery over $42,000.

Howard, 31, was working undercover for the Central New York Drug Enforcement Task Force at the time and arranged to purchase two kilograms of cocaine in the parking lot of a South Salina Street grocery store.

Lawrence, who was 16 at the time of the murder, was released from prison in October after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled lifetime imprisonment for anyone under 18 was unconstitutional,

In a 2014 interview with The Post-Standard, Lawrence said Davidson gave him the gun used to kill Howard.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said today Davidson did not deserve a commutation.

Lots of worthy candidates for sentence commutation. Davidson is not one of them. Its stunning. I hope somebody in the White House at least reached out to (federal prosecutors) John Duncan or John Katko to get the full picture of his role in Wallies death, Fitzpatrick said.

In a statement announcing the commutation, the White House said witnesses who testified against Davidson later recanted their testimony and said Davidson had no role in Howards death. Davidsons commutation was supported by Davidsons family, as well as criminal justice advocate Alice Johnson.

Davidson, now 52, had been serving a life sentence in federal prison.

In prison, Davidson became an activist for both his own freedom and that of other prisoners. The White House said Davidson mentored and tutored over 1,000 fellow prisoners to help them earn their GED certificates. He released a memoir in 2019.

Davidson, who was sent to prison in 1993, has been arguing for his release since the mid-1990s. Back then, Davidson appealed to churches, musicians, colleges and other organizations asking for help getting his sentence commuted.

Davidsons commutation is one in a wave of federal pardons and commutations on Trumps final day in office, which includes the presidents former advisor Steve Bannon and other allies. Trump granted pardons to 73 individuals, which means they will be completely absolved of their crimes and if serving in prison, set free. He commuted or reduced the sentences of 70 others.

Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @JacobPucci.

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The Daily Beast

REUTERSThe last time an America First MAGA rally was held in Georgia, Republicans lost two U.S. Senate seats, and America lost what might end up being around $6 trillion. The Matt Gaetz-Marjorie Taylor Greene show on Thursday night probably wont cost us as much. Just some time with our familyand our dignity.The event opened with Rep. Jody Hice, who is running a primary against Republican Brad Raffensperger for Georgia secretary of state. The crowd changed Lock Him Up, which was directed at Raffensperger, whose decision to follow the rule of law (though hes wobbling now while running for re-election) obviously put him on the wrong side of the mob. With a warm-up act like that, theres no need for an announcer to say, Lets get ready to rumble! The sentiment is implicit.Gaetz hit the stage first, throwing out a bunch of populist, demagogic rhetoric (forever wars, socialism, rebuild America, worlds policeman, deep state) and pandering (gun control just means we have a steady aim!). He took shots at the Bushes and the McCains and the Romneys and James Comey and Anthony Fauci. He observed that Paul Ryan was giving a speech in California, and added that after Ryan ran for vice president, the party literally needed an autopsy. The upshot? This is Donald Trumps party and Im a Donald Trump Republican, Gaetz declared. One thing he didnt talk about was his wingman Joel Greenbergs guilty pleas for crimes including paying a 17-year-old to have sex with both of them (which Gaetz has previously denied).The Sickening History of Marjorie Taylor Greenes HometownNot to be upstaged, Greene entered the room in a Humvee, before making her way on stage, grinning from ear to ear. But her smile belied the populist anger apparently bubbling up inside her. She called out the Democrats who tear down monuments. You better bet were gonna protect Stone Mountains monument, she said of Americas largest monument to the Confederacy. She feigned the Mexican accent of a supposed cartel leader talking about how much he loved Joe Biden, who she said wants a woke military. She also called the Squad the Jihad Squad and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez OCrazyo-Cortez. Really classy stuff. You see, shes not a politician. Shes just like you. If youre a jerk like that, at least.So why is this happening? First, of course, for attention. Im writing about this, and so are lots of others and for this crew, and especially Greene whos already been booted from her House committees so has nothing left, PR like this is its own reward. Indeed, Gaetz referred to Thursdays rally as the greatest political show on earth.Even during the good old days, conservative politics was probably half Bill Buckley and half P.T. Barnum. We were business up front and party in the back (OK, maybe we didnt party quite as hard as Gaetzwho my Beast colleagues report snorted coke with a model with a no-show government job at a GOP Trump Defender gala in Orlandoand Greene, but you get the point). Today, the entertainment wing has almost completely supplanted the governing wing.As Gaetz told Vanity Fair a while back, If you arent making news, you arent governing. And Gaetz is OK right now with any news that isnt about allegations involving sex-trafficking a minor. Hes flooding the zone (also with headlines about how hes flirting with a 2024 presidential bid if Trump doesnt run) which is a great PR strategy, assuming, you know, he doesnt get indicted.There are other reasons, including the theory that, in todays world, hunkering down and laying low is seen as either a tacit admission of guiltor proof you take the whole thing seriously. Im not sure which one would be more detrimental to Gaetzs brand, but hes avoiding both like the plague.Youve heard of the Big Lie. Well this is the Big Tour. Gaetzs frantic activity is either a sign of innocence or shamelessness. My moneys on the latter, but who knows? And thats the point. He may also reason that the fact that hes on stage with a prominent female may also, psychologically, lend some cover.Speaking of Greene, she has been embroiled in something of her own scandal, having compared the wearing of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to Jews being forced to wear golden stars in Nazi Germany. Once upon a time, these sort of Holocaust comparisons would have spelled the end of a political career, but in todays Republican Party its a feature, not a bug. Greene, having embraced other crazy theories, was able to haul in over $3 million during the first quarter of the year, after all. Sure, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy condemned it in a tweet, but that is probably as severe as the punishment gets. Greene doesnt need to hit the hustings to change the subject from her scandal, shes doing it for the fun of it. To revel in it.Im a Rational Jewish Person. Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Nuts.Thats not to say there isnt some danger to this. Gaetz and Greene might not intend this and Trump may not realize it, but this is the first salvo of what could be a threat to his death grip on the party. Thats because this tour is evidence that anyoneeven two lowly House memberscan co-opt Trumps message, steal his delivery mechanism, and take their show on the road. (Sure, they have played some home games in Florida and Georgia, but they also took their horse and pony show to Arizonaand dont forget Gaetzs trip to troll Liz Cheney in Wyoming).Now, this crowd was minusculeeven compared to the sparsely attended rally Trump held a year ago in Oklahoma. Still, the event encroaches on an innovation that Trump had essentially monopolized for the last five or so years. Trump didnt invent the idea of holding rallies, of course, but he took them to a new level. They werent just for campaigns, they were for governing. Moreover, you didnt need an invitation to speak; you could just throw your own event.Not everyone can pack a stadium, of course, but thats the beauty of teaming up. Gaetz and Greene might not be the Rolling Stones packing stadiums, but maybe they are Styx and Collective Soul doing an arena joint tour.What Im saying is that, over time, Trump is in danger of having what happened to Sarah Palin happen to him. At one point, Palin was the only game in town. She was the hot commodity. But once she left her position as governor of Alaska, she became irrelevant. It took a couple of years, but a generation of younger, more relevant, imitators supplanted her. Now, Trump is a better marketer than Palin and he was, after all, the president. Still, you can see why he has to at least feign a 2024 runand why he has already announced he will be doing more of his own rallies.Gaetz and Greene clearly arent there yet, as the livestream I was watching actually cut off just before the duo came back out to perform a sort of curtain call. The livestream instead switched to something called (Im not making this up), The Right View With Lara Trump.In a more healthy Republican Party, Gaetz would be drummed out of power because of his indiscretions, and Greene would never get within a mile of Capitol Hill. Trump helped create the circumstances where they would flourish. Even if he is ultimately replaced, he has succeeded in creating a generation of Republicans who share his penchant for self-promotion, his preference for populist politics, and, well, his family values.The Matt Gaetz-Marjorie Taylor Greene event was one-third tent revival, one-third rock concert, and one-third circusand it was all a freak show. This is all to say it was a rollicking success in todays Republican Party. Expect other MAGA types to start replicating this idea. The devil(s) went down to Georgia.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Major General Dany Fortin responds to a question on COVID vaccines during a news conference, on January 14, 2021 in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

No Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine Doses to Be Shipped to Canada Next Week: Fortin

OTTAWACanada is not going to get any vaccine doses from Pfizer-BioNTech next week and the federal government says it still cant tell provinces exactly how many doses to expect over the next month.

The U.S. drugmaker is cutting back production at its European production facility in Belgium to upgrade capacity and increase the total doses produced there. But the pause means Canadas expected deliveries are going to be smaller for the next four weeks, including getting nothing at all the week of Jan. 25.

Our entire shipment is deferred, said Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the Canadian military commander co-ordinating the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Canada was to get more than 417,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week and next, but will now get just 171,093 doses this week and nothing the next week. Fortin said Canadas shipments will pick back up again the first week of February but said he had no specifics yet on what that number will be.

Just four days ago Fortin said Canada didnt expect any reduction this week, and that next weeks shipment would be about half of what was previously promised.

Provincial premiers, already frustrated that vaccine supplies are coming in more slowly than theyd like, are being forced to cancel vaccine appointments, delay making new ones, or hold off giving second doses longer than hoped.

Just moments before Fortin announced there wouldnt be any shipments next week, Ontario issued an updated delivery schedule saying the province expected its deliveries to be down five percent this week and 80 percent next week, but those estimates seem to be out of date.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to put heavy pressure on Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

If I was in (Trudeaus) shoes? Id be on that phone call every single day, Ford said. Id be up that guys yin-yang so far with a firecracker he wouldnt know what hit him  I would not stop until we get these vaccines.

Trudeau said his procurement minister, Anita Anand, has been on the phone with the company every day, a fact she confirmed in a briefing later. But he was less specific about what phone calls he has made himself or whether he has attempted to call Bourla at all.

We continue to work every day, reaching out to the top levels of vaccine companies, including myself being involved, to ensure we are getting the doses we need, Trudeau said outside his Rideau Cottage residence Tuesday morning.

Israel, which signed a contract with Pfizer to get vaccine doses more than three months after Canada did, has already received two million doses. Canada has received about 600,000 from Pfizer and another 176,000 of a different vaccine from Moderna.

More than half a million people have now been vaccinated with at least one dose. Both vaccines require two doses for full effectiveness.

Israel has signed a deal with Pfizer to share extensive data on how the vaccine works in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has had 17 conversations with Bourla himself, and that Israel expects to vaccinate all citizens over the age of 16 by the end of March.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was on the phone to Bourla Friday when Europe was informed it would also be getting fewer doses over the next four weeks because of the facility upgrades.

Before the weekend was over, Pfizer said Europe would only be affected for one week. Canada, a Pfizer Canada spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday, will be affected for the next several weeks.

Anand said she told Pfizer on the weekend she expected Canada to be treated equitably in the shipment slowdowns, and that she got assurances that would happen. However the company has not made clear how many other countries are being affected, or how those deliveries are being divided.

Fortin said the cutbacks will affect some provinces more than others because Pfizers vaccine is delivered in trays of 975 doses each. The product has strict requirements for transportation and storage, demanding ultracold temperatures until shortly before its administered.

The delivery trays cant be further divided easily, which mean some provinces get even less than they were already expecting.

That will be fixed as soon as the bigger shipments start coming, said Fortin.

Meanwhile, Trudeau also urged Canadians who might be planning an international trip in the near future to cancel it.

Trudeau said Canadians have the right to travel but the government could at any time, and without warning, enforce new restrictions on travellers returning to Canada.

New variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 add a level of uncertainty that could affect decisions about how to handle international arrivals. Potentially worrisome variants have been detected in the U.K., South Africa and Brazil.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has documented 183 flights arriving in Canada from abroad since Jan. 4 alone, on which at least one passenger had COVID-19.

That includes four flights from London since a temporary ban on incoming flights from the United Kingdom was lifted Jan. 6.

Trudeau would not say when pressed what other measures he is considering, noting only that travellers now must present negative COVID-19 tests before boarding their planes, and must still quarantine for two weeks after arriving in Canada.

By Mia Rabson
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump speak to the media before departing Washington for Florida, outside the White House on Jan. 20, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Predicts Success for New Administration: Going to See Incredible Numbers

President Donald Trump, in his farewell speech on Wednesday morning, said he wished the incoming administration great luck and success.

I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think theyll have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular, Trump said before he departed for Florida.

Trump told the audience that youre going to see incredible numbers coming inreferring to the U.S. economyif President-elect Joe Biden leaves his policies untouched.

Biden, 78, will become the oldest U.S. president in history at a scaled-back ceremony in Washington that has been largely stripped of its usual pomp and circumstance, due both to the COVID-19 as well as security concerns following the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

Trump also promised supporters well be back in some form and listed more of his accomplishments while in office before flying off to Florida. Trump owns the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.

Vice President Mike Pence and other top GOP members were not there to see Trump depart. Shortly after Trump finished his remarks, Biden left the presidential guest house in Washington on his way to church, where he was joined by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the president-elect likely wont mention Trump in his speech later Wednesday.

We spend a lot less time talking about and thinking about and worrying about Donald Trump than I think most people assume. This is a forward-looking speech, she said. So hes going to talk about the problems were facing, the resolve of the public to come together, the power of coming together and unifying.

Meanwhile, 17 House GOP freshmen representatives sent a letter to Biden promising to work with his administration.

We firmly believe that what unites us as Americans is far greater than anything that may ever divide us, they wrote. In that spirit, we hope that we can rise above the partisan fray to negotiate meaningful change for Americans across the nation and maintain the United States standing as the best country in the world.

Some Republican representatives who signed on include Reps. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Burgess Owens (R-Utah), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), and Carlos A. Gimenez (R-Fla.), among others.

Americans are tired of the partisan gridlock and simply want to see leaders from both sides of the aisle work on issues important to American families, workers, and businesses, their letter added.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Pashinian again refused to step down and offered instead to hold such elections late last month he faced street protests sparked by the Armenian sides defeat in the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Virtually all Armenian opposition groups hold Pashinian responsible for the outcome of the war and want him to hand over power to an interim government. They maintain that the snap polls must be held only after his resignation.

Echoing Pashinians statements, a senior member of the ruling My Step bloc, Alen Simonian, said that the fate of the current government must be decided by the will of the people.

We must ask the people, rather than buy media outlets or breed some [social media] users to create the impression that one or another guy is bad, he told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

Simonian stressed that the conduct of the vote proposed by Pashinian hinges on a broad-based political consensus in the country.

I dont rule out that in case of an [opposition] decision that there need to be elections our faction will find a legislative solution to that issue, he said. But I also dont rule out that there will be no elections at all. If the opposition feels that it cannot participate why should we hold the elections?

A senior lawmaker from Bright Armenia Party (LHK), one of the two opposition parties represented in the parliament, dismissed Simonians warning as blackmail.

What they are now saying is, We will stay on and ruin what remains of the country and the opposition will be responsible for that because it refuses to go for the elections with us, said Gevorg Gorgisian.

The tensions and the crisis that we have now would not end as a result of elections organized by Nikol Pashinian, he claimed.

The LHK is not part of a coalition more than a dozen opposition groups that held the anti-government protests in November and December. They include businessman Gagik Tsarukians Prosperous Armenia Party, the second largest in the parliament.

Two leading members of coalition, called the Homeland Salvation Front, promised on Friday more efforts to oust Pashinian as they began touring Armenias regions in a bid to drum up greater support for their campaign.

Under the Armenian constitution, fresh elections will have to be called and held by the current government if Pashinian resigns and the National Assembly twice fails to elect another prime minister. The LHK has made clear that it would nominate its top leader, Edmon Marukian, for the post of prime minister in the event of Pashinians tactical resignation.

Simonian indicated that the LHK must pledge not to do that. Gorgisian scoffed at the demand, saying Pashinians political team fears that pro-government lawmakers would break ranks and vote for Marukian.

Marukians party controls only 17 seats in the 132-member parliament, compared with 83 seats held by Pashinians My Step.
[January 20, 2021] 2021 a Tipping Point for Institutional Investors and Digital Assets

HONG KONG, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HashKey Group, a leader in digital asset management and blockchain solutions, predicts that more than 50% of institutional and professional investors will have exposure to digital assets in their portfolios by year end. This would mark 2021 as a tipping point where investors go from evaluating the opportunity to acting. Large-scale government spending worldwide in the pandemic to support economic recovery and the evolving global regulatory framework are the primary reasons cited by investors diversifying into this growing asset class. HashKey Group recently published its report entitled "Institutional Investor and Digital Assets. First Mover Advantage: What Early Adopters Have Learned" which shares insights from in-depth interviews conducted with institutional investment leaders from around the world. According to the report, institutional investors expressed fear that they may miss out on potentially exponential growth if they do not adopt digital assets now. They cited the long-term investment opportunities that exist in many forms of asset tokenization, ranging from virtual currencies to infrastructure such as platforms and applications -- and growth  as among the reasons to consider the asset class. The total market capitalization of digital assets is just US$260 billion, relatively small compared to other traditional assets[i]. However, globally the digital asset market has tremendous growth potential, and is expected to grow from US$3.4 illion in 2020 to US$6.0 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 12.0%[ii]. In the HashKey Group report, some first mover investors highlighted the value of investing early to gain knowledge and experience to prepare for the wave.



Michel Lee, Executive President of HashKey Group said, "As an indication of the interest institutional investors have in this asset class, the inflow of institutional funds has contributed to the fluctuation of the prices of some virtual currencies in recent months." Lee said, "However, the digital asset class spans much more than just virtual currencies. There are tokenized equities and tokenized bonds and digital economy tokens. Institutional investors are also interested in these subcategories. Our report identifies corporate risk aversion, evolving regulatory frameworks, and perceived lack of supporting infrastructure as factors they consider carefully before adding exposure to digital assets to their portfolios."

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong announced in November 2020 that it will regulate all digital asset exchanges and trading to prevent market manipulation and money-laundering activities. Angelina Kwan, Chief Operating Officer of HashKey Group said, "Many institutional investors are themselves regulated and have a fiduciary duty to fulfill. The new SFC regulations will enable more transparency, since only licensed operators can offer regulated virtual assets services and only professional investors can participate. As infrastructure is developed and regulation increases, institutional investors will become more confident about digital asset investment." Kwan adds, "In addition to digital currency, custody, trading platforms and security solutions are other digital asset investment opportunities that are more familiar to institutional investors. The development of the digital asset infrastructure in many ways mirrors the way traditional financial services infrastructure grew and matured. That trend makes institutional investors more comfortable as they consider digital asset investment opportunities." The Greater Bay Area (GBA) integration is another strategic initiative that could help to accelerate the adoption of digital assets by institutional investors. Hong Kong, as an international financial hub, plays a critical role in facilitating global trading, and is stimulated by innovative Chinese technology and payment solutions. For example, China selected Hong Kong to launch the test for its digital yuan (digital version of China's fiat currency), because it is the "most open and international city" in the GBA[iii]. An enhanced regulatory framework now being put in place here in Hong Kong will help nurture the digital assets ecosystem in the region. Michel Lee said, "2021 is a strategic time for institutional investors to consider adding exposure to digital assets in their portfolios. Concern about the long-term future is redoubling investor interest in uncorrelated, more diversified asset classes. Once regulations are established and clarified, institutional investors can leverage Hong Kong as a strategic hub to capture the opportunities. To maximize their potential, they should work with professional partners with proven expertise and track records." About HashKey Group HashKey Group is a leader in digital asset management and blockchain solutions. The Group provides a complete ecosystem across the entire digital asset landscape, ranging from capital, to custody, to technologies, trading, and exchange. HashKey's senior team has deep investment, governance, and technology expertise gained at tier-one banks, regulators, and fintech ventures. HashKey identifies high potential opportunities and deliver end-to-end solutions that operate within regulatory frameworks with high compliance standards. The Group has operations in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, and extensive partnerships with fintech and blockchain solutions providers, academic institutions, and associations. Official Website: https://www.hashkey.com/ [i] Source: MVIS Coin Telegraph

[ii] Source: Digital Asset Management Report from MarketsandMarkets

[iii] Source: Asia Times, https://asiatimes.com/2020/08/digital-yuan-to-be-tested-in-hks-greater-bay-area/ SOURCE HashKey Group

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D&B Engineers and Architects, an engineering and consulting organization specializing in civil and environmental engineering, water supply and construction management, has promoted Matthew H. Hoskins to associate.

Hoskins lives in the Howlett Hill area of Syracuse and is responsible for supporting the growth of the firm in the Upstate New York area. He also manages the daily activities within the office as project and contract manager. He has been with the company since 2018, working in its division of environmental remediation and multimedia environmental compliance as manager of the companys East Syracuse office. He also has responsibilities as senior geologist in the firm.

He earned a bachelor of science in geology from Boston College and a master of science from the University of Wyoming. A licensed professional geologist in both New York and Pennsylvania, he is a member of the Central New York Association of Professional Geologists, the New York State Council of Professional Geologists, the National Groundwater Association, and the Air and Waste Management Association.

If youd like to submit an item about People in Motion at your organization, send a press release including photo, to business@syracuse.com with Company News in the subject field. See all recent Company News items.
The Daily Beast

REUTERSThe last time an America First MAGA rally was held in Georgia, Republicans lost two U.S. Senate seats, and America lost what might end up being around $6 trillion. The Matt Gaetz-Marjorie Taylor Greene show on Thursday night probably wont cost us as much. Just some time with our familyand our dignity.The event opened with Rep. Jody Hice, who is running a primary against Republican Brad Raffensperger for Georgia secretary of state. The crowd changed Lock Him Up, which was directed at Raffensperger, whose decision to follow the rule of law (though hes wobbling now while running for re-election) obviously put him on the wrong side of the mob. With a warm-up act like that, theres no need for an announcer to say, Lets get ready to rumble! The sentiment is implicit.Gaetz hit the stage first, throwing out a bunch of populist, demagogic rhetoric (forever wars, socialism, rebuild America, worlds policeman, deep state) and pandering (gun control just means we have a steady aim!). He took shots at the Bushes and the McCains and the Romneys and James Comey and Anthony Fauci. He observed that Paul Ryan was giving a speech in California, and added that after Ryan ran for vice president, the party literally needed an autopsy. The upshot? This is Donald Trumps party and Im a Donald Trump Republican, Gaetz declared. One thing he didnt talk about was his wingman Joel Greenbergs guilty pleas for crimes including paying a 17-year-old to have sex with both of them (which Gaetz has previously denied).The Sickening History of Marjorie Taylor Greenes HometownNot to be upstaged, Greene entered the room in a Humvee, before making her way on stage, grinning from ear to ear. But her smile belied the populist anger apparently bubbling up inside her. She called out the Democrats who tear down monuments. You better bet were gonna protect Stone Mountains monument, she said of Americas largest monument to the Confederacy. She feigned the Mexican accent of a supposed cartel leader talking about how much he loved Joe Biden, who she said wants a woke military. She also called the Squad the Jihad Squad and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez OCrazyo-Cortez. Really classy stuff. You see, shes not a politician. Shes just like you. If youre a jerk like that, at least.So why is this happening? First, of course, for attention. Im writing about this, and so are lots of others and for this crew, and especially Greene whos already been booted from her House committees so has nothing left, PR like this is its own reward. Indeed, Gaetz referred to Thursdays rally as the greatest political show on earth.Even during the good old days, conservative politics was probably half Bill Buckley and half P.T. Barnum. We were business up front and party in the back (OK, maybe we didnt party quite as hard as Gaetzwho my Beast colleagues report snorted coke with a model with a no-show government job at a GOP Trump Defender gala in Orlandoand Greene, but you get the point). Today, the entertainment wing has almost completely supplanted the governing wing.As Gaetz told Vanity Fair a while back, If you arent making news, you arent governing. And Gaetz is OK right now with any news that isnt about allegations involving sex-trafficking a minor. Hes flooding the zone (also with headlines about how hes flirting with a 2024 presidential bid if Trump doesnt run) which is a great PR strategy, assuming, you know, he doesnt get indicted.There are other reasons, including the theory that, in todays world, hunkering down and laying low is seen as either a tacit admission of guiltor proof you take the whole thing seriously. Im not sure which one would be more detrimental to Gaetzs brand, but hes avoiding both like the plague.Youve heard of the Big Lie. Well this is the Big Tour. Gaetzs frantic activity is either a sign of innocence or shamelessness. My moneys on the latter, but who knows? And thats the point. He may also reason that the fact that hes on stage with a prominent female may also, psychologically, lend some cover.Speaking of Greene, she has been embroiled in something of her own scandal, having compared the wearing of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to Jews being forced to wear golden stars in Nazi Germany. Once upon a time, these sort of Holocaust comparisons would have spelled the end of a political career, but in todays Republican Party its a feature, not a bug. Greene, having embraced other crazy theories, was able to haul in over $3 million during the first quarter of the year, after all. Sure, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy condemned it in a tweet, but that is probably as severe as the punishment gets. Greene doesnt need to hit the hustings to change the subject from her scandal, shes doing it for the fun of it. To revel in it.Im a Rational Jewish Person. Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Nuts.Thats not to say there isnt some danger to this. Gaetz and Greene might not intend this and Trump may not realize it, but this is the first salvo of what could be a threat to his death grip on the party. Thats because this tour is evidence that anyoneeven two lowly House memberscan co-opt Trumps message, steal his delivery mechanism, and take their show on the road. (Sure, they have played some home games in Florida and Georgia, but they also took their horse and pony show to Arizonaand dont forget Gaetzs trip to troll Liz Cheney in Wyoming).Now, this crowd was minusculeeven compared to the sparsely attended rally Trump held a year ago in Oklahoma. Still, the event encroaches on an innovation that Trump had essentially monopolized for the last five or so years. Trump didnt invent the idea of holding rallies, of course, but he took them to a new level. They werent just for campaigns, they were for governing. Moreover, you didnt need an invitation to speak; you could just throw your own event.Not everyone can pack a stadium, of course, but thats the beauty of teaming up. Gaetz and Greene might not be the Rolling Stones packing stadiums, but maybe they are Styx and Collective Soul doing an arena joint tour.What Im saying is that, over time, Trump is in danger of having what happened to Sarah Palin happen to him. At one point, Palin was the only game in town. She was the hot commodity. But once she left her position as governor of Alaska, she became irrelevant. It took a couple of years, but a generation of younger, more relevant, imitators supplanted her. Now, Trump is a better marketer than Palin and he was, after all, the president. Still, you can see why he has to at least feign a 2024 runand why he has already announced he will be doing more of his own rallies.Gaetz and Greene clearly arent there yet, as the livestream I was watching actually cut off just before the duo came back out to perform a sort of curtain call. The livestream instead switched to something called (Im not making this up), The Right View With Lara Trump.In a more healthy Republican Party, Gaetz would be drummed out of power because of his indiscretions, and Greene would never get within a mile of Capitol Hill. Trump helped create the circumstances where they would flourish. Even if he is ultimately replaced, he has succeeded in creating a generation of Republicans who share his penchant for self-promotion, his preference for populist politics, and, well, his family values.The Matt Gaetz-Marjorie Taylor Greene event was one-third tent revival, one-third rock concert, and one-third circusand it was all a freak show. This is all to say it was a rollicking success in todays Republican Party. Expect other MAGA types to start replicating this idea. The devil(s) went down to Georgia.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
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Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. officially withdrew from the Paris Agreement on global warming on Nov. 4. Trump's successor, Joe Biden, wants back in. But averting the worst effects of climate change will be an uphill battle even with the involvement of the U.S., the second-largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions, behind China. Global warming already is fueling wildfires, hurricanes and mass migrations, and in the U.S., Trump dismantled regulations meant to stifle greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, automobiles and oil wells.

1. What's the Paris Agreement?

The landmark 2015 accord among almost 200 countries brought together the developed and developing worlds to pledge limits on the fossil-fuel pollution that causes climate change. Those pledges are voluntary and non-binding. The goal is to hold the rise in temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (compared with preindustrial levels), and preferably to 1.5 degree, at the end of this century, to avoid the rising seas and superstorms that climate models predict.

2. How can the U.S. rejoin?

That's simple. The U.S. notifies the United Nations, with re-entry active 30 days later. The U.S. also would need to submit a specific pledge to reduce emissions, known as a nationally determined contribution. As a candidate, Biden said he would he apply to rejoin on his first day as president and then "lead an effort to get every major country to ramp up the ambition of their domestic climate targets."

3. What is Biden's plan to reduce U.S. emissions?

His $2 trillion clean-energy and infrastructure proposal calls for an emissions-free electric grid in 15 years and a target of net-zero emissions across the entire economy by 2050. It's one of the most ambitious climate proposals in the world, surpassing China's recently goal of being carbon neutral by 2060.

4. What had the U.S. pledged under the Paris agreement?

Under President Barack Obama, who signed the pact in 2015, the U.S. pledged to cut its carbon dioxide emissions 26 to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. In addition, the U.S. was being counted on to contribute heavily to a Green Climate Fund that helps poorer nations invest in renewable energy. The fund is falling short of its target, with the U.S. halting payments in 2017 and Australia forswearing new contributions in 2019.

5. What will the U.S. pledge under Biden?

Environmentalists say they expect Biden to ultimately develop a more stringent carbon-cutting pledge for the U.S., as the nation seeks to restore trust with other signatories after the Trump-led exodus from the pact.

6. What was Trump's gripe with the agreement?

He called the pact "a total disaster for our country" that would hurt American competitiveness by enabling "a giant transfer of American wealth to foreign nations that are responsible for most of the word's pollution." He said rules and directives put in place by Obama to meet the U.S. targets for emissions hurt the U.S. economy by killing jobs related to fossil fuels, especially coal mining.

7. Has the Paris agreement helped slow global warming?

Not enough so far. Human activities are estimated to have already caused about 1 degree Celsius of warming and are increasing at a rate of about 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade. The UN World Meteorological Organization has said that global temperatures are on track to rise 3 to 5 degrees by the end of this century, well beyond the targeted cap of 2 degrees. The years 2015 to 2019 were the warmest five years on record, and 2010 to 2019 was the warmest decade on record, according to the UN agency. Climate Action Tracker, a research project, agrees that current policies and pledges will leave the planet "well above" the Paris accord's "long-term temperature goal." Even with the U.S. involved, academics were concerned that the world was headed for "extensive" species extinctions, serious crop damage and irreversible increases in sea levels.

GENEVA (dpa-AFX) - Shares of Compagnie Financiere Richemont AG were gaining around 2 percent in Swiss trading after the luxury goods group reported that its third-quarter total sales rose about 1 percent on a reported basis and 5 percent at constant exchange rates, despite a continuously volatile environment. In its trading statement, the company said its third-quarter sales reached 4.19 billion euros, higher than 4.16 billion euros in the prior year. Richemont generated double digit growth in sales in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa, which more than offset single digit declines in the Americas and Japan and a marked contraction in Europe. In Asia Pacific, sales were 1.73 billion euros, up 21 percent on a reported basis and 25 percent at constant exchange rates. The results reflected 80 percent rise in China and 29 percent growth in Taiwan that more than offset declines in other Asian locations. In Europe, sales fell 22 percent, affected by renewed public health protection measures and a halt in tourism. In the Americas, sales fell 4 percent on a reported basis, but grew 3 percent at constant rates, supported by relatively strong domestic sales. Middle East and Africa sales grew 20 percent, driven by good performance across channels, resumed tourist spending in Dubai and solid domestic spending, notably in Saudi Arabia. Sales in Japan declined 2 percent on a reported basis, but rose 1 percent at constant rates, benefiting from resilient local demand before public health measures were re-instated in major population centres. Both retail and online retail sales climbed 13 percent each, while Wholesale & royalty income fell 12 percent. Among business areas, Jewellery Maisons sales grew 9 percent from last year to 2.37 billion euros supported by good jewellery and watch sales at Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Meanwhile, Specialist Watchmakers dropped 7 percent with declines in all regions excluding Asia Pacific, and online distributors were flat. The company's net cash position at December 31, 2020 amounted to 2.9 billion euros, compared to 2.4 billion euros in 2019. The company's results for the current financial year will be announced on May 21. In Switzerland, Richemont shares were trading at 85.16 Swiss francs, up 1.94 percent. 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.
Stephen Cox, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas centered in Beaumont, announced Tuesday that he would be stepping down from his position immediately to return to the private sector.

In a news release published Tuesday afternoon, Cox said that he would announce his next move in the coming months, but his somewhat short term as the chief prosecutor for the area would end at noon.

The opportunity to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas has been a distinct honor and privilege for which I will be forever grateful, Cox said in a statement. The opportunity to serve the people of the great state of Texas, and to work alongside the fine men and women of our office, has been nothing short of humbling.

The Eastern District of Texas will now be helmed by Nicholas Ganjei, a career federal prosecutor who holds the position of the first assistant U.S. Attorney for the district. He will serve as acting U.S. Attorney.

Ganjei will become the first Persian-American in the 174-year history of the district to serve as a U.S. Attorney.

The Eastern District of Texas includes 43 counties stretching from the Oklahoma border to the Gulf of Mexico and has six fully staffed offices in Beaumont, Plano, Tyler, Sherman, Texarkana and Lufkin. Those offices had 120 employees and 55 prosecutors at the time of Coxs appointment.

Cox, 43, of Houston, was appointed by Attorney General William Barr in May of last year and received final unanimous approval to the office in September.

Cox started at the U.S. Department of Justice in early 2017, serving as deputy associate attorney general in the Office of the Associate Attorney General.

In his time leading the office, Cox supervised investigations into multiple crimes that rocked Southeast Texas, including the long-awaited conviction of the Beaumont bomber accused of planting a bomb at a church; the bust of a crew accused of distributing a date rape drug out of a Nederland fireworks warehouse; the prosecution of a pastor charged with production of child pornography; the seizure of phony tech support websites used to defraud Amazon customers; the sentencing of an al-Qaida trained jihadist to 300 months for a plot to recruit terrorists to kill Americans on behalf of ISIS; investigations into Aryan Circle gang members and associates indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy and violent crimes in aid of racketeering; and the conviction of a Jefferson County physician for health care fraud and kickback violations related to compounded scar creams.

As he looks toward the next few months of down time with his family, Cox said the district will be in good hands with Ganjei.

I expect the transition to be seamless, Cox said in a statement. Nick and I worked hand-in-glove on setting these office priorities and putting our signature initiatives into motion. Although I am passing the torch, Im excited to see where Nick and the leadership team take the office next.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman escorted incoming Vice President Kamala Harris to Wednesdays presidential inauguration, receiving his own ovation when he descended the stairs of the Capitol.

CBS News was first to report that Goodman, who served as an infantryman in Iraq, is the new acting deputy House sergeant at arms. He is credited with leading a mob of protesters away from the Senate chambers during the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol, in which five people died, including a Capitol police officer. Another police officer died by suicide days later.

Goodman left the Army in 2006 after serving four years as an infantryman, Lt. Col. Gabriel Ramirez, a service spokesman, told Military.com on Jan. 13.

Read Next: Trump Touts Military Accomplishments, Formation of Space Force as He Departs

He deployed to Iraq with 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from 2005 to 2006. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal.

Last week, three House members introduced legislation recommending the Congressional Gold Medal for Goodman, whose actions were captured on video. Shot by Igor Bobic, a HuffPost politics reporter, the now viral video shows Goodman attempting to hold back the crowd before luring them away from the unprotected Senate chamber.

"Just now realizing how much of a close call it was in the Senate. Literally seconds," Bobic noted days after posting the video, in which Goodman was also overheard radioing his colleagues to alert them of the rioters' whereabouts.

"When Officer Eugene Goodman was the only thing standing between Members of Congress & the mob, he selflessly redirected their fury on himself so they could escape," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., one of the co-sponsors of the bill, said last Thursday on Twitter.

The Washington Post first reported on Goodman's Army ties. Several of his friends told the Post that Goodman was focused on "defusing the threat to lawmakers, not his own safety."

"I've always said, if bullets start ripping through, I'm finding Goodman," one friend said. "He's been in hostile firefights, so he knows how to keep his head."

In a statement, Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., another bill sponsor, said, "I shudder to think what might have happened had it not been for Officer Goodman's fast thinking and commitment to his duty and his country."

-- Gina Harkins, Hope Seck and Richard Sisk contributed to this report.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Related: Lawmakers Push to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Capitol Police Hero, Army Vet
Nepal is set to receive a new player in its mobile financial space in the form of the Nepali Digital Payment Company.

The unit, which is a joint venture between state-run operator Nepal Telecom and Rastriya Banijya Bank, has applied to the countrys central Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) for a mobile money licence, according to Nepalitelecom.com.

As reported by TeleGeography, in July 2020 Nepal Telecom agreed a six-month implementation period with NRB for the technical and legal infrastructure required to operate a full mobile banking offering.

The operators managing director Dilli Adhikari has now confirmed that this implementation has been completed. The NRB will accordingly review the system prior to approving the mobile banking service, which is expected to launch towards the end of February once approval is granted.

Nepal has been relatively late to the party regarding mobile money, with regulator the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) only approving directives related to the services in early 2020.
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US President Donald Trump granted clemency to former White House aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations issued in his final hours in office, but did not pardon himself, members of his family or lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Trump leaves office on Wednesday, when Joe Biden is sworn in as the nations next president. White House officials had argued to Trump that he should not pardon himself or his family because it might look like they are guilty of crimes, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Bannon, who was a key adviser in Trumps 2016 presidential run, was charged last year with swindling the presidents own supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the presidents wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty.

Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen, the White House said in a statement.

White House officials had advised Trump against pardoning Bannon. The two men have lately rekindled their relationship as Trump sought support for his unproven claims of voter fraud, an official familiar with the situation said.

ALSO READ: In Farewell Video, Trump Prays for Biden's Success in Keeping America Safe But Parts With a 'Warning'

As part of more than 140 pardons and commutations, Trump also pardoned Elliott Broidy, a former top fundraiser for Trump who pleaded guilty last year to violating foreign lobbying laws, and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was serving a 28-year prison term on corruption charges.

Rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black who were prosecuted on federal weapons offenses, were also granted pardons.

Giuliani, who has been at the forefront of Trumps unsuccessful efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, has not been charged with a crime, but investigators have been probing his activities in Ukraine.

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House last week on charges of inciting the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by the presidents supporters. He may face a Senate trial and could be barred from running for president again if convicted.

PROMINENT ALLIES

The pardon power, which comes from the U.S. Constitution, is one of the broadest available to a president. While pardons are typically given to people who have been prosecuted, pardons can cover conduct that has not yet resulted in legal proceedings.

A pardon is not reviewable by other branches of government and the president does not have to give a reason for issuing one. But the pardon power is not absolute; it only applies to federal crimes.

Bannon, 67, is the latest prominent political ally to receive clemency from Trump, who has often used the powers of the executive branch to reward loyalists and punish his enemies.

Trump previously pardoned former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI about his conversation with the former Russian ambassador, and he commuted the prison term for Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The former executive chairman and co-founder of the right-wing news outlet Breitbart, Bannon is credited as being the architect behind the rise of America First right-wing populism. He was a key influencer behind some of Trumps staunch anti-immigration policies in the early days of Trumps presidency, as well as the border wall that was one of Trumps key campaign promises.

He was fired from his post at the White House in August 2017.

Bannon can still be charged with fraud by New York state prosecutors, said Daniel R. Alonso, a former prosecutor now at the Buckley law firm. Fraud prosecutions are frequently brought by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office, Alonso added.

Broidy, who was a top fundraiser for Trump during the 2016 campaign, pleaded guilty in October to violating lobbying laws by attempting to influence the administration on behalf of Chinese and Malaysian interests.

Lil Wayne, 38, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., pleaded guilty in federal court in December to illegally possessing a firearm and faced up to 10 years in prison. He has expressed support for Trumps criminal justice reform efforts.

Kodak Black, 23, who was born Bill Kahan Kapri, is in federal prison for making a false statement in order to buy a firearm.
Google on Tuesday announced its latest update to Chrome 88 web browser that brings features like tab search and improved password protections. The new and improved password protection is being touted as the most significant update for Chrome, allowing users to easily fix weak or compromised passwords. Apart from tab search and password protection, Google Chrome 88 will also gradually roll out a new "chip" UI for granting permissions to website. Apart from that, Google has ended support for Chrome 88 on MacOS X 10.10 Yosemite, with Chrome now requiring MacOS 10.11 or above to function. Googlesays that Chrome 88 with its new features will be rolled out in the coming weeks and the browser will keep getting new updates throughout the year.

The new password protection will identify when a password is weak and then give users the opportunity to create and store a stronger password. While Chrome already prompted users if a password is weak, the new update will allow users to quickly check, identify, and fix weak passwords from the settings of the browser. This means that users will be able to fix multiple weak passwords at once, in one place. In order to check the new feature on Chrome 88, users need to click on their profile image on the top right corner of the browser and then click the 'key' icon. Alternatively, users can type in chrome://settings/passwords in the address bar to jump to the password manager. The password manager will also let users generate a list of accounts with weak credentials by tapping 'Check Passwords' option. Google, in its blog post, said that the Chrome app on Android will also be getting this feature soon.

Apart from the password manager, Google Chrome 88 also brings an improved dark mode support on Windows 10, less intrusive permission requests that will adopt a 'chip' UI, and a new Chrome flag for tab search. Chrome 88 will also not support FTP URLs.

The updates, according to Google are built on features first launched in 2020. In its blog post, Google said that its Chrome Safety Check is used 14 million times every week and that it saw 37 percent reduction in compromised credentials stored in Chrome after the "improvements launched in 2020."
One of the unsung wonders of the Trump administration is the congenial relationships he developed with nations around the world. Its not a coincidence that he did not start any new wars even as he never gave an inch when it came to American honor, integrity, and money. Things are going to be different with Biden, though. Even before being inaugurated, Biden had managed to put the U.S. at odds with Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala.

Despite Biden coming from the same hard-left side of the political spectrum as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Canadians are already mad at Old Joe. The source of the anger is Bidens commitment to destroying Americas economy and turning America back to a premodern time in fealty to the climate changistas.

To that end, Biden announced that he was shutting down the Keystone Oil Pipeline. This announcement is very bad for both the American and the Canadian economy:

President-elect Joe Bidens announcement that he will shut down a oil pipeline that has created thousands of jobs and safely increased domestic energy production may be popular with environmental activists, but Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the province that is home to the project are vowing to fight back. Trudeau has supported the $9 billion project despite protests, arguing it will help reduce reliance on foreign oil imports and create jobs. Alberta, which has pitched in $1.1 billion on the pipeline, is also miffed.

Canada is our closest regional ally and Bidens already gotten the relationship off on the wrong foot. Its not just Canada, of course.

Even the New York Times has had to admit that Mexicos socialist president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), is worried about the incoming Biden administration, which will breathe over his shoulder and make Mexico a highway for illegal immigrants from all over Latin America. The Times article, after a paragraph of disgraceful slanders against Trump vis-a-vis his Mexico policies, acknowledges something it cant understand:

Mexicos president is a big fan. So profound is his appreciation that when President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador finally got on the phone for the first time with President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. last month, he made a point of praising the departing president. I must mention that we do have a very good relationship with the now president of your country, Mr. Donald Trump, Mr. Lopez Obrador said, according to two people with knowledge of the call, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. Regardless of any other considerations, he respects our sovereignty. Concerned that Mr. Biden might be more inclined to meddle in Mexican affairs, Mr. Lopez Obrador has spent the last several weeks preemptively poking the incoming administration in the eye.

I dont normally recommend reading anything in the Times, but I have to admit that this article is a pure delight as it explains how hostile AMLO is to the new administration. So, Biden has a problem with our second closest regional ally.

But wait, theres even more: Because the Biden administration first announced an open border policy and then panicked when Latin Americans took those pronouncements seriously, Guatemala has reason to be miffed as well:

PRESIDENT-elect Joe Bidens aide has urged a Honduran migrant caravan not to come to the United States border to escape violence as they wont be let in right now. A senior Biden transition official, who has not been named, urged migrants to delay seeking asylum in the United States as the incoming president takes office. The situation at the border isnt going to be transformed overnight, the official told NBC News. The warning was to any migrants hoping to cross the US border within the first few weeks of the Biden administration. [snip] The announcement to migrants comes as violence erupted as a Honduran migrant caravan heading for the US clashed with security forces when it entered Guatemala. It is estimated up to 8,000 US-bound migrants have crossed the border since Friday as advocates have called on Biden to honor his commitments to asylum seekers.

Trump understood the wisdom behind the expression good fences make good neighbors. With Biden, Latin American nations are learning that chaotic, ill-conceived policies make for violent border confrontations across the region.

Despite the intense leftist hatred leveled against Trump, when it came to foreign policy, Trump had the Midas touch, turning those relationships into gold. His priorities  protect America, help our allies, stand strong against our enemies  were powerful and predictable.

Judging by Bidens preliminary forays into regional foreign policy, it appears that his inverted policies (punish America, abandon our allies, bow to our enemies), will lead to an inverted Midas touch. Thus, everything Biden touches will turn to bull pucky.

IMAGE: Honduran migrants in Guatemala. YouTube screengrab.
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The Ondo State Government has declared that the presidency is emotionally attached to Fulani herdsmen. The State Commissioner for In...

The Ondo State Government has declared that the presidency is emotionally attached to Fulani herdsmen.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo was reacting to the statement by the Presidency against the directive of the State government banning the operation of unregistered Fulani herdsmen in its forest.

President Muhammadu Buharis Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu had condemned the directive by the Ondo State government.

However, Ojogo insisted that Shehus comment was inimical to the existence of Nigeria.

Ojogo, in a statement, said Shehu had stated unambiguously, the position of the Federal Government.

The Ondo State Government did not ask Fulani to leave the state.

The governor said herdsmen who are unregistered should leave our forests.

The statement from Garba Shehu is brazen display of emotional attachments and its very inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria.

We need clearly defined actions on the part of the Federal Government to decimate the erroneous impression that the inspiration of these criminal elements masquerading as herdsmen is that of power.

Our unity is threatened, no doubt.

It (statement) states in a breath that the governor fights crime with passion while it is prevaricating on the atrocities.

The question is, are the herdsmen who are perpetrating murder, kidnapping and robbery more important than government and even the Federal Government in this case?

Ethnic nationality and activism on the part of anyone hiding under the Presidency or federal government is an ill wind.
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The coronavirus is spreading in Spain at a slightly slower rate, according to data released on Tuesday by the Spanish Health Ministry. On Monday, Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts (CCAES), said that Spain could be reaching the peak of the third wave of the virus, and there are indications in the latest figures that suggest this could be the case, although the data must be viewed with caution. For example, for the first time since January 7, a region has reported a drop in the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Indeed three regions registered a fall in their incidence rate: the Balearic Islands (-0.31%), Cantabria (-0.98%) and Catalonia (-1.54%). On the opposite end of the spectrum, the incidence rate in Extremadura has risen to 1,412.

The national 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants now stands at 714.21, a rise of 3.62%. To put this in context, Spains incidence rate fell to below 10 at the end of the first wave, following a strict months-long home lockdown. And in the Madrid region, the regional government introduced perimetral lockdowns of healthcare zones  areas smaller than a city district that can include several primary healthcare centers  when the incidence rate rose above 700.

According to the ministrys report, a total of 2,370,742 coronavirus cases have been detected since the beginning of the pandemic

According to the latest data, 34,292 new coronavirus cases were reported on Tuesday, the lowest figure since January 13. Despite this, the number of infections detected in the past seven days is the highest seen since the beginning of the pandemic: 233,523. A month ago, 66,661 cases were reported over a seven-day period, meaning this data point has risen 250%. According to the ministrys report, a total of 2,370,742 coronavirus cases have been detected since the beginning of the pandemic.

The rise in infections is already having a clear impact on Spains hospitals. There are currently 24,185 Covid-19 patients in hospital, meaning 19.25% of all hospital beds are occupied by patients with the disease. This data point has risen 10 points since the end of the year. Intensive care units (ICUs) are also under pressure, with 33.69% of ICU beds occupied by Covid-19 patients, a rise of 12.5 points since the end of 2020.

The spike in cases and growing number of hospitalizations and ICU admissions are also impacting Covid-19-related fatalities. Just on Tuesday, the Health Ministry added 404 deaths to the official toll. This is close to 455 victims reported on Monday, which includes fatalities registered since Friday, as data is not released on the weekends. The number of deaths recorded in the past seven days  a data point that fluctuates less as it is not affected by underreporting over the weekend  stands at 1,494. Two weeks ago, the weekly number of fatalities was 997. The official death toll since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 54,173, although the real figure is likely to be much higher as many victims died during the first wave before their coronavirus diagnosis could be confirmed.

In response to the worsening epidemiological figures, several regions have called on the central government to allow earlier curfew times. Under the current state of alarm, there is a curfew between 11pm and 6am, but regional authorities are allowed to bring it forward or back by an hour. Several regions, however, want to be able to impose a curfew from 8pm. Only Madrid, where the curfew has been brought forward from midnight to 11pm, has ruled out such a move on the grounds that it would hurt the hostelry industry. The Madrid region is now reporting worse figures than it did during the first wave of the pandemic. On Tuesday, the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants stood at 800, up from 277 a month ago.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
Lockdown has been imposed on five Beijing neighbourhoods after two cases of the British Covid-19 variant were detected in the Chinese capital.

The cases had 'no genetic correlation with previously reported local cases and imported cases in Beijing', the head of the Beijing health authority Pang Xinghuo told reporters, but are 'considered to be variants of the new coronavirus discovered in the UK.'

The two cases of the UK variant were among seven new Covid-19 cases detected on Wednesday, with six found in the city's southern Daxang district alone.

China has lauded its response to the pandemic, which emerged in the central city of Wuhan just over a year ago but has been broadly brought to heel, officially killing fewer than 5,000 Chinese people.

Authorities have been swift to stamp out local clusters of cases with lockdowns, mass testing regimes and travel restrictions.

Lockdown has been imposed on five Beijing neighbourhoods after two cases of the British Covid-19 variant were detected in the Chinese capital. Above, a woman walks in a community park in Beijing on January 20 after parts of the city were locked down following a Covid-19 outbreak

With the Lunar New Year Holiday looming, officials had been keen to avoid an outbreak in Beijing, the heart of political power.

But a handful of cases have been detected in the capital in recent days, with six more reported Wednesday in southern Daxing district.

Officials said that the two cases in Daxing were linked to a UK variant believed to be a more transmissible form of the virus and were first detected on Sunday.

In total, 1.6million people have been ordered to stay at home after seven cases were reported on Wednesday, including six in southern Daxing district, while China reported 103 total cases nationally.

China has been reporting over 100 cases each day for more than a week, the highest numbers since the initial outbreak in Wuhan in March 2020, putting the country on high-alert ahead of Chinese New Year which sees millions travel across the country.

All 1.6 million residents of Daxing have been ordered to not leave Beijing unless they have received special permission from the authorities and tested negative for Covid-19 in the past three days, the district said.

Meetings of 50 or more people in the district have been banned, while 'weddings should be postponed and funerals simplified,' the district government said.

It also ordered all kindergarten, primary and secondary students in the district to study at home.

Residents of five Daxing neighbourhoods where the cases were detected were ordered to remain indoors.

Daxing includes one of the city's two international airports.

China has largely brought the virus under control even as the rest of the world struggles with mounting deaths and overburdened hospitals.

But a spate of small, localised outbreaks has prompted Chinese officials to order mass testing, strict lockdowns and to prepare to move thousands into quarantine facilities to stamp out a resurgence.

China reported 103 new cases on Wednesday, including the seven in Beijing.

Seven cases were reported in the city on Wednesday, including six in southern Daxing district. Pictured: Police guard a blocked-off street in a residential neighbourhood on January 20

The outbreaks, including in neighbouring Hebei province, have put China on high alert for a potential wave of cases ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, which falls on February 12.

Traditionally, millions of people - including many migrant workers who moved from China's outer provinces to its population hubs for work - travel home for the celebrations.

But this year, 29 provinces so far have called on employees to stay put and not travel for the holiday, South China Morning Post reports, with many cities using monetary incentives to get people to stay where they are, such as free mobile data.

Meanwhile, nearly three million people in northeastern Jilin province were placed under lockdown on Monday after a travelling salesman infected over a hundred people.

Heilongjiang, another northeastern province, has reprimanded 16 officials for 'not doing their duty' to prevent recent clusters of cases in the province, the provincial Communist Party newspaper Heilongjiang Daily reported Wednesday.

China has officially reported just over 86,000 cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, and 4,635 related deaths.

The majority of these occurred in Wuhan, where the virus was first detected, with Beijing reporting 947 cases and 9 deaths as of January 5 (although this figure will not be higher after the latest outbreak).

However, a number of countries and news outlets have expressed doubts of China's official figures, suggesting that the Beijing government has under-reported the true number of Covid-19 cases and deaths.

People wearing face masks commute in a subway station during morning rush hour, following the COVID-19 outbreak, in Beijing, January 20

The latest lockdown comes after a team of WHO scientists arrived Wuhan last week, the city where the coronavirus is believed to have first spread to humans, to investigate the origins of the disease.

Anger at China grew after a young doctor, Li Wenliang, was reprimanded for trying to raise the alarm about the disease - and subsequently died of it.

The virus was first confirmed to have spread outside China in January, when a 61-year-old woman was found to be infected with it in Thailand.

After scattered outbreaks in South Korea, Iran and Japan among others, the virus barrelled into Europe and North America with full force in March and April.

But Italy, France, and Brazil have all found traces of the virus from before the WHO's China office was officially alerted about the outbreak on December 31, 2019.

The WHO's team on the ground in China finally arrived in Wuhan last week after months of negotiations to investigate the origins of the disease.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that 'the objective is to understand how and when this new coronavirus emerged'.

Members of the WHO team tasked with investigating the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, China on January 14

The team was expected to investigate the animal market linked to an early cluster of cases, but it is no longer thought that this was necessarily where the virus jumped from animals to humans.

It is widely suspected that the virus originated in bats, but scientists say that it may have passed to humans via another species, possibly pangolins.

The Trump administration has touted alternative theories, rejected by China, that the virus could have leaked out from a virology lab in Wuhan.

Last Friday, the US state department claimed that some researchers at the institute had shown possible Covid-19 symptoms weeks before the outbreak came to light.

China, for its part, has promoted the idea that the virus might not have originated within its borders at all but arrived on contaminated seafood from elsewhere.

On Monday, heads of the WHO-backed Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response criticised China for not acting fast enough after the virus was first discovered there.

The panel said it was 'clear' that 'public health measures could have been applied more forcefully by local and national health authorities in China' in January last year.

The WHO has come under heavy criticism for its handling of the pandemic, including accusations from US President Trump that it parroted Chinese propaganda, hindering early global efforts to control the spread of the virus.
Government working with seafood sector to overcome post-Brexit obstacles



 Copyright David Martin and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Manx Government says its working closely with the seafood industry to explore support options in light of the obstacles it is facing since the UK exited Europe on 1 January.



The Islands seafood sector, including processing, is worth around 20m a year, however the combined effects of new Brexit rules and the ongoing pandemic have put businesses under increased pressure and impacted markets.



Exports of fresh fish and seafood have been disrupted due to new administration requirements, restrictions on normal working practices due to Coronavirus, and reduced export market demand - however these challenges are being worked through with some success.



Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: The seafood sector is extremely important to the Island and the combined impact of the UKs exit from Europe on top of the pandemic has presented obstacles that must be overcome.



It is a rapidly evolving situation and we are actively considering the requirement for financial support and we are working with businesses to help.



Currently, the Islands catching and processing sectors continue to operate, although there are some challenging constraints on processing businesses due to the restrictions imposed during the Islands second lockdown.



The Manx Government has reintroduced a number of support schemes for workers and businesses including the Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance (MERA) and Coronavirus Business Support Scheme that are available to those in the sector who are eligible.



During the first lockdown a package of specific financial support was made available to seafood businesses. This support was extended twice to provide an overall package that lasted for nine months in 2020.
US President Donald Trump is reportedly spending his final day as president issuing as many as 100 Presidential pardons - and Joe Exotic from Tiger King might be in the running for one.

Lawyers representing Joe Exotic reportedly flew to Washington DC to attend a series of "high level" meetings.

His team are so confident, they've even hired a stretch limousine  as well as a hair, makeup and wardrobe team. All on standby in the event he's able to walk free.
(CNN) -- At least two people were killed and several injured in an explosion Wednesday in the center of the Spanish capital, Madrid, according to the city's mayor.

The blast, which occurred in a building on Toledo Street, caused widespread damage, according to video footage tweeted out by the Madrid city hall emergency information service, Emergencias Madrid.

At least four floors have been impacted by the explosion and firefighters are evacuating people from the building, the service said.

"Various people are being treated, (for injuries) of various severity," Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez Almeida told journalists. One has been sent to the hospital, he added.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

Martinez-Almeida urged caution, as the authorities are still getting more details after the explosion. "It seems there was a gas explosion," he said.

Police officers are at the scene, a spokesperson for the Spanish National Police told CNN.

No one was injured in a residence for the elderly nearby and all residents have been evacuated, the mayor said. The director of Los Nogales residence, Antonio Berlanga, confirmed that account.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "2 dead, several injured in Madrid as explosion rocks Spanish capital"

(Natural News) In an attempt to stop violent white supremacy following the spectacle at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, students at Harvard University have released a petition calling for all alumni at the school who support President Donald Trump to have their degrees revoked.

Believing Trump to be directly responsible for instigating the insurrection, brainwashed Harvard students want to punish anyone and everyone who is in any way affiliated with the president because they, too, might be a domestic terrorist.

The campaign to subvert the outcome of the 2020 presidential election left five dead and nearly killed many more as armed, organized insurrectionists with Confederate flags and Nazi paraphernalia stormed the Capitol in search of members of Congress to kill or capture, the petition reads.

Nationwide violence is expected in the weeks to come.

The petition calls on all of Harvard to take a stand for representative democracy and against violent white supremacy by signing it.

Kayleigh McEnany, the current White House press secretary under the Trump administration, is one such Harvard graduate whom some students say should lose her degree for having light skin and supporting Trump. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Tex.) are both also on the chopping block for having graduated from Harvard as white conservatives.

According to the petition, McEnany, Crenshaw and Cruz all spread disinformation that created  mistrust, resulting in Capitol police letting a group of violent, far-left, CNN-led agitators posing as Trump supporters into the building by opening the gate for them.

Its no secret that over a dozen Harvard graduates worked hard to spread the disinformation and mistrust that created last Wednesdays insurrection  from Representative Dan Crenshaw (HKS 17), who supported the December Texas lawsuit to invalidate the election, to Senator Ted Cruz (HLS 97), one of the loudest claimants of fraud and a rare senator still objecting to the election certification after the violence at the Capitol, to White House Press Secretary Kayleigh MEnany (HLS 17), who dutifully denies the validity of the election, the petition goes on to contend.

Far-left anti-fascists at Harvard engage in fascism to get back at Trump and his supporters

Even though none of these three are under investigation for playing any role in the violence that took place at the Capitol, angry Harvard students want their degrees abolished regardless. Anyone who dares to deny the validity of the presidential election, they say, needs to be punished.

Harvard must revoke the degrees of alumni whose incendiary language and subversion of democratic processes  rooted in a history of white supremacist voter suppression  incited the violent insurrection on January 6, the petition further whines.

This includes all who have used their platforms to deny the validity of the presidential election. They do not and should not represent a university committed to strengthening democracy and the advancement of justice.'

Were it just students shrieking in typical Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) form, we would chalk it up to hormones and indoctrination. Several faculty members, however, are joining them, and even going so far as to create retaliatory blacklists against people who served in or supported the Trump administration.

This is tried-and-true fascism, of course, which is hardly a good look for people who claim to be anti-fascists. This is where we now are as a society, though, where fascism claims to embody anti-fascism, and fake elections are touted as real elections.

Joe Biden is not the legitimate next president, and overwhelming evidence proves this. To students at Harvard, however, he is because they say he is. And anyone who denies this must be silenced, blacklisted and persecuted for the rest of their lives.

More of the latest news about the fraudulent 2020 election can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

LawEnforcementToday.com

NaturalNews.com



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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  The abrogation of the Univeristy of the Philippines-DND accord that bars unauthorized entry of security forces into UP campuses is not meant as an attack against the university, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana assured on Wednesday.

"This is not an attack against UP or the alumni. Gusto lang namin malinis ang UP sa mga bad elements sa loob... I have nothing against UP, we want to protect UP and its students," Lorenzana said in a news briefing.

[Translation: We just want UP to be cleared of bad elements]

Lorenzana also revealed he has been thinking about abrogating the deal for a while, adding it was not helping students or the people and has outlived its usefulness.

"Outdated na, obsolte. It has served its purpose so it's time to terminate it," he said.

Lorenzana earlier notified UP President Danilo Concepcion that he was ending the 1989 agreement. He said this was done so they could perform their mandate to protect the youth from CPP-NPA recruitment activities.

This was met with criticism from youth groups, lawmakers and the UP community. Vice President Leni Robredo slammed it as a gesture "designed to sow fear."

UP President Danilo Concepcion urged Lorenzana to reconsider his decision and revoke the abrogation.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson MGen Edgard Arevalo, who was also present at Wednesdays's briefing, stated such an agreement was against public policy.

"Wala namang sinasabi sa rules of court na bago mag-arrest or search na may warrant na kailangan pang magpaalam," he said.

[Translation: There is nothing in the rules of court that says before arrests and searches with warrants can be done, permission has to be asked first.]

Arevalo also raised concern that asking for permission before conducting searches and arrests even with valid warrants runs the risk of persons of interest escaping.

He added no academic freedoms were being curtailed by ending the agreement.

When asked what would happen now should any demonstrations happen inside the campuses, Lorenzana said, "Wala [Nothing]. They can shout their lungs to high heavens. They can put graffiti around UP. Wala kaming pakialam doon [We will not interfere with that.]"

Arevalo said, "Again, the abrogation of this agreement is not an impairment of their right to free speech, of assembly or redress of grievances."

Renault will launch a new version of the legendary 5 as an electric hatchback.

AS the worlds automakers morph from more straightforward car manufacturers to mobility providers, you have never been more firmly ensconced in the driver's seat.

Several of the big guns have recently announced  and more will certainly follow  that they are widening the aperture of their business from just making cars to providing personal mobility networks and vehicles.

Why? Because they see the need to respond to your evolving requirements and tastes  making it easier, for example, to share, pool or lease a car, or a different mode of transport. We are truly entering the mobility era.

Big plans take time to evolve but the pace of re-direction is such that you will begin to see and feel the benefits of change sooner rather than later  starting with new emblems, moving to designs and ranges that will have more electric cars and uses for them.

Expansions dont come much bigger than the merger of FIAT and PSA, which should unleash downstream benefits for millions.

Now called Stellantis, it is the worlds fourth-largest auto group. Headed by current PSA chief Carlos Tavares, there will be billions of euro invested to become part of the electric, mobility era.

It will be good for us all to have such a competitive entity in what is an increasingly diverse market.

KIA is also pushing hard with transformative plans to expand as it reveals its new face and slogan.

Like so many others they are planning on becoming a mobility company rather than a car manufacturer. Part of the brand re-launch will involve changing the look of dealerships.

We were told it is only the beginning of the new era and that there will be many more announcements over the coming months. The old ways are giving way to the new at a ferocious pace.

The Korean firm says it will break away from its traditional manufacturing-driven business model and create mobility products and services to improve customers daily lives. See what I mean about the mobility era.

The move is part of its long-term strategy which puts lots of emphasis on new EVs: seven will be launched by 2027. First up is a coupe-crossover, from its new E-GMP platform, which will be unveiled shortly.

Others will include a range of passenger cars, SUVs and MPVs across several segments. During a recent Q&A on the brand re-launch, one thing they referred to a lot was the importance of interior design.

There will also be Purpose-Built Vehicles (PBVs) for corporate customers.

These will be built on flexible skateboard platforms with modular bodies and include car-sharing and delivery vehicles. Kia president and CEO, Ho Sung Song, said: Our vision is to create sustainable mobility solutions for consumers, communities, and societies globally.

Meanwhile, the Renault groups outlining of a massive new plan  they call it the Renaulution  is a prime example of the dramatic changes afoot. There will be a huge increase in Renaults electric vehicle range, more Dacias and the reinvention of Alpine as a performance brand.

New company boss Luca de Meo called it a profound transformation.

It is based on three phases.

The resurrection era runs until 2023 and is aimed at increasing cash flow and profitability. Then there will be the self-explanatory renovation era followed by the revolution phase, which will switch to a focus on tech, energy and mobility major electrification and new mobility schemes.

The plan involves a bigger focus on vehicles by switching from six to three platforms and from eight powertrain families to four. By 2025 there will be one petrol powertrain that can accommodate hybrids, as well as one electric, one hydrogen and one diesel powertrain.

Renault will also launch a new version of the legendary 5 as an electric hatchback. By 2025, the brand will have rolled out seven full-electric models. Dacia, they say, will stay Dacia with a touch of coolness.
The humble Corona could be the saviour of Western Australia's barley market after grain co-operative CBH group farewelled its first ever shipment to Mexico from Albany Port on Sunday.

The 35,000-tonne shipment of malting barley to the world's fourth-biggest beer maker signals a potentially significant new market for the grain after shipments to China  the world's biggest market  ended on the back of an 80 per cent tariff on imports.

CBH sent its first barley shipment to Mexico on Sunday. Credit:Hamish Hastie

The tariff, a result of escalating trade tensions between China and Australia in May last year, has changed the grain trading landscape and forced Australia to look at old markets such as the Middle East and find new ones, including beer-loving Mexico.

CBH chief marketing and trading officer Jason Craig said the Mexico shipment was significant but the market would need to be developed over time.
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New Delhi, Jan 20 : Almost half of India, mostly by virtue of misinformation or rather the lack of information, is not really sympathetic to the cause of Tibet, something that should be of great concern to the Tibetan policy makers, as per the IANS C-Voter Tibet Poll.

The survey found that more than 50 per cent Indians are either highly or moderately concerned regarding the situation in Tibet.

Every third Indian is not really concerned about the issue and the remaining are completely ignorant about it and are unable to make up their mind. Also, Indians do not readily associate Tibet as China's integral part.

"But the fact that almost half of India, mostly by virtue of misinformation or rather lack of information, is not really sympathetic to the cause should be of great concern to the Tibetan policy makers," the survey found.

Almost a quarter understands that Tibet is a state occupied by China, but going beyond these optimistic lines, the fact remains that almost 3 out of 4 Indians do not have the right idea about the status of Tibet.

Their idea of Tibet ranges from being an independent country to a state within India, but not exactly as a country which was free and independent and is now occupied by China.

In every question of the survey, maximum sensitivity towards the cause of Tibet was observed among respondents from Northeast India, followed by East and North. The least sensitivity was observed in South of India.

The survey found that there is significant confusion regarding the system of governance in Tibet. The same quarter of Indians knows clearly what the situation is on the ground. The spiritual leadership of the Dalai Lama has been duly acknowledged, but ironically that information comes at a cost of mass-amnesia regarding what happened in Tibet.

Tibet is relatively underreported in Indian media and national discourse, and almost half of the respondents confirmed the same.
DALLAS, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new year is here, and with it comes the hope that brighter days are ahead. In 2020, many people postponed routine health care due to the pandemic. This year, Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) encourages everyone to resolve to focus on their health, including their vision, and to get an eye exam.

Clear vision is important for everyone, but especially for kids. In the U.S., one in four schoolchildren has a vision problem significant enough to affect their ability to learn. Vision impacts every aspect of a child's life, from learning, confidence and social interaction to participation in activities such as sports, art and music. Yet children often don't know to ask for the help they desperately need because they don't know they can't see clearly. To them, blurry vision is normal.

How to get vision care

Once a child is diagnosed with a vision problem, many parents don't know how to get vision care. There are options including:

Under Medicaid, eye exams, frames and lenses for children under 21 are covered by the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment program.

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) lets consumers contribute money to a special account that can be used to cover medical bills and certain out-of-pocket health care costs. An FSA can be used to pay for vision care expenses such as eye exams, prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, reading glasses, and contact lenses.

Vision non-profits are another option. Organizations like Lions Clubs and Prevent Blindness can help people find low- or no-cost eye exams and glasses in their area.

Essilor Vision Foundation helps people in need

EVF believes it takes a community to serve the millions of people in the U.S. who need vision care. While everyone can do their part to ensure their own family gets annual eye exams, the foundation helps those who otherwise would not be able to afford a vision exam and glasses by working with eye doctors, schools, nonprofits and communities. EVF's programs address the obstacles of awareness, access and affordability that many people face when it comes to vision care:

Kids Vision for Life (KVFL) provides free vision exams and glasses to low-income children through mobile clinics that travel to elementary schools. Students receive a vision exam with a licensed eye doctor, and opticians help children choose their own frames. Most students get their new glasses the same day.

Changing Life through Lenses  provides a free pair of glasses when an eye doctor gives a vision exam to a patient in need. The program is for eye doctors and vision non-profits, not individual patients, and allows them to give back in their own communities. The majority of vision non-profits in the U.S. also participate in the program to help patients who cannot afford glasses.

provides a free pair of glasses when an eye doctor gives a vision exam to a patient in need. The program is for eye doctors and vision non-profits, not individual patients, and allows them to give back in their own communities. The majority of vision non-profits in the U.S. also participate in the program to help patients who cannot afford glasses. See Kids Soar  is an in-office donation campaign intended to help eye doctors inspire their patients and staff to adopt the cause of vision, and give them an opportunity to raise awareness and donate funds to help people see clearly.

is an in-office donation campaign intended to help eye doctors inspire their patients and staff to adopt the cause of vision, and give them an opportunity to raise awareness and donate funds to help people see clearly. Champions for Sight  is a free program for schools. Teachers and school nurses are often the first adults to suspect that a child may have a vision problem, and they play a key role in making sure kids receive vision care. This program offers vision-related educational materials for use in the classroom and at home.

Visit evfusa.org to learn more.

About Essilor Vision Foundation

We strive to give children a brighter future by helping them see the world more clearly. Since 2007, Essilor Vision Foundation has provided more than 1.5 million pairs of eyeglasses to individuals in need. Essilor Vision Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public, non-profit organization committed to eliminating poor vision and its lifelong consequences. To learn more visit www.evfusa.org.

Contact:

Meredith Marmurek

[email protected]

214-850-3642

Related Images

essilor-vision-foundation-logo.jpg

Essilor Vision Foundation logo

SOURCE Essilor Vision Foundation
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Credit Suisse Group AG executives ignored warnings from colleagues about troubled steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta as they channeled $1.2 billion of client funds to his businesses, according to people familiar with the matter.Bankers in Credit Suisses commodity trade-finance unit blacklisted Guptas Liberty Commodities Ltd. in 2016 because they suspected some of its deals werent legitimate, the people said. When they learned about two years later that the bank was lending to his companies through a suite of investment funds, which eventually grew to $10 billion, they flagged their worries to leaders in compliance and the division that housed the loans, one of the people said.The disclosure that Credit Suisse may have put clients at risk despite internal concerns over Guptas businesses adds a new twist to the debacle stemming from the March implosion of Greensill Capital, the finance firm at the center of the three-way relationship.Investigations, LawsuitsThe U.K. Serious Fraud Office is now investigating Guptas group of companies for suspected fraud, including in its financing deals with Greensill, according to a May 14 statement. Credit Suisse has sued to force Guptas Liberty Commodities into insolvency and has since shut the funds that made the loans and launched an internal investigation. Investors are staring at losses as the bank confronts embarrassing lawsuits.We are currently focusing our efforts on recovering our investors money, Will Bowen, a spokesman for Credit Suisse in London, said in an emailed statement, adding that the banks internal probe will focus on all of the issues linked to the funds. We are committed to learning the lessons and will share the relevant lessons learnt at the appropriate time.Andrew Mitchell, a spokesman for the Gupta Family Group Alliance, or GFG Alliance, a collective of businesses linked to Gupta including Liberty Commodities, denied any wrongdoing.The Greensill saga represents just one of the two disasters that rocked Credit Suisse in the first half of 2021. Since Greensill began unraveling, the bank has announced a $5.5 billion hit from the blowup at Archegos Capital Management.ApologiesFormer Chairman Urs Rohner apologized to shareholders and his successor, Antonio Horta-Osorio, who arrived at the end of April, has promised a sweeping strategy review.Chief Executive Officer Thomas Gottstein, who was head of the division that oversaw trade finance, wasnt aware of the internal concerns about Gupta that had prompted the bank to cut him off, according to a person familiar with the matter.Employees at the trade-finance unit, which lends money for the buying and selling of commodities, cut ties with Gupta in 2016 after becoming skeptical toward his Liberty Commodities, the people said. They distrusted the documents the company provided, triggering doubts about its transactions, they said. In one example reported by Bloomberg, the company had presented another bank with what seemed to be duplicate shipping receipts. A spokesman for Gupta has denied any wrongdoing.Banking TiesLiberty Commodities pledged assets to Credit Suisse as security for borrowings in 2013 but by early 2016, all such commitments had been extinguished, indicating that the financing relationship had ceased, U.K. Companies House filings show. And while Guptas company listed the Swiss bank as one of its lenders in its 2014 annual report, it didnt in the following years report, which is dated May 2016, according to the filings.Their counterparts at other banks, including Macquarie Group Ltd. and Sberbank PJSC, halted trading with Liberty Commodities around the same time because of similar concerns; Goldman Sachs Group Inc. also stopped in 2016, Bloomberg has reported.Nevertheless, executives at Credit Suisses asset-management division -- which creates investment products for clients and charges a fee for overseeing them -- began arranging a suite of funds focused on supply-chain finance in 2017. The entities bought securitized loans packaged by Greensill, a firm created by Australian businessman Lex Greensill. Much of the debts were linked to Guptas businesses.WarningsOfficials at the commodity trade-finance unit were concerned when they found out about the funds links to Gupta and took their fears to Thomas Grotzer, general counsel for the banks Swiss division. They also warned Luc Mathys and Lukas Haas, the bankers who helped oversee the trades at the asset-management unit.Grotzer was promoted last month to interim global head of compliance at Credit Suisse. He didnt respond to requests for comment. Mathys, head of fixed-income at the asset-management division, and Haas, a portfolio manager, were put on temporary leave in March. Neither responded to requests for comment.The bank pushed ahead with the funds and marketed them to investors as being made up of short-term debt secured on invoices, assets considered so safe that Credit Suisse gave the largest vehicle its lowest rating for risk. Yet part of the loans were linked to mere possible future revenues.Other parts of the bank continued working with Gupta as well. Credit Suisses investment bankers were due to lead an initial public offering for Libertys U.S. steel arm, which was ultimately pulled, according to a statement from the company. Gupta also announced that the Swiss bank would finance his planned acquisition of Thyssenkrupp AGs steel unit, which fell apart earlier this year.Credit Suisse has so far recouped about $5.9 billion of the $10 billion in these supply-chain funds, but it remains unclear how much will be returned ultimately to investors. Loans to Guptas businesses are among a batch of debts that are the principal sources of valuation uncertainty, the bank said earlier this month.Liberty Commoditiess external legal advisors investigated alleged rumors concerning the paperwork it used in 2019, according to Mitchell, the spokesman for GFG Alliance. They found no evidence to substantiate the rumors, nor was the company ever subject to further complaints or proceedings, he said.LCL has ongoing banking relationships with separate financial institutions, Mitchell said, referring to Liberty Commodities. The trade-finance market has been hugely challenging for all but the very largest commodities traders in recent years. Nevertheless, no financial institution has been left out of pocket as a result of lending money to LCL. On the contrary, they have received substantial commercial returns.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Taiwan cancels more events as Covid cases rise

Taipei's Dihua Street market is among the Lunar New Year events that are being cancelled. File image: Shutterstock

Taiwan has cancelled or postponed more large-scale events after a rare outbreak of domestically transmitted Covid-19 cases connected to a hospital, where the military has been sent to help with disinfection.



Taiwan, which has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention methods, has been rattled by new domestic transmissions, first in December and now in a hospital in the northern city of Taoyuan.



Until December, the island had not reported any local transmissions since April; all reported cases during that time were imported, which account for the vast majority of Taiwan's 868 infections.



After the government's decision on Tuesday to call off main celebrations for the Taiwan Lantern Festival next month, more cities have followed suit, including Kaohsiung and Taipei.



Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je told reporters on Wednesday that the city was postponing the city's lantern festival events and cancelling the customary Lunar New Year street market in the fashionable Dihua Street area.



The presidential office said late Tuesday that it would not host its Lunar New Year Reception, and that it would coordinate with the health authorities about whether President Tsai Ing-wen might visit temples during the holiday, as she would normally.



The government has quarantined and tested hundreds of people connected to the outbreak at the hospital in Taoyuan, traced to a doctor infected while treating a Covid-19 patient. (Reuters)
Nashville- Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III and the Secretary of States office announced a lawsuit against Michigan-based Labor Law Poster Service (LLPS, Inc.), Council for Corporations, LLC, ANS, Inc., and several members of a family that operate these entities: Joseph, Thomas, Steven, Justin, and Teresa Fata. The Fatas run a network of businesses from Michigan that the State alleges harmed Tennesseansespecially business ownerswith phony mailers that appear to be sent from the government.

The State alleges that under the names Corporate Records Service and Tennessee Council for Corporations, Defendants Steven, Joseph, Thomas, and Justin Fata send Tennessee business owners mailers that resemble invoices from the government and demand large fees for documents that business owners could easily create themselves and that are not required to be filed with the State. Similarly, under the name Workplace Compliance Services, Defendants Steven and Teresa Fata send mailers that look like invoices, threaten penalties, and demand a large fee for the filing of annual reports, something that business owners can easily do themselves online for a nominal fee. All of the mailers from these companies resemble official forms or invoices and include customized information of the business owner, such as the corporation number and incorporation date. The mailers also include misleading citations of Tennessee statutes, arbitrary due dates, and a purported Nashville return address that is really a UPS store mailbox that forwards payments to Defendants in Michigan or Florida.

These Defendants pretend to be something they are not in the hopes of preying on unsuspecting Tennessee business owners, said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. They take advantage of the fact people dont always read the fine print. I urge anyone with a question about a solicitation they receive to contact the Division of Business Services immediately.

The lawsuit accuses LLPS Defendants of violating the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, the Government Imposters and Deceptive Advertisements Act, and an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance that Defendants entered into in 2007 after the Tennessee Attorney Generals Office investigated prior deceptive mailers.

The Defendants do not respect the law. They use a revolving door of new names and new entities to persist in a scheme that reaps millions of dollars from unsuspecting Tennessee businesses and others across the country, said General Slatery.

The State is asking for a temporary injunction against Defendants, monetary relief for business owners who lost money, and statutory civil penalties for violations of state law and the 2007 Assurance of Voluntary Compliance.

Click here to read the complaint: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/pr/2021/pr21-04-complaint.pdf

###

#21-04: AG Slatery and the Secretary of States Office Announce Action against Michigan Operators of Government Imposter Scheme Targeting Tennessee Businesses
Here's how world leaders are reacting to US President Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday, replacing Donald Trump. EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN, IN A TWEET: "The United States is back. And Europe stands ready. To reconnect with an old and trusted partner, to breathe new life into our cherished alliance. I look forward to working together with @JoeBiden." BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON, SPEAKING IN PARLIAMENT: Congratulations to @JoeBiden on being sworn in as President of the United States and to ...
An empty packet of 'vintage' Coon cheese is selling for $50 online, just over a week after the controversial label changed its 'racist' name to Cheer.

The popular 86-year-old brand owned by Canada's Saputo Dairy Australia announced it would ditch the divisive name last year following the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement worldwide.

Although the much-loved dairy product was named after its American cheese processor Edward William Coon, who died in 1934, the company announced said it would retire the name because of its historical use as a racist slur.

The asking price for 'vintage' Coon cheese packaging is $50 online, just over a week after the controversial label changed its name to Cheer following a backlash over racism

Cheer Cheese (pictured) will start appearing on supermarket shelves from July

Aboriginal activists, including academic and former diplomat Dr Stephen Hagan, have spent the past two decades lobbying to have the brand name changed as the word 'coon' is a slur against people of colour.

But many Australian cheese lovers were disappointed with the name change and now the original could soon become a collectors item.

'Vintage cheese packaging. $50 in stock,' and ad on Facebook marketplace says.

'No longer in circulation, you may have seen these about. Some people found theirs to be racist but I can assure you this one was named after its creator not under any bad motives.

'Absolutely 100 per cent genuine. Can post or deliver within Perth for a fee.'

But the new packaging will not hit the shelves until July this year, so fans of the Coon brand can simply go to their local supermarket and buy a packet of 24 Tasty Slices for about $6 - rather than shelling out $50 for an empty packet.

Coon cheese has been much-loved by Australians for almost nine decades

Mr Coon is credited for patenting a 'ripening process' that was used to manufacture the original product in the 1920s.

The new name has divided the Australian public and sent social media into meltdown.

While some welcomed the change, it was overshadowed by outpouring of anger.

'Another company kowtowing to the Woke mob. I never even thought of racism when I enjoyed my Coon Cheese. I certainly won't be eating Cheer. What a joke!' one man tweeted.

Controversial media commentator Prue MacSween also weighed into the debate.

'Having my say on the latest cancel culture victim. Pretty cheesed off about it,' she tweeted.

Pioneering chef Peter Russell Clarke (pictured in an old ad) was the face of Coon cheese television ads in the 1980s. He was opposed to changing the name when it was first announced six months ago

The decision to rebrand Coon Cheese (pictured) follows a long-running campaign by activists who claimed the name had racist connotations

But Saputo's chief executive Lino Saputo told Chanel Seven's Sunrise program the company just wants to produce a cheese with a 'fully inclusive culture'.

'Coon is a brand that was known and I would say loved by some in Australia,' he said.

'But it was important for us to understand that name did not please other consumers and created a connotation that was not favourable.

'We decided to embark on this journey to rename that brand and come up with something that we thought would resonate well with all consumers without exclusion.'

Last year global food giant Nestle made a similar move to stamp out some of their Australian product names after they were deemed 'offensive'.

Redskins and Chicos lollies were changed to Red Ripper and Cheekies in the immediate aftermath of the Black Lives Matter protests.
The Scots Pine grows widely throughout Europe and Asia. Its distribution range extends eastwards from western Europe to the eastern extremity of Russia, northwards to Scandinavia and southwards to the chain of mountains stretching from the Pyrenees and Alps to the Balkans in central Bulgaria.

Where the tree thrives, it often forms dense forests, an outstanding example being the old Caledonian pine forest of the Scottish Highlands where the species is the dominant tree; hence its name and its special link to Scotland.

Pines are a family of evergreen trees distinguished by their scaly buds, the structure of their cones and the way their needle-like leaves are borne spirally. The number of needles is always two, three or five. Scot's Pine is a two-needle species.

It used to be believed that Scots Pine was not native to Ireland and that our pine trees were all imported from Scotland. From research carried out by scientists based in Trinity College Dublin we now know that that Scots Pine is native to Ireland and was living here thousands of years before the any trees were imported from Scotland.

It is now believed that the Scots Pine was one of the first trees to colonise Ireland after the last ice age. As a result of climate change, some of the original pine forests were engulfed by peat. Stumps of very old trees have been discovered in Co Clare preserved in bogs. However, for some reason, many of the natives died out as the years passed, and fresh stock was imported from our Gaelic neighbours.

When the trees are young they have a conical, Christmas-tree shape with branches to ground level but as they grow old the lower branches die off leaving a bare trunk with the upper branches forming a flat crown as shown in the image above.

Scots Pine produces cones, so it is a conifer or cone-bearer, one of only three natives conifers found in Ireland, the other two being Juniper and Yew. Pines were the original Christmas trees, and their cones are still a popular Christmas decoration.

The wood of the Scots Pine is widely used in building and is known as 'deal'. The wood of spruce trees is also known as deal so to avoid confusion the better quality wood of the Scots Pine is marketed as 'red deal' whereas spruce wood, which is widely used, is sold as 'white deal' as it is whiter in colour.
Why it matters: Despite the amount of money and human resources involved in developing better battery technology, progress has been relatively slow. An Israeli startup says it has achieved commercial viability for a new battery that trades in some energy density for much faster charging speeds, and might end up in electric cars in the next five years.

It seems like every time we get news of improved battery technology, it's always something experimental that researchers are playing with in a lab setting and may never see the light of day. For example, IBM claimed in 2019 that it had developed a cheap and environmentally friendly battery technology, while small companies like Sila Nanotechnology, Advano and XNRGI have been trying to increase the global manufacturing capacity of batteries while reusing as much of the existing tooling as possible.

However, Israeli company StoreDot this week announced it's come up with an improved battery that has a clear timeline for a mass rollout. The company says it has managed to produce a small run of 1,000 sample lithium-ion batteries that are designed to charge in around five minutes. To that end, StoreDot partnered with Eve Energy, a Chinese manufacturer that's been making battery products for the last 20 years.

This marks an important step towards making the charging of electric cars faster and more convenient. StoreDot has only demonstrated this new technology on an electric scooter, but these are engineering samples that are compliant with the UN 38.3 standard, which is why the company expects to achieve mass production in the coming years. That is, assuming it can find the right strategic partners among tier 1 battery-makers such as Panasonic, Tesla, Samsung, and LG Chem.

StoreDot CEO Doron Myersdorf explains that their "team of top scientists has overcome inherent challenges of extreme fast charging (XFC) such as safety, cycle life and swelling by harnessing innovative materials and cell design. [...] This paves the way for the launch of our second-generation, silicon-dominant anode prototype battery for electric vehicles later this year."

The company is looking to make batteries that can only deliver up to 100 miles of range, as the new battery tech has a lower energy density than current lithium-ion chemistries. On the other hand, StoreDot says its battery can be manufactured using existing tooling, which should make it more attractive for potential partners. Furthermore, Myersdorf says the battery can be recharged 1,000 times while retaining 80 percent of the original capacity.

This year India will be celebrating its 72nd Republic Day on January 26. Due to the new strain of the coronavirus, United Kingdom's PM Boris Johnson, has cancelled his visit to India on this Republic Day.

Although this year the celebrations will be low-key, one lucky girl from UP's Gorakhpur will have the honour of witnessing the Republic Day parade from the Prime Minister box.

BCCL

Divyangi Tripathi, who topped the district in class XII CBSE board exams last year, by scoring 99.6%, is brimming with excitement as she gets ready to take her seat in the VIP box, along with other meritorious students from across the country.



Divyangi's father Umesh Nath Tripathi, who is a professor of chemistry, has said that it is a matter of pride for their family and they are very happy.

Also read: Shorter Parade, No Red Fort And Fewer Visitors! Republic Day To Be Scaled Down Due To COVID-19

PIB

According to Times of India, Divyangi's mother said that they got the invitation from the Union government on January 13.



Divyangi was quoted as saying by TOI, It is like a dream come true for me to watch the Republic Day parade with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is my favorite leader. I am very happy.

Her aim is to become a doctor, and she is preparing for the NEET exam, I want to serve the country as a doctor, she said.

Also read: For The First Time Ever, Rafale Air Show To Be Part Of This Year's Republic Day Parade

ANI

The 72nd Republic Day will also be different as the number of participating children and folk artists have been restricted to 400, compared to over 600 last year. The decision has been taken in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.



Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat or Self-Reliant India will also feature in this years celebrations.

Also read: 150 Soldiers In Delhi For Republic Day Parade Test Positive For COVID-19
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 16:55:22|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Disney Resort kicked off its Spring Festival celebrations on Tuesday night with a gala fireworks display.

The resort will host a series of activities from Jan. 19 to Feb. 26 to welcome the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.

Visitors will be able to enjoy traditional Chinese performances and cuisines fused with Disney elements as well as traditional activities including dough figurine making, paper cutting and shadow puppetry.

Mickey, Minnie and other famed Disney characters donning traditional costumes will be seen greeting visitors, playing special drums and shaking a leg as part of the celebrations.

Opened in June 2016, Shanghai Disney Resort will also celebrate its fifth anniversary this year, with a slew of activities and offerings lined up for visitors. Enditem

An outbreak of coronavirus at a railway company was sparked after staff allegedly held a baby shower at a station bakery during lockdown.

Chiltern Railways has launched an internal investigation after up to 20 workers reportedly held a surprise party in the closed Patisserie Valerie at Marylebone station in London.

One staff member told the BBC some employees on shift attended the event and that some of the partygoers tested positive for coronavirus which meant almost two thirds of the team had to self-isolate.

A member of station staff is understood to have had keys to the Patisserie Valerie for 'security reasons' - but did not tell the chain that its outlet was being used.

Around 30 people were invited to the baby shower during the second national lockdown on November 23, according to customer services staff based at the station.

They were informed about the event both on WhatsApp and in person on the day of the event.

Chiltern Railways has launched an internal investigation after up to 20 workers reportedly held a surprise party in the closed Patisserie Valerie at Marylebone station in London

A picture of a table covered with cakes, sandwiches and mince pies was posted on social media along with bunting saying 'it's a boy!' and 'happy baby shower'.

Another photograph showed colleagues had used the departures board to share a message which read: 'It's a boy! Congratulations, much love from your Chiltern Family.'

And eight workers appeared to be ignoring social distancing rules and posed for a picture together.

The images were shared on Instagram and captioned: 'What a lovely surprise being thrown a baby shower at work today!'

One worker said he declined an invitation to the event and said he was 'shocked and alarmed' to see people hugging and not wearing masks.

Chiltern Railways said it would take 'appropriate action' once it has completed the investigation.

Another photograph showed colleagues had used the departures board to share a message which read: 'It's a boy! Congratulations, much love from your Chiltern Family'

A Patisserie Valerie spokesman said the company had not been told about the event and none of its employees could access the bakery which has been closed since March.

But he said a member of station staff would have keys to the property for 'security reasons'.

No Patisserie Valerie staff attended the event, and bosses said they would not have given their permission for the outlet to be used.

A staff member at Marylebone station said three people who attended the baby shower had positive Covid tests within four days of the event.

This meant 16 employees out of the team of 26 had to self-isolate for two weeks, according to him.

He added that some colleagues were 'petrified' of infecting loved ones who are vulnerable to coronavirus.

The surprise party was allegedly held in the closed Patisserie Valerie at Marylebone station in London. Pictured: People sit outside another nearby branch of the chain in Marylebone

Chiltern Railways said it would take 'appropriate action' once it has completed an investigation

The surprise party was allegedly held at London Marylebone railway station (file picture)

The railway company confirmed a 'small number' of staff tested positive for the virus after November 23 and insisted it was 'making every effort' to maintain a Covid-secure environment.

Another worker said he had to work while his colleagues self-isolated and felt 'demoralised' when he heard about the alleged surprise party.

He told the BBC: 'A lot of us don't want to be at work during this time, for obvious reasons.

'We're doing a job where we do come into contact with a lot of people - it's stressful enough with your own family, who are a bit worried about you going in to work at a train station and asking if you're getting the proper protection.'

The Department for Transport has contacted Chiltern Railways for a 'full explanation' after being made aware of the incident.


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Ribs (Spangenbarren) Credit: M.H.G. Kuijpers, author photo (CC-BY 4.0, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

In the Early Bronze Age of Europe, ancient people used bronze objects as an early form of money, even going so far as to standardize the shape and weight of their currency, according to a study published January 20, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Maikel H. G. Kuijpers and Catalin N. Popa of Leiden University, Netherlands.

Money is an important feature of modern human society. One key feature of money is standardization, but this can be difficult to identify in the archaeological record since ancient people had inexact forms of measurement compared with today. In this study, the authors assessed possible money from the Early Bronze Age of Central Europe, comparing the objects based on their perceivedif not precisesimilarity.

The objects studied were made of bronze in shapes described as rings, ribs, and axe blades. The authors examined more than 5,000 such objects from more than 100 ancient hoards. They statistically compared the objects' weights using a psychology principle known as the Weber fraction, which quantifies the concept that, if objects are similar enough in mass, a human being weighing them by hand can't tell the difference.

They found that even though the objects' weights varied, around 70% of the rings were similar enough to have been indistinguishable by hand (averaging about 195 grams), as were subsets of the ribs and axe blades.

Rings (Osenringen) Credit: M.H.G. Kuijpers, author photo (CC-BY 4.0, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The authors suggest that this consistent similarity in shape and weight, along with the fact that these objects often occurred in hoards, are signs of their use as an early form of standardized currency. Later, in the Middle Bronze Age of Europe, more precise weighing tools appear in the archaeological record along with an increase in scrap bronze, pointing to a developed system of weighing.

The authors add: "The euros of Prehistory came in the form of bronze rings, ribs and axes. These Early Bronze Age artefacts were standardized in shape and weight and used as an early form of money."

More information: Kuijpers MHG, Popa CN (2021) The origins of money: Calculation of similarity indexes demonstrates the earliest development of commodity money in prehistoric Central Europe. PLoS ONE 16(1): e0240462. Journal information: PLoS ONE Kuijpers MHG, Popa CN (2021) The origins of money: Calculation of similarity indexes demonstrates the earliest development of commodity money in prehistoric Central Europe.16(1): e0240462. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240462

Niall Horans Irish ex girlfriend has set tongues wagging after being pictured looking cosy with Cheryl Coles former partner.

Model and personal trainer Zoe Whelan (26), who comes from Clonshaugh in Dublin, has sparked rumours of a new friendship with Jean Bernard Fernandez Versini after they were pictured together in sunny Miami.

The French businessman, who was married to Cole for two years before their divorce in 2016, appears quite smitten with Whelan. He has been re-posting pictures of them together that she shared on her Instagram account.

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According to his social media, he previously visited Brazil and then St Barths while Whelan also posted pictures of herself at the luxury Eden Rock resort at the start of January.

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Whelan, who dated the One Direction star in 2013, was staying at the five-star resort which is owned by the family of Vogue Williams other half, Spencer Matthews.

The Dublin model, who posted a string of pictures of herself in a bikini on a tropical beach, appeared to arrive into Florida at the same time as Jean-Bernard as they soaked up some winter sun in the holiday resort.

Their social media showed them both visiting Joia Beach in Miami where they shared a snap of them laughing together.

Expand Close Dublin model Zoe Whelan Photo: Instagram/Zoe Whelan / Facebook

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He thinks he knows...but he has no idea, Whelan wrote.

She has been busy taking in the sights in the Florida holiday destination, visiting areas like the Lincoln Road which is a famous shopping and restaurant district as well as some of Miamis celebrity hot-spots.




Outgoing President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump left the nations capital for their Palm Beach resort on Wednesday morning, capping off a tumultuous term in the White House by breaking with tradition and skipping President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

The Trumps flight to Florida will be their last on Air Force One while Trump is still president. CBS News reports that Trump will land before Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are sworn in at the Capitol just after noon EST.

After leaving the White House by helicopter around 8 a.m. Wednesday, Trump addressed a crowd of aides and allies with Air Force One as a backdrop at Joint Base Andrews. Trump arrived to the farewell ceremony to applause, a 21-gun salute and his Make America Great Again campaign rally playlist.

We love you. Well be back in some form, the president told the group before boarding Air Force One. Have a good life. We will see you soon.

The president shrugged off prepared speech and staff removed teleprompters before the address, CNN reported. Trump thanked the first lady, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and his family, friends and supporters for their efforts throughout his term.

This has been an incredible four years, Trump said. Weve left it all on the field.

Trump noted that Americans saw lower taxes and significant reforms under his watch. He quipped of the incoming administration and Democratic-controlled Congress that, I hope they dont raise your taxes, but if they do, I told you so.

You are amazing people. This is a great great country, Trump said. It is my greatest honor and privilege to have been your president. I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening. And I will tell you the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success.

In a farewell video released Tuesday, Trump touted his administrations actions, including lowering taxes, deregulation, boosting the oil and natural gas industries, a Middle East peace agreement and no new wars, new trade agreements with Canada and Mexico, and reduced joblessness and a robust economy before the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that the nation mourned the nearly 400,000 lives lost to the coronavirus, and boasted that his administration helped produce a vaccine quicker than another administration could.

Trump faces an unprecedented second impeachment trial in the Senate in the coming weeks. The House last week voted to impeach him on a charge of inciting an insurrection on his own Capitol on Jan. 6, after repeated false claims of election fraud and egged on supporters who breached the Capitol to thwart Congress from sealing Bidens victory.

The breach led to more than 100 arrests and left a police officer and four rioters dead, but did not stop Congress from certifying Bidens Electoral College vote count of 306 to Trumps 232.

Trump said Tuesday that he was leaving office with a loyal and joyful heart and optimistic spirit, invoking one of his 2020 campaign slogans: The best is yet to come.

The movement we started is only just beginning, he said. As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation cannot achieve.

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Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock hand out lawn signs at a campaign event in Lithonia, Ga., on Oct. 3, 2020. (Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Warnock, Ossoff Set to Be Sworn Into Senate Wednesday Afternoon

Democrats are set to regain Senate control on Wednesday afternoon after Georgia Senate runoff winners Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are sworn into office.

Their campaigns announced Tuesday that the swearing-in ceremonies for Warnock and Ossoffwho defeated Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the states Jan. 5 twin Senate runoff electionswill be held at the U.S. Capitol at 4:30 p.m, hours after President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris take their oaths of office.

Their victories were certified by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Tuesday.

Raffenspergers office certified that Warnock beat Loeffler by over 1 percent, after he emerged from a free-for-all special election last year with more votes than any candidate, including Loeffler.

The certified results also confirmed Ossoff beat Perdue by approximately 55,000 votesa change of around 143,000 votes from the 2020 election, when Perdue edged Ossoff by over 88,000 ballots.

Warnock and Ossoff could not be sworn into office until the results were certified.

The pairs swearing in ceremonies will be presided over by Harris, who will at that point be vice president.

Once they are sworn in, Democrats will control the 50-50 Senate. The vice president is president of the Senate and, in that role, can cast tie-breaking votes. Democrats also control the House of Representatives for the second straight term.

Democrats surprised winning both Senate runoffs after Biden beat President Donald Trump in the state, which has long gone for Republicans. The last Democrat to win a Senate election in Georgia before Jan. 5 was Max Cleland in 1996. Georgia last went for a Democratic presidential candidate in 1992, when it was won by Bill Clinton.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Ossoff, 33, will be Georgias first Jewish senator and the youngest sitting member in the Senate. Warnock will be the first African American senator from the state.

In a farewell speech from the Senate floor Tuesday, Loeffler thanked her supporters and extended well wishes to Warnock. She also criticized what she called cancel culture and news media coverage of her campaign.

Warnock and Ossoff have vowed to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, back police reform, and overhaul the national response to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. Loeffler, meanwhile, suggested in November that a GOP-controlled Senate would be a firewall against socialism, warning that her Democratic opponents will try to impose their will if elected.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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As he faces charges for his alleged role in the U.S. Capitol insurrection, federal prosecutors are seeking to have Otero County Commissioner, Cowboys for Trump founder and former Walt Disney performer Couy Griffin detained until trial, calling him a danger to the community and a flight risk in court documents.

The move comes as the two other members of the Otero County Commission demanded that Griffin resign immediately.

Griffin was arrested by the FBI in Washington, D.C., on Sunday on one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. Griffin was allegedly standing in a restricted area of the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, according to an affidavit for his arrest. He told FBI agents that he never entered the building.

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On Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Janani Iyengar filed a motion in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to keep Griffin in custody. Online court records dont name an attorney for Griffin, and a response to the motion has not been filed.

Describing the 47-year-olds background, the court document calls Griffin a former entertainer, having acted for six years as a western or cowboy performer for the Walt Disney Company in Paris, France, in addition to being a restaurateur and a self-styled preacher.

The defendant is the founder and leader of a political committee called Cowboys for Trump, on whose behalf he has engaged in inflammatory, racist, and at least borderline threatening advocacy, the document says.

The motion cites Griffins public comments about returning to the Capitol with guns on Inauguration Day, saying there will never be a Biden presidency and blood will run out of the Capitol building. The motion also mentions a past comment from Griffin that the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.

These and other statements the defendant has made indicate his willingness to threaten, injure, and intimidate, whether individually or through his group, Cowboys for Trump,  the motion says.  It is reasonable to expect, given the defendants history, that he would engage in such conduct to deter prospective witnesses and jurors who might not share his viewpoint.

Iyengar also argues that Griffin is a flight risk because he has no ties to Washington, D.C., where he must return for trial.

On Tuesday, Otero County Commissioners Gerald Matherly and Vickie Marquardt joined state Attorney General Hector Balderas in asking for Griffins resignation from the commission. The commissioners said in a news release that Griffin has devoted himself to promoting Cowboys for Trump instead of serving the citizens of Otero County.

The people of Otero County deserve an end to this circus now, the release said. We call upon Commissioner Griffin to resign his office immediately. If he does not, we will support the recall effort and the removal proceedings of the Attorney General.

Balderas has said he will take legal action to remove Griffin from office if he does not resign, but he has not said what those legal actions could be.

A hearing on the detention motion has not been scheduled.
Donald Trump posted a pre-recorded farewell video today, boasting often erroneously  about the accomplishments of his administration.

Some social media users noted that the video was not broadcast on mainstream news broadcasts.

"Only Newsmax is airing Trump's farewell video," Jeremy Barr, a reporter for the Washington Post tweeted.

Shortly after he shared the tweet, Fox News announced it would also run the president's message in full.

"US mainstream media all chose to stay with pictures of President-Elect Joe Biden disembarking from the plane at the time the Donald Trump recording of his final speech as President was released," another user wrote.

Some users may have confused the president's pre-recorded message for a live statement. Broadcasters may run the video - in full or in part - later in the day.

Plenty of mainstream outlets reported on the farewell message.

Shortly after the video was posted to YouTube, CNN's Jim Acosta tweeted out a link to the video.

Some users were upset that broadcasters chose to air footage of Mr Biden arriving in Washington DC for his inauguration rather than Mr Trump's address.

"Not one mainstream TV network carried it, not even FOX, or FBN, I looked! CSPAN 3 actually had the audacity to air the Clinton farewell speech at the same time President Trump was giving his own farewell speech!" one user wrote.

The Hill, Politico, The Guardian, CBS News, ABC News, The New York Times, CNN and The Independent, among others, reported on the farewell speech shortly after it was posted.

Mr Trump wished the incoming administration "good luck," but was criticised for not mentioning Mr Biden's name once.

"While there are several references to the new administration, Trump does not mention Biden by name in his farewell video. Its about 20 minutes," CNN's White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins wrote.

Rita Katz, the director of SITE Intelligence group, noted that QAnon conspiracy theorists and deluded Trump loyalists are claiming the video was a deepfake.

"An entire brainwashed movement now responding that Trumps farewell speech just now was 'deepfake,' that hes still NOT CONCEDING, and continuing embrace of 'civil war,'" she wrote. "Some taking the speech itself as a nod to continue their 'awakened' movement."

Others criticised Mr Trump's use of a pre-recorded, rather than live, address, claiming it was a clear indication he was bitter over his loss.

"Nothing encapsulates the smallness and isolation of Trump's final days as President more succinctly than pre-taping his farewell address and tossing it up on YouTube. A sad, pathetic ending for a historically petty man," Tommy Vietor, a member of the Barack Obama administration, wrote.
A Michigan man has been charged with murder in connection with the strangulation death of his wife, two months after she was found unresponsive in the couple's bed .

Richard Guichelaar, 35, was arraigned last week on the murder charge in Kentwood District Court. Bond was set at $2million.

Authorities said Richard killed his wife, 32-year-old Amber Guichelaar, at the family's home near Grand Rapids on November 16. She was a Kentwood teacher and the mother of two children, with a third on the way.

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Richard Guichelaar, 35 (pictured in his mugshot, left), has been charged with open murder for the strangulation death of his pregnant wife, Amber Guichelaar, 32 (right), in November 2020

Richard called 911 on November 16 to report finding Amber dead in their bed at their home in Kentwood, Michigan (pictured)

'The death was declared a homicide by strangulation/asphyxiation,' Det. Tim Dykgraaf said in a court filing. 'Richard was the only other person present in the home at the time frame of the incident that was physically capable of causing the injuries that resulted in Ambers death.'

According to court documents cited by Mlive.com, Richard had called 911 at 3.30am on November 16 and told a dispatcher that he had found his wife dead in their bed at their residence in the 1400 block of Andrew SE in Kentwood.

The medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Amber found 'injuries consistent with an assault which accused just prior to her death,' according to the filings.

Amber was pregnant with her third child and would have turned 33 years old on November 19

On January 9, Richard was arrested and arraigned the next day on a charge of open murder.

During the arraignment, Richard, who works for a landscaping and snowplowing company, assured the judge that he was not a flight risk.

'Just know that I will show up for everything Im supposed to and Im not a risk, your honor,' he said.

Richard has yet to enter a plea and remains jailed pending his next court appearance, which is scheduled for Thursday.

Amber graduated from Calvin College and had most recently worked for Kentwood Public Schools, where she taught students learning English as a second language, reported WOOD-TV.

The Guichelaars had faced legal and financial woes in recent years, stemming from a 2019 incident in which their pet Akita dog attacked a child, which resulted in a civil lawsuit.

A supporter has launched a GoFundMe campaign on behalf of Amber's sister, Britanny, who will be raising her two young daughters.

'We rejoice for Amber is with her heavenly father but her two girls are still here.,' organizer Carley Veltema wrote. 'Amber's sister Brittany will be taking care of the girls and their future!'
WASHINGTON  Californias Kamala Harris became the highest-ranking woman and woman of color ever in American politics when she was sworn in as the 49th vice president of the United States on Wednesday, a historic moment of celebration amid pain in the nations capital.

It was a day filled with symbolic choices that called attention to the significance of Harris vice presidency, and solemn rituals that both signaled the normalcy and the unusual nature of her and President Bidens inauguration.

Harris was administered the oath of office at 11:41 a.m. EST by another barrier-breaking woman, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina on the high court.

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The new vice president placed her hand on two Bibles. One, the same Bible she used when being sworn in as California attorney general and U.S. senator, was a nod to her upbringing in the East Bay. It belonged to Regina Shelton, a neighbor she knew as Mrs. Shelton, who became like a second mother to Harris. The second Bible belonged to Justice Thurgood Marshall, the seminal civil rights lawyer and first Black Supreme Court justice.

She was escorted at the ceremonies by Eugene Goodman, the Black Capitol Police officer who heroically faced down rioters loyal to former President Donald Trump who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 and led them away from where senators were hiding.

In another gesture to the historic nature of her vice presidency, Harris selected a Black designer for her inaugural outfit, a purple suit ensemble created by Christopher John Rogers of Los Angeles.

Harris, 56, earned her place in the history books in a relatively short time. In 2003, she won her first race for elected office as San Francisco district attorney. She was elected state attorney general in 2010, and was two years into her second term in 2016 when she was elected to the Senate. Just two years after arriving in Washington, she began her own campaign for president, and though it failed, she landed on the ticket as Bidens running mate.

In each post, Harris was a pioneer  the first woman or first woman of color ever to hold that office. But she often says being the first never intimidated her.

I have in my career been told many times, Its not your time. Its not your turn, Harris said in a campaign video posted in November. And let me just tell you, I eat no for breakfast.

Biden acknowledged Harris historic election in his inaugural address, noting that as he spoke from the Capitol, he looked out upon the National Mall where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I Have a Dream speech in 1963 and where women marching for the right to vote were met with thousands of protesters 50 years before that.

Today, we mark the swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office  Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden said. Dont tell me things cant change.

The pomp and circumstance of Harris inauguration stood in contrast with the heavily militarized Capitol and White House, fortified by tens of thousands of National Guard troops in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection that left five dead, including a Capitol Police officer.

Instead of being packed with hundreds of thousands of people, as it was when Barack Obama became the first Black president in 2009, the silent National Mall was filled with flags representing Americans who could not be there because of the coronavirus pandemic. On the eve of the inauguration, Harris and Biden held a memorial for the more than 400,000 Americans who have lost their lives to the disease.

The solemnity of the day continued as Biden and Harris traveled via motorcade to Arlington National Cemetery, where the new president and vice president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Around Washington, there were only brief glimpses of the typical inauguration festivities. Outside the security fencing enclosing the area around the White House, small crowds formed to listen to Bidens address on speakers. A larger group of Biden and Harris supporters mingled on the street designated as Black Lives Matter Plaza, directly across from the White House. Along the street, a few vendors set up tables to sell Biden-Harris merchandise.

The new president and vice presidents traditional walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House was truncated, though not entirely eliminated. Gone were the crowds of spectators. In their place stood law enforcement officers, most of whom saluted as Harris and Bidens motorcades passed by.

In another symbolic choice, Harris was escorted toward the White House during the abbreviated parade by the drum line of Howard University, her alma mater. Harris is the first graduate of a historically Black college or university to be vice president.

Harris and her family, including husband Doug Emhoff, walked the last few hundred yards, as Biden and his family did shortly before. Harris held hands with one of her grandnieces and waved and grinned behind her face mask at the few spectators along the sidewalk. When a reporter shouted, How are you feeling? she yelled back, Great!

With the Army Herald Trumpets playing from along the White House fence, she continued to the stairs of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, greeting cheering staffers. At the top, she turned and waved, then entered the building.

Harris takes office with the country staggering not just from the pandemic but from a year of social justice unrest and the white-supremacist-linked insurrection. In addition to how effectively she supports Biden, she and her actions will be scrutinized with an eye toward whether she may one day succeed the 78-year-old president.

Biden has yet to identify where he wants Harris to focus her time and attention, but has said he wants her to assume a level of responsibility similar to what he had under Obama.

One task waiting for her is presiding over the Senate, a typically honorary role for the vice president. On Wednesday afternoon, Harris swore three new Democratic senators into office, including her replacement from California, former Secretary of State Alex Padilla, creating a 50-50 partisan split in the upper chamber.

As the tiebreaker, Harris secures the majority for Democrats, and will be called to her former home in the Capitol anytime her vote is needed.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
Guest column: The proof is in the pudding. Trump lost and then incited
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg

Swedish environmental activist Great Thunberg, who is known to have engaged in one too many Twitter spats with outgoing US President Donald Trump, roasted him in his own words on January 20.



He seems like a very happy old man looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see! pic.twitter.com/G8gObLhsz9

 Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 20, 2021

Sharing a picture of Donald Trump taken while he walked out of the White House premises for the last time before Joe Bidens inauguration ceremony, Greta wrote: He seems like a very happy old man looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!

The text of Gretas tweet was borrowed from the one that Donald Trump had posted back in December 2019 to mock the teen activist.

After Greta Thunberg delivered her famous how dare you speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019, Trump had tweeted: She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see.
A father and son died in a plane crash due to a series of tragic decisions by the pilot and air traffic controllers, an investigation has revealed.

Jeffrey Hills, 59, was piloting his Mooney M20J four-seat plane with his son Matthew, 25, on board when it crashed into high terrain in Dorrigo National Park near Coffs Harbour on September 20, 2019.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has now revealed Mr Hills did not have a valid licence while 'limited information' from air traffic controllers influenced him to fatally lower his altitude and crash.

Pilot Jeffrey Hills, 59, (right) and his son Matthew Hills, 25, (left). Mr Hills was flying his Mooney M20J four-seat plane with his son on board when it crashed into high terrain in Dorrigo National Park near Coffs Harbour on September 20, 2019

Matthew Hills (right) and his partner Jacqui Forsyth (left)

Prior to takeoff, Mr Hills did not complete the required flight reviews or proficiency checks, which means he did not have a valid licence to undertake the flight.

His knowledge and skills required for effective flight management and decisionmaking had 'likely deteriorated', according to the ATSB.

Mr Hills and his son were flying from Murwillumbah to Taree on the morning of September 20 when they encountered poor weather.

The pilot requested air traffic control permission to increase his altitude to 6,500 feet into controlled 'Class C' airspace at 7:17am.

But a trainee controller working under supervision in Brisbane overestimated his workload and declined the request despite 'no conflicting traffic, meteorological factors or limiting air traffic control instructions or procedures'.

The trainee controller advised Mr Hills to request clearance to fly in the lower 'Class D' airspace surrounding Coffs Harbour Airport.

The plane was found wrecked in dense bushland the next day. An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has now revealed Mr Hills did not have a valid licence while information from air traffic controllers influenced him to fatally lower his altitude and crash

The plane descended to 3,564 feat near high terrain in Dorrigo National Park at 7:32am, which was the plane's last recorded position

Mr Hills made the request but another controller from the Coffs Harbour advised a visual flight would only be possible at an altitude 'not above 1,000 feet' and Mr Hills confirmed he would descend to this altitude.

Mr Hills continued on track to Taree and reported he was operating outside controlled airspace in clear conditions at 7:24am.

He climbed to 4,500 feet before descending to 3,564 feet near high terrain in Dorrigo National Park at 7:32am, which was the plane's last recorded position.

When the aircraft did not arrive at Taree as expected a search was initiated and the plane's wreckage was eventually found the next day on September 21, 2019.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood said decisions by both the pilot and air traffic controllers ultimately led to the crash.

A map shows the the plane's path, including when it diverted after not being provided clearance and where it crashed, just west of Coffs Harbour

'The ATSB also found that the pilot was not carrying suitable navigation equipment  the pilot was likely using a handheld GPS unit while air navigation charts for the area were found stowed in a flight bag  and had most likely not obtained the required weather forecasts,' Mr Hood said.

'The Class C controller provided the option to seek a clearance at a lower altitude with an increased risk of encountering poor weather.

'Limited information provided by the Class D controller to enter that airspace probably led to the pilot's decision to descend into a hazardous area instead of opting for other available safe options.'

Mr Hood said a number of safer options were available for Mr Hills such as going around the Class C airspace at or above 6,500 feet, diverting, or descending to the north of Grafton to proceed coastal beneath the cloud layers south to Taree.

Airservices Australia has now implemented a number of proactive safety actions in light of the 'concerning' investigation.
The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
[January 20, 2021] Caverion's long-term partnership with PVO-Vesivoima in the operation and maintenance of hydropower plants continues

HELSINKI, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Caverion has signed an agreement with PVO-Vesivoima Oy for the continuation of operation and maintenance service at the Kokemaenjoki, Iijoki and Kemijoki hydropower plants in Finland. The agreement will ensure the continued cost efficiency of maintenance and high availability of PVO-Vesivoima's hydropower plants. Caverion's cooperation with PVO-Vesivoima began already in 2011. On account of good safety work and results, high quality of work and continuous development, Caverion has proven that it is the right partner in the maintenance and local operation of the plants. "It's great that our partnership with Caverion will continue. We can rest assured that our plants will continue to be maintained by responsible and skilled people. Hydropower production must be available exactly when reserve capacity is needed, so planned preventive maintenance and the timing of maintenance play a significant role in the operational reliability of the plants. In addition to conventional maintenance, it is important that we are able to develop our plants together and use new technology in the continuously changing operating environment," says Jani Pulli, Managing Director of PVO-Vesivoima Oy. With planned preventive maintenance, work planning and digital solutions based on IoT and data analytics, Caverion offers the tools for systematic and planned preventive maintenance before any malfunctions of equipment. The use of data makes it possible to find opportunities for increasing the efficiency of operations and enhance the availability of the plants. "Our cooperation with PVO-Vesivoima has always been open and very smooth. We actively seek solutions and develop operations together. The energy market is undergoing continuous change and, as a renewable source of energy, hydropower facilitates agile electricity production to regulate and supplement other forms of energy production. We are grateful for the trust placed in us and will work accordingly, promoting the efficiency of fossil-free energy production and occupational safety," says Elina Engman, Head of Caverion Industry division. Caverion's hydropower and industrial services professionals manage PVO-Vesivoima's sites extensively, and when needed, utilise the expertise of all 200 hydropower employees. Read more about our services to Industry For more information, please contact: Elina Engman, Head of Caverion Industry division, tel. +358 50 351 4673, elina.engman@caverion.com or Jani Pulli, Managing Director, PVO-Vesivoima Oy, tel. +358 50 386 2680 jani.pulli@pvo.fi This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/caverion/r/caverion-s-long-term-partnership-with-pvo-vesivoima-in-the-operation-and-maintenance-of-hydropower-p,c3270676 The following files are available for download:







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Virgis Lithuania

Virgis was born and raised in a small town in Lithuania under the communist regime. In this context of poverty and hypocrisy, Virgis realized from an early age the importance of having real moral and spiritual values.

Intelligence, culture and belief constitute a defence against the regime for his mother who sent him to art school when he was 12 years old. This was his first experience with art. There he discovered the culture and the arts of the free countries of the West: his vocation as an artist was born. Naturally he turned to study art at the University, and after graduation he became an art teacher at a secondary school. The Gorbachev regime somewhat freed society and Virgis could finally indulge in its creation.

In the 90s, he began offering his work in various local exhibitions. At the time, the artwork of Marc Chagall was the inspiration of a great majority of his work. The meeting with two French artists, Anne de Beaufort and Michele Volsy, was a milestone in his artistic life, and Virgis instinctively changed the nature of his work and devoted himself to abstract painting.

He uses oil paint on canvas to express emotions and feelings: fear, grief, joy or worry. For Virgis, these feelings are as abstract as real as life.

Today, artists like Stanley F. Kline, Robert Motherwell, Pierre Soulages and Dubuffet are references for Virgis. He is a professor of painting and graphic art in an art school in Lithuania.

Virgis finds inspiration in his environment and what it conveys. His painting is sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter. Through his abstract work he speaks of the uncertainty of life. The difficult context in which his vocation as an artist was born determines all his work and gives it its strength and depth.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

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Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 49F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 36F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.
Beijing will extend the health observation period to 28 days for inbound travelers from overseas to avoid the import of COVID-19 cases, according to a press conference held by municipal authorities on Tuesday.

The new "14+7+7" model comprises the 14-day centralized medical quarantine, one week of home isolation or centralized quarantine, and another week of health monitoring.

Inbound individuals through other domestic cities have to wait 21 days before entering the Chinese capital, and seven-day health monitoring is required after their entrance.

For those with an inbound period of less than 21 days but are already in Beijing, the "7+7" isolation and health monitoring have to be completed here, local authorities said.

During the seven-day health monitoring, people can follow their normal routines while avoiding gatherings. They are also advised to regularly report their health conditions to local communities.
St. Lukes University Health Network this week announced its COVID-19 vaccination plan, and the process for residents to sign up to receive shots as they become available.

And Lehigh Valley Health Network on Wednesday announced the opening next week of its mass vaccination clinic at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.

To get the vaccine through St. Lukes, anyone can pre-register through the St. Lukes MyChart portal at sluhn.org/vaccine. Those who do not have a MyChart account may create one.

After completing a brief questionnaire, MyChart users will be notified when it is their turn to schedule an appointment for the vaccine, which they will be able to do online, St. Lukes says. Those accessing MyChart via the St. Lukes mobile app can find the COVID-19 Vaccine pre-registration under Questionnaires --> Optional Questionnaires.

Answers to questions related to MyChart can found at slhn.org/covid-19 or by calling 866-785-8537 (866-STLUKES), Option 5.

Alternatively, individuals who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine may call 866-785-8537 (866-STLUKES), option 7.

The Pennsylvania Health Department on Tuesday expanded those eligible to receive the vaccine now under Phase 1A of the states rollout, to include anyone over the age of 65 and anyone between the ages of 16 and 64 with a condition that puts them at higher risk of the virus, as well as pregnant women.

(New Jersey residents can learn more about eligibility for the vaccine at covid19.nj.gov or from nj.com/coronavirus.)

Following Pennsylvanias protocol, St. Lukes has concentrated its vaccination efforts on Phase 1A priority groups, such as health care employees and first responders.

We are proceeding in a thoughtful, orderly and safe way, Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, the St. Lukes senior vice president for medical affairs, said in a statement Tuesday. As per the state, we are opening scheduling to individuals age 65-plus and those with medical conditions.

To avoid lines and chaos, we are prioritizing individuals at the highest risk starting with individuals 75-plus and rapidly working down the list as we have supplies.

St. Lukes receives a weekly allotment of vaccine from Pennsylvania, which distributes to all health systems statewide. The exact allotment is subject to change, making planning somewhat of a moving target, the health network says.

We anticipate that with increased supplies in manufacturing and the addition of other vaccines, like Johnson & Johnsons, that there will be rapid increase in our ability to accommodate the entire population, Jahre stated.

St. Lukes is administering vaccinations at 11 of its dozen hospital campuses, ensuring access throughout the greater Lehigh Valley area, surrounding counties and western New Jersey. The network says it has achieved a vaccination rate of 55 people per hour, or nearly one person a minute. Because the vaccinations are taking place in a hospital setting, patients can be monitored for adverse reactions and provided appropriate treatment if necessary, according to a St. Lukes news release.

In addition to St. Lukes, Lehigh Valley Health Network has been administering the vaccine in advance of opening a mass-vaccination site set up at Dorney Park in South Whitehall Township. LVHN said it will begin administering the vaccine at Dorney Park on Wednesday, Jan. 27, to those age 75 or older, and only those with an appointment. The drive-through clinic will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The vaccination is free.

LVHN invites area residents to pre-register for the vaccine once it becomes available, via mylvhn.org, which is also used to set up an appointment. Another option to make an appointment is to call 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD).

LVHN urges those who already have a scheduled vaccination appointment to keep their appointment.

The Allentown and Bethlehem health bureaus have also begun vaccine efforts independent of the areas hospital networks.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.

WASHINGTON  Joseph R. Biden Jr. assumed the presidency on Wednesday, bringing an expansive team of climate change experts to staff a White House that is preparing to focus on global warming in a way no other administration has done before.

Mr. Biden enters office with the largest team ever assembled inside the White House to tackle global warming and has installed policy experts at the State Department as well as the National Security Council, the presidents top advisory body for all foreign policy decisions. The Treasury Department, the Transportation Department and the office of Vice President Kamala Harris all will have dedicated climate policy staff, with more hires expected in the coming days throughout the government.

He has vowed to move quickly. In addition to rejoining the Paris Agreement on Wednesday, the new president intends to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit in his first hours in office. In the following days, people with knowledge of the teams plans said, Mr. Biden will issue a series of executive orders that start the process of rolling back some of the Trump administrations most debated environmental decisions  such as restricting the science that can be used to create new air and water protections  and lay the groundwork for ambitious new policies.

A Mechanicsburg man was released from federal custody Tuesday after being arraigned on four offenses, including assault, related to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Barton Wade Shively, who is in his early 50s, went to police on Jan. 14 to share what he did at the Capitol, a prosecutor said Tuesday afternoon. Since that time though, prosecutors allege he also has obstructed justice twice in connection with his case.

Details of the original charges were not unsealed by early Tuesday evening; however, prosecutors said Shively is believed to have laid hands on police officers on three separate occasions.

Not only did he potentially injure them and cause physical harm, the prosecutor said, but he also may have encouraged others by potentially inciting violence from those other individuals that were around him.

The prosecutor said when Shively first came to them, he said he had videos and photos from the riot, but he did not bring the phone to the interview.

During the initial interview, Shively told investigators the names of two others who were involved in the riot, the prosecutor said. In another call on a later date, Shively told investigators he called those people to tell them he was talking to the FBI.

When investigators contacted Shively to say he was going to be charged for his part in the riot, he told them he would not bring them his phone and he had deleted the videos and photos off of it.

Shivelys attorney Thomas Thornton, from the public defenders office, said Shively repeatedly talked to police out of his own volition and gave them information, so he did everything he could up to that point.

Federal Magistrate Martin C. Carlson who presided over the hearing indicated the deleted photos and videos might not be gone forever. Its astonishing what the FBI can retrieve from phones and other media, he said.

Thornton argued that Shively hadnt been in trouble for a long time and that he is responsible for the mortgage on his home and three dogs. Shivelys boss at a window cleaning company came to the hearing to show support.

I do not think he understood the full impact of the seriousness of this entire offense until his arrest today, Thornton said.

It is unclear whether investigators believe Shively was inside the Capitol, but his charges include entering a restricted building or grounds and violent entry on the grounds or any of the Capitol buildings. His attorney said he never entered the building.

Mr. Shively is someone who obviously got a little carried away, Thornton said. Shively was only a part of the riot for 10 minutes, Thornton said.

Shively was released on his own recognizance, with conditions including that he turn in the phone in question to authorities Tuesday night and that his travel is restricted to the middle district of Pennsylvania, and D.C. for court appearances only.

He is not allowed to possess a firearm, but said Tuesday that he did not own one.

If Shivley violates these turns, he could land himself back in police custody.

Shivelys charges currently include aiding and abetting, civil disorder, unlawful entry of restricted buildings or grounds, forcible assault and violent entry that impeded an ongoing session. The final charge carries a possible term of up to 20 years in prison. Obstruction charges had not been filed Tuesday night.

Federal agents accompanied Shively to his home Tuesday night and arranged to get his phone from his home with his permission. Shively told the agents where the phone was located on a table in the front room and put up his dogs so the agents could retrieve the phone.

His neighbor came to check on him as the agents were still outside and Shively said to the agents: I got friends. Im not a bad guy.

Shivelys attorney, who was at the scene, told PennLive: Mr. Shively got involved in something larger than he expected and we have to wait for all the facts to come out, which will happen in Washington D.C. in front of a judge.

Thornton reiterated how cooperative Shively had been throughout the investigation with the FBI.

Staff Writer Christine Vendel contributed to this report.

Read more on PennLive:
Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

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Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

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ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

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Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

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Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

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Photo: The Canadian Press President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill participate in a COVID-19 memorial event, Tuesday.

In his first hours as president, Joe Biden will aim to strike at the heart of President Donald Trumps policy legacy, signing a series of executive actions that reverse his predecessors orders on immigration, climate change and handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden on Wednesday will end construction on Trumps U.S.-Mexico border wall, end the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization and revoke the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, aides said Tuesday. The new president will sign the orders almost immediately after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, pivoting quickly from his pared-down inauguration ceremony to enacting his agenda.

The 15 executive actions are an attempt to essentially rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office  and each signed just one. But Biden, facing the debilitating coronavirus pandemic, is intent on demonstrating a sense of urgency and competence that he argues has been missing under his predecessor.

I think the most important thing to say is that tomorrow starts a new day, said Jeff Zients, Biden's choice to lead a new White House office that will co-ordinate the federal government's revamped response to the pandemic.

Indeed, Biden started the day by signalling he would seek a return to the Washington traditions and normalcy his predecessor upended. As Trump, who declined to attend Biden's inauguration, departed from Washington Wednesday morning, Biden and his family made their way to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, the historic church where John F. Kennedy's funeral mass was held. The president-elect was joined by Democratic and Republican congressional leaders for the service, a nod to the bipartisanship he hopes to inspire in the fight against the pandemic.

Biden's first actions reach well beyond the current health crisis. He intends to order a review of all Trump regulations and executive actions that are deemed damaging to the environment or public health. He will order federal agencies to prioritize racial equity and review policies that reenforce systemic racism. He will revoke a Trump order that sought to exclude noncitizens from the census and will order federal employees to take an ethics pledge that commits them to upholding the independence of the Justice Department.

Susan Rice, Biden's incoming domestic policy adviser, said the new president would also revoke the just-issued report of Trumps 1776 Commission to promote "patriotic education."

These actions will be followed by dozens more in the next 10 days, aides said, as Biden looks to redirect the country without having to go through a Senate that Democrats control by the narrowest margin.

Notably, the opening actions did not include immediate steps to rejoin the Iran nuclear accord, which Trump abandoned and Biden has pledged to reimplement. Jen Psaki, the incoming White House press secretary, said that while they were not included in Bidens Day One orders, the new president will in the coming days revoke the Pentagons ban on military service by transgender Americans as well as the so-called Mexico City policy, which bans U.S. funding for international organizations that perform or refer women for abortion services.

Psaki said the actions to be taken Wednesday were focused on providing immediate relief to Americans.

In another effort to signal a return to pre-Trump times, Psaki said she would hold a news briefing late Wednesday in a symbol of the administrations commitment to transparency. Trump's White House had all but abandoned the practice of briefing reporters daily.

Biden will sign the actions during his first visit to the Oval Office in four years. Since then, presidential order actions were often marked by clumsy announcements and confusion. In their first days in office, Trumps team was forced to rewrite executive orders by court order and aides took days to figure out how to use the White House intercom to alert press about events. The repeatedly cancelled plans to hype new building programs  dubbed Infrastructure week  became a national punchline. Biden aides, by contrast, are aiming to demonstrate they are prepared for the job right out of the gate.

Biden senior aides, led by deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed and campaign policy chief Stef Feldman, began plotting out the executive action plans in November, just days after Biden won the presidency and drafting began in December. The final documents were reviewed by career staff at the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel in recent weeks before Bidens swearing-in to ensure they would pass legal muster.

Bidens team was set begin assuming the reins of power even before the Marine Band finished its rendition of Hail to the Chief after the new president takes the oath of office.

Aides were due to begin entering the White House complex at the stroke of noon  when Biden officially assumes the office  to begin overseeing national security roles.
DANBURY Danburys long-serving former mayor, Mark Boughton, was approved Tuesday to serve as commissioner of the Department of Revenue Services by the states vetting committee. Boughton is the sole nominee for the position, and was tapped for this position by Gov. Ned Lamont last month.

If approved by the Connecticut House of Representatives, Boughton will serve as the next state tax commissioner.

Boughton, a Republican, was an across-the-aisle pick for the Democratic governor, and several members of the General Assemblys Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee expressed approval at Lamonts decision to make this bipartisan selection. Boughton previously served 10 consecutive terms as Danburys mayor from 2001 to 2020, making him the longest-serving mayor in the towns history.

Despite his long tenure, Boughton said he was committed to leaving local politics behind in his new role. I think its important that people, when they come to DRS, theyre not looking at a republican, theyre not looking at a democrat, theyre looking at somebody that can handle the problem in a fair manner and not have to worry about politics, he said.

In Boughtons opening remarks, which were live-streamed via a Zoom link, Boughton thanked the governor for the nomination, and emphasized his commitment to the new role as well as his desire to help the state navigate difficult tax policy during the pandemic.

I would be remiss in not acknowledging the challenging times we are in, and the rough edges of cynicism towards government authority that can be fueled by isolation, economic uncertainty and extreme hardship, Boughton said. I am, however, eternally optimistic that by all of us pulling in the same direction, we can together contribute to better days for our state and our nation.

Boughton also emphasized his committment to continued communication between Connecticut residents, other legislators, and himself. Ill listen a lot, empower problem solving, and support a work environment that values inclusion and different perspectives, he said.

The committee questioned Boughton on issues ranging from tax outreach and enforcement efforts, to dealing with the pandemic economy, to the influx of new residents from New York, and Boughtons plans for disentangling himself from his local politics and commitments in Danbury. Many of the legislators also thanked Boughton for his years of public service, and congratulated the former mayor on his nomination.

I think its an important thing to have a seasoned and experienced government manager in charge of DRS, said Sen. Martin Looney.

State representative Edwin Vargas of Hartford questioned Boughton on his record with the Latino population, asking about his plans to ensure inclusivity for Vargas constituents. In response, Boughton reiterated his commitment to inclusivity and better outreach within the states immigrant communities.

Aside from a short interruption where Boughtons video dropped out completely, the hearing resolved seamlessly.

Afterwards, Boughton said that he was pleased with the hearings outcome and appreciated the positive comments and bipartisan cooperation. The most important thing is, coming out of COVID, we have to all work together.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

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Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms. High 88F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

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ALBANY  New York senators have asked the state Office of Court Administration to issue additional guidance on the eviction moratorium for local courts as lawmakers receive multiple reports of judges disregarding the law and regulations on the books.

A slate of 31 Democratic senators penned a letter Thursday asking court administrators to provide further guidance to local courts to ensure that the eviction moratorium and its protections are applied uniformly across the state.

The letter notes lawmakers heard reports of eviction proceedings going forward in Oswego, Poughkeepsie, Schenectady, Syracuse and Yonkers as well as foreclosure proceedings moving forward in Kings, Queens and Suffolk counties.

The COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act aimed to halt the majority of residential evictions and foreclosures for 60 days amid the latest increase in coronavirus cases in New York.

It is very troubling to hear that some courts may not be complying with the law, and we again urge you to immediately ensure that they do so, the senators wrote in a letter last week.

Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat who chairs the Senates Judiciary Committee, said they received several credible reports from housing advocates of courts ignoring the protections, and thus senators acted swiftly to ensure the law is enforced consistently.

One of the reasons why we passed this legislation was to make sure courts proceed on a uniform basis and there are no inconsistencies throughout the state, he said. We want to make sure that this is an ironclad protection for everyone.

The Office of Court Administration is in receipt of the letter and administrators are looking into the concerns raised regarding evictions in courts outside of New York City and foreclosures proceeding in some courts in New York City and on Long Island, said Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the office.

As soon as we have concrete information, we will take whatever actions may be necessary and respond accordingly, he said.

The potential conflicting enforcement comes as additional federal funds are made available for rent relief, including $1.3 billion slated for New York.

While the state has yet to receive these funds, federal lawmakers anticipate the money will go to the Division of Homes and Community Renewal for distribution. Localities with a population over 200,000 residents also are able to apply for a slice of the funds, and must do so by Jan. 26, according to the U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumers office.

The fiscal relief for renters and homeowners builds on the $100 million New York set aside of its federal CARES Act funds for an emergency COVID-19 rent relief program along with millions to localities through the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development, including Community Development Block Grants.

The states rent relief program has struggled to get funds out the door to New Yorkers who need it most, and late last year, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos administration announced the program had reopened with less stringent eligibility requirements. Housing advocates said New Yorkers struggled to meet the criteria and gather all the necessary documentation to apply for the assistance.

Small landlords who operate on slim margins worry they will be unable to make property tax and utility payments with tenants unable to pay rent. The latest federal stimulus allows landlords to apply for rent relief in lieu of the tenant.

Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, D-Albany, hopes the latest infusion of housing assistance will be earmarked for those struggling landlords.

Were going to make sure that small landlords are assisted, she said. Many of them have taxes due in January, and where they have tenants who cant pay the rent, we cant afford any more foreclosures or blight in the city of Albany.
The client met her consultants the way practically everyone has had to do in 2020. On a computer screen.

One by one, faces popped up on Microsoft Teams screens on a Tuesday morning in December, and the client, Salina Greene, gushed: Im seeing my consultants for the first time. This is exciting!

Greene opened a meeting that had a two-fold purpose.

First was hearing what these consultants, a trio of University of Nebraska at Omaha MBA students, had to say about hate and extremist group presence in Omaha and the entities that exist to counter that presence and prevent violence. Greene was still new to town, having uprooted from Washington, D.C., to take a new job as regional prevention coordinator for Homeland Securitys Office for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (OTVTP).

She needed a lay of the land to build a prevention strategy framework to address growing risks of violence exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, contentious presidential election, and civil unrest over issues of police violence and race.

But the second reason was on the consultant end. These MBA students were days from graduating. Helping Greene was their capstone project.

Pairing MBA students with startups or community nonprofit and arts groups is something the UNO College of Business Administration has done before. Business students get a real-world assignment; clients get free consulting services.

What is unique this time around is the presence of Homeland Security clients. Taking advantage of the newly established National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center at UNO, UNO management professors who also are principal investigators on NCITE education projects decided to try adding Homeland Security clients to the mix.

They can do a little part to do a big good. - Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles, management professor

As part of the eight-week class, 10 MBA students were assigned to two Homeland Security offices: OTVTP and a unit within Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that investigates human rights violators.

OTVTP projects looked at both regional and national efforts at prevention. The projects for HSI Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit dealt with illegal mining and weapons trading in Africa.

Students were introduced to problem sets and were told to identify key actors and stakeholders; provide network analysis; and prepare reports, presentations, and press releases on their findings.

The assignment is not easy, said Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles, an associate professor in the management department.

Its a really quick turn for complex and often undefined problems, she said.

Erin Bass, an associate professor of management with past corporate experience, said students are pushed to come up with something the client can use, not something theoretical. And they fill a gap for DHS, providing both a deep dive into a problem and offering a business lens.

We have to be delivering some kind of value, she said.

The value to DHS across the four projects was time and a business perspective. Homeland Security analysts and managers face solving big problems with sometimes small staffs. They might not have access to the kind of thorough and quick-turn research capabilities students can provide. Students can also provide the vantage point of business partner engagement.

The value to students goes beyond experience; they get a sense of purpose.

They can do a little part to do a big good, said Pleggenkuhle-Miles.

Graduate students often have the benefit of other lived experience and past expertise that can be especially helpful for projects like these.

Take the MBA team that helped Trace Lasley, an American University professor of practice in justice, law, and criminology and a historian with the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit.

Lasley was looking for a new perspective on human rights violations in central Africa. He gave students general direction and let them decide what angle to pursue.

Lasley had worked in the past with students who had social sciences backgrounds. Business students were a first.

Students Lindsay Wyant and Jerry Farke had experience especially helpful for this task. Wyant formerly worked in human resources and had an interest in human rights. Farke has a mechanical engineering degree from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.

They were glad to dive into a subject they considered worthy.

Case studies can only take you so far, said Wyant.

Above and beyond my expectations for a capstone. Not a canned project with a simple solution. This is a real-world problem, said Farke.

Wyant and Farke focused on the mining e-commerce and the supply chain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They utilized several analytical models learned in the MBA program to look at this problem from a different angle.

Lasley said the business student work was helpful in furthering his units overall goal of identifying, investigating, and prosecuting human rights violators. He said the students applied business tools that helped inform his thinking and shed light on areas we werent looking at before or looking at in that way.

The point of the student work is less about identifying violators as it is about showing new ways at looking countries, regions and conflicts.

From that closer look, we may be able to derive information that pushes us into looking more closely at a company, an individual, a group, Lasley said.

In turn, Lasley said he hopes the experience shows business students how marketable their skills are in the Homeland Security Enterprise and national security work in general.

The consultant business in and around D.C. is huge, he said.

Greene, of OTVTP, gave her UNO team another real-world problem with a long wish list. Placed in Omaha in September, she is charged with overseeing prevention efforts in four states.

Her MBA team was ready. Students Mary Gresko, active-duty Navy working for USSTRATCOM at Offutt Air Force Base, brought a background in long-term strategy planning. Erik Peterson, a software engineer working for UNeTech, a research startup incubator, has Omaha roots and strategy planning experience.

He called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Homeland Security and address a really important problem.

Derek Oden brought Capitol Hill experience; he worked for U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-NE, and was familiar with Homeland Security and the particular problems Greene was brought in to solve.

No matter what side of the aisle you come from, there has to be a unified action plan, if you will, against all these hate groups that are forming, he said.

On presentation day, students, accompanied by their professor, Pleggenkuhle-Miles, showed their findings to Greene. They identified extremist groups in Nebraska. They identified key stakeholders. And they tried to offer a framework that could be replicated outside the state, which would help Greene, who also must work to prevent violence in Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.

One important group in Omaha is the Tri-Faith Initiative, a campus housing a mosque, synagogue, and Christian church whose leaders work hard to bridge religious and other differences.

Each student took a turn explaining different findings. They ended with these recommendations: Identify violent organizations and hate groups. Monitor changes. Conduct stakeholder analysis to narrow focus on most effective partners in different geographic regions. Prioritize stakeholders. Engage key partners. Support long-term relationships and provide messaging and strategies that reflect current environment.

This is great! Greene said.

Students were asked why the Tri-Faith Initiative ranked so high on their list.

Their mission completely aligns, Gresko said. Theyre trying to bring people in, make a sense of community, say hey, Violence is not the answer.

One area that needs work: pushing back on extreme ideologies.

A lot of it comes down to education, Oden said. The biggest takeaway I have is theres a huge opportunity for DHS to partner with these groups. There is a willingness to partner on a larger scale and a willingness to be part of the team.

The presentation took a half-hour, but it was clear much more work remains for Greene and opportunities exist for more student collaboration.

NCITE Director Gina Ligon asked how Greene could market her efforts to the Omaha Police Department and others to interest them in Homeland Security efforts here.

Funny you mention that, said Pleggenkuhle-Miles. I have a draft of an email ready to go. Were recruiting projects for next semester!
Washington: A day before taking oath as the United States' 46th President, Joe Biden had visited the National Guard center named after his late son Beau Biden.

Beau's death due to brain cancer in 2015 was the reason why the then-Vice President Biden didn't seek the White House in 2016.

Earlier on Tuesday, Joe Biden said that his one regret was that Beau, who served as attorney general in Delaware, was not there.

Biden became emotional during a brief farewell ceremony in Delaware and said, "When I die, Delaware will be written on my heart."

The 78-year old served Delaware as a senator for more than 30 years and had also run for president unsuccessfully two times before winning.

Notably, his eldest son Beau was also critically injured along with brother Hunter in an accident that killed Biden's ex-wife Neilia and daughter Naomi.

The tragedy struck him weeks after he became one of the youngest people ever elected to the United States Senate at the age of 29.

He was sworn in to the US Senate at his sons' hospital bedsides.
The Bishops of Central America encourage governments to protect the rights of thousands of Honduran citizens traveling in caravans toward the United States. Many of them encounter increasing threats to their lives and security, as well as serious humanitarian challenges due to shortages of healthcare, sanitation, food and shelter.

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

The Episcopal Secretariat for Central America (SEDAC) has called on political authorities to respect the human rights of Honduran migrants forced to flee their country due to the devastating effects of two hurricanes (Eta and Iota), unemployment and situations of violence amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

According to initial estimates, approximately nine thousand Hondurans have crossed the border into Guatemala. The mass displacement has, in some cases, led to tensions and clashes with police who have reportedly applied the use of tear gas to stop the flow of people.

We recognize and respect the legitimate right to sovereignty of the countries involved in the transit of these migrants, said SEDAC in the statement issued on Tuesday. However, in the name of political charity promoted by Pope Francis, we ask that their human rights not be violated and that there be a deeply humanitarian attitude toward them regardless of their migratory status.

Appeal to humanitarian organizations

In the face of possible situations of violence, continued the Bishops, we urgently call upon the institutions that guarantee and oversee the fulfillment and respect of human rights and constitutional laws to remain on full alert and to constantly monitor them in order to defend people, especially women and children.

Political authorities urged to collaborate

Recognizing that the migration of the Honduran citizens does not affect only one country, SEDAC urged the governments of Mexico and the entire region to work together, comprehensively and humanely on the regional migratory reality.

We urge the respective authorities to guarantee the safety of migrants who transit in their respective countries, preventing them from becoming victims of organized crime and common delinquency, the Bishops appealed.

SEDAC further called on the relevant governments to respect family units as well as the migrants right of access to the territory and the non-refoulment of all persons who have a special need for international protection.

Structural causes of migration

Once again, the Bishops added, we remind you that the structural causes of migration must be addressed.

In this regard, the Bishops called on the regional governments to develop policies that effectively provide opportunities for everyone to improve their lives, especially for young people to be able to study and for adults to be able to work in order to reduce the motivation to leave their country, putting their lives at risk, in search of better opportunities.

Humanitarian aid to those in need

Acknowledging the humanitarian efforts of individuals and Church organizations at the frontlines of providing aid to the migrants, the Bishops reiterated their support and gratitude for the help provided, reminding everyone that this is in line with the example of the Good Samaritan in the Bible.

Concluding the statement, the Bishops invoked the protection of the Virgin of Guadalupe on all migrant brothers and sisters, asking God to bless all those who help them.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar would arrive in poll-bound to review election preparedness on Wednesday evening.

The commissioners will go directly to after visiting Assam.

The commissioners will attend series of meetings with political parties, state administration and election commissioners during its three days visit.

Along with CEC and Election Commissioners the official team will also have Dharmendra Sharma (Director General, of India (ECI)), Chandra Bhushan Kumar (deputy election commissioner) and other senior officials.

According to top official sources, immediately after arriving, the officials will hold meetings with State Chief Election officer and state police nodal officer.

Next day, the bench will have direct interaction with representatives of recognised parties and state political parties. After which, there will be meeting with officials of election-related regulatory agencies.

Meetings with District Election Officers (DEOs) and Police Superintendents (SPs) are also scheduled on the same day.

On January 22, the officials will meet Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General of of India Dharmendra Sharma and other senior state officials.

Commission's visit comes eight days after Deputy Election Commissioner and State In-charge, Sudeep Jain visited for the second time.

The commission is determined on conducting a free and fair election. However, according to sources, the strongest action would be taken against poll officials, if complaints are raised.

On January 15, West Bengal state CEO released final voters' list with numbers scaling upto 7,32,94,980, which suggest an increase of about 2.01 per cent.

The numbers of polling booths are likely to increase keeping the situation under pandemic.

The terms of the Legislative Assemblies of five poll-bound states -- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry -- are coming to an end either in May or in June this year.

The election for Legislative Assembly of West Bengal that comprises 295 seats is to be held this year as the current tenure ends on May 30.
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Amid all our focus and efforts in staying safe, what we perhaps missed celebrating is an important landmark -- 1 July 2020. It was the fifth anniversary of the Government of Indias commencement of the Digital India campaign. What we did, however, is far more significant, colossal and emphatic. The government made Digital India the key apparatus in keeping its citizens, empowered, secure, healthy and taking the countrys economy forward. The countrys central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, estimates that by 2025, payments through digital platforms will jump to 1.5 billion transactions, or 15 trillion a day. The daily transaction averaged about 125 million before March 2020, much of it powered by the governments famed United Payment Interface, or UPI. To track citizens health and monitor the spread of the pandemic, the government launched the Aarogya Setu, having a download hit of more than 127 million times, a testimony of how Digital is transforming India rapidly.









Putting IT behind e-Governance push

From the governances standpoint, Information Technology in contemporary India has played a revolutionary role in positioning the country as one of the top nations making the most advancements digitally in recent times. Most importantly, digital transformation has widened Indias possibility of innovation in every aspect of its economic engine and even optimization of resources, currently being pursued across sectors ranging from e-Education, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, retail, financial services, banking, national defense, and security to public utilities.

Overall, data, technology and governance are coming together as a force to accelerate social change and address the criticality of harnessing the data generated through various e-governance initiatives to optimize decision making.

View Full Image Information Technology in contemporary India has played a revolutionary role in positioning the country as one of the top nations making the most advancements digitally in recent times.

World-class products & localized solutions

Take, for example, the collaboration between Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic Pvt. Ltd., a Hitachi Group Company, and State Bank of India (SBI), the countrys largest public-sector lender. *The underlying philosophy between Hitachi and SBI has always been bringing people-centric innovations by putting the customer at the core of their business strategy. Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic accelerated technology-driven digital banking initiatives for SBI by leveraging private cloud technology Meghdoot" and developing a data lake concept. With the adoption of a cloud-first strategy, Hitachi enabled centralized* server security solution for SBIs virtual servers and secured the web gateway.

The digital technology and analytics have helped SBI realize security and granular control for resources and services, faster response for application, and make available information at fingertips.

Guided by the mission of promoting Social Innovation Business in India, aimed towards Powering Good for the larger society, Hitachi continues to bolster its commitment with SBI to revolutionize digital banking, especially during unprecedented times.

Saksham is another innovative and revolutionary effort, by Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic created for the current adverse situation, which responds to Covid-19 disruptions by enabling ones return to the workplace with compliance on safety and health. It is a comprehensive AI-enabled Self Service Helpdesk and a cognitive learning platform with IT Service Management capable to process Incident Management, Service Request, Change Management and Problem Management for all business requirements. Saksham ensures that an organizations IT assets are healthy, compliant, up and running through zero or minimal contact.

Similarly, the integrated IT environment infrastructure in Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) core cloud solution, security solution for another leading public sector scheduled financial institute, is one more work of excellence by Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic. They worked with the bank and proposed them the solutions Network Behaviour Anomaly detection, Decoy/Deception, Next Gen Firewall, Network Advanced Threat Protection, Endpoint Anti-virus, Data Loss Prevention, Intrusion Prevention System, Load Balancers and Security Orchestration and Automation Response. Being a government undertaking, the bank strictly follows cyber-security guidelines laid down by Reserve Bank of India. Within the parameters, the bank embarked on digital transformation journey, which would help them strengthen and secure their banking operations.

Leveraging its expertise in OT and IT, Hitachi MGRM Net has rolled out its state-of-the-art M-Star Health e- Governance Platform. The platform is an end-to-end comprehensive Healthcare Management System that covers all aspects of a healthcare institution, ranging from hospital management information system, citizen/patient health record, unique health ID, health scheme, policy, claims, tele-health, administration, and clinical operations to clinical decision support system. It offers a single source of authentic architecture and near-real-time information for decision making and monitoring.

"Throughout this journey wherein the government envisions India transforming into a digitally empowered society, Hitachi has played the most fundamental role of a partner bolstering the government's initiatives. Hitachi has been offering solutions, product that are relevant not only for the present-day but for its future development. Our credible expertise in OT X IT technologies is a reassurance of Hitachi laying strong foundations for digitally self-reliant India," said Mr. Bharat Kaushal, Managing Director, Hitachi India.



Leading India into the Future

Its quite evident how Hitachi is playing a vital role in aiding better decision-making for not only the government but also private enterprises. With its Connected Citizen solutions, Hitachi is also strengthening e-

Governance in India, partnering the government on several initiatives and empowering the citizens of India through its diversified range of OTxIT solutions across various industries like Healthcare, e-Education, Agriculture, and more. M-Star-enabled digital Healthcare solutions, e-learning, agriculture solutions are some of the key solutions that are supporting the very backbone of nation-building.

Hitachi's partnership with the Government of India's progressive projects, such as Make in India and Digital India Initiatives, to take a predominantly agrarian India into the IoT era, a leap that is critical to the nation's emergence as a global production and economic powerhouse, is bearing fruit. Hitachi is leading India to the future.





Know more about Hitachi Social Innovation

Know more about Solutions In India

See Powering Good in Action

Source link: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/08/covid-19-has-accelerated-india-s-digital-reset/

*Source : The Hindu Business Line, Wednesday, August 26th, 2020

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Some of Western Australias most expensive and top-rating secondary schools have frozen their annual tuition fees to ease financial difficulties experienced by families as a result of COVID-19.

The 2021 National School Fees Report, released on Wednesday, found 43 per cent of WA private schools chose not to increase their tuition fees in 2021, a significant increase from just 6 per cent the previous year.

Christ Church Grammar School. Credit:Facebook

The report, produced by Australian-wide education payment provider Edstart, also revealed a larger number of schools across the country had even cut their fees to provide relief for families.

WAs most expensive school in 2020, Presbyterian Ladies College slightly decreased its tuition fees by .01 per cent to $28,992, while Penrhos College took .02 per cent off, bringing the annual fee to $25,314.
The CIA has concluded that their overseas espionage efforts have suffered long-term damage as a result of several hacking operations that obtained personnel records for most of the U.S. population. Large scale data thefts apparently began at least a decade ago and reached a pinnacle when the U.S. government personnel office, or OPM (Office of Personnel Management), had its entire database of detailed records on 22 million current and former government employees, including data on people who had applied for jobs and did not get one, copied by hackers in 2014. Intelligence agencies, especially the CIA, realized that could have a catastrophic effect on American espionage efforts overseas as well as counterintelligence (catching spies) in the United States. The damage has come to pass and has been worse than anyone imagined. The OPM hack was traced back to China although earlier large-scale data hacks may have been the work of Russians or freelancers who knew China would pay a good price for such data.

The OPM hack got everyones attention but when it was considered in light of the many other hacking events before and after 2014 that made off with large quantities of personnel data that, taken together, gave Chinese intel analysts a comprehensive picture of the American population. Not just currently but in the future. The Chinese soon had a better database on the American population than any U.S. government agency or commercial firm. The CIA was one of the first U.S. agencies to discover how damaging that was first hand. After 2010 the CIA not only began losing a large network of informants and operatives inside China, but eventually in all foreign nations. This was most visible in how the Chinese counterespionage agents would, after 2014, no longer go to great lengths to conceal their efforts as new American agents, including those whose CIA employment was unknown to anyone, even most family members, back home, were identified and monitored by the Chinese secret police as soon as the CIA personnel arrived. But the Chinese always knew and eventually they were flaunting it. This was an intimidation tactic and it worked. China was using George Orwells 1940 novel 1984 as a how-to manual rather than a cautionary tale.

China was using the same nationwide personnel data analysis techniques inside China as part of their Social Credit program. This effort is Big Brother in action and designed to give the government unprecedented surveillance of and control over its entire population. Using biometrics, including facial recognition and predictive analysis the Chinese are slowly installing their Social Credit system nationwide and exporting the technology to foreign countries.

Meanwhile all the United States can do is increase the rate of uncovering Chinese spies posing as academic researchers in the United States, and this appears to be another aftereffect of the new Chinese databases on the American population. These Chinese operatives seek to steal trade secrets or patented material. There have been more of them in the last decade which can be attributed to the improved ability of Chinese agents to determine who will work for them and who cannot. This recruiting is often assisted by Chinese graduate students studying in the United States while also working for Chinese intelligence. One pattern that is becoming evident is the Chinese ability to detect which American academics, researchers and executives are most likely to work for the Chinese, either willingly or after experiencing a blackmail threat.

In the last few years, the United States has been indicting, prosecuting and convicting a growing number of Chinese born men (and a few women) conspiring to commit or actually carrying out economic espionage in the United States. Some of these suspects are naturalized American citizens but a growing number are Chinese citizens here on legitimate visas. As more suspects were identified, patterns began to appear which revealed the inner workings of known Chinese intellectual property espionage efforts.

Recent indictments are the result of the United States imposing more restrictions on Chinese officials who come to the U.S. and have contact, for whatever reason, with American academics, researchers and local (city, state and country) government officials. These Chinese will have to notify the U.S. government of such contacts. Based on recent FBI investigations and prosecutions, this will make it more difficult to operate their massive espionage program that seeks details of how American patents are implemented as well as trade secrets (items that are not patented but are essential for operating a business or factory).

The FBI and CIA again noted several interesting patterns. While many of the returning Chinese students were operating legally, a large number of those new Chinese firms were operating illegally by depending on stolen intellectual property. There were other patterns as well. A lot of the stolen tech seemed to involve Chinese and Americans associated with various Chinese efforts that helped returning Chinese profit from what they had learned in the West. These programs involved establishing hundreds of Confucius Institutes associated with Western universities, including a hundred in the United States. That, plus the aggressive recruiting of Chinese and non-Chinese academics willing to help China mobilize the largest IP theft in history.

China tries hard to conceal its espionage efforts. Not just denying anything and everything connected to its hacking and conventional spying, but also taking precautions. But as their success continued year after year, some of the Chinese hackers became cocky and sloppy. At the same time, the victims became more adept at detecting Chinese efforts and tracing them back to specific Chinese government organizations or non-government hackers inside China.

China has been getting away with something the Soviet Union never accomplished, stealing Western technology and then using it to move ahead of the West. The Soviets lacked the many essential supporting industries found in the West. These firms were largely founded and run by entrepreneurs, which was illegal in the Soviet Union. Because of that, the Russians were never able to acquire all the many pieces needed to match Western technical accomplishments. Soviet copies of American computers, for example, were crude, less reliable, and less powerful. It was the same situation with their jet fighters, tanks, and warships.

China got around this by making it seemingly profitable for Western firms to set up factories in China, where Chinese managers and workers were taught how to make things right. At the same time, China allows thousands of their best students to go to the United States to study. While many of these students will stay in America, where there are better jobs and more opportunities, a growing number are coming back to China and bringing American business and technical skills with them. Finally, China energetically uses the "thousand grains of sand" approach to espionage. This involves China trying to get all Chinese going overseas, and those of Chinese ancestry living outside the motherland, to spy for China, if only a tiny bit.

This approach to espionage is nothing new. Other nations have used similar systems for centuries. What is unusual is the scale of the Chinese effort, and that makes a difference. Supporting it all is a Chinese intelligence bureaucracy back home that is huge, with nearly 100,000 people working just to keep track of the many Chinese overseas and what they could, or should, be trying to grab for the motherland. This is where many of the graduates of the National Intelligence College program will work.

It begins when Chinese intelligence officials examine who is going overseas and for what purpose. Chinese citizens cannot leave the country legally without state security organizations being notified. The intel people are not being asked to give permission. They are being alerted in case they want to have a talk with students, tourists, or business people before leaving the country. Interviews are often held when these people come back as well.

Those who might be coming in contact with useful information are asked to remember what they saw or bring back souvenirs (legal or otherwise). Over 100,000 Chinese students go off to foreign universities each year. Even more go abroad as tourists or on business. Most of these people were not asked to actually act as spies but simply to share with Chinese government officials (who are not always identified as intelligence personnel) whatever information they obtained. The more ambitious of these people are getting caught and prosecuted. But the majority are quite casual, individually bring back relatively little and are almost impossible to catch, much less prosecute.

Like the Russians, the Chinese are also employing the traditional methods, using people with diplomatic immunity to recruit spies and offering cash, or whatever, to get people to sell them information. This is still effective and when combined with the "thousand grains of sand" methods brings in a lot of secrets.

Not getting caught is becoming more important because that can lead to increasingly dangerous diplomatic and legal problems. When the Chinese steal some technology and produce something that the Western victims can prove was stolen (via patents and prior use of the technology), legal action can make it impossible, or very difficult, to sell anything using the stolen tech outside of China. For that reason, the Chinese long preferred stealing military technology and tried to avoid using stolen commercial tech in a way that made it easy to determine the source of stolen data. This meant keeping stolen commercial tech inside China. And in some cases, like manufacturing technology, there's an advantage to not selling it outside of China. Because China is still a communist dictatorship, the courts do as they are told, and they are rarely told to honor foreign patent claims when stolen tech is discovered in China by its foreign owners.

Increasingly Chinese firms are boldly using their stolen technology, daring foreign firms to try and use Chinese courts to get justice. Instead, the foreign firms are trying to muster support from their governments for lawsuits outside China. Naturally, the Chinese government will howl and insist that its all a plot to oppress China. This has worked for a long time, but many of the victims are now telling China that this conflict is being taken to a new, and more dangerous, level.

Smoke rises from a building and rubble scattered in Toledo Street following a explosion in Madrid (Europa Press via AP)

A loud explosion apparently caused by a gas leak has partially destroyed a residential building in the centre of Spains capital, killing two people and injuring at least two more, according to officials.

The first images and footage shared on social media showed a tower of smoke coming out from the six-storey building and rubble scattered in Toledo Street, near the city centre.

Emergency crews could be seen aiding several people on the ground.

Mayor Jose Luis Martinez Almeida confirmed the two deaths to the Telemadrid news channel and said that the initial assessment was that the blast was caused by a gas leak.

Expand Close Police officers cordon off Toledo Street following an explosion in central Madrid (Bernat Armangue/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Police officers cordon off Toledo Street following an explosion in central Madrid (Bernat Armangue/AP)

Expand Close Firefighters work next to a damaged building in the centre of Spains capital (Manu Fernandez/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Firefighters work next to a damaged building in the centre of Spains capital (Manu Fernandez/AP)

A nearby nursing home was evacuated although no injuries were initially reported among the residents, Mr Martinez Almeida said. He said the residents were being taken to a hotel across the street.

Mr Martinez Almeida also said that some mild damage had been identified in a nearby school.

Spains public broadcaster, TVE, said the school was thought to have been empty because classes had not resumed yet following a record snowfall in Madrid on January 9.

La explosiAn se ha producido en el nAmero 98 de la calle Toledo. @SAMUR_PC estA atendiendo a varias personas heridas. @BomberosMad trabaja en asegurar la zona. pic.twitter.com/qe8fdqkUOo  Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) January 20, 2021

In a tweet, the Madrid regional emergency service said that rescue teams, firefighters and police were working in a central area of the Spanish capital following the explosion.

Leire Reparaz, an area resident, told The Associated Press that she heard a loud explosion some minutes before 3pm local time when she was heading to her home near the Puerta de Toledo, a local landmark.

We didnt know where the sound came from. We all thought it was from the school. We went up the stairs to the top of our building and we could see the structure of the building and lots of grey smoke, the 24-year-old Madrid resident said.
[January 20, 2021] Diabeloop appoints Catherine Dunand Chairman of the Board

Catherine Dunand brings her expertise in healthcare technological innovation to support Diabeloop's growth and international development GRENOBLE, France, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Diabeloop announced today the appointment of Catherine Dunand as Chairman of the Board of Directors, succeeding Dr Guillaume Charpentier. Dr. Guillaume Charpentier, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Diabeloop, remains on the Board of Directors. Catherine Dunand, President of Cemag Invest, is a graduate of Ecole Centrale de Lyon, holds an MBA from INSEAD and received a certificate from the non-executive director program of Sciences Po. She sits on the boards of several innovative companies including Advicenne, Altavia, Fabernovel and Wandercraft. She has been a member of the board of Diabeloop since the end of 2019, where she supported the 31-million Euro Series B funding round. Dr. Guillaume Charpentier said:

"Five years ago, I founded Diabeloop with a dream, the creation of an artificial pancreas.This dream has now become a reality, with the registration of two Automated Insulin Delivery solutions in Europe, and the signing of several significant commercial partnerships. Diabeloop progressed incredibly quickly. It is now important for the company to successfully launch these products to get them into the hands of patients. Erik Huneker and Marc Julien, co-CEOs, have put together a superb team to carry out this mission. I am pleased that Catherine Dunand has agreed to succeed me as Chairman of the Board. She will be able to lead the company in its growth and bring her commercial experience and financial acumen, as well as a real empathy for patients and public health. I will remain on the board, and I will ensure that Diabeloop's values are preserved; we still have a lot of work to do." Catherine Dunand, Chairman of he Board, added:





Erik Huneker and Marc Julien, Diabeloop co-CEOs, concluded:

"We would like to thank Dr. Guillaume Charpentier for his exceptional dedication and work over the years. The evolution of our governance with the appointment of Catherine Dunand comes at an exciting time for Diabeloop. Catherine's expertise on financial, strategic and business development aspects will be of great help to us. We thank her for her involvement, and look forward to the rewarding challenges we'll face together."

Catherine Dunand biography Catherine Dunand co-founded and continues to serve as President of Cemag Invest, an investment fund that is dedicated to acquiring minority stakes in technology-oriented healthcare companies, particularly in medtech and artificial intelligence. Since 2019, she has also served as President of an American foundation that supports womens' health. Since 2004, Catherine Dunand has been a non-executive director for a number of private and public Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), mainly in the healthcare sector. She is in charge of two audit committees and is a member of two nomination and remuneration committees. She joined Diabeloop's Board of Directors in 2019 after having led the Series B investment round. Catherine Dunand managed a consulting firm in strategy and governance for fast-growing SMEs/ETIs. She was also Managing Director of SMEs in the healthcare sector. Catherine Dunand spent over 15 years in several roles at major pharmaceutical companies, including as International Marketing Director of Roussel Uclaf and Managing Director of the German-speaking area of Servier. Catherine Dunand is a graduate of Ecole Centrale de Lyon, MBA INSEAD, and received a certificate from the non-executive director program of Sciences Po. About Diabeloop Diabeloop's mission: to relieve people living with Type 1 diabetes from dozens of therapeutic decisions and reduce their heavy mental burden. Initially conceived from a medical research project, Diabeloop was created in 2015 by Dr. Guillaume Charpentier, now Chief Medical Officer, and Erik Huneker who has co-managed the company with Marc Julien since 2016. This complementary management team works with experienced partners, CEA-Leti (a research laboratory) and CERITD (a French research team of diabetologists). In 2018, DBLG1 System, Diabeloop's first medical device for automated diabetes management, obtained CE marking, followed by DBL-hu, its solution for highly unstable Type 1 diabetes management in 2020. A second round of financing of 31 million euros concluded in November 2019 to speed up the international commercial rollout of the DBLG1 iController and support an ambitious R&D program. The company is supported by several investors and industrial groups in the healthcare sector, including CERITD, Aliad, Cemag Invest, Sofimac Innovation, Supernova Invest, Kreaxi, Credit Agricole, Odyssee Venture, Agiradom, as well as business angels. Today, Diabeloop gathers the personality, the passion and the skills of close to 100 talented individuals who work hard to improve the quality of life for every person living with Type 1 diabetes. Press contact Stephanie Jegu

stephanie.jegu@diabeloop.fr Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/799209/Diabeloop_Logo.jpg

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As concerns of students and teachers over CBSE Class 10, 12 Board exams 2021 rises, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank this week made several major announcements. Addressing a webinar with students and faculty of the Kendriya Vidyalaya across the country, the Education Minister addressed the queries of the students.

READ | Education Minister makes big announcement on CBSE Class 10, 12 board exams 2021; check details

Pokhriyal asserted that the questions of the exams will be based on the reduced syllabus as per the 2020 curriculum that was announced keeping in mind the coronavirus outbreak. The students will only have to study the revised syllabus for their CBSE board exams. The questions will only be asked from that portion, he said.

READ | CBSE to hold online exams for classes 9, 11? Know fact here

Speaking on physical classes and reopening of schools, he said that that online classes will remain an option for students who are not able to physically join the school. He stated that physical classes will resume and there will be a 50-50 per cent balance between online classes and attending classes physically. He added that once it is confirmed that it is safe to ask students to attend schools physically only then a decision will be taken to continue online classes.

READ | Education Ministry's big decision on JEE Main 2021, NEET 2021 syllabus, eligibility criteria; check details

Some of the issues raised by students with Pokhriyal:

1. Conduct Class 9th and 11th exams online: The Education Minister decided not to respond directly but said that the CBSE and other boards are aware of the hardships faced by the students this academic session due to COVID-19 and this is the reason why exams are based on the reduced syllabus.

2. Online school instead of offline classes: Pokhriyal said that online classes will remain an option for students who are not able to physically join the school.

The Union Education Ministry has already announced that board exams for Classes 10 and 12 will be conducted from May 4 to June 10, even though the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is yet to release an examination date-sheet.

Over 3 lakh students have registered from the Delhi region for the Class 10 CBSE board exam, while over 2.5 lakh candidates have registered for the Class 12 exam. The Delhi government has suggested that schools conduct pre-board exams for Class 12 from March 20 to April 15 and Class 10 pre-board exams from April 1 to April 15.

Pokhriyal interacted with the students of Kendriya Vidyalaya to motivate and encourage them to focus on their academics despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the school education. Earlier on various occasions, Union Education Minister interacted with students, teachers, professors, and parents, taking their opinions about how the education sector can go forward with minimum impact on students, post COVID-19 pandemic.

As confusion over the syllabus of JEE Main and NEET continues, the Ministry of Education also clarified on the matter. It stated that the syllabus of JEE Main and NEET will remain unchanged for 2021 and continue as that of the previous year. However, unlike previous years, this year the candidates will have options to answer the questions in JEE and NEET examinations.

Students will be given choice to answer 75 questions (25 questions each in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics) out of 90 questions (30 questions each in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics). In JEE (Main) 2020, there were 75 questions all of which had to be answered by the candidates (25 questions each in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics).

As per an official release, the exact pattern for NEET (UG) 2021 is yet to be announced. However, in view of reduction of the syllabus by some boards across the country, the NEET (UG) 2021 question paper will also have options on the lines of JEE (Main).

The Ministry of Education on Tuesday announced relaxation in admission criteria for NITs and centrally funded technical institutions by waiving off the requirement of 75 per cent marks in class 12. The release stated, "Considering the decision taken for IIT JEE (Advanced) and in line with the decision taken for the last academic year, the Ministry of Education has also decided to waive off the 75 per cent marks (in class 12 exam) eligibility criteria under Joint Entrance Examination (Main) for the next academic year 2021-2022 in respect of NITs, IIITs, SPAs and other CFTIs, whose admissions are based on JEE (Main).

In the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) had last year relaxed norms for admissions into National Institute of Technology (NITs) and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). As per the relaxation, NITs will admit undergraduate students based on their performance in Joint Entrance Exam-Mains (JEE-Mains) and will discount the class 12 board examination marks in the selection process.

Earlier, along with the performance in JEE-Mains, NITs used to demand either 75 per cent mark in the board examinations or a place in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards.
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Melania Trump made clear that she is ready for a vacation after touching down in Florida wearing a vibrant patterned dress - having changed out of the somber all-black look she wore for her White House departure during the family's brief flight from D.C. to Mar-a-Lago.

The 50-year-old's summery ensemble was a world away from the toned-down outfit she chose for her final appearance as First Lady, making clear that the mother-of-one is ready to leave White House life behind and fully embrace her new home in Florida.

However, while Melania left her all-black look behind on Air Force One, she maintained her designer credentials, changing out of her pricey Chanel jacket and into a $3,700 Gucci dress before leaving the plane.

Melania even changed up her footwear for a much more comfortable style, swapping her $795 Christian Louboutin heels for a simple, but pricey, pair of $625 ballerina flats by Roger Vivier.

What a different a flight makes! Melania Trump looked ready for a vacation as she touched down in Florida wearing a colorful $3,700 Gucci dress, having changed out of the somber all-black ensemble she wore to leave the White House

Comfort: The former First Lady left her sky-high $795 Christian Louboutin heels behind on Air Force One, and instead donned a pair of $625 ballerina flats from Roger Vivier, which complemented the navy sections of her dress

Here comes the sun: Melania even changed her sunglasses for her arrival in Florida, replacing the gold-embellished shades she wore in D.C. for a more low-key black pair

Happy as can be: The former First Lady appeared to be in great spirits as they landed in Florida, where she greeted supporters and photographers with a huge grin

Back in town: The couple disembarked Air Force One together before traveling to Mar-a-Lago together with several of Trump's children, including Eric and his wife Lara

The Trumps are the first President and First Lady to snub his successor's inauguration since the 1800s. While they landed in Florida, the Obamas, Bushes and Clintons watched in awe as Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga serenaded a crowd of 1,000 at the Capitol before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in.

However, if Melania was unhappy about missing the celebrity performances at the inauguration, she certainly didn't show it, landing in the Sunshine State with a huge smile on her face - happily waving and grinning at the waiting crowds and photographers as she left Air Force One with her husband.

Her colorful ensemble appeared to speak volumes about her happiness at leaving the stress of the White House for some down-time at Mar-a-Lago.

And her bright and sunny demeanor was not only echoed by the beautiful Florida weather, but also by the joyful celebration taking place among Trump's supporters at the airport.

A crowd of fans - who were mostly maskless - danced, laughed and hugged as they waited for the former President to arrive home with his family.

Upon her departure from the White House, Melania looked like a woman in mourning wearing an incredibly somber all-black ensemble, complete with dark sunglasses, black Christian Louboutin heels, and a $70,000 Hermes Birkin bag.

The 50-year-old held hands with her husband as he ended his time as President of the United States, with the couple walking side-by-side across the White House lawn, before boarding Marine One on their way to Air Force Base Andrews.

Going out with a bang: Melania put on a very stylish but somber show as she left the White House with her husband for the final time, marking the end of his presidency

Sending a statement: She donned an all-black ensemble for her final moments as First Lady, accessorizing with a $70,000 crocodile Hermes Birkin

Fashion-focused: Melania added several high-priced designer pieces to her look, including the Birkin bag, as well as a pair of $695 Christian Louboutin heels, and a Chanel jacket

Bidding farewell: Upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Donald and Melania both addressed a crowd of supporters

Together: Melania held her husband's hand as they walked towards the stage together, both with smiles on their faces

Melania made sure to cement her status as one of the country's most fashionable First Ladies, donning a number of high-priced designer pieces for her final White House ensemble, including a very pricey crocodile handbag, a pair of matching $795 crocodile Christian Louboutin shoes, and long black gloves.

The mother-of-one chose a demure black dress, which fell to just below her knees, layering a chic jacket from Chanel over the top. Her long brunette locks were pulled back in a stylish updo, allowing her to show off bronzed cheekbones and a slick of nude lipstick.

She did not wear a face mask, however she donned a pair of $440 Bottega Veneta shades to add an extra hint of glamour to the look.

Upon the couple's arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Melania left her handbag with aides, and while she wore her large dark shades to head up to the stage with her husband, she removed them before taking to the podium herself.

Hail to Chief played as Trump and Melania walked from Marine One to the platform where the President addressed the crowd, taking the opportunity to pay tribute to his wife's 'beauty, grace, and popularity'.

'Our First Lady has been a woman of great grace and beauty, and so popular with the people, so popular,' he said, before welcoming Melania to the stage to share her final words.

'Being your First Lady was my greatest honor,' she said. 'Thank you for your love and support. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all, God bless your families and God bless this beautiful nation.'

Praise: Donald paid tribute to his wife's 'grace, beauty, and popularity', before she took to the stage to tell the crowd, 'Being your First Lady was my greatest honor'

Supporters: Melania stood by her husband's side as he greeted his children and grandchildren

There they go: Following Trump's speech, the first couple boarded Air Force One together

Final wave: They said goodbye to their supporters, before the Trump children joined them on board the plane

Melania then watched on from a chair on-stage as her husband made his final speech as President, during which he listed some of his accomplishments, before mentioning the number of votes he received in the election.

He then briefly paid homage to those who have died of coronavirus, which dominated his last year in office. More than 400,000 American have died from the disease.

Have a good life, he told a crowd of a few hundred supporters, after a 21-gun salute, before vowing that 'we will be back - in some form'.

Following Trump's final remarks, he and Melania greeted his children who had been watching on proudly during his speech - with his 39-year-old daughter Ivanka holding back tears as he spoke.

The first couple then climbed the stairs of Air Force One and waved goodbye to the waiting crowds. The Trump children followed them up the stairs.

Its unclear whats next for Melania and Donald who are bound for Florida, where they will take up residence at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort along with his children and grandchildren.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 15:22:52|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia recently awarded the government's honorable medals to five Chinese military doctors in recognition of their contributions to improving the medical standards of the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital, known as the military hospital.

Lt. Gen. Pich Chhoeun, deputy director general of the General Department of Logistics and Finance at the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense, joined by Li Jingfeng, military attache of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, attended the ceremony at the hospital on Monday. Chhoeun presented the "Knight Class" medals to the doctors.

The medals were conferred upon the five doctors of the 15th Chinese medical expert team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) after they had completed their one-year mission in Cambodia.

During the past year, they assisted the hospital to provide medical and health services for Cambodian military personnel and ordinary people, to improve local medical standards, guide medical researches and strengthen its capacity in the fight against the COVID-19. Enditem
A new annotated edition of Adolf Hitler's hate-filled manifesto Mein Kampf is to be released today in Poland, after a ban on its publication lifted in 2016.

Polish historian and political expert Professor Eugeniusz Krol spent three years translating and annotating the original version, which was published in 1925 and 1926, eight years before Hitler took power in 1933.

The new version, which counts 1,000 critical notes, is the second ever edition of its kind, after an annotated edition was published and becamse a bestseller in Germany in 2016, selling around 100,000 copies.

Critics have called the Polish re-edition of Mein Kampf 'offensive,' to the memory of Holocaust victims, but Prof Krol said that it was meant as a 'warning to future generations'.

Polish historian and political expert Professor Eugeniusz Krol spent three years translating and annotating the original version, which was published in 1925. The annotated version will be published today in Poland. It is the second of its kind in the world

A picture shows the new annotated edition stacked with an original copy of Mein Kampf, which was written by Adolf Hitler after his failed attempted coup in 1923

Meanwhile, Polish publishing house Bellona, which is behind he re-edition, has said it wants some of the profits from sales to go to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.

Mein Kampf was written by Hitler while he was in prison following his failed coup attempt in 1923.

The book is seen as the Nazi leader's manifesto and details some of his hateful views on the Jewish people and his plans for an Aryan supremacy.

The book entered the public domain in 2016 and has been re-edited only one since, in Germany, where a critical re-edition of the book was published in 2016 and sold 100,000 copies around the country.

The new edition counts 1,000 critical notes. Professor Krol said it aimed to honour the memory of the vicitms of the Holocaust (pictured the annotated version next to the original copy)

What is Mein Kampf? Mein Kampf is a manifesto written by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in 1924 while he was imprisoned in Bavaria for treason after his failed Beer Hall Putsch. Published in two volumes in 1925 and 1926, the book set out two ideas that he put into practice as Germany's leader going into World War II: annexing neighbouring countries to gain 'Lebensraum', or 'living space', for Germans, and his hatred of Jews, which led to the Holocaust. The turgid, rambling book is filled with loathing of Jews and Slavs who Hitler hated from his earliest days as a down-and-out in Vienna. The book also outlined what Hitler called the Jewish peril, or a conspiracy theory that Jews had plotted to gain world leadership. Some parts of Mein Kampf are believed by historians to show Hitler wanted to exterminate Jews from as earlier as before the 1930s. When he came to power it was nigh-on compulsory for every household in the Third Reich to possess at least one copy. Royalties from it made Hitler rich and it outsold the Bible. After the Nazi dictator's death in 1945, Bavaria held the copyright to Mein Kampf and refused any copying or printing of the book in Germany. When Nazism imploded in 1945 all Hitler's possessions - including the copyright to the book - passed into the possession of the Bavarian state, the place where his party was founded. Authorities beat off numerous attempts to publish it down the years, afraid it would become a touchstone of faith for neo-Nazis. But when its 70-year copyright expired the state agreed to an annotated version being printed by the Institute of Contemporary History in 2016. The book sold 100,000 copies and even won the the 'Society needs Science' award with a 50,000 prize for how it 'reveals Hitler's false statements and distortions, corrects factual errors and explains the contemporary context.' Advertisement

The Polish re-edition is the second of its kind worldwide and the first ever in Poland, which was ravaged by the Holocaust, where 5,770,000 people were killed, including 3 million Polish Jews.

Poland is also the home of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum which is located on the site of what used to be one of the Nazi regime's deadliest death camps.

'According to critics, publishing this book is an offense to the memory of the victims of social nationalism. According to me, it's the opposite,' Professor Krol said.

He went on to say the re-edition of the book was an 'homage to the victims of the criminal system and a warning to future generations to come'.

He added that bootleg versions of Mein Kampf, which are translated from English, shortened and offered without any form of criticism, are doing a 'bad job' at informing readers about the real Mein Kampf.

He said his version, which is published around Poland, aims to be a 'historical source taken within a larger context,' and added it shouldn't be used by extremist forces.

Speaking to the Polish daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita, Piotr Cywinski, the director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum warned against promoting the new book with a marketing campaign, which could clash with the European law against promoting fascism, which is punished by two years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the director of Polish publishing house Bellona, Zbigniew Czerwinski, has said they were doing everything to comply with the law and that only 3,000 copies had been printed.

The price of the book was also fixed at 33 (29), a high price for Poland.

'We don't want this edition to be accessed en-masse, and we're thinking about supporting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum or Foundation with a part of the profit,' Czerwinski said.

Professor Krol told the French Press Agency (AFP) that critics had said the new edition was 'offensive' to the victims of the Holocaust, but he disagrees (showed comparing his version to the original)

The annotated version is the second of its kind to be published since Mein Kampf entered the public domain in 2016
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement on Wednesday that is not sitting well with many of his constituents.

Paxton, who is under federal investigation, congratulated President Joe Biden but also said he will continue to fight against the many unconstitutional and illegal actions the new administration is going to take.

"(I will continue to) challenge federal overreach that infringes' on Texas rights, and serve as a major check against the administration's lawlessness," Paxton said in his statement he released on Twitter. "Texas First! Law & Order always!"

READ ALSO: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg 'hopeful' on Biden Inauguration Day

The statement comes after his name was absent Wednesday from a last-minute list of pardons in the waning hours of Donald Trump's presidency. Paxton is accused of committing bribery, abuse of office and other crimes, according to the Associated Press.

His top deputies reported him to the FBI in September, accusing him of using his position to help an Austin real estate developer. Paxton has not been charged in federal court, so any pardon would have been preemptive. He has broadly denied wrongdoing.

Paxton also brought a legal challenge asking the U.S. Supreme Court to effectively reverse Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election, prompting speculation that Paxton was angling for a pardon. Trump joined the suit and praised Paxton's effort to subvert the election, but legal experts dismissed it as frivolous even before the court tossed the case.

READ ALSO: Archbishop of San Antonio offers his prayers to President Joe Biden

Many in the comments of Paxton's statement are bringing up his investigation and how he didn't receive a pardon from Trump.

"Feeling the 'unity.' May justice be swift and harsh for you," @kim_mahoney69 wrote.

"Gonna be hard to do all that from jail. Buena suerte," @LibLawyerMom said

"Imagine having the nerve to say this after being indicted for 5 years and being investigated by the FBI b/c your OWN aides accused you of bribery and abuse of office," @ProgressTX commented.

However, some of Paxton's supporters agreed with his statement.

"You rock AG Paxton!" @GfleischerC wrote.

"Thank you AG Paxton. We Texans are counting on you at this critical moment to hold the line. We will be watching," @Fauxfrenzi commented.

Paxton's full statement is below:

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
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A Central Pa. woman at the center of an investigation into Nancy Pelosis stolen laptop during the U.S. Capitol riot filed for a protection from abuse order against the ex-boyfriend who reported her to the FBI.

Riley June Williams, 22, made the claims against her ex-boyfriend in Dauphin County Court on Jan. 13, the same week federal investigators say the man called them several times after recognizing her in footage shot during the Capitol siege by the British network ITV.

She mentioned in her application that he had called the FBI on her.

In an affidavit filed against Williams late Sunday night, the man claimed to have seen video of Williams lifting the laptop from Pelosis office and claimed she bragged that she intended to send it to a friend in Russia who would arrange for its transfer to the Russian equivalent of the CIA.

The former boyfriend told authorities Williams still has the computer device or destroyed it, a special agent wrote in the affidavit. This matter remains under investigation.

Federal prosecutors charged Williams for allegedly participating in the riot inside the Capitol, but have not charged her in connection with the missing laptop. Prosecutors Tuesday night, however, said they are seeking approval to charge her with theft and aiding and abetting that offense.

In Williams request for protection filed on Jan. 13, she said her ex-boyfriend visited her home and her mothers home on Jan. 11 without an invitation and without permission looking for her.

The police have told him not to go to my residence and he still does, she said, alleging that he was stalking and threatening her.

Williams mother called local police on Jan. 11 to her home to report a suspicious person, who was believed to be the ex-boyfriend, according to the federal affidavit filed against Williams.

Williams alleged that her ex had repeatedly called her at her job, tried to get her terminated, had his friends stalk her, shared naked photos of her with her relatives and acted violently toward her. No timeframe was provided for those alleged incidents.

She also said: He has contacted the FBI and told them I had access to Nancy Pelosis laptop and sold it to the Russians.

The laptop reference was included in her summary of the facts of the most recent incident of abuse, on the protection from abuse form. She said that she only dated this individual for approximately three months.

PennLive is not naming the tipster, who lives in New Jersey, because he was not named by federal authorities in court documents. PennLive reached him Tuesday night by phone and he denied Williams abuse allegations.

All that is a lie, he said. I have evidence and I plan to go to court. He declined further comment because he said he plans to make his case in court, not in the media.

A judge granted Williams a temporary request for protection on Jan. 14, ordering the ex-boyfriend to stay away from her, her home, her workplace, and her mothers home in Lower Paxton and also restricting him from posting any remarks or images regarding Williams on any social network. That order remains in place until otherwise modified or terminated by the court.

A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27 for a full order of protection.

Williams graduated from Mechanicsburg Area Senior High in 2017, according to published lists of graduates and yearbooks. She has no prior criminal record in Pennsylvania, according to online court records, just six traffic violations from 2017 to 2019 in Cumberland and Dauphin counties.

The federal affidavit said Williams traveled to the Capitol in Washington D.C. with her father, who lives in Camp Hill. They got separated at the protest but drove home together later, according to the affidavit.

READ: Central Pa. woman at center of probe into Pelosis stolen laptop: Who she is, where shes from

READ: Central Pa. man laid hands on police officers during Capitol riot: prosecutor
In this Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, file photo, closed stores on Dam street and the Royal Palace on Dam Square, rear, are seen in Amsterdam. The Dutch government said Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, that it wants to impose a curfew as part of beefed-up restrictions to rein in the spread of new more contagious variants of the coronavirus that already accounts for at least one in every 10 Dutch infections. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

The Dutch government wants to impose a curfew as part of beefed-up restrictions to rein in the spread of a new more contagious virus variant that already accounts for at least one in 10 Dutch infections.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Wednesday that his government also will ban flights from the U.K., South Africa and South America beginning Saturday for a month.

With Rutte's administration in caretaker mode since resigning last week, it will have to convince skeptical lawmakers to back the 8:30 p.m.-to-4:30 a.m. curfew before it can be enforced. A debate is expected Thursday and Rutte appealed for support, saying "we are at a crucial moment for our security, for our national public health."

Rutte's four-party coalition resigned Friday over a scandal involving thousands of parents wrongly being labeled fraudsters by the country's tax office. It remains in office until a new coalition is formed following a March 17 general election.

If parliament approves the curfew, the Netherlands would join other European Union countries that have told people to stay home after dark, including Belgium, France, Italy, Greece and parts of Germany.

"It's a tough measure," Rutte said. "Nobody wants a curfew; nobody is cheering this."

In this Tuesday Dec. 15, 2020, file photo, A skull is glued onto a traffic light on the near-empty Dam Square with the Royal Palace, seen center rear, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch government said Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, that it wants to impose a curfew as part of beefed-up restrictions to rein in the spread of new more contagious variants of the coronavirus that already accounts for at least one in every 10 Dutch infections.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

In this Thursday Dec. 31, 2020, file photo, A couple kisses on the near-deserted Nieuwmarkt square in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. The Dutch government said Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, that it wants to impose a curfew as part of beefed-up restrictions to rein in the spread of new more contagious variants of the coronavirus that already accounts for at least one in every 10 Dutch infections.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

The Netherlands has been in a tough lockdown for a month and will remain that way until at least Feb. 9, but the government says a slow decrease in the number of infections and the threat posed by new variants have forced it to take tougher action.

Rutte said the number of visitors people are allowed at home will now be cut from two to one at a time, and the number of people allowed to attend funerals will be halved from the current 100.

The Dutch public health institute announced Tuesday that new infections decreased 21.5% over the past week to 38,776 as the lockdown that began in mid-December began to bear fruit. But at the same time, it warned that the new, more transmissible virus variant that led to a sharp spike in infections in the U.K. and Ireland is expected to make up at least half of all new Dutch COVID-19 cases by mid-February.

The Netherlands has counted 13,264 deaths in the pandemic, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said the government also is extending the space between the two doses of vaccines from three weeks to six weeks as a way of speeding up the number of people getting their first shot. The Netherlands was the last European Union country to begin vaccinations and so far only 100,000 people have received their first shot.

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.

Okay they are inside the building, Im very sorry, they are moving people to secure locations.

On Wednesday, January 6, a friend texted me this at 2.23pm. I had asked her to send me news updates on the unfolding chaos at the US Capitol because I couldnt bear to look. That date, when rioters decided to storm the seat of federal government to reverse an election result, is now history.

'The feeling millions of us endure is not knowing if well ever talk to a loved one again because a man with a gun decided his voice was the only one that mattered.' Credit:AP

It was a bad day for democracy, and a rotten one for me, too. Because for 38 minutes from that text, sitting in the north-west suburbs of Washington, D.C., I did not know where my husband was. Worse still: glimpsing live footage of terrorists with wrist restraints and barely concealed guns invade his workplace, I feared I would never see him again.

Half an hour or so is not long, in the scheme of things. But that half-hour, where official updates were scarce and Johnny was unable to message me because he was attending to wounded police officers in his capacity as a doctor to Congress, was the longest of my life. My children had been dispatched with a babysitter to buy cookies at the shops; I sat silently on my bed, hitting refresh on a phone with a dwindling battery while helicopters swarmed outside.
C lear your diaries! Save the date! Russell T Davies, of Queer as Folk fame, has penned yet another dazzling paean to the strength, courage, and love of the LGBTQ community, and its landing on the small screen at the end of the month.

Its A Sin, a five-part series airing weekly from January 22 on Channel 4 and HBO, tells the tear-jerking ten-year tale of a joyful queer clique living in Eighties London through the AIDs epidemic. Its timing is poignant - 2021 marks forty years since the first deaths of HIV/AIDs were recorded, including the first linked fatality in Britain.

While the drama promises to tug hard at our collective heartstrings, it is the latest in a shimmering clutch of LGBTQ TV that is finally humanising gay characters, storylines, and the nuances of queerness. According to GLAAD, an American media monitoring service that looks at representation of the queer community, a total of 10.2 per cent of regular characters on TV between 2019 and 2020 were LGBTQ - the highest percentage in its 15-year history of reporting.

Before Its A Sin wins our hearts, it pays to look back at the shows which have paved the way; from the fiercely loved The L Word (the lesbian communitys very own Sex and the City), to the immensely charming Noahs Arc, which was the first of its kind in its depiction of four gay African-American men. After all, theres more to gay TV than Will & Grace, and these shows are proof.

Sugar Rush

Sugar Rush / Channel 4

Set against the nostalgic backdrop of noughties Brighton, 2005s Sugar Rush provided a much-needed dose of women-loving-women representation on the small screen. Based on the novel of the same name by Julie Burchill, the sitcom followed typical teenager Kim who, alongside the slew of inevitable adolescent pressures, began to realise she might be gay. Having recently moved to Brighton from London, Kim struck up a friendship with Maria Sugar Sweet, who she rapidly began to fall for. A heady maelstrom of first love and teenage dreams, Sugar Rush was as sweet as it was sad, and as moving as it was monumental.

The L Word

The L Word / HBO

Any lesbian worth their salt knows The L Word. Set against the sexy backdrop of noughties West Hollywood, the seminal shiny saga told the tale over its six seasons of a chosen family of successful and fashionable queer women living in West Hollywood. For the lesbian world, there were - and very much still are - two camps: you either loved the character Shane and her perennial androgyny or you preferred her girlfriend Carmens girl-next-door allure.

In fact, the enduring popularity of The L Word spawned a little sister series in 2019, named The L Word: Generation Q (short for Generation Queer) which is reportedly coming back for a second hotly-anticipated series.

Queer as Folk

Queer as Folk / Channel 4

Russell T Davies revolutionary 1999 series followed the lives of three gay men  best friends Stuart Jones and Vince Tyler, and 15-year-old Nathan Maloney  living in Manchesters gay village. Its A Sin protagonist Olly Alexander recently admitted that the show shaped him as a gay man.

Channel 4s initial decision to even commission the show, reportedly investing 3m in the first eight episodes, was a trailblazing move given that in 1999, the same year in which the show first aired, the British Social Attitudes survey revealed that a staggering 49 per cent of British people thought homosexual relationships were either always wrong or mostly wrong. The first episode actually aired on the same day the House of Lords debated the Sexual Offences Bill 1999, which eventually reduced the age of consent for homosexual couples to 16.

Cucumber, Banana and Tofu

Banana / Channel 4

Another Davies triumph, Cucumber, Banana and Tofu was an interconnected trilogy which first aired on Channel 4 in 2015. Cucumber followed Henry Best (played by Vincent Franklin) and his boyfriend Lance (played by Cyril Nri) in the aftermath of the worst date night in history as they waded through the emotional turmoil of a death, a threesome and a manic house-share with a group of younger men.

Banana, which starred Letitia Wright and was aimed at a younger audience, was an eight-part miniseries that shone a light on modern gay love stories where casual flings took a leading role, while Tofu was an online documentary series that examined sex and sexuality with a decided zest. Episodes included "Good Sex, Bad Sex", "Queer as F***", and "Filthy, Dirty Sex". Davies drew inspiration for the trilogy titles from a scale for measuring the hardness of an erection.

Tales of the City

Tales of the City / Channel 4

Originally starting life as a serialised narrative in the San Francisco Chronicle written by Armistead Maupin, Tales of the City became so popular that it swiftly expanded the story into books that were later adapted into a limited series, which first aired in 1994. Starring Laura Linney as naive ingenue Mary-Ann Singleton, who was new to San Francisco, the series looked at the citys gay, drug, and disco cultures through the eyes of its innocent heroine. At the time, when it aired on PBS in America, it drew the highest ratings the network had ever received for a drama series.

Despite a less successful second season, the beating heart of Tales of the City was so fiercely loved by the LGBT community that Netflix commissioned a reboot of it in 2019, which starred Elliot Page. Indeed, Netflix has emerged as the streaming service to hold the highest number of LGBTQ regular and recurring characters on their scripted original series with 121 characters.

Pose

Pose / Netflix

The brainchild of Steven Canals, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, Pose has been hailed as a bastion of inclusion and diversity for good reason. Set in 1987 New York City, the show is rich with music, shoulder pads, and eighties nostalgia. It focuses on the underground ballroom scene, which inspired Madonnas iconic Vogue, while in the second series it tackles the pain of the queer community as it grappled with the AIDs epidemic.

It not only features the largest transgender cast on television, but it also employed the work of acclaimed trans producers Janet Mock and Our Lady J behind the lens too. For his role as PrayTell, Billy Porter became the first openly gay black man to win an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series last year. The epitome of trailblazing TV.

Noahs Arc

Noahs Arc / Logo

History-making Noahs Arc, which ran for two seasons from 2005 to 2006 was the first of its kind in its depiction of four gay African American men living in Los Angeles in a Sex and the City-style sitcom. Centring on the lives of its protagonists Noah, Alex, Ricky, and Chance, the show delved into intimacy, STIs and relationships, depicting its leads as nuanced characters as well as gay archetypes.

Once its two seasons had been cancelled, a rom-com movie followed in 2008 (Noahs Arc: Jumping the Broom) and last year, creator Patrik-Ian Polk bowed to pressure to revive its four much-loved characters, which he did with aplomb in a quarantine special, hosted by Queer Eyes Karamo Brown.

The Bisexual

The Bisexual / Channel 4

Despite the increased representation for the LGBTQ community in TV, sexual fluidity is still frowned upon and incorrectly considered an indicator of promiscuity than a legitimate orientation, so Channel 4s The Bisexual, which tackled just that, was a breath of fresh air.

The comedy-drama series starred Desiree Akhavan as Leila, who broke up with Sadie (played by Maxine Peake), her girlfriend of 10 years, and jumped straight into exploring sex with men. What ensues is a heart-warming and funny depiction of the reality and nuances of bisexuality (and the awkwardness of sex when youre out of practice with the opposite sexs genitalia).

Vida

Vida / Starz

Starz comedy drama Vida  which is Spanish and Portuguese for life - covered a hell of a lot of ground before it aired its final episode last year. The show started with a mothers death reuniting two estranged sisters, Emma and Lyn, as they aimed to deal with their joint inheritance of a bar in their gentrifying Boyle Heights neighbourhood, in East LA.

Schoonveld was in the back seat at the time of the accident, police said, and was not wearing a seat belt. The driver and front seat passenger also suffered injuries in the crash and were transported to a hospital.

Paul Erickson, a former conservative operative once romantically linked to Russian agent Maria Butina who was convicted in investment schemes, has been pardoned by President Donald Trump as part of a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of his White House term.

A White House statement early Wednesday said that Ericksons conviction was based off the Russian collusion hoax, even though Erickson was convicted in schemes that had nothing to do with Butina or Russia. Butina was deported in 2019 after serving time for failing to register as a foreign agent.

Erickson, of Sioux Falls, was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2020 for defrauding investors in a proposal to develop land in the North Dakota Bakken oil field by persuading people to buy real estate and build single-family homes.

Erickson was among six people from South Dakota who received pardons from Trump.

Gregory and Deborah Jorgensen, of Winner, were granted pardons and Martin Jorgensen was given a posthumous pardon. The Jorgensens were convicted in 1996 for selling misbranded beef under their premium label, but knowing that it was mixed with inferior, commercial beef trim.

The family has an exemplary record of service to their community, the White House said.

Trump also pardoned Jessica Frease, of Rapid City, who was convicted of converting stolen checks at the bank where she worked as a teller and John Nystrom, of Pierre, who was working as a contractor on a school reconstruction project when a subcontractor received double payments for work performed.
It's also integral to the intranet applications and other e-business solutions that are the foundation of corporate computing. Installing this update will ensure that your Java applications continue to run as safely and efficiently as always.

The JRE is the Java Runtime Environment, it covers most end-users needs. Contains everything required to run Java applications on your system. It is a package of everything necessary to run a compiled Java program, including the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), the Java Class Library, the java command, and other infrastructure. However, it cannot be used to create new programs.

The JDK is the Java Development Kit, the full-featured SDK for Java. It has everything the JRE has, but also the compiler (javac) and tools (like javadoc and jdb). It is capable of creating and compiling programs.

Usually, if you only care about running Java programs on computer you will only install the JRE. It's all you need. On the other hand, if you are planning to do some Java programming, you need to install the JDK instead.

Sometimes, even if you are not planning to do any Java development on a computer, you still need the JDK installed. For example, if you are deploying a web application with JSP, you are technically just running Java programs inside the application server. Why would you need the JDK then? Because the application server will convert JSP into Java servlets and needs to use the JDK to compile the servlets.

What's New:

Allow SASL Mechanisms to Be Restricted

A security property named jdk.sasl.disabledMechanisms has been added that can be used to disable SASL mechanisms. Any disabled mechanism will be ignored if it is specified in the mechanisms argument of Sasl.createSaslClient or the mechanism argument of Sasl.createSaslServer. The default value for this security property is empty, which means that no mechanisms are disabled out-of-the-box.

SunPKCS11 Provider Upgraded with Support for PKCS#11 v2.40

The SunPKCS11 provider has been updated with support for PKCS#11 v2.40. This version adds support for more algorithms such as the AES/GCM/NoPadding cipher, DSA signatures using SHA-2 family of message digests, and RSASSA-PSS signatures when the corresponding PKCS11 mechanisms are supported by the underlying PKCS11 library.

New Checks on Trust Anchor Certificates

New checks have been added to ensure that trust anchors are CA certificates and contain proper extensions. Trust anchors are used to validate certificate chains used in TLS and signed code. Trust anchor certificates must include a Basic Constraints extension with the cA field set to true. Also, if they include a Key Usage extension, the keyCertSign bit must be set.

A new system property named jdk.security.allowNonCaAnchor has been introduced to restore the previous behavior, if necessary. If the property is set to the empty String or "true" (case-insensitive), trust anchor certificates can be used if they do not have proper CA extensions.

The default value of this property, if not set, is "false".

Note that the property does not apply to X.509 v1 certificates (since they don't support extensions).

This property is currently used by the JDK implementation. It is not guaranteed to be supported by other Java SE implementations.

Exact Match Required for Trusted TLS Server Certificate

A TLS server certificate must be an exact match of a trusted certificate on the client in order for it to be trusted when establishing a TLS connection.

Added LuxTrust Global Root 2 Certificate

The following root certificate has been added to the cacerts truststore:

+ LuxTrust

+ luxtrustglobalroot2ca

DN: CN=LuxTrust Global Root 2, O=LuxTrust S.A., C=LU

Bug Fixes:

Support for OpenType CFF Fonts

Previously, Oracle JDK 8 did not include OpenType CFF fonts (.otf fonts) into the standard logical fonts (such as "Dialog" and "SansSerif"). This resulted in missing glyphs when rendering text. In the most extreme cases where only CFF fonts were installed on the system, a Java exception could be thrown.

Several Linux distributions were affected by this issue because they rely on CFF fonts to support some languages, which is common for CJK (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) languages.

Oracle JDK 8 now uses these CFF fonts, and this issue has been resolved.

Better Serial Filter Handling

The jdk.serialFilter system property can only be set on the command line. If the filter has not been set on the command line, it can be set can be set with java.io.ObjectInputFilter.Config.setSerialFilter. Setting the jdk.serialFilter with java.lang.System.setProperty has no effect.

Legacy:

If you are looking for previous Java versions here are the links to download:
A WOMAN accused of biting into her neighbours thumb and scratching and cutting her face during a fight has been sent for trial.

Valerie McGovern (54) had a book of evidence served on her at Dublin District Court.

Ms McGovern, with an address at Shangan Terrace in Ballymun, is charged with assault causing harm.

The incident is alleged to have happened at Shangan Green, also in Ballymun, on October 13, 2018.

A State solicitor said the DPP was consenting to the accused being returned for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on the single charge in the book of evidence.

Judge Ann Ryan gave Ms McGovern the formal notice that she had 14 days to adduce any alibi evidence.

The accused nodded and said yes when asked if she understood this warning.

She was sent forward on bail to a date next month on existing terms, with a condition that she has no contact, directly or indirectly, including by electronic means, with the alleged victim.

The DPP had initially consented to the case being dealt with in the district court but a judge had refused jurisdiction.

The court heard on a previous date it was alleged that the accused got into a fight with a 57-year-old neighbour.

It was alleged Ms McGovern scratched and cut the womans face, pulled her hair and bit her thumb twice, breaking the skin.

A medical report was submitted to the court outlining the alleged victims injuries and treatment.


As Kamala Harris took the oath of office to become the first female Vice President of the United States at 11:41 a.m. Wednesday, many women had to savor the historic moment at home in front of their television sets and computer screens.

There were tears of relief. And elation.

If not for the pandemic, veteran lobbyist Jeannine LaRue said, every room in her house in Trenton would have been filled with friends. Instead, donning pearls, a Biden-Harris hat and an American flag tee-shirt, LaRue wept with joy as she watched history unfold from her home office in Trenton while on a Zoom call with 50 friends.

To see in the span of a dozen years the first Black president and now the first Black and South Asian woman vice president, is such a wonderful moment, said LaRue, a Black woman.

Ive been crying the whole time, LaRue said. I had an opportunity to enjoy the moment with 50 women, it was almost as if they were all in my home.

At a time when the country is still reeling from the assault on the U.S. Capitol by pro-Donald Trump rioters and the mounting death toll of the pandemic, it may feel like the significance of Harris achievement is overshadowed, said Debbie Walsh, director for the Center for American Women and Politics at Eagleton Institute, Rutgers University. But the milestone deserves recognition, she said.

It is an enormously significant day for the history of womens participation in American politics, going back to a time when they couldnt own property and therefore couldnt vote  to this moment, as a woman, a Black woman, a south Asian woman, will become the first woman vice president. And when you see the pictures of all the men who came before, it is just so striking, Walsh said.

What is so important about this moment is the impact she will  bring to the White House, to the most powerful tables in the world. She will have a seat  a woman of color will have a seat at the table for the first time, and she will bring her life experiences, which are just so different than the men who came before her, Walsh said.

Still, Walsh said she couldnt help but feel a bit melancholy. Since there was no celebration at the Center Wednesday. Walsh said she planned to watch from home alone and reflect on how many of her colleagues have longed for this day.

On a personal note, I have been at the Center for almost 40 years. The person I worked for all those years was Ruth Mandel, who died in April 2020, and did not get to live to see this moment, but devoted her life to womens participation in politics, Walsh said. There is a real sadness. I will be thinking of her as Kamala Harris hand is on the Bible.

This is an enormous step forward and she would have loved to have seen this, she added.

Pioneering women in New Jersey politics described what Harris success means to them and a new generation of female leaders.

Former Gov. Christie Whitman, who was sworn in as New Jerseys first, and only, female governor 27 years ago this week, said the inauguration of a female vice president is a monumental lesson to all women about what is possible.

Its a wonderful moment for young girls and women everywhere to see that you can truly be anything, occupy any office, if you are willing to work for it, said Whitman, 74.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Dist. 12, at home recovering from the coronavirus she believes she contracted while members of Congress were locked down during the Jan. 6 insurrection, said she looked forward to a time when there are no more firsts for women and minorities in politics and government.

For me, I will be happiest at a time when we dont talk about the first African American, the first woman as such, the first Asian as such. This is a country that is great because of its diversity, the richness of all of the people from all of the world that came here seeking a better life and seeking the freedom that we stood for, Watson Coleman said.

I know that she has a special place in history. I know that it has not escaped her and she will be reminded of it from time to time, she added. And I know with that comes the desire to always be at your very best. Thats what we found in Kamala Harris anyway, always being at her very best.

Rep Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist. said as gratified to see Harris rise she wished progress could have come sooner. Im sure all women feel the same way: You cant believe its taken this long, Sherrill said.

I have so much hope for where were headed. Its not just that she a woman, shes a woman of color, Sherrill added. She encompasses so many of our ideals in this country. It was really an emotional moment.

Sen. Loretta Weinberg, seen in this file photo from 2020, said the swearing in of Kamala Harris was an emotional moment. When Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, she was concerned she would never see a woman win national office. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media) Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, the standard-bearer in the state Legislature on gender equality issues throughout her nearly 30-year career, nearly missed the historic moment.

Her cable connection died mere minutes before the ceremony. But much to her relief, some tech-savvy friends quickly patched her into a Zoom party attended by LaRue and 50 other women, the Bergen County Democrat said.

This was a cherished moment for me and everyone I know, Weinberg said. To share it among 50 womens faces on one screen overwhelmed her with emotion, she said.

Four years ago when I watched what happened to Hillary Clinton, I had this feeling, Oh my God, I will never live to see a woman president. It was a like a personal affront. Maybe thats a little selfish, said Weinberg, 85.

Four years later, watching Kamala Harris made up for it. I did live to see a woman vice president, with that broad smile and sense of confidence, she said.

Kay LiCausi, the CEO of Hoboken Strategy Group, a government relations consulting firm, said she organized the massive watch party on Zoom because it was important for those of us in New Jersey who work together to advance women on the local and state level to share the day in sisterhood.

Today marked one of the most significant achievements for women in U.S. history, LiCausi said. Todays virtual event provided the opportunity to celebrate the future of women in leadership. With continued hard work, well achieve gender and ethnic diversity and equality for our sisters and daughters.

The road will undoubtedly be tough for Harris, who will be faced with sexism and racism, LaRue said.

We are used to being Black all day and all night. You just know racism exists, sexism exists, LaRue said. Shell handle that.

NJ Advance Media Staff Writers Jonathan D. Salant and Kelly Heyboer contributed to this report.

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.
Mumbai: The first consignment of India-made COVID-19 vaccine `Covishield' is being dispatched from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai to Thimphu, Bhutan on Wednesday morning.

As per the government, a consignment containing 1.5 lakh doses of Covishield is scheduled to reach Bhutan's capital Thimphu today at around noon.

This makes Bhutan the first country to receive the COVID-19 vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), as a gift from India.

Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, India ensured a continuous supply of trade and essential items to Bhutan which is in line with India-Bhutan unique and special relations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India is honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community.

"India is deeply honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community. Supplies of Covid vaccines to several countries will commence tomorrow, and more will follow in the days ahead," PM Modi had tweeted.

India so far has provided essential medicines and medical supplies - including paracetamol, hydroxychloroquine, PPEs, N95 masks, x-ray machines and test kits worth over Rs 2.8 cores to Bhutan.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a release on Tuesday said that the government has received several requests for the supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries. These countries are Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Maldives, and Seychelles.

While clearance of necessary regulatory in being awaited from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius.

Live TV
This week, the Aiken Standard and the North Augusta Star welcomed recent Georgia Southern University graduate Shakailah Heard to the reporting staff.

Heard grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and other places as a military child. She said she has always been a curious person, leading to her interest in journalism.

"I'm a nosy person," Heard joked. "I always like to know what's going on."

Heard will mostly focus on coverage of topics affecting the North Augusta area.

At Georgia Southern University, Heard studied multimedia journalism, learning the ins and outs of writing, photography, videography and more. She spent her last semester working for her student newspaper, The George-Anne, covering the diversity and inclusion beat.

Heard built connections by working with the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement at Georgia Southern, and she was the social media coordinator for the university's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She also joined the Georgia Southern chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists in its founding year.

"I'm so happy I get to work in a real newsroom right out of college," Heard said.

In her free time, Heard loves doing makeup, listening to music, shopping, and watching Netflix and YouTube.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lashed out at previous governments, saying the poor had to bear the brunt of their "wrong" policies and intentions.

He said the poor people never believed in the past that the government will help them get a roof over their heads.

"Their (previous governments') policies were wrong and the poor had to bear the brunt of their wrong intentions," he said while releasing financial assistance of Rs 2,691 crore to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

The prime minister specifically criticised the state's previous Samajwadi Party government for its alleged failure to take advantage of the Prime Minister Awas Yojna (Gramin) after its launch in 2016.

"When we brought the PMAY-G in 2016, the government here, which you all removed, despite our repeated requests did not provide the names of beneficiaries, said Prime Minister Modi.

We were ready to provide funds but all requests, letters in this regard were ignored. This behaviour of the government of that time has not been forgotten by the poor, he added, in his 30-minute speech through video conferencing.

The poor did not believe that the government could help them in constructing houses. What kind of houses were made by earlier governments is known to all. It was because of the wrong policies. But it was the poor who had to bear the brunt in the name of destiny, the prime minister said.

Modi also praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the all-round development in the state and speedy implementation of central schemes.

In the past four years, the manner in which the Central government schemes have been implemented and provided momentum has given a new identity to the state," the prime minister said.

On one hand there is strictness with criminals and rioters and control on the law and order situation and, on the other, work on expressways and institutes like the AIIMS is on, expediting the speed of development, he said, adding big companies are coming to the state even while the doors are open for small industry.

Hailing the One-District-One-Product scheme of the UP government for making local workers self-reliant, the PM said it would pave the way for achieving the target of 'atmanirbhar Bharat.'

He also praised the efforts of the UP government during the difficult coronavirus times as well as its works for the migrants returning home.

The prime minister earlier pressed the remote button to release the assistance and interacted with some beneficiaries.

Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Adityanath were present on the occasion.

The assistance includes the release of the first instalment to 5.30 lakh beneficiaries and the second instalment to 80,000 beneficiaries who have already availed of the first instalment of assistance under the PMAY-G.

Modi had given a call of Housing for All by 2022, for which a flagship programme of PMAY-G was launched on November 20, 2016.

So far 1.26 crore houses have already been built across the country under the scheme, an official release said.

Under PMAY-G, each beneficiary is given 100 per cent grant of Rs 1.20 lakh (in plains) and Rs 1.30 lakh (in hill states/NE region/difficult areas/JK & Ladakh besides Naxal-hit districts besides areas falling under the Integrated Action Plan IAP).

Stressing that his government aims at extending basic facilities in the rural areas through this scheme to bridge the gap between villages and cities, the PM also referred to the housing schemes of the earlier governments, especially in UP.

He also praised the efforts of the UP government during the difficult corona times as well as its works for the migrants returning home.

On the occasion, he interacted with one beneficiary each from Kheri, Chitrakoot, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Saharanpur districts and said the scheme has helped people believe that they will be able to have a house of their own.

Saying that the history of housing schemes is very old in the country, the PM said earlier also there was a need for cheap housing for the poor but the experience of the poor had been very bad.

So when the Centre was working on this schemes, we paid special attention to ridding those wrongs and reached those people in the villages first who had lost all hope of having their own houses, he said.

The prime minister said the effort of the country today is that the gap between villages and towns, as per the basic facilities, is bridged and life in the rural area is as easy as in cities for which the scheme is being linked to the basic facilities like toilet, power and water supply.

Referring to the 'Prime Minister Swamitva Yojna', he said it would change the life of the poor in villages.

In thousands of villages of UP, survey and mapping is on so that the property is registered in the names of its owners in government records. This will also end the disputes over property and people will be able to take bank loan by showing papers. This will also have a good effect on the rates of property, he said.

He said government schemes are reaching villages and also giving momentum to the rural economy.

Another campaign has been started some months ago to facilitate high-speed internet in villages under which optical fibre will be laid in over six lakh villages. This will provide new employment opportunities to the rural people.

Also Read:PM Modi to release Rs 2,691 crore to 6.1 lakh PMAY-G beneficiaries in UP
MOSCOW -- Russia's Rosatom atomic energy agency plans to put up two statues of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's notorious secret police chief Lavrenty Beria, considered by many as a key force behind Soviet-era repression, in the Nuclear Energy Pavilion at the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy (VDNKh) in Moscow.

The Open Media website said on January 19 that it had obtained Rosatom's documents related to the plan to commemorate the controversial Beria, who after Stalin's death in 1953 was arrested and executed for treason, terrorism, and counterrevolutionary activities during the Russian Civil War in 1917-1923.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, when many convicted during the Soviet period had been exonerated, Russia's Supreme Court refused to exonerate Beria saying he was responsible for organizing mass political repressions in the Soviet Union such as the Great Purge and the deportation of many ethnic groups to Siberia and Central Asia.

Open Media said the plans include directions to make the statues from "fiberglass reinforced plastic with an anti-vandalism cover," while the heads will be made of silicon and with implants of real human hair.

Rosatom said that it was in no way attempting "to whitewash his legacy or in any way justify Berias actions or deny or downplay the crimes of Stalinism."



"Nevertheless, we stand by our decision to include Beria in the installation reconstructing the incipient stages of the Soviet Unions atomic programme because his key role in those events is a documented fact," Rosatom said in a statement, adding it was supporting a proposal made by an international creative agency curating the exhibition and wanted to "stick to a historically accurate portrayal of these events, despite the sensitivity with which some parts of this history might be perceived today."

It was not clear how much the statues will cost, but a new exhibition in the pavilion where they will be displayed will cost 1.28 billion rubles ($17.4 million). The exhibition was initially scheduled to open in mid-2020 but has been delayed with no new date set for its launch.
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Better predictions of volcanic eruptions would help protect the lives of those living close to them. Credit: Jorge Nava - Navart/Wikimedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

There are about 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide and about 50 eruptions occur each year. But it's still difficult to predict when and how these eruptions will happen or how they'll unfold. Now, new insight into the physical processes inside volcanoes are giving scientists a better understanding of their behaviour, which could help protect the 1 billion people who live close to volcanoes.

Dome-building volcanoes, which are frequently active, are among the most dangerous types of volcanoes since they are known for their explosive activity. This type of volcano often erupts by first quietly producing a dome-shaped extrusion of thick lava at its summit which is too viscous to flow. When it eventually becomes destabilised, it breaks off and produces fast-moving currents of hot gas, solidified lava pieces and volcanic ash, called pyroclastic clouds, that flow down the sides of the volcano at the speed of a fast train.

"The hazards associated with them can be very spontaneous and hard to predict," said Professor Thomas Walter, a professor of volcanology and geohazards at the University of Potsdam in Germany. "That's why it's so important to understand this phenomenon of lava domes."

Little is known about the behaviour of lava domes, partly because there isn't much data available. Prof. Walter and his colleagues want to better understand how they form, whether they can vary significantly in shape and what their internal structure is like. Over the last five years, through a project called VOLCAPSE, they have been using innovative techniques to monitor lava domes by using high resolution radar data captured by satellites as well as close-up views from cameras set up near volcanoes.

"Pixel by pixel, we could determine how the shape, morphology and structure of these lava domes changed," said Prof. Walter. "We compared (the webcam images) to satellite radar observations."

Time-lapse

The project focussed on a few dome-building volcanoes such as Colima in Mexico, Mount Merapi in Indonesia, Bezymianny in Russia, and Mount Lascar and Lastarria in Chile. It partly involved visiting them and installing instruments such as time-lapse cameras powered by solar panels that could be controlled remotely. If a lava dome started to form, for example, the team could tweak the settings so that it captured higher resolution images more often.

Due to high altitudes and harsh weather conditions, setting up the cameras was more challenging than expected. "It was a sharp learning curve, but also trial and error, because nobody could tell us what to expect at these volcanoes since it was never done before," said Prof. Walter.

During their visits, the team also used drones. These would fly over a lava dome and capture high resolution images from different perspectives, which could be used to create detailed 3-D models. Temperature and gas sensors on the drones provided additional information.

Prof. Walter and his colleagues used the data to create computer simulations, such as how the growth of lava domes changes from eruption to eruption. They found that new lava domes don't always form in the same location: a lava dome may form at the summit of a volcano during one eruption while the next time it builds up on one of its flanks. The team was puzzled, since a conduit inside a volcano brings magma to the surface during an eruption, which would mean that it changes its orientation between one eruption and the next. "That was very surprising for us," said Prof. Walter.

Stress field

They were able to explain how this happens by examining the distribution of internal forcesor stress fieldin a volcano. When magma is expelled during an eruption, it changes how the forces are distributed inside and causes a reorientation of the conduit.

The team also found that there was a systematic pattern to how the stress field changed, meaning that by studying the position of lava domes they could estimate where they had formed in the past and where they would appear in the future. This could help determine which areas near a volcano are likely to be most affected by eruptions yet to come.

The VOLCAPSE project monitors a few dome-building volcanoes around the world using various techniques to better understand this explosive type of volcano. Credit: Thomas Walter/VOLCAPSE

"This is a very cool result for predictive research if you want to understand where the lava dome is going to extrude (or collapse) from in the future," he said.

Knowing where a volcano will erupt from is one thing, but knowing when it will do so is a different matter and the physical factors that govern this are also not well understood. Although there is a relationship between how often eruptions occur and their size, with big eruptions occurring very rarely compared to smaller ones, a lack of reliable data makes it hard to examine the processes that control eruption frequency and magnitude.

"When you go back in the geological record, (the traces of) many eruptions disappear because of erosion," said Professor Luca Caricchi, a professor of petrology and volcanology at the University of Geneva in Switzerland.

Furthermore, it's not possible to access these processes directly since they occur deep down beneath a volcano, at depths of 5 to 60 kilometres. Measuring the chemistry and textures of magma expelled during an eruption can provide some clues about the internal processes that led to the event. And magma chambers can sometimes be investigated when they pop up at the surface of the Earth due to tectonic processes. Extracting information from specific time periods is still difficult though since the 'picture' you get is like a movie where all the frames are collapsed into a single shot. "It's complicated to retrieve the evolution in timewhat really happened during the movie," said Prof. Caricchi.

Prof. Caricchi and his colleagues are using a novel approach to forecast the recurrence rate of eruptions. Previous predictions were typically based on statistical analyses of the geological records of a volcano. But through a project called FEVER the team is aiming to combine this method with physical modelling of the processes responsible for the frequency and size of eruptions. A similar approach has been used to estimate when earthquakes and floods will occur again.

Using physical models should especially be useful to make predictions for volcanoes where there is little data available. "To extrapolate our findings from a place where we know a lot, like in Japan, you need a physical model that tells you why the frequency-magnitude relationship changes," said Prof. Caricchi.

To create their model, the team have incorporated variables that affect pressure in the magma reservoir or the rate of accumulation of magma at depth below the volcano. The viscosity of the crust under the volcano and the size of the magma reservoir, for example, play a role. They have performed over a million simulations using all the possible combinations of values that can occur. The relationship between frequency and magnitude they obtained from their model was similar to what was estimated by using volcanic records so they think they were able to capture the fundamental processes involved.

"It's sort of a fight between the amount of magma and the properties of the crust," said Prof. Caricchi. "They are the two big players that fight each other to finally lead to this relationship."

Tectonic plates

However, the team also found that the relationship between the size and frequency of changes across volcanoes in different regions. Prof. Caricchi thinks this is due to differences in the geometry of tectonic plates in each area. "We can see that the rate at which a plate subducts below another, and also the angle of subduction, seem to play an important role in defining the frequency and magnitude of a resulting eruption," he said. The team is now starting to incorporate this new information into their model.

Being able to predict the frequency and magnitude of future eruptions using a model could help better assess hazards. In Japan, for example, one of the countries with the most active volcanoes, knowing the probability of future eruptions of various sizes is important when deciding where to build infrastructure such as nuclear power plants.

It's also invaluable in densely populated areas, such as in Mexico City, which is surrounded by active volcanoes, including Nevado de Toluca. Prof. Caricchi and his colleagues studied this volcano, which hasn't erupted for about 3,000 years. They found that once magmatic activity restarts, it would take about 10 years before a large eruption could potentially occur. This knowledge would prevent Mexico City from being evacuated if initial signs of activity are spotted.

"Once the activity restarts, you know you have ten years to follow the evolution of the situation," said Prof. Caricchi. '(People) will now know a little bit more about what to expect."

Explore further Stressed-out volcanoes more likely to collapse and erupt
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India's oil imports reach 3-year high in Dec 2020 at 5 million bpd

India's crude oil imports in December soared to the highest levels in nearly three years to more than 5 million barrels per day (bpd) as its refiners cranked up output to meet a rebound in fuel demand, data from trade sources showed. India's year-end rush for crude supplies coincided with stronger demand from north Asian buyers during winter, boosting prices and an accelerating de-stocking of floating storage globally.

SC upholds 100-homebuyer threshold for insolvency application against realtors

The Supreme Court has dismissed the homebuyers' plea against the threshold introduced in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) for them to file insolvency application against a real estate company. The threshold is the requirement that there should be at least 100 allottees or 10 per cent of the total allottees, whichever is less, to support an insolvency application against a real estate project.

Tata Trusts B2B app to let businesses buy directly from artisans

Tata Trusts, through its craft-based livelihood programme Antaran, will launch a mobile app and website Craft Xchange to enable retailers, designers, boutiques buy directly from the artisans across the country.

Joe Biden's inaugural speech to be built around theme of unity

Joe Biden, in his maiden address to the nation soon after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, would deliver a forward-looking speech built around the theme of unity, advisors close to the President-elect said. According to the advisors, in his first moments after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts after the clock strikes 12 noon (local time) at the West Front of the Capitol, Biden will speak about the need to bring the country together during an unprecedented moment of crisis.

Netflix global subscriber count crosses 200 million; forecasts an end to borrowing

Netflix Inc said on Tuesday its global subscriber rolls crossed 200 million at the end of 2020 and projected it will no longer need to borrow billions of dollars to finance its broad slate of TV shows and movies. Shares of Netflix rose nearly 13% in extended trading as the financial milestone validated the company's strategy of going into debt to take on big Hollywood studios with a flood of its own programming in multiple languages.
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San Francisco, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jan, 2021 ) :Electric vehicle maker Rivian on Tuesday said it raised $2.65 billion in a new funding round valuing the Amazon-backed US company at $26.7 billion.

Investors included Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund and Fidelity Management and Research, according to Rivian.

"This is a critical year for us as we are launching the R1T, the R1S and the Amazon commercial delivery vehicles," Rivian founder and chief executive RJ Scaringe said in a release.

"The support and confidence of our investors enables us to remain focused on these launches while simultaneously scaling our business for our next stage of growth." Amazon is set to launch its own electric delivery vans ordered from the startup.

The new round brings to $8 billion the total amount of funding raised by Rivian in the past two years.

"We have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of 2021, and with it, the exhilaration of Rivian starting to deliver its revolutionary products to customers," said T. Rowe price portfolio manager Joe Fath.

The Rivian financing round was led by funds and accounts advised by T.

Rowe Price Associates.

Rivian has been targeting Europe for its electric vehicles, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.

"They have the brand, the backers, and the prototypes to aggressively go after this market," Ives said.

Electric vehicle sales increased by 20 percent last year and are expected to surge by 71 percent this year, as the number of charging stations also grows significantly, according to AI-powered predictive platform BlastPoint "The Covid-19 pandemic was responsible for slower EV commercial expansion, but 2020 still saw explosive sales across Europe and China, and an uptick in US sales," said BlastPoint chief executive Alison Alvarez.

The news comes with General Motors announcing it is joining forces with microsoft on its Cruise autonomous driving venture.

The companies have established "a long-term strategic relationship," and Microsoft will join GM, Honda and institutional investors in a new $2 billion equity investment round, GM and Cruise said in a press release.

GM is also building its own electric delivery vehicles under the new BrightDrop brand.
January 20, 2021 - Plant breeders are constantly working to develop new bean varieties to meet the needs and desires of the food industry. But not everyone wants the same thing.

Many consumers desire heirloom-type beans, which have great culinary quality and are visually appealing. On the other hand, farmers desire beans with better disease resistance and higher yield potential.

The bean varieties that farmers want to grow are usually different than the varieties consumers want to purchase. Until now.

Travis Parker, a plant scientist at University of California, Davis, has worked with a team of researchers to release five new varieties of dry beans that combine the most desirable traits.

The new varieties, UC Sunrise, UC Southwest Red, UC Tiger's Eye, UC Rio Zape, and UC Southwest Gold, were recently highlighted in the Journal of Plant Registrations, a publication of the Crop Science Society of America.

"Our new beans combine the best of both worlds for farmers and consumers," says Parker. "They combine the better qualities of heirloom-type beans with the better qualities of commercial types."

Heirloom-type beans often represent older bean types that are known for culinary qualities and seed patterns. These are highly desired by consumers. Heirloom types often fetch a higher market value than other beans.

Commercial dry beans often have higher yields, shorter maturity times, and improved disease resistance. While they possess qualities desirable to producers, they don't fetch as high of a market price compared to their heirloom counterparts.

"Our goal was to improve field characteristics of the heirloom beans without losing culinary characteristics," said Parker. "We have an interest in higher-value varieties and want them to grow well."

Farmers growing the heirloom dry beans often sell the beans to health-conscious consumers or high-end restaurants. This sale often leads to a higher price point. However, these beans are prone to disease and don't perform well in the field.

"We know that existing heirloom beans don't usually do well in terms of yield," said Parker. "Breeding beans for high yields is a major improvement for farmers. The new varieties are high-yielding, heat-tolerant, and are also resistant to bean common mosaic virus."

Incorporating disease resistance was essential when developing the new bean varieties. Bean common mosaic virus is a well-known problem that is hard to control in the field.

"The only real effective means to handle the virus is through genetic resistance," explains Parker.

The new varieties, such as UC Sunrise, satisfy the need for farmers to have a bean that is disease resistant while also yielding 50% more than heirloom types. In addition, the beans do not take as long to grow between planting and harvest.

Commercial and heirloom beans come from the same species, but they are in different market classes. The heirloom varieties are bred with intimate knowledge of what tastes good and what works well in the kitchen.

"In recent decades, there has been less attention paid to consumer desires during the bean breeding process," says Parker. "There are more layers between the breeder and the consumer. We are trying to make sure to keep consumers in mind while incorporating qualities that are beneficial to the farmer."

With consumer desires in mind, the research team used cross-pollination to breed plants with key characteristics they selected. As Parker and the team continued the breeding process, they performed taste tests to ensure the beans met the level of culinary quality expected of an heirloom-type bean, in terms of flavor and visual appeal.

###

This research was supported by the Clif Bar Family Foundation, Lundberg Family Farms, the United States Department of Agriculture Organic Agriculture Research & Extension Initiative, and the United States Department of Agriculture Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.

American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Crop Science Society of America: Collectively, these Societies represent more than 12,000 individual members around the world. Members are researchers and professionals in the areas of growing our world's food supply while protecting our environment. Together we work toward solutions to advance scientific knowledge in the areas of agronomy, crop science, and soil science.

Twitter: @ASA_CSSA_SSSA & @SSSA_soils | Instagram: @sustainablefoodsupply & @iheartsoil


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CHICOPEE  There will be no crowds at this years presidential inauguration in Washington, and the traditional ball has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But five Western Massachusetts veterans who fought in Iraq or Afghanistan will be there virtually to honor the flag and the countrys veterans from World War II.

The Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars State Honor Guard will be the states representative in a virtual parade Wednesday celebrating the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The online event will feature videos of high school bands, drum corps, dance troops and other marching units and entertainers from around the country.

In the weeks leading up to the inauguration, the Massachusetts honor guard put in a standard application to participate. It wasnt until after it was selected that members learned it would be a virtual parade, said Brian Willette, of South Hadley, a member of VFW Post 3104 and commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of Massachusetts.

It is a great honor and we are honored to represent the Veterans of Foreign Wars, he said. I hope for one brief, shining day we will be able to set aside our differences to unite the country.

The group is made up of members of VFW posts in South Hadley, Ludlow and Easthampton. They are Willette; Christine Lapacchino, a master sergeant with the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield and commander of the group; Eric Segundo, of Springfield; Rene Fuertes, of Randolph; and Keith Buckhout, of Easthampton.

The group submitted a series of videos, all under a minute long, to be used in the virtual parade.

They are all traditional and in accordance with the care of the flag and represent the proper way to carry and honor the flag with the utmost respect and military bearing, Willette said.

The honor guard has no idea which videos will be selected for the video. Willette said he thinks one of the honor guard congratulating the president and saluting him came out well.

In the beginning of 2020, the Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars State Honor Guard purchased World War II uniforms, and planned a full slate of events to commemorate the end of World War II and honor the Greatest Generation veterans who fought in the war. They attended just one event at Fenway Park before the coronavirus pandemic hit, Willette said.

Since then the group has performed in multiple virtual events across the state, for the Soldiers Home in Holyoke and for holidays and other events. While it was disappointing to see events canceled, it was more important to keep people safe. And Willette said it gave the honor guard a chance to reach out to a larger and different type of audience.

Members of the Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars State Honor guard were selected to participate in the virtual inaugural parade. Here is the group in Szot Park in Chicopee. (submitted photo)

The group is one of about four military units that will be featured in the virtual parade. State officials said they were happy the honor guard was selected to represent the state in the inaugural ceremonies.

We congratulate the members of the Department of Massachusetts VFW Honor Guard, most of them from Western Massachusetts, on being selected to represent the Greatest Generation in the Presidents Inaugural Virtual Parade. We are so proud of you, Veterans Services Secretary Cheryl Lussier Poppe said.

The group also decided to have their clips filmed in Szot Park, which was named for U.S. Army Private Frank J. Szot, the first Chicopee resident killed in action in World War I. Some of them were also filmed near the World War II M5 Stewart tank in the park, Willette said.

The honor guard filmed the clips about two weeks ago, and it took about three hours to do it. Willette said his wife did most of the filming with his sons camera, but they did have some professional assistance.

The virtual parade will be livestreamed at BidenInaugural.org starting at 3:15 p.m. It will also be available on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch.

Willette said he is especially interested in watching Biden and Harris visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where they will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Former presidents and first ladies Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton and George W. and Laura Bush will attend. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have sent their best wishes to Biden.

It is special to me. My dad served in the Army honor guard in the 1950s and he worked there for two years laying to rest hundreds of Korean War veterans, Willette said.
People have to contact each of the major credit bureaus to place a credit freeze, either through mail, telephone or online. For each case, the person has to provide name, Social Security number, date of birth, home address, proof of current address and a photocopy of a government-issued identification card, which includes a drivers license or military identification. Contact Equifax at 1-800-525-6285, Experian at 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742), TransUnion at 1-800-680-7289 and Innovis at 1-800-540-2505.
PISA - Starting on Wednesday, Pisa's Palazzo Blu will reopen to the public after closure as part of anti-COVID measures. The first exhibition is a retrospective entitled 'De Chirico and Metaphysics'. Organised by Fondazione Pisa and MondoMostre and curated by Saretto Cincinelli and Lorenzo Canova, the exhibition is opening to the public for the first time and presents the works of the entire career of the artist chronologically from the early twentieth century to the years in which Metaphysics was in vogue and to the last phase of Neo-Metaphysics. The show, Palazzo Blu said in a statement, "is opening to the public in full compliance with security measures: containment, distancing, and reservations''. The exhibition revolves around the artist's personal collection, made up mostly of a large number of works from the Galleria Nazionale of Rome, which were donated in 1987 by the painter's wife Isabella, Fondazione Giorgio, and Isa de Chirico. At the same time, the permanent exhibition of Palazzo Blu is reopening with a photographic show on Pisa in the last 30 years of the twentieth century entitled 'Pisa, Ultimo Novecento', with photos from Luciano Frassi's archive. The museum is open from Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 8 PM.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV / Courtesy of GM Korea



By Nam Hyun-woo



With electric vehicles (EVs) taking center stage in the global automobile industry, GM Korea and Renault Samsung's future as car manufacturers here is clouded with uncertainty after they failed to win EV production orders from their respective headquarters.



During the recent Consumer Electronics Show, General Motors revealed its EV platform, Ultium, and promised that the company will introduce 30 new EVs globally over the next five years. Also, the automaker showcased a new business model BrightDrop, which includes smart logistics services, commercial EVs and electrified tools for moving goods.



Following the announcement, GM and a Canadian auto union Unifor Local 88 have reached an $800 million investment agreement to produce commercial electric delivery vans. This came just two months after GM announced a $1 billion investment plan into its plant in Oshawa.



Apart from Canada, GM is also expediting EV production in China. In August, the company said over 40 percent of new GM vehicle launches in China by 2025 will be EVs and they will all be manufactured there with almost all parts coming from local suppliers.



GM's vast investments into EV production are, however, not the case for GM Korea.



GM Korea plans to roll out six vehicles this year  one of them is expected to be the Bolt EUV, whose anticipated unveiling will be February. Though the vehicle will be available in Korea this summer, it will only be as an import.



After ending production of the Spark EV in February 2017, GM Korea has not been assembling EVs and is yet to have an EV manufacturing plan.



During last year's collective bargaining, the GM Korea union demanded the company to persuade headquarters to allocate future vehicles (EVs) to the Korean unit, but GM Korea CEO Kaher Kazem said improvements were needed in the company's competitiveness for future products, according to minutes of their meeting in November.



The remark was interpreted as GM considering stable union relations at GM Korea as one of the priorities in deciding whether to allocate new vehicles. Last year, GM Korea's labor and management had 26 meetings over wages and collective bargaining, and its union staged partial strikes for 15 days.



Concern also abounds at Renault Samsung. The company had been producing the SM3 Z.E. electric sedan from 2013, but ended production and sales in December.



Though the Twizy is produced in Korea, it is contract manufactured by Dongshin Motech, a body supplier of the company, while debate is ongoing whether it should be categorized as a micro car or a quadricycle.



To replace the SM3 Z.E., Renault Samsung has been selling the Zoe since last summer, but this also is an import and sales remained at 192 vehicles last year.



Currently, Renault Samsung does not have an EV production plan and no new model is scheduled for launch this year, raising doubts on its future sustainability.



Last week, Renault Group announced a new strategy focusing on a margins and cash generation recovery, and named Renault Samsung as a unit that needed to move toward the high margin business.





The Renault Twizy / Courtesy of Renault Samsung
Loving her looks! Shay Mitchell opened up exclusively to Us Weekly about her post-baby body journey.

Read article

Honestly, I think I felt really good after [giving birth], the Pretty Little Liars alum, 33, explained on Friday, January 15, while promoting her OpenFit partnership.

Courtesy Shay Mitchell/Instagram (2)

The Canada native was working out up until Vanity Fairs February 2020 Oscar party, and then the coronavirus pandemic hit the following month. I was like, Well, no carpets, not really shooting anything, the You alum said of slowing down her activity.

Read article

Instead of hitting the gym, the actress dealt with the mental ups and downs of the COVID-19 spread by eating, calling food comforting.

Mitchell went on to explain that she became less focused on improving her post-baby body as she is her quarantine body. With the help of her and influencer Kelsey Heenans Four Weeks of Focus program through OpenFit, the Beis Travel creator is hoping to get strong with 30-minute trainings five days a week.

The Bliss author told Us, Three weeks from now, I want to be able to do a full pushup. I want to be able to walk up and down the stairs without, like, huffing and puffing, maybe go for a run outside.

In addition to her new regimen, which kicked off on January 11, the Possession of Hannah Grace star has her daughter, Atlas,15 months, to keep her busy. Her and Matte Babels toddler is always really fun and loves spending time with her mom.

Read article

Im constantly reading with her, the Dollface alum told Us. She loves music, so Im always playing different songs, going between kid nursery rhymes to Bob Marley. Dancing is her thing now as well, so thats really fun.  Bath time is like a theater production. I love it. There really isnt anything that I dont enjoy doing with her. She just likes to do things on a repetitive basis. Once it gets through the 15th time that Ive done it, Im like, OK, lets take a break.

Mitchell added that while she and the music journalist, 40, can put brand new, shiny toys in front of the little one to distract her all day long, Atlas will always want the Tupperware or her parents deodorant sticks.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
Trust and reputation

Another key theme was the growing relevancy of trust and reputation. Robert Carey, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer at easyJet, said: In an economic downturn, customers want value and a brand they can trust. This is supported by data from the Passenger Confidence Tracker, which finds 44 per cent of passengers believe reputation is now a more significant factor when choosing an airline than it was pre-pandemic.

Trust is super critical for any brand, but certainly for those that have a safety component like airlines, agreed Anton Vidgen, APEX President and Air Canada Head of Brand Experience. It was important before the pandemic and its especially important during the pandemic.
A FERMANAGH man is facing multiple allegations of harassing directors and family members of the former Quinn Industrial Holdings, since rebranded Mannok.

Court papers show Bernard McGovern (23) from Springtown Road, Kinawley, allegedly committed three separate sets of offences in 2019.

Until recently, he was remanded in Castlerea Prison, Co Roscommon, following his arrest in June 2020 in connection with an attack on Kevin Lunney and Dara OReilly  both Mannok directors.

This relates to an alleged incident in a Co Cavan service station in February 2019, in which Mr Lunney sustained a broken nose while Mr OReilly had hot water thrown in his face.

These matters are next due for mention at Cavan Circuit Court in March

Numerous applications for bail were refused despite Mr McGovern being neither accused nor suspected in the abduction and torture of Mr Lunney in September 2019.

Whilst in custody, a charge of breaching an injunction prohibiting harassment came before Enniskillen Magistrates Court, which a defence solicitor has advised is denied.

It is claimed Mr McGovern entered Stragowna Road, Kinawley, on June 27, 2019, without reasonable excuse, and his father will give evidence to support his denial.

It has now emerged two further matters are pending which, in order of occurrence, allege two charges of harassment and two more injunction breaches.

Mr McGovern is accused of harassing a female relative of the Lunney family on January 21, 2019, by slowing his vehicle to a low speed while approaching her car and staring in an intimidating manner while shaking his fists.

He then allegedly made an offensive gesture with his fingers while sounding his horn.

Then on February 5, 2019, Mr McGovern allegedly encountered the woman on a road and flashed his lights and shook his fists.

A second set of harassment offences relate to Peter Lunney when on February 17, 2019, Mr McGovern encountered him while driving and allegedly: Flashed his lights on three or four occasions, sounded his horn for up to 10 seconds multiple times, and shook his fists in a threatening manner.

On February 28, 2019, Mr McGovern allegedly drove within one foot of Mr Lunneys parked vehicle preventing him moving, then stared in an aggressive and intimidating manner.

The following month, Mr McGovern is accused of meeting Mr Lunney on a narrow road where Mr Lunney pulled his car on to the grass verge. Mr McGovern allegedly accelerated towards the stationary vehicle and before impact swerved away  shaking his fists in an intimidating manner.

At some point after this, a High Court injunction was served on Mr McGovern prohibiting such behaviour.

On May 20, 2019, Mr McGovern allegedly breached this by contacting a female relative of the Lunney family and making cuckoo noises. He allegedly repeated this four days later with Kevin Lunney.

All cases are collectively listed on January 25, with a contest date to be fixed on the denied charge and an indication of whether the new matters are accepted or not.

Prior to Mr McGoverns eventual release on bail a few weeks ago, Fermanagh Sinn Fein councillor Chris McCaffrey wrote to the Irish Justice Minister, pointing to a perception of imbalance.

He said the repeated refusal of bail completely contravened normal judicial procedures and the authorities continue to remand without any sufficiently adequate reason.

Sinn Fein later distanced themselves from the move.

Mr McGoverns family also staged protests over his continued detention and met with Sinn Feins Michelle Gildernew MP and Sean Lynch MLA.
By Janice C. Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be the United States first female vice president, the highest-ranking female elected official in U.S. history, and the first Black and first Asian American vice president. The American people have spoken with their voice and vote.

As president and vice president of the Afro American Historical and Genealogical Societys New Jersey chapter, we are overjoyed to celebrate this major milestone with Vice President-elect Harris, her family and our nation.

As Black women, it is inspiring and empowering to witness this moment in time. It is truly historic!

Our country needs visionary leadership and a clear and detailed plan to handle the challenges we are currently facing as a nation. We believe that Vice President-elect Harris experience and education will be an asset to President-elect Joe Biden and their administration.

As a historical and genealogical society, we have studied history, the history of our families, and clearly understand the positive impact of excellence in leadership in times of national and community crisis. We are confident that the vice president-elect will work with our incoming president, elected officials, and others who choose to assist in transitioning us into a new administration.

Throughout history, women have often had to rely on each other to navigate and conquer tumultuous situations. Vice President-elect Harris was in high school when her friend confided in her that she was being abused by her stepfather. Harris told her mother, who then insisted that the friend move in with them.

While these kinds of experiences are universal to women around the world, we are reminded of the many ways African American women have nurtured and protected vulnerable women and children in their own communities, helping to improve their communities health and well-being. Women like Clara McBride Hale, affectionately known as Mother Hale, who opened her home to care for vulnerable children and babies in her Harlem community, many of whom were born addicted to drugs, were HIV-positive, or homeless. Her home became known as Hale House and her legacy included not just caring for children, but also securing suitable foster care placement and establishing various programs and trainings to help parents and families in need.

Recently, we attended the virtual screening of a documentary entitled The Nine O Clock Whistle, which was produced by a member of AAHGS-NJ, Karen Riley, and her cousin, Dr. Willa Cofield. The title referred to a siren that was blown every Saturday night to alert the towns Black residents that it was time for them to clear the downtown area in the town of Enfield, North Carolina. The documentary used firsthand accounts of Enfields African American residents, including Dr. Cofield, to take the viewers on their journey as they fought to achieve equality for Enfields Black residents.

The film revealed the harsh realities of Jim Crow life and the various indignities African Americans endured just trying to carry out their daily affairs. Residents like Dr. Cofield pushed back and helped fight for substantive change in Enfield, often at great personal risk.

While Dr. Cofield did not act alone, she, like the women mentioned above, saw there was a need for real community change and courageously stepped up in a time of crisis, exhibiting the kind of dynamic leadership that the community could rely on. In reflecting upon the legacy of various African American community leaders and civil rights activists like Dr. Cofield, we are reminded of Vice President-elect Harris own experience with busing and integration in the Berkeley Public School system, which was a continuation of that legacy.

We are confident that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will continue in the legacy of these amazing women by exhibiting effective leadership in a time of crisis and working toward the collective well-being of this nation. We are excited to witness the first Black and Asian-American female vice president and we are hopeful that she will not be the last!

Janice C. Gilyard is president and Cherekana Feliciano is vice president of the New Jersey chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society.

Send letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com.
D onald Trump has pardoned his former chief strategist Steve Bannon and rapper Lil Wayne as part of a late flurry of clemency action benefiting nearly 150 people.

Mr Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of investors who believed their money would be used to fulfil Mr Trumps chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border.

Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

The rapper Lil Wayne recieved a pardon after pleading guilty to a gun possession charge in Miami.

Another rapper, Kodak Black, received a commutation after he pleaded guilty to a weapons charge.

Mr Trump had already pardoned a slew of long-time associates and supporters before Mr Bannons pardon was announced.

Rapper Lil Wayne also received a pardon / Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP

A statement from the White House said: Prosecutors pursued Mr Bannon with charges related to fraud stemming from his involvement in a political project.

Mr Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen.

Mr Trump also pardoned Elliott Broidy, a former top fundraiser for the president who pleaded guilty last year to violating foreign lobbying laws, and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was serving a 28-year prison term on corruption charges.

Mr Trump also gave a full pardon to a former Google engineer sentenced for stealing a trade secret on self-driving cars months before he briefly headed Uber Technologies Inc's rival unit.

Anthony Levandowski, 40, was sentenced in August to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in March. He was not in custody but a judge had said he could enter custody once the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.

The White House said Levandowski had "paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good."

Donald Trump Presidency - In pictures 1 /47 Donald Trump Presidency - In pictures 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 on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC Getty Images Republican president-elect Donald Trump gives a thumbs up to the crowd during his acceptance speech at his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of 9 November 2016 in New York Getty Images U.S. Republican presidential candidate, real estate mogul and TV personality Donald Trump poses with his family after formally announcing his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination during an event at Trump Tower in New York on 16 June 2015 Reuters Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holds babies at a campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado on 29 July 2016 Reuters Donald Trump eating KFC on his private jet in August 2016 Donald Trump Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump kisses a "Women for Trump" placard during a rally at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida on 12 October 2016 AFP/Getty Images Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, America on 09 October 2016 AP U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at his election night rally in Manhattan, New York, U.S. on 09 November 2016 Reuters The future is orange: Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump hugs a U.S. flag Reuters Donald Trump and wife Melania being interviewed on 13 November 2016 by Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes 60 Minutes/CBS US President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump meet in the Oval Office of the White House on 10 November 2016 EPA Republican president-elect Donald Trump embraces his wife Melania Trump during his election night event at the New York Hilton Midtown in the early morning hours of 09 November 2016 in New York Getty Images Donald Trump poses on the cover of Time Magazine after being named its person of the year, in a picture provided by the publication in New York on 7 December 2016 Time Magazine Donald Trump and musician Kanye West pose for media at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York on 13 December 2016 Reuters President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive for a VIP reception and dinner with donors in Washington on 19 January 2017 AP Theresa May and U.S. President Donald Trump walk along The Colonnade of the West Wing at The White House on January 27, 2017 in Washington, DC Getty Images Pope Francis walks along with US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump during a private audience at the Vatican in May 2017 AFP/Getty Images President Donald Trump examines a fire truck from Wisconsin-based manufacturer Pierce on the South Lawn during a "Made in America" product showcase event at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 17, 2017 AFP/Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 15, 2017 Reuters US President Donald Trump inspects border wall prototypes in March 2018 AFP/Getty Images Activists inflate a giant balloon depicting US President Donald Trump as an orange baby during a demonstration against Trump's visit to the UK in Parliament Square, London July 2018 AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump with The Queen in July 2018 AP German Chancellor Angela Merkel deliberates with US president Donald Trump on the sidelines of the official agenda on the second day of the G7 summit on June 9, 2018 in Charlevoix, Canada Getty Images President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sentosa Island in Singapore on 12 June 2018 AP U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland in July 2018 Reuters Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian posed for a photograph together at the White House meeting Donald Trump U.S. first lady Melania Trump climbs into her motorcade vehicle wearing a Zara design jacket with the phrase "I Really Don't Care. Do U?" on the back as she returns to Washington from a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border area in Texas, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., June 21, 2018 Reuters A White House staff member reaches for the microphone held by CNN's Jim Acosta as he questions U.S. President Donald Trump during a news conference in November 2018 Reuters President Donald Trump looks over tables of fast food for the the college football playoff champion Clemson Tigers in the State Dining Room of the White House in January 2019 Reuters Donald Trump with Nigel Farage when they met met face-to-face on 2nd March 2019 The White House/PA US President Donald Trump with First Lady Melania Trump and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe' Akie Abe (R) watch a sumo battle during the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on May 26, 2019 AFP/Getty Images Swedish environmental activist GrSwedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg watches as Donald Trump enters the United Nations to speak with reporters on September 23, 2019eta Thunberg watches as Donald Trump enters the United Nations to speak with reporters Reuters The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall meets US President Donald Trump and wife Melania at Clarence House, central London, as Nato leaders gather to mark 70 years of the alliance on 3 December 2019 PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a welcoming ceremony at the NATO leaders summit in Watford on December 4, 2019 Reuters Donald Trump in an online address on 13 January 2020 The White House Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) rips up the speech of U.S. President Donald Trump after his State of the Union address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on 4 February Reuters US President Donald Trump holds up a newspaper that displays a headline "Acquitted" as he arrives to speak at the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast on February 6, 2020 in Washington,DC AFP via Getty Images picturesoftheyeargeorgefloydv1.jpg A protester carries the carries a U.S. flag upside, a sign of distress, next to a burning building on 28 May in Minneapolis during the George Floyd protests AP President Donald Trump holds a Bible as he visits outside St. John's Church across Lafayette Park from the White House on 1 June in Washington AP US President Donald Trump arrives for the Independence Day events at Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, July 3, 2020 AFP via Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat while looking at exhibits during a Spirit of America Showcase in the Entrance Hall of the White House July 02, 2020 in Washington, DC Getty Images Ivanka Trump, daughter and Advisor to the US President, introduces US President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump ahead of his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on August 27, 2020. AFP via Getty Images A car with US President Trump drives past supporters in a motorcade outside of Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland AFP via Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump works in the Presidential Suite while receiving treatment after testing positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland via Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump removes his mask upon return to the White House from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on October 05, 2020 in Washington Getty Images An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington Reuters Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) displays a signed an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on January 13, 2021 in Washington, DC Getty Images

Rudy Giuliani, who has been at the forefront of Mr Trumps unsuccessful efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, has not been charged with a crime, but investigators have been probing his activities in Ukraine.

He did not receive a pardon.
Chechnyas leader Ramzan Kadyrov said Wednesday that his forces have killed six suspected militants, including a warlord accused of organizing a 2011 suicide attack at a Moscow airport.

Kadyrov said that troops under his command had tracked down the suspects in the village of Katar-Yurt and killed all of them on the spot. Kadyrov claimed that the raid marked the elimination of the last group of militants that remained in the region.

Kadyrov said that those killed included warlord Aslan Byutukayev, whom Russian authorities accused of involvement in the January 2011 suicide bombing at the arrivals area of Moscows Domodedovo airport that killed 37. Byutukayev appeared in a video alongside top Chechen warlord Doku Umarov and the suicide bomber.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone conversation with Kadyrov and congratulated him and other participants of a special operation that eradicated a criminal gang led by Aslan Byutukayev.

"President Putin had a phone conversation with Ramzan Kadyrov. He congratulated him and other participants of the operation on eliminating a group of Byutukayevs criminals. We are talking about the so-called last emir of Chechnya, a well-known terrorist who has been wanted for a long time. They searched for him both in Ingushetia and in Chechnya within the framework of the operation under the auspices of the NAC [the National Antiterrorism Committee]," the spokesman clarified.

He noted that all participants of this operation will receive state awards.

"Structures of the Russian National Guard as well as the operative regiment of the Chechen Republic took part in the operation, Ramzan Kadyrov also participated personally. <...> Currently, in Chechnya the identities of the eliminated militants are being established," TASS cited the Kremlin representative as saying.

As Kadyrov reported earlier on Wednesday on his Telegram channel, six militants from Byutukayevs gang, including its leader, were eliminated in Chechnya. Kadyrov noted that "its all over for the militant underground in the Chechen Republic."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 21:53:14|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A COVID-19 cluster at a hospital in Taiwan has risen to ten cases as of Wednesday, rousing public concerns over the epidemic spreading into local communities.

The latest case was the grandmother of a nurse who had tested positive for COVID-19, the local epidemic monitoring agency said at a press briefing Wednesday.

The first patient identified in the cluster was a doctor who had taken care of a COVID-19 patient and was diagnosed with the disease on Jan. 12. As of Wednesday, another doctor, four nurses, three relatives of theirs and a care worker have been diagnosed with the virus.

It has been the most serious challenge Taiwan has faced since the outbreak of COVID-19, the agency said.

The investigation showed that the ten people had been to several markets, department stores, restaurants and diners in northern Taiwan, rousing serious concerns over further spread of the virus.

Several mass gatherings in Taiwan, including traditional celebrations during the upcoming Spring Festival, were canceled.

The island also reported one imported case from Spain on Wednesday.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan has hit 870 as of Wednesday. Seven have died, 769 have recovered and 94 remain hospitalized, according to the agency. Enditem
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said the UK and EU were working to address issues related to the protocol (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

The Government is not envisaging any extension of grace periods that limit Brexit red tape associated with Irish Sea trade, the Northern Ireland Secretary has said.

Brandon Lewis faced robust questioning on the operation of the new arrangements governing the movement of goods from Great Britain into Northern Ireland as he appeared before a Westminster committee.

A number of grace periods are currently in operation before the Northern Ireland Protocol, which governs GB to NI trade post-Brexit, comes into full force.

For the first three months, the number of veterinary health certificates required on animal-based food products is significantly reduced.

There is also a six-month grace period on the continued import of products from Great Britain that are ultimately due to be banned altogether under the protocol  this includes sausages and other chilled meats.

New customs rules also require declarations on many items being shipped into the region from Britain.

There is a three-month grace period meaning declarations are not required for the majority of parcels being sent from GB to NI.

Expand Close Lorries at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs site near Belfast port (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook

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Despite the grace periods, some trade has been disrupted in the early days of the protocol, with some supermarket shelves depleted of goods and hauliers facing difficulties moving products.

Mr Lewis told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that the UK and EU were working to address the issues related to the protocol but said he did not expect the grace periods to be further extended past their current end dates.

Were not at the moment in a position where we want to be looking at extending the grace periods, he said.

The whole point of the grace periods is there are certain issues that at the end of having secured the protocol we recognise there are still issues where we want to make sure youve got that good free flow of products such as the great British banger, as the Prime Minister outlined.

The idea of grace periods, from our point of view, is to find a solution that means that that can continue to flow, to do that working with the industry, working with our partners in the EU as well.

I'm not in any way detracting from some of the challenges we've had over the last couple of weeks, but there's also a reality that some of the challenges have not been related to the protocol Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis

Mr Lewis said it was the intention to find fixed permanent solutions to issues related to the Northern Ireland Protocol well before the grace periods came to an end.

The Secretary of State again reiterated his belief that shortages of some products in the weeks since the transition period ended were more related to the knock-on effects of UK trade with continental Europe being temporarily halted pre-Christmas due to concerns over the new Covid variant.

He said businesses had also taken proactive decisions not to ship produce to Northern Ireland in the early stages of the protocol coming into operation.

Im not in any way detracting from some of the challenges weve had over the last couple of weeks, but theres also a reality that some of the challenges have not been related to the protocol, he said.

Some of these issues and challenges have been a mixture of things coming together, whether it was Covid more widely in terms of pressures on supply and the Covid issues that we saw at Dover.

Also businesses making quite understandable  its not a criticism and absolutely understandable  but making corporate commercial decisions before the protocol deal was done, let alone the wider deal.

A lot of these companies will not be left standing by the end of this this month, they're laying people off today. They can't wait for three months for you to see how bad this is. This is awful. Please fix it Ian Paisley, DUP MP

DUP MP Ian Paisley told Mr Lewis the protocol operation had been an unmitigated disaster.

He said he was aware of haulage companies haemorrhaging 100,000 a week and having to lay off staff because they were unable to move produce due to the new red tape.

Secretary of State, theres a de facto border  administrative, red tape blockade between trade in Northern Ireland and GB and your government promised that there would be unfettered movement, the North Antrim representative said.

The first 20 days of January has been an unmitigated disaster for trade, havent they?

Mr Lewis said the Government was working through issues that had emerged. He said progress on problems associated with groupage would be announced in the coming days.

Mr Paisley called on the Government to invoke Article 16 of the protocol to halt its operation to resolve issues that are causing economic harm.

The Secretary of State just cant keep telling us this is going to be great when it all works out, he said.

A lot of these companies will not be left standing by the end of this this month, theyre laying people off today. They cant wait for three months for you to see how bad this is. This is awful. Please fix it.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.


OTC shares approved for real time electronic trading

Brisbane, Jan 20, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Clean lithium developer Lake Resources NL ( ASX:LKE ) ( FRA:LK1 ) ( OTCMKTS:LLKKF ) announced today it has secured DTC approval to allow real-time electronic clearing and settlement in the United States for its OTCQB-listed common shares through the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation ("DTCC").The move will simplify trading and enhance liquidity for investors in North America and globally, amid a continued upturn in the lithium sector on the back of the accelerating EV revolution.Lake first gained a secondary compliance listing on the OTC QB market with the ticker code LLKKF in December 2019, with B. Riley FBR acting as OTC Sponsor. The compliance requirements are essentially the same as the Australian securities exchange with announcements automatically uploaded onto the OTC platform.The Company completed full service eligibility from the DTCC in November 2020 and is now able to complete real time electronic clearing and settlement. DTCC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust Company, a U.S. company that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies.Online brokers such as Ameritrade, Fidelity, Charles Schwab and E-Trade all offer OTCQB trades. Investors should inquire of their respective brokers whether OTC shares are available for Lake.The three key advantages of the OTC QB trading of LLKKF comprise:1. Trading and settlement in US dollars (USD);2. Trading in the North American time zone; and3. LLKKF is the same class of Ordinary Shares as ASX traded stock ( ASX:LKE ), registered in two different registries.Lake Resources Chairman Stu Crow said: "We are excited that we have secured DTC electronic trading, allowing Lake shares to be traded in USD for the convenience of North American investors. This should simplify trading and enhance liquidity with a wider pool of investors."We would like to thank our transfer agent Dynamic Stock Transfer, our OTC Sponsor B.Riley and our legal advisor Lucosky Brookman for facilitating this important step for Lake in broadening our global investor base."Lake Resources NL is a clean lithium developer utilising direct extraction technology for the production of sustainable, high purity lithium from its flagship Kachi Project within the Lithium Triangle. This direct extraction method delivers a solution for two rising demands of electric vehicle batteries - high purity battery materials to avoid performance issues, and sustainable, responsibly sourced materials.About Lake Resources NL

Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) (OTCMKTS:LLKKF) is a clean lithium developer utilising clean, direct extraction technology for the development of sustainable, high purity lithium from its flagship Kachi Project, as well as three other lithium brine projects in Argentina. The projects are in a prime location within the Lithium Triangle, where 40% of the world's lithium is produced at the lowest cost.



This method will enable Lake Resources to be an efficient, responsibly-sourced, environmentally friendly and cost competitive supplier of high-purity lithium, which is readily scalable, and in demand from Tier 1 electric vehicle makers and battery makers.

This is her first working visit as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde has made a field visit to Ukrainian-controlled areas in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) zone in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

"A foreign delegation led by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde has arrived in the area of the Joint Forces Operation today," the press center of the JFO HQ said in a statement on Facebook on January 20.

Read alsoOSCE SMM records 91 ceasefire violations in Donbas over weekend

The foreign delegates jointly with Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and members of the JFO command visited Luhansk region.

In particular, Linde noted that this is her first working visit as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

"I would like to assure you of my full support in relation to Ukraine. One of the priorities for our organization will be to resolve the crisis in and around Ukraine. The principles and commitments that the OSCE has undertaken will be the basis for this. We would also want to alleviate the negative consequences that civilians of Donbas have been experiencing," she stressed.

"Valuable insights on [a] field visit in Luhansk as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, provided by the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] and local community, who support people affected by the conflict. Moved by their testimonies on how the conflict affects everyday life," Linde tweeted later on Wednesday.

"Grateful to learn more about important work of the authorities in Luhansk region eastern Ukraine. I welcome the improved security situation & encourage further steps to alleviate civilians hardships. As Chair I will work to support conditions for civilians affected," she added.

Speaking in an interview for the Ukrainian-registered news outlet European Pravda, Ann Linde said she did not consider the current situation in Donbas a "frozen" conflict, because the work of the Trilateral Contact Group and negotiations in the Normandy format on that matter were ongoing.

She also noted that she did not consider it expedient to consider the use of force to regain control over the Russia-occupied areas of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, because this would not allow a stable peace to be established.

Sweden on January 1, 2021, took over the OSCE Chair, and will in the coming year focus on defending the European security order, addressing protracted conflicts and enhancing democracy and gender equality.

"The ongoing conflicts and crises in the OSCE area, such as the situations we see in Belarus, in and around Ukraine and the increased tensions around Nagorno-Karabakh require the continued, common attention of our organization. This will naturally be on our agenda at the beginning of the year," Linde said then in an official statement.

Reporting by UNIAN
GREENWICH  At the historic moment that Joseph R. Biden is sworn in as the 46th president on Wednesday, most of the students in the Greenwich Public Schools will not be viewing the inauguration ceremonies live in their classrooms.

Citing the violence in the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection at the Capitol by white supremacists and loyalists of outgoing President Donald J. Trump, Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones has banned the live broadcast of the inauguration  at least in prekindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms in the district.

In a Jan. 7 message to district families, students and staff, Jones likened the potential for violence on Inauguration Day to that of the space shuttle Challenger explosion, which was broadcast widely in schools.

As we had learned from the horrors of the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, viewing live events can have the potential of showing disturbing images, Jones said. We think it is best to utilize recorded portions of the historic event with grades 4-8 in civics and social studies. The GHS (Greenwich High School) Social Studies Department may utilize a unified approach based on historical events without judgment of personal bias.

Its not necessarily a departure from past practice. The 2017 inauguration was not streamed in school, but only because it coincided with midterms. The context for Wednesdays event is wholly unique.

Greenwich is not the only local school district to limit viewing of the inauguration, in preparation for which the National Guard, D.C. police and other law enforcement agencies gathered in a show of force and set up stringent safety measures, including fences and blockades throughout Washington.

Due to threats of violence at the inauguration, Stamford will ban live viewing for all but its high school students. And in Fairfield, Superintendent of Schools Michael Cummings said last week that no students will watch the inauguration live.

It is extremely unfortunate that these precautions have to be taken, Cummings said. The peaceful transition of power is the highlight of this ceremony. More importantly, it is central to our constitutional process. It is a thrilling event that our students should be able to experience without fear. ... Having to do this is painful.

Some students, however, will be tuning in.

Greenwich High School AP Government teacher Ryan Jones said his class will be watching via a C-SPAN live feed. Wednesdays are a remote learning day for all students at Greenwich High, so the class will gather virtually.

The decision to show the event came after lengthy discussions with his colleagues about the merits of viewing the inauguration live balanced with the associated risks. If anything, he said he feels a collective viewing might foster a sense of support among his students.

I was proud that we arrived at the decision that we had a professional obligation to show it, Jones said. The peaceful transition of power is a tradition that sets us apart from many other nations. The inauguration is a key element of that tradition and a celebration of democracy. This is not the time to shrink in the face of these threats.

Presidential scholar Thomas Balcerski, a professor at Eastern Connecticut State University Professor, echoed Jones sentiments.

Balcerski said unequivocally that it is the responsibility of educators to help contextualize recent events for students of all ages.

I totally get that based on the grade level your lessons and conversations vary, he said. But to actually show the event, particularly the speech, I think is absolutely critical. Its going to show up on the news, or at the dinner table. We do our children a service to watch any presidents inaugural address. I really, universally, think there is something intrinsically valuable to a nation stopping and reflecting.

Further, the comparison between the inauguration of Biden and the Challenger explosion  or other flashbulb memory moments, like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, or the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks  is a historical fallacy, Balcerski said.

What those events all have in common was that no one knew they were going to take place, they were surprising, Balcerski said. Here we know there are threats of violence. Here we know this inauguration is under a threat from those who would try to stop democracy and stop the democratic process. For my money, its because we know that, because every precaution is being taken, that I would want every American to watch this inauguration.

Meredith Blanchard, senior class president at Greenwich High School, will be among those watching.

Since the 2016 presidential election, Blanchard said shes become particularly attuned to politics. She and many of her friends watched Bidens election victory this past November and, in the months since, have become increasingly concerned with Trumps repeatedly instigating his supporters.

Regardless of who you affiliate with, it seems clear to me the president encouraged it, Blanchard said of the Jan. 6 siege of the nations capitol. For him (Trump) to encourage an illegal act, and one that could be classified as domestic terrorism, makes you question if things will go back to normal or if the inauguration will go well.

Blanchard and Mark Chen, Greenwich Highs student body president, agreed with the districts decision not to show the inauguration to younger students, but agree it is a sad state of affairs.

While it is unfortunate that we have to come to this point, I fully understand the precautionary measures that must be taken with regard to potential violence unfolding, Chen said.

Whether the inauguration is shown live, Blanchard hoped her teachers would use the events, whatever the outcome, as a teaching moment.

Most of her friends and classmates are aware  mostly via Instagram, TikTok and other social media outlets  of the unrest and threats of violence. But some, she was surprised to learn, arrived at school Jan. 7 unaware of what had transpired. While there was some discussion about the siege, she said she had hoped those events, as well as any future attempts to undermine the election, would command greater attention.

At such a unique and troubling moment in the nations democracy, she feels it cant be missed.

There is supposed to be a peaceful transition of power, Blanchard said. And Inauguration Day is supposed to be the crux of democracy, when power shifts without issues. Its not the fault of the district, the fact that its come to where you cant show Inauguration Day in young classrooms for fear of violence. But it is sad.

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586
Over 750 Soldiers and Airmen with the Tennessee National Guard are part of a 25,000 member National Guard task force supporting the 59th Presidential Inauguration and assisting with security for the U.S. Capitol and other Federal properties in Washington, D.C.

The Tennessee Army National Guard is providing over 700 Soldiers from the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment headquartered in Knoxville, the 194th Engineer Brigade headquartered in Jackson and the 230th Sustainment Brigade headquartered in Chattanooga. These Soldiers are assisting civil law enforcement and first responders with crowd management and security for the event.

In addition to the Soldiers providing support, roughly 50 Airmen with the Tennessee Air National Guard are supporting the inauguration with logistical, communications, food service and religious support. The Airmen are from Nashvilles 118th Wing, Knoxvilles 134th Air Refueling Wing and 119th Cyber Operations Squadron. These Soldiers and Airmen were transported via Tennessee Air National Guard aircraft from Memphiss 164th Airlift Wing and Knoxvilles 134th Air Refueling Wing.

The ability for the National Guard to rapidly alert, mobilize and deploy this size of formation from all 54 states and territories in less than a week is unprecedented and a testament to the commitment to duty of our citizen soldiers, said Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Tennessees Adjutant General. Furthermore, it demonstrates we are an apolitical organization that is responsive to the needs of our Nation in whatever mission is directed by our civilian authorities.

The current number of soldiers and airmen assigned to missions inside and outside the State represent less than 10% of our available Tennessee National Guard.

The support to our Nations Capital will not reduce in any way the COVID response support we are currently providing to the Department of Health nor our ability to support other missions within our great statethis is why our more than 12,000 Soldiers and Airmen wear the uniform, said Holmes.




Plans are being made to construct a bike path along the CSAH 46 corridor through Alexandria. The plan would call for it to run along CSAH 46 near Woodland Elementary School. There is also discussion for a sidewalk along this portion of CSAH near the Viking Plaza Mall.
This article is part of the Future Agenda, a series from Future Tense in which experts suggest specific, forward-looking actions the new Biden administration should implement. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, at noon Eastern, Future Tense will host an online event to discuss what science, technology, health, and energy priorities the Biden administration should pursue. For more information and to RSVP, visit the New America website.

As the Biden administration prepares to inherit the Space Force, it has a profound choice to make: Is space a commons to share or a territory to defend?

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Yes, the Biden administration could try to convince Congress to formally change where the Space Force fits into the Pentagons organization chart, demoting it from its standing as a branch of the military. But the more meaningful action would be to choose to see space as a commons, breaking with Trumps orbital policies that treated a war in space as inevitableand Americas to win.

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We must have American dominance in space. So important, said Trump at the June 2018 press conference where he announced that hed directed the Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.

Trumps desire for a Space Force did not call it into being so much as it resolved an ongoing debate within the military about the need for such a service. The legislation that created the Space Force was bipartisan, and the congressional debate mostly centered around what would happen if the Air Force lost direct control over satellites used to detect nuclear missile launches.

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The Space Force, as it exists now, is fundamentally a rebranding of the Air Forces legacy space organizationsspecifically the now-defunct Air Force Space Command, wrote Valerie Insinna at Defense News. The service currently controls about $15 billion in annual spending, commands dozens of military satellites, and tracks more than 24,000 objects in space.

The Space Force is unique among military branches in that it has just one (publicly acknowledged) weapon, and that weapon, a reversible jammer, can disrupt a satellites communications but does not cause any permanent harm. Nevertheless, creating a new branch of the military for the explicit purpose of war in space suggests to other countries that the United States is planning for more in orbit than it is disclosing. Treating satellites like forts and orbits like territory risks war and, ultimately, the destruction of orbit as a useful space.

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While the Pentagon has not adopted Trumps exact language on the Space Force, in May 2020 Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Space Force was necessary because our adversaries in the last several years have weaponized space. Theyve made it a warfighting domain.

But space is primarily a place of business, science, and communication. The global space economy is worth more than $400 billion, and that is growing, especially with the emergence of constellations of smaller satellites. Satellites do everything from provide internet connections to take pictures of Earth that help with agricultural land management. The global positioning satellites, used by people daily for real-time driving directions, were built to aid military targeting and navigation. A loss of orbit would make it harder for some companies to do business, for spy agencies to spy, and for everyone, including the U.S. military, to navigate and communicate.

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Space war is war on satellites, wrote Ann Finkbeiner in Scientific American. And all satellitesbright and moving in predictable, public orbitsare essentially sitting ducks, nearly impossible to defend.

Satellites will be the targets in any war in space, and the means to destroy or disable them are many and varied. Earth-launched anti-satellite missiles, which have been demonstrated by nations including the United States, Russia, China, and India, are the most straightforward way to destroy a satellite. The debris created by such a detonation would further threaten all other satellites in orbit, risking a kind of snowballing, orbit-denying catastrophe. A range of other weapons, from electromagnetic jamming to satellites deliberately colliding with their targets, could all factor into a shooting war that starts in or spills into orbit.

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In light of this danger, part of the Space Forces stated mandate is to Deter aggression in, from, and to space. Yet the history of arms races shows that attempts to deter aggression can be misread as attempts to start aggression, encouraging other nations to develop their own space-oriented weaponry. And even in a nonspace war, the United Statess heavy investment in spy and communication satellites would make space a sensible target for an enemydestroying orbit as a useful place rather than letting a rival continue to use satellite information to improve how they fight war on the surface below.

But a space war is not inevitable. The best way for the Biden administration to prevent one is to treat orbit as a commons, and the Space Force as a kind of traffic control agent. The more other countries feel they can safely keep satellites in use, the less likely they are to plan a scorched orbit approach to a future conflict. To support this, the Biden administration should deemphasize the Space Forces fighting role and emphasize instead how it fits into the broader, and less offensive, family of Pentagon support services.

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The Biden administration has the opportunity to craft a new space strategy, and to do so before the commanders of the Space Force are established enough to define that mission to the public. This means that, despite Congress legislating the Space Force into being as a separate branch, formal strategy and institutional pressures can relegate it back into the support role it had as part of the Air Force.

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The greatest risk is that the Space Force starts thinking of itself as a separate service, and acting in accord with the bureaucratic imperatives that tend to put services in competition with one another, said Robert Farley, senior lecturer at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky and author of Grounded: The Case for Abolishing the United States Air Force.* Right now, everyone in the U.S. military uses space all the time for core organizational functions.

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Staffing can play some part of this. By taking in space professionals from the Army and Navy, the Space Force can build ties to those services, focusing on maintaining existing satellites, managing traffic in orbit, and keeping an eye out for future threats. Treating the Space Force as a support service removes the obligation for it to act like an actual front-line fighting force. The increased pace of commercial satellite launches, where each new satellite raises the overall likelihood of an orbital collision, creates enough of a mission for the Space Force, without also trying to actively plot out a covert war of maneuver visible to observers below.

Besides deprioritizing war in space, the Biden administration should make a concrete bid to actively secure peace in orbit through diplomacy. The first step would be a moratorium on militaristic stunts like commissioning officers abroad the International Space Station. Next would be working on a new international treaty to name, prohibit, and verify a lack of new weapons in orbit. (The 1967 Outer Space Treaty famously prohibits putting nuclear weapons in orbit but is much more open-ended about precision weaponry.)

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In 2014, the Obama administration rejected a new Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space advanced by Russia as fundamentally flawed. (Observers at the time found the treatys focus only on weapons in orbit, and not anti-satellite missiles launched from Earth, underwhelming.) But past rejection of an underwhelming treaty shouldnt preclude the possibility of any future agreements establishing peace in the heavens. There is plenty of, er, space for Russia, China, and the United States to negotiate new agreements banning the testing of debris-causing anti-satellite tests, and to establish a verification regime for specific anti-satellite satellites. It is harder to come up with rules governing hacking and jamming attacks on satellites, but they are also less likely to immediately result in debris that threatens other objects in orbit.

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Unlike the last time a Democratic president inherited a new expansion of the security state, the Space Force poses little threat to civil liberties or the long-term viability of American democracy. If the Space Force can be absorbed as a grandiose rebranding of what the military was already doing in orbit, theres a chance the Biden administration could use it to establish laws and agreements that keep space from hosting a new cold war, or a disastrous hot war.

The planet below is getting hot enough already. The safest path forward is to make sure the guardians are focused on cleaning up debris in orbit, instead of creating it.

Correction, Jan. 21, 2021: This piece originally misstated Robert Farleys academic affiliation. He is a senior lecturer at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, not Patterson University. Correction, Jan. 22, 2021: This piece originally misstated the Space Forces known weapons, saying that the Space Force has no (publicly acknowledged) weapons. It does have one, a reversible jammer.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.

Donald Trump will leave office today, but what has he left behind in and Syria and what will challenges will his predecessor face?

The Trump administration inherited the Syrian file whilst it was going through its worst early days. In early 2017, when Trump took power, the Assad regime, backed by Iran and Russia, had managed to displace more than 10 million Syrians and take control of large swathes of territory once held by different opposition factions. There were attempts to help the regime restore international legitimacy through bringing it back to the Arab League and opening a number of embassies representing it in several countries, especially by those who feared the rise of political Islam.

The Trump administration eventually managed to outline a coherent policy on Syria only two years ago, the confrontation of Assads regime part of its confrontation with Iran and implementing a policy of extreme economic pressure. The administration also threw its weight behind the political process represented by the call for enforcing UN Resolution 2254, supporting the work of the constitutional committee and backing and giving legitimacy to those who claim to represent the Syrian political opposition.

Here, the weakness of the Trump administrations Syria policy emerged, with moves contradicting the crux of its strategy, which rested on not recognizing the military triumph of Russia and the Assad regime in the war and preventing them from taking political advantage of the victory which Russia seeks to obtain through the constitutional committee.

Arguing that the constitutional committee is the practical implementation of Resolution 2254 is a political and legal mistake since the constitutional committees formation decision came in the framework of an agreement by the Sochi process countries: Iran, Russia and Turkey. It was not part of the political negotiations according to Resolution 2254. The formation of the committee itself and defining the mechanisms of its work were a gain by Russia on the back of its bleak military triumph, parlaying this into a major political victory, the polar opposite of the declared US policy of not recognizing Russias military victory in Syria with which the Trump administration once complied.

The political transition: The Assad regimes perspective

The Trump administration has allowed the Assad regime and Russia to impose their own interpretation of political transition via the constitutional committee formed by the Sochi conference. This was clarified by the late foreign minister of the Assad regime, Walid Al-Muallem, who was quoted by Reuters on March 12, 2016, as stating: The Syrian governments understanding of the term political transition is that [Syria] is transitioning from the current constitution to another constitution and transitioning from the current government to another government with the participation of the other side.

This makes it clear that the regimes vision and interpretation of the political transition process  provided for in the Geneva Communique and Resolutions 2118 of 2013 and 2254 of 2015  is that it is merely transitioning from one constitution to another and from one regime-approved government to another, a vision expressed by Assad regime figures on more than one occasion since the Geneva Communique was issued.

The regimes ally Russia has expressed the same vision, as seen in regular comments by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and in every Russian statement on Syria. The latest of these statements was made during Lavrovs last visit to Damascus when he voiced support for holding a presidential election regardless of the outcome of the work of the constitutional committee. This indicates that the Trump administration supported and recognized the victories of Russia and the Assad regime through recognition and support of the Russian-led constitutional committee. This constituted an unjustified and incomprehensible mechanism backing Moscows vision, influence and investments in the Syrian war.

The core rules of procedure for Sochis constitutional committee

A noteworthy aspect of this is that the Trump administration, which has supported the work of the constitutional committee, has never imposed even the faintest bit of pressure on Russia and the Assad regime to prevent them from imposing their conditions on the Core Rules of Procedure governing the work of the constitutional committee. These rules represented a clear intensification of US submission to the will of the Assad regime and its Russian ally at the expense of all international resolutions, to the extent that we can say straightforwardly that these rules have clearly pulverized and made a mockery of Resolution 2254 of 2015.

The participatory approach

According to the Core Rules of Procedure, we are not dealing with a negotiation-based political process in which two or three parties participate if we add civil society to the regime or the opposition. What emerged, however, was a workshop involving members from across the political spectrum with a wide range of differing affiliations. We find this participatory approach enshrined in a number of principles on which the Sochi constitutional committee was created, according to its internal regulations, with the most important of these being:

The rule of individual members votes, as opposed to delegations or representatives votes:

When there is a political or negotiation process between two sides, those two sides supposedly enjoy parity as two equal adversaries, each of which has its own will independent of the other. If we assume that there are two negotiation delegations, each of which is made up of 10 members, each delegate among them shall have one voice, one opinion and one position, not 10 voices. The principle of individual member votes proves that the core and essential point of what is happening in the committee is a participatory workshop involving members with different affiliations. Those members vote on an individual basis, not as a bloc or an opposition delegation, although this is a self-evidently vital and fundamental rule of negotiating delegations which nobody is being prompted to comply with or provide for.

The Sochil constitutional committees Core Rules of Procedure, specifically Paragraph 13 of Article 3, stipulates the following:

While large and small groups within the Constitutional Committee put forward proposals and take decisions by consensus where possible, voting otherwise requires support from a minimum of 75% of members in the respective body (i.e., 113 members present and voting in the large body, 34 members present and voting in the small body). This 75% voting threshold is to be a fixed feature.

After reading this article which needs no further interpretation, it becomes clear to us that in the Sochi constitutional committee, were not witnessing a political process or a process of political negotiation, as members of the committee claim. Instead, this is simply a joint workshop whose outcomes are put to the vote on an individual basis.

If we assume that the entire delegation representing the opposition and the entire delegation representing civil society voted in favor of a certain resolution, this does not mean the resolution is approved unless 13 members of the regimes delegation vote in favor. This ensures that any vote is, in fact, consistent with the Assad regimes and Russias worldview and vision which does not recognize the opposition as a party to the negotiations. For this reason, the regime embraced the individual-centered vote. If there had been a political negotiation or a technical process carried out as part of a political negotiation, the representative vote rule should have been embraced, with a vote for the regime versus a vote for the opposition and a vote for civil society.

Those who agreed to pass this Core Rules of Procedure made a dangerous error and bear responsibility for obliterating the political negotiation process and enabling the Assad regime administration to have total control over the results. All this means that there is no room for making any amendments or rewording any constitutional provision without the regimes approval.

One might argue, of course, that the same rule also applies to the regime, which also cannot pass any resolution without the approval of the opposition and 13 members of the civil society delegation. Theoretically and technically, this is correct. Politically, however, it is absolutely wrong.

Those seeking to have a genuine democratic new constitution for the country are the Syrian people, not the regime. The regime, as we all know, does not want this to happen. The choice of the individuals-centered voting rule enabled the regime to control the course of the constitutional process, whether we admit it is consistent with Resolution 2254 or not, without bearing responsibility for its obstruction or any consequences since the committee as we have said does not represent the regime, opposition and civil society, instead representing individuals belonging to these three blocs

2. The joint chairmanship rule

Some argues that the joint chairmanship of the Sochi constitutional committee is evidence of balance and equality between the regime and opposition. Unfortunately, this is another misleading argument since, in the Sochi committee, we dont have three delegations, but single members  in equal numbers  who represent three political blocs.

This, again, is totally different from having three delegations sitting around the negotiation table. The rule of joint chairmanship unequivocally clarifies this issue. Paragraphs 14, 15 and 16 of Article 4 of the Core Rules of Procedure speak of the powers of the two co-chairs who should proceed in consensus (as stipulated in paragraph 15).

Together, the co-chairs have the functions of: chairing and guiding meetings and sessions;

proposing and ensuring observance of rules of procedure; identifying and inviting speakers; promoting gender mainstreaming, and receiving and putting forward ideas on the work as may be appropriate (paragraph 16).

This paragraph indicates that the co-chairs guide a host of respective members, not negotiation delegations. Therefore, every single member has the right to speak, raise whatever issues he or she wants and introduce any memoranda or proposals he or she deems appropriate. This is totally outlandish in the context of a political process. As we mentioned earlier, negotiation delegations should speak according to one vision, and one position for each delegation. In negotiation situations, none of the individual negotiation delegations members has the right to raise whatever subject he or she deems appropriate or even speak on that issue without first obtaining permission from the chair of his delegation.

All this means that those who propagate the claim that the course of Sochi constitutional committee is part of the political trajectory either havent had access to the rule of procedures regulating their work, or have read it but insist on embracing the deceptive ideas put forward to the Syrian people.

The Assad regime is, effectly, being given the key to approving the constitution

Paragraph 23 of the Core Rules of Procedures Article 7 stipulated the following:

. The Constitutional Committee shall agree on the means of popular approval and transposition into the Syrian legal order of the constitutional reform adopted by the Constitutional Committee, and it may seek the good offices of the Special Envoy as may be needed.

Maybe this paragraph which came at the conclusion of the Core Rules of Procedure is the most dangerous provision. It not only destroys the political trajectory based on the Geneva Communique and Resolution 2254 but it also practically destroys the constitutional process.

Unfortunately, inserting the term constitutional reform into the Syrian legal system, will lead us to the following possibilities:

The first possibility: The Sochi constitutional committee could result in constitutional amendments, according to the jurisdiction of the committee. According to Paragraph 8 of the Core Rules of Procedures Article 1, the Constitutional Committee may review the 2012 Constitution including in the context of other Syrian constitutional experiences and amend the current constitution or draft a new constitution.

In this case, the process of approving amendments or inserting them into the Syrian legal system will be governed by Article 150 of Bashar al-Assads 2012 constitution, which literally stipulates that:

The President of the Republic, and a third of the members of the Peoples Assembly, might propose amending the Constitution; Any proposal for amending the Constitution shall state the text proposed for amendment and the reasons for making the amendment; As soon as the Peoples Assembly receives the proposal for amendment, it sets up a special committee to examine it. The Assembly discusses the proposal for amendment. If it is approved by a three quarters majority, the amendment shall be considered final, provided that it is also approved by the President of the Republic.

This is the only path for the constitutional amendment in Syria according to the 2012 constitution, i.e. the approval of two thirds of the members of the Peoples Assembly provided that the president of the republic also approves the amendments.

The second possibility: The committees work leads to a new constitution. If this happens, the new constitution can be approved only by referendum. This takes us to Article 116 of Syrias 2012 constitution which stipulates: The President of the Republic might call for a referendum on important issues which affect the higher interests of the country. The result of the referendum shall be binding and come into force as of the date of its announcement; and it shall be published by the President of the Republic.

In both cases, the constitutional committee has a one-way path leading only to Bashar Al-Assad. Based on these points, as soon as a decree is issued by the criminal, Bashar Al-Assad, calling for holding a referendum or approving amendments, this means legitimizing the entire era of Bashar Al-Assad and all his heinous actions over the past years.

For all these reasons, it would be useful for the incoming US administration, if it wishes to resolve the Syrian crisis, to return to work on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254 according to the sequence set out in the resolution rather than leaving Syrians fate in the hands of Astanas three parties or Moscow or Tehran.

Several steps could be taken to help the Syrian people in parallel, including:

First: Holding election for the opposition in which the greatest numbers of Syrians overseas shall participate in electing new leaders with popular legitimacy according to the recognized institutions of the opposition, who will be capable of making decisions in favor of the Syrians free from considerations of other regional conflicts which have caused harm to the Syrian cause.

Second: Washington can exert pressures by holding a comprehensive international conference which leads to a serious political solution. Previous experiences, such as the Cambodian experience or the political transition in Romania which were significantly successful, could be helpful in this respect.

Third: Setting a final deadline for the constitutional committee to reach outcomes and obtain approval for them by the UN Security Council, or face disbandment.

Fourth: The UN shall outline monitoring mechanisms according to the internationally-recognized standards for the coming presidential election.

Fifth: Redefining the mission of the UN special representative for Syria.

All these are only suggestions. Without action to change course in Syria towards democracy for the long-suffering Syrian people without giving Iran upper hand of the future of Syria and without giving any minority group upper hand in any area in Syria the current horrendous situation will not change.

Bassam Barabandi is a former Syrian diplomat who resides in Washington.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Syrian Observer.
Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or contributing today.
For the last six months, 29-year-old Esli Becerra of Portland has been the primary breadwinner for his family of four.

His parents and younger brother Kevin, 26, have been laid off or unable to find work since a few weeks into the pandemic. Eslis work as a visual effects lead for Portland video production company Deep Sky Studios is paying their bills, though 10 years ago, he wasnt even sure he had a future in the United States.

Eslis parents brought him to the U.S. as an 8-month-old in 1991.

The family settled in Lane County, where the brothers graduated from North Eugene High. As a U.S. citizen, higher education and a professional career after high school were practically a given for Kevin, who was born in the country.

But for Esli, his junior and senior years of high school were marked with self-doubt and a nagging question: What am I supposed to do?

He was undocumented. And that meant he couldnt apply for federal financial aid. If he chose to attend college anyway, hed have to pay out-of-state tuition.

If I were to be a citizen, it would mean the world to me, Esli said.

So Wednesday, as President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office, the Becerra brothers see a speck of light on the horizon and feel a sense of optimism instead of the nagging fears they endured for three years.

Bidens strong stance in favor of offering citizenship to immigrants brought to the country as children means one brother has a more certain future and the other may no longer have to worry about his family being torn asunder.

Theyre not alone.

Esli is one of an estimated 14,000 Oregonians who were younger than 16 when their parents brought them to the U.S. as undocumented immigrants prior to 2007. In 2012, President Barack Obama granted protections for such U.S. residents under an executive order titled Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

The resulting program provided deportation protection and the right to work for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children, provided they kept a clean criminal record and were enrolled in school.

Esli applied for the program shortly after it went live. The American Immigration Council estimates hes one of about 10,000 Oregonians enrolled.

The elder Becerra brother had to provide documentation proving he arrived during the time frame outlined by the Obama Administration. Fortunately, his mom saved everything her children brought home from school.

Participation ribbons. Star student certificates. The list goes on.

Im so grateful she saves everything, Esli said.

The protections provided by the Obama-era program brought him hope. Esli enrolled at Lane Community College and got an associate degree.

He started working for digital effects studios and climbing the company ladder.

But when President Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Esli worried the man who campaigned on a promise to repeal his deportation protections and right to work might act soon once he was in office. He was right.

In September of 2017, the Trump Administration announced it would begin phasing out the program. The U.S. Supreme Court in July 2020 struck down Trumps efforts to end the program as arbitrary and capricious.

But for Esli and other Oregonians enrolled in the program, the three years of litigation were nerve-wracking, and the high court ruling did not outright prevent another Trump administration effort to stop the immigrant protections.

Its been scary when theres little threats here and there, he said. Then you get a bunch of judges saying, No, its fine.

President-elect Biden has promised sweeping immigration reform, including a bill that would immediately grant green cards to so-called Dreamers like Esli, so named because the Obama-era protections mirror those long proposed by the DREAM Act.

The Becerra brothers call the program a little speck of light in their lives, one thats given the family peace of mind when for so long it felt Esli could be gone at any moment.

Its scary, the thought that people want to take my brother away from me, Kevin Becerra said.

Also jarring were the images of a mob descending on the Capitol building in D.C. earlier this month.

A crowd of men and women, most of them white and many wearing pro-Trump apparel, spilled through the very corridors Kevin once walked as an intern for Sen. Ron Wyden. They were ostensibly seeking out members of Congress in an attempt to prevent them from certifying Bidens electoral college win.

It was, for me, a privilege to walk those hallways, Kevin said. It was an honor.

To see people breaking Capitol windows and issuing threats toward elected officials, he said, felt like a violation.

The Becerra brothers navigated those halls together three years ago in preparation for Trumps first State of the Union address. The six Democrats in Oregons congressional delegation invited them and five other Oregon Dreamers as their guests for the event.

Leo Reyes, 30, was Sen. Jeff Merkleys guest.

Hes still processing his feelings over the Capitol riots, calling them a desecration of institutions he firmly believes in.

I might disagree with the decisions that Congress makes  I definitely did not like who was in the White House for the last four years  but I still respect the office of the presidency, Reyes said.

Reyes parents brought him to the U.S. when he was 10. Now 30, hes a program manager for an organization that helps connect people with social services in Salem.

Hes hopeful the incoming Biden administration will carve a path to citizenship, not just temporary renewable protections, for Dreamers such as him and Esli. Even though he appreciates the Obama-era programs deportation protections and right-to-work permits, the constant fear over its repeal and applications for renewal were draining.

Its always been temporary and its never been guaranteed, Reyes said.

A green card would mean Reyes could visit Mexico for the first time in 20 years. He wants to spend some time with his grandfather and catch up with aunts and uncles he hasnt seen in just as long.

Most importantly, it would mean Reyes can plot his future.

It would mean not worrying about whether or not Im going to be at my job next year. It would mean, if Im being truly honest at my core, a sense of stability to start a family, he said.

Both Reyes and the Becerra brothers are cautiously optimistic about the Biden administrations plans on immigration.

Reyes said citizen activism is more important now than it was during the election. Politicians should be pressed to keep their promises, he said.

If we really want things to change and we really believe things we have been advocating for over the last three years, itll require engagement, Reyes said.

Esli similarly hopes for a green card and eventual path to citizenship. Once his parents and brothers are back on their feet and theyre financially stable, he wants to work his way out of Portland and into a big-name visual effects studio in Hollywood.

Thats always been my main dream, Esli said.

Esli doesnt remember anything about Mexico. Prior to acquiring his Dreamer status, he was afraid hed be deported to a country he hasnt seen since he was an infant.

And even though Reyes has fond memories of his life in another country, he doesnt feel those associations make him any less American.

I think a lot of people associate that part of my identity as being a separation from being an American, Reyes said. I am an American even if my status does not reflect that on paper.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook

Eder is The Oregonians education reporter. Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email ecampuzano@oregonian.com.


Before November, few Americans knew much about the Electoral College. Now we all know more than we ever imagined  though we still dont really understand it.

Similarly, we know very little about the presidential nominating process  the path that moves a reality TV host like Donald Trump from an escalator to the White House, catapults a floundering candidate like Joe Biden to an insurmountable lead in just a few days, and enables an obscure governor like Jimmy Carter or Michael Dukakis to become the standard-bearer for their party.

We dont know much about the process. But Anne Wexler did.

American politics has never been the same since.

In the 1960s Wexler was the daughter of a prominent New York architect, wife of a Westport optometrist, and mother of two sons. She first dipped her toes in the political waters when she ran for, and won, a seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals. (Her interest in politics dated back to her Skidmore years, when she campaigned for Harry Truman. She also supported John F. Kennedy in 1960.)

Wexler worked for President Lyndon Johnsons election in 1964. Like many however, she was disillusioned by his handling of the Vietnam War. Her next political campaign was for a congressional peace candidate, John Fitzgerald. He did not win.

By 1968, Wexler was vice chair of Connecticuts Eugene McCarthy for President Committee. (Thats one reason he held a raucous rally at Staples High School.)

Only 13 states scheduled primaries that year. Wexler and a few others researched election laws, then figured out how to force the first primary in Connecticut history. It was too late to include all 169 towns. Still, her group won 25 percent of the delegates to the June convention in Hartford. Wexler was one of those delegates.

That summer, she helped research the delegate selection process in the other 49 states. U.S. Senator Harold Hughes of Iowa chaired a commission to examine changes in the nominating process. At the convention - the famous Chicago bloodbath, during which Connecticut Sen. Abe Ribicoff taunted Mayor Richard Daley, who responded with an anti-Semitic epithet - the Hughes report was voted down.

Wexler, who had zoomed up to a position on the national Rules Committee, reintroduced it as a minority report. Late at night, in the midst of chaos, it passed. The report called for a national commission to recommend ways of providing greater public participation in the selection of candidates.

Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota was appointed chair. Wexler was named to the group too. The McGovern Commission held hearings around the country. With solid knowledge of the new nominating process, McGovern himself was nominated for president in 1972.

That was a defining moment in American political history. Before 72, party leaders - bosses - controlled the nominating process. They chose the candidates. In 1968 for example, though 80 percent of primary voters chose anti-war candidates like McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy, the nomination went to Vice President Hubert Humphrey. He had not run in any primaries.

Because every presidential nomination of both major parties since 1976 has been sewn up before the convention - during the primary and caucus season - little attention has been paid to the backstage maneuverings of the conventions themselves. But like the Electoral College - the bookend to the nominating process - it is far more complicated (and malleable) than most of us realize.

Wexler, died in 2009, is an underappreciated footnote in American political history. She went on to become Undersecretary of Commerce in the Carter administration. In 1978, chief of staff Hamilton Jordan called her the most competent woman in Democratic politics in this country.

Wexler also pioneered a new form of political lobbying. Through the 1970s the business was divided between Democratic and Republican firms. Casting aside her previous partisan bent, in the 1980s she teamed up with Nancy Clark Reynolds - a close friend of Nancy Reagan - to create a bipartisan super-lobbying (and women-led) firm.

The company was sold to Hill & Knowlton in 1990. Wexler continued to run it. She even hired a new partner: former Republican congressman (and Newt Gingrich admirer) Bob Walker.

Its clear that the Anne Wexler of later years was not the firebrand liberal of yore. Yet her legacy lives on, far beyond todays primaries.

She had a keen eye for spotting other talented politicians. In 1970 - while managing the Connecticut senatorial campaign of Joe Duffey, who four years later became her second husband - Wexler recruited Yale Law School students Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham to help.

During her 2008 presidential run, Clinton credited Wexler with providing her first political job. If that had never happened - or if Wexler had not gotten involved in politics in the first place - American history might be very, very different today.

Dan Woog is a Westport writer, and his Woog's World appears each Friday. He can be reached at dwoog@optonline.net. His personal blog is danwoog06880.com.
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.
Rudy Giuliani said Tuesday that blame over the violent US Capitol riots should, at least in part, be attributed to former Attorney General William Barr  and not Donald Trump.

The former New York City Mayor made the comments in response to an assertion made by Barr on Monday in which he said Trump precipitated the deadly unrest in Washington DC on January 6.

It was treacherous, what [Barr] just did, Giuliani said to former White House adviser Steve Bannon, on his podcast, War Room Pandemic. He has no basis for it. He was gone, in the sense of being able to investigate any of the facts.

The real cause of the violence, I think, if you want something other than Antifa, is Bill Barr not investigating [election fraud], Giuliani added. If the people are angry, they are angry that these crimes have gone unredressed, and weve gone two years with crimes unredressed.

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It was treacherous, what [Barr] just did, Giuliani said to former White House adviser Steve Bannon, on his podcast, War Room Pandemic

Barr (left) said Trump had precipitated the riots with is unfounded allegations of election fraud and that the presidency had been stolen from him

Giuliani, Trumps personal attorney, has been one of the central figures behind the outgoing presidents efforts to cast doubt over the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

Despite numerous investigations finding absolutely no evidence of widespread voter fraud, Giuliani has continued to peddle wild conspiracy theories, ranging from ballot dumps to electronic voting machines being rigged to favor Biden.

Earlier in his exchange with Bannon, Giuliani said that he believed the deadly DC riots  in which five died  were instigated by Antifa and a group he called the Groypers, not supporters of Trump.

You see those guys scaling the walls? Giuliani asked as part of a bizarre, erratic rant. You think they were worried about voter fraud? You think the guys with the bats, batting things in, dressed up all in black  does this look like a voter fraud crowd to you? These people had nothing to do with voter fraud.

He continued: The people who instigated this  were Antifa, [Groyper], and a couple of other groups. They deliberately planned it, irrespective of anything.

Law enforcement, meanwhile, have said there is no evidence to suggest Antifa involvement in the Capitol attack.

Giuliani's comments regarding Barr came just one day after the former Attorney General, who resigned from his role last month, said Trump had precipitated the riots with is unfounded allegations of election fraud and that the presidency had been stolen from him.

In an appearance on the British television network ITV, Barr was asked about Trump and his campaign's claims about the legitimacy of the election.

Barr replied: 'I think that was the thing that precipitated the riots on the Hill'.

Earlier in his exchange with Bannon, Giuliani said that he believed the deadly DC riots  in which five died  were stoked by Antifa and a group he called the Groypers, not supporters of Trump.

Before he left office, Barr said publicly that there was no widespread election fraud and in the ITV interview he sought to distance himself from the Capitol rioters - claiming that he had been worried about violence from Trump supporters

The jab follows reports that Barr resigned as Attorney General on December 23 after telling President Donald Trump that his widespread voter fraud claims were 'bulls**t' and the legal team he was assembling was 'clownish.'

Before he left office, Barr said publicly that there was no widespread election fraud and in the ITV interview he sought to distance himself from the Capitol rioters - claiming that he had been worried about violence from Trump supporters.

He added; 'I'm sad to see, but not surprised in a way to see, the kind of violence we saw on Capitol Hill. I consider it despicable, and - I was not attorney general, I had already left office when that occurred - but I felt that they should move very quickly to disperse that crowd, regardless of which side of the political spectrum is involved.'

He added : 'I think it's always important to remember most people are exercising their First Amendment rights but there is a substantial group obviously that went far beyond that and broke into the Capitol and tried to interfere with the proceedings and that's unacceptable.'

But when asked whether Trump incited the rioters, Barr stopped short, choosing not to name the president explicitly.

Instead, he said, he would leave it to investigators to determine whether Trump and his allies incited the riot.

Barr said: 'Regardless of which side of the political spectrum is involved, we just cannot tolerate violence interfering with the processes of government'.

'I'll leave it to the people who are looking into the genesis of this to say whether incitement was involved.'

Trump was impeached by the House for an unprecedented second time last week on an incitement of insurrection charge after he told supporters at a Stop the Steal rally to descend on the Capitol and fight like hell

At the event, Giuliani spouted numerous false claims of election fraud and said: If were right, a lot of them will go to jail. So lets have trial by combat'

In total, five people were killed amid the mayhem, including one US Capitol Police officer who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher during a melee with a mob of rioters

Trump was impeached by the House for an unprecedented second time last week on an incitement of insurrection charge after he told supporters at a Stop the Steal rally to descend on the Capitol and fight like hell.

Riots then proceeded to break into the building, attack police and vandalized offices. The shocking scenes interrupted lawmakers as they worked to certify the results of the Electoral College.

In total, five people were killed amid the mayhem, including one US Capitol Police officer who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher during a melee with a mob of rioters.

Trump faces a Senate trial next month, even though he is set to leave office on Wednesday morning.

On Saturday, Giuliani said he would be spearheading Trumps defense during the trial  despite reports that the outgoing president has been refusing to pay him out of frustration for his failure to overturn the election.

The claim was then retracted by Giuliani less than 24 hours later, whereby he issued a statement saying he couldnt represent Trump because he also had made a speech before the Capitol riot and was therefore a witness.

At the event, Giuliani spouted numerous false claims of election fraud and said: If were right, a lot of them will go to jail. So lets have trial by combat.
In January 1838, when Abraham Lincoln was a member of the Illinois state legislature and two weeks shy of his 29th birthday, he delivered what was probably the most prophetic speech of his political career. Its a speech whose time has arrived again in 2021.

The Lyceum Address is named for the Springfield, Ill., association that, according to Lincolns law partner William Herndon, contained and commanded all the culture and talent of the place. It concerns the perpetuation of our political institutions. Why would that matter in the still-young, ever-expanding American republic?

An obvious answer would be the existence and expansion of slavery. Lincolns answer is the rise of the mobocratic spirit and the sorts of leaders who abet it.

In Vicksburg, Miss., (the Sodom of the South, as it was then known), a mob of moralists from the towns respectable quarters had, in 1835, stormed the waterfront, seized five gamblers and summarily hanged them. In St. Louis, Mo., the next year, a free Black man named Francis McIntosh, suspected of killing one police officer and injuring another, was seized by a mob of vigilantes, chained to a tree and slowly burned to death.

Lincoln chooses his examples well. The motive of the Vicksburg mob, in Lincolns telling, is public virtue. The motive of the St. Louis mob is revenge. The high-minded yearning for moral purification and the low-minded lust for blood are, in Lincolns telling, two sides of the same coin, and the effects are the same. McIntoshs lynching soon led to the expulsion and killing of an abolitionist editor. The Vicksburg mob set a precedent for other violent attacks against suspected threats to public order.

Willfully killing the (presumed) guilty rapidly descends to accidentally killing the innocent. The lawless in spirit are encouraged to become lawless in practice. Normally law-abiding people, losing faith in government, are not much averse to a change in which they imagine they have nothing to lose. Men of low scruples and overweening ambitions scout their political opportunities.

Is it unreasonable then to expect, Lincoln asks, that some man possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time, spring up among us?

Donald Trump is not a man of the loftiest genius. Neither is Josh Hawley nor Ted Cruz a lofty genius.

But the three are at least a hazy approximation of what the younger Lincoln most fears  men in the mold of Caesar or Napoleon who would sooner tear down than defend republican institutions in order to slake a thirst for glory. What rougher beasts do Trump, Cruz and Hawley prefigure? For that matter, for what kind of Reichstag fire was the Capitol Hill insurrection merely a test run?

Those questions are timely in our own age of mobocracy. The president who got himself elected by summoning a digital mob through Twitter and Facebook wound up trying to reverse the results of an election by summoning an actual mob to Washington.

The left is hardly blameless, either. The same people who offered high-toned excuses and justifications for months of destruction of public and private property in the name of social justice might think twice before demanding respect for hallowed American symbols, institutions and traditions. They provided more excuses for the Capitol Hill rioters than either side likely cares to admit.

Whats the solution? Lincolns answer in the Lyceum Address is what he calls political religion, built on pillars hewn from the solid quarry of sober reason. Scholars have noted a tension between Lincolns passionate faith in reason and a political faith that must be sustained by passions that reach beyond reason  what he later called the mystic chords of memory.

Thats a tension that cant be resolved but can at least be sustained, in part through an understanding that the space for reasoned debate has to be encased by respect for tradition and reverence for the symbols of government. One of the reasons the images of Jan. 6 were so grotesque is that they exposed how tissue thin and easily torn our sense of tradition and reverence have become in the Anything Goes Trumpian era.

As Joe Biden becomes president, he faces a larger job than ending the pandemic and saving the economy. He will have to exorcise the mobocratic spirit that is Trumps chief contribution to American politics. Summoning the better angels of our nature in his inaugural address would be a fitting tribute to his greatest predecessor.

Stephens is a columnist for the New York Times.
Perhaps the 11th time will be the charm.

Houston ISD trustees are set to reconvene Thursday after 10 rounds of voting last week ended with no decision on a school board president.

Trustees hope to break the deadlock and agree on a president who will lead them through a nascent superintendent search, continued fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-present threat of a state takeover. While the selection normally takes no more than one or two rounds of voting, none of the districts nine trustees garnered majority support during the annual selection of board leadership last week.

The ultimate path to choosing a board president remains unclear headed into Thursdays meeting. None of the five trustees who received votes for president last week are seen as obvious favorites to emerge with the position Thursday. In addition, trustees left last weeks meeting without setting a plan for breaking the impasse, and incumbent Board President Sue Deigaard declined to comment on how she plans to run Thursdays gathering.

While some trustees acknowledged that the sheer number of votes did not reflect well on the board, they also sought to tamp down concerns that the impasse reflected a continuation of the infighting that damaged the boards reputation in recent years.

Its challenging times, but I dont think it says anything about the board like, Oh, you cant agree on this, Trustee Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca said. I think we can agree on it. Its not over yet. I dont think were going to come to an impasse.

The failure to reach a consensus on board president did, however, illustrate the lack of a unified governing majority in HISD.

In addition to the demographic, ideological and personality divides that often divide the board, trustees still are grappling with the fallout from the secretive and quickly-reversed effort by five board members to replace Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan in 2018. State investigators concluded three current and two former trustees violated the Texas Open Meetings Act before the vote to oust Lathan, though all five denied the allegations.

Houstonians for Great Public Schools Executive Director Jasmine Jenkins, whose nonprofit closely monitors the HISD board, said she believes the stalemate happened for three primary reasons: a reticence for deal-making before the meeting in light of the Open Meetings Act investigation; a lack of trust among trustees; and a dearth of political savvy on the board.

At the end of the day, on this particular issue, I think what were going to see is this was just a week lost, a blip, one that will be quickly forgotten once a superintendent search gets underway, Jenkins said. But I do think its a symptom of a larger issue thats not going to go away just because they are able to elect a board president.

Each of the five nominated trustees  incumbent Board President Sue Deigaard and trustees Pat Allen, Judith Cruz, Anne Sung and Flynn Vilaseca  entered the evening with distinctive pros and cons that influenced the vote.

After helping the board avoid the kind of embarrassing displays that marred HISD, Deigaard could bring added stability after years of tumult. However, trustees historically rotate the position each year, and some board members have chafed at Deigaards leadership style.

Allen boasts extensive experience in HISD following a 35-year career as a teacher and administrator, while Cruz, a former educator and youth nonprofit staffer, impressed colleagues enough to earn a second vice president position in 2020. At the same time, both are entering their second year on the board, which typically reserves the presidency for more experienced members.

Sung and Flynn Vilaseca, who both joined the board in 2017, have assumed key policy roles during their tenures and maintained an even-keeled approach with fellow trustees.

Both, however, were involved in the move to oust Lathan, prompting concerns about the optics of selecting them as board president amid Education Commissioner Mike Moraths ongoing effort to strip power from all the elected trustees. Morath cited the Open Meetings Act violations and chronically low academic performance at Wheatley High School, among other reasons, as grounds for replacing HISD's board. Moraths move is stalled amid ongoing litigation filed by HISD trustees.

Flynn Vilaseca withdrew her name from consideration after she failed to get a majority, leaving four candidates.

Trustee Kathy Blueford-Daniels, who only supported Allens candidacy last week, said she hopes more board members step aside Thursday, clearing the way for a smooth vote.

Sometimes, you have to be a better leader by leading from behind, Blueford-Daniels said. At least two of these people should decide that theyre going to fall back so the board can move forward.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
Bangkok, Jan 20 : Indian shuttler B. Sai Praneeth has been withdrawn from the Thailand Open after testing positive for the Coronavirus, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has informed.

Praneeth's result came on Monday and he will now be in the hospital for at least 10 days.

"BWF can confirm India player Sai Praneeth B. has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been withdrawn from the TOYOTA Thailand Open," the BWF statement on Tuesday evening said.

The world number 14 thereby missed his first-round match against Daren Liew from Malaysia who has now been given a walkover.

The badminton body further informed that Kidambi Srikanth has also been withdrawn from the tournament and is in quarantine due to his close contact with Praneeth.

"In line with BWF protocols, Kidambi has been withdrawn from the TOYOTA Thailand Open and is in strict self-quarantine. However, Kidambi tested negative on Monday's test and has returned negative results since arriving in Thailand. Kidambi tested negative for Monday's test and has returned negative results since arriving in Thailand," BWF informed.

Srikanth on Tuesday had entered the second round of the tournament after defeating Thailand's Sitthikom Thammasin 21-11, 21-11 in just 38 minutes.

The former world number one was slated to take on third-seed Anders Antonsen who has now been given a walkover.

"Thai health authorities have cleared India players to continue competing in the tournament upon producing a negative test result each day," BWF said.

Meanwhile, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) said that it was in touch with the Indian players participating in Thailand.

"BAI is in touch with the players concerned as well as with BWF and team management in Thailand," a BAI statement read.

(Newser)  President-elect Joe Bidens hopes of quick confirmation of his nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security have been blocked by a Republican senator. Sen. Josh Hawley said Tuesday that he would block a procedural move to bypass full committee consideration of the nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas to lead DHS. The move means the Mayorkas confirmation must go to the full Senate and theres little chance he can be confirmed as Biden takes office Wednesday, the AP reports. Hawley said he made the move because Mayorkas, in his confirmation hearing, would not commit to spending the $1.4 billion appropriated to expand the border wall with Mexico.

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Biden has said he will halt future construction, and Mayorkas said Tuesday he would have to determine how the law requires DHS to spend the money. Mayorkas noted that when he served as DHS deputy secretary he was told by Border Patrol officials that what was needed is a combination of barriers, additional agents and technology and equipment. "What I heard is we need a diverse approach to border security," he said. Hawley, however, said Mayorkas did not "adequately" explain how he would enforce border security. The decision by the Missouri Republican comes as other senators urge a quick confirmation for a secretary of Homeland Security given threats that include the massive cyberattack on the US government and the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

(Read more Alejandro Mayorkas stories.)
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New Delhi:

Pakistans Lahore High Court on Monday adjourned the detention case of Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JUD) chief and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and his four aides till July 3. As a division bench headed by Justice Abdul Sami Khan today held the court to announce the verdict a government law officer requested it (bench) to defer it as the deputy attorney general was not present in the court, a court official told reporters outside the courtroom.

Accepting the governments request, the bench deferred the announcement of its verdict in Saeeds house arrest case till July 3, the official said. The court official gave no further reason for deferring the announcement. The bench will again sit on July 3 and announce the verdict in Saeeds case, he added.

The court had reserved the decision on June 7 after the Punjab government law officer submitted a reply and Saeeds counsel advocate A K Dogar completed his arguments. The court had declared that it would announce the verdict in Saeed's detention case on June 19.

Saeed and his four close aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain - have been detained on the instruction of the federal government for their alleged involvement in activities prejudicial to peace and security of the country, says the Punjab government.

ALSO READ: JuD chief asks Pak media to foster unrest in Kashmir

The government had also submitted the report of the judicial review board on the detention of Saeed and his aides. In his arguments, Dogar said the government did not produce the petitioners before the judicial review board prior to expiry of their detention period (April 30) and extended their detention on its own.

He said extending detention period without the mandatory approval of the review board is illegal.Dogar said the government detained the petitioners to please India and America only.

He said the courts of the country in past had declared detention of the JuD chief illegal as government failed to prove its charges against him. He prayed to the court to set aside the detention of the petitioners for being unconstitutional.

Earlier, the three-member review board headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on the detention of Saeed.

READ: LHC to announce verdict in Hafiz Saeed detention case on June 19

Saeed had appeared in May before the review board and told it that he had been detained by the Pakistani government in order to stop him for raising voice for Kashmiris.

The federal interior ministry rejected his arguments and told the board that Saeed and his four aides have been detained for spreading terrorism in the name of Jihad.On April 30, detention of Saeed and his four aides was extended by the Punjab government for another 90 days under preventative detention under 11 EEE (I) and 11D of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

The Punjab government on January 30 had put these five under house arrest in Lahore under the Second Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

With PTI inputs

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Ahh, Steve Bannon. Former Breitbart executive chair, ex-Trump aide, SNL grim reaper, and now, the recipient of a highly coveted-presidential pardon? Despite Tuesday's reports alleging that the soon-to-be-ex President would exclude Bannon from the list of the approximately 100 people receiving pardons and commutations on his last day in office, it seems POTUS had a literal 11th-hour change of heart, including his former advisor after all.

"President Trump granted a full pardon to Stephen Bannon. Prosecutors pursued Mr. Bannon with charges related to fraud stemming from his involvement in a political project," wrote White House Press Secretary, BoJack Horseman's Vincent Adultma- sorry, Kayleigh McEnany in a statement. "Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen."

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I guess "political acumen" is one way to put it. Anyways, last year, Bannon and two other associates found themselves in hot water after being arrested and charged with defrauding donors out of "hundreds of thousands" of dollars with the "We Build the Wall" fundraising initiative, which they claim was aimed at helping support build a border wall between Mexico and the United States, according to The Department of Justice. His trial date was set for May 2021, which will now potentially be canceled, alongside this Taurus writer's big quarantine birthday plans of reading about Bannon floundering in court alongside a big glass of wine.

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The decision to pardon Steve Bannon (or as my autocorrect loves to call his surname, Steve Banana) was apparently not an easy one, filled with "frantic debate" over whether the political strategist deserved this type of presidential legal pass, CNN reported. As you may recall, because it was literally all anyone could talk about for a good chunk of time in the early days of 45's tenure, he and Trump had a highly-publicized falling out a few years back, after the former Boiosphere 2 exec was quoted in a book slamming his kids, calling Donald Trump Jr. "treasonous" for convening with a Russian lawyer and alleging that Ivanka was "dumb as a brick." The president, in turn, issued a statement alleging Bannon had lost his mind, according to the outlet. Remember, kids, don't shit talk your political allies -- but if you're going to, maybe, oh, I don't know, refrain from doing so in a book?

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Anyway, the two eventually somewhat reconciled, as Bannon advised Trump on his campaign ahead of last year's presidential election, and then espoused the baseless notion that voter fraud led to 45's loss to Joe Biden. Their brand of dramatic middle-school friendship aside, another hangup about potentially pardoning Bannon came as a resuly of his comments surrounding the Capitol siege earlier this month, CNN noted. "All hell is going to break loose tomorrow," Bannon told the listeners of his podcast the day before the attacks. Yikes. No wonder Trump had hesitations about pardoning him. But hey, at least he didn't blame his alarming remarks on Game of Thrones?
Israels Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau called yesterday on Jews in Israel and across the globe to fast tomorrow, Jan. 21. The day of fasting will be dedicated to prayers over the many people who have died from the pandemic and for the recovery of those infected. Lau will hold a special prayer service at Rachel's Tomb, north of Bethlehem, broadcast live on TV. The global Jewish community is expected to hold similar services at the same time.

Lau wrote in a letter, "In recent days, the plague has intensified and we feel that 'outside the sword will bereave, and inside terror' [Deuteronomy 32:25]. Every day we are faced with terrible disasters. The virus does not distinguish between people, harming the elderly, young people, fathers and mothers of young children, and unfortunately many of them die, and many thousands are in a state of trouble and need prayer and a cry for help from the heavens."

On March 25, during the pandemic's first wave, Lau called on the public to fast at least half a day. "Difficult days are affecting all of Israel and the entire world. At this time, it is on us to do some soul-searching," he wrote.

On April 22, chief rabbis, patriarchs, archbishops, imams and sheikhs assembled in Jerusalem to recite a prayer for the alleviation of suffering around the world from the coronavirus pandemic.

Lau's office noted that decision to declare the fasting day was made after consultation with the Grand Rabbi Haim Kanievsky, the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Lithuanian community, a move clearly designed to engage the ultra-Orthodox.

In recent days, criticism has been growing in the mainstream Israeli media against ultra-Orthodox leadership, observing that many in these communities do not obey social distancing and other health instructions put in place by the government to curb the spread of the pandemic. Faced with these allegations, senior ultra-Orthodox Knesset member Moshe Gafni published a short video yesterday. In it, he clarifies that the rabbis had ordered Torah schools for children be shut down. "The public needs to understand that we are in a state of life-and-death danger. Many pregnant women, elderly and others are doing very badly. This reality forces all of us, without any exceptions, to obey instructions, get vaccinated and be very careful, he noted.

On Jan. 10, the ultra-Orthodox party Yahadut HaTorah tweeted a photo of its Knesset faction chair Yitzhak Pindrus being vaccinated with his second dose.
thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers' Green Hydrogen product division has been awarded an engineering contract in order to install an 88 megawatt (MW) water electrolysis plant for Canadian energy company Hydro-Quebec after successfully completing a feasibility study. Hydro-Quebec, a state-owned company, is one of the largest hydropower suppliers in North America due to the enormous hydraulic energy resources in the province of Quebec.

The water electrolysis plant will be built in Varennes, Quebec, and is to produce 11,100 metric tons of green hydrogen annually. Both the hydrogen and the oxygen, a by-product of the electrolysis process, will be used in a biofuel plant to produce biofuels from residual waste for the transportation sector.

With a capacity of 88 MW, this plant will be one of the world's first and biggest production facilities for green hydrogen. Commissioning is scheduled for late 2023.

"This project is an excellent illustration of how important the interaction of secure access to competitive renewable energy and the use of scaled technology for hydrogen production is," says Sami Pelkonen, CEO of thyssenkrupp's Chemical & Process Technologies business unit. Denis Krude, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde Chlorine Engineers, adds: "Quebec as a region and Hydro-Quebec as a customer offer ideal conditions for installing our water electrolysis technology on a multi-megawatt scale for the first time."
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 20, 2021 / World-Class Extractions Inc. (CSE:PUMP)(FRA:WCF)(OTCQB:WCEXF) (the "Company" or "World-Class"), reports that it has sold its 50% interest in Cobra Ventures Inc. ("Cobra"), which sale included all funds previously advanced by World Class to Cobra, to the remaining shareholder of Cobra, for $2,500,000 in cash.

An investment group led by Richard Goldstein retains 100% control of Cobra, and its senior secured debenture of Hydrx Farms Ltd. ("Hydrx"), acquired by Cobra in October 2020.

Rosy Mondin, CEO of World-Class, has also resigned as a director and officer of Hydrx and Leo Chamberland, President of World-Class, has resigned as a director and officer of Cobra. World-Class will have no ongoing role or interest in Cobra or Hydrx.

About World-Class

World-Class is an innovation-driven company with a principal focus on the rapidly evolving cannabis and hemp industries. Through its subsidiaries, World-Class deploys and manages custom-built extraction centres utilizing its custom systems, technology, and processes to efficiently produce high-quality cannabis and hemp concentrates and end-products. In addition, through its subsidiary Pineapple Express Delivery Inc. the Company offers compliant and secure delivery of government regulated products, including medical and recreational cannabis in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and liquor delivery in certain jurisdictions in Saskatchewan.

Investor Contact

World-Class Investor Relations

1-437-266-1968

ir@worldclassextractions.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements involve known and unknown risks, assumptions, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

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

SOURCE: World-Class Extractions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/624978/World-Class-Extractions-Sells-Interest-in-Cobra-Subsidiary
Ford must recall 3m vehicles with potentially defective driver-side Takata air bags, the US auto safety regulator announced rejecting the automaker's bid to avoid a recall.

According to Reuters, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it was denying petitions filed by Ford and Mazda in 2017 seeking to avoid recalling vehicles with potentially dangerous inflators. The decision also will require Mazda to recall and repair driver air bags in approximately 5,800 vehicles. The recalls will cover various vehicles from the 2006 through 2012 model years.

The [long running] defect which leads in rare instances to air bag inflators rupturing and sending potentially deadly metal fragments flying - especially after long-term exposure to high humidity - prompted the largest automotive recall in US history of more than 67m inflators. Worldwide, about 100m inflators installed by 19 major automakers have been recalled, the report noted.

The NHTSA said the "evidence makes clear that these inflators pose a significant safety risk".

Earlier this month, Reuters added, the auto safety agency said at least 17m vehicles with Takata air bags remain unrepaired.

Takata inflators hade resulted in the deaths of at least 27 people worldwide and 18 in the United States, and over 400 reported injuries,

Ford said the vehicles the NHTSA was ordering be recalled were subject to an earlier Takata recall for the passenger-side airbag, but did not comment further to Reuters.

Mazda did not immediately comment to the news agency.

The recall will apply to various Ford Ranger, Fusion, Edge, Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKX vehicles, along with Mazda 20072009 model year B-Series vehicles. The Mazda vehicles were designed by Ford, built on the same platform, and used the same air bag inflators as the Ranger trucks.

The regulator said Ford must within 30 days "submit to NHTSA a proposed schedule for the notification of vehicle owners and the launch of a remedy".

Two people died in Takata air bag ruptures in previously recalled 2006 Ford Ranger vehicles with the most recent death in 2017, Reuters said.

In November, the NHTSA said it was rejecting a petition filed by General Motors to avoid the recall of 5.9m US vehicles with Takata air bags.

In November the agency said GM must recall the 2007-2014 model-year trucks and SUVs. GM estimated in securities filings it would cost US$1.2bn if it were required to replace air bag inflators it had sought to avoid fixing and said it would recall 7m vehicles worldwide, the report added.

Takata's airbag inflator woes
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 22:14:10|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on Jan. 19, 2021 shows the temporary hospital project of the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Center in south China's Hong Kong. The construction of a temporary hospital funded by the central government for treating COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was completed Wednesday. The North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Center, built next to another treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, is capable of providing 136 wards and 816 negative pressure beds. (Xinhua)

HONG KONG, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The construction of a temporary hospital funded by the central government for treating COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was completed Wednesday.

The North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Center, built next to another treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, is capable of providing 136 wards and 816 negative pressure beds.

Covering a land area of 30,000 square meters, the hospital is comprised of six inpatient buildings, one medical center and other facilities. Its design is in line with the standard for a permanent structure.

Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said it aims to put the new hospital into service next month, which will take the number of beds that the central government helped add in Hong Kong to about 1,800 and will greatly ease the pressure on the local public health system.

As the first hospital in Hong Kong that has all its rooms equipped with a negative pressure system, its construction has faced immense complexity and difficulty.

"The standard of the project, although called a 'temporary hospital,' is actually for a permanent structure, such as being able to resist the hurricane of the signal No. 10," said Zhang Yi, one of the directors of the project and also general manager of China State Construction International Medical Industry Development Co., Ltd.

To build a hospital like this normally takes four years in Hong Kong. However, with new building technology and construction going on round-the-clock, the project was completed in merely four months.

While the construction time was much shortened, the quality was guaranteed and a high safety standard was achieved, providing a valuable reference for health care facilities construction in Hong Kong, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Wednesday at the completion and handover ceremony.

With a world-class negative pressure system, the air in the hospital rooms is refreshed 12 times per hour and 99.97 percent of viruses can be filtered. Every room is equipped with a delivery window that can be locked from both sides, and articles transferred through the window can be disinfected.

Doors installed with a sensing system allow patients and medical workers to pass without touch the handle.

After inspecting the hospital rooms, a Hong Kong public health expert said the facility is even capable to cope with the Ebola virus.

The hospital is the last of the three central government-supported projects for Hong Kong to combat COVID-19. The other two, a mass testing program and the AsiaWorld-Expo treatment facility, were completed in September and October 2020, respectively.

"The project demonstrated the central government's support for Hong Kong's anti-epidemic work and care for Hong Kong residents," Lam said.

To help Hong Kong fight COVID-19, the central government has ensured sufficient daily necessities and medical materials for Hong Kong and assisted the HKSAR government in taking home residents stranded in the mainland and overseas since the epidemic outbreak.

Hong Kong will also be prioritized in mainland vaccine supply and a certain amount of doses will be specially allocated for Hong Kong residents when necessary.

With the fourth wave of the epidemic, the tally of COVID-19 infections has risen to 9,797 in Hong Kong, indicating a still grim situation.

Fighting the epidemic remains high on the government's agenda, Lam said, vowing more efforts to realize the goal of zero new infections in Hong Kong at an early date.

"The resources, nucleic acid tests and vaccines as well as the temporary hospital completed today, have all demonstrated the central government's care for the HKSAR," Lam said.

It is proven that the central government is forever the strongest backbone of the anti-epidemic work of the HKSAR, she added. Enditem
I've been a reporter and editor at Missouri community newspapers for 35 years and joined the Columbia Missourian in 2003. My emphasis at the Missourian is on local government and elections. You can reach me at swaffords@missouri.edu or at 573-884-5366.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 16:01:23|Editor: huaxia

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WUHAN, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Central China's Hubei Province, once hit hard by COVID-19, saw an 8.8-percent growth in foreign trade in 2020, according to customs figures.

The total import and export value of the province reached 429.41 billion yuan (about 66.3 billion U.S. dollars) last year, according to customs in the provincial capital Wuhan.

The total value of Wuhan's foreign trade reached 270.43 billion yuan, accounting for 63 percent of the province.

Hubei's trade volume with the European Union and the United States increased by 17.1 percent and 22.8 percent, respectively, last year, and the province's trade volume with the ASEAN dropped 5.6 percent year on year.

The foreign trade by private enterprises in Hubei totaled 255.47 billion yuan, a 20.9-percent growth year on year, accounting for 59.5 percent of the province's total. The total value of import and export of cross-border e-commerce grew 67.1 percent.

Hubei's exports of textiles, clothing and agricultural products experienced robust growth in 2020, surging by 332.9 percent, 25.8 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively.

The growth of imports was boosted by semiconductor manufacturing equipment, integrated circuits and consumer goods, which rose by 25.8 percent, 22 percent and 45.3 percent, respectively, year on year.

Building on its effective containment of COVID-19, China has rolled out a raft of measures to stabilize foreign trade and investment. Enditem
by Shafique Khokhar

Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw said that the Holy Spirit will guide us to be one and will open our hearts and minds so that we can love, respect and support each other.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw of Lahore opened the 54th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Monday.

During the ceremony, which was held in Lahores Sacred Heart Cathedral, he invited everyone from the different Churches to pray for Christian reconciliation and unity.

The Week is taking place from 18 to 25 January. Its theme, Abide in my Love You shall bear much fruit (Jn 15:1-17), was chosen by the Community of Grandchamp (Switzerland). It expresses the communitys vocation for prayer, reconciliation and unity in the Church and in the human family.

During the prayer service for Christian Unity, Archbishop Shaw turned to the other church leaders and said it was Jesus' desire from the beginning that we be one.

This week is especially for all of us to pray, and the Holy Spirit will guide us to be one, and open our hearts and minds so that we can love and respect each other, that we may support each other. We shall all have to pray for God to take this pandemic away and protect us so we can go back to our normal life.

This year we have been very concerned about whether to hold this interreligious meeting or not, but we have organised it in a very modest way, believing in Gods grace. So that the words of Jesus that they may become one can be fulfilled in our lifetime.

Pastor Amjad Niyamat of the Presbyterian Church of Lahore in his prayer said that we all belong to God as his children and that we should be united, and this unity is not only for the leaders but also for all the faithful.

He also thanked the archbishop for bringing all the Churches of Lahore together to pray, noting: May God bless our unity so that they can grow together in God's love.

In his special message, Bishop Irfan Jamil of the Protestant Church of Pakistan said that while we celebrate intrareligious unity, we must follow the Gospel, which says: you are the light of the world and Your light must reach to all, so all may know Him.

God made us all but we must not forget to pray; it is our only support and the way to go forward, so that we may all be one and united, not only in happiness but also in our difficult times. It is only with the light of Christ that we can illuminate not only ourselves but the entire world,

Mr Benjamin, from the Presbyterian Church, told AsiaNews that seeing all of Lahores religious leaders together with a single vision of unity was a really beautiful moment. Indeed, we should be united not only this week but throughout our life.

A good number of priests, nuns, seminarians, pastors and faithful from different Churches participated in the service, praying to God for the richest blessings and his love upon all Churches.
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[January 19, 2021] Thepackersmovers.com, An Online Directory Expands Its Operations In The USA for Smooth International Relocation

NEW DELHI, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thepackersmovers.com, an online directory of reliable packers and movers in India, is now ready to expand its operations in the United States of America and make international relocation an effortless job for the people. Thepackersmovers.com, a renowned online reference portal of the packers and movers, is one of the trustworthy websites on the internet platform to find the best movers and packers in India, both domestic and corporate relocation. The entity is a well-known and established company based in New Delhi that helps its customers identify the right packers and movers. This identification process is based on the reviews and ratings of the former customers to set a benchmark of flawless, safe, and trustworthy packing and moving services in India. The company recently announced its services in the USA by teaming up with the moving professionals serving in this country for quite a long time. Thepackersmovers.com has now widened its scope of operations to international borders and is ready to target the USA moving industry to assist people in availing moving companies and moving services. This top-notch moving firm is also providing moving services for overseas relocation to their customers at budget-friendly prices. It does not just help people move from India to the USA but also help people in the USA move to other states in a hassle-free manner. On this website, people can get in touch with: Trusted and verified packers and movers in India , providing domestic and international moving services to their customers at rally affordable prices.

, providing domestic and international moving services to their customers at rally affordable prices. Moving companies in the USA offering services such as apartment moving, long-distance moving, local relocation, overseas relocation, etc., within the country or outside.



USA from India or relocating within the USA is no more a complicated procedure with thepackersmovers.com. With such expansion in the arena of international relocation services, the company is leaving no stones unturned in making the relocation to and from India and the USA a hassle-free one for the movers. They can now stay relaxed as the experts themselves will do all the cargo shipping formalities for a safer and stress-free shifting experience. For instance, if a person is looking for Bangalore packers and movers that offer overseas relocation services in the USA, they can now find them easily on this online portal right within their budget.

While speaking to the company's senior manager, Mukesh Kumar, about this latest expansion strategy, he said, "Going international was a dream for my company and me. Earlier, we collaborated with the packing and moving companies in India that offer international relocation services and helped people move to USA in a smooth manner. Now, we decided to team up with the professional and trusted movers in USA to help people relocate to any part of the country in a safe and timely manner. No matter which part of the USA our customers want to move to, our movers in the United States will lend their helping hand without going high on their financial plans. We have covered all the major cities in the USA like California, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, and others while joining hands with the USA moving companies. We have also ensured only those organizations get enlisted on our website that has the experience, skilled human resources, latest tools and equipment, premium-quality packaging supplies, and company-owned moving trucks for a safer and efficient move." About the company Thepackersmovers.com is a reputed online reference platform where people can find a trusted list of pre-verified and licensed packers and movers in India to ease their process of relocation. With more than 10+ years of experience, it has garnered immense appreciation from the people for its infallible, seamless, and dedicated customer services. For more than a decade, we are working in this field, and the company is following the best precautionary standards while selecting the moving companies for enlisting. This step is necessary so that people can have a positive moving experience. People only have to share their shifting needs in a required form, and this website helps them get in touch with the best movers and packers near their location in a few minutes. Mukesh Kumar

info@thepackersmovers.com

+91-9711065096,

The Packers Movers

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Irish Rail have provided gardai with a timetable of the problematic trains in terms of drugs and anti-social behaviour

Gardai will increase patrols on trains after noticing an increase in addicts travelling on the rail network to Dublin so that they can purchase drugs during the lockdown.

As part of a special policing plan, gardai have been working closely with Irish Rail in a bid to tackle the problem on a number of different routes.

The problem is particularly acute in the Kildare garda division where community policing units have been deployed to train stations and to travel on trains.

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A senior source said: They are using the rail network to travel to train stations in west Dublin such as Clondalkin/Fonthill or the city centre from towns such as Portaloise, Portarlington, Newbridge and Kildare so that they can buy drugs and then travel back to their home towns.

It is not a nice situation for example for an elderly person who is travelling for a hospital appointment to be faced with these type of individuals who are often off their head on drugs.

Irish Rail have provided gardai with a timetable of the problematic trains in terms of drugs and anti-social behaviour and these are most common in the morning time and it is these trains that gardai have been focusing on, the source explained.

Under the current travel restrictions people are expected not to travel more than five kilometres from their home and last week at Kildare Town Garda Station two men received fixed penalty notices for not observing the travel restrictions.

These were two highly intoxicated individuals who were well in breach of the regulations. They got out of the train in Kildare and then ran away from gardai across the train tracks, the source explained.

When gardai caught up with them they claimed that they had missed their stop at Sallins which is over 28km away  they were issued with the on-the-spot fine.

Gardai have had some significant seizures from people travelling on the rail network, including a juvenile teenage boy who was caught with a large haul of cannabis on a train in Co Kildare after travelling from Westport, Co Mayo, to Dublin to buy 2,000 worth of the drug.

He was later cautioned under the Garda Youth Diversion Programme.

When contacted about the issue, Barry Kenny, the corporate communications manager at Irish Rail said: Our local management meet regularly with gardai collectively from Ballyfermot to Portlaoise to review all issues and coordinate policing support.

Gardai are very active in supporting us on issues relating to non-essential travel and anti-social behaviour including in Clondalkin Fonthill and along the Heuston commuter routes.

There has been a number of incidents in which trains have been delayed because of people using drugs on them including on Monday evening of last week.

Gardai were called to the incident, which led to the 6pm service from the Dublin to Cork stopped at Hazelhatch, Co Kildare, for over half an hour until the suspects were removed by officers.

Since the health pandemic began, gardai have been boarding trains on a much more regular basis and have even removed passengers who refuse to where face masks including in one incident at Thurles, Co Tipperary last July.

The wearing of face masks is compulsory on public transport, with staff including drivers and ticket inspectors permitted to refuse entry to those not complying.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO Canada Corp. (PIMCO Canada) is pleased to announce today that it has declared monthly distributions on its Class A Units (the Units) of the PIMCO Canada closed end funds (the Funds). The distributions will be paid on February 12, 2021 to the holders of record at the close of business on January 29, 2021.

Details of the distribution amounts are as follow:

Fund Name Ticker Cash Distribution

per Unit Change from

Previous Month Percentage Change from

Previous Month PIMCO Global Income Opportunities Fund PGI.UN $0.05688 - - PIMCO Tactical Income Fund PTI.UN $0.05208 - -

Unitholders are reminded that each Fund offers a distribution reinvestment plan (DRIP) which will provide unitholders with the ability to automatically reinvest their distributions. Eligible unitholders are encouraged to contact the institution through which they hold their Units to confirm enrollment procedures and timelines. A copy of the DRIP is available at www.pimco.ca.

The Manager, PIMCO Canada, retains Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO), to provide investment management services to the Funds.

About PIMCO

PIMCO was founded in 1971 in Newport Beach, California and is one of the worlds premier fixed income investment managers. Today we have offices across the globe and 3,000+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment. PIMCO is owned by Allianz S.E., a leading global diversified financial services provider.

This is not an offer to sell Units and not a solicitation of an offer to buy Units in any region where the offer or sale is not permitted. Before you invest, you should carefully read the Funds disclosure documents and consider carefully the risks you assume when you invest in the Units. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objectives or be able to structure its investment portfolio as anticipated. Copies of the Funds disclosure documents may be obtained from your financial advisor.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, intend, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Funds. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect each Fund, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCOs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, market factors. Although the Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell Units on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX). If the Units are purchased or sold on the TSX, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying Units and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with owning Units. An investment fund must prepare disclosure documents that contain key information about the fund. You can find more detailed information about the Funds in these documents. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

Each Fund is a closed end exchange traded investment fund. Closed end funds, unlike open end funds, are not continuously offered. After the initial public offering, shares of closed end funds are sold on the open market through a stock exchange. For additional information, contact your financial advisor.

For a summary of the risks of an investment in each Fund, please see the Principal Risks of the Fund section of the prospectus. Units of closed end funds frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. This material contains the current opinions of the manager and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. in the United States and throughout the world. 2021, PIMCO

The products and services provided by PIMCO Canada Corp. may only be available in certain provinces or territories of Canada and only through dealers authorized for that purpose.

PIMCO Canada has retained PIMCO LLC as sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada will remain responsible for any loss that arises out of the failure of its sub-adviser.

PIMCO Canada Corp. 199 Bay Street, Suite 2050, Commerce Court Station, P.O. Box 363, Toronto, ON, M5L 1G2, 416-368-3350

Contact:

Agnes Crane

PIMCO  Media Relations

Phone: +212 597.1054
Joe Biden, along with the entire First Family, had to fly into Washington D.C. one day before the Inauguration, as is tradition. However, instead of arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on one of the military planes usually deployed for this occasion, on January 19, the Bidens touched down in a chartered private jet.You can see a video of the arrival at the bottom of the page. CNN explains why this is a strange, unprecedented occurrence. Reports claim that, as a final snub before he ends his four-year run as POTUS, Donald Trump denied Joe Biden the courtesy of an Air Force jet with all the security detail it comes with. Biden had to fly into the capital still shook by the January 6 events in an aircraft that was not fit for the task, security-wise.By contrast, former President Barack Obama sent an Air Force plane for the Trumps to New York in January 2017, ahead of the Inauguration.Rumors and controversy aside, this is the last time Biden flies private for at least four years. As sworn POTUS, he will be making all business trips onboard the Air Force One , the most secure aircraft in the world and a genuine flying fortress In addition to features like a conference room, Oval Office, Presidential bedroom and bathroom, massive galley, and medical room with on-board doctor, Air Force One has armored windows, encryption and scrambling devices, some 80+ phones for both classified and unclassified use, and much more stuff us mortal folks cant be made privy to.
The decision comes after an 18-month investigation by the PSNI.

The Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland has decided to prosecute one person in connection with historical sexual abuse allegations in Co Fermanagh.

A major investigation by the PSNI over the past 18 months has been examining claims of historical sexual abuse against children by several people over many decades.

Now one of those accused will end up on court after the PPS reviewed all the available evidence in an investigation file submitted by police.

Both the individual and the alleged victims were notified about the development by the PPS last month by specialist detectives working on the case.

Its believed the PSNI will soon pass additional investigation files to the PPS in due course and decisions will then be taken on whether to prosecute others. However, a spokeswoman for the PPS said due to the ongoing police investigation, it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this stage.

To date, more than a dozen people have been arrested in connection with allegations of historical sexual abuse in Co Fermanagh. Last August, 11 of those arrests took place in Counties Fermanagh, Antrim and Derry and one property was also searched.

While the PSNI said the organisation does not comment on individual cases, a spokesman confirmed files "will continue to be submitted to the PPS for consideration.

Our inquiries into the allegations of historical sexual abuse in County Fermanagh are ongoing and Public Protection detectives are actively working on all of the reports made to us and are focused on gathering all relevant evidence, she said.

The police investigation into the claims was sparked by a long-standing investigation by Enniskillen-based newspaper The Impartial Reporter which published dozens of allegations from men and women who came forward to say they had been abused decades ago. The allegations also prompted protests on the streets, public rallies and were the subject of radio and television documentaries.
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Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

COVID-19 deaths in the UK hit a record of 1,610 on Tuesday and 33,355 new cases. With a seven-day average of 16.7 daily deaths per million people, the UK currently has the worst COVID-19 death rate in the world.

The deaths took the official tally past 90,000measured as all who have perished within 28 days of a positive test. The true total is substantially higher, with more than 105,000 death certificates mentioning COVID-19.

Since January 1, there have been 17,914 deaths from the virus and nearly 1 million new cases (978,069).

The programme of herd immunity has driven the response of the Conservative government to the pandemic, based on the demands of big business that the economy be kept open and profit making not impacted. Over the last year the government was forced to implement three lockdowns under pressure from the working class.

Top 20 countries by Covid-19 death rate (WSWS media)

Novembers lockdown barely impacted the number of coronavirus patients in hospital. The current lockdown, begun on January 5, is significantly less restrictive than the first in March, despite a new more contagious strain of the virus and worse hospitalisation rates than before. It is due to be reviewed on March 31, with all indications being that the Tories are moving to end what is being described as the last lockdown.

This is being justified by citing a vaccination programme with only just over four million people having received the first dose of a required two doses. The population of the UK is over 66 million.

From this week, those aged over 70 are being offered the vaccine, under conditions in which just over half of those aged 80 and half of those in care homesamong the most vulnerable peoplehave been vaccinated. There are people in their 90s who have not yet received their first dose. The Daily Mirror reported Tuesday that residents in Folkestone and Hythe in Kent are furious with no-one over 80 in the district having yet received a vaccine, despite having the UK's worst Covid death rate. The south-eastern seaside area had a fatality toll of 265.5 per 100,000 people last week, Government figures show.

The Sunday Times reported that the government will end lockdown before the population is vaccinated. A government source told the newspaper, For the first time there are no significant divisions between hawks and doves in the cabinet. Everyone accepted that we need to lock down hard and everyone accepts that we need to open up before everyone is vaccinated.

On Sunday, Foreign Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News, What we want to do is get out of this national lockdown as soon as possible. He added, By early spring, hopefully by March, well be in a position to make those decisions. I think its right to say we wont do it all in one big bang. As we phase out the national lockdown, I think well end up phasing through a (regional) tiered approach.

The decision has in reality already been made amid dire warnings the pandemic will significantly worsen over the coming weeks. Last Friday, the governments Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said that a premature ending of the lockdown would result in more deaths. This is not the natural peak that's going to come down on its own, it's coming down because of the measures that are in place. Take the lid off now and it's going to boil over for sure and we're going to end up with a big problem.

This homicidal policy is to be carried out only weeks after the government calculates that all over-70s will have had the first dose of the vaccinea pledge that no-one can take at face valueand not the second dose that strengthens immunity.

In the last days, the right-wing media have stepped up their propaganda to insist that the government fully reopen the economy, including schools, colleges and universities. In an editorial Monday, the Daily Telegraph, commented, Right now we are in the eye of the storm, with shocking numbers being admitted to hospital, but one has to plan for the future, to think of a point at which the effects of the lockdown might begin to rival the threat of the disease itself.

The National Health Service (NHS) is already unable to cope with a never-ending stream of new patients. On Sunday, NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show , The facts are very clear and Im not going to sugar-coat them, hospitals are under extreme pressure and staff are under extreme pressure. Since Christmas Day weve seen another 15,000 increase in the inpatients in hospitals across England, thats the equivalent of filling 30 hospitals full of coronavirus patients. Staggeringly, every thirty seconds across England another patient is being admitted to hospital with coronavirus. He added, We have got three-quarters more Covid inpatients now then we had in the April peak.

On Monday, it was revealed that the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in London was approaching 8,000, with the Evening Standard reporting that hospitals in other parts of the country on standby to take patients if there are no beds left in the capital.

Stevens revealed that 53,000 National Health Service staff are off work, either because they have the disease or because they are self-isolating.

The herd immunity policy of the government was spelled out by Dr Mary Ramsay, the Head of Immunisation at Public Health England, who said last week, We may need to accept, if the vaccine doesnt prevent transmission, that were going to protect the people who are really vulnerable and going to die and have serious disease, but we allow the disease to circulate in younger people where its not causing much harm.

There is no scientific justification for the government abandoning the lockdown. Ramsays comments were opposed by Dr Deepti Gurdasani of Queen Mary University in comments to the Byline Times. She described Public Health Englands strategy as frankly ridiculous, and no different from the focused protection strategy outlined in the Great Barrington Declaration, which has been thoroughly debunked as an ideology not grounded in any scientific evidence.

Dr Adam Kucharski, a mathematician at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told the Times on Saturday, Were talking a lot to colleagues in Brazil, Colombia, Peru. This was because the pandemic is surging in areas of high seroprevalence, i.e, the level of a pathogen in a population, that should have a higher degree of immunity according to the herd immunity paradigm, Which doesnt really square.

The Times noted, The new data from South America suggests that modifications are needed. If new variants mean people can get reinfected, even if they show few symptoms the second time, then they can infect those who have so far avoided the pandemic. Kucharski said, That means this idea that we have this fixed value of infections and then the epidemic goes away wont necessarily apply in the same way. He warned, A lot of countries in Europe are building immunity through vaccination and, unfortunately, at great cost through natural infection. And if there are variants that could threaten that accumulated immunity, its an enormous problem which needs to be taken seriously.

The working class must oppose all moves to prematurely reopen the economy, which will lead to even greater loss of life. The issue is posed: Who will control society: the capitalist class based on profit, or the working class based on saving lives and fulfilling social need? The public health catastrophe requires the formation of action committees to enforce emergency measures, including the shutdown of nonessential production and the full closure of schools, colleges and universities, to be made possible by providing full income support to workers and small businesses.


White Plains High School recently received the ZEISS SCOPEs Grant. Pictured are WPHS Teachers with a ZEISS optical microscope, digital camera, and software.

ZEISS announces its national Science Classroom Outreach Program for Educators (SCOPEs) Grant, established to help support teachers facing the new challenge of educating students through remote learning. The SCOPEs Grant is offered for all K-12 science teachers needing a solution to help their students continue their education in a socially distant environment. Available to any K-12 school in the United States and Puerto Rico offering microscopy science curricula, the program will help teachers offer live demonstrations to supplement traditional lectures while maintaining social distance protocols in the classroom. To learn more about the SCOPEs Grant or apply, visit http://www.zeiss.com/scopesgrant.

The SCOPEs grant program covers a complete ZEISS classroom microscope package with an optical microscope, digital camera, and software. Recipients can choose from two microscope models, ZEISS Primo Star or ZEISS Stemi 305. A winner will be selected each month from among all applications received. Those not awarded a grant will be automatically re-entered for consideration in subsequent months.

Designed with long-term use and extreme durability in mind, the ZEISS Primo Star offered as part of the grant features an integrated HD streaming camera in conjunction with the iPad App Labscope. This system has the capabilities to be expanded to a full digital classroom of network-connected microscopes. The shared interface between the teacher and the student allows for immediate confirmation that the specimen is viewed correctly. The ZEISS Primo Star provides students with a digital native way to examine specimens under a microscope.

SCOPEs grant winners can also opt for the ZEISS Stemi 305 compact Greenough stereo microscope with 5:1 zoom. With the ZEISS Stemi 305, three-dimensional samples can be observed with no preparation required. The easy-to-use microscope offers full integration with long-living LED illumination for reflected and transmitted light and documentation.

The need for creative lesson planning is particularly acute in science classrooms because hands-on laboratories or live demonstrations that supplement traditional lectures is such an important aspect of science learning, said Vincent Cavaliere, Product Marketing Manager for Educational Microscopy. Integrating ZEISS network-compatible microscopes with imaging systems lets teachers easily create digital classrooms or digital labs and share images with the touch of a finger. The equipment also enables teachers to record high resolution images and videos and share images, reports, and videos.

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling more than 5.8 billion euros in its four segments Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (status: 30 September 2018).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future far beyond the optics and optoelectronics industries. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership.

With approximately 30,000 employees, ZEISS is active globally in almost 50 countries with around 60 of its own sales and service companies, more than 30 production sites and around 25 development sites. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information is available at http://www.zeiss.com

ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions

ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is the world's only one-stop manufacturer of light, electron, X-ray and ion microscope systems and offers solutions for correlative microscopy. The portfolio comprises of products and services for life sciences, materials and industrial research, as well as education and clinical practice. The unit is headquartered in Jena. Additional production and development sites are located in Oberkochen, Gottingen and Munich, as well as in Cambridge in the UK, and in Peabody, MA and Pleasanton, CA in the USA. ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is part of the Industrial Quality & Research segment.
Gary Barlow is one of the most successful songwriters in British musical history, proving wildly popular both as part of Take That and as a solo artist.

Barlow, who celebrated his 50th birthday on Wednesday, developed a love of music thanks to stars including Sir Elton John and taught himself to play his favourite songs on a keyboard.

After a stint on the club circuit in the north of England, superstardom beckoned when he formed Take That.

To mark Barlow's birthday, the PA news agency takes a look back at his career so far:

Take That's early success

Barlow formed the popular group in Manchester in 1990 alongside Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams.

He was the band's creative engine, writing or co-writing many of their biggest hits including 'Back For Good', 'Never Forget' and 'A Million Love Songs'.

After Williams left to pursue a solo career in 1995, Take That called it a day a year later having cemented their place as one of the most successful boybands of all time.

Solo joy turns sour

With his prodigious songwriting talent, a successful solo career seemed certain for Barlow and he was touted as the next George Michael.

He got off to a fine start, with his first two singles 'Forever Love' and 'Love Won't Wait' going to number one in the charts. Open Road, Barlow's 1997 debut solo album, also topped the charts.

However, while Williams continued to find success on his own, Barlow's career entered a lull and he quit singing in 1999 to act as a producer for other artists.

He later admitted to losing confidence and being unable to recapture his gift for songwriting.

Battles with an eating disorder

Barlow said his weight ballooned to 17 stone by 2003 as he struggled to come to terms with his career slump.

He said he had an eating disorder which he claimed stemmed from a subconscious desire to "kill off the popstar".

Looking back on his decision to get healthy, Barlow said:

There was a lightbulb moment. I realised this is as bad as I want to let it get. It involved a trip to the doctor who informed me of my weight and that I was in a bad place. I had young kids and it felt highly irresponsible to be in the shape I was in. The music confidence had gone, now the personal confidence had gone. I needed to change that.

Take That return more successful than ever

TAKE THAT: Jason Orange, Howard Donald, Robbie Williams, Mark Owen and Gary Barlow back together in 2010. Picture: Ian West/PA Wire

A 2005 documentary titled Take That: For The Record brought renewed interest in the once all-conquering boy band and they reunited that year - minus the still estranged Williams.

They hit the road in 2006 for The Ultimate Tour, which proved hugely successful and their comeback album Beautiful World catapulted them back to the top of the charts.

Williams rejoined the band for the 2010 album Progress, which was another smash hit and number one record.

Tax controversy

Barlow faced heavy criticism after being caught up in a tax avoidance scandal in 2014.

He later said he had little knowledge of accounts and took full responsibility for the damaging episode.

During his 2018 appearance on Desert Island Discs, Barlow said: "You try and do these things under the guidance of other people. I don't know a thing about accounts. I never want to. It's of no interest to me."

He added: "I signed those things. It's my responsibility."

Tragedy strikes family life

Barlow has been married to former Take That backing dancer Dawn Andrews since 2000.

The couple have three children and a fourth, a daughter named Poppy, was delivered stillborn in 2012, days before Take That were booked to perform at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics.

Discussing the tragedy, Barlow said:

For anyone who's been through anything like this, I think it's something you accept that you're going to be dealing with for the rest of your life.

Barlow wrote movingly about the loss in his 2018 autobiography A Better Me.

Success is Back For Good

Barlow is recognised as one of the most successful and influential songwriters of his generation and in 2012 was honoured with an Ivor Novello award for his outstanding contribution to British music.

He was a judge on talent shows The X Factor and Let It Shine, has written musicals and been made an OBE.

And his talent for songwriting remains as strong as ever.

In December he beat another act spawned in the 1990s - band Steps - to number one in the album charts with his fifth solo record Music Played By Humans.

Responding to the news, a delighted Barlow said: "What an honour, what a privilege, I can't believe it. This possibly could mean the most to me than any other before."
Investors who lost more than 200million in the London Capital & Finance (LCF) savings scandal were given fresh hope yesterday as a landmark legal case kicked off.

A handful of victims have taken the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) to court, after it refused to give the majority of them any cover when LCF collapsed.

LCF fell into administration in January 2019, after collecting 237million from 11,600 investors. It sold them 'mini-bonds', promising to lend their cash to hundreds of businesses which needed it to grow.

A handful of LCF victims have taken the Financial Services Compensation Scheme to court, after it refused to give the majority of them any cover when LCF collapsed

It promised high returns and claimed the products were low-risk. But investors, many of them elderly, were left high and dry when it collapsed, and it turned out money had been funnelled to a small number of borrowers.

Several directors are being investigated for fraud. But the FSCS, designed to compensate victims of failed firms, said it was only able to return money to around a fifth of LCF customers because the firm was not carrying out 'regulated activities' when it took their money.

Now four savers are challenging that through a judicial review. As the case began yesterday over video-link, their barrister James McClelland told the Administrative Court how some elderly customers had been forced out of retirement. Others had to sell their home and one was on the verge of being made homeless.

He said: 'For some this has been life-changing, and for others it has been little short of catastrophic.'

McClelland said the FSCS was fundamentally wrong to say that LCF was not carrying out a regulated activity, as he tried to clarify several complex points of regulation. He said: 'These are precisely the sorts of investors who one might expect to be protected.'

So far the scheme, funded by the financial services industry, has paid around 51million to just under 3,000 LCF bondholders.

It believes it is only able to cover customers who were given financial advice by LCF, or who took their money out of a stocks and shares ISA to invest in the mini-bonds.

LCF administrators and the Serious Fraud Office are still trying to track down investors' money so it can be returned.

Thirteen people including a former energy minister, Charles Hendry, are being sued by administrators at Smith & Williamson for 178million in connection with the scandal.

It is claimed that savers' money was used to buy horses, a helicopter and lifetime memberships at a Mayfair club.

In court documents, the claimants' lawyers said: 'It appears that LCF may have practised one of the largest frauds on the investing public in recent memory.'

A Richmond mans murder conviction and life sentence for an execution-style slaying in San Franciscos Sunnydale housing project in 2013 were overturned by a state appeals court Tuesday because prosecutors failed to disclose potentially important evidence until the trial was almost over.

Zuri Wilson, 42, was convicted by a San Francisco jury in 2019 of the August 2013 murder of Shawnte Otis, 34. Prosecutors said Wilson and an unnamed accomplice hid in a nearby vacant housing unit for more than an hour before bursting out and shooting Otis in the back and head as the unsuspecting victim knelt near the passenger door of his car.

Cell phone evidence showed Wilson had been in the area, and the murder weapon was found in a San Pablo apartment where he sometimes stayed. Wilson described himself as a dealer of guns and drugs, and said he was in the neighborhood that day to sell drugs, but had not shot Otis and had no motive for doing so. He was convicted of murder while lying in wait and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Tuesday, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco granted Wilson a new trial and said he might not have been convicted if prosecutors had followed their legal obligation to turn over potentially helpful evidence to the defense as soon as they acquired it.

The court said a report by an investigator in then-District Attorney George Gascons office, disclosed late in the trial, included evidence possibly implicating another man in the killing. That mans cousin had been killed five months earlier by Otis and another person, the report said, and the man then hired two men to kill one of Otis cousins.

Identifying another potential suspect with a motive would have undermined the prosecutions case, Justice Gordon Burns said in the 3-0 ruling.

The report also revealed that police had identified a man who matched a witness description of the second shooter, Burns said. And he said the document identified a lease-holder of the apartment where the gun was found. Wilsons DNA was not found on the gun or cartridges, and Burns said the lease-holder might have identified others who had access.

The belated evidence undermines confidence in the outcome of the trial, Burns said.

That was putting it mildly, said attorney Stephen Bedrick, who represented Wilson on appeal. He said prosecutors and police had hidden evidence for nearly five years that would have shown the killing was part of a gang war.

That is who was responsible for the murder here, but the prosecution team concealed all of it, Bedrick said. The defendant, the criminal justice system, and the citizens and taxpayers of San Francisco deserve better.

District Attorney Chesa Boudins office could not be reached for comment.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Joe Biden to Issue Executive Order Ending Border Wall Construction

President Joe Biden will issue an executive order suspending border wall construction, although its not yet clear if the existing fencing will be removed.

Bipartisan majorities in Congress refused in 2019 to fund President Trumps plans for a massive wall along our southern border, even after he shut down the government over this issue. He then wastefully diverted billions of dollars to that construction, said his transition office in a statement. By proclamation, President-elect Biden will today declare an immediate termination of the national emergency declaration that was used as a pretext to justify some of the funding diversions for the wall.

The statement added that it will place a pause on border wall construction projects and will allow a close review of the legality of the funding and contracting methods.

President Donald Trump looks on before signing a plaque as he participates in a ceremony commemorating the 200th mile of border wall at the international border with Mexico in San Luis, Ariz., on June 23, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

The administration will also determine the best way to redirect funds that were diverted by the prior Administration to fund wall construction, according to the statement.

As of Tuesday, according to reporters on the scene, construction of the barrier was still going on. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, overseen by the Department of Homeland Security, said that more than 450 miles of wall were constructed under Trumps term.

Last week, Trump visited the wall and touted his efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

Biden is also expected to issue more executive orders reversing some of Trumps other policies. The 46th president was sworn into office at around noon on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Marshall Excelsior Company ("MEC"), a Harbour Group company, has acquired the assets of CPC-Cryolab and Rockwood Swendeman ("CPC"), Jeff Fox, Harbour Group's chairman and chief executive officer, announced today. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

CPC-Cryolab is a leading provider of liquid hydrogen and liquid helium valves; Rockwood Swendeman focuses on cryogenic safety relief valves. The companies, based in Tampa, Fla., serve cryogenics end markets throughout the world.

Mr. Fox commented, "We think CPC is a tremendous complement to MEC and will expand our reach into cryogenic end markets. The combination of the businesses provides the opportunity to expand the offering of market leading products to a broader customer base. We are excited to have the CPC team join the MEC and Harbour family."

"CPC is a fantastic fit with MEC. It provides a cryogenic platform we can build upon," said, Pat Donovan, CEO of MEC. "MEC has been focused on expanding into cryogenic applications and CPC represents a great opportunity for us to do so."

Stan Levandowski, Manager of CPC commented, "CPC's cryogenic offering is a great fit with MEC. We are looking forward to working with MEC to continue building the cryogenics business. We are pleased to join MEC and look forward to being a part of the Harbour Group family and having access to their operational, acquisition and strategic resources."

About Marshall Excelsior

Marshall Excelsior is a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of mission-critical, highly engineered flow control products used in the transportation, storage, and consumption of compressed and liquefied gases. Over the past 40 years, MEC has provided a variety of solutions, including fittings, adapters, valves, regulators, pigtails, gauges, and accessories, to its growing base of customers. MEC's products support various critical applications including bulk storage, transport, industrial, commercial, medical, domestic, and recreational vehicles. The company is headquartered in Marshall, Michigan.

About Harbour Group

Harbour Group is a privately owned, operations focused company based in St. Louis, Missouri. Harbour Group's companies are engaged in manufacturing and distribution across diverse industries including control solutions, remote monitoring solutions, fence and gate hardware systems, interior wallcoverings and fabrics, LED lighting, flow control, scientific products and lab ware, thermal management solutions, boiler systems, professional diagnostic and repair tools, stainless fittings, and auxiliary plastic processing equipment. Since its founding in 1976, Harbour Group has acquired 214 companies in 47 different industries.

SOURCE Harbour Group
Salman Khan recently took to social media to announce a theatrical release for his much-awaited next, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai on Eid 2021, and since then, fans have been excited about the film.



From the films plot to its cast and crew, we have compiled everything that you would want to know about Radhe.

When Was Radhe Announced

For the unversed, after Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Inshallah was shelved, Salman Khan announced on October 18, 2019, that his next after Dabangg 3 is titled Radhe.

The 55-year-old actor shared a short announcement teaser that described Salmans character as Half good, fully mad.

In the teaser, Salman was seen wielding a gun.

The Cast & Crew Of Radhe

Prabhudheva, who has previously worked with Salman Khan in hit films like Wanted and Dabangg 3, has helmed this action thriller.

Salman essays the lead role in Radhe, although, details about his character have been kept under wraps by the makers.

 Salman Khan Films

Meanwhile, Jackie Shroff plays a senior inspector with a quirky side and Disha Patani will be seen in the role of his sister.



Apart from Khan, Patani and Shroff, the ensemble cast of the film also includes Randeep Hooda as an antagonist and Tamil actor Bharath as a cop.

Zarina Wahab, Gautam Gulati and Arjun Kanungo will also be seen in the movie.

Also, Jacqueline Fernandez is expected to feature in a special dance number in the film.

The Production

It is produced by Sohail Khan and Reel Life Production Pvt Limited under the banner of Salman Khan Films.

The Release Date

Radhe was earlier scheduled to hit the theatres on May 22, 2020. However, owing to the COVID-19 global health scare and the ensuing lockdown, it got delayed.

While there were speculations around a digital release of Radhe, Salman announced that the film will hit the theatres on Eid 2021.

 Instagram/Salman Khan

Releasing a statement on Tuesday, the actor said, Sorry, it has taken me a long time to revert to all the theatre owners Its a big decision to make during these times. I understand the financial problems that the theatre owners/exhibitors are going through and I would like to help them by releasing Radhe in theatres.



In return, I would expect them to take the utmost amount of care and precautions for the audience who would come to the theatre to watch Radhe. The commitment was of EID and it will be Eid 2021 inshallah. Enjoy Radhe this year in theatres on Eid.. God willing..

Is Radhe A Remake Of A South Korean Movie

Well, according to a Bollywood Hungama report, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai is a remake of a Korean film titled The Outlaws and Salman will once again be seen playing a cop in the movie.

 Hong Film

The 2017 film, The Outlaws is a South Korean crime action drama directed by Kang Yoon-sung.



How excited are you about this one?
Syrias White Helmets, who rescue victims from the rubble of airstrikes, have added making personal protective equipment to their efforts saving lives in areas of the country outside Bashar al-Assads control, reports Guardian. The civil defence services uniform-making unit has recently pivoted to manufacturing PPE with the help of a 1.17m award from a nonprofit organisation funded by the UK, US, Canadian and Dutch governments. The local facility has already produced more than 2m masks, protective gowns and face shields, and is handling the safe disposal of used PPE for north-west Syrias vulnerable population of more than 3 million people.

Trump pardons over 70 people

View Full Image Donald Trump pardoned 73 people, including his former aide Steve Bannon and other allies, just hours before he was due to leave office

Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned 73 people, including his former aide Steve Bannon and other allies, just hours before he was due to leave office. The list of those pardonedas well as 70 others whose sentences were commutedwas released by the White House in a statement during the early hours. Neither Trump nor his relatives were on the list. Bannon had been charged with defrauding people over funds raised to build the Mexico border wall, a flagship Trump policy. He was Trump's campaign manager during the 2016 election, before becoming a senior adviser to the president. Former Trump fund-raiser Elliott Broidy was similarly pardoned, after pleading guilty last year to conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws. The rapper Lil Wayne, who last month pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and faced 10 years in jail, also made the list.

UK faces revolt over China ruling

View Full Image Boris Johnson defeated a rebellion by his own lawmakers after they pressed for British judges to be able to rule if Chinas Muslim Uighur minority is suffering genocide

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson defeated a rebellion by his own lawmakers after they pressed for British judges to be able to rule if Chinas Muslim Uighur minority is suffering genocide. The House of Commons narrowly voted down an amendment to a proposed law on international trade agreements which would have allowed victims to ask the High Court in London to rule on claims of genocide against potential trading partners, including China. The government would have had to consider pulling out of trade deals with the states involved. Lawmakers voted by 319 to 308 to reject the amendment, reflecting the strength of feeling in his Conservative Party about the U.K.s ties to China. The Chinese Embassy in Washington denounced the U.S. move as a gross interference in Chinas internal affairs and a serious violation of international law and basic norms" of international relations, reports Bloomberg.

Ports review meeting to start today

View Full Image A three-day ports review meeting will be conducted from today to deliberate on a future action plan, including development of satellite ports by all major ports

A three-day ports review meeting will be conducted from today to deliberate on a future action plan, including development of satellite ports by all major ports, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said in a statement on Wednesday. Chairpersons of India's all major ports and senior officials of the ministry will participate in the brainstorming conference to finalise the road map of the 'Maritime Vision 2030', the ministry said in the statement. It added that Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will chair the meeting named 'Chintan Baithak' at Dhordo, Gujarat. The Chintan Baithak includes sessions on exploring new vistas of urban transportation, effective implementation of SAROD-Ports (Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes-Ports), and issues related to international arbitrations, reports the Press Trust of India

Tunisia boils for fifth day

View Full Image Violent clashes erupted for a fifth night between police and protesters in several Tunisian cities, including the capital Tunis and Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the Arab Spring uprisings

Violent clashes erupted for a fifth night between police and protesters in several Tunisian cities, including the capital Tunis and Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the Arab Spring uprisings, as anger and frustration mount over economic hardship. Earlier in the day, protesters rallied in Tunis, reviving the chant that rang a decade ago in a revolution that ushered in democracy: "The people want the fall of the regime."In Sidi Bouzid, where the 2011 revolution began, witnesses told Reuters that police fired gas to disperse protesters who were raising slogans against rulers and demanding an end to decades of marginalisation. Clashes also broke out in poor areas of Tunis, including Ettadamen and Sijoumi, as hundreds of angry youths burned tires and blocked roads. Daytime protests in recent days demanding jobs, dignity and the release of detainees have been followed by night time violence, with covid-19 restrictions compounding a wider economic malaise.

Lockdown walks cost farmers their crop

View Full Image Crops are 'being damaged nationwide' by lockdown walkers avoiding mud, a rural business organisation has said

Crops are "being damaged nationwide" by lockdown walkers avoiding mud, a rural business organisation has said. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said an influx of people "walking over planted crops" was "impacting farmers' businesses", reports BBC. One farmer said there had been a tenfold increase in walkers during lockdown, while another had seen a 5ft path widen to 36ft across. Walking charity Ramblers said people must "stick to marked paths". CLA president Mark Bridgeman said while he did not want to discourage people from using the countryside, "crops are being damaged nationwide" by those avoiding quagmires.He said the organisation, which represents 30,000 rural businesses across England and Wales, advised people to get "a decent pair of wellies... and stick to the route of the footpath". One way of solves this issue, without taking away the joy of walking is to make sure people walk on designated paths in the farm.

Curated by Sohini Sen. Have something to share with us? Write to us at feedback@livemint or tweet to @shohinisen

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Highlights Outgoing US President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski.

Levandowski was found guilty of stealing the companys self-driving car technology and was sentenced to 18 months in prison in August 2020.

Trump has issued a series of pardons on the last day of his administration including people who worked on his campaign.

Outgoing US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he has given a full pardon to a former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski for stealing the company's self-driving car technology and trade secrets months before he became the head of Uber for a short period. The White House in a press release said that Levandowski was an American entrepreneur who led Google's efforts to create self-driving technology. The statement added he had "paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good."

It also noted that his plea covered only a single charge, omitting mention of the 33 charges he had been indicted on. Trump has issued a series of pardons on the last day of his administration including people who worked on his campaign like Steve Bannon and Elliott Broidy.

In March 2020, Levandowski agreed to plead guilty for stealing Google's trade secrets. Levandowski had quit Google in 2016. He went to join Uber as the head of the self-driving car project. From there, he was fired after he faced allegations for IP theft from his previous employer. The case alleged that the 40-year-old had downloaded 14,000 files from Google's self-driving subsidiary, Waymo.

In August 2020, a US federal judge sentenced Levandowski to 18 months in prison after being found guilty on one count of stealing trade secrets. However, he was not required to report till the COVID 19 pandemic eased, according to TechCrunch.

A US District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco said anything less than imprisonment would give "a green light to every future brilliant engineer to steal trade secrets," describing the information that Levandowski took as a competitor's game plan, Forbes reported. Levandowski, after he quit from Google, took the stolen files to a start-up called Ottomotto which was then acquired by Uber.

"Anthony Levandowski's theft of autonomous technology trade secrets has been enormously disruptive and harmful to Waymo, constituted a betrayal, and the effects would likely have been even more severe had it gone undetected," a Waymo spokesperson had then said in the statement. "We echo Assistant US Attorney Katherine Wawrzyniak's sentiment that this theft 'erases the contributions of many, many other people that have also put their blood, sweat, and tears into this project that makes a safer self-driving car."

Google is one of the first movers in the space of self-driving cars and the company alleged that the secrets Levandowski stole gave an unfair advantage to Uber, which in the last few years has worked on self-driving cars.
LeeBeth Young, firstborn child of megachurch Pastor Ed Young, passes

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Founding pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, Ed Young, is mourning the death of his firstborn child, daughter LeeBeth Young. She was 34.

The megachurch pastor, who did not share how his daughter died, said in a statement on social media Tuesday that she is now healed and whole in Gods presence after passing on Monday night.

It is with great sadness that I write these words. Last night, our precious and cherished daughter LeeBeth passed away. She was our firstborn, and we celebrate her life, Young said.

LeeBeth was a bright, intelligent, strong, creative, witty, and faithful young woman. We love our daughter, and she loved the Lord. Because of her relationship with Jesus, she is now healed and whole in His presence. We ask that you pray for our family, our church, and so many others who loved LeeBeth deeply, he added.

The death of LeeBeth Young, who previously worked in communications and video for the church, prompted an outpouring of support for Pastor Ed Young and his family on social media from prominent Christian figures such as evangelical Bible teacher Beth Moore and co-founder of Saddleback Church in California, Kay Warren.

Tears .... so very sorry for the loss of your beloved girl. Standing with you, holding your hearts in ours. Here for your family if we can be strong shoulders to lean on, Warren replied to Youngs announcement on Twitter.

Other Christian leaders such as Josh Howerton, senior pastor of the multi-site Lakepointe Church in Texas, who said he never met Young before, also shared his condolences.

I have never met you, but I love you and am grieving with you tonight, Pastor. The Howerton family is praying for you at bedtime tonight, and should there ever be anything a nobody like me could do for you, I would want the privilege, he wrote.

Natasha Artz, who said she attended youth camp with LeeBeth, said her death left her heartbroken.

This shook me to the core. I am utterly heartbroken and in tears. Fellowship Church has been my home church since a very young age. LeeBeth and I shared the same age and I remember being in youth camp with her. Such a beautiful family and a beautiful legacy they have created. May God grant the Young family his love, strength and peace during such a difficult time. LeeBeth...your smile, your bright personality and the love you shared with others will live on FOREVER, Artz wrote in response to the news Tuesday.

LeeBeth, the eldest of Pastor Youngs four children, was close to her father and once wrote on Instagram that he is the most genuine/humble people you will ever meet and she was blessed God let me be his daughter!

In a speech she gave in 2018, she described herself as independent.

I think the one attribute my mom would say is the most fitting for me would be independence. My mom used to tell me from the moment I learned how to walk and talk, she felt like I was plotting my move out, LeeBeth said of her mother Lisa.

She felt like I was ready to have my own life as a little kid. Luckily, I stayed in the home all through college. I didnt move out too early or anything, she said.

As India entered the fourth day of covid-19 vaccination on Tuesday, the vaccine uptake remained low across states. Major vaccine hesitancy prevailed in states such as Punjab with only 27.9% beneficiaries turning up for vaccines followed by Puducherry with 34.6% and Tamil Nadu with only 34.9% healthcare workers and frontline workers opting for covid-19 vaccines.

The better performing states according to the union health ministry were in terms of vaccination coverage are Lakshadweep (89.3%) followed by Sikkim (85.7%) and Odisha (82.6%). India has granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) to two covid-19 vaccines -- Pune-based Serum Institute of Indias Covishield and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Ltds Covaxin which are being used in the governments vaccination drive.

Vaccine hesitancy is there in the whole world for various vaccines. Anxiety is normal but the data of the vaccines that have been approved in India have shown that these are safe. If healthcare and frontline workers are given an opportunity to take the vaccines, they should not refuse. After taking these vaccines, these people can be safe and keep others safe," said Dr V K Paul, Member (health) NITI Aayog, governments policy think tank.

A total of 6,31,417 healthcare workers have been vaccinated against covid-19 has so far through 11,660 sessions, as per the provisional report. A total of 3,800 sessions were held on Tuesday and over 1,77,368 beneficiaries were vaccinated. At least nine cases of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) have required hospitalization. In Delhi, three cases have been discharged whereas one case is under observation at Rajiv Gandhi, Hospital Shahdara, the government said.

One more AEFI case from Uttarakhand has been discharged. In Karnataka, one person is discharged and other person is stable and under observation at District Hospital, Chitradurga. In Chhattisgarh also, one person is discharged. In Rajasthan, one case is of suspected anaphylaxis is fine and under observation at District Hospital, Bangar, according to Union Health Ministry. These vaccines are safe dont elicit and undue complications. The AEFI has been 0.18% and the hospitalization due to this has been 0.002%," said Paul.

The government also said that in case of any AEFI, the authorities will compensate the expenditure incurred on the treatment. One vaccine has been given emergency use authorization (Covishield) and another vaccine which has been given emergency use authorization under clinical trial mode (Covaxin), the one which has been given emergency use authorization under clinical trial mode is accompanied by three documents, one document is the fact sheet which is read out and explained to the beneficiary," said Rajesh Bhushan, secretary, ministry of health and family welfare.

Second is a consent form which is again read out and explained to the beneficiary.

It is in regional languages depending on the state where it is being administered. And the third is a adverse event reporting form, where the recipient has to report the adverse event for the first seven days, and there it is clearly mentioned that, if there is a causal relationship between immunization and that was event, whether it is severe or serious. The hospitalization costs would be borne by the authorities," he said.

The health secretary also said that which vaccine will go to which vaccination session has been decided by the states and not the centre.

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That outpaced Netflix's own forecast and the 6.06 million projected by Wall Street. But it expects to decelerate to 6 million new subscribers in the current quarter, compared with an average analyst estimate of 7.45 million.

The world's leading paid streaming service attracted 8.51 million new customers in the final three months of the year, helped by the popularity of hit shows such as Bridgerton and The Queen's Gambit.

Netflix ended its biggest year in company history with a bang, adding more customers than expected and saying it no longer needs to borrow money to build its entertainment empire.

The latest report included two key milestones for Netflix: The company passed the 200 million-subscriber mark for the first time and said its cash flow will allow it to stop relying on debt to fuel its growth. With $US8.2 billion ($10.6 billion) in cash - and a credit line that hasn't been drawn down - Netflix said it no longer needs external financing. It's also considering stock buybacks, something it hasn't done in about a decade.

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Netflix's growth has ebbed since pandemic lockdowns fuelled a boom in sign-ups during the first half of 2020. It added 25.9 million customers in the first six months of that year and has repeatedly warned that the surge would take a toll on growth in subsequent quarters - what it calls the "pull-forward" effect. Still, it found more runway than expected in the latest period.

Netflix is leaning more on international markets now that its home market of North America is largely saturated. The service has relied on Europe and Latin America to supply most of its new customers in the last few years, but has yet to crack much of Asia.

Netflix shares climbed as much as 11 per cent to $US554.60 in after-hours trading. The stock rallied 67 per cent last year, but concerns about slowing growth have weighed on Netflix in 2021. Through Tuesday's close, it was down 7.2 per cent since the start of the year.
People who cut turf to burn in the fireplaces and stoves of their homes have no need to be concerned about looming proposals aimed at regulating the sale smoky fuels, independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice has stated.

The Galway-Roscommon TD outlined this view following a meeting with Environment and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan, along with a number of his senior officials, to discuss growing rural unease about mooted moves to prevent domestic turf cutting on Irish bogs in the near future.

The farmer, turf cutter and agricultural contractor also cautioned those present that attempt to threaten peoples right to cut turf on their own land would be met with significant backlash.

Local/regional concern on the matter surfaced over the Christmas period in light of media reports which indicated that the cutting and burning of turf domestically would be phased out by Minister Ryan and his Department under upcoming public consultation around air quality and a proposal to regulate fuels.

Speaking to the Farming Independent, deputy Fitzmaurice said: After seeing some media reports and receiving many calls from worried constituents I requested a meeting with Minister Ryan to clarify the situation.

The minister, along with his officials, confirmed that domestic turf cutters who cut turf to burn in their own fires, in their own homes, have no need to be concerned.

They highlighted that the primary concern is around air quality levels and that the public consultation is just a step towards addressing the matter.

As part of the consultation, there is a proposal to regulate the sale of fuels  such as briquettes, coal and timber  when it comes to their moisture levels or smoke content levels.

Bog battle

The independent TD said he explained to minister and his officials that if efforts were made to ban the cutting and burning of turf domestically then they would face an enormous backlash.

We all remember the battle that ensued when efforts were made to ban turf cutting on 53 raised bogs back in 2011 and 2012. One can only imagine the incensement and protests that would occur if the Government tried to enforce a nationwide ban.

It is my belief that the number of households cutting and burning turf domestically will decrease of its own accord in the next decade or so, as people  particularly the next generation  move towards alternative technologies such as air-to-water to heat their homes.

Welcoming the minister and his officials engagement on the matter, deputy Fitzmaurice said he will continue to monitor each step the Department makes as part of this upcoming consultation.

Having liaised with members of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, they are satisfied with the clarification and agreed to closely monitor developments with the consultation.

As has always been their view, people who cut turf to burn in their own fire in their own home do not represent a major threat to the environment  and people throughout the country will continue to defend their right to this tradition.

And it would be unwise of Fianna Fail or Fine Gael to row in behind any agenda that threatens that right, he said.

Rewetting plans

Concluding, the independent TD indicated that he has requested a separate meeting with senior Bord na Mona officials to get clarity on their plans for rewetting bogs.

I have requested a meeting with BNM in order to get a commitment that they will continue to main boundary drains around bogs that are part of the rewetting project in order to ensure that neighbouring lands are not flooded as a result of the project.

I look forward to meeting with BNM officials in the near future to discuss this matter, he concluded.


JACKSON, MI  A Jackson County man is accused of setting the fire at Reed Manor on Monday night.

A 41-year-old man broke through an exterior sliding glass door into an apartment in D Building at Reed Manor, 301 Steward Ave., around 10 p.m., Jan. 18, Jackson Police and Fire Services Director Elmer Hitt said.

Reed Manor fire started by person who broke in, official says

The man then exited the apartment into a shared hallway before entering another apartment, Hitt said. The woman inside the apartment ran outside and then noticed smoke and fire.

Police believe the man started the fire, but dont have any witnesses that saw it happen, Hitt said.

All 26 apartments in D Building were evacuated Monday night and people were placed in hotels, Jackson Housing Commission Executive Director Laurie Ingram said. The unit where the fire started was destroyed and about six apartments will need extensive repairs.

The second-floor apartment should be inhabitable soon, Ingram said previously.

The man was not a tenant at Reed Manor and police dont think he has any connection to residents in D Building, Hitt said. The suspect was still at the scene when police arrived and took him into custody, Hitt said.

The man was taken to Henry Ford Allegiance Health and then transferred to the burn center at University of Michigan Health Systems. He has internal burns to his esophagus, but his injuries are not life-threatening, Hitt said. The man is expected to be in the hospital for at least a week.

No tenants were injured in the fire.

Police believe the man has mental health issues. He absconded from Jackson County parole Nov. 2. He was on parole for unarmed robbery, second-degree home invasion and assault, resist or obstruct a police officer.

Charges will be sought from the Jackson County Prosecutors Office, Hitt said.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 1:37 a.m., Jan. 19, Wooden said. Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety, Summit, Spring Arbor and Napoleon township fire departments and Jackson Community Ambulance assisted at the scene.

Read more from MLive:

Phone scammers telling Jackson County residents they missed jury duty, police say

Christopher & Banks in Westwood Mall to close after company files bankruptcy

Free meals from Jackson restaurants being passed out through new Consumers Energy program

263 new COVID-19 cases in Jackson County as vaccine rollout moves into next phase
It is a time for every social media platform to review its policies for hate speech and violent content in the light of recent political violence in the U.S. One of the popular messaging app Telegram has also taken an action against the accounts promoting hate speech and escalating the situations in different countries of the world. People use these platforms to escalate the feelings and emotions of other people and this creates violence in society.Telegram has tried to remove dozens of channels over the last few days but, this effort is not enough, still, violence is increasing in society. Telegram app was warned by the coalition to take some strict actions against the hate speech and violent and disturbing content. Apple company will also have to suffer a tough time of facing a case that could damage its reputation, and because they blocked Parler, but did not take any strong action against the popular messaging app. This case was file at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California . They made an allegation that it was in the knowledge of Apple company that the users of the Telegram app are using their contents to intimidate, threaten, and coercing the general public.Billed is a non-profit making organization that forced the Apple company to immediately remove the extremist content from the platform, and according to this case which is filed against Apple company, it was alleged that Apple company is following its own rules and policies against the extremist and terrorist contents. Apple company is thinking about its own profit, even though this may create violent cases in society. Apple company is allowing Telegram to continue its activities without warning them.In the last week Apple, Google, Amazon cut off their connections with the Parler for not following the guidelines against the hate and extremist speeches. The coalition thinks that this is a planned activity Apple company.According to a CSW press release from the mid of last year that the Telegram is used as a channel by the Russian Government, and Neo-Nazi, and white nationalist groups. These groups are spreading fake information and racism on the platform which needs to be addressed by the telegram app.Further Telegram is being alleged for utilizing the anti-black, and anti-Semitic group. This violence was planned before the inauguration of President Je Biden. Apple company is alleged for its unfair behaviour that it blocked Parler and Fortnite games from apple store for violating their rules. According to the lawsuit, Apple has a history with Telegram regarding its users and contents. Therefore, Apple company is not taking any actions against the Telegram appPhoto: Getty ImagesRead next: Law enforcement agencies are looking for dents to invade user privacy through the loopholes in Android and iOS ecosystems
Madam Shirley Ayorkor-Botchwey, Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, says ECOWAS will continue to assist the Government and people of Guinea Bissau on their democratic journey.



She said ECOWAS would pursue the agenda even after the drawdown of the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) and the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) in the latter part of 2021.



Madam Ayorkor-Botchwey said this in her opening address at the 45th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



She said the meeting would examine the report of the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial level, and internal memoranda, including; the Memorandum on the Political and Security situation in the region, update on the Status of the implementation of the National Early Warning Centres in the Member States, and the Humanitarian situation in the region.



Madam Ayorkor-Botchwey called on Ministers and Representatives of Member States to conduct a thorough consideration of the recommendations from the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial level and the various memoranda that had been put before them for approval.



She acknowledged the determination of the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his peers and the entire ECOWAS Commission, led by Jean-Claude Kassi BROU, in steering most proficiently the programmes of the Commission, and especially for supporting and consolidating the peace and stability of the region.



Madam Botchwey commended members of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial Level and ECOWAS Ambassadors for the remarkable contributions towards peace and security in the region, noting that elections in six of its member countries - Togo, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Ghana and Niger- demonstrated ECOWASs growing democratic credentials.



Speaking on COVID-19, she said it was time not to let ones guard down and said, We need solidarity, a common resolve, and a coordinated regional effort if we are to succeed in eradicating this scourge.

Source: GNA









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Scott Morrison is resisting calls to extend the JobKeeper wage subsidy because he wants to wean Australians off welfare dependency and start paying back soaring national debt.

The Prime Minister is adamant the program will end as scheduled on March 28, having already been extended as part of $177billion worth of spending measures that were introduced to offset the effects of Covid lockdowns.

'We can't run the Australian economy on government money forever,' Mr Morrison told Sydney radio 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley on Wednesday.

Scroll down for audio

Scott Morrison is resisting calls to extend JobKeeper because he wants to wean Australians off welfare dependency and pay back debt. He is pictured at Winton in western Queensland

'Before this COVID crisis we were at the lowest level of welfare dependency in 30 years. I want to get back to that as soon as we can.'

JobKeeper was introduced in April as a flat $1,500 a fortnight payment to be passed on from affected businesses to employees who were furloughed during lockdown.

The initial $70billion program covering 3.5million workers was extended under a $16billion sequel plan to cover two million fewer Australians.

'It's all taxpayers' money, it's all debt and it's got to be paid back,' Mr Morrison said.

'So weve got to be very careful with how we deal with these programs.'

Eligibility was tightened on September 28, with the fortnightly payment reduced to $1,200 for those who put in 20 hours or more with those putting in less time getting $750 every two weeks.

The Prime Minister is adamant the wage subsidies program will end as scheduled on March 28, having already been extended as part of $177billion worth of Covid spending measures. Pictured are cafe diners ta Brunswick in Melbourne following the end of lockdown in October

Since the start of 2021, JobKeeper has been diluted further, with staff rostered on for 20 hours or more getting $1,000 as everyone else received $650 a fortnight until March 28.

Treasury's Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook is forecasting a deficit of $197.7billion for 2020-21 making up 9.9 per cent of gross domestic product; a level unseen since World War II.

Gross government debt is forecast to surpass the $1 trillion mark by 2022 and comprise more than half the economy.
Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :US President-elect Joe Biden will roll back Donald Trump's tough approach to undocumented immigrants in sweeping reforms to be introduced on his first day in office, Biden's Homeland Security Department nominee said Tuesday.

Cuban-born Alejandro Mayorkas told a Senate panel that the reforms would include a path to citizenship for millions of longtime US residents without papers, and the possibility of asylum to others escaping abuse and violence.

"President-elect Biden has committed to presenting Congress, on day one, with an immigration reform bill that, once and for all, fixes I think what we all can agree is a broken immigration system," Mayorkas told the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

Biden "has spoken of the need for a path to citizenship for the individuals who have been in this country for many years, who have contributed to our communities and to this nation's economic prosperity," he said.

The Washington Post reported that Biden will unveil broad immigration reforms Wednesday just after he is inaugurated president.

According to the Post, they will include an eight-year track to gain citizenship for immigrants without legal status, and an increase in admissions, which Trump slashed to a trickle.

"I would be privileged to work with Congress to pass immigration reform legislation that provides that path, and provides a permanent solution to what is clearly a broken system," said Mayorkas.

- Asylum - Mayorkas told the committee, which is vetting his nomination, that if approved as secretary of Homeland Security he would roll back departing Trump's tough measures to seal the southern US border.

Arriving migrants would be permitted to apply for asylum and have their cases reviewed -- a process the Trump administration virtually ended, with the effect of sharply reducing migrant entry into the country, Mayorkas said.

Under Biden, "There is a commitment to follow our asylum laws, to enforce our asylum laws," he said.

"That means to provide humanitarian relief for those individuals who qualify for it." But, he added, "it will take time to build the infrastructure and capacity." Mayorkas could face his first challenge, if approved, with thousands of migrants who set out from Honduras to reach US-Mexico border.

On Monday, security forces broke up the caravan which had amassed in the Guatemalan town of Vada Hondo and on Tuesday thousands were returned to Honduras on buses and trucks, halting their northward march.

Pressed on what he would do if they eventually reach the US border, Mayorkas said the asylum law would be applied.

"This is not the first caravan, that has apparently approached the border over the last four years or ... over the last 12 years," he said.

"When people present themselves at our border we apply the laws of our nation to determine whether they qualify for relief under our humanitarian laws, or whether they don't." "If they do not qualify to remain in the United States, then they won't." - Halt to wall building - Mayorkas, 61, is a former Federal prosecutor who ran US immigration services and then was DHS deputy secretary during Barack Obama's administration.

He oversaw the implementation of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, meant to offer a way to citizenship for millions of longtime US residents who entered the country illegally.

If confirmed, Mayorkas said he did not envision radical changes to the sprawling, 240,000-strong DHS bureaucracy, whose mission is focused firstly on protecting the country from terror and cyber attacks and natural disasters.

He rejected calls by some Democrats and human rights groups to eliminate the DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which Trump used to round up tens of thousands of people without legal resident papers.

Mayorkas said Biden plans to halt Trump's program to build a wall along the long southern border, but said alternatives to slow illegal immigration include more electronic measures and possibly more personnel in some ares.

But his confirmation could run into some bumps.

After the hearing, Republican Senator Josh Hawley said he would hold up any push for fast confirmation.

"Mr. Mayorkas has not adequately explained how he will enforce federal law and secure the southern border given President-elect Biden's promise to roll back major enforcement and security measures," he said in a statement.

"Given this, I cannot consent to skip the standard vetting process and fast-track this nomination when so many questions remain unanswered."
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The Tories risk becoming seen as 'the nasty party' once more if Chancellor Rishi Sunak axes a 20 increase in Universal Credit, the Government's former homelessness adviser has warned.

Dame Louise Casey said that if the increase is withdrawn at the end of March as planned it would be 'too punitive' for families struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Her warning comes as Mr Sunak faced mounting pressure from Conservative MPs to extend the increase - originally intended as a temporary measure following the outbreak last year.

They include a number of the so-called 'red wall' Tories who captured a series of Labour strongholds in the North and Midlands as Boris Johnson swept to victory in the 2019 general election.

They have argued that with lockdown restrictions required for far longer than was originally envisaged, people need continuing support while the economy begins to recover.

In a BBC interview, the crossbench peer said that while she understood his reluctance to say his 'chequebook is forever open', he needed to consider the effect it would have on people's lives.

'The Treasury need to step back and not feel this constant responsibility to close the books all the time and fight and fight and fight,' she said.

'They need to step back and think if we really want to rebuild Britain, what type of economic policy do we need to put in place that will ... not take the knees out from under people.

'To remove that 20 a week - it's too punitive, it's not the right thing to do, and I think they just go back to being the nasty party.'

The 'nasty party' jibe was first used by Theresa May in 2002, when she told the Conservative Party it needed to modernise and reform to lose its negative image.

But the PM's press secretary Allegra Stratton today rejected the claim, saying: 'There is no way this party or this Government could be called the nasty party when you look at the 28billion of support that has been put in place during the pandemic'.

Baroness Louise Casey (right) said that if the increase is withdrawn by Rishi Sunak (left) at the end of March as planned it would be 'too punitive' for families struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some Tory MPs have argued that with lockdown restrictions required for far longer than was originally envisaged, people need continuing support while the economy begins to recover

Dame Louise was appointed by Mr Johnson and Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick last February to lead a review into rough sleeping, and took part in a Government coronavirus press conference in May.

But she stepped down in August after taking a seat in the House of Lords, where she sits as a crossbencher.

On Monday, six Conservative MPs defied the party whips to vote for a symbolic Labour motion calling for the increase to be retained.

Mr Sunak, however, is reported to be deeply reluctant as he seeks to begin to repair the damage caused to the public finances by the pandemic.

Dame Louise said the country had been 'torn to shreds' by the pandemic and called on ministers to draw up plans to deal with the fallout.

'The wounds it's inflicted on the country are far deeper and greater than anything I've ever seen in my lifetime in terms of ordinary folk having to claim Universal Credit, ordinary people having to turn to food banks, ordinary people becoming homeless,' she said.

'I think we will need to have a big plan to deal with the wounds inflicted by this pandemic once everybody's vaccinated.

'And I think the Government needs to turn its attention to that now, and not leave it until the summer.'

Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'The Government needs to take this warning from its own former adviser seriously and do the right thing for family incomes.

'Britain is facing the worst recession of any major economy because of the Government's incompetence and indecision. The Chancellor should support families and secure our economy by cancelling this cut.'

The PM, Chancellor and Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey held a meeting last Friday to discuss what to do about the 20 weekly rise after it is scheduled to end.

The options included extending the benefit, introducing a one-off payment of 500 to families, or tapering off the support.
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DONALD TRUMP: Thank you, thank you very much. Thank you very much, and we love you and I can tell you that from the bottom of my heart.

This has been an incredible four years, weve accomplished so much together. I want to thank all of my family and my friends and my staff and so many other people for being here. I want to thank you for your effort, your hard work. People have no idea how hard this family worked, and they worked for you. They could have had a much easier life. But they just  they did a fantastic job. I just want to thank all of you  every one. I want to thank Mark Meadows whos here someplace, right there, I want to thank Mark. But its been something very special.

Weve accomplished a lot. Our first lady has been a woman of great grace and beauty and dignity. And so popular with the people, so popular with the people. In fact, honey, would you like to say a few words, please?

MELANIA TRUMP: Being first lady was my greatest honor. Thank you for your love and your support. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all, God bless the family and God bless this beautiful nation. Thank you.

Donald Trump gives his farewell speech at Andrews Air Force Base in the last hours of his presidency where he promised, 'We will be back in some form'

DONALD TRUMP: What else has to be said, right? But what weve done  iits true, honey, great job  what weve done has been amazing by any standard. We rebuilt the United States military. We created a new force called Space Force  that in itself would be a major achievement for a regular administration. We were not a regular administration. We took care of the vets, 91 per cent approval rating, theyve never had that before. The vets have given us  the VA  the vets have given us an approval rating like has never been before. We took care of our vets, and our beautiful vets, they were very badly treated before we came along. And, as you know, we get them great service and we pick up the bill and they could go out and see a doctor if they have to wait long period of time. We got it so that we can, sadly, get rid of people that don't treat our vets properly. We didn't have any of those rights before when I came on. So our vets are happy, our people are happy, our military is thrilled.

We also got tax cuts, the largest tax cut and reform in the history of our country, by far. I hope they don't raise your taxes. But, if they do, I told you so.

And if you look at the regulations, which I consider the regulation cuts to be maybe even more important, thats why we have such good and have had such good job numbers. The job numbers have been absolutely incredible. When we started, had we not been hit by the pandemic, we would have had numbers that would have never been seen  already, our numbers are the best ever. If you look at what happened until February a year ago. Our numbers were at a level nobody had seen before. And even now, we really built it twice. We got hit, nobody blames us for us, the whole world got hit and then we built it again. And now the stock market is actually substantially higher than it was at its higher point prior to the pandemic. So its really, you can say we built it twice.

Youre going to see incredible numbers start coming in if everything is sort of left alone. Be careful, very complex, be careful. But youre going to see some incredible things happening and remember us when you see these things happening, if you would. Remember us because Im looking at elements of our economy that are set to be a rocketship up its a rocketship up.

We have the greatest country in the world, we have the greatest economy in the world. And as bad as the pandemic was, we were hit so hard, just like the entire world was hit so hard, places that thought they got away with it, didn't get away with it  theyre suffering right now. We did something that is really considered a medical miracle, they are calling it a miracle, and that was the vaccine. We got the vaccine developed in nine months instead of nine years or five years or 10 years or a long time. It was supposed to take a long time, many, many years to develop a vaccine. We have two out, we have another one coming almost immediately. And it really is a great achievement. So you should start to see really good numbers over the next few months. I think youre going to see those numbers really skyrocket downward.

First lady Melania Trump made short remarks at the top of Trump's farewell address, sending her warm wishes to Americans as she and her husband depart Washington, D.C.

I can only say this: we have worked hard. Weve left it all  as the athletes would say  weve left it in the field. We dont have to come and say  well never say in a month when were sitting in Florida, we're not going to be looking at each other and saying, You know if we only worked a little but harder. You cant work harder. And we had a lot of obstacles, and we went through the obstacles. And we just got 75 million votes and thats a record in the history of sitting presidents. Its an all-time record by a lot  by many millions in the history of sitting president, its been, really, just an honor.

One of the things were very, very proud of is the selection of almost 300 federal judges and three great Supreme Court justices. Thats a very big number, thats a record setting number. And so, weve done a lot, and theres still things to do.

The first thing we have to do is pay our respects and our love to the incredible people and families who suffered so gravely from the China virus. Its a horrible thing that was put onto the world. We all know where it came from, but it is a horrible, horrible thing. So be very careful, be very, very careful. But, we want to pay great love, great love to all the people that are suffering  including families who have suffered so gravely.

So with that I just want to say you are amazing people, this is a great, great country. It is my greatest honor and privilege to have been your president.

I will always fight for you. I will be watching, I will be listening and I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think theyll have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular. And again, we put it in a position like its never been before despite the worst plague to hit since, I guess you would say 1917, over 100 years ago. And despite that  despite that, the things that weve done have been just incredible. And I couldn't have done it without you.

So just a goodbye, we love you, we will be back in some form.

And again, I want to just, in leaving, thank our Vice President Mike pence and Karen. I want to thank Congress because we really worked well with Congress - at least certain elements of Congress. But we really did, weve gotten so much done that nobody thought would be possible  but I do want to thank Congress. And I want to thank all of the great people of Washington, D.C., all of the people that we worked with to put this miracle together.

So, have a good life, we will see you soon. Thank you, thank you very much.
[January 20, 2021] INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces It Is Investigating Claims Against Exxon Mobil Corporation and Encourages Investors with Losses of $100,000 to Contact the Firm

The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Exxon Mobil Corporation ("Exxon" or "the Company") (NYSE: XOM) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Exxon is the subject of a Wall Street Journal article published on January 15, 2021, titled, "Exxon Draws SEC (News - Alert) Probe Over Permian Basin Asset Valuation." According to the article, the EC is probing the Company following a whistleblower complaint. The complaint alleged that the Company forced employees working on an internal assessment to use unrealistic assumptions about how quickly its wells in the Permian Basin could be drilled to achieve a higher valuation. According to the complaint, at least one employee who complained about using the unrealistic assumptions was then fired. Based on this news, shares of Exxon dropped by more than 4.8% on the same day.



If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005746/en/

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New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a 5281.94 crore investment for 850 megawatt (MW) Ratle hydropower project on Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir .

This comes in the backdrop of India plan to expedite strategically important hydropower projects in the union territory post its reorganization, as the National Democratic Alliance government plans to fully utilize its share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. Chenab flows from India into Pakistan.

According to a government statement, the Ratle project located in Kishtwar district will be developed by a new joint venture co many between state run NHPC Ltd and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC). While NHPC will have a 51% stake in the JV firm, the balance will be held by JKSPDC.

Mint earlier reported about India looking to speed up state run NHPC Ltds hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir following reorganization of the state that has been hit by an unprecedented cycle of violence in recent years. The task is seen as strategically vital in the context of China developing the controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of its showpiece One Belt One Road (OBOR) infrastructure initiative.

According to the Indus Waters Treaty, whoever builds the project first will have the first rights on the river waters. India and Pakistan signed the treaty in 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory. The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of rivers.

Government of India is also supporting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by providing grant of Rs. 776.44 crore for equity contribution of JKSPDC in the JVC to be set up for construction of Ratle HE Project (850 MW). NHPC shall invest its equity Rs.808.14 crore from its internal resources. The Ratle Hydro Electric Project shall be commissioned within a span of 60 months," the government statement said.

Apart from raising objections on the 330MW project on the river Kishanganga, a tributary of Jhelum, Pakistan had also raised objections on the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul and 48 MW Lower Kalnai hydroelectric projects on River Chenab. After the International Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled in Indias favour in 2013 on the Kishanganga project, India expedited its construction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2018 dedicating the NHPC Ltds hydropower project to the nation.

Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, to make the Project viable, will extend exemption from levy of Water Usage Charges for 10 years after commissioning of the project, reimbursement of State's share of GST (i.e. SGST) and waiver of free power to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in a decremental manner," the statement said.

NHPC has paid around Rs5387.51 crore to J&K towards water usage charges. In addition to supplying 789 MW to the J&K from its power projects, NHPC also gives 12% free power amounting to J&K and 1% free power towards local area development fund.

"Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be benefitted by getting free power worth Rs. 5289 crore and through levy of Water Usage Charges worth Rs.9581 crore from Ratle Hydro Electric Project, during project life cycle of 40 years," the statement added.

NHPCs projects have been under the terror threat. NHPC has invested around Rs20,778 crore there over the past four decades. NHPC Ltd is the main supplier of electricity to J&K and the largest investor there.

NHPC plans to develop projects totaling 3,814 MW on its own and through joint ventures in the union territory. Apart from Ratle, these projects include; 800 MW Bursar project. Also, NHPC is implementing the Pakal Dul (1000 MW), Kiru (624 MW) and Kwar (540 MW) hydropower projects in the J&K in a joint ventureChenab Valley Power Projects Pvt. Ltdwith JKSPDC and the countrys largest electricity trader, PTC India Ltd.

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As of midnight, Tuesday January 19, the HPSC has been notified of 2,488 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 179,324*** confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today 133 were in Limerick, bringing the 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 population (to 19Jan2021) to 1,594.2, the sixth highest in the country, bringing the total to 8,974 to date.

The numbers this evening now bring Limerick's - New Cases during last 14 days (to 19Jan2021) to 3,107.

The figures today breakdown as 1,090 men / 1,383 women, 51% are under 45 years of age with the median age at 44 years old.

Case numbers: 726 in Dublin, 314 in Cork, 148 in Galway, 130 in Meath and the remaining 1,037 cases are spread across all other counties.



As of 2pm today, 1,923 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 210 were in ICU at 11am. 85 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 61 additional deaths related to COVID-19. Of the deaths reported today, 58* deaths occurred in January. The median age of those who died was 83 years and the age range was 41-100 years. There has been a total of 2,768** COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: The number of cases and deaths that we are reporting today and the persisting high incidence rate of COVID-19 across the country shows that we cannot underestimate the highly infectious nature of this disease and the impact that it can have on families and communities.

The virus spreads through close contacts, through the congregation of people. We need everyone to stay at home as much as possible, and to work from home, where possible. You should not meet up with friends or loved ones, unless you are caring for them. If you go out for exercise, you need to stay within 5km from your home, wear a face covering where appropriate and wash your hands when you return home to protect yourself from infection.

If you are COVID positive you should self-isolate and stay at home, in your room, avoiding contact with other people. This is to protect the other people that you live with.

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.
Antony J. Blinken, speaks during his confirmation hearing to be Secretary of State before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Jan. 19, 2021. AFP



The new U.S. administration of Joe Biden plans to review the country's entire approach and policy toward North Korea, Biden's secretary of state nominee said Tuesday.



Antony Blinken said the new administration may also try to find ways to get humanitarian assistance to the North to help lessen the suffering of North Korean people if necessary.



"I think we have to review and we intend to review the entire approach and policy toward North Korea because this is a hard problem that has plagued administration after administration, and it's a problem that has not gotten better," Blinken said in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.



"In fact, it's gotten worse," he said.






Leon Coetzer, chief executive, said that against the coronavirus backdrop the second half had delivered an exceptional performance.

PLC ( ) saw earnings more than double in the second half of 2020 as its platinum (PGM) and chrome tailings recovery operations ran at record levels.

Earnings from the PGM and chrome businesses rose by 123% to 28.4mln in the six months to end December compared to 12.8mln first half of the year. The percentage increase was even larger in rand terms.

PGM and chrome revenues rose by 64% to 48.2mln in the second half of 2020.

Elsewhere, Jubilee added that there was a 1.8mln early contribution from Sable Refinery copper and cobalt production, which is scheduled over the next four years to ramp up to 25,000 tonnes of copper annually.

Leon Coetzer, chief executive, said that against the coronavirus backdrop the second half had delivered an exceptional performance.

"The past six months has seen both Jubilee's PGM and chrome operations maturing as well as its copper strategy gaining significant momentum with the commencement of the construction of the first of a targeted three, copper concentrators in Zambia in line with our goal to take a leading role in the processing of surface tailings in the country," he said in a statement.

"The expected significant ramp-up of our copper production in Zambia has the clear potential to continue to grow Jubilee's earnings on the back of the commissioning of both of our copper and cobalt refining circuits and the expected ramp-up of our copper production, particularly with the recent rebound, and market expectations, of strong copper prices.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP represented Metric Theory, LLC, a digital marketing agency, in its merger with S4 Capital plcs data and digital media consultancy subsidiary, MightyHive.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, Metric Theory is an integrated performance marketing agency that offers services across search, social media, and commerce media, according to the companys website.

S4 Capital plc, founded in 2018 by Sir Martin Sorrell, is a digital advertising and marketing services company, headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The Greenberg Traurig team was led by Shareholder Kevin Friedmann, with support from Shareholders, Mindy Leathe, Labry Welty, Timothy Long, and John Richards and Associates Benjamin Einbinder, Joshua Prywes and Vanessa Krumbein.

Friedmann, who is a member of the firms Corporate Practice in the Los Angeles and Chicago offices, focuses his practice on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions for public and private companies. He has wide-ranging experience representing emerging technology companies in complex mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising transactions.

About Greenberg Traurigs Corporate Practice: Greenberg Traurigs Corporate Practice comprises more than 450 lawyers in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America who regularly advise public and privately held companies, entrepreneurs and investment funds on global mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, private equity and venture capital, underwritten and syndicated offerings, commercial finance and syndicated lending, cross-border transactions, and general corporate matters. The groups industry experience includes transactions in a wide range of fields, from the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and life sciences fields, to representations involving clients in the aviation, banking, consumer products, energy, food and beverage, health care, manufacturing, media, technology, and telecommunications sectors.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT), has approximately 2200 attorneys 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
As Joe Biden was sworn in as president on Wednesday, QAnon supporters were thrown into despair and confusion as they realised Donald Trump wasn't going to stage a military coup against the paedophile-led 'deep state' - which advocates of the debunked conspiracy theory had long predicted - and was instead just heading to his holiday home in Florida.

And nobody was more disappointed by the turn of events than Pete Evans' followers on social media app Telegram, as the disgraced celebrity chef had promised them the night before the inauguration that 'the Trump show' was about to begin and urged them to 'grab the popcorn'.

When his Australian fans woke up to news that President Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris had been inaugurated without incident, they felt angry and betrayed that 'Q' - the supposed White House insider who, according to QAnon adherents, was leaking information on the deep web about the coming 'storm' - had been lying to them the whole time.

'So many promises': Pete Evans' followers went into meltdown on Wednesday after wild QAnon predictions about Joe Biden's inauguration didn't happen

Disgruntled QAnon followers used Evans' Telegram chat channel as a way to process their grief, having spent weeks lapping up the conspiracy theorist's wild predictions and memes about what was supposedly to come on January 20.

They were responding to a post by Evans which showed a button with the text 'How's it going to end?' and the caption: 'The Truman Show. Oops, I meant the Trump show.'

One follower commented: 'Sooo I think we all fell for lies for the past few months. Are you okay, Pete? Nothing from you in a while.'

Gutted: Disgruntled QAnon followers used Evans' Telegram chat channel as a way to process their grief, having spent weeks lapping up the conspiracy theorist's wild predictions and memes about what was supposedly to come on January 20. Before the inauguration, Evans had promised fans the 'Trump show' was about to begin and urged them to 'grab the popcorn'

Another added: 'I'm kind of feeling deflated. So many promises. Nothing happened. Feels like I'll wake up tomorrow and Biden will be on his throne.'

'Are people still feeling positive or is anyone else ready to join me in the pit of despair?' a third posted, adding: 'My hope is pretty much gone.'

A fourth wrote: 'I don't think it will happen now... what's happening now?'

Another commented: 'Nothing. Not a sausage. It's over. The free world has ended. I will remember this day forever.'

Duped: 'I don't think it will happen now... what's happening now?' one QAnon follower wrote

Despair: 'Nothing. Not a sausage. It's over. The free world has ended. I will remember this day forever,' another conspiracy theorist wrote

Concerns: One desperate fan asked Pete: 'Sooo I think we all fell for lies for the past few months. Are you okay, Pete? Nothing from you in a while'

Pete's flock: 'Are people still feeling positive or is anyone else ready to join me in the pit of despair?' a Telegram user wrote, adding: 'My hope is pretty much gone'

Fooled: While QAnon advocates see Biden as the embodiment of evil and Trump as their last remaining saviour, their hopes of a military coup on inauguration day including mass arrests of politicians - a series of events known as the 'storm' - did not happen. One of Evans' followers posted this meme showing Biden in prison clothes, presumably anticipating his arrest

Evans is an enthusiastic supporter of Trump and advocates the baseless claim that President Biden only won the 2020 election due to voter fraud.

He routinely posts material sympathetic to the QAnon conspiracy theory, which alleges that Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic child-sex traffickers run world affairs, and that Trump is secretly fighting - and will soon expose - the evil 'deep state'.

QAnon adherents believe that a White House insider known as 'Q' has been leaking information online about Trump's efforts to overthrow the cabal.

While QAnon advocates see Biden as the embodiment of evil and Trump as their last remaining saviour, their hopes of a military coup on inauguration day including mass arrests of politicians - a series of events known as the 'storm' - did not happen.

Sorry! When his Australian fans woke up to news that President Biden (pictured) and Vice-President Kamala Harris had been inaugurated without incident, they felt angry and betrayed that 'Q' - the supposed White House insider who, according to QAnon adherents, was leaking information on the deep web about the coming 'storm' - had been lying to them the whole time
Kate Langbroek is the latest Australian celebrity to fall prey to Melbourne-based 'snark' account Celeb Spellcheck.

The radio personality, 55, uploaded a sponsored post to Instagram promoting Melbourne's Chapel St shopping precinct on Wednesday, but things went awry when fans noticed she'd made an embarrassing error.

Eagle-eyed followers noticed that Kate had written the phrase '(paw emoji)' in her caption, rather than using the emoji itself.

Not you too! Comedian and radio personality Kate Langbroek, 55, (pictured) is the latest Australian celebrity to fall prey to Melbourne-based 'snark' account Celeb Spellcheck

The error suggests that Kate, like many Instagram influencers, may not have bothered to write the caption itself.

Instead, the comedian likely copied-and-pasted instructions from a PR company's email without realising the words in brackets weren't meant to be re-posted verbatim.

After noticing the gaffe, Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck reposted Kate's mistake, along a sassy caption that read: 'That's a paw effort @Katelangbroek'.

Whoops! Kate uploaded a sponsored post to Instagram promoting Melbourne's Chapel St shopping precinct on Wednesday, but things went awry when fans noticed she'd made an embarrassing error

Oh dear! Eagle-eyed followers noticed that Kate had written the phrase '(paw emoji)' in her caption, rather than using the emoji itself

Kate has since amended her original caption by adding in a paw emoji.

Celeb Spellcheck has attracted criticism in recent months, with the likes of Skye Wheatley and Tayla Damir accusing the page of 'bullying' them by correcting their spelling.

The admin has denied bullying the influencers she features on the account, saying: 'This page is meant to be lighthearted and fun.'

Very punny! After noticing the gaffe, Instagram account Celeb Spellcheck reposted Kate's mistake, along a sassy caption that read: 'That's a paw effort @Katelangbroek'

What error? Kate has since amended her original caption by adding in a paw emoji (pictured)

'I have definitely posted things in the past that I'm not proud of, but I do try to never cross the line.'

The account previously made headlines when it shared a screenshot of model Elyse Knowles misspelling 'voila' as 'wallah'.

The gaffe went viral in December when it was picked up by U.S. social media sensation Joshua Ostrovsky, a.k.a. The Fat Jewish.

Hitting back: The account has attracted criticism, with the likes of Skye Wheatley and Tayla Damir (pictured) accusing the admin of 'bullying' them by correcting their spelling

People cross a bridge over the River Mersey as snow falls in East Didsbury, Manchester, where homes are being evacuated (Peter Byrne/PA)

Police are to begin evacuating people from their homes as Storm Christoph continues to bring significant rainfall across the UK.

Greater Manchester Police said about 160 people will be advised to leave their homes in Didsbury and move into temporary accommodation on Wednesday evening.

It comes as heavy rain continues to fall across England, with many rivers at dangerously high levels, the Environment Agency said.

Homes in Ruthin, Denbighshire, have also been evacuated due to flooding, North Wales Police tweeted.

Amber and yellow weather warnings are in force until Thursday for the storm, which is also threatening to bring up to 30cm of snow to northern areas.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier urged people to heed the flood warnings and evacuate their properties when told to do so.

Greater Manchester Police assistant chief constable Nick Bailey said a flood basin in Didsbury, which takes water from the River Mersey, was full and will over-top in the next few hours.

Expand Close Snow falls in East Didsbury, Manchester, where homes are being evacuated due to risk of flooding (Peter Byrne/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Snow falls in East Didsbury, Manchester, where homes are being evacuated due to risk of flooding (Peter Byrne/PA)

As a result, we will be issuing a flood warning to homes, he said.

This will be through texted flood alerts to some people and police officers, PCSOs, firefighters, and volunteers will be knocking on doors.

We have identified about 160 people that will be moved. There will be provision at Wythenshawe Forum and hotels are being used.

Some of those that are being evacuated will also be Covid-positive or isolating at home.

Expand Close A flooded road in Islip, Oxfordshire (Steve Parsons/PA) PA / Facebook

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Mr Bailey said up to 3,000 properties in Greater Manchester could be affected by flooding, with a peak expected at 11pm on Wednesday.

Two severe flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, have been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Mersey at East and West Didsbury, and Northenden.

North Wales Police said its officers were helping the fire service to evacuate homes in Ruthin, and urged people to avoid the area.

The force tweeted: Officers have been called to assist @DenbighshireCC and @NWFRS in #Ruthin, where some homes are being evacuated.

Regrettably, people who do not live locally are driving to the area to see the floods. Please do not stretch our resources by adding to the problem.

Expand Close Police speak to residents in Manchester, where homes are being evacuated due to risk of flooding (Peter Byrne/PA) PA / Facebook

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Downing Street has said Covid-secure facilities will be available for any people forced to evacuate as a result of the weather.

Mr Johnson said steps were being taken to ensure the transport and energy networks were prepared so that electricity outages would not be severe and that there were sufficient supplies of sandbags.

He told reporters: There are some times where I have been to scenes where, alas, people have decided not to obey the advice and not evacuated.

It is their right not to do so if they choose  its always peoples right to stay wherever they are.

But it really is advisable  follow the advice. If you are told to leave your home then you should do so.

It comes as Mr Johnson chaired a Cobra crisis meeting on Wednesday after major incidents were declared in Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire.

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The Environment Agency has issued a further 122 flood warnings across England, with 222 less severe flood alerts, mainly across the Midlands and north of the country.

Almost the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland are subject to yellow weather warnings for rain until midday on Thursday, with a more serious amber warning stretching from the East Midlands to the Lake District.

The amber alert warns of the risk of flooding and deep floodwaters which could pose a risk to life, and there are further warnings for snow and ice in Scotland.

An amber warning for snow in parts of southern Scotland warned around 30cm could fall in areas above 400m, with up to 10cm likely to accumulate in lower regions until 8am on Thursday.

A colder day is in store for many of us on Thursday in the wake of #StormChristoph



If you need to travel, be aware of icy patches in places to begin the day, especially in the northwest and also the risk of #flooding in some areas



Further heavy #snow is likely across Scotlanda i pic.twitter.com/cZxa62FX2S  Met Office (@metoffice) January 20, 2021

Train operator Northern said torrential rain and flooding across the region had led to the closure of several rail routes, while others had suffered significant disruption.

The companys regional director, Chris Jackson, said: Unfortunately the situation is only getting worse and we have had to make the difficult decision to ask our customers not to travel on the Northern rail network in the North West for the rest of today.

Mr Jackson urged commuters wishing to use the service on Thursday morning to allow extra time for travel.

Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge described Storm Christoph as quite a slow-moving system which is bringing a variety of weather to the UK.

The meteorologist said: While rain remains the main hazard in the south, further north weve got snow and ice remaining a risk.

The system will work its way through, we are expecting significant totals of rainfall and when you combine that with snowmelt it can lead to localised flooding across the affected regions.

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There is a risk of further snow later in the week as Storm Christoph makes its way east, with accumulations expected in Scotland, northern England and parts of Northern Ireland, Mr Madge added.

Public Health England (PHE) has issued a cold weather alert for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber from 9am on Thursday to January 25.

Dr Owen Landeg, principal environmental public health scientist at PHE, urged people to keep looking out for frail or older neighbours and relatives, particularly those living alone or with a serious illness.

People were preparing for rising floodwaters in West Yorkshire on Wednesday morning, with towns in the Calder Valley laying out sandbags and flood wardens monitoring water levels.

Mumbai, Jan 20 : As a controversy and protests raged across India, the Mumbai Police on Wednesday lodged a first information report (FIR) against the team of web series "Tandav" including Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, officials said here.

The FIR followed a complaint lodged by opposition Bharatiya Janata Paty spokesperson Ram Kadam a day after he staged a protest march in Ghatkopar on Tuesday against the show which streams on OTT platform Amazon Prime Video.

The Ghatkopar Police Station lodged the FIR against "Tandav: Director Ali Abbas Zafar, Producer Himanshu Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki, Amazon's top officials like Aparna Purohit and Amit Agarwal, invoking Indian Penal Code Sections 153(A), 295(A) and 505(2), according to a police official.

The FIR coincided with the arrival of a team of Uttar Pradesh Police to investigate the complaints against the web series even as Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh assured that action would be taken in the matter.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had sought an explanation from Amazon Prime Video on the issue that sparked pan-India protests after the political drama began airing from January 15.

Following this, the "Tandav" team tendered an apology: "The web series 'Tandav' is a work of fiction and any resemblance to acts and persons and events is purely coincidental. The cast and crew did not have any intention to offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead." Besides Saif Ali Khan, the 9-part web-series features Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Kumud Misra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Sarah Jane Dias, Kritika Kamra, Dino Morea, Sandhya Mridul, Anup Soni, Neha Hinge, Hiten Tejwani, Amyra Dastur and others.
Britain is currently recording the highest number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths in the world relative to its population.

On a seven-day moving average, there were recently more than 16.5 deaths per million people, according to a recent evaluation by Oxford University that refers to data from the U.S. Johns Hopkins University.

This puts Britain just ahead of the Czech Republic and Portugal, and well ahead of Germany and the U.S., both of which recorded an average of over nine deaths per million inhabitants over the same period.

On Tuesday, the number of deaths reported in Britain within 24 hours reached a record of 1,610.

The total number of deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate now stands at just under 96,000, but as this figure is always reported with some delay, it is thought to be as high as around 108,000 coronavirus deaths already.

The largest of the four British home nations, England, has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic.

There, it is estimated that by December, more than 12 per cent of people had experienced a coronavirus infection, according to an antibody study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This corresponds to about one in eight people.

For Britain as a whole, it is about one in 10.

However, analyses have shown that the amount of antibodies can quickly disappear after an infection, so the actual value could therefore be higher.

In November, the rate in England was just under 9 per cent.

Vaccinations

The number of vaccinations already carried out in Britain is more encouraging.

According to the government, more than four million Britons have now received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The country is still the worlds lone front-runner, apart from smaller countries like Israel and several Gulf states.

More than half of the over-80s and half of nursing home residents in England have already been vaccinated, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Monday.

The Conservative politician went into self-isolation again on Tuesday after receiving a request to do so via a warning app.

He had already contracted COVID-19 last spring.

Leading British doctors on Tuesday called for the prioritisation of minority ethnic groups for COVID-19 vaccines, as they have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

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We are concerned that recent reports show that people within BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities are not only more likely to be adversely affected by the virus but also less likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccine, when offered it, Martin Marshall, head of the Royal College of General Practitioners, told the Guardian newspaper.

Marshall urged the Health Ministry to include ethnicity as a factor in vaccine prioritisation and said general practitioners could use discretion to tailor doses to the needs of their local communities.

Marshall and other medical experts also called for a health communications campaign tailored to minority communities.

We need to be clear to our communities that there is no meat or meat products in the vaccine.

There is no pork, there is no alcohol, and it has been endorsed by religious leaders and religious councils, said Habib Naqvi, director of the National Health Services Race and Health Observatory.

Studies have shown that ethnic minority groups are almost twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than the rest of the population.

According to the British statistics authority, the mortality rate of black African or Bangladeshi males aged 9 to 64 was five times higher than among white males of that age group in the first pandemic wave. (dpa/NAN)
Scientists have discovered a 480-million-year-old fossil in Morocco which sheds light on the missing link between modern starfish and their ancestors.

The fossil was found in the Anti-Atlas mountain range and effectively captured early revolutionary steps of the marine invertebrate at a particular time in the planet's history when life expanded suddenly.

This period is referred to as the Ordovician Biodiversification Event.

According to the researchers, the newly discovered fossil species showcases a highly intricate design, with feathery arms similar to a lacework.

The origin of echinoderms or starfish has eluded researchers for several decades.

But now, thanks to the new species which has been so remarkably preserved that the researchers can map out its entire body in great detail, the evolution of the marine animal can be understood, as stated by the researchers.

ALSO READ - Some Popular Fish and Invertebrate Seafood Species Rapidly Declining World Wide

Starfish Appear to Be Among the Longest-Living Organisms On Earth

According to a study published in a journal called Biology Letters, Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis, the species discovered by the researchers in Morocco, is adjudged to be the earliest starfish-like animal.

One of the paper's authors and Evolutionary palaeoecologist of Cambridge University, Dr. Aaron Hunter, stated that finding the missing link between the modern-day starfish and their ancestors is very exciting.

He added that if they went back in time and could see under the sea in the Ordovician, no one would be able to recognize any marine creature except the starfish, making them one of the first modern-day animals.

The fossil lacks up to 60 percent of a modern-day starfish's body structure or plan.

Its features are a hybrid between those of a sea lily or crinoid and a starfish. It doesn't look like a plant per se, but a heavy, wavy-armed filter feeder that fixes itself to the seabed through a cylindrical stem.

It is now possible for scientists to use the fossil as a complete template to precisely determine how the starfish evolved.

Dr. Hunter stated that the level of detail in the fossil is astonishing; its complicated structure took the research team a while before they could unravel its overall significance.

Dr. Hunter along with Dr. Javier Ortega-Hernandez, a co-author who was previously at Cambridge University, but is now based at Harvard University, readily examined this new species side by side with a wide range of starfish-like creatures.

The scientists indexed all their features and body structures to assess precisely how the fossil species was related or linked to other members of the echinoderm family.

Bear in mind that this diverse group of marine animals include starfish and sea cucumbers.

At the end of their analysis, the scientists indicated that only the food groove which funnels food along with every one of the starfish arms was present in the fossil species.

Every other thing outside this including the extra-axial body parts was added much later.

Scientist Plan to Explore Further

The authors have plans to expand their work by searching for early echinoderms.

Dr. Hunter hopes to establish and provide the answer to exactly why starfish developed their 5 arms. No one really knows why, even though it appears to be a pretty stable shape for the starfish to adopt.

The study authors have high hopes of getting their eyes and hands on the particular fossil to establish that connection. However, they may have to go way back to the starfish' early ancestors before they can get answers to their questions.

RELATED ARTICLE - New Descovery: Massive 500-Meter-Tall Coral Reef in Australia

For more news and story updates about starfishes, don't forget to follow Nature World News!

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Tunisian youth clashed with police, maintaining their protests and riots over economic difficulties despite efforts by the president and the prime minister to calm tensions.

Your voice is heard, and your anger is legitimate, and it is my role and the role of the government to work to realise your demands and to make the dream of Tunisia to become true, prime minister Hichem Mechichi appealed to the protesters on national television on Tuesday night.

Hours later, dozens of people throwing projectiles and setting barricades on fire faced off with police firing tear gas in the Tunis suburb of Ariana.

Unrest was reported in other cities as well, the fifth straight night of protests that prompted Tunisia to deploy the army to try to keep order.

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The unrest has shaken the country just as it marks 10 years since an uprising over similar frustrations that pushed out a longtime autocrat, ushered in a new democracy and unleashed the Arab Spring uprisings.

A third of the North African nations young people are unemployed.

This and Tunisias prolonged economic crisis, aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic, have fuelled the anger.

Protests have notably rocked impoverished towns in the interior of the country but also reached bigger cities on the coast.

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I know that the economic and social situation is a crisis deepened by Covid and the necessary measures that we have taken to preserve the health of Tunisians, and that they (lockdown measures) have limited some personal freedoms such as the freedom of movement, the prime minister said.

However he condemned looting and violence by protesters, who have sometimes targeted police.

I make a distinction between the peaceful protests and acts of robbery and sabotage, he said, adding that while Tunisias post-revolution Constitution guarantees the right to protest, his role is to maintain the peace.
Katie Price and boyfriend Carl Woods were pictured arriving at the TV studios ahead of an appearance on Steph McGovern's Packed Lunch in Leeds on Tuesday.

The couple, who have been dating June last year are rarely apart and Katie, 42, gave a big thumbs up as she jumped out of her car and headed inside.

Carl, 31, carried her Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote for her as she whipped off her red hoodie before going inside.

Happy: Katie Price, 42, gave a thumbs up as she and doting boyfriend Carl Woods, 31, arrived at a TV studios in Leeds on Wednesday as she credits him with 'changing her whole life'

Katie, 42, was wearing a black and shiny black disco leggings for the car journey, completing her look with beige Balenciaga trainers.

And Carl wore skinny jeans with a black padded jacket and trainers. Both made sure they stayed safe in face masks.

During the show, Katie said: ' Carls been with me now a year, and hes changed me as a person, my whole life has changed.

Her look: Katie was wearing a black and shiny black disco leggings for the car journey, completing her look with beige Balenciaga trainers

'Obviously I went into the Priory at the beginning of last year, for lots of reasons... I spent five weeks in the Priory and it was the best thing that I ever did, and Ive come out like a brand new person I think people should be scared because Im back.

She added: 'Im trying for a baby so then Ill do baby stuff, why not? I am what I am, I make mistakes, Ive said things in the past, I stick up for myself, I am what I am, and I hope people can relate to it.'

Carl recently said that despite the couple planning babies and marriage and having posters of her on his wall before they met, he cannot stand her Jordan alter ego.

Safety first: Both Katie and Carl took no chances and were wearing face masks

Gent: Carl carried her Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote for her as she whipped off her red hoodie before going inside.

There for her: Carl wore skinny jeans with a black padded jacket and trainers as he stood by her side

No thanks Jordan: In a new interview with Closer, he has revealed that while he was taken by her looks, he wasn't the biggest fan of Katie's onetime hard-partying ways. Pictured in 1999

In a new interview with Closer, he has revealed that while he was taken by her looks, he wasn't the biggest fan of Katie's onetime hard-partying ways.

He confessed: 'Ive known her since I was 15  she just didnt know it then. I had about six posters of her on my wall! But its funny because the reality is even better than the fantasy; Katie is a lot more "me" than the old Jordan would have been.'

Noting her changed personality, he added: 'Now she isnt drinking and being wild. She has settled down and we enjoy a quiet family life. In truth, if Id met Katie a few years ago when she was going through that stage, we wouldnt have worked out.

'If she was still her "Jordan" alter ego we would have clashed, because I hate partying. I cant stand the "Jordan" thing. I think Katie probably struggled to let go of the "Jordan" alter ego for a while...

'People call me her toyboy, but Ive got an old head, whereas she has a young head, so we balance each other out.'

Noting her changed personality, he added: ' Now she isnt drinking and being wild. She has settled down and we enjoy a quiet family life. In truth, if Id met Katie a few years ago when she was going through that stage, we wouldnt have worked out'
With appropriate precautions, the lawsuit argues, restaurants can remain open for outdoor service without exacerbating spread of COVID-19. In banning sit down service altogether, the complaint argues, the shutdown poses an existential threat to the North Bays hospitality industry, one that could ultimately result in economic collapse.

The Coalition supports the states efforts to limit the spread of COVID, but not the needless sacrifice of its businesses and community members for no purpose, the lawsuit reads.

The last month without outdoor dining has resulted in an 80% decline in sales year over year, according to Carl Dene, who owns Sams General Store and Brannan Cottage Inn. (Dene also recently purchased Hotel DAmici.) In the summer, when restaurants in the county were for a time able to host guests indoors up to 50% capacity, we werent whole, but we were close, Dene said.

We want to send a message that were not going to sit here and not have a voice anymore, Dene said of the coalition. Us as small businesses  we need a voice. People tend to think of the Napa Valley as made up of a bunch of rich winery owners, but its not.
WASHINGTON, DC  More than two years after a former Environmental Protection Agency administrator said during a 2018 pollution summit that the agency would regulate toxic forever chemicals known as PFAS in American drinking water, EPA leaders finally announced a commitment to do just that on Donald Trumps last full day as president.

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the EPA announced it will now initiate the process to develop a national primary drinking water regulation under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act for two individual compounds, PFOS and PFOA  the most well-known and studied among thousands of different PFAS variants in use or polluting various water supplies.

The action starts a legal process that forces the agency to eventually propose and finalize a drinking water standard  something the EPA hasnt actually done since the 1990s.

Our commitment to our mission to protect public health and the environment from these emerging chemicals of concern has been unwavering and we have delivered results for every key commitment we made under the (PFAS Action Plan), said now-former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.

The news was greeted with eye rolling from some PFAS advocates who have long seen the Trump EPAs efforts around PFAS as mostly a smokescreen and whove put their faith in the new Joe Biden administration and the EPA under his appointed administrator Michael Regan to deliver national rules that will curb the chemical exposure.

While states like Michigan and others have developed their own regulations, the EPA has relied since 2016 on an unenforceable guidance level for PFAS in drinking water rather than a regulatory standard. The reluctance to follow through on developing national standards was cited by Michigan as a reason for developing its own rules, which took effect in 2020.

Melanie Benesh, a legislative attorney at the Environmental Working Group, called the announcement long overdue and pressured the Biden team to act quickly.

While todays regulatory determination is an important first step in finally getting PFOA and PFOS out of drinking water, affected communities should not have to wait any longer for relief, Benesh said. The incoming Biden administration must take swift action to set strong, enforceable standards that protect vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, workers and service members. The new administration must also regulate additional PFAS chemicals in drinking water to make sure that overburdened communities are protected.

Notably absent from the EPAs announcement Tuesday was a commitment to designate any of the chemicals as hazardous under the Superfund law, a classification that would give the EPA authority to force the U.S. military to clean up such contamination at hundreds of current and former bases.

Along with a national drinking water standard, the hazardous designation is seen as crucial to curbing toxic exposure for millions of Americans who are believed to be drinking water with at least trace PFAS levels and cleaning up the expansive universe of contaminated industrial and military sites.

Both of those steps are were outlined in Bidens environmental justice plan along with others such as prioritizing federal purchasing power on PFAS substitutes and accelerating toxicity studies and other research.

Members of Congress have pledged to quickly introduce legislation aimed at getting a national drinking water standard and stronger cleanup rules in the new session. In November, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, called it one of our top focuses when we return.

The announcement also follows concerning PFAS discoveries in the Great Lakes region and elsewhere. The Boston Globe reported last week that testing found PFAS leaching from plastic containers into pesticide used for aerial mosquito spraying in numerous states. Also last week, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a fish consumption advisory for rainbow smelt from Lake Superior due to elevated PFAS contamination levels found in fish collected in 2019 from sites near the Apostle Islands and Port Wing.

Exposure to PFAS has been linked to thyroid disease, high cholesterol, damaged immune system response and other health problems in humans.

Erik Olson, a senior director on health and food issues at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) who formerly worked in the EPAs legal office, said the agency has special authority that would allow it to expedite a drinking water standard rather than pursue a longer, drawn-out process that would likely take at least three to four years.

Under that route, Olson said EPA could create an interim standard and then go back and finalize permanent rules.

Were actually hoping the Biden administration will come in and use their expedited authority Olson said. Its called the urgent threats to health authority, where they can expedite the issuance of rules for drinking water contaminants that present an urgent threat.

Olson said the last time EPA committed to regulate a chemical in drinking water, it took nine years to review and then walked back its decision. The agency determined in 2011 it would regulate the fireworks chemical perchlorate and now theyre trying to weasel out of that, Olson said. That decision was on a list of Trump EPA decisions the Biden administration announced was under review this week.

Related: 15 orders target Trump legacy on Bidens first day

Olson said he was encouraged by the addition of 29 PFAS compounds to the list of unregulated chemicals most U.S. utilities will be required to test for between 2023 and 2025, although that could get tied up in transitional review because it was not published in the Federal Register.

The NRDC is pushing EPA to regulate a wider array of PFAS chemicals in drinking water and establish techniques that evaluate all fluorinated compounds in a sample.

The problem is that you can crack down on two, three, four or five PFAS and regulate them in drinking water, but you have an army of literally thousands of other PFAS behind them, Olson said. It will be literally geologic time before we can regulate all the PFAS that are already approved, based on our experience, so we really have to regulate PFAS as a class.

Related stories:

Michigan pushes for national rules at PFAS summit

Democrats ready to move on PFAS under Biden

Pioneering lawyer wants U.S. to move faster on PFAS

McDonalds pledges to stop using PFAS in food packaging

PFAS exposure may reduce COVID-19 vaccine potency

Slotkin on PFAS measure: It couldnt get past the senators

PFAS activist says blood testing probably saved her life

Michigan veterans face uphill battle proving toxic exposure

Timeline: The Wolverine, 3M Scotchgard disaster

3M, Wolverine settle PFAS lawsuit with Michigan family

Michigan PFAS lawsuit against 3M, DuPont advances

Michigan PFAS site list surges past 100
WASHINGTON  A Connecticut man accused of a barbaric attack on a police officer during the breach of the U.S. Capitol grounds two weeks ago has been arrested, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Patrick Edward McCaughey III, of Ridgefield, was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officer or employees, civil disorder, entering restricted building or grounds, and violent entry or disorderly conduct.

The charges stemmed from his alleged role in what was described as a violent assault on an officer protecting the Capitol from a group of President Donald Trump supporters who stormed the building on Jan. 6 in protest of the presidential election results.

Dozens of protesters have since been charged for their alleged crimes that day, including at least two other Connecticut residents, who were taken into custody outside the building on Jan. 6.

McCaughey, who was arrested in Westchester County, appeared Wednesday in federal court in White Plains, N.Y.

McCaugheys Stamford criminal defense Mark Sherman said the judge denied his client bond and ordered him detained. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled for next month as the case is moved to federal court in D.C., Sherman said.

"It was noted in court that he did try to offer assistance to the injured officer," Sherman said.

However, Steven M. DAntuono, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said the savage beating on D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges showed McCaugheys blatant disregard for human life.

The vicious attack on Officer Hodges was abhorrent and quintessentially un-American, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin said in a statement. It is my pledge that anyone involved in violent attacks on law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. McCaugheys alleged actions were an assault on Officer Hodges, the Capitol, and the rule of law itself.

In a Jan. 15 press release, the Metropolitan police released a be-on-the-lookout bulletin with a suspect image and information about the attack on Hodges.

The same day police shared images of the suspect, an individual contacted law enforcement and identified the suspect as McCaughey, the arrest warrant affidavit said. The document said the person reported having known McCaughey since they were children.

The person, who last saw McCaughey about a year ago, said they heard from mutual friends that McCaughey had gone to the Capitol on Jan. 6.

A video posted to YouTube captured a large group of rioters trying to break through a line of law enforcement officers during the insurrection at the Capitol, officials said. The video showed an individual, later identified as McCaughey, allegedly using a clear police riot shield to push Hodges, officials said. Video that has been widely aired showed the officer pinned between the shield and a door. Officials said Hodges was loudly crying out in pain.

As McCaughey had Hodges pinned, officials said, another rioter violently ripped Hodges gas mask off, exposing the officers bloodied mouth. Authorities said several other rioters behind and around McCaughey appeared to add more pressure against Hodges.

Patrick McCaugheys actions were violent, barbaric, and completely out of control, DAntuono said. The FBI will relentlessly pursue individuals who took part in this activity and we will continue our unwavering commitment to ensure all those responsible for assaults on law enforcement officers are brought to justice.

Hodges has spoken to the media about the attack and said one person tried to gouge his eye out.

In a YouTube video, described throughout the affidavit, McCaughey can be seen pushing the clear police riot shield up against Hodges and repeatedly telling the officer to go home, the court document said.

About two minutes later, someone can be heard on the video saying in reference to Hodges, this guy is pretty hurt, let him back, let him back, the affidavit said. The document said its not clear if McCaughey was the one who said it.

Soon after, McCaughey touches Officer Hodges helmet and lowers Officer Hodges helmets shield, the document said. Seconds later, the affidavit said, McCaughey appears to say, let this guy through, hes hurt, hes hurt, let him back, while pointing to Hodges. The officer behind Hodges appears to nod, then apparently waves in help.

The person who called police to identify the suspect provided investigators with four photos and a short video sent by McCaughey to mutual friends, the affidavit said.

One photo was a selfie apparently taken on the scaffolding of the west front of the U.S. Capitol, the affidavit said.

Im not doing anything, McCaughey can be heard saying on a video prior to his alleged attack on Hodges. Im just a regular person like everybody else here.

When the person recording the video asked McCaughey his name and where he was from, the Ridgefield resident initially hesitated to answer and then said it wasnt important, according to the affidavit.

When the camera pans away, a voice believed to be McCaughey says Connecticut, Connecticut, the affidavit said. The affidavit stated McCaughey has a Ridgefield address listed with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.

Although the individual referred to in the affidavit said they were 100 percent certain the suspect authorities were looking for was McCaughey, there were other tipsters mentioned in a footnote of the document who tried to help police.

The affidavit said four other citizens submitted tips that identified four different individuals as the person in the BOLO. Investigators confirmed none of those were the suspect they were looking for, the document said.

Two anonymous tips referenced a McCoughey, one anonymous tipster identified the individual as Ridgefield resident Patrick McCoughey and another anonymous tipster from Ridgefield identified him as Patrick McCoy, the affidavit said.

A phone message left at the number for McCaugheys listed address in Ridgefield was not returned on Wednesday.

Anyone with information is asked to call 800-225-5324 or submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol.
A Helotes, Texas wreck left four children parentless and a family in mourning.

About the Tragic Helotes Incident

According to KSAT News, on Sunday evening, January 2, two parents died in a crash on the 12000 block of Bandera Road and Diamond K Trail. The parents were driving a van with their four children when the accident occurred.

Early reports state that they drove their van in front of an oncoming pickup truck and collided with it. The sudden impact killed both parents and led the children to be taken to University Hospital for treatment.

Fortunately, the children were spared serious injury. The children's ages ranged from 2 to 16 years old. The driver of the pickup also suffered minor injuries.

The crash has been deemed an accident, and police say alcohol was not involved. Authorities are currently investigating the situation and trying to alert family members of the deceased.

Vehicle Crashes and Injuries in Helotes 2019 (TxDot)

 Fatal Crashes: 1

 Fatalities: 1

 Suspected Serious Crashes: 0

 Suspected Serious Injuries: 4

Contact an Experienced Texas Car Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash, contact Thomas J. Henry Law. Our experienced Texas car accident attorneys have experience handling a multitude of injury accidents, no matter how severe the crash or injury. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages if another driver acted negligently. Our firm has the experienced lawyers and financial resources that you need to achieve the real results you deserve.

Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Austin serving clients across Texas and nationwide. Call us today for a free case review  attorneys are available 24/7, nights and weekends. If you cannot make it to our office, we can visit you at your home, in the hospital, or at work.

Thomas J. Henry Law Offices with a Car Accident Lawyer in TX:

 Austin

-Phone Number: (512) 520-0221 (attorneys available 24/7, nights and weekends)

-Address: 5707 Southwest Pkwy, Suite 125 Building 2,Austin, Texas 78735 (walk-in Monday through Friday)

 Corpus Christi

-Phone number: 361-254-7873 (attorneys available 24/7 to assist you)

-Address: 521 Starr Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 (walk-in Monday through Friday)

 San Antonio

-Phone number: 210-941-2191 (attorneys available 24/7 to assist you)

-Address: 5710 W Hausman Rd, Suite 108, San Antonio, Texas 78249 (walk-in Monday through Friday)

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Athens, GA (30605)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 91F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Jesse Rosenbaum, 65, a science and special education teacher from New Jersey, has been charged with attempted endangering the welfare of a child

A New Jersey middle school teacher has been caught in a sexting sting after police say he exchanged lewd messages with an undercover detective he thought was a 14-year-old boy.

Jesse Rosenbaum, 65, a science and special education teacher at Long Branch Middle School, has been charged with one count of attempted endangering the welfare of a child.

Rosenbaum, who is said to be a married father of three grown sons, was arrested near his home in Manalapan on Tuesday and booked into the Mercer County Jail.

According to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, Rosenbaum had been under an investigation by the agency's cybercrimes against children unit for allegedly soliciting boys to engage in sex acts and inappropriate conversation, reported Asbury Park Press.

The criminal complaint against Rosenbaum accuses him of exchanging sexually explicit emails, text messages and phone calls with what he believed to be a 14-year-old boy, but who was actually an undercover detective.

Rosenbaum is a science and special education teacher at Long Branch Middle School

Rosenbaum has taught at three different school districts in Long Branch for more than 15 years. Prior to earning his teaching degree in 2005, he worked in business, reported NJ.com.

Rosenbaum has been suspended from Long Branch Middle School and barred from accessing school property, including digital records, School Superintendent Michael Salvatore said in a letter to parents.

Salvatore characterized the allegations against the teacher as 'upsetting and disturbing.'

'We have not been informed that this activity involved any students in our schools, but as we navigate this hybrid learning environment, we will have school personnel prepared to support students, parents and staff when necessary,' Salvatore wrote.

Rosenbaum, a married father of three and grandfather (pictured above with his wife), has been accused of soliciting boys online for sex acts and chats

According to social media posts, Rosenbaum and his wife have been married for more than 42 years and have young grandchildren.

If convicted as charged, Rosenbaum could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
MALARIA DENGUE TB PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO COVID-19

Although India has worked relentlessly towards developing innovative testing solutions for COVID-19 throughout last year, the timely detection of a number of other infectious diseases has been sidelined. In India, the range and burden of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, filariasis, leprosy, HIV infection, typhoid, hepatitis etc., are enormous. In fact, inadequate containment of the vector has resulted in recurrent outbreaks of dengue fever and re-emergence of chikungunya virus disease and typhus fever. If India can develop more than 20 different diagnostic tests or devices in a single year to fight COVID-19, many more such innovations can be brought to effectively detect other infections looming in our country.
People wait in line to receive COVID-19 vaccinations at the newly opened point of distribution at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., on Jan. 13, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Orange County Supervisor Names Next Super Vaccination Site

As it looks to ramp up its inoculation efforts, Orange County will open its next COVID-19 super vaccination site at Soka University Jan. 23, The Epoch Times has learned.

Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said the Aliso Viejo campus will serve as the second major point of distribution (POD) for the region. Soka University confirmed the news on its website, saying it agreed to lend its property to the cause, but would leave the logistical obligations to the county.

The news came Jan. 19 as the Disneyland POD closed due to heavy wind warnings. It was expected to remain closed through at least Jan. 20.

The Orange County Health Care Agency announced the closure on Twitter, noting that residents who were supposed to be inoculated Jan. 19 would be rescheduled through Othena, an online platform for scheduling vaccine appointments.

Weve had to now twice postpone appointments, due to the winds and potential fire severity, Bartlett told The Epoch Times. It is very unfortunate because we want to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible but unfortunately Mother Nature doesnt always cooperate with us.

According to Bartlett, the county schedules vaccine appointments two to three days in advance, so those who had their appointments canceled will be moved to the next available slots.

No vaccines will need to be discarded due to the closure, because theyre not taken out of their refrigerated vials until the site opens for the day.

According to the National Weather Service, Southwestern California was issued a high wind warning that will remain in effect until Jan. 20 at 10 p.m., due to winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour, with gusts up to 60 miles per hour.

The newly opened Anaheim vaccination site consists of large tents inside one of Disneylands empty parking lots, and the winds have the potential to knock them over.

The closure of the countys first vaccination site is slowing down what was supposed to be an efficient distribution of vaccines under phase 1A, which includes health care workers and the elderly.

Disneyland is averaging about 5,000 [vaccination doses to residents] per day right now, Bartlett said. Throughout the county, its hard to say on a given day because we have not only the County of Orange sites for vaccination, but we also have a lot of private sector and the hospitals and clinics and other vaccinators that are around the county. So I would say upwards of 10,000 or more per day potentially are getting vaccinated.

The Disneyland vaccination site opened Jan. 13 and is set to be one of five super sites for the county.

The vaccination site will likely reopen Jan. 21 based on current weather forecasts, said Jessica Good, spokesperson for the OC Health Care Agency.

Bartlett added that vaccination sites will soon be increasing hours.

Right now were not at full capacity because we dont have our expanded hours, she said. We hopefully will move to 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. And when we do that, well be able to vaccinate 7,000 to 8,000 per day at the [Disney] site alone.
Washington  Rep. John Katko says he has received intelligence briefings that suggest the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol was more than a spontaneous attack by an angry mob.

Katko, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, said the briefings raised serious questions about how much planning went into the attack and the security lapses that allowed rioters to reach the House and Senate chambers.

Ive had a lot of classified briefings on it, and its deeply troubling, Katko told syracuse.com in an interview Tuesday. I was left with a profound sense that it was much worse than people realized.

Katko would not discuss any specific information he received. But he said the briefings from federal authorities were enough to convince him that Congress needs a 9/11-style commission to investigate and subpoena witnesses.

There are a lot of unanswered questions here, from possible security lapses to who was involved and when they were involved, Katko said. We need to have a full stem to stern look back on this to see what happened, how it happened, the sequence of events, who contributed to it, and how we make sure it never happens again.

Katko, R-Camillus, and two other House Republicans introduced a bill last week that would establish an independent panel modeled after the 9/11 Commission, which probed security weaknesses exposed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last week that theres strong support among members of Congress for an independent commission to conduct a review. She didnt specify if she would support Katkos bill with Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., or a similar Democratic proposal.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., wants to establish a commission to investigate the security failures and find out if there are any ties between Capitol police officers and white supremacists.

Other House Democrats have asked for a separate investigation to find out if those who breached Capitol security had insider help from House staffers or security personnel sympathetic to President Donald Trump.

The FBI disclosed in court documents filed Tuesday that a Navy veteran made plans before Jan. 6 with a group of up to 40 people from Virginia, Ohio to storm the Capitol.

The group entered the Capitol from opposite sides and communicated with each other about hunting for members of Congress, The Washington Post reported.

Katko was among 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last week on a single charge for incitement of insurrection after the president encouraged a crowd to interrupt a joint session of Congress.

The joint session was called to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the Electoral College vote for president. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died in the ensuing violence.

Katko, in his first interview with syracuse.com since the impeachment vote, said he was moved emotionally by the events of the day. Among the Capitol police officers hurt in the violence was Joshua Call, a former intern in Katkos congressional office. Katko brought him a care package from his mother after the attack.

But Katko, a former federal prosecutor, said he didnt let those emotions influence his decision about the impeachment vote.

The only thing that impacted me were the facts, but I will never forget talking to him, Katko said of Call. I will never forget giving him a hug and telling him hes going to be OK. I wont ever forget walking into the Capitol and seeing the destruction. I wont ever forget hearing about the officer who was killed by being beaten in the head with a fire extinguisher.

But like I said, I am trained to lock that stuff out of my head and look at the facts objectively, and thats what I did, he said. The only thing that influenced me were the facts and nothing else.

Katko said he was shaken as he returned to the House floor after the attack to certify the Electoral College vote. But he said it was uplifting to see Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress determined to press on with the vote into the early morning hours.

It kind of gave me a sense of comfort that we just took a punch in the face as a country  right in the face  and we got right off the mat and were back at it, doing what were supposed to do as a country, Katko said. We were certifying the election results. They werent able to stop us. The bad elements were overwhelmed by the better angels of society. And thats a good thing.

READ MORE

John Katkos guest at Biden inauguration: A Coleman who runs an Irish pub

Katko wants national commission to investigate US Capitol attack

Rep. John Katko among 10 House Republicans who vote to impeach Trump

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
The Associated Press

General Motors is teaming up with Microsoft to accelerate its rollout of electric, self-driving cars. In the partnership announced Tuesday, the companies said Microsofts Azure cloud and edge computing platform would be used to commercialise its unique autonomous vehicle solutions at scale. Microsoft joins General Motors, Honda and other institutional investors in a combined new equity investment of more than $2 billion in Cruise, bringing its valuation to about $30 billion.

Cruise, which GM bought in 2016, has been a leader in driverless technology and got the go-ahead from California late last year to test its automated vehicles in San Francisco without backup drivers.

Auto companies have been joining forces and bringing technology firms on board to try to spread out the enormous costs  and by nature, risks  of developing self-driving and electric vehicles.

Honda is in on the Cruise project with GM, Volkswagen and Ford have teamed up with Pittsburgh autonomous vehicle company Argo AI, and Hyundai joined with Fiat Chrysler last summer in a deal to use Waymos driverless car technology.

Toyota and Uber are also working together, while Amazon skipped over the automaker part of the equation and last summer bought self-driving technology company Zoox, which is developing an autonomous vehicle for a ride-hailing service.

Mass adoption of driverless vehicles  and profits  are still a ways off, said industry analyst Sam Abuelsamid of Guidehouse Insights.

(Also read: Apple is reportedly in talks with Hyundai to make its first-ever driverless electric car)

The reality is that the automated driving landscape is taking much longer to mature that had been anticipated a few years ago, Abuelsamid said. Its probably going to be mid-decade before we start to see significant volumes of these vehicles.

Abuelsamid added that the importance of adding a company like Microsoft to the mix is its cloud computing power and the ability to analyze data from the vehicles to improve the technology.

Microsoft is a great addition to the team as we drive toward a future world of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. Microsoft will help us accelerate the commercialization of Cruises all-electric, self-driving vehicles and help GM realize even more benefits from cloud computing as we launch 30 new electric vehicles globally by 2025 and create new businesses and services to drive growth.

General Motors has been aggressively revamping its image, saying the industry has reached a history-changing inflection point for mass adoption of electric vehicles. The 112-year-old Detroit automaker this month unveiled a new corporate logo to signify its new direction as it openly pivots to electric vehicles. It wants to be seen as a clean vehicle company, rather than a builder of cloud-spewing gas-powered pickups and SUVs.

GM scrapped its old square blue logo for a lower case gm surrounded by rounded corners and an m that looks like an electrical plug.

Shares in GM jumped more than 9 percent in afternoon trading, to $54.58.
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Eva Longoria gave a rousing opening speech offering hope as she presented the Official Latino Inaugural 2021 on Tuesday evening.

Ahead on Wednesday's inauguration of President Elect Joe Biden, the Desperate Housewives star, 45, joined Lin-Manuel Miranda in hosting the hour-long stream, which aimed to show the Latino American narrative in the United States.

In her incredible opening speech, Eva paid tribute to Latino workers fighting coronavirus on the frontline, condemned the Capitol rioters for 'threatening our democracy' and lauded the future President for offering hope.

Hope: Eva Longoria gave a rousing opening speech offering hope as she presented the Official Latino Inaugural 2021 on Tuesday evening

Eva hosted the event via the video link as she presented the event - entitled Official Latino Inaugural 2021: Inheritance, Resilience & Promise - which also featured Lin-Manuel, John Leguizamo, Becky G, Ivy Queen, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Shaggy.

In her opening speech, she spoke of the COVID-19 pandemic which has ravaged the world and killed 402,000 Americans, and praised Latina workers - who make up 18% of the US population, of which 30% are essential workers.

Her other main point of reference was the riots on Capitol Hill, which took place earlier this month when supporters of the current President Donald Trump stormed the building to fight against Biden's victory in heartbreaking scenes.

Eva said: 'We all know this has been a difficult time for our country. Already this new year we've witnessed the very heart of our democracy being threatened during an assault on our nation's Capitol building...

Impassioned: Ahead on Wednesday's inauguration of President Elect Joe Biden, the Desperate Housewives star, 45, joined Lin-Manuel Miranda in hosting the hour-long stream, which aimed to show the Latino American narrative in the United States

'It's a day that will live and end for me and have ripple effects long after the siege and during all of this the nation continues its battle against COVD-19...

'For almost a year this pandemic has changed the way we live and relentlessly challenged our selfless hospital and healthcare workers...

'In our community, we know the toll the virus all too well. Latino's are 18% of the population but 30% of all essential workers. That's your teachers, your grocery clerks, your bus drivers and your farm workers...

An honour: In her incredible opening speech, Eva paid tribute to Latino workers fighting coronavirus on the frontline, condemned the Capitol rioters for 'threatening our democracy' and lauded the future President for offering hope

An honour: 'Our community has defined what it means to be essential. But now after months of loss and hardship and uncertainty there is finally light at the end of the tunnel we know that help is on the way today'

'Our community has defined what it means to be essential. But now after months of loss and hardship and uncertainty there is finally light at the end of the tunnel we know that help is on the way today.

'Tonight we honour Vice President Elect Kamala Harris and President Elect Joseph R Biden who have a plan to heal our country...

'We honour the millions of Americans tonight who lifted their voices in November to call for their leadership and compassion. your efforts, your votes, your energy. Your love for this county made this day possible...

Striving: 'We've remained resilient even in the face of injustice then and now Still we prosper, still we thrive... for me that's a badge of honour. Lets look at a few contributions Latinos have made'

'Over the last 500 years we shaped the history of the Americas and for the last 244 we've been an essential part of the United States we've always fought to make this a better nation to leave a greater legacy, to leave a better future for our children...

'We've remained resilient even in the face of injustice then and now Still we prosper, still we thrive... for me that's a badge of honour. Lets look at a few contributions Latinos have made...

'We've always faced an uphill battle but we've never quit. COVID has decimated our communities but our essential workers continue to teach, labour and serve on the frontline. Together our fortitude moves us forward.'

Reaching out: She honoured Kamala Harris and Joe Biden

A presidential inauguration is typically a joyous event full of pomp and circumstance, with hundreds of thousands gathering on the National Mall in Washington to hear the incoming Commander in Chief lay out his vision for the country.

This year, however, the Mall will be shut down to visitors, and only a small number of attendees will be permitted to watch Biden take the oath of office and deliver his first speech as president.

Instead of a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, there will be a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Instead of balls, there will be Zoom parties.

The Capitol building is seen with decorative flags on the National Mall on Tuesday in Washington, DC. Tight security measures are in place for Inauguration Day due to greater security threats after the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6

Instead of hundreds of thousands congregating on the Capitol grounds and on the National Mall, there will be thousands of National Guard members.

The measures reflect restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus and heightened security after a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol two weeks ago, sending lawmakers into hiding and leaving five people dead, including a police officer.

Tens of thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed in the U.S. capital after law enforcement warned some extremist Trump backers were calling for more violence.
University of North Georgia (UNG) students, faculty and staff, and the community will have a chance to hear from a trailblazing speaker during Black History Month.

Dr. Patrice A. Harris, the first African-American woman to serve as president of the American Medical Association (AMA), will deliver the keynote address at noon Feb. 17 via Zoom. Harris currently serves as the AMA's immediate past president on its Board of Trustees. A psychiatrist from Atlanta, she has experience as a private practicing physician, public health administrator, patient advocate and medical society lobbyist.

Alexandria Cowans, president of the Black Student Union (BSU) on UNG's Gainesville Campus, looks forward to hearing from Harris. Cowans is a junior pursuing a degree in management.

"Especially in the Black community, we need encouragement," Cowans said. "It's very empowering to see another Black woman who's doing well and encouraging college students."

Harris marks the latest high-profile Black History Month keynote speaker at UNG. Yusef Salaam, one of the Central Park Five, spoke in 2020, a year after Olympian Tommie C. Smith visited UNG. Dr. Robert Robinson, director of Multicultural Student Affairs at UNG, is excited for students to gain inspiration from Harris.

"She is a great example to students of color about the power of possibility of going into the sciences," Robinson said. "As the former president of the American Medical Association, that sets the gold standard of what you can achieve."

In addition to the keynote event, UNG will host a performance by African Zuzu dancers at 6 p.m. Feb. 25, which will be streamed via Zoom with the link available in UNG Connect.

Cowans is grateful for the chance to reflect on Black history in February.

"It means everything to me. Black history is American history. There are great things we did that don't get acknowledged," Cowans said. "It's important because if we don't know our history, that can hinder us, Black or white or Hispanic. It's important that we all know our history and how connected we really are."

Other Black History Month events

Feb. 3, noon: "What Does Black History Month Mean to You?" discussion, Zoom, link in UNG Connect

Feb. 10, 6 p.m.: Open Mic Night/Cultural Celebration, Zoom, link in UNG Connect

Feb. 23, 7 p.m.: Movie Night (movie TBA), Hoag Auditorium, Dahlonega
EXTON, Pa., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Two 2020 European Medical Agency (EMA) approvals, Takeda's Entyvio SC and Celltrion Healthcare's infliximab biosimilar, Remsima SC, have captured notable shares among EU5 IBD patients, according to Spherix's recent report, RealTime Dynamix: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (EU). The report sampled 246 EU5 gastroenterologists in November and December of 2020. While both new, subcutaneous market entrants have mostly gained prescribing momentum by cannibalizing their corresponding IV formulations, AbbVie's Humira stands out with its continual decline in EU5 IBD utilization.

Entyvio SC has managed to capture a sizeable portion of both the EU5 ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) markets. This uptake is supported by the established familiarity that gastroenterologists have with Entyvio's IV formulation. Not surprisingly, Takeda is experiencing some cannibalization of Entyvio IV with the introduction of their new subcutaneous product. According to Spherix's recent report, Entyvio SC prescribing in biologic switch patients is most likely to come from patients treated with the IV formulation, with over one-third of Entyvio SC prescribing in UC and CD originating from the IV brand.

Similar to what was seen with the Entyvio SC introduction, Celltrion's Remsima SC launch has benefitted from cannibalization of the IV formulation prescribing (Remsima IV). In both the UC and CD indications, EU5 gastroenterologists report decreased prescriptions for Remsima IV compared to previous waves of data. As a result, Remsima SC was able to achieve an 8% patient share among UC infliximab biosimilar patients and a 7% brand share among CD infliximab biosimilar patients.

Despite a relatively short period of availability, Remsima SC's average familiarity rating among EU5 gastroenterologists placed it fifth out of ten therapies assessed in both UC and CD. This level of familiarity for the new-to-market SC drug is based on gastroenterologist's previous experience or knowledge of Remsima IV, along with increased levels of Remsima (IV and SC) sales representative contact compared to previous waves.

The launches of both Entyvio SC and Remsima SC have been aided by their at-home administration, enabling patients to better maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. At least one-third of EU5 gastroenterologists report that self-injection of UC and CD therapies is occurring more often than in-office administration due to COVID-19. Specifically, for Entyvio SC and Remsima SC, roughly one-half of physicians suggest that self-injection has been occurring more during the pandemic.

Spherix's Q4 2020 report includes EU5 gastroenterologists' awareness of clinically relevant data released from the 2020 United European Gastroenterology Virtual Week (UEG). More than one-half of respondents reported being generally aware of relevant data from the conference, though only 13% could cite any specific product data unaided. When respondents were provided with a brief synopsis of the data that was released during UEG, the highest familiarity ratings were provided for Janssen's Stelara, Entyvio SC, and Remsima SC. These higher levels of familiarity likely impacted respondents' preference ratings for the actual clinical data, as Entyvio SC, Stelara, and Remsima SC were also the agents most likely to rank in the top three in terms of clinical data preference among those that released during the conference.

Spherix will continue to monitor the impact of new clinical data and new formulations on EU5 IBD prescribing as 2021 progresses. Two more reports included in the RealTime Dynamix: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (EU) services are scheduled for publication this year, as well as the patient audit data contained in the RealWorld Dynamix: Biologic/Small Molecule Switching in IBD (EU) service.

About RealTime Dynamix

RealTime Dynamix: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (EU) is an independent service providing strategic guidance through rapid and comprehensive twice-yearly reports, which include IBD market trending, launch tracking, and a fresh infusion of unique content with each wave. The report captures responses from ~250 EU5 (France, Italy, Germany, Spain UK) gastroenterologists.

A companion service, RealTime Dynamix: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (US), tracks the evolution of the IBD market in the US through a quarterly report series.

Learn more about our services here.

About Spherix Global Insights

Spherix Global Insights is a hyper-focused market intelligence firm that leverages our own independent data and expertise to provide strategic guidance, so biopharma stakeholders make decisions with confidence. We specialize in select immunology, nephrology, and neurology markets.

All company, brand or product names in this document are trademarks of their respective holders.

For more information contact:

Kristen Henn, Business Development Manager

Email: [email protected]

www.spherixglobalinsights.com

SOURCE Spherix Global Insights

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http://www.spherixglobalinsights.com


WASHINGTON  Sen. Richard Burr said Tuesday that the Justice Department has told him it will not prosecute him over stock sales made during the coronavirus pandemic, ending an insider trading investigation that led him to at least temporarily step aside from a powerful committee chairmanship last year.

Prosecutors had investigated for months whether the North Carolina Republican and former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee had exploited advance information when he unloaded as much as $1.7 million in stocks in the days before the coronavirus caused markets to plummet.

The case is now closed, Burr said in a statement. Im glad to hear it. My focus has been and will continue to be working for the people of North Carolina during this difficult time for our nation.

His lawyer, Alice Fisher, described the investigation as a thorough review and said Burr, who has said he will not seek reelection when his term ends in 2022, would remain focused on the safety and security of North Carolinians and the United States as a whole.

A Justice Department spokesman confirmed it would not bring charges but declined further comment. The New York Times was first to report on the decision to not bring charges.

The investigation escalated in May when the FBI obtained a search warrant to seize a cellphone from Burr. The day after that action became public, Burr said he would step aside as Intelligence Committee chairman while the FBI investigation was ongoing. It is unclear whether he will retake the role as the panels top Republican now that he has been cleared.

Democrats are set to take control of the Senate on Wednesday, and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner will become the panels chairman.

Burr said he was told Tuesday, the last night of President Donald Trumps term. He had occasionally angered Trump and his family as he investigated the presidents ties to Russia, especially when he called Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. in to testify before the committee for a second time in 2019.

Burr, who was first elected to the Senate in 2004 and chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee as it conducted its own investigation into Russian election interference in the 2016 presidential election, has denied wrongdoing in the well-timed stock sales. His lawyer has said he had actively cooperated with the investigation. He had also called for a Senate Ethics Committee investigation into his actions.

Senate records show that Burr and his wife sold between roughly $600,000 and $1.7 million in more than 30 transactions in late January and mid-February, just before the market began to dive and government health officials began to sound alarms about the virus. Several of the stocks were in companies that own hotels.

Burr has acknowledged selling the stocks because of the coronavirus but said he relied solely on public news reports, specifically CNBCs daily health and science reporting out of Asia, to make the financial decisions.

The Justice Department last year separately closed without charges investigations into stock trading by multiple other senators, including Dianne Feinstein of California, Kelly Loeffler of Georgia and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, according to people familiar with notifications sent to the senators. They, too, had come under scrutiny for transactions made in the weeks before the coronavirus sent markets downhill.

____

Eric Tucker and Mary Claire Jalonick of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP writer Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report.
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Pre-Tax NPV 5% of US$1.5 billion, Pre-Tax IRR of 36%

After-Tax NPV 5% of US$995 million, After-Tax IRR of 29%

Average Annual Gold Production of 335,000 ounces and AISC of US$577/oz in Years 1 through 9

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - First Mining Gold Corp. ("First Mining" or the "Company") (TSX: FF) (OTCQX: FFMGF) (FRANKFURT: FMG) is pleased to announce the positive results of a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") completed for its 100%-owned Springpole Gold Project (the "Project" or "Springpole") located in northwestern Ontario, Canada. The PFS results support a 30,000 tonnes-per-day open pit mining operation over an 11.3 year mine life.

PFS Highlights

US$1.5 billion pre-tax net present value at a 5% discount rate ("NPV 5% ") at US$1,600 /oz gold ("Au"), increasing to US$1.9 billion at US$1,800 /oz Au

pre-tax net present value at a 5% discount rate ("NPV ") at /oz gold ("Au"), increasing to at /oz Au US$995 million after-tax NPV 5% at US$1,600 /oz Au, increasing to US$1.3 billion at US$1,800 /oz Au

after-tax NPV at /oz Au, increasing to at /oz Au 36.4% pre-tax internal rate of return ("IRR"); 29.4% after-tax IRR at US$1,600 /oz Au

/oz Au Life of mine ("LOM") of 11.3 years, with primary mining and processing during the first 9 years and processing lower-grade stockpiles for the balance of the mine life

After-tax payback of 2.4 years

Declaration of Mineral Reserves: Proven and Probable Reserves of 3.8 Moz Au , 20.5 Moz silver ("Ag") (121.6 Mt at 0.97 g/t Au, 5.23 g/t Ag)

, 20.5 Moz silver ("Ag") (121.6 Mt at 0.97 g/t Au, 5.23 g/t Ag) Initial capital costs estimated at US$718 million , sustaining capital costs estimated at US$55 million , plus US$29 million in closure costs

, sustaining capital costs estimated at , plus in closure costs Average annual payable gold production of 335 koz (Years 1 to 9); 287 koz (LOM)

Total cash costs of US$558 /oz (Years 1 to 9); and US$618 /oz (LOM) (1)

/oz (Years 1 to 9); and /oz (LOM) All-in sustaining costs ("AISC") of US$577 /oz (Years 1 to 9), and AISC US$645 (LOM)(2)

Note: Base case parameters assume a gold price of US$1,600/oz and a silver price of US$20, and an exchange rate (C$ to US$) of 0.75. All currencies are reported in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified. NPV calculated as of the commencement of construction and excludes all pre-construction costs. (1) Total cash costs consist of mining costs, processing costs, mine-level general and administrative ("G&A") costs, treatment and refining charges and royalties. (2) AISC consists of total cash costs plus sustaining and closure costs.

"This PFS is an important milestone for the Company as we continue to advance and de-risk the Springpole Gold Project," stated Dan Wilton, CEO of First Mining. "First Mining is declaring mineral reserves for the first time ever on the Springpole Gold Project, reflecting the culmination of a year of detailed data collection, trade-off studies, and engineering and technical de-risking work done by First Mining and our partners on our project team. The results of the PFS confirm that Springpole has the potential to become a strategically significant, highly profitable gold mine in one of the most attractive mining jurisdictions in North America. The work we have undertaken to date to reduce the potential environmental impact from the project demonstrates the potential for Springpole to be developed in a responsible manner and to mitigate long-term impacts. We look forward to the Project's continual improvement through collaboration with our local and Indigenous communities of interest as we advance Springpole through the federal and provincial Environmental Assessment processes. We are very excited to have added Steve Lines and his team to lead this effort for First Mining. The team's recent and significant experience successfully permitting the Hardrock project in Ontario and other similar open pit mining projects in Canada requiring in-lake cofferdams and associated dewatering will serve us well as we continue to advance Springpole."

This PFS for the Springpole Gold Project was prepared by AGP Mining Consultants Inc. ("AGP") of Toronto, Canada, and a technical report summarizing the PFS will be filed by the Company on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.

PFS Overview

The Springpole Gold Project, located in northwestern Ontario, Canada, is one of the largest undeveloped open pit gold projects in North America. The Project is located approximately 110 kilometres northeast of Red Lake. Springpole currently hosts 4.6 million ounces ("Moz") of gold in the Indicated Mineral Resource category and 0.3 Moz of gold in the Inferred Mineral Resource category, as set out in the table below.

The PFS evaluates recovery of gold and silver from a 30,000 tonne-per-day ("tpd") open pit operation, with a process plant that will include crushing, grinding, and flotation, with fine grinding of the flotation concentrate and agitated leaching of both the flotation concentrate and the flotation tails followed by a carbon-in-pulp recovery process to produce dore bars.

Important parameters of the PFS are presented in the following table:

Key Assumptions LOM Years 1 to 9 Base Case Commodity Prices US$1,600/oz Au, US$20/oz Ag Exchange Rate (C$ to US$) 0.75 Production Profile LOM Years 1 to 9 Total Tonnes Processed (Mt) 121.6 97.4 Total Tonnes Waste (Mt) 287.5 259.6 Mill Grade - Gold, Silver 0.97 g/t Au, 5.2 g/t Ag 1.12 g/t Au, 5.7 g/t Ag Mine Life 11.3 years 9 years Throughput (tonnes per day) 30,000 30,000 Strip Ratio (waste:ore) 2.36 : 1 2.66 : 1 (inc. PP period) Overall Recovery - Gold, Silver 85.7% Au, 89.5% Ag 87.0% Au, 89.8% Ag LOM Metal Recovered - Gold, Silver 3.2 Moz Au, 18.1 Moz Ag 3.0 Moz Au, 16.1 Moz Ag Average Annual Production - Gold, Silver 287 koz Au, 1.6 Moz Ag 335 koz Au, 1.8 Moz Ag

Unit Operating Costs (1) LOM Years 1 to 9 Total Cash Cost (2) US$618/oz Au (net) US$673/oz AuEq (co-product) US$558/oz Au (net) US$612/oz AuEq (co-product) All-In Sustaining Cost AISC (3) US$645/oz Au (net) US$698/oz AuEq (co-product) US$577/oz Au (net) US$631/oz AuEq (co-product) Project Economics -US$1600/oz Gold Price



NPV 5% - Pre-Tax, After-Tax US$1.5 billion, US$995 million IRR - Pre-Tax, After-Tax 36.4%, 29.4% Payback Period - Pre-Tax, After-Tax 2.2 years, 2.4 years LOM Cash Flow - Pre-Tax, After-Tax US$2.3 billion, US$1.6 billion

(1) All unit operating costs are shown on both equivalent as well as net of silver by-product credits (2) Cash costs consist of mining costs, processing costs, mine-level G&A, treatment and refining charges and royalties (3) AISC includes cash costs plus sustaining capital and closure costs

Economic Sensitivities

The Project economics and cash flows are highly sensitive to changes to the gold price.

Springpole Economic Sensitivity to Gold Price (base case in bold)

Gold Price (US$/oz) $1,400 $1,600 $1,800 $2,000 Pre-Tax NPV 5% US$1.04 billion US$1.48 billion US$1.92 billion US$2.36 billion Pre-Tax IRR 28.9% 36.4% 43.2% 49.5% After-Tax NPV 5% US$690 million US$995 million $1.30 billion $1.60 billion After-Tax IRR 23.3% 29.4% 35.0% 40.1%

Springpole Economic Sensitivity to Initial Capital Costs (base case in bold)

Initial Capital Costs +10% US$718 million -10% Pre-Tax NPV 5% US$1.34 billion US$1.48 billion US$1.61 billion Pre-Tax IRR 30.1% 36.4% 44.1% After-Tax NPV 5% US$875 million US$995 million US$1,102 million After-Tax IRR 23.8% 29.4% 36.3%

Springpole Economic Sensitivity to Operating Costs (base case in bold)

Operating Costs +10% US$2.21 billion -10% Pre-Tax NPV 5% US$1.33 billion US$1.48 billion US$1.63 billion Pre-Tax IRR 34.1% 36.4% 38.6% After-Tax NPV 5% US$890 million US$995 million US$1,098 million After-Tax IRR 27.6% 29.4% 31.3%

Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing

The PFS reflects recoveries for both gold and silver that resulted from updated metallurgical test work completed in 2020. The test work focused on understanding the variability in gold and silver recoveries as well as optimizing the process flowsheet.

Based on the test work carried out, a flowsheet that includes flotation followed by leaching of reground concentrate and flotation tails presents as the most beneficial processing route for the Project. The processing plant also features a filtered tailings plant. This flowsheet is based on a primary grind size of P 80 150 micrometres ("m") ahead of flotation, with a cleaner flotation concentrate being reground to approximately 17 m ahead of agitated leaching. The overall recoveries expected and used for the economics presented in the PFS are 85.7% for gold and 89.5% for silver. The reduction in recoveries in the PFS stems primarily from a better understanding of the lower recoveries associated with processing lower grade ores. First Mining plans to undertake follow-up metallurgical test work to investigate additional opportunities to further increase recoveries and believes that this remains an important focus area for further improving the economics of the Project.

Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates

The mineral resource model prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. ("SRK") is based on 662 core boreholes drilled by previous property owners during the period 2003 to 2013, and seven core holes drilled by First Mining in 2016 and 2020. The Mineral Resources at the Springpole Gold Project are shown below:

Mineral Resources inclusive of Mineral Reserves

Category Tonnes

(Mt) Grade Au (g/t) Grade Ag (g/t) Contained Metal Au (Moz) Contained Metal Ag (Moz) Indicated 151 0.94 5.0 4.6 24.3 Inferred 16 0.54 2.8 0.3 1.4

Notes:

The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Dr Gilles Arseneau , Ph.D., P.Geo., an SRK employee. The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of July 30, 2020 .

, Ph.D., P.Geo., an SRK employee. The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of . Mineral Resources are reported in accordance with the May 2014 edition of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.

edition of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of the Mineral Resources that have been converted to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate. All composites have been capped where appropriate.

Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining are reported within an optimized constraining shell using the following parameters:

Metal prices of US$1,550 /oz gold, US$20 /oz silver, exchange rate of US$0.77 : C$1

/oz gold, /oz silver, exchange rate of :

Mining cost of CAD$1.62 /t, processing cost of CAD$15.38 /t milled, G&A cost of CAD$1.00 /t milled

/t, processing cost of /t milled, G&A cost of /t milled

Pit slopes varying between 3550 depending on domain



Gold recovery of 88% and silver recovery of 93%

Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t Au.

The Mineral Reserves for the Springpole Gold Project are based on the conversion of Indicated Mineral Resources within the current pit design. The Springpole Gold Project Mineral Reserves are shown below:

Springpole Proven and Probable Reserves

Category Tonnes

(Mt) Grade Au (g/t) Grade Ag (g/t) Contained Metal Au (Moz) Contained Metal Ag (Moz) Proven 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Probable 121.6 0.97 5.23 3.8 20.5 Total 121.6 0.97 5.23 3.8 20.5

Notes:

The Mineral Reserve estimate has an effective date of December 30, 2020 and is based on the Mineral Resource estimate that has an effective date of July 30, 2020 .

and is based on the Mineral Resource estimate that has an effective date of . The Mineral Reserve estimate was completed under the supervision of Gordon Zurowski , P.Eng., of AGP, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101.

, P.Eng., of AGP, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Mineral Reserves are stated within the final design pit based on a US$878 /oz Au pit shell with a US$1,350 /oz Au price for revenue.

/oz Au pit shell with a /oz Au price for revenue. The equivalent cut-off grade was 0.34 g/t Au for all pit phases.

The mining cost averaged CAD$1.94 /t mined, processing cost averaged CAD$14.50 /t milled, and the G&A cost averaged CAD$1.06 /t milled. The process recovery for gold averaged 88% and the silver recovery was 93%.

/t mined, processing cost averaged /t milled, and the G&A cost averaged /t milled. The process recovery for gold averaged 88% and the silver recovery was 93%. The exchange rate assumption applied was C$1.30 equal to US$1.00 .

The mineral resources defined in the PFS do not reflect the significant opportunities that are available for resource expansion or discovery of additional ore bodies in the Springpole district. First Mining believes that Springpole has several avenues for resource expansion, both within the existing property footprint and regionally in the under-explored Birch Uchi Greenstone belt. In 2021, First Mining is planning to undertake a further 10,000 m of diamond drilling at the Springpole Gold Project for metallurgy, exploration, condemnation, and geotechnical purposes, and continues to review other exploration opportunities in the area.

Capital Costs

The capital cost estimate for the proposed open pit operation in the PFS is based on the scheduled plant throughput rates, as well as a review of similar sized open pit gold operations.

The following table provides a summary of the capital cost estimate:

Capital Cost Estimate Details

Mining 144 Coffer Dams 9 Bulk Earthworks 12 Tailings Filtration 82 Process Plant 214 On-Site Infrastructure 38 Off-Site Infrastructure 35 Total Direct Costs 536 Indirects 48 EPCM 38 Owner's Cost 16 Provisions 81 Initial Capital 718 Sustaining Capital 55 Closure Costs 29 Total Capital 803

Note: EPCM = engineering, procurement and construction management.

Mining Capital Costs

The open pit mining activities for the Project were assumed to be undertaken by a leased fleet. Mining capital costs were estimated based on a detailed equipment schedule matched to the mining production schedule. Total initial mining capital was estimated at US$144 million, inclusive of capitalized stripping, Waste Management Facility ("WMF") construction and equipment.

Processing Capital Costs

The process plant was designed using conventional processing unit operations. It will treat 30,000 tpd or 1,250 tonnes/hour based on an availability of 8,059 hours per annum or 92%. The crusher plant section design is set at 75% availability and the gold room availability is set at 52 weeks per year including two operating days and one smelting day per week. The plant will operate with two shifts per day, 365 days per year, and will produce dore bars.

Initial capital costs for the processing facility were estimated to be US$415 million, inclusive of a US$54 million contingency allocation. No major plant re-build or expansion was considered during the LOM, with sustaining capital set to maintain the equipment in operating condition. No allowance for salvage value was made.

Operating Costs

Overall operating costs for the LOM, and the unit costs, are summarized below:

Mining 793 6.52 246 Processing (1) 1,323 10.87 410 On-Site G&A 96 0.79 30 Total Operating Cost 2,212 18.18 686 Treatment & Refining Charges 10 0.09 3 Royalty 74 0.61 23 Silver Credits (302) (2.48) (94) Cash Costs 1,994 16.40 618 Sustaining Capital (2) 85 0.70 26 All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) 2,079 17.09 645

(1) Includes processing, WMF operating costs and water management costs (2) Includes closure capital

Operating Cost Estimate Details

Mining Costs

The PFS contemplates open pit mining undertaken by a leased fleet. An average unit mining cost of CAD$1.96/t of material mined was used in the economics. The cost estimate was built from first principles with detailed haulage profiles, vendor quotations for equipment and consumables, and is based on experience of similar sized open pit operations and local conditions. The open pit mining costs consider variations in haulage profiles by month and by year and variable equipment requirements necessary to meet the plant production.

Processing Costs

An average cost of US$10.87/t of processed material was used in the PFS, based on the updated process flowsheet. This includes tailings handling, labour, consumables, maintenance, and supplies. A power cost of CAD$0.08/kWh was assumed.

Production Schedule and Mine Plan

Mining would occur as a series of phases within the ultimate pit with a maximum depth of approximately 350 metres. The deposit is planned to produce a total of 121.6 Mt of plant process feed and 287.5 Mt of waste (2.36:1 overall strip ratio) over an 11.3 year mine operating life. The current LOM plan focuses on achieving consistent processing feed production rates, mining of higher-grade material early in the schedule, and balancing grade and strip ratios.

Site Infrastructure

Springpole Lake Dewatering

The deposit sits underneath a small portion of the northern bay of Springpole Lake. Two dewatering dikes (coffer dams), with a total length of approximately 940 metres, will need to be constructed to allow this small portion of the bay to be dewatered. The coffer dams will have a maximum height of 17 metres. The area proposed to be dammed and dewatered totals approximately 150 hectares and represents approximately 6% of the entire surface area of Springpole Lake (and approximately 3% of the volume).

Waste Management Facility

The WMF was re-envisioned in the PFS as a comingled waste rock and filtered tailings facility to reduce the overall footprint and to spread the required costs over the LOM. The WMF will be located immediately west of the pit, and in the initial stages it will occupy a smaller footprint to reduce the construction period and to minimize the initial capital requirement. The surface of the filtered tailings and waste rock within the WMF will be graded to minimize infiltration and encourage water flow to defined sumps/pumping points. A synthetic liner has been included in the PFS design to limit exfiltration of contact water, and will be further considered through on-going environmental assessment work including additional geochemical testing and WMF design optimizations. The collected surface water will be directed to a Contact Water Management Pond ("CWMP") that will be located southeast of the WMF. The water stored in the CWMP will be used to supplement mineral processing and/or will be treated and released to Springpole Lake.

Access Roads

The Company believes that the Project can play a meaningful role in encouraging the development of the road network in the area, with potential to connect the communities to the north with an all-season road that will provide access to the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, a major services hub for Northern Ontario. The PFS considers that the access road may be completed prior to commencement of construction and is not part of the study.

Power Infrastructure

Approximately 55MW of electrical demand will be supplied via a new 230 kV overhead transmission line, built to connect to the provincial grid's 230 kV line approximately 75 km to the southeast.

Project Enhancement Opportunities

The PFS identified several opportunities to enhance the economics of the Springpole Gold Project, and they will be investigated as First Mining continues to advance the Project. These opportunities include:

Existing Resource Upgrades. Inferred Mineral Resources are contained within the existing pit design, and with additional infill drilling, these resources may potentially support conversion of some or all of this material into Indicated Mineral Resources that could be converted to Probable Mineral Reserves and evaluated in a Feasibility Study ("FS").

Inferred Mineral Resources are contained within the existing pit design, and with additional infill drilling, these resources may potentially support conversion of some or all of this material into Indicated Mineral Resources that could be converted to Probable Mineral Reserves and evaluated in a Feasibility Study ("FS"). Mine Plan Optimization. Refined pit optimization parameters could result in better optimized open pit limits which could reduce the overall strip ratio.

Refined pit optimization parameters could result in better optimized open pit limits which could reduce the overall strip ratio. Process Optimization. Continued efforts to investigate opportunities to improve the metal recoveries through further metallurgical testing and refining milling processes, as well as other process optimizations.

Continued efforts to investigate opportunities to improve the metal recoveries through further metallurgical testing and refining milling processes, as well as other process optimizations. Further Geotechnical Studies. A better hydrogeological and geotechnical understanding may increase pit slope angles, potentially reducing costs associated with mining waste material.

A better hydrogeological and geotechnical understanding may increase pit slope angles, potentially reducing costs associated with mining waste material. Additional Mineralization. There are geophysical targets in the area around the current resource, where additional drilling has the potential to identify additional mineralization that could support Mineral Resource estimation with upside potential for the LOM.

Permitting and Environmental Baseline Data

First Mining has made key strategic additions to our Environment and Community Relations team over the past couple of months to ensure that we have properly resourced the permitting and community relations work at Springpole. Steve Lines joined First Mining as Vice President, Environment and Community Relations on December 1, 2020, and has already built an expert team with extensive experience in Ontario's Environmental Assessment process. The team brings across significant experience from Greenstone Gold Mines' Hardrock project which was subject to the same Environmental Assessment process that Springpole requires, and bring further permitting and regulatory experience from similar in-lake open pit mines in Canada including the Meadowbank Gold Mine and Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine. Steve's and his team's experience, expertise and relationships will contribute significantly to the ongoing de-risking of Springpole.

First Mining has been actively collecting environmental baseline data necessary to support an Environmental Assessment ("EA") for the Springpole Gold Project since 2010. The studies, both completed and ongoing, are focused on characterizing all relevant biological and physical components of the aquatic and terrestrial environments that may be impacted by, and may interact with, the Project.

First Mining continues to advance the Springpole Gold Project through the provincial and federal EA processes. The Company's goal is to prepare a coordinated EA document that meets the federal and provincial requirements. Community consultation and engagement with local Indigenous communities and other stakeholders is important to First Mining and will remain on-going through the EA process.

First Mining plans to advance the development of the coordinated EA document in 2021 in accordance with the federal Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") Guidelines and the provincial EA Terms of Reference.

Qualified Persons and NI 43-101 Technical Report

The updated PFS for the Springpole Gold Project summarized in this news release was completed by AGP and will be incorporated in a NI 43-101 technical report that will be available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's website, within 45 days of this news release. The affiliation and areas of responsibility for each of the independent Qualified Persons (as defined under NI 43-101) involved in preparing the PFS, upon which the technical report will be based, are as follows: Dr. Gilles Arseneau, Ph.D., P.Geo. - Qualified Person for Mineral Resource Evaluation (SRK); Mr. Gordon Zurowski, P.Eng. - Qualified Person for Open Pit Mine Engineering and Costing, Infrastructure and Financial Modelling (AGP); Mr. Roland Tosney, P.Eng. - Qualified Person for Open Pit Geotechnical Aspects (AGP); Mr. Cameron McCarthy, P.Eng., P.Geo. - Qualified Person for Environmental and Social Aspects (Swiftwater Consulting); Mr. Duke Reimer, P.Eng. - Qualified Person for Tailings and Coffer Dams (Knight Piesold Ltd.); and Dr. Adrian Dance, Ph.D., P.Eng. - Qualified Person for Mineral Processing and Recovery Methods (SRK).

Data Verification

The Qualified Persons responsible for the preparation of the PFS and the technical report in respect thereof have verified the data disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information contained in this news release. Geological, mine engineering and metallurgical reviews included, among other things, reviewing drill data and core logs, review of geotechnical and hydrological studies, environmental and community factors, the development of the life of mine plan, capital and operating costs, transportation, taxation and royalties, and review of existing metallurgical test work. In the opinion of the Qualified Persons, the data, assumptions, and parameters used to estimate Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, the metallurgical model, the economic analysis, and the PFS are sufficiently reliable for those purposes. The technical report in respect of the PFS, when filed, will contain more detailed information concerning individual responsibilities, associated quality assurance and quality control, and other data verification matters, and the key assumptions, parameters and methods used by the Company.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

The Company has included certain non-IFRS financial measures in this news release, such as Initial Capital Costs, Total Cash Costs and All-In Sustaining Costs, which are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. As a result, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. Each of these measures used are intended to provide additional information to the user and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Certain Non-IFRS financial measures used in this news release and common to the gold mining industry are defined below.

Total Cash Costs and Total Cash Costs per Gold Ounce

Total Cash Costs are reflective of the cost of production. Total Cash Costs reported in the PFS include mining costs, processing, water & waste management costs, on-site general & administrative costs, treatment & refining costs, royalties and silver stream credits. Total Cash Costs per Ounce is calculated as Total Cash Costs divided by total LOM payable gold ounces.

All-in Sustaining Costs ("AISC") and AISC per Gold Ounce

AISC is reflective of all of the expenditures that are required to produce an ounce of gold from operations. AISC reported in the PFS includes Total Cash Costs, sustaining capital and closure costs. AISC per Ounce is calculated as AISC divided by total LOM payable gold ounces.

First Mining Review

Hazel Mullin, P.Geo., Director, Data Management and Technical Services of First Mining, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release on behalf of First Mining.

About First Mining Gold Corp.

First Mining is a Canadian gold developer focused on the development and permitting of the Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario. Springpole is one of the largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada. A Pre-Feasibility Study was recently completed on the Project and permitting is on-going with submission of the EIS targeted for 2021. The Company also holds a large equity position in Treasury Metals Inc. who are advancing the Goliath-Goldlund gold projects towards construction. First Mining's portfolio of gold projects in eastern Canada also includes the Pickle Crow (being advanced in partnership with Auteco Minerals Ltd.), Cameron, Hope Brook, Duparquet, Duquesne, and Pitt gold projects.

First Mining was created in 2015 by Mr. Keith Neumeyer, founding President and CEO of First Majestic Silver Corp.

ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP.

Daniel W. Wilton

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "opportunities", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the estimated amount and grade of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves at the Springpole Gold Project; (ii) the results of the PFS and the PFS representing a viable development option for the Project; (iii) construction of a mine at the Project and related actions, including dewatering activities; (iv) the merits of the Project and the potential for the Project to become one of Canada's largest gold mines when in production; (v) estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of sustaining capital and the duration of financing payback periods; (vi) the estimated amount of future production, both produced and metal recovered; (vii) life of mine estimates and estimates of operating costs and total costs, net cash flow, net present value and economic returns from an operating mine constructed at the Project; (viii) investigation of opportunities to improve the economics of the proposed mine and the success of any such opportunities; (ix) the completion of additional optimization studies on the Project in advance of, or in connection with, a Feasibility Study; (ix) timing for the filing of a technical report for the PFS on SEDAR; and * timing for the submission of the EIS. All forward-looking statements are based on First Mining's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. The most significant assumptions are set forth above, but generally these assumptions include: (i) the presence of and continuity of metals at the Project at estimated grades; (ii) the geotechnical, hydrological, hydrogeological, and metallurgical characteristics conforming to sampled results, including the quantities of water and the quality of the water that must be diverted or treated during mining operations; (iii) the capacities and durability of various machinery and equipment; (iv) the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices and within the estimated delivery times; (v) currency exchange rates; (vi) metals sales prices and exchange rate assumed; (vii) appropriate discount rates applied to the cash flows in the economic analysis; (viii) tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining operation; (ix) the availability of acceptable financing under assumed structure and costs; * metallurgical performance; (xi) reasonable contingency requirements; (xii) success in realizing proposed operations; (xiii) receipt of permits and other regulatory approvals on acceptable terms; and (xiv) the fulfillment of environmental assessment commitments and arrangements with local communities. Although the Company's management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Many forward-looking statements are made assuming the correctness of other forward-looking statements, such as statements of net present value and internal rates of return, which are based on most of the other forward-looking statements and assumptions herein. The cost information is also prepared using current values, but the time for incurring the costs will be in the future and it is assumed costs will remain stable over the relevant period.

By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur as forecast, but specifically include, without limitation: (i) risks relating to variations in the mineral content within the material identified as Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves from that predicted; (ii) variations in rates of recovery and extraction; (iii) the geotechnical characteristics of the rock mined or through which infrastructure is built differing from that predicted, the quantity of water that will need to be diverted or treated during mining operations being different from what is expected to be encountered during mining operations or post closure, or the rate of flow of the water being different; (iv) developments in world metals markets; (v) risks relating to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar; (vi) increases in the estimated capital and operating costs or unanticipated costs; (vii) difficulties attracting the necessary work force; (viii) availability of necessary financing and any increases in financing costs or adverse changes to the terms of available financing, if any; (ix) tax rates or royalties being greater than assumed; * changes in development or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors; (xi) changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; (xii) risks relating to receipt of permits and regulatory approvals; (xiii) delays in stakeholder negotiations (including negotiations with affected local and Indigenous communities of interest); (xiv) changes in regulations applying to the development, operation, and closure of mining operations from what currently exists; (xv) the effects of competition in the markets in which First Mining operates; (xvi) operational and infrastructure risks; (xvii) management's discretion to alter the Company's short and long term business plans; and the additional risks described in First Mining's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in First Mining's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR.

First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors

This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum 2014 Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the SEC, and mineral resource and reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserves". Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC's disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves" by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource" exists, is economically or legally mineable, or will ever be upgraded to a higher resource category. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of "reserves" are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves reported by the Company in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards.

SOURCE First Mining Gold Corp.

Related Links

https://firstmininggold.com/


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The Joint Chiropractic is open seven days a week; Monday through Friday, their hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.



There is no appointment necessary, said Dr. Justin. We want Cleveland to come by and discover

the difference in our care.



For more information or details, contact their Marketing and Brand Coordinator Wanda Woodard, or

stop into any of their three clinic locations.
Vaccination is not a race between countries  but it is a race against time, the European Commission vice-president, Margaritis Schinas, intoned yesterday as Brussels tried to galvanise the anti-Covid 19 campaign EU-wide.

Just like in Ireland, the V-word is on everybodys lips across Europe as lockdown restrictions are extended and tightened in most countries  and frustration at sluggish vaccine roll-out progress is beginning to irk people in large numbers.

The scriptwriters for the commissioner, a former Greek politician and civil servant, probably toiled long to come up with his aphorism  but whatever way they spin, this is a very political race.

Read More

Last week Turkey, which has been knocking on the EU membership door for decades without effect, unveiled its Covid vaccine scheme using Chinas Sinovac Biotech vaccine. If we are to believe early reports, the Turkish authorities inoculated half a million people on day one. Some in Brussels quickly noted that this was more than vaccine laggard France had managed in three weeks.

Then there is EU refusenik, the UK, which is floundering with huge Covid-19 cases and a growing tragic list of deaths. Suddenly, the country is laying claim to vaccination roll-out success  with reports yesterday that four million people had already been inoculated and an insistence that 15 million people will get the jab by mid-February.

So, there is an inevitability that the vaccine roll-out will, from time to time, be seen as a political race between countries. And it is probably no harm at all if it sharpens the various efforts to actually get people vaccinated.

Ireland is not the only country with controversy and doubts about whether this is actually going to work any time soon.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin joins EU counterparts tomorrow for a video-linked summit assessment and, any way you look at it, this country is far better placed as part of the EU vaccine procurement effort. Otherwise we could be getting less at a higher price.

And before we take the inter-European donkey derby vaccine analogy too far, lets recall the words of the EU Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriades of Cyprus, yesterday as she noted that so far 400,000 EU citizens have died from Covid-19 in the 10 months since the bloc woke up to the crisis in March.

The non-binding EU vaccine targets she outlined suggest Ireland will have to up its game and become ambitious about the national inoculation programme. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the hope is to have 80pc of vulnerable citizens across all member states vaccinated by the end of March. By the end of the summer, the target is to get 70pc of EU adults vaccinated.

Last week Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said his hope was to get 700,000 people vaccinated, mainly from vulnerable groups and frontline health workers, by the end of March.

Overall, the aim is to have 1.5 million people vaccinated here by the end of June.

EU officials described their vaccination targets as entirely feasible. And, given a sanguine look at things, the gap between Irelands aims and the Brussels plan is entirely bridgeable  provided there is an effective distribution plan .

The EU Commission has six vaccine contracts for more than 2.3 billion doses, which is more than enough to vaccinate the 27 member states 380 million adults, or 80pc of the total population.

So far only the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been approved for use and are now being distributed.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is due for clearance by the end of this month and there are hopes that its far less complex handling requirements will greatly speed up the roll-out.

The other vaccines, it is hoped, will follow quickly  and there will be a great focus on that of Johnson & Johnson, which is expected to require just one dose instead of wo r.

The roll-out in each member state is so far something of a mixed bag. We have already noted Frances early difficulties, which contrast with the performance of Denmark  a country of entirely comparable population size with Ireland. Denmark has been managing its vaccine roll-out so well that it ran out of supplies last week.

Yesterday Ms von der Leyen sought to banish fears that Brussels cant get supplies out to member states in good time.

Last week there was some controversy when Pfizer-BioNTech announced a slowdown of supplies for up to three weeks to allow them to upgrade production volumes at a factory in Belgium. Brussels officials insist that this, and other teething problems with national distributions, will be resolved.

The other issue we will hear much more of in the coming weeks is the mounting pressure on the EU to share with poorer neighbouring states in the West Balkans and northern and central Africa. Soon a decision will have to be made about whether to sell or gift excess vaccine stocks.

For now, its about getting vaccines out there  and people vaccinated. Other issues can wait.

Read More




New Delhi, Jan. 19 (UNI) The forthcoming budget session of Parliament will be held from January 29 with adherence to all Covid-19 guidelines, said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla here on Tuesday after presiding over a meeting of senior officials from security agencies, top medical institutes and health ministry.

The meeting discussed arrangements related to the budget session of Parliament, to be held from January 29 to February 15 in the first phase and from March 8 to April 8 in the second phase.

During the course of the meeting, Mr Birla was apprised that all COVID related Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) that were evolved during the last Session held amidst the pandemic in September 2020, shall continue to remain in place, with suitable modifications as per the requirements.

Mr Birla was informed that RT-PCR tests for all Members of Parliament shall be performed on January 27 and 28 in Parliament House Complex. Tests shall also be conducted at other locations near the residences of Members; including North Avenue, South Avenue, BD Marg. Emergency wards for urgent COVID care with dedicated medical teams shall also be deployed at RML hospital to fulfill the health needs of MPs.

The Speaker instructed the agencies concerned to regularly undertake fumigation/sanitization of the entire complex during the ensuing session.

Mr Birla told the media that during the first phase of the session, Lok Sabha shall hold 12 sittings and during the second phase of the session, there will be 21 sittings of the House. Question Hour, Zero Hour will be held during the budget session. He said that all applicable COVID guidelines shall continue to remain in force during the proceedings of the House and the session will be held with by following all COVID-19 protocols.

Responding to queries regarding COVID vaccination, Mr Birla said that the vaccination process shall proceed as per the government policy.

UNI VT 2032
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The police in Adamawa State have confirmed the release of a traditional ruler abducted by gunmen in the state on Monday.

Mustafa Ahmadu was kidnapped at about midnight on Monday in Mayo Farang, a few hours after he returned from a trip to Abuja.

He is the district head of Mayo- Farang and the Sarkin Noman Adamawa.

Confirming his release Wednesday morning, the police spokesperson in the state, Suleiman Nguroje, said the ruler has been reunited with his family in good condition.

Mr Nguroje said the police were still looking for the kidnappers.

He has been rescued and an investigation is going on to find the kidnappers of the traditional ruler and very soon we will update you, he said in an interview with our reporter.

It was not clear as of the time of this report if a ransom was paid to secure the release of the traditional ruler.

In a year of unprecedented challenges due to Covid19 and subsequent loss of livelihood for the rural poor, the UPA-era rural job guarantee scheme has been a life-saver. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MNREGA) scheme has seen a record number of households as well as individuals demanding work in 2020-21. Until the morning of January 19, nearly 76.7 million households and more than 118 million people had demanded work under the scheme. This means nearly 20 million more households and 27 million more people demanding work under the scheme compared to the full year 2019-20.

The mandate of MNREGA is to provide at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The growth in demand for works under MNREGA underlines significant rural distress and also shows why the mockery of the scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this governments first term was misplaced.

In 2015, Modi had termed MNREGA a living monument of failures of the UPA regime. However, his government has been compelled to not just continue with MNREGA, but also increase the budgetary allocation under it in the pandemic year. As part of the Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package the Centre unveiled in May 2020, after a harsh lockdown had snatched livelihoods, the Centre announced an additional Rs 40,000 crore allocation under MNREGA. Thus, for 2020-21, the total budget for the scheme is nearly Rs 1,0100 crore.

The Gaps Are Showing

But even the enhanced allocation is not enough as well over 90 percent of the available funds have already been used with two months still left for the fiscal year to get over. Now, activists are demanding that not only should the budgetary allocation of MNREGA be increased, but the number of days for which work guarantee is made available to every rural household should be doubled to 200. Another demand is for an increase in wages paid under this scheme, which almost always remain below the minimum agricultural wage in most states.

M A Raunaq from the Peoples Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG) said that some state governments (Rajasthan, Jharkhand) have already requested the Centre to double the number of days for which each household is eligible to demand work under MNREGA to 200. But the Centre has not been responsive, merely pointing towards the increased budgetary allocation while ignoring their demands.

It is another matter that the schemes architecture anyway provides for increasing the number of days of guaranteed work from 100 to 150 in case of natural calamities. And states such as Kerala and Odisha have, in the past, invoked floods and a cyclone respectively to seek this relaxation.

Another activist pointed out that the government had announced a new scheme called Garib Kalyan Rozgar Yojana (GKRY) in the aftermath of the Covid-19 lockdown. This scheme was meant exclusively for offering employment opportunities to those migrants who had returned to their home states after the lockdown rendered them homeless and without jobs, and was to be used in integration with some existing schemes, including MNREGA. But here again, no additional budgetary allocations were made.

Then, even the enhanced budgetary allocation for MNREGA has not been sufficient to provide employment to all the needy in this pandemic year. The governments own dashboard shows that nearly 10 million households and more than 20 million people who demanded work this year have not been given any job. And nearly three million households have already completed the mandated 100 days of employment and are therefore not eligible for more work.

It is no surprise therefore that activists are demanding that the budgetary allocation for this scheme be doubled to at least Rs 2 lakh crore.

Yet another issue being flagged for MNREGA is the wage per day, which activists allege is even lower than the minimum wage for agriculture in some states. The all-India average wage per person day in 2020-21 was Rs 200.5, with Haryana paying the maximum at Rs 308.27 and Telangana paying just Rs 168.77 for a days work so far this year. In 2019-20, the all-India rate was Rs 182.35.

Rajendran Narayanan, Assistant Professor at Azim Premji University and member of LibTech India, said wages paid under MNREGA are lower than the minimum agricultural wage in 18-20 states for the last many years.

As for the Finance Ministers statement last year of having increased the rate to Rs 202 a day, Narayanan said the annual increase in the rate had been announced much before the FMs statement and therefore the government did not offer more than the notified wage rate for 2020-21.

Wage rates under MNREGA should at least match the minimum agricultural wage of each state, he said. Also, the budgetary allocation for MNREGA should be notional - according to demand for work instead of a quantum fixed at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Q: What are the best options for a pre-built desktop PC? My parents need a new computer, but building them one isnt an option, as I dont live in the same state. All they do is surf the web and play an ancient card game, so I dont need to buy them much.

A: Since this question can be interpreted as either one about best form factors or best vendors, Ill tackle both topics.

In regards to the best types of pre-built PCs, the easiest option is an all-in-one computer. Having the system components housed within the monitor simplifies setup and thus any potential technical woes that come up when trying to help troubleshoot from afar. (What do you mean by an input? Whats an input? No, I dont have an HDMI.) Some now come with built-in webcams, too, which means your parents would only need to plug in the keyboard and mouse.

All-in-one PCs do cost more than a standard desktop PC due to the inclusion of the monitor, and they typically use mobile hardware too, so you get less bang for your buck. If your parents already have a compatible monitor and can just plug the old cables into the new PC, you can save money and stretch your dollars further by buying a standard mid- or or mini-tower.

HP All-in-ones offer easy setup, but also less powerful hardware due to space constraints.

In either case, your best bet for vendors would be one of the major playersHP, Dell, or Lenovo. They offer a wide selection of pre-built PCs that come with warranties and technical support, and each company often has sales, too. Those discounts are common during major U.S. holidays. During big sale events like Black Friday, you can sometimes snag Doorbuster deals for absurdly low prices. This past Thanksgiving, an Intel Core-i3 mini-tower with 4GB RAM and a 1TB HDD was $300 at Dell. Currently, you can get the same system for $360 or an upgraded one with 8GB RAM for $400.

For other sources of savings, you dont have to buy directly through HP, Dell, or Lenovo, eithersome office-supply stores like Staples and Office Depot/Office Max sell pre-builts manufactured by the big three. Another alternative is to buy a refurbished model from Dell, HP, or Lenovo if you dont need absolutely brand-spanking-new hardware. Buying a refurb directly from the maker assures a better warranty and customer service experience. Both of these options require a little more work, however, as youll need to keep an eye on the listings to find the real gems. Otherwise, youre typically better off buying brand-new when theres a sale.
What just happened? As his presidency comes to an end, Donal Trump has pardoned 73 people while another 70 have had their sentences commuted. Despite speculation that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Silk Road's Ross Ulbricht would be granted clemency, neither made the list.

NSA whistleblower Assange, currently serving a 50-week sentence in London's Belmarsh prison for jumping bail in 2012, avoided extradition to America earlier this month. He is wanted in the US for violation of the Espionage Act of 1917.

Assange, still wanted by the US

One of Assange's unlikely supporters is actress Pamela Anderson. The former Baywatch star claims to have Trump's ear and recently said the President was considering a pardon for the Australian national. But Assange wasn't one of those receiving executive grants of clemency.

Last month, a report from the Daily Beast stated that Trump had expressed sympathy for Ross Ulbricht. The founder of notorious dark web drug marketplace Silk Road is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole; a punishment many say outweighs the crime. Silk Road's largest drug seller received ten years, while other site admins were sentenced to between 17 months and six and a half years.

Anthony Levandowski will be celebrating today

Like Assange, Ulbricht never received any pardon from Trump. Some of those who did include former advisor Steve Bannon, rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, and Anthony Levandowski. For those who don't remember, the self-driving car engineer pleaded guilty to one count of stealing trade secrets from Google.

Levandowski founded driverless freight truck startup, Otto, after leaving Google-owned Waymo, which was later sold to Uber. He admitted taking 14,000 files from his former employer, including a sensitive document that outlined Waymo's plans, metrics, and technological solutions for its autonomous car project. He received 18 months in prison, but the sentence wasn't set to begin until the pandemic eased.

Last month, Trump pardoned former US congressman Duncan Hunter, who pleaded guilty to the misuse of over $250,000 of campaign funds on personal expenses, including $1,500 on Steam games.

Here is the full list of Donald Trump's pardons and commutations.
Roseburg, OR (97470)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 76F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low near 45F. N winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.
FREDERICTON - New Brunswick Green Leader David Coon is calling on Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland to resign from cabinet because of a letter he wrote to the Energy and Utilities Board.

New Brunswick Green party Leader David Coon reacts to the provincial budget in Fredericton, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Coon is calling on Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland to resign from cabinet because of a letter he wrote to the Energy and Utilities Board. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stephen MacGillivray

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick Green Leader David Coon is calling on Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland to resign from cabinet because of a letter he wrote to the Energy and Utilities Board.

The board is dealing with an application from Irving Oil for an increase in the wholesale prices of fuel oil, gasoline and diesel produced at its Saint John refinery.

Coon says any effort to influence the work of the board is an abuse of power.

The Opposition Liberals say by sending a letter to encourage a quick review, the minister is interfering in the work of the board.

But in a statement, late Wednesday, Premier Blaine Higgs says he won't ask Holland to resign.

Higgs says there are significant concerns about the continuity of oil supply and the impacts that the current market and federal regulations will have on the oil refinery, especially during COVID-19, and the minister was acting on behalf of government to support a review.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 20, 2021.

Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High near 60F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 42F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Despite 2020s angst, the global economy is poised to rebound. Sentiment is warming. A politically tumultuous lame-duck stretch should yield to an increasingly benign political backdrop. Its a recipe for US and world stocks to shine in 2021. Keep your cool, thoughwhile most believe we are early in the upturn, I see this bull market stealthily slipping into its later stages.

Awful as 2020 was, stocks prevailed handily. Of course, the road to 2020s double digit gains featured unprecedented COVID-19 economic lockdowns, an economic implosion and, importantly, an all-time record-fast bear market, highlighting a crucial lesson: Exit stocks only if you see a huge negative others dont. Those who coolly followed that rule rode markets rocket-ship recovery from Marchs lows.

That applies now. Bear markets have two causes: Either a wallopa huge, unforeseen shock wiping trillions of dollars off GDP, like the lockdowns. Or euphoria inflates expectations to unattainable levels.

I see no wallop now. Yes, COVIDs resurgence brought renewed restrictions on businesses and individuals across Americafrom indoor dining bans to non-essential business limits and curfews. Those and similar restrictions spanning Europe and Asia can trigger short-term economic setbacks. But that is no wallop. At home and globally, manufacturing activity keeps expanding. Services firmsdevastated during springs lockdownsare faring far better this time despite some isolated contractions. Retailers shifted their focus to online ordering. Restaurants ramped up takeout options. Hence: even amid partial lockdown, global service sector activity expanded in December.

Moreover, nearly everyone expected renewed restrictions, sapping shock value. Markets pre-priced it, looking far ahead like they routinely do after panicsto when COVID is history. As 2021 progresses, expect continued growth as economies begin normalizing amid COVID vaccine rollouts.

Politically, gridlock reigns globally, making surprises unlikelywhich markets love. Yes, the Democrats Georgia Senate sweep means President-elect Bidens party will control both Congressional chambers. But the House margin is Democrats smallest since 1900. Their Senate advantage? The slimmest possible. The 50/50 splitwith Vice President-elect Kamala Harris voting only to break tiesmakes Biden the first Democrat President to begin without a clear Senate majority since Grover Cleveland in 1885. Anything shy of complete party unanimity kills billsand internal fissures make Democratic solidarity on controversial issues a negligible.

Centrist Democratstodays powerbrokerswill block anything extreme. Arguably the most conservative, West Virginias Joe Manchin, is already demonstrating this. He killed the idea of eliminating filibusters right after the election. Now hes expressing doubts left and right. He is probably and quietly more powerful in the Senate right now than Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. But there are another handful of Democratic Senators who each arent that far behind, and all coveting the power it gives them. Gridlock usually comes after the midterms. Not this time. Its right here; right now.

Overseas, is similarly benign politically. Brexits conclusion finally zaps one lingering source of uncertaintyand the smooth exit undercut fears. Germanys Grand Coalition of Christian Democrats and Social Democrats is stumbling toward Septembers electionthe former lacks any popular candidate to replace Angela Merkel and the latter features deep internal divisions. The European Parliament? Gridlocked from 2019s elections through 2024. Each major country is in its own way. All great for stocks.

Sentiment-wise, optimism is growing yet not overflowing--yet. It is worth watching throughout 2021, as I detailed in my last column. Of 19 sentiment metrics I track, 9 signal euphoria, including IPO performance. Another 10 indicators , show only mild optimism, skepticism and even pessimism.

This warming sentiment is a hallmark of a later-stage bull marketdespite this bull market technically being only 10 months old. That doesnt surprise. While its magnitude and fundamental justification by definition made it a bear market, 2020s plunge and subsequent bounce off the bottom, both behaved more like a hugely oversized correction, as Ive explained here many times. The economic downturn also was atypicalnot a natural reset as businesses worked off excess, but a sudden, government-imposed contraction. That matters. While most pundits now hype value stocks for their historical early-cycle strength, expect stocks to act like an ongoing late cyclewhich favors growth.

It should bring big returns, as rising optimism expands valuations. If you divide historys bull markets into sixths by length, the first sixth is strongest, averaging 40.4% annualized returns. But the last sixthroughly where I see us all yearis second, averaging 24.3%.

You dont want to miss that for fear of a bear market aheadand there is no need to act early. 2020 aside, bear markets usually begin slowlyrolling over with a whimper, not a bang, as exuberant investors dismiss risks. Those blinded by early-stage bull market talk will likely shrug off hints of excesspotentially setting the stage for stock-slamming negative surprises.

But that should come later. Euphoria isnt actually here yet. And when it does emerge, it isnt actually a sell signal. Some of historys best years were while euphoria boiled. Its when euphoria blinds investors to major negatives you must worry. Maybeand I mean maybethat is 2022. Dont fret that now. Stay vigilant for emerging new excesses and unseen negatives. But in route, enjoy 2021s quieter politics and increasing economic normalcyboosting stocks far and wide.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR) ("City View" or the "Company"), trading through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "CVGR" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "CVGRF", is pleased to announce the launch of its hemp-based dog treats under the brand names Thera-Snax and Pawsperity.

The launch of branded dog treats marks the first milestone in the development of a range of hemp and cannabis infused proprietary brands being developed in several food categories by City View. The Company's research driven approach is being applied to pet wellness which will bring the benefits of hemp to pet owners.

Thera-Snax and Pawsperity brands are 100% natural dog treats and comprise the initial items in the company's pet supplement product launch. Thera-Snax and Pawsperity have been developed to support both active and older dog's wellness, with the benefits of hemp hearts and other active ingredients. Hemp's nutritional benefits make it one of the world's leading superfoods, hemp hearts are a rich source of complete plant protein, omega 3's, fibre, vitamin E and beneficial minerals to promote overall nutrition, muscle development and immune system function with anti-inflammatory properties to support healthy heart, coat, skin and joint mobility. Thera-Snax and Pawsperity with hemp hearts will be available in 2 formulas: healthy active living support with added vitamin B, and hip and joint support with added turmeric.

Consumers take their cues for healthy feeding of their dogs from functional food trends. The benefits of hemp hearts are well documented and particularly relevant for millennials who are big users of hemp heart super foods and now the largest dog owning cohort in Canada. According to The Nielsen Company retail sales of dog treats in Canada were estimated at $200 Million. Our formulations have the added advantage of tapping in to the trend of plant-based protein foods, consumers told us -"I know my dog will never be a vegan, but it's great to do a little bit for the planet by treating with a hemp heart treat, I love the clean, healthy, natural ingredients in these products."

City View also announces that it has negotiated debt settlements with arm's length creditors. Pursuant to the debt settlement agreements, the Company has agreed to settle aggregate outstanding debt of $91,986.79 in consideration for which it will issue an aggregate of 1,082,197 common shares at a deemed price of $0.085 per share. All shares issued in relation to these debt settlements are subject to a hold period expiring four months + one day after the date the shares are issued, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE.

Rob Fia, CEO of City View Green Holdings Inc. commented:

"The launch of Thera-Snax and Pawsperity is the start of our mission towards building science backed cannabis brands for pets and humans. We are excited about partnering with pet food retailers in the future to help them attract the critical millennial dog owner to their stores."

For further information contact:

City View Green Holdings Inc.

Rob Fia, CEO & President

Email: rob@cityviewgreen.ca

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About City View

City View Green is a leading cannabis-infused food company focused on the development of food brands, extraction, and distribution. Upon the anticipated receipt of its Cannabis Act processing and sales licences ("Cannabis Licences"), City View will incorporate cannabis-infused food production and extraction at its Brantford, Ontario facility. Once operational, it is our expectation that City View will produce high quality cannabis-infused food, oils, distillates, and water-soluble products for the food and beverage markets. In addition, City View owns a 27.5% stake in Budd Hutt Inc. ("Budd Hutt"), a retail-focused cannabis company with access to cannabis cultivation and production licences in Alberta and other retail opportunities across Canada. Through its relationship with Budd Hutt, the Company anticipates securing shelf space, product placement, and distribution opportunities for City View's products. For more information visit www.cityviewgreen.ca.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72399
Lawyers for Tiger King Joe Exotic were so confident that he would be pardoned by President Donald Trump that they had a limousine on standby.

But it was all for naught as Trump granted clemency to 143 people, and the list did not include the star of the Netflix documentary series.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Exotic, 57, whose real name is Joe Maldonado-Passage, became a breakout star thanks to the popularity of the eight-part series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.

The show documented Exotics business  an Oklahoma zoo where he would keep and show tigers and exotic animals  among other operations owned by fellow tiger enthusiasts, including Carole Baskin of Big Cat Sanctuary in Tampa, Florida.

Joe Exotic's legal team tell me they are "100% confident" Trump will pardon the 'Tiger King' from his 22-year criminal sentence. Here's the 38ft "Monster Ram Truck Limo" they've reserved to pick him up. They plan to grab some McRibs immediately after. pic.twitter.com/mK69eGLiBV  Greg Walters (@thegregwalters) January 19, 2021

For a short while, people seemed to be somewhat enchanted by Exotic. Months later, he was even a trending costume for Halloween 2020.

Yet as people binge-watched the series, Maldonado-Passage was in federal prison, convicted of targeting Baskin in a murder-for-hire plot and violating federal wildlife laws. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

In the show, Exotic accuses Baskin of killing her former husband, Don Lewis.

This stretch limo just arrived at the Fort Worth prison where Tiger King Joe Exotic is expected to be released if he receives a presidential pardon. pic.twitter.com/jpeAF4Nlg6  Annie Vogeler (@AnnieVogeler_TV) January 19, 2021

In addition to a Ram truck stretch limo, which was apparently scheduled to take Exotic to get a McRib at McDonalds, Oklahoma Citys KOCO News reported that the Tiger King subjects legal team had hair, makeup and wardrobe ready for his potential release from prison in Fort Worth, Texas.

Celebrities who did benefit from Trumps clemency on the eve of Joe Bidens inauguration include rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, who were convicted on weapons charges in Florida, the Associated Press reports. Lil Wayne was pardoned and Kodak Black was granted a commutation.

Social media received the news of Exotics failure to be granted a pardon by posting Tiger King GIFs, references and limo jokes.

joe exotic when he finds out ol donnie didnt pardon him after all #tigerking pic.twitter.com/zTmOvQ1Q6F  Nicole (@nicolesteff_) January 20, 2021

Joe Exotic was hoping for a Trump pardon and even had a limo waiting, but it was a stretch.  George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 20, 2021

I hear Joe Exotic missed out on a Presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Pretty sure i know whose fault that was. pic.twitter.com/ttYXcEiS97  Gerry Johnston (@gjsportsblog) January 20, 2021

Carol Baskin looking at the pardon list.... 



Sorry joe exotic #TigerKing pic.twitter.com/idV6SF8sDS  MichaelBMagic (@MichaelBMagic1) January 20, 2021

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday released financial assistance of around Rs 2,691 crores to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh, under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana  Gramin (PMAY-G) via video conferencing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases financial assistance of around Rs 2691 crores to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh, under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana  Gramin (PMAY-G) via video conferencing. pic.twitter.com/1R2uPvwJlE  ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2021

Addressing the event, the PM said, ''We've seen the situation during the regime of previous governments. I am talking about Uttar Pradesh especially, the poor didn't believe that the govt can help them in constructing a house. The previous Awaas schemes, the kind of houses built under them was not hidden from anyone.''

"In the past few years, around 2 crore houses have been built in rural areas alone. Under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana keys of 1.25 crore houses have been handed over to people. Around Rs 1.50 Lakh Crores has been given by Central Govt alone, to build these houses,'' the PM added.

The event began around 12 noon via video conferencing. Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present during the occasion.

The assistance will include the release of the first installment to 5.30 lakh beneficiaries and second installment to 80,000 beneficiaries who have already availed the first installment of assistance under PMAY-G, the Prime Minister`s Office said.

It is to mention that Prime Minister had given the clarion call of "Housing for All by 2022", for which a flagship programme of PMAY-G was launched on November 20, 2016.

So far 1.26 crore houses have already been built across the country under the scheme. Under PMAY-G, each beneficiary is given 100 per cent grant of Rs 1.20 lakh in plain areas and Rs 1.30 lakh in hilly states, North Eastern States, difficult areas, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, among others.

The beneficiaries of PMAY-G, in addition to the unit assistance, are also provided support of unskilled labour wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and assistance of Rs. 12,000 for construction of toilets through Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G).

The scheme has provisions for convergence with other central or state government schemes for providing LPG connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme, electricity connection and access to safe drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

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(With PTI Inputs)
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Trump will go down in history as the Republican president who fulfilled his partys perhaps greatest agenda, one that was thirty years in the making

As every US president leaves office at the end of his term, the elephant in the room is always the question: how consequential has he been as the head of the US executive? In the context of President Donald Trump, the answer to the question is less transparent and needs a more nuanced perspective in categorising his legacy'.

Regardless of the astonishing nature of Trumps divisive rhetoric, a consequence of which was the Capitol Hill attack on 6 January, his politics will eventually fade into memory; his tweets will be lost in the dumping ground of the internet, and his executive orders will be reversed by those of future presidents.

But his impact on the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will reverberate in American politics for at least a generation.

The third branch is often overlooked due to the publicised coverage of Congress, the legislature, and the President, the executive, but SCOTUS has actually been equally consequential in the American political system. In fact, it has determined a presidential election outcome (Bush versus Gore), provided corporations potentially unlimited access to political power (Citizens United versus FEC), and even asserted the legality of abortion based on the constitutional right to privacy (Roe versus Wade). Needless to say, by virtue of its incontrovertible power of judicial review, SCOTUS has been incredibly influential in American politics, sometimes even more than the other two branches.

The role and functioning of the US Supreme Court, as the third pillar of the American Republic, is best comprehended via the constitutional scholar, Richard Dworkin, who ascertained the Courts duty of judicial review by explaining that its justices engage in moral readings of the US Constitution in order to contextualise its principles.

Judicial review evolved as the duty of the US Supreme Court which it would employ in order to nullify legislation that it considered unconstitutional, ie, contradictory to the justices moral readings. That is to say, the US Supreme Court is nothing but the justices that comprise it, specifically their ideologies and interpretations of constitutional principles. Given that Associate Justices of the Court can only be nominated by the incumbent commander-in-chief, historically, US presidents have always chosen nominees who most align with their partys ideology. Moreover, unlike justices of the Supreme Court of India, who have to retire after the age of 65, SCOTUS justices serve for life.

After her nomination in late October 2020, Amy Coney Barrett joined President Trumps other two appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Bret Kavanaugh. Trump has appointed three justices and their average age is 52, meaning they are very much likely to serve for at least two to three decades; at the time of her death, Justice Ginsberg was eighty-seven years old. As a one-term president, Trump has been unprecedentedly consequential by being able to successfully nominate three justices  more than any other president in one term than President Richard Nixon; cementing a 6-3 conservative majority.

For decades, the 5-4 conservative majority was precarious as a single defection could lead to deadlock for conservative policies, or for the conservative blocking of liberal policies. Often, the fifth justice in question would be Justice Roberts who is known to be moderate to conservative on the ideological scale. However, the replacement of the liberal icon, Justice Ginsberg, by Barrett now makes that previously decisive defection quite inconsequential. This majority marks an unprecedented seismic shift in the Courts centre of ideological gravity by a single nomination.

That is not to say, however, that SCOTUS has turned into a subservient tool for Trumpism. This generational effect on the Court is not a testament to Trumps legacy as a politician, but actually to the legacy of Republican conservatism. Indeed, there is no doubt that Trump will go down in history as the Republican president who fulfilled his partys perhaps greatest agenda, one that was thirty years in the making.

In order to comprehend the political context and the gravity of these nominations, we must retrace American political history to 1987, the year President Ronald Reagan nominated Court of Appeals judge, Robert Bork, to the Supreme Court. Clearly a constructionist, a judge with conservative leanings, Bork was vehemently attacked by the democratic majority in the Senate, which confirms judicial appointments. So dramatic were the Bork hearings that to bork became an official word in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Defeated and insulted, Republicans who were in the minority vowed vengeance for a time in the future when theyd be in power.

Control of the Judiciary had actually been a conservative objective even before the Bork hearings. In the early 1980s, conservative law school students engaged in a collective action campaign that culminated in the Federalist Society, an institution that is an incubator of constructionist judicial activism.

The organisation, and the evangelical support it has commanded since its inception, was a consequence of widespread belief amongst conservative Americans in the 1970s that the country was turning a little too progressive; that it was losing the principles of family values and protestant discipline, which they accused the liberal judicial revolution of compromising.

Indeed, as much as itd like to deny it and hide behind the veil of being an academic institution, the Federalist Society is a powerful public interest group that has used monetary and political means to materialise a conservative agenda.

Coming back to the Republican retribution for Bork, the central figure of the legislative branch in this political story is Senator Mitch Mcconnell. As the democrats of the Senate judiciary committee, chaired by then-Senator Joe Biden, were impugning Borks legitimacy, Mcconnell was watching behind the sidelines as a first-term junior senator. Over the past three decades, he rose up the ladder in the second house of Congress; from majority whip to Republican leader and finally the Senate majority leader, a position that gave him close to absolute power over the outcome of any vote. He launched the first salvo in 2016 when he unabashedly blocked President Barack Obama from nominating his choice of Merrick Garland as a replacement to the late Justice Scalia. Proclaiming, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President, he was gambling on candidate Trump winning the general election that November; a well-calculated risk that paid off with extraordinary yields.

As a novice businessman-turned-accidental-politician, whod desultorily jumped from one party to another, candidate Trump needed to attach himself to an established ideology. On the other hand, in fulfilling its agenda the Federalist Society has always eagerly waited for a Republican to occupy the White House. Thus, the two came together in May 2016 when candidate Trump publicised that if elected President he would nominate a judge chosen from the list created by his legal advisor, Federalist Society vice-president Leonard Leo. Within weeks of taking office, President Trump delivered on his vow to conservatives by appointing Neil Gorsuch, one of the judges from that list.

President Trump, the Federalist Society and Senator McConnell have acted as Republican conservatisms three pillars over the past four years, to fulfill the objective of capturing American democracys third pillar.

While previous nominations have pivoted the Supreme Court by replacing a liberal justice with a stalwart conservative one, such as when President HW Bush nominated the arch-conservative Clarence Thomas to replace Thurgood Marshall, a single nomination as that of Amy Coney Barrett has hardly ever polarised the Courts ideology for a generation. A recent poll showed that Trumps approval ratings have dropped to their lowest ever, at a mere 29 percent, and most Americans surveyed revealed that theyd much rather prefer that the outgoing president disappears from politics altogether, perhaps so the Republican party can save face and start afresh. However, even if Trump does disappear and becomes a non-entity in the American political system, his Presidency will continue to be substantially consequential for the coming several decades.

The author is a graduate in political science from New York University
While Work-From-Home (WFH) is a widely accepted policy under current circumstances, the initial frenzy witnessed during the beginning of the lockdown is soon dying especially in the technology sector.

There are also a set of people who are witnessing a gradual dip in productivity and hence want employees back in the office. Such firms are looking at taking up managed spaces for newer projects if they do not have space in their existing portfolio.

Finance and BFSI sectors are opting for managed spaces as an attempt to conserve capital and get flexibility. When BFSI companies move to new facilities, they sometimes need space for short-term before moving fully. Managed spaces come handy at the time.

For primary economic sectors including banking, life sciences and engineering, CAPEX and agility are of little or no importance so they will continue to opt for traditional office spaces.

Some will opt for a combination of traditional offices and enterprise models. In the future, large corporates will go for a combination of managed space, enterprise and traditional office. The choice of combination of spaces will depend on the business location, project time horizons, and business operations.

Many corporates are now working with small teams and small life cycle projects with highly driven outcomes. Such corporates need spaces for their teams and managed office spaces fit in very well.

All about managed office spaces

Agility is critical for corporates todayagility of capital, agility of location and agility of space. As corporates are looking at conserving capital, wanting flexibility with space needs, and also wanting to remain accessible to employees, a managed space comes as a solution.

A managed office space, also known as a serviced office is a fully outsourced workplace. Everything from renting property to designing, fit-outs and operations is taken care of by a third party. Such spaces offer space flexibility for dynamic businesses, options to lease out for a shorter period and become a cost-effective solution for several firms. They are offering corporates the much-needed agility amid the uncertainty.

Managed office spaces also work as a bridge space in most markets in India due to the undersupply of grade A offices. Most often they act as incubation spaces and help companies buy time while looking for a permanent set up.

At a time when the country is reeling under an economic slowdown and as businesses deal with cash crunch, such spaces offer an effective cost-saving solution. Thus, managed office spaces are gaining relevance in the time of the pandemic.

How is managed office space different from traditional offices?

As opposed to shared office spaces, managed offices are designed in accordance with a companys requirements. Often managed by a co-working office firm or any other third-party provider, such offices have features and services as per the companys standards and requirements.

Managed spaces also come as a convergence of landlord and financer providing a service. It is different from the conventional offices in a way that here developers sign a lease with the service provider and not with the client directly.

Daily facility management is done by the provider and the corporate need not appoint a separate agency or agencies. Some of the biggest advantages are maintaining corporate hygiene standards which are universal across the firms SOPs. Branding and image remain intact and data security concerns are addressed in a much robust manner as compared to a co-working setup.

How are managed spaces relevant post-COVID world?

With uncertainty in the market due to the pandemic, corporates are unsure about renewing leases and many are considering renegotiating terms of the lease. In such a scenario, managed spaces offer flexibility with short-term lease options.

There is also no need to reorganize and redesign spaces as those efforts are taken care of by a third party. There is thus greater flexibility offered.

As companies cautious of making a heavy capital investment, CAPEX-light models are finding more relevance. Hence, managed spaces are gaining much traction among such firms. An advantage that managed spaces offer is that there is no need to spend capital on creating permanent spaces in these uncertain times. Corporates can conserve that capital and invest it in the business.

While a co-working space also offers flexibility, a managed space is preferable as it also provides network security. It also provides employee hygiene and security. With the pandemic, employee security concerns are rising. In a managed space only your company employees are present as opposed to a co-working space that can be used by anyone; hence there is greater security and hygiene.

Such spaces also allow companies to have their own branding and customize space according to their needs and culture.
 "Reimagining the Death Penalty: Targeting Christians, Conservatives" | Main | Intriguing (and significant?) executive order from Prez Trump on "Protecting Americans From Overcriminalization Through Regulatory Reform" 

January 19, 2021

Some news and notes and rulings on federal compassionate release

I know that lots of people are eagerly awaiting the reported forthcoming list of clemency grants from Prez Trump on his last full day in office (including, it seems, Joe Exotic). As we wait, I have noticed a number of recent pieces about so-called compassionate relief motions in the federal system, a mechanism which serves as a means now for federal judges to modify the prison sentences of some federal prisoners. Here is a round up of some of these new pieces, included a few discussing grants and denials of compassionate release to notable individuals:

From Law360, "Pandemic Is Changing Compassionate Release Calculus"

From Colorado Politics, "Federal judges in Colorado denied overwhelming majority of requests to release inmates for COVID-19"

From Uerweb, "Bill Underwood is FREE! Former Music Exec Granted Compassionate Release from Prison After 33 Years"

From the AP, "Jailed kids-for-cash judge loses bid for pandemic release"

From Reuters, "U.S. judge rejects 'Pharma Bro' Shkreli's bid for compassionate release from prison"

January 19, 2021 at 04:11 PM | Permalink

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Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi is well-known for its budget offerings, but it appears that the company will enter the gaming smartphone segment with a new device this year. Redmi general manager Lu Weibing in a post on the Chinese micro-blogging platform Weibo has revealed that the Redmi gaming handset would come at a "price that cannot be refused," although its exact details remain unclear, at the moment. Additionally, the company executive has announced that a new Redmi device would pack the latest MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC which further features an integrated 5G modem. It is unclear whether this MediaTek-powered handset and Redmis aforementioned first gaming phone are the same devices.

Weibing has also announced that the next-generation Redmi K40 smartphone will debut next month; however, its exact launch date remains unclear. The new K40 series is further said to pack the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC. Interestingly, Redmi Product Director Wang Teng Thomas recently suggested the arrival of a new device alongside Redmi K40 next month. A notable tipster who goes by the name Digital Chat Station claimed earlier today that the upcoming Redmi gaming smartphone would pack the new MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G SoC, under the hood. All this indicates, the new Redmi gaming device might arrive in February with the latest MediaTek processor, under the hood. The Xiaomi sub-brand is yet to share more details over its upcoming smartphones.

With its first gaming smartphone, Redmi would also hope to rival popular gaming devices by Black Shark and Nubia.

Meanwhile, Vivo, Oppo, and Realme have also announced that the smartphone brands will release new phones powered by the latest MediaTek SoC. The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC that was unveiled alongside the Dimensity 1100 is based on 6nm process and comes with an integrated 5G modem that further supports 5G NSA and SA modes. It also supports up to 168Hz refresh rate at full-HD+ resolution. Additionally, the chipset features the Arm Mali-G77 MC9 GPU and supports a maximum of 16GB LDDR4x memory, as well as UFS 3.1 storage.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) rose 1.07% to Rs 1384.40 after L&T Construction won large contracts for its power transmission & distribution business in Bangladesh.

The power transmission & distribution business of L&T has won a slew of transmission line orders in Bangladesh. As per L&T's classification, the valuation of the 'large' contract lies between Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 5,000 crore.

L&T is an Indian multinational engaged in engineering, procurement and construction projects, manufacturing, defence and services with over $21 billion in revenue.

On a consolidated basis, the company's net profit surged 115.20% to Rs 5876.54 crore on 12.2% decline in net sales to Rs 31,034.74 crore in Q2 September 2020 over Q2 September 2019. L&T will announce Q3 FY21 result on 25 January 2021.

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I cant think of anyone better to sell the company to than those who work to make it the best service every day, CEO and co-founder, Ron DeHaas.

As of December 31, 2020, Covenant Eyes Inc. belongs to its 211 employees. CEO and co-founder Ron DeHaas previously held the majority interest in the company, along with a few other investors close to the company. The transfer means employees directly benefit from the growth of the company overall and own a stake in the company.

I cant think of anyone better to sell the company to than those who work to make it the best service every day, said DeHaas. They are the ones who are committed most to continuing Covenant Eyes mission, and they are the ones who will ultimately benefit from its growth in the future.

DeHaas plans to stay as the CEO of Covenant Eyes. Company executives will also continue to make high-level decisions for the company. See the story of Covenant Eyes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSaMfZiV8n0.

Employees learned about adding owner to their titles at an online company meeting January 14, 2021. Im thrilled that the company I work for cares so much about me and my future to provide me this additional benefit, said Rhonda Robinson, a human resources assistant who has worked at Covenant Eyes for more than four years. This is one more reason why I love Covenant Eyes, and now I own part of this very important work and will benefit from its future growth.

Rons decision to sell the company comes 20 years after starting it. He wanted to ensure that Covenant Eyes would always be true to its commitment and wouldnt be sold to other interests that could have taken it in another direction.

According to The Employee Ownership Foundations 24th Annual ESOP Economic Performance Survey, most ESOP companies showed increases in productivity, revenue, stock value, and profitability, all of which benefit employees. If there is a separation between the company and employee, the employee is compensated their share of the companys fair market value.

It is exciting to see such a big increase in the number of employee-owners in the United States as well as the wealth creation associated with Employee Stock Ownership Plans. According to the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), there are now 14 million ESOP participants with ESOP balances of $1.4 billion, added Aaron Juckett, president, and founder of ESOP Partners, the firm that led the transition.

In Michigan, there are 172 privately held ESOP companies and only a handful that are 100% employee owned. These employee-owned companies employ approximately 31,000 employee-owners.

Covenant Eyes employees have always bought in to how accountability helps with those who want to stop looking at pornography. Now, theyre literally bought in as owners and share in all of the financial benefits of a growing company, said DeHaas. Covenant Eyes employees pay nothing to be owners of the company. The company pays for their ownership through profits being reinvested. There is a vesting-time requirement for new employees to become co-owners.

About Covenant Eyes

Pornography is corrupting hundreds of millions of people. Covenant Eyes exists to change the course of history by enabling the world to overcome porn and be restored and transformed.

About ESOP Partners

ESOP Partners is an ESOP service provider that changes lives by creating wealth and sustainable employment through employee ownership and works with business owners and companies to determine if an ESOP is a good fit for their situation. ESOP Partners establishes, maintains, and sustains employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) throughout the lifecycle to maximize the benefits of being an ESOP company and provide employees with an ownership stake in the company that they work for. Connect with ESOP Partners on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/esop-partners.

About ESOPs

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are qualified retirement plans that buy, hold, and sell company stock for the benefit of the employees, providing an ownership stake in the company. ESOPs are the only retirement plan allowed to borrow money to purchase stock and are generally funded only by the company. Selling part or all of a business to an ESOP enables a business owner to sell to a built-in buyer in as little as 90 days at full fair market value. There are many significant tax and cash flow benefits of selling to an ESOP. An ESOP also allows for a better-managed ownership transition, preservation of local jobs, and the maintenance of a companys legacy in the community. According to the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), there are approximately 10,000 ESOPs in place in the U.S., covering 10.3 million employees. There are less than 2,500 ESOP companies that are 100% owned by their employees.
A public vaccination clinic will open at the Kern County Fairgrounds next week and will ramp up efforts in the coming weeks to eventually vacc
Alberto Salazar, a resident reporter of the Latin American News Agency Prensa Latina in Vietnam, told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that the 13th National Party Congress will have a direct impact on not only the macro-economy and society but also on each individual.



He recognised that this topic is part of peoples daily conversations. They are greatly interested in the 13th National Party Congress, as they know that decisions made will directly affect their lives.



The National Party Congress is the most significant event in Vietnam and the Communist Partys leadership has always been a decisive factor in the countrys destiny throughout different periods in history, he said.



Having worked in the Southeast Asian country for three and a half years, Salazar said he has witnessed a number of positive changes, especially new works, and he feels safer here than anywhere else in the world.



The reporter also spoke highly of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)s direct and consistent efforts in harmoniously coordinating with the Government to steer the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and recover the economy.



The Communist Party has exerted every effort to ensure that even in the most trying of times, like fighting the pandemic, Vietnam remains among very few countries to post positive growth and guarantee social security, he said.



Vietnams economy grew 2.91 percent in 2020 despite the pandemic - a pace many countries would envy even in normal times, Salazar noted, adding that most international organisations predict it will expand 6 percent this year.



In the interview, the Prensa Latina correspondent also highlighted Vietnams success as ASEAN Chair in 2020 despite the COVID-19 crisis. It held many teleconferences and phone talks with leaders of countries in the region and the world to coordinate the pandemic response strategy and maintain contact.

Vietnam also proposed many initiatives during the first year of its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021, including securing recognition of December 27 as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, which was supported by all member states.



Its already high position on the international arena was enhanced after the successful fulfilment of these dual roles last year, he said.



The Vietnamese people can be proud of their Communist Party, Salazar said. Likewise, the Communist Party can be proud of its people, the reported stressed.



He also assessed preparations for the 13th National Party Congress as being swift and effective, which will ensure its success.



As the resolution of the upcoming National Party Congress will guarantee both the present and future of the country, and the event will also issue a vision for the countrys international integration process, he believed that Vietnam, which has long been respected by the world, will secure an even higher standing in the years to come
WASHINGTON  On Tuesday, Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense nominee, took another step toward becoming the first Black U.S. Secretary of Defense. But his path to confirmation by Congress is a bumpy one, facing opposition from Republicans and some Democrats as well.

Austin, 67, served four decades in the military, rising up through the ranks of the U.S. Army to head U.S. Central Command, which overseas strategy and operations in the Middle East and Central and South Asia.

He needs waivers from both chambers of Congress to assume the role because he retired from the military less than seven years ago, in 2016. The head of the Department of the Defense is traditionally a non-uniformed civilian; the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the nations highest ranking military official.

The Connecticut congressional delegation is split over whether to back a waiver for Austin, although all believe him to be highly qualified for the job. Some delegation members will support a waiver for Austin, although four years ago they voted against the same waiver for President Donald Trumps first secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, an esteemed Marine general.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he will vote against a congressional waiver, calling it a matter of principle.

The waiver puts many in Congress in a bind. Some feel strongly about civilian control of the Pentagon, but they like Austin and dont want to oppose a waiver for the first Black nominee as its chief. Some Republicans will support a waiver for Austin, but may not support his confirmation in the Senate  a step that would follow the waivers.

Blumenthal had a one-on-one meeting with Austin last week. He said he likes and supports Austin, but believes firmly in following the law that one must leave the military seven years prior to becoming head of the Pentagon.

Civilian control of the military is a bedrock constitutional principal that we need to uphold strongly, Blumenthal said in an interview, noting that he also opposed a waiver for Mattis.

Among other Democrats, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a veteran who lost her legs in combat in Iraq, will also vote against a waiver, she told the Washington Post.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., also voted against a waiver for Mattis in January 2017, when Trump first took office. Murphy said Monday he would support a waiver for Austin, however, because he thought there was much less reason to be fearful of a recently retired general running DoD under Biden.

The immediacy of the threat to our country requires DoD to have leadership in place without delay, Murphy wrote on Twitter. A general at DoD was especially worrying under Trump. Trump had zero foreign policy experience, a penchant to glorify violence, a total neophyte Secretary of State, and an unstable, war mongering former general as [director of the national security agency]... All of this is different under Biden.

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a congressional waiver for Austin on Thursday, before the Senate votes.

In 2017, all of Connecticuts Democratic House members voted against a waiver for Mattis.

Reps. John Larson, D-1, and Rosa DeLauro, D-3, will support a waiver for Austin, their staff said Tuesday. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, is undecided, his spokesman said. Other members of the delegation did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, Austin vowed to empower civilian leaders in the DoD and submit to oversight from the Congress. He promised to work hand-in-glove with State Department to maintain foreign relations, to ensure DoD is doing everything it can to help distribute COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. and to root out sexual abusers, racists and extremists from the military. He said he would deter war and protect national security.

While I did not seek this job, I consider it an honor, Austin said.

Blumenthal, who questioned Austin during the hearing, pressed Austin to investigate white supremacy in the military, respond to Russian cyber attacks and address contamination of soil and water on military bases.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
The education minister has accused a teachers union of being incredibly disingenuous over claims that it did not instruct its members not to return to schools.

Norma Foley said unions had made it clear they were not happy to accept pubic health advice.

She made the comments after John Boyle, general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (Into), insisted the union did not instruct its members not to go to work on Thursday.

Teachers and SNAs call for postponement of schoolsa reopening:



INTO and FArsa this evening said Government efforts to reassure school staff that it was safe for schools to open limited services to students with special education needs (SEN) had failed...  INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) (@INTOnews) January 19, 2021

On Tuesday night, the Government confirmed its decision not to reopen schools for primary pupils with special needs on Thursday after unions rejected the plans.

The Department of Education said it will regrettably not be possible, blaming a lack of co-operation by key unions in the primary sector.

Into and Forsa, which represents 15,000 non-teaching education staff such as special needs assistants, said efforts to reassure staff that it was safe for schools to open limited services to pupils with special education needs (SEN) had failed.

Staff and unions had raised concerns about high levels of infection in the community.

SNAs and teachers call for postponement of schoolsa reopening https://t.co/JyJtNzDISx  FArsa trade union (@forsa_union_ie) January 19, 2021

Ms Foley told RTEs Morning Ireland that the public health advice given to unions and staff was categorical and unequivocal.

Asked about Mr Boyles comments that the vast majority of Into members would have complied with any measures put in place, Ms Foley accused him of being incredibly disingenuous.

He made it very clear in the statements that they issued, and indeed with Forsa, that they were not happy to accept the public health advice that was issued to them, that they were not happy to accept all of the measures that were put in place, she added.

In terms of parental leave and unpaid leave schemes being extended in schools, increased subsidies for full-time childcare for essential workers in education, pregnant teachers and SNAs being allowed to work from home on a temporary basis  the public health advice was categorical, unequivocal, and this is public health advice that came from two experts who have worked hand-in-hand with Mr Boyle and the other union leaders.

When the general society is not doing what general society has been asked to do, in terms of reducing contacts and following public health advice, it puts us in a precarious position.

Mr Boyle denied suggestions the union instructed its members not to go back to the classroom.

Absolutely not. It is very, very disappointing that the special education is not restarting tomorrow, face-to-face, he added.

I have an understanding that the vast majority of our members would have complied.

But after our executive meeting last evening I spoke to 300 members, and the big difference is that the numbers of infection (in the) community are 10 times higher now than they were back in December.

There are very, very legitimate concerns fears and anxieties.

We were being told that with the level of infections in the community the schools are threatened, and when teachers heard that, it didnt give them confidence, nor the SNAs.

We certainly hope that with the levels dropping last night, that we will be back for all the children as soon as possible.

We will work tooth and nail with the department to make sure our schools reopen safely, but theres so much anxiety among everybody.

Ms Foley could not confirm when children with special needs will return to school.

She said the department will continue to work with all the unions, but added: There has to be good faith.

It is a matter of deep regret that the unions are not happy at this stage to recognise the essential needs of children with additional needs and not accept public health advice.
In this Dec. 18, 2020 photo, pipes to be used for the Keystone XL pipeline are stored in a field near Dorchester, Neb. (Chris Machian /Omaha World-Herald via AP)

TC Energy Halts Spending on Keystone XL, Says Its Disappointed With Biden Move

CALGARYTC Energy Corp. says it has suspended work on the Keystone XL project in anticipation of U.S. president-elect Joe Biden revoking its vital presidential permit once he is sworn in later today.

In a news release, it says it is disappointed with Bidens expected action, adding it will overturn extensive regulatory reviews that found the pipeline would transport needed energy in an environmentally responsible way and bolster North American energy security.

It warned the move will lead to the layoffs of thousands of union workers and comes despite its commitments to use more renewable energy and draft partnerships with Indigenous communities.

TC Energy says it will stop capitalizing costs, including interest during construction, effective Wednesday, and will evaluate the carrying value of its investment in the pipeline, net of project recoveries.

It says this will likely result in substantive mostly non-cash writedowns in its first-quarter financial results.

On Tuesday, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a phone conversation to press Biden to allow Keystone XL to proceed. Kenneys government has invested $1.5 billion directly in the project, along with loan guarantees, and he has said about $1 billion is at risk if the project is killed.

Our base business continues to perform very well and, aside from Keystone XL, we are advancing $25 billion of secured capital projects along with a robust portfolio of other similarly high-quality opportunities under development, TC Energy CEO Francois Poirier said in a statement.

He says the company remains committed to growing earnings and dividends through its investments in critical energy infrastructure even if Keystone XL doesnt go ahead.
RideShare Rental Inc ( ) CEO Ramy El-Batrawi tells Proactive its wholly-owned subsidiary Rideshare Car Rentals LLC, is moving its headquarters from a location in Hollywood, to a larger facility in the Los Angeles area.

El-Batrawi explains how the new office space will significantly expand its operational square footage, which will facilitate its rapid growth strategy.
The Chinese Communist Party faces growing international condemnation of its repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang, as the incoming Biden administration backs the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's decision to label it a genocide.

In a series of appearances before US Senate confirmation hearings on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT), three of US-President elect Joe Biden's top officials, Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken, incoming intelligence chief Avril Haines and treasury secretary Janet Yellen all threatened further action against the Chinese government over human rights abuses.

President-elect Joe Biden with Secretary of State nominee Tony Blinken. Credit:AP

"I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state," Pompeo said in a statement ahead of the hearings.

Asked by Republican legislators if he agreed with the assessment, Blinken responded: That would be my judgment as well".
Stephen Bear claims he is being investigated for harassment, exposure, voyeurism and obstructing a police officer following his revenge porn arrest at Heathrow Airport on Friday.

Police apprehended Bear, 31, after he returned from Dubai for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia Harrison without her knowledge and sharing the explicit content online.

Essex police have since announced a formal charge is yet to be made while the investigation continues, with the TV personality remaining on bail until February 10th.

In statement to MailOnline on Wednesday, a spokesperson confirmed: 'A 31-year-old man from Loughton, who was arrested on suspicion of disclosing private sexual images or film without consent with intent to cause distress, voyeurism, harassment and obstructing a police officer, has been released on bail until 10 February.'

Controversy: Stephen Bear confirmed he is being investigated for harassment, exposure, voyeurism and obstructing an officer following his revenge porn arrest at Heathrow Airport on Friday

Addressing YouTube subscribers on Tuesday during what appeared to be another breach of quarantine rules since his return, the former TV personality said his passport had been withheld while he remains on bail.

He ranted: 'Where do I f**king start? I'm back from Dubai and I've actually got a criminal case over my head. I've been charged with some s**t, man.

'I've been charged from the Essex police with harassment, obstruct police officer, exposure and voyeurism.

'So let's start with the first one. Harassment doesn't sound good does it? Exposure. Not too sure what exposure means.

'Obstructing a police officer. What do you reckon I did? Do you reckon I got in his way?'

'I think voyeurism because I've been to Dubai and I've gone on a voyage - I'm getting nicked for travelling to Dubai because I've been on a voyage.

In custody: Police apprehended Bear, 31, following his return to Heathrow for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia Harrison without her knowledge

'Do you blame Captain Cook for sailing the seven seas? No you don't. So right now I can't talk about the case.'

He added: 'It's under investigation. I'm on bail until 2nd of February. Right now they've got my passport.

'When I arrived on the 15 January I was going to surprise my mum - I had four police officers waiting for me at the airport. They handcuffed me, it was quite embarrassing actually.'

Fury: Addressing YouTube subscribers on Tuesday during what appeared to be another breach of quarantine rules, the former TV personality admitted he was unhappy with the lengthy list of charges

Georgia believes Stephen showed the recording to at least 'two friends' and claims the footage was being widely shared on WhatsApp.

She also alleges he shared screenshots of the video to followers on his OnlyFans account, but Bear has denied it was her in the video.

The former Love Island star has since thanked her fans and 'everyone that has reached out' following Bear's arrest.

In a statement given to The Sun, she said: 'I am passionate about supporting victims of revenge porn and hopefully by coming forward it will give others the courage to do the same.

'I have a fantastic team around me including friends, family and colleagues who are just some of the many reasons I have be able to stay positive right now.'

Nightmare: 'Where do I f**king start? I'm back from Dubai and I've actually got a criminal case over my head. I've been charged with some s**t, man,' he said

Venturing out on Tuesday, Bear was keen to show subscribers damage to the outside of his Essex property, understood to be the result of a police raid on the home while he was detained in custody.

Reflecting on the damage while driving his Mercedes through London, he said: 'The police have smashed my door to pieces back at my house. I managed to get that fixed two days ago, but Im going to take you to the house and show you the damage. Its not that bad really.

'While I was in the police station I got questioned twice. Not one  twice. I was in the cell for 14 hours, 15 hours, on my birthday. And while I was in the police cell theyve gone into house and smashed open the door. They said they had a warrant. Ive had to get everything fixed. Theyve busted my f***ing front gate as well.

Distress: Georgia believes Stephen showed the recording to at least 'two friends' and claims the footage was being widely shared on WhatsApp

The former reality star was taken into custody as he landed from Dubai, after the United Arab Emirates was removed from the UK's quarantine list.

A spokesman for Essex Police told MailOnline at the time: 'A man has been arrested in connection with an investigation into the disclosure of sexual photographs without consent.

'The 31-year-old man from Loughton was arrested on Friday 15 January on suspicion of disclosing private sexual photographs or films without consent with intent to cause distress, harassment, and obstructing a police officer.

'He remains in custody for questioning.'

Claim: She also alleges he shared screenshots of the video to followers on his OnlyFans account, but Bear has denied it was her in the video

The closure of Dubai's travel corridor means those arriving from the UAE are required to quarantine for 10-days upon their arrival in the UK, although the coronavirus test and release option halves the isolation period to just five days.

While Bear may well have chosen to be tested following his return, the TV personality appeared to show a complete disregard for current guidelines by venturing out to buy takeaway coffee shortly after his release.

He was accompanied by on-off lover Tia McAlister, 18, who is 13-years his junior, as he left his Essex home for refreshments.

Under investigation: A troubled looking Bear revealed he was on bail until February 2nd

A source told MailOnline that Tia, who's a beauty therapist from Slough and only turned 18 earlier this month, has been seeing Stephen for over a year and the pair have matching star sign tattoos, as they're both Capricorns.

Tia celebrated turning 18 on January 5 while Bear's 31st birthday was on Friday, the day he travelled from Dubai to the UK and was arrested.

However those closest to the teenager are said to be skeptical of their relationship.

A source told The Sun: 'Several friends have tried to warn Tia against Bear due to the huge age gap, but because he's famous she sees this as an opportunity.

'She is an aspiring influencer, so she'd use this as a way of getting in the limelight.'

Romance: The former Celebrity Big Brother is believed to be dating beauty therapist Tia McAlister, 18, who is 13-years his junior

It's also understood that Bear owes thousands of pounds over a former clothing company with his ex-girlfriend Charlotte Crosby.

He is said to have set up clothing company His and Hers Enterprise Ltd with the former Geordie Shore star in 2017.

Although it has been claimed that the business venture ended in acrimony with the former couple, who split in 2017 after a turbulent one year relationship, involved in a court case last summer.

According to The Sun, Charlotte 'petitioned the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts to wind the company up claiming her solo firm CLC Enterprises was a creditor'.

It is believed that creditors were owed 30,366 with an outstanding 1,268 director's advance to Bear in the final set of accounts listed on Companies House.

Bear is said not to have been present at the court proceedings with Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Mullen awarding Charlotte in favour.
[January 20, 2021] DSM Nutritional Products' President & CEO Chris Goppelsroeder to retire

HEERLEN, Netherlands, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal DSM, a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living, today announces that Chris Goppelsroeder, currently President & CEO DSM Nutritional Products (DNP) and member of the DSM Executive Committee, will retire and leave the company as of April 1, 2021. Dimitri de Vreeze, DSM's Co-CEO will step into Chris' DNP leadership role in his capacity as COO. Chris Goppelsroeder has had a long and successful career at DSM, having first joined in 2003 when DSM acquired Roche Holding AG's vitamins division. In 2013 he became President & CEO DNP. Since then he has led DSM's largest business to above-market growth and transformed its operating model to a customer-centric innovation powerhouse that is a world leader in health through nutrition. He was instrumental in DNP's growth organically as well as through acquisitions, including recently Glycom and Erber Group. In addition, Chris played a crucial role in the development of big innovation projects such as Clean Cow/Bovaer, Veramaris and DSM's new moves in the space of precision and personalized nutrition. His belief in the importance of innovation has also been behind the creation of the Health & Nutrition Campus Project in Kaiseraugst, bringing innovation, business and global functions physically together. Geraldine Matchett and Dimitri de Vreeze, Co-CEOs, commented: "Chris has been a key and valued leader for DSM and we are very grateful for his dedication and the contributions he has made in transforming DSM to where we are today. We will be sad to say goodbye to a great colleague and friend who has built a fantastic leadership team. Chris leaves a tremendous legacy and, on behalf of the entire company, we wish him all the best for his well-deserved retirement." DSM  Bright Science. Brighter Living.

Royal DSM is a global, purpose-led, science-based company active in Nutrition, Health and Sustainable Living. DSM's purpose is to create brighter lives for all. DSM addresses with its products and solutions some of the world's biggest challenges while simultaneously creating economic, environmental and societal value for all its stakeholders  customers, employees, shareholders, and society at large. DSM delivers innovative solutions for human nutrition, animal nutrition, personal care and aroma, medical devices, green products and applications, and new mobility and connectivity. DSM and its associated companies deliver annual net sales of about 10 billion with approximately 23,000 employees. The company was founded in 1902 and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information can be found at www.dsm.com. Or find us on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DSMcompany

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DSM

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/3108

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/dsmcompany For more information:







DSM Media relations Lieke de Jong tel. +31 (0) 45 5782420 email media.contacts@dsm.com DSM Investor Relations Dave Huizing tel. +31 (0) 45 5782864 email investor.relations@dsm.com

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to DSM's future (financial) performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of DSM and information currently available to the company. DSM cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. DSM has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is leading. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/329419/dsm_logo.jpg

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New Delhi, Jan 21 : Majority of the respondents of the IANS C-Voter Tibet Poll back restoring Tibet's status as a buffer zone in order to prevent border conflicts between India and China.

Responding to query on 'Do you think it is important to restore the historic status of Tibet as a buffer zone or a zone of peace in order to prevent border conflicts between India and China', 73.7 per cent of the respondents said 'Yes', 13.8 per cent said 'No', while 12.6 per cent said they couldn't comment on the matter.

The survey included a sample size of 3,000 people spread across the country.

Gender wise, 13.4 per cent male replied they couldn't comment, 72.8 per cent agreed with the query, while 13.8 per cent said 'No'. Among females, 74.7 per cent agreed, 13.7 per cent answered in the negative, while 11.7 per cent said they couldn't comment.

Among those in the age group of 18 to 24 years, 12.0 per cent said they couldn't comment on the matter, 73.5 per cent said 'Yes', while 14.5 per cent said 'No'. In the 25-34 age group, 12.2 per cent were undecide, 72.5 per cent agreed while 15.3 per cent answered in the negative.

As many as 16.9 per cent of people in the lower education group said they couldn't comment on the issue, 67.2 per cent agreed to the query, while 15.9 per cent said 'No'.

In the middle education group, 8.4 per cent said they couldn't comment, 79.9 per cent said 'Yes', while 11.7 per cent said they didn't agree with the query.

In the higher education group, 12 per cent said they couldn't comment, 73.8 per cent said 'Yes', while 14.2 per cent replied in the negative.

As per the survey, 16.6 per cent people in the lower income group said they couldn't comment, 68.3 per cent said 'Yes', while 15.1 per cent said 'No'.

In the middle income group, 8.1 per cent said they couldn't comment, 80 per cent agreed with the question, while 11.9 per cent answered in the negative.

Similarly, in the higher income group, 5.3 per cent replied they couldn't comment, 80 per cent said 'Yes', while 14.7 per cent answered with a 'No'.
The United Arab Emirates signed a deal with the US government to purchase 50 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets and 18 armed drones just before President Joe Biden took office Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The last-minute deal capped months of negotiations between the Trump administration and Emirati officials; the deal was smoothed by Abu Dhabis normalization of ties with Israel in August as part of the Abraham Accords.

Biden, who took the oath of office Wednesday, has said his administration would build on the accords. But he has also said that his administration will reassess Washingtons relations with the UAE and Saudi Arabia and that he would support ending US arms sales to the two Gulf states over their involvement in Yemens civil war.

If Biden opts for a tougher stance toward the Gulf, he will likely have the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democrat Bob Menendez of New Jersey, on his side.

The Senate failed to block the F-35 sale proposal in December, but Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut has said he would push for further review of the transfer once Donald Trump left the White House.

The transfer of the advanced Joint Strike Fighter to an Arab Gulf state raised significant controversy in Israel until Defense Minister Benny Gantz signed off on the idea after securing a defense agreement with the Pentagon.

Gantz has since said he hoped to secure a deal for a third squadron of F-35s from the Trump administration.

The Trump administration pushed Arab leaders to establish public ties with Israel in hope of laying groundwork for future regional security cooperation that can counter Irans support of proxy forces and ballistic missile capabilities.
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READING, Pa., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ehrlich Pest Control announced a transition to the Florida Pest Control brand in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale markets.

"The brand may be changing, but it won't change our service and dedication to our customers as we provide residential and commercial protection from pests in Florida's unique climate," said John Myers, President and CEO of Rentokil, the parent company of Florida Pest Control. "Florida Pest Control has more than 70 years of experience and will continue to provide innovative solutions and a passion for providing quality service to the Miami and Fort Lauderdale communities. It is our goal to take care of pest issues so that our customers can live and work pest-free."

Florida Pest Control provides a wide range of services to residential and commercial customers, such as general pest control, termite protection, mosquito control and rodent exclusion. The company also offers TAP (thermal, acoustical, pest control) insulation services, lawn services and more.

For additional information on Florida Pest Control and the pest control services in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, please visit: Miami.FlaPest.com

ABOUT FLORIDA PEST CONTROL

For more than 70 years, customers have trusted Florida Pest Control to protect their families, homes and businesses from pests and the health threats and damages they can cause.

Since its founding in 1949, Florida Pest Control has expanded across the U.S. In addition to general pest control service, the company offers rodent, termite, bed bug, mosquito, wildlife management, and TAP (thermal, acoustical, pest control) insulation services, lawn service and more. Florida Pest Control is part of Rentokil , the world's largest pest control company. Rentokil and its companies, including Ehrlich Pest Control, Western Exterminator and Presto-X Pest Control, provide commercial and residential pest control to customers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

For more information, visit Florida Pest Control at Miami.FlaPest.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Erin Kelly

[email protected]

SOURCE Rentokil

Related Links

https://www.rentokil.com


CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Cleveland City Council committee declined Tuesday to immediately approve a proposal by Mayor Frank Jacksons administration to hire a vendor to install solar panels atop several city-owned buildings.

Members of the Planning, Development and Sustainability Committee told Chief of Sustainability Jason Wood that they want to hear more, including whether the project makes economic sense, before signing off.

Committee Chair Tony Brancatelli said after the meeting that he expects council will ultimately amend the administrations request to either impose a cost limit on the contract with the vendor or a requirement that the contract come back to the council for approval once it is negotiated.

As proposed, the vendor would design, build and operate several roof-top solar systems for up to 25 years as part of the administrations goal of greatly reducing the citys greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The vendor would pay all the costs of construction, operation and maintenance, and the city would pay for the electricity generated at a negotiated rate that allows the vendor to recover its investment.

Wood said he expects that rate to be comparable to, if not a little lower than, what the city is paying either city-owned Cleveland Public Power or FirstEnergy, but the actual rate will be negotiated with the vendor.

The overall cost of the installations, which the vendor would finance, would not exceed more than $4 or $5 million, Anand Natarajan, the citys energy manager, told the committee.

Wood said the city believes the strategy being proposed makes more sense than actually owning and maintaining the solar systems. He said the city wants to see how the technology works, including the addition of battery storage at some of the recreation centers that are on the proposed list of sites.

That wasnt assurance enough for several of the committee members. They have asked city officials to provide more information, including the price the city pays now for electricity and why it wouldnt make more sense to own the solar installations rather than farming them out to a contractor.

The administration has identified 15 possible sites, including water treatment plants and recreation centers, but Wood said he doesnt expect all of them will have arrays constructed on their rooftops. He said the total amount of electricity that could be generated would be enough to power 738 homes.

The electricity provided by each solar array would reduce the amount of electricity each building would then have to buy. The electricity would be generated behind the meter so there would be no excess power that could be sold back to the utility.

There is always a little bit of uncertainty until we complete the full detailed design, but our hope and our belief is that [the solar prices] will be at worst comparable if not a little bit lower than electric prices we are getting currently, Wood said.

Woods said the primary goal is to generate renewable energy and to further the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by the city, although creating clean energy jobs and accessing cheaper energy are also part of the equation.
The Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) received on Tuesday a group of African Ambassadors in Egypt, briefing them on the country's preparations to host the second edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development.

The forum, slated for 1-5 March, will be held virtually under the motto "Shaping Africa's New Normal: Recovering Stronger, Rebuilding Better".

The CCCPA Director General, Ahmed Abdel-Latif, held a meeting with the dean of the African group of ambassadors in Cairo in the presence of the ambassadors of Mali, Guinea, Mauritania, and Gabon, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

The African ambassadors welcomed the forum as a high-level African platform that proposes African solutions to challenges facing the continent in the fields of peace, security, and sustainable development, particularly given the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Aswan forum was announced by El-Sisi in February 2019 when Egypt chaired the African Union during the 32nd summit in Ethiopias Addis Ababa for the first time since the African body was established in 2002.

It is designed as a platform for African and world leaders, and for African and global companies, experts, and others to discuss the operationalisation of interlinkages between sustaining peace and sustainable development in Africa, with the hope of making a real difference in peoples lives and to spread hope.

The first edition of the event, titled An Agenda for Sustainable Peace, Security and Development in Africa was held in December 2019.

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A classic car expert has won nearly 30,000 after he was sacked for complaining about his employer on Facebook.

Michael Austin posted online 'I don't think I have ever felt so low in my life after my boss's comments today' after a blazing row with Matthew Robinson, owner of vintage dealership A1M Retro Classics in Darlington, County Durham.

But when Mr Austin's friends sought to support him by replying with 'negative' comments about Mr Robinson, who is gay, on the private post, his employer was furious.

Mr Austin's Facebook friends used a homophobic slur as an insult towards the managing director and urged him to 'punch (him) in the face to make him feel better'.

An employment tribunal heard Mr Austin did not reply to or agree with any of the negative comments, but disgruntled Mr Robinson accused his employee of damaging his business's reputation and sacked him.

Mr Robinson, 55, accused the classic car paint specialist of 'inciting' the comments in January last year and even claimed he 'brought his dismissal upon himself'.

Now, Mr Austin, who worked at the car dealership for six years, has been awarded 28,560 compensation after suing the company for unfair dismissal.

Michael Austin posted online 'I don't think I have ever felt so low in my life after my boss's comments today' after a blazing row with Matthew Robinson (pictured), owner of vintage dealership A1M Retro Classics in Darlington, County Durham

Mr Robinson (pictured), 55, accused the classic car paint specialist of 'inciting' the comments in January last year and even claimed he 'brought his dismissal upon himself'

Employment Judge Declan O'Dempsey said Mr Austin had no control over what others commented and ruled that he did not violate A1M Retro Classics' social media policy, as Mr Robinson claimed.

Judge O'Dempsey, who said Mr Robinson's investigation was 'flawed', said: 'I find that the managing director's thinking... unreasonably confused [as to] what was required of an employee by the social media policy.

'The policy did not require the employee to police the comments of others, but simply not to engage in discussions having a particular effect.

'The managing director could not, under cross examination, maintain that [Mr Austin] was doing anything more than expressing his own personal views, and criticised him for omitting to do something which the social media policy does not require him to do: taking down posts made by others.

'(Mr Robinson) accepts that there was no duty on (Mr Austin) to police the conduct of the participants in this Facebook discussion.

Pictured: The car dealership. Judge O'Dempsey said the post didn't clearly damage the reputation of Mr Robinson's business

'So in those circumstances he cannot be expected to be repentant in any relevant way for something which is not within his own conduct. For all those reasons, I have concluded that the dismissal was unfair.'

Judge O'Dempsey said the post didn't clearly damage the reputation of Mr Robinson's business. He said: 'I conclude that the investigation of the alleged misconduct was flawed.

'In short it was not clear whether there was any impact on the reputation of [A1M Retro Classics] outside the group of Facebook friends of [Mr Austin].'

The tribunal heard Mr Robinson and Mr Austin previously argued, with Mr Austin claiming the business's cars were 'overpriced' and Mr Robinson alleging his employee 'bullied' him.

A1m Retro Classics sells vintage cars dating back to the 1950s, including Triumphs, MGs, Jaguars, Fords, and Rovers.

The company repairs, services and restores vehicles and the most expensive car on its website is a 1982 Lotus Espirit for 24,995.
Broker: Davy is likely to be running the Kerry Group transaction. Photo: Julien Behal/PA Wire

Investment bankers, lawyers and other corporate advisers are set to reap a fee bonanza of up to 50m as Irish companies start the year with a wave of dealmaking.

Three major transactions involving at least 1.9bn in equity value were confirmed in a 24-hour period, reversing a dire trend for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in 2020.

The proposed deals  in the food, energy and healthcare sectors  range in size from an estimated 100m to 1bn and vary in complexity.

In the largest deal, announced yesterday, energy entrepreneur Eddie O'Connor and his management team sold 75pc of Mainstream Renewable Power to Norwegian buyer Aker Horizons. The deal values Mainstream at 1bn.

The sale leaves Mr O'Connor with a large minority stake and the opportunity to invest alongside other shareholders in what the company said was a planned initial public offering (IPO) in two or three years.

Investment bank Rothschild advised Mainstream, with legal representation by Linklaters, Byrne Wallace and Philip Lee.

According to data firm Firmex, M&A advisory fees on a transaction of that size typically run about 1.5pc of the equity value  on both the sell side and the buy side.

With legal and other fees added, the Mainstream deal could reach 30m in payments to advisers.

The 100m+ sale of nursing home group Trinity Healthcare to a French-Belgian consortium was a relatively straightforward commercial property transaction on the Irish side.

CBRE was mandated to sell the business, which is being split into separate property and operating companies.

Commercial real estate fees for the seller typically run at 4pc to 5pc, with perhaps another 1pc in local legal fees for the buyer, so about 5m will probably be earned on the Trinity deal by advisers in Ireland.

Finally, the board of Kerry Co-op has decided to press ahead with an offer for 60pc of Kerry Group's dairy business in a complex deal that would involve the Co-op using its 12.3pc sharehold in the group to fund the transaction.

The proposed bid values the dairy business at 800m. Kerry Co-op is advised by PwC. The deal has not yet been put to the Kerry Group board, so no advisers have been appointed yet.

Davy is Kerry Group's corporate broker and would most likely be involved in running such a transaction.

The fees for such a deal  encompassing buy-side and sell-side advisory, share placing, strategic guidance and corporate finance  could rise to well over 10m.

M&A with Irish involvement plunged to an 11-year low in 2020, according to data by Refinitiv.

The value of deals with Irish companies fell 61pc to the lowest level since 2009, the worst year of the financial crisis. Values totalled $17.5bn (14.4bn) despite some high-profile, big-ticket deals such as Flutter's purchase of FanDuel for 1.1bn (1.24bn).
For U.S. importers, especially the small ones, and restaurants that favor supporting boutique French wine producers, the name of Robert Lighthizer will long live in infamy. As phylloxera is to a vine, or cork blight is to a bottled wine, Lighthizer will always be to so many in the American wine trade because of the damaging, possibly devastating decisions he made since being appointed as the U.S. Trade Representative in 2017.

Wine importers and restaurants/wine bars, trying to make ends meet while keeping their people employed in the disastrous economic environment wrought by COVID-19, will receive nothing to offset another 25 percent tariff on French and German wines he imposed on Dec. 31.

Borderline reprehensible is how Ben Aneff, the president of the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance, described the levy, which went into effect Jan. 12. It only punishes U.S. companies during a pandemic and an economic crisis, he said in an interview with the Wine Spectator.

Let me put two local faces on this story. Jean Philippe-Guy owns French Country Wines in Rice Village. Then theres Douglas Skopps Dionysus Imports, which began as a one-man operation about two decades ago and now has 14 full-time employees. Skopps French-centric portfolio is also dominated by small family wineries. Both Guy, following the lead of French Country Wines founding owners Phyllis Adatto and Tim Smith, and Skopp have played hugely significant roles in introducing many excellent, off-the-beaten-path wines to Houstons more curious and adventuresome oenophiles.

Both decried the damage being caused by Lighthizers original 25 percent tariffs imposed in the fall of 2019 on wines with under 14 percent alcohol content. The new tax targets wines above 14 percent  a much more damaging hit because most red wines are above that threshold these days.

When I visited with Guy and Skopp in early 2020, the novel coronavirus was barely a blip on Americas radar screen. The looming threat never came up in either conversation. They had no idea what was about to clobber them, nor did I.

With COVID-19 wreaking additional havoc, sales of wines impacted by the original tariff are down 53 percent, Aneff says. So, sure, it has impacted French producers. But it has hurt their American importers, so many of them mom-and-pop operations with fewer than 10 employees, much worse.

The most galling aspect is how Lighthizer refused to apply what Aneff called a goods on the water exemption to the tariffs. That means wines already purchased and in route will be taxed when they arrive stateside. Both Skopp and Guy have wines in the same container that was likely being loaded as we spoke last week, bought at prices and in quantities that had made financial sense for them. Well, their cost just spiked 25 percent, and the tax must be paid in full before customs will release the wine.

Guy didnt have a dollar figure for the additional hit hes going to take. Skopp said the $5,000 profit on at least one of his pallets will be completed wiped out.

These were wines that were replenishing stock I already have in Houston, he explained. I cant try to renegotiate a price for the same vintage.

As if any restaurant, having already been through hell and back  well, hardly back  because of COVID, would have been in a position to entertain same.

Its pretty despicable, Aneff said. The purpose of a tariff is not to punish businesses in your country for past purchases. Its to change future behavior (by the foreign entity). By doing what (Lighthizer) did, you get all of economic damage with none of the benefits.

Because of the pandemic, Skopps revenues were down about a third in 2020 from 2019  despite his having gotten off to an historically robust start in January and February  because hes not a retailer and he sells more wine to restaurants than he does to shops. He at least received some assistance from his French vintners, who helped him absorb the initial 25 percent hit by lowering their wholesale prices accordingly. But, understandably, they warned him then they couldnt dig much deeper into their own pockets, or continue to do so forever.

Three examples of the jolts being taken by importers like Guy and Skopp in other parts of the country were provided by a marketing firm representing the Wine Trade Alliance. The large New York wine importer VINTUS expects to pay an additional $540,000 in tariffs on wines purchased before the levies were announced. This after VINTUS sales to bars and restaurants dropped 40 percent in 2020. Valkyrie Selections in California has over 2,600 cases of soon-to-be tariffed wine in route from France as we speak. The tariffs will cost that company, with a staff of 12, an extra $43,000 for the shipment.

American (wine-related businesses) average about five employees, said Aneff, who also serves as the managing partner for Tribeca Wine Merchants in lower Manhattan. Profit margins are slim under the best of circumstances.

There could be light at the end of this dark tunnel, though. Its assumed the incoming Biden administration will prove sympathetic to the cause. The nominee to replace Lighthizer, Katherine Tai, is up to speed on the particulars of the situation, having previously served as trade counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee. But, although the tariffs are scheduled to be reviewed again in mid-February, her getting confirmed and starting work by then seems unrealistic given the chaos engulfing this transition. So, its probably going to be mid-August at the earliest before relief is forthcoming. And mid-August may be too late for some.

Its a huge blow to companies like ours, Guy said. But we had decent growth last year because people were drinking more wine, so Im not one of the people who can complain. Well find a way to make it work.

sportywineguy@outlook.com
How to force cross-border social networks to observe the laws of the host countries is a challenge not only for Vietnam but for all countries.

International experts have warned of the risk of countries being controlled by digital technology powerhouses such as Facebook, Twitter, Google and Apple. The results of the recent US presidential election showed that digital forces can affect the election.

Mark Zuckerberg, the owner of Facebook, last week announced the temporary blocking of Facebook and Instagram accounts of US President Donald Trump for his violations of the social networks policies.

The move raised controversy about the power of social networks, which can make their own decisions in the US because they are private companies. This raises questions about their power.

Experts say that digital technology powerhouses act like virtual governments which have big power, but are not strictly controlled by current laws.

Any country and anyone can become victims if they depend on cross-border technological platforms. Therefore, Vietnam, like other countries, needs to think of measures to protect its sovereignty and national prosperity in cyberspace.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) report said that fake news and toxic information are mostly sourced from cross-border platforms. Vietnamese firms providing digital platforms are strictly observing the laws.

Of cross-border platforms, Facebook and YouTube are the major wrongdoers spreading toxic information.

However, the control of the information of this kind is getting more effective with cooperation with cross-border platforms. The good results are attributed to the implementation of legal, economic and technological solutions to force the platforms to comply with Vietnamese laws.

As Vietnam has increased its pressure, Facebook has increased the ratio of responding to requests from Vietnamese management agencies from 10 percent to 95 percent. As for YouTube, the figure is 90 percent instead of 30 percent.

As Vietnam has increased its pressure, Facebook has increased the ratio of responding to requests from Vietnamese management agencies from 10 percent to 95 percent. As for YouTube, the figure is 90 percent instead of 30 percent.

The number of pieces of news with bad content removed increased by 30 percent recently compared with 2017-2018, and the proportion of news with bad content has decreased from over 30 percent to below 10 percent.

Taxes

However, a lot of problems still exist with cross-border platforms. One of them is the state's failure to collect tax from them.

According to Statista, the total revenue of the Vietnams online ad market was estimated at $290 million. A large part was poured into search ads, video ads and social networks, most of which are in the hands of cross-border platforms.

While earning hundreds of millions of dollars from the Vietnamese market, Facebook, YouTube and Google have not implemented their tax duties.

Another problem is that foreign social network platforms dont observe Vietnamese laws related to online ads.

Facebook and Google are digital technology firms. But technology changes every day. In all countries, the legal framework has to run after technological changes and be updated in accordance with the changes.

In order to manage Facebook and Google, Vietnams agencies are completing a legal framework which will be an important foundation to force cross-border platforms to strictly comply with the laws.

MIC has finished collecting opinions for the draft decree on amending some articles of Decree 181 dated November 14, 2013, which gives detailed regulations on the Advertisement Law.

Foreign individuals and institutions providing cross-border ad services on the internet and have revenue from the services, or have users in Vietnam, have to observe Vietnamese laws, including laws on advertisements, and on managing, providing and using internet services and information on the internet.

The units that provide cross-border advertisement services must pay tax as stipulated by the laws. They have the responsibility of examining and checking ads to ensure compliance with Article No 8 of the Advertisement Law.

MIC is also going to issue a code of conduct for cyberspace and ask social networks to identify users.

Trong Dat
More than 20 refugees detained in Melbourne for months after they were transferred from offshore detention will finally be released, according to detainees and refugee advocates.

At least 23 men have been told they will receive bridging visas and be released from the Park Hotel in Carlton on Wednesday.

They were transported by buses to the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA) detention centre under heavy police presence to collect their possessions ahead of being released.

'Breaking: Twenty six refugees who were locked up in the Park prison have got their Bridging Visa right now. Congratulations!' detained Kurdish refugee Mostafa Azimitabar tweeted.

Refugee activists played music and sung songs during their daily vigil protest outside the Park Hotel on Wednesday.

Activists gathered outside the Park Hotel in Melbourne on Wednesday amid reports at least 23 detained refugees will be released on bridging visas

It's understood around 35 refugees remain detained at the accommodation, which was previously used as a quarantine hotel for returned travellers.

'Lots of singing at today's daily protest outside Park Hotel prison. Calling for freedom for those inside, for those in MITA and all who are cruelly detained by our government,' refugee activist group Love Makes a Way tweeted.

Later footage livestreamed by Campaign Against Racism and Fascism shows activists cheering as refugees were released at MITA.

'I appreciate what you're trying to do but just stand back,' a police officer instructs the activists.

The Park Hotel, along with Brisbane's Kangaroo Point Central hotel, has been designated as an 'alternative place of detention' by the federal government.

The men held in the hotels are all refugees or asylum seekers who were brought to Australia for medical treatment under the now-repealed 'medevac' legislation.

Many have been in detention for over a year, some for up to 18 months.

Activists played music and sung songs for refugees who remained detained at the Park Hotel

Those in the Park Hotel had previously been held in Preston's Mantra Bell City hotel, but were transferred in December.

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed a number of bridging visas were granted to refugees while they make plans to return home.

'A final departure bridging visa allows individuals to temporarily reside in the Australian community while they finalise their arrangements to leave Australia,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'The individuals residing in the alternative places of detention were brought to Australia temporarily for medical treatment.'

'They are encouraged to finalise their medical treatment so they can continue on their resettlement pathway to the United States, return to Nauru or PNG or return to their home country.'

The Australian Governments policy is clear that no one who attempts illegal maritime travel to Australia will be permanently settled here.

Daily Mail Australia also contacted Australian Border Force for further comment.

The hotels in Brisbane and Melbourne have been the site of fierce protests during the past year.

The development comes after at least five medevac refugees were released from hotels in December after lodging cases in the federal courts.

Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition told AAP he understood that 45 refugees and asylum seekers were being released in Melbourne on Wednesday, including a number held at MITA.

He described the release as the biggest development in the story of offshore processing since the Kids Off Nauru campaign in 2018.

'It's quite a breakthrough,' Mr Rintoul said.

Around 35 refugees still remained detained at the Park Hotel. Pictured are activists during their daily vigil outside the Melbourne hotel on Wednesday

Greens senator Nick McKim, who has visited the Melbourne hotel where the men were previously held he was 'ecstatic' at the reports of release.

'I'm ecstatic for those people, they've suffered so much for so long,' he said.

'Just to think that these guys, no matter whether they're from Manus or Nauru...they've been brutalised and imprisoned for well over seven years now and to think they'll be breathing free air for the first time, it's quite emotional.'

Senator McKim called for the remaining detainees to be released.

'It's great news and really encouraging, but there's still many people left languishing in hotel detention,' he said.

'They all should be released into the community with the supports that they need and they should be provided with permanent protection visas and the pathway to citizenship.'

Refugee activists have kept a daily vigil outside the Park Hotel in recent weeks. Pictured are activists clashing with police on Saturday

Activist Gia Soupos from Total Liberation Alliance said she and other activists planned to welcome refugees once they were released from MITA, and then return to the Park Hotel for a protest on Wednesday afternoon to call for further releases.

The medevac law was in force between March and December 2019, after the federal opposition and crossbenchers secured its passage against the government's will.

It allowed independent doctors to recommend the transfer of people held in Nauru and Papua New Guinea to Australia for medical purposes.

Many of the refugees brought to Australia under the medevac provisions have been held in detention since their arrival, while refugees medically transferred under other provisions have been released into the community.

They were originally sent to offshore detention after coming to Australia by boat in 2013 and 2014.

'Doctors, lawyers, service providers and the wider community have long called for the release of Medevac refugees from harmful conditions in indefinite detention and today the Federal Government finally is listening to reason,' Asylum Seeker Resource Centre director Jana Favero said.

'We call on the government to immediately release all 200 people so that they can recover their health safely in the community, where they are supported and welcomed.'
Day care shortage creates barriers for working parents

With a labor shortage plaguing the state, working parents are ready to fill these positions. The lack of childcare options creates barriers.

OTTAWA - Twenty-one senators from the Maritimes are urging the federal government to provide financial assistance to an inter-city bus service that they say is in financial peril because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Omar Alghabra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister attends a news conference, Wednesday January 15, 2020 in Ottawa. Twenty-one senators from the Maritimes are urging the federal government to provide financial assistance to an inter-city bus service that they say is in financial peril because of the COVID-19 pandemic.. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - Twenty-one senators from the Maritimes are urging the federal government to provide financial assistance to an inter-city bus service that they say is in financial peril because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The senators have sent a letter to federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, saying Maritime Bus provides an essential service to the health-care sector by transporting blood products and patients across the region.

As well, they say the service is particularly important for smaller rural towns and the francophone communities in northern New Brunswick.

The company has already requested support from the governments of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

However, the senators say Maritime Bus is not eligible for various federal support programs, mainly because it is a for-profit enterprise.

The senators also note that Ottawa provided direct funding for Greyhound when it abandoned bus routes in Western Canada.

"Because of the inter-provincial nature of (Maritime Bus), and as a matter of regional fairness, we believe that federal support, tailored to the unique circumstances of the Maritimes, is warranted," the letter says.

"As Via Rail service remains suspended and airlines continue to cut routes to the region, it is imperative that we preserve Maritime Bus service. A tailor-made, federal-provincial agreement is the best path forward."

Earlier this month, the president of the company, Mike Cassidy, said he has cut routes because the number of Maritime Bus passengers fell from 191,000 in 2019 to just 69,000 in 2020.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2021.
Nominee for U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021. (Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images)

Trump Was Right With Tougher Approach to China: Bidens Top Diplomat Nominee

President-elect Joe Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Jan. 19 that the Trump administration took the correct stance toward the Chinese regime, although he disagrees with the approach.

President Trump was right in taking a tougher approach to China. I disagree very much with the way he went about it in a number of areas, but the basic principle was the right one, Blinken said at a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the day before Biden was set to take office. And I think that thats actually helpful to our foreign policy.

Blinken, a veteran foreign policy hand whos a close confidant of Biden, pledged at the hearing to work with U.S. allies to confront the regime.

If were pulling back, that gives them a free field, he said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Tackling the various threats posed by the Chinese regime has bipartisan support. The Trump administration broke with previous administrations to take a firmer approach confronting the CCP on a range of fronts, including security risks posed by Chinese technology, its human rights abuses, and theft of U.S. technology. Theres also been some criticism of the administration for being too unilateral in its foreign policy actions, which has occasionally been a hard sell to allies.

Blinken said there is no doubt that the regime poses the most significant challenge of any nation-state to the United States. He also acknowledged that the previous consensus that had informed the U.S. policy of engagement toward Chinathat economic liberalization would lead to political liberalization in the countrywas wrong.

The United States, he said, needs to deal with the regime from a position of strength through working with allies, and engaging and leading international institutions, rather than let the regime exert more influence on them.

Position of strength when we stand up for our values, when human rights are being abused in Xinjiang, or when democracy is being trampled in Hong Kong, Blinken added.

He also said he agreed with Secretary of State Mike Pompeos Jan. 19 declaration that the CCP is committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.

Pompeo, in a tweet, defended the Trump administrations diplomatic approach.

The U.S. is stronger when we acknowledge the failings of international institutions like [the] UN and try to fix them. Multilateralism for multilateralisms sake doesnt help anyone but bureaucrats, globalists, and lawyers.

In another area of agreement with the outgoing administration, Blinken said he agreed that the CCP misled the world about the CCP virus outbreak in the early stages.

They did not provide transparency. They did not share information. They did not give access when it mattered most in the early days of this virus, he said. Had they done [so], its possible that the course of this virus would have been different. We could have dealt with it sooner and more effectively.

The Trump administration has consistently criticized the regime for its lack of transparency over the outbreak, most recently last week as a World Health Organization team arrived in China to investigate the origins of the pandemic, a year after its initial spread.

Pompeo urged the team to look into the possibility the outbreak was the result of a laboratory accident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), saying the United States has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, and that secret military activity was conducted at the lab.

NYC VACCINATIONS RUNNING LOW: Appointment cancellations possible; COVID-19 numbers, more. (Hot Zone) City to run out of vaccines by end of week, says mayor. COVID-19 victim bell tribute tonight. New plan aims to boost partial unemployment benefits, and latest coronavirus updates. (Hot Zone) Posted by Staten Island Advance on Tuesday, January 19, 2021

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside-down. We need information like we never have before.

How many new cases were there on Staten Island today? How many deaths? How many people have been released from the hospital?

What did President Donald Trump say about the pandemic? What about Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio?

More importantly, when is this pandemic going to be over? When are we going to get back to normal, whatever normal is?

Its almost too much to keep up with.

So every day around 4 p.m., Mark Stein and I take to Facebook Live to give you all the Island information you need. You can then look for this written wrap-up on SILive.com at the end of the day.

Well give you the numbers and all the latest news. Well answer your questions. Well follow up on your news tips.

Well share the good news too, the way that the Staten Island community is coming together in this time of crisis. Or well just share this strange and unique pandemic moment with you, as fellow Staten Islanders.

On Tuesday, Mark and I discussed how Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the incoming head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the CDC would boost lagging state vaccination efforts around the country.

Walensky said that the CDC would dispatch military medical personal and medical students to help with vaccinations. She also said that vaccine doses would be given to pharmacies for distribution and that the CDC would have mobile vans available to distribute the vaccine.

On Sunday, Cuomo announced that New York State had seen a week-over-week decline in cases, according to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Cuomo said that 106,000-plus new cases were reported on Sunday, down 4.2 percent from the week before.

In the U.S., it was reported that 35 states saw week-over-week declines in new positive tests, and 18 states saw lower numbers of deaths.

Nationwide, there were 1.5 million new positive tests reported last week, down 11 percent from the week before, according to CNN.

Were all in this together. Well all get through this together.
Lenox Corporation, the oldest and most prestigious maker of crystal and fine china in the United States, has designed and created the Inaugural gift for the incoming president since George H. W. Bush in 1989. For the Inauguration, Lenox's Chief Creative Officer, Fawn Ostriak along with her team of experts and master glass-cutter Peter O'Rourke worked for months to create a gift that encapsulates the spirit of the American people and the new presidency. Fawn Ostriak handed over the stunning pieces of craftsmanship to the JCCIC in preparation for the gifting ceremony.

"On behalf of the American people, I am pleased to accept Lenox's gift for the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies," said U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee for Inaugural Ceremonies. "Lenox has crafted a beautiful gift that perfectly encapsulates this historic tradition. I look forward to it being presented to the newly elected President and Vice President."

The inspiration for this year's Inaugural gifts comes from archival illustrations. The President's vase features an illustration of the White House set within a classic scrollwork cartouche. For the Vice President there is an image of the Capitol also set within a classic scrollwork cartouche. Both vases feature deep cutting and polishing techniques and are crafted entirely by hand in Pennsylvania by master craftsman, Peter O'Rourke. The vases are made of lead crystal and stand at a stately 17" tall and will be placed on top of cherry wood bases that bear an inscription of the date and occasion engraved into silver-plated plaques.

"Lenox Corporation is honored to have been the first American china to be used in the White House and to have been selected as the designer and manufacturer of choice for the past 29 years. And this year we are especially proud to produce the Inaugural Commemorative Gift for the President and the very first female Vice President of the United States of America," said Mads Ryder, CEO of Lenox Corporation.

For 103 years, Lenox has created fine china dinnerware for the White House as well as the Vice President's official residence, over 300 U.S. Embassies and more than half of the governors' mansions. Lenox became the first American china to be used in the White House in 1918 when President Wilson commissioned the company to create a 1,700-piece service bearing the presidential seal in raised gold. Over the years, Lenox has created new state services for five additional presidents - Roosevelt, Truman, Reagan, Clinton and George W. Bush - that reflect not only the style of the day, but the timeless beauty of Lenox's renowned ivory china.

About Lenox Corporation

Lenox, an American company and market leader in tableware & giftware, was founded in 1889, with a singular vision to set the highest standards for quality, artistry & beauty. The company markets its products under the Lenox, Dansk and Reed & Barton brands. In addition to its core brands, Lenox creates and distributes the Kate Spade New York tabletop collection. Lenox products are sold through major e-commerce retailers, department stores, gift and specialty retailers, as well as through the company's own websites. Over its 130-year history, Lenox has been the recipient of numerous design awards and has the distinction of being the first American dinnerware used in the White House. Lenox is headquartered in Bristol, PA. For more information on Lenox, please visit www.Lenox.com .

MEDIA CONTACT:

K+J Agency, LLC

Joanne Gibbs 917.797.4698

[email protected]

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New Delhi: Our #ShauryaStories series aims to celebrate the bravehearts and inspire real-life role models as we usher in the 72nd Republic Day. The ghastly Uri terror attack, which led to "surgical strikes" by the Indian Army against terror launch pads on and along the Line of Control (LoC), remains one of the indelible moments in Indias history.

The chronology of 2016 Uri attack:

In the early hours of September 18, 2016, four heavily armed terrorists crossed the Line of Control (LoC), broke through the heavily guarded military camp carrying AK-47 rifles in North Kashmirs Uri town of Jammu and Kashmir and launched a massive grenade attack. In the attack, 18 soldiers were killed and more than 30 were injured.

10 days later, on September 28, India carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan. Informing about the strike, Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said in a press briefing, Based on very credible and specific information which we received yesterday that some terrorist teams had positioned themselves at launchpads along the Line of Control with an aim to carry out infiltration and terrorist strikes in Jammu & Kashmir and in various other metros in our country, the Indian army conducted surgical strikes last night at these launch pads.

Uri: The Surgical Strike movie:

Starring Vicky Kaushal in the lead, 'Uri: The Surgical Strike hit the theatres on January 11, 2019. Vicky essayed the role of Major Vihaan Singh Shergill.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film was based on the Indian Army's surgical strikes on Pakistan in 2018, following the Uri terror attack. Vickys dialogue, Hows the Josh became a victory cry among the Indians celebrating Indias surgical strikes. The movie was a massive hit and soon crossed the 200-crore mark and became the first blockbuster of 2019.

Apart from Vicky Kaushal, Uri also starred Yami Gautam, Rajit Kapoor, Kirti Kulhari, Mansi Parekh Gohil and Swaroop Sampat. It also marked the Bollywood debut of TV actor Mohit Raina, who played the titular role of Mahadev in mythological show Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev.
Incredible photos have emerged of sparks flying from an out of gauge freight train wagon as it travelled hundreds of kilometres down Australia's east coast.

The dislodged wagon damaged five train stations as it made its way from Brisbane to Port Kembla, south of Sydney, in June last year.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau launched an investigation into the incident, with their findings released on Wednesday.

The dislodged wagon damaged five train stations as it made its way from Brisbane to Port Kembla, south of Sydney, in June last year

Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Taree, Wingham and Dungog stations were all damaged by the wagon during the 750km trip.

The wagon had been unloaded onto the tracks at the BlueScope Steel Coopers Plains facility, south of Brisbane, on June 15.

The ATSB found that during the unloading 'the wagon body was likely lifted off the centre pin and dislodged as the load became stuck'.

But no abnormalities were discovered when the train departed.

'The forklift operators did not notice that the wagon body had lifted and continued unloading other wagons,' the ATSB report said.

'The likely dislodged wagon body was not identified and train 2BW4 departed with a rolling stock irregularity.

During the journey to Port Kembla reports of platform damage were made by station staff but the train continued.

Incredible photos have emerged of sparks flying from an out of gauge freight train wagon as it travelled hundreds of kilometres down Australia's east coast

Track workers in the northern NSW town of Grafton found damage to the station and directed the train be stopped and checked in Kempsey.

But despite and inspection, there were no faults found.

Rail staff at Dungog station in the Hunter Valley then notice the train scraping against the platform and ordered it to stop at Wallarobba.

This time, the wagon body marked RKOX4055Y was found to have been the problem.

'Both BlueScope Steel and Pacific National completed several safety actions directed at preventing a reoccurrence,' the ATSB said.
It was a chilling warning, one week after the insurrection that shook America.

On January 13, federal agencies issued a joint intelligence briefing declaring that this months siege of the US Capitol could end up being a significant driver for further violence by right-wing domestic extremists.

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of US President Donald Trump storm the Capitol building. Credit:Reuters

According to the memo, many of the groups who stormed the Capitol had been emboldened by the breach, fuelling fears of attacks - not just at Joe Bidens inauguration, but in the weeks and months after Donald Trump leaves the White House.

The message was clear: even after Biden is sworn in as the nation's 46th president, angry extremists who believe their election was stolen will remain a threat for a long time to come.
Wisconsin pharmacist and conspiracy theorist Steven Brandenburg, 46, was arrested on December 31 and charged on Tuesday with trying to ruin more than 500 doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine

A Wisconsin pharmacist and conspiracy theorist who tried to ruin 570 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine last month because he thought the shots would mutate people's DNA has been charged.

Steven Brandenburg, 46, was arrested on December 31 and on Tuesday was charged with a misdemeanor of attempted felony criminal damage to property.

He looked serious and remained quiet in Ozaukee County Circuit Court on Tuesday where his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Brandenburg was arrested as a part of an investigation into how 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine were left outside a refrigerator for hours at Advocate Aurora Health in Grafton, a Milwaukee suburb.

The vials contained enough vaccine to inoculate around 570 people.

Prosecutors said Bradenburg is an admitted conspiracy theorist who believed the vaccine would mutate recipients' DNA. Medical experts say there is no truth to the claims that the COVID-19 vaccines genetically modify humans.

Brandenburg, 46, pictured left walking into Ozaukee County Circuit Court on Tuesday

Prosecutors say Brandenburg took out a box of Moderna vaccines from a refrigerator at Advocate Aurora Health in Grafton (above) on December 24 for three hours and for nine hours the following day to try to render them ineffective. The medical center had to throw out the compromised doses but the supply had already been used on 57 patients

Brandenburg told a detective that he removed the vials from the refrigerator at the medical center for three hours of December 24 then replaced them.

Then the next day on Christmas he took the vials out of the refrigerator again and left them out for nine hours, believing that it would render the doses ineffective if it wasn't refrigerated for 12 hours. But he said a pharmacy technician found the vials and put them back in the refrigerator.

The Moderna vaccine is supposed to be stored between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit.

Moderna says that the vaccine can remain viable at room temperature for 24 hours, according to the complaint.

Chief Aurora Medical Group officer Jeff Bahr said that upon discovering that Brandenburg had deliberately removed the vials, health care workers were forced to throw out some 570 doses, though the supply had already been used on 57 patients, as per NPR.

Now the doses he left out are being tested to determine their efficacy and more serious charges could come if his actions made the shots ineffective.

Brandenburg claimed that his actions were a 'spontaneous act' and he 'wasnt thinking straight due to ongoing personal matters and lack of sleep.'

Brandenburg pictured left in Ozaukee County Circuit Court court on Tuesday where his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. If convicted, Brandenburg could face a $10,000 fine and up to nine months in prison. He is due back in court March 18

Brandenburg claimed that his actions were a 'spontaneous act' and he 'wasnt thinking straight due to ongoing personal matters and lack of sleep'

Brandenburg reportedly told investigators he was aware 'that people who received the vaccinations would think they had been vaccinated against the virus when in fact they were not.'

According to the complaint, Brandenburg confessed to his employers at Aurora in an email that he intentionally removed the box of Moderna vaccines twice.

Divorce documents reveal that Brandenburgs wife was concerned about her husband's actions and behavior around that time and told a judge she believed her children were in imminent harm, according to WISN.

She labeled him an 'admitted conspiracy theorist' in her divorce filing on December 30, the day after she found out her husband was under investigation for attempting to sabotage the vaccines.

In the filing she said her husband has rental units which include 'bulk food and guns being stored.'

Moderna says that the vaccine can remain viable at room temperature for 24 hours, according to the complaint. Officials are now testing the vials he left out to see if they're effective, if not he could face more charges

Brandenburg pictured at a probable cause hearing in the Ozaukee County Justice Center via video from Ozaukee County Jail in Port Washington, Wisconson on January 4 after his arrest

On one occasion he dropped off a water purifier, large bucket of powdered milk and two three-day emergency food buckets at her home.

He told her the world was 'crashing down' and he thought 'the government is planning cyber attacks and plans to shut down the power grid.'

Brandenburg was fired from Aurora Health after the incident and his license was suspended by a state board last week.

The Department of Safety and Professional Services, which handles Brandenburg's pharmacy license, said they had no prior complaints or incidents with him.

During the Tuesday hearing Brandenburg spoke only once, replying 'yes sir' when Judge Paul Malloy warned him to continue to abide by his bail conditions, which include not working as a pharmacist, not dispensing medication and having no contact with Aurora employees.

If convicted, Brandenburg could face a $10,000 fine and up to nine months in prison. He is due back in court March 18.
Cornitos, a Made in India brand, unveils Cornitos By My Side campaign. The campaign #CornitosByMySide talks about Cornitos being a snack brand for everyone, whether old or young, into fitness, or gaming, it has products for everyone. The campaign theme is Cornitos is always by your side with its wide range of snacks and flavors. The campaign is currently running on the brands Instagram and Facebook pages.



Speaking on the launch of this campaign Mr. Vikram Agarwal, Managing Director, Cornitos said, As a brand, our products are for anyone, whether it be an active lifestyle or snacking between meetings, evening hunger pangs, or musing over your travel plans. Keeping this ideology in mind, we bring this unique #CornitosByMySide campaign.



Cornitos range of products includes Nacho Crisps that are Gluten Free, No MSG, Cooked in Corn Oil, Zero Trans-fat Snacks. Consumers can now buy Nacho Crisps online in varied flavors from cornitos website https://shop.cornitos.in/ collections/nacho-crisps Cornitos innovative Veggie Nachos are with the goodness of quinoa, spinach, white bean, and beetroot Natural extracts blended with Corn Masa. Each vegetable gives a nutritional benefit and natural color to Nacho Crisps. These nachos are best for the health-conscious consumer of today for a mindful snack.



The Salsa Dips range made from farm-fresh ingredients and are available in two flavors - Hot and Mild. Cheese Dip is available in the Jalapeno flavor in 100g and 300g Jar packing. Consumers can buy dips online from https://shop.cornitos.in/ collections/dips The Mexican delights range includes Jalapeno Peppers and Gherkins which are fresh, crispy, and firm, smooth-skinned Mexican pickles. They are available in Sliced and Whole variants online in 180g glass Jar packing. Consumers can now buy Mexican Delight online from https://shop.cornitos.in/ collections/mexican-delights

Cornitos Pop N Crunch range includes Premium handpicked, Cashews & Almonds, Long Peanuts, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Natural Sunflower Seeds, Super Seeds Mix, Party Nut Mix, Corn Nuts, Coated Green Peas. Cornitos Premium Nuts and Seeds are processed in the latest technology through the imported roasting line. Consumers can now buy Nuts and Seeds online from https://shop.cornitos.in/ collections/nuts-seeds



Cornitos Do It Yourself Range product portfolio includes Bite-sized, 4 inch, and Bigger 6 inches Crunchy Taco Shells made of Non-GMO corn and cooked in Corn Oil. Consumers can now buy Taco Shells online from https://shop.cornitos.in/ collections/tortilla-wraps- taco-shells Brand has recently launched Wheat flour tortilla wraps for consumers looking to make flavorful Mexican snacks with ease. Cornitos Wheat flour Tortilla Wraps is imported from Europe, which is soft, ultra thin, easy to roll and cut. Cornitos Wheat flour Tortilla Wrap pack consists of 6 Tortillas weighing 270g in 8 inch size and has a shelf life of 12 months. Through Tortilla wraps, consumers can make interesting Mexican recipes like enchiladas, tostadas and quesadilla or use tortillas as a pizza base or even make tortillas into nachos as per individual liking and mood. Consumers can now buy Tortilla wraps online from https://shop.cornitos.in/ collections/tortilla-wraps

Within three hours of taking the oath of office at the start of his second term on Tuesday, Attorney General Josh Shapiro was it again, filing another lawsuit against President Donald Trumps outgoing administration.

This time, Shapiro and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with seven other attorneys general, filed a lawsuit to try to stop the U.S. Department of Labor rule that removes the limit on the amount of non-tipped work a tipped worker may complete and still receive only the tipped minimum wage of $2.13 per hour federally and $2.83 per hour in Pennsylvania.

The 30-year-old rule being eliminated capped the amount of non-tipped work a tipped worker may do at 20% of their working time called the 80/20 rule. The new rule eliminates that cap, among other provisions.

This new rule issued by the U.S. Department of Labor is indefensible and would result in tipped workers doing more work for less pay all in the midst of a global pandemic, Shapiro said in a news release announcing the lawsuit. Businesses and employers are struggling and need real relief during this pandemic but it cannot come out of the pockets of their employees. My office will continue to fight for workers in Pennsylvania and across the country to earn fair pay for a fair days work.

This is the second lawsuit Shapiro and other attorneys general filed a lawsuit over a U.S. Department of Labor rule change. The last time concerned a rule that sought to make it easier for employers to escape liability for violating workers rights, according to the attorney generals office. That rule ended up being struck down.

Since taking office four years ago, Shapiro has sued the Trump Administration on numerous occasions, most recently he was involved in lawsuits leading up to the general election as well as after it.

After being sworn in for the second time by former state Attorney General and now Allegheny County Judge Bruce Beemer in a private ceremony on Tuesday surrounded by family, Shapiro said, Four years ago, I was elected your Attorney General to fulfill the promise of this great agency, to work towards justice, and to take on the big fights, against the most powerful interests, for every one of us. ... The work goes on  it must  because as we have seen over the past year, there is a long way to go.

In his remarks, Shapiro touched on the inequities that COVID-19 has exposed and the racial inequities and political tension that robs us of a safer, more just, and prosperous country. And he spoke of the big fights his office took on during his first term against powerful interests.

We didnt back down when the Catholic Church covered up decades of abuse. We didnt back down when the two largest healthcare giants in Western Pennsylvania risked the coverage of 1.9 million people over a contract dispute. We didnt back down when pharmaceutical companies were trying to wash their hands of their role in manufacturing the opioid crisis, Shapiro said.

We didnt back down from the attacks against your right to vote, and have your vote secured and countedwhoever you voted for. You deserve that. No matter where youre from, what you look like, who you love or who you pray to or choose not to pray to, you deserve a team who will run through a brick wall to protect you. We have and will.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

The space is full of mysteries and that is what astronomers are trying to solve since long. While the mystery of the universe keeps unfolding every time more and more questions keep emerging. That is what happened when astronomers were observing a neutron star in the space. A strange incident occurred during this process, Astrophysicists observed two neutron stars colliding in a cataclysmic crash, however, it is still emitting X-rays.

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According to research presented on Thursday that is January 14 at the 237th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, X-ray radiation is still lingering by the collision even after the incident took place three years ago. Actually, Astrophysicists observed the merger of two neutron stars colliding in a cataclysmic crash on August 17, 2017. During this occurring also the scientists detected a gravitational-wave chirp identified by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) on Earth and a massive burst of different lights. However, most interestingly the X-rays observed at the location of 130 million light-years from Earth began to fade away in less than six months after the merger's discovery. However, the X-ray is still lingering in the space.

Image ~ NASA

In a statement to Space.com, Eleonora Troja, an astrophysicist at the University of Maryland and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center said, "Our models so far were describing the observation incredibly well, so we thought we nailed it down. I think everybody was convinced that this thing was going to fade quickly, and the last observation showed that it is not."

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The NASA astrophysicist also explained that the team believed that they were looking at the afterglow of the high-energy jet of material shot out by the collision and it will fade away. However, at the view of Chandra spacecraft in December 2020, the source was still glowing.

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NASA has two hypotheses for the Neutron Star X-ray emissions

According to Troja, there are two hypotheses which will explain why the emissions of the X-ray is still glowing. The first hypothesis is that the lingering X-rays may get joined by radio light within the next eight months or year which will prove the afterglow of the massive kilonova explosion something scientists have never seen before. And, the second is that the X-ray emissions may not join by any radio emissions. In both case scenarios, scientists will be looking at something that has never been observed before.

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LT Foods has an option to take additional 20% stake

India-based rice supplier LT Foods has acquired a minority stake in Leev, an organic breakfast products and snacks business based in the Netherlands.

Mumbai-listed LT Foods, which counts Daawat, Royal and Ecolife among its rice brands, has taken a 30% holding in Leev through the Netherlands' arm of its Indian subsidiary Nature Bio Foods (NBF), a producer of rice, nuts, pulses and spices.

LT Foods said in a statement it has an option to take an additional 21% share in Leev five years after concluding the initial deal. Financial details were not disclosed.

Based in the town of Werkendam in the south of the Netherlands, Veer makes breakfast products such as organic crackers and waffles, with gluten- and lactose-free options. It also makes snack bars, cookies, brownies and baking mixes. Its products are available online and in Dutch retailers, which were not named in the statement.

Leev's founder and director Leo Voorwinden said: "From a strategic point of view, it is critical that we build short supply chains. With NBF BV, a subsidiary of LT Foods coming on board, we can source our raw materials directly from organic farmers in India."

It is the latest investment project initiated by LT Foods in the Netherlands. Last month, the company said it would add a number of new packaging lines at its plant in Maasvlakte, within the Port of Rotterdam, as part of a five-year strategy to boost growth in Europe, which is served through LT Foods International.

Vijay Kumar Arora, LT Foods' chairman and managing director, said: "Strategically, this acquisition gives NBF BV a reach to the consumers directly via the mainstream distribution strength of Leev. Currently, NBF manages the farm to the doors of EU industries and brands and now would be contributing to the full chain from farm-to-fork."
The All Saints' administration is strongly refuting claims being circulated in a Whatsapp message that all patients and staff at the Gordon Home for Senior Citizens have contracted COVID-19 and that an elderly person died from the virus. However they confirm that unfortunately a number of persons, both staff and patients, have tested positive for the pathogen.
The decision by Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners director to attend a pro-Trump protest in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6 was the subject of a debate among dozens of county residents on Tuesday  some critical of her actions and some defending her rights to be there.

The protest in Washington turned into a violent attempt at insurrection as some protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol while the Electoral College votes were being tallied.

Board Director Susan Soloway has previously said she did not take part in efforts to storm the Capitol and left the area as the violence began. She has denounced the insurrection, saying she submitted video footage of the riots to the FBI and perpetrators should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

There have been calls for Soloway to resign as a county commissioner or for the board to remove her from the position of director.

During Tuesdays board meeting, held a day prior to the inauguration of President Joe Biden, protesters calling for her resignation gathered outside the Historic Hunterdon County Courthouse, while both supporters and detractors spoke during the public portion of the meeting, some calling in to speak because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

6 Hunterdon County protest

Soloway during the meeting again denounced the violence that took place while defending her choice to attend the protest on Jan. 6. She said she has been a longtime champion of former President Donald Trump, and was exercising her First Amendment right to support who I wish to.

Some have deemed, in their opinion, the reasons for the rally as wrong, and therefore believe I should be canceled because I exercised my constitutional rights to assemble and freedom of speech, Soloway said. These attacks of me are attacks on all Americans and our constitutional rights. And while some have been most pointed in their constitutionally protected criticism, I have also received hateful, vile, disgusting and sexist personal attacks.

Soloway said she will not resign, and she expressed hope for people of all party affiliations to unify as the nation moved closer to Inauguration Day.

All reasonable people always wish to see America move forward into a better future, Soloway said. We must all come together as Americans united in the idea that we can have differences of opinions, yet  at the end of the day  still be friends and neighbors.

Sue Soloway, left, and Vanessa Lafranco of Titusville take a selfie prior to President Trump's arrival at a rally at the Wildwood Convention Center held in January 2020.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

Elizabeth Colacino of Bethlehem Township and member of the Hunterdon County Democrats, said Soloways decision to attend the rally in Washington showed very poor judgment.

To call the election stolen shows that she doesnt believe that over 60 judgments against the cases brought by the Trump Administration were legitimate, Colacino said. County commissioners are responsible for the evaluation and the purchase of election machines. If commissioners are not able to recognize the truth from lies about stories circulated regarding the voting machines used in the general election, they should not be qualified to make these important decisions.

Eric Doyle of Readington Township demanded Soloway hold herself responsible for the riots despite the fact that she did not participate in them.

There were so many people that were inciting that violence, and you were saying that you were surprised by all of that, Doyle said. You may have been one of the very few that were surprised, and I really think that you need to take stock in what it is that you truly believe in.

It is said that the heart of the mob beats in the rear, and you were in the rear even though you werent crossing through the threshold. You were giving the people the energy to do that.

Others defended Soloways actions, asserting her First Amendment right to participate in the protest and drawing attention to her decision to leave after the insurrection broke out.

Director Soloway, I want to thank you for you prayerfully and peacefully asserting your Constitutional right to peacefully assemble, and I want to thank you for your passionate excellence for doing what is right and good for Hunterdon County, Diane Potts of Lambertville said.

When the context of the gathering changed, you and your group left. You can be on the same planet with people, but youre not necessarily one in the same, Frances Gavigan of Ringoes said. Youve acted appropriately, professionally, and I am sorry that you and your family and your friends have been so traumatized by the politics on both of sides of division. Its a time to heal, its a time to move forward, and its a time for America and Americans to grow up and get a life.

Gabe Plumer, chairman of the Hunterdon County Republican Committee, sent an email to NJ Advance Media expressing support for Soloway.

Director Soloway peacefully attended this rally and then peacefully left it. These are the facts, Plumer wrote.

Pictured, from left: Hunterdon County Commissioner Matt Holt, Board Deputy Director John E. Lanza, Board Director Susan J. Soloway, Commissioner Shaun C. Van Doren and Commissioner Zach T. Rich.

The entire board of commissioners  all of whom are Republicans  made statements supporting Soloway.

Commissioner Matt Holt emphasized that the board is not a legislative body but a financial body that does not make decisions based on political affiliation.

COVID-19 hits, and there are no Republican folks or Democratic folks. There are just folks that need help, Holt said. We deliver the services on a non-partisan basis, and apparently we deliver them pretty doggone well because were doing it for $40 million less than what we could be doing it for, and at least $11 million less from when I got here 15 years ago.

Im proud to be here. Im proud of the folks I work with, he added. I support my colleagues, every one of them, to continue on this board.

Lanza, deputy director of the commissioners, criticized those who conflated what he described as two distinct groups of people present in Washington, D.C. on the day of the riots.

There are two types of people who went to Washington  good, honest people with whom you might disagree. They went there to say something, Lanza said. There were bad people who breached the Capitol who went there to do something, and to do something illegal, and to do something that was an act of terrorism.

I know Sue Soloway, and she is nothing if not honest ... shes made her statements, shes told you why she was there. You can take her reasoning to the bank.

The next commissioners meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Caroline Fassett may be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com.
"The discovery of new zones of gold mineralization in two previously untested areas, with a modest drill program of only 2,000 m, highlights the potential of the extensive Aurion-B2Gold JV area," said Aurion CEO Matti Talikka

The Aurion Resources boss said the company is 'pleased to have B2Gold as a committed partner' and is 'looking forward to an exciting year' as increased levels of exploration activities are planned with a focus on the Kutuvuoma-Ikkari area

Ltd ( ) said its joint venture partner B2Gold Corp ( ) has made new gold discoveries in two areas located on a 29,000-hectare land parcel in northern Finland.

At Sinerma, which is 23km from Agnico-Eagle's Kittila mine, sampling results included 1.07 grams per ton (g/t) gold over 42.40 metres (m) and 1.30 g/t gold over 20.80m, while drilling returned intersects including 0.54 g/t gold over 40.20 m and 6.80 g/t gold over 0.75m.

Meanwhile, at Kutuvuoma East, which lies along strike and in between Rupert Resources' Ikkari discovery and the Kutuvuoma prospect, a high-grade gold drill intercept was reported of 14.77 g/t gold over 1.60m.

"The discovery of new zones of gold mineralization in two previously untested areas, with a modest drill program of only 2,000 m, highlights the potential of the extensive Aurion-B2Gold JV area," said Matti Talikka, Aurion's chief executive in a statement.

"We're pleased to have B2Gold as a committed partner and are looking forward to an exciting year as increased levels of exploration activities are planned with a focus on the Kutuvuoma-Ikkari area."

The company also reported that B2Gold was planning to increase exploration activities in 2021 with an initial budget of C$6 million.

Preliminary plans include geophysical surveys, trenching, base of till sampling and at least 5,000m of diamond drilling with a focus on the Kutuvuoma-Ikkari area.

In summer 2019, B2Gold exercised its option to acquire a 51% interest in the Finland joint venture, which covers around 29,000 hectares (Ha) and includes the Kutuvuoma, Ahvenjarvi and Sinerma projects.

Since 2016, B2Gold has completed over C$5 million of exploration, paid Aurion C$50,000 in cash and issued 550,000 B2Gold shares to complete the requirements of the first option.

B2Gold is currently earning an additional 19% interest by spending a further C$10 million over two years, and if exercised, an additional 5% interest by completing a feasibility study, to hold a 75% stake.

In its statement on Wednesday, Aurion also reported that three new permits or permit applications (total 2,589 hectares) to the south of the current JV land holdings will be added to the JV area increasing the ground to 29,000 hecatres.

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
The American Anthropological Association website identifies four subfields of anthropology (archaeology, biological, cultural, linguistic) and reserves a separate section for applied and practicing anthropology. In our collective experience, we have found this division between ostensibly academic and applied anthropology problematic, as it limits the possibilities of a broadly conceptualized and enacted medical anthropology that is more continuous than categorical. We firmly believe that working in an applied context is not giving up on anthropology, but rather doubling down and fully embracing our anthropological worldview.

Although we all started with different training  in cultural anthropology, classical art and archaeology, physical anthropology, organizational ethnography, and the history of science and medicine  we found common ground in the ways we have developed our own emergent medical anthropologies.

Our practices have altered how we establish and manage relationships in the field, how we carve out the scope of anthropology in concert with non-anthropologists and health professionals, and how we share our findings with research team members and key stakeholders. Like any traditional anthropological approach, these practices still leverage long-term, meaningful engagement with our respective communities to inform our broader understanding of human behavior. They also involve multifaceted relationships with theory  as material to think with and question with, and arising from our fieldwork.

We therefore turned an anthropological lens on our own field experiences and asked ourselves what it means to generate theory in applied medical anthropology. We examined theory production in its relation to fieldwork, considering in particular the meaningful engagement of stakeholders and the production of shared knowledge disseminated among those stakeholders, not just among other anthropologists.

We use the term stakeholder because it is ubiquitous in areas where expert knowledge is used to formulate institutional interventions that involve non-experts (such as lay people, communities, or other groups)  essentially, most forms of administration, management, or governance where some kind of justification is expected for the exercise of power (especially in health care, with its attention to shifting the power imbalance between patients and practitioners). It is, in other words, an emic term among our practitioner collaborators. While said practitioners are not naive to the power relations signaled by the term stakeholder, they are also invested in designing practical interventions that can effect change. Furthermore, they (like anthropologists) continue to theorize about the best ways to design interventions that identify and incorporate relevant people or groups both effectively and equitably.

In what follows, we focus on the interplay of theory and fieldwork in highlighting three research-related areas that demonstrate what applied medical anthropology looks like in practice. Although it is not without its challenges, applied work has enabled us to do things we never imagined possible with our doctoral degrees. Our goal is to broaden the paradigm of medical anthropology by demonstrating just how many ways there are of being an anthropologist both in and out of the academy.

1. Developing Research Questions in Concert with Others

Definitions of applied anthropology emphasize the use of anthropological knowledge to effect practical change. This desired effect is the distinguishing feature between applied and academic anthropology, with the attendant assumption that applied anthropologists do not contribute to the advancement of theory. However, theoretical engagement and ethnographic attunement are ever-present across our work.

Dahlbergs experience as a National Network for Environmental Management Studies (NNEMS) Fellow with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during her doctoral dissertation research provides one example of how theory and practice converge:

I was studying how different people make sense of environmental risk in the same landscape through ethnographic research that encompassed a Superfund Site and surrounding neighborhoods in Pennsylvania, and places where that site was studied and managed (primarily government health agencies like the EPA).

EPA officials participated in a Community Involvement Process at the site and hosted monthly public meetings. They mentioned a concern that the people most affected by the site seemed least interested. They figured I could do research by interviewing residents to find out why they werent coming. They said Black residents, in particular, in the neighborhood bordering the site tended to come to one or two meetings and then stop.

I had noticed this issue, too. And in fact, residents with whom I spoke described their concerns that decisions were being made about their neighborhood without them. They talked of being systematically excluded from decision making.

In the end, I gave a presentation to EPA officials in a meeting that brought together on-site staff, their managers, and the national directors. I used findings from both the site and from archives and interviews with government officials to open a discussion about how community and participation were defined by implicit agency practices. I fielded questions from directors and highlighted the complexities that needed to be addressed to problem-solve collectively.

Dahlbergs experience helped her reframe her role as an anthropologist. She came to see part of her work as shifting the scope and frame of research with her collaborators, helping them name a different  and often more nuanced  question behind their question.

Taber had a similar realization in his role as an anthropologist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

One methodological forte of the VA research center where I have worked for the last few years is health informatics, typically focused on designing provider-facing digital tools or epidemiological and public health interventions. A recent QI (quality improvement) project was framed as an attempt to improve information sharing in this informatics-focused center. Researchers recruited my help interviewing center employees (principal investigators, research support, data managers, and administrative staff). One of my opening questions was how they defined information in the context of their work.

When I reported this back to the projects other investigators, laughter exploded in the conference room: What did they say?

Unsurprisingly, the people I interviewed did not share a coherent description of information. I briefly managed to make a very familiar term slightly strange for my collaborators. At a strictly practical level, it was clear to all of us that the question, How can we improve information sharing? was going to mean something different to different people.

It was also clear to me that understanding the role played by the idea of information would require both firsthand observation and concept work, and that it might lend itself to working out an enriched perspective on the social life of the research center  a more typically academic orientation.

2. Contributing to Collaborative Knowledge Production

The anthropological model of the solo ethnographer exists in contrast to the laboratory model of the hard sciences, in which everyone who is part of the lab becomes a co-author, with each discipline having its own politics of author ordering.

Our applied medical anthropology work has most often resembled something closer to the laboratory model, with a principal investigator (PI) at the top of the hierarchy who is responsible for designing the study and securing the funding. At times, for some of us, this has meant we have no longer owned our own data; data belong to the lab or to the institution.

But the solitary ownership model of my research in which many of us were socialized during graduate school is not the only way to have intellectual control over a project or to manage its ethics. Dahlbergs role as a public scholar and project director at a non-profit organization enabled her to work on creating an our model of research that included research participants and local residents, staff and postdoctoral fellows.

Even as some projects are initiated by other team members, they still leave open the possibility of pursuing new avenues of inquiry emergent throughout the course of research. This possibility derives in part from the ongoing lack of clarity regarding what anthropologists actually do. Every time we join a new research team, both we and our respective team members must figure out our role. This can sometimes be frustrating, but it can also be freeing because it gives us space to follow the threads that pique our curiosity.

Fix speaks to this freedom as an anthropologist at the VA:

I was part of a research study examining HIV care across the VA. As part of the sampling strategy, we visited high and low performing HIV clinics. During an interview, an HIV provider made a disparaging comment about patients at risk for HIV, calling them an expletive and remarking on their promiscuous behavior (Fix et al. 2018). That interview sparked an anthropologically informed curiosity about how providers think about their patients.

As an anthropologist, I wondered how providers thinking might be informed by their own context. An anthropologist colleague and I undertook an in-depth examination across the eight HIV clinics. Through this theory-building analysis, we identified a relationship between the composition of HIV care teams and how these teams thought about and planned care for their patients.

In addition, being a team member does not mean losing ones autonomy or reflexive capabilities. All of us have had experiences in which we have stepped back, out of our role as employees, to reflect on and even critique our own working conditions.

In Faros dual role as assistant professor and associate director of quality at an academic medical center, she was able to turn a critical gaze on her employer:

One area of particular interest to hospital leadership was the emergency department (ED). Things werent going well down there. I thought that maybe I could be helpful, so I spent six months doing ethnographic fieldwork down in the ED. What emerged wasnt necessarily what leadership was expecting  a deep look into the tribalism within the unit (Faro and Bauman 2020)  but I hoped that a nuanced understanding of the culture would inform future work and improvement efforts.

One thing that did emerge from my deep engagement with this context and its people was the dysfunction of the error reporting system that was used by hospitals, an internally-developed system but a process mandated across all hospitals in the U.S. All providers (clinicians, nurses, residents, etc.) were educated about the system and encouraged to report medical errors and unsafe conditions. The idea behind this reporting was that data could then be aggregated centrally and mined for patterns to identify areas for improvement.

Identifying and addressing problems with an internal technological system that was purely clinical might not seem like a very theoretical or even anthropological research question. But my hypothesis for why the system wasnt working involved questions of power; the hierarchical dynamics of medicine; information sharing; trust; and the production of knowledge.

It seemed that these questions could only be answered by engaging with these theoretical concepts and that our findings would contribute to theory through their unique combination and their application to a previously unconsidered question. Additionally, the only way to develop a comprehensive understanding of the system was through a mixed methods approach, which felt inherently anthropological.

What we find compelling about anthropology is using theoretical and methodological approaches to answer questions that are not only embedded in our working conditions, but also meaningful to stakeholders. If those stakeholders are practitioners rather than scholars, does that make their engagement any less meaningful?

3. Communicating Research Findings to Diverse Audiences

The publication requirements for advancement in a traditional academic department are extraordinarily narrow: peer-reviewed articles and ethnographic monographs published by university presses. Work done to educate the broader public through films, websites, podcasts, or other media generally do not count.

The requirements are slightly different for applied medical anthropologists who do health services research. Books do not count for career advancement; they are something you write on your own time. Typically, only articles in PubMed-indexed, peer-reviewed journals count toward tenure (when its available) for those in schools of medicine or public health.

Questions of where we write and publish are paramount in applied work because communicating our research findings is part of building the relationships that enable our continued research. As anthropologists, we create materials with peoples stories  working hard to access that emic perspective  but as academics we often disseminate these materials in a format that is wholly etic and therefore inaccessible to them. We end up excluding the very people with whom we work.

Applied work allows us the opportunity to reimagine the types of relationships we want to have with our interlocutors. Writing jargon-heavy texts does not foster relationships; engaging in interactive work and publishing in multiple venues does. Rubinsteins contrasting experiences as a graduate researcher in anthropology and as a postdoctoral fellow at a medical school speak to this difference:

During my fieldwork in Japan, I spent about nine months making weekly visits to an outpatient mental health clinic, where I hung out with clients and joined them in their therapy groups. When a commentary Id written on anthropology in psychiatry came out in Japanese, I was excited to have a document explaining my research in their native language. I thought they would finally understand why I was at the clinic.

But none of the clients wanted to read it. Here I was with something that proved (to me, at least) that I was a legitimate researcher, and no one was interested. It was too hard, they said. It was in academic Japanese. Only one woman, who had taken an anthropology course in college, politely folded the paper in half and tucked it into her purse to read later.

My experience was completely different during my postdoctoral fellowship at a medical school. I visited primary care clinics all over the country for only a week or two at a time  practically nothing compared to the 14 months I spent in Japan. Although I was only briefly at these clinics, my relationships with many people have continued beyond the research. It is much easier to maintain contact with them. I publish in their journals and in their language  not just English, but also their professional language  and I address issues that are directly relevant to their lives.

Dahlberg, in her work on environmental risk, has had opportunities to create both an oral history collection that is housed in a local historical society and a series of short plays at an area theater:

These became places to gather to talk about science, research, and risk in historical, social, economic, and political contexts. I have felt such spaciousness to explore: What forms are called for here? What do the findings point toward, not only in terms of research results, but also in terms of creative practices and events? Asking this was new, especially when I was in a setting where it was obvious what kinds of work (i.e., writing) mattered, and it was deeply energizing and satisfying.

The current practice in academia is for scholarly experts to extract and disseminate data rather than involving stakeholders in interpretation and reflection. If we want anthropological insights to effect change in the world  whether that is the world writ large or the microcosm in which our research and teaching occurs  we need to start thinking beyond solo-authored, peer-reviewed journal articles or monographs as the only modes of dissemination.

We also need to think beyond individually owned and controlled forms of research, reflection, and creation  in short, to begin recognizing the benefits of collaborative knowledge production. We need to provide tools to create spaces of joint inquiry where different kinds of people can reflect together on local issues. Such spaces, in turn, can give rise to anthropologically informed understandings that effect change beyond words on a page. This is how research can truly give back to those who create it.

Some Final Thoughts

What became clear from our conversations was our enduring interest in the role of theory, the ostensible hallmark of academic anthropology, and our own assumptions that theory separated academic anthropology from applied. This made us reflect upon theory not just as an inherited artifact of anthropology, but to explore the ties between research inquiry and theory-building in our applied work.

All of us have been confronted with ambivalence at our career choices from those in the so-called academic anthropology world  from scholars who wondered why we would bother showing up to the American Anthropological Association meetings when we were so obviously applied anthropologists; from grant reviewers who doubted our ability to produce sufficiently theoretical findings because we did not work in an academic department; from editors who expressed skepticism at publishing our work once our job titles deviated from the familiar academic path. Many of us graduated from our doctoral programs believing that the only legitimate job was one on the tenure track, even as those opportunities continued to decline.

But we have also encountered people who embrace our desire and ability to think beyond the academy. We have been invited to talk to far more varied audiences: practitioners, clinicians, scientists, medical and public health students  and yes, even academic anthropologists. It is crucial that academic anthropologists expand their horizons to engage with their applied colleagues outside of the academy, especially given the uncertainties in higher education today.

Current practices in the academy emphasize theoretical work over applied, which neither serves students whose paths will likely diverge from academia, nor exposes students to alternative careers. The traditional focus on classical and contemporary social theory, as well as reading and writing assignments that promote academic jargon over clear writing, prevents students from finding novel ways to put their anthropological training to use.

We envision a healthy, supportive relationship between the academic and applied workforce that opens new opportunities to grow the field. Only by increasing the depth and breadth of communication between these two alleged poles can we begin to expand the vision of what medical anthropology can and should be. Only then can we begin to create a new, emergent medical anthropology in conversation with the multiple worlds around us.

Ellen B. Rubinstein, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at North Dakota State University and an associate member of the University of Michigan Mixed Methods Program. Her research interests include mental health, disability, family, and care in the U.S. and Japan.

Britt Dahlberg, PhD, is Director of Research of the Center for Humanism at Cooper Medical School, and Affiliated Faculty at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania. Her research interests include environmental risk, climate change, diagnosis, chronicity, and compassionate patient care. Her work builds spaces of dialogue, reflection, and intervention through critical public medical humanities. https://www.beyondbetter.org/

Elissa Z. Faro, Ph.D., is Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Iowas Carver College of Medicine. Her research focuses on using implementation science approaches to improve care delivery and health outcomes for underserved and minority populations, both in the U.S. and globally.

Peter Taber, Ph.D., is a National Library of Medicine Postdoctoral Fellow in the University of Utahs Department of Biomedical Informatics. His current work focuses on the interface between healthcare and public health in the context of programs to manage antimicrobial resistance.

Gemmae M. Fix, Ph.D., is a Research Health Scientist with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Center for Healthcare, Organization & Implementation Research, as well as Research Assistant Professor at Boston Universitys School of Medicine. She uses anthropological approaches to understand patient and provider behaviors. Much of her work has focused on using these insights to advance patient-centered care, a biomedical movement to better align healthcare with patients daily lives.

Works Cited

Faro, E. Z., and L. J. Bauman. 2020. Tribalism in a Pediatric Emergency Department. Human

Organization 79(1):24-32. https://doi.org/10.17730/0018-7259.79.1.24

Fix, G. M., J. K. Hyde, R. E. Bolton, V. A. Parker, K. Dvorin, J. Wu, A. A. Skolnik, D. K. McInnes, A.

M. Midboe, S. M. Asch, A. L. Gifford, and B. G. Bokhour. 2018. The moral discourse of HIV providers within their organizational context: An ethnographic case study. Patient Education and Counseling 101(12):2226-32. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2018.08.018

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Chinas foreign ministry described outgoing US secretary of state Mike Pompeo as a doomsday clown and said his designation of China as a perpetrator of genocide and crimes against humanity was merely a piece of wastepaper.

The allegations of abuses against Muslim minority groups in Chinas Xinjiang region are outright sensational pseudo-propositions and a malicious farce concocted by individual anti-China and anti-Communist forces represented by Pompeo, spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a daily briefing.

In our view, Pompeos so-called designation is a piece of wastepaper.

This American politician, who is notorious for lying and deceiving, is turning himself into a doomsday clown and joke of the century with his last madness and lies of the century Hua Chunying

This American politician, who is notorious for lying and deceiving, is turning himself into a doomsday clown and joke of the century with his last madness and lies of the century, Ms Hua said.

Mr Pompeos announcement does not require any immediate actions, although the US must take the designation into account in formulating policy toward China.

China says its policies in Xinjiang aim only to promote economic growth and social stability.

The US has previously spoken out and taken action on Xinjiang, implementing a range of sanctions against senior Chinese Communist Party leaders and state-run enterprises that fund repressive policies in the vast, resource-rich region.

Last week, the Trump administration announced it would halt imports of cotton and tomatoes from Xinjiang, with Customs and Border Protection officials saying they would block products from there suspected of being produced with forced labour.

Many of the Chinese officials accused of having taken part in repression are already under US sanctions.

The genocide designation means new measures will be easier to impose.

Tuesdays move is the latest in a series of steps the outgoing Trump administration has taken to ramp up pressure on China over issues from human rights and the coronavirus pandemic to Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong and the South China Sea.

China has responded with its own sanctions and tough rhetoric.

China has imprisoned more than one million people, including Uighurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups, in a vast network of prison-like political indoctrination camps, according to US officials and human rights groups.

People have been subjected to torture, sterilisation and political indoctrination in addition to forced labour as part of an assimilation campaign in a region whose inhabitants are ethnically and culturally distinct from the Han Chinese majority.

Expand Close Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a screen near a bazaar in Hotan in western Chinas Xinjiang region (Ng Han Guan/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a screen near a bazaar in Hotan in western Chinas Xinjiang region (Ng Han Guan/AP)

Widespread forced birth control was reported among the Uighurs last year, including the mass sterilisation of Muslim women, even while family planning restrictions are loosened on members of Chinas dominant Han ethnic group.

China has denied all the charges, but Uighur forced labour has been linked by reporting to various products imported to the US, including clothing and electronic goods such as cameras and computer monitors.

James Leibold, a specialist in Chinese ethnic policy at La Trobe in Melbourne, Australia, said international pressure appears to have had some effect on Chinese policies in Xinjiang, particularly in prompting the government to release information about the camps and possibly reducing mass detentions.

So hopefully well see a continued continuity with regards to the new (Joe Biden) administration on holding China to account, Mr Leibold said in an interview.

And hopefully the Biden administration can bring its allies along to continue to put pressure on the Chinese government, he said.
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Minutes after Bharat Biotech released the fact sheet for Covaxin, Serum Institute of India also came out with the same for its Covid 19 vaccine Covishield. The fact sheet released earlier today morning on SII's website elaborates on what can cause adverse effects and also what should one do in such cases.

Both the factsheets were released only three days after India launched its mass vaccination drive against Covid 19.

The SII fact sheet will help the recipient understand the risks and benefits of the Covishield vaccine. So read on if you are planning to take the vaccine.





Who should not take the vaccine?

Serum Institute of India's factsheet said one should not get the Covishield vaccine if the person had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine. The ingredients of Covishield vaccine are "L-Histidine, L-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, Magnesium chloride hexahydrate, Polysorbate 80, Ethanol, Sucrose, Sodium chloride, Disodium edetate dihydrate (EDTA), Water for injection," it pointed out. Like Bharat Biotech, SII factsheet also says that if a person is pregnant or plans to become pregnant or is breastfeeding she should tell the healthcare provider before taking the jab.

What kind of adverse effect it can have?

Some of the very common side effects of the vaccines are tenderness, pain, warmth, redness, itching, swelling or bruising where the injection is given, generally feeling unwell, chills or feeling feverish, headache or joint aches.

However, if you feel dizzy, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, enlarged lymph nodes, excessive sweating, itchy skin or rash, then you should contact the doctor as these are not very common symptoms.

In case of any adverse effect, you should call the nearest hospital or healthcare provider.

What should you tell your healthcare provider?

The vaccine maker also said that the vaccine recipient should also tell the healthcare provider about all the medical conditions before getting the Covishield vaccine including, "if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) after any drug, food, any vaccine or any ingredients of Covishield vaccine". The recipients should also mention to the healthcare provider, if they have fever, if they have a bleeding disorder or are on a blood thinner and also if they are immuno-compromised or are on a medicine that affects your immune system, it added. Like Bharat Biotech, SII factsheet also says that if a person is pregnant or plans to become pregnant or is breastfeeding she should tell the healthcare provider before taking the jab. The vaccine recipient should also mention to the healthcare provider if "you have received another COVID-19 vaccine," Serum Institute said. Also, when you get your dose, please discuss with your healthcare provider regarding the option of your vaccination record on digital platform, if available.

The second dose is essential

The Covidshield vaccination course consists of two separate doses of 0.5 ml each.

If you receive one dose of the Covidshield vaccine, then the second dose should be administered between 4 to 6 weeks after the first dose. However, there is data available for administration of the second dose up to 12 weeks after the first dose from the overseas studies.

If you forget to go back at the scheduled time for the second dose, ask your healthcare provider for advice. It is important that you return for your second dose.

According to the Union health ministry, a total of 3,81,305 beneficiaries had been vaccinated for COVID-19 in the country till 5 pm on Monday and 580 adverse events following immunisation were reported.





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Rapper Kodak Black may be becoming more familiar to non hip-hop-listeners right now because outgoing President Donald Trump has pardoned him, but he has been making headlines in the music world for some time now. The controversial rapper is known for causing a stir and is a polarizing figure in the industry.

Kodak Black | David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Kodak Black has always been a controversial figure in the music industry

The rapper started to rise in popularity in 2015 when Drake posted a video dancing to one of his songs, Skrrt. Not long after this, he signed with Atlantic Records. His rise continued when he was featured on French Montanas Lockjaw. In 2016, he was named to XXLs Freshman Class list. After this, he started to gain a lot of criticism for music fans and some of his contemporaries for his actions.

In early 2017, he posted a video on Instagram when he was in a hotel room with other men and a woman was performing oral sex on them. A few months later, he received backlash after making derogatory comments about Black women and making other anti-Black sentiments.

Kodak Black has had several legal issues over the years. His charges include robbery, battery, false imprisonment of a child, armed robbery, sexual battery, sexual misconduct, and more. A firearms possession case led to the most recent legal predicament which landed him in prison and resulted in the presidential pardon he received from Trump.

RELATED: Most Expensivest: 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne Talk Which Products They Own and the Shows Reach

Why was Kodak Black in prison and what The White House said about his pardon

In a statement commuting his sentence, the White House praised Black as a community leader. Black is a prominent artist and community leader, the statement read, as reported by the BBC. He has committed to supporting a variety of charitable efforts, such as providing educational resources to students and families of fallen law enforcement officers and the underprivileged.

RELATED: Kodak Black Apologizes for Disrespecting Lauren London Post Nipsey Hussles Death

The statement also notes that he paid for the notebooks of school children, provided funding and supplies to daycare centers, provided food for the hungry, and annually provides for underprivileged children during Christmas and donated $50,000 to small businesses in Flordia impacted by the coronavirius (COVID-19) pandemic.

Lil Wayne was also pardoned by Trump

Black was not the only rapper pardoned by Trump. Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He notably did a photo-op with Trump in October ahead of the election.

The White House also pardoned Lil Wayne, saying in part that he exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of food banks.
Head of the Verkhovna Rada's permanent delegation the to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Maria Mezentseva (from the Servant of the People faction) announced the creation of an informal 'Crimean Platform' at the PACE site.

"In the new strategy of our delegation [] there is the initiative on an informal platform for supporting Crimea and human rights, which is one of the outposts of the PACE activities. The informal platform for supporting Ukraine has already been founded as the 'Crimean Platform.' It will have the same name on the PACE platforms. And we will [...] inform potential partners, PACE deputies about this initiative so that they join this platform," Mezentseva said at the online roundtable conference titled "The Situation of Human Rights in Occupied Crimea on the Eve of Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe" on Wednesday.

According to the MP, the new platform at the PACE site will work in parallel with the already existing thematic platform "Baltic Plus."

"My colleagues and I thought that we should separate Crimea, the observance of human rights and the situation on the peninsula into another dimension and actively work on this track," the MP said.

Mezentseva said the human rights situation on the Crimean peninsula is deteriorating, which, among other things, is facilitated by coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and about which the permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada will inform PACE again.

As reported earlier, Mezentseva spoke in favor of attracting PACE representatives to the "Crimean Platform." "We have a definite opinion that the Crimean platform should also be extended to PACE," Mezentseva told Interfax-Ukraine.

She said the Crimean issue remains acute and urgent and is not removed from the agenda of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE, "just like the war in Donbas."

The winter session of PACE will be held on January 25 o January 28 in a hybrid format (online and in person) in Strasbourg.
A Chinese woman works in a shop selling locally made wine called baijiu in Maotai, on the Chishui River, in Guizhou Province, China, on Sept. 24, 2016. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Chinese Liquor Giants Stock Price Plummets After Free Handover of Shares to Local Government

Stock prices for Chinese liquor brand Kweichow Moutai have fluctuated for four consecutive trading days, causing losses to its 100,000 shareholders. Meanwhile, Moutai and other liquor giants have recently given a large amount of their stock shares to local governments that are heavily in debt. These transactions have attracted attention from Chinese media outlets.

Kweichow Moutai Co. is known for its production and sales of the famous Chinese liquor baijiu. It is a partial publicly-traded, and partial state-owned enterprise in China, and a subsidiary of Kweichow Moutai Group, which in turn is owned by the Guizhou provincial government.

Kweichow Moutais stock price plummeted on Jan. 19 afternoon, and closed at 2.6 percent at the end of the day. It was the largest one-day drop since Oct. 27, 2020, and the companys market value dropped by 67.4 billion yuan (about $ 10.3 billion) in a single day.

As of Jan. 19, Kweichow Moutais shares have fallen by about 7 percent compared to Jan. 14. Kweichow Moutais stock price has fluctuated for four consecutive trading days: Jan. 14 at 1.39 percent, Jan. 15 at 2.44 percent, and Jan. 18 at 0.91 percent, according to Chinese news portal Sina.

It is noteworthy that Kweichow Moutai gave a huge portion of its stock shares to the Guizhou provincial government last month. The incident was widely covered by Chinese media outlets.

Chinese news portal Sohu reported that Kweichow Moutai transferred 4 percent of its shares for free to a firm directly owned by the Guizhou provincial government at the end of 2020 in order to help the government pay off its debts. Guizhou has been mired in debt in the past few years, and in 2018, it incurred the largest amount of debt among all the provinces. According to a July 2020 report by state-run media Xinhua, Dushan County had a debt load of 40 billion yuan (about $6.1 billion).

On Dec. 24, Kweichow Moutai transferred 50.24 million shares for free to the Guizhou state-owned Capital Operation Co., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guizhou Financial Holding Group Co., a provincial government firm. Those shares were worth about 105.5 billion yuan (about $16.1 billion) at the time, Chinese finance magazine Caixin reported.

Right after Kweichow Moutai announced the handover of shares, its stock price fell 1.7 percent on Dec. 25, Sina reported. There are about 100,000 shareholders of Kweichow Moutai.

The Capital Group, an American financial services firm, reduced its holdings in Moutai at the end of 2020. The groups Euro-Pacific Growth Fund holdings in Kweichow Moutais A shares decreased by 5.9 percent from the end of the third quarter of 2020. The fund currently holds the largest number of shares in Moutai in the world, holding more than 7.1 million shares.

Chinese media reported that other big liquor companies stocks, including Sichuan Luzhou Laojiao, Hebei Laobaiganjiu, Anhui Gujing Gongjiu, have also been transferred to the Chinese government and state-owned firms for free, to help them reduce their debt burden.

Anhui Gujing Group announced last week that it would transfer 6 percent of state-owned equities of its controlling shareholder to the Anhui provincial government. The market value of shares given to Anhuis department of finance was 3.837 billion yuan (about $0.59 billion), Sina reported.

Under Chinas communist system, big liquor companies are regarded as state-owned capital and have become a source for replenishing the regimes treasury. In the case of Guizhou Province, the local government used Moutai to save itself from bankruptcy.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian received on January 20 Ambassadors of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries accredited in Armenia  Sergei Kopyrkin (Russia), Jonathan Lacote (France) and Lynne Tracy (USA), the foreign ministry told Armenpress.

The meeting focused on the post-war situation in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone, the regional security and peace-related issues. The meeting participants highlighted the necessity for resuming the peace process within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

The Armenian FM emphasized the need for complete implementation of the fundamental principles for the settlement, in this context highlighting the Artsakh peoples right to self-determination and security.

Introducing the implementation process of the November 9 statement relating to the establishment of the ceasefire and the deployment of peacekeepers in Artsakh, the FM stressed the priority of full and uninterrupted addressing of humanitarian issues, in particular over the return of the prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons.

The Armenian FM and the foreign Ambassadors also exchanged views on the humanitarian situation in Artsakh and the ongoing actions aimed at addressing the needs of Artsakh-Armenians. In this context a special importance was attached to the engagement of the international structures, in particular the UN and its specialized agencies.

The minister also drew the attention of the guests on the necessity of taking urgent measures for preserving the Armenian historical-cultural, religious heritage in the territories of Artsakh which have come under the Azerbaijani control, taking into account Azerbaijans steps aimed at eliminating the Armenian cultural, historical heritage or distorting the identity.

The sides also discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Water debt could lead to water shutoffs

While Governor Newsom issued an executive order in April that stopped water shutoffs during the public health emergency, water advocates like Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability warn that lawmakers must act swiftly to prevent shutoffs once the emergency order is lifted.

Michael Claiborne, an attorney with Leadership Counsel, said the threat is simple: "the moratorium will be lifted, and shutoffs will resume. And a lot of these families that have high debt now are going to lose access to water."

Families are forced to forgo food or medical services to pay the water bill, Firestone said. Residents could lose their homes. And they're at risk of the threat to health and human dignity, if the water is shut off, and potentially losing custody of their children.

Running water is a basic tool for preventing the spread of COVID-19. It's also considered a human right in the state of California. But in some places, it's really expensive.

Residents in parts of the state, including parts of the San Joaquin Valley were already cost-burdened by disproportionately high water bills even before the pandemic  with more than 50% paying more than 2% of their household income just for water by some estimates.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Vahram Dumanyan met on January 20 with the EU Delegation to Armenia, led by Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Ministry, greeting the Ambassador, Vahram Duamnyan highlighted the programs implemented in the spheres of education, science, culture and the youth with the assistance and partnership of the EU.

Referring to the last Artsakh war, the Minister emphasized that as a result of that a significant part of the cultural heritage of Artsakh which has remained out of the Armenian control is under direct threat.

 At the moment, the preservation of these universal values is crucial, and we expect EU's support for preventing any threat to those values, the Minister said.

Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin noted that the EU shares the challenges facing Armenia. 2020 was really a hard year. COVID taught all of us to further develop our digital capacities and infrastructures. For that goal the EU provided assistance to the Mistry of Education for organizing distance education. The EU also shares the concerns over the historical heritage of Artsakh, highly assessing the fact-finding activities of the UNESCO in that direction, the Ambassador said.

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Logan, WV (25601)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm this evening, then some lingering showers still possible overnight. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

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Armenia acting FM resigns

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Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

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Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

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The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has begun training of 880 youth in Kano State on its Basic National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (B-NOAS).

Speaking at the ceremony, the acting NDE Director-General, Abubakar Nuhu-Fikpo, said the training was aimed at equipping youth with skills to make them self-reliant.

Mr Nuhu-Fikpo, who was represented at the event by the Chief Vocational Development Officer, NDE, Shitu Abubakar, said 20 trainees were selected from each of the 44 local government areas of the state.

He said that the trainees would be engaged in various skills acquisition programmes under the Vocational Skill Development (VSD) for three months.

The programme is part of federal governments programmes aimed at reducing unemployment in the country, it is designed for the unemployed, underemployed and the vulnerable people across the country, he said.

He said that the training was also targeted at reducing the unemployment situation and youth restiveness in the country.

The programme was supposed to have started in November 2020, but due to some reasons it was delayed until now, Mr Nuhu-Fikpo said.

In his remarks, the state NDE Coordinator, Iliyasu Ahmed, urged the trainees to pay full attention during the training to enable them acquire skills at the end of the training.

He said that Nigerians would be the ultimate beneficiaries of opportunities and skills that would be learnt during the training and urged the trainees to be up and doing during the training.

ALSO READ: Buhari appoints acting head of NDE

According to him, at the end of the three months training, the trainees will be provided with tools to establish their own businesses.

Usman Umar, one of the trainees, commended the government for the initiative and pledged to pay maximum attention during the training.

This gesture will go a long way in reducing the high rate of unemployment among youths in the country, he said.

(NAN)
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A New Jersey woman has been charged with taking part in the deadly attack on the U.S Capitol earlier this month after documenting her activities that day on her Facebook page, federal authorities say.

Rasha Abual-Ragheb, who goes by Rasha Abu, is charged with three crimes accusing her of unlawful entry and violent behavior in the Capitol. The FBI alleges shes a member of New Jerseys chapter of American Patriot 3%, often collectively called Three Percenters.

Facebook posts of Rasha Abual-Ragheb, known as Rasha Abu, surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.(Photos provided by the FBI)

Abu was arrested Tuesday in New Jersey, authorities said in court papers, but did not say where, or describe where she lives. Her Facebook page says she lives in Fairfield.

It was the posts on her Facebook page that the FBI used to connect her to the riotous attack on Congress on Jan. 6, an agents wrote in the criminal complaint against her. And the agency was familiar with her: they interviewed her in November following online meetings of the Three Percenters.

The day after the Capitol attack, an informant reported Abus Facebook posts to the FBI in Philadelphia.

They show Abu posted about checking into the Kimpton George Hotel near the Capitol, then being at the protest that precipitated the attack, and later that she was leaving Washington, D.C., saying she was tear gassed and pepper sprayed.

But I was part of the history. We the people wont take it anymore, the post said.

The night of the attack, the FBI said another informant reported encountering a woman in front of the Kimpton George who was dressed in distinct clothing and making a scene who called herself Rasha. The woman reported being in the Capitol, displayed a picture to the informant and reported seeing a woman get shot. The FBI says the woman was Abu.

Six days later, on Jan. 12, a U.S. Capitol Police officer received another picture, allegedly Abu, inside the Capitol during the mob attack, and say they matched the backgrounds, comparing the Capitols molding, archway, and white shutters.

The FBI complaint says agents interviewed Abu last fall, and had already linked her to the Facebook page of Rasha Abu.

They say she attended online American Patriot 3% meetings in November 2020 on Facebook and Telegram. In those chats, Abu wrote, the revolution will start not by standing by but by standing up. In addition, she advised civil war is coming and they need to show support, and rise up and fight for our Constitution, the criminal complaint says.

The FBI did not say why specifically they interviewed her, but called it an assessment.

Abu told agents she was a Trump supporter, attended Trump rallies and was blocked from making posts on Facebook and Twitter for pro-Trump postings. She said she was born in Lebanon, fled the civil war there to Jordan when she was a child and had lived in the United States for 21 years.

Last summer, she attended a rally at the Atils Gym in Bellmawr, which opened in defiance of New Jersey coronavirus regulations, and NJ Advance Media interviewed her at Trumps Bedminster home during a pro-Trump rally on Nov. 7.

Its not about Democrats and its not about Republicans, its about democracy, Abu said at the Bedminster rally, saying she didnt understand how media outlets called New Jersey for Biden so soon after the polls closed. We lost our democracy. We live in the land of the free, we have zero democracy.

On her Facebook page, on Dec. 29, Abu posted on her Facebook an ominous photo of the Capitol, which said: The Storm IS UPON Us get ready Patriots.

The FBI says this picture of Rasha Abual-Ragheb, known as Rasha Abu, was taken in Washington, D.C. after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.(Photos provided by the FBI)

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com.
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ('Benton') is pleased to announce it has received an update from Clean Air Metals Inc. (TSXV: AIR) ("Clean Air") on an updated mineral resource estimate for the Thunder Bay North Project ("Project"). Benton continues to hold approximately 24.6 million shares in Clean Air. In addition, Benton retains a 0.5% net smelter return royalty from production on the Escape Lake Deposit and a 0.5% net smelter return royalty from production on any mineral claims comprising the TBN portion of the Project that a net smelter royalty has not previously been granted. Benton's 0.5% NSR includes the Beaver and Cloud Zones plus portions of the Bridge Zone, each being part of the Current Lake Deposit.

Stephen Stares, President and CEO of Benton commented, "Benton is extremely pleased with the continued development of the Thunder Bay North Project. In a short time, Clean Air has aggressively and efficiently advanced the Project and demonstrated its continued potential. We congratulate the team at Clean Air on this achievement and wish them continued success as they move forward on this exciting prospect."

Readers are encouraged to view the entire Clean Air news release on their website by following the link below:

https://cleanairmetals.ca/site/assets/files/5629/2021-01-20-nr-air-dk909h78fq.pdf

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

"Stephen Stares"

Stephen Stares, President

About Benton Resources Inc.

Benton Resources (TSXV: BEX) is a well-funded Canadian-based project generator with a diversified property portfolio in Gold, Silver, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum group elements. Benton holds multiple high-grade projects available for option which can be viewed on the Company's website. Most projects have an up-to-date 43-101 Report available.

Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact Mr. Stares at the number below.

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Stares, President & CEO

Phone: 807-475-7474

Email: sstares@bentonresources.ca

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

Phone: 416-868-1079 x231

Email: cathy@chfir.com

Website: www.bentonresources.ca

Twitter: @BentonResources

Facebook: @BentonResourcesBEX

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72416
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Tribune Publishing has negotiated buyouts of leases for several of its publications, according to public filings, and it shut down newsrooms including those of the New York Daily News, Orlando (Florida) Sentinel and Hartford (Connecticut) Courant during the pandemic. Hedge fund Alden Global Capital, the companys largest shareholder, seeks to acquire Tribune Publishing and take it private and has a reputation for slashing costs at newspapers.
Akhil Gogoi first in Assam to win election from jail

Who will be the next CM of Assam? Sarbananda Sonowal or Himanta Biswa Sarma?

Assam Elections 2021: Parties want three-phase elections

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Guwahati, Jan 20: Political parties in Assam on Tuesday urged the Election Commission to conduct the assembly elections in the state in three phases, and preferably before the Rongali Bihu festival in April.

The full bench of the EC, on a three-day visit to the state, held discussions with the representatives of different political parties at a hotel here.

The ruling BJP submitted before the EC that the polls be held in three phases before the Bihu festivities, party leader Jayanta Malla Barua said.

Congress to contest 2021 Assam assembly polls in alliance with 5 parties

The AIUDF, AGP and the CPI(M) also urged that the assembly polls be held before the Bihu in two or more phases so that the people of the state are free to celebrate their most important festival.

The Congress, however, asked the EC to consider holding the elections after the Bihu, the party''s state legal cell chairman Niren Borah said.

However, it is the prerogative of the EC to decide on the dates, he said, adding that the party wants three-phase polls.

The Congress also urged the EC that senior IAS officers be sent as election observers to ensure free and fair polls, besides providing adequate security personnel in the remote and sensitive centres, he said.

The party also requested that the gap between the polling dates and the counting should be less and there should be proper CCTV and security arrangements in the counting rooms, Borah added.

The AIUDF urged the EC to permanently resolve the long-standing issue of Doubtful or D-voters, which exists only in Assam, the party''s general secretary Aminul Islam said.

There is nothing except voter and non-voter in the other states but in Assam there exists the doubtful voter until they are declared foreigners, he said.

"The EC being the highest authority regarding the electorate, should resolve it permanently," he added.

The EC officials, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, also held meetings with officials of central and state regulatory bodies, besides district election officers and superintendents of police during the day.

Assam elections 2021: AASU announces protest programmes during PM, Shahs visit

The EC officials arrived here on Monday evening and held a meeting with nodal officers of the police.

The EC will also hold discussions with Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua and other senior officials, and address the press before leaving for poll-bound West Bengal on Wednesday.

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

The other members of the high-level delegation are Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar, EC''s Director General Dharmendra Sharma, Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhusan Kumar, Senior Principal Secretary Narendra N Butolia, Director of Expenditure Pankaj Srivastava and EVM Consultant Vipin Katara.

Earlier, an EC team led by the director-general visited Assam from January 11 to 13 to take stock of the preparedness, both at the district and the state level, regarding the assembly elections in the state.

The current term of the 126-member Assam assembly is scheduled to end in May.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 9:21 [IST]
A s Donald Trump departs Andrews Air Force Base, and takes off for Florida, he will stare out of the aircraft window and perhaps glimpse some of the 25,000 troops patrolling the streets of Americas capital. It is an apt last image - a capital in lockdown, stalked by fear - and a metaphor for his chaotic four years in the White House.

He is leaving behind the political wreckage of a failed presidency. On this Inauguration Day, with Joe Biden being sworn in at 5pm today, UK time, it is impossible to overstate the scale of Trumps isolation.

Kicked off Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, he has limited abilities to communicate with his supporters. The Republican Party leadership is turning on him with a vengeance. Senior figures made clear they couldnt even be bothered to attend his departure ceremony.

In addition, the President - the former President, as of noon local time - has a world of legal and political pain coming his way. Federal and state prosecutors are circling, knowing that he has now lost the legal immunity that comes with the Oval Office.

There is also his imminent trial in the Senate on the charge of inciting an insurrection. He faces the real possibility of conviction - if 17 Republican Senators join the 50 Democrats. That would be followed by a quick vote to ban him from ever again seeking federal office.

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will try to put Trump in the rear-view mirror and focus on their urgent agenda. They want to move quickly on climate change, immigration reform, and tough new measures to bring the pandemic under control.

But the skulking, disruptive figure of Donald Trump will be there in the background, a leader-in-exile at his Mar-o-Lago resort. He will do everything to stay relevant and to take revenge on those he believes have betrayed him. His weapon is a formidable one - the tens of millions of Americans who voted for him and who share his view that the election was stolen.

Trump supporters scaling the west wall of the US Capitol during the violent attack on the complex on January 6 that left five people dead / AP

They arent going anywhere. Trumps hardline supporters wont dissipate at noon today. They wont be reconciled to the Biden White House.

Their anger and grievances with the political establishment are deep seated, as I saw for himself during the storming of Congress on January 6th. They believe that they have been betrayed by the system, and their fury will be one of the dominant stories of the next four years.

The Republican party is likely to split. It could never absorb Trumps assault on its principles, and now Senators must make a politically impossible choice. They can vote to convict Trump and sign their own political death warrants. Or they can keep his supporters on side, but at what cost to their conscience and reputation?

Donald Trump spoke of American carnage in his Inaugural address exactly four years ago. He wasnt far off the mark. It is just we never understood that he was the man to inflict it.
Inauguration Day 2017 was notable, in part, for who wasnt there: There were vast empty spaces on the National Mall, which the Trump Administration would soon deny in the opening shot of its four-year war on truth.

The inauguration of President Biden was also defined by absences. But this time they were intentional, and  for better or worse  they were the point.

Because of the pandemic, the inaugurals organizers asked the crowds to stay away, replacing them with symbols that stood in for the Americans who were staying at home, as well as the more than 400,000 Covid-19 victims who were no longer with us.

And because of the riot two weeks ago, by a mob the previous president incited, and the lingering threats from violent pro-Trump extremists, the ceremony made the Capitol steps feel like a fragile bubble of democracy, secured by a wide perimeter and thousands of troops.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 22:10:44|Editor: huaxia

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STOCKHOLM, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 136 people in Sweden who got vaccinated reported that they had experienced side effects, and among them, women were "overrepresented", Swedish TT news agency said on Wednesday.

"So far, 136 people in Sweden have had suspected side effects after vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech," TT said, citing the Swedish Medical Products Agency. Among those cases, women were overrepresented, the report said, without elaborating specific numbers.

"We have seen similar trends before, when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine, that women have a greater tendency to report their own perceived suspected side effects. It could have a meaning and I currently have no other explanation," Veronica Arthurson, unit manager at the Swedish Medical Products Agency, told TT.

In neighboring Norway, the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NoMA) said last week that an adverse reaction to the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may be responsible for as many as 23 reported deaths among frail and elderly patients in nursing homes in Norway.

"The assessment suggests that common adverse reactions to mRNA vaccines, such as fever and nausea, may have contributed to a fatal outcome in some frail patients," said Sigurd Hortemo, NoMA's chief physician.

Meanwhile, due to reduced delivery of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines in Sweden, the vaccination process is reported to be postponed in the Swedish southern region of Skane, where transmissions are higher than the national average.

"Based on the fact that there are thousands of fewer doses we receive, there are thousands of people affected by this," Gilbert Tribo, regional councilor and chairman of Region Skane's health and medical care committee, told Swedish Television on Wednesday, adding that the region would receive 20 percent fewer doses than expected.

"It will be a huge disappointment for those who have received information that they would get the vaccine on Monday and who now could not get it," Tribo added.

Sweden's Public Health Agency said on Tuesday that 147,000 people, or 1.47 percent of the population, had been vaccinated against coronavirus in the country by last Sunday.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 continues to spread in the country. Latest statistics from the agency showed that 4,702 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Tuesday, bringing Sweden's total to 537,967 confirmed cases.

A further 206 coronavirus-related deaths have been registered since Tuesday, bringing the total number of deaths to 10,797 in Sweden.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in Sweden and other countries with the already-authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

Meanwhile, 237 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 64 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Jan. 15. Enditem

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Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, declaring that democracy has prevailed" as he took the helm of a deeply divided nation and inherited a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

Biden's inauguration came at a time of national tumult and uncertainty, a ceremony of resilience as the hallowed American democratic rite unfurled at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago. The chilly Washington morning was dotted with snow flurries, but the sun emerged just before Biden took the oath of office, the quadrennial ceremony persevering even though it was encircled by security forces evocative of a war zone and devoid of crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden said. "This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.

Here's the latest on the inauguration. All times are ET:



10:00 p.m.

A display of fireworks over Washington, DC, closed out today's Inauguration Day events.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden stood on the Blue Room balcony above the White House South Lawn watching the fireworks.

The new president made unity a focus of his remarks today, as he urged Americans to come together to overcome the many challenges the nation currently faces.

Speaking at the Lincoln Memorial during the "Celebrating America" concert, the president again called on the nation to unify and said he'd never been more optimistic about America than he is today.



"This is a great nation. We're a good people and overcome the challenges in front of us requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy  unity. It requires us to come together in common love that defines us as Americans," he said.



9:55 p.m.

Former President Barack Obama delivered a message of unity this evening while speaking with former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton in a video message recorded this afternoon as part of the "Celebrating America" inauguration concert.

"We have got to not just listen to folks we agree with, but listen to folks we don't," said the the nation's 44th president. "One of my fondest memories of the inauguration, was the grace and generosity that President Bush showed me, and Laura Bush showed Michelle."

"It was a reminder, that we can have a fierce disagreements and yet recognize each other's common humanity and that, as Americans, we have more in common than what separates us," Biden said.





9:20 p.m.

Kamala Harris might be vice president, but she doesnt get to enjoy all of the vice presidential perks just yet.

Harris wont immediately move into the vice presidents residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. A Harris aide says the delay will allow time for repairs to the home. The house needs its chimney liners replaced, among other fixes, and its easier to finish the work with the home unoccupied.

The former California senator has a home in downtown D.C. where she typically stayed while in town for work, but its unclear if shell remain there while waiting for the repairs to be completed.

Every vice president since Walter Mondale has lived at the Naval Observatory, and its been the site of visits from foreign dignitaries, events and gatherings hosted by vice presidents past.



8:42 p.m.

President Joe Biden's administration announced plans Wednesday for a temporary moratorium on oil and gas leasing in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge after the Trump administration issued leases in a part of the refuge considered sacred by the Indigenous Gwich'in.

The plans, along with other executive actions, were outlined by press secretary Jen Psaki.

Issuing leases had been a priority of the Trump administration following a 2017 law calling for lease sales, said Lesli Ellis-Wouters, a spokesperson for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Alaska.

8:14 p.m.

In a first vote, the Senate confirmed President Joe Biden's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines. Senators worked into the evening and overcame some Republican opposition to approve his first Cabinet member, in what's traditionally a show of good faith on Inauguration Day to confirm at least some nominees for a new president's administration.

Haines, a former CIA deputy director, will become a core member of Bidens security team, overseeing the agencies that make up the nations intelligence community. She was confirmed 84-10.

7:30 p.m.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki says President Joe Biden will call Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday, the first call with a foreign leader after Biden took the oath of office.

Psaki said Wednesday at her first press briefing that the subject of the call will be relations between the United States and Canada as well as the status of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, whose permitting Biden revoked in one of his first acts as president.

Psaki says Bidens first round of calls to foreign leaders will be with allies, adding that the new president plans to repair relationships damaged by former President Donald Trumps adversarial approach.

7:30 p.m.

Asked about a potentially divisive impeachment trial, White House press secretary Jen Psaki talked about the view of President Joe Bidens administration.

She said the administration is confident the Senate can multitask and carry out its constitutional duty while doing the business of the American people, such as moving forward with a COVID-19 relief package.

Psaki said Biden is seeking to unify the country.

7:20 p.m.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki is delivering the first news briefing of Joe Bidens presidency, a once standard part of past administrations that was absent for long stretches and almost non-existent in the final weeks of President Donald Trump's administration.

Psaki said Wednesday that she will bring truth and transparency to the White House briefing room, a clear reference to her predecessors under Trump.

Psaki noted that among Bidens first-day actions was a 100-day mask mandate in federal buildings and on federal land or using certain modes of transportation. The administration previously described that measure as affecting interstate travel and on Wednesday promised to release more details.

The Trump administration took an openly combative tone with the news media. Sean Spicer, who was Trumps first press secretary, set the tone four years ago by claiming that the audience at Trumps inauguration was the largest in history, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.

6:35 p.m.

The federal government has launched a new website that will serve as a clearinghouse for records from former President Donald Trumps administration.

The National Archives and Records Administration announced the website on Wednesday. Eventually, it will be a repository of archived Trump-era documents, including his White House website and social media accounts. It will also offer information about accessing other records from Trumps tenure.

The agency maintains records going back to President Herbert Hoovers administration, which ended in 1933.

But there are questions about how meticulous the Trump administration was about keeping records. Trump was cavalier about a law requiring their preservation. He had a habit of ripping up documents before tossing them out.

Thats led some historians and archivists to worry that there will be a gaping hole in the history of Trumps tumultuous four years in office.



6:30 p.m.

President Joe Biden has given the Oval Office a slight makeover.

Biden revealed the new decor Wednesday as he invited reporters into his new office to watch him sign a series of executive orders hours after he took office.

A bust of Cesar Chavez, the labor leader and civil rights activist, is nestled among an array of framed family photos displayed on a desk behind the new president.

Benjamin Franklin peers down at Biden from a portrait on a nearby wall.

Biden brought a dark blue rug out of storage to replace a lighter colored one installed by former President Donald Trump.

One office feature remains: Biden is also using whats known as the Resolute Desk because it was built from oak used in the British Arctic exploration ship HMS Resolute.

Trump used that desk, too.

6:15 p.m.

President Joe Biden is reminding his federal appointees and staff that we work for the people and is calling on them to be decent, honorable and smart.

Biden swore in nearly 1,000 federal appointees and staff in a virtual ceremony in the State Dining Room at the White House on Wednesday evening. He spoke from behind a lectern, while the appointees appeared at the event via video streams set up on a series of television screens.

Biden said that if any of his appointees treat a colleague with disrespect, he will fire them on the spot. He said that mindset had been missing in President Donald Trump's White House.

The new president also told the group that "we have such an awful lot to do" and said that containing the pandemic and administering COVID-19 vaccines will be the "most consequential logistical thing thats ever been done in the United States."

He said hes going to make mistakes but promised during their swearing-in that he will "acknowledge them" when he does.

5:20 p.m.

President Joe Biden has signed a series of executive orders from the Oval Office hours after his inauguration.

Biden wore a mask while seated behind the Resolute Desk with a stack of orders early Wednesday evening. He said there was no time to start like today.

The first order Biden signed was related to the coronavirus pandemic. He also signed an order reentering the U.S. into the Paris climate accord.

While his predecessor Donald Trump broke long-standing practice by skipping Bidens inauguration, he did follow through on one tradition and left behind a letter for Biden.

The new Democratic president said Trump wrote a very generous letter. But Biden said he wouldn't reveal its contents until he had a chance to speak with Trump.

5:05 p.m.

President Joe Biden has directed that federal agencies halt all rulemaking until his administration has time to review proposed regulations.

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain announced the move in a memo to the heads of executive departments and agencies Wednesday afternoon, hours after Biden was sworn in as the nation's 46th president.

The regulatory freeze order is a staple of presidential transitions, allowing the incoming administration to review the pending actions of their predecessors.

4:30 p.m.

Three new senators were sworn into office Wednesday afternoon, securing the majority for Democrats in the Senate and across a unified government to tackle the new president's agenda at a time of unprecedented national challenges.

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the oath of office to the new Democratic senators  Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock and Alex Padilla  just hours after taking her own oath at the Capitol alongside President Joe Biden. The three Democrats join a Senate narrowly split 50-50 between the parties, but giving Democrats the majority with Harris able to cast the tie-breaking vote.

Watch the senators' swearing-in ceremony above

4:20 p.m.

Vice President Kamala Harris has entered her new office building for the first time in her new role.

Harris was joined Wednesday by her husband, Doug Emhoff, as she entered the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which houses the vice presidents office and is located near the White House.

The marching band of her alma mater, Howard University, helped lead Harris procession.

She was joined by her extended family and held hands with one of her young grandnieces, who was beaming and wearing a fur coat meant to mimic one Harris wore as a child.

Shouts of We love you! greeted her as she walked along the procession route. She waved at White House staffers gathered to watch and gave one final wave to the crowd before entering the building.

3:50 p.m.

The inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue was largely a virtual one. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had a presidential escort from 15th Street to the White House including the U.S. Army Band, a Joint Service Honor Guard and the commander in chief's Guard and Fife Drum Corps. The drumlines from the University of Delaware and Howard University joined that event to honor the alma maters of the new president and vice president.

The president and First Lady Jill Biden, along with their family, exited their limousine and greeted the media assembled in front of the White House as they entered their new home. Stopping in front of the doors to the north portico of the executive mansion, the new first couple waved as "Hail to the Chief" played.

3:05 p.m.

President Joe Biden has spent a few of the first moments of his term at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring fallen veterans with three former presidents and their families.

The president, First Lady Jill Biden, and newly sworn-in Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, presided over a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Wednesday.

After cannon fire rumbled in the distance, Biden saluted as a military band played the national anthem.

Biden and Harris later briefly touched the wreath before bowing their heads in prayer. The president also made the sign of the cross, then he and Harris stood somberly for the playing of taps.

Joining them at the ceremony were former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush and former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary Hillary Clinton.

2:35 p.m.

President Joe Bidens team has started moving into the White House.

The building began humming again with activity a few hours after Bidens inauguration Wednesday as staff for the new president started moving into their offices, unpacking belongings and getting the badges that grant them easy access to the property.

New press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that she was in the building and ready to get to work. Psaki has scheduled the new administrations first White House press briefing for later Wednesday.

Biden plans to sign a flurry of executive orders, some overturning actions by former President Donald Trump, once he gets to the Oval Office.

The White House had been largely emptied out of staff after Trump flew to Florida on Wednesday morning, skipping his successors swearing-in.

2:15 p.m.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have taken part in the traditional inaugural military tradition of Pass in Review.

Biden, Harris and their spouses stood Wednesday on the East Front steps of the U.S. Capitol to observe the procession of ceremonial military regiments.

Several groupings passed by the steps, with military members saluting the newly minted president and musicians playing traditional patriotic tunes.

The inaugural parade that typically follows was to be replaced by a virtual parade later in the day because of concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the procession, the couples climbed into vehicles to travel to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They were to be joined by the former presidents who attended the earlier inaugural ceremony.

1:50 p.m.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were presented with gifts from both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives following Wednesday's inauguration.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi presented Biden and Harris flags that flew above the Capitol on the day of the inauguration.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also presented a gift: Photos of the swearing-in ceremony from earlier in the day.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said Lenox had crafted a pair of commemorative vases for Biden and Harris, each weighing 32 pounds.

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri noted that the Smithsonian had loaned a painting titled Landscape with Rainbow by a notable Black painter from around the time of the Civil War.

1:30 p.m.

President Biden signed three documents while in the presidents room at the Capitol.

The documents include an Inauguration Day Proclamation, his nominations to Cabinet positions and nominations to sub-Cabinet positions.

12:50 p.m.

Calm prevailed outside heavily fortified state capitol buildings across the U.S. as Joe Biden was sworn in as president.

The FBI had warned of the possibility for armed demonstrations leading up to the inauguration after President Donald Trump repeatedly and falsely claimed the election was stolen from him.

12:45 p.m.

The official swearing-in ceremony for President Joe Biden has concluded, but more events are planned throughout the day.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden departed the platform at the U.S. Capitol following a ceremony that included Biden taking the oath Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States. Vice President Kamala Harris also took her oath of office, becoming the nation's first female vice president.

The day included musical performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks. Celebrated poet Amanda Gorman recited an original work that said, while democracy can be permanently delayed, it can never be permanently denied.

Following his departure from the platform, Biden was expected to sign paperwork in the Presidents Room within the U.S. Capitol. Afterward, he reviews troops outside the Capitol before departing and traveling to Arlington National Cemetery for a ceremony with former presidents in attendance.

Later Wednesday, Biden is expected to make his first official arrival at the White House as president before a virtual inaugural parade.

12:25 p.m.

More than 100 people stood in the cold waiting to get through a security checkpoint to reach Pennsylvania Avenue, where they hoped to catch a glimpse of the presidential procession.

People watched the inauguration ceremony on their phones Wednesday, cheering as Vice President Kamala Harris, then President Joe Biden took the oath.

I feel so hopeful, so thankful, said Karen Jennings Crooms, a D.C. resident waiting in line with her husband. It makes us sad that this is where we are but hopeful that democracy will win out in the end. Thats what Im focusing on.

Her husband, Vernal Crooms, who attended Howard University at the same time as Harris but didnt know her, said he was happy to see the Donald Trump era end.

He said, Weve turned the page. Light prevailed and the lie didnt last.

12:20 p.m.

Garth Brooks has sung a gospel-tinged and beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace at President Joe Biden's inauguration.

The country superstar took off his black cowboy hat and kept his eyes closed for much of the powerful song, performing it acapella and without strain.

He offered a few dazzling smiles as the sun broke through the crowd and asked the audience to sing a verse with him. He said, Not just the people here, but the people at home, to work as one united.



After it was over, Brooks shook hands with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Vice President Mike Pence.



Brooks performed during the inaugural celebration of President Barack Obama in 2009. He turned down a chance to play for President Donald Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict.

12:15 p.m.

President Joe Biden is calling on Americans to overcome their divisions, declaring in his first address in office that without unity, there is no peace.

Biden also pledged during his inaugural address Wednesday that he would be honest with the country as it continues to confront difficulties, saying that leaders have an obligation to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

He asked even those who did not vote for him to give him a chance. He said, Hear me out as we move forward.

As he did frequently during the campaign, Biden pledged that he will be a president for all Americans and will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, he added.

Noon

The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," President Joe Biden said in his inaugural address. "This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.

In his first remarks as president, Biden said Wednesday that his swearing-in marks a day of history and hope.

Biden said in his inaugural address that the country has learned again that democracy is precious.

He added, The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

11:50 a.m.

Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. has taken the oath of office to become the 46th president of the United States. The oath was administered by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts.

At 78 years old, Biden became the oldest president to take the oath. It comes nearly 50 years after he became a U.S. Senator.

Biden was sworn in using a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was used during his swearing-in as vice president in 2009 and 2013. The 5-inch thick Bible, which could be seen on a table next to Bidens chair on the dais, has a Celtic cross on its cover and was also used each time he was sworn-in as a senator.

11:40 a.m.

Kamala Harris is sworn in as the nation's 49th vice president. She becomes the first woman, first Black woman and first woman of South Asian descent to serve as vice president. She was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina appointed to the Supreme Court.

11:20 a.m.

As President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, arrive at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, the inaugural ceremony for Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are officially underway. Lady Gaga will perform the national anthem, and additional performances are expected by Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks before the oaths of office are performed.

Senator Amy Klobuchar opened the ceremony and reflected on the deadly siege on the Capitol just two weeks ago.



"This is the day when our democracy picks itself up, brushes off the dust and does what America always does, goes forward as a nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," Klobuchar said.

11:10 a.m.

A Capitol police officer hailed as a hero for his actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol is accompanying Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the inauguration of Harris and President-elect Joe Biden.

Officer Eugene Goodman confronted the insurrectionists and led them away from Senate chambers moments after Vice President Mike Pence was escorted from the Senate chamber as the rioters stormed the Capitol.

Goodman is a Black man and was facing an overwhelmingly white mob. He is the only officer seen for a full minute on widely circulated footage captured by a news reporter. Goodman stands in front of the rioters and walks backward as the group follows him to a second-floor hallway, where other officers finally assist him.

A police spokeswoman says Goodmans plainclothes assignment to accompany Harris is a ceremonial role."

11:05 a.m.

Vice President Mike Pence has arrived at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were announced at inaugural festivities at the U.S. Capitol about one hour ahead of Bidens expected swearing-in ceremony.

Pence is representing the outgoing Trump administration at Bidens inaugural. President Donald Trump is skipping the festivities, departing Washington earlier in the day for the last time as sitting president.



11 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in Florida after leaving the White House for the final time as president.

Trump said farewell to Washington early Wednesday, leaving before President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

Trumps plane flew low along the coast as Bidens inauguration played on TV on Fox News Channel.

Trumps family was on the plane with him. He spent some of the flight meeting with flight staff, who went up to say goodbye.

Trump has hinted about a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years.

Trump spoke to supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where he walked across a red carpet and boarded Air Force One to head to Florida. He said: So just a goodbye. We love you. And the 45th president added, We will be back in some form.

Trump departs office as the only president ever impeached twice, and with millions more out of work than when he was sworn in and 400,000 dead from the coronavirus.

10:30 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and their spouses, have arrived at the U.S. Capitol ahead of the inaugural ceremonies. They were met by congressional leaders.

The president-elects motorcade wound its way through a mostly deserted Washington following a morning church service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Streets that would typically be lined with thousands of inaugural onlookers were ringed instead with a massive security presence to include military vehicles and armed troops.

Biden is expected to take the oath of office outside the building at noon.

10:10 a.m.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and their wives, have arrived at the U.S. Capitol ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden. Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter, 96 and 93 respectively, said earlier they would not attend the ceremony, but sent their best wishes to the incoming Biden administration.

President Donald Trump will also not be in attendance in Washington, instead choosing to leave Washington for his home in Florida before Biden is sworn in at noon. Vice President Mike Pence will attend..

10 a.m.

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will resign when President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office.

The Justice Department says Rosens resignation goes into effect at noon Wednesday.

Rosen has run the department since former Attorney General William Barr resigned on Dec. 23. He was previously the deputy attorney general and deputy transportation secretary.

Rosen has kept a low profile since he assumed the top job at the Justice Department. He has not held a press conference or addressed the press corps since he took the role, even after a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. He has only released pre-recorded videos discussing the matter and issued statements.

Longtime Justice Department official Monty Wilkinson is expected to assume the role of acting attorney general while Judge Merrick Garland awaits confirmation by the Senate.

9:25 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden tweeted his first public comments of Inauguration Day, tweeting "Its a new day in America."

9:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump did leave a note for Joe Biden with just hours before Biden is sworn in as the nation's 46th president. Deputy press secretary Judd Deere declined to reveal what Trump wrote to Biden or to characterize the sentiment in the note, citing privacy for communication between presidents.

An outgoing president leaving a note for his successor is one of the more modern Inauguration Day traditions. Typically the letter offers best wishes and advice, CNN says. It is usually left on the Resolute Desk to read when the new president first enters the Oval Office.

9:05 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he thinks the new administration will have great success and claims to have laid the foundation for it.

Trump says the new administration has the foundation to do something really spectacular. He made brief farewell remarks at Marylands Joint Base Andrews before he boarded Air Force One for a flight to his Florida home.

Trump did not mention President-elect Joe Biden by name during his Wednesday remarks.

Trump told cheering, chanting supporters hell be watching and listening from a distance. He promised he will be back in some form and wished the crowd a good life before he and his wife boarded the plane.

Trump will land in Florida before Biden becomes president at noon.

8:40 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden is attending church ahead of his inauguration, a traditional step taken ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

Biden and incoming first lady Dr. Jill Biden on Wednesday are attending a service at Washingtons Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. With them are incoming Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff.

At Bidens invitation, the first couple is joined by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, including all four top-ranking members of congressional leadership.

That includes both Senate leaders, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

8:35 a.m.

Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews and speaks to a crowd of supporters.

8:15 a.m.

President Donald Trump is leaving the White House for the final time as president.

Trump emerged from the building Wednesday morning and strode across the South Lawn to board Marine One. He said, Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.

He will not attend Biden's inauguration.

6 a.m.

There are more than 20,000 National Guard troops in Washington Wednesday morning as the nation's capital prepares to hold an unprecedented inauguration for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

2 a.m.

During his final hours as president, Trump pardoned Steve Bannon, his former chief strategist. Trump also pardoned dozens of others.

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Original story:

The very ceremony in which presidential power is transferred, a hallowed American democratic tradition, will serve as a jarring reminder of the challenges Biden faces: The inauguration unfolds at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago, encircled by security forces evocative of those in a war zone, and devoid of crowds because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stay home, Americans were exhorted, to prevent further spread of a surging virus that has claimed 400,000 American lives. Biden will look out over a capital city dotted with empty storefronts that attest to the pandemics deep economic toll and where summer protests laid bare the nations renewed reckoning on racial justice.

He will not be applauded  or likely even acknowledged  by his predecessor.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump planned to depart Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol. Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, stoked grievance among his supporters with the lie that Bidens win was illegitimate.

Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. On his first day, Biden will take a series of executive actions  on the pandemic, climate, immigration and more  to undo the heart of Trump's agenda. He takes office with the bonds of the republic strained and the nation reeling from challenges that rival those faced by Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Biden will face a series of urgent, burning crises like we have not seen before, and they all have to be solved at once. It is very hard to find a parallel in history, said presidential historian Michael Beschloss. I think we have been through a near-death experience as a democracy. Americans who will watch the new president be sworn in are now acutely aware of how fragile our democracy is and how much it needs to be protected.

Biden will come to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he will be the oldest president inaugurated.

More history will be made at his side, as Kamala Harris becomes the first woman to become vice president. The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

The two will be sworn in during an inauguration ceremony with few parallels in history.

Tens of thousands of troops are on the streets to provide security precisely two weeks after a violent mob of Trump supporters, incited by the president, stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of Bidens victory.

The tense atmosphere evoked the 1861 inauguration of Lincoln, who was secretly transported to Washington to avoid assassins on the eve of the Civil War, or Roosevelt's inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a small, secure ceremony at the White House in the waning months of World War II.

Despite security warnings, Biden declined to move the ceremony indoors and instead will address a small, socially distant crowd on the West Front of the Capitol. Some of the traditional trappings of the quadrennial ceremony will remain.

The day will begin with a reach across the aisle after four years of bitter partisan battles under Trump. Biden invited Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leaders of the Senate and House, to join him at a morning Mass, along with Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leaders.

Once at the Capitol, Biden will be administered the oath by Chief Justice John Roberts; Harris will be sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The theme of Bidens approximately 30-minute speech will be America United, and aides said it would be a call to set aside differences during a moment of national trial.

Biden will then oversee a Pass in Review, a military tradition that honors the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander in chief. Then, Biden, Harris and their spouses will be joined by a bipartisan trio of former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama  to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony.

Later, Biden will join the end of a slimmed-down inaugural parade as he moves into the White House. Because of the pandemic, much of this year's parade will be a virtual affair featuring performances from around the nation.

In the evening, in lieu of the traditional glitzy balls that welcome a new president to Washington, Biden will take part in a televised concert that also marks the return of A-list celebrities to the White House orbit after they largely eschewed Trump. Among those in the lineup: Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem at the Capitol earlier in the day.

Trump will be the first president in more than a century to skip the inauguration of his successor. He planned his own farewell celebration at nearby Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One for the final time as president for the flight to his Florida estate.

Trump will nonetheless shadow Bidens first days in office.

Trumps second impeachment trial could start as early as this week. That could test the ability of the Senate, poised to come under Democratic control, to balance impeachment proceedings with confirmation hearings and votes on Bidens Cabinet choices.

Biden was eager to go big early, with an ambitious first 100 days that includes a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion virus relief package. On Day One, hell also send an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally.

He also planned a 10-day blitz of executive orders on matters that dont require congressional approval  a mix of substantive and symbolic steps to unwind the Trump years. Among the planned steps: rescinding travel restrictions on people from several predominantly Muslim countries; rejoining the Paris climate accord; issuing a mask mandate for those on federal property; and ordering agencies to figure out how to reunite children separated from their families after crossing the border.

The difficulties he faces are immense, to be mentioned in the same breath as Roosevelt taking office during the Great Depression or Obama, under whom Biden served eight years as vice president, during the economic collapse. And the solution may be similar.

There is now, as there was in 1933, a vital need for leadership, said presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, for every national resource to be brought to bear to get the virus under control, to help produce and distribute the vaccines, to get vaccines into the arms of the people, to spur the economy to recover and get people back to work and to school.

Alberta has landed a new pacing stallion for the 2021 season as the regally-bred Captain Deo has made his way to Western Canada.

The six-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere and Worldly Beauty, who went 12-for-53, banked over $180,000 and earned a race record of 1:50.2 at The Meadowlands, will stand for an introductory service fee of $1,750 at Olds College in Olds, Alta.

"I think it's everybody's dream to have a Somebeachsomewhere, and with his pedigree, I think he's going to do well out west," new owner Al Neurauter told Trot Insider. "He'll cross with everything out here. I don't think there's been a better bred horse out west, so hopefully, fingers crossed, he'll prove himself."

Captain Deo will be the only son of Somebeachsomewhere to stand in the province, and hell do so with plenty of influence coming from the maternal side of his pedigree as well.

Captain Deo's dam, Worldly Beauty, was a multiple award-winning performer who banked over $2.1 million thanks to victories in many of the major events in her division at ages two, three and four. Shes a full sister to Worldly Treasure, making Captain Deo a full brother in blood to the multi-talented Captaintreacherous ($3.1 million, 1:47.1).

"I've always been a big Captaintreacherous fan," Neurauter added of the Pennsylvania-based stallion. "I thought if you go back right through his family, you can't go too wrong."
The Centre on Wednesday proposed to suspend the three contentious farm laws for one and half years during which solution "can be reached with mutual dialogue" to end the stalemate. However, farmer leaders did not immediately accept the proposal and said they will revert after their internal consultations.

READ | SC asks Centre to withdraw plea against farmers' tractor march on Republic Day

"The government was keen to reach a final decision in today's meeting with farmer unions. Talks held in the cordial atmosphere despite some 'naram-garam' moments. Government ready to keep three farm laws suspended for 1-1.5 years, during which solution can be reached with mutual dialogue," Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told news agency PTI.

"Today's talks raise hope of resolving all issues about farmers' protest. The government wants agitation to end, talks can continue with unions. I am hopeful of reaching a solution to end farmers' protest in the next meeting on January 22. It will be a victory for Indian democracy the day farmers' agitation ends," added Tomar.

The next meeting has been scheduled for January 22, a day after the farmer unions hold their internal discussions on Thursday, farmer leaders said after the 10th round of talks ended at Vigyan Bhawan here after nearly five hours of talks, including two breaks. "The government proposed to suspend the farm laws for one and a half years. We rejected the proposal but since it has come from the government, we will meet tomorrow and deliberate over it," Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan told news agency PTI.

Another farmer leader Kavitha Kuruganti said the government also proposed to submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court for suspending the three farm laws for a mutually-agreed period and set up a committee. The leaders said unions are firm on their demand for a complete repeal of the laws, but they will still discuss the government's proposal and give their final decision in the next meeting.

During the meeting, the government also offered to amend the three laws but farmer leaders stuck to their demand and alleged that the Centre was avoiding discussion on a legal guarantee for MSP. Farmer leaders said there was no breakthrough in the first two sessions as both sides were stuck on their stated positions vis-a-vis the three farm laws and there was little hope of any outcome other than fixing the date for the 11th round.

The laws have already stayed till further orders by the Supreme Court, which has formed a committee to resolve the deadlock. The committee, which had its first meeting on Tuesday and will begin its consultations with various stakeholders on Thursday, has been asked to give its report in two months.

Farmer leaders also raised the issue of NIA notices being served to some farmers, alleging it was being done just to harass those supporting the agitation, to which the government representatives said they will look into the matter. The two sides took a break after around one hour of discussions when farmer leaders had langar food.

The meeting began at around 2.45 pm with the three ministers greeting farmer leaders on the occasion of Gurupurab. The meeting resumed at around 5.15 pm after a lunch break, but the two sides took another break at around 6 pm during which the farmer leaders discussed the government proposal for suspending the laws for a fixed period of time.

Kuruganti said the meeting began with the NIA issue, followed by unions' demand for a repeal of the laws. The farmer leaders presented multiple Parliament replies given by the agriculture minister where he had stated that agriculture is a state subject, while one reply mentioned even agri-marketing as a state subject. "The government offered to carry out some amendments, but farmer leaders maintained they do not want anything less than a complete repeal of the laws," Tikait said.

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, are holding the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here. Before the meeting, the three ministers also met senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The tenth round of talks was initially scheduled on January 19, but later got postponed to Wednesday. In the last round of talks, the government had asked protesting farmers to prepare a concrete proposal about their objections and suggestions on the three farm laws for further discussion at their next meeting to end the long-running protest. But, unions stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three Acts.

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. Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

On January 11, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court. Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.

Under attack from protesting unions for their "pro-government" public stand on three contentious farm laws, the members of the committee said that they would keep aside their own ideology and views while consulting various stakeholders, even as they indicated a complete repeal won't augur well for much-needed agriculture reforms.

with additional inputs from news agency PTI

Britain left the EU after a last-minute trade deal agreed on Christmas Eve that was enacted just a few days ago.

Politically, this was a major landmark  even if clawing back of control from Europe may have untold ramifications.

Yet as an investor, turning ones back on the worlds largest trading bloc lacks pragmatism. If portfolio diversity is important then exposure to mainland Europe is key.

In the property sector, access to the single market is provided by Sirius Real Estate Limited ( ), the FTSE 250 company focused on Germany.

It has a portfolio of more than 60 out-of-town storage facilities, industrial units and offices spread across the countrys main regions. It serves the Mittelstand, the small- and medium-sized businesses that form the backbone of German industry and commerce.

Emerging themes

Sirius chief executive Andrew Coombs points to three themes that have emerged or are emerging that play to the companys strengths.

All three are the result of the coronavirus (and its impact on the way business is now done) but they also speak to German caution and pragmatism.

Storage space has become key as manufacturers, through necessity, have moved from just-in-time supply to warehousing vital components, Coombs says.

Longer-term, bosses are looking to mitigate their risks by bringing back onshore production formerly outsourced to the likes of China, India and Africa.

This brings us to the second big theme  the knock-on increase in demand for industrial capacity.

German manufacturers no longer have the confidence in an intercontinental supply chain, the Sirius CEO observes.

The third structural factor at play that could underpin the success of property companies such as Sirius is the growing clamour for low-rise, edge-of-town properties  a trend common to many developed economies.

Conscious that in the new world post-Covid, businesses will start to invest in offices that avoid packing in employees or piling them high.

Interest is now focused on bases that are likely to be able to accommodate the practicalities of work after the pandemic, most important of which is space.

What we're seeing is that these customers haven't cancelled the leases in the centre of town; what they've simply done is taken additional offices on the edge of town, says Coombs.

How it's doing

In March 2021, Sirius announced it is to acquire a business park in Essen, Germany, for 10.71mln in a sale and leaseback deal.

The acquisition price represents a net initial yield (under the European Public Real Estate, or EPRA measure) of 6.5%. The purchase is expected to go through in the second quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, the last set of results  the interims to the end of September (published in late November)  reveal Sirius as a company bucking the trend for the sector.

Funds from operations (FFO) rose 7.4% to 29.1mln, while cash collection was 97.3% for one of the most challenging periods in living memory for the world economy.

Not only that, enquiries were up 17.4%, reflecting proactive work done by the business development team, but also mirroring the trends outlined above.

The net asset value grew by 5.2%, though Coombs and his team dont share the markets obsession with this benchmark.

Our mission is all about income and cash, the Sirius CEO says at the end of an eloquent deconstruction of the investors and analysts pre-occupation with the NAV.

Medium-term plan

The plan over the medium-term is to grow FFO to 100mln.

This will be partially achieved by utilising Sirius asset management platform of over 250 people throughout Germany. They will help to realise modest rent increases, uplifts from the transformation of vacated properties, investment programmes and asset management initiatives.

Sirius also has 70mln of acquisition firepower which will help boost the bottom line. Further property purchases could be funded from debt and a little bit of equity on top, says Coombs.

Quietly simmering in the background is the companys 35%-owned joint venture with the French financial giant AXA.

What we're targeting are properties that are worth more than 45mln that when bought that are typically about 90%-plus occupied, explains Coombs.

This is different from what we do on our own core balance sheet, where we would typically be targeting properties of about 20mln that are still 25% vacant.

As at the last results, just over 235mln of property assets were held in the Titanium JV with AXA. That figure will be over 300mln by April 2021, says Coombs, and by the end of the year should be getting on towards 400mln he adds.

Sirius is not a real estate investment trust (REIT). If it were it would be forced to pay out 90% of its income as a dividend.

Sirius has opted, instead, to remain a traditional, old school property company and in doing so is able to take a more considered approach by distributing 65% of funds from operation (FFO) as a dividend, thereby enabling the company to re-invest the remaining 35% into growing the portfolio.

Sirius has for several years achieved more than 20% return on investment in terms of the 35% of FFO that the company reinvests, but it also meant the divi was more conservatively covered than its rivals, says Coombs.

Dividend solidity

This conservatism has ensured the firm has been able to meet its obligation to investors in 2020 where many of the sectors great and good have been forced to cut payments or cancel them altogether.

Twelve months ago, investors who would have said, I'm really sorry but our criteria is you have to pay a five or six per cent dividend yield. Well, today a four per cent dividend yield that is certain is preferable, says Coombs. Security and dependability of dividend is now really important to investors.

The robustness of the Sirius dividend combined with the significant potential uplift in FFO should mark Sirius out as a rarity in the property sector as it stands today  a resilient growth story with dependable income potential.

The company currently owns assets worth 1.2bn, not counting the equity value of the Titanium JV with AXA.

According to Coombs, the next staging post is 100 million of FFO before getting to 2bn of assets. In doing so it is not about diminishing returns it's about enhancing them.

We accept that there will come a point in the evolution of the company that we get to a size where returns will diminish, but the journey from 1bn to 2bn is not that point, he adds.

Read Ed Stacey's initiation report: Great returns, solid foundations

Help India!

By Ram Puniyani

As per the recent communique from Chief Minister of Haryana M.L. Khattars, the Government of Haryana has decided to change the name of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Hospital in Faridabad to Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hospital. So far we have witnessed the name changes by present ruling dispensation aplenty. Most of these changes involved the changing of names of roads/cities, which had names of Muslim rulers. Aurangzeb Road was changed to APJ Abdul Kalam, Allahabad to Prayagraj, Mughal Sarai to Pundit Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Faizabad to Ayodhya. In recent elections in Hyderabad the UP Chief Minister Adiyanath Yogi said name of Hyderabad should be changed to Bhgyanagar. Shiv Sena, which was a long time ally of BJP, has been calling for name change of Aurangabad, Ahmadnagar, and Pune among others. While Shiv Sena has woken up to electoral advantages of name change from Muslim rulers names to Hindu rulers lately, BJP is adept to this game and playing it to the hilt. Its major propaganda has been against Muslim Kings (Temple destruction, forcible conversion, oppression of Hindu women etc.) and reflected on the present Muslim community.

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What is different this time in Haryana Governments move is that it is not the Muslim King whose name is being changed. It is the name of one of the great Indian Nationalists, one who stood rock solid against British rule, one who opposed the partition in the name of religion and one who was the devout follower of Father of the Nation: Mahatma Gandhi, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan. He is also addressed as Badshah Khan or Bacha Khan with love and affection. He is also known as Frontier Gandhi.

He was a major leader from NWFP, who due to his anti British stance had to be in British prison and later was jailed by Pakistan authorities for his standing for plural, democratic values. Khan had founded Khudai Khidmatgar, which pledged to work for the nation, oppose British rule and follow the path of non-violence and amity. Khudai Khidmatgars agitation and resistance to British rule was best reflected in Kissa Khwani Bazar. This incident happened in Peshawar in 1930 when British armored vehicles trampled and shot the protestors, who were peacefully demonstrating.

Khan was the one who was totally against the concept of partition and when Congress leadership had to reluctantly accept the partition and NWFP was to be part of Pakistan, Khan said to Congress leadership, you have thrown us to the wolves. After partition many of his followers who migrated to Faridabad, built this hospital in the memory of their leader. Some of these followers of his who are still alive do say that they have no problems with the name of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but probably a new hospital can be built in his name sparing the cherished memory of one of the great freedom fighters, one who stood for his principles to the end.

The present ruling dispensation, which was not the part of freedom movement, wants to erase the imprint of Islam and Muslims contribution to the building of Indian nation. While medieval Muslims kings have been demonized to the hilt, now BJP seems to be turning its attention to the Muslims who were inseparable part of freedom movement. The understanding being spread is that Muslims had been separatists and so the Pakistan was demanded by them. This is a totally superficial understanding of the history of Independence movement. The Muslim League which had its roots in the nawabs and landlords did not represent the majority of Indian Muslims. Surely Muslim League did succeed in attracting some middle class elements but the large majority of Muslims never supported it. Only elite, property owners and degree holders had the right to vote some of who stood with Muslim League while the average Muslims were with the freedom movement.

Muslim League did succeed in forming ministries in Sindh and Bengal in collaboration with Hindu Mahasabha but average Muslims kept aloof from its separatist politics. The point is that while Jinnah is known as the Muslim leader, it is not generally known that there were other Muslim leaders who were either part of national movements or through their organizations they supported the politics of freedom movement in opposition to the separatist politics of the communalists who believed in two nation theory, nation based on religion. Shamsul Islam in his book Muslims against Indias partition brilliantly brings forth the politics of Nation loving Muslims (as he calls those Muslims who stood with the values of Composite nationalism).

In response to Jinnahs Pakistan resolution, Allahbaksh who was twice the premier of Sindh Province not only returned his titles to support the 1942 Quit India movement. He had earlier formed Azad Muslim Conference to oppose the demand of partition of India. He organized this Conference to oppose the demand of partition with huge response from the average sections of Muslim community. Allah Baksh in his speech stressed that our religions may be different but we have to live as a joint family respecting the different opinions of our family members. There are many other significant leaders who had substantial following among Muslims and were for Hindu Muslim unity. Shibli Nomani, Hasrat Mohani, Ashfaqulla Khan, Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, Shaukutllah Ansari, Syed Abdullah Barelvi, Abdul Maziz Khwaja are some of these.

Similarly, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a tall leader who led the Congress number of times and it was under his President-ship of Congress in 1942 that the call of Quit India movement, the greatest anti- British campaign, was given. Many a Muslim organization like Jamiat-E-Ulema Hind, Momin Conference, Majlis-E-Ahrare Islam, Ahle Hadis, Maulanas of Barelvi and Deoband and many others stood unflinchingly to support national movement. Muslim League was totally against these Nationalist Muslims.

Changing the name of the hospital in the memory of Bacha Khan symbolizes the further growth of sectarianism where ruling party wants to undermine and erase the contribution of Muslim freedom fighters, who contributed immensely in the making of modern India.
[January 20, 2021] CIE at IIIT Hyderabad announces the start of its next cohort of Deep tech Accelerators

11th cohort of Avishkar deeptech accelerator and 5th cohort of the OJAS Medtec accelerator

T wo AI startups Machstaaz and eSkinDoctor selected from over 100 applicants

S tartups to get strategy, business and research mentoring HYDERABAD, India, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CIE at IIIT Hyderabad announced the onboarding of two startups Machstatz and eSkindoctor under Avishkar DeepTech accelerator cohort No. 11 & OJAS MedTech Accelerator cohort No. 5. AVISHKAR deeptech is a 6-month cohort-based accelerator for emerging tech startups and OJAS MedTech is an accelerator for startups in life sciences, biotechnology, diagnostics, point of care devices for healthcare along with cutting-edge emerging technologies facilitated by CIE@IIITH. The accelerator brings together the deeptech expertise of IIITH's research labs and technology mentoring opportunities that help startups build quality product/features within shorter timelines. The startups also go through a structured strategic business mentoring from Co-Creation Consulting, customer introductions and investor connect for follow-on round of investments. Medtech startups also get access to medtech consortium which includes clinicians, hospitals, pharma, biotech & manufacturing companies. Investment readiness of the cohort startups is a key deliverable for the 6-month programme. A number of other ecosystem partners of IIITH also contribute towards the programme with business development services and tools. Prof Ramesh Loganathan, COO of CIE-IIITH said, "Nurturing and growing early-stage tech startups has been our focus since we started CIE in 2008. Over the years we have had 400 startups in the incubator and about 20 in our Accelerator programs." For this cohort, 7 startups pitched for OJAS Accelerator and 9 startups pitched for the Deeptech accelerator. The Investment Committee panel included professors, clinicians, angel investors and other ecosystem partners. "We are very happy to onboard eSkindoctor Healthtech private Limited, focused on Dermatology and is using Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning algorithms to address the gap in availability of doctors by improving the accuracy and efficiency in triaging skin condition," says Dr. Sonali Khanra, Head OJAS Medtech BioNEST, IIIT Hyderabad. She adds that skin diseases pose significant threat to patients' well-being, mental health, ability to function, and social participation, a measure of disability defined broadly by the WHO. Technology interventions in early screening and diagnosis in low resource setting towards delivering high quality care are essential in improving the burden of skin diseases. About IIIT-Hyderabad: The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH) is an autonomous research university founded in 1998 that focuses on the core areas of Information Technology, such as Computer Science, Electronics and Communications, and their applications in other domains through inter-disciplinary research with great social impact. Some of its reserch domains include Cognitive Science, Visual Information Technologies, Human Language Technologies, Data Engineering, VLSI and Embedded Systems, Computer Architecture, Wireless Communications, Algorithms and Information Security, Robotics, Building Science, Earthquake Engineering, Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, IT in Agriculture and e-Governance.



Centre For Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE-IIITH): CIE@IIITH, also known as CIE (Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship) is a DST approved incubator operational since 2008. CIE@IIITH has so far supported around 400 startups and has seed- funded 19 startups, 80% of which are cash positive. CIE@IIITH was also instrumental being the kiln of the initiatives that culminated into the foundation of T-Hub. Along with developments in AVISHKAR, OJAS medtech, CIE@IIITH is also focusing on turning a new leaf in terms of infrastructure facilities, programmes and startup engagements focusing towards building a deeptech startup ecosystem. New working spaces are launched, seed funding programmes, structured workshops and mentoring opportunities and technology transfer facilitation are also being deployed now.

OJAS BioNEST @ CIE-IIIT Hyderabad was founded in 2018 with a support by DBT-BIRAC. OJAS- BioNEST helps companies building products at the intersection of technology and medicine in areas such as disease prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and wellness. OJAS welcomes entrepreneurs working on futuristic, bold and innovative ideas, harnessing digital technologies in healthcare practice. About Machstatz: Machstatz provides end to end solution in Industrial IoT. They use artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to provide predictive and process analytics solutions to manufacturing industries. Their solutions are being implemented in manufacturing industries which increases production efficiency, reduces downtime of industrial machines and eliminates defects in real time. Machstatz offers Smart devices along with Connectivity, Communication, Software Analytics, Dashboarding and reporting in order to provide a complete solution to its customers. Started in 2017 by the founders Sameer Patnaik, Pruthviraj Subudhi & Srikant Gupta the startup has gained traction quickly with acquiring customers in industries like Iron & Steel, Chemical, Glass, Textile and Automotive. Machstatz uses flexible models, proven diagnostic instruments, sophisticated software and unmatched analytic expertise to deliver sustainable, scalable and cost effective based maintenance and monitoring programs that ensure industrial asset availability, helping to maximize runtime productivity and increase overall operational efficiency. In 2018 the startup was featured among Top 60 startups across India for 'The Economic Times Power of Ideas' conducted by IIM Ahmedabad in association with Facebook, Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India. Machstatz is also funded by angel investors and technology business incubator DERBI foundation supported by Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India based out of Bangalore. They are a strong team of 15 members with expertise in Industrial Automation & Data Science. With the additional support and funding from IIIT Hyderabad - Machstatz aims to scale up and expand their customer base. Utilize the mentoring process in scaling up their product and reach out to global markets. About eSkindoctor: One of the founders, in his earlier company, while working on a project to design solutions to improve maternal and child health in rural India realized that the primary access to healthcare for many people were quacks. In fact, a WHO report in 2016 stated that over half of all those practicing allopathic medicine did not have any medical qualification. Technology can help to fill this gap and provide information and connect with right doctors at the right time. Mumbai based eSkindoctor Healthtech private Limited is focused on Dermatology and is using Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning algorithms to address this gap. Skin problems are one of the least cared for, because the number of dermatologists in India for a 138-crore population is around 7000, and they are most concentrated in big cities. The number of skin problems that people face in India is around 68 crores per year. This and many more other reasons compelled Arun a graduate from IIM A, Naveen a Graduate from BITS Pilani and Anand a Graduate from XIM to setup eskindoctor.com- A platform that allows patients to understand their skin condition and access quality dermatologists. The platform is driven by augmenting skin disease diagnosis and management with AI, improving both efficiency & accuracy of care. Making Triaging Skin Condition Simple "Patients can access eskindoctor.com on their mobile phone or laptop and upload a photo of the affected part and answers a few questions asked by the artificial intelligence tool. Based on data provided, patient is shared with information about their skin problem and guides them to resolution by engaging with a dermatologist on the platform," Anand Says . "Currently we have built the model to triage all the common, very common and rare skin diseases prevailing in India. We are able to triage accurately around 100 Plus Skin Conditions. We have used public data sets and proprietary data sets to train our model," Arun Says Providing access to Dermatologists with curated case capsule eSkinDoctor.com uses the combination of a state-of-the-art deep learning model working with a proprietary Differential Diagnosis (DD) algorithm to present doctors with a curated case capsule along with Provisional diagnosis recommendation of AI engine for a highly efficient diagnosis. Doctor reaches out to patient if they need any additional information to complete the prescription. The entire process can be completed on an average in 5 Minutes, helping doctors to improve efficiency and accuracy," says Naveen. eSkinDoctor is led by highly experienced team behind it. They are alumni of IIMA, BITS PILANI and XIM with a track record of couple of decades in IT industry and with the additional support and funding from IIIT Hyderabad - eSkindoctor aims to scale up and expand their customer base and utilize the mentoring process in clinical validation and scaling up their product to reach to global markets. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/600789/IIIT_Hyderabad_Logo.jpg

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi said President Donald Trump could be an accessory to murder for his role in inciting the MAGA mob that rioted on Capitol Hill and resulted in five deaths, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer.

'[The] President's words are important, they weigh a ton. And if you're Donald Trump talking to these people, they believe it and they used his words to come here. When we talk about 'did any of our colleagues collaborate?' Well, that remains to be seen. We have to get the evidence of that. And if they did, they would be accessory to the crime. And the crime, in some cases, was murder,' she told MSNBC's on Tuesday night.

Pelosi led an impeachment vote against Trump one week after the attack on the Capitol, which resulted in him becoming the only president to be impeached for a second time. The House of Representatives charged President Trump with 'incitement of insurrection' in the January 6th riot.

She described the outgoing president as a 'stain on our country.'

'I do think that we're bigger than all of this. Donald Trump was a stain on our country. I don't think we could have sustained our democracy if he had two terms in office, for what he was doing to our institution or what he was doing to our Constitution. He dishonored it,' she told MSNBC.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said President Donald Trump could be an accessory to murder for his role in inciting the MAGA mob that rioted on Capitol Hill

President Trump faces a second impeachment trial in the Senate where he faces a charge of 'incitement of insurrection' for the January 6th riot

And, when asked her final message for President Trump, she called on him to formally concede the election. Trump has acknowledged a new administration will take office on Wednesday but he has not mentioned incoming President Joe Biden by name nor reached out to his successor.

'Well, the first thing I would say to him is accept the results of the election, concede to the President, Joe Biden, and call off the terrorists that you have unleashed,' Pelosi said. 'If I had to leave him a note, it would be very short. Man up. Concede the election, nothing more.'

Pelosi and Trump had a contentious relationship. The last time they saw each other or spoke was last year's State of the Union Address where Trump refused to shake her hand and she tore up the text of his remarks when he finished speaking.

The speaker has not yet formally sent the article of impeachment to the Senate, which will try Trump. Democrats were working on rules that would allow the upper chamber to operate on the dual tracks of confirming Biden's cabinet nominees while trying President Trump.

Even some Republicans fault Trump for the violence in the Capitol.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell denounced President Trump on Tuesday, saying the president was responsible for 'provoking' the MAGA mob.

'The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people,' he said in a dramatic speech on the Senate floor.

'They tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government, which they did not like,' McConnell continued.

'But we pressed on. We stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation.'

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said during remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday that Donald Trump 'provoked' the crowd who stormed the Capitol two weeks ago is his most outright denunciation of the president to date

'The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people,' McConnell said of Trump's speech to thousands of his supporters before they descended on Capitol Hill

The speech takes McConnell much closer to publicly declaring he will convict Trump at his Senate impeachment trial and gives significant cover to members of the GOP caucus to vote to convict too.

Notably, unlike President Trump's last impeachment trial, McConnell is telling senators to vote their conscience - a dramatic difference from last year when McConnell actively worked to acquit Trump when he was impeached the first time.

To convict Trump, 17 Republican senators would have to vote for that charge. As an alternative, senators could consider voting in favor of disqualifying Trump from holding future office. The Senate could apply that punishment by a simple majority vote, but only if two-thirds of senators first found Trump guilty. It's an option that could appeal to many Republican senators since it would prevent Trump from running for president again in 2024.

The debate shows the deep divisions inside the Republican Senate, with the only members to make their positions known so far three who say they will not convict: Lindsey Graham, Rand Paul and Tom Cotton.

Even some Republicans have faulted President Trump for inciting the mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6th

During his remarks, McConnell honored the sacrifice Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick (pictured) gave in defending the Capitol. He died the day after the riot after being hit over the head with a fire extinguisher

He also paid tribute to fellow Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood (pictured), who committed suicide in an off-duty incident three days after the attack

McConnell's break with Trump comes as several Republicans, including former administration officials, turn against the president in the fallout of the Capitol riot by thousands of Trump supporters.

Vice President Mike Pence and Congress' top two Republicans  McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy  will scorn Trump on his way out the door.

None of the three men will attend Trump's departure ceremony at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday morning.

McCarthy also faulted Trump for his actions on January 6th.

'That doesn't mean the president is free from fault. The president bears bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding,' McCarthy said last week during the House debate on impeachment.

'These facts require immediate action by President Trump, accept his share of responsibility, quell the brewing unrest and ensure President elect Biden is able to successfully begin his term,' McCarthy said.

When Trump was impeached the first time, in December 2019, no Republicans in the House voted against him.

The opposite was true in the second impeachment vote, with 10 Republicans voting with every Democrat in the House to impeach.

Other Republicans have faulted Trump for stirring up the crowd on January 6th. At a rally the morning of riot, Trump told his supporters to march on the Capitol. As the mob swarmed the building, Trump waited several hours before asking them to stand down.

On Monday, former Attorney General Bill Barr told ITV News that the attack on the Capitol was 'precipitated' by Trump's repeated claims of election fraud. He also compared those involved in the mob to Islamic terrorists.

'That was the thing that precipitated riots on the Hill,' Barr said when asked if the debate over election integrity contributed to the scene at the Capitol.

'I'll leave it to the people who are looking into the genesis of this to say whether incitement was involved,' Barr said, stopping short of calling Trump's words 'incitement of insurrection.'

Hundreds were injured in the riot two weeks ago and five died, including a Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, who was hit over the head by a protester with a fire hydrant and a female pro-Trump demonstrator, Ashli Babbit, who was shot in the chest in the chaos.

McConnell also praised law enforcement during his floor remarks Tuesday for already making more than 100 arrested related to the riot.

'A great deal has already been said about the disgraceful events of January 6,' the Kentucky Republican said. 'More will be said in the weeks ahead. I understand the FBI has already made at least 100 arrests and the Justice Department reports more than 275 persons are under investigation, a number that is climbing fast.'

He added: 'I want to commend the work of the department to swiftly investigate and bring offenders to justice.'

'I want to reaffirm the huge respect and gratitude that I have and I believe all senators have for the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police, who put their own safety on the line every single day that they clock in and stand guard.'

He paid tribute to Sicknick, the only law enforcement to die as a result of the violent attack, as well as fellow Capitol Police officer Howard Liebengood, who died three days after the riot in an off-duty suicide.

'Neither the institution of Congress nor the American people will ever forget the bravery and the valor of Officer Brian Sicknick, who sacrificed himself to protect this place and those inside,' McConnell said. 'We'll not forget our friend, Officer Howard Liebengood, and we'll never forget our debt to all the brave USCP officers and their families.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised US President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday for the decision to rejoin the Paris climate deal on the first day of his presidency

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th January, 2021) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised US President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday for the decision to rejoin the Paris climate deal on the first day of his presidency.

"I am delighted that on day one of this new administration, the US will rejoin the #ParisAgreement. This is the starting point for our renewed cooperation. And way more is to come," von der Leyen wrote on Twitter.
The Starlake township covers a huge part of the immediate west of Hanois West Lake

THT Development Co., Ltd. and Toshin Development Co., Ltd. - established in 1963 by Takashimaya Group  officially completed the transferral procedures for the project of a commercial centre and Japanese-themed offices at a size of 1.7 hectares.

Takashimaya is already investing 1.3 billion ($12.5 million) into the construction and operation of a K-12 school there in cooperation with Edufit International Education, a Vietnamese school operator.

The Japanese company will also develop commercial and office space at Starlake between 2022 and 2025, along with two separate large-scale commercial projects elsewhere in Hanoi.

The complex in Starlake is the second funded by Takashimaya in Vietnam, after a retail centre was opened in Ho Chi Minh City in 2016.

The group has also transferred a land plot for Landmark 55  a high-end hotel, office for lease, and trade and service centre complex  to domestic group Taseco Invest JSC.The land plot is located over 23,600 square metres and is expected to see construction started in the next couple of months, with completion marked for the end of 2024. The 55-storey tower will be the third-highest tower of Hanoi after Keangnam Landmark 72 and Lotte Centre Hanoi. Taseco Invest JSC is has previously been involved in pouring money into real estate, aviation, hotels, and finance.

Starlake is currently home to many other sub-investors such as South Korean groups E-Mart and CJ. E-Mart first appeared in Ho Chi Minh City with a 3-ha supermarket costing $60 million. Founded in 1993, E-Mart has become a retailer with more than 160 supermarkets found in South Korea, China, Vietnam, and Mongolia.

CJ meanwhile is expanding its business in Vietnam via a range of famous brand names such as Tous Les Jours, CGV, CJ Korea Express, and SCJ TV Homeshopping. It has also carried out a range of mergers and acquisitions with the likes of Vissan, Gemadept, and Sacomreal.

Starlake was invested in by THT Development Co., Ltd. with 100-per-cent investment capital from South Koreas Daewoo E&C, at a total of up to $1.3 billion. Last July, THT Development received approval from the government to increase its capital with an additional $774 million.

Located in Hanois expatriate centre of Tay Ho district and overlapping neighbouring Cau Giay and Tu Liem districts, Starlake was deemed the last golden land plot left alongside the capitals West Lake. It was given an investment certificate in 2006 but did not start construction until 2014 due to difficulties in land clearance and compensation.

The townships first residential block, consisting of more than 600 high-end units, was handed over to homebuyers last October.
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The vaccine rollout is under way in the UK (Peter Byrne/PA)

Another 22 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health reported 18 people died within the reporting period of between 10am on Tuesday and 10am on Wednesday with four occurring previously. The death toll is now at 1,671.

Another 905 new cases were also diagnosed. In total over 97,619 people have tested positive for coronavirus.

There are 832 coronavirus patients in hospitals with 67 in intensive care.

Hospitals are operating at 96% occupancy and there are 138 active care home outbreaks.

Read More

It comes as the UK's chief scientific adviser said vaccines are not doing enough "heavy lifting" at the moment and case rates need to drop further before the Government can think of easing restrictions.

Sir Patrick Vallance said the country still has a long way to go in battling coronavirus - describing scenes in some hospitals as a "war zone" - but he added there is "light at the end of the tunnel".

Cases by council area:

Antrim and Newtownabbey: 6,727 cases (+416 in past 7 days) and 167 deaths

Ards and North Down: 4,556 cases (+296 in past 7 days) and 102 deaths

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon: 11,904 cases (+1,232 in past 7 days) and 193 deaths

Belfast: 18,499 cases (+835 in past 7 days) and 334 deaths

Causeway Coast and Glens: 6,124 cases (+280 in past 7 days) and 134 deaths

Derry City and Strabane: 10,424 cases (+250 in past 7 days) and 116 deaths

Fermanagh and Omagh: 5,004 cases (+325 in past 7 days) and 66 deaths

Lisburn and Castlereagh: 6,158 cases (+362 in past 7 days) and 121 deaths

Mid and East Antrim: 6,237 cases (+362 in past 7 days) and 157 deaths

Mid Ulster: 9,630 cases (+694 in past 7 days) and 144 deaths

Newry, Mourne and Down: 9,452 cases (+675 in past 7 days) and 112 deaths

Not known: 2,904 cases (+232 in past 7 days) and 25 deaths

CBS and The Associated Press said in statements that they were taking precautions to protect their inauguration reporters, while Reuters said it had redoubled its safety efforts before, during and after the presidential election. Time magazine said it was dispatching two of its journalists with conflict experience, Kim Dozier and Simon Shuster, to help cover the event.

The New York Times is sending nearly all of its reporters in Washington to cover the inauguration, and many of them have experience reporting in war zones given that the national security team and Pentagon correspondents are based in the bureau, Elisabeth Bumiller, assistant managing editor and Washington bureau chief, said in a statement.

Hugh Brumfitt, the managing director of the British company Insurance For, said he had recently seen a significant increase in requests from news outlets for insurance coverage for their journalists.

What is very interesting is that clients have been extending the coverage for a few days after the inauguration, possibly anticipating further marches, he wrote in an email.

Richard Hall, the senior U.S. correspondent for the British news site The Independent, covered the Syrian civil war and the Islamic State as a correspondent based in Beirut, Lebanon. Mr. Hall, who will be in Washington for the inauguration, said he planned to stay in constant communication with his colleagues in a WhatsApp group.

Im a white man, and I can kind of just blend into the crowd, which is what I did when the Capitol protests were going on, he said. Im fully aware that most journalists and especially photographers and videographers dont have that privilege.

Vice News will have security advisers with its journalists, and protective equipment will be available, said Sebastian Walker, the outlets Washington bureau chief.
Maruti Suzuki India rose 1.17% to Rs 8017.70 after the company said it commenced export of Suzuki's compact off-roader Jimny from India.

The first shipment of 184 units left from Mundra port to Latin American countries such as Columbia and Peru. The iconic three-door Suzuki Jimny will be exported to Latin America, Middle East and African markets from India. The current generation of Jimny was launched in 2018 by Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan and has emerged as a popular choice globally. Customers like its appeal for city driving too.

With India as a production base for Jimny, Suzuki aims to leverage Maruti Suzuki's global production stature. As there is a large customer demand worldwide well beyond Suzuki Japan capacity for this model, Indian manufacturing will supplement capacity to meet this global demand.

Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India said, Jimny will fulfillaspirations of customers throughout the world. Jimny manufactured at Maruti Suzuki's Gurugramplant shares the same specification as the export models produced at the Suzuki Motor Corporation's Kosai plant in Japan. We are confidentwith Jimny we will be able to enhance our overall exports.

Maruti Suzuki India is engaged in the manufacture, purchase and sale of motor vehicles, components and spare parts (automobiles).

The company's net profit rose 1% to Rs 1371.60 crore on 9.7% increase in net sales to Rs 17,689.30 crore in in Q2 FY21 over Q2 FY20. The company will announce its December quarter earnings on 28 January 2021.

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by Vladimir Rozanskij

The Russian president wanted to support the tradition, in a quasi-challenge to his opponents. Lavrov: Russian Orthodox culture attacked by the US and the Patriarch of Constantinople. Metropolitan Ilarion had advised against swimming in icy waters. In Moscow 3 thousand faithful immersed themselves; 15 thousand in St. Petersburg. In the Pacific Ocean, at minus 20 degrees, 500 sailors and people from Vladivostok took the plunge. Patriarch Kirill: The Holy Spirit does not transform man into superman, but opens the possibility for man to enter into communion with God.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Despite fears related to the pandemic, yesterday, January 19, the "extreme" rite of immersion in icy waters was held in many Russian Orthodox churches, through the cross openings (the kupely, "baptismal fonts") hewn into the ice covered basins.

President Vladimir Putin wanted to set a good example, as in past years (photo 1). In one of the more than 200 kupely prepared in the Moscow province (photo 2), near his dacha-bunker, he made the "regenerative" walk of Theophany in swimming shorts, as if to accept the "sporting challenge" of the opponent Alexei Navalny, whose return seems to question his authority.

The liturgical feast was in fact a new occasion to reaffirm the particularity of Russian society in the face of those who would like to "destroy" it, as Foreign Minister Sergej Lavrov once again stated. Glorifying Russian religious culture, Lavrov stated that a plan is underway to ruin the purity of his Orthodoxy, particularly with the complicity of the patriarchate of Constantinople, to which the Americans have allegedly offered a lot of funding to provoke a schism with the Russians. A member of the Synodal Commission for the Liturgy, the proto-deacon and history professor Vladimir Vasilik, has speculated that even the Ural schismatic starets, Sergy Romanov, is in fact an American agent, committed to dividing the Russian Church from within.

The statements of national-religious pride are often accompanied by the rites of Baptism, which only in Russia are associated with the harshest winter, so much so that they are called "the frosts of Baptism". This year, the "bold" gesture of devotion takes on an even more symbolic value, to affirm the power of faith against physical weaknesses and virus attacks (photo 4).

In fact, some hierarchs such as Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev) have warned that it was not worth putting already weakened health in this difficult period at further risk, and in many areas, especially the northernmost ones, sacred immersions were suspended by order of the local bishops.

The health authorities have also issued recommendations contrary to the rite. Those who decided to undergo it were reminded to eat abundantly first, do not abuse alcohol, do not stay in the water for more than a minute; whoever dives must get vaccinated one week before or one week after. The dives in the kupely were carried out "respecting social distancing". This has increased the difficulty of having to wait longer in line in the freezing cold.

Patriarch Kirill limited himself to celebrating the baptismal liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, recalling that "the Holy Spirit does not transform man into superman, but opens the possibility for man to enter into communion with God and rely on His power, to obtain salvation.

Even in Moscow, however, seven kupelys were prepared, where over 3 thousand faithful immersed themselves. The devotion of the Petersburgers is much more intense, where almost 15 thousand faithful have flocked to the kupely citizens. The greatest example of "extreme devotion" was offered by 500 sailors stationed in the Gulf of Amur, near the coast of Japan near the city of Vladivostok. A local parish priest, Father Oleg, blessed the frozen waters (-20 degrees) of the shores of the Pacific Ocean (photo 3), and the entire fleet then dived behind Vice-Admiral Sergej Rekish, followed by members of their families and Vladivostok inhabitants, in the kupel prepared thanks to a system of pulleys and bridges.
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LTG has acquired Reflektive Inc, which will join its PeopleFluent business and enhance the performance management offering. In todays complex world of work, its more important than ever for organisations to focus on developing, reskilling, and deploying existing talent to meet the changing needs of the business.

Learning Technologies Group plc, the provider of services and technologies for digital learning and talent management, has agreed to acquire Reflektive Inc, a leading performance management software provider.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Reflektive specialises in engagement and analytics tools. It offers a collaborative goal-setting, continuous feedback, and analytics platform used by teams and individuals to provide measurable results for boosting productivity, engagement, and retention. Reflektive will join LTGs PeopleFluent business, integrating its solution with the existing PeopleFluent talent management portfolio.

Jonathan Satchell, Chief Executive of Learning Technologies Group, said: "I am delighted to announce our acquisition of Reflektive, which will join during this exciting time of resilient growth for LTGs Software and Platforms division. Reflektive takes a cutting-edge approach to performance management, matched with flagship tools that enable truly engaging continuous goal-setting within organisations. This highly complementary acquisition will enhance the capabilities of PeopleFluent, bringing over 450 new corporate customers. Furthermore, it increases LTGs proportion of proforma recurring revenue to more than 80%.

A modern performance management solution, Reflektive offers a collaborative platform that brings performance into the flow of work  allowing clients to align company-wide shared goals and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), provide continuous feedback, and track employee performance, recognition and engagement. With Reflektive, organisations can scale constructive, ongoing conversations and measure the positive impact this has on employee productivity, engagement, and retention.

Stephen Bruce, Managing Director of PeopleFluent, said: In todays complex world of work, its more important than ever for organisations to focus on developing, reskilling, and deploying existing talent to meet the changing needs of the business. To do that requires a strong focus and alignment on business goals, performance measures and, at the same time, tracking employee engagement as a vital component of the HR function and in concert with the modern talent journey. Reflektives solutions enhance performance management in a variety of exciting ways  fostering a sense of employee accountability, encouraging meaningful 1:1 conversations, measuring employee sentiment, and tracking activities in alignment with company goals. We are extremely excited to welcome these solutions into PeopleFluents existing offering and the value these enhanced solutions will bring to existing and new customers.

About Learning Technologies Group

Learning Technologies Group is a leader in the high-growth workplace learning and talent industry. The Group offers end-to-end learning and talent management solutions ranging from strategic consultancy, through a range of content and platform solutions to analytical insights that enable corporate and government clients to close the gap between current and future workforce capability.

LTG is listed on the London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (LTG.L) and headquartered in London. The Group has offices in Europe, North America, South America and Asia-Pacific.

LTGs businesses, including LEO Learning, Gomo, PRELOADED, Rustici Software, PeopleFluent, Affirmity, Watershed, VectorVMS, Instilled, and Open LMS, are at the forefront of innovation and best-practice in the learning technology and talent management sectors, and have received numerous awards for their exceptional performance. Our portfolio of brands represents the best of breed and they are acknowledged throughout the industry as market leaders.

For more, visit ltgplc.com.

About PeopleFluent

As a market leader in integrated talent management and learning solutions, PeopleFluent helps companies hire, develop, reward, and advance a skilled and motivated workforce. Deployed separately or as a suite, our software spans recruitment, talent mobility, performance, compensation, succession, org charting, and learning  tailored for either large or mid-enterprise organisations. We deliver unmatched functionality and flexibility, recognised by leading analysts, to develop people, drive performance and deliver results.

Our talent solutions unify talent processes within a collaborative experience that enables HR and L&D teams to guide managers and employees with contextual learning  right in the flow of work.

A part of Learning Technologies Group plc (LTG), PeopleFluent provides world-class service and an unparalleled ecosystem of partners to optimise employee experience, employer brand, and business results.

For more, visit peoplefluent.com.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Mumbai, Jan 20 : Acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee feels it is time to revisit and draw inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi.

Reacting to a tweet about the documentary "Ahimsa -- Gandhi: The Power Of The Powerless, Manoj on Wednesday, wrote: "Generations will find (it) hard to believe that there was this man walked on this planet!!! Let's all watch it, read him and get inspired all over again .#ahimsa #Gandhi." Meanwhile, the actor is looking forward to the release of the second season of the hit web show, "The Family Man".

He will return as NIA agent Srikant Tiwari. South star Samantha Akkineni will also join the action in season two, as an antagonist. Srikant, while struggling to balance his personal and professional lives, will be pitted against a new nemesis, Raji, played by Samantha.

Besides Bajpayee, the show brings back Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi, and Sharad Kelkar. Created, directed and produced by Raj and DK, the show also features Darshan Kumar, Sunny Hinduja, Shreya Dhanwantary, Shahab Ali, Vedant Sinha, Mahek Thakur and Seema Biswas.

The series will release on February 12.
Francescas will remain operational after two investment firms bought the companys assets in a bankruptcy auction and committed to maintaining stores, the retailer announced Tuesday.

Francescas Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of TerraMar Capital and Tiger Capital, was the winning bidder in a bankruptcy auction that began Friday. TerraMar, a Los Angeles investment firm, committed to operating at least 275 clothing stores  down from 700 in August.

Andrew Clarke, Francescas chief executive officer, said he was pleased with the arrangement.

Upon court approval and the final closing of the transaction, we believe Francescas will emerge a stronger company, he said, poised to drive growth by exploring new brand avenues, expanding our ecommerce channels, and providing our customers with the latest fashion options and treasure hunt experiences they know and love.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Francesca's to move forward with auction after bankruptcy court approval

The Houston womens clothing retailer announced a plan to auction its core retail locations when it filed for bankruptcy protection last month. At the same time, the company reached an agreement with Tiger Finance, for a $25 million debtor-in-possession financing facility that would allow it to continue operations. It also entered into a letter of intent with TerraMar Capital to become the stalking horse bidder for the auction and sale process. A stalking horse makes the initial bid to set the low-end of bidding.

Francescas announced earlier this month it executed the stalking horse agreement with TerraMars affiliate, Francescas Acquisition, and with Tiger Capital Group. The minimum bid for company assets and subsidiaries was set at $17 million cash.

The company said there were multiple bidders but did not name them. The transaction is expected to close by the months end, subject to court approval.

Francescas struggles began before the pandemic, as women in their 20s and 30s have increasingly flocked to online retailers, brick-and-mortar competitors and independent boutiques.

The pandemic didnt help the mall-based retailer. The company reported a $17.2 million ($5.80 per share) loss in the period ended Aug. 1, compared to a $1.8 million (61 cents) profit during the same period in 2019.

amanda.drane@chron.com

Twitter.com/amandadrane
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 16:11:49|Editor: huaxia

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Six militants have been killed and four others injured after the security forces' warplanes struck a group of Taliban fighters in northern Kunduz province, the Afghan army said in a statement released on Wednesday.

A group of Taliban militants gathered in the Timorian area of the restive Dasht-e-Archi district on Tuesday afternoon to storm security checkpoints, but the warplanes bombed the insurgents in pre-emptive action, killing six and wounding four others.

The armed group, which has stepped up activities in parts of Kunduz province with Kunduz city as its capital 250 km north of Kabul, has yet to make comment on the fighting.

Kunduz has been the scene of increasing militancy over the past year. Fighting between the Taliban and the security forces left over two dozen deaths, including 16 security personnel, two civilians and a dozen insurgents in the restive province on Monday. Enditem
Jessica Jordaan is proud to announce The Last Foals documentary being filmed now in Namib, Africa. Jessica Jordaan is the Founder of WARHORSEUSA, a non-profit that raises awareness on the battle for Wild American Mustangs.

The Last Foal Documentary features International Photographer, Guadalupe Laiz. Laiz photographs and documents the strife of the remaining wild horses of the Namib Desert.

Jessicas interest in the Namibian Horses began when she met her husband Hendrik Jordaan, a Private equity CEO with an office in South Africa. Upon growing more aware of the struggles of these beautiful animals, the idea for the documentary was born.

The Last Foal Documentary dives into how the survival of the wild horses hinges on the last foals born. Danger looms all around as they are subject to drought and Hyenas.

Jessica Jordaan believes that these incredible animals need to be protected. It is her hope that the documentary will help spread awareness regarding the strife of wild horses in Africa and around the world.

It is deeply moving to watch the remaining wild horses of the Namibia Desert and see the dangers they experience every day. We as a people must come together to protect these animals who bring so much beauty to our world, said Jessica Jordaan.

In addition to the documentary, The WARHORSEUSA organization continues to help abused, unwanted and abandoned Wild American Mustangs. Donations from animal lovers the world over help the cause.

About WARHORSEUSA:

WARHORSEUSA is a non-profit that raises awareness on the battle for Wild American Mustangs. Currently Jordaan is Working on The Last Foal Documentary in Namibia, Africa. With International Photographer Guadalupe Laiz. (CNN Feature). The Last Foal project will photograph and document the strife of the remaining wild horses of The Namib Desert. Their survival now remains on the last foals born. Subject to drought and Hyenas, these foals face grave danger and the survival of the entire band, relies on them.
As few as 25 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in one of the worlds poorest countries, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, warning of a catastrophic moral failure.

In some of his bleakest comments yet about the pandemic response, director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cast doubt over whether the WHO-backed COVAX facility, created to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines, would get the doses it needs as high-income countries forge their own deals with vaccine makers.

The warning comes as cases of the virus continue to rise around the world, with 94 million confirmed cases and 2.03 million deaths recorded globally, according to the WHO. Speaking at the start of the organizations week-long executive board meeting on Monday, Tedros said: As the first vaccines begin to be deployed, the promise of equitable access is at serious risk.

More than 39 million doses of vaccine have now been administered in at least 49 higher-income countries. Just 25 doses have been given in one lowest-income country. Not 25 million; not 25 thousand; just 25.

The WHO chief did not state which country the 25 referred to, but a WHO spokeswoman later identified it as Guinea, West Africa.

I need to be blunt: the world is on the brink of a catastrophic moral failure and the price of this failure will be paid with lives and livelihoods in the worlds poorest countries. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, The World Health Organization

He hailed the development and approval of safe, effective vaccines less than a year after the novel virus emerged as a stunning scientific achievement, but warned they risked becoming another brick in the wall of inequality between the worlds haves and have-nots.

The Ethiopian said the recent emergence of rapidly spreading variants of COVID-19, such as new strains identified in Brazil and South Africa, has made the equitable rollout of vaccination programmes all the more critical.

There will be enough vaccine for everyone, Tedros told board members convened virtually from the WHOs headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

However, countries must work together to prioritize those most at risk, he said, adding that it was not right that younger, healthier adults in rich countries are vaccinated ahead of older people and health workers in poorer countries.

A spokesman for the vaccine alliance, Gavi, told SciDev.Net the COVAX facility was on track to secure 2 billion doses of vaccines in 2021. While the majority of these doses will be delivered in the second half of the year, we anticipate being able to provide each participating economy with the first tranche  enough to protect approximately 3 per cent of the population  in the first half of 2021, she said.

This process could begin as early as February pending favorable regulatory outcomes and the readiness of health systems and national regulatory systems in individual participating economies.

However, Tedros criticized rich countries and pharmaceutical companies for prioritizing bilateral deals over assisting COVAX, with 44 bilateral deals signed last year and at least 12 so far this year. Most manufacturers have prioritized regulatory approval in rich countries where the profits are highest, rather than submitting regulatory data to the WHO, Tedros said.

This could delay COVAX deliveries and create exactly the scenario COVAX was designed to avoid, with hoarding, a chaotic market, an uncoordinated response, and continued social and economic disruption, he added.

Since January 1, the world has been recording an average of almost 12,500 daily deaths and 682,000 recorded cases, according to a report published Tuesday by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.

The report expressed deep concern over the continued rises in cases and deaths and the prospect of inequitable rollout around the globe.

Co-Chair Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Liberian president, said the panel was grateful to scientists for developing vaccines in record time. We regret, however, that the vaccine roll-out is currently favoring wealthy countries, she said.

A world where high-income countries receive universal coverage while low-income countries are expected to accept only 20 per cent in the foreseeable future is on the wrong footing  both for justice and for pandemic control. This failure must be remedied.

According toourworldindata.org, an initiative by the University of Oxford and partners which is collating data on the pandemic, the United Arab Emirates is currently delivering the highest number of vaccines per 100 people at 1.16 doses. It is followed by Israel (1.11), Bahrain (0.42), the UK (0.39) and the US (0.24). Brazil is administering the fewest of those countries with available data, at 0.01 per 100 people. No data was available for any low-income countries.

Jeremy Farrar, director of UK-based medical research charity Wellcome, said the wake-up call from Tedros was spot on. Responding on Twitter, he warned that unless the pandemic was ended everywhere, new variants would emerge which could evade vaccines.
Since noon Tuesday, Chuck Krays pharmacy has been receiving 5-6 calls per minute regarding COVID-19 vaccine. Thats when Pennsylvania officially expanded vaccine eligibility to include everyone over 65 and younger people with chronic illness.

The problem is theres not enough vaccine to meet the demand. Nor enough locations and people.

Theres no way the system can handle this. I can barely fill prescriptions right now, said Kray, the president of Hershey Pharmacy and HersheyCare in Dauphin County.

Kray, also the president of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, said he heard the same from colleagues, including one in Pittsburgh.

This is happening all over the state. There is not enough vaccine to open it up this wide so soon. Its just creating chaos, he said.

Kray and others said they werent prepared for the states announcement of expanded eligibility, which came in response to last weeks recommendation from the federal government, which in turn triggered pressure from the public.

The changes by the department of health really blindsided us, said Laurel Spagnolo, director of development and community engagement at Sadler Health Center in Carlisle, a federally-supported clinic that serves many people with lower incomes.

She said the announcement really opened the floodgates on demand. Sadler had previously been vaccinating mostly local health care workers who arent connected with a major health system, such as local dentists and EMS crews.

As of Wednesday morning, Sadler was putting newly-eligible people on a waiting list.

We dont know when well be able to vaccinate anyone else from the community, Spagnolo said, noting the vaccine supply is very limited.

Tuesdays move expanded the pool of Pennsylvanians eligible for vaccine to 3.5 million people. COVID-19 vaccine, which began arriving in the state right before Christmas, had previously been limited to front-line health care workers and nursing home residents.

Pennsylvania had received just under 1.1 million doses as of Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state still hasnt finished vaccinating its health care workers and long term care residents. Moreover, state officials have said the CDC often lists vaccine is being distributed before it actually arrives in the state.

It wasnt immediately clear on Wednesday morning how many available doses exist in Pennsylvania. A top state official, in announcing the expanded eligibility on Tuesday, had said the supply will be a problem.

A state health department map shows locations, including many local pharmacies, where people can call to set up a vaccination appointment. The map wasnt working at some points on Wednesday morning.

Moreover, some locations designated as having available vaccine are still restricting their supply to health care workers, according to people who called.

The health department didnt immediately respond to questions posed early Wednesday.

At Keystone Health Center in Chambersburg, another federally-supported clinic in Chambersburg, health care workers were still receiving top priority for available vaccine, said Dr. Raghavednra Tirupathi.

Many in the newly-expanded group are calling, but we dont have the vaccine or the bandwidth, he said, although he held out hope that will change quickly.

WellSpan Health as of late Tuesday began accepting requests for vaccines at about 20 locations.

We have received a high level of interest, and our plans and scheduling do rely on us getting ongoing and adequate supply from the state. Given the current supply constraints seen across the country and with schedules filling up fast, we may need to adjust those schedules accordingly if supply becomes an issue, spokesman Ryan Coyle said in an email on Wednesday morning.

Kray, the Hershey pharmacist and association president, said it was a mistake to expand the eligibility without having a stronger supply. Pennsylvania, like all the other states, is depending on the federal government for vaccines.

Kray said his pharmacy, which received about 2,000 vaccine requests on Tuesday, is expecting only 300 doses this week.

Incoming President Joe Biden has stated a goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans during his first 100 days in office  a goal some call overly optimistic given the available supply. However, vaccines from one or more additional manufacturers are expected to become available within the next month or so. Experts say roughly about 170-200 million Americans will need to be vaccinated to nullify the threat of COVID-19.

Biden has also said he might use the defense production act to speed up production.
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The initial public offering of Indigo Paints, the fifth largest decorative paints company in India, has been subscribed 1.9 times on its first day of the bidding so far, January 20.

The public issue has received bids for 1.04 crore equity shares against offer size of 55.18 lakh shares (excluding anchor book), the subscription data available on the exchanges showed.

The anchor book witnessed good response from investors, including global investors and domestic asset management companies. The company aims to raise Rs 1,170 crore through its public issue, of which it has already garnered Rs 348 crore from anchor investors.

The retail investors' reserved portion has seen a subscription of 3.3 times and that of non-institutional investors 1.09 times, while employee portion received 72 percent subscription and that of qualified institutional buyers 10 percent.

The public issue consists a fresh issue of Rs 300 crore and an offer for sale of 58,40,000 equity shares by promoter Hemant Jalan, and investors (Sequoia Capital India Investments IV and SCI Investments V).

The offer will close on January 25. The price band for the issue has been fixed at Rs 1,488-1,490 per share.

Indigo was the first company to launch differentiated paint products and has enjoyed the first mover advantage. The revenue from premium products categories have registered CAGR of 30 percent in FY18-20, while the revenue contribution from the same has increased from 26.7 percent in FY18 to 28.6 percent by FY20.

Indigo Paints IPO worth Rs 1,170 crore opens today: Should you subscribe?

The company has a significant presence in the semi urban and rural markets which contributes around 85 percent of total revenue. "The significant presence in the semi urban and rural markets has helped company to recover its lost sales quickly amid pandemic. The company now sees a significant untapped opportunity in Metros and tier 1 cities that can be capitalized by expanding distribution networks," said ICICI Direct.

Indigo Paints has been gaining market share. "We believe it will continue to gain market share in the upcoming years also due to the strong management team, strategies planned by the company and smaller base compared to top four players," Keshav Lahoti, Associate Equity Analyst at Angel Broking said.

Company's revenue from operations have grown at a CAGR of 41.9 percent between Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2019, compared to the range of 12.1 percent to 13.1 percent recorded by the top four paint companies (Asian Paints, Berger Paints, Kansai Nerolac and Akzo Nobel) in India.

Indigo Paints IPO opens: 10 key things you should know

"There is further scope left for the company to improve EBIDTA margins due to operating leverage especially in the cost of advertisement expense. Issue is priced at 98.4x PE on a trailing basis in terms of fully diluted EPS, which we believe is quite reasonable by looking at the future growth prospects of the company," Lahoti said.

The key risk for this company would be an inability to protect, strengthen and enhance their existing brand, he feels. Angel Broking is positive on the long term prospects of the industry as well the company, hence it recommended a subscribe to the Indigo Paints IPO for long term as well as for listing gains, he said.

The company will use its fresh issue funds for expansion of the existing manufacturing facility at Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu by setting up an additional unit adjacent to the existing facility (Rs 150 crore), purchase of tinting machines and gyroshakers (Rs 50 crore); repayment certain of borrowings (Rs 25 crore); and general corporate purposes.

As of September 2020, Indigo Paints owns and operates three manufacturing facilities located in Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Kochi (Kerala) and Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu) with an aggregate estimated installed production capacity of 1,01,903 kilo litres per annum (KLPA) for liquid paints and 93,118 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) for putties and powder paints.

January 19, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - My eclectic news feed looks odd as the hours count down to the end of the Trump administration. Westerners are largely celebrating the exit of Donald Trump himself, whereas with those I follow from areas targeted by US imperialism, the man they're happiest to see the back of is Mike Pompeo.

It looks very bizarre, as this part of our weird collective adventure comes to an end, how Pompeo's tenure first as CIA Director and then Secretary of State were almost entirely unmarred by criticism from the political/media class. This is after all a man whose word and deed have been easily more depraved than Trump's during this profoundly corrupt administration, yet both rank-and-file Democrats and rank-and-file Republicans have been kept only dimly aware of his existence amidst the nonstop scandalous shrieking about the president and his other goons.

This is the man who has spearheaded all of this administration's most depraved initiatives, like its latest Yemen sanctions which the UN World Food Programme executive director says is "literally is going to be a death sentence to hundreds of thousands, if not millions of innocent people", its Venezuela regime change ops which have starved untold tens of thousands of civilians to death, its murderous brinkmanship with Iran, and its world-threatening cold war escalations against Russia and China. The man who openly boasted about lying, cheating and stealing in the CIA. The man who privately said the US would intervene to prevent Jeremy Corbyn from becoming Prime Minister in the UK. The man who admitted the US is slamming Iranians with starvation sanctions to force them to rise up against their government. The man who designated WikiLeaks a non-state hostile intelligence service as Julian Assanges imprisonment was being orchestrated.

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This person is disgusting. You could hardly find a worse specimen of human life than Mike Pompeo. Yet amid all the mainstream news media's relentless histrionics about the Trump administration, criticism of Trump's own Secretary of State has remained a rare sight there, and shrill vitriol like that to which we've become accustomed with the rest of Trump's inner circle has never existed. After all this time and after all his depraved actions, he is walking away with nary a scratch of media criticism on him.

This is because Mike Pompeo's depravity is the "normal" kind. The kind we're all meant to be used to. The psychotic, mass murdering American exceptionalist imperialism that the billionaire news media exists to protect and facilitate.

You don't bite the hand that feeds you, and you don't attack the man who serves the same empire as you. Gotta maintain that access journalism. This could be your next president, after all.

Pompeo's exit provides a very short respite between the time he leaves for whatever lucrative neocon think tank gigs he winds up with and the time he re-emerges from the sea like Cthulhu to once again try to devour the world. He will be replaced as secretary of state in that interim by Tony Blinken, who is another psychopath because that is a job requirement.

The US Department of Defense used to be called the Department of War, which would be a much more honest label today for a military which virtually never operates in any way that could be described as defensive. An even more suitable name would be the Department of Eternal War.

The State Department was meant to be the counterpart to the War Department, focusing on diplomacy and peace. What ended up happening as the US government morphed into a globe-spanning empire dependent on endless violence and aggression is that the State Department wound up focusing more and more on manufacturing interventionist narratives on the world stage to gin up international support for starvation sanctions, proxy wars and war coalitions.

So in practice the US ended up with two war departments: the DoD and the State Department. Which is why you've seen the nation's Secretaries of State becoming more and more jingoistic and psychopathic, to the point where some sort of antisocial personality disorder is really a job requirement for the position. Hence Psycho Mike.

I wish humanity a pleasant sigh of relief on Pompeo's exit. Please enjoy it as much as possible until the Biden administration does whatever horrifying things it's going to do, and until the eldritch monster re-emerges from the sea.

Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. https://caitlinjohnstone.com
Daily coronavirus testing in England's secondary schools are expected to stop after teachers warned that the Government policy had not been approved by the UK's medicines regulator.

The Department for Education will announce it is putting a halt to the daily testing of pupils and teachers after receiving new health advice - just five weeks after the 78million scheme was unveiled as a 'milestone moment' in the fight against Covid-19.

The Government is expected to say it has received updated advice from Public Health England on daily contact testing and that it will be 'paused' across England except for a handful of trials.

But experts have questioned No10's programme of mass testing in schools and colleges, which was at centre of the 'Operation Moonshot' scheme and its strategy for fully reopening schools after the February half-term.

Concerns were also raised by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) about the use of rapid lateral flow tests to allow those who test negative to avoid self-isolation if they have come into contact with someone known to be infected.

Though the Department of Health said last week the MHRA's approval was not required for the school tests, the Association of School and College Leaders urged ministers to halt the 'very confusing' programme.

The U-turn is likely to exacerbate fears that schools will not fully reopen until after Easter, after a senior medic warned that schools could reopen at different times - a kind of postcode lottery for schools.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries told MPs yesterday that it was 'likely' that there would a regional approach to restarting face-to-face lessons for millions of children when England comes out of the latest shutdown.

It means that the date when schools restart could be based on the infection rate locally, with areas with the highest rates staying closed for longer.

In other coronavirus developments:

Concerns have been raised that the vaccine drive might be slowing down after 201,330 more jabs were reported today - the third day in a row the number has fallen, although the NHS pointed to a reporting lag;

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries told MPs it is 'likely' there will a regional approach to restarting face-to-face lessons for millions of children when England comes out of the latest shutdown, and hinted closures will remain in place after February half-term;

New figures showed around one in eight people in private households in England had been infected with coronavirus by December;

Matt Hancock has announced he is self-isolating until Sunday after being 'pinged' by the NHS coronavirus app;

Ministers are desperately trying to quell anger over a 'postcode lottery' in vaccinations, with 70-year-olds getting jabs before over-80s in some areas;

Government scientists advising Boris Johnson fear that many people will 'probably abandon' social distancing and lockdown rules once they have had the jab;

The South African coronavirus variant may slip past parts of the immune system in as many as half of people infected with different versions in the past, scientists fear.

Fears of schools remaining shut until Easter are growing after ministers refused to set a reopening date. Pictured, a primary school in east London

Meanwhile, Government sources said it was too early to say when schools would reopen. Pictured: Education Secretary Gavin Williamson

Yesterday, DfE's deputy chief scientific adviser Dougal Hargreaves warned MPs that the testing programme of children and staff who have come into contact with confirmed cases of coronavirus ultimately carries a 'hypothetical risk of increasing transmission'.

He told the Education Select Committee that there should be a more 'detailed evaluation' process on the use of rapid lateral flow tests for daily checks in schools abd said the aim of the scheme was to 'improve attendance'.

Addressing MPs on the education select committee, Dr Hargreaves said the aim of the scheme - of daily contact testing for pupils and staff who have been in contact with a case - was to 'improve attendance'.

He said: 'The concern, which is worth mentioning here, is around the separate programme, which is around daily contact testing for those who've been in contact with a proven case.

'Now there the aim is different [to two tests a week]. The aim is to improve attendance. And there is at least a hypothetical risk of increasing transmission.'

Dr Hargreaves added: 'So where we are now is that I think we need to be looking at a more detailed evaluation process and we've got the time until half-time to do that.'

On speaking to experts about the programme, Dr Hargreaves told MPs: 'I think we are all broadly agreed that we think there are potential benefits. We are all agreed that there are potential risks in doing this.

'If you are in a very high prevalence area, people are very nervous about the idea that people who have been in contact with an infected case are still attending school whether that is staff or pupils.

'Against that we have to get the balance right because there was evidence from the Children's Commissioner's office before Christmas sometimes just one case in schools that could mean up to 100 children and young people are losing 10 days of schooling and there was a strong feeling that the balance wasn't right. That was a little bit disproportionate.'

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Janny Harries told MPs that it was 'likely' that there would a regional approach to restarting face-to-face lessons for millions of children when England comes out of the latest shutdown

Despite the UK recording another drop in Covid cases, school bosses believe millions of pupils face being home schooled until the start of April. Pictured: Pupils wear protective face masks

Charlotte Rose assists one of her children, who is home schooled in Milton Keynes

Parents are irate that their children could be out of school until April with one declaring: 'Kill me now'

Has Britain's great Covid vaccine rollout ALREADY stalled? Daily figures drop for third day in a row as critics tell No10 to 'throw as much money as possible' at NHS to ensure jab uptake stays high The number of Brits getting vaccinated against Covid in the UK has fallen for the third day in a row, raising fears that the rollout has stalled over the weekend. Some 204,076 people in Britain were vaccinated yesterday, January 18, with the total slumping from 225,000 on Sunday, 277,000 on Saturday and a high of 324,000 on Friday. More than 4.26million people have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine through the NHS programme  one in every 16 people in the UK  which makes it one of the best covered countries in the world. But to hit the Government's target of 13.9million people by February 15, which is the threshold at which officials will consider relaxing lockdown, Britain must manage 360,000 jabs per day from today onwards  2.5million per week. Last week it averaged 254,000 per day and hit a total 1.77million. The daily requirement will increase for every day that it isn't hit. Advertisement

When questioned on what evidence the scientists have which can give confidence to school staff, children and parents about the safety of the tests, England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said two lateral flow tests a week is 'equivalent effectiveness and accuracy' as one PCR test.

She said: 'So I think for picking up infectious cases, particularly if they're asymptomatic on a routine basis, they're highly effective in removing people who are infectious out of that environment and stopping chains of transmission.'

On Monday, Children's Minister Vicky Ford said NHS Test and Trace and Public Health England had been asked to provide 'rapid updated public health advice on daily contact Covid testing in schools'.

She added: 'This is in the context of the current prevalence of the virus and the high transmission rates.'

Also facing the Education Committee, Dr Harries was unable to rule out schools remaining closed after February half-term - after education chiefs raised fears children could be away from the classrooms until Easter.

Asked if schools could reopen next month she said the February restart should not be seen as a 'fixed date' and infection rates 'will continue to need to be observed and reviewed up until that time period'.

Asked about a regional phased reopening of schools she said: 'On the broad epidemiology it is highly likely that when we come out of this national lockdown we will not have consistent patterns of infection in our communities across the country. And therefore as we had prior to the national lockdown it may well be possible we need to have some differential application.

'But... clearly schools will be right at the top of the priority for trying to ensure that that that balance of educational wellbeing is right at the forefront of consideration.

'The short answer is that it is likely we will have some sort of regional separation of interventions and it is likely that as we are hopefully starting to see now some glimmers of hope that London which has been affected earlier by the new variant, that may move across the country.'

She added: 'Schoolchildren definitely can transmit infection in schools - they can transmit it in any environment - but it is not a significant driver as yet, as far as we can see, of large-scale community infections.'

Last night education chiefs hinted that schools could remain closed until the Easter holidays, with children facing another three months away from their classrooms despite the UK recording another drop in Covid cases.

Speaking in the Commons, Gavin Williamson said the Government has presided over 'one of the world's largest procurements of laptops and tablets' so students can work effectively remotely. Pictured: Students takes a COVID-19 test at Oasis Academy in Coulsdon, Surrey

Education insiders said the date for reopening 'was never going to be' February half-term and claimed the Government is 'working on the assumption it will be Easter at the earliest'

Nicola Sturgeon EXTENDS Scottish lockdown until mid-February - amid fears brutal curbs will need to stay in England past March even if vaccine drive goes well Nicola Sturgeon declared that lockdown in Scotland will be extended to mid-February despite signs cases have flattened off. Dashing hopes of a loosening from the end of this month, the First Minister said she was being 'cautious' and more evidence was needed that the outbreak was on a 'downward trajectory'. The announcement came amid fears the brutal curbs in England will need to stay in place past March, with Boris Johnson saying the situation remains 'serious' despite infections dropping off and progress on vaccinations. There are claims that ministers are braced for the national lockdown to stay until the beginning of April even if the innoculation drive goes without a hitch, while school chiefs have suggested that is the most realistic timetable for getting children back in classrooms. The whole Scottish mainland and several islands have been under tough restrictions since early January, with schools closed and a 'stay at home' message in force. It was initially due to run until February, but was reviewed by Ms Sturgeon and her ministers. Advertisement

School bosses believe millions of pupils now face the prospect of being home schooled until the start of April. It means students will have faced almost a year of on-and-off disruption to their education.

Fears of an April return were further compounded as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned at the weekend that it would not be possible to start to lift lockdown restrictions in England until March.

Mr Chalke meanwhile said many teachers are very worried about catching Covid in school and that they will feel 'safer' and 'more confident' when the weather warms up and they can take children out of the classroom more.

At Monday's Downing Street press conference, Health Secretary Matt Hancock was asked whether schools would reopen in March.

He simply said: 'We've got to watch the data, and the Prime Minister, when he brought in the national lockdown, set out four considerations. We've got to see the number of deaths coming down, and sadly we haven't seen that yet. We need to clearly see the pressure on the NHS reducing, and we are not seeing that yet.

'We must see the vaccination programme working and the rollout is going really well.' He continued: 'The fourth consideration is that there mustn't be some other new variant.'

Professor Susan Hopkins, senior medical adviser at Public Health England, said: 'We've always said the schools should be the last to close and first to open.

'But I think giving a more defined date than that is very difficult until we see what happens over the next few weeks.'

Robert Halfon, Tory MP and chairman of the education committee, said: 'The Government said that schools would reopen after the February half term. Everything possible should be done to keep to that date  for the sake of the children's education, mental health and safety.

'That is why ministers should prioritise school staff for the vaccine, and send in mobile units to jab them across the country.'

Boris Johnson said there would be no 'open sesame' relaxation of lockdown. 'I understand completely that people want to get back to normal as fast as we possibly can,' he said.

The Prime Minister insisted that things would look 'very different by the spring', adding: 'I'm afraid I've got to warn people it will be gradual, you can't just open up in a great open sesame, in a great bang, because I'm afraid the situation is still pretty precarious.'

Meanwhile, speaking in the Commons, Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said the Government has presided over 'one of the world's largest procurement of laptops and tablets' so students can work effectively remotely.

He told MPs: 'By December, we had procured and delivered 560,000 laptops and tablets. In November last year we ordered an additional 340,000 devices, bringing our total procurement to one million laptops and tablets.

'This has been one of the world's largest procurement of laptops and tablets, and it has happened despite intense global demand.'

It comes as Mr Johnson yesterday defied fresh demands from Tory MPs for a 'road map' out of lockdown as coronavirus infections tumbled again.

AMERICUS, Ga. (AP)  The FBI says a Georgia attorney accused of joining the attack on the U.S. Capitol riot bragged on social media that he was among the first rioters to break into House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office, and said she probably would have been torn into little pieces if they had found her there.

William McCall Calhoun Jr., of Americus, Georgia, made his first court appearance on Friday after his arrest on charges including violent entry or disorderly conduct, tampering with a witness and entering a restricted building, news outlets reported. He remains jailed pending another hearing this week.

According to an FBI agents affidavit, a citizen told the Federal Bureau of Investigation about social media posts Calhoun made before, during and after participating in the Jan. 6 riot.

Calhoun wrote he was going to D.C. to give the GOP some back bone as the House and Senate met to certify the November election won by Democratic President-elect Joe Biden. He boasted about pushing past police barricades and being in a group that broke into Pelosis office.

The Jan. 12 affidavit also cites Calhouns interview with the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in which Calhoun described his actions as patriotic acts of civil disobedience.

Anyone who claims it was anything other than civil disobedience was not there, and they did not see it and they do not know, he said. I would freely admit that I trespassed, but I did it for the love of my country.

Civil disobedience is by definition a non-violent form of political protest, in which participants peacefully violate a law they feel is unjust and then willingly submit to the penalty in order to demonstrate that the law should be changed. Calhoun, for his part, wrote on Parler in a post cited by the FBI that were all coming back armed for war.

Calhoun described himself as a practicing attorney in Americus for 30 years who primarily handled criminal defense cases.

More than 125 people have been arrested so far on charges related to the violent insurrection led by supporters of President Donald Trump at the Capitol, where a Capitol police officer and four others were killed.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Canadian Snowbirds in Arizona will be eligible for complimentary Covid vaccines in Arizona at the same time as Arizona residents. Apparently the same is true in Florida and likely other Snowbird states.

Consider this. Say the first vaccine tranche is 76 to 80. A 76 year old Canadian gets his. You or your father, an Arizona resident are 75 and have to wait. You get Covid while waiting. You die. That is fair as that is Arizonas rule. But no. The Canadian had a choice. The Canadian was urged to stay home by my government, Canada. The Canadian was forbidden to drive cross the border in to the United Stares by U.S. law.

Why does the United States allow Canadians to fly in for non essential reasons? Stupid! The US allows commercial truckers to drive across the border as they transport essential goods. Apparently they dont define essential goods. So Canadian cheaters send their RVs across the border 75 miles with these commercial essential service trucking companies. They then fly the 75 miles, pick up their RVs and head south. If they get Covid, notwithstanding their early

complimentary vaccine, they further stress the medical profession and the hospitals. If in a high Covid region like Los Angelas or the worst, El Central, they may take an Americans bed, perhaps an American with Covid, with a heart attack or a near fatal accident. El Centro incidentally had to helicopter 500 patients to other hospitals as much as 300 miles away in a 2 month period. Some no doubt died.

The Canadians made the stupid decision, a selfish decision, to jump the line. In hindsight they decided to beat their fellow Canadians and to prejudice younger Americans. Americans made the stupid decision to allow non essential flights in when their policy, evidenced by closed land borders, is to protect their own residents.

Stupid!

And, as of today many Canadian politicians are guilty, taking out of country vacations, some including a Minister of Finance forced to resign.

The Canadian Snowbird Association estimates 900,000 Canadians normally spend their winters in southern states. The estimate this year is down to 270,000, too many.

Im disgusted. This is really stupid! This is a pandemic.

If I get it, I die. Dead is forever.

Steve Barnes, Kamloops
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Low-cost airline SpiceJet has added two wide-body planes to its cargo fleet, helping it transport shipment, including vaccines, to long-haul destinations in Europe and North America.

The two planes are a Boeing 767 and a Airbus A330, taking its fleet to a total of 19 cargo aircraft. This includes five wide-body jets. Other than the wide-body aircraft, SpiceJets cargo fleet includes five Boeing 737 freighters and nine Q-400s.

"With the latest induction, SpiceXpress, the airlines cargo arm, aims to further strengthen its cargo fleet while providing a seamless and secure transportation of COVID-19 vaccine," the airline said in a statement on January 20.

SpiceJet had recently tied-up with Brussels Airport, its 'flight point' in Europe that will be used to transport COVID-19 vaccine between India and Europe.

The need for wide-body planes to deliver vaccines and other important cargo has never been more important than today, " said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet.

The airline has been flying both, Covishield and Covaxin vaccines, across India.

SpiceXpress, which has a network of 54 domestic and 45 international destinations, had tied up with companies offering cold chain solutions, including last-mile connectivity, to carry vaccines.

Read more: SpiceJet gets ready to distribute COVID-19 vaccines, with over a dozen MoUs under its belt
A Dominion mansion with views of the San Antonio skyline and Hill Country hit the market Saturday.

On New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July, one can watch from the home's balcony as fireworks explode above the city, Fiesta Texas and beyond, according to the listing agent, Natalie Villagomez of Home Team of America.

Villagomez should know. Her parents, Kenny and Hilda Garcia, built the place in 1998.

READ ALSO: San Antonio professor explains why Joe Biden can't bring Peloton to White House

Villagomez, the oldest of five siblings, was in high school when the family moved into 28 Arnold Palmer. The home hosted plenty of gatherings over the years, including lots of Bible studies and two of her sisters' weddings.

"It's been a fun house for a lot of people to enjoy," said Villagomez.

Now, the Garcias  former owners of San Antonio food company Papa Grande Gourmet Foods  are looking to sell the 8,000 square-foot mansion for $1,872,000.

The property has seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and one half bathroom spread out over three levels. The master bedroom and kitchen are on the main floor, with the other bedrooms below.

The second-level balcony, a recent addition, offers over 2,000 square feet of space to take in the panoramic views. Out back, a covered patio leads to a freshwater pool. A palm tree rises out of an island in the middle of the water.

The pool was built around the tree, a family landmark uprooted from from Hilda's grandmother's house before it was sold.

Check out the mansion at 28 Arnold Palmer below.

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors
Tunisian politics neglected economics, says economist 'Social problems not faced by political sphere'

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, JANUARY 20 - An economist focusing on North Africa and the Middle East told ANSAmed in an interview that Tunisia's mistake has been to neglect economic issues.



''Faced with what is happening these days,'' Clara Capelli, who spent 3 years working for the Africa Development Bank in Tunis, said, "we can speak once again about 'public order' and see only the turmoil, the rioting" and the acts of looting and vandalism reported by the media.



"Or we can put forth the effort to ask ourselves what the roots of this anger and the structural lack of listening and attention that has responded to this anger. We can also go beyond the images of contingency and ask ourselves where it is coming from, how it was created, and how it accumulated. We can also ask ourselves what responses can be put forth for the future, moving beyond the approach of arrests and jail," she added.



''On the occasion of the ten-year anniversary of the revolution of dignity," Capelli said, "it was repeatedly noted that the economic issue had been entirely neglected by the political sphere of these ten years. Despite the fact that the narrative of a stable country under Ben Ali was given the lie to by the protests and mobilisations of 2010-2011, the recipes and political economy measures did not target the causes of social problems: regional inequality (in terms of the inner parts of the country as well as outlying urban areas), unemployment, and underemployment in the informal sector, which accounts for almost half the country's GDP".



Uprooting an economic model in ten years was impossible, especially given the International situation, but it should be said, she noted, that Tunisian politicians and businessmen simply did not even question it.



She stressed that they continued to speak about attracting foreign investment (which, for the most part, involves coastal areas, especially due to logistics considerations), exports (the manufacturing sector is made mostly of parts and assembly, and is in any case of low added value and attracts due to low labour costs and the tax breaks offered by the offshore system, in the same manner as call centers and tourism), and start-ups.



However, such a model does not necessarily lead to growth and redistribution: economic history of the past century proves the contrary.



''In parallel to the problematic economic model,'' Capelli continued, "the fight for the reconfiguration of power in Tunisia reduced the economic issue to empty slogans. The International Monetary Fund and the European Union, among other donors, bear responsibility for having oriented Tunisian political economy in directions that did not lead to growth, development, and inclusion. However, the Tunisian political class, Ennahdha included - to the immense disappointment of many segments of society - did not fight in a visible and tangible manner for citizens for structural investment that would at least partially lessen regional differences or for effective employment policies." "All the protests, revolts, and mobilisations that were seen over the past ten years were instead dealt with a security issue, exactly as is being done now. It reminds me of 2016, or the statements by President Essebsi in 2017 on the army's intervention on the al-Kamour sit-ins. This is true especially in the outlying urban areas, which suffer immensely not only from marginalisation but also severe stigmatisation against the population and their young. We speak a huge amount about socio-economic hardship but we must not forget along the issue of 'hogra' (injustice, oppression, contempt) that the 'unprivileged' - if we prefer to use this term instead of calling it the oppressed and marginalised - are victims of at the hands of the bureaucracy, institutions, and police. And perhaps it is necessary to remember that one cannot escape 'hogra' even when you abide by the rules and public order,'' she concluded.(ANSAmed). (ANSA).





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The Zamfara State Government has denied ever giving cash gifts and Toyota Hilux vehicles to repentant bandits who turned themselves in.

The state government made the rebuttal in a statement by Zailani Bappa, the spokesperson to Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.

Sahara Reporters had reported that Mr Matawalle gave about 15 brand new Hilux vehicles to some repentant bandits.

According to the report, the bandits now carry out attacks using some of the vehicles given to them by the governor.

But in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday evening, Mr Bappa said the claim by Sahara Reporters was false.

The Zamfara official said, The attention of Zamfara State Government has been drawn to a jaundiced crap called a story by Sahara Reporters where the medium alleged that His Excellency Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) has given 15 Hilux vans and millions of naira to repentant bandits who in turn, are now using the same vehicles to attack innocent communities in the state.

As the ethics of journalism provides, allegation such as this requires balancing from the accused before publication. However, either due to carelessness, Quackery or sheer mischief, the medium went ahead to publish this story, obviously sourced from the enemies of peace in the state without balancing from the side of the Government.

To disabuse the minds of those law-abiding and patriotic Nigerians, Governor Bello Mohammed used from the meagre resources of the state government to purchase 200 Hilux vans in support of security operatives in the state.

These vehicles were duly distributed to all security agencies in the state under the supervision of the Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police. The beneficiaries included the Military, the Police, the Customs and Excise, the Immigration Services, the NDLEA, the NSCDC, the FRSC, among others.

Mr Bappa said as part of the state governments peace efforts, the administration is trying to settle down repentant bandits by building a modern Rugga.

In fact, the state Government is grateful to these so-called repentant bandits who are daily assisting the government in negotiating with those who refuse to surrender and in apprehending those who refuse to surrender.

With all the programmes of the government towards peace in the state, at no time did it give vehicles or money to the so-called repentant bandits because there was no agreement for such. This is thus, a wicked allegation and simply a figment of the writers imagination or an intended machination to discredit the administration of His Excellency Governor Bello Muhammad and undermine the peace effort rt in the state.

Efforts to speak to officials of Sahara Reporters were unsuccessful as its Publisher, Omoyele Sowore, declined to comment on Mr Bappas statement.

Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto States have seen more frequent attacks from bandits in recent years, despite heightened security measure in the states.

The Zamfara State Government had in 2019 entered a peace agreement with some repentant bandits.

However, despite this move, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Union chiefs wanted all children in special schools tested for Covid-19 as a condition of returning to work.

Sources involved in the negotiations said the union Forsa, which represents Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), put forward the proposal during the later stages of the talks.

It comes as families of children with special needs are seeking a meeting with Taoiseach Micheal Martin to press for urgent supports to help them while schools remain closed to their children.

Forsa proposed the testing of all staff and children as a one-off event to begin with but the idea was not progressed as the talks collapsed. While Forsa had some concerns over accuracy of antigen tests, the union was open to using them rather than the more accurate PCR laboratory tests.

However, it is understood the proposal was rejected by the Department of Education as it was believed the testing would be too invasive for children with special needs.

The department also continued to insist public health advice on Covid-19 says schools are safe environments for teachers and students when compared with other workplaces.

Teacher unions have also sought to have their members moved up the list for vaccinations if they are to return to classrooms.

The Government has been forced to make a U-turn for a second time on plans to reopen special schools after unions rejected proposals for flexibility on leave and subsidies for childcare.

The unions were also offered temporary remote working arrangements for pregnant teachers or those with serious medical conditions.

In a statement last night, the Education Minister Norma Foley accused the unions of ignoring public health advice which deemed schools to be safe.

She also hit out at union leaders during a radio interview calling them incredibly disingenuous for claiming they had not told members not to return for school classes tomorrow.

Ms Foley said it wouldnt be right to open schools with no guarantee from unions that teachers would show up.

The ministers comments came after Irish National Teachers Association (INTO) general secretary John Boyle said it absolutely did not tell members to not show up for work.

Speaking on RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland, Mr Boyle said: I have an understanding that the vast majority of our members would have complied, but after our executive meeting last evening I spoke to 300 members in a large town in Ireland and the big difference I suppose is that the number of infection in the community are 10 times higher than they were in December.

Ms Foley responded saying it was incredibly disingenuous of Mr Boyle to make the claim that teachers would have returned to classes.

He has made it very clear in the statement that they issued, and indeed as did Forsa that they were not happy to accept the public health advice that was issued to them and that they were not happy to accept all the measures that were put in place, the minister added.

Meanwhile four advocacy organisations for children with special needs are seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach. They said the issue of the return to school was moving out of the realm of education and they were facing a welfare and wellbeing crisis for these children and their families.

AsIAm, Down Syndrome Ireland, Family Carers Ireland and Inclusion Ireland, expressed deep disappointment at the failure to re-open schools for children with special needs from tomorrow.

The latest news on the continued closure of schools for children with special educational needs is another cruel blow to families, they said.

With the sides laying responsibility for the current impasse at each others door, the advocacy organisations said the blame game is not helpful in achieving the goals we all share for children with special educational needs.

They said they recognised that all parties involved had concerns for their members and they hope that with continued engagement, a way forward could be found that worked in everyones interests.

They called on the Government and unions to re-engage to get special education back up and running as soon as possible.

The Department of Education has invited the unions to a meeting tomorrow.

The advocacy organisations said that while talks continued children with special educational needs continue to regress and see the decline of key skills - some severely.

They said they could not stress enough the scale of the impact the closure of schools is having on some children with special educational needs.

They said the welfare of vulnerable children must remain the central focus, and urgent additional supports were now required for the children and families affected to avert a child wellbeing crisis.

A spokesperson for the organisations said they were writing to Mr Martin to seek a meeting, and asking him to co-ordinate a whole-of-Government response to the issues facing the families they represented.
Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador complained he was unable to say goodbye to his 'friend' Donald Trump before he left the White House, as he urged Joe Biden to grant citizenship to Mexican nationals working in the United States.

Obrador had a rocky relationship with Donald when he first took office in 2018, accusing the US president of racism over his 'Mexicans are rapists' comments and plans to build a border wall.

But the relationship between the two leaders has improved over the past three years with Trump saying they had become friends 'against all odds.'

On Wednesday, the Mexican leader praised Trump and lamented that he wasn't able to say goodbye before Trump left office.

'I couldn't say goodbye to President Trump,' Lopez Obrador said. 'I take the opportunity to express that the relationship we had with Trump was good and I think that for the benefit of Mexico on different issues, there were few disagreements.'

'Fortunately an agreement was reached, the problem was solved,' he added. 'Things favorable for Mexico that were achieved with Trump, first, the respect for our sovereignty. He never made the decision to send agents to deal with cases that only correspond to us.'

The leftist leader made the claims Wednesday during his daily morning press briefing at Mexico City's National Palace, hours before Biden took the oath and was sworn in the 46th president of the U.S.

Lopez Obrador wished Biden luck ahead of his inauguration and said he hopes for improved immigration between their two countries after Trump's 'zero policy'.

He added he wants Biden to grant citizenship to Mexican nationals living and working in the US.

Former President Donald Trump had a long and well-documented history of making scathing attacks on Mexico over the years, but he welcomed President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to the White House with open arms on July 8, 2020. The Mexican leader said on Wednesday that relationship his country has with 'Trump was good and I think that for the benefit of Mexico on different issues, there were few disagreements'

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (pictured) called on President Joe Biden to address the status of Mexican nationals living in the United States as part of a plan that will grant citizenship to undocumented immigrants

'We have been proposing that our countrymen who have been working for years should be regularized, contributing to the development of that great nation,' Lopez Obrador said.

'I hope that today or in the coming days he presents the migration plan. What it is going to consist of, how they are going to respect their right to be recognized, that they get dual nationality.'

Lopez Obrador shied away from congratulating Biden on his November election victory while Trump mounted a failed challenge of the results because he wanted to respect the process and because, Trump has respect his country.

With Biden at the White House, Lopez Obrador hopes the new American leader will quickly fulfill campaign promises to launch an immigration plan.

Immigration has become a priority issue for Biden, who is planning to roll back Trump's harsh measures and enact sweeping reforms that would put 11 million people living illegally in the U.S as of January 1, 2021, on an eight-year path to citizenship.

Lopez Obrador said such a move should complement policies to support poor Central American nations and southern Mexico, areas which send many migrants to the United States.

Over the weekend he called on the United States, Honduras and Guatemala to sit at the negotiating as nearly 8,000 Hondurans had crossed into Guatemalan territory and clashed with soldiers and police wielding batons.

The immigration caravan bound for the United States had been broken up by Tuesday, preventing most, except for a few hundred who remained in Guatemala, from moving forward and illegally entering Mexico.

'I hope that that offer is fulfilled, with that commitment, I hope so, and I will recognize and celebrate it,' Lopez Obrador said. 'If this is so, it has to be accompanied by something that I also raised at the time, which is support for Central America and Mexico, cooperation for development, and preventing people in Central America from being forced to emigrate.'

President Joe Biden, pictured with First Lady Jill Biden during Wednesday's ceremony in which he was sworn as the 46th president, is slated to provide a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged Biden to consider citizenship for Mexican national who live and work in the U.S.

Former President Donald Trump opined about his admiration for the Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador leader and called him a cherished partner and claiming that the US and Mexicos economic and security ties are reaching new heights.' But the pair's relationship had its ups and downs when Lopez Obrador accused Trump of being racist after he called Mexicans 'rapists'

More than 36 million Hispanics of Mexican origin live in the United States, according to Pew Research Center.

Lopez Obrador also said combating the coronavirus pandemic and the economic recovery were key areas for the bilateral relationship, saying U.S. stimulus could eventually help Mexico.

Lopez Obrador is hoping to work with Biden on immigration, after a difficult period under the Trump administration.

Trump and Lopez Obrador's relationship hit rock bottom in 2019 when Trump threatened to impose import tariffs on Mexico due to the influx of undocumented migrants seeking asylum and illegal entry at the 2,000-mile international border that divides Mexico and the United States.

Lopez Obrador eventually relented and dispatched his then newly created National Guard to combat illegal migration from Guatemala in his country's southern border and at the north with the United States. Mexico also agreed to house migrants in its territory as they awaited for their asylum hearing court dates with immigrant judges in the United States.

But Lopez Obrador and Trump eventually warmed up to each other during a White House meeting in the summer of 2020 to announce the Mexico-United States-Canada trade agreement.

'As in the best times of our political relations, during my term as president of Mexico, instead of insults toward me and more importantly against my country, we have received from you understanding and respect,' Lopez Obrador told Trump in the Rose Garden.

'The forecasts failed. We didn't fight. We are friends, and we're going to keep being friends,' he added.

During a private meeting, Trump and Obrador exchanged baseball bat, with Trump saying their friendship had been formed 'against all odds.'

The son of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman turned himself in during an operation in October 2019 in Mexico when Mexican security forces tracked him down and served him an arrest warrant after the United States requested his extradition. But Mexico's President Lopez Obrador was forced to order his release after the Sinaloa Cartel launched a massive attack. The Mexican president said on Wednesday that Trump offered intervention but that it was denied

U.S. Border Patrol agents detain a group of undocumented immigrants after illegally crossing the United States-Mexico border in Mission, Texas. President Joe Biden plans to sent a bill to Congress that will create a path to U.S. citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants

A migrant caravan of almost 8,000 Honduran migrants were stopped from crossing into Mexico this week and were sent back to Honduras after they clashed with Guatemalan security forces who blocked their journey to the United States where they hoped to seek asylum. Under the Trump administration, the Mexican government was forced to toughen up its southern border and cut off the flow off migrants to the Mexico-United States border after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on imported goods

The relationship between the United States and Mexico has never been closer than it is right now, and as the president said  people were betting against that. We are doing tremendous job together. We are cherished friends, partners and neighbors, Trump said.

Lopez Obrador thanked Trump for respecting Mexico's national sovereignty, especially when he gave the green light to release Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's son from custody after Sinaloa Cartel gunmen unleashed a war-like attack on security forces on October 17, 2019.

He turned down Trump's offer to send in the military to help hunt the killers of the nine Mexican-American children and mothers who were executed November 4, 2019.

'In the difficult moments in the Sinaloa cases, when Mr. Guzman Loera's son was arrested and later released for the reasons we explained, he spoke offering support, we told him that we were going to solve the problem,' Lopez Obrador said.

'Then the unfortunate murders of the children and women in Bavispe [,Trump] also spoke to offer support and it was the same.'
PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent MP Christopher Emmanuel, supported by the MPs representing the USP Faction in Parliament Claudius Buncamper and Akeem Arrindell, has forwarded a letter to the Chairperson of Parliament requesting a Central Committee meeting to discuss the Caribbean Body for Reform & Development (COHO), the law supporting this entity and the country packages.

The letter reads as follows:

On Tuesday, December 21, 2020, the Prime Minister Of St. Maarten and Minister of General Affairs Silveria Jacobs signed an agreement with the Netherlands for liquidity support (third tranche). The agreement also gave St. Maarten's consent for the Dutch government to establish the Caribbean Body for Reform & Development (COHO) in the Netherlands which reportedly will oversee numerous reform initiatives outlined in-country packages for St. Maarten, Aruba, and Curacao.

The Prime Minister has since, via the media, made several comments pertaining to how informed the Parliament of St. Maarten is with reference to the COHO and country packages. To be more specific, the Prime Minister has said on more than one occasion that Parliament has been apprised of all developments regarding the COHO and the country packages. Contrary to these statements by the Prime Minister, the undersigned members of Parliament have not been informed about developments regarding the COHO and any related matters thereto.

Furthermore, on January 10, 2021, the Prime Minister was quoted in the media as stating: 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."

The statement of the Prime Minister and that of others such as State Secretary Raymond Knops opens a box of questions that must be answered and clarified to Parliament and by extension to the people of St. Maarten.

As such and considering that deadlines have already been identified for the trajectory of the reforms without Parliament's input or information being provided to Parliament about same, the undersigned hereby requests an urgent Central Committee meeting be convened to discuss the COHO, the COHO law, and country packages. The Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Silveria Jacobs should be invited to this meeting to answer Parliament's questions.
Catholic hospitals can't be forced to perform gender transition surgeries, court rules

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A federal court in North Dakota has ruled that a group of Catholic hospitals and others should not be required by the Department of Health and Human Services to perform gender transition procedures, including those for minors.

U.S. District Court Judge Peter Welte in North Dakota issued a ruling Tuesday in the case of Sisters of Mercy, et al. v. Azar.

Welte, appointed to the federal judiciary by President Donald Trump in 2019, granted permanent injunctive relief to the plaintiffs and concluded that they are exempted from an HHS rule known as the Transgender Mandate. He cited the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The Catholic Plaintiffs have demonstrated an entitlement to permanent injunctive relief. An RFRA violation is comparable to the deprivation of a First Amendment right, wrote Welte.

Having weighed the pertinent factors, the Court will permanently enjoin the Defendants from enforcing the successfully challenged interpretations of federal law against the Catholic Plaintiffs.

The decision prevents HHS from implementing regulations thereto against the Catholic Plaintiffs in a manner that would require them to perform or provide insurance coverage for gender-transition procedures, including by denying federal financial assistance because of their failure to perform or provide insurance coverage for such procedures or by otherwise pursuing, charging, or assessing any penalties, fines, assessments, investigations, or other enforcement actions.

In 2016, the Obama administration implemented a new regulation through the Affordable Care Act commonly known as the Transgender Mandate.

The regulation required that healthcare providers perform gender transition procedures, even on minors, even if they hold religious objections to the controversial practice.

In response, a group of Catholic entities filed a lawsuit against HHS over the regulation. Those groups include an order called the Sisters of Mercy, two Sacred Heart Mercy Health Care Center clinics; SMP Health System and the North Dakota-based University of Mary.

The Catholic plaintiffs were represented by Becket Law, a legal nonprofit that specializes in religious liberty cases and has argued litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The courts decision recognizes our medical heroes right to practice medicine in line with their conscience and without politically motivated interference from government bureaucrats," Becket Senior Counsel Luke Goodrich said in a statement.

Under the Trump administration, HHS broadened the exemptions for the regulation in 2020. However, these changes were complicated by the Supreme Court decision Bostock v. Clayton County, which concluded that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies to sexual orientation and gender identity even though neither category is specifically mentioned in federal discrimination law.

In his opinion, Welte decided that the Bostock ruling did not fully return HHS to the 2016 version of the rule, noting that in the Supreme Court separately expressed continued commitment to safeguarding employers religious convictions.

Welte is the second federal judge to rule against the HHS mandate.

In 2019, Judge Reed OConnor of Texas, an appointee of President George W. Bush, struck down the mandate after a lawsuit was filed on the behalf of healthcare providers in five states that are members of the Franciscan Alliance as well as the Christian Medical & Dental Associations and Specialty Physicians of Illinois.
Saga has announced that all customers on its cruises and holidays will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

The over-50s travel specialist announced yesterday that holidaymakers must have received both shots at least two weeks before departure.

It is the first cruise line to make vaccinations compulsory.

Saga also confirmed that as the rollout of the jab is progressing well, it plans to resume river cruises, escorted tours and hotel stays in early May and two ocean cruises by early June.

The Government is hoping to offer everyone over the age of 50 at least one shot of the vaccine by the end of April.

SAGA has announced that all customers on its cruises and holidays will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Pictured: A Saga river cruise ship in Austria's Wachau Valley

The over-50s travel specialist announced yesterday that holidaymakers must have received both shots at least two weeks before departure. Pictured: The cruise liner Saga Rose leaving Malta's Grand Harbour

But it has stretched the time between vaccine doses to up to 12 weeks.

Speaking to the Mail yesterday, Nick Stace, chief executive of Saga Travel, said: There will be a blanket no to boarding.

If a guest is not able to get both jabs before their cruise we will move the sailing to a later date, free of charge.

Addressing the fact that the government is still advising against cruising, he said: It is our customers who prompted this. 98 per cent are saying loud and clear we want to book so we listened to them and the 93 percent who said they would feel more assured if other passengers were vaccinated.

Saga said the policy will be in addition to pre-departure testing in the terminal, reduced capacity, bolstered cleaning regimes and social distancing. Pictured: Library image of a mask-wearing cruise passenger aboard a ship

Saga said the policy will be in addition to pre-departure testing in the terminal, reduced capacity, bolstered cleaning regimes and social distancing.

Passenger Jeremy Powne, 87, from Dorset, said: I have only had my first jab so far but my cruise is not until October.

'I feel much better knowing everyone will have had the vaccination.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press conference in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday, to present a detailed plan to provide a 100,000 won disaster relief payment to each resident in an effort to boost the stagnant economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This would be the second relief handout to residents provided directly by the provincial government, following the first in May last year. Yonhap
Neill's experience includes working in a variety of Operational leadership and Plant leadership roles for domestic and international operations in a diverse set of industries, including automotive, information technology products, and other industrial products. Prior to joining Xcentric, Neill was Director of Operations at Watts Water International.

"I am excited to join the talented team at Xcentric that has earned a reputation for excellence in rapid manufacturing," Neill said. "This is a great opportunity to implement operational strategies designed to support and build on their customer-first initiatives for delivering best-in-class operations."

Neill received a Bachelor's degree from Oakland University.

About Xcentric Mold & Engineering

Founded in 1997, Xcentric is a leading provider of rapid manufacturing services including plastic injection molding, CNC machining, and 3D printing. Xcentric is made and located entirely in the USA with two Michigan-based facilities. Xcentric serves industries including medical, consumer, industrial, aerospace, defense, and automotive. Contact Xcentric at 586-598-4636. http://www.xcentricmold.com

SOURCE Xcentric Mold & Engineering, Inc.

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[January 20, 2021] AXIS Insurance Expands Renewable Energy Business With Two Underwriting Hires

AXIS Insurance, the specialty insurance business segment of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited ("AXIS Capital") (NYSE:AXS), today announced the hiring of two additional underwriters within its global Renewable Energy business. Nicholas Boswell Brown and Claire Whelan will join AXIS in April as Renewable Energy Underwriters and will support the expansion of the Company's Renewable Energy business in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. "The hiring of Nick and Claire will enable us to rapidly scale up our business in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, which are some of the fastest-growing parts of the Renewable Energy market," said Richard Carroll, Global Head of Renewable Energy at AXIS. "Nick brings considerable experience and insights on the evolving risk mitigation needs of Renewable Energy investors, project developers and asset owners in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, and will play a key role in driving new business production for us in those markets. Claire's experience both living and studying in Spain will enable us to deliver better and more informed solutions for our brokers and their clients in that region." Mr. Boswell Brown joins AXIS frm Aon, where he spent 10 years as a facultative reinsurance broker for Latin American Property and Power Generation risks. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Broker at Guy Carpenter and Aon Benfield in Santiago, Chile.



Ms. Whelan joins AXIS from Aviva, where she spent the past four years as a Renewable Energy Underwriter. She was previously an Engineering Underwriter for Aviva and started her career as an Underwriting Assistant for D&O and Commercial Crime. About AXIS Capital

AXIS Capital, through its operating subsidiaries, is a global provider of specialty lines insurance and treaty reinsurance with shareholders' equity at September 30, 2020 of $5.3 billion and locations in Bermuda, the United States, Europe, Singapore and Canada. Its operating subsidiaries have been assigned a rating of "A+" ("Strong") by Standard & Poor's and "A" ("Excellent") by A.M. Best. For more information about AXIS Capital, visit our website at www.axiscapital.com. Follow AXIS Capital on LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005087/en/

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The much-awaited Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) will be held from March 4 to March 11 this year. Considering the current COVID situation, the festival this year will reach the audience in 2 formats - Online and Theatre and all safety guidelines, which will be in effect at the time of the festival will be strictly adhered to. This information was given by Dr Jabbar Patel, Festival Director, PIFF at a press conference held in Pune today (January 20, 2021).

Dignitaries including Ravi Gupta, Secretary, Pune Film Foundation, Samar Nakhate, Creative Director, PIFF, Prakash Magdum, Director, NFAI were present at the conference.

Speaking at the conference Dr Patel said, "The year 2020 was a year of uncertainty, fear and struggle. Happily, we enter 2021 with Hope. The efforts of the frontline warriors of COVID are paying off. The pandemic is coming under control, the vaccination campaign is in full swing and there is the hope of a return to normalcy. PIFF, which is the official Film Festival of Government of Maharashtra had to be postponed and now for the first time will reach its niche audience in 2 formats, which will be Online and in Theatre to ensure greater safety and security for the viewers. The viewers can choose their way of watching the selected movies. This year, the Film Festival of Maharashtra has received about 1611 film entries from 93 countries out of which 180 films have been chosen by the selection committee to be presented at the festival in various sections. PIFF 2021 is dedicated to the frontline warriors of COVID."

"State finance minister Ajit Pawar had announced a grant of Rs 4 Cr for the Pune International Film Festival in the last budget session. However, considering the current situation of the pandemic we requested the state government to allot Rs 2.5 Cr for the festival this year," informed Dr Patel.

Also Read : 51st IFFI Kickstarts With Enthralling Cultural Performances To Celebrate The Joy Of Cinema

As usual, the organizers of Pune International Film Festival would also be organizing the International film festival at Mumbai and Nagpur. This year, it will also take place at Latur.

Also Read : 51st IFFI: Kichcha Sudeep, Priyadarshan Attend Opening Ceremony In Goa; See Pictures
A woman who has Tourettes syndrome may proceed with her lawsuit against a surgeon who declined to repair her injured shoulder because of her disability, the state Supreme Court ruled.

The doctor performed surgery on Carol Cuttings injured shoulder but opted not to repair her torn rotator cuff because he thought her uncontrolled arm movements linked to her disability would cause the repair to fail.

The problem was that he never explained that to Cutting until after the surgery was over, preventing the patient from knowing all the options and risks, and having any say in them, said her attorney, Laura White.

Essentially, he never had an informed consent discussion that explained that she would be treated differently than other patients, the attorney said. His behavior was discriminatory and offensive to the patient, she said.

A message was left seeking comment from an attorney for the defendant, Down East Orthopedic Associates.

Cutting had lost several procedural decisions in federal court, including a claim under the Americans With Disabilities Act, but a judge kept alive her malpractice lawsuit filed in state court.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously upheld the state judges decision. With the ruling, the lawsuit will proceed in Superior Court in Bangor, where Cutting resides, White said.

Tourettes Syndrome is a nervous system disorder causes sudden and uncontrolled movements or sounds, called tics. Sometimes that can mean blurting out words or facial tics or constant throat clearing. In Cuttings case, she had vocal and motor tics that included occasional arm movements and pointing.

The doctor said after the surgery that a repair of the torn rotator cuff would have been guaranteed to fail because of her uncontrolled arm movements.

The doctors decision left her in severe pain for several years until her rotator cuff was eventually repaired in Massachusetts, her attorney said.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Maine

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Setting Up Cellphone Service in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico



If you are bringing an "unlocked" phone from the USA, you can simply slip a new SIM card from your Puerto Vallarta cell service provider. You can also purchase a new cell phone as part of a package plan or individually. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - One of the many reasons that owning a home in Puerto Vallarta is so attractive to foreign buyers is the affordable cost of living. One of the things that Americans and Canadians discover is much less costly is the monthly expense for their Mexican cell phone.



There are two major providers of cell phone service in Puerto Vallarta a Telcel and AT&T a though Telcel is probably the most widely used as it offers the largest number of cell phone towers in the region, therefore providing the most seamless 4G coverage.



If you are bringing an "unlocked" phone from the USA, you can simply slip a new SIM card from your Puerto Vallarta cell service provider. You can also purchase a new cellphone as part of a package plan or individually, with everything on offer from the latest iPhones and Samsung models to basic cell phones, depending on your budget.



If you are using a tourist visa when visiting your Puerto Vallarta property, you can purchase prepaid cell phone packages, like the Amigo packages from Telcel, which can be purchased at their offices or convenience stores like OXXO and Kiosko and come in different denominations starting as low as just 20 pesos for one day use, but which generally run from 200 to 500 pesos ($10 to $25 USD) and are valid for up to 33 days before they need to be reloaded.



If you are living in the Banderas Bay area with a residency visa, you can purchase a monthly plan, starting as low as 299 pesos per month, though most people find that for everyday use, a plan around 500 pesos is about right.



With either a pay-as-you-go plan or a monthly contract, your cell phone package will include unlimited data for social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Whatsapp, unlimited free SMS texts, and unlimited phone calls.



Better yet, there are no North American roaming charges, meaning that you can use your Puerto Vallarta phone in Canada or the USA with no additional charges. Even better? Most plans don't even charge data to use Uber.



Affordable cell phone service a just another reason why owning a second home in Puerto Vallarta for vacation, full time or retirement living is so appealing.



Click HERE for more Puerto Vallarta real estate and lifestyle tips from Tropicasa Realty.

Since 1997, Wayne Franklin and his team at Tropicasa Realty have been a trusted name in Puerto Vallarta real estate. Tropicasa Realty is the region's representative for "The Leading Agents of the World" and with over 100 years of combined experience in real estate, all agents of the company are affiliated with AMPI. Wayne Franklin or any member of his knowledgeable team can be contacted in-person at their Romantic Zone Office - Pulpito 145-A at Olas Altas. While in PV they can be reached at (322) 222-6505 or by calling 866-978-5539 (Toll-Free) from the U.S.

- One of the many reasons that owning a home in Puerto Vallarta is so attractive to foreign buyers is the affordable cost of living. One of the things that Americans and Canadians discover is much less costly is the monthly expense for their Mexican cell phone.There are two major providers of cell phone service in Puerto Vallarta a Telcel and AT&T a though Telcel is probably the most widely used as it offers the largest number of cell phone towers in the region, therefore providing the most seamless 4G coverage.If you are bringing an "unlocked" phone from the USA, you can simply slip a new SIM card from your Puerto Vallarta cell service provider. You can also purchase a new cellphone as part of a package plan or individually, with everything on offer from the latest iPhones and Samsung models to basic cell phones, depending on your budget.If you are using a tourist visa when visiting your Puerto Vallarta property, you can purchase prepaid cell phone packages, like the Amigo packages from Telcel, which can be purchased at their offices or convenience stores like OXXO and Kiosko and come in different denominations starting as low as just 20 pesos for one day use, but which generally run from 200 to 500 pesos ($10 to $25 USD) and are valid for up to 33 days before they need to be reloaded.If you are living in the Banderas Bay area with a residency visa, you can purchase a monthly plan, starting as low as 299 pesos per month, though most people find that for everyday use, a plan around 500 pesos is about right.With either a pay-as-you-go plan or a monthly contract, your cell phone package will include unlimited data for social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Whatsapp, unlimited free SMS texts, and unlimited phone calls.Better yet, there are no North American roaming charges, meaning that you can use your Puerto Vallarta phone in Canada or the USA with no additional charges. Even better? Most plans don't even charge data to use Uber.Affordable cell phone service a just another reason why owning a second home in Puerto Vallarta for vacation, full time or retirement living is so appealing.Since 1997, Wayne Franklin and his team at Tropicasa Realty have been a trusted name in Puerto Vallarta real estate. Tropicasa Realty is the region's representative for "The Leading Agents of the World" and with over 100 years of combined experience in real estate, all agents of the company are affiliated with AMPI. Wayne Franklin or any member of his knowledgeable team can be contacted in-person at their Romantic Zone Office - Pulpito 145-A at Olas Altas. While in PV they can be reached at (322) 222-6505 or by calling 866-978-5539 (Toll-Free) from the U.S. Click HERE to learn more about Tropicasa Realty , or visit tropicasa.com.



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The original Walker, Texas Ranger came by its Lone Star flavor honestly: The long-running TV series was shot and cast in the state.

That created opportunities for a whole lot of Texas actors, some of whom were based in San Antonio, during the shows 1993 to 2001 run on CBS. That approach continues in The CWs new reboot, which stars native San Antonian Jared Padalecki in the title role originated by Chuck Norris.

Back in the day, Mollie Gilley was among the actors who tried out for a role. Gilley doesnt remember whether she drove to Austin or Dallas to audition, or the specific part she tried out for  at the time, her agent usually sent her out for cutesy, cheerleader-type roles  but she has vivid memories of the casting director.

Everyone said she was grouchy all the time, so I wasnt looking forward to it, said Gilley, 47, who now is based in Austin. I think we had a minute to prepare, and then I went in and read it, and the first thing she said was, Quit acting, just say the line.

The casting director also asked Gilley to stop wrinkling her forehead, a lifelong tic she cant control.

Needless to say, I did not get the part, said Gilley, laughing.

On ExpressNews.com: Walker, Texas Ranger reboot focuses on family

Carrie Rodriguez, 63, tried out for the show in Austin, reading for the role of the mother of a gang member. She had a good experience with the casting director, though the end result was the same.

I was totally wrong for the role, but the casting director loved my reading, Rodriguez recalled. The part went to the woman who played Ritchie Valens mother in La Bamba.

Rodriguez had hoped the casting director might remember her and cast her in a role that was better suited for her, but that didnt happen.

Bailie McLendon Mylnar and her younger sister, Tyler, also auditioned for the show when they were children. Their dad, Keith McLendon, had a friend who worked at a TV studio in Dallas, where they lived, and heard from him about a cattle call to cast extras in the show. Bailie, who has been acting as long as she can remember, was eager to audition, and Tyler was happy to come along and try out, too.

They asked us to look surprised or look scared, said McLendon Mylnar, 32.

Ultimately, nothing came of it for the girls, although the casting folks were interested in putting their dad on the show, she recalled.

They offered him a role because he was such a cowboy type, she said. He was a very strong, 6 foot 4 cowboy type with the voice of Sam Elliott. They wanted to offer him a featured extra role for a few episodes.  I was 8 or 9. I remember him laughing about it so much.

Her dad was a fan of the show  he even managed to hurt himself trying to pull off one of Norris signature roundhouse kicks after watching an episode  but he turned the role down, she said, because he was busy with his business. wasnt his kind of thing, anyway. He had only gone to the auditions as a way to spend the day with his daughters.

Keith McLendon died in October, and that day he spent with McLendon Mylnar and her sister trying out for the show stands out among many treasured remembrances.

Its a wonderful memory for me, she said.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio native co-wrote Pixars Soul

The new series also is being shot in Texas, and San Antonio actors are trying out.

Nicole Erwin, 50, had her partner film her audition for a role as an arms dealer who is pursued by the rangers in November.

I did a ton of takes, Erwin said. My agent looked at them, and she picked the ones to send.

She wasnt cast this time, but if other opportunities to try out arise, shell try again.

The more you do it, the better you get, and you get exposure to the casting agents, she said. You never know what youre going to get.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN
President Xi Jinping's participation in the Davos Agenda event next week is expected to bring more confidence to the world economy ravaged by COVID-19, analysts said. Xi will make a special address at the five-day virtual Davos Agenda event of the World Economic Forum, which opens on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday. It will be Xi's second time to participate in the forum as Chinese president, following his appearance in January 2017, when he reaffirmed China's firm stance on promoting economic globalization and further promoting opening-up. The speech Xi made at the forum four years ago was widely hailed by the international community, Hua said, adding that the current international situation has great similarities with 2017. The world economy is still stagnant and challenges are rising around the globe, she said. The international community is expected to reach more consensus at the forum and find solutions to solve the problems, she added. The event will focus on topics such as economic, environmental, social and technological challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the WEF said on Monday. It will be attended by over 1,500 business and government leaders from more than 70 countries. Apart from Xi, other world leaders will also participate, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, said at a virtual news conference on Monday that, facing the challenge of the pandemic, the need to reset priorities and reform systems has been growing stronger around the world. The year 2021 will be a crucial year, when mankind will have to continue to engage in the fight against COVID-19 and the need for more resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies will be more urgent, he noted. Chen Fengying, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations in Beijing, said that Xi's speech at the forum will be of great significance as the world is expecting to hear about China's solutions to the problems in the post-pandemic era. Noting that China is the only major economy that has registered positive economic growth amid the pandemic, Chen said the world is looking forward to its cooperation on economic development and hearing about China's experiences. China's contributions to pandemic control have consolidated the country's stance on upholding multilateralism, she added. "We should make full use of multilateral platforms such as the G20 and the United Nations to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth, not only in rich countries, but also in developing nations," she said. Jin Yong, a professor of international relations at Communication University of China, said that the world has greater expectations toward China now than four years ago because of the sluggish global economy.


[January 20, 2021] Covenant Completes Acquisition of One Advocate Group

Covenant Multifamily Offices, LLC, headquartered in San Antonio with offices in Boerne, Dallas, and Oklahoma City, announced the successful completion of its acquisition of One Advocate Group, a financial planning and investment advisory firm also located in San Antonio, Texas. Effective January 1st, One Advocate Group has initiated their transition to the Covenant brand. "I am very excited to be part of Covenant. The synergies of the two firms were a great match and will bring added value to the families and businesses we serve!" said Tommy Oliphint, Founder of One Advocate Group. Tommy will serve as a Senior Family Wealth Advisor at Covenant. With the addition of five team members and 150 clients from One Advocate Group, Covenant will have oversight of $2.3B in assets under management. Covenant aims to continue their growth as they actively seek to align with like-minded advisors who share their core values. "Tommy and I have known each other for almost 25 years," said John Eadie, Founder and CEO of ovenant Multifamily Offices. "This is an exciting opportunity to bring our firms together to serve the Central Texas marketplace. We look forward to having the talented One Advocate Group team join Covenant to kick off 2021."



For more information regarding the acquisition or the company, please visit www.covenantmfo.com or email webcontact@covenantmfo.com. About Covenant Multifamily Offices, LLC

Covenant's promise is in its name. The wealth management firm exists to provide personally tailored financial guidance rooted in the key tenants of Lifestyle. Legacy. Philanthropy. The Covenant team sets out each day to unburden individuals and families from the daily cares of financial management in order to empower them to pursue their passions and interests. Covenant serves clients at its offices in San Antonio, Boerne, Dallas, and Oklahoma City. More information on Covenant can be found by visiting www.covenantmfo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005524/en/

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A surprising drug could become the first antibiotic class in 60 years to kill off resistant bacteria in diseases such as gonorrhoea, meningitis and legionnaires.

Researchers at University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience have discovered a new use for cannabis in their global fight to stop deadly superbugs.

Laboratory studies have shown synthetic cannabidiol, the main nonpsychoactive component of cannabis better known as CBD can kill bacteria in diseases such as gonorrhea, a sexually transmissible infection.

The research has been hailed as a potential world medical breakthrough, amid predictions drug-resistant infections could result in 10 million deaths worldwide a year by 2050 unless an alternate treatment is found.

University of Queensland scientists have found synthetic cannabidiol, the main nonpsychoactive component of cannabis can kill off superbug bacteria (stock image)

The research, recently published in the Communications Biology journal is part of a collaboration between Queensland researchers and Botanix Pharmaceuticals, which lead to the first new class of antibiotics for resistant bacteria in 60 years.

'This is the first time CBD has been shown to kill some types of Gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria have an extra outer membrane, an additional line of defence that makes it harder for antibiotics to penetrate,' Institute for Molecular Bioscience director Dr Mark Blaskovich said in a statement.

Researchers also discovered cannabidiol is effective in killing off superbug MRSA found in golden staph bacteria.

It may also be used to treat infected diabetic ulcers and wounds.

'Cannabidiol showed a low tendency to cause resistance in bacteria even when we sped up potential development by increasing concentrations of the antibiotic during 'treatment,' Dr Blaskovich added.

'We think that cannabidiol kills bacteria by bursting their outer cell membranes, but we don't know yet exactly how it does that, and need to do further research.'

Synthetic cannabidiol, better known as CBD kill bacteria in diseases such as gonorrhea, a sexually transmissible infection (pictured)

Further trials of CBD formulations are now underway.

'We think we can engineer a different version of CBD that will be able to have some systemic activity,' Dr Blaskovich told the Courier Mail.

'We want something that doesn't break down in the body as quickly as CBD does. There's definitely potential there that CBD could be a prototypical representative of a new class of antibiotics.'

Botanix president Vince Ippolito described the Queensland research as a major breakthrough.

'The published data clearly establishes the potential of synthetic cannabinoids as antimicrobials,' Mr Ippolito said.

'Our company is now primed to commercialise viable antimicrobial treatments which we hope will reach more patients in the near future. This is a major breakthrough that the world needs now.'

Further trials of synthetic cannabidiol fund in cannabis (pictured) are now underway and could become an approved antibiotic within 15 years

The pharmaceutical company will now progress a topical CBD formulation into clinical trials.

'Those Phase 2a clinical results are expected early this year and we hope that this will pave the way forward for treatments for gonorrhoea, meningitis and legionnaires disease,' Dr Blaskovich said.

'Now we have established that cannabidiol is effective against these Gram-negative bacteria, we are looking at its mode of action, improving its activity and finding other similar molecules to open up the way for a new class of antibiotics.'

Dr Blaskovich estimates it will be 10-15 years before it becomes an approved antibiotic if further trials are successful.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Aurora Cannabis Inc. says it has laid off some workers after signing an agreement with an external sales broker.

The Edmonton-based cannabis company's spokeswoman Michelle Lefler confirmed the cuts but wouldn't disclose the number of staff impacted or what cities they were located in.

Lefler says the move was prompted by Aurora's recent decision to hire Great North Distributors Inc. to represent the pot company in sales activities across Canada.

She says the agreement had an immediate impact on some jobs, while other employees will remain with the company for a set time.

Despite the layoff, Lefler says Aurora will keep a sales leadership team to work closely with provincial partners and other key stakeholders.

Aurora laid off almost 1,000 workers last year after it closed some of its facilities to streamline its operations.
Non-banking companies expect the government to provide continued liquidity support by encouraging banks to lend more to the sector, setting up a permanent refinance window and relaxing external commercial borrowing norms in the upcoming Budget.

The government will present the Budget for fiscal 2021-22 on February 1, 2021.

To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on NBFC sector, the government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have announced various schemes such as the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme (PCGS), Targeted Long-Term Repo Operations (TLTRO) and Special Liquidity Scheme (SLS).

"This budget is important because it will be the first budget after the pandemic, which dragged the economy into contraction mode and has taken more than 1.5 lakh lives so far in India.

"The government and RBI took calculated measures which aided economic recovery. We expect similar policy momentum to prevail in the FY22," IndoStar Capital's CEO and executive vice-chairman R Sridhar said.

In its pre-budget memorandum submitted to Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month, Industry Development Council (FIDC) said bank funding of small and medium has been a challenge due to various reasons, especially during the last two years.

"The tepid response to the TLTRO 2.0, which mandated banks to invest at least 50 per cent of the stipulated amount in small and medium NBFCs, was a clear example of this. The need, therefore, is to reduce the over-reliance on banks and have a dedicated refinancing body," FIDC, a representative body of assets and loan financing NBFCs, had said in the memorandum.

It suggested allocating a fund dedicated to funding small and medium to SIDBI and Nabard.

"The arrangement of treating bank to for on- to priority sector to be treated as priority sector (PSL) for banks should be made permanent and the limit needs to be increased to at least 10 per cent of total PSL by banks," FIDC had said.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas partner L Viswanathan said in the recent years, NBFCs that are important intermediaries of credit have faced concerns of liquidity, governance and solvency and it is hoped that the Budget will ease some of the pressures.

The budget coincides with some announcements by the RBI regarding overhauling regulations for systemically important NBFCs to mitigate any risks of regulatory arbitrage, he said.

"The regulatory certainty, as well as the additional weight of these regulations, could be balanced through liquidity and credit measures announced in the budget for this sector," Viswanathan said.

He suggested that the RBI directed funding for the sector, including TLTRO windows, maybe widened to cover more NBFCs and should continue for a longer period.

Viswanathan said he expects announcement of a more permanent refinance window and easing of external commercial borrowing (ECBs) into the sector in the Budget.

Moneyboxx Finance Ltd co-founder Mayur Modi said the NBFC sector has the potential to play an extremely important role in shaping the revival of the economy but is confronted by liquidity issues due to lack of funding from the banking sector.

"This needs to be addressed at the earliest. As public sector banks (PSBs) have surplus liquidity in the system, the government must encourage them to lend to the NBFC sector," he said.

Also, in the upcoming Budget, the government should look at setting up a special window at the RBI for NBFCs, especially for small and those focused on rural areas, so that their cost of the fund comes down, which will ultimately benefit the economy, Modi said.

In its memorandum, FIDC had requested to exempt NBFCs registered with RBI and classified by the central bank as deposit-taking NBFC (NBFCs-D) and non-deposit taking systemically important NBFC (NBFCs-ND-SI) from the provisions of TDS (tax deducted at source) on interest income.

Tourism Finance Corporation of India's MD and CEO Anirban Chakraborty said the travel and tourism sector has been one of the most impacted sectors during the course of the pandemic.

"Few sector-specific sops may be considered by the government to help the hospitality sector emerge out of this situation," he said.

Steps like reduction in GST slabs, waiver/normalisation of various license fees, sector-specific stimulus package (viz interest support by government, additional funding by lenders, etc) may be considered, Chakraborty added.

"Government should continue to encourage domestic tourism by extending and increasing the threshold LTA benefits for expenses incurred for domestic travels/stays," he noted.

Microfinance institution Satin Creditcare Network's chairman and MD HP Singh said during the outbreak of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, the government and RBI took several pragmatic measures to restore liquidity and bring immediate relief to the stressed sector through partial credit restructuring, moratorium benefits, TLTRO operations among other measures.

These initiatives have helped in improving the quantum of liquidity, disbursements and collections during these unprecedented times, he said.

"Through the Budget, the government can continue supporting economic activities until a complete recovery is achieved, which will result in growth in the coming fiscal," Singh 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.)
Joe Biden is president, but Bernie Sanders also was a big winner on Inauguration Day.

The independent Vermont senator, who unsuccessfully battled Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination last year (and is now expected to become chairman of the Senate Budget Committee), set social media ablaze Wednesday. The reason: his no-nonsense weather-proofing at the Presidential Inauguration.

Those mittens, tweeted one fan, followed by a series of fat heart emojis.

Function over fashion for Bernie! Practical man, offered another.

A smattering of the good-natured ribbing follows:

Its not perfect but I had to beat EVERYONE to the punch.@BernieSanders #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/McqQ7eJpBT  Brian Carola (@eoabrian) January 20, 2021

I am once again asking you to turn up the damn heat.#BernieSanders #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/AYejtcozPj  Mark Hazzard (@RealMarkHazzard) January 20, 2021

Me waiting for my boyfriend to give me attention pic.twitter.com/2GnpbAuTy8  Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) January 20, 2021

Bernie is all of us at morning zoom meetings pic.twitter.com/nNZ8BnA1HQ  Sandeep Chandok (@sandeepchandok) January 20, 2021

me when Im invited to go places again after the pandemic and I dont want to be there but I feel obligated because I spent a full year alone at home pic.twitter.com/sBUN79VEaj  Kara Head (@KaraonTW) January 20, 2021

Day 2 working in artist alley, with the convention center air conditioning on full blast pic.twitter.com/3wbl8nJxdo  Hey, it's Steve (@SteveYurko) January 20, 2021

Tell me he couldnt throw hands and punch a nazi in those adorable mittens. #BernieSanders #berniesmittens pic.twitter.com/Vc7C4jaZGX  Melissa Smith (@madisonagility) January 20, 2021

How I want to look when I step out vs how I look when I step out. #MichelleObama #BernieSanders #Inauguration2021 pic.twitter.com/B8iIbzCN8v  Leslie Reyna (@LeslieNReyna) January 20, 2021

-- Douglas Perry

dperry@oregonian.com

@douglasmperry
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.
Women entrepreneurs have a brand-new resource for information on starting a company, courtesy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Last week the SBA launched Ascent, a free e-learning platform that provides help with issues ranging from hazard pay to how to create a profit and loss statement. The agency partnered with the White House, the U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury to develop the new tool.

Along with informational content, the platform has inspirational stories and resources for women, such as a fireside chat with Dr. Patricia Greene, former director of the Labor Department's Women's Bureau.

While Ascent is targeted to women business owners, the platform offers useful features for any entrepreneur. It breaks down the early stages of starting a business into modules called "journeys" and weaves together PDFs, videos, and other material from government and private sector sources. The first journey offers tips on disaster preparedness, including the SBA's checklist for hurricane readiness, the Center for Disease Control's Covid-19 updates, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's guide for preparing for a winter storm.

After the disaster preparedness journey, the platform delves into marketing, hiring, and access to capital.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

El Florido, Guatemala, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :Returning home to a life of hunger and desolation, Hondurans who were kicked out of Guatemala as they started off on a long walk to the United States are vowing they will not abandon their pursuit of the American dream.

Among the thousands driven back to the border Tuesday in buses and trucks provided by Guatemala and Mexico, many told AFP they are not ready to give up on their dreams of a better life.

Rosa Baquedano, was among the thousands of migrants in a caravan dispersed this week by security forces with tear gas and batons in the Guatemalan town of Vado Hondo, less than 50 kilometers (31 miles) inside the border.

Her family lost everything, even their home, after Honduras was hit by two violent tropical storms last November that caused vast devastation, not yet repaired.

"I want to try again" to get to the United States, Baquedano, 35, said at the El Florido border crossing where thousands of migrants were dumped Tuesday.

The group had already walked more than 200 kilometers after departing Honduras last Friday.

"We don't want to return to our country because everything there is complicated. We are dying of hunger," she said.

On Monday, security forces broke up the caravan of some 4,000 migrants at Vado Hondo, where they had waited for three days, sleeping out of doors, to be allowed through and continue their journey of thousands of kilometers on foot through Central America.

They had been blocking a key road, causing a massive logjam of cargo trucks, their wares at risk of spoiling.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 22:13:29|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- British medical experts have called on the public to remain cautious despite the progress in vaccine rollout as Britain is still not out of woods in fighting coronavirus.

Their appeal came after Britain on Tuesday reached the grave milestone of 90,000 COVID-19-related deaths.

Liverpool-based Public Health expert John Ashton, who last Spring predicted the virus would lead to at least 100,000 deaths across the country, said the latest figures did not surprise him.

Ashton told Xinhua: "Although the official figure has now exceeded 90,000, if you study the reports from the (British) Office for National Statistics (ONS), more than 100,000 people have already died with COVID-19 listed on their death certificates."

Ashton said his work as an expert with the World Health Organization (WHO) on outbreaks of contagious diseases such as Swine Flu and Avian Flu helped him see the impact of allowing a virus to get out of control.

Ashton, who had a COVID-19 vaccine a few days ago, said Britain's vaccination program could help ease the country back to some normality.

The total number of people who have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test has reached 91,470 in Britain after another 1,610 were confirmed Tuesday, according to official figures. Tuesday's daily death toll was the highest since the pandemic began in the country, the data showed.

NOT OUT OF WOODS

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the government's plan to vaccinate all the four most vulnerable groups covering 15 million people by mid-February is on track.

People aged 70 and over and those listed as clinically extremely vulnerable in England have begun to receive the first dose of coronavirus vaccine from Monday.

Hancock confirmed that Britain is aiming to offer all adults the vaccine by September.

However, Ashton said Britain is not out of the woods despite the progress in the vaccine rollout.

"My worry is we are still not at the stage where we can relax what we have been doing. There are still a lot of people working in the NHS (National Health Service) who are off work with illnesses and more patients need urgent hospital care," he said.

"Last year I would have said we should start seeing some shoots of normal life around March. Now I would say to people if they are planning to book a holiday overseas, don't book anything before the fall. Perhaps it will be better to consider a holiday in this country," he said. "We will be well into the summer months before we will start to see a more normal life, but we won't be totally free until later in the year, around our autumn months."

HUGGING NO KIDS

Janet Lord, director of the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham, urged people in Britain to stay on their guard after they have been vaccinated against the virus.

In a radio interview, Lord said she would advise parents to avoid hugging their children, saying it takes several weeks before vaccines reach their maximum effectiveness.

Liz Kendall, social care spokeswoman for the main opposition Labour Party, called on the British government to vaccinate every care home resident by this Sunday.

"With more than 21,600 deaths from COVID-19 in care homes so far and infections tragically rising once more we are in a race against time to vaccinate residents and staff," she said.

Meanwhile, on the day the landmark figure was released, Britain's biggest business organization warned of the toll on industry after almost a year of disrupted demand and extensive restrictions.

Tony Danker, director-general of the Confederation of British Business (CBI) said: "Staff morale has taken a hit, and business resilience has hit a sobering new low."

"With the health and economic impact of coronavirus hitting hard across the country, ensuring firms' survival until the economy reopens fully will be key to turning this ambition into reality," said the CBI in a statement.

It warned with the latest national lockdown squeezing cash flow and demand like never before, business resilience is at an all-time low.

"The (British) government must once again stand shoulder-to-shoulder with businesses to underwrite support for the duration, helping viable enterprises to last the course," said Danker.

England is currently under the third national lockdown since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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. Enditem
Payment will be deferred until the sixth anniversary of the deals completion

PLC ( ) has agreed to halve the price for the acquisition of Air Europa agreed before the coronavirus pandemic.

The Anglo-Spanish group said it has agreed to pay 500mln to Spains Globalia, down from the previous equity value of 1bn agreed in late 2019, and payment will be deferred until the sixth anniversary of the deals completion.

First, however, IAGs Iberia airline must agree on the terms of financial support to be provided by the Spanish government.

If those talks are concluded satisfactorily, and approval is given by the European Commission, the purchase is expected to complete in the second half of 2021.

The board of IAG continues to believe that the acquisition remains strategically important for the future of IAG and Iberia and positions the group to benefit from growth opportunities as the industry emerges from the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the FTSE 100 company said in a statement.

With minimal cash outflow in 2021 and net cash flows expected to be positive until at least the repayment of the loan from SEPI in 2026, the deal is expected to immediately boost earnings and, IAG reckons, would transform Madrid into a true rival to Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Luis Gallego, IAG's chief executive, said: "Both Iberia and IAG are demonstrating their resilience to face the deepest crisis in aviation's history. Being part of a large group is the best guarantee to overcome current market challenges which will also benefit Air Europa once the transaction is completed.

Javier Hidalgo, Globalia's chief executive, added: This transaction is a great effort by all of us and is the best way to recover tourism, transport in Spain and the Madrid hub.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have constrained the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but it couldnt kill the celebration.

Marching bands, drill teams and entertainers of all kinds joined the Parade Across America, an all virtual inaugural celebration.

If you missed it, or want to relive some of the moments of joy, here are highlights from the parade.

New Radicals

The New Radicals came back together, bucket hat and all, to sing You Get What You Give.

We are honored that the New Radicals reunited for this moment (featuring one of @SecondGentleman Doug Emhoff's favorite songs!)  #Inauguration2021 pic.twitter.com/UUHmyAwxQ0  Biden Inaugural Committee (@BidenInaugural) January 20, 2021

Skate Kid

Get your heart absolutely melted by Skate Kid Kaitlyn Saunders skating on Black Lives Matter Plaza in D.C. to Andra Day singing her song Rise Up.

A beautiful moment from @AndraDayMusic and "Skate Kid" Kaitlyn Saunders on Black Lives Matter Plaza in DC. #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/HBBVGvL4GI  Biden Inaugural Committee (@BidenInaugural) January 20, 2021

Dance America

In this segment, a bunch of people across the country danced to Dancing in the Street -- a TikTok dream come to life for people who dont even know what TikTok is. Apparently, Oregons own dancing doctor made an appearance, though couldnt catch it.

It's time to DANCE America! From sea to shining sea, Americans everywhere are celebrating the new @POTUS and @VP. #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/jNzNwdBQnW  Biden Inaugural Committee (@BidenInaugural) January 20, 2021

The guy skateboarding to Dreams

Honestly one of the inexplicably best memes of 2020 was this guy, Nathan Apodaca, skateboarding with a Snapple to Fleetwood Macs Dreams. Why not remix it for the inauguration? It just feels right.

We are feeling the good vibes from this "Dreams" skateboarding segment featuring @Doggface208 (aka Nathan Apodaca) and Americans across the country!  #Inauguration2021 pic.twitter.com/4uibqQwsWO  Biden Inaugural Committee (@BidenInaugural) January 20, 2021

You can watch the entire inauguration here:

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker
She told her followers she had jetted to Mexico- not because her sister Demi had flown out, but because she had been presented with a work trip she 'couldn't turn down'.

And Chloe Sims made her followers green with envy on Instagram on Wednesday as she shared a slew of snaps basking in the sun in the pool at her luxury hotel in Tulum.

The former TOWIE star, 38, who has been working hard on her fitness, flaunted her toned physique in a forest green cut out swimsuit.

Sizzling display: Chloe Sims made her followers green with envy on Instagram on Wednesday as she shared a slew of snaps basking in the sun in the pool at her luxury hotel in Tulum

Chloe flashed a hint of underboob in the one-piece as well as her washboard abs.

The reality star wore her brunette tresses in a high bun and complemented her swimwear with black sunglasses and silver hoop earrings.

Chloe captioned the post: 'GRATEFUL. My first time to Tulum, Think it could possibly be the most beautiful destination Ive ever visited.'

Cheeky: The former TOWIE star, 38, who has been working hard on her fitness, flaunted her toned physique in a forest green cut out swimsuit

Glam: The reality star wore her brunette tresses in a high bun and complemented her swimwear with black sunglasses and silver hoop earrings

'This view': Chloe showed off the luxury hotel pool

Having fun: The television personality also took to her stories to share a clip of herself dipping her toes into the water in a cave

The television personality also took to her stories to share a clip of herself dipping her toes into the water in a cave.

Chloe showed off her ample curves in an off the shoulder tiger print bikini top and thong.

Earlier this week, the TOWIE star revealed she had travelled to Mexico on a 'work related trip' amid Britain's coronavirus lockdown.

Sisters trip: Chloe said she had jetted to Mexico, not because her sister Demi (pictured) was ther but because she had been presented with a work trip she 'couldn't turn down'

Chloe took to Instagram and shared a series of bikini photos of herself after landing in celebrity hot spot Tulum.

After several reality stars have received criticism for travelling to Dubai for 'work' trips recently, Chloe insisted an opportunity presented itself in Mexico that she 'could not turn down'.

She wrote: 'I HAVE ARRIVED IN MEXICO.. SO I WANTED TO GET AHEAD OF ANY NEGATIVE STORIES TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THIS IS FIRST & FOREMOST A WORK RELATED TRIP.

Working hard? Earlier this week, the TOWIE star revealed she had travelled to Mexico on a 'work related trip' amid Britain's coronavirus lockdown

Chloe wrote: 'I HAVE ARRIVED IN MEXICO.. SO I WANTED TO GET AHEAD OF ANY NEGATIVE STORIES TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THIS IS FIRST & FOREMOST A WORK RELATED TRIP'

'SOME OPPORTUNITIES HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES, THAT I FELT I COULD NOT TURN DOWN & SO AFTER FULLY CONSIDERING THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES. I DECIDED TO TRAVEL.'

Chloe added she would be quarantining at her home in Essex as soon as she returns from the trip.

She said: 'OBVIOUSLY I WILL BE QUARANTINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS UPON MY RETURN.'

Tulum is popular with stars including Drew Barrymore and Kristin Cavallari with Love Island's Eyal Booker and girlfriend Delilah Belle Hamlin also recently visiting the city.

Dozens of influencers who found fame on reality shows such as Geordie Shore and Love Island have spent the previous weeks soaking up the sun in Dubai while Brits back at home are in a nationwide lockdown.

Many have travelled abroad under the ruse that their trips are 'for work,' sparking backlash from fans who have been holed up in lockdown amid the pandemic.

Among those who have shared glimpses of their trips to Instagram are Love Island's Laura Anderson, Francesca Allen, Arabella Chi and twins Jess and Eve Gale.

Geordie Shore's Chloe Ferry is also in Dubai for 'work' while TOWIE's Yazmin Oukhellou and her beau James Lock have also been there for some time on 'business'.

Many stars have insisted their trips are for 'work' as the government currently asks UK residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

Although at first not facing restrictions upon their return, it was recently announced that the country has been removed from the UK travel corridor amid the pandemic.
"We are happy to complete this placing, which provides us with sufficient working capital to remain drill-ready in Cameroon, as soon as circumstances permit, and also allows us to contribute to the current work programme at Algoa-Gamtoos, chief executive Jeremy Asher said

( ) has raised 1.25mln via a share placing as it seeks to restructure its financing arrangements.

The company is issuing 384.6mln new shares priced at 0.325p each in the placing, organised by ETX Capital.

Proceeds will be used to terminate and repay a US$500,000 loan facility with Shard Capital, which falls due at the end of February. The company said it will repay the facility without triggering conversion options.

The remainder of the proceeds will provide working capital and support the company as seismic data from the Algoa-Gamtoos license in South Africa is reprocessed and interpreted.

At the same time, the group said it will support maintenance spending in Cameroon  to maintain long lead item inventories ready for the start of drilling on the NJOM-3 well in the Thali license.

Talks are taking place with Pegasus Petroleum, a vehicle beneficially owned by Tower chief executive Jeremy Asher, regarding a US$750,000 loan facility which comes due on February 28, 2021.

Similarly, talks are continuing with potential farm-out partners for its Thali license and Tower said it hopes to have a more substantial announcement to make in due course.

"We are happy to complete this placing, which provides us with sufficient working capital to remain drill-ready in Cameroon, as soon as circumstances permit, and also allows us to contribute to the current work programme at Algoa-Gamtoos, Asher said in a statement.

It is still difficult to commit to firm time frames at present, both for operations and also financial transactions, but we are moving forward as quickly as we can, and remain confident that we will drill the NJOM-3 appraisal well and also bring in a partner for further 3D acquisition in Algoa Gamtoos.

We are also continuing basin-modelling work in Namibia and await the results of other companies' drilling there with interest. We are pleased to welcome ETX Capital as Joint Broker and thank them for delivering this placing smoothly."
The York Water Company has acquired the water and wastewater systems that serves a new resort-style 55-plus residential community in Adams County.

The York Water Company purchase the water and wastewater systems that serve the Amblebrook Gettysburg community in Straban Township. The York Water Company purchased the facilities from CCD Rock Creek, the developer of Amblebrook, which was one of three acquisitions for the York Water Company last year. This acquisition took place last month.

Amblebrook is a new 55-plus community located outside of Gettysburg. The community has been under construction since 2019 and the development plan approved by Straban Township calls for 2,000 residential homes, a community clubhouse and other amenities. Amblebrook Gettysburg was developed by CCD Rock Creek and is managed by Crown Community Development.

We are excited to bring That Good York Water high-quality water and wastewater service to the residents of this premiere community in Adams County, York Water Company president and CEO, JT Hand.

The York Water Company has been in business since 1816. The company, which is based in York services 51 Pennsylvania municipalities in York, Adams and Franklin counties.

--Business Buzz

You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like him on Facebook.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : An unprecedented 62 per cent of Indians support the idea of conferring the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat Ratna, on Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who is also the global face of the Tibetan exile movement, according to the IANS C-Voter Tibet Poll.

According to the survey, which included a sample size of 3,000 people spread across the country, 62.40 per cent of Indians support the idea of awarding the Dalai Lama with Bharat Ratna. The honour is given in recognition of exceptional service of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.

The Dalai Lama had fled to India in 1959 to escape the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) which had by then occupied Tibet. Since then, he has been arguing for autonomy for Tibet from the Chinese rule.

Time and again, Indian parliamentarians and his followers have raised the demand to confer the Bharat Ratna on the Dalai Lama for his services to humanity. Notably, the clamour grew louder amid the stand-off along the Line of Actual Control last year.

As many as 63.1 per cent men and 61.8 per cent women want the Dalai Lama to be honoured with the award. Interestingly, most of the people living in the urban locality, belonging to middle-income group, low education group and OBC category, above the age group of 55 years and from North and Northeast areas support the idea more.

The data show that the issue needs to be highlighted more and a bit more aggressive posturing is required to underline the Tibetan identity without diluting the assimilative sympathy that has been achieved with Indians over these years.

Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country, was instituted in 1954. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President. No formal recommendations for this are necessary.
NewsX was recently joined by Bharat Sethi, Founder Rage Coffee, for an exclusive conversation as a part of its special series, NewsX A-List where he spoke about his brand and the coffee business in India.

Talking about what contributed to the success of his brand Bharat said, I think the biggest thing would be a fundamentally differentiated product. When we entered the market we did not just see one gap, the legacy giants were not innovating in several functions of a product company that make them great in todays time- the Millenials and the Gen Z. So, there was no aspirational brand around a product which is so emotional for people on a daily basis. There were not many brands they could compete with a cafe kind of a coffee at a fraction of the cost and that was the need of the market and we catered to that segment.

Rage Coffee is known for the number of flavours it offers, speaking about the flavours and his personal favourite Bharat said, We have looked at this market from a consumers mindset and not the manufacturers mindset or a brand mindset and when we started asking questions around the onset of this new trend around people and just consumers wanting to have that quality coffee which theyre having at high-end speciality cafe when they have their hazelnut lattes and the caramel cappuccinos and those double shot espressos. So we wanted to rival that at a fraction of a cost and weve gone out and created some very interesting flavours. Weve recently launched the butterscotch delight, the first of its kind, nobody has ever tried to do anything with butterscotch and coffee. We have a mint mocha flavour, we have a sparky orange flavour and then the usual ones which do really well for us are the Irish, chocolate, double chocolate and then theres the caramel with that we have the creme caramel. My favourite is the sparky orange and now its the butterscotch delight.

Also Read: We are a vintage-inspired brand: Archana Kumari Singh, Founder of House of Badnore

When asked what approach the uses in sales, marketing and distribution Bharat explained by saying that, When we started, we started out as a digitally native brand. We are a digital-first brand. The milestones that we wanted to go after were very clear that we want to initially do all the communication, messaging and the brand building to be online. The initial hundred thousand customers that we wanted to go out and cater to had to be online. So distribution is now the only channel. Were present in close to about 500 retail stores, we have 20 distributors pan India, we are present in all online marketplaces. So thats about distribution.

About marketing, our approach has been very authoritative and being honest, we have gone out and taken a very pole position and said that we are the best and we know what were doing. Most of the products that can compete with our quality are being imported into India in the instant format. So youre getting an affordable product that is convenient to use and is very high quality. Since we know our position in the market and the quality we give also take a very bold approach to marketing and we dont shy away from saying that this is how we compare with the other brands and this is the feedback which we get from consumers. We post videos and screenshots of reviews we get on social media and a bunch of other growth hacks that we use, Bharat continued.

Talking about creating a niche in the market where people are used to having traditional coffee Bharat remarked, If you look at the data, youll see that coffee consumption is being by the Gen Z and the millennials, the 18 to 35-year-olds. They are driving new-age coffee consumption. When you talk about the filter coffee experience or the coffee with chicory experience with a lot of bitterness, that we have a product that is the original blend which does not have any bitterness any chicory. So what happened is people traditionally in India have been drinking a product that is not coffee actually because it is laden with chicory and a lot of other ingredients to bring down the cost and filter coffee obviously because it has to have that bitterness, that little pungent smell to it is only there to drive down cost essentially. So now we are also catering, I personally know so many people who used to drink chai and now drink our coffee or people who were drinking earlier brands of coffee even above the age group of 35. Because now they are experiencing real coffee and theyre not spending a bomb every time they want to drink it.

When asked to place Rage Coffee amongst its competitors in terms of costing and the price tag Sethi answered, we are in the mass premium segment, we are not in the entry-level segment so we will not be comparable to any entry-level product in the market. But talking about our segment we compare veteran pricing with any product imported into India. We want to be more affordable to more people, we want to be more accessible. Having said that I would say that we are in the middle to premium at the moment.

Talking about the reason behind starting the company Bharat said, It was a bit of frustration, a bit of not finding the right product for myself. Using caffeine as a functional product, that was something that I was doing as an energy drink. So we used the active ingredient caffeine so we call ourselves a caffeine company, we happen to be dealing with coffee right now but youre innovating around caffeine. So there was nothing that exceptional quality that compared with high-end coffee experience. The options were very limited, all good products were being imported into India with very long supply chains and they just did not deliver on quality. We have six plant-based vitamins which work synergistically with caffeine giving a very distinctive caffeine kick. It is just not about the taste and the aroma but also about the distinctive caffeine kick that delivers on all of its promises

Speaking about the learnings he had as an entrepreneur Bharat said, My learnings have been mostly around keep learning I would say. That is my biggest learning you have to always keep learning. Manage cash really well I think that is one of the biggest things, building a team, managing a team is really important. Also, the ability to predict where the market is theyre operating in is going. Overall I would say you have to be in it for the long haul, you cannot have a micro 3-year 2-year vision regarding building companies you have a really long timeline.

Lastly talking about the vision ahead for Rage Coffee Bharat said that With Rage, we are building a globally recognizable brand. The idea with rage now, when we started we had certain milestones, we hit those milestones, at this point of time the love, affection and the acceptance we have seen for Rage Coffee products in Europe, in the US, in Middle East, South East, Russia weve started doing these trial runs with distributors in all of these countries. Weve started exporting as well. So I think my personal motive and my personal agenda now is to put Rage Coffee on the global map and tell the world that a coffee brand can be built out of India. India is the seventh-largest producer of coffee and almost 80% of this is exported and comes back to India at a premium at a higher cost. So we are a market that is ready for quality products, we will not take anything you give to us. But beyond that, I think the idea and the 10-year vision would be to put Rage Coffee out there. We want to see it in New York, Melbourne and Moscow and all of these global cities.

Also Read: OTT is experimenting and is the new wave of entertainment for people: Priyanshu Painyuli, Actor
Egypt agreed with Qatar to resume diplomatic relations between them, the Egyptian foreign ministry announced on Wednesday.

According to a short statement issued by the Egyptian foreign ministry, the two countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations through diplomatic memos in accordance with Al-Ula agreement for Arab reconciliation with Qatar which was signed last week.

Al-Ula agreement ended a diplomatic and travel boycott by the Arab Quartet  Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain  on Doha since June 2017.

The agreement was signed last week by the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at their summit in Saudi Arabia.

The quartet cut diplomatic, economic, and travel ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing Doha of interfering in their internal affairs and supporting terrorist groups, charges denied by Qatar.

The return of diplomatic relations comes a day after the return of direct flights between Cairo and Doha.

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There was an alleged faceoff between Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, and a notorious thug, Kazeem Oyewale popularly called, Asiri E...

There was an alleged faceoff between Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, and a notorious thug, Kazeem Oyewale popularly called, Asiri Eniba on Sunday which has caused an uproar in the state.

It was gathered that Asiri Eniba gang members blocked the route of Governor Oyetolas convoy and engaged his security at old-garage in the evening of Sunday.

An eyewitness disclosed that the gunshot was so much that later forced the convoy to take another route and to save the life of the governor.

It was also gathered that a dispute had ensued on Sunday afternoon between the governors security crew and Asiri Eniba at a function which allegedly impelled him to leave the function and to plot the attack when the convoy approached the Old-garage pack, Osogbo.

The thugs also allegedly destroyed the big banners of Gov Oyetola mounted at Old-Garage.

It was gathered that the popular thug, Asiri Eniba, the chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Oroki Branch is one of the leaders of the State Boys.

The notorious group was allegedly empowered by the administration of Rauf Aregbesola who is now the Minister of Interior.

Hence, Asiri Eniba was said to have been enjoying the favour of the present administration since the commencement of Governor Oyetola administration.

The genesis of the feud between Asiri Eniba could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report. But operatives of Amotekun corps have taken over the Old-garage and Ola-Iya motor parks since Monday.

Contacting the Special Adviser to the governor on security, Mrs Abiodun Ige, she denied knowing anything about the attack. She said she was not aware of any attack on the governor.

Ige said, I was not with the convoy on Sunday, and I am not aware of any faceoff or attack on the governor. You can contact the commander of Amotekun to find out why they blocked the parks.

Speaking with the Field Commander of Amotekun in the state, Comrade Shittu Amitolu, he said that the corps decision to block the parks was due to intelligence reports gathered that illegal drugs dealings were transpiring inside the commercial motor parks.

Amitolu noted that Amotekun was empowered to fight criminal activities such as illegal drug dealing, cultism and more.
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Nicholas Tofowomo, on Wednesday debunked the allegation that there was a crisis in the South-West zone of the party.

Mr Tofowomo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone that what people assumed as a crisis in the party was because of the South-West chairmanship election.

He said the inability to honour an agreement made for Eddy Olafeso to retain his position as the National Vice-Chairman of PDP in the South-West was causing the brouhaha.

The PDP chieftain said that an agreement was reached by party executive members that Mr Olafeso would retain his position if he lost out in the Ondo 2020 governorship primaries, which he later lost to Eyitayo Jegede.

Mr Tofowomo added that the feud between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, was all politics and political rivalry about the South-West Chairmanship election agreed to be seeded to Mr Olafeso.

Olafeso left the position to contest the Ondo governnorship primaries which, he later lost to Jegede, but it was agreed that if he loses, he will retain his position.

But Governor Makinde, as the leader of the party in the South-West, did not want to honour that agreement and that was the reason for the feud between him, Fayose and their supporters.

That does not mean there is crisis in South-West PDP as being widely circulated, its all about politics and political rivalry because of the election, but after the election, everybody will embrace themselves and come together again, he said.

Mr Tofowomo, however, predicted success for Mr Olafeso in the election which date had yet-to-be-fixed in February, saying that he would support him with everything to ensure he won the election.

He said his reasons for supporting Mr Olafeso was because he hailed from Ondo South and that he coordinated and piloted the affairs of PDP well during his first tenure as the PDP chairman, South-West.

I am supporting Olafeso with everything I have for him to win the election because he hailed from Ondo South and because he coordinated and piloted the affairs of PDP well during his first tenure.

I am assuring you that Olafeso will win the election because the South-West has six states, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun and if he wins in four states, automatically, he has won, Mr Tofowomo said.

He, however, urged members of the party to vote according to their conscience in the forthcoming election, saying that the party would come out stronger.

(NAN)
On January 15, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced his governments resignation ahead of national elections scheduled for March 17. He will head a caretaker government until then.

Rutte claimed that his resignation aimed to redress the wrong committed in a 2013-2019 welfare scandal, where the Dutch state falsely accused 26,000 parents of dual-national families of welfare fraud, improperly forcing them to pay back tens of thousands of euros in child benefit. With this decision, the government wants to do justice to all those parents who have been unprecedentedly wronged, Rutte said. The rule of law should protect citizens from the all-powerful government, and that has gone horribly wrong here.

The welfare scandal is a state crime: tens of thousands of families, selected by Dutch welfare agencies via ethnic profiling of those holding Moroccan or Turkish dual citizenship, were financially ruined and humiliated. This cold-blooded ethnic selection of citizens to be ruined is a disturbing sign of growing fascistic sentiment within the state machine, implicating the entire Dutch political establishment. What is driving Ruttes resignation is not, however, a national crisis, let alone Ruttes supposed contrition over his governments anti-Muslim policies.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (Arno Mikkor/Wikimedia Commons)

Rutte brought down his own government amid mounting anger among workers internationally at the ruling elites herd immunity policies on the COVID-19 pandemic, and as Dutch deaths in the pandemic hit 13,000. Governments across Europe are tottering after US President Donald Trump incited a mob to storm the Capitol in Washington on January 6 in an attempted fascist coup. Rutte resigned only a few days after Matteo Renzi pulled out of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Contes coalition government, and Estonias government fell over a corruption scandal.

Ruttes resignation comes as the bourgeoisie internationally debates a turn to authoritarian forms of rule, against mass anger building in the working class at austerity and herd immunity policies.

With the resignation, Rutte aims to weather the storm, win re-election and continue his policies, including herd immunity and inciting anti-Muslim hatred, with as few changes as possible. Above all, the resignation aims to perpetuate the political fraud that the Dutch bourgeoisies policy is liberal and democratic, while it in fact continues a murderous, ever more fascistic policy on the pandemic and against the rights of the working classespecially of immigrant workers.

Ruttes demagogic claims he is sorry his government unprecedentedly wronged immigrants are belied by the political establishments defense of successive ministers from various parties who oversaw the persecution of the child benefit recipients.

Economy Minister Eric Wiebes, from Ruttes own Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), resigned. He brazenly said he did not feel guilty for ruining welfare recipients: For a long time, I searched for what I could have done differently. I dont feel guilty, but I do feel extremely responsible. I walk around with that, it wont leave me anymore. I have not been able to discover what I could reasonably have done differently to prevent this. That only makes it more sad.

Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra, now an election candidate of the Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA), shamelessly declared his profound sympathy for the parents: The conversations with the parents touched me deeply. Through no fault of their own, they have been brought into serious trouble by the government. This cannot and must not happen in our rule of law, and we must ensure that it never will happen again.

As former Social Affairs Minister Lodewijk Asscher resigned as a Labor Party (PvdA) candidate in disgrace over the scandal, the PvdA hailed him. PvdA chairwoman Nelleke Vedelaar declared, Lodewijk shows what characterizes a real leader: decisiveness, vision and idealism. On behalf of the entire party, I would like to thank Lodewijk incredibly for his tireless efforts for the party and the future of social democracy.

As for the Green Left Party and the petty-bourgeois Maoist Socialist Party (SP), they are politically implicated by their decision to join and promote the toothless special parliamentary committee that investigated the scandal in November-December 2020. Green Left parliamentarian Tom van der Lee and SP parliamentarian Renske Leijten sat on the committee and signed its report. While they titled the report Unprecedented Injustice, they sent no high-ranking politicians or officials to jail. A better title for their report would have been Unprecedented Impunity.

These parties are now working to promote the state machine and whatever illusions can be stimulated that these elections will end state corruption and criminality. Green Left Party chairman Jesse Klaver said: The House of Representatives must rectify the mistakes it has made in recent years, so that a start can be made on restoring the welfare state as quickly as possible.

The SP, whose leader Lilian Marijnissen hailed the parliamentary committee report on the scandal as very tough, reacted to Ruttes resignation by issuing a statement titled Welfare Benefits Scandal: Its not the End, its the Beginning. It wrote, In part thanks to SP parliamentarian Renske Leijten, the benefits scandal was revealed.  We are pursuing our fight for a just government.

In fact, the endless protection of the Rutte government by the Green Left Party, the SP and their various political allies has primarily benefited Rutte himself. He has been prime minister since 2010, including throughout the period when welfare agencies persecuted the parents. His relentless inciting of anti-Turkish sentiment in the 2017 electionsgoing so far as to order Dutch police to expel visiting Turkish officials from the Netherlandshelped incite the xenophobic climate in which these abuses occurred.

Nevertheless, despite all the coverage of the welfare benefits scandal, Ruttes VVD leads the polls with between 35 and 43 percent of the vote. Second behind the VVD is the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) of Geert Wilders at around 25 percent.

More astute sections of the bourgeoisie are speculating that this will allow Rutte to win a second term, despite his utterly reactionary record. The Financial Times of London wrote: Ironically, a government collapse may end up protecting Mr Rutte by apportioning responsibility [for the pension scandal] on all four coalition parties, rather than just the prime minister. The Dutch go to the polls on March 17. Should Mr Rutte emerge victoriousas polls suggestthe scandal will be yet another political pitfall that he has successfully swerved.

Above all, this scandal reveals that, throughout the pandemic, as Rutte refused a lock-down and thousands needlessly died, he had the support of virtually the entire political establishment. Apart from neo-fascists like Wilders, the restespecially the cynical middle class parties falsely marketed by the media and the ruling elite as the leftbent over backwards to protect him.

The elections will solve none of the issues facing the working class. Not only have all of the principal parties supported herd immunity policies, but all of them are complicit in the stoking of xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiments. The historically unprecedented event of a fascist coup being attempted in Washington is a warning as to the fascistic forces being strengthened not only by those like Wilders, but above all by the policies of the Rutte government and the parties that have protected it.

Fighting this requires a turn to the international working class, and the building of a movement in the working class across Europe for general strike action against herd immunity policies, the growing danger of fascism, and the capitalist system, based on a socialist perspective.

[January 20, 2021] Reliq Health Technologies, Inc. Announces Launch of Multilingual Interactive Voice Recognition and New Contract in Maryland

HAMILTON, Ontario, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (TSXV:RHT or OTC:RQHTF or WKN:A2AJTB) (Reliq or the Company), a rapidly growing global telemedicine company that develops innovative Virtual Care solutions for the multi-billion dollar Healthcare market, today announced the launch of its new multilingual Interactive Voice Recognition product, iUGO Care IVR, and a new contract with a physician practice in Maryland to use iUGO Care IVR with both their English- and Russian-speaking patients.

We have incorporated Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) in the iUGO Care platform to support patients who are using their own, non-connected monitoring devices, have cellular or internet connectivity challenges or simply prefer an automated daily phone call in the language of their choice as a reminder to collect their vitals, said Dr. Lisa Crossley, CEO of Reliq Health Technologies, Inc. The new product uses Interactive Voice Recognition to communicate with patients in any language, record patients self-reported readings and automatically upload the data to the iUGO Care platform, where it can be accessed by their care team. This solution is of particular interest to private insurers and employer-sponsored insurance plans who want patients to use their existing, non-connected biometric monitoring devices. Clinicians can also leverage existing Medicare reimbursement codes for Remote Patient Monitoring involving self-reported data. This is a highly scalable product that will allow us to serve a large patient population that was not previously addressed by standard Remote Patient Monitoring technology." The Company has signed a new contract with a physician practice in Maryland to provide Remote Patient Monitoring with Interactive Voice Recognition to a significan Russian-speaking patient population. Onboarding started in Maryland this week. The Company expects to expand the IVR product offering into additional geographies requiring a variety of different languages later this quarter.



About Reliq Health

Reliq Health Technologies is a rapidly growing global telemedicine company that specializes in developing innovative Virtual Care solutions for the multi-billion dollar Healthcare market. Reliqs powerful iUGO Care platform supports care coordination and community-based virtual healthcare. iUGO Care allows complex patients to receive high quality care at home, improving health outcomes, enhancing quality of life for patients and families and reducing the cost of care delivery. iUGO Care provides real-time access to remote patient monitoring data, allowing for timely interventions by the care team to prevent costly hospital readmissions and ER visits. Reliq Health Technologies trades on the TSX Venture under the symbol RHT, on the OTC as RQHTF and on the WKN as A2AJTB. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Dr. Lisa Crossley CEO and Director For further information please contact: Company Contact

Investor Relations at ir@reliqhealth.com 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. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are "forward-looking statements". We caution you that such "forward-looking statements" involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual and future events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to commercial operations, including technology development, anticipated revenues, projected size of market, and other information that is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (the "Company") does not intend and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, technology development and marketing activities, the Company's historical experience with technology development, uninsured risks. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Reliq Health Technologies Inc.



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VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VNM USA reports that PrecisionOS , pioneers of the Surgical Mastery Platform, announced its partnership with the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) and Global medical technology supplier, CONMED, to host the world's first-ever interactive webinar featuring leading hip surgeons on January 28, 2021 at 7pm CST/8pm EST.

These experts will engage in a fully interactive surgery session using the PrecisionOS virtual reality (VR) platform.

"The opportunity for PrecisionOS to connect surgeons through an immersive virtual learning environment is an incredible honour," says Dr. Danny Goel, an orthopaedic surgeon in Vancouver, BC and CEO of PrecisionOS. "It is time to convert our innovation to patient-centered results. We are committed to demonstrating ongoing successful use and integration of our platform to show how we are impacting patient care. I am excited to witness my peers in action as they combine their talents to educate others from around the world without leaving their homes."

The cutting-edge surgery expert discussion will be led by McMaster University's Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Chair, Dr. Olufemi Ayeni; Professor and Surgeon-in-Chief at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Dr. Bryan Kelly and leading Orthopaedic Surgeon from the Crystal Clinic, Dr. Jovan Laskovski. Joining them will be:

Dr. Shane Nho

Dr. Alison Spiker

Dr. John Christoforetti

Dr. Chad Mather

"We are continuously working to stay up-to-date on the latest news and in medical technologies and surgical protocol developments," says Laura Downes, CAE the CEO of AANA. "The PrecisionOS platform enables Orthopaedic Surgeons to experience both a comprehensive and realistic simulation setting with high-caliber education. We could not be more thrilled than to witness VR continue to elevate the future standard of surgeon training programs."

PrecisionOS looks forward to providing the virtual operating room in which these world renowned hip surgeons will collaborate remotely from their homes, performing and discussing hip arthroscopy surgery in real-time.

"We are proud to play an active role with PrecisionOS and AANA in the evolution of surgeon education," says Pat Beyer - President International & Global Orthopaedics at CONMED. "Delivering surgeon to surgeon education virtually with PrecisionOS VR technology has the potential to complement traditional education methods in a positive way."

Viewing the event is open to the public. You can register here: https://www.aana.org/aanaimis/Shared_Content/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=2021_01VR&WebsiteKey=10f6eed0-bcab-4019-8f57-18dad8aaf2d7

Ryan Cowdrey

505 333 9117

[email protected]

SOURCE VNM USA

Related Links

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 21:06:04|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israel's rough diamond exports fell 40 percent in 2020 compared to the year before, due to the coronavirus crisis, the state's Ministry of Economy and Industry said on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, exports of rough diamonds from Israel amounted to 860 million U.S. dollars in 2020.

Imports of rough diamonds to Israel also fell by 40 percent last year, amounting to 1.067 billion dollars.

Israeli exports of polished diamonds amounted to 2.37 billion dollars in 2020, a decrease of 30.5 percent compared to the previous year, while imports of polished diamonds amounted to 1.534 billion dollars, a decrease of 37 percent.

However, the ministry expects a recovery this year, following the increases in imports and exports of diamonds recorded in December 2020.

Thus, rough diamond exports rose by 18 percent in December, compared to the same month in 2019, while polished diamond exports jumped by 245 percent.

The ministry added that the normalization agreement signed with the United Arab Emirates in September 2020 is also expected to increase Israel's diamond trade.

The ministry noted that the Israeli diamond industry has shown technological advance during the crisis, with virtual participation in international exhibitions, the development of electronic marketing channels, and remote diamond testing. Enditem
Angela Merkel is furious that the German media are criticising her country's dismal vaccination programme, Justin Trudeau has revealed.

The Chancellor was venting about the comparisons the press were making to the superior rollout of the jab in Canada during a phone call on Monday, Mr Trudeau claimed.

'I had a lovely conversation with Angela Merkel yesterday morning, in which she sort of complained to me that every day she gets it from the German media that they are not doing as well as Canada is,' the Prime Minister said on Tuesday.

But the jab rollout in Canada isn't making great strides either. As of Monday, 1.63 people per 100 had been vaccinated, only slightly better than Germany's 1.46.

Britain is streaks ahead of them both with 6.96 vaccinated per 100 people, while Israel leads the world with a rate of more than 30 dosed per 100 citizens.

As of Monday, Canada has vaccinated 1.63 people per 100, only slightly better than Germany's 1.46, and both miles behind Britain with 6.96 vaccinated per 100 people

The Chancellor was venting about the comparisons the press were making to the superior rollout of the jab in Canada during a phone call on Monday, Mr Trudeau claimed (pictured: Trudeau speaks at a press conference last month, left; and Merkel at a meeting today, right)

Mr Trudeau expressed sympathy with Mrs Merkel because 'there are many different musings and reports and speculation and stories about "this country doing this" and "that country doing that."'

The Prime Minister was speaking more broadly about concerns in Canada over the slowing supply of the Pfizer jab.

The pharmaceutical giant has warned governments across the world to expect delays this month and next as they upgrade their factory in Belgium.

On Tuesday, Canada said it would not receive any Pfizer vaccines next week, adding more pain for provinces already complaining about a shortage.

Mr Trudeau said it was only a 'temporary delay' and that Canada remained on track to have vaccinated its entire population - 38 million - by September.

The Canadian PM and the German Chancellor's fears over the supplies of the Pfizer jab are also keenly felt in Britain.

Pfizer announced on Friday that to scale up manufacturing in Europe to deliver many more doses in the second quarter they must first trim production at a Puurs, Belgium, vaccine-making plant.

This will impact deliveries into the first half of next month.

The reassurances, however, seem to be providing little comfort for countries that want jabs sooner rather than later.

There are growing fears in Britain over how the Pfizer supply problems will affect the rollout of the vaccine

Germany's most populous state of North-Rhine Westphalia said today it will delay the opening of new vaccination centres to February 8 because of the slowdown.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn said he was annoyed by the short notice of the delays: 'It is not easy for us... We can only vaccinate with that which has been delivered.'

Merkel and leaders of Germany's 16 states agreed on Tuesday to extend for another two weeks a lockdown for most shops and schools until February 14.

The North-Rhine Westphalia health ministry said the delays were forcing it to push back by a week the opening of 53 vaccination centres which will start offering shots to the over 80s, with no more first shots possible for the coming week.

The region has already vaccinated around 350,000 people and will add another 30,000 by the end of the week, the ministry said. Hospitals and care homes will resume vaccinations on February 1 with 80,000 doses planned for that week.

The spread of the virus has slowed in Germany in recent weeks, with rise in new cases up by 15,974 to 2,068,002, but down from the 19,600 reported a week ago. However, the death toll rose by 1,148 to 48,770, above the week ago increase.

Spahn said the figures were going in the right direction, noting that there were 800 fewer patients in intensive care than a week or two ago, but this was not the time to relax controls.

'The goal is to get the figures down enough so they are manageable in the longer-term and in parallel ramp up vaccination,' he said.
A teenager has drowned after jumping from a rock face into water along with several other children.

Emergency crews rushed to Kentlyn Basin, in Sydney's south west, about 2.40pm on Wednesday after the 15-year-old boy failed to resurface.

A search was launched by five NSW Ambulance paramedic crews, a rescue helicopter, and police divers.

A teenager has drowned at Kentlyn Basin, in Sydney's southwest, on Wednesday afternoon, after jumping from rocks into the water with friends

Emergency services launched a search operation after the 15-year-old boy failed to resurface and his body was recovered at 5.30pm

The boy's body was recovered from the secluded waterhole in the Georges River Nature Reserve about 5.30pm.

Police were told the boy was swimming with three friends when he went missing.

A local said the jumping spot was notoriously dangerous because there is a rock ledge about a metre below the surface that can't be seen from the cliff.

'There have been five or six accidents at the waterhole in the past few years. I think the boy may have jumped and hit his head,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.

The tragedy comes just weeks after an international student drowned after plunging into a lagoon from a rock ledge in Sydney's south.

Sachet Bimali, 23, encountered difficulties after jumping nine metres into Wattamolla Lagoon, in the Royal National Park, on January 4.

Emergency crews recovered the Nepalese national's body later that evening.
Press Release

20 January 2021

The U.S. hotel industry reported all-time lows in occupancy and revenue per available room (RevPAR), according to year-end 2020 data from STR.



In addition to historically low absolute levels in the aforementioned metrics, average daily rate (ADR) came in lower than any year since 2011. Year-over-year declines were the worst on record across the three key performance metrics.

Occupancy: 44.0% (-33.3%)

Average daily rate (ADR): US$103.25 (-21.3%)

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): US$45.48 (-47.5%)

For the first time in history, the industry surpassed 1 billion unsold room nights, which eclipsed the 786 million unsold room nights during the great recession in 2009. Based on November year-to-date results, the industry is expected to show nearly zero profit for the year when STR releases P&L data next week.

Among the Top 25 Markets, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota-Wisconsin, reported the lowest occupancy level (33.3%), which represented a 49.9% decline in year-over-year comparisons.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida (50.8%), was the only Top 25 Market to reach 50% occupancy. The market's occupancy level was still 29.4% lower than 2019.

Oahu Island, Hawaii, was the only major market to post ADR above US$200, at US$215.57 (-10.5%), even as the market saw the steepest year-over-year occupancy decline (-53.7% to 39.0%).

Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia, came in closest to its 2019 comparable with occupancy of 49.1% (-22.7%) and RevPAR at US$43.93 (-34.7%).

In aggregate, the Top 25 Markets showed lower occupancy (42.9%) but higher ADR (US$114.09) than all other markets.

All of STR's COVID-19 analysis can be found here.


January 19, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - How can you tell when your empire is crumbling? Some signs are actually visible from my own front window here in San Francisco.

Directly across the street, I can see a collection of tarps and poles (along with one of my own garbage cans) that were used to construct a makeshift home on the sidewalk. Beside that edifice stands a wooden cross decorated with a string of white Christmas lights and a red ribbon  a memorial to the woman who built that structure and died inside it earlier this week. We dont know  and probably never will  what killed her: the pandemic raging across California? A heart attack? An overdose of heroin or fentanyl?

Behind her home and similar ones is a chain-link fence surrounding the empty playground of the Horace Mann/Buena Vista elementary and middle school. Like that home, the school, too, is now empty, closed because of the pandemic. I dont know where the families of the 20 children who attended that school and lived in one of its gyms as an alternative to the streets have gone. They used to eat breakfast and dinner there every day, served on the same sidewalk by a pair of older Latina women who apparently had a contract from the school district to cook for the families using that school-cum-shelter. I dont know, either, what any of them are now doing for money or food.

Just down the block, I can see the line of people that has formed every weekday since early December. Masked and socially distanced, they wait patiently to cross the street, one at a time, for a Covid test at a center run by the San Francisco Department of Health. My little street seems an odd choice for such a service, since  especially now that the school has closed  it gets little foot traffic. Indeed, a representative of the Latino Task Force, an organization created to inform the citys Latinx population about Covid resources told our neighborhood paper Mission Local that

Small public health clinics such as this one will say they want to do more outreach, but I actually think they dont want to. He believes they chose a low-trafficked street like Bartlett to stay under the radar. They dont want to blow the spot up, because it does not have a large capacity.

What do any of these very local sights have to do with a crumbling empire? Theyre signs that some of the same factors that fractured the Roman empire back in 476 CE (and others since) are distinctly present in this country today  even in California, one of its richest states. Im talking about phenomena like gross economic inequality; over-spending on military expansion; political corruption; deep cultural and political fissures; and, oh yes, the barbarians at the gates. Ill turn to those factors in a moment, but first let me offer a brief defense of the very suggestion that U.S. imperialism and an American empire actually exist.

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Imperialism? Whats That Supposed to Mean?

What better source for a definition of imperialism than the Encyclopedia Britannica, that compendium of knowledge first printed in 1768 in the country that became the great empire of the nineteenth and first part of the twentieth centuries? According to the Encyclopedia, imperialism denotes state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas. Furthermore, imperialism always involves the use of power, whether military or economic or some subtler form. In other words, the word indicates a countrys attempts to control and reap economic benefit from lands outside its borders.

In that context, imperialism is an accurate description of the trajectory of U.S. history, starting with the countrys expansion across North America, stealing territory and resources from Indian nations and decimating their populations. The newly independent United States would quickly expand, beginning with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France. That deal, which effectively doubled its territory, included most of what would become the state of Louisiana, together with some or all of the present-day states of New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Montana, and even small parts of what are today the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Of course, France didnt actually control most of that land, apart from the port city of New Orleans and its immediate environs. What Washington bought was the right to take the rest of that vast area from the native peoples who lived there, whether by treaty, population transfers, or wars of conquest and extermination. The first objective of that deal was to settle land on which to expand the already hugely lucrative cotton business, that economic engine of early American history fueled, of course, by slave labor. It then supplied raw materials to the rapidly industrializing textile industry of England, which drove that countrys own imperial expansion.

U.S. territorial expansion continued as, in 1819, Florida was acquired from Spain and, in 1845, Texas was forcibly annexed from Mexico (as well as various parts of California a year later). All of those acquisitions accorded with what newspaper editor John OSullivan would soon call the countrys manifest  that is, clear and obvious  destiny to control the entire continent.

Eventually, such expansionism escaped even those continental borders, as the country went on to gobble up the Philippines, Hawaii, the Panama Canal Zone, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Mariana Islands, the last five of which remain U.S. territories to this day. (Inhabitants of the nations capital, where I grew up, were only partly right when we used to refer to Washington, D.C., as the last colony.)

American Doctrines from Monroe to Truman to (G.W.) Bush

U.S. economic, military, and political influence has long extended far beyond those internationally recognized possessions and various presidents have enunciated a series of doctrines to legitimate such an imperial reach.

Monroe: The first of these was the Monroe Doctrine, introduced in 1823 in President James Monroes penultimate State of the Union address. He warned the nations of Europe that, while the United States recognized existing colonial possessions in the Americas, it would not permit the establishment of any new ones.

President Teddy Roosevelt would later add a corollary to Monroes doctrine by establishing Washingtons right to intercede in any country in the Americas that, in the view of its leaders, was not being properly run. Chronic wrongdoing, he said in a 1904 message to Congress, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation. The United States, he suggested, might find itself forced, however reluctantly, in flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence, to the exercise of an international police power. In the first quarter of the twentieth century, that Roosevelt Corollary would be used to justify U.S. occupations of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nicaragua.

Truman: Teddys cousin, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, publicly renounced the Monroe Doctrine and promised a hands-off attitude towards Latin America, which came to be known as the Good Neighbor Policy. It didnt last long, however. In a 1947 address to Congress, the next president, Harry S. Truman, laid out what came to be known as the Truman Doctrine, which would underlie the countrys foreign policy at least until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It held that U.S. national security interests required the containment of existing Communist states and the prevention of the further spread of Communism anywhere on Earth.

It almost immediately led to interventions in the internal struggles of Greece and Turkey and would eventually underpin Washingtons support for dictators and repressive regimes from El Salvador to Indonesia. It would justify U.S.-backed coups in places like Iran, Guatemala, and Chile. It would lead this country into a futile war in Korea and a disastrous defeat in Vietnam.

That post-World War II turn to anticommunism would be accompanied by a new kind of colonialism. Rather than directly annexing territories to extract cheap labor and cheaper natural resources, under this new neocolonial model, the United States  and soon the great multilateral institutions of the post-war era, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund  would gain control over the economies of poor nations. In return for aid  or loans often pocketed by local elites and repaid by the poor  those nations would accede to demands for the structural adjustment of their economic systems: the privatization of public services like water and utilities and the defunding of human services like health and education, usually by American or multinational corporations. Such adjustments, in turn, allowed the recipients to service the loans, extracting scarce hard currency from already deeply impoverished nations.

Bush: You might have thought that the fall of the Soviet empire and the end of the Cold War would have provided Washington with an opportunity to step away from resource extraction and the seemingly endless military and CIA interventions that accompanied it. You might have imagined that the country then being referred to as the last superpower would finally consider establishing new and different relationships with the other countries on this little planet of ours. However, just in time to prevent even the faint possibility of any such conversion came the terrorist attacks of 9/11, which gave President George W. Bush the chance to promote his very own doctrine.

In a break from postwar multilateralism, the Bush Doctrine outlined the neoconservative belief that, as the only superpower in a now supposedly unipolar world, the United States had the right to take unilateral military action any time it believed it faced external threat of any imaginable sort. The result: almost 20 years of disastrous forever wars and a military-industrial complex deeply embedded in our national economy. Although Donald Trumps foreign policy occasionally feinted in the direction of isolationism in its rejection of international treaties, protocols, and organizational responsibilities, it still proved itself a direct descendant of the Bush Doctrine. After all, it was Bush who first took the United States out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and rejected the Kyoto Protocol to fight climate change.

His doctrine instantly set the stage for the disastrous invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, the even more disastrous Iraq War, and the present-day over-expansion of the U.S. military presence, overt and covert, in practically every corner of the world. And now, to fulfill Donald Trumps Star Trek fantasies, even in outer space.

An Empire in Decay

If you need proof that the last superpower, our very own empire, is indeed crumbling, consider the year weve just lived through, not to mention the first few weeks of 2021. I mentioned above some of the factors that contributed to the collapse of the famed Roman empire in the fifth century. Its fair to say that some of those same things are now evident in twenty-first-century America. Here are four obvious candidates:

Grotesque Economic Inequality: Ever since President Ronald Reagan began the Republican Partys long war on unions and working people, economic inequality has steadily increased in this country, punctuated by terrible shocks like the Great Recession of 2007-2008 and, of course, by the Covid-19 disaster. Weve seen 40 years of tax reductions for the wealthy, stagnant wages for the rest of us (including a federal minimum wage that hasnt changed since 2009), and attacks on programs like TANF (welfare) and SNAP (food stamps) that literally keep poor people alive.

The Romans relied on slave labor for basics like food and clothing. This country relies on super-exploited farm and food-factory workers, many of whom are unlikely to demand more or better because they came here without authorization. Our (extraordinarily cheap) clothes are mostly produced by exploited people in other countries.

The pandemic has only exposed what so many people already knew: that the lives of the millions of working poor in this country are growing ever more precarious and desperate. The gulf between rich and poor widens by the day to unprecedented levels. Indeed, as millions have descended into poverty since the pandemic began, the Guardian reports that this countrys 651 billionaires have increased their collective wealth by $1.1 trillion. Thats more than the $900 billion Congress appropriated for pandemic aid in the omnibus spending bill it passed at the end of December 2020.

An economy like ours, which depends so heavily on consumer spending, cannot survive the deep impoverishment of so many people. Those 651 billionaires are not going to buy enough toys to dig us out of this hole.

Wild Overspending on the Military: At the end of 2020, Congress overrode Trumps veto of the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which provided a stunning $741 billion to the military this fiscal year. (That veto, by the way, wasnt in response to the vast sums being appropriated in the midst of a devastating pandemic, but to the bills provisions for renaming military bases currently honoring Confederate generals, among other extraneous things.) A week later, Congress passed that omnibus pandemic spending bill and it contained an additional $696 billion for the Defense Department.

All that money for security might be justified, if it actually made our lives more secure. In fact, our federal priorities virtually take food out of the mouths of children to feed the maw of the military-industrial complex and the never-ending wars that go with it. Even before the pandemic, more than 10% of U.S. families regularly experienced food insecurity. Now, its a quarter of the population.

Corruption So Deep It Undermines the Political System: Suffice it to say that the man who came to Washington promising to drain the swamp has presided over one of the most corrupt administrations in U.S. history. Whether its been blatant self-dealing (like funneling government money to his own businesses); employing government resources to forward his reelection (including using the White House as a staging ground for parts of the Republican National Convention and his acceptance speech); tolerating corrupt subordinates like Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross; or contemplating a self-pardon, the Trump administration has set the bar high indeed for any future aspirants to the title of most corrupt president.

One problem with such corruption is that it undermines the legitimacy of government in the minds of the governed. It makes citizens less willing to obey laws, pay taxes, or act for the common good by, for example, wearing masks and socially distancing during a pandemic. It rips apart social cohesion from top to bottom.

Of course, Trumps most dangerous corrupt behavior  one in which hes been joined by the most prominent elected and appointed members of his government and much of his party  has been his campaign to reject the results of the 2020 general election. The concerted and cynical promotion of the big lie that the Democrats stole that election has so corrupted faith in the legitimacy of government that up to 68% of Republicans now believe the vote was rigged to elect Joe Biden. At best, Trump has set the stage for increased Republican suppression of the vote in communities of color. At worst, he has so poisoned the electoral process that a substantial minority of Americans will never again accept as free and fair an election in which their candidate loses.

A Country in Ever-Deepening Conflict: White supremacy has infected the entire history of this country, beginning with the near-extermination of its native peoples. The Constitution, while guaranteeing many rights to white men, proceeded to codify the enslavement of Africans and their descendants. In order to maintain that enslavement, the southern states seceded and fought a civil war. After a short-lived period of Reconstruction in which Black men were briefly enfranchised, white supremacy regained direct legal control in the South, and flourished in a de facto fashion in the rest of the country.

In 1858, two years before that civil war began, Abraham Lincoln addressed the Illinois Republican State Convention, reminding those present that

A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved  I do not expect the house to fall  but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.

More than 160 years later, the United States clearly not only remains but has become ever more divided. If you doubt that the Civil War is still being fought today, look no farther than the Confederate battle flags proudly displayed by members of the insurrectionary mob that overran the Capitol on January 6th.

Oh, and the barbarians? They are not just at the gate; they have literally breached it, as we saw in Washington when they burst through the doors and windows of the center of government.

Building a Country From the Rubble of Empire

Human beings have long built new habitations quite literally from the rubble  the fallen stones and timbers  of earlier ones. Perhaps its time to think about what kind of a country this place  so rich in natural resources and human resourcefulness  might become if we were to take the stones and timbers of empire and construct a nation dedicated to the genuine security of all its people. Suppose we really chose, in the words of the preamble to the Constitution, to promote the general welfare, and to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

Suppose we found a way to convert the desperate hunger for ever more, which is both the fuel of empires and the engine of their eventual destruction, into a new contentment with enough? What would a United States whose people have enough look like? It would not be one in which tiny numbers of the staggeringly wealthy made hundreds of billions more dollars and the countrys military-industrial complex thrived in a pandemic, while so many others went down in disaster.

This empire will fall sooner or later. They all do. So, this crisis, just at the start of the Biden and Harris years, is a fine time to begin thinking about what might be built in its place. What would any of us like to see from our front windows next year?

Rebecca Gordon, a TomDispatch regular, teaches at the University of San Francisco. She is the author of American Nuremberg: The U.S. Officials Who Should Stand Trial for Post-9/11 War Crimes and is now at work on a new book on the history of torture in the United States.

Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Books, John Feffers new dystopian novel Frostlands (the second in the Splinterlands series), Beverly Gologorskys novel Every Body Has a Story, and Tom Engelhardts A Nation Unmade by War, as well as Alfred McCoys In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of U.S. Global Power and John Dowers The Violent American Century: War and Terror Since World War II.

Iran's judiciary released the country s telecom minister on bail Wednesday after he was summoned for prosecution by Iran's general prosecutor state TV reported.

The state media outlet quoted Jamal Hadian, a spokesman for the telecommunications ministry, as saying Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi appeared before a prosecutor Wednesday, was released and had already returned to his office.

The office of the general prosecutor had summoned Jahromi for prosecution over his refusal to block Instagram and other foreign social media messaging systems, according to earlier reports. It was unclear how much bail money Jahromi posted or when he might have to appear again.

The move was seen as part of the push and pull between hard-liners and President Hassan Rouhani's moderate administration ahead of June presidential elections.

Jahromi, Irans information and communications technology minister, is a possible contender in the election. He worked for the Intelligence Ministry before taking his current position.

The Iranian government has long blocked access to many websites and social media platforms, from YouTube and Facebook to Twitter and Telegram. But many Iranians, mostly youth, access them through VPNs and proxies. Instagram and WhatsApp remined unblocked.

Many hard-liners view the country as fighting a cultural soft war against Westernization.
A new study involving researchers at University of Limerick has found that common understanding of proper sitting posture is outdated and may hinder the treatment of back pain.

Back pain is the most costly and disabling health condition in the world, with the costs of back pain exceeding that of cancer and diabetes combined.

For decades, one of the most common approaches to preventing and treating back pain has been to change the way people sit  with advice to sit in a more upright manner being promoted widely.

However, a series of recent studies  including many by the group of researchers at UL  have highlighted the lack of evidence that sitting upright either prevents or treats back pain.

In this latest study, which has been published in the journal Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, the usual sitting posture of people without pain was compared to what the same people perceived to be optimal sitting posture.

Every single one of the 100 people tested believed their own - perfectly pain free - sitting posture was suboptimal, and demonstrated a more upright posture when asked to select a good sitting posture. This over-emphasis on correcting their own posture to being more upright was particularly marked for women.

The study builds on other recent research at UL showing that physiotherapists and members of the public have an unnecessarily negative view of slouched sitting postures, and also that physiotherapists and manual handling instructors often promote very stiff, straight ways of bending and lifting, even though they are not shown to prevent or ease back pain.

Commenting on the study, Dr Kieran OSullivan from the School of Allied Health at UL, said: There are two major concerns when it comes to how we view the role of posture in back pain. First, it has been clear for decades that back pain is influenced by not only physical factors, such as posture, but also psychological factors such as worries and mood, and lifestyle factors such as sleep and fitness."

Dr O'Sullivan says the importance of posture in back pain is overstated in general and that when posture has a role, it does not seem that there is one safe or proper way to sit when it comes to back pain.

"We come in many different shapes and sizes, and aspects such as comfort and function  am I comfortable, and can I do what I need to do  are perhaps all that are worth considering from a posture perspective. Unfortunately, many of the ideas about sitting upright are more related to aesthetics and ideas about what is deemed elegant, attractive or motivated  the fact that females changed their posture even more than males when asked to assume a good posture likely reflects the greater pressure on females to conform to societal expectations of appropriate posture, he said.

In the middle of a global pandemic, with millions of people working from home  often at their kitchen tables  the new study has obvious practical implications.

At the end of the day, nobody has ever shown that people without pain should be advised to change their posture, explained Dr OSullivan.

So if you feel ok, then dont worry about sitting posture, and dont lecture your kids or friends about how they sit. And if you have pain, it is reasonable to see if changing posture helps your pain  just dont assume that the solution is always sitting up straight, and think of all the things other than posture that could be important, Dr OSullivan added.

The study was conducted in conjunction with international collaborators in Greece, Qatar and Australia.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-19 20:09:52|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The local government of the central Japan prefecture of Shizuoka on Tuesday issued a virus emergency alert, following the detection a day earlier of three cases of a new coronavirus variant.

On Monday, three people in their 20s to 60s were confirmed to be infected with the virus variant in the prefecture.

None of them had traveled to Britain or had prior contact with people who have recently been to the country, where the new coronavirus variant has rapidly spread.

Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture Heita Kawakatsu said that it was now vital for preventative measures to be taken against transmissions as well as ensure the health care system is strengthened.

"It is necessary to take more thorough infection prevention measures and further strengthen measures for medical care provision," Kawakatsu was quoted by local media as telling a press conference as he announced the alert.

Kawakatsu said however that the local government was still largely in the dark regarding information on the spread of the virus variant and the routes of transmission.

The cases in the central prefecture marked the first confirmation in Japan of people infected with the new coronavirus variant, although the health mission has, as yet, failed to trace the routes of transmission.

Japan's Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said that the central government will investigate whether the coronavirus variant, first detected in Britain, is being transmitted elsewhere in the country.

This will be done by collecting samples from those already infected with the variant in the central Japan prefecture, Tamura said.

The new strain is thought by the prefectural government to be a new, highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus responsible for surging new numbers of infections in Britain recently.

"We need to firmly examine the situation," Tamura told a press briefing on the matter.

Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases began undertaking genomic analysis of samples from people infected with the novel coronavirus to assess the potential spread of the variant, sources with knowledge of the matter said Tuesday. Enditem
[January 20, 2021] Therap, currently supporting over 180 North Carolina Providers, releases Interface with Sandata Aggregator in NC for collection of Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) Data

WATERBURY, Conn., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Therap Services, the leading software solution in the United States for electronic documentation in the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) settings, introduces its Sandata Aggregator Interface for providers in North Carolina to allow the exchange of Electronic Visit Verification, EVV, data. The system will benefit the providers of North Carolina because they now have the ability to directly submit EVV data collected through Therap's Electronic Visit Verification tool to the Sandata Aggregator Interface. The State also has to implement the interface according to the Federal EVV requirements in North Carolina. Therap's interface with Sandata allows providers to collect the necessary data from staff for required EVV visits and submit the data directly to the Sandata state aggregator. Therap's Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) module captures all six Federally required data elements including: Type of service performed Individual receiving the service Date of the service Location of service delivery Staff providing the service Time the service begins and ends Users of this module will be able to build staff schedules, track staff hours and monitor inividual service allocation. Furthermore, the EVV module is particularly beneficial for eliminating billing discrepancies. Users will be able to use the Sandata Aggregator to obtain various information from the Schedule Slot form, Service Authorization, and Funding Source. Staff can easily check-in/out electronically and remotely with the help of a mobile device which includes geolocation and timestamp features. The staff have the ability to sync captured data successfully with the interface but in order to do that, they must be in Active status, must be schedulable from the Staff Setup page, and must have an SSN and EVV ID added.



Contact https://www.therapservices.net/products/electronic-visit-verification-solutions/ with any questions. About Therap

Therap Services provides secure, web-based documentation, communication and electronic billing services to 7000+ Home and Community Based Service providers across the United States as well as for twenty state government ID systems of care. This includes a certified EHR, HIPAA compliant Medicaid and private billing, service documentation and secure communication and data sharing between all stakeholders including families and self advocates.

Source: https://www.therapservices.net/electronic-visit-verification/ View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/therap-currently-supporting-over-180-north-carolina-providers-releases-interface-with-sandata-aggregator-in-nc-for-collection-of-electronic-visit-verification-evv-data-301211816.html SOURCE Therap Services

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After declaring victory and a sixth, five-year term in office with a much-reduced majority, President Yoweri Museveni put his main opposition rival, the 38-year-old musician Bobbi Wine of the newly formed National Unity Platform party (NUP), under house arrest.

When protests erupted after the announcement of the election results widely seen as rigged, amid rising social and economic hardship in the wake of the pandemic, the security forces dispersed the crowds, killing at least two people, and cordoned off the partys offices in the capital Kampala.

Speaking to the media surrounded by soldiers and police, Wine said he was worried about my life and the life of my wife.

Yoweri Museveni (U.S. Department of State/Wikipedia)

Mathias Mpuuga of Wines NUP announced the party would challenge the election results, saying, We have evidence of ballot stuffing and other forms of election malpractice and after putting it together we are going to take all measures that the law permits to challenge this fraud.

Musevenis victory follows a bitterly contested election campaign, marked by a lethal crackdown on the opposition that included nine other challengers as well as Wine, and an internet blackout. His election was only possible because parliament lifted the 75-year age limit for the presidency, enabling him to stand again.

Barely half of the registered 18 million voters cast their vote, reflecting the dangerously tense political atmosphere. The security forces killed at least 55 people during protests in Kampala and other cities in November after Wine was arrested and detained for a second time during the campaign. Hundreds of opposition supporters, human rights activists and journalists were detained and some were kidnapped.

Following his election to the National Assembly in 2017, Wine became the most significant challenger to the longtime president, who seized power in 1986 after overthrowing the dictatorial regime of President Milton Obote. Wine, who grew up in Kamwokya, one of Kampalas most deprived neighbourhoods, appealed to Ugandas youth who face chronic unemployment and dreadful social conditions on an anti-corruption, pro-human rights, reformist platform that is incapable of resolving their entirely legitimate demands. His widespread support, particularly from the youth and poorer layers, has shaken Musevenis corrupt regime and his imperialist backers.

Several other opposition politicians faced arrest, beatings and torture at the hands of the police in a blatant attempt at intimidation by Musevenis ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party. Wine said he had lost count of how many times he was arrested and prevented from campaigning. He told the Financial Times he had been shot at four times, forcing him to campaign in a bullet-proof vest. One of his bodyguards was run over by the military police. Earlier this month, Wine filed a case at the International Criminal Court, accusing Museveni and nine top security officials of attempted murder and human rights violations in the run-up to the vote.

Sarah Bireete, director of the Center for Constitutional Governance in Kampala, said, This has been the most violent election in Ugandas history because Musevenis grip on power has been greatly challengedespecially by the young voters.

While Museveni emerged the winner with 59 percent of the votes, his vice-president, a dozen of his cabinet ministers and a further 21 NRM members lost their seats. Wine won 34 percent of the votes, mainly in Kampala and other urban centres. He accused Museveni of fabricating the results, a claim supported by observers from the United Nations, US and European Union who were prevented from monitoring the election. The Africa Elections Watch coalition reported late openings in most polling stations, illegally opened ballot boxes and the arrests of 26 election monitors from civil society groups. Both the US and Britain, the former colonial power, have called for investigations into allegations of fraud and other irregularities.

Museveni, once lauded as one of a new generation of African renaissance leaders, spent his years in office giving away Ugandas assets to international financiers and carrying out a punishing series of privatisations. This wholesale robbery and looting of resources on behalf of international capital and its local agents has had a catastrophic effect on the working class and poor farmers.

This last year has seen the number living in poverty rise from by a further 3 million to 11.4 million. Social protection programs are totally inadequate, reaching just 3 percent of the population. Some of the hardest hit have been Ugandas 1.4 million refugeesAfricas largest refugee populationfrom war-torn neighbours the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, following the 67 percent loss in funding for the UNs World Food Programme for East and Central Africa.

In 2017, the country ranked 162 out of 189 on the UNs Human Development Index. Three-quarters of the population lives on less than $3.10 per day. Life expectancy is just 62 years, only two years more than war-torn DRC; 51 percent of Ugandans lack access to safe water; 82 percent do not have access to improved sanitation facilities; and acute malnutrition among children between six months of age and five years is four percent, but 10 percent in the West Nile sub-region of Uganda.

According to the World Bank, 700,000 young people reach working age every year in Uganda, but there are only 75,000 new jobs, leaving more than 70 percent of Ugandans employed in subsistence agriculture. With half the 46 million population less than 15 years old, an average of one million young people a year are expected to reach working age between 2030-2040.

Ugandas economy has contracted sharply in the wake of the pandemic, a locust invasion and flooding, with GDP for 2020 projected to be between 0.4 and 1.7 percent compared to 5.6 percent in 2019, as export, tourism, remittances and foreign direct investment plummeted.

Musevenis regime depends on extensive backing from the US, which provides over $970 million a year in development and security assistance, including military training for the army. Last June, the World Bank released $300 million in relief funds to combat COVID-19 that vanished into the military budget.

Such aid is for services rendered. Uganda, a key regional ally of US imperialism, has deployed its Uganda Peoples Defence Force in support of Washingtons puppet governments in South Sudan and Somalia, participated in MONUSCO, the UN-led military operation in the resource-rich DRC and provided military training for Equatorial Guineas armed forces.

According to a 2012 report by USARAF, Ugandas Entebbe airport provides a space for Washingtons AFRICOM forces vast spying operation conducted with turboprop planes. It has been reported that there are black sites in Kampala operated on behalf of the US for the interrogation and torture of suspected terrorists. According to the New York Times, Ugandan recruits also served as private security guards and worked closely with American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a move indicating that Washington is assessing the possibility of shifting its support away from Museveni, US ambassador Natalie E Brown sought to visit Wine, only to be stopped by security forces. Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo told Washington to keep out of Ugandas domestic affairs, saying, What she has been trying to do blatantly is to meddle in Ugandas internal politics, particularly elections, to subvert our elections and the will of the people. She shouldnt do anything outside the diplomatic norms.

Uganda is only one of several recent elections in Africa that demonstrate the explosive anger building up among the working class. It follows allegations of election rigging in last years landslide re-election of neighbouring Tanzanian President John Magufuli, notorious for his crackdown on the opposition and authoritarianism.

In Ghana, President Nana Akufo-Addo won re-election in December with a contested 51.59 percent of the vote that led to angry protests in which at least five people were killed.

In the mineral-rich but desperately poor Central African Republic, President Faustin-Archange Touadera won five more years in power after an election characterised by violence, with fighting continuing in towns across the country as opposition parties demanded a re-run of the election.

The January 6, 2021 fascist coup attempted by US President Donald Trump to forestall the transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden demonstrated that such measures are not restricted to African governments. The working class in the former colonial countries must turn to its class brothers and sisters around the world, including in the metropolitan countries, whose regimes are no more committed to equality and democracy, in an international struggle for social equality and justice through the socialist reorganisation of society.
The Covid-19 death toll has crossed 400 with the deaths of 18 more people yesterday.

The death toll now stands at 408, with 96 of those occurring in the last seven days alone.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.
A statement from BVI Finance on the recently announced Commission of Inquiry1

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Governor of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and United Kingdom Government have made it clear that the financial services industry is not a focus of its inquiry into allegations of governance issues in the BVI.

The BVI's reputation as a leading global financial centre is built on a 30-year track record of international collaboration and of meeting the highest international regulatory standards on transparency and information sharing, in addition to combatting financial crime and money laundering.

Furthermore, the BVI was one of the first of the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to develop an advanced, verifiable and accessible company register which is fully compliant with international standards and has created an effective beneficial ownership process that has been recognised internationally.

The BVI's system has continually been updated in line with changing global standards. In 2016, the BVI signed an Exchange of Notes with the UK Government relating to beneficial ownership of companies. In the agreement, the BVI committed to ensuring the information is adequate, accurate and current and that it will be held securely; as well as sharing the information in a timely (and in urgent cases within an hour) fashion.

In 2017, the BVI launched its Beneficial Ownership Secure Search system (BOSSs) a cutting-edge electronic search engine that enables the relevant BVI Authorities to have a searchable database with information on BVI Companies and their beneficial owners. This system was pioneered to facilitate the sharing and searching of BVI Beneficial Ownership information. The BVI's BOSS system has been lauded by global law enforcement authorities, such as the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) and has made vital contributions to the global fight against financial and economic crime and was integral to disclosing information that warranted the UK's first Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO), obtained by the NCA in 2018. The BVI currently shares information with more than 200 countries around the world.

In 2019, the BVI Government acknowledged positive comments made by the then UK Home Secretary reflecting the level of cooperation between UK and BVI law enforcement authorities, following a review into the implementation of the Exchange of Notes (EoN) on Beneficial Ownership information. The UK Home Secretary stated that UK Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) had found the EoN 'extremely useful' in accessing information needed to support their investigations.

In September 2020, the Premier and Minister of Finance of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, reiterated the support of the BVI's Government for working with the UK Government towards implementation of a publicly accessible register of beneficial ownership for companies in line with international standards.

One of the foundations of the BVI's financial services industry is the certainty from its legal system, which is based on English common law. The BVI's own Commercial Court, established in 2009, has increased the BVI's reputation as a world-class financial services centre.

Notes:

1. https://www.facebook.com/ukinbvi

About BVI Finance

BVI Finance https://bvifinance.vg/ is the voice of the British Virgin Islands' financial services industry; marketing and promoting its products and services, as well as managing and maintaining its excellent reputation as a premier offshore financial centre.
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By Dr Ramzy Baroud

January 19, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - In an interview with British newspaper The Times in 2015, former US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld vehemently denied that exporting democracy was the main motive for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. "The idea that we could fashion a democracy in Iraq seemed to me unrealistic," he claimed.

However, the senior official was being dishonest. Writing in Mother Jones, Miles E Johnson responded to Rumsfeld's claim by quoting some of his previous statements where he repeatedly cited democracy as the main reason for the US invasion. The war became one of the most destructive since Vietnam.

It was not just Rumsfeld who promoted the democracy pretence quite brazenly. Indeed, "democracy" was parroted by thousands of Americans in government, the military, mainstream media and the numerous think-tanks across the intellectual and political landscape of Washington DC.

I could not help but reflect on this when, on 6 January, thousands of Americans stormed the Washington Plaza, climbed the walls of Capitol Hill and took over the US Congress. A country that has assigned to itself the role of "defender of democracy" worldwide, was unable to defend its own democracy at home.

In Iraq, as soon as US soldiers stormed into Baghdad in 2003 they hurried to occupy all government buildings and every symbol of Iraqi sovereignty. Triumphant soldiers were filmed rampaging through the offices of former Iraqi ministers and smoking their cigars while placing their dirty boots on top of their desks. Bizarrely, similar scenes were repeated in Washington two weeks ago, this time in the offices of US legislators, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

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Iraqi ministers were hunted down, with their photos and names circulated on what the US military referred to as "most wanted Iraqi playing cards". In the American version of the chaos, US Congressmen and women were forced to cower in the chamber or run for their lives.

The violent events in Washington have been depicted by US mainstream media as if they were but a temporary crisis, an aberration incited by a president who refuses to concede power peacefully and democratically. The reality, however, is far more complex. There is nothing transitory about any of this and, while Donald Trump is largely to blame for the bloody events of 6 January, the man is a symptom of America's rooted democracy crisis, which is likely to get worse.

Famed American linguist and historian Noam Chomsky has long argued that the US is not a democracy, but a plutocracy, a country that is governed by the interests of the powerful few. He has also argued that, while the US does operate according to formal democratic structures, these are largely dysfunctional. In an interview with Global Policy Journal in 2019, Chomsky asserted that, "[the] US Constitution was framed to thwart the democratic aspirations of most of the public."

This has been evident for many years. Long before Trump became President, the dichotomy of American democracy has expressed itself in the way that the American people interact with their supposedly democratic institutions. For example, according to a Pew Research Centre poll published last September, just 20 per cent of US adults trust their government. This number has remained relatively unchanged throughout previous administrations.

With the US economy sinking rapidly due to various factors, including the government's mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic, the people's distrust in government is now manifesting itself in new ways, including mass violence. The fact that 77 per cent of those who voted for Trump in the November election believe that Joe Biden's win was due to fraud, suggests that a sizable percentage of Americans have little faith in their country's democratic processes. The consequences of this realisation will surely be dire.

America's constitutional crisis, which is unlikely to be resolved in the current polarised atmosphere, is compounded by an external political crisis. Historically, the US has defined and redefined its mission in the world based on lofty spiritual, moral and political maxims, starting with "Manifest Destiny" to fighting communism and eventually serving as the defender of human rights and democracy around the world. The latter was merely a pretence used to provide a moral cover that would allow the US to reorder the world so that it can expand its market and ensure its global economic dominance.

Thomas Paine, whose influence on US ideals of liberty and democracy is arguably unmatched, warned in his 1776 pamphlet Common Sense against the potential tyranny of those who "attempt to govern mankind by force and fraud, as if they were all knaves and fools."

Alas, Paine's warning went unheeded. Indeed, the democracy fraud that Rumsfeld, George W Bush and his clique carried out in Iraq in 2003 was simply a repeat of numerous other fraudulent military campaigns carried out around the world. The "protectors of democracy" became and remain the very people responsible for its undoing.

Unquestionably, the storming of US Congress will have global repercussions, not least the weakening of US hegemony and its self-serving definition of what constitutes a democracy. It is possible that the US democracy doctrine could soon cease to be relevant in the lexicon of US foreign policy conduct as it is indeed predicated on "force and fraud".
New York: Testimony by the ex-girlfriend of the late wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein about her sexual experiences with consenting adults can remain secret when a transcript is released next week, a judge said on Wednesday (AEDT).

The ruling by US District Judge Loretta Preska in Manhattan pertained to a July 2016 deposition of Ghislaine Maxwell in a civil lawsuit brought by one of Maxwell's accusers that has since been settled.

Although the prurient interest of some may be left un-satiated as a result, Ms Maxwells interest in keeping private the details of her sexual relationships with consenting adults warrants the sealing of those portions of her testimony, Preska said at a hearing conducted electronically because of the coronavirus.

Audrey Strauss, acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York, at a news conference to announce charges against Ghislaine Maxwell in July. Credit:AP

Lawyers for the 59-year-old British socialite had objected to the transcript being made public on the grounds that it could damage her chance at a fair trial on charges that she recruited three underage girls in the 1990s for Epstein.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/19/2021



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Clare Crawley and Dale Moss have reportedly "decided to take some time apart" and decide if they will stay together after seeing their relationship struggle in recent weeks.Although Dale, 32, cares deeply for Clare, 39, a source told E! News he "feels like he's rushing into something he's unsure about.""They've decided to take some time apart for now... They are still figuring out the logistics of their relationship and if they will stay together," the source said.Clare and Dale portrayed a picture-perfect life after getting engaged on 's sixteenth season last year, but the source insisted, "Clare and Dale have been fighting a lot recently.""They are mainly in disagreement over lifestyle preferences," the source elaborated to E! News."Dale wants to be in a lively city and focus on his career, and Clare is rooted in Sacramento to help care for her mom. It's been very tense recently between them."In fact, the couple's recent Instagram activity suggests Dale has been in New York City while Clare has been spending her time close to home in Northern California."They are both still getting to know each other and figuring it all out," the source explained.Late last week, Clare revealed she had a "hard day" and was thankful to have her mother -- who battles Alzheimer's disease and dementia -- to help her through it."I'm so thankful to be able to see my mom in person now," Clare said, referencing how coronavirus had physically kept them apart for quite some time."I get so emotional because this time is precious and I know means everything to both of us, especially as her mind is slipping away and her body is getting weaker. I try and sing and laugh to add a little sunshine to her day, even if it's only for the 20 minutes they allow. I love it.""She has good days and bad, Just like we all do," Clare continued. "Well today I couldn't hide my hard day. A mother always knows. Without saying a word, she reached in her pocket and pulled out this tissue and just squeezed my hand."Clare and Dale last posted photos of each other on Instagram on January 9, when the couple's relationship seemed to be in good standing.Clare posted a photo with her man by the beach in La Jolla, CA, at the time and captioned it, "Let's never leave."And Dale also posted a photo of himself in the water in La Jolla on the same day.The couple also appeared to have a wonderful time ringing in the New Year together with Clare's two beloved dogs.Clare was convinced she had met her future husband when Dale stepped out of a limo on Night 1 of 's sixteenth season and took her breath away.It took less than two weeks for Clare to determine Dale was the guy she wanted to be with forever, and so she dumped all of her other bachelors to pursue that one relationship.Clare's journey on the show therefore ended prematurely with a steamy overnight date with Dale that led to Dale getting down on one knee and proposing marriage seemingly the next day.Once Tayshia Adams took over Clare's season, Clare and Dale sat down with host Chris Harrison during a November episode to talk about their surprising love affair."It's just been a dream come true," Clare gushed of her relationship."Every time I wake up, my mind almost reverts to old patterns of like, 'What did I do to deserve this, this man?' And I look over and he's like, 'I love you.' I then change my thought to, 'I've waited my lifetime for this.'"Dale added, "It was hands down love at first sight ... At the base of everything with her, in its truest form, we love each other. We had that, and it was undeniable."When Chris asked what was next for the couple, Clare immediately shouted, "Babies!"But Dale noted he'd like to get married before welcoming children.While many fans have been critical of Clare and Dale's quick-moving romance and whether it will last , the lovebirds felt no shame or embarrassment about getting engaged in less than a month of knowing each other."For me personally, there is no explanation needed. I've never been afraid of commitment. And when I met Clare, I knew I was all in. She lights a fire in me that I was missing for so long," Dale told People in a joint interview with Clare late last year."It may be fast for some people," Clare added, "and that's okay. But for us, it's working."Dale recently claimed he had turned down the opportunity to compete on multiple times after being nominated for the show but changed his mind once Clare was announced as the show's sixteenth-season star in March 2020.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
As this week marks the one-year anniversary of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions first confirmed coronavirus case in the United States, the CDC has a new director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky. She spoke to the Journal of the American Medical Associations network Jan. 19 about President Joe Bidens goal of delivering 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine within the first 100 days of his presidency. This was on the heels of the announcement of four new Cook County vaccination locations (available for health care workers who are part of phase 1a before opening to those eligible for phase 1b on Jan. 25).
DUBLIN, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Agriculture Analytics Market by Application Area (Farm Analytics, Livestock Analytics, and Aquaculture Analytics), Component (Solution and Services), Farm Size (Small, Medium-Sized, and Large), Deployment Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global agriculture analytics market size is projected to grow from USD 0.8 billion in 2020 to USD 1.4 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.2% during the forecast period.



Unlock the potential of urban farming, and growing trend of digitization and risk assessment would drive the adoption of agriculture analytics solutions. Rising demand to improve agricultural supply chain management due to COVID-19 pandemic, are also expected to drive the market growth. However, lack of standardization practices is one of the factors hindering the market growth. The objective of the report is to define, describe, and forecast the agriculture analytics market size based on component, application areas, farm size, deployment mode, and region.

The COVID-19 impact on various countries has affected the availability of labor, harvesting of crops, and disrupted crop monitoring. Digital agricultural processes such as drones and automated machines are expected not only to increase productivity, but also will require less manpower. Countries such as China, France, and the US have taken steps to increase the adoption of digital agriculture technologies to cope up with the current crisis situation. Even in other countries such as India and Spain, the demand for digital agriculture is expected to grow as a long-term positive effect of the COVID-19 situation.

Live Stock Analytics: The fastest-growing segment of the agriculture analytics market, by application.

Agriculture analytics solution and services helps livestock producers make better decisions by acquiring real-time information about animals and improve various livestock management process like feeding management, heat stress management, milk harvesting, breed management, behaviour monitoring and management, calf management, genetic management, and cattle sorting. Livestock analytics involves using different devices such as RFID, GPS, feeding systems, farm management systems, robotic milking machines, and other software technology solutions to improve farm production.

Large Farms: The largest growing farm size segment of the agriculture analytics market.

Technological advancements and growing focus to follow modern farming practices have made farmers and growers implement advanced agriculture analytics solutions. Large farm producers have the capital to invest on new technologies as compare to small and mid-size farm producers which allow them to develop a well-equipped next-generation agricultural infrastructure. Agriculture analytics solutions implemented on this agricultural infrastructure help farmers make data-based decisions such as which crops to plant for their next harvest, soil health, water availability, and predictions on rainfall.

APAC: The fastest-growing region in the agriculture analytics market.

APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, due to the increase in demand for agriculture analytics solutions and services. Growing economies in countries such as China, Australia and New Zealand, India, and Israel provide huge opportunities for the adoption of the agriculture analytics solution and services in the APAC region. Meanwhile, North America is projected to hold the largest market size during the forecast period.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights

4.1 Attractive Opportunities in the Agriculture Analytics Market

4.2 Market: Top Three Application Areas

4.3 Market: by Region

4.4 Market in North America, by Application Area and Farm Size



5 Market Overview and Industry Trends

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Market Evolution

5.3 Market Dynamics

5.3.1 Drivers

5.3.1.1 Increased Adoption of Urban Farming

5.3.1.2 Growing Trend of Digitization and Risk Assessment

5.3.1.3 Rising Demand to Improve Agricultural Supply Chain Management due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

5.3.2 Restraints

5.3.2.1 High Cost of Gathering Precise Field Data

5.3.2.2 Lack of Standardization Practices

5.3.3 Opportunities

5.3.3.1 Growing Adoption of Big Data IoT Sensors Transforming Livestock Care

5.3.3.2 Developing Countries to Offer Significant Growth Opportunities

5.3.4 Challenges

5.3.4.1 Technological Awareness Among Farmers

5.3.5 Cumulative Growth Analysis

5.4 Agriculture Analytics: Ecosystem

5.5 Market: COVID-19 Impact

5.6 Patent Analysis

5.7 Supply Chain Analysis

5.8 Value Chain Analysis

5.9 Technology Analysis and Trends

5.9.1 Blockchain

5.9.2 Gis-Based Agriculture

5.9.3 Satellite-Derived Data

5.9.4 Sky-Drones

5.9.5 Smartphones Technology

5.9.6 Rfid and Security Technologies

5.9.7 Big Data and Data Analytics

5.1 Porter's Five Force Analysis

5.10.1 Threat of New Entrants

5.10.2 Threat of Substitutes

5.10.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

5.10.4 Bargaining Power of Buyers

5.10.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry



6 Agriculture Analytics Market, by Application Area

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 Application Area: COVID-19 Impact

6.1.2 Application Area: Market Drivers

6.2 Farm Analytics

6.2.1 Planning

6.2.1.1 Field Mapping

6.2.1.2 Crop Scouting

6.2.1.3 Weather Data Analytics

6.2.1.4 Soil Moisture Analysis

6.2.2 On-Farm Production

6.2.2.1 Irrigation and Water Management

6.2.2.2 Fertilizer Management

6.2.2.3 Crop Growth and Health

6.2.3 Post-Harvest Activities

6.2.3.1 Storage

6.2.3.2 Processing

6.2.3.3 Transport

6.2.3.4 Market Access

6.3 Livestock Analytics

6.3.1 Feeding Management

6.3.2 Heat Stress Management

6.3.3 Milk Harvesting

6.3.4 Breeding Management

6.3.5 Behavior Monitoring and Management

6.3.6 Others

6.4 Aquaculture Analytics

6.4.1 Fish Tracking and Fleet Navigation

6.4.2 Feed Management

6.4.3 Water Quality Management

6.4.4 Others

6.5 Others



7 Agriculture Analytics Market, by Deployment Mode

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1 Deployment Mode: COVID-19 Impact

7.1.2 Deployment Mode: Market Drivers

7.2 On-Premises

7.3 Cloud



8 Agriculture Analytics Market, by Farm Size

8.1 Introduction

8.1.1 Farm Size: COVID-19 Impact

8.1.2 Farm Size: Market Drivers

8.2 Small and Medium-Sized Farms

8.3 Large Farms



9 Agriculture Analytics Market, by Region

9.1 Introduction

9.1.1 Regions: COVID-19 Impact

9.2 North America

9.3 Europe

9.4 Asia-Pacific

9.5 Middle East and Africa

9.6 Latin America



10 Competitive Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Market Evaluation Framework

10.3 Market Share, 2020

10.4 Historic Revenue Analysis of Key Market Players

10.5 Company Evaluation Matrix Definitions and Methodology

10.6 Company Evaluation Matrix, 2020

10.6.1 Stars

10.6.2 Emerging Leaders

10.6.3 Pervasive Companies

10.6.4 Participants

10.7 Strength Product Portfolio

10.8 Business Strategy Excellence

10.9 Startup/SME Company Evaluation Matrix, 2020

10.9.1 Progressive Companies

10.9.2 Responsive Companies

10.9.3 Dynamic Companies

10.9.4 Starting Blocks

10.10 Strength Product Portfolio

10.11 Business Strategy Excellence



11 Company Profiles

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Deere & Company

11.3 IBM

11.4 Monsanto Company

11.5 Sap

11.6 Trimble

11.7 Accenture

11.8 Delaval

11.9 Iteris

11.10 Oracle

11.11 Agribotix

11.12 Agrivi

11.13 Agvue Technologies

11.14 Awhere

11.15 Conservis Corporation

11.16 Dtn

11.17 Fbn

11.18 Farmers Edge

11.19 Geosys

11.20 Granular

11.21 Gro Intelligence

11.22 Precisionhawk

11.23 Proagrica

11.24 Resson

11.25 Taranis

11.26 Stesalit Systems

11.27 Fasal

11.28 Ageye Technologies

11.29 Heliopas AI

11.3 Onesoil

11.31 Root AI



12 Adjacent and Related Markets



13 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/b9b4q3

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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EDWARDSVILLE  Donald Trump is the first U.S. leader to be impeached twice by the House, but heading into Inauguration Day for President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday, there are more questions than answers.

For the second time in 13 months and the fourth time in American history, the Senate will hold an impeachment trial, and like many other people across the nation, SIUE political science faculty members Kenneth W. Moffett and Laurie L. Rice are wondering what will happen.

Trumps second impeachment came about mostly because of the attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6, but Trumps political future is uncertain at this point.

If he does get impeached, as he is now, he can still run for office because impeachment is not the same as a conviction, said Moffett, who is chair of the political science department at SIUE. Even if he is convicted, he could still run for office again if the Senate does not vote to disqualify him from future office.

The third phase after impeachment and conviction is the penalty phase, and the most common penalty is that your term of office is over, and you are removed. The Constitution does allow it to go further, to vote for disqualification for future office, and there is a precedent for that.

Rice, a professor of political science at SIUE, specializes in the presidency, media and politics, and political behavior.

With the House approving an article of impeachment accusing Trump of inciting violence against the U.S. government, Rice is anxious to see what the Senate will do.

The framers of the Constitution were particularly concerned about potential abuses of executive power given their previous experiences, Rice said. We see throughout the history of the presidency an effort to expand power and to push a little beyond what we see in the Constitution.

When presidents take an action of that kind, Congress can tell them no, whether by passing a law or by the strongest measure they can take, which is impeachment. That sends future presidents a message that this is not accepted. When Congress is silent, the message for future presidents is that this is within the bounds of acceptable presidential behavior.

The starting date for the trial is among the issues for the Senate to resolve. The Senate was not expected to reconvene until Tuesday, and if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi decides to send the article of impeachment to the chamber that day, the first day of the trial, which is largely ceremonial, would occur on Wednesday.

The trial could start as early as Inauguration Day, but what is more likely to happen is that the articles dont get sent until after President-elect Biden takes office, and then you would have the trial after the fact, Moffett said.

I think that the senators and Senate leadership will have to look at when the trial should occur, Rice added. Its definitely a challenge with Inauguration Day on the 20th and the start of a new administration and the desire to bring the country together. There is also the importance of carrying out the constitutional duty of a trial and to hold a president accountable.

Another issue is whether it is legal to hold the trial after Trump has left office. Legal scholars have weighed on both sides of the argument.

From my research, the majority of scholars say that a trial can be held even after the fact, Moffett said. In 1876, Secretary of War William Belknap resigned minutes before the House voted to impeach him. The House sent the articles of impeachment over to the Senate, which held a trial and voted 37-29 that he was immutable to trial by impeachment notwithstanding his resignation from said office.

Another question is whether there will be enough Republican support to convict Trump.

The article of impeachment passed out of the House with the support of 10 Republican members, making it far less partisan than the last Trump impeachment effort. But a conviction on the Senate side requires the vote of two-thirds of the body, which means that even if all Democrats vote to convict Trump, 17 Republicans will need to join them.

Youve had two Republicans who have come out and said they will vote for impeachment and a couple of others who have said they are open to it, Moffett said. The person to watch on the Republican side is (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell, who has said he is open to hearing the evidence.

If Mitch McConnell votes to convict, I would be willing to be that a number of other Republicans will vote to impeach as well.

With the trial rapidly approaching, Trump was still trying to organize a defense team.

Many of the lawyers involved last time do not want to return for round two.

One question would be who he would be able to secure to help him mount that defense, Rice said. We have already heard that the White House counsel does not intend to do so and that his personal lawyer does not intend to do so.

I think he might struggle to find a lawyer that wants to stand with him and defend him. He can probably find someone who is highly qualified, but given the gravity of what has occurred, there is not going to be a rush to want to mount a vigorous defense.

For the incoming administration, another issue is whether Biden will be able to accomplish his agenda while the trial goes on.

For that to happen, Democrats and Republicans will need to reach an agreement to allow business to proceed during hours that the trial is not being conducted.

There will be a couple of challenges and one is how the Senate balances its time between a trial and ways that enable them to confirm officials that need to be confirmed, Rice said. Another issue is whether the impeachment trial will dominate the news cycle far above the efforts of the Biden administration.

You have a number of Biden appointees who need to go through the approval process so different executive departments have leadership at the top, Moffett added. Part of that is also the COVID considerations, and President-elect Biden (on Thursday) just announced a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package.

Moffett expects Trumps impeachment to become an immediate topic of discussion in political science classes at SIUE.

Throughout the department, there are lots of faculty who are going to incorporate that into their courses and talk about it in various ways, Moffett said. We had a departmental discussion about exactly that issue and how different people are going to approach this topic. Outside of the faculty, we expect to hear a lot of different opinions.

Regardless of the outcome of Trumps impeachment trial in the Senate, Rice expects the events of the last few weeks to have a long-lasting effect on American politics and society.

There are a lot of discussions that we need to have in society about integrity and what it means to have political discussions, Rice said. I think we need to take a hard look at sources of information and have conversations about the spreading of misinformation versus the role of free speech.

There are so many sources of information today that have multiplied with every new technology and were struggling to keep up with those things. A lot of the conversations that we need to be having have not happened, and we have found ourselves at this point where people are so politically polarized.

Still, the U.S. has a history of bouncing back after tough times, and Rice hopes more than ever that it will happen again.

There have been times in our nations past when we have been deeply divided and then we have come together, Rice said. I think its easy to look at how deeply divided we seem to be and get discouraged and wonder about the path forward, but as American society, we have come together against deep divisions in the past.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Supreme Court to hear on Centre's plea seeking injunction against farmers' tractor parade today

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 20: The Supreme Court will on Wednesday resume hearing on the Centre's application seeking injunction against protesting farmers' tractor parade on Republic Day in Delhi. Farmer unions are insisting on holding a tractor rally on January 26 to press for their demand to repeal the three farm laws.

On Monday, a bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde had told the Centre that it cannot be the first authority to deal with it, instead the onus falls on Delhi Police on whether to allow farmers' entry into Delhi. The bench also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and Vineet Saran said that it is seized of the issue of farm laws and "we have not said anything on police powers".

Farmers' Protest: Centre-farmers to hold tenth round of talks today

It can be seen that the Centre, through the Delhi Police, has said that any proposed march or protest which seeks to disrupt and disturb the Republic Day celebrations will cause an "embarrassment to the nation".

During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing, the bench said who should be allowed to enter Delhi and who should not be allowed has to be dealt with by the police as the court is not the "first authority".

Biden-Harris pay tribute to Americans who lost their lives to COVID-19

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

Earlier on January 12, the top court had stayed the implementation of the contentious new farm laws till further orders and constituted the four-member committee to make recommendations to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers' unions protesting at Delhi borders.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 9:30 [IST]
Union Minister has asked state governments to accord top priority to road safety, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

The Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs also asked the state governments to motivate people for safer movement on road, with the involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), using social media on major basis for awareness and education about measures.

He was addressing 19th meeting of the Council (NRSC) on Tuesday here.

The meeting of NRSC takes place even as the country is marking its first-ever month, which began on Monday.

Gadkari gave the example of Sweden where zero tolerance towards road accident reduction is adopted, the road transport and highways ministry said in the statement.

He suggested that there should be a three-day mandatory training of engineers of the ministry, the Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department (PWD) and various agencies related to road construction for awareness about road safety.

Pointing out that there is a committee of MPs related to road safety, he requested all the MLAs to also focus on the issue of accident reduction in their constituencies.

The ministry has set up the NRSC with the mandate to advise on matters pertaining to the planning and coordination of policies and standards of safety in the road transport sector. It will also advise on formulating and recommending a road safety programme for implementation by the states' road safety organisations, among others.

(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.)
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On Jan. 17, Huawei and Trunk, a Chinese autonomous truck startup, entered into a partnership for the R&D and market promotion of the products related to smart port.

The signing of the agreement will further deepen the partnership after a long-time collaboration between the two companies in smart port field, said Trunk. They will co-work on developing and validating benchmark intelligent driving solutions, and expanding market.



Huawei, Trunk sigining agreement; photo credit: Trunk



The first smart port project co-developed by Huawei and Trunk was unveiled at the same time. At the Beijiang Port Area of Tianjin Port, a self-driving truck equipped with Huawei's MDC (Mobile Data Center) intelligent driving computing platform successfully carried out a whole-vessel operation under the uniform instruction delivered by TOS (terminal operating system). It completed many specific actions such as route planning, precise parking and obstacle response in the absence of human intervention.



Trunk's autonomous truck; photo credit: Trunk



As an autonomous trucking solution provider, Trunk has been vigorously pushing ahead with the commercial usage of its technologies in port logistics area.

On Nov. 2, 2020, Truck announced it had handed over 13 autonomous trucks to Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, hitting a record-high speed in the volume production of self-driving trucks.

Last month, the startup inked an agreement with WorldEx, China's leading integrated logistics service provider, to team up on building an industrial cooperation platform for smart port logistics business, and promoting the applications of relevant new technologies using WorldExs intelligent logistics information system and Trunk's smart driving & transport systems.

Hundreds of Indian farmers, mostly in their sixties, seventies and even eighties, are braving the bitter cold, have been protesting the three new farm bills that the Government of India has instituted. (ANI photo)
Mumbai, Jan 20 : Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra got a Covid test done before resuming shooting for the upcoming film Hungama 2 in the city. Shilpa took to her verified Instagram account on Wednesday to inform about the same.

The actress also shared a Boomerang video where she features in a retro look, dressed up like veteran actress-dancer Helen in her heydays.

Shilpa looks dazzling in a black full-sleeve dress made of net and completed her look with a retro hairdo.

"Back on the sets.. COVID tested. Hungama 2 in retro vibes . An ode to the OG queen #helenji. #vintage #fun #dance #retro #hungama2," Shilpa captioned her video.

Parts of the film have been shot in Mumbai and Himachal Pradesh last year. The Priyadarshan directorial comedy also stars Paresh Rawal, Mezaan Jaffery and Pranitha Subhash. Hungama 2, along with Nikamma, marks Shilpa's return to cinema after a gap of 13 years.
Stormont minister Edwin Poots says he will give serious consideration to having private surgery after being diagnosed with kidney cancer as urgent cancer operations remain cancelled due to coronavirus pressures.

Appearing on the BBCs Stephen Nolan Show on Wednesday morning, the DUP MLA said his cancer was discovered during his recent spell in hospital to remove his appendix.

Mr Poots says his condition is treatable and the prognosis is good. He also said he was feeling no ill-effects.

He has vowed to continue his ministerial work as he awaits the procedure.

The six centimetre tumour on his kidney was discovered by chance when he underwent emergency surgery on a burst appendix at Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital after being rushed from his home outside Hillsborough, Co Down just before Christmas.

A CT scan taken as part of his treatment detected a suspicious growth on his kidney.

Read More

Prior to his surgery, Mr Poots was also diagnosed with Covid-19 but did not have any symptoms.

The 55-year-old Lagan Valley MLA said he was told about the discovery as he recovered from a two-hour appendix surgery, adding that he was otherwise feeling well.

"The consultant told me the surgery had gone very well, but when they were looking at the scan they noticed a growth on my right kidney, he told the BBC.

When asked about his reaction, Mr Poots replied: It wasnt the best 24 hours of my life after the burst appendix, being told I had Covid and then about this suspicious growth on my kidney.

I have a strong personal faith and I know some people will deride that and sneer but I felt very strongly that God had put me on my back so that this would be discovered and that he has a further purpose for me in life. Thats something that I took great comfort from.

However, the coronavirus pandemic has delayed his ability to get an operation on the NHS in Northern Ireland and he is considering private health care.

Mr Poots has been told that his cancer surgery may be delayed for around six weeks.

"It is not a good place to be. I'm a strong character and have good presence of mind. The day after the appendix operation the pain relief wasn't working very well and logical Edwin disappeared and emotional Edwin kicked.

"I rang my wife to ask if she would come and see me but she wasn't sure if she would be allowed but said she would try.

"I was getting very emotional and not being logical at the time."

The Agriculture Minister said while he was opposed to private health care, believing it should be available to all, he would not risk his life for a political ideology.

I would never have taken out private health insurance because I have always believed that what is good enough for the public is good enough for me as a public representative.

But whenever I need it, it is not here to help me because it is totally absorbed in dealing with Covid-19 and thats hugely disappointing at a personal level.

While he has not yet made a decision on paying for his surgery, Mr Poots says he will give it serious consideration.

At the end of the day if I have to spend 10,000 or 15,000 - I dont know much it would be to be honest - if I have to spent that, I will do, because it is better to have something out of you that has the potential to take your life than carry on. It may be in England, the Republic of Ireland or here - I don't know.

I wouldn't rule it out and some people may criticise me for that but Im not going to give up my life for a political ideology.

He added: Why would you let it spread to another organ, or let it grow, if you know the problem exists?

My prognosis is good. I dont need chemotherapy. I dont need radio therapy. I need an operation.

Mr Poots also says he believes significantly more people will die because the Covid pandemic has led to lead to the cancellation of treatments.

The former health minister who has also held the environment and culture arts and leisure portfolios, was in front of MLAs on Tuesday taking questions on agriculture matters and Brexit.

Read More

In an email sent to his party colleagues, Mr Poots said its is very much business as usual while he awaits surgery.

Social media was awash with well-wishers after news of his illness first emerged on Tuesday night.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was reassuring to see the lovely comments from across the political spectrum for Edwin.

Cancer is indiscriminate and cruel, she said. Has touched so many. I talked to Edwin after he received this diagnosis. He has great determination and is sustained by a loving wife, family and great faith.
Thirty-one years have passed since the bloody 20 January. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Alley of Martyrs on the 31st anniversary of the 20 January tragedy which was committed by the Soviet empire in Baku, Trend reports.

President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva paid tribute to those who gave their lives for the countrys freedom.

President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath at the "Eternal Flame" memorial. The national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played.
Star Wars actors Pedro Pascal and Oscar Isaac did not act together in any franchise movies or shows. The two stars became fast, lifelong friends well before The Mandalorian came to Disney+, and even before Isaac signed on to the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. The two Latin American heartthrobs bonded over shared discrimination very early on in their careers.

Actors Pedro Pascal and Oscar Isaac | Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon

How did Star Wars actors Pedro Pascal and Oscar Isaac meet?

The Star Wars bromance between Pascal and Isaac began in 2005. At the time, neither actor knew they were going to become a part of the galaxy far, far away. The duo met while acting in the off-Broadway production, Beauty of the Father.

According to Theater Mania, the play follows a young woman who travels to Spain to visit her estranged father. While the two work on their relationship, they both fall in love with the same person  Karim (Pascal). Isaac portrays Federico Gracia Lorcas ghost, who comes from the afterlife to help the father come to terms with his homosexuality.

Story My first Off-Broadway show in NY was Nilo Cruzs The Beauty of the Father at Manhattan Theater Club in 2005. It starred Ritchie Coster, Oscar Isaac, @elizibethrodri2, myself and https://t.co/esoxkZdZZh  Pedro Pascal he/him (@PedroPascal1) November 19, 2018

RELATED: The Mandalorian: Pedro Pascal Admits to Cooing a Little Bit When He First Laid Eyes on Baby Yoda

The play ran for only a short time  from January 10, 2006, to February 19, 2006. However, it was enough time for the two men to become fast friends.

Pascal and Isaac bonded over a shared discrimination

When Pascal met Isaac, they found they had the same dreams and the same frustrations.

Its gotten better, but at that point, it was so easy to be pigeonholed in very specific roles because were Latinos, Isaac told Variety. Its like, how many gang member roles am I going to be sent?

They were both only being offered roles that directors thought a Latin-American could play. During the production, when they met, the two played characters from Spain.

The dream was to be able to pay rent, he continued. There wasnt a strategy. We were just struggling. It was talking about how to do this thing that we both love but seems kind of insurmountable.

The Star Wars duo spent New Years Eve 2021 together

Fast forward 15 years later  Pascal and Isaac are both part of the Star Wars universe  and still best friends. On Dec. 30, 2020, the pair spent New Years Eve celebrating together. Isaacs wife, filmmaker Elvira Lind shared a comedic photo of the two men drinking together.

Poe and Mando! Star Wars' Pedro Pascal and Oscar Isaac Ring in the New Year Together https://t.co/OFe40vsckA  People (@people) January 1, 2021

RELATED: The Mandalorian: Baby Yodas Initial Design Was a Doodle on Some Cocktail Napkins

The second season of The Mandalorian went out with another massive reveal in the last episode. Pascal also starred in Wonder Woman 1984, which was released on Dec. 30, 2020.

Isaac is starring in three films in 2021  all are currently in post-production. He also moves to the small screen, with Moon Knight in 2022. The two men have come a long way since scrambling to pay their rent 15 years ago. Fans even come up with off-the-wall scenarios that could find Poe Dameron and Mando meeting each other in another Star Wars series.
Linda Darling-Hammond, a Stanford University professor and the current president of the California State Board of Education, is heading up Joe Bidens education transition team. She is a big fan of the Chinese Communist Partys state-run education system. The Washington Free Beacon reported that she praised China for its magical work in creating a unified and robust teacher-government presence in student life. Well, there is no doubt the government has a robust presence in the life of students -- and every other citizen. She is also on record commending China for dramatically increasing public funding of education. That is easy to do when you confiscate most of what the public earns. In a 2017 book, she proclaimed: "Teachers in China are revered as elders, role models, and those whom parents entrust to shape the future of their children. In the Tao traditions of ritual, the phrase 'heaven-earth-sovereign-parent-teacher' is repeated and becomes ingrained in how people see themselves holistically governed and supported." They certainly are holistically governed. Sovereign refers to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who does whatever the hell he wants, not to the people, who are anything but sovereign.

The CCP routinely sends agents into classrooms to oversee things and snuff out any possible dissemination of western values or improper remarks. Oddly enough, that is just what happens in our own schools! Moreover, Xi Jinping has declared that China's systems of higher education must "serve the Communist Party in its management of the country, and that "adherence to the Party's leadership is essential to the development of higher education in the country." Oddly enough, that is just what happens in our own schools, where students must toe the Democratic party line and conservative Republicans are universally considered to be enemies of the state. And the similarities dont end there. In China, anyone who does not strictly adhere to the whims and mandates of the Communist Party is subject to swift punishment. In 2013, for example, a Chinese economist who dared to openly criticize the party was removed from his position at Peking University in Beijing. Hell, in the U.S., professors get the axe on a daily basis for having the temerity to espouse conservative positions. Reuters reported that Peking University subsequently established a 24-hour system to monitor public opinion on the internet. Universities dont have to go to that trouble in the United States, as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, et. al. do that job for them.

Darling-Hammond has reportedly long been on Harris Bidens short list for Secretary of Education, but she recently removed herself from consideration, vowing that she is committed to staying in the Peoples Republic of California, also known as West (East?) Beijing, and working with Democratic governor Gavin Newsom to achieve their goals for the State.

It appears that the Biden administration and the New Democratic-Socialist Party are committed to replicating the magical work the Chicoms have done with their education system. With one exception: you wont find any talk of social justice warring, the LGBTQIA community or trans rights in a Chinese classroom.

Wasnt it Confucius who said, Power corrupts -- and absolute power corrupts absolutely?

Maybe not.

But I know it wasnt Gavin Newsome, Linda Darling-Hammond or Eric Swalwell.

Image: Pixabay
Yellow fever is again becoming endemic in Nigeria due to two major reasons: superstition leading to vaccine resistance and poor vaccine storage, a PREMIUM TIMES investigation in two states that witnessed the outbreak revealed.

As a result of poor power supply, primary health centres (PHCs) cannot provide cold-chains for the storage of vaccines for the immunisation of local communities.

Health experts have said ending the disease in the country requires equipping PHCs to effectively carry out uninterrupted immunisation, sensitising residents, especially those in rural areas, on the importance of the preventive health measures and checking illegal vaccine trade.

In early October last year, reports emerged of multiple deaths from a strange disease in Enugu and Delta states.

The authorities in Enugu on November 6, 2020 said the disease had killed over 50 persons in parts of the state since it was first reported in late September.

A day later, the health commissioner of neighbouring Delta State, Mordi Ononye, also said about 22 persons had died in the state, but locals said that figure was conservative.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, in a statement on November 8, 2020, said initial investigations confirmed the strange disease was Yellow fever.

Mr Ihekweazu said most of the cases had symptoms including fever, headache, fatigue, jaundice and vomiting (with or without blood).

As of November 6, three samples from Delta and one sample from Enugu State tested positive for Yellow fever at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Laboratory in Edo and the NCDCs National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, he said.

While the disease was also spreading in other states amid the fight against COVID-19, Enugu and Delta reported the most cases in the 2020 Yellow fever outbreak.

The fatalities were unprecedented for both states. According to NCDC data detailing trends of Yellow fever outbreaks from 2018 to early 2020, both states until last year had reported only a few cases with no fatalities.

Following the emergencies, the state governments mid-November 2020 flagged off a massive Yellow fever vaccination campaign.

PREMIUM TIMES undertook a week-long trip in December to observe the campaign in both states. It revealed how low turnout due to superstition, poor awareness in rural settings, weak cold chains for preservation at PHCs and scarcity of vaccines in urban areas threatened the process.

The challenges to the campaign have resulted in a wider spread of the disease and more fatalities.

Enugu vaccine campaign

The Enugu State Government on November 19 said it had started mass vaccination against Yellow fever in three local government areas where it had confirmed an outbreak, targeting almost a million residents for immunisation.

George Ugwu, the executive secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), named the areas as Igboeze North (333,551 residents); Nsukka (398,094 residents) and Isi-Uzo (190,818 residents).

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He said the targeted numbers represented 85 per cent of the population of the areas.

He added that the state government had enough Yellow fever vaccine in stock and had trained and sent vaccinators to carry out the exercise in PHCs, special outreach centres and house-to-house.

But health officials at the PHCs visited in some of the affected areas told this reporter that many residents initially refused to accept the vaccines, frustrating a quick and effective response to the emergency.

At the Opi Health Centre in Idi-Opi, one of the affected communities in Nsukka East LGA, the reporter met about 18 residents waiting to receive the vaccine in an open ward.

Mabel Eze, a nurse, said it was the second round of the exercise.

During the first batch many people refused to come, she said. They did not believe that the strange deaths were caused by Yellow fever. They attributed it to spiritual causes and refused to accept the vaccines.

According to the nurse, some indigenes even convinced others that immunisation was dangerous for their health.

People only started coming in this second phase after more people died and they also noticed that those who took the vaccine did not die, she said.

There was no electricity supply at the facility, named as Early Bed Clinic on its signpost. This means it could not store vaccines for long.

Yellow fever vaccines are stored in cold temperature. But the clinic had no public power supply or generator and its solar energy panel was faulty and nonfunctional.

What we do is when we get stock of the vaccines, we buy ice packs and store them in cooler flasks. This process is not efficient because we cannot store the vaccine like that for a long period, making us to always bring them in low quantities, Mrs Eze said.

The nurse said this slows down the vaccination process and was allowing the disease to keep spreading.

The Yellow fever vaccine focal person in the area, Geraldine Okoye, said people from surrounding communities report to the centre for vaccination but, due to poor storage capacity, only a few are vaccinated in a day.

Deserted PHC

The PHC at Opi Agu, another affected community in the area, presented a clearer picture of Nigerias decrepit primary healthcare system. The facility looked deserted. You could hardly read out the inscription on its rusty signpost leaning on a tree as the two legs were broken.

There was no patient in the facility when the reporter visited. Cobwebs covered the beds. There was no toilet or running water and the drug shelves were empty.

In fact, the entire facility looked abandoned with cobwebs and broken roofs at every corner. The only two health workers said they had been at the facility since it was opened in 2008.

Callister Nwona, one of the Community Health Extension Workers, said the infrastructural challenges of the facility were the reason for its desertion.

She said the situation also affected the turn out of people for vaccination.

Many people refused to come here for vaccination because they feel we dont have the capacity to give it. You can see how this place looks deserted. We dont have light (electricity) to store vaccines, she said.

The nurse showed the reporter a decrepit well which was their only source of water.

People only started coming for the Yellow fever vaccine when more deaths started occurring. We buy ice packs to store the little quantity of vaccines we get from the local government.

The PHC at Ugbaike, Enugu-Ezike, Igbo-Eze North East LGA, had solar and public power supply, unlike the one in Opi Agu. The only challenge was persuading people to turn up for vaccination, health workers at the facility said.

Ripple effect

Nnabuife Ezeani, an indigene of Opi who lives in Enugu town, said lack of access to vaccines and peoples refusal to take one had caused more deaths from the disease.

Vaccine hawkers capitalised on the inadequate supply of vaccines in hospitals to sell free vaccines to unwary citizens, such as Mr Ezeani in Enugu urban areas, PREMIUM TIMES discovered, details of which will be provided in the second part of this investigation.

Mr Ezeani, a lawyer, shared how a former councillor, Chinedu Ezeani, and a deputy headmaster in one of the schools in Opi Agu died because of their refusal to take the vaccine.

Many people died because they refused to take vaccines due to their belief that Yellow fever was not the cause of the strange deaths.

The body of Chinedu Ezeh, a 37-year-old former councillor in our area, is in the mortuary as I am talking to you. He refused to take the vaccine when he showed the symptoms, saying nothing would happen and believing in traditional medicines.

The deputy headmaster at the Opi Agu primary school also died in that manner. When he got really sick, he refused the vaccines. When he was hospitalised, he promised to come back and kill everything off with beer.

This reporter visited the deceaseds school. Community Primary School, Nkwo Agu, was established in 1947 and looked as if it had not been rehabilitated since then.

Most of the roofs had given way, potholes covered the ground and the walls needed a fresh coat of paint. There were no doors or windows in the classrooms.

Gregory Eziah, the headmaster, said the death of his deputy was a monumental loss to the school. It is really difficult to forget him. He didnt show much symptoms until his death.

Mr Eziah said the death of his deputy spurred a mass vaccination of the entire school.

Prevention and tackling misinformation

This reporter met the king of Opi Agu, Pius Agbo, during a routine fumigation exercise in households and forests in the community. He said he had to enforce mass vaccination of the residents.

When the vaccination started, many people refused to take the drug. The first thing we did was to sensitise the people. After that we made a general announcement through the town criers that anybody that refused to be vaccinated would be ostracised from the community.

Opi Agu is a very big community with about 41 villages, so enforcing this kind of order did not come easy. Many people still did not come for the vaccination and some of them died. The body of a man is currently in the mortuary as I am talking to you. He refused to be vaccinated. More than 15 people died from this disease in my community, he said.

Sunday Cosmas, an entomologist, was directing the team of fumigators while the reporter spoke with the Igwe of Opi Agu.

I work with the National Arbovirus and Vectors Research Centre in Enugu. Our director, Emeka Asadu, sent us here to basically do two things: Larva source destruction, which is killing the vectors of mosquitoes by fumigating their breeding sites and water containers and killing the mosquitoes themselves, he said.

We are moving from house to house and community to community, he said.

The Disease Surveillance Inspection Officer (DSIO) at Igbo-eze LGA, the epicentre of the Enugu outbreak, also narrated the ordeal they faced in battling the contagion.

In late September, LG health authorities started receiving reports of strange deaths from Umu Opi and Uke on a daily basis and the LG disease surveillance and inspection office were alerted about the deaths. People were calling from Ete Uno also.

We first collected names of those manifesting symptoms and those that died and alerted the Enugu epidemiological unit which took samples to the lab in Abuja where it was confirmed that it was Yellow fever.

The official said the symptoms included jaundice or yellowing of the eyes, vomiting of blood, headache, cold and high fever.

He said a Yellow fever vaccination campaign was then launched in the affected communities.

The vaccines were given free but the challenge is that many people had myths and superstitions about the sickness, as it was the first of such in these areas. They said it was caused by evil spirits. It took more deaths and constant sensitisation for people to get immunised.

Delta vaccination campaign

Delta State started its Yellow fever vaccination programme about the same time as Enugu in November.

The targeted communities were in Ikah North East and South LGAs that bore the brunt of the outbreak in the state.

Most of the communities had not experienced a Yellow fever outbreak before, hence the superstition around the strange deaths.

Idumesah in Ikah North East LGA is one of the affected communities. The village practices gerontocracy, where the eldest man is the village head, the Okpana or Okparan-uku.

Most of the people that died in the community were youth. The villagers believed the deaths were because the village head had taken away the staff of the village deity, Mmuo. This prompted protests by the youth and women against the village head.

This myth was however dispelled by health officials who explained that the strange deaths were caused by Yellow fever.

At the Idumesa PHC, a health worker, Martin Akudo, said men between the ages of 15 and 44 started dying in late September.

There were riots and rituals were performed because the general belief was that the deaths were due to spiritual reasons. When vaccination started, many refused to come until doctors and health officials came with sensitisation programmes, he said.

Mr Akudo said the belief that the deaths were from spiritual causes was also disproved by people also dying in the same manner in neighbouring communities.

Prevention

The town crier, Edesah Osah, took this reporter to the palace of the Okpana, the village head.

At the palace, the Okparan-uku, Mburuchie Vincent Odili, who spoke through the town crier, said he was accused out of ignorance.

He thanked the state government and federal health authorities for intervening with the Yellow fever vaccination and fumigation.

The monarch also advised the community to keep the environment clean and use mosquito nets distributed by the government to prevent future outbreaks of the disease.

For now, we have been able to control the outbreak. People that initially refused the vaccines later took them, he said.

The PHC at Ute-Erumu, a neighbouring community that was also affected, was locked when this reporter visited. Some residents said they accepted the vaccines after a sensitisation programme by health officials.

Ute-Okpu PHC is one of the best within the area. Built to standard, it has constant electric supply and a standby generator. All the general wards and private rooms had air conditioners.

The head of the facility was not around during the visit but one of the nurses said an effective Yellow fever vaccination was coordinated from the facility.

The only challenge was in convincing the people to take the vaccines as many refused to take it initially, the nurse who refused to give her name as she was not authorised to speak, said.

Statistics

While Enugu and Delta were the epicentres of the Yellow Fever outbreak in Nigeria in 2020, there were cases of the disease in other parts of the country last year.

According to the latest NCDC Yellow Fever situation report of December 25, cases were reported in 13 states. These are Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Kogi, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Taraba.

A total of 3,112 suspected cases and 109 confirmed cases were reported from 30 LGAs in the 13 states. A total of 17 deaths was recorded among the confirmed cases with a (Case Fatality Rate) CFR of 17 per cent including Enugu (9), Delta (6), Bauchi (1) and Ebonyi (1).

Meanwhile, there were 249 deaths overall, believed to be from Yellow fever, the highest yearly tally since the resurgence of the disease in 2017.

Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease that can kill within 10 days if symptoms become severe.

Nigerias earliest outbreak of the fever was reported in Lagos in 1864, with subsequent regular outbreaks reported until 1996.

No confirmed cases were then reported for 21 years, until September 2017 when the viral infection was rediscovered in Kwara State.

The Yellow fever vaccination was introduced in Nigeria in 2004 as one of the vaccines expected to be given to children during routine immunisation. In spite of this, the country is still witnessing outbreaks of the disease.

The increasingly regular occurrence of outbreaks is largely because many people are not immunised, according to the NCDC. Vaccine hesitancy  a reluctance or refusal to be immunised  was named by the World Health Organization as one of the top 10 threats to global health in 2019.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said the vaccines procured by the government could not cover the entire country, hence the low immunization rate.

The yellow fever vaccines are free only for children under 5. The only time vaccines are free for the general public is when there is an outbreak and a campaign is flagged off as it was done in Enugu and Delta, an NPHCDA official said.

Once the campaign is over, anybody that needs the vaccine will have to source it.
Policy wonks are frustrated with the latest move from a Missouri politico . . .

The Hill: Hawley delays quick confirmation of Biden's DHS nominee

Whilst that might be interesting to people who don't regularly have sex.

Another screed proves more effective at arousing local opinions and debate about the NEXTGEN MAGA leader who remains defiant and has already stepped up his profile by way of progressive hateration.

Check the talking points published by this cowtown's "alternative" magazine . . .


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.
There is an emerging trend in Mumbai real estate as apartment owners - after receiving possession of their flat - are opting to stay on rent rather than in their own home. The reason happens to be the space. Homes that appeared to be worth living at the time of purchase while under construction were later deemed highly uncomfortable after completion when it was handed over to the home buyer.

It was perhaps inevitable. Unaffordable homes have been a reality in Mumbai for almost a decade. In order to combat this affordability challenge - developers, instead of slashing prices, preferred to slash the size of homes. Providing regulatory support to this move was the removal of minimum size norms.

Earlier, any habitable room had to be a size of 9.5 square metres (102 square feet) and a minimum width of 2.4 metres. While not entirely foolproof, it ensured a basic standard to always be considered. Today, there is no minimum size for a room although the minimum width level still exists.

Does size matter?

Architect Vilas Nagalkar points out that the purpose was to provide freedom to developers and let market forces dictate terms. It did provide freedom and the key ingredient was shrinking home sizes.

Eventually, the size of homes reached bizarre levels. Today it is no longer a shock for a local citizen to see a 2BHK apartment the size of 480 square feet. Yet such has been the inherent desire to own a home in Mumbai that apartments of these sizes from reputable players often found the fastest response  especially at the under-construction stage. First-time buyers that comprise three-fourth of the market in the commercial capital booked these apartments - taken in by the low ticket size as well as the sense of being an apartment owner.

The real challenge for these buyers occurs once the project is complete and residents start occupying the apartment. Hence, sales are critical at the under-construction stage for the developer. As one candid developer mentioned privately to me Its easier to sell a dream than to sell reality when the space is so small.

Are Mumbai apartments really small?

There is a school of thought that argues apartment sizes in Mumbai are not very small  especially in comparison to markets like Hong Kong or Tokyo. Factually, it is not an incorrect position. Hong Kong is probably the most outrageous housing market in the history of mankind. In 2019, 13 percent of the apartments sold were less than 260 square feet. 85 percent of these micro apartments didnt have a separate bedroom while 70% were lacking a window in the toilet. Ditto with Tokyo which while having cramped apartments often has higher ceilings that allow for a loft. Japanese regulations impose a maximum height of the ceiling at 30x the width of the pillars supporting the structures. Thus an industry has been formed that uses thicker columns to drive higher ceilings.

Hence, while the private space may not be large for a resident  the nearby public spaces and easy connectivity act as a support. Mumbai, in contrast, has amongst the lowest per capita public spaces in the world. The maximum city has a meagre 12 square feet of public space per person. This is less than half the level available in Hong Kong, 1/6th the space available in Singapore, 1/13th the amount in Shanghai and 1/30th the public space per person available in London.

Relevance of larger private space in Mumbai

Hence, the importance of a larger private space is more relevant in a city like Mumbai. Moreover since density and family sizes are higher in India. It is little surprise that the theme of tiny-apartments is beginning to unravel. Only a limited part of the small-apartment inventory that had got rolled out from 2016 has been delivered yet.

A substantial part of the delivery will happen by 2023. By then the trend would most likely have been firmed up. As Akhil Laddha of Mobius Architects points out, In other Indian cities, developers explicitly mention that compact apartments have been rejected by the home buyer audience. At some point Mumbai may likely witness the same and developers will have to chalk out new strategies.

There is not much advice to be given to a person who has already purchased these homes. But, my two points of advice to prospective home-buyers of these apartments: 1) Dont rush to buy an apartment due to societal factors. Prices arent running away higher for a while. Take your time in making the right choice 2) Evaluate micro-apartments in projects which are ready-to-move. That will help in deciding whether the space is adequate. Alternatively in under-construction projects, buy an apartment after spending hours (literally) imagining the space you will have and if it will be comfortable for at least the next five  seven years. Remember selling an apartment is not easy  especially at a lucrative price.

At its core with small apartments the inherent clash is between the innate dream to own a home vs the reality of living in that same home. There will be a winner.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Larsen & Toubro Infotech on Tuesday reported a 37.85 percent jump in net profit to Rs 519.3 crore for the December quarter, mainly driven by a surge in revenue and margin expansion.

The IT arm of engineering major L&T had posted a net profit of Rs 376.7 crore in the year-ago period.

It reported a 12 percent increase in revenues to Rs 3,152.8 crore for the quarter as against Rs 2,811 crore a year ago. Compared to the preceding September quarter, the revenues were up nearly 6 percent.

Its chief executive and managing director Sanjay Jalona said the company's revenues have exceeded the levels attained in FY20 and exuded confidence of closing FY21 with revenue growth in high single digits.

The net income margin expanded to 16.5 percent as against 13.4 percent in the year-ago period and 15.2 percent in the preceding September quarter.

Jalona said a higher utilisation of over 84 percent, greater volume of work done onshore in India and faster revenue growth helped in the margin expansion.

The company is targeting to maintain the net income margin number between 14-15 percent and will be investing accordingly into the business because it wants to be seen as a growth company, Jalona said.

Jalona said he is happy with the deal pipeline and the conversations with clients are centred around digital transformation and workforce modernisation contracts.

Refusing to comment on whether the worst is behind for the IT industry, which has been posting handsome performance numbers, Jalona said he is very optimistic about the vaccination.

The total headcount of the company increased to nearly 34,000 at the end of December from 31,419 in the year-ago period and 32,455 in the September quarter.

Attrition also came down to 12.4 percent from 17.7 percent in the year-ago period.

The company scrip on Tuesday rose 1.93 percent to close at Rs 4,093.10 apiece on the BSE.
DURHAM  A petition to ensure there are no exhibits, memorabilia or other displays of the Confederate flag at the Durham Fair, initiated and submitted to the association by a local racial justice coalition, was recently reinvigorated to coincide with Martin Luther King Day.

The Change.org petition, Call for Community Letters to the Durham Fair Association, had been signed by 3,835 people as of Tuesday afternoon. It has a 5,000-signature goal.

In the petition, members of the Middlefield-Durham Racial Justice Team asked that the Confederate flag and all related memorabilia not be permitted at the event.

We feel that the time to make this change is now. While some may say that the flag is a symbol of Southern heritage, it is clear that it also is used as a symbol of white supremacy and as a tool of oppression, the post read.

Such a divisive symbol cannot be part of a fair that wants to be inviting and inclusive of all, it said.

The petition, initially titled Remove the Confederate Flag from the Durham Fair,, was sent to the agricultural fairs leadership last September, according to a Jan. 12 post on change.org.

Fair officials in the rural town in mid-May 2020 canceled the 101st annual agriculture celebration due to the pandemic.

The fairs exhibitor policy states it has the right to decline exhibits it considers to be inappropriate to its reputation or image, and this includes the right to ask the exhibitor to remove the exhibit.

Any items, actions or activities deemed by the fair to be a threat to the safety of visitors, such as weapons or offensive material, cannot be displayed and will be removed, according to the website.

The Press reached out to fair President Daniel Miramant, Paul Bergenholtz of the Middlefield-Durham Racial Justice Team and Middlefield Federated Church pastor Bekah Forni. All declined comment for this story.

The petitions did not offer an specific instances of the flag being seen or offered for sale at the fair.

The racial justice team was formed as an initiative of the Middlefield Federated Church, according to the petition.

The issue of the flag has arisen in the past. A controversy erupted surrounding the Confederate Railroad bands performance at the fair in 2015, over the name of the band and its use of the flag in promotional and performance materials, according to the Record-Journal.

University of New Haven National Security Department professor Robert Sanders said while the Confederacy was dissolved following the Civil War, the symbols dont disappear. Theyre just put in the closet, Sanders said.

He pointed to Brazil, where 10,000 Southerners relocated to Sao Paulo following the war. Seven generations later, there are still county fair-type festivals in honor of Confederate Remembrance Day. They are removed from the real meaning of behind the artifacts, what they were representative of, and what they were trying to support, Sanders said.

Celebrants dont necessarily know the history of the Civil War, and what the Confederate flag and other symbols mean to millions of people in Africa, North and South America, he said.

To them, our racial killings with guns (in the U.S.) is a safety problem with guns, not a human problem of hatred, segregation and white supremacy  the underlying factors that brought all that to life, Sanders said.


DGAP-News: Linde plc / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Linde Signs Long-Term Agreement with BorsodChem, member of Wanhua Chemical Group



20.01.2021 / 12:00

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Linde Signs Long-Term Agreement with BorsodChem, member of Wanhua Chemical Group



Guildford, UK, January 20, 2021 - Linde (NYSE: LIN; FWB: LIN) has signed a long-term agreement with BorsodChem Zrt., the Hungarian chemical company and member of the Wanhua Chemical Group, for the supply of nitrogen, oxygen and compressed air to its chemical complex in Kazincbarcika.

Linde will construct one of the largest air separation units in Hungary, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. In addition to supporting BorsodChem's expansion, the plant will provide additional nitrogen, oxygen and compressed air to meet the increasing demand for industrial gases in Hungary and surrounding countries.

"We are proud of our track record of safely and reliably supplying industrial gases to BorsodChem and are excited to have the opportunity to further support the company's growth," said Andreas X. Muller, Head of Hungary and Austria at Linde. "In addition, by building significant new capacity in Hungary we have the opportunity to broaden our supply of industrial gases to other regional customers in response to increasing demand from resilient end markets."

About Linde

Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2019 sales of $28 billion (25 billion). We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which are making our customers more successful and helping to sustain and protect our planet.

The company serves a variety of end markets including chemicals & refining, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing and primary metals. Linde's industrial gases are used in countless applications, from life-saving oxygen for hospitals to high-purity & specialty gases for electronics manufacturing, hydrogen for clean fuels and much more. Linde also delivers state-of-the-art gas processing solutions to support customer expansion, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions.

For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.linde.com.
A building site has been hit by an outbreak of coronavirus, as construction workers claim the government is 'waiting for them to die'.

Several people at the India Buildings development in Liverpool, which 550 builders are currently refurbishing as a government tax headquarters, have been struck down with the virus.

This comes as labourers have slammed ministers for failing to close non-essential sites during the lockdown, despite the mounting death toll.

Many have warned that Covid is 'running rampant', with little protection for staff and have questioned why sites are considered essential places of work.

One London council has now launched a testing programme for construction workers in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain told MailOnline that companies had a duty of care, and must 'accept their responsibilities to the workers on their sites during this time.'

He also said firms should ensure free car parking is available to workers.

Several people at the India Buildings development in Liverpool - where some 550 builders are currently working - have been struck down with the virus

Labourers have slammed ministers for failing to close non-essential sites during the lockdown

London council gives priority testing to construction workers Southwark Council in south London has listed construction workers among the groups to be included in a new asymptomatic testing programme. Anyone in the borough who is required to work outside of their home will be encouraged to undergo a rapid covid test. The council said: 'We are currently encouraging key workers and those who can't work from home to get a lateral flow test. 'This includes school staff, supermarket staff, transport workers, security guards, cleaners, construction workers and many other roles.' Advertisement

Several positive coronavirus cases were confirmed at Liverpool's India Buildings, according to the Liverpool Echo today.

Overbury, the firm refurbishing the offices, has confirmed eight positive coronavirus cases on the site.

Some employees told the ECHO that Covid safety measures not rigorous enough and not being followed by managers.

They claim workers are failing to get tested weekly and say conditions in the toilets were 'appalling'.

The whistleblower also claimed that up to 40 workers were forced to eat together in the canteen.

A spokesman for the firm told MailOnline that employee safety was a 'key priority'.

The spokesman added: 'We have implemented strict Covid-secure practices in line with Government guidelines across our sites since March 2020.

'As an additional proactive approach, we encourage everyone on site at the India Buildings project in Liverpool to have weekly lateral flow tests.

'Eight colleagues have tested positive for Covid-19. In line with government guidelines and company policy, these individuals are currently self-isolating and we wish them a speedy recovery.

'The site has a very large canteen used for breakfast and lunch, with ample space for 2 metre social distancing. Workers are given a specific area and time-slot for meals and the areas are cleaned after each sitting.'

Meanwhile Nicola Sturgeon faced a backlash this morning after tweeting an image of Europe's biggest fish market, where exports have been crippled in the wake of Brexit.

Scotland's First Minister was met with fury from workers, one of whom accused her of, 'sending construction workers out like lambs to slaughter,' after she permitted construction work to continue through the lockdown.

Another tweeted: 'Are you just waiting on outbreak of covid to hit building sites or for some healthy young construction worker to die from it when he caught it on site?

'What makes non essential construction more important than other non essential jobs.'

A closed construction site in Dublin city centre, pictured yesterday

Many have warned that Covid is 'running rampant', with little protection for workers and have questioned why sites are considered essential places of work

Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain told MailOnline: 'Principal contractors and construction clients must recognise and accept their responsibilities to the workers on their sites during this time.

'During the pandemic they have a duty of care to workers which starts from when they leave their home and does not end until when they return again at night. Throughout that time workers must be able to socially distance.

'Contractors need not only to start coordinating on staggering start times across major projects in London to ensure that congestion is kept to an absolute minimum but also widen the time frame in which workers arrive at site.

'There is no point on telling workers to avoid congested trains or stations, unless construction contractors introduce policies which do not penalise or victimise workers who arrive for work late due to following the advice to avoid overcrowding on the transport system.

'Equally construction companies need to ensure free car parking is available to workers and work with the authorities so that where it applies identified construction workers are exempt from the congestion charge.

'Such action would create a real option to drive to work, but if they do so then workers must not be tempted to car share which in itself would create a major risk of transmission.

'Ultimately the challenges faced in keeping workers safe in travelling to and from work will not be resolved by any one organisation working on their own in a silo.

'It is imperative that construction contractors, Unite, construction clients the Mayor of London and the government work together to ensure that workers are able to safely go to work and return home again without the risk of being exposed to Covid-19.'

London transport bosses say 90% of passengers ARE wearing face masks  but 1,700 fines have been dished out since July in crackdown on flouters

By Faith Ridler for MailOnline

Around 90 per cent of travellers in London are adhering to Covid rules and wearing face masks on public transport, Transport for London says.

Data released by TfL shows some 1,700 people have been fined for not wearing face coverings in the seven months since they were made mandatory on the network.

These Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) have been as much as 660 for those convicted of a first offence, with one repeat offender having to pay a total of 1,170.

However, TfL says it has seen 'around 90 per cent compliance at the busiest times of the day,' with only a minority of passengers 'continuing to ignore the regulation and putting themselves and their fellow passengers at risk.'

It comes as TfL yesterday urged major employers in East London including Amazon, Sainsbury's and Wickes to stagger start times for workers in a bid to reduce overcrowding on the Tube.

Use of public transport in London has plummeted since the pandemic hit in March, with TfL confirming on Monday it had seen 18 per cent of normal demand on the Tube up to 10am.

Around 90 per cent of travellers in London are adhering to Covid rules and wearing face masks on public transport, Transport for London says. Pictured: British Transport Police at London Bridge station on January 15

Data released by TfL shows some 1,700 people have been fined for not wearing face coverings in the seven months since they were made mandatory on the network. Pictured: Canada Water Station on Tuesday

Apple mobility data also suggests public transport use in London is down 65 per cent on a normal level, with the number of Britons driving also dropping 42 per cent.

However, TfL said it has stopped around 128,000 people from boarding services until they put on a mask since July, with around 9,300 prevented from travelling and 2,100 ejected from services.

Siwan Hayward, Director of Compliance, Policing Operations and Security at TfL, said: 'People should only be travelling if they have a legitimate reason and ensuring the network is safe for those customers, which include NHS and other key workers, is our top priority.

'Wearing face coverings, unless exempt, has been mandatory for seven months now and we continue to communicate the requirement in stations, on platforms and on-board services, so there really is no excuse for not wearing one properly for your entire journey when travelling on our network.

Use of public transport in London has plummeted since the pandemic hit Britain in March, with TfL confirming on Monday it had seen 18 per cent of normal demand on the Tube up to 10am. Pictured: Commuters on a Jubilee Line train on Tuesday

Apple mobility data suggests transit use in London is down 65 per cent on a normal level, with the number of Britons driving also dropping 42 per cent

'London is at a critical point in this pandemic and this is no time to be complacent with the measures we take to protect ourselves and others.'

A survey by the network found 75 per cent of Londoners are supportive of TfL enforcing the use of face masks on public transport.

The network has recently stepped up its enforcement of the rule, expanding its team of enforcement officers and handing out more fines to non-compliers.

It has added 500 enforcement officers to TfL staff who will ensure the public's compliance with coronavirus safety regulations, alongside tackling aggression and fare evasion.

They will work with the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police and carry out enforcement operations every day across London.

A survey by the network found 75 per cent of Londoners are supportive of TfL enforcing the use of face masks on public transport

Analysis of CCTV footage shows the vast majority of passengers are wearing coverings inside stations, TfL said, unless they are exempt from doing so

These are regularly undertaken at stations with low compliance, with an operation taking place near Walthamstow bus station yesterday morning.

Chief Superintendent Martin Fry, of British Transport Police, said: 'We operate across the rail, Tube and tram network in London daily, engaging with members of the public, explaining the current restrictions, encouraging compliance and where necessary issuing fines.

'I'm pleased to say our frontline officers report the vast majority of people at stations and on-board trains are wearing face coverings, or are willing to wear one when challenged.

The network has recently stepped up its enforcement of the rule, expanding its team of enforcement officers and handing out more fines to non-compliers

'Coronavirus is a very real and present danger. Wearing a face mask on the rail network and abiding by the current restrictions is very important, it saves lives and ensures the railway is safe for those who absolutely need to use it, such as those who work in the NHS.

'We'll continue to fully support TfL and the wider rail industry.'

On Tuesday, TfL urged employers in East London - including Amazon, Sainsbury's and Wickes - to stagger start times for workers in a bid to reduce overcrowding on the Underground.

Concern was mounting over a lack of social distancing on Jubilee line services, particularly around Canning Town and West Ham, as key workers continue to go into work during England's third national Covid-19 lockdown.

Commuters sit on a Jubilee Line train in East London on Tuesday as England's third national lockdown continues

Commuters on board a Jubilee Line train in East London as they travel to work on the Underground on Tuesday

Transport for London has asked large employers in the area  also including Tate and Lyle, City Airport and Royal Docks  to stagger shifts to enable those who have to travel to work to do so in the quieter times.

TfL officials have also sent advice to business groups, construction companies and the supply chain through Build UK, and are meeting with trade unions amid growing concerns about the safety of staff and customers.

Many lower paid workers touch in their Oyster card on the Underground or Overground before 6.30am on weekdays to pay cheaper off-peak fares. TfL peak times run from 6.30am to 9.30am, and 4pm to 7pm.

But some builders have been left angry by construction sites changing shift times, meaning they now have to pay more to travel at peak times and won't get home until late in the evening - causing problems with childcare.

Among them was Jefe Cortez, who tweeted: 'TfL, can you explain to me why my site has told me I can't start work until 9.30am to comply with your new guidelines that say construction workers aren't allowed on the trains during certain times in the morning?

'F***ing disgraceful. How am I supposed to help my wife look after my children in the evenings if I'm not getting home until 8.30pm every night?'
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Bouillons and Stocks (Seasonings, Dressings and Sauces) Market in the United Arab Emirates - Outlook to 2024; Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics (updated with COVID-19 Impact) is a broad level market review of Bouillons & Stocks Market in The United Arab Emirates.

Bouillons & Stocks - Includes all stocks and bouillons made by boiling animal carcass or meat in water and sold in either liquid or in dehydrated (solid) form. Includes pre-made gravies but not gravy granules.

Bouillons & Stocks market in the United Arab Emirates registered a positive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.02% during the period 2014 to 2019 with a sales value of AED 82.27 Million in 2019, an increase of 6.25% over 2018. The market achieved its strongest performance in 2018, when it grew by 8.34% over its previous year and its weakest performance in 2019, when it increased by 6.25% over 2018.

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Furthermore, the research handbook details out Sales Value and Volume for top brands for the year 2016 to 2019 and overall market sales by Distribution Channel (Dollar Stores, Variety Store & General Merchandise Retailers, Cash & Carries and Warehouse Clubs, Convenience Stores & Gas Stations, Department Stores, Drug Stores & Pharmacies, Chemists/Pharmacies, Parapharmacies/Drugstores, eRetailers, Food & Drinks Specialists, Health & Beauty Stores, Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Direct Sellers, Others, On Trade, Vending Machines, Other Specialist Retailers, Tobacco Specialists) where ever applicable.

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New US President Joe Biden warned at his socially distanced inauguration that the world was entering "what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus"

A coronavirus variant that emerged in England has swept through more than 60 nations including China, officials confirmed on Wednesday, as Joe Biden warned during his inauguration as US president the deadliest phase of the contagion was yet to come.

The United States has already suffered more than 400,000 deathsalmost one fifth of the global tollsince the epidemic took hold early last year.

"We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation," said Biden, who led a brief silent prayer for the victims during his inauguration ceremony.

His renewed pledge to tackle the virus came as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that more than 60 countries were now grappling with a UK strain and 23 nations had reported a South African variant, both of which are believed to be more infectious.

The emergence of new strains has tempered optimism that mass vaccinations would help to end the shutdowns and curfews that have wrecked economies across the world.

Much of Europe is still in an intense phase of the virus, the UK posting record deaths once again on Wednesday and the Netherlands announcing it would impose its first curfew since the pandemic began.

Main proposals by US president Joe Biden to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

'Pharmacy of the world'

Early results from two studies looking at the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, however, did at least provide some cause for optimism.

"Our results suggest that the majority of vaccine responses should be effective against the B.1.1.7 variant," said one of the group of researchers, using the technical term for the British variant.

The effort to inoculate the world's population generated more positive headlines on Wednesday, with India exporting its first batch of locally produced coronavirus shots.

The "Pharmacy of the World will deliver to overcome the COVID challenge", Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted, as India promised supplies to several other countries in the region.

More than 51 million vaccines have now been given out around the world, according to an AFP count, but the WHO has warned that rich countries are hogging most of the doses.

US President Joe Biden has promised to make the virus one of his main priorities

Israel has vaccinated the highest percentage of its population by far, while the US has administered the most shots, followed by China and the UK.

The US has attracted wide criticism over its haphazard attempts to tackle the virus under Trump, who frequently undermined the advice of government experts on mask-wearing and other precautions.

Biden's point-man for fighting the pandemic said the new leader would establish an office of COVID-19 response inside the White House and rejoin the WHO.

"America's withdrawal from the international arena has impeded progress on the global response and left us more vulnerable to future pandemics," said Jeff Zients.

He added that leading US coronavirus expert Anthony Fauci will lead a delegation to take part in the WHO Executive Board meeting on Thursday.

England's Salisbury cathedral transformed itself into a covid vaccination hub

Wuhan's 'tough year'

In China, 1.6 million residents were banned from leaving Beijing on Wednesday as two COVID-19 cases linked to the UK virus variant were found in the capital.

The country is battling its largest resurgence in nearly a year, although the official figures are startlingly low compared to the rest of the world: just seven cases were reported in Beijing on Wednesday.

Authorities ordered residents of the southern Beijing district of Daxingwhich covers one of the city's two international airportsto remain indoors.

But in Wuhan, the city of 11 million people now synonymous with the coronavirus, wet markets thronged with shoppers, elderly dancers rehearsed in the parks and bars sold "Wuhan Stay Strong" craft beer.

"Wuhan had a tough year in 2020," Wang Chen, a 20-year-old resident, told AFP, adding that China "handled the crisis very well".

1.6 million residents have banned from leaving Beijing as two Covid-19 cases linked to the UK virus variant were found

New variants of the virus have raised questions about vaccine effectiveness

A partial lockdown was imposed on Beijing on Wednesday, with 1.6 million residents banned from leaving the city

Push-up punishment

Despite mounting case numbers, organisers of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics said they were "unwavering" on holding the event this year.

Ahead of the six-month countdown, Games CEO Toshiro Muto told AFP the sporting showpiece was still possible, but conceded people were "anxious" with Tokyo under a state of emergency.

"We are not discussing cancellation," he said, while admitting organisers couldn't rule out staging the event without spectators.

Meanwhile, on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, dozens of foreigners caught without masks have been subjected to an unusual punishmentpush-ups in the street.

Video footage showed people in T-shirts and shorts doing the vigorous exercise on pavements in the sweltering tropical heat, as masked security officials stood over them.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Francis Collins says COVID-19 vaccines don't use 'fresh' fetal tissue: 'Absolutely not the case'

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The evangelical director of the National Institutes of Health answered some of the common concerns tied to the COVID-19 vaccines in a new podcast for the National Association of Evangelicals in which he urged Christians to take part in the vaccine rollout.

In a Friday conversation with NAE President Walter Kim, the pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, NIH director Francis Collins weighed in on the ethical dilemmas some are expressing about the recently unveiled coronavirus vaccines.

Collins, the author of The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief and founder of The BioLogos Foundation, offered that Christians should approach the current public health crisis to not only call upon God for help but also to recognize that God calls Christians to be part of the solution.

"In times of plague, and it's not the first one nor will it be the last, Christians have had a tradition of not running away from the challenge but running toward it," the 70-year-old geneticist said.

What the vaccines do is attempt to convince human immune systems to produce antibodies to fight the proteins of the virus so they will be ready to attack. None of the latest vaccines are made up of the entire virus.

The Moderna approach utilizes the coding information for the spike protein in the molecule called RNA. That is injected into the shoulder of the patient, and the body then recognizes the spike protein and fights it. The trials of approximately 30,000 patients have shown that this has a 95% effective rate in preventing people from getting sick if they are going to be out in the community and exposed to the disease, he said.

Collins emphasized that the medical data should drive the decision-making of Christians, not a "crazy posting" on social media or opinions that might be heard on the street.

"We are people who are capable of rational thought," he contended. "We should be using it right now even as we are giving thanks to God Almighty that we are in a position to say that this pandemic could be behind us."

Chief among the concerns some Christians have about vaccines is the utilizing of tissue derived from babies aborted decades ago to develop the vaccine. Some pro-life advocates have urged others not to take the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine because of such concerns.

"No current fetal tissue is being used for any of these vaccines," Collins said, noting that he is often asked about what Christians should do in order to maintain a consistent pro-life ethic.

The only connection to tissue from aborted fetuses being used in vaccines is from cell lines derived in the 1960s and 1970s from elective abortions in Scandinavia at a time when it was legal, he explained. Those cell lines turned out to be useful in the biotechnology industry for a variety of purposes, so they have been put to work.

The vaccines are made with synthetic RNA and lipids but no cell lines, he continued. The cell lines have been used to evaluate whether vaccines are safe and effective. He assured that the lines have not been involved in the production of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

"I think people should be fairly reassured, though, because there's a lot of suggestion that this is utilizing fresh fetal tissue right now. That is absolutely not the case," he stressed.

Speaking to those who say they prefer to wait until herd immunity is reached, the NIH director said that would require around 80% to 85% of the population to be exposed and most will have to take some risk. He argued that such a view does not sound like a particularly compelling Christian position.

"Aren't we supposed to be the people who are supposed to be looking out for others and try to put ourselves in the love-your-neighbor position and doing what we need to do  not just for ourselves but also for everybody else, he said. So, I would think that Christians would be uncomfortable espousing that particular approach and just expecting that everyone around them is going to take care of them."

"It doesn't seem quite like the kind of attitude that Jesus calls us to, he added.

If Christians want to run toward a solution in a time of crisis they can volunteer to take the vaccine or participate in the trials, he added.

Asked about the concerns being voiced regarding the vaccine among African Americans given the painful history of medical abuse they have endured in the U.S., Collins acknowledged that it is a serious issue. He noted the Tuskegee syphilis experiment.

"We have a lot of work to do to convince the African American and Hispanic communities that this is really in their best intention, and that, I think, requires voices, not like mine  a white guy who works for the government, he said. But [we need] leaders in those communities who look at the evidence and say, 'Ok, there were some bad things that happened in the past, but this time, this is actually something that's going to be good for us. Let's not pass it up.

Collins believes January 2021 may be the worst month yet in terms of the risk of disease spread. He urged people to continue taking precautionary measures like social distancing and wearing masks.

"None of us know if we may be that asymptomatic but highly infected individual whose mere presence in a closed room might be the start of something regrettable and egregious for those around us," he said.

At a recent government celebration announcing the vaccine, Collins read Psalm 103, part of which praises God for forgiving sins and healing diseases.

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits  who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases," Psalm 103:2-3 reads in the NIV.
Shares in Pearson leapt almost 9 per cent as the education publisher returned to growth even as it battled exam cancellations and school closures.

It said total sales had increased by 4 per cent in the final three months of 2020, its first positive figure of the year after three quarters of decline.

The rise included a 30 per cent boost to online learning sales, a division that has seen demand turbocharged by the coronavirus crisis as universities and schools switch to remote learning.

Home learning boom: Education publisher Pearson revealed total sales had increased by 4 per cent in the final three months of 2020

However, Pearson said sales had fallen 10 per cent overall in 2020 compared to the previous year as other areas, including sales of textbooks and exam materials, were hammered by disruption.

In just one example, the closure of immigration and test centres in Australia meant that the number of the companys English language tests being taken dropped 36 per cent lower than in 2019.

Despite this, the firm said it was on course to deliver 310million to 315million in adjusted underlying profit. Andy Bird, the companys new boss and a former Disney executive, said: Uncertainty remains in the near term as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Stock Watch - Synairgen British drug maker Synairgen is pushing ahead with trials of its Covid-19 treatment in patients homes after recruiting people for a study. Its inhaled drug aims to stimulate the bodys immune system to fight off the virus. Synairgen previously did a trial with 101 hospital patients, which suggested it cut the odds of becoming severely ill by 80 per cent. It is now carrying out a larger hospital trial and a separate test at patients homes on 120 people. It fell 5.3 per cent, or 9p, to 162p.

However, I am excited about our future given the shift to online learning and the huge opportunity to help more people develop the skills they need.

Shares rose 8.6 per cent, or 58.2p, to 737.2p, their highest since 2019.

It has been all-change at flexible office provider IWG, which fell 3.3 per cent or 11p to 324p Boss Mark Dixon is revamping its approach to adapt to a new norm where workers divide their time between home and the office.

This hybrid approach will see companies use offices more for meetings, collaboration and training, with staff coming in fewer days per week.

That has spelt trouble for some landlords, who have seen their buildings emptied, tenants refusing to pay and clients scaling back space requirements.

IWG, which owns the Regus brand, has set aside a further 160million in costs related to closures of sites that are no longer profitable, on top of 156million announced last August.

But it believes it has a bright future providing flexible office services, and has signed a deal with bank Standard Chartered to do so in 3,500 locations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Elsewhere, pub chain Wetherspoons rose 5.2 per cent, or 61p, to 1244p after it tapped investors for 94million.

It issued 8.4m new shares to raise the money, which it said would help it to emerge from the pandemic in a strong position.

It expects its pubs to remain shut until at least the end of March because of the national lockdown and 99 per cent of its 37,700 staff have been furloughed.

Its success boosted rival chain Mitchells & Butlers, thought to be mulling a rights issue, which rose 8.4 per cent, or 21.5p, to 276.5p.

It was a positive day for the FTSE 100 as well, as global markets rallied amid the swearing-in of US President Joe Biden, who wants to plough further stimulus into the economy. The index rose 0.4 per cent, or 27.44 points, to 6740.39, its first gain this week.

Leading the way were the miners, who were boosted by positive production forecasts from BHP.

The firm, up 2.8 per cent, or 58.5p, to 2169.5p, is expecting to make record amounts of iron ore in 2021 and prices for the commodity are expected to be high.

Rival Anglo American lifted 1.9 per cent, or 49p, to 2675p after the news and Glencore rose 2.4 per cent, or 6.6p, to 280.3p.

Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 was also up 1.4 per cent, or 278.57 points, to 20,881.46. But engineer Avon Rubber fell 5.4 per cent, or 185p, to 3235p after Berenberg cut its share price target from 4065p to 3335p.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
(Natural News) Social media giant Twitter said the tweets by a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official denying forced labor in Xinjiang province did not violate the platforms rules. The tweets denied that Uighurs were sent to re-education camps against their will. The posts also condemned the U.S. for spreading falsehoods to put a lid on Chinas development.

Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, posted the tweets in question on Jan. 14. She claimed the forced labor allegation was the biggest lie of the century. Hua remarked that the accusations were aimed to restrict and suppress the relevant Chinese authorities and companies and contain Chinas development. In a subsequent tweet, the diplomat accused the U.S. of creating lies and taking egregious actions based on these falsehoods.

Hua included a propaganda video with her tweets, which featured cheerful music and smiling workers sharing how a lot of [their] living habits have been changed and improved.

A Twitter spokesperson told Fox News that Huas tweets did not violate any company rules. They remarked that the envoys account had a China government account label attached on it.

Reports reveal grim truth in Xinjiang despite CCPs denials

Investigative reports have shown a radically different picture from what China wanted to portray. According to these reports, the Chinese regime has ramped up its suppression of the Muslim Uighur minorities in the western autonomous region of Xinjiang. Uighurs were subjected to various human rights abuses such as intrusive monitoring, arbitrary detention, compulsory re-education, highly intrusive surveillance, forced labor, religious suppression and enforced sterilization of women.

One such report by the Associated Press found that CCP officials subjected hundreds of thousands of Uighur women to sterilization measures. It mentioned that Uighur women were subjected to intrauterine devices, sterilization and  abortion. The measures to curb the Uighur population were exacerbated by mass detention  families with three or more children are broken up with parents being sent to detention facilities unless they pay huge fines.

The CCP has rejected the allegations of human rights abuses. It says that the camps are vocational training centers and the associated programs are meant to curb religious extremism and prevent terrorism.

In relation to these denials, Twitter recently took down a tweet by the Chinese Embassy in Washington. The embassys post claimed that Uighur women have been de-radicalized, emancipated from extremism and liberated from being baby-making machines. The post also claimed that gender equality and reproductive health were promoted. The censored post is linked to an article by state-run media outlet China Daily.

According to the social media site, the post violated the Twitter rules  but did not elaborate why. (Related: The Chinese Communists are running Silicon Valley.)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slammed the embassys post through his tweet: Uighur women are not emancipated by forced abortions and sterilizations.

Twitters censorship double standards on full display

The instance involving Huas tweets has brought forward Twitters apparent double standards when it comes to censorship. It follows the social media platforms ban on U.S. President Donald Trump due to the risk of further incitement of violence. The suspension came following the Jan. 6 riots in Washington, D.C. Rioters managed to breach the Capitol building, which left five people dead.

Twitter explained in a Jan. 8 blog post that two of the presidents tweets violated the social media sites policy regarding glorification of violence.

Five days later, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey acknowledged that the decision to ban Trump had set a dangerous precedent. Having to take these actions [fragments] the public conversation. They divide us  [and] limit the potential for clarification, redemption and learning, he tweeted. (Related: Twitter opposes censorship only when it affects Twitter.)

Dorsey defended the suspension, saying that it was based on threats to physical safety both on and off Twitter. He explained: I believe this was the right decision for Twitter. We faced an extraordinary and untenable circumstance, forcing us to focus all of our actions on public safety. Offline harm as a result of online speech is demonstrably real.

Censorship.news has more about the censorship double standards followed by Twitter.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Twitter.com 1

Twitter.com 2

FoxNews.com

APNews.com

Twitter.com 3

Blog.Twitter.com

Twitter.com 4
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Images of Trump supporters rioting on Capitol Hill on 6 January evoked shock and horror around the world. In the dreary Age of WhatsApp forwards, a thousand not-so-funny memes followed as well. Much less well covered was the slew of judgements from federal courts in different states that turned down the Trump administrations attempts to overturn results in states it lost. According to Associated Press, the Trump administration brought about 50 lawsuits in total, winning hardly any.

In a 27 November decision, a Philadelphia court declined to decertify Pennsylvanias election results, which Trump narrowly lost. The author of the opinion was Judge Stephanos Bibas, one of more than 200 federal judges appointed by the Trump administration. Calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here," wrote Bibas. As the Pew Research Center observed in an analysis last week, Trump appointed 54 federal appellate judges in four years, one short of the 55 Obama appointed in twice as much time. In the process, Trump flipped the balance of several appeals courts from a majority of Democratic appointees to a majority of Republican appointees." For all the talk that the Biden administration would seek to pack the Supreme Court to overturn its conservative majority, the one area of uncharacteristic efficiency for the Trump administration has been filling the courts with Republican appointees. Trump also appointed three Supreme Court justices.

Yet, in case after case, the rag-tag Trump legal team lost again and again. The Supreme Court especially is still heavily weighted in favour of Republicans, and the Trump election petitions brought before courts everywhere from Wisconsin to Georgia were absurd, but the fact remains that the US judiciary, which has so many Trump appointees, showed its mettle by clear adjudication on points of law and logic, while not being swayed by partisanship.

The state of Texas sought to invalidate the results of the November election in Michigan, Pennsylvania Georgia and Wisconsin. Last month, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, Todays Supreme Court decision is an important reminder that we are a nation of laws, and though some may bend to the desire of a single individual, the courts will not."

It is thus hard to argue that US institutions are crumbling when judge after judge appointed by Trump ruled sensibly on this election. Prominent Republican office holders in states such as Georgia did so impartially too, despite direct pressure from Trump. The same is true of US media, by and large, which has called out as lies the Trump accusations of a stolen" election.

The Republican party, though, has almost entirely been captured by Trump, which has larger implications for the Biden administration in a two-party system that now seems incapable of compromise. Few people have been as partisan and obstructive during a Democrat presidency as Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell was during the Obama years. He worked closely with the Trump White House in aiding and abetting its bizarre policy-making and joined hands to stuff the courts with Republican appointees. But, here too, there are hopeful signs of defections from Trumps personality cult. On Tuesday, in a Senate speech, McConnell said of the Capitol attack, The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people." Well, you could have knocked me over with a gavel.

This is clearly the start of an attempt by McConnell and some other Republicans to cut the Trump family down to size amid speculation that Ivanka Trump might run for governorship of Florida and Donald Trump Jr. could stand for president in 2024.

I interviewed Ivanka Trump for what felt like a very long hour on stage eight years ago in Hong Kong. Judging from that lacklustre performance, I would be sceptical about her managing a food-and-beverage outlet at a hotel, let alone governing a state.

McConnells effort may fail, as many of the 70 million plus who voted Trump may be galvanized by moves to impeach and convict him. But, it is a worthy battle for the soul of a party, and by extension of US democracy.

In India, depending on your point of view, we seem similarly blessed or afflicted with a personality cult at the top. The main opposition party appears unabashedly dynastic. The central bank has seen the abrupt departure of two governors over the past few years. After the Supreme Courts staying of the implementation of farm laws, allegations alternately of judicial partisanship and overreach are becoming louder, echoing those made in an admittedly very different system against the American Supreme Court on issues such as religion and abortion rights in the US.

The decision of Indias apex court to examine the validity of ordinances in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh that amount to state-led harassment of interfaith marriages is good news. Nevertheless, Dushyant Dave, until recently president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, sounded a note of concern in The Hindu last week. Since 2014, the Executive has had an almost total approval by the court of all its Executive actions One can only wonder: does the government ever falter?" As the US courts have shown over the past several weeks, the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive is a critical pillar of democracy.

Rahul Jacob is a Mint columnist and a former Financial Times foreign correspondent.

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Why would such new terrorism laws be needed in a country that already imprisons more of its citizens than any other country in the world as the result of a very aggressive set of criminal laws? What acts should be criminalized by new domestic terrorism laws that are not already deemed criminal? They never say, almost certainly because  just as was true of the first set of new War on Terror laws  their real aim is to criminalize that which should not be criminalized: speech, association, protests, opposition to the new ruling coalition.

Meanwhile, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA)  not just one of the most dishonest members of Congress but also one of the most militaristic and authoritarian  has had a bill proposed since 2019 to simply amend the existing foreign anti-terrorism bill to allow the U.S. Government to invoke exactly the same powers at home against domestic terrorists.

Calls for a War on Terror sequel  a domestic version complete with surveillance and censorship  are not confined to ratings-deprived cable hosts and ghouls from the security state. The Wall Street Journal reports that Mr. Biden has said he plans to make a priority of passing a law against domestic terrorism , and he has been urged to create a White House post overseeing the fight against ideologically inspired violent extremists and increasing funding to combat them.

(If still not convinced, and if you can endure it, you can also watch MSNBCs Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski literally screaming that one needed remedy to the Capitol riot is that the Biden administration must shutdown Facebook. Shutdown Facebook).

In a moment of unintended candor, Stamos noted the real problem: there are people on YouTube, for example, that have a larger audience than people on daytime CNN  and its time for CNN and other mainstream outlets to seize the monopoly on information dissemination to which they are divinely entitled by taking away the platforms of those whom people actually want to watch and listen to:

Press freedoms are being abused by these actors, the former Facebook executive proclaimed. Stamos noted how generous he and his comrades have been up until now: We have given a lot of leeway  both in the traditional media and in social media  to people with a very broad range of views. But no more. Now is the time to get us all back in the same consensual reality.

The second video features the amazing declaration from former Facebook security official Alex Stamos, talking to the very concerned CNN host Brian Stelter, about the need for social media companies to use the same tactics against U.S. citizens that they used to remove ISIS from the internet  in collaboration with law enforcement  and that those tactics should be directly aimed at what he calls extremist conservative influencers.

The first video, flagged by Tom Elliott , is from Monday mornings Morning Joe program on MSNBC (the show that arguably did more to help Donald Trump become the GOP nominee than any other). It features Jeremy Bash  one of the seemingly countless employees of TV news networks who previously worked in Obamas CIA and Pentagon  demanding that, in response to the Capitol riot, we reset our entire intelligence approach, including look[ing] at greater surveillance of them, adding: the FBI is going to have to run confidential sources. See if you detect any differences between what CIA operatives and neocons were saying in 2002 when demanding the Patriot Act and greater FBI and NSA surveillance and what this CIA-official-turned-NBC-News-analyst is saying here:

Anyone who, despite all this, still harbors lingering doubts that the Capitol riot is and will be the neoliberal 9/11, and that a new War on Terror is being implemented in its name, need only watch the two short video clips below, which will clear their doubts for good. It is like being catapulted by an unholy time machine back to Paul Wolfowitzs 2002 messaging lab.

I did see a similar dynamic in the evolution of al-Qaida in Iraq, where a whole generation of angry Arab youth with very poor prospects followed a powerful leader who promised to take them back in time to a better place, and he led them to embrace an ideology that justified their violence. This is now happening in America.I think were much further along in this radicalization process, and facing a much deeper problem as a country, than most Americans realize.

The more honest proponents of this new domestic War on Terror are explicitly admitting that they want to model it on the first one. A New York Times reporter noted on Monday that a former intelligence official on PBS NewsHour said that the US should think about a 9/11 Commission for domestic extremism and consider applying some of the lessons from the fight against Al Qaeda here at home. More amazingly, Gen. Stanley McChrystal  for years head of Joint Special Operations Command in Iraq and the commander of the war in Afghanistan  explicitly compared that war to this new one, speaking to Yahoo News :

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security website, touting a trademarked phrase licensed to it in 2010 by the City of New York, urging citizens to report suspicious activity to the FBI and other security state agencies

Underlying all of this are immediate insinuations that anyone questioning any of this must, by virtue of these doubts, harbor sympathy for the Terrorists and their neo-Nazi, white supremacist ideology. Liberals have spent so many years now in a tight alliance with neocons and the CIA that they are making the 2002 version of John Ashcroft look like the President of the (old-school) ACLU .

We have witnessed an orgy of censorship from Silicon Valley monopolies with calls for far more aggressive speech policing, a visibly militarized Washington, D.C. featuring a non-ironically named Green Zone, vows from the incoming president and his key allies for a new anti-domestic terrorism bill, and frequent accusations of sedition, treason, and terrorism against members of Congress and citizens. This is all driven by a radical expansion of the meaning of incitement to violence. It is accompanied by viral-on-social-media pleas that one work with the FBI to turn in ones fellow citizens (See Something, Say Something!) and demands for a new system of domestic surveillance.

January 19, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - The last two weeks have ushered in a wave of new domestic police powers and rhetoric in the name of fighting terrorism that are carbon copies of many of the worst excesses of the first War on Terror that began nearly twenty years ago. This trend shows no sign of receding as we move farther from the January 6 Capitol riot. The opposite is true: it is intensifying.

The answer to this question  what needs to be criminalized that is not already a crime?  scarcely seems to matter. Media and political elites have placed as many Americans as they can  and it is a lot  into full-blown fear and panic mode, and when that happens, people are willing to acquiesce to anything claimed necessary to stop that threat, as the first War on Terror, still going strong twenty years later, decisively proved.

=====

An entire book could  and probably should  be written on why all of this is so concerning. For the moment, two points are vital to emphasize.

First, much of the alarmism and fear-mongering is being driven by a deliberate distortion of what it means for speech to incite violence. The bastardizing of this phrase was the basis for President Trumps rushed impeachment last week. It is also what is driving calls for dozens of members of Congress to be expelled and even prosecuted on sedition charges for having objected to the Electoral College certification, and is also at the heart of the spate of censorship actions already undertaken and further repressive measures being urged.

This phrase  inciting violence  was also what drove many of the worst War on Terror abuses. I spent years reporting on how numerous young American Muslims were prosecuted under new, draconian anti-terrorism laws for uploading anti-U.S.-foreign-policy YouTube videos or giving rousing anti-American speeches deemed to incite violence and thus provide material support to terrorist groups  the exact theory which Rep. Schiff is seeking to import into the new domestic War on Terror.

It is vital to ask what it means for speech to constitute incitement to violence to the point that it can be banned or criminalized. The expression of any political viewpoint, especially one passionately expressed, has the potential to incite someone else to get so riled up that they engage in violence.

If you rail against the threats to free speech posed by Silicon Valley monopolies, someone hearing you may get so filled with rage that they decide to bomb an Amazon warehouse or a Facebook office. If you write a blistering screed accusing pro-life activists of endangering the lives of women by forcing them back into unsafe back-alley abortions, or if you argue that abortion is murder, you may very well inspire someone to engage in violence against a pro-life group or an abortion clinic. If you start a protest movement to object to the injustice of Wall Street bailouts  whether you call it Occupy Wall Street or the Tea Party  you may cause someone to go hunt down Goldman Sachs or Citibank executives who they believe are destroying the economic future of millions of people.

If you claim that George W. Bush stole the 2000 and/or 2004 elections  as many Democrats, including members of Congress, did  you may inspire civic unrest or violence against Bush and his supporters. The same is true if you claim the 2016 or 2020 elections were fraudulent or illegitimate. If you rage against the racist brutality of the police, people may go burn down buildings in protest  or murder randomly selected police officers whom they have become convinced are agents of a racist genocidal state.

The Bernie Sanders campaign volunteer and hard-core Democratic partisan, James Hodgkinson, who went to a softball field in June, 2017 to murder Republican Congress members  and almost succeeded in fatally shooting Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)  had spent months listening to radical Sanders supporters and participating in Facebook groups with names like Terminate the Republican Party and Trump is a Traitor.

Hodgkinson had heard over and over that Republicans were not merely misguided but were traitors and grave threats to the Republic. As CNN reported, his favorite television shows were listed as Real Time with Bill Maher; The Rachel Maddow Show; Democracy Now! and other left-leaning programs. All of the political rhetoric to which he was exposed  from the pro-Sanders Facebook groups, MSNBC and left-leaning shows  undoubtedly played a major role in triggering his violent assault and decision to murder pro-Trump Republican Congress members.

Despite the potential of all of those views to motivate others to commit violence in their name  potential that has sometimes been realized  none of the people expressing those views, no matter how passionately, can be validly characterized as inciting violence either legally or ethically. That is because all of that speech is protected, legitimate speech. None of it advocates violence. None of it urges others to commit violence in its name. The fact that it may inspire or motivate some mentally unwell person or a genuine fanatic to commit violence does not make the person espousing those views and engaging in that non-violent speech guilty of inciting violence in any meaningful sense.

To illustrate this point, I have often cited the crucial and brilliantly reasoned Supreme Court free speech ruling in Claiborne v. NAACP. In the 1960s and 1970s, the State of Mississippi tried to hold local NAACP leaders liable on the ground that their fiery speeches urging a boycott of white-owned stores incited their followers to burn down stores and violently attack patrons who did not honor the protest. The states argument was that the NAACP leaders knew that they were metaphorically pouring gasoline on a fire with their inflammatory rhetoric to rile up and angry crowds.

But the Supreme Court rejected that argument, explaining that free speech will die if people are held responsible not for their own violent acts but for those committed by others who heard them speak and were motivated to commit crimes in the name of that cause (emphasis added):

Civil liability may not be imposed merely because an individual belonged to a group, some members of which committed acts of violence. . . . [A]ny such theory fails for the simple reason that there is no evidence  apart from the speeches themselves -- that [the NAACP leader sued by the State] authorized, ratified, or directly threatened acts of violence. . . . . To impose liability without a finding that the NAACP authorized  either actually or apparently  or ratified unlawful conduct would impermissibly burden the rights of political association that are protected by the First Amendment. . . . While the State legitimately may impose damages for the consequences of violent conduct, it may not award compensation for the consequences of nonviolent, protected activity. Only those losses proximately caused by unlawful conduct may be recovered. The First Amendment similarly restricts the ability of the State to impose liability on an individual solely because of his association with another.

The Claiborne court relied upon the iconic First Amendment ruling in Brandenburg v. Ohio, which overturned the criminal conviction of a KKK leader who had publicly advocated the possibility of violence against politicians. Even explicitly advocating the need or justifiability of violence for political ends is protected speech, ruled the court. They carved out a very narrow exception: where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action  meaning someone is explicitly urging an already assembled mob to specific violence with the expectation that they will do so more or less immediately (such as standing outside someones home and telling the gathered mob: its time to burn it down).

It goes without saying that First Amendment jurisprudence on incitement governs what a state can do when punishing or restricting speech, not what a Congress can do in impeaching a president or expelling its own members, and certainly not social media companies seeking to ban people from their platforms.

But that does not make these principles of how to understand incitement to violence irrelevant when applied to other contexts. Indeed, the central reasoning of these cases is vital to preserve everywhere: that if speech is classified as incitement to violence despite not explicitly advocating violence, it will sweep up any political speech which those wielding this term wish it to encompass. No political speech will be safe from this term when interpreted and applied so broadly and carelessly.

And that is directly relevant to the second point. Continuing to process Washington debates of this sort primarily through the prism of Democrat v. Republican or even left v. right is a sure ticket to the destruction of core rights. There are times when powers of repression and censorship are aimed more at the left and times when they are aimed more at the right, but it is neither inherently a left-wing nor a right-wing tactic. It is a ruling class tactic, and it will be deployed against anyone perceived to be a dissident to ruling class interests and orthodoxies no matter where on the ideological spectrum they reside.

The last several months of politician-and-journalist-demanded Silicon Valley censorship has targeted the right, but prior to that and simultaneously it has often targeted those perceived as on the left. The government has frequently declared right-wing domestic groups terrorists, while in the 1960s and 1970s it was left-wing groups devoted to anti-war activism which bore that designation. In 2011, British police designated the London version of Occupy Wall Street a terrorist group. In the 1980s, the African National Congress was so designated. Terrorism is an amorphous term that was created, and will always be used, to outlaw formidable dissent no matter its source or ideology.

If you identify as a conservative and continue to believe that your prime enemies are ordinary leftists, or you identify as a leftist and believe your prime enemies are Republican citizens, you will fall perfectly into the trap set for you. Namely, you will ignore your real enemies, the ones who actually wield power at your expense: ruling class elites, who really do not care about right v. left and most definitely do not care about Republican v. Democrat  as evidenced by the fact that they fund both parties  but instead care only about one thing: stability, or preservation of the prevailing neoliberal order.

Unlike so many ordinary citizens addicted to trivial partisan warfare, these ruling class elites know who their real enemies are: anyone who steps outside the limits and rules of the game they have crafted and who seeks to disrupt the system that preserves their prerogatives and status. The one who put this best was probably Barack Obama when he was president, when he observed  correctly  that the perceived warfare between establishment Democratic and Republican elites was mostly theater, and on the question of what they actually believe, theyre both fighting inside the 40 yard line together:

A standard Goldman Sachs banker or Silicon Valley executive has far more in common, and is far more comfortable, with Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan than they do with the ordinary American citizen. Except when it means a mildly disruptive presence  like Trump  they barely care whether Democrats or Republicans rule various organs of government, or whether people who call themselves liberals or conservatives ascend to power. Some left-wing members of Congress, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) have said they oppose a new domestic terrorism law, but Democrats will have no trouble forming a majority by partnering with their neocon GOP allies like Liz Cheney to get it done, as they did earlier this year to stop the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and Germany.

Neoliberalism and imperialism do not care about the pseudo-fights between the two parties or the cable TV bickering of the day. They do not like the far left or the far right. They do not like extremism of any kind. They do not support Communism and they do not support neo-Nazism or some fascist revolution. They care only about one thing: disempowering and crushing anyone who dissents from and threatens their hegemony. They care about stopping dissidents. All the weapons they build and institutions they assemble  the FBI, the DOJ, the CIA, the NSA, oligarchical power  exist for that sole and exclusive purpose, to fortify their power by rewarding those who accede to their pieties and crushing those who do not.

No matter your views on the threat posed by international Islamic radicalism, huge excesses were committed in the name of stopping it  or, more accurately, the fears it generated were exploited to empower and entrench existing financial and political elites. The Authorization to Use Military Force  responsible for twenty-years-and-counting of war  was approved by the House three days after the 9/11 attack with just one dissenting vote. The Patriot Act  which radically expanded government surveillance powers  was enacted a mere six weeks after that attack, based on the promise that it would be temporary and sunset in four years. Like the wars spawned by 9/11, it is still in full force, virtually never debated any longer and predictably expanded far beyond how it was originally depicted.

The first War on Terror ended up being wielded primarily on foreign soil but it has increasingly been imported onto domestic soil against Americans. This New War on Terror  one that is domestic in name from the start and carries the explicit purpose of fighting extremists and domestic terrorists among American citizens on U.S. soil  presents the whole slew of historically familiar dangers when governments, exploiting media-generated fear and dangers, arm themselves with the power to control information, debate, opinion, activism and protests.

That a new War on Terror is coming is not a question of speculation and it is not in doubt. Those who now wield power are saying it explicitly. The only thing that is in doubt is how much opposition they will encounter from those who value basic civic rights more than the fears of one another being deliberately cultivated within us.

Glenn Greenwald is a journalist, constitutional lawyer, and author of four New York Times bestselling books on politics and law. His most recent book, No Place to Hide, is about the U.S. surveillance state and his experiences reporting on the Snowden documents around the world. Prior to co-founding The Intercept, Greenwalds column was featured in The Guardian and Salon.

Glenn is one of the three co-founding editors of The Intercept. He left The Intercept in October 2020. https://greenwald.substack.com/ Suscribe to his newsletter
25 Million Pageviews is a credit to our talented contributing authors and the resourcefulness of the National Law Reviews editorial team during the COVID-19 crisis

The National Law Review (NLR) exceeded 25 million page views in 2020, a significant uptick in traffic over previous years. This increase in traffic was largely due to exceptionally well-written and timely COVID-19 associated thought leadership contributed by law firm attorney authors.

The National Law Reviews 2020 readership numbers continue a staggering level of growth in readership over the last few years. In 2019, the National Law Review achieved 7 million page views, and in 2018 NLR secured 4 million page views. The NLRs readership growth in 2020, represents a 527% increase in page views from 2018, and a 258% YOY increase from 2019.

Jennifer Schaller, Managing Director of the National Law Review:

Our talented staff quickly pivoted to reconfigure our main news website to rapidly publish and syndicate our law firm partners contributed content to meet the unprecedented demand from individuals and business professionals seeking reliable and vetted information about COVID-19s impact on their childrens school, employment or business. We consistently receive great feedback about editorial teams turn-around time and responsiveness, but I cannot say enough about our teams dedication and innovation in getting the news out there to meet the concerns of our readers.

Early in 2020 the National Law Reviews US-based publication staff actively monitored the ominous trends surrounding COVID-19, and formulated work-flow tweaks to best provide our readers with timely Coronavirus news. In February, the NLR redesigned our main news web site and enhanced our daily E News-Bulletins to meet the need of readers for COVID-19 related news and legal analysis. In 2020, the National Law Review published roughly 20,000 articles, and 6,000 of those articles were Coronavirus related.

COVID-19 also presented law firms unique operational challenges met by progressive firms with collaboration that crossed practice groups to provide interdisciplinary Coronavirus legal news which was exceptionally well received. Additionally, since attorneys were unable to see clients in traditional, face to face venues, they were able to stay top of mind by providing legal analysis and compliance guidance through timely thought leadership.

The National Law Reviews 6,000 articles coving a range of COVID-19 topics were also featured by professional groups including on SHRM.org, various news aggregators including Google and AppleNews and on numerous governmental news services. Our contributors analysis also was featured by journalists at The Washington Post, The Atlantic and NPR.

In December of 2020, the National Law Review recognized the work of over 70 attorneys, law firms and professional services firms though the NLRs annual Go-To Thought Leadership awards. The National Law Review recognized 7 attorneys and law firms for their contributions related to COVID-19, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or other COVID-19 related legislation, both on the state and federal level.

The National Law Review Go-To Thought Leadership awards are highly selective and we wanted to recognize articles with exceptional readership which contributed to the National Law Reviews 25,000,000 page views in 2020.

Below is a select list of the articles published on the National Law Review that exceed 100,000 page views:

 Congress Seeks to Extend Many CARES Act Unemployment Benefits in Pandemic Relief Package

from Evandro C. Gigante, Harris M. Mufson, Allison Lynn Martin, and Jacob P. Tucker of Proskauer Rose

 Vaccinate or Terminate  Mandatory Vaccination as Workplace Policy from Jennifer B. Rubin of Mintz

 Paycheck Protection Program Round 2: The Highlights by Michael A. Zalay and Jeffrey M. Schwartz from Much

 No Mask, No Service? ADA Considerations for Business Owners Requiring Face Masks in Retail Stores from Jillian de Chavez-Lau and Joshua A. Stein of Epstein Becker Green

 Illinois Unemployment Benefits and COVID-19Related Changes: What Employers Need to Know from Melissa A. Ortega, Deborah H. Share, Cyle R. Catlett and Hillary M. Sizer of Ogletree Deakins

 More PPP Funding Approved, Questions Remain Unanswered from Jennifer P Wolff of Godfrey Kahn

 Summary of CARES Act from Kevin H. Sutton,S. Gordon Hill, Kirsten L. Vignec, Bret Hamlin, Matthew F. Hall and Zachary W. Watt of Hill Ward Henderson

 The Emergency Coronavirus Bill: What Employers Need to Know Regarding the Legislative Response to COVID-19 by James J. Plunkett of Ogletree Deakins

The following is a select list of articles that exceeded 50,000 page views:

 Shelter in Place Orders: Are You an Essential Business? by Gregory M. Chabon, Christopher W. Jones, Ripley Rand, Martin L. Stern and Howard King of Womble Bond Dickinson

 What Employers Need to Know About HIPAA by Ryan T. Siehr of von Briesen

 Stimulus PaymentsWhen Do I get Mine? by Rosemary D. Durkin of Stark & Stark

 Employment Law Questions Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic by Lisa Handler Ackerman of Wilson Elser

 Navigating Employer Obligations to Provide Employees with Masks, Face Coverings by Tressi L. Cordaro and Cressinda D. Schlag of Jackson Lewis

 What Employers Need to Know About H.R. 6201: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act by Denise Giraudo and Ryan L. Munitz of Sheppard Mullin

 The CARES Act and the Self-Employed: A Primer by James N. Boudreau, Kelly Dobbs Bunting, Katie P. Reed and Monica P. Schulteis of Greenberg Traurig

 Reopening the Economy in the Midst of COVID-19: What Happens If an Employee Refuses to Return to Work? by Taylor Eric White of Foley Lardner

 USCIS Suspends Interviews and Premium Processing for Cap H-1B Cases, Consulates Suspend or Limit Visa Interviews by Kimberly A. Clarke, Nina Thekdi and Yvonne Kupfermann of Varnum

Eilene Spear of the National Law Review will be discussing the planning and strategy behind NLRs increase in traffic with Guy Alvarez of Good2Bsocial on the January 26th Legal Marketing 2.0 podcast. Subscribe and download the Legal Marketing 2.0 podcast here when released. For a deeper dive, Jennifer Schaller of the National Law Review is teaming up with Good2Bsocial for a webinar in the next few weeks, discussing SEO strategies to maximize readership of law firm thought leadership.

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About the National Law Review: The National Law Review is a daily legal news website with a mission to provide objective and practical news and analysis. The National Law Reviews news platform was developed by corporate attorneys and is the online descendant of a legal publication tracing its roots back to 1888. With the talents of our own writers and contributing authors, the National Law Review has grown in one of the highest volume business law publications in the US. Visit us at http://www.NatLawReview.com
Tijerina said, It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the next President & CEO of First Community Credit Union. Ron and the Board of Directors have created a first class financial institution, and I look forward to building upon this great foundation..."

First Community Credit Union (FCCU) has announced the appointment of TJ Tijerina as their new President & CEO. Tijerina assumed responsibilities on January 3, 2021 and will succeed Ron Downing, who has announced his impending retirement later this year as President & CEO after 43 years of service.

Doug Wilcher, Chairman of the Board, made this announcement after the Board of Directors completed an extensive nationwide search through Whitney Smith Co., a Human Resource Consulting firm, based out of Fort Worth, TX. Wilcher said, We had the pleasure of interviewing several very qualified candidates from around the country and ultimately the Board of Directors unanimously felt TJs years of service, knowledge of FCCU, his training and background made him the obvious choice for FCCU to move forward and grow.

Tijerina has been part of the FCCU team for 16 years beginning in November 2004. While moving up the ranks, he held multiple positions including Tomball Branch VP and SVP of Operations before serving as the EVP/Chief Operating Officer for the past six years. While he served as COO, he led the charge to enhance member experience through technology, such as the Interactive Video Banking in branches and drive thru locations. FCCU was the first financial institution in Harris County to implement this technology, which allowed their members to continue transactional banking throughout the pandemic in a safe and physically distanced environment. Tijerinas leadership has driven other technological advances resulting in easily accessible banking for the members of FCCU while growing available products and services for the membership.

Tijerina said, It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the next President & CEO of First Community Credit Union. Ron and the Board of Directors have created a first class financial institution, and I look forward to building upon this great foundation. We will focus on the continued growth of FCCU through our deep community roots and partnerships along with maintaining our member centric approach.

Tijerina graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelors in Business Administration in 2003 and his Master of Business Administration in 2017. Tijerina is also a 2008 graduate of Southwest CUNA Management School.

First Community Credit Union (FCCU) was chartered in 1954 to serve the employees of the Spring Branch Independent School District. FCCU currently serves the communities of Spring Branch, Alief, Cy-Fair, Katy, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Spring, Tomball, and The Woodlands.

Over the last 66+ years, FCCU has grown to become one of the largest credit unions in Houston. From our small beginnings to our current $1.75 billion in assets, we have always operated under the philosophy of "people-helping-people." FCCU invites anyone who lives, works or worships in Harris, Fort Bend or Montgomery County to discover a First-Rate difference with us.

First Community Credit Union continues to lead the way as a high-tech, high-touch credit union with leading digital services including Online Banking, Mobile Banking, iPhone/Android Apps and more. FCCU also works to ensure our members are backed by the latest in security.

As a full-service financial institution, First Community Credit Union proudly serves the daily financial needs of over 135,000 members at our 17 locations. For more information go to http://www.FCCU.org

1. India Sends 1.5 Lakh Doses To Bhutan

ANI

India sent the first consignment of 1.5 lakh dosages of 'Covishield' to Thimphu, Bhutan from Mumbai as a gift as per a report in ANI.

2. 1000 Covishield Doses Spoiled In Assam

AFP

A total of 1000 doses of Covishield vaccine are ruined at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital in Cachar, Assam because they were stored at sub-zero temperatures, as per a TOI report.



3. Russia Claims Its Second Vaccine Is 100% Effective

AFP

A candidate Covid-19 vaccine called EpiVacCorona, Russia's second one, is "100% effective" in initial trials, Russian consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor told the media as per a Reuters report.

4. China Battles Worst COVID Outbreak Since March 2020

Reuters

China is combating its worst outbreak COVID since March 2020. One province has posted a record daily rise in cases while an independent panel reviewing the pandemic said China could have done more to curb the initial outbreak, as per a Reuters report.



Tollywood's young actor Viswant Duddumpudi was recently booked by Hyderabad Police for cheating people. According to Telugu Filmibeat, a number of victims have approached the cops alleging that Viswant took cash from them by promising to provide automobiles at a low cost. The victims claimed that the Jersey actor has not delivered the automobiles to them yet.

After the victims' complaint, Banjara Hills police have registered a case against Vishwant. According to PTI, the complaint filed by a victim states that Viswant, his father and others offered him the car worth Rs 25 lakh for Rs 17 lakh in September 2017. The police informed news agency that in the complaint filed on January 8, 2021, the victim said that he paid Rs 12.50 lakh to them and took vehicle, but he was not given the vehicle ownership documents. After the enquiry, the man found out that the actor and others had mortgaged the car's documents with a finance firm.

Talking about Viswant Duddumpudi's career, the 27-year-old actor made his Tollywood debut with 2015 film Kerintha, produced by Dil Raju. He later acted in Mohanlal and Gautami-starrer Manamantha (2016). The actor also featured in movies like Crazy Crazy Feeling, Tholu Bommalata and O Pitta Katha.

Also Read : With Unexpected Twists & Thrills, O Pitta Katha Is Excitingly Thrilling, Says Director Anil Ravipudi

In a very short period of time, Viswant managed to win hearts of the masses. However, this news might have shocked his fans. The actor will next be seen in movies like Kadal and Boyfriend For Hire.
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The government may increase income tax exemption limit under Section 80C to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 1.5 lakh in the upcoming Budget on February 1. Centre will, however, leave the personal income tax slabs untouched.

A source in the Income Tax Department told BusinessToday.In that discussion has taken place on exemption limits, which have remained the same for over four to five years.

"Changes to the exemption limits in the personal income tax have been discussed. Tax exemption limit of Rs 1.5 lakh on savings is likely to be reworked. It may go up to Rs 2 lakh," the source said.

Given the skewed finances of the central government owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no elbow room at all to provide any relief to the common taxpayer, the source said.

Some other exemptions to the personal income tax may also be reworked to give a fillip to household savings as well as the real estate sector.

Also read: Budget 2021: 3 ways govt can increase retail participation in bond market

"The mix of the savings instrument for availing tax benefit on income is also being examined," said the source requesting anonymity.

A significant tax exemption that has come up prominently in the budget deliberations pertains to interest on home loans. In the upcoming budget the government may enhance the deduction limit for both interest and principal paid on home loans.

"Deliberations have taken place on enhancing the current deduction limit of up to Rs 2 lakh for interest on home loan for a self-occupied property and home loan principal repayment limit of Rs 1.5 lakh," said the source without divulging details on the amount by which the limits could be enhanced. Only affordable housing may be eligible for higher deduction on housing loan principal and interest, the source pointed out.

The official also said that health insurance premiums under section 80D may also be reworked so that people could claim higher deduction. The current limit for health insurance premiums is Rs 25,000.

"The move, aimed at incentivising the people to purchase home, will serve as a fillip to the real estate sector. Other exemptions will also be significant in enhancing the household savings and kick-starting consumption in the economy. This is essentially the idea behind the proposed tax tweaks that have been deliberated upon," the source added.

Also read: Budget 2021: These three key sectors expect govt to deliver a game-changing super over

Tax experts BusinessToday.In spoke to also agree that tax exemption tweak is the only option that the government has.

"It is given that the government cannot provide any relaxation to the personal income tax slabs. Also given the fact that the alternative tax system for individuals without exemptions announced in the last budget has completely failed, and the government needs to provide some relief to the taxpayers who suffered a lot due to the pandemic. It is only obvious that the only option left is to alter the exemptions," Ved Jain, former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants told BusinessToday.In.

Gaurav Mohan, CEO of CA firm AMRG and Associates told BusinessToday.In, "On the exemption front, the government also needs to consider the fact that people have done premature closure of a number of savings instruments due to job loss during the pandemic. The government needs to exempt such premature withdrawals from charges and penalty given the unprecedented situation."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman projected a gross tax revenue collection worth Rs 24.23 lakh crore for the financial year 2020-21, while presenting the budget last year. The ministry now expects that the shortfall in the FY21 gross tax collection to be to the tune of Rs 3 lakh crore.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
President Moon Jae-in poses with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, left, during a visit to SK Bioscience's plant in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Yonhap



'Vaccines for 20 mil. people likely be secured,' says Moon



By Nam Hyun-woo



President Moon Jae-in visited SK Bioscience's plant in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday, which is contract manufacturing the U.S.-based Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine.



The visit comes a year to the day that Korea reported its first case of the coronavirus disease, and followed a video conference the President had with Novavax CEO Stanley Erck.



During their talks Moon discussed ways to improve the supply of the vaccine to Korea via an in-licensing deal for SK Bioscience.



As a contract manufacturer SK Bioscience produces vaccines for Novavax; as an in-licensing partner it can market the product, and also use production technology to develop its own vaccines.



"After securing COVID-19 vaccines for 56 million people so far, chances are high for us to add more for 20 million people as SK Bioscience and Novavax have been preparing an in-licensing deal," Moon said, according to Cheong Wa Dae press pool reports.



"This deal will have significance as SK Bioscience will then license in Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine. This will play an important role in expediting Korea's vaccine development."



SK Bioscience and Novavax signed a contract development and manufacturing deal in August, though it was unclear how many doses SK Bioscience would be able to produce. In doing so, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, SK Bioscience and Novavax also signed a letter of intent on cooperation for a supply for Korea.



Following an in-license deal, SK Bioscience will produce vaccines of which the government will purchase 20 million doses for domestic inoculations.



Since Novavax has signed contract manufacturing and in-licensing deals with other global firms, SK Bioscience's rights could be limited to domestic use, according to industry officials. However, they added that the agreement will play a critical role in allowing Korea to become more independent in securing vaccines, as it gives SK Bioscience access to some of the technology behind Novavax's vaccine.



Novavax's NVX-CoV2373 is a protein subunit vaccine and has advantages in storage and distribution over mRNA-platform vaccines such as those from Pfizer and Moderna.



Moon also noted that SK Bioscience is contract manufacturing AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.



So far, Korea has secured COVID-19 vaccines for 56 million people. The country will be supplied with 20 million doses from AstraZeneca, 20 million from Pfizer, 40 million from Moderna, 20 million from the COVAX Facility and 6 million from Janssen. Except for Janssen's vaccine, the others require two doses.



Along with the contract manufacturing deals, SK Bioscience is developing its own COVID-19 vaccines. The first, NBP2001, is in a Phase 1 clinical study, and the second, GBP510, has recently won Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approval for Phase 1 and 2 studies.



"If the pandemic does not end in a short term, domestic firms' vaccine development will provide stable vaccination and vaccine sovereignty," Moon said. "SK Bioscience is doing its utmost to develop vaccines and if the development progresses as planned we will be able to receive Korean vaccines next year."



Moon added that SK Group started its vaccine business 20 years ago, and this has allowed Korea to have a stable supply and to develop its own.



Meanwhile, as expectations are growing on the company's growth amid the pandemic, it is preparing an initial public offering, filing documents with the Korea Exchange last month. Given the usual timeline, SK Bioscience is expected to make its debut on the benchmark KOSPI during the first half of the year.






A non-binary person who was granted the right to asylum in the UK because they were persecuted at home in El Salvador has spoken of their 'positive' experience living in Liverpool.

Arthur Britney Joestar, 29, said that they feel 'blessed' to live in the city which 'feels like home' after winning their case to settle in Britain in a landmark upper tribunal judgement in September.

The Britney Spears fan fled to the UK in October 2017 after being persecuted and subject to daily abuse at home in El Salvador, where transgender women have a life expectancy of just 35.

Now free to live as they wish Joestar has praised the 'open minded' people of Liverpool who pay compliments to their hair and 'really take care of me'.

Equality activists have hailed the landmark upper tribunal judgement in the case of Arthur Britney Joestar (pictured) and said it was likely to make it easier for non-binary people to find a safe home in Britain

Joestar told Vice: 'I couldn't be more grateful to be here in Liverpool. Liverpool is one of the best places here in the UK.'

They added: 'I can go out and girls stop me and say, ''OMG I love your hair!' I'm glad I'm trying to make this place my home.'

Whilst walking home from university in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, in 2013, Joestar was stopped and attacked by police who accused them of being not normal.

Officers punched them on the chest and pushed them to the floor, saying they would teach Joestar 'how to be a man' as people walked by leaving Joestar laying bleeding like a 'dying dog', they told Vice.

Now free to live as they wish Joestar has praised the 'open minded' people of Liverpool

Joestar arrived in the UK in October 2017 to escape daily abuse in El Salvador, where transgender women have a life expectancy of just 35

Joestar added that they have also experienced people throwing rubbish and even a plastic bag full of urine at them in El Salvador, where the UN has repeatedly called for more to be done to tackle such violence.

The UK ruling states that a return to their home country would like see Joestar face threats of physical and sexual violence.

However, Joestar had been refused UK asylum twice before, first in November 2018 when the police brutality described was said to have 'amounted to no more than discrimination'.

Then again nearly 18 months later, their second claim on the basis of non-binary identity was initially refused by upheld on appeal.

Joestar previously told the Guardian: 'The way the judge handled the case: she just understood me  all the tiny details  she saw the whole picture.

Joestar also experienced people throwing rubbish and even a plastic bag full of urine at them in El Salvador

'At the end, she turned to look at me and started speaking to me in Spanish, to tell me she granted me the right to stay in this country and the right to be who I want to be. I just started to cry. I felt like I was born again.'

In another recent case in Joestar's home country, hailed as a landmark in July, three police officers were each sentenced to more than 20 years in prison after being found guilty by a judge in San Salvador of the the murder of Camila Diaz Cordova.

It was the first conviction for a hate crime against a transgender woman in El Salvador.
WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said President Joe Biden did a wonderful job Wednesday addressing, as Neal called it, the American family and setting a tone for his new administration.

As Biden himself pointed out in a Tweet following his inauguration at the U.S. Capitol, now comes a lot of hard work. That includes Bidens COVID-19 relief legislation, a lot of which will move into the House Ways and Means Committee where Neal is chairman.

Well I was very pleased, Neal said in a phone interview following the ceremony. I thought the tone of national unity and purpose were essential.

I thought his defense of facts was right on target, Neal said. I was pleased with the whole tone of reassurance.

U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, said Wednesday afternoon that hell sleep soundly for the first time in four years now that Republican Donald Trump is out of office.

Joe Biden will bring some competency and decency back to the White House, McGovern said. I think the feeling was one of hope and relief. Here is a man not trying to divide the country ... but to bring the country together.

Reassurance was needed because, just two weeks ago, an angry mob of Trump supporters broke into the Capitol just as the ceremonial counting of electoral votes began. Trump had claimed without evidence that voter fraud was to blame for his loss in the November election.

During the Jan. 6 riot, Neal and his staff barricaded themselves in an office. McGovern found himself presiding over the House as Speaker Nancy Pelosi was whisked away to safety.

On Wednesday, Neal said it is still a small part of the public that has taken up the kind of angry conspiracy-focused thought that led to the riot.

I thought (Biden) addressed that too, when he spoke about the need to lower the temperature, he said.

Neal said he appreciated Bidens references to Abraham Lincoln and the 16th presidents thoughts during the most difficult period in American history.

In another January, on New Years Day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Biden said, according to a transcript provided by the Associated Press. When he put pen to paper, the president said, and I quote, If my name ever goes down into history, it will be for this act and my whole soul is in it.

McGovern noted a special moment when it came time Wednesday for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to administer the oath of office to Harris, making Harris not only the first woman vice president but also the first vice president of Black and South Asian descent.

The clouds parted, McGovern said. The sun came out.

McGovern also shared a personal observation.

Joe Biden is a decent, good person who loves his family, he said. And you could see that. You could see it too with Vice President Harris.

Neal said his thoughts turned Wednesday to other recent presidents. He watched in 1977 as Jimmy Carter departed from tradition and walked down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Although Trump was absent, Wednesdays ceremony did include other past presidents. Neal described watching George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama interacting in friendship.

This despite the fact that Clinton defeated Bushs father, only to see his administration give way to the younger Bush. In many ways, Neal said, Obamas campaign for the presidency was running against Bushs record.

Then to see them all have casual greetings with six members of the Supreme Court, Neal said, I thought this is a marvelous day in history. It is a very civic moment.

McGovern made a similar observation.

It kind of reminds you that people can have differences and still be respectful and kind to one another, McGovern said.

Later Wednesday, the former presidents joined Harris and Biden to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Because of the pandemic, there were no throngs of people Wednesday, only National Guard members and security details. Not having a crowd changes the way a speaker behaves at the podium. There is no applause, no cheers.

It struck me that Biden caught the moment, Neal said.

Both congressmen praised the musical performances from Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and Garth Brooks. And they singled out Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in history.

I just thought she was one of the highlights, McGovern said.

McGovern kept returning to the theme of turning a page away from the Trump presidency.

I left this inauguration feeling better than Ive felt in a long time, he said.
Good functional safety begins with unassailable security, and with the approaching UNECE WP.29 cybersecurity management system requirements, Green Hills Software is uniquely positioned to provide the best-in-class solution for both ISO 26262 automotive functional safety and ISO/SAE 21434 automotive cybersecurity with its INTEGRITY RTOS and development tools .

By bringing new innovation to established products, Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan stands ready to fulfill the most demanding automotive OEM requirements. The Gerda family of SoCs, when paired with Green Hills Software and its INTEGRITY RTOS, meets emerging automotive safety and cybersecurity requirements while still offering flexible solutions for digital automotive instrument clusters, heads-up displays, and emirrors. The Gerda family of SoCs meets the full requirements of mid/low digital instrument clusters, combining multiple rich graphics options with advanced audio/video processing and rapid-start capabilities.

"We appreciate Green Hills Software supporting our products," said Shigehiro Matsumoto, Director of Visual Sensing Business Group at Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan. "We look forward to this collaboration which will build good partnerships with Green Hills Software and will enable customers to take advantage of the high-speed performance and ever-evolving features made available on our Gerda series SoC family. We know customers face future challenges in providing their OEMs with cost-effective solutions that also meet emerging safety and security standards, and they will find what they need with this combined offering."

"Green Hills Software is excited to work with Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan to demonstrate its innovative approach to the evolving automotive HMI market," said Matthew Slager, Vice President of Operations for Asia-Pacific at Green Hills Software. "Customers still face challenging safety and security requirements for functions that need to co-exist with high-performance graphical display systems. The combination of our INTEGRITY RTOS and advanced development tools with Nuvoton's Gerda family of SoCs provides the perfect safe and secure platform for customers to build systems that lower their overall system cost."

About Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan

Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan (NTCJ) joined Nuvoton Group in 2020. As a dedicated global semiconductor manufacturer, NTCJ provides technology and various products cultivated over many years since its establishment, as well as spatial sensing solutions and battery application solutions that optimally combine them. We value relationships with our customers and partners, and by providing added value that exceeds expectations, we are working as a global solution company that solves various issues in society, industry, and people's lives. For more information, please visit https://www.nuvoton.co.jp/en/.

About Green Hills Software

Founded in 1982, Green Hills Software is the worldwide leader in embedded safety and security. In 2008, the Green Hills INTEGRITY-178 RTOS was the first and only operating system to be certified by NIAP (National Information Assurance Partnership comprised of NSA & NIST) to EAL 6+, High Robustness, the highest level of security ever achieved for any software product. Our open architecture integrated development solutions address deeply embedded, absolute security and high-reliability applications for the military/avionics, medical, industrial, automotive, networking, consumer and other markets that demand industry-certified solutions. Green Hills Software is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with European headquarters in the United Kingdom and Asia-Pacific headquarters in Japan. Visit Green Hills Software at www.ghs.com.

Green Hills, the Green Hills logo, and INTEGRITY are trademarks or registered trademarks of Green Hills Software, in the U.S. and/or internationally. Gerda is registered trademark of Nuvoton Technology Corporation Japan, in the U.S. and Japan. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Green Hills Software

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http://www.ghs.com


In the epilogue of his 2017 memoir Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose, Joe Biden laid out his priorities for the rest of his life:

"I want to spend as much time with my family, and I want to help change the country and the world for the better. That duty does much more than give me purpose; it gives me something to hope for. It makes me nostalgic for the future."

Joe Biden with his wife, Jill, at the Democrats' convention in August. Credit:Getty

His wife, children and grandchildren were deeply embedded in the stories he told in his final, successful campaign for the presidency, and now that they're the new first family, none of them are likely to fade from view. Here are the Bidens you need to know.

Jill Biden: Jill Tracy Jacobs met Joe Biden on a blind date, set up by his brother Frank, three years after the tragic death of his first wife Neilia and his one-year-old daughter Naomi in a car accident. After proposing to her five times, the couple eventually married in 1977, with Jill becoming the stepmother to Joes two remaining children, Beau (who died of cancer in 2015) and Hunter. The new first lady obtained her doctorate in 2007, one year before her husband was appointed vice-president under Barack Obama. The doctorate recently became the subject of a sexist opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, in which author Joseph Epstein suggested she drop the honorific because, in his view, it appeared fraudulent. Since 2009, she has been a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College. Now 69, she intends to continue teaching while first lady.
For a moment, cable news found something to agree on.

At half past noon on Wednesday, shortly after President Biden wrapped up an inaugural address calling for an era of reconciliation, CNNs Wolf Blitzer declared that the world witnessed democracy withstand one of its greatest tests. Brian Williams of MSNBC said Mr. Biden gave the kind of inaugural address our presidents used to give.

On Fox News, home to right-wing stars like Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham who relentlessly championed former President Donald J. Trump, anchors and pundits took turns lauding Mr. Bidens message and the man who delivered it.

Ive been listening to these inaugural addresses since 1961, said Chris Wallace, the Fox News Sunday anchor. I thought this was the best inaugural address I ever heard.

It was an unusual  and perhaps fleeting  moment for a cable news landscape that had been rived by the years of Trump. The cultural divide over a polarizing president and the increasingly fractured notion of what is true and what is a lie seemed to play out daily on 24-hour news networks, where Americans flocked in record numbers for outrage or comfort.
People write Spring Festival scrolls and Chinese character "Fu" meaning good fortune in Wugongtai Township, Hutubi County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 19, 2021. Various cultural activities have been held in Hutubi County to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Photo by Tao Weiming/Guangming Picture)

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[ Editor: SRQ ]
Alex Beckers and his wife, Gina, moved from Los Angeles to Portland, Ore., in November  two of the millions of Americans who have chosen to relocate amid the pandemic.

However, much of the Beckerses stuff still hasnt joined them, including a computer, furniture, sensitive documents and photo albums.

And they say the Northridge, Calif., moving company that has their possessions  and is seeking thousands of dollars in extra cash  keeps giving them the runaround.

Having to deal with this has been one of the most stressful and frustrating experiences of my life, Beckers, 44, said.

Unfortunately, he and his wife arent alone in coping with such a headache.

Mover-related hassles, including some movers holding peoples belongings hostage unless they receive more money, arent new.

But the danger to consumers has grown more pronounced during the pandemic as millions of Americans have sought to relocate to places they deem safer, or to cut costs amid job losses and the nationwide shift to remote work and schooling.

Roughly 16 million Americans moved from February to July, according to an analysis of change-of-address forms submitted to the U.S. Postal Service.

About 22% of U.S. adults either moved or know someone who did since the start of the pandemic, according to Pew Research Center.

United Van Lines says Idaho was the state many of its customers headed to last year, followed by South Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota and Arizona.

California was among the states experiencing the largest exoduses, the company said.

All this migration has created a unique opportunity for unlicensed or fly-by-night moving companies, officials say, as well as for firms looking to take advantage of people.

The California Department of Consumer Affairs found that 445 mover-related complaints were filed from March to December of last year, more than double the same period a year earlier.

And this could just be the tip of the iceberg.

A spokesman acknowledged that because the Department of Consumer Affairs only started regulating movers in 2018  the industry was overseen previously by the California Public Utilities Commission  many people may not know where to report problems.

California consumers need to be very cautious when hiring a moving company, said Nicholas Oliver, who oversees the departments Bureau of Household Goods and Services. Consumers should research the moving companies thoroughly prior to hiring them.

The American Moving & Storage Association, an industry group, warned last August that while incidents involving scam artists represent only a small fraction of annual moves, they can create hassle and worry for consumers, sometimes resulting in lost or damaged possessions as well as thousands of dollars in extra fees.

Beckers, who works for a Culver City video game developer, and his wife, who works for a consulting firm, realized that remote work was an opportunity to trade up, lifestyle-wise.

Theyd always liked Portland. So last fall they decided to rent out their house in L.A. and lease a place up north.

Were spending less now on rent than we did on our mortgage, Beckers said. And now we have three bedrooms instead of two.

The couple hired a moving broker, Express Moving Consultants, a Florida outfit that says online it can make a long-distance move easy by handling everything  the hiring of movers, the scheduling, the avoiding of any unexpected charges.

Beckers said Express quoted a price of about $4,000 for the move. He agreed to pay the company nearly $1,300 upfront, with the remainder to be paid after delivery. A truck was supposed to arrive for pickup on Oct. 29. It didnt.

Express told Beckers the truck it hired had broken down. It said a different moving crew would arrive the next day. It didnt. Express said the driver was in the hospital.

By this time, Beckers and his wife were already in Portland. They arranged for friends to oversee things at the L.A. end.

A truck from Northridge-based Speed Way Movers pulled up at the L.A. house on Nov. 1. Beckers said the crew took a look at the job and immediately said $4,000 wouldnt cut it.

They demanded about $8,200  more than double the original estimate.

At this point, Beckers told me, I had my suspicions. But I still wanted to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

He also knew he was in a tough situation. He was in Oregon. His stuff was in L.A. His new SoCal tenants were ready to move in.

Beckers agreed to pay an additional $3,475 upfront, with an understanding that Speed Way Movers would be paid the remainder, in cash, once the delivery was completed.

He said about two-thirds of their belongings arrived in Portland on Nov. 6. The rest is still in a Southern California storage facility because Speed Way told Beckers its having trouble finding a truck to complete the job.

Beckers said both Speed Way and Express told him for weeks that everything would be taken care of. Now, he said, neither company is responding to his calls.

Beckers said he contacted the police but was told nothing could be done because this was a business dispute. He contacted his insurer, but it said a claim couldnt be filed without a police report.

The couple is now considering whether its worth the money to hire a lawyer.

Here are some moving tips from the state Department of Consumer Affairs:

Research all movers before signing a contract. When possible, visit the companys place of business.

Verify that the company is licensed.

Check the companys complaint history with the Better Business Bureau.

Photograph or videotape your belongings before theyre loaded on the truck.

These companies know how stressful a move is, Beckers said. They might try to take advantage of you.

His main advice for others: Dont give anyone the benefit of the doubt. If anything seems fishy, he told me, it probably is.
An environmental conservation police officer (ECO) from Herkimer County has been honored with the Wildlife Officer of the Year award from the Shikar-Safari Club International.

ECO Darryl Lucas has been a Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officer since 1992, and is currently serving in Region 6, which includes Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties.

Each year, the Shikar-Safari International Club chooses one officer in each state to receive the officer of the year honor, recognizing outstanding work in the area of wildlife law enforcement.

DEC congratulates ECO Darryl Lucas, who was recently honored with the Wildlife Officer of the Year Award from @SafariClubIntl. Read more about this prestigious award & ECO Lucas' accomplishments throughout his 28-year career: https://t.co/CmjMFKJF9F. pic.twitter.com/LTRxsszo2Y  NYSDEC (@NYSDEC) January 20, 2021

New York State DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos congratulated Lucas on his accomplishment.

On behalf of DEC, I congratulate ECO Lucas for receiving this prestigious award, said Seggos. ECO Lucas exemplifies the tireless efforts DECs law enforcement officers exhibit each day to enforce New Yorks environmental laws and ensure New Yorks environment and natural resources are protected for generations to come.

Lucas is also a founding member of DLEs Special Operations Group, a team trained to respond and assist law enforcement in off road environments, including fugitive searches. He is also a Police Defense Tactics and Firearms instructor.
Veteran Wyoming journalist Kerry Drake pens the Drakes Take column for WyoFile, an independent news service reporting on the people, places and policy of Wyoming. The views expressed here are solely his own.
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Two leading opposition political parties in Anambra State have expressed satisfaction with the timetable for the states 2021 gubernatorial election released by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday.

According to the timetable, the election will hold on November 6, while the conduct of party primaries and resolution of issues around it will hold from June 10 to July 1.

Also, submission of candidate forms by parties will end on August 6, while campaigns will commence on August 8 and end on November 4.

Parties react

In a reaction, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra, Ndubuisi Nwobu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the timetable was long awaited.

Mr Nwobu said it did not come to the party as a surprise as it had been ready all along.

He said INEC has the constitutional powers to issue guidelines on election and that is what it has just done.

We are comfortable with the timetable, it has not come to us as a surprise, if the date had come earlier than that, we would not have had any issue because we have been doing our work, he said.

READ ALSO: INEC announces date for Anambra governorship election

On his part, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Basil Ejidike, said his party welcomed the timetable with delight.

Mr Ejidike said the APC was now strong and united more than ever.

He said that the party had no misgivings about their chances in the election because it had identified its fault lines in previous elections and was working on them.

It is not a surprise to us, INEC made it known before now that the election would come up in November, we have been getting prepared.

We learnt our lessons from what happened in the past and I want to assure that it will not happen again.

Before now, we are like a house divided but this time, no one will be left behind, we are going into the election as one body, he said.

(NAN)

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A Guantanamo Bay prisoner believed to be one of the first people waterboarded by the CIA is suing the British Government, claiming MI6 was 'complicit' in his torture.

Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, a Saudi-born Palestinian who is widely known as Abu Zubaydah, has been detained without trial by the US authorities since his capture in Pakistan in 2002.

He was 'arbitrarily detained' at CIA-run 'black site' prisons in Thailand, Poland, the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Morocco, Lithuania and Afghanistan where he was 'subjected to extreme mistreatment and torture', his lawyers told the High Court today.

Mr Zubaydah, now 49, was then sent to Guantanamo Bay in 2006 'where he has been held without trial ever since', the court heard.

Zayn al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, a Saudi-born Palestinian who is widely known as Abu Zubaydah, has been detained without trial by the US authorities since his capture in Pakistan in 2002

Shortly after his capture, US president George W Bush described Mr Zubaydah as 'al-Qaida's chief of operations', while White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said he was 'member of Osama bin Laden's inner circle'.

But a report by the US Senate Committee on Intelligence, which was published in 2014, said: 'The CIA later concluded that Abu Zubaydah was not a member of al-Qaida.'

Mr Zubaydah's lawyers told the High Court that he was subjected to 'waterboarding on more than 80 occasions, extreme sleep deprivation, confinement inside tiny boxes, beatings, death threats, denial of food and denial of medical care' while held in the 'black sites' between 2002 and 2006.

He is bringing a High Court claim for damages against the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Home Office and the Attorney General for their 'complicity in, and their facilitation and encouragement of, the extreme mistreatment and torture' he suffered during detention.

His barrister Richard Hermer QC told the court that a parliamentary committee had previously found MI6 had 'direct awareness' of Mr Zubaydah's 'extreme mistreatment and probable torture' as early as 2002.

Despite that, UK intelligence agencies 'continued to send the CIA questions to be used' in his interrogation until 'at least 2006', Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee found in 2018.

Mr Hermer added that MI6 'had been informed by the US that the torture was so severe that '98% of US special forces would have broken if subject to the same conditions' as the claimant'.

At a preliminary hearing today, Mr Justice Lane was asked to decide whether English law applies to Mr Zubaydah's claim - as his lawyers argue - or whether it should be the law of the six countries in which he was detained.

Mr Hermer said that English law should apply to the claim as any 'acts of conspiring, facilitating and encouraging mistreatment and/or torture' would likely have taken place in England.

He said UK intelligence 'took advantage' of his client's detention, 'sending questions to be asked in the torture chamber'.

He was 'arbitrarily detained' at CIA-run 'black site' prisons, including the US base at Guantanamo Bay, where he was 'subjected to extreme mistreatment and torture', his lawyers told the High Court today

He also pointed out that 'communications about the claimant's torture by the US were sent to 'SIS Head Office', MI6's headquarters in London, and that Mr Zubaydah has 'no meaningful connection with any of the six countries' to which he was rendered.

Mr Hermer said in written submissions: 'Indeed, his only connection with those countries arises from the fact that he was forcibly transported to those countries against his will, and outside of any legal process, by agents of the United States.

'Because of the manner in which he was unlawfully transferred and detained, the claimant was not even aware of the countries where his detention and torture occurred until many years later.'

Jonathan Glasson QC, for the defendants, said the 'consequences' of Mr Zubaydah's mistreatment were 'sustained in the six countries' and therefore their laws should be applied to the claim.

Mr Justice Lane said he would give his judgment at a later date.

Request an invitation to hear from the 60 prominent speakers who will attend in-person in Riyadh and 80 who will participate virtually during the two-day investment conference from January 27-28. Speakers will address the investment conference from hubs in New York, Paris, Beijing, Mumbai.

To address the theme "The Neo-Renaissance", H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Chairman of the FII Institute, will officially open the 4th edition of FII, under the leadership of the FII Institute. H.E. Al-Rumayyan will be joined by David Solomon, Chairman & CEO of The Goldman Sachs Group, Thomas Gottstein, CEO of Credit Suisse Group, Ray Dalio, Co-Chairman & CIO of Bridgewater Associates, and Marco Alvera, CEO of Snam in considering how the global investment community can leverage the economic downturn to build a stronger, more sustainable future.

H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Minister of Energy, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman & CEO of Total, H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil company will discuss strategies to guide investment into the energy sector. Lord Gerry Grimstone, U.K.'s Minister of State for Trade, Eric Cantor, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Moelis & Co, H.E. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & CEO of DP World, H.E. Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of KSA, and H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Ministry of International Cooperation of Egypt, will consider polices to strengthen investment and trade partnerships to reflect a new set of geopolitical realities.

Others scheduled to participate include H.R.H Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Kai Fu Lee, Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Sinovation Ventures, Thomas Barrack, Executive Chairman of Colony Capital, Jean Bernard Levy, CEO of EDF, Jean Todt, President of Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group, Josh Giegel, Co-Founder and CTO of Hyperloop one, Anthony Scaramucci, Founder & Managing Partner of SkyBridge Capital, and David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman of The Carlyle Group.

The FII Institute has identified sustainable investment, global economic growth and the future of healthcare, digitization, education and culture as priority topics. Speakers will address those pressing issues, as well as the rebirth of SMEs, how investing in culture can make it an engine of growth, and efforts to rectify long-standing gender inequalities.

The Institute was founded in Riyadh to bring together global leaders, tech pioneers, experts and policy makers to enable concrete ideas that can solve today's most pressing societal issues, while creating long-term platforms to reshape the future sustainably and create a positive impact on humanity.

About the 4th Edition of FII

The main program will be livestreamed from Riyadh. Speakers will be filmed and broadcast across all satellite FII cities and on live-streaming platforms.

There will be keynote addresses, plenary sessions and also breakout discussions at all of the venues.

Follow along on our social channels with Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram and join in the conversation with #FIINeoRenaissance.

About the Future Investment Initiative Institute

The Future Investment Initiative Institute is a new generation of global not-for-profit foundation that ensures the world's brightest ideas find their way to materialize, scale and create positive sustainable Impact on Humanity.

With an ambitious vision to empower the brightest minds to shape a better future for ALL and with ALL, the FII Institute brings together global leaders and experts to collectively curate and enable concrete ideas that can solve today's most pressing societal issues while creating long-term platforms to reshape the future of humanity.

To learn more about the FII Institute, visit http://fii-institute.org . Keep up with latest news by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FIIKSA).

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1422931/FII_Institute.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1422932/FII_Institute.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1422933/FII_Institute.jpg

SOURCE FII Institute
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Ready to work with new US administration says Pak foreign minister

On Indias permanent council seat, here is what Bidens US pick said

US elections 2021: Russia meddled, Iran did too, China sat it out

India has been a bipartisan success story of our successive administrations says Bidens close aide

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 20: Tony Blinken, a close aide of President-elect Joe Biden said India has been a bipartisan success story of successive American administrations.

During his confirmation hearing, he said, 'India has been a bipartisan success story of our successive administrations.

''During the Obama administration, we deepened cooperation on defence procurement and information sharing, and the Trump administration carried that forward including its concept of Indo-Pacific and to make sure we were working with India so that no country in the region including China could challenge its sovereignty and also working with it on concerns that we share about terrorism,'' Blinken, who is the Secretary of State nominee said.

Joe Biden to deliver forward-looking inaugural speech built around the theme of unity

"Prime Minister Modi has been a very strong advocate of renewable energy and different technologies. I think there is very strong potential for our countries to work together," Blinken said.

In 2019, during India's virtual Independence Day celebrations, Blinken had said, Biden has been a champion of stronger ties with India. I saw this firsthand, I started working for him in 2002 on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Then, of course, the Obama-Biden administration and his years as Vice President. But if you go back 15 years, Joe Biden had a vision for the future of US-India relations.

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

In 2006, he said, my dream is that in 2020, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 16:30 [IST]

The man accused of killing two pedestrians after plowing through a stoplight in a stolen car on New Years Eve will remain in jail while he awaits trial, a San Francisco judge said Wednesday.

Troy McAlister, 45, appeared in orange sweats and a white face mask for his brief appearance before the court. McAlister is charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and a host of other felonies in the hit-and-run deaths of 27-year-old Hanako Abe and 60-year-old Elizabeth Platt at Second and Mission streets in San Franciscos South of Market district.

McAlister has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to over three decades in prison.

McAlister, who has been on parole for a 2015 robbery since March, was arrested several times since then, but his parole was never revoked, and prosecutors never filed new charges until his most recent case.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin vowed while campaigning for his post to enact reforms meant to shift criminal justice in the city away from mass incarceration. Since the death of Abe and Platt, Boudin has been sharply criticized for allowing McAlisters release.

Reform advocates have come to Boudins defense, arguing that one extreme tragedy doesnt justify a return to the harmful tough-on-crime policies of the past.

In a hearing earlier this month, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Darwin ruled to detain McAlister without bail, but left the door open for defense attorneys to petition for pretrial release in the future.

McAlisters public defender, Scott Grant, lodged no such argument on Wednesday, but asked for the right to do so at a later date.

I believe that in order to have Mr. McAlister released, there would have to be a very intensive and robust plan, Grant said. Mr. McAlister has never received any intensive residential drug treatment.

McAlister reportedly admitted to using meth before the crash, and police say he had also consumed alcohol.

Grant said San Franciscos pretrial diversion program was not willing to investigate treatment options for McAlister, so the defense team would do it themselves.

On Wednesday, San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Brian Ferrall upheld Darwins earlier decision to keep McAlister behind bars. The judge based his ruling on McAlisters lengthy rap sheet and on evidence in the case, including footage that showed McAlister allegedly fleeing the scene of the crash while removing his shirt to avoid identification.

I think (prosecutors) have shown, by clear and convincing evidence, that there is a substantial likelihood that McAlisters release could result in great bodily harm to others, Ferrall said.

The deaths of the two victims, he added demonstrate a wanton disregard for public safety.

McAlister mostly hung his head during the proceeding, and spoke only to answer procedural questions.

Three of Abes family members attended the hearing, with at least one listening through a Japanese translator. Separated in the courtroom gallery by coronavirus policies, the family sat stoically throughout the brief proceedings, and declined to comment afterward.

McAlister additionally waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing, which by law is to occur within 60 days of charging.

Ferrall scheduled the next court appearance on March 3, to discuss what evidence will be presented.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
The Kraken has waved the white flag of surrender.

Sidney Powell, the pro-Trump attorney who filed several lawsuits claiming that the election won by President-elect Joe Biden was tainted by widespread fraud, has withdrawn a lawsuit seeking to throw out the results in Georgia.

The motion to dismiss was filed by Powell with the Supreme Court on Tuesday - just a day before Biden is set to take the oath of office.

The withdrawn lawsuit was the last legal challenge filed by President Trump and his allies seeking to overturn the November 3 election result.

Trump and his allies have filed more than 60 claims in state and federal court alleging that Biden's victory was fraudulent, but nearly all of them have been denied.

Sidney Powell (left), the conservative lawyer, withdrew a lawsuit she filed with the Supreme Court challenging President Trump's (right) election loss in Georgia

Last week, the Supreme Court (pictured above) refused to hear eight election-related lawsuits filed by allies of President Trump seeking to overturn the November 3 election results

Last week, the Supreme Court declined to expedite consideration of eight Trump-related cases including three filed by his campaign challenging the election results in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

One of those cases was filed by Powell, who sought to get the election results in Michigan tossed.

In December, Powell threatened to 'release the Kraken,' which she said amounted to evidence that the election was stolen from Trump.

The case includes conspiracy theories that Powell has tried to publicize, including that Dominion Voting Systems were 'created to achieve election fraud,' she wrote in the filing.

Powell has claimed Dominion was created in Venezuela at the order of the late leader Hugo Chavez and that the machines fraudulently switched votes from Trump to Biden.

Dominion sued Powell for defamation last week. The company said it is seeking $1.3billion in damages.

It already was clear that the court had no intention to intervene because it had not acted before Congress certified Biden's victory in the November 3 election.

Trump has falsely claimed he won the election.

A mob of his supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6, interrupting congressional certification of Biden's victory.

The court also turned away a Democratic effort to expand mail-in voting in Texas.

Texas state law makes mail-in ballots available only for people age 65 and older or for voters who meet specific disability guidelines.

The state Democratic Party and some voters sued the Republican-governed state, arguing that by treating voters differently by age, the Texas law violated the US Constitution's 26th Amendment guarantee of the right to vote for American citizens age 18 and above.

There are no remaining legal challenges to President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Biden is seen right with incoming first lady Jill Biden at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday

But the Supreme Court left in place a lower court ruling that sided with Texas in the lawsuit.

The Democrats had gone to court to try to enable all eligible voters in Texas to vote by mail during last year's election cycle, including the presidential election, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In June, the high court rebuffed an earlier emergency request by Democrats seeking to allow broader mail-in voting.

The New Orleans-based 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals earlier that month blocked a ruling by US District Judge Fred Biery in favor of the Democrats and in September threw out Biery's decision.

Democrats have accused Republicans in various states of pursuing policies intended to make it more difficult to vote.

There was a nationwide surge in voting by mail in the 2020 election as voters concerned about COVID-19 sought to avoid crowds at polling places.

The election results showed that Democratic voters in particular relied upon mail-in ballots, with Trump and other Republicans making unfounded claims about fraud with such voting.

Biden's victory over Trump was propelled by voters who cast ballots by mail in crucial battleground states. Trump won in Texas.

The Supreme Court has kept its distance from Trump's post-Election Day efforts to stay in office.

Last month it rejected a long-shot lawsuit filed by the Republican attorney general of Texas and backed by Trump seeking to undo Biden's victory by throwing out voting results in four states.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : The 10th round of dialogue between the government and farmers' representatives began on Wednesday here in the national capital amid expectations of a solution to end the deadlock as the protest by the farmers on the Delhi borders continued for the 56th day.

However, there is no signal from both sides so far indicating any fruitful decision to end the protest as farmers are still sticking to their demands on withdrawal of three contentious farm laws and guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP), and the government is adamant not to repeal the agriculture acts enacted in September during Monsoon Session of Parliament last year.

The meeting began at Vigyan Bhawan, the same venue where the previous nine rounds of talks have been inconclusive.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Sigh Tomar, Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Som Parkash participated in the meeting from the side of the government.

Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and other Ministry officials also attended the meeting.

Tomar and Goyal joined the meeting after discussing the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence.

Krantikari Kisan Union President (Punjab) Darshan Pal, Bharatiya Kisan Union's Jagjeet Singh Dalewal and Balbir Singh Rajewal, Jamhuri Kishan Sabha Punjab General Secretary Kulwant Singh, and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Uttar Pradesh) President Rakesh Tikait were among the 41 farm union leaders who took part in the meeting.

The farmers are sticking to their demand for the repeal of three new central farm laws and a legal guarantee for the procurement of crops at MSP whereas the Union government is ready to bring about amendments in these laws.

Before the meeting, Punjab farmer leader Kirpa Singh said that farmer leaders would first like to deliberate on their core demand for the repeal of the three laws during the latest talks.

Punjab-based farmer leader and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said: "In the previous talks, we urged the Union government to discuss the MSP issue. We will again discuss it in this meeting as well." He also said that the issue of "harassment" of those supporting the farmers' agitation by the National Investigation Agency would again be brought up in Wednesday's meeting.

As for differences between farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Shiv Kumar Sharma Kakaji, Harinder Singh said that the two had buried the hatchet and stand united.

He asserted that all farmer unions and others spearheading the farmers' movement were united and would continue the agitation till their demands were not accepted.

The farmers are demanding the repeal 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 law on procurement of crops at MSP.

The farmers have been sitting on Delhi's borders since November 26, 2020.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
President-elect Joe Biden repealed the Muslim ban on his first day in office, consistent with his immigration platform. The first Muslim ban was signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 27, 2017, creating chaos and protest around the nations airports.

The latest version of the ban came from a September 2017 proclamation that was expanded in January 2020. It excluded certain nationals from thirteen countries: Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, and Venezuela. The Trump administration relied on a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act to issue the travel ban. That section states: Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.

While the language is broad, litigants argued that the language is not unfettered, and must be applied in ways consistent with the immigration statute as a whole.

Lawyers and immigration scholars also argued that the Muslim ban clashes with another section of the statute called 202(a) which prohibits discrimination because of race, sex [or] nationality  in issuing immigrant visas.

 READ MORE: Under Trump, hundreds of small changes in immigration rules have had a huge impact

In a 5-4 decision in June 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States in Trump v. Hawaii upheld the legality of the Muslim ban on both statutory and constitutional grounds.

Regardless, the human impact of the Muslim ban has been profound. Ive seen it myself working with communities in Pennsylvania. While public attention to the Muslim ban faded, the human consequences endured, as the government continued to exclude people for no other reason than where they were born.

U.S. citizens and green card holders have been separated from their spouses despite being in a legally qualifying relationship under the immigration statute. Parents have missed the milestones of their children. As one attorney told me: The common thread I see among every single person that walks into my office is, I need my mom because Im gonna be in labor and I cant do this without her. Or, Im the first person in my family to get a Ph.D.; it would mean the world to my parents to be there at my graduation ceremony. Or Im in love and Im getting married and Im getting engaged and this is a huge moment in my life and I would like my parents to meet my future husband. ... Graduations, birth of a child, engagement, weddings; all of them are destroyed for people [because of the Muslim ban].

As of Jan. 1, 2019, more than 9,000 spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens had been barred, according to the Cato Institute. The Muslim ban is, in many ways, an untold story of family separation.

Resistance to the ban was significant and revealed itself inside courts, on the streets, and at consulates. It also arose in the halls of Congress with the introduction of the NO BAN Act, which if enacted would limit the exclusionary authority of the immigration statute and repeal the Muslim ban. The lawyering and advocacy exercised in the last four years to challenge the Muslim ban is an important part of the history, one I hope lands in the books read by our children and grandchildren. It is a fight that evokes the words of Doris Lessing: Whatever youre meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.

We are entering a chapter where a new president repeals the Muslim ban. How this story ends will depend on the details and how the Biden administration handles the residual effects. But I hope the repeal is a moment that the movement for just immigration savors.

Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia is a law professor and immigration scholar at Penn State Law at University Park. She is the author of two books: Beyond Deportation: The Role of Prosecutorial Discretion in Immigration Cases (NYU Press) and Banned: Immigration Enforcement in the Time of Trump, (NYU Press).
A vaccination clinic in Daphne Tuesday distributed 400 doses of the Moderna vaccine, the first event of its kind in Baldwin County.

The clinic, which was overseen by the Alabama Department of Public Health, will restart Thursday with double the amount of doses.

Jenni Guerry, spokeswoman with the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency, said people attending the vaccine clinic at the Daphne Civic Center get a reservation card in person before they can receive the vaccine. She said reservation cards will be available on site at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. The cards will provide details on when someone can return for their shot.

The vaccine clinics are running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday and into next week on Tuesday, January 26, and Thursday, January 28.

Guerry said the reservation cards were beneficial toward keeping people at a safe social distance during Tuesdays clinic.

It was a way to manage the crowds, said Guerry. Todays site worked beautifully. The traffic flow was crowded at first as they got their reservation cards. As people returned for designated times, they were thankful not to have to wait for a long time.

She added, Moving forward, we are continuing that process, but we will also increase capacity.

There is no charge for the vaccine, however individuals must:

 be 75 years or older

 be a member of law enforcement

 be a healthcare worker

 be a fire firefighter

All individuals receiving a vaccine must provide identification.

Patients arriving for the clinic will have their temperature checked before site entry.

Guerry said that vaccines are available to snowbirds who are age 75 and older. Baldwin County is a popular site for snowbirds from Northern states who are vacationing on Alabamas Gulf Coast.

She said that everyone receiving a vaccine will receive a vaccination card that instructs recipients that they are to return in 28 days to receive a second shot. Guerry said that snowbirds, as well as anyone else, can receive the second shot in their home state.

They can get it here or they can get it back home, she said. But they have to carry the card with them so their healthcare provider is giving them the booster for the Moderna vaccine.
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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) -Equity Metals Corporation (TSXV: EQTY) ("Equity") reports today high-grade gold intercepts from two verification drill holes that tested the existing block model for the No. 3 Vein on the Silver Queen property, British Columbia. Intercepts include:

a 0.7 metre down-hole interval (0.6m est. True Thickness) averaging 23.8g/t Au, 8g/t Ag and 0.5% Zn (24.2g/t AuEq or 1,814g/t AgEq) within a broader 5.1 metre interval (4.7m est. TT) averaging 4.4g/t Au, 54g/t Ag and 2.5% Zn (6.5g/t AuEq or 485g/t AgEq) from drill hole SQ20-005;

a 0.6m down-hole interval (0.6m est TT) grading 13.3g/t Au, 800g/t Ag, 4% Pb and 11.4% Zn (9.6g/t AuEq or 719g/t AgEq) within a broader 2.8m down-hole interval (2.6m est TT) averaging 3.3g/t Au, 177g/t Ag, 0.9% Pb and 2.7% Zn (7.4g/t AuEq or 556g/t AgEq) from drill hole SQ20-006 that occurs in the hangingwall of the No. 3 Vein; and

a 0.6 metre down-hole interval (0.5m est TT) grading 12.9g/t Au, 352g/t Ag and 2.4% Zn (19.2g/t AuEq or 1439g/t AgEq) within a broader 3.9 metre interval (3.6m est TT) averaging 2.8g/t Au, 121g/t Ag and 3.4% Zn (6.8g/t AuEq or 514g/t AgEq) from drill hole SQ20-006.

Drill holes SQ20-005 and SQ20-006 are verification holes designed to test both the continuity and grade of mineralization within the existing block model that was used to establish the NI43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate on the Property (see news release NR-07-19, dated July 19, 2019). The higher-grade intercept in drill hole SQ20-005 is consistent with the expected thickness and grade predicted by the block model and forms part of a broader 14.8 metre alteration zone of anomalous gold-silver-zinc averaging 2.5g/t AuEq. The mineralization in drill hole SQ20-006 is higher grade than that predicted by the block model, confirms continuity of the current resource, and verifies a higher-grade hangingwall zone than was predicted by the model. The lower zone terminates in a fault and anomalous gold-silver values were identified in the footwall.

Assay results from a third hole, SQ20-004, which tested the No. 3 Vein 150 metres down-dip of the known mineral resource and on the same section as drill hole SQ20-005, intersected a 0.5m interval grading 2.3g/t Au, 46g/t Ag, and 1.1% Zn (3.6g/t AuEq or 267g/t AgEq) within a broader 42m interval of anomalous gold-silver-zinc. The intercept confirms the downdip projection of the No. 3 Vein, opening an entirely new section of the Number 3 vein to be tested beneath the current mineral resource and above drill hole SQ20-004.

These are the results of the first three of five holes that tested the No. 3 Vein during the Company's 2020 Phase I drill program on the Silver Queen Property. Assay results are still pending from drill holes SQ20-007 and SQ20-008, which tested the No 3 Vein target.

Figure 1: Phase I and II Drilling at the Silver Queen Project near Houston, British Columbia

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5566/72382_44876f522408e8b2_002full.jpg







Figure 2: Longitudinal Section of the No. 3 Vein showing NSR distribution, pierce-points of the 2020 current and 2021 planned drill holes

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5566/72382_44876f522408e8b2_003full.jpg

Additional Encouraging Assays at the Camp Vein

Equity also reports that additional assay results have been received from the Camp Vein, including two mineralized intervals from drill hole SQ20-003, which returned:

a 1.2 metre down-hole interval averaging 972g/t Ag, 0.1g/t Au, 0.4% Pb and 0.6% Zn (13.6g/t AuEq or 1,021g/t AgEq), which extended mineralization of a previously reported mineralized interval to 11.1 metres averaging 356g/t Ag, 0.4g/t Au, 1% Pb and 2.3% Zn (7.0g/t AuEq or 522g/t AgEq) ; and

a 1.7 metre down-hole interval averaging 439g/t Ag, 0.1g/t Au, 0.4% Pb and 1.5% Zn (6.9g/t AuEq or 518g/t AgEq).

Additional assay results from drill hole SQ20-009, which tested the Camp Vein target are pending and will be released upon receipt.

2020 Phase II Drill Program Completed, Assays Pending

Phase II drilling on the property was concluded in late December. The program consisted of eight drill holes totalling 1,948 metres and tested the immediate area around bonanza-grade mineralization identified in drill hole SQ20-010 (4.4m averaging 4,632g/t Ag and 0.2g/t Au, 0.4% Pb and 1.2% Zn) on the northwestern end of the vein system, deeper testing in the central part of the vein system, and shallow tests of the No 5 Vein. Drilling tested up to 150 metres below surface on the Camp Vein, which has seen, to date, minimal drilling.

2021 Phase III Drill Program to Commence Late January

The Company also plans a Phase III, 4,000 metre drill program, which will step out from high-grade gold-enriched mineralization in the No. 3 and NG-3 veins, with drilling anticipated to start in late January 2021.

Figure 3: 2020 Phase I and II Drilling at the Camp and No. 5 Veins at Silver Queen,

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5566/72382_44876f522408e8b2_004full.jpg

Table 1: Select Drill Intercepts from the 2020 Drilling on the Silver Queen Property.

Hole # From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) ETT(m) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) Cu

(%) Pb

(%) Zn

(%) AuEq

(g/t) AgEq

(g/t) Comments No. 3 Vein SQ20-004 491.5 492.3 0.8 0.7 0.5 15 0.02 0.1 0.9 1.2 92 New Assays and 514.8 515.3 0.5 0.5 2.3 46 0.09 0.1 1.1 3.6 267 New Assays SQ20-005 16.3 17.2 0.9 0.9 0.7 73 0.10 1.5 2.5 3.7 276 New Assays and 95.5 96.4 0.8 0.8 0.5 18 0.01 0.6 1.5 1.7 131 New Assays and inc. 291.8 307.8 16.0 14.8 1.6 19 0.02 0.1 1.0 2.5 184 31% dilution @ 0.5g/t AuEq Cutoff inc. 292.7 297.8 5.1 4.7 4.4 54 0.05 0.2 2.5 6.5 485 New Assays inc. 292.7 293.4 0.7 0.6 23.8 8 0.01 0.0 0.5 24.2 1814 New Assays and inc. 294.1 295.0 0.8 0.8 2.3 266 0.22 0.8 11.9 12.4 933 New Assays and 330.8 331.7 0.9 0.9 1.0 5 0.01 0.1 0.9 1.6 119 New Assays and 353.5 355.3 1.8 1.6 0.9 2 0.00 0.0 0.3 1.1 80 New Assays SQ20-006 160.00 160.40 0.40 0.4 2.7 198 0.05 1.6 6.8 9.6 719 New Assays and 214.7 217.5 2.8 2.6 3.3 177 0.04 0.9 2.7 7.4 556 0.5g/t AuEq Cutoff, New Assays inc. 216.4 217.0 0.6 0.6 13.3 800 0.15 4.0 11.4 31.7 2378 and 233.9 237.8 3.9 3.6 2.8 121 0.48 0.4 3.4 6.8 514 New Assays inc. 235.0 236.9 0.6 0.5 12.9 352 0.14 0.5 2.4 19.2 1439 Camp Vein SQ20-010 26.4

26.7 0.3

0.2 248 0.03 0.2 0.5 3.8 288 Previously Reported and 48.9 49.2 0.3

0.4 115 0.05 1.8 1.6 3.6 271 Previously Reported and 112.4 116.9 4.4

0.2 4632 0.12 0.4 1.2 62.9 4718 22.5% Dilution; Previously Reported inc. 112.4 114.1 1.6

0.2 12448 0.29 0.5 0.8 167.2 12538 inc. 112.8 113.1 0.3 0.1 56115 1.08 0.6 1.2 750.5 56291 SQ20-001 56.0 57.7 1.7 0.9 37 0.02 0.6 2.4 2.9 221 Previously Reported inc. 56.5 57.2 0.6 1.2 65 0.03 1.2 4.4 4.8 362 and 81.4 83.7 2.4 0.3 23 0.00 0.2 1.0 1.2 88 Previously Reported SQ20-002 30.0 32.8 2.8 0.1 13 0.01 0.4 1.7 1.3 100 28.6% Dilution and 50.0 50.6 0.6 0.9 177 0.05 1.5 5.1 6.5 490 Previously Reported and 112.2 113.3 1.1 0.0 374 0.03 0.2 0.5 5.4 402 Previously Reported SQ20-003 46.0 50.0 4.0 0.3 521 0.07 0.4 2.0 8.5 639 Previously Reported inc. 48.0 48.6 0.6 0.1 2489 0.12 0.2 4.9 35.9 2695 and 75.7 86.8 11.1 0.4 356 0.11 1.0 2.3 7.0 522 26.6% dilution (dike) 75.7 82.7 7.0 0.7 400 0.15 1.6 3.6 8.8 656 Previously Reported inc. 85.6 86.8 1.2 0.1 972 0.09 0.4 0.6 13.6 1021 New Assays and 124.1 125.7 1.7 0.1 439 0.01 0.4 1.5 6.9 518 New Assays inc. 124.1 124.7 0.7 0.0 1083 0.03 0.4 1.3 15.3 1151

Samples were analyzed by FA/AAS for gold and 48 element ICP-MS by MS Analytical, Langley, BC. Silver (>100ppm), copper, lead and zinc (>1%) overlimits assayed by ore grade ICP-ES analysis, High silver overlimits (>1000g/t Ag) and gold overlimits (>10g/t Au) re-assayed with FA-Grav. Silver >10,000g/t re-assayed by concentrate analysis, where a FA-Grav analysis is performed in triplicate and a weighed average reported. Composites calculated using a 80g/t AgEq (1g/t AuEq) cut-off and <20% internal dilution, except where noted. Reported intervals are core lengths, true widths undetermined. Accuracy of results is tested through the systematic inclusion of QA/QC standards, blanks and duplicates into the sample stream. AuEq and AgEq were calculated using prices of $1,500/oz Au, $20/oz Ag, $2.75/lb Cu, $1.00/lb Pb and $1.10/lb Zn. AuEq and AgEq calculations did not account for relative metallurgical recoveries of the metals.

About Silver Queen Project

The Silver Queen Project is a premier gold-silver property with over 100 years of historic exploration and development located adjacent to power, roads and rail with significant mining infrastructure that was developed under previous operators: Bradina JV (Bralorne Mines); and Houston Metals Corp. (a Hunt Brothers company). The property contains an historic decline into the No. 3 Vein, camp infrastructure and a maintained Tailings Facility.

The Silver Queen Property consists of 45 mineral claims, 17 crown grants, and two surface crown grants totalling 18,852ha with no underlying royalties. Mineralization is hosted by a series of epithermal veins distributed over a 6 sq km area. Most of the existing resource is hosted by the No. 3 Vein, which is traced by drilling for approximately 1.2km to the southeast where it transitions into the NG-3 Vein close to the Itsit porphyry area.

An initial NI43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate (see Note 2 below) was detailed in a News Release issued on July 16th, 2019, and using a CDN$100 NSR cut-off, reported a resource of:

Indicated - 244,000ozs AuEq: 85,000ozs Au, 5.2Mozs Ag, 5Mlbs Cu, 17Mlbs Pb and 114Mlbs Zn; and

Inferred - 193,000ozs AuEq: 64,000ozs Au, 4.7Mozs Ag, 5Mlbs Cu, 16Mlbs Pb and 92Mlbs Zn.

Over 20 different vein structures have been identified on the property, forming an extensive network of zoned Cretaceous- to Tertiary-age epithermal veins. The property remains largely under explored.

About Equity Metals Corporation

Equity Metals Corporation is a Manex Resource Group Company. Manex provides exploration, administration, and corporate development services for Equity Metals' two major mineral properties, the Silver Queen Au-Ag-Zn-Cu project, located in central B.C., and the Monument Diamond project, located in Lac De Gras, NWT.

The Company owns 100% interest, with no underlying royalty, in the Silver Queen project, located along the Skeena Arch in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The property hosts high-grade, precious- and base-metal veins related to a buried porphyry system, which has been only partially delineated. The Company also has a controlling JV interest in the Monument Diamond project, NWT, strategically located in the Lac De Gras district within 40 km of both the Ekati and Diavik diamond mines The project owners are Equity Metals Corporation (57.49%), Chris and Jeanne Jennings (22.11%); and Archon Minerals Ltd. (20.4%). Equity Metals is the operator of the project.

The Company also has royalty and working interests in other Canadian properties, which are being evaluated further to determine their value to the Company.

George Cross News letter No.61 (1996). Resource is historic in nature and is provided by the company for information purposes only. It has not been verified by the company and should not be treated as a Mineral Resource Estimate. The 2019 Silver Queen Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources and identified at a CDN$100/NSR cut-off, an indicated resource of 815Kt averaging 3.2g/t Au, 201g/t Ag, 1.0% Pb, 6.4% Zn and 0.26% Cu and an inferred resource of 801Kt averaging 2.5g/t Au, 184g/t Ag, 0.9% Pb, 5.2% Zn and 0.31% Cu. Grade capping on Ag and Zn was performed on 0.75m to 1.24m length composites. Au, Cu and Pb required no capping. ID3 was utilized for grade interpolation for Au and Ag while ID2 was utilized for Cu, Pb and Zn. Grade blocks were interpreted within constraining mineralized domains using and array of 3m x 1m x 3m blocks in the model. A bulk density of 3.56 t/m was used for all tonnage calculations. Approximate US$ two-year trailing average metal prices as follows were used: Au $1,300/oz, Ag $17/oz, Cu $3/lb, Pb $1.05/lb and Zn $1.35/lb with an exchange rate of US$0.77=C$1.00.



The C$100/tonne NSR cut-off grade value for the underground Mineral Resource was derived from mining costs of C$70/t, with process costs of C$20/t and G&A of C$10/t. Process recoveries used were Au 79%, Ag 80%, Cu 81%, Pb 75% and Zn 94%. AuEq and AgEq are based on the formula: NSR (CDN) = (Cu% * $57.58) + (Pb% * $19.16) + (Zn% * $30.88) +(Au g/t * $39.40) + (Ag g/t * $0.44) - $78.76.



Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. Inferred Mineral Resources have a lower level of confidence than Indicated Mineral Resources and may not be converted to a Mineral Reserve but may be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. The Mineral Resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines.



The Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared by Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET and Yungang Wu, P.Geo., of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. ("P&E") of Brampton, Ontario, Independent Qualified Persons ("QP"), as defined by National Instrument 43-101. P&E Mining suggests that an underground mining scenario is appropriate for the project at this stage and has recommended a CDN$100/tonne NSR cut-off value for the base-case resource estimate.

Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is VP Exploration of Equity Metals Corporation and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. He is responsible for the supervision of the exploration on the Silver Queen project and for the preparation of the technical information in this disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr."

Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr. P.Geo

President, Director, Equity Metals Corporation

For further information, visit the website at www.equitymetalscorporation.com; or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.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. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Equity Metals Corporation does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72382
President Joe Biden of the United States of America has called for unity among all Americans regardless of differences in ideology, color and faith.

Mr Biden, who disclosed this shortly after he was sworn in as the 46th President of the U.S, Wednesday, said he will be a President for all Americans.

The inauguration, which took place at the Capitol, Washington DC, had in attendance three of his predecessors in office  Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama and their wives.

Expectedly, Donald Trump swayed away from the inauguration ceremony. He is reportedly in Florida at the moment

Read Below is the U.S. President Joe Bidens inaugural address as prepared for delivery.

Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, and my distinguished guests, my fellow Americans, this is Americas day. This is democracys day, a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew.

And America has risen to the challenge. Today we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people, has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded.

Weve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

So now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitols very foundation, we come together as one nation under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries. As we look ahead in our uniquely American way, restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.

I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And I know  and I know the resilience of our constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation, as does President Carter who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime in service.

Ive just taken the sacred oath each of those patriots have taken. The oath first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the people, who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, weve come so far, but we still have far to go.

Well press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain. Few people in our nations history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time were in now.

Once in a century virus that silently stalks the country. Its taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost, hundreds of thousands of businesses closed, a cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

A cry for survival comes from planet itself. A cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear, and now a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy, unity. Unity. In another January, on New Years Day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation. When he put pen to paper, the president said, and I quote, if my name ever goes down into history, itll be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.

Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Uniting to fight the foes we face, anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things.

We can right wrongs. We can put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus. We can reward  reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all. We can deliver racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.

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I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know that the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal, and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart.

The battle is perennial, and victory is never assured. Through civil war, the great depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifices, and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of these moments, enough of us  enough of us  have come together to carry all of us forward, and we can do that now.

History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other, not as adversaries, but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury.

No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America. If we do that, I guarantee you, we will not fail. We have never, ever, ever, ever failed in America when weve acted together.

And so today, at this time, in this place, lets start afresh, all of us. Lets begin to listen to one another again.

Hear one another. See one another. Show respect to one another. Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesnt have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated, and even manufactured.

My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. America has to be better than this, and I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around. Here we stand, in the shadow of the Capitol dome, as it was mentioned earlier, completed amid the civil war, when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. Yet, we endured. We prevailed.

Here we stand, looking out on the great mall where Dr. King spoke of his dream. Here we stand where, 108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote. And today, we mark the swearing of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Dont tell me things cant change!

Here we stand, across the Potomac, from Arlington Cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion, rest in eternal peace. And here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

Not ever. To all those who supported our campaign, Im humbled by the faith youve placed in us. To all of those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart.

If you still disagree, so be it. Thats democracy. Thats America. The right to dissent peaceably. Within the guardrails of our republic its perhaps this nations greatest strength. Yet hear me clearly, disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you, I will be a president for all Americans, all Americans.

And I promise you, I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did. Many centuries ago, St. Augustine, a saint in my church, wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love. Defined by the common objects of their love. What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans?

I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honor and, yes, the truth. The recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit.

And each of us has a duty and a responsibility as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Look  I understand that many of my fellow Americans view the future with fear and trepidation. I understand they worry about their jobs. I understand like my dad, they lay in bed wondering, can I keep my health care, can I pay my mortgage. Thinking about their families, about what comes next. I promise you, I get it.

But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who dont look like  look like you or worship the way you do or dont get their news from the same source as you do. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus  rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.

If we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we are willing to stand in the other persons shoes  as my mom would say  just for a moment, stand in their shoes. Because heres the thing about life: theres no accounting for what fate will deal you.

Some days, when you need a hand. There are other days when were called to lend a hand. Thats how it has to be. Thats what we do for one another.

And if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. And we can still disagree. My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, were going to need each other. We need all our strength to preserve  to persevere through this dark winter. Were entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus.

We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation, one nation. And I promise you this. As the Bible says, Weep, ye may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. We will get through this together. Together. Look, folks, all my colleagues that I served with in the house and the senate up here, we all understand, the world is watching, watching all of us today. So heres my message to those beyond our borders.

America has been tested, and weve come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterdays challenges, but todays and tomorrows challenges.

And well lead not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. Well be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security.

Look, you all know, weve been through so much in this nation. In my first act as president, Id like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all those who we lost in this past year to the pandemic, those 400,000 fellow Americans  moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Well honor them by becoming the people and the nation we know we can and should be.

So, I ask you, lets say a silent prayer for those who have lost their lives and those left behind and for our country.

Amen. Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth. A raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis. Americas role in the world. Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is, we face them all at once. Presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities weve had. Now were going to be tested.

Are we going to step up, all of us? Its time for boldness, for there is so much to do. And this is certain. I promise you, we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era. We will rise to the occasion, is the question. Will we master this rare and difficult hour?

Will we meet our obligations, and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we must. Im sure you do as well. I believe we will. And when we do, well write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America, the American story, a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me. Its called American Anthem. And theres one verse that stands out, at least for me.

And it goes like this: The work and prayers of century have brought us to this day. What shall be our legacy? What will our children say? Let me know in my heart when my days are through. America, America, I gave my best to you. Lets add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation.

If we do this, then when our days are through, our children and our childrens children will say of us, they gave their best, they did their duty, they healed a broken land. My fellow Americans, I close the day where I began, with a sacred oath before God and all of you. I give you my word, I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. Ill defend our democracy. Ill defend America.

And Ill give all, all of you, keep everything you  I do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not of personal injuries but the public good. And together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness.

May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us, and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history, we met the moment. Democracy and hope, truth and justice, did not die on our watch, but thrived, that America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. That is what we owe our forebears, one another, and generations to follow.

So, with purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasked of our time, sustained by faith, driven by conviction, and devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts. May God bless America and may God protect our troops. Thank you, America.
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Mount Greylock Negotiating to Modify COVID-19 Agreement with Union

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee continues to hear from parents concerned about the lack of in-person instruction for most children in the PreK-12 district even as the panel works to modify the agreement with its unions to allow just that.

The committee held an executive session after last Thursday's meeting to discuss strategies with respect to collective bargaining with its union personnel. And Superintendent Jason McCandless said on Friday that he has asked the committee to look at some dates for a special meeting to consider a revised memorandum of understanding with the Mount Greylock Educational Association.

The next regular meeting of the School Committee is Feb. 11, but it was clear from the public comments at the start of last week's meeting that some in the community are unwilling to wait until the middle of next month for a revision to the MOU that allowed classes to begin in September

The committee was reminded that a petition calling for in-person instruction received more than 200 signatures in 36 hours, and that those families continue to be frustrated with the district's move from hybrid instruction to fully remote learning in early December

"I ask why Williamstown Elementary School, located in a town that has had a percent positivity rate less than than 2 percent since the beginning of the school year is engaged in all remote learning for most of the students," Catherine Keating asked in comments read aloud by School Committee Chair Christina Conry. "Please explain to me and to the hundreds of children and families who are suffering the negative ramifications of this policy, why we are being forced to do this.

"I do understand quite fully the health implications and severity of the COVID-19 virus. But there is a way to get our children back into the school buildings in a safe and responsible manner for all those involved."

Later in the meeting, McCandless did explain, again, why the district was forced to move to remote learning given the current public health metrics in the data.

Under the agreement negotiated in the summer by the union and administration, under the direction of the School Committee, there are a series of metrics that can trigger remote learning in the district. They include the test positivity rate in the district's member towns (Lanesborough and Williamstown) and the designation of those towns on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's green-yellow-red index for municipalities.

The metric that currently drives the district's remote instruction status is the COVID-19 test positivity rate for Berkshire County. According to the MOU, the district's three schools go remote when that number is 3 percent or greater.

When the commonwealth released the most recent county positivity rates on Jan. 13, that number stood at 4.95 percent for the last 14 days.

Any alteration to the MOU would be subject to collective bargaining, and those discussions are ongoing, McCandless said.

"I do want to assure each of you elected members and really assure the rest of our community that we work at this," he said. "We meet, formally, at a minimum once a week and generally more. And we talk informally all the time. And we continue to try to strike an almost impossible balance of what the community wants of us and expects from us and what kids need from us and what the people who actually do the work with our kids in classrooms need from us."

School Committee member Jose Constantine asked McCandless what the district is planning to help students recover from the impact of the pandemic.

McCandless said the administration continues to plan "a couple of different things" for the summer but did not get into any specifics. He also said the middle-high school plans to add to its capacity to address students' social and emotional wellness in the fiscal year 2022 budget that the School Committee will see later this winter.

"We are certainly committed, and you heard a little in Principal [Jake] Schutz's presentation tonight," McCandless said. "What he was kind of too polite to say is that he wants to add an adjustment counsellor, a social worker, to his staff.

"In the best of times, that's a good investment. When you have 600 teenagers collected in a place with the pressures that come with being 13 through 22, that's a good investment in good times, but it's a great investment in hard times."

Schutz talked about a need to increase students' access to social workers and the school's wellness staff during the presentation of his school improvement plan, an annual exercise that precedes the School Committee's consideration of the next fiscal year's budget.

"Social emotional wellness and social emotional learning is a goal that was on there last year, and it's being reinforced this year," Schutz said. "The current effort is institutionalizing and recognizing that SEW/SEL is a staple element or an important ingredient in the overarching vision of what we value as a school community."

The school improvement plan is developed by each building's school council for presentation to the School Committee, which is responsible for the district's budget. The Mount Greylock SIP includes four other goals in addition to the social/emotional wellness piece for the 2021-22 academic year: academic achievement; diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; enhancing and promoting the arts; and building skills and obtaining resources to use data to measure progress in school improvement and strategic goals.

"We would need [resources] to measure our progress," Schutz said. "We want to see if we're moving the needle and if we're moving it in the right direction.  Some resources here are professional hours, instruments, ways to collect and analyze the data so we can hopefully work harder, not smarter. And also training of personnel so we can make sure our efforts are focused in the right direction.

"Success here would require dedicated resources or expertise.  We're not waiting for additional resources and professional hours to make this all happen. We are using what we have in trying to reorganize and regroup to tackle some of these goals with what we have at hand."
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.

A publicity image for Sant Antoni in Manacor this year featured a wooden wardrobe with the doors open. On the shelves lay two masks - one of the demon, the other of Sant Antoni. There was a figure of the saint for the blessings (of the animals) and there was a blue tunic. On this tunic was a white cross - the symbol of Sant Antoni. This is known as the Tau, which is not a Mallorcan or Catalan word, it is the nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet and was also the last letter of the Phoenician and Old Hebrew alphabets. The Tau is the letter t.

The image said it all: the paraphernalia for the Sant Antoni fiestas was staying in the wardrobe. Nevertheless, one element was prominent. On the wall of the town hall building, to the right and left of the balcony with its flags, were two blue banners with the white cross symbol. The Tau is as intimately linked to Sant Antoni as are demons, bonfires and the blessings. It can also be red - it is in Muro - but in Manacor and Sa Pobla it is white.

The Tau is more widely associated with the Franciscans, but Francis of Assisi and his followers adopted it from the Anthonians, the religious orders and communities under the patronage of Sant Antoni.

Towards the end of the eleventh century, a congregation was founded that gave thanks to relief from Saint Anthonys Fire, a herpes ailment that produced sores very similar to burns. This congregation was in a place called Saint-Didier de la Mothe in what is now the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region of France. The name of this place was changed to Saint-Antoine-lAbbaye. The relics of Sant Antoni were supposedly in the church, while the congregation (the Antonines) founded the original hospital of the Hospital Brothers of Saint Anthony. The hospital treated those afflicted by Saint Anthonys Fire, an all too common complaint in those mediaeval times. It was caused by ergot poisoning, fungus from rye and similar grasses, and ergotism was the long-term effect

Members of the congregation wore black habits and on it was the Tau, referred to as Saint Anthonys cross. So, the use of this Greek letter in France and the abbey of Saint-Antoine were to serve as parts of the tradition of Sant Antoni in Mallorca. The abbey lent its name to Sant Antoni, typically known in Mallorca as Sant Antoni Abat.

The Anthonians and the Franciscans modified the letter so that it came to represent the cross of Jesus. It is a striking symbol because of its simplicity and also the impressions conveyed of austerity (Antoni was a hermit) and ominousness. Antoni was confronted by the devil, but the T also symbolises life and resurrection, and it had done for centuries before the Anthonians adopted it.

The Tau is one element of a Sant Antoni tradition in Mallorca which, depending on municipality, can have its different emphases. For example, in Sa Pobla they award a Tau dOr each year, a gold T. It is granted by the Obreria de Sant Antoni, the body which oversees the maintenance of the church and also the traditions of the fiesta.

Coming back to the saints name, Manacor doesnt usually refer to him as Abat. Theyre right not to in one regard, and that was because he never was an abbot and certainly not in late-eleventh century France. The link with the abbey does, however, explain why Manacor prefers Sant Antoni de Viana. Saint-Didier de la Mothe, later Saint-Antoine-lAbbaye, was near to a village called Vienne - Viena del Delfinat in Catalan. Viena became Viana.

There are other names, such as Sant Antoni del Foc (a reference to Saint Anthonys Fire and not bonfires) and Sant Antoni del Porquet, the piglet. While the saint is known for his animal blessings, the specific reference to the piglet is because pig fat was one of the treatments for Saint Anthonys Fire and ergotism. In Palma, the Anthonian order was to come into conflict with the city authorities who, in 1719, sought to ban pigs from wandering along the streets. The pigs had until then been able to go more or less where they wanted to.

The history of the celebrations of Sant Antoni varies as well. In Sa Pobla it goes back to the fourteenth century, but in Manacor there is no documentary evidence of the fiesta before 1854, albeit that there had been blessings of animals for a long time before this. However, the chapel of Sant Antoni was built in 1300, and so there would have been some celebration - a special devotion probably - from that time, and the Tau would almost certainly have featured.

Next year, we can but hope that the tunic with the cross of the T doesnt remain in the wardrobe. Centuries of tradition cant be denied.
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BRUSSELS - The European Unions top officials breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday that Joe Biden will be taking over as president of the United States, but they warned that the world has changed after four years of Donald Trump and that trans-Atlantic ties will be different in the future.

European Council President Charles Michel addresses European lawmakers during a plenary session on the inauguration of the new President of the United States and the current political situation, at the European Parliament in Brussels, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, Pool)

BRUSSELS - The European Unions top officials breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday that Joe Biden will be taking over as president of the United States, but they warned that the world has changed after four years of Donald Trump and that trans-Atlantic ties will be different in the future.

This new dawn in America is the moment weve been awaiting for so long, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, hailing Bidens arrival as resounding proof that, once again after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House.

The United States are back, and Europe stands ready to reconnect with an old and trusted partner to breathe new life into our cherished alliance, she told EU lawmakers, hours before Biden was to be sworn in at his inauguration ceremony in Washington.

European Council President Charles Michel, who chairs summits between the EUs 27 heads of state and government, said that trans-Atlantic relations have greatly suffered in the last four years. In these years, the world has grown more complex, less stable and less predictable.

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen addresses European lawmakers during a plenary session on the inauguration of the new President of the United States and the current political situation, at the European Parliament in Brussels, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, Pool)

We have our differences and they will not magically disappear. America seems to have changed, and how its perceived in Europe and the rest of the world has also changed, said Michel, whose open criticism of the Trump era contrasted starkly with the silence that mostly reigned in Europe while the Republican leader was in the White House.

This change, Michel said, means that we Europeans (must) take our fate firmly into our own hands, to defend our interests and promote our values, and he underlined that the EU chooses its course and does not wait for permission to take its own decisions.

The Europeans have invited Biden to a summit, quite probably in Brussels, in parallel with a top-level NATO meeting as soon as hes ready. Michel said the EUs priority is to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, rebuild the global economy and boost security ties with Washington.

In Germany, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued a video statement on his website as well as Instagram and Facebook before the inauguration, calling it a good day for democracy.

He said that the U.S. had faced tremendous challenges and endured.

Despite the attempts to tear at Americas institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress have proven strong, he said. I am greatly relieved that, today, Joe Biden is being sworn in as president and will be moving into the White House. I know many people in Germany share this feeling.

With Biden and incoming Vice-President Kamala Harris, Steinmeier said there was new hope that the U.S. would again be a vital partner internationally to tackle issues like the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, security issues including arms control and disarmament, and multiple conflicts.

When our views do differ, such differences of opinion will not divide us, but should rather spur us on to find joint solutions, he said. Despite all the joy we feel today, we must not forget that even the most powerful democracy in the world has been seduced by populism.

"We must work resolutely to counter polarization, protect and strengthen the public square in our democracies, and shape our policies on the basis of reason and facts.

In Poland, where the right-wing government has been on very good terms with the Trump administration, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, said that he expects co-operation with Biden and his team to develop positively.

We have many points in common, joint projects linked to the Three Seas Initiative (in central and eastern Europe) where we are developing many infrastructure connections, Morawiecki told an online news conference.

He also mentioned the energy sector, where Poland is importing substantial quantities of U.S. liquefied gas, LNG, and security co-operation around NATOs borders with Russia, saying that for these reasons and also due to the security cohesion, this co-operation will be developing well, or even very well.

David Rising in Berlin, and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, contributed to this report.


GRANITE CITY  A team of Southwestern Illinois College students recently participated in the Department of Defense Advanced Manufacturing contest at the colleges Sam Wolf Granite City Campus.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, each school competed at their own campus.
Vice President Mike Pence has arrived at the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.

Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were announced at inaugural festivities at the U.S. Capitol about one hour ahead of Biden's expected swearing-in ceremony.

Pence is representing the outgoing Trump administration at Biden's inaugural. President Donald Trump is skipping the festivities, departing Washington earlier in the day for the last time as sitting president.

Aboard Air Force One a final time, Trump landed in West Palm Beach, Florida, just before Pence's arrival at the inaugural platform.

During remarks before his departure, Trump hinted at a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years, telling supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland ``We will be back in some form.''

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The state's Health Department issued a statement saying that a 42-year-old male health worker developed chest pain at about 2.30 am on 20 January. He was brought dead to the District Hospital in Nirmal at around 5.30 am

A healthcare worker from the Nirmal district of Telangana died early Wednesday after developing chest pain. He was inoculated with the coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday, reports said.

According to a report in CNBC, the state's health department issued a statement saying that the 42-year-old male health worker developed chest pain at about 2.30 am on 20 January. He was brought dead to the district hospital in Nirmal at around 5.30 am.

The state government has denied any links between his death and the coronavirus vaccine. However, the postmortem is yet to be done. "Preliminary findings suggest that the death could be unrelated to the vaccination," the official statement said.

According to a report by The Times of India, Dr G Srinivasa Rao, director of public health, Telangana, said, "The district AEFI committee is examining the matter and will submit its report to the state AEFI committee. The state AEFI committee will, in turn, furnish its report to the central AEFI committee for taking a view."

Telangana began inoculating frontline healthcare workers on 16 January with about 4,000 healthcare personnel receiving the first dose. Telangana had received 20,000 doses of the Covaxine as against 3.64 lakh of Covishied.

With inputs from PTI
Tsatsu Tsikata, lead lawyer for John Dramani Mahama, in the election petition before the Supreme Court on Tuesday said he was not ready to file his issues.



The filing of issues essentially serves as a guide to the court on what is up for adjudication in the case before the apex court.



Addressing the seven-member Supreme Court panel presided over by Chief Justice Anin Yeboah, Tsikata indicated that he will require a careful look at the ruling of the Supreme Court with regard to his earlier application seeking an order of the court to direct the Electoral Commission chairperson, Jean Mensa, to provide answers to some 10 questions they have identified, in order to advise himself appropriately.



Motion for Interlocutories



Former president Mahamas lawyer, when proceedings started in court today, moved a motion praying the court for leave to serve certain questions on the Electoral Commission (Application for Interlocutories) which he claims if answered would narrow down the issues before the court.



Ex-president Mahama, who is challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election, wanted the EC to answer among others, questions relating to the processes involved in the transmission of results from the polling station level, to the constituency level, to the regional offices of the EC and subsequently to the Returning Officer of the presidential election, Jean Mensa.



He is also seeking to solicit responses on whether or not the National Communications Authority (NCA) in any way facilitated the transmission of results from the various centres to the national headquarters of the EC.



EC opposes application

The EC through its lawyer, Justin Amenuvor, opposed the application, urging the court not to grant the application as it does not raise any relevant issues that are in contention. It was the case of the EC that the answers being sought for are already contained in the petition and the responses of the respondents.



Ruling

The court ruled that the application for interlocutories by the petitioner were not grounded in law and that same is in contravention of the rules that are governing the adjudication of the election petition which is the main issue before the court.



The application is hereby dismissed, the Chief Justice ruled.



Filing of issues

After the ruling of the court, it proceeded to ask the lawyers of all three parties on the approach they wanted to use in presenting the issues that are to be laid down for determination. Tsatsu on his part asked the court to permit his side to file their issues on Thursday 21 January 2021 instead of the suggested date and time (9am on Wednesday 20 January 2021). Lawyer for the EC (First Respondent), indicated that he was ready to go by the direction of the court.



Akoto Ampaw, lawyer for Akufo-Addo, expressed surprise at the petitioners lawyers request for more time to file his issues. He noted that during the 2012/2013 petition, the parties set down the issues for determination orally in court and that he is ready to do same in the instant case.



The court after hearing the lawyers ruled that they should file their issues at the Supreme Court Registry by 9am 20 January 2021. The court further ruled that it will subsequently reconstitute the same day for the case to take its natural course.







Source: Wilberforce Asare/asaaseradio









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The South African coronavirus mutation poses a 'significant re-infection risk' and could overpower vaccines, new research has found.

The strains discovered in Britain, South Africa and Brazil all have mutations of a spike protein, which enables the virus to latch onto human cells and therefore plays a key role in driving infections.

But it is one mutation in particular - known as E484K and present in the variants from South Africa and Brazil - that has experts worried about immunity 'escape'.

Researchers in South Africa tested the variant found there - called 501Y.V2 - against blood plasma from recovered Covid-19 patients.

They found it was resistant to neutralising antibodies built up from prior infection, meaning that it could also defy immunity provided by the current crop of jabs.

Members of the public receive a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday at Salisbury cathedral which has been converted into a temporary vaccination centre

Healthcare workers attend to a patient at the Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Hospital Del Mar in Barcelona on Wednesday

'Here we show that the 501Y.V2 lineage, which contains nine spike mutations and rapidly emerged in South Africa during the second half of 2020, is largely resistant to neutralising antibodies elicited by infection with previously circulating lineages,' the authors said.

'This suggests that, despite the many people who have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2 globally and are presumed to have accumulated some level of immunity, new variants such as 501Y.V2 pose a significant re-infection risk.'

The researchers added that this might also affect the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for Covid-19.

They also referred to 'implications' for vaccines developed based on immune responses to the virus's spike protein.

Has Britain got its Pfizer vaccine strategy wrong? Israel's top coronavirus medic has claimed the first dose of Pfizer 's Covid vaccine is less effective than he expected. Dr Nachman Ash, one of the medics leading the Covid-19 response in Israel, said the first instalment of the jab did not cut infection rates as much as he had hoped. He told local media Army Radio: 'Many people have been infected between the first and second injections of the vaccine,' but it can take 10 days or more for the immunity to kick in. Real-world data from Israel's world-beating rollout showed the first dose led to a 33 per cent reduction in cases of coronavirus between 14 and 21 days afterwards in people who got the jab. Another of the country's top doctors said it was 'really good news'. But the figure is lower than the British regulator's estimate, which said it may prevent 89 per cent of recipients from getting Covid-19 symptoms. However, Israel's data does not prove anything about possible impacts of the UK's controversial 12-week gap between doses. The country does not give any more than three weeks between the first and second doses, during which time protection is expected to be minimal at best  and the vaccine is not intended to prevent infection, but severe disease and death. Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific adviser, today said he would expect all vaccines to be less effective in the real world than in trials. He added that Britain should look 'very carefully' at data during the vaccine rollout to see what effect its having. Advertisement

It comes after Sir Patrick Vallance admitted there were still 'question marks' over whether the vaccines would work against the South African and Brazilian strains.

No10's chief scientific adviser added it was 'quite likely' Britons may need to get a Covid jab every winter for 'at least a few years'.

However, Sir Patrick was able to say emphatically that the so-called Kent variant, first found in England, would be dealt with by the vaccines.

Trevor Bedford of the Fred Hutchinson Research Center said the South African variant could 'spread more widely in the coming months'.

If the results of the new research are confirmed, he said it may be necessary to adapt the virus 'strain' used in developing the vaccine by autumn of this year.

The findings are 'not good news but it's not unexpected,' said James Naismith, Director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, in comments to the Science Media Centre.

He said real world immune responses were more complex than those of the blood plasma neutralising antibodies.

'The vaccines do stimulate very strong responses, immunity is a sliding scale, it's not an on/off switch,' he added.

Two other preliminary studies posted on Wednesday found that the antibodies from previously-infected patients are largely effective against the variant detected in Britain and that the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine appears to be guard against it as well.

It comes after Britain recorded its deadliest day since the pandemic started for the second day in a row on Wednesday, with 1,820 more victims.

Boris Johnson called the figure 'appalling' but warned of 'tough weeks to come.'

'The light will only really begin to dawn as we get those vaccinations out,' the Prime Minister told the Downing Street press briefing.

The vaccines being rolled out now are based on versions of the constantly-evolving virus studied a year ago, so may become less effective as more mutations occur over time.

Cambridge University microbiologist Dr Ravi Gupta yesterday told MailOnline 'the time has come' to start making updated vaccines to tackle common concerning mutations that have cropped up in multiple unconnected variants around the world.

Moderna said it was confident its jab will work against the England and South Africa variants and it will carry out more tests on the Brazilian one. Oxford University said it was running checks on its own jab.

Pfizer today said the it was 'unlikely' that the B.1.1.7 lineage  the Kent variant  will evade the vaccine. Studies of a lab-made version of the variant was neutralised by antibodies created by the jab.

The drug giant's results come after another variation of the coronavirus was found in Germany, although scientists don't yet know if it is any more infectious or deadly.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific adviser, held a television Q&A with members of the public on Sky News this morning

And there are signs the English variant of the virus has been spreading in the US for two months already, with it likely to have been in California as early as November 6.

Coronavirus variant found in Germany Another mutated coronavirus variant has been found in Germany, different to those originating in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. Health officials said the variant was identified in Bavarian hospital patients, but it isn't yet known how transmissible it is or whether it makes Covid worse. Concerns have grown in recent weeks over the spread of the variants, the UK-based version of which forced Boris Johnson to cancel Christmas for millions and plunge the nation into a third national lockdown. Discovery of the new German strain has also seen Angela Merkel take action, with the Chancellor declaring restrictions including the closure of schools and shops will be extended until mid-February. Germany's infection rate has stabilised in recent days, indicating that existing restrictions may have been effective in bringing down the numbers. The variant was found in 35 out of 73 newly infected people at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the southeast of the country. Experts continue to analyse samples after Clemens Stockklausner, deputy medical director at the Charite university hospital in Berlin, admitted it was too early to say whether this virus was more deadly than other variants. He said: 'At the moment we have discovered a small point mutation and it is absolutely not clear whether it will be of clinical relevance. 'We have to wait for the complete sequencing.' Advertisement

The major concerns about the Kent, South Africa and Brazil variants of the virus are that they are now widespread and significantly different to earlier versions, to which many people have developed immunity.

Kent's variant is the one least likely to drive down the efficacy of a vaccine because it is missing a mutation found on the other two.

The Brazilian and South African variants share a mutation called E484K, which is thought to change the shape of the spike protein on the outside of the virus so much that immune system antibodies in many people are unable to recognise it.

Researchers have not yet done tests on how the immune system of someone who has had a Covid vaccine would respond to those versions of the virus.

When asked about variants and vaccines in a television Q&A on Sky News this morning, Sir Patrick said: 'On the variant that was first identified in Kent, I think we're increasingly of the view that that variant will be susceptible to the vaccine and to previous immunity.

'The studies are all pointing in that direction so I think that's good in terms of vaccine effect.

'For some of the others that are popping up around the world  and they will continue to pop up  we've still got some question marks as to how effective a vaccine will be.

'Those studies need to be continued and I think it's likely that we will need to have modified vaccines in due course.'

The reason new variants may be able to get past the immune system is that the substances the body makes to tackle viruses are extremely specific and fit to the virus like a key in a lock.

These substances, the main type of which are antibodies, can be made by someone catching the virus for real or being injected with a vaccine.

If the virus changes shape too much  and it is constantly changing because of random errors when it reproduces, even though many of these changes make no difference  the immune system won't be able to attach to it.

Companies and scientists making the current crop of vaccines insist that their vaccines will still work as intended, at least on the Kent variant also known as B.1.1.7.

Pfizer and BioNTech scientists yesterday published a paper that said it was 'unlikely that the B.1.1.7 lineage will escape [vaccine]-mediated protection'.

The team exposed the virus to the blood of 16 people who had been enrolled in trials of the companies' vaccine to see if the immune cells would recognise and destroy it.

Britons sit socially distanced after receiving a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at Salisbury cathedral today

When they compared the immune reaction to this Kent variant with the reaction to the original virus from Wuhan they said there was 'no biologically significant difference in neutralization activity'.

SOME CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS COULD STILL BE IN PLACE NEXT WINTER, TOP ADVISER WARNS Coronavirus restrictions could still be in place next winter despite mass roll out of the vaccine, Sir Patrick Vallance has warned. Although England's third lockdown could be gradually lifted from March, top advisers say, they add some measures - such as social distancing and face masks - could remain in place into next year. The chief scientific officer told Sky News today that despite it being likely the UK would be in a 'better' position by next winter, he didn't think Britons could assume all measures would be lifted. 'It's more likely to be making sure that we wear face masks in certain places, making sure that we keep up with hand washing, making sure that we're sensible about the way in which we interact with people in indoor environment's,' he said. 'That's the sort of thing you might anticipate. 'But this virus has taken us by surprise time and time again, and we just don't know.' He added: 'I'd be very surprised if we go in year-on-year needing to do things more than that but this coming winter I think we need to wait and see how far we get on with the current reduction in numbers that needs to occur.' Advertisement

Moderna said in a statement: 'The Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine expresses the full-length spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, allowing for the generation of neutralizing antibody responses to multiple domains of the protein.

'The full-length Spike protein is 1,273 amino acids long, so while recent variants involve multiple mutations, for instance up to eight amino acid changes in the spike protein of the B.1.1.7 strain, these represent less than a one per cent difference from the spike protein encoded by Moderna's vaccine.

'While we plan to run tests to confirm the activity of the vaccine against any strain, the broad range of potential neutralizing antibodies made possible by the Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine provide confidence that our vaccine will also be effective at inducing neutralizing antibodies against them.'

An AstraZeneca spokesperson said: 'The University of Oxford and labs across the world are carefully assessing the impact of new variants on vaccine effectiveness, and starting the processes needed for rapid development of adjusted Covid-19 vaccines if these should be necessary.'

While the claim that Pfizer's jab will still work against the variant is good news for Britain, where it is now the dominant strain, it is also good for the US, which has seen it spread widely with research now suggesting it has been there since November.

University of Arizona researchers studied the genomes of 50 B.1.1.7 infections in the US and traced their lineage to determine when the mutated variant first appeared in the US.

They found two clusters of infections, one in California and one in Florida, which originated on November 6 and November 23 respectively  the first being roughly six weeks before SAGE told the government about the new variant and health secretary Matt Hancock announced it to the public.

This retrospective study has the benefit of genomic analysis and hindsight, and the first actual case of the Kent strain was not diagnosed in an American until December 29.

'It is striking that this lineage may already have been established in the US for some 5-6 weeks before B.1.1.7 was first identified as a variant of concern in the UK in mid-December,' the researchers write.

'And it may have been circulating in the US for close to two months before it was first detected, on 29 December 2020.'

Greater concern about the effectiveness of vaccines is swirling around mutations that emerged in South Africa and Brazil, which carry an extra mutation called E484K.

So what IS holding up Britain's great Covid vaccine rollout? Fears Britain may be lagging behind on the great vaccination rollout was raised yesterday, after the daily rate fell for a third consecutive day. But there is mounting confusion about the source of the problems. Here, MailOnline delves into some of the factors that could be hampering the roll-out. SUPPLY? Officials say there are 'a lot of moving parts' contributing to the slowdown, with 'intermittent' deliveries of supplies' playing a role. Pfizer's supplies have been dented by an upgrade to its Belgian factor, which will continue into next month. Government sources have dismissed claims there are 21million doses of vaccines already in the country, although they refused to give details of stocks saying it would be a security risk. DISTRIBUTION? Sadiq Khan last week accused No10 of not delivering a fair share of the Covid vaccines to London. Ministers and the NHS denied the claims. London's mayor blamed a simplistic formula for the lack of supply, saying the algorithm did not take into account the size of GP practices. The allocation is believed to have been based on take-up of last season's flu vaccine, which was relatively low. CARE HOME FOCUS? No10 sources have also claimed the rollout is being slowed down through difficulties contacting the remaining over-80s. They said that top priority groups get harder to reach when more have been vaccinated already. Advertisement

This mutation has been linked in early scientific studies to 'immune escape' and may make the antibodies of some people significantly less effective at destroying it.

South African academics found that 48 per cent of blood samples from people who had been infected in the past did not show an immune response to the new variant.

Professor Penny Moore, the researcher behind the project, claimed people who were sicker with coronavirus the first time and had a stronger immune response appeared less likely to get reinfected.

She told a scientific panel meeting earlier this week: 'When you test the blood of people infected in the first wave and you ask 'Do those antibodies in that blood recognise the new virus?' you find that in 50 per cent of cases  nearly half of cases  there's no longer any recognition of the new variant.

'In the other half of those individuals, however, there is some recognition that remains. I should add those are normally people who were incredibly ill, hospitalised and mounted a very robust response to the virus.'

Professor Moore said that research made it 'clear that we do have a problem', but that it is still in its early stages and laboratory studies cannot perfectly recreate the real world.

On whether vaccines would be affected, she added: 'If you have very high antibodies to begin with, there does remain some recognition of the new virus and that's important as we think about vaccines.

'Some vaccines elicit very high levels of antibodies and others do not, so we need to understand whether there is some recognition by vaccine-elicited, rather than infection-elicited, antibodies.'

The inevitable mutation of the virus could mean that vaccines have to be updated, redeveloped and given out every year in the same way that flu jabs are.

Sir Patrick said: 'I think that will be something that's going to be a regular feature of this.

'Fortunately the new vaccine technology, particularly the messenger RNA vaccines [Pfizer and Moderna], are relatively easier to change and you can almost dial up a change. It then takes a few weeks for that to be made and come through, so it's not instantaneous, but I think that's what's going to come through.

'I wouldn't be at all surprised if, from time to time, we need to get slight variations of the vaccine in order to make sure we keep on top of this, and I think changes in the virus will occur all over the world.

'Viruses mutate, that's what they do, and I would expect to see more and more of that as we go forward.'
The blockchain and crypto finance venture firm said the value of its cryptocurrency and tokens has increased by 40% since December 21 to US$1.5mln

( ) said since a previous update on December 21, the value of its fully vested cryptocurrency and token treasury, excluding cash at bank, has increased by around 40% to US$1.5mln thanks to what it said was ongoing buoyancy in the global cryptocurrency markets.

The blockchain, and crypto finance venture firm also said that in addition to its treasury, there is a further US$163,890 denominated in RIF tokens which it will vest monthly over the coming 22 months.

The firm added that the value of its fully vested and vesting RIF tokens is continuing to grow, helped by the RIF tokens debut listing on crypto exchange Binance.com on January 7, and that the tokens value has increased 45% in the last month to around US$0.185.

Meanwhile, Coinsilium said it expects its entry into the digital asset and non-fungible token (NFT) market to provide ample opportunities to generate future cryptocurrency denominated revenue streams, adding that its first NFT project, the Gibraltar Crypto Stamp Digital Collectible, is due to go live in the second quarter of 2021 and that discussions around other potential NFT project opportunities are at various stages of development.

In the wider market, the company said a growing number of US institutions, including asset managers, pension funds and insurance companies starting to allocate Bitcoin into their treasury as a long duration asset, which in turn is fuelling a strong growth cycle in the overall blockchain and cryptocurrency sector and providing highly favourable market conditions that will support its growth and development.

The firm also said that its chief executive Eddy Travia and Chairman Malcolm Palle will be participating in a StartupGrind webinar which will be hosted from Gibraltar on January 28, with investors able to register from www.startupgrind.com/e/mpe7pc/.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon in the final hours of his White House term as part of a flurry of clemency action that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.

A security team patrols in front of the White House as preparations continue ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/David Phillip)

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon in the final hours of his White House term as part of a flurry of clemency action that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.

The last-minute clemency, announced after midnight on Wednesday, follows separate waves of pardons over the past month for Trump associates convicted in the FBIs Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law.

Taken together, the actions underscore the presidents willingness, all the way through his four years in the White House, to flex his constitutional powers in ways that defy convention and explicitly aid his friends and supporters.

Trump did not pardon himself, despite speculation that he would, in the face of potential federal investigations. He had previously asserted that he had the authority to do so. He also did not pardon his children or his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

The final list was full of more conventional candidates whose cases had been championed by criminal justice activists. One man who has spent nearly 24 years in prison on drug and weapons charges but had shown exemplary behaviour behind bars had his sentence commuted. So did a former Marine sentenced in 2000 in connection with a cocaine conviction.

Even so, the names of prominent Trump allies nonetheless stood out.

One pardon recipients was Elliott Broidy, a prominent Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a scheme to lobby the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund. Another was Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner who was charged last October with cyberstalking during a heated divorce.

FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, speaks with reporters in New York after pleading not guilty to charges that he ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme to build a southern border wall. Trump is expected to pardon Bannon, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, as part of a flurry of last-minute clemency action that appears to be still in flux in the last hours of his presidency. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)

Hours later, the White House announced one last pardon, for Al Pirro, the ex-husband of Trump ally Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News Channel host. Al Pirro had been convicted in 2000 of tax charges.

Bannon's pardon was especially notable given that the prosecution was still in its early stages and any trial was months away. Whereas pardon recipients are conventionally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, the pardon nullifies the prosecution and effectively eliminates any prospect for punishment.

Bannon was charged in August with duping thousands of donors who believed their money would be used to fulfil Trumps chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself. His co-defendants were not pardoned.

"Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trumps own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for," Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said on Twitter. "And if that all sounds crazy, thats because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves."

Other presidents have issued controversial pardons before leaving the White House. But perhaps no other commander in chief has so enjoyed using the clemency authority to benefit not only friends and acquaintances but also celebrity defendants and those championed by allies.

Wednesday's list includes its share of high-profile defendants.

Among them were rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both convicted in Florida on weapons charges. Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, has frequently expressed support for Trump and recently met with the president on criminal justice issues. Kodak Black, also known as Bill K. Kapri, had his sentence commuted.

Others on the list included Death Row Records co-founder Michael Harris and New York art dealer and collector Hillel Nahmad.

Pardoned were former Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican who was sentenced to three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges, and former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California, who was convicted of accepting bribes from defence contractors. Cunningham, who was released from prison in 2013, received a conditional pardon.

Trump commuted the prison sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served about seven years behind bars for a racketeering and bribery scheme.

Trump had already pardoned a slew of longtime associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Bannon was the only most recent. He did not respond to questions Tuesday.

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps 2016 campaign in its critical final months.

He later served as chief strategist to the president during the turbulent early days of Trumps administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trumps adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart. He and Trump have recently reconciled.

In August, he was pulled from a luxury yacht off the Connecticut coast and brought before a judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty. When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, "This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall."

The organizers of the "We Build The Wall" group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a "big beautiful" barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon.

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
Regulation: Mairead McGuinness said EU will take opposite path to the UK. Photo: Lukasz Kobus

Light touch regulation is not on the EUs agenda, the blocs financial services chief has said.

Mairead McGuinness, Irelands EU commissioner, said the EU will be taking the opposite path to the UK when it comes to banks and markets.

The UK has made a decision, of which there are consequences, Ms McGuinness told reporters yesterday. What we want, and have, is effective regulation. We do not like light touch and deregulation is not on our agenda.

UK chancellor Rishi Sunak hinted last week he was mulling a Big Bang 2.0 financial deregulation spree.

EU plans to take back control of euro-denominated trade took a step forward yesterday, when the bloc published a 15-point plan to boost its strategic autonomy on financial markets.

It includes a renewed call to clear euro contracts in the EU, switching from London-based clearing houses such as Cboe or Goldman Sachs.

Since Brexit, EU banks have had to trade all euro-denominated shares inside the bloc, which saw around 6bn in assets move over from London to Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt on January 4.

Read More

The switchover to clearing those trades inside the bloc is trickier, which is why the EU declared UK clearing houses  or central counterparties (CCPs)  equivalent to the blocs for supervisory purposes.

However, that decision will expire in 15 months.

The message to the industry is clear: financial entities in the EU are expected to reduce their exposures to UK CCPs, and CCPs within the EU must build up capacity, Ms McGuinness said.

The EU sees itself as the next major player in financial markets as it ramps up bond issuance to fund its Covid-19 response.

The bloc is looking to eat into London's derivatives markets and create a global hub for green bonds.

And it is seeking to chip away at US dollar dominance in commodities markets, especially for energy and raw materials.

Yesterdays plan also attempts to shield EU companies from extra-territorial foreign sanctions, to avoid a repeat of the chaos that followed the USs withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

Irish banks  including Bank of Ireland and AIB  have been cautious about removing restrictions on Iranian-related transactions since the sanctions were reimposed.
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The College Board is scrapping its SAT subject tests and essay, dealing another blow to the standardized testing industry. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

One by one, the California blows against the SAT and ACT kept coming.

First UC Berkeley announced last May that it wanted to disregard SAT and ACT test scores in admissions decisions for some students in a pilot study. The same day, University of California regents unanimously voted to phase out the tests over five years. After that, Caltech nixed them for at least two years. And in September, a California state judge ordered UC to immediately suspend all use of test scores in admissions.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic leveled its own hits  upending the testing environment nationwide by severely limiting testing opportunities and prompting the massive California State University system and three-fourths of U.S. colleges to suspend testing requirements for fall 2021 applicants.

But when the College Board announced Tuesday that it was scrapping the SAT subject tests and optional essays to "reduce and simplify demands on students," amid the pandemic, testing experts nationwide pointed to California as a prime accelerator in crippling this mainstay of the college admissions process for millions of students over the last half century. Because of the outsize influence of the state's higher education institutions, some believe the SAT and ACT could be headed for eventual demise.

"Californias universities are playing national leadership roles in weakening the SAT/ACT in college admissions," said Jay Rosner, executive director of the Princeton Review Foundation, a nonprofit advocate for fair testing. "Announcements of their test-free policies last spring led to dozens more colleges around the country becoming temporarily or permanently test free."

The College Board, however, said the SAT remained popular and that it would be further revised to streamline the content and deliver digitally. In addition, the testing nonprofit said it would possibly expand testing opportunities this fall.

"Theres still a clear demand from students to take the SAT as a way to show their strengths to colleges," the College Board said in a statement. "The pandemic has highlighted the importance of being innovative and adaptive to what lies ahead."

Story continues

Students can take the SAT with the essay through the June 2021 SAT administration. But both the essay and SAT subject tests  which assessed mastery of high school subjects including history, biology and math  have dropped out of favor with universities in recent years.

"The College Board is simply acknowledging the economically inevitable: the number of colleges and universities requiring either the SAT 'essay' or Subject Tests ... was rapidly declining pre-pandemic and was essentially zero in the current admissions cycle," said Bob Schaeffer, public education director for FairTest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing.

UC regents on Thursday discussed whether to go beyond phasing out the SAT and ACT and permanently drop the use of any standardized tests in admissions decisions but took no action.

Unlike UC, the Cal State system has not announced any plan to phase out the standardized tests. It's also unclear whether the hundreds of colleges and universities that made the SAT and ACT optional amid the pandemic will revert to again requiring the tests.

But Michal Kurlaender, a UC Davis education professor, said Californias leadership in seeking alternatives to the SAT is sparking interest nationwide.







As California goes, so goes the nation, she said.







Kurlaender said she has been contacted by several states about her research showing that the Smarter Balanced K-12 assessment test used in California and a dozen other states does as good a job in predicting college success as the SAT with less racial bias.

Some K-12 administrators and college counselors hailed the decision as long overdue.

Lauren Cook, a college counselor at Jewish Community High School of the Bay and immediate past-president of the Western Assn. for College Admission Counseling, said it was well past time to drop the subject tests because they were required by few universities  mostly STEM-focused institutions. But in the last year, some of the elite institutions, such as Harvey Mudd and Caltech, dropped the requirement in order to reduce application barriers, she said.

It was just adding to the stress and volume in the college applications process, Cook said.

As a counselor, Cook said that the constant changes amid the pandemic to the SAT, ACT and AP test administrations as well as to university admissions policies have been maddening."

Families definitely look to their college counselors to light the way and tell them how to make sense of all this, Cook said. With how rapidly things have changed, its sort of crazy-making for a counselor to try to stay on top of it and be able to synthesize whats happening and give good advice in real time.

At Lynwood Unified, where 91% of students are living in poverty, scrapping the SAT subject tests and essays is only the first step needed to remove barriers to college, said Supt. Gudiel Crosthwaite.

Given the circumstances, canceling subject tests and the essay portion is the right thing to do, and colleges must revisit their admissions process to be inclusive and equitable, Crosthwaite said.

But there also needs to be a broader discussion about the place of standardized within the college admissions process, he added. "Standardized testing and the College Board represent a multibillion-dollar industry that, although meant to support students, has reinforced and perpetuated inequities, Crosthwaite said.

Many students still felt compelled to take a standardized test this year if they could. Hailey Heirigs, 17, a senior at Palisades Charter High School, believed a high test score would boost her chances of admission to a top university. Her family saved earnings from her father, a tattoo artist, to hire a student tutor for ACT prep. She began studying during the summer before her junior year.

A lot of people have a 4.0 or above a 4.0, Heirigs said. If you dont have that extra oomph  that extra number, its hard to stand out from the crowd.

As the pandemic intensified, she was frustrated in attempts to take the test. After her spring and summer 2020 test dates were cancelled, she flew to Wisconsin in the fall in search of a test, only to find it, too, had been cancelled.

Cynthia Medrano, a college counselor at Alliance-Marine Innovation & Technology 6-12 Complex, a Los Angeles Unified charter school, wasn't happy that the essay will be dropped because it gave many of her students who are not good multiple-choice test takers a chance to shine. She also raised concerns about the College Board's development of an online SAT exam, questioning test security and fairness if it is administered in students homes.

If I have a student who shares a room with three siblings and parents, how can we make this equitable? she asked. Maybe at home the WiFi is really bad or the student feels really uncomfortable or the parent  cannot give the student three hours without noise. Were going to need to continue this education reform.

Rosner, of the Princeton Review Foundation, said he plans to begin raising another potentially explosive issue about the SAT: Its founder, Carl Brigham, was a Princeton professor and supporter of the eugenics movement  a racist ideology that sought to use science to improve the human race by promoting traits deemed superior and breeding out those judged undesirable.

He believes the origins of the test cannot be dismissed.

Amid the nation's intensifying racial justice movement, universities across the nation have removed the names of eugenics supporters from their buildings and honors  including Caltech, USC, Stanford and Pomona College. UC Berkeley last October disclosed it had discovered a $2.4-million eugenics research fund, frozen its use and launched a review into how the university could have accepted such a gift in 1975.

A College Board spokesman said the test today has been completely revamped to eliminate biased items, such as vocabulary and "esoteric math."

Times staff writer Howard Blume contributed to this article.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NCIS character Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) has been married to Delilah since 2017. Who is the actor who plays Delilah? Heres what Showbiz Cheat Sheet knows.

Timothy McGee and Delilah Fielding

McGee and Delilah on vacation on NCIS | Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images

Delilah Fielding was first introduced during NCIS Season 11, Episode 1 (titled Whiskey Tango Foxtrot). Delilah became paralyzed during season 11, episode 13 (titled Double Back), after an explosion at a gala she was attending. She lost her ability to walk after a piece of shrapnel became lodged in her spine. When she was taken to the hospital, McGee rushed to be by her side and show his support.

By season 11, episode 20 (titled Page Not Found), McGee takes things one step further with Delilah. He decides to give her the key to his apartment after she tells him her plans to go to Dubai for a job. McGee wants her to know there will be a place waiting for her when she comes back.

After a few years of dating, McGee proposes to Delilah during season 14, episode 4 (titled Love Boat). He couldnt wait to pop the question, so he asks her to marry him while they are in the NCIS elevator. During season 14, episode 23 (titled Something Blue), Delilah and McGee finally tie the knot. Delilah finds out shes having twins during Season 15, episode 8, titled Voices.

Who plays Delilah on NCIS?

McGee and Delilah on NCIS | Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images

The actor who plays McGees wife is Margo Harshman. One of Harshmans early acting roles was in the 2000 movie The Elf Who Didnt Believe. She played the character Jolie. The following year, she played Bridgett in the TV movie Murphys Dozen. In 2000, Harshman joined the cast of Even Stevens. She played the role of Tawny Dean until the show ended in 2003. Harshman is also known for her appearances in The Big Bang Theory, Bent, and Run of the House.

Delilahs next NCIS appearance

One of Delilahs recent appearances is in NCIS Season 18, Episode 5 (titled Head of the Snake). In this episode, McGee and Delilah go on a vacation in the Bahamas. They think theyre in store for some rest and relaxation, but they end up becoming involved in a case. Sean Murray tells TV Line all about the characters and their unusual vacation.

A case unfolds [back in D.C.] and it links to something in the Bahamas, so we get involved, says Murray. But the original reason that Delilah and McGee go on vacation in the first place is because theyve been married a couple years, theyve got kids, so you hit that lull in the relationship. Theyve got to get their groove back. And this certainly helps!

Murray says Delilah has experience, so she plays an important part in helping McGee with the case. Delilah has her DoD skills, so absolutely, Murray tells the publication. Its been a little while since we had her doing her thing, and I love when we have Margo Harshman on. I love to play the domestic storylines for McGee, because its very different than what we usually do. It keeps it interesting, and its also fun to do.

Follow Sheiresa Ngo on Twitter.
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE built the case that their Covid-19 vaccine will protect against the new variant of the coronavirus that emerged in the U.K. with results of another lab trial.

Like previous work out of the University of Texas Medical Branch, the results published on Wednesday showed that antibodies in the blood of people who had been vaccinated were able to neutralize a version of the mutant virus that was created in the lab. The study was published on preprint server BioRxiv prior to peer review.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The same night a group that included two Ohioans took part in the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol, federal authorities say the leader of a self-described militia group also suggested they also should storm the Ohio Statehouse.

Were talking about the plan on This Week in the CLE.

Listen online here.

Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with editors Jane Kahoun, Kris Wernowsky and me.

Youve been sending Chris lots of thoughts and suggestions on our from-the-newsroom account, in which he shares what were thinking about at cleveland.com. You can sign up for free by sending a text to 216-868-4802.

Here are the questions were answering today:

How were Ohioans involved in the Capitol riot mob, in a plot to capture and gas lawmakers?

How did Cleveland State University bend the rules  lets be honest and say break the rules  to hire a disgraced former Cuyahoga County official into a $140,000-a-year-job?

What percentage of Ohio school districts are promising to be back in classrooms by March first?

How many people have been the targets of unemployment fraud by people filing claims under their names?

Why did handling mail addressed to a state prison make to Cuyahoga County court workers so sick they had to go to the hospital?

How can the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority have an impact on reducing infant mortality in black families in parts of greater Cleveland?

Voters ejected Judith French from the Ohio Supreme Court in November, so why is Mike DeWine so fervid in finding a new job for her. She was up for one, and now she has another.

Want more? You can find all our past episodes here.

We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe here.

Do you get your podcasts on Spotify. Find us here.

If you use Stitcher, we are here.

RadioPublic is another popular podcast vehicle, and we are here.

On Google Podcasts, we are here.

On PodParadise, find us here.

And on PlayerFM, we are here.
Press Release

January 20, 2021 DELA ROSA PUSHES FOR AFP MODERNIZATION AFTER AIR FORCE CHOPPER CRASH IN BUKIDNON Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa underscored the need to fund the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following the crash of one of the Philippine Air Force's choppers last weekend. In his manifestation of support for Majority Floor Leader Senator Migz Zubiri's privilege speech on the same topic during Senate session on Tuesday, January 19, Dela Rosa urged his fellow legislators to support the AFP Modernization Program which will enhance the state force's defense capabilities and buttress the efforts to preserve the patrimony of the country. "This recent incident, the unfortunate death of our Air Force personnel, only highlights the need to constantly fund our Armed Forces in order to ensure the fruition of the AFP Modernization Program. It will not only boost our country's defense against threats on its sovereignty but also ensure that our AFP can effectively and fully perform its constitutional mandate of preserving the patrimony of our country," Dela Rosa said. "A well-funded AFP Modernization Program will also ensure the safety of our soldiers whose lives are put at stake in order to serve our countrymen," he continued. The senator, who chairs the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, noted that the issue of funding the modernization program for the armed forces was already raised during the budget hearing of the defense department in the Senate last year. He added that there is an urgent need to acquire additional modern equipment as well as the constant maintenance checks on the existing aircrafts to ensure the safety of soldiers. "It bears reiterating that the constant maintenance of our aircrafts as well as the procurement of new and modern equipment is essential to guarantee that the sacrifices and lives of our soldiers will not merely be put to waste because of 'engine trouble' only," Dela Rosa noted. The senator expressed sympathy to the families of the soldiers who died in a chopper crash while on a military mission recently. The seven soldiers died as a Philippine Airforce UH-1 "Huey" chopper crashed in a rice field in Bukidnon on Saturday afternoon, January 16. Authorities said that the chopper was on a resupply mission to a unit of the 403rd Infantry Brigade.

Western Australia's Police force lost six years' worth of emails sent to an address set up to receive correspondence from sexual assault victims, documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws have revealed.

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The revelation means there were four more years worth of possible investigation leads lost than previously known publicly.

In July last year, this masthead revealed that anyone who attempted to report a sexual crime between February 2016 and March 2018 via an email listed on the WA Police website were sending highly sensitive reports to a ghost address not monitored by police.

WAtoday discovered archived webpages that suggested the email was unmonitored for at least two years, but until now WA Police have ignored repeated questions about the true length of time the administration error was in place.
On Demand

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In-Room VDO
New Delhi, Jan 20 : The premier investigation agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently probing various cases against the Popular Front of India (PFI).

So far, NIA has charge sheeted more than 100 PFI activists on terror as well as criminal charges over various offences, including linkage with ISIS, Professor's hand chopping case, Narath arms training case among others.

Apart from NIA, Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the PFI in multiple cases including its role in the anti-CAA stir and the North East Delhi riots and a foreign funding case in 2018.

ED is also probing alleged links between the PFI and Bhim Army and their role in funding Dalit unrest in North India.

Recently, ED conducted nationwide rids on premises linked to the radical outfit, PFI in connection with multiple cases of money laundering. The searches covered 26 locations across nine states, including premises associated with PFI Chairman O. M. Abdul Salam and National Secretary Nasarudheen Elamaram.

In addition, the state police of different states, including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala are currently probing hundreds of cases against PFI and its sister organisations. Charge sheets are yet to be filed in many of those cases.

In the Bengaluru riots case, the NIA recently arrested 17 members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and PFI.

The cases pertain to large-scale rioting armed with lethal weapons causing injuries to police personnel, destruction of public and private property, including D.J. Halli and K.G. Halli police station buildings and public and private vehicles.

The riot led to fear and panic in the nearby areas and was intended to cause terror in society, as per intelligence sources. The NIA took over the robe on September 21, 2020.

Till date, 187 persons with linkage to PFI and SDPI have been arrested so far. NIA said the investigations revealed that the SDPI leaders, including Md Sharieff, President Bengaluru district, Imran Ahmed, President K. G. Halli ward along with other senior leaders like Rubah Waqas, Shabbar Khan and Shaik Ajmal had conducted meetings on the evening of August 11.
(CNN) -- US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said Wednesday that he has been asked to leave his role as the nation's top doctor by incoming President Joe Biden's team.

"I've been asked by the Biden team to step down as Surgeon General. Its been the honor of my life to serve this Nation, and I will do all I can to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve and maintain health," Adams tweeted.

The Washington Post had first reported Wednesday that Biden was expected to ask for Adams' resignation and select an acting surgeon general while his permanent pick for the role  Dr. Vivek Murthy  undergoes Senate confirmation.

Biden last month announced he will nominate Murthy as US surgeon general, a role Murthy held for about two years under the Obama administration until he was asked to resign by the Trump White House in 2017.

President Donald Trump's White House had requested Murthy resign with about two years remaining in his standard four-year term, a dismissal some Democrats criticized at the time as politicizing the position.

Trump then nominated Adams, an anesthesiologist who previously served as the Indiana state health commissioner, to the job in 2017. Adams' four-year term was set to expire in September.

Adams is be one of several Trump officials involved in the President's Covid-19 task force asked to step down as the Biden's team takes over the federal response to the pandemic.

In a statement shared on Facebook Wednesday, Adams thanked his staff and defended his time as one of Trump's most visible spokespeople in informing Americans about the pandemic, sometimes contradicting the President.

"In the face of a once in a century pandemic, I sought to communicate the rapidly evolving science on this deadly adversary, and arm people with the knowledge and tools they needed to stay safe," he wrote. "I wasn't always right -- because no one was, and this virus continues to humble all of us -- but I was always sincere in my efforts to speak to every day Americans, and address the terrible health inequities this virus exposed."

The Post also reported that in choosing an acting surgeon general, the Biden administration will bypass Deputy Surgeon General Dr. Erica Schwartz, a rear admiral who plans on retiring in light of being passed over. Schwartz did not respond to the Post's request for comment. A top Trump administration official confirmed to the Post that Schwartz is retiring.

If confirmed by the US Senate, Murthy would play a key role in the administration's response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Murthy has been a top health adviser to Biden since the campaign. He was part of Biden's public health advisory committee when the Covid-19 pandemic first hit the US and has been serving as a co-chair of Biden's coronavirus advisory board during the presidential transition.

The incoming Biden administration is hoping to move into a "new phase" of the federal government's coronavirus response, including naming a new task force and retiring the "Operation Warp Speed" moniker under Trump for the vaccine effort.

Biden has picked Dr. David Kessler to be the chief scientific officer of the Covid response, taking over for Moncef Slaoui, who has led the effort during the Trump administration. Slaoui has agreed to stay on another month to "ensure a smooth transition," a Biden transition official told CNN.

Biden has asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to also serve as his chief medical adviser on Covid-19.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "US Surgeon General Jerome Adams asked to step down by Biden team"
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The Ondo State government has criticised the Buhari administrations response to its decision to order herdsmen out of the states forest reserves.

Donald Ojogo, the commissioner for information and orientation, on Tuesday, said the response by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, reeks of emotional attachment to the herdsmen.

Mr Shehus statement is a brazen display of emotional attachments and its very inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria, the Punch Newspaper quoted Mr Ojogo as saying.

We need clearly defined actions on the part of the federal government to decimate the erroneous impression that the inspiration of these criminal elements masquerading as herdsmen is that of power. Our unity is threatened, no doubt.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Monday gave herders in the state seven days to vacate all forest reserves in Ondo State.

In his response, Mr Shehu, the presidents senior special assistant on media and publicity, said the Ondo government should rather dialogue with the leadership of the Fulani communities in the state.

It (statement) states in a breath that the governor fights crime with passion while it is prevaricating on the atrocities, Mr Ojogo said.

The question is, are the herdsmen who are perpetrating murder, kidnapping and robbery more important than government and even the Federal Government in this case? Ethnic nationality and activism on the part of anyone hiding under the presidency or federal government is an ill wind.

When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Mr Ojogo confirmed he made the comments.

He said: theres no going back on the directive. I did (do)not denounce or deny the statement I made.

He said the only reason why the herdsmen would not vacate the forests is if they are above the law.

In recent months, this newspaper has reported various killings, rape and kidnappings for ransom which have become the order of the day across the nation.

The spate of insecurity ravaging all parts of the country has defied all solutions including attempts by regional leaders to set up security outfits to aid the police curb crime and violence.

President Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani, has, in the past, been quoted to have said suspected criminals, irrespective of their ethnic origin, would be prosecuted under the ambits of the law.

His supporters have equally said Mr Buhari should not be criticised for the actions of some criminal minded Fulani herders, noting that not every herder is a Fulani and many Fulani are law-abiding.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
ANN ARBOR, MI  With the toxic chemical 1,4-dioxane seeping into the Allen Creek drain system at increasing levels, Ann Arbor officials are speaking out.

City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night, Jan. 19, to voice support for issuing a violation notice to polluter Gelman Sciences for violation of the prohibition against 1,4-dioxane infiltration into the Allen Creek drain.

The permit violation carries a criminal and a civil penalty of up to one year in jail and $25,000 per day, said Council Member Kathy Griswold, D-2nd Ward, one of the resolution sponsors.

Now, we need to get this violation on the books. Its that simple. And thats what this resolution is saying.

Gelman is the former Scio Township filter manufacturer responsible for a large dioxane plume thats been spreading through the areas groundwater for decades. The city, county, state and township have been in litigation with the polluter for several years, seeking a better cleanup.

As the plume has spread further east into Ann Arbor, dioxane is being detected in shallow groundwater in the West Park area and seeping into the Allen Creek storm sewer pipes that run under the park and flush out to the Huron River.

A map of the Gelman dioxane plume spreading through the Ann Arbor area, moving east through the city's west side toward West Park and branches of the Allen Creek drain system that discharge to the Huron River. Gelman Sciences is removing water from the ground using extraction wells and then treating it to remove dioxane. Treated water with lower levels of dioxane is then discharged to Honey Creek, which flows to the Huron River upstream of Barton Pond, Ann Arbor's main municipal water supply.

City officials believe the dioxane entering the drain is from Gelmans plume and they argue it violates the requirements of a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit.

County Water Resources Commissioner Evan Pratt, as holder of the permit, has regulatory authority to require Gelman to halt infiltration of dioxane into the drain above permissible levels, the council resolution states, encouraging Pratt to issue a violation notice.

Pratt said hes planning to do so, though hes not optimistic the polluter will be very responsive.

Based on legal opinions hes gotten, Pratt said he doesnt have authority to do much without the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy telling him theres a violation to address, and EGLE isnt saying that.

I likely dont have the authority, but Im certainly happy to issue the letter and help build the case, he said, adding he thinks its an issue that could be addressed through the ongoing litigation or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intervention.

Michael Caldwell, attorney for Gelman Sciences, did not respond to a request for comment.

Ann Arbor dioxane polluter vents frustration with local officials in new court filings

Dioxane is considered dangerous at very low levels, so it is measured in parts per billion. It is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as likely to be carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure. It also can cause kidney and liver damage, and respiratory problems.

Dioxane levels in water samples taken from the West Park storm sewer jumped from 4.4 ppb in 2017 to 19 ppb in 2018 and eventually up to 49 ppb in fall 2020. Varying levels have been detected near the park.

The evidence of dioxane in shallow groundwater and the storm drain system is a concern to some residents and officials because it means dioxane also could potentially seep into leaky basements in the area, though Pratt said hes skeptical thats happening. Once in basements, some fear dioxane could volatilize to indoor air, becoming vapor residents breathe.

Dioxane is moving through the West Park area faster than expected, said Council Member Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward, a co-sponsor of Tuesdays resolution.

Its wholly right that we encourage a notice of violation to be filed with the state, Hayner said, encouraging his colleagues to support Pratt making his claim to the state, and rightfully so, that the controls on the Gelman site are not adequate to prevent a violation of various stormwater discharges.

The dioxane getting into the storm drain is flowing to the Huron River to the misfortune of our downstream neighbors, Hayner said. Ypsilanti is just downstream.

Being a 5th Ward rep, obviously this is extremely important to my constituents who are living on top of this, who now when they go to West Park are close to coming in contact with it, said Council Member Ali Ramlawi, D-5th Ward, expressing hopes local officials are on track to secure a better cleanup.

Dan Bicknell, an environmental remediation professional credited with discovering the plume in the 1980s, urged council to approve Tuesdays resolution.

The federal Clean Water Act protects stormwater quality in part through issuance of MS4 permits, he said.

In Michigan, the federal MS4 permit authority has been delegated to the state, and the state has issued a Washtenaw County MS4 permit to the Washtenaw County water resources commissioner, he said, adding its Pratts responsibility to pursue enforcement and that should have started back in 2019.

Under the MS4 permit regulations, the only legal action that will not adversely impact the community requires that Gelman immediately treat contaminated groundwater to uncontaminated groundwater levels prior to infiltrating into the stormwater, he said. This will require Gelman to stop the dioxane from entering the Allen Creek drain pipes, extracting and treating the shallow, dioxane-contaminated groundwater along the impacted length of the drain.

Remedial action would reduce the plumes size and concentration in the West Park area, help protect residents from dioxane exposure via vapor intrusion and wet basements, and protect workers in trenches who may be exposed, Bicknell said

Gelman is solely responsible for paying for this corrective action, Bicknell said. This lack of enforcement action against Gelman is kind of emblematic of how poorly the state of Michigan has handled this massive Gelman dioxane pollution over the many years.

Pratt said Bicknells opinions are not consistent with legal advice hes gotten, including from the state attorney generals office, but nonetheless hell be working with staff to put together a violation notice citing all relevant statutes.

He shares the concerns about dioxane getting into the Allen Creek drain system, he said. Short of Gelman being required to do more remediation, another option would be to line the pipes with an impermeable liner so groundwater stops seeping into them, but that doesnt get rid of the dioxane and it still would spread to the river, Pratt said.

Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County officials ask Whitmer to support Superfund cleanup

Local officials are simultaneously taking legal action against Gelman in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, with hearings coming up in March, and seeking Gov. Gretchen Whitmers support for a federal Superfund cleanup.

This is something that I think warrants us to take action and not leave any stone unturned and to apply as much pressure as we can to getting a better cleanup done, Ramlawi said as council OKd the resolution he co-sponsored Tuesday.

Council Member Erica Briggs, D-5th Ward, expressed her appreciation for the resolution.

As somebody who lives over the plume and represents the 5th Ward as well, this is particularly important for the community to know that the city is paying attention to these issues and this contamination, she said.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

Rising dioxane levels west of downtown Ann Arbor spark concerns

Ann Arbor to resume ice skating programs at city parks with COVID-19 precautions

Ann Arbor council OKs ordinance requiring EV parking for new developments

Researchers map Ann Arbors racist history of housing discrimination

Q&A: University of Michigan has big role to play in Ann Arbor carbon-neutrality plan
NSW Health has issued a warning for more than 160,000 Sydneysiders to be wary of Covid-19 symptoms after fragments of the virus were uncovered in sewage.

The government's sewage surveillance program detected Covid-19 at a treatment plant in Glenfield overnight, which takes in a catchment from 36 suburbs.

'People in South West Sydney are asked to be extra vigilant when it comes to symptoms,' NSW Health said in a statement.

'While this could reflect known returned travellers in the area, everyone living or working in this area should monitor for symptoms, get tested, and isolate immediately if they appear.'

NSW Health has issued a warning for more than 160,000 Sydneysiders to be wary of Covid-19 symptoms after sewage surveillance detected fragments of the virus at the Glenfield treatment plant, in southwest Sydney (stock)

Affected suburbs include Airds, Ambarvale, Appin, Bardia, Blair Athol, Blairmount, Bow Bowing, Bradbury, Campbelltown, Casula, Claymore, Currans Hill, Eagle Vale, Englorie Park, Eschol Park, Gilead, Glen Alpine, Glenfield and Gregory Hills.

Those who work or reside in Holsworthy, Ingleburn, Kearns, Kentlyn, Leumeah, Long Point, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Links, Menangle Park, Minto, Raby, Rosemeadow, Ruse, St Andrews, St Helens Park, Varroville or Woodbine are also advised to monitor for symptoms.

The state recorded zero locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, the third day in a row without local transmission.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has promised to ease COVID-19 restrictions in a week's time if cases remain low, with the new rules likely to be as close as possible to those in place before the Avalon outbreak.

'Please know that if things continue the way they are, by this time next week there will certainly be decisions made around getting us as close as possible to pre-Avalon conditions,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Wednesday.

Testing numbers were up after the government's plea for more people to come forward.

Anyone living or working in the 36 suburbs connected to the catchment are advised to monitor for symptoms

Some 19,959 people were tested in the reporting period, up from 10,621 the previous day.

Three cases were identified, all people in hotel quarantine who had acquired the virus overseas.

The lifting of restrictions depends on good testing numbers and low-to-zero community transmission continuing, the premier said.

Ms Berejiklian said masks were likely to remain compulsory on public transport to give people the confidence they need to return to work safely.

December's Avalon outbreak caused the government to clamp down on numbers for both indoor and outdoor gatherings in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong.

Restrictions for weddings, funerals and religious services were also bolstered.

Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong residents have also had to wear masks indoors when out of the home for the past few weeks.

Ms Berejiklian singled out weddings on Wednesday, saying she was aware of the angst that restrictions have caused.

New South wales recorded zero locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday. Pictured: A healthcare worker wearing a face shield and protective clothing tests a man for COVID-19 at a pop-up testing clinic in Rushcutters Bay

'This is the last weekend you'll have to go through before there'll be some relief,' she promised aspiring brides and grooms.

The announcement came after Ms Berejiklian chaired a crisis cabinet meeting by Zoom on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile Sydney's Macquarie University Hospital has confirmed a close contact of a coronavirus case attended the hospital for elective surgery.

An 82-year-old woman allegedly breached her isolation requirements by presenting to the hospital for elective surgery on January 17, 2GB reported on Wednesday.

The woman's husband, who was himself a close contact of the same confirmed case, reportedly visited the woman at the hospital on several occasions.

'Macquarie University Hospital was made aware by authorities that a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case had attended the hospital,' a spokeswoman told AAP.

'The contact had not disclosed their proximity to the confirmed COVID-19 case and following the disclosure from authorities we took steps to identify staff that may have come into contact with the patient as well as informing NSW Health.'
Aggregates small and independent recruiters under a common platform and provides them with access to more clients and technology

Diverse network of more than 28,000 recruiters helps organizations reduce recruiting costs and shorten recruiting cycles with access to on-demand recruiting and AI and video technology

Acquisition of OneWire will add to member network and immediately expand the reach of OneWire's SaaS platform for financial industry hiring

What Recruiter.com does:

Recruiter.com Group Inc ( ) is helping to streamline the hiring process for employers and job seekers alike.

The companys diverse network of more than 27,000 recruiters helps organizations reduce recruiting costs and shorten recruiting cycles with access to on-demand recruiting and AI and video technology.

Essentially, Recruiter.com aggregates smaller hiring firms and independent recruiters under a common platform and provides them with access to more clients and technology. Clients include big names like , Disney, Schlumberger and other major enterprises. The company was voted Top Tech Company to Watch by the CT Tech Council, cited as one of the Top 35 Most Influential Career Sites by Forbes, and listed by Inc. as one of the 9 Best Websites for Finding Top Talent.

Recruiter.com provides companies small and large with access to on-demand teams of virtual recruiters armed with AI-powered candidate sourcing tools. Clients can engage recruiters on an hourly basis through Recruiter.com On Demand, or they can post jobs to Recruiter.com and pay a success-based fee.

The Houston-based company is rising to meet the challenge that the coronavirus pandemic has had on traditional hiring practices. As businesses turn to platforms like Zoom and Skype to substitute for in-person meetings and live interviews, the firm has introduced new platforms like video resumes to help connect qualified candidates with hiring managers earlier in the process.

Led by CEO Evan Sohn and COO Miles Jennings, the $14 million company has a tight share structure with only 5.5 million shares outstanding. Sohn and co. are leading the company in 2021 with expanded capabilities to fuel its share of the $120 billion recruitment industry.

How it is doing:

Recruiter.com recently reported 2020 full-year revenue of $8.5 million with an annual run rate of more than $10 million. That represented growth of 41%. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $2.84 million, compared to a loss of $2.38 million in 2019.

During the fourth quarter, Recruiter.com said it surpassed 27,750 recruiters on its Job Market platform. It also launched a new software as a service (SaaS) video solution to enable recruiters, hiring managers and employers to rapidly screen, vet and connect with qualified candidates over video.

So far in 2021, the company has endeavored to spearhead a shift toward video resumes. In February, Recruiter.com debuted Recruit Me, a campaign dedicated to a video-first approach to hiring.

As a signal of the importance of this shift in hiring, Recruiter.com opened its talent pool to sponsor 100,000 Recruit Me videos for job seekers. Recruit Me is designed to help employers by reducing hiring costs, improving the overall experience and aligning candidates with company culture, the company said.

The average cost to hire an employee is just over $4,000, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, and takes roughly 42 days, the company said. With nearly 5.5 million US workers hired in December alone, that translates into almost $23 billion and an annualized cost of $276 billion for US businesses.

Also to that end, the company launched a specialized candidate curation platform called Scouted in February, which is intended to leverage the power of artificial intelligence and talent experts to help hiring managers recruit top talent faster.

Recruiter.com also recently acquired OneWire, a subscription-based talent-marching platform for the financial, banking and accounting sectors that the company believes is a key catalyst for growth.

Inflection points:

Recruit Me campaign's influence on video resumes as a hiring tool

Growth of its on-demand virtual training program into a substantial revenue stream in 2021

Build-out of video screening technology amidst pandemic and work-from-home conditions

What the boss says:

Our corporate mission aligns with our nation's mission at this historic moment, Sohn wrote in a January letter to shareholders. As the country seeks to rebuild in the aftermath of the pandemic, we will drive the effort to re-hire millions of people and provide new economic opportunities for the next generation.

When the company put out its most recent quarterly results, Sohn laid out a vision of the future.

Our dynamic business model, matched with our technological prowess, has made recruiting faster and easier than ever," he said. "We are on track to realize our vision of becoming one of the leading on-demand professional recruiting solutions, well-positioned to provide an essential service to both Fortune 500 companies and small and medium-sized businesses, as well as to independent recruiting agencies, as the Great Rehire continues."

Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has sunk an idea to transform an abandoned island resort into a quarantine facility.

Federal crossbench MP Bob Katter pitched the idea of using cyclone-ravaged Dunk Island as an alternative to inner-city hotels to hold returning Australians who might be infected with the more-contagious strains of COVID-19.

Dunk Island was a renowned resort destination until it was ravaged by cyclones.

Dunk Island was a renowned resort destination until it was pummelled by cyclones and abandoned.

Mr Katter suggested Ms Palaszczuk invest "about half a million or a million dollars" of taxpayer money to fix up the deserted island resort.
The three-day initial public offering (IPO) of Indigo Paints, that opened today is priced at Rs 1,488 to Rs 1,490 per equity share. Shares can be bought with a minimum order quantity of 10 shares. The IPO closes on January 22, 2021. A retail-individual investor can apply for up to 13 lots (130 shares or Rs 193,700).

The Rs 1,170.16 crore public issue comprises Rs 300 crore through fresh issuance of shares and Rs 870.16 crore through offer-for-sale by promoter Hemant Jalan and investors (Sequoia Capital India Investments IV and SCI Investments V).

The finalisation of basis of allotment will be done on January 28, 2021, and the allotted shares will be credited to your demat account by February 1, 2021. The share is likely to list on February 2, 2021. Promoter holding of 60.05% will reduce to 54% post the issue.

American venture capital firm Sequoia Capital-backed firm garnered Rs 347.9 crore from 25 anchor investors ahead of the share sale.

As per the company's DHRP, its main objective for the issue is to meet the upcoming capital expenditure requirement for manufacturing facility expansion at Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, to purchase tinting machines and gyroshakers and repay all or certain borrowings.

Motilal Oswal said in its note,"We like Indigo Paints given its differentiated product portfolio and robust expansion plans. We believe it can attain scale and maintain its strong growth over the next few years. The issue is valued at 11.3x FY20 Mcap/sales which is comparable to peers. Hence, we recommend Subscribe to the IPO from long term perspective. Further, given the current buoyant market and high interest for consumer stocks, the issue could see listing gains as well."

Geojit Financial Services said in its note," Inspite of premium valuations, being the fastest growing paint company in India driven by developing niche product to compete market leaders, expansion plans, low debt & strong return profile with RoE of 25% in FY20 will make it an emerging player in the industry, we assign a "Subscribe" rating."

Angel Broking said in its note today,"Company's revenue from operations have grown at a CAGR of 41.9% between Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2019, compared to the range of 12.1% to 13.1% recorded by the top four paint companies in India. Issue is priced at 98.4x PE on a trailing basis in terms of fully diluted EPS, which we believe is quite reasonable by looking at the future growth prospects of the company. We are positive on the long term prospects of the industry as well the company, we recommend "SUBSCRIBE" to the Indigo Paints IPO for long term as well as for listing gains."

"The company is actively present in the public eye due to their aggressive A&P spends accounting to around 12.7% of their revenue vis-a-vis peers who spend close to 4-5%. Financials have been extremely strong for this paints player with minimal debt on its books. There are a few challenges in terms of setting up a wide distribution presence amidst well-established players, its skewed market presence in South India especially Kerala and rich valuations at a PE of 140x compared to a sector average of 95x. Therefore, investors can subscribe to Indigo Paints for listing gains only at the moment," said Nirali Shah, Senior Research Analyst, Samco Securities.

LKP Securities also rated 'Subscribe' to the IPO and said,"Indigo is the fastest growing paint company which has grown at a much faster pace in the last decade than any other paint company in India. The company has adopted a differentiated approach to market and sell its products in the industry which is dominated by the larger players. Indigo has been able to expand its EBIDTA/PAT margins from 6.4%/3.2% in FY18 to 14.6%/7.7% on the back of economies of scale and better raw material sourcing. The company's ROE & ROCE has also improved significantly to be at par with the industry leaders in the last five years."

Besides these brokerages, Capital Market, Spark Capital, Elara Capital have given subscribe rating to the IPO.

One of the fastest-growing paint companies in India and in terms of revenue, Indigo Paints has a strong market network and three strategically located manufacturing facilities situated in Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Kochi (Kerala), and Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu). It is further looking to expand its manufacturing capacities at Pudukkottai to manufacture water-based paints.

The company is engaged in manufacturing different types of decorative paints like enamels, emulsions, wood coatings, primers, distempers, putties, and cement paints. Indigo Paints has a strong market network with dealers in Tier 1, Tier 2, and metros.

It is the first company that started manufacturing certain differentiated products like Metallic Emulsions, Bright Ceiling Coat Emulsions, Tile Coat Emulsions, Dirtproof & Waterproof Exterior Laminate, Floor Coat Emulsions, Exterior and Interior Acrylic Laminate, and PU Super Gloss Enamel.

Stocks in news: Tata Communications, Sterlite Tech, Sun Pharma, Ceat, L&T Infotech

Share Market News Live: Sensex rises 150 points, Nifty at 14,521; Sun Pharma, HCL Tech, HDFC Bank top gainers
The external data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) has completed its latest review of the Phase 2b part of its Phase 2b/3 human study

Earlier this month, Algernon said that the final set of data from the Phase 2b part of its Phase 2b/3 clinical trial would be available at the end of February

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc ( ) ( ), the drug repurposing company, has reported a further step in its clinical trial process to assess Ifenprodil as a potential coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment.

The external data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) has completed its latest review of the Phase 2b part of its Phase 2b/3 human study and has given approval to continue on with Phase 3.

"While we await final data from the Phase 2b part of our Ifenprodil COVID-19 study, it is critical for us to know that from a safety perspective, we are now clear to move into the Phase 3 part of the study, noted Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals, in a statement.

Earlier this month, the pharma group said that the final set of data from the Phase 2b part of its Phase 2b/3 clinical trial would be available at the end of February.

If that data is positive, it will look to get emergency use authorization (EUA) from the US FDA, it said then.

A Phase 3 trial would be required regardless of whether or not it receives an EUA, the firm added.

Algernon reckons Ifenprodil may reduce the infiltration of neutrophils and T-cells into the lungs where they can release glutamate and cytokines respectively.

The latter can result in the problematic so-called cytokine storm that contributes to the loss of lung function and ultimately death as has been reported in coronavirus infected patients.

The DSMB is a committee of clinical research experts, including physicians and statisticians, who are monitoring Algernon's trial, and are reviewing safety and effectiveness data while it is ongoing.

Shares in Canada nudged up around 4% on the day to C$0.25 each.

----Updates for share price---

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
A bomb threat was made to the US Supreme Court Wednesday ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden as president, but nothing was found by security personnel, the court said.

"The court received a bomb threat, the building and grounds were checked out, and the building is not being evacuated," said high court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg.

The court is located next to the US Capitol, where Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, former presidents and top officials were gathering for the presidential inauguration ceremony.

The US capital city is on high alert for threats after the violent assault on the Capitol on January 6 by supporters of departing President Donald trump, who rejected Biden's election win.

On the occasion of the 176th anniversary of the first arrival of Indian immigrant labourers to these shores, I intend to comment briefly, through a couple of letters to the press, on the current status of Indo-Trinidadians after their presence here for over a century and a half. They may be regarded as ethnic-focused, divisive and contentious, or may be deemed irrelevant and inconsequential in these times.
Butterflies create jet propulsion with a clap of their wings Agence France Presse

Pikas are adapting to climate change High Country News

Possibly The Most Incredible Wave in Surf History Was Ridden Last Week Adventure Journal (AL).

Time to look again at the financial systems dangerous faultlines FT

A cloacal opening in a non-avian dinosaur Current Biology. This is a family blog. We dont write headlines for clicks like Live Science.

Premature mortality due to air pollution in European cities: a health impact assessment The Lancet (Ignacio). From the discussion: More than 400 000 deaths (equating to 7% of annual mortality) in Europe were attributable to PM25 exposure and more than 70 000 deaths (equating to 1% of annual mortality) were attributable to NO2 exposure. Moreover, these mortality estimates were when concentrations of air pollution were below the recommendations given in the EU and WHO guidelines.

#COVID19

China?

Taiwan scraps new year festival after rare coronavirus outbreak Agence France Presse

The Koreas

Samsung Heavy banks on crewless ships to capsize Chinese rivals Hellenic Shipping News

Capitol Seizure

Trump Transition

Biden will recognize Guaido as Venezuelas leader, top diplomat says Reuters

Biden Inauguration

Biden Transition

Healthcare

Under Biden, its time for Democrats to let go of Medicare for All Independent Biden Lifts Health Care Plan From Insurance Lobbyists Daily Poster. If enacted, the plan could head off any talk in Washington of a public option plan down the road. The West Wing wouldnt have it any other way. Comparison of Utilization, Costs, and Quality of Medicaid vs Subsidized Private Health Insurance for Low-Income Adults JAMA. From the Abstract: Marketplace coverage was associated with fewer emergency department visits and more office visits than Medicaid, total costs were 83% higher in Marketplace coverage owing to much higher prices, and out-of-pocket spending was 10 times higher in Marketplace coverage ; results for quality of care were mixed. From the Discussion:  In terms of clinical quality, we found no difference for the primary outcome of ambulatory caresensitive hospitalizations. Among secondary outcomes, 5 measures favored Marketplace coverage (though 1 was of minimal clinical relevance, a 1 percentage-point difference in flu vaccination), 1 measure favored Medicaid, and the rest (6 of 12) showed no significant differences. So subsidized private health insurance is obviously the way to go. Because markets.

Police State Watch

The New Domestic War on Terror is Coming Glenn Greenwald

Boeing

Yellow mealworm safe for humans to eat, says EU food safety agency Guardian (DD). Crunchy snacks.

Class Warfare

Everything Is Broken The Tablet

The Errand Friend Culture Study. Another type of relationship under assault by Covid and Silicon Valley.

Antidote du jour (via):

See Yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Cruise and General Motors have entered a long-term strategic relationship with Microsoft to accelerate the commercialization of self-driving vehicles. Microsoft is joining GM, Honda and institutional investors in a combined new equity investment of more than $2 billion in Cruise, bringing the post-money valuation of Cruise to $30 billion.

To unlock the potential of cloud computing for self-driving vehicles, Cruise will leverage Azure, Microsofts cloud and edge computing platform, to commercialize its autonomous vehicle solutions at scale.

Our mission to bring safer, better, and more affordable transportation to everyone isnt just a tech raceits also a trust race. Microsoft, as the gold standard in the trustworthy democratization of technology, will be a force multiplier for us as we commercialize our fleet of self-driving, all-electric, shared vehicles. Cruise CEO Dan Ammann

Microsoft, as Cruises preferred cloud provider, will also tap into Cruises deep industry expertise to enhance its customer-driven product innovation and serve transportation companies across the globe through continued investment in Azure.

In addition, GM will work with Microsoft as its preferred public cloud provider to accelerate its digitization initiatives, including collaboration, storage, artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. GM will explore opportunities with Microsoft to streamline operations across digital supply chains, foster productivity and bring new mobility services to customers faster.





Cruise AVVehicle based on GM Bolt for testing Cruise AD tech

Honda announced that it will collaborate with Cruise and General Motors on self-driving vehicles for its autonomous vehicle mobility service (MaaS) business in Japan, based on the development and commercial agreements signed in October 2018.

Cruise will be sending the first of its self-driving test vehicles to Japan and start development for testing this year.





Cruise Origin

Further ahead, Honda aims to launch its MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service) business using the Cruise Origin, a vehicle the three companies are jointly developing exclusively for autonomous vehicle mobility service businesses. Honda Mobility Solutions Co., Ltd., established in February 2020, will be the operator of such MaaS business in Japan.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) (L) sits near Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) during a joint session of Congress in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Olivier Douliery/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

McConnell Seeks to Preserve Filibuster in Senate Power-Sharing Talks

U.S. Senate leaders failed on Jan. 19 to reach an agreement on sharing power in the upper congressional chamber and will continue negotiating as the body officially becomes split 5050.

A key issue in negotiations is the filibuster. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is trying to ensure the preservation of the rule, which requires 60 votes to end debate on issues, through the next two years. He pressed his case while meeting with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

During todays meeting, Leader McConnell expressed his long-held view that the crucial, longstanding, and bipartisan Senate rules concerning the legislative filibuster remain intact, specifically during the power share for the next two years, Doug Andres, a spokesman for McConnell, told news outlets in a statement.

Discussions on all aspects of the power-sharing agreement will continue over the next several days.

Schumers spokesman said the Democrat and McConnell had a substantive conversation, making progress on confirming Cabinet nominees from newly inaugurated President Joe Biden and details on how an impeachment trial for President Donald Trump, who exited office on Jan. 20, will proceed once the House of Representatives sends over its impeachment resolution.

The spokesman told outlets that Schumer wants to adopt a power-sharing resolution from 2001 without extraneous changes from either side.

That resolution set the membership of each committee at an equal number for each party and gave committee chair positions to the party that controls the White House. It also allowed party leaders to discharge a measure or nomination from a committee in the event of tied vote.

Negotiations on power-sharing in the Senate are taking place as three Democrats, Georgia Sens.-elect Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, and Kamala Harris replacement Alex Padilla, are slated to be sworn in this week.

In a letter to colleagues on Jan. 18, McConnell said he felt the need to address the threats to the legislative filibuster.

As you know, we all resisted the direct calls of President Trump to destroy the Senate by eliminating the legislative filibuster when we controlled the House, the Senate, and the White House, he said.

Trump pushed Republican senators to vote to end the filibuster because he said Schumer and fellow Democrats would eventually end it when they took back the Senate.

A simple majority vote would end the filibuster. The Democrat-controlled Senate in 2013 voted to end the filibuster on most judicial nominations. No Republicans voted in favor of ending it; Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was one of three Democrats to side with Republicans.

In 2017, the Republican-controlled Senate extended the action to Supreme Court nominations to push through the nomination of Justice Neil Gorsuch.
India's crude oil imports in December soared to the highest levels in nearly three years to more than 5 million barrels per day (bpd) as its refiners cranked up output to meet a rebound in fuel demand, data from trade sources showed. India's year-end rush for crude supplies coincided with stronger demand from north Asian buyers during winter, boosting prices and an accelerating de-stocking of floating storage globally.

December oil imports by India, the world's third biggest crude importer and consumer, were about 29% more than the previous month and about 11.6% higher than a year earlier, the data showed, after fuel consumption rose for a fourth straight month to an 11-month high in December.

"India's refinery utilisation rates are also nearing full capacity and probably refiners are replenishing inventory anticipating higher prices during winter," said Ehsan Ul Haq, analyst with Refinitiv. "This is the harbinger of a recovery in fuel demand and improving refining margins." However, India's annual crude imports declined by about a tenth in 2020 from the previous year to 4.04 million bpd, the lowest in five years, data compiled by Reuters showed.

The share of India's imports from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, including supplies from the Saudi-Kuwait Neutral Zone, fell to a record low of 67% in December. OPEC's average share for the first nine months of India's current fiscal year which ends in March was about 74%.

While India cut back imports from Middle Eastern, African and US oil in December from the previous month, it marginally lifted its intake of Latin American and Caspian Sea oil. In December, Iraq remained the top oil supplier to India followed by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Nigeria emerged as the fourth biggest supplier, pushing the United States down to the sixth position just after Brazil.

Also read: Budget 2021: Infra push can boost economy, improve competitiveness
A pair of investment trusts were among the three best performers last year

Three funds with new managers at the helm, three funds that were highest rated for last year, three funds coming of age and a trio hoping for better fortunes for their asset class are all best of breed in their sector and worth watching for 2021, according to FundCalibre.

Baillie Gifford American was the best performing fund in 2020, FundCalibre said, a year where the challenges were almost biblical at times.

Run by a team of four co-managers who focus on the small number of companies that create exceptional returns, it returned 122% in 2020 versus 16% for the average peer, said FundCalibre's Darius McDermott

PLC ( ), also managed by Baillie Gifford, doubled its share price and was the second best performing product rated Elite by FundCalibe.

With its largest holding being Tesla, a stock that rose around 600% in 2020, its strong performance is no surprise, with a return of 110% versus 15% for the average peer.

Another investment trust was third best performer, ( ).

Run by Dale Nicholls, this trust has a bias towards small and medium-sized companies and offers investors direct exposure to the China growth story, says McDermott, noting a 69% return in 2020 compared to a sector average of 28%.

Nicholls, who took over from UK star fund manager Anthony Bolton six years ago, has more than doubled investors cash since he took over, something that investors will be hoping at a number of funds where long-time fund managers stepped down last year, though.

The trio selected by FundCalibre have well-signaled succession planning and lengthy handover processes, including at the open-ended Marlborough Special Situations, which has been run by Giles Hargreave since 1998.

It was the best performing fund in its sector over his tenure, returning 3,760% compared with 641% for its average peer.

Hargreave hands over the fund to Eustace Santa Barbara, who has co-managed the fund since 2014, and Guy Feld, his co-manager on Marlborough UK Micro-Cap Growth fund, which has also been handed over to the same duo.

European Dynamics Alister Hibbert, who had run the fund since March 2008, handed the management of this fund to Giles Rothbarth at the end of 2020.

Hibberts return of 430% over his tenure, compared to 131% for the average peer, was also the best performing fund in the sector.

Rothbarth has been co-manager since 2019 and is an impressive manager from a very strong team, but due to his short tenure, FundCalibre has moved its rating from Elite to Elite Radar.

Schroder Asian Alpha Plus manager Matthew Dobbs, who is retiring after nearly four decades at the firm, is handing over this fund to Richard Sennitt in March 2021.

Sennitt is an Elite rated manager of Schroders Asian Income fund and, having worked alongside Dobbs for many years, will run it in the same way and with the same process.

Coming of age

A third anniversary is a real milestone in the investment world, as three years is deemed to be a long enough period to properly assess a fund managers skills, says McDermott, with three years also the minimum tenure required for a fund to be considered for its Elite rating.

The Rathbone Global Sustainability unit trust, a high conviction global equity fund that can invest in companies of any size, turns three in July.

It is run by David Harrison who focuses on selecting stocks with strong cash generation and will actively avoid businesses involved in unethical or unsustainable practices.

In September it will be the time for TM CRUX UK Special Situations, which was launched under manager Richard Penny after he moved from L&G.

It invests in UK companies of all sizes but will typically have more of a focus on medium and smaller companies, with some FTSE 100 names.

The third name turning three is Federated Hermes Global Emerging Markets SMID Equity, which also launched in September 2018.

Similarly it also focuses on small and medium-sized companies but has a global emerging markets remit. It is co-managed by Gary Greenberg and Kunjal Gala, who will become lead manager in 2022, when Greenberg retires.

Asset turnaround hopes

While technology was one of the areas that did very well in 2020, many other sectors did not fare so well.

Trading in physical property funds, for example, was suspended due to liquidity issues, including the TIME: Commercial Long Income open-ended fund.

The TIME fun, which invests in commercial freehold ground rents and commercial freehold property, which benefit from long leases, is still suspended, though around 80% of rents have been collected during the pandemic and the managers are optimistic that annual income should continue to be around 3%.

With Brazil one of only two countries that managed to underperform the much unloved UK market, this dragged down the rest of Latin America, and contributed to a dire 2020 for the ASI Latin American Equity fund after a good 2019.

The hope of a strong economic rebound could turn things around in 2021, said McDermott. The team behind this fund looks to identify and build large positions in high quality companies that are trading at reasonable valuations. Four to five company visits usually take place before an investment is made.

FundCalibre also likes the process at LF Gresham House UK Multi Cap Income, which was down around 6% last year.

This multi-cap fund has a strong process and benefits from manager Ken Wottons unrivalled expertise in the small-cap space. The UK Equity Income sector was the worst performing sector of all in 2020, losing almost 11% on average. With a Brexit deal and vaccine roll-out its hoped the UK market will catch up in 2021.
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday stated that it will not pass any orders on farmers' tractor rally planned for Republic Day in New Delhi. The apex court has said that the police are the ones that must take decisions on such matters. Thousands of farmers protesting against the Centre's new farm laws are expected to hold a massive tractor rally on January 26 if their ongoing talks with the governments about the farm laws fail.

After hearing the Supreme Court's take on the matter, the central government has stated that it will leave decision making in the hands of the Delhi Police for the scheduled tractor rally on Republic Day.

On Wednesday, the apex court was hearing a plea filed by the Centre asking the top court to order the protesting farmers to not conduct the planned tractor rally amidst Republic Day celebrations. The SC has allowed the central government to withdraw its plea and put the burden of decision making on the Delhi Police.

"We see it as irregular and improper to allow or disallow any rally or procession. The norm is it is police matter. The police decides it. We are not going to pass the order," a Supreme Court bench said on Wednesday.

Earlier, an SC bench headed by Chief Justice Sharad Bobde had stated in this particular case's context, the Delhi Police has the liberty to invoke all powers to address the law and order situation in the National Capital. "Who should be allowed and the number of people to enter are all matters of law and order to be decided by the police. We are not the first authority," said CJ Bobde.

The Centre's in its application filed in the top court through the Delhi Police had stated that any rally or protest which disrupts or disturbs the Republic Day celebrations will cause an "embarrassment to the nation".

Meanwhile, Farmers' protest leaders have stated the planned tractor rally would be peaceful and won't interrupt the Republic Day parade at Rajpath. "They are going to celebrate Republic day and won't breach peace with their tractor rally," advocate Prashant Bhushan told the apex court.

Also Read: It's a matter of law & order says SC, on farmer's tractor rally on R-Day

EDWARDSVILLE  A claim against pharmaceutical manufacturer Mallinckrodt plc to compensate Madison County families and government for damages caused by the opioid epidemic was announced Tuesday by Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine.

This is the latest development after several years of consideration and discussion by county officials regarding suits and claims against the industry.

Now, as Mallinckrodts liability for its actions relating to the opioid epidemic is being determined through the bankruptcy process, Madison County will have a seat at the table, and we will be aggressively demanding recovery on behalf of the citizens of Madison County for the public health crisis of opioid addiction that has devastated so many in our area, Haine said.

In October Mallinckrodt became the third major opioid maker to declare bankruptcy after being inundated by claims regarding the U.S. opioid epidemic.

According to Bloomberg, at the time of the filing company officials said parties had agreed to a restructuring plan that handed ownership over to bondholders, left shareholders with nothing and set aside $1.6 billion to resolve opioid litigation.

The company was founded in St. Louis in 1867, but in the 1990s moved its incorporation to Ireland for tax purposes, but most of its production and sales remain in the U.S.

In his announcement, Haine also expressed appreciation to attorney and former Chief Circuit Judge Ann Callis, who he said would be working on the case while waiving compensation from Madison County government and citizens.

We made sure that 100% of all settlement money allotted to Madison County will be available to support families who have lost a loved one and to pay for public safety, treatment, and education efforts, Haine said.

Callis said she was honored to represent Madison County.

Specific amounts of the claim will be determined later.

Haine also noted that other local governments could also file claims, and the states attorneys offices civil division can assist them.

This is the second claim filed by the states attorneys office against a pharmaceutical company over opioid abuse.

In July 2020 former Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons announced a claim against Purdue Pharma L.P. to recover some of the cost of the countys fight against opioid addition and the large number of overdose deaths over the past decade.

The county did not participate in the actual suit, but could file claims.

Talk about joining lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry over opioids started in Fall 2017, and continued for several months.

Part of the discussion in early 2018 was that pharmaceutical companies created a conspiracy for the proliferation of opioid prescriptions.

According to attorneys who talked to county officials, including Callis, prior to 1995, opioids were generally prescribed for acute pain following surgery and terminal cancer cases. That changed when doctors started prescribing opioids more readily for pain management, which led to widespread abuse.

Later, prescription opioids were supplanted by heroin, which was later overshadowed by Asian-produced fentanyl coming into the illegal U.S. drug market.

Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn started tracking overdose deaths, specifically from opioids, since he first noticed a spike in 2009.

However, no decision was reached by the following spring, and the discussion died off until Gibbons filed the initial claim in 2020.
Dear Amy: I am newly married to a man Ive been in a relationship with for three years. We have three children and we both work.

I understand that all of this can put a strain on our intimacy. I feel like he turns down my sexual advances frequently. I chalked it up to him being worn out from work, etc.

Trust has never been an issue in our relationship before. However, going on instinct, I checked his phone. His search history showed that he was paying for and had subscribed to webcam videos from a woman who is very wild-looking and is built nothing like me.

He has admitted his problem, apologized, and swore never to do that again, but I am having trust issues now, and I feel insecure.

I feel like he chose that over me.

How can I get past this and be happy again?

 Insecure

Dear Insecure: To paraphrase one of my favorite lines from poet Robert Frost, you can only get past this by going through it. And you can only do that with your husband by your side.

He violated your trust by paying a woman to simulate sex for him on a webcam. You violated his trust by catching him.

You seem to have discussed this episode, at least to the point where he quickly admitted to the impact of his choice. He obviously feels guilty. But frequently when trust is broken, couples issue their accusations, explanations, and apologies very quickly and then slam the book closed, hoping to just move on. It is painful for two people who love each other to dwell on their broken trust. Suddenly, it feels as if the image youve had of yourselves and your relationship (all those happy wedding photos) is completely flawed.

Your husbands sex habit in his virtual life might have created or exacerbated sexual dysfunction in his real life. Or sexual dysfunction or anxiety in his real life might have led him down this virtual path.

You two must talk about this, and you should talk about it until everything  all of your thoughts, fears and feelings  have been revealed.

You should both vow to be completely honest and nonjudgmental in discussing this. This would best be done with the guidance of a skilled couples counselor who could ideally urge you toward a compassionate understanding of your mutual needs and desires, and teach you how to talk about them.

Dear Amy: PLEASE do your research before suggesting that people try online dating. Have you not heard about catfishing and scams?

Sadly, Ive been doing it for far more years than I care to admit, and I will tell you first-hand that the men on most sites these days are FAR from available and looking!

 Upset

Dear Upset: I have used online matching, myself. Two of my five daughters met their partners through online matching.

According to a Pew Research study published last year, an estimated 33 percent of American adults say they have used a dating app, while one in 10 have met their spouses or committed partners online, either through matching services or through social media.

The same study points out that people do NOT have a universally good experience meeting potential partners this way.

According to the study, Six-in-10 female users ages 18 to 34 say someone on a dating site or app continued to contact them after they said they were not interested, while 57 percent report that another user has sent them a sexually explicit message or image they didnt ask for. At the same time, 44 percent report that someone called them an offensive name on a dating site or app, while 19 percent say they have had someone threaten to physically harm them.

As with any product, anyone using online matching should do their due diligence.

And, as with any other blind dating situation, people connecting online and meeting in person for the first time should take great care regarding their connection.

Dear Amy: I am thoroughly disgusted by your relentless drumbeat promoting mask wearing and now having a vaccine injected into the body in order to ward off the COVID virus.

Keep your opinions to yourself.

 Disgusted

Dear Disgusted: People read the column and write to me precisely for my opinion, which is why the column is called Ask Amy.

However, regarding the pandemic, I am not stating my opinion, but that of scientists and medical researchers. My relentless drumbeat is all in the cause of health and public safety.

(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)

2021 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Read more advice:

Ask Amy: Separated soulmates are eager to connect

Dear Annie: Looking to hop off the hamster wheel

Dear Abby: Children cut off stepmother with dads power of attorney
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 12:48:02|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- As an increasing number of countries started mass vaccination, gaps in access to COVID-19 vaccines, especially huge disparities between the developed world and developing world, have become glaringly evident.

While the three wealthy economies of the United States, Britain and the European Union "have given citizens about 24 million doses so far -- more than half of the shots administered globally -- vast numbers of countries have yet to begin their campaigns," Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

Disparities in immunity "pose a threat to both have and have-not states," the news outlet warned.

"Giving the coronavirus an opportunity to advance and generate new mutants would have significant economic and public-health consequences, adding to the pain as the death toll surpasses 2 million," it said.

More worryingly, opening the 148th session of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Executive Board, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday warned of the moral consequences of the lack of COVID-19 vaccines for poorer countries, saying that the higher-income countries are privileged compared to the developing countries.

"More than 39 million doses of vaccine have now been administered in at least 49 higher-income countries. Just 25 doses have been given in one lowest-income country. Not 25 million, not 25,000, just 25," he said.

Similarly, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for solidarity with developing countries in the context of COVID-19 and pre-existing inequalities and injustices.

Vaccines must be a global public good, available to everyone, everywhere, he said.

The good news is that China has, on various occasions, pledged continuous efforts in global COVID-19 response.

"We were the first to pledge to make vaccines a global public good, bearing in mind the greater good of humanity," Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said recently. Enditem
A 'Kung Fu' chicken handed a brutal beatdown to a menacing snake in a 'fight to the death' on an Australian verandah.

A woman in Simpson, southern Victoria, filmed the incredible match which ended with a surprising result and posted the footage to Facebook.

Social media described the backyard chook's combat tactics as 'death by a thousand pecks'.

For two minutes the fearless hen lashes out at the snake before eventually swallowing the threatening creature whole.

'Chooks are just a mini T-Rex,' one commenter said.

Another joked: 'That's the style Jet Li used in his movie back in the days of Kung Fu.'

But not everyone was impressed by the video.

'Just cruel for both. Why wouldn't a human intervene with a broom etc to prevent this?' one person wrote.

Another said: 'Absolutely disgraceful to film it and not save both animals from each other. True cruelty'.

A 'Kung Fu' chicken has handed a brutal beatdown to a menacing snake in a 'fight to the death' encounter that was filmed on a woman's veranda

But some pointed out the hen was trying to protect its young.

'The snake would have been after her eggs,' a commenter wrote.

'It is called nature,' another said.

Though chickens are mostly thought of as herbivores that eat grass and grain, they also very effective hunters that can feed on mice, worms, insects and a number of other animals.

Some aggressive chooks are even known to attack dogs.
By JONATHAN LEMIRE, ZEKE MILLER and ALEXANDRA JAFFE, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)  Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, declaring that democracy has prevailed. He swore the oath of office to take the helm of a deeply divided nation and inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

Bidens inauguration came at a time of national tumult and uncertainty, a ceremony of resilience as the hallowed American democratic rite unfurled at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago.

On a chilly Washington day dotted with snow flurries, a bipartisan trio of ex-presidents along with the elite of nations government gathered, ensuring the quadrennial ceremony persevered, even though it was encircled by security forces evocative of a war zone and devoid of crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Former President George W. Bush, from left, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama arrive to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol for the Inauguration of Joe Biden in Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (Caroline Brehman/Pool Photo via AP)AP

The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed, Biden said. This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.

And then he pivoted to challenges ahead, acknowledging the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States. Biden looked out over a capital city dotted with empty storefronts that attest to the pandemics deep economic toll and where summer protests laid bare the nations renewed reckoning on racial injustice.

And he was not applauded by his predecessor.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol. Though three other former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama  gathered to watch the ceremonial transfer of power, Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, instead flew to Florida after stoking grievance among his supporters with the lie that Bidens win was illegitimate.

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive to speak to supporters prior to boarding Air Force One to head to Florida on January 20, 2021 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Trump, the first president in more than 150 years to refuse to attend his successor's inauguration, is expected to spend the final minutes of his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. (Photo by Pete Marovich - Pool/Getty Images)Getty Images

Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. On his first day, Biden will take a series of executive actions  on the pandemic, climate, immigration and more  to undo the heart of Trumps agenda at a moment with the bonds of the republic strained.

Biden will face a series of urgent, burning crises like we have not seen before, and they all have to be solved at once. It is very hard to find a parallel in history, said presidential historian Michael Beschloss. I think we have been through a near-death experience as a democracy. Americans who will watch the new president be sworn in are now acutely aware of how fragile our democracy is and how much it needs to be protected.

Biden will come to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he was the oldest president inaugurated.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Kamala Harris is sworn as U.S. Vice President by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor as her husband Doug Emhoff looks on at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images

More history was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became the first woman to be vice president. The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

The two were sworn in during an inauguration ceremony with few parallels in history.

Tens of thousands of troops are on the streets to provide security precisely two weeks after a violent mob of Trump supporters, incited by the Republican president, stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of Bidens victory.

Security is set up along Pennsylvania Avenue before the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) APAP

The tense atmosphere evoked the 1861 inauguration of Lincoln, who was secretly transported to Washington to avoid assassins on the eve of the Civil War, or Roosevelts inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a small, secure ceremony at the White House in the waning months of World War II.

The day began with a reach across the aisle after four years of bitter partisan battles under Trump. At Bidens invitation, congressional leaders from both parties bowed their heads in prayer in the socially distanced service just a few blocks from the White House.

Biden was administered the oath by Chief Justice John Roberts; Harris was sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for Trump, was sitting nearby as Lady Gaga, holding a gold microphone, sang the National Anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. During today's inauguration ceremony Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty ImagesGetty Images

The theme of Bidens approximately 30-minute speech will be America United, and aides said it would be a call to set aside differences during a moment of national trial.

Biden will then oversee a Pass in Review, a military tradition that honors the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander in chief. Then, Biden, Harris and their spouses will be joined by that bipartisan trio of former presidents to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony.

Later, Biden will join the end of a slimmed-down inaugural parade as he moves into the White House. Because of the pandemic, much of this years parade will be a virtual affair featuring performances from around the nation.

In the evening, in lieu of the traditional glitzy balls that welcome a new president to Washington, Biden will take part in a televised concert that also marks the return of A-list celebrities to the White House orbit after they largely eschewed Trump. Among those in the lineup: Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

National youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman arrives at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 in Washington. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)AP

Trump is the first president in more than a century to skip the inauguration of his successor. In a cold wind, Marine One took off from the White House and soared above a deserted capital city to his own farewell celebration at nearby Joint Base Andrews. There, he boarded Air Force One for the final time as president for the flight to his Florida estate.

I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening and I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better, said Trump, who wished the incoming administration well but once again declined to mention Bidens name.

The symbolism was striking: The very moment Trump disappeared into the doorway of Air Force One, Biden stepped out of the Blair House, the traditional guest lodging for presidents-in-waiting, and into his motorcade for the short ride to church.

Trump did adhere to one tradition and left a note for Biden in the Oval Office, according to the White House, which did not release its contents. And Trump, in his farewell remarks, hinted at a political return, saying we will be back in some form.

And he, without question, will shadow Bidens first days in office.

Trumps second impeachment trial could start as early as this week. That could test the ability of the Senate, poised to come under Democratic control, to balance impeachment proceedings with confirmation hearings and votes on Bidens Cabinet choices.

Biden was eager to go big early, with an ambitious first 100 days that includes a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion virus relief package. On Day One, hell also send an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally.

He also planned a 10-day blitz of executive orders on matters that dont require congressional approval  a mix of substantive and symbolic steps to unwind the Trump years. Among the planned steps: rescinding travel restrictions on people from several predominantly Muslim countries; rejoining the Paris climate accord; issuing a mask mandate for those on federal property; and ordering agencies to figure out how to reunite children separated from their families after crossing the border.

More: Joe Bidens Scranton neighborhood turned out a president-elect, governor, senators, other leaders




Kim Seong-wook, left, director general for international finance bureau at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, speaks during a press briefing at Sejong Government Complex, Tuesday, Courtesy of Ministry of Economy and Finance



Monitoring of dollar demand, short-term borrowing in swap market, overseas asset operation maturity are top priorities



By Lee Kyung-min



Korea plans to beef up the monitoring of foreign exchange liquidity conditions at non-banking financial firms, including brokerages and insurers, to prevent potential market turmoil caused by a dollar shortage, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said Wednesday.



Under the plan, non-banking financial firms will be required to submit a monthly plan on borrowing U.S. dollars, including ways to counter a sudden spike in demand for the key reserve currency brought on by unforeseen risks.



Their foreign currency exposure will be calculated by net overseas assets divided by total overseas assets using a method the finance ministry created to measure the financial health of non-banking financial firms.



"The extreme volatility seen in the forex market last March was the highest seen since the global financial crisis of 2008. We sought to enhance regulatory measures in a broader, preemptive move to maintain financial health, a key factor in determining Korea's credit rating," said Kim Seong-wook, director general for the ministry's international finance bureau.



Non-banking financial companies will also be required to submit a monthly report on the maturity dates of their dollar-denominated debt and assets, with both clearly specified by the amount of cash at hand and forward contracts.



The measures seek to identify the amount of dollars borrowed over the short term in the swap market, a figure that is not stated on balance sheets and is therefore considered as a major risk in the event of a liquidity shock.



They are among key measures announced by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Financial Services Commission (FSC), Bank of Korea (BOK) and Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) to strengthen the financial soundness of non-banking financial institutions.



The firms will no longer be able to claim their assets as being liquid if dollar-denominated assets cannot be converted into cash immediately or in a short amount of time.



Brokerages will be required to hold at least 20 percent of hedged sales of derivative-linked securities as liquid overseas assets, while insurers will be required to opt for long-term swap transactions over short-term ones.



The slew of measures to reduce liquidity risks in the foreign exchange (FX) market  especially involving non-banking firms  followed extreme market volatility about a year ago, defined by a massive outflow of U.S. dollars that caused the Korean won to plummet in value to 1,280 won against the American currency in March 19.



The sharp devaluation of the Korean currency came after many local brokerages failed to meet margin calls made by their overseas counterparts following a pandemic-triggered stock market crash around the world and the resulting nosedive in indices of exchange-linked securities (ELS) whose underlying assets included key global financial market indices.



Many local brokerages sold the ELS in question, and about six of them were asked to put up a combined 1 trillion won in a matter of days, a chief driver of the rapid mid-March weakening of the Korean won that stabilized only after a $60 billion currency swap was signed between Korea and the U.S., March 19.



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Reflected in the measure is a sharp increase in foreign assets held by non-banking firms amid Korea's growing current account surplus, as illustrated by those held by securities companies doubling every year for the past three years. The figure was $81.3 billion in 2018, up from $49.8 billion in 2017, a further jump from $16 billion in 2016. It remains at $92.8 billion as of 2019.



Insurers are also increasing long-term, high-return investments, yet their markedly small overseas debt on paper calls into question where they borrowed the money from.



"Insurers' overseas assets stood at $146.3 billion in 2019, but their debt was only about $9.9 billion, meaning the difference was borrowed in the swap market. We sought to identify what remains unnoticeable in order to put them in a wider risk-management perspective," Kim said.



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Whats the best watch brand in the world? Its a loaded question.

If were talking sheer desirability, maybe youd suggest OMEGA, Richard Mille or Rolex. Maybe the best means the most distinct, at which point you could argue Bell & Ross, Panerai or TAG Heuer. Or perhaps its a simple matter of price, and then you could offer up F.P. Journe, Franck Muller or Jacob & Co.

But ask watch geek worth their salt and theyll point to three brands that are widely considered to be the absolute pinnacle of the watch world: the so-called Big Three or Holy Trinity of Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. These legendary Swiss brands are not only incredibly prestigious (and exclusive, and expensive), but boast centuries-long histories of fine watchmaking. Few brands have had an impact on the world of haute horlogerie like these three and for real watch purists, nothing else really compares.

But in the 21st century, another trio of brands are increasingly entering the watch conversation: Grand Seiko, NOMOS Glashutte and Tudor. Well-regarded American author, satirist and noted watch geek Gary Shteyngart has described them as the New Holy Trinity, a particularly apt label: just as the Big Three have legendary status at the top of the watch world, these three are similarly unimpeachable, but for altogether different reasons.

Unlike the Old Holy Trinity, these brands dont share a common origin or long, storied histories. What they do share, however, is a spirit of innovation, precision and design flair that give even the Old Holy Trinity a run for their money  all while being incredibly affordable; a fraction of the price of most luxury watch brands. Lets take a deep dive and explore what makes these brands so special.

Grand Seiko  Japan

No serious discussion about watches  whether it be about affordable everyday pieces to the absolute creme de la creme of luxury wrist candy  can be had without mentioning Seiko. One of the largest watch brands in the world, the Japanese firm has been responsible for a number of world firsts in the world of watchmaking, most notably introducing the worlds first quartz watch. Grand Seiko is their premium sub-brand, which was created in 1960 to challenge the status of Swiss watches, something theyve been doing handily since then.

RELATED: Grand Seiko Return To Their Roots With Special Anniversary Models

Indeed, thats why Grand Seiko is so respected in the watch community. Unlike many of their Swiss competitors, Grand Seikos arent flashy. Theyre conservatively styled and very rarely use jewels or exotic complications. What Grand Seikos are, however, are the purest expression of fine watchmaking. No other brand comes close to the build quality and refinement of a Grand Seiko watch  much to the embarrassment of the Swiss.

Grand Seikos other big strength is their technical edge. The iconic Spring Drive movement  a Seiko invention and something exclusive to the brand  combines all the accuracy of a quartz watch with the class and convenience of a traditional automatic mechanical movement. Complex dial treatments and their famous zaratsu polishing are other hallmarks of the brand. Its a different league of watchmaking.

In the same way that the ascendancy of Japanese car brands like Honda and Toyota embarrassed Europe and America post-WWII, Grand Seiko singlehandedly undermines the myth of Swiss watchmaking supremacy. You dont buy a Grand Seiko because you want to show off; for the brand recognition. You buy a Grand Seiko because you care about the real art of watchmaking and because you want the best-made watch possible, money be damned. The fact that Grand Seikos are so competitively priced is just icing on the cake.

NOMOS Glashutte  Germany

NOMOS Glashutte is the youngest brand in this list, founded only in January 1990, two months after the fall of the Berlin Wall, in the German town of Glashutte. Glashutte is to Germany what the Jura Valley is to Switzerland: its the heart of German watchmaking. The tiny Saxon town has a long history of fine watchmaking and is home to other prestigious brands such as A. Lange & Sohne, Glashutte Original and Tutima.

Where other Glashutte brands draw upon years of tradition, NOMOS instead draws inspiration from the Bauhaus movement, one of Germanys most profound contributions to the world of modern art. Their pieces might be hand-made in Glashutte but theyre designed in Berlin, and its easy to see that Berlin influence if you look at one of their watches: NOMOS pieces are clean, minimalist and refined with a consistent and modern aesthetic.

Theyre the ultimate quality basic watch, which is why theyre so popular among watch fans, design nerds and iconoclasts. Despite being made in Germany theyre also incredibly affordable while being made to a standard just as high, if not higher than most Swiss luxury watch brands. Are you sensing a theme here?

RELATED: Cristiano Ronaldos Unique Taste In Watches Reveals Awkward Truth About Super Wealthy

Tudor  Switzerland

Unlike NOMOS or Grand Seiko, Tudor is a brand constrained by legacy  or at least it used to be. Founded in 1926 by Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex, Tudor was positioned from the very start to be Rolexs affordable sister brand. For most of its existence, it was just that: Tudor watches featured similar designs and a level of build quality as their Rolex siblings at a cheaper price point, at the cost of individual identity as a brand.

But in recent years, the so-called peoples Rolex has increasingly forged its own path, moving out of the shadow of Rolex and becoming a bona fide player in the watch world in its own right. Commentators say that Tudor these days is what Rolex used to be in its early history: an affordable innovator. Unlike Rolex, which is constrained by its brand image and a need to maintain its exclusivity, Tudor has been free to experiment and go in different directions, making their own in-house movements (a feature of all the three New Holy Trinity brands thats central to their popularity) and releasing more out there designs.

RELATED: David Beckham Spotted Wearing A Refreshing Take On The Peoples Rolex

What hasnt changed is the value proposition of a Tudor. Tudor watches boast all the refinement and durability of a Rolex, while being far more accessible And without the sometimes negative connotation wearing a Rolex comes with.

And thats entirely the key to understanding the New Holy Trinity. Where the Old Holy Trinity require hundreds of thousands of dollars, connections and luck to get your hands on a desirable piece, the New Holy Trinity are accessible, affordable, and make arguably a more powerful statement.

Modern luxury isnt just about spending bulk cash, its about knowing a good thing when you see it. Its about demanding excellence, not exclusivity. In the 21st century, where authenticity is societys most valuable currency, these if you know, you know watch brands say all the right things. Thats why the New Holy Trinity are so revolutionary  and why the old school should pay close attention

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has added two wide-body planes, a B767 and a A330 model, to its cargo fleet to transport items on long haul routes to destinations such as Europe and the US, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.

"With the latest induction, will have a dedicated fleet of 19 cargo aircraft, including five wide-body jets," the statement said.

Wide-body aircraft have larger cargo capacity and bigger fuel tank, which makes long-haul operations possible, than narrow-body planes.

The addition of two new planes will aid in the global mission of speedy and reliable COVID-19 vaccine transportation and primarily cater to the increasing demand on long-haul routes, it said.

"The two wide-body cargo aircraft that have been inducted would primarily be used for transporting cargo goods, medical and essential supplies on long-haul routes including to destinations in Europe and North America," it mentioned.

(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.)

Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Report Description

A recent market intelligence report that is published by Data Insights Partner on the global Blister Packaging Market makes an offering of in-depth analysis of segments and sub-segments in the regional and international Blister Packaging Market. The research also emphasizes on the impact of restraints, drivers, and macro indicators on the regional and global Blister Packaging Market over the short as well as long period of time. A detailed presentation of forecast, trends, and dollar values of global Blister Packaging Market is offered. In accordance with the report, the global Blister Packaging Market is projected to expand by healthy CAGR over the period of forecast.

Market Insight, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunity & Trends of the Market:

Definition

Blister Packaging is a sort of bubble packaging. Blister Packs are referred to as a sealed product placed in a cavity that comprises of a paper film or aluminum backing. This product is mainly used in packaging small goods from the food and pharmaceutical industries. Owing to its durability, transparency and the tamper proof properties, blister packaging are gaining momentum. This packaging products are mainly utilized by the end use sector like food and beverage sector and the pharmaceutical industry.

Market Drivers

The initial impetus to the blister packaging is provided by its widespread application in the pharmaceutical industry. This kind of packaging provides convenience in handling, adaptability, high protectivity and insulation from outdoor and external environments like temperature, moisture, gas and light and many more. These factors are primarily driving the blister packaging market.

Request for Report Sample: https://datainsightspartner.com/request-for-sample?ref=919

The rising incidence of suffering from diseases, changing consumer lifestyles and its impact for the growth of the chronic lifestyle diseases and soaring geriatric population is driving the need for medication and thereby this market. Moreover, the benefits of utilizing these packages by the consumers and patients is a determining factor. Owing to the adoption of unit packaging mode, the possibility of wrong intakes or skipping intakes of medicine can be done away with which is fueling the growth of this market.

The rigid directives of the government aimed at combating the possibility of forging drugs is powering the growth of this market. This generates the need for unique packaging facilities that are difficult to copy. Anti-counterfeiting systems including banknote authentication systems among others are offered by way of blistering packaging. The necessity to maintain product integrity is bolstering the growth of the blister packaging market.

The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of this market. The no-contact form of health management and the growth of OCT drug have positively influenced the growth of the blister packaging market.

The craze for personal care products in developed countries and also the rapid craze for such products in developing nations are charging up the growth of this market.

Market Restraints

The gaining importance of pre-fillable syringes is threatening the market growth of the blister packaging market. The former consists of pre-measured dosage which lowers the probability of dosage error. The cut-throat competition in between the products which is parallel to the competition faced from parental flexible solutions are taking a toll on the blister packaging market.

The rigid regulations of the international organizations and the hard and fast directives of the local regulatory bodies is disrupting the trade, import and export of this products which is hindering the market prospects.

This packaging products are usually made out of plastics. The stringent regulations of the government for plastic deployment coupled with the sustainable programs for environmental conservation is hampering the growth of this market.

Blister packages are not suitable for the packaging of heavy materials which is cutting down its application and threatening the growth of this market.

Opportunities

Although the employment of plastic is hindering the market growth, technological advancement has led to the deployment of bioplastics in blister packaging. This is aimed towards sustainable packaging concerns which is expected to provide lucrative opportunities to this market.

Further, prosperous end use sector namely, the personal care sector and the pharmaceutical industry is expected to thrive and grow because it is indispensable part of the human civilization which is likely to create better market for tube packaging in the coming years.

Trends

At present North America dominates the market for blister packaging and is expected to continue its domination in the forecast period. This is attributable to the presence of some of the dominant pharmaceutical companies and beauty products company and food and beverage industry in this region. Europe is also estimated to witness significant growth owing to the global significance of the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry of Europe, the initiative of environmental conservation and the ongoing investment in this region is expected to bolster the market for blister packaging. Globally, the blister packaging market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.18% in the forecast period.

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Segment Covered:

This market intelligence report on the global Blister Packaging Market encompasses market segments based on product type, technology, material type, end use and country.

By Product Type the global Blister Packaging Market has been divided into:

q Clamshell

q Carded

By Technology the global Blister Packaging Market has been divided into:

q Cold Forming

q Thermoforming

By Material Type the global Blister Packaging Market has been divided into:

q Aluminium

q Paper & Paper Board

q Plastic Films

q Others

By End Use the global Blister Packaging Market has been divided into:

q Food

q Industrial Goods

q Consumer Goods

q Healthcare

By country/region, the global Blister Packaging Market has been divided into:

q North America (the U.S., Canada),

q Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and other countries),

q Europe (Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Russia, and other countries),

q Asia Pacific (India, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand and other countries),

q Middle East and Africa (GCC, South Africa, Israel and Other countries).

Profiling of Market Players:

This business intelligence report offers profiling of reputed companies that are operating in the market. Companies such as:

q Amcor PLC

q Probiotec

q Constantia Flexible

q Honeywell International

q Westrock Company

q Klockner Pentaplast Group

q The Dow Chemical Company

q Sonoco Products Company

q Bemis Company Inc

q Display Pack Inc

others have been profiled into detail so as to offer a glimpse of the market leaders. Moreover, parameters such as Blister Packaging Market related investment & spending and developments by major players of the market are tracked in this global report.

Report Highlights:

In-depth analysis of the micro and macro indicators, market trends, and forecasts of demand is offered by this business intelligence report. Furthermore, the report offers a vivid picture of the factors that are steering and restraining the growth of this market across all geographical segments. In addition to that, IGR-Growth Matrix analysis is also provided in the report so as to share insight of the investment areas that new or existing market players can take into consideration. Various analytical tools such as DRO analysis, Porter's five forces analysis has been used in this report to present a clear picture of the market. The study focuses on the present market trends and provides market forecast from the year 2020-2028. Emerging trends that would shape the market demand in the years to come have been highlighted in this report. A competitive analysis in each of the geographical segments gives an insight into market share of the global players.

Few Recent Developments

Amcor PLC

In January 2020, Amcor collaborated with Moda with the aim of offering innovative packaging solutions. In the market of flexible packaging, such collaboration would strengthen the position of Amcor.

Probiotec

In July 2019, ABS Pty Ltd was acquired by Probiotec aimed at the expansion of manufacturing capabilities. This acquisition is also aimed towards the broadening of the companys footing in the pharmaceutical industry.

Constantia Flexible

In January 2019, Flexible Blister was launched by Constantia Flexible. This product provided better barrier protection owing to blister packaging films on either side.

Salient Features:

 This study offers comprehensive yet detailed analysis of the Blister Packaging Market, size of the market (US$ Mn), and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR (%)) for the period of forecast: 2020-2028, taking into account 2019 as the base year

 It explains upcoming revenue opportunities across various market segments and attractive matrix of investment proposition for the said market

 This market intelligence report also offers pivotal insights about various market opportunities, restraints, drivers, competitive market strategies of leading market players, emerging market trends, and regional outlook

 Profiling of key market players in the world Blister Packaging Market is done by taking into account various parameters such as company strategies, distribution strategies, product portfolio, financial performance, key developments, geographical presence, and company overview

 The data of this report would allow management authorities and marketers of companies alike to take informed decision when it comes to launch of Type of models, government initiatives, marketing tactics and expansion, and technical up gradation

 The world market for Blister Packaging caters to the needs of various stakeholders pertaining to this industry, namely suppliers, manufacturers, investors, and distributors for Blister Packaging Market. The research also caters to the rising needs of consulting and research firms, financial analysts, and new market entrants

 Research methodologies that have been adopted for the purpose of this study have been clearly elaborated so as to facilitate better understanding of the reports

 Reports have been made based on the guidelines as mandated by General Data Protection Regulation

 Ample number of examples and case studies have been taken into consideration before coming to a conclusion

Reasons to buy:

v Identify opportunities and plan strategies by having a strong understanding of the investment opportunities in the Blister Packaging Market

v Identification of key factors driving investment opportunities in the Blister Packaging Market

v Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data

v Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential

v Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events

v Identify key partners and business development avenues

v Respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects

v Identify key strengths and weaknesses of important market participants

Full View of Report Description: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/blister-packaging-market/919
After teasing it late last year, Mercedes has unveiled the EQA, its latest entry as part of a plan to release wide range of EVs in the coming years. With a 66.5 kWh battery pack, the compact crossover will have a range under 300 miles and a list price starting at 39,950 ($48,440).

The EQA is in roughly the same category as Hyundais Kona EV (with a 64 kWh battery),and has similar specs as well. The first version comes with a 188 horsepower motor with 277 pound-feet of torque, compared to 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque for the Kona EV. However, Mercedes will eventually offer versions with up to 268 horsepower.

With the launch specs, the EQA will go from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in a modest 8.9 seconds while hitting a top speed of 99 mph. The first version is a front-wheel drive model, but Mercedes will eventually launch all-wheel drive variants as well.

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Mercedes has promised a 301 mile range based on the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), which has largely been replaced by the more pessimistic WLTP standard. The EPA standard used in the US is even less generous, so the EQAs range will be well under 300 miles if it ever arrives stateside. By way of comparison, the Hyunda Kona EV has a 258 mile EPA range with a slightly smaller battery, besting all other EVs sold in the US except, well, any of Teslas models.

On the tech side, the EQA will come with the automakers second-gen MBUX infotainment system with a fully digital and voice-controlled user interface. Buyers can choose either two 7-inch displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment screen, or a dual 10.25-inch widescreen version.

Mercedes predictive Navigation with Electric Intelligence feature lets you choose the fastest route given charge times, weather, traffic and your driving habits. Other standard features include automatic braking and a lane-keeping assist feature. With another new feature, the EQA can pump excess heat from the battery pack to the passenger compartment, much like Tesla does with the Model Y. That essentially allows for free heat without extra battery drain.

With the price under $50,000 the EQA becomes Mercedes entry-level EV and should have broad appeal given what looks like decent range. Theres no guarantee yet that it will come to the US, though the company told Roadshow to stay tuned for more details in the coming months.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th January, 2021) The United Kingdom and Japan signed a 15 million pound (about $16.5 million) agreement to automate nuclear technology, the UK government's press center reported on Wednesday.

"This innovative research alliance with Japan will ensure we share our expertise in robotics to address complex challenges such as nuclear decommissioning, while helping to secure highly skilled jobs across the country as we build back better from the pandemic," UK Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Amanda Solloway said, as quoted by the government's press release.

The four-year research project, dubbed LongOps, aims at the deployment of robotics and automation technology to aid in decommissioning nuclear facilities and fusion energy production. The program is designed to protect human health at nuclear and fusion facilities and provide new jobs in the high-tech sector.
SACRAMENTO, Calif.  U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California, McGregor W. Scott, told Action News Now the FBI has dozens of open investigations on people in the state of California connected to the Capitol riots.

The FBI anticipates that within the next 24 to 48 hours they will have persons formally charged with crimes from the Eastern District of California who will be having to answer for those charges in Washington D.C., according to Attorney Scott.

RELATED: FBI Special Field Agent talks about California and North State safety concerns

The eastern district of California spans from Siskiyou to Kern counties. And as mentioned in the interview above, Scott confirms to Action News Now the persons being investigated are scattered across the entire eastern district.

With Inauguration Day less than 24 hours away, U.S. Attorney Scott also addressed safety concerns in Sacramento.

Law enforcement here in the Sacramento region have spent amazing amounts of time and energy over the last several days, ensuring that nothing remotely close to what happened in Washington D.C. will happen here in our state Capitol.

He added, The bottom line is, that we as Americans must come together tomorrow for a peaceful transfer of power to the new president and his administration  as we have done throughout our history as a nation.

To watch the full one-on-one with Action News Now Anchor Scott Rates and US Attorney, McGregor W. Scott, press the play button on the video player above.

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Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 84F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low near 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

The Jan. 29, 2010, police killing of Aaron M. Campbell, an unarmed Black man shot in the back after officers arrived to check on his welfare, drew intense scrutiny in Portland, a grand jury rebuke, a march on City Hall and public condemnation from the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

On Wednesday, Campbells death garnered international attention.

Campbells mother, Marva Davis, and the familys lawyer, Tom Steenson, had an hour to address an international commission delving into police violence against Blacks in the United States.

It was one of 30 hearings scheduled this week through Feb. 6 by the commission. Its the only Oregon shooting by police under review. Among the other cases being examined are the deaths of Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown and Breonna Taylor.

The International Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence Against People of African Descent in the United States is made up of human rights advocates from across the world. It will make recommendations to the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights by April after evaluating the cases.

The group particularly wants to discuss how to hold police accountable, recognizing that killings and maimings of unarmed Black people by police authorities in the United States escalate unabated and that effective domestic remedies are either non-existent or exacerbated by the policies of the federal government, it said in a statement.

Davis, appearing by video feed from her Portland home, told the commission it was painful to relive the death of her 25-year-old son.

My grandchildren are growing up without a father, she said. Every time someone is killed by the police, it takes us back to the day that Aaron was shot in the back.

She urged the commission to do more than just talk about the police killings of Black men and women but make sure officers are held responsible for taking anothers life in violation of their own policies.

The officer who fatally shot her son, Ron Frashour, was fired but then a state arbitrator ordered his return to work with back pay, Steenson recounted to the panel.

On the day he died, Campbell was distraught and suicidal about the death of his younger brother, a heart transplant recipient who had succumbed to heart and kidney disease.

Campbell emerged from a Northeast Portland apartment with his back toward officers and his hands behind his head. Officer Ryan Lewton, trying to get Campbell to put his hands in the air, fired six beanbag rounds at him. Campbell ran toward a parked car and Frashour, armed with an AR-15 rifle, shot Campbell once in the back, killing him. Campbell wasnt armed, but Frashour said he thought Campbell was reaching for a gun.

Then-Police Chief Mike Reese called Lewtons use of a beanbag shotgun unjustified because Campbells actions didnt rise to aggressive physical resistance and said Frashours deadly shot was unjustified because Campbell didnt pose an immediate threat.

An arbitrator upheld Lewtons suspension without pay for 80 hours for violating police policy, but another arbitrator overturned Frashours firing by the mayor.

Steenson said Frashours reinstatement was the outcome of a flawed arbitration system which interferes with the ability of the city of Portland and its officials to get rid of bad police officers, particularly those involved in costly deaths and intentional shooting deaths.

Outside prosecutors should handle fatal shootings by police and deaths in police custody -- not the same prosecutors who rely on police to pursue other criminal cases, Steenson told the panel. He also pointed out that no Portland police officer involved in a fatal shooting has been indicted on criminal charges.

Prosecutors dont pursue cases against police with the same zeal they do against other citizens, Steenson said.

Civil rights lawyer Tom Steenson, on right, Wednesday recounted how the Rev. Jesse Jackson came to Portland after Aaron Campbell's death and called the shooting "an execution."

He also blamed a largely ineffective police disciplinary system that provides little or no accountability for deadly shootings by police.

The current citizen system to oversee police in Portland also has no authority to review police shootings, Steenson said. And though Portland voters in November overwhelmingly approved a measure calling for an independent citizen board with such powers, it remains to be seen whether that board will ever be implemented, he said.

Steenson described a city effort underway to create a pilot project for a crisis mental health worker to respond with an emergency medic to mental health calls, instead of police.

No one with mental health experience responded when Campbells aunt called police to perform a welfare check on her nephew, he said.

There werent any professionals there with those kinds of skills and experiences to interact with Aaron, Steenson said. Instead, it was a police encounter with guns, and thats the wrong approach.

Davis said shes tired of talking about her sons death. She said she wants action.

I hope that we are not just here just to share and to relive this painful experience, she told the panel. She also feels heartache following the recent loss of her mother, who died Jan. 2, she said.

What is the intention for this? I know that we are not here just to reflect on pain, the painful loss of our childrens lives, she said. Lets make a difference in our lives and the families with children who are at risk.

Panelist Max Boqwana, a lawyer in South Africa and a member of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, extended his condolences to Davis and her family.

He told her that the commission is made up of human rights advocates who are fighting for justice throughout the world.

Were not here just for an academic exercise. We want to take your pain, your experience to the rest of the world, to the United Nations, he said, and find a collective way to ensure police are held to account ... that there is justice ... so the whole world and police in the United States understand that this behavior cannot be tolerated.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Subscribe to Facebook page
Your morning meal with a side of murder? Perhaps. A successful bed-and-breakfast with a violent past is on the market.

The residence that now operates as the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast in Fall River, MA, is the spot where two of the countrys most notorious unsolved murders took place.

On Aug. 4, 1892, Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby Borden, were brutally murdered in this home. Andrew's daughter, Lizzie, was accused of committing the heinous crime with an ax, but was acquitted of the murders at a trial in 1893.

For a buyer who is not afraid of the stigma attached to homes where murders have occurred, it's an opportunity to purchase an infamous house with a worldwide reputation.

This is actually the house where the murders occurred. Andrew was killed in the sitting room, and her stepmother, Abby, was killed upstairs in the guest room, explains the listing agent, Suzanne St. John, who also happens to be a tour guide at the home.

The $2 million asking price also includes everything a buyer would need to keep the business humming.

[The sale] includes the house and the barn, where there are two more bathrooms and an upstairs owner suite, St. John says. And the gift shop, the online gift shop, all the intellectual property, all the trademarks, all the websites.

The bed-and-breakfast has been in operation since the late 1990s. The current owners have owned the Borden home since 2004 and are ready to retire.

Sitting room of home in Fall River, MA Josh Chopy

Gift shop Josh Chopy

Interior Josh Chopy

Entry Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

The suite where Andrew was murdered is on the second floor. It has a private bathroom and is the most requested room at the inndespite the reports of ghosts and other unexplained phenomena that have caused guests jump out of their beds during the night.

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Watch: Historic NY Home for Sale Has a Fascinating Pastbut Is It Haunted?

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I will not sleep in there, St. John says with a chuckle. Its exciting. Its great to be in there. People love it.

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

The other suite is the one that Lizzie and her sister, Emma, shared. It's also on the second floor and shares a bathroom with another room.

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bathroom Josh Chopy

Three other guest rooms are on the third floor and share another bathroom.

Serving guests scones isn't the only revenue stream available for an entrepreneurial buyer. Tours of the housewhich St. John sometimes leadsare also popular.

In 2019, we had done over 18,000 daytime tours that year, and that's not counting overnight guests. It's a tourist destination. It's one of the top destinations in New England, St. John says.

The home known as Maplecroft, where Lizzie lived after she spent time in jail and up until she died, is still on the market for $890,000.

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

The legend of the double ax murders attracts visitors from all over the world.

It's one of the greatest unsolved murders, and I think it was because she was a woman of society, a woman of wealth. Her father and stepmother were murdered brutally, and there was no suspect and there was no direct evidence leading to the murderer. So it's just one of the greatest unsolved mysteries, St. John says.

The interest isn't limited just to American shores. The agent added that a visiting lawyer from the Middle East told her that he had studied the case when he was in law school.

It just really attracts all types of people from all over the world that are interested for different reasons, she says. Some people are interested in the history. Some people are interested in the gore, so it's got a little something for everybody.

Kitchen Josh Chopy

Sitting room Josh Chopy

Dining room Josh Chopy

St. John says the ideal buyer for the property is a people person interested in owning a successful business.

After somebody has experienced the event of a lifetime staying here, then you're able to sit down with the guests in the morning and just talk about their experiences as they're eating an amazing breakfast.

Dining room Josh Chopy

Kitchen Josh Chopy

The post Lizzie Borden Murder House Is Listed at $2MAx Not Included appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.

The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Merck's OLED Application Center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Merck



By Baek Byung-yeul





Kai Beckmann, CEO of Performance Materials at Merck / Courtesy of Merck
Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis from the Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian) Fezouata Shale, Zagora Morocco. Credit: Collection of Yale University

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered a fossil of the earliest starfish-like animal, which sheds light on the origins of the nimble-armed creature. The prototype starfish, which has features in common with both sea lilies and modern-day starfish, is a missing link for scientists trying to piece together its early evolutionary history.

The exceptionally well-preserved fossil, named Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis, was discovered in Morroco's Anti-Atlas mountain range. Its intricate designwith feathery arms akin to a laceworkhas been frozen in time for roughly 480 million years.

The new species is unusual because it doesn't have many of the key features of its contemporary relatives, lacking roughly 60% of a modern starfish's body plan. The fossil's features are instead a hybrid between those of a starfish and a sea lily or crinoidnot a plant but a wavy-armed filter feeder which fixes itself to the seabed via a cylindrical 'stem."

The discovery, reported in Biology Letters, captures the early evolutionary steps of the animal at a time in Earth's history when life suddenly expanded, a period known as the Ordovician Biodiversification Event. The find also means scientists can now use the new find as a template to work out how it evolved from this more basic form to the complexity of their contemporaries.

"Finding this missing link to their ancestors is incredibly exciting. If you went back in time and put your head under the sea in the Ordovician then you wouldn't recognize any of the marine organismsexcept the starfish, they are one of the first modern animals," said lead author Dr. Aaron Hunter, a visiting postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences.

Modern starfish and brittle stars are part of a family of spiny-skinned animals called the echinoderms which, although they don't have a backbone, are one of the closest group of animals to vertebrates. Crinoids, and otherworldly creatures like the sea urchins and sea cucumbers are all echinoderms.

The origin of starfish has eluded scientists for decades. But the new species is so well preserved that its body can finally be mapped in detail and its evolution understood. "The level of detail in the fossil is amazingits structure is so complex that it took us a while to unravel its significance," said Hunter.

It was Hunter's work on both living and fossil echinoderms that helped him spot its hybrid features. "I was looking at a modern crinoid in one of the collections at the Western Australian Museum and I realized the arms looked really familiar, they reminded me of this unusual fossil that I had found years earlier in Morocco but had found difficult to work with," he said.

Fezouata in Morocco is something of a holy grail for palaeontologiststhe new fossil is just one of the many remarkably well-preserved, soft-bodied animals uncovered from the site. Hunter and co-author Dr. Javier Ortega-Hernandez, who was previously based at Cambridge's Department of Zoology and is now based at Harvard University, named the species Cantabrigiaster in honor of the long history of echinoderm research at their respective institutions.

Reconstruction of Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis by Madmeg. Credit: Madmeg

Hunter and Ortega-Hernandez examined their new species alongside a catalog of hundreds starfish-like animals. They indexed all of their body structures and features, building a road map of the echinoderm skeleton which they could use to assess how Cantabrigiaster was related to other family members.

Modern echinoderms come in many shapes and sizes, so it can be difficult to work out how they are related to one another. The new analysis, which uses extra-axial theorya biology model usually only applied to living speciesmeant that Hunter and Ortega-Hernandez could identify similarities and differences between the body plan of modern echinoderms and then figure out how each family member was linked to their Cambrian ancestors.

They found that only the key or axial part of the body, the food groovewhich funnels food along each of the starfish's armswas present in Cantabrigiaster. Everything outside this, the extra-axial body parts, were added later.

The authors plan to expand their work in search of early echinoderms. "One thing we hope to answer in the future is why starfish developed their five arms," said Hunter. "It seems to be a stable shape for them to adoptbut we don't yet know why. We still need to keep searching for the fossil that gives us that particular connection, but by going right back to the early ancestors like Cantabrigiaster we are getting closer to that answer."

More information: Aaron W. Hunter et al. A new somasteroid from the Fezouata Lagerstatte in Morocco and the Early Ordovician origin of Asterozoa, Biology Letters (2021). Journal information: Biology Letters Aaron W. Hunter et al. A new somasteroid from the Fezouata Lagerstatte in Morocco and the Early Ordovician origin of Asterozoa,(2021). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0809
Vodafone and Russian operator MTS announced an extension of an existing strategic partnership through to 2023, as part of plans to further streamline operations.

Under the new agreement, the companies will build on their successful track record of close collaboration across procurement, marketing and network operations dating back to 2008.

Additionally, the strategic partnership will see a series of joint projects to identify fresh opportunities to enhance business operations, drive technology innovation and strengthen strategic execution across the consumer and enterprise sectors.

The companies will also share best practices for strategically important areas such as approaches to accelerate digital transformation and speeding up the launch of innovative new products and solutions. The agreement also gives MTC access to Vodafones scale and expertise across network and IT management, supply chain and equipment procurement.

Alexander Gorbunov, MTS strategy and development VP, said: Partnering with Vodafone unlocks new opportunities for MTS to leverage our partners expertise toward enhancing our operations and business productivity. Over the past 12 years, our strategic partnership with Vodafone has delivered significant benefits, saving MTS time and resources as we executed on key infrastructure projects, as well as improving our network development and enhancing our product launches.

Diego Massidda, Vodafone Group partner markets CEO added: This next phase of our strategic partnership will focus on projects where our market knowledge and global expertise can deliver incremental value to MTSs business goals across its operations.
Some British hospitals look like war zones with doctors struggling to cope with an influx of patients infected with COVID-19, the governments top scientific adviser said, as the death toll rose by a record daily amount towards 100,000.

The United Kingdoms official death toll is 91,470 - Europes worst figure and the worlds fifth worst after the United States, Brazil, India and Mexico. Deaths rose by a record on Tuesday.

As hospital admissions soared, the British governments chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, said there was enormous pressure on the National Health Service with doctors and nurses battling to give people sufficient care.

It may not look like it when you go for a walk in the park, but when you go into a hospital, this is very, very bad at the moment with enormous pressure and in some cases it looks like a war zone in terms of the things that people are having to deal with, Vallance told Sky.

There have been huge numbers of cases, the NHS is under enormous pressure at the moment, said Vallance, formerly head of research at GlaxoSmithKline and a professor of medicine at University College London.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said that the death numbers were horrendous but that it was not the time to look back at the governments possible mismanagement of the crisis.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been criticised for reacting too slowly to the crisis, failing to supply sufficient protective equipment and for bungling the testing system, although the United Kingdom has been swift to roll out a vaccine.

COVID-19 CRISIS

The British government reported a record rise in deaths on Tuesday with 1,610 people dying within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. Currently 37,946 people are in hospital with COVID, 3,916 of them on ventilation.

There have been calls for a public inquiry from some doctors and bereaved families into the handling of the crisis, but Johnson has resisted this.

Every single death is deeply tragic, Patel told LBC when asked why the death toll was so large. Theres no one factor as to why we have such a horrendous and tragic death rate.

I dont think this is the time to talk about mismanagement, Patel said when asked by the BBC if the government had mismanaged the crisis.

Ministers say that while they have not got everything right, they were making decisions at speed in the worst public health crisis for a century and that they have learned from mistakes and followed scientific advice.

Loosening the UK lockdown too soon, though, would be a mistake, Vallance said.

The lesson is every time you release it too quickly you get an upswing and you can see that right across the world, he said.

Short link:


U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams speaks during a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the White House in Washington on April 3, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Surgeon General Adams Confirms Biden Team Asked Him to Resign

Surgeon General Jerome Adams has confirmed that the incoming Biden team requested he step down ahead of President Joe Bidens inauguration.

Adams made the announcement in a tweet on Jan. 20, several hours before Biden took the oath of office.

Ive been asked by the Biden team to step down as Surgeon General, Adams wrote. Its been the honor of my life to serve this Nation, and I will do all I can to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve and maintain health.

Bidens pick for Adamss replacement is former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who has advised Biden on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adams, who holds the rank of vice admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, was confirmed by the Senate in 2017 to serve as surgeon general under the Trump administration. His four-year term was set to expire in September.

In a post on Facebook, Adams reflected on his time in office, noting that his tenure started with three category 5 hurricanes barreling down on our citizens.

I immediately deployed to witness the devastation first hand, and to lead our Public Health Service Officers as we helped with the response, he wrote. I saw the best of our Nation coming together in the worse of times, to help those whod lost everything.

He said he next turned his attention to fighting the opioid epidemic, including by issuing a surgeon generals advisory that encouraged more people to carry the opioid overdose-reversing drug Naloxone.

Working across government and with amazing advocacy organizations on the groundmany led by parents who had lost their own children to opioid overdosewe were able to increase Naloxone availability nationwide by over 400 [percent], and save countless lives, he wrote.

After the COVID-19 pandemic reached Americas shores, Adams said he sought to communicate the rapidly evolving science on this deadly adversary, and arm people with the knowledge and tools they needed to stay safe.

I wasnt always rightbecause no one was, and this virus continues to humble all of usbut I was always sincere in my efforts to speak to every day Americans, and address the terrible health inequities this virus exposed, he wrote.

Looking forward, Adams struck a unifying tone, saying he hopes we can focus more on what unites us, and rise above what divides us.

Because Americans working together can overcome any obstacle or adversary. I stand at the ready to help in our mutual quest for recovery, resilience, and health, and thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the opportunity to serve, he wrote.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr has reportedly already obtained some of Donald Trump's tax returns, allowing his criminal investigation to proceed as the former president loses some of the protections he had while in office.

Vance is waiting on a US Supreme Court decision that could force Trump's accounting firm Mazars USA to hand over his tax records from 2011 to 2018, but has already obtained some of the information from other sources, people familiar with the matter told Fortune.

Vance's probe, which began as an investigation into hush money payments to two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump, has reportedly widened into examining potential tax, loan and insurance fraud at the Trump Organization.

Trump's tax returns are considered to be the keystone in the case, and depending on the level of access Vance has gained to them, his probe could now be at an advanced stage.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr has reportedly already obtained some of Donald Trump's tax returns, allowing his criminal investigation to proceed

On Wednesday, Trump lost the legal protection of the presidency as he left office, and now faces legal jeopardy on multiple fronts

Trump has previously called Vance's probe 'a fishing expedition' and 'a continuation of the witch hunt  the greatest witch hunt in history,' accusing the elected Democrat of partisan motives.

On Wednesday, Trump lost the protection of the presidency as President Joe Biden was sworn in. It is a widely accepted tenet that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime.

Trump ultimately declined to issue controversial pardons for himself or his family members, which in any event would not protect him from state charges, such as Vance might bring, but only federal ones.

Although charges were not expected eminently as Trump flew from DC to Florida, Vance's probe appeared to be widening.

Last Thursday, New York prosecutors conducted an hours-long interview of Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, about his old employer's finances.

And last week, Vance's prosecutors began looking into a 212-acre Trump Organization property called Seven Springs as part of an investigation that started over a year ago.

The compound is also one of four Trump Organization properties under civil investigation by New York's state attorney general, who is probing whether Eric Trump and various corporate entities artificially inflated property values.

Also in the spotlight: The New York AG is investigating whether there was a tax fraud involving the Seven Springs Estate in Bedford, Westchester County, north of New York City.

Last month, Vance hired FTI Consulting, a financial consulting firm headquartered in Washington DC, to assist in reviewing Trump Organization documents, people familiar with the matter told the Washington Post.

FTI Consulting, one of the largest financial consulting firms in the world, offers a full range of forensic, investigative, data analytic and litigation services, according to the company's website.

In aiding Vance's probe, FTI experts are likely reviewing Trump Organization bank and mortgage records already obtained through grand jury proceedings.

In a long-running legal battle, Vance is still fighting in court to obtain eight years of Trump's tax returns from the president's accounting firm, Mazars USA.

The tax returns, which Trump did not disclose during either of his presidential campaigns in a break from precedent, are believed to be the final keystone in Vance's investigation.

The Supreme Court already has ruled once in the dispute, in July rejecting Trump's argument that he was immune from criminal probes as a sitting president.

If the high court rejects Trump's current request to freeze a lower court's ruling allowing Vance's subpoena's to proceed, Vance would gain access to the tax returns.

Vance's probe, which began more than two years ago, originally focused on hush money payments made by the president's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen (center)

The hush money payments went to pornographic film star Stormy Daniels (left) and former Playboy model Karen McDougal (right), who said they had sexual encounters with Trump

Vance's probe, which began more than two years ago, originally focused on hush money payments that the president's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen paid before the 2016 election to two women - a pornographic film star and a former Playboy model - who said they had sexual encounters with Trump.

The district attorney has suggested in recent court filings that the probe is now broader and could focus on potential bank, tax and insurance fraud, as well as falsification of business records.

If Vance discovered evidence of crimes in his investigation, it is possible that he could charge the Trump Organization rather than Trump personally. Criminal charges would require evidence of criminal intent, and would be difficult to bring without the cooperation of an insider witness.

Vance's probe is just one of several legal threats that Trump faces after leaving office.

New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization artificially inflated property values to obtain tax benefits.

James began investigating potential fraud in Donald Trump's business dealings in March 2019 after the president's longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that Trump had repeatedly inflated the value of his assets to obtain more favorable terms for loans and insurance coverage.

That inquiry is a civil investigation, which could result in financial penalties but not jail time.

New York Attorney General Letitia James (above) is also conducting a civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization artificially inflated property values to obtain tax benefits

Trump also faces separate defamation lawsuits related to alleged sexual assaults, both of which he denied, brought by two women - E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine writer, and Summer Zervos, a 2005 contestant on 'The Apprentice.'

Mary Trump, the president's niece, also has filed a lawsuit accusing him and two family members of fraud and conspiracy to deprive her of her share of the family's real-estate empire.

Trump also could face a criminal prosecution brought by the U.S. Justice Department for federal income-tax evasion charges. The New York Times recently reported Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017.

Trump rejected the Times' findings and it is not clear if he violated the law. Any federal prosecution would be contentious, and Biden has been cautious on the issue and questioned the value of such a prosecution, but says he would not interfere with the Justice Department's judgment.
China's premier silver producer

A profitable, underground mine specialist

Aiming for healthy returns via organic growth and acquisition of good projects

What Silvercorp Metals does:

(NYSEAMERICAN:SVM) ( ) has been an underground mine operator in China since 2006 and has a track record of growing organically through its own cash flow.

The Vancouver-headquartered company has also built up substantial reserves. A profitable company, it is focused on mining silver, lead and zinc.

The group's flagship asset is the Ying project, which was acquired in March 2004 and which started commercial production on April 1, 2006. It lies 240 kilometers (km) southwest of Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan Province in central China and consists of six separate mines which feed two mills with 3,200 tonnes per day (tpd). Six smelters lie within 200 km.

Elsewhere, the company has the GC mine in Guangdong province. Output started in 2014 and the projected mine life of 12 years, through to 2031, is based on proven and probable reserves, at an average annual production rate of about 300,000 tonnes.

An updated report in 2019 for the GC asset showed a resource of 9.1 million tonnes in the measured and indicated categories, an increase of 42%, which contained around 24.5 million ounces of silver, 233 million pounds of lead and 564 million pounds of zinc.

Between April 2006 and December 2019, Silvercorp produced a consolidated 69.7 million ounces of silver and 999.2 million pounds of lead and zinc. In terms of resources, its consolidated measured and indicated resources of contained metal is around 151 million ounces of silver, 736,000 tonnes of lead and 470,000 tonnes of zinc.

Silvercorp also owns around 29% of Corp (CVE:NUAG), which has a market cap of about C$920 million, and hopes to grow this investment.

Silvercorp also wants to bring its BYP gold mine in Hunan province, suspended since 2014, back into production, targeting 30,000 ounces of the yellow metal a year. An NI 43-101 resource for BYP has shown 421,000 ounces in the measured and indicated (M&I) and 110,000 in inferred.

How is it doing:

On May 21, 2021, Silvercorp Metals posted its results for the fiscal year to end-March 2021, which showed a 35% increase in net income compared to the year-earlier period, on revenue, which was 21% higher. The company, recorded net income attributable to shareholders of US$46.4 million in the fiscal year, compared to US$34.3 million in fiscal year 2020.

Revenue came in at US$192.1 million versus US$158.8 million for the previous year after the company sold around 6.3 million ounces of silver, 4,700 ounces of gold, 67.1 million pounds of lead, and 27.9 million pounds of zinc. That was an increase of 1%, 42%, 3%, and 10%, respectively, compared to fiscal 2020.

In the fourth and final quarter of fiscal 2021, net income was US$7 million, up 122% from the US$3.1 million recorded a year earlier, while revenue was up 89% in the quarter to US$35.7 million. In 4Q, the company mined 163,072 tonnes of ore and milled 180,674 tonnes of ore, up 53% and 76%, respectively, compared to the prior-year quarter.

The group's all-in-sustaining-cost (AISC) per ounce of silver metric, net of by-product credits, for the full year came in at US$7.49, a bit higher than the US$6.86 figure seen the previous year, but in the fourth quarter, the figure was US$12.55 per ounce of silver, down from US$15.17 an ounce in the same period a year earlier. For fiscal 2021, cash flow from operations was US$85.9 million, up 11% or US$8.7 million, compared to US$77.2 million in the prior year.

Silvercorp had reported its 4Q and fiscal 2021 production results on April 16, 2021, which came in bang in line with its guidance. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2021, the company nearly doubled its silver output and saw marked increases in its lead and zinc levels compared to the year-ago quarter.

Total production of silver was around 1.2 million ounces compared to 696,000 in 4Q 2020, while lead output came in at 12.2 million points compared to 7.8 million and zinc increased from 3.3 million pounds to 4.7 million in the current quarter. All told, Silvercorp sold nearly 1.1 million silver ounces, 10.9 million pounds of lead and 4.6 million pounds of zinc in fiscal 4Q.

The results meant that Silvercorp either met or exceeded its 2021 production guidance. Throughout its fiscal 2021, the company produced around 6.3 million ounces of silver and 68.4 million pounds of lead, meeting the production guidance of between 6.2 to 6.5 million ounces of silver and 66.1 to 68.5 million pounds of lead. The company beat its zinc guidance, producing 28 million pounds of zinc  higher than the 24.5 to 26.7 million pounds it had targeted. Gold production from its Ying mining operation came in at 3,500 ounces.

On a consolidated basis, Silvercorp sold about 6.3 million ounces of silver, 4,700 ounces of gold, 67.1 million pounds of lead, and 27.9 million pounds of zinc, up 0.9%, 42.8%, 2.7%, and 9.9%, respectively, over fiscal 2020.

Silvercorp has been expanding in 2021. On April 29, the company said it had increased the mining potential at its flagship Ying project, revealing that it has been granted three new exploration permits. The metals producer said the new permits range over 48.8 square kilometers (sq km) and cover the depth extensions of three mining permits, namely SGX, HPG, and TLP-LME-LMW. Silvercorp started commercial production at Ying in 2006. The asset consists of six separate mines - the SGX, HZG, HPG, TLP, LME, and LMW properties - which feed two mills with 3,200 tonnes per day (tpd).

In January this year, Silvercorp added to its portfolio in China by successfully bidding for the exploration rights at the Zhonghe silver project via an online auction, offering RMB 495 million, or around US$76 million. The project covers an area of nearly f5 sq km and lies around 75 km by road northeast from the firm's producing Ying project, which is also in Luoning County, Henan Province, and the company said it plans to begin a drilling campaign in the first quarter of 2021 that will be completed by 2022.

And in February, the miner revealed that its subsidiary New Infini Silver Inc had acquired the La Yesca silver project in Nayarit State, Mexico. The project covers an area of around 47.7 sq km with previous exploration activities between 2014 and 2018. A silver-lead-zinc soil geochemical anomaly of more than 500 meters (m) in width and 7.5km long has been defined at the site.

Looking at existing operations, on January 6, 2021, the group reported drill assay results from the HPG mine in Chinas Henan Province, which included a 1.58 metre (m) interval grading 17.08 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, 301 g/t silver, and 18.66% lead in a new vein. Exploration drilling and tunneling are continuing at this mine and all the firm's others in the Ying mining district (six mines in all), the firm said.

Inflection points:

More resource upgrades and exploration success

Start of work at newly-acquired projects

Further possible expansion moves

What the broker says:

In a note on May 24, 2021, analysts at Roth Capital raised their target price for Silvercorp Metals to $9.00 from $8.75 and reiterated their 'Buy' rating on the stock following fiscal Q4 and full-year 2021results from the company.

Roth's analysts noted that Silvercorp's revenue of $35.7 million in Q4 was slightly below their estimate of $36.2 million due to price realizations, however, Q4 EPS of $0.04 was in line with the analysts' estimate. They concluded: "Other than the slight revenue shortfall, results were uneventful, in our view."

The Roth analysts estimate that Silvercorp will report production of 6.6 million ounces of silver, 27.4 million pounds of zinc, 67.6 million pounds of lead, and 2,800 ounces of gold in fiscal 2022. As a result, they estimate the company's fiscal 2022 free cash flow (FCF) to equity to be $50.9 million. The analysts noted that Silvercorp's fiscal 2022 and 2023 cash flow should benefit from a temporarily lower take rate.

The Roth analysts also said that they anticipate Silvercorp should generate strong free cash flow in 2022 and beyond. Additionally, they believe the company remains undervalued compared to its peer group and that there is significant upside for the company's equity investments, which could provide external catalysts for the company.

What the boss says:

In January this year, the group's vice-president Lon Shaver spoke to Proactive's Steve Darling following news of the Zhonghe silver project acquisition.

"We are very comfortable with what it's going to take to do the work, to move this project ahead, and hopefully bring it on as another production centre for the company," Shaver said.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Egypt and Qatar agreed Wednesday to restore diplomatic relations, Egypt's foreign ministry said, after a three-year-long Saudi led freeze on ties with Doha ended this month.

Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, cut ties and transport links with Qatar in June 2017, alleging it backed radical Islamist groups and was too close to Riyadh's rival Iran -- claims Doha denied.

But in line with the outcome of a recent Gulf regional summit, Egypt and Qatar "have today ...exchanged two official documents in which the two nations have agreed to resume diplomatic relations," the statement by the Egyptian ministry said.

A Gulf Co-operation Council summit held in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, on January 5 signalled an end to the diplomatic rift, as the four boycotting countries agreed to lift their blockade.

Ahead of Wednesday's announcement on the formal restoration of ties, flights between Doha and Cairo resumed on Monday, for the first time in over three years.
The general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), John Boyle has said that a culture of blame is not going to solve the issue of when schools should reopen.

There was a heightened level of anxiety among teachers that the country is in the State were in he told Newstalk Breakfast.

The number of Covid cases needed to be reduced before schools could reopen, he said.

Weve asked for a rethink, we are all extremely nervous.

Playing the blame game was not the way to go, he said.

We should be working to find a solution.

If the numbers continued to drop then it was possible that schools could reopen on February 1, he added.

Teachers cant wait to go back to school. Mr Boyle said he was really disappointed that weve come to this impasse.

During the first lockdown schools and teachers did not have the proper supports, he said.

He said that in June last year he had been calling for the schools to reopen.

On the same programme Any Pike of the Forsa trade union, which represents Special Needs Assistants, said that SNAs everywhere did not have confidence in the approach set out by the Government.

There is a real problem with confidence and they feared a return to school.

There is genuine fear and anxiety out there.

Plans to partially reopen special schools and classes this week were abandoned by Government after it failed to allay concerns around inconsistent advice" and "conflicting health messaging" about safety in schools.

The Department of Education conceded that the phased return of special schools and classes could not go-ahead Thursday.

Shared objective

The department said it was "regrettable" that a shared objective that would allow children with special educational needs to return to in-school learning could not be reached.

Unions representing teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) have called on Government to postpone the reopening of schools this week. File Picture.

Education Minister Norma Foley and Minster for Special Education Josepha Madigan hit out at the unions saying that the re-opening of schools "will regrettably not be possible owing to a lack of co-operation by key staff unions in the primary sector."

A statement said that the department listened closely to the issues raised by trade unions and school management bodies and in response set out how it would address these concerns.

The department added: "Despite the clear public health advice and the measures put in place by the Department to support schools in maintaining a safe return for this cohort of students and the public support from the unions to a shared ambition to return there is still no commitment from the primary teacher and SNA trade unions INTO and FORSA to advise their members to commence the limited return of in-person learning for children with special educational needs."

EU Outlier

Ms Foley stated: "It is hugely important to provide in-person learning to this vulnerable cohort of children, and I regret that this has not been possible. The needs of this group of students are such that no-one should be in any doubt of the importance of this goal, and its urgency.

"We all understand how vulnerable these children are, and how much they need to be in school.

The concerns and fears of teachers and SNAs have been well articulated, and I, along with my officials have listened carefully at every stage of this process. I have full confidence in our public health advice which, at all times, has underpinned our approach to keeping schools safe.

"This means that we know that with the appropriate measures in place, we can support the re-opening of special schools, special classes and in-person learning for certain children with special educational needs in mainstream schools."

Ireland is an outlier in the European Union in not having in-person provision available for students with special educational needs at this time. We have addressed the concerns raised in relation to safety, including making public health officials available to education partner representatives, and subsequently facilitating three of the most senior public health officials in the country to communicate directly with teachers and SNAs.

This is the first time that unions have refused to accept the advice provided by public health specialists. We have provided guidance on how special schools can operate at 50 per cent capacity, to offer these students a return to learning, knowing that the vast majority of these students cannot engage in any way with remote learning."

This is the first time that unions have refused to accept the advice provided by public health specialists," said Norma Foley. Picture: Larry Cummins

Ms Foley added: "We will now need to consider how best to proceed in the interests of children and their families.

"The needs of our most vulnerable young people are at stake here, and I will continue to pursue every avenue to ensure that they can be restored to the in-person learning that they need as immediately as possible."

"Overwhelming"

Schools not re-opening leaves thousands of families and their children again at odds for the second time in less than three weeks. It also may be a strong indication that wider school closures could continue past February 1.

Its the uncertainty, said Nicole Duggan, a mother from Glanmire, Cork. If youve been told twice this is going to happen and then it's taken away thats very, very hard. I dont know how they made the same mistake twice. This is about the kids at the end of the day, not about fighting between adults.

Liz Kyte, a mother from Glasheen, Cork said: Were in a situation now where this lockdown is set to go on, and its just overwhelming. I dont think it's reasonable in any kind of just society to expect families to have to deal with.

Following emergency meetings this evening, Forsa and the INTO said they could not support the plans to reopen.

The INTO said its heard concerns that many parents whose children have special educational needs, and additional underlying health conditions, do not have confidence in sending their children back to school at this time.

Ireland recorded its highest daily death toll since the pandemic began, as a further 93 Covid-19 related deaths were reported.

The vast majority (89) occurred in January. It brings the total number of deaths related to the virus so far to 2,708. "We cannot afford to drop our guard against the very high levels of infection that remain in the community at present, said Dr Tony Holohan.

A fundamental issue for school staff has been the conflicting health messaging, according to INTO general secretary John Boyle. This has left many "totally unconvinced" that the school environment is safe under the current conditions.

Forsa head of education Andy Pike said: We are in a desperately sad situation where rushed efforts to prematurely reopen schools have pitched the special needs community against itself."

It would be for the best if all parties were to focus on a general reopening of schools once there is an "established downward trajectory in the number of Covid-19 cases", he said.

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Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte won a confidence vote on Tuesday at the upper house of parliament.

He won in the 321-seat Senate by 156 to 140, with 16 abstentions, falling short of the 161 votes needed for an absolute majority.

It means Conte's government has survived a political crisis triggered after former prime minister Matteo Renzi, now a senator who leads the Italia Viva party, pulled out of the ruling majority last week.

As a result of Renzi's move, Conte needed to find other political allies with enough votes in parliament to give him a new majority.

The government he leads is currently backed by the Five Star Movement and the center-left Democratic Party.

Renzi cited disagreements with the government over its handling of the pandemic and its National Recovery and Resilience Plan, a massive investment project using European Union funds, as his reasons for quitting.

This was the second of two confidence votes the Italian prime minister faced in a bid to keep his government afloat.

On Monday, he won a confidence vote in the lower house by 321 in favor, 259 against, and 27 abstaining.

According to Italian law, the cabinet can survive only if it has the confidence of both houses of parliament.




The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
[January 20, 2021] The IoT Community - Internet of Things Community Announces Valuer Has Joined its Elite Iot Ecosystem as a Platinum Level Corporate Member

The IoT Community (Internet of Things Community), the world's largest community of CxOs and IoT professionals and practitioners, announces Valuer the emerging data-driven innovation platform, has joined its elite ecosystem as an exclusive Platinum level IoT corporate member. Valuer will also participate in the series of IoT Slam events, taking place throughout 2021, Dennis Poulsen, CEO, joins the IoT Community Advisory Board. Valuer joins the IoT Community ecosystem comprising the biggest names in technology and household names across the IoT industry. Over the past 5 years, IoT Community has engaged with industry leaders to create the most compelling and trusted content in the IoT ecosystem. Valuer will work collaboratively with the community to address the wide variety of barriers, inhibitors, and technical and operational issues that accompany the IoT, IIoT, and Intelligent Edge ecosystems. Valuer is accelerating IoT adoption by offering a groundbreaking data-driven innovation workflow integrating AI and team collaboration. Through patented technology, the workflow enables organizations to map out Innovations and trends and use this data to predict the most valuable business models and technologies in the market based on specific needs. There are presently more than 700,000+ startups listed on the Valuer platform, 1000+ startups added to the Valuer platform daily, 2000+ startup matches made through the Valuer platform. At the April 9th 2021, IoT Day Slam virtual event, Valuer CEO - Dennis Poulsen, joins a lineup of elite IoT thought leaders and executives. The event marks the IoT Community's fourteenth IoT Slam branded event, this being held in celebration of World IoT Day 2021, April 9th. "Becoming a member of this amazing IoT Community is a real honor for Valuer," said Poulsen. "I'm excited to join the IoT Community Advisory Board, and participate in the IoT Slam series of events in 2021, starting at the April IoT Day Slam this April 9th. By implementing an accessible data-driven workflow to find new opportunities, Valuer simplifies the orgnization of ideas and innovations that are waiting to be captured across the evolving IoT landscape. We look forward to working with the IoT Community to harness the power of their community in driving specifications and best practices that advance the IoT"



"We are delighted to welcome Valuer to our IoT Community corporate member ecosystem, adding Dennis Poulsen to our Advisory Board in the process. As more of our members seek ways to rethink how their business can fully embrace the Internet of Things, they are changing relationship-based decision making to data-driven ones. Valuer brings a proven methodology which we look forward to making available to our members as we roll out the collaboration with Dennis and the team" said David Hill, Executive Director of the IoT Community. Dr. Tom Bradicich, Hewlett Packard Fellow, at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and IoT Community Advisory Board Chair: "We are pleased Valuer will join us in the IoT Community, and Dennis Paulsen will join our Advisory Board. We look forward to hearing their future vision for edge-to-cloud IoT at our 2021 IoT Slam events, beginning at the April 9th IoT Day Slam."

IoT Day Slam 2021 Registration Details Virtual Broadcast: Access to the IoT Day Slam 2021 virtual event on April 9th, is FREE to all. To register for the live and real time global broadcast, visit: https://iotslam.com/iot-slam-conference-registration/ IoT Community Practitioner Membership (Free Individual membership) IoT Practitioner's seeking to expand their knowledge in the IoT are welcome to join the world's largest community consisting of 24,500 member here for FREE. https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4662022 Collaboration Opportunities IoT solution providers seeking accession to the IoT Community should email info@iotcommunity.net About IoT Community (Internet of Things Community) The IoT Community is the world's largest CxO community of senior business leaders and IoT practitioners consisting of 24,000+ members. The function is to focus on adoption and application of IoT in commercial environments, overcoming the variety of barriers, inhibitors, and technical and operational issues. For more information, visit http://www.iotcommunity.net Twitter (News - Alert) : Follow @IoTCommunity @IoTChannel or hashtag #IoTCommunity, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9370944/ About Valuer Valuer is a data-driven innovation platform for corporations, corporate ventures and venture funds. Through artificial intelligence the platform helps organizations assess and understand the intersections of new technologies and new business models at speed. For more information, visit http://www.valuer.ai Follow Valuer at https://www.linkedin.com/company/valuer.ai/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005396/en/

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Prof. Dr. Huynh Thi Phuong Lien has been awarded with the title of Hero of Labour in the Doi Moi (Renewal) Period in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the development of the vaccine industry in Vietnam from 2009  2019.

80-year-old Prof. Dr. Huynh Thi Phuong Lien (left) is presented with the title of Hero of Labour in the Doi Moi (Renewal) Period by Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh on January 19. (Photo: VNA)

Lien is a senior specialist at the State-owned Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (Vabiotech) under the Ministry of Health, who had 53 years of experience in medicine.

The title was presented to the 80-year-old professor by Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, who is also the First Vice President of the Central Council for Emulation and Rewards, in a ceremony held at the Hanoi-based Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology on January 19.

Prof. Dr. Huynh Thi Phuong Lien delivers an acceptance speech during the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

The Labour Hero title is to honour individuals with exceptional achievements in work and innovation, contributing to the building of socialism in Vietnam and safeguarding the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Long said the noble title is a recognition by the Party and State for the professors relentless work and daring and creative spirit in vaccine research and application, which is critical to the countrys efforts to combat communicable diseases and protect peoples well-being.

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long pay a visit to Vabiotech's vaccine lab. (Photo: VNA)

Despite many challenges, Lien and her co-workers at Vabiotech have successfully produced vaccines against cholera, typhoid fever, smallpox and Japanese encephalitis, and participated in twelve State-level scientific studies.

The first-generation vaccine against Japanese encephalitis, developed by her team at Vabiotech, has been used in the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation since 1997. It is also the first made-in-Vietnam vaccine exported overseas.

Vabiotech is among four vaccine manufacturers in Vietnam that have been developing vaccines against the COVID-19./. VNA

Human trials of third homegrown COVID-19 vaccine to begin in March A third COVID-19 vaccine developed by Vietnam is scheduled to be tested on humans at the end of March, the Ministry of Health said on January 19.
Fireside

Fireside Ventures, which invests in consumer brand startups exclusively, has closed its second venture capital fund at Rs 863 crore ($120 million), more than the Rs 750 crore ($100 million) it had originally planned.

The company had raised $60 million for the first close of the fund in November 2019. A first close allows the fund to start investing while raising more money.

Investors in the fund include the Investment Corporation of Dubai, LOreal, Bajaj, and Premji Invest among others.

Fireside was started in 2017 by Kanwaljit Singh, who was earlier a partner with Helion Ventures, one of Indias earliest venture funds. In the last 4 years, it has invested in 22 consumer brands, including boAt earphones, personal care brand Mamaearth and grooming brand Bombay Shaving Company, among others.

Last year has been a hard time for all of us, but we have still seen green shoots and many of our companies have emerged stronger. It is a great time to build consumer brands, Singh said in a Zoom call.

The Bengaluru-based company raised a Rs 340 crore ($50 million) fund in 2017, which is followed up with a second fund in late 2019.

Firesides fundraise as well as some of its portfolio outcomes are driven by a larger shift where consumer brands are scaling fast, able to use digital marketing better, and most importantly, consumers are willing to pay for niche and quality products.

The initial months of lockdown, where even online delivery wasnt allowed hurt many of these new-age brands, but most have bounced back much faster than expected. Some are growing even faster than they were before the pandemic. Singh said six of Firesides portfolio companies have an annualised revenue run rate of more than Rs 100 crore.

Direct-to-consumer (D2c) brands could be a market worth $100 billion in the next five to seven years, as online buying has shot up during the pandemic and customers get interested in more niche segments, according to a report from investment banking firm Avendus Capital.

D2C brands are defined as companies that start out by selling from their website directly and are assisted by e-commerce marketplaces such as Flipkart and Amazon. These brands usually start out online, are more nimble than offline retailers, have higher margins and when online growth is slowing down, can transition offline to run an omni-channel model.

Singh said that in the Fireside portfolio, D2C accounts for 25-30% of revenues- a significant number as it reduces their dependence on online retailers, and gives them direct access to and data on consumers who buy from them.
Marie D. De Jesus/MBI

The DuPont chemical company and one of its former employee have been charged for a deadly gas release at its La Porte facility in 2014.

Kenneth Sandel, 49, and the chemical company were indicted earlier this month for allegedly violating workplace safety requirements and releasing a deadly chemical into the air.
NEW YORK  At the National Constitution Center, in Philadelphia, they like to joke that whats bad for the country is often good for the organization.

Web traffic is through the roof, says the nonprofits CEO and president, Jeffrey Rosen. We had more than 400,000 visitors to our site in the days following Jan. 6, when supporters of President Donald Trump rampaged in the U.S. Capitol. Our previous record was around 160,000.

From his extraordinary political rise in 2015-16 through the four years of his presidency, including his unprecedented challenges to his re-election loss to Joe Biden, Trumps tenure became a kind of ongoing seminar about how the government works and how a democracy might fail. Questions once limited to Constitutional scholars  how many Cabinet members are needed to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove the president from power, whether a state legislature has the power to overturn the votes of presidential balloting  became part of everyday conversation.

Along with dystopian novels and White House tell-alls, the U.S. Constitution has been a best-seller during the Trump years.

According to NPD BookScan, which tracks around 85 percent of the print market, more than 1 million copies of the Constitution in various editions have sold since Trump took office, compared to around 600,000 during the second term of President Barack Obama. The spike began in 2016 when Trump became the Republican candidate for president: Sales more than doubled from the year before, from 114,000 copies to 275,000, and were nearly four times higher than in Obamas first year in office, 2009.

A chart shared by BookScan with The Associated Press shows several moments in the Trump presidency that coincided with increased sales of the Constitution: when he formally accepted the Republican nomination, in July 2016; his inauguration in January 2017; the hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in September 2018; and the formal launch by the House of Representatives, in Sept. 2019, of an impeachment inquiry into Trumps alleged efforts to pressure Ukraines president into investigating Biden.

The sales are especially notable because the Constitution can be read or downloaded for free, including from the US government (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript). A pocket edition of the Constitution, published by an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, has been in the top 20 on Amazon.com for days since Jan. 6, and on Wednesday was listed as out of stock until early next week.

Sanford V. Levinson, a professor at the University of Texas Law School, found it likely the public was responding in part to the presidents own seeming lack of familiarity with the Constitution, citing Trumps campaign promise to protect a nonexistent Article XII.

UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, who says he has free copies on hand, expressed surprise that so many people would choose to buy the Constitution instead. He wondered if one factor was the kinds of Constitutional questions that Trump helped raise.

You have people wondering what the emoluments clause says or the impeachment clause, Volokh says. Im sure well have debates under Biden about the protection clause or the First Amendment, but maybe people wont buy a copy of the Constitution because they think they know what it says on those issues.

Hillel Italie of The Associated Press wrote this story.
The British government on Wednesday pledged millions in aid to Kenya to help combat climate change, extremism in the region and to help roll out COVID-19 vaccines in Kenya and developing countries.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Raychelle Omamo, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, visiting British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Britain wanted to ensure equitable distribution of the vaccine to developing countries.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Trump Leaves Washington, Tells Supporters: We Will Be Back in Some Form

President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 left Washington for Florida, hours before President Joe Biden was sworn in.

Its been a great honor. The honor of a lifetime. The greatest people in the world, the greatest home in the world. Weve had an amazing four years. Weve accomplished a lot. We love the American people, and, again, its been something very special, Trump told reporters outside the White House.

I just want to say goodbye, but hopefully its not a long-term goodbye. Well see each other again.

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump exited the White House at approximately 8 a.m. They were headed to Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.

During a stop at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where Trump transferred from Marine One to Air Force One, the president told a crowd of supporters: We love you. We will be back in some form.

I will always fight for you. I will always be watching. I will be listening.

Trump announced previously that he would skip Bidens inauguration. He didnt give a reason.

Marine One flies by the Washington Monument (L) on its way to the White House on Jan. 20, 2021. (Caroline Brehman/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania make their way to board Marine One before departing from the South Lawn of the White House on Jan. 20, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Supporters of President Donald Trump gather at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for Trumps departure on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump descend Marine One at Joint Base Andrews in Md., on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are greeted by Ivanka Trump (2nd R), husband Jared Kushner (R), their children, Eric (C-R) and Donald Jr. (C-L), Tiffany Trump, and other Trump family members on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump was the first sitting president since Andrew Johnson to skip all inaugural ceremonies of his successor, according to the White House Historical Association. President Woodrow Wilson skipped the public ceremony for his successor but did accompany the successor, Warren Harding, to the Capitol.

Bidens pared-down inauguration featured few guests. Organizers say the small event was due to the pandemic.

Trump said in Washington and in Maryland that serving as president was the honor of a lifetime.

He mentioned some of his administrations achievements, including creating the Space Force, a new branch of the U.S. military, bringing unemployment to lows not seen in decades prior to the pandemic, and pouring money into the military. He also noted that several COVID-19 vaccines were developed in less than a year, thanks to support and funding from his administration.

Trump thanked supporters, his family, friends, and staff. In Maryland, he told the crowd: People have no idea how hard this family worked, and they worked for you. They could have had a much easier life.

Have a good life. We will see you soon, he said, walking off the stage.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 76F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 52F. SSE winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph.


The past week has been difficult for Alice McEvoy. Like the thousands of survivors across the country, she believed their day had finally come with the publication of the final report by the Commission of Investigation into mother-and-baby homes across the country.

Now they feel let down by the state again.

Alice (65), who lives in Brosna, is highly critical of the report, not least due to some of its recommendations, particularly the exclusion of women who were in the homes after 1973 for the Redress Scheme. The reasoning behind the highly criticised recommendation is the Unmarried Mothers Allowance was available after that year; therefore women had 'options'.

But that was not the case for Alice and for thousands like her. They had no options.

"There was a big increase into admissions to mother-and-baby homes in the 1970s, the world had changed. Women were in college but there was no contraception, no abortion," she said.

Alice's is one such story; she was in college in UCC when she became pregnant. She hid her pregnancy successfully for the entire duration and was sent to Dublin by taxi, on her own, when she went into labour to St Patrick's on the Navan Road - one of the 18 institutions covered by the Commission of Investigation.

She was sent to Dublin with the instructions not to return to Cork with the baby and to hide 'the incident' from neighbours. Unlike many other survivors, Alice's time in the home was brief. She did not stay, but her baby was taken from her.

"I was literally traumatised. This awful nun called me to the office and said you'll pay for your sins, and another nun came swishing down the hall, they wore habits at the time, and they took the baby. I lost my temper and attacked the nun. I know I lost it, I don't know what happened. They pulled me off her and threw me out," recalls Alice.

"When the door closed behind you, you felt like you were in a prison and they were in control of you; it's an institution, not a home. I wanted to get out of there, I would have said anything. They told me to come back and sign the papers in the morning."

Alice signed the initial papers and fled back to Cork but during those early months considered keeping her daughter. She visited her and had a job and a bedsit, but she knew she would be unable to keep her.

While the Commission report fails to acknowledge any forced adoption, Alice feels she was forced to sign the papers.

"I was forced to sign the papers... Nobody stood over me with a stick, but I was forced to sign them by circumstances... You don't want your child in a home, you want them to have parents."

The adoption of her daughter, whom she has never met, was a secret Alice kept for many years.

"I never talked about it... I told no-one and came back to Cork. It was never spoken about in my house again," she said.

Over the years, close friends and family became aware, along with her husbands and son. Alice now lives in Brosna with her second husband, Colin, having left her home-place of Cork for a quieter life. She loves her adopted home, but the peace of her quiet life has been disrupted by the anger she now feels at the Commission Report. Alice is a member of the collaborative forum for mother-and-baby homes and believes, despite the publication of the report, there is still a long battle ahead in many areas, including in many of the recommendations. She also says that survivors are unhappy with some of the testimonies, claiming the full detail of the lived experiences are not included. Alice is also critical that many survivors have yet to read the report as hard copies are unavailable and many elderly women don't have online access.

She says this is 'scandalous', that those who suffered in these very institutions are suffering again waiting to see the full report.

She is also scathing of the report and the language and content.

"I am absolutely disgusted. The language is so offensive. It is like it was written by the church. I am so disappointed," she said.

"This report is a white-wash."

She believes the report wrongly 'exonerated' the church and that recommendations like the aforementioned rule around re-dress are to ensure compensation claims are not too costly.

"They are saying you have to spend six months in a home before 1973," she says. "We must get ready to do battle on everything."
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West Burnside Street has reopened to traffic in the west hills as of about 5 p.m. Tuesday after a slide closed the road last week.

Portland Bureau of Transportation crews cleared the road and hillside of about six fallen trees and 500 cubic yards of soil and other debris that slid into the roadway after heavy rains January 12.

Utility crews installed new poles and wires. Crews removed large and small debris in at least 42 dump truck loads, according to a recent PBOT release. The agency also installed 100 feet of 12-inch pipe beside the road to improve drainage in the area.

Burnside is down to two lanes, one in each direction, at the area of the slide. There are normally two lanes for uphill travel, but one westbound lane plus the westbound shoulder will remain closed, potentially for several weeks, as city crews monitor the stability of the hillside. Travelers should note the speed limit has been reduced on this portion of West Burnside to 30 mph.

Travelers may see occasional brief lane closures in the area in the coming weeks and months. Crews with telecommunications and other utilities, as well as city crews, will make further repairs to guardrail and other infrastructure.

Portland city engineers will continue to inspect the Barbara Walker Crossing footbridge at the location of the slide. The bridge and portions of the Wildwood Trail will remain closed until a thorough structural engineering assessment of the bridge can be completed.

***

HILLSBORO 7:20 a.m.: Crash blocks the right southbound lane of Northeast Cornelius Pass Road where it crosses U.S. 26.

***

Heads up for this weekend: Interstate 405 will be closed in both directions from 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22 to 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 25 for the installation of Flanders Crossing, a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge. Signed detours will direct drivers to Interstate 5.

The freeway will be closed from its intersection with U.S. 26 to the Fremont Bridge. See map.

Interstate 405 will close this weekend from U.S. 26 to the Fremont Bridge. Map courtesy of ODOT

Check back throughout the morning for the latest commuting updates and follow us on Twitter: @trafficportland
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday afternoon bade farewell to outgoing US Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter who paid him a courtesy visit at State House, Nairobi.

The President reiterated Kenyas determination to conclude ongoing negotiations with the United States of America and sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Uhuru said the FTA will build on the successes achieved under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by ushering in better and bigger trade opportunities and prospects for Kenya.

We appreciate what has been achieved through AGOA, but it is time we moved to much more closer trade arrangements that are mutually beneficial. We will not lose focus on concluding the FTA, the President said.

Kenya and the US launched trade negotiations on 8th July 2020 with the aim of crafting a comprehensive FTA that will serve as a model for similar pacts across Africa.

President Kenyatta thanked the US Government for the support Kenya continues to receive in the security sector especially the fight against terrorism and the response against Covid-19.

On his part, Amb McCarter thanked President Kenyatta and the people of Kenya for making his two-year tour of duty in the country successful.

I am a fortunate man to have served Kenya as US ambassador. I will be visiting Kenya from time to time and I hope I will be able to bring more investors, Amb McCarter told the President.

At the meeting, also attended by Head of Public Service Dr Joseph Kinyua and Foreign Affairs CS Amb Raychelle Omamo, the President wished the outgoing US envoy success in his future endeavors.
EDWARDSVILLE  A request to put a referendum on the April 4 ballot was shot down Tuesday evening after no board member was willing to make a motion to consider the proposal.

An alternative motion was ruled out of order.

Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler called the special board meeting for Tuesday to consider an advisory referendum to reduce the boards size.

The referendum would have read Shall the number of County Board members be reduced from the current 29 members following the 2020 Decennial Census?

However, no county board member was willing to motion in favor of the referendum, which would have allowed discussion.

The issue comes up now because of reapportionment, or the redrawing of county board seats, which will follow the 2020 census.

All board members terms expire in 2022. At that time members will be elected in newly-drawn districts to either two- or four-year terms.

State law mandates the county board have between five and 29 members. The current board has 29, the maximum allowed by law, which was set by the 1970 Illinois Constitution.

According to Article VII, Section 3A, The number of members of the county board shall be fixed by ordinance in each county within limitations provided by law.

A plan for reapportionment must be completed by this spring, including determining the number of county board members.

Tuesday was the last day a governmental body could approve a referendum for the ballot. According to officials at the Madison County Clerks Office, the only referendum set for the April ballot is a request by Madison County residents of the Bunker Hill Fire Protection District to detach and start a separate district.

Tuesdays special meeting included brief discussion about an alternative motion by board member Mick Madison, R-Bethalto.

We all know the voters will overwhelmingly vote yes, Madison said.

He recommended a motion to table the issue until there was a viable plan to discuss, which would have effectively ruled out an advisory referendum, placing the matter entirely with the board. That would allow for a quicker final decision, he said.

However, Prenzler ruled the motion out of order.

Board Member Erica Conway-Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, also asked for discussion, but board policy doesnt allow discussion on an issue unless there is a motion on the floor.

The proposal died for a lack of a motion and the meeting was adjourned.
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A 28-year-old man has been charged in the previously unsolved slaying of a woman killed just over one year ago in Birmingham.

Delvin Lamar Hunter is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on multiple charges, including capital murder in the Jan. 4, 2020 shooting death of 32-year-old Stacey Flournoy, court records show. He is also charged with attempted murder in the wounding of Deangelo Barrett who was shot at the same time as Flournoy.

Birmingham police officers were on patrol when they heard shots fired about 10 p.m. that Sunday. They found Flournoy on the front porch of a home at 3838 39th Court at 10:21 p.m. She was taken to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11:09 p.m. Barrett survived.

Stacey Flournoy (Contributed)

According to court records made public Tuesday, Flournoy was shot with a pistol while she was in a vehicle, which makes the charge a capital case.

The new warrants were served on Hunter Jan. 16, but hes been in the jail since September when he was arrested by Trussville police on drug trafficking charges. In that case, police received a Flock camera notification of a stolen license plate and then found the vehicle at an Edwards Lake Road gas station. Officers also hundreds of Adderall and Oxycodone pills, as well as marijuana.

Because of his criminal history, his bond in that case was set at more than $2 million. Hunter has been arrested on at least 20 criminal charges since 2011 including robbery, attempted murder and kidnapping. In 2012 he pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with two to serve.

He is now being held without bond.

ROCHESTER, Minn. - History was made on Wednesday as President Joe Biden was officially sworn in as the 46th President of the United State along with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are weighing in on the historic day with both Republicans and Democrats hoping the peace continues throughout Bidens administration.

This comes after the whirlwind chaos this year which saw the pandemic, economic hardships and violent protests.

Republican Sen. Carla Nelson says she hopes this next chapter will bring a close to the pandemic along with a bipartisan approach to the difficult issues facing our nation.

She explained, It's time for all of us to work together; it's an all hands on deck moment. We need everyone putting forth their best efforts to do those things that are going to take us through the pandemic, economic recovery and help get our children back in school.

Democratic Rep. Tina Liebling agreed and says she hopes for economic recovery and a return to normalcy as well.

Liebling said, We now will have a competent administration, one that will tell the truth, one that will manage the pandemic, and I feel grateful that we got through those four years without worse impacts than we had.

Liebling is also calling on Republicans to acknowledge there was a free and fair election so the nation can move forward together.

Senator Nelson added shes thankful for the peaceful transition of power without violent protests today.

Sadiq Khan has been criticised for demanding more money from the Government after receiving billions in bailouts only last year.

The Mayor of London today lobbied Rishi Sunak to turn on the spending taps in the March Budget - and produced his own wish-list for the Chancellor.

He is seeking another financial package for TfL and a cash injection to revive the capital's hard-hit nighttime economy.

An extension to the business rates holiday and for furlough to continue until lockdown is eased were also on his list of proposals.

His demands were quickly shot down by Conservative mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey, who accused him of pouring millions into City Hall's PR machine rather than the capital's priorities.

Mr Bailey told MailOnline: 'Last year the government gave Sadiq Khan two bailouts, a boost in police funding, and an extra 4billion for affordable housing. Now Sadiq Khan says none of it's enough.

'Londoners are starting to ask where all the money is going  and why Sadiq Khan can't find the money for our priorities but can find 100million to spend on PR.'

A spokesperson for Mr Khan dismissed the 100million figure as 'absolute nonsense' and said his priority was protecting essential services.

Sadiq Khan (left) has come under fire from Shaun Bailey (right) or lobbying the Government for more money after 'finding 100million' to grow his own publicity

The Mayor of London today demanded Rishi Sunak turns on the spending taps in the March Budget and unveiled his own wish-list

In his letter to the Chancellor, Mr Khan warned that the capital's economy might not bounce back to its pre-pandemic heights and demanded a stimulus package to spur the recovery.

He wrote: 'I urge you not to take London for granted  there is no guarantee the city's economy will continue to fire on all cylinders after this crisis.

'For London's success to continue, the city needs careful consideration, a recognition of the unique challenges we face, and investment to support businesses, organisations, and people to succeed.'

City Hall's most pressing demands to the Treasury include a funding settlement for TFL 'which addresses the devastating impact of the pandemic on TfL's finances'.

The heated subject of TfL funding saw months of wrangling between ministers and Mr Khan last year as they negotiated two cash injections as profits nosedived.

In November, they struck a six-month deal of 1.8billion in Government grants to keep services running until March.

It came on top of a 1.6billion bailout already poured in to the TfL pot by ministers earlier in the year.

Mr Sunak's March Budget will address the historic levels of peacetime public spending to mitigate lockdown

Commuters on a Jubilee Line train at Canada Water Underground Station yesterday

Mr Khan also demanded money be pledged for 'the full repair and restoration of Hammersmith Bridge and for the provision of interim solutions such as the ferry.'

Tories and the Mayor have locked horns over who bears ultimate responsibility for the bridge, which has been beset by delays to its reopening and remains shut.

Mr Khan also wants money for affordable housing, clean air, adult education in the long-run.

Mr Bailey said: 'Sadiq Khan says that 'there's no guarantee the city's economy will continue to fire on all cylinders after this crisis.' As long as he's in City Hall, I agree.

'We need a fresh start for London  with safer streets, a fully funded transport network, and more affordable homes. As Mayor, that's what I'll deliver.'

Throughout his campaign Mr Bailey has accused his rival of racking up a 100million PR bill during his tenure.

Tories and the Mayor have locked horns over who bears ultimate responsibility for Hammersmith Bridge, which has been beset by delays to its reopening and remains shut

The spokesperson for Mr Khan added: 'Among many other things, the misleading figure includes a stated figure of 13,456,00 for London and Partners which represents the total annual funding for the entire organisation, not PR spend.

'The Mayor's number-one priority continues to be protecting essential frontline services  something that is becoming increasingly difficult as the Government refuses to adequately fund local and regional government in the capital.'

Mr Bailey go head to head with Mr Khan for the mayoralty in May, which ministers insist will still go ahead after being postponed last year because of the pandemic.

However sources have privately told MailOnline they are bracing for polling day to be pushed back once again.

Mr Sunak's March Budget will address the historic levels of peacetime public spending to mitigate lockdown, which cratered the economy.

A HM Treasury spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We've invested more than 280billion throughout the pandemic to protect millions of jobs and businesses - and extended our self-employed and furlough schemes through to April so that people have certainty that help is in place.

'At the upcoming Budget the government will set out how we'll ensure public services continue to receive the investment they need.

'We'll also outline the next stages of our Plan for Jobs to support businesses and families across the UK. That has been our priority throughout the past year and it will be the priority for the year to come.'

While California's rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be bumpy amid the deadliest days of the pandemic, the latest numbers on new cases and hospitalizations from the San Francisco Department of Public Health reveal the surge may be easing in the city.

In a Tuesday update, San Francisco Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax said while the number of new daily cases remains higher than before the explosion of cases after Thanksgiving, the most recent data shows promising signs. The case rate is currently 38.3 per 100,000 people, down slightly from the high of 42.5 new cases per 100,000 on Jan. 10.

"This trend is promising, but its too early to know for sure so we simply can not let our guard down," Colfax said. "Our current number per 100,000 is far higher than our summer surge when we peaked at just 15.4, but we are still doing better than California as a whole where the average is 100.9 per 100,000." (Note: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate per 100,000 in California was 90.3 as of Jan. 20.)

The post-holiday rise in hospitalizations is beginning to trend down "just barely" with the weekly change in hospitalization rate declining by 1%, Colfax said.

"That rate in change is important because it reflects the demand put on our hospitals for acute care and ICU beds to care for COVID-19 and other patients," he noted. "Again, this is promising and hopeful news."

With cases finally starting to decline slightly and the distribution of vaccines slowly increasing, some may be wondering: Did San Francisco hit its peak?

"I think the answer is yes," said UCSF epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford. "Weve seen the positivity rate start to go down. Weve seen cases start to go down. Were seeing hospitalizations go down. Well start to see ICU admissions go down and then well see deaths go down. So I say yeah, probably. It think were on our way down."

Rutherford said this with caution, noting that numbers can easily increase if people stop wearing masks and social distancing. "You have to be careful," he warned. "It could bounce right back up."

Health officials are in a race against time, not only as patients continue to become sick and die but as the virus mutates into forms that can spread much more easily.

An L452R variant has been found in at least a dozen counties and was identified in several large outbreaks in Santa Clara, San Francisco and Monterey counties.

Rutherford believes the new variants are unlikely to cause a major surge in San Francisco if people wear their face coverings, don't gather and follow public health guidelines.

"What causes outbreaks is people not wearing masks and not socially distancing and getting into crowded situations," he said. "If its one strain or another, they all cause outbreaks. Some may transmit more than others, but at the end of the day its all behavioral."

UCSF infectious disease doctor Dr. Peter Chin-Hong agreed numbers are trending slightly down, but he's hesitant to say S.F. hit its highest peak; Chin-Hong is worried about the L452R variant, which is increasingly being identified in cases.

"That rate of increase is making me worry its going to be the U.K. variant all over again," Chin-Hong said. "Its becoming a larger part of the genotype scene. It suggests its taking over the COVID."

He said he also worries people will become less vigilant in following the public health orders. "Just when its getting warm and the vaccine hope is there, Im worried well slack off," said Chin-Hong, noting that people will still need to wear masks after they've been vaccinated. "Until theres consistency in the numbers, I can't say for certain we've hit the peak."

Instagram / @piazzatron

Across California, infection indicators are all showing trends in the right direction," state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said. A surge following Christmas and New Year's had been feared on top of the surge after Halloween and Thanksgiving that drove case levels and hospitalizations to record levels.

Only a couple of weeks ago, it was feared some hospitals in Los Angeles and other hard-hit areas might have to begin rationing care as they ran out of surge capacity as regular beds were filled.

But statewide hospitalizations are down 8.5% over 14 days, with the number of intensive care patients also easing. Hospitals that had been seeing 3,500 new patients each day are now seeing 2,500 to 2,900 daily admissions  still distressingly high, but quite a significant reduction," Ghaly said.

The statewide positivity for the virus fell below 10% for the first time in weeks, and each infected individual is now infecting less than one other person  a recipe for an eventual decline in cases.

These are rays of hope shining through, Ghaly said.

Deaths continue at a frightening pace, however. More than 6,700 people have died in the last two weeks. In Los Angeles County, so many people have died that the air quality board temporarily amended its rules to allow for more cremations.

While these numbers are all promising, the distribution of vaccines has been discouraging.

So far 3.2 million doses have been shipped to California and 1.5 million have been administered, Ghaly said. That exceeds Gov. Gavin Newsom's goal of getting an additional 1 million shots in arms over a 10-day period, but Ghaly could not say if the state met Newsom's self-imposed Friday deadline for doing so, citing lagging reports.

The delay in administering the remaining 1.7 million doses may be because some have not actually arrived in the state yet, and some have been earmarked for those needing second doses or for the mass vaccination sites, he said.

S.F.s public health department said it's likely to run out of vaccine Thursday, in part because the state pulled back on administering a batch of Moderna shots after several health workers in San Diego had a bad reaction.

The county health department received 12,000 doses last week and had expected the same amount this week, but it received only 1,775.

This unreliable source makes it very hard to plan, Colfax said.

Chin-Hong is hopeful the vaccine distribution will speed up in coming weeks as President Joe Biden implements his vaccine plan aimed at boosting supply.

"I think with a new administration it will give clarity to the problems and maybe put some money behind it," he said. "You cant do this overnight. Public health has been underfunded for many years. You cant just shoot a movie without preparing the actors and the sets all done and have everybody training. I think what its reflecting is lack of a centralized health system. I think people have been disappointed. Im hopeful with everything will get better.""

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 20 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Marking its seventh edition, Forevermark the diamond brand from the De Beers Group unveils its Spring Summer Trend Report for 2021. Developed at Forevermark's Design and Innovation Centre in Milan, the key themes have been identified to inspire and shape desire for jewellery featuring natural diamonds for the Spring Summer 2021.

As the consumer landscape has undergone significant change, a desire to invest in purchases that are meaningful and have enduring value, are more important than ever. This is particularly the case when it comes to diamond jewellery, where nuanced insights underpin the creation of investment pieces which combine timeless elegance with contemporary appeal.

Spring/Summer 2021 Trends:

DIAMOND RAIN

Rain, and all that it symbolizes, is an exhilarating source of inspiration and optimism during times of challenge and change. In its embodiment as rain, we associate it with renewal, rejuvenation, and growth. When translating rain's allure into diamond jewellery, the remarkable properties of diamonds such as their strength, natural beauty and rarity, inspires us to desire for new beginnings and clearer times. In the same way that rain refreshes, we can explore new ideas and incorporate diamond cuts such as pears, marquise and squares to replicate the stunning fluid droplet and ripple movement from rain and to transform much-loved statement pieces to treasure forever.

TWIST & SHINE

Life's unexpected twists and turns can often be the catalyst for great new things. They teach us to be adaptable and agile, and to see opportunities in every outcome. This trend is about dynamism and surprise. Introduce silhouettes based on sculptural twists that thrill from every angle. A sweeping band of pave diamonds, or a striking solitaire. Asymmetric diamond clusters, or mixed cuts that build interest, and perspective to draw the eye.

"Life can change in an instant. This is a fact that every person on the planet has felt, yet it is something which unites us on a deep and significant level. As mindsets inevitably change, a more considered approach to consumption will draw us to meaningful purchases. The trend DIAMOND RAIN showcases the strength, beauty and rarity of diamonds that inspire us to look forward, just like the ability of rain to refresh and revive. Together, these marvels of nature symbolize our hopes and dreams. As for TWIST & SHINE showcases life's unexpected moments require us to be agile, but they can also be the catalyst for great new things. Harnessing the versatility of diamonds - in their cuts and the ways they are set - to translate this concept," says Federica Imperiali, Head of New Product Development at Forevermark.

For further details call 1800 210210 or Visit https://www.forevermark.com/

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dallas, Jan. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today announced that veteran employment and labor litigator Tom Reddin has joined its Dallas office as a partner.

Previously a shareholder at Polsinelli, Reddin advises clients on the full range of employment and labor law, serving as lead trial counsel in all areas of employment litigation. For more than 30 years, he has tried cases filed under the antidiscrimination statutes (Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act) and other employment-related statutes (FMLA, FLSA, OSHA, ERISA).

Reddins litigation practice includes pre-litigation counseling; risk and disputes management; and trials, hearings, and appeals before federal and state courts and other tribunals.

Reddin joins Josh Henderson (San Francisco and Los Angeles) and Ryan McCoy (Los Angeles) as the third employment and labor partner hired by Norton Rose Fulbright since March 2020.

Jeff Cody, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Managing Partner, who is based in Dallas, said:

Tom is an outstanding lawyer and provides additional employment and labor experience in Dallas. We see labor and employment in Dallas as a significant opportunity to expand our offering and better serve our ever-growing client base. We are very pleased that Tom has joined the law firm.

Shauna Clark, Norton Rose Fulbrights Global and US Chair, who also leads the firms US employment and labor practice, commented:

With the global pandemic and the uncertainty it causes businesses, employment lawyers are in high demand. Toms practice covers the full spectrum of employment and labor law, and our clients will appreciate his ability to manage the numerous risks in the workplace today.

Reddin, who also has experience with employee benefits, executive employment compensation and severance agreement matters, said:

I am thrilled to be here. I have always admired Norton Rose Fulbrights deep industry focus, as the firms lawyers understand their clients businesses inside and out. I represent energy, healthcare and financial clients who will benefit from the firms seamless ability to serve them in the US and around the world.

Licensed to practice in Texas and Wisconsin, Reddin earned his JD from Marquette University Law School and his BA from Marquette University.

Notes for editors:

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm providing the worlds preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. The firm has more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

Recognized for its industry focus, Norton Rose Fulbright is strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare. Through its global risk advisory group, the firm leverages its industry experience with its knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues to provide clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks facing their businesses.

Norton Rose Fulbright operates in accordance with its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, aiming to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of its offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices.

Law around the world

nortonrosefulbright.com

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TUPELO, Miss (WTVA) -- North Mississippi Medical Center is dealing with a healthcare worker shortage during the coronavirus pandemic.

Money is a motivator, according to some staff at North Mississippi Medical Center, but, they said, it isnt the only one.

We do have an RN shortage going on right now across the country, and thats been going on now for some time, NMMC Chief Nurse Executive and Vice President Donna Pritchard said.

A sign at the front of North Mississippi Medical Center. Photo taken 01-19-21. A sign at the front of North Mississippi Medical Center. Photo taken 01-19-21.

She said keeping workers is proving to be a bit of a challenge.

Were seeing it even get worse as were seeing the pandemic strengthen.

Pritchard explained the center is losing nurses that are traveling to other cities. They are signing short-term contracts to make more money.

Hopefully they will be back when the pandemic ends, Pritchard said.

She added they did hire some travel nurses, but it is very few because they dont pay as much as centers in California, New York, and others.

On Indeed.com, it says the average salary for a registered nurse in Mississippi is $28.95 per hour.

Kim Warner is Vice President of Human Resources at North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS). She said new grad nurses with no experience start off at about $21.75

One of the reasons to work here, one of many, Warner said.

There is a virtual job fair coming up. It will be on January 28th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The link to register is here.

Registration ends on January 26.
The 2021 US presidential inauguration is set to take place on Jan. 20. Joe Biden will take oath as the 46th president of the United States of America. Scroll through to take a look at how Washington is preparing for the massive event. (Pictured) A general view of preparations prior to a dress rehearsal at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, U.S., on Jan. 18. (Image: Reuters)

ZHANGJIAKOU, China, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has underlined that high-speed rail is a proof of China's independent innovation.

Xi made the remarks on Tuesday during an inspection tour of the preparation work on the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in the Zhangjiakou competition zone.

After arriving at Taizicheng station, Xi visited the athletes' service hall and observed exhibits including a rail network map of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the sketch map and sand table of the Olympic competition zone and the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail link.

The high-speed rail is a successful demonstration of China's independent innovation, Xi said.

Xi stressed that China's high-speed rail has undergone a process from introduction, digestion, absorption and re-innovation to independent innovation, and is now a world leader in high-speed rail technology.

Xi emphasized the importance of continuing to strive for greater development in the 14th Five-Year Plan period from 2021 to 2025.

When the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed rail went into operation on December 30, 2019, Xi stressed the significance of the line connecting Beijing and its 2022 co-host city Zhangjiakou.

He said the opening of the line marked new progress in the preparations for the Winter Olympics, and that other related work should follow the same high standards.

"The Beijing-Zhangjiakou railway line bears witness to the development of Chinese rail as well as leaps in China's comprehensive strength," Xi said.

Looking back at history, the new line carries even greater significance, Xi said.

With the launch of the service, it now takes passengers less than an hour to travel from Beijing to the main venue in Zhangjiakou.

The total length of high-speed rail lines in China was 37,900 km at the end of 2020, an increase of 2,900 km from 2019 and almost double the amount in 2015, according to the China State Railway Group.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde will visit the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas on Wednesday and learn about the consequences of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.

"We are leaving for Donbas with Ann Linde (despite the extreme cold). It is important for the colleague to see firsthand the consequences of Russian aggression and Ukraine's efforts to resolve the conflict and make life easier for civilians (despite the overwhelming lack of constructiveness on the part of Russia)," Kuleba wrote on his Twitter on Wednesday.
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Donald Trump left the White House for his final time as U.S. president on Wednesday, taking the Marine One helicopter from the lawn outside the building heading towards Joint Base Andrews.

Mr Trump did not say anything on his departure to awaiting reporters.

He will take a flight on Air Force One from the base in Maryland to Florida, where he will spend the final hour of his presidency.

The president will not attend the inauguration of Joe Biden at noon (1700 GMT), breaking with tradition.

A small ceremony awaits Mr Trump at the military base before he leaves the Washington area.

Also, Mr Trump thanked his family and staff as he gave a speech just before leaving Joint Base Andrews for Florida, during his final hours as president.

It is my greatest honour and privilege to have been your president, Mr Trump said.

I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think theyll have great success; they have the foundation to do something really spectacular.

Mr Trump promised to be back in some form, to cheers from the small crowd gathered. This has been an incredible four years, Mr Trump said. We were not a regular administration, he noted.

He offered our respects and our love to people who suffered from COVID-19.

You are going to see incredible numbers start coming in, Mr Trump said, promising that an economic rebound was on the horizon. Remember us, he asked.

Have a good life, we will see you soon, he said to close the speech.

(dpa/NAN)
Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

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104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

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Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

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Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

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France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

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Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

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Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

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Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

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His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

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Before leaving and departing Delaware for the Inauguration Day in Washington, an emotional President-elect Joe Biden delivered an emotional paean on Tuesday in front of the crowd in his longtime home at Major Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III National Guard /Reserve Center in New Castle Airport, a place which was named after his late son.

Biden Delivers Emotional Message

The President-elect, Biden, who is scheduled to take office on Wednesday, choked up at the top of his brief remarks at the place named after his late son, the Delaware National Guard headquarters in New Castle after Biden's son 'Beau' died at the age of 46 in 2016.

While wiping tears from his eyes before praising his longtime home Delaware, Biden shared that it is kind of emotional for him as it is the state that loves everybody's children, and loved his Beau, and he so loved them right back.

Biden also emphasized that it is deeply personal for him that the next journey to Washington starts in Delaware, a place that has defined the very best of who Americans truly are.

He also reminded the people that they are experiencing dark times, but he also pointed out that there is always light, and that is what makes the state of Delaware so special as that is what the state taught him.

Since defeating the bid for the reelection of President Donald Trump, Biden largely been based near Wilmington, where his transition team was headquartered.

From the mentioned location, the president-elect together with his team has laid out a series of sweeping policy goals that mainly aim to defeat COVID-19 and to restore the health of their economy that was severely damaged by the global health crisis.

Moreover, President-elect Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver additional remarks later on Tuesday at the Lincoln Memorial wherein he will be honoring the coronavirus victims in a ceremony, as the virus has killed not less than 400,000 individuals across the United States.

According to CNBC, the ongoing pandemic and the United States Capitol siege on January 6 wherein protesters supporting President Donald Trump, breached the seat of Democracy, have prompted officials to make drastic changes days before the inauguration ceremony, which traditionally draws thousands of individuals to the NAtional MAll.

However, this time, swaths of the National mall have been closed to the public, and roughly 25,000 members of the National Guard have been deployed in the area.

At the end portion of his remarks in New Castle, Biden appeared overcome by his emotions again.

Biden also shared that James Joyce is said to have told a friend, that when it comes his time to pass when he dies, Dublin will be written on my heart, and after a pause, Biden said with his voice cracking that when he dies, Delaware will be written on his heart, Newsday reported.

Biden also stated that all of the people of Delaware have been there for him in the good and the bad, and they never walked away.

He also emphasized that he is even more proud while standing there, doing it from the Major Beau Biden facility, Nikkei Asia reported.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

The Nine Network's director of news and current affairs has narrowly avoided jail after pleading guilty to drink-driving following a work function at the company's Willoughby office in October.

Darren Wick said his alcohol use crept up on him and he had let it get out of control in the lead-up to the October 16 incident.

Nine news chief Darren Wick admitted to staff he is an alcoholic following the October charge.

"I made a terrible mistake where I couldve harmed others or harm myself, which wouldve harmed my family and harmed friends and colleagues, so I own it completely," Wick said outside Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday.

Wick needed help standing and walking after his Jeep Cherokee 4WD was pulled over by police who observed his erratic driving on Willoughby Road.
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Cowboy boot-wearing Washington D.C. real estate magnate Douglas Jemal was among those pardoned by President Donald Trump late Tuesday, absolving him of a 2007 conviction for wire fraud.

Jemal, 79, is one of the most influential and flamboyant developers in the nation's capital, having rebuilt big chunks of downtown, Columbia Heights and New York Avenue NE.

In a statement announcing the pardons early Wednesday, the White House said Jemal was "credited with rebuilding many urban inner cities" and said he was "instrumental to various other charitable causes."

His major projects include the redevelopment of the historic Woodward and Lothrop building at Metro Center, the historic block of Seventh Street NW near the Capital One Arena, the Hecht warehouse on New York Avenue, Sixth and I synagogue and the former Uline Arena.

Jemal, a Brooklyn native, is close with the family of Jared Kushner, a top Trump adviser who is married to Ivanka Trump. Jemal and Jared's father, Charles, own neighboring homes on the Jersey Shore.

When Charles Kushner went to prison in 2007, Jemal gave his German shepherd to Jared's mother, Seryl, for protection. A year later, when Jemal was being sentenced for fraud related to his company's financial machinations, Jared Kushner wrote a letter in support of Jemal and appeared in the courtroom for his sentencing. Trump pardoned Charles Kushner in December.

Jemal, 79, said Wednesday that he had not spoken to Trump about his pardon and was "not sure why he pardoned me."

"I assume he felt I deserved to be pardoned," Jemal said. "I'm still the same person I was a day ago or a month ago or a year ago . . . I'm certainly glad I was pardoned."

Jemal initially faced much more serious charges stemming from his efforts to influence a D.C. official for lucrative government leases. In 2005, FBI agents raided the offices of Douglas Development Corp., and months later a federal grand jury indicted him, his son Norman and the company's leasing executive on conspiracy, bribery, fraud and tax evasion charges.

A jury acquitted Douglas Jemal on six of the seven charges and Norman Jemal on all charges. Jemal's leasing chief, Blake Esherick, was convicted of wire fraud and tax evasion and sentenced to eight months in prison. Two other employees pleaded guilty to tax evasion.

Douglas Jemal admitted no wrongdoing in the fraud case. He was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a $175,000 fine.

Mark Dubester, the lead prosecutor on the case, noted that Trump pardoned only Jemal in the waning hours of his presidency - not the people who worked for him, whom Dubester called "far less culpable."

"Pardons like this are corrosive and send the message that there are two standards of accountability," Dubester said. "One for the wealthy and well-connected, and one for everyone else."

Over the years, Jemal has been a prolific donor to candidates of both political parties, giving in particular to officials who represent areas where he has business interests. He made two larger donations, totaling $100,000, to the Republican National Committee during the 2020 campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

When Donald and Ivanka Trump won the rights to develop the federally owned Old Post Office Pavilion on Pennsylvania Avenue NW into a luxury hotel, Jemal introduced them to retail brokers and other local contacts.

At his sentencing, Douglas Jemal told U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina: "I care about buildings that have been abandoned and left alone. And I care about people who've been abandoned and left alone. I care very much about this adopted city of mine."
Former FBI director James Comey has branded the violent siege of the US Capitol as America's 'own Chernobyl', while calling for a total overhaul of the Republican Party following Trump's exit.

Comey spoke out against the deadly riots - which he described as a '9/11-sized failure' - and reflected on Trump's presidency in an interview with The Guardian.

'I was sickened to watch an attack on the literal and symbolic heart of our democracy, and, as a law enforcement person, I was angered. I am mystified and angry that Capitol Hill wasn't defended,' Comey said on Tuesday.

'It's a hill! If you wanted to defend it, you could defend it, and for some reason it was not defended. I think that's a 9/11-size failure and we're going to need a 9/11-type commission to understand it so that we don't repeat it.'

Fired FBI director James Comey has called for an overhaul of the GOP in the post-Trump era

Comey, who was fired in 2017, responded to the Capitol riots that left five people dead, describing the siege as a '9/11-sized failure' and the United States' own 'Chernobyl'

Comey had infamously butted heads with Trump during the first year of his term, particularly over the FBI's investigation of Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election - which ultimately led to his firing in May 2017.

During the interview Comey highlighted the president's actions leading up to the violence, accusing him of 'weakening' the building's foundation over the past five years.

'He's withdrawn the control rods, and that's a recipe for a nuclear disaster, a radioactive release. That's what you saw on Capitol Hill, our own Chernobyl, when the ugly radioactive violence and racism of America explodes in public view,' he added.

Comey himself had drawn criticism while under Trump's leadership and even before his presidency, perhaps most notably when he made the decision to reopen the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails which many believed cost her the 2016 election.

Four years on, the 60-year-old says he still believes he acted appropriately, arguing the agency could not have remained silent on the matter.

'I'm sure that strikes people as stubborn and righteous and all kinds of stuff, but I don't think so. Between bad and terrible, we chose bad in a way that we had to,' he said.

Comey reflected on his tenure during Trump's presidency during which he drew criticism for his actions

Comey said the GOP needs 'to be burned down or changed' in the post-Trump era. The president himself (pictured on Inauguration Day) is reportedly looking to create his own 'Patriot Party' consisting of his supporters

Comey, who is now in the process of becoming a professor at Columbia University, believes the Trump presidency will have a long-lasting impact on the GOP which is more divided than ever.

As a former longtime Republican who now identifies as an independent, Comey says the party as it stands 'needs to be burned down or changed.'

'Something is shifting and I'm hoping it's the fault breaking apart, a break between the Trumpists and those people who want to try and build a responsible conservative party, because everybody should know that we need one,' he told the paper.

'Who would want to be part of an organisation that at its core is built on lies and racism and know-nothingism? It's just not a healthy political organisation.'

Comey's comments come amid reports Trump himself is planning to form a new political party consisting of his supporters as he leaves the White House for good.

The outgoing president is said to have spoken with aides about the idea of creating a 'Patriot Party', The Wall Street Journal first reported. It is not known how serious he is in going ahead with the idea.

Trump gave his final address to the nation on Tuesday vowing to be a continued presence on the political stage, noting his 'movement' is 'only just beginning.

'Now, as I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning,' he said.

President elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office at noon on Wednesday. Trump did not host Biden at the White House for coffee after the election and will not greet him at front door ahead of the inauguration ceremony

But his vow to stay a force in politics could cause some Republicans to squirm. Trump divided Republicans among those who supported his isolationist agenda and those who disliked his harsh rhetoric.

Mitch McConnell on Tuesday spoke out against Trump, who he accused of 'provoking' the MAGA crowd who stormed the Capitol two weeks ago in his most outright denunciation of the president.

'The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people,' the majority leader said in Senate floor remarks.

The dramatic and unprompted intervention by the man who will be Republicans' most senior leader when Trump leaves office came with less than 24 hours of his presidency remaining.

Many Republicans want to see the outgoing president fade quietly away but others fear his supporters - 74 million cast their ballot for Trump in November - could be an influence in the party's primaries for years to come.

Comey in his interview also warned against prosecuting Trump on a federal level, arguing that the heightened media and public attention surrounding the case would only make it harder for the country to move forward.

'At the end of the day, I still come down in the place that the best interests of the country would not be served by giving him that Donald Trump daily drama in our nation's capital for three years as part of the United States versus Trump,' he said.

'That would give him the oxygen and the attention that he so craves and make it so much harder for a new president to heal the country both spiritually and physically, and to get some people out of the fog of lies that they're trapped in.

'I just think, on balance, the country is better served by impeaching him, convicting him in the Senate and letting local prosecutors in New York pursue him for the fraudster he was before he took office. That mixture accommodates the important public interest of the rule of law being asserted, but doesn't do it in a way that makes it impossible for a new president to move the country on.'

Despite the long road to recovery ahead for the US and the incoming administration, Comey said he remains 'deeply optimistic.'

'America is a wonderful, complicated, screwed-up country, but it's always getting better. It usually gets worse before it gets better, but the better succeeds, so we make progress. I am optimistic this will be the inflection point that we so desperately needed. I wish it weren't so, but this, I think, is going to awaken Americans to the things that matter.'
WASHINGTON (AP)  Joe Biden took the oath of office just before noon today to become the 46th president of the United States, taking the helm of a deeply divided nation and inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors. This is the latest on Bidens presidential inauguration (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

President Joe Biden has entered the White House for the first time as chief executive after walking an abbreviated parade route, still wearing his protective mask amid sounds of Hail to the Chief.

The 46th president and first lady Jill Biden walked through a military cordon lining the White House driveway with the flags of U.S. states, leading the first couple to the main entrance under the North Portico on Wednesday.

Biden was expected to immediately begin working, with a stack of executive orders on immigration and other matters awaiting his signature.

The final ceremonial flourish completed an abbreviated inaugural afternoon unlike any Washington has seen, with Biden being seen in person by only a relative smattering of Americans given security lockdowns after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and public health protocols amid the ongoing pandemic.

3:35 p.m.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says he hopes Donald Trump will continue to be the leader of the Republican Party after his election defeat and second impeachment.

The Republican senator said Wednesday during an interview on Fox News that if youre wanting to erase Donald Trump from the party, youre going to get erased.

Over the course of Trumps one-term presidency, Graham went from being one of his fiercest critics to being one of his most prominent allies in Congress.

Graham said it was inappropriate for Republicans in Congress to try to overturn President Joe Bidens victory and called Trumps comments ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot a big mistake. But he says ultimately that it wasnt a crime and that he blames the people that came into the Capitol, not him.

He said he thinks there would be a lot of support for Trump if he ran again in 2024.

He added: But Im not worried about 2024. I want to help Biden where I can, I want to get this country back on track.

3:25 p.m.

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton says it really lifted her heart to see Joe Biden sworn in as president on the same platform that supporters of President Donald Trump climbed when they attacked the Capitol two weeks ago.

Clinton and her husband, the former President Bill Clinton, attended Wednesdays inauguration of Biden. Afterward, she told The Associated Press that she was relieved and grateful to see Biden sworn in with a peaceful transition of power.

Thats been taken for granted in the U.S. for over two centuries. But two weeks ago, hundreds of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from formally certifying Bidens election victory over Trump.

The House impeached Trump a week later on a charge of inciting an insurrection.

Clinton says she thinks it was meaningful to many Americans to see Biden take his oath of office where, just a few weeks ago, marauders and terrorists had been attempting to stop democracy.

Trump defeated Clinton for the presidency in 2016.

3:15 p.m.

The highest-ranking Black member of Congress says former President George W. Bush lauded his role as a savior in helping get President Joe Biden elected to the White House.

U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Wednesday on a call with reporters that the Republican former president told him ahead of the inaugural ceremony that, if he had not given Biden the boost he did ahead of South Carolinas primary, we would not be having this transfer of power today.

Clyburn says Bush went on to say that Biden was the only one who could have defeated the incumbent president, Donald Trump. Trump and the Bush family didnt get along.

Clyburns pivotal endorsement ahead of South Carolinas Democratic primary helped propel Biden to the nomination. Biden won South Carolina by a margin of nearly 30 points.

Clyburn, South Carolinas only Democratic representative in Congress, is the dean of the states Democrats and the third-ranking member of the U.S. House.

3:05 p.m.

President Joe Biden has spent a few of the first moments of his term at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring fallen veterans with three former presidents and their families.

The president, first lady Jill Biden, and newly sworn-in Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, presided over a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Wednesday.

After cannon fire rumbled in the distance, Biden saluted as a military band played the national anthem.

Biden and Harris later briefly touched the wreath before bowing their heads in prayer. The president also made the sign of the cross, then he and Harris stood somberly for the playing of taps.

Joining them at the ceremony were former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura and former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary.

Former President Donald Trump flew to Florida before Biden was sworn into office.

2:35 p.m.

President Joe Bidens team has started moving into the White House.

The building began humming again with activity a few hours after Bidens inauguration Wednesday as staff for the new president started moving into their offices, unpacking belongings and getting the badges that grant them easy access to the property.

New press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that she was in the building and ready to get to work. Psaki has scheduled the new administrations first White House press briefing for later Wednesday.

Biden plans to sign a flurry of executive orders, some overturning actions by former President Donald Trump, once he gets to the Oval Office.

The White House had been largely emptied out of staff after Trump flew to Florida on Wednesday morning, skipping his successors swearing-in.

2:15 p.m.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have taken part in the traditional inaugural military tradition of Pass in Review.

Biden, Harris and their spouses stood Wednesday on the East Front steps of the U.S. Capitol to observe the procession of ceremonial military regiments.

Several groupings passed by the steps, with military members saluting the newly minted president and musicians playing traditional patriotic tunes.

The inaugural parade that typically follows was to be replaced by a virtual parade later in the day because of concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the procession, the couples climbed into vehicles to travel to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They were to be joined by the former presidents who attended the earlier inaugural ceremony.

1:50 p.m.

Congressional leaders have presented President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with a variety of gifts, including a pair of flags flown over the U.S. Capitol during the inauguration.

The presentations to the officials and their respective spouses happened Wednesday in lieu of a congressional luncheon that typically follows the inauguration ceremony.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said Lenox had crafted a pair of commemorative vases for Biden and Harris, each weighing 32 pounds (14.5 kilograms).

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell gifted them with a pair of U.S. flags that were flown over the Capitol during the inauguration. McConnell noted that both Biden and Harris served in the Senate and skipped the House altogether.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer presented photos from Wednesdays ceremony.

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri noted that the Smithsonian had loaned a painting titled Landscape with Rainbow by a notable Black painter from around the time of the Civil War.

1:40 p.m.

Vice President Kamala Harris has now taken on a role that would have typically been performed by the outgoing president.

Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, stood on the U.S. Capitol steps Wednesday to bid farewell to her predecessor, former Vice President Mike Pence, and his wife, Karen.

The two couples stood and chatted for a few moments, even laughing, on the steps before the Pences got into a vehicle and were driven away.

President Donald Trump typically would have performed the sendoff for his second-in-command but opted to skip Wednesdays inaugural festivities.

Trump and his wife, Melania, went straight from the White House to Joint Base Andrews earlier Wednesday. He gave a campaign-style farewell speech before boarding Air Force One for a final time as president and traveling to his home in Florida.

Pence opted not to attend that event, instead attending Bidens inauguration.

12:50 p.m.

Calm prevailed outside heavily fortified state capitol buildings across the U.S. as Joe Biden was sworn in as president.

The FBI had warned of the possibility for armed demonstrations leading up to the inauguration after President Donald Trump repeatedly and falsely claimed the election was stolen from him.

Fewer than a half-dozen demonstrators showed up outside the capitols in Concord, New Hampshire, and Lansing, Michigan. A lone protester wearing a Make America Great Again hat stood outside a chain-link fence surrounding the California Capitol in Sacramento, as dozens of police officers and National Guard troops guarded every entrance.

Three protesters were outside the Nebraska Capitol in Lincoln, one waving a flag that read Biden is not the president.

Dump trucks, prison buses and other government vehicles were used to barricade streets around the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta, though no protesters were there.

Michigan lawmakers canceled a session scheduled for Wednesday out of caution. But in Wisconsin, legislators planned to move ahead with a committee hearing that was to be open to the public.

12:45 p.m.

The official swearing-in ceremony for President Joe Biden have concluded, but more events are planned throughout the day.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden departed the platform at the U.S. Capitol following a ceremony that included Biden taking the oath Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States. Vice President Kamala Harris also took her oath of office, becoming the nations first female vice president.

The day included musical performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks. Celebrated poet Amanda Gorman read a piece noting that, while democracy can be permanently delayed, it can never be permanently denied.

Following his departure from the platform, Biden was expected to sign paperwork in the Presidents Room within the U.S. Capitol. Afterward, he reviews troops outside the Capitol before departing and traveling to Arlington National Cemetery for a ceremony with former presidents in attendance.

Later Wednesday, Biden is expected to make his first official arrival at the White House as president before a virtual inaugural parade.

12:40 p.m.

Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman summoned images dire and triumphant as she called out to the world even as we grieved, we grew.

Gorman is 22, by far the youngest inaugural poet since Robert Frost read for John F. Kennedy in 1961. She quoted biblical scripture and echoed the oratory of Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. among others as she recited her poem at President Joe Bidens inauguration on Wednesday.

She referred to the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump, an event that she said helped inspire her to finish her poem, The Hill We Climb.

12:30 p.m.

Garth Brooks has sung a gospel-tinged and beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace at President Joe Bidens inauguration.

The country superstar took off his black cowboy hat and kept his eyes closed for much of the powerful song, performing it a capella and without strain.

He offered a few dazzling smiles as the sun broke through the crowd and asked the audience to sing a verse with him. He said, Not just the people here, but the people at home, to work as one united.

After it was over, Brooks shook hands with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Brooks performed during the inaugural celebration of President Barack Obama in 2009. He turned down a chance to play for President Donald Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict.

12:20 p.m.

More than a hundred people stood in the cold waiting to get through a security checkpoint to reach Pennsylvania Avenue, where they hoped to catch a glimpse of the presidential procession.

People watched the inauguration ceremony on their phones Wednesday, cheering as Vice President Kamala Harris, then President Joe Biden took the oath.

I feel so hopeful, so thankful, said Karen Jennings Crooms, a D.C. resident waiting in line with her husband. It makes us sad that this is where we are but hopeful that democracy will win out in the end. Thats what Im focusing on.

Her husband, Vernal Crooms, who attended Howard University at the same time as Harris but didnt know her, said he was happy to see the Donald Trump era end.

He said, Weve turned the page. Light prevailed and the lie didnt last.

12:10 p.m.

President Joe Biden is calling on Americans to overcome their divisions, declaring in his first address in office that without unity, there is no peace.

Biden also pledged during his inaugural address Wednesday that he would be honest with the country as it continues to confront difficulties, saying that leaders have an obligation to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

He asked even those who did not vote for him to give him a chance. He said, Hear me out as we move forward.

As he did frequently during the campaign, Biden pledged that he will be a president for all Americans and will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

He added, We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue.

Noon

President Joe Biden says democracy has prevailed in a country reeling amid a pandemic and a violent melee two weeks ago at the U.S. Capitol.

In his first remarks as president, Biden said Wednesday that his swearing-in marks a day of history and hope.

Biden said in his inaugural address that the country has learned again that democracy is precious.

He added, The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

Biden also thanked his predecessors from both parties for attending Wednesdays ceremonies. Former Vice President Mike Pence was also in attendance, while former President Donald Trump skipped the festivities and headed to Florida earlier in the day.

11:50 a.m.

Joe Biden has officially become the 46th president of the United States.

Biden took the oath of office just before noon Wednesday during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The presidential oath was administered by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Biden was sworn in using a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was used during his swearing-in as vice president in 2009 and 2013. The 5-inch thick Bible, which could be seen on a table next to Bidens chair on the dais, has a Celtic cross on its cover and was also used each time he was sworn- n as a U.S. senator.

Bidens late son, Beau, also used the Bible for his own swearing-in ceremony as attorney general of Delaware and helped carry the Bible to his fathers 2013 ceremony.

11:45 a.m.

Kamala Harris has been sworn in as the nations first female vice president.

The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and becomes the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

She was sworn in Wednesday by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for President Donald Trump, was sitting nearby as Lady Gaga sang the national anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.

11:40 a.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump has pardoned Al Pirro, the ex-husband of Fox News Channel host and Trump ally Jeanine Pirro.

The pardon for Al Pirro is in addition to the 143 pardons and sentence commutations that Trump announced earlier Wednesday. Pirros pardon was announced just after Trump landed in Florida after leaving the White House and before Joe Biden was inaugurated as the nations 46th president.

Jeanine Pirro hosts Fox News Channels Justice with Judge Jeanine.

Al Pirro was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion charges and sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2000.

11:35 a.m.

President Joe Biden has chosen career diplomat Daniel Smith to serve as acting secretary of state until his pick for top diplomat, Antony Blinken, is confirmed by the Senate.

Smith currently runs the Foreign Service Institute that trains U.S. diplomats and is a former ambassador to Greece.

Current and incoming U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday of his temporary appointment, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement. Biden is set to be sworn in at noon as the 46th president of the United States.

Blinken had a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, and his confirmation is not expected to face obstacles. He would succeed President Donald Trumps secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.

11:15 a.m.

Joe Bidens presidential inauguration ceremony has begun.

Biden swears the oath of office at noon Wednesday, becoming the 46th president of the United States. The Democrat is preparing to take the helm of a deeply divided nation and inherit crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

History will be made at Bidens side, as Kamala Harris becomes the first woman to be vice president.

The ceremony in which presidential power is transferred is a hallowed American democratic tradition. And this time it serves as a jarring reminder of the challenges Biden faces: The inauguration unfolds at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago, encircled by security forces. Its devoid of crowds because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol.

Former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are attending.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend.

11:10 a.m.

Three Supreme Court justices are absent from President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, citing health risks from the coronavirus pandemic.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito did not join the others on the west front of the Capitol Wednesday. Breyer is 82, the oldest member of the court. Thomas is 72 and Alito is 70.

Supreme Court spokesperson Kathy Arberg says some members of the court elected not to attend the inauguration ceremony in light of the public health risks posed by the COVID pandemic.

The justices have begun receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is not clear if they all have received both doses.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the other appointees of President Donald Trump, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh were in attendance Wednesday, along with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Roberts was to swear in Biden, while Sotomayor was giving the oath of office to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

11:10 a.m.

Vice President Mike Pence has arrived at the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.

Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were announced at inaugural festivities at the U.S. Capitol about one hour ahead of Bidens expected swearing-in ceremony.

Pence is representing the outgoing Trump administration at Bidens inaugural. President Donald Trump is skipping the festivities, departing Washington earlier in the day for the last time as sitting president.

Aboard Air Force One a final time, Trump landed in West Palm Beach, Florida, just before Pences arrival at the inaugural platform.

During remarks before his departure, Trump hinted at a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years, telling supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland We will be back in some form.

11:05 a.m.

A Capitol police officer hailed as a hero for his actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol is accompanying Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the inauguration of Harris and President-elect Joe Biden.

Officer Eugene Goodman confronted the insurrectionists and led them away from Senate chambers moments after Vice President Mike Pence was escorted from the Senate chamber as the rioters stormed the Capitol.

Goodman is a Black man and was facing an overwhelmingly white mob. He is the only officer seen for a full minute on widely circulated footage captured by a news reporter. Goodman stands in front of the rioters and walks backward as the group follows him to a second-floor hallway, where other officers finally assist him.

A police spokeswoman says Goodmans plainclothes assignment to accompany Harris is a ceremonial role.

11 a.m.

Former Republican leaders and lawmakers are among those gathering at the Capitol for President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was attending the Wednesday ceremony to honor the process after a year that he said tested the nations institutions. He said he was there out of respect for the peaceful transfer of power.

Former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona says its too bad that outgoing President Donald Trump did not attend for that handoff that the world can see.

Flake is a Trump critic. He says he hopes its a moment of renewal for the nation. He says he thinks Americans will sleep easier knowing that we have a more steady hand in the White House.

10:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in Florida after leaving the White House for the final time as president.

Trump said farewell to Washington early Wednesday, leaving before President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

Trumps plane flew low along the coast as Bidens inauguration played on TV on Fox News Channel.

Trumps family was on the plane with him. He spent some of the flight meeting with flight staff, who went up to say goodbye.

Trump has hinted about a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years.

Trump spoke to supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where he walked across a red carpet and boarded Air Force One to head to Florida. He said: So just a goodbye. We love you. And the 45th president added, We will be back in some form.

Trump departs office as the only president ever impeached twice, and with millions more out of work than when he was sworn in and 400,000 dead from the coronavirus.

10:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden has arrived at the U.S. Capitol ahead of his inauguration as the United States 46th president.

Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived at the complex on Wednesday morning, about 90 minutes before his noon swearing-in ceremony. They were accompanied by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and were greeted by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

The president-elects motorcade wound its way through a mostly deserted Washington following a morning church service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Streets that would typically be lined with thousands of inaugural onlookers were ringed instead with a massive security presence to include military vehicles and armed troops.

About 25,000 National Guard members have been dispatched to Washington following the violent melee at the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago.

Biden paused to wave from the Capitol steps before entering the building.

10:25 a.m.

All of the former U.S. presidents attending President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration have arrived at the U.S. Capitol.

George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were first to arrive at the complex on Wednesday morning, several hours before Bidens swearing-in ceremony.

Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton followed shortly thereafter, with each couple arriving in separate motorcades.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend Bidens inauguration. Carter and his wife, 93-year-old Rosalynn Carter, have largely spent the coronavirus pandemic at their home in Plains, Georgia.

Carter had been the first former president to confirm that he was attending Donald Trumps inaugural in 2017.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump departed Washington earlier Wednesday, skipping the Biden inaugural festivities and heading straight to their home in Florida. Trump is the first president since Andrew Johnson not to attend the inauguration of his successor.

10:20 a.m.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are showcasing American designers at their inauguration.

The president-elect is wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat by Ralph Lauren. Jill Biden is wearing an ocean-blue wool tweed coat and dress by American designer Alexandra ONeill of the Markarian label.

Aides say Harris is wearing Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson. Both are Black designers, Rogers from Louisiana and Hudson from South Carolina.

Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, wore a Ralph Lauren suit on Wednesday.

9:50 a.m.

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will resign when President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office.

The Justice Department says Rosens resignation goes into effect at noon Wednesday.

Rosen has run the department since former Attorney General William Barr resigned on Dec. 23. He was previously the deputy attorney general and deputy transportation secretary.

Rosen has kept a low profile since he assumed the top job at the Justice Department. He has not held a press conference or addressed the press corps since he took the role, even after a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. He has only released pre-recorded videos discussing the matter and issued statements.

Longtime Justice Department official Monty Wilkinson is expected to assume the role of acting attorney general while Judge Merrick Garland awaits confirmation by the Senate.

9:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump has followed at least one presidential tradition.

The White House says the Republican president left behind a note for his successor, Democrat Joe Biden.

Deputy press secretary Judd Deere declined to reveal what Trump wrote to Biden or to characterize the sentiment in the note, citing privacy for communication between presidents.

Trump has refused to publicly concede to Biden and did not mention the Democrat by name in a pair of farewell addresses.

Trump interrupted many traditions of the presidency, including by not attending Bidens inauguration on Wednesday. Trump also did not invite Biden to the White House for a meeting after Biden was declared the winner of Novembers presidential election

Trump left the White House for the final time as president on Wednesday morning, saying, Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.

9:05 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he thinks the new administration will have great success and claims to have laid the foundation for it.

Trump says the new administration has the foundation to do something really spectacular. He made brief farewell remarks at Marylands Joint Base Andrews before he boarded Air Force One for a flight to his Florida home.

Trump did not mention President-elect Joe Biden by name during his Wednesday remarks.

Trump told cheering, chanting supporters hell be watching and listening from a distance. He promised he will be back in some form and wished the crowd a good life before he and his wife boarded the plane.

Trump wanted to be in Florida before Biden becomes president at noon.

8:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden is attending church ahead of his inauguration, a traditional step taken ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

Biden and incoming first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday are attending a service at Washingtons Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. With them are incoming Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff.

At Bidens invitation, the first couple is joined by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, including all four top-ranking members of congressional leadership.

That includes both Senate leaders, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Many presidents have chosen St. Johns Episcopal Church, sometimes called Church of the Presidents, for the inaugural day service. Biden is the second Catholic U.S. president, and St. Matthews is the seat of the Catholic archbishop of Washington.

Biden spent Tuesday night at Blair House, a traditional move ahead of a presidents inauguration.

8:15 a.m.

Donald Trump has left the White House for the final time as president.

Trump emerged from the building Wednesday morning and strode across the South Lawn to board Marine One. He said, Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.

Trump now heads to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, where hell have a military sendoff. A red carpet has been placed on the tarmac for Trump to walk as he boards the plane. Four U.S. Army cannons are set up for a 21-gun salute. Trump then flies to Florida, where hell stay at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump is leaving Washington just hours before Joe Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th president. Its the first time in more than a century that a sitting president has rejected the tradition of attending his successors inauguration.

7:45 a.m.

Two of the Biden administrations top communications officials are describing the incoming presidents inaugural address as a forward-looking speech that will make little to no mention of his predecessor.

Communications director Kate Bedingfield told ABCs Good Morning America on Wednesday that President-elect Joe Bidens address would speak to the moment that we are in, but it will also lay out a vision for the future.

Biden press secretary Jen Psaki tells CNN that Bidens inaugural address is definitely not a speech about Donald Trump and she wouldnt expect to hear about him in it.

Bedingfield says Biden had not had any contact with the outgoing president.

Asked why Biden had invited political opponents including House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to join him at a Mass on Wednesday morning, Psaki said it felt important to him personally to have members of both parties ... and use that as an example to the American public.

Bedingfield says Biden will sign 15 executive orders in some of his first moves as president.

7:35 a.m.

As the sun rose over Washingtons Freedom Plaza between the U.S. Capitol and the White House ahead of Joe Bidens presidential inauguration, clusters of soldiers in full battle fatigues clustered inside metal barriers erected to restrict access to the procession route.

Some yellow placards on the barriers read Biden-Harris 2021, while others carried the seal of the presidency or inaugural insignias. American and District of Columbia flags flapped in high winds.

Traffic has been blocked off nearby in all directions. Revelers have been told to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Most offices in the surrounding buildings are closed, many boarded up with plywood to prevent damage in case violence breaks out Wednesday.

But one tall office building in view of the procession route has been fitted with towering signs reading Welcome, Mr. President and Welcome Madam Vice President, for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

After being sworn in, Biden is set to inspect the readiness of military troops in a traditional pass in review.
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Unlike our journey so far, the year 2020 has been unusual. It taught us to be grateful, to introspect within and to focus on what really matters - while adapting to the new normal. We had our share of downfalls, but we bounced back stronger than before. The lockdown gave us a chance to pause and navigate through the crisis.

We, at Ventes Avenues, believe in associating with publishers who have scale, reach and add value to a clients media mix. Apart from the mainstream American apps, only Chinese apps had the capability to achieve such a high volume of targeting. Since our inception 6 years ago, we have nurtured and strengthened our relationship with these publishers.

Our revenues for June 2020 were only 19% lower as compared to the previous year. The business was slow, but stable. On 29th June 2020, our world came crashing down. Not in our wildest dreams did we anticipate the Government of India to ban the use of Chinese apps. The entire foundation of our branding business became unstable - we lost nearly 75% of our main publishers.

While the world was fighting against a life-threatening pandemic, we were trying to decipher how to adapt, innovate and recoup. It was the perfect time to turn a crisis into an opportunity. The foremost step entailed collaborating with a fresh set of publishers. We forged partnerships with Vivo, WPS, PicsArt and Opera. Apart from having a unique audience reach, these publishers also had niche targeting capabilities.

However, we did not want to put all our eggs in one basket - thus, we parallelly started making developments within our other business segments. Our team worked round the clock to launch an In-house AdTech platform for the performance and branding business. To boost our programmatic offerings we entered into a strategic partnership with PubNative and Chocolate, which would cater to display and video offerings respectively. Apart from this, we are also working on launching Ventes AR, which will redefine the virtual AR customer experience for web and social media offerings. Ventes Avenues is also expanding globally - we have grown our mobile branding and audience solutions business in Indonesia and are also planning to tap into other international markets.

The Covid-19 pandemic forced us to break the past and reimagine our true potential. It taught us to focus on the important and not the urgent - to act, instead of react. Amidst all the uncertainty followed a ray of hope, which unleashed a plethora of opportunities for our company.

As we approach the New Year, we hope to strengthen our brand, while staying true to our core values. As quoted by Socrates, The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new. Here's hoping for a bigger, brighter and safer 2021!

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views of exchange4media.com.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
The Secret Service noted other remarks during the monologue, including: I asked my lawyer if I could make that joke, he said, let me call another lawyer, and that lawyer said yes. I dont dwell on politics, but I dislike the Founding Fathers immensely. ... I hate when people are like, God has never created such a great group of men than the Founding Fathers. Yeah, the 92 Bulls. ... Thats a perfect metaphor for the United States. When I was a boy, the United States was like Michael Jordan in 1992. Now the United States it like Michael Jordan now.
I look forward to working with the well-respected team at Ligori & Ligori and am dedicated to providing clients with legal counsel they can trust, says Thomas McFadyen

Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law, an established personal injury law firm based in Tampa, is pleased to announce attorney Thomas McFadyen has joined the firm. Offering service in several practice areas, Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law represents those injured in auto accidents, by defective products or due to another's negligence. They provide personalized service, extensive experience and a commitment to seeking the highest amount of compensation for a clients injury or loss. Mr. McFadyens legal knowledge and expertise will be a great addition to the firm.

Thomas McFadyen is a life-long resident of the Tampa Bay area. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida, graduating with honors. Mr. McFadyen then attended Stetson University College of Law. After law school, he served as a law clerk at the Law Offices of Nicolas M. Athanason and gained valuable experience helping clients in obtaining advantageous resolutions in personal injury cases. Mr. McFadyen then served as an associate public defender in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. While serving in this role, he helped a variety of clients as well as litigated cases through trial. Mr. McFadyen acted as a litigation attorney in the Tampa Bay area for nearly ten years. In this capacity, he handled complex business litigation and represented some of the largest lending institutions in the country. Mr. McFadyen is an active member in the legal community and a member of the Florida Justice Association.

I look forward to working with the well-respected team at Ligori & Ligori and am dedicated to providing clients with legal counsel they can trust, says Thomas McFadyen

More About Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law:

Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law has offices in Tampa, Lakeland and Ocala, Florida, serving clients needing legal help in acquiring compensation for their injuries. They handle a wide variety of personal injury and insurance claims, including those involving auto accidents, truck accidents, property damage, storm damage, wrongful death, negligence and more. The practice was established with a mission to provide personalized attention for your personal injury while leveraging resources and experience to help clients obtain fair loss compensation.

For more information about or the legal services offered at Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law, please visit http://www.callmeonmycell.com, or call the Tampa office directly at (813) 254-7119.


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Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2021 6:32 am

Some Washington officials want to create the 51st state by splitting theirs in half.

State representatives introduced a bill Monday that would create a new state called Liberty. The newly formed state would exist in the eastern part of what is currently Washington, according to House Bill 1239.

The western boundary of Liberty follows the crest of the Cascade mountains and the western borders of Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat counties, the bill states. The eastern, northern, and southern borders of Liberty are the existing state borders.

In addition to establishing new state lines, the bill proposes creating 15 transition committees that would establish governmental functions within Liberty. Those include education, executive functions, legislative functions, judicial functions and courts, debt, statewide elections, health care and more.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Rob Chase and Rep. Bob McCaslin, Republicans who represent Washingtons fourth state house district.

The concept of splitting Washington state into two isnt new, The Olympian reported in 2018. The idea has been around for decades and was pushed heavily by former state Rep. Matt Shea.

Voters in rural eastern and southwest Washington tend to be more conservative on state initiatives than the rest of the state. The urban northwest, which includes Seattle and Tacoma, has historically backed more liberal candidates and initiatives.

People who support the creation of Liberty say Washington is already two states on virtually every major issue of the day, according to the movements website.

The Liberty State Movement is an effort to create a new state from Washington State based upon political and geographic lines, the website says. Since the formation of Washington State in 1889, people of the eastern and rural parts of Washington State have felt separate from the western capitol in Olympia.

The process to create a new state, however, isnt easy  and its unlikely. The bill would need to pass and be approved at a state level, then get the approval of the U.S. Congress.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A year ago, in late January 2020, Australia reported its first cases of COVID-19. Since then, we have seen almost 29,000 confirmed cases and 909 deaths.

As cases climbed in Australian cities in 2020, many students did their schoolwork from home. Australia, including Victoria, came out of lockdowns at the end of last year. But due to outbreaks in New South Wales and Queensland over Christmas and New Year, that impacted on Victoria, restrictions remain in some places.

So what now, for the new school year? Is it safe for students to go back to school?

What we learned in 2020

Australian health officials, pediatricians, and federal and state education departments worked together to understand how SARS-CoV-2the virus that causes COVID-19is transmitted in Australian schools.

They also kept updating, as more information came to light, what schools can do to provide a safe learning environment for children and staff.

Up to the end of term 3 in New South Wales, 49 student- and 24 staff- cases were linked to schools and early learning centers. Each of these cases, and their contacts, were followed since the pandemic began. Schools had low rates of transmissionwith 51 transmission events (38 students, 13 staff) out of 5,793 contacts traced (<1%)in terms 1, 2, and 3 when COVID-19 safe measures were in place.

Key measures were:

limiting adults in the school and early learning center grounds

staying home when unwell with cold-like symptoms

getting tested early.

Most schools and early learning centers in NSW reopened after only a few days.

In Victoria, up until the end of August 2020, 1,635 cases were associated with early learning centers and schools. These consisted of 254 staff, 599 students and 753 household members, out of a total of 19,109 cases in Victoria during their second wave.

Two-thirds of infections in early learning centers and schools did not progress to outbreaks (two or more cases) and more than 90% were small outbreaks (fewer than ten cases).

While transmission has been connected with a Victorian school in the media, transmission events often have a more complex basis than just occurring in the classroom. Schools are often located in a multi-generational community and cases in this large school cluster were linked to high community transmission rates rather than infection in the school.

These studies confirm that when SARS-CoV-2 is detected in a student or staff member, it is very unlikely for other students or staff to be infected at school with the processes put in place in 2020 to provide a safe learning environment.

In Western Australia, almost 14,000 asymptomatic staff and students were swabbed at the school in terms 2 and 3. No cases of SARS-CoV-2 were detected, consistent with the absence of community transmission in that state.

But why are other countries closing schools?

Overseas, studies have shown schools can implement health strategies to safely keep schools open and minimize SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks.

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that: "trends among children and adolescents aged 017 years paralleled those among adults." However, the organization also reported: "as of the week beginning December 6, aggregate COVID-19 incidence among the general population in counties where K12 schools offer in-person education (401.2 per 100,000) was similar to that in counties offering only virtual/online education (418.2 per 100,000)."

In Norway, where testing is strong, schools were open with mitigation measures in place. There was minimal child-to-child (0.9%, 2 out of 234) and child-to-adult (1.7%, 1 out of 58) transmission.

Other countries have chosen to close schools as a last resort in national lockdowns in the face of extremely high rates of community transmission and daily case numbers, which meant only widespread reductions in population movements could be effective. This is not the case in Australia at the start of term 1, 2021.

It is common for viruses to evolve and there have now been several new variants of concern such as those identified in the UK, South Africa and Brazil which are more transmissible. The potential of such variants entering Australia is uncertain, and so is the risk of transmission in schools.

Reassuringly, if community transmission of such a variant occurs in Australia, we have established experience to monitor, and hopefully halt, its spread.

So, what should Australia do?

Remote learning provides considerable challenges to keep students engaged, reduces the close supervision and support in the classroom, and provides an added disadvantage for children with mental-health conditions, disabilities or special needs.

For parents, it is difficult to work effectively, provide for the family and maintain their well-being when their child is learning from home.

Based on the above evidence, schools are safe to open. But states should adopt mitigation measuresincluding when to add masks, reduce attendance or close schoolsaccording to a traffic light system from green (standard measures) to red (close schools) based on the degree of community transmission. The Murdoch Children's Research Institute has recommended this approach for Victoria. Education departments around Australia can consider a similar approach.

This is consistent with the recommendations of Australia's National Cabinet and international advice.

It is important schools and early learning centers continue to adhere to their local COVID advice. Parents and guardians should check their contact details are up to date so they can be contacted easily, regularly check what restrictions are in place and, when unwell, get their child tested and stay at home.

In 2020, students and staff rapidly learned to regularly wash their hands, adapt to cleaners in the school throughout the day, socially distance and wear masks when required. These public health interventions, vaccination, and testing and tracing will remain the mainstay for the year ahead in Australia.

Monitoring well-being and building resilience will also be core educational activities in the months ahead.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Famous painting of the last stand made at the Alamo. The Fall of the Alamo, 1903, by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk, depicts Davy Crockett wielding his rifle as a club against Mexican troops who have breached the walls of the mission. (Public Domain)

Never Say Die: Lessons From Michael Walshs Last Stands

Throughout history, men with their backs to the wall have time and again fought against overwhelming odds rather than surrender to their enemies. Why do they die battling to the last? What force drives them to fight on with rocks and fists after the blades of their swords are broken or their rifles are empty of bullets?

In the book Last Stands: Why Men Fight When All Is Lost, Epoch Times columnist Michael Walsh raises these questions and others. Listen, for example, as he asks: What is heroism? What are its moral components? Is it altruism, love, self-sacrifice? What are its amoral componentsfear of cowardice, lust for glory, pride? Why was it once celebrated, and now often dismissed as anachronistic at best, foolish and vainglorious at its worst?

Throughout Last Stands, Walsh explores these topics by an examination of 17 battles ranging from Thermopylae in 480 B.C. to the brutal 1950 engagement between the United States Marines and the Chinese communists at Koreas Chosin Reservoir. In addition to his fine descriptions of these conflicts, Walsh provides excellent brief histories of the events that foreshadowed these last stands and their consequences, and short biographies of the commanders involved.

In each case study, Walsh also discusses what inspired these soldiers to make the supreme sacrifice.

Given the current unrest in our country, understanding the motivations of these warriors may prove instructive and rouse us as well to fight the good fight.

Desperation and Despair

When George Custer led troopers of the Seventh Cavalry to the terrible massacre at the Little Bighorn (1876), he made several mistakes. He divided his force in the face of the enemy without careful reconnaissance; he depended on subordinate commanders who proved weak and disobedient; and worst of all, he believed that the Sioux and other warriors would run from the cavalry as they had in the past.

Instead, the Indians attacked and slaughtered Custer and his men, many of whom were poor shots, inexperienced riders, and ill-trained in military maneuvers. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, most of them went down fighting, but for no other reason than that they had no choice. Surrender was impossible, for to be taken alive meant death by torture. Some of the Sioux later reported that several of the soldiers committed suicide for fear of falling under the knives of the women.

Custers Last Stand, 1899, by Edgar Samuel Paxson. Whitney Gallery of Western Art. (Public Domain)

As a last stand, the Little Bighorn is the most ignominious of Walshs examples. The soldiers who died in that short battle went to their deaths neither for hearth and home nor for a cause larger than themselves. Here in this desolate place, both Custer and his men and the combined forces of Native American tribesthe Little Bighorn marked the beginning of the end of their resistancemade their last stands.

Patria

Walsh makes the point in Last Stands that men will go their deaths for their country, not so much for ideals like democracy but for the realities of their homes, their towns and farms, and their loved ones. We hear little these days of Mom, the flag, and apple pie, but soldiers throughout our history have given their lives for these values. They die for what they love.

When Hannibal and his forces crushed the Roman legions at Cannae (216 B.C.), surrounding them so that the packed legionaries could barely move and were cut down, so many were lost that nearly every family in Rome went into mourning. Yet the senate and the people of Rome never considered surrender. They raised another army, devised different tactics, subdued Carthage, and became rulers of the Mediterranean.

Patria, which gives us patriot, is the Latin word for country, and the Romans at that point in their history revered that idea. As a result, they lost a battle but then won a war.

We who love our country, who believe in its ideals of liberty and justice, might take a metaphorical lesson from those events. The election may be behind us, but we can still win back America.

Duty, Honor, Pride

Both William Travis of Alamo fame and Charles George Chinese Gordon, who died defending Khartoum in 1885, had the opportunity to retreat before commencing battle, yet both men felt compelled to stand at their posts in the face of enormous odds. As Walsh writes of those at the Alamo (1836), They died for those most abstract and yet most fundamental of concepts: duty, honor, country. Gordon also died for these values, though his countrymen at the time were the Sudanese people as well as the English.

In the 1863 Battle of Camaron, a tiny band of French Foreign Legionnaires fought against a superior Mexican force. The Mexicans were fighting for their country, Walsh tells us, the legionnaires were fighting for their honor. One motto of the Legion, even today, is Legio Patria NostraThe Legion is our countryand that day, the legionnaires nearly all gave their lives to remain true to that idea. The battle ended when the last six men still on their feet charged with their bayonets into the Mexican ranks. Two of them were killed, one was badly wounded, and the other three were captured.

To this day, the French Foreign Legion remembers and honors those men with a formal ceremony on April 30.

Soldiers such as these, and others whom Walsh examines, remind us that we too have a duty to our country and to the preservation of our institutions, that we should acquit ourselves with honor in the public square, and that we should take pride in our Americanism. Like those warriors, we must defend those things we hold dearnot with bayonets and bullets, but with words, wit, conviction, and prayer.

The Battle of Szigetvar when Count Zrinski, the Viceroy of Croatia, and his men defended the castle of Szigetvar against the besieging Turks in 1566. The 1825 painting is by Johann Peter Krafft. Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest. (Public Domain)

Comrades

Why do men fight? Walsh asks. What or whom is worth dying for?

His response: The answer, as we shall see in these pages, is surprisingly simple: they fight for themselves, for their brothers-in-arms, and therefore for their women and children and for their country, which is the expression of the family.

The Jews who fell in A.D. 74 at Masada fighting the Romans and 19 centuries later in Warsaw fighting the Germans died defending their families, friends, and fellow combatants. The outnumbered troops at Rorkes Drift, the Marines at the Chosin Reservoir, the Hungarians wiped out by a Turkish army at Szigetvar: all those who perished in these battles died fighting for their fellow combatants as well as for themselves.

In the political battles ahead of us, we should recognize as our comrades anyone who champions the ancient verities: liberty, truth, goodness, beauty, and tradition. Whether we are black, white, or brown, rich or poor, we cannot allow anything to divide those of us who believe in the American Dream. We are brothers and sisters bound together in the spirit by our belief in Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Like so many of those who gave their lives for a cause, lets gather together for love of our country and stand shoulder to shoulder for truth and justice.

Last Stands: Why Men Fight When All Is Lost

Michael Walsh

St. Martins Press

Dec. 1, 2020

358 pages, hardcover
Lucknow, Jan 20 : The Congress and the Samajwadi Party have strongly objected to a portrait of Veer Savarkar, also known as the father of Hindutva, finding a place at the Vidhan Parishad Picture Gallery which was inaugurated on Tuesday by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Congress MLC Deepak Singh has written a letter to the Chairman UP Council, Ramesh Yadav, demanding immediate removal of Savarkar's photo from the gallery.

"His (Savarkar) photo at the Picture Gallery is an insult to all freedom fighters. It should be removed immediately and can be placed at the BJP office," said the Congress MLC.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said: "So many controversies surround Savarkar. The entire country knows how he begged and apologized to Britishers for his release. The BJP should learn from history. His picture is nothing but an insult to our great freedom fighters." Adityanath, who inaugurated the gallery, though said: "Savarkar was a great freedom fighter who was awarded life sentence twice for his role in the freedom struggle."
IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017, then lost the last of its land holdings in Syria in March 2019, marking the end of the extremists self-declared caliphate. Still, extremist sleeper cells have continued to launch attacks in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks and are believed to be responsible for targeted killings against local officials and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Credit: 123rf.com

Getting arrested even once can keep a millennial from buying a home as quickly as peers with no arrest history, according to new research from a Rice University sociologist.

"Homeownership Experiences Following Criminal Justice Contact" appeared in a recent edition of Cityscape, a publication of the Office of Policy Development and Research of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was authored by Brielle Bryan, an assistant professor of sociology at Rice.

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, Bryan examined the occurrence of homeownership during early adulthood among a nationally representative sample of older millennials. She wanted to understand how criminal history was tied to different forms of inequalityin this case, stable housing.

Bryan found that millennials who had any form of contact with the criminal justice system were less likely to own a home as quickly and for as long as their peers who had no criminal justice contact, regardless of race, education and socioeconomic status.

"It was surprising the see that even low-level contact with the criminal justice system appears to be detrimental to homeownership prospects," she said.

The effect of arrest was slightly more pronounced among Black people and those from less wealthy families, regardless of race. Bryan said this evidence of race-based differences requires further exploration.

The findings come at a time when the U.S. criminal justice system is bigger than ever, Bryan said, and millennial homeownership low when compared with other generations.

"Criminal justice contact aside, we already know that we see these big disparities in homeownership between Blacks and whites and whites and Hispanics, and this appears to be one mechanism that is making it harder for this particular generation," Bryan said.

Bryan hopes the paper will contribute to the study of the criminal justice system as a driver of racial and socioeconomic inequality, and how the system affects different and unexpected facets of life.

More information: The paper is available online at The paper is available online at www.huduser.gov/portal/periodi  22num1/article4.html
TSXV: GGI

OTC: GGIFF

Frankfurt: RQM

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 12, 2021 /CNW/ - Garibaldi Resources (TSXV: GGI) (the "Company" or "Garibaldi") is pleased to announce assay results from four shallow diamond drill holes totaling 639.5m, the first ever testing the new Casper Quartz Gold Vein System. The Casper discovery is located 12 km northwest of the Company's flagship E&L nickel-copper-cobalt massive sulphide project at Nickel Mountain, and 14 km west of Garibaldi's premier Eskay North gold prospect, bordering the historic Eskay Creek mine, now being redeveloped.

Garibaldi's Eskay claim group totals over180 sq. kms of highly prospective mineral claims centered in the heart of the mineral rich Eskay Camp in northwest British Columbia. The target rich claim group is surrounded by several precious and base metal discoveries at various stages of exploration by neighboring Companies. Garibaldi's strategically important land package is favorably located along the deep seated Eskay Rift, a highly prospective mineralized structure hosting multiple deposits.

The E&L nickel-copper-cobalt project and the Casper high grade Quartz Gold vein discoveries are the first targets to emerge from the abundant mineral occurrences and outcrops sampled within the Company's vast Eskay claim group. Casper is a grassroots discovery with no previous Minfile records. The Casper veins are at low elevation (430 meters) with road and power access less than 1 kilometer away. Highlights of the 2020 exploration season at Casper, including the first ever diamond drill holes testing the high-grade quartz veins are as follows:

2020 Casper Highlights:

Drilling confirmed at least three discrete mineralized quartz veins, two which contain visible gold along with a mineralized silicified volcanic unit also containing visible gold. Many additional vein splays and quartz veinlets are present in the core, all four holes intercepted gold mineralization.

The Casper vein returned 9.1 g/t gold over 0.72m (CAS-20-03: 23.42-24.14m), a second vein with visible gold returned 8.2 grams gold over 0.56m (CAS-20-02: 72.94-73.5m). The 4-meter-thick mineralized silicified unit with visible gold, returned 8.89 g/t gold (CAS-20-01: 124-125m).

Drilling followed up on 2020 sampling and trenching program results, successfully confirming the presence of mineralization below surface with, multiple veins and targets remaining to be drill tested. The Casper hydrothermal system remains open with rock samples exceeding 1.0 g/t gold extending along trend for 330 meters within a 500-meter wide gold-in-soil anomaly.

Previously, 18 of 21 shallow (< 2.0m depth) backpack drill holes from the Casper vein returned significant gold mineralization, with 10 holes returning at least one 0.60m interval grading between 12.6 g/t Au and 64.6 g/t Au (see news dated Feb. 28, 2020).

Multiple grab samples with visible gold taken from a trench on the east side of the main Casper vein returned 249.0, 92.3, 75.3 and 58.4 g/t gold. (See news dated Sept. 22, 2020)

A Channel sampling program collected a total of 94 in-situ quartz vein samples cut every meter along the trenched NW-SE striking Casper vein. A total of 61 Channel sample assays returned gold grades ranging from 0.676 g/t gold up to 93.29 g/t gold (see news dated Sept. 29, 2020)

A distinct high resistivity zone lies 100 meters south of the vein system and may represent a broad area of prospective silicification and veining. The presence of multiple mineralized quartz veins, mineralized silicified volcanics in core, mineralized rhyolitic surface samples, and high grade in-situ vein samples indicate the potential for a significant broad scale hydrothermal gold system.

Drill Hole Table  CAS-20-01 to CAS-20-04



Story continues

Hole (#) Interval Width (from  to) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) CAS-20-01 over 2 m (15  17 m) 0.4 0.52 and over 2 m (19  21 m) 2.4 0.42 and over 1 m (31  32 m) 1.02 4.16 and over 1.66 m (93.34  95 m) 0.89 0.79 and over 3.3 m (123.25  126.55 m) 3.01 1.10 incl over 1 m (124  125 m) 8.89 2.85







CAS-20-02 over 3.5 m (35.15  38.65 m) 0.35 0.85 and over 1.91 m (71.59  73.5 m) 2.74 0.41 and over 0.56 m (72.94  73.5 m) 8.24 1.24 and over 11.05 m (124.14  135.19 m) 0.32 0.79







CAS-20-03 over 2.58 m (23.42  26 m) 5.49 0.78 or over 3.58 m (23.42  27 m) 4.05 0.6 Incl. over 0.72m (23.42  24.14m) 9.10 0.83 and over 4 m (31  35 m) 0.26 0.48







CAS-20-04 over 1.05 m (44.64  45.69 m) 0.59 57.7 and over 1.07 m (68.93  70 m) 1.97 3.56 and over 0.94 m (101.06  102 m) 2.47 0.79 and over 1 m (110  111 m) 0.59 1.2

Drill Hole Coordinates Table  Holes CAS-20-01 to CAS-20-04

Hole (#) Easting* Northing* Elevation

(MASL) Azimuth Dip Length (m) CAS-20-01 397381 6284651 429 66 -45 148.5 CAS-20-02 397381 6284652 429 22 -50 178 CAS-20-03 397381 6284652 429 22 -70 183 CAS-20-04 397430 6284600 429 40 -45 130

* UTM Zone 9N WGS 84

Jeremy Hanson, Garibaldi VP-Exploration, stated: "We are very encouraged by the first ever drilling results at Casper. The abundance of hydrothermal features including multiple mineralized quartz veins and silicified volcanics, both with visible gold, is definitely exciting and indicative of a significant hydrothermal system. Our initial goal was to confirm the surface expression of the Casper vein extended to depth, which we certainly accomplished as well as intercepting a number of additional gold bearing veins and mineralized silicified units."

Steve Regoci, Garibaldi CEO, stated: "Garibaldi's geological team considers these first Casper drill results to be extremely promising. Each hole intersected gold mineralization and most importantly, the multiple styles of mineralization with native gold in distinct geological units is a superb outcome. It bolsters our expectations indicating a widespread mobilization of hydrothermal fluids over this broad area.

Neighbour Eskay Mining Corp, recognizing the geological potential of Garibaldi's strategic claims in the Eskay Camp, transacted a tactical value investment for 19.5% of Garibaldi. The Eskay group, led by an exceptional team of geologists and geophysicists have made significant new precious metal rich VMS discoveries east of Garibaldi's adjoining border and developed important insights to drive a new interpretation of the Eskay model.

Both Companies are now focused on the most productive ways to collaborate for the 2021 exploration season. Sharing costs along with geological and geophysical information will benefit all shareholders."

Casper Drilling Plan & Sections Maps

See www.garibaldiresources.com for the latest Casper maps & sections outlining mineralized veins and volcanics units. Also, shareholders are invited to view Garibaldi's January 20, 2021 Corporate Presentation.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)

Garibaldi Resources has applied a rigorous quality assurance/quality control program at the Casper Project using best industry practice. All core was logged by a geoscientist and selected intervals were sampled. NQ drill core was sawn in half and each sample half was placed in a marked sample bag with a corresponding sample tag then sealed. The remaining half core is retained in core boxes that are stored at a secure facility in Smithers, British Columbia. Chain of custody of samples was recorded and maintained for all samples from the drill to the laboratory.

All sample batches included 5% QA/QC samples consisting of certified blanks, standards and field duplicates. Multiple certified ore assay laboratory standards and one blank standard were used in the process.

Samples were prepared by crushing the entire sample to 75% passing 2mm, riffle splitting 250g and pulverizing the split to better than 85% passing 105 microns. Gold was analyzed using a 50-gram fire assay and ICP-AES, or metallic screen for coarse gold. Samples with coarse visible gold are subject to the nugget effect, may be difficult to reproduce or duplicate and may not be indicative of the overall mineralization of the vein. Samples with visible gold were analyzed using the Metallic Screen method where a minimum 500 gram sample is crushed and separated into two batches. A Minus batch with particles less than 106 microns, and a Plus batch with particles greater than 106 microns. Both batches of the sample are analyzed with a fire assay and finished with AAS, ICP-OES or gravimetric depending on grade. A final weighted average is calculated from the two portions.

The performance on the blind standards, blanks and duplicates achieved high levels of accuracy and reproducibility and has been verified by Jeremy Hanson, a qualified person as defined by NI-43-101.

All coordinates given in this document are in WGS 84 UTM Zone 9 North.

Qualified Person & Data Verification

Jeremy Hanson, P.Geo., VP Exploration Canada for the Company and a qualified person as defined by NI- 43-101, has supervised the preparation of and reviewed and approved of the disclosure of information in this news release. Mr. Hanson has verified the data, including drilling, sampling, test and recovery data, by supervising all of such procedures. There are no known factors that could materially affect the reliability of data collected and verified under his supervision. No quality assurance/quality control issues have been identified to date.



About Garibaldi

Garibaldi Resources Corp. is an active Canadian-based junior exploration company focused on creating shareholder value through discoveries and strategic development of its assets in some of the most prolific mining regions in British Columbia and Mexico.

We seek safe harbor.

GARIBALDI RESOURCES CORP.

Per: "Steve Regoci"

Steve Regoci, President

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release.

Cision

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/garibaldi-intercepts-multiple-gold-bearing-veins--silicified-units-at-newly-discovered-casper-hydrothermal-system-301227521.html

SOURCE Garibaldi Resources Corp.

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2021/12/c6676.html
Oil prices rose for a second consecutive day on Wednesday, as the market expects the incoming U.S. Administration to act big in the next COVID relief package.

As of 9:17 a.m. ET on Wednesday, which is Inauguration Day for President-elect Joe Biden, WTI Crude was up 1.53 percent at $53.77, and Brent Crude prices were trading above $56 a barrelup by 1.16 percent at $56.52, very close to the 11-month high prices hit last week.

The U.S. dollar dropped after Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen told the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday that the U.S. should act big in the upcoming stimulus package. The weaker dollar makes crude cheaper for holders of other currencies, while the overall bullish market sentiment also sent investors and speculators to riskier assets, such as shares and commodities.

On Wednesday, the market was looking beyond the near-term oil demand scares, stoked by the continued lockdowns in many parts of Europe and now returning in parts of China, too. On Tuesday, Germany extended its lockdown until the middle of February.

But market participants were looking beyond the first quarter, hopeful that a large stimulus package in the U.S. would result in a rebound in the worlds biggest economy, and relief packages in other economies will also help growth, and by extension, oil demand, later this year.

Although it cut oil demand forecasts for Q1 and 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its closely-watched Oil Market Report on Tuesday that Much more oil is likely to be required, given our forecast for a substantial improvement in demand in the second half of the year.

The market shrugged off another downgrade to global demand growth from the International Energy Agency who said that renewed lockdowns to contain the pandemic would weigh on consumption during the current quarter, Saxo Bank said early on Wednesday.

The market remains bid on a combination of Saudi production cuts and the prospect for more fiscal stimulus, increased mobility and continued monetary easing eventually supporting demand. The biggest short-term risk is whether these have been fully priced into the current price level, the banks analysts said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Singapore-based IT firm proposes SGD 199 mn investment to open data centre in Noida

Singapore-based ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) India has proposed to develop a Greenfield Data Centre Campus in Noida to boost IT infrastructure for Indian firms and businesses.

The proposed data centre campus is aimed at providing services to major cloud players. Photo courtesy: sttelemediagdc.in

In a meeting with industrial development department officials including Additional Chief Secretary Alok Kumar, an STT GDC India representative claimed that the company proposed to develop the data centre campus with critical IT capacity of 18 MW with an estimated investment of SGD 108.8 million (INR 600 crore) in the first phase. It is expected to create 30-40 direct and around 550 indirect and induced employment avenues.

The proposed data centre campus is aimed at providing services to major cloud players, hyperscalers (an operator of a data centre that offers scalable cloud computing services) and large enterprise clients. In fact, a data centre is a facility that centralises the shared IT activities and equipment of an organisation for the purpose of storing, processing and disseminating information and applications.

A land parcel of around three acres has been already identified by the investor in Noida to set up the data centre campus, which would be scalable to 36 MW IT load data centre capacity in the second phase with an additional investment of SGD 90.6 million (INR 500 crore) excluding the land cost. After the completion of the second phase, the total estimated investment would be around SGD 199 million (INR 1,100 crore) with approximately 80 direct job opportunities and around 1000 indirect and induced employment avenues.

The ADG told reporters that the proposed campus was suitably located within easy access of the industrial hub and the National Capital with seamless international connectivity.

He added that in the wake of the web-based and digitally driven economy gaining prominence, the State government was preparing new data centre policy with the objective of creating state-of-the-art data and IT ecosystem to meet the requirements of the industry.
(Newser)  A jailed Alexei Navalny is still a thorn in Vladimir Putin's side. Less than 24 hours after the Russian opposition activist flew home and was immediately arrested Sunday, his team published a trove of documents about a secret palace the Russian president has built for himself near the Black Sea resort town of Gelendzhik. Putin and his circle "will keep on stealing more and more, until they bankrupt the entire country," Navalny says in a lengthy YouTube video which accompanied the release, viewed more than 21 million times, per the New York Times. "Russia sells huge amounts of oil, gas, metals, fertilizer and timberbut people's incomes keep falling and falling, because Putin has his palace." Navalny claims the luxurious compound, said to include several movie theaters, a spa, and a hookah lounge with a pole-dancing stage, cost more than $1 billion.

story continues below

Navalny was arrested at passport control as he arrived at an airport in Siberia on Sunday from Germanyalong with 70 others who waited for him at another airport, per the CBCand was ordered to be jailed for 30 days for violating probation. He was held in a Moscow jail on Monday, but urged Russians to "take to the streets" in videos shared by his team. Demonstrations are set for 2pm Saturday in "the central streets of your cities," one video notes. The Kremlin, meanwhile, is denying any link between Putin and a Black Sea complex seen in satellite images, noting Putin's official residence is 150 miles away in Sochi. Still, a whistleblower fled Russia a decade ago after claiming it had been built for Putin with $1 billion in illegally diverted funds. And Navalny claims Russia's domestic intelligence agency controls 30 square miles around the place, which includes restricted airspace. (Read more Alexei Navalny stories.)

BAGHDAD  In the upscale shisha lounge of one of Baghdads new restaurants, customers puffing on fragrant fruit-scented tobacco sit at gold-rimmed tables flanked by a giant video screen and views of the Tigris River. Its a weekday night but the Dawa restaurants Sky Lounge is crowded with people partying like its 2019: no masks, no distancing, no problem.

I live the lifestyle of 2019 before the coronavirus, said Ali al-Khateeb, 37, a businessman, as he sat at a green velvet chair pulling smoke from a gold-embossed glass water pipe. As Iraqis we dont have a fear of death. Its a psychological factor that can strengthen a human beings immunity.

His friend, Rami Riadh, 34, also a businessman, said he threw away his mask at the airport when he returned to Baghdad from Amman, Jordan, a week ago. It feels like we live in another world here, he said.

As coronavirus rates have fallen, Iraqis are flouting the recommended virus precautions en masse, many subscribing to a dubious belief in their own immunity. That conviction, derided by scientists, has been publicly endorsed by regional and local health officials and some religious leaders.
Restart Energy will launch a green bond issue seeking to obtain between 3 and 5 million euros for investments, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

The bond issue is also the most important plan of the company at the beginning of the year. The interest will be about 8-10 pct, and the listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange will take place in the coming weeks. The placement will be brokered by the brokerage company Goldring.

"The bond issue is a first step in the execution of our strategy on the number of customers, the integration of renewable production assets, regional expansion and the achievement of the goal of providing 100 pct renewable energy. Over the next five years we aim to achieve ambitious but achievable targets: 500 MW renewable energy generation capacities, 300,000 retail and business customers, a market share of 2.5 pct in electricity and 1.5 pct for natural gas on a fully digital model. The amount achieved through this bond issue will help us achieve these goals," Armand Domuta, CEO and founder of Restart Energy, says.

The company wants to launch this year a plan for the acquisition and development of renewable energy projects with a capacity of 500 MW. The projects are to be completed by the end of 2025. The management of the company wants every year, until 2025, to acquire and develop 100 MW of solar, wind, biogas, biomass and geothermal energy projects.

"This plan by Restart Energy will require investments of about USD 100 million a year. In this regard, Restart Energy has recently entered into a joint venture with the Interlink Capital Strategies consulting and fund management company (USA). This partnership will support Restart Energy in implementing the strategy for the development of green energy projects worth 500 million dollars in Romania and neighboring countries, while expanding into the American market," the release reads.

In addition to the acquisition and development of 100 MW projects this year, the company's management wants to double the volumes provided to consumers for both energy and natural gas supply in 2021.

Restart Energy is an independent supplier of electricity and natural gas, with 100 pct Romanian capital, established in 2015 in western Timiosara. Restart Energy has over 30,000 customers and about 5,000 corporate customers. The company has operations in Romania and Serbia and, from 2021, intends to develop in several European markets, including Germany and Spain.
Miao Yu, an expert on nanoporous materials and chemical separations, joins UB

The Empire Innovation Professor will bolster UBs RENEW Institute and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

One of the most important research directions of Yus group is CO2 capture and utilization; he is leading or participating in three Department of Energy (DOE) projects on CO2 capture from both flue gas and air, and two DOE projects on CO2 conversion to liquid fuels.

BUFFALO, N.Y.  Miao Yu, an internationally recognized expert on nanoporous materials and chemical separations, has joined the University at Buffalo RENEW Institute and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Yu will serve as an Empire Innovation Professor in RENEW  an interdisciplinary institute dedicated to research and education on globally pressing problems in energy, environment and water  and in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE).

His appointment was announced by RENEW Director Amit Goyal and Kemper Lewis, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

We are delighted that Miao Yu, an internationally recognized expert in nanoporous materials and chemical separations, has joined the UB RENEW Institute and the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He will boost UB's position as a premier public research university and will significantly impact the RENEW Institute, Lewis and Goyal said in a joint statement.

Yus work aligns with RENEW's Next-Generation Materials & Technologies for Energy, Environment, & Water Sustainability focus area.

Sustainable energy, environment, water and food, in a large extent, depends on the ability to acquire, capturing and utilize small molecules of water, ammonia, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane, ethanol and liquid hydrocarbons. Precisely designing stable, molecular-scale pores for sieving these valuable molecules  either from the final product or during their production processes  could be an effective way of acquiring these molecules. Considering the very small sizes (less than a nanometer) of these molecules and tiny size difference from their contaminants and/or byproducts, it is a grand challenge to design these molecular-scale pores, especially using stable and desired materials.

One of the most important research directions of Yu's group is CO 2 capture and utilization. He is leading or participating in three Department of Energy (DOE) projects on CO 2 capture from both flue gas and air, and two DOE projects on CO 2 conversion to liquid fuels.

Yus long-term goals are to commercialize technologies developed from his research to impact energy, environment, water and food through the design of novel and scalable functional nanoporous materials and structures. This work is guided by deep fundamental understanding of materials synthesis and growth mechanisms, and their structure and property relationship.

Prior to joining UB, he was an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 2017 until this January. He was an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina (USC) from 2012-17. Before USC, he was an assistant research professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder, from 2010-12.

Yu has published about 70 peer-reviewed papers, with two in Science and others in Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Nano Letters, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, ACS Catalysis, Chemical Communications and others. He received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2015, and has secured roughly $20 million in research funds.

Yu has transferred four DOE research grants totaling over $2 million to UB. Earlier this month, the DOE awarded approximately $2 million from its new Advanced Manufacturing Office program to E2H2Nano (Yu's startup company) to explore ammonia synthesis. That includes a subcontract to UB of roughly $500,000.



Yu received a PhD in chemical engineering from University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2007, and an MS in chemical engineering Tianjin University, China, in 2002. He was as a postdoctoral researcher from 2007-10 at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Bengaluru, Jan 20 : Police arrested six members of a gang led by a 29-year-old woman, who operated a fake plot selling racket in the city, said the Bengaluru South Police on Wednesday.

The police have recovered gold ornaments valued at Rs 16.83 lakh and three cars worth Rs 35 lakh from the gang's possession.

According to the police, the gang's modus operandi was that they used to identify a vacant site on the outskirts of the city where site prices were extremely high but situated in isolated areas.

"Once they identified 'their site', they would fabricate false documents in the name of one of their gang members to prove that the site was owned by that member. In the third phase one of the gang members posing as a real estate agent would identify a gullible investor looking for a plot at a 'cheaper value'. This was followed by two of the gang members posing as husband and wife and on the pretext of selling 'their property' in distress would negotiate for the deal," the police said.

The police claimed that the gullible investors used to believe them instantaneously, especially the husband and wife who were apparently trying to sell their property in distress.

"Gullible investors applied for a loan from the bank and the bank after verifying documents used to give high value loans. Impersonating as 'plot sellers', the gang would accept an amount and disappear," the police added.

According to the police, the accused have been identified as 29-year-old Keerthana Shekhar, Shekhar (36), Pavan Kumar B.R. aka Pavan aka Michel D'Souza (36), Prajwal Ramaiah, Umamahesh Rao (41) and Jayprakash.M (39).

The police said all the accused barring Pavan, worked in different real estate firms and were ace businessmen. Pavan is a bank loan agent who guided the gang about the rules and regulations.

A case of forgery and fraud was lodged on December 21, 2020 against the gang by a Bengali couple Chakravarthy Nandu Pandu and Rutira Devi Chakravarthy when the original owner of the site had started construction work.

"The couple who had purchased the plot argued with the original owners and then the case was booked and the gang was arrested," the police claimed.

The police has registered a case and is investigating how many plots the gang had sold in a similar manner.
INMATES at HMP Huntercombe say they have been bullied by staff, according to a report by Her Majestys Inspectorate of Prisons.

It is a category C facility and is one of only two prisons in the country with the sole purpose of holding convicted foreign nationals.

It currently accommodates about 400 men, which is down by 15 per cent compared with the last inspection in 2017.

A scrutiny visit was carried out in December, which found the service to be well-led.

However, the inspectors report said prisoners had experienced bullying or victimisation by staff. They had also experienced mental health problems due to a lack of opportunity for time outside their cells.

The report says: In our survey, a third of prisoners said they had been victimised by staff; this was reported by significantly more younger prisoners and those from a black and minority ethnic background.

Twenty per cent of prisoners said they felt unsafe and 34 per cent said they had been victims of bullying or victimisation by staff.

However, 63 per cent of younger prisoners and 46 per cent from a black and minority ethnic background said they had experienced bullying or victimisation by staff.

The reasons for these findings were unclear, but prisoners commented on dismissive attitudes by staff to their concerns about the time they spent locked up, worries about immigration cases and concern about inconsistent social distancing.

Most prisoners were still locked in their cells for about 23 hours a day. Some progress had been made in resuming purposeful activity but there were missed opportunities for increasing activity in a safe way.

Not all workshops had re-opened, even though they provided adequate space for socially distanced activity.

The inspector found that the speedy and highly effective roll-out of video-calling technology had helped prisoners to maintain family relationships.

Recorded violence and use of force remained low, while cleaning measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic were found to be of a good standard.

Charlie Taylor, HM chief inspector of prisons, said: Lower prisoner numbers contributed to the ability of staff to deliver a consistent regime throughout the pandemic and prisoners were able to have a shower and take outside exercise every day. However, most still spent 23 hours a day in their cells and this was affecting mental health for some.

About a quarter of prisoners had some form of employment, which increased time out of the cell, but there were missed opportunities for further expanding activity in a safe way. This was partly because the prison had to wait for the approval of centrally managed recovery plans.

He said the prison had made very significant and sustained progress in addressing weakness in risk management and release planning identified during the previous visit.

Mr Taylor added: This is one of the most positive scrutiny visits that we have so far undertaken. The prison was well-led and progressive and, while we have identified some concerns that need to be addressed, prisoners generally spoke positively of their experiences at Huntercombe.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Olmsted County is rolling out a new $3.4 million COVID-relief grant program to help local businesses and nonprofits stay afloat as the pandemic drags on.

Cafe Steam owner William Forsman says he will definitely be applying.

Businesses and nonprofits will be able to apply for the funds beginning this Friday.

To qualify for the grants, businesses and nonprofits must be located in Olmsted County and be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Those who apply will be required to show how the business was impacted by Governor Tim Walz's executive orders and that they have complied with the orders.

The big question is will this money be enough to save struggling shops.

Forsman talks about the most recent shutdown.

"It was like a light switch ... the business decline associated with it. Now that we've been able to reintroduce safer indoor seating, we've definitely noticed an uptrend of about 20% from the week previous, which is an awesome change. But we're still down a considerable amount as compared to this same time last year," says Forsman.

Forsman says with winter here, business is down anyway, so he is looking ahead optimistically to the summer months.

Reservations are required if you want to sit down and drink your coffee at Cafe Steam.

The coffee shop even accepts reservations at the door.
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Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia
By Vaibhav Saxena Lawyer Vietnam International Law Firm

Following the enforcement of the Law on Investment 2020, the draft decree guiding implementing certain provisions of the law has been released. When the draft decree is passed by the government, it will replace Decree No.118/2015/ND-CP guiding implementation of the Law on Investment 2014.

The draft decree consists of seven chapters and 93 articles, which provides guidance on the implementation of the new law.

It includes key legal considerations, such as guidance on procedure of online submissions for investment registration; clarification on sectors which foreign investors are restricted from accessing and sectors for which market access is conditional to them; requirements to meet in order to enjoy investment incentives; guidance on investment security deposit for the implementation of projects; new regulations on the amendments of the project; and termination of ventures based on forged transactions. New business lines are eligible for funding incentives.

Regarding the draft decree guiding the new Law on Enterprises 2020, Decree No.01/2021/ND-CP on enterprise registration has recently been issued, providing detailed instructions and guidance.

There are four key legal considerations of Decree 01: the enterprise code is now also the code of units participating in social insurance of an enterprise; and cases of granting enterprise registration certificate are in accordance with contingency procedures (for example in case the national business registration system breaks downs or is updated).

Thirdly, the fee for publishing the enterprise registration content is refunded if the enterprise registration certificate is not issued to the enterprise. Lastly, the legal status of an enterprise is to be clearly stated in the National Business Registration Database (for instance not operating at the registered address).

Together with the draft decrees, following enforcement of the Law on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Investment 2020, the draft decree guiding and implementing certain provisions of the Law on PPP has been released.

The draft decree in this provides noteworthy guidelines and options for interpreting the law, including some key legal considerations:

- PPP investment eligible sectors and minimum scale;

- The definition of policy in the context of PPP project development, which is used to determine change-in-law events where an investment policy decision must be amended;

- Draft options to be considered for compensation in cases where the project is terminated or halted due to the transition from the previous PPP regulations (meaning Decree No.63/2018) to the new law on PPP.

Since Decree 01/2021 has just taken effect at the beginning of 2021, and the draft decrees guiding the Law on Investment and the law on PPP are still in their draft forms, we may have to wait some time to see the actual impact these legal documents may have on the investment landscape in Vietnam.

However, one of the most remarkable achievements we have at present is that, finally, we have one unified investment legal framework for investors to follow, especially in the PPP sector.

The new law on PPP and the draft decree will act as the key piece of legislation governing related transactions in the country. They will have, for the first time, codified provisions on PPP projects at the legislative level, unified the current patchwork of laws into a standalone legislative instrument, and replaced the previous legal framework, which consisted of numerous outdated circulars, decrees, and decisions.

This change will surely bring prosperous impacts to the investment landscape in Vietnam, in light that the lack of one unified legal framework has undoubtedly presented risks to foreign investors, thereby lowering the attractiveness of such transactions in Vietnam.

Regarding the new decree on enterprise registration and the draft decree guiding the Law on Investment, they have successfully addressed some of the shortcomings existing in the old legal frameworks and other relevant regulations, providing more clarity and straightforward investment procedures.

These changes will bring more comfort to prospective foreign financiers who wish to pour money into Vietnam but are unfamiliar with the countrys legal landscape.
Harry Brant's family says he 'was just days away from re-entering rehab' prior to the model and influencer's deadly accidental drug overdose at 24 Sunday.

The son of model Stephanie Seymour and industrialist Peter M. Brant stated Monday, 'It is with enormous sorrow that we share with you the news that our beloved son, Harry Brant, lost his battle with addiction and died due to an accidental overdose of prescription medication,' adding, 'our hearts are shattered.'

A family friend told People Tuesday that Harry's father had been 'trying to get him to go to rehab again' amid worry and frustration about his son's drug habit.

The latest: Stephanie Seymour's son Harry Brant 'was just days away from re-entering rehab' prior to the model and influencer's deadly accidental drug overdose at 24 Sunday, his family said

'It's hard, anyone who knows addiction knows this,' the source said. 'We all knew he had this problem.'

The source said that Harry and older brother Peter Brant Jr., 27, 'were inseparable' siblings, as 'they complemented each other, they were always there for each other, and of course they fought like siblings do.'

Harry 'had everything going on for him' and 'was way beyond his years,' the source noted.

In a statement released following Brant's death, his family opened up about Harry's passion for writing, style and fashion, calling him 'a trailblazer of beauty and cosmetic products for men' in 'collaborating with a major brand on a unisex cosmetic line' in his MAC cosmetics collaboration with brother Peter.

Harry and older brother Peter Brant Jr., 27, 'were inseparable' siblings, as 'they complemented each other, they were always there for each other,' a family friend told People. The brothers were pictured in 2014 in NYC

Harry Brant and his parents, Seymour and businessman Peter M. Brant, were snapped in 2015 in NYC

'He was also a dedicated writer for Interview Magazine and his dream was to be a much bigger part of its creative department. He achieved a lot in his 24 years, but we will never get the chance to see how much more Harry could have done.'

In his modeling career, Harry had walked for the Balmain fashion house and was seen on the pages of Italian Vogue.

In his modeling career, Harry had walked for the Balmain fashion house and was seen on the pages of Italian Vogue. He was snapped in Paris in 2015

The family noted that 'Harry was not just our son, he was also a wonderful brother, loving grandson, favorite uncle and a caring friend.

'He was a creative, loving and powerful soul that brought light into so many people's hearts. He was truly a beautiful person inside and out.'

The family wrapped up in saying, 'We will forever be saddened that Harry's life was cut short by this devastating disease. We ask that you please allow our family privacy as we attempt to cope with the loss of our beautiful, beautiful boy.'
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) granted approval to the deal between Kishore Biyani-led Future Group and Reliance Retail, an arm of the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on January 20.

In August 2020, Biyani had entered into a Rs 24,713 crore agreement with Reliance Retail. As part of the pact, Future Group was to sell its retail, wholesale, logistics and warehouse businesses to Reliance Retail Retail Ventures (RRVL).

The SEBI, in its letter of approval, listed a number of conditions in accordance to the Composite Scheme of Arrangement. The regulatory body has also referred to the apprehensions raised by Amazon.

"Company shall ensure that the shares of the transferee entity issued in lieu of the locked-in shares of the transferor entities is subjected to lock-in for the remaining period post scheme," SEBI stated.

"Company shall ensure that proceedings pending before SEBI against the entities part of the promoter/promoter group or are directors of the companies involved in the scheme, should be highlighted in the scheme document filed before National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)," it further added.

The US-based Amazon has written to SEBI a number of times over the past three months, asking the regulatory body to stall the Future-Reliance deal. The company has accused Future Group of violating a pact signed by it by entering into a deal with Reliance Retail.

On December 21, Amazon Inc had also filed a plea before the Delhi High Court, seeking a stay on the Future-Reliance deal.

SEBI, while referring to the complaints registered by Amazon and the plea filed in Delhi HC, has asked the entities involved in the amalgamation to keep their shareholders informed about the legal dispute.

"Company shall ensure that any future disputes, complaints, regulatory actions or proceedings, or orders issued therein involving the draft scheme if any, shall be brought to the notice of shareholders prior to the approval by NCLT," it added.

"In light of the above, we hereby advise that we have no adverse observations with limited reference to those matters having a bearing on listing/de-listing/continuous listing requirements within the provisions of Listing Agreement, so as to enable the company to file the scheme with Honble NCLT," SEBI further said.

Amazon had gained a minority stake in Future Group after taking over 49 percent stakes in Future Coupons, which serves as the promoter entity of the former.

The granting of conditional approval by market regulator SEBI sets a precedent for future consolidation of the countrys exponentially growing retail industry," says Mahesh Singhi, Founder & MD, Singhi Advisors.

"A synergistic collaboration between two retail giants in the country holds the potential to unleash significant value propositions and operational efficiencies for concerned stakeholders and boost the M&A ecosystem in the countrys retail sector," Singhi added.

According to the Future Group CEO, his company reached out to Amazon eight times after its financial condition had weakened. The e-commerce giant, however, did not provide any major aid.

"They could have provided us funds through affiliates or financial institutions by taking over loans from existing lenders but they never did despite the agreement clause and our request," Economic Times quoted Biyani as saying earlier this month.

"The Reliance deal was a saviour for us and the employees, stakeholders, shareholders and creditors," he added.

Disclaimer: Reliance Industries (RIL) which is the parent company of Reliance Retail, JioMart and Reliance Market is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments which publishes Moneycontrol.
Skanska has completed another large transaction. The Swedish company has leased 26,000 m to the Polish e-commerce specialist Allegro in the D building of the Nowy Rynek complex in Poznan. The company will start moving into its new office in the second quarter of 2021.

Allegro will lease 26,000 m in the D building of the Nowy Rynek complex.  Skanska These modern offic...

Photos: Skanska



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During the December quarter, the company took steps towards starting production at the project, including signing an offtake agreement and progressing funding arrangements.

The company is negotiating with several probable offtake partners for lithium and tin.

( ) (OTCMKTS:AZZVF) (FRA:3A2) is geared up for a key year building on strong progress made in the December quarter of 2020 along its 'road to production' at the Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the DRC.

AVZ managing director Nigel Ferguson said: The company made significant progress into its road to production for the Manono Lithium and Tin Project.

Our most significant milestone in the December quarter came just before Christmas when we signed our first lithium offtake agreement with GFL International, a subsidiary of Chinas largest lithium compound producer, Ganfeng Lithium.

First lithium offtake agreement

The company signed its first lithium offtake agreement with GFL International Co Limited, a subsidiary of Ganfeng Lithium Co Ltd, for an initial five-year term and with an option to extend for a further five years for SC6 from the Manono Project.

Under the terms of the GFL offtake agreement, annual supply will ramp up to 160,000 dry metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate from year three onwards.

GFL is a leading global battery metals producer that is continuing to expand both its lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide production capacity.

Ferguson said: The fact that GFL has agreed to take 30% of our Manono Projects initial SC6 yearly tonnage is a massive endorsement for the project as we continue negotiations with other off-takers for our lithium and tin materials.

Financing negotiations

During the second half of 2020, the company made progress to secure the required project debt financing to fund the major proportion of the Manono Projects pre-production capital expenditure.

Discussions were held with several major commercial and non-commercial banks with many of the parties being granted access to the project data room.

Most interest is being shown by the Pan African Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), which is understandable due to the projects central African location.

The company has received expressions of interest from a number of these DFIs and discussions are continuing with these and other financiers.

Securing the equity funding of the pre-production capital expenditure funding has attracted several interested industry participants and private equity investors, with discussions also ongoing.

Ferguson said: In terms of the projects funding arrangements, we have made significant progress during the last few months around securing project debt financing.

We have also attracted several interested industry participants and private equity investors around our equity component of the required funding, with those discussions still ongoing.

During the quarter, the company raised around $1.72 million through the exercise of 25 million options at 6 cents each and 4 million options at 5.7 cents each respectively.

The Manono Lithium and Tin Project is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Pit floor drilling

During the quarter, the company began a 10-hole, 1700-metre diamond core drilling program around the Roche Dire pit floor wedge to increase the potential to upgrade additional inferred resources to the indicated category.

The updated global geological resource is not expected to increase, but the current combined indicated and measured resource tonnage is expected to increase on a pro-rata basis.

Once the wedge material directly under the pit floor is drilled and assay results returned, it is expected that some of this previously classified waste rock may then report as mineable ore.

This new data will allow the existing mine design to be re-run and optimised and the re-run of the mine design will also allow for plant design optimisation studies to also be completed and incorporated into the new modelling.

Manono Special Economic Zone (MSEZ)

Notably, the company sponsored a two-day workshop which was attended by key Congolese Government agencies and legal counsel to progress planning around the creation of a Special Economic Zone in the Manono region.

The workshop was attended by senior Government officials from the offices of the Minister for Industry, Minister for Finance, Minister of Economy, National Agency for Industrial Promotion, Ministry of Environment, Minister for Mines and Minister for Hydraulic Resources and Electricity.

Ferguson said: At an operational level, we advanced our licensing, permitting and environmental approvals for the Manono Project, as well as undertaking all of the necessary engineering and technical work that is required prior to the board making its investment decision to mine by mid-2021.

We then look forward to awarding contracts for the construction of our process plants and hydro-electric power plant, with the first shipment of spodumene concentrate (S6) scheduled for Q4 of 2022.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Joe Biden has taken the helm as the 46th president of the United States, summoning the tradition of American resilience to confront a historic confluence of crises. He used his inaugural address to urge people to come together to heal a nation left deeply divided by a tumultuous four years.

Biden declared that democracy has prevailed as he took the oath at a U.S. Capitol that had been battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks earlier.

As he took the oath, he gazed out over 200,000 American flags planted on the National Mall to symbolize those who could not attend in person because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Vice President Kamala Harris has broken the barrier that has kept men at the top of American power for more than two centuries. The former California senator took the oath of office Wednesday, making her the first female vice president in the nation's history, as well as the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to hold the position.

She was later escorted to her new office building and presided over the Senate for the first time to swear in three new Democratic senators  delivering the oath of office to Democrats Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock and Alex Padilla.

Their arrival gives Democrats the Senate majority in the split 50-50 chamber, with Harris as a potential tie-breaking vote. That's alongside Democratic control of the House and White House  unified government to tackle the new presidents agenda.

RELATED: Trump wishes new administration luck in farewell video

But Republican leader Mitch McConnell is refusing to enter a power-sharing agreement with Senate Democrats unless they meet his demands. And Republicans are blocking Inauguration Day confirmation of Biden's Cabinet picks, though votes are still possible late Wednesday.

On his first day in office, Biden planned to move quickly toward dismantling Donald Trump's legacy by signing a series of executive actions that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

With the stroke of a pen, Biden intends to halt construction on Trumps U.S.-Mexico border wall, end the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization and revoke the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Biden in his inaugural address said the need for climate action couldn't be any more desperate or any more clear. Biden is also expected to launch a series of climate-friendly efforts that could transform how Americans drive and get their power. That includes a moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in the Arctic wilderness.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : Almost 62 per cent people of India are willing to risk worsening ties with China on the issue human rights in Tibet as the brand equity of China has taken a beating over the last one year and majority of Indians have further become anti-China in their perceptions, as per the IANS C-Voter Tibet Poll.

According to the survey, which included a sample size of 3,000 people, 62.2 per cent Indians are willing to risk worsening ties with China on the issue of human rights in Tibet.

The survey said that 19 per cent people want to improve relations with China even if this risks the protection of human rights in Tibet.

Meanwhile, 11 per cent people said that they cannot say anything on the issue.

The survey also found that 63.8 per cent male and 60.5 per cent female are in favour of risking worsening ties with China on the issue of human rights in Tibet, while 19.9 per cent men and 18.2 per cent women want to improve relations with China even if this risks the protection of human rights in Tibet.

The survey said that 76.9 per cent in Northeast, followed by 69.2 per cent in West and 68.3 per cent in East India are in favour of risking worsening ties with China on the isue of human rights in Tibet.

The survey further said that only 66.3 per cent people in south India in favour of risking worsening ties with China on the issue of human rights in Tibet.

It also said that 18.3 per cent people in East, 16.7 per cent people in North, 25.6 per cent people in South, 16 per cent in West and 23.1 per cent in Northeast want to improve relations with China even if this risks the protection of human rights in Tibet.

The survey also said that almost two-third of Indians want to support the issue of Tibet even at the cost of worsening relationship with China.

It said the brand equity of China has taken a beating over last one year and majority of Indians have further become anti-China in their perceptions.

The survey also said that people aged between 25 and 34 years batted most for risking worsening ties with China on the issue of human rights in Tibet, followed by 65.6 per cent of the people aged between 35-44 years of age.

Meanwhile, the survey also said that 21.1 per cent of people between the age group of 18 and 24 years followed by 20.3 per cent between 45 and 54 years want to improve relations with China even if this risks the protection of human rights in Tibet.

The survey said that 70 per cent of the Indian middle education group and 68.7 per cent people with higher education are in favour of risking worsening ties with China on the issue of human rights in Tibet, while 22 per cent of the people with lower education want to improve relations with China even if this risks the protection of human rights in Tibet.

It further said that 66.3 per cent people fron the middle income group and 64.9 per cent of people from the higher income group are in favour of risking worsening ties with China on the issue of human rights in Tibet, while 24.3 per cent people from higher income group and 20.5 per cent from lower income group want to improve relations with China even if this risks the protection of human rights in Tibet.

The survey also said that 59.7 per cent people in rural India and 58.2 per cent people in urban India are in favour of risking worsening ties with China on the issue of human rights in Tibet, while 21 per cent of people in rural India and 14.6 per cent in urban India want to improve relations with China even if this risks the protection of human rights in Tibet.

The survey further said that 69.4 per cent of upper caste Hindus, 65 per cent of OBCs, 60.8 per cent Scheduled Caste and Dalits and 51.7 per cent Muslims in India are in favour of risking worsening ties with China on the issue of human rights in Tibet, while 23.8 per cent Muslims, 23.3 per cent others, and 19.6 per cent OBCs want to improve relations with China even if this risks the protection of human rights in Tibet.
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

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His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

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ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

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Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
On his first day in office on Wednesday, incoming U.S. President Joe Biden will sign executive orders to reverse decisions of the previous administration and will rejoin the Paris Agreement, revoke a Presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, and issue a temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Bidens Day One Executive Actions will include an executive order under which the United States will rejoin the Paris Agreement. The instrument Biden will sign will be deposited with the United Nations today. The United States will officially become a Party again 30 days after that, the Biden-Harris transition website says.

The United States will be back in position to exercise global leadership in advancing the objectives of the Agreement, the transition team notes.

The U.S. officially left the Paris Agreement in early November 2020. Although President Trump said in 2017 that he would withdraw the United States from what he called the terrible, one-sided Paris Climate Accord, the U.S. had to wait for three years after the agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, to give the 12-month notice for officially exiting the pact.

The day-one executive actions also includes Revoking, revising, or replacing additional Executive Orders, Presidential Proclamations, Memoranda, and Permits signed over the past 4 years that do not serve the U.S. national interest, including revoking the Presidential permit granted to the Keystone XL pipeline, the transition team says.

In another executive order concerning the oil industry, Biden will direct the Department of Interior to place a temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which the Trump Administration had just opened to development. The first lease sale was a flop, with oil companies largely steering clear of the auction earlier this month.

Last week, API President and CEO Mike Sommers said in the State of American Energy Keynote that energy affordability is more important than ever as we recover from the pandemicAnd thats the case were making and approach well take in working with President Joe Biden and his administration.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
If everyone just sits and waits and no one dares to get a vaccine injection trial, the vaccine won't be successful, said one of the first three volunteers in the Nanocovax vaccine trial.

The woman is a secondary school teacher of English in Hanoi, the mother of two children and chair of a volunteers club which helps patients.

The female teacher gets the second injection

On January 14, she and the other first two volunteers received the second shot of 25mcg dose of Nanocovax. The three, one male and two males, are in good condition and are being watched over at their homes.

The female teacher said she registered to become a volunteer for Nanocovax vaccine trial on the first days.

On December 17, 2020, when the plan to inject three first volunteers, two males and one female was announced, she thought she would have to wait until the next injection campaign. However, in the last minute, a male volunteer could not meet the requirements to get the injection and she was chosen to replace him.

After the first injection, her health conditions were quite normal, with no side effects.

As I participated in the injection campaign with a strong belief in the success of vaccine, my resistance becomes stronger. I feel very well, she joked.

She said she did not think much before the registration. She has participated in the Youth Unions movements over the last 27 years and the spirit of devoting and living for the community is in her blood.

She realized that most of the registered volunteers were students. But vaccines need to be tried on people at different ages. She wanted to become part of the research, representing people aged 40-50.

The third reason that urged her to become volunteer was that 97 million Vietnamese people are awaiting vaccines to be able to stabilize their lives. However, if there is no volunteer, there wont be a vaccine.

When she talked about becoming a volunteer, she faced opposition from relatives and friends.

However, she understands that Vietnams Nanocovax vaccine is different from the vaccine of other pharmacy firms.

I believe that Vietnams vaccine production technology is safer. I have a strong belief in myself. I believe the vaccine will succeed in my body. And I accept the risks, she said.

She did not tell her parents, because she did not want them to be worried about her.

The volunteers are watched over after they return home. They are asked to go to bed early, not to drink alcohol and beer, or smoke, or use stimulants and coffee.

The images of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam visiting the three volunteers at the hospital were shown on national television. Her parents watched the program and saw the images, but did not recognize their daughter.

Besides her parents, she also kept it a secret from her two children, who are studying overseas. About 72 hours after the injection, she called the children and informed them.

I told them that I got the vaccine injection trial and I am safe. After I explained to them, they began encouraging mom, she said.

After three days of being watched over at the Military Medicine Academy, she returned to her teaching work.

My students said they recognized me when looking at me from behind, because I often put glasses on my hair. I was so touched, she said.

A lot of students parents messaged her and encouraged her. Her retired colleagues said thanks to volunteers many people can be saved.

During the talk with reporters, she repeatedly said that she decided to become a volunteer not to become famous, as no one would exchange their life for vainglory.

Besides the female teacher, two other volunteers, medical university students, one female and one male, also got the second injection on January 14.

The male student said he wanted to contribute to the countrys fight against the pandemic. He was encouraged by family members.

After the first injection, the young man had a mild fever with a temperature of 37-37.2oC on the first day. But he was not worried because he understood this was a normal reaction of the body.

The female student got a mild fever for the first several hours after the injection.

The volunteers are watched over after they return home. They are asked to go to bed early, not to drink alcohol and beer, or smoke, or use stimulants and coffee.

On the seventh, 14th and 21st after the injection, volunteers go to the Military Medical Academy to have blood samples taken for testing the vaccines immunogenicity.

Dr Ho Anh Son from the academy said the first injection has created a good immune response. After the second injection, the antibody content will continue to increase by 4-5 times, or even 20 times.

Nanocovax is a Covid-19 vaccine developed by HCM City-based Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC. Vietnam plans to test the vaccine on 10,000-30,000 people in the third phase of the vaccine clinical trial.

Thuy Hanh

Vietnams second COVID-19 vaccine to be trialled A COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals in Khanh Hoa province has returned positive initial results.
On Sunday, Jan. 17, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris sat down with Jane Pauley of CBS News "Sunday Morning." Pauley treated Harris to a full-on journalistic massage. At no point was Harris asked a tough question; at no point was Harris treated as anything other than an idol worthy of worship. Perhaps the most awkward manifestation of this sycophancy came when Harris -- an extraordinarily and transparently manipulative and mechanical politician -- spouted a canned speech about relentlessness. "I was raised to not hear no -- let me be clear about it," said Harris. "I eat no for breakfast!"

This prompted a spasm of ecstasy from Pauley, who immediately reflected Harris' bizarrely inappropriate laughter with an enormous grin of her own.

It will be four long years.

For four years, the media complained that outgoing President Donald Trump treated them as an enemy. They self-servingly claimed that they were actually the protectors of democracy and individual rights. It took all of one month after Trump's inauguration for The Washington Post to add the slogan "Democracy Dies in Darkness" to its masthead. By October 2017, CNN began running ads explaining that it was all about "Facts First."

Trump, for his part, attacked the media whether they deserved it or not: Every disparaging headline, true or not, became "fake news." That was unjustified and wrong, obviously. But the media's lack of credibility wasn't solely attributable to Trump. It resulted from their own journalistic malfeasance for years on end during former President Barack Obama's administration -- "his only scandal was wearing a tan suit!" -- followed by their aggressive repetition of even the most thinly sourced scandal regarding Trump.

And now we'll return to the gaslighting of the Obama era, when members of the Obama team could openly admit to lying to the media, only to receive obsequious praise in return. Already, media outlets are praising the newfound veracity of Biden's press team -- despite the fact that Jen Psaki, Biden's choice for White House press secretary, was accused of openly and explicitly lying to the media in 2016. Media members are even admitting that the vacation has begun: CNN's Jim Acosta -- and, ladies, find you a man who loves you like Jim Acosta loves Jim Acosta -- admitted that he'd be covering Biden differently, explaining, "If being at the White House is not an experience that might merit hazard pay ... then perhaps it is going to be approached differently."

Of course, Acosta never needed hazard pay. He was too busy declaring himself a hero and preening for the cameras while pulling down a lucrative book contract. But now that the Biden administration is a reality, our media can go back to sleep.

And so, the controversies of the day will turn to the trite. The big question won't be governmental oversight but media self-policing: Last week, the media were consumed with the vital question of whether Vogue magazine's cover of Harris is respectful enough, given that it shows her wearing her trademark Converse sneakers. Other major controversies to come will include just how cute Joe Biden's dog is and whether the racial diversity of his Cabinet is merely important or super important. Meanwhile, the same media outlets that act as stenographers for the Democratic Party will insist that other outlets meet with social media censorship. After all, American needs unity! And that unity can only be provided by the same people who have wrecked all pretense of institutional objectivity in the pursuit of partisan outcomes.

People will continue to seek information from alternative sources, of course. But that will only provoke the media to seek new methods of repressing those alternatives. As it turns out, the commitment of many in our media isn't to truth or facts. It's to monopolistic control.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
HERKIMER, N.Y.  State police are looking for help from the community identifying two men suspected of stealing nearly $1,500 worth of merchandise from the Herkimer Lowes last month.

According to police, the two men left the store around 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 26 with four cordless nail guns without paying for them. Photos from video surveillance have been released to help identify the suspects.

Anyone with information should contact state police at 315-366-6000.
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Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, counsel for the petitioner in the 2020 Election Petition case, has filed an interlocutory application raising over 12 questions for the Electoral Commission (EC) to answer.



Some of the questions border on the mode of transmission of election results to the EC headquarters, whether or not the National Communications Authority played a role in the transmission of election results to the EC headquarters, and when the EC Chairperson realised that there were errors in the Presidential Election.



Mr Tsikata contended that the answers to these questions would help narrow down the issues set out for trial.



However, Mr Justine Amenuvor, counsel for the EC, has opposed to the grant of leave for the motion for interlocutory application.



According to the counsel for the EC, all the answers being sought by the Petitioner had been captured under law and the EC duly followed the law in the transmission of the Presidential Election results.



He informed the court that the transmission of election results was done through fax and that the Petitioner's agents signed 13 of the 16 forms from the various regional collation centres, while the agents of the then President-elect also signed 14 of the forms.



According to counsel for the EC, the questions of the Petitioner sought to introduce new facts through the back door.



He said the answers being sought by the Petitioner were well known in his domain.



The seven-member panel, presided over by the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah, is expected to rule on whether or not to grant the leave for the interlocutory application moved by Mr Tsikata, after a recess.

Source: GNA









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RAKE, Iowa  Two people are facing drug charges after a home is searched Tuesday in Winnebago County.

Sheriffs deputies say they executed a search warrant at a home in Rake and arrested two people found inside. Chad Christian, 51, is charged with nine counts of unlawful possession of prescription drugs, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Jerilyn Reis, 50, is charged with possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christian and Reis were both taken to the Winnebago County Jail.

The Winnebago County Sheriffs Office says is was assisted in this investigation by the North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force Special Operations Group, The Faribault County Sheriffs Office in Minnesota, Rake First Responders, and the Buffalo Center Ambulance Service.
Turkish filmmaker Umran Safter has a special place in her heart for Washington, D.C. She had the international premiere of her first documentary feature, "Eye of Istanbul," at the 2016 Washington, DC Independent Film Festival, where it won the award for best of the festival.

Her new film brought her back to D.C. for the story of Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun, the brothers behind Atlantic Records, and their early years as sons of Turkish ambassador Mehmet Munir Ertegun. The Erteguns, she says, "resisted all sorts of political pressure in the 1930s and 1940s" as they regularly hosted "Black jazz artists on special jazz evenings at the Turkish Embassy in Washington."

As teenagers, Ahmet and Nesuhi were smitten by jazz when they heard Duke Ellington play in London and were excited about moving to his hometown. But when they arrived, they were disappointed to find how racially segregated the city was. "When I first came to Washington, the stores downtown didn't carry any jazz records or blues records," Ahmet said in a 2002 interview. "I had to go to the Black section of Washington for the shops that sold records of the music we wanted to buy."

He visited jazz clubs on U Street and record shops on Seventh Street, and became a regular at Waxie Maxie, the music shop owned by Max Silverman, who built the store into a leading music retail chain. There, Ertegun found other jazz fans, such as Washington Post photographer and reporter Bill Gottlieb, later a writer for the influential Down Beat music magazine, and Billy Taylor, who would go on to become a bandleader and for decades directed jazz at the Kennedy Center.

Safter, 51, had read about the jazz concerts the Erteguns organized at the embassy. "It's a great story. I said to myself, 'Let's do this story as a documentary.' " For the film (working title: "Leave the Door Open"), she tracked down everyone she could find who knew them. In New York, she spoke with Atlantic Records colleague Bob Porter as well as Renee Pappas, ex-wife of Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler. Pappas had been friends with both brothers and had vivid stories. (Nesuhi Ertegun died in 1989; Ahmet, in 2006.)

Safter and her small crew arrived in Washington in February 2020 for filming. Everett House in Sheridan Circle - which served as the embassy during the Erteguns' era in D.C., and is now the residence of the Turkish ambassador - opened its doors to them. Safter also had sit-down interviews with jazz historians and radio DJs Willard Jenkins and Larry Appelbaum. And she interviewed people who had interviewed Ahmet (including me).

She pieced together a story of race in Washington, exploring how the Erteguns cracked barriers in segregation and the blowback they faced. When they invited Black musicians to Sheridan Circle, the ambassador got complaints from White neighbors. "They were saying, 'Oh, the music coming from the embassy is so disturbing!' " Pappas told Safter. " 'Who are these people?' "

The ambassador, opting for diplomacy, replied: "My sons are studying anthropology. That's why they have all these people coming." Still, he was stunned when the embassy's White staff balked at eating meals at the same table as Black staff members. As his daughter Selma explained to Safter, segregation "was not something we were used to."

The stories and images create a complex portrait of 1940s Washington. Historian Maurice Jackson described to Safter an Ertegun-organized concert at the Jewish community center: "Two Muslim brothers bringing Black music to the center belonging to our Jewish brothers and sisters. This is historic."

While in D.C. last year, Safter had planned to film a concert in the Ertegun Jazz Series at the Turkish Embassy, but it was canceled because of political events in Turkey. However, the crew filmed a jazz concert at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Washington. They returned home just ahead of covid-19 travel restrictions. Passengers on their flight to Istanbul were already wearing masks.

Safter counts herself lucky that her crew managed to complete most of the filming before the pandemic lockdown. But work on the documentary dragged. "It's not possible to meet with the rest of my crew," she explained in April. "And the main challenge is I can't sit next to my editor." She was working with Omer Leventoglu, who edited her 2019 film "On the Wings of Hope," about Iraqi Kurdish refugees. "He's a great editor," she said, but they could talk only by Skype or WhatsApp.

Eventually during the summer they cobbled together a new editing process and went into postproduction in September. Now with a rough cut, Safter hopes to have a finished film very soon.

But other hurdles loom, including financing and distribution. Movie theaters remain closed. "This is a very difficult time for filmmakers," Safter says. In darker moments, she thinks back to her D.C. premiere five years ago.

"Because it was my first feature-length documentary film," she recalls, "it encouraged me. That's the reason I produced the second film." She has submitted a rough cut of her new film to several U.S. competitions, including the DC Independent Film Festival and FilmFest DC. She hopes she will be able to return to the city that gave her that first boost.
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Changan Automobile and BOE, a Chinese supplier of intelligent interface products and services, inked an agreement on Jan. 18 to carry out in-depth cooperation on the technical R&D, product design and vehicle application of the displays applied in smart automotive cockpit.



Changan Automobile, BOE siging agreement; photo credit: Changan Automobile



The Chongqing-based automaker said via its WeChat account that it will join hands with BOE to develop curved console-mounted screens, flexible transparent A-pillars, transparent window displays and other innovative products powered by global cutting-edge display technologies.

Through the strategic collaboration with BOE, we will leverage respective advantages in technologies and products to provide users with brilliant intelligent interactive cockpits and brand new driving and riding experience, and help Chinese automotive industry make breakthroughs in intelligent technologies, said Zhu Huarong, chairman of Changan Automobile.

Under the agreement, both parties will co-build an innovative lab that focuses on exploring the intelligent cockpit display technologies, in-car terminal products and intelligent cockpit-used scenarios, and researching users behaviors.

By means of the lab, the automaker and the IoT solution provider plan to team up on brand alliance, product supply and investment in intelligence industry, and co-work on developing next-generation cabin displays.

Moreover, the two companies will deepen the cooperation on the automotive electronics field to create new business models. They will also come closer to seek business opportunities in the fields like industrial internet and smart industrial park.

Changan Automobile has partnered with a slew of leading tech companies, such as Huawei, AutoNavi, Tencent, IBM and iFlytek, to develop its smart businesses. Additionally, the automaker also ties up with governmental agencies, communications service providers, real estate companies and mobile service platforms to form its multi-layered transportation ecosystem.
The former Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, on Wednesday, prayed Justice Okon Abang of the Federal H...

The former Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, on Wednesday, prayed Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for another bail.

Maina, in a motion by his lawyer, Anayo Adibe on notice dated and filed on Dec. 24, 2020, with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/258/19

Maina said the bail application became necessary over his worsening health condition, NAN reports.

He, however, did not give details of the purported health issue.

Justice Abang, who noted that it was not convenient for the court to hear the matter, adjourned the hearing of the application until Feb. 1.

Recall that Main in 2020 was granted N500m bail but stopped attending proceedings, setting Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno South, who stood as his surety against the law.

Justice Abang, after a number of sittings without his presence, revoked Mainas bail, issued a warrant for his arrest and remanded his surety in prison.

However, the ex-Pensions boss escape to Niger Republic was exposed after he was arrested by the International Police (Interpol) and extradited to Nigeria on December 3.
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The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 dropped for the sixth day in a row on Tuesday even as the nations death toll surpassed 400,000 - more than the number of Americans who died in World War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined.

There were 144,047 newly recorded cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to The COVID Tracking Project. The latest data indicates that 2,141 Americans died of COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The grim milestone of 400,000 deaths was reached this week as Joe Biden is set to take the oath of office on Wednesday.

As President Trump leaves the stage, Biden assumes the highest office in the land while vowing to vaccinate 100 million Americans during his first 100 days.

After a terrible autumn, some of the hardest-hit states have started to see consistent declines in the number of cases in recent weeks, including the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas.

For the sixth day in a row, there has been a nationwide drop in the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

According to The COVID Tracking Project, COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the rise in just two states - Idaho and North Dakota. Hawaii has seen an astonishing 56 per cent drop in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday compared to a week ago. Alaska and Vermont also saw substantial drops in the number of hospitalized patients week-to-week - 23 per cent each

Other states that have reported drops in the number of COVID-19 cases include Michigan, Tennessee, Iowa, Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, Alaska, and Oregon.

Meanwhile, the number of those hospitalized with COVID-19 on January 19 compared to a week earlier has fallen in 19 states and stayed about the same in 30 states including the District of Columbia.

According to The COVID Tracking Project, COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the rise in just two states - Idaho and North Dakota.

Hawaii has seen an astonishing 56 per cent drop in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday compared to a week ago.

Alaska and Vermont also saw substantial drops in the number of hospitalized patients week-to-week - 23 per cent each.

Other states with significant drops in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations are Wyoming (17 per cent); South Dakota (17 per cent); Michigan (16 per cent); Wisconsin (15 per cent); West Virginia (15 per cent); and Colorado (15 per cent).

Other states that have reported a downward trajectory in the number of hospitalizations include Rhdoe Island, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, California, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Oregon.

Coronavirus cases are decreasing across the United States with 44 states showing a week-over-week drop in infections and deaths declining in 18 states, new data from Johns Hopkins University shows.

Nearly every state has seen a fall in the number of people testing positive in the last seven days aside from Maine, South Carolina and Virginia, which are all on the rise. Three states - Delaware, New Jersey and Texas - report no changes.

Biden will have his work cut out for him, as the country hardest hit by the pandemic struggled to meet the demand for vaccines to stem the spread of infection.

States including Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Carolina and Vermont have shown signs of vaccine supply strain and are asking for more doses of both approved vaccines, one from Pfizer-BioNTech and the other from Moderna.

The number of deaths has spiked since Christmas.

During the past three weeks, US coronavirus fatalities have surpassed 63,700 compared with 52,715 deaths in the three weeks prior to Christmas, an increase of 21 per cent, according to a Reuters analysis.

The daily COVID-19 death numbers crossed 4,000 for the first time on January 6.

Eighteen US states, including California, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington reported their highest daily death numbers in January, according to the Reuters tally.

The number of coronavirus cases has risen across all US regions and on Tuesday crossed 24 million since the pandemic started.

While seriously ill patients are straining healthcare systems in parts of the country, especially in California, the national rate of hospitalizations has leveled off in the past two weeks and was near 124,000 on Tuesday.

Biden, due to be sworn in on Wednesday, has proposed a $1.9trillion aid package that includes $415billion to bolster the response to the virus and the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, some $1trillion in direct relief to households, and roughly $440billion for small businesses and communities hardest hit by the pandemic.

Nearly every state has seen a decline in the number of people testing positive in the last seven days. John Hopkins say of this graph: 'The greener the background, the bigger the downward trend of new cases in this state. The redder the background, the bigger the upward trend of new cases in this state'

A total of 44 states are showing a week-over-week drop in infections with just three states - Maine, South Carolina and Virginia - increasing and three states - Delaware, New Jersey and Texas - reporting no changes (above)

Daily new cases have also fallen from a peak of 283,204 on January 8 to 144,047 on Tuesday, January 19 - a sharp drop in 11 days (above)

On Tuesday, the US surpassed a COVID-19 death toll of 400,000 - more than the number of Americans who died in World War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined

Daily new cases have also fallen from a peak of 283,204 on January 8 to 137,885 on Tuesday, January 19 - a 51 percent drop in 11 days. The seven-day rolling average of 200,407 is the lowest that figure has been since the new year.

However, Dr Anthony Fauci, says masks and social distancing aren't going anywhere any time soon and that the nation may have to prepare for the fact that COVID-19 is here to stay.

'We have to make that as a possibility. We've got to be prepared for that,' said Fauci told morning show The National Desk on Tuesday.

'Right now we're fortunate enough to have a vaccine that is extremely efficacious for the strain that now is circulating in our own country. We may need to make modifications, as new strains that are different come in.'

The nation's top infectious disease expert says normalcy may only occur when the majority of the country is vaccinated.

'When we get the country to be 70 percent to 85 percent vaccinated, and we get this blanket or umbrella of herd immunity so that the level of virus is so low in society that it's not really a threat to anybody, then we can start coming down on the stringency of the public health measures,' Fauci said.

'Bottom line is that if you get vaccinated, you can't throw away the masks, because you could be infected and conceivably infect others.'

Just 14.7 million Americans have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning, and only about 54 percent of vaccine doses distributed to states have been administered to people, according to data from Bloomberg.

It comes as the U.S. reached two grim milestones.

On Monday, California became the first state to record more than three million coronavirus infections.

President-elect Joe Biden (right) and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, pay homage to the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. Biden will be sworn into office on Wednesday

Biden has set a goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans in his first 100 days in office. The image above shows Vivian Johnson, 94, of Littleton, North Carolina, receiving the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at the University of North Carolina's Friday Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Tuesday

Dr Anthony Fauci said on Tuesday (pictured) masks and social distancing aren't going anywhere any time soon and that the nation may have to prepare for the fact that COVID-19 is here to stay

The news of California's milestone was not entirely unexpected - but the speed at which the state reached this figure is stunning.

The first coronavirus case in The Golden State was confirmed on January 25, 2020. It took 292 days to reach one million infections on November 11 and 44 days to top two million on December 24

This means it took just 25 days to record three million cases.

California's caseload is also far ahead of other large states. Texas currently has more than two million infections and Florida is just above 1.5 million.

A caseload surge that began last fall has strained the state's hospitals and especially intensive care units as a percentage of the infected - around 12 percent - become sick enough weeks later to need medical care.

However, the overall trend in the country could mean the post-COVID Christmas surge is slowing.

Dr. Edison Liu of The Jackson Laboratory said the broader trends could mean the US is starting to flatten the curve.

'Flattening the curve means we've stopped the exponential rise of infection; that whatever intervention we have worked. But that's only the first step. What we're really looking for is a consistent downward trend,' he said.

North Dakota has emerged as America's unlikely leader in the battle against the coronavirus, racing ahead of most of the nation in the vaccine rollout and battling back from being the worst COVID hotspot in the nation with an 80 percent decline in active cases since mid-November.

The latest data show encouraging downward trend in the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations

cases topped two million on December 24, meaning it took just 25 days to record three million cases. Pictured: A registered nurse tends to a Covid-19 patient in the ICU at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, California, January 11

Some states like California are floundering with vaccination rollout, using a meager 40 percent of doses distributed to it.

However, North Dakota is flying through the doses sent to it by the federal government, using 78 percent of its allotted doses and vaccinating just shy of seven percent of its population.

State officials acknowledge that North Dakota's small population size is an advantage. But it also gave health care workers a head-start with training before vaccine doses arrived, and has set up a flexible plan to let people 65 or older, people with two or more underlying conditions, and child care and school workers get priority access to vaccines.

California and New York may be known for their top-notch hospitals and medical schools, but they are struggling to get people vaccinated amid the COVID-19 crisis.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has blamed the federal government for his state only getting 5.14 percent of its population vaccinated by Monday, and asked for federal permission to order doses directly from Pfizer.

But the Empire State has only used a little over half (53 percent) of what the Trump administration has shipped to it, and its stiff plan for prioritizing people saw precious doses of vaccine thrown out earlier this month.

California lags even further behind, vaccinating just 3.3 percent of its population with the massive allotment of 3.5 million doses sent to it by the federal government.

And in Florida, which was the third state to reach one million COVID-19 cases, more than 40,000 people are overdue for their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine - a worrying sign that poor organization could leave at-risk residents unprotected.

North Dakota has given nearly 53,000 of the 76,275 doses sent to it, and kept up a consistent flow of administering vaccines since its first doses arrived last month (pictured), according to the state's health department

Active coronavirus cases have fallen by 80% and the number of new daily infections in the state is a fraction of what it had been a month ago when North Dakota was among the nation's top hotspots

Cumulative deaths have increased in North Dakota, but the state has drastically bent the curve of fatalities since it climbed steeply last month, reaching a peak of 499 deaths in November, followed by 278 in December and 37 so far in January

North Dakota administered 3,222 vaccines on January 14 alone, according to its latest data. Nearly six percent of its population has had their first shot, and nearly one percent have already received their second.

Meanwhile, the state has 1,377 active cases of COVID-19 as of Monday - just a little over 10 percent as many as it saw at its November peak of 10,195.

Deaths in North Dakota continue to climb, but have leveled off since November.

Throughout much the nation, a game of federal and state he-said-she-said continues, and is doing little to speed the sluggish rollout.

Houston, Texas, officials say they are receiving sporadic shipments of small numbers of vaccine doses.

'Right now, having (doses) one day and then running out, it just creates a lot of chaos,' said Galveston County health director Dr Philip Keiser on Monday, according to Houston Public Media.

About 31.1 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been sent to US states by the federal government, according to tracking from Bloomberg.

While West Virginia races to the head of the pack, vaccinating nearly nine percent of its population in just a month, California and Alabama rank worst, getting shots in the arms of just 3.3 percent and 2.7 percent of their residents, respectively.

Mass vaccination sites opened in larger states like New York, California and Florida, but rates of shot administration remain low.

Some of the states that have most vocally blamed the federal government for the vaccine rollout are among the slowest to use the doses sent to them.

California has vaccinated just 3.3 percent of its population and used a little over a third of its allotted doses, despite turning Disneyland and Dodger Stadium into mass vaccination sites.

Only about 3% of Americans have gotten their first doses of coronavirus vaccines, with the highest rates in West Virginia and the Dakotas, and the lowest rates of vaccination are in Alabama and Arizona

More than half of all doses of coronavirus vaccines distributed to US states are sitting on the shelves, with the highest rates of unused shots in California and Texas - despite the former being one of the worst hotspots for COVID-19 in the country

New York is faring a little better using up 53 percent of its doses and vaccinated about 5.4 percent of its population.

Southern and Sun Belt states are struggling. Alabama and Arizona have each vaccinated just 2.7 percent of their populations.

That's particularly worrisome for Arizona, which has had more coronavirus infections per capita than any where else in the world.

The surprise leaders in the race remain West Virginia and the Dakotas.

West Virginia was the only state in the union turned down the federal government's partnership with CVS and WalGreens to help vaccinate its nursing home residents.

And now it's vaccinated 8.6 percent of its population - more than than any other states.

North and South Dakota have vaccinated nearly seven and 6.45 percent of their respective populations.

A senior federal official told DailyMail.com that the US will meet its goal of distributing 50 million doses to states this week.

But at this rate, it could be weeks before all of those doses make it into Americans' arms.

States have given fewer than half of the doses the federal government has shipped - 46 percent - yet some say they are running out of doses.

Reports emerged last week that there was no federal stockpile of second doses to increase states' supplies - after HHS Secretary Alex Azar promised that the reserve would be released - triggering panic.

Federal officials say that the number of doses made available to states each week has increased, but that the notion that the government ever had a stockpile was incorrect.

In fact, a senior administration official told DailyMail.com that some states are not completing all their orders for new doses each week, leaving them shorthanded.

Yet states, including Texas, say they're on pace to run out of doses of vaccine by next week if they continue to administer as many as possible.

Los Angeles is among the worst hotspots for coronavirus in the US and health workers are racing to vaccinate at-risk people - including nursing home residents in Pasadena (pictured, file), but the state has used just 27.5% of its allotted doses

Since it began over a month ago, the US coronavirus vaccine rollout has been plagued by a game of federal and state 'he said, she said,' and little seems to have changed.

The emergence of more infectious coronavirus variants, including the UK's 'super-covid,' should be a 'clarion call' to Americans to get vaccinated, said Dr Anthony Fauci during a Sunday Meet the Press appearance.

But the uptake has been slow.

Experts say yet another factor is holding up the rollout: 'We're underselling the vaccine' Dr Aaron Richterman, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Pennsylvania told the New York Times.

He's not alone in thinking that attempts to temper expectations and keep Americans from ripping of their masks as soon as they get their first doses of COVID-19 vaccines may be misguided.

'It's driving me a little bit crazy,' Dr Ashish Jha of the Brown School of Public told the Times.

Vaccines made by both Moderna and Pfizer are more than 94 percent effective at preventing COVID-19, and that should be the focus of public messaging, the experts say.

That's not to say that questions still being researched - such as rather the shots prevent infection or transmission altogether - should be concealed, nor that warnings about potential side effects shouldn't be clear.

But, Dr Jha and Dr Richterman worry that the emphasis on what's unknown is fueling hesitancy and slowing the uptake of shots.

One California epidemiologist on Sunday called for Moderna to put a hold on 330,000 doses from one lot that have already been distributed after 'fewer than 10' people had possible severe allergic reactions to the shots within 24 hours.

Moderna, the FDA and the CDC are all investigating the incidences, but said in a statement to Fox News that vaccination is never without risks.

The reactions all happened within the observation period while the recipients were still at the vaccination site in San Diego.

Health care workers and nursing home residents were put first in line for coronavirus vaccines.

But during the first weeks of the rollout, staggering numbers of health care workers turned down the shots.

One Illinois veterans nursing home said that while about 90 percent of its elderly residents had said 'yes' to the shot, some 80 percent of staff had said 'no.'

Nurses in Texas and California - two of the nation's worst hotspots for COVID-19 - said they and about half of their colleagues planned to refuse or delay vaccination.

In New York, four doses of vaccine had to be thrown out because willing recipients working in health care could not be found in time to use the shots before they expired.

Amid suspicion that resistance among health care workers and rigid state plans for who could be vaccinated when were the problem, federal officials urged vaccination to be opened up to people 65 and older.


The counsel for the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, Tsatsu Tsikata clashed with a Supreme Court judge on Tuesday (19 January 2021) during the day two of the 2020 Election Petition.



The exchanges between Tsatsu Tsikata and a Supreme Court Judge, Nene Amegatcher, began when he posed questions he (Tsatsu) claimed were key to discovering the errors committed by the EC.



According to Tsikata, the interrogatories were critical as it would help the apex court determine the authenticity of the results that saw the NPP presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, emerging as the winner of the 2020 polls.



But presenting the list of questions on Tuesday, Tsikata made reference to the Electoral Commission Chairperson rather than the office that conducted the polls.



That did not sit well with Justice Nene Amegatcher.



The apex court judge insisted that the questions should be directed to the office of the Chairperson and not come across as a personal attack on Jean Mensa.



Tsatsu: This is a question only one person in this world can answer



Justice Nene Amegatcher: Why wouldnt you limit your references to the office rather than the personality. It seems to me that your attack is with the personality and not the officeWe will be happy if you just limit it to the office and not the EC because in her absence any of her deputies could step in.



Tsatsu: Respectfully my lord, there is only one Returning Officer for the presidential election and that is the EC chairperson.



Justice Nene Amegatcher: lets leave it at that, chairperson of the Electoral Commission and not her person



Tsatsu: But my Lord, she is the Chairperson and she has a name, or I am not allowed to mention the name of the Chairperson



Justice Nene Amegatcher: The question should be to the office



Tsastu: I want to understand I am being prohibited from mentioning the name of the Chairperson, is that the issue?



Justice Nene Amegatcher: Reading through your petition which makes constant emphasis on the name, what I am telling you is that we will be satisfied with the designation because in her absence any of her deputies could act in that position



Tsatsu: My Lord



Justice Nene Amegatcher: So, it is an election petition and you are challenging the election, it is sufficient that the institution charged with the conducting that election had done their work and the Chairperson who is the head represent that institution and not the personality



Tsatsu: With the greatest respect, I believe that the constitutional requirement regarding the returning officer and the particular circumstances do not make it possible step in for the Chairperson, it cannot be like you are envisaging.



Justice Nene Amegatcher: The institution had done the work and not the personality



Tsatsu: The particular circumstances that we are dealing with in this case, do not make it possible to have the situation that you are envisaging where you have somebody else step in for the Chairperson.



The constitution makes the Chairperson and only that person the Returning Officer and in the circumstances of this case that Chairperson happens to be the person we referred to in the petition who undertook her responsibility in accordance with the constitution and legal situation that we have, I am not mentioning her name by targeting her individualthat is far from it. I do not target her when I mention her name as the person who declared the results, that is a fact.



Justice Nene Amegatcher: Thank you, you may continue with your interrogatories

Source: asaaseradio









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A Deptford Township man was killed in a one-car crash on Interstate 295 Tuesday afternoon.

Gabriel Corino, 20, was traveling southbound near milepost 15.1 in Logan Township when his Honda Fit left the roadway around 12:30 p.m., according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman.

The car hit a guardrail and Corino was thrown from the vehicle.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. A stable operational situation with no incidents has been maintained along the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact of the Armenian state border overnight January 19-20, the Defense Ministry of Armenia told Armenpress.

According to the information provided by the Armenian National Security Service, no border incidents were registered in Vorotan-Davit Bek section of the Goris-Kapan inter-state road which is under the responsibility of the NSS border troops.

The Armed Forces of Armenia and the NSS border troops confidently control the border situation along the entire length of the border zone and fulfill their tasks.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Unpaid water bills are piling up across California as the pandemic continues to rage, leaving water agencies out hundreds of millions of dollars and nearly 1 in 8 families with rising debt  and worse, a possible water shut-off.

In the Bay Area alone, tens of thousands of households have missed a water payment recently. San Francisco reported more than three times as many delinquent water customers at the end of last year compared with March, shortly after the coronavirus pandemic began. Thats pushed the citys total outstanding balance up six times what it was, to more than $7 million.

The financial hardship is even worse in parts of the Central Valley and Southern California. A statewide moratorium on service shut-offs, put in place indefinitely by Gov. Gavin Newsom in April, protects many residents from losing water for not making payments. But some water agencies are reporting that revenue shortfalls are threatening their bottom line and could soon disrupt operations.

Providing water costs money, said Cindy Tuck, deputy executive director for government relations at the Association of California Water Agencies. Repayment is important. The water community recognizes that the executive order (barring water shut-offs for unpaid bills) was important, but it is a significant financial impact. ... The money has to be repaid or somehow covered by the federal or state government.

The growing water issues are highlighted in a survey of water agencies released Tuesday by the California State Water Resources Control Board and in individual utility records requested by The Chronicle.

Community leaders and water managers have begun calling for state and federal aid: both loans to customers and rescue packages for water suppliers. The COVID-19 stimulus bill signed by President Donald Trump in December provides $638 million to help low-income households nationwide pay for water service, but experts say its not enough to fill the financial hole. California will receive only a fraction of the money  and only a fraction of what it needs.

Unpaid water bills across the state are estimated to be $1 billion, representing the delinquency of more than 1.6 million households, or nearly 12% of the total.

No one doesnt want to pay their water bill, said Jonathan Nelson, policy director for the Community Water Center, which advocates for water access, particularly for low-income families. But look at the jobless rate during the pandemic, look at the unemployment rate that just in the last couple of weeks spiked. People are hurting.

Like with other financial duress, disadvantaged communities and people of color are bearing the brunt. The average water-bill debt of Black households, for example, was $485 in areas where minorities are in majority as of October, when the state survey was completed, compared to the $380 debt for white households.

The areas with the most overdue water bills, by ZIP code, are several parts of Los Angeles County, the city of Colton in San Bernardino County, Orcutt in Santa Barbara County and Rancho Cordova in Sacramento County. In and around the Bay Area, the community of Port Costa and Lake Countys Clearlake have some of the highest concentrations of missed payments.

People who were already hurting pre-COVID, communities that were lower income, Black and brown communities, those are the most heavily impacted, said Max Gomberg, a senior environmental scientist for the state water board who has been analyzing the finances of water agencies and their customers.

As a result of the revenue losses, nearly 20% of state water agencies, or as many as 600, are estimated to have less than 60 days of operating cash on hand. The lack of funds has suppliers reducing staff, putting long-term projects on hold and looking at raising rates. Some wont be able to continue long-term water delivery without government intervention.

The Kern County city of Delano in the San Joaquin Valley, with a population of 54,000, has been tapping into its general fund budget to make up for losses at its water department. Thats meant taking away potential funding for police, parks and public works. Still, given the high number of residents unable to afford their water bills, the city has started waiving late fees, nearly $400,000 worth to date.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

Because of the pandemic weve had to make a lot of budget cuts, in the millions, but this (no-penalty policy) is for a good cause, Delano Mayor Bryan Osorio said.

While most water agencies report increasing delinquency, the majority of suppliers expect to be able to absorb the financial hit, including the Bay Areas biggest providers.

The $7.8 million of outstanding customer debt in November at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which provides water to city residents, represents less than 2% of agency revenues. The utility has been able to tap its rainy-day fund not only to withstand lapses in payments but launch a customer assistance program, providing rate cuts of up to 15% for those struggling to pay their water bills.

Right now, our primary focus is on helping our customers through this very difficult time, said Will Reisman, spokesperson for the San Francisco PUC. While the unrealized revenue due to missed payments is not a trivial amount, we can weather the losses for the moment. This is not a sustainable answer to the affordability issues facing our customers, which is why we are collaborating with utilities across the country to advocate for a long-term funding solution from the federal government.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District, which serves 1.4 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, reported about $6.1 million of unpaid bills in October, between two and three times what it normally carries. Still, the missing payments constitute less than 2% of the total amount billed.

The Marin Municipal Water District reported about $3.4 million of unpaid bills at the end of the year, about 3% of the agencys budget. The Alameda County Water District reported $956,000 of unpaid bills at the end of October, about 1% of the budget.

Kurtis Alexander is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kalexander@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kurtisalexander
States such as New York, Virginia and Texas are also debating the advantages of cannabis legalisation due to its impact on job creation, social inequality and tax revenues

After the Medical Cannabis and Wellness UCITS ETF delivered a 40.4% return in its first last 12 months, the portfolio manager says there are significant tailwinds driving the cannabis industry on both sides of the Atlantic in 2021.

With the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president as the Democrats make the Capitol a stronghold and planning a huge new stimulus package, Nawan Butt of sees strong drivers for the sector.

The US cannabis trade is now running full steam ahead, he said.

With a blue wave there is significant upside for the cannabidiol (CBD) wellness and ancillary services industries in the US, which are sharing the growth rates of the underlying cannabis industry.

He points to multiple federal cannabis bills expected to be tabled soon and also at the state level as pandemic hit government coffers look towards taxation revenues for some relief.

States such as New York, Virginia, and even Texas are debating now the advantages of cannabis legalization and its impact on job creation, social inequality, and most importantly tax revenues, he said.

The Medical Cannabis and Wellness ETF, which this week celebrates its first anniversary of listing in London and Frankfurt, is the product of a collaboration between and HANetf.

Before the launch of the ETF, European investors interested in the sector mainly had to buy North American cannabis stocks.

CBDX fixes a big problem for investors and their brokers as it can be hard for them to assess if that company is generating revenues in cannabis activities that may not be legal in Europe but are permitted in the US & Canada, says HANetf co-founder Hector McNeil.

Momentum is strong, with the ETF up over 60% since the start of October.

In 2021, there should also be impetus from the UK, with multiple cannabis operators racing to list on the London Stock Exchange in the first half of this year.

Cannabis patient numbers in the UK are also rising at a consistent pace, Butt says, even before the Project 2021 initiative really builds traction.

This UK project, set up by the Drug Science non-profit research group, aims to create the largest body of evidence for the effectiveness and tolerability of medical cannabis by the end of this year and Butt says it should make both physicians and patients more comfortable with cannabis as a mainstream rather than fringe treatment.

As for Hector McNeil co-CEO at HANetf said CBDX was a market first for Europe. It also is a flagship ETF in HANetfs burgeoning, innovative and broad range of thematic ETFs offering exposure to similar mega trends as medical cannabis. CBDX has had superb performance with just under 40% performance over the last 3 months and clearly great tailwinds to see that momentum going forward.
A Qatari foreign ministry official pledged in a meeting with Egyptian and Emirati security officials on Saturday that Qatar would not interfere in Egypts internal affairs, two Egyptian intelligence sources told Reuters.

He also pledged a change of orientation for Qatars Al-Jazeera television channel, which is state-funded, and state-owned media outlets towards Cairo, the sources said.

This comes as Egypt and Qatar have agreed to resume diplomatic relations, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Wednesday, making Cairo the first to officially do so under an Arab deal to end a long-running dispute with Doha.

Qatars foreign minister had said in televised remarks after the Arab deal was announced that Al Jazeera is an independent media institution.

The Egyptian intelligence sources also said the officials agreed on economic cooperation and a series of meetings on outstanding issues such as Libya and the Muslim Brotherhood.

The officials agreed to restore diplomatic relations between Egypt and Qatar under probation, as one source put it.

On Saturday, Saudi Arabias foreign minister said the kingdom expects to reopen its embassy in Qatar within days, and full diplomatic relations between the two would resume.

The UAE, which followed Riyadh in reopening all entry points to Qatar, has said restoring diplomatic ties will take time. Bahrain has reopened its air space to Qatar, as has Egypt.

*The story was edited by Ahram Online

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Priti Patel today said it is time for the UK to 'move on' from the presidency of Donald Trump as his successor Joe Biden formally moves into the White House.

The Home Secretary said the British Government had worked 'very strongly' with the outgoing president but insisted there will not be tensions with the new US administration.

She said a 'new political era is now starting in America' and she believes it will be 'very much business as usual' for the Special Relationship.

Her comments came after Boris Johnson said he is looking forward to working 'hand in hand' with Mr Biden.

Mr Johnson is viewed with suspicion by some influential Democrats who regard him as a 'Trump clone' - an image that he is anxious to shake off.

Joe Biden will today be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. Priti Patel said it marks the beginning of a 'new political era'

Mr Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States this afternoon amid unprecedented security after Mr Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol earlier this month.

Ms Patel said now is the time to 'move on', with the two countries 'coming together' to work on an 'exciting agenda' on a range of issues.

She told Sky News: 'First of all... we have an incredibly strong relationship with the United States of America and our government will always work with the president and his incoming team.

'Now, in terms of the Trump administration, again, we have worked very strongly with the outgoing president's administration on a range of issues and notwithstanding the fact that a great deal has happened over his tenure as president, all sorts of international events.

'He has been very robust in terms of his particular posture when it comes to parts of the world, such as the Middle East.

'But quite frankly we move on now. There is a new incoming president. Our prime minister has rightly so been in touch with president elect Biden.

'We have got an exciting agenda as two strong democratic countries coming together that will be working together on a range of issues as we go into this year holding the presidency of the G7, chairing the UN security council, we will be hosting the COP conference, we have got a whole agenda on climate change.

'So for us it is very much business as usual with a new team at this very exciting time with this big hand over, this change in power structures, bases, politics in the United States.'

Ms Patel said Mr Biden's inauguration will mark the beginning of a 'new political era' in the US.

She said: 'There is a change in presidency but, as ever, when administrations change, the world changes, the direction of travel  from politicians in particular, political leaders  always reflect some of the challenges and changes that we see going on domestically and internationally.

'A new political era is now starting in America and there is a lot to do globally, there really is, as well as in the US  certainly uniting the United States at the end of the Trump administration and as Joe Biden takes over.

'But also stepping up to confront and address many of the global challenges that we face collectively, and America has an enormous role to play in terms of global leadership and we look forward to supporting America on many of those challenges.'

In a statement issued overnight, Mr Johnson pointed to the continuing common interests the UK and the US share on defence, security and 'defending democracy' as he tried to win over Mr Biden.

Boris Johnson said in a statement issues overnight that he is looking forward to working 'hand in hand' with Mr Biden

He said: 'I warmly congratulate Joe Biden on his historic inauguration as 46th president of the United States and look forward to working closely with his new administration as we defeat Covid and build back better from the pandemic

'In our fight against Covid and across climate change, defence, security and in promoting and defending democracy, our goals are the same and our nations will work hand in hand to achieve them.

'I look forward to welcoming him to Carbis Bay for the G7 and Glasgow for Cop as we join forces to protect our planet.

'Only through international cooperation can we truly overcome the shared challenges which we face.'

Since Mr Biden's election, there have been concerns the pair could face diplomatic difficulties.

They have never met before and Mr Biden has previously likened the Prime Minister to a 'physical and emotional clone' of Mr Trump.

Ukraine could still receive a tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in January-March 2021, despite the introduction of state regulation of the gas market, but a more conservative scenario provides for receiving this tranche in April-June this year, BofA analysts have said.

The high financing needs in 2021 should keep Ukraine in cooperation with the IMF, BofA Global Research said in the materials which are available to Interfax-Ukraine.

In their opinion, the IMF may postpone the tranche to Ukraine in connection with the introduction of measures of state regulation of the gas market, however, the IMF will most likely take into account the mitigating factors of such a decision. This is the temporary nature of the decline in gas prices and the emergency conditions of the pandemic. This will allow Ukraine to sign a staff-level agreement in the near future, according to BofA.

Additional risks for the overall investment process in Ukraine are mainly associated with the promised impetus to the reform of justice, BofA analysts said.
Forget about wearing an ice-cream container with eyes painted on the back. And don't bother adding spikes to a bike helmet.

Bird trainer Paul Mander believes magpies are way too intelligent to fall for those tricks.

Bird handler Paul Mander trains one of eight magpies for the film Penguin Bloom. Credit:Roadshow

The best response when swooped by an angry magpie, he says, is not to run or wave your arms around. Just stop, look at him  it will almost always be a mature male protecting a nest  and make sure he knows he is being watched while you leave his territory. If necessary, walk backwards.

"When you react in a frightened way to a magpie swooping you, they know they've already won so they'll push and push harder if they're getting the reaction they're looking for," Mander says. "If you stand and keep your eyes on the bird, it will pull up and land in a tree. It will never swoop and hit you."

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden wasted little time Wednesday in working to undo President Donald Trump's policies that were anathema to Democrats during his four years in office.

Sitting in the Oval Office, Biden signed an order requiring masks and social distancing on federal property, followed by an order to provide support to underserved communities. As part of the third order he signed, Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate change, a treaty the United States formally exited in November after Trump withdrew in 2017.

Biden signed 15 executive orders and two other directives Wednesday, and several more will come over the next 10 days. The first three were signed on camera from the Oval Office.

Biden has ended construction of Trump's signature wall on the U.S.-Mexican border by proclaiming the "immediate termination" of the national emergency declaration Trump used to fund it. He also rejoined the World Health Organization, which Trump abandoned in July.

Biden also took executive action to reverse Trump's ban on travel from predominantly Muslim countries.

President-elect Joe Biden wants to get back into the Paris Agreement to fight climate change on the first day of his term.

The swiftness is meant to demonstrate urgency to turn the page on a divisive four years under the Trump administration, experts said. Most of the actions hit what the Biden team calls "four overlapping and compounding crises"  the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting economic damage, climate change and lagging racial equity.

"He's trying to show the American people, and the world more generally, that America is back to where it was before the Trump administration," said Todd Belt, professor and political management program director at George Washington University. By signing so many orders so soon, Biden will deliver a "repudiation of Trump's approach to governance," Belt said.

Biden's first 100 days: From reversing Trumps immigration policies to COVID-19 relief, heres what's on the agenda

Keystone pipeline , racial equity, 1776 Commission, immigration and more

Story continues

Also on his first day in office, Biden canceled the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline to move oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, rescinding Trump's approval of a project long criticized by environmentalists.

Biden also extended the pause on student loan payments and nationwide restrictions on evictions and foreclosures.

The president signed an order launching a government-wide initiative directing every federal agency to review its state of racial equity and deliver an action plan within 200 days to address any disparities in policies and programs.

The Biden administration created an equitable data working group to make sure federal data reflects the countrys diverse makeup and direct the Office of Management and Budget to allocate more federal resources to underserved communities.

Delivering on racial justice will require that the administration takes a comprehensive approach to embed equity in every aspect of our policymaking and decision-making, Bidens domestic policy chief Susan Rice said Tuesday.

Other Day One executive orders Biden signed include:

Rescinding Trump's 1776 Commission, a panel Trump established as a response to the New York Times' 1619 Project, a Pulitzer Prize-winning collection that focused on America's history with slavery.

Revoking Trump's plan to exclude noncitizens from the census.

Prohibiting workplace discrimination in the federal government based on sexual orientation and gender identity and directing federal agencies to ensure protections for LGBTQ people are included in anti-discrimination statutes.

Creating a COVID-19 response coordinator who will report directly to the president.

Revoking Trump's 2017 Interior Enforcement Executive Order, which broadened the categories of undocumented immigrants subject for removal, restarted the Secure Communities program and supported the federal 287(g) deportation program.

More action planned over next 10 days

Kate Bedingfield, Biden's incoming White House communication director, called the executive orders "decisive steps to roll back some of the most egregious moves of the Trump administration" in an interview Sunday on ABC's "This Week." "And he's going to take steps to move us forward," she added.

More orders will come Thursday, Biden's first full day in office, when he signs several executive actions related to the COVID-19 crisis and reopening schools and businesses, Biden's chief of staff, Ron Klain, said in a memo outlining the first 10 days of the administration. That includes expanded testing, protections for workers and establishing public health standards.

Friday, Biden will direct his incoming Cabinet to "take immediate action to deliver economic relief" to working families struggling financially as a result of the pandemic, the memo said.

More: Biden introduces $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that includes $1,400 checks

Other orders confirmed by Biden's team include revoking the ban on military service by transgender Americans and reversing the "Mexico City policy," which blocks federal funding for nongovernmental organizations that provide abortion services abroad.

Next week, Biden will sign orders to carry out his "Buy American" pledge, "advance equity and support communities of color and other underserved communities" and implement criminal justice changes.

He will sign additional executive actions related to climate change, expanding access to health care  particularly for low-income women and women of color  and on immigration and border policies, including the process of reuniting families separated at the U.S.-Mexican border, according to Klain.

"Of course, these actions are just the start of our work," Klain said. "But by Feb. 1st, America will be moving in the right direction on all four of these challenges  and more  thanks to President-elect Joe Bidens leadership."

Just one piece of the Biden agenda

The Biden team acknowledged that congressional action will be required to achieve much of Biden's early agenda. Topping that list is passage of a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, dubbed the American Rescue Plan, that Biden introduced last week.

Biden promised to introduce an immigration bill "immediately" upon taking office. It will include an eight-year pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the USA without legal status, an expansion of refugee admissions and the use of new technology to patrol the border.

"Over the first week and a half, he's going to do everything he can, within his power, to move us forward," Bedingfield said. "But that's only one piece of the agenda. The second piece of the agenda will be working with Congress."

More: Biden names White House team to work on racial equity, immigration and other domestic policy priorities

Biden begins his presidency seeking to unify a deeply divided nation, yet taking unilateral action. Executive orders became more common under the Obama and Trump presidencies, Belt said, as their administrations recognized it's easier to govern through executive power than legislation that needs congressional approval.

Trump issued eight executive orders by Feb. 3, 2017, and 210 over his four-year term. Obama had nine during the same time frame after inauguration and 276 over eight years. The last four presidents took only two Day One executive actions combined, according to the Biden team.

Other environmental orders in addition to Paris Agreement

Perhaps no other early action will deliver a bigger statement symbolically than rejoining the Paris Agreement, which will show the world the United States is ready to work multilaterally again, a departure from the isolationist tendencies of Trump, experts said.

The historic deal signed by Obama in 2015 includes almost 200 nations in agreement to combat climate change. Although mostly nonbinding, the Paris Agreement requires countries to set voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Nations have to accurately report on their efforts. Rejoining would mean the United States would again provide funding to developing countries for its climate change efforts.

"It's a very strong signal to the world that President Biden is sharply reversing the Trump policies and rejoining the national effort to fight climate change," said Michael Gerrard, director of Columbia University's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. "It will be warmly received by the rest of the world and put the U.S. back in a position of leadership."

Bidens climate crusade: How his plan to cut carbon emissions, create jobs could impact US

The president plans to sign a broad executive order to reverse more than 100 Trump administration environmental policies and direct all agencies to review federal regulations and executive actions from the past four years to determine whether they were harmful to public health, damaging to the environment or unsupported by science, McCarthy said.

Within that order, Biden will direct the Department of Interior to restore protections for national monuments, including Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears, which Trump sought to open to companies for mining and energy drilling, as well as place a temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The order will reestablish the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases to examine whether emissions and climate risks in governmental activities are fully accounted for.

More: The US is out of the Paris climate change agreement; if Biden wins, that could change

"The Paris climate agreement itself is not particularly binding. It's more what it symbolizes. But Biden is going to obviously be taking lot of other measures to carry out the promises of Paris," Gerrard said.

Travel ban a 'stain on nation , ' Biden team says

Trump's travel ban, ordered during his first week in office but reworked after legal challenges, was struck down multiple times in lower courts for being unconstitutional but was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Trump campaigned in 2016 on banning Muslims from entering the USA.

Trump's travel ban suspended the issuance of immigrant and nonimmigrant visas to applicants from Libya, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela. Last year, the Trump administration added six countries by suspending overseas visas for nationals of Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Nigeria and adding restrictions on Sudanese and Tanzanian nationals.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan called the Muslim ban nothing less than a stain on our nation.

It was rooted in xenophobia and religious animus and President-elect Biden has been clear that we will not turn our back on our values with discriminatory bans on entry to the United States, he said.

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called it "very welcome news" to see Biden rescind "what was a totally, we believe, totally unconstitutional, un-American policy barring people based on their faith."

More: Trump expands controversial travel restrictions to six new countries

More: Supreme Court upholds President Trump's travel ban against majority-Muslim countries

He said CAIR hopes Biden will soon repeal other Trump policies on immigration and refugees. That includes prohibiting the separation of parents from children at the southern border and removing caps on refugees and asylum seekers.

"The actions taken on Day One are an indication of how they're viewed as being important  issues that need to be introduced immediately," Hooper said. "It's good the Muslim ban is one of those issues."

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Bidens executive orders: The first orders of the 46th president

Melania Trump did not write her own 'thank you' notes to White House staff who cared for her family for the past four years, CNN reports.

The former First Lady, who left Washington alongside her husband on Wednesday morning, instead outsourced the work to a lower-level staffer.

The typed notes - addressed to butlers, cooks, housekeepers, ushers and maintenance workers - were reportedly written in Mrs Trump's 'voice' to make it appear as if she had composed them herself.

The ex-FLOTUS, 51, subsequently signed her name at the bottom of each note.

According to CNN, there around '80 or so staff' who received one of the messages.

It has been an important tradition for First Ladies to leave notes to White House employees before they leave the residence for the final time. The First Families often become close to staffers and the notes become ''cherished keepsakes'.

But sources told the news network Wednesday that Mrs Trump has been 'checked out' in recent weeks and is 'not sad to be leaving' the White House.

Melania Trump did not write her own 'thank you' notes to White House staff who cared for her family for the past four years, CNN reports. The outgoing First Lady is pictured with her husband at Air Force Base Andrews on Wednesday

Society publicist R. Couri Hay told The New York Times on Wednesday that he believes the one-time fashion model was 'a reluctant First Lady' who took on the role 'for her husband'.

'I think that you will find that she will be even less visible, and less available [after she leaves Washington],' he stated.

Kellyanne Conway, who served as Senior Counselor to the President, told the Times that Mrs Trump will be remembered warmly.

'Melania is and will continue to be the most popular Trump,'she stated.

'As First Lady, she was fully engaged, but not overexposed. There remains a curiosity and a mystery about her.'

'As First Lady, she was fully engaged, but not overexposed. There remains a curiosity and a mystery about her': Mrs Trump leaves Washington as a polarizing figure

The outgoing FLOTUS cut a chic figure in a black Chanel coat, which she teamed with stylish sunglasses and black Christian Louboutin heels

On Wednesday morning, Mrs Trump hands with her husband as he ended his time as President.

The couple walked side-by-side across the White House lawn, before boarding Marine One on their way to Air Force Base Andrews.

The outgoing FLOTUS cut a chic figure in a black Chanel coat, which she teamed with stylish sunglasses, black Christian Louboutin heels, and a $70,000 Hermes Birkin bag.

Once at Air Force Base Andrews, Trump paid tribute to his wife as he addressed a crowd of supporters.

'Our First Lady has been a woman of great grace and beauty, and so popular with the people, so popular,' he stated.

The couple then flew to Florida, with Mrs Trump changing into a much more relaxed ensemble to signify the start of a new life

He then welcomed his spouse to the stage to say her final words as FLOTUS.

'Being your First Lady was my greatest honor,' she said.

'Thank you for your love and support. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all, God bless your families and God bless this beautiful nation.'

The couple then flew to Florida, with Mrs Trump changing into a much more relaxed ensemble to signify the start of a new life.

To the delight of awaiting media, she stunned in a colorful Gucci kaftan, proving that she will still generate attention and turn heads as a former First Lady.
The cars of the marriage party were going towards Dhupguri on the wrong side of the road and the collision took place due to dense fog

Jalpaiguri: Fourteen members, including four children, of a marriage party were killed and 10 others injured due to a collision between a stone-laden truck and their three vehicles in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, police said on Wednesday.

The accident occurred in Jaldhaka area in Dhupguri block on Tuesday night, they said.

The cars of the marriage party were going towards Dhupguri on the wrong side of the road and the collision took place due to dense fog, a senior police officer said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced an ex gratia of Rs 2.5 lakh each to the next of kin of those who were killed in the accident.

The state government will provide Rs 50,000 each to those who were seriously injured, she said at a programme in Purulia.

Banerjee also said Rs 25,000 would be given to those whose injuries are not serious.

"The loss cannot be compensated. But we would like to tell the families that the government is with them. We are providing compensation to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured persons. Our local MLA Sourav Chakraborty is already there and state minister Aroop Biswas is rushing to the spot," Banerjee said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was extremely anguished over the road accident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the incident.

He also said that Rs 50,000 each would be given to those injured, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Ten injured people are undergoing treatment in Jalpaiguri Super Speciality Hospital, the police officer said.
The WHO panel announces that the worldwide COVID-19 response failed and a yearlong debacle. The overall response to the contagion was slow, and forewarning was not headed.

In most recent times, the rise of the coronavirus has sorely tested the World Health Organization leadership that is grappling with ways to control the contagion.

The health organization reported the botched response to the Sars-Cov-2 and COVID had not been a success. The WHO panel cites the actions of governments and public health organizations have been wholly inadequate. Even with prior warning accord to the World Health Organization, nothing was done to avoid the situation now, reported The Straits Times.

The Interim Report

It is a compilation and report that has outlined every error, from faulty assumptions, ineffective planning, and disastrously sluggish attempts to arrest the coronavirus. The report includes an admission that World Health Organization has helped bring the global pandemic to a tattered response with two million or more deaths from the contagion.

According to the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, a gross failure for all nations to solve the pandemic as one. Human security is jeopardized as the threat of the virus is all around us.

For example, governments have been unsuccessful in getting protective equipment and doing contact tracing. All these problems plague governments and are happening in the pandemic.

The Interim report presented a grim picture of the past year and a tiny window that is still there. Another point raised is how leaders and scientists did not get their act together. At this crucial point, there must be a unified front to deal with the coronavirus.

Also read: Coronavirus Cases All Over the Globe Reaches Over 10 Million Cases

Leading the panel is Ms. Helen Clark and Ms. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, both are former leaders in their countries, they are still digging into the evidence.

Panel members state several facts that should be noted in the report. One is to define how far the inquiry will go. Lastly, the last year was a failure because nations and the whole world have to carefully consider dealing with outbreaks. Many countries have not adequately done outbreak control.

The report cites successive failures that led to this sad state of affairs. Health officials call the systems used to arrest the COVID failures. Examples are the failed responses and how ineffectively governments acted that is a disaster.

Stark failure of public health officials

Criticisms of how public health officials had acted to the world's detriment when the World Health Organization took its time until January 30 to call it an international health emergency, Beijing asked world governments to delay an emergency declaration.

Before the emergence of the coronavirus in Wuhan at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), there were whispers of possible pandemics not heeded by governments. What should have been a move to prepare instead became foot-dragging and a virus emerging in 2019.

One point the report is there was no change to prepare for an epidemic effectively. That bred the deadly coronavirus, but warnings were ignored. The virus is running rampant but not as virulent and still a source of concern. The WHO stumbled, and the Covid-19 Response of world leaders is less than satisfactory.

Related article: World Health Organization Slams Chinese Communist Party for Delaying Foreign Specialists into Wuhan

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[January 20, 2021] Two Organizations Receive Nearly $1.3M to Renovate Homes and Build Apartments

Red River Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) have awarded a $495,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidy to GAEDA Revitalization Corp. (GRC) and $750,000 to Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GCHP). GRC plans to rehabilitate 50 homes owned by low-income seniors living in the Rapides Parish of Alexandria, Louisiana. About $10,000 per homeowner will be spent on repairs. Willie Spears, GRC executive director, said the AHP subsidy will help improve living conditions of low-income older residents. "We are extremely grateful to have received an Affordable Housing Program subsidy from Red River Bank and FHLB Dallas as these older residents in our community wouldn't be able to afford these critical repairs on their fixed incomes," he said. GCHP will partner with East Baton Rouge Council on Aging (EBRCOA) to build a village-style apartment complex called Lotus Village with 116 units and a community building near the EBRCOA senior center. New Orleans-based real estate developer, GCHP has partnered with EBRCOA on the project. "We appreciate the funding support provided by Red River Bank and FHLB Dallas," said GCHP President and CEO Kathy Laborde. "Thanks to their generosity, GCHP and EBRCOA can provide seniors in Baton Rouge with quality affordable housing, wellness amenities and direct access to supportive services. The estimated construction start date for the $20 million project is spring 2021." Red River Bank Vice President and CRA Officer Jannease Seastrunk said the bank believes providing for basic needs like affordable housing is part of the bank's core values, which include commitment to the communities it serves. "Partnering with FHLB Dallas alows these organizations to provide their communities with the quality housing they deserve," she said.



AHP funds are intended to assist FHLB Dallas members in financing the purchase, construction and/or rehabilitation of owner-occupied, rental or transitional housing and housing for the homeless. AHP funds must be used to benefit households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income for the area. For 2020, FHLB Dallas awarded $19.3 million in subsidies to 38 affordable housing projects. The funds will help create 2,749 new or rehabilitated housing units. Included in that total, are $4.6 million in subsidies for 764 units of housing in the state of Louisiana.

Since the AHP's inception in 1990, FHLB Dallas has awarded more than $323 million in AHP and Homeownership Set-Aside Programs and has assisted more than 57,000 households. "We are pleased to partner with Red River Bank; they have a history of community outreach that we really admire," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. For more information about the AHP, visit fhlb.com/ahp. About Red River Bank The origins of Red River Bank can be followed all the way back to the very heart of Louisiana. There, near the banks of the Red River, a small group of community leaders came together with a vision for a new kind of bank. The year was 1999, the banking climate was one of mergers and acquisitions, and the era of hometown banking seemed to be fading away. Red River Bank was founded on the belief of always doing the right thing, and that integrity is what guides us as we continue to grow. Just as water seeks its own level, we only seek opportunities to do what's right for our customers, our team members and our communities across Louisiana. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $66.3 billion as of September 30, 2020, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005639/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 20:12:31|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has called for strengthening national ideology based on kindness and humanism amid new threats and challenges to national identity and spiritual values, the president's press service said Wednesday.

"Once we have decided to build a new Uzbekistan, we rely on two strong pillars..., a strong economy based on market principles ... and a strong spirituality based on the rich spiritual heritage of our ancestors and national values," Mirziyoyev said during a government meeting.

Mirziyoyev proposed to create an Institute for Social and Spiritual Research, and tasked the State Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment to coordinate the spiritual and educational activities of all government agencies, the press service said.

The president stressed the importance of nurturing the youth and protecting them in the process of globalization that bring both unprecedented new opportunities and unforeseen problems, it said.

The president pointed out a rise in such threats as terrorism, extremism, cybercrime, human and drug trafficking.

Since Mirziyoyev took office in 2016, Uzbekistan has taken a series of measures to open up the country and promote economic and social reforms, including the liberalization of its judicial system. Enditem
China's space administration has unveiled a list of 10 selections for the name of the country's first Mars rover, inviting internet users from across the globe to vote on the candidates before making a final selection.

Netizens at home and abroad can take part in the poll to help decide the name of the Mars rover from Jan. 20 to Feb. 28. The administration will pick the three most popular names based on public voting and the opinions of an evaluation committee.

According to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration, the 10 selected names have come out after a global naming campaign that kicked off in late July 2020.

In October, a panel of 32 experts selected 10 semifinalists after evaluating more than 39,000 submissions from 38 countries and regions. The participants ranged from 7 to 95 years old.

These include "Hongyi," which means having a broad and strong mind in Chinese, "Qilin," a legendary animal, and "Nezha," a beloved Chinese mythological figure.

The final name will be announced when Tianwen-1 lands on Mars, the administration added.

China launched its Mars probe Tianwen-1 on July 23, 2020. The spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, is expected to reach the planet around February.
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7.86 lakh healthcare workers got COVID-19 vaccine jabs so far: Centre

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 20: In total 7.86 lakh healthcare workers have received COVID-19 vaccine jabs till the evening of the fifth day of the immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, 1,12,007 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm across 20 states and Union Territories, it said, adding the final report for the day will be complied by late in the night.

Centre will bear vaccination cost of healthcare, frontline workers: PM Modi tells CMs

Ten cases of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) -- four in Delhi, two in Karnataka, and one each in Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and West Bengal -- have required hospitalisation so far, additional secretary in the Health Ministry Manohar Agnani said.

"There has been no case of serious/severe adverse event attributable to COVID-19 vaccination till date," Agnani said.
Tolentino asks COMELEC to ensure all Filipino seafarers could vote in upcoming elections

Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino today urged the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to devise a method allowing Filipino seafarers to exercise their right to suffrage.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation on Wednesday, Tolentino asked COMELEC officials to look into the plight of Filipino seafarers who have been deprived of their right to vote because they are at sea most of the time.

While the current process allows seafarers to vote by going to the nearest embassy or consular post during the 30-day voting period, Tolentino noted that most seafarers are at sea for six months, which is the usual duration of their contracts.

COMELEC spokesperson Atty. James Jimenez agreed with Tolentino's sentiment, adding that the poll body is studying other ways to provide seafarers various avenues to cast their votes. He said the COMELEC has not yet made use of online voting technology to allow seafarers to vote while at sea.

Tolentino suggested that the COMELEC deputize Filipino captains of Philippine-flagged vessels, which are considered part of the country's territory under the law, to oversee the casting of ballots by Filipino seafarers under their authority while at sea.
Kathmandu, January 20

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 268,310 as of Wednesday afternoon.

The ministry says 318 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 5,012 swab samples were tested. So far, 2 million 26,726 and people have been tested in the country.

As of today, 3,693 cases are active.

Of the total cases so far, 262,642 people have achieved recovery whereas 1,975 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 383 people have been discharged whereas six deaths have been reported.

Over 150 people are quarantined across the country.

[January 20, 2021] Farkouh, Furman & Faccio Announces New Partner, Hunter Norton

Farkouh, Furman & Faccio, LLP ("FF&F"), a leading boutique accounting and advisory firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of Hunter Norton to Partner. Norton joined FF&F in 2013 as Tax Director. He has extensive expertise in tax planning for international businesses and individuals. Additionally, he is FF&F's primary expert on issues involving tax planning for pass-through entities. Norton's professional focus includes tax planning for closely held businesses in sectors such as software development, retail, licensing of intellectual property, information services and marketing. Prior to joining FF&F, he spent 7 years as an attorney at Withers Bergman LLP, a tax-oriented law firm, and 8 years in the Tax practice with Deloitte (News - Alert) . Norton's depth of experience also allows him to advise clients in income tax matters related to trusts, estates and grantors. He is a ember of FF&F's Business Team in the Partnership, International Tax, and M&A focus areas; he is also a member of the Global Mobility Practice Group within Alliott Global Alliance, worldwide association of independent accounting, legal and consulting firms.



"Hunter has been an integral part of FF&F's success since he joined the firm. His expansive tax knowledge and meticulous approach with clients have made him a leader both at our firm and in the Tax and Accounting field. We congratulate him on this well-earned accomplishment," said Bruce Militzok, Partner. About Farkouh, Furman & Faccio

Since 1974, Farkouh, Furman & Faccio's team of Certified Public Accountants and Advisors has provided customized solutions for our clients' most complex tax, financial and business matters. From domestic and international businesses of all sizes to high net worth individuals and families, our clients can rely on personalized service and experienced strategies centered on maximizing efficiencies and profitability. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005567/en/

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People arrive to be inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at the Chaoyang Museum of Urban Planning in Beijing, China on Jan. 15, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

China Shuts Down at Least 11 Regions Over CCP Virus Explosion: Officials

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is fighting a nationwide COVID-19 outbreak and has shut down at least 10 regions as of Mondaycoming about two weeks after a New Years Eve party in Wuhan, which some experts pointed out was merely a propaganda exercise to promote the CCP as other countries grapple with the virus.

The CCP-backed Global Times newspaper proclaimed that the party in Wuhan was a sign of things to come and the West should get used to it. The regime effectively stopped reporting its true CCP virus figures early last year after the virus emerged in Wuhan in 2019, becoming a global pandemic. Human rights experts have said the CCPs disregard for human life and cover-up campaign exacerbated the spread of the virus worldwide.

But the same state-run paper on Jan. 18 said that now 11 Chinese regions are under de facto lockdown amid virus infections. The paper attempted to quibble over the definition of lockdown but stipulated that residents in those areas cannot leave and their freedom of movement is restricted.

Northeast Chinas Heilongjiang sealed off at least five regions  Zhaodong, Qinggang, Suihua citys downtown area, Angangxi district in Qiqihar, and Hulan district in Harbin. Local residents are required to stay in their homes and vehicles are prohibited on roads. Exit and entry roads are also closed off, the paper said.

In the meantime, the CCP appears to be deploying a propaganda campaign to blame the current virus outbreak on foreign sources. Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry, repeated the claim that the United States created the virus in a laboratory while social media website Weibo allowed a trend repeating Huas claim to stay up.

State-run media has also tried to blame the spread of the virus in China on ice cream with raw materials sourced in New Zealand and Ukraine. A local disease control center found that ice cream stored by Tianjin Daqiaodao Food Co. tested positive for the virus, state media reported over the past weekend.

Officials claims about the virus being found in frozen food may be a tactic to blame other countries for the spread of the virus. In November, regime authorities said that allegedly COVID-contaminated food was imported from other countries.

But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there is no evidence that frozen food can transmit the CCP virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) added last year that its not necessary to disinfect food packaging.

Meanwhile, CCP authorities relocated about 20,000 people in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province, to other areas for quarantine several days ago. The outbreak, according to officials, also spread to Qiqiharone of the largest cities in northern China in Heilongjiang Province.

The new wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Shijiazhuang was concentrated in the Zengcun township of Gaocheng district and has spread to other parts of China.

The Epoch Times learned on Jan. 11 that after many residents in Zengcun were sent to quarantine sites, nearly 20,000 people who had remained were urgently notified by local authorities to be transferred to quarantine centers in remote areas.

And leaked government documents obtained by The Epoch Times showed that officials in Hebei are anticipating a surge in CCP virus cases and are making preparations to curb its spread.

Chinese officials in Heilongjiang Province on Jan. 14 told all 38 million residents to self-quarantine at home, although they didnt say for how long.

Alex Wu contributed to this report.
Joe Exotic's legal team said it is 'disappointed' that former President Donald Trump didn't parson the star, although they 'respect' that decision.

Eric Love, a private investigator who is a part of Team Tiger, said in a statement to DailyMail.com that Exotic's supporters 'will not rest until Joe's injustice is corrected.'

'140 million Joe Exotic fans had a hard time getting out of bed this morning. We aare as disappointed that The President did not sign Joe's Pardon, as we were confident yesterday that he would,' Love said in the statement.

'It is only because of you 140 million fans that Joe's Pardon was even a possibility.'

Love added that that evidence has 'made it clear' that Exotic is not guilty.

'Rather, he is a victim of the persons he trusted most,' Love wrote.

'Team Tiger, just this morning spent two hours on the telephone with Joe and listened to his Direct Appeal Oral Arguments by Brandon Sample in Colorado.'

Earlier on Wednesday, Team Tiger said they 'respect' Donald Trump's decision to not grant him a pardon despite them being so confident he'd be released from jail that they prepared a limo to pick the Tiger King star up from jail.

Out of the 143 pardons and commutations granted by Trump, Exotic was not one of them, which left Tiger King fans 'absolutely livid'.

Scroll down for video

Joe Exotic's legal team was so confident that Donald Trump would pardon him that they booked him a limo to pick him up from prison

Eric Love sent a text to DailyMail.com noting that Team Tiger was 'disappointed' that Trump did not pardon Joe Exotic

On Tuesday night, the outgoing president, 74, granted clemency to former White House aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations issued during his final hours in office.

Exotic, 57, Julian Assange, 49, or Edward Snowden, 37, were all expected to be considered for clemency, but Trump didn't grant it to them. Trump did pardon other high-profile names and rappers Lil Wayne, 38, and Kodak Black, 23, who were prosecuted on federal weapons offenses.

'It is the President's Constitutional right to Pardon and we have to accept and respect his use of discretion. Our mission is just and continues,' Exotic's lawyer, Francisco Hernandez, shared in a Facebook post Wednesday morning.

'Score remains 0:0 at the end of the first quarter. After an aggressive first quarter Hail Mary, team tiger didn't score. Three quarters to go. #freejoeexotic,' Hernandez added.

Exotic's legal team had expected a pardon from the outgoing president and were even ready to pick him up in a limo from a Fort Worth prison to immediately get his hair done before seeing his husband Dillon Passage.

Team Tiger were 'absolutely confident' Exotic would receive a pardon and had even prepared a limo to pick him up from jail

Love said early on Tuesday that Team Tiger expected the pardon 'very soon'.

DailyMail.com reached out to Love for additional comment and details.

But Love told KOCO on Monday: 'We delivered everything that I want to do on this project and I am absolutely confident that we will receive the pardon tomorrow. I worked very hard on it.'

Team Tiger had a Dodge SUV limo rented from Heaven on Wheels 'standing by' to whisk Maldonado-Passage from FMC Prison in Fort Worth 'to a secure location.'

Florida attorney John Phillips, the lawyer representing Anne McQueen, who was featured in Tiger King, told KOCO that insiders have told him Trump's main focus was on people who have closer ties to him.

'The hit TV show of COVID, I don't think has the political capital. It's a lack of lobbyists. It's a lack of funds. It's a lack of being able to play the game in Washington, DC,' Phillips said.

'Now, don't get me wrong, President Trump is unpredictable. Can Trump just put his name down and it get approved? Yes. But there are so many people seeking pardons right now that affect Trump's life after the presidency,' Phillips said.

Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, has served roughly two years of a 22-year sentence after he was convicted on 17 federal charges in 2019 for animal abuse and an attempted murder-for-hire plot on Carole Baskin.

Maldonado-Passage, 57, who owned and operated the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, shot to fame after Netlfix released its hit Tiger King series at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Final hours: On Tuesday night, the outgoing president, 74, granted clemency to former White House aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations issued during his final hours in office

The full list of recipients was said to be 143. Trump, however, did not name Joe Exotic, 57, pictured in his mug shot, Julian Assange, 49, or Edward Snowden, 37, who were all expected to be considered for clemency

Tiger King fans were left dfurious and 'upset' over Exotic missing out on the outgoing president's clemency spree as they took to Twitter to share their thoughts.

One person said: 'Absolutely livid that I've woken up to find Donald Trump didn't pardon Joe Exotic on his last day.'

A different fan wrote: 'Well annoyed trump didn't pardon Joe Exotic.'

Another follower commented: 'Anyone else actually disappointed that President Trump didn't pardon Joe Exotic? Imagine what season 2 of Tiger King would have been like.'

A different account noted: 'Sad that Joe Exotic didn't get a pardon, just because I wanted to be able to tell my kids about it someday, but Lil Wayne is almost as good.'

While another user added: 'WTF??? #JoeExotic didn't make the cut for a Presidential pardon???.... there is no Justice.'

With a different fan commenting: 'Think we're all secretly a bit disappointed about the lack of a pardon for Joe Exotic.'

However other social media users were bemused over the fact fans thought Exotic would get a pardon from Trump.

Plans: Joe Exotic's legal team had expected a pardon from the outgoing president and were even ready to pick him up in a limo from a Fort Worth prison to immediately get his hair done before seeing his husband Dillon Passage (pictured together before going to jail)

One person questioned: 'Wait did people actually want Trump to pardon Joe Exotic..!?'

While another follower added: 'Why am I so happy he didn't pardon Joe exotic???'

As well as Exotic, Trump did not grant clemency to himself, his children, or his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani after months of speculation.

On Tuesday night, the outgoing president granted clemency to former White House aide Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations issued during his final hours in office.

Trump, however, did not name himself among those being pardoned, nor did he name any of his children.

White House advisers had reportedly cautioned Trump against a self-pardon over the last few months because they believed it would make him look guilty of something.

Trump, who officially leaves office later today, appeared to heed their warnings. Joe Biden will be sworn in as Trump's White House successor on Wednesday.

Anger: Tiger King fans were left 'absolutely livid' and 'upset' over Exotic missing out on the outgoing president's clemency spree as they took to Twitter to share their thoughts

Bemused: However other social media users were bemused over the fact fans thought Exotic would get a pardon from the outgoing president

Missing: Also missing from the list was Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and Edward Snowden (L-R)

Pardoned: Ahead of his departure, Trump pardoned rapper Lil Wayne, who pleaded guilty in federal court in December to illegally possessing a firearm

Last week, Exotic's legal team flew to Washington, DC, to meet with White House aides for a last-minute pardon discussion.

Love told The Sun at the time that the 'exit plan' to take Exotic to a luxury ranch also included a helicopter.

'The first thing that will happen: Joe will be taken off site and then placed in a helicopter with myself and a security team and an additional helicopter, we are going to go to a remote ranch, that's remote to Fort Worth,' he said.

Love added that Exotic will need about 48 hours of 'decompression' after being 'institutionalized.'

Team Tiger will 'make sure that he is loved, appreciated, catered to,' Love told the outlet.

'He's made it very clear, he wants to make sure his hair is done before he sees Dillon, and that's important,' he said.

'You always want to be the best for your spouse and we can certainly agree and embrace that and we will facilitate that.'

Sentence: Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, has served roughly two years of a 22-year sentence after he was convicted on 17 federal charges in 2019 for animal abuse and an attempted murder-for-hire plot on Carole Baskin (pictured in show still)

Reunited: Passage, Joe's husband, was expected to be driven to the ranch two days later

Love added that Exotic 'is a very flamboyant person' and will receive the full 'platinum' service.

Exotic will be treated by a wardrobe and makeup team to make him 'showtime ready' - though Team Tiger will not have cameras with them, The Sun reported.

While Love added that a chef will be there, saying: 'If you can imagine what a utopia would be, anything you need, we're going to have.'

Love had previously said that Exotic would also quickly 'get some pizzas, steak, maybe a McRib.'

'We have folks from all walks of the medical field that get him ready and what I mean by that is make sure that all medical issues are ready: platelets are infused.'

Love also said that psychologists will be available to help Exotic and Team Tiger 'with anything that he needs.'

'He will get to pick from any 10 outfits because we want to make sure that we have the right attire, because he wants the world to see him not as the dishevelled person that prison has made him to a degree,' he said.

Passage, Joe's husband, would then be driven to the ranch two days later, according to the outlet.

Exotic was sentenced in January 2020 in his native Oklahoma after attempting to pay a hitman $3,000 to kill his nemesis Baskin - who sought to shut down his breeding of big cats.

Last May, it was revealed that Exotic's legal team was seeking a pardon from Trump claiming that he was wrongfully convicted after Trump said last April he was looking to pardon the former zookeeper.

In September, Exotic wrote Trump a letter pleading for an early release from prison while his representatives spent around $10,000 at Trump's DC hotel in a bid to help his cause.
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Only about 93 miles of the $11 billion undersea pipeline line remains to be completed.



By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

Associated Press

MOSCOW  Russian state gas company Gazprom acknowledged there is a risk that its undersea pipeline to Germany could be suspended or canceled after the U.S. on Tuesday imposed sanctions on a Russian ship involved in its construction.

Germany's Economy Ministry said it had been informed in advance of the new U.S. sanctions against the Russian pipe-laying ship Fortuna and its owner. We take note of this announcement with regret, the ministry said.





. . .

ROME, JAN 20 - An Italian government summit on Wednesday agreed that Premier Giuseppe Conte must press on with a bid to boost his majority after gaining only a relative and not absolute one in a Senate confidence vote on Tuesday night. Conte got 156 votes, five shy of the 161 he needs to hold an absolute majority in the upper house, where his majority was stripped by the defection of ex-premier Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva (IV) party. Ruling party leaders agreed at Wednesday's summit in a video-conference with Conte that they must pursue the process of reinforcing the majority, as well as drafting a new pact on the agenda to implement for the remainder of the parliamentary term which ends in 2023. They reportedly did not set a time limit on completing the process of shoring up the Senate majority. Democratic Party (PD) leader Nicola Zingaretti said Wednesday that a "leap into darkness" had been averted when the government survived the crunch confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday. Conte's executive won the confidence vote in the Senate after IV triggered a crisis by pulling its support. But, unlike in Monday's vote in the Lower House, the government came up short of an absolute majority, meaning uncertainty about its future remains. "Now we must work on two fronts - the problems of the Italian people and the government's political direction," Zingaretti told his party's Radio Immagine, adding that he had spoken to Conte after Tuesday's vote. "There is absolute awareness about the need to work on these two fronts. "Now is the time to turn a new leaf, to reinforce the government's parliamentary strength". Conte held the video meeting with representatives of the parties supporting his government on Wednesday - the PD, the 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the left-wing LeU group. He also is set to visit President Sergio Mattarella to discuss the situation. The centre-right opposition has said it is ready to ask Mattarella for snap elections to be held, arguing the government no longer has a working majority in the Upper House. The government won Tuesday's vote with the help of several life Senators and two lawmakers elected with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia (FI) party who broke ranks. (ANSA).
China's most well-known billionaire Jack Ma who made headlines for 'missing' for a couple of months has resurfaced. His absence from public view spurred speculations about his whereabouts following intense scrutiny of his empire. Ma, on Wednesday, addressed hundreds of teachers at an online conference. The conference is part of an annual event Ma hosts to recognise the efforts of rural educators.

Sharing a video by Ma, state-affiliated media Global Times' reporter tweeted: "Jack Ma not disappear, here we go: Ma just had a video conference with 100 village teachers on Wednesday morning, saying: after COVID19, we'll meet each other again."

In a follow-up tweet, senior reporter Qingqing Chen said, "Ma, who used to be an English teacher and founder of Alibaba, also gives wishes to village teachers via a video on Wednesday, saying usually the activity is held in Sanya in southern Hainan but this year, due to Covid19 it has to be done via video conference."

Ma, who used to be an English teacher and founder of #Alibaba, also gives wishes to village teachers via a video on Wednesday, saying usually the activity is held in Sanya in southern Hainan but this year, due to #Covid19 it has to be done via video conference. pic.twitter.com/yfi7oPB5Sb a Qingqing_Chen (@qingqingparis) January 20, 2021

Reports of Ma's absence made headlines earlier this month. Quoting Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, Hong Kong-based The Asia Times had stated that Jack Ma is 'embracing supervision'. Ma had not made any public appearance since October 2020, raising eyebrows over his whereabouts. He was also missing from the final episode of his own talent show 'Africa's Business Heroes' that gives a chance to budding African entrepreneurs to compete for $1.5 million.

While Ma has re-emerged, Beijing continues to investigate Ant Group and Alibaba Group. It all began when Ma criticised China's regulatory system in October for its 'pawnshop mentality', as he called it. He called for reforms in the system and said that companies like AliPay was unsuitable for financial regulatory structure like that of China's. This happened days before Ant Group was supposed to launch one of the world's biggest IPOs worth $37 billion in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Following the criticism, the Chinese authorities launched an 'anti-monopoly' probe against the company, pulling the plug for the IPO.

Also read: Jack Ma arrested? Chinese media says Alibaba founder 'embracing supervision'

Also read: Jack Ma missing since October? Here's what we know so far
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Vatican City: Pope Francis told US President Joe Biden that he was praying that God would guide his efforts to bring reconciliation in the United States and among the nations of the world.

In a message sent shortly after the second Catholic US president was sworn in on on Wednesday, local time, Francis also said he hoped Biden would work towards a society marked by true justice, freedom and respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those with no voice.

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts. Credit:AP

"Under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty political, ethical and religious values that have inspired the nation since its founding," Francis said.

"I likewise ask God, the source of all wisdom and truth, to guide your efforts to foster understanding, reconciliation and peace within the United States and among the nations of the world in order to advance the universal common good," he said.
A Trump supporter who was present during the Jan. 6 protest in Capitol Hill reveals that some people who weren't Trump supporters were there, disguised as people in support of the President.

Pro-Trump supporters held a protest against the questionable victory of Joe Biden over President Trump during the election in November.

An article in Reuters said that security tried to stop the violent crowd by drawing their pistons to those who were trying to break into the building. The mob was violently fighting the security officers who were trying to push through their metal barricades and smash open the windows, which then forced the people working inside the building (lawmakers) to hide in more secured rooms. The protesters roamed inside the U.S Capitol while holding a Trump flag in their hands, photographing, and vandalizing the building.

LifeSite News interviewed one of the Trump supporters who were at the event. He said that he and his fellow protesters think that there were suspicious people with them wearing red shirts and hats who didn't seem like typical Trump supporters. They think these people might be part of the Antifa movement.

Antifa, short for anti-fascist, is a group of activists known for what they oppose: Fascism, nationalism, far-right ideologies, white supremacy, authoritarianism, racism, homophobia, and xenophobia. Although they were not armed with guns, he said that he told them to stop trying to break the windows of the building.

"The only thing they were armed with was the flag poles that they had and I think a couple of them grabbed weapons off the police." He said. They were just joining the crowd and "people started throwing fireworks at the police and then I saw the police attacking people in the crowd and then the crowd got upset that they were being attacked. They ended up just pushing past the police into the courtyard of the Capitol."

After the crowd pushed past the police, there was tear gas going off and it was getting pretty tight so people had to climb up the gasoline, said the interviewed Trump supporter.

When he was asked on why he was stopping the crowd from breaking the windows, he said "I didn't want us to be portrayed in the media the way we are" and they only wanted a peaceful protest.

"This isn't just some violent mob that's trying to overthrow the government," he added. "It was a group of protestors who ... got a little bit hotheaded, especially when Antifa started instigating things."

"It seems like a lot of things were put into this to try to make it look as bad as possible."

An article in Yahoo! News also reported that the Florida firebrand, Matt Gaetz, spoke about what he had seen.

Matt Gaetz said, "some pretty compelling evidence from a facial-recognition company showing that some of the people who breached the Capitol today were not Trump supporters, they were masquerading as Trump supporters, and in fact were members of the violent terrorist group Antifa."

Before the riot even started, Donald Trump had already blamed the Antifa for any damage that might happen on the day of the protest.

"Antifa is a Terrorist Organization, stay out of Washington. Law enforcement is watching you very closely!" he tweeted just before his account got suspended on Twitter.

Earlier reports indicated that leftists from Antifa, Black Lives Matter and other like groups infiltrated the Trump supporters at the Capitol. Some of them were already there before the President finished speaking at the Save America Rally held at the Ellipse just outside the White House.

RIDGEFIELD  School officials have recorded four new cases of COVID-19 at Ridgefield High School and Farmingville Elementary School in the last few days.

On Monday, two cases were found at Farmingville, Aaron Crook, the districts COVID-19 health and safety compliance liaison and director of nursing services, said in a letter to parents and staff.

As with previous communications, all of the cases were identified only as members of the school communities.

One of the people reported sick at Farmingville was quarantining after exposure there on Jan. 11 therefore in-school transmission cannot be ruled out in this case, Crook said.

However, there is also a potential source of infection from outside of the school building which is the more likely source of infection, he wrote.

One of the people who tested positive was last in the Farmingville building Jan. 13. Everyone who they were in contact with there is already quarantining for exposure on Jan. 11, but two days will be added to their quarantine period, according to Crook.

The other positive individual was not in the FES building during a period of time when they were potentially infectious to others. No contact tracing is needed for these cases, Crook said.

Two other cases were found at Ridgefield High School Monday and Tuesday.

The case discovered on Monday involved an individual who was not in the building during a time when they were potentially infectious to others, Crook wrote.

As a result, that case did not require contact tracing.

The second case, which schools learned about Tuesday, involved a person who was briefly in the building that morning.

Five students and two members of the staff will need to quarantine for 10 days as a result.

Please wear a mask, wash your hands, and keep your distance, Crook said.
Holiday bookings by the over-50s who are anticipating being able to travel after having the coronavirus vaccine is giving a much-needed shot in the arm to the industry.

Several companies say bookings from this age group have helped the sector with many now looking to head away for several weeks to make up for the lack of trips in 2020.

Pent up demand has led to a rise in bookings with popular destinations including Spain and Greece. However, Saga today has revealed that all holidaymakers who book with it will require the vaccine.

Holiday firms have also seen an increase in those booking 'once in a lifetime' trips for 2021 with overseas locations such as the US proving popular.

Spain is one of the most popular locations for holidaymakers this summer as bookings increase

Tui is one of the firms saying it has since a surge in interest from older generations.

A spokesperson for Tui said: 'We're seeing more interest in holidays from an age group that wasn't coming through before, with the over-50s starting to book, we assume, on the back to the positive vaccine news.

'Since the end of last year, bookings from this group have accounted for 50 per cent of all our web bookings, as customers long for a sunshine break later in summer, in particular in Greece, Turkey or the Balearics.'

It added many customers want to get away for longer this year, opting for 14, 10 or 11 nights instead of seven to make up for not having a holiday in 2020.

EasyJet has also seen a surge in bookings for this summer which are up 250 per cent on last year with May proving to be the most popular month for a holiday.

Popular destinations include Turkey, Spain - especially Tenerife and Majorca  Greece, the Algarve and Egypt. It added all-inclusive is proving most popular in terms of board basis.

Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, said: 'We welcome that the much-needed vaccination programme is well underway across the UK and Europe as this is undoubtedly the key to unlocking travel again  giving some consumers confidence to book.

'We have seen easyJet holidays bookings from our over-50s customers increase over the last few weeks in comparison to pre-Christmas, which suggests a further confidence boost from the vaccine roll out.

'We know there is pent up demand  we have seen that every time restrictions have been relaxed and so we know that people want to go on holiday as soon as they can and so we will ensure we are ready to ramp up operations when customers start to take to the skies again.'

Trips to Greece are set to be popular this summer as are holidays to Spain, Turkey and the USA

Meanwhile, Saga Holidays has announced it will only be allowing vaccinated travellers on its trips.

The firm, which specialises in over-50 travel, added this means it will be moving the start date for its travel business to May.

A spokesperson said: 'The health and safety of our customers has always been our number one priority at Saga, so we have taken the decision to require everyone travelling with us to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

'Our customers want the reassurance of the vaccine and to know others travelling with them will be vaccinated too. To allow our customers time to get vaccinated, we are moving the restart date for our Travel businesses to May.

'Our new vaccination policy will be in addition to the detailed arrangements we have already put in place for when cruises and other holidays restart.'

It added it has seen an increase in the number of people booking long-haul and once in a lifetime adventures in 2022 with bookings up 90 per cent.

Top destinations for holidaymakers include India, Australasia and Africa.

Its data also shows people want to go away for longer with stays up from a previous average of 13 days to 18  nearly a 40 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, 70 per cent of short haul bookings for November 2021 to January 2022 are for 21 nights or longer.

There has also been a 16 per cent increase in traffic to holidays website with a 98 per cent increase in conversion to sales suggesting those searching for trips are now more confident to book.

Chris Simmonds, chief executive of Saga Holidays, said: 'We've seen an uptick in interest across our range in recent weeks, both for holidays this year and into 2022.

'Many of our guests are hopeful that they will be able to travel again soon, with the vaccine providing them the optimism they need to start planning ahead.

'Of course, given we cater exclusively for people aged over 50, many of our customers are near top of the queue for a vaccine which is giving them the confidence to start thinking about travelling again, as well as returning to other parts of normal life.'

Is it safe to book a holiday yet? Currently, holidaymakers are being advised against booking an overseas trip by the Government due to the ongoing pandemic. All travel corridors were closed to protect against the new strains of virus entering or leaving the country. Now, anyone flying into the country from overseas will have to show proof of a negative Covid test before gaining entry. These rules are to be in place until at least 15 February when they will then be reviewed alongside the current lockdown measures. Whilst it is hoped millions more people will be vaccinated by summer, it is not guaranteed that travel to other countries will be available. As such, staycations are likely to be popular again this summer with areas such as Cornwall and the Cotswolds likely to see an influx of tourists.

It is not just older people looking to book with 62 per cent of travellers saying they hope to book a holiday abroad in the next six months, up from 52 per cent in August 2020, according to ABTA.

An ABTA spokesperson said: 'The vaccine developments have helped to boost consumer confidence. The lack of opportunities to travel this past year have led to huge pent up demand for holidays, with many people keen to book a break.

'Our research shows two types of traveller will emerge this year  those who are eager to return to destinations they know and love and those who want to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

'Popular destinations such as Spain, France and USA continue to feature among the favourite places holidaymakers plan to visit.'

It added its research also shows holidaymakers are 20 per cent more likely to book their holidays with a travel professional now than before the pandemic, primarily for the extra protection that comes with booking a package holiday and the advice available from a travel expert.

This is because package holidays offer the best form of protection, and on top of the usual protections, many ABTA Members are also offering more flexible cancellation and rebooking policies.

Anyone flying into the UK from overseas will now have to provide a negative coronavirus test

Skyscanner said searches and bookings are down compared to the same time last year but it is seeing positive growth.

It said July 2021 is currently the most searched month for flights for UK travellers on the site with Faro, Malaga and Islamabad making up the top international destinations searched on the site for summer this year.

The booking site believes that when quarantine exemptions are announced in future, bookings for those locations will soar after holidays to Portugal spiked over 2,000 per cent immediately following the quarantine exemption announcement last year.

Gavin Harris, Commercial Director at Skyscanner, said: 'Safety is rightly paramount for travellers, and we've seen how engaged our community is as behaviours on our site have changed in line with the evolving news agenda and government advice.

'We have seen increasing interest in travel since news of vaccine readiness broke in November last year and we expect this to continue as they are approved and delivered in 2021.'

Travelsupermarket added that whilst it doesn't know the age of people booking holidays, it can see that sales of travel insurance policies have increased significantly for older customers for holidays which they are taking in four or more months time.

It found that June and July are currently the most popular months to lock in a holiday for.

Popular destinations include Spain, Greece and Turkey which are high on people's short-haul beach break lists but it is also seeing people get excited about long haul visits, especially from September onwards, with New York and Las Vegas at the top of long haul lists.

Emma Coulthurst of TravelSupermarket said: 'This year more than ever, the outbound travel sector needs to encourage customers to book. Holiday providers are reducing their prices in an attempt to claw back the business which they lost last year.

'The competition is fierce for the British tourism pound after a really tumultuous annus horribilis 2020 for travel.

'As the vaccination programme gathers pace and there is more certainty of a return to the old normal, demand and prices are likely to pick up. Demand is not what it would normally be so you can also pick up some really low prices.'

This is Money contacted both Ryanair and Jet2 but they said they were unable to comment.

How to protect your booking

There are a few ways travellers can protect their bookings if they want to make plans now.

1.Purchase a 'flexible' ticket: This could mean that you're entitled to a free date or destination change if you should need it, for example, if you have to isolate and can no longer fly.

2. Get travel insurance: This is essential as it can protect you against cancellations and changes to your holiday.

Some policies will cover changes if you should catch Covid-19 but ensure you check the wording carefully before purchasing.

Whilst the EHIC is no more, you can now get your hands on the Global Health insurance card.

3. Book a package holiday: Rather than book your holiday elements separately, you can pay your deposit, safe in the knowledge that you have Package Travel Regulation and ATOL protection and your money back if restrictions prevent the holiday going ahead.

4. Pay with a credit card: When booking, ensure you pay with a credit card as this will give you more protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act plus you can use chargeback.
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
General Meeting of Shareholders approved the financial restructuring plan and the new form of governance

Regulatory News:

Europcar Mobility Group's (Paris:EUCAR) Extraordinary General Meeting was held on January 20, 2021 under the chairmanship of Mr. Jean-Paul Bailly, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. A quorum of 37,25% was reached.

In light of the COVID-19 epidemic and in accordance with Order No. 2020 1497 of December 2, 2020, the Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting was exceptionally held without the physical presence of its shareholders, in closed session.

Shareholders were able to follow the proceedings of the meeting from a distance, which were webcasted live and are also available in replay mode on the Company's website at the following address: https:///europcar/#!/europcar/20210121_1.

Europcar Mobility Group announces that all of the resolutions necessary for the implementation of the financial restructuring plan have been approved: it will enable the Group to finalize the implementation of this comprehensive plan, which notably contemplates a massive reduction of the Group's corporate debt by 1,100m through equitization and a significant new money injection, via capital increases1 and new fleet financing facilities (approx. 500m in total).

During this meeting, Caroline Parot, CEO, recalled how the Group had been severely affected by the Covid-19 Crisis, with a significant impact on revenues and, as a consequence, a sharp increase of the Group's corporate debt and its weight. This led the Group to launch early September 2020 an in-depth financial restructuring, while adapting its strategy to the long-term consequences of the crisis on mobility needs and expectations.

As such, a specific time was devoted to the presentation of the Group's strategic plan, "Connect", which objective is to position the Group as a major player of sustainable, digital and connected mobility in the years to come.

Caroline Parot said: "Today, thanks to our shareholders, the Group's financial restructuring plan has been approved. This comprehensive and rapid restructuring plan will allow to properly reset the Group's corporate capital structure, enabling to focus on the accelerated implementation of our "Connect" plan.

I would like to thank our shareholders and in particular Eurazeo, for their support: their positive vote marks the opening of a new Chapter in the Group's history. They are not only enabling the Group to continue serving customers in more than 140 countries worldwide: they are also giving a major mobility player the opportunity to emerge stronger from the crisis

The complete results of the votes on the resolutions are available in the investor section, "Financial Information", sub-heading "Shareholders' Meetings" of the Group's Investor Relations website: http://investors.europcar-group.com.

The next step in the financial restructuring of Europcar Mobility Group is the approval of the accelerated financial safeguard plan by the Paris Commercial Court. To this end, a hearing will be held on January 25th to examine the proposed plan, following which the Court may decide to approve the accelerated financial safeguard plan in a ruling that could be handed down at the beginning of February 2021.

Europcar Mobility Group is thus in a position to finalize its restructuring plan, and move forward, turning the page on 2020.

Disclaimers

This announcement has been prepared by Europcar Mobility Group exclusively for information purposes. It does not constitute or include any advice or recommendation by Europcar Mobility Group (or any other person) regarding the securities of Europcar Mobility Group or EC Finance plc or as to the merits of any transaction or the making of any investment decision. It does not constitute or include any confirmation or commitment by Europcar Mobility Group (or any other person) regarding the present or future value of the business of Europcar Mobility Group, its securities, its affiliates or any of Europcar Mobility Group's or their assets.

This announcement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange or acquire securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The securities referenced in this announcement may not be offered, sold, exchanged or delivered in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The securities mentioned in this announcement are not, and will not be, registered in the United States. This announcement is not directed at, or intended for distribution, publication, availability to or use by, any person or entity that is a citizen or resident or located in any locality, state, country or other jurisdiction, where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to law or regulation, or which would require any registration or licensing within such jurisdiction.

This press release includes forward-looking statements based on current beliefs and expectations about future events. Such forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and/or expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations and services and product development, as well as statements, regarding performance or events. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "projects", "may", "would", "should" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Europcar Mobility Group and its subsidiaries and investments, trends in their business, future capital expenditures and acquisitions, developments in respect of contingent liabilities, changes in economic conditions globally or in Europcar Mobility Group's principal markets, competitive conditions in the market and regulatory factors. Those events are uncertain; their outcome may differ from current expectations which may in turn materially affect expected results. Actual results may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement contained in this press release is made as of the date of this press release. Other than as required by applicable law, Europcar Mobility Group does not undertake to revise or update any forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. The results and the Group's performance may also be affected by various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, risks identified in the "Risk factors" of the Annual Registration Document registered by the Autorite des marches financiers on May 6, 2020 and also available on the Group's website.

About Europcar Mobility Group

Europcar Mobility Group is a major player in mobility markets and listed on Euronext Paris. The mission of Europcar Mobility Group is to be the preferred "Mobility Service Company" by offering attractive alternatives to vehicle ownership, with a wide range of mobility-related services and solutions: car rental and light commercial vehicle rental, chauffeur services, car-sharing and private hire vehicle (PHV rental to "Uber like" chauffeurs).

Customers' satisfaction is at the heart of the Group's mission and all of its employees and this commitment fuels the continuous development of new services.

Europcar Mobility Group operates through a diversified portfolio of brands meeting every customer specific needs and use cases, be it for 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week or longer; its 4 major brands being: Europcar the European leader of car rental and light commercial vehicle rental, Goldcar the low-cost car-rental Leader in Europe, InterRent 'mid-tier' car rental and Ubeeqo one of the European leaders of round-trip car-sharing (BtoB, BtoC). Europcar Mobility Group delivers its mobility solutions worldwide solutions through an extensive network in over 140 countries (including wholly owned subsidiaries 18 in Europe, 1 in the USA, 2 in Australia and New Zealand completed by franchises and partners).

Further details on our website: www.europcar-mobility-group.com

1 The description of the capital increases implying the dilution of the existing shareholders base are and will be, described in more detail in the prospectuses approved by, or submitted for approval to, the AMF.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005665/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Caroline Cohen caroline.cohen@europcar.com



Communication

Valerie Sauteret valerie.sauteret@europcar.com

Vincent Vevaud vincent.vevaud@europcar.com



Publicis Consultants

Judith Grandcoing judith.grandcoing@publicisconsultants.com
Face coverings are 'probably of no value' for protection when walking past someone briefly in the street but people may need to start wearing them in outdoor crowds and markets, Sir Patrick Vallance said today.

The UK's chief scientific adviser said masks could become the new normal in some outdoor places and could still be in use next winter.

Current rules state that masks are not required outside but must be worn on public transport and in indoor spaces such as supermarkets and public halls.

But Sir Patrick's claim suggests a shift in the thinking of scientific advisers, who have been uncertain on the subject throughout the pandemic.

Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething last week urged people to wear face masks every time their leave their home, and London mayor Sadiq Khan last year called for them to be mandatory in busy shopping streets.

Sir Patrick also admitted it was 'still unknown' how well the masks work at blocking the virus from spreading between people.

The virus is known to be airborne and spread from the breath of infected people, but it's not clear what proportion of transmission this actually accounts for. More likely is that people pick it up when in close proximity to others for longer periods, when masks would be less likely to protect.

Face masks were first made mandatory on public transport in the UK in June, and later for shops and other indoor spaces in July.

The general consensus is that they are quite good at stopping people spreading the disease if they have it without knowing, but may offer only limited protection to the people wearing them.

Scientists have also suggested masks could reduce severity of disease by exposing people to the virus in small doses, but this hasn't been proven.

Sir Patrick Vallance said face masks may not be needed outside on streets but could be useful in crowded places and markets (A woman is pictured wearing a mask outdoors in New York)

Speaking to Sky News, Sir Patrick said that although the advice given to the Government said the masks were 'most useful' indoors they could also have a role when people are outside.

'They can be useful in outdoor environments where theres crowding but frankly there shouldnt be crowding,' he said.

'They are probably of no value where you are outside generally or just passing somebody for a second but they may have a role in other environments.

SOME CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS COULD STILL BE IN PLACE NEXT WINTER, TOP ADVISER WARNS Coronavirus restrictions could still be in place next winter despite mass roll out of the vaccine, Sir Patrick Vallance has warned. Although England's third lockdown could be gradually lifted from March, top advisers say, they add some measures - such as social distancing and face masks - could remain in place into next year. The chief scientific officer told Sky News today that despite it being likely the UK would be in a 'better' position by next winter, he didn't think Britons could assume all measures would be lifted. 'It's more likely to be making sure that we wear face masks in certain places, making sure that we keep up with hand washing, making sure that we're sensible about the way in which we interact with people in indoor environment's,' he said. 'That's the sort of thing you might anticipate. 'But this virus has taken us by surprise time and time again, and we just don't know.' He added: 'I'd be very surprised if we go in year-on-year needing to do things more than that but this coming winter I think we need to wait and see how far we get on with the current reduction in numbers that needs to occur.' Advertisement

'One might think of somewhere like an outdoor market where someone should wear face coverings but I should say the really key thing is avoid crowding.'

He also admitted there was still a level of confusion over how well the masks actually worked at stopping the spread of infection.

He said: 'This is still something of an unknown to put an exact number on it. What I think is clear is that face masks are most effective at preventing spread from the person wearing them.

'So theyre useful to stop people who might not know they have the disease who maybe are of course asymptomatic because you shouldnt be out and about anyway if youve got the symptoms but asymptomatic people from spreading from releasing it towards others. Thats where theyre most effective.'

But he added: 'They have some effect preventing you catching it from others as well (but) its not the biggest effect.'

His comments on masks being needed outside contrast with Professor Jonathan Van-Tam last week, who said he felt the masks would only be needed indoors.

The deputy chief medical officer told a Downing Street press briefing: 'The science on masks has changed as the pandemic has evolved.

'My view remains that the really high-risk environments for transmissions are indoor spaces, and the Government advice is to wear masks, face coverings, in indoor spaces.

'And I agree with that, and frankly I do that.'

A study published this month by researchers in the US found that a 10 per cent rise in self-reported mask wearing was linked to a three-fold increase in the odds of keeping the coronavirus's R number below 1.

R is the number of people that one infected person will pass on the virus to, on average. When the R value is less than 1, it means the epidemic is shrinking. If it is above one, it is growing.

However, the scientists warn that while face coverings can help control Covid-19 transmission in the community, they should not be a replacement for other coronavirus measures such as social distancing.

The US-based experts said their findings, published in the journal Lancet Digital Health, suggest that communities with high reported mask-wearing as well as physical distancing are the most likely to be able to control transmission.

They used a computer model to determine what interventions are needed in order to reduce the R rate below 1, what is needed in order for the pandemic to be deemed 'under control'.

The scientists found the odds of this happening go up 3.53 times if there is a ten per cent increase in population mask wearing, irrespective of what the baseline is.

It has been suggested that face masks will be needed in outdoor markets. Above is a market pictured in Tokyo, Japan

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer

Ben Rader, of Boston Children's Hospital and Boston University, co-author of the study, said: 'An important finding of this research is that mask wearing is not a replacement for physical distancing.'

Professor Trish Greenhalgh, a GP and healthcare lecturer at the University of Oxford, warned last month that masks should be made mandatory when people are packed close together outside.

'In addition to "shared air" (mostly an indoor risk), there's also the problem of being caught in the direct jet of an exhaled gas cloud when someone coughs, speaks, sneezes or just breathes out,' she said.

'If you're close enough to feel their warm breath on you or smell their halitosis (bad breath) you probably need a mask even outdoors.'

The capital's mayor backed the calls, saying: 'Face coverings should also be made mandatory in busy outdoor public spaces, given the numbers on our high streets in the run-up to Christmas.'

He told BBC Breakfast that the London Assembly had been lobbying the Government to change its rules.

The World Health Organization suggested people living in high transmission areas should wear face masks outdoors when they can't keep a metre apart at the start of this month.

But they admitted there was 'limited evidence' that the masks halt transmission of the virus.

In their report, they also suggested the coverings should be worn in private homes if someone comes inside who does not live there.
US President Donald Trump granted clemency to former White House aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations issued in his final hours in office, but did not pardon himself, members of his family or lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Trump leaves office later today, when Joe Biden is sworn in as the nation's next president.

White House officials had argued to Trump that he should not pardon himself or his family because it might look like they are guilty of crimes, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Read More

Bannon, who was a key adviser in Trump's 2016 presidential run, was charged last year with swindling the president's own supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the president's wall on the US-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty.

"Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen," the White House said in a statement.

White House officials had advised Trump against pardoning Bannon. The two men have lately rekindled their relationship as Trump sought support for his unproven claims of voter fraud, an official familiar with the situation said.

As part of more than 140 pardons and commutations, Trump also pardoned Elliott Broidy, a former top fundraiser for Trump who pleaded guilty last year to violating foreign lobbying laws, and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was serving a 28-year prison term on corruption charges.

Rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black who were prosecuted on federal weapons offenses, were also granted pardons.

Giuliani, who has been at the forefront of Trump's unsuccessful efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, has not been charged with a crime, but investigators have been probing his activities in Ukraine.

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House last week on charges of inciting the Jan. 6 storming of the US Capitol by the president's supporters. He may face a Senate trial and could be barred from running for president again if convicted.

The pardon power, which comes from the US Constitution, is one of the broadest available to a president. While pardons are typically given to people who have been prosecuted, pardons can cover conduct that has not yet resulted in legal proceedings.

A pardon is not reviewable by other branches of government and the president does not have to give a reason for issuing one. But the pardon power is not absolute; it only applies to federal crimes.

Bannon, 67, is the latest prominent political ally to receive clemency from Trump.

Trump previously pardoned former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI about his conversation with the former Russian ambassador, and he commuted the prison term for Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The former executive chairman and co-founder of the right-wing news outlet Breitbart, Bannon is credited as being the architect behind the rise of "America First" right-wing populism. He was a key influencer behind some of Trump's staunch anti-immigration policies in the early days of Trump's presidency, as well as the border wall that was one of Trump's key campaign promises.

He was fired from his post at the White House in August 2017.

Bannon can still be charged with fraud by New York state prosecutors, said Daniel R. Alonso, a former prosecutor now at the Buckley law firm. Fraud prosecutions are frequently brought by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Alonso added.

Broidy, who was a top fundraiser for Trump during the 2016 campaign, pleaded guilty in October to violating lobbying laws by attempting to influence the administration on behalf of Chinese and Malaysian interests.

Lil Wayne, 38, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., pleaded guilty in federal court in December to illegally possessing a firearm and faced up to 10 years in prison. He has expressed support for Trump's criminal justice reform efforts.

Kodak Black, 23, who was born Bill Kahan Kapri, is in federal prison for making a false statement in order to buy a firearm.

Read More




Chinese car brands made a breakthrough in 2020 when their cars began selling well in Vietnam, which had never before favored products from China.

Car dealers revealed that the two Chinese models Beijing X7 and Brilliance V7 are in short supply. There has been no Chinese arrival since the beginning of 2021, so car buyers have had to wait for deliveries.

Beijing X7 has been the best Chinese seller, while Brilliance V7 has ranked second. Though the design and equipment of Brilliance V7 is inferior to Beijing X7, it has a large interior compartment and uses a BMW engine.

One source said that a total of 500 Beijing X7s were imported to Vietnam as of the end of 2020. Imports of other models, including Brilliance V7, Zotye Z8 and BJ 40, had reached 300.

Despite Covid-19, which had an adverse impact on Vietnams automobile market, Chinese brands in 2019 had sales increases, especially in the last months of the year.

Car dealers hope their business will be even better in 2021, considering the orders they have taken. Their biggest worry now is the supply shortage and price increases.

Chinese suppliers now cannot satisfy our orders for Beijing X7 and Brilliance V7. Meanwhile, as the reminbi/US dollar exchange rate has fluctuated, every imported car is $1,000 more expensive. The transport cost of every car has also surged to $1,800, six times higher than previously, said a car dealer specializing in Chinese imports.

However, some analysts still doubt that Chinese cars will continue to sell well in 2021. They said Chinese cars sell well at launch, but see sales decrease later.

They said some buyers said that they had bought Chinese cars just to have some experience and still need some more time to evaluate their quality. In general, Chinese brands are not considered strong brands.

The common characteristics of Chinese next-generation models are that they have beautiful designs like European cars and are equipped with many high technologies, while the prices are very affordable.

However, in addition to these characteristics, Vietnamese want strong brands and high quality. The preconception that Chinese products mean low-quality products still exists.

With VND700 million, Vietnamese now have many choices for non-Chinese cars. They can buy Japanese and South Korean products, which dont have too many high tech features but are relatively modern and have good design. And importantly, there us no need to worry about the quality of the products.

Most imported Chinese models have selling prices of around VND700 million. With an engine of less than 2.0L, the import tariff is 70 percent, luxury tax 35-40 percent and VAT 10 percent. The production cost is estimated at VND300 million.

Tran Thuy

Low-cost Chinese cars do not sell well in Vietnam Despite slow sales, Chinese auto manufacturers have never given up the ambition to penetrate the Vietnamese market.
American Airlines may be planning for a future after CEO Doug Parker as it looks for a new human resources leader to lead hiring while actively engaging with a new CEO who has not yet been named.

Executive search firm Hunter Scanlon released the posting Friday for a chief human resources officer that would likely eventually succeed American Airlines Chief People Officer Elise Eberwein. But that person would also report to the new CEO, who will be a key part of this interviewing and selection process.

The airline is in the midst of a multi-year strategic succession planning process that is designed to prepare an internal executive for the chief executive officer role, the posting from Hunter Scanlon said.

As that transition occurs, there are other key leadership transitions that will soon happen, including Elises retirement, said the search firm. After these moves take place, the CHRO will eventually report to the new CEO, who will be a key part of this interviewing and selection process.

That internal executive is presumably American Airlines President Robert Isom, who oversees many of the everyday operations at American and is the No. 2 in the company.

American is Philadelphias largest carrier.

Parker, 59, is still young in CEO years and has been running the airline since 2013, when he helped orchestrate the merger between American and US Airways, where he was CEO. In fact, he was appointed CEO of America West Airlines just after the 2001 terrorist attacks, giving him almost two decades as the leader of a major airline.

Isom has taken an increased role at American since he was named the companys president in 2016. Most letters to employees are co-signed by Parker and Isom and he does much of the face-to-face meetings with worker groups.

Isom has been presumed to be the eventual CEO successor since the company parted ways with Scott Kirby in 2016. Kirby, a longtime business partner of Parker-like Isom, left for Chicago-based United Airlines and took over as CEO last year.

American Airlines Eberwein confirmed many of the details of the report on social media but pushed back on some of the speculations as inaccurate.

Its true Robert is the ideal internal candidate. Its true Doug will celebrate 20 years this year as CEO. Someday, not today, next month, or year, Doug will retire. Robert will likely become CEO if all goes as planned. That was made pretty obvious several years ago, she wrote in a post on Twitter confirmed by American Airlines.

The posting said the new chief human resources officer will report to Eberwein until she decides to retire herself. That person would then reportedly report to the new CEO.

Its common for airlines to have CEO succession plans for eventual retirements, sudden corporate upheavals or unexpected deaths. But it is rare for a companys plans to be outed in this way. Eberwein wrote that many of the details were released to make the job clear to potential candidates.

None of this is happening immediately or even anytime soon, Eberwein wrote. In hindsight, its clear we should have just left the reporting structure to me and those who want to report to the president or CEO would just opt out.

A lot could happen for American in the next few years. Parker hasnt publicly disclosed his plans. Isom may not be willing to wait around for Parker to leave or may retire himself. In the meantime, a new candidate could emerge as a future leader.
After being sworn in as the 46th U.S. president, Joe Biden will issue a series of executive orders covering the immigration, the environment and other issues.

Many of the orders are aimed at reversing the policies of his predecessor, Donald Trump, who rolled back environmental protections and encouraged expanded use of oil, gas and coal, and worked to severely restrict immigration to the U.S. Some of the orders require federal agencies to review the regulations enacted during the Trump administration.

Here are five ways Bidens actions will affect New Jersey.

1. Dreamers. New Jersey had 16,480 unauthorized immigrants brought to the U.S. as children who had been protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Trumps efforts to revoke the protections were rejected by the courts. Biden is restoring DACA.

2. Oil drilling. President Barack Obama in 2016 banned oil and gas drilling in 5,990 square miles and contain 31 Atlantic Ocean canyons from Massachusetts to Virginia. They had excluded from the original Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which covered 4,913 square miles southeast of Cape Cod, Mass. Trump shrunk the protected area. Biden is ordering the Interior Department of Interior to review the boundaries of the Northeast Canyons.

3. Census. Biden is revoking Trumps effort to exclude unauthorized immigrants from the U.S. Census count despite the two centuries of practice under the constitutional requirement that the whole number of persons in each state be tallied. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned his order. Congressional seats and billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to the states on the basis of population and Trumps order would have excluded an estimated 475,000 unauthorized immigrants living in New Jersey, the fifth highest among the 50 states, according to the Pew Research Center.

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4. Fuel economy standards. New Jersey and 12 other states follow Californias more stringent standards for fuel economy in motor vehicles. Trump revoked Californias ability to set its own standards and rolled back efforts to curb pollution and increase gasoline mileage. Biden is ordering federal agencies to review the Trump administrations new rules, which are being challenged in court.

5. Ending Muslim Ban. Trump restricted travel from several countries to the U.S., most of them with Muslim majorities, after spending his first presidential campaign calling for a ban on Muslims entering the country. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker helped lead protests against the restrictions. New Jersey has the second largest Muslim population in the U.S., behind only Michigan, according to the World Population Review.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant.

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When Allison Scott came out as a trans woman in 2013, she told not only family and friends, but also her primary care physician.

She didn't need his help with hormone therapy. She had another doctor for that. But she wanted to share the information with her doctor of more than 10 years in case it affected other aspects of her health.

She was shocked when he told her he would no longer treat her.

"It was humiliating," said Scott, now director of policy and programs for the Campaign for Southern Equality, an LGBTQ advocacy organization based in North Carolina. "It's not because the provider doesn't have the knowledge they need, but because the provider isn't comfortable with who you are."

Surveys in North Carolina and across the nation show that about one-third of transgender people have been refused treatment or suffered verbal or physical abuse from a medical provider.

Such concerns have become more worrisome during the covid-19 pandemic, when being denied health care  or avoiding it due to fear of discrimination and previous negative experiences  can have deadly consequences.

But Scott and other advocates in North Carolina now see an opening to push for city and county laws prohibiting this type of treatment. A state ban preventing local governments from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances expired on Dec. 1.

The ban was a remnant of the controversial 2016 "bathroom bill," which catapulted North Carolina into the national spotlight by making it the first state to require transgender people to use the bathroom of the gender on their birth certificate. Although public backlash and economic repercussions forced the state to repeal that law, the legislature replaced it with one that blocked local governments from passing nondiscrimination ordinances.

Now new laws could address discrimination in employment, housing, public places and more. Scott said health care should be among the top considerations, whether that means banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in hospitals and clinics or preventing someone from being fired for their identity and losing health insurance as a result.

So far, the towns of Carrboro, Hillsborough and Chapel Hill, along with Orange County, jointly announced this month new nondiscrimination ordinances that will protect LGBTQ individuals in workplaces and in public. At least two other cities are drafting ordinances and plan to vote on them later this month.

These local actions take on added significance in view of efforts during the past four years to roll back federal protections for LGBTQ people. The Trump administration has tried to expand the interpretation of religious liberty and civil rights laws to protect medical providers who refuse to provide services for religious or moral reasons. Last summer, the administration reinterpreted the Affordable Care Act's nondiscrimination requirements to remove Obama-era protections for LGBTQ people. This month, it removed explicit provisions that prohibited social service providers who receive Department of Health and Human Services grants from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, among other characteristics. Sasha Buchert, a senior attorney with Lambda Legal, said the change affects a wide array of programs, from Meals on Wheels to child welfare agencies, HIV/AIDS services and more.

Although many of these actions have been blocked by courts, and the incoming Biden administration has promised to reverse several of Trump's policies, LGBTQ advocates and legal experts say those processes take time and are not guaranteed.

"To put it plainly, having protections at the local level sometimes offers more protection, particularly as laws are being contested at the federal level," said Lindsey Dawson, a researcher who studies LGBTQ issues at KFF. (KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF.)

A path forward

In recent decades, protections for LGBTQ Americans have emerged as a cultural flashpoint, often triggering debates about religious liberties versus civil rights and involving anything from marriage and parenting to offices and bakeries.

Critics of nondiscrimination laws say they squash valid debate in health care about what constitutes ethical treatment.

Ryan Anderson, a senior research fellow with the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, said no one should be turned away from medical care because of their identity, but laws need to distinguish between that type of discrimination and medical providers who disagree on a certain treatment plan.

"If there's an adult who wants to transition and a doctor and health care plan who want to support that, they can do that," Anderson said. "But if the doctor or health plan don't want to support that, they should also be free not to do that."

For advocates who work with LGBTQ people daily, the need for nondiscrimination laws is clear. Ames Simmons, policy director for Equality NC, recounted the experiences of people he knows: One trans woman was threatened with arrest if she didn't leave a hospital in the western part of the state, while another was denied care at a dialysis clinic in eastern North Carolina after she complained about harassment.

Research shows that LGBTQ people in states with nondiscrimination laws experience fewer disparities in employment, education and health care than those living in states without such laws. And city- and county-level actions may provide a road map for broader efforts. Christy Mallory, legal director at the Williams Institute at UCLA, pointed to the example of Utah, where a series of local ordinances eventually led the traditionally conservative state to pass a nondiscrimination law in 2015.

The laws don't automatically change people's beliefs, Mallory said, but they provide a starting point to build momentum toward statewide and cultural changes.

Pandemic urgency

Advocates cite an added imperative to protect LGBTQ rights because the covid pandemic has highlighted shortcomings and disparities in the nation's health care system. A report by the Movement Advancement Project, a Colorado-based think tank, found 1 in 8 LGBTQ people have lost insurance coverage during the pandemic  twice the rate of non-LGBTQ people. Many are unable to afford hormone therapy or counseling. In some parts of the country, transgender people have reported mistreatment at covid testing sites.

Even before covid, transgender patients who came to Dr. Jennifer Abbott, a family physician at Western North Carolina Community Health Services in Asheville, often told her they had called as many as 10 other providers before finding someone willing to treat them. Abbott, who heads the clinics transgender health program, said about one-third of its approximately 400 patients come from rural areas across the western part of the state.

For some, the promise of nondiscrimination laws reaches beyond questions of access. The laws can also temper discriminatory behavior by sending a clear message about what is acceptable in a community, said Michael Hoeben, who coordinates services for transgender and HIV patients at the clinic and is a transgender man.

Once, when Hoeben was having a cervical polyp removed, the doctor asked him what it meant to be transgender. The doctor and nurse proceeded to laugh at Hoeben's response while performing the procedure, he said. Hoeben was so mortified that he avoided seeing a doctor for the next seven years.

A law may not have prevented that experience, Hoeben said, "but without the law, it's like open season."

"For your local government to pass a law that says we see you, we recognize you and we include you," Hoeben said, "that is a level of safety you're constantly seeking as a trans person."
Acknowledging that China is clearly America's most important strategic competitor, the incoming Treasury Secretary has told lawmakers that the needs to take on Beijing's "abusive, unfair, and illegal practices."



The relations between the US and China are at an all-time low. The two countries are currently engaged in a bitter confrontation over various issues, including trade, the origins of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the communist giant's aggressive military moves in the disputed South China Sea and human rights.

China is clearly our most important strategic competitor. As you said, we need to work with allies. We also need to strengthen our own economy so that we can compete, Yellen, who has been nominated by President-elect Joe Biden as his Treasury Secretary, told members of the Senate Finance Committee during her confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

She said that Biden will soon come forward with a package to accomplish that by investing in infrastructure, investing in people, and creating a more competitive economy in research and development.

We need to take on China's abusive, unfair, and illegal practices. China is undercutting American companies by dumping products, erecting trade barriers, and giving illegal subsidies to corporations, Yellen said.

It's been stealing intellectual property and engaging in practices that give it an unfair technological advantage, including forced technology transfers. And these practices, including China's low labour and environmental standards, our practices that we're prepared to use the full array of tools to address, she said in response to a question.

Reiterating that China is the most important strategic competitor of the United States, Yellen said that she feels it's necessary to devise an administration-wide and multifaceted approach to address the threats that China causes.

And certainly we need to target illicit activities that are linked to theft of intellectual property and trade secrets, illegal efforts to acquire critical technologies and sensitive US data and fentanyl traffic, among other things, she said.

Observing that the US faces a significant competition with China and need to address subsidies that China has put in place and other policies to erode our technological edge, Yellen said, I think first and foremost we have to make sure that we as an economy make the investments that enable us to compete with China, investments in manufacturing and infrastructure and training and research and development that are ultimately our sources of economic strength.

We need to aggressively counter unfair practices that China uses, whether it's to enforce technology transfer or to invest in ways in the that are dangerous to our national security, said the top economist.
She recently hit back at internet trolls who criticised her trip to Barbados amid the UK's national lockdown.

And Lucy Watson looked incredible as she showcased her washboard abs in an Instagram clip she shared on Wednesday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, told how she had just finished a workout after 'lacking motivation' for fitness lately.

Keeping fit: Lucy Watson looked incredible as she showcased her washboard abs in an Instagram clip she shared on Wednesday

Lucy donned a grey crop top in the clip along with a pair of matching leggings that highlighted her toned physique.

Speaking to her followers, she said: 'I feel so good. Ive really been lacking motivation this year to work out but I have to say, I feel so much better having done it.

'If you are feeling de-motivated, I would highly recommend doing a little work out. It could be 10 minutes, 20 minutes, youll feel so much better for it.'

The TV star then shared a quick clip of herself doing a series of squats and wrote: 'Definitely weaker but ready to build up my strength'.

Honest: The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, told how she had just finished a workout after 'lacking motivation' for fitness lately

It comes after Lucy hit out at trolls after she received a barrage of abuse for enjoying her trip abroad during the coronavirus pandemic.

She insisted she has followed 'all necessary precautions' and flew out with fiance James Dunmore before Boris Johnson plunged London into Tier 4.

Lucy said she would not accept people 'taking out their frustration on me' in the message.

In a lengthy post uploaded to her stories, Lucy wrote: 'I understand people are angry, upset and frustrated at the moment. These are unpredictable and unfortunate times, with disappointment around every corner.

Casual: Lucy donned a grey crop top in the clip along with a pair of matching leggings that highlighted her toned physique

'However, I will not accept anyone taking out their frustration on me, be it during a pandemic or not.

'Hateful comments will be deleted and always have been, regardless of their relation to Covid. I want my feed to be a positive place, and although some people feel like I've broken the rules, I have not.

'I left London pre tier 4 and followed all necessary precautions in Barbados. I was and am still negative for Covid. I've 3 tests in the last 3 weeks.

'This was not a last minute trip booked just to escape the U.K. This was a trip that had been booked for nearly a year, James's family spend half their time in Barbados and we go there every other Christmas.

Workout: The TV star then shared a quick clip of herself doing a series of squats and wrote: 'Definitely weaker but ready to build up my strength'

'Regardless of the above, I truly hope I have not offended anyone, that is never my intention. Please take care of yourself and your mental health. We will get through this.'

Lucy flew out with fiance James, her sister Tiffany and dad Clive just before Tier 4 restrictions were imposed.

At the time London was in Tier 3, with residents advised not to take holidays abroad.

It comes after Lucy hit back at a social media user who asked if she was pregnant as she coined a cutting response.

Her say: Lucy recently hit out at trolls on Instagram after she received a barrage of abuse for enjoying a trip to Barbados during the coronavirus pandemic

After a fan simply penned: 'Pregnant?' she swiftly responded: 'Seriously?'

Fellow critics quickly swarmed upon the commentator and lashed out at the comment given Lucy's tiny frame in the picture of her taut stomach.

The reality star took to her Instagram Stories, explaining that being asked if she's pregnant is 'socially unacceptable'.

Hitting back: She insisted she has followed 'all necessary precautions' and flew out before Boris Johnson plunged London into Tier 4

She said: 'It is not and will never be socially acceptable to ask someone if they are pregnant, whether you know them or not. You are basically telling that person they look bigger. Please stop.'

Lucy became engaged to her boyfriend of five years James in September last year after he popped the question during a romantic getaway in Greece.

The couple have been going strong ever since meeting on the E4 series back in 2015, following her ill-fated flings with Andy Jordan, Jamie Laing, Spencer Matthews and Oliver Proudlock.
The artificial intelligence, developed by investment firm Danel Capital, singled out the housebuilder as the stock most likely to outperform on the UK market in the first six months of the year, followed by other big names including Rolls-Royce, Anglo American and Holiday Inn owner Intercontinental Hotels

Housebuilder ( ) has been rated as the best UK stock to beat the rest of the market in the first six months of 2021, according to an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm developed by a Spanish investment firm.

Speaking to Proactive, Tomas Diago, the founder and chief executive of Danel Capital, said that as of January 11, FTSE 250 Bellway had 35 different features that made it stand out among the rest of the stocks on the UK market in the eyes of the algorithm, particularly its receipt of 11 buy ratings from analysts in the past 18 months which he said gave the stock potential upside of +50%.

Diago also highlighted that another plus factor for Bellway was its 180 days among the STOXX 600, an index comprised of 600 European firms that make up 90% of the total stock market capitalisation across the continent.

Aside from Bellway, other UK stocks chosen the by the AI as top performers for the coming months include Holiday Inn owner Group PLC ( ), aircraft engine maker ( ) and mining giant ( ).

In addition to analyst ratings, Diago said the firms AI looks at 10,000 features for each stock per day to run its calculations, which in turn are based on more than 900 fundamental, technical, and sentiment indicators.

We try to get a holistic view of the stocks, taking into account as much information as possible that can impact stock prices. Our AI algorithm automatically generates hundreds of decision trees to come up with the probability for each stock to outperform its market, the CEO said, adding that since January 2018 stocks rated at either 9 or 10 by the algorithm, its two highest ratings, have achieved yearly average returns of just around 8.4%, more than double the STOXX 600 benchmark.

The AIs success is even more pronounced for US stocks, where shares rated at 9 or 10 have achieved yearly average returns of 25.9% since January 2017, with the algorithm singling out the US-listed shares of cruise firm Carnival Corp ( ) as the top pick among US stocks for the next six months, followed by real estate firm EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) and searching and analysis software firm ( ).

However, Diago said that the UK is not the European market investors should look to for the highest upside in the first half of this year, instead highlighting that the French market has 11 stocks ranked among Danels top 50 European stocks, compared to just 8 from the UK.

Looking ahead, the CEO said that in more general terms the firms AI is seeing companies that have been very punished by COVID-19 including airlines, restaurants, hoteliers and oil companies as the emerging stars of 2021, or at least for the first half of the year.

While the data analysed by Danels AI algorithm may lead some to believe electronic stock picking will be the future, the topic remains controversial among the trading community.

Some have argued that while AI-powered systems are able to process larger amounts of market and financial data than humans, elements of the market such as the impact of distressed firms and those with small market caps can unbalance markets and indices in a way that some algorithms cannot account for effectively.
Damon Williams was not accused of brandishing a weapon  and certainly not an ax  when he walked into a Merchantville Bank of America branch in summer 2014. But he wanted cash, court documents show.

Please, all the money, 100, 50, 20, 10, he allegedly wrote on a note that he slipped a teller. Thank you.

The demand, although polite, still left the teller crying and shaking as the man walked out with about $4,600.

The central issue at trial was not whether Williams was the culprit. Instead, it was whether he was guilty of robbery, which requires the use or a threat of violence to take property  or simply theft, which does not.

The New Jersey Supreme Court on Tuesday granted Williams a new trial because the prosecutor trying his case used a picture of a sinister-looking Jack Nicholson from the 1980 horror classic The Shining to make the point during closing arguments that actions speak louder than words.

This guy looks creepy and hes saying some very unthreatening words, Heres Johnny, the prosecutor said, describing one of the films iconic scenes, as Nicholsons character attacks his family with an ax.

But if you have ever seen the movie The Shining, you know how his face gets through that door.

Williams attorney objected to the use of the photo, but the trial judge allowed it. Williams was convicted of second-degree robbery.

The Camden County Prosecutors Office, which brought the case, later conceded the use of the photo was improper but argued the error was harmless. An appeals court upheld his conviction, but New Jerseys highest court unanimously ruled they went too far.

Prosecutors must walk a fine line when making comparisons, whether implicit or explicit, between a defendant and an individual whom the jury associates with violence or guilt, Justice Lee Solomon wrote in the opinion, which vacated Williams conviction.

The use of a sensational and provocative image in service of such a comparison, even when purportedly metaphorical, heightens the risk of an improper prejudicial effect on the jury.

The error will now lead to a costly and long-delayed do-over. Williams was admitted to state prison in 2017 and, under his now-vacated sentence, was not eligible for parole until 2026.

A third-degree theft charge can typically carry a three- to five-year sentence, as opposed to five to 10 years for second-degree robbery. However, Williams judgment of conviction shows he received a harsher sentence because he was a persistent offender.

A spokesperson for the Camden County Prosecutors Office declined to comment on the ruling, which does not name the prosecutor who handled the case.

Assistant Deputy Public Defender Alison Gifford, who represented Williams in the Supreme Court case, said the decision reaffirmed a prosecutors duty to seek justice rather than obtain convictions at any cost.

By recognizing that the prosecutors comparison of Mr. Williams to a horror movie villain tainted the fairness of the trial, the court did the right thing in reversing Mr. Williamss conviction, Gifford said.

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In the weeks following the Jan. 6 riot that enveloped Congress, there had been chatter on social media about more violent insurrection attempts at state capitols from Jan. 16 to Jan. 20. The FBI issued warnings last week that it had received intel concerning armed protests at the capitol buildings in all 50 states. Police departments across the country announced that they would be stepping up security in and around their state capitols. More than a dozen states also mobilized National Guard troops in preparation for the potential unrest. Yet, those threats failed to materialize on Inauguration Day. Photo dispatches from a variety of state capitols indicated that the protests were extremely sparse and peaceful. For example, only one Trump supporter showed up to the New York State Capitol; he was reportedly disappointed as he expected thousands to be in attendance.

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Mark Leggiero is the one lone Trump supporter out in front of the NYS Capitol. He says he expected a few thousand ppl here and is disappointed. He said he drove 45 minutes for a peaceful protest pic.twitter.com/hDtCLYFpLq  Morgan Mckay (@morganfmckay) January 20, 2021

A mere handful of people also gathered outside the Maine State House. They reportedly repeated false conspiracy theories about Democrats destroying ballots and stealing the election, but nevertheless did not go past the barricades that were stationed around the perimeter.

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At the State House in Augusta, where State Police have beefed up security as a precaution, only a handful of Trump supporters have shown up to peacefully protest the inauguration of Joe Biden as our next President. These men say this election was stolen. @WGME @FOX23Maine pic.twitter.com/DBuArd3NDC  Brad Rogers WGME (@BradWGME) January 20, 2021

Outside the Texas Capitol, a few Trump supporters protested socialism. The Texas Department of Public Safety activated troops to patrol Capitol grounds during the inauguration.

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Only a few people outside the Texas Capitol Building in Austin. Thomas Jones (Hawaiian shirt) said he and friends drove from Crockett to protest the Inauguration.

He expected more people to be here, but was banned from Facebook so didnt know if anything was planned. pic.twitter.com/HuLbUbNnT3  Kaley Johnson (@KaleyAJohnson) January 20, 2021

Getty photographers captured similar scenes at the capitols in Missouri and Washington state.

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Earlier in the day, at the California State Capitol, only one Trump supporter in a red MAGA hat showed up and praised the Jan. 6 attack on Congress.

At the State Capitol in Sacramento, a lone Trump supporter wearing a red MAGA hat protested as President Biden took the oath of office Wednesday.



: @dustingardiner



Live #InaugurationDay updates >> https://t.co/WowWEMPI7l pic.twitter.com/QaSrlvomgd  San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) January 20, 2021

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However, antifa members reportedly did show up to the California capitol later on to denounce both Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

A few dozen Antifa protesters are at the CA Capitol. Theyre banging on fence and shouting fk Trump, fk Biden too. #InaugurationDay @sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/eMeInTQKyY  Dustin Gardiner (@dustingardiner) January 20, 2021

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And in the vicinity of the U.S. Capitol in D.C., Slates Aymann Ismail reported that journalists and law enforcement actually outnumbered the Trump supporters who came out to grouse about Bidens win.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Lara Exploration Ltd., (TSXV: LRA) is pleased to report that London-listed miner, Hochschild Mining plc., has included new drill results from Lara's Corina Gold Project in its Q4-2020 Production Report that was released this morning. Lara has requested a copy of the data and will report a full set of results as soon as possible.

Hochschild has the option to purchase the Corina Project from Lara by making staged cash payments totalling US$4,150,000 of which US$650,000 has been paid to date. Hochschild also has the obligation to pay a 2% net smelter return royalty on any production (see Lara's news release of June 23, 2014 for details).

The Corina Gold Project covers part of a belt of Tertiary-age volcanic rocks in southern Peru that also host Ares's Pallancata and Immaculada mining operations and past producer Selene, with Lara's project located approximately 15km north (approximately 25km by road) of the mill at Selene, which currently processes ore from the Pallancata mine.

About Lara

Lara is an exploration company following the Prospect and Royalty Generator business model, which aims to minimize shareholder dilution and financial risk by generating prospects and exploring them in joint ventures funded by partners, retaining a minority interest and or a royalty. Lara currently holds a diverse portfolio of prospects, deposits and royalties in Brazil and Peru. Lara's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "LRA".

For further information on Lara Exploration Ltd. please consult our website www.laraexploration.com, or contact Chris MacIntyre, VP Corporate Development, at +1 416 703 0010.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada

accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

-30-

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72438
Cubans in Tapachula, A City on Edge Here the Central American drama, characterized by extreme poverty, gang violence, drug and human trafficking, is all on vivid display. DIARIO DE CUBA travels to the penultimate border that the island's emigrants must cross on their way to the US, this report being the first in a series.

On Tuesday, January 5, 2021, in front of the offices of the National Institute of Emigration (INM) in Tapachula, a riotous scuffle shattered the delicate tranquility of this small city in Chiapas, southern Mexico. Nearly a thousand migrants who were waiting to process their "humanitarian visitor" cards got into a fistfight. The Mexican National Guard (GN) intervened to quash the chaos, and the local press covered what had happened. When journalists asked those present regarding those responsible for the melee, all fingers pointed at the Cubans.

According to several Central American emigrants on hand, it all started when the Cubans took it upon themselves to organize that line of 1,000 people, almost all of them belonging to the last caravan of immigrants that had just arrived in Tapachula. This impromptu effort, they said, ended up producing a list that clearly benefited emigrants hailing from the island.

"That was the talk of the town in Tapachula. Things like this always happen. Cubans form small groups, and that is when the problems start. Some Cuban thinks he's found a way to beat the system, a chink in the armor, and then everyone joins in," one of the many Cubans currently residing in the city told DIARIO DE CUBA.

A tense situation

With more than 8,500 testing positive for Covid-19, and more than 1,200 deaths associated with the virus in Chiapas, on January 7 immigration authorities decided to stop accepting documents, on the pretext that the concentration of emigrants would only exacerbate the health crisis. With one stroke of a pen, emigrants from Haiti, Africa, Central America and Cuba were left stranded in front of the INM offices in Tapachula.

While this was happening, the president of the Mexican Republic's Employers Confederation in the Costa de Chiapas region, Jose Antonio Toriello, descried the migratory crisis that was developing in an interview with local media. "They continue to do nothing, and are a security threat," Toriello said then about those stuck in front of the INM of Tapachula, while recommending a heavy hand and strict control over the caravans that arrive in the city.

The political atmosphere in Tapachula was turning extremely xenophobic, and news stories associated with the migration issue became more and more frequent. The situation, already unsustainable, took a turn for the worse after the announcement of yet another caravan set to leave Honduras, cross Guatemala, and arrive with thousands of emigrants, destined to join those already there.

On Friday, January 8, Guatemalan military spokesman Ruben Tellez announced the deployment of up to 4,000 soldiers to prevent the emigrants in the new caravan from entering Tapachula en masse. Honduran border troops, meanwhile, promised the same.

Both measures were the result of pressure exerted by the United States on Mexico, which, in turn, leaned on Guatemala and Honduras, according to the newspaper La Jornada. As part of his anti-immigration policy, and in light of the alarming epidemiological situation in the United States, Donald Trump threatened the Mexican government with economic and trade sanctions if it did not put a stop to the crossing of massive caravans. The reaction by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, President of Mexico, included placing pressure on his Central American neighbors, despite the fact that this represented a breach of his electoral campaign promises.

The INM in Tapachula managed to dissolve the line of migrants stranded in front of its offices by annnouncing that immigration procedures would be handled by email. Suddenly, the crowd dispersed throughout the city. Now, as they disappear into the local population and wait for the ponderous Mexican bureaucracy to give them answers that never seem to arrive, the city trembles at the prospect of the impending arrival of thousands of immigrants more, unwilling to stop their sojourn.

A city of emigrants

Tapachula is a small city, of just over 380,000 inhabitants, located on the southwest border (with Guatemala) of the state of Chiapas, very close to the waters of the Pacific. Compared to other areas of Mexico, the city is a bit down at heel. There are no skyscrapers or large shopping centers here. Many houses have just one story, and many streets are in poor condition. The taxes are rickety, and street stalls dot the sidewalks hawking Chinese merchandise, and fresh fruits and meats.

Tapachula might remind a Cuban of Havana, especially certain areas far from the center of the city, where the most vulnerable populations coexist, including immigrants. Perhaps the few details that differentiate this city, surrounded by jungle, from the Cuban capital are the presence of fast food chains, young boleros (shoeshine kids), and the scent of cooked meat.

Tapachula started out as a city of emigrants. Its population is a homogeneous mix formed over centuries, comprised of Mexicans and Guatemalans, Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Arabs, French and Americans. Over the years the city has incorporated more nationalities into its melting pot, largely because it is the most important border point between North and Central America.

Usually it is just a stopping place for the incessant multitudes of migrants making their way towards the United States. However, there are always those who end up staying; some for a time, some permanently.

Here the Central American drama, characterized by extreme poverty, gang violence, and drug and human trafficking, is all on vivid display. However, in the last five years, tragedies from elsewhere have affected the city. Cubans, Haitians and Africans have joined the steady stream of Nicaraguans, Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans passing through. The new inhabitants are, as they say here, "extra-continental".

Waiting for the next caravan

According to Rita Robles, the Fray Matias de Cordova Human Rights Center's spokesperson, the presence of Cubans in Tapachula began to be felt in early 2017, when Barack Obama decided to cancel his country's "dry feet, feet wet" policy. As it was no longer possible to take to the sea in search of the American dream, Cubans decided to adopt another migratory path to reach the same destination.

As countries like Guyana and Nicaragua (and, at the time, Panama) made it easy to organise trips from the island, Cubans were able to undertake the gruelling journey through the forests and across the rivers of Central America. Along the way, they have often joined convoys of emigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras that traverse these areas. Along with them they have braved the many dangers along the way: assailants, diseases, hunger, kidnappings, blackmail, rape, gang violence and corrupt police.

"Most of the Cuban emigrants are young men. There are few women, and few minors. Over time, they have become one of the nationalities with the greatest presence on the route of emigrants to the United States, "explains Robles, whose work focuses on comprehensive assistance for immigrants in Tapachula and the protection of their human rights.

According to the Migration Statistics Bulletin, put out by the Mexican Interior Ministry, 2,461 Cubans showed up at the INM in Tapachula in 2019. This number was only topped by those for Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans, historically thronging this emigration route to the United States.

In 2020 the figure plummeted, due to the closure of Cuban airports and the restrictions and lockdowns imposed in many countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, only 176 Cuban emigrants entered the city - at least according to the official figures. There were almost twice as many men than women. Cubans, also outnumbered by Haitians, made up the fifth largest group of nationals passing through the INM in Tapachula.

2021, though just in its first month, augurs shocking figures. During just the first two weeks of the year hundreds of Cubans arrived, and they still have not yet been able to complete the immigration procedures necessary to cross the country, while hundreds more may be arriving in the next few days as part of the relentless convoys that are currently crossing Central America.
The following is a statement from the Alabama Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, which has been established to oppose the unsafe opening of schools and nonessential workplaces, save lives and defend public education. Sign up today to join our committee at wsws.org/edsafety!

We are forming the Alabama Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee to protect our lives and the lives of our students, families and the entire community. Our health care system is in a state of crisis. Earlier this month, the state recorded a record 5,498 new cases. Last week, COVID-19 hospitalizations topped 3,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic, a 63 percent increase since December 4.

The number of new cases in December nearly doubled that of November, from 57,000 to 109,000. Ninety-one percent of ICU beds are full in the state and many hospitals are above 100 percent capacity. For the week ending January 15, Alabamas COVID-19 Schools K-12 Dashboard recorded 3,070 new cases. At least eight education workers in the state have needlessly died from the virus since schools reopened. Nationwide, the COVID Monitor has recorded 505,068 in K-12 schools.

3,071 K-12 cases across Alabama, affecting 131 out of 143 districts, with most districts showing an increase in outbreaks.

These devastating numbers undoubtedly undercount the true number of COVID-19 cases and deaths caused by reopening schools.

Under Republican Governor Kay Iveys fraudulent Safer at Home orders, teachers along with just about all other workers are mandated to work. As educators went home for the holiday, Montgomery Public Schools issued a menacing memo advising them that should they become ill, they should not expect any consideration in the form of extended paid leave. For his part, Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey is being rewarded with a pay boost for his role in keeping the states schools open during the pandemic.

Despite December being the worst month yet in the pandemic, and health officials warning that January will likely be worse, school districts across the state are rushing to reopen. Montgomery and Huntsville schools both reopened on January 5. Jefferson and Mobile counties returned students in person on January 11.

Throughout the pandemic, Ivey and the entire political and business establishment have adamantly refused to put public health first. On December 1, Ivey urged schools to reopen for full in-person instruction as quickly as possible, saying the science shows schools to be safe. This is a blatant lie. Her real motives were clear when she tweeted her support to the Business Council of Alabama, writing, I will not shut down businesses; the business community certainly has my support. As Ive said many times, you cannot have a life without a livelihood. Meanwhile, after long denying the deadly threat, Ivey was first in line to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

The BAMA tracker showing rising COVID-19 cases across Alabama

As is true across the country, the refusal to enact a temporary shutdown of schools and all nonessential production serves the interests of the corporate and financial elite. The Keep Alabama Open campaign was initiated by the Business Council of Alabama, consisting of the states most powerful banks, energy, insurance, military, automotive and investment corporations.

In December, it was announced that the Alabama Innovation Commission would partner with the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, an ultraconservative think tank, which played a large role in promoting the pseudo-scientific arguments to support herd immunity, or letting the virus spread uncontrolled.

The presumptive incoming leader of the Alabama Senate, Republican Greg Reed, said he plans to prioritize business legislation, including continuing tax incentives programs for corporations. His other priority is to pass legislation that would protect governments and businesses from frivolous lawsuits that would come as a result of the coronavirus.

In order to carry out their plans, the ruling class and governments are actively suppressing data on the spread of the virus. They refuse to notify workers of outbreaks in schools and workplaces, while those who bravely stand up to inform the public are targeted and persecuted.

The BAMA tracker showing rising hospitalizations from COVID-19 in Alabama

Data scientist Rebekah Jones, who founded the most comprehensive database of COVID-19 cases in K-12 schools nationally, was fired from her job with the Florida Department of Health for refusing to doctor the numbers. Then the police raided her home to seize her data, pointing guns at her and her young children. She was arrested Sunday, has since posted bail and has contracted the virus herself. We give our full support to Jones and other whistleblowers and demand the right to all information on the virus spread.

Under these conditions, the Alabama Education Association and local unions have stood by and done nothing to protect our lives. They have, moreover, actively dissuaded teachers from protesting this state of affairs, tolerated the outrageous demand that teachers must report to buildings even when schools are closed, and refused to support our right to accommodations or to insist on the COVID-retrofitting of unsanitary schools.

The rollout of the coronavirus vaccines, and the fact that more transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants are spreading across the US, make it all the more imperative that immediate action be taken to halt the spread of the virus until it is safe. Currently, Alabama has the lowest vaccination rate in the country. As of January 19, only two percent of the states population had received the vaccine.

Alabama was the birthplace of the modern civil rights movement. That same commitment to the equal rights of all citizens to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness takes on new meaning as we confront a pandemic which is criminally being allowed to rage uncontrolled.

Why do the powers-that-be refuse to fund a lockdown and provide the population with income security? Why are hospitals and frontline workers underfunded and overworked? Why are nonessential workers, including teachers, forced to work to feed the insatiable demands of Wall Street?

We do not accept the current state of affairs. Therefore, we are taking matters into our hands. The Alabama Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is completely independent of the unions, the Republicans and the Democrats, and is answerable ONLY to education workers, parents and students.

We support the struggles of the metalworkers in Muscle Shoals who recently went on strike for nearly a month against unfair labor practices and proposed health care cuts. We urge metal workers, autoworkers, poultry and paper workers, Walmart workers, city workers, as well as teachers across the state and nationally to join with us and form your own committees. We speak for what the working class needs, not what big business tells us is affordable.

We know there are resources to protect the lives AND livelihoods of workers and small businesses. In the CARES Act, Wall Street bailed itself out, funneling $3 trillion into the coffers of big business overnight. Instead of help, we are told we must return to work to help the economy. Whose economy? The wealth of the US billionaires has soared during the pandemic because the government prioritizes share values over human life.

The money lavished on the corporate and financial elite must be redirected to support teachers, parents and children, provide mental health services and necessary food supplies, and to retrofit schools for safety. In Alabama alone, the combined wealth of the ten richest individuals is $11.5 billion. Across the US, the top 15 billionaires have increased their profits by over $1 trillion during the pandemic. There is more than ample money to meet these essential demands:

1. For the suspension of all in-person instruction for public, private, charter schools and colleges! Educators must have the right to work from home and protect the lives of themselves, their families and their communities.

2. Full transparency from the local and state school boards regarding the spread of the virus! Whistleblowers and those suffering from long-haul COVID must be given employment security with no loss of income. There can be no shortcuts on quarantining. No one should be pressured to return to work if they are sick or contagious because they have run out of leave time.

3. All decisions on reopening schools must be determined democratically by rank-and-file committees of educators, school workers, parents and students in each school in collaboration with trusted scientists and health experts!

4. All teachers and school workers must be given the opportunity to be fully vaccinated before returning to the school buildings!

5. Teachers and students must be guaranteed state-of-the-art technology, including high-quality computer hardware and software and accessories, and free high-speed Internet access! An estimated 22 percent of Alabama households had no Internet access in 2018. As many as 17 percent did not have a computer at all. This must be fixed immediately.

6. Unite all educators, parents and workers! We demand full income protection during the pandemic both for workers who would compromise their health on the job and for parents who need to assist their childrens education at home. The CARES Act money must be redirected to ensure the health and safety of all workers and the education of the younger generation! Federal and state moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures must be reinstated.

7. Halt all nonessential production! Until the pandemic is contained, only key industries such as food production, medical care and logistics should remain open. Workers in those industries must be provided with the most advanced safety measures to prevent infection. All workers have access to high-quality, free health care during the pandemic.

8. Sanitary conditions must be guaranteed in all schools! State funding must be provided for an immediate retrofitting of all school buildings and classrooms to ensure that they have modern, high-quality plumbing and ventilation systems, air conditioning, and air purifiers. Students and teachers have the right to work and learn without exposing themselves to deadly toxins, be they viruses, mold, mildew, asbestos or lead.

9. Free, high-quality mental health and social services for all students and families who request help! All homeless and home-insecure students and families must be provided with free, safe and dignified housing.

10. Under no conditions is it justifiable to require educators to teach face-to-face and virtual students at the same time!

We call on all educators and support staff, including bus drivers, teachers aides, secretaries, paraprofessionals, janitors, cooks, nurses, school psychologists, social workers and workers from all industries, to join and help build the Alabama Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee in your school or workplace. Fill out the Join form at wsws.org/edsafety.
A senior mortician at Royal London Hospital has admitted the devastating number of bodies flowing through the mortuary makes it feel like a 'conveyor belt'.

Hannah Leahy, who has handled hundreds of deceased Covid patients, broke down in tears as she spoke of the devastating impact the pandemic has had on her and her five-strong team at ths hospital in Whitechapel who are predominantly women.

Speaking to the BBC's Clive Myrie, she said: 'How do you ever prepare for... people just dying and dying and dying?

'Although it's our job and we deal with dead people every day, this level I think has taken its toll.'

Barts NHS Trust, which runs five hospitals including Royal London, has recorded 1,357 deaths of patients with confirmed Covid-19, as of January 18. For the same period 8,009 inpatients hospitalised with confirmed Covid-19 have recovered and have been discharged.

At the end of December, a leaked email from hospital bosses to staff revealed 'we are no longer providing high standard critical care, because we cannot' after an influx of 200 Covid patients.

Hannah Leahy, who has handled hundreds of deceased Covid patients, broke down in tears as she spoke of the devastating impact the pandemic has had on her and her five-strong team who are predominantly women

It comes after the UK hit a sombre new milestone yesterday with the highest number of Covid deaths (1,610) recorded in a 24-hour period. It marked a sharp 30 per cent rise on the 1,243 announced last Tuesday and nearly the double the number of victims a fortnight ago, when there were 860.

The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine has warned many hospitals are overwhelmed, with some staff on their knees after many months of treating ill patients.

More than 10,000 people in London have now died from coronavirus according to official figures.

Myrie spent 10 days filming at the Royal London Hospital speaking to staff, patients and family members for a special report.

Asked if the mortuary feels like a 'conveyor belt', Hannah - whose official role is an anatomical pathology technologist - admitted: 'It does, in a way, I hate to say that because I hate to think of it like that, but yes it is, almost.'

Hannah admitted the devastating number of bodies flowing through the mortuary (pictured) feels like a 'conveyor belt'

Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, reporter Clive Myrie said the raw emotion seen is a result of Hannah 'holding all that in for the whole of the pandemic

Breaking down in tears, she added: 'Sorry. I've done this for years... when someone says how does it make you feel, and you're saying how it makes you feel, this is how it makes you feel.'

Speaking on BBC Breakfast this morning, Myrie said the raw emotion seen is a result of Hannah 'holding all that in for the whole of the pandemic'.

'When we filmed her she told me that she doesn't talk to her family or friends about it because no one outside her circle wants to talk about death,' he told hosts Dan Walker and Louise Minchin.

'So these emotions and feelings are bottled up within that five woman-strong team at the Royal London Hospital, and for an outsider to approach her and say, 'How do you feel about what you've had to see?' was something that she was simply unprepared for.

Hannah's colleague is also seen becoming tearful as she admits nothing could have prepared them for the toll the pandemic has taken on them

'What you saw there was months and months of pain, of hurt, of frustration, just spill out because no one outside her circle ever asks her how she feels and that's what... we want to get across in these films. The side of the pandemic that so many people might know about in the back of their minds but don't really think about or want to think about.'

The report also showed devastating scenes from Covid wards, which occupy 12 of the hospital's 15 floors - a total of 400 patients.

Critical care consultant Marie Healy is seen checking on a 28-year-old man with no underlying conditions who has been on a ventilator for more than three weeks and also has other family members in critical care.

She undertakes the difficult task of phoning his wife to deliver the dreadful news that he might not pull through.

Critical care consultant Marie Healy is seen checking on a 28-year-old man with no underlying conditions who has been on a ventilator for more than three weeks and also has other family members in critical care. She undertakes the difficult task of phoning his wife to deliver the dreadful news that he might not pull through

Marie Healy says she feels the public don't fully understand the scale of the health crisis

Tearful after the call, she admitted: 'It's very difficult because this poor family have been through a huge amount and actually someone nice, that makes it more difficult.'

Marie added: 'Think the public want to do the right thing, but I don't feel they understand fully the scale of the problem.'

Kathy Macgloin, a consultant anaesthetist who is currently 'mucking in' on the intensive care wards, told how she is caring for a Covid patient in her mid-twenties, whose oxygen levels dropped to a dangerous level.

Kathy Macgloin, a consultant anaesthetist who is currently 'mucking in' on the intensive care wards, told how she is caring for a Covid patient in her mid-twenties, whose oxygen levels dropped to a dangerous level

Mimi Shameema, the wife of a Covid-19 patient, received a phone update on his condition from Marie Healy

She explained: 'I'm sweating, and it's not just the PPE so I mean she's young, she's someone's relative, this is something precious that we are holding and we are trying to do. Yeah, it's quite frightening.'

It comes weeks after bosses emailed staff admitting they are so overwhelmed with cases 'we are no longer providing high standard critical care, because we cannot'.

The warning, leaked to NHS campaign group Every Doctor UK, came as the hospital's doctors and nurses begged bosses to declare an emergency as they opened a new ward and moved adults into a paediatric ward after 200 new Covid patients were admitted at the end of December.

ROCHESTER, Minn. - A group of 70 plus parents, children, and other citizens gathered outside the Edison Building during the Tuesday evening school board to protest against distance learning. They want Rochester Public School Board to bring K-5th graders back to class in person full time, and a plan for bringing upper grades back as well.

They believe the current COVID-19 data and recent studies supports this move.

"The main thing we hope that the board hears is that we want both transparency in their decision making process, as well as us as parents to have a voice. As of now, they have not allowed us to publicly participate in any of the meetings or any of the decision making process and we really want that to change. We feel that it should change," says Patricio Gargollo, parent to three school-aged children. He says his kids have changed from excited about school, to apathetic. Because of this, he and his wife made the decision to pull their oldest child out of RPS. "We have the ability to do that, but a lot of families don't have the means to do that. It's just not fair. It's not fair to our families, it's not fair for our minority population that doesn't have the opportunity to do that. It's time to bring our kids back," he adds.
It would seem the kids are not alright. In fact, a staggering percentage of them consider themselves simply unable to cope with life, which, honestly, same.

This not entirely surprising update on the current state of the youth comes to us from the U.K., where one of the nations leading charities just returned the worst ever findings in the 12-year history of its annual survey of young peoples happiness. According to The Guardian, the Princes Trusts 2020 Youth Index found that half of 16- to 25-year-olds reported an overall decline in mental health last year. More than half reported always or often feeling anxious and 68 percent said they felt they were missing out on being young. Worse yet, many have failed to glimpse any sign of light at the end of the tunnel, with 38 percent of the dismayed youth population admitting to dreading the year ahead.
- Sustainable real estate investment trust (REIT) established at Abu Dhabi Global Market under the first private REIT regime in MENA

- The Masdar Green REIT has received approval to commence activities from ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA)

ABU DHABI, U.A.E, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company and a pioneer in sustainable urban development, has partnered with Emirates NBD Asset Management to receive management services for the UAE's first sustainable real estate investment trust - the Masdar Green REIT. Together, Masdar Capital Management (a recently established FSRA Regulated Fund Manager) and Emirates NBD Asset Management bring significant experience and expertise in sustainable real estate and property asset management to the partnership.

Masdar announced it was launching the REIT, the first in the UAE to invest solely in sustainable real estate projects, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) in January last year. The Masdar Green REIT has been established at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) as a Qualified Investor Fund (QIF) and offers an attractive opportunity for professional investors through private placement to invest in a unique portfolio of stable, income-producing sustainable real estate assets. Masdar also confirmed that the REIT has now received approval from ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority to begin operations.

The Masdar Green REIT's portfolio currently includes four commercial properties within Masdar City, the pioneering sustainable urban development project, and technology and innovation hub, in Abu Dhabi. All of the properties consume approximately 40 percent less electricity and water than comparable buildings in Abu Dhabi - giving them a rating of three Pearls or above on Abu Dhabi's Estidama Pearl Building Rating System, while one is also LEED Platinum certified.

"The Masdar Green REIT is the first of its kind in the region and further demonstrates Masdar's commitment to pioneering sustainable development," said Abdulla Balalaa, Acting Executive Director, Sustainable Real Estate, Masdar City. "Investors are increasingly looking for 'responsible' investment opportunities and evaluate companies based on specific environmental, social and governance ('ESG') practices criteria. The Masdar Green REIT gives investors that option by investing in sustainable income-generating real estate assets, with a primary focus in Masdar City. This REIT also provides a vehicle through which third-party, sustainable developers can monetize their assets, attracting both real estate developers to Masdar City, and aspiring local and international sustainable investors."

Steve Corrin, SEO of Emirates NBD Asset Management, said, "We are delighted to be bringing together two of the UAE's strongest brand names to work on the Masdar Green REIT, an exciting new investment product for the UAE's REIT market. The initial portfolio has been created with global ESG principles in mind to offer investors the highest levels of sustainability ratings as well as attractive rental yields in line with investor expectations. Emirates NBD Asset Management, with its long history of institutional real estate asset management in the UAE provides investors with comfort that the Masdar Green REIT will be professionally resourced and operated to international best-practices."

The Masdar Green REIT will facilitate more sustainable real estate assets coming to market by providing institutional funding to support the future expansion of Masdar City through new sustainable developments. The Masdar Green REIT also marks great progress in bringing the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration to life, which was signed in 2019 by 25 public and private sector entities, including Masdar and the ADGM, and is aimed at establishing a healthy and sustainable finance industry that supports the UAE in attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Emmanuel Givanakis, Deputy CEO of the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority, said, "As an international financial centre, ADGM has been tireless in championing the region's sustainable finance agenda and is pleased to support the advancement of the UAE's first green REIT. Working closely with financial and energy industries stakeholders, including Masdar and Emirates NBD, we seek to encourage and facilitate further advancements and increased investments in the field of sustainable finance. The FSRA is committed to providing its business community and partners with the ecosystem and regulatory support to develop and achieve innovative investment solutions across the UAE."

Currently active in more than 30 countries, Masdar has been advancing the commercialization and deployment of renewable energy, sustainable urban development and clean technologies, to address global sustainability challenges since 2006. In 2018, Masdar signed the first green revolving credit facility in the Middle East, helping to support its investments in global clean technology and sustainable real estate projects.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423374/Masdar_REIT_Logo.jpg
Dr Alex George admitted that 'grief hit [him] like a brick' on Wednesday as he struggled with the loss of his brother Llyr, who took his life at the age of 19 in July.

The former Love Island star, 30, took to Instagram to speak candidly about his mental health with fans, sharing a picture from his work at A&E on the NHS frontline.

In the caption of his photo, Dr Alex said: 'Grief hits you like a brick at times. Driving to work today it really hit me really hard.

'Grief hits you like a brick at times': Dr Alex George spoke candidly on Wednesday about his struggle with his mental health after his brother Llyr's tragic death aged 19

'I feel so sad at times. I really miss my brother. I am sharing this because it's ok to feel sad. It's ok to cry. Miss you mate x'

Dr Alex confirmed his brother's passing on social media in July, describing him as 'the kindest and most caring soul'.

On Thursday, Dr Alex revealed that he had no idea that his youngest brother was struggling with his mental health before his tragic death.

Speaking about his 'bright, talented and funny' sibling, he explained that Llyr's sudden death left their family 'shattered and irrevocably changed'.

Grief stricken: Dr Alex told his followers, 'I feel so sad at times. I really miss my brother. I am sharing this because it's ok to feel sad. It's ok to cry. Miss you mate x'

Loss: Alex's brother tragically took his own life in July, and Dr Alex confirmed his passing on social media at the time, describing him as 'the kindest and most caring soul'.

Describing the moment his father told him about Llyr's death, Dr Alex wrote in The Sun: 'In that moment my world fell apart, it came down around me, it shattered.'

The A&E doctor explained that his brother had no diagnosed history of a mental health condition and never told him how he was feeling despite being 'very close'.

Urging people to remember that there is 'no type' when it comes to mental health, he said that Llyr did not share his struggles due to the stigma surrounding suicide mental health.

He continued: 'Not once did Llyr tell me how he was feeling, I'm a doctor, we were very close, he knew I was a mental health advocate and hugely passionate about it.'

Dr Alex, who has been a mental health advocate for years, went on to explain that his pain from Llyr's sudden death will no doubt be there for the rest of his life.

'My world fell apart': On Thursday, Dr Alex revealed that he had no idea that his youngest brother was suffering with his mental health before his tragic death in July last year

He added that his brother is always in his thoughts, as he shared his hope he will eventually be able to live alongside his grief.

He explained: 'That pain will be there for the rest of my life but at some point I hope I'll learn to live alongside it.'

The doctor, who works in A&E at London's Lewisham Hospital, took to social media in December to urge Boris Johnson to meet with him.

He penned a candid letter to the Prime Minister on Instagram, urging him to give more value to 'support for emotional and mental wellbeing' in schools.

'Let's talk': The doctor, who works in A&E at London's Lewisham Hospital, took to social media in December to urge Boris Johnson to meet with him

He shared a snap of himself holding a handwritten banner reading 'Boris let's talk #mentalhealthmatters' alongside his lengthy caption.

The reality TV star said he has spent 'months' researching and speaking to charities and believes that mental wellbeing needs to be treated with the 'same importance as core subjects such as Maths and English'.

He explained that the issue has only become 'more important' due to the effects of the Covid-19 crisis, saying that each loss of life to suicide is 'potentially preventable'.

Dr Alex urged his 1.5million followers to share his call for action and tag Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who he also requested to meet with.

His lengthy caption read: 'DEAR BORIS JOHNSON, Our children have a right to receive quality mental health education and support that adequately prepares them for the world in which we live.

Call for action: Dr Alex penned a letter to the Prime Minister on Instagram on Sunday, urging him to give more value to 'support for emotional and mental wellbeing' in schools

'I have spent the last few months speaking with mental health charities, teachers, parents and education leads and we all agree that things need to change.

'From my discussions and research, I believe there are clear areas that we can and must improve on.

'Education and support for emotional and mental wellbeing needs to be treated with the same importance as core subjects such as Maths and English.

'Happy and well supported children are much more likely to enjoy and engage in education and become well rounded adults and more able to cope with the pressures of modern life.

'This has never been more important, especially with the effects of the pandemic.

Mental health: The reality TV star said he spent 'months' researching and believes mental health needs to be given the 'same importance as core subjects such as Maths and English'

'This has never been more important': He said the issue has only become 'more important' due to the Covid-19 crisis, saying that each loss of life to suicide is 'potentially preventable'

'Too many lives are lost each year to suicide, each one of them a potentially preventable loss of life. How many more lives must we lose before we act?

'I would like to meet with yourself and Secretary of State for Education @gavinwilliamson.mp to discuss the changes which I propose. I look forward to hearing from you, Dr Alex George.

'Please tag @borisjohnsonuk and share to make this happen'

And the TV doctor did not stop there, as he also shared a flood of posts on his Instagram stories urging his followers to help him 'act'.

Speaking about his brother's death, he wrote: 'I might not be able to help my brother. But I can help other children and young adults, with your help. Together.'

Anger: Dr Alex also fumed in all caps that 'our children have a right to mental health education', arguing that 'they deserve better' as he vowed he would not give up

Support: The A&E doctor also shared driven reactions from his fans, including teachers and practitioners, who argued that 'not enough' was being done to 'protect mental health'

He added: 'I have been quiet until now. Gathering information. Speaking to experts. Understanding the issue. Now it's time to act. Please help me.'

Dr Alex also fumed in all caps that 'our children have a right to mental health education', arguing that 'they deserve better' as he vowed he would not give up.

He also shared driven reactions from his fans, including teachers and practitioners, who argued that 'not enough' was being done to 'protect mental health'.

The doctor also posted an array of messages continuing to thank his followers for all of their support; His comments come after he endured his first Christmas without his brother Llyr.

Grieving: Last month, Dr Alex returned for a new series of his podcast The Waiting Room, and opened with a tribute to Llyr, who died in July

Last month, Dr Alex returned for a new series of his podcast The Waiting Room, and opened with a tribute to Llyr.

'I've been going through the hardest time in my personal life after loosing my brother Llyr to mental health in July,' he told listeners. 'He was only 19 with a career in medicine ahead of him.

'I was so so proud of him. I miss him so much and he is always in my thoughts.'

Dr Alex also recalled what someone 'very very wise' told him after his brother passed away.

Famous medic: A&E doctor Alex - who shot to fame on Love Island 2018 - was debuting the fourth series of the podcast after a trying year

'Life throws us into the deep end at times but with the help of family and friends we overcome even the most seemingly surmountable of challenges. Just know you are never alone.'

Reflecting on the grieving process, he added: 'Grief is an ongoing process and I'll never get over losing Llyr, but i want to continue doing the things that are important to me.'

A&E doctor Alex - who shot to fame on Love Island 2018 - was debuting the fourth series of the podcast after a trying year.

He's been treating Covid-19 patients at Lewisham Hospital in London and sharing his experiences with the nation in his role as a TV medic.

If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
A 9-year-old girl from the United Kingdom started a petition at change.org to call out British PM (Prime Minister) Boris Johnson about the country's unethical plastic waste management regulation. In less than a week since her petition started, it already garnered more than 70,000 signatures.

Lizzie A, a young girl from the UK, started this petition. She has been studying plastic pollution since she was five years old.

The UK ships its plastic wastes to relatively poorer developing countries. Many are against this policy, labeling it as improper and unethical. Lizzie's petition aims to call on the proper authority and address the problem.

She believes that sending Britain's unsorted plastic waste to other countries is wrong and unfair.

She decided to write the petition after reading a piece from the Guardian's Seascape series.

There she found out that the UK will continue shipping plastic waste to other countries despite the EU (European Union) banning this waste management practice.

Lizzie has a knack for learning about everything that concerns the oceans. She claimed that she wants to be a marine biologist or ecologist in the near future.

She said, "At school, we've learned about how plastic damages the environment and what happens to it over many years. It breaks down into microplastics, and they harm marine life. I'm passionate about the ocean, and I was upset at how plastic ends up in the ocean because of the exports."

Related Article: Seafood's Secret Ingredient: Microplastic

UNETHICAL PRACTICE

The practice does not ensure proper waste disposal, and when plastics are not appropriately taken care of, they usually end up being burned or dumped.

Those methods just make it harder for the environment as burning plastics create harmful gases while leaving them around will only inevitably lead them back to the oceans.

What made Lizzie particularly upset was that she learned that the reason why the practice will still continue is that it found a way to carry on legally under "new regulations."

"I was stunned about how Boris Johnson made a promise, and he hasn't done what he said," she said.

"We're really lazy in not dealing with our own plastic ourselves. It's a large amount of plastic. It's 300 tonnes of plastic every day. When we send it to communities that can't deal with it, they burn it, and a lot of the smoke gets in the air, and that can harm people."

Lizzie and her mother, Esther, have been continuously monitoring the progress of her petition. They were glad to know that many people were willing to support their cause.

She initially tried to register the petition on the UK parliament website, where petitions that reached 100,000 signatures calls for an immediate response from the government. But, it was rejected due to the existing petition resembling hers.

Government action

She is currently writing a letter to her MP (Member of Parliament), Simon Jupp, to ask his aid in persuading the government to take immediate action. She wants her to honor his promises during the election.

"If parliament realizes people are thinking passionately about plastic not being exported, then Boris Johnson might ban it quicker," Lizzie said.

Lizzie's action is proof of the future generation's concern for the environment.

ALSO READ: 'What can be Found in the Ocean': Pink Undies, Double Mattress, Christmas Tree and More

For more environmental news updates, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Hwang Hee / Yonhap



Hwang Hee, nominated Wednesday as the new culture minister, is a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party who has built an extensive career in liberal political circles.



Hwang began his political career in the late 1990s as a secretary for the late president and pro-democracy leader Kim Dae-jung, who was then leading a liberal party. Hwang then took on several officer-level posts at the presidential office during late President Roh Moo-hyun's term.



Hwang, who also worked as a policy aide for late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon in the 2011 by-election, returned to the Democratic Party in 2015. He was elected as a lawmaker in the 2016 general elections, working actively in the land and transportation committee at the National Assembly.







Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  A congresswoman of the Duterte Youth Partylist has called on the Department of National Defense to scrap its pact with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines that bans the unannounced entry of uniformed security personnel in school premises.

Duterte Youth Rep. Ducielle Cardema on Tuesday said the accord between DND and the state university should also be abrogated, similar to what Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana did with the 1989 deal with the University of the Philippines. She questioned why the two universities are given "special treatment" when other state universities and colleges are not given a similar privilege.

"Itong UP-DND Accord & PUP-DND Accord ay klarong klaro na special treatment na inabuso na, sa tagal ng panahon. Kung sa 400 plus campuses ng ibat ibang SUCs ng bansa wala namang ganyang accord pero peaceful naman, tama lamang tanggalin na ang special treatment na 'yan na naaabuso rin naman," she said in a statement.

[Translation: The UP-DND Accord and PUP-DND accord are clearly special treatments that have been abused. There are over 400 campuses of state universities and colleges without similar agreements, yet it's peaceful there. It's about time to end the special treatment being given to them since it is also being abused.]

The lawmaker claimed that the academic freedom UP students enjoy through the agreement has been abused by some radical leftist groups to promote the youth recruitment of the communist rebels in their campuses.

"The UP-DND Accord was used to uphold academic freedom but these leftist groups have abused it to shield them, so that the government and our government troops cannot arrest them for their seditious acts," she added.

After DND unilaterally terminated its accord with UP on January 15, Lorenzana said they are looking into other similar agreements. He admitted that he hasn't seen a copy of the PUP-DND deal and the 1981 letter between former student leader Sonia Soto and ex-Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, but said he will also repeal it once he gets a hold of the copies.

"If you can present a copy, I will abrogate it also," he said in a media briefing.

READ: Despite abrogation of UP-DND pact, this 1981 agreement still bars police and military from campuses, former student leaders say

Vice President Leni Robredo, several lawmakers, and progressive groups have condemned the decision of Lorenzana. UP President Danilo Concepcion urged the defense chief to reconsider his decision, saying it may have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

RELATED: Senators file resolution opposing UP-DND accord termination
Patrick Rousseau France

Patrick grew up in Poitou-Charentes and has had a passion for drawing since his childhood. He studied at the Fine Arts School in Angouleme where he learned different techniques. He focused on painting, which particularly appealed to him.

An avid traveler, he began visiting his native region and the Atlantic coast. Then he lived for some time in the heart of the mountains of Argentina. There he learned to understand people, their customs, their inner worlds and found that despite cultural differences the same desires drive all men. He then visited Prague, Florence, Venice, Rome ... and of course Paris, where he now lives.

Patrick has sketchbooks from his travels, and he paints his sketches and enriches the colours with a spatula. He always works in oils with a palette of pastel shades. Recently, he dared using reds and blues, while still maintaining a whimsical atmosphere.

Oil paint is the only constant in his work. He never ceases to research subjects; everything around him is there to be painted. The city is life, and Patrick integrates the characters who inhabit it into his work. They often represent the artist himself, but also strangers and common citizens which the artist allows to escape to happier worlds. There is a street here, a sky there, a memory, a landscape ... bridges have privileged positions; they reach the other shore and take us to new horizons.

Patrick paints and sculpts and cannot imagine his life without color and movement. He is his own character on the canvas, and he watches every movement. Painting and music are daily passions of the artist.

The city is an essential universe for the artist. He tries to guess the secrets and stories behind every window. Through images, Patrick offers to share a moment of escapism.
[January 20, 2021] JAGSOM Bangalore, formerly IFIM B-school, completes 100% Final Placement 2021; Avg Salary up by 12% to Rs.10.21 LPA

- The highest salary package offered at JAGSOM is Rs. 16 LPA and the average salary stood at Rs. 10.21 LPA. More than 70 recruiters, including New Age Companies, participated in the placement process making offers to graduating students BANGALORE, India, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Even as COVID 19 has slowed down the Indian economy, Bangalore-based Jagdish Sheth School of Management (JAGSOM), formerly IFIM Business School, has announced the completion of 100% Final Placements for its graduating PGDM Batch of 2021. JAGSOM Admission 2021 is open- Apply Now Breaking its last year record of concluding placement in January, IFIM Bangalore has announced 100% Internship cum Placements in the month of December 2019 for its PGDM 2018-20 batch. According to IFIM, a total of 159 Early Final Placements 2021 is another feather in the cap for JAGSOM, which became the sixth B-school to be accredited by AACSB in India in 2018 and was recently ranked in QS World University Rankings. JAGSOM conducted its placement 2021 process virtually and more than 70 companies recruited from the campus this year. The year witnessed an increased participation from both marquee and a sizable number of new age recruiters. Placements 2021 at JAGSOM also witnessed a variety of new roles like Product Management for AI enabled human resource engagement software, Fintech applications, Digital HR, Martech to name a few. On achieving 100% Final Placement, Dr. Atish Chattopadhya, Director JAGSOM, said, "We are happy to have successfully completed the campus placements, securing 100% placements for JAGSOM graduating batch of May 2021 so early. Year 2020 has been phenomenal for JAGSOM. The Institute, which is celebrating its Silver Jubilee, made its debut in the QS World University rankings figuring in the 51+ band in the Specialized Masters in Marketing and 101+ band in Finance Masters Program." JAGSOM Bangalore Placement 2021 Highlights: Average Salary in Placement 2021 goes up to Rs.10 .21 LPA from last year's Rs.9 .15 LPA

.21 LPA from last year's .15 LPA Average Salary for PGDM Marketing is Rs.10 .79 LPA

.79 LPA Average Salary for PGDM Business Analytics is Rs.11 .79 LPA

.79 LPA Highest Salary stood at Rs.16 LPA

LPA 70 Recruiters participated in Placement 2020

Top Recruiters include Oracle, Dell, HDFC among others

Out of all the companies that visited JAGSOM campus, 70% were new organizations participating for the first time.

An increasing hiring trend seen in Placement 2021 in IT, Management Consulting, and Edu Tech sectors

Many of the Corporates sought immediate onboarding of graduates Top Recruiters at JAGSOM (IFIM) Placements 2021:







S.No. Name of Company 1 Oracle 2 Arcesium 3 BNY Mellon 4 Dell 5 Grant Thornton 6 HDFC 7 Hexaware Technologies 8 KPMG 9 Numly 10 ANZ

JAGSOM emerges as a preferred destination for New Age Companies & Roles Besides the marquee companies, JAGSOM is emerging as a preferred destination for the new age technology driven companies, like Numly, OSG, Arcesium, Cuemath, Jaro, Metric Stream, Scaler and Smart Knower. During the last 1-2 years, JAGSOM students have been offered a number of new roles in Customer Success, Growth hacking, Digital Marketing / Social Media among others. JAGSOM Admission 2021 is open- Apply Now Top Job Roles at JAGSOM (IFIM) Placements 2021 S.No. Job Role 1 Customer Success 2 Growth hacking 3 Digital Marketing / Social Media 4 Business Process Consultant 5 Business Analyst 6 Corporate Strategy 7 FinTech 8 Innovation 9 Product Specialist 10 HR Analytics 11 Program Management 12 Supply Chain Management Early Geared Up to mitigate the COVID 19 Business Slowdown Risk According to JAGSOM, well before the pandemic struck, JAGSOM students started working on live industry projects through its unique 'Request For Project' (RFP) initiative as part of 'Learning by Solving' pedagogy. Research Incubation (RI), another award-winning initiative which forms an integral component of JAGSOM pedagogy also intersects with industry. JAGSOM RI and RFP programs thereby provided a perfect runway to this year's final placement. Super Specialization Helped to Choose the Right Role JAGSOM super specialisation program ensures that the students are fielded on 'horse for the course' model and not follow a free size fits for all process where several students compete for a broad range of roles without specifics, like Finance, Marketing, HR. JAGSOM students chose to apply to only those roles that match with their competency in areas like Martech, Sales and Services, Business Analytics, Digital transformation, Fintech, Capital market, Banking and HR Analytics. Recruiters were also happy with this process, finding the right fit for the roles they came here for, without wasting their valuable time. As per the recruiters' feedback, JAGSOM students enjoy one of the highest retention rates in the industry. CA Priyanka Saraswat, Head of Student Placement Committee, commented, "Our super-specialization program sets us apart in the race today," and added further, "I specialized in both Capital Market and Business Analytics in our super specialisation program. This helped me crack the interview with Arcesium, sought-after new age Fintech company." JAGSOM Admission 2021 is open- Apply Now Placement Process in Virtual Mode JAGSOM started its campus recruitment from September 2020 onwards on a virtual mode and the recruiters also preferred it that way, while the entire support team, staff in the placement office and members of the faculty, and members of student placement committee attended office in person. JAGSOM has been extensively using its own learning architecture for many years for a hybrid course delivery, including the contemporary LMS; Collaborative platform like Impartus, MS Teams, Zoom, Google Meet; and test conducting platforms like Mettl. Speaking on the successful completion of 100% placement 2021, Dr Asit K Barma, Professor-Marketing, and Chairperson, Corporate Relations group, observed, "This year's placement highlight is the significant interest shown by the new-age companies in our students. This goes to prove how JAGSOM has leveraged the locational dividend of being in the Silicon Valley of India." About JAGSOM Jagdish Sheth School of Management (formerly IFIM Business School) is amongst the first 6 Business Schools in India to have been awarded the AACSB accreditation. Recently, IFIM Business School, now, Jagdish Sheth School of Management (JAGSOM), has been ranked by QS Masters in Marketing Ranking 2021 amongst the Top 100 such programs (in 51-100 band) in the World for its PGDM (Marketing) program. It has also been ranked in the 101-150 Band Globally in the QS Masters in Finance Rankings for its PGDM (Finance) Program. Various programs at JAGSOM include (1) PGDM/MBA: 2 Year residential Post Graduate Diploma in Management /MBA with international super-specializations in Martech, Fintech, Big Data Analytics, Digital Transformation & HR (2) SpecX - offering experiential specializations for new age roles: PGDM (Marketing), PGDM (Finance) and PGDM (Business Analytics) (3) PGDM IB: Dual Degree Pathway Program in association with State University of New York (Albany) and Sydney Business School (UOW) (4) PGDM LFH: A unique learn from home program which brings in the experience of learning from a campus while at home and (5) BBA at Vijaybhoomi University, Greater Mumbai, having pathway options with ESCP Europe, ESC Rennes and UOW Australia. Actively engaged in research and consulting, JAGSOM hosts several Centers of Excellence such as AIM-Parasuraman Centre of Service Excellence. JAGSOM has an elite set of international academic partners including leading institutes such as ESCP-London, Darden School of Business (University of Virginia) and McCombs Business School (University of Texas at Austin). JAGSOM has four distinct anchors that support its overall educational philosophy: Grooming T shaped professionals with a unique curriculum aligned to the needs of industry 4.0

A mix of scholars with PhD and experienced practice-oriented best-in-class faculty

Global connects through partnerships with world-renowned business schools offering super-specializations in new-age areas.

Industry connect programs to groom "Beyond Tomorrow" professionals. For more information, visit www.ifimbschool.com / www.jagsom.com

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 15:59:30|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday granted pardon to 73 people, including his former White House adviser Steve Bannon, in his last day in office, the White House said.

Bannon, 67, was charged last year with defrauding Trump supporters of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a border wall fundraising campaign. He has pleaded not guilty.

Bannon was an architect of Trump's 2016 election victory and later served as chief White House strategist. He left the White House in August 2017.

"Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen," the White House said in a statement.

The 73 individuals Trump granted clemency also include Elliott Broidy, a major Republican Party fundraiser who pleaded guilty in October to violating foreign lobbying laws, and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was sentenced in 2013 to 28 years in prison on corruption charges.

Apart from that, Trump issued a pardon to Anthony Levandowski, a former Uber executive who was charged with stealing trade secrets from Google.

President-elect Joe Biden, who beat Trump in an election last year, was due to be sworn in as the nation's next president later Wednesday. Enditem
The coronavirus has brought the travel industry to its knees. The U.S. Travel Association, a trade group that promotes travel to and within the country, estimates that nearly 40% of all travel jobs have been eliminated since the virus took hold in March. But with hotels at record-low occupancy, some airports running on skeleton crews and fairgrounds emptied of guests, many domestic travel companies and operators have begun donating their resources and newly vacant spaces to help get the pandemic under control.
Twitter banned President Donald Trump due to his complicity in the recent violence. Capitol police as well as some legislators from the Republican Party also face public indictments of complicity in the horrendous acts that took place in our nations capital.

Complicity is a strong word, defined as the state of being an accomplice; partnership or involvement in wrongdoing.

We should all self-examine our own complicity in the events of Jan. 6, complicity that might occur through our actions, words and inactions.

First, reflect on what you do  your daily actions. You likely were not a part of the violence at the Capitol. But even what we might consider benign actions are also acts of complicity.

What we do matters, even the little actions that occur on social media. Sharing or liking a post are influential actions since many Americans get their news through social media. These mere taps of our fingers are actions that carry weight. We must ask ourselves if we are spreading lies, condoning racism and sowing seeds of unrest.

I tell my graduate students to be ready to show a list of all of their likes, hearts and thumbs-ups from their social media to any current or future employer.

As some of our elected officials reminded us on Jan. 6, words matter. What we say has influence, whether it be at the dinner table in our home, in the bleachers at a Little League game or in our Facebook posts. We all carry influence.

Top hits: Get San Antonio Express-News stories sent directly to your inbox

We must remember our words influence our children, members of our communities and those who read our social media posts. With that should come a somber sense of responsibility. As weve been reminded, words of a president can inspire, but they can also incite. Similarly, words of a parent, teacher, pastor and community leader can do the same.

And lest we forget, voting is one of our most consequential actions. Whom we elect to office can also be a silent act of complicity.

Finally, our inactions can also be accomplices to violence, hate and injustice. One of my students had this quote from our reading of Brazilian activist Paulo Freire tattooed on his arm: Washing ones hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.

Although it is far more comfortable to convince ourselves otherwise, neutrality is not a possibility. When our fellow human beings are hurt by policies, people and images that convey hate, we should be compelled to act on their behalf. Because I have health insurance, abundant educational opportunities, the ability to provide for my children, and the rights to vote and fully participate in my society, I cannot ignore those who do not have the same rights.

Perhaps, like me, you have the privilege to go through life with virtually no discrimination due to your race, language, sexual orientation, citizenship, religion and cultural practices. However, washing our hands of other peoples oppression is not neutrality. Neutrality is merely complicity that places us on a side that history will surely note.

Yet self-examining our own complicity is uncomfortable and hard. It would be far too easy to not interrogate our actions and words, to claim neutrality for the sake of peace.

I ask you to remember the violent acts we witnessed on Jan. 6. Like Twitter, let us hold people accountable for their complicity.

But may we have enough integrity to examine our own complicity in these events through our actions, words and inaction.

Mandy Stewart is a literacy professor at Texas Womans University and a fellow at The OpEd Project.
A new controversy has erupted over a picture of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar placed along with the pictures of freedom fighters of the country at the main gate of Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The UP Legislative Council Chairman has taken cognizance of the matter after Congress MLC Deepak Singh wrote a letter opposing the move. Chairman Ram Naresh Yadav has demanded a report from the Principal Secretary in this matter and has asked for a reply within a week on how the photo of Savarkar was found in the gallery of the Legislative Council.

Yadav has said that he came to know about the issue after Singhs letter not only termed the picture an insult to the great freedom fighters of the country, but also demanded that it be removed and installed in the BJP office.

Under your chairmanship, the UP government has renovated and beautified the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council. I thank them for that but I request with great sorrow that it is an insult to the great freedom fighters to put a picture of Savarkar among the pictures of the freedom fighters and the great men who gave their life for the country. A few months after Savarkar went to jail, he wrote a letter to the British Government that if the British Government forgives him, he will separate himself from the freedom struggle of India and show loyalty to the British Government. He got out of jail and joined the British and campaigned against the Indians. In such a situation, it is objectionable to put Savarkar's picture with the freedom fighters who fought loyally for the independence of the country.

Singh added, Savarkar also fought with the British against Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Helped the British by making Hindu-Muslim fight in the policy of divide and rule by the British. Savarkar along with Jinnah also spoke of two nations in his Ahmedabad session. In such a situation, who have spoken the language of Jinnah, fought the war against Subhash Chandra Bose, who had opposed the Quit India campaign against the British, who was released from prison and acted against freedom fighters in the name of loyalty to the forefathers. How can a sensible patriot agree with such a nationalist? Therefore, kindly remove the picture of Savarkar on the main gate of the Vidhan Bhavan and install it in the BJP office, so that the feelings of the great freedom fighters and crores of UP people can be saved from being hurt.

BJP demands 13,000 crore 'dues' from Arvind Kejriwal's govt for party-ruled municipal corporations

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 20: Delhi BJP leaders and workers demanded Rs 13,000 crore "dues" from the Kejriwal government for the party-ruled municipal corporations, displaying banners and posters at flyovers and foot overbridges in a protest across the city on Wednesday.

Delhi BJP vice president Virender Sachdeva claimed the campaign aims to make people aware about how the Kejriwal government is "depriving " the party-ruled MCDs of their "dues" of Rs 13,000 crore because of political reasons.

Union Cabinet approves MoU between India, Uzbekistan for cooperation in field of Solar Energy

Delhi BJP media cell head Navin Kumar said they were displaying large banners and posters demanding that the city government pay the "dues". The AAP leadership has been attacking the BJP alleging "corruption and mismanagement" in the three municipal corporations ruled by the party.

Recently, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced that Delhi the government will provide Rs 938 crore to the municipal corporations to pay salaries to its employees.

"Doctors, nurses, sanitation workers and other employees of municipal corporations have not been paid salaries due to the funds held back by the Kejriwal government. No money has been released so far despite Sisodia's announcement," said party spokesperson Virender Babbar.

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

No reaction was immediately available from the AAP. The BJP which has ruled the municipal corporations for nearly 15 years and the AAP have been indulging in a blame game with the civic body polls approaching in the early 2022.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 15:07 [IST]
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Murray Woman Arrested on Child Abuse Charges

By West Kentucky Star Staff

CALLOWAY COUNTY - A Murray woman was jailed Tuesday on assault and child abuse charges.The Calloway County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded Tuesday afternoon to the Murray-Calloway County Hospital for a report of a small child there with serious injuries. Upon arrival, deputies conducted a cooperative investigation with the Kentucky Department of Community Based Services.Twenty-two-year-old Amanda Hernandez was arrested and charged with 2nd degree assault and 1st degree criminal abuse. She was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information related to the investigation is encouraged to call the Calloway County Sheriff's Office.
Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia
(Newser)  Two agents were injured and two passengers were arrested after a clash at Detroit Metro Airport. The agents had blocked the passengers from boarding a Sunday flight to Atlanta "without authorization," Spirit Airlines said. "This was not a fight," the airline said in a statement. "Describing it as a fight is untrue to our agents. In actuality, three passengers attacked our agents without provocation." It began when the employees asked the passengers to show that their carry-on bags did not exceed size requirements, ABC reports. The agents tried to "calmly defuse the situation," Spirit said, but when they closed a door to keep the passengers from boarding, they "were physically assaulted."

story continues below

A video shows an agent being punched and knocked down, per WJBK. One of the agents was taken to a hospital for treatment. "This violent behavior is completely unacceptable and has absolutely no place in airports or any other place of business," Spirit said. The passenger who was not taken into custody was cited and released. All three were banned by the airline in the future. The FAA has said it plans to increase punishment for passengers who become disorderly, per ABC, imposing prison sentences and fines as high as $35,000. (Read more unruly passenger stories.)
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - One Terre Haute native is coming back to his hometown with the hope of bringing jobs to our community.

A.J. Patton grew up in Terre Haute right behind Union Hospital. A Terre Haute North and Indiana State alumnus, he went on to create 548 Capital. The name stems from the number of his housing development unit that he grew up in here in Terre Haute. He now hopes to bring his successful business and mission to his hometown that he says gave him so much.

After graduating from ISU, Patton founded 548 Capital in Chicago, Illinois. The company builds solar powered affordable housing. It looks to lower utility costs for low-income families in the Windy City. Patton says theyve created hundreds of jobs, and he wants to bring its success to Terre Haute.

My goal here is to bring that job training program to Terre Haute, Patton said, We want to skill a new workforce, and then tie that to projects both with the city, universities here, the School Corporation, and meet with all the different officials to see if theres a true interest in job creation thats tied to sustainable energy.

Patton recently had a meeting with Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett, presidents of local universities, the Small Business Administration, and other local leaders in Terre Haute. He says he wants to see if theres a real appetite for job creation herea place that means so much to him.

This is home, Patton passionately said, It means something to go create a coup hundred jobs somewhere else, but Terre Haute is my roots. We live here. We pray here. My alma mater is here.

Patton says his goal is to bring jobs to Terre Haute and build sustainable living for all communities. He says this is just one of many steps to come to start mapping out the process of job creation thats tied to sustainable energy.

Its about bringing jobs to Terre Haute, Patton explained, Thats the number one thing. Thats our hope in a partnership that we find more ways to bring creative jobs here. Thats the best thing to rebuild a community is for it to rebuild itself.

Patton says bringing his mission from Chicago to Terre Haute is what giving back is all about. Pattons roots are in Terre Haute, and thats why bringing this successful endeavor to his hometown means everything to him.

It means a ton to come here, and if we can create 20 to 25 jobs, it means a lot, Patton concluded, Its a legacy builder. Im at the stage of my career where I care about my legacy now, and my legacy is tied to Terre Haute.

Patton says this is the beginning of what he hopes to be a fruitful partnership. You can find more information about his mission at 548capital.com.
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New Zealand Dollar Forecast Overview:

Despite losses over the past week, the New Zealand Dollar may soon be positioned to resume its multi-month uptrend.

Commentary from the BOC hints at the troubles the RBNZ faces: a strengthening currency, and a lack of firepower by which to halt the rise.

According to the IG Client Sentiment Index , the New Zealand Dollar retains a bearish bias.

New Zealand Dollar Down, Not Out

The New Zealand Dollar enjoyed a burst higher at the start of 2021, but trading over the past week or so has yielded some profit taking among the NZD-crosses. A stronger US Dollar has certainly flowed through into a weaker pace of price action for growth-linked currencies like the Kiwi. But the New Zealand Dollar itself has two fundamental factors trending in its direction to keep rates supported: a Reserve Bank of New Zealand that cant fend off a stronger Kiwi; and a strengthening New Zealand economy.

With respect to the former, the RBNZ finds itself in the same boat as the commodity currencys brethren central banks, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Bank of Canada: it lacks the firepower, compared to the Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, or Federal Reserve, to prevent its currency from rising in relative value. When push comes to shove, if the BOJ, ECB, or Fed want weaker currencies relative to the New Zealand Dollar, there is little that the RBNZ can do.

With respect to the latter point, the New Zealand economy remains on strong footing, being the only developed Western economy currently fully open. New Zealand economic data has been steadily improving in recent days, with the New Zealand Citi Economic Surprise Index back up to +106.60, its highest level of 2021.

As attention shifts away from US politics and back towards the thematic story of the global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the New Zealand Dollar remains well-positioned to benefit.

NZD/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (January 2020 to January 2021) (CHART 1)

On a longer-term basis, we have articulated a bullish point of view on NZD/JPY rates as a major bottoming process appears to have just started. NZD/JPY rates are still above the descending trendline from the January 2014, July 2017, December 2018, and August 2020 highs. If a long-term bottom is being established, then it remains the case that were looking at a long-term timeframe of buying the dips in NZD/JPY rates through at least early-2021.

On a shorter-term term perspective, NZD/JPY rates are exhibiting signs of a bullish market amid the pullback. While both daily MACD and daily Slow Stochastics are at their lowest levels since early-November 2020, NZD/JPY rates are trading relatively higher, closer to their 2020 closing level near 74.21 than the November low 68.94; NZD/JPY rates were last spotted at 74.19. A break of the intramonth downtrend would signal bullish resumption.

NZD/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (January 2020 to January 2021) (CHART 2)

NZD/USD rates are mired in an intramonth downtrend like NZD/JPY rates, but like their counterpart, retain bullish technical posture. Similarly, NZD/USD rates are closer to their 2020 closing level than the early-November 2020 lows despite both daily MACD and Stochastics being at two and half month lows. With favorable monthly seasonality at their back, NZD/USD rates likely have more upside ahead.

IG Client Sentiment Index: NZD/USD RATE Forecast (January 20, 2021) (Chart 3)

NZD/USD: Retail trader data shows 41.06% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.44 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 19.41% higher than yesterday and 15.61% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 2.25% lower than yesterday and 1.17% higher from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests NZD/USD prices may continue to rise.

Yet traders are less net-short than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current NZD/USD price trend may soon reverse lower despite the fact traders remain net-short.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Currency Strategist
This is the first of a two-part article.

The Democratic Party, under the leadership of President-elect Joe Biden, has set as one of its key initiatives the reopening of in-class instruction for all public schools across the nation amid a ceaselessly raging pandemic. This remains the final hurdle in fully implementing the policy of herd immunity.

The $1.9 trillion economic rescue package being proposed to counter the economic downturn and COVID-19 crisis has earmarked $400 billion for vaccine rollout and safe school reopening. After decades of austerity and dismantling of the institutions of public health and education by both the Democrats and Republicans, promises to fund efforts that would require years of investment to sustain these critical programs simply ring hollow.

In December, Biden pledged, It should be a national priority to get our kids back into school and keep them in school. If Congress provides the funding, we need to protect students, educators and staff. If states and cities put strong public health measures in place that we all follow, then my team will work to see that the majority of schools can be open by the end of my first 100 days. The number of ifs in this pledge should make one pause and ask if this should be construed as even a serious proposal.

Elementary school students in Godley, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

To make good on his promise, Biden has turned to Connecticuts education commissioner, Miguel Cardona, who spearheaded the opening of most schools in his state, to assume the helm as secretary of the Department of Education. In this regard, the Democratic Party is preparing to carry the baton in a race to open all aspects of society in complete unity with the plans of outgoing President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

In November, Cardona made significant remarks that have no basis in science, but are aimed at sustaining a certain pretense of concern for education: Closing schools alone would not reduce  the transmission risk in other places, he said. In school, we know that students have their mitigation strategies, like distancing and facial coverings.

This statement not only denies that schools are vectors for the pandemic, but suggests that removing children from schools would actually endanger them, making them more vulnerable to ongoing chains of infections in communities. Later we will address the specific science on these assertions.

Cardona then proceeded to appeal to educators concern for their students as a means of browbeating them to go back to schools. Theres no way to ensure thats happening outside of school when theyre not with us, he said. What were learning  its families in already challenged communities that are under-resourced, that need more support. So, by doing these things [opening schools], were not only bringing the issue up, were using that to guide whatever resources we distribute.

More sophisticated than Trumps obvious indifference to the consequences for either teachers or students, this patronizing form of persuasion is a dangerous proposition when confronting a deadly virus that is running rampant throughout the country.

Appealing to teachers emotions

Like Cardonas argument, a recent provocative policy piece authored by the dean of the School of Public Health at Brown University, Dr. Ashish Jha, and Professor of Economy Emily Oster, titled, Schools and the path to zeroStrategies for pandemic resilience in the face of high community spread, begins with an introduction aimed at appealing to teachers emotions rather than bullying them Trump-style.

They write, Schools fill essential functions in our society including education, childcare and provision of nutrition and health. School closures, combined with the lack of paid leave and limits on support for small businesses, have had profound impacts. Parents are forced out of work. The deep inequities of American society are reinforced and expanded. Despite the best efforts of education districts, there is no doubt that remote instruction generates large learning gaps and links to higher rates of mental illness, while depriving children of formative social and peer relationships. For untold thousands of children, schools are their only source of healthy meals. And for too many children, they are a refuge from precarious home life, a place where observant teachers can be a safety net. Some children will struggle to make up the growing social and educational deficit caused by prolonged school closings.

The appeal to teachers concern for their students is quite obvious. Children are supposedly safer at school than at home, both from the virus and their irresponsible parents. Childrens health and nutrition can be better monitored at school while they receive critical educational instructions to assure them future success. Meanwhile, their parents need to return to work to ensure they can bring home a paycheck. But acknowledging deep social inequities is a far different thing than proposing how they can be overcome. In fact, the authors present these inequities as a permanent fixture of American life that has to be tolerated. Like COVID-19, poverty and deprivation just have be lived with.

Once schools are reopened, they cant be shut again, the authors clearly believe. They openly state that closing schools to contain outbreaks should be a measure of last resort. When one begins to parse through the details that are enumerated under subheadings like Four challenges for trust, Infection control team in every school, Occupational safety and health standards and Weekly COVID testing, one is struck by the underlying contradictions in these formulations. They sound wonderful, but no resources are being provided to put them into effect. On the contrary, years of underfunding and austerity have made the United States the ideal place for the coronavirus to spread.

The vaccine rollout debacle has only been the latest in the missteps and ineptitude that have characterized the countrys response to the health crisis. What has indelibly been imprinted on the consciousness of the working class are the harrowing images of beleaguered health care workers without PPE, presidential promises of quack cures, miles-long lines of cars waiting hours at food banks and testing centers, and the bodies of their families and friends piled up in refrigerated containers waiting to be buried.

Public health is the cornerstone in the fight against any pandemic. Regardless of various therapeutics being touted or promises of vaccines that have yet to arrive, without these measures in place, no society stands a chance against viral infection of epidemic potential.

Testing and contact-tracing

Briefly, looking at the contact-tracing situation in the US, according to the website, test and trace, 40 states have received a failing grade in their contact tracing infrastructure. They are not planning to hire more staff to account for a rise in cases. New York state, which has one of the most robust programs in the country, is short 12,482 tracers. California is projected to need another 26,129 if it plans to address the present acute crisis.

Last July, the American Medical Association told House and Senate leaders that at least 100,000 or more contact tracers are needed to meaningfully control the transmission of the virus as states continue to lift social distancing restrictions. At a minimum, a robust testing program should test enough symptomatic people and their contacts to yield no more than a 3 percent positivity rate before considering reopening the economy. This requires that 70 to 90 percent of contacts for infected individuals be identified, isolated or quarantined. There are presently 67,050 contact tracers in the nation. The United States is short 635,967 contact tracers. It is no wonder any such discussions on these issues are mute in the mainstream press.

The primary focus of the Biden administrations plan to reopen schools is testing. But the fundamental reason for testing is that it is an essential adjunct to the contact-tracing programs. It functions at a social level to locate where the virus is and where it is going and allow measures to contain the spread. A standalone test merely to inform a person of their status on the given day, at the given hour, has quite limited utility. Yet, testing is now erroneously being conducted to open sporting venues, allow air travel to vacation destinations and bolster the fraudulent back-to-school campaign.

The Rockefeller Foundations white paper, Taking Back Control: Resetting of Americas Response to COVID-19, is a prospectus that dovetails in this effort with Bidens initiative. It declares: Our third Action Plan lays out a new plan for the largest domestic testing scale up to date and proposes 14 executive actions for the current and incoming administrations to take in order to rapidly alter the trajectory of the pandemic in the United States. Testing all US public K through 12 schools would cost $42.5 billion, or $8.5 billion per month for the remainder of the school year from February to June 2021.

The plan proposes to test every child once a week and all staff twice a week. They affirm that by the end of January, the country will likely be able to conduct more than 70 million tests each week, and this would rapidly climb to 200 million by April. They do acknowledge at the end of their lengthy report that the American Federation of Teachers has estimated that an additional $116.5 billion would be required for more staff, PPEs, enhanced cleaning, additional safety measures, excluding testing and building upgrades (emphasis added). It bears pointing out that since mid-November, the US testing capacity has stagnated, ranging from 10 million to 14 million tests a week.

It is essential to place the scope of the reopening school efforts in its correct scale.

There are 53.1 million K-12 students who are enrolled in an assortment of public, private and charter schools. More than 18 million young adults attend college and universities. More than 10 million educators, staff and sundry personnel help run these institutions. The US has approximately 13,600 school districts, close to 131,000 schools, of which 56,000 are elementary, 18,000 middle and 25,000 high schools. The average public schools enrollment is 528 students.

This implies that, at a minimum, 90 million tests a week have to be administered just to this sector with all the problems that rapid antigen tests have with accuracy. Adding further complexity to the issue, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also recently published a study that confirms that at least 60 percent of all infections are caused by asymptomatic people, which puts into question the ability to pick up new infections with such a strategy. A test can only inform a person of their status at the moment the test is taken. If they become infective hours or days later, this may be completely missed.

To be continued
iBwave Reach bridges the gap between the indoor and outdoor network design, equipping the industry with a seamless way to accurately design campus networks.

MONTREAL, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - iBwave, the standard for converged indoor network planning, today announced the company can address the rising global demand for high-performance end-to-end networks thanks to iBwave Reach, its all-in-one network design solution that bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor wireless network design.

Leveraging its partnership with Infovista, the leader in modern network performance, iBwave offers with iBwave Reach a powerful multi-technology outdoor network design solution that integrates seamlessly to iBwave's industry-leading iBwave Design software. With support for emerging technologies  4G/5G/CBRS/IoT/Wi-Fi 6  the addition of iBwave Reach gives iBwave customers a simple solution to streamline the design of their large multi-technology campus wireless networks with prediction accuracy that has a proven track record they can trust.

"The telecom industry has been rapidly evolving. Pushing design to inspect both indoor and outdoor performance," says Seth Roy, VP of Product Development at iBwave. "iBwave Reach combines the best of both worlds, allowing our customers to overcome typical design challenges. Working with our customers, we validated that iBwave Reach will seamlessly deploy networks, even complex environments such as mines. With the help of Carriers, System Integrators, OEMs, and Enterprises, we were able to make the design of complex multi-technology campus networks faster with the same resources and extend our product to new and exciting use cases."

The new iBwave Reach accelerates the design and deployment of 5G networks both within buildings and to the surrounding outdoor areas by eliminating the need to do multiple time-consuming and costly site walks for surveys. Capable of fully integrated indoor and outdoor prediction, combined with a growing components database of over 35,000 network parts, the powerful integrated solution of iBwave Reach and iBwave Design together accelerates a project's lifecycle by up to 50%.

To assess accuracy, several pilot projects were done with iBwave customers to compare the end-to-end iBwave Design and iBwave Reach solution to results captured during the post-installation survey. All results showed the predicted network performance results came within expected dB range of variance from the post-installation survey results. With these results iBwave customers can be confident the campus networks they design using iBwave Reach will perform as designed, eliminating the need for costly post-installation troubleshooting and re-design work.

iBwave Reach also integrates with most of the leading macro geodata tools on the market. During the pilot project phase, iBwave customers were able to successfully import their macro files into iBwave Reach. But even as a standalone solution, iBwave Reach can simulate accurate macro-outdoor prediction for up to 100 km2, accommodating sprawling environments such as smart cities, and mines.

The new iBwave Reach solution is currently available from iBwave.

ABOUT iBWAVE

iBwave Solutions, the standard for converged indoor network planning, is the power behind great in-building wireless experience, enabling billions of end users and devices to connect inside a wide range of venues. As the global industry reference, our software solutions allow for smarter planning, design, and deployment of any project regardless of size, complexity, or technology. Along with innovative software, we are recognized for world class support in 90 countries, the industry's most comprehensive components database and a well-established certification program. For more information, visit ibwave.com

SOURCE iBwave Solutions

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The New York City Sheriff's Office says a Jewish wedding attended by thousands of people in Brooklyn on Monday night was in compliance with state COVID-19 restrictions, despite pictures and video showing crowds of men packed together with no social distancing or masks.

Law enforcement watched from a distance as Shlomo Halberstam, the 18-year-old son of the head of the Bobov Hasidic sect, married his bride, who has not been identified, in the outdoor parking lot of the Congregation Shaarei Zion synagogue in Borough Park before the celebrations moved inside.

Footage from the indoor ceremony showed father of the groom Bobov Grand Rabbi Bentzion Halberstam, 65, celebrating in a white satin robe as hundreds of maskless men from the Hasidic Bobov community clapped from their seats.

According to PIX 11, guests traveled from as far as London and Israel for the prominent wedding, the latest in a string of large ceremonies held by the Brooklyn Hasidic community despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

While the sheriff's office and the NYPD was aware of the ceremony, PIX 11 reports, recent court rulings loosening the restrictions on religious ceremonies meant officers kept a step back.

Scroll down for video

The wedding took place in the parking lot, but then continued inside where video shared to social media showed hundreds of men were packed together and not wearing masks

Pictured, father of the groom Bobov Grand Rabbi Bentzion Halberstam, 65, celebrating in a white satin robe as hundreds of maskless men and boys from the Hasidic Bobov community clapped

Jewish leaders in Brooklyn last year joined forces with the borough's Roman Catholic bishop to mount a successful legal challenge against the COVID-19 limitations on their services.

According to new state regulations in the wake of a November Manhattan federal appeals court ruling, Gov. Andrew Cuomo can no longer implement to 25 percent capacity in red zone areas.

Borough Park is now in a yellow zone where religious ceremonies can be held with 50 percent capacity but social distancing must be in place and masks worn if that is not possible.

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ON RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES IN NEW YORK CITY According to city guidelines, houses of worship/funeral homes may hold indoor religious services in one room with congregant/attendee capacity limited to 50% of the maximum occupancy for that room. Any attendees from different households must maintain 6 feet of physical distancing. If unable to do so, attendees must wear a face covering. Gov. Cuomo had previously tried to bring back in stricter measures in neighborhoods such as Borough Park as cases in the area rose. Yet it led to protests from the Hasidic community who joined with the borough's Catholic bishop to sue the state. Despite Borough Park having moved back to a yellow zone where 50% capacity was allowed the federal appeals court in Manhattan struck down Cuomo's executive order in November because it 'discriminates against religion on its face'. Advertisement

The synagogue in question has a capacity of 1,800, meaning it would be authorized for 900 people in attendance under the coronavirus distancing rules.

'Our assessment at this time is that the event was compliant with relevant guidelines,' New York City Sheriff Joe Fucito told the New York Post.

However, law enforcement also reported that 'fences set up with tarps attached, limiting view' were erected around the parking lot of the synagogue and there were 'multiple entrances' into the indoor part of the celebrations.

The sheriff in New York, not the NYPD, has been tasked with taking the lead on enforcing social distancing rules since August 2020.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, who appoints the sheriff, didn't respond to a request for comment on the situation from DailyMail.com.

The NYPD, which also helps with Covid-19 rules enforcement - though the sheriff takes the lead - referred to a previous statement it's made about enforcing coronavirus rules when asked for comment from DailyMail.com.

'Our goal is not to summons. Our goal is safety. If further action is warranted, we will take it,' according to the statement.

'The NYPD will continue to support its partners at the NYC Sheriffs office whenever they conduct COVID related business and gathering enforcement.

The synagogue was also contacted for comment but had not yet responded.

The large Brooklyn ceremony on Monday had allegedly been planned in secret in an attempt to thwart government officials, according to an Israeli news site, which published an article about the wedding praising the congregation's planning of the event.

'Conditions make it very difficult to hold mass events, but the Bobov Hasidic group, one of the largest Hasidic groups in the United States, did everything to make the wedding take place on the better side, properly for the wedding of the youngest son of the grand rabbi for whom many anticipate a bright future,' it said, according to JTA.

'It is a difficult task to organize a mass wedding in such tumultuous days. Even if you have managed to find a respectable venue, the heart is not at peace, because at any given moment you are exposed to the danger of whistleblowing and the police forces will be on their way to the place and the celebration subsides. If in Israel there are concerns, in the United States of America all the more so.'

It added that the location was kept secret until immediately before the wedding began and that guests were asked not to take any video of photos.

Guests were warned not to take video but it was still shared on social media on Tuesday

The synagogue is allowed to hold 50 percent capacity but masks are supposed to be worn

The article was removed on Tuesday and replaced with a version that claimed the wedding was instead held in a 'very limited manner'.

According to JTA, Halberstam during the post-wedding celebrations commented on 'the "mosers" who inform the authorities about celebrations and the opening of synagogues'.

Moser translates to informer but also carries a threat of physical violence.

Activist Abby Stein, who is related to the Halberstam family but was not at the ceremony, was among those sharing the videos to social media as she warned of the danger of the event.

The Congregation Shaarei Zion synagogue in Borough Park where the wedding was held

HASIDIC RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES PLANNED DESPITE COVID-19 GUIDELINES AUGUST 2020: Banquet halls in one Brooklyn neighborhood allegedly continue to host large Haisidic Jewish weddings despite the state's cap of 50 people at social gatherings at this point in the reopenings. At least three catering venues in Borough Park appeared to be hosting weddings with more than 200 guests on one night in early August alone. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called out Borough Park after 16 new coronavirus cases there were linked to a local wedding. OCTOBER 5, 2020: FDNY found 500 people gathered inside a warehouse in Borough Park, Brooklyn. They were attending a play to mark the Jewish holiday Sukkot. NYPD was called but did not break up the event and issued no fines. They said the indoor religious gathering was in line with the 50% capacity limit as the warehouse could hold 2,000 people. OCTOBER 2020: The state caught wind of a wedding in Williamsburg planned for a grandson of Satmar Grand Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum. This wedding was expected to attract 10,000 people but was brought to a halt and changed to a virtual ceremony once heath officials stepped in. NOVEMBER 8: A Hasidic wedding in Brooklyn slipped under the radar of city officials as it crammed 7,000 maskless people into Yetev Lev temple in Williamsburg. Advertisement

'I always loved, and still like, watching these,' Stein wrote on Twitter. 'I just wish it wasn't under such dangerous circumstances.'

'I wish I was shocked,' she told the Post when asked about the lack of social distancing and masks.

'This was one of the biggest audiences I've ever seen at the synagogue,' Stein also told the Daily Beast.

She was a member of the Hasidic community before she came out as transgender five years ago and her relatives in Borough Park are in the Bobov sect.

Stein explained to the Daily Beast that details on the wedding would have traveled through word of mouth synagogue announcements, or Yiddish newsletters as she estimates that half the community does not use the internet.

'A wedding gives very warm and fuzzy feelings, and I'm not trying to take that away, but I think health comes first,' Stein added.

'There's no doubt this is not the safest way to celebrate. I don't want to diminish it. It's a beautiful celebration. In normal times, a community can live on that. It's the talk of the town for a week before, and everyone's excited. But religiously, there's no argument to have more than 10 people.'

The large wedding looked to be significantly more crowded than previous ceremonies than the NYPD had moved to close down.

Yet Stein says that the Bobov community had initially adhered to the pandemic health guidelines.

'They were one of the first communities to shut down fully,' she said. 'But what happened is pandemic fatigue in an isolated community. It's not intentionally to be bad and not care about health, but they will find an excuse like herd immunity, or not talk about it and decide not to live in lockdown.'

Hasidic leaders in New York defied many of the city's restrictions against the pandemic by hosting secret, yet large, ceremonies that they made efforts to hide form authorities.

In October, officials called a halt to a 10,000-guest wedding at another Brooklyn synagogue.

Last month, the same congregation held a large funeral for a rabbi with as estimated 5,000 people in attendance.

Tensions between the Hasidic community in Brooklyn and city officials erupted in protests in Borough Park in October when shutdowns began because of the rising coronavirus cases in the neighborhood.

And yet Hasidic communities have been among the hardest hit in the city.

'Back in April was really bad. At the peak, they had three or four pages of just names in the main Yiddish newspaper, sometimes hundreds of people dying each week,' said Stein.

'This is a community that really doesn't like to be told what to do, and if you try to they'll only fight back against you.'

In Borough Park, there were 250 news cases of coronavirus confirmed between January 10 and January 16.

It currently has a 10.68 percent positive test rate compared to 7.06 percent statewide.
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Maruti Suzuki India share price rose over 2 percent intraday on January 20 as the company commenced export of compact off-roader Jimny from India and also planning to launch an upgraded Swift in Q4FY21 .

The company is planning on launching an upgraded Swift in Q4FY21 & all-new Celerio in Q1FY22 according to sources, reported CNBC-TV18.

Maruti & Toyota are working on a B-segment SUV for CY22, while likely to launch a new Vitara Brezza in CY22. Also the launch of diesel variants of Ertiga & Brezza cannot be ruled out, it added.

The company commenced export of Suzukis celebrated compact off-roader Jimny from India. The first shipment of 184 units left from Mundra port to Latin American countries such as Columbia and Peru, as per the BSE release.

The iconic three-door Suzuki Jimny will be exported to Latin America, Middle East and African markets from India, company said.

Foreign broking firm Nomura has maintain neutral rating on the stock with a target at Rs 7,163 per share.

The 2% price rise partly offsets cost pressures, while there are discounts are at lower end of range currently, but may rise as supply increases.

It believe margin may remain under pressure in the near term. The long-term demand to be driven by rising personal income & job creation, reported CNBC-TV18.

Recently, company increased prices of select models owing to increase in various input costs. The price change varies across models and ranges up to Rs 34,000 (Ex-Showroom - Delhi).

At 12:12 hrs Maruti Suzuki India was quoting at Rs 8,083.75, up Rs 161.15, or 2.03 percent on the BSE.

The share touched its 52-week high Rs 8,400.00 and 52-week low Rs 4,002.00 on 13 January, 2021 and 03 April, 2020, respectively.

Currently, it is trading 3.76 percent below its 52-week high and 101.99 percent above its 52-week low.

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 20 : If the BJP leadership in Kerala is to be believed, the coming Assembly elections will see a battle between the party and the CPI-M whereas the Congress will not even be a contender for power in the southern state.

"The fight is between the BJP and CPI-M; the Congress does not have any role to play in the coming elections that will usher in a 'Congress-Mukt Kerala'. We have prepared a road map for this and are working accordingly. This does not mean that we have a soft corner for the CPI-M or the Left Front. I am only saying that the fight is between the BJP and the CPI-M while the Congress is not even in the picture," BJP state President K Surendran told IANS.

BJP state General Secretary AN Radhakrishnan also told IANS: "The BJP will work for the victory of its candidates. Votes bagged by the BJP will lead to relegation of Congress nominees to third places in many segments. The electoral battle is between the BJP and the CPI-M and the Congress does not have any role in these elections." BJP sources said that the state unit of the party is trying to relegate the Congress to third spot in at least 40 Assembly constituencies. The BJP state unit has categorised the seats into 'A plus', 'A' and 'B' categories, and seats that do not offer any victory hope.

The party is expecting sure wins in five seats, a neck-and-neck race in seven other seats, and thus aims to win 10-12 seats.

As per the BJP estimates, Nemom (represented by its lone MLA), Vattiryoorkavu, Palakkad, Aranmula and Manjeswaram seats as 'sure wins', and expecting to give a tough fight in another seven seats.

In nearly 40 seats, the BJP feels it can give a run for money to both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by Communist Party of India-Marxist and Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

As per its feedback from the grass roots after the local body elections, the party is certain that it will get more than 30,000 votes in each of these seats. If the BJP gets 30,000 votes each, the Congress could be relegated to the third place, which the BJP state unit exactly wants.

In Kerala, the electoral battles in the past have always been between the LDF and UDF. The BJP is trying to carve its own political niche between the two alliances.

The state BJP has made party General Secretaries incharge of these 40 Assembly constituencies. Ten seats will be under the charge of each General Secretary. A team of party workers drawn from across the district along with a few journalists from party publications would do due diligence on the ground situation in these 40-odd seats.

The Congress will have to sweat it out for wresting power from the LDF, which is banking on minority Muslim votes even though the UDF is likely to win several seats in Indian Union Muslim League stronghold.

The upper-caste Nair voters will be split between the Congress and the BJP. It will be a major setback for the Congress as this vote bank has traditionally favoured it. With the BDJS, the Ezhava political formation that is a constituent of BJP-led NDA, there is a fairly good chance that a section of the Ezhava community will vote for the NDA in the state.

In order to garner support of a section of Ezhava voters, who majorly are with the CPI-M, the Congress is trying to field KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran, an Ezhava, in the Assembly elections.

The BJP has also begun to woo another major Congress vote bank -- the Christians -- that is indicated by recent meetings Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with Christian priests in the coastal state. With the BJP firmly in saddle at the Centre, a section of the Christian community could throw its weight behind the BJP in Kerala.
A self-styled Sri Lankan holy man's alleged miracle potion which can prevent COVID turned sour when a minister who drank in public ended up in the hospital due to the virus, as per a report in AFP.

Several people ignored public gathering restrictions to arrive at a village in central Sri Lanka in December to get the syrup made by Dhammika Bandara.

Women and Child Development Minister Piyal Nishantha de Silva took it, but parliamentary officials said since then he tested positive and is now undergoing treatment.

AFP

Pro-government media gave Bandara a lot of publicity. He claimed the formula was revealed to him by the Goddess Kali.



Bandara said that honey and nutmeg were the ingredients used.



Potion approved?

The government is distancing itself from Bandara, as his potion was approved as a food supplement by the official indigenous medicine unit.



AFP

"Although some parliamentarians took it, the government does not endorse it," said Minister of Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella.



Sri Lanka is in the grip of a coronavirus surge, with the number of cases and deaths going from 3,300 and 13 in early October to 53,750 infections and 270 dead now.



Sri Lanka has seen over 54,000 cases and had over 270 deaths. Worldwide we have almost 10 crore cases and nearly 21 lakh deaths.
MediaTek has launched two new Dimensity-branded chipsets, the Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100. The former is MediaTek's latest ARM Cortex-A78-powered flagship offering which performs on par with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, while the latter is a slightly more scaled-down version. The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is expected to debut alongside a Realme smartphone soon.

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Hot on the heels on Qualcomm unveiling the Snapdragon 870, Taiwanese chipmaker has taken the opportunity to launch its new offerings: the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100. Both chipsets are manufactured on TSMC's 6nm process node. We've heard quite a bit about the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100, with the former managing to outclass last year's Qualcomm Snapdragon 865. The latter showed up in a recent leak too, but without any accompanying performance metrics.

The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is the first-ever MediaTek-branded SoC that uses a 1+3+4 CPU configuration. Its 'prime' Cortex-A78 core is clocked at an impressive 3.0GHz, with the remaining Cortex-A78 cores running at 2.6GHz and the four 'efficiency' Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0GHz. Oddly enough, MediaTek has opted to use the previous-generation ARM Mali G77 MC9 nine-core GPU. It is the diametric opposite of Huawei's Kirin 9000, which used a mixture of Cortex-A77 cores and a Mali G78 GPU.

The MediaTek Dimensity 1200's ISP (image signal processor) can handle inputs from a single 200MP camera sensor, putting on par with equally-specced Qualcomm offerings. However, dual-camera configurations are limited to 32MP + 16MP. It can record 4K video, but MediaTek hasn't specified at what framerate. The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 can support a single FHD+ (1,080 x 2,520) display clocked at 165Hz. Lastly, support for UFS 3.1 storage and LPRRD5 RAM is also included.

Moving on to the watered-down MediaTek Dimensity 1100, we get the same mix of Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A75 cores, but in a 4+4 configuration. The former is clocked at 2.6GHz, and the latter at 2.0GHz. Everything is pretty much identical across the board, with a few minor tweaks here and there. The Dimensity 1100 can only support FHD+ displays clocked at 144Hz, which should hardly be a problem, considering that 144Hz smartphone displays are few and far between. Furthermore, it's ISP can handle inputs from a single 108MP sensor.

Lastly, both the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100 are 5G-ready. However, they are only compatible with sub-6GHz networks, with support for mmWave networks nowhere in sight. Other wireless connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 (no 6E, still), Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. Realme has confirmed that the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is expected to debut alongside a Realme-branded device. We should know more about the MediaTek Dimensity 1100's fate soon.



If an elected representative who spent a few hours huddling in a room while rioters ransacked the Capitol can be optimistic about the future of our republic, so can we.

That was one of the lessons we drew from a conversation with Congressman Mike Thompson, who remains as level-headed and positive as ever, even after the jarring events of Jan. 6.

Thompson described being evacuated from his office in the Cannon House Office Building twice that day, first when an explosive device was found nearby and again when violent demonstrators breached the Capitol just across the street.

Exactly one week after what he called the biggest police security failure in history, Thompson and his fellow House Democrats, joined by 10 Republicans, impeached President Donald Trump for the second time.

But in his conversation with us, Thompson didnt fulminate against the administration (indeed, he never uttered the presidents name). Instead, he was focused on the same meat-and-potatoes issues that dominate the daily lives of his constituents, like vaccinating the public against COVID-19, restarting the economy safely, and reducing the risk of destructive wildfires.
California may have paid out nearly $10 billion in phony coronavirus unemployment claims  more than double the previous estimate  with some of that money going to organized crime in Russia, China and other countries, according to a security firm hired to investigate the fraud.

At least 10% of claims submitted to the state Employment Development Department before controls were installed in October may have been fraudulent, Blake Hall, founder and CEO of ID.me told the Los Angeles Times.

The Times said that would work out to $9.8 billion of the benefits paid from March through September.

The money went to people who lost their jobs when the state began locking down businesses in an effort to curb the COVID-19 pandemic that currently is overwhelming hospitals and causing hundreds of deaths a day.

California, the nations most populous state, has processed more than 16 million unemployment benefits claims since March and paid out $113 billion. The Employment Development Department 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 payout includes $43 billion from a federal expedited assistance program for independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed that is less secure, the Times said.

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.

Halls company was hired by the Employment Development Department and since October his firm had blocked nearly 470,000 phony claims.

Typically, 10% of unemployment claims nationwide are fraudulent, Hall told the Times.

Much of the COVID-19 fraud in California and other states was perpetrated by criminals in some 20 countries, he said.

Hall said criminal rings submit claims using stolen identity information and then send money mules out to pick up debit cards issued by the Employment Development Department, often to vacant houses.

When the Russians and the Nigerians and the Chinese are the players on the field, they are going to put up some points, Hall said. This is a very sophisticated cyberattack thats being run at scale.

The U.S. Department of Labors inspector generals office warned in November that as much as $36 billion of the $360 billion in federal COVID-19 support payments could be improper or fraudulent.

Rita Saenz, who became the Employment Development Departments new director this month, called it an unprecedented criminal assault on the benefits system.

Saenz told the Times that she couldnt comment on the possibility of there being $9.8 billion in fraud because the department is still trying to determine how much fraud was committed.

My intention is to do everything we can, working with our law enforcement partners, to catch whoever is doing it and bring them to justice, she said.

Last month, the Employment Development Department suspended payment on 1.4 million claims until they could be verified.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 California Cyber Fraud
Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, has signed off on another payment of W100,000 to all 13.99 million residents of the province in COVID-19 relief (US$1=W1,104).

The plan came under fire recently within the ruling Monjoo Party, with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun arguing that it is neither wise nor fair to just hand out cash.

There has also been criticism that the policy could distract from efforts to stop the virus and that Lee is politicizing the epidemic to consolidate his position as a presidential contender.

The timing has not yet been decided, but it is highly likely that the money will be paid out before the Lunar New Year.
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The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered that two businessmen accused of dealing in adulterated engine oil products be remanded in Ikoyi prison.

The judge, Chuka Obiozor, issued the remand order after the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) arraigned the two men on five counts, including fraudulent inscription of fake SON mark and certification number on the alleged substandard products.

SON alleged that the defendants  Vanger Luper and Bright Ogbuagu  inscribed the fake SON mark and certification number on forged labels of Total, Mobil, Forte Oil and MMASCO to deceive unsuspecting buyers.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the charges and got details of Wednesdays proceedings from a member of the court audience.

The court document seen by our reporter indicates that the prosecution alleged in the first count that the defendants did fraudulently inscribe SON mark of quality, certification number and logo on the adulterated/substandard engine oil to deceive the innocent consumers thereby committing an offence punishable under section 26(a) and (b) of Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, 2015.

It also alleged that Messrs Luper and Ogbuagu, both residents of Ojo, Lagos, conspired to commit the alleged offence at the United Allied Spare Parts Dealers Association (UASPDA), Trade Fair Complex, on the Lagos Badagry Expressway, on December 23, 2020.

Quantity of alleged adulterated engine oil

SON, through its prosecuting counsel, Adeleke Olofindare, alleged that the defendants adulterated 29 cartons of AMMASCO engine oil, 24 cartons Mobil Oil, 18 cartons of Forte Oil, two cartons of Total Oil, two cartons of A-Z Oil (one litre each) and one carton of 4-litre Forte Oil.

They were also said to have had in their possession 5X25 litres of unbranded engine oil and 18X25 litres of unbranded empty jerry cans.

SON also alleged that the said products did not have the requisite Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) certification.

It stated that the dealing in the substandard lubricants was punishable under Section 1(18 a ) (i) and (ii) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004.

Defendants plead not guilty, remanded

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mr Olofindare, who said he had five witnesses to prove the case of the prosecution, urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Centre till the conclusion of trial.

But the defence counsel, S. T. Akinwunmi, said he intended to file a bail application.

The judge ordered the defendants to be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional centre and fixed February 1 for hearing of defendants bail application.
[Heres how to watch the Biden inauguration.]

WASHINGTON  President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. will propose far-reaching legislation on Wednesday to give the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States a chance to become citizens in as little as eight years, part of an ambitious and politically perilous attempt to undo the effects of President Trumps four-year assault on immigration.

Under the proposal that Mr. Biden will send to Congress on his first day in office, current recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as Dreamers, and others in temporary programs that were set up to shield some undocumented immigrants from deportation would be allowed to immediately apply for permanent legal residency, according to transition officials who were briefed on Mr. Bidens plan.

The legislation would also restore and expand programs for refugees and asylum seekers after efforts by Mr. Trump and Stephen Miller, the White House aide who was the architect of the presidents immigration agenda, to effectively prevent entry into the United States for those seeking shelter from poverty, violence and war. Mr. Bidens bill would provide new funding for foreign aid for Central American countries, increase opportunities for foreigners to work in the United States and enhance security at the border through new technologies instead of through the border wall Mr. Trump tried to build.

Mr. Bidens proposal is the latest effort in a decades-long attempt to reimagine the nations immigration system by presidents from both parties, including George W. Bush and Barack Obama. As the Biden era opens, advocates for immigrants and anti-immigrant restrictionists alike are already bracing for the fight.
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A former state prison guard in Sacramento pleaded guilty Tuesday to lying about the actions of another guard who fatally injured an inmate by pulling the mans legs out from under him and sending him sprawling to the floor on his head, federal prosecutors said.

Ashley Marie Aurich, 32, of Sacramento, admitted a felony charge of falsifying records in a federal investigation. She is scheduled to be sentenced April 12.

Prosecutors said Aurich and another guard, Arturo Pacheco, went to the cell of a 65-year-old inmate at California State Prison-Sacramento in September 2016 to transfer the man to another cell. According to charging documents, when they reached the building where the new cell was located, the inmate, who was handcuffed, stopped walking, and Pacheco then yanked his legs from behind, sending him onto the concrete floor on his head and upper torso.

The inmate died in a hospital two days later. Prosecutors have not identified him. The prison fired both guards in 2018.

In describing the incident later that day, prosecutors said, Aurich filed a state prison report saying the inmate had escaped Pachecos grasp by spinning to his left and lunging forward, and that Pacheco used force only to overcome resistance and regain custody. She said Pacheco used his weight and the inmates momentum to send him to the floor, where she saw the man land on his stomach face down, according to a grand jury indictment.

Prosecutors said those statements were all false.

Aurichs lawyer was not immediately available for comment.

Pacheco, 38, is awaiting trial on separate charges. He is not accused of homicide, but has been charged with violating the inmates right to be free of cruel and unusual punishment, and with filing a false report on the incident.

He is also charged with pepper-spraying a 54-year-old inmate in the face in May 2016, while the man was standing peacefully in his cell, and with filing a report falsely claiming he did it to prevent the inmate from harming himself.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko

Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High near 60F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 42F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
A scandal has broken out involving a celebrity from China who is alleged to have wished her surrogate children be aborted after splitting up from her boyfriend.

Actress Zheng Shuang, 29, has been accused by her ex, producer Zhang Heng, of ultimately abandoning the two children they had planned on having through surrogates based in the United States.

She has also been accused of callously demanding in a recorded phonecall that the surrogate mothers they had hired abort their fetuses seven months into the pregnancies.

Popular Chinese actress Zheng Shuang, 29, has been accused by her former partner, producer Zhang Heng, of abandoning their two children

On Tuesday, as news of the scandal spread, Zheng was dropped as the face of Prada in the country after having been an ambassador for the luxury brand for just nine days

American birth certificates from the states of Colorado and Nevada detail the birth of a boy on December 19, 2019 and a girl on January 4, 2020.

Zhang, meanwhile, claims he has been left with the two toddler children while his ex is now back in China.

On Tuesday, as news of the scandal spread, Zheng was dropped as the face of Prada in the country after having been an ambassador for the luxury brand for just nine days.

Zhang has since come out on the social media platform Weibo, the equivalent of Twitter in China, to say that he has been stranded in the US for more than a year because he and his family 'must take care of and protect two young and innocent lives'.

American birth certificates from the states of Colorado and Nevada detail the birth of a boy on December 19, 2019 and a girl on January 4, 2020.

Both children are alleged to be the children of Zheng and Zhang.

Actress Zheng Shuang and her ex-boyfriend Zhang Heng are pictured in Shanghai, China in 2019

In a bitter split the Zhang family have released a recording in which the two families can be overheard discussing the options over the newborns which included abandoning them

Zheng's name was listed on both documents, with a date of birth matching her Chinese legal documents.

The scandal has set off a debate as to whether surrogacy should be completely banned in China, according to the South China Morning Post.

'Surrogacy is clearly banned in our country, as its disregard to life makes one's blood boil,' China Central Television, the state broadcaster, said. 'No law or ethics will allow it.'

Zheng, who was pictured in an ad campaign for Prada having been made essentially 'the face of China' just nine days ago, was sacked from her position making her the most short-lived brand ambassador in the brand's history

Zheng Shuang has 11 million followers on social media and has been in the spotlight since 2009 first appearing in a TV romance

Secret phone recordings of the couple have also been released in which the two families can be heard discussing the options available before the children's birth.

Zheng's father suggested the couple simply abandon their children at the hospital while Zhang's father said such action would be illegal.

The Zhengs suggested putting the children up for adoption while begrudging the fact the children were not aborted while in the womb.

Zheng's attitude during the alleged call and the fact that she allegedly considered forcing the surrogate mothers to terminate their pregnancies because she doesn't want the babies has seen her come in for criticism online.

The hashtags of their birth certificates and the alleged recording saw 1.53 billion and 1.96 billion views on Weibo,

Zheng, who was pictured in an ad campaign for Prada having been made essentially 'the face of China' just nine days ago, was sacked from her position making her the most short-lived brand ambassador in the brand's history.

Prada said 'Following significant recent media coverage of her personal life, Prada Group has today decided to cancel its collaboration with the actress Zheng Shuang, which was announced January 11, 2021.'

On Tuesday, Zheng responded to the claims saying 'it's a very sad and private matter for me', accusing Zhang of attempting to extort her.

Actress Zheng Shuang, 29, has been accused by her ex, producer Zhang Heng, pictured, of ultimately abandoning the two children they had planned on having through surrogates based in the United States. He is pictured with the two children, above

Zheng has 11 million followers on Weibo and first stepped into the spotlight as she appeared in a TV romance entitled Meteor Shower.

Over the years her emotional state has been questioned, according to The Post but has still managed to retain a loyal fan base.

The scandal has revived a debate in China on whether there should be a complete ban on surrogacy in the country. Although it is officially banned, there is a thriving black market.

Although the practice is banned by numerous government organizations, there is still a thriving 'surrogate' commercial market with agents looking for women and egg donors overseas.

In the U.S., surrogacy is legal in some states. Surrogates must undergo comprehensive health and legal check-ups. Chinese critics see the practice as one that exploits the rights of women seeing them as commercial products.
WASHINGTON - Followers of the extremist ideology QAnon saw their hopes once again dashed Wednesday as President Donald Trump left Washington on the final day of his presidency, without any of the climactic scenes of violence and salvation that the sprawling set of conspiracy theories had preached for years would come.

As Trump boarded Air Force One for his last presidential flight to Florida, many QAnon adherents - some of whose believers had this month stormed the Capitol in a siege that left at least two QAnon devotees dead and others in jail - began to wonder whether they'd been duped all along.

When one QAnon channel on the chat app Telegram posted a new theory that suggested Biden himself was "part of the plan," a number of followers shifted into open rebellion: "This will never happen." "Just stfu already!" "It's over. It is sadly, sadly over." "What a fraud!"

Late Wednesday, the movement suffered another blow when the "Qresearch" forum on 8kun, QAnon's online home, was wiped clean by a site moderator, who said in a rambling screed that "I am just performing euthanasia to something I once loved very very much." Shortly after, the site's leaders restored the deleted material and demanded the moderator's death.

But while some QAnon disciples gave way to doubt, others doubled down on blind belief or strained to see new coded messages in the Inauguration Day's events. Some followers noted that 17 flags - Q being the 17th letter of the alphabet - flew on the stage as Trump delivered a farewell address.

"17 flags! come on now this is getting insane," said one post on a QAnon forum devoted to the "Great Awakening," the quasi-biblical name for QAnon's utopian end times. "I don't know how many signs has to be given to us before we 'trust the plan,' " one commenter said.

Over thousands of cryptic posts since 2017, Q, QAnon's unidentified online prophet, had promised that Trump was secretly spearheading a spiritual war against an elite cabal of child-eating Satanists who controlled Washington, Hollywood and the world. Believers in these false, rambling theories had counted down the hours waiting for Trump to corral his enemies for military tribunals and mass executions in a show of force they called "the Storm."

But on Wednesday, as reality dawned, QAnon promoters who had gained thousands of online supporters by promising to decode Q's arcane posts - and profited off their audience, by selling QAnon merchandise or online subscriptions along the way - scrambled to spin the truth of Trump's election loss or shift the goal posts of a deadline four years in the making.

One QAnon channel on Telegram with 40,000 subscribers noted that the last sentence of Eric Trump's farewell tweet - " . . . the best is yet to come!" - was also a common slogan for QAnon adherents, failing to mention that the phrase is a commonly used cliche. Another QAnon channel with 35,000 Telegram subscribers, devoted to the "Great Awakening," highlighted Trump's final remarks as president: "We will be back in some form - Have a good life. We will see you soon."

"It simply doesn't make sense that we all got played," one QAnon channel on Telegram said.

Some of the most notable figures in QAnon's online universe said they were having a change of heart. After Biden's inauguration, Ron Watkins - the longtime 8kun who critics have suspected may have helped write Q's posts himself, a charge he denies - said on Telegram that it was time to move on.

"We need to keep our chins up and go back to our lives as best we are able," said Watkins, who in recent months had become one of the loudest backers of conspiracy theories suggesting Biden's win was a fraud.

"We have a new president sworn in and it is our responsibility as citizens to respect the Constitution regardless of whether or not we agree with the specifics," Watkins added. "As we enter into the next administration please remember all the friends and happy memories we made together over the past few years."

In the mass deletion on "Qresearch" late Wednesday, the anonymous moderator seemed to criticize Ron Watkins and his father, 8kun's owner, Jim Watkins, as well as a group of QAnon-supporting users, saying, "Q made you do NOTHING . . . he just kept you calm and sedated . . . what have you done as of late, beside waiting for things to get better?"

Much of the forum was restored by the site's leaders shortly after. But it still potentially marked another end of an era, said Travis View, a researcher and co-host of the podcast "QAnon Anonymous," who called it another "sign that QAnon as we know it is collapsing." Neither Ron nor Jim Watkins responded to requests for comment.

Graham Brookie, director of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, which tracks misinformation, said QAnon followers are making increasingly illogical leaps as they struggle to make sense of developments.

"It's something that has long been true of conspiracy theories: When they don't come to fruition, they shift their delusions to the next thing," he said. He noted how some comments posted below Trump's farewell video suggested that "it wasn't quite time for the Great Awakening, but it's coming soon and this is how."

Researchers said some QAnon supporters appear to be rethinking their commitment due to a range of factors, including Q's relative silence since the election, Trump's anticlimactic White House exit, and the Capitol insurrection, which resulted in more than 100 arrests and delayed the certification of Biden's victory by only several hours.

But several feared that the rising intensity of those still committed to QAnon could create problems for years to come if a die-hard, militarized core persists in their belief that the U.S. government is controlled by evil pedophiles who successfully subverted the Constitution.

"What we're seeing is a trend in increasingly bunker-down, apocalyptic language," said Joel Finkelstein, co-founder of the Network Contagion Research Institute, a research group that studies online disinformation. "It's gone from (talk of) a revolution to a civilization-ending kind of collapse."

He and other researchers have also chronicled an increasingly global QAnon movement that could outlast its potential weakening in the United States as events and an aggressive crackdown by social media platforms limit the ideology's reach among Americans. The QAnon followings in Germany and Japan are particularly strong and growing, said Finkelstein, whose research group tracked a surge in QAnon terms the morning of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, including one that said "qarmyjapanflynn."

"They're going to re-emerge at some point because they've internationalized," he said. "There's a metastasization of QAnon from a national story to a global revolution."

QAnon adherents had long anticipated Trump's military strike against his foes, which they believed would play out like an action movie; the fact that Tuesday was "National Popcorn Day" on mainstream calendars seemed too perfect to be coincidence. Followers in recent days have seen coded messages everywhere: first lady Melania Trump's black-and-gray coat, worn in her final address, was said to resemble the TV static that would signal the media blackout of Trump's military takeover.

But on Wednesday, some promoters recognized that believers being confronted with the reality of QAnon's baselessness were in need of encouragement. One forum offered doubters a "FAT DOSE OF HOPIUM" - their jargon, meaning reasons for hope - and urged readers to "GET IN HERE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LOW." The thread used a nine-month-old Q post to suggest that Trump had coordinated another subtly brilliant move in his final hours in office: "He is metaphorically walking away in slow motion while the explosions go off behind him."

One of the forum's moderators, "God_Bless_America1," posted a thread counseling that "POTUS has NOT let us down or failed, he has done all he could within his power and it is now going to be handing it to the military to take from here exactly as Q drop forecast." Uncertainty, the moderator added, would not be tolerated: "ANY dooming or negative comments clogging up the site pertaining to current situation will result in removal and ban if repeated."

View said Inauguration Day had been seen as "a very special day in the QAnon community," but that the responses to real-world events have been mixed.

Believers, he said, appear to be splitting between those who see Biden's ascent to the White House as a sign that the Q's prophecies were wrong and those who think they were right but need to be recast for a Biden administration in which Trump remains secretly powerful and able to control events unfolding in Washington.

"A minority are facing reality that Biden's going to be president," View said. "Others are coming to believe that the storm they were expecting is still going to happen but sometime during the Biden administration."

The day also highlighted the deepening division between QAnon adherents and other far-right extremists, who have voiced growing doubts about Trump. A post in a channel for the Proud Boys said Trump had thrown Capitol rioters "under the bus" and called QAnon "a bolshevik lie."

QAnon, as with most online creations, probably will not disappear soon. On Tuesday night, a small crowd of picketers rallied with signs urging "Repent or Perish" outside Comet Ping Pong, the D.C. pizzeria at the center of Pizzagate - the 2016 conspiracy theory from which QAnon was born.

View predicted that the QAnon community may shrink in the coming months but also become more fervent in their commitment to its ideas.

"History has taught us far-right movements don't cool off during a Democratic administration," View said. "The people who stick with it are going to become even more radicalized and potentially more dangerous."
Phuket schools may reopen tomorrow, confirms Vice Governor

PHUKET: Schools across Phuket may reopen tomorrow after the provincial order forcing all schools across the island to close expires today, Phuket Vice Governor Piyapong Chuwong has announced.

COVID-19Coronavirus

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 20 January 2021, 11:28AM

Screenshot: Phuket Radio Thailand

Although the two-week closure to prevent any potential outbreak of COVID-19 was made clear in the initial order forcing schools to close, there has been much misinformation and misunderstanding about school closures circulating online, Vice Governor Piyapong explained through a press conference broadcast live through Facebook this morning (Jan 20).

The order for schools to remain closed expires today, so they may reopen tomorrow, Mr Piyaphong said

However, whether or not a school remains closed is a decision for each school. It is their choice, he explained.

V/Gov Piyapong cited Muang Thalang School as an example.

The school will remain closed as some students come from Phang Nga to attend classes at the school. The traveling time spent by these students to come to the school is quite long, as they must pass the checking process [at the bridge onto the island], he said.

Muang Thalang school announced yesterday that the school will remain closed and all students are to continue their classes online. At this stage the school is set to re-open on Feb 1.

V/Gov Piyaphong said, We are trying to figure out how to make it easier for these students to attend classes at the school.

Mr Piyaphong urged local reporters and media to post more comprehensive reports to ensure clarity in understanding among the public.

Some reporters use short phrases such as school closed but the details of which school is closed and other details is not taken seriously. Only which school is mentioned, not the other details, he said.

Short words make it easy for people to misunderstand.. My new team has had to work so hard to answer questions from students parents about this issue.

Please report the information carefully and correctly. Please do not make people panic, V/Gov Piyapong said.
Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., in an undated photograph. (Courtesy of Taylor family attorney Sam Aguiar via AP)

Families of Jacob Blake and Breonna Taylor Attend Inauguration in DC

The families of Jacob Blake and Breonna Taylor went to Washington D.C. for the inauguration event.

Jacob Blakes brother Justin told CNN they were invited when President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris learned of their presence in Washington.

Its clear to us they understand what we did to help them get in office. They will live up to the promises, if not we will be making a fool of ourselves and our life, he said.

Jacob Blake Sr. and Breonna Taylors aunt, Bianca Austin, were interviewed by TMJ4.

Jacob Blake told the news outlet: Its a sorority and fraternity that we did not choose.

Referring to Taylors aunt, he said, we dont have to explain the pain that were in. We know the pain that were in.

Its so many names to name. But were here to represent that, Austin said.

Austin added that the visit to Washington was very different from what she could recall.

We got a chance to visit yesterday and it was surreal. Its more of a military base. It didnt have that capitol feeling anymore, she said.

Following the shooting of Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, and of Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the families have been seeking substantial amendments in regard to police accountability.

We demand abolishing immunity of police, from being able to not be charged for what they do. We demand that off the top, Blake Sr. said.

Justin Blake believes that their cause means much more than just their own cases.

Its much bigger than our families. We want to make sure each African descendant living in this country are under the laws and liberties that exist, Justin Blake stated.

They are hoping to talk to lawmakers and will return in February.

Louisville Police Department Fires 2 More Officers in Breonna Taylor Case

The Louisville Police Department fired two more officers who took part in the shooting of Breonna Taylor.

Detectives Myles Cosgrove and Joshua Jaynes were dismissed on Jan. 5.

Please be advised effective this date your employment with the Louisville Metro Police Department is terminated, Chief of Police, Yvette Gentry wrote them, according to a copy of the termination letter to Cosgrove obtained by WFPL.

A battering ram used in the March 13, 2020, raid of Breonna Taylors apartment in Louisville, Ky. (Louisville Metro Police Department)

Gentry told him that two of the sixteen rounds you fired were found in the body of Ms. Breonna Taylor, adding that one of those shots killed her.

The shots you fired went in three different directions, indicating you did not verify a threat or have target acquisition, Gentry wrote. In other words, the evidence shows that you fired wildly at unidentified subjects or targets located within an apartment.

She wrote in conclusion: despite your years of service, I cannot justify your conduct nor in good conscience recommend anything less than termination.

The dramatic and sometimes conflicting accounts of the March 13 raid are key to a case that has fueled nationwide protests. When police came through the door using a battering ram, Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired once. He acknowledged that he may not have heard police identify themselves because of where he was in the apartment. He said that if hed heard them, it changes the whole situation because theres nothing for us to be scared of.

Over 4,000 pages of investigation related to the shooting were made public by Louisville police in October 2020.
First Mining Gold (TSE: FF- OTCQX: FFMGF) CEO Dan Wilton joined Steve Darling from Proactive to shares news the company has released a Pre-Feasibility Study on their 100% owned Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Wilton telling Proactive shows a 36.4 percent IRR, 29.4 percent after-tax IRR.

The project is expected annual production greater than 300,000oz with a CAPEX of less than a 1Billion. He also noted the after-tax payback will be 2.4 years.
Grafton Group has reinstated its second interim dividend for 2019.

The dividend will now be paid on February 19.

Grafton has originally suspended the dividend as a precautionary measure to preserve liquidity in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The total second interim dividend amounts to 30m (33.7m).

Earlier this month Grafton said its revenues fell by more than 6pc last year due to the Spring Covid lockdown, despite a strong performance from its Woodies and Chadwicks stores.

Revenue at the Woodies DIY business in Ireland rose 17pc, thanks to increased sales as people worked from home. At the other end of the scale Grafton reported a 25pc decline in sales in its manufacturing division.

Grafton finished the year strongly with trading in the two months to December 31 ahead of expectations as the group saw its average daily like-for-like revenue up by 7.2pc year-on-year and total revenue ahead by 10.8pc to 439.4m (487.5m).

Demand was strongest in the Woodies and Chadwicks businesses in Ireland and in Selco in the UK, according to a trading update from the company in early January.

Last month the company bought Proline Architectural Hardware, a Dublin-based distributor of iron products for doors. Proline reported revenue of 10.8m last year.

Also in December Grafton bought AVC  which trades as StairBox  for 44m (49m). StairBox is a UK manufacturer and distributor of wooden staircases.

Grafton will announce its final results for the year on February 25.
BBAM, a global manager of investments in leased commercial jet aircraft, said it is expanding its 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter fleet with six firm orders and six options.



The agreement brings BBAMs 737-800BCF orders and commitments to 15 and highlights the continued strength of the e-commerce and express cargo market.



As we look ahead to expanding our cargo fleet, the 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter provides the performance and efficiency our customers need, said Steve Zissis, CEO of BBAM. Adding these highly capable freighters to 276 Boeing airplanes in our managed fleet helps to further strengthen our leadership position in the marketplace.



Based on the popular Next-Generation 737, the 737-800BCF is meeting customer demand for a newer-generation freighter that offers higher reliability and lower fuel consumption and operating costs per trip compared to other standard body freighters.



Primarily used to carry express cargo on domestic or short-haul routes, the airplane is capable of carrying up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 pounds) and flying up to 2,025 nautical miles (3,750 kilometres). Since entering service in 2018, the 737-800BCF has won more than 150 orders and commitments.



BBAM is one of the industrys leading full-service leasing companies and has built their reputation on smart investments. We are honoured that BBAM has selected more 737-800BCFs, based on the success of our standard body freighters in their portfolio, said Ihssane Mounir, Boeings senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. The continued strong demand for the 737-800BCF demonstrates the critical role these converted freighters play in the growing express and e-commerce market.  TradeArabia News Service






Former President Park Geun-hye / Korea Times file



Former President Park Geun-hye, now serving a 22-year prison term on corruption convictions, tested negative for COVID-19 on Wednesday after coming into contact with an infected person, the Ministry of Justice said.



According to the ministry, Park came into close contact with a prison officer diagnosed later with COVID-19 while traveling by bus to a medical facility on Monday outside the Seoul Detention Center, where she has been imprisoned since March 2017.



The prison officer tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the ministry said, noting he wore a mask throughout the bus ride with Park.



The polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test was administered on Park on Wednesday morning, the ministry said.



Park will be put under isolation at the outside medical facility for a certain period of time as a precaution even though she tested negative for the coronavirus, the ministry said.



The Supreme Court last week upheld a 20-year sentence for Park in her high-profile corruption case, closing the yearslong saga that gripped the country and ultimately removed her from office in 2017.



Park will have to serve 22 years in prison, which includes a two-year prison term for her 2018 conviction for illegal meddling in a nomination process of the then ruling Saenuri Party. (Yonhap)
It was 30 degrees outside, and 82-year-old Sheldon Kass wasnt wearing any socks. The cold wasnt so bad, if it meant getting that coveted shot.

At midnight the night before, the Galloway resident and his son-in-law drove two hours to Paterson where the city is offering walk-in vaccines to eligible New Jerseyans first come first serve, regardless of residence.

Just like Kass, hundreds have come from across the state, bundled-up in winter gear, sitting in folding chairs, chatting with their neighbors and grumbling about how hard its been to find an appointment elsewhere.

Hundreds wait in line for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This is a walk-in location at International High School in Paterson, no appointment, no residency necessary. Wednesday, January, 20, 2021 Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

After getting in line long before dawn and a seven-plus hour wait, a triumphant Kass exited Patersons International High School around 10 a.m. while onlookers cheered.

[Im] very happy, Kass told NJ Advance Media. I want to get free of this burden, and I want to be free again.

Residents are applauding New Jerseys third-largest city for its unorthodox vaccine program, perhaps the only in the state with so few barriers, since no appointments are neccessary.

We think it was a blessing to be able to get to here, and we wish they had more like this, Andrew Goldstein, Kasss son-in-law, told NJ Advance Media. Goldstein held Kasss spot while the octogenarian went back and forth to his Jeep to nap.

People check in to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at International High School in Paterson. This is a walk-ins center, no appointment, no residency necessary. Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Once inside, residents wind their way through the schools library, fill out a form on a clipboard and present their ID and health insurance information to officials at one of three tables, though the citys health Director said undocumented residents could also receive the vaccine.

Currently, more than 4 million people in New Jersey, whether they live, work or study here, are eligible to receive the vaccine. That includes health care workers, police, fire, EMS personnel, anyone over the age of 65, and people ages 16 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions.

Five vaccine stations were set up in the gymnasium, and, once they received their shots, people were asked to sit in the bleachers for 15 minutes before departing. From entry to exit  not counting the time in line  the whole process takes each person about a half hour.

Christine Pini, RN, prepares a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for a patient at International High School in Paterson for walk-ins, no appointment, no residency necessary. Wednesday, January, 20, 2021 Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Still, the walk-in program has not gone off without a hitch. The city used up its allotment of doses last week and has had to alter hours due to limited supply. Previously, residents could come Monday through Saturday. This week, the service is only available Wednesday and Thursday, with Friday reserved just for Paterson residents with each day open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Officials began handing out tickets at 8 a.m., promising all 700 ticketholders a dose.

Though the city asked the New Jersey Department of Health for 7,000 doses this week, they only received 2,000. Next week, the numbers will decrease even more with the city receiving just 700 doses. New Jersey is currently only receiving about 100,000 vaccine doses from the federal government each week and it will continue that way for the next four weeks, state officials have said.

Romilio Reyes, 81, of Haledon, left, receives his first Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at International High School in Paterson for walk-ins, no appointment, no residency necessary. Wednesday, January, 20, 2021 Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

About an hour prior to President Bidens inauguration, Mayor Andre Sayegh held a press conference on the schools lawn, imploring Biden to deliver more doses to Paterson.

Give us the vaccine and well finish the job, Sayegh said.

Officials and residents alike decried the appointment system, where more than 4 million eligible New Jerseyans are currently jockeying for spots.

I filled out so many forms online its ridiculous, Vincent Paruta, 67, told NJ Advance Media. Every time you click on a site, if you dont fill it out within the first five minutes of availability, its gone.

Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are administered at International High School in Paterson for walk-ins, no appointment, no residency necessary. Wednesday, January, 20, 2021 Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Paterson Health Director Paul D. Persaud said its a matter of health equity.

If everybody is doing what were doing here, the burden would not be on us Persaud told NJ Advance Media. The whole appointment system is not good. Who can make appointments? More literate people. Those are the ones who get it this is the problem. If you can come, you get it, if we have it.

At the same time, there have been criticisms about the long outdoor wait the walk-in program creates.

I got my chair, and thank god, it would have been tough standing, Paruta said. I got all my ski clothes on  I really feel for the people who dont have these kind of clothes, its been pretty cold out here I was a little cold, and Im decked out.

The mayor said last Friday that they would try to open classrooms and hallways so people could wait indoors until their number was called. While the ticket system was introduced this week, the indoor waiting rooms never seemed to materialize.

Hundreds wait in line for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. This is a walk-in location at International High School in Paterson, no appointment, no residency necessary. Wednesday, January, 20, 2021 Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

Early Wednesday morning, a long line of people, many older residents, still stretched all the way around the school.

I just think its cruel, the way theyre treating senior citizens, that we have to wait out here for so many hours in the cold, Pam Mittleman, 69, of Roseland, told NJ Advance Media.

Why couldnt they give out the tickets at 8 oclock in the morning or 7 oclock in the morning and tell everyone to go sit in their cars? her husband, Howard, 69, added. Go stay warm.

Hundreds of people wait in line early in the morning for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine being administered at International High School in Paterson. This is for walk-ins, no appointment, no residency necessary. Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

The mayor waved off complaints, as he ventured through the line, handing out fist-bumps and hellos.

This is a humanitarian effort on our part elsewhere, you try to make an appointment, youre going to be waiting for weeks, Sayegh told NJ Advance Media. Here, you just wait a couple hours.

He added: People line up on Black Friday, the night before. This is more important. This is life and death.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Josh Axelrod may be reached at jaxelrod@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
A set of three pink seesaws installed between the United States-Mexico border wall have taken home a design of the year award handed out by the London Design Museum on Tuesday.

The Teeter-Totter Wall was first introduced in 2019 and allowed children to play together at the international border line that divides El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

The Design Museum named the project as the overall winner of the Beazley Designs of the Year 2020, a competition which considered 74 projects by designers from around the world.

'It encouraged new ways of human connection and struck a chord that continues to resonate far beyond El Paso in the USA and Juarez in Mexico,' museum director Tim Marlow said. 'It remains an inventive and poignant reminder of how human beings can transcend the forces that seek to divide us.

A mother and her baby in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, play on a seesaw installed between the steel border fence that separates the United States and Mexico on July 28, 2019. The seesaws were designed by California architects Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, and Colectivo Chopeke, an art collective based out of Ciudad Juarez

American and Mexican families play on three seesaws that were installed for an hour at the Teeter-Totter Wall, which was first introduced July 28, 2019 and allowed children to play together at the international border line that divides El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The project picked up the 2020 design of the year from the Design Museum in London

Museum director Tim Marlow believes the seesaws promoted 'human connection' that extended beyond the border. Pictured is a Mexican soldier walking in front of American and Mexican families playing with the seesaws on July 28, 2019

The bright pink seesaws were put up during a contentious political time in the U.S. as former President Donald Trump continued to put his foot down on illegal migration and urged Congress for funds to pay for a wall along the 2,000-mile border that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.

The project, developed in 2009, was the idea of California architects Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello, and Colectivo Chopeke, an art collective based out of Ciudad Juarez.

'We are totally surprised by this unexpected honor, which we share with the Juarez based art collective,' said Rael, an associate professor of design at San Jose State University, via an Instagram post Tuesday.

'Most importantly, it comes at a time when we are hopeful for change and that we start building more bridges instead of walls.'

The play date took place July 28, 2019 after workers placed three steel beams, which resembled the typical seesaws seen across parks, through the rusty metal wall barrier.

Video showed the children from the Anapra community in Mexico and their new friends in the United States taking turns to play as they looked at each other through the wide slats and laughed without a worry for the border divide before it was removed an hour later.

Children play on seesaws installed between the border fence that divides Mexico from the United States in Ciudad Juarez. They were put up during a contentious political time in the U.S. as former President Donald Trump continued to put his foot down on illegal migration and urged Congress for funds to pay for a wall along the 2,000-mile border that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean

American and Mexican children took turns playing with three pink seesaws that were temporarily placed at a border wall separating El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on July 29, 2019. The project picked up the Beazley Designs of the Year 2020 by the London Design Museum

Mexican children take turns playing on three seesaws that were placed between the steel border fence that separates Mexico and the United States. The seesaw project was honored with the London Design Museum's Beazley Designs of the Year 2020

'Thank you very much for this opportunity to collaborate with [Rael] and [San Fratello] and above all the opportunity to question the 1%, people with power, to avoid the separation of families and brothers in a situation of mobility who seek a better life, migrating is a right,' Colectivo Chopeke wrote on Instagram.

The creators of the seesaw project sought to tackle the pressing border issue through the lens of political cartoonists. The seesaws were colored pink as an honor to the femicide memorials that have popped up in recent years throughout Ciudad Juarez.

The prized design edged out a 3D rendering of the COVID-10 virus and a stab-proof wound vest created by Banksy and worn by British rapper Stormzy at the Glastonbury 2019 festival.

'The Beazley Designs of the Year are the Oscars of the design world,' said journalist Razia Iqbal, who headed a panel of judges.
[January 20, 2021] Blueberries Medical Closes $1M Strategic Financing Led by a Leading Latin American Private Equity Group with Extensive International Cannabis Industry Expertise; Appoints Facundo Garreton as Chairman & Interim CEO

TORONTO, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blueberries Medical Corp. (CSE: BBM) (OTC: BBRRF) (FRA: 1OA) (the Company or "Blueberries"), a Latin American licensed producer of medicinal cannabis and cannabis-derived products, is pleased to announce the completion of a non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$1,000,000 (the Offering) from the sale of common shares (Common Shares) at a price of C$0.065 per Common Share.

The Offering was led by FLA Ventures Ltd. (FLA Ventures), a private equity fund based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which focuses on investments in established and growth-oriented Latin American businesses across a range of sectors, seeking to create and add strategic value, driving their economic growth and enhancing their performances. Blueberries is pleased to welcome FLA Ventures as a new strategic partner. FLA Ventures financial backers, directors and team members have a vast experience leading companies involved in the healthcare, media, and real estate industries internationally as well as extensive cannabis expertise and strategic investments in the cannabis sector globally. Amongst other strategic business involvements, shareholders of FLA Ventures own Grupo America, one of the largest media groups in Argentina, and have extensive additional strategic relationships through their direct involvement in the healthcare industry as owners of one of the largest networks of medical centers and other medical service businesses in Argentina and elsewhere in Latin America. In connection with the completion of the Offering, Facundo Garreton has been named Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Sebastian Hochbaum has been appointed to the board of directors of the Company (the Board). Blueberries has built an impressive company in Colombia and its sophisticated extraction capabilities will play an integral role within our global cannabis platform. I am confident that the involvement of FLA Ventures and its stakeholders will provide Blueberries with the opportunity to accelerate its growth and take advantage of the rapidly expanding cannabis markets in Latin America and around the world, stated Sebastian Hochbaum. This strategic investment is a tremendous accomplishment for Blueberries and positions the company for commercial success. The FLA Ventures team is comprised of some of the most successful and highly respected entrepreneurs and investors in Latin America who also have extensive involvement and expertise in the cannabis industry, stated Facundo Garreton, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer. I am also looking forward to leading Blueberries as we strive to execute on a domestic and international business plan. New Director and Officer Biographies Facundo Garreton, Chairman and Interim-Chief Executive Officer Mr. Garreton is a successful entrepreneur in the fields of innovation, technology and life sciences, and a former member of Congress in Argentina. His successful track record as an entrepreneur includes founding InvertirOnline.com, one of Latin Americas largest online brokerage firms, as well as founding and serving as director of SociaLab and Sistema B, the most important platform for social entrepreneurs in Latin America. Mr. Garreton also has strategic involvement with other cannabis companies including YVY Life Sciences in Uruguay and Flow Kana in California. Mr. Garreton is a director of various successful companies such as: YVY Life Sciences, Pachama.com, VU Security, Untech.bio, Bulltick, GoodPeople, Inipop.com and others. Also, he is an investor in companies such as ClaraFoods, TheNotCompany, Blue Planet Ecosystems, Memphis Meat, Cambridge Crops, Electro-Active Technologies (EAT), Unbox Robotics, Prellisbio.com and MycoWorks. Sebastian Hochbaum, Director Mr. Hochaum is currently director of Control Media S.A., a holding company, with investments in real estate, media, technology and food busness. Mr. Hochbaum is a trained attorney, graduating with honors from Torcuato Di Tella University in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Following his graduation from law school, he served for two years with the federal criminal justice division in Argentina, until joining Pampa Energia, one of the largest oil and gas companies in Argentina where he focused on capital markets and M&A initiatives for one year. Following his departure from Pampa Energia, Mr. Hochbaum joined Salaverri, Burgio & Wetzler Malbran, a legal firm based in Buenos Aires, specializing in M&A and debt and equity financing deals.



The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Offering for inventory production, product commercialization, continued advancement of its extraction and processing facility and general working capital purposes. In connection with the strategic financing, Christian Toro has resigned as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and has been replaced by Facundo Garreton who has been appointed as Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer.

Previous directors Christian Toro, Fabio Valencia Cossio, Dr. Andres Vidal, Francisco Sole, Matthew Bajurny and Paola Castaneda have all stepped down from the Board. The Board is now comprised of the following four directors: Facundo Garreton (Chairman and Interim CEO), Patricio Villalba, Catherine Lathwell and Sebastian Hochbaum. A fifth director, to be nominated by FLA Ventures, will be appointed to the Board in due course. The Audit Committee of the Board has also been reconstituted to include Catherine Lathwell, Patricio Villalba and Facundo Garreton. The Company would like to thank these individuals for their contributions to Blueberries, leading the Company through its early growth phases to commercialization. The Company has granted 250,000 compensation shares as well as 1,750,000 options (the "Options") to Mr. Garreton and 500,000 Options to Mr. Hochbaum to purchase common shares in the capital of the Company, pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The Options are exercisable at a price of $0.13 per share for a period of five years, subject to vesting. About Blueberries Medical Corp. Blueberries is a Latin American licensed producer of naturally grown premium quality cannabis with its primary operations ideally located in the Bogota Savannah of central Colombia and operations currently being established in Argentina. The Company is led by a specialized team with proprietary expertise in agriculture, genetics, extraction, medicine, pharmacology and marketing, Blueberries is fully licensed for the cultivation, production, domestic distribution, and international export of CBD and THC-based medical cannabis in Colombia. Blueberries combination of leading scientific expertise, agricultural advantages and distribution arrangements has positioned the Company to become a leading international supplier of naturally grown, processed, and standardized medicinal-grade cannabis oil extracts and related products. Additional information about the Company is available at www.blueberriesmed.com. For more information, please contact: Facundo Garreton, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer

E: fgarreton@gmail.com Ian Atacan, Chief Financial Officer

E: iatacan@blueberriesmed.com

Tel: +1 (416) 562 3220 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward looking statements relate, among other things, to: commencement of commercial production of CBD-dominant oils and products, successful implementation of full GMP standards at its extraction facility to allow for additional export potential to international markets, achieving additional milestones is contemplated, or at all, ability to expand distribution networks, ability to expand and upgrade the Companys cultivation facilities in Colombia, internal expectations, expectations regarding the ability of the Company to access new Latin American and international markets, the ability to attract and retain new customers, and future expansion plans including development of the cultivation, production, industrialization and marketing of cannabis for commercial and scientific purposes.



These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the Colombian and international medical cannabis market and changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution and sale of cannabis and cannabis related products in Colombia, Argentina and elsewhere; and employee relations. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Additional information regarding the Company, and other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Listing Statement dated January 31, 2019 filed on its issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.



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In less than three hours, the PokerStars Blowout Series: $1,050 NLHE [8-Max, The Big Blowout!] played down from nine players to a champion and it would be the Day 2 chip leader "arbaarba" who would come out on top after a three-way deal was agreed upon with Fernando "fviana" Viana and Lonnie "thx4urm0n3y" Hallett.

"arbaarba" claimed the extra $50,000 for the winner to add $739,976 to their bank roll. The tournament attracted 5,292 unique players who reentered 1,630 times to get to a prize pool of $6,922,000 with the lion-share being handed out on the final table.

"arbaarba" has had many deep runs in several tournaments which also includes a win in the Big $55 for example. Viana held the chip lead during the deal discussion and also got to claim the biggest prize in this tournament and the series on PokerStars. Viana has won more than $5,600,000 in online tournaments with notable scores during the SCOOP but more recently in the Stadium Series Freezeout Grand Final - High $5,200 NLHE for $721,235.

Hallett was the third player involved in the deal and has already won a title in the past weeks but might sound familiar to the readers who follow the Sunday Million results as he has won two of them in the past. The three players were joined on the final table by "milanov888", Vlad "dariepoker" Darie, Eike "Mr. Havener" Onodera, "adkaf", "xMFPx", and "Gordon_dReid".

PokerStars Blowout Series: $1,050 NLHE [8-Max, The Big Blowout!] Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 "arbaarba" Lithuania $739,976* 2 Fernando "fviana" Viana Brazil $771,416* 3 Lonnie "thx4urm0n3y" Hallett Canada $646,189* 4 "milanov888" Bulgaria $339,831 5 Vlad "dariepoker" Darie Romania $238,483 6 Eike "Mr. Havener" Onodera Brazil $167,361 7 "adkaf" Austria $117,448 8 "xMFPx" United Kingdom $82,422 9 "Gordon_dReid" Canada $57,841

*denotes a 3-way deal

Final Table Action

"Gordon_dReid" started as the short stack at the start of the day and would be the first to go too when their aces got cracked by the pocket tens of "arbaarba" who flopped a set. Viana doubled through "xMFPx" to take a small chip lead and then dealt the final blow to the latter with ace-king. Forty-five minutes later, "adkaf" fell with pocket queens to the ace-king of "arbaarba". With Onodera following them a few minutes later when "milanov888" flopped trips.

Vlad Darie finished in fifth place for $238,483

It would then take almost 50 minutes before Darie was sent to the rail after getting shorter and shorter for a while. His queen-eight failed to connect with anything on the board for him to see his chips go to Viana for an even bigger chip lead. Viana held onto the chip lead for most of the night as he also took out "milanov888" with pocket treys with the flopped set.

The three remaining players agreed to a deal with Viana holding almost 50% of all the chips in play but Hallett doubled up to the lead with pocket fours while Viana held the ace-king. "arbaarba" took the lead back when they scored a big double with the flush they had rivered against the trip aces of Hallett. The latter was left with just over 3 big blinds and lost the rest to Viana who held with the higher kicker.

Fernando Viana finished as the runner-up for $771,416

Heads-up play only lasted for two hands, Viana called the four-bet shove of "arbaarba" with ace-nine suited. The pocket sevens of "arbaarba" found another seven on the flop to hit for the set and the win as the rest of the board didn't bring enough help to Viana.

This concludes the PokerNews coverage for the four Big Blowout events of the first-ever PokerStars Blowout Series and we'll see you at the next exciting tournament festival!

Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low near 55F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  The Department of Health needs to apply for emergency use authorization of donated COVID-19 vaccines, the Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday.

If the COVID-19 vaccine for donation does not have an EUA from FDA, then the DOH has to apply for an EUA for the donated lot to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of the product, the regulator said in a statement.

The FDA said entities that intend to donate vaccines to the government should coordinate with the DOH since it will facilitate the acceptance and processing to evaluate these based on reliability of source and shelf life. The DOH is also designated to distribute these donations after the FDA issues authorization, it added.

DOH, as the donee, is mandated by the FDA to assume full responsibility on the use of the donated product, the FDA said.

In a forum, Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire also noted the need for an EUA for donated vaccines.

Ang gagamitin lang at ipapagamit natin o ibibigay sa ating kababayan ay ang mga bakunang may EUA na, she said.

[Translation: What will be used or given to our citizens are vaccines that already have EUA.]

During his recent visit, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China will donate half a million vaccine doses. Meanwhile, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said they have ongoing negotiations with two countries on possible vaccine donations as well.

The FDA granted EUA to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine so far, while application of Chinas Sinovac, British company AstraZeneca, and Russian firms Gamaleya Institute are pending.
A second lawsuit has been filed against a former Bexar County resident whose girlfriend and her two daughters were found shot to death in his home two years ago.

Carlos Montez Jr. of San Antonio, the father of Clark High School sophomore and cheerleader Alexa Denice Montez, 16, has sued Charles Edward Wheeler, 33, accusing him of gross negligence and seeking wrongful death, survival and exemplary damages of more than $1 million.

Alexa Montez was found dead with her mother, Nichol Leila Olsen, 37, and her sister, 10-year-old London Bribiescas, at Wheelers home in the Anaqua Springs Ranch subdivision near Leon Springs on the morning of Jan. 10, 2019. Wheeler called 911 around 9 a.m. to report the deaths.

He told investigators hed left the previous night following an argument with Olsen and went to stay with his parents.

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office ruled Olsens death a suicide and her daughters deaths as homicides, but the Bexar County Sheriffs Office is still investigating. No criminal charges have been filed.

The suit, filed Jan. 11, is the second lawsuit attempting to blame Wheeler for the deaths by accusing him of allowing Olsen to get access to a gun he kept in a bedside table.

Wheeler sold the home and moved to Austin. His attorneys have said he had nothing to do with the deaths and have repeatedly called on Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar to publicly clear his name.

Wheeler has always declined to comment and requested privacy.

On ExpressNews.com: A single mother, her millionaire boyfriend and how their storybook romance ended in horror

An earlier lawsuit filed against Wheeler on Jan. 8 by Hector Bribiescas, the father of the younger girl, accused Wheeler of failing to protect the children or alert authorities as Olsens behavior was escalating when the couple argued that night. That lawsuit also seeks more than $1 million in damages

The latest lawsuit, like the first, accuses Wheeler of leaving his home without taking action to protect the children or call authorities while knowing there was an unsecured gun at the residence.

It cites Wheelers text messages to others, in which he claimed that Olsen was acting really strange and that she had been on some kind of pills. The suit contends that Wheeler admitted to leaving his $1 million home knowing that Olsen was in a highly emotional state of mind from their argument and knowing she had immediate access to his gun or guns. Wheeler routinely kept a loaded handgun beside the couples bed, it states.

On the night of the incident in question, (Wheeler) knew that Nichol Olsen was acting irregularly and was not in the right state of mind, the lawsuit states, referring to Wheelers communications with Olsens brother and with Alexa Montez, the plaintiffs daughter.

Wheeler knew Olsens behavior was escalating, was erratic and highly emotional and was potentially threatening and/or could lead to actual violence, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit claims Wheeler knew or had reason to know that the girls were in trouble and that he sent multiple text messages to Olsens brother, Justin Olsen, starting at 11:31 p.m. that night, which provided evidence of an escalating situation and need to take reasonable measures.

According to the lawsuit, Wheelers text messages asked Justin Olsen to check on his sister, stating she had been acting really strange and that she had been on some kind of pills. Justin Olsen responded, telling Wheeler that his sister didnt answer his calls.

Whether Nichol Olsen was taking any medication hasnt been publicly revealed. The autopsy and toxicology reports for her and her daughters havent been released because of the ongoing sheriffs office investigation.

On ExpressNews.com: Father of 10-year-old child slain in Anaqua Springs shootings sues moms boyfriend

The lawsuit also claims Wheeler sent a text message to 16-year-old Alexa Montez the same night that said I left your mom making me worried. Someone using the teens phone then sent a text message to Wheelers phone that said Are you here? I think shes talking to herself. That was followed by an emoji indicating fright, the lawsuit said.

Wheeler also told Justin Olsen he had been trying to call Alexas phone all night, but the teen did not answer, the lawsuit states. It further alleges Wheeler told investigating officers he had been calling and texting Nichol and the girls all night and got no answer. Yet, the lawsuit said, Wheeler didnt alert the authorities.

At 7:32 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2019  about 90 minutes before Wheeler called 911  he texted Justin Olsen again, saying he needed to know whether to send police to the house if Olsen hadnt heard from his sister, the lawsuit shows.

Wheeler knew or should have known under the circumstances that Nichol Olsen posed a risk of violence, knew or should have known that Nichol Olsen posed a threat to the children and that imminent harm was reasonably foreseeable and failed to take reasonable measures to prevent Nichol Olsen from committing acts of violence using defendants gun, the lawsuit states.

It adds that Wheeler failed to notify authorities of a threat of abuse or injury to the children, secure his firearm, notify competent adults who may have protected the children, including their fathers, to remove the children with him when he fled or take other reasonable, protective measures.

The deadline to file a lawsuit for the deaths was Jan. 10, the two-year anniversary of the crime. Because that date fell on a Sunday, it could be filed the next business day, said Paul Torres, the San Antonio attorney representing the Montez family.

The family has been waiting over two years for answers of any measure from the sheriffs office, Torres said in a statement Tuesday. Theyve been left out of the loop for the most part.

The lawsuit, Torres said, is an effort to seek justice for an unspeakable tragedy that could have and should have been avoided.

pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare
CROMWELL - Its about aspiring to be a country where inclusiveness and belonging is fostered, and healthy discourse is encouraged.

And as the nation waited to see a new president inaugurated Wednesday, Jan. 20, the members of the town council put politics aside, unanimously approving a statement condemning the riot earlier this month at the U.S. Capitol.

We aspire to be a country where the Constitutional rights of freedom of speech, right to peaceably assemble, freedom to worship and freedom of personal liberty are respected and celebrated, the statement says in part.

Councilor James Demetriades, the unofficial leader of the councils democrats, said he was deeply saddened and shocked at what we all witnessed. Demetriades shared his concerns with Mayor Enzo Faienza, a Republican.

Given the terrible events witnessed by our nation...and reflecting how division and hatred led to such an open contemptuous insurrection against the people's house, 4 deaths, and the injury of a dozen of capitol police officers, I am left praying for peace and wondering what more could be done to break down the barriers and start the heal the political rift that plagues us as a nation, Demetriades wrote to Faienza.

In doing so, he found a kindred spirit.

Faienza said he found the assault on the Capitol was sickening and disgusting.

Anytime we see this kind of senseless violence, it cuts to the core and soul of our nation. We must find a way to unify and move on, the mayor said.

Demetriades asked whether the town should hold a vigil to express its opposition to the riot.

I am so heartbroken, but I think we can use our platform as local leaders to bring together our community, and show that in Cromwell we are stronger together, he said in an email to Faienza.

The two men quickly ruled out a vigil, however, given the COVD-19 restrictions.

Instead, Faienza said he felt a unified statement would be a more effective way of expressing the towns stance.

Demetriades said he sat down to prepare a draft, which would then be shared with the other council members for their feedback.

About preparing the document, Demetriades said, I think here in Cromwell, we have been exemplary about respecting each other when we come to different conclusions about issues. We don't make these matters personal but keep our conduct professional.

Some minor adjustments were made to the draft, Faienza said, and then the statement was presented to the council abd adopted during their recent meeting.

The four-paragraph statement described the impact of an assault on the very heart of American democracy undertaken by insurgents seeking toundermine the democratic process.

It mourned the desecration of the hallowed halls of Congress and the needless loss of life, while offering prayers for the police officers who were killed or injured in the incident.

It then posed a question: Is this who we are as a nation?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes, the statement concluded. While this is what we have become as a nation it is emphatically not what we should aspire to be, the statement continued.

It noted the need for inclusiveness and healthy discourse. The council recognizes these aspirations, the statement continued.

And We recognize that we need to have dialoguers on difficult conversations.

The council also previously has established a Diversity and Inclusion Committee to facilitate those difficult discussions, provide education and training to residents and help us heal.

Creating space for difficult conversations and honest discourse to take place will leave us a stronger community, the statement said.
It's Potemkin Inauguration Day, and I hope 74 million Trump voters are boycotting the farce. But it's also time to stop wringing your hands and reading emails that the shoe is about to drop and Trump will remain POTUS. Not gonna happen.

Rumors that Trump has some secret arrangement to stay in power with the military's assistance appear to be disinformation chum to distract the base or keep us hopeful while other things are happening  with the added bonus of sowing confusion, chaos, and discord. Or its purpose is to convince the incoming Biden administration that the Evil Orange Blofeld has a diabolical master plan to wrest control of the country away from the Democrats. Or both. But there will be no surprise ending where Trump swoops in for the kill.

As if on cue, the party of riots that rejected federal troops and advocates for dismantling the police has effectively imposed martial law on D.C. with 25,000 national guard troops. As if that weren't hypocritical enough, Biden's Strangelovian paranoia that all troops be vetted to root out Trump sympathizers conspiring to get him reeks of the very same loyalty oaths Democrats falsely accused Trump of demanding from his administration.

Things are grim. I get it. Every aspect of American life is in the tank for the Dems; many Republicans have betrayed their constituents; the press and educational system are corrupted; elections are not fair or secure; the Judiciary refuses to do its job; the press sees its job as the DNC's propaganda machine; our First and Second Amendment rights are under assault with conservatives denied Equal Protection and Due Process that are in ample supply for left-wing insurrectionists; our ability to communicate has been stonewalled, and our leadership doesn't care; there is frightful talk of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, blacklists, purges, cleansing, re-education camps, deradicalization, and deprogramming  all from the mouths of Democrats. That they are so emboldened to actually articulate these noxious ideas out loud  the very tactics employed by the worst despots and most notorious political movements in history  should chill everyone's blood.

In Biden's America, impure, decadent, or subversive ideas include anything the regime doesn't like. We are not free to choose what to believe and reject, what to embrace and abhor  territory all too familiar to the millions who escaped oppressive regimes for a freer life in America, but alien to those of us raised in an America where men once were free. If conservatives dare violate the regime's code of permissible discourse, question the Democrat agenda, criticize the press, demand that Big Tech stop censuring us, question the integrity of the election, or speak our minds on any issue, we are publicly humiliated, doxed, alienated, labeled, rejected or canceled, fired from our jobs, and rendered "unemployable."

Bleak? Yes, but for a brighter day, I implore all conservatives to stay involved and connected and adhere to the following suggestions:

Do not give up. Even in the grimmest hours when it seems our hands are tied and there is no way out, remain hopeful, because there is always the unexpected turn of events that can provide us with an exploitable opportunity. All of these Obama retreads, Democrats gleefully overplaying their hand, the Squad Gone Wild, world events, COVID-19, the eventual ouster of Biden by Harris...are all wild cards we know about. it is the unknowns we need to be looking for.

Before we start a new party, let's see if we can use the infrastructure already existing with the GOP to suit our purposes. They know we are ready to bolt. We won't let them forget that we will leave if they vote to convict or remove Trump. But we have some real champions in Congress and a pretty stalwart crop of newbies. It's easier to pressure and primary ten deadbeats in the House who voted with the Democrats to impeach Trump than to blow it all up and start fresh. So I suggest we wait and see what congressional Republicans do in the next six months.

Congressional Republicans should vote party-line against every piece of Democrat-sponsored legislation, depriving them of as many legislative victories as possible. Unless the base and our representatives agree 100% on the proposed legislation and it is consistent with conservative principles, legislation and spending must come to a standstill under this regime.

Conservatives must get more involved in local and state politics and consider running for federal office. I don't want to hear anyone whine about paying their dues with the Tea Party. Politics is a team sport, and we need every player. If all the energy put into articles, books, cruises, comments, and Facebook posts were diverted to action, it would pay dividends. Moreover, we must blindly support each other the way Democrats do. Short of committing a crime, we form an impervious and protective swarm around any conservative attacked by the Democrat-Media Complex. If someone had an affair, was once arrested, had an abortion, or did drugs, so be it. If that person made amends and adhere to conservative principles, we swarm. Once a candidate has run a primary, he has our vote  we don't stay home in protest or vote for the libertarian.

Invest in alternatives to the current tech monopolies and let the power of the free market and competition thrive. It'll take time and be a bumpy ride as tech oligarchs fight to keep their stranglehold on social media. Democrats will resist because they profit mightily from Silicon Valley, but we have to play the long game. There is no easy, short-term fix for this one.

Organize, organize, organize. We need a national organization with a website to coordinate action and disseminate information and communications. The Tea Party was resistant to this, and it was a strength but also our biggest liability. We cannot repeat that mistake. Local groups would still take action and should be able to share ideas and concerns, buta credible, national internet presence akin to MoveOn.org is critical to helping us organize and mobilize.

For now, no protests, marches, rallies, or demonstrations  peaceful or otherwise. I am the first person to support peaceful demonstrations, but not at this time. Democrat-supported Antifa and BLM thugs will show up to agitate, instigate, antagonize, and provoke. Even with documentation, eyewitness accounts, and video tape, we will always be cast as the villain and made to pay. We cannot afford to have anyone arrested, imprisoned, hurt, or killed. No matter our passion and need for justice, this will distract us from our goals; we cannot give that advantage to the left at this time.

During the Spanish Inquisition, Jews were forced to submit to Catholicism or face the sword. With either, Judaism was doomed. But it was actually saved by "conversos" who converted and secretly practiced Judaism in their homes and passed it on to future generations. The lesson here is that there is always another way.

I am not saying the answer is becoming Democrats, but we have to be smarter, more strategic, creative, and deliberate in our actions. This crackdown on our rights is designed to demoralize and subdue us. Trump is the example but the Dems won't hesitate to use the same tactics against all of us. Their goal is to break our spirit. Our goal is to see that they fail.
UW Civics Education Fund Surpasses $1.5 Million

Participants in the Wyoming We the People program pose for a photo in 2020. The program will benefit from a new gift from the John P. Ellbogen Foundation. (Matt Strannigan Photo)

The John P. Ellbogen Foundation has made an additional gift of $300,000 to support civics education at the University of Wyoming -- enhancing the John P. Ellbogen Civics Education Fund beyond $1.5 million.

To ensure the future of civics education programming for Wyoming students, $50,000 will be available immediately.

In an effort to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for competent and responsible participation in the American political system, the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, the Wyoming We the People program and UWs American Heritage Center have partnered to promote civics education across the state.

In 2015, the John P. Ellbogen Foundation gave a gift of $350,000. The gift was doubled by the state of Wyoming, creating the John P. Ellbogen Civics Education Fund.

Since its inception, the endowment has funded the program We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, a nationally acclaimed civics education program that enhances students understanding of democracy while teaching contemporary relevance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

As citizens, we must know and understand our rights and vigilantly practice our responsibilities, says Mary Garland, president of the John P. Ellbogen Foundation. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that our youth learn from the primary documents that set out the guidance for our democracy. This is the focus of Wyoming We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution. The foundation takes our investment in this program as part of its responsibility to state and country.

The John P. Ellbogen Civics Education Fund will provide the Wyoming We the People program with financial support to continue important statewide education for Wyoming students and offer impactful professional development for Wyomings teachers.

The John P. Ellbogen Foundation has become a key partner and critical component to advance the cause of quality civics education in the state of Wyoming, says Matt Strannigan, state director of the Wyoming We the People program. On behalf of the great teachers of this state and the hundreds of students they serve, we are deeply grateful to the John P. Ellbogen Foundation for its financial support of civics education.

The We the People program was created to commemorate the framing and adoption of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The program represents the joint effort of a nationwide network of educators and school leaders.

One does not have to look very far to understand the challenges facing this nation and a deeply divided citizenry, Strannigan says. We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution is the most extensive education program in the country on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the principles they embody. Now, more than ever, our country desperately needs an informed citizenry that goes beyond the silos of partisan politics and develops a deeper understanding of the guiding principles of the republic.

The John P. Ellbogen Civics Education Fund provides the Wyoming We the People program with the permanent funding needed to continue its pivotal work and help to develop the future leaders of Wyoming communities.

The generosity and dedication of the Ellbogen Foundation as a partner in these bipartisan efforts are second to none, Strannigan adds.
HAMPTON, N.H., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT), one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S. with more members than any other fitness brand, today announced that it has appointed Bernard Acoca, Chief Executive Officer and President for El Pollo Loco, and Christopher Tanco, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for 7Eleven, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Bernard Acoca Christopher Tanco

"We are pleased to welcome Bernard and Chris as new independent directors to the Planet Fitness Board," said Chris Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer. "They join Planet Fitness at a pivotal time in the business and complement our existing board of director's skills and expertise. Together they bring decades of leadership experience in key areas, including international and domestic operations, franchising, brand development, and leveraging digital to enhance the customer experience, which will be vital to our long-term strategy to bring non-intimidating, affordable, high-quality fitness to first time and casual gym goers."

Stephen Spinelli, Jr. (Ph. D.), Chairman of the Board stated, "Today's appointments reflect our ongoing commitment to strengthening our board with a variety of viewpoints and expertise. We look forward to gaining valuable insights and perspectives from Bernard and Chris, given their impressive backgrounds, and are confident they are well-suited to join our Board and oversee Planet Fitness' future growth, the many opportunities that lie ahead for our brand, and drive meaningful value for our shareholders."

Mr. Acoca currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and President for El Pollo Loco, the nation's largest restaurant brand specializing in fire-grilled chicken. Before joining El Pollo Loco, Mr. Acoca spent seven years at Starbucks Corporation in various capacities as a member of its executive team, most recently as President of Teavana, Starbucks' global tea brand. In this role he was responsible for the overall strategy and operations of more than 375 Teavana specialty retail stores in North America, as well as its e-commerce business. During his tenure, he oversaw the expansion of the Teavana brand to 26,000 Starbucks stores globally. Mr. Acoca also served as Senior Vice President, Marketing & Category for the Americas, Starbucks' largest division, where he was responsible for managing categories totaling $9B in sales. Additionally, he served as Chief Marketing Officer for L'Oreal and spent 10 years at Yum! Brands in marketing roles of increasing responsibility. Mr. Acoca currently serves on the board of El Pollo Loco.

"I've long admired the Planet Fitness brand and how it revolutionized the fitness landscape as we know it today," said Acoca. "The company is well positioned to capitalize on both industry and consumer trends and I look forward to joining the Board at such an exciting time in its history."

Mr. Tanco is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for 7 Eleven, Inc. As COO, he leads Franchise and Corporate Operations for 15,000 stores, the company's Digital initiatives, Restaurant expansion, Operations Support, Field Merchandising and Sales, Store of the Future, Fuels and the Canada Business Unit. Previously, Mr. Tanco was as an Executive Vice President and led 7 Eleven's international business across 18 countries. Before joining 7 Eleven, he was the Chief Franchise Officer for Pizza Hut. With nearly 20 years of experience, he served in various operations, international, general management and franchise leadership roles with Yum! Brands. Mr. Tanco currently serves on the boards of 7 Eleven, Inc. and Urban Air Adventure Parks.

Tanco said, "Planet Fitness is a market leader, with a nationally recognized brand, and a highly attractive franchise system and model that is built for long-term growth. I am excited to work with the Board and leadership team to leverage my experience and insights and help execute against the many future, value-creating opportunities that lay ahead for the brand."

The appointments of Bernard Acoca and Chris Tanco bring Planet Fitness' Board to eight total directors.

About Planet Fitness

Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of September 30, 2020, Planet Fitness had more than 14.1 million members and 2,086 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women.

SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.planetfitness.com


NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) implemented new efficiency standards for residential furnaces, setting the minimum airflow efficiency requirement for such equipment, in order to reduce the consumption of electricity. Owing to such measures, the U.S. HVAC services market is set to grow from $25,625.8 million in 2019 to $35,714.5 million by 2030, at a 3.1% CAGR between 2020 and 2030, according to P&S Intelligence.

Regular servicing and maintenance are considered essential for running any appliance or machine smoothly, which is the major reason the U.S. HVAC services market is receiving a boost from such guidelines. By encouraging people to keep their HVAC systems working as efficiently as possible, in terms of electricity usage, the DoE hopes to reduce the country's carbon emissions by 34 million metric tons.

Get the sample copy of this report at @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/us-hvac-services-market/report-sample

On account of the lockdown measures implemented in the country in the wake of COVID-19, the U.S. HVAC services market is witnessing sluggish growth. Both, the demand and supply sides of the market have been ill-affected; people are not purchasing HVAC equipment, to save for essential stuff, while the movement of all non-essential personnel, including service technicians, has been restricted across the country. However, from 2021 onward, the growing construction sector and lifting of the lockdown are expected to revive the industry.

The consulting category is set to witness the fastest advance in the U.S. HVAC services market in the years to come, under segmentation by type. A large number of people are hiring consultants to examine their equipment and then recommend the service most suitable. This way, consumers can be more aware of the issues in their systems and receive the right service at the right time, thereby saving considerably on maintenance costs.

In the past, the cooling category dominated the U.S. HVAC services market, on the basis of equipment type. On account of the warm climate, especially in the southern part of the country, and summers that are becoming increasingly hot even in northern U.S., the demand for cooling appliances has risen manifold in the past few years. This has been leading to a high demand for cooling equipment services to keep the appliances in prime condition and save electricity.

Browse detailed report with COVID-19 impact analysis on U.S. HVAC Services Market Research Report: By Type (Installation, Upgradation/Replacement, Maintenance & Repair, Consulting), Equipment Type (Heating, Ventilation, Cooling), Implementation Type (New Construction, Retrofit Buildings), End User (Commercial, Industrial, Residential) - Industry Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030 @ https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/us-hvac-services-market

The new construction bifurcation, based on implementation type, would observe the higher CAGR in the U.S. HVAC services market, of 4.1%, in the years to come. With the growth in the country's construction industry, the demand for HVAC appliances is rapidly rising in new buildings, which will eventually create a high demand for various services. In 2017, the federal government allocated 2% more funds for the construction sector than in 2016.

In the immediate future, the residential category, under the end user segment, is predicted to record the fastest rise in its revenue contribution to the U.S. HVAC services market. The residential real estate sector is growing rapidly in the country, with 14,438 thousand housing units being purchased in 2018. With the increasing disposable income, residents are buying various types of HVAC systems, which, over time, are generating a high requirement for services.

The U.S. HVAC services market presently gathers the highest revenue from the southern region of the nation. Compared to other parts, southern U.S. is subject to greater climatic variations, which leads to a high procurement rate of HVAC systems and demand for related services. Additionally, with the increasing urbanization in the region, the demand for systems and services is rising.

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Over the next decade, the most rapid advance in the U.S. HVAC services market will be seen in the western part of the country. A large number of residential and commercial infrastructure development projects are underway in western U.S., with a strong focus on energy efficiency. Moreover, an increasing number of people are migrating to this region, citing infrastructure development, economic growth, and rising employment opportunities.

The most prominent companies in the U.S. HVAC services market include Daikin Industries Ltd., Johnson Controls International plc, Lennox International Inc., Carrier Global Corporation, Emerson Electric Co., Trane Technologies plc, CLS Facility Services, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, The BP Group, Americool LLC, Murphy & Miller Inc., National HVAC Service Company, Dave's Cooling & Heating, and True Cool Air Conditioning Service Inc.

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P&S Intelligence is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness.

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SUV

DRL

In the meantime, Rolls-Royce has also joined the fray with its Cullinan while Mercedes-Maybach has upped the ante in terms of luxury compared to the manufacturer's standard range. That means everyone looking for an automotive representation of their bank account with a slightly lifted suspension has several options to choose from now.That's great news for the one percent, but not so much for Bentley. We don't imagine there are any Bentaygas sitting in dealerships with big signs in their windows that say "discount" as they wait for customers, so the competition hasn't necessarily dented the model's sales. Still, it did manage to make the Bentayga seem less... opulent.Take the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, for example. If some people thought the Bentley design would have trouble translating into thesegment, they had no idea how difficult Rolls-Royce would have it. But that's not a bad thing. Owning a Cullinan essentially says, "I'm so rich I don't even care about looking good anymore," and that means extremely filthy rich.When it was launched, a lot was said about the Bentayga's $160,000 optional dashboard clock, but other than that, the SUV is pretty conventional. It also looks reasonably well - or, at least, a lot less awkward than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan , arguably its main competitor.Well, Bentley shouldn't have to settle for second place, not when it could come up with something like this EXP8 SUV created by Emre Husmen. It's bigger, brasher, probably more powerful, and certainly a lot more "in your face" than the Bentayga - in other words, considering the segment we're in, simply better.The front end has the kind of verticality you get with the Cullinan, but with a few curves to make it all look sleeker and more modern. The rounded headlights are replaced by aLED ring, with the main and high beam housed in a narrow headlight design.The huge grille and tall hood leave no doubt about what's hiding back there. It's the 8.0-liter W16 quad-turbo engine in the Bugatti Chiron, except here it's slightly detuned compared to the hypercar's 1,600 PS (1,578 hp). The EXP8 would probably also be available with a hybrid system, but one that uses the 4.0-liter V8 instead of the 3.0-liter V6 in the Bentayga Hybrid.The exterior design of the hyper-SUV seems to be slightly influenced by the Bentley Continental GT Number 9 special edition, as the two share the British Racing Green color (though a lot of other models from other brands do that too) as well as the number in their name - eight, in this case - painted onto the radiator grille's mesh.Expect the interior to feature the same level of exquisite quality we've come to take for granted from all Bentley products, with the same mixture of modern design and classic materials and craftmanship. The author didn't expand its project inside the cabin as well, though.Recession, pandemic, end of the world - it wouldn't matter. The Bentley EXP8 should have no problem finding buyers regardless of whether we're talking east or west. The top dog luxury SUV will never lack clients, and that's exactly what the EXP8 would become in the unlikely situation Bentley decided to make something like this.
Midland County added 22 confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, according to the daily state report.

Also on Tuesday, America recorded its 400,000th death. Three deaths were recorded in the five-county region the Daily News has been chronicling since the pandemic start  two in Bay County and one in Saginaw County.

Midland County Health Department vaccine update

"We're still vaccinating the 1B group," said Dr. Catherine Bodnar, Midland County medical director, on Tuesday. "We're trying to do a dual path and make sure we cover our seniors and will also try to include some of the essential workers, so that's our teachers, child care workers, law enforcement, corrections workers."

The health department is expecting a vaccine shipment of 500 Moderna doses this week. Last week, the health department received 975 doses of Pfizer vaccine on Monday, and distributed it all by Friday.

Bodnar said the health department can easily handle 1,000 vaccinations a week. For this week, the department requested 1,000 Moderna vaccinations and 975 Pfizer doses but was told they would be getting 500 Moderna  25% of their request.

"I think what the state decided to do for this week is to give Pfizer to health care systems and Moderna to health departments. The state is trying very hard to equitably distribute the vaccine and there is just not enough for everybody's demand right now. We're just going to have to be patient."

After school personnel, Bodnar said the health department will focus on homeless shelters, adult and child protective services, food and agricultural workers, critical manufacturing workers, and those who have to work with people, including public transit and grocery store workers.

"I was hoping by the end of month, we could work quickly through the schools, quickly through our homeless shelters," she said. "I was really hoping we could start getting to some of our critical infrastructure workers by end of month, and it doesn't seem like we're going to. We'd be lucky if we finish our schools by the end of the month."

She said the focus is on people who have a higher risk of an exposure so people who can work remotely from home aren't going to be high in priority.

She said the health department has talked to Meijer, which has been chosen by the state as an initial pharmacy partner to help administer COVID-19 vaccines, to help with vaccinations once the department regularly receives 1,000 vaccinations a week.

"We're positioned to use partners to help us get the vaccine out," she said. "We don't feel like only we can do it. The hospital is also a huge partner for us. We also partnered with Dow, DuPont and Corteva and their health services so that when we get down to critical manufacturing they have identified who their priorities are. They will do the vaccinating. Again, that will help us get it out quicker."

She said she hopes the vaccine will become available to anyone who wants it by the end of the second quarter  "the sooner the better."

MidMichigan Health vaccine update

MidMichigan Health, which serves a 23-county region with medical centers in Midland, Gladwin, Alpena, Clare, Gratiot, Mount Pleasant and West Branch, has vaccinated about 52% of its 7,000 hospital employees system-wide as of Monday, Jan. 18.

Officials report 11,353 doses have been administered system-wide as of Monday. The number of second doses administered is 3,480.

This week, the system will vaccinate about 1,000 people in 1A category, and 2,400 people in 1B category. Workers in 1A are being administered both first and second doses, and workers in 1B category are being given first doses.

In Midland as of Monday, 5,450 people have been vaccinated (all groups).

People who want to get vaccinated are encouraged to reach out to their primary care provider through their portal or to fill out the form on the Midland County Health Department's website.

Tuesday, Jan. 19 daily numbers

 Midland County: Pandemic total is 3,977 cases, 577 probable, 49 deaths and three probable deaths.

 Bay County: 14 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 6,635 cases, 260 probable, 233 deaths and three probable deaths.

 Gladwin County: Four cases were added; pandemic total stands at 1,155 cases, 195 probable, 34 deaths and three probable deaths.

 Isabella County: Seven cases were added; pandemic total stands at 3,357 cases, 392 probable, 64 deaths.

 Saginaw County: 21 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 12,982 cases, 628 probable, 443 deaths and 11 probable deaths.

The state on Tuesday added 1,738 new cases and 41 deaths. Overall, Michigan is at 540,115 cases and 13,865 deaths.

Testing

The state report shows as of Jan. 19, Midland County has performed 47,471 COVID-19 tests. Gladwin County is listed as having administered 13,326 tests.

Midland Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate on Jan. 15 was listed at 6%, and Gladwin County was listed at 6.8%. Our 12-county region is 7.6% and Michigan is at 7.1%.

Recovered

The state lists the total recovered at 442,408 cases as of Jan. 15.

School cases

No new positive COVID-19 cases have been reported among Midland Public Schools staff/students since the last report.

Two MPS staff/students are currently positive-tested, according to Tuesday's report. In all, there have been 151 cumulative cases within the district.

A total of 27 Midland Public Schools staff/students remain in COVID-19-related isolation or quarantine on Monday, with 25 of them close contacts to a confirmed COVID-positive tested individual, according to the daily report on the MPS website, which is based on a report from the Midland County Department of Public Health.

Affected buildings are Dow and Midland high schools; Jefferson and Northeast middle schools; Adams, Central Park, Chestnut Hill, Plymouth, Siebert and Woodcrest.

Long-term care facility data

On Jan. 19, the state reported two new resident deaths at Brookdale Midland AL and one new resident death at Brookdale Midland MC; one new resident death and one new resident case at Candlestone Assisted Living; one new resident case at Medilodge of Midland; two new resident cases and two new staff cases at Midland Bickford Cottage; one new resident death at Midland King's Daughters HFA; two new resident cases at Nottingham Place; one new resident cases and one new staff case at StoryPoint of Midland; and three new staff cases at Stratford Pines.

There were no new cases reported in Gladwin County long-term care facilities.

MidMichigan Health statistics

As of Jan. 18, MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland is listed as having a 75% bed occupancy, with 34 COVID-19 patients, including seven in the ICU. MidMichigan Medical Center in Gladwin is listed as having an 26% bed occupancy, with three COVID-19 patients and none in the ICU.

Regarding PPE supplies, the Midland hospital reported 15-30 days for N95 masks; 15-30 days for surgical masks; 30-plus days for surgical gowns; 15-30 days for exam gloves and 30-plus days for eye protection. The Gladwin hospital reported 30-plus days for all the reported supplies.
On his way out the door, in one of his final tweets as Secretary of State. Mike Pompeo blasted liberals' 'wokeness' saying that it was tantamount to authoritarianism.

'Censorship, wokeness, political correctness, it all points in one direction - authoritarianism, cloaked as moral righteousness,' Pompeo wrote.

'Woke-ism, multiculturalism, all the -isms  they're not who America is. They distort our glorious founding and what this country is all about. Our enemies stoke these divisions because they know they make us weaker,' he added.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blasted 'wokeness' in a final tweet. Pompeo said those wanting to block free speech including on social media had a 'dangerous' instinct toward censorship

The tweet was an excerpt from a speech he made last week at the Voice of America broadcaster where he lambasted recent actions by tech titans to curb free speech including on platforms like Twitter and Facebook as being 'a kind of censorial instinct that is dangerous.'

'It's similar to what we're seeing at Twitter, and Facebook, and Apple, and on too many university campuses,' Pompeo railed.

'We are all parts of institutions with duties and responsibilities higher than any of us,' he said. 'This is not who we are, as Americans. It's time to put woke-ism to sleep,' Pompeo said, using language more commonly heard on conservative talk radio than in diplomacy.

Pompeo's comments and subsequent tweet come days after Twitter permanently suspended President Trump's personal account and after Apple, Google and Amazon banned Parler from their app stores due to a failure to moderate 'egregious content' posted by users related to the violent siege on Congress two weeks ago.

The tweet was based on a speech Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had made where he blasted 'wokeness' last week on the broadcaster Voice of America

Trump was blocked from Twitter and Facebook, inciting unrest.

Trump, in his final days in the White House has seen cabinet members quit, his vice president for the first time distance himself and some members of his party support impeachment.

But he still has loyalty until the bitter end from Pompeo.

America's top diplomat has rammed forward 11th-hour hawkish policies and increasingly adopted the grievance-laden rhetoric of Trump's hard-right base, raising speculation that Pompeo has the White House in his own sights in 2024.

Since the deadly mob attack on Congress by Trump supporters angry over his election defeat, Pompeo has defiantly branded both Cuba and Yemen's dominant Huthi rebels as terrorists and loosened restrictions on US interactions with Taiwan.

Since the deadly mob attack on Congress by Trump supporters angry over his election defeat, Pompeo has defiantly branded both Cuba and Yemen's dominant Huthi rebels as terrorists and loosened restrictions on US interactions with Taiwan

On Tuesday, he delivered a hawkish address alleging a major alliance between Trump adversary Iran and Al-Qaeda, a relationship that has been disputed for years by experts.

While Pompeo has condemned the assault on the Capitol, he posed for a photo afterward with Lauren Boebert, a new Republican congresswoman who stirred controversy with comments before and during the riot and described Pompeo as a 'true patriot.'

'Some people see a coup attempt against the US government and are outraged. Pompeo sees it and thinks, 'I can ride that to the White House in 2024,'' quipped David Rothkopf, a veteran foreign policy expert and journalist who has been strongly critical of Trump.

Like many Republicans, Pompeo was not an initial backer of Trump, saying in 2016 that the real estate mogul would be an 'authoritarian.'

But plucked from Congress to be his CIA chief and then secretary of state, Pompeo has been a rare survivor in Trump's orbit, taking care never to contradict his mercurial boss in public.

Three cabinet members quit after the Capitol violence and others have taken a low key but Pompeo has not stopped speaking of Trump. After the election, he caused outrage by suggesting at a news conference that Trump would remain in power.

In an interview Tuesday with conservative host Hugh Hewitt, Pompeo called the Capitol rioters 'criminals' who should be prosecuted.

Pompeo said that 'wokeness' was happening 'at Twitter, Facebook, Apple and on too many university campuses'. Pictured above, President Trump's suspended account

'But history will reflect on the good work that this president and our administration has done,' he said, adding that 'books will be written about the changes that we have made in the world.'

Pompeo, 57, has made little secret of his aspirations to higher office.

He has highlighted his evangelical Christian faith and, during the Republican National Convention, triggered allegations of impropriety by speaking from an official trip to Jerusalem, where Trump opened an embassy.

Surveys before the riot gave Pompeo little traction for 2024, with most Republicans saying they would again back Trump.

But if Trump is barred or declines another run, Pompeo now enjoys a unique position -- he can work alongside the president without high-stakes decisions on whether to condone him.

While cabinet members have quit, President Trump has had loyalty until the bitter end from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Vice President Mike Pence steadfastly backed Trump for four years -- in one famous episode, even appearing to put down a water bottle at a meeting as Trump had done the same.

But Pence was forced out of obsequiousness last week as Trump pressured him to reverse their election defeat through the ceremonial session in Congress.

Pence at the last minute acknowledged he had no authority to do so. Moments afterward, Trump turned on him over Twitter and the mob chanted that Pence should be hanged.

Stephen Walt, a professor of international relations at Harvard University, suggested that Pompeo is now taking on the role on social media that Trump is no longer allowed.

Pompeo 'may have achieved the remarkable and unenviable status of being despised by foreign and US diplomats in equal measure,' Walt tweeted.
Tyson Foods - settled anti-trust case

Tyson Foods has settled litigation with two groups of plaintiffs who accused the US meat major of illegally conspiring to inflate poultry prices.

The Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm brands owner said it would pay US$221.5m to settle price-fixing litigation with 'end-user' consumers and with more than 30 commercial purchasers.

The settlement announcement was disclosed in filings on Tuesday (19 January) in the federal court of Chicago.

Last week, Arkansas-based Tyson agreed to settle anti-trust claims by chicken buyers. Its local peer Pilgrim's Pride agreed to pay $75m to settle claims from the same group of purchasers.

The meat giants still face a number of other legal claims related to the same issue.

In December, a price-fixing case was brought against suppliers including Pilgrim's Pride, Tyson, Perdue Farms and Sanderson Farms by chicken restaurant chain Chick-fil-A.

The Atlanta-headquartered chain said it "purchased billions of dollars worth of broiler chicken" at prices that were "artificially inflated."

Tyson said the claims were "unfounded".

And the US Department of Justice last year filed criminal price-fixing and bid-rigging charges against a number of poultry industry executives. All have pleaded not guilty.

just-food has asked Tyson to comment on this story.
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A Vietnamese COVID-19 patient who previously entered the country illegally has been probed for spreading the disease to other people.

The Department of Public Security in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long on Tuesday initiated legal proceedings against L.Th.T., 33., who is Vietnams COVID-19 patient No. 1,440, for spreading dangerous infectious disease to others, according to Article 240 of the Penal Code.

Investigators said T. and eight other people entered Vietnam illegally from Cambodia via a trail in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on the early morning of December 24.

They were then divided into two groups and got in two automobiles to travel to other localities.

The first group, which consisted of three people, headed to Chau Doc City in An Giang Province and Ho Chi Minh City.

The second group, which included T. and five others, went to the Mekong Delta province of Long An and Ho Chi Minh City.

T. then headed to his hometown in Vinh Long Province, before his family members reported to competent authorities regarding his illicit entry.

The man was brought to a local quarantine center and tested positive for the novel coronavirus on December 26.

He was confirmed as the countrys COVID-19 patient No. 1,440 by the Ministry of Health on December 27.

Three other people among these border jumpers have also been confirmed as COVID-19 patients No. 1,451, 1,452, and 1,453.

Two of them reside in Ho Chi Minh City, while the other lives in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap.

Police in An Giang Province have launched an investigation into the case and arrested five suspects for organizing for people to enter Vietnam against the law.

T. has been treated at Vinh Long Lung Hospital for 26 days, according to the provincial Department of Health.

He had tested positive for the novel coronavirus for 11 consecutive times, before his 12th test came back negative on January 15.

However, he tested positive for the virus again on Tuesday.

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(Newser)  In the 6.5 years since we last visited Pablo Escobar's hippo herd, it's become illegal to kill any member of the Colombian population, which is considered something of a country emblem. It's no surprise, then, that the non-native animals are breeding out of control in a population expected to reach the ecosystem's carrying capacity in the next two decades, according to a new study. The problem started when Escobar imported one male and three female hippos for a private zoo at his Hacienda Napoles ranch in the 1980s. After his death in 1993, officials relocated most of the creatures to zoos, but let the aggressive 4,000-pound hippos be, per NBC News. Unencumbered by the droughts, disease, and predators of their native Africa, the animals have been expanding in reachfinding their way into the Magdalena River and surrounding lakesand in number ever since.

story continues below

A 2020 study found hippo feces were contributing to toxic algae blooms, per Smithsonian. Experts also worry that threatened Antillean manatees are being forced from their habitats, per the Washington Post. But this is nothing compared to what could come. With their numbers growing about 10% each year, the hippo population is expected to hit 1,418 by 2039, at which point the hippos will have utilized all the food and space available, per the study published in Biological Conservation. To prevent that outcome, study author Nataly Castelblanco-Martinez says officials need to start culling 30 hippos per year. "No other strategy is going to work," she tells the Post. Some see castration as an alternative. But castration is challenging, not least because male hippos have retractable testes. Indeed, one campaign to castrate hippos found it could only successfully do so to one hippo per year. (Read more Colombia stories.)
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As President Joe Biden took his oath of office Wednesday, brining the Trump era to a close after the most tumultuous presidential transition in living memory, world leaders and top officials, along with ordinary people across the globe, looked on with rapt attention, and in many cases cautious optimism.

Some leaders and officials have reached out to embrace the incoming Biden administration, offering congratulations speaking of their hopes for cooperation, especially on issues that fell by the wayside under Trump, such as climate change. Most took a reserved tone, but a few, including among U.S. rivals, were more vociferous.

"Good Riddance, Donald Trump!" China's state news agency Xinhua wrote on Twitter.

After four years of norm-shattering and often combative U.S. leadership, many world leaders welcomed a new chapter in the United States. "Five years ago, we thought Trump was a bad joke, but five years later we realized he jeopardized nothing less than the world's most powerful democracy," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Wednesday.

Here's how world leaders, top officials and other international figures are reacting to the handover of power in Washington.

- - -

Boris Johnson

British prime minister

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted congratulations to Biden and Harris on Wednesday, writing that "America's leadership is vital on the issues that matter to us all" and that he looked "forward to working with President Biden."

Johnson told Parliament earlier Wednesday he welcomed the chance to engage with the incoming Biden administration on "our shared priorities: from tackling climate change, building back better from the pandemic and strengthening our transatlantic security."

- - -

Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President

President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted that he had watched the inauguration from his new office in the Ukrainian capital.

"I'll be glad to welcome [Biden] in the well-known Kyiv. I'm sure our relations will be enhanced," Zelensky wrote.

- - -

Narendra Modi

Indian Prime Minister

The Indian leader wrote a series of messages to Biden on Twitter, offering his "warmest congratulations" and suggesting that they work together to "strengthen [the] India-US strategic partnership."

"The India-US partnership is based on shared values," Modi wrote. "We have a substantial and multifaceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages."

- - -

Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement that offered congratulations to both Biden and Harris.

"President Biden, you and I have had a warm personal friendship going back many decades," Netanyahu said in the statement. "I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran."

- - -

Justin Trudeau

Canadian prime minister

In a statement, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered a congratulation to Biden and pledged to work together on global issues.

"Canada and the United States enjoy one of the most unique relationships in the world, built on a shared commitment to democratic values, common interests, and strong economic and security ties. Our two countries are more than neighbors - we are close friends, partners, and allies," Trudeau said.

- - -

Hua Chunying

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman

Although Chinese leader Xi Jinping has not spoken on the handover of power, a spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry offered a cautious welcome to the incoming Biden administration on Wednesday, as well as some cutting words for the departing Trump team.

"We hope the new U.S. administration will work together with China, with mutual respect, properly handle differences and conduct more win-win cooperation in more sectors," Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing.

Hua also used the briefing to criticize the Trump administration, and in particular outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for its decision on Tuesday to label the alleged persecution of Uighurs in China a genocide - a move she dubbed a "piece of wastepaper."

- - -

Bi-khim Hsiao

Taiwanese envoy to Washington

Bi-khim Hsiao, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, was among the guests at the Biden inauguration on Wednesday.

"Democracy is our common language and freedom is our common objection. I look forward to working with the next administration in advancing our mutual values and interest," Hsiao said in a video message to her Twitter account.

Hsiao serves as Taiwan's de-facto ambassador to the United States as the two nations do not have formal diplomatic relations.

- - -

Simon Coveney

Irish foreign minister

Simon Coveney, who serves in the Irish government as minister for foreign affairs and defense, sent a message of congratulations to Biden on Wednesday, emphasizing the Irish-American politician's family history and suggest a visit to Ireland.

"We hope to welcome him to his ancestral home early in his Presidency," Coveney tweeted. "He has always been a friend to Ireland & we look forward to working with him on strengthening Irish/US relations & much more."

Coveney also congratulated Vice President Harris on "her historic achievement as she is inaugurated as the first woman, and first woman of colour, to hold the office of US Vice President."

- - -

Emmanuel Macron

French president

French President Emmanuel Macron said he hoped that Biden would show a greater military commitment than Trump did to the fight against Islamist extremists around the world, especially in the Middle East.

In a speech on Tuesday to the French military in Brest, in western France, he said, "I am certain that in the coming weeks, the new administration [Biden] will need to make key decisions that will mark a greater commitment and awareness in the fight against terrorism" in Syria and Iraq.

- - -

Pedro Sanchez

Spanish Prime Minister

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the inauguration of Biden "represents the victory of democracy over the ultra-right and its three methods, the massive deception, the national division and the abuse, even violent, of democratic institutions."

"Five years ago, we thought Trump was a bad joke, but five years later we realized he jeopardized nothing less than the world's most powerful democracy," said Sanchez, who was speaking at a public event in Madrid.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier

- - -

German president

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was "relieved" that Biden is being sworn in Wednesday.

"I know that this feeling is shared by many people in Germany," he said in a video message, calling it a "good day for democracy."

"Despite all the joy we have about today, we must not forget that populism has seduced the most powerful democracy in the world," he continued.

- - -

Vladimir Putin

Russian president

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shrugged off any differences under a Biden White House, which is expected to take a tougher line with Moscow.

While Trump carefully avoided criticizing President Vladimir Putin, Biden has called him a "KGB thug" and has described Russia as the greatest threat to the United States.

"Nothing will change for Russia. Russia will continue to live just the way it has lived for hundreds of years, seeking good relations with the U.S.," Peskov said Wednesday. "Whether Washington has reciprocal political will for that will depend on Mr. Biden and his team."

Putin was one of the last world leaders to congratulate Biden on his election win, sending a telegram only after the electoral college vote and citing the torrent of legal challenges mounted by Trump. Nor did Putin follow up with a phone call. "No, not yet. You know that they're having some problems there in the United States, and so they're definitely dealing with their own problems at home now," Peskov said about future phone calls.

- - -

Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Commission

In televised remarks on Wednesday, the leaders of the European Union greeted Biden's impending inauguration with joy and relief, as one declared that the United States was rejoining "the circle of like-minded states."

"It will be a message of hope for a world that is waiting for the U.S. to be back in the circle of like-minded states," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament. "This new dawn in America is the moment we have been waiting for, for so long."

- - -

Greta Thunberg

Swedish climate activist

Greta Thunberg, a teenage climate activist from Sweden, offered a mocking goodbye for Trump on Wednesday morning, referencing the message the president had written about her in Sept. 2019 after she was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year.

"He seems like a very happy old man looking forward to a bright and wonderful future," Thunberg wrote next to a photograph of Trump leaving the White House. "So nice to see!"

- - -

Hassan Rouhani

Iranian president

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani expressed hope Wednesday that Biden would reverse Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"The ball is in the court of Washington today - if they return to their commitments, we will also fulfill our commitments," he said in televised remarks. He added that Trump's "political life is over, but the JCPOA is alive - he made his utmost efforts to eliminate the deal, but he failed."

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has also indicated his support for Iran's return to the nuclear deal once Biden takes office but has also insisted that the United States is not to be trusted, no matter who is in power.

- - -

Scott Morrison

Australian prime minister

Australian leader Scott Morrison said Tuesday that he hopes the incoming U.S. administration could lead to unity in the country following last year's disputed election and the aftermath.

"America is going through a very terrible time at the moment, but [I'm] looking forward to the country uniting and moving on from these terrible last few months and particularly these last few weeks," he told 2GB Radio on Tuesday.

In the interview, Morrison also said the scenes at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 were "terrible" but that he did not want to lecture another country and its leaders.

- - -

Nicolas Maduro

Venezuelan president

A key ally to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Friday that he hoped there could be dialogue between Washington and Caracas after Biden takes office, and that the incoming U.S. leader could pull back sanctions imposed during the Trump administration.

"The entire world is waiting out the hours for when the new president assumes the office in the United States," Jorge Rodriguez, the leader of Venezuela's National Assembly, said in an interview with the Associated Press. "We hope that includes abandoning what's has been so harmful to the people of Venezuela and completely unproductive."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he has not seen other agreements similar to the governments 1989 pact with the University of the Philippines that prohibits state forces in its campuses, but he wants any existing deal terminated as well.

If you can present to me a copy, I will abrogate it also, Lorenzana told reporters on Wednesday.

Early this week, Lorenzana repealed the Department of National Defenses three-decade accord with UP, which bans unannounced entry of police and military authorities in the universitys campuses, unless in cases of hot pursuit or emergencies. Lorenzana said he has heard of a similar pact with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, but he has not read it.

He also mentioned how former Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile denied signing any such agreement with UP.

The 1989 UP-DND pact that Lorenzana unilaterally terminated was between then UP President Jose Abueva and then Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos. The one Enrile signed was the so-called Soto-Enrile agreement of 1981, which covers all campuses, not just UP.

In a letter dated Oct. 29, 1981, Enrile told student leaders, including League of Filipino Students chairperson Sonia Soto, that the police would not enter any campus nationwide unless requested by students or school authorities, and that the military would not interfere in peaceful student protest actions. In return, student protesters should notify the police ahead of any demonstration, the letter stated.

The Soto-Enrile agreement was revisited in 1989, when Donato Continente, a former staffer of campus publication Philippine Collegian was abducted. Continente was allegedly tortured to confess to the killing of U.S. Army Col. James Nicholas Rowe, but was freed in 2005 after a commuted sentence.

His case led to the signing of the UP-DND pact, professor Danilo Arao recalled. Although the agreement covered only UP, it was more specific, even mandating the countrys premier university to manage its own security, police, and firefighting capabilities, so uniformed personnel will only provide assistance when requested.

The UP community has called on the government to rethink the abrogation of the deal, stressing that the university will reject any semblance of militarization in its campuses to prevent any chilling effect on academic freedom.

READ: UP accord terminated to protect Filipinos vs 'enemies of the state'  Lorenzana

READ: Immediate House probe sought on termination of UP-DND pact
Harvard physicist Avi Loeb is not shy about his idea that Earth's 2017 interstellar visitor being an extraterrestrial craft and is set to release a book to defending his claim with more detail.

The book, titled 'Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth,' argues the consensus that Oumuamu is not a comet or asteroid, but a light sail  a method of spacecraft propulsion.

In a recent interview with Salon Loeb explains that Oumuamu exhibited excess push, which he believes comes from sunlight.

'So a light sail is just like a sail on a boat that reflects the wind, the wind is pushing it,' Loeb told Salon.

'In the case of a light sail, it's the light reflected off its surface that gives it the kick, the push. Light is made of particles called photons.'

Loeb also highlights a previous visitor last year that was speculated to be an asteroid, but was actually a discarded rocket.

The booster from a failed mission of lunar lander, Surveyor II, soared through space with the same excessive push as Oumuamu due to its hallow interior, Loeb claims.

Scroll down for video

Oumuamua was discovered in October 2017 by a telescope in Hawaii millions of miles away. Now, a physicists is revealing details to why he believes it is an artificial object

Oumuamua was discovered in October 2017 by a telescope in Hawaii millions of miles away.

The red-tinged rock is estimated to be possibly 1,300 feet (400 meters) long and zooming away from the Earth and sun at more than 16 miles (26 kilometers) per second.

At the time of the discovery, Loeb received backlash from scientists after claiming the object was actually a discarded piece of technology from aliens.

However, that has not stopped him from publishing a new book on January 26 with details that support his claim that Oumuamua was an alien light sail.

Harvard physicist Avi Loeb is not shy about his idea that Earth's 2017 interstellar visitor being an extraterrestrial craft. In a recent interview with Salon Loeb explains that Oumuamu exhibited excess push, which he believes comes from sunlight. 'So a light sail is just like a sail on a boat that reflects the wind, the wind is pushing it, he said

Loeb tells Salon that when Oumuamu was first observed the reflected sunlight off the surface varied by a factor of 10, which implies it has an extreme geometry.

The book, titled 'Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth,' argues the consensus that Oumuamu is not a comet or asteroid, but a light sail

'Even if you consider a razor-thin piece of paper tumbling in the wind, the amount of area that is projected in your direction is not varying by more than a factor of 10, because the chance of seeing it edge on is really small,' he explained.

'It is tumbling in the wind. So it looked like this object has an extreme geometry.'

Oumuamu came speeding into the Solar System, which sparked the idea that it could be a comet.

However, it does not have a cometary trail to explain its excessive push.

Loeb describes another object spotted in space last year that exhibited the same movement.

It was dubbed 2020-SO and scientists first suggested it was an asteroid that would eventually become Earth's minimoon.

Scientists around the world watched as the mystery object moved closer to Earth over the months.

Oumuamu came speeding into the Solar System, which sparked the idea that it could be a comet. However, it does not have a cometary trail to explain its excessive push

Loeb describes another object spotted in space last year that exhibited the same movement. It was dubbed 2020-SO and scientists first suggested it was an asteroid that would eventually become Earth's minimoon

It wasn't until December did it come close enough for experts to get a better understanding to what it could be.

'It turned out that this one ended up being a rocket booster from a failed mission of lunar lander, Surveyor II, that was launched in 1966,' said Loeb.

'So astronomers figured out that it intercepted the Earth if you go back in time to 1966.'

This object showed the same excessive push because it was a hallow booster that is very thin, allowing it to push through sunlight, he explained.

'It turned out that this one ended up being a rocket booster from a failed mission of lunar lander, Surveyor II, that was launched in 1966,' said Loeb. It was able to travel through space because it was hallow inside

'We know that it's artificially made. It had no cometary tail,' Loeb said.

'We know that we made it. So that provides evidence that we can tell the difference between a rock and an object that is pushed by sunlight.

The trouble is the only way to know for certain Oumuamua's origins is by taking an image of it, but the object is already too far away.

'So we missed the opportunity,' he said. 'It's like having a guest for dinner, by the time you realize it's weird, it's already out of the front door into the dark street. That was the first guest, and we should look for more.'
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Lottie Moss didn't seem fazed by the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic as she partied with her pals on a yacht during a supposed 'business trip' to Mexico.

The model, 23, slipped into a skimpy multicoloured bikini as she downed drinks while dancing on the boat's deck, while her home nation continues to battle the deadly virus.

Despite appearing to flout COVID-19 lockdown restrictions by jetting abroad while international travel from England is banned, a source close to Lottie told MailOnline she's in Mexico for work reasons.

Putting in the hours? Lottie Moss didn't seem fazed by the threats of the COVID-19 pandemic as she partied with her pals on a yacht during a supposed 'business trip' to Mexico

Lottie slipped into a plunging rainbow bikini as she spent the afternoon drinking and dancing with her pals on the luxury yacht.

The sister of supermodel Kate Moss flaunted her peachy posterior in the skimpy thong bottoms as she reclined on the boat's deck.

Lottie shielded her hair from the sun with a pink bucket hat and later covered up in a white t-shirt as she sipped beverages with her pals.

Having fun? The model, 23, slipped into a skimpy multicoloured bikini as she downed drinks while dancing on the boat's deck, while her home nation continues to battle the deadly virus

Confident: Lottie slipped into a plunging rainbow bikini as she spent the afternoon drinking and dancing with her pals on the luxury yacht

For business? Despite appearing to flout COVID-19 lockdown restrictions by jetting abroad while international travel from England is banned, a source close to Lottie told MailOnline she's in Mexico for work reasons

Svelte: She showed off her physique in the plunging bikini top with a multicoloured print and matching thong bottoms as she danced on the boat's deck

What work? Despite supposedly being abroad for work, Lottie didn't seem to be stretching herself too much as she lived it up in the sunshine with her friends

Despite supposedly being abroad for work, Lottie didn't seem to be stretching herself too much as she lived it up in the sunshine with her friends.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Lottie Moss for further comment.

Lottie's break comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he was revoking any travel corridors out of the UK meaning anyone returning to England from abroad would have to quarantine for 10 days, and would have to provide evidence of a negative PCR upon arrival.

Those are the rules! Lottie's break comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he was revoking any travel corridors out of the UK meaning anyone returning to England from abroad would have to quarantine for 10 days

Get tested! The new restrictions also mean anyone returning to the UK abroad most provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test when entering the country

No more breaks! Under the government's latest national lockdown rules, which is now in effect, holidays are banned as international travel is only permitted for a strict number of reasons such as for work

Get the drinks in! Lottie's yacht was well-stocked with booze as she and her pals enjoyed a wild afternoon dancing on the boat

Sizzling: In recent weeks many reality stars and influencers have faced huge backlash for travelling abroad during the pandemic under the ruse it's 'for work'

Under the government's latest national lockdown rules, which is now in effect, holidays are banned as international travel is only permitted for a strict number of reasons such as for work.

Within the UK, domestic holidays are also banned as you must stay at home at all times except for a limited number of 'reasonable excuses' such as shopping for essentials or work.

The Government has said if you need to travel you should stay local  meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live  and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall.

Any arrivals who flout the rules will face a minimum 500 fine, while the operator who transported them will also be fined.

Controversy: It comes after Lottie was forced to apologise after claiming she was a COVID-19 'superspreader' during an Instagram Live while London was still in Tier 2 restrictions last month

Backlash: The video was filmed while Lottie was out for dinner with four friends who live in the same household, a scenario justified by the model as she lives alone and can therefore join someone else's support bubble

Awkward! After reflecting on the comments made during the recording, Lottie later confessed to being 'young and dumb' and often forgetting her status as a 'public figure'

Grovelling: She said: 'Someone in the live popped up saying those words and I repeated them as a joke because I am not and would never condone spreading a virus as serious as this'

In recent weeks many reality stars and influencers have faced huge backlash for travelling abroad during the pandemic under the ruse it's 'for work.'

It comes after Lottie was forced to apologise after claiming she was a COVID-19 'superspreader' during an Instagram Live while London was still in Tier 2 restrictions last month.

The video was filmed while Lottie was out for dinner with four friends who live in the same household, a scenario justified by the model as she lives alone and can therefore join someone else's support bubble.

Living it up: The budding model was soaking up the sunshine with her pals in Mexico during her so-called 'business trip'

Having a good time? It also comes after Lottie revealed she is pansexual during a candid Q&A session on Instagram in November

After reflecting on the comments made during the recording, Lottie later confessed to being 'young and dumb' and often forgetting her status as a 'public figure.'

In an apology posted to Instagram, she said: 'I just wanted to come on here and say I am so sorry for saying I was a super-spreader.

'Someone in the live popped up saying those words and I repeated them as a joke because I am not and would never condone spreading a virus as serious as this.

'I was out for dinner with four friends, three of which are in the same household and under the government guidelines  as I live alone  I am allowed a support bubble of four.

Confession:Media personality Lottie, who famously dated MIC hunk Alex Mytton, 29, in 2016, made the reveal when one fan asked her if she would ever date a girl

Open: The beauty responded via video: 'I'm pansexual so I don't really mind... any gender. It kinda changes every day as well. It depends on who I meet'

Jovial: Lottie was certainly in high spirits as she enjoyed the luxuries of the yacht with her pals during a fun-filled afternoon on sunbathing

Playful: The star supposedly jetted abroad for a business trip at a time when most of the UK have seen their holidays cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic

'I understand this has upset and offended a lot of people and I want to apologise for making such an insensitive joke.

'I am still young and dumb and learning. I sometimes forget that I am a public figure and during these crazy and uncertain times I should have been more careful with my words.'

It also comes after Lottie revealed she is pansexual during a candid Q&A session on Instagram in November.

Media personality Lottie, who famously dated MIC hunk Alex Mytton, 29, in 2016, made the reveal when one fan asked her if she would ever date a girl.

The beauty responded via video: 'I'm pansexual so I don't really mind... any gender. It kinda changes every day as well. It depends on who I meet.

A pansexual person is attracted to someone or falls in love with them regardless of their biological sex or gender identity.

When in doubt... dance it out! Lottie slipped into the colourful two-piece with a pink bucket hat as she danced around the boat with her pals

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In his first hours as president, will aim to strike at the heart of President Donald Trumps policy legacy, signing a series of executive actions that reverse his predecessors orders on immigration, climate change and handling of the pandemic.

Biden on Wednesday will end construction on Trumps border wall, end the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization, and revoke the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, aides said Tuesday. The new president will sign the orders almost immediately after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, pivoting quickly from his pared-down inauguration ceremony to enacting his agenda.

The 15 executive actions are an attempt to essentially rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office  and each signed just one. But Biden, facing the debilitating coronavirus pandemic, is intent on demonstrating a sense of urgency and competence that he argues has been missing under his predecessor.

I think the most important thing to say is that tomorrow starts a new day, said Jeff Zients, Biden's choice to lead a new White House office that will coordinate the federal government's revamped response to the pandemic.





ALSO READ: Joe Biden inauguration LIVE: US set to rejoin WHO, Paris climate accord

The orders reach well beyond the pandemic. Biden intends to order a review of all Trump regulations and executive actions that are deemed damaging to the environment or public health. He will order federal agencies to prioritize racial equity and review policies that reenforce systemic racism. He will revoke a Trump order that sought to exclude noncitizens from the census, and will order federal employees to take an ethics pledge that commits them to upholding the independence of the Justice Department.

Susan Rice, Biden's incoming domestic policy adviser, said the new president would also revoke the just-issued report of Trumps 1776 Commission to promote "patriotic education."

These actions will be followed by dozens more in the next 10 days, aides said, as Biden looks to redirect the country without having to go through a Senate that Democrats control by the narrowest margin.

Notably, the opening actions did not include immediate steps to rejoin the Iran nuclear accord, which Trump abandoned and Biden has pledged to reimplement. Jen Psaki, the incoming White House press secretary, said that while they were not included in Bidens Day One orders, the new president will in the coming days revoke the Pentagons ban on military service by transgender Americans as well as the so-called Mexico City policy, which bans U.S. funding for organizations that perform or refer women for abortion services.



ALSO READ: Biden's immigration bill proposes to scrap country cap, to help IT in India

Psaki said the actions to be taken Wednesday were focused on providing immediate relief to Americans.

In another effort to signal a return to pre-Trump times, Psaki said she would hold a news briefing late Wednesday in a symbol of the administrations commitment to transparency. Trump's White House had all but abandoned the practice of briefing reporters daily.

Biden will sign the actions during his first visit to the Oval Office in four years. Since then, presidential order actions were often marked by clumsy announcements and confusion. In their first days in office, Trumps team was forced to rewrite executive orders by court order and aides took days to figure out how to use the White House intercom to alert press about events. The repeatedly canceled plans to hype new building programs  dubbed Infrastructure week  became a national punchline. Biden aides, by contrast, are aiming to demonstrate they are up for the job right out of the gate.

Biden senior aides, led by deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed and campaign policy chief Stef Feldman, began plotting out the executive action plans in November, just days after Biden won the presidency and drafting began in December. The final documents were reviewed by career staff at the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel in recent weeks before Bidens swearing-in to ensure they would pass legal muster.

Bidens team was set begin assuming the reins of power even before the Marine Band finished its rendition of Hail to the Chief after the new president takes the oath of office.

Aides were due to begin entering the White House complex at the stroke of noon  when Biden officially assumes the office  to begin overseeing national security roles. The urgency was hasten by concerns about security around the Inauguration after the US Capitol insurrection.

Covid-19 restrictions, along with tight security surrounding the Inauguration were severely curtailing the number of aides in Bidens West Wing. Aides, one official said, were told to pack snacks to eat in their offices because of pandemic protocols.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Admiral Art McDonald, then commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, gives a media briefing in Halifax on July 11, 2019. McDonald is the new chief of the defence staff, having taken over from Gen. Jonathan Vance on Jan. 14, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)

Navy Commander Will Inherit Some Challenges as Canadas New Defence Chief

Admiral Art McDonald, the first naval commander to lead the Canadian military in decades, will inherit some challenges in his new role, not the least of which is the ongoing effort to build a fleet of new warships, which has been fraught with delays and cost overruns.

McDonald took the reins from Gen. Jonathan Vance on Jan. 14 as the next chief of the defence staff in a ceremony that was kept low-key due to the pandemic.

Retired lieutenant-general Guy Thibault became familiar with McDonald while Thibault was vice chief of the defence staff from 2013 to 2016.

[Hes] a very smart man, very thoughtful, Thibault said in an interview. I think hes got a very nice personality, very congenial, a leader I think folks love to work with, a team player. I think those are all great skills to have.

Rob Huebert, professor of political science at the University of Calgary, believes McDonald has the right stuff.

Art is not only a very good manager and strategic thinker, but he is also a thinker, Huebert said in an interview. Given his personality, given his intellect, hes probably one of the very best choices that we could have.

Huebert said McDonald will face a challenging environment regarding the procurement of navy vessels. The six Arctic and offshore patrol ships are still being built, but new surface combatant warships and submarines must follow.

The Liberal government has earmarked $56 billion to build a fleet of 15 new surface combatant warships, but defence experts fear the final cost could be far higher. The Parliamentary Budget Officer is scheduled to deliver a cost assessment of the frigate replacement program in early 2021.

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) also has urgent needs. The government is spending billions to extend the life of its aging CF-18s and buying second-hand F-18 fighter jets from Australia until the entire Canadian fleet can be modernized, which is not expected until 2032. Meanwhile, Ottawa has contributed hundreds of millions to the development of the F-35 fighter jet to stay at the table as a prospective buyer, without having made any decision to buy F-35s to replace the CF-18s.

I just dont know how much longer we can go on without replacements for the CF-18s, Huebert said. And that has been so badly politicized, with the Liberals saying no F-35s even though almost every single one of our allies, especially our allies in NATO, have in fact gone with the F-35 with its strengths and weaknesses.

McDonald, who turns 54 this year, is the first naval officer to command the military since 1993. He became commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in June 2019, preceded by a long naval career that included overseeing part of Canadas humanitarian response to the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

Thibault, now president of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, said McDonalds prior tenure as commander of Maritime Forces Pacific is valuable.

McDonald had the experience of commanding on the west coast of Canada. We often claim that were a Pacific nation and were interested in whats going on in Asia-Pacific, but very few Canadian forces leaders actually have a lot of operational experience in that part of the world.

The RCN was an important component of the Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) defence policy issued by the Liberal government in 2017. However, Huebert expects McDonald will walk a political tightrope with a Prime Ministers Office that likes to micromanage but lacks a foreign policy framework that adequately addresses Russia and China.

If they allow Admiral McDonald to bring his full skills and talents to the forefront and give him some latitude to do what SSE said it was going to do, I think that well see a very successful tenure for him, he said.

Its going to be a question though with the impact of COVID, with the impact of the expenditures that have gone on, what happens and how much room and latitude he is going to actually have.

McDonald seems to align well with a Liberal government that removed in all thy sons command from the national anthem to make it gender-neutral. The RCN dropped the masculine term of seaman in favour of sailor in August 2020, an initiative McDonald launched.

The change was supported by over 75 percent of the more than 18,000 RCN members and members of the public who responded, but some unwelcome responses brought harsh criticism from McDonald.

Let me be clear: Such negative and in some cases illegal sentiments and expressions are unequivocally unacceptable, he said in a statement at the time.

Further, those embracing them are not welcome in the RCN/CAF where we have zero tolerance for racist, anti-Semitic, misogynistic, and discriminatory behaviours of any kind in our ranks.

Vance, who served for 39 years, including long assignments in Germany, the Balkans, and Afghanistan, announced his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces in July 2020 after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rejected his candidacy to become NATOs senior military officer.

Thirty-three-year veteran Craig Baines has taken over as vice-admiral of the RCN following McDonalds promotion.
Whose Side is God On? An Inauguration Day Reflection, by Carmen Joy Imes

Four years ago, President Donald Trump took the oath of office and all over America hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in protest, some of them violent, all of them deeply concerned. Christians from Catholic, mainline, Black, and Brown churches expressed shock and concern over the appointment of a man who seemed to delight in exploiting women and to cozy up to dictators while snubbing America's allies. They feared that the most vulnerable members of our cities, especially immigrants and people of color, would be further marginalized by an administration aimed at the angst of blue-collar workers in rural America who were watching their way of life disappear. Meanwhile, many Evangelicals celebrated the possibility of greater religious freedom, conservative appointments to the judiciary, and legislation that upheld traditional family values and protected the unborn. Charismatic prophets heralded President Trump as God's man for the job.

Today, President Joe Biden will take the oath of office. Those troubled by the outgoing administration are breathing a sigh of relief, hoping for four years of police and prison reform, support for schools, greater equality women and minorities, and better cooperation in international concerns such as immigration and climate change. It remains to be seen how President Trump's supporters will respond, but the breach of the US Capitol building two weeks ago is still a vivid memory. Evangelicals who celebrated a Trump presidency are nervous about losing their freedom -- some desperate enough to break past police barriers to make their voices heard. The Coronavirus pandemic has already curtailed religious gatherings. Evangelicals fear that a Biden presidency will mean more pandemic-related restrictions that will cripple businesses and prevent the church from being the church. They fear a legislative agenda that will make it more difficult for faith-based organizations to live by their values.

Our nation is deeply divided. Many families are split right down the middle over politics.

So whose side is God on?

Scripture provides a crystal clear answer to this question. Tucked away in the book of Joshua is a brief episode that should stop every one of us in our tracks. It stopped Joshua. It stopped me.

First, some context. Moses died. Before he did so, he passed the baton to Joshua as Israel's new leader. The people have just crossed the Jordan River and are preparing to take up residence in the land God promised them. Their first battle will be at Jericho.

Joshua is alone, apparently scouting the territory around Jericho, when he encounters a man with sword drawn. Joshua asks him a logical question:

"Are you for us or for our enemies?" (Joshua 5:13 NIV)

The answer comes loud and clear:

"Neither," he replied, "but as the commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." (Joshua 5:14 NIV)

Neither?! This is remarkable. Joshua is the authorized leader of the only nation with whom Yahweh ("the LORD" in English translations) has made a covenant at Sinai. He has instructed them to enter the land and drive out its inhabitants. He has promised them this land. And yet -- with all these things in their favor, the commander of Yahweh's armies will not pledge exclusive loyalty to the Israelites.

God is not on their side.

And he is not on ours.

God does not take sides. Not then and not now. He acts of his own free will. We are the ones who must decide if we will be on God's side. He refuses to back human agendas. He calls us to surrender in obedience to his will.

Joshua gets this. He falls on his face before the angel of Yahweh, asking if God has a command he needs to fulfill.

If God was not unequivocally on the side of the Israelites -- the covenant people he rescued from Egypt and led through the wilderness to the land he promised -- if God is not on their side, then God is not on ours. He does not side with the United States (or modern day Israel, for that matter!), and he does not side with the Republicans or the Democrats. God does not take sides. Instead, he asks our full and complete obedience. Our allegiance to anyone other than God is idolatry.

The truth of the angel's words is borne out in the chapters that follow. Joshua and his soldiers win their battle with Jericho, having followed God's unconventional instructions for war (Joshua 6). Feeling cocky, they attack the next city with only part of their army (Joshua 7). They lose miserably. God does not fight for them because a single Israelite man has violated God's strict instructions regarding the battle at Jericho. Achan keeps some of the plunder for himself, hiding it under his tent, rather than devoting everything to God. This battle was never meant to make the Israelites rich. They were not to fight out of greed, but out of obedience. The moment they forget this, they lose their divine protection.

God knows what's under the tent, then and now.

He's asking us to clean house. To search our hearts. To release our hold on what does not rightly belong to us.

God did not lose this election. Neither did he win. He wasn't running for office.

Joshua 5 offers American Christians the foundation for a renewed political theology, one not tied to a political party or a certain candidate, but marked by deep humility. We must stop presuming that God is on our side, supporting our favorite candidate. It's the other way around. This scene issues an invitation for us to bow before the presence of the only one who deserves our allegiance. This is the only way forward.

Condor Gold (AIM: CNR- TSE: COG) CEO Mark Child joined Steve Darling from Proactive with news the company has added a second drill rig on their La India Project, in Nicaragua. Child telling Proactive, this rig will help speed up infill drilling on their current 4000-metre program. The programmes objectives are to tighten the drill hole spacing within the planned high-grade starter pits and the results of this drilling will provide the sample density required to finalize pit designs and mine schedules ahead of production.

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Brookings Institutions president will discuss nations foreign policy challenges

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Retired diplomat and four-star U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, president of the Brookings Institution, will discuss foreign policy challenges facing the United States during a virtual discussion next week hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondales Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

The discussion, part of the institutes Understanding Our New World series via Zoom, is at noon Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Allen has been president of Brookings, a nonprofit public policy institution based in Washington, D.C., since 2017. The institutions research projects feature more than 300 scholars with various viewpoints in areas such as foreign policy, economics and governance.

Allens nearly four-decade military career included commanding 150,000 of NATOs International Security Force and U.S. military forces in Afghanistan. He later was a senior adviser to the secretary of defense on Middle East security and then a special envoy to the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, both under President Barack Obama.

Remarkable career

Gen. John Allen is a hugely impressive, even iconic American leader, John T. Shaw, Simon Institute director, said. We are eager to learn more about Gen. Allens remarkable career and his views about the many security challenges facing the United States.

The discussion will also include Allens aspirations for Brookings and his work there.

Registration is open

Registration for the free Zoom meeting is available in advance. After completing registration, participants will receive an email confirmation with information about joining the meeting, along with the meeting ID and password.

Participants can submit a question to Allen by email at paulsimoninstitute@siu.edu or by including it in the Questions and Comments section on the registration form.

More information on the Simon Institutes events is available at paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/event-information/.
A federal judge has awarded more than $1 million in damages to another veteran who says he was sexually abused by a former physician assistant at a Veterans Administration hospital in Kansas.

Its the third time since November that U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree has ruled against the government in cases charging the government with medical malpractice at the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center, KCUR-FM reported.

The veterans allege they were subjected to unnecessary genital exams and other physical abuse by Mark Wisner, who was a physician assistant at the Leavenworth VA hospital from 2008 to 2014.

Wisner was convicted of aggravated sexual battery and aggravated criminal assault in 2017 and sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison.

Crabtree ruled that Leavenworth VA wholly failed to comply with the VAs policy on reporting and tracking allegations of sexual misconduct at its facilities.

More than 80 veterans settled their lawsuits against the government in 2019 for $7 million, but several others decided to take their cases to trial.

In November, Crabtree awarded $538,000 in damages to one veteran and more than $1.5 million to another.

Related:

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Virginia Kansas
United States President-elect Joe Biden is hours away from assuming office as his inauguration ceremony is about to kick off on January 20. Shortly after occupying the Oval Office, Biden will restore the US to the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation, according to his aides.

As soon as Biden takes charge, he will sign 17 orders and do away with outgoing President Donald Trump's policies on immigration, environment, economy and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden will end Trump's ban on visitors from several Muslim-majority countries and halt the construction of the US-Mexico border wall, his aides told international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Biden "will take action -- not just to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration -- but also to start moving our country forward," they said in a statement."

These actions are bold, begin the work of following through on President-elect Biden's promises to the American people, and, importantly, fall within the constitutional role for the President."

He will also set a mask mandate on federal properties to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, restore protections of valuable nature reserves removed by Donald Trump and seek freezes on evictions and protection for millions behind on their mortgages due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He intends to send a bill to Congress to revive immigration policies and pave the path for undocumented immigrants living in the US to gain citizenship.

Jeff Zients, the new president's point-man for fighting the pandemic, said Wednesday "starts a new day, a new, different approach to managing the country's response to COVID-19 crisis."

Also read: Donald Trump leaves White House for last time, wishes good luck to new administration

Also read: Good news for H-1B holders! Biden's new immigration bill to remove per country cap
DarkMarket Taken Down

A multinational operation also involving Europol, UK and US authorities has put a halt to illegal trade valued at over 125 million. DarkMarket, the world's largest illegal marketplace on the dark web, has been taken offline in an international operation involving Germany, Australia, Denmark, Moldova, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the USA.

Europol supported the takedown with specialist operational analysis and coordinated the cross-border collaborative effort of the countries involved.

At the time of its closure, DarkMarket had almost half a million users and more than 2,400 vendors selling a broad range of illicit merchandise. Among the goods advertised for sale were stolen credit card details, illegal drugs, counterfeit money, anonymous SIM cards, and malware.

Sellers on the Dark Web have been advertising Covid-19 vaccines, asking for bitcoin payments and then not delivering the goods, cybersecurity researchers at leading IT software firm Check Point found.

The vendors on the marketplace mainly traded all kinds of drugs and sold counterfeit money, stolen or counterfeit credit card details, anonymous SIM cards and malware. The Central Criminal Investigation Department in the German city of Oldenburg arrested an Australian citizen who is the alleged operator of DarkMarket near the German-Danish border over the weekend.The investigation, which was led by the cybercrime unit of the Koblenz Public Prosecutor's Office, allowed officers to locate and close the marketplace, switch off the servers and seize the criminal infrastructure, more than 20 servers in Moldova and Ukraine supported by the German Federal Criminal Police office (BKA). The stored data will give investigators new leads to further investigate moderators, sellers, and buyers.

One of Europol's initiatives is to create a coordinated law enforcement approach to tackle crime on the dark web. This involves law enforcement agencies from across and outside the EU and other relevant partners and organisations, such as Eurojust.

To achieve this goal, Europols European Cybercrime Centre has established a dedicated Dark Web Team to work together with EU partners and law enforcement across the globe to reduce the size of this underground illegal economy.

The team aims to enhance joint technical and investigative actions, organise training and capacity-building initiatives, together with prevention and awareness-raising campaigns.

Eurpol claim that this s a 360 strategy against criminality on the Dark Web and the scale of the operation demonstrates a worldwide commitment to prosecute criminals who use of the Dark Web.

Europol: ITPro: CNBC: Beckers HealthIT: Infosecurity Magazine:

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For nearly six minutes, Amanda Gorman spoke to newly-inaugurated President Joe Biden and the nation Wednesday.

Gorman, the nation's first youth poet laureate, read a poem that she composed for the ceremony, called "The Hill We Climb." She summoned images dire and triumphant as she called out to the world even as we grieved, we grew.

Ahead of the inauguration, Gorman said that the insurrection at the Capitol building on Jan. 6, helped spur her completion of the poem.

That day gave me a second wave of energy to finish the poem, she said. The poem isnt blind. It isnt turning your back to the evidence of discord and division.

Gorman is 22, by far the youngest inaugural poet since Robert Frost read for John F. Kennedy in 1961. She quoted biblical scripture and echoed the oratory of Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. among others as she recited her poem at President Biden's inauguration on Wednesday.

"I was just filled with pride for my family, for her family, for her friends and for her," Bertha Gaffney Gorman, her grandmother, said.

"You see she grew up in the segregated South," she continued. "Her father had little formal education, but made sure his children knew just how important it was."

This is not the first time the recent Harvard graduate has performed on a big stage. She read on the Fourth of July 2019 with the Boston Pops and at the 2018 inauguration of Harvard President Larry Bacow.
The Catholic Church has made what is believed to be its highest ever payout to a victim of sexual abuse after church lawyers forced a 52-year-old man to give harrowing evidence in court about his rape by a priest in the 1970s.

Peter* will receive $2.45 million plus legal costs to compensate him for abuse by teacher and priest Bertram Adderley, who groomed and raped him between 1977 and 1980 when he was aged 10 to 12.

The church has settled a child sex abuse case for a record sum. Credit:Darrian Traynor

Lawyers involved in seeking restitution for victims of sexual abuse say they believe the settlement is up to $1 million higher than any payout previously awarded to someone suing the Catholic Church.

The church is facing hundreds of claims after a number of jurisdictions removed rules that prevented people going to court to seek compensation for historical sexual abuse, even if they had previously accepted payouts from church-run schemes such as the Melbourne Response.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly pardoned Death Row Records co-founder and former drug kingpin Michael Harris, who was also known as "Harry O."

The presidential pardon came after a secret campaign by rapper Snoop Dogg, according to a Newsmax report.

Snoop Dogg included Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and justice reform advocates to convince the outgoing president to make the move.

Reports said that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has advised Trump against approving the pardon. However, Trump issued the pardon on his last full day in office.

Snoop Dogg rapped under Harris' record label in the 1990s with other rappers like Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur.

Related story: Trump Pardons Former Security Adviser Michael Flynn Despite Guilty Plea for Lying to FBI

Harris Free

Harris is set to be released from a California federal prison on Tuesday after spending 32 years behind bars. He is now 59-years-old.

He was sentenced to prison for attempted murder and cocaine trafficking, according to a Daily Mail report.

Harris' family and friends arrived at Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution in a black Rolls Royce to welcome the former drug kingpin as he was released after being imprisoned since 1988. Harris was due to last until 2028.

Alice Johnson, who was part of the campaign for Harris' pardon, recalled the rapper asking her to tell Trump that he appreciated what he has done to some of their brothers, even if he does not release Harris.

Johnson said that he was asked by Snoop Dogg to convey the message to the president, which she was able to do about two weeks ago, according to a New York Post report

Harris has reportedly reinvented himself as an activist during his time inside the prison.

Advocates said that Snoop Dogg told them that they needed more leaders like him to get out and help lead the younger generation.

Snoop also asked former music producer and federal prisoner Weldon Angelos' help for the pardon campaign. Angelos was also known to be pardoned by Trump last month.

Angelos said that Snoop brought the case to him and he brought Johnson on board to help him with the case.

Harris Profile

Harris was known to run a multi-million-dollar rap music empire while spending sentence in prison after founding the parent company for Death Row Records for a $1.5 million investment.

Aside from his dealings with drug cartels, Harris ran some legitimate businesses, which include a theatre company. Denzel Washington benefited from this theatre company as this is where he got his break.

During his time inside the prison, he claimed to have reform himself while behind bars.

"Over 30 years ago, I was part of the problem. However, over the years I have repeatedly proven myself to be part of the solution," Harris was quoted on The Sun report.

Meanwhile, Trump is also reportedly pardoning rapper Lil Wayne after the rapper pleaded guilty to possessing a gold-plated handgun when his chartered jet landed in Miami in December 2019.

Kodak Black is also known to be included in the pardon. He was sentenced to 48 months in prison on federal weapons charges in 2019.

Read also: Trump Will Likely Be GOP Presidential Nominee in 2024, Poll Shows
For at least three weeks, Beijing knew about the severity of the CCP virus outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, but downplayed the crisis and suppressed any information at odds with the official narrative that the virus was containable. This coverup allowed the virus to spread beyond Chinas borders, sparking a global pandemic.

Click on infographic to enlarge.

Internal documents obtained by The Epoch Times show that patients with CCP virus-like symptoms started appearing in Wuhan hospitals from September 2019, suggesting the disease may have been silently spreading around the city in the autumn. Authorities were aware of the outbreak by at least late December and publicly confirmed its existence on Dec. 31, 2019.

For the next 19 days, Chinese authorities insisted the disease was preventable and controllable and that there was little to no risk that it could spread among humans. The World Health Organization (WHO) echoed those statements.

Doctors who tried to warn others about the outbreak were punished for rumor mongering. On Dec. 30, Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at the Wuhan Central Hospital, shared a report about seven SARS-like cases emerging from a local seafood market in a private chat group on the Chinese social media app WeChat. On Jan. 3, local police reprimanded him along with seven other medical professionals for spreading rumors online.

Meanwhile, Chinese social media platforms scrubbed references to the virus and comments critical of the regimes handling of the outbreak from December. Propaganda organs issued at least 18 directives to domestic news outlets in January ordering them to limit coverage of the outbreak and stick to official statements.

It was not until Jan. 20 that the Chinese regime confirmed human-to-human transmission. Three days later, the first containment measures were implemented through a lockdown of Wuhan.

But it was too late. Before the lockdown, around 5 million residents had already left the city, seeding the virus across China and the world.

Had the Chinese regime enacted containment measures three weeks earlier, the number of cases could have been reduced by 95 percent, according to a study published in March.

By Jan. 20, when Chinese authorities admitted to human-to-human transmission, the disease had already spread to at least 18 countries and regions. By the time Wuhan was locked down on Jan. 23, outbreaks were growing in at least 24 countries and regionsnearly all seeded by travelers from the city.

On Jan. 30, the WHO declared the outbreak a global health emergency, though it did not recommend that countries impose travel restrictions. The next day, the United States announced it would close its borders to non-American travelers from China.

The WHO did not declare a global pandemic until March 11. By then, there were more than 118,000 recorded cases across 114 countries and territories.
NEW YORK (AP)  At age 22, poet Amanda Gorman, chosen to read at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, already has a history of writing for official occasions.

I have kind of stumbled upon this genre. Its been something I find a lot of emotional reward in, writing something I can make people feel touched by, even if its just for a night, says Gorman. The Los Angeles resident has written for everything from a July 4 celebration featuring the Boston Pops Orchestra to the inauguration at Harvard University, her alma mater, of school president Larry Bacow.

When she reads at Bidens inauguration Wednesday, she was continuing a tradition  for Democratic presidents  that includes such celebrated poets as Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. The latters On the Pulse of Morning, written for the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton, went on to sell more than 1 million copies when published in book form. Recent readers include poets Elizabeth Alexander and Richard Blanco, both of whom Gorman has been in touch with.

The three of us are together in mind, body and spirit, she says.

Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in memory, and she has made news before. In 2014, she was named the first Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, and three years later she became the countrys first National Youth Poet Laureate. She has appeared on MTV; written a tribute to Black athletes for Nike; and has a two-book deal with Viking Childrens Books. The first work, the picture book Change Sings, comes out later this year.

Gorman says she was contacted late last month by the Biden inaugural committee. She has known numerous public figures, including former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former first lady Michelle Obama, but says she will be meeting the Bidens for the first time. The Bidens, apparently, have been aware of her: Gorman says the inaugural officials told her she had been recommended by the incoming first lady, Jill Biden.

She is calling her inaugural poem The Hill We Climb while otherwise declining to preview any lines. Gorman says she was not given specific instructions on what to write, but was encouraged to emphasize unity and hope over denigrating anyone or declaring ding, dong, the witch is dead over the departure of President Donald Trump.

In this image provided by Sun Literary Arts, Amanda Gorman, 22, is poses for a photo on Jan. 14, 2019. The country's next inaugural poet is an old pro at ceremonial occasions  and she's only 22. Amanda Gorman has written for everything from a July 4 celebration featuring the Boston Pops Orchestra to the inauguration at Harvard University for school president Larry Bacon. (Kelia Anne/Sun Literary Arts via AP)AP

The siege last week of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to overturn the election was a challenge for keeping a positive tone, but also an inspiration. Gorman says she has been given 5 minutes to read, and before what she described during an interview as the Confederate insurrection of Jan. 6 she had only written about 3 1-2 minutes worth.

The final length runs to about 6 minutes.

That day gave me a second wave of energy to finish the poem, says Gorman, adding that she will not refer directly to Jan. 6, but will touch upon it. She said last weeks events did not upend the poem she had been working on because they didnt surprise her.

The poem isnt blind, she says. It isnt turning your back to the evidence of discord and division.

In other writings, Gorman has honored her Black ancestors, acknowledged and reveled in her own vulnerability (Glorious in my fragmentation, she has written) and confronted social issues. Her poem In This Place (An American Lyric), written for the 2017 inaugural reading of U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, condemns the racist march in Charlottesville, Virginia ( tiki torches string a ring of flame) and holds up her art form as a force for democracy:

Tyrants fear the poet.

Now that we know it

we cant blow it.

We owe it

to show it

not slow it

Gorman has rare status as a poet, and has dreams of other ceremonies. She would love to read at the 2028 Olympics, scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, and in 2037 wouldnt mind finding herself in an even more special position at the presidential inauguration  as the new chief executive.

Im going to tell Biden that Ill be back, she said with a laugh.

An eight-year-old ailing girl flying to Mumbai from Lucknow with parents died in a hospital where she was rushed after the plane made an emergency landing at the Nagpur airport on Tuesday morning, police officials said.

The deceased, a resident of Saherikhas village in Siddharth Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, was being taken to Mumbai for medical treatment by her parents by a private airline flight from Lucknow, said the officials of the Sonegaon police station.

The Times of India reports that officials said the girl suffered a cardiac arrest mid-air. The parents appeared financially backward and the father could barely explain the girl's condition, they added.

Officials said the girl was anaemic and the father had not disclosed this. Had he done so, they said the child would not have been allowed on the flight as patients below 8 to 10 grams of haemoglobin are not permitted air journeys, and the girl's levels were at a meager 2.5 grams.

Her health condition deteriorated during the journey and the plane made an emergency landing at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport here, they said. She was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital, where she died, the officials told PTI.

A medical team from Kingsway Hospital, which has a tie-up with Nagpur Airport, attended to the girl as soon as the plane landed, TOI reported.

Kingsways emergency medical therapist Dr Mohammed Ahteshamoddin told TOI the girl was already on automated external defibrillators when they went inside the plane. The passenger was taken in an cardiac life support ambulance to GMCH for further evaluation. GMCH doctors declared her brought dead. She was unconscious, cold and not responsive. Her condition was serious, he said.

The exact cause of her death has not yet been determined. A case of accidental death was registered by the Sonegaon police, under whose jurisdiction the airport falls, the officials added.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-19 19:36:28|Editor: huaxia

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The Guard of Honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) take part in the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War on the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, June 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- "In developing China-Russia strategic cooperation, we see no limit to how far this cooperation can go, and no forbidden zone," a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke highly of China-Russia relations during his annual press conference on Monday.

China highly appreciates Lavrov's positive remarks on the bilateral relations. Indeed, China and Russia are united and their friendship is unbreakable, Hua told a press conference, adding that in 2020, China-Russia relations stood the tests of a once-in-a-century pandemic and unprecedented global changes, and achieved new and remarkable results.

Hua said that 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, the two sides agreed to take the opportunity to fully implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, to renew their shared commitment to everlasting friendship and win-win cooperation, and to promote cooperation from a higher starting point, with a wider scope and at a deeper level, Hua said. 
President-elect Joe Biden is joined his wife Jill Biden as they celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Inauguration Day in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

Biden, Harris Attend Church on Inauguration Day

President-elect Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and her husband Douglas Emhoff attended a church service on Inauguration Day.

The quartet were joined at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle by the leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Reps. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.

Biden and Harris are scheduled to be sworn in around noon. He is supposed to give an inaugural speech to the small crowd attending the ceremony, as some 25,000 National Guard troops are stationed in the nations capital in a bid to prevent a repeat of the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (R) and her husband Doug Emhoff attend services at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her husband Paul Pelosi attend services at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), left, and his wife Elaine Chao, along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), in background, attend services at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Members of the National Guard gather near the U.S. Capitol before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Washington on January 20, 2021. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

Guards stand at the west front of the Capitol before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

Incoming White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on CNN earlier Wednesday that Bidens inaugural speech would be forward-looking.

So hes going to talk about the problems were facing, the resolve of the public to come together, the power of coming together and unifying, she said.

Afterwards, Biden and Harris will review the troops outside the U.S. Capitol and visit Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Biden also plans on signing a flurry of executive orders before the end of the day.

President Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning. He predicted the success of Bidens administration, saying, They have the foundation to do something really spectacular. While Trump did not join the inauguration ceremonies, Vice President Mike Pence took part.
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP)  The New Jersey man accused of killing a hunter is in custody in Pennsylvania following an extensive manhunt.

A police officer in Bensalem, Pa., was driving when he recognized Shawn Massey, 38, of Gibbsboro, on Tuesday, authorities said. He was taken into custody without incident.

Shawn Massey, 38, of Gibbsboro (Camden County Prosecutor's Office)Camden County Prosecutor's Office

Authorities believe Massey killed Joseph Bottino, 54, of Gloucester Township, in Pine Hill, N.J., on Dec. 23. Family members told police Bottino was known to hunt in the area.

A medical examiner determined Bottino had died of multiple stab wounds and blunt force injuries.

When detectives went to speak to Massey, his relatives reported him missing and said they had not heard from him since Dec. 23. He was formally charged with homicide on Saturday.

Massey was being in the Bucks County Correctional Facility pending an extradition hearing. It could not be determined whether he has retained a lawyer.

More:

83-year-old man dies after New Years Eve home invasion in Philadelphia

5 charged, 4 wounded in shootings in Pennsylvanias Poconos
Source: Reuters

India, the worlds third biggest oil importer and consumer, on Tuesday complained that recent output cuts by some OPEC nations had created uncertainty for customers and led to a surge in prices.

Top exporter Saudi Arabia has pledged additional voluntary output cuts of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in February and March under a deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including Russia, a group known as OPEC+.

A few months back we all were discussing about consumption-centric economic revival, demand revival, and we are supposed to restrict our production cuts and gradually ramp up the production by January - but in contradiction to that, now we all are controlling the oil production, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said at an energy conference organised by the Atlantic Council.

Pradhan said the efforts to cut output, coordinated by OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, were creating confusion for consumer countries.

This kind of scenario will push us to more alternative methods of energy sourcing ... if the producing country will not recognise our aspirations, then innovative new business models are bound to come up.

Barkindo said at the same conference that the steps taken were within the framework of last years deal to cut output by about 9.7 million bpd, and were aimed at keeping oil markets stable on a sustainable basis.

Pradhan also said India was engaged on energy with the United States in many ways, and this would continue under the administration of Joe Biden, who becomes president on Wednesday.

Change of guard is not unusual in a democracy. India will continue to have a good relationship with the U.S., including on the energy front, he said.
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Fees for Australia's most expensive private schools have blown out to almost $500,000 despite the financial disaster of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Two schools in NSW and Victoria are now charging more than $40,000 a year for Year 12 tuition - SCEGGS Darlinghurst in Sydney and Melbourne's Geelong Grammar.

Geelong Grammar remains the most expensive private school in the country - charging $42,792 for students in their final year of high school.

Geelong Grammar remains the most expensive private school in Australia - charging $42,792 for students in Year 12

Queensland's heftiest fees are charged by Brisbane Grammar School - where parents will have to pay $29,450 in 2021

Only 20 per cent of NSW private schools have frozen their fees, according to recent analysis by education payment provider Edstart.

Excluding extra costs like uniform and textbooks, the average parent enrolling their child in a private school in NSW is expected to fork out $443,000 between when they enter kindergarten and reach the end of Year 12.

All the schools charging more than $30,000 a year are in Australia's two most populous states.

Edstart said only one in 10 schools in Australia have cut fees despite even the richest families feeling the pinch of the Covid-19 crisis.

Queensland's heftiest fees are charged by Brisbane Grammar School - where parents will have to pay $29,450 in 2021.

In Western Australia, Presbyterian Ladies' College topped the state leaderboard charging $28,992.

The King's School in Sydney charges $38,284. The school's entrance in Parramatta is pictured

Principals defended the ever-increasing cost as necessary because of the higher costs associated with paying their staff.

'There are parents who work three jobs to keep their children at one of those schools schools are very aware of the pressures on parents,' Association of Independent Schools NSW chief executive Dr Geoff Newcombe told The Daily Telegraph.

'There is a direct relationship between decisions schools have made between fees and salary increases.'
SCHENECTADY  The local NAACP is skipping Thursdays scheduled community meeting with the lone remaining superintendent of schools candidate, as an activist with children in the district contends the search process was flawed from the start.

"We're actually disappointed with the way that they've done this process, we feel like they have no respect for parents, teachers, of the community, so we're not going to participate in a rubber stamp of a candidate they've chosen already," said Odo Butler, the outgoing president of the Schenectady branch of the NAACP. "I doubt that anyone in the community really played a critical role in the choosing of a superintendent."

On Wednesday Anita Murphy, district superintendent of Capital Region BOCES, the agency overseeing the search, defended the process so far noting that its exactly what she outlined a few months back to board members - who she asserted have been "extremely transparent."

This is usually the point in the process where the community is involved, added Murphy.I understand that the community in every search wants to be involved but ultimately its the boards decision about who the next superintendent is.

The search for a new leader comes at time when the district's last two superintendents have left under a cloud of controversy and on the heels of massive layoffs over the summer to cope with a nearly $29 million loss in state aid because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Acting Superintendent Aaron Bochniak, who took over in March when Larry Spring abruptly stepped down, did not apply for the job.

School Board members Bernice Rivera, Ann Reilly, Cathy Lewis and Princella Learry did not return calls Wednesday seeking comment.

Community Activist Jamaica Miles, who has children in the Schenectady school district, blasted the search.

There hasnt been total transparency with the community, with parents, with students..., said Miles. The entire process was flawed from the beginning starting with BOCES taking in the applicants and then making a decision as BOCES on who should go to the school board for consideration.

Mike Silvestri with the Schenectady Federation of Teachers(SFT) said Wednesday that the union will take part in the meetings.



The SFT has always advocated for as open a search as possible for transparency sake, and were happy with the hybrid search and understood it, but it is regrettable that weve gotten to a point where stakeholders are being brought in with only one candidate left, and we dont believe it was purposeful, said Silvestri.

Murphy said the one finalist, who she declined to identify, will participate Thursday in three virtual separate meetings online with two separate groups of people in the community and the other with school employees, all of whom were required to sign an confidentiality agreement to not speak publicly about the session.

BOCES will provide the participants with questions to ask the candidate, but Murphy said there will also be time for them to ask questions of their own.

"All I've asked them to do is to please type it in the chat because we don't want somebody to ask a question that's not lawful, " she added.

From there, representatives from the groups will have a chance to offer their feedback about the prospective candidate to board members.

She explained the board screened multiple applicants followed by a second round of more in-depth longer interviews. The panel then selected the two people they felt were the most qualified, only to have one of them later drop out, said Murphy.

Murphy has said city school officials could vote as early as February to appoint a new school superintendent -- and if negotiations go well announce their choice soon after that.
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A total of 1,891m were drilled at the so-called Tsenken N2 and N3 targets, while the geophysical survey identified two closely - spaced features that are likely to be the sulphide-rich centres of the target area

Barron told investors that the firm was sticking to its original plan of drilling Tsenken N1 target next

( ) ( ) (FRA:20Q) told investors that its on-going mobile MT (MMT) geophysical survey at its flagship lost Cities - Cutucu project in south-eastern Ecuador had identified the likely centre of the iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) system at the property.

A total of 1,891 metres (m) were drilled at the so-called Tsenken N2 and N3 targets, while the geophysical survey identified two closely - spaced features that are likely to be the sulphide-rich centres of the target area, around 1.5 kilometres (km) to the north of the drilling area.

"We're delighted that the MMT survey has identified the location of the possible core of the IOCG system related to the area that we were drilling at Tsenken N2 and N3," said Aurania CEO Dr Keith Barron in a statement.

"Without that scout drilling, we are unlikely to have recognized the relevance of the electrically conductive zone along trend of the vectors that we established in the Tsenken North area."

Barron told investors that the firm was sticking to its original plan of drilling Tsenken N1 target next.

"In parallel, we are fully integrating the new geophysical data from the MMT survey with our other exploration data to refine the target to the north of Tsenken N2/N3. Drilling is scheduled to start shortly at Tsenken N1."

Aurania is on the hunt for precious metals and copper in South America. Its Lost Cities - Cutucu project lies in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of south-eastern Ecuador.

Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com
New Delhi/Saharanpur, Jan 20 : Following the policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out searches at two places in Uttar Pradesh's Roorkee and Saharanpur on the premises linked to its own Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) R.K. Rishi, sources said.

Rishi has been named in a corruption case.

A CBI source related to the probe told IANS, "Multiple teams of CBI are carrying out searches at the residential premises of Rishi named in the corruption case in Roorkee and Saharanpur's Deoband." In much embarrassment, the CBI has registered a case of corruption against four of its officials and a few private persons.

In the FIR, the CBI alleged that the four officials who have been booked for corruption, had received bribes to extend favours to at least two private companies being probed for bank fraud.

Besides Rishi, the CBI has also booked Dy SP R.K. Sangwan, Inspector Kapil Dhankad and Stenographer Samir Kumar Singh.

Others named in the FIR include lawyers Arvind Kumar Gupta and Manohar Malik, Mandeep Kaur Dhillon, additional director of Shree Shyam Pulp and Board Mills Private Ltd. and Sujay and Uday Desai, directors of Frost International Private Ltd.

On January 14, the CBI carried out searches at 14 premises of the accused named in the FIR in Delhi, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut and Kanpur.

According to the CBI FIR, it has been alleged that in the matter of Shree Shyam Pulp and Board Mills, the previous investigating officer, Sangwan, allegedly offered and paid Rs 10 lakh in cash on behalf of the company's additional director to the inspector, who in turn shared confidential information related to the probe with Sangwan.

The FIR further stated that in January last year, the CBI had registered a case against Frost International and 14 others for alleged bank fraud involving about Rs 3,600 crore.

"Rishi allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh to the inspector on behalf of Desais for favours," it alleged.

It also alleged that Rishi received Rs 15 lakh twice through the two advocates to get favours for a Chandigarh-based company, being probed in a corruption case.

Dhankad received Rs 2.5 lakh from Gupta twice, for having brokered the deal through Rishi, the FIR read.

According to the FIR, the accused stenographer had also shared details of the investigation in many other cases, including confidential notes and directions, with the two accused DSPs, for monetary gain.
For four years, shes served the American people.

On Monday night, Laura Benanti said farewell to her Melania Trump impression.

Benanti, 41, a Tony-winning Broadway star (Gypsy) and TV and film actress who grew up in Kinnelon, has made regular appearances as the first lady on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

In her last appearance as first lady, Benantis Melania, who shes dubbed Benania, is back in her beloved New York  the Be Bestest city on Earth.

Being here make me feel, she says, which is something I dont normally do.

The shows resident Melania twirls around Times Square and launches into a number befitting Broadway. Except the people of New York  even Times Square Elmo  have some choice words for her.

Benanti gets to put her theater skills on full display as Melania sings of the Big Apple in a tune set to the melody of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Theres even a dance number (Melania watches).

I want to thank Laura Benanti for her service to a grateful nation, Montclairs Colbert said at the close of the segment.

Benantis Homeschool Musical special premiered last month on HBO Max, featuring high school students from New Jersey and across the country who responded to her viral request for songs from canceled school musicals. She is also set to appear in the upcoming HBO Max Gossip Girl reboot.

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter.
By ARITZ PARRA, The Associated Press

MADRID (AP)  A powerful explosion apparently caused by a gas leak ripped the facade off a residential building in central Madrid on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring at least two more, according to the mayor.

The first images and footage shared on social media showed a tower of smoke coming out from the six-story building and rubble scattered in Toledo Street, near the city center. Emergency crews could be seen aiding several people on the ground.

An injured man is taken in an ambulance following an explosion in downtown Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)AP

Mayor Jose Luis Martinez Almeida confirmed the two deaths and two injuries to reporters as he visited the site and said that the initial assessment was that the blast was caused by a gas leak. The Madrid general vicar, Avelino Revilla, told Spains TVE that one person linked to the Catholic church occupying part of the building was still missing.

A fire that started inside the building is making more difficult for rescuers and firefighters to look for any other possible survivors, Martinez Almeida said.

A nearby nursing home was evacuated although no injuries were initially reported among the residents, Martinez Almeida said. He said the residents were being taken to a hotel across the street.

Firefighters work next to a damaged building at Toledo Street following an explosion in downtown Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)AP

Martinez Almeida also said that some mild damage had been identified in a nearby school. Spains public broadcaster, TVE, initially said the school was thought to have been empty, but the mayor later said that there were people there but they suffered no more than scratches.

Leire Reparaz, an area resident, told The Associated Press that she heard a loud explosion some minutes before 3 p.m. local when she was heading to her home near the Puerta de Toledo, a local landmark.

We didnt know where the sound came from. We all thought it was from the school. We went up the stairs to the top of our building and we could see the structure of the building and lots of grey smoke, the 24-year-old Madrid resident said.

AP photographer Paul White contributed to this report.
Last year, the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) independently found that dozens of Chinese and international companies  including iconic American brands like Dell, Nike and Heinz  either directly employ or source from businesses that use Uighur forced labor. Because of the pervasive nature of the use of forced labor in and from the Uighur region, U.S. companies exposure to such atrocities in their supply chains is most likely extensive.

Meanwhile, exports from the Uighur region to the United States continued to rise, causing alarming concerns about the increasing magnitude of the problem. From April 2019 to April 2020, the United States was the fastest-growing export market for the Uighur region, rising by more than 250 percent and including many industries, such as apparel, hair, metals and plastic.

Several major U.S. companies, including Nike and Coca-Cola, have already started to take notice, promising to root out forced labor in their supply chains by conducting third-party audits. These are encouraging efforts. But audits alone do not provide reliable and sufficient information to detect labor abuses in the supply chains. Because of the extremely repressive environment in the Uighur region, authorities have prevented auditors from carrying out their work with undue interference. In addition, interviewed detainees, fearing retaliation, are not able to provide a truthful account of their working conditions.

As a case in point, Nike claimed that an audit confirmed that its Qingdao factory had no Uighur workers in 2019. However, citing Chinese state media, ASPI reported that the factory still employed about 800 Uighurs at the end of 2019 and produced more than seven million pairs of shoes for Nike each year.

Existing measures may be insufficient to combat the problem of Uighur forced labor in and from the Uighur region, but U.S. companies must not be complacent. Enslavement, including forced labor, is a potential crime against humanity when carried out as part of a widespread or systematic attack purposefully targeting individuals based on ethnicity and religion. Chinas forced labor practices fit this pattern, and businesses that have wittingly or unwittingly aided and abetted these potentially criminal activities could be held accountable, as were certain German industrialists prosecuted in the Nuremberg trials after World War II.
WASHINGTON  Democrats will take control of both the White House and Congress on Wednesday for the first time in a decade, but they have already discovered the difficulties of governing with so little room to maneuver around Republicans who appear in no mood to cooperate.

Even before President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. was sworn in as the new president, a Republican senator put up a roadblock on Tuesday to one of his cabinet nominees, helping deny Mr. Biden the Day 1 confirmation of national security officials that other incoming presidents have taken for granted for decades. And Senator Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat who is set to become majority leader, found himself in difficult negotiations with Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and incoming minority leader, over plans for running an evenly split Senate.

On top of those hardly trifling issues, the looming impeachment trial of President Trump presents an extraordinary complication for a party that would no doubt prefer to focus on a bold Democratic agenda out of the gate. However it is eventually structured, the trial is certain to sap time, energy and momentum from the opening days of the new Democratic era in Washington.

It does put a wrinkle in the road, conceded Christopher J. Dodd, a former Democratic senator from Connecticut and a close adviser to Mr. Biden. I know Joe is disappointed that it will take some time. But the fact of the matter is, what occurred that day was of such significance that to ignore it or treat it in a casual way would only be an invitation for it to happen again.
A Christian call after the Capitol storming

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On the first Sunday since a mob of fringe Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, influential Pastor Samuel Rodriguez called on the Church to repent for making the person who occupies the White House more important than God.

Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and pastor of New Season in Sacramento, California, told his congregation Sunday that America needs to hear a message of repentance.

We must all repent; even the Church needs to repent. The American nation will be healed when the American Church repents, he said.

Do you realize the great things that happen when we repent? he asked. When we repent ... there is perfect restoration of everything that was lost ... The moment Gods people repent, this nation will be healed . To repent is to invite revival.

Read more at: https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastors-call-for-repentance-in-sermons-after-capitol-storming.html
 Intriguing (and significant?) executive order from Prez Trump on "Protecting Americans From Overcriminalization Through Regulatory Reform" | Main | Reviewing some old but still timely advice for new presidents past 

January 20, 2021

Prez Trump grants 73 pardons and 70 commutations in final hours in office

As detailed in this official statement, Prez Trump has "granted pardons to 73 individuals and commuted the sentences of an additional 70 individuals." The list of recipients strikes me as notably diverse, with some well-known names sure to cause controversy (e.g., Steve Bannon) as well as plenty of lesser-known individuals. Here are just a few on the names on the list catching my eye upon first review:

John Knock  President Trump commuted the sentence of John Knock. This commutation is supported by his family. Mr. Knock is a 73 year-old man, a first-time, non-violent marijuana only offender, who has served 24 years of a life sentence.... Michael Pelletier  President Trump commuted the sentence of Michael Pelletier. Mr. Pelletier is a 64 year-old who has served 12 years of a 30 year sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana.... Craig Cesal  President Trump commuted the sentence of Craig Cesal. Mr. Cesal is a father of two, one of whom unfortunately passed away while he was serving his life sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana.... Chalana McFarland  President Trump commuted the sentence of Chalana McFarland. Ms. McFarland has served 15 years of a 30-year sentence.... Chris Young  President Trump commuted the remaining sentence of Chris Young. This commutation is supported by the Honorable Kevin H. Sharp, Mr. Youngs sentencing judge, former law enforcement officials and Federal prosecutors, and multitudes of criminal justice reform advocates.... Amy Povah  President Trump granted a full pardon to Amy Povah, the founder of the CAN-DO (Clemency for All Non-violent Drug Offenders) Foundation. In the 1990s, Ms. Povah served 9 years of a 24 year sentence for a drug offense before President Clinton commuted her remaining prison sentence in 2000. Since her release, she has become a voice for the incarcerated, a champion for criminal justice reform, and was a strong advocate for the passage of the First Step Act.... Kwame Kilpatrick  President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. This commutation is strongly supported by prominent members of the Detroit community, Alveda King, Alice Johnson, Diamond and Silk, Pastor Paula White, Peter Karmanos, Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo of the Michigan House of Representatives, Representative Karen Whitsett of the Michigan House of Representatives, and more than 30 faith leaders.... Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.  President Trump granted a full pardon to Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as Lil Wayne. Mr. Carter pled guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, owing to a conviction over 10 years ago.... Shalom Weiss  President Trump commuted the sentence of Shalom Weiss. This commutation is supported by former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese, former Solicitors General Ken Starr and Seth Waxman, former United States Representative Bob Barr, numerous members of the New York legislature, notable legal figures such as Professor Alan Dershowitz and Jay Sekulow, former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman, and various other former elected officials.

There are many more notable names on this last big clemency list, and it certainly seems like there are many more deserving cases than undeserving ones this time around. I expect we will be hearing a lot more about some of these recipients, both good and bad, in the days ahead. But because thislist maeks the end of the Trump term, it is now time to turn to urging the Biden Administration to do more and more grants and to adopt a new and improved clemency process.

January 20, 2021 at 01:29 AM | Permalink

Comments

I am a Defendant who is about to be sentenced to 13-20 months active prison time in North Carolina for a non violent petty drug charge. A Death sentence in & of itself, surly!! A Death Sentence

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

8:50 AM

A Death Sentence I am reaching out to address a situation I have found myself, once again, involved in. I am looking at an Active prison sentence of 13-20 months in the North Carolina Prison System! All told I have already done 12 1/2 years of incarceration. For the same thing...the definition of insanity??...



To start at the beginning would be to begin with the end

I am 64 years old, a recovering addict (finally) It took a lot of hard, tear filled years behind those prison walls before I finally breached the addictive personality I had so carefully cultivated. The walls & barriers I had built, layer upon layer of lies, slathered with deceit, sealed with self sabotage came tumbling down around me.. I began to embrace this novel idea of sobriety.

Until I was incarcerated in North Carolina I was never offered any sort of Recovery programs. After spending 2 years in Swannanoa Correctional Institution, an Honor Grade Camp located in the Swannanoa Valley nestled amongst the Blueridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, 3 years of Drug offender probation, weekly drug screens, I graduated back into the free world.

Only to be caught up with a C.I. (Confidential Informant) For one weekend I fell back into the old grunge, I picked up some cocaine (.2 grams then .4 grams) Mere crumbs!! After being badgered by this manmany text messages & phone calls later I fell into the abyss of the Cleveland County Narcotics Squad...Charged with 2 counts of Sales & Delivery W/ISMD (Intent to sell, manufacture & Deliver) I am now looking at a DEATH SENTENCE

I am the sole caregiver of my 84 year old Mother. She suffers from a low immune disease called ThrombosisHer Platelets are too low. I, myself suffer from several pre-covid-existing chronic medical issues, C.O.P.D., Osteoarthritis, Neuropathy, Fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, Cystoid Pancreatitis, along with several more. For me to enter the Festering Prison System at this time would absolutely be a Death Sentence...

I managed to get a continuance on my court date. In January I am expected to enter into a Plea agreement for 13-20 months, to be remanded into custody to begin sentence in Raleigh, NC Prison.

I'm not afraid of the time, this I could do standing on my head if it were not for this Pandemic & the fact that my Mom is so ill & in need of my caregiving. I need a Prison Diversion, an Alternative sentence.

I need an Advocate!! Please help me to reach out in the right direction!?

Thank you,

Sharky

Lyrehcseseer@gmail.com

Posted by: Scheryl Kniebes Reese | Jan 20, 2021 8:16:54 AM

Post a comment
THE University of Limerick says more than 100 international students who have arrived in Limerick in recent days ahead of the Spring semester are complying with all public health guidelines and regulations.

The PhD students, who travelled from Algeria on a specially chartered flight, quarantined for 14 days and tested negative for Covid-19 before their departure.

"They arrived on a direct flight from Algiers organised by the Algerian government to Shannon  so they have not travelled through any other airports or countries," said a spokesperson for UL.

The students were met and taken from the airport directly to their on-campus accommodation by Campus Life, who manage ULs student residences. In line with Department of Foreign Affairs requirements, the students will be confined to their residences for a 14-day quarantine. Campus Life will be providing food and support to the students during this early stage of their time in Ireland," he added.

The students, who have been studying online since February of last year, travelled to Limerick this week as part of the blended learning delivery of the PhD programme. They have completed the first year remotely and will now be in Limerick for three years.

Given the current Level 5 restrictions, the students will not be engaging in face-to-face teaching in the short term. "It will be remote delivery in line with current government restrictions and they will be living in on-campus accommodation. While living on campus, they will have easier electronic access to the library, data bases, and other UL systems," said the spokesperson for the university.

The Algerian government is funding the PhD students to study at UL in a deal which is worth several million to the university.

"UL has an agreement in place to work with the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to support training of young academics in order to facilitate the transition from French to English as the medium of instruction for teaching and learning in third level," confirmed a spokesperson.

Limerick TD and Minister of State at the Department of Higher Education, Innovation and Science says he has no concerns about the arrival of the international students to Limerick.

"It is the case that across our third level institutions, the vast majority of teaching is remote and online but there is provision for on site, face-to-face and blended learning also so I suppose there is no real breach and there is no special arrangement here in relation to anybody. We all have to adhere to the guidelines and that's right across society," he told Live 95.
Protocols on excess vaccines need to be addressed. Photo: Domnick Walsh

Listening to the news yesterday, does any citizen of this country agree that vaccinations about to go out of date should be discarded?

Can we never leave common sense and humanity to prevail?

Can we not focus on the bigger picture here?

The whole world is waiting for vaccines for our very existence and when someone makes a logical decision to offer excess vaccines, to healthcare workers families, rather than discard them, they are criticised for doing so.

I say well done to those involved for being rational, practical and honourable.

Mairead Hickey

Swords, Co Dublin

Vacuous nature existed over mother and baby homes

With regard to the blame game surrounding the Mother and Baby Homes report, where did the clergy and politicians come from?

Had they not Irish mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, relations, neighbours and friends?

Did they exist in a vacuum or had we a lot of immaculate conceptions?

Joseph Mackey

Athlone, Co Westmeath

After virus of lies, let Bidens healing fountain start

Donald Trump leaves office with a record low approval rating and this is his fault, this is not fake news.

He ignored all public health advice in the early months of the virus.

The virus has infected every corner of every state. The United States in the 2020s is as divided as it was in the 1860s.

Trump has poisoned millions of Americans with his horrible virus of lies, fraud and deceit.

This culminated in the savage and brutal attack on Americas constitution by a gang of his thugs who genuinely believed that they were doing the right thing  following the presidents wishes.

Joe Biden will bring hope and very high moral standards back to the office of the commander in chief.

To paraphrase the poet W H Auden: In the deserts of the heart, let the healing fountain start.

Kieran ORegan

Dublin 9

Todays a good day to get on your bike, Trump

Today is inauguration day  a good day.

On your bike Trump. Welcome President Biden.

Brian McDevitt

Glenties, Co Donegal

Thanks for having me on  boom, boom

Why do so many guests on Irish radio shows thank their hosts for fooling them?

The phrase I hear on a daily basis is: Thanks for having me on.

Brian Ahern

Dublin 15

Pass kindness not judgment on Coombe masters actions

Having read the piece by Eavan Murray, which describes the kindness and many qualities of Professor Michael OConnell, Master of the Coombe, I find that I am once again inspired by the fact that we still have heroes.

The article describes his inherent kindness as described by his patients and ends with the statement that he hasnt damaged or injured someone, which is in itself not a bad statement. In the light of this, its hard to fathom the quickness to judge him harshly because he took a decision to ensure that the vaccine did not go to waste.

I know the effects of this pandemic has many of us at the end of our tether and made us all a bit jumpy, but maybe, just maybe, we could pause a bit and call on whatever is left of our kindness reserves.

Seamus Boland

Ballycumber, Co Offaly

Focus on the vaccination statistics to keep nerves calm

Even those of us, who do not hold a distinguished result in Mathematics from the Leaving Certificate exams of the 1960s, must surely have come to a deeper appreciation of the practical usefulness of statistics in recent months.

An enlightenment which asserts that the critical statistics must now become the number of people vaccinated to date and the actual vaccination rate per day.

These two figures will govern all the other data that weve become familiar with and frequently unnerved by since last March.

Michael Gannon

St Thomas Sq, Kilkenny
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High near 60F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 42F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
Fox News declined to comment on the departures; Mr. Sammons retirement was previously reported by The Hill. In addition to their exits, roughly 20 Fox News digital journalists were laid off on Tuesday. The network attributed the layoffs in a statement to a realignment of business and reporting structure to meet the demands of this new era.

Executives at Fox News  the profit center of Rupert Murdochs American media empire  have been concerned by a postelection drop in ratings, a slump that has persisted for two months as upstart rivals like Newsmax gained viewers by featuring fringier fare that embraced Mr. Trumps baseless theories about electoral fraud.

Prominent conservative pundits at Fox News who supported Mr. Trump, like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, remain popular and are tied to the network under long-term contracts.

Foxs corporate leadership has been scrutinizing the news division, which is led by Jay Wallace, the president and executive editor of Fox News Media, according to a person with knowledge of internal discussions. Fox Newss daytime news programs, which often feature conservative guests but are helmed by anchors who do not report to the networks opinion side, have experienced a sharp loss in viewership.

Mr. Stirewalt appeared on Fox News several times on election night and the days afterward. He vigorously defended the networks early call of Arizona, even as anchors like Martha MacCallum grilled him about the decision; other TV networks did not call Arizona for Mr. Biden until days later. On Nov. 4, asked on-air about the Trump campaigns baseless claims of fraud, Mr. Stirewalt memorably replied, Lawsuits, schmawsuits. We havent seen any evidence yet that theres anything wrong.
As Joe Biden takes office as Americas 46th president, Pennsylvania elected officials offered congratulations, made pledges to collaborate and vowed to stick to their core principles.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in Wednesday, just two weeks after a deadly invasion at the Capitol as Congress counted the electoral votes to affirm Bidens victory. The inauguration occurred a week after the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time, just before he left office.

Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa., attended the inaugural. Members of Pennsylvanias congressional delegation, including U.S. Reps. Scott Perry, Susan Wild and John Joyce, also attended.

Some of those lawmakers at the inaugural included Republican House members who objected to including Pennsylvanias electoral votes on the Capitol floor two weeks ago. Republican House members said they would work with the president when possible but wont compromise in pursuing GOP priorities.

Republican U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, who represents part of western Pennsylvania, may have provided the most critical remarks among the lawmakers. He derided Bidens call for unity in his inaugural speech, saying, Its about coercing unity of thought.

Democratic lawmakers relished the chance to once again have a member of their own party in the Oval Office and professed optimism in addressing the challenges of the coronavirus, the economic fallout of the pandemic, racial inequality and healing a nation as divided as it has been in decades.

Lawmakers and dignitaries wore masks due to the coronavirus pandemic, another sign indicating this inauguration represented a stark departure from previous ceremonies.

Here are statements issued from elected officials, including remarks on social media.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.

Exactly two weeks ago, terrorists stormed the Capitol and attempted to undermine the will of the American people as expressed through their votes in a free, fair and lawful election. Today, American democracy prevailed when Joe Biden was sworn in as our Nations 46th President and Kamala Harris made history as the first woman and Black woman of South Asian descent to become Vice President. During his address, President Biden laid out a vision to heal our Nation, contain the COVID-19 pandemic and build our economy back better. Its now time for us to get things done on behalf of working families.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.

President Joe Biden took the oath of office today during a health crisis and significant political strife.

I commend President Biden for his call for national unity, and his assurance to those who did not support him that he will nevertheless be president for all Americans. I urge the president to follow through on this commitment by working with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to pursue policies that will lead to peace and prosperity for all Americans. I am praying for President Biden and his success in leading our country forward.

Toomey did not attend the inaugural due to personal and logistical reasons, his office said. Toomey has spoken with Biden on the phone to congratulate him and discuss ways where they can work together, according to a spokesman. (Toomey did not attend Trumps farewell event.)

Gov. Tom Wolf

It was an honor to attend the inauguration of Joe Biden as 46th President of the United States today. The inauguration of a new president is a time of hope and promise in our nation. It is a moment of great change, but also one of great possibility, and hope for a better future. It is a time for bold vision and strong leadership.

This inauguration day was more solemn than we are accustomed to, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the despicable attack that took place at the Capitol on January 6. Our nation is certainly facing unprecedented challenges in this moment, but I know that President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris will rise to meet the challenge of these turbulent times. I look forward to working with them as they guide our nation forward into a brighter future.

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-York County

As President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris are sworn into office today, we honor, as Americans, the peaceful transfer of power that is fundamental to our Republic. I extend my prayers and look forward to ways where we can work together for the good of the American People. As we do, I will continue to fight relentlessly for individual liberties, defend our Constitutional Rights, promote economic freedom and opportunity for all, and work to strengthen the defense of our Nation and those who defend us - past, present, and future. God Bless America.

U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Washington

President Bidens call for unity isnt about bringing a divided country together. Its about coercing unity of thought. As long as you agree with radical progressives, you will be tolerated. If you disagree, you will be canceled.

President Bidens call for unity isnt about bringing a divided country together. Its about coercing unity of thought.



As long as you agree with radical progressives, you will be tolerated.



If you disagree, you will be canceled.  Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (@GReschenthaler) January 20, 2021

U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Allegheny

As President @JoeBiden is sworn in, I just want to say thank you. For all youve taught me. For keeping the faith & taking on this great challenge. For having the courage to lead us at this perilous time. Were counting on you to succeed. And Ill do everything I can to help.

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Montgomery

Congratulations @POTUS @JoeBiden and @VP @KamalaHarris. They represent dignity, grace, and unity  qualities we need to move our nation forward. Brighter days are ahead and I am excited to overcome our challenges as we lead with truth and our common humanity.

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Philadelphia

Of all the Inaugurals in my lifetime this was the most emotional, given all that has happened.

Honored to be representing PA-2 at the #Inauguration of @JoeBiden as the 46th President of the United States  pic.twitter.com/zgJD8uY2ZR  US Rep Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) January 20, 2021

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster County

I extend my congratulations and best wishes of success to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Todays peaceful transition of power to a new president and administration is a hallmark of what makes America an exceptional nation.

I commit to my constituents that I will work with the Biden Administration and my Democrat colleagues in Congress when we can agree on policies that will help my constituents and the American people. I will also continue to advocate for and defend Republican principles like limited government, personal freedom, fiscal stewardship and renewing the American Dream for all.

U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-Blair County

As each new president takes office, the inauguration is a testament to our nations enduring commitment to the peaceful transition of power  a hallmark of American democracy. Despite the challenges that we are facing, there is more that unites the American people than divides us. This is the time to build national unity as we work together to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuild our economy, and restore our communities.

As President Biden and Vice President Harris begin their administration, I will continue working hard to advance commonsense, conservative solutions to the issues before us. As a nation, we must continue to pursue the pro-growth agenda that has delivered results for American families, workers, and small businesses.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-Lehigh

Today, President Biden made clear that this administration is laser focused on making health care affordable, creating good-paying jobs, and crushing this virus. Ditto. Lets get to work, Mr. President.

Im committed to working to unite our nation with President Biden and Vice President Harris. This isnt just my country and its not just your country - its our country.

Im committed to working to unite our nation with President Biden and Vice President Harris.



This isnt just my country and its not just your country - its our country. pic.twitter.com/5IxCniEPba  Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) January 20, 2021

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Snyder

I wish our nation success under the Biden Administration, now tasked with fulfilling the promise of America. I remain steadfast in my commitment to the people of Pennsylvanias 12th Congressional District and will fight every day for their values in Washington.

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Luzerne

President Biden campaigned on uniting the country to build back better. As the duly elected commander in chief he will chart his own course. I intend to work with him on policies that will benefit the long-term interests of our people, but building back better should not begin with starting from scratch. As he takes office, I hope his administration recognizes some of the policy achievements of the last four years that have been to the benefit of all Americans. (Rep. Meuser issued his statement Tuesday, ahead of the inauguration).

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday released financial assistance of around Rs 2,691 crores to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh, under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana  Gramin (PMAY-G) via video conferencing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases financial assistance of around Rs 2691 crores to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh, under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana  Gramin (PMAY-G) via video conferencing. pic.twitter.com/1R2uPvwJlE  ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2021

Addressing the event, the PM said, ''We've seen the situation during the regime of previous governments. I am talking about Uttar Pradesh especially, the poor didn't believe that the govt can help them in constructing a house. The previous Awaas schemes, the kind of houses built under them was not hidden from anyone.''

"In the past few years, around 2 crore houses have been built in rural areas alone. Under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana keys of 1.25 crore houses have been handed over to people. Around Rs 1.50 Lakh Crores has been given by Central Govt alone, to build these houses,'' the PM added.

The event began around 12 noon via video conferencing. Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present during the occasion.

The assistance will include the release of the first installment to 5.30 lakh beneficiaries and second installment to 80,000 beneficiaries who have already availed the first installment of assistance under PMAY-G, the Prime Minister`s Office said.

It is to mention that Prime Minister had given the clarion call of "Housing for All by 2022", for which a flagship programme of PMAY-G was launched on November 20, 2016.

So far 1.26 crore houses have already been built across the country under the scheme. Under PMAY-G, each beneficiary is given 100 per cent grant of Rs 1.20 lakh in plain areas and Rs 1.30 lakh in hilly states, North Eastern States, difficult areas, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, among others.

The beneficiaries of PMAY-G, in addition to the unit assistance, are also provided support of unskilled labour wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and assistance of Rs. 12,000 for construction of toilets through Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G).

The scheme has provisions for convergence with other central or state government schemes for providing LPG connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme, electricity connection and access to safe drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

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As if planning a wedding isnt stressful enough, imagine gutting and renovating your house at the same time. Thats exactly what Adam and Erica Finestone did to their Pennsport home, built around 1860.

It wasnt easy; they have very different design styles. Though they admit to some high anxiety moments, now, three years later, they remain happily married and love their house.

He likes a new, modern feel to a home, while I like an older, more antique feel, said Erica, a special education teacher in Springfield, Delaware County.

There was a lot of compromising. For example, Erica felt strongly that they keep the homes original wooden floors, but that involved a lot of time in sweat equity. They had to go through about three layers to get to the original floor, something Adam, a Realtor with Compass, wasnt expecting.

I remember Adam was there one night super late with his face mask on, digging up tar that was stuck to the wood flooring, Erica recalled. He came back with bloody knuckles.

In the end, the nine-month project was a success. They both love the house and learned a lot about compromise.

If you can remodel an entire house while planning your wedding, you can make it through anything, said Erica.

The Finestones experience isnt unusual. In 2018, long before COVID-19 kept many of us in the same home 24/7, the Houzz Remodeling & Relationships Survey found that more than half of respondents involved in a home project with their significant other claimed it was a collaborative and fulfilling experience. One-third, however, found the process frustrating, and 7% even considered separation or divorce during the project.

The process of redesigning a home can be stressful for any couple, especially now when most of us are home together, said Suzie Pileggi Pawelski, a positive psychology expert based in Society Hill and author of Happy Together: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love That Lasts.

If we can agree on, psychologically, what we want the home to look like, maybe we can compromise better to make decisions, whether they are budgetary or design, said Pileggi Pawelski, who encourages couples to discuss their individual goals before getting started.

 READ MORE: Renovating an 1890 Victorian in South Jersey meant living for years in a construction zone

There will be disagreements because were unique individuals and should understand its OK to have different ideas, she said. The focus should be on how you argue. Avoid attacking each others character when one of you feels disrespected, because thats a sign of an unhealthy relationship.

Take a deep breath and be calm, she said. First, we have to control our own emotion so we can approach our partner in a thoughtful and loving way.

Each member of the couple should work to their strengths. She recommended trying a free survey from the nonprofit Via Institute on Character, based in Cincinnati, which, in about 15 minutes, lists your top five strengths.

If I have a top strength of creativity and my husbands is maybe analytical thinking, when were working on the house together, we can plan in advance what person is working on what aspects of the design, she said.

If theres more argument than agreement and you arent making progress, it may be time for some professional help. A designer can play middle man, in addition to having a keen sense of style.

Im known for being able to blend those styles, listen to the clients, and create a design thats tailored for them, said Christina Henck, owner and senior designer at Henck Design in Queen Village. I can make both people happy, which is sometimes quite a feat!

To help her clients be aligned on their budget, she provides tiered proposals so they can see whats possible at different cost levels. She also serves as tiebreaker when the couple cant seem to agree.

My goal is not to be a marriage counselor but to try to be the voice of reason and advise them to the best of my ability without overstepping, she said. Its about balancing personalities, managing expectations, building trust, and getting results.

 READ MORE: Restoring a Queen Anne in Mount Airy one piece of wood at a time

Neeraj Jassal and Monica Jindia needed that kind of help when they bought their home in Bella Vista in 2019. While they both like a modern look, Jindia wanted to weave in some of her Indian cultural background.

We hired a designer because we were coming from two households, and we needed all new furniture to try to design this 4,000-plus-square-foot home, said Jindia, who works at Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co. in Philadelphia.

One of their biggest challenges was agreeing on what items to purge from those two homes. For Jindia, that meant leaving some artwork behind because Jassal, a photography enthusiast, was excited to finally have wall space to showcase some of his photos from trips the couple had taken. Jassal, a Realtor with Rosedale Real Estate in Queen Village, had to purge his old Ikea furniture.

The couple interviewed several designers, ultimately choosing Henck, who they felt best understood their goals. She had them make individual Pinterest boards with their own vision of what each room should look like.

She did a really good job taking into consideration the things that were important to me and also to Monica and marrying those thoughts together to deliver something we are happy with, Jassal said.

Its often a volley, Henck said, in which each partner must get some wins, while also giving up some things. Her role is to give her best advice from the perspective of the overall project. For example, if one partner wants to keep an old, comfy chair, she might point out whether it fits in with the overall style of the room. There are typically many decisions to make  furniture, window treatments, lighting, artwork, paint color, to name just a few  and they are all subjective.

She also reminds clients that the relationship with her works both ways. They must value her time, which means keeping the project moving with quick responses to her questions and suggestions, and providing appropriate feedback.

Its a design process, and they need to participate, she said. They cant hold up the project because it could affect the timeline. Its very important that clients are able to make decisions on time.

For Henck, it comes down to gaining her clients trust: You cant have somebody come into your house and tell you how to move everything and what to get rid of and bring in if you dont trust them.
EDWARDSVILLE  The friends of a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville student from Chicago who was shot near campus Thursday night are rallying to support him, both emotionally and financially.

A GoFundMe page was set up Sunday by the SIUE Army ROTC Club to support Moneer Damra, a 26-year-old nursing student and ROTC cadet at SIUE.

Damra was transported to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries after the shooting occurred on the ramp from Illinois Route 157 to Interstate 270 in Glen Carbon Thursday.

Two suspects have been charged in the shooting incident.

(Damra) was shot in the neck and the injuries are pretty catastrophic, said Bryan Sims, a fellow ROTC cadet at SIUE. His career has been put on hold, maybe forever, but with the man that Moneer Damra is, it doesnt make sense to stop here. We created a hashtag of #DOITLIKEDAMRA because if you were quitting or getting a weak bone in you, he was laughing on the way by you.

We started the GoFundMe page with the inclination that maybe cadets could do something, but we realized thats not good enough. He influenced so many more people than just us and we started putting it out there. I made a couple of flyers with a picture of him doing the Ranger Challenge, which is one of our fiercest competitions, and people started falling in love with him and sending it to their friends.

The money raised from the GoFundMe page, https://gofund.me/879e79b8, will go directly to Damra and his family to help offset the costs of travel and lodging, as well as upcoming medical expenses.

Since being created on Saturday, the page had already raised just over $11,000 as of Tuesday evening.

Damra, described as a loving friend, brother and uncle, has an inspiring story that his fellow cadets wanted to share.

He woke up one day and decided to completely change his life, Sims said. He wanted to be in the nursing program, and he wanted a 4.0 (grade-point average) and he wanted to be in the Army as a nurse. The problem was he weighed 330 pounds and had horrible lifestyle choices, but it wasnt really his fault because he came from a very rough place.

One day he decided to start living for himself. He lost over 200 pounds just to be where he was with us, to be a student at SIUE, and to be healthy and have a chance to do those things. I dont have the words to describe who he was to the battalion and he had an impact on so many peoples lives.

Kevin Kerkemeyer, another ROTC cadet at SIUE, is among those trying to spread the word about Damra and what he means to his family and friends.

Moneer is a junior and Im a senior and Ive known him for some time now, Kerkemeyer said. Hes a contracted cadet and that means he was on course to become a second lieutenant in the Army upon graduation from SIUE, which is something Im working toward too.

What happened with him was very shocking. Its a small group of us here and we all know each other pretty well. You see this kind of thing on the news, but you hardly ever know anyone involved in it.

Damra had become a role model for the ROTC program at SIUE, setting an example for his fellow cadets.

He is an extremely motivated individual and I cant speak highly enough of him, Kerkemeyer said. He is one of our hardest workers and he was always happy about it. Ive never heard him complain.

He strives to be all he can be. I wish we had more people like him.

Sims, like Kerkemeyer, is anxious to do whatever he can to help Damra.

I have to tell people the truth, that Damra was way more of a friend to me than I was to him, Sims said. Im a little older than a lot of the guys and I didnt always know how to relate, and I had reservations about making friendships in the program.

But Damra was the opposite. He wanted you to know that he was gunning for you all the time and he wanted you to know that he was on your side. He was your biggest motivator and support system, whether you knew him or not.
KOCAELI, Turkey, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Polin Waterparks is delighted and proud to announce that its Glassy Looping Rocket, the world's first fully transparent composite waterslide, has been chosen as the winner of Best Product Innovation at the Park World Excellence Awards 2020!

The Park World Excellence Awards were launched by Datateam Business Media, publisher of British theme park magazine Park World, in 2018 to celebrate Europe's most outstanding parks, projects, rides and attractions. This year, the ceremony took place as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The online Park World Excellence Awards ceremony was hosted on the dedicated awards website on Tuesday, 8 December 2020.

In 2018, Glassy, Polin's new transparent composite, was officially previewed at a number of industry trade shows, including the IAAPA Expo in Orlando. As a result of Polin's dedication to innovation, the industry now has its first fully transparent composite waterslide, satisfying the need for a premium quality, function, and price-advantaged solution compared to the transparent acrylic components that most ride manufacturers typically use.

In the middle of the COVID pandemic, Polin Waterparks worked on installations at many parks worldwide, including the one featuring this ground-breaking innovation. Now, as of July 2020, the world's first fully transparent composite Looping Rocket waterslide can be found at Candyland Waterpark, Vogue Hotel, in Bodrum, Turkey.

The Looping Rocket is a high-adrenaline ride that, with the fully transparent Glassy option, becomes even more intense. Riders can expect one of the highest and most adrenaline-filled drops possible to experience.

During the Park World Excellence Awards, Polin Waterparks was nominated in several categories, with its Glassy Looping Rocket ultimately being recognized as winner of the Best Product Innovation Award. Park World isn't the only entity to recognize the uniqueness of Polin's Glassy Looping Rocket, however. Last month, Kirmes & Park Revue magazine awarded the Glassy Looping Rocket as among "Europe's Best New Water Slides."

Polin's Director of Marketing and Communications, Sohret Pakis, said that receiving the award was a great honor for the company.

"Polin Waterparks would like to thank all award-jury members for their support, and we are so proud that they chose to bestow this distinction on our newest innovation. We believe the Glassy Looping Rocket is a breakthrough for the entire aquatics industry, and for it to already be receiving awards simply makes us that much prouder," she noted.

Pakis added that she has been impressed with how quickly the Park World awards have gained esteem within the theme park and aquatic-attractions industry since their inception. "The prestigious acclaim that this award has already risen to makes it that much more important to our company in having received this honor," she said. "We are so happy to be included among the industry's best, and we congratulate all the winners."

Being a trendsetter in the aquatics industry

As an official R&D center and a pioneer in the field of innovative advancement and application of closed-molded manufacturing technology in waterslide development, Polin Waterparks continues to focus on innovation in composite manufacturing technologies.

The core of Polin Waterpark's R&D strategy is its concentration on financial, customer and process perspectives with particular emphasis on learning, dissemination and innovation. Polin proved its dedication to these aspects of R&D when the company pioneered the advancement and application of light resin transfer molding (LRTM) in waterslide manufacturing. In 2006, it converted 100 percent of its fiberglass production to LRTM, a first in the aquatic-attractions industry.

This development raised the bar for the entire waterpark industry. Since then, Polin has regularly introduced new innovations, including the development of special lighting effects, patterned and transparent composite, sound-integrated components, wooden and metallic finishes, three-dimensional waterslides and unique slide designs.

More on Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976 and has since grown into a leading company in the waterparks industry. Today Polin is a world leader in the design, production and installation of water parks and water-play attractions. Polin has completed 3,500 waterpark projects in 109 countries around the world and is the biggest waterslide supplier in Eurasia. Working with a wide variety of clients has helped Polin reach several milestones including installing the first waterparks in many countries and many other award-winning rides at parks with world-renowned reputations.

For more info, visit www.polin.com.tr or contact Sohret Pakis at +90 262 656 64 67 or sohret.pakis@polin.com.tr .

Polin Waterparks is a Polin Group Company

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423483/Polin_Waterparks_GLR.jpg
Axel Honneth is one of Germany's leading social theorists and philosophers. He was director of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt. He is the third-generation figurehead of the Frankfurt School and the leading exponent of modern Western recognition theory. His masterpiece is Struggle for Recognition  The Moral Grammar of Social Conflict. He currently teaches in Germany and the United States.

David Bartosch is a member of the German Society for Intercultural Philosophy and works as a contract professor at the School of International Relations at Beijing Foreign Studies University. His most important opus to date is Knowing Unknowing or 'Good Knowing'? On the Philosophical Thought of Nicolaus Cusanus and Wang Yangming.

Xue Xiaoyuan is a professor at the Center for Globalization and Cultural Development Strategies at Beijing Normal University. A representative work of his is the study written in Chinese: The Beauty of Flying Motion: The Understanding and Interpretation of "Dynamic Beauty" in Chinese Culture.

1. No country is immune to the pandemic

Xue Xiaoyuan: Dear Mr Honneth and Mr Bartosch, it is my great pleasure to be here discussing with you on the platform of the Guangming International Forum. The novel COVID-19 pandemic has so far infected nearly 100 million people and claimed nearly 2 million lives, with more than 20 million cases in the United States alone. How do we view and assess this huge and far-reaching global pandemic?

Axel Honneth: It is almost too early to answer this question in a satisfactory way today. Certainly, one of the first consequences of the pandemic is that, like hardly any other event before, this has made us feel the global connectedness of all people as well as the many differences between them at the same time. On the one hand, it quickly became apparent that, due to worldwide mobility, no country could protect itself from the virus and thus we have all long since formed a global community; on the other hand, it quickly also became obvious to everyone that the various countries would react to the crisis by applying very different measures. This is due to the differences in the political constitutions and, correspondingly, in the health systems. Perhaps one could say that we go through a first-time experience of difference in global unity. Furthermore, it was of course astonishing how quickly there was a worldwide reassessment in the ranking of system-relevant activities and tasks to be observed; suddenly the curative, caring work, which otherwise tended to be in the shadow of other supposedly exclusive, namely value-creating activities, seemed to be of greater value to all of us than the industrial or service-providing work. In Germany, for the first time, unfortunately much too late, the question of what actually makes a job "system-relevant" was publicly discussed; and at least for a brief moment, the thousands of nurses and geriatric care workers, who until now had done their daily work with poor pay and little recognition, deprived of any major attention, suddenly met the public eye. We will have to see if this re-evaluation of the old hierarchy of work and profession will survive the pandemic and have a longer-lasting effect. Finally, in the wake of the crisis, at least in this country, something like a collective rethinking of the value of friendships and family relationships has taken place.

David Bartosch: Viewed through the lens of Mr Honneth's theory of recognition, the global devastation of the new COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that we do indeed exist in an inseparable global community, but that the inevitable differences of historical backgrounds, mentalities, political and economic situations of nations has led to multi-diversity within global integration. Based on this basic dialectical understanding of globalisation, Mr Honneth further argues that curative professions have so far been much less appreciated and recognised in society than industrial or other, namely service-providing industries. This criticism also implies a critique of capitalism. In his social philosophy, Mr Honneth assumes that the attainment of happiness by all members of society is the highest good, whereby the just distribution of social resources and economic benefits is only one prerequisite; above all, mutual legal, moral and social recognition by all participants is also important.

Xue Xiaoyuan: Mr Honneth, you are considered the leading representative of recognition theory. Most of your writings have been translated into Chinese, they have become an important reference for the Chinese world in terms of actuality and reality-oriented thinking. Can we proceed from the base point of the theory of recognition to explore what we should recognise as a priority in the midst of the new kind of pandemic now as it rages around the world?

Axel Honneth: In optimistic moments, I hope, as I said, that the pandemic could lead to a reassessment of the recognition of social work, leading away from a one-sided esteem for mere manufacturing, so-called "productive" activities and towards a stronger recognition of all curative activities that take care of our physical well-being. In addition to this optimistic expectation, I would also like to see a change in the relationship of recognition between states; if things go well, the pandemic crisis could also lead to the individual states learning to see themselves as members of a global community of destiny (German: globale Schicksalsgemeinschaft) and thus focus more on cooperation than on competition in the future. But, as mentioned before, only in moments of hopeful confidence do I really believe that such transformations in social and international relations of recognition might actually take place as a result of the pandemic.

David Bartosch: The ideal of a perfect and completely self-integrated humanity and lasting world peace continues to drive us in the hope of realising a better future. In the 21st century, we must completely re-orient ourselves: the goal is to achieve universal human recognition. Mr Honneth calls for more cooperation between nations instead of competition. His attempt also brings love, friendship and mutual solidarity to the fore as the highest moral standards and as core values of a future international community. It is perfectly obvious that only in this way we will be able to achieve lasting happiness and the ability to survive in the long term as a global community. It is also consistent with the principle of a "community of shared future for mankind" proposed by President Xi Jinping.

2. The protection of individual life takes precedence over the satisfaction of individual arbitrary freedom

Xue Xiaoyuan: What is more important for individuals, societies, peoples, nations, or even for the world and humanity as a whole  freedom or life? At this critical moment in our lives, this is an important topic for us to reflect on deeply and then also to make a decision. What do you think about this?

Axel Honneth: Regarding this question, which is indeed very central today, I have a clear and quite unshakeable conviction. It will perhaps surprise all of those who primarily see me as a freedom theorist: Regardless of how our liberties are legally defined in a state, we can only exercise and enjoy them on the condition that we are physically unharmed and therefore as far as is individually possible enjoy physical health. In this respect, in my opinion, the imperative to protect individual life precedes the granting of individual arbitrary freedom. However, this precedence does not, of course, imply a carte blanche for states to arbitrarily restrict fundamental freedoms in favour of the protection of bodily integrity; any restriction of this kind requires public justification because, in principle, it must be made clear to all citizens in a comprehensible and convincing manner which measures just taken serve which purposes of protecting life and why they require the restriction of certain of the legally guaranteed freedoms. Thus, the primacy of the protection of life is tied to the condition of public and generally comprehensible justification of each individual measure that restricts our legally guaranteed freedoms.

Xue Xiaoyuan: In Suffering from Indeterminacy. An Attempt at a Reactualisation of Hegel's Philosophy of Right (2001) you say that in friendship and love, for example, there is true freedom. Here one is not unilaterally limited to oneself, but one enjoys limiting oneself in relation to another, and one knows oneself in this limitation as the performing self of this limitation. I think there are two implications of your thinking: the relationship of self and other and the relationship of freedom and limitation. Could you please elaborate on that?

Axel Honneth: Yes, you are absolutely right, these are probably two different theoretical steps. First of all, one has to realise that freedom always means subject yourself to certain norms, because otherwise we would only be controlled by causally effective impulses or forces. This is the great insight of Rousseau which Kant then was able to process further, namely in order to come to the conclusion that we can only be truly free if we ourselves limit our actions by submitting to the inherent principles of practical reason. To this first step, Hegel then added the further idea that this moral law means nothing else than obtaining the consent of all other persons concerned for one's own intentions to act  and thus the idea was born that we are only free when we are in a relationship of mutual recognition with others, which means to jointly subject ourselves to the reciprocally accepted norms. In this respect, freedom means limiting oneself in one's intentions in relation to other persons by mutually subjecting ourselves to norms that are jointly considered to be correct, whereby we simultaneously recognise each other reciprocally as equal and free beings.

David Bartosch: By making use of the philosophical keyword "liang zhi" and other terms, the Chinese Ming dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming already discussed the idea of (good) conscience rather early on: In this context, it is precisely the question of shared responsibility and recognition between man and man and between man and society that is at issue. In relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, unluckily some people confuse freedom with ego-centeredness, and in some countries some people equate refusing mandatory mask-wearing with "freedom". This is, of course, utterly wrong. Those who do not wear a mask in these cases are not making their own personal choices but are potentially putting others at risk. True freedom does not mean to arbitrarily do whatever one feels like doing irrespective of the consequences for others; one only acts freely as far as one recognises others as equally entitled subjects in terms of legal and moral responsibility. If someone refuses to wear a mask in this case, they are potentially depriving others of their health and thus of the opportunity to exercise their respective personal freedom  and therefore they are also forfeiting their own. When societies or state structures collapse due to a pandemic, there will be nothing left to guarantee the freedoms hat we are used to. Therefore, by wearing a mask to protect ourselves and  more importantly: others from potential infection by the virus, we are actually protecting our own freedom and the freedom of others, as well as the society which we live in, and even other societies in other countries. Of course, Mr Honneth is right when he says that pandemic-related restrictions regarding the limitations of personal freedoms must be appropriately reflected and justified in public. The serious problems posed by the new COVID-19 virus should lead all of us worldwide to learn and discuss again what it means to take personal responsibility for the good of all of us on this planet. If more and more people all around the world would learn to act as conscientious subjects in this regard, it will be much easier to solve other global challenges as well.

3. Social freedom that incorporates solidarity and cooperation represents the highest form of individual freedom

Xue Xiaoyuan: We also note that you distinguish three forms of freedom: negative freedom, freedom of choice and freedom of association, which you call legal freedom, moral freedom and social freedom in your book Freedoms Right. Can you please explain why you have compartmentalised these concepts of freedom in this way? What are their connotations and boundaries? Why is it necessary to formally rename them? What explanatory power and relevance does your theoretical model have for people who are severely affected by the pandemic?

Axel Honneth: Let me answer the question as briefly as possible: In translating what is conventionally called "negative freedom" into the concept of "legal freedom", I follow Hegel, who thinks that what is specific to this form of freedom is that we are allowed to do everything that does not violate the legally defined freedoms of all others  which means that we are allowed to do everything at will that is legally permitted, so that no social connection is established and we remain "private" subjects, thereby solely dependent on ourselves. With "moral freedom", the degree of consideration for others already grows, because this requires us to check our actions to see whether they are compatible with the principle, gained in solitary reflection, of serving the good of all and thereby promoting the common good. Although this already includes the interests and concerns of all other fellow subjects in the realisation of individual freedom, these others remain completely abstract quantities that do not yet possess any social reality and therefore do not have any concrete claims on me. "Social freedom", i.e. the highest form of individual freedom, is now much more than what you have referred to by the expression "freedom of association"; it is not the freedom to be able to enter into associations with others as a matter of principle, but rather the freedom to align ones goals, if possible, with the goals of concrete others in such a way that we can realise them only together by means of respective interaction  of which friendship provides the best example perhaps, and although every active cooperation represents the case of such kind of social freedom. This form of freedom cannot even be adequately formulated in legal terms, since it depends on the concession of institutional conditions in which we can only realise our goals if other persons possess complementary goals  as in friendship, as in every political movement or in the democratic formation of public will.

David Bartosch: In this context, Axel Honneth starts from theoretical elements formulated in Hegel's Elements of the Philosophy of Right. For Hegel there are two basic forms of individual freedom: voluntary recognition of the legal status of another as a legal person equal to me and voluntary recognition of another as a subject of moral action equal to me. If I wear a mask during the pandemic because the law requires it, I thereby recognise the other person's right to his/her own healthy body, which I am not allowed to harm. I exercise moral freedom when I put on a mask in a situation of justified risk of infection even if I am not compelled by a legal regulation to do so. In Honneth's terms, social freedom is represented in actions in which everyone uses their free will in the interest of everyone else in particular and therefore in the interest of all others. This involves solidarity in matters of health, towards the vulnerable, the elderly, but also more generally in a reciprocal sense: as an expression of a responsibility of all individuals towards all others. We learn this in the recognition of others in friendship and love, by training our conscience and through the experience of love and care within the family. The resulting solidarity between people is a fundamental factor in stabilizing society and making it sustainable as a whole. Hegel one-sidedly misunderstood civil society as a purely competitive process. Mr Honneth's reflections on social freedom, on the other hand, therefore represent an important advancement. He extends the category of social quality, which Hegel wished to be confined to friends and family members, to the entire social realm. Again, intersections of Honneth's thinking with Wang Yangming's ideas can be found. Moreover, social freedom should be realised not only at all levels of a country's society but also in the cooperation of governments and their representatives, because only in this way the paramount idea of a shared happy future for humanity may become reality.

4. Not to "reify" and not to forget all the suffering caused by the pandemic

Xue Xiaoyuan: In Reification  A Recognition-Theoretical Study, we read about your deeper implications regarding the theory of recognition: recognition in the sense acknowledging is prior to cognition, recognition of nature, recognition of the unknown self and recognition of oblivion. Can we use this understanding to recognise, analyse and study the origin, spread and deterioration of the pandemic situation? How can a rational and objective basic attitude prevail with regard to people's perception in the face of such a pandemic?

Axel Honneth: The concept of "reification", which I adopt in order to modify it slightly, refers to a phenomenon that certainly does not occur all too often, but which is nevertheless very drastic in social terms: it is a type of human behaviour that is no longer able to perceive what is actually human in other people as well as in oneself, i.e. the subjective core of the ability to suffer and of vulnerability, so that in the end the others, as well as one's own self, are treated only as a "thing", as a soul-dead object that can be manipulated at will. In my perception, such reifying behaviours are typically triggered by people being forced to engage in procedures which, due to their constant repetition, tend to make them forget the subjective core of all sentient beings in others and/or in themselves. This is why I am referring to "reification" as a forced "oblivion" of recognition, since our "normal" attitude towards others as well as towards ourselves is that of recognising this common ground in vulnerability and sentience. A typical example is the practice of military practices sustained over a long period of time, the result of which is that those affected become accustomed, as it were, to a totally reified way of dealing with themselves and other people. This could very aptly explain certain borderline situations of the complete derailment of the very basic human relations  take incidents such as the quasi-industrial killing of completely innocent children in the Nazi concentration camps.

David Bartosch: One may add that the "oblivion" of recognition does not always have to be a direct result of dull, repetitive actions, but can also come quietly because people do not perceive or feel the suffering of others directly. In today's society, whether in countries severely affected by the pandemic or in war-torn places, people should never be "reified" and treated as cold numbers in statistics. The suffering of millions of individuals and families should not be allowed to disappear and to be vanished in oblivion behind quantitative categories like that. It is also shocking that countries that preached herd immunity in the beginning have so openly "reified" their elderly, sick and disabled citizens. Therefore, after the successful containment of the pandemic, we should be careful not to "reify" and forget all the suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xue Xiaoyuan: In the post-pandemic period, how should we build relationships of trust, self-esteem and pride between people, between individual and society, between people and country, and between countries?

Axel Honneth: I have already implicitly provided an answer to this in the context of the first questions. I think that in the most fortunate case, the current crisis can make us aware of our profound dependence on a complete multitude of relations of recognition that we tend to lose sight of in the spirit of constant bustle and economic productivity. It all starts with the fact that facing physical suffering, the threat of illness and rampant death makes us realise that the intimate relationships of friendship and family are the sanctuaries where we can articulate our fears and hope for loving support and comfort, protected from exposure and ridicule; only here, in the private sanctuary of friendship and family, can we get rid of the tormenting feeling of being completely on our own in the face of the existential vulnerability of our existence and of having to face our demise in loneliness. If we are members of a civil society in which we respect each other as equals and fight together for more just conditions, this can provide us with the courage and hope to be able to change something for the better in the current crisis by virtue of our power of solidarity  for example, to force our governments to work harder to establish largely free, technically well-equipped health systems. At best, the pandemic will also make us aware that we are dependent on the cooperation of all individual states in overcoming the great challenges of our time and that each of us has therefore potentially long since been united with everyone else on this planet through invisible relations of recognition  the great "family of humanity", as it was once emphatically called, to which we all have always belonged, as we realise today, because we are threatened by the same global catastrophes regardless of status and rank. But as mentioned before, if you ask me whether there will now be a rapid change in consciousness due to the crisis and whether we will suddenly learn to recognise our reliance on all these relations of recognition, my optimism is very limited.

5. Recognition of the value and dignity of life is a precondition for building a human community of shared destiny

Xue Xiaoyuan: Prof Honneth, you suggest that the social recognition of the quality of the relationship should form the basis for a conception of social justice. You have also argued that Hegel's theory of justice is linked to the idea of treating a disease, the diagnosis and treatment of which has a socio-critical function. How can social justice be achieved based on a theory of recognition in today's international community during a time of malady?

Axel Honneth: The view still prevails that justice merely consists in a fair, egalitarian distribution of certain "basic goods". This idea is misleading because "injustice" usually does not result from an unequal distribution of resources but from a violation of freedom and a disregard of claims to be treated fairly and respectfully. If we understand justice in this "relational" sense and thus focus on the relationships between subjects, it quickly becomes clear that it is primarily about the establishment of social relationships in which everyone, whether woman, man, believer or non-believer, black or white, can autonomously shape his or her life by being equally respected in the different social spheres and accordingly being able to participate on an equal footing in the shaping of these spheres without restriction or coercion. The measures necessary to free individuals from coercion, dependence and disregard and to enable them to participate equally in the shaping of their spheres of life change depending on the social situation, historical situation and cultural conditions. So, what justice requires in each historical moment cannot be determined from the high vantage point of philosophy, but rather philosophy must make itself the representative and advocate of those countless people who suffer in concrete terms from unequal treatment and disregard in each case  to help these people articulate their needs through conceptual means and then, by virtue of theoretical imagination, to draw conclusions regarding appropriate measures for improvement.

David Bartosch: In hearing Mr Honneth speak about his theory of justice, we must not forget that some developing countries still have a poverty problem. By the end of the day, there has to be a certain level of social wealth before one can establish a recognition-based system of social self-organisation to achieve the kind of fair distribution that Mr Honneth describes here. Regarding the latter, I feel compelled to mention Wang Yangming for the third time. He has proposed a procedure of practical exercise of moral conscience which, as a practice, might help to foster recognition of self and other. In every human encounter, we must consciously practise to respect and to recognise the other. From respect and recognition among family members, to the intersubjective exertion of moral freedom, to social freedom as the general foundation of a worldwide community of common destiny, we should constantly practise the insight that all human beings and all living beings form one organic whole on the surface of our planetary house, and that it is the recognition of the value and dignity of life which provides us with a way to lay the foundations for a truly humane and prosperous future.

[ Editor: WPY ]
Inauguration gifts handcrafted by a Philadelphia-area manufacturer of upscale home goods were presented Wednesday to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Lenox Corp., the creator of dinnerware headquartered in Bristol Borough, created two crystal vases that were given by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) to the newly minted commander in chief and his veep as the official inaugural gifts from the American people.

Its a nice little public relations coup for the company, which last year was battered by COVID-19. The pandemic forced Lenox to shutter its last U.S. manufacturing plant and close its retail outlets, and led to its acquisition by a private-equity firm in October.

The lead crystal vase given to Biden features an image of the White House set within a classic cartouche, typically an oval or oblong design with a slightly convex surface lined with ornamental scrollwork. Harris piece depicts the Capitol Building surrounded by similar flourishes. Both were deep-cut by hand by master craftsman Peter ORourke of Pennsylvania.

They really sparkle and are almost like diamonds, said Fawn Ostriak, chief creative officer for Lenox, about the details cut into the base of the vases. This is the ninth consecutive time that Lenox has created the inaugural gifts for the president and vice president. We are so proud and honored to be part of this tradition.

The company, founded 130 years ago in Trenton, was forced to shrink its American manufacturing and its brick-and-mortar presence in 2020. The pandemic destroyed much of its retail activity, but trends in home entertaining have also taken their toll.

Brides no longer feel required to ask for patterned dinnerware on their registries. Those who own fancy china rarely bring it out of the cupboard for major holidays. And who throws elaborate dinner parties any longer?

Eating styles are more individualized and reflect our increased diversity as a society  poke bowls, keto, one-dish meals, said Lenox CEO Mads Ryder. There are no more rules on what to eat or how to set the table.

In April, Lenox permanently closed its last U.S. manufacturing plant, in Kinston, N.C., where it made bone china. The company cited business challenges triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. There is no one to buy our products, Ryder told trade publication HFN at the time. We sell a little online, but our sales have disappeared.

In July, Lenox announced it was closing all of its outlet and warehouse stores; its locations included Egg Harbor City and Bethlehem.

Centre Lane Partners, a private equity firm based in New York, purchased Lenox in October for an undisclosed sum. The deal included Lenoxs core brand as well as Dansk and Reed & Barton.

Lenox employs about 160 people at its headquarters on Radcliffe Street in Bristol Borough.

Like many American companies, we have suffered immensely during COVID-19 and had to make some very difficult business decisions to continue to survive, Ryder said in a statement. Shuttering divisions, realigning our product categories, and refocusing our efforts on building on the vision that has made Lenox so unique since its founding in 1889 has become the foundation of our efforts as we move forward.

In addition to dinnerware, the company purveys a strong line of barware, home decor items, and Christmas ornaments, Ryder said. Our Tuscany barware line is within the top 10 most registered for by U.S. brides, according to the Knot website, he said.
Malibu, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Green Stream Holdings Inc. (OTC PINK: GSFI) ("the Company") ("Green Stream") (http://www.GreenRainSolar.com ), an emerging leader in the solar utility and finance space, announces today what it believes to be a new era for Renewable Energy and its Solar Utilities/Financing model as stocks rise in advance of the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States.





GSFI Press Release Jan. 20



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Biden's agenda is to transition the U.S. from an economy reliant on fossil fuels to one driven by wind, solar and other renewable-energy sources. The shift from fossil-fuel companies to renewable-energy firms accelerated during the Trump administration, despite the president's vows to support the U.S. coal and petroleum industries.

Big and small investors have moved their assets away from fossil-fuel producers and toward renewable energy companies. Big investors like BlackRock Inc., the world's largest asset manager, overseeing $7.8 trillion, have said they plan to take into account corporations' disclosures of environmental risks, including carbon footprints.

According to Wells Fargo senior market strategist Scott Wren, "Since the start of the year, cyclicals have outperformed, with energy gaining the most, up 15%, helped by higher oil prices. Financials were up 5.1%, and materials were up 4.4%."

"All of these cyclicals stocks have moved in advance of what we think will be a higher rate move. Rates have moved up to support that idea," Wilson said. "We think they could go up quite a bit more over the course of the next several months."

As well, The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF, which tracks S&P Global's index of clean energy companies around the world, has risen by nearly 30% since July 2020. The fund's assets under management swelled to $1.2 billion from $431 million at the start of the year.

GSFI CEO Eric Fain is encouraged by the increased opportunity Biden's new agenda could mean for companies like Green Stream Holdings. "I believe we are at the dawn of a new era for renewable energy and, in turn, an increased access to market with ability to expedite shareholder value as we cultivate new opportunities alongside our current projects in New York, including:

160 Imlay street. Brooklyn Ny

8012 Tonelle Ave; North Bergen, NJ

44 Victory Blvd; Staten Island, NY

111 Station Road; Bellport, NY

15-17 Sherwood Ave - Yonkers Proposal

4290 Austin Blvd; Island Park, NY

"We have recently moved our headquarters to a functional work/living space which belongs to our flagship project at 160 Imlay Street in Brooklyn, New York, where our utility/financing model can be seen in action as we continue to develop opportunities in the NE United States and beyond."





$GSFI 160 Imlay Street Project



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"This is all in line with NY Governor Cuomo's recent announcement of a clean energy initiative which unveiled the details of the awards for 21 large-scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects across upstate New York, totaling 1,278 megawatts of new renewable capacity," states Fain.

Shareholders-visit greenrainsolar.com. where you can view Green Stream's news, filings and even a live Level 2 stream, along with other company information.





GSFI - Strategic Moves



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About Green Stream Finance, Inc.:

Green Stream Finance, Inc., a Wyoming-based corporation 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:

Greenstreamholdingsinc@gmail.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72426
Relatives mourn the death of a man due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a crematorium in New Delhi. (Image: Reuters)

With 13,823 infections reported in a day, India's COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,05,95,660, while the recoveries surged to 1,02,45,741, the Union health ministry said on Wednesday. The death toll due to the disease increased to 1,52,718 in the country as 162 new fatalities were recorded, the ministry data updated at 8 am showed.

The total number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,02,45,741, pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate to 96.70 percent.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 percent, it said.

The active caseload remained below 3 lakh. There are1,97,201 active coronavirus infections in the country, which comprises 1.86 percent of the total caseload,the data stated.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20 lakh-mark on August 7,30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28,70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29,90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one crore-mark on December 19.

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

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR),18,85,66,947 samples have been tested till January 19, with7,64,120 samples being tested on Tuesday.
The Court of Appeal has overturned an award of 56,000 damages to a woman who was scalded when a 10 glass jug bought by her in Dunnes Stores shattered when she poured hot water from a kettle into it.

The three-judge appeal court found no evidence to support the conclusion of the High Courts Mr Justice Kevin Cross that Dunnes was negligent in selling the jug to Eva Cekanova, a native of Slovakia.

Ms Cekanova (31), of Windmill Terrace, Clonsilla, Dublin, sued Dunnes over the accident with the jug which she bought at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Dublin, in December 2015.

It was claimed, when she poured hot water into the jug to make tea, it suddenly, and without warning shattered, showering her legs.

Dunnes denied negligence and pleaded Ms Cekanova failed to heed a warning sticker on the jug which, it claimed, specifically states not to use hot water in it.

Mr Justice Cross found Dunnes was 75pc negligent in not having a warning label attached to the jug against using it for hot liquids and he accepted Ms Cekanova would not have purchased it if it had such a label.

Dunnes ought to have known people in Ireland from foreign countries will use a glass jug and pour hot water in it, he said.

He held Ms Cekanova was 25pc negligent in that she ought to have known that tea here is not made in glass jugs and she had some obligation to check if the jug was suitable before putting hot water into it.

He said Ms Cekanova suffered a significant injury and has been left with scarring. Total damages were assessed at 75,844 but, because of the 25pc contributory negligence finding, were reduced to 56,883.

Allowing Dunnes appeal today, the Court of Appeals Mr Justice Seamus Noonan said it is universally known by reasonable adults of normal intelligence that boiling or very hot water has the potential to shatter an ordinary glass vessel.

While Ms Cekanova had given evidence the first time she heard of the phenomenon of thermal shock was in her solicitors office, that was at the least, a somewhat surprising proposition.

Her evidence that the water was not boiling when she poured it into the jug, and was rather at 80-90 degrees centigrade, was very difficult to account for in the absence of some understanding of the effects of boiling or very hot water on ordinary glass.

The judge disagreed with Mr Justice Crosss finding the jug was meant to have a label warning against using it for hot liquids.

While Ms Cekanova gave evidence that in her native Slovakia we normally use a big glass jug for making tea, there was absolutely no evidence for Mr Justice Cross finding that Dunnes knew, or should have known, that Slovakian nationals might buy glass jugs for such purposes, he said.

On the contrary, Ms Cekanovas evidence was she was well aware people here use teapots to make tea. If using glass jugs for tea was a well-known custom of which Dunnes shouldhave known, it was surprising, having sold more than 11,000 of these jugs, some of which had no labels, no other complaints of a similar nature were received, he said.

If such a safety warning was required or necessary, it would have to be permanently engraved on the jug as a label would be washed off after the first use of the jug, he remarked.

On foot of those and other findings, he allowed Dunnes appeal and dismissed Ms Cekanovas cross appeal against the finding of 25pc contributory negligence on her part.

Mr Justice Noonan said his provisional view was Dunnes would be entitled to its legal costs in the High Court and COA against Ms Cekanova but she had 14 days to consider whether to argue for an alternative costs order.
The tourism industry of Ukraine in 2020 saw about UAH 60 billion damage due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"The demand is lower today and the damage to the market has been significant. If in the world the losses of the tourism industry amounted to about $ 800 billion, then in Ukraine, according to our calculations, about UAH 60 billion. This is the damage that the industry saw in 2020," the head of the State Agency of Tourism Development in Ukraine, Maryana Oleskiv, said during a press conference on assessing the impact of COVID-19 on the hotel industry in Ukraine.

At the same time, she clarified that the agency plans to publish the detailed results of the industry in 2020 in early February.

At the same time, there is still no detailed statistical data on the tourism market and its participants in Ukraine, Oleskiv said.

"For the state agency, this will be one of the priorities in the next [2021] year. In the budget that we have, which is UAH 100 million, we plan to use a significant share of funding to create a unified tourism register, where all accommodation facilities and tourist activity subjects can register and receive operational statistics at least monthly," the expert said.
We are excited by the huge support in the placement shown by institutional and high net worth investors in Australia, Asia and Europe, says chairman.

Shares have been as much as 65% higher in early trade to A$0.115 cents, a new 12-month high.

( ) (FRA:PF8) (VSE:ELI) (NEX:EUR) has soared on receiving strong support from institutional and high net worth investors for a placement that will boost the companys cash balance by A$7 million.

Shares were up as much as 86% to A$0.13, a new high of almost two years on volume of more than 63 million as investors respond positively to the placement to sophisticated investors that validates the companys integrated European lithium supply strategy as well as its new Australian gold project.

These funds will supplement the companys share purchase plan that closes on January 22 and aims to raise around A$2 million.

Reflects positive market sentiment

EUR chairman Tony Sage said, We are excited by the huge support in the placement shown by institutional and high net worth investors in Australia, Asia and Europe.

We believe this reflects the positive market sentiment for battery metals.

"After a very challenging year, we now see demand for lithium chemicals to support a very strong EV market which led to the recent lithium price rally.

Investors will also be issued one option for every two shares issued at an exercise price of A$0.075 and expiring three years from issue.

Proceeds will be used to continue exploration and development on the flagship Wolfsberg Lithium Project in Austria and the new WA tenement considered prospective for conglomerate gold.

Gold prospect in hot region

Sage added: "The funds will also be used to explore our recently acquired gold project in the hottest region in Australia with De Gray, Azure, Artemis and Novo all finding success."

Last year EUR secured gold tenement E47/4144 in a ballot and is confident of the prospectivity of the tenement which is in a region of the Pilbara that is attracting plenty of attention.

Through initial desktop analysis of government data and previous open file statutory reports, the company has identified several areas of prospectivity that continue from known gold occurrences in the immediate area.

EUR aims to explore as soon as possible, with the required heritage compliance to allow Native Title Notification to commence to be completed shortly.

Placement details

The placement is lead managed by Evolution Capital Advisors and Empire Capital Partners.

Placement shares will be issued without shareholder approval relying on the companys capacity under Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.1A.

The attaching options are subject to shareholder approval, which will be sought as soon as practicable, and the company will seek to have the options quoted.

EUR also expects a strong response to its SPP which offers eligible shareholders with a registered address in Australia or New Zealand with an opportunity to apply for up to $30,000 in new shares at an offer price is A$0.0475 per share.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  Makati Shangri-la will be closing its doors for the meantime beginning February.

Owing to continued low business levels and having considered all viable options over weeks of consideration and deliberation, we unfortunately must now make the extremely difficult decision to reorganise our workforce and operations in the Philippines as we continue to navigate an uncertain business environment, a company spokesperson said in a statement.

With this, the luxury hotel group will be parting ways with a number of its colleagues and temporarily closing Makati Shangri-La, Manila on February 1, the statement read.

Meanwhile, affected personnel will be provided a fair compensation package higher than local statutory guidelines and healthcare coverage and grocery support until year-end.

We continue to vigilantly monitor local and global developments and look forward to reopening Makati Shangri-La, Manila at a later date when business conditions have improved, the spokesperson added.

In a separate statement, the Tourism Department said it was saddened by the hotels temporary closure.

The hotel has been a pillar in the tourism industry in the country and has contributed to positioning the country in the region and around the globe, said Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, adding they are hopeful Makati Shangri-la will reopen its doors to local and international clients soon.

The official likewise assured the DOT will keep spearheading the tourism sectors recovery and assist its stakeholders in the said industry.

Makati Shangri-La is one of the 15 hotels accredited by the agency to host staycations under present quarantine guidelines.

CNN Philippines correspondents Paolo Barcelon and Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
A Vietnamese female photographer has recently attracted attention to the beauty of her motherland through her acclaimed photos.

Late last year, Ho Chi Minh City-based Khanh Phan won the third prize in the Daily Life topic of the 2020 Aerial Photography Awards People category with her entry titled 'Harvesting Grass.'

The photo titled Harvesting Grass' by Vietnamese photographer Khanh Phan ranked third in the People category's Daily Life topic at the 2020 Aerial Photography Awards.

Phan was also the only female photographer among seven outstanding participating photographers from across the world who were featured in the contests interviews, she shared.

Talking about her award-winning photo with Tuoi Tre News, Phan called it a perfect harmony between man and nature with the light of the new day, the wind, and the details of the grass.

The 'Harvesting Grass' winning photo comes from Phans well-known namesake series, which has captured attention on social networks since around mid-2020.

The photographer did not hesitate to call the series the favorite artworks of her career, as it has been mentioned by people in different countries.

It made overseas Vietnamese know about me and they bought my photos to ease their homesickness, she said.

They were proud to see a Vietnamese female photographer mentioned in international media and proud of their motherland.

I was deeply touched."

Khanh Phan is not new to international photo awards, as she had won prizes at multiple contests prior to the 2020 Aerial Photography Awards, including Sony World Photography Awards, Skypixel, Siena Awards, World Photographic Cup, and more.

Bao Boc, a photo capturing two Jrai boys at the Po Thi Festival in Vietnams Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, which won the first prize in the National category of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards. Photo: Khanh Phan

Her works were also featured in UK media including The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, and Wanderlust.

I have a burning desire to bring the images of our country and its landscapes as well as people closer to the world, and the fastest way to make my dream come true is through photo contests, Phan revealed her motivation.

Ive looked for and sent my entries to prestigious world contests, then luckily won some awards."

The 36-year-old photographer has also been praised at many Vietnamese photography awards.

'I love my beautiful Vietnam'

As Phan has never attended a professional photography school, she started to shoot in 2017 by learning from friends.

The woman who is working in the banking industry spent time self-studying on the Internet and learning from works by globally famous photographers.

I photograph out of my passion, she said.

Children Dancing with Gongs, a photo capturing children dancing with gongs at a festival in Vietnam's Gia Lai Province, which was listed among the world's best photos of golden hours in 2020 by Agora. Photo: Khanh Phan

Explaining the motivations behind her photos depicting stunning Vietnam, Phan called out her love for beautiful things.

Above that is my love for my country, she said.

I love my beautiful Vietnam.

Talking about her favorite topics in photography, Phan shared she has a special interest in craft villages.

Vietnam is a rich country when it comes to culture and heritage values passed down from our ancestors, Phan told Tuoi Tre News.

Craft villages are a precious material for photography and most of my winning photos at international contests were ones depicting this topic."

As a child born to a farming family, Phan grew up seeing her parents working hard from dusk till dawn.

That childhood memory has motivated Phan to take photos of hard-working people to display their photos in museums and big galleries.

I photograph to pay tribute to those people and honor this life, Phan said.

To me, the most beautiful person is the person who works, as working creates life values and happiness.

Khanh Phan's Flower on the Water,' a photo capturing people harvesting water lilies in the southern province of Long An, which won the Fun category of the 2018 SkyPixel Aerial Photography & Video Contest and the People category of the 2019 Siena drone photography awards.

Phan shared that she often spends time and efforts getting to know about a place as well as its nature and people before coming for shooting.

It is not too hard to have a good photo but I want more than that, she said.

I need to deliver good stories and the local cultural beauty of Vietnams regions through my pictures.

Phan added that she wanted to attract viewers by the eye-catching colors of her pictures to encourage them to get to know more about the stories behind them, for Vietnam is an interesting country.

Phan also believed that life is always fair to people who never stop making effort like her.

Calling herself lucky for being supported by friends and seniors in the local photography industry, Phan admitted the hardship of the passion she has pursued.

But Im happy because I have been able to do something which proves that women can achieve big dreams, she insisted.

As a woman, I love this life in my own way, Phan expressed her thought in an interview on the 2020 Aerial Photography Awards website.

Below are photos Khanh Phan captured across her beautiful Vietnam:

The Tam Coc tourism site is seen in this photo taken in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

A photo shows people fishing in a coconut forest in the central province of Quang Ngai.

A woman dries fish in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau's Long Hai Town.

Children play under blooming flowers in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam.

A photo captures dawn on Tuyen Lam Lake in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat.

A farmer is watering flowers in Sa Dec Flower Village in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap.

The Cat Ba archipelago off the coast of Hai Phong City in northern Vietnam

A photo shows Ta Pa paddy rice fields in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang.

People are seen making soy sauce in this photo.

A bird's-eye photo captures Binh Dong Wharf in Ho Chi Minh City's District 8 on Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) holiday.

The Ru Cha mangrove forest in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

Vietnamese photographer Khanh Phan is seen in a photo she provided Tuoi Tre News.

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ALBANY  New Yorks rollout of its plastic bag ban last year was so muddled and confusing that a judge awarded court fees to the plaintiffs who had sued over the prohibition.

Acting state Supreme Court Justice Gerard Connolly ordered the state to pay despite ruling the ban was legal.

Saying that the Department of Environmental Conservations early directions on the ban were incorrect and frivolous, Connolly ordered the agency to pay part of the legal fees and court costs in a suit brought by a bagmaker PolyPak Industries as well as a consortium of corner shops, small business owners and a grocery store that opposed the ban.

The lawsuit filed last year Albany County asked to overturn the ban, which, court papers in the case showed, sowed confusion over which types of reusable plastic bags were barred.

Initially, the ban regulations developed by DEC lawyers included exemptions for heavier plastic bags or bags that could be used 125 times. DEC at first also said that heavier bags of polystyrene or polypropylene were going to be exempt, but not the more common thin film plastic bags that PolyPak made and most grocery stores used.

Related: N.Y. plastic grocery bag ban starts March 1, some fear confusion, loopholes

Enforcement of new plastic bag ban is on hold

Amid court delay, plastic bag battle continues

But as the legal challenge worked its way through the court, environmentalists in October complained DEC listed the supposed exemptions on its website. After the complaints, the listing was removed.

Connolly in his decision earlier this month made it clear that the ban pertained to all plastic non-cloth bags.

Reusable bags may not be distributed if they contain plastic of any kind, barring some further action by the Legislature, Connolly wrote in his decision.

The DECs confusion and about-face were so egregious the agency should pay the court costs, the judge ruled.



It wasnt immediately clear how much it will cost. The plaintiffs have a month to tabulate court costs and document the expenses.

But the fact that the plaintiffs were awarded court costs, in a losing case, demonstrates what bag-ban supporters said early on: DEC caused confusion by including and then removing exemptions.

This is quite significant that the judge is requiring DEC to pay attorneys fees, said Judith Enck, a former regional EPA administrator and founder of Beyond Plastics, which aims to remove plastics from the waste stream.

It is because DEC did not put out accurate information, she said. The law bans plastic bags. Full stop.

Changes to the bag ban remains an open issues. Gov. Andrew Cuomos 2022 budget proposal released on Tuesday calls for legislation that would exempt from the ban some of the same types of bags that were at issue in the lawsuit.

Exemptions would classify as reusable bags made of materials like polypropylene or polystyrene and which could be used at least 125 times and carry 22 pounds for 175 feet.

In a prepared statement, DEC said the proposal was put in the budget plan to try and clear the confusion. "In response to the Courts decisions, the budget proposal serves to clarify certain exempt bags and what constitutes a reusable bag, including examples of the types of fabric in reusable bags and examples of commonly used reusable bags that contain some plastic content, including polyester, woven polypropylene, and nylon bags, among other examples," they said.

The development received just a half-hearted welcome from an industry spokesman who still believes the entire ban was ill-conceived.

Proposing changes to the ban underscores what we have long said: Its current form is broken and unworkable. Unfortunately, the changes dont make the law more workable, said Zachary Taylor, director of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance.

He believes the Legislature should reconsider the ban.

Enck disagrees, saying the recent court decision affirms the existing ban. She said she hoped lawmakers turn down the exemption request as the budget is finalized later this year.

They are going to try to get legislative permission to do what they tried to do last time, said Enck.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
Funding questions: How the new stadium could look when finished

Ulster GAA has said it has no plans to increase its funding for the redevelopment of Casement Park in west Belfast after being handed 20m in public money.

Costs for the project have risen massively, but the sporting organisation has refused to budge on funding, despite pleas from a former Sinn Fein minister.

DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley criticised the GAA's position after Finance Minister Conor Murphy announced a proposed 20m in funding to begin construction at the site.

Last September, SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon indicated she would recommend planning permission for a new 34,578 capacity stadium on the Andersonstown Road.

The cost had been estimated at 77.5m but has since risen to 110m, leaving a 33m shortfall.

Despite the increased cost, Ulster GAA said that it did not intend to increase its initial contribution of 15m.

In October, Sinn Fein's Caral Ni Chuilin, who was Communities Minister at the time, said it was no longer "tenable" for the GAA to hold that position.

"If the Executive is being asked to meet the overrun and the costs that have increased, the GAA should be doing the same thing as well - and I've told them that," she added.

Yesterday, Casement Park project sponsor Stephen McGeehan said there were no plans to increase the GAA's contribution, despite it welcoming the 20m in public money.

He added: "As this is a flagship programme for the Executive, it is right that the majority of the funding comes from the public sector. Whilst discussions on the final costs for the project cannot conclude until the planning process completes, the GAA remains committed to providing the 15m previously pledged to the scheme."

Mr Buckley said there was a "wide recognition" that the current strain on public finances from the pandemic, and the increased cost of the project itself, meant the GAA should increase its contribution.

"It's imperative and recognised, even by a former Sinn Fein minister, that the GAA must contribute substantially to the additional funding that will be required," he added.

"It's not fair for public services to foot the bill once again. I think it would be a positive move for the GAA to come forward and bear some of that additional cost. I think that would only be right,

"For the GAA to welch away from that would send very negative signals across our community at a time when our finances are in such a state with Covid-19."

Ms Ni Chuilin and Sinn Fein were approached but declined to comment.
Two days ahead of the meeting of European leaders on a coordinated response to the Covid-19 crisis, the European Commission set out a number of actions needed to step up the fight against the pandemic.



The Commission has called on member states to accelerate the roll-out of vaccination across the EU: by March 2021, at least 80% of people over the age of 80, and 80% of health and social care professionals in every Member State should be vaccinated. And by summer 2021, member states should have vaccinated a minimum of 70% of the adult population.



The Commission also called on member states to continue to apply physical distancing, limit social contacts, fight disinformation, coordinate travel restrictions, ramp up testing, and increase contact tracing and genome sequencing to face up to the risk from new variants of the virus. As recent weeks have seen an upward trend in case numbers, more needs to be done to support healthcare systems and to address Covid-fatigue in the coming months.



Key actions for member states, the Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) which will help reduce risks and keep the virus under control:



Speeding up the roll-out of vaccination across the EU



 By March 2021, at least 80% of people over the age of 80, and 80% of health and social care professionals in every Member State, should be vaccinated.

 By summer 2021, Member States should have vaccinated 70% of the entire adult population.

 The Commission, Member States and the EMA will work with companies to use the EU's potential for increased vaccine manufacturing capacity to the fullest.

 The Commission is working with Member States on vaccination certificates, in full compliance with EU data protection law, which can support the continuity of care. A common approach is to be agreed by the end of January 2021 to allow Member States' certificates to be rapidly useable in health systems across the EU and beyond.



Testing and genome sequencing



 Member States should update their testing strategies to account for new variants and expand the use of rapid antigen tests.

 Member States should urgently increase genome sequencing to at least 5% and preferably 10% of positive test results. At present, many Member States are testing under 1% of samples, which is not enough to identify the progression of the variants or detect any new ones.



Preserving the Single Market and free movement while stepping up mitigation measures



 Measures should be applied to further reduce the risk of transmission linked to the means of travel, such as hygiene and distancing measures in vehicles and terminuses.

 All non-essential travel should be strongly discouraged until the epidemiological situation has considerably improved.

 Proportionate travel restrictions, including testing of travellers, should be maintained for those travelling from areas with a higher incidence of variants of concern.



Ensuring European leadership and international solidarity



 To ensure early access to vaccines, the Commission is to set up a Team Europe mechanism to structure the provision of vaccines shared by Member States with partner countries. This should allow for sharing with partner countries access to some of the 2.3 billion doses secured through the EU's Vaccines Strategy, paying special attention to the Western Balkans, our Eastern and Southern neighbourhood and Africa.

 The European Commission and Member States should continue supporting COVAX, including through early access to vaccines. Team Europe has already mobilised 853 million in support of COVAX, making the EU one of COVAX's biggest donors.



President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: Vaccination is essential to get out of this crisis. We have already secured enough vaccines for the entire population of the European Union. Now we need to accelerate the delivery and speed up vaccination. Our aim is to have 70% of our adult population vaccinated by summer.



That could be a turning point in our fight against this virus. However, we will only end this pandemic when everyone in the world has access to vaccines. We will step up our efforts to help secure vaccines for our neighbours and partners worldwide.  TradeArabia News Service
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  Thirteen people who came in contact with the Philippines' first known coronavirus case with the new, more transmissible variant have tested positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health said on Wednesday. The list includes co-passengers, household members, and a frontliner who attended to the patient.

A total of 10 passengers on board the flight with the 29-year-old Filipino detected with the UK variant tested positive for coronavirus. Eight of them  who are all Filipinos  tested positive upon arrival in Manila on Jan. 7, while two passengers tested negative upon return to the Philippines but later received a positive result from a swab test.

Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the samples of the infected passengers will be sent to the the Philippine Genome Center to check if they have the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant first detected in the United Kingdom.

Of the 159 passengers on the Emirates EK332 flight from Dubai to Manila, 153 are in isolation. In addition, two have been contacted but not yet isolated, while four other passengers have yet to be reached by authorities for contact tracing.

The patient's mother and girlfriend, meanwhile, also tested positive for COVID-19. The girlfriend, who traveled with the patient, tested negative for the virus upon their arrival in Manila on Jan 7. Health officials, however, conducted on her another swab test as a precautionary measure.

"Ang girlfriend niya initially tested negative. Pero noong nag-reswab tayo, she turned positive. The mother, noong na-swab siya, ang resulta niya rin ay positive. So pinadala na rin for sequencing ang kanilang specimen," Vergeire said in a media forum.

[Translation: His girlfriend initially tested, but turned positive after undergoing another swab test. The mother also tested positive. We have sent their specimen for sequencing.]

A healthcare worker from Quezon City who attended to the patient also got infected with COVID-19, DOH said in a separate statement. Vergeire said the frontliner could be recovering from the disease after contracting the virus back in December, adding the RT-PCR test may have picked up remnants of the virus. Nevertheless, her samples were sent to the genome center, but she will not take another swab test.

Samples to be reviewed to detect new variant

The health official said there are some issues with the samples of the 8 passengers and the mother because they have high Cycle Threshold value or CT value, which indicates a person has a low viral load. The genome center can produce more accurate results if the CT value is below 30, Vergeire said. These patients will be swabbed anew to ensure that samples are optimal for genome sequencing.

"Kapag ang CT value is more than 30, most often than not, hindi siya kayang i-process ng genome sequencing. Kaya ang more than 30, pinapa-reswab namin para matignan natin talaga at ma-verify if positive siya," she said.

[Translation: If the CT value is more than 30, more often than not, it cannot be processed for genome sequencing. If it's more than 30, we will ask them to be swabbed again so we can verify if they are positive for COVID-19.]

The results for the third batch of review from the Philippine Genome Center will be available this week, DOH said.

The patient with the UK variant is in stable condition and nearing the end of his mandatory quarantine, Vergeire said. The patient was immediately placed in a facility-based quarantine center upon arrival in the country.

Coronavirus cases in the Philippines reached 505,939 on Wednesday, while the death toll has reached 10,042.
Trump Pardons Former White House Strategist Steve Bannon in Wave of Pardons, Commutations

President Donald Trump on Tuesday granted pardons to dozens of individuals, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, in one of his final official acts as president.

Bannon, 67, was granted clemency by Trump as part of a wave of pardons and commutations, the White House confirmed in a news release late Tuesday. It came just hours ahead of President-elect Joe Bidens scheduled swearing-in ceremony which will see the former vice president take office as 46th president of the United States.

Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen, the White House statement said.

The president also granted a full pardon to rapper Lil Wayne, 38, and a commutation to rapper Kodak Black, 23. They were both prosecuted on federal weapons offenses. Trump also commuted the sentence of a former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was serving a 28-year prison term on corruption charges.

Ex-Breitbart editor-in-chief Bannon, who was a key adviser in Trumps 2016 presidential run, pleaded not guilty after he was charged in August last year, following allegations from the Department of Justice (DOJ) that he, Brian Kolfage, and two others funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the We Build the Wall campaign.

The alleged scheme, according to the DOJ, provided Kolfage with hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund his lavish lifestyle. Other investigators said that they engaged in fraud by allegedly telling donors that they misrepresented the use of their funds.

In December 2018, Kolfage and others created an online crowdfunding campaign via GoFundMe called We Build the Wall that raised more than $25 million to build a wall along the border.

The four were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Bannon in August described his arrest as a political hit job and an attempt to create fear in people who support Trumps efforts to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Im not going to back down. This is a political hit job, Bannon said on his War Room podcast, a day after his arrest last year. Im in this for the long haul. Im in this for the fight. Im going to continue to fight.

Everybody knows I love a fight, and I was called honey badger for many years. You know, the honey badger doesnt give a  So Im in this for the long haul. Im in this for the fight. Im going to continue to fight, Bannon said in the podcast.

Trump meanwhile said at the time of Bannons arrest that he felt very badly.

I havent been dealing with him for a long period of time as most of the people in this room know, he said.

Bannon is the latest prominent political ally to receive clemency from Trump. On Dec. 22, Trump pardoned George Papadopoulos, his former campaign aide who pleaded guilty as part of the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, codenamed Crossfire Hurricane, as well as 14 others, including several former GOP congressmen.

Jack Phillips and Reuters contributed to this report.
Dallas, TX, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa, the industrys largest community management company, and its national nonprofit organization, Associa Cares, provided support to 198 families in 2020 and distributed $327,400 in relief funds.

Launched in 2007, Associa Cares is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to assist families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters. Through donations raised from Associa employees and at fundraising events across the country, Associa Cares is able to provide direct financial relief to those affected by these types of tragedies. Since its inception, Associa Cares has provided over $4 million in relief assistance to more than 3,000 families.

In 2020, Associa offered special grants to local organizations serving thousands affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts, distributing $127,900 in COVID-19 relief funds. Community-based grants were issued to local organizations serving at-risk groups, including financial support to food pantries, funds to support meal delivery to at-risk individuals, and support for lunch programs for kids affected by school closings.

Associa Cares continued our commitment to providing crucial financial assistance to families who were overcoming challenging, unforeseen circumstances in 2020, with the generous help of our employees, business partners, and other donors, stated Andrew Fortin, Associa Cares president. Especially over the last year, we are proud to build upon the legacy of Associa Cares by stepping up to provide financial support and desperately needed hope to families that need it most. We look forward to continuing this mission into 2021 and beyond.

Associa Cares funds are distributed to organizations and families of Associa-managed and non-Associa managed communities. To donate to Associa Cares or apply for assistance, please visit our website at http://www.associacares.org or click here to like us on Facebook.

Associa Cares is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to assist families and communities in crisis as a result of natural and man-made disasters. Through donations raised from Associa employees and at fundraising events across the country, Associa Cares is able to provide necessary goods and services to the families affected by these types of tragedies.

With more than 200 branch offices across North America, Associa delivers unsurpassed management and lifestyle services to nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 10,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise and trailblazing innovation. For more than 40 years, Associa has provided solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com.

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Ukraine welcomes the imposition of U.S. sanctions on the Russian pipe-laying ship Fortuna and its owner, KVT-RUS, for its involvement in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.

"Ukraine welcomes new U.S. move against Nord Stream 2. Sanctions on Moscow-based KVT-RUS & Fortuna vessel will further complicate construction. We will continue working closely together with our strategic partner U.S. to protect the energy independence of Ukraine and entire Europe," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry posted on Twitter on January 19.

As reported, in December 2019, the United States of America passed legislation providing for sanctions on a ship involved in building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Due to the U.S. sanctions, its construction was suspended. However, the Russian side, with the consent of the German side, resumed work on its own, using the Fortuna pipe-laying ship. The 1,200 km long gas pipeline worth almost EUR 9.5 billion is 94% completed. The United States opposes the project, arguing that it will strengthen the Kremlin's grip on the European energy market while undermining Ukraine's security and economy.

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Gov. Ned Lamont is positioning lawmakers for a robust debate this year on legalizing and taxing the sale of marijuana for recreational use.

The administration has begun seeking agency feedback on a draft bill that would tax dry cannabis flowers at $1.25 per gram, trimmed marijuana plants at 50 cents per gram; and wet cannabis at 28 cents per gram. In addition to applying the standard sales tax of 6.35 percent to marijuana transactions, a 3 percent surcharge would be added and the revenue from this shared with municipalities.

The bill would also automatically erase convictions for possession of less than four ounces of cannabis that occurred prior to Oct. 1, 2015, and allow those convicted of this offense after that date to petition the state for erasure.

Lamont signaled during his Jan. 6 State of the State address that he was planning to pursue legalized marijuana as a source of new revenue for the state.

I am working with our neighboring states and look forward to working with our tribal partners on a path forward to modernize gaming in our state, as well as the legislature on legalization of marijuana, Lamont said. Sports betting, internet gaming, and legalized marijuana are happening all around us. Lets not surrender these opportunities to out-of-state markets or even worse, underground markets.

Max Reiss, the governors communications director, added Tuesday that the administration is continuing to work toward that goal.

But the draft bill does not guarantee Lamont will incorporate this in the two-year budget due to lawmakers next month, nor is it likely to represent the governors full plan. Lamont proposed a marijuana commercialization bill last year, but still opted to include no revenue from it in his budget. And draft bills routinely exclude provisions the administration intends to craft later in collaboration with legislative committee.

The administrations draft bill also:

Limits marketing so children are not targeted for cannabis sales;

Increases trained drug recognition experts in state and municipal police departments;

And updates Connecticuts clean air act to incorporate cannabis and vaping within existing restrictions on secondhand smoke.

Though lawmakers have discussed marijuana commercialization frequently at the committee level over the past four years, Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, co-chairman of the Public Health Committee, said Tuesday that I think it has extremely stronger prospects than it had in recent years.

If the legislation is to pass, though, Steinberg said his panel and other health advocates must place as large a role in shaping the legislation as will others concerned with fiscal and criminal justice matters.

Sen. Douglas McCrory, D-Hartford, co-chair of the Education Committee, has been one of the legislatures strongest voices for de-criminalization of cannabis, including expunging the records of those convicted previously.

McCrory also said there would be strong opposition to taxing cannabis sales  and giving Connecticut government a new stream of revenue  if those dollars arent used to help the states poor urban centers, where many of the marijuana-related convictions occurred.

Frosty the Snowman would have a better chance of passing summer school in hell than any piece of legislation in Connecticut if it doesnt deal with equity, economics and the communities that have been targeted and devastated by this fake war on drugs, McCrory said.

Sen. John Fonfara, another Hartford Democrat, said marijuana commercialization is a nonstarter unless its a tool to reverse systemic racism.

Its about building wealth in the [disadvantaged] community, said Fonfara, who co-chairs the tax-writing Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. If youre going to tackle racism, its based in giving people economic opportunity and economic power. Its an imperative for me.

But the top Republican in the House, Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, of North Branford, said its a mistake to assume marijuana commercialization will pass this year.

Candelora, a longtime opponent of cannabis legalization, said many lawmakers initially are drawn by the lure of more revenue for the state, but then pause when they study the details more closely.

Lamonts proposal doesnt offer any revenue estimate. And when the legislatures nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis last projected receipts from taxing marijuana, in 2017, its annual revenue estimate of $115 million was based on models from other states.

Pro-commercialization advocates have suggested Connecticuts annual take could be $170 million or more.

There are other ways for government to make money, Candelora said, adding that the debate cant ignore the potential impact on Connecticuts children. The science is really against it, when you look at the impact on youth, on developing brains, on drug addiction.

Joseph Biggs, a leader of the far-right nationalist group the Proud Boys, was charged on Wednesday in connection with the riot at the Capitol, as prosecutors said he led dozens of the groups members in an angry march toward  and into  the halls of Congress.

Mr. Biggs, 37, was arrested in Florida only hours before the inauguration of President Biden and stands accused of unlawful entry and corruptly obstructing an official proceeding. At least five other members of the group, which sent hundreds of foot soldiers to Washington two weeks ago for a march in support of former President Donald J. Trump, are also facing charges stemming from the Capitol attack.

The Proud Boys describe themselves as Western chauvinists and have history in recent years of bloody street fights with left-wing anti-fascist activists. During Mr. Trumps time in office, they were some of his most vocal  and most violent  supporters. At one of the presidential debates, Mr. Trump returned the favor, telling members of the group to stand back and stand by.

Mr. Biggss involvement with the Capitol riot began last month, prosecutors say, when he started to encourage Proud Boys to attend the Jan. 6 event in Washington, which was billed as a march to Stop the Steal. According to court papers, he echoed messages from the Proud Boys chairman, Enrique Tarrio, telling members to eschew their typical black-and-yellow polo shirts and instead go incognito and move about the city in smaller teams.
A Boston medical doctor who had volunteered to treat COVID-19 patients has died while climbing the worlds 12th highest mountain in Pakistan.

Pakistan's military located Alex Goldfarb-Rumyantzev's body on Monday in the Karakoram mountains, marking the second death of a foreign climber in the area in less than a week.

A helicopter team spotted Goldfarb's remains during a search and rescue operation that began on Sunday, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan.

Alex Goldfarb-Rumyantzev, 56, a COVID doctor from Boston, was mountain-climbing in Pakistan when he went missing on Saturday. His body was located on Monday

This is one of the last photos showing Goldfarb (center foreground) with his mountaineering companions in Pakistan

Goldfarb and his mountaineering partner set out to climb Pastore Peak, but were met with harsh winter conditions. Goldfarb decided to continue climbing alone (stock image)

Goldfarb appeared to have fallen off the mountain, Hungarian expedition company Magyar Expedicios, which was supporting the climbers, said in a statement.

Goldfarb and his Hungarian mountaineering partner Zoltan Szlanko were planning to climb the 26,400-foot-high Broad Peak, which has yet to be ascended in winter, without the use of oxygen or any porters for help, according to Magyar Expedicios.

Broad Peak is situated not far from the legendary K2, which, at 28,251 feet above sea level, is the second highest mountain in the world, after Mount Everest at 29,028 feet.

To acclimate for that climb, the pair set out to climb nearby Pastore Peak, but were met with harsh winter conditions and Szlanko decided to turn back, while Goldfarb continued alone.

Szlanko joined the search for his partner after he failed to return as planned on Saturday.

Goldfarb, an experienced mountaineer, was reported missing after failing to return from his climb on Saturday. Officials believe he had fallen off the mountain

The plan was for Goldfarb (right) and his partner to climb Broad Peak, which is the world's 12th highest mountain

Goldfarb, a nephrologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a lecturer at Harvard University, had been treating COVID-19 patients since the outset of the pandemic, his son Levi Goldfarb told Reuters.

'He thought [mountain climbing] was beautiful,' Levi said. 'He thought it was liberating, because up in the mountains it didn't really matter who you were at sea level -- a doctor, a lawyer, or even a thief, all of those labels were stripped away and you were playing by a different set of rules.

'He made great friends in the mountains, he saved lives and was saved [by others] himself, and he traveled the world doing it.'

Levi has launched a GoFundMe page to help pay for transporting his father's body back to the US for burial. He wrote movingly in the description of the campaign of his father's stunning journey, from a penniless Russian immigrant working in a factory and selling his plasma for cash, to a professor of medicine at Harvard with two doctorate degrees.

Goldfarb was a nephrologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a lecturer at Harvard University who had published over 70 articles and several books

'He went on to have a stunning academic career, publishing over 70 peer-reviewed publications and several books, the most recent of which was the first Critical Care Medicine book to include a chapter on COVID,' wrote Goldfarb's son.

'Alex taught me to always strive to be better; he was constantly reading, researching, writing, and adventuring. No achievement was ever enoughhe enjoyed the thrill of the chase. He taught me that a persons true character shows in difficult circumstances: when the COVID pandemic first broke out, most peoplemyself includedpreferred to stay home and keep themselves safe.

'Alex sought out the epicenter of the pandemic on the Eastern SeaboardElmhurst hospitaland drove there immediately to treat patients in need. He taught me to stand up for what I believe is right, and to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Goldfarb had been treating COVID-19 patients since the outset of the pandemic

'If asked what his greatest achievement was, Alex would no doubt mention his family. We knew that he would do anything for uswe never had to worry, because he would shoulder any burden for those he loved. He was a great man, and I am proud to be his son. I hope I can one day be a fraction of the man he was.'

Goldfarb is survived by his two sons. He would have celebrated his 57th birthday in two weeks' time.

Spanish climber Sergio Mingote also died in the Karakoram mountains on Saturday, after he fell down a crevasse while attempting to make his way down to Base Camp on K2, the world's second-highest mountain.

Travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic dampened the traditionally active summer months of mountaineering in the region last year.
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Authorities have released body camera video of the moment an unarmed black man was shot dead by a white cop while he was suffering from a mental health crisis.

Patrick Warren Sr, 52, died on January 10 after being shot three times in the chest by Killeen Police Officer Reynaldo Contreras outside his home in central Texas.

Warren's loved ones claim they had requested help from a mental health professional for the husband and father-of-three - but the officer turned up to their home instead.

Killeen Police Chief Charles Kimble on Tuesday released body camera footage from the incident, under pressure from the family who have demanded transparency and the arrest of Contreras.

Kimble said the footage showed that Contreras followed protocol for use of force, adding: 'I don't see where he could've done anything else.'

The Killeen Police Department on Tuesday released bodycam footage showing the moment Patrick Warren Sr, 52, was shot dead by Officer Reynaldo Contreras outside his home in central Texas on January 10

The video begins with Contreras approaching Warren's home, ringing the doorbell, knocking and announcing: 'Killeen Police.'

Someone inside the home is vaguely heard inviting the officer to open the door. When he does, Warren is standing in the hallway and repeatedly tells Contreras to 'come on in'.

Contreras declines and backs off the porch as he radios to ask for a channel to communicate with dispatchers.

He waits outside for about a minute and a half before Warren emerges from the home and roars at Contreras, raising his hand in the shape of a claw.

Warren's loved ones claim they had requested help from a mental health professional for the husband and father-of-three (pictured) - but the officer turned up to their home instead

The officer responds by saying: 'Let me see your hands' and pointing his taser at Warren.

Warren lifts both arms in the air as the taser's laser guide lands on his chest.

'Get down on the ground. Get down on the ground,' Contreras says.

Warren ignores the order and advances slowly toward the officer, waving his arms and shouting unintelligibly.

Contreras warns: 'You're going to get tased' before pulling the trigger. A buzzing noise is heard as Warren convulses and falls onto his snowy lawn.

'Lay down on your back!' the officer shouts as Warren tries to get up, the taser still on him.

Warren shouts in pain and manages to stand and run awkwardly toward Contreras, who continues backing up into a neighbor's yard.

Contreras raised his taser after Warren ignored repeated warnings to stand still

Contreras fired the taser while family members watched in the background

'Stay back! I'm gonna shoot you! I'm gonna shoot you!' Contreras says before three gunshots ring out and Warren falls a few feet away from the officer.

Family members who followed Warren outside are heard screaming as Contreras announces 'shots fired' into his radio.

Warren then manages to lift himself up briefly as Contreras, who is still holding his gun out, shouts: 'Get on the ground! Stay down!'

Warren groans and writhes in pain as blood stains the driveway around him and other police cruisers arrive on the scene.

Contreras tells him: 'Let me help you, lay down on the ground. I will help you if you let me, lay down on the ground.'

Warren continues trying to get up until two other police officers approach and restrain him.

'I had no choice, man. Dammit,' Contreras is heard telling the officers.

Soon after, when paramedics were treating Warren, Contreras recited The Lord's Prayer over his body.

'Stay back! I'm gonna shoot you! I'm gonna shoot you!' Contreras says before three gunshots ring out and Warren falls a few feet away from the officer

Warren continued trying to get off the ground before another officer came to restrain him. 'I had no choice, man. Dammit,' Contreras is heard saying

When paramedics were treating Warren, Contreras recited The Lord's Prayer over his body

Chief Kimble expressed support for his officer's handling of the situation on Tuesday.

'I saw an officer try and handle a call, de-escalate a call,' Kimble said. 'I saw him go through his progression of force, his presence.

He noted that Contreras tried not to engage with Warren by continuing to back away.

'If you look where officer Contreras started, where he ended, he was literally at the front steps of the house and literally ended up in a neighbor's yard,' he said.

Kimble said that officers have limited tools available to them on mental health calls and: 'Sometimes we are put in situation as the one that was presented today.'

He said he welcomes further discussion on the topic, adding: 'We don't want this to happen anymore.'

Contreras, a five-year veteran of the force, was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

The bodycam video was released days after Warren's family released their own footage recorded by a doorbell camera and cellphone

Kimble made the bodycam video public days after Warren's family released their own footage, recorded by a doorbell camera and cellphone.

That video, which was edited, showed Contreras walking up to the door before Warren emerged from the house and they both moved out of the frame.

After the shots were fired a man's voice screams at the cop: 'I told you, don't use a gun'.

The video then cuts to another clip which appeared to have been recorded on a smartphone.

Warren is seen on his knees on the grass before he clambers to his feet.

A male voice, presumably his son, is heard shouting: 'Hey, hey dad. Sit down!'

The voice repeatedly shouts 'sit down' and a woman is heard screaming as Warren Sr. walks off camera and is no longer visible.

Suddenly, three gunshots are heard and screams pierce the sky, with someone shouting: 'No, don't shoot him!'

The male voice thought to be Warren's son is heard shouting: 'No I told you, don't use a gun.'

'I told you, I told you,' he repeats multiple times after seeing Warren gunned down.

Warren was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The doorbell footage begins with Contreras arriving at the door to the family home around 5.30pm on January 10 and ringing the doorbell

Warren then emerges from the home waving his hands as Contreras orders him to stand still

Another clip, which appears to have been recorded on a smartphone, showed Warren kneeling on the grass after being tasered by Contreras

Patrick Warren Jr, the victim's son, said the family had requested the help of a mental health officer and were surprised when the cop turned up.

They said they had also called for help the day before and - as requested - a mental health professional arrived at their home.

The professional managed to calm Warren down and took him to Advent Medical for treatment.

He then returned home but continued to suffer mental health issues the next day, his family said.

Warren Jr told CBS Local the family asked Contrera to leave their home because he was 'hostile' toward them.

A rally was held outside of the Killeen police headquarters on January 14 demanding justice for Warren (pictured) and for change in how mental health situations are handled by authorities

Contrera returned and knocked on the door again just moments later, he said.

He said his father answered the door and stepped out with his hands in the air.

At this point, he said he noticed the red beam of a taser shining on the door.

'The only reason we got up and walked to the door was because we saw an infrared beam from a taser on the door which concerned us. We heard a pop,' he told the outlet.

'We got up. We ran to the door. By the time we made it outside, my father was on the ground.'

Lee Merritt, the attorney for Warren's family and the person who released the footage, is calling for Contrera to be arrested and charged with Warren murder.

'#PatrickWarrenSr was murdered by @KilleenPD. He was on his own property. He was unarmed,' tweeted Merritt Wednesday.

'He was suffering a mental health crisis and simply needed help. Instead he was shot three times in his chest and tased. We demand the immediate arrest of this officer.'

'A mental health call should not be a death sentence,' Merritt said in a statement.

It is not clear if Contreras had any mental health training. The Texas Rangers are handling the investigation into Warren death.

Warren Jr told CBS Local his family - in particular his younger brother, who has Down Syndrome - have been struggling to come to terms with what happened.

'He's constantly - he was like, you know: "My father's in heaven?" And I have to answer that question 1,000 times a day, and sometimes he just breaks down and he just wants to cry,' Warren Jr said.

A rally was held outside of the Killeen police headquarters on January 14 demanding justice for the 52-year-old black man and for change in how mental health situations are handled by authorities.

The demonstration was led by the Killeen group Brothers and Sisters Against Community Crime.

One community member at the rally told CBS Local they wanted to show 'this will not be tolerated in our community. You will not get away with killing this man on his property.'

Others said Killeen police officers had been seen continually driving by the home of Warren's family since the shooting.

A GoFundMe account set up by Warren Jr to help pay funeral expenses had topped $54,000 by Wednesday. It says Warren (pictured with one of his children) was the sole provider of his family but had lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic

A GoFundMe account set up by Warren Jr to help pay funeral expenses had topped $54,000 by Wednesday.

It says Warren was the sole provider of his family but had lost his job during the coronavirus pandemic.

'Our main objective to make sure this doesn't happen again and that no one else has to go through a tragedy like this and watch your father be shot and killed by someone you called for help,' it reads.

Warren's death marks the latest cop killing of black men and women in the last year.

Protests erupted across America and further afield after Floyd's 'murder' on Memorial Day 2020 after white cop Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

EMT Breonna Taylor, 26, was shot six times in March when three plainclothes officers performed a botched raid at her Louisville apartment.

In June, unarmed father Rayshard Brooks was shot dead while he ran from cops in the drive-thru of a Wendy's restaurant in Atlanta.

Then, in August, Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by a white cop in front of his three young children, leaving the father-of-six paralyzed from the waist down.

Several incidents have also been during call outs for mental health situations.

Back in March, Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old black man, died after cops placed a spit hood over his head and pressed his face into the ground for two minutes in Rochester, New York, while he appeared to be suffering a psychotic episode.
PORT HURON, MI -- McLaren Health Care Corporation will pay the United States the nations largest settlement of its kind for allegations of drug diversion at a health care system.

The United States Attorneys Offices for the Western and Eastern Districts of Michigan announced Tuesday, Jan. 19, McLaren Health Care Corporation (MHCC) agreed to pay the United States $7.75 million to resolve allegations that it violated certain provisions of the Controlled Substances Act, according to a U.S. Attorneys Office news release.

According to the CDC, drug diversion is when prescription medicines are obtained or used illegally.

The government alleged that McLaren Port Huron Pharmacy and McLaren Yale Pharmacy in the Eastern District of Michigan dispensed Schedule II drugs without written prescriptions and despite red flags that those drugs were being diverted by the MHCCs pharmacist who were in charge. The government further alleged that several MHCC facilities violated the Controlled Substances Acts recordkeeping provisions by failing to notify DEA of known employee thefts of controlled substances.

Examples of Schedule II substances include fentanyl, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate, methamphetamine, pentobarbital and secobarbital. Schedule II drugs have the tightest regulations when compared to other prescription drugs.

Health systems carry a public responsibilities to block drug diversion that contributes to the surging opioid crisis in the State of Michigan, Andrew Birge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, said in a statement.

Hospitals and health systems handle significant quantities of controlled substances and must fulfill their legal obligations for handling those drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, Birge said. This settlement demonstrates our offices shared commitment to working cooperatively, together and with our agency partners, to hold even the largest providers accountable when they fall short of what the law demands.

As part of the settlement, the release states MHCC admitted that:

The McLaren Port Huron and Yale Pharmacies did not have written prescriptions for approximately 1,255 Schedule II prescription events between May 1, 2014 and February 22, 2018.

MHCCs Prescription Services pharmacy distributed controlled substances to an unregistered treatment facility in Boyne Falls, Michigan between November 22, 2015 and November 13, 2017 without making a good faith inquiry into whether that treatment facility was registered with DEA.

McLaren Greater Lansing did not notify DEA of certain thefts of controlled substances between July 27, 2007 and May 31, 2019.

Theft and diversion of controlled substances occurred at certain of MHCCs location.

Some of MHCCs corporate policiesincluding legacy policies that remained in place after MHCCs integration with Port Huron Hospitalwere not consistent with the requirements of the Controlled Substances Act and its regulations.

MHCC also entered into a three-year Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA through the settlement that dictates the systems drug handling responsibilities, mandates external controlled substance audits and requires MHCC to institute an educational program focused on preventing drug diversion in the workplace.

In reaching this settlement, the government recognized the substantial steps MHCC took in response to DEAs investigation to address problems in its handling of controlled substances, the news release states.

The civil settlement resulted from investigation over multiple years by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration into MHCCs handling of controlled substances, according to the news release.

The DEA began its investigation after learning that an unregistered substance abuse treatment facility was improperly receiving controlled substances from an MHCC subsidiary pharmacy in the Western District of Michigan by calling in prescriptions for office stock.

These violations, the government claimed, stemmed in part from certain facility policies that were inconsistent with the Controlled Substances Acts requirements and MHCCs failure to revise other legacy policies that remained in place after MHCC acquired corporate health care providers.

Now, under this settlement, McLaren is stepping up and implementing more robust compliance measures, United States Attorney Matthew Schneider said in a statement.

Thats exactly what we expect of corporations in Michigan who do wrong: they recognize their mistakes and learn from them, which benefits their employees and the public, Schneider said.

The DEA expanded its investigation and concluded that certain of MHCCs controlled substances practices, at numerous facilities across the State of Michigan, violated the Controlled Substances Act and its implementing regulations.

The civil settlement resulted from investigation over multiple years by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration into MHCCs handling of controlled substances, according to a U.S. Attorneys Office news release.

Red flags included:

pattern prescriptions for the same type of drugs, in the same quantities, from the same prescriber.

prescriptions for excessive quantities of highly-addictive Schedule II drugs; repeated early prescription refills.

significant outlier drug volumes for individual patients and prescribers; prescription entries in the names of fake patients.

discrepancies between the cash reported and cash collected for controlled substance prescriptions.

The government alleged that other MHCC pharmacies also dispensed controlled substances despite obvious red flags that the underlying prescriptions may have been issued without a legitimate medical purpose or were otherwise unauthorized.

The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Townshend and Caroline Burgunder.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability, the news release states.

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Agartala, Jan 20 : The opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLAs on Wednesday staged a protest for the first time after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in Tripura in 2018. The left party staged the protest against the attacks on opposition parties, MLAs, MPs and other leaders.

The CPI(M) legislators carried placards during the protest march in the capital city Agartala before the sit-in demonstration, terming the BJP-led government's rule as 'Jungle Raj'.

Demanding his immediate intervention, a six-member CPI(M) delegation led by former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar met Governor Ramesh Bais and apprised him about the "total lawlessness in the state".

The Left party leaders demanded to allow democratic and political activities by opposition parties and elected leaders without hindrance.

Sarkar said the CPI(M) leaders and MLAs, including Tripura Legislative Assembly member and former Minister Badal Chowdhury and Rajya Sabha member Jharna Das Baidya, were attacked three to 12 times while undertaking any political activity or visited their areas during the past three years.

"A large number of opposition party offices, including district level offices specially the CPI(M), are either occupied or destroyed by the ruling BJP workers and their goons. In many cases police and the concerned authorities are not giving permission to organise indoor or outdoor rallies, meetings and democratic activities," the Left leader told the media.

Sarkar, who was Tripura's longest serving Chief Minister for 20 years (1998-2018) until the BJP-led alliance captured power in March 2018, alleged that "jungle raj has been unleashed after the BJP came to power in the state".

He said the BJP workers and the "goons backed by them" are not sparing even doctors, nurses, health workers, lawyers, journalists, police personnel, besides thousands of opposition party members and supporters.

The former Chief Minister and other party leaders said thousands of houses, properties, shops and business establishments belonging to opposition party members specially the CPI-M were either burnt down, damaged or looted during the past three years.

Sarkar said they told the Governor that crimes against women, including teenagers, minors and aged women, are happening every week.

"The incidents of killing and unnatural deaths have become the order of the day. Police and the law enforcement agencies remain mute spectators leading to a rise in crimes of a horrifying nature," he said.

Former Minister and CPI(M) Central Committee member Badal Chowdhury said the BJP workers and their hooligans also attacked the condolence meetings organised after the death of any party leader, worker or any eminent personality.

The opposition Congress also observed a 12-hour shutdown on Monday to protest against the alleged attack on state Party President Pijush Biswas by "BJP goons".

Premier Mark McGowan has ruled out changing the mix of city and country representatives in the upper house as an election pledge, despite the government exploring ways to reform the chamber over the past four years.

Mr McGowan labelled the electoral system as "fundamentally unfair" in 2017 after a landslide Labor win  where the party only picked up one more seat in the upper house than the Liberals and Nationals despite getting 120,000 more votes  which still left it well short of a majority in the legislative council.

Premier Mark McGowan has ruled out changing the country-city ratio for WA upper house representatives. Credit:Facebook

There are 18 metropolitan members and 18 country members in the WA upper house despite regional areas only making up 26 per cent of the 1.5 million registered voters in the last election.

This means that the Mining and Pastoral region  with 68,000 voters  has the same amount of representatives as the South Metropolitan district  with 409,000 voters.


Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 17:48:08|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong police said on Wednesday that they arrested seven people suspected of conspiracy to launder money and other crimes, which involved 6.3 billion HK dollars (about 813 million U.S. dollars).

The police discovered a transnational commercial criminal group operating in Hong Kong when tracking an e-mail fraud case. The group used forged identity certificates and false company information to open bank accounts in Hong Kong, in which seven local bank staff members were involved.

The group successfully opened 14 corporate accounts and processed about 6.3 billion HK dollars of suspected crime proceeds between 2017 and 2020.

The police said the seven bank staff members arrested involved five males and two females. The case was still under investigation and the police would not rule out more arrests. (1 U.S. dollar = 7.75 HK dollars) Enditem
At 11.50am, the latest successor to George Washington cleared his throat, placed his bony left paw on a bible which might once have been Gandalf's spell book and began croakily reciting the oath of office.

Joe Biden took his time. This was now his right. The man derided for so long as one of life's dawdlers no longer had to hurry for anyone.

Perfect hair? Check. Neatly arranged tie? Check. Ice white grin? Check, check, check.

President Joe Biden hugs his wife Dr Jill Biden after being sworn in as 46th President of the United States

Donald and Melania Trump take their final trip on Air Force One to Palm Beach International Airport

No more can his enemies write him off as 'Sleepy Joe'. No more would he be the occupant of Washington DC's nearly man plinth. He was in charge now. Le grand fromage. The big enchilada.

Small wonder those blue Irish eyes of his were flickering with emotion. No sooner had he been sworn in  'so help me God!'  than the new American President turned to his wife Jill, took her in his arms, and planted her lips with a giant smackeroo.

Meanwhile, the crowd whooped and clapped as though it was Independence Day all over again. Which for them it really was.

For the assortment of ex-presidents, judges, senators and other Washington pooh-bahs gathered there to witness an inauguration like no other  face masks, flags instead of people in the Mall, hesitant social contact  the new first family's well-choreographed clinch marked the moment they had got their city back.

Pop star Lady Gaga was the one who stole the show in a giant puffball designer dress

For four years they had been insulted and abused by the maverick in the White House and his collection of goons. They were part of Washington's stinking 'swamp'. Corrupt and only out for themselves. Crooks and liars all. Now, the elite had one of their own back on the throne. Biden, a Washington suit, the ultimate company man in political terms who'd earned his spurs and more over almost 40 years.

The orange disrupter was out on his ear. Peace and order had been restored to the American citadel.

The political establishment heavies who gathered yesterday looked on at the loving family Biden and nodded their approval. Yes, they would do very nicely, thank you.

Barack Obama beamed like a proud university don handing over the baton to one of his students as he greeted new Vice President Kamala Harris, a beacon in radiant purple and perpetual smiles.

Coloured flags and face masks ensured this was an inauguration like no other in front of the Capitol

As for Michele Obama, her capacious maroon number was a hit, too. Wowee did she look good! George W Bush curled his lip as though appreciating a fine Havana. Bill Clinton briefly appeared to nod off.

Eventually, Biden approached the lectern to make the most important speech he would ever make in his life. Stood there, arms aloft, a self-satisfied smile spread across his face, he looked like a man possibly still trying to work out how he had ended up here.

Twice before, he'd applied to the American people for this job. Both times he'd barely got out of the starting blocks. Yet now, here he was collecting the keys to the world. The speech itself was part sermon, part pep talk. And actually it was pretty good. A soothing ointment on America's still prickly skin.

Unity was theme as we had all expected. I lost count of the amount of times he said it. 'Let's all come together,' sort of stuff.

The farewell crowd which had gathered at Andrews Air Force Base was humiliatingly thin

There were no juvenile pot shots at foreign powers. None of that 'American carnage' nonsense of his immediate predecessor. Instead we got a lot of lofty talk about getting Americans to treat each other as neighbours again.

'My whole soul is in this,' Biden announced solemnly. You knew instinctively that he meant it and that was the moment emotion flowed. Here was a man who, at the age of 78, had reached the pinnacle of his life's journey.

As for the rest of the ceremony, well it was like being at the opening of Disneyland. A delightful, giant slushfest. Say what you like about these Americans, they sure know how to put on show.

And pop star Lady Gaga was the one who stole it in a giant puffball designer dress, her blonde locks fetchingly arranged like a Swiss mountain girl and with an enormous golden dove perched above her breast.

She gave a spirited rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner that was powerful enough to shatter Waterford crystal. Magnifico!

Biden signs three documents including an Inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations

Best inauguration performance ever. (And don't tell Dr Jill, but I'm sure I spotted Joe making sheep eyes at her. Don't blame him.)

Voluptuous chanteuse Jennifer Lopez did her best with This Land Is Your Land, but it turned out to be a rather treacly dirge which didn't quite have the same impact as Her Gaganess who beat her to the best tune. (Hard to believe Ms Lopez just turned 51, though. And it wasn't just the politicos who were celebrating yesterday. These luvvie celebs are delighted Trump has gone. Didn't fit with their brand, darling. Too brash. Too tacky.

At one point I spotted J-Lo gushing over Kamala Harris. A girly night at the White House will no doubt soon be in the offing.

Oh, and later on country & western good ol' boy Garth Brooks crooned a few numbers. Always wondered what had happened to Garth. It's possible he's consumed a few pies since I last laid eyes on him. This all might have been a tad heavy on the sugar for some palates. But when you're here in person even the flintiest of souls couldn't fail to feel moved by this onslaught of Yankee schmaltz and pageantry.

All the beaming smiles, back slapping and happy families were a marked contrast to the morning Donald Trump was having.

Melania started the day tip to toe in black like an Italian nonna in mourning (left) before changing into her Florida attire (right)

The outgoing President emerged from the White House for the last time shortly after 8am. We were told the residence was going to be deep cleaned ahead of the Bidens' arrival that evening. Can't have the new first family turning up with the whiff of The Donald's aftershave still lingering in the air.

Marching across the South Lawn, Trump looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp. Boy was he cross. He stopped to salute a marine for what seemed like an age. Well, wasn't going to get to do it again any time soon was he?

Wife Melania, tip to toe in black like an Italian nonna in mourning and hiding behind a pair of sunglasses, was alongside. Had she been having a quiet blub?

The farewell crowd which had gathered at Andrews Air Force Base was humiliatingly thin. Town hall meeting numbers. Basically a hatful of hangers on and those gamey looking Trump children.

Voluptuous chanteuse Jennifer Lopez did her best with This Land Is Your Land, but it turned out to be a rather treacly dirge

Apparently, no Republic bigwigs could be persuaded to turn up. Even Trump's stone-faced Vice President and loyal terrier Mike Pence had declined to come, preferring instead to go to the inauguration. Mr Pence can probably rule out a gratis membership of Mar-a-Lago in the future. The Trumps briefly took to the stage to say their farewells. Geez, if you could have bottled the tension between them you could solve the energy crisis.

Trump resisted any jibes at the new administration. He mainly whined about how the pandemic had wrecked his term in office.

Melania was allowed to say a few words  how being first lady had been the 'greatest honour of my life' before her husband swiftly wrestled back control of the microphone.

'We'll be back soon,' said Trump as he prepared to clamber aboard Air Force One en route to Florida. Uh oh. Comeback alert! And with that he was off, no doubt to spend more time with his lawyers. Thank you and goodnight, Vienna.

The new President and the First Lady and their families strode out en masse for the White House

As Air Force One began its steady climb above the clouds, I could hear a faint muffle of cheers around Downtown Washington DC.

Ding dong the Trump had gone.

In stark contrast to that departure, the Biden clan were heading to their new home  they even walked part of the way.

And what a moment that was when they stepped out of the limousines, lined up behind the new President and the First Lady and strode out en masse for the White House. They were all there, children and grandchildren, waving politely to the small crowds gathered along the route, arms interlinked at some points, even stopping for the odd hug.

President Joe Biden made a grand entrance into the White House he had assured the country he would occupy after he won the election

It was as if Joe was telling the world that they came as a package. Love me, love my family.

Ah, the White House. Scene of so many dreams and broken destinies  and here was Joe & Co to take their chance.

A marching band welcomed them with a rendition of 'Hail to the Chief' and 'God Bless America' and they all disappeared inside. A touching scene. Even if life for all of them would now never be the same. again.


CHICAGO, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Interventional Cardiology Devices Market by type (Stents, Structural Heart, Catheters, Plaque Modification (Atherectomy), Hemodynamic Flow Alteration (Embolic Protection, Total Occlusion), Guidewire, Introducer Sheath, IVUS)) - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Interventional Cardiology Devices Market size is projected to reach USD 21.2 billion by 2025 from USD 13.8 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.9%.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Interventional Cardiology Devices Market"

179  Tables

38  Figures

196  Pages

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=548

The Growth in this market is driven mainly by the rapid growth in the geriatric population and the associated increase in the prevalence of coronary artery diseases, approval of new and advanced products, and the growing preference for minimally invasive surgeries.

The old/normal balloons segment accounted for the largest share of the angioplasty balloons market in 2019.

Based on type, the angioplasty balloons market is segmented into old/normal balloons, cutting and scoring balloons, and drug-eluting balloons. In 2019, the old/normal balloons segment accounted for the largest share of the angioplasty balloons market. The large share of this segment can be attributed to a increasing its use in impating the stents and structural heart devices; and increasing prevalence of vaulvuloplasty.

Thrombectomy devices segment accounted for the largest share of the plaque modification devices market in 2019.

Based on type, the plaque modification devices market is segmented into atherectomy devices and thrombectomy devices. In 2019, the thrombectomy devices segment accounted for the largest share of the plaque modification devices market. Growth in this market segment can largely be attributed to the increasing incidence of blood clots and atrial embolisms across the globe.

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North America accounted for the largest share of the interventional cardiology devices market in 2019.

North America accounted for the largest share of the interventional cardiology market in 2019. The large share of this segment can primarily be attributed to the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases, the growing geriatric population, and the strong presence of industry players in the region.

Some of the major players in the interventional cardiology devices market include Medtronic (US), Boston Scientific Corporation (US), Abbott (US), Cardinal Health (US), iVascular (Spain), Edward Lifescinces Corporation (US), B. Braun Melsungen (Germany), Terumo Corporation (Japan), Biosensors International Group (Singapore), and BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG (Germany).

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Browse Adjacent Markets: Medical Devices Market Research Reports & Consulting

Browse Related Reports:

European Medical Devices Market by Type (Diagnostic Imaging, Endoscopy Equipment, Respiratory Care, Cardiac Monitoring Devices, Haemodialysis Devices, Ophthalmic Devices, Anesthesia Monitoring), End User (Hospitals, Home-care) - Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/european-medical-devices-market-241277169.html

Vascular Closure Devices Market by Type (Passive Approximators (Collagen Plugs Sealent/Gel Based), Active Approximators (Clip, Suture Devices)), Access (Femoral,Radial) & Procedure (Interventional Cardiology, Radiology) - Global Forecasts to 2022

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vascular-closure-device-market-180101468.html

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Canadian Prime Minister said Tuesday that his officials have already made the case to US President-elect Joe Biden's incoming administration for a long disputed oil pipeline that reports say Biden will cancel on his first day in office.

Trudeau said that over the last several days, including Tuesday, his officials have communicated arguments in favour of the Keystone XL pipeline to the highest levels of his administration.

A few Canadian media outlets reported Sunday that Biden plans to scrap the pipeline immediately upon taking office Wednesday. Biden's plan is outlined in transition documents seen by the outlets.

Trudeau released a statement late Tuesday after speaking to the premier of the oil rich province of Alberta.

The Prime Minister stated that has made the case for the project, including recently to President-elect Biden, and Ambassador Hillman and others in government have also been speaking with high-level officials in the incoming administration, Trudeau said.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said in a different statement that he urged Trudeau to tell Biden that rescinding the Keystone XL border crossing permit would damage the Canada-US bilateral relationship.

Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said this week the transition team had no comment on the pipeline.

A person familiar with the pipeline matter said Monday that the document cited by Canadian news media was a draft slide that was a few weeks old.

Despite the timing suggested in the draft slide, everything on it may not happen on day one, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record on the matter.

The 1,700-mile (2,735-kilometer) pipeline would carry roughly 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma.

First proposed in 2008, the pipeline has become emblematic of the tensions between economic development and curbing the fossil fuel emissions that are causing climate change.

The Obama administration rejected it, but President Donald Trump revived it and has been a strong supporter. Construction already started.

Trudeau raised Keystone XL as a top priority when he spoke with Biden in a phone call in November. The project is meant to expand critical oil exports for Canada, which has the third-largest oil reserves in the world.

Trudeau and Biden are politically aligned and there are expectations for a return to normal relations after four years of Trump, but the pipeline is expected to be an early irritant as Biden has said he would cancel it.

Trudeau has tried to balance the oil industry's desire for more pipelines with environmentalists' concerns.

He canceled one major pipeline to the Pacific coast from oil-rich Alberta, but approved another and instituted a national carbon tax.

Trudeau said Canadians will be watching the swearing-in of Biden and Vice President-elect Harris.

This moment will mark a new chapter in the incredible relationship between our two countries, Trudeau 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.)



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The most powerful moment of Joe Bidens inaugural address was one when he fell silent.

In what he called his first act as president, Biden asked for a silent prayer on behalf of the more than 400,000 Americans who have died of COVID-19.

At a time of deep national division, Biden knew it was one of the few acts that could touch every American  and provide a small measure of unity going forward.

We will honor them, Biden said, by becoming the people and nation that we know we can and should be.

It was one of many calls for unity in Bidens 21-minute speech, a prologue to what will be a long effort to move the country beyond Donald Trumps four divisive years.

The silence was Bidens acknowledgment that his first and most important job as president will be to end the pandemic that has crippled the nation, in large part because of the federal governments bungled response under Trump.

Bidens use of silence is extremely important, said Norma Mendoza-Denton, a professor of linguistics anthropology at UCLA. President Trump never mentioned the death toll. He was never one to dwell on anything negative, whether it was the economy or the unrest.

Its like saying theres a big elephant in the room, said Mendoza-Denton, co-editor of the book Language in the Trump Era: Scandals and Emergencies. The value of acknowledging the elephant is that you can then make a plan to get it out of the room.

Recognizing the human impact of the pandemic was a central theme of the inauguration. On Tuesday, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a ceremony where 400 lights around the Lincoln Memorials reflecting pool were illuminated to honor Americas COVID victims.

The moment of silence was another way for the loss to be recognized in a way that was deeply personal, said Jennifer Victor, a George Mason University political science professor who attended the inauguration.

Who knows what every person in the country was thinking about at that moment? Victor said. And that in itself created a moment of unity. It was quite clever, actually.

The silence was also a sign that Biden will assume a role that Trump shunned: to be the mourner in chief, said Terri Bimes, an expert on the presidency who teaches at UC Berkeley.

I dont think Donald Trump ever got that, Bimes said. He never was comfortable with mourning. Donald Trump said that he didnt want to go to (military) cemeteries because they were filled with losers who died, a comment reported in the Atlantic magazine that Trump denied making.

The unification theme also ran through Bidens campaign, when he promised to heal the soul of the nation. But to unify and heal, Biden must first create an empathetic bond with Americans, including the 74 million who voted for Trump.

That starts with acknowledging whats going wrong.

Biden said theres a cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making. ... The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. He said theres a cry for survival that comes from the planet itself, a cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear. And now a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words, Biden said. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity, unity.

He added, And this is certain, I promise you: We will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era.

Biden acknowledged the nations problems in a way where he was calling all Americans to rise with him and exhorting them that if they wanted to see change, they had to be the change, said Andra Gillespie, a political scientist at Emory University in Atlanta.

For unity to occur, Biden said, the uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal, must end.

We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. If we show a little tolerance and humility, and if were willing to stand in the other persons shoes, as my mom would say  just for a moment, stand in their shoes, Biden said.

Because heres the thing about life, he added. Theres no accounting for what fate will deal you.

Few of the nations political leaders have felt the wrath of fate like Biden, whose wife and daughter were killed in a car crash shortly after he was elected to the Senate in 1972. Nearly four decades later, when he was vice president, his son, Beau, died of cancer. Although Biden didnt mention these tragedies in his speech, they have imbued his life and politics with a deep sense of empathy.

Biden also didnt mention Trump in his speech, at least not by name. But Biden did refer to Trumps insistent lies that the election was stolen and chided the Republicans who didnt push back on the falsehoods until after a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson, Biden said. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Bimes, the presidential scholar, said Biden needed to call out Trumps congressional enablers as well as the mob.

Many people who have lived through the Trump administration are shell-shocked, so it may be easy to say, Lets move on, Bimes said. By saying were not going to tolerate white supremacists and calling them domestic terrorists, he was taking a stand. Thats important, because there needs to be justice for those acts that were taken.

But amid his calls for unity, Biden was realistic that not everyone will join him. In the past, during the Depression and the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, Biden said, enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward.

George Masons Victor said, That was a little bit of a recognition that you cant unify the whole country. You just need enough people.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
People arrive to be inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at the Chaoyang Museum of Urban Planning in Beijing, China on Jan. 15, 2021. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)

2 More Chinese Cities Go Under Lockdown, as Beijing Mandates 4-Week Quarantine for Travelers

The Beijing city government issued more restrictions on travelers in an effort to prevent the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus from spreading.

Two more cities in northeastern Jilin Province went under lockdown, as authorities in two villages in Heilongjiang Province culled all livestockfearing that animals could also spread the virus.

On Jan. 19, spokesman for the Beijing city government Xu Hejian announced new rules to control the epidemic.

At a daily press conference, he said Beijing and other cities have detected people from overseas who tested positive for COVID-19 after their 14-day quarantine.

Thus, the government decided to extend the quarantine period. People from overseas must isolate for 14 days at quarantine centers, then seven days at home or a quarantine center, and finally another seven days at home, Xu said.

Meanwhile, people within China who live in areas designated as medium or high risk for contracting the virus are not allowed to enter the capital. Anyone who wishes to do so must apply for special approval from the Beijing government. If they are approved, they and the Beijing residents they will interact with must complete the four-week quarantine.

Tonghua and Gongzhuling in Jilin also announced that both cities would be fully locked down, meaning no incoming or outgoing transportation would be allowed.

Tonghua resident Ms. Tan told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that the residential compound she lives in was among the first areas to be locked down when authorities sealed off parts of the city several days ago. Residents were not allowed to visit neighbors in other buildings.

Tan was frustrated at the lack of information from authorities about the outbreak.

We only know the official announcement. Whats the real scale of the outbreak? We dont know, Tan said.

She shared that she knew of one local teacher who was diagnosed with COVID-19, after which all instructors at the school had to be quarantined.

Meanwhile, in Suihua city, Heilongjiang, authorities announced that it would adopt security measures on two local villages, Lijinghua and Hongjiatun.

Officials only noted that all villagers were taken to quarantine centers, but did not specify how many people.

An insider in the area, who identified himself only by his surname Sun out of fear that authorities would punish him for speaking to foreign media, said the local outbreak was very severeand there were more cases than what authorities publicly announced.

According to Sun, nearly all families in those two villages had at least one household member who tested positive for COVID-19. On Jan. 14, authorities took all villagers to Wangkui No. 2 High School and quarantined them there.

The following day, authorities killed all livestock in the two villages and buried the carcasses underground. Several sanitation and disinfecting vehicles kept spraying disinfectant around the villages, Sun said. Over 300 police officers were also dispatched to the villages to monitor the process.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus to people, and the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people was low.

Sun added that the Chinese Communist Party director of one village recently hosted a three-day wedding party for his child who got married. Many relatives traveled from other cities to attend, and many villagers were also at the party.

The Epoch Times could not independently verify the information.

Chinese state-run media Sanlian LifeWeek reported on Jan. 16 that thousands of people in Wangkui county (the county where the above-mentioned villages are located) are migrant workers and work in Dalian city in Liaoning Province from spring to winter. They normally return to Wangkui in late December when the weather is too cold to work on construction projects in Dalian.

Meanwhile, in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei Province, one of the hardest-hit areas in the recent virus resurgence, an insider said authorities removed over 20,000 villagers from the Zengcun township because many had COVID-19.

The village wasnt suitable to live in anymore [due to the virus outbreak], said Ms. Cheng.

A previous version of this article misstated the province where the two locked-down cities are located. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
WASHINGTON - Followers of the extremist ideology QAnon saw their hopes once again dashed Wednesday as President Donald Trump left Washington on the final day of his presidency, without any of the climactic scenes of violence and salvation that the sprawling set of conspiracy theories had preached for years would come.

As Trump boarded Air Force One for his last presidential flight to Florida, many QAnon adherents - some of whose believers had this month stormed the Capitol in a siege that left at least two QAnon devotees dead and others in jail - began to wonder whether they'd been duped all along.

When one QAnon channel on the chat app Telegram posted a new theory that suggested Biden himself was "part of the plan," a number of followers shifted into open rebellion: "This will never happen." "Just stfu already!" "It's over. It is sadly, sadly over." "What a fraud!"

Late Wednesday, the movement suffered another blow when the "Qresearch" forum on 8kun, QAnon's online home, was wiped clean by a site moderator, who said in a rambling screed that "I am just performing euthanasia to something I once loved very very much." Shortly after, the site's leaders restored the deleted material and demanded the moderator's death.

But while some QAnon disciples gave way to doubt, others doubled down on blind belief or strained to see new coded messages in the Inauguration Day's events. Some followers noted that 17 flags - Q being the 17th letter of the alphabet - flew on the stage as Trump delivered a farewell address.

"17 flags! come on now this is getting insane," said one post on a QAnon forum devoted to the "Great Awakening," the quasi-biblical name for QAnon's utopian end times. "I don't know how many signs has to be given to us before we 'trust the plan,' " one commenter said.

Over thousands of cryptic posts since 2017, Q, QAnon's unidentified online prophet, had promised that Trump was secretly spearheading a spiritual war against an elite cabal of child-eating Satanists who controlled Washington, Hollywood and the world. Believers in these false, rambling theories had counted down the hours waiting for Trump to corral his enemies for military tribunals and mass executions in a show of force they called "the Storm."

But on Wednesday, as reality dawned, QAnon promoters who had gained thousands of online supporters by promising to decode Q's arcane posts - and profited off their audience, by selling QAnon merchandise or online subscriptions along the way - scrambled to spin the truth of Trump's election loss or shift the goal posts of a deadline four years in the making.

One QAnon channel on Telegram with 40,000 subscribers noted that the last sentence of Eric Trump's farewell tweet - " . . . the best is yet to come!" - was also a common slogan for QAnon adherents, failing to mention that the phrase is a commonly used cliche. Another QAnon channel with 35,000 Telegram subscribers, devoted to the "Great Awakening," highlighted Trump's final remarks as president: "We will be back in some form - Have a good life. We will see you soon."

"It simply doesn't make sense that we all got played," one QAnon channel on Telegram said.

Some of the most notable figures in QAnon's online universe said they were having a change of heart. After Biden's inauguration, Ron Watkins - the longtime 8kun who critics have suspected may have helped write Q's posts himself, a charge he denies - said on Telegram that it was time to move on.

"We need to keep our chins up and go back to our lives as best we are able," said Watkins, who in recent months had become one of the loudest backers of conspiracy theories suggesting Biden's win was a fraud.

"We have a new president sworn in and it is our responsibility as citizens to respect the Constitution regardless of whether or not we agree with the specifics," Watkins added. "As we enter into the next administration please remember all the friends and happy memories we made together over the past few years."

In the mass deletion on "Qresearch" late Wednesday, the anonymous moderator seemed to criticize Ron Watkins and his father, 8kun's owner, Jim Watkins, as well as a group of QAnon-supporting users, saying, "Q made you do NOTHING . . . he just kept you calm and sedated . . . what have you done as of late, beside waiting for things to get better?"

Much of the forum was restored by the site's leaders shortly after. But it still potentially marked another end of an era, said Travis View, a researcher and co-host of the podcast "QAnon Anonymous," who called it another "sign that QAnon as we know it is collapsing." Neither Ron nor Jim Watkins responded to requests for comment.

Graham Brookie, director of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, which tracks misinformation, said QAnon followers are making increasingly illogical leaps as they struggle to make sense of developments.

"It's something that has long been true of conspiracy theories: When they don't come to fruition, they shift their delusions to the next thing," he said. He noted how some comments posted below Trump's farewell video suggested that "it wasn't quite time for the Great Awakening, but it's coming soon and this is how."

Researchers said some QAnon supporters appear to be rethinking their commitment due to a range of factors, including Q's relative silence since the election, Trump's anticlimactic White House exit, and the Capitol insurrection, which resulted in more than 100 arrests and delayed the certification of Biden's victory by only several hours.

But several feared that the rising intensity of those still committed to QAnon could create problems for years to come if a die-hard, militarized core persists in their belief that the U.S. government is controlled by evil pedophiles who successfully subverted the Constitution.

"What we're seeing is a trend in increasingly bunker-down, apocalyptic language," said Joel Finkelstein, co-founder of the Network Contagion Research Institute, a research group that studies online disinformation. "It's gone from (talk of) a revolution to a civilization-ending kind of collapse."

He and other researchers have also chronicled an increasingly global QAnon movement that could outlast its potential weakening in the United States as events and an aggressive crackdown by social media platforms limit the ideology's reach among Americans. The QAnon followings in Germany and Japan are particularly strong and growing, said Finkelstein, whose research group tracked a surge in QAnon terms the morning of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, including one that said "qarmyjapanflynn."

"They're going to re-emerge at some point because they've internationalized," he said. "There's a metastasization of QAnon from a national story to a global revolution."

QAnon adherents had long anticipated Trump's military strike against his foes, which they believed would play out like an action movie; the fact that Tuesday was "National Popcorn Day" on mainstream calendars seemed too perfect to be coincidence. Followers in recent days have seen coded messages everywhere: first lady Melania Trump's black-and-gray coat, worn in her final address, was said to resemble the TV static that would signal the media blackout of Trump's military takeover.

But on Wednesday, some promoters recognized that believers being confronted with the reality of QAnon's baselessness were in need of encouragement. One forum offered doubters a "FAT DOSE OF HOPIUM" - their jargon, meaning reasons for hope - and urged readers to "GET IN HERE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LOW." The thread used a nine-month-old Q post to suggest that Trump had coordinated another subtly brilliant move in his final hours in office: "He is metaphorically walking away in slow motion while the explosions go off behind him."

One of the forum's moderators, "God_Bless_America1," posted a thread counseling that "POTUS has NOT let us down or failed, he has done all he could within his power and it is now going to be handing it to the military to take from here exactly as Q drop forecast." Uncertainty, the moderator added, would not be tolerated: "ANY dooming or negative comments clogging up the site pertaining to current situation will result in removal and ban if repeated."

View said Inauguration Day had been seen as "a very special day in the QAnon community," but that the responses to real-world events have been mixed.

Believers, he said, appear to be splitting between those who see Biden's ascent to the White House as a sign that the Q's prophecies were wrong and those who think they were right but need to be recast for a Biden administration in which Trump remains secretly powerful and able to control events unfolding in Washington.

"A minority are facing reality that Biden's going to be president," View said. "Others are coming to believe that the storm they were expecting is still going to happen but sometime during the Biden administration."

The day also highlighted the deepening division between QAnon adherents and other far-right extremists, who have voiced growing doubts about Trump. A post in a channel for the Proud Boys said Trump had thrown Capitol rioters "under the bus" and called QAnon "a bolshevik lie."

QAnon, as with most online creations, probably will not disappear soon. On Tuesday night, a small crowd of picketers rallied with signs urging "Repent or Perish" outside Comet Ping Pong, the D.C. pizzeria at the center of Pizzagate - the 2016 conspiracy theory from which QAnon was born.

View predicted that the QAnon community may shrink in the coming months but also become more fervent in their commitment to its ideas.

"History has taught us far-right movements don't cool off during a Democratic administration," View said. "The people who stick with it are going to become even more radicalized and potentially more dangerous."
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The Connecticut Army National Guard has approximately 300 people on hand in Washington D.C. for the for the 59th Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20.

According to a spokesperson, the Connecticut Army National Guard is providing "security, medical, and general support ... as well as additional chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CRBN) surveillance assets." The Connecticut Air National Guard transported the first group of Army Guardsmen to D.C.

On Tuesday, a day before the inauguration, a mechanic assigned to the Connecticut Army National Guard received recognition for her work maintaining a fleet of ambulances.
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The University of Texas at San Antonio was chosen as just one of 16 universities in the country, and the only in Texas, to receive a $5 million, 3-year grant from the Mellon Foundation's Just Futures Initiative.

The funds will be used by the university to kick-start their racial justice project, "Democratizing Racial Justice," that was chosen along with 15 other projects from a total of 165 grant applications.
Ben Affleck is said to be heartbroken after his break-up with Ana de Armas. The Batman star is reportedly distraught that his relationship with the Knives Out actor hasn't worked out. The couple recently broke up and it is reported that the two were in extremely different places in their lives and mutually decided to get separated. Find out more details about this story below.

Ben Affleck upset over break up with Ana de Armas

Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas started dating at the beginning of 2020. The two met on the set of their upcoming film, Deep Water. Ben Affleck and Ana even ended up holidaying in Armas native Cuba. But after dating for nearly a year, Ben and Ana have split up. Over the last few days, plenty of reports suggest that the break was mutual.

Also read | Ben Affleck And Ana De Armas Reportedly Broke Up Over A Phone Call

Now, Peoples latest report suggests that Ben Affleck was hoping his relationship with Ana would work. A source of the media portal suggests that Ana had great and positive energy and Ben loved having Ana around him. The Knives Out actor is health-conscious and this inspired Ben to also make healthy choices. No wonder, the two even moved in together at Bens home in L.A.

However, the report also adds that Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas relationship had gotten complicated. While Ana is still young and adventurous, she prefers travelling rather than staying at one place and does not want to settle down in Los Angeles. But Ben on the other hand prefers staying in Los Angeles since his kids are here and he likes being close to them. The source also added that Ben is upset over his split but wants to focus on things that make him happy.

Also read | Ana De Armas Debuts New Short Bob After Breakup With Ben Affleck

As mentioned earlier, Affleck and Armas were dating for nearly a year. After holidaying in Cuba, they even went on a vacation to Costa Rica. They were spotted together on several occasions in Los Angeles. On Anas 32nd birthday, she took to Instagram and confirmed their relationship. She shared a glimpse of her birthday celebration with her fans. Ana was also seen spending some quality time with Afflecks kids whom he shares with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

Also read | Ben Affleck And Ana De Armas To Call It Quits After Moving In Together: Reports

Also read | Ana De Armas' Cutout Was Thrown In Trash By Ben Affleck's Brother Casey, Claims Twitterati

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Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :US President Donald Trump left the White House for the final time on Wednesday, heading by helicopter to a nearby military base where he will fly to Florida, skipping the inauguration of successor Joe Biden in an extraordinary break with tradition.

Trump, 74, and First Lady Melania Trump walked a short red carpet and boarded Marine One on the White House lawn on a sunny but chilly day in Washington for the short flight to Joint Base Andrews where he will board Air Force One.

Trump will be at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida when Biden is sworn in at noon (1700 GMT) as the 46th president of the United States.

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Bondi Beach COVID-19 testing clinic almost empty on January 18, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

More Testing Needed in New South Wales: Premier

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian wants more local residents to be tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, before she eases restrictions.

The state has recorded zero new locally acquired cases for the third day in a row while the northern beaches and Berala clusters have appeared to have been all but stamped out.

Testing numbers have nearly doubled after the governments plea on Tuesday morning, with 19,959 people tests occurring in the 24 hours to 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening, up from 10,621 the day before.

However, this number is still a long way short of the daily record, set at above 60,000 tests in one day just before Christmas as the northern beaches cluster spread.

Were definitely in the space of wanting to ease those restrictions that are in place currently but it depends on the rate of testing and the number of cases, Berejiklian told reporters. Unfortunately the testing rates are still too low for the liking of the health experts and they want to see that rate go up.

Greater Sydney, Central Coast, and Wollongong residents are currently required to wear masks indoors when out of their homes.

Households can only have five visitors a day, including adults and children. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 30 people.

Restrictions on weddings, funerals and religious services could also be in line for changes.

Meanwhile, NSW Police are investigating potential rule breaches at a party in North Bondi on Sunday evening.

A video posted online showed a large group of people dancing near the beach despite limitations.

Commissioner Mick Fuller told 2GB radio on Tuesday that police would continue to take such complaints seriously.

If we dont take those type of complaints seriously then well get complacency in the community, people wont wear masks, they wont do the right thing, Fuller said.
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US President-elect Joe Biden's administration will quickly revisit the designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels as terrorists and end support of the intervention of the Saudi-led collition in the country, his pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said late on Tuesday.

At his confirmation hearing, Blinken said he would "immediately" review the outgoing Trump administration's labeling of the Iran-linked insurgents, fearing the move was worsening a humanitarian crisis.

"At least on its surface, (the designation) seems to achieve nothing particularly practical in advancing the efforts against the Houthis and to bring them back to the negotiating table while making it even more difficult than it already is to provide humanitarian assistance to people who desperately need it," Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Donald Trump's administration announced the move on January 11, nine days before Biden takes over on Wednesday.

"The Houthis bear significant responsibility for what's happened in Yemen, but the way the campaign has been conducted has also contributed significantly to that situation. And so our support should end," Blinken said.

Warnings From Houthis

The United Nations and aid groups have warned the terrorist designation risks worsening the plight of a country where millions depend on aid to survive.

The designation took effect Tuesday, with the Houthis warning they would respond to any action against them.

"We are ready to take all necessary measures against any hostile act," they said in a statement.

The designation is expected to halt many transactions with Houthi authorities, including bank transfers and payments to medical personnel and for food and fuel, due to fears of US prosecution.

The US Department of the Treasury, however, has issued humanitarian exemptions under which it would be permissible for aid organisations to deal with the Houthis, according to its website.

The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, responsible for overseas sanctions, had "issued four general licenses to facilitate the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian assistance and certain other critical commodities to the people of Yemen".

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, called on the United States to reverse the Trump administration's move.

"Our position on this has not changed," Dujarric said. "We call on the government to reverse that decision."

"Our concern from the beginning, that we expressed very clearly, is the impact on the commercial sector," he said.

"The vast majority of food and other basic supplies that comes into Yemen comes in through the commercial sector."

Outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in announcing the designation, pointed to an attack on the airport in Yemen's second city Aden in late December targeting the new Yemeni government that was blamed on the Houthis.

Blinken said the United States remained "clear-eyed about the Houthis".

"They overthrew a government in Yemen, they engaged in a path of aggression through the country, they directed aggression toward Saudi Arabia and committed atrocities and human rights abuses," he said. "And that is a fact."

But he said that efforts by Pompeo to exempt aid groups were insufficient as they concerned US rather than international groups.

Aid groups fear that they will face legal problems in the United States by interacting with the Houthis, which they say is unavoidable as they are the de facto government in much of Yemen.

* This story was edited by Ahram Online

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In a bid to end ongoing stalemate between farmers and the government over the three farm laws, Centre has proposed to suspend the new legislations for one and a half years. In the tenth round of talks with protesting farmer leaders, the government also proposed to set up a joint committee to discuss the Acts. The farmer leaders, however, did not immediately accept the proposal and said they will take a decision after internal discussions on January 21. The almost five-hour-long talks concluded with no concrete developments and the next meeting is scheduled on January 22.

The central government reportedly proposed to submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court regarding suspension of farm laws for eighteen months. The apex court has already stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.

Three central ministers, including Aggriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, participated in the tenth round of talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on Wednesday.

"During discussions, we said that government is ready to put on hold the farm laws for one or one-and-half years. I'm happy that farmer unions have taken this very seriously and said that they would consider it tomorrow and convey their decision on January 22," Tomar was quoted by news agency ANI after the meeting.

Tomar further stated that there is a possibility of finding a resolution in the next round of talks.

"The government said that it will submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that it can suspend the implementation of farm laws for a year or two. We will discuss this and give our decision," Hannah Mollah, All India Kisan Mahasabha general secretary and CPI (M) leader, said after the meeting.

The tenth round of talks was initially scheduled on January 19, but later got postponed to Wednesday. In the last round of talks, the government had asked protesting farmers to prepare a concrete proposal about their objections and suggestions on the three farm laws for further discussion at their next meeting to end the long-running protest. But, unions stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three Acts.

Earlier in the day, a group of farm union leaders met top officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police departments to discuss the route and arrangements for their tractor rally on January 26 to protest against the three farm laws.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the Delhi borders for over a month, demanding a repeal of farm laws and a legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even though the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

Also Read: Union ministers, farmer unions begin 10th round of talks

Also Read: 'Very disappointed': Supreme Court says upset at maligning of farm laws panel

A federal appeals court has struck down the Trump administrations plan to relax restrictions on power plant greenhouse emissions. A US court of appeals said that the plan approved by the EPA in 2019 was a mistaken reading of the Clean Air Act, and that the EPA fundamentally has misconceived the law. With the current EPA rules invalidated, it will allow President-elect Joe Biden, set to take office at noon ET today, to create tougher laws governing power plant pollution.

The lawsuit was filed in August of 2019 by 22 state attorneys general and eight local governments. This Dirty Power rule served to support dirty and expensive coal power plants, undercut clean and sustainable electricity, and left New Yorkers and all other Americans to foot the bill, said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement.

Current EPA spokesperson Molly Block expressed disappointment with the decision, saying it risks injecting more uncertainty at a time when the nation needs regulatory stability.

This ruling affirms what weve said all along  the Affordable Clean Energy rule did nothing to promote clean energy, and was not affordable for American consumers.

The court decision effectively ends the EPAs efforts to weaken US climate change policies, after the Trump Administration brought the US out of the Paris climate agreement. America formally exited the agreement in November 2020, and since Joe Biden pledged to rejoin it the day hes inaugurated, the US will have only been a non-party to the accord for about two and half months.

The Trump administrations EPA lawyers argued that the federal government doesnt have the authority to set national restrictions on emissions or force states to do so. However, the judges ruled that the EPA may not shirk its responsibility by imagining new limitations that the plain language of the statue does not clearly require. The new rules never went into effect, as the Supreme Court said in 2016 that states didnt need to comply until all lawsuits were resolved.

The court didnt go all the way with its decision, as it failed to reinstate a 2015 Obama administration rule that forced utilities to move toward renewable energy sources. However, the Biden administration will now be able to enact similar rules without waiting for a legal battle over the Trump regulations. During his presidential campaign, Biden promised to cut emissions from the power sector by 32 percent (compared to 2005 levels) by 2030. The real win here is that the Trump administration failed to tie the Biden teams hands, Harvard professor of environmental law Jody Freeman told the New York Times.

Trump Left Letter for Joe Biden: White House Spokesman

White House press secretary Judd Deere confirmed to news outlets that President Donald Trump left a note for President-elect Joe Biden, following a presidential tradition.

Deere did not elaborate on the contents of the note, citing privacy concerns.

Reports said that Vice President Mike Pence also left a note for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

Former President Barack Obama left a note to Trump, reading in part: This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I dont know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful  American leadership in this world really is indispensable. Its up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order thats expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend.

And before that, former President George W. Bush left a letter to his successor: Very few have had the honor of knowing the responsibility you now feel. Very few know the excitement of the moment and the challenges you will face  There will be trying moments. The critics will rage. Your friends will disappoint you. But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me. No matter what comes, you will be inspired by the character and compassion of the people you now lead.

Trump, before he left for Florida, put out a 20-minute-long, pre-recorded video touting his accomplishments. And on Wednesday morning, he said, Its been a great honor. The honor of a lifetime. The greatest people in the world, the greatest home in the world. Weve had an amazing four years. Weve accomplished a lot. We love the American people, and, again, its been something very special.

During a stop at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, he told supporters: We love you. We will be back in some form.

I will always fight for you. I will always be watching. I will be listening, he added.

I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think theyll have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular, Trump said before he departed for Florida.

The president added that youre going to see incredible numbers coming inreferring to the U.S. economyif President-elect Biden leaves his policies untouched.

Earlier in the month, Trump announced on Twitter would skip Inauguration Day before the social media website suspended his account.
WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration has determined that China has committed genocide and crimes against humanity by repressing Uighur Muslims in its Xinjiang region, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday, in an embarrassing blow to Beijing a day before President-elect Joe Biden is set to take office.

Pompeo said he made the move - which is certain to further strain already frayed ties between the worlds top economies - after careful examination of the available facts, accusing the Chinese Communist Party of crimes against humanity targeting the Uighurs and other Muslim minorities since at least March 2017.

I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state, Pompeo said in a statement.

China has been widely condemned for its complexes in Xinjiang, which it describes as vocational training centers to stamp out extremism. It denies accusations of abuse.

The rare American determination follows intensive internal debate after Congress passed legislation on Dec. 27 requiring the U.S. administration to determine within 90 days whether China had committed crimes against humanity or a genocide.

Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a confirmation hearing on Tuesday he agreed with the genocide declaration.

He said the United States should not be importing any products made with forced labor from Xinjiang, adding: We need to make sure that were also not exporting technologies and tools that could be used to further their repression.

Chinas embassy in Washington said in a statement: The so-called genocide in Xinjiang is simply a lie. It is a farce used to discredit China. It rejected the U.S. declaration as a gross interference in Chinas internal affairs.

U.S.-China ties plummeted to their lowest level in decades during Republican President Donald Trumps administration, and the genocide declaration will ensure an especially difficult start to the Biden administrations relationship with Beijing.

Accountability

The U.S. decision does not automatically trigger any penalties, but means countries will have to think hard about allowing companies to do business with Xinjiang, a leading global supplier of cotton. Last week, Washington imposed a ban on all cotton and tomato products from Xinjiang.

In his statement, Pompeo called on all appropriate multilateral and relevant juridical bodies, to join the United States in our effort to promote accountability for those responsible for these atrocities.

The International Criminal Court can investigate crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, but China - like the United States - is not a court member, so the situation in Xinjiang would have to be referred by the U.N. Security Council, where China could veto such a move.

An independent U.N. human rights panel said in 2018 that it had received credible reports that at least 1 million Uighurs and other Muslims had been detained in Xinjiang. Faith leaders and activists have said crimes against humanity, including genocide, are taking place.
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AUBURN  An industrial complex at 3410 A St S.E. in Auburn sold for $7 million, according to King County records.

The seller was 3410 A Street LLC, which acquired the property in 2006 for almost $3.2 million.





. . .
A court in Yerevan held the first hearing in the case since the outbreak of the war on September 27.

The hearing was originally scheduled for last month. But it did not take place because of the absence of lawyers representing Kocharian and other defendants.

The lawyers said that they joined a nationwide strike declared by Armenian opposition parties demanding that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian resign because of his handling of the war stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on November 10.

In early December, Kocharian also blamed Pashinian for the Armenian sides defeat in the war and urged his supporters to take part in anti-government demonstrations organized by the opposition.

Several dozen Kocharian supporters rallied outside the court building in Yerevan to show support for the Karabakh-born ex-president who ruled Armenia from 1998-2008. Kocharian talked to them and urged them to disperse, citing a cold weather. He refused to answer questions from journalists.

Kocharian, his former chief of staff Armen Gevorgian and two retired army generals stand accused of overthrowing the constitutional order in the wake of a disputed presidential election held in 2008. They all reject the accusations as politically motivated.

Speaking during Tuesdays court hearing, Kocharian claimed that the high-profile criminal case directly contributed to the outcome of the recent war. He said Pashinians administration has done everything to discredit Armenias military and former leaders.

There is a saying that when a nation does not honor its heroes it ends up having no heroes, he said.

I am prosecuted for declaring a state of emergency [in March 2008,] Kocharian went on. We have lived under a [coronavirus-related] state of emergency or martial law for almost a year. The war was stopped two and a half months ago but martial law remains in force.

Do the prosecutors do have anything to do with this? he asked after accusing them of being complicit in the Armenian sides defeat.

The accusation sparked an altercation between a trial prosecutor and Kocharian and defense lawyers.

Kocharian was first arrested and indicted in July 2018 two months after the Velvet Revolution that brought Pashinian to power. He was freed again in June this year after paying a record $4.1 million bail set by Armenias Court of Appeals.

The bulk of the hefty sum was reportedly provided by four wealthy Russian businessmen. They included Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the main shareholder in AFK Sistema, a large Russian corporation. Kocharian has been a member of Sistemas board of directors since 2009.

The 66-year-old ex-president was allowed to visit Moscow and attend a board meeting last month during what his office described as a private trip.
Alejandro Mayorkas, nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021. (Joshua Roberts-Pool/Getty Images)

DHS Secretary Nominee Alejandro Mayorkas Questioned by Senate Panel

Alejandro Mayorkas, President-elect Joe Bidens nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, told the U.S. Senate panel of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that he will work with both parties to secure the homeland, with his first commitment to executing Bidens homeland security policies.

The senators questioned Mayorkas about a variety of issues including border security, cybersecurity, and the threat from China. Questions from the Democrats mainly focused on the response to the pandemic and on domestic terrorist threats from white supremacist groups, while Republicans focused on immigration policy and border security.

Mayorkas was asked multiple questions by Republicans about border security and his stance on immigration, to which he responded with praise for Bidens plans to reform the asylum system.

President-elect Biden is committed to presenting Congress on day one with a permanent solution and immigration reform bill and I would be privileged to serve as a secretary and work with Congress in passing legislation to fix our much-broken immigration system, he said. President-elect Biden also has committed to reinstituting the DACA program that I was proud to implement.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) turned the attention of the committee to past migrant caravans, getting acknowledgment from Mayorkas that the detention facilities that were highlighted by media outlets as imprisoning migrants were created well before the Trump administration and some during the Obama era.

Johnson asked, It is true that the Obama administration built the facility in McAllen, Texas? To which Mayorkas replied, Yes, sir.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) speaks during a hearing to discuss allegations of election fraud in Washington on Dec. 16, 2020. (Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)

Mayorkas also added that he will be privileged to execute a bold vision for addressing the root causes of irregular migration from the northern triangle countries.

The Senate committees held five confirmation hearings Tuesday. Democrats called for a swift confirmation for the DHS nominee. If confirmed, Mayorkas would become the first immigrant and first Latino to lead the department. He arrived with his parents from Cuba as a refugee in 1960.

Ranking member Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) criticized the turnover in the department during the Trump administration.

Over the last four years, the department has endured some chaos, mismanagement, and instability, Peters said.

Referring to calls from the progressive wing of the Democrat Party for defunding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) asked whether Mayorkas would follow through with that.

Mayorkas said he wouldnt abolish ICE or Customs and Border Protection. I would not abolish them, Mayorkas said.

Both Scott and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) asked whether Mayorkas would spend the $1.4 billion on the U.S.-Mexico border wall system that Congress recently appropriated.

Mayorkas said he would need to understand what the law provides with respect to the obligation of funds to construct the border wall, and then see what the opportunities are to discontinue any such obligations, if in fact the law permits, and act accordingly.

In light of a recent cyber-breach of federal agencies data, senators asked the nominee about his commitment to addressing cybersecurity threats.

Mayorkas said, I can assure you that the cybersecurity of our nation will be one of my highest priorities because I concur with you that the threat is real, and the threat is every day, and we have to do a much better job than we are doing now.

Peters asked him about the departments response to COVID-19 and how he would improve it.

The former Obama cabinet member said, I look forward to working with this committee to study how the department performed and what more it can do in battling the pandemic.

Peters said Arabs, Jews, black churches, and mosques in his state are fearing white supremacists violence and asked what his department will do to combat the threat.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) speaks at a campaign event with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Southfield, Mich., on Oct. 16, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

My question to you is, will you commit today to prioritizing existing statutes and resources to combat white supremacist violence and undertake the extensive consultation with me and leaders of the Arab American and other minority communities before pursuing new domestic terrorism authorities to prevent future attacks, to which Mayorkas answered, Yes.

(We) will be open, transparent, and responsive to this committee on a bipartisan basis, number one. Number two, the threat of domestic extremism is one of the greatest challenges the Department of Homeland Security confronts, said Mayorkas, adding that collecting and sharing intelligence is key to rooting out the domestic threat.

Scott questioned Mayorkas about what he would do regarding slave labor goods coming from China.

Mayorkas said he is well aware of the exploitation of workers in China, and the number of illegal substances that are imported into the United States, that kill thousands and thousands of Americans every day.

He added, I will devote considerable resources and considerable attention to battling these grave and serious threats.

Mayorkas previously held the role of director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and later as deputy secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama. His nomination now heads to the Senate for a confirmation vote.
Gisele Fetterman is looking forward to some compassion.

Her husband, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, just wants to see things accomplished.

The Fettermans are among the Pennsylvanians who chime in on their hopes and expectations for the nations 46th president as part of From Scranton to the White House: Scranton Inaugurates Joe Biden, a panel hosted by Marywood University.

The Scranton Inaugural Celebration committee released the prerecorded hour-long discussion featuring the Fettermans and others on Tuesday, culminating a weeklong series of events leading up to Bidens inauguration.

The Green Ridge native will be sworn in as president today in Washington.

In the first half of the discussion, John and Gisele Fetterman were joined remotely by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and his wife, Terese, to talk about the Biden presidency. Ann Cerminaro-Costanzi, Ph.D., associate professor of modern languages at Marywood, served as moderator.

As a Scranton native and a frequent visitor to Pennsylvania, Biden will have the best interests of the commonwealth in his heart and as part of his policies as his administration confronts issues such as job creation and health care that state officials like the lieutenant governor are already taking on, Sen. Casey said.

He has a good sense of who we are, what our challenges are and what our opportunities will be with a Biden presidency, the senator said.

After 36 years in the Senate and eight years as vice president, Biden understands politicians and how to work with them, he said. The president-elect is patient  a rare trait for an Irish-American male, he noted  and knows some of the bigger challenges facing the nation will likely require bipartisan consensus.

He is the kind of person who will reach out his hand and try to strike a deal, the senator said.

Lt. Gov. Fetterman said night and day is not adequate to describe the difference between the last four years and what Pennsylvania can expect from a Biden presidency.

What Joe Biden will do for Pennsylvania is everything Donald Trump didnt do for Pennsylvania, he said.

That includes putting working families first, making sure cities are healthy, investing in infrastructure and just getting stuff done and not making it about dividing based on race or party or what have you, the lieutenant governor said.

Gisele Fetterman anticipates compassionate leadership from Biden.

That is the first change we are going to see, she said. We are going to see someone who is kind and accountable leading with compassion.

Terese Casey said she is highly encouraged by the new administrations plans to make taking control of the COVID-19 pandemic job one. Shes also hoping for some honesty.

Im just looking forward to somebody who will tell the truth. ... I may not always agree with him, but I know hell always tell me the truth.

The presentation also includes an interview with Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, along with a panel discussion featuring Green Ridge resident Virginia Doherty McGregor, Bidens pick for treasurer of the Democratic National Committee; Amber Viola, city human resources director who was part of Pennsylvania Vets for Biden; and Alexis Palys, Marywood Student Government Association president.

The vast majority of Americans agree much more than they disagree, with almost everyone having the goal of a safe place for themselves and their family, fulfilling work and food on the table, Cognetti said.

Biden embodies those values, she said, noting the new presidents childhood in Scranton was rooted in the kind of economic hardships and ups and downs that many families experience.

It really is just going to continue to show ... that Scranton is the type of place that most people come from, and I think its important that we acknowledge that and celebrate that, she said.

The presentation can be viewed on the Scranton Inaugural Celebration Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ScrantonInauguralCel

ebration.
The state Department of Health and Human Services says its not shifting its coronavirus mitigation strategy amid news that a highly contagious variation of COVID-19 has reached Michigan.

No changes at this time, MDHHS spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin said Tuesday afternoon. We continue to monitor for any additional cases of the variant.

One Michigan medical expert agreed that its not time to panic. Still, theres widespread acknowledgement the variant could change the trajectory of the pandemic in Michigan and elsewhere, considering how it already has ravaged the United Kingdom.

A Washtenaw County woman was diagnosed with the variant known as B.1.1.7 over the weekend, MDHHS confirmed. Since then, seven others appear to have caught the virus from the woman; MDHHS is now working to determine if these positive cases involve the B.1.1.7 strain.

7 COVID-19 cases tied to Washtenaw County woman who has UK variant

The variant doesnt make people more ill, but it does appear to be roughly 50% more transmissible than other variants. More infections mean more hospitalizations, which could further stress the health-care system. More infections also are likely to result in more deaths.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged a quick response against the highly infectious strain. Otherwise, the CDC said, B.1.1.7 could become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States by March.

It can spike a region really fast, said Emily Toth Martin, a University of Michigan epidemiologist. If you look at the models, you have to act faster. Your response to changing mitigation and restrictions have to be implemented more quickly.

During a Tuesday press briefing, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer indicated shes keeping a close eye on the situation, saying it heightens the urgency around the states COVID-19 vaccination program.

Were aware the new variant has been detected here, she said. Maybe its not more deadly, but more people get it, which means more fatalities, so were in a race to vaccinate people as quickly as possible.

Its a race against this variant, she said.

That said, Dr. James Richard, a pathologist at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, said that hes not overly concerned.

This is not a time to panic, he said. It is a time to stay the course.

Richard noted the variant can be prevented through the same strategies that work against the other strains of COVID-19: masking, social distancing, hand hygiene and avoiding crowds, especially indoors.

He pointed to his hospital colleagues as an example that those strategies can be effective. We have staff members who work around COVID-positive people every single day and yet the coronavirus infection rate among hospital staff is lower than the general public, Richard said. I have to believe that measures such as wearing a mask or a face shield or washing your hands a lot makes a difference.

He said that news that B.1.1.7 is now in Michigan is motivation to double down on those strategies.

Its a remainder theres no reason to let up now, he said. This is sort of a stimulus to remind us that the disease is still out there, and we have to do do everything we can to prevent it.

Dr. Christine Nefcy, chief medical officer for Munson Healthcare in Traverse City, said it remains unclear how the variation will impact Michigan.

The good news is that the testing capability we have does test for that variant and the vaccine appears to work for that variant, she said.

But with a relatively low percentage of our population vaccinated today, there is concern the variant will spike the number of COVID-19 cases -- and hospitalizations, she said.

Were sort of expecting that, or at least preparing for it, just based on the experience with the variant in the U.K, Nefcy said.

One silver lining of the variant, Nefcy said: It could encourage vaccine-hesitant people to change their minds.

Theres the potential this will motivate people who are eligible for the vaccine to get it, she said.

Read more on MLive:

Michigan school districts ranked by median family income: See states richest, poorest districts

Michigan is short hundreds of school bus drivers. The pandemic only made it worse

The government is trying to give you pandemic aid money  heres whats out there
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.
Bhubaneswar:

Biju Janata Dal president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced his partys support to NDA presidential poll candidate Ram Nath Kovind.

After discussing with senior party leaders, BJD has decided to support the candidature of Ram Nath Kovind, Patnaik told reporters after receiving a telephone call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Elaborating the reasons behind BJDs support to the NDA candidate, Patnaik said Ram Nath Kovind is an eminent lawyer belonging to the scheduled caste community.

The office of the President of India is above political consideration and Biju Janata Dal wants to keep it above the politics, he said.

Stating that the prime minister spoke to him about the candidature of Ram Nath Kovind, Patnaik said, He (PM) sought BJDs support in this regard.

Office of president of India is above political considerations & Biju Janata Dal wants to keep it above politics: N Patnaik #RamNathKovind pic.twitter.com/UyfCvXisq5  ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2017

As you know, the last time when presidential elections were held, BJD had proposed the name of P A Sangma, an eminent leader from the tribal community. Based on the request of BJD, many parties including the BJP had supported his nomination, he said.

Also Read | President poll | PM Modi meets NDA's President pick Ram Nath Kovind in presence of BJP chief Amit Shah

Asked whether BJD supported the NDA candidate out of any pressure, party spokesman dismissed it and said We continue to maintain equal distance from both BJP and Congress. The post of the President of India is above party politics.

Even as several regional parties either indicated their support or opposition to the NDAs presidential pick, Patnaik initially kept everyone guessing as regards his partys stance on the issue saying he will first discuss the matter with senior party leaders.

Out of the 21 Lok Sabha MPs from Odisha, 20 belong to the BJD. The party has eight members in the Rajya Sabha, besides the support of an independent MP, and 117 MLAs in the state assembly.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Akshay Kumar, who recently celebrated 20 years of marital bliss with Twinkle Khanna, revealed that there was a time when he was not so lucky in love. In fact, he got rejected by the first girl he dated.

During an earlier appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show with the Housefull 4 team, he spilled the beans on the funny story behind his rejection. Recalling the incident, Akshay said that he went on three or four dates with the girl in question, which included watching a film together and going to an Udipi restaurant for a meal. However, she dumped him after that.

Problem thi ki main bohot shy tha. Maine kabhi kandhe par haath nahi rakha, haath pakda nahi. Woh chahti thi ki main haath pakdu ya I should kiss her or something. Maine kiya nahi toh woh chhod ke chali gayi (The problem was that I was too shy. I never kept my arm around her shoulder or held her hand. She wanted me to hold her hand or kiss her. I never did so she left me), Akshay said.

Meanwhile, Akshay recently shared a loving post for Twinkle on his social media account. Akshay posted a happy picture with Twinkle and wrote: "The surest I've ever been of a partnership...Twenty years of togetherness and you still make my heart flutter and sometimes even drive me up the wall but then again I wouldn't have it any other way coz a smile is never far when you are near. Happy anniversary Tina."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Twinkle Khanna (@twinklerkhanna)

Akshay has a super busy schedule in 2021. The actor recently shot for Atrangi Re with Sara Ali Khan and Dhanush. He will also be seen in Bell Bottom and Bachchan Panday. He will also star in Prithviraj, which is a biopic of Prithviraj Chauhan.
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KJU designated the United States as its biggest enemy, but also kept the door for dialogue ajar by asserting that the US changing its hostile policy was necessary to establish better ties. (Photo:AFP)

At the eighth congress of the ruling Workers Party on January 5-12, North Koreas supreme leader Kim Jong Un (KJU) was bestowed with an additional title of general secretary. In Communist parties, the general secretary of the central committee is the most powerful post as the party secretariat controls personnel, internal affairs and discipline. In the old Soviet Union, Josef Stalin eliminated all rivals as the CPSUs general secretary. After the abolition in 1982 of the post of chairman of the Communist Party of China, the countrys paramount leader is the central committee general secretary, a position held by President Xi Jinping. In North Korea, KJUs father Kim Jong Il, as well as the republics founder Kim Il Sung, had occupied this powerful position.

In recent times KJU has shown increasing sensitivity to the poor living conditions of the long-oppressed North Korean masses and has given more attention to economic growth. The economy suffered badly from the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, the most recent in Resolution 2371 of August 2017. The North Korean regime is faced with an existential dilemma. Any compromise on giving up its nuclear weapons capacity could threaten the regimes survival as it could open a window for a US-led external attack or internal revolt.

In an autocratic system where the supreme leader is seen as infallible, it was surprising for KJU to accept failures on the economic front. In his address at the congress, KJU noted with regret that the goals we set were immensely underachieved in almost all areas. In a candid assessment reflecting the economys dire condition, KJU said the last five years were the worst of the worst for North Korea.

The North Korean economy, crippled by sanctions, was further hit by the devastating floods of 2020. Western observers estimate North Koreas economy may have contracted by 8.5 per cent last year after a modest 0.4 per cent growth in 2019. Covid-19 has also badly impacted the North Korean economy as it closed its borders with China.

The unprecedented 2018-19 dialogue with outgoing US President Donald Trump was triggered by the North Korean leader in his New Year message of January 2018 in the hope that North Korea may obtain some easing of sanctions without giving up its nuclear deterrence capability. In the three summits between Mr Trump and KJU in Singapore, Hanoi and the DMZ, the US establishment managed to restrain President Trump from signing a limited deal that would have eased the sanctions without a time-bound roadmap towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea.

In a signed article in Foreign Affairs last April, then-candidate Joe Biden had set out his approach towards North Korea: I will empower our negotiators and jumpstart a sustained campaign with our allies and others, including China, to advance our shared objective of a denuclearised North Korea. Herein lie the seeds of fundamental differences between the two parties: North Koreas stated objective being denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

At the party congress, KJU issued a stern warning to the incoming Biden administration, threatening to expand its nuclear arsenal. He exhorted his scientists to develop new capabilities of solid-fuel ICBMs, hypersonic missiles and tactical nuclear weapons. This would alarm both South Korea and Japan as any future threat of using tactical nuclear weapons may elicit an equivocal response from the United States guaranteed nuclear umbrella. The development of tactical nuclear weapons would also require fresh nuclear testing.

In his opening speech, KJU designated the United States as its biggest enemy, but also kept the door for dialogue ajar by asserting that the US changing its hostile policy was necessary to establish better ties. In his closing remarks, KJU vowed to strengthen the nuclear war deterrent.

North Korea has not slowed down its development of nuclear weapons and delivery systems. In October, at the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Workers Party, a massive new ICBM was displayed. In another military parade on January 14, North Korea unveiled a new submarine-launched missile claiming it was the worlds most powerful weapon.

To draw Washingtons attention, KJU is likely to resume the time-tested North Korean policy of brinkmanship and shrill rhetoric. He may refrain from personal attacks on President Joe Biden but apply pressure by threatening an ICBM or nuclear test. The Trump administrations one success was to pressure KJU to temporarily cease high-profile testing. The last North Korean nuclear test was in September 2017 and the last ICBM test in November 2017.

After nine years at the helm, the young 37-year-old KJU has evolved as a confident and mature personality. He met President Donald Trump thrice in full media glare and often made extempore unprepared remarks. remarks. He has gradually given some visibility to his sister Kim Yo Jong after ruthlessly eliminating any possible challenger to his untrammelled power. However, at the congress, Kim Yo Jong seems to have been dropped from the politburo which she joined as an alternate member last year.

The world at large needs to appreciate KJUs efforts to lead North Koreans in the direction of a better life while ensuring regime survival along with peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. South Koreas President Moon Jae-in is a sympathetic partner of KJU in this endeavor. India would hope that the two Koreas and the US work in harmony to pursue the twin objectives of the denuclearisation of North Korea and peace and tranquillity in Northeast Asia.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 16:31:33|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) said 246 people were charged with a total of 531 counts of serious sexual offences last year, with more than half of the victims under the age of 18, according to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) on Wednesday.

Of the 246 accused persons, 21 were juveniles and two were police officers. The offences range from attempted rape, aiding and abetting rape, assault with intent to rape, abduction with intent to commit rape, indecent assault, defilement and sexual assault.

ODPP also noted that 165 of the 240 victims were under the age of 18. There were 110 offences that occurred in domestic relationships.

An 11-year-old boy became one of Fiji's youngest ever accused after he allegedly raped an eight-year-old girl from his village.

All accused persons charged with sexual offences were male while the victims of the sexual offences comprise of 229 female victims and 11 male victims.

Fiji's Minister for Women and Children Mereseini Vuniwaqa earlier urged families to discuss the issue of rape openly to curb the rising problem of decaying moral values in the island nation.

Vuniwaqa said the increase in sexual violence in Fiji is a fact and the onus is on families to get out of the taboo.

From 2016 to 2018, the average age of rape cases was under 17 in Fiji. Enditem
Tens of thousands of hopeful holidaymakers have rushed online to get their hands on free $200 travel vouchers under Victoria's scheme to boost regional tourism.

The second batch of 40,000 coupons were made available at 10am on Wednesday on the Service Victoria website and were redeemed in just 20 minutes.

The website was flooded by Victorian holidaymakers, but this time did not crash like it did during the first release in December.

The second round of travel vouchers were snapped up by eager holidaymakers with Service Victoria announcing the scheme had been 'exhausted' in just 20 minutes

Staycation: The travel voucher scheme encourages Victorians to holiday at home to stimulate the tourism industry and support businesses and communities after a hard year (stock)

The $28million travel voucher scheme was announced in the Victorian state budget last November as part of a $465million tourism package.

The remainder of the allocated cash will be spent on projects including a massive upgrade to infrastructure along the Great Ocean Road, and at Wilsons Promontory and the Grampians.

The scheme is part of the government's attempt to kick-start tourism in bushfire and Covid-19 ravaged parts of the state.

Victoria Tourism Minister Martin Pakula is confident the scheme will help local businesses and communities bounce back after the state endured one of the harshest lockdowns in the world.

'It is the perfect opportunity to enjoy an extra nights' accommodation on a weekend getaway or to experience one of our many tours and attractions,' Mr Pakula said.

'A bit more money in people's pockets means they can see more and do more in regional Victoria  helping local businesses and the people and communities they support to bounce back.'

A well earned break: Every Victorian household is eligible to apply for a $200 regional travel voucher for eligible travel from 27 January to 1 April

To be eligible for the scheme tourists are required to spend a minimum of $400 on accommodation, experiences or tours in regional Victoria, as well as at least two nights in accommodation during the specified period.

The Victorian scheme follows a similar template to stimulus vouchers which were up for grabs for travel in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Service Victoria will release the last batch of 40,000 vouchers at 10am on March 30 for eligible travel between April 6 and May 31.

To apply for the voucher scheme, visit https://www.vic.gov.au/regional-travel-voucher-scheme
Stephen Lungu, a beloved African evangelist and retired leader of African Enterprise (AE), passed away Monday morning after being hospitalized with COVID-19 complications in Malawi. He was 78.

We all prayed. However, it has pleased the Lord to rest him, Stephen Mbogo, who succeeded Lungu as AEs international CEO in 2014, told board and team members with great sadness in a January 18 bulletin.

He cited Psalm 116:15: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.

Mbogo noted that few colleagues and supporters would be able to attend the funeral, due to public health restrictions to combat the coronavirus. More than 300 people joined a private Facebook group to watch Lungus burial.

Pre-pandemic, many more would have come to honor the man often referred to as the Billy Graham of Africa.

To be sure, there will be thousands and thousands of people in heaven because of Stephen Lungu, stated Michael Cassidy, honorary chairman of the Lausanne Movement for World Evangelization, who founded AE in 1961 while a student at Fuller Seminary.

I have known many preachers over the years in African Enterprise, and beyond it, but I dont think I have ever known a more passionate and endlessly energetic preacher of the gospel than Stephen, stated the South African evangelist. None of us could ever match his energy or his day and night sharing of the gospel, whether from public platforms or in shops and restaurants.

Lungu grew up abandoned and abused at age seven on the streets of Salisbury, Rhodesia (pre-independence Harare, Zimbabwe), and became leader of The Black Shadows gang. As AE noted in its tribute:

Steve hated God for what had happened to him and he hated white people who had everything while Blacks starved. Aged 18 when the Rhodesia/Zimbabwe liberation struggle began, he was ready to use his gang to fight for freedom. Little did Steve know that in the midst of this time of national revolution, there would come an inner revolution in his life.

AE summarized the pivotal moment in Lungus life:

In his well-known testimony, Stephen recounts an evening where, in his late teens, he took his gang to throw petrol bombs into an evangelistic tent meeting in the capital city of Harare. As they awaited the appointed time to do this, the words of the preacher penetrated Stephens heart and he ended up staggering forward to give his life to Christ instead.

Lungu was discipled by Patrick Johnstone, missionary author of the Operation World prayer guide, and became an evangelist. He first served with Dorothea Mission, then as AEs team leader in Malawi for decades before succeeding Cassidy as the ministrys international leader from 2007 to 2013.

AE aims to be a catalyst for effective urban evangelism and reports reaching 1 million people a year through proclamation evangelism and community transformation projects via teams in 11 African nations: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Lungu proclaimed the gospel to crowds around the world, including a notable gathering in Ethiopia.

A year after the 1991 fall of Colonel Mengistu in Ethiopia, under whose reign Christians were persecuted, churches with AE organised a rally in Addis Ababa in which thousands turned up, Ben Campbell, CEO of AE Australia, toldEternity News. As a result of Lungus sermon and altar call, 10,000 people came forward to accept Christ, with 900 event administrators kept busy all day processing the decision cards.

A giant has fallen among us, said Francis Mkandawire, general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Malawi.

The Christian history of Malawi will never be told without mentioning the name of Baba Stephen Lungu, as he was fondly called. Stephen was more than a preacher to many of us in Malawi; he was a father, said Mkandawire. Stephen remains one of the few men who continued to mentor the emerging generation of preachers without seeing them as competition.

If there was a contemporary African evangelist and global leader I knew who through the powerful witness of his own life story was so eager to preach the gospel, who was not ashamed of the gospel, who believed in the gospel as that brings salvation to everyone, it was our dear brother, said Nana Yaw Offei Awuku, Lausannes previous regional director for English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa (succeeded by Mbogo) who was mentored by Lungu, referring to Romans 1:1516.

Out of the abundance of the love of Christ that captured his heart from the jungles, Stephen laughed loudly and loved lavishly all across cultures, Offei Awuku, who now directs Lausannes generational initiative, told CT. As a true witness of God's grace, Stephen saw hope in situations against hope.

I will always remember Stephen Lungus passion and energy to preach a Christ-centered message everywhere he was invited, Emmanuel Kwizera, Lausannes Catalyst for Proclamation Evangelism and AEs international missions director, told CT. Stephen was very energetic to preach evangelistic messages regardless of the size of the audience.

Baba Stephen, you have inspired thousands of emerging evangelists through your passion and zeal of evangelization. After Billy Graham, Stephen Lungu  I totally believe that the next chapter belongs to us.

Lausanne and AE had planned to convene 1,500 evangelists from 54 African countries last month in Nairobi, but due to the pandemic had to reschedule the landmark gathering for December 2021.

Michael Oh, executive director and CEO of the Lausanne Movement, said Lungu was a strategic leader of the Mission Africa initiative after Lausannes third congress, held in Cape Town in 2010.

[He] embodied the description of the early disciples in Acts 4:13 so well, not only in the commonness of his Im a nobody background but especially in the recognition of all who knew him of his boldness in his witness and the undeniable fact that he had been with Jesus, Oh told CT. I am eager to see how the next generation of African leaders impacted by his mentoring will step into roles of global influence for the gospel.

Note: This obituary will be updated.

An elementary school teacher has continued to virtually teach his students while protecting the nations capital as a sergeant with the DC National Guard.

Ahead of president-elect Joe Bidens inauguration Wednesday, Sgt Jacob Kohut, a music teacher at Canterbury Woods Elementary School and Frost Middle School in Fairfax County, Virginia, was deployed to the US Capitol along with more than 20,000 members of the National Guard.

But despite working 12-hour shifts, Kohut has managed to make time for Zoom classes with his students, with The Washington Post reporting that the music teacher conducts his elementary school classes on the drill floor of the DC Armory before he begins work each morning.

On his breaks, Kohut, who has been in the military for 11 years as part of the 257th Army Band, and who has taught music for more than a decade, teaches his middle-school students from the back of a Humvee.

According to Kohut, who plays the bassoon and saxophone, he has managed to make the schedule work because he worried about what a possible disruption would do to his students, who are already learning remotely amid the pandemic.

Recommended Washington DC on lockdown as the capital braces for inauguration

The last thing these students need is a disruption in their teaching, Kohut told The Post. I would rather teach the class, even if that means Im very tired.

On social media, Kohuts dedication to teaching has been widely praised, with Canterbury Woods Elementary School sharing a photo of its band teacher and tweeting: This is what a hero looks like.

A member of the DC National Guard, our band teacher Dr Jake Kohut has been working around the clock since Wednesday to protect our nations capital. And between shifts, he is dedicated to CWES students, teaching from DC, the schools Twitter account continued.

The US Army shared the schools post on its Facebook page, with both tributes prompting an outpouring of praise for Kohut.

Thank you for your service - to our country and students! Stay safe! one person tweeted.

Another said: What an effect he must have on those young minds. Brilliant. America is America because of leaders like this who do the right thing because they can!
Pollution in Handri and Tungabhadra, the two rivers that flow across Kurnool city, has been causing health risks to people residing on the river bank.  Representational Image/DC

KURNOOL: The National Green Tribunals south zone bench in Chennai took up suo motu a news report in Deccan Chronicle on December 10 last titled, Kurnool shocked by the quality of KMC water, and heard the matter via video conference on Wednesday.

About 22 respondents have been arrayed including secretary to the Union environment-forest-climate change ministry (MOEF). Notices will be issued to the respondents.

The failure of Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC) in providing safe drinking water to its citizens was highlighted in the DC report. KMC primarily depends on the Tungabhadra river which is polluted, but this has been glossed over by successive special officers, the report had noted.

Elected representatives, government officials and prominent citizens of Kurnool city thanked Deccan Chronicle for highlighting civic issues.

Pollution in Handri and Tungabhadra, the two rivers that flow across Kurnool city, has been causing health risks to people residing on the river bank. The river needs to be cleared of plastic waste and other non-degradable material, as also lead and cadmium. Regional pollution control board officials say Tungabhadra waters showed marginally higher toxins after Pushkarams.

The RPCB has conducted a test on the quality of water in Tungabhadra at start of December after completion of the Tungabhadra Pushkarams and found that two parameters, namely biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total coliform bacteria, were exceeding the standard limits.

Citizens of Kurnool hoped that the NGT order would help in supply of safe drinking water. I think Kurnool may get a sewerage treatment plant with the latest amenities, said a senior citizen.
At least eight people were injured in the blast, one seriously, the Madrid emergency service said in a tweet. And a technician who was working on the boiler is missing, according to the Spanish governments representative for the Madrid region, Jose Manuel Franco, who confirmed the three dead.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : The government has updated the Co-WIN application and allowed the vaccination sites to manually add the beneficiaries expected to undergo the inoculation exercise, who earlier, were randomly picked by the application itself.

The latest tweak in the app is expected to increase the turnout at the government hospitals who are struggling to reach even the half-way mark of their vaccination target.

The union health ministry has added an "allot beneficiary" feature in the app. "The feature has been added to facilitate maximum utilisation of staff deployed at the session sites so that they cater to optimal number of beneficiaries per session," a communication by the ministry said.

The change was implemented from Tuesday onwards.

Dr Amit Gupta, vaccine coordinator at Lok Nayak Hospital, said that the hospital expects upto 70% of turnout in the upcoming session which is scheduled on Thursday.

"We have only been able to achieve 20-30% of our target. However, the move will enable us to call those beneficiaries who are genuinely interested in vaccination but are unable to come forward since they are given slots for further dates. This way, they can advance their vaccination and increase the turnout," he said.

"The better turnout will also encourage more people to come and get vaccinated," he added.

The Lok Nayak Hospital vaccinated 35 people on Tuesday.

Dr Pragya Shukla, Nodal officer for Covid vaccination, Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI), said that the change in Co-WIN is a welcome move which should have been implemented earlier. "From day 1 we were telling that rather than the app, we (vaccination sites) should be allowed to decide the beneficiaries. However, since it has been implemented, we expect better outcomes from now," she added.

This will also lead to less wastage of the vaccine doses, Shukla added. The DSCI immunised 21 beneficiaries in the last session of Covid vaccination.

Raman Bhaskar, Hospital Director, HCMCT Manipal Hospital also agreed that the new feature in the Co-WIN app will help hospitals to organise more participation. "However, it should be at will and not perceived as scheduled or forced on the patients by government authorities," he cautioned.

The hospital inoculated 66 people in the last session that happened on Tuesday.

Dr Suneela Garg, public health expert and professor of excellence, Maulana Azad Medical College, said that allowing the hospitals to choose the beneficiaries will have two advantages in the vaccination programme.

"One, the number of participants would increase. Secondly, it will keep a check on the vaccine wastage," she suggested.

However, Garg added that a robust follow-up should complement the move to draw a better outcome from it."It should be complemented with repetitive messages to each beneficiary called to get vaccinated so that both our aim--full achievement of target--and no wastage of doses--are achieved," she stressed.

"We should talk to 100 listed beneficiaries who are slated to receive doses on different days. This may provide them an option to inoculate prior to their slot, which eventually, would raise the vaccination number on a given day," Garg explained.
Ready to work with new US administration says Pak foreign minister

On Indias permanent council seat, here is what Bidens US pick said

US elections 2021: Russia meddled, Iran did too, China sat it out

Look forward to working with President Biden: PM Modi

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate Joe Biden after his swearing-in as the new US President.

Joe Biden takes oath with a call for Unity, vowing to bridge deep divides | Oneindia News

"My warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership," Modi said.

Pak PM congratulates Biden, expresses desire to work with him

"My best wishes for a successful term in leading USA as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security," he said in a series of tweets.

My warmest congratulations to @JoeBiden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2021

Noting that the India-US partnership is based on shared values, Modi said the two countries have a substantial and multi-faceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages.

"Committed to working with President Joe Biden to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights," the prime minister said.

The 78-year-old veteran Democrat leader was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice John Roberts at the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington -- the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies.
It is not I who have left the Athenians; it is the Athenians who have left me. This sentiment of the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras, dating back more than two millennia, could apply equally well today for Canadians who have voted Conservative in the past.

Opinion

It is not I who have left the Athenians; it is the Athenians who have left me. This sentiment of the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras, dating back more than two millennia, could apply equally well today for Canadians who have voted Conservative in the past.

Those who describe themselves as fiscally conservative and socially progressive no longer have a home. Their former party of choice has left them behind.

TWITTER Photo circulating on social media of Conservative MP Candice Bergen wearing a MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat.- date/origin unknown Winnipeg Free Press 2021

A widely circulated photograph of Portage MP Candice Bergen captures the problem in microcosm. She is seen wearing a hat adorned with Trumps signature line: Make America Great Again. It is a curious choice for the deputy leader of the Conservative Party that professes a desire to build a big tent for Canadians.

For most Canadians, the MAGA hat is a symbol of bigotry, racism, intolerance and, more recently, treason. With leaders wearing MAGA hats, it appears that the big tent is white and has eyeholes.

The rot within the party began under Stephen Harper, with his "old stock Canadians" and legislation on barbaric cultural practices that helped him lose the 2015 federal election. But the ascendancy of Donald Trump in the U.S. in 2016 paved the way for Canadian Conservatives to embrace fully the path of populist demagoguery.

Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press Conservative PM Candice Bergen drew criticism after images circulated on social media showing her wearing a MAGA hat.

Current Conservative leader Erin OToole initially appeared to be a pragmatic right-of-centre politician. But his "Take Canada back" and "Trudeau is rigging the next election" rhetoric is sheer buffoonery. He now joins the growing parade of wanna-be Trumps in the Conservative party, including previous leadership candidates Kelly Leitch and Derek Sloan.

Conservatives have engaged in a Faustian bargain for short-term electoral success. But it wont work here. Right-wing media, most notably Fox News and Americas most popular radio host, Rush Limbaugh, provided fertile soil for the growth of Trumpism in America. There are no mainstream Canadian equivalents, with Sun News attempt to create a "Fox News North" having failed miserably.

Federal Conservatives have now ceded the political center to Trudeau and the Liberals. Conservatives increasingly alienate urban and suburban voters across the country with dog-whistle appeals to Trump-supporting, Fox News-watching, Rush Limbaugh dittoheads. The Conservatives have locked those voters up, but do the math: there are not enough seats in rural Ontario, portions of the Prairies and parts of rural British Columbia combined to elect a federal government.

Recent polling data show how out touch Conservatives have become. The Macleans-Leger poll conducted last September found that 41 per cent of Canadian Conservatives would have voted for Trump over Biden, compared to just seven per cent and six per cent of Liberal and NDP supporters.

A more recent Angus Reid poll found the same margin supporting the demonstrably false notion that the presidential election was rigged. The core of the Conservative Party in Canada is now composed of Maple Trumpers.

The same is true at the provincial level, where Conservatives are doing their very best to drive away support. The competition between premiers Kenney and Pallister is fierce for who is Canadas most unpopular politician. Conservatives spent a generation in Manitobas electoral wilderness following a less-extreme Filmon government. That could easily happen again.

In Alberta  the most American of Canadian provinces  a Conservative hegemony existed for nearly half a century, but Kenneys support has fallen so far, so fast that Alberta appears set to elect its second NDP government in half a decade.

In both Alberta and Manitoba, Conservative support is strongest in rural regions, where Maple Trumpers are most numerous. One needs only look to the recent anti-mask protesters in rural Manitoba for evidence. Social-media posts, signage and chants were littered with slogans poached from Hannity, Carlson and Ingraham on Fox News, the unofficial propaganda arm of Mr. Trump.

Appeasing his base, even when they were guilty of abhorrent behaviour  "there were good people on both sides"  was a signature move of Trump. The response of then-health minister Cameron Friesen to anti-mask protesters endangering the health of Manitobans? "They were making some good points."

Too many Conservatives seem blissfully unaware that embracing the toxic tenets of Trumpism condemns them to electoral irrelevance. Its bad for democracy in Canada.

Trudeaus Liberal government needs to be held to account by an effective opposition. That cant happen when the largest opposition party panders to a radical fringe that lies well outside the political mainstream. Canada needs a real "progressive" Conservative party, one with more fiscal discipline than on offer from Trudeau and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, but embracing the values of equality, tolerance, and inclusion shared by most Canadians.

You dont do that by wearing MAGA hats and telling people to "Take Canada Back."

Scott Forbes is a professor of biology at the University of Winnipeg who has at various times voted for every current major political party in provincial and federal elections over the last four decades.
AM Best announced that it would not change the A- financial strength ratings of the members of Dallas-based specialty insurer Hallmark Insurance Group nor the bbb- long-term issue credit rating of Hallmark Financial Services, after Hallmark Financial announced its chief executive officer is resigning.

An 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Naveen Anand submitted his resignation on Jan. 11, 2021 as president and chief executive officer, as well as all other positions with subsidiaries, effective Feb. 26, 2021, citing family and personal reasons.

On Jan. 14, Hallmark Financials board of directors appointed Executive Chair Mark E. Schwarz to fill the roles Anand is leaving. Schwarz, who previously served as CEO from January 2003 through August 2006, and as president from November 2003 through March 2006, became executive chairman in August 2006.

In September, Hallmark Financial announced that the chief financial officer, Jeff Passmore, had submitted his resignation.

In November, the company reported that third-quarter results were impacted by the cost of a loss portfolio transfer ($21.7 million pre-tax) and more adverse prior-year reserve development ($13.9 million pre-tax), mainly coming from commercial auto business. On the bottom line, the third-quarter loss came in at $28 million, and through nine months it was $85.6 million, compared to $33.3 million profit for the first nine months of 2019.

With the completion of the loss portfolio transfer transaction in the third quarter, and the affirmation of our rating by A.M. Best, Hallmark Financial is beginning to emerge from what has been a difficult year for the company, said Anand, in a November 2020 statement. While the loss portfolio transfer impacted our results this quarter, it provides substantial reinsurance coverage for the binding primary commercial automobile business we exited earlier this year.

Anand also commented at the time that Hallmark Financial had undertaken a journey many years ago to transition from a regional auto insurer to an E&S focused specialty insurance company, and that he was encouraged by the trajectory of pricing and the ability to better deploy limits to mitigate the impact of claims severity in the improved market environment which also supported the removal of underpriced risks through policy terms and conditions.

Schwarz, in addition to previously serving as CEO and president in the early 2000s, has indirectly controlled Newcastle Partners, L.P., a private investment firm, since 1993, according to the 8-K text. In addition, he presently serves as chairman of Rave Restaurant Group, Inc., an operator and franchisor of pizza restaurants; and Wilhelmina International, Inc., a model management and talent representation company.

Within the past five years, Schwarz has served as a director of SL Industries, Inc., a developer of power systems used in a variety of aerospace, computer, datacom, industrial, medical, telecom, transportation and utility equipment applications. He also serves as a director of various privately held companies, the filing says.

Topics Carriers Excess Surplus AM Best
The late Michael Joseph (Joe) Duffy

The death has occurred of Michael Joseph (Joe) Duffy, St Francis Terrace, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny. January 18, peacefully, at St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny, Michael Joseph (Joe), beloved husband of Anne and much loved father of David and Patrick, sadly missed by his wife and sons, brothers Gordon, Noel and John, sisters Kathleen, Carmel, Ber and Claire, daughter-in-law Yvonne, grandchildren Killian, Kayleigh and Taylor-Jane, great grandson James, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours 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 Joe. Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 21, at 11am in St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny (max of 10 in church). Funeral afterwards to St Kieran's Cemetery. House private please. For those unable to attend, the Requiem Mass may be viewed online at http://www.stmaryscathedral.ie/web-cam/

Please use the online condolence book at RIP.ie if you wish to offer your sympathies. Joe's family would like to thank you for your support and understanding at this difficult time.

The late Teresa (Tess) Hillman (nee Hogan)

The death has occurred of Teresa (Tess) Hillman (nee Hogan), Maudlin Street, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny and formerly of Nore Terrace) January 19, peacefully, at home in the loving care of her family, Teresa (Tess), predeceased by her brother Paul, beloved mother of Martina and Valerie, sadly missed by her loving daughters, sisters Moira, Ann, Nuala, Dolores and Caroline, sons-in-law Brian and Jonathan, grandchildren Aoife, Eimear, Daniel, Declan and Jordan, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, her kind neighbours 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 Tess. Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Thursday afternoon, January 21 at 2pm in St John's Church, Kilkenny (max of 10 in church). Funeral afterwards to St Kieran's Cemetery. House private please. Requiem Mass may be viewed online at www.stjohnskilkenny.com

Those wishing to leave a message of condolence for Tess's family can do so below. Tess's family would like to thank everybody for their support and understanding in these difficult days.

The late Maureen Kirby (nee Dalton)

The death has occurred of Maureen Kirby (nee Dalton), Belline, Piltown, Kilkenny. Maureen passed away peacefully at her daughter Rachel's home surrounded by her loving family. Beloved mother of Rachel and much-loved sister of Nora. Sadly missed by her grandchildren Leah and Jack and their grandad Michael, nephews, and grandnephew Leigh, Ross and Daragh. Also missed by her cousins Edwina, Jason, and Mervyn, son-in-law Nicky and brother-in-law Kevin.

Maureen's funeral cortege will pass her residence on Thursday, January 21 at 11.05 am on route to Church of The Assumption, Piltown for a private family Mass at 11.15 am followed by private cremation. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence for Maureen's family can do so by using the online condolence book at RIP.ie.

The late William (Billy) Murphy

The death has occurred of William (Billy) Murphy, late of Beaton, Owning, Piltown, Kilkenny, died January 16. Sadly missed by his loving sister Kitty, brother in law Tom, nieces, grandnieces, nephews, grandnephews, relatives, friends and kind neighbours. Billy will arrive for private cremation on Thursday, January 21, at the Island Crematorium, Cork. Billy's funeral Mass will take place at a later date. House private please, thank you. We suggest using the online condolence page on RIP.ie as an option to offer your sympathies. Thank you for your co operation and consideration at this difficult time.

The late Elizabeth O' Neill (nee Piert)

The death has occurred of Elizabeth O' Neill (nee Piert), late of Rose Hill House Hotel, Kilkenny, January 18 after a long illness in the loving care of her daughter Emer in Ranelagh, Dublin. Beloved wife of the late Captain Eamonn, predeceased by her son Brian, much loved mother of Deirdre, Tomas, Emer, Aoife and Eamonn. She will be lovingly remembered by her family, her brother Cannon John, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her dear cousin Maura, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Due to government guidelines on public gatherings a private family Funeral Mass will take place at 10am on Friday, January 22, which may be viewed on the parish webcam https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/church-of-the-holy-name

The late Elizabeth (Betty) O'Shea (nee Kane)

The death has occurred of Elizabeth (Betty) O'Shea (nee Kane), Palmerstown, Dublin / Castlecomer, Kilkenny and formerly of Maudlin, Castlecomer, Kilkenny) January 18 (peacefully) in her 96th year and in the loving care of the staff at Lucan Lodge Nursing Home, Lucan. Beloved wife of the late Joseph (Joe) and dear (cherished or much loved) mother of Catherine, Mary, Brigid, Sheila, Tom, Margaret and Martin and dear sister of the late Sr. Anna, Sheila and Jimmy. Betty will be sadly missed by her loving sons, daughters, sisters Bridie (Moran) and Mary (Moran), her 25 grandchildren, her 43 great-grandchildren, sons-in-law Tony, Brian, PJ, Tim and Eamon, daughters-in-law Eileen and Breda, nephews, nieces, relatives, friends and neighbours.

A private funeral will take place due to government advice regarding public gatherings. When the current circumstances have passed we look forward to celebrating Bettys life with friends and extended family at a later date. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral; but due to current restrictions cannot, may join the private family Funeral Mass on Friday morning, January 22nd, at 11am by following this LINK or please leave your personal message by selecting Condolences at RIP.ie or alternatively leaving a message at www.cunninghamsfunerals.com. Bettys funeral cortege will be passing by her residence in Wheatfield Road as it makes its way to Palmerstown Cemetery at approximately noon. Those who would like to line the route may do so in a safe and socially distanced manner. Family flowers only, donations, if desired, to Stewarts Care.
Terrifying drone footage has captured the moment a freak wave wiped out close to 20 jet skis in Hawaii - leaving one surf photographer with a broken back.

Big wave surfers were out in force at the notorious Avalanche break at Oahu's outer reef last Saturday as the island was rocked by a historic swell with 50-foot waves.

But a group of jet-skiers, some there to take photos and others as a safety team for the surfers, found themselves in the danger zone as a monster set rolled through.

Incredible footage taken by Mark Mahannah captured the moment two jet skis were launched into the air after hitting the throttle and trying to clear the wave.

Other riders turned around and raced away from the wave, while one was swept over the falls and swallowed by a wall of water before being taken to shore for treatment.

Terrifying drone footage has captured the moment a wave wiped out 20 jet skis in Hawaii

South Carolina pro surfer Cam Richards was riding a black jet ski, with Californian photographer Ryan Moss on the back, when the pair were sent flying into the air.

Moss suffered a compressed L3 in the accident and has since undergone hours of surgery.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $27,000 to assist with his recovery and medical bills.

'Ryan has helped so many people over the years now it's time to help him!' the page reads.

'He is on his way to recovery and is in good spirits.'

In an interview with Surfline, Moss recalled the moment the jet ski came crashing down.

Moss said he felt weightless and that time was moving slowly as the jet ski plummeted.

'There was no handle on the ski, so I couldn't stand up and hold on and hope my legs would have absorbed some of the impact. So, I was just sitting on the back with a death grip on the leather seat,' he said.

The vision showed the moment two jet ski riders were launched into the sky after they travelled over the swell at Oahu's outer reefs on January 16

'Next thing I know I hear a loud thud. It felt like the ski buckled in half. Along with that, my back sent a shooting pain and tingling feeling from my waist down to my feet. I remember saying, ''f***, f***, f*** I'm paralysed.'

'I legitimately thought I was. The ski wasn't starting, and there was another wave behind the wave we just flew over. So, I rolled off the jet-ski with my dry bag, which had my cameras in it.'

Moss said he remembers telling himself 'I have to make it over this wave' - and luckily, he did.

The other jet-ski rider who launched into the air was North Shore surfer and photographer Mike Latronic.

'This big ass set came through and everyone was scrambling... This thing broke 50 yards further than it was breaking earlier, and the wave was ten feet bigger than anything else.

'I lost my ski, I lost my camera.'

He said he felt like he was free-falling for six seconds before hitting the water, but miraculously escaped without serious injury or damage to the jet-ski.

South Carolina pro surfer Cam Richards was riding one of the jet skis, with photographer Ryan Moss on the back, when the pair were sent flying into the air

It's understood Kelly Slater, John John Florence and Australian pro Mikey Wright were among the surfers out in the water when the freak wave hit.

The drone footage has more than 160,000 views.

'The dude nearly launched it into outer space,' one person commented.

'That was gnarly, hope everyone's safe,' another wrote.

A third said: 'That set looked like a tsunami rolling in. talk about panic mode.'
Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have become a preferred mode of transportation for many people in the country. Data shows that between 2015 and 2018, the number of people who use ridesharing services increased from 15% to 36%.

At the same time, there are risks associated with rideshares, as is the case with any other mode of transportation. In fact, studies show that the increase in demand for ridesharing services has led to a notable increase in the number of fatal accidents in many cities across the country.

If you are injured in a rideshare accident, you deserve to be fully compensated for your injuries and other losses. In this article, we tell you how you can get the compensation you deserve with the help of an experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyer in Corpus Christi.

Steps to Take after a Rideshare Accident

Call an Ambulance

This is the first and perhaps the most important thing you need to do if you are injured in a rideshare accident. Get yourself to the nearest medical facility as quickly as you can  even if you do not have any visible injuries or pain. Delayed onset of symptoms is extremely common with certain kinds of injuries.

Moreover, an experienced Uber and Lyft accident lawyer in Corpus Christi will tell you that the physicians report  which proves that you were indeed injured in the accident  is the very basis of your personal injury claim.

Gather the Evidence

Take pictures of the Uber or Lyft vehicle, its license plate, your injuries, the accident scene, and the landmarks nearby. Talk to the Uber or Lyft driver and get their details. Similarly, talk to the bystanders who might have witnessed the accident and get their contact information as well. These are all key pieces of evidence that you can provide to your attorney to build a case against the at-fault party.

Contact an Uber and Lyft Accident Lawyer in Corpus Christi

Recovering adequate compensation in a rideshare accident case can be a tall order unless you are represented by a competent attorney. If you do not have legal representation, the insurance company will try to settle the case by paying you a fraction of what you actually deserve. So, finding a skilled rideshare accident lawyer in Corpus Christi to represent you should be your first priority.

Depending on whether the rideshare driver was on duty or off duty, your Uber and Lyft accident lawyer in Corpus Christi might choose to bring a claim against the rideshare company or the drivers auto insurance company. If there was another motorist involved, and if their negligence contributed to the accident, your attorney might choose to bring a claim against them as well.

Highest Quality Legal Representation for Rideshare Accident Victims in Corpus Christi

Attorney Thomas J. Henry has represented multiple rideshare accident victims over the years and recovered damages worth millions through settlement and litigation. As the founder of the largest personal injury law firm in Texas, he can provide you with high-level, aggressive legal representation, establish the liability of the ridesharing company (and other parties, if any), and fight hard to recover adequate compensation for your tangible and intangible losses.

Call our law firm today at (866) 517-5659 or fill out this form to schedule a free consultation with one of our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys.

Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
Prince Philip has been married to Queen Elizabeth II for more than 70 years and Betty White has been in show business for more than eight decades. The Duke of Edinburgh and his wife have the longest marriage in British royal history and the Golden Girls star holds the Guinness World Record for the Longest TV Career for an Entertainer.

Having been in the public eye for as long as they both have, one question fans frequently ask is about their ages. Heres the answer to whose older Prince Philip or Betty White, plus who has the higher net worth.

(L): Betty White | Larry Busacca/Getty Images, (R): Prince Philip | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Betty Whites age

White was born Betty Marion White Ludden on Jan. 17, 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois to parents Christine Tess and Horace Logan White. She has stated that her first name is her legal name and not the shortened version of Elizabeth.

Her parents moved to Los Angeles when she was a toddler and she grew up there. White attended Beverly Hills High School and graduated in 1939. She appeared on television for the first time that same year when she danced the Merry Widow Waltz on an experimental show based in LA. She then began working in radio but went back to the small screen in 1949 to co-host a daily variety show.

In the 50s, she was cast as a series regular on Life with Elizabeth and has been a fixture on TV ever since.

Betty White | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Prince Philips age

The patriarch of the royal family is a bit older than White so hell be celebrating his milestone 100th birthday first.

The queens husband was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark on June 10, 1921, on the Greek island of Corfu. Philip is the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. Shortly after his birth, his family was exiled from Greece. He was educated in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom before joining the Royal Navy in 1939.

In 1947, he married then-Princess Elizabeth. In 1952, after the death of her father, King George VI, Philips bride ascended the throne. The prince and monarch have four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh | Yui Mok  WPA Pool/Getty Images

RELATED: Things Older Than Prince Philip

Who has the higher net worth?

The net worth of the British royal family as a whole falls somewhere in the neighborhood of $88 billion when looking at the crowns assets and the value of the family brand. As Celebrity Net Worth noted, Philips own personal net worth is $30 million.

While that number is impressive, its not as much as the amount everyones favorite Golden Girl is worth.

Along with The Golden Girls, White was featured in a number of other programs and game shows during her lengthy career including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Hot in Cleveland, Whats My Line?, To Tell the Truth, Ive Got a Secret, Match Game, and Pyramid. Today, the television icon has an estimated net worth of $75 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
(Newser)  Residents in the Southwest have wished for rain for some time, and they're likely going to see that wish granted. CNN notes that 70% of the region has been suffering from severe droughtLas Vegas, for example, has only had two episodes of rain over the last 273 days. Per ABC News, the heat hasn't helped, either, with daily temperature records smashed across Southern California last week and over the weekend, and recent wind gusts posing fire dangers. But weather models now predict that three or four storms will descend upon Nevada, Arizona, and California by month's end, with some parts of the Golden State due to get more rain over the next several days than they usually get in two years' time.

story continues below

The town of Imperial, for instance, typically registers less than 2.5 inches of rain annually, but the incoming weather systems over the next week or so could bring up to 5 inches of precipitation there. Meanwhile, Phoenix residents, who haven't seen rain since Dec. 10, may have to break out their umbrellas for most of the next week. The predicted precipitation will likely come in the form of snow in areas like the higher parts of the Sierra Nevada, which CNN notes would help California's water supply once all of the snow melts. Weather.com reports that parched New Mexico, Utah, and western Colorado may also benefit moisture-wise from the various weather systems heading to the region. (Read more Southern California stories.)
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
A 9-year-old girl died after being shot in the head in North Philadelphia on Wednesday morning when she and two other children were left unsupervised inside a house with two guns, according to police.

Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said at the scene that it was not immediately clear how the girl was shot. She said authorities received a call about the shooting around 11 a.m. from a 12-year-old who was also in the house, on the 2300 block of North Bouvier Street.

We dont know at this point how the child was shot, but we do know that there were three children in the house left unattended, Outlaw said. And we found two firearms also in the home.

The girl was taken to Temple University Hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the right side of the head, police said. She was pronounced dead at 1:50 p.m.

Outlaw did not say how, or if, the children were related, and said police had not been able to speak with the girls parents in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

A detective at the scene, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the two other children in the house, boys ages 12 and 5, had been taken to the Special Victims Unit for interviews, and said that everything points to an accident but that the investigation was ongoing.

Until we talk to everybody, we dont know, he said.

Patrick Flood, who lives nearby and is a lifelong friend of the girls father, came to the block to comfort his friend because he has to bury his daughter. He said the 12-year-old boy was the girls brother, and the 5-year-old was their cousin.

Flood said the girl was nicknamed Butterfly and was quiet, nice, peaceful, loving. All the characteristics of a little girl.

Her family moved into the rental property about a month ago, a police source said at the scene. The block is composed of aging rowhouses without porches. Some are abandoned and dilapidated, and trash and clothing litter sidewalks and gutters.

A neighbor said drugs were a problem in the area and calls to city tip lines had yielded little police response.

Its sad, said the man, who has lived in the area his entire life and said he knows the family. A girl gets shot in the head and nobody was in there but kids.

Relatives who live on the block or nearby declined to speak about the girl or her condition Wednesday.

I have to find out about my little cousins, a man near tears exclaimed, before walking away to speak to an officer in a car parked in front of the shooting scene.

The shooting came amid a violent start to 2021. According to police statistics, 114 people had been shot through Tuesday, including 10 children under age 18.

District Attorney Larry Krasner told reporters at the scene that the incident was heartbreaking and said the city had too many guns, and theyre not secured safely when theyre out there.

Flood, the friend of the girls father, said of the shooting: As far as I know, the kids found a gun in the house and they was playing. Then, things went sideways.

Across the street from the home where the girl was shot, Ricky Green stood on his front steps surveying the scene of police technicians going in and out of the crime scene.

I remember seeing that little girl, Green said. She was a cute little girl. Thats sad.

Next-door neighbor Rhonda Wilson, 53, who just moved in nine weeks ago, said her neighbors children did not come outside very much. The father was always out in the street, Wilson said while heading out to work around 3 p.m.

Im just surprised that they left them by themselves, Wilson said. These are your kids. I mean, what is so important that you would leave your kids in a house by themselves?

Staff photographer Alejandro A. Alvarez contributed to this article.
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LONDON : An unprecedented rally in "green" hydrogen stocks looks set to extend as investors flock to companies which promise to produce the gas without using fossil fuels, expecting the technology to scale up over the next 10 years to justify rocketing valuations.

Hydrogen is earth's most abundant element but is mostly extracted from fossil fuels, emitting carbon dioxide in the process. "Green" or clean hydrogen requires using electrolysis to split water into its components of hydrogen and oxygen and doing so cheaply is often described as the holy grail of green energy transition.

Share prices of companies in the industry have soared more than 500% in the past year, driven by the rising adoption of zero-emission vehicles, a deadline set by many countries to go carbon-free by 2050 and lately US President-elect Joe Biden's support for clean energy.

Plug Power, Ceres Power and Fuelcell Energy, which make hydrogen fuel cell systems that power devices ranging from warehouse machines to cars, are leading that charge, jumping 400% to 1,600% in the last year.

"Hot money is flowing towards renewables and clean energy, and there's been a clear re-rating of valuations in the sector," said Emmanuel Cau, head of European equity strategy at Barclays.

While a lot of focus has been on hydrogen's role in the automotive sector, its usage is growing far beyond that.

The European Union plans to scale up renewable hydrogen projects across polluting sectors ranging from chemicals to steel with cumulative investments in renewable hydrogen in the region seen reaching up to 470 billion euros ($570 billion) by 2050, the region's commission said.

That has fuelled the stocks of electrolyser makers Norway's Nel and UK's ITM Power.

"The momentum just keeps going really with this theme," Ashim Paun, HSBC's global co-head of climate change and ESG research said on a webinar.

ZeroAvia, a hydrogen plane startup, last month secured $37.7 million in new cash via a funding round led by Bill Gates Breakthrough Energy Ventures and from the British government to support its bid to develop zero-emission aircraft.

The frenzy in hydrogen-related stocks has led to some concerns about a bubble, with companies trading at extreme prices based on expectations that their revenue will surge in future, despite worries about possible headwinds for the sector.

Widespread adoption of hydrogen as a fuel for cars is far from a given.

Toyota launched a new hydrogen fuel cell car in December, but it has largely failed to win customers over to the technology amid concerns about a lack of fuelling stations, resale values and the risk of hydrogen explosions.

The momentum behind electric vehicles may be another headwind, said Jonathan Bell, chief investment officer at Stanhope Capital.

"The problem with hydrogen is that sometimes when you have two competing systems, its not the better technology that wins, it's the one that gets market share and the network effect first of all," Bell said.

UK-based ITM Power, which manufactures the electrolysers needed to make green hydrogen, is trading at a massive seven times its 2030 sales, while rival Nel is relatively cheap at three times 2030 sales, according to HSBC's calculations.

Some investors may avoid the sector altogether, after a similar burst of enthusiasm two decades ago proved short-lived, and much of the latest excitement around green energy is based on Biden's policy plans, which are yet to be passed into law.

But no bank is ringing the alarm bells, yet.

JP Morgan analysts advised long-term investors in a recent note to take advantage of any pullback in prices and "take an unorthodox approach to valuation for the next several years" - in other words, not worry about a potential bubble.

Sean McLoughlin, HSBC EMEA head of industrials research, said scarce value in the market, unprecedented fiscal stimulus, low cost of capital and debt and low yields in other asset classes mean the hydrogen market's valuation may be justified though he cautioned it was at a "potentially fraught level."

"Theres a lot of capital that is very ESG-focused chasing a select number of companies that offer this kind of pure play exposure to these future energy trends. So there is a risk that this may unwind."

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Zelia de Carvalho Morley, 106, gestures before receiving a shot of China's Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine for the new coronavirus at the retirement home where she lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. De Carvalho Morley lived through the 1918 flu pandemic. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Zelia de Carvalho Morley rolled up a sleeve and looked stoically to the side as a nurse slid in a COVID-19 shot. She was one of thousands in Brazil to get the shot on Wednesday, but one of very few old enough to recall an earlier viral pandemic that swept her nation and the world a century ago.

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1914, Morley was a girl when the so-called Spanish flu killed millions around the world in 1918-1920, when no vaccines were available.

"The whole of Brazil caught it. Too many people died," she said, wearing a pink daisy chain on her head. "I don't forget anything!"

"I think this vaccine is going to be very good," Morley told The Associated Press, displaying a generous smile before placing her light blue mask back on her face. "It's in the hands of God."

Centenarians like Morley are among the first vaccine recipients in many countries, including Brazil, where the government's immunization campaign officially kicked off on Tuesday with distribution of the Chinese-developed SinoVac vaccine.

With more than 210,000 deaths, Latin America's largest nation has the second highest tally in the world behind the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University's database.

Her doctor, Paulo Cesar Cunha Fabiano, 73, has been working at the Vovo' House retirement home for nearly four decades, said Morley had told him of her parents getting the flu nearly a century ago.,

Zelia de Carvalho Morley, 106, gets a shot of China's Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine for the new coronavirus at the retirement home where she lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. De Carvalho Morley lived through the 1918 flu pandemic. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Zelia de Carvalho Morley, 106, waves after receiving a shot of China's Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine for the new coronavirus at the retirement home where she lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. De Carvalho Morley lived through the 1918 flu pandemic. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

"When she was 6-7 years old, her parents told her that people were dying in the streets. Back then, there were no antibiotics or medication. People died like flies,"

Several employees at Vovo House suffered from COVID-19, and one had to be intubated, Cunha said. But none of the elderly residents have tested positive so far. Still, the fear of possibly infecting them was a burden for workers there.

"Now at least we're going to have some tranquility," Cunha said, adding that he had lost many friends and colleagues to the virus in recent months. "We workers are no longer going to worry about passing the illness to the elderly. This is huge."

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.

In a complex world of the share market, simplicity and speed will create cost savings and allow transactions to be more free-flowing.

Complii Fintech Solutions Ltd (ASX:CF1) is a Compliance and Operational efficiency business that was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) last year.

The business in stockbroking has changed dramatically over the last 30 years with even more significant changes in the last 10 years.

As Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the ASX step up regulatory requirements, the financial industry continues to evolve dramatically and most industry participants will agree that we can expect more changes ahead of us.

For the financial industry, the need to be compliant and to protect all participants has become mandatory. Broking firms need to protect themselves and also their clients, hence the use of technology such as Complii will become mandatory.

As Craig Mason explains, the technology was written for the ASX and is complete. There are no stages to go through. The company is beyond proof of concept, in fact, they are even having paying clients.

Craig puts forth a very compelling statement:

This business is a mandatory exercise for the broking industry. The technology not only makes work more efficient, it protects all participants from the industry.

Podcast:

About Complii Fintech Solutions Ltd

Many stockbrokers have been forced to use substandard software or adapt manual paper procedures that have made it difficult to deal with the changes in legislation brought about by CLERP (Corporate Law Economic Reform) in early 2000 and also the recent FOFA requirements.

Many firms are still using these manual processes and old systems that align with 'industry standard' and are unfortunately having to pay out hundreds and thousands of dollars in client settlements.

To provide support for these changes and an organised paperless compliance process, the Complii Automation Innovation Software was born in 2007.

The system started as a simple SOA (Statement of Advice) generator and client profile tracker but has now morphed into a full compliance and corporate system for brokers or anyone dealing in securities.

Operating in many stockbroking firms and AFSLs, for over eight years now the system has seen numerous ASIC audits and external audits, all with positive results.

Complii originated in Perth and was built with logic conveyed by advisors, management and compliance personnel. Complii continues to grow and can be seen in organisations on both the West and East Coast of Australia.

This customisable software has been designed to automate, record and report on an AFS Licensees compliance obligations.

About Craig Mason

Craig is the executive chairman of Complii FinTech solutions Ltd. He has more than 29 years experience in the finance industry in various capacities and has worked closely with ASX, ASIC and recently APRA to help shape the industry, more specifically in the areas of custody, third-party trade execution and clearing associated services.

Mason has previously been an active director of the Stockbrokers and Financial Advisers Association (SAFAA) and also sat on the SAFAA Retail Broker Advisory Committee. He is the former country head of Australia and non-exec chairman Pershing Securities Australia Pty Ltd, a company, where he was responsible for the overall management of the company.

Masons role included the implementation of strategic goals and objectives, providing direction and leadership towards the achievement of BNY Mellon/Pershings philosophy and mission, overseeing company operations to ensure efficient management of resources, and ensuring governance functions were fulfilled.

Since establishing the first true Third-Party Clearing business in Australia in 2000 (Berndale Securities, which was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merrill  Bank Of America) and a subsequent trade execution and clearing services business for UBS in 2005, he has continued to work with the industry and its stakeholders to further enhance the important mid-tier and boutique broking segment with particular focus on the Retail/Wealth Management segment.

In 2009 Mason founded Penson Financial Services Australia as an independent provider of third-party trade execution, clearing, international market access, custody and nominee services to the small and mid-tier broking participants and AFSL holders, one of the fastest-growing segments of the Australian market.

The business model was specifically targeted at allowing participants and AFSL holders to compete with the top end of town on service, capital efficiency and compliance while providing a real alternative to the significant cost pressures that were emerging around capital, compliance and risk management as a result of the GFC and changed market conditions.

Please let us know your thoughts and send us any comment to info@Samso.com.au. Remember to Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Samso Media and our mail list to stay informed and make comments where appropriate. Other than that, you can also give us a Review on Google.

For further information about Coffee with and Rooster Talks visit: www.samso.com.au

is primarily a consulting company that delivers digital information to the market in terms of creating organic content.

Samso simplifies your story to customers or investors. Samso creates organic content for you to engage your audience and BRAND yourself to them.

Samso provides bespoke research and presentation for clients to engage their customers or investors.

Organic content allows audiences to feel a real sense of sincerity when you share your business strategy, allowing your business to stand out among the sea of social media traffic.

Working with allows exposing our Insights to over 1.2 million monthly unique views internationally.

Samso has nearly 30 years of experience in developing business ideas and concepts in the Australasian region.

Samso has worked primarily in the mineral resources industry, capital markets and corporate finance. Noel Ong is the founder of SAMSO.

Disclaimer

Samso and affiliated companies accept no responsibility for any claim, loss or damage as a result of information provided or its accuracy. The information provided is general in nature, not financial product advice, see a financial expert before making any investment decision. Your personal objectives, financial situation or needs have not been taken into consideration. There may be a conflict of interest present with commercial arrangements with companies and/or stock held. Samso or an associate may receive a commission for funds raised.
A bag of cement which usually costs approximately $50 has more than tripled in price at some places since Covid-19 invaded the country in March 2020.

Some people are paying as much as $150 and more for a bag of cement.
Businesses are striving for greener and cleaner processes

Last November, the Ministry of Industry and Trade held a review conference in Danang on 10 years of implementation of the Cleaner Production Strategy for Industry to 2020, as well as the launch of a National Action Programme on Sustainable Production and Consumption for the 2021-2030 period.

The Cleaner Production Strategy was so strongly deployed at launch, that by 2015 it had achieved most of its objectives.

Cleaner production is widely applied in industries in order to increase the utilisation of efficiency of natural resources, material, and fuels; reduce emission and minimise the pollution acceleration rate; and protect and improve environmental quality, human health, and ensure the sustainable development.

If the Cleaner Production Strategy focused on using natural resources and energy efficiently and economically in production activities, the National Action Programme focuses on maintaining the value chain of natural resources and energy in its entire life cycle.

The programme sets out the general objectives of promoting efficient and sustainable management, exploitation, and use of natural resources and energy; and increasing the use of environmentally-friendly, renewable, reusable, and recycled natural resources, as well as raw materials, energy, and products.

It also aims to promote sustainable production and consumption on the basis of innovation, creativity, practice, and development of sustainable production and consumption models; promoting sustainable domestic production and consumption; creating stable jobs and green jobs; and enhancing life quality for people towards the development of the circular economy in Vietnam.

Before this macro-programme was introduced, many organisations and companies have committed to their responsibility to the environment. Many businesses have invested and innovated to minimise the damage to the environment, and applied a circular economy for better environment. BAT and Emic Hospitality are among the companies making great efforts in reducing the harmful effects of air pollution and environmental pollution.

For the past six years, the BAT-Vinataba Joint Venture Company in Dong Nai province has pursued initiatives to utilise or reuse scrap, which has brought about positive impacts on the environment, according to Le Hoang Phuc, head of Technical and Environmental Health and the Safety Department.

The factory currently has more than 100 employees and is specialised in producing tobacco and developing tobacco-growing areas. Being a large factory, BAT consumes a huge amount of energy and waste sources such as steam from the drying system and production wastewater. Conscious of remaining part of the circular economy, BAT has implemented energy efficiency management programmes, used German advanced technology dust filter and deodorising systems, and managed odours and dust being released into the environment.

Phuc introduced many activities that are being implemented, such as using rainwater instead of source water for the factory, wastewater meeting Standard A before being released into the environment, reusing water for deodorising systems, and ensuring all waste is sorted at source. The result is that annual water use has decreased from 2.2 cubic metres per tonne of product to 1.82cu.m per tonne of product.

By September 2020, with ceaseless efforts to overcome all challenges, the factory has made some significant achievements in the journey of environmental protection by ensuring absolutely no burial waste at the factory. Phuc is proud that now all waste is sorted at source and transferred to functional units for treatment. Carton boxes are also screened and reused multiple times in production.

In order to archive this, the joint venture company encourages their employees to follow the rules, including minimising disposable plastic in the office, sorting waste at source, and reusing if possible.

Similarly, Phan Xuan Thanh, director of Emic Hospitality Co., Ltd., in the central province of Quang Nam, also shared that the company pursues a sufficiency economy philosophy towards environmental protection and sustainable development. That journey started from the sorting and treatment of waste to serve organic agriculture in a closed circulation process, supporting organic vegetable farmers, and saying no to plastic bags.
QuestCap is launching two mobile COVID-19 testing sites in the Houston region which will allow for rapid testing and results within 24 hours.

QuestCap is a Canadian-based company with seeks out disruptive technologies, ground-breaking innovations, and exclusive partnerships to help combat COVID-19 and generate remarkable risk-adjusted returns for investors.

On HoustonChronicle.com: University of Houston nursing students get started with the basics in Sugar Land

In the Houston area, QuestCap has opened testing sites at Simon-owned Katy Mills Mall and Houston Premium Outlets. Other sites in Texas are located in Austin and Fort Worth with more testing sites in the state planned through subsidiary Collection Sites.

As one of the most populous states, Collection Sites saw Texas as an important region to expand into, said Tim Shelburn, president of Collection Sites, in a news release prior to announcing the sites in the Houston area. While we have started with four locations, we will increase this in the coming weeks to better serve Texans and provide important COVID-19 testing services to those seeking them in the state.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas State Technical College welcomes students back to Fort Bend County campus

There are limited numbers of tests which can be conducted daily.

The lab sites are designed to have capacity for up to 150 tests per day, per site and will charge between $59 and $179 for antibody and antigen tests, according to a news release. Tests take no more than 10 minutes to administer and provide results within 24 hours.

After testing results can be delivered via text or email and can be accompanied with a certificate of good health via a HIPAA-compliant smartphone application.

Appointments and payments will be handled through the online portal www.testbeforeyougo.com, according to the QuestCap news release.

Katy Mills Mall is located at 5000 Katy Mills Circle. Houston Premium Outlets is located at 29300 Hempstead Road in Cypress near the intersection of Highway 290 and the Grand Parkway.

rkent@hcnonline.com
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday hailed the departure of "tyrant" US counterpart Donald Trump, who is due to leave office later in the day

Tehran, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday hailed the departure of "tyrant" US counterpart Donald Trump, who is due to leave office later in the day.

A "tyrant's era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign. Someone for whom all of his four years bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption and causing problems for his own people and the world," he said in televised remarks to his cabinet.
President Biden says unity is 'the path forward' in inaugural address

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President Joe Biden delivered his inaugural address Wednesday before a small crowd of elected officials, supporters and celebrities gathered on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Biden, who held the office of vice president during the Obama administration and now serves as the 46th president. Biden, a Democrat, attempted to focus on unity during his speech at a time when the nation remains divided about the results of the 2020 presidential election and differing ideas about how to best address the cultural and economic problems facing the country.

Biden described unity as the path forward, adding, We must meet this moment as the United States of America. We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors, we can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature, for without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury.

The new president expressed a desire to start afresh and urged the American people to begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another (and) show respect to one another. He asserted that politics doesnt have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path.

With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs, we can put people to work in good jobs, we can teach our children in safe schools, we can overcome the deadly virus, he promised.

In addition to thanking his supporters, Biden urged those who did not vote for him to hear me out as we move forward, take a measure of me and my heart and if you still disagree so be it. He held up the right to dissent peaceably as a hallmark of American democracy and assured that he would be a president for all Americans. Additionally, the president pledged to fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

Invoking St. Augustine, who defined a people as a multitude defined by the common objects of their love, Biden asked, What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans? He cited opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect (and) honor as some of the common objects of love that define the American people.

He called on the American people to end this uncivil war that pits red against blue  rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal by opening our souls instead of hardening our hearts and showing tolerance and humility.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real, but I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear (and) demonization have long torn us apart.

Describing the aforementioned battle as perennial, the president contended that throughout American history, our better angels have always prevailed. Acknowledging that we have come so far, the president maintained that we still have far to go. He vowed to press forward with speed and urgency, adding, We have much to do.

The president listed some of the difficulties the nation faces, including a once-in-a-century virus that silently stalks the country and a cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making. He vowed that the dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer and cited the rise of political extremism, white supremacy (and) domestic terrorism as well as growing inequity and a climate in crisis as issues of pressing concern.

Regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the president remained optimistic that We will get through this together. He asked the crowd to join him in a moment of silent prayer in honor of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have succumbed to the pandemic.

Biden began the speech by proclaiming This is Americas Day, this is democracys day, a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. According to the president, Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause, the cause of democracy.  The will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded.

Democracy has prevailed, he proclaimed as the crowd applauded. Biden acknowledged his predecessors of both parties gathered in the audience: former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Additionally, the president recognized 96-year-old former president Jimmy Carter, who did not attend the ceremony.

The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the people who seek a more perfect Union, he stressed. This is a great nation, we are good people.

Invoking the words of the revered President Abraham Lincoln, Biden announced that My whole soul is in this, bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. The president also addressed the other countries of the world, vowing that we will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again and lead, not by the example of our power but by the power of our example.

Toward the end of his speech, Biden vowed I will always level with you, I will defend the Constitution, Ill defend our democracy, Ill defend America. He emphasized the importance of hope not fear, of unity not division (and) of light not darkness, expressing hope that future generations will look back at his administration as a time when America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world.

With purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks of our time sustained by faith, driven by conviction and devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts, he concluded. After calling on God to bless America and the troops, Biden thanked the country for giving him the opportunity to serve as the 46th president as his address drew to a close.

The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
World Health Organization (WHO) Pakistan has provided technical and operational support to the Government of Pakistan for COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response at Points of Entry (POE) in compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR).

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jan, 2021 ) :World Health Organization (WHO) Pakistan has provided technical and operational support to the Government of Pakistan for COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response at Points of Entry (POE) in compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR).

According to WHO, the assistance included strengthening capacities for entry and exit screening for early detection, active case finding and referral of COVID-19 cases including equipment, information, education and communication (IEC) material and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplies.

Trainings were conducted at major Points of Entry (POE) for capacity building of staff focusing on orienting COVID-19 related emerging guidance and implementation of national SOPs derived from WHO technical guidelines.

As part of the continuing support, Dr Palitha Mahipala WHO Representative in Pakistan recently donated COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Testing kits to strengthen the testing capacity at Points of Entry (POE) to comply with the new travel restrictions for the inbound passengers from the UK and South Africa to contain the spread of new UK SARS COV2 variant.
It was a revealing moment in an otherwise predictable show of vague deflections that has become the kind of performance art required for Cabinet nominees to make it through the Senate confirmation gauntlet.

Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Bidens nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, was asked Tuesday what message he wanted to send to the thousands of immigrants traveling in a caravan through Central America in hopes that a new president would welcome them into the United States and turn the page on President Trumps restrictive immigration policies that sought to keep them out.

Changes to Trumps border policies cannot be accomplished with a flick of a switch on day one, said Mayorkas, who would become the first Latino and first immigrant to head the agency. It will take time to build the infrastructure capacity so we can enforce our laws.

But what Mayorkas means by enforcing U.S. immigration laws is far different from the Trump administrations definition. Each member of any caravan attempting to cross into the United States would be evaluated separately on whether their case for asylum meets the laws definition, he told the Senate Homeland Security Committee. This is a dramatic shift from Trumps policy that aimed to prevent the large groups travelling from Central America from crossing into the United States at all.

Biden has promised a swift reversal of Trumps policies of cracking down on illegal immigration and his efforts to fulfill a 2016 campaign promise to build a massive, sprawling wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. During his first days in office, Biden will ask Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for an estimated 11 million immigrants already in the country illegally. Biden also will announce plans to pause wall construction until further review and new protections for immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are beneficiaries of the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, policy, one of 15 executive actions Biden will announce after being sworn into office Wednesday.

Mayorkas, who served as deputy DHS secretary under President Obama, faced questions about his ability to lead the massive agency responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity and counterterrorism, less than two weeks after the U.S. Capitol was breached by a mob of Trump supporters who broke through doors and threatened lawmakers.

He promised to do everything he can to prevent such a violent attack from happening on his watch and to gather information on extremist threats in an apolitical, nonpartisan way.

But Mayorkas, 61, first must be confirmed by the Senate, something Biden wanted to fast-track. That hope looked far less likely after his initial confirmation hearing Tuesday.

Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, announced Tuesday that he would place a hold on Mayorkas nomination, a parliamentary procedure that can delay but not outright block his confirmation.

Because the Senate is split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, with incoming Vice President Kamala Harris presumably breaking any tie votes, Mayorkas confirmation is likely only a matter of time. But Republicans can stall the nomination for weeks while focusing on vulnerabilities in Mayorkas record -- or policy differences with the news administration.

I cannot consent to skip the standard vetting process and fast-track this nomination when so many questions remain unanswered, Hawley said in a statement issued after Tuesdays hearing.

Mayorkas readily shot down one pointed GOP line of questioning: He pledged not to try to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, countering what has become a rallying cry for some liberal opponents of Trumps immigration policies.

But the first-generation Cuban was far more circumspect in his answers to most of the questions from Republicans, responding that he would study the existing policies before announcing a change, including the pandemic-era restrictions put in place by Trump that allows officials to immediately deport most illegal immigrants arriving at the southern border.

Throughout the hearing, Mayorkas highlighted his Cuban and Jewish heritage. My father and mother brought me to this country to escape communism, he told the committee. I was raised to appreciate each day what this country has meant to our family, he said, later explaining that he is particularly sensitive to anti-Semitism because his mother lost to relatives during the Holocaust.

Hawleys objections to Mayorkas policy responses wasnt the only source of Republican skepticism. Sen. Rob Portman, Ohio moderate who will serve as the committees ranking GOP member, questioned the nominees handling of an investor visa program during his time leading the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency, a division of DHS, during the Obama administration.

When Mayorkas was up for a promotion at DHS back in 2013, every Republican senator boycotted his confirmation hearing and voted against him. Mayorkas was confirmed by Democrats on a straight party-line vote.

At the time, Mayorkas was under investigation by the DHS Inspector General John Roth, a respected watchdog appointed by Obama to help clean up the department. Roth issued his final report in 2015, finding that Mayorkas improperly intervened to help the business interests of prominent Democrats, including some with ties to then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Hillary Clintons brother Anthony Rodham, and former DNC chief and Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe.

Mayorkas defended his intervention Tuesday, arguing that it was not providing preferential treatment but simply a good faith effort to improve the investor visa program that was supposed to help create U.S. jobs but instead had long been plagued by problems. Mayorkas said the three specific cases the IG report focused on were a tiny fraction of the hundreds that were handled at the request of senators and House members. It is my job to become involved, to learn the problems that an agency confronts and to fix them, he testified. And thats what I did in this case, and the many cases that came before me.

Republicans, however, remain highly critical of the intervention, which Roth characterized as creating an appearance of improper preferential treatment for powerful Democrats. The IG report also noted the unusually large number of whistleblowers who came forward to complain both about Mayorkas intervention in the cases as well as his aggressive leadership style.

Mr. Roth told me the report holds up today, and he continues to stand behind it, Portman noted.

Other Republicans directly involved in investigating the complaints against Mayorkas, dating back to 2012, said Mayorkas role made problems with the EB-5 visa program worse.

For years, including during Mr. Mayorkas tenure at DHS, the EB-5 program was susceptible to fraud and abuse. But rather than fixing those issues, the IG found that Mr. Mayorkas gave preferential treatment to some visa applicants over others, Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, told RealClearPolitics in a statement. The IG noted that this favoritism prompted an unusually broad array of whistleblower complaints. That brand of leadership isnt good for agency culture or the security of our nation.

Sen. Mitt Romney, the only Republican to vote to impeach Trump in early 2020, was one of Mayorkas toughest critics during Tuesdays hearing. Romney told the nominee he was disappointed in his responses to an earlier question about the lessons he learned from the IG investigation  that he did not pledge to recuse himself from future interventions that could be viewed as political favoritism.

Is that not the appropriate action to take when something has the very distinct appearance of political favoritism? Romney asked.

For me to recuse myself from the program in its entirety would have been for me to abdicate my responsibility, Mayorkas replied.

That response earned an even sharper rebuke from Romney.

Oh, of course. Im only suggesting with regard to when an individual who happens to be a leading Democrat would call you, that that meant, Holy cow, I gotta step back.

Mayorkas then attempted to refine his response. He argued that, on one hand, he thought it was important to be responsive to lawmakers requests to intervene in certain cases but acknowledged that he and other officials instituted guardrails to better protect against the appearance of favoritism after the IG reports findings.

I did in fact learn, senator, how to better guard against that perception, Mayorkas responded. And I agree with you 100% that it is our obligation to guard against that perception so there is trust and confidence in the decision-making of government leaders.
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A detective from the Shoals is in Washington D.C. on this historic Inauguration Day helping out with security of the Capitol.

Detective Matt Senkbeil works at the Tuscumbia Police Department. Chief Tony Logan said he got a text from him last week saying his Alabama National Guard unit was being deployed to help at the Capitol, and he was on a plane by 6 a.m. headed to Washington D.C.

Logan said this is a historic moment and they can't wait to hear his stories and are proud he's serving.

"There will be a lot of interesting stories, I'm sure, when he gets back home. In my lifetime, I don't recall an Inauguration Day like today, and especially a young man in his career like Detective Senkbeil. It's something he will be able to tell his grandkids one day," said Logan.

There are about 250 Alabama National Guard Troops at the Capitol providing security along with many others from various states.

Logan said he believes Senkbeil will be back in the office sometime next week after he completes his orders.
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Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia
Engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Wednesday said its construction arm, L&T Construction, has bagged large transmission line orders in Bangladesh.

While the company didn't disclose the value of the contracts bagged by the power transmission and distribution business, as per its project classification, large projects have a value of Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 5,000 crore.

"The scope of these packages involves design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of extra high voltage transmission lines on turnkey basis," the company said in a regulatory filing.

Bangladesh has started a programme to alleviate infrastructure deficiencies and upgrade its power system to sustain its growth. "The recent wins strengthen the leadership position of our business that caters to power transmission & distribution and renewables EPC projects in the region," said T Madhava Das, WholeTime Director & Senior Executive Vice President (Utilities).

Also read: L&T plans to hire 1,100 engineers across business verticals in 2021

Earlier on Monday, L&T Construction said it won a large order for its heavy civil infrastructure business from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for a package of a new broad-gauge line in Uttarakhand.

L&T is an Indian multinational engaged in engineering, procurement and construction projects, manufacturing, defence and services with over USD 21 billion in revenue. It has presence in over 30 countries.

Shares of L&T were trading 0.99 per cent higher at Rs 1,383.25 on the BSE on Wednesday.

Also read: L&T bags construction projects worth up to Rs 2,500 cr
Local leaders in Decatur voiced their concerns on the coronavirus vaccine rollout in Alabama.

Department of Public Health Administrator, Judy Smith said, The biggest stumbling block has been the vaccine, the availability of the vaccine.

Smith said shes working to get more vaccines in Alabama.

Some Alabamians asked Smith about running mega clinics, but she said for now, the state is doing the best that they can.

Decatur Morgan Hospital started vaccinating people 75 and older on Monday morning. 130 doses of the vaccine were given on the first day. The hospital's goal is to administer 1,500 vaccines by the end of the week.

Some individuals chose to get their first dose of the vaccine in Tennessee. Smith said that all Alabamians 75 and older will be able to get their second dose, even if they got their first vaccine dose outside of the state.

President of Decatur Morgan Hospital, Kelli Powers, agreed on getting everyone their second vaccine, but Powers has concerns about clinics running out of the vaccine.

When they get the first dose in Tennessee, Tennessee is going to get their second dose, Powers said.

Despite her concerns, she said shes going to make sure everyone gets their second dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Smith said some Alabamians may not go for their second dose. In that case, the vaccine will be left for someone else who needs it.

New Delhi, Jan 20 : India is rapidly turning out to be the most crucial supplier of rice in the world. Supply of the staple cereal from other major rice exporting economies including Thailand and Vietnam fell sharply in 2020, due to reduced production after floods and droughts ravaged those countries. Besides, compared to the Indian rice, the price of the grain supplied by Thailand and Vietnam is almost $100 to $150 higher per tonne.

A stronger Thai Baht has also become a cause for concern for many rice exporters in the southeast Asian country.

Not just Thailand, according to Worldstopexports, a data collation portal, Vietnam's rice exports declined by 48.6 per cent, Pakistan's 36.9 per cent.

India has started supplying broken rice to several new markets including China, Vietnam, Malaysia besides Bangladesh besides increasing the quantum to its existing markets. The price sensitive African countries have also increased their rice orders from India, as its role in maintaining global food security becomes more pronounced.

India has already exported about 7 million tonnes of non-basmati rice in the April-November period, a jump of 123 per cent. According to the All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) the total exports of broken rice could touch 10 million tonne in 2020-21. The export of basmati rice, which is primarily directed towards Europe, US and the middle-eastern countries, witnessed a jump of 71 per cent.

"We expect the year 2021 to be very good for the rice exporters of the country with higher production and competitive pricing," Vinod Kaul, executive director, All India Rice Exporters' Association told IndiaNarrative.com.

Kaul added that with increased rice production, India has sufficient stocks to meet domestic demands including the quantum required for the public distribution system (PDS) and expand its shipment to all other importing countries.

According to Bangkok Post, rice exports in 2021 "are expected to slightly recover from an expected 5.8 million tonnes in 2020, which was the lowest in 20 years." Typically rice from Thailand is priced at about $400-$450 per tonne while India exports the grain at about $300 per tonne.

"Rice exports remain gloomy this year, as consumers worldwide are likely to opt to save their money and buy rice at cheaper prices," the newspaper quoted Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, as saying.

Sources said that Indian rice exporters are ready to meet additional demand which may arise as many countries have resorted to increased imports of the grain as uncertainty related to the Coronavirus pandemic remains despite the ongoing vaccination drive.

India's rice reaches China Despite political tensions between India and China, Beijing, which imports about 4 million tonnes of rice every year, has placed an import order for 100,000 tonnes at around $300 per tonne. The dragon has traditionally imported rice from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan among other countries but avoided shipment from India.

A CNBC report said that for two-thirds of people living in China, rice is the staple food. "The country is running out of rice, and they are looking at India to meet this demand," it said.

Notably, last year Chinese President Xi Jinping launched the 'Clean Plate Campaign' to reduce wastage of food. While foreign policy analysts said that the campaign is a preventive measure aimed at food security amid extensive floods all across the dragon nation last year, it sparked off a debate on whether the dragon was facing a food crisis.

"The campaign is meant to ensure food security especially as the country has been wrecked by severe floods but China has managed to register an economic growth, so the fear and panic are uncalled for," BR Deepak, expert on China and Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) earlier said.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
People walk with drinks as they do their daily exercise at Primrose Hill in London on Jan. 15, 2021. (Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

Seeking Exercise During Lockdown, Walkers Are Damaging Crops in England

With exercise restricted in England by lockdown laws, some walkers are inadvertently damaging crops as they eschew public footpaths churned into mud by unprecedented footfall, according to a rural business group.

The solution, according to the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), is simple: put on a pair of wellies.

It is perfectly natural, in times such as these, for people to want to enjoy the countryside, Mark Bridgeman, president of the CLA, said in a statement. They are genuinely welcome and we encourage people to enjoy the thousands of miles of footpaths available to them. But we need to work together to ensure the public can have an enjoyable time while also protecting farmland, animals and wildlife.

The CLA, which represents 30,000 rural businesses across England and Wales, said that attacks by dogs on livestock have also risen.

With the land now very wet, public footpaths have become muddy.

Unfortunately, that means many are circumnavigating the mud and walking over planted crops, damaging food crops and impacting farmers businesses, Bridgeman said. Our advice is to use a decent pair of welliesor walking bootsand stick to the route of the footpath.

Much of the 150,000 miles of public footpaths in Great Britain run through farms or private property, and are maintained by the landowners.

A tenant farmer in Buckinghamshire told the BBC that he had lost wheat worth about 1,000 ($1,367), but said that the damage was entirely accidental.

Oxfordshire farm manager Simon Beddows told the BBC that the combination of heavy footfall and wet weather was causing lasting damage across the whole country.

Gyms and leisure centres are shut under lockdown laws, which also mandate that people exercise locally. The only opportunity for socializing is through joining one other person, outside, for exercise.

Dog ownership has also risen during the pandemic, which has also pushed up the number of novice owners who have yet to manage their pets behaviour.

The CLA said that there had been several reports of sheep being killed by dogs that had been let off their leads on open farmland.

But it isnt just sheep, cows, dogs, humans, and farmers that have been pushed close together by the lockdown.

In Londons Royal Parks, keepers are concerned about rising attacks on deer.

Earlier this week a dog walker was fined 602 ($815) over a fatal attack by his Red Setter on a deer in Richmond Parkwhere they are protected by law.

According to the police, the doe was hit by a car as it tried to flee the dog, breaking its leg. It was later put down by a gamekeeper due to its injuries.

Sadly, this was the fourth deer that died over the last year as a result of dog chases in Bushy and Richmond Parks, Simon Richards, park manager for Richmond Park said. Weve had 58 incidents of dogs chasing deer reported to us since March 2020, and its completely unacceptable.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  An 18-year-old man died Tuesday and a 19-year-old man wounded and arrested in connection with a shootout in the citys Glenville neighborhood, according to police.

Marquise Payne, 18, died in the shooting, according to police. A 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with Paynes death.

An ambulance took the 19-year-old man to University Hospitals, where he was treated for a gunshot to his back and released to police. Police took him to the Cuyahoga County Jail, where he was booked on murder charges. Formal charges have not been filed in the case.

The shooting happened about 5 p.m. on Hopkins Avenue, east of Lakeview Boulevard. Police said they believe the two men met up for a drug deal when an argument broke out.

Payne and the other man shot at each other, police said.

Witnesses reported they heard several gunshots and saw Payne lying in the middle of the street. Investigators noted finding glass strewn in the street near Payne and that it appeared the gunshots came from inside a car that sped away, according to police dispatch records.

Payne was shot once in the head and once in the abdomen, according to police reports. Officers found him with a gun.

Officers found the 19-year-old man shot about a half-mile away at his home on Thornhill Avenue. Police ordered the mans 2010 Ford Edge SUV towed so they could search it for evidence. The SUV had several bullet holes, according to police.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Two men die after exchanging gunfire in Maple Heights shootout, police say

Stow soldier charged with attempting to aid ISIS attack of U.S. forces in the Middle East

Parma man gets life sentence after pleading guilty to beating 94-year-old WWII veteran to death
A California sheriffs deputy was killed and another deputy was wounded in a shootout with a suspect who gunned down a K-9 dog before he was fatally shot, authorities said.

Adam Gibson, a six-year veteran of the Sacramento County Police Department, and K9 Officer Riley were killed during the shootout around 10.07pm on Monday, Sheriff Scott Jones said.

Gibson, 31, leaves behind his wife Rachel Gibson and a nine-month-old child, the sheriff said.

A second deputy, 43, was injured by the gunfire and transported to a trauma center for further treatment, Jones said. The wounded deputy, a 13-year veteran of the department, remains hospitalized in serious, but stable condition.

The 46-year-old suspect, Robert Stephen Calderon, was also shot dead in the exchange and had a long history of mental health issues and criminal activity.

Deputy Adam Gibson and K9 Officer Riley were shot and killed in a shootout with a suspect on Monday

The devastating encounter began when deputies saw an occupied car in a parking lot near Arden Way and Avondale Avenue that matched the description one involved in a series of burglaries, cops said.

Deputies initiated contact with Calderon, who was on active parole. Cops did not reveal his name, but identifed the suspect as a man in his 40s.

When deputies tried to search his car, Calderon fled -- starting a 'short pursuit' that ended in a gunbattle near a racetrack at the Cal Expo event venue, cops said.

Calderon's identity was revealed on Tuesday by his mother, Jenny Calderon, who spoke with the Sacramento Bee.

Suspect Robert Stephen Calderon, 46, was also killed in the police shootout

Cops said that Deputy Gibson leaves behind a wife and an infant child

Jenny Calderon said that her son had been on drugs in the past, and 'I think he was bi-polar.'

'He saw people coming out of the walls,' she said. 'They would come, and they would abuse him. And he was mad at me because he thought I was letting them into his room.'

Calderon, who broke down several times speaking with the outlet, said that led him to get a gun and that she had no idea how he was able to obtain it.

'I told him to get rid of it, I told him you have to go get some help, and you have to get rid of that gun,' she said.

She added that she was mourning for the fallen deputy and his family - not just her own son, who she described as a former truck driver and in-home health services worker.

'I'm glad he's dead because if he knew what he had done to that deputy's family, he wouldn't be able to live with himself,' she said.

Calderon added that her son loved animals and had a small pug named Max, the Bee reported. She said he was frequently homeless and lived in a Chevrolet Suburban.

'My son leaves nothing here on earth except for me and Max and the people who love him. But that poor deputy leaves behind a family.'

Calderon had a combined nine felony and misdemeanor cases in Sacramento County generally for drug use and stolen cars, records show.

He had also been treated for drug-induced psychosis by a doctor in 2013, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Calderon was most recently released from police custody in November 2017 after serving time in an Oklahoma prison for methamphetamine possession and felony destruction of property after he destroyed a Hampton Inn hotel room, the outlet reported.

Deputy Gibson served in the United States Marine Corps and did two tours in Afghanistan before joining the department in 2014, according to the the sheriff's office.

He he has worked in corrections, patrol and most recently a canine handler and was awarded the Sheriffs Office Bronze Star for Bravery and a Major Incident Ribbon in 2018.

Gov. Gavin Newsom offered condolences to the slain deputy's family.

'Deputy Gibson will forever be remembered for his selfless sacrifice and his commitment to providing safety and security for the Sacramento community,' Newsom said in a statement.

K9 Officer Riley was 5 years old and had been in-service with the sheriff's office for three years, cops said.
Garrett, IN (46738)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain showers early becoming more intermittent overnight. Low 42F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.
First lady Jill Biden wore blue on Inauguration Day "to signify trust, confidence, and stability" as her husband, President Joe Biden, takes office as the 46th U.S. president.

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Biden, 69, sported an ocean blue tweed dress and coat from American designer Alexandra O'Neill of Markarian to attend Joe Biden 's inauguration Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

Biden was first spotted in the ensemble as she attended a church service with Joe Biden, vice president Kamala Harris and Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff. Biden also wore a matching blue face mask and gloves.

Biden's coat had a darker blue velvet collar and cuffs, while the dress featured a chiffon bodice, scalloped skirt and Swarovski pearl and crystal-embellished neckline. The coat was also adorned with crystals to subtly reflect light, Markarian said in a press release.

"The color blue was chosen for the pieces to signify trust, confidence, and stability," the label said. "The look was carefully crafted by a small team in the heart of New York City's Garment Center and hand finished by O'Neill in her West Village studio."

O'Neill founded Markarian, named "after a particularly radiant grouping of galaxies," in 2017.

"It is an incredible honor to dress Dr. Biden today. I am so humbled to be even a small part of American history," O'Neill told Bazaar.com.

Biden has previously supported young, American designers. She wore a purple coat by New York-based designer Jonathan Cohen to attend a COVID-19 memorial service Tuesday evening at the Lincoln Memorial.

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JEDDAH  Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Bandar M. H. Hajjar, in Jeddah.

Foreign Minister praised the Islamic Development Bank's assistance in launching various development projects in Afghanistan, including the construction of Doshi-Pul-e-Khumri and Andkhoy-Aqina roads, the construction of a girls' dormitory at the Kabul University, and the irrigation project in Pashtun Zarghun district of Herat.

The Minister highlighted that Afghanistan's water, agriculture, mineral resources, and strategic position could play a constructive role in energy transfer, food security, and transit of goods between the countries of South, Central, and West Asia and beyond, supporting the supply and value chain of the region.

Foreign Minister Atmar emphasized the expansion of links between Afghanistan and the Islamic Development Bank and called for deploying a technical team from the Islamic Development Bank to Afghanistan to identify investment opportunities and develop a clear vision for economic cooperation between this Bank and Afghanistan. Dr. Hajjar welcomed the Afghan Minister's proposal about sending a technical delegation.

The Minister sought the support of the Bank on financing the International Islamic University of Afghanistan. The President of Islamic Development Bank assured Mr. Atmar of the Bank's support, pending a feasibility study.

While assuring Minister Atmar of the Islamic Development Bank's commitment to helping Afghanistan, Dr. Hajjar highlighted that creating an enabling environment for investment is an essential factor in the economic growth and development of countries and that the Bank was ready to assist Afghanistan in this regard.

The Foreign Minister thanked the President of the Islamic Development Bank for assisting and financing development projects in Afghanistan.
Bust out those old flannel jammies, toast a smore over the fire, grab your hot chocolate, and Zoom on in to Temple Israels Frozen February Trivia Night: Cabin Fever Edition.

The event is hosted by Matthew Litwack and Billy Rubenstein, and will take place on Saturday, February 20th at 7 pm. General admission costs $18 per person, and individuals are encourage to form their own teams with up to 10 players. Mulligans will be available for purchase (up to 3 per team at $20) during the event via Venmo.

Cabin Cuisine will be provided by Temple Israels TI To Go Chef Debbie Jennings, and will offer snack and dinner plates. Contactless curbside pickup will be available for these items on the day of the event from 1pm-3pm in TIs Brodsky Circle.

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Enter from the Ladue Rd. Entrance and the Brodsky Circle is on your left; #1 Rabbi Alvan D. Rubin Drive, 63141. Please place a sheet of paper with your last name on the dashboard of your vehicle so they can quickly grab your order.

During the virtual event, Temple Israel will also host a 50/50 Raffle ($5 per ticket or 6 tickets for $25) and a round sponsorship for recognition during a round of trivia ($500).

In addition to the event, Temple Israel is hosting an online auction, open from now through February 18th at 11:59 pm. Attendance to the event is not required to participate in the auction.

RSVPs for the event are open until Friday, February 12th. For any questions, contact Martina Stern at [email protected] or 314-432-8050 x233,


A Massachusetts-based political scientist and author is accused of secretly working for the government of Iran while lobbying US officials and advising Tehran how to retaliate when America killed Gen Qasem Soleimani, federal authorities said Tuesday.

Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, 63, was arrested by FBI agents at his home in Watertown, Massachusetts, on Monday, officials said. He is charged in New York City federal court with acting and conspiring to act as an unregistered agent of Iran.

An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney for Afrasiabi. Afrasiabi appeared before a Boston federal court judge via videoconference during a brief hearing and a detention hearing was scheduled for Friday.

Authorities said Afrasiabi, an Iranian citizen and lawful permanent US resident, has been paid by Iranian diplomats assigned to the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations (IMUN) in New York City since at least 2007.

Political scientist Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi (pictured) is accused of secretly working for Iran while lobbying US officials on issues like nuclear policy, federal authorities said Tuesday

Afrasiabi has been paid approximately $265,000 in checks drawn on the IMUN's official bank accounts since 2007, and has received health insurance through the IMUN's employee health benefit plans since at least 2011, the Justice Department said.

According to the Justice Department, in the course of his employment by the Iranian government, Afrasiabi has lobbied a US congressman and the US Department of State to advocate for policies favorable to Iran.

He also allegedly counseled Iranian diplomats concerning US foreign policy, made television appearances to advocate for the Iranian government's views on world events, and authored articles and opinion pieces espousing the Iranian government's position on various matters of foreign policy.

Afrasiabi has long known that agents of foreign principals are required to register with the US Department of Justice, officials said.

'Nevertheless, Afrasiabi did not register as an agent of the Government of Iran,' the Justice Department added.

'For over a decade, Kaveh Afrasiabi pitched himself to Congress, journalists, and the American public as a neutral and objective expert on Iran,' said John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

'However, all the while, Afrasiabi was actually a secret employee of the Government of Iran and the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations (IMUN) who was being paid to spread their propaganda.

'In doing so, he intentionally avoided registering with the Department of Justice as the Foreign Agents Registration Act required. He likewise evaded his obligation to disclose who was sponsoring his views. We now begin to hold him responsible for those deeds,' Demers added.

In January 2020, Afrasiabi reportedly emailed Iran's Foreign Minister with advice for 'retaliation' for the US airstrike that killed Major General Qasem Soleimani (pictured)

In his writings, Afrasiabi appeared to use Iranian regime talking points. In 2013, Afrasiabi discussed 'rebooting US-Iran relations' in the Boston Globe. He also touted the Iran nuclear deal as a historic milestone.

In 2009, Afrasiabi helped an unidentified congressman draft a letter to President Barack Obama about US and Iranian nuclear negotiations, according to court documents.

After the January 2020 US military airstrike that killed Gen Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, Afrasiabi told Iran's foreign minister and permanent representative to the United Nations that Iran, in response, should 'end all inspections and end all information on Iran's nuclear activities pending a (United Nations Security Council) condemnation of (the United States') illegal crime,' according to court documents.

Doing so will 'strike fear in the heart of enemy' and 'weaken Trump and strengthen his opponents,' Afrasiabi wrote, according to court documents.

'Mr Afrasiabi never disclosed to a Congressman, journalists or others who hold roles of influence in our country that he was being paid by the Iranian government to paint an untruthfully positive picture of the nation,' William Sweeney, assistant director-in-charge of the FBI's New York Field Office, said in a statement.

The Justice Department said that 'Afrasiabi has admitted in his own communications that his extensive body of published works and television appearances, in which he has consistently advocated perspectives and policy positions favored by the Iranian government, has been attributable to the funding he receives from the Iranian government'.

For example, in a July 28, 2020, email to Iran's Foreign Minister, Afrasiabi included 'links for many of [his] works, including books, hundreds of articles in international newspapers and academic journals,' telling Iran's Foreign Minister: 'Without support none of this would have been possible! This has been a very productive relationship spanning decades that ought not to be interrupted.'

If convicted of both charged offenses, Afrasiabi faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
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(WORTH COUNTY, Mo.) A Grant City, Missouri woman was killed following a single vehicle crash just before 4:00 p.m. Tuesday in Worth County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 50-year-old Stacie Jenks was driving westbound on Highway 46 when she lost control of the vehicle and crossed the center line. Jenks then overcorrected, went off the north side of the road, and struck a tree.

Jenks was pronounced dead at the scene. She was not wearing a seat belt.
In the new year, media insights and consulting firm Ormax Media is focusing on regional language markets in India. As a first step in this direction, the company announced the launch of its syndicated monthly GEC character popularity tracking tool Ormax Characters India Loves (OCIL) in four regional markets - Tamil, Telugu, Bangla and Marathi. OCIL has been tracking character popularity in the Hindi GEC category since 2010 and is used widely by all channels in the category.

OCIL tracks popularity of fiction and non-fiction characters based on continuous audience research. While the Hindi track is completing 11 years now, the first report of the four regional languages is based on December 2020 tracking, and will now be released every month like the Hindi version.

Commenting on Ormax Medias regional focus, Shailesh Kapoor, Founder & CEO - Ormax Media said: In recent years, Indias regional story has been a compelling one. Be it television, theatrical or now streaming, regional content has been attracting the audiences and the advertisers attention alike. 2021 will see Ormax Media launch several offerings targeted at key regional markets. The launch of OCIL in four languages is only a first step in this direction.

The top fiction & non-fiction characters in December 2020 across the five languages are:

Language Character Name Show Channel Top Fiction Characters (Dec 2020) Hindi Jethalal Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Sony SAB Tamil Mullai Pandian Stores Star Vijay Telugu Deepa Karthika Deepam Star Maa Bangla Sreemoyee Sreemoyee Star Jalsha Marathi Arundhati Aai Kuthe Kay Karte Star Pravah Top Non-Fiction Characters (Dec 2020) Hindi Kapil Sharma The Kapil Sharma Show Sony Tamil Pugazh Cooku With Comali Star Vijay Telugu Sudigali Sudhir Oxo Dhee Champions ETV Telugu Bangla Abir Chatterjee Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Zee Bangla Marathi Bhanu Kadam Chala Hawa Yeu Dya Zee Marathi

Commenting on Ormax Characters India Loves, Keerat Grewal, Partner - Ormax Media said: Characters are the cornerstone of storytelling. Character affinity ensures program loyalty, in turn helping shows to have long runs on television. Since 2010, Ormax Characters India Loves has helped leading Hindi GECs build a deep understanding of what makes Hindi GEC characters work. With the expansion into four regional languages, we hope that many other channels will now be able to benefit from similar understanding.
Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue.

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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.
President Moon Jae-in named a key figure in talks with Pyongyang to be South Korea's foreign minister, as the Biden administration's nominee for secretary of state pledged to review the U.S.'s "entire approach" toward North Korea.

Moon on Wednesday nominated Chung Eui-yong, who has served as director of the National Security Council, to serve as foreign minister. He'll replace Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, one of the most prominent female members of Moon's cabinet.

Chung is an "expert who has devoted his entire life to the field of diplomacy and security," said Chung Man-ho, a senior public communication secretary for the president's office.

The change comes after Moon this week said he wanted an early summit with President-elect Joe Biden to help revive talks with North Korea. Chung joined Moon on a visit to North Korea's capital in 2018 and helped broker President Donald Trump's unprecedented first meeting with Kim Jong Un, making the announcement during a visit to the White House in March of that year.

Antony Blinken, Biden's choice for secretary of state, told a confirmation hearing in Washington on Tuesday that Asian allies would be consulted as the new administration reviews its policy toward North Korea.

Moon had urged the Trump administration to make gestures to re-engage North Korea, to little avail. Biden's camp has signaled more room for negotiations, and Blinken has backed a negotiated settlement with North Korea that first freezes and then rolls back its nuclear program in return for rewards.

Moon, who has pledged rapprochement with Pyongyang, has been largely frozen out by his neighbor for nearly two years following the collapse of a summit between Kim Jong Un and Trump in Hanoi. Since then, Kim's regime tested a series of new missiles designed to strike South Korea, blew up a joint liaison office north of the border, rebuffed Moon's calls for talks, and last week issued a statement from Kim Yo Jong, the sister's leader, calling Moon's government a "weird group."

Trump and Kim Jong Un held their first summit in June 2018 and then met two more times. But despite the three unprecedented face-to-face discussions that included handshakes and smiles, no tangible progress was made on winding down Kim's atomic arsenal, which became bigger and far more lethal during Trump's tenure as president.
Dr. John Swartzberg watched the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday with tears in his eyes.

After nearly a year of fighting misinformation and disjointed efforts to control a virus that has claimed more than 400,000 American lives, the UC Berkeley infectious disease specialist said he was just relieved to see a rational speech from the president and a science-based pandemic plan from the federal administration.

Its heartbreaking what weve had to go through with this pandemic, Swartzberg said. Were going to see a big difference, mark my words.

Many Bay Area doctors felt hope on Wednesday as President Biden was sworn in, even as they recognized the immense challenges that remain in tackling the worst health crisis in a century, one that has killed nearly as many Americans as World War II.

Last week, Biden unveiled an ambitious plan to give 100 million shots in his first 100 days and invoke the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to make more vaccines. He also introduced a $1.9 trillion proposal to build up testing to reopen schools, boost the economy and help workers and their families hurting after nearly a year of a crippling recession. By his side from the Bay Area will be three UCSF doctors, part of a team of experts from across the country.

We are entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus, Biden said during his inaugural address in Washington. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.

After the inauguration, Biden signed executive orders that included mandates to wear masks on federal property and directives to rejoin international efforts to confront the pandemic that the former administration shunned, including membership in the World Health Organization.

The top priority is manufacturing and distributing more vaccines and getting them into arms. Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that if she were Biden, the first call she would make as president would be to the CEO of pharmaceutical company Pfizer to find out how many vaccines there are  and how many more the country can get.

We can only get out of this fundamentally by vaccines, Gandhi said. We have proven that its too endemic, we cannot test and isolate ourselves out of this. That ship has sailed.

The Trump administration, which health experts applauded for approving a vaccine in record time, was opaque about supply and distribution. Last week, the federal government promised an already depleted stash of shots to states, leaving local health departments in the dark. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the public health system in the city could run out of vaccines by Thursday.

Its that last mile, getting the vaccine into peoples arms that is so darn critical and thats where were failing, said Dr. Warner Greene, a senior investigator with the Gladstone Institutes. Lets make sure production is the limiting factor, not distribution.

Using wartime law to force companies to make more vaccines will help long-term, but the ramp-up might not happen quickly enough to meet current needs, Swartzberg said.Health experts said the previous administrations decision to leave vaccine distribution to states led to lack of coordination, and they hoped that a new administration  which has a $20 billion plan for deployment  would make improvements.

Would we fight a war with each of the 50 states carrying out the battle by themselves in an uncoordinated fashion? Would you expect to win the battles or the war? Swartzberg said. Its the same thing with the pandemic. We cant do well without a plan that the United States carries out.

The CEO of Amazons worldwide consumer business sent a letter to Biden on Wednesday offering assistance on distribution, Reuters reported.

Public health experts stressed that the government must ensure vaccine equity for the elderly, people with literacy or language barriers and minority communities. The virus has infected and killed Latino and Black Californians at higher rates than their white counterparts, and the economic recession has hit these communities harder. Experts were pleased to see that Bidens proposal tackled both the interconnected pandemic and economic crises.

We cannot open an economy if our low-wage, essential workers cannot keep themselves safe from transmission from the virus, said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UCSF. She added: Our fate is tied up with the fates of everybody else in our economy right now.

The new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that the agency will review all existing COVID-19 guidance, update it if necessary, and work to rapidly accelerate testing and vaccination and confront inequities.

Swartzberg wanted to see money put toward developing cheaper and more accurate rapid testing and building up a contact tracing workforce to track the virus once it becomes more contained. He also expected that under a new administration, federal science agencies would be unmuzzled and less politicized.

Its got to be better, Gandhi said. We were all waiting for this day.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench
Determining liability in a Texas personal injury case  whether it is a motor vehicle accident, slip-and-fall accident, toxic exposure accident, medical malpractice, or an accident caused by a faulty product  can be a very complicated task. Only an established Austin personal injury attorney can determine who is liable  and to what extent they are liable  for the tangible and intangible losses suffered by the victims.

In this article, we take a detailed look at the process of determining liability in a personal injury case.

How is Liability Determined in the State of Texas?

Under Texas law, if a persons negligence or deliberate conduct leads to an accident, they are liable to pay damages to the person who is injured in the accident.

Things can, however, get complicated if there are multiple parties who can be held liable for the victims injuries and if the victims own negligence was a contributing factor to the accident. In such cases, only a skilled Austin personal injury attorney can identify all the parties that can be held liable and accurately determine the extent of their liability.

When it comes to personal injury cases, Texas follows the legal doctrine of comparative negligence, which is also referred to as the proportionate responsibility rule or shared fault rule.

Under the doctrine, a person whose actions led to the accident is liable to pay damages to the person who got injured in the accident. The amount of damages they are liable to pay is proportionate to the extent of their liability. For example, if a motorist fails to notice a pedestrian at an intersection and injures them, an Austin personal injury attorney can file a claim against the motorist on behalf of the pedestrian and recover 100% damages.

Let us consider another scenario. A pedestrian tries to cross the road while talking on the phone and gets hit by a car. The car driver, who is drunk, claims that he still could have avoided the collision, but his brakes failed to work. In this case, an Austin personal injury attorney can file a claim against the driver as well as the company that manufactured the brakes, as they both contributed to the accident in their own way.

Now, if the court decides that the driver was 50% at fault for the accident, the manufacturer was 30% at fault, and the pedestrian was 20% at fault, the damages awarded to the pedestrian will be reduced by 20%.

It should be noted that Texas follows what is called the 51% rule for personal injury cases. If a victim is found to be 51% or more at fault for the accident, they are not eligible to recover any compensation from the at-fault party.

Find the Right Austin Personal Injury Attorney to Represent You

Thomas J. Henry is one of the most successful and highly regarded personal injury attorneys in the country. As the founder and president of the largest and most reputable personal injury firm in Texas, Mr. Henry has a team of 200 lawyers working for him and has considerable resources at his disposal, which allows him to take up all types of personal injury cases and deliver spectacular results.

Call us today at (866) 517-5659 or contact us online for a free review of your personal injury case.

Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
She took advantage of her Tuesday night to jet off with her sister and some girlfriends to an idyllic-looking getaway for some sunbathing, selfieing and partying.

And to get there, Kylie Jenner was seen pulling up to her private jet in Los Angeles, California earlier that afternoon.

The makeup mogul, 23, arrived in style in a red Lamborghini, and was met by her older sister Kendall Jenner, wearing a fedora and a yellow shirt.

Traveling in style: Kylie Jenner was seen pulling up to her private jet in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon in a red Lamborghini

Kylie wore a white outfit that included short shorts.

Her brown hair hung super long to below her bottom, and she was seen smiling as she got out of her snazzy ride.

Along with Kendall, 25, some girlfriends greeted KJ with coffee.

The mother of one had her bodyguards load up the jet with various bits of luggage, clothing and dry cleaning.

Smiling: Kylie wore a white outfit that included short shorts, and her brown hair hung super long to below her bottom

Luxe: The mother of one had her bodyguards load up the jet with various bits of luggage, clothing and dry cleaning as she boarded the aircraft

Later in the day, Jenner raised the temperature on her Instagram once again, when she posted three bodacious selfies in a super skimpy peach bikini after arriving to her destination (which may have been in Mexico).

Kylie stood in front of a white wall during what appeared to be the sunset hour, as she was bathed in amber sunlight.

Jenner had one hand up in her incredibly long straight brown hair, and the other resting on her impossibly curvy hip.

Traveling together: The makeup mogul was met by her older sister Kendall Jenner, wearing a fedora and a yellow shirt

Just another Tuesday night: Kylie raised the temperature on her Instagram, when she posted three bodacious selfies in a super skimpy peach bikini after arriving to her destination

Her swimsuit consisted of a ribbed tube top that just contained her ample bust, paired with a barely-there V-shaped thong that plunged all the way down her navel.

Kylie adorned this with a simple silver belly chain.

Her other jewelry included several bangles on one wrist, an assortment of rings and layered necklaces including a crucifix pendant.

Bodacious bod: Jenner had one hand up in her incredibly long straight brown hair, and the other resting on her impossibly curvy hip

Kylie sported a long bright manicure and pouted her lips finished in a matte lipstick effect.

The first two pictures were taken from afar, showing the KylieSkin entrepreneur's shadow cast along the wall.

The third image was closer up, showcasing Jenner's reality-defying figure.

Barely there: Her swimsuit consisted of a ribbed tube top that just contained her ample bust, paired with a barely-there V-shaped thong that plunged all the way down her navel

She chose a Spanish phrase for the caption, 'sol solecito calientame un poquito'.

It seemed to be a reference to a Spanish childrens song from Los Amiguitos, translating roughly to 'the sunny sun warms me a little'.

Soon after, the self-made billionaire added further content to her Instagram feed and stories, sharing another selfie in the scintillating swimsuit that also revealed a little more of her 'dreamy' surroundings.

Soon after: The self-made billionaire added further content to her Instagram, sharing another selfie in the scintillating swimsuit that also revealed a little more of her 'dreamy' surroundings

Kylie lounged on a chaise in front of an infinity pool and stunning scenic backdrop, which included rolling green hills and the wide open evening sky.

She also added video showing herself silhouetted against the scene, as she languidly approached the camera.

She was hanging out with elder sister Kendall, as she made an appearance on Kylie's stories perched on the balcony of their chosen setting for the day.

Later on her stories, Kylie included more content from the night, seen hanging out and busting moves (mask-free) with bestie Anastasia Karanikolaou.

Sunset girl: Kylie added video showing herself silhouetted against the lovely scene

In the clip: She languidly approached the camera

Kylie was hanging out with elder sister Kendall: She made an appearance on Kylie's stories perched on the balcony of their chosen setting for the day

The posts come after Kylies parent Caitlyn Jenner raved about her youngest daughter in a recent interview.

The former Olympian, 71, reflected on their tight relationship as she revealed the pair often enjoy weekly catch-ups over dinner.

KUWTK personality Caitlyn touched on her close bond with the businesswoman  whom she described as an 'open book'  during this week's Dear Media's The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast with hosts Lauryn Evarts and Michael Bosstick.

The retired decathlete shared: 'Kendall's off kind of doing her thing, and Kylie, like, I had dinner last night at Kylie's house. We try to do that once a week, once every two weeks.

Cute as a button: The posts come after Kylies parent Caitlyn Jenner raved about her youngest daughter in a recent interview

Burma Myanmar's Rights Groups Call for Long-Delayed Justice for Kachin Teacher Murders

The memorial service for two Kachin teachers in Myitkyina, Kachin State. / KBC Kachin / Facebook

YANGON  It has been six years since the rape and murder of two Kachin teachers in Kutkai Township, northern Shan State, but there has been no justice for the victims.

Two volunteer teachers, Maran Lu Ra, 20, and Tangbau Hkawn Nan Tsin, 21, of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) were raped and killed in their Kaung Kha village hut on Jan. 19, 2015. The investigation found no culprits and no charges have been brought.

On Tuesday, nearly 40 Kachin rights groups on the sixth anniversary of the incident prayed in Myitkyina for Myanmars government and military to bring justice.

The groups in a joint statement urged the military to take responsibility for uncovering the truth  as its forces were deployed in the area  and the government to identify the perpetrators. It also called on the KBC to continue to seek justice.

The KBC, which employed the victims, is still demanding answers from the authorities.

We dont know how to answer when asked whether the culprits of the case have been apprehended but we will continue to seek the truth, Rev. Hkalam Sam Sun, the KBCs chairman, said in a message to mourners on Tuesday.

Kaung Kha villagers and Myanmars Infantry Battalion 503, which was in the village at the time, should be under the spotlight, the chairman added. He said he was not accusing any troops of involvement but just that their presence should be recorded as a fact.

We are not accusing anyone. We are praying for justice, he said.

Members of the battalion were suspected of involvement in the double murder but the KBC earlier said the militarys Northern Command reported that DNA tests had been carried out on all the suspected soldiers and no match was found.

We need transparency. It will not be difficult if the military, police, villagers and the rest of us collaborate to find the truth transparently, the KBC chairman said.

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Venue Squabbles Complicate NLDs Outreach Efforts to Myanmars Ethnic Parties
Two Fieldwood Energy LLC oil workers face federal criminal charges for allegedly separately allowing crude oil spills from offshore U.S. Gulf of Mexico platforms to avoid required shut downs.

The two were indicted Tuesday for spills in 2015 and 2018, according to complaints by the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Workers in one platform joked that their motto was safe and sound until productions down, the indictment said.

Fieldwoods top priority is to operate our facilities in a safe manner that protects workers and the environment, the Houston-based company said in a statement. Fieldwood was not identified by name in the indictments or charged. It referred questions to attorneys for the two men.

Fieldwood area foreman Brandon Wall, 42, of Louisiana, was charged with negligent discharge and bypassing monitoring and safety systems to keep oil flowing at one of the companys most prosperous platforms, according to the indictment.

Shutting-in the platform for repairs or maintenance would have resulted in Company A making substantially less money, the indictment said.

The actions released a harmful quantity of oil and other hazardous substances. Wall alerted regulators a month after an oil sheen was first sighted off the Grand Isle 43AA platform, the indictment said.

Wall did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Patrick Huse, 40, of Mississippi, a person-in-charge of other Fieldwood platforms, faces eight charges including knowingly releasing oil, misrepresenting to regulators and making false entries to inspection logs.

The companys Main Pass 310A platform operated for four days in mid-2015 after operators first noticed the spill and alerted Huse, the indictment said. A harmful quantity of oil was released.

Huse did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Both men face jail time and fines if convicted.
US President Donald Trump left the White House Wednesday and headed to Florida without waiting for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, scheduled for noon local time (20:00 Moscow time), TASS reports.

The presidential schedule published earlier said that he will head to Palm Beach, Florida, together with First Lady Melania Trump.
BEIJING: Italian luxury label Prada has ended all cooperation with Chinese actress Zheng Shuang, a week after appointing her as a brand ambassador, after she was engulfed in a surrogacy controversy that has enthralled the Chinese public.

Prada made the announcement late on Tuesday, after coming under heavy criticism on Chinese social media for cooperating with 30-year-old Zheng, whose former partner Zhang Heng has accused her of trying to abandon two young children the couple had through a U.S.-based surrogate.

It is the latest global brand to succumb to public pressure in China, where customers have become increasingly vocal about their expectations for the behaviour of companies and celebrities, especially foreign ones.

The Prada Group has terminated all cooperation with Ms Zheng Shuang," the company said on its official Weibo account, without providing further details.

Prada did not respond to Reuters queries on Wednesday. Zheng and Zhang also did not answer Reuters requests for comment.

China has become an increasingly important market for luxury labels during the global pandemic and its shoppers are expected to account for around half of all global spending on high-end brands in 2020, up from 37% in 2019, according to McKinsey & Company.

Prada has said the groups China sales jumped 60% in June and 66% in July.

The hit to Pradas image is huge," said Huang Shengming, professor of the Communication University of China in Beijing. Their decision to stop working with Zheng is an effort to cut their losses and its the right move."

SURROGACY CONTROVERSY

The controversy erupted on Monday after Zhengs former partner Zhang Heng said on social media that the couple had turned to a surrogate to birth two children in the United States and released voice recordings of a woman he said was Zheng lamenting that the children could not be aborted.

Zhang said he was stranded in the United States because he had to take care of the two children born in 2019 and 2020.

Zheng quickly became the target of public criticism, with Weibo users calling her irresponsible" and vicious". The controversy has over the past three days been a top trending item on the Twitter-like site, with 600 million views and more than 100,000 comments.

Thousands of users also left comments on Pradas Weibo account to question and ridicule the brand for hiring her.

On Tuesday, the actress said on her Weibo account that she had not violated laws in either China or the United States but did not comment on whether any of the accusations were true.

Its a very sad and private matter for me," she said.

Surrogacy is forbidden in China but going abroad to have surrogate children in countries such as the United States has increasingly become an option for some Chinese couples, especially wealthy ones.

Chinese state media have weighed in on the Zheng controversy. Changan Sword, an online media site backed by the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, criticised her for taking advantage of the law and corrupting human ethics".
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The release of the countrys much anticipated census data offers a chance to look back at past predictions to see what can be gleaned about the future

May 28, 2021 01:39 PM
The inauguration of President Joe Biden marked the traditional transfer of power that has taken place every four years through two centuries of the nation's history. This year the day was far more than that, a moment both somber and hopeful in a country reeling from a pandemic and economic distress in a capital city locked down by threats of violence from far-right extremists.

For Biden, Wednesday's ceremonies represented the fulfillment of decades of personal ambition to serve as president. But if it was a day for him to celebrate that achievement, it was also a day to reckon with what the four years of Donald Trump's presidency have done to the country and the monumental task of repair and restoration that is now the new president's responsibility.

Biden ran for president with a pledge to rebuild a sense of normalcy after the chaos and divisiveness of the Trump presidency. But the shocking attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 underscored that a return to normalcy will require presidential resolve in the face of white supremacist threats to democracy as much as or more than customary calls for unity and bipartisan cooperation that long have been central to Biden's makeup.

The 46th president did not shrink from the duality of what he called this moment of "crisis and challenge," the urgency of confronting immediate problems that threaten people's health and welfare as well as the deeper, embedded problems of racial injustice and domestic terrorism by those who fear a changing America.

One measure of how much the attacks of two weeks ago could affect Biden's presidency was the degree to which he confronted those threats directly and repeatedly. "Here we stand," Biden said, "just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever."

Rarely has a nation needed the renewal that is promised with every inauguration. The absence of the president, who became the first in more than a century not to attend his successor's swearing-in, along with the tableau and pageantry on a socially distanced West Front of the Capitol, signaled an eagerness on the part of many, though not all, to move past the Trump years.

As expected, unity was Biden's principal theme. But there was nothing soft-edged about the meaning of his words. Instead the appeals for America to come together came with a rhetorical determination to confront the existential threats that rose up under Trump. Kate Masur, a historian and professor at Northwestern University, emailed during the speech that she was hearing echoes of Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address in 1861, a time when seven states already had seceded from the union and the nation was heading toward bloody war.

That Lincoln speech is often remembered for his appeals for unity, for his summoning up of America's "better angels," his invocation of the "mystic chords of memory" and his plea that the passions of the day not "break our bonds of affection." Much of the speech, however, was a condemnation of the secessionist movement and a steely promise to defend the Constitution and preserve the union.

"In some ways the combined force of right-wing authoritarian and white supremacist tendencies in the United States, plus the media climate and disinformation and people's suffering and resentments, combine to form a more existential threat than we've seen in a very long time," Masur said.

America is not at a point today that it was when Lincoln spoke weeks before the Civil War began, but the "uncivil war" that Biden described is a reminder that what exists today goes beyond familiar talk of political polarization or legislative gridlock to what could be the biggest long-term challenge of Biden's presidency - a country in which a minority of the people reject many truths, hold to Trump's words and, in the extreme, are prepared to fight.

No president in modern times, perhaps ever, has inherited the collective set of problems that greeted Biden as he took the oath of office on a clear and cold day, and in a few words he captured all that afflicts the country: "anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness."

In his inaugural address, Biden sought to follow the example of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who in 1933 during the depths of the Great Depression, said, "This nation asks for action, and action now." Biden said, "We will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair. Much to restore. Much to heal. Much to build. And much to gain. Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now."

Emblematic of that promise to move swiftly were the 17 executive orders awaiting Biden's signature after his swearing-in, with more to come in days ahead. More difficult than signing those orders will be showing that he has a strategy to slow the spread of the coronavirus and to produce and deliver vaccinations to enough people quickly enough to return the country to something resembling life before the virus arrived a year ago. How effective the American people judge that response to be will go far in coloring broader perceptions of Biden's leadership.

The new president also has outlined the $1.9 trillion package to deal with the coronavirus and provide economic assistance to struggling Americans, businesses and state and local governments, to be followed next month by a sizable economic recovery package. On these legislative priorities, he faces a stern test: Can he persuade Republicans to support the package - and how much is he prepared to compromise to win that support - or will he decide to stand his ground and turn to the budgetary process known as reconciliation to push it through with a simple majority vote of his own party?

In addition, there are his commitments to an ambitious strategy to combat climate change and the promise to redraw the nation's immigration system, including a path to citizenship for those here without documentation. And mindful of who helped to make him president, and the swearing-in of Kamala Harris as the first female, Black and South Asian vice president, he also noted that cries of racial justice "400 years in the making . . . will be deferred no more."

As he noted Wednesday, almost any of these individual challenges would consume a new administration. He does not have the luxury of ignoring any of them.

The desire for national renewal and rejuvenation also comes with demands for accountability - for those rioters who stormed the Capitol and for a president who, as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said, provoked the mob by feeding it lies. Trump's impeachment trial will hover over the early days of Biden's presidency, and while he will not be an active participant, it too will color attitudes of Americans about the state of the nation.

On the day the Capitol was overrun, Biden said the attack and the efforts to undermine the results of the election meant that work of the coming four years must be the restoration of democracy. Presidential historian Robert Dallek, noting the significance of the moment Biden assumed the presidency, said, "What helps him a lot is the villainy of Donald Trump and that Trump has fallen into a ditch. There is nothing like having a failed predecessor to give you a running start."

Timothy Snyder, a historian and Yale University professor, said that until the country is freed from the fear of mob rule in all its forms, whether from violence or intimidation or threats of either, the freedoms that all Americans take as part of the country's basic values will not exist.

Snyder called this a moment of possible restructuring over which Biden will preside.

"That's the only upside of Trump being president and a failed coup," he said. "It opens a window to do things that are more far-reaching. That window's going to be open, it's going to be open for a little while."

Biden said Wednesday's ceremonies symbolized not the triumph of a candidate but of the cause of democracy. But if democracy met the stress test between November and Inauguration Day, the system remains under duress. Biden's task, and that of the nation he seeks to unify, is to assure that the forces that threatened democracy are confronted and defeated.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a flurry of presidential pardons and commutations for 143 people on Wednesday, his last day in office, including his former campaign adviser Steve Bannon.



The people he granted clemency to ranged from rappers to financiers and lobbyists.

The list includes:



Steve Bannon



Bannon, 67, was a key adviser in Trump's 2016 presidential run. He was charged last year with swindling Trump supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the president's wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty. White House officials had advised Trump against pardoning Bannon, who left the Trump administration in late 2017.



The two men have lately rekindled their relationship as Trump sought support for his unproven claims of voter fraud, an official familiar with the situation said.



Elliott Broidy



Broidy, a major Republican Party fundraiser, pleaded guilty in October to acting as an unregistered foreign agent, admitting to accepting money to secretly lobby the Trump administration for Chinese and Malaysian interests.



Broidy held finance posts in Trump's 2016 campaign and on his inaugural committee. Prosecutors alleged Broidy received millions of dollars in payments from an unnamed foreign national to try to arrange the end of a U.S. investigation into billions of dollars embezzled from 1MDB, a Malaysian government investment fund.



Kwame Kilpatrick



The former Detroit mayor was sentenced in 2013 to 28 years in prison following his conviction on two dozen charges including racketeering, bribery and extortion from a conspiracy, which prosecutors said had worsened the city's financial crisis.



Kilpatrick, 50, once seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, received one of the longest corruption sentences ever handed to a major U.S. politician.



Kilpatrick, who was mayor from 2002 to 2008, extorted bribes from contractors who wanted to get or keep Detroit city contracts, prosecutors said.



Rapper Lil Wayne



Lil Wayne, 38, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, pleaded guilty in federal court in December to illegally possessing a firearm and faced up to 10 years in prison. He was scheduled to be sentenced in March in Florida.



A year earlier, the Grammy winner was found with a loaded, gold-plated .45-caliber handgun in his baggage aboard a private plane that had landed at an executive airport near Miami. A previous felony conviction made it illegal for the rapper to have the weapon or ammunition.



On Oct. 29, Wayne tweeted a picture of himself with Trump following what he called a "great meeting" with the president.



Rapper Kodak Black



Black, 23, who was born Bill Kahan Kapri, is in federal prison for making a false statement to buy a firearm, and released the album "Bill Israel" from behind bars.



Black pleaded guilty in August 2019, and three months later was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison. He is seeking compassionate release.



In a since-deleted tweet in November, Black promised to spend $1 million on charity if the president released him, the hip-hop magazine XXL reported.



Sholam Weiss



Weiss was convicted of bilking $125 million from the National Heritage Life Insurance Co and its elderly policyholders. He fled the United States and was sentenced in absentia in 2000 to 845 years in prison, but he was eventually extradited from Austria.



Weiss, 66, is at a U.S. penitentiary in Pennsylvania, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Trump lawyers from his first impeachment, Alan Dershowitz and Jay Sekulow, sent letters to the White House in support of Weiss.



Anthony Levandowski



Levandowski, a former Google engineer, pleaded guilty to stealing secret technology related to self-driving cars from the company before becoming the head of Uber Technologies Inc's rival unit.



In August, a judge in San Francisco sentenced Levandowski to 18 months in prison but said he could enter custody once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.



The judge, William Alsup, who has been involved in Silicon Valley litigation for nearly five decades, described Levandowski's conviction as the "biggest trade secret crime I have ever seen."
The people most grievously injured during the Troubles are being denied a little bit of dignity in their twilight years because of ongoing disagreements over who will fund a victims payment scheme, a group which advocates for victims has said.

Alan McBride from Wave Trauma Centre said he is beside himself with rage after an announcement from Finance Minister Conor Murphy that it was up to the UK government to provide the necessary funding for a scheme which had been set to get underway in March.

In a statement on Monday night, the Northern Ireland Office said the Secretary of State has always been clear that Stormont must fund the scheme - which could cost 800m - from the block grant.

A court ruling in March said the Executive had acted unlawfully in delaying the introduction of the scheme after legislation was approved by Westminster in January 2020.

Mr McBride, whose wife Sharon was murdered in the Shankill bombing in Belfast in 1993, said Wave approached Westminster after years of failing to reach an agreement with the DUP and Sinn Fein.

Our politicians have to wake up and see that the people who are being disadvantaged in this are the most injured - double amputees, blind, deaf, mental health conditions, those are the people who are having to suffer, he said.

The money that they were promised is the pension isnt a huge amount of money, youre talking about 2,000 to 10,000 pounds a year. It would have given these people a little bit of dignity at the end of their lives.

Many of them are well up in years and are looking for a little bit to hand on to the family or to put a few slates on the roof, take the grandkids for an ice-cream, the things so many of us take for granted, he said.

Mr McBride called on the Secretary of State Brandon Lewis to engage with the First and deputy First Minister on the issue.

He needs to be part of the conversation and he should have done that all along. The sensible solution would be that the British government would put up some of the money upfront and that the Executive could take it on thereafter, he said.

Brandon Lewis is sticking to his guns by saying the Executive has the responsibility for implementing the legislation and hes right in that. For the NI Executive not to do this, it means theyll be in default of this legislation and this will end up back in court.

Politicians need to get around the table and sort this out, he added.

Victims campaigner Alex Bunting (67) lost his leg in 1991 when the IRA planted a bomb in his taxi and said people like him have jumped through every hoop fighting for the pension.

He said the pension would mean he could pay privately for an operation on his spine, the latest in a series of procedures over the years. He is currently unable to walk.

Leftover shrapnel and metal in his body means Mr Bunting often has to pay privately for scans and healthcare because of lengthy waiting lists.

I was told before Christmas that it would be done as soon as possible in January and then I get word to say everything has been cancelled, so Im back to square one and Im literally in pain. If I had my pension I would be able to do it privately and I would pay for it tomorrow, he said.

[The pension] would be a couple of hundred quid a week for some people. This could be funded for a short period of time until it was sorted out. In law, the assembly has to pay it, he said.

Everyone who is part of the WAVE group is severely injured and all are 50 or over, Mr Bunting said. he believes there is in the region of 500 severely injured victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland - the most severely injured, people who are blind or paralysed, who have no limbs, he said.

Were never ever going to get any better unless theres a miracle or someone can give you your legs back, he said. [The scheme] would only run for 20 to 30 years and it would be done.

It knocks you out, it wrecks you. Weve worked and worked at this.

Whatever sum he would be awarded by the scheme wouldnt be enough money for me to run around the world, he said. My wife is my carer and she has been for 30 years. We live on ESA, benefits and PIP. I can tell you its hard to get through on that.

Before Mr Bunting was injured 29 years ago, his wife had her own job, as did he.

My wife gets 69 a week carers allowance. Because of what happened, Im now pension age, and I will go onto the pension and thats all I have to live on, I think its 170 a week. Its very hard, he said. UUP MLA Mike Nesbitt suggested the 150m provided for legacy bodies under the Stormont House Agreement could provide a short-term way forward on scheme.

It is a stain on devolution that injured Troubles victims are still waiting for redress. There is not only a strong moral obligation to provide the payment scheme; the courts have handed down a legal obligation too, he said.

Process must not be allowed to trump the needs of the people we are elected to serve, so we simply must identify a way to start the funding pipeline flowing.

After five years of attempts to find a way forward on truth and justice mechanisms, the funding could now be used to provide short-term relief until another method of funding the scheme is agreed, he said.

Many of the victims were given derisory compensation in the aftermath of their injury, have had to struggle through decades with little to no support and often been left severely out of pocket due to the realities of living with a life-changing injury. The Executive and UK Government cannot continue to let them down. he said.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP called on Mr Murphy to address the needs of victims and survivors by making a budgetary allocation to the payment scheme, saying it was a disgrace things had been allowed to go on so long.

The finance minister needs to step up and make an initial budgetary allocation to the scheme in the first instance  it would be a gross dereliction of duty if we reach March with no plan in place to make the scheme operable.

But fundamentally, the British government cannot absolve itself of responsibility to these victims. The legislation was passed in Westminster, the buck cannot now be passed to the Executive alone.

The Northern Ireland Office and the Department of Finance need to sit down and reach an equitable resolution to this challenge, he said.

TUV spokesman John Brennan said Sinn Fein sought to delay the designation of a department to take the scheme forward - a move which stymied the implementation of the scheme in order to push Mr Lewis to change it.

Now that even though the Department of Justice has been nominated to administer the pension, the Sinn Fein finance minister has failed to allocate funding for it. Many will suspect that Sinn Fein are still seeking to include victim makers within the scope of the pension the price for paying it at all, he said.

A society can be judged by how it treats the most vulnerable and those who have suffered most. By that yardstick there can be no doubt that Stormont has failed.

In response, Sinn Fein MLA Linda Dillon said the current legislation was drafted without any consultation with the Executive or local parties.

Accordingly, in line with the British governments own Statement of Funding Policy, it is their responsibility to provide the necessary funding for the scheme, she said.

The partys position remains that the scheme should be made available to all victims, she said.

The sole criteria should be need in line with the legal definition of a victim outlined in the Victims and Survivors [NI] Order [2006]. The provision of these payments would represent recognition that the experiences of injured victims are acknowledged, their victimhood publicly validated and their voices heard, she said
Mark Gleason, who helped shape a group that has raised millions for Philadelphia charter, private, and public schools in the last decade, will leave his post this year, he said Tuesday.

Gleason arrived in Philadelphia in 2011, recruited to lead the new Philadelphia School Partnership, an organization with an audacious goal: to raise $100 million to expand high-performing schools, regardless of sector. The goal was to transform the educational landscape of our city, especially for low-income students and students of color, organizers said.

Since then, Gleason has exerted influence in ways large and small, largely through the power of deep pockets at a time when public-education funding was scarce.

After a decade, it was time to transition leadership of PSP, Gleason and PSP board chair Michael ONeill said Tuesday.

Were both entrepreneurs, and we both know that young, growing organizations eventually have to navigate their way into a second generation of leadership, said Gleason, who came to PSP with a background in journalism and a stint as a school board member in New Jersey. That can be difficult, but when done well, it helps an organization to grow even stronger.

 READ MORE: Stubborn inequity: 6 in 10 Philly kids still attend low-performing schools, report says

On Gleasons watch, PSP has had a hand in creating 20 new schools across all sectors; it has given funds to expand and turn around dozens more.

The nonprofit  which relies primarily on funding from private donors but has also received funds from the Walton Family Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  also launched a tool that rates and lists information about all types of schools around the city and started a central application for most city charter schools.

But his tenure has been rocky at times: PSP and Gleason have been protested and derided as furthering inequities and advocating for the privatization of public education.

ONeill said Gleason has led a successful organization, but his successor faces challenges.

I would say weve created better seats, weve created better access to information, but better is not good enough, ONeill said.

The goal going forward?

Closing the achievement gap between black and white students, ONeill said, and all that comes with it.

Gleason will stay on as executive director as his successor is chosen, but that process is already underway, and should be complete in the first half of the year, ONeill said. The board will look nationally for Gleasons successor but hopes to find someone who knows the Philadelphia education landscape.

Gleason, 55, said hes not sure what comes next, but he has no plans to leave Philadelphia.

Im still very committed to the opportunity to improve education in the city, he said, adding that he hopes his next business or job will still be connected to education in some way.


The Chase viewers were left fuming on Wednesday as their daily fix of daytime quiz action was replaced by Joe Biden's inauguration.

Fans couldn't hide their upset after switching on their television to see the historic moment Biden was sworn in as the new US President instead of the beloved game show hosted by Bradley Walsh.

Many flooded Twitter with their furious reactions to the schedule change, with one even joking the move was 'an act of war.'

It's not on? The Chase viewers were left fuming on Wednesday as their daily fix of daytime quiz action was replaced by Joe Biden's inauguration

Biden's inauguration was always set to be a historic moment as it brought an end to the divisive four-year reign of Donald Trump.

The occasion also saw Kamala Harris become the first woman in history to be sworn in as Vice President.

However despite this moment earning a thrilled response, fans of The Chase were furious it had interfered with their daily fix of minus offers, questions and push-backs.

One wrote: 'Wait. What. No #tippingpoint or #TheChase today cos American politics. We're on lockdown here. Don't care about this s**t.'

Anticipated: Fans couldn't hide their upset after switching on their television to see the moment Biden was sworn in as the new US President instead of the beloved game show

Another added: 'At least Trump never go #TheChase taken off TV Biden has a lot of making up to do already.'

A third penned: 'I'm over the mood Trump has left the @WhiteHouse I really am, I also wish @JoeBiden the very best of luck, however, I'm not so happy @ITV has decided to replace @ITV Chase with his inauguration.'

'What the sweet Jesus is this? I come home expecting to sit down and watch The Chase and there is some contrite cobblers on TV about a new US President. Do they not know that removed The Chase from our screens is an act of war!'

A disgruntled fan added: 'I'm pleased for America, but can we have #TheChase back on now please?'

'Why are having Biden become the new US President on our TVs? Miss #TheChase tonight ffs.'

'I know #InaugurationDay is quite important but I had been looking forward to #The Chase on +1,' another commented.

'Why should us British be deprived of our daily dose of Bradders just cause some yank is the leader of Americans. Well jarred off to say the least.'

'I'm all about @JoeBiden's inauguration, seems like a top egg. But at the expense of @ITVChase? Bang out of order.'

Raging: Many flooded Twitter with their furious reactions to the schedule change, with one even joking the move was 'an act of war'

Iconic: Biden's inauguration was always set to be a historic moment as it brought an end to the divisive four-year reign of Donald Trump

Biden's inauguration was a star-studded occasion with Lady Gaga delivering a stunning rendition of the National Anthem, and Jennifer Lopez singing This Land Is Your Land and America The Beautiful.

The event proved to be an oath of office that was like no other in history, with any grand balls and parties cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whereas hundreds of thousands usually congregate on the Capitol grounds, this year members of the public were banned from gathering on the National Mall.

It came after a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol two weeks ago, sending lawmakers into hiding and leaving five people dead, including a police officer.

The Chase airs weekdays at 5pm on ITV.


State Bank of India on Wednesday said it has executed two inter-bank short term money market transactions with pricing linked to secured overnight financing rate (SOFR).

SOFR is an identified replacement for USD LIBOR (London Inter-Bank Offered Rate) which is expected to be phased out at the end of 2021.

The transactions were executed by the bank through its Hong Kong branch, a release said.

"The transaction demonstrates SBI's progress in aligning its systems and processes to embrace Alternate Reference Rates (ARRs).

"LIBOR transition is a significant financial event for international financial markets, and these transactions by the country's largest bank, will set the pace for smooth transition of financial in ARR mechanism," its deputy managing director (international banking group) C Venkat Nageswar said in the release.

The sunset for LIBOR has been triggered by the decision of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK not to compel contributing for LIBOR calculation after December 2021.

(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.)
Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani said that the word dragon for the fruit sounded inappropriate and clarified that there was nothing political about it. (Representative image: Reuters)

The Gujarat government has decided to rename the Dragon Fruit. As the outer shape of the fruit resembles a lotus, hence it shall be renamed as 'Kamalam', Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said.

The CM said that the word dragon for the fruit sounded inappropriate and clarified that there was nothing political about it.

Rupani was interacting with the media during the launch of the Chief Minister Horticulture Development Mission on January 19.



State government has decided rename Dragon Fruit. As the outer shape of the fruit resembles a lotus, hence Dragon Fruit shall be renamed as 'Kamalam': Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani (19.1) pic.twitter.com/tkWfCuUTN4

 ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2021

Speaking at the event, the chief minister said that the government has applied for a patent to change the nomenclature of dragon fruit to 'Kamalam', which is largely grown in Kutch, Navsari and different parts of Saurashtra.

According to Rupani, even though the fruit is known as dragon fruit, it doesn't sound appropriate. "The name dragon fruit is not proper, and due to its name one thinks of China. So we have given it the name 'Kamalam'," he said.

Asked why the name 'Kamalam' has been given to the fruit, Rupani said, "Farmers say it looks like lotus and that is the reason we have named it 'Kamalam'."

Notably, 'Kamal', or lotus, is the poll symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Gujarat party unit headquarters is also named as 'Shri Kamalam'.

There is nothing political behind renaming of the fruit, Rupani said. The fruit is found in arid areas of the state and it is known for its nutritional value, like it also helps in increasing the hemoglobin, Rupani said in reply to question on the need to rename it.

The CM also said it is the most expensive fruit available in the market at this time.

The fruit comes from several different cactus species and is recommended to be eaten as it can boost immunity.

(With inputs from PTI)
The village of Kenagh and surrounding areas are in mourning this week following the passing of one of south Longfords well-loved business owners and characters, Michael Egan.

Michael of the very well-known Egans Electrical Shop in Kenagh village passed away peacefully and in the loving care of staff at the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore on Monday, Januay 18, after battling an illness.

Already his death notice on rip.ie has attracted countless condolences from those across the county and further afield who knew and loved the very popular Kenagh native.

Local councillor in the Kenagh area Colm Murray said that Mr Egan will be sadly missed by the local community.

He was one of the stalwarts of the village of Kenagh, Cllr Murray told the Longford Leader this week.

His shop is famous throughout the south of the county and further afield. It was a well run and well-stocked shop. You could find anything in there from electrical equipment to household items. Youd find anything from weird objects to everyday items.

He employed a lot of people from the area in that shop over the years but he was well known in all walks of life, Cllr Murray added.

Like all the Egans, he loved all things Kenagh and had a great interest in history. His prized possession was a vintage Mercedes car, which you would see him driving in the summer with the roof down, off to vintage shows around the country.

He is a huge loss to Kenagh and an enormous loss to the family.

Predeceased by his brother Francis, Michael will be sadly missed by his devoted wife Rose, sons Micheal and John, brothers Dominic, Paddy, Tom and Eamon, daughters-in-law Orla and Jelena, grandchildren Arianne, Dominic and Evelina, sister-in-law Gertie, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.

Funeral Mass will take place today, Wednesday, January 20, at 11am in St Dominics Church, Kenagh.

The funeral procession will leave the church at approximately noon to Carrickedmond Cemetery via Glanmore.

In accordance with government guidelines, the Mass will be restricted to ten people. Those who would like to sympathise can do so by posting condolences on rip.ie. No flowers and house private, please.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.
WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will operate the first commercial flight of the Boeing 737 Max in Canada since the aircraft was cleared to fly again in Canadian airspace.

WestJet Boeing 737 Max aircraft are shown at the airline's facilities in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, May 7, 2019..WestJet says that tomorrow it will operate the first commercial flight of the Boeing 737 MAX since the aircraft was cleared to fly again in Canadian airspace. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will operate the first commercial flight of the Boeing 737 Max in Canada since the aircraft was cleared to fly again in Canadian airspace.

The flight will take off from Calgary on Thursday and land in Vancouver, where company executives will hold a press event, WestJet said in a news release Wednesday.

Starting Jan. 22, WestJet plans to fly the Max three times weekly between Calgary and Toronto.

The Boeing 737 Max was grounded in Canada in March 2019 following two deadly crashes that investigators said was caused by a faulty sensor system.

Transport Canada lifted its grounding order for the Max on Jan. 20 after approving a number of changes to the airplane's design, including allowing pilots to disable an alarm system found to be central to the crashes.

Max pilots will also be required to undergo additional training in flight simulators before they can operate the plane in Canadian airspace.

Air Canada, which has 24 Max aircraft in its fleet, has said it intends to start flying the plane as of Feb. 1.

U.S. airlines began operating the Max in December, with some carriers implementing new policies to notify passengers if they are scheduled to fly on the aircraft.

WestJet said earlier this month that it intends to offer flexibility to its change and cancellation policies for customers who are uncomfortable flying on the Max.

WestJet also released a marketing video outlining the changes to the Max in an effort to ease passengers' concerns about travelling on the plane.

The European Union is expected to clear the Max to fly next week, while China has said it still has no timeline for approving the aircraft.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 20, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:AC)
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Celebrities took to social media on Wednesday as they reacted to the stirring speeches made by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Inauguration Day.

Oprah Winfrey lead the stars emotional response, as she wrote: 'In tears watching this extraordinary moment for women in the U.S. and the world. Vice President @kamalaharris.'

Meanwhile, former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger said he was 'rooting' for the 46th president as the world watched the new administration get sworn in during the ceremony at the Capitol in Washington, D.C, that featured performances by Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez.

'I'm rooting for you @JoeBiden,' Schwarzenegger tweeted on Wednesday morning. 'Your success is the country's success.'

Friends forever: Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrated President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on inauguration day with a congratulatory tweet

Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of the state of California for eight years and has denounced Donald Trump despite his own Republican political affiliation.

Oprah Winfrey wrote: 'In tears watching this extraordinary moment for women in the U.S. and the world. Vice President @kamalaharris.'

Jennifer Aniston patiently awaited Dr. Jill Biden becoming the new First Lady as she shared a selfie and wrote: 'Counting down the seconds.'

Overwhelmed: Oprah Winfrey wrote: 'In tears watching this extraordinary moment for women in the U.S. and the world. Vice President @kamalaharris'

Yes! Jennifer Aniston patiently awaited Dr. Jill Biden becoming the new First Lady as she shared a selfie and wrote: 'Counting down the seconds'

Outpouring: Stars like Michael B. Jordan and Gigi Hadid were quick to post their reaction on social media

'What an emotional, historical, incredible and hopeful day this is in history!!' Kris Jenner wrote alongside pictures of the inauguration. 'Thank you for bringing so much hope and promise to our nation.'

'God bless America,' Gigi Hadid wrote across a photo of the transition of power between Mike Pence and Vice President Kamala Harris, a ceremonial departure usually reserved for the president, but Donald Trump did not participate in inauguration day events.

'& respect to the Pence's for doing the right, mature, and democratic thing today, like adults,' she added.

Kylie Jenner shared her mother's post of the historic moment minutes after Joe and Kamala's ceremony.

Bliss: Hailey Bieber admitted she was 'so emotional today' with a slew of exclamation marks to note her extreme joy

Ariana Grande shared a sideways snap of former California Senator Kamala Harris being sworn in as the first female Vice President of the United States of America.

'We have a Black, South Asian American Madam Vice President of the United F****** States!!!!!,' Olivia Munn wrote with a photo of Kamala Harris being sworn in.

Hailey Bieber admitted she was 'so emotional today' with a slew of exclamation marks to note her extreme joy.

Praise: Supermodel Gigi Hadid posted as she watched history being made from her home in New York

Stars react: Actress Hilary Duff revealed that she had backed cupcakes for the occasion and that she was watching at home with her children and their friends

After her patriotic medley, which included This Land Is Your Land and her 1999 hit Let's Get Loud, Lopez shared snaps of herself and fiance Alex Rodriguez posing on the Capitol steps.

In the series images, the loved-up pair shared a sweet kiss as she rocked a silk ruffled high-neck blouse, sequined wide-leg pants and stunning accessorizes from Chanel.

Taking a stylish cue from J.Lo, Kourtney Kardashian shared a stunning shot of herself in a plunging white jumpsuit.

Amazing performance: After her patriotic medley, which included This Land Is Your Land and her 1999 hit Let's Get Loud, Lopez shared snaps of herself and fiance Alex Rodriguez posing on the Capitol steps

'Today we celebrate our first female Vice President and the 144 Women elected to Congress (on both sides of the aisle) a 50% increase from a decade ago. Today is not about politics or political parties, it is about female empowerment, breaking that glass ceiling, and women powerfully supporting one another,' the reality star wrote on Instagram.

She continued: 'We wear white In Solidarity with these incredible changemakers, many are the first, but together we will make sure they are not the last. Kids will never know a world where a woman wasn't Vice President.'

Amy Schumer also uploaded a selfie of herself shooting a peace sign at the camera, while wearing a grey sweater, which read: 'Bye Don.'

Very chic: In the series snaps, the pair shared a sweet kiss and she can be seen rocking a a silk ruffled high-neck blouse, sequined wide-leg pants and stunning accessorizes all from Chanel

Patriotic: Taking a stylish cue from J.Lo, Kourtney Kardashian shared a stunning snap of herself in a plunging white jumpsuit

Additionally, she reflected on a moment with Lady Gaga 'four years ago' on the 'heart breaking night' former President Donald Trump officially took office.

Mindy Kaling shared a snap of her three-year-old daughter, Katherine, watching the inauguration from home.

'I was at work, but apparently she said: 'Is that mommy? It looks like mommy.' Best compliment I ever got! It matters. Happy Inauguration everyone,' she captioned the snap of her little girl, who mistook her for Kamala Harris.

Cheeky: Amy Schumer snapped a selfie of herself shooting a peace sign at the camera as she sported a grey sweater, which read: 'Bye Don'

'I was at work, but apparently she said: 'Is that mommy? It looks like mommy.' Best compliment I ever got! It matters. Happy Inauguration everyone,' Mindy Kaling gushed of her three-year-old daughter, Katherine, who mistook her for Kamala Harris

'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning' Psalms 30:5 Tears of joy and prayers for our nation and the entire world,' Mariah Carey tweeted with a red heart emoji.

Meanwhile, Cindy Crawford shared a quote from 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman's speech, which read: 'For there is always light / If only were brave enough to see it / If only were brave enough to be it.'

'On the day of a new administration, praying for our beautiful and imperfect country,' the 54-year-old supermodel wrote on her Instagram.

'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning' Psalms 30:5 Tears of joy and prayers for our nation and the entire world,' Mariah Carey tweeted with a red heart emoji

'On the day of a new administration, praying for our beautiful and imperfect country,' Cindy Crawford wrote on Instagram

Chrissy Teigen posted updates from a hotel room in Washington, D.C., of herself in a fluffy white bath robe as she and her husband John Legend watched the festivities from TV.

She was particularly excited during Lady Gaga's performance and when Biden appeared, just hours after she posted about 'our great national f**kup' coming to an end.

'The shame will last forever,' she said of Trump's presidency. 'With 2 impeachments, the creation of 3 million LESS jobs, 403,000 dead, a record low approval rating and god knows how many crimes, we can officially say Donald J Trump is the greatest at being the f**king worst.'

Live updates: Chrissy Teigen posted updates from a hotel room in Washington, D.C., of herself in a fluffy white bath robe, as she and her husband John Legend watched the festivities from TV

'Did someone say...Madame Vice President!?!? asked her more than 6.3 million Instagram followers

Positive: Kaia Gerber also expressed her excitement over watching Harris be sworn into office with an emotional post

She continued: 'Maybe it wasnt such a good idea to have the guy with barely enough well done steak with ketchup fueled brainpower to power a lightbulb who doesnt even know how to close an umbrella run the country.'

Reese Witherspoon also jumped on Instagram, after watching history unfold, calling the events 'an incredible moment for us all to witness!'

'It made me emotional to see so many former Presidents and First Ladies showing up to welcome our new leaders @joebiden and @kamalaharris to our highest office. While the division in our country is still painfully real, I am optimistic that this is a moment of recommitment to each other. A commitment to becoming a UNITED states again. Today, I feel hopeful for the future of our great nation,' she captioned a photo of the new administration.

Proud: Reese Witherspoon also jumped on Instagram, after watching history unfold, calling the events 'an incredible moment for us all to witness!'

'Congratulations, Madam Vice President @kamalaharris, on making history,' Ellen DeGeneres wrote on her Instagram Story

'@amandascgorman you are the light of hope that illuminates the shadows. Thank you for making me extra excited not only about the future of America but also about the promising youth in the world,' Salma Hayek praised 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman

'a new day! a good day!' Kendall Jenner tweeted, earning more than 33,000 and 3,200 retweets

The 44-year-old Oscar winner also praised Gorman for her 'profound' and 'beautifully spoken' words.

Witherspoon's Big Little Lies costar, Zoe Kravitz, shared a cheeky snap of a someone wearing a furry orange costume under an American flag bikini and holding a sign, which read: 'LOL BYE.'

'Live footage of me rn. bye 45,' the daughter of Lenny Kravitz captioned the picture.

Meanwhile, Kerry Washington excitedly asked her more than 6.3 million Instagram followers: 'Did someone say...Madame Vice President!?!?'

Kaia Gerber also expressed her excitement over watching Harris be sworn into office with an emotional post.

Witherspoon's Big Little Lies costar, Zoe Kravitz, shared a cheeky snap of a someone wearing a furry orange costume and holding a sign, which read: 'lol bye'

'oh happy day,' Ariana Grande captioned a slideshow of inauguration pictures, which included Bernie Sanders sitting alone on a park bench surrounded by pigeons as he wore a blue surgical mask

'Excited to see this country turning around,' she continued. 'Im so proud to be part of a generation that not only tells women, but really shows them, that they can do anything. thank you kamala & amanda for being that change.'

'Such a huge moment for women of all ages, but especially for young people,' she captioned a throwback photo of the politician. 'we also watched @amandascgorman - the youngest inaugural poet in history.'

Andy Cohen uploaded an image of himself and his son one-year-old son Benjamin holding hands as they watched Biden speak with the caption, 'The Future.'

Though the inauguration is usually followed by a slew of star-studded balls, most of this year's celebrations will be taking place virtually.

Tonight's Celebrating America primetime special will be hosted by Tom Hanks and feature stars like Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, poet Amanda Gorman, The Foo Fighters, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Jon Bon Jovi, Lin Manuel Miranda, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Black Pumas, The New Radicals, Tony Goldwyn, Keke Palmer, Jon Stewart, TikTok sensation Nathan Apodaca, and more.

Adorable: Andy Cohen uploaded an image of himself and his son one-year-old son Benjamin holding hands as they watched Biden speak with the caption, 'The Future'
American political leaders are pushing for schools to reopen this winter as teachers started to receive COVID-19 vaccines. But others are concerned that they may not be ready.

Last Thursday, President-elect Joe Biden proposed a $1.9 trillion spending plan to fight the virus in the United States and help the nations economy. The plan calls for a national vaccine plan to administer 100 million shots in the first 100 days of his administration.

The incoming president added there will be money to safely reopen a majority of kindergarten-to-eighth-grade schools in the first 100 days.

Governor Gavin Newsom of California proposed a $2 billion plan to pay for testing, protective equipment and other safety measures to reopen the lowest grades as soon as February 16.

In Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine offered to vaccinate teachers in February if the schools agree to have in-person teaching by March 1.

In Arizona, where teachers started receiving shots this month, Governor Doug Ducey said he expects students will return to the classroom soon. The money will not go to schools that remain closed in Arizona. Children still need to learn, even in a pandemic. he said.

Teachers are still afraid to return in person

Arizonas education officials and hospital leaders, however, disagree with the governor. They warn that the state has the highest rate of COVID-19 infection in the nation.

Johns Hopkins University reported, as of January 19, the U.S. has experienced 390,000 COVID-19 related deaths and more than 23 million confirmed infections.

Michael White is a doctor at Valleywise Health in Phoenix, Arizona. He said, We understand that learning and bringing our children together is very important. But to reduce the spread of the virus, he said children should not be outside of their family group.

Last week, officials in Chicago, Illinois began a slow reopening with the youngest students. Since teachers have yet to receive vaccines, officials are providing them virus tests on school grounds. But some teachers refused to return because of COVID-19 concerns.

Kirstin Roberts is a pre-kindergarten teacher in Chicago. She told the Associated Press, I dont believe its safe to reopen the schools. I dont believe its safe for my family, I live with an elderly mom. I dont believe it is safe for the citys children or their families.

Jeff Freitas is president of the California Federation of Teachers. The labor leader said vaccinations have to come first, then schools in California can talk about reopening.

We cannot put our own lives, the lives of our students, and our communities at risk during what is clearly an escalating crisis in our state, he said.

California has only vaccinated health care workers and people in nursing homes so far.

Utah is one of the first states to vaccinate teachers over other groups. Gov. Spencer Cox has said he wants to vaccinate all teachers by the end of February.

Michael Crookston is a music teacher at Davis High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. He said the COVID-19 vaccine has been a thing Ive been looking forward to, a little bit like Christmas.

I'm Armen Kassabian.

And I'm Jill Robbins.

Lindsay Whitehurst, Terry Tang and Allen Breed from the Associated Press reported the story. Armen Kassabian adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - US Push to Reopen Schools as Teachers Get Vaccinated Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

administer  n. to manage the operation of (something, such as a company or government) or the use of (something, such as property)

kindergarten  n. a school or class for very young children

grade  n. a level of study that is completed by a student during one year

escalating  v. to become worse or to make (something) worse or more severe

nursing home  n. a place where people who are old or who are unable to take care of themselves can live and be taken care of

The 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, took the oath of office in Washington on January 20.

The United States Embassy's Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Kristina A. Kvien says the U.S. will remain steadfast in its support for Ukraine.

Read alsoBiden pledges to be "president for all Americans"She made the comment during a video message on the U.S. Presidential Inauguration, posted on the Embassy's website on January 20.

"As the President-elect and his administration work to shape the domestic and foreign policy of the United States in the coming months, let me reassure you of one thing: The United States will remain steadfast in its support for a prosperous, democratic, and free Ukraine, secure within its internationally recognized borders including the Donbas and Crimea, and resilient against Russian aggression," she said.

Biden's inauguration

The 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, took the oath of office in Washington on Wednesday, January 20.

Kamala Harris was also sworn in as the 49th vice president of the United States.

Ambassador to the United States Volodymyr Yelchenko officially represented Ukraine at Biden's inauguration ceremony.

Reporting by UNIAN
The three-day initial public offering (IPO) of Indigo Paints, that opened today is priced at Rs 1,488 to Rs 1,490 per equity share. Shares can be bought with a minimum order quantity of 10 shares. The IPO closes on January 22, 2021. A retail-individual investor can apply for up to 13 lots (130 shares or Rs 193,700).

The Rs 1,170.16 crore public issue comprises Rs 300 crore through fresh issuance of shares and Rs 870.16 crore through offer-for-sale by promoter Hemant Jalan and investors (Sequoia Capital India Investments IV and SCI Investments V).

The finalisation of basis of allotment will be done on January 28, 2021, and the allotted shares will be credited to your demat account by February 1, 2021. The share is likely to list on February 2, 2021. Promoter holding of 60.05% will reduce to 54% post the issue.

American venture capital firm Sequoia Capital-backed firm garnered Rs 347.9 crore from 25 anchor investors ahead of the share sale.

As per the company's DHRP, its main objective for the issue is to meet the upcoming capital expenditure requirement for manufacturing facility expansion at Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, to purchase tinting machines and gyroshakers and repay all or certain borrowings.

Motilal Oswal said in its note,"We like Indigo Paints given its differentiated product portfolio and robust expansion plans. We believe it can attain scale and maintain its strong growth over the next few years. The issue is valued at 11.3x FY20 Mcap/sales which is comparable to peers. Hence, we recommend Subscribe to the IPO from long term perspective. Further, given the current buoyant market and high interest for consumer stocks, the issue could see listing gains as well."

Geojit Financial Services said in its note," Inspite of premium valuations, being the fastest growing paint company in India driven by developing niche product to compete market leaders, expansion plans, low debt & strong return profile with RoE of 25% in FY20 will make it an emerging player in the industry, we assign a "Subscribe" rating."

Angel Broking said in its note today,"Company's revenue from operations have grown at a CAGR of 41.9% between Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2019, compared to the range of 12.1% to 13.1% recorded by the top four paint companies in India. Issue is priced at 98.4x PE on a trailing basis in terms of fully diluted EPS, which we believe is quite reasonable by looking at the future growth prospects of the company. We are positive on the long term prospects of the industry as well the company, we recommend "SUBSCRIBE" to the Indigo Paints IPO for long term as well as for listing gains."

"The company is actively present in the public eye due to their aggressive A&P spends accounting to around 12.7% of their revenue vis-a-vis peers who spend close to 4-5%. Financials have been extremely strong for this paints player with minimal debt on its books. There are a few challenges in terms of setting up a wide distribution presence amidst well-established players, its skewed market presence in South India especially Kerala and rich valuations at a PE of 140x compared to a sector average of 95x. Therefore, investors can subscribe to Indigo Paints for listing gains only at the moment," said Nirali Shah, Senior Research Analyst, Samco Securities.

LKP Securities also rated 'Subscribe' to the IPO and said,"Indigo is the fastest growing paint company which has grown at a much faster pace in the last decade than any other paint company in India. The company has adopted a differentiated approach to market and sell its products in the industry which is dominated by the larger players. Indigo has been able to expand its EBIDTA/PAT margins from 6.4%/3.2% in FY18 to 14.6%/7.7% on the back of economies of scale and better raw material sourcing. The company's ROE & ROCE has also improved significantly to be at par with the industry leaders in the last five years."

Besides these brokerages, Capital Market, Spark Capital, Elara Capital have given subscribe rating to the IPO.

One of the fastest-growing paint companies in India and in terms of revenue, Indigo Paints has a strong market network and three strategically located manufacturing facilities situated in Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Kochi (Kerala), and Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu). It is further looking to expand its manufacturing capacities at Pudukkottai to manufacture water-based paints.

The company is engaged in manufacturing different types of decorative paints like enamels, emulsions, wood coatings, primers, distempers, putties, and cement paints. Indigo Paints has a strong market network with dealers in Tier 1, Tier 2, and metros.

It is the first company that started manufacturing certain differentiated products like Metallic Emulsions, Bright Ceiling Coat Emulsions, Tile Coat Emulsions, Dirtproof & Waterproof Exterior Laminate, Floor Coat Emulsions, Exterior and Interior Acrylic Laminate, and PU Super Gloss Enamel.

Stocks in news: Tata Communications, Sterlite Tech, Sun Pharma, Ceat, L&T Infotech

Share Market News Live: Sensex rises 150 points, Nifty at 14,521; Sun Pharma, HCL Tech, HDFC Bank top gainers

SECRETARY OF STATE: Anthony Blinken

CONFIRMED Obama's deputy national security advisor then deputy secretary of state with long history as a Democratic staffer including for then senator-Biden. Fluent in French having been brought up partly in Paris, he is stepson of a Holocaust survivor.

SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY: Janet Yellen

CONFIRMED First woman to chair the Federal Reserve becomes first woman to run the Treasury. Harvard then Berkeley academic who chaired Bill Clinton's council of economic advisers before holding series of Federal Reserve roles, and whose research is in labor markets.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Lloyd Austin

CONFIRMED Retired four-star general who led CENTCOM, the military command which covers the Middle East before retiring in 2016. Led troops in combat in Iraq and is now the first black Pentagon chief. Had to get waiver to join cabinet because military are supposed to wait seven years.

SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Alejandro Mayorkas

Cuban-born Mayorkas would be first Latino to lead Homeland Security. He was Obama's deputy secretary of Homeland Security and a former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Was the main architect of DACA, the program for illegal immigrants who arrived as children.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Merrick Garland

Federal appeals court judge who Obama nominated to the Supreme Court only to have Republicans refuse to even hold a hearing. Was a career federal prosecutor whose cases included civil rights, Marion Barry's cocaine possession and the Oklahoma City bombing. Was appointed to the federal appeals being by Clinton and from 2013 to 2020 was chief judge of the D.C. circuit, seen as the second most important circuit in the judiciary.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Xavier Becerra

Currently California's attorney general and a former congressman. Surprise pick led litigation at Supreme Court to keep Obamacare from being struck down and pushed for single-payer healthcare while in Congress. Born to Mexican immigrants and first in family to attend college.

SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: Marcia Fudge

Former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus a long-term Biden ally and also campaigned for Kamala Harris during her failed presidential run. Seven-term north-east Ohio rep will have to leave the House, slimming an already wafer-thin Democratic majority but her district is heavily Democratic

SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION: Pete Buttigieg

Former mayor of South Bend Indiana and surprise Democratic star when he ran for president, Buttigieg at 38 is youngest nominee so far. Would make history as first openly gay cabinet secretary confirmed by Senate. Infrastructure is key area for seeking bipartisan support for Biden and moderate Buttigieg is seen as able to make overtures to Republicans.

SECRETARY OF ENERGY: Jennifer Granholm

Michigan's first female governor who served two terms in the battleground state, from 2003 to 2011, where she pushed green energy and worked with Biden on the bailout of the auto industry. The moderate has been a CNN commentator during the Trump years and helped Biden with debate prep when he faced off with Sarah Palin.

SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: TOM VILSACK

Only nominee who held the same role in the Obama administration. Vilsack was an Iowa politician and governor who ran his own 2008 bid for the presidency then got behind Hillary Clinton when it failed. Since the end of the Obama administration he has been president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the agriculture lobbyist.

SECRETARY OF LABOR: MARTY WALSH

Currently the mayor of Boston, Walsh served in the House from 1997 until 2014 and will be Biden's ambassador to the organized labor. He was both a member of the Massachusetts House and head of the Boston Building Trades.

SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: DENIS MCDONOUGH

McDonough was an aide to Biden in the Senate in the 1990s and a longterm foreign policy aide, including to Obama during his presidential campaign. He held a series of National Security Council roles, and was then White House chief of staff for Obama's second term. He will be only second non-veteran to run the VA.

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Ron Klain

One of Biden's longest-standing aides. Most recently was Ebola czar at the tail-end of the Obama administration and was both Al Gore and Joe Biden's chief of staff when they were vice president. Veteran fixer has alternated Democratic government service with lobbying and lucrative advisory roles.

UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR: Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Career diplomat spent 35 years in the State Department and was ambassador to Liberia and assistant secretary of State for African Affairs before being fired by Trump. One of the most prominent black female diplomats in Washington, she was an advisor with Madeline Albright's consultancy group during the Trump years. Grew up in segregated Louisiana.

CIA DIRECTOR: William Burns

Another career diplomat who rose to be ambassador to Jordan and Russia then Obama's deputy secretary of state. Russian and Middle Eastern specialist retired in 2014 to run the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and kept largely silent on the Trump years until 2020 when he published a series of outspoken criticisms.

DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: AVRIL HAINES

CONFIRMED Theoretical physics graduate who dropped out of grad school to buy and run a bookshop and cafe where there were erotica readings, before going to law school and becoming a State Department lawyer. She became CIA deputy director in 2013, choosing not to discipline agents who conducted torture. She also worked on drone strikes.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 23:33:36|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning delivered his final remarks as president at Joint Base Andrews before leaving for Florida, while his successor, President-elect Joe Biden, arrived at a Catholic church in downtown Washington for a prayer service that kicked off his Inauguration Day.

Addressing family members, a few staffers and some supporters in the chilly morning wind, Trump said it was his "greatest honor and privilege to have been your president," while wishing the incoming administration of Biden, whom he didn't mention by name, "good luck," claiming that "they have the foundation to do something really spectacular."

Trump also thanked Vice President Mike Pence, who had said his final goodbye to the president the previous day and chose to attend Biden's inauguration instead of Trump's farewell ceremony.

"Have a good life, we will see you soon," the president said in his final words before getting on the southbound plane that for the very last time was designated Air Force One for him. He was headed to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida that became known as his "Winter White House" during his presidency.

Shortly after Trump's flight took off, Biden arrived at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in downtown Washington to attend a mass together with his family, the family of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and congressional leaders of both parties.

Since the 1930s, incoming U.S. presidents have typically attended services at St. John's Episcopal Church across the Lafayette Square to the north of the White House.

However, Biden, soon to be the second Catholic president, broke that tradition by praying in St. Matthew's, where the funeral mass for President John Kennedy, also a Catholic, was held on Nov. 25, 1963, three days after he was assassinated.

Biden and Harris are expected to be sworn into office sometime around noon at the U.S. Capitol, where attendees of the inauguration ceremony are gradually gathering. Enditem



At Tuesdays hearing, Dan Coats, a former director of national intelligence, outlined some of Ms. Hainess colorful background. Before going to law school and joining the federal government, Ms. Haines had a career featuring airplane restoration, running an independent bookstore and studying physics, prompting her description as the least likely spy in a 2013 profile by the veteran national security reporter Daniel Klaidman.

If confirmed, Ms. Haines will lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and help oversee the nations intelligence agencies, which now number 18 with the addition of the intelligence arm of the Space Force this month.

She will be assigned to rebuild an intelligence community that was openly excoriated by Mr. Trump over its assessment that Russia had interfered on his behalf in the 2016 election and to depoliticize the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Senator Martin Heinrich, Democrat of New Mexico, pressed Ms. Haines on what the intelligence agencies could do about domestic radicalized groups in the United States. He noted that the State Department had a process for designating foreign groups as terrorist organizations.

We dont have any sort of process for domestic terrorist organizations, he said.

Mr. Heinrich pointed to a letter he and other Senate Democrats wrote to the F.B.I. and Homeland Security Department about QAnons spread of disinformation. He asked Ms. Haines if she would commit to helping with that assessment. She said she would look for answers on how foreign influence operations were affecting QAnon.

The intelligence community is focused on foreign intelligence and on foreign threats, she said. But there is a critical role that it can play and does play in supporting the work thats done by others.

Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat who is set to become the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, noted that the rise of extremist groups was not a phenomenon confined to America.
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The trial of the Deeper Life High School sexual abuse case commenced on Wednesday in Uyo, with the magistrate court holding its proceedings behind closed-door.

Two students of the school, both of them 13 years old, accused of sexually molesting a fellow student, an 11-year-old boy, are being prosecuted by the police.

Five officials of the school, including a suspended principal, are also on trial.

An official, said to be the court registrar, asked people, including lawyers, who were not parties in the case, to leave the courtroom before the proceedings began.

Reporters were asked to leave too, as a court official began closing the doors and windows in the courtroom.

A lawyer, who was not part of the case, explained to people, mostly reporters, that it was necessary to hold the court proceedings under closed-door because minors were involved.

By 10:30 a.m., the victim of the alleged abuse was seen stepping out of the courtroom, accompanied by his dad, Iniobong Archibong, while the proceeding was going on.

His mother is about to give her testimony, that is why we have been asked to stay outside, Mr Archibong told PREMIUM TIMES.

The victim, a JSS1 student of the Deeper Life School, was alleged to have been sexually molested between October and December inside the school dormitory by the two senior students when he was switched from his dormitory to another that was filled with senior students.

They will remove his boxer and push their legs and hands into his anus, the victims mother, Deborah Archibong, had said in a video she posted on Facebook.

Look at a child I sent to school, he came back with a broken anus, she added.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty.

The case has attracted huge public interest, owing largely to a social media campaign by the victims mum.

But she has since ceased her regular updates on Facebook after she was cautioned by the Chief Magistrate, Winifred Umohandy.

The Deeper Life High School is owned by a Pentecostal church, The Deeper Christian Life Ministry.

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.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Peoples Progressive Party Gracita Arrindell said in a press release that the start of a new year is always a good time to take stock of the previous year and evaluate how we can improve on the past. The year twenty-twenty (2020) started and closed with one of the single most critical issues facing much of the world.

This new year will hopefully mark the start of a new era. We have ten years ahead to look at our lives with a clear vision supported by achievable and coherent plans to deal with this pandemic as well as other pressing matters facing our young Nation. As stated in previous publications, there is an undeniable correlation between how intelligently we handle the pandemic and our ability to stabilize and grow our economy. We must put people back to work with an executable plan.

Today we can look back at measures taken and evaluate our actions to present a comprehensive COVID-19 repressive economic growth -policy to our nation. We must do this now and not in hindsight. Citizens must be better informed as well and have more say in decisions that affect their lives and livelihood. This year is the year for and by the People. Its a year during which we must solve issues that are in your face up-close and personal 

Inspraak vooraf niet achteraf. Citizens consultation must be done prior to the implementation of decisions that affect us all and not after the fact or once past the point of no return. Increase transparency and accountability to the people. Deep-clean Sint Maarten and strictly enact litter fines for trespassers.

Arrindell states: Again, there is a compelling case to be made in appointing a separate department manned with a multidisciplinary team to research/ coordinate, plan and advise Covid- repressive policies on behalf of the government. The latest government decision to allow this years Carnival to take place followed by the public debate about the consequences of this decision warrants the need to install such a department soonest. If this fete is allowed to take place, the negative health and -economic consequences will be catastrophic if common sense fails to prevail. We paraphrase our current Prime Minister in response to the Dutch government's conditions set to provide liquidity support to Sint Maarten:  we will be caught with our pants down .

Gracita also states: Currently several Ministers and or their spokespersons and other stakeholders updated on pandemic measures while using several and different media outlets. This remains of great concern as often these messages contradict each other or are sometimes even outdated. We certainly understand our small island culture where most Ministers prefer to do the talking themselves rather than delegate to an experienced and qualified entity. Such an entity removes the political element from the issue at hand. Doing this leaves the day -to day management of our peoples business to the Ministers while Parliament executes its oversight duties on the Executive branch. Too many voices and one head cant work.

There are enough pressing issues facing our island in the wake of this pandemic which need our undivided attention. Matters that lie in the hands of our local Ministers and Parliament can be solved without pointing fingers at Holland. For example, our national symbols are derelict and have many unfinished structures, empty beer bottles, and screaming ugly advertisements placed anywhere possible. These matters may seem small however once dealt with will give new meaning to small and clean equals beautiful. Areas that need our attention include the following:

 Introduce the unemployment benefit regulation. This public/ private partnership regulation can take away the element of negative surprise for employers and employees after any disaster. Focus on the plights of our pensioners.

 Update our urban- zoning laws. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, several derelict structures remain un-cleared, un-developed, and even insalubrious. These include the former government administration building, Saphire beach club, and Mullet-bay. The fate of other buildings such as the  Blue Mall, Westin- hotel, Caravanserai hotel, Marys Fancy Plantation remains unclear. At the same time building, 15 stories and -up- are constructed. Is this the direction we are heading towards? Are we ready to cope with the inevitable disasters ahead with the choices made today?

 Update our economic zoning regulations. Why have food prices reportedly increased over 53% over the past years while the government continues to grant more licenses for grocery stores including locations that obstruct traffic and in locations that previously hosted restaurants? These new shops are allowed to do business a few hundred meters from yet another grocery store. Also, theres a noticeable increase of  sidewalk adds and liqueur/cosmetic adds on buildings. Additionally, our island is littered with empty beer bottles. Revenues are literally to be found on the streets. Its time for the government to restart the discussions on introducing the so-called sin tax on liquor and tobacco, implement the removal of the income and or profit tax. Increases in number booths and stand-alone casinos must be halted. What is the status of the gaming control board?

Our beautiful island is slowly turning into one giant advertising board. Business diversification policy is urgently warranted.

 Implement real bus stops thereby significantly cutting traffic jams. Its time to bring part of our infrastructure into the 21st century. Identify, purchase land where needed and designate Real bus stops.



Gracita: concludes;  The first quarter of the new year should give citizens a more unified and coherent action plan from our elected and appointed representatives. Plan, based on a vision that is clear in its intention and deliberate in its actions. Our citizens also have a critical role and say in the direction we want to take Sint Maarten. Together we can. Lets make it happen.
The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is considering expelling Donald Trump from its ranks over his role in inciting the attack on the US Capitol two weeks ago.

SAG-AFTRA, which represents some 160,000 actors, journalists and other media professionals, said in a statement Tuesday that is board voted overwhelmingly that there is probable cause that Trump violated its membership guidelines.

The charges were initiated against Trump by union president Gabrielle Carteris, who accused him of promoting misinformation that inspired the deadly attack, in which five were killed - including a Capitol police officer.

Carteris further noted that the siege also threatened the safety of journalists, a number of whom are SAG-AFTRA members.

Donald Trump attacked the values that this union holds most sacred  democracy, truth, respect for our fellow Americans of all races and faiths, and the sanctity of the free press, Carteris said in a statement.

Theres a straight line from his wanton disregard for the truth to the attacks on journalists perpetrated by his followers.

The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is considering expelling Donald Trump from its ranks

Trump has been a SAG member since 1989. His credits include The Apprentice, Saturday Night Live and many cameos in films and TV series including, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (above), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Sex in and City

SAG-AFTRA, which represents some 160,000 actors, journalists and other media professionals, said in a statement Tuesday that is board voted overwhelmingly that there is probable cause that Trump violated its membership guidelines

Under the unions constitution, the charges will now go to the disciplinary committee for a hearing. The committee reserves the power to issue fines, censures and reprimands.

Carteris said she is seeking the maximum penalty allowable under the unions rules: expulsion from membership.

Article XIV of the SAG-AFTRA Constitution states that members may be suspended or expelled for engaging in actions antagonistic to the interests or integrity of the union. Expulsion requires a two-thirds vote of the national board but the process could take weeks to complete.

David White, the unions national executive director, also said the threats Trump has posed against journalists is a major catalyst behind their decision.

Our most important role as a union is the protection of our members. The unfortunate truth is, this individuals words and actions over the past four years have presented actual harm to our broadcast journalist members, he told Variety.

The boards resolution addresses this effort to undermine freedom of the press and reaffirms the principles on which our democratic society rests, and which we must all work to protect and preserve.

Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump during The Apprentice Season 6 Finale at The Hollywood Bowl

On January 6, Trump instructed a thousands-strong crowd of MAGA supporters to march on the Capitol and fight like hell

Five people were killed in the siege at the US Capitol, including one police officer

The union, which is non-partisan and doesnt endorse political candidates, has previously criticized Trump in the past for referring to the media as the enemy of the American people.

However, the final straw reportedly came on January 6 when Trump instructed a thousands-strong crowd of MAGA supporters to march on the Capitol and fight like hell.

And if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore, he said.

Trump has been a SAG member since 1989. His credits include The Apprentice, Saturday Night Live and many cameos in films and TV series including, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Sex in and City.

A White House spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Losing SAG membership doesn't disqualify anyone from performing. But most major productions abide by union contracts and hire only union actors.

Online petitions have recently circulated to have Trump removed from some films. One is trying to rally support to have President-elect Joe Biden digitally substituted for Trump in Home Alone 2.

Nine people who are illegally detained in places of detention will be transferred from the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions to the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government, Verkhovna Rada's human rights commissioner Liudmyla Denisova said.

"Three people have already been delivered to the pretrial detention facility in Luhansk, they are preparing for release, and six people in Donetsk pretrial detention facility. They are now being fed, washed, given medical care, and made to look tidy. Tonight or tomorrow morning they will be transferred along the Luhansk-Donetsk-Rostov-on-Don-Minsk-Kyiv route," Denisova said.

At the same time, Denisova said that she could not give their names, but said that they were all citizens of Ukraine.

Earlier it was reported that Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG Leonid Kravchuk said that the transfer of some of the detained citizens of Ukraine to head of the political council of the Opposition Platform - For Life party, MP Viktor Medvedchuk, without the participation of authorized public agencies, is a violation of international agreements at the highest level.

Ceres. Credit: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Physicist Pekka Janhunen with the Finnish Meteorological Institute has developed a novel idea to colonize a place other than the Earthand it is not the moon or Mars. Instead, Janhunen is suggesting in a paper posted on the arXiv preprint server that humans populate a giant satellite that orbits Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars.

Many space scientists have noted the difficulties and dangers of attempting to colonize either the moon or Marsboth have extremely hostile environments. So many in the field have been promoting the idea of building a structure large enough to host tens of thousands of people somewhere in space. But doing so would present its own set of problems. Paying for the construction of such a mammoth project, for example, and protecting the inhabitants from solar radiationand what about providing gravity, and where would the structure reside? In his paper, Janhunen suggests that Ceres would be an ideal place to put such a structure, which would make it a satellite. He notes that such an orbit would be close enough to the dwarf planet that a 636-mile-long space elevator could carry material from the surface to the satellite for construction and resupplyCeres has more than enough nitrogen, water and carbon dioxide to support such a venture.

Janhunen has plans for the dish-shaped satellite, toohe envisions it as over a mile long and with thousands of interconnected cylindrical structures on its surface to house humans, and also to provide space for other necessities such as agriculture and recreational spaces. He also imagines a pair of giant mirrors for harnessing the sun's energy on either side of the satellite, giving the overall structure a clam-like shape. He also envisions starting off with a population of 50,000 people. And he also believes the majority of the satellite could be built from material on the surface of Ceres. Gravity, he notes, could be simulated simply by spinning the satellite at the right speed.

Explore further Dwarf planet Ceres is an ocean world: study

More information: Pekka Janhunen. Terraforming the dwarf planet: Interconnected and growable Ceres megasatellite world, arXiv:2011.07487v3 [physics.pop-ph] Pekka Janhunen. Terraforming the dwarf planet: Interconnected and growable Ceres megasatellite world, arXiv:2011.07487v3 [physics.pop-ph] arxiv.org/abs/2011.07487

 2021 Science X Network
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Domestic airlines will increase the number of night flights to meet increasing travel demand during peak season of Lunar New Year holiday. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Domestic airlines will increase the number of night flights before, during and after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday  the biggest traditional festival of Vietnamese - to meet increasing travel demand of passengers.

According to Nguyen Quang Trung, head of Vietnam Airlines development planning department, the national flag carrier is adding late night flights during peak time, with the number of flights surging 30 percent as compared to the same time las year.The move aims to meet growing air travel demand and ease ground congestion at airports, he added.Tet airfares are 10 percent lower than the previous year, and a wide range of flexible fares have been available for customers, Trung said.Earlier, the Vietnam Airlines Group, which include Vietnam Airlines, budget carrier Jetstar Pacific and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), said it will supply over 414,000 extra seats from January 27 to February 26, 2021 to serve increasing travel demand. This will bring the total seats on flights operated by the Vietnam Airlines Group during the traditional holiday to 2.4 million, equivalent to nearly 12,000 flights.Vietnam Airlines has increased night flights from 0:00 to 5:30 everyday, with airfares sold at 200,000-300,000 VND (8.69-13.04 USD) cheaper than those for day flights.Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Vietjet Air decided to add more flights departing late at 23:30 and early at 5:30, as well as provide 1.5 million Tet tickets on all domestic routes. Besides, it has recently opened sales for 1.5 million promotional airfares (from 555,000 VND including taxes and fees).Bamboo Airways said it recently launched direct flights from Can Tho to Phu Quoc island, and Con Dao island in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. The non-stop service will be operated during the week, using Embraer 195 aircraft. On the occasion, the airline offers special fares on the route, with one-way ticket priced from 49,000 VND on Can Tho-Phu Quoc, and 809,000 VND on Can Tho-Con Dao.Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) Dinh Viet Thang has issued a directive on enhancing safety measures for airplane during maintenance downtime since the number of airplanes in maintenance during non-service period is increasing due to COVID-19.He ordered airlines to keep a close watch and strictly follow airplane manufacturers instructions on maintenance.
Former President Donald Trump pardoned several people in relation to Iran sanctions and Israeli espionage charges on his final day in office.

Early Wednesday morning, Trump pardoned 73 people and commuted the sentences of another 70. The list included people in a range of fields, including former White House adviser Steve Bannon and Dwayne Carter Jr., better known as the hip hop artist Lil Wayne.

Among the pardoned was Mahmoud Reza Banki, an Iranian-American who immigrated to the United States as a young adult. The Princeton-educated Banki was convicted in 2011 of violating a US trade embargo on Iran. This charge was later overturned but other charges of making false statements to federal agencies remained on his record, according to the Associated Press.

Trump gave Banki a full pardon for the remaining charges, saying, Dr. Banki has dedicated himself to his community and maintained a sincere love and respect for the United States in a statement.

Aviem Sella also received a full pardon from Trump. Sella has been described by Israeli media outlets as US spy Jonathan Pollards handler.

Pollard, a Jewish-American former US Navy analyst, was arrested in 1985 for spying for Israel. He was released from prison in 2015. In November, his parole restrictions ended and he subsequently immigrated to Israel, where he received a heros welcome. Sella worked for Israels intelligence service the Mossad.

The Pollard case was long a sore point in the US-Israeli relationship. The White House said the pardon sought to close this unfortunate chapter in US-Israel relations.
In France, a woman was declared dead in 2017 even if she is still alive. She is now in court to prove she's alive. Legally one needs to be alive to have rights.

Declared dead despite being alive, Jeanne Pouchain, 58, has problems that are associated when one is legally deceased. For her to be alive when thought dead is much worse.

Ms. Pouchain is waging a rather uncanny court battle to reverse a declaration in 2017 that she was legally dead.

The bizarre legal drama began after a court of law based in Lyon declared that Jeanne Pouchain was already dead. One oddity is she was considered dead with no death certificate issued to her.

Getting declared dead came about after a ruling at the end of a legal dispute she was involved in. She used to work for a cleaning company, but she lost her job. Seeking compensation for her work lost is how everything began or ended her "life." But, the woman was not dead.

According to the Washington Post, the case reached the Court of Cassation. It is one of France's highest courts; in its opinion, her legality was not in its coverage.

It got worse when the Court of Cassation dropped her case. Pouchain and her counsel Sylvain Cormier remarked that collective errors committed by the court did not end well. The woman was declared dead by the Appeals Court of Lyon. It came as a shock to both client and lawyer how it happened, but she wants to prove she's alive.

A newspaper, "France Bleu," stated the court decision is because of a former employee who had a run-in with the woman. This employee must have harbored ill-feeling and never checked for a death certificate, signed off Pouchain as dead.

She added that no summons was given to her or relatives asking for attendance in the court.

Later the court-ordered Pouchain's spouse, her son, to remit about 14,000 (12,457).

To have a legal personality, one should be alive, not dead, declared dead while still very "Alive" has its drawbacks. The walking "dead woman," as the law says, has big problems.

If dead bank accounts are a problem, if one of the co-signees is dead, the live one cannot access the account no matter what. No bank account to her name, neither papers to prove who she is, lastly declared dead means no health insurance.

Spoke to the Associated Press, saying she does not exist anymore. Adding all she does is sit at the veranda and write.

The woman is too afraid to leave her home in Saint Joseph in Loire. Even her car got repossessed when her condition cannot allow her to contests unpaid debts. Being legally dead does not help anyone financially too.

French Bleu said that she went to see a lawyer who can help her be declared alive again. The lawyer claimed it could be fixed easily.

She is going to a doctor to get certified alive and kicking, though it is not sufficient. The Lyon court says she is dead, and the medical certificate is not valid enough.

Her lawyer Cormier started a motion to declare 2017 ruling a big mistake. The lawyer finds it unbelievable to have such an odd case in to handle.

Pouchain is declared dead, but she hopes the 2017 gets overturned to prove she's alive.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Melania Trump and Jill Biden both put their most fashionable foot forward in honor of Inauguration Day on Wednesday, with the two women striking very stylish, albeit very different, tones with their sartorial choices.

The outgoing and incoming First Ladies donned high-end designer ensembles for their last and first days in the role, with Melania, 51, going all out in an all-black outfit that featured a Chanel jacket priced at over $5,600, a pair of $795 Christian Louboutin heels, and a black crocodile Hermes Birkin worth more than $70,000.

But while Mrs. Trump struck a somber note with her look, Dr. Biden, 69, opted for a much more colorful ensemble, wearing a custom-made ocean blue jacket and dress designed by New York-based fashion label Markarian that was embellished with lace, chiffon, and Swarovski crystals.

Although a spokesperson for the fashion brand declined to share the cost of the outfit, similar dresses on the label's website are priced at upwards of $2,700, while its jackets retail for around $2,800 a pop.

Melania opted to go without a face mask in her final moments as First Lady, although she added a pair of $440 Bottega Veneta shades to her look; however, Jill modeled a blue face covering that was created especially for her by Markarian's founder Alexandra O'Neill.

Fashion face off: Outgoing First Lady Melania Trump and her successor Dr. Jill Biden both put on a very stylish show on Inauguration Day, modeling very different, but equally chic ensembles

High fashion: 51-year-old Melania opted for a somber all-black ensemble that included a Chanel jacket priced at over $5,600, a black crocodile Hermes Birkin worth more than $70,000, $795 Christian Louboutin heels, and $440 Bottega Veneta shades

Unique: Jill, 69, went for a much more colorful look, donning a custom-made ocean blue dress and jacket from New York-based brand Markarian, which is believed to have cost more than $6,000

Similar masks by the fashion brand retail for between $50 and $60, depending on the fabric, with the brand revealing that Jill's was made for her from a custom colored silk to perfectly match her ensemble.

Melania's all-black outfit struck a much more somber tone than Jill's colorful blue ensemble, with the outgoing First Lady looking like a woman in mourning as she exited the White House with her husband for the final time.

Shortly after the mother-of-one was seen for the first time on Inauguration Day, Jill made her first appearance of the day alongside her husband, President Joe Biden, when they attended a mass in Washington, D.C.

There, Jill debuted her bright blue outfit, which was made out of a wool tweed fabric that was covered in crystals in order to 'subtly reflect the light', the designer revealed. The collar of Jill's dress was embellished with large crystals and pearls, which had been arranged in a floral pattern and made it look as though the incoming First Lady was modeling a statement necklace.

'Dr. Biden is wearing a custom Markarian-designed matching coat and dress set made in an ocean blue, wool tweed with a matching silk Markarian face mask,' a spokesperson for the brand shared.

'The coat, with its dark blue velvet collar and cuffs, is worn over a tapered dress with a chiffon bodice and scalloped skirt. The neckline of the dress is hand embellished with Swarovski pearls and crystals in a delicate floral pattern. The same Swarovski crystals adorn the coat and dress, subtly reflecting the light.'

According to Markarian, the color blue was chosen to represent 'trust, confidence, and stability', with the designer - who said she was 'incredibly humbled to be a part of such an historic moment' - revealing that she pieced together the outfit by hand in her West Village studio.

Markarian, which launched in 2017, counts several celebrities as fans, including Lizzo, Priyanka Chopra, and Kate Hudson.

Jill accessorized her look with a pair of matching blue leather gloves, and she also carried a $1,450 custom-dyed clutch bag from Tyler Ellis under her arm as she arrived at the Capitol for the inauguration ceremony, where she revealed her heels of choice for the day: a chic pair of $650 teal suede heels from Jimmy Choo.

Stepping out: Jill made her first appearance of the day alongside her husband, President Joe Biden, when they attended a mass in Washington, D.C.

Details: Her outfit was made out of a wool tweed fabric that was covered in crystals in order to 'subtly reflect the light', the designer revealed

A spokesperson said: 'The coat, with its dark blue velvet collar and cuffs, is worn over a tapered dress with a chiffon bodice and scalloped skirt. The neckline of the dress is hand embellished with Swarovski pearls and crystals in a delicate floral pattern'

Trust: According to Markarian, the color blue was chosen to represent 'trust, confidence, and stability'

Extras: Jill accessorized her look with a pair of matching blue leather gloves, and she also carried a $1,450 custom-dyed clutch bag from Tyler Ellis

Bling: The collar of Jill's dress was embellished with large crystals and pearls, which had been arranged in a floral pattern and made it look as though the incoming First Lady was modeling a statement necklace

Show swap! Though she arrived at the inauguration in nude pumps, by the time she stepped out for the ceremony she had swapped them for blue ones to match her outfit

Meanwhile, 51-year-old Melania held hands with her husband as he ended his time as President of the United States, with the couple walking side-by-side across the White House lawn, before boarding Marine One on their way to Air Force Base Andrews.

Melania made sure to cement her status as one of the country's most fashionable First Ladies, donning a number of high-priced designer pieces for her final White House ensemble, including a very pricey crocodile handbag, a pair of matching $795 crocodile Christian Louboutin shoes, and long black gloves.

The mother-of-one chose a demure black dress, which fell to just below her knees, layering a chic jacket from Chanel over the top. Her long brunette locks were pulled back in a stylish updo, allowing her to show off bronzed cheekbones and a slick of nude lipstick.

Upon the couple's arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Melania left her handbag with aides, and while she wore her large dark shades to head up to the stage with her husband, she removed them before taking to the podium herself.

While addressing the crowd of supporters, Trump praised his wife, paying tribute to her 'beauty, grace, and popularity'.

'Our First Lady has been a woman of great grace and beauty, and so popular with the people, so popular,' he said, before welcoming Melania to the stage to share her final words.

Grasping: Meanwhile, 51-year-old Melania held hands with her husband as he ended his time as President of the United States

Monochrome: Melania made sure to cement her status as one of the country's most fashionable First Ladies, donning a number of high-priced designer pieces for her final White House ensemble

Face: Her long brunette locks were pulled back in a stylish updo, allowing her to show off bronzed cheekbones and a slick of nude lipstick

Dressed up: The mother-of-one chose a demure black dress, which fell to just below her knees, layering a chic jacket from Chanel over the top

Splurge alert: Her black crocodile Hermes Birkin is worth more than $70,000

Foot fun: On her feet were a 795 oaur if skyscraper crocodile Christian Louboutin shoes

'Being your First Lady was my greatest honor,' she said. 'Thank you for your love and support. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all, God bless your families and God bless this beautiful nation.'

Melania then watched on from a chair on-stage as her husband made his final speech as President, during which he listed some of his accomplishments, before mentioning the number of votes he received in the election.

He then briefly paid homage to those who have died of coronavirus, which dominated his last year in office. More than 400,000 American have died from the disease.

Following Trump's final remarks, he and Melania greeted his children who had been watching on proudly during his speech - with his 39-year-old daughter Ivanka holding back tears as he spoke.

The first couple then climbed the stairs of Air Force One and waved goodbye to the waiting crowds. The Trump children followed them up the stairs.

Its unclear whats next for Melania and Donald, who boarded the plane for Florida, where they will take up residence at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort along with his children and grandchildren.

Change-up! Melania did manage to perform an outfit change on the short flight from D.C. to Palm Beach, ditching the black look for a more summery one

New look: When they touched down, gone were the Chanel jacket and patent pumps, and in their place was a loose, tea-length dress with an orange and navy pattern

Warmer weather: Melania is pictured arriving in Palm Beach, where temperatures today are in the mid-70s

Relaxed: She also went for more comfortable footwear, kicking off her heels in favor of a pair of dark flats.

Sunny switcheroo: She also swapped one pair of sunglasses for another while on board the flight

Melania did manage to perform an outfit change on the short flight from D.C. to Palm Beach, ditching the black look she wore in D.C.'s chilly temperatures in the 40s for a more summery outfit appropriate for Florida's higher temperatures in the 70s.

When they touched down, gone were the Chanel jacket and patent pumps, and in their place was a loose, tea-length dress with an orange and navy pattern.

She also went for more comfortable footwear, kicking off her heels in favor of a pair of dark flats.

Melania still wore a trust pair of sunglasses, but had swapped the pair she wore on departure for a different style with rounder frames.

Melania was certainly considered a fashionable First Lady, frequently gowns, coats, and accessories by high-end designers.

Speaking to WWD today, her stylist for the past four years, Herve Pierre, gushed that it has been 'an honor to dress the First Lady,' recalling when their professional relationship began: 'I met her for the first time on Jan. 3 and on Jan. 7, she asked me to design the gown for the inauguration four years ago. I had 11 or 12 days because we had to do the fitting and deliver it. She didnt give me so much information so I was swimming in fog.'

Pierre also shared his advice for Dr. Biden's stylist, saying: 'Its not just like [finding something for] a black tie or a cocktail party. You have all the glamour, but then you also have hospital visits and everything else. The panorama of the wardrobe for a First Lady is so big because there are so many events that need to be fulfilled.

'The new stylist [for Jill Biden] will have to ask, "What will be the color of the background?" when she is giving a speech. A pretty dress is not enough. What is pretty is how a pretty dress is on camera.

'Sometimes you can have a nice dress to live in, when you take a walk or for your own life as a regular, private person. But for a public person, the picture remains forever. Its important to have a nice photo. Im not saying that I succeeded all the time,' he said.

While Melania has worn clothing by American designers, including Ralph Lauren, over the years, she has also been known to wear items by quite a lot of foreign designers, from Dolce & Gabbana to Givenchy to Karl Lagerfeld.

This has set her apart from her recent predecessors, who have frequently gravitated toward spotlighting American fashion labels.

Michelle Obama, in particular, said of her closet: 'I like to patronize American designers, and the vast majority of the clothes that I wear are [designed by Americans.].'

Jill Biden appears to be returning to that tradition, kicking off her husband's presidency in an outfit by an American label. (Her husband, too, wore American today: Ralph Lauren.)

Why Every Home Should Have a Marmalade Day

My favorite book series as a child was Paddington Bear. I loved following the humorous misadventures and happenstances of the fluffy, adorable bear, but most of all I adoredand resonated withhis love of marmalade. Paddington Bear was the reason I began to spread my toast with the thick, orange preserves each morning, taking bites between big gulps of English tea. A jar of the warm, amber-colored spread has been a pantry staple my whole life.

Marmaladenot jamI had to remind my bemused husband early on in our marriage, when he came home from the grocery store with a jar of apricot jam, thinking it was the same thing. The two, I passionately declared, are not the same. Jam is made with the juices and pulp of a fruit; marmalade is made specifically with whole citrus fruit, including the juices, the peel, and the rind. The result is a sweet, tangy, chunky spread that, on a fresh slice of toast, is as delightful a treat as its name suggests.

I was thrilled when the movie Paddington came out a few years ago. I watched my favorite talking bear from Darkest Peru on screen, his love for marmalade a major theme of the film as he builds a life and home for himself with the Brown family in London. At the end of the film, when Mrs. Brown declared that every family should have a Marmalade Day, I decided she was right.

A few weeks later, my husband and I embarked on our first Marmalade Day. Returning home from the grocery store with armfuls of Seville oranges, lemons, and white sugar, we spent an entire weekend dedicating ourselves to the art of making marmalade.

Making Marmalade

One of the earliest known recipes for marmalade is credited to Eliza Cholmondeley in 1677. Her recipe book is today located in the Cheshire Archives and Local Studies in Chester, England. Her recipe, for a marmelet of oranges, involves cutting all the peel from the fruit and soaking it for three or four days, to decrease the bitterness.

Like the proper way to take an English cup of tea, marmalade recipes come in endless varieties, and their specific methods make for lively debate among chefs and home enthusiasts. Marmalade can be thick-cut or thin-cut, depending on the size the orange peel is cut down to. Black marmalade has added molasses or brown sugar for flavor. A friend of mine makes a ginger marmalade that is nearly impossible to resist.

After a long hop down the rabbit hole of marmalade variations, I settled on a simple, no-fuss recipe from the Food Network for our first Marmalade Day. Convinced we would need to make the marmalade worth the effort, we quadrupled the recipe.

We sliced our oranges, peels and all, and boiled them in water in our largest stockpot until they softened. We added sugar and let the concoction simmer for hours in our cold, January kitchen, filling our kitchen with the sunny scent of oranges and steaming up our walls with sugary condensation from the pot. To this day, I occasionally still find a pale orange streak on our kitchen walls when I clean.

After four hours on the stove, we brought the marmalade to a boil, a step necessary for the sugar and pectin to combine and make the marmalade properly set. The key is to keep the temperature from exceeding 220 degrees by too much, as the marmalade will then begin to caramelize and burn. Ive had a few batches of nearly brown marmalade due to not watching it carefully enough.

Once it had set, we canned our marmalade in sanitized 4-ounce jars. We tied the jars with ribbon and delivered them to our neighbors and friends. Even after we had delivered to everyone on our street, we still had a pile of full marmalade jars leftover.

For a whole year, we had homemade marmalade on our toast almost daily. I dont know if it was the hours it took to make or the joy we had in making it, but I am convinced it was far better than anything store-bought.

A Family Affair

My daughters are at an age now where they love to read about Paddington. They find it hilarious that he keeps marmalade sandwiches in his hat. Every time we have marmalade, they say enthusiastically, Just like Paddington!

We dont just use marmalade on toast. Its also good with cake or scones, and Ive even made Marmalade thumbprint cookies, which never seem to last for long.

Weve tweaked our marmalade recipe over the years. Ive discovered that it actually does make a difference in the final product when you soak the peels in water beforehand. We like the tart, orangey taste of thick-cut marmalade. Weve also stopped making so much at a timeour storage space had enough.

This year, both our daughters will be participating in Marmalade Day with us. Ive been reading them Paddington Bear books all week to prepare. I cant wait for them to have a taste of the warm, sticky preserves, to be able to spread marmalade on their toast each morning and know what went into making it.

I love being able to connect a family activity and food with a book they love, to make the characters they read about more dimensional. I will draw the line, though, if they ever try to carry marmalade sandwiches under their hats.

RECIPE: Thick-Cut Marmalade

Rachael Dymski is an author, florist, and mom to two little girls. She is currently writing a novel about the German occupation of the Channel Islands and blogs on her website, RachaelDymski.com
Mumbai: A four-member team of Uttar Pradesh Police arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday to conduct a probe into a case registered in Lucknow against controversial web series Tandav, an official said on Wednesday. The UP Police team is likely to record statements of the makers and cast and crew of the Amazon Prime Videos series, which has been accused of hurting religious sentiments for its depiction of Hindu deities.

The UP Police personnel reached Mumbai in the morning and visited the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection-1) in suburban Andheri for assistance, the official said. Two members of the UP Police team also visited the Mumbai Police headquarters in south Mumbai in the afternoon.

While at the Mumbai Police headquarters, the UP Police personnel said they are getting cooperation from their counterparts hereand there is no issue about it. We had come to meet police officers at the headquarters, we are not authorised to speak, an official from the UP Police team said.

On Monday, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths media advisor Shalabhmani Tripathi said the makers of Tandav will have to pay the price for hurting religious sentiments. He said four members of the UP police have left for Mumbai for a detailed probe into the case, after an FIR was lodged against the show at the Hazratganj police station.

UP Police has left for Mumbai, that too in a car.There are strong sections in the FIR, remain prepared, will have to pay a price for hurting religious sentiments, Tripathi said in his tweet.

At least three FIRs have been lodged against the makers and artists of Tandav in Uttar Pradesh  at Lucknow, Greater Noida and Shahjahanpur  for alleged inappropriate depiction of UP Police personnel, deities, and adverse portrayal of a character playing prime minister in the show. Tandav, a nine-episode political thriller starring Bollywood A-listers Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, started streaming last week.

At the centre of the row is a scene with Zeeshan Ayyub, in the role of college student Shiva, playing the Hindu god Mahadev in a theatre production. As the controversy escalated, the show makers on Tuesday tried to defuse the situation by announcing their decision to remove the controversial portion from the show.

The cast and crew of the show on Tuesday also said they had decided to implement changes to address concerns. In their second apology statement in two days, the shows team also thanked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for its guidance & support in the matter. PTI DC GK GK 01201600 NNNN.
President Joe Biden appeared in the Oval Office for the first time on Wednesday afternoon to sign new executive orders and read the private letter Donald Trump left for him.

The president wrote a very generous letter, Biden said. Because it was private, I won't talk about it until I talk to him. But it was generous.

But no call is on the books for the two men, who haven't spoken since their last presidential debate in October 2020.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden's words doesn't mean a call is coming.

'It was just a reflection of him not planning to release the letter unilaterally, but I wouldn't take it as an indication of a pending call with the former president,' she said Wednesday evening at her first White House press briefing.

Former President Trump did honor one tradition on Wednesday and write a note to his successor - despite refusing to speak to him after November's election.

The note was left on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, outgoing White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere confirmed to DailyMail.com.

Biden read it Wednesday afternoon when he entered the Oval Office as president for the first time.

President Trump did leave a note for President Joe Biden on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office

President Joe Biden read the letter when he entered the Oval Office as president for the first time, he called it a 'generous' note

The outgoing president eschewed the traditional trappings that come with a peaceful transfer of power.

Trump did not host Biden at the White House for coffee after the election and did not greet him at residence's front door ahead of the inauguration ceremony.

Additionally, Trump did not mention his successor by name in any of his farewell address. He never formally conceded the election and merely acknowledged a 'new administration' is coming into the White House.

Trump fought long and hard for a second term - falsely claiming he won the election, pressuring state officials to find more votes for himself, and filing many legal cases that he ultimately lost.

He held on to his vote count as he departed Washington D.C. on Wednesday. He bragged about his vote tally - even as Biden received more votes that he did.

Trump said he got '75 million votes. In the history of sitting presidents, it is an all-time record by a lot by many millions, really just an honor.'

He left Washington D.C. shortly before 9 a.m. He did not attend Biden's swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol.

But Trump did leave a note - a tradition that goes back to President Ronald Reagan, who left one for his successor George H.W. Bush.

Reagan left a short, pithy note on stationary that read 'Don't let the turkeys get you down' - with an illustration of an elephant surrounded by turkeys.

'George, I treasure the memories we share and I wish you all the very best. You'll be in my prayers,' he wrote.

George H.W. Bush's note to the man who defeated him, Bill Clinton, has been held up as example of graciousness and bipartisan unity.

'There will be very tough times, made even more difficult by criticism you may not think is fair. I'm not a very good one to give advice; but just don't let the critics discourage you or push you off course,' he wrote.

'You will be our President when you read this note. I wish you well. I wish your family well. Your success now is our country's success. I am rooting hard for you,' he added.

Ronald Reagan's note to George H.W. Bush started the presidential tradition of the outgoing president leaving a note for his successor

George H.W. Bush's note to Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton's note to George W. Bush

George W. Bush's note to Barack Obama

Clinton left just a gracious note for his successor, Bush's son George W. Bush: 'You lead a proud, decent, good people. And from this day you are President of all of us. I salute you and wish you success and much happiness.'

W. Bush, in return, wrote to Barack Obama: 'There will be trying moments. The critics will rage. Your "friends" will disappoint you. But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me. No matter what comes, you will be inspired by the character and compassion of the people you now lead.

And Obama wrote to Donald Trump: 'Congratulations on a remarkable run. Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure.'

He added about the importance of civic institutions: 'Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it's up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them.'
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QAnon followers are in crisis after watching Joe Biden get sworn in as President as their long-held belief that Donald Trump would seize a second term failed to materialize and their right-wing message board leader told believers to 'go back to their lives'.

As Biden took his oath of office and Trump left the White House for Florida on Wednesday, some QAnon conspiracy theorists took to their right-wing online chat groups to express their disappointment and doubt.

Many were shocked to learn that their long-held belief in the conspiracy that top Democrats would be arrested for a sex trafficking ring on Inauguration Day was not going to materialize and that Trump wasn't going to bring down the Deep State in the so-called 'storm' they had been expecting.

In a dramatic reversal, some members of the far-right Proud Boys even started turning on Trump in chat groups and message boards, declaring him a 'total failure' and 'extraordinarily weak'.

It came as one lonesome MAGA fan arrived at the New York state Capitol waving his Trump flag where he had expected to protest alongside thousands of other supporters. Other Trump supporters were also spotted outside state Capitol buildings in Utah and Arizona, in a stark contrast to the violent January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.

Meanwhile, message boards were descending into crisis mode as QAnon followers questioned 'where's the damn storm?' and others saying 'it simply doesn't make sense that we all got played'.

Ron Watkins, who was the administrator of QAnon's preferred message board 8kun before resigning after the election, also pulled the plug and urged followers to return to their lives.

A lone MAGA supporter, Mark Leggiero, 28, was spotted outside the New York state Capitol on Wednesday. He said he had been expecting thousands of other Trump fans to be there in protest over Biden's inauguration

Message boards descended into crisis mode during the inauguration with some questioning 'where's the damn storm?' and another saying 'it simply doesn't make sense that we all got played'

'We gave it our all. Now we need to keep our chins up and go back to our lives as best we are able,' he said.

'We have a new president sworn in and it is our responsibility as citizens to respect the Constitution regardless of whether or not we agree with the specifics or details regarding officials who are sworn in.

Ron Watkins, who was the administrator of QAnon's preferred message board 8kun, also pulled the plug and urged followers to return to their lives

'As we enter the next administration please remember all the friends and happy memories we made together over the past few years.'

Some were furious they had been led to believe the so-called 'storm' would occur on Inauguration Day.

'Wake up. We've been had,' one wrote. Another simply said: 'It's over.'

They described feeling duped, saying: 'Been played like fools', 'the silence is deafening' and 'OMG none of this was real'.

Another wrote: 'Well I'm the official laughing stock of my family now. Awesome.'

'Where was Trump? Where is the military? Where was the insurrection act? What about his EO's? I'm losing my sh*t right now. Absolutely losing my sh*t'.

QAnon is the conspiracy theory spread largely online and promoted by some right-wing extremists. It is based on cryptic postings by the anonymous 'Q,' purportedly a government insider. The first Q 'drop' appeared on the 4chan imageboard back in October 2017. 'Q' stopped posting online after the election, which led to speculation that the so-called 'leader' had abandoned the cause after Trump lost.

Many QAnon followers had believed that thousands of deep state operatives and top Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, would be arrested during an event called 'The Storm', which they believed would take place on Inauguration Day.

Ron Watkins, who was the administrator of QAnon's preferred message board 8kun, also pulled the plug and urged followers to return to their lives

'THE STORM' QANON BELIEVED WAS COMING QAnon is the conspiracy theory spread largely online and promoted by some right-wing extremists. It is based on cryptic postings by the anonymous 'Q,' purportedly a government insider. The first Q 'drop' appeared on the 4chan imageboard back in October 2017. 'Q' stopped posting online after the election, which led to speculation that the so-called 'leader' had abandoned the cause after Trump lost. Many QAnon followers had believed that thousands of deep state operatives and top Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, would be arrested during an event called 'The Storm', which they believed would take place on Inauguration Day. QAnon supporters had been fixtures at Trump rallies for years. Trump had praised QAnon supporters on a number of occasions but insisted he didn't know anything about the movement. In once instance, he praised their work against pedophilia and refused to say the conspiracy theory was false. Advertisement

As the inauguration unfolded and followers started raising questions, some were clinging onto hope and urging 'anons' to keep the faith.

'Don't worry about what happens at 12pm... Watch what happens after that,' one wrote.

'I will start kicking people for their attitudes. We are patriots. You stand here and hold the line with us or you can leave. Your choice,' another wrote.

Some QAnon believers even started peddling a new conspiracy theory that Biden was part of the so-called plan all along and that he would be the one to take down the clique.

'The more I think about it, I do think it's very possible that Biden will be the one who pulls the trigger,' one wrote on a message board.

Some members of the Proud Boys started expressing their disappointment in Trump this week, according to dozens of online conversations seen by the New York Times.

Trump will go down as a total failure, one supporter said.

They have now been urging supporters not to attend any future Trump rallies.

The disbelief from both Proud Boys and QAnon came as a lone MAGA supporter spotted outside the New York state Capitol said he had been expecting thousands of other Trump fans to be there in protest over Biden's inauguration.

Mark Leggiero, 28, was photographed alone and waving his MAGA flag outside the fenced-off Capitol building in Albany this morning.

He had been expecting a few thousand others to be there as well to protest Biden being sworn into office.

'I was coming out to hopefully join a bunch of peaceful protesters in supporting the cause, that is almost a lost cause now, unfortunately, I'm sad to say,' Leggiero told local news outlet The Recorder.

Meanwhile, lone Trump supporters were also spotted outside the state Capitol buildings in Utah and Arizona.

Their lone presence was a stark contrast to the violent scenes at the US Capitol on January 6 when MAGA mob rioters stormed the building as Congress certified Biden's election win.

The discontent for Trump had reportedly been building ever since the riots, which Trump is accused of inciting and later condemning. Some of his staunch supporters are also angry over his willingness to leave the White House.

After the deadly attack at the Capitol, the Secret Service stepped up security and locked down Washington DC with more than 25,000 troops and police called to duty to protect the capital.

NEW YORK: Mark Leggiero says he had been expecting a few thousand others to be there as well to protest Biden being sworn into office out the New York Capitol building in Albany

UTAH: A lone Trump supporter walks in front of the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City during the inauguration

ARIZONA: A lone armed protester objecting to the inauguration of President Joe Biden stands outside the Arizona Capitol holding an American flag in Phoenix

The scenes in DC and outside state Capitols across the country were in stark contrast to the January 6 riots at the US Capitol. QAnon shaman Jacob Chansley, who stormed the Capitol building during last week's riot wearing horns, (pictured above) was among those arrested in the aftermath

Hundreds of MAGA supporters breeched security and stormed the Capitol on January 6 in a bid to stop Biden's election win being certified

States across the country deployed National Guard troops after warnings from law enforcement of potential violence during the inauguration.

Federal agents have been monitoring 'concerning online chatter' ever since, which included an array of threats against elected officials and discussions about ways to infiltrate the inauguration.

Twelve National Guard members were removed from the security operation a day earlier after vetting by the FBI, including two who had made extremist statements in posts or texts about Wednesday's event.

Pentagon officials would not give details on the statements.

The FBI vetted all 25,000 members in an extraordinary security effort in part over the presence of some ex-military in the riot.

Two other officials told The Associated Press that all 12 were found to have ties with right-wing militia groups or to have posted extremist views online.

The officials, a senior intelligence official and an Army official briefed on the matter, did not say which fringe groups the Guard members belonged to or what unit they served in.

The officials told the AP they had all been removed because of 'security liabilities.'

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, confirmed that Guard members had been removed and sent home, but said only two cases were related to inappropriate comments or texts related to the inauguration.

He said the other 10 cases were for issues that may involve previous criminal behavior or activities but were not directly related to the inaugural event.

As Biden took his oath of office on Wednesday, members who believe in the QAnon conspiracy theory took to right-wing online chat groups to express their disappointment Trump wasn't going to bring down the Deep State

Trump and Melania are pictured above before leaving DC on Wednesday morning before the inauguration

Thousands of National Guard troops look on during the inauguration of Joe Biden. After the deadly Capitol siege attack, the Secret Service stepped up security and locked down Washington DC with more than 25,000 troops and police called to duty to protect the Capital

Thousands of National Guardsmen lined the perimeter of the National Mall on Wednesday during Biden's inauguration following threats of potential violence
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[January 19, 2021] Hadum Boss Rush Arrives With Power of Darkness in Black Desert Mobile

SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearl Abyss announced today that Hadum Boss Rush has arrived in Black Desert Mobile. Adventurers can now challenge the bosses engulfed in darkness in this new mode and earn even more valuable rewards. In Hadum Boss Rush, Adventurers are tasked with defeating bosses they have already encountered during the regular Boss Rushes in Elion's Realm. Defeating the bosses in this new mode will be more challenging,but they will drop more special rewards including Primal Gear and Inscribed Glyphs.



In order to enter Hadum Boss Rushes, Adventurers are required to complete Red Nose's Boss Rush in Elion's Realm at Difficulty 99 and a story quest. Then, they can enter the mode by using 100 Boss Stamps and 1 Shadow Knot. Unlike the regular Boss Rushes, the Hadum ones have a 3-minute time limit, and they must be completed within this time. Moreover, the schedule for Black Sun has been changed to allow Adventurers to enjoy the event more frequently. Black Sun will now be available on Wednesdays and Sundays from 6PM to 7PM and 9PM to 10PM (server time). If Adventurers participate in this event twice, their scores will be added, which will determine their rewards. Rewards will be given the next day, and participants can obtain Grails of Gloom, which can be used to get items such as Dark Coins and Mystical Black Sun Gems.

Visit Black Desert Mobile's official website for more information. About Black Desert IP The Black Desert IP is Pearl Abyss' open-world action MMORPG franchise with cutting-edge visuals and skill-based combat that redefines the genre. With the most developed character customization system of any game currently on the market, users can break out of the norm and make unique characters that truly represent themselves. Its intuitive controls, beautifully designed world, and extensive lore will excite both newcomers and veterans of MMO games and action RPGs. Pearl Abyss is currently servicing the Black Desert IP, which has gained 40 million players across the world on PC, mobile, and console. SOURCE Pearl Abyss

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Silvia Depaire France

Originally from Buenos Aires in Argentina, Silvia completed all her school education there before going on a cultural exchange year in California. During her stay in the United States, she began to learn about art, especially urban arts, thanks to the large amount of graffiti that adorns the walls of New York. She also did not miss out on visiting the modern masterpieces preserved in the museums of the capital. When she returned to Argentina, Silvia set her new aspirations to one side in order to satisfy her family and enrolled in a course dedicated to marketing.

A few years later, settled in France and encouraged by her husband, Silvia began attending evening classes at the School of Fine Arts in Nice to learn painting and drawing techniques. Today, a painter in her home studio, in Antony, located in the Paris region, she divides her time between the creation of her paintings and the running of thematic workshops.

Created from acrylic and mixed media, her works underwent an important development to the discovery, of the informal and choreographic world of American artist Paul Jenkins (1923-2012) in 2016. Since then, the young artist has worked with enthusiasm and passion in the practice of flow painting, combining acrylic with various pigments and textures to compose bold, colourful, vibrant and luminous compositions. Deeply attached to the nature and landscapes of her childhood, Silvia is inspired by the elements, in particular water, to translate the transparency of the seabed and the depth of the celestial vault into painting.
Digital Refresh Networks (DRN) an integrated creative and digital marketing solutions company bags the digital mandate for one of the leading consumer essential brands, Adani Group for Kings Oils, Alife, and Fortune Suposhan  a CSR initiative undertaken by 'Adani Wilmar Group'. The account was won following a multi-agency pitch and will be handled out of the agencys Mumbai office. With this mandate, Adani Wilmar hopes to leverage its business digitally to drive their core objective, which is establishing and familiarising the brands locally.

On the association, Sanjay Adesara, Head Media and Digital, Adani Wilmar says, We are glad to be associated with Digital Refresh Networks. The agency has been in the forefront of the digital marketing industry with great experience across the multiple domains of digital communication and marketing solutions. We are sure that our association with them will further enable us towards achieving great success for the brands.

Barin Mukherjee, Co-Founder & CEO, Digital Refresh Networks says, We are honoured to come on board as the digital agency for Adani Wilmar. Our expertise in conversing in multiple languages across the length and breadth of the country will further enable the brand to not just establish local relevance but also grow the business locally. The motto is keep learning each day and implement the learnings back into the system to better efficacy over time.
Biden had been expected to make major changes to the agencys structure and management but Packs early departure signaled those may be coming sooner rather than later. Though many presidential appointees resign when a new administration comes in, Pack was not required to so. His position was created by Congress is not limited by the length of a particular administration.
File image of BJP rally in West Bengal

At a rally led by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in Chandannagar city, the provocative leader Suvendu Adhikari in Chandannagar city, the provocative "goli maaro.." slogan was raised on January 20.

The slogan  "desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro" (shoot the traitors)  was raised by a few BJP cadres, carrying the party flag along with the Indian tricolour while they were trailing a truck carrying Adhikari and Hooghly MP Locket Chatterjee in the Rathtala area of the city.

They claimed that the slogan was aimed at the traitors of the country "some of whom are in the Trinamool Congress".

State BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the party does not endorse these kind of slogans.

On January 19, a similar slogan was raised at a Trinamool Congress rally in south Kolkata with party activists calling for "shooting" the traitors of Bengal, in an apparent reference to the leaders who have switched over to the BJP.

The BJP spokesperson said that the slogan raised at the Chandannagar rally was aimed at terrorists, plotting against the country, while the Trinamool Congress men openly threatened the leaders who have left the party, branding them as traitors.

"There is a difference between the two incidents but we disapprove of such slogans in our rally," Bhattacharya said, refusing to specify if action will be taken against those who raised the slogan.

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that though he condemns the slogan raised at the south Kolkata rally, the BJP needs to answer whether it wants to shoot the people opposed to its ideology.

"The BJP men are asking the Army to shoot the traitors. Does the BJP want to shoot the people opposed to their ideology?" he said.

In March last year, three BJP "supporters" were arrested for raising the provocative slogan while heading to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata.
The hefty Bible accented with a Celtic cross that Joe Biden used to take his oath of office today is a family artifact that dates back nearly 130 years.

The historic leather-bound Bible, which is five inches thick, has been a Biden family heirloom since at least 1893.

'It's just been a family heirloom on the Biden side of the family and every important date is in there,' the then President-elect told late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert last month.

'For example, every time I've been sworn in for anything, the date has been on that and is inscribed on the Bible.'

The familial artifact has followed Biden, who is a practicing Catholic, throughout his 50-year political career.

The hefty Bible accented with a Celtic cross that Joe Biden used to take his oath of office today is a family artifact that dates back nearly 130 years

The historic leather-bound Bible, which is five inches thick, has been a Biden family heirloom since at least 1893 Biden revealed last month that the dates of each of his swearing-in ceremonies are inscribed on the inside of the Bible

It is the same Bible Biden used twice before when swearing in as Vice President. He also used the Bible seven times when swearing in as a senator in Delaware.

The very first time he used the Bible to be sworn in as a senator took place in 1973 when he was just 30 years old.

On that occasion, Biden was sworn in at the Wilmington Medical Center in Delaware where his sons Beau and Hunter were recovering from a car crash that claimed the lives of his first wife Neilia and their infant daughter Naomi.

Secretary of the Senate Francis Valeo traveled to Wilmington to issue the oath of office so Biden could remain by his children's hospital bedsides.

Biden's late son Beau, who died in 2015 of brain cancer, went on to use the family heirloom when he was sworn in as Delaware attorney general back in 2007.

The Bible is a 19th century Douay & Rheims edition. The reason it is so large is because the historic edition contains in-depth commentary from Father George Leo Haydock - a British priest and Bible scholar.

His edition of the Douay Bible was the most popular English Catholic Bible of the 19th century.

The editions often include essays, glossaries, pop biographies and pages to record dates.

The very first time Biden used the Bible in his political career was when he was sworn in as a senator for Delaware back in 1973. On that occasion, Biden was sworn in by the Delaware hospital bedsides of his sons Beau and Hunter who were recovering from a car crash that claimed the lives of his first wife Neilia and their infant daughter Naomi

It is the same Bible Biden used twice before when swearing in as Vice President. He is pictured above with wife Jill during the 2009 inauguration

Biden's late son Beau (pictured above), who died in 2015 of brain cancer, went on to use the family heirloom when he was sworn in as Delaware attorney general back in 2007

Biden's use of his family Bible underscores the prominent role his faith has played in his personal and professional lives - and will continue to do so as he becomes the second Catholic president in US history.

Biden follows in a tradition of many other presidents who used family-owned scriptures to take their oaths, including Ronald Reagan and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Some have had their Bibles opened to personally relevant passages during their ceremonies.

Bill Clinton, for example, chose Isaiah 58:12 - which urges the devout to be a 'repairer of the breach' - for his second inauguration after a first term marked by political schisms with conservatives.

Others took their oaths on closed Bibles, like John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic president, who in 1961 used his family's century-old tome with a large cross on the front, which is similar to Biden's.

The Constitution does not require the use of a specific text for swearing-in ceremonies and specifies only the wording of the president's oath.

That wording does not include the phrase 'so help me God,' but every modern president has appended it to their oaths and most have chosen symbolically significant Bibles for their inaugurations.

The tradition of using a Bible dates as far back as the presidency itself, with the holy book used by George Washington later appearing on exhibit at the Smithsonian on loan from the Masonic lodge that provided it in 1789.

Biden is pictured with the family Bible taking a mock oath of office from Vice President George Bush in 1985. He was flanked by wife Jill (left), sons Beau and Hunter and daughter Ashley

Kamala Harris used two Bibles when she took her vice-presidential oath moments before Biden. One belonged to close family friend Regina Shelton and one that belonged to the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall

Washington's Bible was later used for the oaths by Warren G. Harding, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush.

But not every president has used a Bible.

Theodore Roosevelt took his 1901 oath without one after the death of William McKinley, while John Quincy Adams used a law book in 1825, according to his own account.

Some have employed multiple Bibles during their ceremonies: Both Barack Obama and Donald Trump chose to use, along with others, the copy that Abraham Lincoln was sworn in on in 1861.

Kamala Harris used two Bibles when she took her vice-presidential oath moments before Biden.

She used a Bible owned by close family friend Regina Shelton and one that belonged to the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Harris has spoken of her admiration of Marshall, a fellow Howard University graduate and trailblazer in government as the high court's first African American justice.

'When I raise my right hand and take the oath of office tomorrow, I carry with me two heroes who'd speak up for the voiceless and help those in need,' Harris tweeted this week.

She also used Shelton's Bible when becoming attorney general of California and later senator.

Harris, who attended both Baptist and Hindu services as a child, worships in the Baptist faith as an adult.
Remember the collection of three pink seesaws those were built across the US-Mexico border on July 28, 2019, as a symbol of bridging the gap between communities? The teeter-totters have now won the prestigious Design of the Year 2020 award from London Design Museum.

The 'Teeter-Totter Wall' saw installation of three pink seesaws through the slats of the wall across El Paso in Texas and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, allowing children from the opposite sides to play together for a brief 40-minute session.

The design was ideated by Ronald Rael, a professor of architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, an associate professor of design at San Jose State University.

The Design Museum named the project as the overall winner of the Beazley Designs of the Year competition for 2020 on Tuesday, which considered 74 projects by designers from around the world.

"It encouraged new ways of human connection and struck a chord that continues to resonate far beyond El Paso in the USA and Juarez in Mexico," museum director Tim Marlow said in announcing the prize. "It remains an inventive and poignant reminder of how human beings can transcend the forces that seek to divide us," reports AP.

The creation was executed at a time when former US President Donald Trump had planned to erect a wall along the 2000 mile border between the two countries, that had triggered a lot of controversies among global leaders.

However, the creators were instructed to get rid off the seesaws after the U.S. Border Patrol agents found out a group of professors recording children across border playing on wooded boards. Although the crowd was dissipated soon from the politically-charged site, the message carried by the entire set up went viral and till date holds significance.

WHY THE PINK SEESAWS

"Walls dont stop people from entering our Capitol. Walls dont stop viruses from moving. We have to think about how we can be connected and be together without hurting each other," Rael, one of the creators had said in an interview. The bright pink colouring of the planks pays homage to the femicide memorials of Ciudad Juarez, in other words, the numerous number of women, who are murdered in the city.

The creators also described that the Teeter-Totter Wall became "a literal fulcrum" between the countries.

The Wall stood for less than an hour to signify how human emotions transcend forces, those are constantly made to have people divided through border politics.

The brief session also highlighted that the 'desolated' border areas are inhabited by children and women, and a play time in-between them could be used to pioneer activism.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by RAEL (@rrael)

THE ART AND THE ARTIST

The seesaws were a reminder that "the actions on one side have consequences on the other," according to an Instagram post of Rael.

The artists had first come up with the idea nearly a decade ago following the Secure Fence Act 2006, which began the large-scale building on the border. It became more prominent during the tenure of the 45th US Congress President Donald Trump, who had promised to build "big, beautiful walls".

The night before July 28, the duo had gone to scout the location all by themselves, after several artist groups decided not to join them in their project. After working on the project for ten years, the creators on one sudden day, installed the teeter-totter choosing a quite desolated area around the border.

It was less than hour when the Border Police had to ask them to withdraw from the site.

Deriving inspiration from political cartoonists as well, the creators wanted to talk about Trump's border politics in a 'frank yet humourous way'.

In a university publication of 2019, Rael said "this would be a moment to show to the world a very important reality of the border, which is that the border isnt a desolate place where no one lives." "This is a world where women live and children live and that we can use play as a kind of vehicle for activism."

"I think its become increasingly clear with the recent events in our country that we dont need to build walls we need to build bridges," said Fratello.

( with inputs from AP )
Photo: (Photo : Unsplash/Markus Spiske)

A pregnant doctor explains the reason why it is safe to take the COVID vaccine even though clinical trials did not include pregnant women as subjects. She hopes to inspire other women who are in doubt whether to get the shot or not.

Earlier this month, Dr. Nayeli Rodulfo-Zayas got her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. She was 35 weeks pregnant, and she wants to inspire other pregnant women to get the vaccine. She noted that women should be educated by their healthcare providers about the safety of the shot.

The COVID vaccine is safe for pregnant women

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines did not include pregnant women during the late-stage clinical trials in the US. Both companies use mRNA technology with their vaccines. They are practically safe for pregnant women because they do not contain the live virus.

Dr. Rodulfo-Zayas knew that using this technology would not harm her unborn baby because it would not alter the human DNA. She is at high risk of contracting the virus, so she decided to take the vaccine because she is confident with the science.

READ NEXT: Indianapolis Couple Excited to Get COVID Vaccine Die One Day Apart

A personal reason for getting vaccinated

The San Antonio emergency medicine physician talked with her obstetrician-gynecologist and decided to get the vaccine because they believed it would be best for her. After losing her 57-year-old mom a year ago, Dr. Rodulfo-Zayas had another personal reason for receiving the vaccine.

Around early June, the pregnant doctor's mom contracted the coronavirus because she was at high risk. She explained that her mom had high blood pressure, diabetes and was on dialysis. For about a week, she said that her mom was okay but got sick until she had to stay in the ICU.

Dr. Rodulfo-Zayas said that her mom could have gotten the vaccine in six months but sadly did not make it. She knew her mom would have wanted her to do good, so she works hard to educate people about what she knows about the vaccine.

READ MORE: Laura's Law: Man Helps Pass Legislation to Save Others After Losing His Wife

Got two shots of the vaccine

In mid-December, the mom-of-two received her first dose, and on January 7, she got her second dose. While she had some minor side effects, like low-grade fever and chills, she felt better after getting the second shot after less than 24 hours.

Even though the COVID vaccine has some side effects, Dr. Rodulfo-Zayas said that they are just temporary and could not be compared to what people go through when they contract the virus.

According to the US CDC, pregnant women and people from the priority groups could choose to be vaccinated if they want. They could talk to their healthcare providers to understand the possible risks and benefits before making an informed decision regarding getting the vaccine.

RELATED ARTICLE: Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine Shows Promising Immune Response for Grandparents

Dr. Rodulfo-Zayas explained that other pregnant women should confirm with their doctors whether they should take the vaccine or not. She urges others to consider the risks of not getting the COVDI vaccine.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 06:40:55|Editor: huaxia

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ATHENS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Greek parliament approved on Wednesday a draft bill on the extension of Greece's territorial waters from the current 6 nautical miles to 12 nautical miles along its western coastline in the Ionian Sea.

The law passed with 284 votes in favor in the 300-member assembly, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

It is the first time since 1947 that Greece will be expanding its sovereign territory, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, addressing the plenary shortly before the vote. He added that Greece is exercising its rights under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"It is a right fully compatible with international law and Greece can obviously also exercise it in other regions, like around Crete, but at a time, in a manner and under the conditions of its own choosing," Mitsotakis stressed.

Turkey has repeatedly warned against such a step by Greece in the Aegean Sea, as the two neighboring countries have been arguing for decades over maritime borders and other issues.

The expansion in the Ionian Sea came after Greece's agreements with Italy and Egypt last year over the delimitation of maritime borders in the Mediterranean. Greece also agreed with Albania to jointly go to the International Court of Justice in The Hague to delimit their exclusive economic zones (EEZ).

The prime minister said on Wednesday that in the same spirit Greece and Turkey can also resolve their differences in the context of international law.

Next week, dialogue between the two sides will resume in Istanbul aiming to resolve these issues. The previous round ended in 2016.

Athens limits the discussion to the demarcation of maritime zones in the Aegean and the Mediterranean, while Ankara raises more topics.

"We are entering the exploratory talks which will start on Jan. 25 with optimism, confidence and hopes," Mitsotakis said.

"However, I stress that there will be no discussion on issues concerning national sovereignty and the rights of the country. We will obviously not accept any questioning of international treaties and rules of international law. That is why we have said many times that if we fail to agree, then we must be prepared to agree on how to refer our dispute to the international courts," he added.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said "The extension of territorial waters in the Ionian Sea by Greece to 12 nautical miles ... does not affect the Aegean Sea in any way."

"Turkey has vital rights and interests in the semi-enclosed Aegean Sea, where special geographical circumstances prevail. Turkey's position that the territorial waters in the Aegean Sea should not be unilaterally extended in a way to restrict the freedom of navigation as well as the access to the high seas of both Turkey and third countries, is well-known by all parties," it added.

Tension between the two sides escalated in the region during 2020 over seismic surveys conducted by Turkish vessels in disputed waters, as well as agreements for delimitation of maritime borders Turkey and Greece reached with other countries in the Mediterranean. Enditem
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The city of Cleveland is looking for a new public utilities director to replace Robert Davis, the at-times embattled director who quietly left his job Friday.

Davis, who had held the post since May 2015, resigned without the administration of Mayor Frank Jackson notifying City Council, an omission that drew criticism.

Assistant Utilities Director Martin Keane said Tuesday he was tabbed as acting director with Davis departure.

I want to thank Robert for his service to the city of Cleveland, Mayor Frank Jackson said in a statement. His work has helped advance our efforts to provide reliable and affordable utility services to residents and business.

As public utilities director, Davis was in charge of management and oversight of Clevelands water department, wastewater department, Cleveland Public Power and the citys radio communications office.

Combined, those offices have more than 1,700 employees and annual budgets totaling more than $570 million.

Jackson, in his statement, praised Davis leadership on several initiatives, including:

Installation of automatic meter readings for the water department, transitioning from quarterly to monthly billing.

Supervision of the Safe Smart CLE program to replace 61,000 existing streetlights with energy-efficient LED technology.

Launching a multi-year study to identify $50 million in infrastructure replacement in water pollution control.

Expanded apprenticeship programs.

Boosting Cleveland Public Powers renewable energy level to 20 percent.

But Davis also had come under fire at times for management of the operations in the departments, particularly CPP.

Members of the City Council have frequently complained about power outages in CPPs service area  particularly during hot summer months when demands on the system are greatest.

A year ago, cleveland.com reported that CPP did not have a board of review, as required by city law, to hear customer complaints, such as appeals of disconnection notices.

Last month Cleveland announced it would resume disconnections for non-payment of bills, a decision roundly criticized by City Council.

Councilman Brian Kazy, who chairs the councils Utilities Committee, told Keane on Tuesday he wants updates on the status of both issues at the committees next meeting, which as yet is unscheduled.

Kazy was also miffed that the council did not get any notice of Davis leaving.

There was a major change in the department of public utilities and the council was uninformed, Kazy told Keane. When you have a director who resigns, and we have to hear it either  buried in the COVID-19 update or when a news station calls us asking us if we know what happened  thats becoming a serious problem.

There was no comment from the administration as to why Davis was leaving in Davis letter of resignation.

On his last day on the job, all city offices were closed as a precautionary measure leading up to former Vice President Joe Bidens inauguration. The closures were announced last week in the wake of demonstrators storming the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

City Council President Kevin Kelley told cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer on Tuesday he was told Davis left to accept a job with a private water company. To my understanding, he wasnt fired, Kelley said. To my understanding, it was an amicable departure.

Kelley said he expects the administration will seek someone with experience running a water utility. Clevelands water department is by far the largest of the city-owned utilities and is one of the largest systems in the United States.

Prior to Davis appointment in Cleveland, he supervised Warrens water department and was that citys utilities director.

More from Cleveland City Hall

Cleveland program allowing restaurants to expand into public spaces during coronavirus pandemic could be made permanent

City worker charged with conspiracy in investigation of Cleveland Councilman Kenneth Johnson

Cleveland City Council wont seek removal of Councilman Ken Johnson, but is monitoring federal probe

Cleveland City Hall, other government buildings to close leading up to Bidens inauguration
ROME, JAN 20 - Rome prosecutors on Wednesday requested that four Egyptian intelligence-service officials be sent to trial for the 2016 abduction, torture and murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Egypt. General Tariq Sabir and three subordinates, Athar Kamel Mohamed Ibrahim, Uhsam Helmi, and Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif, are accused of crimes that range from aggravated involvement in homicide to kidnapping and grevious bodily harm. Rome prosecutors say that Regeni was tortured for days, resulting in "acute physical suffering" by being subjected to kicks, punches, beaten with sticks and bats and cut with sharp objects, and also being burned with red-hot objects and slammed into walls. The suspects are likely to be tried in absentia in Italy if the indictment requests are upheld. Egypt's prosecutor general, Hamada al Sawi, has said "there is insufficient evidence to prove the charges". Witnesses have told the Rome prosecutors that Regeni was picked up by members of the Egyptian security services. The witnesses, deemed reliable by the prosecutors, say the 28-year-old Cambridge doctoral researcher was abducted by agents of the Egyptian National Security Agency on January 25, 2016, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the uprising that ousted former strongman Hosni Mubarak, and taken to at least two barracks in the subsequent hours. The young man from Friuli was seen in a barracks near the Dokki metro stop in Cairo, the witnesses said, and later at another barracks where young foreigners are usually taken. Regeni was found dead in a ditch on the Cairo-Alexandria highway on February 3, 2016, a week after disappearing. He had been tortured so badly that his mother said she only recognised him by the tip of his nose. At various times Egypt has advanced differing explanations for his death including a car accident, a gay lovers' tiff and abduction and murder by an alleged kidnapping gang that was wiped out after Regeni's documents were planted in their lair. The student was researching Cairo street sellers unions for the British university, a politically sensitive subject. The head of the street hawkers union had fingered Regeni as a possible spy. Lack of cooperation on the case by Egypt led to Rome's temporarily withdrawing its ambassador from Cairo. Rome recently drew condemnation from Regeni's parents by announcing the sale of two frigates to Egypt. (ANSA).
The viral thread has since been deleted. Photo: Kristen Gray/Twitter

American travel influencer Kristen Gray, who went viral on Twitter last week for a thread about eat-pray-loving in Bali during the pandemic, is currently being sent back to the United States, pending the next available flight. Following an official investigation, the Bali office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights said that digital creator and U.S. citizen Gray violated a number of immigration laws, per Bali news blog Coconuts. Gray sold an e-book titled Our Bali Life Is Yours and offered paid consultations on traveling to Bali, violating the purpose of her stay permit. She is also suspected of spreading information that could unsettle the public by saying Bali is queer-friendly and suggesting foreigners travel to Indonesia during the pandemic. (A reminder that you shouldnt travel  anywhere.) Gray was in Indonesia under a visitor-stay permit, which was valid until January 24. She is currently being detained in Denpasar, Bali, awaiting the next flight along with her girlfriend, Saundra. Gray will not be allowed back into the country for six months. In a brief statement to Balinese press, Gray said, I am not guilty. I have not overstayed my visa. I have not made money in Indonesian rupiah in Indonesia. I put out a statement about LGBT and I am being deported about LGBT.

ACTUALLY we dont care about your skin color but the audacity to overstay ur tourist visa, work from here and not pay the obligatory income taxes for foreigners who stayed more than 6 months, encourage people to travel & live a luxury living w/ low cost in bali during pandemic  pic.twitter.com/Lqg9CMOQgR  benjy (@redfolklore) January 17, 2021

Grays Balinese adventure was cut short after her tweets went viral. In them, she encourages others to move to Bali, offers tips on traveling amid the coronavirus pandemic, and, of course, promotes her e-book. Gray explained that she and her girlfriend had been living in Bali for more than a year. In 2019, they booked one-way flights with plans to stay for six months, until the pandemic hit. She specifically praised Bali for its safety, low cost of living, luxury lifestyle, [and] queer friendly and Black in Bali community. However, in March 2020, Indonesian lawmakers proposed a bill that would force lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to undergo conversion therapy, just one example of the widespread persecution the LGBTQ+ community faces in Indonesia. And her $400 rent may be affordable for tourists, but it isnt for many locals, who, according to Coconuts, make a minimum wage of about $177 a month. Why would I have to pay taxes if I never made IRD? her girlfriend Saundra said, referencing the Indonesian currency, in response to a quote tweet asking about taxes. I pay American taxes for making USD. Funny how traveling does not make you a travel expert. Kristen Grays Twitter and Instagram accounts have been quarantined following the controversy, just like shell be soon.
President-elect Joe Biden will unleash a full-scale assault on his predecessors legacy to sweep aside President Donald Trumps pandemic response, reverse his environmental agenda, tear down his anti-immigration policies, and bolster the sluggish economic recovery

Washington: President-elect Joe Biden will unleash a full-scale assault on his predecessors legacy Wednesday, acting hours after taking the oath of office to sweep aside President Donald Trumps pandemic response, reverse his environmental agenda, tear down his anti-immigration policies, bolster the sluggish economic recovery and restore federal efforts aimed at promoting diversity.

Moving with an urgency not seen from any other modern president, Biden will sign 17 executive orders, memorandums and proclamations from the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon, according to his top policy advisers.

Individually, the actions are targeted at what the incoming president views as specific, egregious abuses by Trump during four tumultuous years. Collectively, his advisers said Bidens assertive use of executive authority was intended to be a hefty and visible down payment on one of his primary goals as president: to, as they said Tuesday, reverse the gravest damages done to the country by Trump.

We dont have a second to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face as a nation, Biden said Tuesday night on Twitter after arriving in Washington on the eve of his inauguration. Thats why after being sworn in tomorrow, Ill get right to work.

Bidens actions largely fall into four broad categories that his aides described as the converging crises he will inherit at noon Wednesday: the pandemic, economic struggles, immigration and diversity issues, and the environment and climate change.

In some cases, Biden plans to unilaterally and immediately reverse policies and procedures that Trump put in place. In other instances, limits on his authority require the new president to direct others in his administration to act or even to begin what could be a long process to shift the federal government in a new direction.

A new day, Jeff Zients, the coordinator of Bidens coronavirus response, said Tuesday. A new, different approach to managing the countrys response to the COVID-19 crisis.

One of Bidens first actions Wednesday will be to sign an executive order making Zients the governments official COVID-19 response coordinator, reporting to the president. The order will also restore the directorate for global health security and biodefense at the National Security Council, a group that Trump had disbanded.

Biden will also sign an executive order that Trump had steadfastly refused to issue during his tenure  imposing a national mandate requiring masks and physical distancing in all federal buildings, on all federal lands and by all federal employees, officials said. And he will terminate Trumps efforts to leave the World Health Organization, sending Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease specialist, to participate in the groups annual executive board meeting Thursday.

Aides said many of Bidens actions Wednesday were aimed at reversing Trumps harshest immigration policies.

He will sign an executive order revoking the Trump administrations plan to exclude noncitizens from the census count and a second order aimed at bolstering the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that protects Dreamers from deportation. Trump had sought for years to end the program, known as DACA.

Biden will repeal two Trump-era proclamations that established a ban on travel to the United States from several predominantly Muslim and African countries, ending one of his predecessors earliest actions to limit immigration. Advisers said Biden would direct the State Department to develop ways to address the harm caused to those prevented from coming to the United States because of the ban.

Another executive order will revoke enhanced enforcement of immigration violations aimed at people already inside the United States. Another will block deportation of Liberians who had been living in the United States. And another will halt construction of Trumps border wall  which was devised to keep immigrants out of the country  while Bidens administration examines the legality of the walls funding and its construction contracts.

We believe that we can take steps to immediately reverse the elements of the Trump policies that were deeply inhumane and did not reflect our countrys values, said Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security adviser, while at the same time sending a practical, credible, clear signal that this is not the moment to be coming to the southwestern border because our capacity to take people across that border is extremely limited.

Biden, who takes office after a year of racial upheaval in the country, will move quickly Wednesday to begin to unwind some of Trumps policies that he views as contributing to the polarization and division, according to his top domestic policy adviser.

Susan Rice, who will lead the presidents Domestic Policy Council, said Biden would sign a broad executive order aimed at requiring all federal agencies to make equity a central factor in their work. The order will, among other things, require that they deliver a report within 200 days to address how to remove barriers to opportunities in policies and programs.

Biden will direct federal agencies to conduct reviews looking to eliminate systemic discrimination in their policies and to reverse historic discrimination in safety net and other federal spending, Rice said. And he will begin a working group examining federal data collection on diversity grounds.

The president-elect promised to root out systemic racism from our institutions, Rice told reporters Tuesday. And this initiative is a first step in that historic work. Delivering on racial justice will require that the administration takes a comprehensive approach to embed equity in every aspect of our policymaking and decision-making.

Another executive order will require that the federal government does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, a policy that reverses action by Trumps administration. Another will overturn a Trump executive order that limited the ability of federal government agencies to use diversity and inclusion training.

And Biden will cancel Trumps 1776 Commission, which released a report Monday that historians said distorted the history of slavery in the United States.

Many of Trumps most significant actions as president were aimed at limiting regulation of the environment and pulling back from efforts to combat climate change. Bidens earliest actions as president will take aim at those policies, officials said.

On Wednesday, he will sign a letter indicating that the United States will rejoin the Paris climate accords, reversing Trumps departure from the global organization.

He will then sign an executive order beginning the process of overturning environmental policies under the Trump administration, including rescinding rollbacks to vehicle emissions standards; imposing a moratorium on oil and natural gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline; and reestablishing a working group on the social costs of greenhouse gasses.

The day one climate executive orders will begin to put the U.S. back on the right footing, a footing we need to restore American leadership, helping to position our nation to be the global leader in clean energy and jobs, said Gina McCarthy, Bidens national climate adviser.

As he promised during the campaign, Biden will also take several steps Wednesday to help Americans struggling through continued financial hardship brought on by the pandemic, in some cases reversing policies embraced by his predecessor.

He will extend a federal moratorium on evictions and ask agencies, including the departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, to prolong a moratorium on foreclosures on federally guaranteed mortgages. The extensions would all run through the end of March.

Another order targets Americans with heavy educational debt, continuing a pause on federal student loan interest and principal payments through the end of September.

Progressive groups and some congressional Democrats, including Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, who will become majority leader Wednesday, had pushed Biden to move even more aggressively and act on day one to cancel up to $50,000 per person in student debt. Instead, Bidens aides renewed his campaign call for Congress to act to cancel up to $10,000 in individual student debt.

As some of his predecessors have done, Biden will sign an executive order meant to establish ethics rules for those who serve in his administration. Aides said he would also order all of his appointees in the executive branch to sign an ethics pledge.

Biden will also issue a freeze on all new regulations put in motion by his predecessor to give his administration time to evaluate which ones should move forward  if any.

Jen Psaki, the incoming White House press secretary, said the executive actions Biden takes Wednesday will be followed by a steady stream of others almost daily.

President-elect Biden will continue to take action over the next 10 days  and over his entire time in office  to address the four crises that hes laid out, Psaki said. In the coming days and weeks, we will be announcing additional executive actions that confront these challenges and deliver on the president-elects promises to the American people, including revoking the ban on military service by transgender Americans.

Michael D. Shear c.2021 The New York Times Company

Shortly after the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the Texas GOP published a statement thanking former President Donald Trump while continuing to claim widespread election fraud played a part in Trump's defeat in the 2020 election.

The Republican Party of Texas published the statement on its website, thanking Trump for "putting America first." In its closing paragraph, the Texas GOP alleged "massive election irregularities" resulted in Trump's loss.

"It took a global pandemic, a thoroughly corrupt media, and massive election irregularities for President Trump to be removed from office," the GOP wrote. "However, what he started will not end today. America First is not going away. We will not surrender this nation to the false song of globalism, and progressive socialism."

After sending the statement out to news agencies, Texas GOP director of communications Luke Twombly took to Twitter to claim that the party's words had been censored before reaching the public. Twombly claims the word "irregularities" in the party's closing statement had been replaced with the word "censored" bolded and in parentheses.

"We also got censored and werent allowed to use the word irregularities for our email blast," Twombly wrote on Twitter. "Censorship sure is fun."

The official account for the Republican Party of Texas retweeted Twombly's claim and wrote in a prior tweet that the email platform Texas GOP used for the blast censored the party's statement. Texas GOP did not reveal the email platform used.

Texas GOP previously published statements supporting legal action "against electoral illegalities in battleground states" and expressing support of Sen. Ted Cruz's objection in certifying the election results.

The 2020 presidential election results were certified on Jan. 6, hours after a violent pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol, resulting in the death of five people and a delay in the certification.

Trump refused to concede the election to Biden until Jan. 7, repeating baseless claims of widespread election fraud and continuing to falsely claim he had won the election. Trump and his campaign lost more than 50 court cases challenging the election results, including a case at the Supreme Court brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other members of the Republican party.
WASHINGTON - Joe Biden for once beat the clock.

The 46th president, known for his chronic tardiness, finished reciting his oath of office at 11:48 a.m. Wednesday with his hand on a five-inch-thick Bible that has been in his family for 127 years.

The ceremonies proceeding ahead of schedule had some wondering whether Biden's swearing-in before noon meant he assumed the presidency 12 minutes early. But ultimately, it's the 20th Amendment - not the inaugural itinerary - that determines when a new presidential term begins, no matter whether the oath takes place ahead of time, according to constitutional experts.

The 20th Amendment says the "terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January."

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said it's not taking the oath that results in an incoming president taking office.

"The oath is required, but it is not the act that makes Biden the next president," Turley told The Washington Post in an email. Turley noted that no matter how early the president-elect swears the oath of office, the previous president remains the officeholder until noon.

"So when Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said that she would be the first to call him 'President Biden,' she may have been literally but not constitutionally correct," Turley said.

Robert Chesney, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, pointed to Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, which states that the oath must be taken "before" the president takes office.

"Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation," the clause reads.

"The prior president's authority expires no matter what at noon on the 20th," Chesney said in an email, adding, "it would actually be a bit weird if there were some sort of rule requiring that moment be passed before the new president could take the oath effectively, since this would create at least a few moments if not several minutes in which neither one would be president."

Wednesday's slight upending of the highly choreographed Inauguration Day schedule is not unheard of in American history, though some of the details are too important to compromise: In 2009, President Barack Obama was sworn in for a second time Jan. 21 after he and Chief Justice John Roberts both seemingly stumbled over the 35-word oath, the exact language of which is specified by the Constitution.

White House lawyers, acting out of an "abundance of caution," opted to have Roberts re-administer the oath the next day.

"We decided it was so much fun [the first time]," Obama joked of the do-over.

At a small, private ceremony in the White House Map Room, Obama and Roberts nailed the words.
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Current and former aides to both Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris say that while dealing with the Senate will be important to her job, she has not been assigned a specific issue portfolio, at least at the outset, and will instead serve as a governing partner to Mr. Biden on all of his top priorities. If fulfilled, that mandate could make her among the most influential vice presidents in history.

In one sign of how much she may be involved in legislative campaigns, Ms. Harris has been in touch with mayors around the country to preview Mr. Bidens coronavirus relief package, the Harris aide said.

From the moment Ms. Harris was chosen as Mr. Bidens running mate, Republicans sought to paint her as a radical who would co-opt the more centrist Mr. Bidens agenda and push any administration far to the left, often relying on sexist personal attacks in the process. Yet while Ms. Harris and Mr. Biden had sharp disagreements on a number of issues during the primary, as his running mate she made a point at every turn to demonstrate that she not only embraced his agenda, but had studied his proposals in detail and was fully on board as his partner.

On Wednesday, she reveled in the moment as she appeared outside the Capitol for her inauguration. So proud of you, former President Barack Obama told her as they fist bumped shortly before her swearing-in. Minutes later, Ms. Harris, clad in a purple coat, barely suppressed a smile as she finished taking her oath from Justice Sotomayor, her hand on a bible once belonging to Thurgood Marshall, the former Supreme Court justice.

After the inaugural ceremony, Ms. Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, escorted her predecessor, Mike Pence, and his wife, Karen Pence, down the Capitol steps for Mr. Pences departure. The couples stopped midway for a friendly chat punctuated by laughter.

In her next role, though, Ms. Harris may face inherent challenges, including finding her place in a West Wing stocked with veterans of the Obama White House who have known and worked with one another for years and advising a president with deeply fixed ideas of how Washington operates. And given speculation that the 78-year-old Mr. Biden may not seek a second term in office, Ms. Harris, who mounted her own unsuccessful 2020 White House bid, is sure to face scrutiny about her electoral future much earlier than did her predecessors.

One factor that may work in Ms. Harriss favor is Mr. Bidens own experience as vice president, especially at the beginning when he joined an Obama White House team that at times had a clubby quality. Ms. Harriss allies hope and expect that Mr. Biden  and many of the aides who worked with him, like the incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain  will remember what it was like to be on the other side and ensure that Ms. Harris and her team are included and empowered.
The two nations last week held its first-ever online seminar on sharing experience and new policies of Japan to promote e-government, with the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio stating that Japan is looking to launch programmes in cooperation with Vietnam on the issue, with e-government becoming a common tool for the Japanese to conduct its macro-monitoring in favour of both businesses and individuals.

In Japan, a digital agency will be launched in September 2021 to reform inclusivity, remove most administrative management, and unify IT policymaking. In the opinion of Naohico Okuda, director of the Administrative Information System Planning Division under the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Administrative Management Bureau, Japans new digital agency will look to consolidate procurement of government systems. The goal is to enable seamless sharing of information not only among different parts of the central government, but also with municipalities and administrative bodies.

The benefits would include improved analysis of big data, which can help determine the effectiveness of particular policies. Broader use of the system would let the government provide services more quickly, with cost savings. Measures will also be laid out to boost telemedicine and remote education, which are overseen by the health and education ministries, respectively.

Developing e-government and strong digital transformation in Vietnam will require the support of Japan, according to Mai Tien Dung, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office.

In the 2021-2025 period, Vietnam is expected to use cutting-edge technologies to further e-government aims in this country. For example, reforming infrastructure, applying cloud computing, upgrading cybersecurity, and building a digital ecosystem will be carried out based on AI and big data.

We are looking forward to receiving more support from the Japanese government and businesses to accelerate digital transformation in the government, Dung said. In 2021 and beyond, e-government is a global trend and a promising area for economic development and the foundation for the international integration of Vietnam.

The e-government will attach IT applications with administrative reform to improve transparency, and change the way of serving and considering people and businesses at the centre, he added.

In talks with Japanese Prime Minister Suga

Yoshihide in his first overseas visit to Vietnam last October, Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc proposed to boost cooperation in a variety of areas, including e-government.

A year ago, the two countries signed and exchanged 500 million ($4.9 million) in non-refundable aid, which was expensed for IT equipment and building a national reporting database in Vietnam.

Through aid and cooperation programmes, the Japanese government would like to support and contribute to the reform process of Vietnam in the time to come, said Ambassador Takio.

In fact, developing an e-government has already saved massive amounts of money for Vietnam. The National E-document Exchange Platform, launched in March 2019, has connected all ministries, agencies, and localities, transferred 3.8 million of documents, and served over 21,400 departments at all levels  and is saving VND1.2 trillion ($52.2 million) every year.

Meanwhile, Vietnams e-cabinet has run for 26 governmental regular meetings, taken 624 votes, replaced 238,000 documents, and saved VND169 billion ($7.35 million) per year. A National Reporting System is saving VND460 billion ($20 million), and the National Public Service Portal, which has supported over 2,700 services and handled 763,000 online documents, saves more than VND8 trillion ($347.8 million) per year. All the money is saved thanks to reductions in physical contact, travelling, and paperwork.

Over recent years, the performance of Vietnams e-government has been improving significantly, moving to 86th out of 193 countries and territories, 13 steps better than in 2014, according to the United Nations. The business environment ranking has improved 20 places to 70th out of 190, and ranks fifth in terms of ASEAN member states.
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Two people died from COVID-19 in the long-term care wing of Mountainview Village on KLO Road in Kelowna. The outbreak of the virus at the facility, as well as one in Penticton, has now been declared over.

U.S. President Joe Biden's pick for Secretary of State Antony Blinken has welcomed moves by the Trump administration to remove curbs on official contacts with the democratic island of Taiwan, although analysts said it remains to be seen whether the new administration will continue to move in the direction of greater recognition for the Taiwanese government.



Blinken said he was in favor of greater engagement with Taiwan, and referred to a move by outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to relax restrictions on official dealings with Taipei.



"I want to see that process through to conclusion if it hasnt been completed, to make sure that were acting pursuant to the mandate in the (Taiwan Assurance) act that looks at creating more space for contacts," Blinken said in comments reported by Reuters.



Pompeo announced on Jan. 9 that the U.S. was lifting curbs that had been in place since Washington cut ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing in 1979, saying Washington would no longer "appease" Beijing.



Blinken has previously met with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen while she was running for office the first time around, during his tenure as deputy Secretary of State in the Obama administration.



He said the Biden administration would maintain the United States' commitment to ensure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself against aggression.



"That is a commitment that will absolutely endure in the Biden administration. We will make sure that Taiwan has the ability to do that," Blinken said.



"The commitment to Taiwan is something that we hold to very strongly," he said in comments reported by Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA).



'Serious mistake'

U.S. secretary of defense nominee Lloyd J. Austin struck a similar note when asked what he would do if China decided to invade Taiwan, which has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), nor formed part of the People's Republic of China.



"Our efforts will be to ensure we do everything to make sure that China does not make that decision," CNA quoted Austin as saying during his confirmation hearing on Jan. 19.



Meanwhile, Blinken, asked by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham if the CCP would have to pay a heavy price for any attempt to annex Taiwan, replied: "That would be a serious mistake."



He said the Trump administration had been right to take a tougher stance against Beijing, saying that China under the CCP had clear ambitions to global political leadership, and to export its authoritarian model of government around the world.



Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Blinken's comments.



"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely thanks Antony Blinken, nominee for Secretary of State, for publicly expressing firm support for Taiwan," ministerial spokeswoman Joanne Ou said.



"Our government will continue to build on these sound foundations in future, to deepen the close friendship and partnership between Taiwan and the United States," she said.



Mainstream support on China

Ding Shu-Fan, honorary professor at Taiwan's National Chengchi University, said getting tougher on China seems to have become a mainstream view in American politics, with bipartisan support for Tsai's insistence on standing up to China.



"In the latter part of the Obama administration, Obama wrote in his memoir that he wanted to change policy to get tougher on China, but that it was too late," Ding said.



"Obama wanted to confront them didn't dare to, while Trump facilitated the Democratic Party's more confrontational stance," Ding said. "He helped the Democratic Party a great deal."



He said Blinken appeared to want to send encouraging messages to Taiwan with his recent comments.



But Kwei-Bo Huang, deputy secretary general of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), said that while the Biden administration was unlikely to distance itself from Taiwan compared with the Trump administration, there may be no further developments towards greater recognition for the island, which has been excluded from membership in international organizations at Beijing's insistence for decades.



"We will have to see what happens," Huang said. "My guess is that we will see more of the same policies from the United States [on the Taiwan question]."



"Blinken's stance seems to be similar to U.S. policy in the past, which is strengthening Taiwans self-defense capabilities and facilitating its participation on the international stage," Huang said.



Reported by Hsia Hsiao-hwa for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
He went from a virtual unknown to an international star with his role as Connell Waldron in BBC Three's Normal People last year.

And amid the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Paul Mescal has told how he found it difficult not working everyday as he admitted he 'struggled with the absence of work'.

The Irish actor, 24, also told how he blew his first paycheck from the BBC drama on a round of drinks for the cast and crew.

Tough: Amid the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Paul Mescal told how he found it difficult not working everyday as he admitted he 'struggled with the absence of work' (pictured in January 2020)

Discussing how he felt amid the restrictions, Paul told OK! Magazine: 'Ive struggled with the absence of work. A vast period of the day which wouldve been occupied is now totally unoccupied.'

The hunk went on to say that he passed the time in isolation by keeping fit, adding the that he had been cheered up by happiness hormone serotonin, which is released through exercise.

He continued: 'My life is a lot of Zoom calls and lots of running. Ive been trying to get as much serotonin as I can. Serotonin is a wonderful thing.'

Paul's turn as Connell in Normal People was hugely popular, with millions of fans swooning over his character's relationship with Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar Jones).

Drinks are on me: The Irish actor, 24, also told how he blew his first paycheck from BBC drama Normal People on a round of drinks for the cast and crew (pictured with co-star Daisy Edgar Jones)

And amid his success from the show, Paul told how he spent his entire first pay packet of booze for the crew.

He added: 'I did stupid things like buying the cast a round of drinks, which was pretty much my entire wage!'

Despite initially struggling with his lack of business at the start of lockdown, Paul is now occupied with filming for the movie adaptation of opera Carmen in a tiny rural town in Australia.

The actor was recently seen on the set in Breadalbane, New South Wales ahead of scenes opposite co-star Melissa Barrera.

Difficult: 'Ive struggled with the absence of work. A vast period of the day which wouldve been occupied is now totally unoccupied' (pictured in July)

Keeping occupied: 'My life is a lot of Zoom calls and lots of running. Ive been trying to get as much serotonin as I can. Serotonin is a wonderful thing'

Paul's work as a lovelorn student on Normal People alongside co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, also won him a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Inspired by Sally Rooney's novel of the same name, Normal People details the complicated relationship of Marianne and Connell, in a modern day love story.

In an interview with Britain's GQ magazine last year, Paul said he never set out to become an actor at a young age.

Bad idea? Amid his success from the show, Paul told how he spent his entire first pay packet of booze for the crew

'I became an actor certainly not by accident but late. I wasn't one of those kids who wanted to act from the age of 12. Not at all. In fact, my dad did some acting and I used to watch him in plays and just feel no desire at all to be up there myself, perhaps oddly.'

Once he turned 18, he had to decide on whether to make acting his profession.

'I really struggled with that decision: choosing one thing to focus on that I wouldn't get utterly bored with.

'Acting was something that I didn't really know how to do but I could see how it would take a great deal of dedication.'
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. Hot. High 93F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Franklin Graham asks Christians to pray for peace during inauguration

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Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has urged Christians to pray for peace and calm during the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday.

Today as our country inaugurates a new president, there are concerns that there could be violence in Washington, DC, and in state capitals across the nation. I encourage Christians to make this a day of prayerfor peace and calm, and praying for our new leaders, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Graham, who also leads Samaritans Purse, said in a statement on Facebook.

Grahams call for calm comes in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol building by pro-Trump supporters and others in Washington, D.C., that left five people dead. The protesters sought to prevent the confirmation of Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election by Congress.

Citing Graham's previous remarks in support of Trump's argument that the election was stolen, progressive Christian group Faithful America launched a petition last Friday, accusing Graham of sedition and calling on directors of Samaritan's Purse and BGEA to fire him.

As long as Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association stand by Franklin Graham, it must be said that these once-vaunted organizations have forgotten their original Christian missions, abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and are complicit in the spread of dishonest, discredited election conspiracy theories and the deadly, unpatriotic, white-nationalist terrorism at the U.S. Capitol incited by those lies, said a message, which Faithful America said was sent to board members of the two Christian organizations led by Graham.

Our faith in Jesus Christ demands that we do better than this. Your fellow Christians from across the country call on you to fire Franklin Graham, or to resign from the Board in individual protest.

The petition has garnered more than 20,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning.

Faithful America, which was founded in 2004, describes itself as the largest online community of Christians putting faith into action for social justice.

Our members are sick of sitting by quietly while Jesus' message of good news is hijacked by the religious right to serve a hateful political agenda. We're organizing the faithful to challenge such extremism and renew the church's prophetic role in building a more free and just society, the group explains on its website.

The group is led by Rev. Nathan Empsall, an Episcopal priest and veteran digital organizer, and has organized numerous petitions, including ones against former President Donald Trump, World Vision and Family Research Council.

Trump left the White House for the last time Wednesday morning to make way for the Biden administration.

You are amazing people. This is a great, great country. It is my greatest honor and privilege to have been your president, Trump told his supporters.

He further wished the incoming administration "great luck," before ending: "Have a good life, we will see you soon."
Chevys management has issued the following statement in response to their violation of health orders: "We are aware of the current order issued by the state. There is some conflicting direction between the state, county and city levels as far as what restrictions to follow. Along with some restrictions being lifted in several California counties by overseeing judges. We take the safety of our guests and team very seriously. We are following the safety and sanitation guidelines. We believe our decision to remain open is what is best for our team so they may be able to work and continue to provide for their families. All work that provides support to your family is essential to that family."
Joe Biden is sworn in as U.S. president during his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Biden to Cancel Trumps 1776 Commission That Promotes American Founding Values

President Joe Biden plans to cancel the Trump administrations 1776 Commission, only two days after the advisory panel released a report calling for a U.S. history education centered on the nations founding principles.

Biden, who was inaugurated on Wednesday, is expected to sign 17 executive actions, according to a press release. A number of those actions are a direct reversal of Trump-era policies, including the travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries, the construction of barriers along the U.S.-Mexican border, and the 1776 Commission to promote a patriotic education.

Through his day 1 executive order, Biden will rescind the Trump administrations 1776 Commission, which has sought to erase Americas history of racial injustice, the Biden-Harris transition team said in a press release.

Formed last September by then-President Donald Trump, the 1776 Commission is commonly seen as a direct response to New York Times 1619 Project, which portrays the United States as an inherently racist nation. The Pulitzer Prize-winning project consists of a collection of essays that argue, among many other controversial claims, that the primary reason for the American Revolution was to preserve slavery.

The commission, led by a number of prominent scholars including Larry Arnn, Victor Davis Hanson, and Charles Kesler, released its first report (pdf) this Monday. The report calls for a national renewal of education to teach future U.S. citizens the founding principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and identified historical and modern challenges to those key principles.

Neither America nor any other nation has perfectly lived up to the universal truths of equality, liberty, justice, and government by consent, the report reads. But no nation before America ever dared state those truths as the formal basis for its politics, and none has strived harder, or done more, to achieve them.

U.S. colleges and universities, the report warns, have become hotbeds of anti-Americanism, libel, and censorship, with the intention to manipulate opinions more than educate minds.

The 1776 report specifically calls out historian Howard Zinn and the 1619 Project for preventing students from seeing the humanity, goodness, and benevolence in Americas historical figures. Young readers are instead being presented with a distorted version of U.S. history, according to the 1776 report.

Historical revisionism that tramples honest scholarship and historical truth, shames Americans by highlighting only the sins of their ancestors, and teaches claims of systemic racism that can only be eliminated by more discrimination, is an ideology intended to manipulate opinions more than educate minds, the report reads.

The 1776 report was removed from the White House website following the presidential transition. It can still be found on the archived Trump White House website.
Most of St. Helenas first responders and teachers have chosen to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

About 80% of the St. Helena Fire Department and 60% of the St. Helena Police Department had received at least their first dose of the vaccine as of Tuesday, according to Fire Chief John Sorensen and Police Chief Chris Hartley.

Most St. Helena Unified School District personnel will receive their vaccines on Friday afternoon at the St. Helena Hospital Foundations invitation-only vaccine clinic at the Napa Valley College Upper Valley Campus.

About 50 school employees were vaccinated last Friday after Superintendent Marylou Wilson was notified the clinic had some doses left over toward the end of the day.

At this point were well on our way, and well finish up on Friday provided there is enough vaccine available, Wilson said.

When the district polled employees and other people who are in regular contact with students, such as tutors from the UpValley Family Centers, 95% said they wanted the vaccine, Wilson said.

As of Thursday, Swiss authorities no longer consider Luxembourg a risk area.

This means that residents of Luxembourg no longer need to undergo a 10-day quarantine when arriving in Switzerland.

Luxembourg was put on a black list in late November.
SpaceX would carry almost 100 satellites to orbit with its Falcon 9 rocket launch this Thursday, January 21, 2021. It involves cargo from the government, Starlink, and other private companies and commercial entities. This feat was never before attempted by the space company, but would do it at the start of 2021, and would be able to handle the load it will bring.

The large estimate of the satellites to board the Falcon 9 is indeed impressive, for both SpaceX and the rocket ship, as a single satellite can weigh more than a couple kilograms itself. Imagine having a hundred times of that, with only one launch and flight, carrying the hopes of various entities to strengthen their services with the satellites that were sent off.

SpaceX is known to accomplish massive feats and missions, but this particular launch would be one-of-a-kind and maybe the start of something new for the company. Before, SpaceX's task was to launch several of Starlink's internet satellites (a handful of 60 at a time), along with partnerships from NASA, and other international space agencies.

Read Also: Nvidia RTX 3060 Pre-Order Now Available: Price, Specs, and Everything You Need to Know!

SpaceX Falcon 9 100 Satellite Launch

According to CNet, SpaceX would attempt to be like a ride-hailing application that features the "ride-share" option enabled in its systems. Cargo from Starlink, the United States government and other commercial entities would be taking part and joining the company in its launch to orbit.

DARPA satellites would be joining the launch but has been damaged in its processing facility, causing them to be replaced. Starlink's addition is a buzzer-beater because it was not originally slated to join this launch with the Falcon 9.

The United States' Department of Defense, along with Nanoracks, and Germany's German Aerospace Center (DLR) would also send a couple of their satellites to join SpaceX's launch. These satellites bring the total count to almost 100 satellites in cargo, give or take.

SpaceX did not disclose the total number of satellites that would join the launch, but it seems that Thursday's journey is set to happen, even with its massive load to bring to orbit.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Thursday Launch: How to Watch Live

SpaceX would be setting up its live streaming cameras once again, uploading it live and feeding it to its website and YouTube channels for its launch time. The activity is set on Thursday, January 21, with an early morning launch at 6:24 AM PT (9:24 AM ET).

The Falcon 9 launch is seeing no delays or hindrances for Thursday, as weather conditions predict that it would be welcomed with an 80 percent chance of good weather that would complement the launch schedule.

Related Article: International Space Station Location: Here's Where ISS will be in the Coming Weeks! How and When to See!

This article is owned by Tech Times





Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A university student has been killed after her head became trapped between her car and a paying machine in a parking garage.

23-year-old Victoria Strauss had dropped her credit card and was leaning down to try and pick it up when the accident took place in Columbus, Ohio.

Police said that as Victoria leant down her foot pressed the accelerator, causing the car to jerk forward and hit her head, according to Columbus Dispatch.

A security guard found Victoria still stuck at the exit toll booth yesterday morning and she was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Victoria Strauss, 23, (pictured) was killed after her head became stuck between her car and a parking garage paying machine in Columbus, Ohio

Police were called to the scene at 5.40am yesterday morning after Victoria was found.

In a post on social media, Columbus Ohio Police said: 'While attempting to pay for her parking, she dropped her card.

'She attempted to retrieve her card by opening her door and leaning out to pick it up. She inadvertently accelerated and collided with the parking kiosk.

'The collision pinned her between her car door and the door frame. Strauss died as a result of her collision with the kiosk and was pronounced at scene. No one else was involved.'

Columbus Ohio police also confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.

Columbus Ohio police posted an update on social media explaining that Victoria had leant out of her car to pick her a credit card she had dropped

CCTV footage reportedly shows the Ohio State University postgraduate reaching out of her vehicle at around 11.30pm on Monday.

After seemingly engaging the accelerator, the car jolts forward and strikes her in the head.

Posting on Facebook, one of Victoria's friends shared a tribute which said: 'Sweet Victoria Strauss, I cannot believe this news. You are such a beautiful, inspiring, amazing soul. Rest easy and fly high angel!

'I know youre happy now with your dad again. I want to thank you for being there for me, helping me through my grieving process while you were still going through it too, and for all of your kind words.

A security guard for the parking garage (pictured) found Victoria still stuck at the exit toll booth yesterday morning and she was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics

'I was looking forward to catching up with you soon like we talked about but God had other plans.

'Keeping you and your family in my prayers. You are so loved and will be missed by so many.'

A second friend also posted a tribute this morning which read: 'My heart hurts writing this, Victoria Strauss. Youve been apart of some of the most important times of my life. Words cant begin to explain how much the girls and I will miss you.

'From enjoying the most glorious times of our lives to some of the toughest moments well ever experience. I thank you for being there for it all. I hope youre finally reunited with your father.

'Forever fly and fly high angel. Please watch over us and guide us. I love you.'

Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (USR PLUS) alliance backs the need for the reform of the statutes of the National Public Television Broadcaster - TVR as soon as the regular Parliament session begins, chairman of the Lower House Culture Committee Iulian Bulai told a debate today on the situation of TVR with journalists and civil society representatives.

"A decision of the alliance will be needed, but we at USR PLUS agree to a legislative reform of the public television broadcaster in the shortest time, as soon as the regular session begins. Proposals have been made for coalition working groups to start this process which will be done together with the civil society," said Bulai, the organizer of the debate.

He explained that the overhaul of TVR must take into account "issues that are relevant now, not for 1994", when the statutes of the institution were devised, mentioning that it should target a variety of audience, not just the 50+ age category.

The chairman of the culture oversight committee mentioned that a profile should be outlined of the person who will be appointed to TVR president and director general.

"So, who would be the right person? Someone from inside TVR, from outside TVR but with management and journalistic experience, someone who only has experience in management, people from the civil society who have observed the Romanian media for 20 - 25 years, an experienced manager from a foreign public TV broadcaster? I don't have the exact answer," Bulai said, but emphasized that he expects TVR to be a powerful and functional broadcaster.

Asked when will TVR president - director general Doina Gradea be summoned to hearings before the Culture Committee, the USR deputy said that this will happen when the TVR activity reports will be discussed, but that the timing for this is still unknown, as the current urgency in Parliament is the adoption of the draft budget.

During the debate, Expert Forum's Sorin Ionita said that there are big issues at TVR, that the definition of the institution's mission has failed and lacks clarity, and that things are amiss also as regards the budget subsidy the broadcaster should receive.

Mircea Toma, president of the Media Monitoring Agency, considers that the Romanian media is currently adrift, and "the commercial paradigm has won the match, as most media institutions operate in an exclusively commercial key".

"Investigative journalism still resists in just two small oases. It has disappeared from public television, as censorship has also manifested itself through the disappearance of this category of journalism," Mircea Toma said.

Ioana Avadanei from the Center for Independent Journalism considers that the TVR audience mainly falls in the 50+ age category, mentioning that the vision of this institution raises serious questions.

The chairman of the Culture Committee said that debates on the statutes of the public television broadcaster will continue.
Last year Anthony Levandowski pleaded guilty to one count of stealing materials from Google, where he was an engineer for its self-driving car efforts before leaving to found a startup that he sold to Uber. The judge said during his sentencing that his theft of documents and emails constituted the biggest trade secret crime I have ever seen.

Now, on the last day of Donald Trumps administration, Trump issued a series of pardons  the Department of Justice has more information on how those work here  and commutations that covered people who worked on his campaign like Steve Bannon and Elliott Broidy, as well as Levandowski.

A press release from the White House noted tech billionaires Peter Thiel and Palmer Luckey were among those supporting a pardon for Levandowski, and it makes the claim that this engineer paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good. It also noted that his plea covered only a single charge, omitting mention of the 33 charges hed been indicted on.

He had been sentenced to 18 months in prison, but as TechCrunch reported at the time, was not required to report until the COVID-19 pandemic eased. A court ordered Levandowski to pay Google $179 million to resolve a contract dispute, while his plea included $756,499 in restitution and a $95,000 fine. A settlement between Uber and Googles subsidiary Waymo handed over an equity stake worth about $245 million at the time, as well as a promise not to use the technology taken from Google. In December, Uber sold its entire self-driving unit to another company, Aurora.

White House Press Secretary:

Anthony Levandowski  President Trump granted a full pardon to Anthony Levandowski. This pardon is strongly supported by James Ramsey, Peter Thiel, Miles Ehrlich, Amy Craig, Michael Ovitz, Palmer Luckey, Ryan Petersen, Ken Goldberg, Mike Jensen, Nate Schimmel, Trae Stephens, Blake Masters, and James Proud, among others. Mr. Levandowski is an American entrepreneur who led Googles efforts to create self-driving technology. Mr. Levandowski pled guilty to a single criminal count arising from civil litigation. Notably, his sentencing judge called him a brilliant, groundbreaking engineer that our country needs. Mr. Levandowski has paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good.

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Stirling Distillery prepares for release of first whisky series

Scotland's Stirling Distillery is set to release two single cask whiskies under its Sons of Scotland label.

It will be the first whisky ever released from the Stirling Castle rock, where the distillery's co-founders Cameron and June McCann have been producing gin since mid-2019.

The couple has drawn on Cameron's previous experience working in the whisky industry and running whisky shops in Stirling in establishing their brand. The new single cask whiskies, Cashly and Arngibbon, are named after Stirlingshire distilleries which were in operation in the 18th and early 19th century.

Cameron said: "We're pleased and proud to be releasing whisky from the Castle Rock. What makes us especially excited about our Sons of Scotland range is the chance to start a new chapter in Stirling's whisky history while celebrating Stirlingshire's rich whisky-making heritage"

The Sons of Scotland range features four whiskies drawn from the Highlands, Speyside, the Lowlands and the Islands. Both Cashly, from a Highlands distillery, and Arngibbon, sourced from Speyside, have been matured in ex-Bourbon hogsheads for eight years.

The Stirling Distillery will be producing its own new-make spirit on-site this year, with the release of its first single malt whisky planned for 2024. Once the production process begins, the distillery will give members of the public the chance to purchase 40 and 60-litre casks of its spirit.

June said: "As an independent business, we consider ourselves to be the luckiest people in the world to be able to do what we're doing in one of the world's most famous historic locations. The chance to share some delicious whisky with the local community, fans and friends, as well as to contribute to Stirlingshire's whisky heritage, is a dream come true."

The Cashly and Arngibbon whiskies are available on the Stirling Distillery website.

20 January 2021 - Bethany Whymark
Florida has taken its first steps to prevent people travelling to the Sunshine State to get a Covid vaccine.

Now, anyone hoping to receive a jab must have at least part-time residency in the state.

Seminole County Emergency Management Director Alan Harris said the new measure was discussed on Tuesday in a call with other Florida officials.

He said: 'We just got authorization at 11:15 this morning that if you do not own a home in the state of Florida, you need to get a shot somewhere else. Many other states are flying down here just to get the vaccine then flying back home.

Gov Ron DeSantis (pictured) said yesterday that people need to have at least part-time residency in Florida to be given a dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Florida have changed their rules, which previously allowed anyone on the priority groups to receive a jab regardless of where they lived

'You have to present a drivers license, a power bill or something that says youre a resident here in the state of Florida. Thats just gonna start tomorrow morning.'

The move comes as an effort to stop 'vaccine tourism' whereby people flock into a state to receive a Covid-19 vaccine and then return home after being given the jab.

Previously, all Florida vaccine sites were open to anyone in the priority groups -- frontline health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities and seniors age 65 and older -- regardless of state or county residency.

However, speaking yesterday, Florida Governer Ron DeSantis said: 'You got to live here, you know, either full time or at least part time.'

It comes after the mayor of Miami voiced his desire to reserve all coronavirus vaccine doses for residents who live inside city limits.

The move to prevent non-residents of Florida from getting a vaccine was announced by Seminole County Emergency Management Director Alan Harris in a bid to prevent 'vaccine tourism' in Florida. Pictured: People arrive at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami to receive a Covid vaccine on January 6

Recently, reports have surfaced that many snowbirds and rich people from places such as New York City have been flying down to Florida to receive the jab.

Federal regulations and guidance from emergency managers state that there cannot be residency requirements for vaccines.

But Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who pitched the idea during a city commission meeting on Thursday, says he wanted to implement a 'Miami First' policy, reported the Miami Herald.

Suarez requested that the city manager and attorney 'take all legal steps necessary' to give vaccines to elderly and vulnerable populations first and prevent non-residents from receiving the shots.

'We're seeing a lot of high profile people who are in effect saying that they got priority over our residents,' Suarez said.

'Obviously whatever we do has to pass legal muster.'

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said he wants to limit vaccine doses to people living within city limits. Pictured: Suarez during a press conference, March 2020

Suarez asked the the city manager and attorney 'take all legal steps necessary' to prevent nonresidents from getting vaccines before the elderly and high-risk

Meanwhile, Florida's Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz stated during a meeting of the House Pandemic and Public Emergencies Committee in Tallahassee on Thursday that he is against any residency requirements.

'You can't do that,' Moskowitz said.

'We got a dozen-plus fiscally constrained counties. People are going to have to cross county lines. We have transient populations here in the state. We can't do that sort of stuff. It will have major implications down the road.'

Some local officials are for the plan and others are against it.

Miami-Dade Commissioner Eileen Higgins, said it is a bad idea to allow cities to reserve vaccine doses for their residents, according to The Herald.

'We shouldn't allow municipal borders to limit a person's access to life-saving vaccines based on which side of the street they live on,' she said.

Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava told NBC 6 in a statement that she would likely to prioritize residents as well.

REAL ESTATE MOGULS ALLEGEDLY ARRANGE FOR RICH NEW YORK CITY FRIENDS TO GET VACCINE IN FLORIDA Real estate moguls Bill and David Mack allegedly arranged for their rich friends to receive COVID-19 vaccines in Florida. Some of those people were flown by private jets from New York City while others are members of the exclusive Palm Beach Country Club. The vaccinations are said to have occurred at the Joseph L. Morse Health Center in Palm Beach, of which David Mack is chair. 'David and Bill Mack arranged for their friends from the Palm Beach Country Club to be vaccinated for COVID-19, ' a source told Page Six. 'They apparently made a list of people who could get the vaccine, who one can only assume are their wealthy friends and clients. 'Supposedly, some people flew down in private jets from New York just for the vaccine, if they were lucky enough to be on the list the brothers made.' Advertisement

'My priority is our local residents, and we are working to make sure we get shots into the arms of people who live in Miami-Dade as fast as possible,' the statement read.

However, her office admitted that the county 'can't turn anyone away based on residence' because of state policy.

Florida was one of the first states, under orders from Gov Ron DeDantis (R) to open vaccines to members of the general public.

Currently, anyone over the age of 65 can get a shot in addition to healthcare workers, first responders and people with pre-existing conditions.

This has led to rumors that tourists, foreigner and residents of other states are arriving with the sole purpose of being immunized.

DeSantis has discouraged people from flying to Florida to get vaccinated, but says reports of such cases are overblown.

At a news conference earlier this week, DeSantis said most non-residents getting shots are snowbirds who live in the state several months out of the year.

'I think it's totally fine if they wanted to' be vaccinated, he told reporters.

'It's not like they're just vacationing for two weeks...They have relationships with doctors. They get medical care in Florida...So that's a little bit different than somebody that's just doing tourism.'

However, several news outlets, including Page Six have reported that wealthy people, such as real estate moguls Bill and David Mack, arranged for their rich friends to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Among them include members of the Palm Beach Country Club, which costs $100,000 to join, and people who were flown down on private jets.

The vaccinations reportedly took place at Joseph L. Morse Health Center in Palm Beach, a Florida retirement home chaired by David Mack.

'David and Bill Mack arranged for their friends from the Palm Beach Country Club to be vaccinated for COVID-19,' a source told Page Six.

'They apparently made a list of people who could get the vaccine, who one can only assume are their wealthy friends and clients.

'Supposedly, some people flew down in private jets from New York just for the vaccine, if they were lucky enough to be on the list the brothers made.'

It comes as real estate moguls Bill and David Mack reportedly helped get their friends jabs at a retirement home chaired by David. Pictured (left to right): David Mack, William Mack, Phyllis Mack, George Fellows and Diane Fellows attend The 19th Annual Food Allergy Ball, Benefiting Food Allergy Research & Education at Waldorf Astoria in New York City, December 2016

Among the Macks' friends were members of the Palm Beach Country Club (above), which costs $100,000 to join, and people who were flown down on private jets.

New York couple Phil and Roberta Rice, both in their early 70s, flew to their summer home in Florida earlier this month for four days to receive the vaccine

But the Macks are not the only ones jumping the line.

Phillip and Roberta Rice, a retired New York couple in their early 70s, flew to their winter home in Naples, Florida, to get the jab .

They shared a photo on Facebook of themselves at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers with a caption that read: 'Vaccinated.'

Four days later, they flew to their home in Delmar, New York.

The Rices say their appointments occurred on January 7, before New York changed its eligibility from people aged 75 and older to those 65 and older.

'We were up in the air. So when we saw that it looked more likely that we'd be able to get it in Florida much sooner, maybe even months sooner, decided to go for it,' Phillip Rice told the Times Union.

Meanwhile, elderly people in the state have been forced to camp out in cards overnight for their chance to get the jab.

The issue was also raised by Broward County Sen Lauren Book (D) during a meeting of the Florida Senate Select Committee on Pandemic Preparedness and Response on Thursday, according to The Herald.

Previously, anyone over the age of 65 could get a shot in Florida in addition to healthcare workers, first responders and people with pre-existing conditions. Pictured: Narbara Johnson smiles while receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a drive-through COVID-19 vaccination site at Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds in Plant City, Florida, January 13

Pictured: Cape Coral residents wait in line to receive a COVID-19 vaccine on December 30

When she asked Surgeon General Scott Rivkees why there are no residency requirements for seniors. he said it is because the vaccines were purchased by the federal government and asked to be distributed without restrictions.

Rivekees did say, according to The Herald, that vaccine tourism 'is something abhorrent and absolutely should not happen.

'If we are made aware of situations where things are happening, this is something that will be looked into.'

In addition to setting up a mass vaccination site at Marlins Park - home of the Miami Marlins - the state is also administering the vaccine at Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami-Dade County.

News outlets reported that county officials have been told the two stadium sites will receive 7,000 doses each of the vaccine next week.

Also on Thursday, Moskowitz announced plans for a statewide appointment system for COVID-19 vaccinations should be ready within weeks.

'We're working on a registration system that we plan to launch in the coming weeks to help integrate site registration and fix some of the problems that we've all read about,' he said.

The design of a statewide online portal is still under discussion and will be made available to counties - who are not required to use the system - to help them coordinate vaccinations.

As of Wednesday, about 774,000 Floridians had at least one shot of two vaccines approved by the federal government.

More than 1.5 million people have tested positive for the virus in the state since the pandemic began and nearly 24,000 have died.

Federal energy regulators on Tuesday upheld the state of Oregons decision to deny a water quality certification for the proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas export terminal in Coos Bay and its feeder pipeline, the Pacific Connector, another sign that the massive energy project may be on its last legs.

The projects owner, Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Corp., did not respond to a request for comment. But the decision prompted an enthusiastic response from opponents of the project as well as politicians such as Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Sen. Ron Wyden.

At every stage of the regulatory process, I have insisted that the Jordan Cove LNG project must meet Oregons rigorous standards for protecting the environment, or it cannot move forward, Brown tweeted. Im pleased that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission validated that approach today.

Oregons Department of Environmental Quality originally denied the permit, without which backers cannot move forward, in May 2019. It did so partly for procedural reasons: To avoid unintentionally waiving the states authority as a deadline loomed for making a decision and the companys application was still deemed incomplete.

The agency said at the time that it was denying the application because there is insufficient information to demonstrate compliance with water quality standards, and because the available information shows that some standards are more likely than not to be violated.

But it denied the application without prejudice, leaving the company free to reapply.

Pembina appealed the decision to federal regulators, arguing that the agency had failed to make a decision in a timely fashion. In a unanimous decision Tuesday, commissioners at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission disagreed, effectively arguing that the state had never received a completed application.

The order finds that Jordan Cove and Pacific Connector never requested certification with respect to the Commission authorizations for the Jordan Cove Energy Project and that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality could not have waived its authority to issue certification for a request it never received, the commission said Tuesday in a summary of its findings.

The evidence in the record was clear, FERC had no choice other than to deny Pembinas request to waive Oregons 401 water quality authority, said Stacey McLaughlin, a Douglas County landowner, said in a news release from the projects opponents. Any approach to seeking approval of its Pacific Connector Pipeline and Jordan Cove Energy Project without proper permits compromises the safety of Oregons landowners. Pembina is proving it cannot be trustedthis is not a characteristic seen in a good neighbor.

Tuesdays decision still leaves the company free to reapply to the DEQ for the certification. But 15 years after the controversial LNG terminal and pipeline were originally proposed, backers face a daunting set of obstacles at the state level.

Last February, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development determined that the project was not consistent with land use laws under the Coastal Zone Management Act. In its decision it said the adverse effects from the project will be significant and undermine the vision set forth by the Oregon Coastal Management Plan and its enforceable policies.

The company has asked the U.S. Commerce Secretary to overturn that decision, but no decision has been forthcoming.

Likewise, the company withdrew its application for a dredging permit from the Department of State Lands last January after regulators refused to extend their decision deadline and said the application was missing critical information.

Again, the company could reapply, but that would trigger an entirely new process, with a sufficiency review and a new public comment period. Last time around, the agency held five public meetings across the state attended by more than 2,000 people. It received some 49,000 comments on the application.

Meanwhile, Oregons Land Use Board of Appeals delivered another blow to the projects prospects in December when it overturned Coos Countys permits for the project, saying it had made errors in granting a dredging permit for the pipeline.

Debate over the controversial project has been intense in Oregon since it was first proposed as a gas import facility in 2005. Backers eventually shifted their rationale for the facility, proposing it as an export facility after the industrys fracking revolution shifted the outlook for U.S. natural gas supplies from shortage to surplus. Either way, boosters have touted the projects potential employment and property tax impacts in an area of the state that has lagged economically since the early 1980s. Opponents have consistently called it a potential environmental, public safety and property rights disaster.

The state permitting setbacks for the project effectively bring it back to square one. FERC denied the projects federal license application in 2016, saying the project backers had not demonstrated sufficient commercial demand for the gas it would process to demonstrate a public need for the facility and overcome the impacts to landowners along the pipeline route. The company resubmitted the application once the Trump Administration took office, hoping to get a more favorable decision once the president appointed new Republican members to the commission.

FERC did grant the company a conditional license last year, agreeing with a staff recommendation that most of the projects impacts could be reduced to less than significant levels, and the public need for the facility outweighed any of those impacts.

Yet Tuesdays decision cast doubt on whether Pembina has a viable path forward. It may not get a favorable reception under the incoming Biden administration, which has already vowed to kill the controversial Keystone Pipeline project in its first days and rejoin the Paris Climate Accords.

Today marks a big win for protecting the South Coast because it reinforces our states environmental laws and reflects local community input, Sen. Wyden said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. From Day One with this project, I have insisted that Oregonians receive a fair, open, fact-based, and non-political process while FERC determines whether LNG projects are necessary and in the publics best interest -- including strict adherence to the Clean Water Act. Todays unanimous decision by FERC is good news and the logical conclusion of that process.

-- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger
18 January 2021

TECTONIC GOLD PLC

("Tectonic Gold" or the "Company")

MOUNT CASSIDY AND SPECIMEN HILL PROJECT DRILLING UPDATE

Tectonic Gold plc (TDIM: TTAU), the Intrusive Related Gold System ("IRGS") explorer, is pleased to announce further exploration progress at the Mount Cassidy project and samples from the December 2020 Specimen Hill campaign now in analysis.

Mount Cassidy Highlights:

Mt Cassidy is a textbook IRGS which has been overlooked by previous explorers

Tectonic utilised advanced geochemistry and geophysics technology to identify the system undercover

Previous surface samples returned assays of +50g/t Au.

Tectonic initiated a ten-hole drilling program on 12 January 2021

3 holes have been completed with sulphides intersected in all holes

Specimen Hill Update:

+1,250 drill samples have been prepared and are in the lab for low cost XRF pre screening

Drilling will recommence at Southern Copper on the western end of the strike after the Mt Cassidy program currently in progress has been completed.

Mr. Brett Boynton, Managing Director - Tectonic Gold Plc

"The field team is now well into the Mt Cassidy campaign with the first three holes of a 1,500m, ten-hole, program completed. This is Tectonic's maiden drilling at Mt Cassidy and we are pleased to have intersected sulphide mineralisation containing chalcopyrite in all three holes. We know from previous geochemical testing that gold at Mt Cassidy is genetically associated with pyrite so we are in the right part of the system to intersect gold at grade and we have seen some excellent grades here, up to +50g/t gold, in the past. We will have samples off to the labs shortly, but this is an immediate technical success for our targeting once again.

Mt Cassidy is a very interesting project as we are "on top" of the system. By this we mean that erosion has not brought us into and exposed the system, so the surface footprint of the gold was large, but quite light. As a result, past explorers noted "sniffs" of gold at surface but couldn't string these disparate surface showings together. By utilising our IRGS expertise, Tectonic recognised that we need to rethink the exploration approach to chase a "blind" or undercover system. Utilising a range of new technologies and an extensive field exploration effort over many years we have constructed a big data approach. Taking a large number of data points from a range of sampling techniques and comparing the resulting model to similar IRGS deposits we have been able to put together a high conviction target despite it being mostly "blind". We now know that several disparate surface expressions of gold are actually the fingers of a single large system reaching up though the earth's crust. Instead of waiting another few million years for erosion to strip the cover and expose this system more broadly, we have been able to use technology to cost effectively look through this cover and delineate a high conviction target. Developing new technologies is the key to a small group like Tectonic being able to change the economics of exploration and tackle these targets. This is a real game changer for us and gives Tectonic a very strong second asset in the portfolio.

Several shareholders have asked again about Southern Copper. This is the discovery at the western end of the 4km long strike from Specimen Hill. See the map we have shared on the Tectonic website at:

http://www.tectonicgold.com/site/PDF/8effb993-6049-4f39-8a0c-146055ef6767/20210112SpecimenHill4kmStrike

We will take the drilling team back to Specimen Hill after Mt Cassidy and begin working this western end, from Southern Copper, moving east, to confirm more of that strike at depth. We are specifically tackling this in sections so that we have time to analyse results and sharpen our thinking as we move through the system. Logging all the drilling from December and capturing the lab results has given us a mountain of information to add to our digital database. As a result we are now in a much better position to tackle Southern Copper and then we will look to fill in the gap in the middle. Ultimately we will have the entire corridor mapped at surface and tested at depth so we can work up initial resource numbers for the project."

About the Mount Cassidy Prospect:

The?Mount Cassidy?prospect is located near Tectonic Gold's flagship Specimen Hill project and is close to the regional centre of Rockhampton,?Queensland Australia.

The prospect is located within the Mount Morgan Tectonic Domain and within the same age rock sequence as the large and proximal Mount Morgan copper gold mine (+8Moz). The area was last mined in the early 1900's.

Mount Cassidy mine workings are located on a regional scale north-south trending brecciated and silicified reidel shear zone that flanks a large, unexplored ovoid (~4km2) magmatic hydrothermal IRGS system. This tending shear zone has been mapped over a strike length of more than 1km and hosts an epithermal quartz-pyrite system that is closely associated with gold mineralisation. Exploration campaigns by Tectonic over the area in the last two years have resulted in grades up to 50g/t Au from surface rock chip sampling from within two major gold bearing quartz vein systems.

Geological mapping of the hydrothermal system at?Mount Cassidy?has confirmed classic porphyry style potassic and phyllic alteration assemblages over a large area that appears to have been enriched by gold bearing fluids from a proximal intrusive body.

The north-south trending shear zone is assumed to have provided the plumbing required for the passage of gold bearing fluids into the system.

About the Specimen Hill Prospect:

Specimen Hill has produced over 8,000ozs of gold from historic small-scale surface mining with grades reported up to ~40g/t Au.

Tectonic Gold has identified a large Intrusive Related Gold System (IRGS) manifesting as a +4km long mineralised corridor at Specimen Hill and has identified the possibility of a much larger system under cover.

Gold, copper and silver mineralisation within the known +4km corridor manifests itself at and near surface as a polymetallic, high-sulphidation (HS) system that has been enriched by late-stage intermediate-low sulphidation (IS-LS) gold mineralisation. At depth, Tectonic understands that this is a gold-copper porphyry co-incident with a high-temperature magnetite rich core (identified at Specimen Hill and Southern Copper which are associated with high copper and gold grades).

Rock chip samples from surface skarn outcrops mapped so far over the area of ~18 km2 have returned grades of consistently elevated Au, Ag and Cu.

Tectonic completed a second drilling campaign at Specimen Hill in December 2020. All holes have intersected mineralization at depths to over 100m from surface, validating the continuity of both geology and grade observed at surface. Tectonic will recommence drilling at the Western end of the corridor on the Southern Copper discovery once drilling at Mt Cassidy has been completed.

About Tectonic Gold:

Tectonic Gold is a specialist gold exploration company, focused on the identification and delineation of large-scale, multimillion-ounce Intrusion Related Gold Systems ("IRGS"). Tectonic Gold holds a number of gold discoveries in the New England Orogen in Eastern Australia, a prolific gold region that is home to Australia's two largest gold production companies, Newcrest Mining and Evolution Mining. More recently, EMR Capital has purchased the Ravenswood project from Resolute Mining which sits along strike from Tectonic Gold's Mount Cassidy and Specimen Hill Projects.

Qualified Persons:

Mr Jonathan Robbeson - BSc (Hons1), MEconGeol, MMinEng, (CP Geo) is a full-time employee Signature Gold Limited and is a registered Chartered Professional (Geology) with the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM - 304542). Mr Robbeson has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the Note for Mining Oil & Gas Companies, June 2009, of the London Stock Exchange and the 2012 Edition of the 'Australian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves' (JORC Code). Mr Robbeson consents to the inclusion in the release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Table 1 information for this release can be found on the Company website.

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

For further information, please contact:



Tectonic Gold plc



Brett Boynton

Sam Quinn

www.tectonicgold.com.

@tectonic_gold



+61 2 9241 7665









VSA Capital Limited

Financial Adviser, AQSE Corporate Adviser and Broker +44 20 3005??? 5000???

Andrew Raca - Corporate Finance

Andrew Monk - Corporate Broking

Ends

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
Northern Ireland's Covid-hit economy has been dealt a further 12m blow with the cancellation of the crowd-pulling North West 200 road races for a second successive year.

The event annually attracts upwards of 80,000 bike fans and tourists to the north coast for race week each May over the Portrush-Portstewart-Coleraine triangle circuit.

But with lockdown fears continuing and uncertainty over a return to normality, organisers have reluctantly taken the decision to abandon the globally televised event yet again.

A contingency plan to run in August was ruled out, with top teams and riders involved in other racing series at that time.

The decision places a question mark over the immediate future of the sport of road racing in Northern Ireland generally and its biggest event, the North West, in particular.

It also deals a severe body blow to the economy for a second year running, with official figures showing the North West annually generates 12m in revenue across the already hard-hit hospitality and tourism industry.

Many hotels and guesthouses had already taken advance bookings from travelling fans, while north coast shops, bars and restaurants had been looking forward to a much-needed cash influx after a year of restrictions.

This will be the first time since the Second World War that the races have been cancelled two years running.

In a statement explaining their decision, the organising Coleraine and District Motor Club said: "The official advice from government and public health officials has made it clear the effects of coronavirus will remain with us for some considerable time to come, despite the rollout of the vaccination programme. In those circumstances, and after much consideration, the club committee feels it would be impossible to run this year's event.

"A contingency plan that involved delaying race week from May until August has been given full consideration.

"However, with so much time, expense and personnel involved in the planning and preparation of the NW200, the risk in pursuing such a plan is too great because of continued uncertainty around both the effects of the virus on our community and the extent of the restrictions aimed at suppressing it.

"The Coleraine Club's main priority must be to ensure the safety and wellbeing of not only those involved in the event, but also the residents of the north coast area and further afield.

"It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the organisers to limit the number of people who travel to the area during race week, which, in turn, could pose a significant risk to the local population. That is a situation that cannot be contemplated.

"Although extremely disappointing, the decision to cancel the NW200 for the second year in a row is the only responsible course of action the Coleraine Club can take. We would like to offer our sincere thanks to all of our loyal sponsors, officials and volunteers for their understanding and support.

"We also apologise for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation and hope that this timely intervention can assist the teams and competitors who would normally take part in our event in making alternative plans.

"The Coleraine and District Motor Club would also like to thank everyone who has supported us by retaining their bookings through this difficult period."

The club said provisional dates of May 8 to 14, 2022, had been allocated for "what we hope will be the return of race week at Ireland's largest motorcycle sporting event".

One consolation for organisers and fans is knowing that the North West has twice bounced back stronger from cancellations in the recent past - due to the Troubles in 1972 and foot and mouth disease in 2001.
Rex deputy chairman John Sharp was probably right this week when he said there had never been a better time to set up a new domestic carrier. That, however, doesnt guarantee success for the latest challenger to the traditional domestic aviation duopoly.

Sharp, writing in The Australian Financial Review, took exception to Qantas boss Alan Joyces recent comment that it was unlikely that both Virgin Australia and Rex would both survive a post-pandemic three-cornered contest in the domestic market.

Sharp cited Rexs profitable history, its low cost base, existing infrastructure and regional operations and the impact of the pandemic as the reasons for his confidence that Rex could transform itself into a highly competitive and viable domestic competitor to Qantas an Virgin.

Rex plans to launch its services on the golden triangle of domestic aviation  the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane routes that are among the worlds busiest and most profitable  on March 1.
Many patients with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, eventually develop resistance to one treatment after another. That's in part because cancer stem cells drive the disease -- cells that continually self-renew. If a therapy can't completely destroy these malignant stem cells, the cancer is likely to keep coming back.

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Ionis Pharmaceuticals are taking a new, targeted approach to myeloma treatment -- silencing IRF4, a gene that allows myeloma stem cells and tumor cells to proliferate and survive. Past studies have shown that high IRF4 levels are associated with lower overall survival rates for patients with the disease.

In a study published January 20, 2021 in Cell Stem Cell, the team details their successes inhibiting IRF4 with an antisense oligonucleotide, an engineered piece of DNA specifically designed to bind the genetic material coding for IRF4, causing it to degrade. The oligonucleotide -- an investigational antisense medicine developed by Ionis and known as ION251 -- lowered disease burden, reduced myeloma stem cell abundance and increased survival of mice bearing human myeloma, according to preclinical study data.

Authors say the results support a Phase I clinical trial recently launched to assess the safety and efficacy of ION251 to treat humans with myeloma.

"As scientists, we don't usually have direct contact with patients, as a daily reminder of what our research could do, or why it's important," said co-senior author Leslie Crews, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Regenerative Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "But I've been working with a local support group for patients with multiple myeloma. They inspire me. They ask the most insightful questions, and it really makes it personal. I hope this work will eventually give them new potential treatments to prevent relapse, and ultimately get better."

UC San Diego School of Medicine and Ionis Pharmaceuticals have a long history of collaborating on the development of investigational antisense medicines. Several Ionis antisense drugs have been commercially approved, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved SPINRAZA, a therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. In addition, several other therapies are currently in clinical trials.

One challenge myeloma researchers face is that myeloma cells don't grow well in laboratory dishes. To study the disease and test new treatments, the best method, Crews said, is to transplant human myeloma cells into mice that lack an immune system and thus won't reject the human cells -- making avatars of each unique patient, in a way.

The team tested ION251 on these myeloma mouse avatars. Compared to untreated mice, the treated mice had significantly fewer myeloma cells after two to six weeks of treatment. What's more, 70 to 100 percent of the treated mice survived, whereas none of the untreated control mice did. There were 10 mice in each treatment or control group and they received daily doses of ION251 or a control for one week, followed by three doses per week.

In separate experiments using human cells isolated from myeloma or healthy donor samples, doses of ION251 used were enough to eradicate the myeloma stem cells while sparing healthy blood cells.

"The results of these preclinical studies were so striking that half the microscopy images we took to compare bone marrow samples between treated and untreated mice kept coming back blank -- in the treated mice, we couldn't find any myeloma cells left for us to study," said Crews, who is also associate member of the Moores Cancer Center and member of the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute at UC San Diego. "It makes the science more difficult, but it gives me hope for patients."

In addition to working on its own, the treatment improved myeloma tumor cell sensitivity to standard-of-care cancer therapeutics. The researchers also drilled down to the mechanisms at play and described the molecular effects of IRF4 inhibition -- information that both clarifies how myeloma forms in the first place, and how the treatment works.

"These proof-of-principle studies will enable rapid clinical development of anti-sense oligonucleotide-mediated IRF4 inhibition to prevent myeloma relapse driven by drug-resistant cancer stem cells," said co-senior author Catriona Jamieson, MD, PhD, Koman Family Presidential Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, deputy director of Moores Cancer Center, director of the Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center and director of the CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinic at UC San Diego Health.

The Phase I clinical trial to assess the safety of ION251, sponsored by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, is now recruiting participants at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health and elsewhere. More information is available at clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04398485.

"This collaboration exemplifies the power of combining Ionis' antisense technology to target previously un-druggable factors in cancer, with world-class academic, translational and clinical research from institutions such as UC San Diego to rapidly bring promising drugs to patients desperately in need," said co-senior author A. Robert MacLeod, PhD, vice president and franchise head of Oncology at Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

According to the National Cancer Institute, multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the United States, with more than 32,000 new cases predicted in 2020 and a five-year survival of only 53.9 percent.

###

Additional co-authors of the study include: Phoebe K. Mondala, Ashni A. Vora, Elisa Lazzari, Luisa Ladel, Caitlin Costello, UC San Diego; Tianyuan Zhou, Xiaolin Luo, and Youngsoo Kim, Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed President Joe Biden's announced termination -- on his first day in office -- of the previous administration's discriminatory Muslim and African Bans.

SEE: FACT SHEET: President-elect Biden's Day One Executive Actions Deliver Relief for Families Across America Amid Converging Crises

https://buildbackbetter.gov/press-releases/fact-sheet-president-elect-bidens-day-one-executive-actions-deliver-relief-for-families-across-america-amid-converging-crises/

[MEDIA ADVISORY: At 4 p.m. (ET) on Facebook and YouTube, CAIR will join other national Muslim community groups to offer their reaction to President Biden's promised day-one repeal of the "Muslim Ban."]

In a statement CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:

"We commend President Biden for immediately moving to repeal the Muslim and African Bans, which is an important first step toward undoing the anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant policies of the previous administration. It is an important fulfilment of a campaign pledge to the Muslim community and its allies.

"We expect the Biden administration to go further by supporting passage of the No Ban Act and addressing systemic injustices within the federal government that led to religious and racial profiling of Muslims and immigrants under multiple administrations.

"CAIR also welcomes the Biden Administration's move to preserve and fortify protections for Dreamers; inclusion of all persons - including the undocumented - in the U.S. census count; ordering the removal of barriers preventing minorities and underserved communities' access to federal programs and institutions; and other impactful executive orders.

"Finally, the American Muslim community urges President Biden to fulfill his campaign pledge to appoint Muslims at every level of government."

In July during an online summit of Muslim voters, Biden pledged while campaigning for office that "I will end the Muslim Ban on day one."

BACKGROUNDER:

First authorized on January 27, 2017, the travel ban was amended several times to place varying levels of discriminatory travel restrictions on mostly Muslim and African citizens and government officials from Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Because of the ban families have been ripped apart, students have been deprived of educational opportunities, the sick have been blocked from receiving treatment, talented workers have lost out on jobs, and refugees have been trapped in dangerous conditions. CAIR believes that the Biden administration now is responsible for determining how to holistically address the damage already done by the Muslim ban and how to help those who were denied entry into the United States.

In December, CAIR publicly released its report, "Biden-Harris Administration  The First 100 Days  Restoring the Rights of American Muslims and Advancing Justice for all Americans." Endorsed by the U.S. Council of Muslim Organization, these recommendations address the concerns of the American Muslim community in confronting racial and religious discrimination, ending unconstitutional federal law enforcement programs, and elevating issues important to our community and our neighbors.

Having terminated the Muslim Ban, CAIR is now calling on the Bidden administration to push forward to authorize and begin the process of carrying out the following civil rights reforms:

ENDING NATIONAL SECURITY OVERREACH

1. Fundamentally reform the federal government's unconstitutional Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), commonly referred to as the "terrorism watchlist."

2. Dismantle the TSA's secretive Quiet Skies passenger tracking program, its international counterpart Silent Partner and other rules-based lists, that operate without Congressional oversight to single out law-abiding Muslim travelers for official harassment and extrajudicial consequences without due process.

3. Oppose and defund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's ("DHS") 2020 "Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention" ("TVTP") grant program, the successor of DHS's previous Countering Violent Extremism ("CVE") grant program.

4. End the FBI's use of informants to spy on American Muslim communities.

5. Reject any new domestic terrorism statutes.

6. Close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and ensure those detainees already cleared for release are repatriated, and those that remain in U.S. custody are provided due process and a day in court.

ENDING BIGOTED & DISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION POLICIES

7. Fulfill commitment to revoke the Muslim and Africa travel ban executive orders and related proclamations on day-one in office. []

8. Work with Congress to adopt the NO BAN Act.

9. Repair the damage done by the Trump administration to the U.S. immigration system by reversing restrictions on the ability to travel and immigrate to the United States.

10. Work with Congress to repeal the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, re-evaluate all countries currently designated by the federal government under the VWP, and end all other discriminatory anti-Muslim "extreme vetting programs."

11. Restore and enhance protections for asylum seekers and refugees, halt the detention of asylum seekers and other abusive practices, invest in refugee resettlement programs, and invest in humane alternatives to detention of asylum seekers and refugees.

COUNTERING RACISM IN POLICING

12. Work with Congress to adopt and pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act while also adopting many of the act's provisions through administrative action.

13. Remove discriminatory loopholes in federal guidance regarding the use of racial and religious profiling by federal law enforcement agencies.

14. Create a centralized database that documents excessive use of force by law enforcement.

15. Require equal treatment of the American Muslim community by federal law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

16. Combat anti-Black and anti-people of color racism in policing by working to reduce and reinvest significant portions of federal funding for the DOJ, FBI and DHS, as well as grants for local police department programs, into resources for underfunded and overpoliced communities of color, among other policies.

DEFENDING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN SCHOOLS, WORKPLACE, AND ELSEWHERE

17. Support the free speech of all Americans and the right to boycott without government interference.

18. Support federal and state departments of education efforts to adopt policy reforms to address religious based bullying in schools.

19. End the U.S. Department of Education's attempts to suppress free speech on college campuses, including attempts to target Middle Eastern studies courses and punishing Palestinian student activists.

DEFENDING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF INCARCEREES

20. Work with Congress to fundamentally reform the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) to ensure incarcerees' constitutional right to equal access to the courts.

SUPPORTING FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES

21. Ensure American Muslims and other minorities, like all other Americans, have equal access to the COVID-19 vaccine and federal and state aid available to those impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

22. Request the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) provide more funding to American Muslim clinics.

23. Provide greater capital access for faith-based communities, including American Muslims.

BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

24. Embrace, hire, work with, and consider policy advice from American Muslims and Muslim community organizations.

25. Overhaul existing vetting practices that rely on Alt-Right and Islamophobic online resources on American Muslims and remove additional roadblocks in security clearances for Muslim candidates for positions in government.

SUPPORTING A PROGRESSIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE FOREIGN POLICY

26. Support the religious freedom of Muslims overseas in China, India and Burma.

27. Adopt the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's (USCIRF) recommendation to sanction India as a violator of religious freedom for targeting Muslims.

28. Oppose the government of India's illegal revocation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution, stripping the state of Jammu and Kashmir of its protected status and laying siege to its eight million residents.

29. Work with international partners to end the wholesale slaughter and mass displacement of the Syrian people.

30. Hold the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to account for the brutal murder of Washington Post contributor, U.S. resident and human rights activist Jamal Khashoggi.

31. Withdraw any U.S. military advisers to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and discontinue the sale of arms to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

32. Oppose Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.

33. Establish strict new oversight rules to severely limit and publicly detail the Pentagon's use of drone warfare to engage in targeted killings overseas.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La mision de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprension del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Related Links

http://www.cair.com


NORTHAMPTON  After 47-years, Webs in Northampton and Elkins family that runs it know yarn, where to find it and how to get it into the hands of customers.

But the people behind LoveCrafts  the British new owners of Webs  know online marketing and how to track customers in the new world of retail.

They are very tech focused, said Steve Elkins, CEO of Valley Yarns and Webs. They have tremendous core competency in using technology and being closer to the consumer than we are.

We just come at it from another side, said his wife, Kathy Elkins. Together I think we bring the best of both worlds to each other.

Webs was founded in 1974 by Steve Elkins mother, Barbara Elkins, and a business partner. Steve and Kathy Elkins have been running it since 2001. They announced the sale Tuesday on social media. Both will stay on with the company as chief global yarn officers.

1/19/2021 - Customers checking out products at the warehouse at Webs - America's Yarn Store in Northampton. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

Billed as the largest brick-and-mortar yarn store in the United States, Webs offers 15,000 types of yarn, featuring materials from alpaca fleece to bamboo. Webs is also the largest e-commerce retailer of yarns, knitting and weaving supplies in the US.

The store grabbed headlines last year when the costume designer who made Tom Hanks sweaters for his role as Fred Rogers in the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood told the media she shopped at Webs.

Webs have been a true trailblazer in the yarn industry, building a trusted brand loved by its loyal community, Edward Griffith, CEO of LoveCrafts, said in a news release. We are incredibly excited to be working with such talented people who have deep knowledge of the craft sector in the US. Our partnership will allow us to provide experiences for the making community.

LoveCrafts is based in London, with key executives living and working in upstate New York, the Elkinses said. A relatively new company, LoveCrafts relies on a third-party warehouse in Missouri for its order fulfillment.

1/19/2021 - Some of the lace needles sold at Webs - America's Yarn Store in Northampton. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

Kathy Elkins said Webs will fulfill all its online orders from its Easthampton warehouse, just as it does now. She said very little will change for customers.

We are still going to be running the company ourselves, she said. Today its business as usual. Tomorrow its business as usual.

Down the road, there will be changes in the technology Webs uses, she said.

LoveCrafts also has supplies for crafts that dont involve yarn, like quilting, and is about to launch a paper category.

We are a pure-play yarn company, Kathy Elkins said. So I think thats pretty exciting.

Webs  the name comes from a weaving term  has about 90 employees now, up from 11 when Steve and Kathy took over.

Steve said all the employees adjusted quickly last March when they had to shut down the retail store and online orders for yarn exploded. Many employees  including the Elkinses two college-age sons  took shifts in the warehouse to fill orders.

1/19/2021 - Customers checking out products at Webs - America's Yarn Store in Northampton. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

Kathy Elkins said mass-market retailers couldnt get yarn in stock because they import mostly from China. Webs yarn comes from all over the world, including the U.S.

You couldnt buy yarns at Michaels, or at Hobby Lobby or Jo-Anns, she said.

Steve Elkins said subscriptions to the print catalogue also soared. Stress, and the boredom of being at home, brought people back to hobbies involving yarn or introduced new people to the crafts.

Its a large comfort, Kathy Elkins said. It makes people feel like they are being productive. There are a lot of positive mental and physical benefits to the fiber arts.

She doesnt know when the market will return to normal. When talks first started with LoveCrafts, she was supposed to take on the role of expanding a retail operation for LoveCrafts.

Thats on pause right now, she said.

Steve Elkins said Webs this summer shut down String, a yarn store in New York City the company bought in 2018.

With the space so small, we would have basically been able to have one customer in the store at a time, he said. And all those Upper East Side people, our customers, are scattered now. And they are all doing online classes and ordering online.

1/19/2021 - Customers checking out products at Webs - America's Yarn Store in Northampton. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

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Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeeop Singh Puri in an article on Wednesday wrote, Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) has transformational provisions, conscientiously addressing issues which have been a constant bane for the sector.

The RERA, that came into effect in 2017, seeks to protect the interests of home buyers and also boost investments in the real estate sector.

Here's a look at what the Act seeks to achieve and why it is necessary:

What is RERA?

The Government of India enacted the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016 on 26th March 2016 and all its provisions came into effect, from May 1, 2017.

Developers have been given until the end of July 2017, to register their projects under RERA. Likewise, real estate agents, who also fall under its ambit, are still in the process of registering themselves. Several states still need to notify the rules under the Act and most importantly for buyers, developers or promoters need to register their projects under RERA.

Also read: Realtors Body Alleges 'Cartelisation' by Cement and Steel Players, Seeks PM's Intervention

Why was there a need for RERA?

For long, home buyers have complained that real estate transactions were lopsided and heavily in favour of the developers. RERA and the governments model code, aim to create a more equitable and fair transaction between the seller and the buyer of properties, especially in the primary market. RERA, it is hoped, will make real estate purchase simpler, by bringing in better accountability and transparency, provided that states do not dilute the provisions and the spirit of the central act.

The RERA gave the Indian real estate industry its first regulator. The Real Estate Act makes it mandatory for each state and union territory, to form its own regulator and frame the rules that will govern the functioning of the regulator.

Definition of carpet area under RERA

The area of a property is often calculated in three different ways  carpet area, built-up area and super built-up area. Hence, when it comes to buying a property, this can lead to a lot of disconnect, between what you pay and what you actually get.

According to the RERA, carpet area is defined as the net usable floor area of an apartment, excluding the area covered by the external walls, areas under services shafts, exclusive balcony or verandah area and exclusive open terrace area, but includes the area covered by the internal partition walls of the apartment.

Impact of RERA on real estate industry

With the advent of RERA, specialised forums such as the State Real Estate Regulatory Authority and the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal, have been established for the resolution of disputes pertaining to home buying and the aggrieved party will have no recourse to other consumer forums and civil courts, on such matters. While the RERA sets the groundwork for fast-tracking dispute resolution, the litmus test for its success, will depend on the timely setting up of these new dispute resolution bodies and how these disputes are resolved expeditiously with a degree of finality.

Also read: Govt to Soon Come Out with Model Tenancy Law to Boost Real Estate Sector

What are the projects that come under RERA?

- Commercial and residential projects including plotted development.

- Projects measuring more than 500 sq mts or 8 units.

- Projects without Completion Certificate, before commencement of the Act.

- The project is only for the purpose of renovation / repair / re-development which does not involve re-allotment and marketing, advertising, selling or new allotment of any apartments, plot or building in the real estate project, will not come under RERA.

How has RERA impacted real estate agents?

Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA), real estate agents need to register themselves, to be able to facilitate a transaction. The broker segment in India, is estimated to be a USD 4 billion industry, with an estimated 5,00,000 to 9,00,000 brokers. However, it has traditionally been unorganised and unregulated.

With RERA in force, brokers cannot promise any amenities or services that are not mentioned in the documents. Moreover, they have to provide all information and documents to the home buyers, at the time of booking. Consequently, RERA is likely to filter out the inexperienced, unprofessional, fly-by-night operators, as brokers not following the guidelines will face hefty penalty or jail or both.
HOUSTON, Jan. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Targa Resources Partners LP (the Partnership), a subsidiary of Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE: TRGP), and the Partnerships subsidiary Targa Resources Partners Finance Corporation announced today the pricing of an upsized offering of $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2032 (the 2032 Notes). The 2032 Notes will accrue interest at a rate of 4% per annum, will mature on January 15, 2032, and were priced at par.



The offering is expected to close on February 2, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. The Partnership intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to fund the previously announced concurrent cash tender offer (the Tender Offer) of the Partnerships 5 1/8% Senior Notes due 2025 (the 2025 Notes), to pay fees, expenses and premiums thereof, and to redeem any 2025 Notes that remain outstanding after consummation of the Tender Offer. The Partnership will use the remaining net proceeds from the offering to reduce borrowings under the credit facilities of the Partnership and Targa Resources Corp. The offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Tender Offer. The Tender Offer is conditioned on, among other things, the offering.

The securities offered have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, the securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The senior unsecured notes are expected to be eligible for trading by qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and by non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities, except as required by law.

About Targa Resources Partners LP

Targa Resources Partners LP is a Delaware limited partnership formed in October 2006 by its parent, Targa Resources Corp. (TRC or the Company), to own, operate, acquire and develop a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream infrastructure assets. On February 17, 2016, TRC completed the acquisition of all outstanding common units of the Partnership. Targa Resources Corp. is a leading provider of midstream services and is one of the largest independent midstream infrastructure companies in North America. The Company owns, operates, acquires and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream infrastructure assets. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of: gathering, compressing, treating, processing, transporting and purchasing and selling natural gas; transporting, storing, fractionating, treating and purchasing and selling NGLs and NGL products, including services to LPG exporters; and gathering, storing, terminaling and purchasing and selling crude oil.

The principal executive offices of Targa Resources Partners LP are located at 811 Louisiana, Suite 2100, Houston, TX 77002 and their telephone number is 713-584-1000.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties, factors and risks, many of which are outside the Partnerships control, which could cause results to differ materially from those expected by management of the Partnership. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, the impact of pandemics such as COVID-19, actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil producing countries, the timing and success of business development efforts; and other uncertainties. These and other applicable uncertainties, factors and risks are described more fully in the Partnerships filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Partnership does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact the Company's investor relations department by email at InvestorRelations@targaresources.com or by phone at (713) 584-1133.

Sanjay Lad

Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations

Jennifer Kneale

Chief Financial Officer
Mumbai, Jan 20 : Actor Abhishek Banerjee has wrapped up shooting for Rashmi Rocket, and he says he always told the film's star Taapsee Pannu that he is her fan.

He also shared his experience of shooting with co-actors Tapsee, Priyanshu Painyuli and director Akarsh Khurana.

"Akarsh and I know each other since 15 years! For me the entire experience of working with Akarsh was to going back to my roots because i had worked with him when I used to do theatres, for a theatre festival called 'Thespo' in Bombay and after that we have worked and collaborated together for Rashmi Rocket," Abhishek said.

"Also, the set had all the people I knew from before. I have always told Tapsee that I am her fan." Abhishek said he watches a lot of Tamil films, and he recalled he has been Taapsee's fan ever since he saw her in the 2011 release, "Aadukalam", co-starring Dhanush.

"I used to often tell her this whenever we used to interact during my casting days and unfortunately because of the something or the other, we couldn't collaborate together but finally I got to act with her and that was a great experience. Tapsee is a solid, determined and a very hardworking actor. (Rashmi Rocket co-actor) Priyanshu (Painyuli) is someone whom I have known for many years," Abhishek said.

Abhishek, who started out as a casting director in Bollywood before making it as an actor, says he had cast Priyanshu in "Rock-On 2", and they have been friends since then.
Posted Friday, January 15, 2021 8:47 am

Formerly incarcerated people would automatically regain their right to vote if a proposed bill in the Washington state Legislature is approved.

Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, the first formerly incarcerated person to serve in the Legislature, testified in favor of House Bill 1078 Jan. 14 and said earning her right to vote helped her engage with and serve her community.

This is really about reentry. It's not about the punishment. The punishment has been taken into consideration during the prosecution, she said.

Simmons was sentenced to 20 months in prison for possessing and selling drugs and unlawful possession of a firearm. A former nurse, she said she stole drugs and sold them to support her habit. Once out of prison, she returned to school, earning a law degree from Seattle University. At first, the Washington State Bar Association barred her from practicing as an attorney, but she challenged that decision in the Washington Supreme Court and won.

Simmons push for voting rights has support from across the aisle. Republican Rep. Jesse Young from Gig Harbor co-sponsored the bill and testified about his experience with people who needed a second chance.

I see this specifically as, what do we do to make sure that people are focused positively about reengaging in life? Young said.

No member of the public testified against the bill, but two committee members, Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, and Rep. Jenny Graham, R-Spokane, wondered aloud whether there could be negative impacts.

Walsh said the public risk impact of voter restoration for convicted felons was nondirect, but also nonzero, and Graham said victims of violent crimes and their families deserve restitution from people who committed crimes to cause deliberate harm.

Currently, people coming out of jail and prison automatically regain voting rights after they are released from state supervision, but people still under community custody, a system similar to parole, often lack adequate resources to know about their options in regaining voting rights, said Jaime Hawk, the legal strategy director at the American Civil Liberties Unions Washington chapter.

We need a simple and clear rule that will be easy to administer, that everyone understands and will facilitate the successful reintegration of thousands of community members around the state, Hawk said.

Sahar Fathi, policy director at the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, expressed support for the bill by saying the policy would work for historically marginalized groups.

Not addressing the felony disenfranchisement will continue to exacerbate the real systemic consequences that already exist for African-Americans and other communities of color by disproportionately limiting their right to vote, Fathi said.

Patricia Whitefoot, a member of the Yakama Nation, echoed this sentiment.

Sadly, this legislation is only one step toward addressing systemic racism and the disproportionate rate of convictions on people of color and tribal citizens, she said.

Kurtis Robinson, executive director at I Did the Time, a political advocacy group for people convicted of crimes, said this bill would address double standards that exist in the sentencing process.

We cannot ignore the racialized and dehumanizing patterns of our criminal justice system, and the disproportionate barriers to reentry that represent itself in America and in our system today, Robinson said.

Testimony on this bill, HB 1078, was held before the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee Jan. 14. The bill is scheduled for an executive session on Jan. 21.
Srinivas Reddy said this was a great opportunity for his family to make a donation and urged all people to make a success of the endeavour.  Facebook

Nellore: AP energy and forests minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy contributed Rs 3 lakh on Wednesday for construction of the Ram mandir in Ayodhya.

A team of senior RSS members met the minister at his residence in Ongole and urged him to be a part of the mega exercise to build a shrine for Lord Ram at His birthplace.

Srinivas Reddy said this was a great opportunity for his family to make a donation and urged all people to make a success of the endeavour. He appreciated the RSS effort to sound all sections of people for donations irrespective of their political affiliations.

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(Updating with another FIR) Bhopal/Jabalpur/Gwalior (MP): Two FIRs have been registered against the makers of Amazon Prime web series Tandav" in Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur and Gwalior for allegedly promoting enmity and outraging religious feelings on the complaints lodged by two Hindutva activists, police said on Wednesday. An FIR has been registered against the makers and cast of Tandav" in Jabalpur on the complaint lodged by a functionary of Hindu Seva Parishad for allegedly promoting enmity and outraging religious feelings, a police officer said.

Another FIR was registered in Gwalior against the director, writer and producer of Tandav after Hindu Mahasabha worker Lalji Sharma filed the complaint in crime branchs office, police said. Separately, Madhya Pradesh Assembly protem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding registration of an FIR against the makers of the controversial political drama on the complaint filed by BJP MLA from Mumbai, Ram Kadam, asking him to take forward the legacy of" Bal Thackeray.

Tandav", starring actors Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dino Morea, Kumud Mishra, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Gauhar Khan and Kritika Kamra, premiered on the streaming platform last Friday. The process to verify the facts mentioned in the FIR filed against the director of web series "Tandav" and others for allegedly promoting enmity in different religious groups and hurting religious feelings is on," Jabalpur"s Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Amit Kumar told reporters.

The FIR against Tandav" director Ali Abbas, writer Gaurav Solanki and actors was lodged by Dheeraj Gyanchandani at Omti police station on Tuesday night, he said. Gyanchandani is vice president of Jabalpur-based Hindu Seva Parishad.

Kumar said the charges included sections 153-A (promoting enmity), 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) and 505(2) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The complainant has been asked to furnish facts about how religious feelings were allegedly hurt through the web series, he said.

Interestingly, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Tuesday said the government will file a case against the makers of Tandav" for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Meanwhile, protem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma told reporters in Bhopal that he has written a letter to the Maharashtra chief minister for registration of an FIR against the makers of the web series.

The Maharashtra CM should take forward the legacy of Shiv Sena and lat Balasaheb Thackeray irrespective of the fact with whom he formed the government. FIRs were lodged in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The Maharashtra government should also file the FIR on the complaint of BJP MLA Ram Kadam," Sharma said. The Shiv Sena shares power with the NCP and Congress in Maharashtra.

In their second apology statement in as many days, the cast and crew of Tandav" on Tuesday said they had decided to implement changes to address concerns". On Monday, Madhya Pradesh medical education minister Vishvas Sarang appealed to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking ban on the web series for allegedly ridiculing Hindu deities.

Sarang had also written a letter to Javadekar in this regard and suggested formation of a censor board for the OTT segment. The minister had said that he mailed a letter to the CEO of Amazon Prime to immediately withdraw the web series.

.

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
Mexican food is a hugely popular menu choice in the U.S., and there is a lack of dedicated plant-based Mexican offerings. More Americans today are being mindful of how they live, eat and care for the planet and are demanding more plant-based food options. Kajsa Alger, Veggie Grill's VP of Food and Beverage and former Corporate Chef at Border Grill and Ciudad restaurants, has helped Mas Veggies Taqueria develop the creative menu that will be sure to satisfy those who crave Mexican food with a delicious, healthy, and sustainable twist. Menu offerings include: Crispy Poblano Chickin', Shredded Jackfruit Chipotle Carnitas, Cauliflower Asada, Savory Tex-Mex Taco Meat and Crispy Baja Fish in the form of tacos, burritos, nachos, and bowls.

"Veggie Grill is the industry leader in plant-based restaurants and Mas Veggies Taqueria is a natural next step for us to advance plant-based eating nationwide and bring a new and exciting experience straight to people's doorsteps," said T.K. Pillan, Veggie Grill's co-founder. "As restaurants nationwide remain closed or are operating with drastically reduced seating capacity for safety reasons, Veggie Grill also seized the opportunity to explore alternative ways to reach these conscious foodies. The virtual Mas Veggies Taqueria helps accelerate the plant-based movement while leveraging existing Veggie Grill kitchens nationwide."

Partnering with popular delivery platforms including Doordash, Postmates, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, Mas Veggies Taqueria will run a delivery-only operation out of all Veggie Grill kitchens for lunch and dinner service, seven days a week. The virtual restaurant has launched in Hollywood, Pasadena, Long Beach, Boston, New York, and in Downtown Seattle. Other locations across Southern California, Portland and Seattle will follow at the end of January.

For more information and to place an order, please visit www.eatmasveggies.com. A weekly drawing and giveaway will also take place for those that follow the Mas Veggies Taqueria Instagram account @masveggiestaqueria.

About Mas Veggies Taqueria

Created by Veggie Grill, the largest plant-based restaurant group in the U.S, Mas Veggies Taqueria is a delivery-only plant-based Mexican food kitchen, crafting food that is good for our lives and our future. The menu provides a plant-based spin on popular Mexican food favorites, from tacos and burritos to healthy bowls and indulgent nachos. Mas Veggies Taqueria will operate out of Veggie Grill's locations in California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington, furthering Veggie Grill's mission to satisfy, empower, and fulfill guests with plant-based food. For more information, hours, and the full menu, please visit www.eatmasveggies.com.

About Veggie Grill

Since 2006, Veggie Grill has led the plant-based movement by providing an accessible way for diners to begin or enhance their plant-based journey. Veggie Grill's menu boasts enticing items ranging from health-conscious to downright indulgent.

Media Contact :

Tracy Rubin

JCUTLER media group

[email protected]

SOURCE Veggie Grill

Related Links

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Two NHS trusts in the Midlands will start delivering coronavirus vaccines round-the-clock from Thursday, it was claimed today.

University Hospitals Birmingham and Sherwood Forest Hospitals in Nottinghamshire have been chosen to pilot the 24/7 method to see if it could work on a national level, the Health Services Journal reports.

It's not clear which of the trusts' seven major hospitals will be trialling the scheme but they will focus on the same priority groups as existing vaccine hubs.

These will include the over-80s, health and social care staff, over-70s and vulnerable patients already in hospital for other serious conditions.

No10 has been under pressure to deliver vaccines day and night but  Boris Johnson has expressed doubts over whether there is enough clamour for nighttime jabs.

There are also questions about whether the Government is capable of running a 24/7 service given it is grappling with supply and staff shortages. There are already early signs the current 12-hour programme can't keep pace after vaccine uptake dipped for three days in a row.

Just 204,000 people were given their first dose on Monday, down from 225,000 on Sunday, 277,000 on Saturday and a high of 324,000 on Friday. Tuesday's figure is above 300,000, however.

In order to meet its 14million target by the middle of next month, the scheme must average more than 350,000 doses every day from now until February 15.

University Hospitals of Birmingham Trust, which includes the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, has been chosen to trial the 24/7 vaccination clinics, it has been suggested

Sherwood Forest Hospitals, in Nottinghamshire, will also reportedly be running the 24/7 centres. Pictured is King's Mill Hospital near Mansfield which is run by the trust

Just 204,000 people were given their first dose on Monday, down from 225,000 on Sunday, 277,000 on Saturday and a high of 324,000 on Friday

It comes amid allegations of a jabs 'postcode lottery' with some areas vaccinating the 'vast majority' of their over-80s while others trail behind

University Hospitals Birmingham runs Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Solihull Hospital and Community Services, Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham Chest Clinic.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals covers three hospitals in Nottinghamshire - King's Mill Hospital, Newark Hospital and Mansfield Community Hospital.

Pressure grows on No10 to speed up Covid vaccine rollout to care homes after fatalities DOUBLE in a fortnight Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure to speed up the Covid vaccine rollout to care homes, after damning official figures showed care homes were once again at the heart of Britain's crisis. Some 1,260 care home residents died from Covid in England last week, almost twice the 661 fatalities recorded in the last week of 2020. The virus is now responsible for a startling 40 per cent of all deaths in care homes. Liz Kendall, Labour's shadow social care minister, warned the UK is 'in a race against time to vaccinate residents and staff' to stop the disease from ripping through the sector. She said: 'The Government must leave no stone unturned to deliver on its promise to complete care home vaccinations by this Sunday in every part of the country.' Experts say there is 'always a risk' of the virus getting into homes via care staff if the disease is spreading at high levels in the community even if workers are being regularly tested. There have been concerns over the accuracy of the rapid tests being used in care homes. There are also questions over whether the spike in cases and deaths is linked to the Government's controversial policy to send Covid patients discharged from hospitals back into care homes. Under the scheme, designed to free up hospital beds and protect the NHS, care homes which passed inspection and were deemed Covid-secure were once again asked to house infected patients. Advertisement

MailOnline has contacted both trusts for a statement on the plans, and whether they will switch to a round the clock service from tomorrow.

It comes amid concern over whether Britain has enough doses of the vaccine to run the 24/7 centres.

The Government has refused to give details of what stocks it has saying it would be a security risk.

Pfizer's supplies have been dented by a factory upgrade which will continue into next month.

Officials say there are 'a lot of moving parts' contributing to the slowdown, with 'intermittent' deliveries of supplies, as well as difficulties contacting the remaining over-80s and covering care homes among the factors. However, there are hopes in Whitehall that today's numbers will go up again.

MPs have also voiced frustration at the way supplies have been divvied out across the UK. In London the allocation is believed to have been based on take up of last season's flu vaccine, which was relatively low.

Meanwhile, there are complaints that the system is descending into a 'free for all' with council staff being given jabs before 70-somethings in some areas.

The chaos has fuelled fears that lockdown measures will have to last longer, with suggestions that the earliest timetable for a significant easing has slipped 'beyond Easter'. Sir Patrick Vallance cautioned this morning that infection numbers are 'nowhere near where they need to be' to consider loosening measures.

In a round of interviews, the Home Secretary Priti Patel was asked why the slowdown in doses was happening. 'There remains a long and difficult road ahead... this is the largest mass vaccination programme our country has ever seen,' she told BBC Radio 4's Today.

'But also we are now seeing the suppliers Pfizer and AZ - the suppliers of the vaccine are upgrading their factories changing their supply chains.

'Of course that will inevitably have an implication in terms of the actual supply of the vaccine.

'We will see reconfiguarion of the supply chain. I think that is inevitable because of the demand domestically and internationally.'

Ms Patel said the local variations were down to 'NHS structures'. 'You are going to get the variability. There is not going to be a consistent rollout programme across the country. That will be for logistical reasons, geography reasons, where these vaccine centres are.'
Hypersonix Names Kumar Srivastava Head of Engineering and Technology Kumar will play a critical role in further scaling Hypersonixs offerings, and were thrilled to have his extensive experience added to our robust leadership team.

Hypersonix, the leading enterprise AI platform for consumer commerce industries, announced today the appointment of Kumar Srivastava as head of engineering and technology. In his new role, Kumar will lead Hypersonixs product and development teams as the company looks to expand its growing footprint within the retail, restaurant, hospitality, convenience, financial services, consumer packaged goods, and manufacturing industries.

With almost two decades of technology industry experience at both established enterprises and nimble start-ups, Kumar has a proven track record of overseeing the management, development, and deployment of products, spanning artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, financial services, and more. At Hypersonix, Kumar will be focused on leading the development team to roll out new offerings while overseeing the implementation of on-going improvements to existing products. He will also work closely with the leaders of other key business units, including sales, marketing and finance, to ensure Hypersonixs product strategy aligns with the companys overall mission of bringing a greater level of actionable intelligence to todays consumer commerce decision-makers.

Our focus on combining analytics and applications to improve the decision-making process for consumer commerce businesses has been steadfast, and Hypersonixs proprietary technology has played an essential role in establishing the company as a leading enterprise AI software provider, said Prem Kiran, founder and CEO at Hypersonix. Kumar will play a critical role in further scaling Hypersonixs offerings, and were thrilled to have his extensive experience added to our robust leadership team. We look forward to furthering our product efforts with Kumars vision and leadership in order to better serve the needs of our valued customers.

Most recently, Kumar held the position of vice president of engineering at Noodle.ai where he oversaw engineering, information security, artificial intelligence solutions, customer success, and technical program management. Prior to his role at Noodle.ai, Kumar held multiple leadership roles at established organizations, like Microsoft and BNY Mellon, and innovative and emerging brands, such as Clicked, Inmusik, ClearStory Data, and Apigee. He is a board member of the Cyber Security Advisory Board at California State University, Chico, and the founder of the AI University. Kumar is also an avid contributor to various technology and business publications, including TechCrunch, CIO.com, and Entrepreneur. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics as well as his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Computer Systems Engineering, and Mathematics from The University of Massachusetts Amherst. He also holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from Columbia University.

Hypersonix is a true leader in the enterprise AI space, and its technology is a game-changer for businesses in consumer commerce industries, which is why Im excited to be joining at such an exciting stage in the organizations evolution, Srivastava said. The companys innovative, purpose-built technology has played an essential role in the success of Hypersonix, so my focus will be on expanding and improving its existing offerings while ensuring the overall product strategy is aligned with Hypersonixs company-wide priorities in 2021 and beyond.

For more information about Hypersonixs leading enterprise AI platform for consumer commerce industries, and to request a demo, visit: https://hypersonix.ai/request-demo/

*******

About Hypersonix, Inc.

Hypersonix offers the most comprehensive cloud-based, Enterprise AI platform that enables consumer commerce decision-makers to make smart decisions fastempowering them to get real-time intelligence, actionable insights and recommendations to take timely actions leading to business success. Hypersonixs diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics can measure and monitor business results, clarify why results are occurring, and recommend actions to drive improvements.

Leveraging innovations in Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Programming (NLP) and real-time data computing, the platform offers a simple, fast "Google-like" experience supported by "Jarvix," a virtual assistant. Designed for Retail, Restaurant, Hospitality, e-Commerce, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Brand Manufacturers, Hypersonix helps several leading brands and clients today to drive profitable growth, save money and improve customer engagement.

Founded in 2018 by former executives from SAP, IBM, PayPal and Epsilon, the company has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, TechCrunch, along with other outlets. It is based in San Jose, California with offices in Sacramento, California and Bangalore, India.
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Vietcombank provides $65 mln in credit to PV Gas pipeline project

At the Nam Con Son Gas Processing Plant. (Photo: Bnews/VNA)



The Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) has agreed to provide 1.5 trillion VND (65.1 million USD) in credit for the PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (PV Gas) to finance the second phase of the adjusted Nam Con Son 2 Gas Pipeline Project.

The credit agreement marks a new milestone in the comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2018 between the two State-owned enterprises.

Part of the Master Plan for Vietnams Gas Industry Development to 2025 and a vision until 2035, the project is significant for the synchronous development of infrastructure in the countrys gas industry and will help enhance the capacity and flexibility of local gas projects.

The first phase, laying 151 km of undersea pipeline off the coast of southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, was completed in 2015.

The second phase will build main pipelines for transporting gas from the Cuu Long and Nam Con Son fields to the mainland.

PV Gas General Director Duong Manh Son said this is a strategic project of the corporation and the comprehensive, long-term strategic partnership it has with Vietcombank will help heighten both sides prestige and position.

Vietcombank and PV Gas signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement in 2018, under which the former will provide the latter with financial packages, including project financing, international payments, money flow management, and individual finance, with numerous preferential policies./.

Binh Duong to spend 388 million USD to improve transport connectivity

The southern province of Binh Duong will spend around 9 trillion VND (388 million USD) on key transport projects this year to boost socio-economic development, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Nguyen Hoang Thao has said.

In order to efficiently use the money, funds will be spent on important, key projects that can be completed and put into use this year.

Specifically, the province plans to build fly-over bridges at Phuoc Kien, Cho Dinh and Cho Cay Dua junctions.

The provincial construction department said the fly-overs would reduce ground level junctions with the ring road and the My Phuoc - Tan Van expressway, while boosting traffic connections among industrial parks in the province and HCM City ports.

The province also plans to expand and upgrade My Phuoc - Tan Van expressway and provincial highways No. 743, 747B and 746, which will improve transport to Dong Nai province and HCM City.

The upgrade of My Phuoc - Tan Van expressway is one of the key projects because it connects urban areas and industrial parks, and opens up a freight corridor along the North - South backbone axis parallel to National Highway No.13.

This will create favourable conditions for access to Cai Mep - Thi Vai port in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province and the Long Thanh international airport in the future, according to the construction department.

The widening of major roads such as National Highway No.13 and My Phuoc - Tan Van between concentrated industrial zones has eased travel to ports.

In recent years, Binh Duong has spent large amounts to improve road infrastructure to enhance transport connectivity with HCM City and nearby provinces, developing concentrated industrial zones and attracting workers from provinces and cities around the country.

Bui Minh Tri, head of the province's industrial zone management, said as one of the fastest-growing provinces in the key southern economic zone, Binh Duong is among the hottest investment destinations in the country.

It is always looking to develop transport infrastructure to help ship goods to other provinces and abroad.

It plans to further improve transport connectivity by developing waterways, and, in the future, create a rail link to transport goods to ports in HCM City and Dong Nai province./.

Germalink port receives first commercial vessel

The first phase of the Germalink international port was put into operation with the welcoming of first commercial vessel on January 19.

The 165.375-DWT CMA CGM CORTE REAL vessel is one of the largest container vessels in the world. It will unload over 8.200 TEU worth of goods in the port.

Earlier on December 30, 2020 and January 7, 2021, the port received two pilot ships from CMA-CGM.

The Germalink port covers 72 hectares in the downstream of Cai Mep River in Phu My town of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

It is the biggest deep sea container port in Cai Mep  Thi Vai area with 1,150m main berth and 370m feeder berth. The first phase includes 800m main berth for mother vessel, 260m side berth for feeder on the 33ha area. The port capacity in the first phase is 1.5 million TEUs per year. The whole project capacity is 2.4 million TEUs per year.



Gemalink port has outstanding competitive advantages thanks to its convenient location at the river mouth with the deepest draft for proper turning basin, the longest main berth, the only deep sea container port at Cai Mep-Thi Vai being designed with dedicated berth for feeder to connect HCM City and Mekong Delta region, the capability to accommodate 200,000DWT vessel and strong cargo commitment from global carriers.

The introduction of Gemalink, which is the gateway to the South of Vietnam with strategic location in Port Group No. 5 according to the Governments master plan, will contribute remarkably to the release of congestion at HCM City ports, meet the demand for cargo trading between Vietnam and other countries in the region and in the world as well as the demand of Gemadepts partner in Gemalink JV that is CMA-CGM and its shipping alliance.

Nguyen Thanh Binh, Vice Director of Germadept, the investor of the project, said that the firms sound relationship with its partners will keep the port busy at its maximum capacity right from the first years of operation./.

Airlines plan to increase domestic flights during Tet

Domestic airlines will focus on exploiting routes around the country instead of international routes during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) which will fall in the first half of February, according to Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam Dinh Viet Thang.

Thang said that more than 1,000 flights will be operated each day, up 28 percent over the holiday in the previous year. Particularly, the number of the flights will reach 1,200 in peak days, he added.

Specifically, Vietnam Airlines and Vasco will operate 379 flights per day and even 504 flights in peak days, rising 35.5 per cent and 31 percent respectively over the previous Tet.

Meanwhile, Vietjet will have 371 flights per day averagely and 375 flights in rush days, and Bamboo Airways will operate 180 flights per day and 190 flights in peak days.

Pacific Airlines plans to have 124 flights per day averagely and 130 flights in rush days, up 25 percent and 28 percent compared to the previous Tet, respectively.

Thang added that the carriers will also increase night flights from 22:00 of each day to 7:00 of the next day./.

Indonesia aims to become world's largest vannamei shrimp producer

Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono is targeting to turn the country into the world's largest vannamei shrimp producer by pushing production to 16 million tonnes annually from the current figure of below one million tonnes.

As reported by the local news agency Antara, to achieve this goal, Indonesia must begin developing new shrimp ponds spanning 200 thousand hectares until 2024. Currently, the countrys annual vannamei shrimp production is less than one million tonnes, below that of China, Ecuador, Vietnam, and India.

"If we succeed in developing 200 thousand hectares of shrimp ponds, with two harvest cycles of 80 tonnes per hectare per year, based on an economic analysis, it could generate nearly 1,200 trillion rupiah," Minister Trenggono was quoted by Antara as saying.

He added that the development also aims to build a strong defense system to protect the nations maritime wealth.

Trenggono revealed that the KKP will also build aquaculture villages in several parts of Indonesia to boost the economy./.

MoIT working to ensure supply of goods during Tet holiday

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) recently issued Directive No.15 on the implementation of measures to ensure essential consumer goods are available during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday and to stabilise the market.

The Departments of Industry and Trade nationwide have been ordered to outline production and business plans while making evaluations on the supply and demand of essential items, so as to make a timely response to prevent a shortage of goods or price hikes during Tet.

They should recommend the provincial Peoples Committees set up plans to stock shelves for the holiday or in case of epidemic, as well as join hands with branches of the State Bank of Vietnam to help businesses access preferential loans to produce essential goods for the holiday.

They have been asked to coordinate with the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and competent agencies to keep a close watch on weather and disease developments and to assess the ability to supply pork and other essential goods to the market.

The MoIT has requested local corporations to introduce import measures, if necessary, to stabilise the market.

Under the Directive, the Domestic Markets Department is to work with localities to promote the campaign Vietnamese people prioritise Vietnamese goods, aiming to support local production and increase supplies of price-stabilised goods in remote and mountainous areas. They are also urged to introduce safe food as well as local staples to consumers around the country.

Along with urging companies to enhance domestic trade promotions and stimulus programmes to boost consumer spending, the department is to create favourable conditions for them to join the market stabilisation programme in order to expand their distribution networks in mountainous, island, and remote localities.

The ministry also directs petrol trading companies to ensure sufficient reserves for the market, and to coordinate with competent agencies to enhance control of gasoline quality.

It will inspect and supervise power corporations to assure electricity supply for production and daily use.

The Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance is responsible for examining food safety and quality, and preventing speculation and price hikes in contradiction of existing laws.

Due attention will also be paid to raising public awareness of the States market stabilisation and food safety policies./.

Thai Nguyen hi-tech agricultural zone set up

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed Decision No 70/QD-TTg on the establishment and issuance of operational regulations of the Thai Nguyen high-tech agricultural zone.

The zone will be set up in Tien Phong commune, Pho Yen town, Thai Nguyen province, spanning 154.36 ha.

It is to host research activities and pilot hi-tech production models in farming, forestry, aquaculture, and farm produce preservation and processing, among others.

The zone will also specialise in training and technology transfer serving the agricultural sector of the province, the region and Vietnam as a whole.

The provincial Peoples Committee has been asked to steer the construction, assessment, and approval of planning for the zone in keeping with regulations.

The province has previously set up large-scale agricultural production zones of high economic value. Of particular note, it is among the largest tea-growing areas in Vietnam, being home to over 22,400 ha./.

Malaysia files WTO lawsuit against EU on palm-biofuel curbs

Malaysia has recently filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the European Union (EU)s rules affecting the consumption of palm oil-based biofuels.

In the complaint, dated January 15, Malaysia charges that the EU, particularly its member states such as France and Lithuania, had imposed restrictive measures on the use of palm oil that violate international trade agreements.

Malaysia holds that the bloc and its members confer unfair benefits to EU domestic producers of certain biofuel feedstocks such as rapeseed oil and soy, and the biofuels produced therefrom at the expense of palm oil and oil palm crop-based biofuels from Malaysia.

The EU has embarked on a major plan committing its members to build a carbon neutral economy by 2050, including by promoting the use of biofuels. However, it has deemed that palm oil production is not sustainable and palm oil-based biofuels cannot be counted towards EU renewable targets.

Malaysia, the worlds second largest producer of palm oil, baulked at EU efforts to phase out the use of palm oil as a biofuel, and has requested consultations to help resolve the dispute./.

Thailands rice exports remain gloomy this year

Thailands rice exports are expected to recover slightly from an estimated 5.8 million tonnes in 2020, which was the lowest in 20 years due to weak global purchasing power caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a container shortage and the strong baht.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA), said he believes that rice exports will reach 6.5 million tonnes at best this year, up from an anticipated 5.8 million tonnes worth 110-120 billion baht (3.65-3.98 billion USD) in 2020.

Rice exports remain gloomy this year, as consumers worldwide are likely to opt to save their money and buy rice at cheaper prices, he stated.

He took Malaysia as an example as the country has now started buying more rice from India with cheaper prices, instead of Thailand and Vietnam.

According to him, the container shortage is another obstacle for rice export prospects, citing the Thai National Shippers Councils expectation that the container shortage will last six months.

About half of rice exports now rely on shipping containers. The container shortage in Thailand has intensified since June 2020 after China announced an easing of lockdown measures and Vietnam ramped up its exports.

Thailand is estimated to face a shortage of more than 1.5 million containers, according to the council./.

Thailand: airlines cut flights due to reduced number of passengers

At this time, those who need to travel by air to various provinces across Thailand are asked to follow announcements by the airlines because they have cut the number of flights to some provinces due to a reduced number of passengers during the COVID-19 epidemic.

At Trang Airport, there have been quite small numbers of passengers. However, strict COVID-19 prevention measures have still been in place. The Trang Airport Director said the new wave of COVID-19 infections has led many provinces to control passenger numbers in and out of the region, and people are asked to refrain from traveling between provinces. As a result, the number of passengers using Trang airport has decreased.

Various airlines have reviewed their flight arrangements. Some airlines have announced temporary flight cuts, because each flight had only a small number of passengers. Some flights had fewer than 10 passengers. This week, it is expected that the airlines will reduce the number of flights.

People who travel through airports nationwide are asked to follow announcements on the various communication channels used by the airlines, to check their flight details as well as follow announcements on the numerous requirements related to travel between provinces from government agencies./.

Draft amendments to Decree 52 on e-commerce activities discussed

Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese e-commerce market is still booming. Therefore, the amendment and supplementation of Decree 52/2013/ND-CP on e-commerce to better manage the activity, considered "the future of the retail market", is extremely necessary.

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) recently coordinated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to organise a seminar commenting on the draft amendment of the decree.

The Vietnamese e-commerce market includes big names such as Shopee, Lazada, Tiki and Sendo. During the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce platforms recorded double-digit growth.

With a market of nearly 100 million people and stable socio-economic growth, e-commerce in Vietnam is considered to be full of potential. Many foreign investors have poured billions of dollars of investment into these sites.

Experts also emphasised the importance of the revised Decree 52 to manage but not restrain the explosive growth of e-commerce activities in Vietnam.

Chu Thi Hoa, Deputy Director of the Institute of Legal Science under the Ministry of Justice, stated that the policy of the State was to promote digital economic development.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade should be cautious in amending some points of Decree 52, especially in matters that have a profound impact on foreign investors and enterprises and those which may cause difficulties for business operations.

Meanwhile, Sendo Chairman Nguyen Dac Viet Dung raised concerns about the regulations on market access conditions of foreign investors from the perspective of domestic enterprises which need access to capital to develop amid fierce competition.

As e-commerce is a field which needs significant capital, Vietnamese businesses without a parent company with strong financial potential would not be able to develop and compete as they are only allowed to access capital from the narrow list of investors announced periodically by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, he said.

In addition, the draft decree also eliminated the participation of the group of investors, which are foreign investment funds, which are one of the types of investors with abundant capital and experience to support local businesses to develop strategies, operations and human resources.

Doan Tich Tu Phuoc, a MoMo representative in Hanoi, said that tightening cross-border transactions would reduce the attractiveness of e-commerce in the country.

The long-term consequence was that domestic e-commerce sites might have to make room for the operation of overseas e-commerce companies such as Amazon, Aliexpress, or Facebook, which were not subject to Vietnamese law.

Consumers buying goods on these platforms would also not enjoy protection and support policies from domestic e-commerce trading floors./.

Hanoi envisages to become international trade hub

Hanoi will carry out an array of industry and trade development measures with a view to building Hanoi into an international trade hub in the region and the country, as well as concretising the resolution adopted at the municipal Party Organisations 17th congress.

The municipal Department of Industry and Trade plans to lure more investments, and outline support measures and programmes to encourage businesses to land investment in modern distribution and sales systems such as shopping malls and supermarkets.

It is striving to develop five regional-level wholesale centres, ten regional-level shopping malls, 12 logistics centres, 68 trade centres, 850 supermarkets and 140 markets.

Besides, Hanoi, which houses to 6,000 information technology firms and two IT parks, has taken lead in the country in terms of ICT revenue.

Furthermore, the capital city has witnessed the sound development of infrastructure at industrial zones, with 17 high-tech industrial parks, 70 industrial clusters with stable operation, and 43 newly-established industrial clusters. Handicraft industry has been encouraged and received support, with 1,350 craft villages which attract tens of thousands of labourers.

According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Tran Thi Phuong Lan, thanks to timely response to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, the sector attained robust achievements during the 2016-2020 period.

The whole sales and retail sales contributed greatly to the gross regional domestic product (GRDP), she said, adding total retail sales and social services picked up average 10.54 percent each year.

Although the citys exports were battered by global supply chain disruption due to COVID-19, export revenue during 2016-2020 surged 8.8 percent, or 1.68 times higher than the 2011-2015 period, Lan said, attributing the results to the citys flexible policies and drastic guidance.

However, tough challenges are ahead for the citys industry and trade sector. They come from the curtailment of industrial production as most of the large production facilities move out of the central city, and limited investment in high-tech industry and weak development of supporting industry. Besides, attracting investments in local industrial parks is not an easy task since industrial land leasing costs in Hanoi are higher than those in localities in the vicinity such as Ha Nam, Hoa Binh and Hung Yen.

The city also found difficulties in luring investments in trade infrastructure due to a lack of competent management policies and mechanisms.

During the 2021-2025 period, the sector targets 7.5-8 percent growth in the added value of the local industrial products, 9.5-9.7 percent growth in exports, and 9-10 percent in retail sales and social services.

Lan said that the sector will work to remove bottlenecks for local firms, especially supporting enterprises and those manufacturing key industrial products, while capitalising on the fourth industrial revolution to promote development of high-added value products and supporting industry.

In addition, it will call for investments in industrial infrastructure, and enhance state management to improve operation efficiency of local firms, she added./.

Indonesia to invest 17.59 billion USD in oil and gas industry

The Indonesian government will invest 246.26 trillion rupiah (17.59 billion USD) to implement upstream and downstream oil and gas projects in 2021, Director General of Oil and Gas at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Tutuka Ariadji said on January 18.

The amount of investment in upstream oil and gas projects is 2.1 billion USD higher than the figure of 10 billion USD in 2020. Meanwhile, investment in downstream projects is to rise to 5.2 billion USD from only 1.8 billion USD in 2020.

Ariadji said the government will continue to cooperate with businesses to build oil refineries, while continuing to simplify the licensing for downstream oil and gas exploitation, encourage the development of integrated oil and gas infrastructure and support the conversion of diesel oil to natural gas./.

Vietnamese airlines brace for travel upsurge during Tet

Domestic airlines will increase the number of night flights before, during and after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday  the biggest traditional festival of Vietnamese - to meet increasing travel demand of passengers.

According to Nguyen Quang Trung, head of Vietnam Airlines development planning department, the national flag carrier is adding late night flights during peak time, with the number of flights surging 30 percent as compared to the same time las year.

The move aims to meet growing air travel demand and ease ground congestion at airports, he added.

Tet airfares are 10 percent lower than the previous year, and a wide range of flexible fares have been available for customers, Trung said.

Earlier, the Vietnam Airlines Group, which include Vietnam Airlines, budget carrier Jetstar Pacific and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), said it will supply over 414,000 extra seats from January 27 to February 26, 2021 to serve increasing travel demand. This will bring the total seats on flights operated by the Vietnam Airlines Group during the traditional holiday to 2.4 million, equivalent to nearly 12,000 flights.

Vietnam Airlines has increased night flights from 0:00 to 5:30 everyday, with airfares sold at 200,000-300,000 VND (8.69-13.04 USD) cheaper than those for day flights.

Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Vietjet Air decided to add more flights departing late at 23:30 and early at 5:30, as well as provide 1.5 million Tet tickets on all domestic routes. Besides, it has recently opened sales for 1.5 million promotional airfares (from 555,000 VND including taxes and fees).

Bamboo Airways said it recently launched direct flights from Can Tho to Phu Quoc island, and Con Dao island in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. The non-stop service will be operated during the week, using Embraer 195 aircraft. On the occasion, the airline offers special fares on the route, with one-way ticket priced from 49,000 VND on Can Tho-Phu Quoc, and 809,000 VND on Can Tho-Con Dao.

Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) Dinh Viet Thang has issued a directive on enhancing safety measures for airplane during maintenance downtime since the number of airplanes in maintenance during non-service period is increasing due to COVID-19.

He ordered airlines to keep a close watch and strictly follow airplane manufacturers instructions on maintenance./.

Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR
New Delhi, Jan 20 : Ahead of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary celebrations, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that the Howrah-Kalka Mail has been renamed as 'Netaji Express'.

Goyal tweeted: "Netaji's 'prakram' (valour) put India on the express route of freedom and development. I am thrilled to celebrate his birth anniversary with the introduction of 'Netaji Express'." The order to rename the train was issued on January 19, when the central government had also decided to celebrate Netaji's birth anniversary on January 23 as 'Parakram Diwas' every year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit West Bengal on January 23 on the occasion.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune underwent a successful foot operation in Germany on Wednesday after post-Covid-19 complications, the presidency said Wednesday.

Tebboune "has had an operation on his right foot, with success", said a statement published on the Facebook account of the presidency.

The president is expected to return to Algeria in the "coming days", as soon as his medical team agrees, it added.

Aged 75 and a heavy smoker, Tebboune was originally hospitalised in Germany on October 28. Algerian authorities later confirmed that he had the Covid-19 illness.

He returned home in late December and dealt with urgent business including signing a new constitution into law and approving the annual budget.

Then the presidency announced 10 days ago that he had traveled back to Germany for further medical attention to complications involving his foot.

A November referendum on an altered constitution, strongly backed by the presidency, received the backing of less than 15 percent of the electorate.

The vote was overshadowed by the pandemic and calls for a boycott by the Hirak protest movement.

Tebboune in December 2019 won office in another widely boycotted poll, with an official turnout of less than 40 percent.

That came eight months after mass Hirak protests had swept his ailing predecessor Abdelaziz Bouteflika from office.

Tebboune's initial convalescence in Germany had reminded many Algerians of octogenarian Bouteflika's frequent hospitalisations abroad.

Upon his return to the country in December, Tebboune appeared to have regained weight and looked in reasonable health.

He had suggested that he had nearly recovered, but was seen wearing a brace on his right foot.

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"One of the primary growth drivers for this market is the rapid development of several variants of missiles," says a senior analyst for the industrials industry at Technavio. The market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. As the markets, recover Technavio expects the missile launching system market size to grow by USD 404.72 million during the period 2021-2025.

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.

Coronavirus vaccine: More than 224 million COVID-19 vaccine doses provided to states, UTs so far

Sputnik V to be available at Rs 1,195 a shot in Apollo hospitals

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine: Is the blood clots rare? Side effects and how worried should you be?

UN assists India's mammoth COVID-19 vaccine rollout on Jan 16

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 20: On 16 January, the first day of the campaign, 207,229 vaccine shots were given across the country, one of the worst-hit by COVID-19, with over 10 million COVID-19 infections and 150,000 deaths.

"We provided technical assistance to the Government of India for the development of operational guidelines and other training materials for state and district programme managers and vaccinators, and establishing tracking and accountability frameworks", Roderico H. Ofrin, WHO Representative in India said.

"WHO field officers have facilitated the highest-level oversight through regular task force meetings at state and district levels, which are chaired by the Principal Secretaries (Health) at the state level, and District Magistrates at the district level", he added.

Coronavirus: India is providing Covid-19 vaccines to these countries | Oneindia News

According to media reports, an estimated 10 million health workers are targeted to be vaccinated in the first round, followed by other front-line workers such as police, security forces and municipal staff, with plans to inoculate 300 million people by August.

Supporting preparations

Prior to the start of the campaign, UN agencies help with detailed preparations.

For its part, WHO participated in dry-run simulations and provided feedback on management of vaccines, registration of beneficiaries, as well as reporting on vaccination coverage and adverse events following immunization.

It also worked with the Government and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on real-time reporting and problem-solving when issues arose at the vaccination sites, according to Dr. Ofrin.

At the provincial level, WHO also supported implementation and monitoring of health policy, such as developing standard operating procedures, preparing technical briefs, and providing best practices from other parts of the India as well as other countries.

Reliable information

Similarly, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) supported communication and advocacy efforts to ensure the dissemination of factual information to stakeholders and communities. The agency also helped train healthcare staff in infection control and prevention, and psychosocial support to children and caregivers.

Aside from directly supporting vaccine rollout, UN agencies continued their programmes to assist the most vulnerable communities impacted by COVID-19 and its socio-economic fallouts.

For instance, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) supported NGOs in order to identify and register some 19,000 vulnerable households and distributed food packets; while the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted awareness raising programmes on sexual and reproductive health, and prevention of gender-based violence, on behalf of some 30 million vulnerable individuals.

The three W's

Though vaccination programmes are underway, continued vigilance against COVID-19 and preventing its spread remain as important as ever.

WHO's Dr. Ofrin urged continued vigilance over tracking cases, cluster investigation, isolation and clinical care, and quarantining to break the chain of transmission.

Alongside, he also highlighted the "three W's - wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance."

"These efforts must continue to stop the spread of COVID-19. We as individuals and communities must work with the Government to save lives and the economy by protecting health and livelihoods," he added.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 9:50 [IST]
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oasis Pro Markets ("Oasis"), a regulated broker-dealer, announced today that it recently received approval from FINRA and the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) for its Digital Security Alternative Trading System ("ATS").

Oasis is the first US-regulated ATS allowing Subscribers to trade digital ("blockchain") securities and make payment for those digital securities in digital cash (i.e., Stablecoins such as USDC and DAI and, when available, central bank digital currencies ("CBDCs") or fiat. Oasis's ATS is authorized to allow its Subscribers to:

Trade both registered and unregistered securities on the ATS Trade digital securities OTC Trade both equity and debt in digital form through the use of a blockchain Invest in initial private offerings that can be recorded on a blockchain

Approval for the ATS comes after working closely with the SEC and FINRA to ensure the platform offers legally compliant, regulated trading of digital securities. Expected ATS launch date is Q2 2021.

"Obtaining approval with the world's leading financial regulatory bodies has the potential to unleash a tremendous market opportunity; it advances investor protections, and coupled with digital cash, has the potential to unlock trillions of dollars of value in the digital securities space," said Pat LaVecchia, CEO and Co-Chairman, Oasis Pro Markets. "Moving quickly with a regulation-first mindset, digital cash for digital security, and a deeply experienced team is a tremendous competitive advantage, and the only way to ensure that digital securities trading is viable long-term within the U.S. financial system."

Oasis's ATS provides access to liquid private and public digital security markets, via a secure interface that offers a range of custodians and digital security investments. The ATS focuses on

Institutional Quality Interface Overall Low Cost of Trading Liquidity with leading Market Makers Regulatory Protections Robust Technology

"Oasis's ATS is set apart from other trading systems by the ability to accommodate Stablecoins and enable a more accessible, liquid, and transparent market for privately offered digital securities. We have worked tirelessly to deliver a low friction, digital security trading platform with streamlined onboarding and the type of volume that will excite issuers of securities and subscribers alike, whether accredited or institutional investors," added Joseph Quintilian, Co-Chairman, Oasis Pro Markets.

"The only responsible path to successful financial industry adoption of blockchain's advantages in digital securities trading, is through registered entities acknowledging the unmatched benefits and credibility that is provided by a regulated financial system," said LaVecchia.

To learn more about Oasis Pro Markets ATS, please visit www.oasispromarkets.com.

About Oasis Pro Markets

Oasis Pro Markets is an SEC- and FINRA-regulated platform for trading digital securities and raising capital, in the form of equity and debt. The platform enables issuers and subscribers to conveniently and securely buy, sell, and list a range of alternative assets in the secondary market. Oasis's ATS makes it easy to onboard with fiat and digital currencies including all major cryptocurrencies, Stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies. It also provides access to investment opportunities and liquidity in the alternative asset market. Backed by a team with deep industry and regulation experience, Oasis is the next evolution of alternative asset investing. For more information, visit www.oasispromarkets.com. Securities offered through Oasis Pro Markets, Member FINRA/SIPC.

SOURCE Oasis Pro Markets

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Good morning.

Todays the day.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. will become president of the United States, and Californias own Kamala Harris will become a barrier-shattering vice president. Women have vowed to wear pearls in solidarity.

The transition will end one of the most turbulent presidential terms in American history. President Trump has said he wont be there to watch it happen, breaking from tradition.

Crowds of supporters wont be there, either, as the nation continues to grasp toward the end of a pandemic that, as of Tuesday, has killed more than 400,000 people in the United States  a staggering, incomprehensible loss.

There will be heightened security, both in Washington and in California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized the deployment of 1,000 National Guard troops to protect the Capitol.
Geojit's report on Agri Picks

Traders have signed a deal to export around 100,000 tn wheat to Myanmar at $200-$210 per tn, free on board, market sources said. These shipments are expected to occur from Kandla port in a few days. Northeast monsoon has withdrawn from the south peninsula--Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and adjoining parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh--yesterday, the India Meteorological Department said in an update. Tractor maker Escorts Ltd today said it received a certification from the Central Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute, Budni, for its electric tractor and the company will now look at launching the vehicle in the domestic market. The government has procured 56.9 mln tn of paddy so far in the 2020-21 (OctSep) kharif marketing season, up 23.8% on year, according to an official release. Paddy is the largest grown kharif crop in the country. The outbreak of avian influenza in poultry birds has been confirmed in five states. In 10 states, the flu has been confirmed for crows and migratory and wild birds, the government said in a release. Ramesh Chand, member of the government's think tank NITI Aayog, said growth and production in agriculture is not bringing about the desired increase in the income of farmers.

For all commodities report, click here

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The ambassadors and diplomatic representatives meeting in Hanoi on January 18 all praised Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements and expressed their belief that the 13th Party Congress will succeed.

Ambassador Saadi Salama, Head of the Palestinian Diplomatic Delegation in Vietnam

The Communist Party of Vietnam has relations with 247 parties from 111 countries. During the past term, the Party's external relations continued to expand and deepen, achieving many important and comprehensive results.

International diplomatic delegations and organizations were invited to the meeting to be informed about the convening of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party.

Ambassador Saadi Salama, Head of the Palestinian Diplomatic Delegation in Vietnam, showed his joy about the opportunity to attend the national congress for the third time.

As a person who always watches what is happening in Vietnam and understands Vietnam well, the Ambassador thanked the External Relations Commission of the Party Central Committee for spending time introducing the 13th Party Congress to foreign diplomatic delegations.

Saadi Salama expressed his pleasure at the achievements that Vietnam has gained. I firmly believe that the 13th Party Congress will make the right decisions and policies, bringing Vietnamese people to new achievements, continuing to develop the country, and keeping close relations with other countries, he said.

He mentioned Vietnams great achievement in fighting against Covid-19, stressing that this is proof of the proper leadership of the Vietnamese Communist Party.

Ambassador Sengphet Houngboungnuang, head of the Lao Diplomatic Delegation in Vietnam, said in the last 90 years the Vietnamese Communist Party had led the Vietnamese people in the fight for national independence in 1975, in the construction and protection of the country, in the doi moi (renovation) period, and has gained comprehensive and important results.

The economy keeps growing, and the building of the Party and political system have gained important achievements. It is worthy of being a state of the people, by the people and for the benefit of the people. The role of Vietnam has been enhanced in the international arena, he commented.

He praised the fact that in 2020, when Vietnam had to cope with Covid-19 and natural calamities, Party congresses at city and province levels were still held as planned.

The charge d'affaires of the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam said at the meeting that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people have gained important socio-economic achievements and successfully controlled Covid-19 outbreaks. The success in fighting Covid-19 has allowed Vietnam to organize this extremely important political event.

The British Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam, Marcus Winsley, said the 13th Party Congress is an important event for Vietnam, the UK and the whole world.

The UK and Vietnam will co-chair an international conference on climate change in 2021. He hopes that this will be among the issues for discussion at the congress, and that Vietnam will give a message to show its determination and solutions to deal with environmental and climate problems.

Thanh Nam

Vietnam ready for 13th Party Congress Vietnam has made an impression on the international community as a safe country with great economic potential, and its success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and maintaining economic growth has been miraculous, a Japanese expert has said.
With a 54% increase in total vacation bookings and a 75% increase rental revenue in 2020 over 20219, it's apparent that word has spread about Cinnamon Shore. Furthermore, Cinnamon Shore North and its expansion, Cinnamon Shore South, together added almost 120 new homeowning families to the neighborhood, primarily from Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas-Ft. Worthall driving distance.

"While 2020 was an anomaly, due to flexible work and school schedules during the pandemic, Texas vacationers and homebuyers were clearly attracted to Cinnamon Shore in record numbers, and we expect more of the same for 2021," says Jeff Lamkin, developer of Cinnamon Shore. "We're offering a quality, master-planned resort community that, until recently, was only available in far-away Florida."

With 136 total properties sold in 2020 and an 85% increase in total sales volume closed in 2020 over 2019, Cinnamon Shore Realty also had its best annual results. "People recognize the investment opportunity," says Jodi Peters, managing broker at Cinnamon Shore Realty. "They're investing in real estate, but also in their family legacy."

Great Potential for Rental Income

Homeowners at Cinnamon Shore often join the Vacation Rental pool, and they're seeing typical rental income potential that ranges between $50,000 and 300,000 annually, depending on property type and location. "The numbers tell the story, and they can be a real incentive," Lamkin says.

For instance, in 2020, a three-bedroom beach home at Cinnamon Shore generated an average rental revenue of $82,000, with the top producer garnering $119,000 in rental income. A three-bedroom condo earned an average $78,000 in rental revenue. Several, upscale beach homes generated $200,000-plus in rental revenue, with the top producer exceeding $300,000. And these figures include owner usage.

With on-site property management and an active Community Owners Association, guests and homeowners enjoy amenities such as resort-style pools, a fitness center, family-friendly activities, and holiday events. Whether relaxing under signature, coral-and-white umbrellas or warming by beach bonfires, vacationers find the resort alluring year-round.

The Need for Growth

With the original community fully built, Cinnamon Shore South broke ground in 2018, and it's grown quickly, with the most recent phase selling out in almost three days last fall. With only a handful of home sites currently available at 'South,' a new phase will open in May.

The developer also has announced new acquisitions on the bay side of Mustang Island, along with a new Gulf-side tractboth set to be developed over the next decade and beyond. "We'll take our time and do it right," Lamkin says, noting that the bay site has deep-water access and the potential for new amenities.

Selected as the location for show homes by magazines such as Southern Living and Coastal Living and chosen by Port Aransas as the partner and as the location for the city's new hotel and conference center, Cinnamon Shore has already made its mark on the Texas Coast. It's set to continue raising the standard.

About Cinnamon Shore

Cinnamon Shore is a pedestrian-friendly planned community nestled behind the protective dunes on Mustang Island along the Texas Gulf Coast. It is the first new urbanism development for Sea Oats Group, which is fulfilling its vision of a traditional seaside village with a wide array of amenities and recreational facilities intertwined with beach cottages, luxury villas and vibrant town centers. Now comprised of two communities  the original, Cinnamon Shore North, and its new, 150-acre, Gulf-side expansion, Cinnamon Shore South  every detail of the master plan for both is designed to embrace the natural ambience of Mustang Island and the slow-paced charm of a walkable neighborhood. For more information, visit http://www.CinnamonShore.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@CinnamonShore).

SOURCE Cinnamon Shore

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http://www.CinnamonShore.com


Israel launches a tender for 2,500 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. A move by outgoing Prime Minister Netanyahu to maintain consensus among right-wing and pro-settlement voters in the face of the Gideon Saar threat. Peace Now: a "mad rush" for settlements ahead of change in US administration.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - On the eve of the swearing in ceremony of the new US President Joe Biden, Israel has launched a tender for the construction of 2,500 new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Analysts and experts explain that the move by outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is linked to the political elections of 23 March: it is an attempt to maintain consensus among right-wing voters in the face of the threat posed by pro-colonial candidate Gideon Saar, already his internal rival in Likud.

On January 17, the executive approved a project for at least 780 new homes in various areas of the occupied territories of the West Bank. According to reports from Peace Now activists, the government has just published the call for tenders for 2112 units in the West Bank and another 460 in East Jerusalem.

The Israeli anti-occupation movement speaks of a "mad rush" to promote settlement activity "before the change of administration in Washington". "By acting in this way - they underline in a note - Netanyahu means to the incoming president that he does not intend to open a new chapter in relations between the United States and Israel" or to think "seriously about how to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians ".

The settlements are communities inhabited by Israeli civilians and military and built in the territories conquered after the Six Day War of June 1967, in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the Gaza Strip. In 1982, Israel withdrew from its settlements in Sinai after signing the peace agreement (1979) with Egypt and in 2005 former Prime Minister Sharon ordered the dismantling of 17 settlements in the Gaza Strip.

At the moment, the settlements - illegal under international law - are located in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. In November 2019, outgoing President Donald Trump broke decades of traditional American diplomacy, declaring them "not against international law", thus opening a new page of tension with the Palestinian front. Biden has already said he wants to go back to the pre-Trump period and wants to oppose the expansion of the settlements, while maintaining the validity of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
3-D image reconstruction of a sample of irradiated fuel, showing the three thresholded uranium phases co-existing with pores. Credit: Maria Okuniewski / Purdue University

In a feat requiring perseverance, world-leading technology, and no small amount of caution, scientists have used intense X-rays to inspect irradiated nuclear fuel. The imaging, led by researchers at Purdue University and conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, revealed a 3-D view of the fuel's interior structure, laying the groundwork for better nuclear fuel designs and models.

Until now, examinations of uranium fuel have been limited to mostly surface microscopy or to various characterization techniques using mock versions that possess little radioactivity. But scientists want to know at a deeper level how the material changes as it undergoes fission inside a nuclear reactor. The resulting insights from this study, which the Journal of Nuclear Materials published in August 2020, can lead to nuclear fuels that function more efficiently and cost less to develop.

To get an interior view of the uranium-zirconium fuel studied, the researchers sectioned off a bit of used fuel small enough to be handled safelya capability developed only within the last seven years. Then, to see inside this tiny metallic sample, they turned to the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a DOE Office of Science User Facility located at Argonne.

A study decades in the making

Before the researchers could approach the formidable task of isolating a fuel sample and placing it under an X-ray beam, they needed to find the right specimen. Exploring fuels archived at DOE's Idaho National Laboratory (INL), they identified a uranium-zirconium fuel that spent a total of two years at full power in the Fast Flux Test Facility in Hanford, Washington, and was removed from the reactor in the early 1990s.

"We had to wait decades for this fuel to radiologically cool or decay," said Maria Okuniewski, assistant professor of materials engineering at Purdue University and the paper's lead author. "It was literally the coolest specimen that we could remove based on the permissible safety guidelines at both INL and APS."

Even the coolest available spent fuel specimen was still too hot, radiologically speaking, at its original size. Taken from a larger fuel pin, the sample was less than a quarter of an inch high, but it measured 1,200 millirem per hour from a distance of 30 centimetersa radiation level 240 times larger than the allowable limit at the APS.

To reduce the radioactivity, the researchers used a focused ion beam with scanning electron microscopy at INL to create a much smaller sample. The tool allowed them to pinpoint an area of interest and deploy a stream of ions that essentially milled out a cube of material. The resulting sample was roughly 100 microns across, no larger than the diameter of a human hair.

"We've come a long way with this new instrumentation that allows us to obtain samples that are small enough to be safe and easily handled," said Okuniewski.

The miniscule sample was mounted on a pin, encased in a double-walled tube, and sent to Argonne, with multiple radiation checks to ensure safety along the way.

Five pore stages observed in neutron irradiated uranium zirconium fuel. Credit: Purdue University College of Engineering

At Argonne, the Purdue research team worked with scientists at beamline 1-ID-E, a high-brilliance X-ray source at the APS, to examine the sample. The goal: To see what uranium-zirconium fuel looks like on the inside after it has been bombarded with neutrons for two years.

"We are really talking about a piece of dust that you can barely see with the naked eyeit's that small," said Peter Kenesei, a physicist with Argonne's X-ray Science Division and study co-author. "But this is also very dense material, so you need a sufficient intensity of high-energy X-rays to penetrate and study it."

The technique used, micro-computed tomography, detects at high resolution the X-ray beam as it emerges on the other side of the sample. From multiple images taken as the fuel was rotated, computers could reconstruct its internal features based on how it altered the incoming beam, similar to a medical CT scan.

"The 1-ID-E beamline's flexibility, along with Argonne's expertise in safely handling nuclear materials, allows us to design and conduct a unique experiment like this one," Kenesei said.

Closer look at fuel swelling

In particular, Okuniewski and her colleagues were interested in the phenomenon of swelling. Nuclear fuel generates energy by taking one uranium atom and splitting it into two, and this fission process generates byproducts such as the gas xenon and metals like palladium and neodymium. As atoms split and fission products accumulate, the fuel grows in volume.

The safety and longevity of any given nuclear fuel depends on being able to predict how much it will swell. Too much swelling can cause the uranium to react with, and possibly fracture, its protective outer layer, called a cladding. To prevent that from happening, engineers rely on fuel performance codes, which are computer models that simulate various aspects of a fuel's behavior in a reactor, such as how hot in temperature it will get and how its constituents redistribute in space.

"In every single fuel type, swelling is an issue," Okuniewski said. "These fuels are designed so that the inner core is free to expand to a specific level before it touches the cladding."

In addition to providing a clearer, localized picture of the fuel structure and the different material phases that developed over time, the study at the APS revealed evidence that the release of fission gases might continue to occur beyond the thresholds assumed in previous analyses. This type of data can help strengthen fuel performance codes, which in turn would help lower the cost of fuel development, since reliable computer simulations can minimize the number of expensive irradiation tests needed.

"We're always striving within the nuclear community to figure out ways that we can improve the fuel performance codes," Okuniewski said. "This is one way to do that. Now we have three-dimensional insight that we previously didn't have at all."

Explore further Rad revelations: Future fuel designs from noble metals

More information: Jonova Thomas et al. The application of synchrotron micro-computed tomography to characterize the three-dimensional microstructure in irradiated nuclear fuel, Journal of Nuclear Materials (2020). Jonova Thomas et al. The application of synchrotron micro-computed tomography to characterize the three-dimensional microstructure in irradiated nuclear fuel,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152161
MUSKEGON, MI  Throughout February, Hackley Public Library is hosting a series of virtual events to celebrate and honor Black History Month.

By having this great month, it really dives into the culture and dives into all these great things and this amazing history, said Mallory Metzger, Hackley Public Librarys marketing and program coordinator.

The events will be held on Zoom because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Metzger said the online programming puts it at peoples fingertips allowing them to participate from home.

The line-up includes:

The trivia contest and poetry night are two staples of Hackleys Black History Month celebration. The library is bringing back the Black Hair Care Clinic for a second year, in which experts Nietra Hood and Ebony Jones offer tips and tricks.

The Anne and Emmett stage play imagines a conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till. The show will be followed by a discussion.

Anne Frank was a Jewish teenager who kept a diary while her family was in hiding for two years from the Nazis during World War II. She died in the Bergen-Belsen camp in 1945. Her father, the sole survivor, decided to publish the diary.

Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black youth from Chicago, was visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi in August 1955, when he was tortured and murdered for allegedly whistling at a white woman. His mother asked for an open casket at his funeral for everyone to see his mangled body, sparking national attention.

The Cooking with Soul class will be taught by LaKisha Harris, the owner and chef of Soul Filled Eatery in Muskegon Heights.

Related: Local Eats: Soul Filled Eatery will be the home of the turkey knuckle in Muskegon Heights

Its such a great way to embrace not only soul food cooking, but also our local community, said Metzger.

Some of the best soul food in the world is in Muskegon, Harris says. She plans to teach how to make a Muskegon original: the turkey knuckle.

The name is deceiving, she said, since the tender dark meat comes from the knee joint. Its similar to a rib tip and can be served in barbeque sauce, gravy or deep fried.

Turkey knuckles are native to Muskegon, Michigan. You cant buy them anywhere else; you cant find them anywhere else, Harris said.

The cooking class will also be accessible and affordable. Soul food is not expensive, Harris said, and she will demonstrate how to make a meal for a family of four for less than $20.

Food has been a healing for the city, Harris said. We find all cultures, all races, all creeds, all genders coming here.

A $25,000 donation from Bess Commodore, a former Hackley Public Library patron, has been funding the annual Black History Month events since 2011.

All of the programs are free to the public, but participants are asked to register at hackleylibrary.org.

Hackley Public Library remains open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for some in-person services. The library also hosts regular virtual events.

More on MLive:

Senior battling leukemia embodies Mona Shores footballs fighting spirit, will join team at Ford Field

Heres how to conduct court business in Muskegon County during the pandemic

Home, garden and boat show set to be first event at new Muskegon convention center
South Carolina has processed nearly 4.5 million coronavirus tests, with over 14,000 new results reported on Wednesday.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has drastically increased testing availability since the spring, when limitations on lab supplies impacted the nation. On Wednesday, nearly a quarter of the 14,331 newly reported tests were positive.

To find testing near you, go to scdhec.gov/findatest.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 3,567, which is 2,157 percent higher than the 158 tallied on March 31, the day Gov. Henry McMaster ordered nonessential businesses to close.

Total cases in S.C.: 362,451, plus 37,392 probable cases

New deaths reported: 56

Total deaths in S.C.: 5,729 confirmed, 599 probable

Total tests in S.C.: 4,458,244

Hospitalized patients: 2,386

Percent of positive tests, seven-day average: 23 percent. Five percent of tests or fewer returning positive results is a good sign the virus' spread is slowing, researchers say.

Hardest-hit areas

According to DHEC data, the top counties for new coronavirus cases reported Wednesday were Spartanburg, 790; Greenville, 742; and Richland, 226.

What about tri-county?

Sign up for our new health newsletter The best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly. Email

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On Wednesday, Charleston County reported 73 new cases while Berkeley had 45 and Dorchester logged 41.

Deaths

Thirteen of the 56 deaths that DHEC confirmed Wednesday were victims aged 35 to 64, and the rest were 65 or older.

They lived in Aiken, Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Chesterfield, Colleton, Darlington, Dorchester, Fairfield, Florence, Greenville, Greenwood, Horry, Jasper, Lancaster, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, Marlboro, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Sumter and York counties.

Hospitalizations

Of the 2,386 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday, 471 were in intensive care and 307 were on ventilators.

How many cases have been found in long-term care facilities?

There have been 15,749 confirmed coronavirus cases in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities: 9,825 residents and 5,924 staff workers, according to DHEC data. That's a 4 percent increase of cases in a week.

So far, 1,690 residents have died from the virus, a mortality rate of 17 percent. Twenty-eight workers also have died. Together, they account for 30 percent of deaths in the state, the data released this week shows.

Of the 684 facilities DHEC monitored, the virus has been found in 464. There are active outbreaks at 216 of them.

Some type of visitation  indoor, outdoor or both  is allowed at 320 facilities; 347 do not allow it; and 17 did not report.

What do experts say?

Authorities continue to urge South Carolinians to take precautions, such as wearing masks or other face coverings, social distancing and frequently washing hands.

They also urge anyone who believes theyve been exposed to the virus or who is developing symptoms to get tested. Those out in the community or not able to socially distance should get tested monthly, DHEC advised.

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DGAP-News: Africa Oil & Power / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Africa Oil & Power: Senegal, Home of West African Gas Megaprojects, Hosts Major Energy Transition Event



20.01.2021 / 10:25

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Senegal, Home of West African Gas Megaprojects, Hosts Major Energy Transition Event

- MSGBC Oil, Gas and Power 2021, organized by Africa Oil & Power under the auspices of H.E. President Macky Sall, will be held on 26-27 October 2021, in Dakar.

- This event will be the leading investment platform for West Africa's oil, gas and power industries. It will showcase the region's investment appeal as one of the most exciting energy hotspots in Africa, with major hydrocarbons discoveries and vast renewable potential.

- MSGBC Oil, Gas and Power 2021 is held in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, COS Petrogaz, Petrosen and various US and Canadian energy industry associations, and it will gather all stakeholders and investors to promote the development and expansion of West Africa's energy sector and open a dialogue on the African Energy Transition.

Dakar, 20 January 2021 - Africa Oil & Power is proud to announce that, under the auspices of H.E. President Macky Sall and in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, COS Petrogaz, Petrosen and various US and Canadian energy industry associations, it will organize the first MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021 conference and exhibition. The event covers the entire region from Mauritania to Guinea, and also invites other important players in the region such as Algeria, Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire to hold talks with investor delegations from the United States, Australia, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021 will be held on 26-27 October, 2021 in Dakar and will be the elite energy gathering for one of Africa's most compelling energy investment destinations. The US-Africa Committee of the African Energy Chamber has provided its full support and endorsement. "Senegal and the region have historically welcomed US investment. This is now more important than ever. Looking ahead, American firms have a critical role in financing and providing technology to drive gas developments and the energy transition," said Jude Kearney, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Service Industries and Finance at the US Department of Commerce and currently President of Kearney Africa Advisors.

Senegal has succeeded in fast-tracking its oil and gas developments, despite recent uncertainty caused by COVID-19, and has attracted investment in wind and solar, establishing itself as West Africa's leader in the energy transition. The government of Senegal is keen to expand this narrative to encompass neighboring countries, with the goal of generating cross-border business and collaboration, and improving quality of life for potentially hundreds of millions of people.

Within West Africa, Senegal has gained most attention with the Sangomar field development - a $4.2 billion investment with production potential of up to 100,000 barrels per day - as well as the Great Tortue Ahmeyim development led by BP and Kosmos, that is estimated to hold 100 million barrels of oil equivalent in natural gas reserves. Looking beyond Senegal, the massive 50 trillion cubic feet natural gas discovery made by Kosmos in Mauritania in 2019, the nearly 5 billion barrels of oil estimated to be present in Gambia's blocks A1, A2, A4 and A5, and new entries and drilling programs in Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and elsewhere in the region, show that opportunities abound.

The region has very strong economic ties to North America, having a long legacy of welcoming US investment as well as US private companies operating in the energy sector. This strong connection was further reinforced in 2020 with the signing of an MoU between Senegal's national utility Senelec and national sovereign fund FONSIS with General Electric for investments in health and power infrastructure worth $200 million. This connection is expected to be further reinforced in the coming years and will be at the very center of MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021.

"There is no better time to be in West Africa than now, and Senegal is at the heart of the opportunities. The projects are there, many investors have already succeeded, but viable projects across the value-chain still need FDI. The regional market is full of opportunity for the right investor, particularly those with a holistic view of the energy sector and a long-term eye on the energy transition," said Renee Montez-Avinir, Managing Director at Africa Oil & Power.

"MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021 will provide just the place for the right investors to discover deals, partners and clients that will not only benefit their companies, but the energy sector and the region's economy at large", added Montez-Avinir.

MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2021 is the sole event in Senegal with full government support that opens up national and regional opportunities across the scope of the energy transition. The 2021 program will unite leaders and projects representing the full spectrum of energy activities, from oil and gas exploration to renewable energy developments, local goods and service provision, infrastructure, finance and power production and distribution. The organizer will work with all actors in the MSGBC region and international delegations in oil, gas and power sectors, from government officials to private sector players, to define opportunities and help new and existing investors find success in the market.



Find out more about Senegal's energy industry and about the event at www.africaoilandpower.com.

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Highlights LG is said to be considering leaving the smartphone business.

Last year, it was also reportedly planning to sell low-end business.

LG has been making losses in the smartphone business for about six years.

Ask yourself if you will buy an LG smartphone today. Some of you will say yes, some would be surprised to know LG still makes phones, but the majority would say no. And because of these naysayers, LG is finally quitting the smartphone business. LG Electronics CEO Kwon Bong-seok has said that it was "about time for LG to make a cold judgement" referring to the winding up of the phone business that has been in shambles for over six years. The company boss might now be looking at "sale, withdrawal and [a] downsizing" of LG smartphone business after having tough luck in the smartphone industry.

According to The Korea Herald, Bong-seok has shared a message to his staff that a decision on the company's smartphone business is impending. The LG CEO took the role of managing the company's smartphone business, among others, in early 2020. He was confident that LG would be "profitable by 2021" but he did not explain how that was going to happen. Although for Bong-seok, launching new phones with "wow factors" was a part of the plan to turn around the business that is making a huge loss in the past six years. The new smartphones would include the wild LG Wing that has two displays, the Velvet, and the recently unveiled LG Rollable, which was a concept phone at CES 2021 until the company decided to launch it later this year.

All the new smartphones that LG has been launching over the past year belong to the premium segment, which is unlike Apple, not ludicrous enough for the company to drive revenue. The archnemesis Samsung has been hurling all sorts of smartphones to the market under its Galaxy M and Galaxy A series, which sell more than the flagship Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series. Including Samsung, other smartphone industry players based out of China -- Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Realme -- harmed LG's smartphone business. So much so that it shrank to just 1.7 per cent on the global charts, according to StatCounter's report released in December last year.

Last month, LG was also reported to have decided that it will sell its low- and mid-end phones to third party vendors who will manufacture the device and sell them, although the LG branding will be intact. The company said that it will only focus on the premium segment with the Project Explorer underway for smartphones such as Wing. LG did not divulge much back then, but its decision to call it quits in the smartphone industry is not surprising at all.

Bong-seok, in his letter, has said that 60 per cent of employees in the phone business will be moved to other departments in the company. But the future of the remaining 40 per cent is not certain as of now. There is a fat chance that LG will retain the workforce to use their institutional knowledge for future products, even if they are not smartphones. Japan's Sony still has the smartphone division running after the massive downsizing to use their intel for developing various technologies that are used in phones for future gadgets that may launch.
(Adds company comments on refinery and hydrometallurgy)

By Nuzulack Dausen

DAR ES SALAAM, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Tanzania and UK-based

mining firm Kabanga Nickel Limited signed a framework agreement

on Tuesday to jointly develop the Kabanga nickel project

formerly owned by Barrick Gold and Glencore.

Foreign minister Palamagamba Kabudi said at a signing

ceremony in Bukoba the government would own a 16% undiluted

free-carried interest in the nickel project through a new joint

venture company, Tembo Nickel Corporation, 84% owned by Kabanga

Nickel.

By law, Tanzania's government gets a 16% stake in all mining

projects in the country.

Nickel is a key electric car battery material and Kabanga in

Tanzania's northwest is the world's largest development-ready,

high-grade nickel sulphide deposit, Kabanga Nickel says. It is

estimated to contain more than 1.52 million tonnes of nickel.

Barrick Gold and Glencore lost the nickel project in 2018

when Tanzanian President John Magufuli's administration revoked

their retention licence along with 10 others as part of new

mining laws and regulations.

Kabanga Nickel, which was previously called LZ Nickel, said

it had agreed with Barrick and Glencore to acquire all the

project data and information from them, including a 2014 draft

feasibility study report and subsequent updates.

As well as starting the mine, Kabudi said Kabanga Nickel is

required to build a nickel smelter which can also smelt other

metals such copper and gold.

Kabanga said it will be granted a refinery licence, and will

use hydrometallurgy technology to process nickel concentrate

in-country, rather than the more energy-intensive

pyrometallurgical process of smelting and refining.

"This process will eliminate the need to export concentrate

long distances to European or Asian smelters and refineries,

thus reducing capital and operating costs with significantly

less environmental impact," the company said.

Kabanga Nickel said Tembo would produce Class 1 nickel and

cobalt products, and LME Grade A copper cathode. The mine is

estimated to contain more than 100,000 tonnes of cobalt - also

used in batteries.

(Reporting by Nuzulack Dausen; editing by Helen Reid, Jason

Neely and David Evans)
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.
ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As states make COVID-19 vaccines more widely available, Lidl US today announced a new initiative to encourage its employees to get the vaccine. Lidl is providing $200 in extra pay to all Lidl US employees who choose to receive the vaccine. The additional payment will help offset the costs associated with vaccine administration, including travel costs and childcare. The company will also accommodate employee schedules for vaccine appointments.

This initiative builds on Lidl's ongoing effort to protect the health of its employees. Last January, Lidl began to offer comprehensive medical coverage to all full and part-time employees, regardless of the number of hours they work per week. In March, Lidl developed a first-in-the-industry program with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield to give all its employees access to comprehensive COVID-19 medical coverage at no cost.

"We are proud to provide our employees the resources they need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine free of any obstacles," said Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl US. "From the outset of the pandemic, we have worked hard to put the health and safety of our employees first. From offering free COVID-19 healthcare to our entire workforce, to installing hospital-grade air filtration in our stores and warehouses to assure cleaner and healthier air, Lidl has made it a priority to adapt our policies to work better for our people during this pandemic. We are proud to do so again today to ensure that every team member who wants to get vaccinated is able to do so as soon as possible."

According to an internal survey, Lidl employees are eager to receive the vaccine. Nearly 8 in 10 of them plan to get the vaccine as soon as it became available. The company is providing employees with information about the availability of vaccines in their locality and continues to work with state and local officials to ensure workers are a priority for vaccine distribution.

For more information about the actions Lidl US is taking to address COVID-19, visit www.lidl.com/coronavirus-update.

About Lidl

Lidl operates around 11,200 stores and is active in 32 countries, employing more than 310,000 employees globally. Lidl offers customers the highest quality fresh produce, meat, bakery items and a wide array of household products at the lowest possible prices. Lidl first established its U.S. headquarters in Arlington County, Virginia, in June 2015, and today sells its award-winning products in more than 125 stores across nine east coast states. For more information, visit www.Lidl.com.

Lidl US

[email protected]

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For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
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.

The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Staten Island man who live-streaming himself allegedly taking part in the U.S. Capitol riot wont be attending any political rallies any time soon.

A day after federal authorities arrested Nicolas Moncada, 20, at his Bay Terrace home for allegedly storming the complex on Jan. 6, several family members bailed him out of federal prison.

Moncada appeared Tuesday afternoon before Judge Ramon Reyes during a virtual arraignment during which his mother, grandmother and aunt also dialed in.

The judge agreed to grant a $250,000 bond.

Reyes set several conditions for Moncadas release, including forbidding him from participating in any political rallies or social media exchanges and entering the U.S. Capitol or any state capitol buildings.

Your mom, grandmother and aunt are taking a risk signing this bond for you to secure your release, you must not do anything to jeopardize them, Reyes said.

Moncada will be released later Tuesday, Reyes said.

There is obviously troubling conduct alleged here  entering the Capitol as part of a mob and then posting about storming the Capitol  but we believe that the bail package that I understand is being offered is sufficient out of the circumstances of this case to allow the defendants release on condition, said Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kessler during the arraignment.

The FBI arrested Moncada Monday morning after the bureau received information from the Office of Public Safety at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan that Moncada was identified by several students and faculty members who saw his social-media posts allegedly participating in the riots, according to the complaint from the FBI.

At the time of his arrest, Moncada was no longer a student at FIT.

The FIT Office of Public Safety provided FBI New York with screen shots of social media posts purportedly made by Moncada on Instagram accounts the_ideological_way and idwalkaway and the Twitter account ideologicalway.

The posts include selfies and/or first-person video of rioting and unlawful entry in the U.S. Capitol complex, the complaint alleges.

In one video Moncada posted the scaffolding maintained outside of the U.S. Capitol and law enforcement officers standing on the steps of that building, federal authorities said in the complaint.

The same day, Moncada allegedly posted on Instagram a video taken inside the Capitol that he captioned, Nothing to see here Instagram! The video shows rioters screaming at the U.S. Capitol Police officers, authorities allege.

The defendant is facing charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, violent entry and disorderly conduct on capitol grounds.

Moncada will eventually be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington, D.C, the office said.

I do not believe he is being charged with committing any acts of violence and it appears he was merely a spectator in the events that transpired, Moncadas lawyer Mario Gallucci said. Mr. Moncada denies any participation in the effort to overthrow the government, and he looks forward to defending his good name.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island is urging the Providence police to more vigorously enforce the departments officer body camera policy, citing several instances when it was violated.

The body camera policy is regularly flouted, violations are rarely punished, and the transparency these cameras are supposed to provide the public is undermined, the ACLU wrote in a letter to Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare and police chief Col. Hugh Clements Jr., Executive Director Steven Brown said in a statement Monday.

Brown is asking the department to establish a more vigorous audit process, to hold officers responsible for violating the departments body camera policy.

The department disciplined 20 officers for failing to activate their body cameras since January 2018, the ACLU said. In each case, the officers received nothing more than verbal reprimands.

Three officers who responded to a moped crash in October that severely injured a man were accused of not turning on their body cameras.

Clements told WPRI-TV in a statement that the departments goal is to condition officers to turn them on routinely during those situations required by policy. He said the department conducts regular internal audits and compliance checks.
Joe Biden, the man who will be US President from Wednesday broke down in tears Tuesday as he said goodbye to the state of Delaware before th...

Joe Biden, the man who will be US President from Wednesday broke down in tears Tuesday as he said goodbye to the state of Delaware before the journey to Washington and White House.

Biden broke down in tears as he addressed a crowd of National Guard members at the Major Joseph R. Beau Biden III National Guard Reserve Center.

Beau was Bidens late son. He was a US Army veteran, lawyer and aspiring politician killed by a brain tumour in 2015 aged just 46.

Initially speaking to the crowd, Biden thanked his supporters for making him president-elect.

Its kind of emotional for me, he said. Look, you were with me my whole career, through the good times and the bad.

However, tears began to stream down the president-elects cheeks as he spoke of the late son.

Biden said: Excuse the emotion, but when I die, Delaware will be written on my heart. I am proud, proud, proud, proud to be a son of Delaware, and I am even more proud to be standing here doing this for Major Beau Biden. Ladies and gentlemen, I only have one regret  that hes not here.

Because he should be here. We should be introducing him as president.

His voice cracking, Biden continued: But, we have great opportunities. Delawares taught us that anythings possible in this country, so may God bless you all, and may God bless our troops.
Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Wednesday became the 46th president of the United States, pledging to support all Americans as they grapple with the public health and economic crises wrought by COVID-19 and promising to a help a divided nation heal just two weeks after a deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Bidens inaugural address, while broadcast and streamed globally, was delivered to a relatively small, socially-distanced audience of dignitaries at the West Front of the Capitol. The National Mall, closed off and secured by tens of thousands of National Guardsmen amid threats of potential violence, was filled with a sea of small U.S., state and territorial flags in honor of those who could not attend in person and the 400,000 whove died during the pandemic.

Members of the National Guard look on as American flags decorate the "Field of Flags" at the National Mall ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (Tasos Katopodis/Pool Photo via AP)AP

Biden characterized the moment as a historic victory, and challenge, for democracy. Citing his own fathers struggles decades ago, Biden told Americans he understood their plight as millions have lost their jobs, lost family members and feared losing their health care. He called on Americans to join forces and respect each other as they had during the Great Depression, World War II and 9/11.

My whole soul is in this, Biden pledged, taking a line from former President Abraham Lincoln after he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Bringing America together, uniting our people. I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Biden asked those who did not support him to hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. Disagreement must not lead to disunion. I will be a president for all Americans.

Unity, Biden argued, was the key to putting people back to work, teaching children in safe schools, overcoming coronavirus, rebuilding the middle class and ending racial injustice.

He acknowledged, however, that talking about unity can sound like a foolish fantasy these days.

The forces that divide us are deep and they are real, but I also know they are not new, he said. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear and demonization have long torn us apart.

He touted the election of his running mate, former Sen. Kamala Harris of California, who was sworn in just before Biden to become the first female, Black and South Asian American to serve as vice president.

Dont tell me things cant change, he said.

Though he did not mention his predecessor by name, Biden cited the mob loyal to President Donald Trump that ransacked the Capitol in an attempt to thwart Congress from sealing Bidens victory on Jan. 6.

Trump and Republican allies in Congress, seeking to overturn the election, had baselessly claimed for weeks that the White House was stolen through election fraud or irregularities in battleground states.

Biden noted that the mob attacking the Capitol had failed, and argued that American democracy wont be stopped by violence, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

Biden made clear that his administration would confront a rise of political extremism, white supremacy and domestic terrorism, and he encouraged Americans to reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

He called on Americans to hear one another, walk in each others shoes and lower the temperature.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal, he said.

At 78, the Delaware Democrat becomes the oldest man to sit behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office after serving three decades in the U.S. Senate and two terms in the White House under the first Black president, Barack Obama.

Biden thanked Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, as well as former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, for attending the ceremony.

46 Inauguration Day 2021: Joe Biden takes oath of office

In a break with longstanding tradition during American transfers of power, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump chose not to attend the inauguration. The couple took their final fight on Air Force One to their Palm Beach resort on Wednesday morning. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence attended the inauguration.

Well be back in some form, Trump told a crowd of allies and former aides at Joint Base Andrews. We love you. Have a good life.

Biden was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, while Justice Sonia Sotomayor administered the oath of office for Harris. Biden took the oath with his hand atop a 127-year-old family bible held by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden.

Biden defeated Trump in November after besting a record Democratic primary field of nearly 30 contenders. Biden picked up 7 million more votes than Trump and earned 306 Electoral College votes to Trumps 232.

States that were crucial to Trumps victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016  including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia  flipped for Biden.

Officials in Washington, D.C. and at state capitals across the country braced for potential violence Wednesday in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

While Trump supporters have argued that most remained peaceful during the Jan. 6 protest and that Trump encouraged them to peacefully and patriotically make their voices heard, his speech frequently mentioned fighting and insisted that his followers had the power to overturn an election that he decisively lost.

Bipartisan local, state and federal election officials found no evidence that widespread fraud impacted the presidential race. Dozens of judges of both major parties, including several Trump appointees, tossed lawsuits from Trumps campaign and Republican allies. Trumps own Department of Homeland Security and former attorney general found no evidence that fraud or irregularities led to Bidens win.

Trump now faces an unprecedented second impeachment trial after the House voted to impeach him last week for incitement of insurrection at the Capitol.

Biden plans a host of actions in his first few days in office, including eliminating the Trump-era ban on travel from Muslim-majority nations, rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and pressing for a new COVID-19 stimulus including a $1,400 stimulus check.

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Alec Baldwin had his classic BMW repaired at a Hamptons mechanic in New York on Tuesday.

The 62-year-old star wore a navy blue jacket with a black shirt and a face mask amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The 30 Rock star had his grey locks parted to the side and he chat with the mechanic on the clear winter day.

The latest: Alec Baldwin, 62, had his classic BMW repaired at a Hamptons mechanic in New York on Tuesday, a day after leaving Twitter

Alec, who won an Emmy for his Saturday Night Live impression of outgoing President Donald Trump, appeared to one a good mood a day before Trump left office.

Baldwin made headlines after he left Twitter indefinitely Monday morning, weeks after his wife Hilaria, 37, was embroiled in a scandal, accused of faking Spanish heritage and accent when she was raised in Boston.

'Twitter is like a party where everyone is screaming,' he said. 'Not much of a party. Goodbye for now.'

The Glengarry Glen Ross actor last month called the social media format 'just a vast orchard of c***' amid the imbroglio involving his spouse.

The 30 Rock star had his grey locks parted to the side and he chat with the mechanic on the clear winter day

Baldwin made headlines after he left Twitter indefinitely Monday morning, weeks after his wife Hilaria, 37, was embroiled in a scandal, accused of faking Spanish heritage and accent when she was raised in Boston

'You have to kind of hack your way through the debris of Twitter,' the Academy Award nominee said. 'There's things that have been said lately about people that I love, that I care about deeply, which are ridiculous. I mean, just ridiculous.

'They've said it about people I love - false things. Untrue things. And as much as that hurts, the only thing I can do is talk to that half of the public or that portion of the public who understands what I mean when I say: Consider the source. When you love somebody you want to defend them.'

Baldwin and Hilaria are parents to five children - daughter Carmen, seven, and sons Rafael, five, Leonardo, four, Romeo, two, and Eduardo, four months.

See you later: The actor tweeted he was taking a break from the format on Monday

Hilaria's heritage fell under question after a social media thread pointed out inconsistencies in stories she had told the media about her upbringing.

A number of her childhood peers said she grew up in Boston under the name Hillary Hayward-Thomas, and did not speak with a Spanish accent in those years. She was seen in a 2015 Today show clip seemingly forgetting the world 'cucumber' in a cooking segment, which became a social media focal point as the scandal contained to make headlines.

She told the New York Times of the scandal, 'There is not something I'm doing wrong, and I think there is a difference between hiding and creating a boundary.

'I was born in Boston. I spent time in Boston and in Spain. My family now lives in Spain. I moved to New York when I was 19 years old and I have lived here ever since,' she told the paper. 'For me, I feel like I have spent 10 years sharing that story over and over again. And now it seems like its not enough.'
A bare minimum of 1.5 per cent as remission of taxes and duties for exports is needed by the domestic electronics sector if it has to become the top exporter in the world by 2025, industry association India Cellular and Electronics Association has said.

The government recently announced a WTO compliant Remission on Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme that replaced the earlier Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme. Effective since the beginning of the year, the government is yet to notify the rates of the new scheme. Under the old scheme, it had offered a straightforward incentive of 2-4 per cent on the total value of exported products and it had resulted in a significant surge in export of electronics from the country from $6,072 million in 2017-18 to $11,225 million in 2019-20.

"RoDTEP is critical to address India's deep disabilities vis-a-vis its competitors for boosting electronics manufacturing and making it India's number 1 export by 2025. This needs to be an ongoing exercise to address the adverse impact on India's competitiveness, of high taxes which remain unremitted. An early finalisation of RoDTEP base rate and rates of priority products needs to be our immediate focus," said Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman ICEA.

The association has prepared a report in collaboration with IKDHVAJ Advisers LLP, which has proposed 2 per cent rate of RoDTEP for smartphones, tablets and laptops, 2.34 per cent for feature phones, 3.4 per cent for battery chargers and base rate of 1.48 per cent for battery packs. These rates are based on the minimum assumption of logistics and power costs in manufacturing.

India suffers several disabilities vis-a-vis competing destinations such as China, Vietnam and Thailand, which make India's exports uncompetitive. ICEA said RoDTEP, which replaces the MEIS Scheme, is key to ensuring that Indian electronics exports regain the competitive edge. ICEA aims to make electronics India's top export by 2025.

Globally, electronics is a US$2 trillion industry, dominated by exports from China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan. Electronics is amongst the largest traded commodities after oil. It provides India with a tremendous opportunity to become a global leader in exports. RoDTEP is critical since the government is targeting $1 trillion in exports by 2025 as part of the $5 trillion GDP objective. No country has reached the $5 trillion mark without exports contributing at least 18-20 percent.

The report also highlights the tremendous growth in electronics manufacturing and exports over the last three years. Electronics, which is India's ninth largest exports, has shown the highest response (85 per cent increase) to export stimulus between 2017-2020, from amongst the top 15 exports from India. The report further shows that several countries are already allowing remission of indirect taxes, levies and duties that are allowed under WTO. It identifies and unbundles indirect taxes for the purposes of remission. The rates estimated in the report identify the unremitted duties/taxes/levies at the central, state and local level, borne by exported electronics products, including prior stage cumulative indirect taxes on goods and services used in the production of such products.

Also read: Tesla incorporates firm in Bengaluru with 3 directors, scouts for land

Also read: Auto sales jump 11% YoY in Dec; growth registered for first time in FY21
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 74F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Clarice Massmann,age 86 of Osakis passed away on Monday, May 24, 2021 at the Lakeside Lodge care facility in Osakis, MN. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Immaculate Conception Church in Osakis with burial at the Calvary Cemetery. Visitation hour
Beijing Regime Sanctions Pompeo, Other Trump Officials Over Tough China Policies

As President Joe Biden was sworn in to office, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposed sanctions on former Trump administration officials, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former national security adviser Robert OBrien, in response to their tough-on-China policies.

The announcement came a day after Pompeo declared the CCPs repression of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region a genocide.

The Chinese regime sanctioned 28 people on Jan. 20. A foreign ministry spokesperson accused them of seriously violated Chinas sovereignty, adding that they were responsible for a series of crazy moves which seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations.

Among those sanctioned are high-level officials in former President Donald Trumps administration, including Pompeo; OBrien; former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro; former deputy national security adviser Matthew Pottinger; former Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar; former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft; David Stilwell, former assistant state secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; and Keith Krach, former undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment.

John Bolton, Trumps previous national security adviser, and Stephen Bannon, who previously served as Trumps White House chief strategist, also were sanctioned.

Those sanctioned and their immediate family members are barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, according to the spokesperson. The individuals and companies and institutions associated with them will also be restricted from doing business with China, the statement added.

The former U.S. officials sanctioned were involved in the Trump administrations response to threats posed by the CCP. These include sanctions on CCP officials for rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, banning U.S. investments into Chinese companies with ties to the military, and convincing allies to block Chinese telecom giant Huawei from 5G networks around the world over national security threats.

Azar and Krach last year visited Taiwan, becoming the highest-level U.S. officials to visit since the United States switched formal relations to China in 1979 from Taiwan. Craft had been scheduled to visit the island last week but ended up speaking to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen via teleconference instead, when it was canceled due to transition efforts. The high-level visits, as well as the Trump administrations increased engagement and arms sales to the democratic island, angered Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory.

In one of his final acts as secretary of state, Pompeo declared that the regime has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the far-western Xinjiang region. Bidens pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told a Senate hearing on Jan. 19 that he agreed with the designation.

He also acknowledged the grave threat posed by the regime and pledged to work with allies to push back against Beijing.

The CCPs persecution campaign in the region, perpetrated through its network of internment camps and mass surveillance system, has drawn international condemnation. Under the pretext of combating extremism, the regime has detained more than 1 million of the regions inhabitants, and subjected them to forced sterilization, forced labor, and torture.

Beijing, which denies the atrocities, lashed out at Pompeo during a foreign ministry press briefing on Jan. 20, calling him a doomsday clown, while describing the designation as a piece of wastepaper.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
In our last blog post, we discussed in-demand cybersecurity skills that IT workers should be prioritizing in 2021. This post will lift the magnifying glass and take a deep dive into two questions: why is there a gap in cybersecurity skills? How do we close that gap?

According to Help Net Security, a recent (ISC) survey explains, data suggests that employment in the field now needs to grow by approximately 41% in the U.S. and 89% worldwide to fill the talent gap, which remains a top concern of professionals. Such gaps in employment opportunities and skills are harmful to both job and expert seekers. It is difficult for companies to find IT professionals who have all the skills needed to meet the continually evolving industry demands. For IT professionals, both rookies and vets, this skill gap creates fewer job opportunities and eliminates experience building. But, before we get too carried away with the repercussions, lets take a look inside the cybersecurity skills gap.

The Ongoing Cybersecurity Skills Gap

The cybersecurity industry is experiencing an extreme talent shortage across the country, which has been explicitly spotlighted by the ongoing pandemic. Some of the many reasons this gap exists include lack of diversity, trouble attracting candidates into the field, and a continuous change in skillset demands. A recent Silicon Republic article explains, cybersecurity traditionally has appealed only to a very specific set of candidates because it requires experience and knowledge in other areas, such as system admin, networking or application development, and people with a security mindset. Doing security well is not just following the process and going through the motions; it requires people to be able to think critically and creatively.

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has decried the number of abandoned buildings in the Abuja city centre.

The director of the Department of Monitoring and Inspection, Olawale Labiyi, represented by Obinna Nkwocha of City Monitoring Division, stated this during a site inspection on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Labiyi said abandoned buildings were a security risk because they could serve as hideouts for hoodlums and criminals.

He called on residents of the territory to always be vigilant and report any suspicious movements around any abandoned building in their neighbourhood.

Mr Labiyi urged developers to ensure that no site or building was left unoccupied.

He also advised them to make a proper search before developing their plots, to avoid litigation and illegal development that could lead to them being abandoned.

The director urged developers to make proper costing and estimation of buildings before commencement to avoid abandoning the building halfway.

ALSO READ: FCTA demolishes 134 houses in Apo Akpmajenya indigenous community

Mr Labiyi commended the FCTA Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) for delivering effective services, especially during the recent holiday period.

He said the department of monitoring and inspection was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring SDAs deliver effective and efficient services to the public.

(NAN)

Houston doctors say they were left blindsided after being locked out of the Heights Hospital on Monday. A sudden closure of the Heights Hospital located on 1917 Ashland left hundreds of patients stranded.

A note which was posted on the door stated that the clinic was closed due to back rent. According to the notice posted, doctors would only be given keys when $461,301.24 in rent and fees are paid.

NEW VACCINATION HUBS: Texas rolls out additional vaccination hubs in the Houston area.

When Dr. Felicity Mack discovered she had been locked out, she began to treat patients in the parking lot.

"We are really not getting any answers, but at the end of the day, my primary concern, like I said, is my patients," Dr. Mack told KHOU's Cory McCord.

Another Heights Hospital physician, Dr. John Thomas, stressed that this abrupt closure sent a damaging message to patients.

"It is very obvious that somebody is thinking only about money and not about community and lives," Thomas said.

In a lawsuit filed in Harris County, Arbitra Capital Partners, LLC stated that Heights Hospital owners, Dharmesh Patel and James Day owe much more than back rent in its filing suit against the hospital, according to the Houston Chronicle's Gwendolyn Wu. The lawsuit alleges that Patel and Day took out a loan for $28 million in 2019. According to the loan terms, approximately more than $3 million in interest is now due.

On Tuesday, Patel stated that he had not allowed permission to the creditor Arbitra Capital Partners of Nevada to block tenants' access to office spaces.

The owners of 1917 Heights Hospital real estate do not condone that acts of Arbitra, which have caused an interruption of necessary medical services to the community in Houston, Patel said on Tuesday.

Right now, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is pushing for the reopening of the clinic. Jackson Lee sent this statement to the media, after patients and doctors were locked out:

[January 20, 2021] MPHASE REPORTS THIRD CONSECUTIVE PROFITABLE QUARTER AND BEGINS CONVERTIBLE NOTE REPAYMENTS

Gaithersburg, MD, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- mPhase Technologies, Inc. (OTC Pink: XDSL) (mPhase or the Company) reported financial results for its fiscal 2021 first quarter, which ended September 30, 2020. The first quarter of fiscal 2021 financial results achieved the Companys third consecutive profitable quarter. In conjunction with this release, the Company is also providing additional operational developments.

For fiscal Q1 2021, management is noting the following items of importance: Revenue remained steady at $7.6 million, a continuation of the recurring revenue trend in recent quarters and in line with the $7.6 million reported in fiscal Q1 2020;

Gross profit margin of 25.9% was 130 basis points higher than the 24.6% reported in fiscal Q1 2020;

Operating income of $1.2 million achieved the Companys third consecutive profitable quarter compared to a loss of $10.1 million in fiscal Q1 2020;

Net income of $0.7 million achieved the Companys third consecutive profitable quarter, compared to a net loss of $10.3 million in fiscal Q1 2020;

Basic and diluted net income per common share of $0.01 significantly improved from basic and diluted net loss per share of ($0.85) in Q1 2020; and

Stockholders equity achieved a new record at $7.0 million, a 27% increase over the $5.5 million reported at prior fiscal year-end June 30, 2020. Following the fiscal Q1 2021 reporting period, the Company is pleased to report additional positive developments: Receipt of the $14.2 million in receivables reported in fiscal Q1 2021 is underway, reducing this outstanding balance;

Increased cash flows enabled the Company to pay off two convertible promissory notes in early January, significantly strengthening the balance sheet and avoiding dilution; and

Upon yesterdays filing of the fiscal Q1 2021 Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, the Company is current in its filings with th Securities and Exchange Commission.



Financial Results and Corporate Update Conference Call

Due to expected near-term corporate events, mPhase plans to hold a combined earnings and operational update call that will provide a better forum for discussion of its strategic plan for 2021. The date and dial in information will be provided in a subsequent corporate communication. The Company expects to schedule this call before the end of January 2021. About mPhase Technologies mPhase is a technology driven, innovative development company that creates and commercializes products and applications that impact everyday people. The Company is assembling industry-leading teams specializing in artificial intelligence, machine learning, software, consumer engagement, and other advanced technologies. Additional information can be found at the mPhase website, www.mphasetech.com ; and at www.learningtrack.com . Please follow us on twitter: @mPhase_Tech for the latest updates. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are identified by the use of the words could, believe, anticipate, intend, estimate, expect, may, continue, predict, potential, project and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Contacts: Investor Contact:

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Turkeys trade minister urged exporters to make new breakthroughs in Asia, a gigantic market whose middle class is gradually expanding, consumption habits are swiftly diversifying, and technology and innovation infrastructure is rapidly developing, Daily Sabah writes in the article Time to make new breakthroughs in Asia, Turkey's trade minister says.

Therefore, it is time to say Asia Anew, Ruhsar Pekcan said at a virtual meeting organized by Turkeys Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) on new perspectives toward enhancing trade volume between Turkey and Asian countries.

Turkey launched the Asia Anew Initiative in 2019 to improve ties with Asian countries in different areas. The initiative aims to improve ties with the Asian countries in various areas, including education, the defense industry, investments, trade, technology, culture and political dialogue. Pekcan called on Turkish businesses to see Asia and the Pacific region as an export market rather than the main source of imports. These countries (with which we post foreign trade deficit) should not be far for us to export to if they are not far for us to import from, Pekcan said. She said it was highly critical that businesspeople put forth more efforts in 2021 to enable the trade composition between Turkey and the regions countries, where it experiences a trade deficit, to reach a balanced structure.

It is time to see the geography of Asia and the Pacific, especially China and India, as our export markets, Pekcan said. At a time when Europe is slowing down, we see no obstacle to making our exports sustainable by opening up new markets," she said. Under the coordination of the Trade Ministry and the organization of DEIK, some 131 business events were organized with around 30 countries in the region, the minister said.

Noting that Asia has increasingly become the center for global production and trade, Pekcan stressed that the share of the Asia Pacific region rose from 26.3% in 2000 to 34.9% in 2019. The Asia Pacific regions share of global exports also climbed from 28% to 37% in the same period while one-third of global direct investments in 2019 was poured into this region, she said. Turkeys exports to Asia-Pacific countries dropped by 1.5% and imports were down 8.6% year-on-year in 2020, according to the data. Highlighting that Turkeys foreign trade with Asian countries is unbalanced, Pekcan said: Their share in Turkeys exports stood at 14.3% and in imports was 33.7% last year. We must definitely change this unsustainable trade structure.

DEIK Chairperson Nail Olpak said: China accounts for about 40% of our foreign trade deficit. The rest of Asia reaches 88% of our total foreign trade deficit. Our deficit will almost disappear as soon as we balance the region." Olpak called this "a difficult but important goal."

Bridge between Europe, China

Seven out of 17 target countries Turkey determined for 2020-2021 and nine of the 28 countries determined as primary have been chosen as focus countries from the region, according to Pekcan. She expressed hopes that this would have a catalyst effect in terms of companies turning toward the region. Turkish businesspeoples investments in the region have reached $3.5 billion (TL 26.3 billion) as of 2019, while the inflow from the regions countries has totaled about $17.5 billion, the minister said.

She also stressed that in order to increase the trade dialogue with the countries under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and to revitalize the Middle Corridor, called the modern Silk Road, we continue our work with the aim of making our country a bridge between Europe and China.

She recalled the recent export train trips that were launched from Istanbul to China, dubbing them a significant step. The first train carrying goods from Turkey to China departed on Nov. 4 and reached its destination on Dec. 19. The train covered 8,693 kilometers (over 5,400 miles) as it passed through two continents, two seas and five countries. It traveled across Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea and Kazakhstan to reach Xian, the capital city of Shaanxi province in central China. Two days after its arrival, a second train also departed for China. Turkish officials have said new trips are being planned. In November 2019, Turkey and the world witnessed a historic moment after Ankara welcomed and sent off the first train that departed from China to Europe while passing under the Bosporus via Istanbuls Marmaray tunnel, marking the realization of the Silk Railway dream.

21st century to be Asias century

Also addressing the meeting, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the 21st century will be Asias century, underlining the continents strategic importance and potential. The 19th and 20th centuries were the centuries of Europe and America, respectively. Today, all the data suggests that the 21st century will be the century of Asia, Cavusoglu noted. Many countries act with the awareness of this fact, the minister stressed, citing various deals signed recently between European countries, such as the U.K., and their Asian counterparts. Noting that Turkey launched its Asia Anew initiative in 2019 to improve ties with Asian nations, he stressed that the initiative was especially significant in enhancing economic relations. We supported 33 Asian countries during the pandemic period and we brought medical supplies on vaccinations from countries like China and Japan, he said, referring to continuing ties between Turkey and Asia during the coronavirus pandemic.
The name began a decade ago as an inside joke  Dumpster Juice  a cheeky nod to the idea that almost anything, from bitter herbs to citrus peels, thistles and branches, can be steeped in fortified wine and transformed into the magic of vermouth.

I thought it was funny, said Bloomsday Cafe co-owner Zach Morris, recalling his wisecrack over a long-ago spritzer project at the Philadelphia Wine School, where he used to teach. Wherever you have a wine industry, you have vermouth, because it is a way of preserving waste products.

But the idea stuck. So this spring, when Morris put his own first batch of vermouth to steep at Bloomsday with local ingredients, I wrote Dumpster Juice on a piece of tape on a glass carboy of nasty, macerating liquid and thought: Philly would accept this more than most places with the pride of a parents love.

The finished products of Bloomsdays bimonthly vermouth series since have been anything but trash. In fact, they have been as elegant as theyve been diverse in personality. Made with a base of local riesling and vodka, plus an evolving bouquet of botanicals that reflect the changing seasons, from jasmine and citrus in spring to rhubarb, elderflower, and mugwort in early summer, to sassafras, Appalachian allspice and fig leaves in fall, each of the four limited-edition batches released to date have been snapped up swiftly through Instagram by the citys quiet legion of vermouth fans.

I drank it neat with an ice cube and I thought it was glorious! Glorious! said Kate Thomas, a British professor of 19th-century literature at Bryn Mawr College whos dabbled in making her own vermouth for martinis. It wasnt syrupy at all. And it was so nice to have while standing and cooking, sipping this very layered, but not grab-you-around-the-throat medicinal thing. It was so delicate and rosy and sunny, youd think you were in a summer meadow. Plus, I love the name: Dumpster Juice! Its very Philly.

The edition Thomas drank in early September, the third batch, was a rose-colored beauty tinted with hibiscus and rhubarb enriched with artichokes, fig leaves, and hops that tasted something like a strawberry lozenge with a wonderful licorice finish.

Bloomsdays fifth batch of vermouth, to be released on Friday, could not be a better homage to 2020. This Glad Thats Over Edition has been dubbed Dumpster Fire and, as the can reads: Heres to the end of a pretty garbage year!

But if theres proof of beauty emerging from the steady misery of the year that ended, this newest batch is it  cola dark and more brooding than its predecessors, with a more intense contrast of bitterness and sweetness. Theres also herbal wormwood, gentian root, citrus, and hickory bark wrapped around a juicy core of Concord grape skins and vegetal cardoons from Green Meadow Farm, a giant thistle that Morris describes tasting like buttered artichokes.

In many ways, this entire project would not have happened had it not been for the pandemic, which prompted new laws to allow for cocktails to go. The extra-dry first batch, packaged inside a plastic pouch with a colorful label from artist Gregory W. Dyson depicting a farmer beside a dumpster divers arm rising triumphantly from the overflowing mess with a bottle of liquid gold, was Bloomsdays spring reopening gift to the city of Gritty.

Its got that sort of lighthearted fun and experimental vibe, said Dumpster Juice fan and avid vermouth lover, digital designer Will Hare. You never know whats going to come out of the bottle.

Morris and his collaborator, Bloomsday general manager Tim Kweeder, have long bonded over their love of vermouth  or vermut, as its spelled in Barcelona, a city where Morris once lived and explored its vibrant vermouth bar scene. The beverages history (dating to 16th century Germany and Italy), myriad styles (from red to white, and dark to sweet), and its ability to convey complex flavors at relatively low alcohol levels (ranging from 15%-19%) have captured their imaginations. A national trend toward lower-alcohol beverages have also helped boost the drinks notoriety as a fantail of the craft cocktail boom.

Thats one reason Bloomsdays bottle shop, which also has one of the best selections of natural wine and craft beer in town, carries as many as 18 brands of vermouth from around the world. They encourage drinking it neat with an ice cube and garnish, rather than just as a component in cocktails. But the opportunity to make their own using a palette of local ingredients was irresistible.

Were aroma freaks, says Morris, so its been fun to find interesting botanicals, make tinctures, and steep them into vermouth. Its like making a sauce. If you start with the raw ingredients and stand over the pot and taste it along the way, theres something primal and enjoyable about that.

Kweeder and Morris share sophisticated enough palates that their debut collaborations show a clear vision and sense of craft, with an elegant, well-integrated balance of layers and a logical seasonal progression through batches from drier, more quenching vermouths in summer to weightier, spice-forward brews for cold-weather sipping.

These are some of the more unique flavors weve had, said Hare, who along with wife Faith Hare, a research analyst, has sampled over 50 vermouths in travels to Spain. These lean a little toward the amaro range in their intensity of bitterness, but theyre really interesting. .

They are each made from local ingredients. Aside from key sources like the tart riesling from Wayvine Vineyard in Nottingham and vodka from Faber that act as the vermouths neutral base, Morris and Kweeder have plugged into the agricultural riches of Green Meadow Farm for botanicals ranging from wormwood (the herb from which vermouths name descends) to minty nepetella and tiny trifoliate oranges. The two have found a treasure trove of ingredients at Penn Herb Co. in Northern Liberties. Its a fascinating wormhole, says Morris, for ingredients like cinchona bark, mentholy buchu, and incense-like Balm of Gilead, which has been noted for its medicinal, stomach-soothing qualities.

To date, theyve created relatively small batches, with the most recent release amounting to only six gallons, enough to make 24 half-liter bottles ($28) and three cases of cans ($18 each). But ultimately, they hope there will be enough interest to create a full-production vermoutherie and a proper vermouth bar in the near future.

The first exercise is to find a garage somewhere in a lower rent area, says Morris, whos aiming for a limited winery license and a space large enough to produce vermouth to sell wholesale.

As for the name?

I do get a kick out of telling people what the guts are made out of because the reality is that vermouth is a waste product, and a good way for farmers to recoup their losses, he says. But we may need to come up with a new brand name. Im enterprising enough to know that not everybody is going to get the joke.
One hundred UooUoos, an imaginary cross between a wombat and a dugong, have alighted on beaches, parks, laneways and landmarks across Melbourne and Geelong.

The colourful mythical creatures, each designed by a Victorian artist, have arrived in the two cities as part of an art trail to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Royal Childrens Hospital.

UooUoonicorn by Fiona Tweddle and Janie Fearon in Federation Square. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Melbourne artist Justine Millsom, also known as Juzpop, titled her rose- and dragonfly-adorned UooUoo (pronounced you-you), which has taken up residence at Royal Park's nature play playground, Tammy's Donor.

Her cousin Tammy Cipriano, who was born with cystic fibrosis, had her life saved seven years ago when a donor was found for her double lung transplant. The condition is often referred to as "65 roses".
A resolution calling for Midland County commissioners to support mask-wearing and other efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 failed when the vote was split between the six commissioners present.

During a regular meeting of the Midland County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, board members were asked to approve a resolution to support Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director Robert Gordon's emergency order requiring face coverings in public places and in certain instances outdoors.

Presenting the resolution at the virtual meeting was Kathleen Curell, a founding member of the group Mask Up Midland County.

"We can't just rely on (vaccines) right now  we have to keep working on masking and social distancing," Curell said. "We want to promote Midland as a COVID-safe community."

One way Midland County could help amplify the reach of pro-mask messaging, Currell proposed, would be to participate in the Go Great Lakes Bay organization's "Go Great, Go Safely Pledge" program, which entails taking a pledge to promote COVID-19 safety tips and regulations. Currell also suggested that the board invest in signage and fliers encouraging Midland residents to wear masks and follow safety procedures.

"This is an opportunity for us as a community to pool all our talents and resources into pushing this horrible pandemic as low as we can," Currell said. "The numbers of people dying are not something that we can ignore. It's not going away soon."

Three commissioners voted "no" on approving the resolution, including commissioners James Geisler, Jeanette Snyder and Steve Glaser.

"I believe overall the public is going to make the best decisions for themselves and their health about mask-wearing  I believe in keeping our health decisions free," Snyder said.

While commissioner Glaser said he supports mask-wearing and personally practices it, he ultimately voted against the resolution because he believes wearing masks is a voluntary decision.

"We're in troubled times  a lot of people are struggling with this, and I look forward to the time when we area back to work, we have the vaccine distributed and this is moving behind us," Glaser said.

Commissioners Gaye Terwillegar, Eric Dorrien and Scott Noesen voted in favor of the resolution.

"From my standpoint, I think this is the smart thing to do," Noesen said. "I'm a civil libertarian  I believe in individual liberties  but there are times when I think the net-benefit to the overall community is better."

Due to the tie, the motion failed.

Board chair Mark Bone was absent on Tuesday.

Other business

The board approved two requests from Midland County drain commissioner Joe Sova to issue bonds to finance drainage projects. The first one, in the amount of $885,000, centers on the Clark Drain, and a second in the amount of $1,150,000, targets the Lawson Drain.

Commissioners also approved three grant agreements to benefit various local organizations and departments, including:

 An agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation. Under the agreement, Midland County Connection is eligible for $118,000 designated for operating expenses.

 The receipt of a $20,000 grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation, which will be used to support education and communication efforts regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

 The receipt of a $3,000 grant from the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, to be used to install safety fencing at Sanford Lake Park.
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Despite the many ways in which hes reviled today, I believe that history will record Trump as one of Americas greatest presidents. Looking at Americas most admired presidents, I was able to identify the four criteria needed to earn that accolade:

First and foremost, the president led the country through a life and death struggle.

Second, the president suffered intense defamation, attack, pernicious plots, and even demonization both domestic and foreign but prevailed.

Third, the president defended and supported our Republics foundational documents and institutions: the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, including all Amendments, especially the Bill of Rights.

Fourth, he supported American liberty, prosperity, and social welfare. All the greats promoted the actualization of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights during their presidencies.

Four presidents have met all those criteria: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. One president, Donald Trump, is on the threshold of meeting those criteria. His place is reserved at Mt. Rushmore and history will tell if he is successful. If he is not successful, our nation may perish in the face of the life and death struggle we are now in.

Donald Trump entered the office of the president in 2016 facing a life and death struggle. The previous administration had eviscerated the US military, created an unhealthy alliance with Iran, taken a stand against Israel, failed to take the ISIS caliphate seriously, and presided over a weakening NATO alliance in which member states failed to contribute to the mutual defense. In addition, both Iran and North Korea openly developed nuclear weapons and North Korea threatened an attack on the USA. The United States economy, still not recovered from the recession triggered by the 9/11/2001 attacks, suffered from unequal trade agreements and suffocating government regulations. Race war threatened to break out in a hyper divided nation. The USA also maintained a co-dependent relationship with China, enabling its campaign of total war against the USA in their quest to become the worlds only superpower.

As serious as all those challenges were, the most serious challenge came from within the USA (the second criterion). The previous administration colluded with the DOJ, CIA, FBI, and the federal court system. In addition, corporate media colluded with the administration. The previous administrations executives entered into corrupt relationships with China, Russia, and Ukraine in return for money.

Despite the constant attack from domestic forces, especially the deep state media, deep state politicians, deep state executive branch departments which falsely accused Trump of racist policies, immorality, graft, collusion with Russia, fascist policies, poor health, and insanity, President Trump presided over the most successful presidency in history, thereby meeting the third and fourth criteria. He

defused the North Korean and Iranian nuclear threats,

completely defeated the ISIS caliphate,

concluded the wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan,

renegotiated trade agreements,

strengthened NATO,

brought energy independence to the USA,

presided over the strongest economic recovery in history, especially for minorities,

husbanded historic stock market highs,

freed businesses from strangling regulations,

advanced religious liberty,

protected freedom of speech,

thwarted illegal immigration,

rebuilt the military,

kept the promise to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,

brokered peace treaties between Israel and former enemies,

protected the rights of the unborn,

protected Second Amendment rights,

advanced health insurance reforms, and

reformed the VA hospital system.

President Trump nearly single-handedly brought the USA back as the world leader. We were prosperous, at peace, and growing in national unity. All in the face of the most vicious and hostile attacks domestic and foreign.

Donald Trumps election caught the ruling party by surprise. They had counted on manipulating the 2016 election to maintain control of the government. When that failed, the Deep State launched an all-out effort to remove Donald Trump from office by any means possible. The Deep State (including the CIA, DOJ, FBI, Congress, media including social media, and state governments loyal to the administration) colluded to remove Donald Trump from office through impeachment. When those efforts failed, the Deep State, led by the previous administration behind the scenes, ramped up its program to steal the election of 2020.

In January 2020, both the first and second metrics reappeared (great national crisis; extreme attacks against the president). China unleashed a weapons-grade, biologically engineered virus on the world, the so-called COVID-19 virus. President Trump took quick action to thwart the attack by banning Chinese from traveling to the USA, providing care for the sick, and developing preventatives as well as vaccines. The Deep State immediately seized the opportunity to use the pandemic to consolidate control of the government (federal and state) and to damage President Trump politically.

The pandemic worked perfectly into their plan to steal the election from President Trump. They learned from the campaign of 2016 that they could not defeat President Trump in a fair election because most Americans rejected the Deep States anti-American values.

The Deep States plans to rig the election got aid from billions of dollars from social media giants and anti-American agents. They manipulated state governments through courts to permit unmonitored mail-in ballots, bypassing the state legislatures in key swing states. Through that and other types of fraud, the Deep State engineered a stolen election.

On January 6, 2021, when Congress convened to accept the electors votes for president and vice president, between 500,000 to 1 million Americans assembled in Washington D.C. to protest the stolen election and oppose Congresss acceptance of electors. Despite overwhelming proof of election fraud, the swing states ramrodded through electors supporting the Deep States candidates. State and federal courts refused to review the evidence to delegitimize the election. Members of both political parties voted to accept the sham electors. The people who gave President Trump a landslide victory felt betrayed.

The Deep State, working hand in glove with domestic terrorists, co-opted a huge, peaceful protest into a small assault on the Capitol buildings. The Deep State media (included social media), through prearranged statements, immediately characterized the protest as an insurrection that President Trump engineered. The media censored any view to the opposite and sought to shut down all free speech.

This is a life and death threat to the Republic unlike the life and death threats faced by other great presidents. This is an attack on American institutions and values from within and without. If President Trump can save the country from this attack, he will take his place in Mr. Rushmore. I believe that he will.

IMAGE: Mt. Rushmore panoramic, image by Jana Taylor, edited by Andrea Widburg. CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Fears of a delayed return for English schools grew today as a 78million major daily coronavirus testing scheme was halted over safety fears.

The Department for Education said the programme that tested pupils and teachers in a bid to cut down on self-isolation was being 'paused' just five weeks after being unveiled as a 'milestone moment' in the fight against Covid-19.

Experts have questioned the effectiveness of the lateral flow tests, which were at centre of the 'Operation Moonshot' scheme and its strategy for fully reopening schools after the February half-term.

A University of Birmingham study in December showing the 15-minute tests picked up just 3 per cent of asymptomatic cases.

Concerns were also raised by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) about the use of rapid lateral flow tests to allow those who test negative to avoid self-isolation if they have come into contact with someone known to be infected.

Though the Department of Health said last week the MHRA's approval was not required for the school tests, the Association of School and College Leaders urged ministers to halt the 'very confusing' programme.

A joint statement from PHE and NHS Test and Trace today warned that the new variant of Covid-19 has shown to have 'higher rates of transmission', which increases the risk of transmission everywhere - 'including in school settings'.

'The balance between the risks (transmission of virus in schools and onward to households and the wider community) and benefits (education in a face-to-face and safe setting) for daily contact testing is unclear.

'In light of this changing situation, we now recommend that the rollout of daily contact testing within schools is paused, other than for schools involved in further evaluation.

'This will enable the further detailed evaluation of changing circumstances including, potentially, lower infection rates and modelling work required to understand the benefits of daily contact testing in this new phase of the pandemic.'

The U-turn is likely to exacerbate fears that schools will not fully reopen until after Easter, after a senior medic warned that schools could reopen at different times - a kind of postcode lottery for schools.

In other coronavirus developments:

Concerns have been raised that the vaccine drive might be slowing down after 201,330 more jabs were reported today - the third day in a row the number has fallen, although the NHS pointed to a reporting lag;

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries told MPs it is 'likely' there will a regional approach to restarting face-to-face lessons for millions of children when England comes out of the latest shutdown, and hinted closures will remain in place after February half-term;

New figures showed around one in eight people in private households in England had been infected with coronavirus by December;

Matt Hancock has announced he is self-isolating until Sunday after being 'pinged' by the NHS coronavirus app;

Ministers are desperately trying to quell anger over a 'postcode lottery' in vaccinations, with 70-year-olds getting jabs before over-80s in some areas;

Government scientists advising Boris Johnson fear that many people will 'probably abandon' social distancing and lockdown rules once they have had the jab;

The South African coronavirus variant may slip past parts of the immune system in as many as half of people infected with different versions in the past, scientists fear.

Fears of schools remaining shut until Easter are growing after ministers refused to set a reopening date. Pictured, a primary school in east London

Meanwhile, Government sources said it was too early to say when schools would reopen. Pictured: Education Secretary Gavin Williamson

Children without WiFi at home are going on buses and sitting in library car parks to get online The internet divide means that some children are having to use free WiFi on buses because schools are closed. Students have also been seen in car parks of public libraries because they cannot get online at home. Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, told MPs yesterday that he had been told of children 'sitting on the top of a bus with a laptop'. He added: 'And also children sitting in the car parks of public libraries because they could access broadband networks in the car [park]'. 'Many children's literacy skills were profoundly affected by the first lockdown and school closures. We will do everything in our power to support children, families and teachers during this new lockdown period', he said. Advertisement

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries told MPs yesterday that it was 'likely' that there would a regional approach to restarting face-to-face lessons for millions of children when England comes out of the latest shutdown.

It means that the date when schools restart could be based on the infection rate locally, with areas with the highest rates staying closed for longer.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'We are relieved that lateral flow tests have now been paused as an alternative to self-isolation for individuals who have been in close contact with someone who has coronavirus.

'This use of these tests never really made sense because they don't detect all those with the infection, so we could potentially have ended up with more infectious people in school than under the self-isolation system where close contacts are sent home.'

He added: 'It is important to understand that this issue is about one specific use of these tests.

'We support the principle of using them for general mass testing of students and staff because this process should pick up at least a proportion of asymptomatic cases and improve safety.

'Our concern was purely over the idea of using them as a worse alternative to the existing self-isolation system for close contacts.

'Unfortunately, the Government's insistence on first trying to use them in this way and then having to do yet another policy reversal will have thoroughly confused parents, pupils and the wider public.'

Has Britain's great Covid vaccine rollout ALREADY stalled? Daily figures drop for third day in a row as critics tell No10 to 'throw as much money as possible' at NHS to ensure jab uptake stays high The number of Brits getting vaccinated against Covid in the UK has fallen for the third day in a row, raising fears that the rollout has stalled over the weekend. Some 204,076 people in Britain were vaccinated yesterday, January 18, with the total slumping from 225,000 on Sunday, 277,000 on Saturday and a high of 324,000 on Friday. More than 4.26million people have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine through the NHS programme  one in every 16 people in the UK  which makes it one of the best covered countries in the world. But to hit the Government's target of 13.9million people by February 15, which is the threshold at which officials will consider relaxing lockdown, Britain must manage 360,000 jabs per day from today onwards  2.5million per week. Last week it averaged 254,000 per day and hit a total 1.77million. The daily requirement will increase for every day that it isn't hit. Advertisement

The DfE's deputy chief scientific adviser Dougal Hargreaves warned MPs yesterday that the testing programme of children and staff who have come into contact with confirmed cases of coronavirus ultimately carries a 'hypothetical risk of increasing transmission'.

He told the Education Select Committee that there should be a more 'detailed evaluation' process on the use of rapid lateral flow tests for daily checks in schools and said the aim of the scheme was to 'improve attendance'.

Addressing MPs on the education select committee, Dr Hargreaves said the aim of the scheme - of daily contact testing for pupils and staff who have been in contact with a case - was to 'improve attendance'.

He said: 'The concern, which is worth mentioning here, is around the separate programme, which is around daily contact testing for those who've been in contact with a proven case.

'Now there the aim is different [to two tests a week]. The aim is to improve attendance. And there is at least a hypothetical risk of increasing transmission.'

Dr Hargreaves added: 'So where we are now is that I think we need to be looking at a more detailed evaluation process and we've got the time until half-time to do that.'

On speaking to experts about the programme, Dr Hargreaves told MPs: 'I think we are all broadly agreed that we think there are potential benefits. We are all agreed that there are potential risks in doing this.

'If you are in a very high prevalence area, people are very nervous about the idea that people who have been in contact with an infected case are still attending school whether that is staff or pupils.

'Against that we have to get the balance right because there was evidence from the Children's Commissioner's office before Christmas sometimes just one case in schools that could mean up to 100 children and young people are losing 10 days of schooling and there was a strong feeling that the balance wasn't right. That was a little bit disproportionate.'

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Janny Harries told MPs that it was 'likely' that there would a regional approach to restarting face-to-face lessons for millions of children when England comes out of the latest shutdown

Despite the UK recording another drop in Covid cases, school bosses believe millions of pupils face being home schooled until the start of April. Pictured: Pupils wear protective face masks

Charlotte Rose assists one of her children, who is home schooled in Milton Keynes

Parents are irate that their children could be out of school until April with one declaring: 'Kill me now'

Nicola Sturgeon EXTENDS Scottish lockdown until mid-February - amid fears brutal curbs will need to stay in England past March even if vaccine drive goes well Nicola Sturgeon declared that lockdown in Scotland will be extended to mid-February despite signs cases have flattened off. Dashing hopes of a loosening from the end of this month, the First Minister said she was being 'cautious' and more evidence was needed that the outbreak was on a 'downward trajectory'. The announcement came amid fears the brutal curbs in England will need to stay in place past March, with Boris Johnson saying the situation remains 'serious' despite infections dropping off and progress on vaccinations. There are claims that ministers are braced for the national lockdown to stay until the beginning of April even if the innoculation drive goes without a hitch, while school chiefs have suggested that is the most realistic timetable for getting children back in classrooms. The whole Scottish mainland and several islands have been under tough restrictions since early January, with schools closed and a 'stay at home' message in force. It was initially due to run until February, but was reviewed by Ms Sturgeon and her ministers. Advertisement

When questioned on what evidence the scientists have which can give confidence to school staff, children and parents about the safety of the tests, England's deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said two lateral flow tests a week is 'equivalent effectiveness and accuracy' as one PCR test.

She said: 'So I think for picking up infectious cases, particularly if they're asymptomatic on a routine basis, they're highly effective in removing people who are infectious out of that environment and stopping chains of transmission.'

On Monday, Children's Minister Vicky Ford said NHS Test and Trace and Public Health England had been asked to provide 'rapid updated public health advice on daily contact Covid testing in schools'.

She added: 'This is in the context of the current prevalence of the virus and the high transmission rates.'

Also facing the Education Committee, Dr Harries was unable to rule out schools remaining closed after February half-term - after education chiefs raised fears children could be away from the classrooms until Easter.

Asked if schools could reopen next month she said the February restart should not be seen as a 'fixed date' and infection rates 'will continue to need to be observed and reviewed up until that time period'.

Asked about a regional phased reopening of schools she said: 'On the broad epidemiology it is highly likely that when we come out of this national lockdown we will not have consistent patterns of infection in our communities across the country. And therefore as we had prior to the national lockdown it may well be possible we need to have some differential application.

'But... clearly schools will be right at the top of the priority for trying to ensure that that that balance of educational wellbeing is right at the forefront of consideration.

'The short answer is that it is likely we will have some sort of regional separation of interventions and it is likely that as we are hopefully starting to see now some glimmers of hope that London which has been affected earlier by the new variant, that may move across the country.'

She added: 'Schoolchildren definitely can transmit infection in schools - they can transmit it in any environment - but it is not a significant driver as yet, as far as we can see, of large-scale community infections.'

Last night education chiefs hinted that schools could remain closed until the Easter holidays, with children facing another three months away from their classrooms despite the UK recording another drop in Covid cases.

Speaking in the Commons, Gavin Williamson said the Government has presided over 'one of the world's largest procurements of laptops and tablets' so students can work effectively remotely. Pictured: Students takes a COVID-19 test at Oasis Academy in Coulsdon, Surrey

Education insiders said the date for reopening 'was never going to be' February half-term and claimed the Government is 'working on the assumption it will be Easter at the earliest'

School bosses believe millions of pupils now face the prospect of being home schooled until the start of April. It means students will have faced almost a year of on-and-off disruption to their education.

Fears of an April return were further compounded as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned at the weekend that it would not be possible to start to lift lockdown restrictions in England until March.

Mr Chalke meanwhile said many teachers are very worried about catching Covid in school and that they will feel 'safer' and 'more confident' when the weather warms up and they can take children out of the classroom more.

At Monday's Downing Street press conference, Health Secretary Matt Hancock was asked whether schools would reopen in March.

He simply said: 'We've got to watch the data, and the Prime Minister, when he brought in the national lockdown, set out four considerations. We've got to see the number of deaths coming down, and sadly we haven't seen that yet. We need to clearly see the pressure on the NHS reducing, and we are not seeing that yet.

'We must see the vaccination programme working and the rollout is going really well.' He continued: 'The fourth consideration is that there mustn't be some other new variant.'

Professor Susan Hopkins, senior medical adviser at Public Health England, said: 'We've always said the schools should be the last to close and first to open.

'But I think giving a more defined date than that is very difficult until we see what happens over the next few weeks.'

Robert Halfon, Tory MP and chairman of the education committee, said: 'The Government said that schools would reopen after the February half term. Everything possible should be done to keep to that date  for the sake of the children's education, mental health and safety.

'That is why ministers should prioritise school staff for the vaccine, and send in mobile units to jab them across the country.'

Boris Johnson said there would be no 'open sesame' relaxation of lockdown. 'I understand completely that people want to get back to normal as fast as we possibly can,' he said.

The Prime Minister insisted that things would look 'very different by the spring', adding: 'I'm afraid I've got to warn people it will be gradual, you can't just open up in a great open sesame, in a great bang, because I'm afraid the situation is still pretty precarious.'

Meanwhile, speaking in the Commons, Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said the Government has presided over 'one of the world's largest procurement of laptops and tablets' so students can work effectively remotely.

He told MPs: 'By December, we had procured and delivered 560,000 laptops and tablets. In November last year we ordered an additional 340,000 devices, bringing our total procurement to one million laptops and tablets.

'This has been one of the world's largest procurement of laptops and tablets, and it has happened despite intense global demand.'

It comes as Mr Johnson yesterday defied fresh demands from Tory MPs for a 'road map' out of lockdown as coronavirus infections tumbled again.
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HYDERABAD, India, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Limited (Balaxi), a branded IPR-based pharmaceutical company, today announced its results for the quarter and nine months ended on 31st December 2020.

Financial Highlights - 9M FY21:

The Company recorded a revenue of INR 1,784 million. Incremental growth is due to the consolidation of newly acquired subsidiaries of Guatemala and Dominican Republic .

and . EBITDA came in at INR 309 million; EBITDA mapartrgin at 17.3%.

PAT came in at INR 298 million; PAT margin at 16.7%.

Particulars (INR mn) Q3FY21 Q2FY21 Q-o-Q% 9M FY21 Revenue 660 603 9% 1,784 EBITDA 116 103 12% 309 EBITDA Margin % 17.5% 17.1% 40 bps 17.3% PAT 110 101 9% 298 PAT Margin % 16.6% 16.7% - 16.7%

Segmental Performance:

Revenue (INR mn) Q3FY21 Q2FY21 Q-o-Q% 9M FY21 Pharmaceuticals 350 385 -9% 1,056 Ancillary 222 177 25% 530 Branded Consumer Products 88 41 114% 197

Sales mix of Branded: Generics in Q3FY21 stood at 28:72 as against 24:76 in H1FY21. This aided better EBITDA margins of 20.3% in Q3FY21 versus 19.5% in Q2FY21.

The pharmaceutical business segment contributes 59% of the consolidated revenues and 68% of the consolidated EBITDA.

Ancillary business witnessed an increase in revenue to INR 222 million in Q2FY21 versus INR 177 million in Q2FY21 registering a growth of 25% Q-o-Q.

Branded Consumer products rebounded after COVID impacted Q2FY21. This segment reported increase of 114% QoQ in Revenue and 171% QoQ growth in PAT.

Update on Pharmaceutical Product Registrations:

Particulars Angola Guatemala Dominican Republic Honduras El Salvador Central African Republic Existing Product Registrations 289 79 136 24 20 - Product Registrations in Pipeline - 115 52 120 120 175

Commenting on the performance, Mr. Ashish Maheshwari, Chairman and Managing Director, said, "Balaxi reported decent growth in business despite COVID-19 pandemic. The Company has 548 pharmaceutical product registrations spanning across five countries and another 582 product registrations in the pipeline. We also have a well-experienced expert regulatory team, which carefully monitors the registration process at every stage. We aim to double our pharmaceutical product registrations over the next two years."

Pharmaceutical Business Overview:

Geographical Mix % Q3FY21 Q2FY21 9MFY21 Angola 81% 72% 78% Guatemala 6% 8% 6% Dominican Republic 14% 20% 16%

The Company generated 78% of the pharmaceutical revenue from Angola followed by Guatemala and Dominican Republic as on 9MFY21.

followed by Guatemala and as on 9MFY21. The product split between Branded & Generics is at 25:75 as on 9MFY21. Balaxi is focused on the growing share of branded generics in its overall pharma sales.

The Company has set its foot in the newer geographies such as Central African Republic , Honduras and El Salvador and plans to expand its presence in these markets.

Other Highlights:

In January 2021 , Balaxi Global DMCC, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Balaxi, completed the acquisition of the 49% stake in Balaxi Healthcare Angola LDA. This will strategically help the company in the long term.

, Balaxi Global DMCC, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Balaxi, completed the acquisition of the 49% stake in Balaxi Healthcare Angola LDA. This will strategically help the company in the long term. The Company in January 2021 registered a wholly-owned subsidiary in the Central African Republic (CAR) and will now start the process of registering BALAXI products in CAR.

registered a wholly-owned subsidiary in the (CAR) and will now start the process of registering BALAXI products in CAR. As its part of cost optimisation strategy, the company tactically increased its pharma product sourcing from Portugal for the Angola market. This rose from 12% for H1FY21 to 35% for 9M FY21.

for the market. This rose from 12% for H1FY21 to 35% for FY21. Added several products under its Branded consumer products vertical such as hand sanitiser, disinfectants, confectionaries etc. For Q3FY21 sanitiser accounts for nearly 3% of Revenue for this vertical

About Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Limited:

Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Ltd is a branded IPR-based pharmaceutical player focusing on frontier markets, with a vast and growing portfolio of prescription and OTC drugs, across multiple therapeutic segments. The Company is engaged in supplying branded and generic medicines through its well-built distribution network across Angola, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. These products are procured from WHO GMP certified contract manufacturers based in India, China and Portugal. Balaxi is present in Ancillary business and building a Branded Consumer Products business which complements pharmaceutical business and provides operating leverage on the back of well-established on-ground infrastructure and channel relationships.

Forward-Looking Statement:

Certain statements in this document may be forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties like regulatory changes, local political or economic developments, technological risks, and many other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statements. Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Limited will not be in any way responsible for any action taken based on such statements and undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

For more information, please contact:

Chinta Shalini

Compliance Officer

Contact - 8978045694

Email: [email protected]

Aakash Mehta

IR Consultant - Dickenson World

Contact - 9870679263

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Balaxi Pharmaceuticals Limited
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Hawea holiday-maker Dr Gerry McSweeney has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation as part of the 2021 New Year's Honours.

The environmentalist runs the Wilderness Lodges at Lake Moeraki (30 km north of Haast) and Arthurs Pass with wife Anne Saunders, with whom he hopes to one day retire to his family home in Hawea.

McSweeney said he was humbled by the highly prestigious award, which recognises the importance of protecting natural ecosystems and native plants and animals in New Zealand and worldwide.

McSweeney, who did his doctoral thesis on snow tussock grass in the Upper Clutha, has spent the last forty years closely involved in efforts to protect nature - and said he would never have thought then that there would be so much protected heritage in the area as there is today.

As a university student in the 1970s I helped fund my studies by guiding tourist walks in National Parks. 45 years later at Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki I still guide rainforest walks and kayak trips almost every day, he said.

I remain just as fascinated by the wonders of nature and by the people I guide as I was in those early student days. We are always learning more about what makes wild New Zealand special. This year in Lake Moeraki, Anne and I discovered that NZ fur seals have taken up residence in

this freshwater lake, 3km inland from the ocean. They are feeding on trout and eels. After 31 years of counting, this spring we recorded the highest number of breeding Tawaki penguins in our local rainforest breeding colony. 2020 has also been the best flowering for many years here of Southern Rata, the South Island Christmas Tree.

McSweeney was a founding member of the Forest Heritage Fund committee in 1990 (now the Nature Heritage Fund (NHF)), and a member of the committee until 2019; a member of the New Zealand Conservation Authority from 2011 to 2020; Forest & Bird president from 2001 to 2005 and one of the societys conservation ambassadors since 2011; and a member of the South Westland Environment and Community Advisory Group from 1990 to 1995.

He has also previously been made a Companion of the Queens Service Order for public services (Queens Birthday 1990), and a Companion of the Queens Service Order (New Year 2009).

My conservation work would not have been possible without the constant support for

our conservation efforts of my wife Anne Saunders, our children Katie, Michael and Claire and many active nature lovers working with the Forest & Bird Society throughout New Zealand, he said.

McSweeney and Saunders established their Wilderness Lodges in 1989 (Lake Moeraki) and 1996 (Arthurs Pass) to show that conservation is everyones business and can make a major contribution to the economy.

Conservation creates jobs through nature tourism, gives us clean water and clean air and provides a sustainable future for our descendants, said McSweeney.

Our Wilderness Lodges main focus has been eco-tourism. Visitors come to see wild nature and to learn about natural ecosystems. They go away with a much greater awareness of human

dependence on nature, hopefully to make a difference in the places that they call home.

Hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, McSweeney and Saunders were running their Lake Moeraki Lodge with a skeleton staff of 2 and about 15 per cent the normal number of guests that we would have in a typical January.

He said they were being kept busy cleaning rooms, mowing the lawns, guiding the walks and kayak trips - and, like many in the tourist industry, waiting for the vaccine roll-out and the borders to re-open.

Read edition 1010 of the Wanaka Sun here.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William have been married for almost a decade. The pair have weathered more than one royal storm, and they are raising their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, with a mix of royal traditions and modern living.

The Cambridges love story is something of a saga, but in the end they were able to cross the finish line successfully. However, Kate does have one major regret about their engagement.

Prince William and Kate Middleton | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate and Prince William initially began dating in 2001 during their first year at St. Andrews University. Though they experienced a couple of snags in their relationship, including a very public breakup in 2007, they were mostly inseparable. Therefore, by 2009 when the couple still wasnt engaged to be married, royal fans, the British press, and even Kates family were confused.

Things became so dire that Kate was labeled Waity Katy by the British tabloids and press. Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl told Vanity Fair, I know that it was the Christmas of 2009 when [Kates mother] Carole was getting quite concerned. Kate was nearing 30, there was still no ring on her finger.

Thankfully, the prince did pop the question in the fall of 2010 when the couple was vacationing in Kenya.

RELATED: The Real Reason For Prince William and Kate Middletons Recent PDA

This is why Prince William waited so long before proposing to Kate Middleton

Knowing his position in the British royal family and watching the demise of his parents marriage Prince William was not willing to rush into a marraige to appease anyone.

After getting back together in 2007, the young couple promised to wed only when they were ready and absolutely sure. William also wanted to complete his Royal Air Force helicopter pilot training before getting married.

I suppose what none of us knew was that [she] and William had actually made a secret pact to be married way back in 2007, after they got together after their second major breakup, Nicholl explained. This was a secret pact. And we know that this is a couple who are very good at keeping secrets. So really, Kate had the last laugh, because shes got her prince.

Kate Middleton still regrets one thing about her engagement to Prince William

Though Kate did finally get the proposal of her dreams along with the late Princess Dianas stunning sapharie and diamond ring, she does still have one major regret about the engagment.

In her book Kate: The Future Queen via Marie Claire, Nicholl reveals that William popped the question on Oct. 20, 2010. However, they waited and had planned to announce their union until Nov. 3, 2010 even keeping the engagement secret from their family and friends.

Sadly, the Duchess of Cambridges last living grandparent, her Grandpa Peter died on Nov. 2.

Kate was deeply saddened not to have had the chance to tell her grandfather that she was engaged to William, Nicholl wrote, according to The Mirror. She knew he would have been delighted for her.

In the end, the couple did not share their engagement with the world until Nov. 20, 2010.
Johns Manville (JM), a global building and specialty products manufacturer and a Berkshire Hathaway company, announced today Katherine (Katie) Albery has accepted the job of Vice President and General Counsel, effective February 1.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210119005946/en/

Katie Albery, new General Counsel for Johns Manville. (Photo: Business Wire)

Katie is a talented lawyer who will be an outstanding general counsel for Johns Manville, said Bob Wamboldt, President and CEO. She has excellent judgment and will bring years of experience supporting different JM businesses and other important projects to her new role. She will be a great addition to our leadership team.

Albery will take over for Cindy Ryan, who announced at the end of 2020 that she plans to retire after 19 years with the company. Ryan will leave her executive role, but will continue to provide counsel to JM on several key initiatives.

Albery joined Johns Manville in 2012 and provided legal support to the companys Engineered Products business. She later took on a similar role for JMs Insulation Systems business. In her new role, Albery will be responsible for leading JMs Legal, Risk Management, and Environmental, Health and Safety organizations and partnering closely with business leaders across the company on key issues.

Before joining Johns Manville, Albery was Senior Corporate Counsel at CenturyLink. Prior to that, she worked as Corporate Counsel at Qwest Communications and as an Associate at Hogan & Hartson (now known as Hogan Lovells).

Albery earned a bachelors degree in English from Boston College and a J.D. from Northwestern University. While at JM, she also earned a certificate from Yale School of Management for completing the executive course, Leading and Managing Globally. Albery and her family live in Denver.

About Johns Manville

Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building and specialty products. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has annual sales over $3 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. Johns Manville employs 8,000 people and operates 46 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. Additional information can be found at www.jm.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210119005946/en/
Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian scholar and a fellow at the Center for Global Policy who has followed the Syrian conflict from the ground since the beginning, talks with Amberin Zaman about how over the past decade a peaceful civilian uprising against the government of Bashar al-Assad degenerated into a seemingly endless series of conflicts within conflicts. The country is effectively divided into at least three separate zones of influence. Tsurkov addresses how the incoming Biden administration is likely to approach Syria, and the prospects for lasting peace.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Periods of rain. Thunder possible. High 59F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 43F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 2021 could be the year life changes--for the better. And the industries that are behind it offer up some of the most rewarding potential opportunities in decades. Mentioned in today's commentary includes: HEXO Corp. (NYSE: HEXO), Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE: TAP), Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ), Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO), Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE: BUD).

A global pandemic that has fed an energy transition with miracle-growth fertilizer and comprehensive lifestyle changes, coupled with unstoppable advancements in technology has set the stage for some of the most stunning, possibly even life-changing opportunities.

It's an exciting time to be an investor--retail or accredited--with the potential opportunities to latch onto the early days of tomorrow's giants  The possible "Amazons" of clean energy, healthy lifestyles, and new technology. The path for these stocks was paved before COVID-19. The pandemic hastened their ascent.

A "blue wave" and a Biden presidency that has now overcome the challenge of a Republican-controlled Senate could boost them further. Investors that looking for the most exciting industries in 2021 should keep an eye on one sector, in particular.

Legal Cannabis Is Set To Explode

U.S. states are lining up to legalize cannabis, and the United Nations has taken the industry-changing step of reclassified marijuana and striking it from its most strict drug control list  but the real transformation here could come from the pioneers in cannabis science and big data.

This is where Big Pharma might start to take an interest in science-backed cannabis because, for the first time ever, a pioneer is planning on bringing them big data Juva Life (JUVA.CN; JUVAF.QB) isn't just a rapidly expanding, vertically integrated company and entire cannabis ecosystem 

It's the company that plans to completely change how cannabis is viewed, what the world knows about cannabis, and how it is implemented into lifestyles. And the biggest market of all right now is taking shape in California, whose market is projected to grow to $3.5 billion in 2021.

This isn't just about quantity anymore  it's about quality. And it's not even just about quality  it's about precision. And none of it means anything if Big Data isn't there to prove it up and sell it on.

In a rapidly evolved marketplace, it's Juva Life's "precision cannabis" that aims to put the money-making science back into marijuana. But while they are on an aggressive expansion wave across California, they're also aiming to become the first company to create "cannabis therapeutic" data for a US-wide medical cannabis market eventually heading to $9 billion.

It's the patent moat that attracts us to this stock more than anything: Patents are becoming where a big portion of the money is in an industry on track for total global sales to reach $73.6 billion by 2027, according to Grand View Research.

Juva's endgame is a focus on therapies, bolstered by growing retail sales revenues. Its flagship Hayward facility now being built out is a massive 18,000 sq ft structure with an adjoining 11,000 sq ft greenhouse. And its ISO Class 5 cleanroom will be the scene of Juva's state-of-the-art "science of cannabis" research and development.

They plan to do everything here from cultivation and research to manufacturing and retail--all focused on low-cost, high-quality growth operations combined with state-of-the-art research.

On October 22nd, Juva received a Conditional Use Permit, which is likely to expedite additional permitting, with full production anticipated by mid-2021. It also just won conditional approval to develop a boutique flagship retail operation in a designer-styled environment at its Hayward facility by the city of Hayward.

This sets the stage for the major push for development of "precision cannabis" products for targeted delivery of the "right formulation to the right individual at the right time". Juva (JUVA.CN; JUVAF.QB) is going after the IP scene full force across multiple verticals, starting in California. And the Big Data plan is all about patents, as well. This has the potential to become the gold mine of cannabis.

It's one missing element whose goal is to cut hundreds of millions of dollars off the costs of getting new pharmaceutical drugs approved 

When Juva went public in November, it heralded a direction change by creating a potential--lucrative--nexus between medical cannabis and big pharma. Their first 2,000 patient research registry has been approved...And the results are expected to come in within 6 months, and if successful making Juva (JUVA.CN; JUVAF.QB) a potentially ripe target for Big Pharma.



Beverage Giants Are Eying To Cannabis Boom, Too



Even giant beverage brands are joining the race. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) , a beverage conglomerate with a stake in everything from Corona to Modelo, shook up the pot world in 2017 when it invested $191 million for a 9.9% stake in Canopy Growth, and followed it up a year later sinking an additional $4 billion into Canopy Growth Corp.





And earlier this year, Constellation raised its stake in the promising cannabis giant once again, investing another $174 million into Canopy, raising its stake to 55.8%. Constellation, like many other companies in 2020, had a bit of a rocky start to the year. It saw its share price fall from a February high of $207 to just $119 in mid-March. Following the downturn, however, Constellation's sales begun to rebound, and with it, its share price as well.



Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD) , the iconic American beverage giant, can't ignore the cannabis boom, either. Often controversial, but always memorable, Anheuser-Busch has proven that it has staying power. Having been in operation for nearly 170, even surviving prohibition, the company knows the key to any market: adapt or die. And with cannabis becoming legal across the globe, Anheuser-Busch is eyeing a key opportunity in this emerging market.



In 2018, Anheuser-Busch signed a deal with Tilray to research and develop non-alcoholic drinks containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) through its subsidiary Labatt Breweries of Canada. Since the announcement, Tilray and Anheuser-Busch premiered their joint venture, Fluent Beverages, and unveiled their first line of CBD and THC drinks in late 2019.

Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP) is another iconic multi-national beer company, with brands that are recognizable across the United States and Canada. Not to be left behind in the marijuana boom, Molson Coors is also developing a line of non-alcoholic cannabis-based beverages with its partner, the HEXO Corporation.

Molson Coors Canada president and CEO Frederic Landtmeters noted , "While we remain a beer business at our core, we are excited to create a separate new venture with a trusted partner that will be a market leader in offering Canadian consumers new experiences with quality, reliable and consistent non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused beverages."

In August of last year, Molson Coors finally unveiled its cannabis drinks in its joint venture with The Hexo Corporation (NYSE: HEXO). The lineup includes five new beverages containing CBD and THC. CEO Scott Cooper, CEO of Truss Beverage, the product of the joint venture, noted, "We're thrilled to be introducing Canadians to new beverage options and leading the cannabis beverage category with our variety of products," adding, "this well-rounded portfolio is designed to bring adult Canadians products that taste great and provide the consistent experience they need to enjoy responsibly."

In Hexo's fourth-quarter press release, the company shared some optimistic news regarding Truss' progress, with Sebastien St-Louis, Hexo CEO and co-founder, explaining, "We are commanding significant market share in Quebec and this year we made major strides by launching Truss cannabis infused beverages in Canada in addition to our initial foray into the U.S. with Molson Coors, a world-class partner,"

Though the cannabis industry as a whole struggled in 2021, it's finally bouncing back. And both Molson Coors and Hexo are reaping the rewards. Molson, for its part, has seen its share price climb by nearly 20% since the beginning of the year, while Hexo, a more pure-cannabis play, has jumped from $3.90 on the first trading day of the year, to its current price of $6.92.

Big Tobacco isn't going to ignore the hype, either. Altria (NYSE: MO) got into the marijuana game in a big way in 2018, investing $1.8 billion in the Canadian pot firm Cronos Group . The deal sent Cronos stock into the stratosphere and positioned Altria as one of the first mainstream tobacco firms to take a hard line in support of the cannabis market.

Altria also placed a big bet on a vaping startup, Juul Labs. And while the deal looked promising at first, Juul has since struggled to maintain its high valuation due to increased regulatory scrutiny.

In 2020, Altria saw its share price fall by 20%. But that doesn't mean it's not still a good buy. As the cannabis industry continues to gain traction, Altria offers potential shareholders something many other stocks in the industry don't: dividends. Altria has maintained its high-dividend yield for years now, and it's unlikely to cut back anytime soon.



By. Harry Callow



**IMPORTANT! BY READING OUR CONTENT YOU EXPLICITLY AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY**

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information includes that cannabis use and sales will grow as currently predicted; timing of Juva's construction or acquisition of facilities and commencement of associated additional revenues; that Juva will be granted patents for its specific formulations; that cannabis patents and proprietary databases will prove valuable assets; Juva's intended expansion into more markets; Juva's plans to bring the latest science and technology to its product research and development; that it could be granted growing and sales licenses; that Juva can lease new sales locations and gain brand recognition; that through efficiency and vertical integration Juva can substantially lower its production costs and time of product development below competitors; that Juva can sell its product profitably; that Juva will create a range of cannabis consumer healthcare products, to be distributed through their own distribution channels; that Juva can successfully integrate pharmaceutical breakthroughs into its products; that Juva can achieve its sales targets and gross profit margins as planned; and that it will be able to carry out its business plans.

Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties which include, among other things: that regulatory approvals may not be obtained or may be obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; growing competition in the cannabis industry; announced or expected business plans may not come to fruition because of inability to come to final terms, or inability to obtain regulatory compliance; competitors may quickly enter the industry; general economic conditions in the US, Canada and globally; the inability to secure financing necessary to carry out its business plans; competition for, among other things, capital and skilled personnel; the possibility that government policies or laws may not permit legal cannabis sales or growth or that favorable laws in place may change; interruption or failure of information or other technology systems; the cannabis market may not grow as expected; Juva's drive for efficiency, time and cost savings may not achieve the expected results and its accomplishments may be limited; Juva may not successfully develop a cannabis consumer brand; and it may not be successful in developing a cannabis based treatment for medical uses; even if it develops successful healthcare treatments, the products may not be accepted by the market; the company may not be able to protect its intellectual property; its patent applications may be rejected or successfully challenged; Juva's business plan carries risk, including its ability to comply with all applicable governmental regulations in a highly regulated business; early entry risk by engaging in activities currently considered illegal under US federal laws; and regulatory risks relating to Juva's business, financings and strategic acquisitions.

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PAID ADVERTISEMENT. This communication is a paid advertisement and is not a recommendation to buy or sell securities. Safehaven.com, owned by Medtronics Online Solutions Ltd., and their owners, managers, employees, and assigns (collectively "Safehaven.com") have been paid by the profiled company to disseminate this communication. In this case Safehaven.com has been paid by Juva ninety thousand US dollars for this article and certain banner ads. This compensation is a major conflict with our ability to be unbiased, more specifically:



This communication should be viewed as a commercial advertisement only. We have not investigated the background of the company. Frequently companies profiled in our alerts experience a large increase in volume and share price during the course of investor awareness marketing, which often end as soon as the investor awareness marketing ceases. We do not guarantee the timeliness, accuracy, or completeness of the information on our site or in our newsletters.



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Nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic, experts now say the spread of COVID-19 within communities that host nursing homes may be a better indicator of how the deadly virus will impact long-term care residents than traditional quality ratings and inspection reports.

Nursing homes were hard hit with thousands of cases and deaths in the early months of the pandemic. In Connecticut, nursing home deaths make up 57 percent of the states total death toll.

The strongest predictor of whether or not well see cases in [a particular setting] is community spread, said David Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School and co-author of a recent paper on the spread of COVID at nursing homes.

COVID19 cases in nursing homes are related to facility location and size and not traditional quality metrics such as star rating and prior infection control citations, Grabowski said.

A Hearst Connecticut Media investigation of infection control violations at nursing homes showed little correlation between deficiencies found by federal inspectors and the number of residents who died after contracting the coronavirus.

For example, the Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center in East Hartford has not received an infection control violation since 2017, federal inspection records show. Still, the four-star rated facility lost 76 patients to COVID last year  the most in Connecticut.

By contrast, the Monsignor Bojnowski Manor nursing home in New Britain  a five-star rated facility with no COVID deaths as of Jan. 12  was cited last year for violating infection procedures during the height of the pandemic.

Inspection records show that seven of the 10 nursing homes with the most COVID deaths were cited at least once during prior years for inadequate infection control procedures, and four received one or more violations in 2020.

A review of 10 of the 18 nursing homes where no one died of COVID showed that nine of those facilities received at least one infection control violation in past years and four were cited in 2020.

To date, 3,728 residents at the states 213 nursing homes have died of complications related to COVID-19. In all, 6,553 Connecticut residents had died of COVID as of Jan. 12.

Matt Barrett, president of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities, said community spread is the most relevant factor in how severely a nursing home has been impacted by COVID.

In areas where the COVID-19 numbers are high, facility staff contract the virus, and because of the asymptomatic spread, they bring it into the facility, Barrett noted.

All nursing homes were locked down as the pandemic spread, meaning only employees could enter. Families were prevented from visiting loved ones.

Lots of violations

The Hearst review found that federal inspectors at the Abbott Terrace Health Center in Waterbury cited the facility four times in 2020 for inadequate infection procedures, and once in 2019 and 2017.

The April 2020 violations include failing to ensure residents wore masks and not maintaining social distancing.

As of Jan. 12, 52 patients at the two-star rated facility have died from COVID.

Yet similar infection protocol violations were found at the Chestelm Health & Rehabilitation Center in East Hampton, a five-star rated facility that has not lost a patient to COVID.

Inspectors in May 2020 cited Chestelm for not separating COVID and non-COVID patients and for inadequate use of personal protective equipment.

Dr. Vivian Leung, director of the infection program for the state Department of Public Health, acknowledged the impact of community spread.

Our epidemiologists, like epidemiologists across the country and those at CDC, have found that community incidence is a major contributing factor to nursing home cases, Leung said. We cannot effectively protect our most vulnerable unless we control community spread.

Leung added, These outbreaks are multi factorial, but the link to community incidence when controlling for other factors is clear. Not even vaccination alone can prevent these outbreaks, as vaccination is not 100 percent.

COVID spread

The recent study by Harvard University, conducted with support from the National Institute on Aging and National Institutes of Health, examined COVID-19 outbreaks in New York, Detroit and Cleveland.

The study found that the intensity of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes mirrored the rate of spread among the general population near the facility.

Other researchers offered similar assessments.

If youre in an environment where there are a lot of people in the community who have COVID, the patients in the building are more likely to have COVID, said Vincent Mor, a professor for health services and policy at School of Public Health at Brown University.

R. Tamara Konetzka, a professor of health services research at the University of Chicago, said traditional methods of assessing a nursing home dont work with COVID-19. Konetzka noted the first death reported was from a nursing home in Washington State that had a five-star rating.

Tim Brown, a spokesman for Athena Health Care Systems, which owns the Shady Knoll Health Center in Seymour and others in Connecticut, agreed community spread is the main driver of COVID outbreaks at nursing homes.

We believe some of the first cases we saw originated from visitors to our buildings before strict restrictions were mandated by the state, as well as from our residents in our care who required treatment at off-site locations, like dialysis clinics, and returned to our buildings, Brown said.

Mark Parkinson, president of the American Health Care Association, said wearing masks and social distancing is the only way to reduce the spread in communities and by extension nursing homes.

If everybody would wear a mask and social distance to reduce the level of COVID in the community, we know we would dramatically reduce these rates in long-term care facilities, Parkinson said.

bcummings@ctpost.com
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Note to readers: Every year, our last date to plan for our income-taxes is March 31. Yet, despite knowing this, we procrastinate and postpone our income tax planning. But this financial year (2020-21) has been tough due to Covid-19 and many of us lost our incomes and jobs. While we hope for better times ahead for our readers, now is a good time to plan our tax-saving investments if we havent done it already. Our first story below answers five crucial income tax planning related questions. The second story talks about the best five tax saving instruments. And the last instalment in this series, is about 4 most common mistakes we make while planning for our taxes.

Its that time of the year when salaried employees scramble to make last-minute tax-saving investments for the financial year 2020-21. And if they have already made their investments, then they scramble to gather proofs to be submitted. Its a race against time. That is, if you had informed your employer of your decision to stick to the old, with-tax-deduction regime. For those who have chosen the new regime, the documentation will be minimal. Here are five crucial aspects of tax-planning that you must keep in mind.

Also read: 6 avenues to reduce your tax outgo

I have a financial plan in place already. Should I allocate funds to my tax-saver investments separately?

Tax-planning is a part of financial planning. Align your tax-saver investments with your goals and overall strategy. Tax planning should be part of your overall investment strategy. You will make these investments every year, over your entire working life. So, you must manage it in such a way that it helps build in building a large corpus over the long term, says Prableen Bajpai, Founder, FinFix Research and Analytics. Starting early will help you achieve this.

For instance, many equity investors feel that an equity-linked saving fund is an automatic choice. But most of us forget that our employees provident fund (EPF) contribution takes a big chunk of Section 80 C basket of investments. Still, ELSS is a good choice, especially for the young and millennials just starting out on their investment journey. But if you already have a well-established portfolio, then an ELSS may not be necessary.

If you want to create an education corpus for your daughter under the age of 10, you can start a Sukanya Samriddhi Account for her before looking at further options. It entitles you to tax benefits under section 80C and it yields 7.6 percent, secure returns, which is tax-free. The return is subject to quarterly review by the finance ministry.

Should I invest in ELSS now that markets are at record highs?

Experts say that ELSS funds are still a good tax-planning choice.

I would still recommend them. No one knows what the market levels will be in the future. Even if returns do not match your expectations at the end of three years, you can stay invested over the long term. You will still be able make decent returns, says Amol Joshi, Founder, Plan Rupee Investment Services. But if youve waited till now to start an ELSS, a systematic investment plan (SIP) may not be enough to invest your entire amount. Amol advises you to spread it over January, February and March instead.

In a hurry, do not make the mistake of merely going by last years returns to pick funds. Markets are at record highs at the moment, so your investment horizon has to be longer. You need to think long-term, beyond the three-year lock-in. In any case, the minimum horizon for equities is five years, says Bajpai.

Can I make tax-investments online and quickly? I do not have much time.

Yes, with several fintech apps and online investment portals, its possible to invest online, swiftly. But make sure you know what youre doing. Else, seek advice from a financial advisor. If you are starting out and have never invested in equities, tread carefully instead of rushing to invest in ELSS only because it is operationally possible online, says Bajpai.

In the case of insurance policies, the process can be completed entirely online only if the insurer does not insist on physical medical check-ups. You can also invest online in Public Provident Fund (PPF), provided you have an account with India Post or in banks such as State Bank of India (SBI) and ICICI Bank. Otherwise, the process could take longer as KYC requirements would need to be fulfilled.

Tax investments come with lock-in. But do they allow premature withdrawal? And would I lose my tax benefits then?

All tax-saver options come with a lock-in period, ranging from three years (ELSS) to up to 60 years of age (NPS). Thats the price you pay for tax deduction benefits. You cannot withdraw or redeem certain investments before the expiry of the lock-in period  for example, ELSS and tax-saver fixed deposits.

Also read: 3 options to consider once your PPF account matures after 15 years

NPS, though, allows partial withdrawal of 25 percent of your contribution after three years for specific purposes.

Tax-free partial and premature withdrawals from EPF are permitted before maturity for specific purposes. However, if you wish to withdraw your EPF balance before completing five years of continuous employment, the lump-sum will attract tax.

If you happen to sell your house within five years from the end of the financial year in which it was acquired, tax benefits that you have claimed under section 80C will be rolled back. The amount will be added to your income in the financial year in which it was sold and taxed accordingly, says Vaibhav Sankla, Principal, Billion Basecamp Family Office.

A life insurance policy terminated within two years of purchase will mean having to let go of the tax break claimed earlier on premium paid. Since many tax-payers often tend to buy life insurance policies in a hurry only to regret later, you must bear this point in mind before signing the proposal forms.

Can tax-saving be done by buying health insurance policies?

You must buy a health insurance policy, especially given the experience with COVID-19-related hospitalisation costs , but not merely to save on taxes on health insurance premiums paid under section 80D. You must spend adequate time comparing product features, premiums, claim process and cashless network of hospitals before selecting an insurer. It is best not to buy one in a hurry.
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Federal Prosecutors File First Conspiracy Charges Over US Capitol Breach

Federal prosecutors have filed one of their first conspiracy cases against three people allegedly affiliated with the paramilitary organization known as the Oath Keepers over the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

In a criminal complaint (pdf) filed on Jan. 19, prosecutors allege that Thomas Edward Caldwell, 65, of Clarke County, Virginia, had a leadership role in Oath Keepers and conspired with others to forcibly storm the Capitol building. The complaint also names Donovan Crowl, 50, from Ohio, and Jessica Watkins, 38, from Ohio, as alleged co-conspirators in that plan. Crowl and Watkins allegedly were part of the group.

The three individuals and others had communicated with one another in advance of the breach and planned their attack, FBI Special Agent Michael Palian alleged in his affidavit. Palian said he had reviewed footage of the Jan. 6 event and observed eight to 10 individuals wearing paramilitary equipment attempting to enter the Capitol building.

These individuals were wearing helmets, reinforced vests, and clothing with Oath Keeper paraphernalia, Palian said, and were operating in an organized and practiced fashion as they forced their way to the front of the crowd gathered around a door to the U.S. Capitol.

During the breach, Watkins kept communication with other members of the group in which she gave updates about the breach.

We have a good group. We have about 3040 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan, Watkins allegedly says, in an audio recording obtained by the FBI.

At another point of the recording, Watkins is claimed to have said: We are in the mezzanine. We are in the main dome right now. We are rocking it. They are throwing grenades, they are fricking shooting people with paint balls. But we are in here.

The three individuals were identified by authorities using a combination of videos, photographs, media reports, and social media posts. Watkins and Crowl had given interviews with media following the breach in which they confirmed their affiliation with Oath Keepers.

Protesters storm the Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Ahmed Gaber/Reuters)

The group members were each charged with conspiracy, conspiracy to impede or injure officer without lawful authority, destruction of government property, obstruction of an official proceeding, restricted building or grounds violent entry, and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

If convicted, each individual faces a maximum penalty of six years in prison and fines.

The criminal complaint filed on Jan. 19 amends the charges separately filed against Caldwell, Crowl, and Watkins. Crowl and Watkins were arrested in Ohio on Jan. 18, while Caldwell was arrested in Virginia on Jan. 19, according to the Justice Department (DOJ) website.

So far, a large proportion of cases charged in connection to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach were opened on initial misdemeanor charges such as trespass, Michael Sherwin, the acting U.S. attorney for Washington, said earlier this month.

He added that after the arrest, prosecutors have the ability to then indict these individuals on more serious offenses.

After these criminal charges are filed via criminal complaints, that allows us that allows law enforcement across the United States to arrest people from Dallas to Arkansas, to Nashville, to Cleveland to Jacksonville. Thats whats happened over the past several days, Sherwin said. After those charges are filed, then we have the ability to then indict these individuals on more significant charges. And thats exactly what has happened.

The top prosecutor for the district also said he directed federal prosecutors to build seditious and conspiracy charges against some rioters and protesters, related to the most heinous acts that occurred in the Capitol.

These are significant charges that have felonies with a prison term of up to 20 years, Sherwin added.

The FBI and DOJ have opened at least 200 cases in connection to the U.S. Capitol breach, when groups of rioters and some protesters stormed the Capitol building when lawmakers were counting electoral votes. Mayhem on the Capitol grounds left five people deadincluding three for medical reasonsand dozens of police officers injured.
Congratulating Biden for being sworn in as the President of the United States, Modi said he was committed to working with him to take the India-US partnership to greater heights

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, British prime minister Boris Johnson, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and several other world leaders offered their greetings and messages as Joe Biden took oath as the 46th US president on Wednesday.

"My warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen the India-US strategic partnership," Modi said congratulating Biden.

"My best wishes for a successful term in leading USA as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security," he said in a series of tweets.

Noting that the India-US partnership is based on shared values, Modi also said the two countries have a substantial and multi-faceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement, and vibrant people to people linkages. "Committed to working with President Joe Biden to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights," the prime minister added.

Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris took oath as first woman Vice President in a historic but scaled-down ceremony under the unprecedented security umbrella of thousands of security personnel.

The 78-year-old veteran Democrat leader was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice John Roberts at the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington -- the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies.

Lauding Biden's call for cooperation, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, said that "Europe is ready for a fresh start".

Congratulations @JoeBiden on being sworn in as President of the United States and @KamalaHarris  the first woman Vice-President of the US! Thank you for the inspiring inaugural address and for the offer to cooperate. Europe is ready for a fresh start.#InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/Re7vaoUlHS  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 20, 2021

In a recorded video message shared via his official Twitter account, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated both Biden and Harris on their historical inauguration. He also said that he and Biden have had "a warm personal friendship going back many decades".

Congratulations President @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris on your historic inauguration. President Biden, you and I have had a warm personal friendship going back many decades. pic.twitter.com/3cO4Zb1o1Q  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 20, 2021

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson too congratulated Biden and Harris. "Congratulations to @JoeBiden on being sworn in as President of the United States and to @KamalaHarris on her historic inauguration. Americas leadership is vital on the issues that matter to us all, from climate change to COVID, and I look forward to working with President Biden," Johnson tweeted on Wednesday.

I congratulate President @JoeBiden on his inauguration. Look forward to working with @POTUS in building a stronger Pak-US partnership through trade & economic engagement, countering climate change, improving public health, combating corruption & promoting peace in region & beyond  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 20, 2021

Among other world leaders who congratulated both Biden and Harris included Japan prime minister Yoshihide Suga, Chile president Sebastian Pinera, Prime Minister of Ireland Micheal Martin, and Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, among others.

Also, a historic day as @KamalaHarris is sworn in as the first woman Vice President of the USA. I wish her and President Biden every success in meeting the challenges ahead.  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 20, 2021

Congratulations to President @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris on your inauguration. Japan and the United States are allies tied firmly by bonds and shared universal values.    (@sugawitter) January 20, 2021

Today @JoeBiden takes office as the 46th U.S. President. His Administration will have the mission of healing the soul of the country and strengthening civic friendship. The commitment to democracy, freedom and human rights recognizes no borders.

I wish President Biden the best.  Sebastian Pinera (@sebastianpinera) January 20, 2021

"Vice President @KamalaHarris, my warmest congratulations! I look forward to working with you and the new administration. Finland wants to strenghten our good relations and cooperation even further. Climate, equality and human rights need strong voices," tweeted Marin

Vice President @KamalaHarris, my warmest congratulations! I look forward working with you and the new administration. Finland wants to strenghten our good relations and cooperation even further. Climate, equality and human rights need strong voices.  Sanna Marin (@MarinSanna) January 20, 2021

Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan also congratulated Biden. "I congratulate President @JoeBiden on his inauguration Look forward to working with the President of the US in building a stronger US-Pakistan partnership through trade, economic engagement, countering climate change, improving public health, combating corruption, and promoting peace in the region and beyond," Khan tweeted.

Congratulations to @JoeBiden on being sworn in as President of the United States and to @KamalaHarris on her historic inauguration. Americas leadership is vital on the issues that matter to us all, from climate change to COVID, and I look forward to working with President Biden.  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 20, 2021

Among Indian leaders, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also congratulated both Biden and Harris on their inauguration.

"Congratulating the USA on a new chapter of their democracy. Best wishes to President Biden and Vice-President Harris," the Wayanad MP said.

With inputs from PTI
The super-infectious mutant strain of coronavirus that was first detected in Kent has spread to at least 60 other countries, the World Health Organization said today.

Cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, sometimes known as VOC 202012/01, have been reported in most of continental Europe, as well as in nations further afield including the US, Australia, India, China and Saudi Arabia.

The WHO revealed the strain, which is thought to be 50 per cent more infectious than the original Covid variant, was detected in 10 new countries in the past week alone.

On Monday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at least 122 cases had been identified in 20 US states, with the bulk being picked up in Florida and California.

There will be far more infections across the US, however, because the CDC only analyses a small percentage of random samples from positive tests. American officials now anticipate the Kent strain will experience 'rapid growth' over the next few weeks and become the dominant Covid variant nationwide by March.

The Kent strain first emerged in the South East of England in October and has quickly become the dominant strain in Britain, sparking a devastating winter wave of infections and hospital admissions which plunged the country into a third lockdown.

Studies have shown the Kent strain is between 50 and 70 per cent more infectious than the original version thanks to key mutations on its spike protein which make it easier to lock onto human cells. This gives it an evolutionary edge over other strains.

There were also fears that these same mutations could make the variant resistant to vaccines or natural immunity from previous infection. But early data from UK studies suggest this won't be the case.

Cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, sometimes known as VOC 202012/01, have been reported in most of continental Europe, as well as in nations further afield including the US, Australia, India, China and Saudi Arabia (shown in purple and blue)

Studies have shown the Kent strain is between 50 and 70 per cent more infectious than the original version thanks to key mutations on its spike protein which make it easier to lock onto human cells. This gives it an evolutionary edge over other strains

Offering hope that Britain's inoculation drive won't be in vain, Sir Patrick Vallance  chief scientific adviser to the UK Government  today insisted that the current crop of Covid-19 vaccines should work against the Kent strain.

But he admitted there were still 'question marks' over the variants first found in South Africa and Brazil, which are thought to be even more infectious than the Kent one and have more problematic mutations.

The vaccines being rolled out now are based on versions of the constantly-evolving virus studied a year ago, so may become less effective as more mutations occur over time.

Moderna said it was confident its jab will work against the England and South Africa variants and it will carry out more tests on the Brazilian one. Oxford University said it was running checks on its own jab.

Mutant strain of coronavirus has been in the US since November 6 - six weeks BEFORE the UK flagged it as a 'variant of concern', study finds The highly-infectious coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 which emerged in Kent in September 2020 had reached the US by November 6, new research shows. It is thought to have mutated inside a single patient in England struggling with a critical case of Covid-19 which forced the virus to adapt, changing its genetic code. University of Arizona researchers studied the genomes of 50 B.1.1.7 infections in the US and traced their lineage to determine when the mutated variant first appeared in the US. They found two clusters of infections, one in California and one in Florida, which originated on November 6 and November 23 respectively  the first being roughly six weeks before SAGE told the government about the new variant and health secretary Matt Hancock announced it to the public. This retrospective study has the benefit of genomic analysis and hindsight, and the first actual case of the Kent strain was not diagnosed in an American until December 29. 'It is striking that this lineage may already have been established in the US for some 5-6 weeks before B.1.1.7 was first identified as a variant of concern in the UK in mid-December,' the researchers write. 'And it may have been circulating in the US for close to two months before it was first detected, on 29 December 2020.' The study has not yet been peer-reviewed but is available online as a pre-print. The exact origin of the Kent variant is unknown but it is believed it sprung up in mid-September. Dr Susan Hopkins, a senior Public Health England (PHE) official said in December that originally there was 'nothing to particularly highlight that this was something of major concern, as variants come and go'. Mutations in viruses occur all the time, with the vast majority of them being harmless or deleterious to the pathogen. However, by chance, sometimes the tweaks to the viral code give it a survival edge and increase its success, often by becoming more infectious and easier to spread. This is what is thought to have occurred in the B.1.1.7 variant, which previous studies have found is more abundant in the upper respiratory tract. A mutation on the spike protein  which protrudes from the coronavirus and hijacks human cells  made it better at infecting people. This so-called N501Y mutation is also found on the South African and Brazilian variants which have since been identified. The Arizona-based researchers found all the California cases share another minor mutation, which is seen in just 1.2 per cent of European B.1.1.7 cases. This, they say, indicates a single introductory event, likely from international travel, seeded the variant in California where it then spread from person to person. A similar trend was seen for the Floridian batch of cases, which were very similar to the most common type of B.1.1.7 seen in the UK. This is a 'strong indication that they too descend from a single introduction event', the scientists say. Advertisement

Pfizer today said the it was 'unlikely' that the B.1.1.7 lineage  the Kent variant  will evade the vaccine. Studies of a lab-made version of the variant was neutralised by antibodies created by the jab.

The major concerns about the Kent, South Africa and Brazil variants of the virus are that they are now widespread and significantly different to earlier versions, to which many people have developed immunity.

Kent's variant is the one least likely to drive down the efficacy of a vaccine because it is missing a mutation found on the other two.

The Brazilian and South African variants share a mutation called E484K, which is thought to change the shape of the spike protein on the outside of the virus so much that immune system antibodies in many people are unable to recognise it.

Researchers have not yet done tests on how the immune system of someone who has had a Covid vaccine would respond to those versions of the virus.

When asked about variants and vaccines in a television Q&A on Sky News this morning, Sir Patrick said: 'On the variant that was first identified in Kent, I think were increasingly of the view that that variant will be susceptible to the vaccine and to previous immunity.

'The studies are all pointing in that direction so I think thats good in terms of vaccine effect.

'For some of the others that are popping up around the world  and they will continue to pop up  we've still got some question marks as to how effective a vaccine will be.

'Those studies need to be continued and I think its likely that we will need to have modified vaccines in due course.'

The reason new variants may be able to get past the immune system is that the substances the body makes to tackle viruses are extremely specific and fit to the virus like a key in a lock.

These substances, the main type of which are antibodies, can be made by someone catching the virus for real or being injected with a vaccine.

If the virus changes shape too much  and it is constantly changing because of random errors when it reproduces, even though many of these changes make no difference  the immune system won't be able to attach to it.

Companies and scientists making the current crop of vaccines insist that their vaccines will still work as intended, at least on the Kent variant also known as B.1.1.7.

Pfizer and BioNTech scientists yesterday published a paper that said it was 'unlikely that the B.1.1.7 lineage will escape [vaccine]-mediated protection'.

The team exposed the virus to the blood of 16 people who had been enrolled in trials of the companies' vaccine to see if the immune cells would recognise and destroy it.

When they compared the immune reaction to this Kent variant with the reaction to the original virus from Wuhan they said there was 'no biologically significant difference in neutralization activity'.

Moderna said in a statement: 'The Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine expresses the full-length spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, allowing for the generation of neutralizing antibody responses to multiple domains of the protein.

'The full-length Spike protein is 1,273 amino acids long, so while recent variants involve multiple mutations, for instance up to eight amino acid changes in the spike protein of the B.1.1.7 strain, these represent less than a one per cent difference from the spike protein encoded by Modernas vaccine.

'While we plan to run tests to confirm the activity of the vaccine against any strain, the broad range of potential neutralizing antibodies made possible by the Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine provide confidence that our vaccine will also be effective at inducing neutralizing antibodies against them.'

An AstraZeneca spokesperson said: 'The University of Oxford and labs across the world are carefully assessing the impact of new variants on vaccine effectiveness, and starting the processes needed for rapid development of adjusted Covid-19 vaccines if these should be necessary.'

While the claim that Pfizer's jab will still work against the variant is good news for Britain, where it is now the dominant strain, it is also good for the US, which has seen it spread widely with research now suggesting it has been there since November.

Coronavirus variant found in Germany Another mutated coronavirus variant has been found in Germany, different to those originating in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. Health officials said the variant was identified in Bavarian hospital patients, but it isn't yet known how transmissible it is or whether it makes Covid worse. Concerns have grown in recent weeks over the spread of the variants, the UK-based version of which forced Boris Johnson to cancel Christmas for millions and plunge the nation into a third national lockdown. Discovery of the new German strain has also seen Angela Merkel take action, with the Chancellor declaring restrictions including the closure of schools and shops will be extended until mid-February. Germany's infection rate has stabilised in recent days, indicating that existing restrictions may have been effective in bringing down the numbers. The variant was found in 35 out of 73 newly infected people at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the southeast of the country. Experts continue to analyse samples after Clemens Stockklausner, deputy medical director at the Charite university hospital in Berlin, admitted it was too early to say whether this virus was more deadly than other variants. He said: 'At the moment we have discovered a small point mutation and it is absolutely not clear whether it will be of clinical relevance. 'We have to wait for the complete sequencing.' Advertisement

University of Arizona researchers studied the genomes of 50 B.1.1.7 infections in the US and traced their lineage to determine when the mutated variant first appeared in the US.

They found two clusters of infections, one in California and one in Florida, which originated on November 6 and November 23 respectively  the first being roughly six weeks before SAGE told the government about the new variant and health secretary Matt Hancock announced it to the public.

This retrospective study has the benefit of genomic analysis and hindsight, and the first actual case of the Kent strain was not diagnosed in an American until December 29.

'It is striking that this lineage may already have been established in the US for some 5-6 weeks before B.1.1.7 was first identified as a variant of concern in the UK in mid-December,' the researchers write.

'And it may have been circulating in the US for close to two months before it was first detected, on 29 December 2020.'

Greater concern about the effectiveness of vaccines is swirling around mutations that emerged in South Africa and Brazil, which carry an extra mutation called E484K.

This mutation has been linked in early scientific studies to 'immune escape' and may make the antibodies of some people significantly less effective at destroying it.

South African academics found that 48 per cent of blood samples from people who had been infected in the past did not show an immune response to the new variant.

Professor Penny Moore, the researcher behind the project, claimed people who were sicker with coronavirus the first time and had a stronger immune response appeared less likely to get reinfected.

She told a scientific panel meeting earlier this week: 'When you test the blood of people infected in the first wave and you ask "Do those antibodies in that blood recognise the new virus?" you find that in 50 per cent of cases  nearly half of cases  there's no longer any recognition of the new variant.

'In the other half of those individuals, however, there is some recognition that remains. I should add those are normally people who were incredibly ill, hospitalised and mounted a very robust response to the virus.'

Professor Moore said that research made it 'clear that we do have a problem', but that it is still in its early stages and laboratory studies cannot perfectly recreate the real world.

On whether vaccines would be affected, she added: 'If you have very high antibodies to begin with, there does remain some recognition of the new virus and that's important as we think about vaccines.

'Some vaccines elicit very high levels of antibodies and others do not, so we need to understand whether there is some recognition by vaccine-elicited, rather than infection-elicited, antibodies.'

The inevitable mutation of the virus could mean that vaccines have to be updated, redeveloped and given out every year in the same way that flu jabs are.

Sir Patrick said: 'I think that will be something thats going to be a regular feature of this.

'Fortunately the new vaccine technology, particularly the messenger RNA vaccines [Pfizer and Moderna], are relatively easier to change and you can almost dial up a change. It then takes a few weeks for that to be made and come through, so it's not instantaneous, but I think that's what's going to come through.

'I wouldn't be at all surprised if, from time to time, we need to get slight variations of the vaccine in order to make sure we keep on top of this, and I think changes in the virus will occur all over the world.

'Viruses mutate, thats what they do, and I would expect to see more and more of that as we go forward.'
Cinema under Donald Trump, it is safe to say, has been indicative of the chaos and division he has imported to the country.

A few days after Donald Trump was inaugurated as US president in 2016, Jordan Peeles Get Out premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film would usher a new genre in itself, the exploration of Americas racial anxieties through the trope of horror, as Trump would go on to mime for four years, the same anxieties through the trope of democracy.

Get Out was unsubtle to the extent the Trump tenure would turn out to be graceful. Not often does a newly birthed piece of art take its first step in the redecorated shadow of the monolith it thought it would to some extent demolish.

Perhaps Get Out was more of a warning than it was a historic correction. Warning that Trumps entry into the White House was not just confirmation of Americas racial divide, but the start of a period that may instead be remembered as its deepest scar.

We can talk of Trumps eventual exit from the White House in the past tense, but in a way, he will continue to linger through the divisions he has sowed over his reign. These divisions manifested in the way Trump looked at minorities and migrants, and used state power to suppress whatever agency they could hold on to.

Kathryn Bigelows Detroit (2017) was a punch of a film that looked at police brutality through the lens of an all-teeth realism. Steven Spielbergs The Post underlined the importance of the press in a year when the likes of The Washington Post and The New York Times came under direct attack from the state. Racism, naturally, has been a key focus of Hollywood while Trump has been in power. Spike Lee returned after a brief hiatus with the darkly comic tale of a black undercover police officer who manages to infiltrate a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in BlacKkKlansman (2018).

Racism, under Trump, has not been limited to the colour of skin but also extended itself to poke ethical origins. Trumps consistent attacks on Americans Latino and the Mexican people was upstaged by multiple Oscar wins by two Mexican directors (Guillermo Del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron), who essentially made films about love (The Shape of Water) and identity (Roma). Sandwiched between this Mexican stand-off of craft and storytelling was the stereotype-shattering Moonlight, the politically reaffirming Green Book, and the superhero blockbuster Black Panther. All these films centred minorities or became the toast of their accomplishment in a land where they were being hounded by the state. The icing on the cake may have been an immigrant Korean director (Bong Joon Ho) sweeping everything before him with a startling film about class inequalities (Parasite).

When it comes to mirroring everyday political intrigue and chaos, television shows have an edge that premeditated cinema just cannot match. Veep continued to mock the self-seriousness of politics even when politics itself had become bafflingly banal and pedestrian. The on-the-nose criticism of the Trump administration in The Good Fight was perhaps unmatched but it was at least, in spirit, replicated by most late-night hosts, with varying degrees of success.

Honestly, Trumps reign proved too farcical to ignore, and yet too redundant in its stupidity at times, to build serious work upon. Racism became a leading motif in streaming as well, and it says something about the seriousness of the moment when the daft world of superheroes has to step out of its white comfort zone. Damon Lindelofs beguiling take on Watchmen is perhaps one of the greatest political take on comic book heroes, somehow adding to the political origins of the comic. Amazon Prime Videos The Boys went loud by imagining superman as a sycophantic white supremacist.

The chaos of the Trump presidency requires little creative imagination for it to be packaged more sensationally than it already was. The device of documentary filmmaking was ripe to peek this basket of cherries that simply would not let up on the harvest. Michael Moores Farenheit 11/9 was a chilling take on the system-enabled election of a bigot into the biggest office in the world, and how America had reached where it had. HBOs Agents of Chaos tried to dive into the alleged Russian hand in Trumps election to office with hair-raising authenticity, and uncovers the fragile political belly of a country that likes to think of it as anything but. In the shorter format, John Olivers Last Week Tonight upped its game in banishing myths fabricated by the Trump administration, through foul-mouthed, hilarious takedowns. It kind of points to the contradiction that America has become, simultaneously a country free and at war with itself.

Cinema under Trump, it is safe to say, has been indicative of the chaos and division he has imported to the country. Part of the reason why America seemingly holds it together is because its institutional values continue to supersede the individual. Cinema as institution allows stalwarts like Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro to take the stage and openly criticise their president. Freedom is a notional idea, when all one has is dialogue and discourse. But as cinema has shown in Trumps years, sometimes the greatest contribution you can make to a conflict is to, with honesty, record it.

All images from Twitter.
Fifth cousin of President-elect Joe Biden, Councillor Andrea McKevitt at her home on the Cooley Peninsula in Co. Louth with a specially baked cake to mark Mr Bidens inauguration (Brian Lawless/PA)

Joe Bidens ancestral homes on the west and east coast of Ireland have celebrated his inauguration with champagne and cake while waving Irish and American flags.

The US presidents proud links to Ireland are well known and often spoken about by the Democrat.

He is seen by many as the most Irish American president to date, with his heritage tracing back to Ballina in Co Mayo and the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth.

Many of his distant cousins toasted his swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, marking a significant moment for Irelands native son.

Homes across both counties were decked out in the stars and stripes.

On the east coast of Ireland is the Cooley Peninsula, where Mr Bidens great great-grandfather James Finnegan left for the United States.

Andrea McKevitt, who is a fifth cousin of Mr Bidens, marked the inauguration with a low-key celebration.

Ms McKevitt watched on with her family over Zoom as cousin Joe was sworn in.

Expand Close Fourth cousin of President Joe Biden, Veronica McKevitt (sitting) and her daughters Councillor Andrea McKevitt (right) and her sister Ciara, applaud Mr Biden at their home on the Cooley Peninsula (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Fourth cousin of President Joe Biden, Veronica McKevitt (sitting) and her daughters Councillor Andrea McKevitt (right) and her sister Ciara, applaud Mr Biden at their home on the Cooley Peninsula (Brian Lawless/PA)

The family toasted the moment with champagne, cheese burgers and fries.

We didnt get to have the celebration we wanted but we were joined by uncles, aunties and cousins over Zoom to watch it all.

We hope he gets the chance to visit the Cooley peninsula soon as we are all so excited to have him return.

It will be a proud day to welcome him back and the sooner the better.

There is a great sense of pride of having him as the president. Its a magical atmosphere having one of our own in the most important office in the world.

Joe has an affinity to Ireland, he will be a great friend to Ireland.

Many Irish people left these shores in search of the American dream, and Joe is a prophet of an American dream and he shows what hard work and determination can do.

His dedication to the Good Friday Agreement was comforting for us in Ireland.

John Finnegan, from Carlingford, is a fourth cousin of Mr Bidens, and described the moment as an emotional day.

Expand Close Derek Leonard stands in between his banner display for Joe Biden outside his pub Harrisons, in Ballina (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Derek Leonard stands in between his banner display for Joe Biden outside his pub Harrisons, in Ballina (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Finnegan welcomed Mr Biden when he visited Co Louth in 2017.

We watched the TV all day to see him arrive and be sworn in  its a very proud moment that he once belonged here and now hes in the highest office in the world.

Its been an emotional day for everyone and we are all so proud of him.

He is a very charming and very friendly and very down to earth, calm and a smily person. He makes you feel so welcome and doesnt make you feel any less than him.

Hes not a quitter and never gave up, he went on and got to where he is today through hard work.

Nearby, in the town of Dundalk, the council erected an American flag outside the council building and lit up a water feature in the American colours.

Fianna Fail councillor Emma Coffey was instrumental in marking the day in the town.

Ms Coffey, who also has links to the Irish for Biden group, said there has always been an admiration for Mr Biden in the county.

With Level 5 coronavirus restrictions we couldnt really mark it in a significant way, so we arranged the flag to be flown outside the council building and the fountain in the town square be lit up, she added.

Its a nod of our support to him. Its a great day for Irish American relations and democracy and world relations.

Meanwhile, in Ballina on the other side of the island, locals gathered to take selfies under Mr Bidens mural in the town centre.

Mr Bidens great, great-grandfather Patrick Blewitt was born in the town and left Ballina in 1850 and travelled to America.

Posters in shop windows display whau Joe which is Ballina slang for hello.

Independent councillor Mark Duffy said there had been huge excitement in the town since the US election.

Expand Close Mark Duffy, county councillor for Ballina, stands in front of a mural of Mr Biden (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mark Duffy, county councillor for Ballina, stands in front of a mural of Mr Biden (Niall Carson/PA)

Co Mayo had suffered from mass emigration during famine time but for one of our diaspora to go on to become US president is something were all very proud of, he said.

Were just looking forward to building on those links and hopefully welcoming Joe Biden to Ballina in the not so distant future, he said.

Artist Smiler Mitchell and publican Derek Leonard, who were behind the mural in the town, said they never expected it would attract such interest.

It went a little bit further than we expected, Mr Mitchell said. I think were up on around two billion viewers at this stage which is nice publicity for the town.

Mr Leonard said they sent a video to Mr Biden when they erected the mural in September prior to the election and he had responded to them via his Irish cousins.

He was so chuffed. He said he would definitely be back as president next year, Mr Leonard said. Lo and behold hes president. Hes said on more than one occasion that he expects to be back in Ballina as President of the United States so were looking forward to it.
A former aide to Joe Bidens presidential campaign has joined Anas Sarwars team as the MSP bids for Scottish Labours leadership.

Mae Dobbs worked as a senior digital manager in the Biden/Harris campaign, publishing online content targeting swing states like Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania ahead of the US election.

The campaign strategist has been named head of digital in Mr Sarwars campaign, with the MSP saying she will help tackle online hate and disinformation.

The announcement came as the US prepares to inaugurate Mr Biden as its 46th president.

Transforming digital campaigns is one of the key ways we can bring people together and tackle some of the division in our communities today Mae Dobbs

Mr Sarwar said: Todays inauguration of Joe Biden and (vice-president) Kamala Harris is heartening to any campaigner who has been fighting the hate and division which Donald Trump has sowed these last few years.

Tackling hate  particularly digital hate  and fighting misinformation are crucial in protecting our democracy and bringing people together, something we badly need in these difficult times.

Im delighted to welcome Mae on my team to help do that.

Ms Dobbs said: Transforming digital campaigns is one of the key ways we can bring people together and tackle some of the division in our communities today.

Im excited to be part of this campaign, and to get started on a truly historic day for the United States of America.

Nominations for the Scottish Labour leadership contest closed on Tuesday.

Monica Lennon, the partys health spokeswoman, is running against Mr Sarwar in the race to replace Richard Leonard ahead of the Holyrood election in May.

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US President Joe Biden on Wednesday vowed to repair America's alliances and engage with the world once again, saying the country has been tested and its people have come out stronger. In his inaugural speech after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States in a historic but scaled down ceremony under the unprecedented security umbrella of thousands of security personnel, the 78-year-old veteran Democratic leader said: We'll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security. "Look, folks, all of my colleagues I have ...
By Lee Gyu-lee







Actress Park Si-yeon has apologized after reports surfaced that she had caused a car accident while drunk driving, Sunday.







The actress, 42, issued an apology on social media Wednesday, a day after media reports about the incident.







"Regardless of the reason, I never should have done it. I deeply regret being so reckless and am seriously reflecting on my actions," she said.







According to the Songpa Police, Park's car bumped into another vehicle waiting for a green light at a three-way junction in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, at 11:30 a.m. No one was seriously injured.







The level of alcohol in her blood was 0.097 percent  high enough to get her license revoked.







She reportedly admitted her charges to police and was released the same day.







Her agency Mystic Story claimed that she was still drunk from the night before.







"Park Si-yeon had drinks at home with her friend on the night of Jan. 16 (Saturday) and drove her car the next day, believing she was sober," the agency said in a statement, Tuesday. "But regardless of the reason, we feel that she is responsible for letting such an incident happen, and she feels deep regret."







Yet many remain skeptical, as this is not the first time she has been in trouble with the law.







In 2013, Park was indicted over abusing the anesthetic drug propofol for recreational purposes. She received a suspended prison term for the crime.


BISHKEK --The former deputy chief of Kyrgyzstan's Customs Service, Raimbek Matraimov, has changed his last name after being placed on the U.S. Magnitsky sanctions list for his alleged involvement in the illegal funneling of hundreds of millions of dollars abroad.

A spokesperson for Kyrgyzstan's state registration service, Damira Azimbaeva, confirmed to RFE/RL on January 20 that both Matraimov and his wife, Uulkan Turgunova, had changed their surnames.

Azimbaeva did not give the new surnames due to confidentiality laws regarding personal data, adding that every person in Kyrgyzstan has the right to change his or her name legally.

However, on January 15 a Bishkek court judge delayed a hearing into a libel lawsuit filed by Matraimov's family against RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Azattyk, its correspondent Ali Toktakunov, and the news site Kloop.

Judge Jyldyz Ibraimova said that Matraimov had changed his last name to Ismailov, and his wife had changed her surname to Sulaimanova.

The judge added that the hearing will proceed after lawyers for Matraimov and his wife submit official documents proving that their last names had been legally changed.

In early December, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it had slapped sanctions on Matraimov for his role in a vast corruption and money-laundering scheme in the Central Asian country.

The $700 million scheme involved a company controlled by Matraimov bribing officials to skirt customs fees and regulations, as well as engaging in money laundering, "allowing for maximum profits," the U.S. Treasury Department said.

The sanctions fell under the Magnitsky Act, a piece of legislation passed by the United States in 2012 that penalizes individuals responsible for committing human rights violations or acts of significant corruption.

In June 2019, an investigation by RFE/RL, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, and Kloop implicated Matraimov in a corruption scheme involving the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars out of Kyrgyzstan by Chinese-born Uyghur businessman Aierken Saimaiti, who was assassinated in Istanbul in November 2019.

In October, Matraimov was detained on corruption charges and placed under house arrest.

Kyrgyz authorities said at the time that Matraimov had agreed to pay about 2 billion soms ($23.5 million) in damages to the state, and that 80 million soms (almost $1 million) had been transferred to its account.

A former judge on the Constitutional Court, Klara Sooronkulova, told RFE/RL on January 20 that she believes Matraimov and his wife are trying to evade the U.S.-imposed sanctions by changing their names.

"I think after being placed under the Magnitsky Act, many doors around the world will be closed for them. Many problems may now arise for them to keep their property under their ownership," Sooronkulova said.

There have been no official statements from the lawyers of Matraimov's family to explain the decision to change their names.

The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
A week ago, an extraordinary general assembly of the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company decided to liquidate its steel plants and spin off its mining activities. The loss-making company, established in the early 1950s, will have to sell off six million square metres of its land assets to pay off its LE9 billion outstanding debts before liquidation.



The decision stirred unprecedented debate between those who support and others who oppose the liquidation, with this reaching the corridors of the House of Representatives. The opposition feeling was so high that the cabinet led by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli issued a statement giving the reasons behind the decision to liquidate.



The four-page statement revealed the companys finances from 1997 until 2018-2019 based on a study conducted in 2019 by the Holding Company for Metallurgical Industries (MIH), Iron and Steels mother company.



Discussion of the fate of the company began when Yasser Al-Hodeibi, deputy head of the Wafd Party and a member of the newly elected Shura Council, presented questions about the reasons for the liquidation in a memo to Madbouli.



Were they related to unfixable structural problems, he asked, or management problems? Was there a lack of funding that could be managed, or redundant labour that could be dealt with through early retirement programmes? Why did the iron and steel industry owned by the private sector make a profit, while the public sector was losing money?



Unlike the questions raised in the Shura Council, MPs were stern in their questions to the minister of public enterprise. Although parliament had just began its sessions, the issue was the focus of the Planning and Budgeting Committee and the Industry Committee.



MP Mustafa Bakri said he would present 150 official documents revealing the intention to liquidate the company, which he described as an edifice of Egypts industrial history.



Bakri accused the minister of public enterprise of rejecting offers by foreign companies to overhaul Iron and Steel, stating that the company has 200 million tons of raw iron and its trademark is worth $100 million. He said that the minister of public enterprise had taken up a hostile stance towards the workers and was intent on bringing down the company.



Mohamed Badrawi, a member of parliaments Planning and Budget Committee, said the crisis was due to changes by successive managements of the companys responsibilities and their failure to find solutions for accumulated losses. There had been no interest in modernising production lines, he said.



Badrawi proposed allocating the LE2 billion the state was planning to offer to workers to finance a strategy to renew the companys production facilities. He added that the company had been making profits until 2007.



He also suggested that the state offer facilitated loans from government bodies to buy new equipment. The updated production lines should run on natural gas instead of coal.



He requested the revision of deals between the Iron and Steel Company and its coal-production arm, one of the activities that make profits, by consulting with foreign experts. He said the companys activities in producing medical oxygen should be looked at, particularly as it had made large quantities available at the onset of the second wave of the coronavirus.



In its statement, the government explained the decision to liquidate the Iron and Steel Company. The company made marginal profits in most years between 1997-98 and 2002-03. These [marginal profits] do not give a correct image of the true situation, however. The company used revisions of its assets [land] worth LE4.092 billion to record gains. The Central Auditing Agency has rejected this method, the statement said.



The profits the company made from 2005-06 to 2009-10 were through occasional revenues not related to its main activity, such as carried-over revenues and allocations. If these are taken out, it turns out the profits are actually losses.



Government replies to media questions focused on company losses that had reached LE8.5 billion and production capacity that was no more than 10 per cent of designed capacity as a result of the wearing out of production lines.



The liquidation was the right decision, it said, asking those who opposed it to set aside their emotions.



The same thing was said by former minister of public enterprise Mounir Fakhri Abdel-Nour. In a recent media appearance, he said that the question now is why the company fell down and could not get up again. The answer is simple: it is making losses and doesnt have what it takes to succeed. The companys technology is outdated. Its German production lines were initiated in 1954. In 1961, Soviet lines were added. At that time, production was also weak, but it was able to cover fixed costs. Production was expensive because expenses were enormous.



The Ministry of Public Enterprise denied worries concerning the effects of the liquidation on the iron and steel market. The company produces 112,000 tons of steel annually, which is less than one per cent of market capacity. Consumption ranges between seven and eight million tons a year, and Egypts capacity currently stands at 11.8 million tons. It imports about two million tons at prices that are less than those of the iron and steel that is locally produced, the ministry stated.



The cabinet said there had been three failed attempts to upgrade the companys facilities in 2014, 2018, and the first quarter of 2019. International companies had been invited to manage it on 20-year contracts with no less than $100 million in incentives and reductions in the workforce and paying off debts that stood at LE6.5 billion at the time.



However, such efforts had failed to save the company, it said.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

Short link:


The IoT edge continued to grow in 2020, accelerating, according to some analysts, given the COVID-19 response and shift to remote working, remote monitoring, cloud adoption, and a general shift in the priorities of enterprises forced to invest in digital transformation ahead of schedule.

According to a December report published by Research And Markets, the global market for Edge Analytics was expected to spike by 35.2% in the year 2020 and thereafter grow to reach US$31.4 billion by the year 2027, trailing a post-COVID-19 CAGR of 28.2% over the analysis period 2020 through 2027.

The authors predict that public and private sectors will prioritize investments in technologies that enable safe remote operations such as automation, cybersecurity, cloud, AI & IoT, driving the demand for edge computing, bringing with it the opportunity to innovate when processing is faster and supports real-time control systems. With more automation and intelligence at the edge, less human intervention is needed across multiple sites, for example, including in places like data centers and factories where fewer people could work onsite and adapted to manage equipment, environment and break/fix remotely using cloud-based applications for service monitoring.

LF Edges EdgeX Foundry project has been driving community innovation and standards development at the edge for years now, and last month introduced their Hanoi release adding new features and simplification capabilities to their framework as new members joined and adoption soared.

According to the EdgeX community, EdgeXs Hanoi release offers better data tagging, customized editing, and a new Command Line Interface (CLI) for improved performance and scalability.

EdgeX is a Stage 3 project (Impact Stage) under the LF Edge umbrella organization that aims to establish an open, interoperable framework for IoT edge computing independent of connectivity protocol, hardware, operating system, applications, or cloud.

EdgeX Foundry fosters an ecosystem of interoperable components from a variety of vendors to create a much-needed IoT framework for edge solutions, said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, Networking, Automation, Edge and IoT, the Linux Foundation. With the support of LF Edge members and EdgeX contributors from across the globe, we are paving the way to enable and support a more robust solution at the IoT, Enterprise, Cloud, and Telco edge.

Launched in April 2017, EdgeX is an open-source, loosely coupled microservices framework that provides the choice to plug and play from a growing ecosystem of available third-party offerings or to augment proprietary innovations, on a mission to simplify the process to design, develop and deploy solutions across industrial, enterprise, and consumer applications.

The Hanoi release is the organizations seventh and has a number of features, including simplified Deployment, improved performance and scalability testing, the launch of the CLI, and a collection of new, platform-wide microservice APIs.

Key features include:

? Launch of the CLI: allows developers and users to issue a variety of EdgeX API calls to its services using terminal commands for easier scripting of tasks.

? Improved edge data tagging: developers can tag the data coming from a variety of edges so that everything is organized and configured by a preferred process that ensures the location of data can be found more quickly and efficiently.

? Easier and simplified Deployment: users will find that EdgeX now has a Compose file make capability that allows users to customize their file more easily without a lot of manual editing.

? Improved performance and scalability testing: Adopters can now calculate what a large-scale deployment with EdgeX would look, and put it in their roadmap plans. Hanoi brings the ability to provide guidance around EdgeX scaling as the amount of data is pushed through the system or how many devices of particular types you can hang on an instance of EdgeX.

EdgeX Foundry has a history of working closely with other LF Edge projects, including Akraino, Home Edge, EVE, and Open Horizon. With the Hanoi release, EdgeX has provided a sample service to export data from EdgeX to Fledge, an industrial IoT framework that focuses on critical operations, predictive maintenance, situational awareness, and safety. This allows EdgeX device connectors and capabilities to be used with Fledge instances. Conversely, with its next release, Fledge intends to provide a device service to allow Fledge instances to feed EdgeX instances.

The next step for EdgeX Foundry is the Ireland release, tentatively scheduled for spring 2021. Ireland will include a number of significant changes, including EdgeXs new V2 API set and V2 API testing, additional security improvements, and easier transition/communication between device services to message application services directly.

EdgeX also launched a new website with more resources for developers, including commercial offerings from members of the community, and real-world use cases across Artificial Intelligence (AI), Industrial IoT (IIoT), Manufacturing, and Retail. Their recently launched Adopter Series showcases companies that already deploy the EdgeX framework in products and solutions, including Accenture, HP, Intel, Jiangxing Intelligence, ThunderSoft, and TIBCO.

Well continue to track and report on the progress of EdgeX, including coverage of their next release later this year.

Edited by Maurice Nagle
Danish utility Orsted A/S took a final investment decision on its first hydrogen project as it expands beyond wind power.

The worlds biggest producer of electricity from wind turbines at sea will use the technology at its Danish demonstration project H2RES to produce green hydrogen. The project is expected to be up and running late this year, the company said on Wednesday in a statement.

Also Read | Why server stacks are the new realty play

Hydrogen is essentially a fossil free fuel and seen as a crucial by governments and utilities to help cut carbon from industrial and transport sectors. The technology has a central place in the European Unions Green Deal package.

We see renewable hydrogen and other sustainable fuels as cornerstones in reaching net-zero emissions by 2050," said Martin Neubert, chief executive officer at Orsted Offshore.

The project will have a capacity of two megawatts, producing as much as 1,000 kg of the fuel daily, which will be used for road transport in Greater Copenhagen and on Zealand, Orsted said.

The Danish Energy Agency has awarded a grant of 34.6 million Danish Kroner ($5.65 million) to Orsted and other partners in the H2RES project.

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When Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are sworn in as senators from Georgia on Wednesday, they won't just put Democrats in control of the chamber. They'll also make Kamala Harris the most powerful vice president in years - and the most powerful Black or Asian woman in American history. And that power was granted to her by the hard work of Black women in Georgia.

For many years, the prevailing wisdom has been the office of the vice president is incidental to real power in Washington. Because vice presidents do not have executive authority and cannot "legislate" from the bully pulpit the same way presidents can, each administration gets to decide how much, or how little, the vice president is involved in decision-making. Vice President Dick Cheney was the recent exception to the usual rule: He not only served as President George W. Bush's chief adviser but was unapologetic in his advocacy of violence against America's enemies and unafraid of using torture techniques to secure domestic safety. The security apparatus he built remains. His "quiet power" was enabled, in part, because he had a willing co-conspirator in Bush - but also because there was nothing unusual about a White man with a lot of power. For Harris, though, an enormous amount of scrutiny will be coming soon.

Because Harris is the first Black, South Asian, graduate of a historically Black university, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and woman to hold the office, there is a lot of attention on her and the type of executive partner she will be for Joe Biden. The American people have already gotten a glimpse of her in action in Senate hearings and on the campaign trail where her performances were instantly meme-able. She became a sensation, and if her past performance is any indication, she will not be content to simply be the president's cheerleader. It is expected that Harris will be Biden's partner in all things.

Fittingly, it was Black people of Georgia who turned the political world on its axis again. Not only was Black turnout comparable to the general election, Warnock and Ossoff saw their share of the Black vote increase between November and January. In fact, Georgians cast more votes in the 2021 Senate runoff than they did in 2012, when President Barack Obama was running for reelection. And now the person with the power will be a Black and South Asian woman; the child of immigrants holding all of the proverbial marbles. The framers did not provide much in the way of responsibilities for the vice president other than to preside over the Senate. But Article II of the Constitution says the vice president "shall have no vote, unless [the Senators] be equally divided." This power was pivotal when Bush took office in 2001, when Cheney provided the tie-breaking vote in a 50-50 Senate to give Republicans control and ease the Bush agenda's passage through Congress. Harris not only has the opportunity to do the same, but in a moment of even deeper partisan polarization, it is likely she will be called on to break ties in the Senate on a more regular basis than her predecessors.

The specter of this Black woman with all of this power has not been lost on congressional Trump supporters or the partisan opportunists who attempted to use every trick in the book to deny the victory of this historic ticket by disenfranchising voters in heavily Black districts. When that didn't work, they simply threw the book out and weaponized White anger. From the moment it looked like Harris would be Biden's vice-presidential nominee, there have been wild conspiracies that he would simply be a puppet to Harris's "radical agenda." These pernicious falsehoods mirror similar attacks made against other women of color, like "the Squad," who are portrayed as a threat because they're constantly depicted as having outsized power.

Of course, not every Republican went along with the effort, but that is cold comfort for those of us who have seen the machinations of White people too often determine our own life chances. The charade of 2020 - indeed, of the last four years - was never about democracy, election integrity or the protection of our so-called values. It was about keeping people who look like Harris from being able to pull the levers of power. Because a Vice President Harris affirms their deepest fears that they will reap the America they have sown for so many others. We don't yet know what she'll do with the power Georgia voters have given her. But at least we know she won't be the type of vice president who will stand idly by as the Oval Office is abused.

- - -

Carter is the author of "American While Black: Race, Immigration, and the Limits of Citizenship" and an associate professor of political science at Howard University.
[January 20, 2021] New Jersey Resources Announces Key Sustainability Achievements at Annual Shareowners Meeting

New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) today announced significant progress in advancing its sustainability agenda, including surpassing its goal of voluntarily reducing the company's operational emissions in New Jersey to 50% of 2006 levels by 2030 - well ahead of schedule. Building on this accomplishment, NJR set a new emissions reduction target of a 60% reduction of 2006 levels by 2030 from its New Jersey operations. "New Jersey Resources is helping lead the way to a clean energy future. Achieving a 50% reduction in our New Jersey operational emissions is an important accomplishment that shows our company's strong support for New Jersey's clean energy and climate goals," said New Jersey Resources President and CEO Steve Westhoven. "Reaching this goal ahead of schedule was possible because of our long track record of prioritizing safe, reliable infrastructure investments to modernize our natural gas system in an environmentally responsible way." NJR reached its 50% by 2030 goal by making key investments in its natural gas delivery system, facilities and fleet that have substantially reduced emissions. To meet its new goal of a 60% reduction of 2006 levels by 2030, NJR will focus its reduction strategies on transitioning its fleet to low- or no-carbon fuels; continuing to upgrade its natural gas infrastructure; and, introducing decarbonized fuels, such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen into its supply. NJR's emissions reduction target for its New Jersey operations remains squarely in line with the state's Global Warming Response Act objective of an 80% reduction in 2006 emission levels by 2050. The announcements were made at NJR's annual shareowners meeting in conjunction with the release of its 2020 Corporate Sustainability Report, which highlights the effectiveness of NJR's business continuity efforts in the time of COVID-19; the extensive support of its communities through volunteerism and corporate citizenship; the strength, independence and diversity of its board of directors; and, how infrastructure investments have made the utility's delivery system among the most environmentally sound in the country, preparing the company to deliver decarbonized gas to support a clean energy transition. Building on its commitment to sustainability and transparency on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues, fiscal 2020 marks the first year in which NJR is reporting its progress through the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board framework and the American Gas Association's ESG Questionnaire, in addition to the Global Reporting Index. To access the report and for more information on NJR's sustainability agenda, goals and progress, visit www.NJRSustainability.com. The company also announced a new partnership with the New Jersey chapter of The Nature Conservancy, a leading environmental group, on critical work to restore and preserve saltwater marshes in the Barnegat Bay watershed. Salt marshes and sea grass are a vital part of New Jersey's coastal regions and serve a critical function in addressing climate change. Tidal wetlands are effective at removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in soil for thousands of years. They also are an important tool in fighting the effects of extreme weather - serving as a natural barrier against wave energy and storm surge, reducing their intensity to protect people and property. "Our company is not onl taking aggressive and innovative actions to reduce emissions from our own operations, in-line with public policy goals, we are also working to help fight climate change and its effects through the restoration of salt water tidal wetlands in the Barnegat Bay," said Westhoven.



Sea level rise is eroding the integrity and effectiveness of these critical ecosystems, and restoration of New Jersey's salt marsh has been identified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as a strategy to mitigate the effects of climate change. "Since 2014, The Nature Conservancy and our partners have been piloting an innovative restoration technique that holds incredible potential for large-scale renewal of struggling marshes in New Jersey," said Dr. Barbara Brummer, State Director of The Nature Conservancy's New Jersey Chapter. "NJR's support and partnership on this essential salt marsh restoration project comes at a critical time as we look to expand our work and identify restoration needs and plans for more than 80 marsh islands throughout the Barnegat Bay. We thank NJR for taking action and supporting this opportunity to make a real, long-term difference combating the effects of climate change. We believe our work together will have real, lasting benefits for the people, property and wildlife of the Barnegat Bay Watershed, and for our planet."

Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements within this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. NJR cautions readers that the assumptions forming the basis for forward-looking statements include many factors that are beyond NJR's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates of future market conditions and the behavior of other market participants. Words such as "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans," "believes," "should" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements and such forward-looking statements are made based upon management's current expectations, assumptions and beliefs as of this date concerning future developments and their potential effect upon NJR. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with management's expectations, assumptions and beliefs or that the effect of future developments on NJR will be those anticipated by management. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, certain statements regarding NJR's environmental, sustainability and clean energy goals, emission reduction targets, and future capital expenditures, infrastructure programs and investments, transitioning NJR's fleet to low- or no-carbon fuels and introducing decarbonized fuels, such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen into our supply. Additional information and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NJR's expectations are contained in NJR's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) "), including NJR's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings, which are available at the SEC's web site, http://www.sec.gov. Information included in this release is representative as of today only and while NJR periodically reassesses material trends and uncertainties affecting NJR's results of operations and financial condition in connection with its preparation of management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition contained in its Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the SEC, NJR does not, by including this statement, assume any obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement referenced herein in light of future events. About New Jersey Resources New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a Fortune 1000 company that, through its subsidiaries, provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. NJR is composed of five primary businesses: New Jersey Natural Gas , NJR's principal subsidiary, operates and maintains over 7,500 miles of natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve over half a million customers in New Jersey's Monmouth, Ocean, Morris, Middlesex and Burlington counties.

, NJR's principal subsidiary, operates and maintains over 7,500 miles of natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve over half a million customers in New Jersey's Monmouth, Ocean, Morris, Middlesex and Burlington counties. Clean Energy (News - Alert) Ventures invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of more than 350 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions.

invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of more than 350 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions. Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across North America.

manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across North America. Storage & Transportation serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its ownership of Leaf River Energy Center and the Adelphia Gateway (News - Alert) Pipeline Project, as well as our 50 percent equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility, and our 20 percent equity interest in the PennEast Pipeline Project.

serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its ownership of Leaf River Energy Center and the Adelphia Gateway (News - Alert) Pipeline Project, as well as our 50 percent equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility, and our 20 percent equity interest in the PennEast Pipeline Project. Home Services provides service contracts as well as heating, central air conditioning, water heaters, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey. NJR and its more than 1,100 employees are committed to helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve and initiatives such as The SAVEGREEN Project and The Sunlight (News - Alert) Advantage. For more information about NJR: www.njresources.com. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @NJNaturalGas.

"Like" us on facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas.

Download our free NJR investor relations app for iPad, iPhone and Android. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005641/en/

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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.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : Nearly 80 per cent Indians support free Tibet, as per the IANS C-Voter Tibet Poll.

This is significant and needs no further elaboration. It took just about 10 odd questions in the survey and 5 minutes discussion from the respondents to recalibrate their moral compass.

The good part of this finding is that majority of Indians will support the cause if they are informed enough and start thinking about it. The bad part is that they actually need to be informed into this conversation. The worst part of this information is to know that virtually nobody is doing it, the poll found.

The Tibetan Government in Exile is a lesser-known entity in part due to the recent policies adopted by the government of India since 2016. This needs more effort from everyone.

The fact that almost 75 per cent Indians are absolutely clueless about it tells us the extent of coverage, or rather the lack of coverage, it has in the public domain and discussion. People in India end up discussing elections and political situations in Belarus and Kazakhstan, but they are clueless about the regular elections through which Tibetans have to elect their Government in Exile.

As per the poll, location of the Tibetan Government in Exile is not that well known. This comes hardly as a surprise as they don't know anything about the Tibetan Government in Exile to start with.

Location and further details are obviously out of scope. Even on social media, these matters come up as part of travelogues and tourist attractions while reading blogs about Himachal Pradesh, rather than any discussion in real terms.

Nearly 3/4th of the respondents support Tibet as a buffer entity between India and China. This is a positive toehold for the Tibetans to enlarge upon in future.

The anti-China emotions are running high in India, and the cause of Tibet can be attached to it in public perception. But that needs a clear cut understanding of this ground situation to start with, the survey found.

The survey included a sample size of 3,000 people spread across the country.
 Have a good life, and we will see you soon.

With those words, and the blasting soundtrack of the Village Peoples YMCA, Donald Trump signed off on a tumultuous four years as president that have upended the norms of American democracy.

Mr Trump was addressing a small gaggle of adoring supporters at the Joint Base Andrews Air Force, shortly after leaving the White House for the final time on Wednesday.

It is my greatest honour and privilege to have been your president, he said, as the crowd chanted thank you Trump.

The ad-libbed speech came ahead of Mr Trump and his family boarding Air Force One to fly to his beach home in Florida, hours before his successor Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president.

By leaving Washington D.C. ahead of the inauguration, Mr Trump will become the first president not to observe the transfer of power in 152 years.

A red carpet had been placed on the tarmac for Mr Trump to walk as he boards the plane.

He wished the incoming administration good luck without mentioning Mr Biden by name, and suggested that the United States future had never been better  but only because of his work.

Earlier Mr Trump had emerged from the White House to stride across the South Lawn to board Marine One.

He said, "It's been a great honour, the honour of a lifetime."

The former US President will have a military sendoff / AFP via Getty Images

Despite leaving the White House, Mr Trump will shadow Biden's first days in office.His second impeachment trial could start as early as this week.
A sessions court in Mumbai on Wednesday rejected the bail application of former CEO of ratings agency BARC, Partho Dasgupta, an accused in the alleged fake Television Ratings Point (TRP) case.

Dasgupta was arrested by the Mumbai crime branch from Pune district last month.

A magistrate court had earlier rejected his bail plea, observing that he played a vital role in the scam.

Opposing Dasgupta's bail application in the sessions court, special public prosecutor Shishir Hiray submitted that although the charge-sheet in the case has been filed, there still are multiple things which need to be investigated.

He argued that Dasgupta is a key person and holds sizeable control over the entire system, hence his release will amount to tampering with the prosecution witnesses, who work under him.

The special public prosecutor also drew the court's attention towards the purported WhatsApp chat between Dasgupta and Republic TV's Arnab Goswami.

"We have shown to the court the WhatsApp chat regarding the TRPs in which Dasgupta promised to take down some other channels and put Arnab's channel on the higher position," he said.

Dasgupta's lawyer, on the other hand, told the court that allegations made against him were without any evidence.

However, finding merit in the prosecution's submissions, sessions court judge M A Bhosale rejected Dasgupta's bail plea.

Police have alleged that Dasgupta, in connivance with another senior official from the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) and ARG Outlier Media Pvt Ltd's owner Arnab Goswami, manipulated the TRPs of and Republic Bharat (Hindi).

The police have further claimed that Goswami paid in lakhs to Dasgupta in return of the manipulation.

and other accused have denied any wrongdoing and manipulation of the TRP system.

The alleged scam came to light last year when the BARC filed a complaint through Hansa Research Group, saying certain television channels were rigging the TRP numbers.
A Dungannon school has contacted police after confirming some of its pupils were involved in an online chat in which racist comments were posted.

On Monday, Royal School Dungannon said they had been made aware of an online chat involving a large number of people, some of whom attend RSD, and which contained racist comments which the school condemns in every regard.

The school said it condemns racism in all its forms and took any report of racist activity seriously.

The statement added: Although this online chat took place at home and at night and had no direct link to RSD, as a matter of public interest the school reported this to the PSNI. RSD was the first and only organisation to take this action.

As a result, the school is said the matter is now subject to a criminal investigation and no further comment can be made.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "Police in Dungannon are investigating comments made on a social media group chat which were reported to officers on Friday, January 15. The investigation is ongoing and the matter is being treated as a hate incident. There are no further details at present."
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Riots continued over the night in some Tunisian districts Security forces claim situation is 'under control'

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, JANUARY 20 - The night between Tuesday and Wednesday in Tunisia was much less agitated than previous ones from the point of view of public order management but rioting and incidents did occur in some cities. A few scuffles between youths and security forces occurred, with a now usual scene of rocking throwing from one side and tear gas from the other, in Cite Etthadamen and Cite Intilaka, working-class suburbs of the capital, as well as Kasserine, Sidi Hassine, and Jebel Jelloud. Police intervention prevented similar incidents as had occurred in previous nights, local media reported. In the rioting seen on previous nights, over 600 youths were arrested. On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi spoke on prime time television saying that he ''understood the protests and the desire to express themselves of many Tunisians'' but that this did not justify ''the non-compliance with the night curfew, the looting, and the damage to public and private property''. The speech does not seem to have proved convincing to the youths, judging from the sarcastic tones of vignettes posted on social media that juxtapose the last speech by Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali prior to his fleeing to Saudi Arabia.



The economic and social situation in Tunisia at the moment is very serious, with a drop in GDP linked to the pandemic of 9% and no real prospect for recovery in the immediate future. Also of concern is the situation of COVID-19 spread, with 184, 483 cases confirmed as of January 18, some 94 deaths in the past 24 hours of individuals who had tested positive, bringing the overall death toll to 5,844. There are 1,985 people currently hospitalised with the virus, including 381 in intensive care, and 124 on ventilators. Prime Minister Mechici announced on Saturday a government reshuffle to render the government's actions more effective. Some 11 ministries will be changing hands if the parliament, now debating the matter, approves it.



(ANSAmed).




Mother-of-two Damaris has been married to husband Luiz, also 28, for five years

She has shared powerful images of her deceased baby boy in a viral TikTok video

A distraught mother who suffered a miscarriage at 18 weeks has shared powerful images of her deceased baby boy in a viral TikTok video.

Damaris Thompson, from Birmingham, has been married to husband Luiz, both 28, for five years and the couple had their first child, Davi, three, in October 2017.

The mother fell pregnant again in 2018 but tragedy struck when at five months, in March 2019, she suffered a complication and lost her second child, whom the pair named Levi.

Damaris and Luiz have now opened up about their heartbreak in a TikTok video, which features images of their baby boy - including him lying in a basket and his small hand holding on to his parent's finger.

The couple, who also share a daughter Amy, one, hope that the clip will help others going through similar situations.

Damaris Thompson, from Birmingham, has been married to husband Luiz (pictured left with their youngest child), both 28, for five years and the couple had their first child, Davi, three, in October 2017. Pictured right: Their little boy's hand next to his mother's after he was born at 18 weeks

The mother fell pregnant again in 2018 but tragedy struck when at five months, in March 2019, she suffered a complication and lost her second child, whom the pair named Levi. Pictured: Davi and Amy at the grave of baby Levi

'I still remember the day it happened very clearly, it was a Sunday and I was at my parents' house,' Damaris, who works as a team leader in a pharmaceutical company, said.

'I went to the toilet and felt pressure down below so I looked down and saw what looked like a flesh-coloured ball.

'It didn't look normal, it looked like something was coming out but I didn't feel my waters break and for a second I thought my baby was coming out.'

After consulting with her husband, the couple rushed to the hospital - but just moments after getting into their car, the mother's waters broke.

She recalled: 'Lucas and I were sat in the car, deciding which hospital would be quicker to get to, when I felt something warm coming down my legs.

Damaris and Luiz have now opened up about their heartbreak in a TikTok video, which features images of their baby boy (pictured left). Pictured right:

Damaris and Luiz (pictured with their son Davi) shared images including him lying in a basket and his small hand holding on to his parent's finger

'I got up in the middle of the street and that's when my waters broke. I went into shock and got back in the car and we drove to the hospital, and they checked me over.

How at least one in six pregnancies ends in a miscarriage One in six pregnancies in women who know they are pregnant become miscarriages. But even more happen among women who don't know they have conceived. Miscarriage occurs when a pregnancy is lost within the first 23 weeks after conception. The main symptoms are bleeding from the vagina, which may be accompanied by lower abdominal pain. There are various reasons women may have a miscarriage  it is common and is not usually caused by something they have done. If a miscarriage happens in the second trimester  between weeks 14 and 26  it may be a sign of an underlying problem. Often, miscarriages are isolated events and women will go on to have successful pregnancies. The majority of miscarriages can't be prevented, although being generally healthy will help reduce the risk. Losing three or more pregnancies in a row - known as recurrent miscarriages - is uncommon but still affects around one in 100 women. Advertisement

'They took a scan and told me my waters had definitely broken but that the baby was still alive and okay.'

Damaris was kept in hospital overnight and saw a specialist the next morning to have a scan. But on that same morning, she woke up in tremendous pain and was told her baby was on the way.

Doctors gave Damaris a pill to accelerate the labour and the mother was terrified after being told her son would die when he was delivered at 18 weeks.

The mother went into labour a few hours later but developed sepsis and became seriously ill.

She said: 'I felt like I was killing him, I just wanted to die with him. If he was already dead, I think it would have been easier to accept the fact that I would have to give birth to him, but he wasn't, he was still alive.

'I had a high fever, was shaking, and was nervous and in shock. I was very cold and was collapsing. I also refused to push and give birth a few times because I didn't want my baby to come out.

'Eventually, I pushed my son out and the nurse that was there with me was so kind and gentle to him, she spoke to him as if he was alive and put him in a small basket on the table.

'As soon as I saw her do that, I wanted to see him and when I did, I didn't feel pain or sadness, just happiness at seeing my son.'

'Levi weighed just 800 grams and was roughly 20cm long. He was so small he could have fitted in my hand.'

Shortly after delivering her son, Damaris became septic again as her placenta didn't fully come out during the birth - she was quickly losing a lot of blood.

The mother added: 'A doctor came in and took the rest of my placenta out, it was the most painful thing I have ever felt in my entire life. I looked at my husband and said "kill me" because I had been through so much mental and physical pain.'

The couple left the hospital after five days and staff agreed to organise their son's funeral.

The couple, who also share a daughter Amy, one, hope that the clip will help others going through similar situations. Pictured, a baby scan of Levi

Following Damaris's miscarriage, the couple left the hospital after five days and staff agreed to organise their son's funeral (pictured)

Damaris said: 'The funeral took place one month later so we had a month to grieve and during that time, we stopped asking why it happened and stopped blaming ourselves.

'But I still spent two weeks off work in a very aggressive state of depression and would stay in bed for days without doing anything. My husband was very sad too.

'It doesn't matter at what stage in pregnancy you lose your child, the pain is always the same, a parent should never have to bury their child.'

That same year, just a few months later in September, Damaris fell pregnant again and welcomed her daughter, Amy, in June 2020. However, she admits the pregnancy was her worst one yet as she was still grieving for her lost child.

That same year, just a few months later in September, Damaris fell pregnant again and welcomed her daughter, Amy, in June 2020 (pictured together)

However, she admits the pregnancy was her worst one yet as she was still grieving for her lost child. Pictured left, Luiz with daughter Amy, and the little girl recently, right

The couple hope their TikTok video, which has amassed over 200,000 views and 33,300 likes so far, will help break the taboo surrounding the loss of a child. Pictured: Footprints from baby Levi

The couple hope their TikTok video, which has amassed over 200,000 views and 33,300 likes so far, will help break the taboo surrounding the loss of a child.

Damaris added: 'I made the TikTok video because when I shared my story with friends on Instagram, so many people told me they had lost a child.

'I never knew and I was so surprised that there was such a taboo about the subject that no one would talk about it.

'When I was losing my baby, I was so lonely and felt like I was the only one, I was suffering by myself because no one likes to talk about such a sensitive subject.

'So, I really hope my video helps others realise they are not alone in this and that they should be afraid to talk about it.'
The human brain has about as many neurons as glial cells. These are divided into four major groups: the microglia, the astrocytes, the NG2 glial cells, and the oligodendrocytes. Oligodendrocytes function primarily as a type of cellular insulating tape: They form long tendrils, which consist largely of fat-like substances and do not conduct electricity. These wrap around the axons, which are the extensions through which the nerve cells send their electrical impulses. This prevents short circuits and accelerates signal forwarding.

Astrocytes, on the other hand, supply the nerve cells with energy: Through their appendages they come into contact with blood vessels and absorb glucose from these. They then transport it to the interfaces between two neurons, the synapses. Before that, they partially convert the sugar into other energy-rich molecules.

We have now been able to show that oligodendrocytes play an important role in the distribution of these compounds. This is apparently especially true in a particular brain region, the thalamus." Christian Steinhauser, Professor, Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, University of Bonn, Germany

Huge supply network

The thalamus is also called the "gateway to consciousness". The sensory signals it receives include those from the ears, eyes, and skin. It then forwards them to the respective responsible centers of the cerebral cortex. Only then do we become aware of this information, for instance the sound of an instrument.

It has long been known that astrocytes can form close connections: They build intercellular networks through tunnel-like coupling. Molecules can migrate from one cell to another through these "gap junctions". A few years ago, Steinhauser and his colleagues were able to show that there are also oligodendrocytes in these networks in the thalamus, about as many as astrocytes. The cells form a huge network in this way, which neuroscientists also call a "panglial network" ("pan" comes from Greek and means "comprehensive").

In other regions, however, the networks consist predominantly of coupled astrocytes. "We wanted to know why this is different here," explains Dr. Camille Philippot of Steinhauser's research group, who conducted much of the work. "Our results demonstrate that the high-energy compounds travel through this network from the blood vessels to the synapses," Philippot emphasizes. "And oligodendrocytes seem to be indispensable in this process."

The researchers were for instance able to demonstrate this in mice, in which the oligodendrocytes are unable to participate in the network because they lack the appropriate tunnels. In these mice, energy molecules no longer reached the synapses in sufficient quantities. The same was true if the astrocytes lacked the appropriate connecting links. "The thalamus apparently requires both cell types for transport," Steinhauser concludes.

Starved neurons cannot communicate

The researchers were also able to show the consequences of such a disrupted energy supply for neuronal information processing. The synapses are where two neurons meet - a sender cell and a receiver cell. When a pulse from the sender cell arrives at the synapse, it releases messenger molecules into the synaptic cleft. These neurotransmitters dock onto the recipient cell and trigger electrical signals there, the postsynaptic potentials.

When these signals are generated, potassium and sodium ions pass through the membrane of the recipient cell - sodium ions inward, potassium ions outward. These, like the neurotransmitters, must then be pumped back again. "And for that, the neurons need energy," explains Steinhauser, who is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Life and Health" at the University of Bonn. "When energy is lacking, pumping activity ceases." In the experiments, "starved" neurons were therefore no longer able to generate postsynaptic activity after just a few minutes.
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Eleven End the Lockdown protesters were arrested outside the Four Courts in Dublin today for alleged breaches of Covid restrictions and public order offences.

The protest coincided with the appearance at the Court of Appeal of Gemma ODoherty and John Waters who were seeking to overturn a High Court refusal to permit them to challenge the constitutionality of laws introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A decision on the appeal was reserved.

But while the matter was being heard in court, gardai allege that a number of people gathered on Inns Quay in the vicinity of the Four Courts at around 9:45am.

"Garda members engaged with the gathered protesters over a period of time, the Garda Press Office said in a statement this evening.

Following persistent lack of compliance with public health regulations and directions from An Garda Siochana, gardai deployed public order personnel to support uniform gardai who proceeded to make lawful demands for names and addresses from a number of protestors.

During the incident, six men and five women were arrested at various locations along the quays for allegedly failing or refusing to provide their names and addresses in accordance with The Health Act 1947.

They were taken to the Bridewell, Pearse Street, Kevin Street and Store Street garda stations.

One man was subsequently charged with failing to provide a name and address and appeared before the District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice and has been remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court tomorrow.

Three other men and one woman were charged with various offences and released on station bail while four women were issued with Fixed Payment Notices.

Another man was released and a file is to be prepared for the DPP.

Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal (CoA) Mr Justice George Birmingham said the three-judge court hoped to give its decision as soon as they can in what was a complex matter.

In judicial review proceedings against the State and the Minister for Health, with the Dail, Seanad and Ceann Comhairle as notice parties, the appellants had sought to have various legislative measures declared unconstitutional and flawed.

Ms ODoherty, and Mr Waters claimed the High Court's decision refusing them permission to bring their challenge against the laws was wrong and that they didn't get a fair hearing before the lower courts.

They also expressed their unhappiness that "concerned members of the public" were not allowed to attend the hearings.

It meant the hearing was "in camera" and not in public, said Ms ODoherty.

Earlier, Ms O'Doherty said the restrictions introduced to counter a virus she described as the "common cold" were "barbaric".

She said the Irish people and the economy were suffering as a result of draconian and unconstitutional measures brought in over an "alleged pandemic".

She added that she was not happy to be asked, by Mr Justice Birmingham at outset of the hearing, to wear a mask in the courtroom.

Ms O'Doherty said masks did more harm than good, adding they were a health risk .

She also questioned the use of methods such as social distancing, the accuracy of Covid-19 testing and the safety of Covid-19 vaccines, and if asymptomatic people with Covid-19 present a risk to others.

Ms O'Doherty also questioned the accuracy of the official number of deaths attributed to Covid-19 claiming that a person who died after "falling off a roof" was classified as deaths from the virus.

Mr Waters said the CoA should set aside a High Court judgment that was "deeply tainted".

He compared the restrictions imposed over the last nine months to those introduced after a national emergency was declared by the Irish Government in 1939 after WW2 broke out.

Michael Collins SC, with Patrick McCann SC, for the Minister and the State, said the applicants' appeal should be dismissed.

Counsel added that the applicants believe the pandemic was "a conspiracy" involving the state, the HSE and the HSE-funded media for monetary purposes, and that the state was controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

There was no evidence to support those assertions either, counsel.

Francis Kieran Bl for the notice parties said the appeal should be dismissed. Some of their submissions were "Bermuda Triangle stuff".

Last May, the High Courts Mr Justice Charles Meenan refused to grant them leave and said their claims were not arguable.

While the applicants are physically in the courtroom the three judges and lawyers for the State respondents attended via video link.
LOS ANGELESOne year after DeAngelo Jackson took the stage in Las Vegas to accept an emotional win for Best Actor, the star returned with an impressive trick up his sleeve: He topped himself. Jackson picked up the Performer of the Year prize at last nights 2021 GayVN Awards presented by Chaturbateone of many memorable moments from a ceremony filled with promise following a year of disruption.

After his name was called, Jackson put his hands over his mouth in shock. The sounds of multiple text message alerts lighting up his cell phone were audible as he absorbed the moment and tried to compose his thoughts. And befitting of his giving nature, his immediate thoughts werent even for himself, but for a close friend.

I am sharing this award with my brother Max Konnor, Jackson said of his fellow nominee. Wow, I am so taken aback. I am so shook. I wish I could give Max a hug right now. We share this award. There is no wayoh my God. I am so humbled. This year has been a very trying year for all of us in the industry, so I have no idea how I was bestowed this award, but I am sharing this award with my brother Max Konnor, at the very least. Im shook I even won this. Brother, I love youthank you GayVN.

Initially scheduled to be held in Vegas again, the show was moved to an all-virtual setting on GayVNStars.com due to the pandemic. But that didnt stop the night from being a joyous celebration of the industry, with performers, insiders and fans joining remotely to cheer each other on and celebrate the hard work from a hard year. The winners all fostered a spirit of support for their colleagues in a showand yearunlike any other.

This is even more of a wow than winning Best Actor, said Jackson in disbelief, the reality still not fully registering on his face. Thank you so much. I am very humbled. I thank all of my peers, those in this categoryyou guys know who you are. I love and miss you. I hope that next year we are able to see each other, and thank you. Im gonna have a cocktail!

Jacksons banner year was apparent in his multiple nominations, which included a leading role in Noir Males first-ever feature, Sin City; multiple roles in Men.coms ambitious Tom of Finland project; and an appearance in Men.coms popular Top of the Fair Ass Wheel threesome.

The performer can take some comfort in the fact that Konnor didnt go home empty handed. He was honored with the Favorite Cam Guy win in the fan-voted categorieswhich was presented by his new Falcon|NakedSword studio made Cade Maddox, who won Favorite Cock a year after being named GayVN Performer of the Year.

Thank you CAM4, its been an honor being an ambassador for you guys, smiled Konnor. Thank you to all my co-starsits been a fabulous year. I have some wonderful stuff coming up for you guys. Love you! Thank you, GayVN!

Entertainer Alec Mapa returned to host for the third consecutive year, this time joined by legendary drag queen Sherry Vinethe two joining forces at one point for their own take on Leonard Cohens Hallelujah, instead singing it as the duet How I Blew Ya.

They were joined by comedian Mano Agapion (aka the GayVN production assistant) in the AVN studio, along with Trophy Boys Eli Bennet, Ray Dexter, Damien Ellis, Jay Seabrook and Jake Waters, who presented many awards and also joined the hosts in the signature opening video (where, once again, Mapa found himself drenched in fluidsa crowd-pleasing running gag).

Speaking of Trophy Boys, there was a sense of deja vu in the Best Newcomer category. Last year, Nic Sahara won the prize a year after serving as a Trophy Boy for the ceremony. That happened again this year, as Brock Banks won the accolade a year after working the Vegas stage as a Trophy Boy (fittingly, Sahara and fellow 2020 Best Newcomer Alex Riley announced Banks win).

This is so crazy. Weve had such a crazy year, and to be here accepting this award is awesome. I sometimes thought I wasnt doing enough because of COVID and everything, so to even be recognized at all is pretty awesome. Im just glad we all made it here, Im glad we made it through COVID so far. The fight continues. I just want to remind everyone about what happened this past year, all the craziness that happened, said Banks, who was one of the many performers in the industry to speak out against racial inequality as he helped support the Black Lives Matter movement. Weve got to keep our heads up, move forward. I appreciate all of you guys, the fans. Much love your way.

NakedSwords acclaimed hit A Murdered Heart won Best Feature, the labels first-ever win in that category.

Wow, I want to thank the entire team at GayVN on behalf of the entire team at Falcon|NakedSword, said Toby J Morris, VP Marketing. This is a tremendous honor, to receive this award for such an important movie. Only 19 states have outlawed these conversion camps, and theres over 700,000 LGBTQ members who have been affected by these camps. And Marc MacNamara decided to make a gay porn about these camps and finesse it in such a way that was so amazing, and it took a village. Everyone who worked on this movie did an amazing jobwe cant thank you enoughand of course thank you to Tim Valenti, our fearless leader who made this all possible to begin with.

NakedSword CEO Valentiwho was inducted into the GayVN Hall of Fame last yearwas also thanked by former colleague mr. Pam, who was inducted this year. She was also nominated twice this year for her work with the studiocompleted prior to her departure to start her own production company, Wham Bam Pictures.

A Murdered Heart also won Best Actor for Angel Rivera, who plays a young man sent to a camp by his father to cure himself of his natural urges. He sent a thank you virtually from the home of friend Max Konnor (Thank you, guysI appreciate everybody involved).

That wasnt the only win for Rivera, who also won Best Quarantine Scene for his Lips Together, 6 Feet Apart pairing with Sean Ford. A true love story for the age of social distancing, the heartfelt hour-long CockyBoys scene chronicles the 14-day quarantine the two endure before their passions explode.

Meanwhile, Sharok started the show as another double winner. The performer picked up the Best Supporting Actor Trophy for his dramatic turn as a wolfman in Raging Stallions Blood Moon: Timberwolves 2.

Thank you, Steve Cruz, for casting me in that and being such an amazing director, and everybody who was in itthats really cool. I love storyline movies and that one was really special in particular. I wish we could celebrate all together, but this will do for now hopefully until next yearholy shit, Im nervous, Sharok laughed. Thank you so much. It really means a lot to me. I love you guys.

The performer was also part of the Best Three-way Sex Scene winner with Jake Nicola and Donnie Argento for Raging Stallions Cake Shopa film that also won Cruz his second consecutive trophy for Best Director - Non-Feature (following his triumph last year for Outta the Park!).

Thank you to all the fans that are supporting us through this really difficult time and keeping us alive and well. We love you, said Cruz. Also, support some of the fan pages of the actors that we cant employ while were on quarantine, because they need to eat, they need to pay rent.

Meanwhile, CockyBoys duo Jake Jaxson and RJ Sebastian were also repeat winners (for Best Director  Feature). They won for Hollywood and Vine, a salacious look at the tribulations of a closeted movie star, following last years win for Le Garcon Scandaleux.

We won? Oh wow! smiled Sebastian, with Best Actor nominee Nico Leon by his side. Jake Jaxson could not be here tonight but we are so grateful and thankful to GayVNTony Rios, Tim, everybody therethank you guys so much. Thank you to the castyou guys really knocked it out of the park.

BelAmis Summer Loves won the Best All-Sex movie, which was accepted by the very dapper looking Ashton Montana and Tom Houston, who joined virtually from Prague. The pair also presented the award for Best Duo Sex Scene, which went to gay porn titans Sean Zevran (who won GayVN Performer of the Year in 2018) and Rhyheim Shabazz (winner of last years fan-voted category for Hottest Newcomer) for their CockyBoys scene from Big Dicks Going Deep.

Helix once again showed it is the king of the Best Group Scene category, picking up the win for its six-man Inside Helix orgy where Riley Finch and Garrett Kinsley both get double-penetrated by Johnny Hands, Travis Stevens, Jacob Hansen and Ashton Summers. The studio also won Best Group Scene in 2018 and 2019 (with two more six-man orgies).

Men.coms ambitious Tom of Finland projectwhere five different-themed vignettes, each by different directors, paid tribute to the iconic artistpicked up the win for Best Fetish scene for its Leather Bar Initiation, where Nate Grimes gets worked over by Dirk Caber, Kurtis Wolfe and Jaxx Thanatos.

Dante Colle was on hand to accept his award for Best Bi Sex Scene, The Elevator Goes Both Ways from WhyNotBi.com (which also starred Kaleb Stryker and Maya Bijou).

That was an amazing scene, smiled Colle. I really wish I was here with everybody. I miss all of you. This sucks that we cant be together, but lets hope that we can get this next year. Thank you so much for the award.

In the fan-voted categories, Camran Mac was named the contest winner for the first ever GayVN Star of the Year award. Thank you GayVN, thank you to all of my fans who voted of me. I love you guys.

Meanwhile, presenters Jacob (Acosta) and Harley (Xavier) picked up Best Camming Couple (a win that equally excited their friend and Best Actor nominee Calvin Banks, who was with them watching at home).

Thank you guys so much, said Xavier. We appreciate all the support from the fans and everybody involved in all of our livesI cant even believe this happened. Thank you, Tony Rios and Tim and Amy, you guys are phenomenal.

Joey Mills was on hand to offer thanks for his Social Media Star win. In other fan-voted categories, gay porn legend Rocco Steele repeated as Favorite Daddy; Teddy Torres repeated his win as Favorite Bear; Seth Peterson was named Hottest Newcomer; Alex Mecum won Favorite Body; Austin Wolf, last years Favorite Dom, picked up Favorite Top; Rourke repeated his win for Favorite Bottom; Alam Wernik has the Favorite Butt; Austin L. Young won Favorite Twink; Zilv Gudel, last years Favorite Top, was voted Favorite Dom; and Trip Richards was awarded Favorite FTM Star.

The shows In Memoriam tribute held a moment of silence for those we recently lost in the industry, including Jerry Douglas, Roman Heart, Theo Barone, Mack Daddy, Tony DeCarlo, Ryan fields, Scotty Knox, Dani Rivera, Ridder Rivera, Macanaoh Torres and Chip Tanner.

Click here to see the full 2021 winners list.

Photography by @KogaFoto
Senator Chuck Schumer earlier delivered his first speech as Senate majority leader, saying he is "hopeful" after the inauguration of Biden and Harris but that the United States still faces a host of challenges.

He also vowed that the chamber will "do business differently" now that Democrats are in charge.

As he was introduced as Senate majority leader for the first time, Schumer paused, then exhaled. "I need to catch my breath," he said. "So much is happening."

Schumer then hailed the victories of Biden and Harris, welcomed the chambers three newest members  Warnock, Ossoff and Padilla  and delivered a defiant message to the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol two weeks ago.

"It takes more than a band of hooligans to bring our democracy down," Schumer said. "Our democracy, though tried and tested, shall long endure. Let it be a message to those terrorists who desecrated this temple of democracy that they will never prevail."

He noted that the new Congress begins its work "in the wake of violence and division, hatred and mistruth; in the shadow of disease and economic hardship, a warming planet, an unequal society."

"Today the threat to our democracy from the presidency itself has ended, but the challenges we face as a nation remain," he said.

Schumer also took some time to note his own barrier-breaking role as the first New York-born Senate majority leader. He described himself as "a kid from Brooklyn, the son of an exterminator and a housewife, descendants of victims of the Holocaust."

"That I should be the leader of this new Senate majority is an awesome responsibility  awesome in the biblical sense," he said, adding: "As the majority changes in the Senate, the Senate will do business differently. The Senate will address the challenges our country faces head-on and without delay, not with timid solutions, but with boldness and with courage."

Speaking after Schumer, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, in his first floor speech as Senate minority leader, congratulated Biden, Harris and the three new senators.

"I congratulate my friend from Delaware and look forward to working with him as our new president wherever possible," McConnell said of Biden. "Our country deserves for both sides, both parties, to find common ground for the common good everywhere that we can and to disagree respectfully where we must."

Washington Post
Press Release

January 20, 2021 Stem rising food prices by making agriculture main economic growth driver: Pangilinan RISING food prices may be stemmed with a focus on agriculture, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said Wednesday in a privilege speech. "Let us recall that during the pandemic last year, agriculture was the only sector that grew. If this trajectory continues, agriculture could be a major driver of growth, it would give income to the farmers as well as increase food supply in the market leading to lower prices and food for all. [That's] three birds with one stone," he said. "Kapag kumikita ang ating mga magsasaka, sila ay mas gaganahan magtanim. At pag mas marami silang ani, mas mababa ang presyo ng mga bilihin sa palengke (If our farmers earn, they will be encouraged to plant. When harvest is bountiful, prices of commodities in the market will decline)," he added. Pangilinan, who was former Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, also filed Senate Resolution 618 seeking for an inquiry to identify other interventions that would help stabilize and lower food prices, ensuring that Filipino consumers, especially the poor, have access to adequate and affordable food. "May pandemya man o wala, kailangan nating kumain, kaya nandyan dapat ang sapat na suplay ng pagkain na mabibili sa abot-kayang halaga (With or without the pandemic, we all need to eat, that's why there's a need for adequate supply of affordable food)," he said. The principal advocate for agriculture and farmers' and fishers' welfare said the high food prices causes hunger among Filipinos and stunting among Filipino children. "Habang tumataas ang presyo ng pagkain, lalo pang dadami ang magugutom (As food prices rise, the number of hungry will also multiply)," he said. Pangilinan cited both the September 2020 survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) that shows a new record-high of 30.7 percent, or an estimated 7.6 million households, experiencing involuntary hunger or hunger due to lack of food to eat; and the Unicef, which said that one in three Filipino children in the Philippines are stunted. He also said the World Health Organization estimates that the Covid-19 pandemic may cause stunting among children under five years old if no mitigating measures are put in place. Pangilinan said that with the pandemic taking people's livelihoods, low-wage earners may find it hard to survive, "Sa gitna ng isang pandemyang nag-alis na ng hanapbuhay ng milyon-milyon, seryosong tanong: Ano ang mabibili ng 500 pesos mo? (In the middle of a pandemic, with thousands of jobs loss, here is a serious question: What can your 500 pesos buy?)" he asked. Senator Cynthia Villar, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, agreed to conduct hearings on the resolution.
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Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

A district judge in Travis County has dismissed a case brought by conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan and ordered him to pay thousands of dollars in ethics fines that date back over a decade.

In a recent two-page summary judgment, Judge Catherine A. Mauzy sided with the Texas Ethics Commission and ordered Sullivan to pay $10,000 in civil penalties for his failure to register as a lobbyist in 2010 and 2011 while he was spending time chatting up state lawmakers about legislation, a House speaker race and other conservative causes. The commission was awarded court costs in the case.

This case has taken several twists and turns over the past few years as Mr. Sullivan sought to challenge the authority of the Ethics Commission, but underneath it all, it is a very simple, straightforward case, said the agencys general counsel, J.R. Johnson. Mr. Sullivan engaged in conduct that required him to register as a lobbyist under Texas law. We are happy to finally have a decision on the merits, and we believe the court reached the right answer.

ALSO READ: Court case could reveal unprecedented insight into dark money group Empower Texans

Sullivan is the CEO of Empower Texans, a well-funded conservative advocacy group made up of a web of political action committees as well as nonprofits that arent required to report donors. His lawyer Tony McDonald has filed a notice of appeal to the Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals.

The speech regulators at the TEC want to build a hedge around the capitol, to stop everyday Texans from talking to their legislators, McDonald said. We are appealing because Texas shouldnt tax and punish citizens for petitioning their government.

Texas Ethics Commission chair Chad Craycraft disagreed with that characterization.

Texas law does not prohibit anyone, including Mr. Sullivan, from petitioning their government, Craycraft said. However, lobbyists who are paid to advocate on behalf of another at the Legislature are required to disclose the source of those payments. These kinds of basic disclosure requirements have been upheld many times by the United States Supreme Court and ensure that the electorate can make informed decisions.

RELATED: Attorney General Ken Paxton wont defend Texas Ethics Commission as his allies try to gut it

The case, which has bounced from court to court for years, was revived in 2018 by the 3rd Court of Appeals after already having been dismissed two years prior by a district judge in Travis County. Sullivan had attempted to have the case dismissed by the Texas Supreme Court, but it ruled in favor of the commission in June 2019.

The allegations stem from 2012 complaints from two Republican House members who allege that Sullivans work influencing lawmakers on behalf of Empower Texans should have required him to register as a lobbyist. Sullivan said the work he was doing was journalism, as the organization also runs a political news and opinion blog, but the commission did not accept that explanation and charged him the maximum fine of $10,000.

In a parallel court case, Sullivan is trying to gut the state agency, alleging that the Texas Ethics Commission does not have the legal authority to carry out actions such as levying fines for campaign finance law violations, saying only an executive branch agency, not a legislative branch agency, can enforce laws.

That suit, which is before the 8th Court of Appeals in El Paso, has the potential to reorganize the ethics commission, which already has some of the weakest enforcement capabilities in the country.

The agency has had to hire its own lawyers in these cases after Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has received more than $400,000 in campaign contributions from Empower Texans since 2009, declined to represent the ethics commission. Paxton has said he has a duty to uphold the Constitution that trumps his legal obligation to defend challenges to state laws, state agencies and state employees.
Many Americans will exhale at 9 a.m Wednesday, relieved to have survived the Donald Trump presidency. Four years of chaos and lies and the presidential encouragement of Americas most malevolent elements will end when Joe Biden takes the oath of office.

But is America ready for what Biden promised: a return to normalcy?

Thats the big question: Can we return to normal after the Trump presidency? said Elaine Kamarck, author of Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed Again.

Everybody wants a return to some kind of normalcy, but given all the stuff that Trump got away with, people are wondering if thats possible, said Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

Thats the twisted state of the America that Biden inherits  one where there is actually a question about whether people know what normal looks like.

The good news for Biden is that after Trump, the bar to clear normal has dropped to its lowest rung in a generation.

Trumps approval rating bottomed out at 34% after he encouraged a mob of his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol, according to a new Gallup Poll. Thats not much better than Richard Nixons 24% approval after he resigned the presidency in 1974 and equal to the final Gallup grades of Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush  placing those four on the bizarro Mount Rushmore.

Looking back on the Trump administration, Biden has it easy in some ways. All he has to do to appear normal is:

 Not incite a mob to storm the U.S. Capitol by whipping them up with lies about a stolen election.

 Not be impeached. Twice.

 Not say there are good people on both sides of a protest when one side consists of white supremacists chanting the Jews will not replace us and carrying Nazi symbols.

 Not separate immigrant children from their families at the border and then lose track of 545 of the kids families.

Thats just a partial list of no-brainer moves not to make. But given our tortured times, achieving normal wont be easy. Heres where Biden must start:

Master one huge task: Biden will enter office just as the COVID-19 death toll crests 400,000 people, representing nearly 1 in 830 Americans alive when the pandemic arrived a year ago.

Biden has just one job, Kamarck said. End this pandemic.

Thats a major challenge given the poor-to-nonexistent coordination to date between the federal, state and local governments, which has extended to the vaccine rollout. On Tuesday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the city could exhaust its supply of vaccine by Thursday.

If Biden improves the federal response and the country reaches his goal of vaccinating 100 million additional Americans in 100 days, the new president can show that government works, Kamarck said. Then, all sorts of things flow from that.

If he does it right, then the economy will improve  and that will make a difference to everyone, said Michael Genovese, a professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University and author of How Trump Governs.

Find GOP friends: Biden plans to undo much of Trumps legacy by issuing dozens of executive orders in the coming days, many of which will reverse the outgoing presidents executive orders. Biden is expected to direct the U.S. to rejoin the Paris climate accords and repeal the ban on travel from Muslim-majority countries, among other orders.

The only thing he cant undo are the Trump tax cuts and the judges that Trump appointed, Kamarck said.

But passing major legislation will require Republican help when Democrats hold a slim majority in the House and the narrowest of advantages in the Senate.

So far that doesnt look likely. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky ignored precedent and didnt call the Senate back into session until Tuesday, robbing Biden of a chance of confirming his Cabinet nominees before he took office, unlike most new presidents. The Senate confirmed 12 of Ronald Reagans 14 Cabinet picks within his first two days in the White House and 13 of Bill Clintons choices within a day.

Kamarck remains optimistic, estimating there could be more than a dozen GOP senators who could be coaxed into siding with Biden at times. They appear capable of being swayed either because they bucked Trump to certify the election results or they were just re-elected and wont face the imminent threat of a Republican primary challenger.

Their first chance to support Biden will come soon, when he introduces an immigration plan that would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents.

There are plenty of Republican immigration hardliners in the Senate. Nevertheless, Genovese thinks an immigration plan has a shot at passing with GOP help.

Republicans want to get rid of the immigration issue, because it hurts them with Latino voters, Genovese said. So both parties want to get it off the table.

Ignore Trump and Trumpists: Trumps Senate impeachment trial will begin shortly after Biden takes office, enabling the former president to cast a shadow over the new administrations crucial early days. Biden will be asked repeatedly to weigh in on the impeachment and every one of Trumps post-presidential moves.

Genoveses advice: He should walk away. Saying less is more. Let others do it. Hes got to be above the fray.

But Bidens challenge with Republicans goes deeper than Trump. Three in four Republicans dont think Biden won the election legitimately, according to a CNN poll.

Kamarck said its going to be very hard to connect with those people. Trump has embedded a lot of misinformation in them.

Know normal isnt enough: Some Democrats particularly people of color and low-income Americans were put off by Bidens call for a return to normal.

Normalcy sucked for a lot of people, Kamarck said. If youre poor or youve faced discrimination in your life, everything hits you harder in life. Thats why this pandemic exacerbated inequality.

Genovese added: Biden has to call not just for a return to normalcy. But for a new normal.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
A Kim Jong Un impersonator has been arrested on 'trumped-up gun charges' in Hong Kong after mocking the Chinese government as part of his act.

The lookalike, who also goes by the name 'Howard X,' said he was arrested by ten police officers who raided his home in October 2020.

Howard X, who was born in Hong Kong and raised in Australia, has since been released on bail and is required to report to the police station every six weeks.

In a lengthy Facebook post, he detailed how officers said they had a warrant to search his property because a BB gun had been posted to his address in April last year.

Officers said that particular make of BB gun had an energy output beyond what was legally allowed.

But Howard X said he never actually received the BB gun and grew suspicious that the officers were there for an ulterior motive after they referenced several satirical performances he had made during Hong Kong's 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Un-licensed firearm: Kim Jong Un impersonator Howard X has revealed he was arrested on 'trumped-up gun charges' in Hong Kong after mocking the Chinese government as part of his act.

The lookalike, who also goes by the name 'Howard X,' said he was arrested by ten police officers who raided his home in October 2020

Un-der arrest: In a lengthy Facebook post, Howard X explained how officers said they had a warrant to search his property because a BB gun had been posted to his address in April last year

He wrote in the statement: 'The police had full knowledge of who I was and some were even fans of my work.

'When I challenged them on the arrest on such ridiculous grounds, they had indicated that the order came from another department higher up and stated they were just doing their jobs.

'During my conversations with the police, they also referred to my satirical appearances at public demonstrations that I had made throughout the year in 2020 including my appearance at IFC, July 1st and Oct 1st in support of the democracy protesters, which points to my suspicions that this arrest was not really about the BB gun.'

He continued to speculate that his arrest had been 'arbitrary'.

'As a professional impersonator of Kim Jong Un I often make use and own a number of replica BB guns, missiles and nuclear bombs for my performances and videos,' Howard wrote in the Facebook post

Howard X was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Australia. He holds a Bachelor's in Jazz Performance

'As a professional impersonator of Kim Jong Un I often make use and own a number of replica BB guns, missiles and nuclear bombs for my performances and videos,' he said.

'In my opinion this was an arbitrary arrest for my satirical critique of the CCP government in the years past and this arrest is being used as a tool not only to harass but to also take my finger prints (every person who gets arrested have their prints taken) had my iphone confiscated and my home searched.'

He added that he has not yet been charged and had to pay for bail. He is required to report back to the police station every six weeks.

'I will once again have to report to them today - where they will have the option to either charge me, drop the case or make me report back in another 6 weeks,' he said.

Howard X pictured with a Donald Trump impersonator. Howard made several appearances dressed as Kim Jong Un during Hong Kong's mass anti-government protests in 2019

Howard X (pictured) was deported from the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi in February 2019, just days before the real North Korean leader's meeting with President Trump

Howard X was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Australia. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance and previously worked as a music producer for a Brazilian band known as Bossa Negra.

Howard made several appearances dressed as Kim Jong Un during Hong Kong's mass anti-government protests in 2019.

In February 2019, Howard X and another Donald Trump impersonator by the name Russell White made a trip to Ha Noi, Vietnam, to stage a fake summit ahead of the 2019 North Korea-United States Hanoi Summit.

Howard X pictured outside Buckingham Palace. The impersonator was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Australia

The stunt prompted Vietnamese authorities to deport the impersonator just days before the real North Korean leader's meeting with President Trump.

In 2018, during the Winter Olympics in South Korea, Howard X was hauled away by security after trying to talk to and dance with North Korea's cheerleading squad.

He also made several appearances during the 2014 Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong, which were a series of sit-in street protests that took place from September 26 to December 15 of that year, including wielding a sign among protesting students which read 'No North Korea style elections in Hong Kong.'

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 20 - A 24-year Italian man who allegedly fought with Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq was recently arrested by the Turkish authorities, sources said on Wednesday.

The man moved to the Middle East in 2014 and an international arrest warrant was put out for him in 2017.

He was arrested after being tracked down in the Syrian city of Idlib thanks to cooperation between the Turkish and Italian authorities.

Once tracked down, he asked to hand himself in to the Italian authorities.

As a result he was transferred to the Turkish province of Hatay, where he was handed over to the Italian authorities.

He is already in jail in Italy.

The man's Turkish wife and three children have stayed in Turkey, the sources said. (ANSA).



The judiciary in Northern Ireland has expressed its horror at the dastardly killing of two judges in Afghanistan.

On Sunday gunmen fired on a car in northern Kabul, killing the two women who worked for the countrys high court and wounding the driver.

In a statement yesterday, the judiciary here spoke of its shock at the murders,

It said: On January 17 two female judges of the Afghanistan Supreme Court were murdered in Kabul.

This was another attack in a series of continuing and murderous attacks on the system of justice in Afghanistan. But it was also a truly dreadful and dastardly attack on female members of an independent judiciary.

This was an attack against not only the rule of law but also against Afghan women and their right to contribute to the system of justice in Afghanistan.

The members of the Northern Ireland Judiciary offer their most sincere condolences to the families and friends of the judges who were so cruelly murdered and also to their colleagues who seek to maintain the rule of law and the independence of their judiciary in difficult and trying circumstances.

The judges murder was the latest attack in the Afghan capital during peace talks between Taliban and Afghan government officials in Qatar.

Supreme Court of Afghanistan spokesman Ahmad Fahim Qawim said the women were judges who worked for the high court but he did not identify them by name.

No one claimed responsibility for Sundays attack and Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgent group was not responsible.

The Afghan government has repeatedly blamed the Taliban for targeted killings in recent months and the insurgent group accuses the government of staging the killings to spoil the peace process.

The so-called Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks in the capital in recent months, including on educational institutions that killed 50 people, most of them students.

IS has also claimed responsibility for rocket attacks in December targeting the major US base in Afghanistan. There were no casualties.

The Taliban and the Afghan government earlier this month resumed peace talks in Qatar.

Negotiations were off to a slow start as the insurgent group continues attacks on Afghan government forces while keeping their promise not to attack US and Nato troops.
In the Hue Imperial Citadel (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Tourists visiting Hue monuments in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue sharply fell to over 1 million last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in revenue of more than 106 billion VND (4.6 million USD), down 72.62 percent year on year.

The figures were released by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre on January 17.

Service revenue slumped by 75 percent to 4.9 billion VND.

The central province is expected to become a cultural, tourism and health care centre in Southeast Asia by 2030, and a festival city of Asia by 2045.

e is also set to become one of the countrys hubs in the fields of science, technology, multidisciplinary education and training, and national defence-security.

During the 2021 -2025 period, Thua Thien-Hue will work to earn the status of a centrally-run city and complete the expansion of Hue city before 2022 as planned.
Stevenson, Alabama, like its nearby neighbor Bridgeport, Alabama, are two small villages that have interesting railroad pasts.

Both were important venues before, during and after the Civil War. Unfortunately, they both remain sparsely populated today. (However, the towns may like it that way!)

The original Stevenson train depot was built in 1852 and it was destroyed around the Civil War period.

During its existence it had a common use by the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad and by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad with separate tracks for the trains on each side of the depot.

The present depot was built in 1872 and is on the same site as the original one. It has been suggested that some of the salvaged brick from the original depot was used in the construction of the second depot.

With the decline of passenger service the tracks on each side of the restored depot still are used for freight trains along the designated routes.

The depot has been converted into the Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum and it houses a collection of military, agricultural, Indian artifacts, railroad, pioneer life and other memorabilia.

The depot is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

Possession of the depot changed several times during the Civil War and the Union forces surrounded the railroad junction with blockhouses and an earthen redoubt known as Fort Harker. Its remains are south of the depot.

Fort Harker was constructed by the Union Army in the summer of 1862 and expanded in 1864, using soldiers and freed slaves during the work.

Fort Harker was an earthen redoubt, 150 feet square, with walls 14 feet high and surrounded by an eight-foot-deep dry powder moat.

The fort contained seven cannon platforms, a bomb-proof powder magazine, a draw bridge entrance, and an eight-sided wooden blockhouse at its center. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stevenson was a vital link to major points throughout the Southeast and in 1863 Union General William Rosecrans forces constructed a pontoon bridge across the Tennessee River which allowed thousands of Union troops to cross the river and advance on to the battlefield at Chickamauga during the bloody battle held on September 18-20.

Historic homes on either end of town were used as Civil War hospitals.

While the original objective was to build the railroad from Nashville to Chattanooga, it was also a goal to build the track solely within the state of Tennessee, but the mountainous terrain between the two cities mandated that the railroad had to be re-routed below South Pittsburgh into Alabama.

The railroad stop was named for the railroad's president Vernon K. Stevenson, who was a close friend of Chattanooga railroad promoter, James A. Whiteside.

It was also necessary that the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad would go into the state of Georgia for a short distance before going into Chattanooga.

Adjacent to the depot is the Stevenson Hotel that was built simultaneously with the depot and contained eight rooms with a lobby and two dining rooms that was connected to the depot by a walkway.

The hotel for a long time was the center of cultural activities in Stevenson and was rumored to have been the site of the first showing of a motion picture in the city.

When the railroad abandoned the depot in 1976 a group of local citizens put on a campaign to save the depot and they raised the money to purchase the building and to turn it into the local history museum which exists today.

It is also on the National Register of Historical Places as well as the hotel and 30 more buildings in Stevenson.

Traditionally the city during the first full week of June each year celebrates the Depot Days Festival which includes a week-long event of family-oriented activities.

Parker Edmiston is the contact person for the Museum, which is located at 207 Main Street at Stevenson, Alabama 35772, phone number (256) 437-3012. Admission is free and the normal hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Central Standard Time).

A one-day trip to Stevenson, Bridgeport, South Pittsburg, Orme and the Russell Cave National Monument should appeal to the historical appetite and curiosity of all.

* * *

Jerry Summers



(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)
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Hammond Police spokesman Lt. Steve Kellogg said Tuesday that officers found Mike Fromm, 53, in an apartment building in the first block of Rimbach Street, near State Line Avenue around 10:09 a.m. Jan. 18. The Lake County Coroners office said in a release that Fromm was pronounced dead around 12:10 p.m.
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JACKSON, MI -- Dozens of Jackson County businesses may receive grant funding to address costs of the coronavirus pandemic and business losses stemming from gathering limits and mask mandates.

Jackson County was awarded $704,000 to disburse to small businesses in the area through the Michigan Small Business Survival Grant Program. Applications opened Tuesday, Jan. 19, and will close at noon Friday, Jan. 22.

Businesses that fully closed at some point of the pandemic can receive up to $20,000. Businesses that partially closed or never closed but were financially hurt by the pandemics gathering restrictions or mask orders can get up to $15,000.

Read more: Michigan small businesses hurt by COVID-19 orders eligible for $20,000

In Jackson, the Enterprise Group of Jackson will review applications on behalf of the MEDC. Its review committee is considering the number of employees impacted, wages and geographic diversity within the county, including preference to regions of the county that have been more severely impacted by COVID-19.

Applicants can expect to receive funds by the end of February. In all, $55 million in grants is being dispersed to Michigan small businesses through this program.

Here are the eligibility requirements:

Employed 1 to 100 workers (including full-time, part-time, owner/employees) on a worldwide basis on Nov. 17, 2020.

Operates in an industry that demonstrates it is affected by the state health orders issued in the fall.

Needs working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, etc.

Demonstrates an income loss as a result of the health orders.

The state has streamlined the application process because of multiple rounds of grant and loan programs during the pandemic, Alex Masten, Enterprise Group vice president of economic development, said. She recommended business owners watch the informational videos created by the MEDC to ensure they have all relevant information on hand when applying.

Enterprise Group will receive all applications after the portal closes Friday, Masten said.

Any small business that is struggling, I really want them to know to not get frustrated by the process, Masten said. I hear a lot of the small businesses -- especially on Facebook yesterday that said they were just going to give up and not do it just because of the queue was so large. My message to them is, I know its easier to say than do but have patience in it. If youre really, truly struggling, please commit yourself to filling out this application. Because we want to help as many small businesses as possible and we cant do that if they dont apply.

Apply online at michiganbusiness.org/survival.

MORE ON MLIVE:

Indoor dining at restaurants remains on track to reopen Feb. 1

Inauguration Day 2021: Joe Biden takes the helm

263 new COVID-19 cases in Jackson County as vaccine rollout moves into next phase
Last week, the National Health Laboratory (LNS) detected six new cases of the UK variant that is currently worrying numerous political leaders. This brings the total to 12 cases on Luxembourg soil.

Similarly to its European counterparts, the National Health Directorate is concerned about the spread of the UK variant since it is much more contagious compared to Covid-19.

According to the latest weekly report from the LNS' microbiology department published on Tuesday, six new cases of the UK variant were reported during the week of 11 to 17 January.

Dr Tamir Abdelrahman, who works for the LNS, stated that five new cases of the UK variant B.1.1.7 have been detected within 69 high quality sequences. A potential sixth case must be added to this, for which the sequencing quality did "not allow to be 100% sure", but still provided a high load of B.1.1.7 specific mutations.

Of the five new confirmed cases, three were detected by routine genomic surveillance, and two were detected when travellers returned to Luxembourg Airport.

Since the appearance of the first case in Luxembourg on 31 December 2020, the total number of UK variants discovered in the Grand Duchy has therefore risen to 12. Six had previously been detected by the LNS.

The report indicates that the new cases represent 7.2% of the strains in circulation, compared to only 3% the previous week.

At the same time, the National Health Laboratory points out that, to date, no cases of the South African and Japanese variants of the virus have been detected during sequencing in Luxembourg.

On Jan. 20, former President Donald Trump issued 73 pardons and commuted the sentences of 70 others as one of his final acts as President of the United States.

The following individuals pardoned by Trump have ties to the state of Connecticut.
by Riccardo Lampariello*

In 2021, not enough people will be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Over 15 billion doses will be needed to immunize the world. China and India plan to help poor countries, but only after their own citizens. Developing countries face logistical problems. The UN has its work cut out.

Geneva (AsiaNews)  As countries prepare to roll out historic vaccination campaigns against COVID-19, a large portion of the worlds population will be excluded, at least for some time. On January 11th, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that not enough people will receive vaccine in 2021 to achieve the touted herd immunity.

On January 18th, WHO warned of catastrophic moral failure because of the unequal distribution of COVID vaccines. The statement came with no surprise: the COVAX initiative  launched by WHO itself and other international agencies to immunize people in resource-constrained countries  has committed to cover 20 per cent of population vaccinated by end of 2021. On Christmas day Pope Francis, wary of the global inequality in access to vaccines, had pled for authorities to make COVID-19 doses available to all.

As the first vaccine have been approved at record-breaking time and others will soon follow, the attention shifts to manufacturing capacity to meet worldwide demand.

To immunize everybody will require over 15 billion doses, assuming most vaccines need a double shot to be effective. Their price varies by more than 10-fold, from US$ 6.00 per course up to as US$ 74 per course. Their efficacy appears to vary significantly too.

According to the British Medical Journal the estimated manufacturing capacity by end of 2021 of lead companies will satisfy just one quarter of the global demand for doses, and high-income countries have already secured most of the supplies. With low- and middle-income countries accounting for about 85% of the worlds population, it is easy to imagine who will be left behind.

The largest stake is in Asia, which is home to more than half of the worlds population. China, the most populous country in the globe, has already approved multiple COVID vaccines for emergency use in the country.

Campaigns have started across the country and authorities aim to vaccinate 50 million people by mid-February. India, the second most populous country, on January 16th launched what is likely to become the largest vaccine campaign in history.

The authorities plan to administer 1.3 million shots per day and to reach 300 million citizens in eight months. India has reported more than 10.5 million coronavirus infections, the second-largest caseload after the United States, and 153,000 deaths, the worlds third-highest death toll.

In the effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian countries will also play a critical role to meet the global vaccine demand. China seeks to position itself as the public health provider for the developing world and gain international recognition as Global Health leader after the harsh critics for not being able to control the initial outbreak. Chinese vaccine makers are therefore boosting their production capacity not only to meet domestic demand but also other countries demand.

Similarly, India has committed to make more than one billion doses available for the COVAX initiative to be distributed to low- and middle-income countries. As a reminder, India is already the leading global vaccine manufacturer, exporting vaccines to numerous countries.

Countries like Korea and Thailand will produce the AstraZeneca vaccine to meet national and regional demand. It is unclear though whether these countries will start to export doses before domestic doses are secured.

Doses availability is only the tip of the iceberg: even with unlimited free doses, weak national health systems will still struggle to immunize everybody. Vaccination campaigns require complex and efficient organizations: beyond the actual dose, one needs vials, syringes, freezers, refrigerators, cold boxes, carriers, transportation, trained staff, database, digital tools, etc.

The complex vaccine logistics will put further pressure to historical far-stretched health systems with scanty resources in low- and middle-income countries, and it is compounded by unresolved health issues such as malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, malnutrition to name a few.

Inequality in healthcare was already predominant and has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Even before the coronavirus stroke, at least half of the worlds population had no access to essential health services and goods, including vaccines.

Only a few months before the COVID-19 crisis began, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution on Universal Health Coverage aimed at ensuring equal access to quality health care everywhere at an affordable price for all.

The COVID-19 vaccination roll-out will be a stress-test for the resolution and states commitment as few affluent countries will be soon close to immunize almost their entire population and low-income countries with barely any dose.

The world has no choice but to increase international solidarity, international cooperation and action towards the achievement of health coverage for all. Ultimately, universal access to quality and affordable COVID-19 vaccine dose is everybodys problem and everybodys right since we will only truly end the pandemic if we end it everywhere at the same time as the WHO Director General pointed out.

*Head of Health Programme at the Terre des hommes Foundation. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect necessarily the view of the organisation he works for.
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Tran Dinh Long, dubbed the king of steel, had no experience in the steel industry when he decided to enter it anyway in the mid-90s.

"All I had at the time was passion and a lack of fear," Long, founder and chairman of Vietnams biggest steelmaker, Hoa Phat Group, said in a recent interview with Bloomberg.

The company was in the beginning distributing machinery and equipment and furniture, but it was steel that ultimately took it to dizzy heights. Hoa Phat had a 32 percent share of Vietnams steel market as of August 2020, making it the biggest player in the industry, according to the Vietnam Steel Association.

The name Hoa Phat cropped up again and again in the news in the past year when its HPG stock, listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), chalked up some of the most impressive gains on the VN-Index, thanks to record profits despite the Covid-19 pandemic and a growing market share.

On Monday, the share closed at VND44,600 ($1.94), more than three times up from its nadir in last March at the height of the Covid-19 crisis when most Vietnamese stocks hit the bottom, and its all-time high price.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, HPGs performance took the net worth of Long and his wife to $1.9 billion. He believes the stock is still not overvalued though its price-earnings ratio (P/E) is nearly at its highest level in 10 years.

Long started his business in the early 1990s. In 1992, he and some friends set up the Hoa Phat Equipment and Accessories Co., Ltd. to sell machinery and equipment.

In 1995 it diversified into furniture, becoming a distribution agent for imported products.

It was in 1996 that Hoa Phat established its first steel unit, at first called Hoa Phat Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. and four years later becoming Hoa Phat Steel JSC.

"A newly industrialized country has to build a lot of infrastructure," Long said in the Bloomberg interview, explaining that was the reason he had bet on steel.

By the time Hoa Phat was listed on HoSE in 2007, Hoa Phat Steel and Hoa Phat Steel Pipe accounted for more than 60 percent of the companys revenues and profits.

In the following years, despite a long slump in the housing market, steel still dominated HPGs business in overwhelming fashion.

In 2017, when HPG had become the market leader, Long continued to bet on steel by building the Dung Quat Steel Production Complex at a cost of $2.6 billion in the south-central Quang Ngai Province.

With the market growing, owning the entire value chain is helping Hoa Phat improve its profit margins. It also gives Long the wherewithal to engage in price wars when he wants to increase market share in new markets such as southern Vietnam.

And if it cannot sell finished products to the market, Hoa Phat could instead sell billets to other manufacturers, he said.

The pay-off from this strategy has been partly reflected in HPGs performance in 2020. "Since the Dung Quat plant went on stream in the third quarter of 2019, HPG has been gradually gaining shares from other major steelmakers such as Posco SS, Pomina and VNSteel," securities company FPTS said in a recent note.

Thus, from 26 percent at the end of 2019, its market share rose to 32 percent by August last year.

In 2020 it sold over five million tons for the first time, with sales of construction steel rising 22.5 percent to 3.4 million tons. Billets sold in the domestic and export markets accounted for 1.7 million tons.

In the final quarter of the year, the company benefited from the governments determination to increase spending on public infrastructure, Vietcapital Securities said.

Hoa Phat plans to expand even further in the steel supply chain with the second phase of its Dung Quat Complex. Construction is set to begin in January 2022 and take three years. It will increase capacity by five million tons a year, with the main output being hot-rolled coil (HRC).

"It is estimated that after completion Hoa Phat can supply five million tons of HRC per year, equivalent to about 50 percent of current domestic demand," FPTS said.

The focus on HRC is expected to increase the companys income since it is an input in the manufacturing of steel pipes, a product with higher profit margins than construction steel. The segment itself also has plenty of room for Hoa Phat to grow, FPTS said.

Long estimated that when the Dung Quat plant is fully operational, Hoa Phats revenues and profits could increase by 80 percent.

"Vietnam ranks low in per capita steel consumption and has only taken the first steps in infrastructure development," said Pham Mai Trang, associate director of research at fund manager Dragon Capital Group.

"With the Dung Quat complex, Hoa Phat became the dominant player." Dragon Capital Group owns a 6 percent stake in Hoa Phat.

Though Vietnam's steel industry has made great strides, it still has to import large volumes of finished steel and semi-finished products from China.

Hoa Phat executives have confessed to being worried China could dump cheap steel on Vietnam if its exports continue to be hampered by U.S.-China trade tensions.

In the first nine months of 2020 Hoa Phat reported a 40 percent year-on-year increase in revenues to VND65 trillion, and 56 percent increase in post-tax profits to VND8.85 trillion.
"Jason will play a critical role in our continued and rapid expansion," said Pattern CEO David Wright. "Jason's vast experience guiding the growth and diversification of multinational corporations will make an immediate impact as we continue to expand. We're excited to have Jason on board as we enter our next phase of growth."

Beesley joins Pattern after serving as CFO in London for NBCUniversal's International division, a Comcast Company. While there, he led a global team of hundreds of people and worked on the $36 billion acquisition and integration of Sky. He previously held multiple senior financial leadership roles at NBCUniversal and General Electric, based in the United States and overseas. Beesley graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in economics.

"Pattern is accelerating global e-commerce for brands on a massive scale," Beesley said. "The company is uniquely positioned to help brands command their maximum share of the global marketplace with an unrivaled combination of proprietary technology and smart services. I'm excited to help build on the company's momentum while capitalizing on new opportunities as part of Pattern's global expansion."

Beesley joins Pattern at a time of rapid growth for the company. During the past year, Pattern has closed a Series A round of funding , been recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in Utah and the U.S. , acquired an award-winning industrial design agency , and experienced international revenue growth of more than 300 percent ahead of a possible future IPO.

About Pattern

Pattern is the premier platform for global e-commercehelpings brands command their maximum share of the exploding $6 trillion market. Founded in 2013, Pattern uses its proprietary technology platform, industry expertise, and global distribution, logistics, and fulfillment services to help brands attain profitable e-commerce growth on their websites and on hundreds of global marketplaces - including Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Google, Tmall, JD, and MercadoLibre. To learn more, visit www.pattern.com or email [email protected] .

SOURCE Pattern

Related Links

https://pattern.com


Afghan authorities lambasted the Taliban Wednesday for failing to actively participate in peace talks seeking to end the country's long-running war.

Following months of deliberations and a first round that failed to achieve any major breakthrough, the Afghan government and Taliban are meeting again in Qatar -- but so far only discussing the agenda for round two.

"Unfortunately, the talks are going at a snail's pace," Waheed Omar, media adviser to President Ashraf Ghani told reporters.

"The Taliban have no clear vision. We see no changes in them."

Kabul is pushing for a permanent ceasefire and to protect governance arrangements in place since the ouster of the Taliban by a US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

But since the second round of talks began on January 6 in Doha there has been no significant announcement about how negotiations were proceeding.

The talks have been marred by a surge in violence, with a recent spate of high-profile killings of officials, judges, journalists and activists leaving the war-weary country reeling.

Omar said there was no plan to release more Taliban prisoners to help spur the talks along, saying the government's previous experience of releasing insurgents failed to reduce fighting.

"The Taliban not only did not reduce the violence, but they increased the violence," Omar said.

Before the start of the peace talks on September 12, authorities released more than 5,000 Taliban inmates as demanded by the group in a deal with Washington last year.

In return, the Taliban agreed to give some security guarantees and participate in peace talks aimed at ending the country's war.

Under the landmark deal signed last year, the US pledged to pull out all foreign forces from Afghanistan by May 2021.

Both the Taliban and the Afghan government are anxiously awaiting President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration and any new policy directions from the incoming administration.
In a big success for the security forces, the Indian Army has managed to gun down three terrorists who were trying to sneak into the Indian territory. Troops deployed along the line of control noticed a suspected movement when a group of 5-6 terrorist tried to sneak into the territory in the Akhnoor sector of the line of control. Three terrorists were killed and 2-3 others went back to the Pakistan side.

READ | Foreign Terrorists In conflict-hit Nations Dampen Efforts To Counter-Terrorism; Says India

There has been a continuous attempt by the Pakistani side to push interest in the wake of ceasefire violations along the line of control and cross-border firing along the International Border.

READ | Trump Admin To Designate Houthis As Terrorists Despite Calls To Reverse Decision

This comes days after Jammu and Kashmir Police foiled an attempt of Pakistan to push in weapons using drones in the Vijaypur area of Samba district.

@DisttRamban & SOG #Jammu busted a terror module by arresting 02 valley based terror operatives & recovered huge cache of arms/ammunition from their possession which include 02 AK-74 ,one Pistol ,16 Grenades ,09 AK-Magazines, 269 Live Bullets of Pistol & 02 Magazine . pic.twitter.com/aLuSxTLMLA  IGP Jammu (@igpjmu) January 18, 2021

Police busted a terror module by arresting two valley-based terror operatives and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from their possession. They were working under a terror plot hatched by Kashmir based terrorists and their Pak based JeM handler Aqib @ Alfa from Budgam calandistenly travelled from Kashmir to the International Border at Vijaypur, Samba and received Arms and Ammunition dropped with the help of Drones. Recoveries include (i) AK-74 = 02, (ii) Pistol = 01, (iii) Grenades = 16, (iv) Ak-Magazines = 09 (v) Live Bullets = 269 Pistol and (vi) Magazine = 02, Police said in its statement.

READ | Taliban Terrorists Kill 13 Local Police Personnel In Herat Province: Report

READ | Taliban 'Governor' For Afghanistan's Faryab & 6 Other Terrorists Die As Own Bomb Explodes

Francisco Partners to invest significantly in Native Instruments, the Berlin-based global leader in digital music creation software and hardware, acquiring a majority shareholding from EMH Partners and the Founding Shareholders, with both remaining significant minority shareholders

This investment is meant to continue Native Instruments' strong thought leadership in digital music creation and expand the company's product offering to create the end-to-end user centric platform for the music creation industry

With the support and investment from Francisco Partners, EMH Partners and the Founding Shareholders, Native Instruments is equipped with significant resources to further consolidate the fragmented music creation software industry and create a more seamless user experience for music makers

EMH Partners, and the Founding Shareholders of Native Instruments, announced today the signing of a definitive agreement to sell a majority of their shares in Native Instruments Holding GmbH, the Berlin-based global leader in digital music creation software and hardware, to Francisco Partners, a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology businesses. As part of the transaction EMH Partners, members of the Native Instruments founding team, and key Native Instruments' employees will retain a significant minority stake in the company.

Native Instruments was founded in 1996 in Berlin and employs more than 400 employees worldwide. It operates 7 global offices and is active in more than 180 countries. Native Instruments is regarded as one of the spearheads of the democratisation of music production, as it enables creatives to produce their music without the large set-up costs associated with traditional music studios. Music professionals all around the globe have been relying on the company's comprehensive music instrument library and high-quality software tools to support their music creation process, with an estimated 8 out of 10 tracks in the Billboard top 10 using Native Instruments technology.

In 2017, EMH Partners invested 50 million Euros in Native Instruments, followed by a further investment in 2020 to achieve majority ownership in the company. The management and board of Native Instruments, together with EMH, have developed the company significantly and expanded its position in the industry:

Revenues in Native Instruments' music creation tools increased by 60% since EMH's investment in 2017;

Monthly active users more than doubled to 1.5 million by the end of 2020;

Industry partners on Native Instruments' technology platforms increased by 60%, cementing the company's global technology leadership.

With Francisco Partners, Native Instruments is planning to further enhance its product leadership, drive consolidation in the growing and fragmented market for digital music creation and extend its already leading position in the industry.

"As an innovator in digital music creation, with a supreme brand recognition and outstanding software technology, Native Instruments is a perfect platform and partner for Francisco Partners. We look forward to working together with the management team and the existing shareholder group, utilising our broad operational and strategic experience and M&A capabilities to help the company accelerate its growth trajectory," said Matt Spetzler, Co-Head Europe and Partner at Francisco Partners. Spetzler will join the Native Instruments board of directors.

"We are very excited to join forces with the Native Instruments team and the existing shareholders, and firmly believe they are the platform to back in the exciting space of music creation," added Mario Razzini, Principal at Francisco Partners, who will also join the board.

Dominik Schwarz, Partner at EMH Partners says: "Our partnership with Native Instruments underlines our strength as a leading partner for technology entrepreneurs in German-speaking Europe. We invest in technology-driven mid-sized companies and support these companies with capital, digitalization know-how, and international access. Over the last weeks Francisco Partners has recognized Native Instruments' excellent international position, strong leadership team and significant future potential. Due to their deep expertise in developing technology companies on a global scale we welcome Francisco Partners and look forward to continuing our partnership with Native Instruments."

"With their entrepreneurial DNA, EMH were exceptional partners to support the company and its management over the past years in a time of transition and strong growth as a result. I look forward to their continued involvement with Native Instruments," said Daniel Haver, Co-Founder, former CEO, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Native Instruments. "I would like to thank all employees for their incredible achievements as well as Constantin and Robert for their great contributions over the years and their strong leadership in their new roles as CEO and CPO of Native Instruments."

Constantin Koehncke, CEO of Native Instruments, concluded: "There's never been a more exciting time in music, with more creators producing more high-quality music all around the world. We're thrilled to team up with Francisco Partners to enter the next phase of our journey, combining their global resources and expertise with our passionate team, deep relationships within music and proven track record of technical innovation. Together we can realize our mission to empower and inspire the global community of music creators and help them unlock their creative potential through more seamless experiences. Thanks to the support of EMH Partners over the past years we were able to further reinforce and expand our position as the leading digital music creation company, and we now look forward to working with Francisco Partners, EMH Partners and the founding shareholders to continue on this amazing journey."

While terms of the transaction were not disclosed, the purchase price reflects the significant value generation during EMH Partners' ownership.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review.

Native Instruments and its shareholders were advised by GCA Altium and Milbank. Francisco Partners was advised by Raymond James and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

About Native Instruments

Native Instruments is the leading manufacturer of software and complementary hardware for computer-based music production and DJing. The company's mission is to develop innovative, fully integrated solutions for all professions, styles and genres empowering all music creators. The resulting products regularly push technological boundaries and open up new creative horizons for professionals and amateurs alike. Native Instruments opened up the fascinating world of real-time sound synthesis on standard computers in 1996, and today offers an extensive product range for musicians, producers and DJs. From its seven offices in Berlin, Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, Toronto, Paris, and Shenzhen, the Company is active in over 180 countries. For more information on Native Instruments, please visit native-instruments.com.

About Francisco Partners

Francisco Partners is a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. Since its launch over 20 years ago, Francisco Partners has raised over $24 billion in committed capital and invested in more than 300 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. The firm invests in opportunities where its deep sectoral knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential. For more information on Francisco Partners, please visit www.franciscopartners.com.

About EMH Partners

EMH Partners is an owner-led investment firm by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. As a next-generation private equity company and one of the leading investors in the DACH region, EMH Partners supports the growth of Mittelstand companies with capital, digitalization and expansion expertise. EMH Partners invests in market-leading, owner-managed companies to accompany them in partnership during the next growth phase. Today, EMH Partners manages more than 1 billion of committed capital. For more information on EMH Partners, please visit www.emh.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005349/en/

Contacts:

Francisco Partners

Whit Clay and Dan Zacchei

wclay@sloanepr.com and dzacchei@sloanepr.com



Native Instruments

Thomas Evans, Communications Manager

thomas.evans@native-instruments.de



EMH Partners

Richard Berg, Director Communications

richard.berg@emh.com
1.6 million residents have banned from leaving Beijing as two Covid-19 cases linked to the UK virus variant were found

China confirmed Wednesday that it had detected the UK variant of the coronavirus, joining at least 60 other countries, as US President-elect Joe Biden's incoming administration committed to rejoining the World Health Organisation.

COVID-19 has claimed more than two million lives globally since it was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan more than a year ago, while the total number of reported cases is edging towards 100 million, according to an AFP tally.

The arrival of mass inoculation drives in the United States, Europe and Asia had brought hope that the end of the epidemic was in sight.

The latest good news on that front came from India, which on Wednesday exported its first batch of locally produced coronavirus shots.

The "Pharmacy of the World will deliver to overcome the COVID challenge", Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted, as India promised supplies to several other countries in the region.

More than 51 million vaccines have now been given out around the world, according to an AFP count, but the WHO has warned that rich countries are hogging most of the doses.

Israel has vaccinated the highest percentage of its population by far, while the United States has administered the most shots, followed by China and the UK.

But the WHO warned Wednesday that more than 60 countries were now grappling with the UK strainand that 23 countries and territories had reported the South African variant, both of which are believed to be more infectious.

Biden's aides says his administration would immediately reverse Trump's decision to leave the WHO

The number of new deaths worldwide climbed to a record high of 93,000 over the previous week, it added, with 4.7 million new cases reported over the same period.

Concern over the new variants has triggered governments around the world to toughen constraints on restriction-weary populations as officials grapple with how to slow infections until vaccines become widely available.

Biden to change tack

In the US, by far the worst-hit nation with more than 400,000 deaths, Biden focused on healing at a memorial for victims on the eve of his inauguration.

"Let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all who we lost," Biden said at Washington's National Mall reflecting pool, where lights were turned on as a memorial to those who have died.

On Wednesday Biden's aides said his administration would immediately reverse Trump's decision to leave the WHO.

Coronavirus variants

Jeff Zients, the new president's point-man for fighting the pandemic, said Biden would also establish an office of COVID-19 response inside the White House.

"America's withdrawal from the international arena has impeded progress on the global response and left us more vulnerable to future pandemics," Zients said.

He added that leading US coronavirus expert Anthony Fauci will lead a delegation to take part in the WHO Executive Board meeting on Thursday.

Beijing lockdown

In China, 1.6 million residents were banned from leaving Beijing on Wednesday as two COVID-19 cases linked to the UK virus variant were found in the capital.

The country is battling its largest resurgence in nearly a year, although the official figures are startlingly low compared to the rest of the world: just seven cases were reported in Beijing on Wednesday.

In Washington, the lights of the Reflecting Pool were turned on in tribute to American victims of the pandemic

Authorities ordered residents of the southern Beijing district of Daxingwhich covers one of the city's two international airportsto remain indoors.

But in Wuhan, the city of 11 million people now synonymous with the coronavirus, wet markets thronged with shoppers, elderly dancers rehearsed in the parks, and bars sold "Wuhan Stay Strong" craft beer.

"Wuhan had a tough year in 2020," Wang Chen, a 20-year-old resident, told AFP outside the exhibition, adding that China "handled the crisis very well."

Olympic spirit

Despite mounting case numbers, organisers of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics said they are "unwavering" on holding the event this year.

Ahead of the six-month countdown, Games CEO Toshiro Muto told AFP the sporting showpiece was still possible, but conceded people were "anxious" with Tokyo under a state of emergency.

A partial lockdown was imposed on Beijing on Wednesday, with 1.6 million residents banned from leaving the city

Biden is set to overrule President Donald Trump's decision to lift a travel ban on Brazil and European nations designed to stop the spread of the virus

"We are not discussing cancellation," he said, while admitting organisers couldn't rule out staging the event without spectators.

Meanwhile, on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, dozens of foreigners caught without masks have been subjected to an unusual punishmentpush-ups in the street.

Video footage showed people in T-shirts and shorts doing the vigorous exercise on pavements in the sweltering tropical heat, as masked security officials stood over them.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP

By Dean Weingarten. January 18, 2021

There are few Governors who will unabashadly support the exercise of Second Amendment rights at protests inside their own state Capitol buildings. Governor Pete Rickets of Nebraska is one of them.

On 12 January, 2021, Governor Pete Ricketts gave a press conference about how the Covid19 protective measures.

At about 42:11 in the video, a reporter asks about potential "armed protestors" at the Capitol. From Governor Ricketts:

So, If people want to protest and bring their guns, obviously open carry is allowed in Nebraska. But I would suggest that everybody remember that we have a pandemic going on, and a protest should be done peacefully, also be thoughtful, that people are nervous about bringing guns out, and be thoughtful about that as well.

In another clip from the press conference, Governor Ricketts referenced the second Amendment. That was in a seven second clip from wowt.com:

and, again, it is a Second Amendment right, it is in the Constitution.

This isn't the first time Governor Ricketts has come out in support of Second Amendment rights, against the media narrative. ....

Administration of the COVID-19 vaccine is ramping up in New Jersey.

The availability of the vaccine, aimed at curbing the spread of the disease caused by the coronavirus, has been a subject of much consternation throughout the state. As of Sunday, more than 130 vaccination sites were active, including a number of mega-sites with the ability to administer thousands of shots per day.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

As the state releases more data, a picture is forming of where in N.J. the vaccine is most readily accessible.

Is the map not displaying? Click here.

An analysis of vaccination data for the week of Jan. 13-19 shows that Cape May County residents are currently being vaccinated at the highest rates. The states southernmost county administered 2,257 doses of the vaccine per 100,000 people this week.

The numbers here were calculated on a rate basis for every 100,000 residents to accurately compare across the states 21 counties and their various populations.

Other counties with strong numbers include Morris County at 2,071 doses per 100,000 people and Gloucester County at 2,004 doses per 100,000.

Those were the only two counties with rates over 2,000 this week.

On the other end of the spectrum were those vaccinating less than half that number of their residents. Mercer County gave 802 shots per 100,000 this week, and Hudson County wasnt much better at 896 doses per 100,000. No other county was under 1,000.

The vaccine supply to date has been uneven and overall less than expected by state officials. While distribution was expected to ramp up in coming weeks, it now appears that N.J. will continue to receive 100,000 doses per week for at least the next four weeks.

In total, New Jersey has administered 421,297 doses as of Wednesday, according to the states COVID-19 tracking dashboard. The state reached a single-day high of 28,851 doses on Jan. 14.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Nick Devlin is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at ndevlin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nickdevlin.
Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States alongside Vice President-elect Kamala Harris during their inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m.

Due to the coronavirus, the usual inaugural crowd of 200,000 will be reduced to only 1,000 guests. An unprecedented amount of security, including 174 Louisiana National Guard troops, will be present at the event following the deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol by protestors earlier this month.

President Donald Trump will host his own ceremony at Joint Base Andrews early Wednesday morning before heading to Florida.

The presidents refusal to attend his successors inauguration makes him only the fourth in history to do so.

The inauguration ceremony begins at 11 a.m. You can follow the latest updates below.

Can't see the module below? Click here.


Day One of Joe Biden's presidency will kick off with a rash of executive orders. Covid-19 will overshadow everything else for the first 100 days but subsumed within will be efforts to push forward quick fixes on immigration, healthcare and a battered economy.

First up, on January 20, Biden will sign "roughly a dozen actions" to combat four crises, according to his Chief of Staff Ron Klain. Based on Biden's statements in recent days and a memo from Klain, here's what the early days will look like, mostly via executive action.

- Rejoining the Paris climate accord.

- Rejoining the World Health Organisation.

- Asking the Department of Education to extend the ongoing pause on student loan payments and interest for millions of Americans with federal student loans.

- Declaring ethical standards and prohibiting interference in Justice Department operations from other arms of government.

- Restoring 100 public health and environmental rules that the Obama administration created and President Donald Trump wrecked.

- Ending restrictions on travellers from a variety of Muslim-majority countries.

- Launching a "100 Day Masking Challenge" by issuing a mask mandate on federal property and inter-state travel.

- Action to extend nationwide restrictions on evictions and foreclosures.

- Beginning the process to rejoin the deal reining in Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

- Protecting from deportation people who came to the country illegally as children.

- Legislation proposing repeal of liability protections for gun manufacturers.

- Immigration legislation offering a path to citizenship for 11 million people in the US illegally. Under the legislation, those living in the US as of Jan 1, 2021, without legal status would have a five-year path to temporary legal status if they pass background checks and fulfill other basic requirements including paying taxes. From there, it's a three-year path to naturalisation.

- Biden also wants Congress to approve a $1.9 trillion plan to combat the coronavirus.
Logan, WV (25601)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm this evening, then some lingering showers still possible overnight. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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TikTok |Video-sharing social networking app is owned by ByteDance. The platform is used to make short videos of 3 seconds to 1 minute duration. TikTok is hoping to make a comeback in India, after getting banned for months now. (Image: Reuters)

The short video sharing platform TikTok was banned in India on June 29 in 2020, yet the platform is being accessed by many Indians.

The proof of this is data shared by SimilarWeb, an online portal that provides web analytics service. In its report titled Digital Trends  India, December 2020, TikTok despite the ban saw more monthly active users on the platform than the social networking platform Instagram.

TikTok which saw a big spike after coronavirus-led lockdown between March and June last year saw a significant drop in July. However, the platform saw an increase in monthly active app users between August and October.

The modus operandi

So, how was the platform accessible despite the ban?

Utkarsh Sinha, MD, Bexley Advisors, a boutique investment bank focused on early-stage deals in tech and media said that the immediate ban was for new installs. New users could not download TikTok and if anybody had deleted the app could not re-install it. However, those who had the app could access the platform," he said.

He further explained, "The way app bans work is at three levels. First is at the App store level (that bans fresh downloads and turns off notifications). So, new user installs for TikTok was banned immediately. The second is at the ISP level (where even access is turned off). This was not a comprehensive ban. And the app was accessible even after the ban. And the third is at the app owner level, where the whole app is just not working."

TikTok was pulled down immediately after the ban and currently the app is not available on Play Store.

Moneycontrol checked with a few TikTok users who said that they could access the app for around 25 days even after the ban.

"I was creating and saving videos on TikTok till July but August onwards was unable to access the app," said a user on condition of anonymity.

In addition, Pulkit Sharma, co-founder and CEO, Khabri, a digital audio platform. pointed out that people who have been showcasing their talent on Tik Tok are finding alternate ways to download the app. "It can still be downloaded from various websites, which provide the .apk file (this file format allows installation from sources other than trusted ones)."

Then there is the possibility of the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Janice Verghese, a cyber lawyer who works with a cybersecurity think tank, Cyber Peace Foundation, explained that the use of VPNs allow users to bypass the ban and still access the content.

"Unlike earlier, people know more about VPNs. A simple search will tell you ways to use," she added. This is further made easy by the easy availability of free apps that help users set up VPNs, she added.

This is the most common way to access blocked sites, Verghese added.

Adding to this, Kavita Shenoy, an ex-Google employee, who is now the founder and CEO of Voiro pointed out, "From a web browser perspective I can figure out the geography from where a user is accessing a platform and shut that off but from an app perspective once you have downloaded it, it is difficult to stop the access."

It is the FOMO effect

But why use a site which is banned?

Gautam Madhavan, Founder, and CEO, MAD Influence, an influencer marketing company, explained that Indian content recently saw strong traction from international markets.

"TikTok is a global platform. It is accessible outside India in countries like Dubai, Nepal, Sri Lanka where Indian content is very much preferred. In fact, followers increased for many influencers who were not able to use the app after the ban. While influencers/content creators were not even creating content on the app, they were getting followers from international markets," Madhavan added.

Shenoy pointed out another reason why Indians continued the use of TikTok after the ban. TikTok users needed an alternative platform. However, content creation from scratch would have resulted in losing followers. Hence, Shenoy said that many TikTok users migrated to Reels, a short video sharing feature on Instagram. "A lot of TikTok users lost revenue because of the ban. But with Reels having many features in place, TikTok users had an alternative. Hence, the activity on TikTok you see post the ban is also because of content migration," said Shenoy.

Adding to this, Madhavan said that Reels benefitted the most after TikTok was banned because Instagram is a known platform. "On the other hand, short video sharing platforms like MX TakaTak, Moj had to start from scratch," he said.

Now, Shenoy is curious to know whether TikTok will continue to have a similar number of users it had during the period between August to October last year when despite the ban TikTok had more monthly active app users than Instagram.

"New trends were out after October, there were shopping festivals which means a lot of brand activities for influencers. Also, the festive period. So, many tent-pole events for influencers. At that point in time, TikTok may not have seen much traction."



NEW YORK and LONDON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) released a new report examining the state of diversity and inclusion in the global accounting and finance profession. Through research questions and roundtable discussions, ACCA has gauged opinions from 10,000 ACCA members, affiliates and future members on a wide range of issues relating to diversity and inclusion, starting with the question 'Are we truly a profession that is open to all?'

You can read ACCA's latest report, Leading Inclusion here: https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/professional-insights/global-profession/diversity_inclusion.html

The report offers recommended actions to promote diversity and inclusion in organizations, from establishing a diversity and inclusion policy which sets out organizational principles to leadership principles that sets the tone from the top and holding leaders accountable. ACCA also suggests actions that accountants can take to develop this agenda.

"The foundation of ACCA in 1904 was to create a professional body for accountancy professionals that was open to all," said Warner Johnston, head of ACCA USA. "As an organization we recognize the work that still needs to be done in order for the accounting and finance profession to truly embody the values of diversity and inclusion, and we will continue to push for change in these areas in order to build a better and more equitable profession."

According to the Leading Inclusion report, the majority of the global roundtable participants and 78 percent of survey respondents felt that the profession was open to all, and nearly two-thirds saw a link between diversity and inclusion policies to organizational success.

However, nearly two-thirds still thought that the profession has or might have an issue to deal with when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Globally, 41 percent of respondents said the organization that they work for makes it easy for people from diverse backgrounds to be accepted. Just over half  52 percent - said everyone in their organization has an equal opportunity to succeed.

The report concludes that there is no basis for complacency, with 68 percent saying the profession should do more to promote diversity and inclusion amongst its membership.

This new report places these important issues of diversity and inclusion center stage so that the profession can take the dialogue and engagement further.

"As accountancy and finance professionals, it's important that we apply our robust and ethical lens to the challenges of the diversity agenda. By focusing on the symptoms of the issues rather than the causes we run the risk of not making substantive and lasting change when it is very necessary," said Clive Webb, author of the report and senior insights manager at ACCA. "Accountancy and finance professionals must be a force for good in the organizations that we work in and for."

The research for the report took place in October 2020, including 20 virtual roundtables across 11 regions, with the majority of survey respondents located across Western Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and South Asia.

About ACCA

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants, offering business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

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Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. More information is here: www.accaglobal.com.

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In a tragic incident, at least fourteen people were killed and several others critically injured Tuesday after a boulder-laden lorry overturned and fell on three private vehicles near Jaldhaka Bridge at Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri district.

The incident took place when the driver lost control over his lorry due to dense fog and hit several vehicles before overturning on the three vehicles, in which the victims were travelling, Superintendent of Police, Jalpaiguri, Pradeep Kumar Yadav said,

The accident happened when the victims were returning from a marriage ceremony.

Yadav said, We immediately rushed to the spot and rescued the injured and rushed them to a nearby hospital. As of now we have identified 14 dead bodies and their family members were informed about the incident.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed condolence over the incident and asked state ministers to meet the family members.

Saddened at the loss of lives because of a bus accident in Dhupguri. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for a speedy recovery of those injured, Mamata Banerjee said while ordering an inquiry into the incident.

Saddened at the loss of lives because of a bus accident in Dhupguri. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for a speedy recovery of those injured                Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 20, 2021

She has asked State ministers Gautam Deb and Aroop Biswas to visit the site of the accident and to meet the family members of the victims.

A local TMC leader Saurav Chakraborty said, Its a horrific incident. We are providing all assistance to the victims family members. We have assured them that all required medical treatment will be arranged for the injured passengers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolence in the matter.

The road accident in Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) is extremely anguishing. In this time of sadness, prayers with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon: PM @narendramodi PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 20, 2021

The road accident in Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) is extremely anguishing. In this time of sadness, prayers with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon, he said in a tweet.
Mark Margres photographs an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake at Caladesi Island, Florida. Credit: University of South Florida

The Tiger Rattlesnake possesses the simplest, yet most toxic venom of any rattlesnake species, and now new research from a team lead by a University of South Florida biologist can explain the genetics behind the predator's fearsome bite.

Published in the new edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USF Department of Integrative Biology Assistant Professor Mark Margres and colleagues across the southeastern United States have sequenced the genome of the Tiger Rattlesnake to understand the genotype of the venom trait. Despite the simplicity of the Tiger Rattlesnake's venom, Margres says it is roughly 40 times more toxic than the venom of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes here in Florida.

Their work is the most complete characterization of the venom gene-regulatory network to date and its identification of key mechanisms in producing the particularly toxic venom will help scientists explain a wide array of genetic questions.

"Simple genotypes can produce complex traits," Margres said. "Here, we have shown the opposite is also truea complex genotype can produce simple traits."

Margres collaborated with colleagues at Clemson University, Florida State University and the University of South Alabama, in the project, which sought to explain whether trait differences are derived from differences in the number of genes, their sequence or how they are regulated. Their work is only the second time a rattlesnake genome has been decoded.

A research team led by the University of South Florida studied the genome of the Tiger Rattlesnake. Credit: Michael P. Hogan, Florida State University

An organism's genotype is the set of genes it carries, and its phenotype is all of its observable characteristics, which can be influenced by its genes, the environment in which it lives, and other factors. Evolutionary biologists work to understand how genes influence the variation in phenotype among otherwise similar organisms. In this case, they looked at why different species of rattlesnakes differ in venom composition and toxicity.

Tiger Rattlesnakes are native to the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona and northern Mexico where the relatively small pit viper preys on lizards and rodents. While some species of rattlesnakes have complex venoms that are the result of scores of genes, Margres said the Tiger Rattlesnake's venom is quite simpleas few as 15 of its 51 toxic-producing genes actively drive the production of proteins and peptides that attacks its prey's nervous system, forces blood pressure to drop and causes blood clotting to cease.

The team found that the number of venom genes greatly exceeds the number of proteins produced in the simple phenotype, indicating a complex process was at the heart of the toxic venom and the Tiger Rattlesnakes even has toxic genes to spare.

"Only about half of the venom genes in the genotype were expressed," Margres said. "To me, the interesting part is why are the non-expressed genes still present? These genes can make functional toxins, they just don't. That needs to be explored further."

Tiger Rattlesnake used in the study was found in the Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona. Credit: University of South Florida

Beyond understanding this one species of venomous snake, Margres said the research will help advance genetic science by showing the techniques more commonly used on genetic research on mice and fruit flies, organisms that are often used in genetic studies, can also work when applied to less-studied organisms like snakes. The team used genetic sequencing techniques that are common in human genetics research and in doing so, opened the door for scientists to understand the genotype-phenotype relationship in many other organisms.

Another potential side benefit of the research, Margres said, is that snake venom is used in medicine for humans to combat stroke and high blood pressure. The more scientists understand about venom, the better medical engineering can apply that knowledge in drug discovery and development.

Explore further Mapping snake venom variety reveals unexpected evolutionary pattern

More information: Mark J. Margres et al, The Tiger Rattlesnake genome reveals a complex genotype underlying a simple venom phenotype, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Mark J. Margres et al, The Tiger Rattlesnake genome reveals a complex genotype underlying a simple venom phenotype,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014634118
The 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site in New York City on May 28, 2014. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

US Soldier Arrested in Alleged Plot to Blow up 9/11 Memorial

A U.S. Army soldier was arrested Tuesday for allegedly plotting to blow up the 9/11 Memorial in New York City.

Cole James Bridges, 20, spoke to an FBI employee who was posing as someone else about a plan to blow up the memorial, according to a criminal complaint.

Bridges also spoke with the employee, who posed as a female sympathizer to the terror group ISIS, about how to attack and kill U.S. soldiers in the Middle East.

Asked by the FBI covert employee last year how he managed to join the military given his contacts with ISIS, Bridges responded: Mm nobody knew I had contacts besides my family but it was never confirmed. They were suspicious. Even still because I had homeland security show up to my work before the army. And today this Investigation department came to the camp. He then sent a picture of a flag often used by jihadists, including ISIS.

Bridges later offered over an unspecified messaging application to give advice on combat and tactics to ISIS members. He and the covert employee (OCE) also discussed a potential attack at the 9/11 Memorial.

BRIDGES initially stated that he believed that the 9/11 attacks were murder. The OCE replied, Yes I was thinking of when the diplomats came though, the heads of state. BRIDGES then wrote a key target and that could honestly be a sniper kill and then getting out quietly for a second attack,' according to the complaint.

This screenshot shows a Facebook profile used by Cole James Bridges, according to a criminal complaint. (FBI)

Bridges at one point said he supported Hamas for their fighting against Israel Defense Forces and ISIS for their efforts to establish a khilafah and their way of structuring it and making a system. Khilafah is another word for caliphate, or the effort to take control of countries and establish a system of laws based on, in many cases, a radical interpretation of Islam.

Bridges, who went online by the moniker Cole Gonzales, was arrested in Georgia. He was part of the Third Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart. Bridges is from Stow, Ohio.

Cole Bridges betrayed the oath he swore to defend the United States by attempting to provide ISIS with tactical military advice to ambush and kill his fellow service members. Our troops risk their lives for our country, but they should never face such peril at the hands of one of their own, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement.

Bridges, a private in the U.S. Army, betrayed our country and his unit when he plotted with someone he believed was an ISIS sympathizer to help ISIS attack and kill U.S. soldiers in the Middle East. Fortunately, the person with whom he communicated was an FBI employee, and we were able to prevent his evil desires from coming to fruition. Bridges could have chosen a life of honorable service, but instead he traded it for the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, added FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney Jr.

Bridges faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS and one count of attempting to murder U.S. military service members. Bridges couldnt be reached and he did not have a lawyer listed.
Food delivery giant Deliveroo has picked London for its hotly anticipated stock market float this year.

The tech firm's founder and chief executive, Will Shu, had been looking at listing its shares in New York.

But in a major boost for Brexit Britain, the Mail understands that the 5billion company will list in London in the coming months.

Tech float: In a major boost for Brexit Britain, the Mail understands Deliveroo will list in London in the coming months

Deliveroo yesterday hired Next boss Simon Wolfson as a non-executive director as it beefed up its board ahead of the float.

Shu felt that the company could command a higher valuation in the US, where there is a bigger tech scene. But financial advisers made the case that the customer base is in Europe, not the US.

Deliveroo's biggest rival, Just East Takeaway, is also listed in London, and Amsterdam.

The decision marks a big win for London as the Square Mile tries to reinvent itself after Brexit. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has vowed to make the UK the best place to list in the world and has looked at slashing regulations to make that happen.

It is hoped that Deliveroo's decision will spur other tech firms to follow, with chip designer Graphcore and cyber security firm Darktrace also working on plans to list.

Deliveroo is expected to float in 2021, although no firm date has been set.

It has hired bankers Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan to work on the project, as well as London broker Numis.

With Next chief executive Wolfson on the board, it now has a second high-profile member former Premier League director Claudia Arney became the company's first chairman in November.

Wolfson has been boss of Next since 2001 and is the FTSE 100's longest-serving chief executive. Next shares fell 1.4 per cent yesterday amid fears he could leave.

Shu said: 'Simon will bring great knowledge and insight and help us in our mission to become the definitive food company. We are excited about his appointment.

'We are looking forward to working with him as we continue to innovate, developing new tech tools to support restaurants, to provide riders with more work and to extend choice for customers, bringing them the food they love from more restaurants than ever before.'

Wolfson said: 'I am delighted to be taking up this role. Deliveroo is an exciting, innovative and fast-growing company that, like Next, relies on advanced technology to deliver a market-leading proposition.

'I look forward to working with the talented leadership team on the many opportunities ahead.'

Over the weekend Deliveroo's valuation touched 5billion after it secured 132million in fresh funding, which was led by investors Durable Capital Partners and Fidelity Management.

The valuation is almost double its 2019 price tag, when Deliveroo raised 420million from investors including Amazon, which has a 16 per cent stake.

Deliveroo had a stellar 2020 when consumers turned to the takeaway app as restaurants and pubs shut due to lockdown.

A grade school teacher who was taking selfies on a rocky outcrop on a Brazilian beach has died after a wave knocked her into the sea.

Soliane Luiza, of Navegantes, Santa Catarina, was snapping scenic photos at Praia Grande in the coastal city of Penha at around 4.30pm on Sunday when she was swept away by dangerous waves, according to Brazilian news outlet G1.

A video recorded by a bystander captured the heroic moment a volunteer fire department rescue diver was lowered to the choppy waters to save the 28-year-old.

Scroll down for video

Soliane Luiza trip to a beach in Pehna, Brazil, ended in tragedy Sunday when the 28-year-old school teacher was knocked off a rock by a wave while she was taking photos. A volunteer fire department diver rescued her from the choppy waters and paramedics performed CPR on her. After detecting a heartbeat, she was placed in an ambulance but went into cardia arrest and died while she was being taken to a helicopter that was going to airlift her to a hospital

A Brazilian volunteer fire department helicopter airlifts a rescue diver and Soliane Luiaza from Praia Grande in Penha, Brazil, on Sunday

Paramedics work on saving the life of 28-year-old school teacher Soliane Luiza moments after she was rescued from drowning

Luiza was still alive when was airlifted to the shore where awaiting paramedics worked to stabilize her.

But she suffered a heart attack and despite being rushed to Marieta Konder Borhausen Hospital in Itajai, she died two hours later.

A Brazilian grade school teacher died from a heart attack after she was rescued from a beach in Brazil after she was knocked off rocks by waves while she was posing for selfies

The Paraiso Infantil Baby school where Luiza taught remembered her as an 'exemplary teacher, dedicated, caring and much loved by all' in a statement posted on its Instagram account.

'Wherever she went, she delighted with her joy and illuminated with her light. Sol will leave a little piece of her here with each one of us.
Any deviation of messaging between the Government and the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) is big news.

Whether its the Cabinet shooting down advice on restrictions or Leo Varadkar having a pop at Tony Holohan on RTE, it makes people sit up and listen. Rightly so, as these debates between public health experts and our political leaders have dictated how we live our lives for the best part of a year.

But another debate has been going on behind the scenes in recent months which is getting less attention but is just as important.

Nphet, and especially chief medical officer Dr Holohan, has been taking issue with the HSEs handling of outbreaks of Covid-19 in hospitals. Publicly, it is all very civilised and Dr Holohan has gone out of his way not to be seen as overtly critical of the health service which is creaking under the strain of the pandemic.

But privately there is concern over the rising amount of outbreaks in hospitals and the increasing number of related deaths.

In a letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly on December 10, Dr Holohan went to great lengths to say concerns raised about outbreaks in hospitals should not be interpreted as any criticism.

However, minutes of Nphet meetings paint a picture of more forceful interventions by Dr Holohan. On December 3, the minutes report that the he personally voiced his concern about the speed of outbreak detection and response in acute settings.

The chair also posed the question whether a national outbreak control team has been established and if not, the reasons why? the minutes added. Generally, the minutes record Nphet or the HSEs views, but in this instance Dr Holohans personal intervention was noted.

The HSE conceded some hospitals were not performing well when it came to outbreaks and said this was generally to do with the infrastructure in wards and the lack of isolation spaces.

The next week, Nphet expressed concern and sought clarity as to why mass testing was not being carried out in all hospitals where outbreaks had been detected as the criteria for mass testing had previously been identified and agreed. Nphet again agreed a national outbreak team should be established.

This was mid-December when the spread of the virus was manageable, but all has changed since we entered the new year.

The cases will go down eventually and have been over the last two weeks. But the deaths linked to hospital outbreaks have been high since last November when 59 people died while we were in pre-Christmas lockdown. Another 48 died in December and at least 31 have died already this month.

These figures are likely to rise in the coming weeks due to the prevalence of Covid in the community. However, when the current surge is contained, focus should shift back to controlling outbreaks in hospitals. Patients and staff deserve to feel protected when they are in hospitals.

The spread of Covid infections in hospitals is clearly a problem for Dr Holohan. The Government rightly comes under intense scrutiny when it ignores his advice on restrictions. The same standards should be applied to the other concerns he raises.
The outgoing US President, Donald Trump, is considering the possibility of launching a new political party as his White House tenure draws to a close, according to a media report

NEW YORK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :The outgoing US President, Donald Trump, is considering the possibility of launching a new political party as his White House tenure draws to a close, according to a media report.

Trump discussed the possibility with associates in recent days, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing "people familiar with the matter." The party would be named the Patriot Party.

Trump is seeking to wield political power after he steps down from office on Wednesday, the newspaper said, but It's not clear how serious he is about the project. Starting a new party would require considerable resources and Trump's legal and financial future is uncertain.

The project would also probably face stiff resistance from the Republican party establishment, the report said.

Trump enjoys widespread support among the Republican base despite his incitement of a mob that stormed the US Capitol earlier this month, the uncontrolled coronavirus outbreak that has killed 400,000 Americans, his recent feuding with Republican leaders and other controversies.

Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 following a speech by the president outside the White House in which he repeated his false claims to have won the presidential election. Five people died in the mayhem, including a Capitol Police officer.

The insurrectionists aimed to stop the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's election victory as Congress affirmed the win.

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives impeached Trump on January 13 for "inciting insurrection" and he faces a potential trial in the Senate after he leaves office on Wednesday.

If convicted by the Senate, Trump could be barred from running in the 2024 presidential race.

Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnel on Tuesday said that Trump's supporters who attacked the Capitol were "provoked" by the president and "fed lies." The votes of 17 Republican senators would be needed to convict Trump in the Senate and McConnell has not ruled out voting for conviction. Democrat Chuck Schumer is expected to take over as Senate Majority Leader on Wednesday, but McConnell will remain an influential voice in the Republican Party.

Trump wished luck to the new administration in a farewell video released on Tuesday but did not mention Biden's name. He has remained largely out of sight since the storming of the Capitol and has been stripped of his social media equipment.

He is set to leave Washington for Florida early Wednesday morning, hours ahead of Biden's inauguration. He has refused to take part in the ceremonial peaceful transfer of power and will become the first outgoing president in over a century to skip the inauguration of his successor.

The inauguration will take place under heavy security due to fears of more political violence, with the public kept away from the Capitol complex and some 25,000 US National Guard troops deployed to Washington.

The pandemic will further dampen the event, with the limited number of guests required to maintain social distance and wear masks.




SOITEC REPORTS FY'21 THIRD QUARTER REVENUES

Q3'21 revenues reached 149m, up 15% at constant exchange rates and perimeter 1 versus Q3'20

First nine months of FY'21 revenues are up by 5% at constant exchange rates and perimeter 1 compared with the first nine months of FY'20, reaching 403m

FY'21 guidance confirmed: sales expected to be stable at constant exchange rates2 and perimeter1 and Electronics EBITDA3 margin4 expected around 30%

Bernin (Grenoble), France, January 20th, 2021 - Soitec (Euronext Paris), a world leader in designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials, today announced consolidated revenues of 148.7 million Euros for the third quarter of FY'21 (ended December 31st, 2020), up 9.9% compared with 135.3 million Euros achieved in the third quarter of FY'20. This is the result of a 14.7% increase at constant exchange rates and a negative currency impact of 4.8%.

On a sequential basis, third quarter sales were up by 7.2% at constant exchange rates compared with the second quarter of FY'21, confirming the quarter-over-quarter sales increase that was anticipated at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Paul Boudre, Soitec's CEO, commented: "As expected, this quarter confirmed the rebound in sales we had already experienced in the previous quarter. We continue to be well on track to achieve flat organic full-year sales.

The deployment of 4G and 5G cellular generations continues to be our main growth driver especially for our products dedicated to radiofrequency applications, including filters. We also see traction coming from applications for automotive, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence on the Edge and Cloud computing. Thanks to our advanced technologies and products that are truly shaping connectivity and Edge computing, we are extremely well positioned to benefit from these trends.

In order to support the substantial growth that is ahead of us, we just launched a company-wide job creation program to attract a large variety of new talents. In the meantime, we are very keen to contribute to the objectives of the COP21 Paris Agreement on climate change through our highly performing and low-energy products as well as through the reduction of our own direct carbon footprint, hence our recent commitment to the Science Based Target initiative to set ourselves new ambitious climate and sustainability targets."

Third quarter FY'21 consolidated sales (unaudited)

Q3'20 Q3'21 Q3'21/Q3'20 (Euros thousands) change reported chg. at const. exch. rates and perimeter1 150/200-mm 61,885 64,762 +5% +9% 300-mm 65,133 76,655 +18% +23% Royalties and other revenues 8,264 7,260 -12% -11% Total revenues 135,282 148,678 +9.9% +14.7%

Total revenue growth achieved in the third quarter of FY'21 was essentially driven by a strong increase in the level of sales of RF-SOI wafers dedicated to radiofrequency applications for smartphones, but also by growing POI wafer sales dedicated to smartphones' RF filters as well as by a solid performance recorded in other Specialty-SOI products (Imager-SOI and Photonics-SOI). Conversely, sales of Power-SOI and FD-SOI wafers dedicated to automotive and IoT/consumer end markets came lower than in the third quarter of FY'20.

On a sequential basis, third quarter sales were up by 7.2% at constant exchange rates compared with the second quarter of FY'21, with a further increase in RF-SOI and POI wafer sales. In addition, sales of Specialty-SOI products (Imager-SOI, Power-SOI and Photonics-SOI) were also higher than the second quarter of FY'21. Finally, FD-SOI wafer sales recorded a rebound compared to the second quarter of FY'21.

150/200-mm wafer sales

150/200-mm wafers are mostly dedicated to radiofrequency applications and, for a smaller part, to power applications. In the third quarter of FY'21, 150/200-mm wafer sales rose by 9% at constant exchange rates, compared with the third quarter of FY'20. This growth results from a slight increase in volumes and, to a larger extent, from a more favorable product mix.

Indeed, RF-SOI 200-mm wafer sales recorded a sustained increase as they continue to be supported by greater RF-SOI content for radiofrequency applications. In the meantime, Power-SOI wafer sales decreased as a result of the ongoing difficulties met by the automotive market in the context of the Covid-19 situation.

Increase in POI (Piezoelectric-on-Insulator) wafer sales has followed the ramp-up in production enabled by the ongoing extension of the dedicated 150-mm industrial capacity at Bernin. Soitec's POI substrate brings strong value proposition to smartphones' 4G/ 5G RF filters for mass markets.

300-mm wafer sales

In the third quarter of FY'21, 300-mm wafer sales raised by 23% at constant exchange rates, compared with the third quarter of FY'20, reflecting a balanced combination of volume increase and more favorable product mix.

RF-SOI 300-mm wafer sales recorded a sharp increase as they continue to be supported by the still growing 4G market as well as further deployment of first generations of 5G smartphones. Meanwhile, Soitec successfully obtained several RF-SOI-based design wins for Wifi-6 Front End Modules with major OEMs.

As was already the case in the first half of FY'21, third quarter sales of FD-SOI wafers came lower than last year. They however recorded a rebound compared the second quarter of FY'21 showing increasing tape-out activities in applications related to 5G, Edge Computing and Automotive, also supported by announcements of reinforced FD-SOI based offering coming from fabless companies.

Sales of other 300-mm products (Imager-SOI for 3D applications for smartphones and Photonics-SOI wafers for data centers) were both higher that in the third quarter of FY'20.

Royalties and other revenue

Total Royalties and other revenues reached 7.3 million Euros in the third quarter of FY'21 compared to 8.3 million Euros in the third quarter of FY'20.

First nine months of FY'21 consolidated sales (unaudited)

9m'20 9m'21 9m'21/9m'20 (Euros thousands) change reported chg. at const. exch. rates and perimeter1 150/200-mm 183,310 203,183 +11% +13% 300-mm 190,468 181,801 -5% -2% Royalties and other revenues 19,954 18,069 -9% -8% Total revenues 393,733 403,053 +2.4% +4.7%

For the first nine months of FY'21, revenues reached 403.1 million Euros, up 4.7% at constant exchange rates and perimeter1 compared with the first nine months of FY'20.

200-mm wafer sales were up 13% at constant exchange rates compared to the first nine months of FY'20 while 300-mm wafer sales were down by 2% at constant exchange rates.

Key events of the quarter

RF-SOI wafer supply agreement with GlobalFoundries for 5G radiofrequency solutions

On November 5th, 2020, Soitec announced a strategic multi-year supply agreement with GlobalFoundries for RF-SOI wafers aimed at supporting the growing demand for the foundry's most advanced RF front-end-module (FEM) platform, called 8SW, using Soitec's 300-mm RF-SOI wafers.

Acquisition of a further 20% stake in Dolphin Design

On November 13th, 2020, Soitec acquired from its partner MBDA a further 20% equity stake in Dolphin Design, increasing its holding to 80%, with MBDA still owning the remaining 20%.

Free share allocation plan

On November 18th, 2020, the Board of Directors has allocated a free share plan to all employees representing a maximum dilution of 0.43% of the outstanding share capital, as well as free shares to 22 executives representing a maximum dilution of 0.18% of the outstanding share capital.

France awards Soitec-led European consortium for semiconductor innovation

On December 17th, 2020, the French Government has granted the REFERENCE consortium led by Soitec, the "Etoile de l'Europe" ("Star of Europe") award for innovation in telecommunication. Based on the Silicon on Insulator substrate technology, REFERENCE is a project funded by the ECSEL Joint Undertaking5, which has developed industrial solutions for communication applications. REFERENCE brought together 15 multidisciplinary partners from four European countries, including manufacturers marketing or using semiconductors (Soitec, STMicroelectronics, Globalfoundries, Siltronic, Sentronics, TELIT, ATEP, AED, Airbus), three of Europe's largest centers for applied research in microelectronics (CEA, FhG, IMEC) and three high-level universities (UCB-Lyon, TU-Dresden, UBW-Munich).

Post-closing events

Soitec launches ELEVATE to attract new talent and create jobs

On January 5, 2021, Soitec launched a company-wide job creation program called ELEVATE. In the first phase, Soitec seeks to recruit 100 new high potentials in engineering and technology, operations and management at its headquarters and production facilities in Bernin. A second phase of ELEVATE will be rolled out in Singapore where Soitec is currently ramping up its production and operations.

Soitec enters Gaia Index while engaging to set new global climate and sustainability targets

On January 11, 2021, Soitec announced it has received an 82/100 score in Gaia Rating's 2020 ESG survey, ranking 16th amongst 230 rated companies. Soitec consequently joined the Gaia Index, which groups the 70 top-rated companies. Soitec also achieved in December 2020 an upgrade in its CDP rating, from category F to category C. In the meantime, Soitec engaged to set itself new and ambitious mid- and long-term targets to cut its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase its support to reach the objectives of the COP21 Paris Agreement on climate change. Soitec's objectives and achievements in environmental sustainability will be monitored, validated and disclosed in cooperation with the globally recognized Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Outlook

Soitec confirms expecting FY'21 sales to remain stable at constant exchange rates and perimeter1 (FY'21 net currency exposure at the EBITDA level being covered at an average /$ rate of 1.13, with FY'21 revenue hedged at an average rate /$ rate around 1.15) and Electronics EBITDA2 margin3 to reach around 30%.

Soitec also confirms expecting FY'22 sales to reach above 900 million US Dollars6.

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Analysts conference call to be held in English on Thursday 21st January at 8:00 am CET

To listen this conference call, the audiocast is available live and in replay at the following address: https://channel.royalcast.com/soitec/#!/soitec/20210121_1

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Agenda

Q4'21 sales are due to be published on April 21st, 2021 after market close.

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Disclaimer

This document is provided by Soitec (the "Company") for information purposes only.

The Company's business operations and financial position are described in the Company's 2019-2020 Universal Registration Document , in section "Company - Investors - Financial Reports").

Your attention is drawn to the risk factors described in Chapter 2.2 of the Company's 2019-2020 Universal Registration Document.

This document contains summary information and should be read in conjunction with the 2019-2020 Universal Registration Document and the FY'21 half-year report.

This document contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the Company's future prospects, developments and strategy and are based on analyses of earnings forecasts and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties as they relate to future events and are dependent on circumstances that may or may not materialize in the future. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of the Company's future performance.

The Company's actual financial position, results and cash flows, as well as the trends in the sector in which the Company operates may differ materially from those contained in this document. Furthermore, even if the Company's financial position, results, cash-flows and the developments in the sector in which the Company operates were to conform to the forward-looking statements contained in this document, such elements cannot be construed as a reliable indication of the Company's future results or developments.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or make any correction to any forward-looking statement in order to reflect an event or circumstance that may occur after the date of this document. In addition, the occurrence of any of the risks described in Chapter 2.2 of the Universal Registration Document may have an impact on these forward-looking statements.

This document does not constitute or form part of an offer or a solicitation to purchase, subscribe for, or sell the Company's securities in any country whatsoever. This document, or any part thereof, shall not form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract, commitment or investment decision.

Notably, this document does not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase, subscribe for or to sell securities in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Company's shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act. Neither the Company nor any other person intends to conduct a public offering of the Company's securities in the United States.

# # #

About Soitec

Soitec (Euronext, Tech 40 Paris) is a world leader in designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials. The company uses its unique technologies and semiconductor expertise to serve the electronics markets. With more than 3,300 patents worldwide, Soitec's strategy is based on disruptive innovation to answer its customers' needs for high performance, energy efficiency and cost competitiveness. Soitec has manufacturing facilities, R&D centers and offices in Europe, the U.S. and Asia.

Soitec and Smart Cut are registered trademarks of Soitec.

For more information, please visit www.soitec.comand follow us on Twitter: @Soitec_EN

Investor Relations:



Steve Babureck

+33 6 16 38 56 27

+65 9231 9735

steve.babureck@soitec.com (mailto:steve.babureck@soitec.com)











Media contacts:







Isabelle Laurent

+33 1 53 32 61 51 isabelle.laurent@oprgfinancial.fr (mailto:isabelle.laurent@oprgfinancial.fr)







Fabrice Baron

+33 1 53 32 61 27

fabrice.baron@oprgfinancial.fr (mailto:fabrice.baron@oprgfinancial.fr)

# # #

Soitec is a French joint-stock corporation with a Board of Directors (Societe Anonyme a Conseil d'administration) with a share capital of  66,557,802.00, having its registered office located at Parc Technologique des Fontaines - Chemin des Franques - 38190 Bernin (France), and registered with the Grenoble Trade and Companies Register under number 384 711 909.





# # #





Appendix

Consolidated sales (Q3'21 unaudited)

Quarterly sales Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 (Euros thousands) '19 '20 '19 '20 '20 '21 '20 '21 '20 '21 150/200-mm 58,747 61,885 60,206 91,623 59,469 67,392 61,957 71,029 61,885 64,762 300-mm 52,775 65,133 72,300 103,895 53,832 41,269 71,504 63,877 65,133 76,655 Royalties and other revenues 5,246 8,264 7,776 8,299 6,135 4,961 5,555 5,848 8,264 7,260 Total revenues 116,768 135,282 140,282 203,817 119,435 113,622 139,015 140,754 135,282 148,678

Quarterly sales Q3'20 Q4'20 Q1'21 Q2'21 Q3'21 (vs. previous year) change reported chg. at const. exch. rates and perimeter1 change reported chg. at const. exch. rates and perimeter1 change reported chg. at const. exch. rates and perimeter1 change reported chg. at const. exch. rates and perimeter1 change reported chg. at const. exch. rates and perimeter1 150/200-mm +5.3% +1.7% +52.2% +47.0% +13.3% +13.1% +14.6% +17.2% +4.6% +9.1% 300-mm +23.4% +19.1% +43.7% +38.8% -23.3% -23.5% -10.7% -8.6% +17.7% +23.3% Royalties and other revenues +57.5% +40.6% +6.7% -1.4% -19.1% -22.1% +5.3% +5.9% -12.1% -11.0% Total revenues +15.9% +11.3% +45.3% +40.1% -4.9% -5.2% +1.3% +3.5% +9.9% +14.7%

1 At constant exchange rates and comparable scope of consolidation:

in Q3'19 and Q4'19, scope effects relate to the acquisition of Dolphin Integration assets in August 2018

in Q1'20 and Q2'20, scope effects relate to the acquisitions of Dolphin Integration assets in August 2018 and the acquisition of EpiGaN in May 2019

in Q3'20, Q4'20 and Q1'21, scope effects relate to the acquisition of EpiGaN in May 2019

there is no scope effect in Q2'21 and Q3'21

Both Dolphin Integrations assets and EpiGaN are included in the segment Royalties and other revenues.

# # #

1 At constant exchange rates and comparable scope of consolidation; scope effect only applies to Q1; it is related to the acquisition of EpiGaN N.V. in May 2019; there was no scope effect in Q2 and in Q3; EpiGaN N.V. was renamed Soitec Belgium N.V. in July 2020; its revenues are included in the segment Royalties and other revenues.

2 FY'21 net currency exposure at the EBITDA3 level is covered at an average /$ rate of 1.13, with FY'21 revenue hedged at an average /$ rate around 1.15

3 The EBITDA represents the operating income (EBIT) before depreciation, amortization, non-monetary items related to share-based payments, and changes in provisions on current assets and provisions for risks and contingencies, excluding income on asset disposals. This alternative indicator of performance is a non-IFRS quantitative measure used to measure the company's ability to generate cash from its operating activities. EBITDA is not defined by an IFRS standard and must not be considered an alternative to any other financial indicator.

4 Electronics EBITDA margin = EBITDA from continuing operations / Sales.

5 ECSEL stands for Electronic Components and System for European Leadership. It combines funds from the EU's Horizon2020 programme, the participating countries, and the participants themselves.

6 i.e. above 800 million Euros, based on a /$ rate of 1.13







Attachment
Goodbye, Rudy Giuliani.

I cant say Ill miss you, but I will say I appreciated our time together. I wasnt living in New York City when you implemented the broken windows theory, but I was around afterward to be stopped and frisked in Manhattan enough times to know which subway stations to avoid.

I moved in from New Jersey, where I wasnt aware that the New York Police Department was already spying on Muslims. You later bragged, I was the mayor who put police officers in mosques, in New York and New Jersey. You made being Muslim probable cause. But that was cool, too, because a suspicion of police brought Black and brown communities together against the shared perceived foe in our neighborhoods.

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You made 9/11, and the fear of Muslims, kind of your thing. I was in Cleveland at the Republican National Convention the night you endorsed Donald Trumps candidacy by screaming about ISLAMIC EXTREMIST TERRORISM. The people outside clearly heard you; they came up to me unpromoted, eyes wide, and asked, Are you Muslim? I did get a kick out of that.

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I was across the river in New Jersey when 9/11 happened, by the way. When Trump said that thousands and thousands of us were celebrating out by me, you said it was just an exaggeration. I remember that day a little differently. My dad, who drove a black car taxi in Manhattan, somehow made it home. Many of the Muslims in my community had family who didnt. Still, its impressive that you made walking around ground zero a career-defining political accomplishment.

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Later, the president asked you to figure out a way to make his Muslim ban legal. We know that because you blurted it out yourself. Many of Trumps supporters still use your argument to defend the travel ban as having nothing to do with Muslims. I guess that makes you a decent lawyer.

You had other moments recently. The Trump administration was a pretty hilarious place for you to go out in such spectacular fashion. In fact, the president may have avoided being impeached if not for your shady trips to Ukraine, so I guess we owe you for that too. Oh, and that time you went to an Apple Store last year because you couldnt figure out how to open your iPhone? Whew, a good one.

I do have one question: What did you mean when you said, Im more of a Jew than Soros is? I never got that. Oh well, its time to go.

Yours truly,

Aymann

This is part of a series of goodbyes to Trumpworld figures. Read the rest here.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

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The results of a study led by Northern Arizona University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, suggest the immune systems of people infected with COVID-19 may rely on antibodies created during infections from earlier coronaviruses to help fight the disease.

COVID-19 isn't humanity's first encounter with a coronavirus, so named because of the corona, or crown-like, protein spikes on the virus' surface. Before SARS-CoV-2-;the virus that causes COVID-19-;humans have navigated at least six other types of coronaviruses.

The study sought to understand how coronaviruses (CoVs) ignite the human immune system and conduct a deeper dive on the inner workings of the antibody response. The published findings, "Epitope-resolved profiling of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response identifies cross-reactivity with endemic human coronaviruses," appear today in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.

Our results suggest that the COVID-19 virus may awaken an antibody response that existed in humans prior to our current pandemic, meaning that we might already have some degree of pre-existing immunity to this virus." John Altin, Study Senior Author, Assistant Professor, Infectious Disease Branch, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen)

This knowledge could help researchers design new diagnostics, evaluate the healing powers of convalescent plasma, develop new therapeutic treatments and-;importantly-;help design future vaccines or monoclonal antibody therapies capable of protecting against mutations that may occur in the COVID-19 virus.

The researchers used a tool called PepSeq to finely map antibody responses to all human-infecting coronaviruses. PepSeq is a novel technology being developed at TGen and NAU that allows for the construction of highly diverse pools of peptides (short chains of amino acids) bound to DNA tags. When combined with high-throughput sequencing, these PepSeq molecule pools allow for deep interrogation of the antibody response to viruses.

"The data generated using PepSeq allowed for broad characterization of the antibody response in individuals recently infected with SARS-CoV-2 compared with those of individuals exposed only to previous coronaviruses that now are widespread in human populations," said Jason Ladner, the study's lead author and an assistant professor in NAU's Pathogen and Microbiome Institute.

Besides SARS-CoV-2, researchers examined the antibody responses from two other potentially deadly coronaviruses: MERS-CoV, which caused the 2012 outbreak in Saudi Arabia of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome; and SARS-CoV-1, the first pandemic coronavirus that caused the 2003 outbreak in Asia of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. All three are examples of coronaviruses that infect animals, but evolved to make people sick and became new human pathogens.

In addition to characterizing antibodies that recognize SARS-CoV-2, they also examined the antibody responses of four older coronaviruses: alphacoronavirus 229E; alphacoronavirus NL63; betacoronavirus OC43; and betacoronavirus HKU1. These so-called "common" coronaviruses are endemic throughout human populations, but usually are not deadly and cause mild upper respiratory infections similar to those of the common cold.

By comparing patterns of reactivity against these different coronaviruses, the researchers demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 could summon immune system antibodies originally generated in response to past coronavirus infections. This cross-reactivity occurred at two sites in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein; the protein on the surface of virus particles that attaches to ACE2 proteins on human cells to facilitate cell entry and infection.

"Our findings highlight sites at which the SARS-CoV-2 response appears to be shaped by previous coronavirus exposures, and which have potential to raise broadly-neutralizing antibodies. We further demonstrate that these cross-reactive antibodies preferentially bind to endemic coronavirus peptides, suggesting that the response to SARS-CoV-2 at these regions may be constrained by previous coronavirus exposure," Altin said, adding that more research is needed to understand the implications of these findings.

The findings could help explain the widely varying reactions COVID-19 patients have to the disease: from mild to no symptoms to severe infections requiring hospitalization, often resulting in death. It's also possible that differences in the pre-existing antibody response identified by this study could help to explain some of the difference in how severely COVID-19 disease manifests in old versus young people, who will have different histories of infections with the common coronaviruses.

"Our findings raise the possibility that the nature of an individual's antibody response to prior endemic coronavirus infection may impact the course of COVID-19 disease," Ladner said.

Also contributing to this study were: City of Hope National Medical Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Vitalant Research Institute, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, St. Olavs Hospital and Encodia Inc.

Former undergraduate computer science student Zane Fink is named a co-author of the study.

"Zane helped a lot with the design of the assays used, and he wrote custom analysis software," said Ladner. Fink, who graduated from NAU in Spring 2020, is now pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Illinois.
As well as sending cats crazy, catnip helps our feline friends repel mosquitoes, according to a new study by Japanese experts.

Both catnip, a common herb, and the even more potent silver vine are known to elicit euphoric responses in cats.

Cat owners use the dry leaves of these plants to give joy to their pet cats, often manifested as rolling around, pawing and appearing 'zoned out'.

Chemical compounds in both catnip and silver vine (nepetalactone and nepetalactol, respectively) strongly induce the characteristic behaviour.

But experts think cats rub against both catnip and silver vine to transfer these compounds to their fur as protection against mosquitoes and parasitic insects.

Researchers counted Aedes albopictus mosquitoes landing on the heads of cats that were exposed to nepetalactol from silver vine.

After comparing them with cats not exposed to the compound, the found nepetalactol made a big difference in keeping away the mozzies.

A cat responds to silver vine leaves. While silver vine is endemic to Japan and China, its potent effects on cat behaviour came to global recognition following its import from China to the US

The study findings could be used in the development of new mosquito-repellent products for humans.

It may prove especially important as the Aedes aegypti species of mosquito is a known vector of chikungunya virus, dengue virus and dirofilariasis.

'Domestic cats and other felids rub their faces and heads against catnip (Nepeta cataria) and silver vine (Actinidia polygama) and roll on the ground,' say the researchers in their paper, published in Science Advances.

'Silver vine and catnip response provides repellency against A. albopictus by transferring nepetalactol or nepetalactone from plants onto a cats fur.

'These findings provide new insight into this well-known and characteristic plant-induced feline response.'

Catnip (pictured) contains a compound called Nepetalactone, which is part of a class of chemicals referred to as terpenoids. Ginger, cloves and cannabis are also terpenes

A cat under the effect of Actinidia polygama (silver vine)

A typical feline response to catnip and silver vine comprises licking and chewing the plants, rubbing face and head against the plants and rolling over on the ground.

This response usually lasts five to 15 minutes, followed by a period of one or more hours when they are not responsive and are often to be found sprawled on the ground in a state of 'intoxicated repose'.

Catnip is actually in the same plant family as mint and sage and is commonly found in pet shops all over Britain.

Silver vine, which is actually a species of kiwifruit, is popular in Asia as a way to send cats ga-ga and is said to be even more potent.

'The first appearance of silver vine ("matatabi" in Japanese) as a cat attractant in literature in Japan dates back to more than 300 years ago,' said study author Professor Masao Miyazaki of Iwate University in Morioka, Japan.

A folklore Ukiyo-e  a style of Japanese woodblock prints  drawn in 1859 shows a group of mice trying to tempt some cats with a smell of silver vine.

While silver vine is endemic to Japan and China, its potent effects on cat behaviour came to global recognition following its import from China to the US.

Catnip and silver vine are known to hold a special place in felines hearts. When cats encounter these plants, they rub their heads and faces against them and roll around on the ground. Pictured, a cat licking catnip off the floor

While pet owners around the world gift their cats toys laced with catnip or silver vine leaves, the biological significance of these plants and the neurophysiological mechanism triggered when cats sniff and rub against them has not been known.

The researchers experiments focused on nepetalactol (found in silver vine).

They isolated different substances from silver vine leaves, soaked them in lab filter papers and administrated each of them to cats to examine their response.

Researchers tested 25 laboratory cats, 30 feral cats, and several captive big cats, including an Amur leopard, two jaguars and two Eurasian lynx.

The experiment revealed that nepetalactol most strongly induces the characteristic behaviour.

They found that the cats showed a more prolonged response than they did with untreated control filter papers.

In contrast, dogs and lab mice showed no interest in the nepetalactol-containing papers  although it's uncertain why.

'Why is this reaction limited to cats? Why don't non-feline animals react to the plant? To find answers, we want to identify the gene responsible for the reaction,' said Professor Miyazaki.

A cat enjoying fresh catnip. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) contains the feline attractant nepetalactone

To examine whether cats purposefully transfer nepetalactol, the research group placed paper filters with the compound on different parts of the cat cage (floor, walls and ceiling).

Although cats rubbed their faces and heads on the paper regardless of the place of the nepetalactol paper, they did not show the typical rolling when the paper was placed on a wall or ceiling.

When cats rubbed against the nepetalactol paper, the substance was transferred to their faces and heads, indicating that the most important function of rubbing behaviour is to apply the chemical to these parts of feline fur.

The team then tested the mosquito repellent property of nepetalactol on cats.

'We counted the numbers of mosquitoes landing on cat heads with and without application of nepetalactol,' said Professor Miyazaki.

After finding that the mosquitoes landed less on the nepetalactol heads, the team wanted to see whether mosquitoes react the same in a more natural setting.

'We compared the mosquito reaction between cats that responded to silver vine leaves and nonresponsive cats,' said Professor Miyazaki. 'Mosquitoes avoided the responsive cats.

'From these results, we found that the cats' reaction to silver vine is chemical defence against mosquitoes, and perhaps against viruses and parasitic insects.

'This was the most significant finding of our study.'

Researchers also wanted to know more about the biological mechanism of the response by feline animals to silver vine.

They hypothesised that the -opioid system, which is associated with euphoric effects in humans, is activated with the plant.

'We tested -endorphin levels before and after nepetalactol-induced response in cat blood,' said Professor Miyazaki.

'We found that silver vine activates the nervous system that is responsible for the euphorigenic reaction.'

When the researchers inhibited the cats' -opioid receptors using drugs, the cats no longer showed a rubbing response to nepetalactol.

This suggests it's still possible that cats play with silver vine  as well as catnip  to experience euphoria, although this study shows it has another function to cats.
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Ziina, the UAEs first social Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payment application, officially announces that it is participating in Y-Combinator (YC)s Winter 2021 batch.

This makes Ziina the third start-up from the UAE to be recognised by YC, the elite start-up accelerator.

Ziinas YC acceptance coincides with its latest round of seed funding led by OTF Jasoor Ventures (the VC arm of Oman Technology Fund), with participation from Class 5 Global, Long Journey Ventures, Graph Ventures, Jabbar Internet Group, FJ Labs, and Wamda.

Y-Combinator, one of the worlds most successful and selective start-up engines, places 2% of applicants who pass their process through its robust accelerator programme which has propelled businesses such as Airbnb, Stripe, and Dropbox to their current level of success worth a combined $200 billion.

Through Y-Combinator, which is also known for its competitive entry system, Ziina has access to a vast network and a range of highly experienced mentors. The fintech will now go through the YC three-month accelerator programme culminating in Demo Day  an opportunity to pitch to many of the worlds most successful investors.

After falling into the less than 2% entry bracket, Ziina is truly set for an ambitious year ahead and is set to disrupt the market and the way individuals transfer money.

Ziinas latest funding round includes some of fintechs most prolific operators including former Revolut executives, and early employees from Stripe, Brex, Paypals Venmo, Deel, and Notion.

This collective makes for a strategic mix of local investors, Silicon Valley expertise, and fintech operators that have scaled massive businesses.

Faisal Toukan, CEO and Co-Founder of Ziina, comments: The participation with Y-Combinator is a game changer for Ziina and we are thrilled that we have fallen into the very small bracket of companies who are accepted. Were excited to tap into Y-Combinators larger network, including its exceptional talent and investor pools. Furthermore, it also allows us to have access to mentors from top technology companies, which will propel Ziina to an even higher level when it comes to scaling our operations.

One of our missions at Ziina is linking the best talent and resources of the UAE with those of Silicon Valley. Weve seen the UAE take a highly proactive approach to supporting the fintech ecosystem and we are thrilled to be a part of it.

Coupled with this, weve received an enthusiastic response from VCs and angel investors during our latest funding round and are incredibly grateful for their support. This will contribute to supercharging Ziinas growth in the year ahead, achieving the goals weve set. Through Ziina we want to help redefine the way people in the Middle East think of, interact with and experience financial services. Our company is founded on the belief that everyone should have access to the next generation of financial services.

Founded in 2020 by Faisal Toukan, Sarah Toukan, and Andrew Gold, Ziina is the latest addition to the Middle Easts fintech ecosystem and is capitalising on the region's rapid adoption of fintech friendly regulation.

Ziina offers its users in the UAE simplified P2P payment services, with plans to expand to Saudi Arabia and Jordan by 2022. Its mission is to simplify finance for the Middle East.

Ziina is building on its current application to provide an even more seamless way for friends and family to split payments. In 2021, it plans to expand its product offering to include simplified payments for freelancers and small businesses.

Ziinas growing team is led by technology and product experts who are devoted to building a financial product that will delight their users, by using the user-centric methodology pioneered in Silicon Valley.

CEO and Cofounder Faisal is committed to recruiting the best global talent to the UAE, bridging together technology professionals from both San Francisco and the Mena region. Ziina has attracted global and regional talent from Apple, Uber, Careem, Coinbase, Oracle and Stanford University to innovate in the UAEs P2P payment space.

2020 was a year of incredible growth for Ziina as the team connected with customers in the UAE, offering them an easier way to send and receive cash. In 2021, Ziina plans to grow its team, continue to innovate in the UAEs P2P payment space, and to begin its expansion to new markets. -- Tradearabia News Service

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WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon in the final hours of his White House term as part of a flurry of clemency action that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.

The last-minute clemency, announced after midnight on Wednesday, follows separate waves of pardons over the past month for Trump associates convicted in the FBIs Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law.

Taken together, the actions underscore the presidents willingness, all the way through his four years in the White House, to flex his constitutional powers in ways that defy convention and explicitly aid his friends and supporters.

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Trump did not pardon himself, despite speculation that he would, in the face of potential federal investigations. He had previously asserted that he had the authority to do so. He also did not pardon his children or his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.

The final list was full of more conventional candidates whose cases had been championed by criminal justice activists. One man who has spent nearly 24 years in prison on drug and weapons charges but had shown exemplary behavior behind bars had his sentence commuted. So did a former Marine sentenced in 2000 in connection with a cocaine conviction.

Even so, the names of prominent Trump allies nonetheless stood out.

One pardon recipients was Elliott Broidy, a prominent Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a scheme to lobby the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund. Another was Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner who was charged last October with cyberstalking during a heated divorce.

Hours later, the White House announced one last pardon, for Al Pirro, the ex-husband of Trump ally Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News Channel host. Al Pirro had been convicted in 2000 of tax charges.

Bannons pardon was especially notable given that the prosecution was still in its early stages and any trial was months away. Whereas pardon recipients are conventionally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, the pardon nullifies the prosecution and effectively eliminates any prospect for punishment.

Bannon was charged in August with duping thousands of donors who believed their money would be used to fulfill Trumps chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself. His co-defendants were not pardoned.

Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trumps own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said on Twitter. And if that all sounds crazy, thats because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.

Other presidents have issued controversial pardons before leaving the White House. But perhaps no other commander in chief has so enjoyed using the clemency authority to benefit not only friends and acquaintances but also celebrity defendants and those championed by allies.

Wednesdays list includes its share of high-profile defendants.

Among them were rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both convicted in Florida on weapons charges. Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, has frequently expressed support for Trump and recently met with the president on criminal justice issues. Kodak Black, also known as Bill K. Kapri, had his sentence commuted.

Others on the list included Death Row Records co-founder Michael Harris and New York art dealer and collector Hillel Nahmad.

Pardoned were former Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican who was sentenced to three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges, and former Rep. Randy Duke Cunningham of California, who was convicted of accepting bribes from defense contractors. Cunningham, who was released from prison in 2013, received a conditional pardon.

Trump commuted the prison sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served about seven years behind bars for a racketeering and bribery scheme.

Trump had already pardoned a slew of longtime associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Bannon was the only most recent. He did not respond to questions Tuesday.

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps 2016 campaign in its critical final months.

He later served as chief strategist to the president during the turbulent early days of Trumps administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trumps adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart. He and Trump have recently reconciled.

In August, he was pulled from a luxury yacht off the Connecticut coast and brought before a judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty. When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall.

The organizers of the We Build The Wall group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a big beautiful barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon.

___

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

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Report Description

A recent market intelligence report that is published by Data Insights Partner on the global almond ingredients market makes an offering of in-depth analysis of segments and sub-segments in the regional and international market. The research also emphasizes on the impact of restraints, drivers, and macro indicators on the regional and global almond ingredients market over the short as well as long period of time. A detailed presentation of forecast, trends, and dollar values of the global market is offered. In accordance with the report, the market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 10.6% over the period of forecast.

Market Insight, Drivers, Restraints & Opportunity of the Market:

Almond ingredients market is a market which is based upon processing almonds to obtain almond milk, almond flour, almond oil and much other stuff which can prove to be useful. Recently, almonds are becoming very popular due to their numerous health benefits.

Request for Report Sample:

During the forecast period, the massive growth of almond ingredients can be attributed to the rise in awareness about their general nutrition level and benefits to the body. Almonds are great antioxidants and lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. High levels of HDL in the blood may decrease the risk of future heart diseases. Almonds are loaded with vitamin E, good fats, protein and other micronutrients such as magnesium, manganese and potassium. Vitamin E is an antioxidant which helps slow down the oxidization process of cholesterol to clog arteries, and combats the damage caused by invading of free radicals. Managing weight and controlling blood sugar are also some health benefits that almonds do, as they help regulate magnesium levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Calcium, iron, manganese, Vitamin K in almonds improve bone health. Added to health benefits, the almond ingredient industry is also driven by pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as ground powder to get added to their product mixes, as almond extracts can be beneficial when topically applied to the skin too..

Request for Report Sample: https://datainsightspartner.com/request-for-sample?ref=711

A few restraints of this market are the cultivation and sourcing of organically grown almonds; and the high prices of processing them to obtain the end products or the ingredients. Another one is almond allergy among many consumers who are unable to consume it, as many experience hives, swelling, choking, breathing problems and other hazards when ingesting almonds. Doctors may ban Parkinsons patients from having almonds altogether.

Barry Callebaut Group offers almond based milk, praline, chocolates, ice cream and all dairy alternative products. Another brand, blue diamond offers almond flours, almond milk, crackers, snacks and many other almond ingredient based foods. Almonds boast of an impressive nutrient profile, thus are highly recommended by specialists in cases of curing many deficiencies and improving general health. An ounce of almonds contains 3.5g fibre,6g protein, 14g good fat, and small amounts of vitamin, manganese and calcium. Almonds are rich in vitamin E, which has been proven to tackle blood sugar, prevent cancer and even Alzheimers disease. These reasons above are enough opportunities for the almond ingredients market to grow and flourish.

Segment Covered:

This market intelligence report on the global almond ingredients market is segmented based on type, application and country/regions.

In terms of type, the global almond ingredients market is segregated into,

Whole almonds

Almond pieces

Almond paste

Almond milk

Others

By application, the global almond ingredients market is also classified into,

Milk substitutes and ice creams

Snacks and bars

Nut and seed butters

Confectionery

Others

By country/region, the global almond ingredients market has been divided into

North America (the U.S., Canada),

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and other countries),

Europe (Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Russia, and other countries),

Asia Pacific (India, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand and other countries),

Middle East and Africa (GCC, South Africa, Israel and Other countries).

Get Request for Table of Contents: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/almond-ingredients-market/711#tableOfContent

Profiling of Market Players:

This business intelligence report offers profiling of reputed companies that are operating in the market. Companies such as

Olam International Limited

Kanegrade Limited

Royal Nut Company

Treehouse California Almond

Savencia SA

The Wonderful Company

Archer Daniels Midland Company

Blue Diamond Growers

Borges Agricultural and Industrial Nuts

Dohler GmbH

Barry Calebaut Group

Other players have been profiled into detail so as to offer a glimpse of the market leaders. Moreover, parameters such as almond ingredients market related investment & spending and developments by major players of the market are tracked in this global report.

Report Highlights:

In-depth analysis of the micro and macro indicators, market trends, and forecasts of demand is offered by this business intelligence report. Furthermore, the report offers a vivid picture of the factors that are steering and restraining the growth of this market across all geographical segments. In addition to that, Growth Matrix analysis is also provided in the report so as to share insight of the investment areas that new or existing market players can take into consideration. Various analytical tools such as DRO analysis, Porter's five forces analysis has been used in this report to present a clear picture of the market. The study focuses on the present market trends and provides market forecast from the year 2020-2028. Emerging trends that would shape the market demand in the years to come have been highlighted in this report. A competitive analysis in each of the geographical segments gives an insight into market share of the global players.

Salient Features:

 This study offers comprehensive yet detailed analysis of almond ingredients market, size of the market (US$ Mn), and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR (%)) for the period of forecast: 2020  2028, taking into account 2019 as the base year

 It explains upcoming revenue opportunities across various market segments and attractive matrix of investment proposition for the said market

 This market intelligence report also offers pivotal insights about various market opportunities, restraints, drivers, launch of new products, competitive market strategies of leading market players, emerging market trends, and regional outlook

 Profiling of key market players in the market of almond ingredients is done by taking into account various parameters such as company strategies, distribution strategies, product portfolio, financial performance, key developments, geographical presence, and company overview

 Leading market players covered this report comprise names such as Dohler GmbH, Olam International, Blue Diamond Growers, Kanegrade limited, Royal Nut Company and many more.

 The data of this report would allow management authorities and marketers of companies alike to take informed decision when it comes to launch of products, government initiatives, marketing tactics and expansion, and technical up gradation

 The world market for almond ingredients caters to the needs of various stakeholders pertaining to this industry, namely suppliers, manufacturers, investors, and distributors for the market. The research also caters to the rising needs of consulting and research firms, financial analysts, and new market entrants

 Research methodologies that have been adopted for the purpose of this study have been clearly elaborated so as to facilitate better understanding of the reports

 Reports have been made based on the guidelines as mandated by General Data Protection Regulation

 Ample number of examples and case studies has been taken into consideration before coming to a conclusion.

Reasons to buy:

v Identify opportunities and plan strategies by having a strong understanding of the investment opportunities in the almond ingredients market

v Identification of key factors driving investment opportunities in the almond ingredients market

v Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data

v Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential

v Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events

v Identify key partners and business development avenues

v Respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects

v Identify key strengths and weaknesses of important market participants

Full View of Report Description: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/almond-ingredients-market/711
In the view of the guano collectors of Khao Chong Phran, which is not far from the frontier with Myanmar, the anxiety caused by bats is overblown. There are 17 species of bats in the area, and only two are fruit-eating bats tied with the spread of disease, they say. The rest consume insects, which means the bat droppings shimmer with iridescent residue from bug wings.
Theresa May has accused Boris Johnson of abandoning Britain's position of global moral leadership.

The former prime minister criticised her successor for threatening to override Britains treaty obligations in the Brexit divorce settlement and his failure to commit to targets for defence spending and international aid.

In an article in the Daily Mail to mark the inauguration of Joe Biden as the US president, she hit out at the way outgoing president Donald Trump had whipped up his supporters to storm the Capitol after refusing to accept the election result.

Ms May drew comparisons with the murder of PC Keith Palmer in a terrorist attack outside the Houses of Parliament in March 2017.

What happened in Washington was not the act of a lone extremist or a secretive cell, but an assault by a partisan mob whipped up by an elected president, she wrote.

I know from experience that leaving power is not easy  especially when you feel that there is more you want to do.

But anyone who has the honour of serving in such a position must always remember that the office is bigger than the individual.

The peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of any democracy; it is what makes us special.

Ms May said the arrival of Mr Biden in the White House represented a "golden opportunity" for Britain, with the return of a more normal style of presidency.

However, for the full potential of Global Britain to be realised in this new era there needed to be a change in international affairs and an end to the absolutism which said if you are not 100 per cent for me then you must be 100 per cent against me, she wrote.

Theresa May has accused Boris Johnson of abandoning Britains position of global moral leadership in an article to mark the inauguration of Joe Biden as the US president (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

She added: In this world there is no room for mature compromise. Indeed, compromise is seen as a dirty word. In fact, the opposite is true.

Strong leadership knows when to compromise to achieve a greater good. If the world is to work together to 'build back better' then we must all be willing to compromise.

We must reject a scene in which a few strongmen face off against each other and instead bring people together in a common cause.

Ms May said that while the UK was well placed to play a decisive role in shaping a more cooperative world, she suggested it had not been helped by Mr Johnsons actions.

She again strongly criticised his threat  later withdrawn  to override elements relating to Northern Ireland in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and his decision to drop the commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on international aid.

To lead we must live up to our values, she said. Threatening to break international law by going back on a treaty we had just signed and abandoning our position of global moral leadership as the only major economy to meet both the 2 per cent defence spending target and the 0.7 per cent international aid target were not actions which, in my view, raised our credibility in the eyes of the world.

Other countries listen to what we say not simply because of who we are, but because of what we do. The world does not owe us a prominent place on its stage.

Whatever the rhetoric we deploy, it is our actions which count. So, we should do nothing which signals a retreat from our global commitments.

Downing Street said it rejected Ms Mays criticism that the UK had abandoned its position of global moral leadership.

The prime ministers official spokesman said: I would reject that characterisation.

The UK is and will continue to be an outward-looking nation and will continue to be a leading voice on the international stage.

I would point to the work we have undertaken on climate change, both home and abroad, where we were one of the first countries to commit to net zero by 2050.

Youve seen the role that weve played in response to the pandemic and the action weve taken to support Covax (a global initiative to ensure vaccines reach those in greatest need) and other issues where weve played a big part on the international stage.

The No 10 spokesman said he was not aware of any conversations the prime minister had held with Ms May since taking office.

Additional reporting by PA
By Robert Louis Stevenson

Modern Library. 432 pp. Paperback, $12

- - -

Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped" appeared in 1886, the same year as "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and just three years after "Treasure Island." According to "The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature," it is "one of the most brilliant adventure stories of all times"- and that's no exaggeration. Yet "Kidnapped" is also more than just exciting and more than just a kids' book; it's a thoughtful novel about politics and dissent, rich in moral complexity, and, for a reader in 2021, weirdly contemporary at times. It's also beautifully written, the occasional Scots word or phrase contributing to its peaty flavor.

At its center is David Balfour, who at 17, following the death of his schoolteacher father in 1751, hikes to the small town of Cramond, near Edinburgh, with a letter for an uncle he never knew he had. Old Ebenezer Balfour turns out to be miserly and widely hated, residing in a dilapidated, only half-built house. After David learns a long-hidden secret, Ebenezer - quite the Dickensian rascal - conspires to have the lad tricked onto a brig sailing for the Carolinas, where he will be sold into indentured slavery.

Though frequently brutal, Captain Hoseason and the officers of the Covenant aren't stock-company villains. When not drunk or tempted by the prospect of easy wealth, they can even be almost admirable. Human beings, as Stevenson's work repeatedly shows us, are consistently inconsistent. Think of the multifaceted Long John Silver and Dr. Jekyll. Or consider Alan Breck Stewart.

One foggy night the Covenant, still in Scotland's coastal waters, inadvertently runs down a rowboat. Everyone on board drowns, except for one man who rescues himself by leaping up and grabbing the ship's bowsprit:

"He was smallish in stature," recalls David, "but well set up and as nimble as a goat; his face was of a good open expression, but sunburnt very dark, and heavily freckled and pitted with the small-pox; his eyes were unusually light and had a kind of dancing madness in them, that was both engaging and alarming; and when he took off his greatcoat, he laid a pair of fine, silver-mounted pistols on the table, and I saw that he was belted with a great sword. His manners, besides, were elegant ... Altogether I thought of him, at the first sight, that here was a man I would rather call my friend than my enemy."

Alan, it turns out, is a Jacobite, one of the highlanders who, defeated at the Battle of Culloden five years previous, nonetheless continue to support the "restoration" of the Stuarts to the throne of England. Despite a price on his head, he secretly travels back and forth between Scotland and France, collecting money for the exiles and relying on members of his clan to help him dodge the government's forces. In particular, Alan hates with a passion all the Campbells, whose chief - known as the Red Fox - functions as the crown's agent of oppression and exploitation.

David - apolitical, law-abiding, and a lowlander to boot - quickly succumbs to Alan's glamour, swagger and almost whimsical egotism. This highlander with a taste for French finery is, in fact, one of those charismatic rogues we simply can't resist, like that foppish Caribbean pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow, or the cocky galactic mercenary Han Solo.

From the moment this coolly self-possessed outlaw swings aboard the Covenant, "Kidnapped" begins to speed up, to move faster and faster, like the quicksilver thrusts of Alan's sword, and only slows occasionally so that the reader and our heroes can catch their breath.

Certainly no one ever forgets Alan and David's buddy-movie defense of the ship's roundhouse against the entire crew of the Covenant, or the quiet moment when Alan cuts a silver button from his coat and bestows it on David with the words, "show that button ... and the friends of Alan Breck will come around you," or that shivery episode when the shipwrecked David washes ashore on a deserted, rain-swept island. And that's just to start. How many other writers could convincingly depict a blind highwayman or cap that eerie encounter with a duel on bagpipes between Alan and a son of the famous Rob Roy?

Still, above them all and beyond praise, are the chapters titled "The Flight in the Heather," during which the two comrades, accused of murdering the Red Fox, try to escape capture by a life-or-death scramble across the rough terrain of the Scottish highlands. These pages provide the template for many later classics of topographical pursuit, including John Meade Falkner's "Moonfleet," John Buchan's "The Thirty-Nine Steps" and Geoffrey Household's "Rogue Male." As Stevenson once said, "No man is any use until he has dared everything."

Is that true? Given that "Kidnapped" returns again and again to the theme of loyalty, in all its forms, and does so against a backdrop of violence and civic turmoil, it now seems unexpectedly, even upsettingly relevant. Divided 17th-century Scotland can't help bringing to mind our divided 21st-century America. Just as the "wild highlanders" supported Bonnie Prince Charlie, so fanatical Trumpians today swear faithful allegiance to The Donald. Some of the more deluded, I suspect, even picture themselves as daring swashbucklers, fighting for their clan chieftain's "restoration." Viewed through this lens of current politics, "Kidnapped" grows into what Henry James called it - "a novel of extreme psychological truth."

James also thought Stevenson a genius, Oscar Wilde found him "a delightful master of delicate and fanciful prose" and, in a case of like calling to like, G.K. Chesterton relished his many "snapping phrases that seem to pick things off like pistol shots." Both Borges and Nabokov, no less, cherished his work. Certainly Stevenson's novels and stories exhibit extraordinary verve, whether depicting many-sided characters, richly atmospheric settings or political history. Above all, though, as biographer James Pope-Hennessy observed, the author of "Kidnapped" remains "the great exhilarator." It's hard to disagree with Henry James when he called his friend's death in 1894, from a cerebral hemorrhage at age 44, nothing less than "an absolute devastation."
The army, medical students and dental practitioners could all be used to administer the vaccine (Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland/PA)

The AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 will not be available in Ireland until mid-February, the Taoiseach has said.

The vaccine, described as a game changer by Micheal Martin, is still subject to approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which is expected on January 29.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly had been in talks with AstraZeneca about securing early deliveries of the vaccine, so it could be rolled out as soon as EMA approval is secured.

But on Wednesday the Taoiseach confirmed this would not happen, saying it would still be a number of weeks before it arrives in Ireland.

Expand Close Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said the AstraZeneca vaccine will not arrive in Ireland until mid-February (Julien Behal/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said the AstraZeneca vaccine will not arrive in Ireland until mid-February (Julien Behal/PA)

He told the Dail: We have a much more comprehensive and detailed plan in terms of ramping up then the volume for the next phase (of the vaccine rollout).

Particularly after the authorisation, hoping thatll go well, of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which should be on the 29th from the European Medicines Agency, and then for delivery in their timeline for mid-February.

Mr Martin said the vaccine rollout will be ramped up from February onwards.

He told the Dail: The key game changer for us in this, in terms of the availability of vaccines, will be AstraZeneca.

We envisage significant ramping up particularly in February, March, April. And then May, June will be significant months as well, because the number of vaccines we will have will be very significant.

It will no longer be a supply and demand issue, it will be the workforce issue. That work is well advanced.

The Taoiseach indicated that the army, medical students and dental practitioners could be enlisted to assist with the rollout of coronavirus vaccines.

Mr Martin was responding to a question from independent TD Michael Lowry during Leaders Questions on Wednesday.

This needs a national vaccinator workforce of a scale over and above existing hospital vaccinators, over and above GPs and pharmacists, and really drawing upon resources Taoiseach Micheal Martin

Mr Lowry asked: Has the Government considered using the resources of the army, and in particular its medical resource?

Should we consider enlisting medical students? Should we consider even using dental practices?

Should we consider using skilled laboratory technicians? I think we have to think outside the box, I think it has to be creative.

The Taoiseach replied: Yes, I agree. Every category that the deputy has numerated there is being looked at, not just looked at, its being worked on.

This needs a national vaccinator workforce of a scale over and above existing hospital vaccinators, over and above GPs and pharmacists, and really drawing upon resources.

Some who have retired, for example, will be able to come forward. There will be vaccination centres across the country, in different communities.

The national task force is working on this right now.

On Tuesday, the Cabinet signed off on an agreement with GPs and pharmacists to administer coronavirus vaccines to more than 1.5 million people.

GPs and pharmacists will get 60 euro for delivering two doses of the vaccine through surgeries and pharmacies, which includes a 10 euro admin fee.

There will also be an hourly fee of 120 euro for GPs and 70 euro for pharmacists who work in the HSE mass vaccination clinics.

The HSE estimates that GPs and pharmacists could administer vaccines to 1.5 million people over the course of the national vaccination programme, using their own premises.

The estimated cost of the scheme is 91 million euro.

Meanwhile, Wednesday saw a further 61 deaths linked to Covid-19 and an additional 2,488 new cases of the virus reported.

The Department of Health said 58 of the deaths reported on Wednesday occurred in January.

The median age of those who died was 83 and the age range was between 41 and 100 years.

As of 2pm on Wednesday, there were 1,923 patients with the virus in hospital, of whom 210 were in intensive care units.
Vallarta Living



Aid to Families of Children With Cancer January News

Slide Description 002 Slide Description 002 Slide Description 002 Slide Description 002 Slide Description 002 The children were surprised on Three Kings Day with toys donated by Timothy Real Estate Group and Vallarta Food Bank. Some of the despensas were donated by Vallarta Food Bank too. A huge thank you to both. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - A child diagnosed with cancer impacts an entire family. Not only does a cancer diagnosis turn a child's entire world upside down, but overwhelming medical expenses can add an enormous amount of financial stress on families with minimal income.



Aid to Families of Children With Cancer (AFCC) is an organization that supports 18 families who have a child diagnosed with cancer in the Puerto Vallarta region. The organization receives no government funding so relies solely on donations from private donors, community organizations, and fundraisers.



The pandemic has made this past year especially difficult for these families but, thanks to all of you, the AFCC is continuing to make a difference. Here's the latest update from the AFCC:



We are off to an excellent start for 2021, and the first part of January has been a busy time. The families picked up their January despensas. The children were surprised on Three Kings Day with toys donated by



Several of the children are still traveling back and forth to Guadalajara for treatments. One of our newer girls is just 3 years old and another Mia. She goes back to the hospital in Guadalajara 5 to 6 times a month, so she really needs lots of help.



One of our donors asked that her donation goes to warm clothes for the children because it's turned so cold. We've purchased warm clothes for Valentina, Mia, Alanna, and Madeline, traveling to Guadalajara a few times a month. New shoes for everyone, and Carlos will be getting a warm jacket this month. Thank you, Ruth.



We also received some sheets and blankets from Sharon Darling Rose. Something to keep the children warm at night. Thank you, Sharon.



And the "icing on the cake" as they say a the birthday cake!! Thanks to April and Bill Miton, we received several piAatas to give to the children. We initially thought we'd save them for Children's Day on April 30th. But anticipation got the better of us, and we gave some of the children who have birthdays this month or coming up a special surprise. They were delighted. Thank you too to Angela Keller.



You have been so generous throughout the holiday season and the whole of 2020, and we can't begin to thank you enough. We started the Go Get Funding campaign in March when the pandemic started, and we were all isolated. The past ten months have been difficult for everyone but especially for these families. Thanks to your continued donations, we've been able to give the children their much-needed treatments, monthly food despensas, and medications.



There have been special donations for fridges, mattresses, and help towards Monse's surgery. You are all heroic in assisting these families, and we couldn't have made it through the year without your help. We can't begin to find words to express our appreciation!



Please help us to help these families so they can focus on the most important thing... getting their child the treatments they need and on the track towards being healthy. You can donate to help cover medicines, food and many of the other requirements for these struggling families through - A child diagnosed with cancer impacts an entire family. Not only does a cancer diagnosis turn a child's entire world upside down, but overwhelming medical expenses can add an enormous amount of financial stress on families with minimal income.Aid to Families of Children With Cancer (AFCC) is an organization that supports 18 families who have a child diagnosed with cancer in the Puerto Vallarta region. The organization receives no government funding so relies solely on donations from private donors, community organizations, and fundraisers.The pandemic has made this past year especially difficult for these families but, thanks to all of you, the AFCC is continuing to make a difference. Here's the latest update from the AFCC:We are off to an excellent start for 2021, and the first part of January has been a busy time. The families picked up their January despensas. The children were surprised on Three Kings Day with toys donated by Timothy Real Estate Group and Vallarta Food Bank. Some of the despensas were donated by Vallarta Food Bank too. A huge thank you to both.Several of the children are still traveling back and forth to Guadalajara for treatments. One of our newer girls is just 3 years old and another Mia. She goes back to the hospital in Guadalajara 5 to 6 times a month, so she really needs lots of help.One of our donors asked that her donation goes to warm clothes for the children because it's turned so cold. We've purchased warm clothes for Valentina, Mia, Alanna, and Madeline, traveling to Guadalajara a few times a month. New shoes for everyone, and Carlos will be getting a warm jacket this month. Thank you, Ruth.We also received some sheets and blankets from Sharon Darling Rose. Something to keep the children warm at night. Thank you, Sharon.And the "icing on the cake" as they say a the birthday cake!! Thanks to April and Bill Miton, we received several piAatas to give to the children. We initially thought we'd save them for Children's Day on April 30th. But anticipation got the better of us, and we gave some of the children who have birthdays this month or coming up a special surprise. They were delighted. Thank you too to Angela Keller.You have been so generous throughout the holiday season and the whole of 2020, and we can't begin to thank you enough. We started the Go Get Funding campaign in March when the pandemic started, and we were all isolated. The past ten months have been difficult for everyone but especially for these families. Thanks to your continued donations, we've been able to give the children their much-needed treatments, monthly food despensas, and medications.There have been special donations for fridges, mattresses, and help towards Monse's surgery. You are all heroic in assisting these families, and we couldn't have made it through the year without your help. We can't begin to find words to express our appreciation!Please help us to help these families so they can focus on the most important thing... getting their child the treatments they need and on the track towards being healthy. You can donate to help cover medicines, food and many of the other requirements for these struggling families through GoGetFunding.com.



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Pro free-speech social networking service Parler is back online after being shut down by Big Tech companies, particularly Amazon.

On Sunday, Parler's website popped a message from its CEO John Matze asking, "Hello World, is this thing on?" The Blaze reported.

Parler posted a statement on their site reminding everyone about their intent as a platform for discourse where parties could exercise their rights to free speech. They promised to be back soon.

"Now seems like the right time to remind you all - both lovers and haters - why we started this platform. We believe privacy is paramount and free speech essential, especially on social media. Our aim has always been to provide a nonpartisan public square where individuals can enjoy and exercise their rights to both.

We will resolve any challenge before us and plan to welcome all of you back soon. We will not let civil discourse perish!"

After Amazon and other tech. companies severed ties with Parler, thereby causing it to be temporarily deplatformed, CEO John Matze said that they will be back up by the end of Jan..

"I'm confident that by the end of the month, we'll be back up," Matze told Fox News.

Parler's new domain is now registered to Epik, a Washington State-based internet web hosting service that Vice referred to as the "internet savior of the far-right."

Brief Backstory

In the wake of the Jan. 6 political upheaval which culminated in the breaching of the Capitol, social media giants like Facebook and Twitter policed contents they claimed could potentially trigger more violence. They took it a step further by suspending accounts which they claimed to be complicit with the Capitol riot including that of President Trump who called for peace.

Other online platforms like YouTube followed.

Parler, a social network with a service similar to Twitter, was cut off by its business partners Amazon, Google, Apple, Twilio, Okta, and Zendesk for its alleged non-compliance to also moderate contents posted on its platform particularly photos and videos about the Capitol riot.

According to a report by BuzzFeed, Amazon sent an email to Parler stating,

"Recently, we've seen a steady increase in this violent content on your website, all of which violates our terms. It's clear that Parler does not have an effective process to comply with the AWS terms of service.[W]e cannot provide services to a customer that is unable to effectively identify and remove content that encourages or incites violence against others."

On Jan. 10, Amazon suspended Parler's account. Google and Apple did the same citing the same reason.

On Monday, Parler filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon and disputed their claims of sending repeated warnings prior to their suspension. There was also no talk about possible breaches in their contract until the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.

Parler CEO John Matze also had a clapback on socialist Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and other officials who called for the censorship of his platform for allowing "sick and evil" contents.

"I think it's sick. That's not what the Constitution said. That's not what the Constitution stands for, banning 10-plus million U.S. voters from the internet, barring people from free speech. When people do things like that, it shows that they don't understand the meaning of the Constitution or this country and what it stands for," he told Fox News.

On Tuesday, Amazon filed their response to Parler's charges. Parler did not give any comment, but on the same day, moved its domain and server to Epik. Now, they're working on being fully operational by the end of this month.
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VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Bullfrog Gold Corp. (OTCQB: BFG) (CSE: BFG) (FSE: 11B) ("Bullfrog" or the "Company") today confirms that its shares will begin trading under the name "Augusta Gold Corp.," on a post-consolidated basis of one (1) new share for every six (6) old shares at open of market on January 25, 2021 (the trading day immediately preceding the effective date). The Company's trading symbol on the Canadian Securities Exchange will be changed to "G".

Mr. Len Boggio has also been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors effective immediately.

Maryse Belanger, President and CEO commented: "I am pleased that Len has agreed to join our Board, he is a very seasoned finance professional with extensive experience at the board level. His experience in financial reporting and auditing, public finance offerings and mergers and acquisitions will be beneficial to all shareholders as we advance the Bullfrog Gold project in Nevada."

Mr. Boggio was formerly a partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) where he served for more than 30 years until his retirement in May 2012. During that time, he was Leader of the B.C. Mining Group of PwC, a senior member of PwC's Global Mining Industry Practice and an auditor of Canadian, U.S. U.K. and other internationally-listed mineral resource and energy clients. Mr. Boggio is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (FCPA, FCA) and has served as president of the British Columbia Institute of Chartered Accountants and chairman of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Additional information on the share consolidation can be found in the Company's news release dated January 7, 2021 and in the definitive information statement filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and on SEDAR. Stockholders who have existing stock certificates will receive written instructions by mail from the Company's transfer agent. Stockholders who hold their shares in brokerage accounts are not required to take any action to affect the exchange of their shares.

About Bullfrog Gold Corp.

Bullfrog Gold is a rapidly growing exploration and development company focused on building a long-term business that delivers stakeholder value through developing the Bullfrog Gold Project and pursing accretive M&A opportunities. The Bullfrog Gold Project is located in the prolific Bullfrog district approximately 120 miles north-west of Las Vegas, Nevada and 4 miles west of Beatty, Nevada. The Company controls 6,750 acres of mineral rights including the Bullfrog and Montgomery-Shoshone deposits and has further identified significant additional mineralization around the existing pits and defined several exploration targets that could further enhance the Project. The Company is led by a management team and board of directors with a proven track record of success in financing and developing mining assets and delivering shareholder value. For more information please visit www.bullfroggold.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this new release constitute "forward-looking statements", and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements include the date that the Company's consolidation, name change and symbol change will become effective; the date that the Company's common shares will begin trading on a post-consolidation under its new name and symbol; and that Mr. Boggio's experience will be beneficial to all shareholders as we advance the Bullfrog Gold project in Nevada. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this news release words such as "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. These forward-looking statements are based largely on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business. These forward-looking statements were derived using numerous assumptions. While the company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's and/or its qualified persons' good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's and/or its qualified persons' good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties outlined in the Company's corporate disclosure and other documents filed on www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward- looking statements. If we update any one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. You should not place undue importance on forward-looking statements and should not rely upon these statements as of any other date. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE Bullfrog Gold Corp.
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US Vice President Mike Pence is among those who will not be attending US President Donald Trump's sendoff event at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

A person familiar with Pence's schedule cited "logistical challenges" in getting from the air base to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration ceremonies on Wednesday.

Much of Washington, DC, is under lockdown, with thousands of National Guard troops on patrol and other security precautions in place.

The caution comes weeks after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol to try to stop Congress from confirming Biden's victory.

Trump and Pence's relationship has been strained since Trump tried to pressure Pence to stop the election certification and Trump supporters roaming the Capitol chanted, "Hang Mike Pence!" after the president tweeted disapprovingly of him.

Trump will be only the fourth president in the nation's history not to attend his successor's inauguration.

He is boycotting the inauguration event and will be flying to Florida on Wednesday morning.

Pulled

Aides have been organizing an elaborate sendoff event, but it is unclear how many people were invited.

Among them is Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House communications director who became a Trump critic.

He quipped on Twitter that he couldn't make it because he was "having my fingernails pulled out at that time".
EDWARDSVILLE  For Dr. Kimberly K. Archer, it is the honor of a lifetime, musically or otherwise.

Archer, Professor of Music Composition at SIUE, has been selected by The Presidents Own United States Marine Band to compose a fanfare to underscore Joe Bidens inauguration ceremony on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

It happened in a whirlwind because they called me on Jan. 2 to commission me for this, but I only had seven days to do it, Archer said. Major Ryan Nowlin, who is the assistant conductor of the Marine Band, was a graduate student when I was a first-year professor and weve known each other for 16 or 17 years. He has been championing my music ever since.

I was glad that my friend, Major Nowlin, was the one that called me first, before the head conductor, Col. Fettig, called with the official offer, because I was a little bit dumbstruck at the beginning of the conversation. I certainly wouldnt have wanted the head conductor to hear me babble.

Archer entitled the work Fanfare Politea. Translated from Platos Greek term for Republic, the work celebrates traditions of a free and fair election, and of a peaceful transfer of power.

Politea is a Greek word and when Plato wrote his work about democratic government and democracy, he used that word, Archer said. The Marine Band doesnt do partisan things  they do America  so I tried to come up with a title that wouldnt be misread as partisan. It was challenging, but I thought who could argue with Platos Republic?

Archer was visiting her father in North Carolina when she got the call from Nowlin.

My dad said, Ill clear off the kitchen counter and you can get started. Within 15 minutes of hanging up the phone, I started working on it, Archer said.

It took a full week for Archer to compose the piece, as she delivered it on Jan. 9.

In the meanwhile, she kept working and reworking the music, trying to make it perfect for the occasion.

I didnt sleep, I did not do any vacation things and there were no movies. It was work from Saturday to Saturday, Archer said. In its discipline, the Marine Band is considered the best in the world. They sent me their first rehearsal of the piece around Jan. 13 or 14 and it was practically perfect.

Under the direction of Colonel Jason K. Fettig, the United States Marine Band will perform Archers three-minute composition as part of the inauguration event starting at 9 a.m. Central time on Wednesday.

The piece is ninth on the program and they have to pause occasionally and fanfare on some dignitaries, so my best guess is it will be played around 9:30 a.m., Archer said. My friends who are in the know about these things tell me that C-SPAN is the best place to tune in.

The only guideline they gave me was that they asked me not to make the brass parts so challenging. They have to play for something like two or three hours on Inauguration Day and what their conductor said to me was, dont make my brass players hate me. 

Archer joins the ranks of iconic composers Leonard Bernstein and John Williams, who have previously penned works for the executive branch.

The United States Marine Band has performed at presidential inaugurations since 1801, when Thomas Jefferson was sworn into office in Washington, D.C., the first inauguration at the nations capital.

No pressure, right? Archer said, laughing. If you had told me at age 20 that this would happen, I would never have believed it.

When youre a composer, there are a lot of hours spent by yourself and it can be a rough road to get through the early part of your career to the point where you can be qualified for something like this. I look back on all the things I missed out on and its so worth it. Im glad for every moment I spent working on music when I was younger.

Like millions of other Americans, Archer will be watching the Inauguration Day ceremonies from home.

It may have been a tradition in the past to invite the composer to the inauguration, but the Biden administration has been great about social distancing for the attendees, Archer said. They actually had to cut a few people out of the band and make it a little smaller, so they certainly couldnt bring any guests.

Archers composition will be distributed by Murphy Music Press (Murphy Music Press, LLC), a Cleveland-based music publishing company, which will make the composition available to purchase following the inauguration.
From British pounds to Croatian kuna, a range of different currencies are used across Europe today.

Now, researchers have shed light on what the first common currency in Europe might have been.

Their findings suggest that people used bronze objects such as rings, bangles and even axe blades as an early form of cash 5,000 years ago.

Early Bronze Age Europeans even went so far as to standardise the shape and weight of these objects for currency, say scientists.

Their findings suggest that people used bronze objects such as rings, ribs (pictured) and even axe blades as an early form of cash 5,000 years ago

HOW DO THEY KNOW THE ARTEFACTS WERE USED AS CURRENCY? The team compared the objects' weights using a principle known as the Weber fraction, which suggests that, if objects are similar enough in mass, a human weighing them by hand can't tell the difference. They found that even though the objects' weights varied, around 70 per cent of the rings were similar enough to have been indistinguishable by hand - averaging about 195 grams. The researchers suggest that the consistent similarity in shape and weight, along with the fact that these objects often occurred in hoards, are signs of their use as an early form of standardised currency. Advertisement

A key feature of money is standardisation, but this can be difficult to identify in the archaeological record since ancient people only had inexact forms of measurement compared with today.

In the new study, researchers from Leiden University assessed possible money from the Early Bronze Age of Central Europe, comparing the objects based on their perceived - if not precise - similarity.

The objects studied were made of bronze in shapes described as rings, ribs, and axe blades.

The research team examined more than 5,000 such objects from more than 100 ancient hoards.

They compared the objects' weights using a principle known as the Weber fraction, which suggests that, if objects are similar enough in mass, a human weighing them by hand can't tell the difference.

They found that even though the objects' weights varied, around 70 per cent of the rings were similar enough to have been indistinguishable by hand - averaging about 195 grams, as were subsets of the ribs and axe blades.

The researchers suggest that the consistent similarity in shape and weight, along with the fact that these objects often occurred in hoards, are signs of their use as an early form of standardised currency.

The objects studied were made of bronze in shapes described as rings (pictured), ribs, and axe blades

The research team examined more than 5,000 such objects from more than 100 ancient hoards in Central Europe

The team believes that axe heads (pictured left) and jewellery (pictured right) may have been used as a currency in the early Bronze Age

Dr Maikel Kuijpers, Assistant Professor at Leiden University and lead author of the study, said: 'The euros of Prehistory came in the form of bronze rings, ribs and axes.

'These Early Bronze Age artefacts were standardised in shape and weight and used as an early form of money.'

He added: 'Later, in the Middle Bronze Age of Europe, more precise weighing tools appear in the archaeological record along with an increase in scrap bronze, pointing to a developed system of weighing.'

As the name suggests, the Bronze Age marked the first time humans started to work with metal

This drawing shows an axe blade and ribs found bundled together in the hoard of Wegliny, that may have been used as currency

The findings were published in the journal PLOS One.

As the name suggests, the Bronze Age marked the first time humans started to work with metal.

The invention of bronze brought an end to the Stone Age, the prehistoric period dominated by the use of stone tools and weaponry.

Eugene Goodman, a Capitol Police officer who was captured on video facing down members of the mob that breached the Capitol on Jan. 6 and diverting them from entering the Senate chamber and potentially saving lives, was elevated to serve as the No. 2 security official in the Senate for the inaugural events on Wednesday.

As the acting deputy Senate sergeant-at-arms, Officer Goodman, a Black man who fended off a mostly white throng, was part of the official escort accompanying Vice President Kamala Harris to the platform outside the Capitol where she was sworn into the nations second-highest office.

The mention of his name was greeted with loud applause as he appeared at the arched entranceway where rioters breached the building exactly two weeks earlier.

Officer Goodman, who was filmed and photographed luring the mob away from the unguarded doors to the Senate chamber a minute before they were locked, has been hailed as a hero on Capitol Hill for preventing the invaders from breaching the chamber while senators were still inside. Officer Goodmans actions gave the lawmakers time to evacuate to a secure location before the rioters could enter.
She was suspended from her employment at St Heliers Correctional Centre

Vicki Greenhalgh, 52, had a relationship with inmate Robert Parry in last year

A NSW corrective services officer has been convicted of having a romantic affair with an inmate at the prison she was working at.

Vicki Greenhalgh, 52, was employed as a Service and Programs Officer at St Heliers Correctional Centre in Muswellbrook, around 240km north of Sydney.

It was there that she had a relationship with a 56-year-old inmate Robert Parry last year.

NSW corrective services officer, Vicki Greenhalgh (pictured), has been charged with a 12 month community corrections order following an inappropriate affair she had with an inmate

Ms Greenhalgh (pictured right) worked at the St Heliers Correctional Centre in Muswellbrook where she had a relationship with Robert Parry last year

Detectives from the Corrective Services Investigation Unit were informed of the relationship in June 2020 by staff at the male-only minimum-security jail.

After an extensive investigation, police arrested Ms Greenhalgh at her home last year in August.

Corrective Services NSW said the prison guard had been suspended after 'allegations of an inappropriate relationship'.

She pleaded guilty for engaging in sexual conduct which compromised a sentence.

Ms Greenhalgh (pictured) pleaded guilty for engaging in sexual conduct which compromised a sentence

On January 18 at Muswellbrook Local Court, Ms Greenhalgh was convicted and charged to a 12 month community corrections order.

Her employment had been suspended pending the outcome of the hearing.
The scandal already seemed tailor-made for celebrity websites and online gossips: A glamorous Chinese actress stood accused by her estranged partner of abandoning two surrogate babies they had decided to have together, stranding him in the United States to take care of them.

When his allegations hit the Chinese internet on Monday, the outrage couldnt be confined to the gossip pages. The accusations against the actress, Zheng Shuang, have dominated conversation online and drawn a fiery response from the public, from the state-run news media and even from a powerful Communist Party legal group on the subject of reproduction. Chinas limits on people seeking surrogate mothers should be tightened, officials have argued.

Beyond the salacious details of the celebrity breakup, the scandal surrounding Ms. Zheng touches on sensitive topics for a country that has a troubled history with womens reproductive rights and that remains largely wedded to traditional notions of family.

In particular, it has laid bare an undeniable fact: Surrogate births have become a popular option for Chinese people with the will and the means to travel abroad to find birth mothers outside the country.

Recent titles of interest:

THE GOOD AMERICAN: The Epic Life of Bob Gersony, the U.S. Governments Greatest Humanitarian, by Robert D. Kaplan. (Random House, $30.) Kaplans homage to a longtime aid worker highlights the potent good that functionaries can effect behind the scenes.

YOU ARE NOT AMERICAN: Citizenship Stripping From Dred Scott to the Dreamers, by Amanda Frost. (Beacon, $27.95.) Frost, a law professor at American University, analyzes cases of revoked U.S. citizenship and asks what they reveal about the nations values over time.

WILD RITUALS: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us About Connection, Community, and Ourselves, by Caitlin OConnell. (Chronicle Prism, $26.95.) A behavioral ecologist and expert on elephants argues that animals from apes to zebras engage in ritual customs, and that humans can learn by observing them.

THE HARE, by Melanie Finn. (Two Dollar Radio, paper, $15.99.) In this brooding feminist thriller, a former art student and her daughter are isolated in a rural Vermont cabin and have to contend with the toxic presence of an unbalanced con man in their lives.

The violent protests and the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6 did not dissuade our responsibility as members of Congress to carry out our constitutional role in certifying the results of this past presidential election.

I commend Vice President Mike Pence for his leadership in carrying out his oath of office and putting his country first. The vice president stated, I will not now yield efforts in the House of Representatives to play political games at a time so serious in the life of our nation.

The tragic events also did not sway my resolve to highlight the highly irregular actions taken by state officials in Pennsylvania during the last election. The Constitution very clearly states that The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections  shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof  In multiple instances, state officials acted outside their authority, usurping the constitutional authority of the Pennsylvania State Legislature.

It must be understood that there was mathematically no chance that my objection to the Pennsylvania electors would overturn the results of the election. I have stated that consistently to anyone who asked for the last several weeks. It is also important to note that my focus was never centered on unproven claims of fraud. This is why I did not object to the certification of Arizona electors.

As an elected official, I have a responsibility to be the peoples voice in Washington. There are many, many across the commonwealth who do, indeed, feel disenfranchised. The electoral certification process was the appropriate venue to address these concerns. Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2005, when 31 Democrats objected to the electoral certification for Ohio, professed, The members of Congress who have brought this challenge are speaking up for their aggrieved constituents, many of whom have been disenfranchised in this process. These words from Pelosi were appropriate then as they are now.

My questioning of the Pennsylvania electors will help illuminate this constitutional question to the United States Supreme Court. It is my understanding the U.S. Supreme Court will consider and rule on whether the actions taken in Pennsylvania, without the authority of the state Legislature, were unconstitutional. In the end, I believe we will be vindicated by the court in affirming that only state legislatures make election law and procedure. The courts ruling will be prospective, not retroactive, and will bring consistency and integrity to our system of elections. This will be to the benefit of Democrats and Republicans and build widespread trust in our election process.

As Vice President Pence has said, In the midst of a global pandemic, economic hardship for millions of Am-ericans, and the tragic events of January 6th, now is the time for us to come together, now is the time to heal. It is very important now to avoid actions that would further divide our people. An im-peachment proceeding would only bolster such division.

President-elect Joe Biden recently suggested that our goal should be to move forward as a nation and that the most effective means to accomplish this is to focus on a smooth transition come Jan. 20. I have received an invitation to attend the inauguration of President-elect Biden and I will be attending.

(Meuser represents

the 9th Congressional

District of Pennsylvania)

World leaders said they were looking forward to Wednesday's transfer of power in the United States, where Democrat Joe Biden will be sworn in as president after four turbulent years under Donald Trump.

European Union

Top EU officials voiced relief that they would soon have a friend in the White House again.

"Let's build a new founding pact for a stronger Europe, for a stronger America and for a better world," said Charles Michel, president of the European Council.

"This time-honoured ceremony on the steps of the US Capitol will be a demonstration of the resilience of American democracy," added European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"And the resounding proof that, once again, after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House."

Iran

President Hassan Rouhani did not miss the opportunity to hail the departure of "tyrant" Trump, with Tehran repeatedly calling on Washington to lift sanctions imposed over its nuclear drive.

Biden's administration wants the United States back in the landmark Iran nuclear accord which Trump withdrew from, conditional on Tehran's return to strict compliance.

A "tyrant's era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign," Rouhani said.

"We expect (the Biden administration) to return to law and to commitments, and try in the next four years, if they can, to remove the stains of the past four years."

NATO

NATO said it hoped to boost transatlantic ties under Biden.

"We look forward to working with President-elect @JoeBiden to further strengthen ties between the #UnitedStates & #Europe, as we face global challenges none of us can tackle alone," the military alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter Tuesday.

Russia

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia will seek "good relations with the United States," but whether or not Washington works toward the same goal will "depend on Mr. Biden and his team."

Despite disagreements surrounding conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as US election meddling and hacking allegations against Russia, the countries will be in a race to extend a landmark nuclear weapons accord shortly after Biden is sworn in.

The 2010 New START treaty -- the last remaining nuclear pact between the countries -- limits both sides to 1,500 nuclear warheads each and is set to expire February 5.

Peskov said President Vladimir Putin has "consistently" advocated for the preservation of the treaty and it was now up to Washington to preserve the pact.

Germany

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, Europe's biggest economy, said he is "greatly relieved" that Biden was replacing Trump as US president.

America's institutions had proven their strength in the face of "great tests" and "hostility" during Trump's term, he added, calling it a "good day for democracy".

Germany looked forward "to knowing we again have the US at our side as an indispensable partner" in addressing "the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, security issues, arms control and disarmament, and many urgent conflicts around the world".

France

French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said Biden's commitments to rejoin the World Health Organization, which leads the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Paris climate treaty are "extremely important" following Trump's exit from them.

"We are impatient to build with President Biden a strong, useful and renewed relationship," Attal said after a cabinet meeting. "We have aims and colossal challenges to take together."

Spain

The spokesman for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said "Biden's victory represents the victory of democracy over the extreme right".

"Five years ago we believed without doubt that Trump was a bad joke. Five years later, we realise that he endangered the world's most powerful democracy."

Britain

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was looking forward to "working closely" with Biden.

Johnson, who has faced criticism over his close relationship with Trump, cited a host of policy areas in which he hoped to collaborate with Biden.

"In our fight against Covid and across climate change, defence, security and in promoting and defending democracy, our goals are the same and our nations will work hand in hand to achieve them," he said.
News

Malwarebytes Affirms Other APT Attack Methods Used Besides 'Solorigate'

Security solutions company Malwarebytes affirmed on Monday that alternative methods besides tainted SolarWinds Orion software were used in the recent "Solorigate" advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks.

Malwarebytes has inside knowledge to that effect because it, too, was a victim of this APT group, which is alleged to be a nation-state actor, with Russia having been named. Malwarebytes doesn't use the SolarWinds Orion management software, which got corrupted by a so-called "supply-chain" attack method of inserting code at the build stage, which is referred to as "Sunburst" or "Solorigate."

Instead, Malwarebytes was first notified it had a possible issue when it was contacted by the Microsoft Security Response Center about the suspicious activity of an application used with the Microsoft 365 service.

"We received information from the Microsoft Security Response Center on December 15 about suspicious activity from a third-party application in our Microsoft Office 365 tenant consistent with the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) of the same advanced threat actor involved in the SolarWinds attacks," explained Marcin Kleczynski, Malwarebytes CEO and co-founder, in the announcement.

Not Just Solorigate

The notion that the APT attackers were using other methods besides the compromised SolarWinds Orion product was explained earlier this month by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The attackers were also guessing passwords, using "password spray" methods to find weak passwords and tapping unsecured credentials -- all with an aim of getting access to Microsoft 365 and Azure services for the purpose of accessing e-mails.

CISA, and even Microsoft, had earlier suggested that the security of on-premises federation solutions with Microsoft 365 and Azure services could have been the weak point exploited by attackers to gain access to e-mail services. However, the announcement by Malwarebytes went a bit further and pointed to the 2019 research findings by Dirk-jan Mollema, a security researcher with Fox IT. Back then, Mollema had pointed to a security flaw associated with Azure Active Directory itself.

Mollema had explained that the credentialing process with applications using the Azure AD service can permit an attacker to obtain greater privileges than might be expected:

So the TL;DR is that if you compromise an Application Administrator account or the on-premise Sync Account you can read and modify directory settings, group memberships, user accounts, SharePoint sites and OneDrive files. This is done by assigning credentials to an existing service principal with these permissions and then impersonating these applications.

After reporting this Azure AD vulnerability to Microsoft, Mollema was told by the Microsoft Security Response Center that the behavior was "documented and thus not a vulnerability." It wasn't much of a response to the security issue. Mollema concluded that IT pros should check "credentials being assigned to default service principals," as well as the "credentials of applications with high privileges," as a precaution.

The announcement by Malwarebytes appears to be pointing to this method of attack, as described by Mollema. Possibly, it's the same mechanism that CISA was describing, or it's a "new" element used by the APT group.

In the attack on Malwarebytes, a "third-party application" with "sufficient administrative privileges" was used to access the Microsoft 365 e-mail of a few accounts using "a dormant email protection product within our Office 365 tenant."

Here's how Kleczynski described the attack on Malwarebytes:

In our particular instance, the threat actor added a self-signed certificate with credentials to the service principal account. From there, they can authenticate using the key and make API calls to request emails via MSGraph.

No Malwarebytes Software Compromise

The attackers did not access the e-mail used by the Malwarebytes production team, though, as "we do not use Azure cloud services in our production environments," Kleczynski explained. He added that "our software remains safe to use" since the production environment wasn't breached.

Kleczynski recommended using CrowdStrike's free tool for checking Azure AD risks. He also appealed to security companies to share more broadly what they know regarding these sophisticated APT attack methods.
What it owns

The groups asset portfolio encompasses:

The Mina do Barroso lithium project in Portugal

The Mutamba Mineral Sands project in Mozambique

How is it doing?

Mina do Barroso contains a resource of 27mln tonnes of ore containing 285,900 tonnes of Li2O at an average grade of 1.06% Li2O, across five orebodies.

The resources also contain significant quartz and feldspar.

Though lithium is the main target, these by-products have the potential to provide a significant additional income stream, Savannah said.

Savannah has second mover advantage as it applies lessons learned from the first wave of Australian lithium developments to its Portuguese project.

The project is attracting interest from potential industry partners and off-takers as well as an opportunity to develop a lithium conversion plant in Portugal, which would allow the company to lock-down from end-to-end the whole lithium value chain in Europe.

In July 2020, a report by professors from a local university indicated that the project would add around 1.2bn to Portugal's gross output.

The report built on the results of a 2018 scoping study and highlighted the importance of Mina do Barroso to the European battery supply chain.

A joint venture with Portuguese energy group Galp was announced in January 2021. Galp will secure 10% in Savannah's Portuguese assets for US$6.4mln. An off-take agreement for up to 100,000 tonnes per year is now under discussion.

At Mutamba in Mozambique, Savannah holds 20% stake in a joint venture with Rio Tinto, with the opportunity to increase its stake to 35% by delivering a pre-feasibility study and to 51% by delivering a feasibility study.

The licences at Mutamba in Mozambique are valid until 2044.

What the boss says: David Archer, chief executive

Once the [Mina Do Barosso] EIA document's conformity has been confirmed by APA in the coming weeks it will be published by APA as part of the public consultation process.

"We look forward to the public release of the study in due course which will provide all stakeholders with a highly comprehensive, fact-based, overview of the project's design, construction, operation and decommissioning in relation to the environment and local communities.

Latest video

Inflexion points

Definitive feasibility study for Mina Do Barroso

European initiative to develop electric battery capacity in Europe should aid Savannah

By the year 2025, European lithium-ion batteries are expected to represent a market worth 250bn annually

What the broker says: finnCap

Mina do Barroso is underpinned by its strategic value to the European Union as it is the only large-scale lithium spodumene project in Europe, says the broker.

Lithium chemicals are in demand by Europes fast-growing battery manufacturing sector.

The industry will need to import some raw materials from outside the region, but the European Commissions is to boost primary and secondary production from European sources such as Barroso.

How development progresses, in terms of permitting, technical studies and funding, will help determine Savannahs performance over the next 12 months.

A large part of this progress is funding, and Savannah received a significant boost in May when it signed an agreement with the EU-backed organisation EIT InnoEnergy.

EIT InnoEnergy has invested 570m in the sustainable energy sector and represents a proven source of direct and indirect/introduced funding for projects like Barroso.




Haiti - Cuba : Collaboration in the field of the environment





Abner Septembre, the Minister of the Environment and the Cuban Ambassador accredited to Haiti Luis Castillo Campos, exchanged views on ways of collaboration in the environmental field.



A note published by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that during the meeting, Minister Septembre expressed Haiti's interest in continuing bilateral collaboration, especially with regard to the prevention and reduction of the risks of major natural hazards.



The Minister agreed to transfer a draft agreement to further extend the Cuban experience in the field of germplasm seed banks, the control of protected areas and the biological corridor.



Attended this meeting on the Haitian side, Astrel Joseph, the Chief of Staff of the Minister and Regine Abraham, the Director General of the Ministry of the Environment and on the Cuban side Mario Amaro Castanedo, Minister of Collaboration and Trade of the Embassy.



S/ Haitiibre


















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WASHINGTON  Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense nominee and a revered figure at Fort Drum, took another step Tuesday toward becoming the first Black U.S. Secretary of Defense. But his path to confirmation by Congress is a bumpy one, facing opposition from some Democrats and Republicans.

Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee questioned Austin, 67, about his readiness for the job in his Senate confirmation hearing, as they move to fill the Biden's cabinet.

Austin is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served about four decades in the military, including as commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in Jefferson County from 2003 to 2005. In northern New York, he's remembered for building stronger ties between the base and the surrounding community, something that set him apart from other commanders, sources said.

"It's easy to see why he was such a success as I had the opportunity and privilege of doing," said Tony Keating, former civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army for New York. "He was an absolutely outstanding leader."

Austin's nomination is facing one major hurdle: he requires a waiver from Congress to assume the role because he retired from the military less than seven years ago, in 2016. In a closely divided Congress, some Democrats have announced they will oppose a waiver for Austin because a principle enshrined in U.S. law mandates civilian control of the Pentagon. The head of the Department of the Defense (DOD) is traditionally a non-uniformed civilian, while the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the nations highest ranking military official.

Some Democrats will support a waiver for Austin, although four years ago they voted against the same waiver for President Donald J. Trumps first Secretary of Defense James Mattis, an esteemed Marine general. Some feel strongly about civilian control of the Pentagon, but they like Austin and dont want to oppose a waiver for a Black nominee for its chief. Some Republicans will support a waiver for Austin, but may not support his confirmation.

In 2017, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was the only senator in 2017 to vote against a waiver and the confirmation of Mattis. Gillibrand plans to vote against a waiver for Austin, an aide said.

Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts also plan to oppose the waiver, as does Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas.

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a waiver for Austin Thursday.

Speaking to the committee, Austin vowed to empower civilian leaders in the DOD and submit to oversight from the Congress. He promised to work hand-in-glove with State Department" to maintain foreign relations, to ensure DOD is doing everything it can to help distribute COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. and to root out sexual abusers, "racists and extremists" from the military. He said he would deter war and protect national security.

"While I did not seek this job, I consider it an honor," Austin said.

Austin was joined at the hearing by his wife, Charlene. Both left a mark on northern New York, when they were stationed there.

When Austin was deployed, his wife Charlene stepped in to help lead the base in his absence. Toward the end of her time at Fort Drum, she helped found Operation Yellow Ribbon, a local organization that encourages events that support Fort Drum military families to this day. She was later selected as a Woman of Distinction for Jefferson County, a recognition of her many contributions to the soldiers and families of Fort Drum and surrounding communities.

Local sources recall Lloyd Austin's warmth, charisma and down-to-earth energy from his days at Fort Drum.

Tim Tanner, the former mayor of Theresa and a public works employee, got to know the Austins while performing repairs on their house at the base. He said the Austins would make popcorn for him while he worked. Austin and Tanner traded tips about hunting deer and turkeys, which Austin didn't have time to do.

He was so easy to get along with and talk with," Tanner said. He had such a strong feeling toward his soldiers and his responsibility to protect them.

After operating for years as a temporary military training camp, Fort Drum was designated the home of the army's newest division, the 10th Mountain, in 1985. The base grew significantly in the subsequent decade.

Austin took seriously his responsibility to foster relationships between local civilians and the relatively new base, sources said. The surrounding community is where military families live, send their kids to school and go to the hospital. He made a point to "chat it up" with local school administrators and other officials, something not all army commanders had the touch for, said retired 2nd Lt. Jim Corriveau, the base's former public works director who helped engineer its growth.

Austin created a ceremony to honor local community members called Man and Woman of the Mountain, said Beth Fipps, who's known the Austins for 20 years.

They were like family," Fipps said. "Many of us would have liked to see them stay in the North Country  but most of us knew they were destined for greater things."

After Austin left Fort Drum, he worked as chief of staff for the U.S. Central Command and worked his way up into the most senior positions in the U.S. military. But he remembered Fort Drum, sources said.

He returned to the base in 2012 to attend a signing ceremony for a community covenant, affirming a community promise to care for the military families. Corriveau remembered that as a "big, big deal."

Lloyd is just continuing his climb to glory and he will get to the top," Corriveau said.
Highlights Mi 11 Lite is set for release in India very soon.

Redmi Note 10 is tipped for launch in India next month.

Mi 11 India variants have leaked online.

Xiaomi had a busy 2020 and the company now appears to be taking this a notch up in 2021. If the latest reports are to be believed, the company is planning to launch new smartphones in India in February to build on the momentum it gained from the launch of the Mi 10i earlier this month.

As per a report published by 91Mobiles, the Redmi Note 10 and Redmi Note 10 Pro will launch in India in February. Citing trusted tipster Ishan Agarwal in its report, the publication said that the Redmi Note 10 series prices in India will be pretty aggressive considering the competition it faces from fast-growing rival Realme.

This doesn't come as very surprising news as Redmi Note 10 and Note 10 Pro have been certified in the country already. The report also goes on to reveal that the company plans to launch the Mi 11 and Mi 11 Lite variants in India in the near future. Agarwal claims the Mi 11 will come in Gray and Blue colour options and will come in 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB configurations. The Mi 11 Lite will be launched in India in 6GB + 64GB, 6GB + 128GB, and 8GB + 128GB. The handset will come in Pink, Black, and Blue colours.

The latter was recently spotted on the FCC with the Mi 11 Lite also spotted on the country's BIS. Reports had previously suggested the Mi 11 Lite could be rebranded as the Poco F2 and come in either 6 GB+64GB or 6GB+128GB variants.

Interestingly, the device's specifications and renders have previously leaked online giving us a hint about the details of the phone. As per a new leak, the Mi 11 Lite could come with a Snapdragon 732 SoC.

As for other specifications, it has been reported that the Mi 11 Lite may bring with itself a full-HD+ IPS LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate. Apart from this, the triple camera set-up on the device is tipped to bring a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel secondary lens, and a 5-megapixel sensor.

Additionally, the device is also expected to bring a rear fingerprint sensor, but the cutout is not noticed on the renders. We recommend you take this information with a pinch of salt until Xiaomi announces something in an official capacity.
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A Pisgah woman was killed Tuesday in a single-vehicle crash in Jackson County.

Tonia Michelle Phillips, 47, was fatally injured when the 2003 Nissan Xterra in which she was a passenger left the roadway and overturned about 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Troopers said Phillips was not using her seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred on Alabama 40 near Jackson County 273, about one mile southeast of Scottsboro.

Driver Tony Ray Sargent, 53, of Pisgah was injured and transported to an area hospital for treatment, troopers said.

The accident remains under investigation.
Updated at 5 p.m.: All the appointments were gone within an hour, according to the county website

Syracuse, N.Y. -- In less than an hour, people snapped up 990 hard-to-come-by appointments for a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine made available today by Onondaga County. The shots will be given Thursday at the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse.

County Executive Ryan McMahon tweeted at about 4 p.m. that the appointments were available. Before 5 p.m., they were all gone.

The county received 900 vials of Moderna vaccine today, just one-quarter of what it had received in previous weeks. From the 900 vials, the county can deliver 990 doses of vaccine, McMahon said.

Appointments go fast, given the scarcity of vaccine supplies this week in Central New York.

McMahon tweeted that the slots were available just after 4 p.m. Twenty minutes later, only half the 990 slots remained. By 4:48 p.m., no appointments remained, according to the website.

When more vaccine becomes available, appointments can be scheduled online at the county vaccine page. Senior citizens or others who are unable to navigate online can call 211.
A Baton Rouge man was indicted Wednesday in the September shooting death of an ex-girlfriend in her home, one of 19 domestic violence-related homicides that occurred in East Baton Rouge Parish last year.

Davyon Bentley, 25, arrived at Brenda Mullens' home on Joyce Drive -- off Greenwell Springs Road near BREC's Oak Villa Park -- the night of Sept. 16 and the two began to argue, police have said.

Baton Rouge man arrested in Denver nearly one month after murder of ex-girlfriend A Baton Rouge man was arrested in Denver, Colorado, nearly one month after shooting an ex-girlfriend to death in her home, police said.

Mullens, who refused to let Bentley in her house and was speaking to him through a closed door, said she did not want anything to do with him anymore. Bentley then fired his gun through the door, according to police.

Three of her children were home when Bentley opened fire, police said.

Mullens, 40, later died from her injuries. She had recently started dating Bentley, police said.

An East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicted Bentley, of the 4000 block of North 38th Street, on a second-degree murder charge Wednesday.

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Two months before the fatal shooting, detectives had issued a warrant for Bentley's arrest, alleging he forced himself into a different former girlfriend's apartment in July and fired two shots in front of her and several children.

The bullets struck a window and a vehicle parked near her home, but no one was injured, the warrant states.

Despite weeks of searching, police were unable to find Bentley.

Domestic violence claimed 19 lives in East Baton Rouge Parish in 2020, the highest number in at least a decade, and more than quadrupled the previous year.

A 'brutal' year for Baton Rouge women: Domestic violence deaths in 2020 surpass 10-year record Domestic violence claimed 19 lives in East Baton Rouge Parish in 2020, the highest number in at least a decade, and more than quadrupled the p

Advocates and law enforcement officials say the coronavirus pandemic played a major role. Isolated at home with their abusers, victims struggled to survive in increasingly dangerous and volatile situations where violence became more frequent or escalated more quickly.
A 60-year-old mother remains in a critical condition in hospital after being bashed by her son in front of horrified work colleagues.

Police allege the man, 26, arrived at his mother's workplace at Mt Druitt in Sydney's west about 2pm on Wednesday.

Following a verbal argument, he allegedly punched and kicked his mother repeatedly, before slamming her head on concrete.

Police charged a man, 26, following an alleged assault of a woman, 60, at her workplace in western Sydney on Wednesday (stock image)

Colleagues of the woman, who attempted to intervene, were also allegedly assaulted at the scene.

Paramedics from NSW Ambulance treated the woman for head injuries. She was taken to Westmead Hospital where she remains in a critical condition.

The man was arrested at a nearby location by officers from the Mt Druitt Police Area Command following the alleged bashing.

The man, from Parramatta in Sydney's west, was taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where he was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to person with intent (domestic violence) and destroying or damaging property (domestic violence).

He was refused bail and will appear in Mt Druitt Local Court on Thursday.

Police are continuing to investigate the matter.
SC Upholds IBC Amendment Requiring Minimum 10% Home-buyers To Initiate Insolvency against Builder

After holding home-buyers as financial creditors as per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the Supreme Court on Tuesday accepted an amendment in the IBC as constitutionally valid, which requires no less than 100 or 10% home-buyers to initiate insolvency against builder or developer. Under the IBC amendment passed by the Parliament in March 2020, a single home-buyer is barred to approach the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under Section 7 of the IBC.

There were petitions in SC challenging Section 3 of IBC which has placed differential conditions on home-buyers to initiate corporate insolvency and resolution process (CIRP) against builders. The amendment and subsequent ruling by the apex court limits the avenues for redress available to aggrieved home-buyers and also defeats the purpose of including home-buyers as financial creditors under IBC.

In its order the apex court says, "Sheer numbers of applications that would proliferate, combined with the likely results, cannot be brushed aside."

Section 3 of IBC allows home-buyers to seek CIRP process against builder only when 100 allottees or at least 10% of allottees make a joint application.

This means, home-buyers are now required to approach the NCLT with a joint application of at least 10% or 100 of the total home-buyers of a project. If the numbers of home-buyers are less than that, NCLT will dismiss their application ipso facto.

In other words, home-buyers can approach the NCLT against a builder or developer only with a joint application, similar to the provisions in the Companies Act, where certain actions against a company can be activated only by members representing not less than 100 members or members holding not less than 10% of the share capital.

According to a January 2020 report from the Mint , a group of home-buyers have filed multiple writ petitions with the Supreme Court challenging the amendment in the IBC that placed a minimum threshold on the number of home-buyers. The writ petition has been filed on behalf of 11 home-buyers from Noida and Gurgaon. Another writ petition has been filed by Centrik Legalistic on behalf of five home-buyers.

Quoting Piyush Singh, partner at PSP Legal, a Delhi-based law firm, the newspaper says, Bringing a threshold just for home-buyers is arbitrary while there is no threshold for any other financial or operational creditors. Even a single financial or operational creditor (other than home-buyer) can file an application against the company with NCLT for starting of the liquidation process."

Last year in March, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by the Parliament. At that time, Union finance minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out that government understands the difficulties being faced by the home-buyers. "We have shown clear, pro-active initiatives to sort out the cases which are lying incomplete. We are giving last-mile completion related funding through single window mechanism," she had said.

The minister had also said that the number of cases pertaining to concerns of home-buyers filed since inception (NCLT) was 2,454. "We are taking care of the interests of home-buyers," the minister had mentioned.

Later while announcing relief packages for COVID-19 pandemic, the FM increased the threshold for defaulting companies under the IBC to Rs1 crore from Rs1 lakh earlier.

Before the Supreme Court ruling in August 2019, home-buyers were treated as other creditors and they were not regarded as 'financial creditors' or as 'operational creditors', which restricted their ability to initiate insolvency proceedings under the IBC against a defaulting builder or developer.

In its August 2019 order, the apex court had upheld the government decision to grant home-buyers the status of financial creditors. The court had also upheld the IBC Amendment with certain safeguards.

The SC had also asked the government to adequately man the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) saying, "IBC provisions should be read harmoniously with RERA. Every application pending before NCLT will be decided on their own merit with respect to this apex court judgement."
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High near 60F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 42F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
On Jan. 20, 2009, I watched the inauguration of the nations first Black president with about 75 strangers on a big-screen TV at the Mall at Steamtown. Amber Viola was in Denver, a young, Black student planning a life in public service.

Millions of post-9/11 Americans flocked to the National Mall to witness Barack Hussein Obama sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. Today, that space will be desolate, quarantined by COVID-19 and closed for fear of violent rebellion.

Like millions of other Americans, Amber and I will stay home today and watch the inauguration of Scranton native Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States and Vice President Kamala Harris as the first woman and American of color ever to hold the nations second-highest office.

I was supposed to be in D.C. (today), Amber said Tuesday. I had a hotel room, I was all ready to go. And then they canceled everything and shut down all the hotels and Airbnbs. ... Its been my dream to go and do all this stuff and I dont get to do it, because of COVID.

The pandemic ensured a smaller, tighter ceremony. The Jan. 6 domestic terrorist attack on the Capitol shrunk it further. Most of the nations capital is under lockdown. So is City Hall in Scranton, where Amber works as the first Black woman director of the citys human resources department.

People are worried, she said of the threat of continuing political violence. Employees here, regardless of whether theyre Republican or Democrat, theyre worried about their safety because at the end of the day, if these people storm in here, theyre not going to know who you voted for. Theyre just going to see you as working for the government, which to them makes you the enemy.

An Army brat, Amber was born in Las Vegas and lived around the world before the family settled in Gouldsboro. She graduated from North Pocono High School and served eight years as a gunners mate in the Navy before earning a bachelors degree in social work from Marywood University.

At 35, Amber is a proud Scranton resident and single mother raising a daughter in a city that recently elected the first female mayor in its 150-year history. She said Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti  who ran against and beat the city Democratic Machine while pregnant with her first child  is an honest, earnest advocate for working mothers like her.

She gets it, Amber said. She believes the leaders of the new administration do, too.

Those two candidates were really the only people talking about things like affordable child care, and Kamala has talked multiple times about the Black maternal death rate and the Black infant death rate. Those things are so important, but people dont talk about them because they dont know.

As a Black woman, Amber said she knows how it feels to be treated like the enemy in her own country, even in uniform. She served under two commanders in chief, and said she saw subtle racism curdle into open hostility over the Obama and Trump presidencies. Its customary for a portrait of the commander in chief to be displayed in military posts. Amber said she rarely saw Obamas. Trumps was everywhere, she said.

Amber said her uniform was no shield against animosity from the general public, either. She has many stories of being insulted and harassed, including by police.

I got pulled over for speeding, and Im in uniform, and on my registration it listed the (USS) Abraham Lincoln, because at the time I was living on the ship, Amber said. (The white officer) literally threw my ID back at me and said, I dont give a (bleep) that youre in the military.

This is the stuff that other people dont see and dont realize that Black people go through on a regular basis. Some people dont care that Im a veteran, because Im black and Im a woman. So, being a veteran doesnt shield me from a lot of things people assume it does.

Amber attended the Black Lives Matter protest at the Lincoln Memorial in June. Thousands of Army National Guard troops and military hardware were deployed to keep order. I asked Amber to contrast her experience in June with the white-glove treatment extended to the mostly white mob that sacked the Capitol on Jan. 6.

It was night and day, she said. The police were just not kind to anybody. Amber said protesters were tightly corralled and maced at checkpoints. Area stores refused to sell assumed (Black) protesters milk, which is often used as first-aid for pepper spray. Police snatched and destroyed milk from protesters lucky enough to find some, she said.

I left because it started to get a little crazy and I was like, I just dont really feel like being arrested and having to explain it when I go back to my job at City Hall. 

As ugly as the images documenting the American carnage are, Amber and I agreed that the glaring disparity in responses to the riot and the BLM rally are irrefutable evidence of two justice systems  one for whites and another for everyone else.

It reminded me of the 60s, when they were finally televising Black people getting attacked by dogs and getting sprayed by firehoses and there are videos where you can see peoples skin getting ripped off.

People realized and really couldnt ignore how they were treating these (rioter), and they know how they treated Black people a few months ago. I think it is going to be a wake-up call for a lot of people.

For all the tumult history has thrown at the nation since Jan. 20, 2009, Amber sees many reasons for hope. Back then, she wouldnt have dreamed of twice introducing her daughter to the first black man elected president of the United States.

Ambers 4-year-old daughter, Jacquelyn, has met President Obama twice, the first time before she was born.

She met him once in my belly and once in person, Amber said. Both times were at campaign events. At a fall event in Philadelphia, she walked right up to him and he told her he wished he could hug her, but he was trying to be good with the COVID restrictions.

Amber hopes Jacquelyn will someday meet the new vice president. She and Jacquelyn will watch the inauguration together, two Americans of color sharing a watershed moment that says a woman and mother who looks like them may one day serve as the President of the United States.

Its very exciting, and Im excited to see not just what shes going to do policy-wise, but how she is going to influence the world as a Black woman. To see her on the stage like that and how little girls are going to feel about seeing up there on that stage  someone who looks like them  and know they really can be up there someday, too.
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Getting a COVID-19 vaccine at a Walgreens or CVS pharmacy is still likely a long way off.

The federal governments Operation Warp Speed, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense in October partnered with the two chains to provide and administer COVID-19 vaccines to residents of long-term care facilities nationwide.

But the vaccines will eventually be available at pharmacy locations throughout the country, although they will be subject to the availability of doses and prioritization of populations, which will be dictated by the state.

Exactly when the shots will be offered in stores is unknown. Timing is speculative but vaccines may be available to the general population as soon as April or May, a spokesperson for CVS said.

When vaccines are offered at its retail locations it will be on an appointment-only basis via CVS.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app, and there will be a dedicated 800 number for people without online access.

CVS Pharmacy will have the capacity to administer 20 to 25 million shots per month, the company said in a statement.

Walgreens, in a statement, said COVID-19 vaccines will be available in all of its more than 9,000 locations once they become available for mass administration. At that time, individuals will be able to schedule vaccination appointments through the Walgreens app or online.

Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday expressed frustration about the federal vaccine rollout during a coronavirus briefing.

Theres no question the federal program is meaningfully lagging what we have control over in the state, he said. He pointed to West Virginia, which is not participating in the federal plan with CVS and Walgreens, and noted the state leads the country in vaccination rates.

I believe it gets better, he added. First of all, there arent many choices. Its not like they picked 2 of the biggest national chains and there were another 10 to choose from. CVS and Walgreens have a reach that is unmatched by any other organizations.

Murphy said on Tuesday that as of the end of last week, nearly 90 percent of the states nursing homes have been scheduled for a vaccine clinic, three-quarters of residential care facilities and group homes have been scheduled, and two-thirds of assisted-care facilities.

New Jersey had administered 407,064 vaccines as of Tuesday afternoon. Of those, 359,617 were first doses and 47,197 were second doses. Health care workers, first responders who live or work in New Jersey, all residents over the age of 65, smokers and people between 16 and 64 years old with medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus  a total of more than 4 million people are eligible now to receive the shot, under New Jerseys phased vaccination plan.

The pool of New Jersey residents who are eligible for the vaccine was expanded last week, five weeks after the first shot was administered in the state, based on federal guidance and the anticipation of increased deliveries of vaccine doses.

State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Monday that New Jersey expects to receive 100,000 doses from the federal government in each of the next four weeks, which will be prioritized for those who are awaiting their second dose. The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses three weeks apart and the Moderna vaccine requires two doses four weeks apart.

Those who are eligible now to receive the vaccine can make an appointment through an online portal, a specific vaccine location or soon at a call center.

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Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com.
BEER-SHEVA, Israel...January 20, 2021 -Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers have discovered that the protein BMP5/7 offers promising therapeutics that could slow down or halt the progression of Parkinson's disease.

The findings were published in the prestigious clinical neurology journal, Brain.

Parkinson's disease, which affects over one million people in U.S. and 10 million worldwide, causes tremors and severe movement impairment due to progressive degeneration of dopamine-producing brain cells. It is believed that the protein "alpha-synuclein," present in all human brains, misfolds and forms toxic clumps in these cells, which causes the disease.

While current Parkinson's disease therapies improve symptoms, they are not effective in advanced illness stages and, unfortunately, do not slow or cure the disease.

Dr. Claude Brodski, M.D., head of the BGU's Laboratory for Molecular Neuroscience, discovered that BMP5/7 signaling in neurons was significantly reduced in dopamine-producing brain cells, which could contribute to Parkinson's disease advancement.

"Indeed, we found that BMP5/7 treatment can, in a Parkinson's disease mouse model, efficiently prevent movement impairments caused by the accumulation of alpha-synuclein and reverse the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells," says Dr. Brodski. "These findings are very promising, since they suggest that BMP5/7 could slow or stop Parkinson's disease progression. Currently, we are focusing all our efforts on bringing our discovery closer to clinical application."

BGN Technologies, Ben-Gurion University's technology transfer company, has filed several patent applications covering this breakthrough discovery.

Dr. Galit Mazooz Perlmuter, senior vice president of business development, bio-pharma at BGN Technologies, notes, "There is a vast need for new therapies to treat Parkinson's disease, especially in advanced stages of the disease. Dr. Brodski's findings, although still in their early stages, offer a disease-modified drug target that will address this devastating condition. We are now seeking an industry partner for further development of this patent pending invention."

###

About BGN Technologies

BGN Technologies is the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. BGN brings technological innovations from the lab to the market and fosters research collaborations and entrepreneurship among researchers and students. To date, BGN has established over 100 startup companies in the fields of biotech, high-tech and cleantech, and has initiated leading technology hubs, incubators and accelerators. Over the past decade, BGN Technologies has focused on creating long-term partnerships with multinational corporations such as Deutsche Telekom, Dell-EMC, PayPal, and Lockheed Martin, securing value and growth for BGU as well as the Negev region. For more information, visit the BGN Technologies website.

About American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev


US President Donald Trump said he will be "back in some form" before boarding Air Force One for Florida on Wednesday ahead of the inauguration of his successor, Joe Biden.

"This has been an incredible four years," Trump said in brief remarks to staff, supporters and members of his family gathered at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.

"We've accomplished so much together," he said. "I will always fight for you.

"We will be back in some form."

Trump did not address Biden by name but said he wishes the new administration "great luck and great success."

Trump will be at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida when Biden is sworn in at noon (1700 GMT).

He is the first president in more than 150 years to snub the inauguration of his successor.

Matt Damon landed in Australia with his family on Saturday, and has already begun his mandatory 14-day quarantine as he prepares to film Thor: Love and Thunder in the coming weeks.

And while many visiting stars have kept quiet about the quarantine process, Matt's immigration lawyer has explained every detail of the Hollywood star's move Down Under.

Rebekah O'Sullivan said the Good Will Hunting actor, 50, had 'privately arranged and funded' his two-week isolation with his wife and children so as not to create 'any burden to the Australian taxpayer whatsoever'.

Explained: Matt Damon's immigration lawyer has revealed details of the actor's self-funded 14-day quarantine in Australia, as he prepares to film Thor: Love and Thunder. Pictured with his wife, Luciana Barroso, on September 9, 2019, in Toronto

Ms O'Sullivan added that Matt's entry into the country has not impacted or reduced 'the number of spaces for Australians overseas waiting to return home'.

Matt will live in Australia during the film's production alongside his wife, Luciana Barroso, and their daughters, Isabella, 14, Gia, 12, and Stella, 10.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the family had initially quarantined for two weeks in a ski lodge in America, and were tested for Covid-19 every three days.

They then arrived in Australia via private jet and moved into a rented house, where they are paying for their own private security, police monitoring, hospital-grade cleaning, staff, meals and regular medical checks.

Star-studded: Lawyer Rebekah O'Sullivan said Matt (left, with Chris Hemsworth in 2017) had 'privately arranged and funded' his two-week quarantine with his wife and children so as not to create 'any burden to the Australian taxpayer whatsoever'

CEO of Concierge Doctors Dr Zac Turner said: 'The family will be entirely segregated for the period of their quarantine and will participate in standardised testing and monitoring, in full compliance with current NSW Government requirements.'

Dr Turner added that NSW Police will be present to ensure quarantine is enforced.

It's unclear how much it's costing Matt and his family to self-isolate in luxury, but fellow Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg reportedly spent $2,500 a night to privately quarantine at a five-star retreat in Byron Bay when he flew into Australia last month.

Can't wait! Matt recently said he was excited to be staying in Australia as he joins the cast of Thor: Love and Thunder, alongside Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale

Matt recently said he was excited to be staying in Australia as he joins the cast of Thor: Love and Thunder, alongside Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Christian Bale.

'I'm so excited that my family and I will be able to call Australia home for the next few months,' he said.

'Australian film crews are world renowned for their professionalism and are a joy to work with so the 14 days of quarantine will be well worth it.'
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A Brooklyn man driving through Staten Island was found to be in possession of a trove of firearms, authorities allege, after New York State Police conducted an investigation at a gun show in Pennsylvania

Jose Tirado, 40, was found to be in possession of a 9mm pistol and loaded 9mm magazine inside the cab of the vehicle on Jan. 17, according to a criminal complaint, along with a 12-gauge shotgun, a .223 caliber rifle, three loaded 30-round magazines and three loaded 9mm magazines found in a gun case in the trunk.

Authorities also found a large black extended magazine, two small black extended magazines  all of which did not have a serial number  a 15-round 9mm magazine and other various gun parts, the criminal complaint alleges.

I know I have a shotgun and rifle. Theyre both in the trunk, the criminal complaint alleges Tirado told officers after he was stopped. Theyre in the gun bag. Theyre both unloaded.

When asked by officers if he was licensed to carry the weapons, he allegedly responded, No, I dont have a license in N.Y. to carry a handgun or rifle or shotgun. Theyre registered in Pennsylvania.

Tirado, who was driving a 2011 Ford Expedition, had his 5- and 17-year-old daughters in the car, authorities said.

Tirado said that his license was bad and that it was suspended. A subsequent investigation by New York State Police found Tirados license was suspended or revoked 23 times.

The New York State Police Department arrested Tirado after conducting an investigation at the Morgantown Gun Show in Pennsylvania, the department said in a release, and found, with assistance from special agents of the Pennsylvania attorney generals office, that Tirado purchased firearms and firearm parts from the show and was transporting them to New York City.

Tirado was previously convicted of reckless endangerment in 2005 in Brooklyn.

His bail is currently set at $15,000 cash and $20,000 bond. His next court date is Friday.

His lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment.
Although the journey ended for one of the San Antonio women on "The Bachelor," she's said she's left thankful and hopeful.

Alana Milne, a 26-year-old photographer who grew up in San Antonio, thanked Bachelor Nation fans on her Instagram account Tuesday. The post comes after Milne was sent home by the show's lead, Matt James, during Monday night's episode.

"Thank you for being so kind to me, y'all," she wrote in her post. "I appreciate it more than words can say! The amount of people who have reached out has made my heart so full. I love all of you!"

READ ALSO: 'The Bachelor': The journey ended for one of the San Antonio women

Milne, who was born in Toronto, Canada, didn't last long on the show, but she said she's grateful for the time she was there.

"Everything happens for a reason and I'm looking forward to what the future holds," she said. "So grateful to @bachelorabc for including me in this season! Here's to more dates in 2021 than 2020."

During her time on "The Bachelor," Milne came out strong as she created a "Lady and the Tramp" moment with James that ended with a kiss. However, her luck ran out there after she wasn't picked for the first one-on-ones or the first group date.

The other two Alamo City women made it through the second rose ceremony  Bri Springs, 24, and Jessenia Cruz, 27. However, we won't know until next week to know if the local women make it through the next rose ceremony.

"The Bachelor" airs at 7 p.m. Central on Mondays on ABC.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
The organiser of the annual Davos summit faced ridicule after claiming it has spent more than a decade sounding the alarm over the threat of infectious diseases only to be ignored.

As it released its latest Global Risks Report yesterday, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said it has been 'warning the world about the dangers of pandemics' for 15 years.

And it added that last year 'the world saw the catastrophic effects of ignoring' such risks.

Covid claims: The organiser of the annual Davos summit said it has been 'warning the world about the dangers of pandemics' for 15 years

But the WEF, which every year hosts a meeting of the global elite in the Swiss ski town of Davos, was accused of existing 'in its own air-conditioned bubble'.

This time last year, when Covid-19 was sweeping across Asia and the WEF released its 2020 report, infectious disease was not on its list of the ten likeliest risks. And it came tenth on the list of risks likely to have the most impact.

At last January's summit, the virus was merely a murmur in the background, as climate change took centre stage.

Former Commons Treasury committee chairman Lord Mann said: 'Just like they didn't see the 2008 crash, Brexit or the election of Trump, the WEF failed to foresee this pandemic. Davos exists in its own air-conditioned bubble.'

Andrew Sentance, an economist and former Bank of England policy maker, added: 'I don't think anything that was ever said at Davos has made any impact.

'Can anybody identify any major initiatives launched by the WEF? I can't.'

Founded by German economist Klaus Schwab 50 years ago, the WEF was designed to 'improve the state of theworld' and 'shape agendas' through engagement between business leaders, politicians and even celebrities.

But Davos has become renowned for flashy parties and champagne-fuelled events. This year it is online.

WEF managing director Saadia Zahidi said: 'In 2020 we talked about how health systems were facing threats from multiple fronts and were essentially too weak to deal with a major load. We've seen quite a bit of that come true.'
They were out just, literally in the corner of one of the neighborhoods, just doing their thing. It reminded me of what we do in Chicago. We pop up in Englewood and kick the grill off and start serving food, and people just come get it, Justin Blake said.
CASEY, Ill. (WTHI) - The owner of Brownie's Place in Casy, Illinois says his business or employees couldn't survive another shutdown.

"When we were shut down the first time we did dinners and suppers and we delivered to businesses in town and to people. Just to keep something going so my employees would have a job," said Steve Brown.

Brown says he had to seek legal help to keep his business afloat during the midst of the pandemic.

"It came to a point where we were either going to have to shut down and just close or we was gonna have to do something. So I hired a lawyer," says Brown.

He says when they were wanting him to close down his in-door dining due to the pandemic, he just couldn't do it for financial reasons.

"Like any other businesses if we close down again we're not going to make it so I decided and went back to that lawyer we did our paperwork and we stayed open," said Brown.

He says he's taking precautions to keep both customers and staff members protected.

"We do everything we can in there, I mean we clean and sanitize between everybody around. we do everything majorly of an evening to make sure every bodies safe," says Brown.

Brown says COVID-19 isn't going anywhere, anytime soon. He adds so people should just get used to the new normal.

"I'm not saying I'm not scared about it but at some point in time you have to go on living or your just gonna be curled up in a corner scared to walk around your own shadow," said Brown.

Brown tells me he hasn't received any push back from his community. He adds that nobody at Brownie's Place has gotten COVID-19.
(@FahadShabbir)

Prague, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :Czech lawmakers passed an amendment Wednesday ordering large shops to sell mostly Czech food as of next year, despite an expected backlash from partners in the European Union.

Under the measure, Czech food will have to account for at least 55 percent of sales in shops with a surface area of more than 400 square metres (4,300 square feet).

The share is to gradually grow to at least 73 percent by 2028 under the amendment proposed by the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement of Tokyo-born deputy parliamentary speaker Tomio Okamura.

The quota only applies to foodstuffs that can be produced in the Czech Republic, an EU member of 10.7 million people.

The measure is controversial because EU single market rules allow for the free circulation of goods and services across the 27-member bloc.

Czech President Milos Zeman is nonetheless expected to sign the measure.

It was backed by the governing coalition parties and Communist MPs who back the minority centre-left cabinet, with 66 votes in favour and 29 against.

The Czech government comprises the centrist populist ANO (YES) movement of food, chemicals and media mogul Prime Minister Andrej Babis and the leftwing Social Democrats.

"Let's be nationalists for a bit, when it comes to food, Czech agriculture and our country," Agriculture Minister Miroslav Toman told lawmakers.

Babis made his fortune with the Agrofert food, chemicals and media holding, which he has parked in trust funds to avoid conflict of interest.

But the EU and local transparency watchdogs have repeatedly accused him of still controlling the group and thus breaking EU rules in his dual role as a politician making decisions on EU agricultural subsidies and an entrepreneur raking them in.

Czech business broadsheet Hospodarske noviny said Wednesday that eight EU countries including Germany and France had slammed the quota legislation in a letter to Jaroslav Faltynek, the head of the parliament's committee for agriculture.

Czech critics of the new measure have said it would help Babis's Agrofert while harming consumers by stifling competition and risking retaliation for exports.

"If other EU countries started to do the same, it would dramatically harm Czech exports," Radek Spicar, deputy head of the Confederation of Industry, told AFP.

frj/mas/wai
Researchers of Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU), in collaboration with the Almazov National Medical Research Centre, developed an artificial intelligence system for analyzing endoscopic images (mucous membranes of organs). Such an approach is required for conducting mass screening studies, as well as for examining patients in remote settlements in conditions of lack of hi-tech medical equipment.

SPbPU researchers were able to apply artificial intelligence methods to analyze medical images obtained by the specialists of Almazov National Medical Research Centre. Scientists developed a software to help clinicians to identify various diagnostic conditions. "One of the main advantages of our system is the ability to automate diagnostics during mass screening examinations. This system will eliminate the possibility of subjective evaluation of medical images. This is a chance to receive qualified medical consultations in remote regions of Russia," said Elena Velichko, Director of the Higher School of Applied Physics and Space Technologies SPbPU.

Researchers analyze the images and mathematically describe the various parameters.

"In the system, we use deep neural networks, which acquire the ability to isolate and classify pathologies on endoscopic images in the learning process. The system selects suspicious areas and demonstrates the likelihood of the pathology," said Vitaly Pavlov, assistant of Higher School of Applied Physics and Space Technologies SPbPU. The researchers use the Supercomputer Center of the Polytechnic University facilities to process the large amount of data required by the system.

The first tests of the system at the Almazov National Medical Research Centre are scheduled for the beginning of 2021.
Smoke rises from a building and rubble scattered in Toledo Street following a explosion in Madrid (Europa Press via AP)

A loud explosion apparently caused by a gas leak has partially destroyed a residential building in the centre of Spains capital, killing two people and injuring at least two more, according to officials.

The first images and footage shared on social media showed a tower of smoke coming out from the six-storey building and rubble scattered in Toledo Street, near the city centre.

Emergency crews could be seen aiding several people on the ground.

Mayor Jose Luis Martinez Almeida confirmed the two deaths to the Telemadrid news channel and said that the initial assessment was that the blast was caused by a gas leak.

Expand Close Police officers cordon off Toledo Street following an explosion in central Madrid (Bernat Armangue/AP) / Facebook

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Expand Close Firefighters work next to a damaged building in the centre of Spains capital (Manu Fernandez/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Firefighters work next to a damaged building in the centre of Spains capital (Manu Fernandez/AP)

A nearby nursing home was evacuated although no injuries were initially reported among the residents, Mr Martinez Almeida said. He said the residents were being taken to a hotel across the street.

Mr Martinez Almeida also said that some mild damage had been identified in a nearby school.

Spains public broadcaster, TVE, said the school was thought to have been empty because classes had not resumed yet following a record snowfall in Madrid on January 9.

La explosiAn se ha producido en el nAmero 98 de la calle Toledo. @SAMUR_PC estA atendiendo a varias personas heridas. @BomberosMad trabaja en asegurar la zona. pic.twitter.com/qe8fdqkUOo  Emergencias Madrid (@EmergenciasMad) January 20, 2021

In a tweet, the Madrid regional emergency service said that rescue teams, firefighters and police were working in a central area of the Spanish capital following the explosion.

Leire Reparaz, an area resident, told The Associated Press that she heard a loud explosion some minutes before 3pm local time when she was heading to her home near the Puerta de Toledo, a local landmark.

We didnt know where the sound came from. We all thought it was from the school. We went up the stairs to the top of our building and we could see the structure of the building and lots of grey smoke, the 24-year-old Madrid resident said.
Nguyen Phu Trong (L) and Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) are shown with National Assembly chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) in Hanoi, Nov. 12, 2020.

The names of Vietnams likely next top leaders have emerged a week before the start of a ruling Communist Party Congress on Jan. 25 despite threats of punishment against leakers of what the countrys government calls secret information.

Decided at a Party plenary meeting held on Jan. 18, the list of candidates for the countrys top jobs has now circulated widely on social media and in other reports, with two candidates designated special cases because they have already passed the customary age for retirement.

Named on the list are Nguyen Phu Trong as general secretary of the Communist Party, and Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who would move from prime minister to state president. Moving into the upper ranks are Pham Minh Chinh as prime minister, and Vuong Dinh Hue as chairman of Vietnams National Assembly.

The plenary meeting, the Partys 15th and the last to be held under the five-year term of the outgoing leadership group, served as preparation for the 13th National Party Congress, a meeting held to select top leaders and approve economic policies for the next five years, and scheduled to run from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2.

During the congress, some 1,600 national delegates will vote to elect the 200 members of the Central Committee, who will then choose the politburo, which usually consists of 17 to 19 members, including its general secretary.

Nguyen Phu Trong, 76, and likely to continue now as party chief, is one of the two designated special cases now predicted to continue in a top government post beyond official retirement age and beyond a second term.

The politburo could not reach a consensus about who to recommend as his successor at the 14th plenum. Therefore, according to some sources, he [Trong ] may continue to stay in his role until a successor is found to maintain the one-party regime, said analyst Pham Quy Tho.

Carlyle Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales, said that Trong will either "serve a full five-year term or step down when consensus is reached in the new Central Committee on who should replace him.

'Realistic policies, economic success'

The other special case is Nguyen Xuan Phuc, aged 67 and now named as Vietnams likely next president.

Political analysts are asking why, despite his achievements, he was not chosen for a second term as prime minister, said Tho.

Phuc has created realistic policies and successfully overseen the economy, maintaining production and achieving a growth rate of nearly 3 percent while also being effective in combatting COVID-19, the analyst said.

And his success in managing natural disasters, such as the storms and floods in the Central region, has also left a positive impression, added Tho.

Pham Minh Chinh, now head of the Central Committees Organization Commission, is now predicted to be chosen as prime minister, and Vuong Dinh Hue, now party chief for Hanoi city, is predicted to be named chairman of the National Assembly.

The list of candidates for the politburos offices was designated in November as secret by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

In a stern warning to potential candidates and media, an official overseeing the confidential election then said that anyone responsible for leaking or publishing false or secret information about the process would be punished under Vietnamese law.

On Jan. 10, more than 600 military personnel, police, and health workers, along with many armored vehicles, took part in a drill in Vietnams capital Hanoi to prepare for the congress, with politburo member and organizing subcommittee head Tran Quoc Vuong saying the countrys military would not neglect their duty in guaranteeing the events safety and success.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Richard Finney.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

WASHINGTON  Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio comes from a duck-shaped district that stretches across parts of 14 counties and five media markets and would take nearly three hours to drive end to end.

Designed after the 2010 census by Ohio Republicans intent on keeping Mr. Jordan, then a three-term congressman, safely in office, the district has produced the desired result. He has won each of his last five elections by at least 22 percentage points.

The outlines of Ohios Fourth Congressional District have left Mr. Jordan, like scores of other congressional and state lawmakers, accountable only to his partys electorate in Republican primaries. That phenomenon encouraged the Republican Partys fealty to President Trump as he pushed his baseless claims of election fraud.

That unwavering loyalty was evident on Jan. 6, when Mr. Jordan and 138 other House Republicans voted against certifying Joseph R. Biden Jr. as the winner of the presidential election. Their decision, just hours after a violent mob had stormed the Capitol, has repelled many of the partys corporate benefactors, exposed a fissure with the Senate Republican leadership and tarred an element of the party as insurrectionists.
On Monday night, The Bachelor was once again here to distract us from the stress of real-world news and let us instead wallow in the travails of a good-looking guy, a bunch of good-looking women and assorted personal issues. In typical Bachelor style, Episode 3 of Season 25 found Matt James, the handsome bachelor in question, dealing with one womans tearful mixed emotions, then sitting through a cringeworthy sequence featuring bachelorettes reading love scenes theyd written featuring themselves and the hapless Matt.

The episode began by picking up where last weeks cliffhanger left off, with Sarah, who felt woozy and brought last weeks rose ceremony to a halt, struggling with her conflicting feelings. Victoria, the self-appointed Queen who is clearly the token villain of Season 25, sniped about Sarah, saying this was The Bachelor, not The Sarah Show. Meow.

(How to watch: The Bachelor airs at 8 p.m. Mondays on ABC. No cable or antenna? Live stream The Bachelor on FuboTV (which offers a 7-day free trial); or Hulu + Live TV; you can stream episodes the following day on Hulu)

Poor Marylynn, who was a target of Victorias attacks last week, didnt get a rose once we saw the ceremony resume. But that was a highlight compared to host Chris Harrison seemingly again pushing Matt into an uncomfortable, made-for-TV situation. Since Matt has trouble feeling uncomfortable, we were told, it was necessary to make Matt feel comfortable feeling uncomfortable.

Uh, what now? Maybe Matt felt OK about it, but the group date in which the women read aloud love scenes -- some embarrassingly sexual -- as Matt had to try to look amused was definitely uncomfortable. It was as clumsily salacious as this seasons overemphasis on closeups of Matts chiseled chest.

When it came to one-on-one dates, the two women from Oregon, Abigail Heringer and Pieper James, may have wanted to get em, but they were out of luck. As with last weeks episode, the Portland metro-area women got very little screen time.

Unlike Abigail and Pieper, Sarah did get a lot of attention. The broadcast journalist who left her job, she said, to help care for her father, was weepy and apparently torn about being on the show, away from her family at such a crucial period.

Unfortunately for Sarah, she wasnt finding much sympathy from the other women, who she felt were attacking her, and behaving in a cruel and malicious manner. When she told Matt that she couldnt stay, he sounded disappointed, but understanding.

Whats coming next week? From the synopsis for Episode 4, Matts journey will continue, emotions in the house continue to run high, and as we saw in the teaser, some new bachelorettes apparently show up.

Subscribe to our What to Watch newsletter. Email:



-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

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The Bachelor 2021: How did the Portland-area bachelorettes do in Episode 1?
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A team from the Computer Vision Center (CVC) and the University of Barcelona has published the results of a study that evaluates the accuracy and bias in gender and skin color of automatic face recognition algorithms tested with real world data. Although the top solutions exceed the 99.9% of accuracy, researchers have detected some groups that show higher false positive or false negative rates.

Face recognition has been routinely used by both private and governmental organizations worldwide. Automatic face recognition can be used for legitimate and beneficial purposes (e.g. to improve security) but at the same time its power and ubiquity increases a potential negative impact that unfair methods can have on society (e.g. discrimination against ethnic minorities). A necessary, albeit not sufficient, condition for a legitimate deployment of face recognition algorithms is the equal accuracy for all demographic groups.

With this purpose in mind, researchers from the Human Pose Recovery and Behavior Analysis Group at the Computer Vision Center (CVC)  University of Barcelona (UB), led by Sergio Escalera, organized a challenge within the European Conference of Computer Vision (ECCV) 2020. The results, recently published in the journal Computer VisionECCV 2020 Workshops, evaluated the accuracy of the submitted algorithms by the participants on the face verification task in the presence of other confounding attributes.

"[The study] attracted 151 participants, who made more than 1,800 submissions in total, exceeding our expectations regarding the number of participants and submissions," explained Sergio Escalera, also member of the Institute of Mathematics of the UB.

The participants used a not balanced image dataset, which simulates a real world scenario where AI based models are supposed to be trained and evaluated on imbalanced data (considerably more white males than dark females). In total, they worked with 152,917 images from 6,139 identities.

The images were annotated for two protected attributes: gender and skin color; and five legitimate attributes: age group (0-34, 35-64, 65+), head pose (frontal, other), image source (still image, video frame), wearing glasses and a bounding box size.

The obtained results were very promising. Top winning solutions exceeded 99.9% of accuracy while achieving very low scores in the proposed bias metrics, "which can be considered a step toward the development of fairer face recognition methods," said Julio C. S. Jacques Jr., researcher at the CVC and at the Open University of Catalonia.

The analysis of top 10 teams showed higher false positive rates for females with dark skin tone and for samples where both individuals wear glasses. In contrast, there were higher false negative rates for males with light skin tone and for samples where both individuals were aged 35 and below. Also, it was found that in the dataset individuals younger than 35 wear glasses less often than older individuals, resulting in a combination of effects of these attributes. "This was not a surprise, since the adopted dataset was not balanced regarding the different demographic attributes. However, it shows that overall accuracy is not enough when the goal is to build fair face recognition methods, and that future works on the topic must take into account accuracy and bias mitigation together," concluded Julio C. S. Jacques Jr.

More information: Tomas Sixta et al. FairFace Challenge at ECCV 2020: Analyzing Bias in Face Recognition, Computer Vision  ECCV 2020 Workshops (2021). Tomas Sixta et al. FairFace Challenge at ECCV 2020: Analyzing Bias in Face Recognition,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-65414-6_32

Fines were issued by local Gardai for breaching Covid-19 travel restrictions to four men after they were found in Banagher having travelled from Tralee and Cavan to sell a vehicle at the weekend.

Speaking to the Tribune, a Garda spokesperson gave the example of the incident where four males were issued with fixed payment notices over the weekend in Banagher. In this incident, two of the males had travelled from Tralee and the remaining two had travelled from Cavan and were meeting in Banagher for the purpose of selling a vehicle.

Another incident involved a group of people, who had met earlier on Saturday morning last, and were found by local Gardai more than five kilometres from home. The Gardai engaged with the group and they were turned back. However, the group met at another location later in the day and were subsequently stopped again by local Gardai. This led to the group being issued with a fixed payment notice for making an unnecessary journey.

Meanwhile, local Gardai issued seven fines to motorists found in breach of the Covid-19 travel restrictions over the weekend as part of a crackdown on people engaging in non-essential travel.

The Gardai are strongly advising people to only travel for necessary reasons and to remain at home to miminise the amount of people moving around during this level 5 Lockdown.
EV start-up Xpeng has announced it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with leading Chinese banks at a signing ceremony held in Guangzhou, China, which will secure a credit line of RMB12.8 billion with an extensive range of credit facilities.

Under the terms of the agreement, five domestic commercial banks including the Agricultural Bank of China, the Bank of China, China Construction Bank, China CITIC Bank and Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank, will provide credit facilities to support the company's business operations and expansion of its manufacturing, sales and service capabilities. These facilities will help the company optimise the efficiency of its cash management, cost control and other corporate functions.

Xpeng said the strategic cooperation with leading banks further diversifies the company's funding channels, underscoring its solid business fundamentals and growth prospects.

The company says it is developing rapidly following its successful $900 million pre-IPO fundraising and $1.7 billion IPO in August 2020:

In December 2020, the company completed its first public follow-on offering, raising approximately $2.5 billion.

In November 2020, the company's second manufacturing base broke ground in Guangzhou, making it the first Chinese start-up EV maker with two self-owned factories.

Xpeng's physical sales and service network has expanded into 58 cities with 116 retail sales stores and 50 service centres, as of September 30, 2020.

The number of Xpeng-branded supercharging stations has expanded to 135, covering 50 cities, as of September 30, 2020.

Free supercharging services are provided to Xpeng customers at 670 supercharging stations across 100 Chinese cities, since the free-to-use supercharging program was launched in September 2020.

The company delivered a total of 27,041 vehicles in 2020 with a fast-growing customer base that has reached over 40,000.

The company's third production model  a new Smart EV sedan slated for official launch and customer delivery in 2021  will be equipped with lidar technology, representing a major breakthrough in the mass production deployment of the cutting-edge autonomous driving technology.

In December 2020, the company delivered the first batch of 100 G3 smart SUVs to customers in Norway, representing a milestone for its international business.

"Looking ahead, 2021 presents us with exciting opportunities. We believe the strategic collaboration with these leading financial institutions will enable us to further accelerate growth by building upon our core strengths. With our unwavering commitment to technology innovation and customer services, we look forward to bringing compelling EV experience tailored to our consumers," said He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO Xpeng.
Today, there are 235 prisoners of war in Azerbaijan. This is what former director of the National Security Service of Armenia, Special Assignments Ambassador Davit Shahnazaryan said during a subsequent broadcast of the Pressing show. He also disclosed the real and exact number of prisoners of war and the location of Lebanese-Armenian woman Maral Najarian.

The authorities must disclose the list of missing persons and the location of prisoners of war, he said.

Asked why the authorities arent disclosing the list, Shahnazaryan said they are doing everything they can to conceal the crime that they have committed.

Today I will disclose the real figures. Were talking about the number of prisoners of war which, for some reason, the authorities present as a state secret. As always, I take full responsibility for my statements. Today, there are 235 prisoners of war in Azerbaijan. Among them are civilians, including women. Moreover, according to Azerbaijan, there are 171 prisoners of war and 64 terrorists, as they say. These figures are extremely important, and instead of concealing them, the authorities needed to speak out about them through all international instances and the Red Cross. I reiterate the fact that holding talks while there are Armenians in Azerbaijani prisons is a crime, he said.

According to the ex-chief of the National Securty Service, based on various evaluations, there are more than 5,000 victims of the war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

Shahnazaryan also touched upon the capture of Lebanese-Armenian woman Maral Najarian since Azerbaijan has officially acknowledged the fact that she is a captive, and this is why the country is making an exception.

She was captured along with her family friend Vigen Ekuajian on November 10. The prison in Gubistan is located 70 km away from Baku. Its a large prison with many branches. Maral Najarian is in cell #213 on the second floor in the third building of the prison. The authorities dont have the figures that I stated. Let them use those figures, Shahnazaryan said and insisted that he demands that the authorities disclose the list of missing persons and captives.

LONDON  The unparalleled nature of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration encapsulates much of what alarms America's international friends about the turmoil engulfing the United States and the West. It's also a neat summary of what's emboldening America's adversaries.

Four years ago, a sea of spectators lined the streets and hundreds of foreign diplomats attended a pre-inauguration dinner hosted by Donald Trump.

On Wednesday  prompted by the still-raging coronavirus pandemic, and the security fears after the Capitol riot  much of that looks set to be absent in a relatively quiet Washington, billeted by thousands of National Guard troops.

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For all of Biden's pledges to heal these wounds, friends and foes alike will see this as a symbolic freeze-frame emblazoned across newspapers and nightly bulletins  one that shows just how badly the U.S. has struggled under these stacking crises.

China's one-party state will be "rubbing their hands with glee" at the sight of a pious, democratic superpower having to resort to such measures at the heart of its own government, said Steve Tsang, a professor and the director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London.

"The security procedures that the Americans are taking will enable the Chinese party state to say: 'Ha, ha, ha. You always jab at us for doing the same with big events in Beijing, but look what you're doing now,'" he said.

Meanwhile Russian state media has been savoring the sight of their old Cold War adversary laid low.

"The corridors of the American legislature look like the halls of power of a banana republic going through a military coup," Dmitry Kiselyov, one of the Kremlin's most prominent mouthpieces, said over pictures of troops on Capitol Hill during his Sunday show on Russian state television. "This is the symbol of today's America."

Story continues

Weakened and damaged

U.S. allies remain deeply alarmed by the events on Jan. 6, which for many have defined the mood of this inauguration.

It was a riot that "weakened" and "damaged" the "reputation of the United States as the leader of the free world, as the incarnation of democracy and the rule of law," according to Wolfgang Ischinger, German ambassador to the U.S. from 2001 to 2006.

Image: The National Guard were called in following the events at the Capitol Building on Jan. 6. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images)

Even before those events, a survey of more than 15,000 people by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that most residents in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Italy believed that the American political system was fundamentally broken. Trump remains deeply unpopular across the continent and elsewhere, other data shows.

The ECFR poll, conducted in November and December, found most people believed China would be more powerful than the U.S. within a decade, and would want their countries to stay neutral in any dispute between the two.

"America has been humbled in a lot of ways," said Karin von Hippel, a former nonpolitical senior adviser at the State Department under President Barack Obama, referring to the storming of the Capitol. "When is the next time an American diplomat is going to be able to remonstrate with an official from another country about their elections, or human rights abuses?"

Image: President Barack Obama gives his inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2009. (Win McNamee / Getty Images file)

Of course the inauguration is not only about the day itself. International allies who have endured a turbulent four years working with Trump are mostly overjoyed to welcome a Biden team that they know will be zealous adherents to the principles of multilateralism.

Norbert Roettgen, the head of Germany's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, tweeted Wednesday that he was looking to Washington with hope, and that the "country that is so eaten up by the poison of populism must first be detoxified."

Stepping back into the Trump-shaped void at the head of the Western world, Biden has said he will rejoin the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

This is a president who can "hit the ground running because he's one of the most experienced foreign policy hands as a president in a very long time," said von Hippel, who is now director-general of the Royal United Services Institute, a London think tank.

Few European leaders are under the illusion that he will be able to wave a magic wand to undo the damage wrought by Trump. The outgoing commander in chief adopted a brusque, transactional style, openly criticizing allies for scrimping on defense, suggesting they should pay more to host U.S. troops, and cozying up to dictators.

Russian Liberal Democratic Party Youth Organization rally by American Center in Moscow (Vyacheslav Prokofyev / TASS via Getty Images file)

And many are wary Biden could be succeeded in 2024 by another Trump-style iconoclast to upend the relationship all over again. Biden won, but 11 million more people voted for Trump compared to 2016.

"There is a decent, normal, open man in the White House but the country remains deeply divided and deeply fragmented," said Dominique Moise, co-founder and senior adviser at the French Institute on International Relations, a think tank.

"So can you trust America in 2021 the way you did in 1960?" he asked. "There is a feeling that America has changed for the worse and it will take time to repair."

Rise of China

Many experts believe that American decline can only help China, one of the few major countries that roared back to positive economic growth in 2020. Biden says he wants to build a global alliance to tackle Beijing, rather than Trump's go-it-alone approach.

"This kind of competition will be different from the one under the Trump administration," said Qingguo Jia, a professor at the School of International Studies at Peking University. "The Trump era was mainly about preventing China from doing things, whereas Biden will mainly focus on how the U.S. could do things better than China."

Image: Newspaper front pages at a news stand in Beijing on Nov. 9. (Noel Celis / AFP via Getty Images file)

Trump has been criticized for soft-balling and even praising Chinese and Russian presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, most recently deflecting the blame away from Moscow after it was widely accused of a massive cyberattack on U.S. government agencies and businesses.

But the Kremlin will mostly remember Trump for the dozens of packages of sanctions his administration slapped on Russia, according to Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow think tank. In that sense, he said, the U.S. policy of confrontation "will not change for the foreseeable future."

In the Middle East, the nuclear issue looms. Biden's willingness to return to a nuclear deal abandoned by Trump has been complicated by Tehran's plans to further reduce compliance.

On Wednesday Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged Biden to return to the 2015 agreement and lift sanctions on Tehran, while welcoming the end of "tyrant" Trump's era.

Image: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal welcomes the then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden at the Riyadh airbase in October 2011. (AFP via Getty Images file)

Those moves will also be eyed closely in Israel, as well as Biden's opposition to settlements in the occupied West Bank and attempted revival of the peace process with the Palestinians.

Biden "keeps saying, 'I'm going to resume the JCPOA agreement between us and Iran.' I'm not sure it will be so easy," said Amos Gilead, a retired Israeli major general who now heads the Institute for Policy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, a research college. He was using the acronym for the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Elsewhere, Gulf monarchies that Trump embraced "will be watching closely how the Biden team approaches Iran and any attempts to resurrect the JCPOA," according to Adel Abdel Ghafar, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Doha Center.

"Biden had made some strong anti Saudi statements during the campaign, too," he said, "so Saudi leaders will be watching closely Biden and his team."

Alexander Smith reported from London, Matthew Bodner reported from Moscow, Carlo Angerer reported from Munich, Germany, Andy Eckardt reported from Mainz, Germany, Nancy Ing reported from Paris, Dawn Liu and Isabel Wang reported from Beijing, Paul Goldman and Lawahez Jabari reported from Tel Aviv and Charlene Gubash reported from Cairo.
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NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuberger Berman today announced the launch of NB Crossroads Private Markets Access Fund LLC ("Fund"), a registered, continually offered closed-end fund that further democratizes the firm's private equity offerings and increases access to these important portfolio solutions for individual investors. The Fund launched with $208 million in initial capital, including $34 million from Neuberger Berman employees.

The Fund's name signifies the unprecedented access from this vehicle, including:

Access to Neuberger Berman's best-in-class co-investments alongside private equity partners

Access to established secondary private equity solutions

The Fund provides this access with a structure that offers:

with a structure that offers: Lower investment minimums ( $50K ) and eligibility requirements than most private equity funds

) and eligibility requirements than most private equity funds A single capital call (traditional private equity can require multiple calls over a multi-year period)

Monthly subscriptions to the Fund with limited quarterly liquidity via tender offers 1

Simple tax reporting on Form 1099

A transparent fee structure and reporting

This Fund is timely, as private markets are more important than ever to investors:

The universe of public U.S. companies has been shrinking for years as more new companies are remaining private longer making it difficult for most investors to participate in their growth potential.

Private equity diversifies return potential and risk characteristics compared to a traditional portfolio of public securities.

Why Neuberger Berman Private Markets Access Fund:

The Fund provides access to institutional-quality private equity investments, emphasizing direct equity investments in private companies as well as secondary investments in private equity funds.

Neuberger Berman has managed private market assets for more than 30 years. The team is 220+ private market professionals in nine global locations. Neuberger Berman Private Equity's integrated model of primary and secondary fund investments and direct private equity businesses enhances deal flow, diligence and GP relationships

Neuberger Berman has more than 70 years' experience with registered funds and manages more than $75B in registered fund assets 2 .

in registered fund assets . The Fund has an innovative structure that solves for the investor challenges associated with traditional PE investments.

Tony Tutrone, Head of Neuberger Berman Alternatives says of the Fund, "We have spoken for a long time about the need to make private equity available to more investors. While this asset class is already a large part of most public and private pensions, and therefore impacts the retirement portfolios of millions of employees and pensioners, this new Fund can be a direct way to gain exposure to an important driver of returns and risk differentiation. This Fund is designed to help a massive group of qualified 'Main Street' investors gain access to private markets more directly. Our experienced teams will work to select investments that we believe are best suited for this investor base and for this structure."

The Fund will be available through financial advisors, who play a key role in educating investors and properly allocating private markets assets within a balanced portfolio. The Fund is a closed-end fund registered under both the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Securities Act of 1933.

Scott Kilgallen, Head of North American Intermediary Client Coverage, said, "Wealth advisors play a key role in helping their clients prepare for the financial realities of important life events. Accessing private markets can help advisors and their investors create a complete and optimal portfolio to address these realities. This Fund, designed for broad access and with lower investment minimums, allows individual investors to access an asset class previously reserved for pensions and other large institutional investors."

About Neuberger Berman

Neuberger Berman, founded in 1939, is a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager. The firm manages a range of strategiesincluding equity, fixed income, quantitative and multi-asset class, private equity, real estate and hedge fundson behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors globally. With offices in 24 countries, Neuberger Berman's diverse team has over 2,300 professionals. For six consecutive years, the company has been named first or second in Pensions & Investments Best Places to Work in Money Management survey (among those with 1,000 employees or more). In 2020, the PRI named Neuberger Berman a Leader, a designation awarded to fewer than 1% of investment firms for excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The PRI also awarded Neuberger Berman an A+ in every eligible category for our approach to ESG integration across asset classes. The firm manages $405 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2020. For more information, please visit our website at www.nb.com.

Media Contact: Alex Samuelson, 212 476 5392, [email protected]

An investor should consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks and fees and expenses carefully before investing. This and other important information can be found in the Fund's prospectus, which an investor can obtain by calling 617-619-4690 or by emailing [email protected]. Please read the prospectus carefully before making an investment.

An investment in the Fund involves a high degree of risk and therefore should only be undertaken by qualified investors whose financial resources are sufficient to enable them to assume these risks and to bear the loss of all or part of their investment. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund and Neuberger Berman do not guarantee any level of return or risk on investments and there can be no assurance that the Fund's investment objective will be achieved.

The Fund is a newly organized fund with no operating history. The Fund's investment program is speculative and entails substantial risks. Investors should consult with their own financial, legal, investment and tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. There is no assurance that the investments held by the Fund will be profitable, that there will be proceeds from such investments available for distribution to investors, or that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. There can be no assurance that projected or targeted returns for the Fund will be achieved.

An investment in the Fund should be considered illiquid. An investment in the Fund is not suitable for investors who need access to the money they invest. Although the Fund may offer to repurchase a limited amount of the Fund's shares from time to time via quarterly repurchase offers, the Fund's shares will not be redeemable at an investor's option nor will they be exchangeable for shares of any other fund. As a result, an investor may not be able to sell or otherwise liquidate his or her shares. There can be no assurance that the Fund will conduct repurchase offers in any particular period and investors may be unable to tender their shares for repurchase for an indefinite period of time.

There will be a substantial period of time between the date as of which investors must submit a request to have their shares repurchased and the date they can expect to receive payment for their shares from the Fund. The Board of the Fund may under certain circumstances elect to postpone, suspend or terminate an offer to repurchase shares.

The Fund's shares are not listed, and are not expected to be listed, for trading on any securities exchange, and the Fund does not expect any secondary market to develop for its shares in the foreseeable future. The Fund's shares are subject to substantial restrictions on transferability and resale and may not be transferred or resold except as permitted under the Fund's limited liability company agreement.

A substantial portion of the Fund's assets are expected to consist of direct investments in private companies as well as investments in private equity portfolio funds that primarily invest in securities of private companies. Investments in private companies involve a high degree of business and financial risk that can result in substantial losses. Operating results for private companies in a specified period will be difficult to predict.

The Fund's private equity investments will be illiquid and typically cannot be transferred or redeemed for a substantial period of time. The Fund's private equity investments in most cases will be highly illiquid and difficult to value. Unless and until those investments are sold or mature into marketable securities, they will remain illiquid.

The Fund intends to elect for treatment, and to qualify each year to be treated, as a regulated investment company or a "RIC." As such, the Fund must satisfy, among other requirements, certain ongoing asset diversification, source-of-income and annual distribution requirements. If the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC it will become subject to corporate-level income tax, and the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce the Fund's net assets, the amount of income available for distributions to investors, the amount of distributions and the amount of funds available for new investments.

All information is as of December 31, 2020 unless otherwise indicated and is subject to change without notice. Firm data, including employee and assets under management figures, reflects collective data for the various affiliated investment advisers that are subsidiaries of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. Firm history/timeline includes the history of all firm subsidiaries, including predecessor entities and acquisitions.

Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC ("NBIA") serves as the Fund's investment adviser and has engaged NB Alternatives Advisers LLC as sub-adviser to assist with investment decisions. Neuberger Berman BD LLC, member FINRA, an affiliate of NBIA, acts as distributor for the Fund's shares.

The "Neuberger Berman" name and logo are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC.  2021 Neuberger Berman Group LLC. All rights reserved.

1 The Fund intends to provide regular repurchase offers of no more than 5% of the Fund's net assets generally quarterly. The Board may elect to repurchase less than the full amount that a Shareholder requests to be repurchased and may under certain circumstances elect to postpone, suspend or terminate an offer to repurchase share.

2 Includes U.S. open- and closed-end funds registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and UCITS Funds.

SOURCE Neuberger Berman

Related Links

www.nb.com


In this image from video, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks as the Senate reconvenes after protesters stormed into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (Senate Television via AP) PHOTO:Senate Television via AP

McConnell: Trump 'Provoked' Capitol Siege

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is placing blame on President Donald Trump for the deadly riot at the Capitol.McConnell on Tuesday said the mob was fed lies and that the president and others provoked those intent on overturning Democrat Joe Bidens election.McConnell's remarks come on Trumps last full day in office.The Republican leader vowed a safe and successful inauguration of Biden on Wednesday.It's an unparalleled time of transition as the Senate presses ahead to his impeachment trial and starts confirmation hearings on Bidens Cabinet.Three new Democratic senators-elect are to be sworn into office Wednesday.
There were no casualties in the past day.

The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported two violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Tuesday, January 19.

"In the past day, January 19, two ceasefire violations were recorded in the area of 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 20, 2021.

In particular, the Russian Federation's armed formations fired grenade launchers of various systems and a heavy machine gun toward the Ukrainian positions near the village of Vodiane. Also, the Russian occupation troops used under-barrel grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and automatic rifles near the village of Pivdenne.

Read alsoOSCE spots funeral minivan entering Russia from occupied DonbasThe Joint Forces fired back, the JFO HQ said.

The violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) on the ceasefire and stabilization in Donbas.

There were no casualties in the past day.

Since midnight, enemy forces have not attacked Ukrainian troops.

The Ukrainian military say the situation is under full control.

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, 2020.

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
Of course, this newspaper doesnt tell me what to write, so he was shocked that I would do it out of my own free will. It made him rethink, if only for a moment, who I was and what my newspaper was. Surprise does that. Had Trump once stepped out of character on something big and hard that challenged his base and surprised us on the upside, like on climate or immigration, Id have praised that, too. He just wouldnt.

Too bad, because as journalists and as citizens, we live for surprises on the upside from our leaders.

I have been watching Mitt Romney repeatedly put his oath to defend the Constitution ahead of his party and personal political interests. Along the way, weve gotten to know each other. We dont agree on everything, but theres mutual respect. Romney recently introduced me for a speech I gave virtually to a bipartisan climate action coalition in Utah. That surprised some people, and maybe made them look at the whole issue differently. Its surprising what can happen when we surprise for the better.

Liz Cheney just totally surprised me on the upside last week by putting country and Constitution before party and personal ambition and voting to impeach Trump. I knew her when she worked on Middle East democracy issues. Makes me want to reconnect.

Last May, after the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police, the rapper Killer Mike was enlisted by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to help quell the violence in Black neighborhoods. He surprised me when he scolded violent Atlanta protesters:

It is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house so that you may be a house of refuge in times of organization. And now is the time to plot, plan, strategize, organize and mobilize. It is time to beat up prosecutors you dont like at the voting booth. It is time to hold mayoral offices accountable, chiefs and deputy chiefs. 

Id like to appreciate our mayor for talking to us like a Black mama and telling us to take our ass home, and Id like to thank my friends for convincing me to come here.

So, I have two asks of every American: Give Joe Biden a chance to surprise you on the upside and challenge yourself to surprise him.
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have discovered a new genetic disorder characterized by developmental delays and malformations of the brain, heart and facial features. Named linkage-specific-deubiquitylation-deficiency-induced embryonic defects syndrome (LINKED), it is caused by a mutated version of the OTUD5 gene, which interferes with key molecular steps in embryo development. The findings indicate that the newly identified pathway may be essential for human development and may also underlie other disorders that are present at birth. The information will help scientists better understand such diseases--both common and rare--and improve patient care. The results were reported Jan. 20, 2021 in Science Advances.

"Our discovery of the dysregulated neurodevelopmental pathway that underlies LINKED syndrome was only possible through the teamwork of geneticists, developmental biologists and biochemists from NIH," said Achim Werner, Ph.D., an investigator at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and lead author. "This collaboration provided the opportunity to pinpoint the likely genetic cause of disease, and then take it a step further to precisely define the sequence of cellular events that are disrupted to cause the disease."

The project began when David B. Beck, M.D., Ph.D., a clinical fellow in the laboratory of Dan Kastner M.D., Ph.D., at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and co-first author, was asked to consult on a male infant who had been born with severe birth defects that included abnormalities of the brain, craniofacial skeleton, heart and urinary tract. An in-depth examination of siblings' and family members' genomes, combined with genetic bioinformatics analyses, revealed a mutation in the OTUD5 gene as the likely cause of the condition. Through outreach to other researchers working on similar problems, Beck found seven additional males ranging from 1 to 14 years of age who shared symptoms with the first patient and had varying mutations in the OTUD5 gene.

The gene contains instructions for making the OTUD5 enzyme, which is involved in ubiquitylation, a process that molecularly alters a protein to change its function. Ubiquitylation plays a role in governing cell fate, where stem cells are instructed to become specific cell types in the early stages of embryo development.

"Based on the genetic evidence, I was pretty sure OTUD5 mutations caused the disease, but I didn't understand how this enzyme, when mutated, led to the symptoms seen in our patients," said Beck. "For this reason we sought to work with Dr. Werner's group, which specializes in using biochemistry to understand the functions of enzymes like OTUD5."

To start, the NIH team examined cells taken from patient samples, which were processed at the NIH Clinical Center. Normally, OTUD5 edits or removes molecular tags on certain proteins (substrates) to regulate their function. But in cells from patients with OTUD5 mutations, this activity was impaired.

Using a method to return mature human cells to the stem cell-like state of embryo cells, the scientists found that OTUD5 mutations were linked to abnormalities in the development of neural crest cells, which give rise to tissues of the craniofacial skeleton, and of neural precursors, cells that eventually give rise to the brain and spinal cord.

In further experiments, the team discovered that the OTUD5 enzyme acts on a handful of protein substrates called chromatin remodelers. This class of proteins physically alters the tightly packed strands of DNA in a cell's nucleus to make certain genes more accessible for being turned on, or expressed.

With help from collaborators led by Pedro Rocha Ph.D., an investigator at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the team found that chromatin remodelers targeted by OTUD5 help enhance expression of genes that control the cell fate of neural precursors during embryo development.

Taken together, the researchers concluded, OTUD5 normally keeps these chromatin remodelers from being tagged for destruction. But when OTUD5 is mutated, its protective function is lost and the chromatin remodelers are destroyed, leading to abnormal development of neural precursors and neural crest cells. Ultimately, these changes can lead to some of the birth defects seen in LINKED patients.

"Several of the chromatin remodelers OTUD5 interacts with are mutated in Coffin Siris and Cornelia de Lange syndromes, which have clinically overlapping features with LINKED syndrome," said Werner. "This suggests that the mechanism we discovered is part of a common developmental pathway that, when mutated at various points, will lead to a spectrum of disease."

"We were surprised to find that OTUD5 elicits its effects through multiple, functionally related substrates, which reveals a new principle of cellular signaling during early embryonic development," said Mohammed A. Basar, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in Werner's lab and co-first author of the study. "These findings lead us to believe that OTUD5 may have far-reaching effects beyond those identified in LINKED patients."

In future work, Werner's team plans to more fully investigate the role that OTUD5 and similar enzymes play in development. The researchers hope the study can serve as a guiding framework for unraveling the causes of other undiagnosed diseases, ultimately helping clinicians better assess and care for patients.

"We're finally able to provide families with a diagnosis, bringing an end to what is often a long and exhausting search for answers," said Beck.

###

This research was supported by NIH intramural research programs at NIDCR, NICHD, NHGRI and the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program. Support also came from the Estonian Research Council, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.

About the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research:

About the National Institutes of Health:

Reference:

NIDCR is the nation's leading funder of research on oral, dental and craniofacial health.NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases.

Beck D.B., Basar M.A., et al. Linkage-specific deubiquitylation by OTUD5 defines an embryonic pathway intolerant to genomic variation. Science Advances. Jan 20, 2021. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe2116

Visit Dr. Achim Werner's lab website.
At Philadelphia International Airport, where he works as a supervisor helping passengers in wheelchairs on and off planes, Benjamin McMillan says some of his coworkers have come to work even if theyve been exposed to or infected with COVID-19 because they cant afford to quarantine.

It frustrates McMillan, a 44-year-old father who fears infecting his own father, who is immunocompromised. But he gets it: These workers, who make about $13 an hour, have already lost hours  and tips  during the pandemic. And while they can use their paid time off to quarantine, many havent accrued enough time because their hours have been cut.

Many essential workers arent getting extra paid leave to quarantine, even though their work puts them at higher risk of exposure. Often, they have to use their own paid time off. And for those who had some form of paid COVID leave, some have exhausted it as theyve had to quarantine multiple times.

McMillans employer, Prospect Air Services, did not respond to a request for comment.

 READ MORE: Nurses are using their own time off from work to be in isolation after coronavirus contact

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends quarantining for 10 days  which it shortened in December from the original 14 days  after being in close contact with someone who has tested positive, if you dont have any symptoms.

Essential workers have struggled to get information about positive cases and potential exposure on the job. But when they do find out, many have to decide: Can I afford to miss two weeks of pay? Or should I risk getting coworkers and customers sick?

In the early days of the pandemic, about one-third of employers were offering additional leave  paid or unpaid  to employees during the pandemic, according to an April 2020 report by Society for Human Resource Management. Some were required to offer paid leave by federal or city law. But these laws, such as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and Philadelphias emergency paid sick leave law, covered only one two-week quarantine, not taking into account that essential workers might get exposed multiple times.

Rue Dooley, a human resources expert at the Society for Human Resource Management, said that although many employers changed their leave policies in response to the pandemic, often allowing for more job-protected leave, theres a limit to how much of it will be paid.

Im not going to say that no employer can afford it, but no employer wants to afford it, Dooley said. Thats too costly.

 READ MORE: SEPTA union is considering legal action over COVID-19 quarantine policy

Employers need to be able to budget for these expenses, he said.

Union leaders and workplace health and safety experts say that not paying workers to quarantine creates a disincentive to speak up about infection or exposure.

If theyre not going to get paid, theyre not going to come forward, said Peg Seminario, who served as the director of occupational safety and health for the AFL-CIO for three decades before retiring in 2019. Its critical to quarantine and pay those individuals so the community can be protected.

Barbara Rittinger Rigo, an attorney at employer law firm Littler Mendelson P.C., said that if employees were exposed to COVID on the job, employers would be more likely to be generous about employees taking leave. But if they were exposed because they flew somewhere for Thanksgiving or because they were going to gatherings without a mask, thats another story. Still, she noted that its difficult to prove how someone has been exposed.

At SEPTA, which has seen 981 cases of COVID, including 10 deaths, workers got four weeks of paid quarantine leave last year. By the end of the year, dozens had exhausted those four weeks of leave. If they needed more leave in 2020, they would have had to use sick pay  about half their normal pay.

 READ MORE: Are we essential or disposable? Workers say they need to know more about positive cases on the job.

Many cant afford to take that pay cut, said Willie Brown, president of Transport Workers Union Local 234, which represents 4,000 workers, including cashiers and drivers. That means workers are coming into work sick or after theyve been exposed, endangering their coworkers and riders.

This is not just a fight for us, he said. This is also a fight for the riding public.

In 2021, SEPTA is offering just two weeks of paid quarantine leave. Spokesperson Andrew Busch said this reduction is because federal funding under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) is no longer available. The sick pay provision is part of the collective bargaining agreement, he said.

Busch added that SEPTA has sought to reduce the spread of COVID by offering onsite testing through the Black Doctors COVID Consortium, finalizing a vaccine plan, and conducting contact tracing.

Bruce Bodner, TWU Local 234s lawyer, said that workers sometimes lie when they get contact tracing calls because they dont want to be forced to quarantine.

 READ MORE: Online holiday shopping is crushing warehouse workers during the pandemic. But overtime is a powerful lure.

At UPS, workers get a one-time, 10-day paid COVID leave. But during the busy holiday season, there was no incentive to take that benefit since workers could make double their pay in overtime, said Richard Hooker, top official at Teamsters Local 623, which represents 4,500 UPS workers in Philadelphia.

Some of them, even if they are sick or even if they do have COVID, theyre willing to take that chance, just so they can get more money so they can help provide for their families, he said.

UPS spokesperson Matthew OConnor said, If an employee has symptoms, we do not want them to come to work.

Some employers require workers to quarantine if theyve been exposed to a positive case on the job, which workers say is unfair if theyre not getting paid to do so or being forced to use their vacation time.

At the 1515 Arch office building, custodian Tamika Anderson got sent home when a coworker tested positive. She was told to get tested and quarantine. If she wanted to get paid for it, shed have to use her paid time off.

Im not willing to use my vacation and all that, said Anderson, 49. I wanna use it when I wanna use it, not because Im forced to use it.

Trox Austell, a spokesperson for Andersons employer, CMTI, said this policy is part of a mutual agreement between the company and the union.

Anderson, a grandmother who recently bought a house in Delaware, quarantined for a week without pay before she got a negative test and was allowed to return to work.

Shes angry. I need every dime, she said.
"After careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that the People's Republic of China, under the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement Tuesday. The United States has for years criticized China's detention and reeducation policies in Xinjiang but has held off formally declaring the policies as a genocide. Reports from non-government organizations, journalists and former detainees have documented a wide-ranging campaign of repression against Uighurs. The United Nations estimated at least one million Muslim Uighurs are held in internment camps.

Now, senior U.S. officials say the determination will trigger new reviews and visa issues for entry into the United States. It may also expand the number of CCP officials who have been targeted for visa sanctions and financial sanctions for taking part in the human rights abuses in the region.

The U.S. could also prosecute Chinese officials linked to the genocide in U.S. courts, or bring the issue of oppression against Uighurs before the United Nations Security Council and other human rights bodies.



The U.S. government formally declared China's repression of Uighurs as genocide only after a broad review of evidence. In recent years, the U.S. government issued genocide determinations for atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region in 2004 and the Islamic State terror group's targeted killings of ethnic Yazidis in Iraq and Syria in 2016.

U.S. officials said exhaustive documentation of the PRC's actions in Xinjiang confirms that since at least March 2017, local authorities dramatically escalated their decades-long campaign of repression against Uighur Muslims and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups, including ethnic Kazakhs and ethnic Kyrgyz.

Tuesday's determination comes just one day before the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who has been critical of Beijing's Xinjiang policies, is set to take office. "The forced detention of over a million Uighur Muslims in western China is unconscionable. America should speak out against the internment camps in Xinjiang and hold to account the people and companies complicit in this appalling oppression," Biden told the Council on Foreign Relations in 2019.



Last year, a Biden campaign spokesperson declared the Chinese action against Muslims in the Xinjiang region as "genocide." "The unspeakable oppression that Uighurs and other ethnic minorities have suffered at the hands of China's authoritarian government is genocide and Joe Biden stands against it in the strongest terms," Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates told Politico in a statement.

Refugees International President Eric Schwartz welcomed Pompeo's statement designating China's treatment of Uighurs as genocide. "As reflected in numerous reports by journalists and scholars, the evidence of genocide is significant and substantial. The secretary's statement underscores the importance of appropriate international investigations and prosecutions of officials for the crime of genocide in Xinjiang," he said in a statement. But Schwartz also questioned why Pompeo has "declined to make a similar finding of genocide against the state of Myanmar for its vicious mass attacks against the Rohingya population beginning in August 2017."



Republican Senator Ben Sasse said the determination is "good and right," but "late," and called the Chinese Communist Party a "genocidal dictatorship." "The United States has an obligation to meet this challenge head on and take the side of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang who are raped and tortured," Sasse said in a statement.



The latest move follows a recent U.S. ban on cotton and tomato-based imports from Xinjiang over concerns of slave labor. Last week, Canada joined Britain in announcing steps to ban the import of goods from Xinjiang over concerns of forced labor and other human rights abuses.
TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V): GRG

Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE): G6A

OTCQB Venture Market (OTCQB): GARWF

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Golden Arrow Resources Corporation (TSXV: GRG) (FSE: G6A) (OTCQB: GARWF) ("Golden Arrow" or the "Company") announces that the Company has made an application to the TSX Venture Exchange to extend the term of 15,804,012 outstanding warrants as follows:

11,051,611 warrants that are set to expire on February 25, 2021 , 1,290,367 warrants that are set to expire on March 5, 2021 and 3,462,034 warrants that are set to expire on March 21, 2021 to be extended to February 25, 2023 , March 5, 2023 and March 21, 2023 respectively. These warrants were originally issued as part of the units under a single private placement completed by the Company in 3 tranches on February 25, 2019 , March 5, 2019 and March 21, 2019 respectively.

The exercise price of the warrants will remain at $0.40. Each whole warrant, when exercised, will be exchangeable for one common share of the Company.

The amendment is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV").

Stock Option Grant

The Company also announces that it has granted 4,655,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. The Options are set for a period of five years, expiring on January 19, 2026, and each Option will allow the holder to purchase a common share of the Company at a price of $0.25. The Options are subject to a 4 month hold period from the date of grant and TSXV approval.

About Golden Arrow:

Golden Arrow Resources Corporation is a mining exploration company with a successful track record of creating value by making precious and base metal discoveries and advancing them into exceptional deposits. The Company is well-leveraged to the price of gold, having monetized its Chinchillas silver discovery into a significant holding in precious metals producer SSR Mining Inc.

Golden Arrow is actively exploring a portfolio that includes a new epithermal gold project in Argentina, a districtscale frontier gold opportunity in Paraguay, a base-metal project in the heart of a leading mining district in Chile and more than 180,000 hectares of properties in Argentina.

The Company is a member of the Grosso Group, a resource management group that has pioneered exploration in Argentina since 1993

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Joseph Grosso"

_______________________________

Mr. Joseph Grosso,

Executive Chairman, President and CEO

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.

SOURCE Golden Arrow Resources Corporation

Related Links

https://goldenarrowresources.com/



Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 19:11:27|Editor: huaxia

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BAKU, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The main factors behind Azerbaijan's choice of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine are its reliability and safety, Seymur Mammadov, director of Eurasia-Azerbaijan, an international expert club, has said.

The Chinese vaccine has been clinically tested in several countries with good results and no complications, Mammadov told Xinhua in a recent interview in the capital city of Baku.

"On Jan. 18, a new and, perhaps, the most important stage in the fight against the global pandemic began in Azerbaijan, the mass vaccination against COVID-19," he said, adding that the country has ordered 4 million doses of vaccine developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech.

Azerbaijan's senior health officials on Monday took their first inoculation of the Sinovac vaccine, marking the beginning of mass immunization against COVID-19 in the country.

The beginning of mass inoculation of the Chinese vaccine in Azerbaijan will help the country step out of the COVID-19 swamp earlier than expected, Mammadov said.

Mass vaccination in Azerbaijan began almost simultaneously with the start of vaccination program with the Chinese vaccine in Turkey, the expert said.

The Chinese vaccine is one of the safest and most reliable vaccines in the world, and is quite suitable for Azerbaijan, he said.

"An important advantage of the Chinese vaccine is its reliable storage conditions," Mammadov said, adding that "it can be stored in an ordinary refrigerator. In comparison, American and European vaccines are very capricious to the conditions and often deteriorate during the process of shipping to certain countries."

Azerbaijan is now one of the countries that has taken a lead in vaccinating the population in the shortest possible time, thanks to the usage of the Chinese vaccine, he said.

"This shows the importance the government of Azerbaijan and the president of the country attach to the health of our citizens," Mammadov said. Enditem
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) is calling for feedback on its mobile number portability proposals via a public consultation.

The Colombo Gazette notes that holding the consultation is the next proscribed phase of the procedure outlined by the government last year for introducing MNP, with industry representatives, academics and stakeholders all asked to provide their opinions on the implementation. Feedback is expected before 12th February 2021.

In August 2020, TRCSL announced that it was taking preliminary steps on implementing number portability which would enable consumers to select service providers without change of existing mobile numbers.

Its easy to argue that preliminary steps are long overdue; as noted by TeleGeography, TRCSL first started mulling the introduction of MNP in 2008-2009 before inviting consulting firms to help define the regulatory framework for the process in 2010.

Little was heard on the matter until 2014, when the regulators then-director general Anusha Palpita stated that the TRC had paused the implementation of MNP until there were more postpaid subscribers in the market, as otherwise it would not be cost-effective.
TORONTO, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ARHT Media Inc. ("ARHT" or "the Company") (TSXV:ART), the global leader in the development, production and distribution of high-quality, low latency hologram and digital content, is pleased to announce that they recently beamed Sherrif Karamat, President and CEO of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) from Toronto to Singapore for PCMA's annual signature event Convening Leaders: An Omnichannel Experience for Event Professionals.



The event took place at Singapore's Marina Bay Sands Hotel between January 13 to 15, 2021. ARHT's technology was deployed by Singapore based strategic partner Electronics & Engineering PTE Ltd. The hybrid event brought together a small group of event professionals in Singapore and streamed online to a larger audience. Mr. Karamat beamed-in to kick-off the event and then joined a panel discussion on Decoding the Keynote  Big Trends Shaping Business Events.

I felt like I was in Singapore with my colleagues, stated Mr. Karamat. This is a great example of creativity born during the pandemic that will continue to serve as a model for overcoming time and geography for future events.

"We're continuing to see the Professional Events industry adapt to the current times with hybrid events like Convening Leaders as well as purely online conferences," stated ARHT Media CEO Larry O'Reilly. "Singapore, with a relatively lower level of COVID cases, and employing a host of technologies including ours, has led the resurgence of smaller in-person conferences combined with a large online audience."

PCMA is leading the charge of recovery for the Events industry by connecting people, new ideas and opportunities together through events like Convening Leaders, which aims to serve as a community design lab for the future of business events.

ARHT Media is well-positioned to offer a full range of solutions to conduct online and hybrid events. ARHTs in-person display, HolopresenceTM technology, brings remote speakers as live holograms anywhere on the planet which can be combined with ARHT's Virtual Global StageTM, a premium online presentation platform to maximize engagement.

About ARHT Media

ARHT Media's patented HoloPresence technology is a complete end-to-end solution that creates a sense of presence for audiences  as though the holographic presenter was actually live in the room. With no noticeable latency, ARHT Media makes two-way live communication with a 3D holographic presenter anywhere in the world possible. We can also playback pre-recorded content and 3D animations on our HoloPresence displays to deliver rich holographic experiences. Add to this our capability to stream the same content online on our premium Virtual Global StageTM.

Connect with ARHT Media

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ARHTmedia

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ARHTmediainc

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/arht-media-inc-

For more information, please visit www.arhtmedia.com or contact the investor relations group at info@arhtmedia.com.

ARHT Media trades under the symbol "ART" on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange.

Press Contact

Salman Amin

ARHT Media

samin@arhtmedia.com

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure related to the Company's sales funnel; the Company's technology; the potential uses for the Company's technology; the future planned events using the Company's technology; the future success of the Company; the ability of the Company to monetize the ARHT Media technology; the development of the Company's technology; and interest from parties in ARHT's products. 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". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic and competitive uncertainties; regulatory risks; risks inherent in technology operations; and other risks of the technology industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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.
Xiaomi is not holding back with its K series on its smartphone releases as it recently unveiled that it would release more than one variant of the Redmi K40 that features the Snapdragon 888 chipset, coming soon for release. The Chinese smartphone's K series is known to be its sub-brand and mid-tier smartphone but would have multiple releases, as opposed to the usual trends.

The Beijing-based consumer electronics company, Xiaomi, is making a bold move with its mid-tier smartphone which its executives have teased and leaked to the public, with the release of 2021's Redmi K40 Series. Despite its mid-tier status, it would feature some of the top specs an Android smartphone has seen, making it one of the best budget smartphones available.

Xiaomi is known for making bold options for its smartphones and offering them for a cheaper price tag compared to its competitors. The Chinese company's rise to prominence was based on the foundation of making top-quality consumer electronics product, and its focus on its smartphones, cheap and affordable, but still ensuring the specifications of an expensive one.

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Series: Snapdragon-powered Smartphone with Multiple Variants

According to News 18, Redmi Product Director Wang Teng Thomas revealed the plans of the company for a multiple variant release of the Redmi K40 series, in response to another executive of Xiaomi's sub-brand. The email was forwarded to Redmi General Manager Lu Weibing.

Weibing has recently revealed that the K40, despite being a mid-tier smartphone, would feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, which is commonly used for flagship releases of the company. The 5G chip was confirmed for the Redmi K40 Series, along with a rumor that says another smartphone would be releasing, containing the Snapdragon 888 Chipset.

This led the leaks to believe that Weibing was talking about another K40 variant, in the works, and would only be unveiled once Xiaomi releases the Redmi K40 in its target schedule of February.

Read Also: Nvidia RTX 3060 Pre-Order Now Available: Price, Specs, and Everything You Need to Know!

Xiaomi Redmi K40 Series: Specs, Release Date, Price, and MORE

According to Gizmochina, the specs of the Redmi K40 is not yet officially revealed by Xiaomi, apart from its Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Chipset, Quad Camera setup, 33W Fast Charging, and a USB Type-C Port. It would also have the "hole punch cutout" on its front panel as part of its new design for the mid-tier smartphone from Xiaomi.

The teaser of the smartphone was unveiled and teased on Chinese social media, Weibo, and has revealed several of the specs to be expected as the Redmi K40 releases. The release date is scheduled for February 2021 but has not clarified the exact date, or whether it would happen early, middle, or towards the end of the month.

The K40 series is also expected to be one of the cheapest smartphones that contain the Snapdragon 888, only starting with $464 (CNY 2,999 as of January 20).

Related Article: The Best 5G Android Phones 2021 You Can Buy Right Now

This article is owned by Tech Times





Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A member of Capuchin Franciscan has tested positive for COVID-19.

The priest tested positive and was admitted to the Guam Regional Medical City on Jan. 19, according to the Archdiocese of Agana.

The Archdiocese notified the Department of Public Health and Social Services and activated its archdiocesan protocols.

"We are working with DPHSS on contact tracing," church officials stated.

The Capuchin priest does not actively celebrate Masses at any of the churches in the Archdiocese. Officials said, however, that out of an abundance of caution, the pastors of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Agana Heights, San Miguel in Talofofo, Santa Teresita in Mangilao, Saint Jude in Sinajana and Saint Francis in Yona have placed themselves in quarantine because of possible exposure to the clergyman who has tested positive.

The Masses at those five parishes overseen by the Capuchins  Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, San Miguel, Santa Teresita, Saint Jude and Saint Francis  are also temporarily suspended until further notice while their pastors and staff self-quarantine. Their churches and offices are also closed for the duration..

Archbishop Michael Byrnes and Father Patrick Castro, Custos of the Provincial (Custody Star of the Sea) Order of Friars Minor Capuchin of Guam & Hawaii, ask residents for their prayers for the Capuchin Friar and all who have contracted COVID-19.
Perhaps the only inauguration to compare with the massive security surrounding Joe Bidens was that of Abraham Lincoln in 1861. On the eve of the US civil war, Americas newly elected president had to dodge and weave his way through slave state territory to reach Americas capital. Unlike Lincoln, who arrived by train incognito in the middle of the night, Mr Biden cancelled his ceremonial arrival in Washington on Amtrak  a journey he took every day for more than three decades. The security risk was just too great.

But Mr Biden has gone ahead with other risks. Against the advice of some in the security agencies, Mr Biden will be sworn into office on the steps of the Capitol  the same building that was stormed two weeks ago by Donald Trumps Stop the Steal mob. Along with former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton, Mr Biden will lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier across the Potomac river in Arlington cemetery after the inauguration.

In a sign of heightened concern, officials have conducted background checks on the 25,000 soldiers who will patrol and guard Washingtons vast green zone. The day before the inauguration, two National Guard soldiers were removed from duty because of suspected links to extreme rightwing groups.

I have to question the wisdom of holding these events outside  it seems like an unnecessary risk, said Michael Beschloss, a leading presidential historian. It is questionable whether the business-as-usual image Biden wants to project outweighs the non-trivial threat to his security and other dignitaries.

In 1861, the US army were on the lookout for the infamous plug-uglies  a nativist criminal network that wanted to assassinate Lincoln. He made it through the day unscathed. At least once during his presidency, an enemy sharpshooter penetrated his tall hat. He eventually fell to an assassins bullet in 1865.

The Secret Service, the FBI and the DC police have been closely monitoring encrypted communications among the panoply of far-right groups that wish to prevent Mr Bidens swearing-in  or who view his presidency as illegitimate. Of these, the Oath Keepers, the three percenters, the Proud Boys and various QAnon-inspired groups are prominent.

Even without the security dimension, Mr Bidens inauguration would have been largely virtual. With the US pandemic death toll continuing to mount, there would have been no traditional crowds lining Pennsylvania Avenue between Capitol Hill and the White House.

With the US pandemic death toll continuing to mount, there will not be the traditional crowds  Susan Walsh/AP

Nor will there be any ceremonial handover between Mr Trump and Mr Biden. The last time a departing president refused to attend the swearing-in of his successor was in 1869 when Andrew Johnson boycotted the inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant. Johnson had just been impeached, he was angry at having lost the election and he didnt have many friends left, said Mr Beschloss. Does that remind you of anyone?

The healing tone and content of Mr Bidens address is likely to strike a sharp contrast to Mr Trumps dystopian American carnage speech four years ago. So, too, will the atmosphere. Mr Trumps highly-litigated inaugural committee faces court hearings later this year. The District of Columbias attorney-general has accused Mr Trumps team of having directed a large chunk of the $107m it raised for the event to pay inflated prices at the Trump International Hotel and other arms of the Trump Organisation.

The experience was the most shocking of my life, said Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who was a key player on the Trump inaugural committee, and who, as a former employee at Vogue, had befriended Melania Trump when she appeared on the magazines cover in 2003. The level of self-dealing and deceit that I saw in Trumps inaugural celebrations was a foretaste of what America would go through for the next four years.

Mr Bidens inauguration will also strike a very different kind of contrast to Barack Obamas first one in 2009, which drew crowds of 1.9m in front of a glinting snow-covered foreground. Steven Spielberg, the Hollywood director, remarked that it would be impossible to create a film set like that.

Even without the heightened security tensions and the pandemic, this occasion would have been different. Mr Biden is not known for his strong oratory. Nor is he known for his brevity. The most celebrated inaugural speeches have tended to be the shortest: George Washington in 1789, Lincoln in 1861 and 1865 and John F. Kennedy in 1961.

Kennedys ask not what your country can do for you speech is what history best remembers about his event. But it was also marred by the appearance of smoke from under the lectern when Cardinal Richard Cushing, the archbishop of Boston, was giving his blessing. The cardinal later said that he had strung out his prayer so as to protect Kennedy from a possible bomb blast. In the event, the smoke turned out to been caused by an electrical fault.

Cushings blessing went on for longer than JFKs address. Although the outgoing president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, was no fan of Kennedy, the jovial atmosphere around that event, and most other inaugurations, could not be further removed from Mr Bidens.

Americas 46th president will be hemmed in by a vast cage of protective fortifications more redolent of a country at war than a peaceful democracy. The man who made this all possible  Mr Trump  will have left the city several hours earlier for his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

The departing president and first lady have not even upheld the tradition of showing the incoming first family around the White House. Nor has Mr Trump formally conceded defeat. Melania didnt even invite Jill Biden around for tea, said Ms Wolkoff. They are leaving office as they entered it: with no grace and no respect.
BRUSSELS  The European Unions top officials breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday that Joe Biden will be taking over as president of the United States, but they warned that the world has changed after four years of Donald Trump and that trans-Atlantic ties will be different in the future.

This new dawn in America is the moment weve been awaiting for so long, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, hailing Bidens arrival as resounding proof that, once again after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House.

The United States are back, and Europe stands ready to reconnect with an old and trusted partner to breathe new life into our cherished alliance, she told EU lawmakers, hours before Biden was to be sworn in at his inauguration ceremony in Washington.

 READ MORE: Welcome to the presidency, Joe Biden. Please solve all these crises.

European Council President Charles Michel, who chairs summits between the EUs 27 heads of state and government, said that trans-Atlantic relations have greatly suffered in the last four years. In these years, the world has grown more complex, less stable and less predictable.

We have our differences and they will not magically disappear. America seems to have changed, and how its perceived in Europe and the rest of the world has also changed, said Michel, whose open criticism of the Trump era contrasted starkly with the silence that mostly reigned in Europe while the Republican leader was in the White House.

This change, Michel said, means that we Europeans (must) take our fate firmly into our own hands, to defend our interests and promote our values, and he underlined that the EU chooses its course and does not wait for permission to take its own decisions.

The Europeans have invited Biden to a summit, quite probably in Brussels, in parallel with a top-level NATO meeting as soon as hes ready. Michel said the EUs priority is to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, rebuild the global economy and boost security ties with Washington.

In Germany, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued a video statement on his website as well as Instagram and Facebook before the inauguration, calling it a good day for democracy.

 READ MORE: On Day 1, Biden to undo Trump policies on climate, coronavirus, border wall, and travel ban

He said that the U.S. had faced tremendous challenges and endured.

Despite the attempts to tear at Americas institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress have proven strong, he said. I am greatly relieved that, today, Joe Biden is being sworn in as president and will be moving into the White House. I know many people in Germany share this feeling.

With Biden and incoming Vice President Kamala Harris, Steinmeier said there was new hope that the U.S. would again be a vital partner internationally to tackle issues like the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, security issues including arms control and disarmament, and multiple conflicts.

When our views do differ, such differences of opinion will not divide us, but should rather spur us on to find joint solutions, he said. Despite all the joy we feel today, we must not forget that even the most powerful democracy in the world has been seduced by populism.

We must work resolutely to counter polarization, protect and strengthen the public square in our democracies, and shape our policies on the basis of reason and facts.

David Rising in Berlin contributed to this article.
As thousands of National Guard troops continued to flow into Washington ahead of Inauguration Day, the Pentagon on Sunday sent another strong signal to Iran and other potential adversaries in the Middle East not to exploit the nations focus on domestic terrorist threats to carry out attacks against Americans in the region.

The militarys Central Command sent two B-52 bombers on a 36-hour round-trip show-of-force mission from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to the Persian Gulf to deter any possible strikes by Iran or its Shia proxies in Iraq against U.S. troops in the region. It was the fifth such bomber mission in recent months, and the second this year.

U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed for months that Iran is seeking to target senior American military officers and civilian leaders to avenge the death of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the commander of Irans elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, in an American drone strike last January.

Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the commander of the Central Command, said in a statement on Sunday that, in addition to improving readiness, the B-52 flights delivered a clear and consistent message in the operational environment to both friends and potential adversaries alike.
Boris Johnson has claimed British fishers should prepare for an El Dorado despite many experiencing difficulties post-Brexit.

The Prime Minister blamed complications over form-filling for the barriers some fishers are facing, but told MPs things will improve and fabulous riches await.

Speaking in the Commons, Labour former minister Ben Bradshaw said: When the Prime Minister told fishermen in the South-West that they would not face new export barriers or unnecessary form-filling, and when he told Britains musicians and artists they would still be free to tour and work in the rest of the European Union after Brexit, neither of those statements were correct, were they Prime Minister?

Mr Johnson responded: It is absolutely true that some British fishermen have faced barriers at the present time owing to complications over form-filling and indeed one of the biggest problems is that, alas, there is a decline in appetite for fish in continental markets just because most of the restaurants, as he knows, are shut.

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The reality is that Brexit will deliver and is delivering a huge uplift in quota, already the next five years, and by 2026 the fishing people of this country will have access to all the fish in all the territorial waters of this country.

To get them ready for that El Dorado, were investing 100 million in improving our boats, our fish processing industry and getting fishing ready for the opportunities ahead.

SDLP MP Claire Hanna (Belfast South) also urged Mr Johnson to be straight with the people of Northern Ireland over Brexit.

She said: Contrary to the view of every political party here and all of those involved in logistics and retail, (Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis) said last week that theres no border in the Irish Sea and that disruption to supplies was a Covid issue and nothing to do with Brexit or the Protocol.

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The papers are reporting (the Prime Minister) plans to woo (US President Joe Bidens) administration through the topic of Northern Ireland.

As they and we try to move on from Trump and Trump-ism, would being straight with the people of Northern Ireland not be a good start?

Mr Johnson responded: As (Ms Hanna) I think may know from what I think I said to the Liaison Committee several times, the proof of the pudding is in the  actually theres more transit now taking place between Larne and Stranraer and Cairnryan than there is between Holyhead and Dublin because its going so smoothly.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo condemned China for its atrocities against the minority group Uyghur based on "available facts" that confirm it as "Genocide."

Pompeo said in the press statement entitled, "Determination of the Secretary of State on Atrocities in Xinjiang," that being a country renowned for leading "the world in holding the perpetrators of the most heinous human rights abuses accountable," he has determined China has committed genocide against the Uyghurs who are predominantly Muslims as well as other religious minorities. He identified two main reasons for this determination.

"After careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that since at least March 2017, the People's Republic of China (PRC), under the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang," Pompeo identified as its primary reason for his decision.

"In addition, after careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that the PRC, under the direction and control of the CCP, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state," he said, citing it as his second reason.

Pompeo cited "the arbitrary imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty of more than one million civilians, forced sterilization, torture of a large number of those arbitrarily detained, forced labor, and the imposition of draconian restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement" as examples of China's crimes against humanity.

"The Nuremberg Tribunals at the end of World War II prosecuted perpetrators for crimes against humanity, the same crimes being perpetrated in Xinjiang," he stressed.

Christianity Daily actually reported about these crimes recently that were released by the British Conservative Party Human Rights Commission last week.

He raised, "The governing authorities of the second most economically, militarily, and politically powerful country on earth have made clear that they are engaged in the forced assimilation and eventual erasure of a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority group, even as they simultaneously assert their country as a global leader and attempt to remold the international system in their image."

Pompeo tweeted about his determination on the same day.

"I have determined that the People's Republic of China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, China, targeting Uyghur Muslims and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups," he posted Tuesday.

According to the Christian Post, Pompeo's declaration made the United States the first country to condemn China's acts in Xinjang as genocide and called on other countries to do the same. They cited this as a timely move just before former Vice President Joseph Biden is inaugurated into the presidency.

The Christian Post cited several leaders like Congress of Christian Leaders President Johnnie Moore and United States Family Research Council Vice Chair Tony Perkins who admired Pompeo's actions.

"A fitting, parting shot from an historic Secretary of State. This is a determination everyone--Democrat or Republican--ought to agree with. Religious Freedom must remain the beating heart of American foreign policy. It's also high time the Europeans step up," Moore said after retweeting Pompeo's post about it.
TWENTY-three people from Haiti were detained on Sunday (January 17) after being smuggled into TCI waters in an undocumented boat.





At about 10.15pm officials from the Coastal Radar Station alerted officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force that they were tracking a target.





Marine branch officers on police boat Sea Guardian immediately responded and intercepted a blue 27 foot vessel, five miles south of Bird Rock.





Additional officers on board police boat Sea Pursuit assisted with transporting the boat and 15 men and eight women to South Dock in Providenciales.





The migrants were handed over to the Immigration Department Enforcement Unit and Environmental Health official for immediate assessment, processing and repatriation.





"The operation was conducted without incident, according to the police press office.





A boat containing 159 people from Haiti capsized 11 miles south of Providenciales just two days prior on January 15.





Marine police officers, the US Coastguard and Government officials worked together to rescue the passengers. There were no casualties.





Immigration minister Hon. Vaden Delroy Williams said: "This vessel is the second interception within three days, which is very alarming.





"We are very thankful for all organisations involved in the two interceptions.





He added: "Travelling here illegally is a wasted time, as our border protection team is very strong and you will be caught and you will be sent back to your home land.





"Do not risk all you have to travel here.





A 25 foot wooden boat containing 26 Haitian migrants was towed to South Dock in Providenciales after it was found in TCI waters on December 28, 2020.





And on December 18, the United States Coast Guard intercepted another Haitian vessel containing 110 people about 40 miles from the TCI.





It is an offence to harbour illegal persons and anyone found guilty risks a fine of $20,000 or four years in prison, or both in accordance with the Immigration Ordinance 2018.




Islamic State fighters temporarily capture Nigerian military base, force residents to flee

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Militants believed to be aligned with the Islamic State temporarily overran a town and military base near Lake Chad in Nigerias troubled Borno state, forcing many residents to flee for their lives as the rise of extremism continues to plague the northeast part of the West African country.

Brig. Gen. Sagir Musa, the director of the Nigerian Armys public relations unit, said in a statement shared by the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday that military troops were able to regain control of the Marte area of Borno following an attack by extremists believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province.

The attack, which security sources said was claimed by the Islamic State terrorist group through its Amaq News Agency, occurred Friday and drove military personnel from the area.

The Islamic State claimed to have killed seven people and captured one. The terror group also claimed that aligned fighters seized weapons, ammunition and at least six vehicles. The group additionally claimed to have burned down an Army barracks.

Reuters reports that the assault came about two months after residents, who had earlier been driven from their homes due to attacks by extremists, had returned home under a government program.

In a statement last weekend, the Nigerian Army said that its troops tactically withdrew in order to defend against an attack outside of Marte.

AFP notes that extremist fighters tried to attack Marte earlier last week but were repelled by military forces. The militants regrouped with more fighters for Fridays overnight raid. Sources stated that Fridays raid was seen as a fightback after military troops recently overran an ISWAP camp in Talala village.

In the Marte attack, sources told Reuters that most residents fled to the nearby Dikwa local government area or to Bornos capital, Maiduguri.

The Nigerian Army regained control of the military base on Sunday morning after what has been described as intense fighting, sources told AFP.

Musa told the media that the Air Task Force played a large role in pushing the terrorists out of the region, which included the destruction of seven militant gun trucks as well as the killing of several jihadis.

Sources confirmed on Sunday to AFP that jihadis had left the town. However, the sources confirmed that the militants reportedly burned the barracks and stole weaponry and vehicles.

Sources also confirmed that seven soldiers were killed and eight others were captured.

The attack comes as ISWAP, which split from Boko Haram in 2016 and is based in the Lake Chad area, continues to wreak havoc on communities in northeast Nigeria.

Along with ISWAP, the existence of Boko Haram, radical Fulani herders in Nigerias Middle Belt and armed bandits elsewhere in Nigeria have made life difficult and dangerous for many Nigerians.

The United Nations estimates that nearly 3 million Nigerians have been forced to flee from their homes due to the violence.

In December, the U.S. State Department under President Trump listed Nigeria on its list of countries of particular concern, a designation that identifies countries where governments tolerate or engage in violations of religious freedom.

A U.S.-led coalition largely eradicated the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria after the terrorist group gained control of large swaths of territory in those two countries. However, critics contend that the international community is not doing enough to combat the presence of Islamic State extremists who are terrorizing and expanding in Africa.

Various regions of Africa have noticed steep escalations in terrorism in recent years, such as the Sahel countries and Mozambique in southern Africa.

As estimates suggest that as many as 2,200 Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2020, Nigeria is ranked as the ninth-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List.

More Christians are murdered for their faith in Nigeria than in any other country, an Open Doors factsheet reads. Violent attacks by Boko Haram, Hausa-Fulani Muslim militant herdsmen, ISWAP (an affiliate of the Islamic State group) and other Islamic extremist groups are common in the north and Middle Belt of the country, and are becoming more common farther south.
An officer walks by evidence markers in an alley at the scene where shots were fired at and by police the previous night, on the 3800 block of West Polk Street in the Homan Square neighborhood on Jan. 19, 2021, in Chicago. According to police, three guns were found and no officers were shot, but one person was shot by police and transported in unknown condition. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

MUMBAI : TPG Capital-backed Fourth Partner Energy Pvt. Ltd is in talks to raise $100 million from private market investors amid rising investor interest in distributed renewable energy providers, three people aware of the matter said seeking anonymity.

Distributed solar energy companies provide power to businesses, commercial office buildings, and industrial units directly using rooftop solar installations or captive solar capacities. Large solar parks, on the other hand, feed power to a central grid.

Fourth Partner has received interest from Norwegian sovereign wealth fund Norfund, which is in talks to infuse $100 million into the firm to fund its growth, said one of the three people mentioned above. Norfund is bullish on green energy investments in India and has been scouting the market for a bunch of investments. Solar power cost has come down significantly, making it much cheaper for industries to source power from distributed solar power providers than the grid and thus investor interest is growing in this segment," said the second person.

Mint reported in July that green energy companies such as ReNew Power and Azure Power aim to sell their distributed solar operating assets to raise funds on the back of increasing investor interest in this segment. As a matter of policy, we do not respond to queries related to potential investments," Norfund said in an email response to Mints queries. Fundraising is an on-going process at Fourth Partner Energy. However, we will not be able to comment further on any particular development at the moment," said a spokesperson for the company.

Investment bank Investec is advising Fourth Partner, while Avendus Capital is advising Norfund on the transaction, said the third person. Avendus Capital chose not to comment.

ICRA had reaffirmed its BBB+ rating for Fourth Partner Energy in November citing its demonstrated track record in establishing distributed solar power projects. It has built 251MW of owned and down sold capacity since inception, the rating agency said.

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Uzbek farmers say they are fed up with the private monopolies theyve been forced to work through in recent years to grow and sell crops under Uzbekistans agriculture reform strategy -- the so-called cluster system.

Now, in the Shovot district of the northwestern region of Khorezm, scores of cotton farmers are refusing to sign contracts for 2021 with the private textile cluster firms that dominate the area.

Instead, theyve set up a kind of do-it-yourself cooperative in an attempt to sidestep the private cluster monopolies of the Uztex Group and a powerful local oligarch, Farhod Mamajonov.

But the clusters control access to almost everything needed for independent private cotton farming -- from agricultural loans, seeds, fertilizers, and fuel to cotton gins and export licenses.

Combined with pressure from local authorities who support the cluster monopolies in Uzbekistan, those whove set up the Shovot Cotton Cooperative as a free association of farmers admit they have a daunting task ahead.

Corruption Scheme

Uzbekistans cluster reforms have proven to be a new form of hidden or secret privatization -- a scheme used during the 1990s by corrupt officials and their private-sector cronies in the former communist countries of Eastern Europe to plunder the assets of state firms.

In Uzbekistans case, the new cluster firms have taken over the states longtime monopoly on the most profitable aspects of agriculture.

Uzbek state banks have disbursed hundreds of millions of dollars to the private firms from loans received through the World Banks Horticulture Development Project since January 2018, when Tashkent launched its cluster reforms.

Uzbek authorities also marked out exclusive territorial control for each of the new private agribusinesses without any public bidding process.

The World Bank says the funds it has provided were meant to help create better paid jobs in rural areas where about half of Uzbekistans 32 million people live.

But since 2018, an increasing number of Uzbek farmers say theyre not being adequately compensated under contracts theyve been forced to sign with the cluster firms that monopolize their region.

In cases of the more shadowy clusters documented by RFE/RL, some Uzbek farmers say theyve never been paid for their harvests.

There is no competition between clusters within their marked-out territory. That means farmers dont have an option to get loans or supplies elsewhere, or sell their harvests, if their cluster contracts are unfavorable.

Western agriculture experts conclude that if farmers don't have the incentive of higher prices for their harvests, it is only a matter of time before agricultural production collapses.

De Facto Quotas

In Uzbekistan, all agricultural land is owned by the state.

That allowed the government for decades to set annual harvest quotas and tell farmers what crops they should plant on the farmland they leased from the state.

Even though Uzbekistans official regulation of cotton prices and state harvest quotas was officially abolished in March, farmers say they are pressured or forced into signing contracts with a private cluster monopoly in their district to receive the loans and supplies they need.

Those contracts specify which crops each farmer must grow and the price that the cluster firms will pay them for their harvest.

Meanwhile, local officials are in charge of ensuring each farmer fulfills the harvest obligations specified in their private cluster contracts.

The Uzbek Forum for Human Rights concludes that local authorities are, in essence, continuing to enforce de facto cotton quotas of the private cluster contracts.

Uzbek Forum says the responsibility of local officials to fulfill planned cotton yields raises concerns that they could resort to coercion, given their past role in mobilizing forced labor, to fulfill state quotas.

The rights group also found that during Uzbekistans September cotton harvest, thousands of state employees were forced to pick cotton despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also reported cases where children of families that receive state aid were being forced to work in the cotton fields.

On October 12, Uzbekistan reported through a summary of information from regional officials that just 72 percent of the planned 3.1 million-ton cotton harvest had actually been harvested.

Treated 'Like Slaves'

Altogether, the heads of 78 farms in the Shovot district of the Khorezm region have joined together to set up the new Shovot Cotton Cooperative.

The group says it plans to use family contracting methods in order to get rid of the clusters that dominate the district: Shovot Texile and Textile Finance Khorezm. Both are subsidiaries of the Uztex Group, which is controlled by Mamajonov.

One of the disgruntled farmers, Ruslan Bekchonov, told RFE/RL that the group was set up because they were being treated like slaves by the Uztex Group.

The Uztex Group says on its official website that it is the largest exporter of textile products in the Commonwealth of Independent States. It owns five large cluster monopolies in Uzbekistans Khorezm and Namangan regions.

Uztex representatives would not comment to RFE/RL about the situation that led Khorezms farmers to create their own independent cooperative.

Officials in the Khorezm region also refused to discuss the relationship between local cotton farmers and Uztexs cluster firms, saying it is a trade secret.

Someone is stealing the money from the farmers pockets. Why cant I set my own price for my harvest according to a market economy?

Bekchonov told RFE/RL that he and other Shovot farmers informed Mamajonov in December that they would no longer sign contracts to work through his cotton and textile clusters.

"There were 25 of us who met with his attorney," Bekchonov said. He told us that we are all entrepreneurs and that we had to reduce our costs. But we cant reduce our costs any longer because the state has set the prices.

I dont know how right or wrong it is, but it was said that nobody would interfere in the farmers activities, Bekchonov continued.

In reality, he said, the minimum prices set by the state for supplies farmers receive under their cluster contracts is high, while the minimum prices the clusters must pay to farmers for their harvests is low.

Someone is stealing the money from the farmers pockets, Bekchonov concluded. Why cant I set my own price for my harvest according to a market economy?

Before setting up their new cooperative, the Shovot farmers wrote a formal letter of complaint about their plight to Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev and the head of the Khorezm Regional Cotton Terminal.

That letter claims farmers have been forced to sign a contract with clusters that have enslaved them. It also gives examples of how the Uztex clusters have deceived farmers with promises to buy their cotton at higher prices than theyve received.

In 2020, we signed an agreement on monopolistic terms in the interests of only one party, the cluster Textile Finance Khorezm, under pressure from the district government, and the Agriculture Department, the letter says.

Our dissatisfaction with the terms of the agreement was not taken into account at all, it continues. As a result, the cluster has plunged us into a swamp of poverty.
Automakers in Japan, where almost 30% of the population is 65 or older, are taking the lead on adapting cars so the nations legions of elderly drivers can feel more confident  and be safer  behind the wheel.

A run of accidents involving older people behind the wheel has upped the pressure from regulators to standardize advanced features. Automatic brakes will be required for all new vehicles sold domestically from this year, for example, and companies from Toyota Motor Corp. to Nissan Motor Co. are employing smart technology to make cars more user friendly for older people.

Its also becoming more of a priority as public railways in rural areas disappear, worsening an isolation crisis made only more stark by the coronavirus pandemic. Without any means of getting around, elderly people in Japan are increasingly confined to their homes, their lives shrinking as transport options evaporate.

A recent high-profile fatal accident spotlighted the issue. In February last year, Japanese prosecutors indicted 89-year-old Kozo Iizuka on a charge of negligence resulting in death and injury after a crash in Tokyos Ikebukuro district. The former senior bureaucrat was on his way to a French restaurant with his wife in April 2019 when his Toyota Prius plowed through a crossing, killing a toddler and her mother and harming several others.

The accident made headlines, not least because of Iizukas high-ranking government position. Public sentiment swiftly turned against Iizuka, who is back in court this week after pleading not guilty in October. The incident also sparked a national debate about the swelling ranks of elderly drivers on Japans roads. After the event, the number of old people opting to park their wheels for good soared. According to the National Police Agency, 350,428 people 75 or over returned their drivers licenses in 2019, the highest on record.

Young people tell us seniors to return our drivers licenses, but they arent around, says Hideaki Fukushima, 90, whose wife returned her own license around the time of the accident. The couples children live in Nagoya, a two-hour drive away. In Takamori where they live, a small town in Japans central mountainous area, trains operated by Central Japan Railway Co. only come about once an hour. Theres nothing you can do without a car, Fukushima says.

Last year, Toyota upgraded its Safety Sense offering. The technology is designed to prevent or mitigate frontal collisions as well as keep drivers within their lane. By using high-resolution cameras on the windscreen and bumper-mounted radars, it can detect oncoming cars or pedestrians  or even bicycles in daylight hours  and give audible and visual alerts. If drivers fail to respond, automatic braking may be deployed. The new software also has intersection functionality to help detect oncoming obstacles if a car is making a turn from a stationary position.

Other Toyota Safety Sense features include the correction of unintentional lane departures, automatic toggling between high and low-beam at night depending on surrounding traffic, and the detection of slower-moving cars ahead on a highway and automatic maintenance of a pre-set distance. Road-sign assistance technology detects stop and speed signs as theyre passed and displays a dashboard alert in case drivers have missed them themselves.

A society in which the elderly can drive safely is crucial for their active social participation and healthier, fuller lives, Toyota said. Our ultimate goal is, of course, to have zero casualties from traffic accidents.

Subaru Corp.s aspirations are similar; it wants to eliminate all fatal accidents by 2030. Like several other automakers, its using stereo cameras, which have two or more lenses with a separate image sensor for each, providing the ability to capture three-dimensional images. Dubbed EyeSight, the technology looks ahead and alerts drivers to any danger. Subaru says Eyesight-equipped vehicles are involved in 61% fewer accidents and 85% fewer rear-end crashes. Pedestrian-related injuries are lowered by 35%.

It would be impossible to eradicate all fatal accidents without utilizing artificial intelligence, says Subarus Eiji Shibata, who oversees the development of EyeSight. To reach its ambitious target, Subaru plans to combine its stereo cameras with AI, assigning meaning to each object and trying to accurately infer risk.

Thats not without its challenges, according to Shibata. Its a technologically tough area, he says. Stereo cameras are harder to install in mass produced cars, partly because they convey more information than other sensors and require more complicated back-end support. Equipping the technology in cars that people ordinarily use is a huge task.

An upgraded EyeSight X that uses autonomous technology debuted in August in the second generation of the Subaru Levorg. The model, which went on sale in Japan in November, has 360-degree sensing and like Toyotas upgraded tech, has an intersection assist function that can autonomously steer cars away from an impending collision. Using EyeSight X, vehicles can even change lanes on their own and slow down for toll booths.

Nissan has a similar offering called ProPilot that it expects to have in at least 20 models in 20 markets globally by the end of 2023.

Takuya Matsunaga, who lost his wife and child in the 2019 accident, admits its a good start but adds that dealers, when selling cars, should stress these technologies arent failsafe. Anyone can cause an accident, he says.

Matsunaga has become a member of Aino Kai, a support group for bereaved families from traffic collisions. Aino Kai also plays a lobbying role, urging government officials to expand public transport networks in regional centers.

I dont want to see divisions like the young and the elderly hating each other, Matsunaga says. We need to think about the people who are suffering: the elderly in rural areas.

About the photo: Prototype Subaru Levorg vehicles equipped with the companys EyeSight driving support system are driven during a test drive in 2017.


Donald Trumps daughter, Tiffany, on Wednesday, announced her engagement to her 23-yr-old Nigerian-Lebanese boyfriend, Michael Boulos.

Boulos popped the question to Tiffany, who is an internet celebrity, with a 13-carat emerald-cut diamond from Dubai said to be worth $1.2 million.

Ms Tifanny, 27, broke the news on her official Instagram handle on Tuesday alongside a photo of them.

In the photo, the outgoing president of Americas daughter is clad in a black dress as she struck a pose with her beau.

It has been an honour to celebrate many milestones, historic occasions and create memories with my family here at the White House, none more special than my engagement to my amazing fiance Michael! Feeling blessed and excited for the next chapter! her caption read.

Mr Boulos responded to his fiancees post in the comments, writing, Love you, honey.

He then proceeded to also announce their engagement on his Instagram page.

Got engaged to the love of my life! Looking forward to our next chapter together, he captioned the photo.

Town & Country magazine says the couple met in Mykonos, Greece in 2017.

They were photographed together for the first time in September 2018 at the Taoray Wang fashion show in New York City.

Who is Micheal Boulos?

Mr Boulus, who has been described as a billionaire heir by Vanity Fair magazine, is of Lebanese and French descent.

He was raised in Lagos and is a naturalised Nigerian.

His father, Massad, is the Chief Executive Officer of SCOA Nigeria while his mother, Sarah, is the founder of the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria.

His family moved to Lagos when he was an infant.

He attended the American International School of Lagos in Nigeria before proceeding to London, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Global Business Management from Regents University in 2018.

He also bagged a masters degree in Project Management, Finance, and Risk at City, at the University of London in 2019.

Mr Boulus has been the associate director of SCOA Nigeria since 2016, the director of Fadoul Group since 2019, and the business development manager of Royalton Investment since 2019.

He has three siblings with the most popular being Fares, a Nigerian-based actor and rapper who is known for his YouTube channel, Farastafari.

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He released his debut single, One Day in 2012. It was produced by Cobhams Asuquo.
WASHINGTON: Acting U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will step down on Wednesday after temporarily heading the Justice Department and serving as the No. 2 official since May 2019, overseeing its Big Tech probe and other wide-ranging investigations.

Rosen, 62, a former deputy transportation secretary under President Donald Trump who was sworn in as deputy attorney general in May 2019, took the reins of the Justice Department after Bill Barr announced he would step down on Dec. 23.

In December, media reports suggested Trump would push Rosen to name special counsels to investigate Trumps unfounded claims of election fraud or the tax issues of President-elect Joe Bidens son Hunter.

Rosen told Reuters at the time he would continue to do things on the merits and to do things on the basis of the law and the facts."

A Justice Department spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday that Rosen had made no such special counsel appointments during his tenure.

Rosen has kept a low-key profile but issued condemnations of the Jan. 6 Capitol violence by Trump supporters as the Justice Department mounted a massive effort to identify and prosecute people involved.

In a video message on Tuesday, Rosen said the Justice Department is committed to ensuring a safe and peaceful inauguration."

The Justice Department will have no tolerance for anyone who attempts to mar the day with violence," he said.

Under Rosen, the Justice Department brought a landmark lawsuit against Alphabet Incs Google in October, accusing the $1 trillion company of illegally using its market muscle to hobble rivals in the biggest challenge to the power and influence of Big Tech in decades.

Rosen focused on many issues as deputy attorney general, including national security, cybercrime and efforts to locate missing children, crack down on violent crime and pushed Congress to modernize a law central to how the government sets regulatory policy.

Rosen also oversaw the Justice Departments resolution of criminal and civil investigations with opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma as well as a number of government probes involving China.

In September, Rosen said the Chinese government made a deliberate choice to allow its citizens to commit computer intrusions and attacks around the world because these actors will also help" China.

The Justice Department has been cracking down on coronavirus related fraud for nearly a year - including people claiming false cures, price gouging and those seeking to steal government funds from COVID-19 relief approved by Congress - and brought about 80 cases through mid-December.

Part of it was to get out of the blocks quickly and it make it known were on the case," Rosen said.

Rosen also worked to address how authorities can deal with potentially dangerous drones. If you cant guard against misuse then you cant facilitate the good use," he 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
Challenger Energy Group PLC (LON:CEG) said it has completed its name change from following the passing of all resolutions at an extraordinary general meeting on May 17.

The company said investor shareholdings will be unaffected by the name change and the companys shares began trading under its new name and ticker from 8am on Friday morning.

"With the spud of the highly anticipated Saffron-2 appraisal well now just days away, we are pleased that in addition to the successful completion of our fundraising as announced on 20 May 2021, shareholders at the EGM supported all of our broader corporate reset objectives, including the change of name of the company to Challenger Energy, which has now taken effect, chief executive designate Eytan Uliel said in a statement.

As Challenger Energy, our immediate strategic priority is to drive production and cashflow growth, through intelligent management and deployment of our resources. Our change of name, and the broader corporate reset currently underway, is in support of this strategic priority, which we see as the lynchpin for shareholder value growth both in the near-term and in the years ahead. All of us at Challenger Energy look forward to beginning the next chapter," Uliel added.

San Antonio women are celebrating one of their own as Kamala Harris becomes the first woman of color to be inaugurated as vice president of the United States.

Harris joined Alpha Kappa Alpha, the country's first Black sorority, in 1986 during her college years at Howard University. The sorority has graduate and undergraduate presence in San Antonio.

RELATED: LIVE BLOG: Inauguration moments from San Antonians and beyond

Marilyn Stanton-White, chapter president of Alpha Tau Omega, heralded Harris' accomplishment on Wednesday. She said her AKA sisters are all excited and proud to witness "change in the nation" during the Biden-Harris administration.

"I am simply in awe of Kamala Harris and her inspiring message to young women," Stanton-White added. "I think we want to gloat a little that the first African American woman to hold such a high office also belongs to the first African American sorority."

The sorority was founded in 1908 on the Howard University campus by nine women. Today, the organization has more than a thousand chapters in each U.S. state and more than 300,000 members.

The website for the sorority congratulated Harris on Wednesday on making history. The new vice president has received tight-knit support from her sisters throughout her campaign. Soon after Harris was tapped as Biden's running mate, the Democratic National Committee began receiving thousands of donations in the exact amount of $19.08, the year the organization was founded, as a tribute from Harris' sisters throughout the country.

Harris joined in celebrating AKA's Founder's Day last week on Twitter.

"Today, as we celebrate 113 years of sisterhood and service, remember: no matter the distance, your sisters will always be there with the same love and support," she said with a vintage photo showing her Howard days.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
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...



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President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on the steps of the US Capitol after he was sworn in as the 46th US president. DAVID TULIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in just before noon Wednesday.

Security was tight after the January 6 riot by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump.

Follow Insider's coverage of key moments and highlights of the historic day.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Former President Donald Trump officially departed Washington, DC, on Wednesday morning and his successor, President Joe Biden, was sworn in shortly before noon.

Biden's inauguration marks a historic end to Trump's rocky presidency and a tumultuous transition period in which the outgoing president refused to acknowledge his election loss and incited a violent insurrection at the US Capitol that resulted in five deaths.

Watch the inauguration ceremony below:

Scroll down for live coverage of the event:

Biden enters White House as president

President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden pose for photographs on the North Portico of the White House. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Biden officially entered the White House as president on Wednesday afternoon. He was joined shortly afterward by Harris.

US presidents have traditionally invited their successors to the White House to meet before Inauguration Day. This is in addition to making sure that president-elects receive daily briefings and national security intelligence.

Trump, however, refused to acknowledge his election loss and not only delayed these critical briefings, but also didn't welcome Biden to the White House beforehand. The pair didn't meet or speak before Trump left for Florida ahead of the inauguration ceremony.

Harris, Emhoff, and their extended family walk down Pennsylvania Avenue

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff (C) along with family members walk along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House in Washington, DC. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Shortly after, Harris walked into the White House for the first time in her new role as vice president.

Bidens walk to the White House

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden along with their family walk up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Biden, with his family, walked down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. Biden's inaugural committee hosted a virtual inaugural parade in lieu of the usual in-person festivities.

Biden, Harris, former presidents and former first ladies attend ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Story continues

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Congressional leaders present gifts to Biden and Harris

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive in the Crypt of the US Capitol. JIM LO SCALZO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gifted Biden and Harris flags shortly after the inauguration.

Biden also signed three documents as part of inaugural tradition: an Inauguration Day proclamation, nominations for Cabinet positions, and nominations for sub-Cabinet positions.

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Biden posts his first tweet as president

Former Vice President Mike Pence, right, applauds as Joe Biden embraces first lady Jill Biden after being sworn in as the 46th president. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool

The official presidential Twitter accounts are now in the hands of the Biden administration.

"There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face," Biden tweeted Wednesday from his new Twitter account, @POTUS. "That's why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families."

Biden supporters celebrate in Washington, DC

Supporters of President Joe Biden celebrate as they listen to him speak during the presidential inauguration. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Protesters gather at the Capitol during Biden's inauguration

Eliza Relman/Insider

A small group of people holding anti-abortion and "Jesus saves" signs gathered north of the Capitol building. A man with the group yelled offensive and false attacks about Biden and Harris.

Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman reads a moving piece at the ceremony

Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman speaks at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Alex Wong/Getty Images

"For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us," said Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet laureate whose historic speech has gone viral.

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Garth Brooks sings "Amazing Grace"

Garth Brooks performs "Amazing Grace" at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Biden: 'We must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured'

President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential Inauguration. Patrick Semansky/Pool via AP

"Let's start afresh, all of us. Let's begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another, show respect to one another," Biden said in his inaugural speech after being sworn into office. "Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured."

"Disagreement must not lead to disunion," he added. "I will be a president for all Americans. And I promise you, I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did."

Biden went on to call for a end to "this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal," adding, "We can do this if we can open our soul instead of hardening our hearts."

The president also said he would work to "repair" the US's global alliances.

"We will lead not only by the example of our power but by the power of our example," he said.

The Biden family embraces after the president's swearing-in

President Joe Biden with his family First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, son Hunter Biden and daughter Ashley. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Biden, who was sworn in on his family's Bible

President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. Saul Loeb/Pool via REUTERS

It was a large Bible.

Singer Jennifer Lopez performs "This Land Is Your Land" and "America, The Beautiful"

Jennifer Lopez performs at President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Rob Carr/Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris was sworn in to office by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on a Bible that belonged to legendary Justice Thurgood Marshall

Kamala Harris is sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP

Harris "stands on the shoulders of so many on this platform who have forged the way to this day," Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said while paying tribute to the historic nature of the former California senator's position. "When she takes the oath of office, little girls and boys across the world will know that anything and everything is possible."

Lady Gaga, a longtime Biden ally, sang the national anthem

Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Rob Carr/Getty Images

Biden and Lady Gaga worked together when he was vice president to campaign against sexual assault on college campuses.

Biden also introduced the singer at the 2016 Academy Awards.

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Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence attended Biden's inauguration

Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence arrive to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Pences were among several prominent Republicans who went to Biden's inauguration. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also attended.

McConnell and McCarthy skipped Trump's departure ceremony and instead attended mass with Biden before the inauguration, while Pence missed Trump's departure due to logistical issues.

Trump lands in Florida

Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images

In his final hour as president, Trump issued a pardon to Albert Pirro Jr., the ex-husband of Fox News host Jeanine Pirro.

Former presidents and first ladies attended the inauguration.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama arrive to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush were all seen at Biden's inauguration ceremony.

Supreme Court justices arrive

Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett arrives at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Trump-appointees Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett were among the inauguration's attendees.

Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, one of Trump's most loyal attack dogs on Congress, attended the inauguration

Rep. Jim Jordan. Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images

"This is as close to pageantry as we get in America," Jordan told The Washington Post's Erik Wemple. "This day  this and the State of the Union address  I just think it's important that, that you attend those events."

Lawmaker says she and several other House Democrats wore body armor under their jackets at Biden's inauguration

Flags decorate the National Mall ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

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Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, one of Trump's most stalwart defenders, was seen arriving at the Capitol for Biden's inauguration

Sen. Ted Cruz arrives to the inauguration. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Cruz and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley led the congressional crusade for Trump's effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Biden's motorcade was seen arriving on Capitol Hill shortly before 10:30 a.m. ET

Preparations are made before inauguration. AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool

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Former House Speaker Paul Ryan was spotted arriving at Biden's inauguration ceremony

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan arrives for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021. Andrew Harnik/AP Photo

Ryan had a rough tenure as House Speaker in the early days of the Trump presidency before he left public service.

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Several thousand armed military personnel and law enforcement officials stood guard along an inner perimeter - an 8-foot tall fence topped with razor wire - surrounding the Capitol

Soldiers stand guard as supporters of Joe Biden gather outside the Capitol building during the inauguration. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Biden's inauguration comes as the nation's capital is heavily fortified amid continued threats from Trump supporters to disrupt the transfer of power. Around 25,000 troops have been deployed to Washington, DC, ahead of the inauguration, which is more than the number of US service members in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

The FBI warned law enforcement authorities that some violent extremists, including followers of the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory, may try to pose as guardsmen to get through security at the inauguration, USA Today reported, citing two people familiar with the briefing.

On Tuesday, a dozen National Guard members were removed from protecting the inauguration after authorities discovered questionable behavior. Two out of the 12 had possible ties to extremist groups, The New York Times reported.

After Trump departed on Air Force One, Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff attended a Catholic mass service at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral

President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden attend services at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle with Congressional leaders prior to the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A number of congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, joined the Bidens, Harris, and Emhoff for the service.

The former president and first lady waved a final goodbye from Air Force One before heading to Florida

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

The Trump family took off for Florida as Frank Sinatra's "My Way" played over the loudspeakers to the crowd assembled at Joint Base Andrews.

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"We were not a regular administration," Trump said during a short speech touting his accomplishments

President Donald Trump speaks before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

"Have a good life, we will see you soon," Trump said as The Village People's "YMCA," one of his favorite songs at his campaign rallies, played over the loudspeakers.

In his speech, Trump thanked Vice President Mike Pence (who was not present at his farewell event), and wished the incoming administration luck without mentioning President-elect Joe Biden by name.

After saying goodbye to attendees, the Trump family boarded Air Force One and headed to Florida.

A crowd, including members of Trump's family and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, was waiting for him at Joint Base Andrews

Ivanka Trump, husband Jared Kushner, their children, Eric Trump, and Donald Jr. and Trump family members stand on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images

Marine One did one final lap around Washington, DC.

Marine One with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump passes the Washington Monument as it departs the White House. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Trump family flew from the White House to Joint Base Andrews aboard Marine One.

Shortly before 8:15 a.m. ET, Trump and former first lady Melania walked across the South Lawn to Marine One with only a small crowd of reporters present to see them off

Outgoing President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump speak to reporters before leaving the White House. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

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Shortly before 8 a.m. ET, Marine One landed on the South Lawn to take Trump to Joint Base Andrews.

White House staff members carry boxes to Marine One before President Donald Trump leaves the White House. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Trump's departure from the White House was slightly delayed as was his farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews.

Previously...

Wednesday's proceedings will begin with remarks from Father Leo J. O'Donovan, the former president of Georgetown University and a longtime friend of the Biden family. The ceremony will feature performances from prominent celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, and will wrap up with a benediction from Rev. Dr. Silvester Beaman.

In a stark contrast with previous presidential inaugurations, Trump and former first lady Melania Trump skipped Wednesday's inauguration.

Ahead of Wednesday's ceremonies, Biden made an emotional speech bidding farewell to his home state of Delaware and paying tribute to his late son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015.

"Excuse the emotion, but when I die, Delaware will be written on my heart," Biden said, in reference to the Irish poet James Joyce's famous quote in which he said Dublin was written on his heart.

Biden then mentioned Beau, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, I only have one regret, that he isn't here, because we should be introducing him as president."

Trump, meanwhile, taped a 20-minute farewell speech that was posted to the White House's YouTube channel because the president has been banned on every major social media platform.

Though he acknowledged that Biden will take office on Wednesday, he did not mention his successor by name and did not concede that he lost the November general election.

"This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck  a very important word," Trump said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Just yesterday, Salman Khan announced the release of his next film Radhe; Your Most Wanted Bhai in theatres this Eid. Exhibitors and cinema owners finally heaved a sigh of relief as this would mean some silver lining in their business after being in bad shape for more than 10 months. Just when the market was looking forward to the superstar's big releases, talks were rife that Akshay Kumars Bell Bottom will have a direct-to-digital release.



Akshay Kumar was the first actor to start work with a new project post lockdown with Bell Bottom. The actor shot for it in London and made sure he completes this drama in a short span and makes it cost-effective. However, trade buzz is strong that the makers of the film have gone to Amazon Prime to present their film and have a direct-to-digital release. Vashu Bhagnani and Jackky Bhagnani who had an OTT release with Coolie No 1 with Amazon Prime, are thinking to take the same route with Bell Bottom too. The makers are still in two minds whether people will flock to cinema halls amidst the pandemic and is it possible to release a big film in theatres.





Bell Bottoms release date in theatres was supposed to be April 2. However the superstars other film Sooryavanshi will hit the theatres after being delayed for more than a year. So it wouldnt make sense for Akshay Kumar to have another release so soon amidst the pandemic. Now lets wait for the makers to make an official announcement about the film. Bell Bottom also stars Vaani Kapoor, Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta.
A Canadian investor has poured 580million into urban apartments in the UK in a deal bosses say shows that cities will be 'far from dead' after the pandemic.

QuadReal Property Group has acquired a majority interest in eight UK properties owned by Realstar Group, including seven in London and one in Manchester.

It is also taking over Realstar's UK management business, which includes the Uncle brand of rented flats.

High rise: Realstar Group's 45-storey tower in Elephant and Castle in south London (pictured) is the UK's tallest rental block, with a one-bedroom flat costing 1,700 per month

Uncle promises 'renting as it should be' to tenants.

Its 45-storey tower in Elephant and Castle in south London is the UK's tallest rental block, with a one-bedroom flat costing 1,700 per month.

Ryan Prince, Uncle chief executive, said: 'Far from being dead when the pandemic passes, cities will continue to be the lifeblood of global communities.

'With vaccines in circulation, we can now see light at the end of the tunnel.'
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Describing his plan to get the Covid-19 pandemic under control, Joe Biden was blunt. You have my word," the president-elect declared last week. We will manage the hell out of this operation." He had better. Anything less would be a body blow to his administration and the country.

When there is widespread agreement on a course of action, leaders are judged on how well they carry it out. In her 2016 book, Why Presidents Fail," my Brookings Institution colleague Elaine Kamarck shows how management failures can make or break presidencies. Jimmy Carter never recovered from the failed mission to rescue American hostages in Iran, nor did George W. Bush from his botched response to Hurricane Katrina. The implosion of the Affordable Care Acts website significantly weakened the Obama presidency.

This is all the more important when policies affect individuals directly, because these policies inform how society perceives the competence of its institutions and leaders. Savvy politicians understand that attitudes toward government are shaped by motor-vehicle departments and Veterans Affairs hospitals. Members of Congress quickly learn that constituent services in their local offices matter at least as much as voting records. Helping constituents navigate complex bureaucracies affects not only them but the stories they tell their friends and neighbors.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and managing the pandemic will be the first impression President Biden makes. If he gets it right, he will strengthen his hand in dealing with a divided Congress, and he will begin the long task of rebuilding public trust and confidence in government. If his team botches the job, he will bear the brunt of public disappointment.

Mr. Biden has inherited a monumental challenge. The Trump administrations Operation Warp Speed encouraged the development of vaccines in record time, but then hit a snag in logistics. The feds have shipped vaccines more slowly than expected. Many states have been inadequately prepared to pass out the vaccines they receive. Highly publicized instances of line-jumping threaten to weaken confidence in the fairness of the process.

Some Americans, including many health-care workers, are hesitant to get vaccinated. Those who want the vaccine have struggled to find out how to obtain it, as confusing appointment websites have stumped those without tech savvy, particularly older Americans. The public has endured a lot over the past year and is increasingly impatient; waiting is especially hard when what you want is barely out of reach.

On the other hand, Mr. Biden has a foundation he can build on. Most Americans agree that a full return to normal economic and social life is impossible until Americans are confident that they are protected against Covid-19. Despite some understandable but overwrought fears about the safety of newly authorized vaccines, there is broad support for mass inoculations. Republicans and Democrats may not agree about how much money to spend, but serious requests for more assistance from states, localities and public health agencies are likely to be received favorably.

To meet the moment, Mr. Biden faces three crucial management tasks. First, he must establish a clear chain of command within his administration. His team must know who is empowered to speak and act on the presidents behalf. His point person must organize a whole-of-government team, give each member specific responsibilities, and monitor progress constantly.

Second, Mr. Biden must establish realistic goalsand meet them. For example, he has publicly pledged 100 million inoculations in his first 100 days. Whether or not this promise was wise, it is too late to pull it back. His team must make it happen.

Third, he must rebuild working relationships between the federal government and the states. There should be a hot line connecting the White House with the nations governors. President Biden should talk with the leaders of the National Governors Association daily and ask them to serve as conduits between the states and the White House for especially urgent requests from individual governors.

As anyone who has ever been trapped in an airport understands, not knowing why your plane is delayed or how long you will have to wait can be harder to take than the delay itself. Mr. Biden or his team should create a public dashboard of important production and distribution metrics and communicate specific information to the country on a regular basis. If there are glitches in the vaccine production line, tell us. If a corporation or government agency isnt doing its job, level with us and take responsibility for fixing it. If a state isnt doing its fair share and quiet persuasion fails, call out its leaders. Treat Americans as adults who can stand the truth.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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The Head of Global Marketing at Salesforce.org joins renowned economists, researchers, and data scientists to advise the EdTech/FinTech app platform Learn & Earn

NEWPORT BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 20, 2021 / Learn & Earn, an app that teaches teens about financial literacy and other important life skills, is pleased to announce the addition of Jon Fee to its Advisory Board. Fee is the Senior Vice President and Head of Global Marketing for Salesforce.org at Salesforce.

Jon is a marketing and finance graduate from Sonoma State University and earned his MBA from the University of San Francisco. Before joining Salesforce, he held executive positions with BlackRock, BlackRock EMEA, and iShares. Prior to that, he founded Parks and Records, a purpose-driven independent record label, which furthered his goal of building culturally relevant brands.

"Everything starts with education and today education as we know it is ripe for disruption," Fee said. "New entrants like Learn & Earn are mission aligned, focused on the student, and determined to help millions of kids make themselves and the world better. With a beginners' mindset and a tech first approach, I believe they will succeed and I am delighted to join their team to help advance their mission."

Learn & Earn allows students to select snack-size courses and earn money from sponsors and parents upon completion of each course. Students then invest that money in their very own investment account with Robo-Bumpers to keep their portfolio diversified and growing over time. Students have a "Core" portfolio of the world's largest diversified ETFs, and they can also select up to ten separate stocks or ETFs from a curated "Explore" portfolio. This allows students to invest in fractional shares of companies like Apple, Tesla, and Amazon. Sponsored courses are funded by for-profit and non-profit entities.

During the worldwide pandemic, 1.2 billion children worldwide have been affected by school closures. Learn & Earn, developed in collaboration with Junior Achievement USA, aims to reach these students, in particular those from low-income households, who will make up more than 50 percent of the users. Students with savings accounts for higher education, like the investment account offered by the app, are four times more likely to graduate from college.

"Learn & Earn provides students with a remote learning environment that teaches them valuable life skills and lessons not available in traditional school curriculums, while allowing them to invest money for their futures" explained Walter Cruttenden, founder of Acorns and Chairman of Blast, the developer of Learn & Earn. "Jon's insights into the worlds of nonprofits and education will be invaluable to us as we continue to evolve and grow. The addition of his background and experience complements the existing Advisory Board."

Other Learn & Earn Advisory Board members include: Dr. Richard Thaler, Nobel Prize-winning behavioral economist and professor at the University of Chicago; Dr. Shlomo Benartzi, behavioral economics professor at UCLA and Wharton; and Dr. William Elliott III, Founder and Director of Center on Assets, Education and Inclusion at the University of Michigan. Learn & Earn receives support and advice from enterprises like Franklin Templeton Investments and Roth Capital Partners.

The app can be found on the App Store or Google Play.

About Learn & Earn

Created by the team behind Blast, Learn & Earn is the premier app that pays high school students to learn. Covering real-world topics not taught in school, the snack-sized courses reward students with funds from sponsors and parents. These funds are then invested for the students, opening up a whole world of savings and investments for them. Working with preeminent partners and sponsors, Learn & Earn combines the best of FinTech and EdTech to redefine remote learning with courses that cover topics such as financial literacy, potential careers, and life skills. The app's ultimate mission is simple: Teach kids how to become successful adults. Visit www.learnandearn.com for more information.

Investment advisory services are provided by Ant Money Advisors, LLC ("AMA"), an SEC-registered investment advisor. AMA's terms and policies can be found at www.antmoneyadvisors.com or through www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. AMA facilitates trading through DriveWealth, LLC, an SEC-registered broker-dealer and member FINRA and SIPC. Check the background of this firm on FINRA's BrokerCheck.

Press Contacts

Bill Topaz

Learn & Earn/Blast

topaz@learnandearn.com

(949) 734-0706

SOURCE: Learn and Earn

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/624713/Salesforces-Jon-Fee-Is-Named-to-the-Advisory-Board-of-Learn-Earn
Guest Column Chinas Belt and Road Initiative Continues to Make Inroads in Myanmar

Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (right) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Naypyitaw on January 12. / State Counselor Office

Chinas ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is knocking on Myanmars door after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to study the feasibility of linking the railways of Mandalay with Kyaukphyu, a major town in Myanmars Rakhine state.

Chinas interest in expanding the BRI into Myanmar has been clear as far back as March 2020 when it announced a $6.78 billion aid package to Myanmar for 22 projects under the Beijing-led initiative Mekong-Lancang Cooperation.

Chinas relations with Myanmar over expansion of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) aspect of the BRI are, however, mired in conflict.

What started as a project to create a stable network to build infrastructure and transport goods and services between the two countries has transformed into a fanciful exercise to weaken Myanmars sovereignty.

This fact is supported by Chinas recent plans to build a 2,000-km high-tech fence on its southern border. That project has been sharply criticized by the Myanmar government as a violation the 1961 border pact, which clearly states no structures shall be built within 10 meters of the demarcation line by either side. These border regions have also been cited as hotbeds of illegal activities such as the drug trade, casinos, gambling and other criminal pursuits mostly run by Chinese nationals.

These projects have also drawn flak from residents in Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State, who have complained of a complete lack of transparency by the Chinese government. They say that these projects have been set in motion without public consent and threaten to uproot the livelihoods and homes of approximately 20,000 people, according to the International Commission of Jurists.

Activists in those areas also claim China has been taking advantage of the COVID-19 situation in an effort to impede fair consultations, a move which could create further conflicts in the region over land and other connected issues.

What seemed at first to be a great developmental opportunity for Myanmar is complicated by unwanted intrusions by China along the border.

China has proposed 38 projects under the CMEC of which 29 remain to be approved by Myanmar. The more immediate concern and troubling threat is the excessive debt trap that Myanmar could fall into.

It has been said that these projects could put Myanmar into excessive debt as they would cost around $7.5 billion. Myanmars high-ranking officials are also concerned about investment and loans from China as they worry about both a potential debt trap and economic viability.

Myanmar can also surely learn from the debt-enslavement of Pakistan by China. Pakistan is one of the prime supporters of Chinas One Belt-One Road, a key element of which is the $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). That corridor has invited criticism related to increased security concerns and the fact that it crisscrosses through the disputed regions of Kashmir. All this has prompted fears of neocolonialism.

Chinas BRI has fomented vilification since its inception from major countries including US, India, EU, Australia as a veiled attempt to make inroads into the sovereignty of developing and debt-ridden South-Asian nations. Therefore, president Xi Jinpings famed new silk road is still far from success and rooted in controversy.

Yan Naing is the pseudonym of a regular observer on Myanmar affairs. The views expressed are his own.
Denmark will have to push the vaccination of up to 50,000 people due to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine production adjustments and subsequent delivery cuts, Denmark's Statens Serum Institute (SSI) said on Wednesday

MURMANSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th January, 2021) Denmark will have to push the vaccination of up to 50,000 people due to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine production adjustments and subsequent delivery cuts, Denmark's Statens Serum Institute (SSI) said on Wednesday.

On January 15, the US' Pfizer pharmaceutical company said that it would deliver fewer doses to the European countries starting January 25, since its production facilities required modification to increase their manufacturing capacity.

"This means in practice, that Denmark in the first quarter will administer about 85,000 to 100,000 fewer vaccinations than were originally planned," SSI said, as quoted by the Medical Xpress news website.

The institute added that Pfizer's decision to reduce vaccine supply to Denmark by 10 percent would leave up to 50,000 citizens of the country unimmunized.

"This means that the number of the vaccinated Danes will be 42,000-50,000 less. This accounts for a 10 percent decrease in the number of inoculations with the Pfizer vaccine," the institute said.

Denmark launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on December 27. According to the Danish Health Authority, Danes over 65 years old and health care personnel will be inoculated during the first phase of the vaccination, while the rest of Denmark's 5.6 million population is scheduled to receive the vaccine by the end of June.
The United States is about to enter change into different levels with the inauguration of former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris into position. Now more than ever, Christians and believers of faith are urged to pray for the nation and its leaders.

Mission Box released several ways how believers all across the U.S. can pray for its new leaders. As the non-profit organization pointed out, Christians must remember their responsibility to pray as the U.S. inauguration day happens today.

"Praying for our nation's leaders is not about politics. It is about our personal relationship and influence with the Lord on behalf of both elected and appointed leaders."

Here are the few suggestions how Christians must unite in prayer for the nation's new leaders.

Truth

With the so-called Information Age also came the fact that truth has been twisted and people misinformed. Big Media and Big Tech have worked hard to manipulate the information people receive, censoring those that do not agree with their agenda.

Because of this, it has been harder for people to differentiate the truth from false information. Christians must pray that truth will be revealed and upheld, and that leaders will adhere to the truth - including what happened in the November 2020 elections regarding proven voter fraud.

Salvation

The LORD is not happy to see anyone perish - the nation's leaders included. Believers may not have access to people in the government, but through prayer, Christians can pray to the LORD for the leaders to experience the salvation of their souls.

Believers are urged to pray for everyone in position, as well as those who are stepping down, to be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Righteousness

Only righteousness can truly exalt a nation and God desires to see righteousness from all men. Believers must continue to pray that the nation's leaders will do right and continue to do right from the beginning up to the end of their term.

Preservation of liberties

With new leadership comes different agendas and directions. Regardless of direction, every leader must make sure to preserve American's rights and liberties, including their right to free speech and the right to free expression of faith.

Believers must pray that the government will uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, and adhere closely to the Word of God where it was based on.

Humility

In prayer, believers must ask the LORD to humble the nation's leaders. Not only are they accountable to the American people, they are ultimately accountable to God.

Wisdom

Believers must pray for the nation's leaders to have the Fear of the LORD for it is the beginning of wisdom. Believers must pray that every person in authority should learn to fear God and take care to live lives pleasing to Him who is above all.

Discernment

Knowing right from wrong is very important. Doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong is even more important. Believers must pray for their leaders to know what is right in God's sight and do it.

Protection

Believers must pray that God will protect the nation from threats inside and out. Christians must pray for the safety of the citizens, and for God to protect law enforcement, medical and healthcare workers, as well as first responders so they can do their tasks properly.

God's Will

Above all, Believers must pray for God's will and pleasure to be done in America - to uphold and obey all that the Bible teaches, for truth to be revealed, for righteousness to be upheld, for holiness to be pursued, and for wickedness and all forms of ungodly character and values to be removed from this blessed nation.
" " Joe Biden addresses the nation on election night, 2020. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

It was a hard-fought campaign that had the entire U.S.  indeed much of the world  on edge: Who was going to become the 46th president of the United States? People watched as six states  Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin  had results too close to call on election night. But over the next few days, all these states declared for the former U.S. vice president. In all, Biden won 306 electoral votes to incumbent Donald Trump's 232 [source: Lewis].

The 2020 election was notable for several reasons. First, it had the highest voter turnout since 1900, with each party receiving more than 74 million votes. Biden alone got more than 81 million votes, the most ever cast for a president in an election in U.S. history. And his running mate Kamala Harris is the first woman and first person of color to hold the office of vice president. The election was also noteworthy because Trump refused to concede his loss, claiming without any evidence that the vote was rigged [source: The Associated Press].

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Biden takes office during a tumultuous time. There is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment is high, and the U.S. economy is weak. The summer of 2020 was marked by protests against racism, police brutality and even against the requirement in some states to wear a mask to stop the spread of the coronavirus. And just two weeks before his inauguration, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, mistakenly believing the election had been "stolen" and that Trump was the real winner.

In November, after he had secured victory, Biden declared that it was time to heal. "I sought this office to restore the soul of America and to make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home," he said in his victory speech.

So, what will a Biden administration be like? We'll take a look at Joe Biden, his 36 years as a Democratic senator, his eight years as vice president alongside President Barack Obama, and how he plans to govern on climate change, immigration and other hot-button issues.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 10:48:56|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia registered 181 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 131,727, the Ministry of Health said Tuesday.

The death toll from COVID-19 in the country has reached 2,037 as of Tuesday evening, after four new deaths were reported, Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse said on Twitter.

The minister said that 57 more recoveries were logged, taking the national count to 116,392.

Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation with a population of some 114 million, is one of the countries hardest hit by COVID-19 in Africa, after South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.

The Ethiopian government has been urging the public to implement COVID-19 precautionary measures so as to contain the spread of the virus. Enditem
Paris, TX (75460)

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Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 60F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump will leave the White House on Wednesday as a man shorn of a key instrument of his power - his Twitter account - amid a broad reckoning over whether even the world's leading politicians have a right to incite violence and spread hate speech on social media.

There will always be ways for Trump, and everyone else, to keep making their views known on the Internet. Parler is scrambling its way back online after its purging last week, and an ever-growing list of alternatives are offering similar opportunities for online conversation that is moderated lightly or not at all.

But those purged from Twitter, Facebook and YouTube will find their alternatives comparatively obscure, and while their freedom to speak will be intact, their reach will be diminished and their audiences fractured.

Even the most extreme voices - QAnon enthusiasts, Proud Boys, boogaloo boys, white supremacists, anti-Semites - have found ways to keep talking to one another online after mainstream platforms expelled them or, to use an increasingly popular term, "deplatformed" them. What got significantly curbed was their ability to talk to everyone else.

"I'm hearing some conversations that seem to suggest that deplatforming is a cure-all for radicalization, and that is not at all what the evidence suggests," said Amarnath Amarasingam, an extremism researcher at Queen's University in Ontario. "What deplatforming does is disrupt networks, makes it harder for individuals to find each other again, shatters the trust that existed between them [and] takes the megaphone away."

These forces will help shape Trump's post-White House future and that of a riven, traumatized nation whose new leader, President-elect Joe Biden, has vowed to heal it.

There has been a 73% drop in misinformation related to false claims about election fraud, analytics firm Zignal Labs reported over the weekend, suggesting that concerted action by mainstream platforms can be effective at slowing the spread of falsehoods. Twitter erased more than 70,000 accounts affiliated with QAnon, a set of false claims that have coalesced into an extremist ideology that has radicalized its followers, after the Capitol breach.

The shifting ground rules and rising assertiveness of big tech companies have recast the world's information infrastructure in still-unfolding ways.

It's clearer than ever who has ultimate power in this world - owners of social media sites and Internet services companies. But how they will use it now is largely unknown, despite a thicket of official platform policies that grows denser by the year.

Silicon Valley's power, meanwhile, has become a bipartisan concern, as made clear by the antitrust investigations underway among dozens of state attorneys general and the U.S. Justice Department - something that's unlikely to change under a Biden administration. But as those investigations play out, tech companies are going to face more immediate fallout from their ongoing drive to rid their platforms of their most virulent voices.

For individual users, the consequences stand to be stark. Increasingly there is evidence that when a user on a mainstream platform moves to Gab, MeWe or 8kun, the user's audiences shrink even as the user becomes more intense in voicing outsider grievances.

President Donald Trump, for years the center of American attention, now finds himself at the fringe. Trump built an army of 88 million followers on Twitter over years of frenetic daily posting, and he lost them overnight. After a few failed attempts to tweet from other accounts, he has gone digitally silent. Fringe sites such as Gab have called on him to join them, but he has yet to officially start over anywhere else.

The social network Parler, a favorite of conservatives, is often thought of as an alternative. But Apple and Google dropped it from their app stores after the a mob stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, destroying its ability to reach users on their cellphones. Amazon Web Services, the cloud-computing giant that undergirds much of the modern Internet, also removed the site, saying in a legal filing that Parler had showed an "unwillingness and inability" to remove content "inciting and planning the rape, torture, and assassination of named public officials and private citizens."

Parler remains mostly offline, but a landing page on the site says its "return is inevitable," and it has found a helping hand from a Russian company, DDoS-Guard, which helps keep websites online by defending against cyberattacks. The company also has assisted Russian military websites and the far-right message board 8kun, which is home to QAnon.

DDoS-Guard officials, who did not respond to requests for comment, said in a statement to Forbes that Parler "does not violate either our Acceptable Use Policy or the current U.S. law to the best of our knowledge."

Other smaller companies, such as Epik and VanwaTech, have stepped in to provide critical services to Gab, 8kun and other websites when other companies pulled their support over the hosting of hate speech or violent threats.

After three mass shootings were linked to posts and racist screeds on 8chan, the site was dropped by the British tech firm Voxility, which said 8chan had facilitated deadly violence and "extreme hate speech with intolerable consequences." Epik's chief Rob Monster defended the company's ongoing work with 8kun, as 8chan is now known, by saying it would not "limit speech that makes us uncomfortable."

The niche platforms have a tiny fraction of their mainstream rivals' relevance or recruitment potential. Three of the biggest pro-Trump sites on the Internet - Parler, Gab and TheDonald.win - have seen a combined average of about 3 million website visits a day in the U.S. since the insurrection, according to analytics firm SimilarWeb.

That's about 5% of Twitter's daily U.S. traffic over the same time frame, 57 million visits a day, and 2% of Facebook's, more than 140 million. The gap is bigger on a global stage: Facebook and Twitter had more than 1 billion visits worldwide on Jan. 6.

Amarasingam compared the removal of domestic online extremists to the takedown of the Islamic State's online network in recent years. The true believers returned on less prominent platforms, but not in the same freewheeling way. The move hurt their ability to spread their messages and conduct mass recruitment, but it did not stop more-targeted communication efforts.

Such comparisons are increasingly familiar among those studying how online extremism can lead to offline violence, as happened with the boogaloo boys, militant groups and QAnon supporters.

Audrey Alexander, a researcher who studies online extremism at the United States Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center, said that social media bans on the Islamic State weakened the terrorist group's recruitment of new followers and that the organization's ability to rebuild was limited by the smaller Internet alternatives it turned to in the aftermath.

Violent organizing and hate speech cannot be eradicated from the Internet, she said, but they can be marginalized and tech companies have begun experimenting with a number of methods, from limiting a channel's dissemination ability to promoting more authoritative voices in subscriptions and searches.

But "if we work too hard to push them to a place where the mainstream won't see them, the fringe is really going to validate itself with all this escalating behavior and egging each other on," she added. "People start to believe, 'Hey, there's a lot of other people who believe the same things, too.' "

SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks online extremism, has identified three new Web addresses for TheDonald, the fervently pro-Trump community that started on Reddit but was banished. The website where it now operates was a hub for organizing, instigating and celebrating the Capitol siege. The moderators of the forum recently urged users to bookmark the new Web addresses, presumably in case the main site is knocked offline, and they are using several domain registrars and hosting services to guard against possible punitive action by any single company.

A post on 4chan and Telegram, under the headline "The Big Tech Flippening," lists alternatives to Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, WhatsApp, Discord, Instagram, and the mainstream browsers Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

The shift to smaller messaging and social media sites - whether from a purge or a voluntary exodus - means "you stop the recruitment of innocent people" who might stumble upon extremist messaging, said Rita Katz, the executive director of SITE. "At the same time, there's greater threat to being made radical" among those communicating in more confined communities.

Lin Wood, a Georgia attorney who has led a failing legal crusade to overturn Trump's election loss, built a massive Twitter audience with false tweets about conspiracy theories and voter fraud - nearly 1.2 million followers, roughly 100,000 of whom followed him the day before the attack on the Capitol. On that morning, he tweeted, "Time to fight for our freedom. Pledge your lives, your fortunes, & your sacred honor. . . . TODAY IS OUR DAY."

When Twitter barred him a day later for allegedly inciting violence, he continued posting on Parler, where he told his more than 500,000 followers that Vice President Mike Pence should be executed.

Wood, who did not respond to requests for comment, has continued to post online about baseless claims of a vast and "evil" conspiracy, saying on Tuesday that Pence, Hillary Clinton and Chief Justice John Roberts had been involved in a plot to murder federal judges.

But with Twitter barring him and Parler no longer accessible, he has been unable to replicate his old audience: Wood now posts mostly on Telegram, a messaging app that allows group chats, where he has about 400,000 subscribers and none of the simple retweeting tools that allow his fans to share his message to a broader audience.

On Tuesday, he announced that he'd hit a new obstacle, saying Telegram had suspended replies to his posts because users had been "posting improper content." He asked that his followers "please consider sharing my posts."

"Share truth with others. Thank you," he concluded, adding emoji for folded hands and a heart.
THE PARENTS: Ashleen Gies, 32, and Mike Gies, 33, of Lafayette Hill

THE KIDS: Liam Michael, 6; Ashleen Marie, 5 (Beenie); Oliver Thomas, 3; Shaylynn Mae, born Aug. 8, 2020

AN ALMOST DEAL BREAKER: Ashleens devout Catholicism (Mike was raised a nondenominational Christian), which made her think, This cant work, even before they started dating. But Mike agreed: a wedding at her family church, baptisms for all the children, and a plan to raise them in the Catholic faith.

Ashleen was giving a friend a tour of their Lafayette Hill house: Heres where we gutted the place and put on the addition; heres the kid space in the basement. Her friend pointed to a spot at the base of the living room stairs: And is that the delivery room?

The answer was a wry, proud yes: Thats where Ashleen held onto the banister post and said, Mike, you need to catch this baby right now. Thats where he wrapped just-born Shaylynn in a freshly laundered beach towel as the older kids came clattering up from the basement to check out all the noise.

Both knew they wanted children  Ashleen lobbied for five, while Mike thought three might be ideal  even from the time they met as classmates in Cadet Squadron 20 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

She was an introvert, a rule-follower who was also open to adventure: rock climbing, skiiing, waterfall hikes. He was mildly mischievous, the guy who got reprimanded for skipping meals or venturing off base when he wasnt supposed to.

They were a couple by their junior year. And the December after graduation  they were 2nd lieutenants then, at Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento  Mike gave Ashleen a bulky Christmas present that felt like a blanket.

Actually, it was a bathrobe, with a small box in one pocket. I got all breathless: is this happening? But the box was empty. I threw it at him. Then he got down on one knee and said some really cute things, Ashleen says.

They married in October 2011, in a snowstorm that turned their hoped-for autumn ceremony into a wintry panorama. They wanted to be stationed closer to the East Coast, where Ashleens family lives; instead, the Air Force sent them to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu.

Mike remembers their apartment: the yellow light in the bathroom, the day Ashleen emerged to say, Were pregnant. She felt constantly nauseated  she can recall all the spots around the island where she stopped the car to vomit by the roadside  and at nearly 34 weeks, was still gaining weight rapidly.

I remember standing in front of the mirror, thinking: Youve jumped out of airplanes, left your family when you were 17, gone through basic training. You can handle the discomfort of pregnancy. Just suck it up and move on.

Ashleen didnt know she had preeclampsia. But on a visit to Philadelphia for her sisters bridal shower, her mother urged her to get a blood pressure check. Within hours, she was at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, sobbing on the phone to Mike as she prepared for an induction.

He missed Liams birth by two hours. The baby remained in the NICU for 12 days, then he and Ashleen stayed in Pennsylvania for three months, until doctors thought the baby was sturdy enough for the long flight to Hawaii.

The family had four months together before Mike was deployed  to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The week before he left, Ashleen realized she was pregnant again.

I was gone for eight months. I missed Liams first birthday, his first words, him crawling and walking, Mike says. I missed Ashleens belly growing. But he was home for the birth and the blurry first months of having two children barely a year apart.

Their next stop was San Antonio, a plum job for Mike that focused on process improvement and waste reduction. Ashleen decided to leave the Air Force. I was good at my job; it was hard to leave something I felt secure and confident with, she says. But I was also really excited to spend time with the kids.

In San Antonio, they went to the zoo almost every week, brother and sister sharing a giant tub of popcorn and lemonade in a souvenir cup with a giraffe on it. But when pregnancy No. 3 left Ashleen queasy and depleted, it was harder to be a stay-at-home mom than to work with empathetic colleagues.

Toddlers didnt really understand why I was lying on the floor in the bathroom, Ashleen says. I remember counting down the minutes until Mike would get home from work.

This time, they wrote a birth plan and made visualization boards with family photos and inspirational words. Ashleen labored at home for as long as she could, walking around their San Antonio neighborhood, stopping every few feet to breathe through a contraction. At the hospital, the whole family was in the room when Oliver arrived.

Theyd moved seven times in eight years. Military life was rewarding, but it was time for stability. Mike left the Air Force, and, in summer 2018, the family moved into Ashleens parents home in Lafayette Hill while they looked for a house of their own.

They found a place, spent more than a year renovating it, and moved in. Shortly afterward, they learned they were pregnant again. This time was the most harrowing: Ashleen developed hyperemesis and couldnt keep anything down, even water. She would drive the older kids to preschool, then bring Oliver to her sisters house and fall asleep on the floor.

When her contractions began, she thought about her earlier labors  12 hours with Ashleen, 20 hours with Oliver  and figured she had plenty of time. But then her water broke, the contractions were ferocious and fast, and she felt an urge to push.

Minutes later, Ashleen recalls, I was slumped at the bottom of the stairs with my back against the wall, completely in shock, and Mike laid Shaylynn on my belly.

The take-home for Mike  perhaps a life lesson, he says  is the disjuncture between intention and what actually occurs. This birth, even though it wasnt planned, was one of the coolest things weve ever done. It was natural. Instinctual. Ashleens body knew what to do. It happened exactly the way it was supposed to happen.
(Image: Reuters)

The 59th presidential inauguration will be largely virtual but will still feature a number of ceremonial events and celebrations. Heres whats happening and how to watch from home.

The Days Events

Coverage will begin around 10 a.m. Eastern, with the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for later in the morning on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington. Kamala Harris will first be sworn in as vice president by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Joe Biden will then be sworn in as president by Chief Justice John Roberts at noon. The ceremony will feature a musical performance from Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem. Garth Brooks is also expected to perform.

Biden and Harris, along with their spouses, Jill Biden and Douglas Emhoff, will then conduct a review of the military and visit Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. They will be joined by three former presidents and their wives, who will also be present at the swearing-in: Barack and Michelle Obama, George W. and Laura Bush, and Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Finally, Biden and Harris will head to the White House. Instead of a parade along Pennsylvania Avenue, a virtual parade hosted by actor Tony Goldwyn at 3:15 p.m. will showcase performers and speakers from across the country. Jon Stewart will make an appearance, and musical acts including Earth Wind & Fire will perform.

How To Watch The Inauguration and Parade

 The New York Times will stream the inauguration live, accompanied by analysis and coverage from its reporters.

 The Biden Inaugural Committee will broadcast an official livestream of all events on its website, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch. The White House will also stream the inauguration live.

 Television networks, including ABC, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox, PBS, NBC and MSNBC, will air live coverage of the inauguration.

 The Roku Channel will carry streams from several news outlets.

 The streaming network Newsy will carry the inauguration via a number of cable providers and streaming platforms

 Actor Keke Palmer will host an inauguration livestream for children from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will include a message from Jill Biden. The Presidential Inaugural Committee will stream the special on YouTube. It will also be broadcast on Nickelodeon and Discovery Education.

All About The Prime-time Celebration

At 8:30 p.m., Tom Hanks will host a 90-minute event that will include remarks from the new president and vice president and performances from Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Ant Clemons and Jon Bon Jovi, as well as Foo Fighters, John Legend, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Bruce Springsteen.

 The New York Times will stream the prime-time celebration live.

 ABC, CBS, CNN, PBS, NBC and MSNBC will air the special on television.

 The Biden Inaugural Committee will carry the official livestream on its website, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Twitch.

 For those without cable television, Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW from Fox, and AT&T DirecTV and U-verse will also be carrying the special live.

c.2021 The New York Times Company
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 23:53:22|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Jan. 19, 2021 shows a view of the stage ahead of the 59th Presidential Inauguration on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Trump said it was his "greatest honor and privilege to have been your president," while wishing the incoming administration of Biden, whom he didn't mention by name, "good luck," claiming that "they have the foundation to do something really spectacular."



WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning delivered his final remarks as president at Joint Base Andrews before leaving for Florida, while his successor, President-elect Joe Biden, arrived at a Catholic church in downtown Washington for a prayer service that kicked off his Inauguration Day.

Addressing family members, a few staffers and some supporters in the chilly morning wind, Trump said it was his "greatest honor and privilege to have been your president," while wishing the incoming administration of Biden, whom he didn't mention by name, "good luck," claiming that "they have the foundation to do something really spectacular."

Photo taken in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Aug. 26, 2020 shows screens displaying U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (R) being joined onstage by U.S. President Donald Trump after delivering his speech during the 2020 Republican National Convention from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Trump also thanked Vice President Mike Pence, who had said his final goodbye to the president the previous day and chose to attend Biden's inauguration instead of Trump's farewell ceremony.

"Have a good life, we will see you soon," the president said in his final words before getting on the southbound plane that for the very last time was designated Air Force One for him. He was headed to the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida that became known as his "Winter White House" during his presidency.

Shortly after Trump's flight took off, Biden arrived at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in downtown Washington to attend a mass together with his family, the family of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and congressional leaders of both parties.

Photo taken on Jan. 19, 2021 shows a view of the stage ahead of the 59th Presidential Inauguration on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Since the 1930s, incoming U.S. presidents have typically attended services at St. John's Episcopal Church across the Lafayette Square to the north of the White House.

However, Biden, soon to be the second Catholic president, broke that tradition by praying in St. Matthew's, where the funeral mass for President John Kennedy, also a Catholic, was held on Nov. 25, 1963, three days after he was assassinated.

Biden and Harris are expected to be sworn into office sometime around noon at the U.S. Capitol, where attendees of the inauguration ceremony are gradually gathering. 
President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered the declassification of a binder of documents related to the FBI's Russia probe that led to a long investigation of his 2016 presidential campaign.

In one of his final acts in office, Trump, who has long wanted to prove Democrats sought to use the probe to oust him, said in a memorandum that some redactions have been made to the documents in order to allow their public disclosure.

The material being declassified relates to Crossfire Hurricane, the FBIs code name for the investigation it began in 2016 into whether the Trump campaign was coordinating with Russia to tip the election.

President Trump on Tuesday declassified documents related to the FBI investigation into whether his campaign colluded with Russia in the months leading up to the 2016 presidential election

In one of his final acts in office, Trump, who has long wanted to prove Democrats sought to use the probe to oust him, said in a memorandum that some redactions have been made to the documents in order to allow their public disclosure

The probe was later turned over to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, whose report ultimately found no proof of such a conspiracy.

Mueller was tapped to head the investigation after Trump fired James Comey as FBI director.

The declassification move is part of a continuing effort by Trump and his allies, including in Congress, to release information aimed at discrediting the Russia probe.

Last week, Senator Lindsey Graham released interview transcripts from his inquiry into the FBI's Trump-Russia probe, claiming they show the 'gross incompetence' and corruption behind the effort.

Graham, a South Carolina Republican and chair of the Judiciary Committee, on Thursday released hundreds of pages of transcripts from the committee's inquiry into the origins and aftermath of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, as the FBI probe was code-named.

'I believe that Crossfire Hurricane was one of the most incompetent and corrupt investigations in the history of the FBI and DOJ,' said Graham in a statement.

The probe was later turned over to Special Counsel Robert Mueller (right), whose report ultimately found no proof of such a conspiracy. Mueller was tapped to head the investigation after Trump fired James Comey (left) as FBI director

The transcripts cover the contents of 11 closed-door Judiciary hearings conducted from March to October of 2020, including interviews with former top DOJ official Bruce Ohr and former Acting Attorney General Dana J. Boente.

Among the revelations in the released transcripts, an unnamed FBI agent who was British ex-spy Christopher Steele's primary contact and handler admitted that it was immediately apparent that Steele's 'dirty dossier' was 'political.'

'I mean, it was obvious,' the FBI agent said when asked if the dossier was political in nature.

The agent said that he did not initially know which political party had funded the dossier, which was paid for by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign.

'It was completely obvious to all of us, whoever was involved in these conversations, what the purpose was of the information was -- to be used by one political party or another,' the agent said.

The dossier contained salacious allegations, including that Russia had compromising videos of Trump, but that and other claims were never verified.

Nevertheless, Steele's dossier became part of the evidence used to obtain a surveillance warrant on Trump campaign advisor Carter Page from a secretive special court through the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Senator Lindsey Graham last week released interview transcripts from his investigation into the FBI's Trump-Russia probe, claiming they show the 'gross incompetence' in the investigation

Page was never charged with a crime.

'The FISA warrant applications against Carter Page were a travesty, and those who signed them have acknowledged that if they knew then what they know now, they would not have signed it,' Graham said on Thursday.

Another released interview, with an individual identified as 'Supervisory Special Agent 1', reveals that the SSA had requested a 'validation review' of Steele's subsources, and quit Crossfire Hurricane after the request was denied.

The SSA said he was aware that Steele 'had a sub source network that provided him the reporting,' and became aware that he 'was collecting this information for an entity that was conducting opposition research.'

The SSA said he requested an outside review of Steele's primary subsource, but that the proposal was shot down by former FBI deputy assistant director of counterintelligence Peter Strzok and former assistant director of counterintelligence Bill Priestap, saying they feared leaks.

The SSA was concerned enough by the decision to leave Crossfire Hurricane, he said.

'It is hard to believe that the senior officials at the FBI did not know that the Steele Dossier had been disavowed by the Russian subsource,' Graham said.

'It is equally hard to believe that the warnings from the CIA and other agencies about the reliability of Christopher Steele and the dossier were not known to senior leadership.'

Graham harshly criticized former FBI Director Jim Comey and his top lieutenant, Andrew McCabe.

'The leadership of the FBI under Comey and McCabe was either grossly incompetent or they knowingly allowed tremendous misdeeds,' Graham said.

An unnamed FBI agent who was British ex-spy Christopher Steele's (above) handler admitted that it was immediately apparent that Steele's 'dirty dossier' was 'political.'

'I mean, it was obvious,' the FBI agent said when asked if the dossier was political in nature

'There was a blind eye turned toward any explanation other than the Trump campaign was colluding with foreign powers. At every turn the FBI and DOJ ran stop signs that were in abundance regarding exculpatory information,' he added.

'There was no 'there' there. The investigation was pushed when it should have been stopped and the only logical explanation is that the investigators wanted an outcome because of their bias,' Graham said.

A 2019 report from the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General did not find evidence of political bias in the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, but did criticize 'basic and fundamental' errors and omissions in the FISA warrant applications to surveill Page.

U.S. Attorney John Durham has been appointed as a special counsel to pursue a separate investigation into whether Crossfire Hurricane had proper and legal origins.

The ongoing Durham investigation followed Trumps repeated calls to 'investigate the investigators.'
After the strong rally since April, there is a limited upside in the Indian equities and the will end 2021 with a low single digit gain, an American brokerage said on Wednesday.



Securities said it is "not as bullish" and gave a target of 15,000 points for the 50-share benchmark by the end of the newly started year.



have rallied by 80 per cent since April after a heavy 40 per cent correction following the announcement of the Covid-19-related restrictions. Many analysts, including RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, have raised concerns over the over-heating in the



The benchmark was trading 0.6 per cent up at 14,607 points at 1259 hrs on Wednesday.



"We are giving a target of 15,000 on the Nifty, which means there is a limited upside now. We are still bullish, but not as bullish," its India equity strategist Amish Shah told reporters.



He mentioned the strong rally witnessed by the markets in the immediate past for its more conservative view on the markets. The brokerage is overweight on sectors including financials, metals and steel, and industrial, he said, adding that information technology, energy, consumer discretionary and auto are the sectors on which it is underweight.

Within the financial sector, Shah said the brokerage feels the banks are adequately provided for the possible asset quality reverses and called the prediction of a jump in the dud assets by RBI in its biannual Financial Stability Report as conservative.

He said the of banking and financial companies are also lower from the historical highs which make it an attractive bet, and added that there is also a chance of higher credit growth fueling earnings for select lenders which will make it an attractive bet.



On the metals and steel and industrials sectors, the call is driven more from a likely surge in capital expenditure from the government, real estate and infrastructure sectors which we should be seeing, he said.



The upcoming budget will have an expansionist bias in the fiscal policy while the inventory levels will dip in the realty sector, leading to a surge in new projects, he said.



Shah, however, said that a full private sector capital expenditure cycle recovery is still two years away and it will be select sectors which will be seeing a growth in investments in 2021.



The target on the benchmarks also assumes a net addition of USD 10 billion to the foreign portfolio flows into the country, over and above the USD 22 billion in 2020, he said.



The foreign flows will continue on the back of stimulus measures and easy monetary policies in the developed world, he said, adding that Joe Biden will continue with such measures in the US on taking charge.



Shah also said that the government will continue on its reforms agenda in the new year as well and specifically pointed out power sector where there can be greater private sector play in distribution.
The European Union is aiming to inoculate 70 percent of its adult population against the coronavirus by June, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas told a media conference on Tuesday

Brussels, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jan, 2021 ):The European Union is aiming to inoculate 70 percent of its adult population against the coronavirus by June, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas told a media conference on Tuesday.

That aim, agreed in a meeting of all EU commissioners, comes as most member states are struggling to achieve liftoff with their vaccination programmes.

The bloc started jabs three weeks ago and has so far approved two vaccines -- from BioNTech/Pfizer and from Moderna -- with others soon expected to follow.

But its pace of vaccination trails behind countries such as the US, Britain, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said that the EU's joint-buying strategy meant there were already enough doses to vaccinate 80 percent of the EU's population of 450 million.

She admitted, though, that "vaccinations need to speed up".

Schinas said: "We also propose that by summer, this year, member states should have vaccinated a minimum of 70 percent of the adult population."He said that meant before June 1, when the European summer begins.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement that meeting the goal of 70 percent within the next four months could be "a turning point in our fight against this virus".
The Burberry group currently has 15% of its stores closed globally (Yui Mok/PA)

Luxury fashion group Burberry has warned over the impact of the move to scrap tax-free shopping for tourists as it revealed tumbling festive sales.

The group  famous for its distinctive trench coats  said while revenues will not see a big hit this financial year due to current travel restrictions, the impact will be more significant when tourist trade resumes.

It said sales are likely to shift away from the UK as a result and it is now looking at ways to soften the blow when tourists return to mainland Europe.

The scheme allowing VAT-free shopping for tourists to the UK ended on January 1 after the December 31 Brexit transition deadline, at a time when Burberry is also facing trading woes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It reported a 9% slump in global same-store sales over its Christmas quarter as the crisis forced shops to shut and slashed tourist trade.

Trading was impacted particularly badly across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA)  including the UK  where comparable store sales plunged 37% in the 13 weeks to December 26.

It saw nearly a fifth (19%) of stores closed on average across the region in the quarter due to coronavirus lockdowns and tightening restrictions.

The group currently has 15% of its stores closed globally and 36% operating with shorter trading hours.

But Burberry struck an upbeat tone on the outlook as there were signs of recovery, with third quarter sales jumping 11% across Asia Pacific thanks to a bounce back in China and Korea.

Marco Gobbetti, chief executive of Burberry, said: Our localised plans and digital capabilities helped drive growth in rebounding markets and we implemented our planned reduction in markdown.

While the short-term outlook remains uncertain due to Covid-19, we are well placed to accelerate when the pandemic eases.

Shares rose 5% after its update.

Sophie Lund-Yates, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the tax-free shopping blow will disrupt Burberrys established revenue patterns.

She said: The scheme made the UK a popular destination for retail tourists from the Middle East and Asia alike, and these shoppers made up a significant chunk of revenues.

The question now is whether these sales will be recouped in other regions.

Burberry will be busy trying to cook up ways to stem any potential sales outflow for when travel normalises  achieving that looks a likely outcome, with new ranges resonating well, suggesting the groups artistic direction has the ability to stand in good stead.
As Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday, many new histories were created. Biden became the oldest President the US has ever had and his running mate Kamala Harris became the first woman and person of colour to become US Vice President. But another person who quietly made history was 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, who became the youngest poet to recite at a presidential inauguration.

On Wednesday, Gorman who chosen to read at the inauguration of Biden, continued the tradition for Democratic presidents who have previously been sworn in by poets like Robert Frost and Maya Angelou.

Gorman's inaugural poem was called The Hill We Climb.

Gorman summoned images dire and triumphant Wednesday as she called out to the world even as we grieved, we grew."

In language referencing Biblical scripture and at times echoing the oratory of John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the 22-year-old Gorman read with urgency and assertion as she began by asking Where can we find light/In this never-ending shade? and used her own poetry and life story as an answer. The poem's very title, The Hill We Climb, suggested both labor and transcendence.

"We did not feel prepared to be the heirs

Of such a terrifying hour.

But within it weve found the power

To author a new chapter,

To offer hope and laughter to ourselves."

Amanda Gorman, 22, is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, as she performs at the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (Via @ABC) pic.twitter.com/LNJe6gprSZ The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) January 20, 2021

As her performance went viral, social media went crazy with praise.

How it started How it's going pic.twitter.com/xnYhDUzomG L.A. Public Library (@LAPublicLibrary) January 20, 2021

Who is Amanda Gorman?

At age 22, Gorman is a Los-Angeles based poet and activist who became the youngest poet to be part of a Presidential inaugural ceremony. But the young poet already has a history of writing for official occasions.

I have kind of stumbled upon this genre. Its been something I find a lot of emotional reward in, writing something I can make people feel touched by, even if its just for a night, says Gorman. The Los Angeles resident has written for everything from a July 4 celebration featuring the Boston Pops Orchestra to the inauguration at Harvard University, her alma mater, of school president Larry Bacow.

The latters On the Pulse of Morning, written for the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton, went on to sell more than 1 million copies when published in book form. Recent readers include poets Elizabeth Alexander and Richard Blanco, both of whom Gorman has been in touch with.

The three of us are together in mind, body and spirit, she says.

Not new to the limelight

Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in memory, and she has made news before. In 2014, she was named the first Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, and three years later she became the countrys first National Youth Poet Laureate. She has appeared on MTV; written a tribute to Black athletes for Nike; published her first book, The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough, as a teenager, and has a two-book deal with Viking Childrens Books. The first work, the picture book Change Sings, comes out later this year.

In previous interviews, Gorman had said she was contacted late last month by the Biden inaugural committee. She has known numerous public figures, including former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former first lady Michelle Obama, but hadn't metthe Biden then. The Bidens, apparently, have been aware of her: Gorman said the inaugural officials told her she had been recommended by the incoming first lady, Jill Biden.

Gorman had also said she was not given specific instructions on what to write, but was encouraged to emphasize unity and hope over denigrating anyone or declaring ding, dong, the witch is dead over the departure of President Donald Trump.

The siege last week of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to overturn the election was a challenge for keeping a positive tone, but also an inspiration. Gorman had said that she had been given 5 minutes to read, and before what she described during an interview as the Confederate insurrection of Jan. 6 she had only written about 3 1-2 minutes worth.

The final length ran to about six minutes.

That day gave me a second wave of energy to finish the poem, says Gorman, adding that she will not refer directly to Jan. 6, but will touch upon it. She said last weeks events did not upend the poem she had been working on because they didnt surprise her.

The poem isnt blind, she said. It isnt turning your back to the evidence of discord and division.

In other writings, Gorman has honored her ancestors, acknowledged and reveled in her own vulnerability (Glorious in my fragmentation, she has written) and confronted social issues. Her poem In This Place (An American Lyric), written for the 2017 inaugural reading of U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, condemns the racist march in Charlottesville, Virginia (tiki torches string a ring of flame) and holds up her art form as a force for democracy.

(With inputs from Associated Press)

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Even as the protest by farmers on the Delhi borders continued for the 56th day on Wednesday, leaders of farmers were slated to hold the 10th round of talks with the Centre on their unfulfilled demands here in the afternoon.

The farmers are sticking to their demand for the repeal of three new central farm laws and a legal guarantee for the procurement of crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) whereas the Union government is ready to bring about amendments in these laws.

Over 40 representatives of farmer organisations present in the previous rounds of talks would meet with three Union Ministers at 2 pm at the Vigyan Bhavan here. The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on January 19 but was postponed by a day.

Punjab farmer leader Kirpa Singh said that farmer leaders would first like to deliberate on their core demand for the repeal of the three laws during the latest talks.

Punjab-based farmer leader and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said: "In the previous talks, we urged the Union government to discuss the MSP issue. We will again discuss it in this meeting as well."

He also said that the issue of "harassment" of those supporting the farmers' agitation by the National Investigation Agency would again be brought up in Wednesday's meeting.

As for differences between farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Shiv Kumar Sharma Kakaji, Harinder Singh said that the two had buried the hatchet and stand united.

He asserted that all farmer unions and others spearheading the farmers' movement were united and would continue the agitation till their demands were not accepted.

As for Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar's remark that the farmer unions should discuss the new farm laws clause-wise, farmer leaders said that much discussion has been done on this issue for many days and they would rather like to discuss their core demand on repeal of the laws.

The farmers are demanding the repeal 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 law on procurement of crops at MSP.

The farmers have been sitting on Delhi's borders since November 26, 2020.
New Delhi: The New Car Assessment Program for Southeast Asia also known as ASEAN NCAP has announced its results for Nissan's Magnite.

According to ASEAN NCAP's assessment, Nissan Magnite has obtained an overall score of 70.60 and a four-star rating which includes 39.03 points for the Adult Occupant Protection category, 16.31 points for Child Occupant Protection and 15.28 points in Safety Assist Category.

The Nissan Magnite test was performed on an Indonesian-spec variant in ASEAN NCAP's Indonesian lab. Nissan produces Magnite in India for domestic and export markets, having said that this assessment is for the Indonesian variant and not the Indian one.

Nissan Magnite is offered in two trims in Indonesia namely the base Upper and Premium model. The Indonesian variant of Nissan Magnite offers a lot of standard safety features which consists of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), front seat belts reminders and dual front airbags. Additionally, the car offers the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Traction Control, 360-degree camera, Reverse Parking Sensors. The Model tested was Premium one with a CVT gearbox.

A 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine powers the Magnite in Indonesian segment. The Indian-spec Magnite too get this engine along with a 1.0-litre B4D naturally-aspirated petrol engine. The turbocharged petrol mill produces 100 PS power and 160 NM of torque. The naturally-aspirated mill churns out 72 PS of power and 96 NM of torque.

Nissan has priced Magnite aggressively and this has resulted in great sales and booking for the car. The car is priced from 5.49 lakh to 9.59 lakh in India.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  Testing czar Vince Dizon said Wednesday the strategies against the coronavirus disease remain unchanged but admitted the need to improve the country's capacity to detect COVID-19 variants, including the B.1.1.7.

The B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom, is now in the country. It is also believed to be more infectious than other known variants, but it does not make people more severely sick. The Department of Health earlier said they are also keeping track of the ones from South Africa and Malaysia.

I think whether we have COVID or not, we need more capability to do this genome sequencing, Dizon said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, referring to the second test needed to identify which type of COVID-19 variant has infected a COVID-19-positive individual. He noted only the Philippine Genome Center and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine can do genome sequencing.

The strategy does not change. Kailangan lang po talaga mas maging vigilant tayo at mas i-enforce iyong pinakaimportante part ng strategy, which is prevention, he added.

[Translation: The important thing is to become more vigilant and enforce the most important strategy which is prevention.]

Mitigation measures include washing of hands, practicing physical distancing, and wearing face masks and face shields, Dizon said, adding these minimum health standards are the countys main weapon against the UK variant. "Quickly" isolating infected individuals and tracing their contacts are the other strategies, he said.

Probe into current diagnostic testing sought

Meanwhile, opposition Senator Leila De Lima is seeking a legislative probe into the current COVID-19 diagnostic testing capabilities of the country amid the threat of new, emerging variants.

De Lima said Wednesday in a statement she filed Senate Resolution 612 in a bid to ensure that our testing capabilities and results are reliable and up to date in order to preserve the health and safety of the general public and ensure that the health protocols in place are still effective and responsive.

She also deemed it prudent to inform the public, through a Senate inquiry, how the national COVID-19 task force is preparing the health system in case more infectious variants of COVID-19 are found in the country.

Of the new COVID-19 variants, only the B.1.1.7 has so far been detected in the Philippines. The countrys first case of the said variant is a 29-year-old Filipino who arrived home from the United Arab Emirates on Jan. 7. DOH announced Wednesday that over 13 of his close contacts have tested positive for COVID-19. Their samples will be checked for the possible presence of the variant at the PGC.

Dr. John Wong, an IATF adviser and a member of the Technical Working Group on COVID-19 Variants, earlier said the UK variant could result in a 15-fold increase in infections in just a month if it becomes the dominant variant in the country.

After recording its first case of the new COVID-19 variant, the Philippines extended until the end of the month its travel ban on foreign travelers from over 30 jurisdictions and expanded its restriction to include those from Hungary and the United Arab Emirates.
NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Curriculum Associates has named Tracie M. Porter of Holden School in Holden to its 2021 class of Extraordinary Educators, an annual program that celebrates and connects exemplar teachers from around the country. Porter is among 44 teachers from 26 states and Washington, DC chosen for this honor that recognizes educators who exhibit best-in-class use of i-Ready and/or Ready, illustrate growth and achievement via formal assessments, demonstrate innovation and engagement practices for students, are evangelists for high standards and student achievement, and have been teaching for at least two years.

"It goes without saying that this has been an unprecedented school year that has challenged educators, students, and families alike," said Rob Waldron, CEO of Curriculum Associates. "However, this group of Extraordinary Educatorslike so many other educators across the countryhas more than risen to the occasion. We are proud to recognize Tracie for her hard work, dedication, and innovative best practices that continue to positively impact the students she serves."

This year's Extraordinary Educators, who were chosen from among hundreds of nominations, will have access to a network of peers from around the country to collaborate, connect, and learn from throughout the year, as well as receive unique professional development opportunities from Curriculum Associates. They will also be invited to participate and present at the Extraordinary Educators Leadership Summit, as well as other professional learning events throughout the year.

"I am very honored to be named one of the 2021 Extraordinary Educator recipients by Curriculum Associates," said Porter. "Being included in a group with such excellent educators is certainly an accomplishment. I believe that collaboration is important in education, and I am blessed to be given this opportunity to collaborate with the some of the best."

Today, Curriculum Associates' programs are used in the majority of the state's school districts.

To learn more about Curriculum Associates and the 2021 Extraordinary Educators, visit CurriculumAssociates.com/Extraordinary-Educators/2021-Class.

About Curriculum Associates

Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students.

Contact: Kati Elliott Charlotte Fixler

KEH Communications Curriculum Associates

(410) 975-9638 (978) 901-6066

[email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Curriculum Associates, LLC

Related Links

www.curriculumassociates.com



Iain Stirling has revealed ITV bosses are keeping their fingers crossed Love Island can go ahead this year and hinted filming in the UK has not been ruled out.

The comedian, 32, provides the narration for the hit reality series and is hoping he can return to work again this summer after the show had to be postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Iain said it would be 'quite amusing' to watch the Love Island contestants have to deal with the much more temperamental British summer weather rather than the scorching villa in Majorca.

TV: Iain Stirling has revealed ITV bosses are keeping their fingers crossed Love Island can go ahead this year and hinted filming in the UK has not been ruled out

He said: 'Hey, let's see what happens. Let's see what happens, like I said, I've no idea, but it could be quite amusing seeing Love Island contestants embracing the beaches of Bognor Regis at some point. When they can't eat their dinner because seagulls are taking it off the plate it could mix it up.'

Iain said he was impressed with the most recent series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! which was filmed in Gwrych Castle in Wales after production concluded the pandemic made it impossible to film the show in Australia.

He said: 'I genuinely thought I'm A Celeb was so brilliant this year, it's an option. I'm A Celeb did such a good job, man. It was so funny and such a good season.'

Iain added that watching I'm A Celeb made him want to get back to Love Island more than ever as they are both shows that 'capture the nation'.

Couple: Iain said it would be 'quite amusing' to watch the Love Island contestants have to deal with the British summer weather rather than the scorching villa in Majorca (pictured with wife and Love Island host Laura Whitmore)

However, the TV star added that he doesn't have a 'Covid crystal ball' so bosses don't know what the situation will be like for filming by the summer.

However, producers appear to be hopeful that it will go ahead as Iain's wife and Love Island host Laura Whitmore advertised this year's application form earlier this month.

The casting website has sprung to life and reads: 'ITV2 are looking for vibrant singles from across the UK who are searching for love!

'Our Islanders spend time in a luxury villa in the hope of finding love, but to remain in paradise they must win the hearts of the public and their fellow Islanders, who ultimately decide their fate on Love Island.

Memories: Iain is hoping he can return to work again this summer after the series had to be postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic (Paige Turley and Finn Tapp pictured with Laura on the 2020 series)

'If you think you've got what it takes, then we want to hear from you!'

The eligibility requirements for the show are broad with applicants having to be over 18 and not related to anyone working for ITV.

They must also hold a valid passport and be available for a minimum of 10 consecutive weeks to film the show.

Applicants must then upload a short video of themselves explaining why they would make a good islander and send a headshot and full length photos of themselves.

Success: Iain said he was impressed with the most recent series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! which was filmed in Gwrych Castle in Wales

Iain reckons producers will receive floods of applications this year as singletons have found it harder to date than ever amid the ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

Hopefuls will have their work cut out for them if they want to make it to the villa as it was previously revealed only six Islanders on the 2019 series actually applied to be on the show.

Despite 85,000 people applying for a spot, people only had a 0.007% chance of getting onto the show through the application process.

According to The Mirror, Amy Hart, Michael Griffiths, Ovie Soko and Joe Garratt, all applied via these channels.

Meanwhile, Curtis Pritchard and Tommy Fury both had agents who helped to get them on the show.

Applications: ITV are now on the hunt for a new crop of islanders and have invited singletons to apply for a place in the villa

Love Island 2019 winners Amber Gill and Greg O'Shea did not apply for the show and were instead scouting by producers.

In written evidence for the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee report, ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said: 'On series five of Love Island to date (15 July), there have been 36 contributors.

'24 were found and cast by the programme's casting team, six were put forward by professional agents, and six came through the general application.'

Oh dear: Love Island 2019 winners Amber and Greg DIDN'T apply to be on the show as it was revealed only six of the Islanders were chosen through the general application process

Dame Carolyn previously told MPs ITV receives approximately 98,000 applications for Love Island and has denied casting directors are given instructions about physical appearance when searching for contestants.

She said: 'There's a very rigorous application and casting process.

'We get about 98,000 applications for Love Island, they then take that down to about 90 to 100 as soon as they get a call back - at that stage they go through medical questionnaires, psychological questionnaires, assessments, that then goes down to about 30 or 40 who get selected to appear on Love Island.

'It's a very rigorous process of screening that goes on before they actually get on to Love Island.'

Almost half of Australias top 20 universities appear to have no protection in place for hackers impersonating their domain to trick people into giving them sensitive information and taking over their computer systems.

Only two of the universities are proactively blocking fraudulent emails from reaching students, alumni and faculty staff, raising concerns they are leaving themselves open to attack.

Australia last year experienced a wave of cyber attacks from a sophisticated state-based actor. Credit:Kacper Pempel

Australia's cyber security agency, the Australian Singals Directorate, recommends government departments and the private sector use domain authentication to catch out fraudulent emails.

The revelations have sparked concern Australian universities are still leaving themselves open to "phishing" attacks, which have been the main source of hacks on the higher education sector in recent years. A crippling attack on the Australian National University's computer system in 2018 began with a "spear-phishing" email targeting a senior staff member - delivering a malicious code without the person needing to download an attachment or open the email.

Michigan is relatively safe from natural hazards, but some of the states counties rank amongst the most vulnerable to disastrous storms because of their impacts on infrastructure, economy, and the population.

In a new National Risk Index, the Federal Emergency Management Agency calculated a risk score for every county in America, looking at 18 types of natural disasters, like earthquakes and floods. Each county is scored on how often disasters strike, how many people and how much property are at risk, and the populations social vulnerability, and community resilience or the likelihood the area could bounce back after a major natural disaster.

Offices of Emergency Management rely on the risk index, an online interactive map, for mitigation planning. Still, effective responses require local and regional partnerships to identify risks the index misses, according to Andy Alspach, a mitigation planner at the Office of Emergency Management at Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Department.

This indexing method has been around for a while. But, Alspach said only recently has there been a tremendous amount of data and digital horsepower to integrate the information into a workable system. According to Alspach, offices of emergency management may use the index to get a better understanding of where resources are being utilized, and planning has been regionalized to collectively respond to emergencies.

They try to regionalize that so youre not taking resources from another area that might have their own problem down the road, and youre keeping it keeping the response streamlined, and the resources focused, Alspach said.

Related: See what Michigan counties rank highest on FEMAs new natural disaster risk assessment scale

Wayne County tops the list of Michigan counties most vulnerable to natural disaster and is No. 26 among the 3,142 counties in the country, according to the index. Wayne Countys building value is $222 billion, its agricultural value is $23 million and its population is the largest, with 1.8 million residents. It at very high risk for annual loss to disasters, and its social vulnerability is also relatively high.

Four Michigan counties -- Macomb, Kent, Roscommon, and Kalamazoo -- were at relatively moderate risk. Macomb and Kent were ranked higher because of their large populations. For Kalamazoo, it appears to be a combination of being an urban county combined with high-risk scores for hail, extreme cold and lightning.

As of 2016, Kalamazoo County had a population of 250,331 residents, a building value of $30 billion, and an agricultural value of $236 million. According to the index, it rates relatively moderate for being at risk of natural hazards and for its expected annual loss to natural hazards.

Cant see the map? Click here.

Alspach was hired by the Office of Emergency Management to help the planning team with the required periodic update of Kalamazoo Countys hazard mitigation plan, which is required by FEMA and the state to receive money for mitigation projects.

Emergency management deals with three types of hazards: Natural hazards, like serious weather events, technological hazards, dam failures, and human hazards, like civil unrest. Disasters are specific events that rise to a level exceeding local resources and require declaring an emergency to bring in outside help, Alspach said. The index only deals with the risk of natural hazards. It doesnt always identify all potential risks that havent resulted in disasters yet.

Kalamazoo just jumps out at you when youre looking at dollar values of damage from hailstorms, Alspach said.

Kalamazoo County has had 337 hailstorms. Annually, the county expects to suffer $7.9 million in building, agriculture, and population damages, making hail one main factor driving the countys risk rating.

Roscommon also had high risk scores for hail, extreme cold, and strong winds. While the county -- which includes the Houghton and Higgins lake areas -- has a low expected annual loss to storms, it had a high score on social vulnerability, which FEMA says measures the susceptibility of social groups to the adverse impact of natural hazards.

Unlike Roscommon, Kalamazoo Countys risk for expected annual loss to storms is relatively modern while its social vulnerability is relatively low.

According to Alspach, lightning, another natural hazard that drives Kalamazoo Countys rating up, requires more of a collaborative response. Kalamazoo County has experienced 1,195 lightning storms and is expected to accrue $695,812 in annual losses. Alspach explained the hazard these storms can impose on people by referencing his multi-agency response to a Luke Bryant concert.

In August 2019, an estimated 29,000 people drove to Kalamazoo to watch the country star perform in a random farmers field out in the middle of nowhere, Alspach said.

Related: Michigan Luke Bryan show canceled amid severe weather

According to Alspach, Kalamazoos Office of Emergency Management recruited the help of Homeland Security and state police. As it turned out, the county would experience its most intensely violent lightning storm.

We had 6,500 people on site on the venue, and the rest were in cars waiting to get in or walking across the open fields when this lightning storm hit, Alspach said. Everybody was on hand just in case.

Another 32 urban and suburban Michigan counties were at relatively low risk of significant losses from a natural disaster and the remaining 46 rural counties were considered very low risk.

Alspach said the index isnt the only tool used for planning because it can overlook potential for natural hazards. For example, the national risk index has a zero ranking for wildfires in Kalamazoo County with very little expected annual loss. Still, Alspach said deals with wildfire, referencing a wildfire that threatened a mobile home community last year.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, and no damage occurred, but it was very close because the winds were so high, Alspach said. It was one of those things where we have to look at that as an emerging, increasing threat.

Related: U.S. drought area expanding rapidly, 73 million affected

Another hazardous risk the index overlooks is drought, which Alspach said is narrowly defined by the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, so the occurrence of drought is low. However, even light droughts, like the one Kalamazoo County experienced last year, can cause significant crop damage.

Kalamazoo County was one of several counties that the USDA said had suffered agricultural damage, and they made loans available to mitigate that debt, Alspach said.

While FEMA has developed useful tools to create natural hazard mitigation plans, Alspach said his offices most useful source is still the communication with local jurisdictions.

We rely on the eyes and ears of our first responders, especially the fire departments, Alspach said. Those guys have kind of a super-sensitive spidey sense of areas that they need to keep an eye on.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Credit Suisse Group AG executives ignored warnings from colleagues about troubled steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta as they channeled $1.2 billion of client funds to his businesses, according to people familiar with the matter.Bankers in Credit Suisses commodity trade-finance unit blacklisted Guptas Liberty Commodities Ltd. in 2016 because they suspected some of its deals werent legitimate, the people said. When they learned about two years later that the bank was lending to his companies through a suite of investment funds, which eventually grew to $10 billion, they flagged their worries to leaders in compliance and the division that housed the loans, one of the people said.The disclosure that Credit Suisse may have put clients at risk despite internal concerns over Guptas businesses adds a new twist to the debacle stemming from the March implosion of Greensill Capital, the finance firm at the center of the three-way relationship.Investigations, LawsuitsThe U.K. Serious Fraud Office is now investigating Guptas group of companies for suspected fraud, including in its financing deals with Greensill, according to a May 14 statement. Credit Suisse has sued to force Guptas Liberty Commodities into insolvency and has since shut the funds that made the loans and launched an internal investigation. Investors are staring at losses as the bank confronts embarrassing lawsuits.We are currently focusing our efforts on recovering our investors money, Will Bowen, a spokesman for Credit Suisse in London, said in an emailed statement, adding that the banks internal probe will focus on all of the issues linked to the funds. We are committed to learning the lessons and will share the relevant lessons learnt at the appropriate time.Andrew Mitchell, a spokesman for the Gupta Family Group Alliance, or GFG Alliance, a collective of businesses linked to Gupta including Liberty Commodities, denied any wrongdoing.The Greensill saga represents just one of the two disasters that rocked Credit Suisse in the first half of 2021. Since Greensill began unraveling, the bank has announced a $5.5 billion hit from the blowup at Archegos Capital Management.ApologiesFormer Chairman Urs Rohner apologized to shareholders and his successor, Antonio Horta-Osorio, who arrived at the end of April, has promised a sweeping strategy review.Chief Executive Officer Thomas Gottstein, who was head of the division that oversaw trade finance, wasnt aware of the internal concerns about Gupta that had prompted the bank to cut him off, according to a person familiar with the matter.Employees at the trade-finance unit, which lends money for the buying and selling of commodities, cut ties with Gupta in 2016 after becoming skeptical toward his Liberty Commodities, the people said. They distrusted the documents the company provided, triggering doubts about its transactions, they said. In one example reported by Bloomberg, the company had presented another bank with what seemed to be duplicate shipping receipts. A spokesman for Gupta has denied any wrongdoing.Banking TiesLiberty Commodities pledged assets to Credit Suisse as security for borrowings in 2013 but by early 2016, all such commitments had been extinguished, indicating that the financing relationship had ceased, U.K. Companies House filings show. And while Guptas company listed the Swiss bank as one of its lenders in its 2014 annual report, it didnt in the following years report, which is dated May 2016, according to the filings.Their counterparts at other banks, including Macquarie Group Ltd. and Sberbank PJSC, halted trading with Liberty Commodities around the same time because of similar concerns; Goldman Sachs Group Inc. also stopped in 2016, Bloomberg has reported.Nevertheless, executives at Credit Suisses asset-management division -- which creates investment products for clients and charges a fee for overseeing them -- began arranging a suite of funds focused on supply-chain finance in 2017. The entities bought securitized loans packaged by Greensill, a firm created by Australian businessman Lex Greensill. Much of the debts were linked to Guptas businesses.WarningsOfficials at the commodity trade-finance unit were concerned when they found out about the funds links to Gupta and took their fears to Thomas Grotzer, general counsel for the banks Swiss division. They also warned Luc Mathys and Lukas Haas, the bankers who helped oversee the trades at the asset-management unit.Grotzer was promoted last month to interim global head of compliance at Credit Suisse. He didnt respond to requests for comment. Mathys, head of fixed-income at the asset-management division, and Haas, a portfolio manager, were put on temporary leave in March. Neither responded to requests for comment.The bank pushed ahead with the funds and marketed them to investors as being made up of short-term debt secured on invoices, assets considered so safe that Credit Suisse gave the largest vehicle its lowest rating for risk. Yet part of the loans were linked to mere possible future revenues.Other parts of the bank continued working with Gupta as well. Credit Suisses investment bankers were due to lead an initial public offering for Libertys U.S. steel arm, which was ultimately pulled, according to a statement from the company. Gupta also announced that the Swiss bank would finance his planned acquisition of Thyssenkrupp AGs steel unit, which fell apart earlier this year.Credit Suisse has so far recouped about $5.9 billion of the $10 billion in these supply-chain funds, but it remains unclear how much will be returned ultimately to investors. Loans to Guptas businesses are among a batch of debts that are the principal sources of valuation uncertainty, the bank said earlier this month.Liberty Commoditiess external legal advisors investigated alleged rumors concerning the paperwork it used in 2019, according to Mitchell, the spokesman for GFG Alliance. They found no evidence to substantiate the rumors, nor was the company ever subject to further complaints or proceedings, he said.LCL has ongoing banking relationships with separate financial institutions, Mitchell said, referring to Liberty Commodities. The trade-finance market has been hugely challenging for all but the very largest commodities traders in recent years. Nevertheless, no financial institution has been left out of pocket as a result of lending money to LCL. On the contrary, they have received substantial commercial returns.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
"I'm reading this book for work and it's really interesting. It's a steady read, not much happening but it keeps you engaged. And it reflects real life issues."

That's the text I sent to one of my friends the first night I sat on the couch and began reading "Memorial" by Houston author Bryan Washington.

If you haven't read it yet, Washingtons story takes readers on a journey from Houston to Osaka and back to Houston again as we follow the life of a struggling couple in the predominately Black Third Ward: Benson, a Black day care worker from Katy whose name we don't learn until page 29, and Mike, a Japanese American chef at a local Mexican restaurant.

In addition to exploring the lives of an interracial, gay couple, the book has a bit of everything in it: racism, far-removed parents and a Houston reference on every other page. Literally. As a non-native, I definitely enjoyed reading about landmarks and feeling like I was actually with the couple as they fought while stuck in traffic on I-10 or enjoyed food truck tacos.

You realize from the very beginning that the pair is rather unhappy. They've been together for four years, and it's almost like neither of them understand how they've made it this far. The two argue, a lot, which in turn leads to snarky remarks that eventually turn into sex. And then they do it all over again.

While they struggle to determine what's going to come of their relationship, Mike decides to take off to Japan for an undetermined amount of time.

As he travels halfway around the world to be with his cancer-stricken father, his mother Mitsuko is flying in to Houston, leaving Benson in a rather awkward position  he's never met Mike's mom, and she's not fond of the idea of her son dating a Black guy, or any guy for that matter.

Benson tells her at one point that they've hardly even talked about Mike since he left them alone together nearly a monthly ago, to which she responds, "He came out of my body. He's a homosexual. He left his mother with a stranger. I've already got everything I need to know." Harsh.

Penguin Random House

There were so many things I appreciated about the book, including the "Maid in Manhattan" reference near the beginning and the Beyonce mention halfway through.

For me, it was a perfect representation of the silent battles we fight  here, ones that eventually work out in the end.

The fact that Benson is HIV-positive, for example, is something he mentions only a couple of times. He never lets it get him down  really only speaking of his diagnosis when he's on the verge of having unprotected sex  and just makes sure he takes his medicine on time.

We do learn that his family, primarily his alcoholic father, kicked him out of the house because of it. Benson's positive status meant they finally had to accept he was gay.

Benson also struggles a lot with commitment, something he doesn't want to admit but that readers can glean. "He was a guy, I learned early on, who considered sh*t five times before he committed, before he made a move," Mike said of the day he finally got Benson to come back to his place, also noting that his partner was "stupefyingly shy."

Mike too has an aversion to commitment, usually just taking things as they are and not wanting to "overthink," one of the clear differences between the two men. It's almost like they don't mesh well at all, but at the same time, they're perfect for each other.

BLACK-OWNED BOOKSTORES: Here are 9 black-owned bookstores with online shops you can support now

There's also a hidden message that you don't really owe anyone anything, but at the same time, you should want to be good to people who are good to you, "Whatever that means."

One of my favorite and most significant phrases of the book was a third of the way in: "Why does something always have to be wrong?" Benson asked Ximena, a coworker and close friend of his. To which she replied, "It doesn't. That's why I'm asking."

I haven't read "Lot," a short story collection penned by Washington, but his writing skills certainly shine through in "Memorial." Various organizations have called it one of the best books of 2020, and it's even been nominated for multiple awards  in my opinion, all well-deserved.
courtesy of the Montgomery County Police Reporter.

A man died early Tuesday morning as first responders tried saving him following a fire at a north Montgomery County mobile home where no smoke detector was found in use.

North Montgomery County firefighters arrived just after midnight at a double-wide mobile home fully engulfed in flames in the 17100 block of South Cochran, immediately outside Willis city limits. A neighbor who dialed 911 had told firefighters he thought a resident remained inside, according to the Montgomery County Fire Marshals Office
JEDDAH  Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmad Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Othaimeen, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, Tuesday evening. They discussed ongoing peace talks and other issues of common interest.

The Foreign Minister praised the leading role that the OIC has played in the solidarity of the Islamic world and its support for the current Afghan peace process, especially the issuance of the last OIC Foreign Ministerial Meeting's resolutions in Niamey, Niger, in support of building consensus of the Islamic world for resolving the Afghanistan crisis.

Minister Atmar called the war in Afghanistan illegitimate according to Islamic values, saying: "The crimes that are being committed in Afghanistan today are completely incompatible with Islamic beliefs and teachings. Assassinating women judges, killings Kabul University students, and attacking maternity hospital are certainly not justifiable in Islam".

Foreign Minister stated that "if the opposition is truly committed to peace, the Afghan Government sees no obstacles to national reconciliation and the success of the peace process. We are to pave the way for political participation of all sides through the free will of the Afghan people and internationally accepted standards".

"We want the OIC to continue its efforts to end the bloodshed and bring about a political solution to the Afghan crisis by holding follow-up meetings, providing expert advice, and sending special groups to consult negotiating teams in Doha", Foreign Minister asserted.

In response to the Foreign Minister's remarks, OIC Secretary-General commended and expressed support for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's flexible and accommodating approach towards peace, particularly the implementation of a ceasefire and forming political leadership through the representation of the free will of the people.

Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmad Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Othaimeen pointed out that killing and violence are contrary to Islam's essence. Therefore, through guidance and publicity, people should be made aware that Islam is not a religion of terror and violence but a religion of unity and convergence. He praised the role of religious scholars in this regard, saying that scholars in Islamic societies have an important position from a religious perspective and politically.

Foreign Minister referred to President Ashraf Ghani's decree and the facilities envisaged for the establishment of the International Islamic University of Afghanistan in Nangarhar province and called on the OIC to assist Afghanistan in architectural design curriculum, academics, administration, and financing of the university. The Secretary-General of the OIC, while renewing his organization's commitment to helping establish this university, called it an important move in educating and enlightening the young generation and countering extremism and terrorism. The two sides agreed to work together through working groups to advance the project.
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The global 5G infrastructure market grew at a CAGR of 52% during 2014-2019. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the global market to continue its moderate growth during 2020-2025.

5G (fifth generation) infrastructure is a network of macro and small cell base stations that integrates telecom, computer, and storage resources into a unified system. The infrastructure relies on network functions virtualization (NFV), software-defined networking (SDN), mobile edge computing (MEC), and fog computing (FC) technologies to boost agility, scalability, and attain ultra-low latency. It also supports throughput, high mobility, connection density, and multi-gigabit per second (Gbps) peak data speed. Currently, telecom operators are utilizing a non-standalone (NSA) approach to deploy 5G infrastructure.

The enhanced massive machine type communication (MTC), mobile broadband (MBB), and ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC) provided by the network, and the increasing demand for high-speed data and superior network reliability, impels the 5G infrastructure market growth. Additionally, rising industrial automation further enhances the need for 5G infrastructure. Moreover, these networks are gaining traction in the healthcare industry to monitor medical procedures remotely and provide critical care treatment. The widespread utilization of semi-autonomous vehicles, internet of things (IoT) devices, and augmented reality (AR), and the advent of driverless automobiles and smart electronic devices are other growth-inducing factors. Furthermore, the development of smart cities, precision farming, digitized logistics, and instant cloud computing are also expected to bolster the 5g technology market growth.

5G Infrastructure Market 2020-2025 Competitive Analysis and Segmentation:

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the 5G infrastructure market has been studied in the report with the detailed profiles of the key players operating in the market.

Some of these key players include:

Airspan Networks Inc.

AT&T Inc.

Cisco Systems Inc.

Comba Telecom Systems Holdings Limited

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.

Mavenir Systems Inc. (Comverse Technology)

NEC Corporation

Nokia Oyj

Oracle Corporation

Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson

ZTE Corporation

The report has segmented the 5G infrastructure market on the basis of communication infrastructure, network technology, network architecture, frequency, end user and region.

Breakup by Communication Infrastructure:

Small Cell

Macro Cell

Radio Access Network (RAN)

Others

Breakup by Network Technology:

Software-Defined Networking

Network Function Virtualization

Others

Breakup by Network Architecture:

Standalone

Non-Standalone

Breakup by Frequency:

Sub-6 Ghz

Above 6 Ghz

Breakup by End User:

Automotive

Energy and Utilities

Healthcare

Home User

Others

Breakup by Region:

North America United States Canada

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others

Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others

Latin America Brazil Mexico Others

Middle East and Africa

Explore full report with table of contents: https://www.imarcgroup.com/5g-infrastructure-market

Key highlights of the report:

Market Performance (2014-2019)

Market Outlook (2020- 2025)

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Market

Market Drivers and Success Factors

Value Chain

Comprehensive mapping of the competitive landscape

If you need specific information that is not currently within the scope of the report, we will provide it to you as a part of the customization.

Browse Related Report:

https://www.imarcgroup.com/smart-building-market

https://www.imarcgroup.com/anti-money-laundering-software-market

About Us

IMARC Group is a leading market research company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.

IMARCs information products include major market, scientific, economic and technological developments for business leaders in pharmaceutical, industrial, and high technology organizations. Market forecasts and industry analysis for biotechnology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, travel and tourism, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the top of the companys expertise.

Contact US:

IMARC Group

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USA: +1-631-791-1145

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Tamil Nadu Elections 2021: EPS rules out truce with Sasikala

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Chennai, Jan 20: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Tuesday wound up his two-day visit to the national capital where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he raised issues of the state and no politics was discussed with the top BJP leaders. Maintaining that there was still time for the assembly elections in the state, likely in April-May, he said seat sharing formula with the BJP would be finalised once the poll notification was issued. Talking to reporters here, he also ruled out ''100 per cent'' any scope for admitting V K Sasikala, aide of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, into the AIADMK.

She was removed from the party by ''Amma'' (Jayalalithaa) he added. The chief minister, who is also AIADMK co-coordinator, said his talks with Modi and Shah were aimed at seeking funds for key projects, relief assistance and the state''s growth and he submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister. "There was no talk related to politics. Also, this is not the right time to talk politics. There is (still) time for elections. I am here for the growth of Tamil Nadu," he said. To a question on the number of seats to be allotted to the BJP, Palaniswami, who met Shah on Monday and Modi on Tuesday, said it would be decided after the poll notification. During an official function attended by Shah in Chennai recently, Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam, who is the AIADMK co-ordinator, had said the alliance with BJP would continue for the assembly elections.

TN elections 2021: I dont hanker for CMs post says EPS

There were expectations that he could take forward discussions on poll related aspects like seat-sharing with BJP during his visit here. Though the AIADMK had already announced Palaniswami as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the polls, the BJP did not immediately come forward to endorse it, triggering speculations for sometime. While the BJP initially maintained that the CM nominee would be announced by the NDA leadership, the party later made a climb down and said the AIADMK as the major partner would decide on it. To a question on Sasikala, he said.

"There is 100 per cent no chance for admitting her into AIADMK." Sasikala, undergoing four year imprisonment in a corruption case, is expected to be released on January 27 from Parapana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru. Palaniswami said he invited Modi to visit Tamil Nadu for launching completed projects, including the Washermanpet-Wimco Nagar Chennai Metrorail extension and lay the foundation stone for new initiatives. In the memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister requested an immediate release of Rs.1,200 crore over extensive damage to crops following the recent Nivar and Burevi cyclones and heavy rains. He said farmers in the state have been affected badly and adequate Central fund has been sought to provide relief.

The memorandum thanked Modi for the release of 40 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu by Sri Lanka.

The chief minister sought efforts for the release of 12 more fishermen and all the mechanised boats in the custody of the island nation. He requested Modi to instruct the Defence Ministry to expedite the setting up of the defence industrial corridor, which would enhance the overall industrial development of Tamil Nadu. Early finalisation of the Detailed Project Report for the GodavariCauvery Linkage project, sanction for Cauvery- Gundar linkage, a part of the former, was requested.

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

Financial support of Rs.713.39 crore for "Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery" plan to restore Cauvery and its main tributaries and early approval of the Phase-II Chennai Metro Rail Project under the 50:50 equity model were sought. Request to introduce evening flight services between Salem and Chennai under the regional connectivity scheme and direct flight services between Coimbatore and Dubai was also made in the memorandum.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 8:25 [IST]
As a passionate home cook over the past few years, Eric Sim would often make giant stock pots of noodle soup with as many as 20 servings. Inevitably, hed invite friends to help him finish. His niu rou mian, Taiwanese beef noodle soup, was always the biggest draw.

With its chewy noodles and earthy broth  heady with star anise, cloves and fennel  the dish has rightfully become one of Taiwans most famous culinary feats. Yet Sim, an Oakland native with family roots in Taiwan, couldnt find a version that satisfied him close to home. It took a pandemic for him to follow his passion for cooking and start a pop-up, Yilan Foods, with three friends.

I didnt have too much Taiwanese culture around me growing up in Oakland, he said. It left me grasping for straws: How come I dont know anyone who speaks Mandarin? How come I dont see Taiwanese food around here?

The pop-up specializes in just two dishes: niu rou mian and lou ru fan, a classic of braised pork belly over rice. Yilans version of niu rou mian is intensely rich, with meltingly tender beef shank and pickled mustard greens to lighten the dark, murky broth. It hasnt taken long for the soup to find a following. Yilan served its first bowls in November  pre-orders only, with pickup or delivery in San Francisco and Oakland  and quickly sold out. With its limited weekly production of 100 servings of each dish, sell-outs became the norm.

In ways, Yilan Foods begins as a typical pandemic story: Sims friend Itthisak Rampaiyakul temporarily shut down his Oakland Thai restaurant Ninna in September and wasnt sure what to do next. Rampaiyakul thought of Sim, a tech worker who dreamt of working in the food industry, and invited him to a meeting with two more friends, chef Alex Tong and business-minded Christopher Lam, to help bring a Taiwanese food pop-up to life.

Sim is the only Taiwanese person in the group. While he hasnt found Taiwanese dishes to his liking in San Francisco, he acknowledges the stronger Taiwanese food options in cities like Cupertino, Fremont and Milpitas  they just feel unrealistically far from his apartment. He had a hunch other lovers of Taiwanese food in San Francisco would feel similarly.

Margaret Garbo

Yilan Foods is named after the small northeastern Taiwan county where Sims mom is from. He thinks Yilans beef noodle soup stands out because of an infusion of French cooking technique, namely sauteing aromatics and blanching beef bones before bringing them together for an hours-long simmer. It comes with a fiery chile sauce spiked with Sichuan peppercorns  a non-traditional accompaniment but ultimately the sauce the team liked best.

For the lu rou fan, Sim wanted to serve a neat, super presentable version, with pops of color from pickled radish and crisp steamed vegetables, fluffy rice and a soft boiled egg marinated for 12 hours in pu-erh tea.

We went with the big pork belly and mushroom chunks, because we wanted people to identify that were putting premium products in, not grinding everything up, he said.

Yilan will start taking orders Wednesday for its next pop-up on Jan. 23, the first in several weeks after the founders took a break to think about the future.

Sim doesnt want the menu to grow too much, but he foresees the addition of a vegetarian tofu version of lou ru fan and some side dishes. Instead of a huge menu, he wants to expand Yilans geographical reach with more pick up locations  hes been fielding lots of requests from potential customers on the Peninsula. But Yilan would likely need to find a new commercial kitchen first  the pop-up is already outgrowing the capacities of Ninna.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Based on the pop-ups early success, Sim wants to turn Yilan Foods in a brick-and-mortar restaurant, ideally in San Francisco, where he and his partners live and where he feels Taiwanese food is particularly lacking in options. If Yilan had its own space and didnt have to rely on pre-orders and delivery  and thus having to make dishes that travel well  it could make other Taiwanese culinary hits like giant slabs of fried chicken or fried pork chop over rice. Still, expect Sim and the Yilan team to add their own touches.

We wanted to stray away from the term authentic, he said. Everything we make is just us.

Yilan Foods. Returning for Jan. 23 pre-orders; dishes cost $13-$15. Takeout and delivery in San Francisco and Oakland. yilan-foods.square.site

More for you Food For the Bay Area's top Taiwanese food, head south

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
WASHINGTON - Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, declaring that democracy has prevailed and summoning American resilience and unity to confront the deeply divided nation's historic confluence of crises.

WASHINGTON - Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, declaring that "democracy has prevailed" and summoning American resilience and unity to confront the deeply divided nation's historic confluence of crises.

Denouncing a national "uncivil war," Biden took the oath at a U.S. Capitol that had been battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks earlier. Then, taking his place in the White House Oval Office, he plunged into a stack of executive actions that began to undo the heart of his polarizing predecessor 's agenda on matters from the deadly pandemic to climate change.

At the Capitol, with America's tradition of peaceful transfers of power never appearing more fragile, the ceremony unfolded within a circle of security forces evocative of a war zone and devoid of crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

President-elect Joe Biden speaks at the Major Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in New Castle, Del. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Instead, Biden gazed out on a cold Washington morning dotted with snow flurries to see over 200,000 American flags planted on the National Mall to symbolize those who could not attend in person.

"The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden declared in his speech. "This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve."

History was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became the first woman to be vice-president. The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the U.S. government.

Biden never mentioned his predecessor, who defied tradition and left town ahead of the ceremony, but his speech was an implicit rebuke of Donald Trump. The new president denounced "lies told for power and for profit" and was blunt about the challenges ahead.

President-elect Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff arrive at the steps of the U.S. Capitol for the start of the official inauguration ceremonies, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Central among them: the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States, as well as economic strains and a national reckoning over race.

"We have much to do in this winter of peril, and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain," Biden said. "Few people in our nations history have been more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time were in now."

Biden was eager to go big early, with an ambitious first 100 days including a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion economic relief package. It included a blitz of executive orders on matters that dont require congressional approval  a mix of substantive and symbolic steps to unwind the Trump years. His actions included re-entry into the Paris Climate Accords and a mandate for wearing masks on federal property.

"Theres no time to start like today," a masked Biden said. in the Oval Office. Then he swore in hundreds of aides  virtually  telling them, "Youre my possibilities."

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill, walk out for the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)

The absence of Biden's predecessor from the inaugural ceremony underscored the national rift to be healed.

But a bipartisan trio of former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama  were there to witness the transfer of power. Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, was at his Florida resort by the time the swearing-in took place.

Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. Four years after Trumps "American Carnage" speech painted a dark portrait of national decay, Biden warned that the fabric of the nation's democracy was tearing but could be repaired.

"I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart," Biden said. "This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward and we must meet this moment as the United States of America."

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)

Swearing the oath with his hand on a five-inch-thick Bible that has been in his family for 128 years, Biden came to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he is the oldest president inaugurated.

Both he, Harris and their spouses walked the last short part of the route to the White House after an abridged parade. Biden then strode into the Oval Office, a room he knew well as vice-president, for the first time as commander in chief.

At the Capitol earlier, Biden, like all those in attendance, wore a face mask except when speaking. Tens of thousands of National Guard troops were on the streets to provide security precisely two weeks after a violent mob of Trump supporters, incited by the Republican president, stormed the building in an attempt to prevent the certification of Bidens victory.

"Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people," Biden said. "To stop the work of our democracy. To drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today, not tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever."

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, as their children Ashley and Hunter watch.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

The tense atmosphere evoked the 1861 inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, who was secretly transported to Washington to avoid assassins on the eve of the Civil War, or Franklin Roosevelt's inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a small, secure ceremony at the White House in the waning months of World War II.

But Washington, all but deserted downtown and in its federal areas, was quiet. And calm also prevailed outside heavily fortified state capitol buildings across nation after the FBI had warned of the possibility for armed demonstrations leading up to the inauguration.

The day began with a reach across the political aisle after four years of bitter partisan battles under Trump. At Biden's invitation, congressional leaders from both parties bowed their heads in prayer in the socially distanced service a few blocks from the White House.

Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts; Harris by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court. Vice-President Mike Pence, standing in for Trump, sat nearby as Lady Gaga, holding a golden microphone, sang the National Anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

When Pence, in a last act of the outgoing administration, left the Capitol, he walked through a door with badly cracked glass from the riot two weeks ago. Later, Biden, Harris and their spouses were joined by the former presidents to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony.

By afternoon, a White House desolate in Trumps waning days sprang back to life, with Biden staffers settling in and new COVID-19 safety measures, like plastic shields on desks, in place.

In the evening, in lieu of the traditional balls that welcome a new president to Washington, Biden and Harris appeared separately at the Lincoln Memorial to take part in a televised concert that also marked the return of A-list celebrities to the White House orbit after they largely eschewed Trump. Among those in the lineup: Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The Bidens ended their evening watching fireworks from a White House balcony.

Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Former Vice President Mike Pence is on left. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool Photo via AP)

This was not an inauguration for the crowds. But Americans in the capital city nonetheless brought their hopes to the moment.

"I feel so hopeful, so thankful," said Karen Jennings Crooms, a D.C. resident who hoped to catch a glimpse of the presidential motorcade on Pennsylvania Avenue with her husband. "It makes us sad that this is where we are but hopeful that democracy will win out in the end. Thats what Im focusing on."

Trump was the first president in more than a century to skip the inauguration of his successor. After a brief farewell celebration at nearby Joint Base Andrews, he boarded Air Force One for the final time as president.

"I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening and I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better," said Trump. He wished the incoming administration well but never mentioned Biden's name.

President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and family, walk near the White House during a Presidential Escort to the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Trump did adhere to one tradition and left a personal note for Biden in the Oval Office. Biden would only tell reporters that it was "a very generous letter."

Trump, in his farewell video remarks, hinted at a political return, saying "we will be back in some form." Without question, he will shadow Bidens first days in office.

Trumps second impeachment trial could start as early as this week. That will test the ability of the Senate, now coming under Democratic control, to balance impeachment proceedings with confirmation hearings and votes on Bidens Cabinet choices.

Additional reporting by Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Darlene Superville in Washington and Michelle L. Price in Las Vegas.

Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire.
There is little or no let up for pandemic Frontline staff at Portlaoise hospital who were treating more patients by the middle of this week with Covid-19 as the virus continues to pile huge pressure on doctors, nurses and other hospital staff.

With the HSE warning of more deaths and hospitalisations, the number of people Covid-19 at the Laois hospital has risen again to 25 after falling to 20 earlier in the week, according to the latest figures.

Frontline staff at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise saw Covid-19 admissions rise by three in the 24 hours from 8 pm on Tuesday, January 19 according to the latest HSE Covid-19 Daily Operations Update for Acute Hospitals.

The report, which was published on Wednesday, shows that there were four people critically ill with the virus at the Laois hospital's ICU department - this is down from five going into the previous weekend. There was no suspected case in the hospital according to the report.

There is no improvement in bed capacity. There was just one general bed and but no ICU bed at the hospital on Tuesday evening. The INMO said there were three people on trollies waiting for beds on Wednesday morning.

Portlaoise is part of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group which includes hospitals in Laois, Offaly, Kildare and the capital. All continue to be stretched by the unprecedented the third wave which has claimed more than 300 lives since January around Ireland.

The latest report shows that there continue to be 52 confirmed cases at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. However, nine new Covid-19 admissions were made on Tuesday. The Offaly hospital had two suspect cases of the virus but staff were treating five critically ill patients who had tested positive.

The bed situation has improved slightly. It had five available general care beds but continues to have no ICU beds going into the Wednesday. It had no spare bed capacity through last weekend.

The INMO said there were ten patients waiting for beds on Wednesday morning, January 20

Naas General Hospital had 21 confirmed cases but 11 suspected cases on Tuesday night. The Kildare hospital had 9 general care beds but no ICU bed available. It had three critically ill patients in ICU. Three trollies were deployed in Naas on Wednesday morning.

Tallaght and St James's hospitals are in the same group.

There were 107 confirmed and three suspected cases at Tallaght on Tuesday night. The west Dublin hospital had four general beds and four ICU beds available. Eleven confirmed Covid patients were critically ill in ICU. There were six patients on trollies.

St James's had 98 confirmed and 58 suspected cases by 8 pm January 19. It had 26 general beds but just one ICU bed available going into the middle of the week. There were 24 confirmed and one suspected Covid patients in its ICU. It had six patients on trollies.

Nationally, there were 1,897 people in hospital on Tuesday night with Covid-19 which is down from just over 2,000 patients on Monday morning. However, there were 160 suspected in hospitals with 98 admitted in the previous 24 hours.

The figures also show that 210 people were in ICU departments (206 confirmed, 4 suspected). Of these, 122 were ventilated (120 confirmed, 2 suspected). Four people died in ICU on Tuesday.

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The COVID-19 pandemic tested the nations health care system in ways never imagined, and officials say the lessons learned have left the state better prepared for the next one.

We will be so much better prepared just because of the recognition of how important public health is, said Greg Buller, chief medical officer at Bridgeport Hospital.

Our health systems have been overused and we have begun rebuilding our public health infrastructure and looking at what to expect when the next pandemic hits, Buller said.

A variety of health care officials said the ongoing COVID battle brought both success and failure. And while most agreed the states health care system is better positioned, they said challenges remain.

We are undoubtedly better prepared, but the proof will be in the pudding, said Jonathan Siner, director of intensive care at Yale New Haven Hospital.

Does this mean operations have changed across the board? Siner said. I dont think that where we are  if we just walk away now  we should walk away without a more specific plan.

Siner said that plan will require a lot more coordination and the government could defray some of the costs.

COVID presented  and continues to present  a crisis of unprecedented proportions, officials acknowledged.

We have seen what didnt work over these past months, and what did work, said Lawrence Santilli, chief operating officer for Athena Health Care Systems, which operates 48 nursing homes in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Only by learning those lessons, and acting on them, will we truly live up to the sacred trust we have to care for those who need it most during these difficult times, Santilli said in a recent statement.

Nursing homes

The Nursing Home and Assisted Living Oversight Working Group, a bipartisan coalition formed by Gov. Ned Lamont, released a series of recommendations last week designed to help nursing homes deal with the next pandemic.

The facilities were hard hit last year and deaths among residents account for nearly 60 percent of the states overall fatalities.

Ideas include renovating nursing homes to reduce capacity, changing layouts, replacing obsolete HVAC and air circulation systems, updating minimum staffing mandates and creating loan programs to help cover upgrades.

There is a real opportunity here to bring our nursing homes up to date, said Patrick Coll, a working group member and medical director for the Seabury Life Care Center in Bloomfield and Pilgrim Manor nursing home in Cromwell.

This effort will hopefully make that happen, Coll said, referring to the working groups recommendations.

State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport and co-chairman of the public health committee, said money is going to be the biggest challenge, noting the state is facing deficits.

It requires money, and we are in tough shape, Steinberg said.

Steinberg said other shortcomings were also exposed by the pandemic.

This is a public health crisis that exposes the fact that we made a lot of sacrifices (over the years) due to budget restraints, Steinberg said, referring to funding for the public health system. I hope this gives us renewed commitment to help third party providers and have adequate reimbursements for critical life-saving activities and communicate to people about health and safety.

Hospital lessons

John Murphy, chief executive officer for Nuvance Health, which owns the Norwalk, Danbury and New Milford hospitals, said hospitals initially faced an onslaught of misinformation that has now been cleared up.

What struck me is how many things we were told early on  kids dont get the disease, its not airborne, steroids should be avoided and vaccines will take years to make, Murphy said, pointing out that none of those turned out to be true.

We had prominent officials say masks are not necessary, he added.

Several health officials said the pandemic also exposed the disparity within communities and how unequal access to health care can produce different results, such as the high death rate among Black people.

The thing we really learned is health disparities and socioeconomic disadvantage has big impact on who gets sick, said Siner, the Yale New Haven Hospital ICU doctor.

Another lesson, Siner said, is that there needs to be better coordination between local and regional hospitals, and even across state lines.

The U.S. health care system is fragmented, Siner said. In the spring, if there was more ability for New York City to send patients elsewhere they might have been better off.

There was some sharing of capacity, at least within Connecticut, several hospital officials said. Stamford Hospital, for example, was able to seamlessly offload patients to other hospitals when it was overwhelmed by the virus.

Murphy added the huge amount of supplies needed during a pandemic remains a challenge.

Stockpiling personal protection equipment is going to be business as usual, Murphy said.

We have meetings where critical leaders come together on a weekly basis, Murphy added. Even now, with a playbook available, people need to know where to look for it and where things have changed.

Anne Diamond, president of Bridgeport Hospital, said planning for disasters has changed.

We planned and drilled, but that was for a short duration disaster  a snowstorm, a flood or electrical outage, Diamond said.

Although we had the foundations, we had to modify it for a pandemic response, she said.

Diamond said Bridgeport Hospital also became more efficient at managing patient flow and keeping COVID and non-COVID patients apart.

bcummings@ctpost.com
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
British Airways owner IAG on Wednesday said it would pay only half the agreed purchase price of Spain's Air Europa, and not for more than six years, as the sector is ravaged by the coronavirus.

IAG will pay 500 million euros ($606 million) to Air Europa-owner Globalia, down on the initial 1.0-billion-euros price tag agreed in November 2019.

"IAG and Globalia today announce that they have amended the original agreement," the pair said in the statement.

"The parties have agreed that the amount to be paid... will be reduced from an equity value of 1.0 billion euros to 500 million euros with payment deferred until the sixth anniversary of the acquisition's completion."

The deadly COVID-19 health crisis has decimated demand for international air travel, grounding planes worldwide and sparking thousands of job losses under drastic restructuring.

And the Spanish government has granted Air Europa a lifeline of 475-million-euros in loans to help see the carrier through the pandemic.

IAG, which operates also Ireland's Aer Lingus and low-cost European carrier Level, hopes the Air Europa transaction will generate significant savings across the group.

The takeover is aimed also at expanding routes to Latin America and the Caribbean, while complementing IAG's Spanish divisions Iberia and Vueling.

The conglomerate wants to help Madrid take on the four largest air hubs in Europe: Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London Heathrow and Paris Charles De Gaulle.

"Both Iberia and IAG are demonstrating their resilience to face the deepest crisis in aviation's history," IAG chief executive Luis Gallego said in the statement.

"Being part of a large group is the best guarantee to overcome current market challenges which will also benefit Air Europa once the transaction is completed.

"I am pleased that we have reached agreement with Globalia to defer payment until well into the expected recovery in air travel following the end of the pandemic and when we expect to be realising significant synergies resulting from the transaction."

Founded in 1986, Air Europa was the first private airline to operate scheduled domestic flights within Spain, breaking Iberia's monopoly.

Explore further IAG buys Air Europa amid aviation sector upheaval

 2021 AFP
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National Guard screening, Airbnb cancellations: 5 heightened security measures for Biden's inauguration

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When President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office to become the next president of the United States, there will be a host of unprecedented security measures taken to ensure his protection.

Although tighter security for inauguration ceremonies is far from unprecedented, the actions taken to secure the District of Columbia have garnered many headlines  from news about travel and hotel cancellations to reports on how the FBI vetted 25,000 National Guard soldiers amid fears that some might be a threat to Biden.

These heightened security measures, which many say haven't been seen in the nation's capital since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, are in response to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in which hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the building. Some of them violently pushed their way in by force while others gained easy entry, leading to questions about why there wasn't more security.

The FBI had said it knew about in advance and had warned U.S. Capitol Police about the possibility of violence. After urging federal law enforcement to maintain light security around the Capitol on the day of the Jan. 6 protest, Mayor Muriel Bowser sent a letter to Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf requesting enhanced security for Biden's inauguration.

Following the unprecedented terrorist attacks on the United States Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, and the continued threat of violence in the District of Columbia, we are extremely concerned about the upcoming National Special Security Event (NSSE) led by the United States Secret Service, wrote Bowser.

We believe strongly that the 59th Presidential Inauguration on January 20 will require a very different approach than previous inaugurations given the chaos, injury, and death experienced at the United States Capitol during the insurrection.

Bowser said some enhanced security measures will continue even after Biden's inauguration, describing it as a "new normal" for the city and country. One area where small protests have been allowed to continue is at Black Lives Matter Plaza, where Biden, BLM and Antifa flags are also on display.

The following pages highlight five security measures being taken by government agencies and companies.
Source: AFP

The tenth round of talks between the Centre and the representatives of protesting farmers' unions to end the deadlock over farm laws will take place on January 20 as the agitation on Delhi borders enters 56th day.

While the farmers remain adamant on their demand of repeal of the farm laws, the government has put the ball in the court of protesting farmers unions reiterating that the resolution was possible only if they agree to discuss anything other than repeal.

The unions are not ready to discuss the laws clause by clause. We can resolve the issue if the unions agree to discuss the provisions of the laws that they think are problematic, union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on January 18.

Follow our LIVE BLOG here on updates on Farmers' Protest

Thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points for nearly two months, demanding the repeal of the laws, and a legal guarantee on minimum support prices (MSP) for their crops.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar has, however, expressed confidence that the next round of talks between the government and farmer unions will be successful and claimed that the three laws, whose repeal has been demanded by protesting farmers, were based on demands made by the farming community over the years.

The farmers are preparing for their proposed tractor rally on Republic Day, even as the official's permission from Delhi police is yet to be worked out. The Supreme Court is also hearing a matter related to the tractor march on January 20.

Read| Farm laws will help increase the income of farmers: Amit Shah

The top court had on January 12 ordered a stay on the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders besides setting up a committee of experts that will talk to both sides and suggest changes where ever needed in the enactments as opposed by the farmers. The farmers, however, refused to appear before the committee. They alleged that all the four members of the SC-appointed committee were pro-laws

The SC-appointed committee met on January 19 for the first time to discuss the ways to end the deadlock. The committee decided to hold its first meeting with farmers on January 21.

The biggest challenge for the committee is to convince the agitating farmers to come for talks, Anil Ghanwat, president of Shetkari Sangathan and one of the members of the committee told reporters after the meeting.

The other two members of the committee are Ashok Gulati, agriculture economist, and Dr Pramod Kumar Joshi, agri-scientist. The fourth member, Bhupinder Singh Mann, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), had earlier recused himself from the panel.

The ninth round of talks between the farm leaders and the government ended on January 15 without any breakthrough with the Centre refusing to repeal the three laws.

Also read | By staying the implementation of the three farm laws, the SC has sent out the wrong message

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 paid to farmers.

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While India would be happy with the tone and tenor on China, though what the new China containment strategy will be is still unclear

President Joe Biden takes over Americas presidency under unprecedented circumstances. It is only the fourth time in US history that the outgoing leader refused to attend his successors inauguration, all earlier examples being from the nineteenth century. The transition has been disorderly, to say the least, despite the US facing a serious spike in Covid-19 cases, with over 400,000 dead and the economy slowing down. Domestic challenges are rivalled by those abroad as the Trumpian foreign policy legacy is equally fractious.

While Bidens nominees to head the state and defence departments and the CIA are all well-known individuals, their depositions before Senate committees a day before the inauguration give an insight into the new administrations thinking. Antony Blinken, the incoming secretary of state, began with his personal story as the descendant of those who either fled Soviet pogroms or Nazi concentration camps. He ended with the touching tale about his late stepfather, hiding in a bush as disarray descended with Allied troops advancing into Germany in 1945, stepped out on seeing a tank with a five-pointed white star and told the African-American GI emerging from its turret the only three English words his mother taught him: God bless America.

These anecdotes bolstered Blinkens argument that the US must lead the world not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. He listed the most pressing challenges as rising nationalism, receding democracy, growing rivalry from China, and Russia and other authoritarian states, mounting a threat to a stable and open international system. He also noted a technological revolution was reshaping our lives. If the US doesnt lead, he said, there can be only two outcomes: another nation will step in or none will, and chaos shall ensue.

On specifics, Blinken argued the US must defeat Covid-19, outcompete China and take the lead in tackling climate change. President Biden is likely to take action on all three fronts the very first day. The US will rejoin the Paris climate agreement, return to the World Health Organisation, reverse travel bans on select Muslim nations and reach out to alienated allies. But he singled out China as the most significant challenge. Therefore, President Trump was right in the direction of his China policy, but wrong in the means he chose.

The defence secretary-designate, Gen. Lloyd Austin (Retd), talked about Indias near western neighbourhood. While he reiterated the US resolve to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, he qualified it, as Trump avoided doing, by saying safeguarding the gains in womens rights, etc, must be a precondition to a final settlement. On Pakistan, he seemed to regress to old formulations like underscoring its importance to Afghan peace and regional stability.

Blinken also singled out democracy and human rights as central to the Biden administrations global outreach. Thus overall, while India would be happy with the tone and tenor on China, though what the new China containment strategy will be is still unclear, it would be cautious about Pakistan again getting more wriggle room. But New Delhi cant take the talk about human rights lightly. It was speculated whether the sudden early retirement of a bureaucrat close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his induction into Uttar Pradesh politics is not a first step in curbing the zeal of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath in pursuing a majoritarian agenda and intolerance towards anyone criticising him. A comedians being detained for perceived insult raises questions about freedom of speech being curbed. The four-year free pass the government got on this count is now over. This is happening as the BJP prepares for a no-holds-barred electoral fight in West Bengal, and when the farmers protests at Delhis main entry points is nearing two months.

In Britain, the farmers protests led to 100 MPs, across party lines, raising concern. A similar move cant be ruled out in Washington, with Democrats now controlling both Houses. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar had earlier drawn the ire of a congressional committee by illogically seeking the exclusion of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from a meeting he was to attend as she had been critical of the governments actions in Kashmir, including Article 370s abrogation. She has been re-elected and may revisit that issue and now new ones like the farmers protests.

President Donald Trumps administration poisoned US foreign policy well before departure by ramping up sanctions against Iran, raising the level of ties with Taiwan, declaring Chinas actions against Uighurs as genocide, etc. The aim was possibly to reduce Bidens strategic space to re-balance ties with those nations, or if he did so make him vulnerable to attacks over being soft on perceived antagonists. Interestingly, like the debate over Modi having gone overboard with his Houston rally with Trump, thus sowing seeds of distrust amongst Democrats, Australian PM Scott Morrison is being similarly excoriated. He attended a rally with Trump in Ohio and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is calling it a foolish alignment with a losing candidate.

But the key question is whether Biden, with eight years as President Barack Obamas deputy and decades in the US Senate, can return the US and the world to its pre-pandemic, pre-Trump order. That seems unlikely both because Chinas rise, if anything, has been accelerated by the current global crises and also as Biden has a domestic right-wing insurgency on his hands, which Trump may continue to pour fuel on from his perch in Florida. Liberal internationalism needs re-invention. A post-Brexit and weakened British PM Boris Johnson has proposed a D-10, a grouping of the G-7 plus three other democracies: India, South Korea and Australia. The US must reassess how to counter Chinas success in getting two groups off the ground after Trumps defeat: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Europe-China investment agreement. Will Biden re-engage with the new version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Trump walked out of. India just joined the UN Security Council for a two-year term. Will the Biden administrations revived interest in international institutions enable India to use its membership to push for UNSC reforms and curb the rising penetration of China in UN bodies.

None of this is possible unless the BJP takes a hard look at its domestic politics since Modis 2019 re-election. Peace at home, constitutionalism, rule of law and respect for human rights is a precondition to any genuine partnership abroad with major democracies recovering from the right-wing onslaught on their institutions.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has assured that despite the severity of the economic repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic, the Egyptian economy has demonstrated a resilience that helped sustain its positive growth rates.

"This was possible in light of the structural economic reform programme that Egypt adopted over the last few years, achieving significant successes in a short period, he added.

El-Sisi highlighted the positive impact of the programme on development efforts and enhancing the governments ability to effectively intervene by introducing stimulus packages for key economic sectors, as well as providing support for the most vulnerable segments of the society.

El-Sisis remarks were made in a televised speech he delivered on Tuesday on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

President El-Sisi expressed Egypt's deep appreciation for the prominent role the OECD plays at the bilateral level with Egypt, and for its contributions to formulating economic and development policies at the international level to implement better policies for a better life.

"On behalf of the Egyptian people, it is my pleasure to congratulate you and all the member states of your reputable organisation on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the OECD," El-Sisi said in his speech.

He added that the organisation "has significantly contributed to the development of standards and the formulation of economic and development policies capable of achieving the slogan agreed upon by its member states: Better Policies for Better Life."

Opportunity for promoting digitalisation

"The year 2020 was full of challenges and negative repercussions posed by the coronavirus pandemic, to the extent that the post-COVID-19 world will be different than the one before," El-Sisi explained.

"Despite that, the crisis has availed important opportunities, notably to accelerate digitalisation, and to improve our policies to become socially, economically, and environmentally more sustainable, which would contribute to achieving a comprehensive recovery as soon as possible," he stressed.

The president said the crisis "highlights the role of the OECD, with its 60 years of experience in multilateral cooperation, in formulating policies that promote transparency and governance, accommodating the evolving trends and the needs of the global economy.

It also highlights the OECDs positive contribution to the formulation of the required global path and the sought-after solidarity to tackle this unprecedented crisis in the efforts to alleviate the burden shouldered by all countries regardless of their degree of development, in addition to guiding such joint efforts to a win-win situation," he added.

Egypt has maintained close cooperation ties with the OECD, through participation in various committees, in addition to its membership of the OECDs Development Centre in 2008 as the first Arab and African country to acquire its full membership.

El-Sisi said this comes in the context of the importance Egypt attaches to the centre as a forum expressing the priorities and concerns of the developing countries and its role in preparing development studies, as well as availing the relevant technical assistance.

In 2019, this cooperation witnessed a new impetus with Egypt joining the Country Programme Mechanism, he pointed out.

"I would like to commend the progress in that regard, through which a number of priority areas have been selected, which are the most capable of contributing to the achievement of the National Program of Social and Economic Reform, in line with the agreement on the priorities matching our needs and objectives, notably those in the areas of adopting standards, improving the investment climate, deepening transparency, combating corruption, as well as empowering women and youth," he added.

"I would like to express Egypt's deep appreciation for the significant role played by the OECD and affirm our keenness to strengthen cooperation for our mutual benefit. I also would like to reiterate my congratulations to the Secretary-General and all member states on this occasion. I wish you every success," the president concluded.

Short link:


Cold case detectives probing the 'macabre' murder of a mother-of-three have today flown a drone over the beach location where her body was found in a fresh effort to find her killer.

Today police flew a drone over the Eastbourne seafront in Holywell where Jennifer Kiely's body was discovered 16 years ago as another year is set to pass without justice for her family.

Early on the morning of January 22 2005, a fire was reported in a shelter on the beach promenade in the East Sussex town.

The body of the 35-year-old mother-of-three from Orpington, Kent, was found by a cleaner in the shelter.

She had been stabbed 16 times and possibly sexually assaulted, and her body had been set on fire, police have said.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony O'Donnell, leading the inquiry in 2005, described the case as 'macabre'.

Details surrounding the current line of forensic inquiry detectives are following have not been disclosed, as police flew drones over the beach hut on the Eastbourne seafront today.

Ms Kiely's mother Margaret said today: 'I always find the anniversary an upsetting time and there isn't one day when I do not think about Jennifer and what happened to her.

Jennifer Kiely, 35, was found dead in a beach hut on the Eastbourne seafront 16-years-ago. She had been stabbed 16 times and possibly sexually assaulted, and her body had been set on fire

A drone photo showing the beach location where the body of Jennifer Kiely, 35, was found 16 years ago as Sussex Police conduct investigations

Since 2017 police been working on the new forensic line of inquiry relating to unidentified DNA found at the scene

'I support this appeal and anything that will increase the chance of my daughter's killer being caught.'

Despite extensive police inquiries, the first investigation was closed in May 2007.

In 2009, the case was assessed and deferred for further assessment as there had been no new intelligence or other development.

But since 2011, it has been a live case while forensic reviews and further work have been commissioned.

Police have, since 2017, been working on the new forensic line of inquiry relating to unidentified DNA found at the scene.

Kiely's body was found by a cleaner in the shelter on the promenade in the East Sussex town

Early on the morning of January 22 2005, a fire was reported in a shelter on the beach promenade in the East Sussex town

Detective Superintendent Emma Heater, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: 'Please do not hesitate to come forward if you have any information, either something you remember from 2005 that was not reported or that you may have heard since.

'As a result of the further forensic evidence, we have the ability to eliminate people from our inquiry.

'Jennifer's family deserve to know what happened to her and who is responsible.'

'Further information about the current line of forensic inquiry is not being revealed at this time, but if anyone has any information that was not shared with us during the original investigation or since, no matter how small you may think it is, please report online or call 101, quoting Operation Kittiwake.'
Tamil Nadu Elections 2021: How to check name in voter list and download voter slip

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Chennai, Jan 20: The Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2021 are round the corner. Elections are also being held in the states of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Though one has been registered as a voter for quite sometime, or even when a person has transferred the registration to a new place, it is at times hard to check one's name in the local voter's list. Below we will provide you with step-step instructions on how to check your name in the voter list.

Visit The National Voters' Service portal: Log on to https://www.nvsp.in or National Voter Services Portal's Electoral Search page (NVSP). https://electoralsearch.in/

Keep your ID number handy if you have one. If you have the EPIC number then click on search by EPIC.

After you add the EPIC number, then select the name of the state

Once done, enter the details and click on the search button. Your details will appear at the bottom of the page.

If you do not remember EPIC number, then click on search by details

Fill the form that appears. Enter details such as name, age, gender, district, assembly constituency

Chose the option Search your name in the electoral roll

Click to see details when your name appears

How to download photo voter slip online:

Before you head out to the booth you will need to download your voter slop and online photo ID proof. Here are the steps on how to do the same.

Go to the election commission's webpage of your respective state

Go to voters corner

Click on Search Name n Electoral Roll

Fill in the details

Your name will appear. Click on view details and then you will be directed to your voter slip.

Now you can take a printout

Documents needed for identification purpose:

Passport

Driving License

Service Identity Cards with photographs issued to employees

Passbooks with photographs issued by the Bank/Post Office

PAN Card

Smart Card issued by Registrar General of India under NPR

MNREGA Job Card

Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour

Pension document with photograph

Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and

Aadhar Card
New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has asked state governments to accord top priority to road safety, according to an official statement on Wednesday (January 20).

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari was addressing 19th meeting of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) on Tuesday (January 19) here. the meeting was attended by Transport Ministers from the states of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, DGPs or representatives from the states/ UTsand various other officials of NRSC. The meeting of NRSC takes place even as the country is marking its first-ever road safety month, which began on Monday (January 18).

Nitin Gadkari said India is constructing 30 kilometres of roads every day which is a great achievement during this pandemic time. He asked the State governments to motivate people for safer movement on road, the involvement of NGOs should be appreciated in this concern. He suggested involving social media on a major basis for awareness and education about road safety measures. He highlighted that there is a committee of MPs related to road safety, and requested all the MLAs to also focus on the issue of accident reduction in their constituencies.

Nitin Gadkari mentioned Sweden, where zero tolerance towards road accident reduction is adopted. He suggested that there should be a three-day mandatory training of engineers of the ministry, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department (PWD) and various agencies related to road construction for awareness about road safety.

Live TV

Pointing out that there is a committee of MPs related to road safety, he requested all the MLAs to also focus on the issue of accident reduction in their constituencies.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set up the NRSC with the mandate to advise on matters pertaining to the planning and coordination of policies and standards of safety in the road transport sector. It will also advise on formulating and recommending a road safety programme for implementation by the states' road safety organisations, among others.
Citing concern that many older residents and others have failed to meet the Dec. 31 deadline to apply for relief through Pennsylvanias 2019 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Twp., recently requested a one-month extension to submit applications to the Department of Revenue.

In an email sent to Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell, Toohil explained that her office staff assists seniors in filling out the application, but that has been difficult in recent months due to the pandemic as many older residents are following social distancing guidelines. She said the extra time is needed to enable them to apply for a rebate.

Hassell said the department will continue to accept applications forwarded by Toohils staff or other legislative offices through the end of January.

In his response, Hassell explained that any further changes to the application deadline should be decided by the General Assembly.

We are grateful to Secretary Hassell for offering this extended service to ensure that everyone who is eligible to receive a rebate has the opportunity to now submit an application, Toohil said. I encourage eligible residents to contact my office before Friday, Jan. 29, so we can submit their application form.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible Pennsylvanian residents age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975.

 staff report
STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The body of an Armenian serviceman was found during search operations for the 2020 Artsakh War casualties in Jabrayil, the State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh said.

The agencys spokesperson Hunan Tadevosyan told ARMENRESS that the retrieval of this body brings the total number of remains of fallen troops and civilians found so far to 1247.

The search operations will continue tomorrow, despite the heavy snowfalls.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
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MEXICO CITY  World leaders welcomed into their ranks the new U.S. President Joe Biden, noting their most pressing problems, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, require multilateral cooperation, an approach his predecessor Donald Trump ridiculed.

Many expressed hope Biden would right U.S. democracy two weeks after rioters stormed the Capitol, shaking the faith of those fighting for democracy in their own countries.

Governments targeted and sanctioned under Trump embraced the chance for a fresh start with Biden, while some heads of state who lauded Trumps blend of nationalism and populism were more restrained in their expectations.

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But the chance to repair frayed alliances and work together on global problems carried the day.

China, whose U.S. relations nosedived due to widespread frustration in Washington over its human rights record and accusations of technology theft, expressed hope about the change in the White House.

I think after this very difficult and extraordinary time, both the Chinese and American people deserve a better future, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily briefing.

Biden understands the importance of cooperation among nations, said former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos, who left office in 2018. As a matter of fact, if we dont cooperate  all nations  to fight climate change, then we will all perish. Its as simple as that.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama were among those welcoming U.S. attention to climate change. After Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, Biden reversed the move in the first hours of his presidency Wednesday.

With Biden, we will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet, Macron wrote on Twitter. Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!

Other European allies saw a chance to come in out of the cold after strained relationships with the Trump administration.

European Council President Charles Michel said trans-Atlantic relations have greatly suffered in the last four years while the world has become less stable and less predictable.

We have our differences and they will not magically disappear. America seems to have changed, and how its perceived in Europe and the rest of the world has also changed, added Michel, whose open criticism of the Trump era contrasted with the silence that mostly reigned in Europe while the Republican leader was in the White House.

In Ballina, Ireland, where Bidens great-great-grandfather was born in 1832, a mural of a smiling Biden adorned a wall in the town, where some of the presidents relatives still live.

As he takes the oath of office, I know that President Biden will feel the weight of history  the presence of his Irish ancestors who left Mayo and Louth in famine times in search of life and hope, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formed close ties with Trump, noted a personal friendship with Biden and said he looked forward to working together to further strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has accused Trump of unfair bias toward Israel with policies like moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, expressed hope for a more even-handed approach from Biden. He urged a comprehensive and just peace process that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people for freedom and independence.

In Latin America, Biden faces immediate challenges on immigration, and the leaders of the two most populous countries  Brazil and Mexico  were chummy with Trump. The Trump administration also expanded painful sanctions against governments in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

In Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduros government urged dialogue with the Biden administration, while hoping the new president abandons the avalanche of damaging sanctions Trump imposed to attempt a regime change.

Some Venezuelans, however, like retired accountant Jesus Sanchez, 79, said he was disappointed to see Trump leave power. Trump backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, giving Venezuelans like him hope that Maduros days in power were numbered.

Carlos Vecchio, Guaidos envoy in Washington who the U.S. recognizes as Venezuelas ambassador, tweeted photos of himself at Bidens inauguration. The invitation to attend was touted by Venezuelas opposition as evidence the Biden administration will continue its strong support and resist entreaties by Maduro for dialogue that the U.S. has strenuously rejected until now.

Cubas leaders perhaps have a more realistic hope for improved relations: Biden was in the White House for the historic thaw in relations in 2014, and various officials expressed willingness to reopen a dialogue with Washington if there was respect for Cubas sovereignty.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel railed against Trump via Twitter, citing more than 200 measures that tightened the financial, commercial and economic blockade, the expression of a despicable and inhuman policy.

In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who cultivated an unexpectedly friendly relationship with Trump and was one of the last world leaders to recognize Bidens victory, read from a letter he sent to Biden in 2012, calling for reorienting the bilateral relationship away from security and military aid and toward development.

He urged Biden to implement immigration reform, and added: We need to maintain a very good relationship with the United States government and I dont have any doubt that its going to be that way.

U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region expressed anticipation of strengthening those alliances under a Biden administration. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen and others highlighted their shared values as leaders of democracies.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said: Americas new beginning will make democracy even greater.

Former Australian diplomat Rory Medcalf said Biden would likely find diplomatic partners across the Indo-Pacific region ready not for American leadership but partnership in collective action against Chinese strategic assertiveness.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Biden was a good friend to New Zealand and highlighted in particular the words given in his inaugural address. President Bidens message of unity as he takes office is one that resonates with New Zealanders, Ardern said.

World leaders also acknowledged the history of Vice President Kamala Harris taking office. She is the first woman, the first Black woman and the first South Asian to hold that office in the U.S.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter congratulated both Biden and Harris, whose maternal grandfather was Indian.

That is an historic moment and one that, I think as a father of daughters, you can only celebrate, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

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Cook reported from Brussels. AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.

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This version has been corrected by removing the reference to the U.S. as the worlds largest democracy.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that Stephanie L. OSullivan has been elected to its Board of Directors, effective Friday, Jan. 15.



OSullivan has been a business consultant since 2017. Prior to that, she served as principal deputy director of the Office of National Intelligence (PPDNI), having been appointed in 2011. As PDDNI she worked to assist the director of national intelligence in the management of the day-to-day operations of the intelligence community

We are very pleased to welcome Stephanie to the board of HII, Chairman of the Board Kirk Donald said. She is a proven leader in the nations intelligence community, bringing more than 25 years of national security experience to HII. Her deep understanding of the technologies used by the intelligence community, as well as how the government and private sectors operate, will help create further value and momentum for our stakeholders. I am delighted to welcome her to an excellent team of directors and look forward to working with her.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/file/stephanie-osullivan.

Prior to serving as PDDNI, she served as the associate deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Prior to this appointment, she held several management positions in the agencys Directorate of Science and Technology, working to develop and deploy innovative technology in support of intelligence collection and analysis.

OSullivan currently serves on the boards of directors of The Aerospace Corporation, Battelle Memorial Institute, HRL Laboratories (formerly Hughes Research Laboratories) and the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation. She has served on advisory boards at Google, Adobe and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and continues to serve on advisory boards at Noblis, Peraton and Booz Allen Hamilton. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown Universitys Center for Security and Emerging Technology and continues to support study activities for the Department of Defense and the CIA.

OSullivan received a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Missouri Science and Technology University. She was also elected in 2019 as a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Huntington Ingalls Industries is Americas largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HIIs Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HIIs Technical Solutions division supports national security missions around the globe with unmanned systems, defense and federal solutions, and nuclear and environmental services. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs more than 42,000 people operating both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: www.huntingtoningalls.com



HII on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HuntingtonIngallsIndustries



HII on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hiindustries



HII on YouTube: www.youtube.com/huntingtoningalls



HII on Instagram: www.instagram.com/huntingtoningalls

Statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. Factors that may cause such differences include: changes in government and customer priorities and requirements (including government budgetary constraints, shifts in defense spending, and changes in customer short-range and long-range plans); our ability to estimate our future contract costs and perform our contracts effectively; changes in procurement processes and government regulations and our ability to comply with such requirements; our ability to deliver our products and services at an affordable life cycle cost and compete within our markets; natural and environmental disasters and political instability; our ability to execute our strategic plan, including with respect to share repurchases, dividends, capital expenditures and strategic acquisitions; adverse economic conditions in the United States and globally; health epidemics, pandemics and similar outbreaks, including the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in key estimates and assumptions regarding our pension and retiree health care costs; security threats, including cyber security threats, and related disruptions; and other risk factors discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to predict at this time or that we currently do not expect to have a material adverse effect on our business, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements that we may make. This release also contains non-GAAP financial measures and includes a GAAP reconciliation of these financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as being more important than comparable GAAP measures.

Contact:

Beci Brenton

Beci.Brenton@hii-co.com

(202) 264-7143
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Billionaire Peter Thiel purchased an $18million, 10,000 sq ft property in Miami's Venetian Islands in September

Tech billionaire Peter Thiel appears to be the latest entrepreneur to leave Silicon Valley after snapping up an $18million home in Miami, Florida.

The 53-year-old PayPal co-founder recently purchased a 10,000-square-foot compound in Miami's Venetian Islands that includes the former set of MTV reality show, The Real World, Business Insider reported.

The massive waterfront property consists of two luxury homes on E Rivo Alto Drive, located right on the Intracoastal Waterway that faces Miami's Biscayne Bay.

In total, the homes have nine bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, as well as a two outdoor swimming pools, according to the property listing.

It was previously owned by former Ford CEO and president Jacques Nasser, who offloaded the compound to Atlantic View Holdings LLC in September, two and half months after putting it on the market.

The property was listed for sale on July 1 for $19.9million, but was ultimately sold to Thiel for a discounted price of $18million, according to property records.

The massive waterfront compound is made up of two luxury homes on E Rivo Alto Drive, located right on the Intracoastal Waterway that faces Miami's Biscayne Bay

In total - the homes consist of nine bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, as well as a two outdoor swimming pools, according to the property listing

One of the houses - which has four bedrooms and three bathrooms - once served as the set of MTV's The Real World: Miami during its 1996 run

The seven cast members (pictured) of popular reality series resided in the home during the show's fifth season which was centered around the contestants' challenge to launch a successful business with $50,000

Thiel, however, is not listed on the property records and was only revealed to be the mystery buyer through a recent public records request that disclosed his conversations with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

The Real World house is seen in a still of one of the episodes

According to BI, the pair had lunch together at the home on January 13, days after their original scheduled date of January 6 - the day of the Capitol riots in Washington.

Emails obtained by the publication showed Thiel's executive assistant was forced to reschedule the meeting after he had 'an important obligation arise.'

The exchange also included directions on how to get to the mansion.

One of the houses - which boasts four bedrooms and three bathrooms - once served as the home to the seven cast members of The Real World: Miami, in 1996.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has been trying to draw tech titans to the city in hopes of transforming it into a new tech hub

Thiel - who was one of the few prominent tech moguls to express support for President Trump - joins a growing list of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs who have recently left the tech hub to move to smaller, but up-and-coming, metropolitan areas with lower taxes.

Fellow investor and partner at Thiel's Founders Fund company, Keith Rabois also recently relocated to Miami full-time to reportedly open a new office for the venture capital firm.

Although the home was purchased back in September, Thiel was only recently revealed to be the mystery owner through a public records request, Business Insider reported

The spacious property was previously owned by former Ford CEO and president Jacques Nasser, who sold it in September

The property boasts breathtaking views of Miami's Biscayne Bay, which connects Miami Beach and the city's mainland

Tech entrepreneurs who relocated to Florida in 2020 Peter Thiel - co-founder of PayPal and venture capital firm, Founders Fund

Keith Rabois - tech investor and member of 'PayPal Mafia'

David Blumberg - founder of Blumberg Capital

David Goldberg - general partner at Alpaca VC Advertisement

He purchased a $29million brand-new mansion in December that is located a 20-minute walk from Thiel's new home, according to BI.

It comes as Mayor Francis Suarez has been looking to draw entrepreneurs and budding tech companies to the city in hopes of creating a new tech hub in Miami.

The move could potentially revitalize the city and its economy in the post-pandemic era.

Suarez last month posted a tweet that effectively launched his campaign after it quickly went viral.

'Ok guys hear me out, what if we move Silicon Valley to Miami?' Delian Asparouhov, the co-founder of Varda Space Industries said on Twitter.

Suarez then replied: 'How can I help?' - almost immediately drawing a slew of positive reaction and more than 5,700 likes.

'My job is to make sure people understand this is not a moment. This is a movement,' Suarez told Fox Business in December.

'We're going to continue to do everything we can to attract the entrepreneurial and intellectual class of our country to Miami to create high-paying jobs in a city like ours that wants to continue to grow.'

It comes as other tech moguls, including Tesla founder Elon Musk, have left the San Francisco Bay Area to relocate to more affordable states.

Musk, 49, last month announced he had moved to Texas, months after criticizing California state officials over their strict coronavirus restrictions.

Thiel has not commented publicly on his new home and is unclear whether he plans to reside there full time

The home was originally listed for $19million in July but was ultimately sold to Thiel for a slightly less, at $18million, in Septemner

The homes are surrounded by palm trees and tropical foliage that provide shade and privacy to residents

Thiel's move to the area comes as a growing list of tech entrepreneurs have left Silicon Valley to set up offices elsewhere

He was soon joined by tech giant Oracle Corp, which said it was moving its headquarters from Silicon Valley to Austin, and will let employees choose their office locations and decide whether to work from home.

Recent data has also revealed it's not only the rich who are taking part in the migration to smaller and cheaper regions, but average working Americans as well.

A report published by LinkedIn in December analyzed the areas that have seen an influx of newcomers, as well as those regions that have lost the most residents, between April and October 2020.

Thiel follows a growing list of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs - including Tesla founder Elona Musk (pictured) - have recently left the tech hub to move to smaller, yet up-and-coming, metropolitan areas with lower taxes

Austin was ranked number one in a list of ten cities - the majority of which are located in the south - where the most people have moved during that time period.

For every one person that moved out of the Texas state capital, 1.53 people moved in, according to the data.

Phoenix took the second place spot for the most popular destination, followed by Nashville, Tampa, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Charleston and Seattle.

Meanwhile, Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, saw the largest outflow of people during that time frame.

New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area - large, bustling urban areas that are home to booming tech and financial companies, were ranked second and third, respectively.
My fellow Americans: Four years ago, we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit, and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens. In short, we embarked on a mission to make America great again -- for all Americans.

As I conclude my term as the 45th President of the United States, I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together. We did what we came here to do -- and so much more.

This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck -- a very important word.

Id like to begin by thanking just a few of the amazing people who made our remarkable journey possible.

First, let me express my overwhelming gratitude for the love and support of our spectacular First Lady, Melania. Let me also share my deepest appreciation to my daughter Ivanka, my son-in-law Jared, and to Barron, Don, Eric, Tiffany, and Lara. You fill my world with light and with joy.

I also want to thank Vice President Mike Pence, his wonderful wife Karen, and the entire Pence family.

Thank you as well to my Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows; the dedicated members of the White House Staff and the Cabinet; and all the incredible people across our administration who poured out their heart and soul to fight for America.

I also want to take a moment to thank a truly exceptional group of people: the United States Secret Service. My family and I will forever be in your debt. My profound gratitude as well to everyone in the White House Military Office, the teams of Marine One and Air Force One, every member of the Armed Forces, and state and local law enforcement all across our country.

Most of all, I want to thank the American people. To serve as your President has been an honor beyond description. Thank you for this extraordinary privilege. And thats what it is -- a great privilege and a great honor.

We must never forget that while Americans will always have our disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent, faithful, and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good. We are a truly magnificent nation.

All Americans were horrified by the assault on our Capitol. Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated.

Now more than ever, we must unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor, and forge our common destiny.

Four years ago, I came to Washington as the only true outsider ever to win the presidency. I had not spent my career as a politician, but as a builder looking at open skylines and imagining infinite possibilities. I ran for President because I knew there were towering new summits for America just waiting to be scaled. I knew the potential for our nation was boundless as long as we put America first.

So I left behind my former life and stepped into a very difficult arena, but an arena nevertheless, with all sorts of potential if properly done. America had given me so much, and I wanted to give something back.

Together with millions of hardworking patriots across this land, we built the greatest political movement in the history of our country. We also built the greatest economy in the history of the world. It was about America First because we all wanted to make America great again. We restored the principle that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Our agenda was not about right or left, it wasnt about Republican or Democrat, but about the good of a nation, and that means the whole nation.

With the support and prayers of the American people, we achieved more than anyone thought possible. Nobody thought we could even come close.

We passed the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history. We slashed more job-killing regulations than any administration had ever done before. We fixed our broken trade deals, withdrew from the horrible Trans-Pacific Partnership and the impossible Paris Climate Accord, renegotiated the one-sided South Korea deal, and we replaced NAFTA with the groundbreaking USMCA -- thats Mexico and Canada -- a deal thats worked out very, very well.

Also, and very importantly, we imposed historic and monumental tariffs on China; made a great new deal with China. But before the ink was even dry, we and the whole world got hit with the China virus. Our trade relationship was rapidly changing, billions and billions of dollars were pouring into the U.S., but the virus forced us to go in a different direction.

The whole world suffered, but America outperformed other countries economically because of our incredible economy and the economy that we built. Without the foundations and footings, it wouldnt have worked out this way. We wouldnt have some of the best numbers weve ever had.

We also unlocked our energy resources and became the worlds number-one producer of oil and natural gas by far. Powered by these policies, we built the greatest economy in the history of the world. We reignited Americas job creation and achieved record-low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, women -- almost everyone.

Incomes soared, wages boomed, the American Dream was restored, and millions were lifted from poverty in just a few short years. It was a miracle. The stock market set one record after another, with 148 stock market highs during this short period of time, and boosted the retirements and pensions of hardworking citizens all across our nation. 401(k)s are at a level theyve never been at before. Weve never seen numbers like weve seen, and thats before the pandemic and after the pandemic.

We rebuilt the American manufacturing base, opened up thousands of new factories, and brought back the beautiful phrase: "Made in the USA.

To make life better for working families, we doubled the child tax credit and signed the largest-ever expansion of funding for childcare and development. We joined with the private sector to secure commitments to train more than 16 million American workers for the jobs of tomorrow.

When our nation was hit with the terrible pandemic, we produced not one, but two vaccines with record-breaking speed, and more will quickly follow. They said it couldnt be done but we did it. They call it a medical miracle, and thats what theyre calling it right now: a medical miracle.

Another administration would have taken 3, 4, 5, maybe even up to 10 years to develop a vaccine. We did in nine months.

We grieve for every life lost, and we pledge in their memory to wipe out this horrible pandemic once and for all.

When the virus took its brutal toll on the worlds economy, we launched the fastest economic recovery our country has ever seen. We passed nearly $4 trillion in economic relief, saved or supported over 50 million jobs, and slashed the unemployment rate in half. These are numbers that our country has never seen before.

We created choice and transparency in healthcare, stood up to big pharma in so many ways, but especially in our effort to get favored-nations clauses added, which will give us the lowest prescription drug prices anywhere in the world.

We passed VA Choice, VA Accountability, Right to Try, and landmark criminal justice reform.

We confirmed three new justices of the United States Supreme Court. We appointed nearly 300 federal judges to interpret our Constitution as written.

For years, the American people pleaded with Washington to finally secure the nations borders. I am pleased to say we answered that plea and achieved the most secure border in U.S. history. We have given our brave border agents and heroic ICE officers the tools they need to do their jobs better than they have ever done before, and to enforce our laws and keep America safe.

We proudly leave the next administration with the strongest and most robust border security measures ever put into place. This includes historic agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, along with more than 450 miles of powerful new wall.

We restored American strength at home and American leadership abroad. The world respects us again. Please dont lose that respect.

We reclaimed our sovereignty by standing up for America at the United Nations and withdrawing from the one-sided global deals that never served our interests. And NATO countries are now paying hundreds of billions of dollars more than when I arrived just a few years ago. It was very unfair. We were paying the cost for the world. Now the world is helping us.

And perhaps most importantly of all, with nearly $3 trillion, we fully rebuilt the American military -- all made in the USA. We launched the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces in 75 years: the Space Force. And last spring, I stood at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and watched as American astronauts returned to space on American rockets for the first time in many, many years.

We revitalized our alliances and rallied the nations of the world to stand up to China like never before.

We obliterated the ISIS caliphate and ended the wretched life of its founder and leader, al Baghdadi. We stood up to the oppressive Iranian regime and killed the worlds top terrorist, Iranian butcher Qasem Soleimani.

We recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

As a result of our bold diplomacy and principled realism, we achieved a series of historic peace deals in the Middle East. Nobody believed it could happen. The Abraham Accords opened the doors to a future of peace and harmony, not violence and bloodshed. It is the dawn of a new Middle East, and we are bringing our soldiers home.

I am especially proud to be the first President in decades who has started no new wars.

Above all, we have reasserted the sacred idea that, in America, the government answers to the people. Our guiding light, our North Star, our unwavering conviction has been that we are here to serve the noble everyday citizens of America. Our allegiance is not to the special interests, corporations, or global entities; its to our children, our citizens, and to our nation itself.

As President, my top priority, my constant concern, has always been the best interests of American workers and American families. I did not seek the easiest course; by far, it was actually the most difficult. I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism. I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices because thats what you elected me to do. Your needs were my first and last unyielding focus.

This, I hope, will be our greatest legacy: Together, we put the American people back in charge of our country. We restored self-government. We restored the idea that in America no one is forgotten, because everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We fought for the principle that every citizen is entitled to equal dignity, equal treatment, and equal rights because we are all made equal by God. Everyone is entitled to be treated with respect, to have their voice heard, and to have their government listen. You are loyal to your country, and my administration was always loyal to you.

We worked to build a country in which every citizen could find a great job and support their wonderful families. We fought for the communities where every American could be safe and schools where every child could learn. We promoted a culture where our laws would be upheld, our heroes honored, our history preserved, and law-abiding citizens are never taken for granted. Americans should take tremendous satisfaction in all that we have achieved together. Its incredible.

Now, as I leave the White House, I have been reflecting on the dangers that threaten the priceless inheritance we all share. As the worlds most powerful nation, America faces constant threats and challenges from abroad. But the greatest danger we face is a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness. A nation is only as strong as its spirit. We are only as dynamic as our pride. We are only as vibrant as the faith that beats in the hearts of our people.

No nation can long thrive that loses faith in its own values, history, and heroes, for these are the very sources of our unity and our vitality.

What has always allowed America to prevail and triumph over the great challenges of the past has been an unyielding and unashamed conviction in the nobility of our country and its unique purpose in history. We must never lose this conviction. We must never forsake our belief in America.

The key to national greatness lies in sustaining and instilling our shared national identity. That means focusing on what we have in common: the heritage that we all share.

At the center of this heritage is also a robust belief in free expression, free speech, and open debate. Only if we forget who we are, and how we got here, could we ever allow political censorship and blacklisting to take place in America. Its not even thinkable. Shutting down free and open debate violates our core values and most enduring traditions.

In America, we dont insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes. We just dont do that. America is not a timid nation of tame souls who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom we disagree. Thats not who we are. It will never be who we are.

For nearly 250 years, in the face of every challenge, Americans have always summoned our unmatched courage, confidence, and fierce independence. These are the miraculous traits that once led millions of everyday citizens to set out across a wild continent and carve out a new life in the great West. It was the same profound love of our God-given freedom that willed our soldiers into battle and our astronauts into space.

As I think back on the past four years, one image rises in my mind above all others. Whenever I traveled all along the motorcade route, there were thousands and thousands of people. They came out with their families so that they could stand as we passed, and proudly wave our great American flag. It never failed to deeply move me. I knew that they did not just come out to show their support of me; they came out to show me their support and love for our country.

This is a republic of proud citizens who are united by our common conviction that America is the greatest nation in all of history. We are, and must always be, a land of hope, of light, and of glory to all the world. This is the precious inheritance that we must safeguard at every single turn.

For the past four years, I have worked to do just that. From a great hall of Muslim leaders in Riyadh to a great square of Polish people in Warsaw; from the floor of the Korean Assembly to the podium at the United Nations General Assembly; and from the Forbidden City in Beijing to the shadow of Mount Rushmore, I fought for you, I fought for your family, I fought for our country. Above all, I fought for America and all it stands for -- and that is safe, strong, proud, and free.

Now, as I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning. Theres never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day.

As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation cannot achieve. Our communities will flourish. Our people will be prosperous. Our traditions will be cherished. Our faith will be strong. And our future will be brighter than ever before.

I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit, and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come.

Thank you, and farewell. God bless you. God bless the United States of America.
A video still of Quy Bau, a Francois' langur born at Philadelphia Zoo, the U.S., on December 13, 2020. Photo courtesy of Philadephia Zoo.

An endangered langur native to China and Vietnam born at Philadelphia Zoo last month was named Quy Bau, meaning "precious" in Vietnamese.

The baby Francois' langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) was born on Dec. 13, the first birth of the species at the facility, Philadelphia Zoo wrote on its Facebook fanpage.

"We've named her Quy Bau (pronounced "Qwee-bow"), which means "precious" in Vietnamese," it said, adding Francois' langurs are native to southern China and northern Vietnam and classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

A video of Quy Bau posted on the zoos Facebook account on Jan. 16 received around six million views, over 142,000 reactions and 16,000 comments. Many expressed their congratulations and adoration toward the baby langur.

The population of Francois' langur has been declining for several decades. They are threatened mainly by habitat loss and hunting, with some people believing their bones have medicinal value.

While there is no reliable population estimate, there are likely no more than 200 individuals left in Vietnam, according to IUCN.
The Delhi High Court was informed on Tuesday that the Delhi government has reduced the reservation of COVID-19 ICU beds in private hospitals here to 25 per cent, from 40 per cent earlier.

Justice Navin Chawla listed the matter for further hearing on February 2, after the counsel for petitioner Association of Healthcare Providers said he is waiting for instructions from member hospitals on this development and sought some time.

The organisation has sought quashing of the government's September 12, 2020 order to reserve 80 per cent ICU beds for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals which are its members.

The reservation percentage has been gradually reduced by the government after reviewing the pandemic situation. With the COVID-19 infection number reaching at its peak of over 8,000 in a day in November, 2020 in Delhi, the numbers are now declining and 161 fresh cases were recorded on January 18, 2021.

Advocate Sanyam Khetarpal, representing the petitioner, informed the court that the government has issued an order on January 15 reducing the reservation to 25 percent in hospitals which have over 100 beds. He said he requires some time to get instructions from the member hospitals on this.

As per the governments order, a review meeting was held by the competent authority on January 15, in which the data with respect to pattern of COVID-19 beds and COVID-19 ICU beds occupancy on that date in 115 private hospitals providing coronavirus treatment was analysed.

Keeping in view the low occupancy of COVID-19 beds/ ICU beds in the private hospitals, it was decided in the review meeting to further lower reservation of the total bed capacity from 30 per cent to 15 per cent, and of ICU beds from 40 per cent to 25 per cent of the total bed capacity in 45 hospitals having more than 100 beds and providing coronavirus related treatment, the government order said.

It was also decided in the meeting that other 70 hospitals which have up to 100 beds shall have the option of reserving COVID-19 beds/ ICU beds there.

Earlier, the Delhi government counsel had said not a single non-COVID-19 patient has come to the court that he was denied treatment in the hospital due to 80 per cent of ICU beds reserved for COVID-19 patients.

He had stated that not even a single private hospital has approached the high court claiming that they suffered financial loss due to this reservation order.

The petitioner organisations counsel had contended that ICU beds were kept vacant and even no payment was made by the government to the hospitals which were facing financial losses. He had further argued that there was no validity or permissibility to continue with the September 12, 2020 order.

The Delhi government had told the high court that it has decided to de-escalate to 60 per cent the number of ICU beds reserved for COVID-19 patients in 33 private hospitals here as was recommended by a De-escalation Committee.

The September 12, 2020 order of the Delhi government was earlier stayed by the high court on September 22 last year. However, a division of the high court on November 12, 2020 vacated the stay order taking into account the change in circumstances since the time the stay order was passed.

The petitioner association had told the high court that the 33 private hospitals are its members and the Delhi governments order shall be quashed as it was passed in an irrational manner and is ex-facie perverse.

The government, however, had contended that the situation of COVID-19 infection in Delhi has become critical recently and the COVID-19 cases are spiralling and it was critical that 80 per cent of ICU/ HDU beds be reserved for COVID-19 patients in the 33 private hospitals.

(Photo Credit: Twitter/CMODelhi)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Dozens of refugees detained for more than a year in Melbourne have been granted temporary bridging visas by the federal government.

Advocates and detainees are celebrating the development, but the federal government said the bridging visas were temporary measures and suggested the refugees would never be settled permanently in Australia.

Advocacy groups say 45 men were released from detention on Wednesday in Melbourne. Credit:Eddie Jim

Melbourne's Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and the Refugee Action Coalition confirmed that 26 medevac refugees were being released from the Park Hotel in Carlton on six-month bridging visas on Wednesday, while another 19 were also released from Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA) in Broadmeadows.

The ASRC said Australian Border Force officials took the 26 people from the Park Hotel to MITA to collect their property before they were to be released into the community with work rights and Medicare access for six months.

MadridIn the map of restrictions in Spain due to the third wave of the coronavirus, there is room for few measures other than home lockdown. The increase in infections, which has overcome those of the second wave, with a cumulative incidence per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days of up to 714 cases - but in communities like Extremadura, of 1,412 - has forced the communities to squeeze the maximum out of the measures contained in the current State of alarm, in force since October. The governments of Castilla y Leon, Andalusia and Galicia (governed by the PP) have campaigned to be able to decree home lockdown as in spring and, if this is not possible, at least to advance the night curfew to 8 pm or 6 pm, a proposal which has been joined by governments of other political colours such as that of Catalonia, provided that powers are maintained.
A stand-in for President-elect Joe Biden, centre, stands in the President's Room of the US Capitol during a rehearsal for the 59th Presidential Inauguration in Washington. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/AP

Joe Biden has evoked Franklin Delano Roosevelt in promising a remaking of America unseen since the New Deal. Pledging to emulate some of the loftiest reforms in the nations history has left him with towering promises to keep. Back when the election was tightening and just a week away, Mr Biden went big.

He flew to Warm Springs, the Georgia town whose thermal waters once brought FDR comfort from polio, and pledged a restitching of Americas economic and policy fabric unseen since FDRs New Deal.

Evoking some of the nations loftiest reforms helped Mr Biden unseat President Donald Trump but left him with huge promises to keep. And hell be trying to deliver against the backdrop of searing national division and a pandemic that has killed nearly 400,000 Americans and upended the economy.

Such change would be hard to imagine under any circumstances, much less now.

Hes setting out with Democrats clinging to razor-thin House and Senate control and after having won an election in which 74 million people voted for his opponent. And even if his administration accomplishes most of its top goals in legislation or executive action, those actions are subject to being struck down by a Supreme Court now controlled by a 6-3 conservative majority.

Even so, the effort is under way. Washington is bracing for dozens of consequential executive actions starting today and stretching over the first 10 days of Mr Bidens administration, as well as legislation that will begin working its way through Congress on pandemic relief, immigration and much more.

Read More

The question is, has Mr Biden promised more than he can deliver? Not in his estimation. He suggests he can accomplish even more than he promised. He says he and his team will do our best to beat all the expectations you have for the country and expectations we have for it.

Some Democrats say Mr Biden is right to set great expectations while realising hell have to compromise, rather than starting with smaller goals and having to scale them back further.

You cant say to a nation that is hungry, uncertain, in some places afraid, whose economy has stalled out ... that you had to slim down the request of their government because you have a narrow governing margin, said former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Mr Bidens onetime Democratic presidential primary rival.

New presidents generally enjoy a honeymoon period that helps them in Congress, and Mr Bidens prospects for getting one were improved by Democratic victories this month in two Georgia special Senate elections.

He may have been helped, too, by a public backlash against the deadly armed insurrection at the US Capitol by Trump supporters.

Mr Bidens advisers have acknowledged theyll have bitter fights ahead. One approach they have in mind is a familiar one in Washington  consolidating some big ideas into what is known as omnibus legislation, so that lawmakers who want popular measures passed have to swallow more controversial measures as well.

Another approach is to pursue goals through executive orders. Doing so skirts Congress altogether but leaves the measures more easily challenged in court. Mr Trump made hefty use of executive orders for some of his most contentious actions on border enforcement, the environment and more, but federal courts often got in the way.

Mr Bidens top priority is congressional approval of a $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan to administer 100 million vaccines by his 100th day in office, while also providing $1,400 direct payments to Americans to stimulate the virus-hammered economy. Thats no slam dunk, even though everyone likes to get money from the government.

Any such payment is likely to be paired with measures many in Congress oppose  perhaps his proposed mandate for a $15-an-hour national minimum wage, for example. And Mr Bidens relief package will have to clear a Senate consumed with approving his top Cabinet choices and with conducting Mr Trumps potential impeachment trial.

Nevertheless, the deluge is coming.




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OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio  A Cleveland man was killed Tuesday afternoon and two others were injured in a rollover crash on the Ohio Turnpike in which alcohol is believed to be a factor, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Patrick ONeil Graves, 50, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the 157 milepost in Olmsted Falls, troopers say.

The crash occurred at about 4:35 p.m. The Patrol says a 2011 Honda with three people inside went off the left side of the road, hit the center concrete media and overturned several times. One person in the vehicle was ejected, troopers say, before the Honda came to rest in a ditch on the north side of the highway.

According to the Patrol, witnesses say the Honda was driving recklessly at high speeds moments before the crash. Troopers are still trying to determine who was driving.

A 28-year-old Akron woman and a 29-year-old Cleveland man were injured in the crash. Both were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland and their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Graves and the other male were not wearing seatbelts when the crash occurred, the Patrol says.

The crash remains under investigation.

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Parma man gets life sentence after pleading guilty to beating 94-year-old WWII veteran to death


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Steele Leaked to Media Because FBI Reopened Clinton-Email Case, New Documents Show

Declassified notes of the FBIs interview with former British spy Christopher Steele show that he betrayed the FBI by leaking to the media at the direction of his client, Hillary Clinton, because the FBI had reopened the investigation into Clintons use of an unauthorized private email server to conduct government work.

Just the News obtained and published on Jan. 19 the summary of the debriefing (pdf) and a transcript of the handwritten notes taken by an agent who interviewed Steele in London on Sept. 18 and 19, 2017.

During the first hour of the interview on the first day, Steele was accompanied by his partner from Orbis Business Intelligence, Chris Burrows. Steele and Burrows apologized to the agents for leaking their dossier on President Donald Trump to the media. They decided to go ahead with the leak because then-FBI Director James Comey reopened the Clinton-email investigation. Hilary Clinton was Steeles client for the dossier.

STEELE explained that as the election season went on, they as the company were riding two horsestheir client and the FBIand after FBI Director James COMEYs reopening of the Hillary Clinton investigation, they had to pick one horse and chose the business/client relationship over the relationship with the FBI, the document states. They followed what their client wanted, and they spoke to the press.

Burrows told the bureau that he was concerned that the FBI never paid Orbis for the anti-Trump dossier.

The dossier played a crucial role in the FBIs decision to apply for a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant to spy on former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page, according to the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. The warrant applications were riddled with significant errors and omissions, including one which has led to a guilty plea to a federal false statements charge by the FBI attorney involved.

Steele and Burrows told the FBI that they considered Trump their main opponent. Steele said he regretted speaking to Mother Jones about the dossier. The FBI terminated Steele as a source after discovering that he had leaked to the press. Steele said that after he was cut off from the FBI, he gave copies of the dossier to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) via an intermediary.

During the interview, Steele did not reveal the identity of the primary sub-source of the dossier. The man has since been identified as a Russian national who had been investigated by the FBI over his ties to Russian intelligence.

Steele told the agents that he was confident in the information he received from the primary sub-source. But in an interview with the FBI, the sub-source, Igor Danchenko, said that Steele often misrepresented his reporting, including by describing hyping up rumors he passed on as credible intelligence.

The newly declassified memo also reveals that Danchenko was introduced to Steele by Fiona Hill, the former State Department official who testified against Trump at the impeachment hearings. Hill had made the introduction in 2011, two years after the FBI began investigating Danchenko because he may be a threat to national security.

Hill told Steele that she was of a high opinion of Danchenko, according to the document. Hill and Danchenko had both worked at the Brookings Institution.
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Home First Finance Company, a technology-driven affordable housing finance company, is set to open its maiden public offer for subscription on January 21. This would be the third IPO in January 2021, after Indian Railway Finance Corporation, which closes today and Indigo Paints which is at present open for subscription.

The three-day public issue will close on January 25. The book running lead managers to the issue are Axis Capital, Credit Suisse Securities (India), ICICI Securities and Kotak Mahindra Capital Company.

The bidding for anchor book portion opens for a day on January 20, a day ahead of IPO opening.

Here are 10 key things to know before subscribing the issue:

1) About IPO

The Rs 1,153.72 public issue comprises a fresh issue of Rs 265 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 888.72 crore by promoters True North Fund V LLP and Aether (Mauritius), investor Bessemer India Capital Holdings II Ltd, and two individual shareholders.

The Rs 888.72 crore offer for sale consists Rs 435.61 crore by True North, Rs 291.28 crore by Aether, Rs 120.46 crore by Bessemer India Capital Holdings II and Rs 41.36 crore by two individual shareholders - PS Jayakumar and Manoj Viswanathan.

HFFC reduced its fresh issue size to Rs 265 crore from Rs 344.08 crore due to its pre-IPO placement to Orange Clove and employees.

The company issued over 22.40 lakh equity shares to Orange Clove Investments B.V., an affiliate of the global private equity funds managed by Warburg Pincus at a price of Rs 334.72 per share, for a consideration of Rs 75 crore, in October last year, and 1.22 lakh equity shares to its employees at a same price, for Rs 4.08 crore in November last year, through preferential issue.

Investor can put in a minimum bid of 28 equity shares and in multiples of 28 equity shares thereafter.

2) Price Band

The price band for the maiden public issue has been fixed at Rs 517518 per equity share. The lower issue price band is 258.50 times the face value of equity share and the upper price band is 259 times the face value.

3) Objectives of Issue

The company will utilise the net fresh issue proceeds in FY22, towards augmenting its capital base to meet future capital requirements, arising out of the growth of business and assets.

The company will not receive any proceeds from the offer for sale. The offer for sale money will go to selling shareholders.

4) Company Profile

Home First is a technology driven affordable housing finance company that targets first time home buyers in low and middle-income groups. It was founded by Jaithirth Rao, PS Jayakumar and Manoj Viswanathan and commenced operations in August 2010.

It primarily offers customers housing loans for the purchase or construction of homes, which comprised 92.1 percent of its gross loan assets as of September 2020. The company serviced 44,796 active loan accounts till September last year.

As of September last year, HFFC had a network of 70 branches covering over 60 districts in 11 states and a union territory in India, with a significant presence in urbanized regions in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Total borrowings (including debt securities) as of September 2020 were Rs 2,636.58 crore. The company currently has an A+ (stable) rating from ICRA, which improved from A- in March 2017.

5) Competitive Strengths

a) It is a technology-driven company with scalable operating model.

b) It is a customer-centric organization and has developed strong relationships with customers by addressing their key concerns in availing housing finance.

c) It has deep penetration in the largest housing finance markets, with diversified sourcing channels.

d) The company has centralised, data science backed underwriting process.

e) It has set up a robust collections management system wherein approximately 93 percent of collections for the financial year

2020 were non-cash based, which eases stress on monitoring financial transactions and reduces cash management risk.

f) The company has well-diversified and cost-effective financing profile.

g) It has experienced management team with qualified operational personnel and marquee investors.

6) Strategies

HFFC intends to continue to scale up the business and improve operational efficiency and profitability through the following key strategies:

a) The company seeks to leverage technology to grow business and drive operational efficiency.

b) The company intends to expand business in a contiguous manner into regions with increasing urbanization, growing commercial activity and rising household incomes.

c) HFFC focusses on increasing the productivity of existing branches to drive growth.

d) The company intends to diversify the sources of funding to reduce dependence on term loans and optimise capital costs.

e) As the company increases the scale of operations and expands into new geographies, it intends to focus on enhancing risk management framework to maintain the credit quality of loan portfolio.

7) Financials and Peers Comparison

Its gross loan assets have grown at a CAGR of 63.4 percent between FY18 and FY20. The salaried customers account for 73.1 percent of its gross loan assets and self-employed customers 25 percent of gross loan assets as of September 2020.

As on September 2020 and March 2020, its Stage-3 loan assets expressed as a percentage of gross loan assets were 0.74 percent and 0.87 percent, respectively.

"A granular business with average ticket size of its housing loans of Rs 10.1 lakh, with an average loan-to-value on gross loan assets of 48.8 percent, as on September 2020 places it at lower competition intensity from banks and other peers. However, on a P/BVPS (of FY2020) basis, its valuation is on the higher side, as compared to peers," said Sharekhan in its note.

8) Promoters

True North Fund V LLP and Aether (Mauritius) are the promoters of the company. Promoters held 4,34,80,894 equity shares, comprising 52.85 percent of the pre-offer paid-up equity of the company, including 31.74 percent of True North.

10) Management

Manoj Viswanathan is a Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of the company. He has over 24 years of experience in consumer lending. Previously, he was associated with Computer Garage, Asian Paints India, Citibank and CitiFinancial Consumer Finance India as vice president of personal loans. He joined the company as a Director with effect from June 2010.

Deepak Satwalekar is the Chairman and Independent Director of the company. Previously, he was associated with Housing Development Finance Corporation as a director and HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company as the managing director and chief executive officer.

Sakti Prasad Ghosh and Sujatha Venkatramanan Independent Directors on the board, while Divya Sehgal, Maninder Singh Juneja, Rajagopalan Santhanam, Vishal Vijay Gupta and Narendra Ostawal are Nominee Directors.

Nutan Gaba Patwari is the Chief Financial Officer of the company. She is a certified chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. She has over 14 years of experience in finance. Prior to joining the company, she was associated with True North as a vice president  finance, Hindustan Unilever as an operations manager in supply management, ITC as assistant finance and Philip Morris Asia as manager of planning.
Hardened firefighters have been left rattled after they were called to put out a minor house fire and found a man's body engulfed in flames inside.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene in Armadale on the south-eastern edge of Perth at about 7.40am on Tuesday.

Fire crews entered the home, which was largely unaffected by the flames, to find the body ablaze.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene (pictured) in Armadale on the south-eastern edge of Perth at about 7.40am on Tuesday

The man's death and the fire were deemed suspicious and the homicide squad is investigating.

'About 7.40am the Department of Fire and Emergency Services advised WA Police Force they were responding to a house fire in Jannali Way and requested police attendance at the scene,' police said in a statement.

'A man was located inside the residence deceased, and his death is deemed to be suspicious.'

Pictured: Jannali Way in Perth. Firefighters made the grim discovery there on Tuesday morning

Detectives from the homicide and arson squads have set up a forensic tent at the property.

Firefighters could become key witnesses to any potential crimes.

The man's body has not been identified.

A man in his 30s, who was known to the deceased, is assisting the homicide investigation.

Authorities are urging anyone who has CCTV or dash camera footage from Jannali Way or the surrounding area between midnight and 8am on Tuesday to come forward.
-- According to the country's National Institute of Health (NIH), some 17,500 people from different social circles and areas of the country have volunteered to take part in the trials underway at five different sites in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, the major cities of Pakistan.

-- Qaisar Sohail, area manager of AJM Pharma, a pharmaceutical company which is a partner of the trial and would sponsor the vaccine in Pakistan after its final launch in China, said that people are eagerly awaiting the vaccine in Pakistan to combat the hike in COVID-19 cases and fatalities during the second wave, which is also a motivating factor for the trial volunteers.

-- "China has always played a major role in helping Pakistan in different sectors ... Now China offered us phase III clinical trials, helping us to upgrade in the health sector," Ghazala Parveen, chief of Biological Production Division at the NIH, told Xinhua.

A medical worker takes blood sample from a volunteer before giving him a shot during the phase III trials of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on Jan. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Having volunteered to take part in the phase III trials of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in a private hospital here, Majid Abbasi had mixed feelings.

Though some members of his family expressed concern, the 21-year-old student was eager to have the vaccine administered because it would give him a better chance to defeat the disease, and in a broader sense, a safe and effective vaccine could be a way out for humanity to beat the pandemic.

"The pandemic has hit Pakistan hard. Hundreds of thousands of people got infected and thousands died," Abbasi said.

"I believe that volunteering for the vaccine will not only help me to get myself protected from the disease, but I will proudly tell my friends and family that I made a small effort to help the world get (a) vaccine by being one of the volunteers to be a part of the trials," he told Xinhua after being vaccinated.

A medical worker checks a tube of blood sample of a volunteer during the phase III trials of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Jan. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

TRIALS UNDERWAY

According to the country's National Institute of Health (NIH), some 17,500 people from different social circles and areas of the country have volunteered to take part in the trials underway at five different sites in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, the major cities of Pakistan.

The vaccine, referred to as Ad5-nCoV, is developed by China's CanSino Biologics and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology. Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad is collaborating with the NIH on the Pakistani side.

"The criteria for volunteers is very simple: anyone who is healthy and age is over 18 may come and take part in the trial," Omeira Naseer, supervisor of the vaccine trial at Shifa, told Xinhua.

A volunteer enters an administration room for the phase III trials of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Jan. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

"Initially it was quite a challenge for us to motivate the volunteers because it is a new experience for Pakistanis," Naseer said. "But to our surprise, more and more people and even whole families of volunteers are contacting us to undergo the trial due to the positive word of mouth from other volunteers, which created a general awareness about the safety of the vaccine and its trials."

Naseer, who has been hired by the NIH to supervise the vaccine administration, said that she opted for the "challenging and risky job" as she knew the work requires interaction with a lot of volunteers and she would risk catching the virus and passing it on to her children.

But being a doctor, she said she knew how to protect herself "by following the protective measures."

A medical worker prepares a syringe during the phase III trials of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Jan. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

It was also a new experience for Naseer in a phase III trial of a vaccine.

"I have studied phase III trials in books like all of the other doctors in Pakistan, because the country doesn't have enough resources and research to conduct the trials. So it is a great opportunity for Pakistan to conduct such trials here," she said, adding: "It helped us to be in the countries working on vaccine development and further strengthened Pak-China friendship."

Naseer said that Chinese experts provided them with all technical support and the knowhow about the trials, enabling the trials to be conducted efficiently. About 95 percent of the trials have already been completed, she added.

Trial sample will be sent to a third-party observer which will give its final evaluation of the vaccine, she said.

A medical worker (R) introduces a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's CanSino Biologics and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology during its phase III trials in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Jan. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

HIGH DEMAND EXPECTED

According to the NIH, half of the volunteers get a placebo dose, while the rest get the vaccine for research purposes through computerized entry. Neither the volunteer nor the supervisor knows if the dose is a placebo or not, but those who got the placebo will get vaccine after its formal launch.

In a conversation with Xinhua, Qaisar Sohail, area manager of AJM Pharma, a pharmaceutical company which is a partner of the trial and would sponsor the vaccine in Pakistan after its final launch in China, said that people are eagerly awaiting the vaccine in Pakistan to combat the hike in COVID-19 cases and fatalities during the second wave, which is also a motivating factor for the trial volunteers.

"The NIH targets to rope in 18,000 people in the trials, and the current results indicate that the vaccine is very suitable for Pakistanis, so it is expected to have high demand in the country after its formal launch in China," Sohail said.

A volunteer receives a shot during the phase III trials of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Jan. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

"The trials have developed a confidence in people here about the safety of the Chinese vaccine, as a large number of people had it and stayed safe," Sohail added.

Ejaz Ahmad Khan, a pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at Shifa, is the principal investigator of the vaccine trials in Pakistan and keeps close contact with the volunteers to monitor their condition after vaccination.

"The trial has been very smooth until now, we have had no major serious adverse events so far ... We think that this initial period has, to some extent, proved its safety and suitableness for Pakistanis," said the investigator.

Volunteers wait for their turns for the phase III trials of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Jan. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

NEW VISTA OF COOPERATION

Medical experts here have also expressed their belief that the vaccine trials have opened up a new vista of Pakistan-China cooperation in the health sector, in addition to bilateral ties in energy, infrastructure and industrialization under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

"China has always played a major role in helping Pakistan in different sectors ... Now China offered us phase III clinical trials, helping us to upgrade in the health sector," Ghazala Parveen, chief of Biological Production Division at the NIH, told Xinhua.

Photo taken on Jan. 8, 2021 shows the vaccines used in the phase III trials of a Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

She said that many developing countries, including Pakistan, have high hopes for China to develop and distribute a vaccine.

Pakistan's health departments say Chinese vaccines are ideal. "It can be stored at 8 degrees Celsius, the same temperature at which most of the other vaccines available in the country are stored. It has only one dose, an ideal choice for the society badly awaiting," Parveen said.

Earlier this month, in the latest telephone conversation between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, they agreed to finish the trial in Pakistan at an early date to get the vaccine out to the public.

China is willing to provide Pakistan with as much support as possible to help Pakistan defeat the coronavirus, said Wang.
(CNN)  The Seychelles has reopened its borders and dropped quarantine requirements to all travelers who've been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Fully-vaccinated visitors are now permitted to enter the 115-island nation without having to quarantine for 10 days provided they present a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of travel.

Travelers must also submit an authentic certificate from their national health authority as evidence they've received both doses of the vaccine.

Located 1,600 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania, the Seychelles depends on tourism for around 65% of its GDP.

Officials are hopeful the new measures will prove to be a step in the right direction when it comes to reviving tourism on the island nation.

"We hope that this will open up the tourism industry for the locals primarily for the small hotels who are struggling on La Digue, Praslin and also on Mahe. And also provide the kick that our economy desperately needs," Tourism Minister Sylvestre Radegonde said during a press conference earlier this month.

At present, non-vaccinated visitors from the Seychelles' category 1 and 2 list, as well as those arriving by private jet, are permitted to enter as long as they self-isolate for 10 days and provide a negative PCR result taken within 72 hours of arrival.

Major milestone

The new entry requirements come as the Seychelles takes steps to become the first nation to vaccinate its entire population.

Approximately 50,000 doses of the vaccines donated by the United Arab Emirates government are currently being rolled out to citizens on a voluntary basis.

In addition, the island nation aims to have vaccinated over 70% of its estimated 98,000 population by mid-March.

If this goal is achieved, restrictions will be further relaxed and those who are permitted to enter the Seychelles will simply be required to present proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel.

Sybille Cardon from the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association stresses that officials are pulling out all the stops to ensure that tourists can safely return to the Seychelles as soon as possible.

"For the coming months, nothing is coming in and this is a disaster," Cardon told the Seychelles News Agency this week.

"If we look at other destinations, they are doing well -- they have put in place relevant protocols, have opened their borders, and have done all the necessary.

"It is really important to put in place the right protocols as tourists still want to come and spend a holiday in Seychelles."

The Seychelles isn't the first country to announce plans to ditch mandatory quarantine for vaccinated travelers.

Last month, Cyprus announced that incoming visitors who've been fully vaccinated will be exempt from quarantine from March 2021.
It was a chilling warning, one week after the insurrection that shook America.

On January 13, federal agencies issued a joint intelligence briefing declaring that this months siege of the US Capitol could end up being a significant driver for further violence by right-wing domestic extremists.

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of US President Donald Trump storm the Capitol building. Credit:Reuters

According to the memo, many of the groups who stormed the Capitol had been emboldened by the breach, fuelling fears of attacks - not just at Joe Bidens inauguration, but in the weeks and months after Donald Trump leaves the White House.

The message was clear: even after Biden is sworn in as the nation's 46th president, angry extremists who believe their election was stolen will remain a threat for a long time to come.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Russian authorities have applied for registration of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in the European Union, the country's sovereign wealth fund financing the jab said Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said the application with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) was lodged on Tuesday.

"It is an important milestone," he added.

The first review of the documents filed by the RDIF is expected in February.

The EMA confirmed that a meeting with the Russian vaccine's developer took place Tuesday "to discuss their development plan and their further engagement with the agency."

But the EMA noted in a statement that "currently Sputnik V is not undergoing a rolling review."

"EMA will communicate at the start of a rolling review procedure," it added.

Russia in August registered Sputnik Vnamed after the Soviet-era satellitemonths ahead of Western competitors but before the start of large-scale clinical trials, which left some experts wary.

Its developers have since said that the jab is more than 90 percent effective and Russia launched its mass vaccination campaign using the shot this week.

RDIF says that Sputnik has already been registered in a number of countries including Belarus, Venezuela, Bolivia and Algeria.

Argentina began administering second doses of Sputnik V this week, having begun its immunisation campaign in late December.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

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All being well, the over-70s living at home will be on starters orders next month to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

The 91m deal with GPs and pharmacists to administer the jabs lays out a key piece of groundwork, although there are many hurdles to overcome still  not least, having enough vaccine.

Many of this age group will be relieved to hear their trusted GP is involved and that family doctors themselves and pharmacists have been busy lobbying for more clarity on their role.

Dont call us

GPs are asking people not to call them about a vaccine at this stage. No vaccine is available for them to give yet and detailed planning will be needed before any patients are called. It is estimated that there are 500,000 or more over-70s in the country and the vast majority are living at home.

Read More

GPs already have a database of patients they give the flu vaccine to every year. Although this will be useful, it will not capture everyone.

It is unclear whether the HSE portal  where people can register for the vaccine  will be in use next month, but community organisations will be playing a role in identifying people in this age cohort who could otherwise be missed. Dr Denis McCauley of the Irish Medical Organisation said the plan is to invite patients to the surgeries.

Oldest first

The campaign will start with those over 85 years of age and work downwards. It may be necessary to inoculate some people in their own homes. In anticipation of calls to surgeries, Dr McCauley said GPs will prioritise people according to age and then offer the vaccine to others as they become eligible.

Oxford-AstraZeneca

The GPs will be mostly involved at first in giving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which can be safely stored in their surgeries. It has yet to be approved, but it could get the green light at the end of next week. The next step is to get supplies  which will arrive in stages, so not all surgeries will get deliveries at once and there will be time gaps between doses. This is likely to lead to accusations of a postcode lottery, so it will be important that distribution is carried out transparently.

A detailed plan has yet to be unveiled, but it is likely that some over-70s will receive the vaccine in mass vaccination centres similar to those set up for GPs in three locations last weekend. This may be possible when vaccinators become more experienced at handling the Pfizer vaccine, which has to be kept at very low temperatures, and the Moderna vaccine. Vaccination would be by invitation, and there would be a reserve list in case of surplus vaccine.

No cost

The vaccine will be free and there will be no administration fee. GPs will be paid by the HSE for each vaccination. For the two-dose vaccine, they will receive 50  25 per jab. The HSE will pay them a 10 administration fee. If one-dose vaccines are approved, the fee is an all-in 35. GPs who work in mass vaccination centres will be paid 120 an hour.

Choice of vaccines

Whether people will have a choice of vaccine could potentially be an issue. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could be 70pc effective, versus 95pc for the Pfizer vaccine and 94.5pc for the Moderna vaccine.

Oxford-AstraZenecas vaccine could be up to 90pc effective with a combination of a half dose followed by a full second dose. It is unclear what combination will be licensed by the European Medicines Agency.

All three vaccines promise very good protection.

Pfizer-BioNTech is promising to substantially increase supplies from February.

Some people may want a vaccine that offers maximum protection, but we await more clarity on how this could be managed.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly expects 140,000 doses to be given by Sunday to frontline healthcare workers, over-65s and staff in long-term care facilities.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low near 55F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States in difficult circumstances, but there are grounds for optimism that he can recapture for the US its role as a leader of democratic countries. The challenges Mr Biden faces are arguably the most serious in decades and they have been aggravated by the economic and political vandalism of his predecessor.

Joe Biden's long experience in Washington will stand him in good stead. Credit:AP

His most immediate priority must be to control the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far claimed 400,000 US lives and caused a deep economic recession. He has to stabilise US democracy after the failed insurrection on January 6 and with the majority of Republicans still believing the recent presidential election was a fraud. He will be trying to re-establish global leadership after four years of the US shunning alliances, at a time when China is about to pass it as the worlds largest economy.

The list of threats and crises is long but Mr Biden can make a huge difference simply by governing like a normal president. We look forward to a president who talks seriously and coherently rather than merely issuing angry tweets and spreading lies and dangerous misinformation. Mr Bidens brief message this week mourning the deaths from COVID-19 has already struck a new tone.
2 Weeks Without Local COVID Case in Victoria

Victoria has gone two weeks without recording a locally acquired case of COVID-19, although three more people in hotel quarantine have tested positive to the virus.

It is unclear if the three cases are associated with the contingent in town ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on Feb. 8.

The two unnamed players and another person connected to the tournament were among four new coronavirus cases reported in Victorian quarantine on Jan. 19.

One was a woman in her 20s and the other two were men in their 30s.

A total of 72 players have been forced into 14 days of hard lockdown after being deemed close contacts of positive cases on three charter flights into Melbourne from Abu Dhabi, Doha and Los Angeles.

Victorias Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton revealed two previously reported cases, a man in his 30s and another in his 50s, had been reclassified after evidence of previous infection.

It dropped the number of cases linked to the grand slam contingent to seven, with Victorias health department investigating if others can also be reclassified.

But the locked-down players are still unable to leave their hotel rooms for training, unlike their fellow competitors who arrived on flights with a clean bill of health.

This does not change broader assessment of the player group in hotel quarantine, Sutton said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

As yet, none of the three affected flights have been cleared as a result of the two reclassified cases.

Sutton said the virus could still be incubating in some of the 1200 people who landed in Melbourne for the Open from Thursday to Saturday.

There are 34 active COVID-19 cases in Victoria, no increase on Tuesday.

Some 19,810 test results have been processed in the past 24 hours.

Benita Kolovos, Callum Godde in Melbourne


Fianna Fail Senator, Fiona OLoughlin, has welcomed the publication today of the Affordable Housing Bill 2020.

But the Social Democrat spokesperson,Deputy Cian OCallaghan, was not so welcoming saying that relying on the private sector is a broken model.

Senator OLoughlin said: The lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest issues we face in south Kildare and this Bill is very positive news for us today. It provides for the introduction of three new schemes to put affordability at the heart of the housing system and prioritise the increased supply of affordable homes.

"These schemes will see: local authorities deliver affordable homes for purchase on their lands for the first time in more than a decade; a new Affordable Purchase Shared Equity scheme where the State would provide equity support to households seeking to purchase homes in the private market but unable to secure the full mortgage to do so and the introduction of a new form of tenure in Cost Rental. This legislation will provide the basis for the first 400 Cost Rental homes in the State which will be delivered in 2021 with many more in the pipeline in the years thereafter, she said.

Reacting to the Social Democrats Housing spokesperson, Cian OCallaghan, TD said: Relying on the private sector for the provision of affordable housing is a broken model. Shared equity loans are more of the same old, failed, developer-led policymaking. We need a change of direction. A review of the UK shared equity loans found that first-time buyers ended up paying more, developers' profits went up and the scheme helped those who didnt need help.

Deputy OCallaghan concluded: If we want homes that are truly affordable, the State must directly build them and sell or rent them at cost. Private developers built about 18,000 homes last year we need about twice that number. This will only happen if the State plays a very direct, proactive role in the delivery of affordable homes.

Senator OLoughlin said there has been an affordability crisis in Kildare for some time now and it is vital to open up home ownership opportunities. This bill sets out a new legislative basis for direct state led construction of affordable homes for purchase. I hope it will help young working people who are caught in the rental trap to be able to afford their own home.

She concluded: The scheme will increase housing supply as it helps to improve viability by bridging the gap between the maximum mortgage that might be available to a household and the actual cost of a new home for ordinary income families.

Speaking on construction costs, which can increase the price of housing, Deputy OCallaghan said:We need action on the part of Government to address Brexit-related increases in construction costs. Steel, for example, which is imported via Northern Ireland, is now facing a 25% tariff because of complications caused by Brexit. This will have knock-on effects on the cost of construction. The Government must urgently engage with the EU Commission to find a workable solution for this issue.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
Retailers including Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's and Wayfair have stopped selling My Pillow products after Trump-supporting CEO Mike Lindell pushed baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

Driving the news: Lindell told NBC News Tuesday the retailers phoned him to say they could face "a boycott" if they didn't take the action. But Bed Bath & Beyond and Kohl's have both said the decision was related to a lack of demand for My Pillow's products.

Lindell insisted to Fox9 that "leftists" on social media were behind the moves, which he claimed also resulted in HEB dropping My Pillow products.

What they're saying: Axios has contacted all of the retailers for comment. Bed Bath & Beyond told the New York Times in a statement: "We have been rationalizing our assortment to discontinue a number of underperforming items and brands."

Kohl's told USA Today in a statement: "There has been decreased customer demand for MyPillow. We will sell our current inventory and not buy additional/future inventory in the brand."

Of note: The retailers' action comes a day after Dominion Voting Systems sent a cease and desist letter to Lindell over his spread of misinformation related to the 2020 election.
Covid-19: Californias Surge Recedes But Alarm Grows Over Variants As the United States surpassed 400,000 deaths on the eve of his inauguration, President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. assumed the role of mourner-in-chief at a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial. Germany tightened its lockdown rules as a preventive measure against the highly infectious variant. This briefing has ended. Follow our live Covid-19 coverage.

Californias surge may be receding, but a new variant and a jumbled vaccine rollout could threaten progress. A pop-up coronavirus testing site in Berkeley, Calif., on Tuesday. Credit... Jim Wilson/The New York Times Californias terrifying coronavirus surge, which has overwhelmed hospitals and killed thousands, appears to be subsiding, one of the states top health officials said on Tuesday. Covid-19 hospitalizations have decreased by 8.5 percent over the last two weeks, suggesting that a surge on top of a surge after the holidays hasnt been as severe as was feared. The states overall transmission rate has decreased. These are rays of hope, Dr. Mark Ghaly, Californias secretary for health and human services said in a virtual news conference. But even as the cresting case numbers and hospitalizations started to recede, another variant of the virus  separate from the one that spread in Britain  was found throughout the state. Although it is still unknown whether the variant is deadlier or more transmissible than other forms of the virus, it was found in more than half of samples researchers tested last week in Los Angeles, suggesting that it may be a driver of the regions crisis. At the same time, the states vaccine rollout has continued to be plagued by confusion. After Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that the state would expand eligibility to anyone 65 and older, Californians who met the criteria scrambled to find appointments, quickly overwhelming county websites and jamming the phone lines of their health care providers. In an email to members on Tuesday in response to a crush of inquiries, Kaiser Permanente, one of the states biggest health care providers, said that it cares for 1.5 million people who are 65 or older. Last week, the system received just 20,000 first doses of the vaccine. Our ability to expand and speed vaccine distribution depends on vaccine supply made available to our state, the email said. At the current rate, were looking at vaccine distribution that is much slower than any of us find acceptable. Experts have said that much of the chaos so far has arisen because California is relying on already overwhelmed county public health departments to manage much of the distribution of vaccines. Each county has responded to the challenge differently, with evolving guidelines meant to address the tension between vaccinating as many people as quickly as possible and protecting the most vulnerable first. In Los Angeles County, for example, officials at first said they planned to stick with strict priority rules, vaccinating thousands of health care workers first, before broadening eligibility. But on Monday, Hilda Solis, chair of the powerful Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced she was signing an executive order to make vaccination appointments available to anyone in the county 65 and older. Ms. Solis said in an interview on Monday that it would be important in coming days and weeks to bring vaccines to clinics, pharmacies and schools in the countys hardest hit communities, which are lower-income, predominantly Latino and home to many essential workers. But, she said, the most urgent priority now is getting vaccines out the door. Meanwhile, some state lawmakers have asked the governor to develop a program aimed specifically at inoculating farmworkers, who have been some of the states most critical  and at-risk  workers throughout the pandemic. Farmworkers are the fulcrum of the food chain, ravaged by Covid-19 with no available replacement labor pool, the letter said.

A new California variant may be driving the virus surge in the state, a study suggests. A Covid-19 testing site in Los Angeles earlier this month. Credit... Alex Welsh for The New York Times In late December, scientists in California began searching coronavirus samples for a fast-spreading new variant that had just been identified in Britain. They found it, though in relatively few samples. In the process, the scientists made another unwelcome discovery: California had produced a variant of its own. That mutant, which belongs to a lineage known as CAL.20C, seemed to have popped up in July but lay low till November. Then it began to quickly spread. CAL.20C accounted for more than half of the virus genome samples collected in Los Angeles laboratories on Jan. 13, according to a new study that has not yet been published. We had our own problem that didnt cross over from Europe, said Jasmine Plummer, a research scientist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who worked on the study. It really originated here, and it had the chance to start to emerge and surge over the holiday. Theres no evidence that CAL.20C is more lethal than other variants. And scientists have to conduct more research to determine whether CAL.20C is in fact more contagious. But Eric Vail, the director of molecular pathology at Cedars-Sinai, said it was possible that CAL.20C was playing a large part in the surge of cases that has overwhelmed Southern Californias hospitals. Im decently confident that this is a more infectious strain of the virus, Dr. Vail said. Dr. Charles Chiu, a virologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said that across the state, he and his colleagues were finding the variant in roughly 20 percent to 30 percent of samples being sequenced. It just popped up under our noses, and now its rising in multiple counties, he said. On the whole, its safe to say its going to spread outside of California. Researchers are also looking in other states for CAL.20C, Dr. Plummer said, and have so far found it in Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, as well as the District of Columbia. Its not clear yet how common it is outside California. A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the agency was working with California to learn more about the new variant. Currently, its not known whether this variant is any different from other SARS-CoV-2 viruses, whether those differences may have contributed to its emergence, or whether this emergence was merely a random event, he said. Outside scientists are concerned about the findings, but say its still unclear whether the California variants mutations are giving it an edge  or whether its showing up so much just by chance. There might be a bias in the samples that scientists are looking at, for example. Its also possible that CAL.C20 happened to become more common thanks to some big super-spreader events. Dr. Chiu and his colleagues are now growing the variant in cells to see how quickly they multiply compared with other variants. The researchers are also going to observe how well antibodies produced by vaccines work against CAL.C20. Other scientists are also looking more closely at the rise in frequency of the variant in California. Theyre searching for evidence that could determine whether biology or chance is to blame. Thats the work that needs to be done, said Dr. Vail. We just dont have that information.

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To heal, we must remember, Biden says at ceremony for coronavirus victims. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 0:43 - 0:00 transcript Biden: To Heal, We Must Remember On Tuesday, the eve of his inauguration as the 46th president of the United States, President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. led a national mourning for the 400,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus pandemic. To heal, we must remember. Its hard sometimes to remember, but thats how we heal. Its important to do that as a nation. Thats why were here today. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along this sacred pool of reflection and remember all we lost. [bells ringing] On Tuesday, the eve of his inauguration as the 46th president of the United States, President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. led a national mourning for the 400,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus pandemic. Credit Credit... Todd Heisler/The New York Times President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. arrived in Washington on Tuesday and led a national mourning for Americans killed by the coronavirus pandemic as the death toll topped 400,000, a gesture to the tragedy the country had endured even as he pledged that light would pierce the darkness. On the eve of his inauguration as the 46th president of the United States, Mr. Biden flew to the capital from his home in Wilmington, Del., and headed to the Lincoln Memorial, where he presided over a brief ceremony paying tribute to those who had died from Covid-19 in the past year. To heal, we must remember, Mr. Biden said, standing in front of the Reflecting Pool, which was surrounded by 400 lights to commemorate the 400,000 victims of the virus. Its hard sometimes to remember. But thats how we heal. Its important to do that as a nation. Thats why were here today. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all whom we lost. As he spoke, the bells at Washington National Cathedral began to chime, and the Empire State Building in New York and the Space Needle in Seattle were lit. Cities from Miami to San Diego also planned to light buildings for the occasion while Mr. Bidens inaugural committee encouraged Americans to light candles in their windows in a show of national solidarity. Events were also planned for Mr. Bidens hometowns, Wilmington and Scranton, Pa. Mr. Biden is assuming the role of mourner in chief and projecting an air of command of the issue that has vexed the Trump administration for the past year. He has declared getting control of the pandemic the central issue of his administration, and has been highly critical of how his predecessor handled the worst public health crisis in more than 100 years. On Monday night, as President Trump ordered an end to the ban on travelers from Europe and Brazil that had been aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus to the United States, Mr. Bidens aides said he would rescind the move when he takes office on Wednesday, before it was scheduled to go into effect. Mr. Trumps order was issued at a time of heightened anxiety over the coronavirus and what Mr. Biden has warned will be a dark winter. The country has experienced a post-holidays surge in cases that has overwhelmed some hospitals and led to record numbers of deaths. The national vaccination rollout has been slow and chaotic. And a more contagious virus variant is spreading, while others are being discovered. The somber remembrance on Tuesday kicked off two days of in-person and virtual events in Washington as Mr. Biden takes the oath of office on Wednesday at a time of economic struggle and cultural upheaval after President Trumps four tumultuous years in the White House. Somber in his demeanor and brief in his remarks, Mr. Biden was joined by his wife, Jill Biden, as well as Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff. Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, delivered the invocation while two acclaimed gospel singers, Yolanda Adams and Lori Marie Key, performed. Peter Baker and

The SAT is dropping its essay section and subject matter tests to streamline during the pandemic. Students waited outside Sleepy Hollow Middle and High School before they took the SAT in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., in September. Credit... Hilary Swift for The New York Times The College Board, which administers the SAT college entrance examination and has seen its business battered by the coronavirus pandemic, said Tuesday that it will drop the optional essay section from the SAT and stop administering subject-matter tests in the United States. The pandemic accelerated a process already underway at the College Board to simplify our work and reduce demands on students, the organization said in a statement, adding that it would also continue to develop a version of the SAT test that could be administered digitally  something it tried and failed to do quickly with an at-home version last year after the pandemic shut down testing centers. The board gave no time frame for when a digital version of the SAT, which would be administered at testing centers by live proctors, might be introduced, but said it would provide more information in April. The changes to the SAT come as more and more colleges are dropping the requirement that students take the test, as well as its competitor the ACT, a trend driven in part by concerns about equity that received a boost during the pandemic. Critics of the College Board said the decision was almost certainly driven by financial considerations. The SAT has in the past represented a substantial portion of the College Boards more than $1 billion in annual revenue. The SAT and the subject exams are dying products on their last breaths, and Im sure the costs of administering them are substantial, Jon Boeckenstedt, the vice provost of enrollment management at Oregon State University, said in an email. At the same, he said, the College Board was likely to try to use the elimination of the subject tests to try to convince elite high schools to offer more Advanced Placement courses, whose tests the College Board also administers, as a way to burnish their students transcripts. But because A.P. tests have to be taken at the end of a students junior year or earlier for their scores to be considered in admissions decisions, more focus on A.P. scores in the admissions process would likely only increase pressure on students. Overall, its good for College Board, and probably not so good for students, Mr. Boeckenstedt said. In other words, par for the course. Indeed, in its announcement, the board said that A.P. courses provided students rich and varied opportunities to showcase their knowledge and skills and that the expanded reach of A.P. and its widespread availability for low-income students and students of color made the subject tests no longer necessary. David Coleman, the chief executive officer of the College Board, said the organizations goal was not to get more students to take A.P. courses and tests, but to eliminate redundant exams, thereby reducing the burden on high school students applying to college. Anything that can reduce unnecessary anxiety and get out of the way is of huge value to us, he said.

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VACCINE ROUNDUP Fauci urges Americans to get vaccinated as he receives his second dose, and other vaccine news. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, receiving his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, M.D., last month. Credit... Pool photo by Patrick Semansky Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, received his second dose of Modernas coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday morning at the National Institutes of Healths vaccination center, a Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman confirmed, drawing him closer to full protection against Covid-19. Joining Dr. Fauci were Alex M. Azar II, the health and human services secretary, and Dr. Francis Collins, the N.I.H. director, who also received their second shots. Scientists are still working to determine how long protection from Modernas second dose  which follows the first after 28 days  will last. In a recent study, the company found that volunteers were still making high levels of antibodies three months after the second dose. But it is unknown what levels are needed to maintain immunity. Dr. Faucis second dose came at a time when the country is struggling  with a limited supply  to get every available dose of Modernas and Pfizers vaccines into the arms of health workers and older Americans. Scientists at N.I.H. and Moderna are now analyzing data to see if they can double the supply of the vaccine by cutting doses in half. Dr. Fauci and other government scientists have repeatedly emphasized the importance of the second dose as a way to achieve long-term immunity. At an event sponsored by the Harvard Business Review on Tuesday afternoon, he reiterated that, but said protection that people might get from a first dose is insufficient for providing fuller immunity. He also struck an optimistic note, saying that the U.S. may have enough protection against the virus to achieve some form of normality by the fall. To get there, he warned that the country would need to adhere much more closely to public health measures and to successfully implement a vaccine program that can reach the vast majority of Americans. Tuesday functioned as something of a wind-down for the Trump administrations top health officials who will leave their roles on Wednesday, when President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. is sworn in. Mr. Azar delivered a final state of the department address in the morning, listing what he viewed as the administrations accomplishments in funding and developing vaccines and tests for the virus, and thanking the departments employees for working long hours and weekends during the pandemic. On Tuesday afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to oversee his final meeting with the White House coronavirus task force, which Mr. Azar and Dr. Fauci are members of. Dr. Fauci will cross over into the next administration as the chief medical adviser to Mr. Biden. As of Friday, about 10.6 million people in the United States had received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and about 1.6 million people had been fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is far short of the goal set by federal officials to give at least 20 million people their first shots before the end of 2020. In other news about the vaccines: In Michigan on Tuesday, officials said that 21 shipments containing 11,900 doses of the Moderna vaccine were disposed of after they were transported at the improper temperature. The matter was under investigation by McKesson, the distributor, and an additional six shipments were held back to inspect for issues, delaying vaccinations at six sites, the state said.

Gov. Henry McMaster urged South Carolina hospitals to administer vaccines as quickly as you can, saying that some hospitals in the state had been administering only about half of their doses, ostensibly saving the remainder for the required second shot. Dont delay, he said. If you run out, thats OK. Therell be another shipment right behind it.

Officials at U.S. prisons and jails are running into widespread unwillingness among prisoners to consent to be vaccinated. To combat it, some are turning to offering incentives like free snack bags, extra visiting time and even a little time off sentences. While many prison systems around the nation have yet to receive any vaccine doses or offer them to prisoners, those that have tend to provide little or no educational material about the vaccines, inmates say.

New York City expects to exhaust its supply of coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, and will then have to cancel inoculation appointments at many city inoculation sites, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio. New York City received 53,000 doses this week, the mayor said, and had a total of 116,000 doses in inventory Tuesday morning. But Mr. de Blasio said that was not nearly enough to keep up with the pace at which New Yorkers are being inoculated, adding that the city is not currently scheduled to receive any more doses until next Tuesday.

Vaccinations began on Tuesday in Umariacu, a remote indigenous community in Brazils Amazon rainforest, Reuters reported, where the Brazilian military flew in medical personnel and 1,000 doses of a vaccine by Chinas Sinovac.

Canada will not receive any vaccine shipments from Pfizer next week, but that should not affect the governments plan to administer six million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by the end of March, officials said Tuesday.

As of Monday in New York State, about 37 percent of the more than 130,000 people working in skilled nursing facilities in the state have been vaccinated, according to the governors office. But, 32 percent of the workers have declined to be vaccinated, raising concerns about vaccine hesitancy among those who are in contact with some of the individuals at highest risk of a severe infection. Bryan Pietsch, Ann Hinga Klein, Juliana Kim and Ian Austen contributed reporting. Noah Weiland and

Demanding federal relief, Cuomo warns that New York State is facing a possible $15 billion deficit. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, unveiling a budget proposal, said the state was facing a $15 billion shortfall. Credit... Pool photo by Hans Pennink Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday warned that New York State was facing an enormous $15 billion deficit as he unveiled a 2022 budget proposal laden with urgency and uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and raised the possibility of increasing the state income tax for top earners. The governor pleaded with leaders in Washington to deliver $15 billion in emergency pandemic relief, but the precariousness of the situation led Mr. Cuomo to lay out two different budget possibilities: one assuming a federal aid package of $6 billion, and another with the full $15 billion. If the state were to receive $6 billion, a doomsday plan would include a temporary wealth tax that would apply to taxable income above $5 million, under the governors proposal. The state would tax that income at 10.82 percent rate, up from 8.82 percent. Mr. Cuomo said that in this scenario, the state would also have to cut about $2 billion in school funding, $600 million in Medicaid funding and $900 million in other across-the-board reductions. There were other question marks in the governors budget proposal, primarily a lack of clarity about how much money the state would have on hand because of diminished tax revenues, which Mr. Cuomo said were expected to drop by $39 billion over the next four years. This budget is really the economic reconciliation of the Covid crisis, the cost of the Covid crisis, Mr. Cuomo said during a virtual address from the State Capitols Red Room in Albany. In crafting a budget for the next fiscal year, which begins April 1, state officials face similar challenges as last year, when the pandemic devastated the economy and upended one of the nations largest budgets. But the political climate in Washington is certainly different: Senator Chuck Schumer, who will take over as majority leader in Washington this week, has promised better days ahead out of Washington for New York, though he has stopped short of promising a complete bailout. Last week, Mr. Schumer announced that the city and state would receive $2 billion in emergency funding related to expenses incurred as part of the coronavirus response. Mr. Schumer has also said that money for mass transit would be one of his top priorities. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which serves the greater New York metro area, said on Sunday that it would postpone a planned 4 percent fare increase for at least several more months, anticipating more federal aid. Officials are hoping for an additional $8 billion relief, which is the size of the agencys budget deficit through 2024. The fare hike was part of a regularly scheduled increase to help fill that budget hole after the pandemic drained the system of riders and starved it of nearly all its revenues. Transit advocates and a growing number of state and city elected officials had argued that raising fares would further strain essential workers, who tend to be lower-income people of color. The incoming Biden administration is promising $350 billion in direct aid to states and local municipalities, as part of a $1.9 trillion Covid response plan. Even so, Mr. Cuomo has maintained that without a substantial infusion of cash from Washington, the state would need to resort to a mix of tax increases, spending cuts and borrowing. We dont know what level of aid we will get, Mr. Cuomo said on Tuesday, adding, New Yorkers deserve and demand fairness. Luis Ferre-Sadurni, Jesse McKinley and

A Wisconsin pharmacist pleaded not guilty to charges related to spoiling vaccine doses. The Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, Wis., where Steven R. Brandenburg, a pharmacist, is accused of deliberately removing vials of the Moderna vaccine from a refrigerator. Credit... Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, via Associated Press A Wisconsin pharmacist accused of purposefully spoiling doses of Covid-19 vaccines pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of attempted criminal damage to property. The count was less serious than initially had been expected because officials have yet to determine whether the vaccine doses involved were actually spoiled, Adam Gerol, the prosecutor for Ozaukee County, said. The pharmacist, Steven R. Brandenburg, 46, of Grafton, has admitted removing more than 50 vials of the Moderna vaccine in late December from a refrigerator at the hospital where he worked the night shift. The vaccines need to be kept at a low temperature. Image Steven Brandenburg. Credit... Ozaukee County Sheriff, via Associated Press. According to a criminal complaint, Mr. Brandenburg told police that he had attempted to intentionally destroy the vials of vaccine by removing them from a refrigerator at different points. The police said Mr. Brandenburg had admitted to deliberately removing the vials because he is a conspiracy theorist who believed the vaccine could harm people. The hospital, Aurora Medical Center, part of the Advocate Aurora Health Care system, has since fired Mr. Brandenburg, and the Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board has suspended his pharmacy license. In a hearing on Tuesday, Mr. Gerol told the court that the vaccine doses were being sent to Moderna for further testing and if something should come up, the charges could change. The prospect of more serious charges had been based on a presumption that the doses were ruined, he said, adding, We were working off the assumption that the vaccine at issue in this case was damaged, but the best evidence at this point is that the vaccine remains viable. Jennifer Garrett, a spokeswoman for the state of Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board, said that Mr. Brandenburgs license remains suspended pending the outcome of criminal proceedings, as well as the outcome of the boards own disciplinary case, which was initiated in response to three complaints it received regarding the vaccine tampering actions.

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An American college student who was jailed for violating quarantine rules in the Caymans has apologized. Skylar Mack, the 18-year-old Georgia college student who was sentenced to two months in prison for violating coronavirus restrictions in the Cayman Islands, was released on Friday after a month behind bars. Credit... ABC News Skylar Mack, the American college student who was released from a prison in the Cayman Islands last week for violating coronavirus restrictions, said in an interview that she deserved it. In a segment that aired on ABCs Good Morning America on Tuesday, Ms. Mack, 18, apologized for breaking the rules and said that any anger toward her was justified, adding that if she had gotten someone sick, she would not have been able to live with herself. She was released on Friday after spending more than a month behind bars. I deserved it, she said. I was like, You know what, I made this mistake, and it sucks, you know, but you did it to yourself. After finishing the semester at Mercer University in Georgia in late November, Ms. Mack flew to the Cayman Islands to watch her boyfriend, Vanjae Ramgeet, 24, compete in the islands Jet Ski racing national championship. She arrived on a Friday and tested negative for the coronavirus. While the British territorys laws required her to remain in her hotel room for 14 days, on Sunday, the day of the championship, she slipped the electronic monitoring bracelet from her wrist. She went to the beach and cheered on Mr. Ramgeet as he won first place. In mid-December, a Cayman Islands court sentenced Ms. Mack and Mr. Ramgeet to four months in prison. After an outcry that the punishment was too harsh, a panel of judges reduced the sentence to two months. Her release after a little more than half that time was in line with what her lawyer expected. Mr. Ramgeet was also released on Friday, according to Ms. Macks family. Thousands of others around the world have been similarly punished for breaching quarantine restrictions. Extensive travel restrictions have failed to stop the virus from spreading, with some people viewing themselves as above the rules.

Global roundup Germany tightens lockdown to prevent the danger that lies in this mutated virus, and other news from around the world. The government district in Berlin this month. Chancellor Angela Merkel was meeting with state governors on Tuesday about new lockdown rules. Credit... Lena Mucha for The New York Times On Tuesday Chancellor Angela Merkel and state governors announced an extension and tightening of Germanys lockdown rules, partially in response to the highly infectious variant of the coronavirus that is currently causing a spike in infections in Britain and elsewhere. Now is the time to prevent the danger that lies in this mutated virus, said Ms. Merkel. Its all a matter of precaution. Although the new variant has been detected in Germany, it is not yet believed to have spread widely. The current lockdown rules will be extended to at least mid-February, mask rules will stipulate that medical grade masks must be worn on public transport or in the few shops allowed to remain open, and working from home will be mandated where possible. Schools will generally remain closed, although some states will continue to offer voluntary in-person classes and most will provide emergency child care for parents working in essential service jobs. Even without the risk of the new variant, Germanys recent infection figures, now at 132 per 100,000 people over a week, is much higher than the goal of 50 per 100,000, which authorities say is the rate at which lockdown rules can be suspended. As of Monday, the seven-day average number of cases in the country was 16,886, according to a New York Times database, slightly higher than when the national lockdown began at the beginning of November. Separately, some German states are planning guarded mandatory quarantine centers for the very few who repeatedly disobey quarantine rules, according to an investigation by Die Welt am Sonntag, a national Sunday paper. States like Schleswig-Holstein in the north, Brandenburg around Berlin and BadenWurttemberg in the southwest are preparing such mandatory quarantine sites in hospitals, refugee centers and a youth detention center. However, since there are very few known cases of people who repeatedly flout quarantine and isolation rules and fines  which are imposed because someone either has Covid, has had close and prolonged contact with an infected person, or has come back from a high-risk foreign country  the states are only planning for a few sites. Among the other developments around the world: Rwanda announced restrictions on movement and businesses in the capital, Kigali, on Monday, as coronavirus cases continued to surge across the country. The authorities closed all places of worship, shut down public transportation, banned travel between the capital and other parts of the country, and ordered all workers other than those providing essential services to work from home. Farming can continue, and businesses selling food, medicine, fuel or cleaning products may operate but must close by 6 p.m. Funeral gatherings are permitted but cannot exceed 15 people.

Officials in Hong Kong said on Tuesday that current social distancing measures, which include a ban on dine-in service after 6 p.m., would be extended for at least another week, a day after the number of new coronavirus cases returned to the triple digits for the first time this year. They also said they would bar entry to travelers who had spent more than two hours in Ireland or Brazil in the past 21 days  the same rule as applied to Britain and South Africa, where two more transmissible variants of the virus were first detected.

Starting Jan. 26, everyone flying to New Zealand will have to show proof before departure that they have tested negative for the virus, the government said on Tuesday, unless they are coming from Australia, Antarctica or most Pacific islands. Two weeks of quarantine continues to be mandatory for all travelers to New Zealand, which last recorded a locally transmitted case in November. Last week, the country began requiring predeparture tests for passengers from the United States and Britain.

Japan s southernmost prefecture, Okinawa, declared a state of emergency after a spike in cases, Reuters reported. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said emergency measures include asking restaurants and bars to close by 8 p.m. and residents to refrain from non-urgent outings after 8 p.m. The emergency is scheduled to last until Feb. 7.

A survey about coronavirus cases in Britain from the Office for National Statistics estimates that one in eight people in England  about 5.4 million people over the age of 16  had antibodies against the virus in December, suggesting they were infected in the past. The report suggests about one in 10 people across Britain had such antibodies. Excess deaths were at the highest level since last May, the analysis found, and in England the Covid-19 mortality rate in the most deprived areas last month was more than twice that in the least deprived.

Britain s health secretary, Matt Hancock, said on Tuesday that he would isolate at home for the next six days after a notification from the National Health Service coronavirus app told him he had been in close contact with someone who tested positive. Mr. Hancock, a key figure in countrys virus response, appeared in a televised coronavirus briefing Monday evening and tested positive himself in March.

Scotlands lockdown will be extended to mid-February and its schools and kindergartens will remain closed until then, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Tuesday. Early in January, people were asked to stay at home for all but essential purposes, and most students returned to remote learning, as the country tried to clamp down on the more transmissible British variant of the coronavirus. Christopher F. Schuetze, Jennifer Jett , Anna Schaverien and

Russia mulls Covid passports to let people with some immunity travel more easily. People wait in line to receive the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine at the State Department Store GUM in Moscow. Credit... Sergey Ponomarev for The New York Times The Russian government is considering issuing coronavirus health certificates that could ease travel and commerce for people who have been vaccinated or who have antibodies from surviving the disease, while sharply limiting the liberties of others  an idea that has also been floated in the European Union and by private companies. Proponents say that such documents, often called Covid passports, could ease airline travel and hasten the reopening of theaters, cruise lines and other settings where people congregate. Opponents fear a dystopic system that would limit the rights of people who have been careful to avoid infection and are unable or unwilling to be vaccinated. Russia has a grim history rooted in the Soviet era of controlling citizens movements, through a residency permit system that was never fully abolished. Internationally, airlines have already tested electronic certificates showing negative test results for passengers. Those systems could be expanded to show the status of those with some immunity. The head of the Russian Parliaments committee on public health, Dmitri Morozov, said on Tuesday that a Covid passport was very important and needed. Collecting peoples Covid health status in a government system, he said, could also provide important data for public health officials. This is great, this is the new world, he said. Mr. Morozov did not specify what kinds of information a Covid passport would display. A regional governor in Russia, Radi Khabirov, proposed on Monday that Covid passport holders receive discounts at stores, as an incentive for people to obtain the certificate. President Vladimir V. Putins spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said on Tuesday that the government is considering issuing Covid passports, perhaps in digital form, but that Russia wanted to coordinate with other countries to agree on standards for them.

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The E.U.s executive arm sets its goal: 80% of people over 80 and 80% of health care workers to be vaccinated by March. Stella Kyriakides, the European Unions health commissioner, speaking during a plenary session on E.U. global strategy on coronavirus vaccinations at the E.U. parliament in Brussels on Tuesday. Credit... Pool photo by John Thys The European Unions executive arm on Tuesday set ambitious Covid-19 vaccination goals for its 450 million citizens, after a sluggish start to its inoculation efforts. The European Commission said that the blocs 27 member states should aim to have at least 80 percent of their citizens over the age of 80, as well as at least 80 percent of their health care workers, vaccinated by March, and at least 70 percent of the whole population vaccinated by this summer. We are racing against time, but not against each other, said Stella Kyriakides, the blocs health commissioner. And were all racing together as one team. The commissions call comes as E.U. countries face a resurgence of coronavirus cases, turbocharged by emerging new variants, as well as the grim reality of prolonged lockdowns. E.U. leaders are due to meet by teleconference on Thursday to endorse the Commissions proposals. The commission also urged the bloc's national governments to update their testing strategies, which remain the competence of member states, and urged them to genome sequence more positive coronavirus test results: 10 percent of them, up from the current rate of below 1 percent. Genome sequencing helps quickly identify new variants, while also keeping track of the progress of known ones. If we do not act now with determination, we might not be able to contain the risk of a potentially harsh third wave, warned Ms. Kyriakides. The numbers are already worrying across the E.U., and hospitals are under a lot of pressure. We cannot be complacent. In order to salvage border-free travel across the bloc, the commission also opened the debate over using so-called vaccination certificates, which could permit easier travel for people whove been vaccinated. The concept has been advocated by Greece and other smaller states, which heavily depend on tourism, but opposed by several larger E.U. countries such as France. The bloc intends to determine a common approach by the end of January. For the moment, the commission recommended that all nonessential travel be strongly discouraged. Traveling restrictions, as well as testing and quarantine rules, are currently the prerogative of national governments, and have resulted in a patchwork of chaotic measures across the continent.

Much of Texas remains overrun by the virus, threatening U.S. progress. Coronavirus testing in Austin on Monday, when new cases in Texas were averaging over 20,000 a day. Credit... Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times The persistently rapid spread of the coronavirus in Texas, the second most populous state in the U.S., is threatening the gradual progress the country has been making toward flattening the curve of new cases. Counties along the Mexican border in particular have seen steep spikes. The city of Laredo sent residents an emergency cellphone alert over the weekend  the second in three days  warning that local hospitals were near capacity. Our medical professionals and hospitals are overwhelmed with the surge in Covid-19 cases, the message read. The current situation is at its most critical level, and lives are at stake. We are asking you to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary. New cases in Texas were averaging more than 20,000 a day on Monday. The state has seen a steady increase in new cases since October, when there were approximately 4,000 a day on average, according to a New York Times database. Since the start of the pandemic, Texas has reported more than 2.1 million cases, the second highest total in the country after California, which in recent weeks has been in the throes of a devastating flood of cases that has pushed hospitals to the brink. Federal health officials have acknowledged that the vaccine rollout has had a slower-than-expected start. In the United States, about 14.3 million people have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and about 2.2 million people had been fully vaccinated, according to data reported on Wednesday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Federal officials had set a goal of giving at least 20 million people their first dose by the end of 2020. The United States as a whole has been averaging more than 200,000 new virus cases a day since Jan. 2, with California and Texas fueling that surge. Arizona, Oklahoma and South Carolina have been swept by high numbers of cases for days, and New York now has the countrys fourth worst outbreak, though deaths per day in the state have not come close to the tragic levels seen in the spring. On Monday, Texas reported 111 deaths, bringing the total number of people lost to the virus in the state to more than 32,000  a sizable portion of the more than 400,000 total deaths reported in the United States. For more than a month, Laredo has had 35 to 40 percent of its hospital beds filled with Covid-19 patients, a higher ratio than anywhere else in the state, a city spokeswoman said. On Tuesday, she added, the figure was nearing 50 percent. In Del Rio, another border town, Dr. Laura Palau of the Val Verde County Health Authority said officials were still seeing cases emerge from maskless family gatherings and parties over the holidays. An alarming 30 percent of coronavirus tests performed in the city are coming back positive, she said. The sheriffs office is issuing quarantine orders to people who test positive. Dr. Palau said she was worried about the way deaths are rising. The people that were hospitalized in December or early January are starting to expire, she said. Texas has received more than 1.7 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, and administered 1.3 million, Gov. Greg Abbott said on Tuesday. More than 800,000 more doses were expected this week, he said. But Clay Jenkins, the top elected official in Dallas County, warned that a new, more transmissible variant of the virus, which is circulating in the United States after forcing Britain to lock down again, could make any progress in taming the pandemic fleeting. January and February will be our toughest months here in North Texas, he said. Right now, we just need everyone to avoid crowds, wear their mask, forgo get-togethers. Really think about ways to make patriotic sacrifices to protect the community. David Montgomery contributed reporting. Patricia Mazzei and

Andrew Yang, running for New York City mayor, is quarantining after an aide tested positive. Andrew Yang announced that he was running for mayor last week in Manhattans Morningside Park. Credit... James Estrin/The New York Times Less than a week after his vigorous launch into the New York City mayors race, Andrew Yang said on Tuesday that he was halting in-person events and quarantining because a campaign staffer had tested positive for the coronavirus. Mr. Yang, the former presidential candidate, had been seemingly everywhere in recent days, meeting with elected officials across the city and riding the subway and bus to campaign events. His whirlwind appearances were in sharp contrast to the mostly virtual campaigns that his rivals have been conducting. Now Mr. Yang will enter quarantine for at least eight days, his campaign said in a statement. This morning, we learned that a member of the campaign staff received a positive result on a rapid Covid test, the statement said. Since that time, Andrew has tested negative and is not experiencing any symptoms. On Monday, Mr. Yang attended an event at the Rev. Al Sharptons headquarters in Harlem to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.s Birthday. He spoke without a mask before a large crowd that included many of the other mayoral candidates.

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N.Y.C. will run out of its current vaccine supply on Thursday, the mayor says. Its not scheduled to get more until next week. Denise Saylor, right, taking a selfie as Lara Comstack gave her the Modern vaccine at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in Manhattan this month. Credit... James Estrin/The New York Times New York City expects to exhaust its supply of coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, and will then have to cancel inoculation appointments at many city inoculation sites, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio. We will literally have nothing left to give as of Friday, Mr. de Blasio said at a news conference Tuesday. New York City received 53,000 doses this week, the mayor said, and had a total of 116,000 doses in inventory Tuesday morning. But Mr. de Blasio said that was not nearly enough to keep up with the pace at which New Yorkers are being inoculated. The mayor, who raised concerns last week about a coronavirus vaccine shortage after an initially sluggish rollout, said the city is not currently scheduled to receive any more doses until next Tuesday. Mr. de Blasio and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo have urged the federal government to send more vaccine to New York, now that the states eligibility pool has been expanded to include anyone 65 or older. Statewide, more than 835,000 people have received the first of the two doses of a vaccine  both federally authorized vaccines are two-dose vaccines  and nearly 84,000 have received the second dose, Mr. Cuomo said in a statement on Tuesday. Even so, pressure is mounting to speed up vaccinations as hospitalizations across the state surpassed 9,000, according to Mr. Cuomo on Tuesday, for the first time since early May. The supply issue threatens the success of the mass vaccination sites the city has been setting up in each of the five boroughs, Mr. de Blasio said. Sites at CitiField, the Mets home stadium in Queens, and at the Empire Outlets shopping center in Staten Island are scheduled to open next week. This is not the way it should be, the mayor said. We have the ability to vaccinate a huge number of people. We need the vaccine to go with it. The citys vaccination program has run into several obstacles since eligibility was expanded. Buggy websites and complex sign-up systems have made it difficult for many New Yorkers to schedule appointments. Mr. de Blasio said the city expects to have administered 500,000 doses by the end of Wednesday. The city had previously set a goal of one million doses by the end of January.

Some prisons are offering skeptical inmates incentives to consent to vaccination. Officials in Delaware are offering a variety of incentives to encourage prisoners to consent to being vaccinated. The James T. Vaughn Correctional Center is in Smyrna, Del. Credit... Suchat Pederson/The News Journal, via Associated Press Officials at U.S. prisons and jails are running into widespread unwillingness among prisoners to consent to be vaccinated. To combat it, some are turning to offering incentives like free snack bags, extra visiting time and even a little time off sentences. Incarcerated people are at much greater risk from Covid-19 than the general public: Studies have shown that they are four times as likely to become infected, and twice as likely to die. But many say they are wary both of the vaccines and of the prison medical staff members who administer them. A recent survey at a jail in Billerica, Mass., found that only 40 percent of the inmates would volunteer for a vaccination, even though there had been more than 130 infections at the jail. Many prison systems around the nation have yet to receive any vaccine doses or offer them to prisoners. Those that have tend to provide little or no educational material about the vaccines, inmates say. At the Allenwood federal prison complex in Pennsylvania, inmates said medical workers arrived without any prior notice on Jan. 6, carrying clipboards and pushing carts containing vaccine doses. They didnt give us any information beyond, basically, Hey, this is safe, and you dont have any worries taking it, said Domingo Ramirez, who is incarcerated there. At the same prison, Andres Azner said that more than half of the inmates in his unit had refused vaccination when it was offered, including him. They didnt give me enough time to think about it, he said. They didnt give me enough information to make a solid, sound, prudent decision. They kind of just tried to force it upon me. And, no, no, Im not taking it. The Bureau of Prisons did not respond to a request for comment. The Delaware state prison system is trying to overcome the skepticism with incentives to receive the shot, and the North Carolina system is considering doing the same. Delaware is offering credits that shorten sentences by a few days, as well as a 30-minute video visit with loved ones and either a free commissary snack bag or a special meal. The idea is not unprecedented. In November, Kansas state prisons began offering inmates $5 to get a flu shot. The prisons have not yet received coronavirus vaccines to offer to prisoners, and officials declined to say whether the same policy would apply when they do. Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, said that a very dark history of experimentation on prisoners was responsible for fostering mistrust  and that certain incentives, involving expanded visitation privileges, were ethically questionable. Brant Addison, an inmate at the Wake Correctional Center in North Carolina, described a string of sleepless nights as he weighed whether to receive the vaccine. Mr. Addison, who is African-American, cited the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study, and said that two of his relatives who are nurses shared his concerns. He said he might feel safer receiving the vaccine after more people have taken it, including those outside prison walls. I have such a short time left, just a few months, he said, referring to his sentence. And I want to be able to walk out of here with a sound mind and body.

Eight former Treasury secretaries call for Janet Yellens swift confirmation. Timothy F. Geithner, left, and Henry M. Paulson Jr., two former Treasury secretaries, in 2018. Both support Janet Yellens confirmation as the new Treasury secretary. Credit... Win Mcnamee/Getty Images Janet L. Yellen won the endorsement on Tuesday of eight former Treasury secretaries, who called for her speedy Senate confirmation so that she can assume the job under President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. The letter of support was released shortly ahead of Ms. Yellens testimony at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. The group said that any delay would pose an unnecessary risk to the economy at a critical time. With millions of Americans out of work, long-term unemployment rising, and activity stalled in large sectors of the economy, daunting challenges will face the incoming administration. Addressing these pressing issues will require thoughtful engagement by the Department of the Treasury, they wrote. Any gap in its leadership would risk setting back recovery efforts. They added that a delay in confirming Ms. Yellen would also sow confusion among American allies, who traditionally rely on the United States for global economic leadership in times of crisis. The letter was signed by George P. Shultz, James A. Baker III, Robert E. Rubin, Lawrence H. Summers, John W. Snow, Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Timothy F. Geithner and Jacob J. Lew. That all-male crew reflects the significance of Ms. Yellens nomination  if confirmed, she would be the first woman to lead the Treasury in its 231-year history. The former secretaries said that Ms. Yellen, a former Federal Reserve chair, was uniquely qualified for the job because of her experience and knowledge. Ms. Yellen is expected to have a smooth path to confirmation. An acting Treasury secretary is expected to fill the void at the Department between when Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin departs on Wednesday at noon and when Ms. Yellen is confirmed.

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An exhibition highlights the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts' role in promoting Chinese operas.

Costumes, ornaments and stage props of traditional Chinese operas are on display at the National Museum of China in Beijing. The ongoing exhibition is part of the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts'70th-anniversary celebrations. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

The National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a new exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing.

Upon entering the exhibition hall, visitors are "transported" on a seven-decade journey in which Chinese operas are highlighted. The history of the school itself is a record of New China's traditional-art education since its founding in 1949.

"The development of the national academy has always been closely linked to the fortunes of the country and the people, and goes hand in hand with the development of society," the academy's Party secretary Gong Yu said at the exhibition's opening on Dec 26.

The academy was established in January 1950 as the first-ever national institution of Chinese-opera education. Tian Han, an eminent playwright who wrote the lyrics of China's national anthem, was appointed as the principal.
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(Newser)  Move over Ivanka Trump, America is about to get a new first daughter. In her first network TV interview, Ashley Biden spoke to another presidential daughter, Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager. In the interview, which aired Tuesday, the 39-year-old said mother Jill Biden hadn't heard anything from outgoing first lady Melania Trump about the traditional meeting for tea and a tour of the White House living quarters, CNN reports. "No, I don't think they're doing the traditional protocol, which is unfortunate," she said. "But I think we're all OK with it." Biden said she won't be taking a job in her father's administration, but she wants to "use this platform to advocate for social justice, for mental healthto be involved in community development and revitalization," USA Today reports.

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Biden said she was "deeply saddened" by the "truly horrifying" Jan. 6 Capitol riot. "This was a place I grew up going as a child, as you did too, and a place where Dad has worked for over 30 years," she told Bush. "A sacred place, really." She said her "fierce" and "extremely loyal" mother helps keep the president-elect "grounded." She said family is still the most important thing for her father. "We have a rule, still today, that no matter where Dad is, no matter what meeting he's in, if one of the kids' call, you have to get him out," she said. Ashley is Joe Biden's second daughter. His first, Naomi, died at 13 months old along with mother Neilia in a car crash weeks after Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972. (Read more Ashley Biden stories.)
Joe Biden will cancel the Keystone XL oil pipeline hours after becoming president on Wednesday, killing once again a cross-border project that had won a four-year reprieve under his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.

In one of his first major environmental actions, Biden will revoke TC Energy Corp.s pipeline permit via an executive order because it doesnt serve the U.S. national interest, according to fact sheet from his transition team.

The move brings Keystones fate full circle, repeating a decision made in 2015 by President Barack Obama to keep the pipeline from crossing the border. Trump reversed that in 2017 on his fourth full day in office over the objections of environmental groups.

TC Energy said it was disappointed and would suspend work on the project, leading to the layoff of thousands of workers. The decision overturns an unprecedented, comprehensive regulatory process that lasted more than a decade and repeatedly concluded the pipeline would transport much-needed energy in an environmentally responsible way, said the Calgary-based company.

SPARE PARTS: Keystone XL may be sold for scrap if Biden kills it

TC Energy shares pared losses after initially trading at $56, down 1%, on the news.

Environmentalists are counting on the latest rejection -- coming more than a dozen years since the pipeline was first proposed -- to stick. They argue the project would provide an outlet for heavy Canadian oil sands crude extracted in Alberta through particularly energy-intensive processes that ratchet up its carbon footprint.

Putting a stop to the dirty and dangerous Keystone XL tar sands pipeline immediately and once and for all would be an important first step and testament to the leadership of the diverse grassroots movement that has long pushed to stop it and other harmful pipelines, said Tiernan Sittenfeld, a senior vice president with the environmental group League of Conservation Voters.

Biden promised the action on the campaign trail, yet his formal step still provoked outrage from oil industry leaders, some Canadian interests and labor unions that support the project.

The Biden administration has chosen to listen to the voices of fringe activists instead of union members and the American consumer on Day 1, said the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters in an emailed statement based on news reports before the action.

Construction of Keystone XL already began last year, jump started with a $1.1 billion investment by the province of Alberta. Whole segments of the line, including one that crosses to U.S.-Canadian border, have already been built.

TC Energy has worked to make the project more palatable to a Democratic administration, inking labor agreements with four major pipeline unions last August, agreeing to sell an equity stake in the line to indigenous communities along the route and promising to power it entirely with renewable energy.

Still, Keystone XL has been a lightning rod for controversy and a litmus test for environmentalism almost since it was first proposed in 2005. The 1,179 mile (1,897 kilometer) segment is designed to move oil from Alberta through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska, then connect with an existing network feeding crude to the Gulf Coast. The line would carry as much as 830,000 barrels of oil a day.

Opponents argue it will stimulate oil sands development, contributing to climate change.

Years ago, proponents of the controversial crude pipeline argued that more of Canadas cheaper, heavy crude would help fuel producers on the U.S. Gulf Coast wean off supplies from countries like Venezuela or the conflict-prone Middle East.

But refiners in Texas and Louisiana have become increasingly flexible, using more of the abundant light oil from shale fields. Plus, Canadian crudes price advantage has narrowed, and imports from the country have roughly doubled in a decade to a steady flow of more than 3.5 million barrels a day, without Keystone XL.

Its not an issue for refiners, said Robert Campbell, head of oil products research at Energy Aspects Ltd. They can switch into domestic light. The hurt would be on oil sands producers.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on Tuesday urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take steps to save the permit, saying its revocation would damage the Canada-U.S. bilateral relationship.

Keystone XL was one of only a handful of energy and mining projects Biden took an explicit stand against while on the campaign trail. Environmentalists emboldened by his move on Keystone are already pressuring him to revoke a critical authorization allowing continued operation of Energy Transfer LPs Dakota Access oil pipeline and take action against Enbridge Inc.s plan to replace and expand its aging Line 3 pipeline from Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin.

From the archive -- Why the Keystone Project Is Controversial: QuickTake

Its exciting news, said Dallas Goldtooth, an organizer with the Indigenous Environmental Network. Now what are you going to do about Line 3 and the Dakota Access pipeline? We are happy, but we want to see what comes next.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
The latest official figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) published yesterday show that Irish housing trends continued to improve towards the end of 2020.



Prices nationally rose by 0.4% month on month in November with the annual rate of growth moving into modest positive territory (0.1%) for the first time since May 2020. Prices fell slightly in Dublin (-0.9% yoy) and rose modestly outside Dublin (+1.2% yoy).

However, a positive trend was evident across the country coming into the end of the year, with annualised growth in the three months to end-November at +5%. Alongside relatively robust demand (including a surge in mortgage approvals), the supply of properties for sale is now at all-time lows, thus putting upward pressure on prices.



November saw the first annual increase in housing transactions since before the pandemic. Transactions rose by 7% yoy in November, led by the existing homes market (+11% yoy). Transactions of new homes fell by 6% yoy, but this was the smallest annual decline since March 2021. Importantly, this trend was evident for both households and non-households.



According to Goodbody Stockbrokers, "Although the official housing data can be lagging, more recent information on mortgage approvals, asking prices and stock suggest that these positive trends continued into December. With the current lockdown, construction sites are largely closed, and viewings are not permitted. Weaker trends are thus likely at the start of 2021, but the evidence of 2020 suggests that demand for housing remains strong nonetheless, due to lifestyle and financial reasons."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
In the true wireless stereo hearables (TWS) market, realme has garnered 2% of the global market share. This is merely one step in the realme's stategy to foster new companies and ideas, to participate in co-creation and scale innovative AIoT products. To this end, realme will launch its own AIot platform TechLife in 2021, aiming to bring a more cohesive and integrated smart living lifestyle to youths of today, allowing for greater communication and collaboration for users.

realme will build on its strong performance in 2020 to deliver a even stronger result in 2021. Just like its user base of youths between 18 to 25, realme looks to dream big and leap into the future with confidence. Already a Top 5 brand in 12 different countries, realme aims to develop AIoT ecosystems to cater to Individual, Family and Travel groups under the realme brand.

About realme

realme is a technology brand that brings trendsetting smartphones and AIoT products to the global market. realme users are young and globally-minded. They 'Dare to Leap', empowered by the latest in technology and design.

realme is recognized as one of the mainstream smartphone brands according to Counterpoint's statistics of global smartphone shipments in Q3 2020, which ranks it at 7th in the world. In 2019, realme's global smartphone shipments reached 25 million with a YoY growth rate of 808%, making realme the fastest-growing smartphone brand in the world for four consecutive quarters from Q3 2019 to Q2 2020. realme has entered 61 markets worldwide, including China, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe, Russia, Australia, Middle East, Africa with a global user base of over 50 million.

For more information, please contact:

Wen, WU

Head of Corporate Public Relations

[email protected] (+86 158 1058 0696)

or go to www.realme.com.

SOURCE realme
The Collegium hasapproved the proposal for appointment of four Additional Judges of High Court as Permanent Judges.

The Collegium headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde in a meeting held on December 16, 2020 approved the proposal which was was uploaded on the apex court website on Wednesday.

The additional judges who have been appointed as permanent judges are Justices Singapuram Raghavachar Krishna Kumar, Ashok Subhashchandra Kinagi, Suraj Govindaraj and Sachin Shankar Magadum.

Besides Bobde, Justices N V Ramana, R F Nariman, U U Lalit and A M Khanwilkar are part of the five-judge Collegium.

(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.)
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leaves office today after his incredibly consequential tenure advancing the foreign policy of the Trump administration. Today the Wall Street Journal has published Pompeos column Genocide in Xinjiang. Around the time the column was posted online yesterday, the Department of State posted Pompeos Determination of the Secretary of State on Atrocities in Xinjiang. Incoming Secretary of State Antony Blinken endorsed the determination in his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday. This is the text of Pompeos statement (emphasis in original):

The United States of America has led the world in holding the perpetrators of the most heinous human rights abuses accountable. From the Nuremberg Trials, to the creation of the Genocide Convention in 1948, to the declaration of ISISs recent genocide against the Yazidis, Christians, and other religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, Americans have given voice to those who have been silenced by evil, and stood with the living who cry out for truth, the rule of law, and justice. We do so not because we are compelled to act by any international court, multilateral body, or domestic political concern. We do so because it is right.

For the past four years, this Administration has exposed the nature of the Chinese Communist Party and called it what it is: a Marxist-Leninist regime that exerts power over the long-suffering Chinese people through brainwashing and brute force. We have paid particular attention to the CCPs treatment of the Uyghur people, a Muslim minority group that resides largely in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Western China. While the CCP has always exhibited a profound hostility to all people of faith, we have watched with growing alarm the Partys increasingly repressive treatment of the Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups.

Our exhaustive documentation of the PRCs actions in Xinjiang confirms that since at least March 2017, local authorities dramatically escalated their decades-long campaign of repression against Uyghur Muslims and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups, including ethnic Kazakhs and ethnic Kyrgyz. Their morally repugnant, wholesale policies, practices, and abuses are designed systematically to discriminate against and surveil ethnic Uyghurs as a unique demographic and ethnic group, restrict their freedom to travel, emigrate, and attend schools, and deny other basic human rights of assembly, speech, and worship. PRC authorities have conducted forced sterilizations and abortions on Uyghur women, coerced them to marry non-Uyghurs, and separated Uyghur children from their families.

Party apparatchiks have denied international observers unhindered access to Xinjiang and denounced reliable reports about the worsening situation on the ground, instead spinning fanciful tales of happy Uyghurs participating in educational, counter-terror, womens empowerment, and poverty alleviation projects. Meanwhile, they are delivering far darker messages to their own people, portraying Uyghurs as malignant tumors, comparing their faith to a communicable plague, and exhorting the Party faithful to implement a crushing blow, telling them you cant uproot all the weeds hidden among the crops in the field one-by-one; you need to spray chemicals to kill them all.

Since the Allied forces exposed the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, the refrain Never again has become the civilized worlds rallying cry against these horrors. Just because an atrocity is perpetrated in a manner that is different than what we have observed in the past, does not make it any less an atrocity. Today, I thus make the following determinations:

1. After careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that since at least March 2017, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), under the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. These crimes are ongoing and include: the arbitrary imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty of more than one million civilians, forced sterilization, torture of a large number of those arbitrarily detained, forced labor, and the imposition of draconian restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement. The Nuremberg Tribunals at the end of World War II prosecuted perpetrators for crimes against humanity, the same crimes being perpetrated in Xinjiang.

2. In addition, after careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that the PRC, under the direction and control of the CCP, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state. The governing authorities of the second most economically, militarily, and politically powerful country on earth have made clear that they are engaged in the forced assimilation and eventual erasure of a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority group, even as they simultaneously assert their country as a global leader and attempt to remold the international system in their image.

The United States calls upon the PRC immediately to release all arbitrarily detained persons and abolish its system of internment, detention camps, house arrest and forced labor; cease coercive population control measures, including forced sterilizations, forced abortion, forced birth control, and the removal of children from their families; end all torture and abuse in places of detention; end the persecution of Uyghurs and other members of religious and ethnic minority groups in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China, and afford Uyghurs and other persecuted minorities the freedom to travel and emigrate.

We further call on all appropriate multilateral and relevant juridical bodies, to join the United States in our effort to promote accountability for those responsible for these atrocities. I have directed the U.S. Department of State to continue to investigate and collect relevant information regarding the ongoing atrocities occurring in Xinjiang, and to make this evidence available to appropriate authorities and the international community to the extent allowable by law. The United States, on its part, has spoken out and taken action, implementing a range of sanctions against senior CCP leaders and state-run enterprises that fund the architecture of repression across Xinjiang.

The United States has worked exhaustively to pull into the light what the Communist Party and General Secretary Xi Jinping wish to keep hidden through obfuscation, propaganda, and coercion. Beijings atrocities in Xinjiang represent an extreme affront to the Uyghurs, the people of China, and civilized people everywhere. We will not remain silent. If the Chinese Communist Party is allowed to commit genocide and crimes against humanity against its own people, imagine what it will be emboldened to do to the free world, in the not-so-distant future.
All eyes will be on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 when she presents the Union Budget 2021 considering the grim legacy of 2020 - on economic, health, and political front. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been vastly disruptive starting with the severe first-quarter GDP contraction, though we may end the fiscal year with a reasonable 7.7% contraction, as predicated in the advance estimates released by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The bounce-back on the back of the first quarter contraction has been a pleasant surprise, setting the tone for what optimists predict to be double digit growth in FY22 on the back of low base.

With the deficit on tax collection targets catching up with the surge in belated tax filings for March 31, 2020, buoyancy in advance tax collections for December 15 third quarter instalments and three consecutive months of GST collection targets crossing well above Rs 1 lakh crore, the silver lining is visible amidst the dark cloud.

FM Sitharaman's statement to present a "budget like never before" has raised expectations to revive the COVID-struck economy at this crucial juncture in its resurrection story. Here are three key expectations in the areas of Healthcare, Foreign Trade Policy and Agriculture sectors.

Also Read: Dalal Street high on hopes from FM Nirmala Sitharaman's third Budget speech

Healthcare sector

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore a need for massive investment in health infrastructure. India, with five hospital beds and 8.6 doctors for every 10,000 people, ranks 155th in Human Development Index. The country's total healthcare spending at 3.6% of GDP, as per OECD, is way lower than other emerging countries.

There can be no two views as regards the deficiency in terms of infrastructure or manpower with optimal patient overload and world class quality of services at affordable rates. It is apparent that the exigencies of the present situation demand a high level of focus on vaccination.

This, however, should not underscore the long-standing requirement for a strong policy direction for a complete overhaul of the present ecosystem. A dedicated plan to incentivise massive investment in facilities, not just in Metropolitan towns, but in the interiors of the country is the need of the hour.

Also Read: India should invest in primary healthcare in Budget 2021: WHO's Swaminathan

India has adequate medical colleges and supporting manpower required to run the new facilities and hence, it's only a question of channelising the manpower resources with equitable distribution such that healthcare is within the reach of all citizens.

Just as for low-cost housing, tax holiday benefits for new hospitals and related facilities should be offered. Besides, the government needs to forward a strong policy intervention in the area of tele-medicine which will greatly help alleviate the rural and urban mismatch in healthcare.

Free Trade Agreements

The widening trade deficit has been a major cause of concern coupled with the steep fall in exports. There is an urgent need to massively expand the export portfolio and limit imports only to essential and non-substitutable goods, with the latter being driven by the Atmanirbhar programme.

While the regular export incentivising programme helps, there is a need for a dedicated economic partnership, particularly in the service sector, to ensure that Indian talent is put to optimal use and human skills are harnessed with growth in literacy levels. With tactful diplomacy, the government needs to pick up focus on FTAs (Free Trade Agreement) for an incremental increase in bilateral and trilateral trade.

India needs to think of an alternative to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Its key contenders for trade, investment and comprehensive partnership include the US, UK, EU and Japan. While enough effort has been spent, there should be clear messaging to promote local manufacturing, using tariffs to discourage imports of non-essential goods and a clear mandate to the negotiators to deliver a time bound solution to put in place a framework for propelling international trade.

Also Read: Budget 2021: Infra push can boost economy, improve competitiveness

Agriculture sector

In a move towards exploring international markets for Indian agricultural produce, the government should explore bilateral partnerships. For instance, under the India - UAE food corridor, numerous steps are being negotiated, like the project to set up eight food processing units in Madhya Pradesh funded by UAE.

It is estimated that the corridor will benefit more than 2 million farmers and create an additional two lakh jobs in the sector. To achieve sustainable development, there is an imminent need to build upon organised and systematic supply chains to ensure a robust network for high quality local produce.

Agricultural expansion will not only increase productivity but shall provide greater income in the hands of farmers. One needs to see the outcome of the farm bills, which now seems to have become a casualty due to the intervention of the Supreme Court.

Further, a specific regional strategy for capitalising potential based on climatic factors, shall provide India a competitive advantage for high quality local produce. Steps should be taken to reduce proximity between farmers and consumers to enable access to greater volume, improve logistical efficiencies and open new markets.

In conclusion, the Budget 2021 should reflect concrete and enthused government efforts to boost both consumption and demand for an overall push to the economy.

[The author is a Partner BMR Legal. He was assisted by Sahil Sharma (Managing Associate). Views are personal.)]
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Yves here. Michael Olenick sent this piece on Wikipedia along, not just for it being of genuine interest but also as a mental health break from the Biden inauguration media saturation. So enjoy!

By Michael Olenick, a research fellow at INSEAD whose recent articles can be found at innowiki.org and Blue Ocean Thinking

Youve never heard of Wikipedias Tim1965 or the countless others like him but they quietly affect your life and your perception of the world. Tim is a Wikipedia editor who brags, in bold, that on June 2, 2019, he made his 50,000th edit on Wikipedia. Just a few months later, on September 4, 2020, the Innowiki consortia Im a part of got a front-row seat showing how lame that boast is and realized it highlights a serious but overlooked problem with Wikipedia.

What happened is, as these things go, seemingly insignificant enough I paid it no attention for a half year until I thought things through. Specifically, Tim eliminated some quotes I added about my favorite business executive, the late, great Archie McCardell, the worst CEO in history. Im somewhat of an expert on Archie, having the misfortune of studying and writing about him and even naming an award after him, the Archie McCardell Award for Horrendous Management. Come to think of it, Tim deserves an Archie Award.

Before we get back to the problems about Tim and Wikipedia, the overlooked monopoly, some review is probably in order.

Archie was CEO of Xerox when the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (Xerox PARC) was set up. Its the division that gave us pretty much everything interesting about modern computing. He became the President of Xerox in 1971 and for three years, the firm recorded record profits just as it had the prior two decades. Then, with Archies management style in place, all quickly started going south and Xerox never recovered. They never commercialized the inventions at Xerox PARC that included, among other things, the graphical user interface, the laptop, ethernet networking (WiFi is wireless ethernet), object-oriented software, or all sorts of other cool and wildly profitable stuff. Steve Jobs swiped stuff from Xerox PARC and used it to create the Mac. Bill Gates knocked that off to make Windows.

Back to Archie; he laid the groundwork for a few years of wretched sales during which they blew the future and ceded the copier market to Japan. As a reward, Archie was recruited by Booz Allen Hamilton to lead International Harvester, then one of the largest businesses in the US. With a starting salary of $460,000, he was one of the highest-paid executives in the US. Archie also received a then unheard of signing bonus of $1.5 million and a low-interest (at the time) loan of another $1.8 million. Before Archie, International Harvester was a profitable, stable family business but management consultants wanted a high-powered executive from the outside.

So, howd the guy that ensured Xerox wasnt Apple do at his new gig? Every bit as wretched as youd imagine and worse. He cut costs and poked the lead union, the United Auto Workers (UAW), in the eye. They responded with a 172-day strike.

By the time the strike ended, Harvester lost $479.4 million-plus another $397.3 million the next fiscal year as a result of the fallout. Archie borrowed money to stay afloat, eventually bloating the firm with $4.15 billion in debt. Eventually, he cut the budget another $200 million and demanded further union concessions while paying out $6 million in executive bonuses. The union agreed to the concessions on May 2, 1982; Archie was fired the next day. International Harvester was forced to sell their crown jewel, the farm equipment division, and renamed what remained Navistar.

Archies feelings about his performance (copied from my original articles):

I dont think we made any one major mistake, McCardell said in a 1986 UPI interview. I feel very good about my years at Harvester. Later, he adds, I think I was underpaid. In a different interview with the New York Times he said: I think I rate myself superb.

Pundits arent as enthusiastic. One speculated he might have been carrying out an industrial sabotage operation.

Archie McCardell

Back to Tim & Wikipedia

My Innowiki project is edited by a small number of people. We typically write under the moniker Ruby Day because WordPress requires attribution. Tim, with his 50,000 edits, apparently watches the Archie McCardell page for edits. He deleted the quotes above and justified the deletion writing: removing biased source (self-promotional edit, using an article written by the editor), linked to nonreliable wiki source

Tims comments  preserved for posterity

So, whats the problem?

Well, for one, the source, here, clearly has all information including quotes well cited. That Innowiki entry ranks #2 or #3 in Google, depending on the day, with Wikipedia ranked #1. That is, theres no point in self-promoting: theres no higher placement for that page except to overtake Wikipedia which isnt going to happen. All that was apparent to anybody who did the slightest bit of research, something Tim1965 clearly didnt bother to do before pressing delete and justifying it with baseless ad hominem insults.

Theres Innowiki at #2, far below all those pictures (several from our own article)

This happened in September and I shrugged it off. After all, there really is no SEO benefit. Adding those quotes only helped contextualize Archie McCardell, improving the page to better reflect his mindset that eventually metastasized into modern management practices. But I have a family, a day job, my other writing, and a life; no need to have a war with some dude who has the time for 50,000 Wikipedia edits.

Something didnt feel right and I eventually figured it out. That Wikipedia entry about Archie, presumably written by Tim, doesnt contain those quotes and materially misstates other information. Its oddly appropriate that a key article about Archie is run by a lazy researcher exhibiting poor scholarship but it seems inappropriate for Wikipedia.

More to the point, why is some anonymous creep in a position to run around hurling ad hominem attacks? Why should some dude who has the time to make 50,000 Wikipedia edits and goes by the anonymous Tim1965 be in a position to whine about that the author of a third-party source filled out a Wikipedia entry (which isnt even entirely true, though thats a different issue)? Especially because hes doing exactly the same thing? What gives him the authority?

I thought about it and realized: Wikipedias source as a monopoly is what.

Learning Tools

Maplesoft Intros Online Math Environment

Math software company Maplesoft has launched a new online learning environment for high school and college-level mathematics instruction. Maple Learn provides flexible problem-solving tools, interactive explorations of mathematical expressions and more, all accessible via a web browser and internet connection.

Features include:

The ability to combine problem-solving steps worked out by hand with computations performed by Maple Learn;

Interactive tools that allow students to change the parameters of a mathematical expression and watch the effects;

The ability to share graphs, computations, explanations and interactive explorations in a single online document;

Collaborative tools that allow students to share their work with a classmate, tutor or instructor; and

A free Maple Calculator app that students can use to solve problems on their mobile device, and then move those problems into Maple Learn for further work.

"Maplesoft has worked with educators for over 30 years to develop software tools that support math education, and Maple Learn is a direct result of those discussions. Educators told us that, while Maple is a great tool for doing, teaching, and learning all sorts of math, some of their students found its very power and breadth overwhelming, especially in the early years of their studies. As a result, we created Maple Learn to be a variation of Maple that is exclusively focused on the needs of educators and students teaching and learning math in high school, two-year and community college, and the first two years of university," explained Karishma Punwani, director of academic product management at Maplesoft, in a statement. "Of course, in the face of the pandemic and the vast increase of remoting learning, an online environment is more important than ever, and we hope that students and teachers dealing with remote learning this year will find that Maple Learn makes their lives just a little bit easier."

Maple Learn is available for free (with limitations on daily use) or through a premium subscription ($6.99 per month). For more information, visit the Maplesoft site.

MARCY, N.Y. -- New York State opened its mass-vaccination site at SUNY Poly, in Marcy, Tuesday. By Tuesday afternoon, all appointments through April 16 at the college were taken.

NYS Commissioner of General Services, RoAnn Destito, came to Marcy Tuesday to kick off the local, state-run site, expressing the governor's frustration at an inadequate supply of the vaccine from the federal government.

"We are now only receiving 250,000 doses a week for all the state of New York and again, I say, 7 million New Yorkers are eligible. At that rate, it could take us six months to vaccinate everyone who's currently eligible. The federal government needs to do better," said Commissioner Destito.

Oneida County Executive, Anthony Picente, isn't sure why the state is complaining about inadequate doses when they're booking vaccine appointments at state-run sites through mid-April, and Oneida County doesn't have enough of the vaccine to innoculate local people through the end of the week.

"I welcome the other POD, but welcome it in cooperation with all of ours. So the hospital is waiting, we're waiting, other counties are waiting, pharmacies waiting, but the state's open and doing business and it booked out three months out," said Picente.

Commissioner Destito said the state's doses didn't take away from the county's.

"We have a limited supply. We do have a limited supply. I know the region gets the amount associated with their per capita," said Destito.

The Oneida County executive said numbers don't lie.

"People can add. Why have we gone from 3000 to 1300 to 500 and all of a sudden the state POD is opening up and they project doing 1000 a day but my number's gone down more than 75% over a two week period?" asked Picente.

Picente said the county expected 500 doses Tuesday, but as of late Tuesday afternoon, had not yet received them, or, any word on when to expect them. He says the county can administer that many doses in a day through its two sites at MVCC in Utica and the drive-thru site, at Griffiss, in Rome.

People traveled from as far as Albany and Greene County Tuesday to be vaccinated in Marcy sooner than they would have been able to get appointments where they live.
Ukraine's tourism industry sees over US$2 bln in losses over coronavirus pandemic

The agency plans to publish detailed results of the industry's operation in 2020 in early February.

Reporting by UNIAN

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James Roger Sharp is professor emeritus in the Department of History at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Sharp has written extensively about the political history of the early Republic, including the book The Deadlocked Election of 1800 : Jefferson, Burr, and the Union in the Balance (University Press of Kansas, 2010).

This past year, 2020, will be remembered as one where we were faced with multi-headed crises of a world-wide Covid-19 pandemic resulting in hundreds of thousands (and still counting) dead Americans, an economic disaster with millions of Americans unemployed or underemployed and many small businesses teetering on bankruptcy, and an inexorable and existential climate crisis looming, that if unchecked, will have catastrophic consequences for our heirs.

Intensifying these devastations is the political crisis that culminated early this year in the unprecedented, Trump incited insurrectionist attack by right-wing extremists on our Capitol, for which he has been impeached for a second time. They were enflamed in their frenzy of destruction by an inept, corrupt, profoundly ignorant serial liar, serial bankrupt, and dangerous narcissist with illusions of grandeur and authoritarianism, who refuses to accept the vote of the people and admit that he has lost his bid for reelection. And against all evidence he insists that the election was somehow rigged, thus casting a pall on the legitimacy of the election and the legitimacy of his victorious opponent, Joe Biden. For democracy to survive, there has to be public confidence in the rule of law and regular and fair elections. That is how democracies govern themselves, and efforts to destroy public faith in the system threatens that democracy.

Trumps willful obstinacy had earlier emboldened some of his fanatical followers to threaten a number of public officials with violence, such as the governors of Michigan (a Democrat) and Georgia (a Republican) who are seen as part of a dark conspiracy to end Trumps presidency. In addition, countless lawsuits have been filed to challenge the results of the presidential election and all have failed.

This continued refusal to recognize the validity of Bidens victory and Trumps continuing efforts to rally popular support for his false claims raise dangerous and alarming questions about the future of our democracy.

Historian Timothy Snyder in his book, On Tyranny, warns about the growth of authoritarianism in our time. He claims, Fascism rejected reason in the name of will, denying objective truth in favor of a glorious myth articulated by leaders who claimed to give voice to the public. Sound familiar?

Political science Professor Shawn Rosenberg of the University of California at Irvine argues that in well-established democracies like the United States, democratic governance will continue its inexorable decline and will eventually fail. In the period after World War II, there were just 12 democracies in the world. But that number grew to 87 by the end of the 20th century. Since then, the trend toward democracy has stopped and receded as right-wing populist leaders have seized power or threatened to do so in Poland, Hungary, France, Britain, Italy and Brazil.

And, most importantly, we should not assume as Snyder warns, that our democratic heritage automatically protects us from such threats.

To deal with these unprecedented calamities, we have a governmental structure put in place in the 18th century to deal with 21st century catastrophes. Our Founding Fathers feared power and wrote a Constitution with checks and balances on the federal level that dispersed power between the executive, legislative and judicial branches and further divided power between the national and state governments. To make this Rube Goldberg contraption work, James Madison envisioned legislators who would rise above selfish or sectional interests and legislate for the general good. Madison and others, however, were quickly disillusioned as sectionalism bitterly divided Congress.

Gradually, out of this a conservative, consensus-seeking political party system evolved that held that, despite sometimes bitter differences, each party would trust the other with the exercise of power. But is this system still workable?

Some would argue no, and point to many Republicans unfailing fealty to Donald Trump and his penchant for authoritarianism. This reached a pinnacle of servility, even in the immediate aftermath of the attack on the Capitol, when over 100 House Republicans and a dozen of senators attempted to challenge the formality of the counting of the electoral votes.

Thus, the question remains: Have the Republicans forfeited their right to be taken seriously, and can they be trusted to continue to work within the two-party system that has served our democracy so long?

Write to us: How to submit letters and commentary to Syracuse.com
Donald Trump departed the White House a final time as president Wednesday, skipping Joe Biden's inauguration and instead throwing a military-style send-off for himself before leaving for his Florida resort.

"I will always fight for you. I will be watching, I will be listening, and I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better," Trump said at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington before boarding Air Force One a last time. "I wish the new administration great luck, great success."

Trump didn't mention Biden by name in his remarks, and he becomes the first U.S. president since the 19th century not to attend his successor's swearing-in ceremony. Trump didn't speak to Biden before leaving the White House but left him a note, according to people familiar with the matter.

Trump was greeted on the tarmac by his family on a cold and blustery morning as his standard campaign rally soundtrack played in the background. He spoke following a 21-gun salute and a rendition of "Hail to the Chief." Several of his closest advisers were in attendance, though key Republican allies on Capitol Hill, several Cabinet members and his own vice president didn't attend.

He spoke for about 10 minutes, listing his administration's achievements and claiming success managing the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more 400,000 Americans since February.

Before boarding the plane to Palm Beach, Florida, where he plans to take up residence at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump told the crowd: "Have a good life. We will see you soon."

As Air Force One lifted off, Frank Sinatra's "My Way" played from the loudspeakers.

Trump's departure marks the end of one of the most divisive and chaotic presidencies in modern U.S. history. His term hit its nadir on Jan. 6, when the outgoing president incited a mob of his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol in a failed but deadly attempt to stop lawmakers from certifying his electoral defeat.

On his way to his farewell event, Trump went on a loop around the nation's capital aboard the Marine One helicopter. He would have had a view of a city that he leaves in a state of military lockdown, with roughly 25,000 National Guard troops deployed to protect against further attacks on the government. Tall fencing surrounds the White House and Capitol; roads and bridges have been barricaded to curtail access to the National Mall.

The White House had difficulty finding guests to attend the farewell ceremony for Trump, who alienated allies and staff with unusual speed and frequency throughout his tenure. Some key figures in his administration and partners on Capitol Hill -- including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and top House Republican Kevin McCarthy -- declined the invitation, according to people familiar with the matter.

The White House made some curious choices for its invitation list. Several former Trump aides who became outspoken critics of the president received invitations, including financier Anthony Scaramucci, who was briefly the White House communications director in 2017, but by 2019 was publicly advocating for Trump's impeachment.

Former Chief of Staff John Kelly and former National Security Advisor John Bolton and his deputy, Charlie Kupperman, were also invited. None of them attended.

While some fell out with Trump over policy matters, others have distanced themselves from him since the violent insurrection two weeks ago that left five people dead, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer. The episode resulted in Trump's impeachment, making him the first president to be impeached twice. The Senate is expected to begin his trial after he is out of office.

Just two days after the riot, Trump announced his decision not to attend Biden's inauguration. Authorities are concerned about more violence, resulting in an unprecedented security perimeter complete with high fencing and military vehicles around the heart of the nation's capital.

At the same time, Trump leaves the nation reeling from a pandemic that only surged since the election, as he focused on trying to overturn his defeat. While the emergence of vaccines could eventually bring down infection rates, U.S. deaths have exceeded 4,000 people a day on several occasions this month and the economy is again deteriorating.
Cyber

FireEye not ready to name Russians as SolarWinds attackers

FireEye has not seen enough evidence to positively trace the hackers behind the ongoing SolarWinds Orion hack to Russian entities, a company executive said.

"We don't have sufficient evidence to support naming a specific sponsor," said Benjamin Reed, the cybersecurity company's director of threat intelligence.

Reed acknowledged that the federal government recently said the hackers are "likely Russian in origin," but FireEye has been calling the threat group UNC2452, with the UNC referring to uncategorized.

That notion that the attackers are likely Russian is "plausible from what we've seen," Reed said during a webinar this week. He added that Russian groups have been observed using the sophisticated methods being discovered by public and private investigators probing how UNC2452 managed to both breach and remain undetected on countless networks for months.

FireEye is credited as the first to detect an intrusion in SolarWinds Orion, an IT management software. Although FireEye is not attributing the attack to Russia yet, Reed said the company has also not seen any evidence pointing to another country.

Gregory Touhill, the federal government's first chief information security officer and a retired Air Force brigadier general, said FireEye's reluctance to attribute the attack to Russia is likely a matter of due diligence.

"When it comes to attribution, what the intelligence and law enforcement community has to do is  literally trace it all the way back to the root," he said. FireEye has to gather evidence that "will hold up in court. That's the realm that [FireEye] and others are dealing with. Those who don't have to prove it in court can say whatever they want."

This article was first posted to FCW.
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A handful of events will go on throughout Valentine's Day weekend in San Antonio despite the pandemic. Socially distanced events from dancing to ghost hunting have been planned for San Antonio lovers. And if you don't have a lover, you might be able to meet a new one at the San Antonio Zoo.

Do you know of or are you planning a sweet event this year? Send information to mysa@mysa.com
Together, we will make America great again. This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period. Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts. Ho ho! Donald Trump has got to go! ... five-year ban that Ive been talking about a lot  its not a Muslim ban  were now putting it into effect. We have confirmed that F.B.I. Director James Comey has been ... ... fired because of the Russia investigation. Hes a showboat. Hes a grandstander. ... the appointment of a special counsel. Mueller will have leeway to run the investigation as he sees fit.  ... and President Trump goes abroad. So, Im going to be very brief. Thank you. [rocket launching] They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. You will not replace us! [loud noise] But you also had people that were very fine people on both sides. Crowd: Dont look! The president has denied these allegations. Fake news! I watched the news this morning, and they were all saying, Will he sign it by Christmas? Tax cuts for American families. Happy New Year, everybody. President Trump is under fire. Quote: Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Was it hush money to stay silent? Yes. The embassy of the United States, here in Jerusalem. ... growing outrage over how the Trump administration treats illegal migrants. Its horrible and tough, but just remember, a country without borders is not a country at all. And then they go after us for a Russian hoax. Its a witch hunt hoax. A witch hunt! It is a total witch hunt. You have these phony witch hunts. Im here because I believe it is my civic duty. This confirmation process has become a national disgrace. Something about when I put this hat on, it made feel like Superman. ... to negotiate with you about how we can keep the government open ... Were going to keep it open if we have border security. The American ... the American ... If we dont have border security, Chuck ... Im with you. Were not going to keep it open. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history continues. The presidents former fixer and lawyer said he and Mr. Trump committed crimes together. He is a racist. He is a con man and he is a cheat. Special Counsel Robert Muellers report on the Russia investigation has just been made available to the American public. No collusion, no obstruction. We decided we would not make a determination as to whether the president committed a crime. We were in Japan for the G20. We came over and I said: Hey, Im over here. I want to call up Chairman Kim. Representative Ilhan Omar ... Crowd: Send her back! Send her back! It was going to hit not only Florida, but Georgia. It could have ... it was going toward the Gulf. Syria ... were bringing our soldiers back home. Thats a big thing. President Trump defending his July phone call with the leader of Ukraine. The call was perfect. There was no quid pro quo. Im announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. Article 1 is adopted. [gavel bangs] The U.S. airstrike has killed Irans most important military commander. Qassim Suleimani ... ending his evil reign of terror forever. This nation is our canvas, and this country is our masterpiece. [applause] The impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, president of the United States. Guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty. Guilty. This is what the end result is. [applause] The outbreak of a mystery virus in China. We have it totally under control. E.R. doctors saying we are on the verge of a medical disaster. It will go away, just stay calm. It will probably go away by itself. If we had a vaccine, that would be very helpful. Our country wasnt built to be shut down. Across this country, two crises have converged, protests over the death of George Floyd and the pandemic. Justice! ... Now! [bang] [sirens] The rise and spread of the QAnon conspiracy ... I understand they like me very much. ... the radical left ... ... shut up, man ... Who would you like me to condemn? White supremacists and ... right-wing militias. Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. And I have a mask right here, you know, when I think I need it. The president of the United States tested positive for the coronavirus. I didnt feel so good. And now Im better. Dont let it dominate you. The wait is over, Election Day is finally here. CBS News projects Joe Biden has been elected the 46th president of the United States. It was a rigged election. The numbers are corrupt. They cheated and they rigged our presidential election, but we will still win it. Lets walk down Pennsylvania Avenue ... U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! ... the most significant breach of the Capitol since the War of 1812. Twitter has permanently suspended President Trumps account. The president of the United States incited this insurrection. Take it down! He must go. The first president in history to be impeached twice.
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In this Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 file photo, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, speaks during an event in Wilmington, Del., to announce President-elect Joe Biden's health care team. Walensky, 51, an infectious-diseases specialist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, is expected to become CDC director after Biden is inaugurated. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

As the coronavirus swept across the globe last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sank into the shadows, undermined by some of its own mistakes and stifled by an administration bent on downplaying the nation's suffering.

Now a new CDC director is arriving to a mammoth task: reasserting the agency while the pandemic is in its deadliest phase yet and the nation's largest-ever vaccination campaign is wracked by confusion and delays.

"I don't know if the CDC is broken or just temporarily injured," but something must be done to bring it back to health, said Timothy Westmoreland, a Georgetown University law professor focused on public health.

The task falls to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, 51, an infectious-diseases specialist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, who was sworn in Wednesday. She takes the helm at a time when the virus's U.S. death toll has eclipsed 400,000 and continues to accelerate.

While the agency has retained some of its top scientific talent, public health experts say, it has a long list of needs, including new protection from political influence, a comprehensive review of its missteps during the pandemic and more money to beef up basic functions like disease tracking and genetic analysis.

Walensky has said one of her top priorities will be to improve the CDC's communications with the public to rebuild trust. Inside the agency, she wants to raise morale, in large part by restoring the primacy of science and setting politics to the side.

The speed at which she is assuming the job is unusual. In the past, the position has generally been unfilled until a new secretary of health and human services is confirmed, and that official names a CDC director. But this time, the Biden transition team named Walensky in advance, so she could take the agency's reins even before her boss is in place.

Walensky, an HIV researcher, has not worked at the CDC or at a state or local health department. But she has emerged as a prominent voice on the pandemic, sometimes criticizing certain aspects of the state and national response. Her targets have included the uneven transmission-prevention measures that were in place last summer and a prominent Trump adviser's endorsement of a "herd immunity" approach that would let the virus run free.

She acknowledged the weaknesses in her resume. "When people write about me as the selection for this position, they will say, 'But she has no on-the-ground public health experience,'" she said during speaking frankly at a news conference about the dangers of the virus when President Donald Trump was still downplaying it.

Within weeks, the agency was pushed off stage. Redfield made appearances, but he was often a third-tier speaker after remarks dominated by Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and others.

The CDC "has been sidelined, has been maligned, has been a punching bag for many politicians in the outgoing administration. And that has had a detrimental effect on the agency's ability to fulfill its mission," said Dr. Richard Besser, a former CDC official who now heads the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

This March 6, 2020 file photo shows the headquarters for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, an infectious-diseases specialist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, is expected to become CDC director after Biden is inaugurated. (AP Photo/ Ron Harris, File)

White House officials also took steps to try to control the CDC's scientific reports and the guidance on its website. For instance, the agency removed guidance that advised limiting church choir activities even though studies had demonstrated the danger of transmission of extended singing indoors. The agency also dropped guidance advising that anyone who came into close contact with an infected person should get testedthen re-adopted it after criticism from health experts.

"Folks across the political spectrum have had reason to doubt the veracity and accuracy, sometimes, of CDC's messages," said Adriane Casalotti of the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

While public health veterans say they do not know everything that happened behind the scenes, they say Redfield apparently failed to stand up for agency scientists, declined to contradict Trump and those around him and passively allowed the Trump administration to post its messaging on CDC websites.

"He wasn't willing to resign when it was necessary or to be fired for standing up for principle," said David Holtgrave, a former CDC staffer who is now dean of the public health school at the State University of New York at Albany.

Redfield declined to be interviewed.

The pandemic also exposed some CDC failures and weaknesses unrelated to politics. The test kit problem was tied to laboratory contamination at the agency's Atlanta headquartersa sign of sloppiness. The CDC also lost its standing as the nation's go-to source for case counts and other measures of the epidemic after university researchers and others developed better systems for tracking infections.

Much of that has to do with cycles of funding for the national public health system that rise in reaction to a crisis and then fall, hurting efforts to prevent the next crisis.

Last week, Biden said he would ask for $160 billion for vaccinations and other public health programs, including an effort to expand the public health workforce by 100,000 jobs.

Georgetown's Westmoreland called for a law or other measure to prohibit political appointees from having editorial review of CDC science and to ban them from controlling when the agency releases information. He also recommended a review of the CDC to determine if the agency's problems can be traced to mismanagement by Trump's political appointees or whether there are deeper flaws in the organization.

Some experts suggest that an administration that values science and increases funding could restore the CDC to preeminence. Biden has pledged to put scientists out front on COVID-19 matters, Besser noted.

"That's something I think will be fixed on Day One," he said. "One of the things that gives me hope is I did not see a large exodus from CDC during this past year. I saw professionals doing their jobs. I saw the mental toll they were taking, but I did not see them giving up."

Explore further CDC drops controversial testing advice that caused backlash

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Computer viruses cost Vietnam over $1 billion last year, cybersecurity firm Bkav said in a report it released on Tuesday.

The losses were calculated based on users income and the amount of time interrupted due to the activities of computer viruses. Specifically, computer users in Vietnam lost about VND1.59 million on average last year due to viruses. Multiplied the figure with at least 15 million computers active in Vietnam, over $1 billion was lost in total, the firm said.

Several e-commerce platforms were the target of attacks last year, resulting in users data being stolen. Social media sites like Facebook were no exception, with around 300,000 personal data profiles of Vietnamese, including full names, addresses and phone numbers, found on sale on a cyberhacking forum earlier this month.

Hundreds of billions of dong were stolen by hackers through compromising banks' cybersecurity systems, including by tricking users into installing spyware on their phones and stealing their OTP numbers.

Bkav discovered over 15,000 types of spyware infecting thousands of phones last year.

It recorded cyberattacks on "important institutions, organizations" through supply chain attacks last December.

It described the attack method as a new trend in which hackers do not target end users but software producers instead, allowing malware to spread to devices as they download applications and patches from compromised manufacturers.

Globally, cyberattacks thrived last year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, which forced businesses and organizations to employ remote working through the Internet.

Thanks to the increased online activity, hackers could find more opportunities to steal data.

While Vietnam has managed to avoid the worst impacts of the pandemic thanks to its excellent Covid-19 control, remote working and other online activities are here to stay and would thrive even more in future, Bkav forecast.

So users should always stay vigilant against cybersecurity threats, it warned.
GREENWICH  A high-end retail store on Greenwich Avenue is getting a makeover and a rebranding.

Saks Fifth Avenue The Collective will become Barneys at Saks next week.

According to the Saks management, the 14,000-square-foot store at 200 Greenwich Ave. will feature mens shoes and accessories on the first floor, the first time Saks has offered mens merchandise in the Greenwich market. The second floor will sell womens clothing.

Barneys New York was a longtime fashion retailer that fell into bankruptcy in 2019. But the brand name was later acquired by Authentic Brands for licensing deals with other companies. A new version of Barneys New York has already opened on the fifth floor of the Manhattan location of Saks.

Were bringing Barneys to Saks in a way thats relevant to todays luxury consumer and focused on discovery, the unexpected, and fun. Barneys at Saks is an extension of our current offering, with established and emerging designers. Its an extension of what we always do, Tracy Margolies, chief merchant of Saks, told Womens Wear Daily, a trade magazine.

Barneys was founded in 1923 and had a loyal following among fashion-conscious consumers. Saks was founded by Andrew Saks in Washington, D.C., in 1867, and it opened in New York City in 1902. The Fifth Avenue location of the business came into reality in 1924.

Saks came to Greenwich in 1996, moving into the old F.W. Woolworth building, which had operated there since 1916.

The new store will be unveiled Monday, although the name is already on the windows and awnings of the Greenwich Avenue location.
COLLINSVILLE  Parents, students and staff members in the Collinsville School District will soon learn more about an initiative the district has been working on behind-the-scenes for more than a year, thanks in part to the pandemic.

A year ago, a group formed in the Collinsville School District with the aim of increasing its numbers of African American and Hispanic teachers. Fairmont City is home to a large Hispanic population and many of their children attend Collinsville schools. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 71 percent of that village was Hispanic.

We started it as the Grow Your Own Committee, said Superintendent Dr. Brad Skertich. In conversations, one of the things that came about was, We need to talk about diversity and equity.

Skertich added that it transitioned from how to recruit a more diverse set of educators to looking at ways they could improve their curriculum, programs, as well as their professional development to improve cultural awareness.

The panel consists of Skertich, Collinsville High Assistant Principal Charlotte Fisher, Collinsville High co-counselors TaRael Kee and Karen Olson and Carla Cruise, the districts bilingual coordinator.

I think its important for people to understand that the things were talking about have to do with respecting people as humans more than anything else, Fisher said. So, when you start having a conversation about inclusion and diversity and equity, at the end of the day, its all about students being seen as individuals. We recognize that we all have differences and we have to embrace those differences and not run away from them.

The group is in the process of writing goals now and finalizing those to lay the groundwork for the next step, Skertich said.

Our students should know this is a very important issue for us, Kee said. We take inclusion very seriously; we want people to feel welcome, whether theyre from a different background, they have a different sexual orientation or they speak a different language, we want all of our children and parents to know that we care about them.

Kee said one of the things that they are finalizing are the Kahok Diversity and Equity Credentials.

We partner with Lindenwood University and we have a four-part series that will credentialize teachers throughout the entire district on issues such as LGBTQIA or microaggressions, and a bunch of others, he said, noting the credentials are set to roll out in February.

Kee said there is also a student advisory committee that comprises student leaders from various backgrounds at the high school, not just advanced placement (AP) students.

Olson said they surveyed district families earlier, students, parents, teachers and staff members, asking them at least 30 questions to gauge their thoughts and feelings about where Collinsville is as a district on diversity and equity from each perspective and what they need to do better.

I think that one step for families that was big was receiving those surveys; that started a lot of conversation we werent having before, said Fisher. That was a huge first step.

The survey asked each group for their perceptions of the district when it comes to diversity and equity.

Their perceptions were really helpful, too, Kee noted. They werent saying the district has issues with diversity and equity; they were just saying that there are differences among the groups.

Another area that the district has been working on is increasing teacher recruitment and retention to increase minority hiring from all background and reduce teacher turnover, which Kee alluded to being an issue in the past.

The districts phone system and its website offer ways for getting information read or displayed in Spanish and English.

The districts public relations liaison, Kim Collins, recalled a specific recruitment piece in print last year that was specifically tailored to minority teachers, highlighting the districts proximity to St. Louis.

For 2021, there are courses that are will be tweaked and changed, Skertich said. At the elementary school level, authors of color will be offered to students early so they may take advantage of other stories that are not written from a Caucasian perspective but from African American and Hispanic authors or stories that feature people of color as prominent characters.

We met with the English Department and they are actively creating a new course  I dont know what it will be officially called yet but [something like] Minority Voices in Literature  so that kids can have those kinds of discussions, Olson said.

She added that her department met with the social studies department last week to discuss diversity and equity issues in their curriculum, in U.S. History and current events.

At the elementary level, we plan to create a list of diverse authors so that the teachers can include them in their lesson planning on a quarterly basis. Students can then start learning about minority authors or artists or about culture and see representation of themselves, said Cruise.

Skertich said the rollout has been slow on purpose to allow teachers and staff members time to dig into the issues, with goal of being thorough. In addition, this process has a variety of moving parts that, collectively, take time to change, which adds to the appearance of a glacial pace.

Were not looking for a splash to get a headline, were trying to do it right and move slowly and really make an impact, Skertich said.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735
Call to ensure security to minorities in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Jan 20 (UNI) Leaders of minority community demanded security to their members as they came under attack and their belongings were vandalized by miscreants.

Leaders of Bangladesh Jatiyo Hindu Mohajot alleged that their members were attacked and their valuables looted by miscreants in the country.

They demanded keeping the provision of 60 reserved seats in the Parliament and separate election system for the minority, formation of minority affairs ministry and an independent Minority Commission for ensuring the rights of the minority.
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the leader of his chambers Republican majority since 2015, had one priority at all times: perpetuating and increasing his partys power.

That was McConnells only priority in 2009 when he told his members to vote against any bill supported by Barack Obama, including economic relief and health care legislation that was assembled in good faith to appeal to (and benefit) Americans of all ideological dispositions. That was his only priority when he refused to hold hearings on Merrick Garlands nomination to the Supreme Court, terminating Obamas ability to appoint justices with nearly a full year left in his presidency. It was his only priority when he told the Obama administration he would try to discredit even the most cautious efforts on its part to inform the public about the Russian intelligence campaign to support Donald Trumps presidential candidacy in 2016. It was his only priority when he changed the Senates filibuster rules in 2017 to enable Trump to appoint Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court spot Garland would have filled. It was his only priority when he engineered Trumps acquittal on charges of attempting to blackmail Ukraine into smearing Joe Biden. It was his only priority when he supported Trumps reelection despite the administrations obviously catastrophic inability to administer a response to the COVID-19 crisis. It was his only priority when he threw out his own rule about Supreme Court vacancies in election years to hustle Amy Coney Barrett into Ruth Bader Ginsburgs vacant seat even as voting for the next president was underway. It was his only priority in December, when he blocked both Democrats and Trump from passing a larger and more useful economic relief bill because it would likely have ultimately benefited the Biden administration, demonstrating that he intended to use the weight of his Senate majority to drive the pandemic recovery, and with it the incoming presidency, into the ground. It was, in fact, the only priority that a bombshell New York Times report mentioned in explaining why McConnell supports Trumps second impeachment. The Senate Republican leader has made clear in private discussions that he believes now is the moment to move on from the weakened lame duck, the article said, whom he blames for causing Republicans to lose the Senate.

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Theres someone else to blame too, actually. By grasping at every advantage, no matter how undemocratic or irregular or destructive, Mitch McConnell left the Republican Party under his leadership so erratic, unpopular, and outright dangerous as to allow an Irish-Catholic Democrat, a Jewish Democrat, and a Black Democrat to sweep a presidential race and two Senate races in the heart of the South. Instead of being the leader of an unstoppable and unaccountable Senate majority, McConnell ended the last elections of the 2020 cycle with only 50 senators on his side.

Its true that the other side will only have 50 senators too. In another era, this might have meant bipartisan deference and consensus-seeking about what conception of the national interest would guide the continuing function of the government. But its because Mitch McConnell was so successful in making the national interest something for other people to worry about that those other people will have to ignore him now. The power-sharing arrangement Chuck Schumer is offering is the kind of sharing where the Democrats control all the committees. This is how power politics works, McConnell: The other guys 50 votes count more than your 50 votes do because they own the tiebreaker. Theyre just playing by the rules. And the rules you wrote say you get nothing.
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Guests and spectators attend the inauguration of President Joe Biden at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Susan Walsh/Getty Images)

Supporters in DC React to Bidens Inauguration Amid Heavy Security

WASHINGTONAs Joe Biden took the oath to serve as the 46th president of the United States, some of his supporters showed up at the U.S. Capitol to celebrate in person, despite the area being highly militarized and fortified.

There were multiple layers of fencing around the Capitol and the White House, as well as security checkpoints. Authorities said they were worried about a repeat of the violence and unrest during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

The Capitol area in Washington appeared largely abandoned, with small groups of supporters gathering along the surrounding streets. In one section, a local bar played Bidens inaugural speech live as a small crowd of supporters and media stopped to listen.

A local bar near the Capitol is playing Bidens speech live  a small crowd of media and supporters gather to watch pic.twitter.com/EExD4LTTgi  Bowen Xiao (@BowenXiao_) January 20, 2021

Im extremely excited to be at least part of something small, Nicole Lee told The Epoch Times. Its a huge thing, but I dont get to be there [inside].

Lee, who came out with her family to show support for Biden, said she felt the heavy military presence was a bit overboard but noted that authorities had to make a statement.

It sucks, but for the safety of everybody to enjoy some small part of it, Im for it, she said.

An estimated 25,000 members of the National Guard came from all 50 states to be stationed at the Capitol. The number of Guard troops mobilized in Washington far exceeds the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, which have been reduced to 2,500. The troops were authorized to use lethal force in support of law enforcement in the Capitol and city.

In the days leading up to the inauguration, roads were barricaded, stores were boarded up, and military vehicles were seen throughout the area. The Capitol building itself was surrounded by high fencing with barbed wire.

I didnt escape my country for this, its like a war zone, a longtime D.C. resident originally from Vietnam said.

One Biden supporter who showed up in person said he had to walk all the way from a far corner of Washington near Maryland in order to get to the Capitol.

Now: The scene on one side of the #Capitol pic.twitter.com/BeGYdQXiY9  Bowen Xiao (@BowenXiao_) January 20, 2021

Its a militarized zone for miles, Richie Abel told The Epoch Times.

Abel described the mood on Inauguration Day and the days leading up to it as solemn.

All week its been sort of the calm before the storm, but it seems like the storm isnt going to come, he said. I havent seen any large-scale violence or anything.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Jan. 15 that even after the presidential inauguration, the city would have to maintain heightened security. When asked if the extensive security measures around the city would be reversed after the inauguration, Bowser said, We are going to go back to a new normal.

Some said the military presence wouldnt impact anything.

Im fine with all that, said Rebecca, who declined to give her last name. That isnt going to take away from the fact that we have a woman who is in the highest leadership position ever.

Travel around the city or access to the Capitol is difficult. The Metro announced that it would close 13 stations inside the security perimeter. And the National Mall stated it would implement a temporary public closure beginning at 11 a.m. on Jan. 15 through at least Jan. 21, at the request of and in cooperation with the U.S. Secret Service.

As Bidens speech was playing live, one person on the street held up a sign that read: This looks like Pyongyang, there are only police and military. No civilians.
Sometimes you just get on a roll. The Democrats certainly are on one now. They achieved their 2020 visionand then some.

They used the Chinese Virus to frighten, lock down and intimidate the citizens of the nation they control and yet despise. They cheered on domestic terrorists as they burned and looted city after city for months on end. Many even applauded them when they proclaimed and set up autonomous zones in several large cities. Then they demonized the tiny fraction of Trump supporters who, in a calamitous error in judgement, broke some windows and took a stroll through the Capitol Building, calling them domestic terrorists. They said it was an insurgency. Really? They were back in their offices a few hours later, itching to impeach the president of the United States.

Insurgency: The organized use of subversion and violence by a group or movement that seeks to over-throw or force change of a governing authority.

Thats funny, that sounds like exactly what the Democrats have been doing for four years now.

Now that the Democrats control the military, too, they are using a good chunk of it to protect and defend Joe Biden at his inaugural. And, unconstitutionally, they are vetting each of the 26,000 members of the deployed National Guard to make certain there are no radical right-wing extremists who may be closet Trump supporters and/or believers in government of, by, and for the people in their midst. That is by turns scary and vomit-inducing. Or should be.

Biden is reportedly planning on issuing as many as 17 Executive Orders on his first day on in office. Virtually all of them will be bad for America. The Democrats plan to utilize the Second Trump Impeachment farce sham trial to distract Americans while they rapidly ram through an extreme leftist agenda. (Nothing says healing, unity and magnanimity like impeaching a president  again -- after he has already left office.)

Once they have done all this, they will get on with thanking China for making it all possible, thus neatly wrapping things up. Ah, the circle of life.

We have born the brunt of a second set of Intolerable Acts, this one forced upon us not by the British, but by our own government; not by the redcoats, but by blue staters.

Their actions cannot be considered anything less than evil by a moral person, regardless of ideology.

Yet, Democrats will surely look back on recent events and say, Those were the days my friend, we thought theyd never end

And they probably never will.
WASHINGTON - Followers of the extremist ideology QAnon saw their hopes once again dashed Wednesday as President Donald Trump left Washington on the final day of his presidency, without any of the climactic scenes of violence and salvation that the sprawling set of conspiracy theories had preached for years would come.

As Trump boarded Air Force One for his last presidential flight to Florida, many QAnon adherents - some of whose believers had this month stormed the Capitol in a siege that left at least two QAnon devotees dead and others in jail - began to wonder whether they'd been duped all along.

When one QAnon channel on the chat app Telegram posted a new theory that suggested Biden himself was "part of the plan," a number of followers shifted into open rebellion: "This will never happen." "Just stfu already!" "It's over. It is sadly, sadly over." "What a fraud!"

Late Wednesday, the movement suffered another blow when the "Qresearch" forum on 8kun, QAnon's online home, was wiped clean by a site moderator, who said in a rambling screed that "I am just performing euthanasia to something I once loved very very much." Shortly after, the site's leaders restored the deleted material and demanded the moderator's death.

But while some QAnon disciples gave way to doubt, others doubled down on blind belief or strained to see new coded messages in the Inauguration Day's events. Some followers noted that 17 flags - Q being the 17th letter of the alphabet - flew on the stage as Trump delivered a farewell address.

"17 flags! come on now this is getting insane," said one post on a QAnon forum devoted to the "Great Awakening," the quasi-biblical name for QAnon's utopian end times. "I don't know how many signs has to be given to us before we 'trust the plan,' " one commenter said.

Over thousands of cryptic posts since 2017, Q, QAnon's unidentified online prophet, had promised that Trump was secretly spearheading a spiritual war against an elite cabal of child-eating Satanists who controlled Washington, Hollywood and the world. Believers in these false, rambling theories had counted down the hours waiting for Trump to corral his enemies for military tribunals and mass executions in a show of force they called "the Storm."

But on Wednesday, as reality dawned, QAnon promoters who had gained thousands of online supporters by promising to decode Q's arcane posts - and profited off their audience, by selling QAnon merchandise or online subscriptions along the way - scrambled to spin the truth of Trump's election loss or shift the goal posts of a deadline four years in the making.

One QAnon channel on Telegram with 40,000 subscribers noted that the last sentence of Eric Trump's farewell tweet - " . . . the best is yet to come!" - was also a common slogan for QAnon adherents, failing to mention that the phrase is a commonly used cliche. Another QAnon channel with 35,000 Telegram subscribers, devoted to the "Great Awakening," highlighted Trump's final remarks as president: "We will be back in some form - Have a good life. We will see you soon."

"It simply doesn't make sense that we all got played," one QAnon channel on Telegram said.

Some of the most notable figures in QAnon's online universe said they were having a change of heart. After Biden's inauguration, Ron Watkins - the longtime 8kun who critics have suspected may have helped write Q's posts himself, a charge he denies - said on Telegram that it was time to move on.

"We need to keep our chins up and go back to our lives as best we are able," said Watkins, who in recent months had become one of the loudest backers of conspiracy theories suggesting Biden's win was a fraud.

"We have a new president sworn in and it is our responsibility as citizens to respect the Constitution regardless of whether or not we agree with the specifics," Watkins added. "As we enter into the next administration please remember all the friends and happy memories we made together over the past few years."

In the mass deletion on "Qresearch" late Wednesday, the anonymous moderator seemed to criticize Ron Watkins and his father, 8kun's owner, Jim Watkins, as well as a group of QAnon-supporting users, saying, "Q made you do NOTHING . . . he just kept you calm and sedated . . . what have you done as of late, beside waiting for things to get better?"

Much of the forum was restored by the site's leaders shortly after. But it still potentially marked another end of an era, said Travis View, a researcher and co-host of the podcast "QAnon Anonymous," who called it another "sign that QAnon as we know it is collapsing." Neither Ron nor Jim Watkins responded to requests for comment.

Graham Brookie, director of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, which tracks misinformation, said QAnon followers are making increasingly illogical leaps as they struggle to make sense of developments.

"It's something that has long been true of conspiracy theories: When they don't come to fruition, they shift their delusions to the next thing," he said. He noted how some comments posted below Trump's farewell video suggested that "it wasn't quite time for the Great Awakening, but it's coming soon and this is how."

Researchers said some QAnon supporters appear to be rethinking their commitment due to a range of factors, including Q's relative silence since the election, Trump's anticlimactic White House exit, and the Capitol insurrection, which resulted in more than 100 arrests and delayed the certification of Biden's victory by only several hours.

But several feared that the rising intensity of those still committed to QAnon could create problems for years to come if a die-hard, militarized core persists in their belief that the U.S. government is controlled by evil pedophiles who successfully subverted the Constitution.

"What we're seeing is a trend in increasingly bunker-down, apocalyptic language," said Joel Finkelstein, co-founder of the Network Contagion Research Institute, a research group that studies online disinformation. "It's gone from (talk of) a revolution to a civilization-ending kind of collapse."

He and other researchers have also chronicled an increasingly global QAnon movement that could outlast its potential weakening in the United States as events and an aggressive crackdown by social media platforms limit the ideology's reach among Americans. The QAnon followings in Germany and Japan are particularly strong and growing, said Finkelstein, whose research group tracked a surge in QAnon terms the morning of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, including one that said "qarmyjapanflynn."

"They're going to re-emerge at some point because they've internationalized," he said. "There's a metastasization of QAnon from a national story to a global revolution."

QAnon adherents had long anticipated Trump's military strike against his foes, which they believed would play out like an action movie; the fact that Tuesday was "National Popcorn Day" on mainstream calendars seemed too perfect to be coincidence. Followers in recent days have seen coded messages everywhere: first lady Melania Trump's black-and-gray coat, worn in her final address, was said to resemble the TV static that would signal the media blackout of Trump's military takeover.

But on Wednesday, some promoters recognized that believers being confronted with the reality of QAnon's baselessness were in need of encouragement. One forum offered doubters a "FAT DOSE OF HOPIUM" - their jargon, meaning reasons for hope - and urged readers to "GET IN HERE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LOW." The thread used a nine-month-old Q post to suggest that Trump had coordinated another subtly brilliant move in his final hours in office: "He is metaphorically walking away in slow motion while the explosions go off behind him."

One of the forum's moderators, "God_Bless_America1," posted a thread counseling that "POTUS has NOT let us down or failed, he has done all he could within his power and it is now going to be handing it to the military to take from here exactly as Q drop forecast." Uncertainty, the moderator added, would not be tolerated: "ANY dooming or negative comments clogging up the site pertaining to current situation will result in removal and ban if repeated."

View said Inauguration Day had been seen as "a very special day in the QAnon community," but that the responses to real-world events have been mixed.

Believers, he said, appear to be splitting between those who see Biden's ascent to the White House as a sign that the Q's prophecies were wrong and those who think they were right but need to be recast for a Biden administration in which Trump remains secretly powerful and able to control events unfolding in Washington.

"A minority are facing reality that Biden's going to be president," View said. "Others are coming to believe that the storm they were expecting is still going to happen but sometime during the Biden administration."

The day also highlighted the deepening division between QAnon adherents and other far-right extremists, who have voiced growing doubts about Trump. A post in a channel for the Proud Boys said Trump had thrown Capitol rioters "under the bus" and called QAnon "a bolshevik lie."

QAnon, as with most online creations, probably will not disappear soon. On Tuesday night, a small crowd of picketers rallied with signs urging "Repent or Perish" outside Comet Ping Pong, the D.C. pizzeria at the center of Pizzagate - the 2016 conspiracy theory from which QAnon was born.

View predicted that the QAnon community may shrink in the coming months but also become more fervent in their commitment to its ideas.

"History has taught us far-right movements don't cool off during a Democratic administration," View said. "The people who stick with it are going to become even more radicalized and potentially more dangerous."

Amid the ongoing farmer protests at Delhi's borders against the three farm Acts, a discussion paper presented at a National Dialogue on in 2030, organised by and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has said that farmers need to be paid on the same day either in cash or electronically before the delivery of their produce in a trade area (which is classified as an area outside the jurisdiction of a regulated APMC under the new acts) to lower the possibility of disputes and also eliminate the chances of going to a sub-divisional magistrate for settlement.



It also called for better oversight and regulation for trading on an electronic platform as facilitated by the Acts which could be in the form of some agency or intermediary that could facilitate transactions between farmers or aggregators with the buyers.



The paper which has been written by Seema Bathla and former Aagriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain, said that while the three agriculture Acts will have far reaching impact, the state governments on their part need to draw up a blueprint for the entry of the private sector in agriculture markets and push for speedy implementation of regulations specified in the respective Acts.



The paper also said that appropriate institutional arrangements have to be formed for aggregators, Farmer-Producer Companies (FPCs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), co-operatives and agri-startups that help in reducing the transaction costs of farmers and providing them grading and standardization facilities.



Such interventions have to be supported through adequate finance such as the support given by NABARD to the FPCs. The role of the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) will be crucial, the paper said.



Th paper said that since the business in the trade areas is going to be deregulated entirely as provided by the Acts, it is necessary to make registration of warehouses with Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) mandatory so that the privately-held stocks in warehouses are known to the government.



This will help the government to take informed decisions and intervene in markets to check hoarding of commodities and price fluctuations that could be detrimental to consumers interests, the paper said.



One important concern is that the warehouses and factory premises may apply for denotification and sub-market yards in order to take advantage of the zero tax structure, which will lead to states bearing some loss of revenue because of trade moving out of their jurisdiction as well as losing out on the market fee that was earlier levied on every transaction.



Thousands of farmers, mostly from Haryana and Punjab, have been protesting at several border points of Delhi since November 28 last year, demanding a repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP) system for their crops.



Enacted in September last year, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.



However, the protesting farmers have expressed their 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.
A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. | Representative Image

Britain failed to strike a deal with Donald Trump ahead of his departure as US president on a tariffs dispute between European planemaker Airbus and US rival Boeing, the UK government said Wednesday.

The UK said it hoped to find an agreement with Trump's successor Joe Biden. A 16-year spat over subsidies for Airbus and Boeing turned increasingly sour during Trump's presidency.

Donald Trump pardons Steve Bannon, Elliott Broidy, dozens of others, on last night in White House

Trump imposed 25-percent tariffs on wine, cheese, olives and other European specialities in a battle over subsidies to aerospace giant Airbus.

The EU responded with its own round of tariffs on imports of US farm produce, including wheat and tobacco, plus strong alcohol and chocolate, after the World Trade Organization faulted Washington in turn over state aid for Boeing.

But as Britain left the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government suspended the measures to coax the US to agree to a negotiated outcome.

Trump's administration said Brexit meant the UK could not impose EU tariffs on Washington anyway.

"We want to de-escalate and resolve this (Airbus-Boeing) dispute so that we can deepen trading ties with the US and move onto the next phase of our trading relationship, to the benefit of UK businesses," the Department for International Trade said in a statement Wednesday.

"We look forward to working with the new US administration at the earliest opportunity to find a solution that works for both sides," it added.
NEW YORK - An author who has presented himself publicly as a foreign relations expert and political scientist was really a paid mouthpiece for the Iranian government and has been charged with violating the law requiring foreign agents to register with the U.S. government, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, an Iranian-born veteran academic who has been a lawful resident of the United States for more than 35 years and who received his education in this country, was taken into custody by FBI agents in Massachusetts on charges that he violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires individuals working as agents in the United States on behalf of foreign countries to register.

Since 2007, 63-year-old Afrasiabi has "derived a significant portion of his income from compensation for services performed at the direction and under the control" of the Iranian government, answering to officials at the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, in Manhattan, according to an arrest warrant affidavit and criminal complaint filed Tuesday in federal court in Brooklyn.

The complaint against Afrasiabi notes that FARA is in place "to prevent covert influence . . . by foreign principals" in the United States. Agents of other governments are required to disclose their activities and payments that are issued to them for their work on behalf of other nations.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York is handling the case. Afrasiabi is expected to be transferred to New York to face charges. Many payments from the mission to Afrasiabi were processed by a financial institution in Queens. From July 2007 to November 2020, he allegedly received at least $265,000 and was provided with other benefits as an employee of the mission.

Officials allege that, taking directions from press secretaries at the mission, Afrasiabi frequently did interviews with news outlets including Al Jazeera. In 2009, he was the subject of an online Q&A hosted by The Washington Post. The Post has also published letters to the editor submitted by Afrasiabi.

While working as a secret spokesperson for the Iranian government, he was paid and received health-care benefits from Iran, according to investigators. His assignments included opining on Iran's nuclear policy in discussions with U.S. officials, while presenting himself as an independent expert, officials said.

Afrasiabi's role as an employee of Iran was not disclosed in 2009 when he assisted a U.S. congressman, who was not identified in court papers, in drafting a letter to President Barack Obama promoting a fuel swap agreement that Iran had proposed. He was identified in that letter only as "a former professor at Tehran University and a former adviser to the Iranian nuclear negotiation team," the complaint continues.

Some of Afrasiabi's efforts involved trying to pry sensitive information from Americans, officials said in court documents.

He allegedly emailed a State Department official asking for "the administration's latest thinking" on the "Iran nuclear issue," also without revealing the nature of his relationship to Iran, according to the documents.

Afrasiabi also allegedly continued communications with the elected official's office for years, in an attempt to advance the agenda of Iran's government. In one letter with a contact at the mission, he complained that his progress was stalled because the U.S. government "is in the palms of zionists."

From affiliates at the Iranian mission, he allegedly sought approval and guidance on articles, books and interviews that he did under the guise of being an academic in the field, not an employee of Iran. When a deputy ambassador told him to make edits to an article he submitted to a publication to steer away from subjects that were seen as harmful to Iran, Afrasiabi complied.

According to a 1996 article in the Harvard Crimson, Afrasiabi sued Harvard University, claiming that he was defamed by comments made by professors around the time he was arrested for suspected extortion, a case that was dismissed. A 2010 piece on WickedLocal.com says he was arrested for an old vehicle registration issue after a dispute with a restaurant in Cambridge.

Afrasiabi appeared Tuesday in a federal court in Boston because he was arrested in Massachusetts, where he lives. On the Zoom court proceeding, he wore a tan, jail-issued shirt and a white face mask. He was ordered detained until his detention hearing, which is set for Friday.

A lawyer representing Afrabiasi at the virtual court appearance could not be reached for comment.
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There will be more startup airlines in the world this year than failures, Dublin-based aircraft leasing giant Avolon has predicted.

In its 2021 forecast for the aviation sector, the company optimistically reckons that the industrys recovery will be swifter than currently anticipated.

The general consensus is that 2019 air passenger patterns wont be matched again until about 2024, with domestic and regional routes first to recover, followed by long-haul international traffic.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has noted that about 50 airlines around the world have gone bust since the pandemic began last year. Others, such as Scandinavian carrier Norwegian, are undergoing life-saving restructuring.

Read More

There are already more than 30 airlines that have announced plans to launch operations in the wake of the pandemic, noted Avolon in its report, which was authored by Jim Morrison, head of portfolio management at the lessor.

A number were in gestation pre-pandemic and plenty more were unveiled opportunistically, it added.

Some established carriers will use new airlines to shed the burden of legacy contracts. Not all will get off the ground but some of the highest-growth airlines in the next decade will get their start this year and next, following the airline playbook of past downturns.

Potential startup airlines that are looking for take-off are dotted around the world.

Mr Morrison has also forecast in his report that aircraft leasing will play an even bigger role for airlines as they look to a post-pandemic future.

A lack of financing is the biggest challenge to manufacturers meeting their delivery targets, he said in his report. The airline funding gap will be closed through lessor placements and sale-leasebacks. A structural shift in airline balance sheets is underway that will lead to continued growth of leasing.

Those comments were echoed earlier this week by the chief executive of aircraft leasing firm Gecas, Greg Conlon.

He told the virtual Dublin Airline Economics Growth Frontiers conference that the pandemic had underscored the benefits of leasing to airlines.

Yesterday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin told Avolon CEO Domhnal Slattery in an interview hosted by Airfinance Journal that Ireland remains committed to supporting the aviation sector.

Update at 8:50 a.m.: Calaveras County  Calaveras public health reports another 15 new COVID-19 cases. The daily update was released late Tuesday night. A total of 81 are defined as active coronavirus cases. As reported here an increase in cases are part of resolving a backlog with the states CalRedie system. Public health says the case count is approximate and may change or even decrease due to duplicates, incorrect addresses, or individuals found not to reside within Calaveras County and notes that hospitalization data comes from the California Department of Public Health and has a one-day lag. The report has 6 hospitalizations today down from 11 on Friday. Total cases are 1,255 with 554 men and 690 women, the majority, 573 cases, are between 18-49, and 296 are over 65. The zip codes with the most cases are in the Valley Springs 95252 and Campo Seco 95226 areas. A total of 1,151 or 91.7% have recovered.

Original post at 7:06 p.m. Tuesday: Tuolumne County, CA  Tuolumne Public Health reports another COVID death, 23 new community cases of COVID-19, and no new Sierra Conservation Center inmate cases

The deceased is a male in his 60s and no other information was released. Three of the 23 new cases are hospitalized and the remaining individuals appear to be isolating. Forty-nine individuals have been released from isolation. The ages include 1 male and 2 females under 20, 1 male and 2 females in their 20s, 2 males and 3 females in her 30s, 1 male and 2 females in their 40s, 1 male in his 50s, 3 males and 1 female in her 60s, 1 male and 2 females in their 80s, and 1 male in his 90s.

Tuolumne County has a total of 3,382 cases split between 2,173 community cases and 1,209 inmate cases. Total recovered community cases are listed as 2,025 with 108 active community cases and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reports 100 active inmate cases today. Total tested 23,447.

During Tuolumne County Public Healths Board of Supervisor situation update, discussions to end the COVID Education and compliance division were detailed here.

Vaccines: Tuolumne County is planning mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics as detailed here. For those who qualify as Phase 1A, the Tuolumne County vaccine interest form has been posted here. Public Health continues to distribute vaccine within Phase 1A of the State Vaccine Distribution Plan and will begin to move into Phase 1B starting with those age 90 and up and the education sector. They are planning to continue their Points of Dispensing (PODs) weekly as vaccine supply allows.

Out of an extreme abundance of caution, the use of a specific lot of Moderna vaccine has been suspended while the CDC and FDA review adverse reactions. Tuolumne County Public Health has received some of this lot number and it has been put aside and will not be used at this time, as reported here. Calaveras stated Moderna Lot 041L20A has not been used by Calaveras Public Health nor Mark Twain Medical Center.

Calaveras Public Health partnered with Dignity Health Mark Twain Medical Center to vaccinate people living in Calaveras County who are 65 years of age and older. Persons 65 years of age and older interested in getting the vaccine should call (209) 754-2564. Those who call will need to provide their full name, date of birth, and phone number. COVID-19 vaccines, including their administration, are free. More information on vaccine phases is on our COVID-19 page here.

Testing: A mobile COVID-19 testing team shared between Tuolumne, Mariposa and Calaveras Counties, and Yosemite National Park. The traveling sites, which will be open at the Groveland Community Hall on Mondays and Tuolumne Memorial Hall on Thursdays from 7 AM to 7 PM. The Tuolumne site; will NOT be open this Thursday, January 21st due to a scheduling conflict. Schedule an appointment up to one week ahead of time at the same LHI website as for the Mother Lode Fairgrounds testing site which is open 7 days a week: www.lhi.care/covidtesting. More details, including Calaveras testing dates, are in our events calendar here.

Regional Hospital Status: The San Joaquin Valley Region has 0% of normal ICU bed capacity available and it is not predicted to decrease to under 15% in the next 4 weeks. View the regional and county-specific ICU statistics by visiting our updating COVID-19 Information section here.

Call for more info: The Tuolumne COVID-19 call center is open during normal office hours for people who have questions or concerns, call 209-533-7440 for information. Calaveras has a COVID-19 call center at 209-754-2896 to provide community members with verified information about COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and other frequently asked questions.

If you are having COVID-like symptoms, self-isolate and contact your healthcare provider or your local hospital, more information is at the regional website www.valleycovidhelp.com.

County/Date

Active New Cases (Total)

% Countys Pop Hospital/ ICU (may include non-residents) Released (presumed Non-Infectious total) Deaths Est. County Pop. (Ave. Deaths All causes/mo.) Alpine 1/19 0 0 (73)

6.5% of pop. 0 0 (72) 0 1,117 (10*) Amador 1/18 90 9 (1,383)

3.7% of pop. 20 45 (1,268) 25 37,325 (30.5) Calaveras 1/19 81 9 (1,255)

2.8% of pop. 6 10 (1,151) 23 44,286 (30) Madera 1/19 2,898 76 (13,323) 8.3% of pop. 39 528 (10,274) 151 160,089 (73) Mariposa 1/19 15 0 (346)

1.9% of pop. 1 2 (327) 4 17,778 (11*) Merced 1/19 3,678 960 (24,452) 8.5% of pop. 61 1,031 (20,466) 308 287,420 (111.7) Mono 1/19 194 5 (861) 6.1% of pop. NA 0 (663) 4 13,961 (10*) San Joaquin 1/19 6,506 1,806 (58,290) 7.4% of pop. 291/79 2,643 (50,998) 786 782,545 (440) Stanislaus 1/19 4,675 334 (42,882)

7.6% of pop. 331/79 547 (37,649) 758 562,303 (419.6) Tuolumne 1/19 108 23 (3,382) 6.4% of pop. 7 49 (2,025) 40 52,353 (53.1) Amador excludes Mule Creek State Prison from their report the % of pop. would be 7.9%

If the Sierra Conservation Center cases were excluded Tuolumnes would be 4%.

10* means less than 10 deaths per month on average in that county. For other county-level statistics view our page here.

Public health officials relay it is very important for the public to remain vigilant about following recommended safety measures and business/activity guidelines in order to keep themselves and those around them safe and healthy.

Those measures include:

Practice physical distancing at all times. Keep 6 feet of space between yourself and others who arent part of your household bubble.

Wearing a Face Covering in public.

Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently

Avoid gatherings of any size with people who are not part of your household.

Stay home if you are sick.

Avoid unnecessary travel, and limit your outings to essential tasks.
(Natural News) The banning of U.S. President Donald Trump on social media platforms has brought up security concerns for different countries. Trumps suspension on Facebook and Twitter has made some countries assess their communication channels for potential risks.

According to experts, Big Tech censorship could cause countries to develop their own communication platforms, instead of depending on a few American technology firms with wide powers.

Population Research Institute President Steven Mosher told The Epoch Times that any ideologically driven decision to censor political speech comes with serious consequences. It will spark a massive move off of their platforms to other existing and new platforms that will be created, he said. Mosher also remarked that Big Tech firms such as Twitter are grossly underestimating the number of people overseas who support Trump, in both the public and private spheres.

Digital privacy expert Attila Tomaschek expressed the same sentiment, saying Big Tech censorship has major global consequences. However, he commented that companies such as Twitter should be consistent when it comes to censorship of posts that incite violence. They should be consistent in their responses rather than picking and choosing which world leaders should have a voice  and which shouldnt, he said.

Tomaschek said that Twitter has not yet banned the account of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a Muslim cleric who has repeatedly called for violence against the U.S.

Citing the case of Khamenei, the expert pointed out that other high-profile accounts, which have much more directly called for violence in the recent past, have not been deplatformed in the same way.

The comments by Mosher and Tomaschek followed the suspension of Trumps Facebook and Twitter accounts. The social media platforms indefinitely banned the president for inciting violence in connection with the Jan. 6 siege at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Five people died in the incident, including a D.C. police officer.

In a statement, Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg said: The shocking events clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power. Meanwhile, Twitter announced that it had permanently suspended Trumps account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.

Concerns expressed over Big Techs growing censorship power

University of Florida social media professor Andrew Selepak said Facebook and Twitters suspension of Trump demonstrate that they have the power to do so. However, other countries could possibly use Trumps example to justify banning Twitter and Facebook in their own borders. Right-leaning politicians in other countries should be the most concerned that these platforms appear to be targeting conservative or right-wing ideologies, he said.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1990 states that no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. Social media platforms have invoked this section to shield themselves from legal liability  which prompted calls to amend the legislation. (Related: GOP lawmakers promote Section 230 reform to address Big Tech censorship of conservatives.)

Constitutional attorney Robert Barnes remarked that an amendment for Section 230 is long overdue. He explained that social media platforms should only be protected against lawsuits if they uphold First Amendment activities. Barnes added that countries should prohibit social media platforms to censor speech, especially by elected officials, within their borders.

Speaking to The Epoch Times, Barnes said: Creating alternative platforms will be critical, both in the U.S. and abroad. (Related: GOT IT NOW? Parlers Dan Bongino once argued that free market competition would solve Big Tech censorship.)

A number of officials from other countries meanwhile reacted to Facebook and Twitter banning Trump. A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she considered the social media platforms ban on the American president problematic. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador compared the moves to a court of censorship like the Inquisition to manage public opinion.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack commented: Theres been a lot of people who have said and done a lot of things on Twitter previously that havent received that sort of condemnation or censorship. Meanwhile, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said: What shocks me is that Twitter is the one to close his account. The regulation of the digital world cannot be done by the digital oligarchy.

TechGiants.news has more about Big Tech banning Donald Trump from their platforms.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Gadgets.NDTV.com

EFF.org
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has called on the federal government to reconsider the long-term suspension of international travel, saying a Pacific bubble should be established this year.

Ms Berejiklian's push for a faster approach to international travel during the pandemic comes after Australia's Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly this week said it would be "one of the last things to change" after a coronavirus vaccine rollout.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Health Brad Hazzard during a video hook up for Wednesday's crisis cabinet meeting. Credit:Louise Kennerley

There is no reason why we shouldnt aim to travel to New Zealand or some of the Pacific Islands well within the next 12 months," Ms Berejiklian told the Herald on Wednesday.

Professor Kelly warned on Tuesday Australia had to be cautious in restarting international travel given the country was in an "envious position" compared to most of the world.
Angela Rippon has said she is genuinely delighted to have been vaccinated against coronavirus.

The journalist and television presenter, 76, said she had no hesitation in taking up the offer of receiving the jab.

She was given her first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday at St Charles Hospital, west London.

In a statement, the Rip Off Britain presenter said: I am genuinely delighted  and relieved  to have received this vaccine.

I certainly had no hesitation because I believe it is the right thing to do and ultimately the best way out of the pandemic.

This will save lives. It will protect us.

It was a fascinating experience, and real privilege to see an NHS Covid-19 vaccine team in action.

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She said the whole process took just over 15 minutes, adding: Nothing was rushed, and everyone was made to feel special.

It was a well-oiled machine by a first class team.

She said the volunteers and medics were friendly, professional and reassuring.

Rippon joins famous faces including actress Dame Judi Dench, broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, actor Sir Ian McKellen, Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith and entertainer Lionel Blair in receiving the vaccine.
The New York Times is unceasing in its campaign to racialize every important aspect of life in the US and globally, encouraging divisions in the population along ethnic lines and facilitating the growth of the far right. In this effort, it takes advantage of the selfishness and political short-sightedness of upper middle class layers, including in cultural matters.

It is difficult to overstate the political and ideological vileness of such efforts.

One recent foray along these lines has the Times coming out against white Danish actors dubbing a number of roles in the Disney-Pixar animated film Soul, featuring Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey and others.

In a subhead, a January 16 article by Lisa Abend (Pixars Soul Has a Black Hero. In Denmark, a White Actor Dubs the Voice) asserts that the casting has fueled a debate about racism and fanned anger about stereotyping and prejudice in European-language voice-overs, even when films have main characters of color.

There is something terribly cynical about such pieces. With a finger in the wind, the author hopes to curry favor with that portion of the Times readership that is race-obsessed. The article itself becomes a part of the process of fanning or even inciting the anger.

Abend writes that Danish film critics generally greeted Soul, Pixars first animated feature to focus on Black characters and African-American culture, with rapture, hailing its sensitive, joyful portrayal of a jazz musician on a quest to live a meaningful life.

What the Danish press did not initially focus on, by and large, the Times article continues, was the characters race. But that changed after the movies release on Dec. 25, when realization spread that the Danish-language version had been dubbed primarily by white actors. This is also the case in many other European-language versions of Soul.

The healthy response to that would be: so what? But the Times and the self-proclaimed experts it cites choose to view this as an example of structural racism. The artificially generated controversy, which probably excited no more than a handful of academics and professional activists in Copenhagen, led the actor who dubbed Foxxs performance, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, to explain on Facebook, My position with regards to any job is very simple. Let the man or woman who can perform the work in the best possible way get the job. What a scandalous viewpoint! The actor should obviously be run out of the film industry.

Nikolaj Lie Kaas at the San Sebastian Film Festival (Photo: Black Corsair/Wikipedia)

The Times cites the comments of other European voice actors and directors who also suggest that casting should be essentially color-blind. A German dubbing artist Charles Rettinghaus, who feels he has a special connection with Foxx and has dubbed the latters voice in more than 20 films, argues that It doesnt matter if you are Black, you should be and are allowed to dub anything  Why shouldnt you play a white actor or an Indian or an Asian?

Ah, but its more complicated than that assert the Times and its racialist interviewees. Actually, its not. Rettinghaus is entirely correct. Of course, if there are prejudices against black performers voicing white actors and other sorts of stereotyping in Europe or anywhere else, including of the unconscious variety, such practices need to be forcefully exposed and fought against. But the worst way to oppose existing bias and backwardness is by means of racial quotas and barriers.

After all, if dubbing directors were obliged by law or industry decree to have only black performers voice black actors and so forth, where would that leave someone like Fily Keita, a black performer in France? The Times notes that Keita doesnt feel held back as a Black actor working in the industry and has also lent her voice to roles played originally by white actresses, such as Amanda Seyfried and Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

Soul has white and black co-directors, Pete Docter and Kemp Powers, respectively, and complicating things even more, as the Times article observes, is the fact that, as a result of various plot machinations, Joe is voiced by Tina Fey for a decent chunk of the film, a decision that has drawn some criticism.

In objective terms, in the guise of opposing structural racism, the Times is striving to return the cultural world to a previous age, when everyone knew his or her place. Why isnt the Times outraged that African-American soprano Leontyne Price in the 1950s and 1960s became one of the leading interpreters of the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, a white Italian? The Nazis were infuriated that Jewish or anti-fascist German actors (such as Conrad Veidt, a Lutheran, who, before leaving Germany, put down Jewish as his religion in all official paperwork because he was married to Ilona Prager, a Hungarian Jew) portrayed German fascist officials or military officers in Hollywood films. Did they not have a point?

The American film industry treated black performers in a generally disgraceful manner for the first several decades of its existence, relegating them primarily to roles as maids, valets, porters, conductors and worse. It took the presence of left-wing writers, directors, producers and actors in the 1940s to begin changing that state of affairs.

The Nazi regime made racism in cultural matters a matter of state policy. After the Hitler forces accession to power in early 1933, they instituted the Aryanization of the film and theater world, a vicious version of ethnic and racial cleansing. In the spring of that year, Ufa, the largest German film company, laid off its Jewish employees owing to Germanys national revolution. As filmportal.de explains, in a June 1933 directive, the Reich Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda (RMVP) decreed that everyone involved in the production of a German film must be of German descent and hold German citizenship. Film historian Eric Rentschler writes that more than 1,500 filmmakersmany of them Jewish or politically progressivefled Germany  and were replaced by toadying writers and second-class opportunists.

For the Nazis, filmportal.de notes, the question of descent was of central importance. Its essay continues: One of the foundations of the Nazis racist world view and policy of annihilation was their instrumentalization of the genetic doctrine: Not only physical features, but character and nature were considered to be inherited. Similar tastes in music, as well as speech patterns, were signs of racial purity.

Historian Richard Dove (in A Tale of Two Cities: The Actors Lilly Kann and Martin Miller in Berlin and London 19331945) points out that after January 1933, Jewish theatre artists were banned from performing on the German stage. The Judischer Kulturbund [Jewish Cultural Association] became the only professional stage outlet for Jewish performers in Germany. All Jewish artists were required to join it, if they wished to continue to perform.

Dove writes that the repertoire of the theatre was restricted by the refusal of the Nazi authorities to allow it to produce the German theatre classicsso familiar to both actors and audiencesince a Jewish theatre was deemed inappropriate to perform them. In 1934, they were prohibited to perform plays by [Friedrich] Schiller, a ban later extended to the entire classical repertoire of German theatre.

The Times writers and the individuals they cite are not fascists, but there is an implacable, pernicious logic to arguments based on race and blood.

Modern economic and cultural development leads objectively toward the destruction of national and ethnic barriers and toward global interconnectedness, underpinned by changes in production and communications. Capitalism, with its structure of warring nation-states scrambling for markets and profits, stands in the way of that process. The Times and its affluent body of journalists and editors advocate nationalism, chauvinism and racialism. The WSWS will continue relentlessly to oppose this.
'No more days of angry tweets,' late-night talk show host James Corden marked the last day of Donald Trump's presidency with a spoof of Les Miserables' song

Late-night talk show hosts James Corden and Stephen Colbert celebrated the last day of Donald Trump as the president of the United States, and welcoming Joe Biden onboard.

The Late Late Show Corden performed a parody of a Les Miserables with the original cast of the Broadway musical. "No more days of angry tweets (Cuz this time hes banned for good)/ Ship him off to Mar-a-Lago (Do they even want him there?)/ Biden better change the sheets (Maybe throw away the bed)/ Will you change the locks with me?," sang the ensemble onstage.

Watch a snippet here

.@JKCorden and an array of Broadway friends bid farewell to President Trump, Les Mis style. pic.twitter.com/l9PiSRvCOA  The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) January 20, 2021

Meanwhile, Colbert revisited the day Trump won the 2016 election, where he had noted that Americans were going to have "four very interesting years" under the Trump administration, writes Deadline. Colbert also recapped the chaos that marred Trump's four-year long presidency.

Biden will be sworn in today as the 46th president of the US and Kamala Harris will take oath as the first woman Vice President on Wednesday, amidst heightened security concerns after a mob of pro-Trump extremists violently breached the Capitol two weeks ago.
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The U.S. Treasury Department has added names to their blacklist for trading in illegal Venezuelan oil, according to a Tuesday press release.

Making the list today include Alessandro Bazzoni, Francisco Javier DAgostino Casado, Philipp Paul Vartan Apikian, Elemento Ltd, and Swissoil Trading SA.

Those facilitating the illegitimate Maduro regimes attempts to circumvent United States sanctions contribute to the corruption that consumes Venezuela, Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said. The United States remains committed to targeting those enabling the Maduro regimes abuse of Venezuelas natural resources.

Malta-based Elemento made the list for lifting and brokering the sale of at least five shipments of Venezuelan crude oil between July 2019 and July 2020.

Geneva-based Swissoil made the list after it assisted with the selling and shipping of Venezuelan oil to buyers in Asia, acting sometimes as the entity financially responsible for the receipt of the oil shipments brokered by Elemento. Swissoil also received some of the Venezuelan oil.

The U.S. also added maritime entities and vessels for their role in the transportation of Venezuelan crude oil, including Ukrainian Fides Ship Management LLC, Venezuela-based Instituto Nacional de los Espacios Acuaticos e Insulares (INEA), and Russia-based Rustanker LLC.

INEA is the registered owner of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Maksim Gorky.

All entities that made the list today will have their property and interests in property blocked, including any entities that are owned 50% or more by anyone on this list. Any U.S. persons are barred from doing business with any entity on this list.

The Trump administration has tried to bring Venezuelas crude oil exports to zero in an attempt to force socialist leader Nicolas Maduro to step down after a contested election. More than 50 countries recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the rightful President of Venezuela, but Maduro is still clinging to power amid the worst humanitarian crisis outside of war in decades.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads from Oilprice.com:
Nguyen Chi Dung - Minister of Planning and Investment Four decades ago, the GDP of the tiny archipelago of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean was near zero, but after establishment of an offshore IFC, daily cash flow through the Caymans has amounted to $2 trillion. As a British overseas territory, it now attracts around 80 per cent of global hedge funds, even if the actual hedge fund managers work almost exclusively in New York or London. The islands also inherited a professional legal system as per English common law, which was attractive to multinational corporations and investors. However, Vietnam also boasts favourable conditions, from geographical to population advantages, to become a leading jurisdiction for an international financial market. From Ho Chi Minh City it takes only three hours by air to visit all of ASEAN and Northeast Asia. Vietnam also sits in a time zone which is different from 21 other IFCs. This is a very narrow doorway that presents a prime advantage. If any other IFC in the same time zone is established, we will miss this golden opportunity forever. Luke Treloar - Managing director, KPMGs Global Strategy Group in Vietnam The Vietnamese government has demonstrated a tremendous capability to innovate and create world-class responses to difficult challenges. We are confident in the willingness of international financial institutions to partner with Vietnam in the development of an IFC. Foreign-invested enterprises will likely enthusiastically support the development of an IFC. Vietnam is growing in priority with many of the worlds largest investors. The creation of an IFC that helps promote trust and transparency, raise Vietnams international profile, and accelerate gains in competitiveness will be welcomed by international investors. The Vietnamese government should actively engage with investors and learn from successful case studies of emerging financial destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.

In the mood to kick-start the countrys ambition to become a successful hub to attract financial institutions and investors, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung has told a recent forum that previous plans for cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Danang to set up international financial centres must be revamped and taken more seriously so that the country is not left behind in this regard.

As such, the minister explained, more concrete plans for such a centre must be carried forward this year by hiring consultancies and building detailed plans in order to report to the government and the Politburo.

An international financial centre (IFC) would attract international capital and increase government revenues, Dung said. Building a capable financial centre in Vietnam will be a priority. If we do nothing now, we could miss out on it completely.

The dream to create an IFC in the country is not a new one, but previous proposals have failed to leave the starting blocks thus far. Such a financial centre, which could comprise of a region or city with a full financial hub with direct access to major capital pools from banks, insurance companies, investment funds, and listed capital markets, would enable companies, institutions, and individuals from around the world to meet needs like financing supply chains and managing risks.

Singapore was one such location which did everything in its power to achieve such a dream over recent decades, and it is now reaping the rewards.

As Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Tho from the School of Finance at the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City explained, In 2001 then-Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made a speech vowing that Singapores IFC would be able to create prosperity for not only the country but also for the whole region.

Today, Tho added, Singapores IFC has developed beyond the countrys borderlines and is now among the major financial hubs alongside London and New York.

With its important geographical location, Vietnam is also expected to have its own IFC, which would contribute to enriching the nation as well as the whole region.

A suitable vision

IFCs can foster stronger financial cooperation among nations. Qatar, Malaysia, and Turkey have been cooperating to exploit their shared financial market worth $2 trillion, with these nations sharing Qatars tech system. It remains to be seen if Vietnam can, or is willing to, work in such a way with neighbouring nations.

Don Lambert, principal private sector development specialist of the Asian Development Bank in Vietnam told VIR, The operation capacity of Vietnams authorities is dependent on what kind of IFC the government plans. Will it focus on attracting financing for Vietnams infrastructure and development needs with a longer-term focus on expanding to other countries in the Mekong? If yes, then this is a realistic vision well within the capacity of Vietnams authorities.

However, Lambert added, if focus is more broad then there needs to be honest self-assessment of what Vietnam offers in comparison to other financial centres.

He also highlighted that investors may be very keen on Vietnam generally, as they see a fast-growing, stable country with a rapidly expanding middle class.

When a financial centre is completed, it could further facilitate their ability to invest in the country. The foremost priority, Lambert added, is to develop a clear, convincing strategy for the financial centre and one that offers the country competitive advantages over existing regional and international financial centres. Thus, governmental priorities will very much depend on the direction of the strategy.

Ho Chi Minh City prospects

Leading localities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Danang have been required to lay special focus on creating detailed projects and hiring world-class consultants to accelerate the foundation for an IFC, despite the difficulties in getting such initiatives off the ground in terms of policy support and human resources.

The financial tower model for the Danang Gateways initiative, Photo: Sakae Holdings and SSF Investment

In September, a joint venture between Singapore-based Sakae Holdings and SSF Investment Company emerged as a leading bidder for IFC construction in the central city of Danang.

The joint venture is awaiting approval from the prime minister on a potential financial centre, known as Danang Gateways. The newly-established SSF Investment Company is reportedly linked to Sunshine Homes  part of local construction giant Sunshine Group.

In 2018, Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Peoples Committee assigned Fulbright University Vietnam along with the Ho Chi Minh City Financial Investment State-owned Company to set up a plan to develop the area into a regional and IFC.

At the same time, the city also added the plan to its list of goals as part of its socioeconomic development strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045.

Nguyen Xuan Thanh, a member of the Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Group and lecturer at Fulbright University Vietnam, said that Ho Chi Minh City is well behind the likes of Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangkok when it comes to offering a strong financial centre for the globe. Therefore, Thanh said, the city needs to work with startups especially in order to improve technical infrastructure and cybersecurity, as well as train quality human resources to prepare for developing the city into an IFC.

Nevertheless, currently Ho Chi Minh City is the most attractive financial hub in the country, as it homes over 2,100 banks, credit institutions, and financial services companies.

In previous years, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong cited the lack of mechanisms, policies, and high-quality human resources as the key obstacles in the way of building a reputable IFC.

Vu Thanh Tu Anh, another member of the Economic Advisory Group, suggested carving out niche approaches to contribute to an IFC in the city.

Over the past 20 years, Ho Chi Minh City has been oriented to be the financial centre on a national and regional level, but it still in the seeding stage. Thus, it is necessary to thoroughly review the approaches and find other feasible plans which might be different from the previous IFC plans, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 16:05:50|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers on Wednesday started deliberating a draft law on wetlands protection, the country's first national legislation on conserving its lakes and swamps.

The draft was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for the first reading.

In strengthening the management of wetlands, the draft stipulates that a national catalog of important wetlands shall be compiled by forestry and grassland authorities and other related departments of the State Council, while provincial-level governments shall compile catalogs of important wetlands within their jurisdiction.

The draft prohibits any organization or individual from destroying the habitat of birds and aquatic life in wetlands.

Those breaching the law may be fined up to 1 million yuan (about 154,523 U.S. dollars) or face criminal penalties if their violations constitute crimes, according to the draft. Enditem
Lt. Col. ML Cavanaugh, PhD, is a nonresident fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point. This essay is an unofficial expression of opinion; the views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Point, the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or any agency of the U.S. government.
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. Inc. (DuPont) and a former employee have been indicted for knowingly violating requirements of federal safety regulations and negligently releasing an extremely hazardous substance at the companys plant in LaPorte, Texas.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas reported that Kenneth Sandel, 49, Friendswood, and the company were indicted by a federal grand jury in Houston in relation to the Nov. 15, 2014, incident at the LaPorte plant when 24,000 pounds of methyl mercaptan  a highly toxic, flammable gas  were released. The incident resulted in the deaths of four plant employees and injured others, according to the charges.

According to the charges, returned Jan. 7, DuPont is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, and owns chemical manufacturing plants around the world, including the La Porte facility. Sandel ran the Insecticide Business Unit (IBU) at that location and was responsible for ensuring IBU employees followed applicable federal safety regulations.

The IBU has since been demolished, but at the time, allegedly produced pesticides called Lannate and Vydate, among other products.

The indictment alleges Lannate and Vydate generated annual net income for DuPont of approximately $123 million during 2014.

The safety regulations are part of the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Risk Management Plan, created following 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act. Congress had directed the EPA to create reasonable regulations to prevent the release of certain hazardous chemicals after such events had resulted in the death or injury to many people in the United States and abroad.

The indictment alleges DuPont and Sandel knowingly failed to implement certain DuPont procedures federal regulations required. Specifically, Sandel and DuPont engineers allegedly devised a plan to divert a large volume of methyl mercaptan gas into a waste gas pipe system during the day before and night of the fatal incident. However, Sandel failed to implement necessary procedures to evaluate safety aspects of that plan and to prohibit workers from opening the pipe to the atmosphere, according to the charges.

If convicted of the federal safety regulations violations, Sandel faces up to five years in federal prison while the negligence charge could result in an additional one-year term. Both convictions also carry a potential fine of $250,000.

The company itself faces potential fines of the greater of $500,000 or twice the gross gain derived from the offense.

The EPAs Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas Environmental Enforcement Task Force. The indictment is part of an EPA initiative titled Reducing Risks of Accidental Releases at Industrial and Chemical Facilities. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John R. Lewis and Belinda Beek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Gonzales are prosecuting the case.

Source: U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas

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Yes, Anna Hakobyan is in Moscow with her two daughters. Hrachya Hakobyan, an MP of the majority My Step faction of the National Assembly of Armenia and brother-in-law of PM Nikol Pashinyan, stated this in a talk with reporters in the parliament on Wednesday. He also refuted the news that Ashot Pashinyan has also departed with them.

When the Telegram channel reported the news, since I knew that Anna Hakobyan had left for Moscow with her two daughters and the Telegram channel caused uproar by stating that Ashot Pashinyan is also with them since there was a young man taking items from the car, I called Ashot Pashinyan on the phone and asked him where he was, to which he said he was at home.

This is a personal visit. There is no and cant be any issue related to citizenship, and they arent looking for a house. Its really ridiculous when people in Armenia say Anna Hakobyan and her two daughters have gone to Moscow to choose a house, he said.

When asked how Anna Hakobyan managed to depart when entry into the Russian Federation is prohibited, Hrachya Hakobyan said the following: I dont know how the personal visit was organized. If there are points that need to be crossed, perhaps they crossed those points and entered the country.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (C) speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Dec. 15, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Pool via Xinhua)

"The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people," U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, a sign that he tried to further distance himself from President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the attack by President Donald Trump's supporters on Capitol Hill was "provoked by the president."

"The last time the Senate convened, we had just reclaimed the Capitol from violent criminals who tried to stop Congress from doing our duty. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people," McConnell said of the mob that stormed the Capitol building on Jan. 6, disrupting Congress's certification of President-elect Joe Biden's election victory and leaving five people dead.

"They tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government, which they did not like," added McConnell.

Tuesday is the first day the Senate was back in session from the recess, and it was expected to hold an impeachment trial over the House's charge of "incitement of insurrection" against Trump.

The remarks by McConnell, who previously said he was undecided as to whether Trump should be convicted in the trial, were a sign that he tried to further distance himself from the president.

McConnell said the Senate was notified by the House of Trump's impeachment, but that the lower chamber has yet to transmit the article of impeachment. The Senate can't start the trial until it receives the article.

A man holding an "impeach" banner walks near the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"While the press has been full of speculation, I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate," McConnell wrote in a note to colleagues last week.

McConnell will become the minority leader later this month when the Democratic Party effectively takes control of the Senate following the swearing in of two Democratic senators-elect from Georgia.

The CNN reported Tuesday that Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, the two incoming senators, are expected to be sworn in by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after Harris assumes the office of the vice president.

The timing is still fluid, though, since Georgia is yet to formally certify the senatorial election results, which should happen before the swearing in.

Harris is also expected to swear in Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who will fill the Senate seat vacated by Harris's departure.
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3D print of a spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19--in front of a 3D print of a SARS-CoV-2 virus particle. The spike protein (foreground) enables the virus to enter and infect human cells. On the virus model, the virus surface (blue) is covered with spike proteins (red) that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. Credit: NIH

The coronavirus variant detected in South Africa poses a "significant re-infection risk" and raises concerns over vaccine effectiveness, according to preliminary research Wednesday, as separate studies suggested the British strain would likely be constrained by immunisations.

Several new variantseach with a cluster of genetic mutationshave emerged in recent weeks, sparking fears over an increase in infectiousness as well as suggestions that the virus could begin to elude immune response, whether from prior infection or a vaccine.

These new variants, detected from Britain, South Africa and Brazil, have mutations to the virus' spike protein, which enables the virus to latch onto human cells and therefore plays a key role in driving infections.

But it is one mutation in particularknown as E484K and present in the variants detected in South Africa and Brazil but not the one from Britainthat has experts particularly worried about immunity "escape".

In a new study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, researchers in South Africa tested the variant found therecalled 501Y.V2against blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients.

They found that it was resistant to neutralising antibodies built up from prior infection, but said more research was needed into the effectiveness of other parts of the immune response.

"Here we show that the 501Y.V2 lineage, which contains nine spike mutations and rapidly emerged in South Africa during the second half of 2020, is largely resistant to neutralising antibodies elicited by infection with previously circulating lineages," the authors said.

"This suggests that, despite the many people who have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2 globally and are presumed to have accumulated some level of immunity, new variants such as 501Y.V2 pose a significant re-infection risk."

The researchers added that this might also affect the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19. They also suggested it could have "implications" for vaccines developed based on immune responses to the virus's spike protein.

Trevor Bedford of the Fred Hutchinson Research Center tweeted that this variant could "spread more widely in the coming months".

If the results of the South African study are confirmed, he said it may be necessary to adapt the virus "strain" used in developing the vaccine by autumn of this year.

The findings are "not good news but it's not unexpected," said James Naismith, Director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, in comments to the Science Media Centre.

He said real world immune responses were more complex than those of the blood plasma neutralising antibodies.

"The vaccines do stimulate very strong responses, immunity is a sliding scale, it's not an on/off switch," he added.

UK strain

Two other preliminary studies posted online on Wednesday found that the antibodies from previously-infected patients are largely effective against the variant detected in Britain and that the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine appears to be guard against it as well.

Researchers said their early findings into the fast-spreading strain, known as B.1.1.7, suggested that the variant would not be able to evade the protective effect of current vaccines.

"Our results suggest that the majority of vaccine responses should be effective against the B.1.1.7 variant," concluded researchers from Britain and the Netherlands in one of the studies.

The authors tested the UK strain in the laboratory with antibody-rich blood plasma from 36 patients who had recovered from either mild or severe forms of COVID-19 and found most were able to neutralise the variant.

A separate study by researchers from BioNTech and Pfizer compared the neutralising effect of plasma from 16 participants in their vaccine clinical trials against the British variant and the original virus that emerged in Wuhan, China.

They concluded it was "unlikely" the B.1.1.7 variant could escape the immune protection of the vaccine.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Four days after their murder, Kimberly and Mark Dupre are memorialized by friends and family on the fence at 125 Main St., their home, where the crime took place.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of his White House term that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.

The last-minute clemency, announced Wednesday morning, follows separate waves of pardons over the past month for Trump associates convicted in the FBIs Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law. Taken together, the actions underscore the presidents willingness, all the way through his four years in the White House, to flex his constitutional powers in ways that defy convention and explicitly aid his friends and supporters.

To be sure, the latest list was heavily populated by more conventional candidates whose cases had been championed by criminal justice activists. One man who has spent nearly 24 years in prison on drug and weapons charges but had shown exemplary behavior behind bars had his sentence commuted, as did a former Marine sentenced in 2000 in connection with a cocaine conviction.

But the names of prominent Trump allies nonetheless stood out.

Besides Bannon, other pardon recipients included Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a scheme to lobby the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund, and Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner who was charged last October with cyberstalking during a heated divorce.

Bannons pardon was especially notable given that the prosecution was still in its early stages and any trial was months away. Whereas pardon recipients are conventionally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, the pardon nullifies the prosecution and effectively eliminates any prospect for punishment.

Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trumps own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Twitter. And if that all sounds crazy, thats because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.

And while other presidents have issued controversial pardons at the ends of their administration, perhaps no commander in chief has so enjoyed using the clemency authority to benefit not only friends and acquaintances but also celebrity defendants and those championed by allies.

Wednesdays list includes its share of high-profile defendants. Among them were rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both convicted in Florida on weapons charges. Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, has frequently expressed support for Trump and recently met with the president on criminal justice issues. Others on the list included Death Row Records co-founder Michael Harris and New York art dealer and collector Hillel Nahmad.

Other pardon recipients include former Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican who served three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges, and former Rep. Duke Cunningham of California, who was convicted of accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. Cunningham, who was released from prison in 2013, received a conditional pardon.

Trump also commuted the prison sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served about seven years behind bars for a racketeering and bribery scheme.

Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of donors who believed their money would be used to fulfill Trumps chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

Bannon did not respond to questions Tuesday.

Trump has already pardoned a slew of longtime associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon  who served in the Navy and worked at Goldman Sachs and as a Hollywood producer before turning to politics  led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps 2016 campaign in its critical final months.

He later served as chief strategist to the president during the turbulent early days of Trumps administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trumps adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart. He and Trump have recently reconciled.

In August, he was pulled from a luxury yacht off the coast of Connecticut and brought before a judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty. When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall.

The organizers of the We Build The Wall group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a big beautiful barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon.

___

By Jonathan Lemire, Eric Tucker and Jill Colvin. Zeke Miller contributed.
Dramatic scenes played out in Vijayawada on Tuesday leading to the arrest and release of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former minister Devineni Uma after he tried to reach an NTR statue following challenges to debate with Civil Supplies Minister Kodali Sri Venkateshwara Rao.

Both the leaders challenged each other to debate, especially Rao on alleged corruption in the ruling party over distribution of land to poor people.

Rao said that Uma was unnecessarily making allegations that the Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy committed corruption at a time when more than 3,000 people in Mylavaram's Gollapudi were receiving land after 30 years.

"He (Uma) is simply making baseless allegations convening press conferences. So I told him to come for a debate on the manifesto as to what we fulfilled. I am ready to debate," said Rao.

He warned Uma that he cannot just keep on making allegations on Reddy.

However, Rao alleged that Uma challenged him to come and touch at TDP founder Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao's statue where he will do a protest.

The minister observed that police will not allow for such a thing to happen and highlighted that Uma was not answering phone calls.

"Answer my phone call. Let's decide where we shall have our debate? At your home or my home?" said Rao.

However, nothing of that sort happened and Uma tried going to NTR statue where he was arrested.

Vijayawada police commissioner B.V. Srineevasuslu confirmed that Uma was arrested and released on Tuesday.

Later, Rao alleged that Uma intentionally deflected the debate and resorted to going to the statue so that police would arrest him, leading to alleged publicity gain.

The Gudivada YSRCP MLA claimed that Uma acts as per the directions of TDP supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu.

Meanwhile, estranged TDP MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi also came in support of Rao and said that a debate would be good.

Vamsi went to NTR statue in Vijayawada and honoured it with ksheeabishekam (pouring milk on statue with reverence) and said that the late leader and movie legend was a true leader of the masses and the poor.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday will begin reversing Donald Trumps immigration policies, part of an aggressive push to roll back some of the most controversial actions of his predecessor and chart a new course for the nation.

In one of his first acts as president, Biden will sign an executive action ending restrictions on travel and immigration from some predominantly Muslim countries. The measure directs the State Department to resume visa processing for those countries and develop a plan to address people affected, such as those who were denied entry to the U.S.

The action also orders reviews of other extreme vetting" practices used by the Trump administration, while directing the U.S. to improve information-sharing with foreign governments to bolster screening of travelers.

Biden is also proposing a sweeping immigration bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for roughly 11 million people living illegally in the U.S. The legislation marks a stark contrast with the Trump administrations efforts to restrict both legal and illegal immigration during its four years in power.

The new president will issue a proclamation ordering a stop to construction of Trumps wall along the border with Mexico. It would rescind the national emergency that Trump declared to secure funding for the wall, and eventually redirect the money to other projects.

The travel ban and border wall were the fulfillments of Trumps central 2016 campaign promises, to crack down on immigration and limit the number of Muslims coming to the U.S. Biden condemned them as an attack on racial and religious minorities and pledged to voters that one of his first acts as president would be to eliminate the ban and stop work on the wall.

Just one week after taking office, Trump announced he would suspend entry to travelers from seven mostly Muslim nations: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Sudan. The policy also suspended refugee resettlement. Federal judges blocked the first version of the ban from being implemented. A third version went into place following numerous court challenges.

The ban that Biden ended blocked entry to most people from Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and North Korea. It also restricted immigrant visas for people from Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Eritrea as well as for certain others from Venezuela and Tanzania.

Bidens immigration legislation is ambitious, and as a result, it could face obstacles in Congress.

The proposal calls for an eight-year path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, down from 13, and an even shorter one for those known as Dreamers who were brought illegally as children to the US, as well as those with temporary protected status.

The bill seeks to address the root causes of migration by bolstering assistance to Central American countries. It eases immigration for people fleeing violence and increases prosecution of human traffickers and drug smugglers. But it does not call for a major increase in border security measures in exchange, which could make it difficult to garner support from Republicans in Congress.

The travel ban reversal is part of a 10-day onslaught of executive actions intended to overturn key Trump policies without waiting for Congress, on topics ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic to climate change and criminal justice.

Biden on Wednesday is also signing an executive order rescinding the Trump administrations immigration-enforcement priorities that stepped up patrols along the U.S. southern border and cast a wider net in the interior of the country. The decision clears the way for the Biden administration to set narrower targets.

Another order signed by Biden directs the Department of Homeland Security to shore up the Deferred Action for Childhood Migrants program the Trump administration sought to terminate. The program provides deportation reprieves and work permits for the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers.

The new president is also restoring deportation protections for Liberians, which the Trump administration attempted to scale back.

Biden next week is expected to issue an order directing federal agencies to speed the reunification of families who were separated at the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Trumps crackdown on migrants. The new administration is also considering a broad moratorium on deportation in the coming days.

In another immigration matter, Trump issued an order on Tuesday night deferring the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S., citing the autocratic government" of Nicolas Maduro, which his administration had unsuccessfully sought to topple. It isnt clear if Biden will allow the order to stand.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Fung John Ngum WhatsApp

The Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of one of its members, Fung John Ngum.

The radio host and reporter was picked up early Wednesday, January 20, 2021, in Bamenda by yet-to-be-identified armed men, said Jude Viban, CAMASEJ President.

Fung John, who is co-host of Press and Associate, a flagship programme of Bamenda-based Ndefcam radio, was kidnapped as he set out for work, read a press release from the office of the president of CAMASEJ.

CAMASEJ considers this shameful abduction as part of the symptomatic degeneration of moral values in Cameroon.

It is particularly worrisome that his abductors have not maintained any contact with his family or friends, thus fueling all forms of suspicion, Viban said.

CAMASEJ says it finds the abduction of Fung John Ngum as another assault on the freedom of the press and the right of media professionals to practice without fear or favour, threats, and molestation.

Journalists are not party to the ongoing conflict in the two English-speaking regions of the country, and thus should not be targets of any sort, Viban fumed. Fung John should be set free immediately!

Cameroon-Info.Net recalls that journalists have been targets for both sides in the conflict in the North West and South West Regions.

On February 21, 2019, Journalist Macmillan Ambe Awa, erstwhile President of CAMASEJ Bamenda Chapter was covering the crisis when he became part of the headlines.

He was kidnapped by armed men and held for 24 terrifying hours before being released, physically unhurt but shaken.

Upon his release, Ambe said he had been accused of making programmes that say children should be allowed to return to school against the school boycott wishes of separatists.

Shocking as the nightmare was, such experiences are almost routine in Cameroons English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions. Today is the turn of Fung John.

Insurgents have staged hundreds of kidnappings, both for ransom and as a political message  alongside ambushes targeting soldiers and police, and arson attacks on buildings symbolising the central government, including schools and hospitals.

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.
Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Vietnam has become one of the most impressive, optimistic and successful countries, a Singaporean scholar has said.

Associate Prof. Bilveer Singh, deputy head of the Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore (Photo: VNA)

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)s reporters in Singapore, Associate Prof. Bilveer Singh, deputy head of the Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore, highlighted the countrys outstanding political stability.

Vietnam has been among the countries in the world with the most successful economic growth over the past five years, which remained positive (nearly 3.0 percent) in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

The economic growth has reflected the CPVs sound policies as well as the balance between domestic and external trade, while demonstrating that domestic economic bases, whether agriculture and industry, have borne fruits.

Singh also commended the countrys achievements in external affairs and national defance with highlights over the past five years, notably 2020, such as ASEAN Chairmanship, non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council and hosting the signing ceremony of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement that forms the biggest trade area so far.

The scholar expressed his impression on the number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities in Vietnam that remain very low in comparison with those in other countries in Southeast Asia and the world, given its population of nearly 100 million.

Regarding the 13th National Party Congress, scheduled to take place from January 25 to Feberuary 2, Singh said the event is of special significance as it will put forth socio-economic development plans for the country in the next five years when Vietnam has to face the impact of the pandemic and competition among trading partners at the same time.

The scholar suggested Vietnam carry forward its performance in handling internal matters, while tightening its coordination with other ASEAN member countries.

Vietnam needs to continue with COVID-19 prevention and control measures, maintain economic growth and political stability, and prove its role in regional and international issues, he said.

Singh expressed his belief that with those efforts, Vietnam would bring a lot of benefits to ASEAN, and become a middle power in Southeast Asia in the next 10-20 years./.VNA
Collaborating with 32 Organizations and Showcasing 100 Featured Taiwan Startups

TAIPEI, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2020, the global economy faced the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the US-China trade war. While the economies around the world were critically affected, Taiwan was able to break through the predicament and make extraordinary performances in foreign trade and industry development. Innovation plays a pivotal role in achieving such incredible results. In particular, Taiwan's flourishing startups are also an essential momentum of driving the economy and the country's industrial upgrading and transformation. In CES 2021, Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) is supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) along with 31 organizations and the 100 featured high-potential Taiwanese startups. TTA Taiwan Tech Pavilion is the place for you to witness the amazing innovative energy of Taiwan.

TTA supports Taiwanese Startups to shine at CES 2021 with digital marketing

Zheng-Zhong Wu, Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), indicated that it is necessary to establish the "Taiwan 2030 Science and Technology Vision" by contributing six significant issues. The sectors included deepening biotech and medical industry, developing Generation A Semiconductor Technology, encouraging digital transformation, building 6G network, establishing reliable information security, and constructing a complete network infrastructure. To reach the six primary goals, "technology startups" are one of the key players. After years of efforts made by MOST, the momentum of innovation in Taiwan is vibrant. Take this year's CES 2021, for example; the "TTA Taiwan Technology Pavilion" is a great way to leverage digital marketing and show the significant potential of Taiwan's innovative energy. The journey to connect resources of the world with Taiwanese startups continues.

iStaging builds the very first and eye-catching virtual pavilion of Taiwan Startups

By entering the "TTA Taiwan Technology Pavilion" curated by MOST and iStaging, a Taiwanese AR/VR startup, visitors can turn on full screen mode to enjoy the 360 degree virtual environment. The five major virtual stages include Healthcare & Wellness, Smart Living, Cybersecurity & Cloud Solution, Tech for Good, and Mobility Tech. Facilitated by the customized digital marketing resources of MOST, participants can meet virtually with peerless startups such as 3drens, AV Mapping, Additive Intelligence, P-Waver, Agromeans (MeansGood), Aiphas, AuthMe, BayPay, etc. Each of the featured startups is presenting exclusive innovative products, services, and solutions.

In addition to the cutting-edge products, this virtual pavilion also features "TourRing." This online touring service not only supports cross-regional/international remote viewing but also spontaneously introduces products, exhibitors, and booths with images. TourRing allows visitors to find products of interest quickly. Moreover, the exhibiting startups can monitor the online traffic and retrieve data from the back-end analysis platform, including messages, likes, countries, dwelling time, and further contact with potential buyers to create business opportunities.

Technology startups are the key driving force for a country's economic growth and industry upgrading and transformation. In the past few years, MOST has been actively promoting various innovation and entrepreneurship related policies, and has successfully commercialized numerous scientific researches. MOST's efforts have brought endless stamina into economic growth and industrial development in Taiwan. By looking forward to the future, MOST will continue to optimize innovation and entrepreneurship policies, and will further facilitate digital marketing solutions, like the TTA Taiwan Technology Pavilion at CES 2021, to unveil the best Taiwanese startups to the world.

TTA  VR Pavilion: https://pse.is/3aprxt

SOURCE Taiwan Tech Arena
(Natural News) If a bill recently proposed by lawmakers in North Dakota passes, residents there will soon have the ability to sue Big Tech companies like Facebook and Twitter for censoring them.

Currently sponsored by six legislators, an Act to permit civil actions against social media sites for censoring speech provisions that websites with more than one million users would be liable in a civil action for damages to the person whose speech is restricted, censored, or suppressed, and to any person who reasonably otherwise would have received the writing, speech, or publication.

Individuals who have been unfairly censored would be eligible for compensation, including treble damages for compensatory, consequential, and incidental damages.

Rep. Tom Kading, a Republican sponsor of the bill, admitted that he proposed the legislation in response to social media banning President Donald Trump following the false flag riot at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6.

Its just wrong to ban a sitting president, Kading told the Grand Forks Herald, adding that the legislation was crafted specifically to provide a legal tool for North Dakotans who are censored by the tech giants.

According to Kading, platforms like Facebok and Twitter routinely violate their own terms of service, which users agree to upon signing up for access.

Twitter, for instance, claims that it maintains a zero tolerance policy against violent threats. Offending posts, including those that contain a declarative call to action that could harm a specific individual or group, can be removed at will.

However, the only posts in this category that are ever removed from Twitter are those posted by conservatives and Trump supporters. Leftists routinely post hate speech and calls to violence without consequence.

Critics say that Twitter has created its own definition of violent threats that is selectively enforced only against the companys political opposition. Democrats, for instance, are almost never censored on Twitter, no matter what they say.

Federal law would still prohibit citizens from suing tech companies, attorney warns

Commenting on the legislation, attorney Akiva Cohen warns that even if it passed, it would immediately be deemed void as preempted by Section 230 [of the Communications Decency Act]. The reason for this is that federal law is supreme over state law where they conflict, and this could create an express conflict.

Section 230 has long been used as a liability shield for Big Tech companies to simultaneously act as both providers and publishers of content, depending on which configuration suits their agenda best.

The 1996 law states that providers and users of computer services cannot be held liable for any action voluntarily taken in good faith to restrict access to or availability of material that the provider or user considers to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected.

This legal shield has been abused for quite some time now, resulting in conservatives and Trump supporters bearing the brunt of Big Techs heavy hand of censorship, even as their leftist counterparts have their voices amplified on the platforms.

Trump and other Republicans have said it should be repealed, arguing that Big Tech firms have essentially overstepped their bounds by moderating content, reported The Epoch Times about the push to repeal Section 230 of the CDA.

As a gesture of support, other states besides North Dakota plan to draft similar legislation to let Congress know that We the People are not okay with having our voices silenced online.

I think all American Trump supporters should file a lawsuit of defamation of character against Congress, wrote one Epoch Times commenter, upping the ante.

More of the latest news about Big Tech censorship can be found at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
The federal government is extending travel restrictions as part of its continuous effort to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in Canada.

Canada extends international travel restrictions into February The federal government is extending travel restrictions as part of its continuous effort to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in Canada.

Canada extends international travel restrictions into February The federal government is extending travel restrictions as part of its continuous effort to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in Canada.

Canada extends international travel restrictions into February The federal government is extending travel restrictions as part of its continuous effort to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in Canada. Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Canada is extending restrictions on non-US international travel until February 21, 2021.

The month-long travel restrictions extension was announced by federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair today.

Our Government will never hesitate to take the strong action needed to keep Canadians safe from COVID-19 while maintaining essential trade with our international partners, Blair wrote in a tweet.

Blair had also announced last week that the restrictions imposed on U.S. travellers will be valid until at least February 21. The Canada-U.S. border has been closed since March to non-essential travel and this joint decision by Washington and Ottawa has been extended several times.

To protect Canadians from COVID-19, the federal government has also had international travel restriction measures in place since March to limit travel to Canada. The restrictions prohibit most non-essential or discretionary travel to the country.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration

Canadian citizens and residents may, however, return to Canada and welcome immediate and extended family members among a number of other exemptions.

Since January 7, 2021, Canada requires every international air traveller aged five years or older to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test done within 72 hours of the travellers planned departure for Canada. This negative PCR test is required before a person is allowed to board any flight bound for Canada.

Transport Canada announced the pre-departure testing requirements on December 31. The pre-departure test requirements do not exempt travellers from having to complete a 14-day quarantine period. A quarantine plan must be prepared prior to arrival in Canada to specify where and how it will be carried out.

Travellers to Canada must also use the ArriveCAN app to send their information to Canadian border services officers and learn how to comply with coronavirus measures at the border. The application is to be used by all incoming travellers to conduct daily self-assessments and share contact tracing information so it can be shared with the provinces and territories to ensure that the quarantine process is completed.

Quarantine is enforced in Canada and those who break it may be subject to fines and imprisonment.

In recent days, the Canada Border Services Agency and government officials have suggested that restrictions and controls on travellers could be tightened. Quebec Premier Francois Legault also called on the federal government on Tuesday to ban non-essential international flights during a briefing on the coronavirus.

Recent outbreaks of new variants of the virus and the resurgence of cases in several countries around the world contribute to these concerns. Additional control rules could include further screening measures or changes to border control procedures.

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in many parts of Canada, with a total of over 723,920 cases reported on January 20. Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec are seeing glimmers of hope in efforts to curb the spread of the infection, although authorities in these provinces believe it is still too early to consider easing existing restrictions.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
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NYU Steinhardts Costume Studies program presents Fashion In/Action: Dressing for Global Unrest, a new exhibition on view from February 6 to March 8, 2021 at the Broadway Windows. This display tells the story of 2020 through the lens of fashion, a medium that has emerged as an important site for building community, solidarity, and activism during a time of crisis. Through the tectonic events of the past yearthe Covid-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protestsdaily life and social relationships have been defined and enhanced by clothing in unprecedented ways as citizens have responded to two competing calls to action: to combat Covid-19 by staying home, and to confront racism and injustice by taking to the streets.



Exhibition Overview

When Covid-19 first swept the globe in the early spring of 2020, citizens throughout the world were called to do their civic duty by staying home to protect themselves and others. As routines and habits changed, so too did daily uniforms, altered to accommodate the need for comfort, relief, and a nostalgic longing for the safety of simpler times. By the summer, protests broke out across the United States in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, fueled by the anxiety of months in quarantine. A new call to action arose, one that demanded citizens take to the streets in the name of equality and justice as masked protestors employed clothing to communicate messages of activism and social change.

Fashion In/Action: Dressing for Global Unrest considers how fashion has been both transformed by the Covid-19 pandemic and activated in the service of racial justice during a time of division and physical separation. The exhibition brings together a wide variety of objects loaned from private individuals, artisans, small businesses, and major designers, each of which speaks uniquely to the ways fashion has responded to the exceptional social conditions of 2020.



Objects exploring fashions pandemic responses include a limited-edition housedress made by independent fashion label Batsheva, a statement on new challenges of domesticity and motherhood experienced by women bound to the home with their children. A series of brightly-colored sweaters knitted by private individuals after a pattern released via social media by J.W. Anderson reflects the nostalgic trends of knitting and cottagecore taken up during the pandemic, but also questions the meaning of high fashion and the role of designers in an increasingly isolated and digital sartorial landscape. Do-it-yourself (D.I.Y.) chore coat and dye kits by Reese Cooper further illustrate fashions embrace of at-home make do handicrafts at all price points, while a Risen Division jumpsuit and a pair of tie-dye Crocs echo the practicality of uniforms worn by frontline healthcare workers. A section that explores fashions prominence as a form of protest and activism includes objects such as an EMME face mask in an indigenous pattern by Native American activist designer Korina Emmerich and a hot pink pantsuit, a color and style imbued with political meaning in recent years, born of the collaboration between womens workwear brand Argent and womens activist group Supermajority. A white ensemble worn at the Brooklyn Black Trans Lives Matter March is a testament to fashions allyship and adds a new dimension to the long history of white as a color of political protest. The exhibition also includes an End Systemic Racism bag by leading designer Brandon Blackwood, which was propelled to unexpected popularity by its unequivocal message.

Perhaps no other designer has responded to 2020s calls to action more wholeheartedly than Christian Siriano, who pivoted his garment manufacturing to personal protective masks on March 20th. Earning praise and a grant from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Sirianos longstanding ethos of generosity and inclusivity came to the fore as he produced PPE in the worst weeks of New Yorks supply shortages. Fashion In/Action: Dressing for Global Unrest will feature four ensembles from Sirianos Spring/Summer 2021 Collection 37, shown at a socially distanced runway show at his home in Connecticut in September. Conceived during lockdown, these looks embody the designers resourcefulness in finding creative inspiration at home, like many creatives and amateur D.I.Y.-ers of 2020, and used his prominent platform to amplify a message of activism through his VOTE ensembles which were widely shared by celebrities across social media on the precipice of a major presidential election.

Exhibition Credits

Fashion In/Action: Dressing for Global Unrest is curated by the NYU Costume Studies Masters candidates: Laine Weber Callahan, Shelby Ivey Christie, Juliana Cirillo, Mimi Eltemur, Mary Kate Farley, Emily Elizabeth Lance, Tessa Ina Laney, Anna Tendler Mulaney, Emily Mushaben, Leia Pellot, Stephanie Ray, and Victoria Sperotto, under the direction of Mellissa Huber, Assistant Curator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Costume Institute.

Related Events

Virtual Opening Reception: Saturday, February 6, 2021, 6:00 pm  7:00 pm

A virtual reception celebrating the opening of Fashion In/Action: Dressing for Global Unrest will be held via Zoom. Free and open to the public, this cocktail hour event will feature curators remarks and offer a how-to demonstration to create your own knit square from J.W. Andersons cardigan pattern. Interested attendees should register in advance.

Virtual Symposium: Sunday, February 21, 2021, 10:30 a.m.  3:30 pm

In conjunction with the exhibition, NYUs Costume Studies program will present a virtual symposium via Zoom, free and accessible to all. The symposium will feature presentations of original research related to the exhibition by the team of curators, as well as a keynote speech by fashion designer Korina Emmerich.

Korina Emmerich has built her Brooklyn NY based brand, EMME Studio, on the backbone of Expression, Art and Culture, leading the charge to embrace art and design as one and weaving it into her brand story. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, her colorful work is known to reflect her patrilineal Indigenous heritage stemming from The Coast Salish Territory, Puyallup tribe. With a strong focus in social and climate justice while speaking out about industry responsibility and accountability: Emmerich works actively to expose and dismantle systems of oppression and challenge colonial ways of thinking. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Slow Factory Foundation and is a speaker and panelist at sustainable literacy events and global conferences discussing: slow fashion, sustainability, dismantling white supremacy, environmental racism, sovereignty, climate and social justice and combating systemic racism. All EMME Studio garments are made giving respect to the life cycle of a garment from creation to biodegradation. Intersted attendees should register in advance.



Please visit our website for more information: www.fashioninactionexhibition.com.

About NYU Costume Studies (@nyucostumestudies)

Since 1979, NYU Steinhardts MA Program in Costume Studies has focused on the history of dress and textiles in its broadest aesthetic and cultural context. It was the first curriculum in the U.S. to educate specialists in this field. With a core of courses on the history of fashion and textiles, the program trains students in the research and analysis of the fascinating phenomenon of dress.

About 80 Washington Square East (@80WSE)

Founded in 1974, NYU's 80 Washington Square East is a not-for-profit gallery presenting contemporary and historical exhibitions, under the curatorial direction of Lucas Quigley, Acting Director. Recent shows include Louise Lawler, Lutz Bacher, Dora Budor, Harun Farocki, Nina Beier and John Miller, Diamond Stingily, Patricia L. Boyd, Peter Gidal, Lyle Ashton Harris, and Duane Linklater. The gallery exhibits in two further locations, at Broadway Windows (Broadway and East 10th Street), and Washington Square Windows (next to the gallery), both on view 24/7. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit https://research.steinhardt.nyu.edu/80wse/.
As the first second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, husband to Vice President Kamala Harris, is bringing a little New Jersey to the White House.

But it wasnt Emhoff, who grew up in Old Bridge and Matawan, who earned raves on social media during the inauguration.

That honor goes to his daughter, Ella Emhoff, 22, who arrived in a striking plaid designer coat with bespangled shoulders and a bold white collar.

The younger Emhoff, Harris stepdaughter, is a designer herself, but the coat, encrusted in marmalade-hued crystals, was from Miu Miu.

The statement coat moved fashionistas watching at home to anoint Emhoff an incoming White House style icon.

From left: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris, Cole Emhoff, Ella Emhoff and former Vice President Mike Pence watch in front of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as Lady Gaga sings the national anthem at the inauguration. Win McNamee | Getty Images

But it wasnt just the coat that drew applause  her eyebrows did, too.

And not necessarily because of their shape or fullness, but because Emhoff appeared to playfully waggle them in Pences direction, as captured in various video clips that replayed the moment for prosperity on Twitter.

Iconic eyebrow action from Ella Emhoff here when she sees Mike Pence pic.twitter.com/GBPeqndDco  Jono Read (@jonoread) January 20, 2021

Emhoff, a textile student at the Parsons School of Design at The New School in New York who lives in Brooklyn, shares her knitwear, including pants, shorts, shirts, housecoats and bikinis, on Instagram.

I think the goal is definitely to have my own knitwear brand, label, whatever you call it, she told Vices Garage in November. Setting up a shop, most likely online of where I can just have a bunch of different pieces that Im constantly creating and doing my commission-based work and having that all be in a shop.

Lmaoooo Ella Emhoffs eyebrow waggle this is amazing pic.twitter.com/DYoKI1fvHI  Jess Davidson (@DavidsonJess22) January 20, 2021

The budding designer, who attended the inauguration with her brother, Cole, says shes been inspired by cartoons like The Simpsons and likes working in pastel colors.

Emhoff also drew praise for a Thom Browne suit look she wore in Washington, D.C. before the inauguration.

After the big fashion moment in the spotlight on national TV  and that eyebrow interlude  its safe to say shes attracted a whole new audience for her work and looks.

Kamala Harris step daughter Ella Emhoff wearing Thom Browne & an embellished coat. Let me tell you, I am excited for the next 4 years! pic.twitter.com/lHgkHiKQLN  hautelemode (@hautelemess) January 20, 2021

As an artsy teen, I feel the need to note how much Ella Emhoffs representation means to us pic.twitter.com/nwOiT7ezmI  Elliot  (@ElliotOpp) January 20, 2021

first daughter of bushwick and second daughter of the country, ella emhoff, arrives pic.twitter.com/CO3laQXkY9  Ben Kesslen (@benkesslen) January 20, 2021

Excited for Ella Emhoff to become a style icon over the next four years pic.twitter.com/aE6UVTk9oh  Meghan Smith (@meghansmith55) January 20, 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.
New Delhi: Director of Amazon Prime Videos political drama Tandav, Ali Abbas Zafar, Amazon Prime India head Aparna Purohit, producer Himanshu Mehra and the show's writer Gaurav Solanki have been granted transit pre-arrest bail by the Bombay high court on Wednesday (January 20).

The makers were granted transit pre-arrest bail for three weeks in relation to the FIR filed against them in Lucknow. The complaint was registered at Lucknows Hazratganj Kotwali against Amazon Prime India head of original content, Ali Abbas Zafar, Himanshu Krishna Mehra, Gaurav Solanki and others for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

Earlier on Wednesday, another FIR was lodged against five people including director Ali Abbas Zafar, producer Himanshu Mehra,writer Gaurav Solanki, Aparna Purohit and Amit Aggarwal in Mumbai's Ghatkopar. It was reportedly filed following BJP MLA Ram Kadam's complaint.

Tandav has been under fire for some days now with many BJP leaders demanding a ban on the series and regulation of OTT platforms. People were outraged over a few scenes of the series including one where actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub plays lord Shiva, which allegedly mocked Hindu gods and hurt sentiments.

On Tuesday (January 19), director Zafar had released an official statement on behalf of Tandav cast and crew, seeking an apology for unintentionally hurting sentiments, adding that they will implement changes to the web series to address the concerns raised towards the same.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had also reacted to the whole controversy surrounding the web series. He said, We have received a complaint related to web-series Tandav and will take due action, on the basis of the FIR registered. The central government should constitute a law for OTT. The Lucknow police has informed us and they have always cooperated with us. Complaints regarding OTT content have been made several times and now there should be some regulation in place.

Saif Ali Khan starrer Tandav released on OTT giant Amazon Prime Video on January 15, 2021. The star cast also includes Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Gauahar Khan, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Kumud Mishra among others.

(With inputs from PTI.)
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President-elect Joe Biden plans to begin immediately unwinding President Donald Trumps policies on immigration, climate and other issues on Wednesday with at least 15 executive actions, including moves to reverse US withdrawals from the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization, and stop construction of a border wall.

Biden will also sign orders revoking a permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, imposing a mask mandate on federal property to combat the coronavirus pandemic and ending Trumps travel ban against some predominantly Muslim and African countries.

While some of the orders roll back unilateral measures Trump imposed, others -- including an extension of moratoriums on student loan payments, foreclosures and evictions -- are intended to address the health and economic crisis wrought by the pandemic.

Were seeing too many Americans that are just barely keeping their heads above water," incoming National Economic Director Brian Deese told reporters in a call previewing the executive actions.

Bidens aides say hell sign more Day One executive actions than any of his predecessors, to be followed by additional regulatory and policy changes over the coming weeks. That will includes rolling back the so-called Mexico City policy" restricting federal funding for organizations that provide abortion counseling and revoking the ban on military service by transgender Americans

The Day One agenda includes:

Re-engaging with World Health Organization

Biden plans to immediately rejoin the World Health Organization, which Trump exited in May, saying China exerted too much pressure on the agency. Hell dispatch the governments foremost infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, to represent the US Thursday at the WHOs Executive Board meeting.

Mask mandate on US properties

The new presidents mask mandate will require face coverings and physical distancing for everyone in federal buildings and on federal lands. The requirement isnt itself likely to have a major impact, as many federal offices are closed or have already implemented safety measures, but the Biden administration says its an illustration of the government leading by example after Trump and his aides flouted federal public health guidance.

Biden will simultaneously launch a 100 Day Masking Challenge" asking Americans to mask up for the first 100 days of his administration.

Eviction and foreclosure moratoriums

His actions on the economy are intended to aid people suffering because of the pandemic. Hell direct federal agencies to extend moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures until at least March 31.

Some 20% of renters and 1 in 10 homeowners are behind on their payments, Bidens transition team said. His administration will request additional assistance for Americans struggling with their housing payments as part of a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief proposal to Congress.

Easing burden of student loans

Another action will pause the accrual of interest and principal payments on federal student loans until Sept. 30.

Rejoining the climate agreement

Biden will make several initial moves to restore efforts by the Obama administration to combat climate change, including re-joining the Paris accord. That deal, negotiated while Biden was vice president, requires countries to create emissions targets with the goal of keeping global average temperatures less than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Revoking Keystone XL pipeline

Biden will also revoke permits for projects hes determined arent in the nations best interest -- including the Keystone XL pipeline, which was rejected by Obama only for Trump to approve it on his third day in office. Canadian officials have already registered a protest over the planned move, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying Tuesday his government was making sure that Canadas views are heard and considered by the incoming administration."

Fuel standards, and use of federal lands

The new president will also direct agencies to consider revising federal fuel economy and emissions standards for vehicles, appliances, and construction after the Trump administration looked to reduce requirements, calling them excessively burdensome or expensive for businesses and consumers.

Biden will also call for the Interior Department to review protected federal properties that were reduced in size or opened to commercial use during the Trump administration -- often at the request of energy companies. He plans to issue a temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Revisiting Trumps regulatory agenda

The incoming administration has also compiled a list of more than 100 agency actions taken during the Trump administration for review, in what could result in a massive regulatory revision. Also planned are broader measures the administration argues will assist disadvantaged Americans, including a policy to make it easier for the federal government to issue regulations.

No more money for wall

Biden is expected to repeal the national emergency on the US-Mexico border, halting funding for Trumps signature border wall that symbolized his crackdown on undocumented immigrants. The new president will order an immediately pause in construction on the barrier, and a review of how best to redirect funds diverted from military construction and counter-narcotics budgets that Trump used to build the wall.

Scrapping the travel ban

The incoming administration is also scrapping Trumps travel ban on several Middle East, Central Asian and African countries, most of them with majority Muslim populations, that the outgoing president had deemed terrorist threats. Trumps policy was was nothing less than a stain on our nation" and rooted in xenophobia and religious animus," Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters in a conference call.

Counting noncitizens for the US Census

Biden also intends to end Trumps plan to exclude noncitizens from the decennial U.S. Census, a change that could affect how congressional seats and Electoral College votes are apportioned for the next decade. Steven Dillingham, director of the Census Bureau under Trump, announced his resignation this week amid criticism by the Office of Inspector General for the Census, which found career employees felt pressure to produce a report without clear rules on how to count undocumented persons.

Bolstering Sanctuaries and the DACA Program

Biden plans to repeal a Trump executive order that sought to crack down on undocumented people living in the country by withholding funding from so-called sanctuary jurisdictions, cities and counties that dont allow their police to cooperate with immigration authorities. Trumps order also directed federal agencies to prioritize resources for immigration enforcement over other duties.

And Biden will seek to strengthen the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that provides deportation protections to immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. Trump sought to unwind the program during his administration, believing it would provide him leverage in congressional negotiations on an immigration overhaul.

Protecting liberians who fled civil war

Biden will also extend a deportation deferral for Liberians living in the U.S. under a two-decade old program designed to offer safe haven to people who fled that countrys civil war. Trump sought to eliminate the protection, arguing conditions in Liberia had improved, while Biden will extend it to at least June 2022.

Racial equity review for all of government

Biden will order a whole-of government racial equity" review led by Domestic Policy Council director Susan Rice that will require each department and agency to conduct a baseline review" of whether its policies disadvantage any demographic group. The Office of Management and Budget will also undertake a review to more equitably allocate federal resources," according to a summary of the action provided by Bidens team.

The president-elect has promised to root out systemic racism from our institutions," Rice said.

Closing down the 1776 commission

Biden will also reverse Trumps efforts to ban diversity training for federal workers, and eliminate the 1776 Commission -- a project Trump created last year to counter efforts to teach American students the foundational role slavery played in the nations creation. Trumps commission issued its own version of the history of the nations founding on Monday, arguing that the foundation of our Republic planted the seeds of the death of slavery in America."

New protections against discrimination

The new administration will sign an executive order prohibiting workplace discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Ethics rules for political appointees

Biden will also implement new ethics rules for political appointees across the administration.

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Doctors at major hospitals in several Vietnamese localities have convened an online meeting to discuss treatment for a 79-year-old COVID-19 patient after her conditions turned critical.

The patient returned to Vietnam from the United States on January 13, according to a Ministry of Health report.

Her family member in the U.S. was also infected with COVID-19.

She tested positive for the novel coronavirus on January 14 and is being treated at the Da Nang Hospital for Lung Diseases in the central city of Da Nang.

As the elderly woman was in bad health, the treatment sub-committee under the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control convened an online consultation on Tuesday to seek the best treatment plan for the patient.

The meeting was attended by doctors at Bach Mai Hospital, National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Da Nang Hospital, Da Nang Hospital for Lung Diseases, and Quang Nam Central General Hospital.

According to Dr. Le Thanh Phuc, director of the Da Nang Hospital for Lung Diseases, the patient has a history of diabetes and high blood pressure.

On January 17, she developed such conditions as mild dyspnea, fatigue, loose stools, and poor appetite.

The patient suffered difficulty breathing on January 19.

Doctors at the teleconference suggested that the Da Nang Hospital for Lung Diseases evaluate the patients lung damage, consider conducting pleural ultrasound, and assess her cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.

The infirmary should also boost nutrition for the patient as she is underweight and can easily become exhausted.

Doctors also recommended using certain medicine, performing stool tests, and conducting microbiological culture to assess her overall conditions.

Earlier, on January 7, doctors and experts in Vietnam attended an online meeting to discuss treatment for two seriously-ill COVID-19 patients at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Quang Nam Central General Hospital.

Vietnam has documented 1,540 COVID-19 cases, with 1,402 recoveries and 35 deaths as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
SALEM, Ore.  Governor Kate Brown and Senator Jeff Merkley released statements on Wednesday after the swearing-in of President Joe Biden as 46th President of the United States  both of them celebrating the change in leadership, and alluding to a bill that would overhaul voting in the country.

Sen. Merkley is one sponsor of the For the People Act, which promises to reform the nation's campaign finance laws, expand vote-by-mail, automatically register eligible citizens, require greater accessibility for disabled and older voters, and ban false information about elections, among a number of other measures.

Today our country starts a new chapter to build back better, for everyone. The road ahead wont be easy, but democracy is worth the effort. Lets get to work.  Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 20, 2021

A similar version of the bill was passed in the House in 2019, but was blocked in the Senate by outgoing Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Governor Kate Brown

"Today marks a new chapter for our country as we welcome President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to the White House. It is an especially extraordinary moment for our nation to celebrate the historic swearing-in of our first female, Black and Asian Vice President  and the incredibly diverse Cabinet that President Biden has nominated. Our government should be reflective of the people it represents, and now Americans across the country will see themselves in the people holding leadership positions.

"We have waited a long time to have a strong, competent and trustworthy partner we can work with at the federal level  and now more than ever, we need that federal leadership to help states beat COVID-19, once and for all. As we still face what could be the darkest days of the pandemic, President Biden has laid out a strong vision and clear plan, based on science, for how the federal government will help the American people, and governors across the country  starting with the announcement of a much-needed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. I look forward to working with the President, Vice President and Congress on getting this ground-breaking package across the finish line.

"I also look forward to working with the new Congress on their For the People Act, which would establish Vote-By-Mail and Automatic Voter Registration nationally.

"Election after election, here in Oregon, we set the example for our country. Our 30-year-old Vote-by-Mail system took a turn on the national stage as states across the country shifted to voting by mail, and voting early, to enable people to vote safely and securely.

"Now, the work begins to make that permanent. I am so very proud that Oregons Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Amy Klobuchar have crafted this comprehensive legislation, which will be the first bill taken up by the new Congress. If passed, this bill will require the reforms we started in Oregon to be adopted by every state in the country. Automatic Voter Registration and Vote-By-Mail should be available to every citizen in this country.

"I hope that all of you will join me in supporting the passage of the For the People Act in the Senate. Because, the right to vote is fundamental  and it is sacred.

"While there are many challenges ahead, on this historic day I remain hopeful. We are determined as ever to rise, rebuild, and reinvent a more just and equitable country."

Senator Jeff Merkley

In the midst of one of the darkest winters in American history, today is cause for celebration and resolve. Today, our nation begins the hard work of turning the page on a dark chapter marked by racism, division, and incivility, as we set out to write a new one of hope, freedom, and equality for all.

It wont be easy. First and foremost, we must face and defeat a devastating pandemic that has already claimed 400,000 American lives and robbed millions of their livelihoods. But we must also reckon with deeper and more long-lasting forces that have shaped everything about our lives and our politics, up to and including the current pandemic.

For decades, powerful special interests have done everything in their power to rig our economy and our society in their favor. Theyve flooded Washington with dark money, and stoked fears and pitted groups of Americans against each other in order to protect themselves. Their project has done real, lasting damage to the fabric of our republic, and its on each of us to do our part to restore it.

I have every confidence that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are well equipped to lead that charge with the skill, compassion, and determination it will require. And I am fully committed to doing all that I can to ensure that the Senate is a strong partner to their effortsfrom tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the climate crisis, to passing the For the People Act and reinvigorating our democracy, to addressing directly our national shame of racism and discrimination and ensuring that every hardworking American has a roof over their head and food on their table. Lets get to work.

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Senator Thorpe said the Premier "cannot dictate to us what we do when we are fighting for our basic human rights. We will listen to the advice of the medical people." Hand sanitiser would be available and groups would be encouraged to distance from one another, she said. The Premier made similar comments before last year's Black Lives Matter rallies, when tens of thousands of anti-racism protesters defied COVID-19 health warnings to take to the streets as Melbourne's second wave of COVID-19 cases grew. Three organisers of the Melbourne event, which passed without any arrests amid a heavy police presence, were each fined $1652 for breaching coronavirus restrictions. University of Sydney infectious diseases expert Robert Booy said the protest could go ahead safely under stringent conditions, such as mandating face masks and social distancing, limiting crowd numbers and carefully monitoring people's behaviour.

"I can understand people wanting to protest and we have to remember we are allowing other events to go ahead, like the Australian Open, when there is safety involved," he said. "If we take all the best possible precautions, like having a limited number at a limited time, ensuring people wear face masks, use hand gel, social distance, this all minimises the risk." Professor Booy said there must be consultation between police, public health officials and the people leading the protest "so that it's all done smoothly". "Given the direction we're heading, with low transmission rates in the community and with high observance of appropriate precautions, the smoothest path may well be to allow protests within appropriate bounds," he said. University of South Australia epidemiologist Adrian Esterman said that despite Victoria recording a 15-day run of no locally acquired cases on Thursday, the risk of undetected transmission of the virus still lingered in Melbourne. However, he believed the protest could be held safely.

"There is risk in holding this protest, but it is quite minimal," he said. "If there was community transmission circulating in Melbourne, I would say it should absolutely not go ahead, but at the moment it is fairly safe as long as there is no outbreaks between then and now." The former World Health Organisation adviser said face masks should be mandated at the rally. La Trobe University epidemiologist Hassan Vally said the protest posed a dilemma because it was a situation where public health was colliding with an emotionally charged social issue. "If you put your public health blinkers on and detach yourself from the emotion of it, from a scientific perspective we know that having large groups of people together is not consistent with everything that we've done over the past 12 months to protect people," Professor Vally said.

On the other side of this, it is understanding that people strongly believe that these issues transcend everything else that's going on and they see it as vitally important to have their voices heard." Professor Vally urged Victorians to consider other ways they could protest on January 26. He said Victoria had seen first-hand how quickly the virus could spread and it was paramount if people attended the rally they followed public health advice such as social distancing, wearing a face masks and maintaining hand hygiene. "If there was one time in a generation that we should possibly try and protest in other ways, then this would be it," Professor Vally said. The worst-case scenario is that there is a super-spreader in a huge crowd who could infect a lot of people that will all go back to different areas of Melbourne, and two weeks later we will have hundreds or thousands of cases. Thats our biggest fear.
Keen travellers have snapped up 40,000 regional travel vouchers issued by the Victorian government within half an hour of them being released.

The second round of the Regional Travel Voucher Scheme, providing $200 to put towards trips to country Victoria, was exhausted within 30 minutes of their release online at 10am Wednesday.

The vouchers can be put towards accomodation, tours or meals during trips to locations around regional Victoria. Credit:Justin McManus

Those who too slow to nab their voucher will have to wait until the next round is released on March 30.

The system ran more smoothly on Wednesday than during the release of vouchers in December, which saw the vic.gov.au/regional-travel-voucher-scheme website crash due to demand.
In today's coronavirus news, updates on the vaccine programme in the UK and results from a study on former patients

Six pharmacies in UK high street began administering COVID-19 vaccines to priority groups on Thursday.

Sites in Halifax, Macclesfield, Widnes, Guildford, Edgware and Telford have started offering appointments to people vulnerable to the virus who were invited by letter.

The number of chemists is expected to rise to 200 in the next two weeks, the BBC reported.

The UK has set out the goal to give the first dose of a vaccine  either the Oxford/ or the /BioNTech  to 15mln people by mid-February.

As of Thursday, over 2.6mln care home residents and workers and healthcare staff had been injected with a vaccine.

On Wednesday night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs the country will be going to 24/7 as soon as we can and health secretary Matt Hancock should be announcing further details in due course.

Alongside the pharmacies, the vaccination sites network counts 233 hospitals, 1,000 GP surgeries and 50 dedicated centres.

Meanwhile, said it cannot speed up the biological process but it expects to supply tens of millions of doses in the first three months of 2021.

"We've released just over 1.1 million doses, to date, and we are scaling up as we've said very rapidly. And this will happen imminently, to releasing two million doses a week, we're absolutely on track to do that," Tom Keith-Roach, president of AstraZeneca UK, told parliament.

"We're scaling up to two million a week imminently, and certainly we hope to be there on or before the middle of February.

Building up immunity

A new study shows that most people who have contracted the virus built immunity from the virus for at least five months.

However, experts warned that those who are protected against reinfection may still be able to carry the virus in their nose and throat and therefore have a risk of transmitting to others.

Public Health England has been regularly testing tens of thousands of health care workers across the UK since June for new COVID-19 infections as well as the presence of antibodies, which suggest people have been infected before.

Even if you believe you already had the disease and are protected, you can be reassured it is highly unlikely you will develop severe infections but there is still a risk that you could acquire an infection and transmit to others. Now more than ever it is vital we all stay at home to protect our health service and save lives, said Professor Susan Hopkins, Senior Medical Advisor at Public Health England.
(Natural News) A Big Tech insider revealed Twitter CEO Jack Dorseys large-scale plan to censor conservative voices. The Twitter whistleblower reached out to anti-corruption group Project Veritas with footage of Dorsey laying out his roadmap. The Twitter head said that while the company was currently focused on President Donald Trump, subsequent censorship will be much bigger.

Project Veritas posted the footage Jan. 14, showing Dorsey calling for more action against Trump and his supporters on Twitter. He remarked: The focus is certainly on [Trumps] account and how it ties to real-world violence. Dorsey added that the social media platform needs to think much longer term around how these dynamics play out over time.

The Twitter CEO mentioned that political tensions are high in the U.S., with people extremely divided over political beliefs. Our platform is showing that every single day, he added.

Dorsey pointed out that Trump being banned from Twitter is just the first step of this censorship roadmap. He explained: We are focused on one account [that of Trump] right now, but this is going to be much bigger than just one account. Its going to go on for much longer than just one day, this week, the next few weeks  and go on.

He noted that Twitter had already set its sights on QAnon, another right-wing movement with a presence on the platform. The moves that were making today around QAnon, for instance, [is] one such example of a much broader approach that we should be looking at and going deeper on, Dorsey said.

The footage of Dorsey outlining the censorship roadmap followed Twitters permanent suspension of Trump. In a Jan. 8 blog post, the social media site said it suspended the presidents account due to the risk of further incitement of violence. Trumps suspension came in light of the Jan. 6 siege at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. which left five dead. The blog post explained that two of Trumps tweets went against the platforms policy regarding glorification of violence.

There have been growing calls to curtail Twitters growing censorship powers

Twitters ban on Trump was the first instance of the social media platform banning a head of state. A number of world leaders and foreign figures reacted to the ban, expressing concern over Twitters growing censorship power.

A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she considered the ban on Trumps account problematic. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny called it unacceptable, noting that the decision was based on emotions and personal political preferences. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire commented: What shocks me is that Twitter is the one to close his account. The regulation of the digital world cannot be done by the digital oligarchy.

A number of politicians have openly criticized Twitter, foremost among them Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). In October 2020, he called Big Tech censorship the greatest threat to free speech and democracy. The lawmaker made the statements during an interview with Breitbart News Daily host Alex Marlow. According to Cruz, a handful of Silicon Valley billionaires have obtained unprecedented power over public discourse. These same billionaires are shamelessly silencing and censoring conservatives using the power they amassed, he continued.

The Texas senator remarked that the Trump administration and the Department of Justice must use enforcement [and] prosecution actions to preserve First Amendment protections. (Related: Ted Cruz: Tech censorship is todays greatest threat to free speech and democracy.)

Later, Cruz slammed Twitter for its censorship of the New York Post after the paper exposed questionable emails from Hunter Biden. The lawmaker accused the Twitter CEO of hypocrisy in a strongly worded letter. It said: Twitters censorship of this story is quite hypocritical, given its willingness to allow users to share less-well-sourced reporting critical of other candidates for public office.

Cruz posited that Twitters censorship of the Post was an obvious and transparent attempt to influence the November 2020 general elections. (Related: WATCH: Ted Cruz eviscerates Jack Dorsey over whether Twitter is a publisher.)

The senator wrote in his letter that Twitter is aware of its power to influence public dialogue, and it used its power to prevent the American people from seeing the Posts story. Without the social media platforms pre-emptive censorship, voters finding out the story could significantly influence their views of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

Censorship.news has more news about Big Tech firms suppression of conservatives.

Sources include:

ProjectVeritas.com

Blog.Twitter.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Breitbart.com

Twitter.com
Her ex husband Ben Affleck is currently in the midst of heartache after he was reportedly broken up with over the phone by his girlfriend Ana de Armas.

And Jennifer Garner appeared to be carrying some stresses of her own on Tuesday, while stopping to take a call in Brentwood.

The 48-year-old actress, with her cellphone pressed to her ear, listened intently to the person on the other line, while pacing up and down the residential street.

Look of worry: Jennifer Garner appeared to be carrying some stresses of her own on Tuesday, while stopping to take a call in Brentwood

Good listener: The 48-year-old actress, with her cellphone pressed to her ear, listened intently to the person on the other line, while pacing up and down the residential street

The Alias star appeared to be wearing little to no makeup and she let her lengthy brunette hair and stylish fringe rock its natural wave pattern.

Jennifer layered an embroidered sweater over a plain white tee and threw on her go-to pair of denim jeans for her tense outing.

To complete her outfit, Garner slipped her feet into some pale blue sneakers and tossed on a single pendant necklace.

Jennifer proved to be a great listener as she patiently took in every word her caller had to say.

Casual: Jennifer layered an embroidered sweater over a plain white tee and threw on her go-to pair of denim jeans for her tense outing

Taking it all in: Jennifer proved to be a great listener as she patiently took in every word her caller had to say

Jennifer's seemingly worry stricken outing comes just one day after it was reported that her ex Ben Affleck had split from his girlfriend of nearly a year Ana de Armas.

And on Tuesday, Ben was spotted looking worse for wear as she exited his home to collect his contactless coffee order from Dunkin Donuts.

The 48-year-old appeared thinner than usual in black jeans, a grey T-shirt with a lightening bolt on the front and a slate toned zip-up hoodie.

Ben's usually round boyish face was drawn. His cheek bones protruded a bit above a scruffy beard and the star had dark circles under his eyes.

Natural beauty: The Alias star appeared to be wearing little to no makeup and she let her lengthy brunette hair and stylish fringe rock its natural wave pattern

Keeping it simple: To complete her outfit, Garner slipped her feet into some pale blue sneakers and tossed on a single pendant necklace

Affleck and the 32-year-old Cuban beauty originally met on the set of the their soon to be released erotic thriller Deep Water in the fall of 2019.

But the pair did not take their relationship to a romantic level until early 2020, which resulted in them hunkering down together at Affleck's Pacific Palisades mansion in March due to COVID-19 lockdown.

In recent months it was also rumored that Ana had listed her Venice abode to move into Ben's lavish home, thus marking another major step in their seemingly love-filled relationship.

But, despite sources claiming their recent breakup was amicable, it's been reported that Ana dumped Ben over the phone.

In the midst: Jennifer's seemingly worry stricken outing comes just one day after it was reported that her ex Ben Affleck had split from his girlfriend of nearly a year Ana de Armas

In the midst: Jennifer's seemingly worry stricken outing comes just one day after it was reported that her ex Ben Affleck had split from his girlfriend of nearly a year Ana de Armas

Right after the couple's split made news on Monday, someone was seen trashing a life-sized, cardboard cut-out of the Knives Out actress in the garbage bins outside Affleck's home.

A source told People on Tuesday that Ben has 'been upset about the split' and that he 'really wanted their relationship to work.'

'Ana is young and adventurous,' their source adds. 'When she is not working, she wants to travel. She doesn't want to settle down in Los Angeles. Ben needs to live in L.A. since his kids do.'

Heartbroken: And on Tuesday, Ben was spotted looking worse for wear as she exited his home to collect his contactless coffee order from Dunkin Donuts

Co-stars: Affleck and the 32-year-old Cuban beauty originally met on the set of the their soon to be released erotic thriller Deep Water in the fall of 2019; Ben and Ana pictured in April

Another source told the outlet on Monday that one reason for the shocking separation was Ana's distaste towards being tied down to Los Angeles.

'Ben is no longer dating Ana. She broke it off. Their relationship was complicated. Ana doesn't want to be Los Angeles based and Ben obviously has to since his kids live in Los Angeles,' they claimed.

Another insider added that the split was mutual and 'completely amicable'.

Wanted it to work: A source told People on Tuesday that Ben has 'been upset about the split' and that he 'really wanted their relationship to work'; Ben and Ana pictured in June

He has to stay: 'Ben is no longer dating Ana. She broke it off. Their relationship was complicated. Ana doesn't want to be Los Angeles based and Ben obviously has to since his kids live in Los Angeles,' they claimed; Jennifer pictured with daughters Violet, Seraphina, and son Samuel in April

They told the publication: 'They are in different points in their lives; there is deep love and respect there. Ben continues to want to work on himself. He has three jobs lined up and hes a solid father at home. They are both happy with where they are in their lives.'

Ben shares three kids, daughters Violet, Seraphina, and son Samuel, with ex wife Jennifer Garner, who is based in the city.

Jennifer and Ben were married 2005 until their tumultuous split in 2018, following claims of infidelity and substance abuse on Ben's part.
James Kwabena Bomfeh, former General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP), has warned the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) against making accusations about the Judiciary.



Mr. Kwabena Bomfeh, also called Kabilla, noted that the Supreme Court has bent its own rules to give the NDC Presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, room to amend his petition challenging the legitimacy of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's victory in the 2020 Presidential elections.



The petitioner (John Mahama) through his lawyers prayed the Supreme Court Justices hearing the case for permisson to amend some mistakes in his petition, which the court granted.



He stated that, according to Constitutional Instrument (CI) 99, a Presidential petition should not be amended ''but this a political matter'', a reason why the court consented to the amendment.



According to Kabilla, the decision was a kind gesture by the court to Mr. Mahama, hence issuing a strong warning to his party's members not to make a u-turn and accuse the Juidiciary wrongly because they went against their own rules.



''I hope the NDC people who have been accusing the Judiciary all the time will not accuse the Judiciary of allowing them to bend their own rules to entertain an amendment from the NDC or, in fact the NDC is not a party to this case, so the candidate of the NDC in the 2020 Presidential elections who is the petitioner in this matter. I don't think they will accuse the Judiciary that they have been unfair about bending their own rules'', he cautioned.



James Kwabena Bomfeh made these comments during a panel discussion on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The corrupt politicians Mr. Trump rewarded included three former Republican members of the House and Kwame Kilpatrick, a Democrat and former Detroit mayor. Another individual, the disgraced (and twice convicted) megadonor Elliot Broidy, had financial and political ties to Mr. Trump. Like Mr. Bannon, might Mr. Broidy also have incriminating information Mr. Trump does not want revealed? About 20 years ago, President Bill Clintons pardon of the tax cheat Marc Rich set off a bipartisan wave of outrage and a criminal investigation into whether it was a result of a bribe. Mr. Trumps pardons are worse and should be criminally investigated.

Presidential pardon power is extraordinary, but it is not limitless. For the past 25 years, the Supreme Court has been reading federal grants of power like the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause more narrowly than at any time since 1937. The court should be just as strict in giving the pardon power only its original public meaning.

Mr. Trump did not have the constitutional power to obstruct justice by failing to faithfully execute the law through pardons of associates like Mr. Bannon, who could potentially testify against him. The Constitution and its amendments work like a giant power of attorney by which the founding generation, and their successors, We the People, have delegated certain limited and enumerated powers to the president, Congress, the federal courts and the states. The president is empowered to take care that the laws be faithfully executed and not to break them.

As Edward Coke famously argued in Dr. Bonhams Case in 1610, no one can be a judge in his own cause. This has been a bedrock principle of Anglo-American law for more than 400 years  one that Mr. Trump sought to shatter by pardoning people who might testify against him. The Constitution does not authorize that, and we believe the courts should reject such pardons, as the Department of Justice did when it addressed the question of presidential self-pardons at the end of the Nixon administration.

Recent decisions of the Supreme Court of Britain have held that monarchal prerogatives akin to the pardon power must yield to modern practice. In 2017, the court held that Queen Elizabeth IIs executive power did not allow her to effectuate Brexit by nullifying the treaties by which Britain had joined the European Union  even though traditionally monarchs (and U.S. presidents) have unilaterally abrogated treaties. Then in 2019, the British Supreme Court held that she had acted unlawfully when she attempted to exercise another of her powers by proroguing, or temporarily suspending, a session of Parliament at the request of the prime minister to advance Brexit.

A Winnipeg dentist says she was shocked by the disorganization of the vaccine rollout when she arrived for her first shift as a volunteer immunizer at the RBC Convention Centre super site last week.

A Winnipeg dentist says she was shocked by the disorganization of the vaccine rollout when she arrived for her first shift as a volunteer immunizer at the RBC Convention Centre super site last week.

The first red flag came shortly after she walked through the door.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES A healthcare worker makes her way to the entrance of the RBC Convention Centre doors to get her vaccination shot for COVID-19.

"There is a separate entrance for the staff and theres a desk with a security guard. There is an actual physical sign-in sheet with one pen. No one disinfects the pen in between people so all the staff for the whole day use the same pen. I was floored," said the woman who did not want her name published.

"Theres a big hall with maybe 30 or 40 stations separated I checked in and said, Im here. Nobody checked my ID, nobody checked anything. I was flabbergasted. I could have been anybody. They just said, Go in, heres your desk." She said she felt unprepared by the training offered by the province: a course at Red River College, followed by an online class on workplace safety and privacy concerns.

Manitoba's pandemic response a lesson in what not to do: retired EMO boss Click to Expand Putting health care officials in charge of contact tracing, testing and vaccine implementation was too much to ask of them, says former Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization executive director Chuck Sanderson. (David Lipnowski / Winnipeg Free Press files) Posted: 7:30 PM Jan. 19, 2021 Problems with the province's vaccine rollout and its handling of the COVID-19 crisis could've been prevented, said Chuck Sanderson, who ran Manitoba's Emergency Measures Organization for 11 years before retiring. He said there's a "fatal flaw" in it. "They tasked all the planning to an already exhausted health department," he said. "They're not equipped to be emergency managers." The Emergency Measures Act requires that EMO oversees all aspects of preparedness in the province as well as manage, direct and co-ordinate the response of all departments to a disaster. Read Full Story

The woman said neither she nor the handful of other people starting their first shifts had been trained to use the computer system that logs in the vaccine information, so another staffer gave them a crash course on it. She said each volunteer immunizer developed their own protocol for administering the jabs, so nothing was done in a consistent manner. Some people took much longer to vaccinate than others, she said, while the workflow was not streamlined and there was no division of labour, with each vaccinator having to do a variety of tasks  such as fetching vaccine doses or data entry  which slowed down the process.

"For me, it was a s---show. It wasnt organized. Im thinking, if they think theyre going to vaccinate people by the end of September, its not going to happen. No way. Its a huge mess," she said, adding Shared Health told her she would be eligible to be vaccinated prior to giving the jabs.

"But then I get there and it isnt even anything that is brought up. On my second day, I asked them, Am I going to be vaccinated? And they were like, Well, we ran out of vaccines," the woman said.

The PPE  a "basic surgical mask" and no gloves  was insufficient to keep her safe given how many people she interacted with during her shifts, she said.

A patient asked for documentation to prove they'd been vaccinated, and when the dentist asked someone in charge about it, she was told "Well, there is none, nothing right now.

"And I just thought, once again, weve been at this for 10 months. Why hasnt this been set up?"

THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES/JOHN WOODS Injection stations at the province's COVID-19 vaccination super site in Winnipeg's RBC Convention Centre.

During her first five-hour shift, she managed to vaccinate just 36 people. On her second shift, she refused to take a break, and "got up to 66 people" vaccinated. What concerned her most, she said, was understaffing. On Jan. 13, she said there were only 20 to 25 people administering vaccines during her shift. On Jan. 15, her second shift, there were just eight to 12, she said. By then, she said she was so frustrated by the disorganization, that she decided to quit. "I have a full practice to run. Im not putting my patients at risk, nor my family, nor anybody else," the dentist said.

A provincial spokeswoman said in a written statement that the extent of training immunizers receives "depends on the level of experience they have related to providing immunizations and entering data in our immunization tracking system."

She said each immunizer is responsible for the following tasks: drawing and administering vaccines; ensuring the cold chain of vaccine is maintained; monitoring for reactions post-immunization and managing adverse effects; and following the informed consent process; among others.

While immunizers are eligible to receive the vaccine, the spokeswoman said, they must book their own appointments through the call centre. She also said immunization records are not provided to people who get the vaccine to "minimize the amount of paper being shared at sites."

The spokeswoman said the province tailors staff levels to the number of appointments made each day. Last Wednesday, there were 28 immunizers scheduled at the RBC Convention Centre super site, while on Friday, there were 14, according to data provided by the province.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca
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In Farewell Video, Trump Prays for Biden's Success in Keeping America Safe But Parts With a 'Warning'

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'No Excuses, No Answers' - How Australian Media Reacted to India's Historic Win at Brisbane

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When Akshay Kumar Got Rejected by the First Girl He Dated for Being Too Shy to Kiss

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At last months Jericho March on Washington, the head of a group called Americas Black Robe Regiment recounted stories about clergy who trained their men to fight in the Revolution and likened their situation to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Where are our pastors today in this battle? asked Bill Cook, a Virginia minister who was introduced at the event by Eric Metaxas.

Other ministersincluding Greg Locke, who prayed at a January 5 rally in Washingtonhave recently evoked the black robe regiment term and history when calling on pastors to take bolder stances in defense of liberty. A quick Google search reveals several smaller organizations that have also taken up the mantle.

Its become a rallying cry among a small subset of Christians, some of whom have even used it as a defense for storming the Capitol and some of whom anticipate a literal call to arms during the current unrest.

The main sources for initially popularizing the term seem to be the media personalities Glenn Beck and David Barton. Both have connected their political appeals back to the American founding. In a 2010 rally, Beck called on ministers to form a new black robe regiment to proclaim American principles from the pulpits.

Beck appears to have gotten the phrase from Barton, whose WallBuilders Ministry emphasizes the Christian foundation beneath Americas forgotten history and heroes. In this approach, patriotism should shape sermons content.

A Time for War and a Time for Peace

Many readers may have never heard of the black robe regiment, whether current or historical. Metaxas admitted he wasnt very familiar with the phrase when he handed the mic over to Cook at last months rally, and few raised their hands when he surveyed the pro-Trump crowd for their familiarity.

As a historian of the American Revolution, I want to pause and review how these recent claims line up with what we know about the past. Now, it is true that there was much ministerial support for the American Revolution. Such support mattered quite a bit, given the publicly religious character of the colonies, especially New England, and ministers helped shape how their congregants interpreted events.

In New Jersey, Princeton Colleges devout president, John Witherspoon, openly advocated for independence. He preached from his Presbyterian pulpit that the Revolution was a just cause in Gods sight. And hes remembered as the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Some ministers preached sermons clearly supporting the Revolution, finding support for independence in all sorts of biblical passages. Others like William Emerson, Philip Vickers Fithian, and Timothy Dwight became army chaplains, slogging with the Patriot forces, preaching to them, and working to keep up both their religious and their political zeal.

During the Revolution itself, two incidents captured this strong support.

In early 1776, with the Revolutionary War ramping up, Peter Muhlenberg was serving as an Anglican minister in Virginia. One Sunday morning, he announced his text from Ecclesiastes 3, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. When he completed his homily, he announced, This is the time of war. He threw off his black ministers robes to reveal a military uniform underneath. He strode out of the sanctuary and called for a recruitment table to be set up outside the church. He soon marched off with the regiment that was raised.

In 1780, Presbyterian James Caldwell was serving as both a chaplain and a quartermaster with the army in New Jersey. During a battle at Springfield, the soldiers were running low on the paper necessary to seat their musket balls on their black powder. Caldwell rode off to a local church and grabbed the hymnals, which featured the songs of Isaac Watts (such as Joy to the World and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross). He galloped back to the troops and began tearing out pages for the soldiers to use. Give em Watts, boys! he supposedly instructed. Here, even worship was being weaponized!

Article continues below

So far, it seems there is a lot of backing for political preaching in support of American principles. However, since historians have to tell the whole story, a deeper look at some of the dynamics involved can provide a clearer perspective.

The first thing I notice is that despite these influences, no one at the time spoke of a black robe regiment. As historian J. L. Bell has demonstrated, the phrase is a modification of an insult used by the Loyalist Peter Oliver years after the Revolution. Oliver, who had lost home and position, denigrated New England ministers opposed to royal authority as a black regiment. The very usage of the term black robe regiment is itself a misquotation.

Pastoral Responsibility and Reflection

Digging deeper, we find the stories of ministers at the time are even more complex.

Witherspoon, for instance, advocated for independence but was no rabble-rouser. His most famous endorsement of independence came in a sermon, The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men. The first half is nothing but an explication of the doctrine of Providence. Only when he had established that did he seek to interpret current events as grounded within a larger theological system. He admitted that his address was unusualhe had never before introduced politics at all into a sermon. Even then, he gave a carefully reasoned argument for independence. Further, he informed his congregants that the entire Revolution could go astray and fail; it was not inherently good or virtuous.

Other ministers, however, didnt always follow Witherspoons lead. As historians have studied their sermons, quite a few reveal shockingly bad exegesis of the Scriptures. The connections are tortured, the passages are proof-texted, and other impulses take precedence over the clear meaning of the Scriptures being preachednot a legacy to leave behind!

Even Muhlenberg was separating his military service from his religious leadership. He actively took off his clerical robes to assume a military role. That is, he was less a fighting minister than a minister who was subsequently a soldier, without combining the roles.

Finally, we should remember that there were several other cadres of black-robed ministers. Some eschewed politics altogether and sought to care for their flocks. Moravian missionaries, for instance, worked to shelter the Native Americans in their communities from depredations of both sides.

Meanwhile, Loyalist clergy actively opposed the American Revolution. These articulate ministerspeople like Jonathan Boucher, Charles Inglis, Samuel Seabury, and John Joachim Zublyworked to convince Americans that the safest path for their liberties was in submission to the British crown. They insisted that Christian duty lay in following the monarch. Although marginalized and often muzzled, these ministers still preached their political Loyalism out of a sense of conviction. Theirs, too, was a Scripture-informed interpretation of the American Revolution.

All these factors suggest to me that although many American ministers supported American liberty, the way they did so fell on a spectrum of responsibility and reflection. Further, we have to grapple with the fact that other ministers themselves felt deeply convicted to preach against American independence. These warnings remind us to be careful of how we think of our black-robed brigades today.

Article continues below

Christian Freedom

As an American historian, Im glad when people value the study of history and seek to find connections between the past and the present. Doing so, however, requires some hard work of investigating and understanding the past on its own terms. Our appreciation of faithful Christians in the past should be tempered by recognizing their limitations and even faults.

Because the American Revolution looms so large in our national mythology, we need to take special care not to rely on stories that merely confirm our prior assumptions. Recognizing these historic complexities might help pastors think about how they direct their political efforts today.

First, I hope they recognize that their greatest calling lies in preaching the gospel, not political punditry. The Good News of the kingdom is of eternal import and so relativizes all our seemingly pressing immediate concerns.

Second, the interpretation and application of biblical truths to political matters works best when handled from within a larger system. Here, Witherspoons approach to lead with fundamental principles is a good example. Individual issues (or the policy flavor of the month) shouldnt predominate. Instead, application has to occur against the backdrop of larger theological thinking about human nature and human systems. A more holistic approach can lead to better and wiser public engagement.

Third, approaching political subjects should bring the recognition that other faithful believers might disagree with our position. In a polarized 2021, just as in a divided 1776, we need to recognize that in any given gathering, people may have come to other political convictions. Careful listening will be required to perceive what principles underlie that opposing belief.

Finally, faithful preaching can point people to the appropriate understandings of freedom. When the apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:1, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, he was primarily speaking of Christian liberty or soul libertythe liberty that comes from being freed from sin. He wasnt predicting modern democracy but proclaiming something accessible under any government. To support that spiritual reality, other liberties are good and helpful. Religious liberty enables believers to practice their faith in their lives and vocations.

Further, Paul points us to the type of political liberty that we should desirethe freedom to do good. The writings of many of the founders show the appreciation that liberty is not for the individual to do what he or she wants but for the opportunity to serve others. This is a deeper and more substantive liberty that we should all desire.

Altogether, faithful attention to advancing that robust liberty of the soul will serve our communities and our nation the best.

Jonathan Den Hartog is professor of history and chair of the department at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the author of Patriotism and Piety: Federalist Politics and Religious Struggle in the New American Nation.
Because the pandemic has forced many Americans to live, work, and socialize remotely in the confines of their homes, they have had more time than ever before to contemplate their interior design decisionsand they're looking longingly at the rest of the world.

Interior design web searches surged by 148% in the last year, according to a recent report from Rae Duncan Interior Design.

Global design, which combines international finds, earthy materials, and exotic fashions, emerged as the most-searched style nationally, according to the Chicago-based interior design firm.

The style, notable for using statues, handicrafts, and artwork from around the world, was particularly popular in the West, Midwest, and Northeast.

Perhaps because folks couldn't visit their favorite countries amid the pandemic, they recreated the styles in their homes, incorporating the earthy tones brightened with pops of spice-inspired colors.

"People are getting more adventurous," says Rae Duncan. "People are tired of the gray and the white and the neutrals.

"Global design can be a huge mix of different elements pulled from different cultures and eras," she adds. "People are finding it's more fun to live in a space with unique features."

Farmhouse and modern farmhouse also increasing in popularity, seeing the biggest boost in search volume annually. In the Southeast, this was the most searched-for style. Meanwhile, the Southwest was split between its obsessions with farmhouse and with Southwestern style.

The design firm attempted to figure out which styles are particularly popular in each state. These may not be the top designs overall, but rather the trends that are the most unusually popular in individual states compared to the rest of the country.

An example is coastal design, which has fans in all 50 statesbut which ranks as the favorite in Florida.

To come up with its findings, the design firm identified 29 design-related search terms. Then the firm analyzed Google search trends in every state with those keywords, and compared them with those that were most popular last year.

Global interior design has emerged as one of the top styles, according to a recent report from Rae Duncan Interior Design. Cynthia Lynn Kim

So what are the most unusually popular design styles in every state?

Alabama: Farmhouse

Alaska: Global

Arizona: Southwestern

Arkansas: Rustic

California: Minimalist

Colorado: Farmhouse

Connecticut: Global

Delaware: Preppy

Florida: Coastal

Georgia: Farmhouse

Hawaii: Global

Idaho: Global

Illinois: Eclectic

Indiana: Farmhouse

Iowa: Global

Kansas: Global

Kentucky: Farmhouse

Louisiana: Farmhouse

Maine: Preppy

Maryland: Global

Massachusetts: Art Deco

Michigan: Rustic

Minnesota: Global

Mississippi: Farmhouse

Missouri: Rustic

Montana: Global

Nebraska: Global

Nevada: Global

New Hampshire: Global

New Jersey: Minimalist

New Mexico: Southwestern

New York: Minimalist

North Carolina: Farmhouse

North Dakota: Global

Ohio: Industrial

Oklahoma: Farmhouse

Oregon: Southwestern

Pennsylvania: Rustic

Rhode Island: Global

South Carolina: French Country

South Dakota: Preppy

Tennessee: Farmhouse

Texas: Farmhouse

Utah: Transitional

Vermont: Asian Zen

Virginia: Farmhouse

Washington: Midcentury modern

West Virginia: Global

Wisconsin: Industrial

Wyoming: Preppy

The post That's So South Dakota: The Most Uniquely Popular Interior Design Style in Every State appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Lets make todays Inauguration Day a turning point, to retake the future of Ohio and of the nation and leave the violence and incivility behind. Lets work across the aisle to turn this new page in U.S. politics. That means you, U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, Bob Gibbs, Tim Ryan, Marcy Kaptur, Anthony Gonzalez, Dave Joyce and Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman.

Greater Clevelands congressional delegation can show the way, by individually steering toward the center, for a calmer place, and by discarding the accusations and bile and recriminations. Table the extreme rhetoric, the unsupported accusations. Gird our state and nation in positivity and forward momentum.

If todays Mr. Republican, soon-to-be Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, can turn a new leaf, we all can.

Why and how? For the same reasons that Sens. Brown and Portman are united in calling for multiemployer pension reforms to help Ohios workers and retirees. For the same reasons that everyone in Ohios congressional delegation is motivated to do more for constituents who are hurting, scared, sick, jobless or just worried about the future and their childrens educations. We need to turn down the volume on political disputes, and raise it on political solutions. In this way, Ohio can become the swing state again -- a leading practitioner of pragmatic cooperation.

Our congressional contingent can take a leading role in creating this more conciliatory, productive period to get us through this final, worst period of COVID-19 to the vaccinations other side, and to help our shaken economy recover faster and better.

Republican U.S. Rep. Gonzalez of Rocky River has already demonstrated the fortitude to stake out his own path. He needs company. Conciliation is needed from the Democratic side, too. Kaptur and Ryan must reach for true compromises, as must Joyce and Jordan, Gibbs and Latta. Lets work together to repair, rebuild, reassure and reenergize.

By showing their willingness to set aside the bitter accusations of recent weeks and months to find productive shared goals, our elected leaders can reassure all Ohioans that we can move forward civilly, without violence, without rancor, to solve our problems and to restore our nations reputation abroad and balance at home. Lets start today.

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KYODO NEWS - Jan 19, 2021 - 19:36 | World, All, Japan

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday urged South Korea to make "concrete" proposals to resolve a bilateral wartime row, a day after South Korean President Moon Jae In made remarks about the need to improve ties.

"It's difficult to make a judgment solely based on the South Korean side's statement that it wants to resolve issues (with Japan.) I want to make a judgment after seeing concrete proposals by the South Korean side," Motegi told a press conference.

Bilateral relations have sunk to a historic low over Supreme Court rulings in South Korea in 2018 that ordered Japanese companies to compensate Koreans for their wartime labor. Court proceedings are under way to seize and liquidate the companies' assets in South Korea.

Japan has protested the rulings, saying they violate a 1965 bilateral agreement that settled all claims related to its 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Any damages inflicted on Japanese companies will result in "irreparable" damage to bilateral ties, Motegi has previously said.

At Monday's New Year press conference in Seoul, Moon, who has once emphasized he will respect the independent judiciary's decision, said he views the possible sales of Japanese companies' assets as being "undesirable" for bilateral ties.

Moon also said the South Korean government will discuss with Japan a solution "the plaintiffs can agree on" and "persuade them to the maximum extent."

Also Tuesday, Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers requested the Japanese government consider taking countermeasures against a separate, more recent South Korea ruling that ordered the government to pay damages to former "comfort women."

They handed Motegi a resolution adopted by the ruling party's Foreign Affairs Division and other bodies that urged the government to consider options such as taking Seoul to the International Court of Justice over the ruling, according to an LDP lawmaker who attended a meeting with the minister.

Japan has criticized the Jan. 8 ruling by a South Korean district court as a violation of sovereign immunity, a principle under international law that allows a state to be shielded against the jurisdiction of foreign courts, and the 1965 bilateral agreement.

The attendee quoted Motegi as saying Tokyo was "surprised" seeing the ruling regarding Korean women who worked in Japanese wartime military brothels and that it will deal with the decision by taking into account "every option."

The LDP's resolution also proposed that the government consider retracting approval for South Korea's new ambassador to Japan, Kang Chang Il, or delay sending its new envoy to South Korea, Koichi Aiboshi, as "a countermeasure."
Closed stores on Dam street and the Royal Palace on Dam Square are seen in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Jan. 14, 2021. (Peter Dejong/AP Photo)

Dutch Propose Curfew to Rein in Virus; Will Ban More Flights

THE HAGUE, NetherlandsThe Dutch government wants to impose a curfew as part of beefed-up restrictions to rein in the spread of a new more contagious virus variant that already accounts for at least one in 10 Dutch infections.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Wednesday that his government also will ban flights from the UK, South Africa, and South America beginning Saturday for a month.

With Ruttes administration in caretaker mode since resigning last week, it will have to convince skeptical lawmakers to back the 8:30 p.m.-to-4:30 a.m. curfew before it can be enforced. A debate is expected Thursday and Rutte appealed for support, saying we are at a crucial moment for our security, for our national public health.

The near-deserted Nieuwmarkt square is seen in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Dec. 31, 2020. (Peter Dejong/AP Photo)

Ruttes four-party coalition resigned Friday over a scandal involving thousands of parents wrongly being labeled fraudsters by the countrys tax office. It remains in office until a new coalition is formed following a March 17 general election.

If parliament approves the curfew, the Netherlands would join other European Union countries that have told people to stay home after dark, including Belgium, France, Italy, Greece, and parts of Germany.

Its a tough measure, Rutte said. Nobody wants a curfew; nobody is cheering this.

The Netherlands has been in a tough lockdown for a month and will remain that way until at least Feb. 9, but the government says a slow decrease in the number of infections and the threat posed by new variants have forced it to take tougher action.

Rutte said the number of visitors people are allowed at home will now be cut from two to one at a time, and the number of people allowed to attend funerals will be halved from the current 100.

The Dutch public health institute announced Tuesday that new infections decreased 21.5 percent over the past week to 38,776 as the lockdown that began in mid-December began to bear fruit. But at the same time, it warned that the new, more transmissible virus variant that led to a sharp spike in infections in the UK and Ireland is expected to make up at least half of all new Dutch COVID-19 cases by mid-February.

The Netherlands has counted 13,264 deaths in the pandemic, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said the government also is extending the space between the two doses of vaccines from three weeks to six weeks as a way of speeding up the number of people getting their first shot. The Netherlands was the last European Union country to begin vaccinations and so far only 100,000 people have received their first shot.

By Mike Corder
I know what I have: this beautiful girl whom, four years ago, I never could have imagined. I didnt look at the developmental milestones chart when Ronan was alive because I knew hed never meet them; with Charlie, who is smart, beautiful, healthy, funny, kind, and curious, I dont look at the charts because I know I dont have to worry about it. She loves books, has full conversations (and heated arguments) with us, and is, as her teacher reported during her school conference, a really good friend. Shes the child I always wanted (of course, so is everybodys child), but it doesnt mean I wanted Ronan less, even after his diagnosis, or that I miss him less, even though Charlie would not exist if Ronan had been healthy, if he had lived, or if hed had the single enzyme programmed into his tangle of DNA that would have saved his life. Two halves of one life, the C-section incision out of which both children were lifted, two bodies from a body cut at its center. The two mothers.

Ronan was, in fact, the one who led me to Kent, the father of this girl who wouldnt exist if her brother were not lost to me. A journalist, Kent had read a piece Id written about Ronan while he was still living, but already blind and entering a period of drastic decline, and his father and I had been split for some time. Kent asked me to lunch. I hadnt realized we were Facebook friends. Look at all that hair! my friend Lisa said when I told her Kent and I had a kind-of date. And hes right in your age bracket!

We met at a Santa Fe cafe famous for blue cornmeal pancakes and strong, sweet coffee. Kent was wearing his sunglasses on a string around his neck, and he did have fantastic salt-and-pepper hair, tons of it. He was tall and solid and wore cowboy boots with his initials (KB) stitched on the back of each. The first thing he said to me was I just had a dream where all of my teeth fell out. What do you think it means? I laughed, really laughed, for the first time in two years, a feeling so unfamiliar it made me blush. Youre anxious? I responded, feeling this new and strange lightness. Oh, totally, he said. Who isnt?

A few weeks later, on our first night date (That makes it definitely a date-date, Lisa mused), Kent asked me how my family had supported me, and I told him that my parents had been amazing, but others had withdrawn, finding it too hard, or not knowing what to say. Kent considered for a moment over his drink (which he insisted later was watered down), looked up at me with bright, clear blue eyes, and said, That must feel like a betrayal. Thats really hard. Exactly. We had dinner (he forgot his glasses so I had to read the menu and the bill aloud to him), and I learned that he was twenty years older than I (fifty-eight, not forty-eight, and far out of what I considered to be my acceptable dating age bracket) and was getting ready to leave Santa Fe (he owned a hundred-year-old church he had grown weary of endlessly renovating). He was an excellent listener, even when I was so nervous, talking so fast. When we walked back to his car parked in front of the Hotel Saint Francis, we noticed it had a dent in the side. A hit and run. What do you think it means? he asked. Worlds collide! I offered. He laughed.

I was smitten, for sure, but it was when I introduced Kent to Ronan that I understood I was falling in love against reason and all the odds. Kent walked right up to Ronan, who was immobile then, sitting propped up in his high chair, where he spent a great deal of time. Kent knelt down, touched Ronans feet and then his hands, and said, Oh, hey there, buddy. Youre a big guy, arent you? and then he kissed his face. It was a fathers voice, from a man who had always wanted to have children.

Just as trauma and grief unmake the world, love remakes it. This family lifeKents, Charlottes, and mineso traditional, seemingly so effortless for otherswas everything I thought Id never have only three short years ago, so how can I possibly become so undone and unnerved by a temper tantrum, a lost balloon, or a ruined carton of eggs? Who cares? This is trivial business compared to my other parenting experience: seizure meds in small syringes, the liquid parceled out in millimeters; dread like a wall to climb over every morning; and hospice nurses and oxygen and suction machines and hours spent watching my child wither and fade from Tay-Sachs disease. I survived the death of my child and now Im losing my shit over normal toddler behavior and feeling stressed out by a stack of dirty dishes? Sure, an annoying day, but not an unbearable one, which certainly described some of the toughest days with Ronan, including the day of his death, and yet I had borne them because there had been no other choice. Ronan taught me that life is about being present with each moment, that the future is a mystery, the past is unfixable, and that its in the present where we truly live and thrive. Everything else is unreal, ephemeral, and more often than not, a lie. Ronan was my teacher, my guru, my first baby, my boy. I feel ungrateful, unaware, ridiculous, guilty. Have I so quickly unlearned all the lessons that being his mother taught me?

When Ronan was alive, I would have given anything for a day like this. My response to any parent who told a story similar to the one Ive just described would have been anger and desperation (and, I must admit, delivered smugly, and meant to land like a wound): You should be so lucky to be irritated by a tantrum. At least your kid isnt dying. This was a highly effective way to stop the conversation, which was precisely the point. I couldnt bear the mundane stories about peoples normal struggles on the planet of parenthood from which I had been, I believed, permanently exiled.
More than four million people have been given the vaccine in the UK (Steve Parsons/PA)

The UK will have to look very carefully at the effectiveness of a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, the UKs chief scientific adviser has said.

Sir Patrick Vallances comments came after reports from Israel suggested the protection it provides may be much lower than shown in trials.

Responding to Israels claims that efficacy from the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine may be as low as 33%, Sir Patrick said studies showed that from day 10 after vaccination to 21 days and beyond, it was much more like 89%.

However, he added that when you get into real-world practice things are seldom quite as good as clinical trials.

Sir Patrick told Sky News: It probably wont be as high as that in practice, but I dont think itll be as low as the figures youve just given.

But we need to look at this very carefully - we just need to keep measuring and understanding it Sir Patrick Vallance

According to reports, scientists in Israel  where around a quarter of the population has already been vaccinated  studied preliminary data from 200,000 vaccinated people.

The study reportedly suggests that a drop of 33% in positivity was seen in the vaccinated group on day 14 after vaccination.

Sir Patrick said clinical study studies suggest that if you look at data from day zero, then the overall figure is around 50%.

But he added that protection is not expected in the first 10 days because the immune system has not had the chance to build up, and some people may have been infected before they had the vaccine.

Sir Patrick said: I dont know exactly what Israel are looking at  theyre looking at the total period from day nought and that doesnt give an exact comparison.

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But we need to look at this very carefully  we just need to keep measuring and understanding it.

Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said it was vital for advice and policy to take into account the latest available data.

He said: However, the reports that have come from Israel are insufficient to provide any evidence that the current UK policy in regard to delaying the second dose of vaccines is in any way incorrect.

The reported efficacy of one dose has not been compared using the same methods and patients with the efficacy of two doses at 84 days.

The details of the different studies have only been released, it seems, at a press conference the reasons for which are unclear.

There is a need for at least a preprint giving the detailed methods and data to understand and interpret these findings.

Expand Close The vaccine rollout is under way in the UK (Peter Byrne/PA) PA / Facebook

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He added: It is not sensible to compare efficacy derived from an observational study of this type which is subject to many biases, with the efficacy derived from randomised trials.

Prof Evans explained that it was important to recognise that in the UK, efficacy against detected Covid-19 may be less important than efficacy against hospitalisation and death.

He said: The UK will soon have its own data showing efficacy after the first dose for the different vaccines currently in use and any policy changes should await more robust data.

If, for example, the efficacy after one dose was 33% but the efficacy after two doses was 60% the UK policy would still be justified.

Similar arguments apply in relation to efficacy against serious disease.

The comments come after Covid-19 vaccination in the UK has gained speed in recent weeks, following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisations recommendation that the focus should be on giving at-risk people the first dose of whichever vaccine they receive, rather than providing the required two doses in as short a time as possible.
Riley June Williams, a woman, who according to federal law enforcement, stole a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office during the January 6 siege at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, turned herself in on Monday. Although the missing laptop was regarded as fairly inconsequential, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, wrote in a tweet on January 8 that a laptop from the conference room was thieved.

The Woman Who Stole Pelosi's Laptop

Authorities have released a new photo, which they indicate is from Riley Williams' camera phone and shows the moment Pelosi's laptop was stolen from her office amid the insurrection.

According to Williams' former boyfriend, the 22-year-old stole the HP machine and tried to sell it to Russians.

The FBI stated the Pennsylvania woman who sought to sell the House Speaker's laptop bragged about the theft on social media. Williams came forward on Monday evening after federal authorities got an arrest warrant over her participation in the fatal attack at Capitol Hills, reported Daily News.

According to the Justice Department, Williams has been indicted for "knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, as well as violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds," reported The Sentinel.

Williams was imprisoned in the Middle District of Pennsylvania on Monday.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in an arrest warrant, she has not been indicted for theft but merely with illegally barging in the US Capitol and with disorderly behavior.

A caller claiming to be a former boyfriend of Williams alleged she intended to send the device over to a friend in Russia who planned to sell it to that nation's foreign intelligence service. The plan did not ensue, and she either has the device or destroyed it, which the FBI said is under investigation.

Prior to her arrest on Monday, Williams had left her house and told her mother she would not be home for weeks, according to the FBI affidavit said, citing information from Harrisburg law enforcement.

According to FBI Special Agent Jonathan Lund, "Sometime after January 6, 2021, Williams changed her telephone number and deleted what I believe were her social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Telegram, and Parler," reported Business Insider.

As people began an effort to identify the rioters using the power of the internet, some were curious regarding the identity of Williams.

In truth, not a large amount of information is known about Williams. The 22-year-old is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she lives with her mother. Williams drove to Washington that day with her father, but they went in separate ways. Her father was reportedly connected to the Capitol siege.

One Twitter user predicted the most easily proven outcome of what is transpiring: Williams is going to have a very bad 2021.

Williams' mother told police that she recognized her daughter in the footage of the Capitol siege. She remarked her daughter had recently taken a sudden interest in President Donald Trump's politics and "far-right message boards."

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Russia's decision to transfer a group of Ukrainian citizens who were held for a long time in the temporarily occupied territory in Donetsk and Luhansk regions not to Ukraine, but to a private person, namely, head of the Opposition Platform  For Life political party, MP Viktor Medvedchuk, grossly and openly violates established mechanisms solutions to such humanitarian issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said.

"This step by the Russian Federation is a blow to the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group, which are systematically working to ensure the release of people detained due to the conflict," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian ministry said Russia's deliberate leveling of the role of the OSCE in the issue of liberation is especially indicative and cynical on the day of the visit to Ukraine by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde.

"We demand from the Russian Federation strict observance of all agreements reached in the Normandy format, in particular on ensuring unhindered access of the International Committee of the Red Cross to Ukrainian prisoners of war and hostages in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia, as well as the release of all people due to the conflict," the Foreign Ministry said.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  No one disputes that Tammy and Jordan Myers are the biological parents of newborns Eames Alexander and his sister, Ellison Erin Jewel.

The couple is listed as parents at Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital where the babies have been treated since their premature births on Jan. 11. Doctors and nurses know them as mom and dad, too.

The birth certificate, however, lists surrogate mother  or gestational carrier  Lauren Vermilye and her husband, Jonathan, as parents. The Vermilyes were only trying to help out another family and have no claim to the babies.

But the biological parents have been unable to convince judges to name them parents.

Now, they have to adopt, legally adopt, their babies, attorney Melissa Neckers told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press, on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

She disagrees with the judges rulings but said Michigans parenting and surrogacy laws havent kept pace with modern science. She said that similar arrangements have been ruled legal outside of Kent County.

Tammy Myers, a cancer survivor, recalled that she and her husband figured that once they had a chance to explain their circumstances -- that a surrogate gave birth to their children -- judges would understand.

We were floored, she said.

Eames Alexander Myers, left, and his sister, Ellison Erin Jewel Myers. (Photo courtesy of Tammy Myers)

Now, she and her husband are in the process of adopting their own children, going through background checks and home studies and answering questions about their thoughts on disciplining children.

They cant add the children to their health-insurance policy just yet.

They tried to get an order declaring they are the parents before the births, then tried to have the husband declared biological father.

Now-retired Kent County Circuit Judge Daniel Zemaitis in December said the contract was unenforceable.

While this Court has genuine concerns about the present-day wisdom of the 1988 Surrogate Parenting Act, such concerns are better left to the legislative/political arena. This Court will not ignore by judicial action the clear language of (the law).

Circuit Judge Scott Noto rejected a second request to name Jordan Myers as the father under the states Paternity Act. Myers would have to allege there exists a child which the Court has determined to be born (or conceived) during the natural mothers marriage but is not the issue of the marriage. No such determination has previously been made by the Court.

He said: What the parties essentially are asking this Court to do is validate and enforce a contract that the Michigan Legislature has expressly declared void and unenforceable as a matter of public policy.

Tammy and Jordan, married 11 years, have an 8-year-old daughter, Corryn. Shes excited about her little brother and sister but hasnt been able to see them in person because of visitor restrictions at the hospital caused by the coronavirus.

The couple wanted to expand their family using their embryos, created earlier with the wifes eggs and husbands sperm, that were transferred to the surrogate mother.

Nearly six years ago, at 33, Tammy Myers was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has undergone 18 rounds of chemotherapy, 28 rounds of radiation and over 25 surgeries, her attorney wrote in court documents.

Cancer has taken a lot from Tammy and Jordan, including Tammys ability to carry another child, but they have not let it defeat them, Neckers wrote.

Rather, Tammy used her adversity for good by becoming a public servant to her cause and her community by partnering with Van Andel Institute, Spectrum Health, The American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen, and many foundations to raise awareness and funding for cancer research.

While fighting for her own life she became a source of inspiration and hope for other women facing similar life struggles by sharing her own story in the public eye on her blog and speaking at countless seminars and events across the state. Now that Tammy is cancer free, Tammy and Jordan are again trying to grow their family , Neckers wrote.

Lauren Vermilye and her husband have two children with no plans for more. She read about the Myerses on Facebook and offered to help.

She wrote on Facebook: During the 210 days, I went through morning sickness, shots of hormones, sciatic pain, and general discomfort. Something that I never went through however, was a sense of being any more than a temporary host for these babies. My brain, heart, and body knew the scientific and absolute truth that Eames and Ellison Myers belonged to their parents, Tammy and Jordan.

The babies are expected to be in the hospital for four to eight weeks.

The legal fight has been difficult, and costly, but Tammy Myers said that no matter what, we will make sure well be able to bring them home.

Read more:

Grand Rapids lights Blue Bridge red to honor coronavirus victims

Driver crashes in Wyoming after shots fired at his vehicle

Testimony begins in homicide case involving missing Battle Creek woman yet to be found
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force would officially like to inform everyone that Angreille Pamilly Wigley returned home safely today.

The Youth and Morals department has spoken to the minor and as well as her

Parents, regarding the consequences of leaving home without proper

communicating her whereabouts with their parents.

The Youth and Morals Department would like to inform the public of Sint Maarten about the following. It appears that during this type of investigation into missing teenagers, the department has become aware that persons take the missing teenager into their home without the consent of the teenager's parents.

Furthermore, this information of the whereabouts of the teenager is not communicated to the Police Force with all the consequences that this brings with it.

We would like to especially thank the media and the community for the quick

sharing of the police press release on social media. Together we can always make a

difference.

KPSM Press Release.
The Mets are unexpectedly without a general manager after firing the recently installed Jared Porter on Tuesday, but they will not hire a near-term replacement, president Sandy Alderson told Bob Nightengale of USA Today and other reporters. Theyll instead wait until next offseason, per Nightengale.

Im very confident in the group that we have that we can move forward and move forward effectively, Alderson said (via Tim Britton of The Athletic).



Porter was one of several candidates Alderson and the Mets interviewed for their GM job earlier this winter, and the former Red Sox, Cubs and Diamondbacks executive seemed like a logical and qualified pick at the time. However, the Mets had to let Porter go when it was revealed that he sent unsolicited, explicit message to a female reporter when he was with the Cubs in 2016.

Now that Porter is gone, Alderson will continue leading the Mets baseball operations for the foreseeable future. Alderson was the Mets GM from 2010-18. He spent 2019-20 with the As organization, but new Mets owner Steve Cohen placed him back at the helm of their front office earlier this offseason.
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COLUMBIA  At President Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, former President George W. Bush told House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn he is "the savior" for endorsing Biden because no other Democratic nominee would have defeated former President Donald Trump, according to Clyburn.

Clyburn's endorsement helped lift Biden to an emphatic victory in South Carolina's early Democratic primary, which provided a surge of momentum for Biden at a crucial moment in the primary calendar right before Super Tuesday.

"George Bush said to me today, 'You know, you're the savior because if you had not nominated Joe Biden, we would not be having this transfer of power today,'" Clyburn, D-Columbia, said in a call with reporters on Wednesday.

"He said to me, 'Joe Biden was the only one who could have defeated the incumbent president,'" Clyburn said.

Bush spokesman Freddy Ford clarified that the former president only meant that Clyburn "helped save Biden's nomination."

"Let's not make this into more than it is," Ford tweeted. "Nothing biblical here."

Clyburn said the conversation with Bush happened shortly before the ceremony began, and he ruminated on it while Biden was being sworn into office.

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Bush was known to not have a particularly fond view of Trump, despite them both belonging to the Republican Party. In June, the New York Times reported that Bush would not support Trump's reelection efforts.

Clyburn also revealed that he had a cordial conversation with another high-ranking Republican official while on stage for the inauguration: former Vice President Mike Pence.

After explaining he developed a friendship with Pence during his previous time in Congress, Clyburn said he stopped to talk to him briefly while the two men passed.

"I said, 'I really appreciate you being here,'" Clyburn recalled. "I said, 'Symbolically, it was important for you to be here because this country needs symbols as well as substance.'"

Though Pence attended the ceremony, Trump did not, opting to skip the customary transfer-of-power formalities to decamp earlier in the day for Florida.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 06:57:46|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of the new U.S. administration to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change.

"I warmly welcome President (Joe) Biden's steps to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change and join the growing coalition of governments, cities, states, businesses and people taking ambitious action to confront the climate crisis," said Guterres in a statement.

Following last year's Climate Ambition Summit, countries producing half of global carbon pollution had committed to carbon neutrality. Wednesday's commitment by President Biden brings that figure to two-thirds, he noted.

But there is a very long way to go. The climate crisis continues to worsen and time is running out to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build more climate-resilient societies that help to protect the most vulnerable, he said.

"We look forward to the leadership of the United States in accelerating global efforts towards net-zero (emissions), including by bringing forward a new nationally determined contribution with ambitious 2030 targets and climate finance in advance of COP26 in Glasgow later this year. I am committed to working closely with President Biden and other leaders to overcome the climate emergency, and recover better from COVID-19."

Hours after being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, reversing his predecessor Donald Trump's decision of withdrawal from the global pact. Enditem
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Amidst the continuous surge in the number of coronavirus cases in Nigeria, a survey has found that nearly a fifth of Nigerians still do not believe the disease is real.

The study by the research firm, SBM Intel, in all 36 states and the FCT, found that only 68.8 per cent of Nigerians believe that the virus is real.

The report said 14.4 per cent of Nigerians were not sure that COVID-19 is real, while 16.7 per cent did not believe it is real.

It said less than 50 per cent of respondents in Ekiti, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa and Sokoto States thought the virus was real.

The survey, titled: COVID in Nigeria  The second wave and published Thursday, X-rayed peoples perceptions about the existence of COVID-19, as well as their reactions to the existing guidelines meant to curb its spread and the vaccines discovery and acceptance.

Survey

Of 36 states surveyed, the report noted that in most of the states (23), a large majority of respondents did not think that people were taking the right measures to prevent COVID-19 in their states.

It was only in Bauchi, Delta and Osun that more respondents believed that people were taking the right measures to curb the spread of the virus.

According to the report, only 39.9 per cent of the respondents said they would take a COVID-19 vaccine, while almost equal proportion of respondents (35.9 per cent) said they would not.

The majority of the respondents were between 28-40 years (36.7%) followed by those between 18-27 years (24.0%), then 41-55 years (22.2%) which represents the active (working) population.

Some 9.5 per cent of the respondents were older than 55 years, and a smaller percentage, 7.7 per cent were younger than 18 years.

Low mortality

The report said sceptics cited the low death rate in the country as the reason for their disbelief.

Some believe that the vaccines are a tool to depopulate Nigeria, while others expressed concern about the effectiveness ratio and the side-effects that the vaccine might have, the report said.

The survey said 63.3 per cent of Nigerians were opposed to another lockdown.

It was only in Abia and Gombe where a slim majority agreed that another lockdown would be necessary if the cases continue to rise.
For years, Brendan Hunt had posted wild conspiracy theories on social media platforms and his own website, asserting, among other things, that the rock star Kurt Cobain was murdered and that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax.

A decade ago, he took part in the Occupy Wall Street protests against income inequality. More recently, he was a fervent supporter of President Trump, posting several videos in support of Mr. Trumps false claims that the election had been rigged against him through vote fraud.

On Tuesday, it became clear that Mr. Hunts online statements had gotten the authorities attention. He was arrested on federal charges of making death threats against prominent Democratic politicians, including Senator Chuck Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Not only did Mr. Hunt, 37, an assistant analyst for New Yorks court system, call last month for the public execution of Democratic leaders, he also urged Mr. Trumps supporters to massacre members of Congress before Inauguration Day, according to a criminal complaint.
She's known for playing Dee Bliss on Neighbours.

But when Madeleine West is not in front of the camera, she's a single mother to six children: Phoenix, 13, Hendrix, 10, Xascha, eight, Xanthe, seven, and twins Xahlia and Margaux, four.

On Tuesday, the 40-year-old actress revealed her genius parenting hack that means she can feed her kids all at once with minimal effort.

Cooking for six: On Tuesday, actress Madeleine West revealed her genius parenting hack that means she can feed her children all at once with minimal effort

She said that her go-to easy meal for her children is a huge tray cookie, which is a lot easier to make than dividing the dough into individual cookies.

'You know the school holidays have worn out their welcome when even portioning out the cookie dough is too much effort,' Madeleine wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of the dessert.

'I suggest chucking the lot on a pizza tray, bake a mega-cookie and let the #kids fight it out amongst themselves... #schoolholidatips #parentinghacks #mumlife.'

Several of Madeleine's followers praised her hack and said it was the 'best idea ever'.

Simple: She said that her go-to easy meal for her children is a huge tray cookie, which is a lot easier to make than dividing the dough into individual cookies

It comes after Madeleine shared the relatable hardships she encountered while Christmas shopping with her children last month.

She admitted she was reduced to 'tears' during an outing with her brood.

After spending five hours shopping with her kids, Madeleine could not help but notice the other 'exhausted' parents at the shopping centre.

Hands full: When she's not in front of the camera, Madeleine is a single mother to six children: Phoenix, 13, Hendrix, 10, Xascha, eight, Xanthe, seven, and twins Xahlia and Margaux, four

At first, she questioned whether her 'panic' was prompted by 'the usual festive frenzy' or other problems going on in the world.

She also witnessed 'four drivers in the car park having a verbal stoush from behind their wheels as they vied for the last remaining spot'.

Madeleine said she felt a strong sense of camaraderie with the other parents who were in the same situation as her.
First vice-chair of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Gabriela Firea requested on Wednesday, on behalf of the party, the resignation of Minister of Health Vlad Voiculescu, on the grounds that he would be "a real underminer of the vaccination campaign" against COVID, which he "discredits through embarrassing lies."

"We demand the resignation of the Save Romania Union - Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (USR PLUS) Alliance Minister of Health, Vlad Voiculescu, who proves to be a real underminer of the vaccination campaign, which he discredits through embarrassing lies, such as the fact that Japan, unlike Romania, would not have access to the vaccine, and that is why (...) it does not vaccinate its population. In fact, several developed countries, including Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, have deliberately postponed vaccination of the population to wait for new clinical trials and to see what is happening in the countries that already vaccinate their citizens. Voiculescu cannot claim that he does not know the reality! But he is willfully lying in order to cover up the chaos, the misrule, but also his inability to coordinate the vaccination campaign," Firea wrote on Facebook.

According to Gabriela Firea, Minister Voiculescu "fled from responsibility from the first day, refused for a month to show up at events related to the vaccination campaign and give statements, came into conflict with mayors and thus delayed the establishment of vaccination centers and ignored the problems with the functioning of the online platform".

"The PSD therefore demands the resignation of the Minister of Health, Vlad Voiculescu. In this period of deep health crisis, Romania needs a responsible Minister of Health, capable of making decisions that solve the problems, not a liar and an incompetent deserter. In order to return to a normal life, it is vital that 70% of the country's population be immunized, and the Citu Government has assumed that 10.4 million Romanians will be vaccinated by the end of September. Failure to achieve this goal means condemning Romania, sinking into an even bigger crisis and inevitably imposes the resignation or dismissal of the Citu Government," added the PSD senator.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 06:52:01|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Jan. 19, 2021 shows a view of the Senate ahead of a confidence vote in Rome, Italy. Conte won a confidence vote on Tuesday at the upper house of parliament. He won in the 321-seat Senate by 156 to 140, with 16 abstentions, falling short of the 161 votes needed for an absolute majority. (Pool via Xinhua)

ROME, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte won a confidence vote on Tuesday at the upper house of parliament.

He won in the 321-seat Senate by 156 to 140, with 16 abstentions, falling short of the 161 votes needed for an absolute majority.

It means Conte's government has survived a political crisis triggered after former prime minister Matteo Renzi, now a senator who leads the Italia Viva party, pulled out of the ruling majority last week.

As a result of Renzi's move, Conte needed to find other political allies with enough votes in parliament to give him a new majority.

The government he leads is currently backed by the Five Star Movement and the center-left Democratic Party.

Renzi cited disagreements with the government over its handling of the pandemic and its National Recovery and Resilience Plan, a massive investment project using European Union funds, as his reasons for quitting.

This was the second of two confidence votes the Italian prime minister faced in a bid to keep his government afloat.

On Monday, he won a confidence vote in the lower house by 321 in favor, 259 against, and 27 abstaining.

According to Italian law, the cabinet can survive only if it has the confidence of both houses of parliament.
Four former aides of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have evidence which could 'shed some light' on Meghan's letter to her estranged father, the High Court was told today.

Meghan, 39, is suing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publishers of the Mail On Sunday and MailOnline, for breach of privacy for publishing extracts of a letter she sent her father Thomas Markle, 76, after her royal wedding in 2018.

Her lawyers have applied for summary judgment, a legal step which would see parts of the case resolved without a trial and without the need for witnesses, but the newspaper argues the case is 'wholly unsuitable for summary judgment.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9 last year, on their final royal engagement before they quit royal life

Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers Limited for breach of privacy for publishing extracts of a letter she sent her father Thomas Markle (pictured) after her royal wedding in 2018

On the second day of the hearing today, the publisher's barrister Antony White QC told the court that a letter from lawyers representing the so-called 'Palace Four' said they would be able to 'shed some light' on the drafting of Meghan's letter to her father.

He told the court it was also 'likely' there was further evidence about whether Meghan 'directly or indirectly provided private information' to the authors of an unauthorised biography of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Finding Freedom.

The letter was sent to the parties on behalf of Jason Knauf - formerly communications secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, whom the newspaper claims was involved in the wording of Meghan's letter - and Christian Jones, their former deputy communications secretary.

The other two members of the so-called 'Palace Four' are Samantha Cohen, formerly the Sussexes' private secretary, and Sara Latham, their former director of communications.

The letter was sent to the parties on behalf of Jason Knauf (left) - formerly communications secretary to the Sussexes, whom the newspaper claims was involved in the wording of Meghan's letter - and Christian Jones (right), their former deputy communications secretary

In the letter sent on their behalf, their lawyers said: 'None of our clients welcomes his or her potential involvement in this litigation, which has arisen purely as a result of the performance of his or her duties in their respective jobs at the material time.

'This is particularly the case given the sensitivity of, and therefore discretion required in, their particular roles in the Royal Household.'

It added: 'Nor does any of our clients wish to take sides in the dispute between your respective clients. Our clients are all strictly neutral.

'They have no interest in assisting either party to the proceedings. Their only interest is in ensuring a level playing field, insofar as any evidence they may be able to give is concerned.'

The other two members of the so-called 'Palace Four' are Samantha Cohen (left), formerly the Sussexes' private secretary, and Sara Latham (right), their former director of communications

The letter continued that their lawyers' 'preliminary view is that one or more of our clients would be in a position to shed some light' on three key areas which it lists as:

the creation of the Letter and the Electronic Draft.

whether or not the claimant anticipated that the Letter might come into in the public domain.

whether or not the claimant directly or indirectly provided private information (generally and in relation to the Letter specifically) to the authors of Finding Freedom.

Mr White said that letter showed that 'further oral evidence and documentary evidence is likely to be available at trial which would shed light on certain key factual issues in this case.'

The court was told that another area that requires 'factual investigation at trial' is how Royal biography Finding Freedom, which tells the story of Meghan's life and marriage to the Duke of Sussex, was written.

The newspaper claims she co-operated with its authors, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, or authorised her friends to and share details of the letter.

A court artist's sketch of Ian Mill QC (top left), Justin Rushbrooke QC (top right) and judge Mr Justice Warby (bottom), at the Royal Courts of Justice in London yesterday

Meghan has denied the allegations - as has Mr Scobie - but she has conceded in a court document submitted at a hearing last year that she did authorise a friend to speak with them on her behalf.

Mr White said: 'What did the Claimant tell this unidentified person could be communicated to the authors about the letter in order to counter what she describes as her father's narrative in the media?

'That's another matter that requires factual investigation at trial.'

The court was also told about a People magazine article from February 2019, which first revealed the letter and contained interviews with five of Meghan's friends whose identities were not revealed.

If a full trial does take place, it is expected that all of them will give evidence and asked under oath about how the article came about.

Mr White told Mr Justice Warby: 'The letter was sent by the Claimant (Meghan) with a view to being read by third parties or the public.'

The newspaper claims Meghan co-operated with the authors of Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie (above) and Carolyn Durand, or authorised her friends to and share details of the letter

He added: 'The writing of the letter to be used as part of a media strategy, the extent to which she caused or permitted information about it to be passed to the authors (of Finding Freedom) and People magazine, cannot be brushed aside and requires full investigation at trial.'

On the first day of the hearing, Justin Rushbrooke, QC, representing Meghan, told Mr Justice Warby that the newspaper's case had no prospect of success and that publication of the extracts had been a 'triple-barrelled invasion of her privacy rights.'

He described the letter as 'a heartfelt plea from an anguished daughter to her father' and that she had no intention of making it public.

Mr Rushbrooke added: 'It is as good an example as one could find of a letter that any person of ordinary sensibilities would not want to be disclosed to third parties, let alone in a mass media publication, in a sensational context and to serve the commercial purposes of the newspaper.'

Judgment was reserved by Mr Justice Warby. He told both sets of lawyers that he would aim to have a draft version of his final ruling sent to them in two weeks' time but could not set a date for when it would be made public.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High near 60F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 42F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
President Barack Obama sent best wishes to his former Vice President on Wednesday morning as he posted a celebratory message to Joe Biden ahead of his inauguration as the nation's 46th president.

Obama shared a touching image of the pair during their time working together in his own administration, as they walked out of the Oval Office with their hands on each others backs.

'Congratulations to my friend, President @JoeBiden! This is your time,' he wrote.

Obama is attending Wednesday's inauguration alongside other former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

As he greeted Vice President Kamala Harris before the ceremony, he gave her a fist pump and said 'so proud of you', according to E! News.

Barack Obama shared this touching picture with his former VP Biden on Wednesday

Obama congratulated Biden just hours before his inauguration

As he greeted Vice President Kamala Harris before the ceremony. Obama gave her a fist pump and said 'so proud of you', as pictured above on Wednesday morning

Biden greets former U.S. President Barack Obama as he arrives for his inauguration

Former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton also shared her congratulations to Biden as she posted a picture of them both from her own campaign.

So excited to call these two wonderful people Mr. President and Dr. Biden, she wrote in a tweet on Wednesday morning.

The former Secretary of State later shared an image of Kamala Harris in which she praised her for being the first woman to hold the role of Vice President.

It delights me to think that what feels historical and amazing to us todaya woman sworn in to the vice presidencywill seem normal, obvious, "of course" to Kamala's grand-nieces as they grow up, Hillary wrote.

And they will be right.

Former US President George W Bush (left), Jym Clyburn from South Carolina (center) and Former US President Bill Clinton (right) are seen during the Biden inauguration

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive at the U.S. Capitol ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday

Hillary Clinton had shared a celebratory message for Biden and Harris on Wednesday

Hillary posted a pictured on Biden offering his support during her own campaign

The former Secretary of State also praised Harris as the first woman elected Vice President

George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were first to arrive at the complex on Wednesday morning, several hours before Bidens swearing-in ceremony.

Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton followed shortly thereafter, with each couple arriving in separate motorcades.

The trio marked a standing against now former President Trump who defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 despite losing the popular vote.

Trump's contempt for Obama and birther claims helped fuel the president's rise while Bush had been astonished by some of Trump's rhetoric in his inaugural address four years ago.

Bush's own dynasty fell victim to Trump's political attacks on his brother, Jeb.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush as they arrive to the inauguration

Former U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush greet Rep. Steve Scalise

Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as they are introduced Wednesday

Former Preisdent Obama waves to the crowds as he and Michelle arrive on Wednesday

President George W. Bush and Laura Bush are shown to their seats ahead of the ceremony

President Trump and former President Jimmy Carter, who at 96 is the oldest living president, are not attending.

Carter and his wife, 93-year-old Rosalynn Carter, have largely spent the coronavirus pandemic at their home in Plains, Georgia.

Carter had been the first former president to confirm that he was attending Donald Trump's inaugural in 2017.

Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived at the complex on Wednesday morning, about 90 minutes before his noon swearing-in ceremony.

They were accompanied by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and were greeted by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

Former President George W. Bush, from left, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama ahead of the ceremony

The Clintons wave to other attendees as they are introduced ahead of the ceremony

Former president Bill Clinton give a thimbs up ahead of the inauguration

Hunter Biden and Barbara Bush arrive during the inauguration of Joe Biden

Biden addressed the country for the first time as president and declared to the nation that democracy has prevailed'  after a chaotic transition where his predecessor denied his election win and never congratulated him on his win.

The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded, Biden said on the West Front of the Capitol just two weeks after MAGA riots threatened to stop the counting of the electoral votes for president in its tracks.

It came moments after Biden raised his hand and took an oath to 'preserve, protect and defend' the Constitution on Wednesday  starting his tenure amid a pandemic and putting an end to a tumultuous four-year term by President Donald Trump.
Dominican Republic PM writes to Prime Minister Modi seeking assistance on vaccination

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 20: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Dominican Republic has written to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi seeking 70,000 doses of Covaxin to fight the ongoing pandemic.

The letter comes in the backdrop of India flying the COVID-19 vaccine to Bhutan and Maldives today.

PM Skerrit write, 'as we enter 2021 and persevere our fight against COVID-19 Dominica's population of 72,100 is in urgent need of enough doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. I, therefore, request, with great humility and respect, that you assist us by donating the doses we need to make our population safe.'

UN assists India's mammoth COVID-19 vaccine rollout on Jan 16

PM Modi had tweeted that India is committed to meeting the health care needs of the global community.

"I draw your kind attention to the enormous challenge faced by our people in obtaining a vaccine for Covid-19. Notwithstanding the pledge by Oxford-AstraZeneca to provide more than half of its doses to the world's developing nations, as it currently stands, the large number of Dominicans will not be able to obtain a vaccine for a very long time. We are a small island developing nation, and are unable to compete with larger nations with greater demand for vaccines and more funds with which to pay for it," Skerrit also wrote.

"In 2017, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, the Government of India graciously provided USD 100,000 for immediate relief, as well as a further USD 1 million for the rebuilding of essential infrastructure. In 2016, India also provided medicine for Dominicans as part of a grant in aid scheme.

We hope now to again be able to rely on your generosity," the letter also said.

'Trusted partner' India to supply Covid vaccine to 6 countries, Bhutan to be first recipients

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

India shares close ties with the Dominican Republic, which showed its commitment during its tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for two years. It had come to India's support when Pakistan through China was targeting India on Kashmir. Pakistan through China had sought to get innocent Indians working in Afghanistan listed as global terrorists under the UNSC's 1267 resolution.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 12:08 [IST]
Leaders across the globe welcomed the arrival of U.S. President Joe Biden and the end of the often confrontational presidency of Donald Trump noting the worlds most pressing problems including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, require multilateral cooperation, an approach Trump ridiculed.

Many expressed hope Wednesday that Biden would right the worlds largest democracy two weeks after they watched rioters storm the Capitol, shaking the faith of those fighting for democracy in their own countries.

Governments targeted and sanctioned under Trump embraced the chance for a fresh start with Biden, while some heads of state who lauded Trumps blend of nationalism and populism were more restrained in their expectations for the Biden administration  and in some cases spoke nostalgically of the Trump years.

But a chance to repair frayed alliances and work together to address problems extending beyond any one countrys borders carried the day.

Biden understands the value and the importance of multilateralism. He understands the importance of cooperation among nations, said former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos, who left office in 2018.

As a matter of fact, if we dont cooperate  all nations  to fight climate change, then we will all perish. Its as simple as that, Santos said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also noted the urgency of addressing the perils the world faces from climate change after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, a move Biden was to reverse in the first hours of his presidency.

With Biden, we will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet," he wrote on Twitter. Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!

Elsewhere in Europe, close U.S. allies finally saw a chance to come in out of the cold after strained security and economic relationships with the Trump administration.

This new dawn in America is the moment weve been awaiting for so long, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, hailing Bidens arrival as resounding proof that, once again after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House.

European Council President Charles Michel said that trans-Atlantic relations have greatly suffered in the last four years. In these years, the world has grown more complex, less stable and less predictable.

We have our differences and they will not magically disappear. America seems to have changed, and how its perceived in Europe and the rest of the world has also changed, added Michel, whose open criticism of the Trump era contrasted with the silence that mostly reigned in Europe while the Republican leader was in the White House.

In Germany, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued a video statement, calling Biden's inauguration a good day for democracy.

Despite the attempts to tear at Americas institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress have proven strong, he said.

With Biden and incoming Vice President Kamala Harris, Steinmeier said the U.S. would again be a vital partner to tackle issues like the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, security issues including arms control and disarmament, and multiple conflicts.

Pope Francis urged Biden to help foster reconciliation in the U.S. and build up a society marked by authentic justice and freedom and looking out especially for the poor.

The grave crises facing all of humanity call for farsighted responses, Francis said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formed close ties with Trump, noted a warm personal friendship with Biden. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran, Netanyahu said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose country has had a tumultuous relationship with Washington, having been criticized for aiding the Afghan Taliban, said in a tweet he looked forward to building a stronger partnership through trade, economic engagement and countering climate change.

In Latin America, Biden faces immediate challenges on immigration and the leaders of the two most populous countries  Brazil and Mexico  were chummy with Trump. The Trump administration also took a hard line against governments in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, expanding painful sanctions.

In Venezuela, the government of President Nicolas Maduro urged a renewed dialogue with the Biden administration, while hoping the incoming president abandons the avalanche of damaging sanctions Trump imposed to attempt a regime change.

Common Venezuelans, however, like retired accountant Jesus Sanchez, 79, said he was disappointed to see Trump leave power. Trump backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, giving Venezuelans like him hope that Maduros days in power were numbered.

An estimated 5 million Venezuelans have migrated out of the South American nation in recent years, fleeing shortages of food, medicine and basic services such as running water and gasoline, despite sitting atop the worlds largest crude reserves.

Carlos Vecchio, Guaidos envoy in Washington who the U.S. recognizes as Venezuelas ambassador, tweeted photos of himself standing in front of the inauguration ceremony Wednesday. The invitation to attend was touted by Venezuelas opposition as evidence the Biden administration will continue its strong support and resist entreaties by Maduro to engage in dialogue that the U.S. has strenuously rejected until now.

Cubas leaders perhaps have a more realistic hope for improved relations. After all, Biden was in the White House for the historic thaw in relations in 2014. Various officials said they were willing to reopen a dialogue with Washington if there was respect for Cubas sovereignty.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel railed against Trump via Twitter, citing more than 200 measures that tightened the financial, commercial and economic blockade, the expression of a despicable and inhuman policy.

In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who cultivated an unexpectedly friendly relationship with Trump and was one of the last world leaders to recognize Bidens victory, read from a letter he sent to Biden in 2012, calling for a reorienting of the bilateral relationship away from security and military aid and toward development.

He urged Biden to implement immigration reform, and added: We need to maintain a very good relationship with the United States government and I dont have any doubt that its going to be that way.

__

Cook reported from Brussels. AP writers Nicole Winfield in Vatican City, Kathy Gannon in Islamabad, Laurie Kellman in Jerusalem, Alex Sanz in Atlanta, David Rising in Berlin, Joshua Goodman in Miami, Andrea Rodriguez in Havana, Scott Smith in Caracas, Venezuela, Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.
Irish premier Micheal Martin has congratulated the new US president Joe Biden on his immense achievement.

Mr Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States of America on Wednesday, succeeding former president Donald Trump.

The Taoiseach referenced Mr Bidens Irish roots, calling him one of us and said he looked forward to welcoming him back to this island.

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He said: On behalf of the government and people of Ireland, I wish to offer my heartfelt congratulations to President Joe Biden on his inauguration.

The inauguration of a new US president is a moment of hope and renewal in US political life.

As he takes the oath-of-office, I know that President Biden will feel the weight of history  the presence of his Irish ancestors who left Mayo and Louth in famine times in search of life and hope.

He will remember their descendants hard struggle as they made their way in and their contribution to the United States. It is the story of Irish-America.

I hope he will also be conscious of the great pride we in Ireland take in his immense achievement. He is one of us, part of our global family.

Today a true friend of Ireland @JoeBiden became the 46th President of the USA. As he said in his speech, it is a day of history and hope and I look forward to forging ever closer ties between our two great nations. #InaugurationDay  MicheAl Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 20, 2021

I look forward to welcoming President Biden back to this island and deepening cooperation on global peace, climate change, economic partnership and stability.

Mr Martin also congratulated Vice President Kamala Harris, who has become the first woman and the first person of colour to hold the position.

He said: I also wish to pay tribute to vice president Kamala Harris, who has created history today, and who will help form a diverse and formidable administration.

While US relations with the European Union became strained during the Trump presidency, Mr Martin has offered Irelands help in restoring them.

I believe Ireland can be a bridge-builder between the United States and the European Union as we all share common values in securing democracy, peace and economic development, he said.

He added: I am enormously heartened that among his first actions in office will be a re-commitment of the US to the Paris Agreement on climate, and a resetting of the relationship with Europe.

The challenges of our shared world  and the issues that Joe Biden will face as president  can only be overcome if like-minded leaders come together to tackle them.

Irish president Michael D Higgins has offered his heartfelt congratulations to Mr Biden on his inauguration.

"There can be no greater honour than to be given the trust of one's fellow citizens to lead."



President Michael D. Higgins has written to President Joe Biden, offering his "heartfelt congratulations" as @JoeBiden assumes the office of President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/grdf6hBVYN  President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) January 20, 2021

In a letter to the new president, Mr Higgins said: There can be no greater honour than to be given the trust of ones fellow citizens to lead, and no greater responsibility than to vindicate that confidence by having their interests, their welfare and their aspirations at the forefront of all that we do.

As president of the great nation that is the USA, there is so much positive change that you can bring about over the coming years and so many challenges that we must all face together.

Mr Higgins described the US as a true friend to Ireland, adding that Mr Bidens friendship and support over many years had been invaluable.

Ireland, of course, has made its most valuable contribution to your great land by providing so many of our daughters and sons. The descendants of some turned out to be rather fine Presidents!, he added.

May I wish you well in all that you do.

The president also recalled the warmth of Mr Bidens previous two visits to Aras an Uachtarain.

He added that he hoped he and his wife Sabina would have the privilege and the pleasure of welcoming the US President and the First Lady to Ireland again once circumstances permitted.

#Ireland takes great pride in inauguration of @JoeBiden as USaaaPresident. We hope to welcome him to his ancestral home early in his Presidency. He has always been a friend to Ireland & we look forward to working with him on strengthening Irish/US relations & much more. pic.twitter.com/YET6XysuTX  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) January 20, 2021

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has also congratulated Mr Biden, and spoke of his hope that his presidency will signal a stronger relationship between the US and Ireland.

Writing on Twitter, he said: Ireland takes great pride in inauguration of @JoeBiden as USPresident.

We hope to welcome him to his ancestral home early in his presidency. He has always been a friend to Ireland & we look forward to working with him on strengthening Irish/US relations & much more.
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Tammin Sursok has given a positive update on her husband Sean McEwen's Covid battle, 18 days after he tested positive for the virus.

On Wednesday, the 37-year-old actress announced that Sean had been 24 hours 'fever free' for the first time in over 14 days, and said she hopes to reunite with him in the near future.

'First 24 hours fever free. Praise the lord!!! Thank you thank you thank you,' she wrote.

Gradual progress: Tammin Sursok has given a positive update on her husband Sean McEwen's coronavirus battle, 18 days after he tested positive

'My husband had a fever of 102-103 for 14/15 days. We haven't seen him in 18 days. He's been in one room for 18 days,' she continued.

'I'm hoping we can be reunited in the next day or two. Stay tuned...'

She also shared a touching image of her husband peeking out of the second story window to see their two-year-old daughter Lennon, which she captioned: 'Play date'.

Tammin said a day earlier that she believes her husband is now 'on the good side of Covid' but she isn't sure how long the 'post-viral part of the virus is going to last'.

Touching: She then shared a heartbreaking image of her husband peeking out of the second story window to see their two-year-old son, which she captioned: 'Play date'

Positive news: Tammin said she hopes to 'reunite' with her other half in 'the next day or two'

She also revealed she and her daughters, Phoenix, six, and Lennon can now leave their house after quarantining for 15 days and testing negative three times.

Last week, Tammin tearfully announced that her husband, film producer Sean, had contracted coronavirus.

'My husband has Covid and I'm scared. Today I'm not as scared as yesterday, but yesterday I felt very out of control,' she said.

'I'm scared': Last week, Tammin tearfully announced that her husband, film producer Sean, had contracted coronavirus

'It was rough and touch and go. All the hospitals are full and his fever of 103 wouldn't break for days and it got to a very scary place.

'Covid is real. It's scary and I now see it first hand. I've been really scared and in a dark place... I'm struggling and I love you all and this community.'

The former Home and Away star finished by urging people to 'please wear a mask', before saying: 'This is not something you want to get.'

Tammin met her husband in 2007, when she was auditioning for his film Albino Farm. The couple married in 2011 in Florence, Italy.
In one of his last acts before leaving office, outgoing Interior Secretary David Bernhard on Tuesday granted Hammond Ranches Inc. a 10-year grazing permit, curtailing any potential administrative appeals in the face of vehement opposition from environmental advocacy groups.

In February 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management rejected the Hammonds renewal application, citing the criminal convictions of father Dwight Hammond Jr. and son Steven Hammond for setting fire to public lands.

Paul Ruprecht, the Nevada-Oregon director of the Western Watersheds Project, said granting the permit just before President Donald Trump leaves office puts politics before land stewardship.

It is outrageous  although sadly predictable  that the Trump administration has reached down into the Burns Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management and seized control to make sure they could give the Hammonds preferential access to public lands, Ruprecht said in a statement.

The environmental protection group contends the renewed grazing will harm sage-grouse habitats in the region and increase invasive weeds and the likelihood of destructive fires.

Its clear that the Bureau of Land Management was told by on high to get this done before the Trump administration leaves tomorrow, Ruprecht said. Its corruption, down to the fact that they raced through the weekend to get this rubber-stamped before the inauguration.

The Bureau of Land Management had proposed on New Years Eve returning grazing rights to Hammond Ranches for 10 years, citing among other reasons their extensive historic use of the allotments and what the federal agency characterized as their past proper use of rangeland resources.

The permit covers four land allotments called Hammond, Mud Creek, Hardie Summer and Hammond Fenced Federal Range and allows cattle grazing on more than 26,000 acres of public lands neighboring Malheur National Wildlife Refuge about 45 to 70 miles south of Burns, near the town of Frenchglen.

Susie Hammond, the matriarch of the Hammond family, said Tuesday afternoon, Well, we dont have any cows on it yet, so well see.

Asked about the timing of the permit just before Trump is set to leave office, she added, You dont suppose that was strategic?

W. Alan Schroeder, attorney for Hammond Ranches Inc., said in a statement: The Hammond family wishes to extend their sincerest appreciation and thanks to the many individuals and organizations who have supported them, their livelihood and the agricultural industry as a whole. They look forward to helping manage the natural resources in a responsible and productive manner. Everyones efforts have truly been a blessing.

In December 2019, U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon of Portland revoked the eastern Oregon grazing permit for Hammond Ranches Inc. after finding that a renewal order by former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, issued on Zinkes last day in office in early 2019, was an abuse of discretion.

The renewal followed Trumps pardon of the Hammonds in July 2018. Dwight Hammond Jr. and Steven Hammond had been convicted of arson and were serving out five-year mandatory minimum sentences for setting fire to public land where they had grazing rights. Both were convicted of setting a fire in 2001, and the son was convicted of setting a second fire in 2006.

When they walked out of prison, Dwight Hammond had served two years and nine months in prison and his son had served three years and four months. In 2015, the Hammonds also paid $400,000 to settle a civil suit brought by the government to recoup damages caused by the fires.

Simon ruled that neither Zinke nor the Bureau of Land Management made a finding as required that the Hammonds were in substantial compliance' with federal grazing regulations or had a satisfactory history of performance. The judge said the Hammonds could reapply for a new permit and go through the proper process to obtain one.

Simons ruling came after three environmental advocacy groups -- Western Watersheds Project, the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians -- sued the Interior secretary and the Bureau of Land Management. The advocacy groups argued that Zinke acted as if he were above the law' by failing to consider the Hammonds unsatisfactory record or do proper environmental reviews before ordering the renewal of the grazing permit.

The Hammonds reapplied for a permit, but were competing with three others who sought grazing rights to the same federal parcels held by the family for decades, according to Tara Thissell, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Land Managements Burns office.

This time, the land management bureau did prepare an environmental assessment, analyzing the effects of issuing one or more livestock grazing permits on 26,378 acres of federally managed public land, according to the bureaus website.

On Tuesday, the website carried the Interior secretarys final decision granting the permit and authorizing the construction and removal of range improvements on the land.

The notice of the decision reads: The parties are advised hereby that, as Secretary of the Interior, I am exercising jurisdiction over this matter in accordance with 43 C.F.R.  4.5. As described below under the heading Appeals, there are no further administrative appeals available. The Taylor Grazing Act provides for hearings from decisions of administrative officers, 43 U.S.C.  315h, though not from decisions of the Secretary. Similarly, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) provides for a right of appeal from allotment management plan decisions issued by subordinate officials. 43 U.S.C.  1752(f). Because the duly adopted regulations establishing these processes for decisions rendered by the BLM do not and cannot preclude the Secretary from exercising reserved statutory authority, this decision properly concludes administrative proceedings on this matter.

Ruprecht argued that the land permitted for cattle grazing had only begun to recover after the Hammonds cattle were removed in 2014, and the sage grouse habitats and trout streams have yet to be fully restored from the damage.

These particular ranchers have a long and contentious history of flouting grazing regulations, and their permit was revoked for those violations , Ruprecht said. The limited grazing allowed in 2019 failed to change their noncompliance, so clearly the agency has no legal basis to conclude that the Hammonds qualify for a new permit.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

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Audit Wales says health boards Marbella Man was paid over market rate

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jan 20th, 2021

A troubleshooter dubbed Marbella Man  on almost 2,000 a day  was paid above the market rate the local health board, an audit has found.

Interim recovery director Phillip Burns received 370,000 for nine months work at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, from his home in Spain.

An Audit Wales annual report to the board on Thursday will show that he was paid over the odds  despite former CEO Gary Doherty insisting in December 2019 that Mr Burns received the market rate for this level of expertise.

North Wales MS Llyr Gruffydd, called for an investigation into how Mr Burns was paid so much money. Audit Wales also revealed his appointment was made before funding for his post was confirmed.





The Wales Audit report said: The Welsh Government agreed to contribute 350,000 towards the cost of the Interim Recovery Director, but played no part in the appointment itself, which was made by the health board before this funding had been confirmed.My work also found that whilst the health board asserts that competitive rates were negotiated for the appointment, I found that the daily rate being paid by the health board for the interim recovery director post is higher than most of the benchmark comparators that were used by officials during the appointment process.

Plaid Cymru MS Mr Gruffydd said: The health board tried to defend Marbella Mans appointment and his cost, saying it was the going rate at the time.Wales Audit has now completed its annual report into the health boards finances and states quite clearly the daily rate paid to the Interim Recovery Director was higher than most of the benchmark comparators that were used by officials during the appointment process.

So why did a health board in financial difficulties make such a generous offer  especially at a time when it was trying to force nurses to work an extra shift per month without pay?

And why did the Labour Government, which had direct supervision of the health board at the time, allow this to happen and indeed provide the direct funding for this position?

We need a full investigation to establish what went wrong here  BCUHB has been badly managed for many years and this confirms our worst fears that decisions are being made at the top that stink of, at best, incompetence and perhaps something far worse.

Mr Burns contract ended in April last year  two months early.He was supposed to earn around 361,000 for his nine-month stint and save the board cash, by identifying efficiencies.

The health board ended the year 40 million in deficit. Mr Burns received 353,450 in total, plus expenses of 16,888.

Sue Green, the health boards executive director of workforce defended the appointment of Mr Burns: The due diligence conducted by the health board at the time of the appointment showed that the rate paid was not materially above the market rate and the Recovery Director provided the

Health Board with an experienced senior expert in financial recovery, which supported the delivery of the savings programme in 2019/20.

The health board has revised the process for appointing interim agency workers, requiring agreement from executive directors of finance and workforce, as well as expertise from procurement services, before engaging agencies as part of a national framework.

Former CEO Mr Doherty left his post at the health board last February and was seconded as director of integration at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) approached the trust to obtain a comment from Mr Doherty.

Mr Doherty and Mr Burns previously worked together at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

By Jez Hemming  BBC Local Democracy Reporter

The RBI's Financial Stability Report (FSR) released on January 11, 2021 warns of serious financial risks to the economy (described as "unintended consequences") caused by the monetary and fiscal measures pursued to revive the economy.

It says the financial vulnerabilities "incipiently pre-pandemic" have "intensified" and "pose headwinds to a fuller recovery". Its macro stress tests show that the Gross NPA (GNPA) ratio of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) is likely to rise from 7.5% in September 2020 to 13.5% by September 2021, under the baseline scenario, and 14.8% under the severe stress scenario indicating "possible economic impairment".

What does the worsening GNPA ratio mean?

Macro-financial risks to the economy

The RBI's Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India, 2019-20, released on December 29, 2020 says in FY20, the GNPA ratio of the SCBs was 8.2% and the total GNPA was Rs 9.15 lakh crore. At this rate, 13.5% to 14.8% GNPA ratios would translate to Rs 15 lakh crore-Rs 16.5 lakh crore of stressed assets in the SCBs.

This would mean further reluctance by banks to provide long-term credit for investment.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy 59: Quantum jump in fiscal spending is what India needs immediately

In addition to deterioration in the SCBs' asset quality, the RBI report flags two more worrying aspects: (i) capital buffers in the SCBs likely to fall "below the regulatory minimum" and (ii) "the disconnect" between some segments of financial markets (like the booming stock market) and the real economy "has been accentuated" and the stretched valuations of financial assets "pose risks to financial stability".

If the current monetary and fiscal policies are pursued for a longer period, it warns that authorities would "eventually" be locked into "forbearance and liquidity traps".

The RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das' advice (in the foreword): "Banks and financial intermediaries need to be cognisant of these risks and spill-overs in an interconnected financial system."

Inter-connectedness of financial institutions makes it easier for the malaise to spread to the entire financial system, thus posing a macro-financial risk to the economy.

What this report ignores is that India is already in a liquidity trap and that the RBI has played a major role in this. Until October 31, 2020, RBI facilitated Rs 12.7 lakh crore of liquidity through various instruments.

A substantial part of this liquidity gets parked in its own reverse repo account daily as banks prefer the safety and assured interest earning of 3.35% of such deposits, instead of lending to businesses, which have little need for credit in an economy hit by demand depression in any case.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy 58: The untold story of India's services sector

The following graph maps the daily deposits in RBI's reverse repo account from January 1 to November 21, 2020.

Notice how the deposits rose sky-high in response to the RBI's cheap credit after the lockdown. The repo rate (at which the RBI lends to banks) came down from 5.15% until March 26, 2020 to 4% in May 2020 where it stands now.

Spree of writing off loans (NPAs) to private companies

The other negative fallout of persisting with the current monetary and fiscal policy that the RBI flagged off is locking authorities into "forbearance".

Here "forbearance" stands for the moratorium on loan repayment, freezing of classifying bad loans as NPAs and restructuring of loans declared during the lockdown. When these measures are withdrawn, the RBI warns that the GNPA ratio is likely to jump from 7.5% to 13.5% and 14.8% at different stress levels.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy 57: When and how will industry take India to next level of growth?

The RBI does not explain why huge amounts of loans availed by private businesses are routinely being written off and banks are recapitalised with public money in compensation, thereby incentivising more loan defaults. The RBI has stopped even providing data on NPA write-offs in its database. It zealously guards the identities of big loan defaulters too.

In August 2020, it provided year-wise NPA write-offs from FY04 to FY20 (up to December 31, 2019) in response to an RTI query from a Pune-based businessman, Prafful Sarda. The RBI's banking trend report of 2019-20 mentioned earlier provides the total NPA write-off for the full fiscal year of FY20.

The following graph uses these disclosures to show how loan write-offs by the SCBs and public sector banks (PSBs) dramatically increased during the past six years since the NDA-II came to power. As against Rs 2.2 lakh crore during the 11 years between FY04 and FY14, the loan write-offs went up to Rs 8.7 lakh crore in six years between FY15 and FY20 - 4 times.

Notice, the PSBs account for the bulk of loan write-offs (76.5% of the total) and are compensated for it periodically with public money.

Much has been made of the recovery of written off NPAs.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy 56: Why India should follow agricultural development-led industrialisation growth model

The graph below maps the NPA write-offs and their recoveries by the SCBs between FY15 and FY20 (up to December 31, 2019) using the RBI's 2020 RTI reply mentioned earlier.

The total recovery is less than 10% of the total NPA write-offs. (The RTI reply did not give any information on recovery before FY15.)

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is unlikely to help much in cleaning up bad loans. Former RBI Governor Urjit Patel disclosed in his book "Overdraft: Saving the Indian Saver" that the central government diluted the code and the RBI's powers to undermine efforts to clean up the bad loan mess (NPAs). This led to his eventual resignation from the RBI in December 2018.

In view of all this, the current governor's advice to banks and financial intermediaries "to be cognisant" of macro-financial risks to the economy is uninspiring.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy 55: Farmer producer organisations best bet for small, marginal farmers

Is further recapitalisation of banks on cards?

The RBI's FSR does not talk about recapitalisation of banks. Between FY15 and FY20, the government has pumped in Rs 3.16 lakh crore of public money for this (compensate banks writing off loans).

But Arvind Panagariya, former Niti Aayog deputy chairman, does seek this. In an article headlined "Four Recommendations for FM", he strongly recommended the finance minister to "recapitalise in advance the public sector banks (PSBs) on a sizable scale" in her forthcoming budget.

His logic: In its first term (2014-2019), the NDA-II government was slow to act on the NPAs front, as a result of which "the economy paid a high price for it" with both credit and GDP growth slipping. He expects a rise in NPAs once the "forbearance" is lifted, hurting growth in credit and GDP, and hence the recommendation.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy 54: Will bypassing APMC-based procurement improve farmers' income, ensure food security?

Given the intellectual heft Panagaiya enjoys with the NDA-II government, his advice can't be dismissed lightly. Although it is not clear how recapitalisation of banks will help credit and GDP growth when (i) excess liquidity with banks is daily parked in the RBI's reverse repo account and (ii) without addressing bad loans/loan defaults that leads to financial stress and lower credit growth, unless the idea is to write off more loans of private businesses.

As for credit growth, the FSR further points out that while bank credit growth (YoY) has declined in FY20 and remains sluggish since then, deposit growth has been robust (in the double digits) "reflecting precautionary saving in the face of high uncertainty".

Also Read: Rebooting Economy 53: Why crop insurance is losing traction in India

Does credit growth matter in the current situation?

The RBI's FSR provides evidence of what ails the economy.

It presents a table - reproduced below - listing "major impediments to a robust economic recovery post COVID-19" its systemic risk survey (SRS) revealed.

What the table suggests is the need for high fiscal spending to revive demand and kick-start the investment cycle as well as framing of policies to address issues like supply chain disruptions, workforce reduction/employee stress, lower productivity etc., rather than a need to boost credit growth as Panagariya tells the finance minister.

Also Read: Rebooting Economy 52: The unfinished agenda of land reforms nobody talks about

Also read: Rebooting Economy 51: Where is India's vision, plan for sustained agriculture growth and farmers' welfare?
New Delhi: After late actress Jiah Khan's sister accused filmmaker Sajid Khan of sexual harassment in a BBC documentary 'Death in Bollywood', model-actress Sherlyn Chopra has also levelled serious allegations against the director.

Sherlyn Chopra took to Twitter and wrote: When I had met him in April 2005, a few days after my fathers demise, he had taken his penis out of his pants and had asked me to feel it. I remember having told him that I know how a penis feels like & that the purpose of my meeting with him was not to feel or rate his penis..

She added: "He has the superstars of Bollywood to vouch for his character. Its my word against theirs. The Bollywood mafia is a strong syndicate."

He has the superstars of Bollywood to vouch for his character.

Its my word against theirs.

The Bollywood mafia is a strong syndicate. https://t.co/x5hUm1tzVm  Sherni (@SherlynChopra) January 18, 2021

"Its not an accusation but the disclosure of a fact. Our phone records of the past may be checked regarding the same. After flashing his penis, he had not only asked me to touch it & feel it but also asked me if I had ever seen a penis as well endowed as his.."

Filmmaker Sajid Khan was called out in 2018 MeToo movement when one of his assistants named Saloni Chopra accused him of sexual harassment. Saloni, in her Facebook post, described the horrifying account of how she was allegedly harassed by the filmmaker while they worked together.

Amid these allegations, Sajid stepped down as the director of 'Housefull 4' starring Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Sharad Kelkar, Pooja Hegde, Kriti Kharbanda and Kriti Sanon.
Chandigarh, Jan 20 : Thousands of devotees paid obeisance at gurdwaras across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh on Wednesday to commemorate the 354th birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh.

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) founded the 'Khalsa Panth' or the community of the pure at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.

Religious fervour was quite evident at 'Harmandar Sahib', the holiest of Sikh shrines also known as Golden Temple, in Amritsar in Punjab and other historic gurdwaras across the region as devotees began to assemble since early morning hours to offer prayers and listen to the 'kirtan' or hymns set to music.

The Golden Temple complex was adorned with lights to mark the occasion.

A heavy rush of devotees was also seen at Takht Kesgarh Sahib gurdwara in Anandpur Sahib town, around 85 km from here, since early morning. It was at this place that Guru Gobind Singh founded the 'Khalsa Panth'.

Hundreds of people also offered prayers at Gurdwara Nada Sahib in Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh, which is associated with the visit of the 10th Sikh Guru.

Religious processions were taken out at various places in the region on the eve of the Guru's birth anniversary. 'Langars' or community kitchens have been set up at gurdwaras to feed the devotees.

Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh greeted people on the occasion and urged them to follow the Guru's teachings and to maintain peace and harmony.

BERLIN - Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that Germany is extending its pandemic restrictions, including the closure of schools and stores, until mid-February amid concerns that new mutations of the coronavirus could trigger a fresh surge in cases.

People stay in the new open Erika-Hess-Eisstadion vaccine center in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. (Kay Nietfeld/Pool via AP)

BERLIN - Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that Germany is extending its pandemic restrictions, including the closure of schools and stores, until mid-February amid concerns that new mutations of the coronavirus could trigger a fresh surge in cases.

Germany's infection rate has stabilized in recent days, indicating that existing restrictions may have been effective in bringing down the numbers. On Tuesday, the country's disease control centre reported 11,369 newly confirmed infections and 989 deaths, for an overall death toll of 47,622.

All our efforts to contain the spread of the virus face a serious threat, Merkel told reporters in Berlin, noting that experts have linked surging infections in Britain and Ireland to the appearance of a more contagious virus variant there.

Now is the time to guard against the danger posed by this mutated virus, she said.

A man stands on a small balcony of his office in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, the day when the German government will discuss further coronavirus restrictions. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

While individual instances of new variants have been found in Germany, scientists have said it isn't dominant yet, she added.

There's still time, so to speak, to contain the risk, said Merkel.

In addition to extending the closure of restaurants, most stores and schools until Feb. 14, Merkel and the governors of Germany's 16 states agreed to require people to wear the more effective FFP2 or KN95 masks on public transport and stores. Employers will also be ordered to let staff work from home, wherever possible, to avoid office-driven infections.

Merkel said the goal remains to have fewer than 50 new coronavirus cases a week per 100,000 inhabitants. Germany's nationwide average is currently 131.

The governor of the eastern state of Saxony, which until recently had the highest rates of infection in the country, said it was important to drive the number of new cases down further.

We're currently seeing in Britain what happens when a mutation occurs, when the numbers explode," he told news channel n-tv. We can't remain at this level.

Medical workers have been demanding an extension or toughening of the shutdown since many hospitals are still on edge, with intensive care wards and even crematoriums reaching their limits in some areas.

The current measures on limiting social contacts seem to be showing an effect, Susanne Johna, the head of the physicians' association Marburger Bund, told the dpa news agency, adding that the measures should continue to be upheld to further reduce new infections.

We urgently need further relief, Johna said.

Merkel acknowledged growing concern in Germany about the impact that the restrictions are having on students, who face a further four weeks of home schooling.

It's a big strain for schools, the eight weeks, she said. But if we had conditions like in London then ... we wouldn't be talking about schools anymore, we'd be talking about ambulances and overflowing hospitals. And we have to avoid that at all cost.

Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic,https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Aren't most people paying attention sick to death of our self-appointed betters calling for unity and healing? Talking heads on both sides of the aisle are dutifully repeating this mantra 24/7. The hapless Republicans like Lindsey Graham may think such a soundbite might succeed but no one in the real world does. Not to rehash recent history, but for over four years the Democrats used every dirty trick in their playbook in their attempt to destroy Donald Trump. We should have all realized from that moment that they were not going to let that happen again and indeed they did not.

The left has doubled down in order to put the doddering Joe Biden in the Oval Office. Their hatred, jealousy and fear of Trumps popularity and success in office has transformed them from merely viciously intolerant into rabid dogs of venality.

Oh, theyve shown their true colors over the past four years. Theyve cruelly attacked every member of the Trump family not to mention what theyve had to say, are still saying, about Trumps supporters, all eighty to a hundred million of them. Swamp dwellers like McConnell, Romney, even Kevin McCarthy seem to think that by sucking up to the left they will endear themselves to those of us who have been thoroughly disenfranchised. No way. What McConnell, Liz Cheney, Ben Sasse, Pat Toomey, et. al. have done is ensure their own legacies of betrayal; theyve each revealed their inner spinelessness. That goes for Mike Pence as well.

How to explain the backstabbing Bill Barr? He was likely a saboteur from the beginning of his stint as AG. So much disappointment to go around. Why are there so very few real conservatives in Congress? Why so few with the courage of their convictions? Perhaps because they have no real convictions beyond their own enrichment.

Almost no one is excited about Bidens presidency any more than they were excited about his candidacy. He was just the last man standing among a gaggle of radicals. The troops are likely a grand performance of political theater to cover up the lack of interest in a Biden presidency.

Given the policies he has already announced, Bidens administration is bound to destroy the US economy, wildly exacerbating illegal immigration, which will further throw Americans out of work, further bankrupt our already bankrupt nation, and worst of all, implement quasi-Stalinist restrictions on our freedoms.

The left is seeking to destroy every person who ever worked for the Trump administration or spoke in favor of it. Lefty media pundits are calling on big tech to punish Trump supporters. They are demanding they be re-programmed, re-educated, our opinions de-platformed, de-amplified. Some of them suggest we should all be put into re-education camps.

Massive censorship of any and all conservative ideas is happening, and the left celebrates it as if they are so historically ignorant, they dont know where such authoritarianism leads.

Individuals are insignificant, only the collective matters. Think of the excesses of the French and Russian Revolutions. Thats where we are today under a Biden administration. And they talk about unity and healing. What a sick joke.

What everyone knows is that the left has no intention of bringing about unity or healing. They are gearing up to go for the jugulars of every Trump supporter, one way or another. They may be surveilling our texts and emails. Soon we will be back to communicating by ham radio like Nellie Ohr, or even carrier pigeons to protect ourselves from their big brother despotism.

Oh, it wont be old Joe Biden pulling the strings. It will be his handlers, the veterans of the Obama administration: Susan Rice, Samantha Power, John Kerry for heavens sake, Gina McCarthy, Jen Psaki. There are many fingerprints all over the Russia hoax meant to destroy Trump. They are all tired retreads of former failed Democrat administrations. Not one appears to believe in American exceptionalism.

There will be no unity. There will be no healing. There will be further speech restrictions, a more extreme cancel culture, as people lose their jobs for using a wrong word or expressing an incorrect opinion. There will be, as there already is, a fervent and possibly successful campaign to ban all opinions contrary to the regime in power.

Orwell was beyond prescient; he foretold our present. Unless and until there are more conservative Americans with the valor to fight for the preservation of the Constitution and the liberty it guaranteed for all, we are doomed. There can be no unity or healing under what appears to be about to be a dictatorship. As George Rasley has written, They have opened the gates of hell and its a one-way passage.

Graphic credit: Pixy.org CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
Madhya Pradesh Congress



chief on Wednesday accused the of ruining the farmers of the country and claimed that the three new agriculture laws will make the cultivators captive of the big traders.

Nath made the statement while addressing 'Kisan Khat Mahapanchayat' in Morena district, the Lok Sabha constituency of Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. The meeting was held in protest against the three farm laws.

"After the implementation of the three new agriculture laws, farmers will become captive of the big traders as mandis will eventually shut down. Earlier we used to import wheat from America, but now the cultivators have made the country self-reliant," he said.

"Our country's 70 per cent economy is based on agriculture, but the central government is ruining our farmers," he alleged.

The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister assured the farmers that the Congress will strongly oppose the "injustice" being meted out to them and would remain firmly with them.

"The farmers of Chambal always stood against the injustice and now the time has come for them to go to Delhi to support the agitating cultivators," Nath said.

The power of farmers will force the to withdraw the three black laws, he added.

On the occasion, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh urged the farmers to read the pamphlet he has distributed against the three laws.

"We are with the farmers and if they remain firm on their demands like this, then the central government will be forced to roll back these laws," he said.

Former minister P C Sharma said that the Congress will gherao the Raj Bhavan in Bhopal on January 23, while the party's senior leaders will move towards Delhi on tractor- trolleys on January 26 to take part in the farmers' agitation.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws. Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

On January 11, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

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


The radical left and treacherous Republicans are giddy over their success in getting rid of Donald Trump with their fraudulent overthrow of his landslide election and tarnishing his legacy with unwarranted blame for the Capitol breach. Now they are turning their satanic wrath on the personal destruction of Trumps nearly 74 million supporters.

Weak-kneed Republicans who rode the coattails of Trump to their own victories have now jumped ship, some saying that he created his own demise. Highly critical, these Judases contend that Trump has been a failure as president in their attempt to undermine his many accomplishments while in office.

The truth is that Trump has succeeded so brilliantly that the radical left has no choice but to destroy him and his legacy. They used a Chinese virus to force a national lockdown to destroy the American economy, further shred our Constitutionally guaranteed rights, and serve as cover for a fraudulent mail-in ballot scheme to steal the election.

Now with the preparations for the presidential inauguration today, it feels as though were living in the twilight zone of a third world dictatorship. This is the first time an American president has been inaugurated with 7-foot non-scalable fencing around the Capitol, topped with razor wire, and guarded by thousands of armed National Guardsmen.

Democrats, who denounce border walls designed to keep out illegal immigrants invading our nation, suddenly feel a frantic need for a razor wire wall in D.C. to keep out conservative deplorables. They claim to be so fearful of radical right protesters that the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue has been canceled and replaced by a virtual parade. Inaugural balls have been canceled as well.

The lefts crazed frenzy about Donald Trump is quite simply that he exposed their corruption and their plan to take down America and that he stood with the American people against them. The radical left has no option but to destroy him, his family, and his millions of supporters so they can continue their consolidation of a one-party dictatorship.

As disappointed and dejected as conservatives feel now, we cannot retreat. Although Trump is leaving office after only one term, his legacy will endure. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, America can have a rebirth of our founding principles. In his farewell speech on Tuesday afternoon, President Trump said,

... I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning. Theres never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day. As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation cannot achieve. Our communities will flourish. Our people will be prosperous. Our traditions will be cherished. Our faith will be strong. And our future will be brighter than ever before.

Americans have been asleep at the wheel for decades, turning over the leadership of our nation to spineless, morally challenged lawmakers, and now were paying the supreme price for our apathy. Despite years of warnings, we ignored the communists slow march through the institutions as they infiltrated our culture to destroy Western civilization.

Now the sleeping giant has been awakened and we are going to keep this populist movement going. As President Trump reminded us in his farewell speech,

As the worlds most powerful nation, America faces constant threats and challenges from abroad. But the greatest danger we face is a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness. A nation is only as strong as its spirit. We are only as dynamic as our pride. We are only as vibrant as the faith that beats in the hearts of our people. No nation can long thrive that loses faith in its own values, history, and heroes, for these are the very sources of our unity and our vitality. What has always allowed America to prevail and triumph over the great challenges of the past has been an unyielding and unashamed conviction in the nobility of our country and its unique purpose in history. We must never lose this conviction. We must never forsake our belief in America. The key to national greatness lies in sustaining and instilling our shared national identity. That means focusing on what we have in common: the heritage that we all share.

To accomplish this, we must reaffirm our unique founding based on Judeo-Christian principles  an exceptional nation that became the greatest on earth. To have a rebirth of patriotism, we must teach our youth an unrevised history of our unique heritage and our free enterprise system. We must put an end to cancel culture and restore our Western values of family and church. We can never again blindly trust sleazy politicians to do the right thing for our nation and our citizens. Just as the left has infiltrated our conservative organizations, so must we infiltrate their entities with conservatism.

It took a very long time to get us to this point and it will take a very long time to turn around the Ship of State. But we can and we will. There is no other option because we will not bow down and accept communism or a fraudulent president.

The legacy of Donald Trump will endure and will continue to inspire us to Make America Great Again.

Photo credit: Rumble video screengrab

Carole Hornsby Haynes is an education policy/curriculum consultant, historian, and classical pianist. www.drcarolehhaynes.com  chaynes777@protonmail.com



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Artistic rendition of the exoplanet WASP-107b and its star, WASP-107. Some of the star's light streams through the exoplanet's extended gas layer. CREDIT ESA/Hubble, NASA, M. Kornmesser.

The core mass of the giant exoplanet WASP-107b is much lower than what was thought necessary to build up the immense gas envelope surrounding giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn, astronomers at Universite de Montreal have found.



This intriguing discovery by Ph.D. student Caroline Piaulet of UdeM's Institute for Research on Exoplanets (iREx) suggests that gas-giant planets form a lot more easily than previously believed.

Piaulet is part of the groundbreaking research team of UdeM astrophysics professor Bjorn Benneke that in 2019 announced the first detection of water on an exoplanet located in its star's habitable zone.

Published today in the Astronomical Journal with colleagues in Canada, the U.S., Germany and Japan, the new analysis of WASP-107b's internal structure "has big implications," said Benneke.

"This work addresses the very foundations of how giant planets can form and grow," he said. "It provides concrete proof that massive accretion of a gas envelope can be triggered for cores that are much less massive than previously thought."

As big as Jupiter but 10 times lighter

WASP-107b was first detected in 2017 around WASP-107, a star about 212 light years from Earth in the Virgo constellation. The planet is very close to its star -- over 16 times closer than the Earth is to the Sun. As big as Jupiter but 10 times lighter, WASP-107b is one of the least dense exoplanets known: a type that astrophysicists have dubbed "super-puff" or "cotton-candy" planets.

Piaulet and her team first used observations of WASP-107b obtained at the Keck Observatory in Hawai'i to assess its mass more accurately. They used the radial velocity method, which allows scientists to determine a planet's mass by observing the wobbling motion of its host star due to the planet's gravitational pull. They concluded that the mass of WASP-107b is about one tenth that of Jupiter, or about 30 times that of Earth.

The team then did an analysis to determine the planet's most likely internal structure. They came to a surprising conclusion: with such a low density, the planet must have a solid core of no more than four times the mass of the Earth. This means that more than 85 percent of its mass is included in the thick layer of gas that surrounds this core. By comparison, Neptune, which has a similar mass to WASP-107b, only has 5 to 15 percent of its total mass in its gas layer.

"We had a lot of questions about WASP-107b," said Piaulet. "How could a planet of such low density form? And how did it keep its huge layer of gas from escaping, especially given the planet's close proximity to its star?

"This motivated us to do a thorough analysis to determine its formation history."

A gas giant in the making

Planets form in the disc of dust and gas that surrounds a young star called a protoplanetary disc. Classical models of gas-giant planet formation are based on Jupiter and Saturn. In these, a solid core at least 10 times more massive than the Earth is needed to accumulate a large amount of gas before the disc dissipates.

Without a massive core, gas-giant planets were not thought able to cross the critical threshold necessary to build up and retain their large gas envelopes.

How then do explain the existence of WASP-107b, which has a much less massive core? McGill University professor and iREx member Eve Lee, a world-renowned expert on super-puff planets like WASP-107b, has several hypotheses.

"For WASP-107b, the most plausible scenario is that the planet formed far away from the star, where the gas in the disc is cold enough that gas accretion can occur very quickly," she said. "The planet was later able to migrate to its current position, either through interactions with the disc or with other planets in the system."

Discovery of a second planet, WASP-107c

The Keck observations of the WASP-107 system cover a much longer period of time than previous studies have, allowing the UdeM-led research team to make an additional discovery: the existence of a second planet, WASP-107c, with a mass of about one-third that of Jupiter, considerably more than WASP-107b's.

WASP-107c is also much farther from the central star; it takes three years to complete one orbit around it, compared to only 5.7 days for WASP-107b. Also interesting: the eccentricity of this second planet is high, meaning its trajectory around its star is more oval than circular.

"WASP-107c has in some respects kept the memory of what happened in its system," said Piaulet. "Its great eccentricity hints at a rather chaotic past, with interactions between the planets which could have led to significant displacements, like the one suspected for WASP-107b."

Several more questions

Beyond its formation history, there are still many mysteries surrounding WASP-107b. Studies of the planet's atmosphere with the Hubble Space Telescope published in 2018 revealed one surprise: it contains very little methane.

"That's strange, because for this type of planet, methane should be abundant," said Piaulet. "We're now reanalysing Hubble's observations with the new mass of the planet to see how it will affect the results, and to examine what mechanisms might explain the destruction of methane."

The young researcher plans to continue studying WASP-107b, hopefully with the James Webb Space Telescope set to launch in 2021, which will provide a much more precise idea of the composition of the planet's atmosphere.

"Exoplanets like WASP-107b that have no analogue in our Solar System allow us to better understand the mechanisms of planet formation in general and the resulting variety of exoplanets," she said. "It motivates us to study them in great detail."

###

About this study

"WASP-107b's density is even lower: a case study for the physics of gas envelope accretion and orbital migration," by Caroline Piaulet et al., was posted today in the Astronomical Journal. DOI: 10.3847/1538-3881/abcd3c. In addition to Piaulet (iREx Ph.D. student, Universite de Montreal) and professors Bjorn Benneke (iREx, Universite de Montreal) and Eve Lee (iREx, McGill Space Institute, McGill University), the research team includes Daniel Thorngren (iREx Postdoctoral Fellow, Universite de Montreal) and Merrin Peterson (iREx M.Sc student), and 19 other co-authors from Canada, the United States, Germany and Japan.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 22:41:10|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Wednesday commended the African Export-Import Bank for filling the financial gap in accessing COVID-19 vaccine across Africa.

The remarks were made by John Nkengasong, director of the Africa CDC, after the announcement that the African Export-Import Bank will facilitate payments by providing advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to 2 billion U.S. dollars to the manufacturers on behalf of the African Union (AU) members.

"The biggest challenges to COVID-19 vaccine access in Africa have been financing of the vaccines and the logistics of vaccinating at scale, but we are glad that this gap is being filled by the African Export-Import Bank financing facility," said John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC.

"The critical decision now is how to get started so that once we start there will be no disruptions, and this is where the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP) will play a very big role," the Africa CDC Director said.

On Tuesday, the Africa CDC had announced the commencement of a COVID-19 vaccines pre-order program for all the AU members.

The move by the AMSP, on behalf of the Africa CDC, came a week after the announcement by the South African President and African Union (AU) Chairperson, Cyril Ramaphosa, on January 14 that the AU has secured a provisional 270 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for Africa through its COVID-19 African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT).

The AMSP, in order to support vaccination operations, has also launched a new category of vaccine accessories which will help member states to procure products such as ultra-low temperature freezers, personal protective equipment, cotton wool rolls, syringes and needles.

While AVATT has secured a provisional 270 million COVID-19 vaccines doses from Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca, AMSP -- the single-source platform enabling faster, more transparent and cost-effective access to COVID-19 supplies -- has opened the pre-orders program.

According to the Africa CDC, the initiative offers equitable access to COVID-19 vaccine doses for the AU members.

President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank, Benedict Oramah, also stressed that the Afrexim Bank is proud to expand its support to African economies in their bid to contain the pandemic.

"Our vaccine financing facility builds on the success of our Pandemic Trade Impact Mitigation Facility (PATIMFA) to open access to COVID-19 vaccines to African states based on a whole-of-Africa approach favored by the African Union," an Africa CDC statement issued on late Tuesday quoted Oramah as saying.

"By providing advanced procurement commitment guarantees of up to 2 billion U.S. dollars to candidate vaccine manufacturers, the African Export-Import Bank will ensure that African States are able to rapidly access COVID-19 vaccines, at competitive prices and in a timely manner thereby contributing to saving lives and livelihoods," he added.

According to a survey, which was conducted by the Africa CDC in partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and published, has shown that "a predominant majority (79 percent) of respondents in Africa would take a COVID-19 vaccine if it were deemed safe and effective."

Conducted between August and December 2020, the survey interviewed more than 15,000 adults, aged 18 years and above, across 15 African countries that are Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, and Uganda.

Data from the survey also showed significant variations in willingness across countries and across the five regions in the continent, from 94 percent and 93 percent in Ethiopia and Niger, respectively, to 65 percent and 59 percent in Senegal and the DRC, respectively.

Rejection of a COVID-19 vaccine appears to be linked to misinformation and disinformation, as most of those who said they would not take a vaccine believe that the disease is man-made, does not exist, or is exaggerated and does not pose a serious threat. Others think they are not at risk of being infected with the virus while some others believe that natural remedies and alternative medicines are safer than vaccines, the survey disclosed.

The study also indicated that individuals who have had a positive COVID-19 test and are now well believe that they do not need a vaccine because they think they have become immune to the disease and can no longer be infected. Enditem
The Russian Embassy to the U.S. has sent a diplomatic note to the U.S. Department of State with a demand to fix the problems related to the disconnection of telephone lines at the Russian Consulate General in New York.

"With regard to the disconnection of telephone lines at the Russian Consulate General in New York, in addition to the request adressed by the Consulate itself to New York branch of the State Department, a diplomatic note was sent to the Department with a demand to promptly fix the existing problems that seriously impede the work of the foreign mission," the embassy said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

"We drew attention to the difficulties encountered by Russian compatriots in obtaining consular services due to the disconnection of all communication lines. We consider the current situation as unacceptable," TASS cited the statement as saying.
A time for reckoning, repentance and revival

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It was a beautiful cold day back when I was in middle school on a special trip that I have recently been looking back on.

My aunt, who knew of my love for all things social studies, took me to Washington, D.C., for the ultimate tour of our nations capital. We visited the White House, memorials, the Supreme Court and yes, the Capitol building.

I remember being awestruck by it, humbled by the majesty of the ultimate symbol of our democracy and drawn to the sight of fellow Christians with signs that had Bible verses while on their knees praying at the steps of the Capitol for revival in our land, and that was over 25 years ago.

Sadly, and tragically, I saw a vastly different sight on the steps of the Capitol on Jan. 6 of this year that literally caused me to weep. I wept for the state of our democracy that it is teetering on implosion; I wept for the hatred and division in our country that has been building for decades; I wept for fear of its future and how it will affect my children, and I wept for the spiritual state of our country, our church, and the Gospel that has been lost in all this noise.

It has been over a year now that has felt like being stuck in Jumanji, between a raging pandemic, racial tensions, political and ideological divides that are getting wider, economic, educational, emotional, mental tolls that we have never seen in our lifetime and amid it all, an increasingly divided, distracted, discouraged, fearful, evangelical church in America.

As a new political administration is set to take power and we head further into 2021, I genuinely believe evangelical Christians have arrived at a pivotal moment of self-reflection to reckon with where we are and who we are, to repent of any sin or areas or attituded that have taken us off message and to experience true revival.

Regardless of who you voted for this past November, America is clearly in a crisis not seen since the Civil War, and the year 2020 was my generations equivalent to 1968, a year of tumultuous chaos. Yet, Christ is often glorified most in times of crisis and if we as evangelicals truly desire to see a spiritual outbreak throughout our land in contrast to the viral ones, it must begin with us. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17).

It is time for reckoning

We need individually and collectively to ask ourselves: who are we? What are we to be known for and what are we to be about?

The Bible implores us to remember our identity in Christ, to remember that we are aliens and strangers, citizens of heaven, ambassadors of Christ who belong neither to the political left or right but to a Spiritual Kingdom, and not to an earthly country but to a Heavenly one.

As I like to paraphrase, we are to be Christians first, Americans second, and Republicans or Democrats/conservatives or liberals third, and in that order. Yet often we have reversed that order.

There is nothing wrong with being politically active. We should vote our conscience and care about issues where our faith and politics/culture collide, but there must not be a marriage between political figures and parities, and our Christian faith. Such a marriage has always and will always lead to corruption, distraction and destruction.

What are we to be known for? Our bumper stickers? Our social media posts maybe? Jesus said our love. Love for God, for ourselves, and for others. Our fruit, those Christ-like characteristics that we should be displaying to others.

What should we be about as evangelical Christians? What is our mission? What is our goal? If we believe our primary mission is to win arguments on Facebook or to get political power or even to get judges on the bench who will rule in our favor, we have lost sight of our mission from Jesus.

Our primary mission, the Great Commission, must be to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Good News that God so loved the world that He gave His Son for our redemption.

Our priorities are misguided if we are more passionate about sharing our political views than we are in sharing Jesus. The Bible says that we have been entrusted with the message of the reconciliation God desires to have with fallen humanity and that we must implore with love, grace and boldness on behalf of Christ with our fellow man: Be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).

It is a good day for the devil when Christians care more about scoring political points than in reaching lost souls for the Kingdom. We must be, as Brett McCracken said, prophets in our generation, not partisans.

It is time for repentance

All of us should prayerfully seek God to convict us in the areas of our individual lives where we need to change direction. Collectively, the past year has revealed several troubling areas or attitudes where I fear we must change or else we risk sacrificing our witness for the Gospel.

We need to strengthen our commitment in our Christian walk. Like it has with other aspects of society, the effects of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns has exacerbated trends that were already occurring with the commitment level or lack of it with many in the faith.

Attendance in churches were already declining, giving was already declining but now some churches literally may not survive the pandemic. What is God is up to? As the Rev. Jesse Young told me, God is shaking, sifting and shifting us. All of us should look in the mirror and examine our level of commitment to wholeheartedly seeking and following Christ. Casual Christianity simply will not cut it any longer.

We need to be leery of conspiracy theories. In the past year between the coronavirus and polarizing politics, many fellow Christians sincerely believed and peddled baseless conspiracy theories, passed along misinformation as truth, false prophecies and in so doing have done serious harm to the authenticity of our representation of the truthfulness of the Gospel.

In the eye-opening documentary, The Social Dilemma, the co-founders of many pillars of social media warn that fake news spreads six times faster than actual true news. In a world that now has differing views of factual reality, we as Christians must have our feet in reality if we want to impact that reality, conveying the message of the one who declared Himself to be the truth (John 14:6) discerning truth from lies.

The coming years will call for all of us to know the truth, speak the truth, and to defend the truth. As Jesus warned, If salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? (Matthew 5:13). We must be able to engage in rational, logical, factual dialogue or else the world will be tone deaf to our message.

Finally, as Christians, we need to be about building bridges instead of burning them with the very people and culture we are meant to reach and shine in. In an age of echo chambers and tribalism, Us. vs. Them, and demonization of those who hold different political, ideological or religious beliefs than us, we would do well to remember Jonah.

The Bibles unwilling prophet who was told by God to share His message with the people of Nineveh, tried to run out from that task, out of hatred and resentment for his enemies who he deemed unworthy to be shown compassion to.

He saw them as evil, not as men and women Jesus died for. If we are not careful, we will do the same thing. Jesus has called us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and that includes the people who vote differently, believe differently, look differently and live differently. No exceptions.

It is time for revival

Even as I suspect our culture will grow increasingly hostile to Judeo-Christian values in the coming years, which will mean more pressure and persecution for Christians in America, I honestly believe a spiritual revival and awakening like we have never seen before may be upon us, even as how we do church may not look the same.

Revived inner healing, Christian unity, passionate devotion, dedicated living, bold testifying, sacrificial giving, committed serving, and unconditionally loving are the roots that defined what the Christian church looked like in the first century, the church that turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6)for Jesus.

Difficult days are ahead, but whether we rise to the occasion at hand or have our identity and message lost in the mess of the madness all depends on how we respond to this moment. It is time to remember what it really means to be a Christian and to be sure we bear that name with honor and dignity. To be a Christian means to belong to Christ and to follow Him in a way that others will see Him in us. It is our time to shine.

Do all things without complaining or disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.-Philippians 2:14-15.
Conte survives, for now, but not with the overall majority he sought.

Italian premier Giuseppe Conte has vowed to forge on after narrowly winning a confidence vote in the senate but failing to secure an absolute majority, leaving him with a weakened government.

The backing from the upper house of parliament, late on 19 January, came after Conte won a similar confidence motion the day before in the lower house.

He won in the senate by 156 votes to 140, with 16 abstentions, but fell short of the 161 votes he needed for an overall majority.

Obtaining the vote of confidence in both houses was crucial as had he lost either he would have been forced to resign.

Last week the government was plunged into a political crisis after Italia Viva, a junior coalition partner led by former prime minister Matteo Renzi, pulled its support in a row over Conte's handling of the covid-19 crisis and the economic recession.

In his appeal to the senate ahead of last night's vote, Conte said "it is very difficult to govern in these conditions, with people who continuously place mines in our path and try to undermine the political balance reached patiently by the coalition.

Conte's coalition, formed in 2019, is made up of the populist Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S), the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) and the small leftist LEU party.

Conte relied on the support of two senators from the opposition centre-right Forza Italia (FI), one from Italia Viva, and three life senators, including the 90-year-old Holocaust survivor Liliana Segre who defied her doctor's advice by travelling from Milan to back the premier.

Hailing the outcome last night, Conte tweeted: "Now the aim is to make this majority even more solid. Italy doesn't have a minute to lose."

Il Governo ottiene la fiducia anche al Senato. Ora lobiettivo e rendere ancora piu solida questa maggioranza. L'Italia non ha un minuto da perdere. Subito al lavoro per superare l'emergenza sanitaria e la crisi economica. Priorita a piano vaccini, Recovery Plan e dl ristori Giuseppe Conte (@GiuseppeConteIT) January 19, 2021

However the result leaves Conte clinging to power with a weakened, minority government at a time when Italy is struggling to contain the covid-19 pandemic amid the worst economic turmoil since world war two.

In the days ahead the premier is expected to try and entice legislators, including conservative and socialist deputies as well as former M5S members and defectors from Renzi's camp, to shore up his precarious coalition.

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President Donald Trump declared a surge of pardons for individual Republican allies to two men in Robert Mueller's Russia investigation who pleaded guilty.

In the meantime, there is talk that President Trump will forgive three of his adult daughters, his son-in-law, and or even himself before his term ends on 20 January.

But what if Trump issues these pardons and no one finds out, unlike those just made public? That's not as far-fetched as it might seem.

A final list of pardons and commutations that could exceed more than 100 names, advisors said Monday, is being put together by President Donald Trump and aides.

But Trump is not expected to forgive himself or issue preemptive pardons for his family members, said aides who were not permitted to comment publicly and declined to address who could be on the list that has been produced for weeks.

The Constitution gives the president the "power to grant reprieves and pardons for crimes against the United States, except in cases of impeachment." We have argued that this power should be used more frequently as a vital mechanism of mercy when reducing our prison populations, tempering the often harsh, racist, and inequitable effects of our criminal legal system.

But the parole power comes with the possibility of violence as well. It has never been more apparent than under President Trump, who used it to grant amnesty to individuals convicted of his presidential campaign crimes. It is now claimed that Trump is considering seeking to forgive himself for a range of crimes that would be unparalleled.

The relation is brief, but there are some limitations. Pardons do not erase sentences, but the fines for convictions are erased. Before or after a criminal trial, they do not necessarily have to obey convictions and may be released. Only federal crimes, not state crimes and not civil actions, may be pardoned by the president. For impeachment cases in Congress, pardons can also not be issued, meaning the person being impeached can not be forgiven because they were accused.

While pardons have always been part of the president's powers, the final days of Trump have sparked unprecedented concerns of self-pardon and hidden pardons.

It keeps opening the possibility that he will secretly issue pardons to those whose pardons are not wanted in the public record either by him or the recipients. In the case of some future "witch hunt," a secret pardon would allow them or others to keep compassion in their back pocket, to quote Trump, at the same time avoiding the rage that would undoubtedly come with a public pardon announcement.

In an earlier episode of The Last Word, whether a presidential pardon could be given in secret, O'Donnell asked former U.S. pardon lawyer Margaret Colgate Love.

We never had secret pardons, "We have never had secret pardons and the whole idea of a pardon is that it is a public document," and the whole idea of a pardon is that it's a public document. Love noted that after the assassination attempt on Trump's life, President Regan issued two pardons that didn't become public until two weeks later.

Others claim, however, that pardons were supposed to be issued officially and would not stand up as accurate if challenged in a court of law.

We can't know for sure whether, of course, Trump will do this. But no one should be shocked with his having done too many times the previously unimaginable if he grants pardons before he leaves office that never sees the light of day unless the recipient is investigated or charged.

READ MORE: Man With Unauthorized Inauguration Credentials and Loaded Handgun Arrested by US Capitol Police

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Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are known to cause harsh side effects that patients can see or feel throughout their bodies. Yet there are additional, unseen and often undiscussed consequences of these important therapies: the impacts on their future pregnancies and hopes for healthy children.

Extensive evidence shows that chemotherapy and radiation treatments are genotoxic, meaning they can mutate the DNA and damage chromosomes in patients' cancerous and noncancerous cells alike. When this occurs in a germline cell - which are egg cells in women and sperm in men - it can lead to serious fetal and birth defects in a resulting pregnancy.

For the few chemotherapies that have been studied, the risk of mutated sperm diminishes over time, as the treatment agents leave the body and men produce new sperm that were never exposed to the genotoxic agents. But for most chemotherapeutic drugs, there is still no information on their impact on DNA mutations and chromosomal damage to human sperm.

Exacerbating the problem, there are currently no efficient and affordable tests that can be used to track men's germ cell health by identifying when the sperm are carrying treatment-related chromosomal mutations such as aneuploidy (abnormal number of chromosomes) or chromosome breaks, rearrangements, or deletions. But evidence from a new study led by Andrew Wyrobek at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and now at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), suggests that this may soon change.

In a paper published in the journal PLOS ONE, an international team reported success adapting an established cellular DNA analysis technique called fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to probe sperm DNA for a wide variety of chromosomal defects simultaneously. This version of the FISH technique, known as the AM8 sperm FISH protocol, is the result of decades of work done by the research team of lead author Andrew Wyrobek. A medical biophysicist at Berkeley Lab, Wyrobek studies the effects of ionizing radiation and human-made chemicals on breast cancer, brain function, and male reproductive health.

This work is the first demonstration that our sperm assay can simultaneously measure aneuploidy and other chromosomal aberrations in sperm from men who have undergone genotoxic treatments. When sperm with these chromosomal abnormalities fertilize an egg, the resulting fetus and live-born child may have severe health issues. For example, fetuses with trisomy 18 - an extra copy of chromosome 18 or a fetus with an unbalanced chromosomal rearrangement - typically die in utero or within a year of birth." Andrew Wyrobek, Lead Author

And, most importantly, according to Wyrobek, the assay can detect balanced chromosomal abnormalities, which are rearrangement with no loss or gain of genetic material. Balanced rearrangements are compatible with live birth and heritable to future pregnancies, and affected children are likely to experience reduced fertility when they want to have children of their own.

The team - which included scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Stanford University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico - evaluated the AM8 FISH approach on sperm from nine Hodgkin lymphoma patients, who provided samples before, during, and after a multi-drug treatment regimen and radiation therapy.

Results from the FISH protocol tests indicated that sperm produced during the Hodgkin lymphoma treatment had 10 times more chromosomal defects compared with sperm produced prior to treatment. But by month six post-treatment, the patients' sperm had returned to pre-treatment quality.

"We are excited by these results because they are a first step toward applying this method to any human situation - such as aging, illness, drugs, or exposure to environmental toxicants - to determine genetic risks to male germ cells and to examine the persistence of chromosomally damaged sperm," said Wyrobek. "We believe this approach has a wide range of applications in healthcare and family planning, as it can be used to identify environmental exposures that increase the risk for producing chromosomally abnormal sperm that can affect the health of future pregnancies and children for generations to come."

However, according to Wryobek, the sperm FISH method is still in an early research phase and it will require additional validation and commercial development before it becomes available in doctor's offices.
She has established a successful career as a model and influencer.

And Sofia Richie showcased her natural beauty on Tuesday as she posed up a storm in an oversized coat in California.

The 22-year-old daughter of Lionel Richie displayed her slender pins while sporting the chic outerwear from PrettyLittleThing, as she lounged on outdoor stairs in Los Angeles.

Strike a pose: Sofia Richie displayed her slender pins while sporting chic outerwear from PrettyLittleThing on Tuesday as she lounged on outdoor stairs in Los Angeles

Her textured coat featured chunky buttons and a faux leather belt cinched at the waist to frame her slender silhouette.

Her blonde tresses were parted to the side in a straight hairdo, and she enhanced her delicate features with soft make-up.

Sofia captioned the sultry Instagram snaps: 'Winter in LA'.

The social media star, whose elder half-sister is Nicole Richie, recently returned to her home town after spending the Christmas holiday in St. Barts with her brother Miles and their father Lionel, 71.

Stylish fit: The 22-year-old daughter of Lionel Richie rocked a textured coat which featured chunky buttons and a faux leather belt cinched at the waist to frame her slender silhouette

She is also just a few months off the breakup of her more than two-year relationship with reality TV star Scott Disick, who is 15 years her senior.

Scott, 37, is now dating Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's daughter Amelia, a model who has been open about her past experiences with anorexia on her mother's reality programme, The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills

Amelia is currently 19, and Sofia was also 19 when she began dating Scott. Prior to their relationship, he was involved with Bella Thorne who was herself 19 at the time.

The heartthrob has three children with his ex-fiancee Kourtney Kardashian, daughter Penelope, eight, and sons Mason, 11, and Reign, six.

Sofia had an amicable enough relationship with Kourtney, 41, and she even joined them on a family holiday during their romance.

Kourtney and Scott, who first met at the Mexican home of Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis, last ended their on-off romance in 2015.

This May, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians hunk checked into rehab for 'emotional issues' and 'past traumas,' but checked out shortly thereafter.

In the wake of his decision to leave rehab, Us Weekly reported he and Sofia were 'on a break until Scott straightens himself out more.'

Moving on: She is just a few months off the breakup of her more than two-year relationship with reality TV hunk Scott Disick who is 15 years her senior

Finally on May 27, the day after his 37th birthday, the magazine revealed that Scott and Sofia had decided to end their romance.

However then they spent Independence Day together and a People source said in mid-July that they are 'trying to make things work while taking things slow.'

But in early August an Us Weekly source said: 'Scott and Sofia have simmered down a little and Scott has been making a big effort to refocus on himself and his family.'

By mid-August an E! News insider said: 'They have been off and on for two months. Sofia really pushed to make things work between them after they initially broke up, but Scott officially called it off recently and they are no longer speaking.'
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In what might be the first salvo against the decades-long dominance of the HTTP protocol for internet data retrieval, an open source web browser devoted to privacy has introduced an option that allows for direct peer-to-peer transfers. This means that instead of relying on a massive network in which data are stored on dedicated servers, information can now rest on and be accessed from numerous nodes dispersed globally.

The browser Brave this week issued an update that relies on IPFSInterPlanetary File Systemto collect data from a decentralized network.

The protocol offers serval advantages over HTTP, a protocol unveiled in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee, considered the father of the internet. Utilizing widely dispersed server nodes means users can retrieve data faster. It will also lower costs for content providers who will not depend as much, or at all, on web-hosting services.

Most significantlyand potentially most troublesomeis the fact that web content will be more secure from digital attacks, governmental censorship and other efforts to block information.

"Today, Web users across the world are unable to access restricted content," said IPFS project lead Molly Mackinlay. "Now anyone with an internet connection can access this critical information through IPFS on the Brave browser."

She cited recent examples of interference such as Turkey's censorship of 100,000 websites, restrictions on blocks of Wikipedia pages in Thailand, and limited COVID-19 information on Chinese web sites.

IPFS is not new, it was introduced in 2015. The first web site to implement the peer-to-peer protocol was NeoCities, a secure, free web hosting service that was born out of the ashes of the once popular GeoCities. Millions of users enjoyed the free service of GeoCitiesit was the third most popular site at the turn of the century. But in 2009, Yahoo shut the operation down, with much of 15 years worth of pages lost forever.

That episode was a motivating factor for Kyle Drake, the founder of NeoCities.

"It was a crushing day for me when GeoCities shut down," Drake said. That prompted him to begin development of a system that would allow users to "build web sites that persist forever."

"Building an information network that will stay up forever is as modern as it gets," he said. IPFS "will pull the internet out of the Dark Ages of fast information destruction, and move us from a short-term tech culture into a tech civilization, maintaining distributed libraries of information that could continue to persist for hundreds or even thousands of years," he said.

AN IPSF blog explains that the protocol moves retrieval from a system of location addressing to content addressing. Files are referenced by cryptographic fingerprinting of their content, enabling the information to remain secure and available on multiple sites, which would thwart efforts at censorship typically aimed at individual sites. If one site is censored, content will remain available elsewhere.

And if a government or malicious actor targets all visible targets, the information can be continually republished on new nodes.

While the protocol is promising for movements struggling against repressive regimes, it represents a problem for legitimate agencies targeting troublesome web sites promoting criminal activity such as drug trade, sex trafficking, or violence.

Parler, a U.S.-based social networking service originally intended for conservative political discourse has become a hotbed of misinformation, Nazi propaganda and racial hatred. Apple removed the app from its store following the rightwing Jan. 6 uprising in Washington, D.C. The IPFS protocol could allow Parler to reclaim many users who could thrive on unimpeded peer-to-peer data sharing.

IPFS founder Juan Benet maintains that IPFS implementation is comparable to cryptocurrency. "In a sense," Benet said, "we're doing to websiteswhat Bitcoin did to money."

He fears the extent of centralization of the Internet, warning it is vulnerable to bad actors. Internet sites, he says, could "disappear at any moment, bringing down all the data with them or at least breaking all the links."

Speaking of the promise of a more secure web using IPFS, NeoCities founder Drake invoked the notorious destruction by Julius Caesar of the Alexandria Library in 48 B.C. "The science says it's possible, so we're building it. And then let's see the f - - - - - - try to burn down this Library of Alexandria."

Explore further Cloudflare teams up with Apple to give users a new privacy-friendly internet protocol

 2021 Science X Network
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This feral honey bee colony has established a nest inside the wall of a house in New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Honey bees that escape domestication and establish colonies in the wild provide an opportunity to study how environmental and genetic factors affect the fitness of feral organisms compared to their domesticated counterparts, researchers said. Credit: Katy Evans

Understanding the genetic and environmental factors that enable some feral honey bee colonies to tolerate pathogens and survive the winter in the absence of beekeeping management may help lead to breeding stocks that would enhance survival of managed colonies, according to a study led by researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

Feralization occurs when previously domesticated organisms escape to the wild and establish populations in the absence of human influence, explained lead researcher Chauncy Hinshaw, doctoral candidate in plant pathology and environmental microbiology.

"In the case of honey bees, colonies that escape domestication and establish in the wild provide an opportunity to study how environmental and genetic factors affect the fitness of feral organisms compared to their domesticated counterparts," Hinshaw said. "Some have suggested that the artificial selection associated with domestication of honey bees has decreased their fitness and has made managed colonies vulnerable to pests and pathogens."

Feral honey bees frequently interact with both managed and wild bee species, playing a critical role in the dynamics of pathogens that are shared among these closely related groups, noted study co-author Margarita Lopez-Uribe, assistant professor of entomology and Lorenzo L. Langstroth Early Career Professor.

"Both domesticated and feral honey bees face serious challenges from a large number of pests and pathogens, but feral honey bees must deal with diseases by themselves since they don't have beekeepers helping them control pest problems in the colony," she said. "This makes honey bees an ideal model to investigate the hypothesis that hostpathogen dynamics during feralization can result in higher disease pressure and pathogen tolerance in feral organisms."

The research team set out to answer three questions: Are feral colonies reservoirs of pathogens, with high pathogen levels compared to managed colonies? Do increased pathogen levels lead to higher expression of immune genes in feral colonies than in managed colonies? Is immune gene expression correlated with survival of honey bee colonies?

Feral honey bees gather at the entrance to their nest in an abandoned shed in Harrison Valley, Pennsylvania. Researchers have found that such feral colonies may have higher tolerance to pathogens than managed honey bee colonies. Credit: Katy Evans

To address these questions, the researchers partnered with beekeepers to locate 25 feral honey bee colonies across Pennsylvania and paired each of those colonies with a managed colony within a seven-mile radius to control for climate and landscape variation. The team surveyed these colonies over a two-year period to measure winter survival, levels of three pathogensdeformed wing virus, black queen cell virus and Nosema ceranaeand expression of six genes that regulate immunity.

Deformed wing virus, or DWV, is considered the most serious honey bee viral pathogen because of its prevalence worldwide and its role in winter losses of colonies. DWV and other viruses often are spread by parasitic Varroa mites, requiring beekeepers to implement management strategies to minimize mite infestations among their bees.

The team's findings, recently published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, indicated that feral colonies had higher levels of DWV, but it was variable over time compared to managed colonies. In addition, higher pathogen levels were associated with increased immune gene expression, with feral colonies showing higher expression in five of the six examined immune genes for at least one sampling period.

"We also found that differential expression of the immune genes hymenoptaecin and vago increased the odds of overwintering survival in both managed and feral colonies," Hinshaw said. "As a result, these two genes could be considered biomarkers of honey bee health that can be used to predict the ability of a colony to survive the winter."

Lopez-Uribe said the results provide evidence for the role of feralization in altering pathogen landscapes and host immune responses.

"Our study was the first to show the association of hostpathogen dynamics with survival of feral colonies," she said. "Further research to identify the genetic mechanisms of virus tolerance and biomarkers of bee health can help breeding efforts to enhance these traits in selected honey bee stocks, with the goal of decreasing colony losses for the beekeeping industry."

Explore further Urban environments boost pathogen pressure on honey bees

More information: Chauncy Hinshaw et al. The Role of Pathogen Dynamics and Immune Gene Expression in the Survival of Feral Honey Bees, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2021). Journal information: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Chauncy Hinshaw et al. The Role of Pathogen Dynamics and Immune Gene Expression in the Survival of Feral Honey Bees,(2021). DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.594263

[January 20, 2021] Hunter Communications Announces $8.2 Million in Funding to Provide High Speed Broadband Internet to Hoopa Valley Tribal Areas in Northern California

Hunter Communications (Hunter), the premier fiber-optic communications services provider in southern Oregon and northern California, has been awarded $8,223,340 from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) to provide high-speed broadband internet services to the Hoopa Valley Reservation, the largest in the state of California. The Hoopa Valley Broadband Initiative Project (HVBI) will be a collaboration between the Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District (HVPUD) and EnerTribe, a Native-owned consulting firm specializing in planning, funding and building tribally chartered telecommunications infrastructure projects. HVBI Construction is slated to begin in January 2021. "The Hoopa Valley Tribe members share goals of self-sufficiency and self-determination that will depend upon affordable high-speed internet to their homes and their businesses," says Michael Wynschenk, Chief Executive Officer of Hunter Communications. "Hunter Communications is honored to partner with the Hoopa Valley Tribe to fulfill their needs for high-speed broadband via a wireless and fiber infrastructure deployed across the Hoopa Valley on the Reservation." "The California Advanced Series Fund (CASF) aim is to provide grants to bridge the 'digital divide' and expedite broadband connectivity to improve access to routine and critical services in eligible areas in the Hoopa Valley," says Linnea Jackson, General Manager of Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District. "unter's impressive telecoms industry experience and expertise will prove invaluable as the Hoopa people seek economic growth, online learning for all people and the benefits and opportunities that digital accessibility can provide."



"The Hoopa Reservation is critically underserved when it comes to broadband. There are approximately 2,000 residents awaiting essential internet service, including hundreds of school children that need it for learning," says Forest James, Chief Executive Officer of EnerTribe. "Our firm's charge is to work closely with Hunter and the Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District to ensure a successful project that meets the needs of the Hoopa Tribe and its citizens. I see great potential in the partnership between Hunter and the HVPUD." EnerTribe serves as the project & program management, wireless engineering and installation firm for the project. Hoopa Valley Broadband Initiative Project

To serve the rural, remote, 92,000-acre Hoopa Valley Tribal Reservation in Humboldt County, Hunter will deploy hybrid fiber optic and wireless middle-mile infrastructure and a last-mile hybrid fiber and fixed wireless network to provide high-speed broadband internet service to approximately 1,198 unserved households. The proposed project will ultimately enable fiber broadband access at speeds of at least 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 25 Mbps upload. In addition, the proposed region is located in Tier 2 and Tier 3 (News - Alert) fire-threat districts and route diversity will help provide a safe and reliable network. The project is designed to minimize environmental impact. About Hunter Hunter Communications provides ultra-high-speed fiber optic broadband internet, data and voice services to business and residential customers in communities throughout southern Oregon and northern California. With Gig speeds, no data caps, and competitive pricing, Hunter's 2,000+mile fiber network is nationally recognized for performance and reliability. BroadbandNow recognized Hunter with four 2020 Internet Service Provider Awards, including for fastest business internet speeds in Oregon and among the top 10 nationwide. Founded in 1992, Hunter is headquartered in Medford, Oregon where the company established a legacy of service excellence and commitment to local communities. Hunter Communications was acquired in 2020 by Grain Management LLC. Additional information is available at Hunterfiber.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005603/en/

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has released Chrome 88 as the latest stable version of their cross-platform web browser without any support for Flash Player.

Flash reached its official end of life on December 31, when officially stopped supporting the software. On January 12, also began blocking content from playing inside Flash.

Apple and Mozilla have also stopped supporting Flash, and Microsoft is scheduled to end support later this month, reports ZDNet.

According to web technology survey site W3Techs, only 2.2 per cent of today's websites use Flash code, a number that has plummeted from a 28.5 per cent figure recorded at the start of 2011.

First announced in July 2017, Adobe had said to stop updating and distributing Flash Player after December 31, 2020 due to the diminished usage of the technology and the availability of better, more secure options such as HTML5, WebGL and WebAssembly.

Microsoft has announced to end support for Adobe Flash Player on Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11 at the end of the year.

Some enterprise customers may still require Flash Player commercial support and licensing beyond 2020 to run internal business systems.

According to media reports, the Internet Archive is preserving Flash games and animations, including hits like "Peanut Butter Jelly Time."

Adobe had recommended all users to immediately uninstall Flash Player to help protect their systems.

--IANS

wh/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.)
FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chilly weather, early sunsets, and the start of a new year can mean only one thing for prospective university students: college application season is in full swing.

Filling out the FAFSA, completing the Common App, writing your essays, and managing your stress. Make no mistake about it; choosing the right college or university can be stressful without help.

Three sets of college & university choices that fit your needs now, AcademicInfluence.com provides options for students needing help in the college selection process

AcademicInfluence.com announces the right kind of helper, one that takes into account your needs and suggests the best schools for you:

AcademicInfluence.com College Strategist

With College Strategist, students can think strategically about where to apply for college. Enter test scores and preferences for state, major, gender, and school type, and receive a list of seven compatible schools in three categories for your consideration:

Target schoolsmatched schools where you're qualified and likely to get in,

Safety schoolsfallback schools where you can be sure to get in, and

Reach schoolschallenging schools where the competition for getting in is extreme.

How can you be assured of the results? The data supporting them is based on a survey that asked a million respondents where they applied and where they ultimately enrolled. Additional supporting data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics.

"Students get overloaded with school choices, and some respond by considering too few schools. Between the time you apply and the acceptance letter arrives, you may have changed your mind, but now you're stuck," says Dr. Jed Macosko, academic director of AcademicInfluence.com and professor of physics at Wake Forest University.

"Or you pin all your admissions hopes on a couple reach schoolswhich may ultimately prove too much of a stretch. Or you apply to dozens and get overwhelmed by the final decision," says Macosko. "By giving them their customized pick of 21 safety, target, and reach schools, students get an idea of what is workable within their college search strategy. It's a tool students have told me they needed but couldn't find. Now, they have access to that personalized information."

In addition to the College Strategist tool, AcademicInfluence.com further explores the need for a three-prong approach to the college search in this information-packed article:

How to Choose Your Safety, Target, and Reach Schools

Founded in October 2016, with funding assistance from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Influence Networks created proprietary technologythe InfluenceRanking Enginefor use by AcademicInfluence.com. With its College Strategist, Desirability Score, and Custom College Rankings, AcademicInfluence.com helps students to discover the most influential higher education institutions. And the InfluenceRanking Engine that powers all AcademicInfluence.com rankings of people and institutions will keep expanding its capabilities to explore an even wider array of topics and top performers.

AcademicInfluence.com is the preeminent technology-driven rankings site dedicated to students, researchers, and inquirers from high school through college and beyond, offering resources that connect learners to leaders. AcademicInfluence.com is a part of the EducationAccess group, a family of sites dedicated to lifelong learning and personal growth, including Influence Networks, InfluencePublishers.com (nonfiction publishing and publishers of Bright Notes), IntelligentEducation.com (instructional video library and easy instructional video creation with 3D elements), AlexandriaLibrary.com (free, online library and reader), and soon, Success Portraits (personalized strengths inventory for college and career).

Contact:

Jed Macosko, Ph.D.

Academic Director

AcademicInfluence.com

[email protected]

(682) 302-4945

SOURCE AcademicInfluence.com

Related Links

https://academicinfluence.com


A Marine stands guard at the entrance of the West Wing of the White House, on President Donald Trumps last day in office (Gerald Herbert/AP)

President Donald Trump trumpeted his administrations accomplishments and wished his successor luck in a farewell video as he spent his final full day in office preparing to issue a flurry of pardons in a near-deserted White House, surrounded by an extraordinary security presence outside.

This week we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous, Mr Trump said in the video farewell address, released by the White House less than 24 hours before President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

We extend our best wishes. And we also want them to have luck  a very important word.

Mr Trump, who spent months trying to delegitimise Mr Bidens win with baseless allegations of mass voter fraud, repeatedly referred to the next administration, but declined to utter Mr Bidens name.

Many of Mr Trumps supporters continue to believe the election was stolen from him, even though a long list of judges, Republican state officials and even Trumps own government have said there is no evidence to support that claim.

Mr Trump in his address tried to cast his presidency as a triumph for everyday people as he highlighted what he sees as his top achievements, including efforts to normalise relations in the Middle East, the development of coronavirus vaccinations and the creation of a new Space Force.

And he tried to defend the endless controversies that have consumed the last four years as justified.

As president, my top priority, my constant concern, has always been the best interests of American workers and American families, he said.

Expand Close A cameraman waits by an unused microphone stand outside the West Wing (Gerald Herbert/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A cameraman waits by an unused microphone stand outside the West Wing (Gerald Herbert/AP)

I did not seek the easiest course; by far, it was actually the most difficult.

I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism.

I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices because thats what you elected me to do.

Mr Trump also made clear that he has no plans of going quietly into the night, telling his supporters that, as he prepares to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning.

Theres never been anything like it.

Mr Trump has remained largely out of sight since his supporters stormed the Capitol building earlier this month, trying to halt the peaceful transfer of power.

Aides had urged him to spend his final days in office participating in a series of legacy-burnishing events.

But Mr Trump, who remains consumed with anger and grievance over his election loss, largely refused.

He has not been seen in public since last week, when he travelled to Texas for one last photo opportunity at the border wall he pushed so adamantly throughout his presidency.

In the end, he spent less than 45 minutes on the ground there and spoke for just 21 minutes.

Mr Trump is set to leave Washington early Wednesday morning after a grand farewell event at nearby Joint Base Andrews.

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Whatsapp President Donald Trump will leave Washington on Air Force One (Alex Brandon/AP)

Once there, he will board Air Force One for a final time, flying to Florida and becoming the first outgoing president in more than a century to skip the inauguration of his successor.

But it remains unclear how many people will be there to see him off.

Several former administration officials-turned-Trump critics have expressed surprise that they received invitations.

And even Vice President Mike Pence will be absent.

A person familiar with his schedule cited the logistical challenges of getting from the base back to DC for Mr Bidens inauguration ceremonies, which Mr Pence will be attending.

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Mr Trump has also refused to take part in any of the symbolic passing-of-the-torch traditions that have been the capstones of the peaceful transition of power from one administration to the next.

He is boycotting not just the ceremony at the Capitol, but also passed on inviting the Bidens to the White House for a get-to-know-you meeting.

And it remains unclear whether he will write Mr Biden a personal welcome letter, like the one he received from former president Barack Obama when he moved in.


Location: Milwaukee - Wisconsin Job Description The Sales Operations Analyst (Anaplan Model Builder) is part of the Sales Performance Management (SPM) team within Rockwell's Global Sales & Marketing Organization. In this role you are part of a team that is responsible for the maintenance, development, and deployment of functionality in Anaplan that supports the SPM processes such as Quota and Goal Planning, Account Segmentation, Territory Planning, Sales Forecasting and Sales Incentive. The goal of our team is to make the users experience in Anaplan easier and more insightful.

The ideal candidate is a team player who has a deep understanding of data modeling and sales processes, enjoys solving complex business problems and possesses strong analytical skills. To be successful in this role the candidate must be able to communicate effectively across cross-functional teams, explain complex concepts to various stakeholders, bring business insights, and drive process improvements in the platform. Attention to detail paired with mindfulness of the big picture is also essential for success.

Responsibilities

Maintain, develop, and deploy functionality in Anaplan that supports the SPM processes such as Quota and Goal Planning, Account Segmentation, Territory Planning, Sales Forecasting and Sales Incentive.

Configure and maintain Anaplan lists, modules, dashboards, actions, and other model settings to meet business needs in current Anaplan Models

Develop new models and functionality to support new business objectives

Perform defect and enhancement testing on developments

Define, maintain and create user security roles and permissions for Anaplan users

Understand Anaplan's new and/or updated functionality and how it will affect or can be used in our current Models

Partner with IT to configure, test and correct data integrations between Rockwell's internal systems and Anaplan

Partners with Sales Data & Operations teams to test and configure current and new data feeds into Anaplan

Perform ad-hoc reporting and analysis as needed

Qualifications : Basic Qualifications



A business, engineering or IT related bachelor's degree

Legal authorization to work in the US is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.



Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications 1-3 years of experience in sales operations or role supporting a sales organization

Familiarity with Sales and Sales Performance Management processes

Must possess strong problem-solving skills, business acumen and analytical ability

Excellent communicator with ability to explain complex concepts simply to various stakeholders

Experience with Anaplan and Anaplan Model Building is preferred

1-3 years of analysis and modeling experience for a sales division

Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and/or Access

Ability to translate 2D spreadsheet model into multi-dimensional technologies

Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, agile environment

Must be organized and detail oriented We are an Equal Opportunity Employer including disability and veterans. If you are an individual with a disability and you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact our services team at +1 (see application details).


The American soft drink giant Pepsi has a long presence in Russia dating back to the early 1970s when Russia was still a part of the Soviet Union. It was the first capitalistic product to gain entry into the communist market. At that time rivalry between the two countries was high, so how did an American soft drink company get its foot in the door to build a major market in Russia?

Bottles of Soviet Pepsi at a Moscow-based plant, 1991. Photo: Vladimir Akimov/Sputnik

The story of how Pepsi came to be sold widely in Russia began in 1959, when the then-Vice President Richard Nixon came visiting the Soviet Union for an exhibition in Sokolniki Park, Moscow, and met with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. The American National Exhibition was organized to promote American art, fashion, cars, and capitalism. Among many other things, the exhibition featured an entire model American house filled with modern conveniences and recreational devices such as washing machine, vacuum cleaners and color television. It was there, standing inside the mock-up of an American kitchen, the two leaders had a heated debate on the merits and demerits of communism and capitalism.

You plan to outstrip us, particularly in the production of consumer goods. If this competition is to do the best for both of our peoples and for people everywhere, there must be a free exchange of ideas, Nixon told Khrushchev. Later, Nixon led Khrushchev over to a booth dispensing Pepsi and gave Khrushchev a glass of the brown, fizzy, sugary drink that the Russian had never tasted before.

Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev at the infamous Kitchen Debate. Photo: National Archives

The Pepsi booth had two different versions of the drinkone made with American water and another made with Russian water. Khrushchev declared that the one made with Russian water was clearly superior and quite refreshing. As Khrushchev drank he insisted that his Russian colleagues around him partake in the sugary tonic, and photographers surrounding the small group fired off their flash bulbs.

No amount of advertising spend could have brought Pepsi this much publicity what these photographs brought when they were published all over America and Soviet Russia. It eventually catapulted Kendall from an executive at the Pepsi-Cola Corporation to the companys CEO in 1965.

Kendall did play a larger role in the events of 1959 than the photos implied. Nixon bringing Khrushchev to the Pepsi fountain and Kendall serving the addictive drink to the Soviet leader was not an impromptu move, after all. It was Kendells idea, and so was Pepsis participation at the exhibition against the wishes of his superiors, who felt that trying to sell an American product to a Communist country was wastage of effort and money. The night before, Kendall met with Nixon, with whom he shared a long-term friendship, and told him that he had to get a Pepsi in Khrushchev's hand.

Nikita Khrushchev takes a sip of Pepsi in 1959 at the U.S. National Exhibition in Moscow, while U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon watches and Donald Kendall pours another glass. Photo: Fai/Legion Media

Thirteen years later, in 1972, Kendall scored an exclusive deal with the the Soviet Union shutting out Coke from the communist market. There was, however, a snagSoviet currency was worthless outside the Union, because the Soviet ruble did not function like a real currency in a market economy, but more like tokens or company vouchers because the value of the currency was determined by the government and not by market forces. As a result, Kendall had to use an alternative method of paymentthe good old barter system.

It was decided that in exchange for the manufacture and sale of Pepsi in the Soviet Union, Pepsi would obtain exclusive distribution rights for Stolichnaya vodka in the US. The company would profit only from vodka sales in the US. It was not to receive any benefit from Pepsi sales in the Soviet Union.

A salesman shows a bottle of Stolichnaya vodka. Photo: Getty Images

Pepsis market grew by leaps and bounds and by the late 1980s, the company had more than twenty bottling plants in the Union, and the Russians were drinking one billion servings a yearfar more than the Americans were drinking Stolichnaya vodka. The American vodka market being limited, Kendall began to look for other Soviet products to procure in exchange of Pepsi. What about decommissioned warships? the Soviet Union suggested.

So in 1989, Kendall signed a new agreement, according to which the Soviets would transfer to PepsiCo an entire armada consisting of 17 submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, and a destroyer. Some joked that at that point in time Pepsi owned the worlds sixth largest Navy. On the contrary, these vessels were hardly sea worthy. Pepsi quickly sold them for scrap. Each submarine fetched them $150,000.

Were disarming the Soviet Union faster than you are, Kendall once quipped to Brent Scowcroft, President George H.W. Bushs national security adviser.

Workers inspect Pepsi bottles at a bottling plant somewhere in the Soviet Union. Photo: N. Arkhangelskiy/Sputnik

The following year, PepsiCo signed an even bigger deal with the Soviet Union, amounting to USD 3 billion worth of soda. As payment, the Soviet Union would build at least 10 ships, mostly oil tankers, which would be sold or leased by PepsiCo on the international market. The deal would have doubled PepsiCos sale of its sugary drink in Russia to nearly a billion dollars. A year later, the Soviet Union broke up and the deal fell though.

Russia is still Pepsis second biggest market outside of the United States, but most Russians today prefer to drink Coca-Cola instead. Pepsi has a market share of only 18 percent (as of 2013), against their rival Coca-Cola which holds twice as much. Pepsi now sells less than many domestic beverages.

Teenagers celebrate the end of school, Moscow, 1981. Photo: Ivan Vtorov

A Pepsi stand in Moscow, 1983. Photo: Getty Images

References:

# Flora Lewis, Soviets Buy American, The New York Times

# Michael Wines, Moscow Journal; Raise a Glass to the Effervescent View of Russia!, The New York Times

# Victor Li, Donald M. Kendall (1921-2020)

# Sonari Glinton, What Pepsi Can Teach Us About Soft (Drink) Power In Russia, NPR

# Anne Ewbank, When the Soviet Union Paid Pepsi in Warships, Atlas Obscura

# Senia Zubacheva, How did Pepsi become the first American brand to take root in the Soviet Union?, Russia Beyond

# Trefis Team, Cola Wars In Russia, Grafiski Consulting
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NEW YORK - President Donald Trump pardoned a former Google engineer who was sentenced to prison last year for stealing trade secrets from the tech giant related to robotic vehicles.

FILE - This Sept. 24, 2019 photo shows former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski, right, in front of his attorney, Miles Ehrlich, outside of a federal courthouse in San Francisco. President Donald Trump has pardoned Levandowski, who plead guilty to stealing trade secrets before joining Ubers effort to build robotic vehicles for its ride-hailing service. Levandowski was among the more than 140 people included in a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of Trumps White House term. (AP Photo/Michael Liedtke)

NEW YORK - President Donald Trump pardoned a former Google engineer who was sentenced to prison last year for stealing trade secrets from the tech giant related to robotic vehicles.

Anthony Levandowski left Google in early 2016 where he worked in the autonomous vehicle division to start his own company called Otto. That company was acquired by Uber for $680 million as the ride-hailing venture pursued its own autonomous vehicle division.

Before leaving, Levandowski downloaded a trove of Googles self-driving car technology, leading eventually to 33 counts of intellectual property theft against him. He plead guilty to one count and was sentenced to 18 months in prison last summer.

Levandowski was among the more than 140 people included in a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of Trump's White House term, which included former chief strategist Steve Bannon, ex-members of Congress and other allies of Trump and his family.

In a White House statement, the administration said the pardon was supported by one-time Trump supporter and tech billionaire Peter Thiel, former Disney executive Michael Ovitz, and Palmer Luckey, founder of the virtual reality company Oculus VR.

Levandowski thanked the president in an early morning tweet Wednesday, saying he was grateful for the opportunity to move forward.

Uber sold its autonomous vehicles development arm four months after Levandowski was sentenced.
Rescuers search for survivors of an earthquake in West Sulawesi, Indonesia (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Jakarta - Disasters and the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic have claimed nearly 4,000 lives in Indonesia since the start of this year, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).



Sriwijaya Airs passenger plane coded SJ 182 en route from Jakarta to West Kalimantans Pontianak crashed into the sea on January 9, killing 62 people onboard.



The same day, a landslide occurred in Cihanjuang of West Javas Sumedang district, claiming 32 lives while eight others went missing.



Flooding in South Kalimantan three days later submerged at least 10 districts and cities. Five people were killed as of January 17.



A number of earthquakes and aftermaths hit Majene district and the coastal city of Mamuju in West Sulawesi on January 14-15. The death toll has risen to 81, including 70 in Mamuju.



Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities has been on the rise. From the beginning of 2021 to January 17, Indonesia logged additional 164,731 cases.



The Ministry of Health on January 18 announced that the country has reported a total 917,015 cases, with 26,282 deaths.
New Delhi: Akali Dal leader Manjinder Sirsa on Wednesday urged the government to mark the auspicious occasion of Gurupurab by repealing the contentious farm laws.

Manjinder Sirsa, who heads Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), said the tractor rally proposed by farmers will take place as per the schedule on January 26 whether the Delhi police allocate a route or not.

Manjinder Sirsa

Sirsa was speaking to reporters after delivering langar food for farmer leaders attending their tenth round of talks with the government at Vigyan Bhawan.

Sirsa said farmers are peace-loving and patriotic by nature and it is strange that the Centre feels they may disrupt the atmosphere on Republic Day.

Tractor rally

He also alleged that the Centre is trying to intimidate farmers by serving them NIA (National Investigation Agency) notices.

Sirsa, who was earlier an MLA in the Delhi assembly, said Gurupurab is being celebrated today and the government should mark this day by taking back three farm bills as a gift for the protesting farmers.



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But the Peloton tablets have built-in cameras and microphones that allow users to see and hear one another if they choose, and for Mr. Biden, therein lies the rub. The last thing the C.I.A. wants is the Russians and the Chinese peering or listening into the White House gymnasium. Last week, Popular Mechanics warned about the security risk under the headline Why Joe Biden Cant Bring His Peloton to the White House.

The article prompted an explosion of chatter in Peloton world, but really, cybersecurity experts say, if Mr. Biden wants his bike, he can surely have it, though it might bear little resemblance to the off-the-assembly-line version after the Secret Service and the National Security Agency are finished with it.

Peloton does not exactly comport with Mr. Bidens regular guy from Scranton political persona. But for Mr. Biden, who at 78 will be the oldest person to be sworn in as president, riding a Peloton makes good political sense, even if it clashes with Working Class Joe. President Trump spent much of last years campaign trying to persuade Americans that Mr. Biden is feeble  an argument Mr. Biden dispensed with when a Fox News clip of him riding his bike through the streets of Delaware went viral.

I wasnt really thinking of him as an energetic young guy, but the fact that he rides his Peloton for exercise means to me that he has more energy than I thought he did, said Jennifer Loukissas, a federal employee who rides her Peloton at home in Kensington, Md.
Stacey Gibson took the boards off the windows of the Subway restaurant she owns in downtown Portland early last fall because business at the already struggling restaurant was plummeting further with the boards up.

But Gibson decided Monday that she had to put the boards back up to protect her store in anticipation of planned Inauguration Day protests and rallies. As of Tuesday, she was planning to keep the restaurant open so her employees could get paid for their regular shifts, but she expected to monitor events downtown Wednesday to determine if she needed to close.

Were just trying to make a living and people just want to work and have their jobs and be safe, Gibson said. To have to even worry about this kind of situation and be in fear for our team members and our business and our livelihood, its ridiculous. Business owners downtown are tired of this.

Downtown business owners have been expressing concerns for months about the frequent acts of vandalism, including graffiti, window smashing and burning of debris and dumpsters, that have accompanied intermittent protests since last May.

Following the November election, a small group of people dressed in black broke off from a larger protest and indiscriminately shattered windows and vandalized buildings downtown, including smashing the windows of a church and several women-owned businesses. That put downtown business owners on alert as the city prepares for protests surrounding Inauguration Day Wednesday.

Businesses that can afford to are beefing up their security, said the Rose City Downtown Collective, a coalition of business community members that formed last fall in response to the ongoing destruction toward downtown businesses. Windows that are boarded up will likely remain so, though we are hoping the boards come down after the Inauguration. Our advice is to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Manny Guerra, the citys building security manager, said Portland officials are consulting with law enforcement but did not have plans to close City Hall to employees Wednesday. In any event, most employees are already working remotely. The windows of City Hall have been covered with boards for months and those will remain up, Guerra said.

However, the citys Office of Management and Finance sent an email to employees Tuesday, reminding them to follow safety procedures to keep unauthorized people from entering city buildings and asking them to report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement.

Federal Protective Services officers and U.S. Homeland Security agents were also working to safeguard federal buildings, including the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in downtown.

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said in a press conference Tuesday that the bureau had cancelled days off this week and are requesting the public wait until Thursday to call with non-urgent matters, so police have resources available to respond as needed throughout Inauguration Day. Lovell said police were aware of several direct action events being planned for Portland on Wednesday, including a protest starting at 2 p.m. at Revolution Hall that is being advertised with a poster that shows a capitol building in flames.

Weve seen this for months here in Portland  planners discourage live streaming to allow room for criminal activity, such as vandalism and arson, Lovell said. Were monitoring several events and will be monitoring several for tomorrow.

The Portland Business Alliance, the citys chamber of commerce, has been proactively communicating information they receive from law enforcement with the business community. Robert King, the public safety advisor for Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, also met with the alliances central city committee Tuesday to answer questions from business owners about the state of downtown and concerns heading into Inauguration Day.

Last week, the city requested that businesses and commercial building owners keep dumpsters closed and locked or move them to a secure indoor location until after Inauguration Day because dumpsters have been used to set fires during protests. The city also requested that businesses bring A-frame signs inside so they cant be used as projectiles.

We would ask people to think intentionally about street furniture or other things that could potentially be misused by those that have ill intent in mind, Wheeler said Tuesday. We have been communicating directly with our federal, state and county law enforcement partners to make sure that were all on the same page about what sort of communication and collaboration is required. Were not aware of any specific threats here in the city of Portland, but as always, well be prepared.

Boards covered the windows of businesses throughout downtown Tuesday afternoon. Many of those businesses have had boards up for months, but it was clear that new plywood had gone up as well.

Black plywood covered the exterior of Nordstrom Rack at the 24-story Moda Tower. Brian Pearce, executive vice president of real estate services at Unico Properties, which owns the building, said that the company took proactive steps to protect its properties.

We support the right of people to peacefully protest, Pearce said. And we have continued to invest in doing all it takes to protect our buildings against the random violence and destruction that occurred last summer and throughout the fall.

But not all downtown business owners were boarding up ahead of Inauguration Day.

Kristin Van Buskirk, owner of downtown gift shop Woonwinkel, was among the business owners who had windows smashed during a post-election protest last fall.

However, Van Buskirk didnt have plans to put boards up ahead of Inauguration Day. She said the foot traffic to the store declines substantially when boards are up and she believes that businesses need to start taking their boards down if downtown hopes to return to anything like normal -- even though she expects protests will continue even after Inauguration Day.

The issues that people are protesting are not going away, so thats why I dont necessarily feel like I can react every time there is an event, Van Buskirk said. I just dont know if I can keep putting energy into boarding up and taking boards off.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg
WASHINGTON  Environmental advocacy groups in western New York want state officials to ensure the safety of federal plans to deal with nuclear waste at the West Valley Demonstration Project after a recent federal report found that critical decisions regarding the project are still unresolved.

The West Valley Demonstration Project should never have been chosen to store hazardous material, said Barbara Warren, a member of the Citizens Environmental Coalition, an Albany-based group that advocates for safe and healthy communities in New York.



The project, about 40 miles from Buffalo, evolved from the Western New York Nuclear Service Center, which was built in the 1960s to convert spent nuclear fuel from commercial reactors into reusable nuclear material, according to a Jan. 13 U.S. Government Accountability Office report. In 1976, production of the materials ceased, leaving hundreds of gallons of radioactive material behind.

The West Valley Demonstration Project was created after Congress required the Energy Department to be "responsible for solidifying the high-level waste, disposing of waste created by the solidification, and decommissioning the facilities used in the process."

The GAOs congressionally mandated review of the Energy Departments progress in finding a way to decommission the facility and move or destroy the radioactive waste found that the agency has made progress in the cleanup of the facility, including the decommissioning of 51 out of 55 storage containers as well as the proper disposal of 1.3 million cubic feet of low-level waste. The eventual goal is to demolish the above-ground structures, remove contaminated soil and and relocate the solidified high-level waste.

However, according to the report, critical decisions regarding the cleanup are still unresolved, such as where the remaining waste is to go and what waste, if any, is to remain on-site.

In addition, the GAO determined that the DOE reported spending about $3.1 billion on contracted cleanup activities, but it cannot estimate the cleanups final cost until it decides how it will address the remaining waste.



According to Allison Bawdin, a director in the GAO's Natural Resources and Environment team, there is no place in New York that can easily dispose of the waste created from the plant, causing further conflict between state officials and the DOE.

Essentially, what we're presenting is the impasse and the fact that until that impasse is resolved, this waste isn't going anywhere, Bawdin said.

Lynda Schneekloth, a member of the Sierra Club Niagara Group  an organization that advocates for environmental protection in western New York, said the Trump administration proposed creating a temporary waste storage facility, which she called a terrible idea. And she said no one has come up with a solution to getting rid of the waste.

Congress doesn't really know what to do. Experts don't really know what to do with nuclear rights, she said. It's a worldwide problem.

Schneekloth and Warren, along with other activists in the West Valley Action Network, an organization supporting the complete cleanup of the project, sent a letter to state Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, prior to the release of the GAO Report addressing similar concerns.

In the end, New York state is the owner of this land and will be left with any long lasting contamination, the letter states. We are asking your office to request a review of the planned demolition and call for enclosure and monitoring by NYS agencies to ensure that the health of the people and the environment is protected.

Bawdin said that the GAOs recommendation is that Congress come up with a plan on how to properly dispose of the waste and categorize it into defense waste or other waste.

The high-level waste at West Valley is kind of caught up in that larger national problem about which we have made recommendations in our prior reports  the sticking point that still exists with respect to resolving the unknowns about the path forward to address the remaining cleanup activities, she said.

Jay Silver is a graduate student in Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Well, the Montana Legislature is in session, and some of the bills put forward are pretty strange. It is easy to go to leg.mt.gov and let your opinion be known. Go to HOME and choose Send a Web Message to Legislator/Committee...then just follow instructions. Here is one of mine. I am going to post them in case anyone wants to use them as a skeleton for another letter.

You can also leave comments at https://legiscan.com

I am opposed to HB121, which would require elected officials to approve local health board and officer actions. This bill would remove penalties for law enforcement officers who decline to assist local health officers in carrying out local health rules.

Aside from the fact that such penalties have never been enforced, it is extraordinary that anyone in the House would want the State of Montana to maintain a public health system, and then disregard its advice during a pandemic. This bill would deprive Montanans of the expertise of professionals that the public pays to make good decisions. It also feeds into the beliefs of anti-government groups that have been promoting the idea that sheriffs are somehow the ultimate authority.

It is also extraordinary that law enforcement groups, charged with public safety, would support such a bill.

I am writing in opposition to HB122, which limits the governors power to issue orders during declared disasters lasting longer than two months, and shifts that authority to state lawmakers during such emergencies. The bill also would allow the legislature to end emergency executive orders issued by the governor, and to allocate federal emergency funds. Fortunately, it does make it easier to convene special sessions during disasters.

Of course, the reason we give the power to declare and manage an emergency to the governor, and not to the legislature, is that such decisions and management must be quick and nimble in order to meet the needs of the situation. A governor also has more staff and resources to evaluate the situation and come up with the best plan.

One has only to imagine how a legislature that meets in regular session for up to 90 working days of every odd-numbered year would manage an emergency. We all know how efficiently group decision-making works, right?

We were fortunate in Montana to have the stunning leadership of Governor Bullock, who acted proactively to keep us from becoming another South Dakota, Arizona, Florida, etc. He made quick effective decisions that spared many lives here and avoided the widespread tanking of our economy by overwhelming hospitalizations, quarantining and deaths.

Please keep Montanans safe by opposing these bills.

Lets keep Montana strong.
By Munehisa Tokunaga, KYODO NEWS - Jan 20, 2021 - 10:37 | All, Feature, Japan

One afternoon at an elementary school on the outskirts of Cairo, first-grade Egyptian students were busy wiping their desks clean and sweeping the floor with brooms under the supervision of teaching staff.

The scene, observed recently by a Japan International Cooperation Agency official, represents one of the class activities in a curriculum based on the Japanese education method that emphasizes moral training and social harmony, in addition to acquiring academic skills.

At more than 40 Japanese-style schools launched in Egypt since 2018 in partnership with the Japanese government, children tidy up their classrooms and common areas, take turns helping the class for the day and have designated times to reflect on how they spend their day, in what experts call a "holistic" approach to schooling.

The project came after President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi visited a Tokyo elementary school during a trip to Japan in 2016.

In a country where cleaning is regarded as a vocation for low-paid workers, tasking students with tidying up school facilities initially raised the eyebrows of some parents.

But the Japanese-style education is fast winning recognition as Egyptian students started showing a sense of responsibility and cooperation outside of the school setting, such as offering to help out at home, said Mizuki Matsuzaki, who until recently served as deputy chief of JICA's Egypt office.

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With JICA extending 18.6 billion yen ($180 million) in low-interest loans and dispatching teaching professionals to the Middle East country, the Egyptian government is considering increasing the number of such schools to about 100.

Besides Egypt, over 20 countries have adopted the Japanese method amid growing enthusiasm among developing countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America about incorporating the education methods that have supported Japan's economic and technological advances.

Seeing this as an opportunity to increase Tokyo's soft power, the Japanese government has set aside around 70 million yen a year to boost exports of education services since 2016 in an initiative dubbed "Edu-port Nippon."

Egypt's case is an example of over 60 programs launched around the world under the initiative, which fosters not only the export of the educational methods but also supplies teaching materials such as textbooks and software, according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

It helps publishers and other education-related companies establish businesses in young markets overseas when Japan's aging population is casting doubt over their sales at home, the ministry said.

Children who learn virtues or skills in a Japanese influenced environment will be indispensable resources in the workforce when Japanese companies set out to do business or make production facilities there, said Yoshiko Matsunaga, deputy director at the ministry's Office for International Strategy Planning.

"It will benefit both sides in a win-win situation," Matsunaga said.

Assistance to music education in Vietnam represents yet another example of Edu-port Nippon.

Music classes backed by Yamaha Corp. have taken form since a revamp in September of Vietnam's educational guidelines, which newly mandate teaching musical instruments at elementary schools.

Partly funded by Edu-port Nippon, the Japanese music instrument maker started working early on with the Vietnamese government in drafting the new guidelines since 2016, developing the music curriculum and teacher training involving 400 school educators.

Hiroshi Tamezawa, a project leader in charge of the promotion of in-school music education abroad at Yamaha, said the Vietnamese government expects children to develop responsibility and cooperation through the process of practicing music in class.

Instruments included in the syllabus are the vertical flute and melodica -- two instruments commonly used in classes in elementary schools across Japan, where playing them in unison is an integral part of school life for children.

Yamaha said it will broaden such activities to other parts of the world and has already tapped into six other countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia, India, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Egypt.

"I hope our efforts will help enrich children's learning experience, and they find ways to live in harmony," Tamezawa said, citing his desire to make the joy of playing instruments available to children around the world.
President-elect Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive at his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 in Washington. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP
Indigo Paints, the fifth largest decorative paint company in India, opens its initial public offering for subscription on January 20 with a price band at Rs 1,488-1,490 per share.

The IPO comprises fresh issue of Rs 300 crore, and an offer for sale of 58,40,000 equity shares by promoter (Hemant Jalan) and investors (Investors Sequoia Capital India Investments IV and SCI Investments V).

Many brokerage houses recommended investing in the public issue given the company's fast growth in the last decade compared to peers, expansion programme, cost-controlling measures, huge opportunity in the affordable housing segment, lowering debt and favourable growth-valuation equation.

"Despite our negative stance on the paints sector, we recommend subscribing to the Indigo Paints IPO, given the favourable growth-valuation equation," said IIFL Securities which forecasts FY20-23 sales growth at a CAGR of 20 percent, EBITDA 36 percent and PAT 48 percent versus 9 percent, 13 percent and 14 percent, respectively, for the top four peers (Asian Paints, Berger Paints, Kansai Nerolac and Akzo Nobel), on aggregate.

"As per our estimates, Indigo Paints would yield a valuation of 46x FY23 EPS, based on the upper price band of Rs 1,490 per share versus 63x for Asian Paints and 77x for Berger Paints. A combination of higher growth and lower valuations makes for an exciting investment opportunity," the brokerage added.

Indigo Paints IPO opens: 10 key things you should know

Indigo Paints has rapidly scaled up to become the fifth largest player in a competitive, oligopolistic decorative-paints industry in India, delivering an organic revenue CAGR of 29 percent in the past five years. Growth has been driven by differentiated products backed by heavy advertising, an incentivised workforce and a focus on smaller towns, said IIFL.

On the basis of trailing twelve months earnings, Indigo Paints is being offered at 98.5x compared to its other listed peers like Asian Paints, Berger Paints and Kansai Nerolac which are currently trading at a P/E of around 113.78x, 128.23x and 84.09x respectively, said Anand Rathi which believes that due to the lower valuations compared to its peers, Indigo Paints is placed at an attractive valuation.

Further with the planned expansion, lowering debt and other cost control measures, the brokerage is also confident that company will maintain the growth levels which is mirroring in the pricing of the IPO.

Considering these and the growth prospects in light of affordable housing push to meet PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna) for all by 2022 target of the Government, investors may consider an investment with a long term perspective and hence, recommended a subscribe rating to this IPO, Anand Rathi advised.

Home First Finance Company IPO to open for subscription on January 21, price band at Rs 517-518

Incorporated in 2000, Indigo Paints is the fastest growing amongst the top 5 paint companies in India, with a larger presence in Tier-III and IV towns and rural areas as well as a strong portfolio of differentiated products. It commands 2 percent market share in a highly competitive and oligopolistic decorative paints industry.

The company has three manufacturing facilities in Jodhpur, Kochi and Pudukkotai (TN) with licensed capacity of 1.02 lakh kilo litres per annum (KLPA) and average utilization of around 48 percent as on FY20. Southern and Eastern regions account for 46 percent and 29 percent of its total revenue, respectively, while rest comes from the Northern and Western markets.

It has created an extensive distribution network across 27 states and 7 union territories with 11,230 dealers / 40 depots as on first half of FY21 and installed tinting machines across their network of dealers. It intends to expand its capacities at Pudukkottai (TN) by adding 50,000 KLPA to manufacture waterbased paints to cater to the growing demand for these paints.

The company proposed to utilise the net proceeds from its fresh issue for expansion of the existing manufacturing facility at Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu by setting-up an additional unit adjacent to the existing facility (Rs 150 crore; purchase of tinting machines and gyroshakers (Rs 50 crore); repayment certain of borrowings (Rs 25 crore); and general corporate purposes.

Indigo Paints is the 1st company to manufacture and introduce certain differentiated products in the decorative paint market in India, which includes their Metallic Emulsions, Tile Coat Emulsions, Bright Ceiling Coat Emulsions, Floor Coat Emulsions, Dirtproof & Waterproof Exterior Laminate, Exterior and Interior Acrylic Laminate, and PU Super Gloss Enamel.

To create demand for their differentiated products, Indigo Paints initially tapped into Tier 3, Tier 4 Cities, and Rural Areas, where brand penetration is easier and dealers have greater ability to influence customer purchase decisions. They subsequently leveraged this network to engage with dealers in Tier 1 and Tier 2 Cities and Metros as well.

"Indigo Paints has a track record of consistent growth in a fast growing industry with entry barriers. Company has differentiated products leading to greater brand recognition and enabling expansion into a complete range of decorative paint. Company also has leveraged brand equity and distribution network to populate tinting machines. Strategically located manufacturing facilities with proximity to raw materials helps to report better gross margins," said Keshav Lahoti (Associate Equity Analyst at Angel Broking) who is positive on the long term prospects of the industry as well the company. Hence, he recommended subscribe to the Indigo Paints IPO for long term as well as for listing gains.

Reliance Securities also recommended subscribing the issue from a long-term perspective as notably, it posted double-digit growth during lockdown in first half of FY21 and given expansion programme, increasing brand awareness, debt reduction, cost controlling measures and huge opportunity from affordable housing segment, IPL can maintain its robust growth momentum and can post superior earnings growth compared to around 14 percent and 17 percent consensus earnings CAGR of Asian Pains and Berger Paints, respectively over FY20-FY23.

Indigo Paints' revenue, EBITDA and PAT witnessed stellar 25 percent, 87 percent and 93 percent CAGR, respectively over FY18-FY20. EBITDA margin has improved from 6.5 percent in FY18 to 18.5 percent in first half of FY21 and, Reliance Securities is expected to improve further due to no exposure to industrial paints and a large salience of differentiated products.

Further, balance sheet remains healthy with D/E ratio merely at 0.13x as on first half of FY21. The company maintained the best asset turnover ratio compared to its listed peers.

"Financials have been extremely strong for this paints player with minimal debt on its books. There are a few challenges in terms of setting up a wide distribution presence amidst well established players, its skewed market presence in South India especially Kerala and rich valuations at a PE of 140x compared to sector average of 95x. Therefore, investors can subscribe to Indigo Paints for listing gains only at the moment," Nirali Shah, Senior Research Analyst at Samco Securities said.

Indigo Paints has made its brand name despite strong entry barriers due to experienced players such as Asian Paints. The company has roped in MS Dhoni as its brand ambassador and the company is actively present in the public eye due to their aggressive advertising * promotion spends accounting to around 12.7 percent of their revenue vis-a-vis peers who spend close to 4-5 percent.

"With scale and rapid growth, we expect advertising spend to grow slower than business growth, as it is already on the higher side at 12.7 percent than peers' 5.3 percent and likely lead to better margin. We believe the issue is priced attractively, and, hence, we recommend subscribe," said Elara Securities.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Posted Wednesday, January 13, 2021 8:17 am

This might be the most accessible Legislative session in history, thanks to online tools provided by the state.

McKenna Troje, 22, a graduate student at the University of Washington in Seattle, participated in a one-person experiment last weekend to see how difficult registering to testify remotely on a bill would be during this years state legislative session, which launched Monday and will be run mostly online in accordance with the states COVID-19 public health guidelines.

That was pretty easy, Troje said.

Troje hasnt attended a committee hearing before nor has she ever visited the state Legislatures leg.wa.gov website.

So she started by Googling how to testify on Washington legislation, and the first result took her to a page on the Legislatures website that provides detailed instructions on what to do before, during, and after testimony, as well as what participants can expect when joining online.

Rep. Shelley Kloba, D-Kirkland, said that a bonus to this years remote session might be that a larger number of residents from all over the state will participate in the lawmaking process.

It (remote testimony) has enabled us to enhance openness, access and transparency, Kloba said. Not only will this make participation more equitable for those who cannot take a day off of work but also for Washingtonians who live farther from Olympia.

Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate have been highly critical of the virtual legislative session, noting that that inability to attend hearings in person reduces the publics ability to have an impact on the process.

Lawmakers at a press event on Thursday said theyve been holding practice sessions for weeks on how best to conduct routine legislative activity online, working out kinks and establishing best practices in running committee hearings and floor debates and votes in the House and Senate.

Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, celebrated opportunities the online session might provide.

You can see, live, exactly whats happening at all times, Nguyen said, pointing to the live TVW broadcast that will stream on cable and online.

If you can watch YouTube, he said, you can watch  and participate in  the legislative session.

Its unclear, however, how much commonplace but unofficial legislative activity might play out, including the quiet exchanges and sidetalk among lawmakers that can shift a vote or the way lobbyists in hushed hallway conversations make their cases. Those kinds of interactions may well become even less visible to the public this year.

Amongst the difficulties that come with an online session, lawmakers will still be debating across the aisle with contentious issues like COVID-19 relief, affordable housing and reforming the governors emergency powers.

More information on how to provide testimony or just watch hearings can be found at https://leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Testify.aspx.
A man has been charged with the alleged murder of his Chinese international student girlfriend who was found dead in a Sydney apartment.

The body of 19-year-old Liqun Pan was discovered inside a unit in Wolli Creek, in the city's south, on June 28 last year, after she was allegedly brutally bashed.

A day earlier Weijie He, the 21-year-old man now charged over her death and also a Chinese student, was allegedly found injured on the footpath outside the apartment complex in a suspected murder suicide attempt.

He was placed into an induced coma and remains in St George Hospital, having suffered head injuries when he allegedly fell from the fourth floor of the building.

The body of 19-year-old Chinese international student Liqun Pan (pictured) was found inside an apartment in Sydney's south on June 28

Officers the next day attended an apartment in the complex and allegedly found the body of Ms Pan with serious injuries to her upper body.

Ms Pan had been in Australia for a number of years on a student visa and studied English at a Sydney language school.

Police attended St George Hospital on Wednesday and charged the man with murder.

He is due to appear at Sutherland Local Court later on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON, DC  Efforts to stop invasive silver and bighead carp from reaching Lake Michigan by fortifying a chokepoint in the Chicago waterway system are accelerating thanks to new funding for project design and engineering in the latest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget.

The Army Corps included $3.8 million for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam gauntlet project in its fiscal year 2021 work plan, released on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

That money, coupled with $10.5 million pledged from Illinois, (which includes $8 million from Michigan) means the project can begin in earnest now, said Molly Flanagan, chief operating officer for the Alliance for the Great Lakes in Chicago.

Youve got all of the funding that you need from the states and now we have all of the funding we need from the federal government for the first year of pre-construction engineering and design, Flanagan said. Essentially, its off to the races.

The ambitious project would reconfigure the Brandon Road lock with a gauntlet of fortification to hamper invasive silver and bighead carp from moving upstream, such as an electric barrier, bubble barrier, acoustic deterrents and flushing lock. The upgrades are meant to reduce the chances fish could slip through while still allowing barge traffic to pass.

The estimated $858 million project has been in planning stages for years, but progress had stalled recently while Illinois balked at helping pay for initial costs. That changed in December, when Illinois signed an agreement to become a non-federal project partner.

Developing design and engineering specifications is expected to take three to four years and cost about $28.8 million.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, who co-chairs the House Great Lakes Task Force, issued an enthusiastic statement about the new Army Corps funding.

Protecting the Great Lakes must be a national priority, Huizenga said. I am glad to see the Army Corps fulfill this bipartisan request to support early phase funding for the Brandon Road Project. Congress, the Army Corps of Engineers, and stakeholders across the Great Lakes must continue to work together to stop Asian carp from entering the ecosystem.

The conflicting interests of barge operators and the Great Lakes fishing and boating industries have been at the heart of disagreements over how to address the invasive fish species as they advance through Illinois waters. The population bulk is about 50 miles from Lake Michigan, although genetic material and individual fish have been found much closer.

Conservation groups worry the fish could have a major disruptive impact on sport fishing and recreational boating in the Great Lakes. Silver carp could injure people by leaping from the water when disturbed and both species would likely compete with native fish for food and habitat.

The Great Lakes fishing industry is valued at $7 billion.

The Army Corps work plan also includes about $28 million for additional work at the electric barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal at Romeoville, where the corps operates a system designed to zap invasive fish trying to move upstream. The corps considers the barriers to be effective, but conservation groups and some states say they are inadequate and the infested waterway needs additional protection layers.

Since we have three years of (pre-construction, engineering and design work) before we get to construction at Brandon Road, these electric barriers at Romeoville remain really critical as a defense against Asian carp, said Flanagan.

Other Great Lakes work in the plan includes more than $169 million for design work and construction at the big Soo Locks reconstruction project in Sault Ste. Marie. The plan also budgets $500,000 to study deepening the St. Marys River.

A study of Lake Superior shoreline erosion at the Bay Mills Indian Community, where a tribal burial ground is threatened, received $45,000. Elsewhere, an Apostle Island marina breakwall on Lake Superior in Bayfield, Wis., received $1.3 million and a Lake Erie beach nourishment at Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Penn., received $1.5 million.

Nationwide, the Army Corps has budgeted $2.6 billion worth of projects in its 2021 work plan.

Not included is funding for a Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency study that Congress urged the Army Corps to undertake in December. The $12 million study has been stalled for lack of funding, disappointing those say the ongoing impact of high water levels underscores the need to draft a holistic plan for managing roughly 5,200 miles of U.S. Great Lakes coastline.

Thats really disappointing, said Flanagan. I know there was broad bipartisan support for that study. Figuring out how to do a better job of managing the Great Lakes shoreline is really important for the whole region, so Im surprised there isnt funding for that work.

Related stories:

Asian carp gauntlet gets nod in infrastructure bill

Illinois will use Michigans $8M toward Asian carp gauntlet

Great Lakes study: We needed this 5 years ago

Soo Locks construction work happening in earnest

Historic tribal burial ground threatened by Lake Superior

As the Great Lakes surge, coastal areas face a reckoning

Commercial fishers go to war with Michigan DNR
Government of India is likely to tighten the foreign direct investment (FDI) rules for e-commerce to check companies set up by the online marketplaces from trading on their own platform. A clarification is expected from The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade through a press note where it will prohibit e-commerce platforms from holding stake in a seller, directly or indirectly.

Major concerns have been expressed by the government that some of the e-commerce companies are not adhering to the rules and hold indirect stakes in affiliates. This was stated by one of the official .The inventory of a vendor will be deemed to be controlled by the marketplace if more than 25% of the vendors purchases are from the marketplace entity, including its wholesale unit.

These measures were instituted to create a level-playing field and ensure that FDI-funded e-commerce entities functioned only as marketplace.



The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has regularly protested to the government that e-commerce companies were violating FDI policy.



E-commerce marketplaces cant mandate any seller to sell any product exclusively on its platform only.



While many loopholes have been plugged over the years, marketplaces have come up with new structures to sidestep the rules such as having their own brands, third party manufacturing, curate more brands and increase margins, that makes many rules redundant, said an expert on FDI issues.

As the prospects of e-commerce industry grew during the pandemic some of the players side stepping and taking advantage. It has therefore forced the government to bring in some tighter control on the way the E-commerce business operates especially when it comes to FDI investments.
"Sea, Cranes and Peaches" created in the late Joseon era, and belonging to the collection of the Dayton Art Institute in the U.S., is on view at the National Palace Museum of Korea after undergoing restoration in Korea. / Courtesy of Cultural Heritage Administration



By Kwon Mee-yoo



"Sea, Cranes and Peaches," a folding screen from the late Joseon era and now in the collection of the Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio, will be on public view at the National Palace Museum of Korea after being restored in Korea.



The exhibit was originally scheduled to be shown through Jan. 10, but it has been extended to Feb. 10 as the museum had to close down a day after its Dec. 4 opening after the number of COVID-19 cases spiked. The painting will return to its home in the U.S. in late February after the extended showing held in cooperation with the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation (OKCHF).



The painting, also known as "Haehakbandodo" in Korean, was created during the late Joseon era, around the late 19th century to early 20th century.



It features images of the sea, cranes and peaches  three of the 10 longevity symbols, or "sipjangsaeng," which were popular in the royal court at the end of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom. The images symbolize longevity and embody a desire for eternal life, especially peaches which are said to ripen every 3,000 years according to Chinese mythology. Images of the sea, cranes, and peaches were a popular theme in the royal court, including royal weddings of the crown prince.



The folding screen painting in the Dayton Art Institute's collection is the largest among existing works of that kind and also a rare one adorned with gold leaf on the silk painting. It was exported to the U.S. in the 1920s and was altered into six panels.



It has been difficult to properly appraise Korean works of art that are in the hands of people or organizations located overseas due to a shortage of experts adept at preserving Korean artifacts. The OKCHF, in cooperation with the Cultural Heritage Administration, tries to assess the condition of Korean cultural heritage artifacts outside the country and provides support in their conservation and treatment.



As part of such efforts, the 2.1 meter by 7.2 meter folding screen painting was flown to Korea and brought back to mint condition, complete with gold leaf, following a 16-month restoration process.



The Dayton Art Institute has about 70 Korean artifacts among its vast collection of over 26,000 objects. The museum plans to renovate its Korean Gallery, with support from the National Museum of Korea, and showcase some 20 Korean cultural heritage artifacts, including the restored "Sea, Cranes and Peaches" folding screen painting.



Peter Doebler, curator of the Dayton Art Institute, said the painting was donated to the Ohio-based museum in 1941 by Mary Marvin Breckinridge Patterson. According to Patterson, the screen was purchased by her uncle Charles C. Goodrich in the late 1920s.



"When the painting came to the museum, it was first identified as Japanese probably due to the use of gold leaf and perhaps some of the subject matters such as cranes. However, in 1958, the art historian Sherman Lee visited the museum and re-identified it as Chinese, 16-17th century," Doebler said.



The screen was displayed in the Asian Gallery, before going into storage for decades due to issues over its condition.



In 2017, Kyoto Institute of Technology professor Misato Ido and Seoul National University lecturer Kim Soo-jin visited the museum to see the painting in person as part of their research project on screen paintings across Korea, China and Japan and attributed the "Sea, Cranes and Peaches" to Joseon for several reasons.



"These include its large size, which is over two meters in height and seven meters in width, the use of silk rather than paper as a painting surface, the theme of the 10 symbols of longevity, and the 12-screen format," Doebler said.



Gold leaf squares used for this painting are also smaller than those typically found on Japanese screens.



Kim argued that this painting is similar to "Cranes and Peaches" at the Honolulu Museum of Art, which is believed to have been created by royal court commission in 1902, and further consultations with Korean art experts led to the conclusion that "Sea, Cranes and Peaches" was most likely created around the early 20th century and was related to the Joseon royal court.



Doebler introduced the painting at a colloquium hosted by the National Museum of Korea in 2018 and drew the attention of the OKCHF, which offered a conservation grant in 2019.



And it hits a personal chord too, since one of my late father Herman Kogans books, a 1952 history of Marshall Field & Company, Give the Lady What She Wants written with his pal Lloyd Wendt, had last year been reissued by the folks who run Barbaras Bookstore. And late last year, the father of another of our lifelong friends, Rudolph Pen, was given a handsome exhibit, Pen on Paper: An Exhibition of Watercolors & Drawings, at the Richard Norton Gallery in the Merchandise Mart. His son Ron, an emeritus professor of music at the University of Kentucky, was delighted. But unable to travel in for the show, he heard from of his friends who saw it and relayed favorable impressions.

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

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ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

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Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

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Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

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Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

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Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

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Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

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Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

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Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

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"Terri's dedication to KickCharge and our customers has been evident since she joined the team almost seven years ago," said Dan Antonelli, president of KickCharge. "She's been a big part of our success, and the expanded scope this new role provides is an opportunity for her to make even bigger contributions as we keep pushing to build on what we've accomplished. And Jesse is bringing extensive branding experience in addition to his world-class design skills, so he'll play a key role in KickCharge's growth while delivering premier creative results to our clients."

Briggs, who earned a bachelor's degree in business and professional studies at Wesley College and an MBA from Union College, has more than a decade of experience in branding and creative. She joined KickCharge in 2014.

"This is an opportunity to combine my passion for developing relationships with our customers and my vision for KickCharge," Briggs said. "I'm looking forward to working closely with Dan to implement strategies that will help us continue to grow and continue to exceed our customers' high expectations."

LuBera was introduced to graphic design and branding at his parents' signage company, where he honed his skills and was eventually named production manager. Before joining KickCharge, he spent eight years as senior graphic designer at The Sign Shop while operating his own full-service firm, LuBera Design.

"I've spent most of my career helping small business owners," LuBera said. "Because of my experience working with my parents and as a business owner myself, I understand their perspective and share their values. I've followed KickCharge throughout my career and have worked with them on several projects, so I know that they're champions of small business owners, too. That makes this the ideal opportunity for me."

KickCharge Creative is passionate about marketing for small businesses, and the New Jersey agency relishes the opportunity to power up your bottom line. For more information about KickCharge Creative, visit https://www.kickcharge.com/.

About KickCharge Creative

KickCharge Creative is an award-winning branding agency that has been setting the standard for small business marketing for more than 25 years. We have helped hundreds of startups, small- and mid-sized businesses thrive and grow thanks to our unique understanding of how to create disruptive brands that connect with their customers. At KickCharge Creative, we specialize in branding, logo development, truck wrap design, website design and development, social media, copywriting and everything else related to marketing. We don't just talk the talk. We walk the walk. Our team has the tools and tactics to differentiate you from your competitors. For more information, visit https://www.kickcharge.com/ .

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The first shipment of an over-the-counter coronavirus test has left Brisbane for California after being approved last month for emergency use in the US.

Brisbane-based company Ellume developed and manufactured the kits, which return results within 20 minutes via smartphone after users swab the inside of their nose.

Ellume CEO Sean Parsons and Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles overlook a production line of rapid COVID-19 tests. Credit:Lydia Lynch

The at-home test kit resembles a long USB stick and can be used by anyone older than two.

Clinical tests found the Ellume test correctly diagnosed 96 per cent of positive swabs and 100 per cent of negative samples in patients with symptoms.

The University of Bern is establishing a multidisciplinary center to study the origin and course of infectious diseases and their impact on health, society, and economics. The new research center is to receive some 30 million Swiss Francs financial support from the Vinetum Foundation over a period of 10 years.

$Despite widespread warnings from the WHO in 2019 about the risks and the prediction of a "disease X", the COVID-19 pandemic caught the world completely off guard. This event has demonstrated the sensitivity to epidemics and pandemics from the interdependency of societies, as infectious pathogens have the capability of posing an existential threat to the world's population, nations, economy, and science in a globalized era.

The current crisis provides an impressive demonstration of the extent to which science is required to work in an interdisciplinary manner to analyze the problems that arise and to develop socially-relevant approaches for resolving them. That is why, with generous financial support from the Vinetum Foundation, the University of Bern is establishing a much-needed research center to foster interdisciplinary research into future epidemics and pandemics to better fight and protect against them." Christian Leumann, Rector of the University of Bern

In-depth expertise locally at hand

"The University of Bern has strong key competencies in areas most relevant in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic," explains Daniel Candinas, Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Bern. Outstanding and internationally-acknowledged research central to understand and overcome the pandemic is already being carried out in the areas of medicine, veterinary medicine, economics, political science, psychology, and the humanities, for example.

This expertise is now to be brought together at a multidisciplinary competence center for infectious diseases, immunity, and their consequences (Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases and Immunity, MCIDI).

"The MCIDI will explore pandemics from A to Z - from how they arise and how they are dealt with in the field of health care, through to the economic, political and ethical consequences," explains Candinas. The newly-established center will benefit from the existing medical and veterinary network in Bern which is available for teaching and research (university institutes, clinics, laboratories, and others), and from its proximity to the decision-making, political institutions.

Considerable support from the Vinetum Foundation

The Vinetum Foundation is a long-standing supporter of the University of Bern, and already backs research in the field of bee health. Franziska Borer Winzenried, President of the Vinetum Foundation and Honorary Doctor at the University of Bern: "We have confidence in the capabilities of the University of Bern demonstrated through its excellent research track record. We want to make our own contribution to the research of infectious diseases because infectious diseases are on the rise - and the next dangerous pathogen is inevitable. We, therefore, need to take action against it now."

In this respect, having a global outreach is important, emphasizes Borer Winzenried: "The question of how we can best protect people in countries that have inadequate health systems is also very important."

The "One Health" approach

The new research center is to consist of seven topic clusters to address medical and veterinary factors as well as issues surrounding economics, legal aspects, and follow-on consequences investigated by methods from the social sciences.

The "One Health" approach of the MCIDI, which examines the interactions between human, animal, and environmental health, makes the affiliation with the Vetsuisse Faculty a natural fit. David Spreng, Dean of the Vetsuisse Faculty: "In the past year, not only has excellent research into COVID-19 been carried out in the area of One Health but also in veterinary infectiology, when we proved able to develop the world's first synthetic clone of Sars-CoV-2, for example."

This clone, which was also of interest to the WHO, is now being used by research groups worldwide to find antiviral drugs and develop vaccines.

The MCIDI was founded on January 1, 2021, and is being led by virologist Volker Thiel, head of virology at the Institute of Virology and Immunology and professor in Virology at the Vetsuisse Faculty, in its initial phase of the first four years.

"I am looking forward to leading this interdisciplinary network with outstanding researchers and experts. It is important to learn from the experience of the pandemic in order to be better prepared for the scientific, societal, and economic challenges in the future", says Thiel.

The MCIDI has been organized as a virtual center, so the creation of initial infrastructure is not necessary. This format has already proven successful for other interdisciplinary research centers, such as the Oeschger Center for Climate Research of the University of Bern.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  The National Task Force on COVID-19 said contracts with companies that have qualified in the government's criteria for vaccine storage may be completed within the month.

"I believe critical terms have been ironed out so we are very confident that by January all the contracts will be finished," said Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. when asked about the storage capacities for the COVID-19 vaccines, in a press conference on Wednesday.

Task force officials are in the middle of inspections on facilities that could potentially store the vaccines when they arrive. Galvez and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III spoke to reporters after checking the facilities of Zuellig Pharmaceutical Corporation in Paranaque City, noting that it fits their standards. Duque also briefly mentioned that Unilab offers pharma-grade facilities apt for vaccine storage.

Duque said so far, out of over 20 candidates, they have identified four companies that comply with storage criteria. These criteria include capacity to maintain three ranges of temperatures (2C to 8C, -20C, and -70C to -80C), as well as having adequate "distribution strength."

"Ayaw natin ng isang third party logistics provider na hindi niya kayang lahat gawin," the secretary explained. "Hindi pwede 'yung process A to C kanya, tapos D to F i-subcontract niya sa iba."

[Translation: We do not want a third party logistics provider that is not able to do everything. We do not want a company that will only handle process A to C while subcontracting process D to F.]

Galvez added that the companies have contacted service providers ahead to take care of delivering the vaccines to the vaccination sites.

"We will receive the vaccines here, we will store it in the required temperature ranges depending on the vaccine that is available...and then it will be dispatched to the centers," said Zuellig Chief Executive and Area Director Maikel Kujipers, adding that they also have facilities in Cebu and Davao.

Galvez said once the deals are finalized, there will be a rundown to rehearse and time the delivery of the vaccines from the airport to the warehouse and the local government units, until they reach the vaccination centers. He added that inspections of the vaccines at the warehouses should not take more than five days.

As for the cost of storage, Galvez said they are still negotiating the details.
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The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine plans to involve a legal advisor to protect the interests of the state in arbitration in accordance with international rules, which was initiated by Chinese investors in PJSC Motor Sich. The claimed amount of damages estimated by the applicants is approximately $3.5 billion. The draft resolution on selecting the advisor was submitted to a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday.

According to the explanatory note to the draft posted on the government website, the plaintiffs were Chinese citizens Wang Jing, Li Fengju, Ren Jinglin, Xu Changshung, Wang Xinlei and Liu Yanning, who indicate that they are shareholders of Motor Sich and have the right to protect their investments in accordance with the relevant intergovernmental agreement signed by Ukraine and China in 1992.

According to the document, the investors dispute the actions of the Security Service of Ukraine, which opened a criminal case on the purchase of shares and achieved the seizure of these shares, as well as repeated refusals of the Antimonopoly Committee to agree on the concentration together with Ukraine's DCH group of Oleksandr Yaroslavsky and claim that Ukroboronprom pressured on them in an attempt to receive 25% of shares in Motor Sich.

In this regard, in the middle of December, the Ministry of Justice created the multiagency working group to protect the interests of the state in this case.

As reported, the Chinese investors of PJSC Motor Sich notified Ukraine of filing a request for international arbitration on December 5, 2020. Their interests will be represented by international law firms WilmerHale, DLA Piper and Bird & Bird. Arzinger will act as an advisor on Ukrainian law in international arbitration.

According to a source in the government, currently about 75% of Motor Sich's shares are already owned by a group of Chinese owners, and some part of the disputed block of shares acts as collateral for financing provided, among other things, by China Development Bank.
This week sees a moment that millions across the world will have been greatly looking forward to, Donald Trump's long awaited departure from the Oval Office.

After what has been a long and frequently dispiriting four years, the United States and the world can breathe a sigh of relief as the worst US President in history is finally evicted from the White House.

After the truly shocking events of recent weeks - which saw Trump and his odious cronies try to instigate a coup to keep their hands on the reins of power - Joe Biden's inauguration comes not a moment too soon.

Once again the United States can resume its role as a vital - if not always wanted - leader on the world stage.

The 'most powerful nation on Earth' can once again hold its head high and the rest of the world can look forward to a degree of stability in a time of unprecedented crisis, uncertainty and fear.

With a childish, selfish, egotistical maniac at the helm in Washington, the global effort to battle Covid-19 has suffered and there can be little doubt that the global situation will be much improved with a level head behind the Resolute desk.

With the inevitable and widely predicated fallout from Brexit beginning to manifest itself, Ireland also finds itself with a powerful new ally in Joe Biden whose love for and keen interest in Ireland will be crucially important as we negotiate the next phase of the Brexit crisis.

Mr Biden's influence has already proved crucial in stopping Boris Johnson and his callous Brexiteer cadre from ripping up the Good Friday agreement.

His support will likely prove decisive in many more political dogfights as Ireland, the UK and Europe iron out the finer details of their new fractious relationship. For the tens of thousands of undocumented Irish living in the United States, President Biden's inauguration should also be welcome news.

The complex and politically contentious nature of the immigration issue in the US means their status and predicament still might not be resolved but no President since Kennedy - even Bill Clinton - has displayed such a personal affinity for Ireland and the Irish and that can only be a good thing for our undocumented family, friends and loved ones.

With little sign that the pandemic crisis will end any time soon - even with a vaccine we face many more months of restrictions - the inauguration in Washington provides reason for a little hope and positivity.

Amid the Covid crisis and fear of more violence and unrest around the US Capitol building, this inauguration will be on a much smaller scale than those we are used to seeing.

Even so, it is still a momentous occasion not just for the US but for the world, representing a return to a more normal, more hopeful and less hateful brand of politics and democracy.

Four years after we watched, in horror, as Trump got his hands on the White House, it's a tremendous relief to witness the end of his despicable era.
A butcher has been filmed mocking a hysterical vegan activist as she screamed abuse at onlookers in a busy supermarket.

Tash Peterson, a prominent militant vegan known for her disruptive public protests, held a fake pig's head as she ranted outside a Perth Coles in an video that has emerged online.

Wearing bloodied white clothes and an apron, Peterson shouted at passing customers, urging them to watch Dominion - a graphic documentary that investigates animal agriculture.

'Each time you consume meat, dairy and eggs it is your fault. You have the right to know the truth,' she screamed through tears.

Tash Peterson, a prominent militant vegan known for her disruptive public protests, held a fake pig's head as she ranted outside a Perth Coles in December

Wearing bloodied white clothes and an apron, Peterson shouted at passing customers

'I don't want to be hear holding this murdered being's head. I don't want to be doing this, but I have a moral obligation to be standing up for these beings.

'I don't want to be holding him. Can you look him in the eyes and say that your taste is worth more than his life?'

In the video shot in the clip, Peterson was approached by a shopper, who told her: 'I'm vegan, and you're not helping our cause.'

The activist responded: 'You're not helping the animals by not standing up for them.'

A Coles worker then asked Peterson to leave, telling her she was protesting on private property.

Peterson complied and slowly made her way out of the shopping complex while screaming about where free-range Christmas hams come from.

Perth animal rights activist Tash Peterson, has been inspired by the Australian film Dominion narrated by Hollywood actor Joaquin Phoenix, which exposes cruel animal farming practices

A local butcher then confronted her, asking in a mocking tone: 'Are you crying? What's the matter?'

'Where'd you get the [pig] head from?' he asked while sarcastically wiping away tears from his face.

Peterson responded by asking the butcher if he felt 'tough for paying for animal abuse'.

A shopper then chimed in and told Peterson she was scaring nearby children, to which she responded: 'Do you know that you're feeding your children animal abuse?'

'Your children have the right to know what is happening to their beloved animal friends. They would be horrified if you showed them the truth.'

'The sounds you hear now are the sounds animals being brutally murdered inside Australian slaughterhouses,' she yelled passionately

Tash Peterson (left) was protesting at a restaurant in Fremantle when a diner (right) confronted the well known activist

Peterson's one-person protest is the latest in a number of heated demonstrations.

Late last year she dressed up as a cow and stood at the entrance of an Italian restaurant holding a sign that read 'they r*ped me and stole my babies so you could have some milk'.

'If I was speaking out for the dog abuse you'd be calling me a hero', she screamed at customers.

In July she donned a similar outfit to her Coles protest to storm a busy McDonald's restaurant while carrying a fake pig's head.

The back of her shirt read: 'Your ''food'' fought for their life. That should leave a bad taste in your mouth.'

Complete insights on biologic CMC requirements enable pharma, biotech and generics organizations to accelerate innovation by bringing life-saving medicines to patients faster

LONDON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, today announced the enhancement of Cortellis CMC Intelligence, the world's only organized, timely and accurate source of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) regulations and local practices. The addition of new biologic CMC content and features will support pharma, biotech and generics organizations in their quest to efficiently and accurately plan and prepare their CMC regulatory dossier submissions.

During these unprecedented times, researchers across the healthcare continuum need to connect the dots across multiple data points to enable the development and distribution of life-saving therapies. Most urgently, drug developers need practical solutions to support the manufacturing and global distribution of novel COVID-19 vaccines. In this new age of expedited drug development, Cortellis CMC Intelligence is a single platform solution for efficient identification, tracking, and comparison of CMC requirements, for all drug types, across the globe.

CMC and regulatory professionals are today challenged to find all necessary requirements for successful drug filings, culling through volumes of often regionalized and siloed data and insights. Critical pieces of information can be overlooked and result in delayed drug approvals and costly re-submissions. According to recent studies, 18% of total R&D expenditure is spent on CMC activities conducted to optimize, scale-up, and validate the processes and technologies for transfer to manufacture and all Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and CMC support activities.1

CMC and regulatory professionals risk spending significant time and resources preparing dossier submissions that are potentially based on incomplete or outdated CMC requirements. Studies show 50% of drugs submitted for approval from 2009-2012 were rejected. Of those drugs, nearly 12% were rejected due to CMC issues,2 with 18% of resubmitted drug applications delayed again due to CMC issues.3 Five percent of all drugs are never approved due to unmet CMC requirements.4 These points further support the need for more confident and efficient CMC regulatory dossier planning to ensure the optimized use of resources and support the submission of timely and accurate drug filings and approvals- the first time.

Mukhtar Ahmed, President, Science Group, Clarivate, said: "There is a great deal of risk and complexity in planning CMC regulatory dossier submissions. CMC and regulatory professionals are tasked with identifying, understanding and tracking complex CMC requirements to ensure all drug development and manufacturing activities are compliant with local and regional regulations. In this new age of expedited drug development - specifically surrounding the development and manufacture of vaccines for the novel coronavirus - here is a better solution to reduce risk, avoid costly re-submission delays, and save necessary time in the regulatory process. The enhancements to Cortellis CMC Intelligence address those challenges and enable more confident dossier submissions planning with a single source of comprehensive small molecule and now biologics CMC requirements. This enhancement helps pharma, biotech and generics organizations continue to unlock hidden insights in data and accelerate innovation across the industry."

Cortellis CMC Intelligence Small Molecules curates and tracks official CMC regulations and local practices for more than 130 countries, territories and organizations with 25+ product and related regulatory filters based on eCTD structure, 800+ source documents with citations, 170+ links to Cortellis Regulatory Intelligence, providing access to expanded detail. Cortellis CMC Intelligence Biologics will address CMC regulations for over 60 countries. The addition of biologics CMC requirements to the already robust library of small molecule content represents just one of the many investments Clarivate has made - and will continue to make - to expand and enhance the Cortellis suite of life science intelligence solutions. It is a key component of the comprehensive Cortellis suite of life science intelligence that allows pharma, biotech and generics companies to more comprehensively research and analyze critical drug development data to support the entire drug lifecycle. Additional content will be added throughout 2021 and beyond to further aid CMC and regulatory professionals CMC regulatory dossier submissions planning.

To learn more, visit https://clarivate.com/cortellis/solutions/chemistry-manufacturing-controls-intelligence-analysis/.

About Clarivate

Clarivate is a global leader in providing solutions to accelerate the lifecycle of innovation. Our bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world's most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of science and intellectual property. We help customers discover, protect and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. For more information, please visit?clarivate.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and oral statements included herein may contain forward-looking statements regarding Clarivate. Forward-looking statements provide Clarivate's current expectations or forecasts of future events and may include statements regarding results, anticipated synergies and other future expectations. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including factors outside of Clarivate's control that may cause actual results to differ materially. Clarivate undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact

Catherine Daniel

media.enquiries@clarivate.com

1 Source: Clarivate CMR International, "2020 CMR International Pharmaceutical R&D Factbook," August 2020

2 Source: JAMA, "Scientific and Regulatory Reasons for Delay and Denial of FDA Approval of Initial Applications for New Drugs, 2000-2012," https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1817795, January 2014

3 Source: JAMA, "Scientific and Regulatory Reasons for Delay and Denial of FDA Approval of Initial Applications for New Drugs, 2000-2012," https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1817795, January 2014

4 Source: JAMA, "Scientific and Regulatory Reasons for Delay and Denial of FDA Approval of Initial Applications for New Drugs, 2000-2012," https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1817795, January 2014

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Former party leader Jeremy Corbyn has begun legal proceedings seeking to force current leader Sir Keir Starmer to allow him to sit again as a Labour Party MP. Starmer withdrew the Labour whip from Corbyn last November after he was briefly suspended from the party for making a criticism of the politically motivated Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report into antisemitism in the Labour Party.

Corbyns lawyer Christopher Jacobs argued in court Monday that his clients removal from the Parliamentary Labour Party was a fundamental breach of contract that broke a settled agreement reached between Corbyn and the Labour leadership.

Jeremy Corbyn (left) and Sir Keir Starmer at an event during the 2019 General Election (credit: AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

According to Jacobs, it was agreed that there would be no further sanction imposed in respect of my client at two meetings in late October and early November, between Corbyns original suspension from the party and readmission.

Corbyn is seeking minutes or notes of those meetings as proof of Starmers procedural unfairness and breach of good faith.

The entire affair is deeply degrading. Corbyn has every right to launch a legal challenge, but he is using this to justify his silence on all questions of principle and refusal to fight the ongoing witch-hunt of the left based on bogus accusations of anti-Semitism.

What does his case amount to? Corbyn accepted the EHRC reportthe latest stage in a right-wing, anti-democratic witch-huntsaying he trusted its recommendations will be swiftly implemented to help move on from this period. Trying in vain to maintain some shred of dignity before his supporters, in a masterpiece of understatement he attached the caveat that the scale of the [anti-Semitism] problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media.

The moment Starmer had him suspended from the Labour Party, he withdrew even this figleaf covering his political prostration, issuing an apology for his remarks and declaring that the antisemitism campaign had been neither exaggerated nor overstated.

Corbyn now argues the least Starmer can do is keep up his end of the bargain. The sum total of Corbyns positionof the man built up by the pseudo-left for years as a socialist messiahis Please Sir Keir! Throw me a bone!

Starmer responded to Corbyns desperate entreaties with a customary display of cynicism and contempt. Commenting on the legal action he said, My message across the Labour Party is: Let's all pull together.

Starmer says this having expelled the acknowledged leader of the partys left-wing and after suspending numerous members over the last few months, including Constituency Labour Party officials for so much as allowing Corbyns suspension to be debated.

Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, once touted as a left, has threatened thousands more with expulsion. This will be facilitated by at least one individual recruited directly out of Israeli intelligence. According to an investigative piece by journalist Asa Winstanley, Labour have hired a former member of Israels cyberwarfare department to help manage their social media.

But the fact remains that Corbyn has spent years appealing for his supporters to commit to unity with the Blairite right and stop their efforts to drive them out of the party. Starmers leadership and his own suspension from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) is the end result of this political cowardice. And were he to be allowed to sit as a Labour MP again, Corbyn would loyally support the continuing antisemitism witch-hunt, spending his time pontificating on the ills of the world from the backbenches in a way that never seriously challenged the Blairites stranglehold on the working class, or the fundamental interests of British imperialism.

He has recently formed a personal vehicle for this exact purposethe Peace and Justice Project. Launched Sunday with the help of political scoundrels like former SYRIZA finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, Unite union leader Len McCluskey and academic Noam Chomsky, the organisation was described by Corbyn as not a political party, but a space in which people can come together to create space, hope and opportunity; share experiences and generate ideas, and provide research and analysis. He has yet to convince Labours right-wing that these do-gooding banalities can be tolerated in a party lurching so sharply to the right.

Corbyns prostration before the antisemitism witch-hunt has already had severe consequences.

In a Perspective article on Corbyns suspension, National Secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (UK) Chris Marsden explained, Left unchallenged, [the political witch hunt] will have a chilling effect on democratic rights, including the right to free speech and the right of political parties to advance policies that are deemed illegitimate by an unaccountable cabal of state operatives and political scoundrels.

None of this excuses the fact that Corbyn is the architect of his own fate and is responsible for allowing the right-wing to carry out its schemes against the working class.

After the success enjoyed in the Labour Party, the witch-hunt continues in the UK and internationally. Since mid-2019, the Conservative government has been pressuring British universities to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition and examples of antisemitism.

The IHRAs ambiguous 38-word definition and specific listed examples of antisemitic behaviour, focussing on Israel, provide a pretext for condemning principled opposition to the Israeli state and the nationalist ideology of Zionism. It was adopted by the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn in 2018, paving the way for an escalated purge of Labours membership.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson wrote to university vice-chancellors in October 2020 decrying the frankly disturbing fact that most universities had not adopted the IHRA definition. He threatened that if he did not see the overwhelming majority of institutions adopting the definition by Christmas, then he would ask the Office for Students (OfS) to take regulatory action, possibly including suspending funding streams.

In the US, in 2019, President Donald Trump issued an executive order urging federal departments to adopt the IHRA definition and its examples. Maine, Tennessee and South Carolina are moving legislation to bring the definition into state law. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo identified the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeted against Israel, as an anti-Semitic organisation in November 2020, and promised to cut non-profit groups supporting BDS off from government funding.

The same year, the German Bundestag passed a resolution titled, Resolutely confronting the BDS movementcombating anti-Semitism. It accused BDS of being anti-Semitic and enshrined the IHRA definition.

This reactionary campaign is meeting significant opposition.

On January 7, the Guardian published a letter from eight eminent lawyers, including four QCs and two former appeal court judges, opposing the IHRA definition and its imposition on universities by the Tories. They write:

The legally entrenched right to free expression is being undermined by an internally incoherent non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism

The definition is often described as the international definition of antisemitism, but it has no legislative or other authority in international or domestic law

[The examples of antisemitism listed by the IHRA] have been widely used to suppress or avoid criticism of the state of Israel.

The impact on public discourse both inside and outside universities has already been significant. Mr Williamsons threat should be withdrawn.

At the annual Limmud Festival in late December, Professor David Feldman, director of the Pears Institute for the Study of Anti-Semitism at Birkbeck College, London, argued that the IHRA was being used to stifle free speech and described it as a threat to legitimate protest.

The same month, a working group established by the academic board of University College London recommended the institution retract its November 2019 adoption of the IHRA definition and examples. Their report states that they disproportionately draw debate over Israel and Palestine into conversations around antisemitism, potentially conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism thereby risking the suppression of legitimate speech and academic research.

Last Tuesday, 10 Jewish organisations in the US grouped together in the Progressive Israel Network (PIN) issued a statement opposing the effort to enshrine [the IHRA definition] in domestic law and institutional policy.

The PIN organisations say they care deeply about the State of Israel, but warn of the ways in which the effort to combat antisemitism is being misused and exploited to instead suppress legitimate free speech, criticism of Israeli government actions, and advocacy for Palestinian rights. They continue, We fear [the IHRAs] adoption in law or policy at the state, federal, and university level and in corporate governance has the potential to undermine core freedoms, and in some cases already has.

In Germany on December 9, 30 leading cultural institutions issued a statement opposing the German parliaments BDS-IHRA resolution. It states, In the name of this resolution, significant voices and critical positions are being suppressed on the basis of false accusations of anti-Semitism.

A devastating blow was dealt to the attempt to equate criticisms of Israel with antisemitism by leading Israeli human rights organisation BTselem. For the first time in its history, the organisation has described Israel as an apartheid regime, advancing and cementing the supremacy of one groupJewsover anotherPalestinians.

Not a trace of this opposition will find voice in Corbyn or the moribund Labour left. Corbyn is busy arguing the finer points of contract law with Starmer, while his supporters face slander, suspension and expulsion.

It should be noted that a separate court case is being launched, against the EHRC, by former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and former Labour councillor Pam Bromley. They were the only two individuals held by the EHRC investigation into Labour to have been guilty of unlawful harassment of Jews while members of the party.

Livingstone was the first target of the anti-Semitism witch-hunt in 2016. He was thrown under the bus by Corbyn, apparently with Livingstones consent, and resigned from Labour in 2018 . With no position in the party left to lose, Livingstone has at least decided to clear his name and challenge the unfounded allegations against him. Corbyn, in contrast, says nothing the better to ingratiate himself with Starmer.

Opposing the left anti-Semitism campaign demands a decisive break with Corbyn, the dwindling rump of the Labour left and their counterparts internationally. A socialist leadership must be built in the working class, based on the revolutionary, internationalist principles of Trotskyism. This is the programme of the Socialist Equality Party and the International Committee of the Fourth International.

FARMINGTON  State police returned Wednesday with an excavator to a property formerly owned by Fotis Dulos after a New Hampshire man known as the Bone Finder flagged five areas that could be connected with the death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

After state police said they found nothing significant during a search of the 80 Mountain Spring Road property the previous day, they returned Wednesday with excavating equipment based on the findings of Bob Perry, known as the Bone Finder, an expert in mapping unmarked graves and burial grounds.

Connecticut State Police contacted Perry to help with Tuesdays search before the property is sold in the next few weeks. Police have previously searched the property, including shortly after Jennifer Dulos went missing on May 24, 2019.

Just before I left (on Tuesday), they were digging out the spots and we agreed that they would probably have to come back with an excavator, the 73-year-old Perry said.

Using ground-penetrating radar, Perry located four spots along the wood line of the property that appeared to have been disturbed and then covered back up, he said. He found a fifth location inside the house at the base of the stairs, leading to the basement that had been dug up and smoothed over, Perry said.

Its a small space, probably 3 feet wide, Perry said. There was something in the ground there that looks like a vault, but its most likely a pipe. There was a long anomaly, but it was an anomaly you could also see if you were tracking a pipe.

He considered all of the locations low probability for the presence of a body or individual body parts based on his 20 years of experience mapping out cemeteries and unmarked graves through his company, TopoGraphix, which is based in Litchfield, N.H.

Two of the spots were heavy with mud and water, Perry said of the locations he flagged along the wood line. But each of the areas were anomalies that were large enough to bury a body, he said.

Perry said theres a good possibility that the ground had been disturbed at each of the locations he identified. Cadaver dogs brought in to search Tuesday found nothing, Perry said.

In a brief statement to media gathered near the home Wednesday, state Trooper First Class Josue Dorelus said the case is still active and ongoing, but did not say if police had found anything during Wednesdays search.

As many of you are aware, over the past day or so our Western District Major Crimes Squad detectives have been on the property following up on leads and continuing to investigate the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, he said.

He directed requests for further updates to the office of Chief States Attorney Richard J. Colangelo Jr. Colangelos office has declined to comment about the searches.

Our main goal is to work toward giving the family of Jennifer Dulos some sense of closure, which is why were here continuing to investigate the disappearance.

After several hours on Wednesday morning, the excavator left the property. Soon after the digger left, a septic company arrived and began examining the pipeline into the home.

Police think the body may have been dismembered, Perry said.

Attorney Christopher Hug, the administrator of Fotis Dulos estate, also mentioned in Probate Court documents that police indicated that Jennifer Dulos may have been dismembered. However, Colangelo has said he had no evidence that occurred.

Police say Jennifer Dulos was the victim of a serious physical assault in the garage of her New Canaan home when she returned from dropping off her five children at school, according to arrest warrants in the case.

Her remains have not been found, but police believe she could not have survived the attack without immediate medical attention, the warrants state.

Fotis Dulos died Jan. 30, 2020 from an apparent suicide about three weeks after being charged with murder and kidnapping. He was originally charged in June 2019 with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the case.

Four days before he attempted suicide at his Jefferson Crossing home in Farmington, Fotis Dulos received a notice of default on the Mountain Spring Road home from Peoples United Bank, which held the mortgage on the property.

Sources said the Mountain Spring Road property, which was owned by Fotis Dulos real estate development company, Fore Group, is under contract for sale after a judge approved the foreclosure in September.

On the day of his wifes disappearance, Fotis Dulos called his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis and told her to meet him at 80 Mountain Spring Road with cleaning supplies, according to arrest warrants.

He told Troconis to bring a vacuum, a Swiffer mop, paper towels, Clorox spray and garbage bags so they could clean the property in preparation for a client meeting the next morning, arrest warrants said.

They arrived in separate vehicles between 2:15 and 3 p.m., the warrants said. Troconis told police that Fotis Dulos had arrived first and she had to return to his house at Jefferson Crossing to get another vacuum because the one she brought didnt work, the warrants stated.

Troconis told police Fotis Dulos came looking for more paper towels while she was inside the house because he spilled something in a pickup truck that belonged to one of his employees, the warrants stated.

Police said Fotis Dulos used his employees Toyota Tacoma on the day of the disappearance to drive to and from New Canaan, the warrants stated. Police said they traced the Tacoma that day through video surveillance footage, the warrants stated.

The blood of Jennifer Dulos was later found on the passenger seat of the truck after police seized and searched the vehicle, the warrants said.

Jennifer Dulos blood and clothing were also found in bags that police say Fotis Dulos dumped in Hartford on the night of the disappearance, the warrants stated. Fotis Dulos and Troconis were seen in Hartford on video surveillance at around the time Jennifer Dulos was reported missing, the warrants state.

Troconis and Fotis Dulos friend and former attorney, Kent Mawhinney, have each pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder charges. Troconis has also pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges.
India's top-four IT companies have reportedly designed a robust hiring plan as they project a strong rebound in the GDP in FY22 after the lockdown lows in FY21. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, HCL, and Infosys plan to collectively hire at least 91,000 employees from campuses, according to reports.

In the December quarter, these top-4 IT giants added 36,000 employees against 10,820 in the same quarter in the year-ago period. In September 2020 quarter, these four IT firms hired 17,918 employees.

TCS executive VP and global head Milind Lakkad said the company is expecting to hire about 40,000 employees like last year. Infosys said it will recruit 24,000 college graduates in FY22, up from the 15,000 it planned for the current one. HCL plans to hire 15,000 freshers in India and 1,500-2,000 people on-site in FY22. The company added 4,022 freshers in the December quarter.

Wipro hired 14,000 people, including 2,900 freshers the December quarter. Saurabh Govil, Chief Human Resources Officer, Wipro, said the company has freshers and lateral hiring plans in India and globally. However, he did not disclose the number of people the company plans to hire.

Cloud computing, digital transformation, cost control, and high attrition rates could be among the various factors attributed to the surge in hiring, Moneycontrol reported.

Besides, these IT firms are expecting a high attrition rate in FY22, which may open up more jobs for freshers. They are also looking to cut costs by increasing IT outsourcing and by consolidating vendors. Such measures have resulted in the signing up of large deals.

For instance, Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd bagged multi-billion dollar deals from Germany's Daimler AG and Metro AG, respectively, in 2020.

TCS announced the acquisition of Postbank Systems AG (PBS) from Deutsche Bank in November last year. Under the deal, 1,500 employees of PBS would get transferred to TCS. The company also deepened strategic partnership with Prudential Financial (PFI), under which TCS would acquire staff and select assets of Pramerica systems (PFI unit in Ireland).

Also read: Jack Ma not 'missing'; makes first public appearance since October in online meet

Also read: Tata Group eyes 60% stake in BigBasket; set to pump in $250 million initially
- Rise in safety regulations and rapid increase in adoption of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) drive the global force sensor market

PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Force Sensor Market By Operation (Analog and Digital), Force Type (Compression & Tension, Compression, and Tension), Technology (Strain Gauge, Load Cell, Force Sensitive Resistors (FSRs), and Others), and End User (Automotive, Locomotive, Manufacturing, Mining, Aerospace & Defense, Construction, Healthcare, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027." According to the report, the global force sensor industry generated $2.16 billion in 2019, and is projected to garner $3.30 billion by 2027, witnessing a CAGR of 5.30% from 2020 to 2027.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Rise in safety regulations and rapid increase in adoption of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) drive the global force sensor market. In addition, the growing AI and IoT technology and high demand from APAC region further fuel the growth of the market. However, instability in the demand across various end-user industry hinders the market growth. On the other hand, increase in automotive sales and rise in production of vehicles across the world create new opportunities in the coming years.

Download Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/9097

Covid-19 Scenario

Global lockdown across the world during the initial phase of Covid-19 impacted the manufacturing activities. In addition, the supply chain management was disrupted completely. And, the industry witnessed a massive shortage of raw materials and labor force.

The government bodies in various regions, however, have now issued several relaxations on the current regulations, thereby allowing the players to reinitiate their businesses. This is anticipated to aid the force sensor market to recoup soon.

The analog segment to continue its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on operation, the analog segment contributed to the highest market share, accounting for more than half of the global force sensor market in 2019, and will continue its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is due to high demand of analog force sensors from automobiles, robotics, and industrial fabrications. However, the digital segment is expected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 5.3% from 2020 to 2027, owing to the significant growth of manufacturing, automotive, food & beverages, consumer electronics, & bulk material handling industries in developing economies.

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The load cell segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on technology, the load cell segment accounted for the largest share in 2019, holding nearly one-third of the global force sensor market, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. In addition, the same segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 6.7% from 2020 to 2027. This is attributed to rising demand of load cells type force sensor in manufacturing & industrial application.

Asia-Pacific, followed by North America, to dominate the market throughout the forecast period-

Based on region, Asia-Pacific, followed by North America held the largest share in terms of revenue in 2019, accounting for nearly half of the global force sensor market, and will maintain its dominance in terms of revenue by 2027. In addition, the region is projected to witness the fastest CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. This is attributed to increase in the technological advancements and rise in the automotive standards in developing countries such as India, China, and Indonesia.

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Leading market players

Sensata Technologies Inc.

Siemens AG

Vishay Precision Group

ABB Ltd.

Futek Advanced Sensor Technology Inc.

Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik (HBM) GmbH

TE Connectivity Ltd.

Honeywell International Inc.

ATI Industrial Automation Inc.

Tekscan Inc.

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Top: Whisker plots describing the variability of correlation between timing of onset of the rainy season (onset date) and peak NDVI (indicator of drought) in the following months for East, West, and Southern Africa based on Acute Food Insecurity (AFI) risks (Table 1). Bottom: Scatter plots of standardized anomaly of onset date timing and peak NDVI for the AU2s with the highest AFI risks. *The number on the top of box-whisker plots indicate the number of AU2 in each of the corresponding bins. AFI risk level 1 indicates lowest risk of food insecurity and level 5 indicates highest risk, further explanation for AFI risk level can be found in Table 1. Credit: Shukla et al, PLOS ONE 2021 (CC-BY 4.0, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

The onset date of the yearly rainy season reliably predicts if seasonal drought will occur in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa that are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, and could help to mitigate its effects. Shraddhanand Shukla and colleagues at the University of California, Santa Barbara's Climate Hazards Center, present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on January 20, 2021.

Climate-driven seasonal drought can impact crop yields and is among major contributors to food insecurity, which can threaten people's lives and livelihoods. In the last five years, parts of Sub-Saharan Africa have experienced a significant rise in food insecurity, sometimes requiring emergency food assistance. Early warning systems that reliably predict conditions likely to lead to food insecurity could help drive timely actions to mitigate these effects.

Shukla and colleagues hypothesized that the onset date of the rainy season, as calculated from precipitation data, could serve as such a warning. To explore this possibility, they analyzed the relationship between the onset date, drought conditions observed via satellite images of vegetation cover, and the risks of food insecurity based on quarterly reports on food insecurity in across Sub-Saharan Africa from April 2011 through February 2020.

The analysis showed that a delay of about 10 days from the median date of onset of the rainy season was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of seasonal drought in regions with the highest risk of acutesevere food insecurity. A 20-day delay indicated a 50 percent chance of drought in those regions. Further analysis confirmed the predictive relationship between rainy season onset date and drought risk across Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, and particularly in East Africa.

These findings suggest that the onset date of the rainy season could be an important component of an early warning system for droughts likely to lead to food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa. Further research could examine the relationship between onset date and other food insecurity indicators, such as high-resolution data on crop yields and prices or mid-season livestock prices.

The authors add: "Timing of rainfall onset can be tracked using remotely sensed observations and forecasted using climate models, and the results of this study show that it can be a reliable indicator of agricultural droughts, particularly in the most food insecure regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, which makes it a simple yet powerful tool to support effective early warning of food insecurity, thus saving lives and livelihood."

Explore further Study finds rising rates of food insecurity among older adults

More information: Shukla S, Husak G, Turner W, Davenport F, Funk C, Harrison L, et al. (2021) A slow rainy season onset is a reliable harbinger of drought in most food insecure regions in Sub-Saharan Africa. PLoS ONE 16(1): e0242883. Journal information: PLoS ONE Shukla S, Husak G, Turner W, Davenport F, Funk C, Harrison L, et al. (2021) A slow rainy season onset is a reliable harbinger of drought in most food insecure regions in Sub-Saharan Africa.16(1): e0242883. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242883
It has long been a bone of contention for Europe that the US is the dominant force in the world of computing. Despite so many of the pioneers of the technology, all the major players are from the other side of the Atlantic and European companies have had to trail in their wake.

This has been particularly noticeable since the advent of cloud computing. All the hyperscaler companies that are shaking up the IT world are US-based and that leaves European customers with little choice.

In particular, they're concerned at what's happening to data. There's a genuine concern for European users and European companies over control of data  it's seen as a market advantage that shouldn't be swallowed up by American competitors.

That's why late in 2019, the French and German governments kick-started a new project aimed at giving European organisations more control over their data. The GDPR legislation enshrined some level of control but European governments and enterprises wanted to take things one stage further and introduce a new digital ecosystem for the sharing of data and services across Europe.

The project, named Gaia-X has the aim of establishing common standards across the continent, and it held its first summit at the end of November, looking to set out how its members can go forward.

Key among the announcements at the summit was the news that all three of the major cloud providers  AWS, Microsoft and Google  had signed up to join the project.
As President-elect Joe Biden takes office this week, his focus will be on domestic issues but his predecessors bellicose approach to foreign affairs has left a ticking time bomb for the incoming administration.

Donald Trump worked to blow up the multinational deal to contain Irans nuclear program during his four years in office, gutting the diplomatic achievement of predecessor Barack Obama in favour of what Trump called a maximum pressure campaign against the aggressive Middle Eastern nation.

Until his very last days in office, Trump threw accusations, threats and still more sanctions at Iran.

Donald Trump took a tough stance on Iran but exited a deal designed to curb its nuclear ambitions. Source: Getty Images

Satellite images showing Irans decision to ramp up uranium enrichment, as well as a recent move to seize a South Korean tanker, are helping to fuel concerns that regional conflict will erupt.

Iran on Friday (local time) staged drills, hurling volleys of ballistic missiles and smashing drones into targets, further raising pressure on the incoming US president over a nuclear accord.

Evidence accumulating for post inauguration attack

Trump was a stated isolationist but one of his most notable moves in office was the assassination of revered Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Irans senior Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Trump promised a heavy-handed response if Iran sought revenge for the killings. More than a year on, that hasnt materialised. But as Michael Knights, a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy writes in Politico, that could still be on the horizon.

There is every possibility that revenge for Soleimani and Muhandis might be the first crisis of the Biden administration, he wrote this month.

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The evidence for a post-January 20 confrontation has been accumulating for some weeks. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei cautioned on December 16 that Irans revenge would come at its own time and place, and thus not necessarily under Trump.

Inside Iraq, the key Iranian-backed militia, Kataib Hezbollah, has warned against revenge attacks until Trump is gone, and even Mohammed al-Hashemi, an Iraqi government envoy sent to Iran, was quoted ... as beseeching Tehran to maintain calm until the Biden administration takes over the presidency from Trump.

Story continues

A retaliation would likely see US troops attacked in Iraq or Syria, and would pose an early  and very difficult  test for Bidens White House.

Iran is struggling to restrain its proxies from seeking revenge but may see the opening of a Biden administration as the first safe moment to do so, Knights warned.

US seen as weaker after Trump chaos

Bidens first priority for renewed talks is getting both Iran and the US back in compliance with the nuclear deal, which offered the former relief from sanctions in exchange for it accepting limits on its nuclear material and gear.

Even before the Capitol riot this month, upheaval at home threatened to weaken the US hand internationally, including in the Middle Easts nuclear standoff.

Biden and his team will face allies and adversaries wondering how much attention and resolution the worlds leading economy can bring to bear on the Iran nuclear issue or any other foreign concern amid a tumultuous domestic environment and unusual political handover.

I think Bidens probably better positioned to cope with the confusion to any other incoming president, US historian, Dr Daniel Fleming, told Yahoo News Australia.

Iran has begun construction on a site at its underground nuclear facility at Fordo (left) while Iran's Supreme Leader (right) has vowed revenge for US killings. Source: AP/Getty Images

His experience in the senate foreign relations committee will be invaluable. His experience as vice president travelling around the world means he has a great understanding of American foreign policy, he said.

I suspect he will try and get the US back on board with anti-nuclear treaty with Iran, along with Europe.

However, that might not be so easy. Biden faces pressure both from Democrats and Republican opponents of the Iran deal.

Richard Goldberg, who worked as an Iran adviser for the Trump administration in 2019, told the Associated Press he didnt see broad support in Congress for a return to the deal.

This is a real wedge inside the Democratic Party, he said.

US war with Iran would upend everything

On Tuesday, Republican Nikki Haley, who served as the former US ambassador to the United Nations, urged Biden to stick with harsh sanctions on Iran.

Biden should use the sanctions we imposed as leverage when dealing with Iran. Jumping back into the deal would be playing right back into Irans hands and more dangerous in the long run, she wrote on Twitter.

In lieu of a new deal, Irans expansion of its nuclear ambitions will ensure tensions remain at dangerous levels. And a new Middle East conflict would only make it harder for Biden to find the time and money to deal with pressing problems, including his planned US$2 trillion effort to cut climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions.

If war with Iran became inevitable it would upend everything else hes trying to do with his presidency, said Karim Sadjadpour, an expert on Iran and US Middle East policy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Biden and his team are very mindful of this. Their priorities are domestic.

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MEXICO CITY : Leaders across the globe welcomed the arrival of U.S. President Joe Biden and the end of the often confrontational presidency of Donald Trump, noting the worlds most pressing problems, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, require multilateral cooperation, an approach Trump ridiculed.

Many expressed hope Wednesday that Biden would right the worlds largest democracy two weeks after they watched rioters storm the Capitol, shaking the faith of those fighting for democracy in their own countries.

Governments targeted and sanctioned under Trump embraced the chance for a fresh start with Biden, while some heads of state who lauded Trumps blend of nationalism and populism were more restrained in their expectations for the Biden administration  and in some cases spoke nostalgically of the Trump years.

But a chance to repair frayed alliances and work together to address problems extending beyond any one countrys borders carried the day.

Biden understands the value and the importance of multilateralism. He understands the importance of cooperation among nations," said former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos, who left office in 2018.

As a matter of fact, if we dont cooperate  all nations  to fight climate change, then we will all perish. Its as simple as that," Santos said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also noted the urgency of addressing the perils the world faces from climate change after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, a move Biden was to reverse in the first hours of his presidency.

With Biden, we will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet," he wrote on Twitter. Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!"

Elsewhere in Europe, close U.S. allies finally saw a chance to come in out of the cold after strained security and economic relationships with the Trump administration.

This new dawn in America is the moment weve been awaiting for so long," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, hailing Bidens arrival as resounding proof that, once again after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House."

European Council President Charles Michel said that trans-Atlantic relations have greatly suffered in the last four years. In these years, the world has grown more complex, less stable and less predictable."

We have our differences and they will not magically disappear. America seems to have changed, and how its perceived in Europe and the rest of the world has also changed," added Michel, whose open criticism of the Trump era contrasted with the silence that mostly reigned in Europe while the Republican leader was in the White House.

In Germany, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued a video statement, calling Biden's inauguration a good day for democracy."

Despite the attempts to tear at Americas institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress have proven strong," he said.

With Biden and incoming Vice President Kamala Harris, Steinmeier said the U.S. would again be a vital partner" to tackle issues like the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, security issues including arms control and disarmament, and multiple conflicts.

Pope Francis urged Biden to help foster reconciliation in the U.S. and build up a society marked by authentic justice and freedom" and looking out especially for the poor.

The grave crises" facing all of humanity call for farsighted responses, Francis said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formed close ties with Trump, noted a warm personal friendship" with Biden. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran," Netanyahu said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose country has had a tumultuous relationship with Washington, having been criticized for aiding the Afghan Taliban, said in a tweet he looked forward to building a stronger partnership through trade, economic engagement and countering climate change.

In Latin America, Biden faces immediate challenges on immigration and the leaders of the two most populous countries  Brazil and Mexico  were chummy with Trump. The Trump administration also took a hard line against governments in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, expanding painful sanctions.

In Venezuela, the government of President Nicolas Maduro urged a renewed dialogue with the Biden administration, while hoping the incoming president abandons the avalanche of damaging sanctions Trump imposed to attempt a regime change.

Common Venezuelans, however, like retired accountant Jesus Sanchez, 79, said he was disappointed to see Trump leave power. Trump backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, giving Venezuelans like him hope that Maduros days in power were numbered.

An estimated 5 million Venezuelans have migrated out of the South American nation in recent years, fleeing shortages of food, medicine and basic services such as running water and gasoline, despite sitting atop the worlds largest crude reserves.

Carlos Vecchio, Guaidos envoy in Washington who the U.S. recognizes as Venezuelas ambassador, tweeted photos of himself standing in front of the inauguration ceremony Wednesday. The invitation to attend was touted by Venezuelas opposition as evidence the Biden administration will continue its strong support and resist entreaties by Maduro to engage in dialogue that the U.S. has strenuously rejected until now.

Cubas leaders perhaps have a more realistic hope for improved relations. After all, Biden was in the White House for the historic thaw in relations in 2014. Various officials said they were willing to reopen a dialogue with Washington if there was respect for Cubas sovereignty.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel railed against Trump via Twitter, citing more than 200 measures that tightened the financial, commercial and economic blockade, the expression of a despicable and inhuman policy."

In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who cultivated an unexpectedly friendly relationship with Trump and was one of the last world leaders to recognize Bidens victory, read from a letter he sent to Biden in 2012, calling for a reorienting of the bilateral relationship away from security and military aid and toward development.

He urged Biden to implement immigration reform, and added: We need to maintain a very good relationship with the United States government and I dont have any doubt that its going to be that way."

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Expressing support for data localisation, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma on Tuesday said data generated in India should be processed within the country. Speaking at the 15th India Digital Summit, Sharma said there is nothing that stops companies from processing data in India itself.

He added that companies need to look at India beyond as just a market, given the massive opportunity it presents. "India is an open market, we welcome foreign companies, we need to put them to the same laws and orders... Beyond that, may the best product win. "I'm not saying a product, just because it is made in India, will be superior. Ultimately the superior product wins," he said.

He added that while many tech products were built in the US previously, these are now being developed in India -- a trend that will accelerate further in the next five years. "I think India will make the world's most superior products, and that is why we will win," he said. In the past too, Sharma had endorsed data localisation.

Data sovereignty is an issue that the Indian government is looking at addressing through its data protection law to ensure privacy, safety and security of user data. These include provisions around the handling of data of adults and minors, storage within the Indian borders and penalties for non-compliance.

Sharma also dismissed any concerns around job losses from transitioning to an 'Aatmanirbhar' digital economy. Sharma said a few thousand jobs that foreign investment generates will be far outweighed by the long-term benefits of homegrown digital enterprises. To a question on the influence of Chinese investors on Paytm, Sharma said the company operates independently.

"On our board and operations, I can say that we run all our software technology platform by ourselves. No shareholder has a say on what we should do. Effectively, all shareholders are treated as commercial shareholders. The board seats and the board control is in India's hand," he said.

He added that the company has shareholders not only from China, but also Japan and the US, and that "every one of them is a very influential corporate governance-led shareholder."

Also read: Tata Group eyes 60% stake in BigBasket; set to pump in $250 million initially
A 100-a-week award to student nurses by the Government has been rejected as insufficient and unfair.





The Dail is today expected to hear protests from the Opposition over the gesture, with Sinn Fein planning to read out the testimonies of young nurses and midwives appalled by what they have seen and had to risk in the Covid pandemic.

They wont stay in this State and work in the healthcare service if they dont see fairness, warned David Cullinane, Sinn Feins spokesman on health, yesterday.

I dont believe that 100 (a week) is anywhere near a fair amount, he added.

The Government accepted a recommendation from Professor Tom Collins, chair of DIT, that those on placement receive a pandemic grant for their otherwise-unpaid placements in hospitals, although final year students had been getting 50 a week towards transport and meals.

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The INMO said its student representatives say the frontline situation has changed in the third wave  which caused placements of first to third year students to be suspended last weekend for the next fortnight.

The students have called on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to return to a scheme similar to that of last March when the virus first struck. This would mean healthcare assistant contracts for all students whose placement is suspended.

It would also move interns up to healthcare assistant pay (10.70 an hour) in recognition of their increased workloads and risk. They are also seeking clarity on what will happen to placements over the coming months.

INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: They are thanked for their work so far, but the thanks ring hollow when their reasonable demands for fair remuneration go unanswered.

There is still time for the minister to do the right thing: offer the students contracts as healthcare assistants to boost staffing and move up interns pay to reflect their new workloads and risks.

Our student members tell us they feel left up in the air. Last-minute decisions are being made about their placements, with no clear plan in place for the future.

Many students tell us that they want to make a direct contribution to the fight against Covid, and are seeking healthcare assistant contracts while their placements are suspended.

A further Dail motion on pay for student nurses is to be introduced today after the Government reaped heavy criticism for voting one down before Christmas.

Government backbenchers who experienced a public backlash on the issue complained at FF and FG parliamentary party meetings that they had been left without effective speaking points on the issue of pay for student nurses.

Mr Cullinane said there now had to be negotiations between the Government and the representative bodies.

They should sit down and work out what would be a fair amount.

But he said any reasonable person looking at the workload and risks faced by student nurses would not agree that 100 a week was fair reward. It is anything but fair. It is a real slap in the face for student nurses and midwives.

Sinn Fein is to bring a motion to the Dail today to ensure student nurses and midwives receive fair pay without delay, he added.

Mr Cullinane said there was a staffing crisis in the health service, with more than 6,000 health workers out due to Covid-19.

New Orleans police said they found a man slain in the St. Claude neighborhood on Wednesday morning.

Officers responding to a call reporting a shooting in the 1600 block of France Street about 9:55 a.m. discovered a man who had been shot at least once inside of a home. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police didn't identify the man. They also didnt immediately name any suspects or discuss a possible motive.

Anyone with information on the case can call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.

Wednesday's slaying was at least the sixth reported in New Orleans so far this year. There were 11 on the same date in 2020.

+2 'Shoot me': Oklahoma man touring French Quarter shoots man who dared him during argument, cops say A French Quarter tourist from Oklahoma allegedly shot a homeless man during an argument near Bourbon Street on Monday night, then tried to fle
A motorist carries his child through flood water after his car got stuck on the Piltown Road in Bettystown, Co Meath

Motorists and walkers were warned to take extreme care given torrential rainfall forecast for the past 24 hours as Storm Christoph swept past Ireland.

While we avoided the worst of the Atlantic storm - parts of Britain were expected to receive up to 200mm of rain on higher ground - there was still a likelihood of spot flooding and even flash floods in mountainous areas across the west and midlands.

Met Eireann issued a Status Yellow rainfall alert, which remained in place until 9pm last night. The alert was valid for Connacht, Longford, Louth, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan

Met Eireann's Linda Hughes warned that up to 50mm of rainfall could hit some low-lying areas - with even greater amounts along mountainous areas of Ireland.

Gardai and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) urged those driving to and from work, as well as those undertaking essential journeys, to drive with caution given the possibility of spot-flooding and poor visibility.

With streams, rivers and lakes already heavily swollen with rainfall, walkers were urged to exercise extreme care near all waterways.

Outbreaks

"It will be very wet and breezy, with widespread outbreaks of rain, rain heavy and persistent over the northern half of the country with a risk of localised flooding," Ms Hughes said.

"The highest temperatures will generally be of 9C to 11C degrees but colder over Ulster - with highs of just 3C to 6C.

"Outbreaks of rain will continue in many areas tonight, turning to sleet at times over Ulster.

"There will be a pulse of heavy rain moving into southern coastal counties before dawn. It will hold mild in the south for much of the night but with much colder air to the north with lowest temperatures of 0C to 4C degrees."

The rain is set to ease up today, but the east will see some further heavy showers.

"Rain will become confined to the east and south where it will be heavy for a time near southeastern coasts," Ms Hughes said.

"The western half of the country will become bright with scattered wintry showers of rain or sleet."

Blustery showers will persist tonight, though temperatures could sink to -3C overnight.

Tomorrow will be a cool day with sunny spells, though there will be showers over the western half of the country, and some further east will bring a risk of hail.

Friday will see some sunny spells, but it will be cloudier in the south.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned 73 people, including his former aide Steve Bannon and other allies, just hours before he was due to leave office.

The list of those pardoned -- as well as 70 others whose sentences were commuted -- was released by the White House in a statement during the early hours.

Neither Trump nor his relatives were on the list.

Bannon had been charged with defrauding people over funds raised to build the Mexico border wall, a flagship Trump policy.

He was Trump's campaign manager during the 2016 election, before becoming a senior adviser to the president.

"Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen," the statement read.

US media earlier reported that the president made his last-minute decision after speaking to Bannon by phone.

Former Trump fund-raiser Elliott Broidy was similarly pardoned, after pleading guilty last year to conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws.

The rapper Lil Wayne, who last month pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and faced 10 years in jail, also made the list.

The star, listed as Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., "exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of foodbanks," the release added.

President-elect Joe Biden, who beat Trump in an election in November last year, was due to be sworn in as his successor later Wednesday.

Until then, the incumbent retains the power to issue further pardons.

Trump was due to skip the inauguration ceremony, flying from the White House to his Florida home.

He is yet to personally congratulate Biden on his win, and did not invite him for a customary visit to the Oval Office.

Tensions have soared of late on Capitol Hill, where the Senate is expected to soon put Trump on trial following his record second impeachment by the House of Representatives over a riot by his supporters in the Capitol building.

The spectacle will clash with the opening days of Biden's tenure, as the new president seeks to swiftly confirm his Cabinet picks and push through aggressive legislation including a $1.9 trillion package to rescue an economy buffeted by the coronavirus pandemic.

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Joe Biden could be forced to change his workout routine when he moves into the White House because of potential security concerns over his Peloton bike.

The popular exercise bike connects to the internet and has an in-built microphone and camera that could pose a hack risk, according to Popular Mechanics.

As a result, the Secret Service could force the 78-year-old President-elect to leave behind the bike when he takes up residency in the White House.

Max Kilger, Ph.D., director of the Data Analytics Program and Associate Professor in Practice at the University of Texas at San Antonio, told the website: 'Because you're connected to the internet, even though there are firewalls and intrusion detection software... those things can be gotten around if youre really good and skilled.'

Joe Biden (pictured) could be forced to change his workout routine when he moves into the White House because of potential security concerns over his Peloton bike

Kilger moved on to say that if a hacker was able to gain access to the Peloton bike then they could potentially also breach any device connected to it.

He also said that if Biden was determined to keep hold of his exercise bike then the secret service may have to rip out the components that pose the potential security risks.

Although, he said, this then eliminates the attractiveness of the machine.

Peloton exercise bikes are indoor stationary bicycles that cost upward of $1900 each and have smart tablets attached to them which allow owners to connect with other people.

The popular exercise bike (pictured) connects to the internet and has an in-built microphone and camera that could pose a hack risk

On the company website, Peloton says: 'No matter how much effort we put into system security, there can still be vulnerabilities present.'

While speaking on the podcast Here's The Deal, Biden previously said that he uses the Peloton bike as part of his morning workout routine in the gym upstairs in his home.

He said that daily workouts in the morning 'sort of gets me going'.

If Biden were to accept a modified Peloton from the secret service, he would not be the first president to be granted modified tech.

While speaking on the podcast Here's The Deal, Biden previously said that he uses the Peloton bike as part of his morning workout routine in the gym upstairs in his home. Pictured: Joe Biden riding a bicycle at Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, on November 4, 2020

In Barack Obamas memoir, the former President said that he was only a specially modified Blackberry that could send emails but not make any phone calls.

Additionally, former first lady Michelle Obama reportedly had a modified Peloton that had no camera or microphone, but Peloton has previously refused to comment on this.

At the end of last year it was reported that the value of Peloton shares had risen by 12 per cent, hitting an all-time high, following increased demand as a result of the pandemic.

Company shares were up 470 per cent last year and it's expecting its first billion-dollar holiday quarter in sales.
More than 2.5 million additional Pennsylvanians became eligible Tuesday for the coronavirus vaccine as both the state and Philadelphia broadened their distribution plans, but officials warned it would take time for people to get their shots because the federal government has not shipped enough doses.

People 65 and older in Pennsylvania, some frontline workers and people 75 and older in Philadelphia  which is administering the vaccine independently  and anyone in the state or city 16 and older with a high-risk medical condition now qualify for inoculation.

With the number of doses coming in still far lower than the number of people who want them, however, it is unclear how quickly and easily people will be able to get appointments.

Yes, there will be plenty of confusion. Yes, there will be, unfortunately, many people who want to get this vaccine but cant get it for some period of time because theres not enough of it, said Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. But thats just simply where we are right now with the number of doses available in the country.

President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office Wednesday, plans to vaccinate 100 million people in his first 100 days in office, increase vaccine supply using the Defense Production Act, and open community vaccination centers and mobile clinics. But it is not yet clear how quickly more vaccine can be manufactured.

If they can deliver that many doses  we absolutely can get it into peoples arms, Farley said Tuesday.

The current supply is so limited that Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia scaled back its vaccination of employees  for now, offering it only to those with specific risk  in order to help increase the citys vaccine supply for the new phase, according to an email sent by CHOP executives to employees Tuesday and obtained by The Inquirer.

 READ MORE: U.S. coronavirus deaths top 400,000 in Trumps final hours

The email said the city health department had asked health-care systems to do so, but a city spokesperson said that hospitals can continue vaccinating anyone eligible and that officials had been told the pace of employee vaccinations at city hospitals had slowed.

As the United States passed 400,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths on Tuesday, by far the most of any country, Philadelphia announced its second confirmed case of the highly transmissible coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom  and Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine was tapped to become assistant health secretary in the Biden administration.

Pennsylvania reported 5,341 newly confirmed coronavirus cases and 77 deaths. Philadelphia announced 551 new cases Tuesday.

And in New Jersey, hospitalizations remained stable, defying modeling predictions that health officials had said portended a spike in cases in the weeks after the holidays. The state added 3,761 cases and 54 deaths.

Philadelphias next phase

In addition to adults with health conditions or 75 and older, first responders, public transit workers, and service providers working with high-risk populations are also now eligible for the vaccine in Philadelphia.

They should wait to be contacted by their employers to schedule a shot, while eligible older and at-risk adults should contact their doctors to start the process of getting the vaccination, city officials said.

The city had administered more than 72,000 first doses of the vaccine as of Tuesday. Health-care systems and clinics will begin distributing vaccinations to their highest-risk patients this week as they continue to vaccinate their own health-care workers, Farley said.

Teachers, child-care workers, and food service workers will be eligible next, but must wait until the first group is vaccinated  which Farley said could take several weeks. Health officials asked teachers who work in Philadelphia but live elsewhere to first try to get vaccinated where they live because the citys vaccine calculations are based on its population.

Farley acknowledged it will be a little bit complicated for Philadelphia to have different vaccination rules than the neighboring counties. Still, he said the city would stick with its own plan to vaccinate residents 75 and older before opening up to younger seniors.

The citys system, he said, was developed with an emphasis on racial equity and therefore is focused on vaccinating people with high-risk medical conditions that are common among Black residents rather than offering vaccines to all residents who are 65 and older.

It will take several months for everyone in the city who wants a vaccination to get one, Farley said. He asked residents and employers who sign up on the to-be-launched website to be patient.

It may be weeks or months before they are notified, he said, but people will be notified when that group becomes eligible.

Scheduling appointments in Pa.

Pennsylvania residents who are eligible for the vaccine can go to a new map of providers to find a location that may have available doses. When a location runs out of doses, it displays a red dot on the map; locations with possible openings show up as green dots.

Residents contact the providers to make appointments. The state does not have an appointment-scheduling website or hotline. The health department did not respond to questions from The Inquirer about the rollout on Tuesday.

Preregistration for the vaccine is open in Montgomery County. Bucks County said it was updating its form after the states announcement and preregistration would be available soon; the joint form for Chester County and Delaware County residents will be available after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

State residents can also take a vaccine eligibility quiz on the states website to find out whether they are in the vaccine-eligible group or need to continue waiting.

According to the state, 409,438 first doses have been administered. By the end of the week, the state will have been allocated more than one million doses.

New Jersey will add teachers next

New Jersey is improving its vaccine distribution, Gov. Phil Murphy said; the state had reported more than 407,000 doses administered by Tuesday evening. But he again said the state needs more supplies from the federal government.

The expectations, explicitly, were for significantly more doses of vaccine to come to New Jersey, Murphy said. Theres a supply-demand imbalance, period, and its gotten only worse, not better.

Vaccination sites should be setting aside second doses as they administer first doses, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said, and anyone receiving a first dose should make an appointment for the second before leaving the vaccination site.

State health officials said they are working with vaccine sites to coordinate second doses so that people who start receiving them are able to complete the inoculation, but that if someone did not get a second appointment when receiving their shot, they should contact the vaccination site.

Teachers are next in line to be added to the pool of eligible recipients, Murphy said, but he did not indicate how soon that could happen.

If the amount of doses manufactured begins to increase, it is still possible that the 4.5 million people who are currently eligible in the state could be vaccinated by the end of May, Murphy said  a grim assessment reflecting the countrys current capacity.

The state is working hard to vaccinate as many eligible people as possible with the available doses that we have, Persichilli said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 13:38:15|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday disclosed it has only received 30 percent of 33.3 million U.S. dollars it requires to meet the needs of 2,826,104 people in Ethiopia's restive northern Tigray regional state.

In the first Humanitarian Situation report it published for 2021, UNICEF stated it needs the 33.3 million U.S. dollars funds to meet the needs of 2,826,104 million people including 1,334, 185 children in the restive Tigray regional state.

The UNICEF funding appeal to Ethiopia's Tigray regional state aims at sustaining the provision of life-saving supplies and support to the restoration of basic services for women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

These include activities in health, nutrition, child protection, and education sectors.

Ethiopia's federal government has been undertaking military operations in the country's northernmost Tigray regional state since November 4 against TPLF, which used to rule over the region, following the TPLF's apparent attack on the Northern Command of the Ethiopian Army.

The Ethiopian government has been blaming the TPLF, which was one of the four coalition fronts of Ethiopia's former ruling party the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), for masterminding various treasonous acts across different parts of the country with an overarching goal of destabilizing the East African country.

Three of the former four EPRDF coalition members had last year joined other regional parties in establishing the Prosperity Party, as the TPLF refused to join.

The mounting differences between the federal government and TPLF exacerbated in September last year when the Tigray regional government decided to go with its planned regional elections, which the Ethiopian parliament had previously postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Ethiopian government figures the Tigray region conflict has resulted in the displacement of around 2.2 million people, while 4.5 million people in total need emergency aid. Enditem
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Turkey has vaccinated more than one million people against the novel coronavirus in the first week of a national inoculation drive, according to health ministry figures issued Wednesday.

But the drive has lost some of its momentum after more than 600,000 people were inoculated in the first two days.

Turkey began the campaign with the CoronaVac jab produced by China's Sinovac last Thursday.

On Tuesday, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca called Turkey's progress "one of the fastest in the world".

In comparison, France had vaccinated around 585,000 people by Tuesday, after starting its campaign on December 28.

Turkey has now given a first shot to more than one percent of the population of more than 83 million people.

The campaign kicked off with healthcare workers and moved on to those over the age of 80 on Tuesday.

But while Turkey has signed up for 50 million doses of CoronaVac, it is due to receive just three million by the end of the month, limiting the potential pace of the rollout.

In December, Turkey also reached a deal to receive 4.5 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab by late March.

Ankara has officially registered 24,328 COVID-19 deaths and nearly 2.4 million virus infections but has never seen its daily death toll exceed 300, avoiding the grim death rates recorded in European countries such as Britain and Italy.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
Second Iranian-made coronavirus vaccine receives clinical trial approval

01/20/21

Source: Tehran Times

TEHRAN - The second homegrown COVID-19 vaccine developed and proposed by the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute has been approved to begin a clinical trial. The clinical trial protocol has been approved by both the Food and Drug Administration and the National Committee for Ethics in Biomedical Research.

However, the protocol should be returned to the Food and Drug Administration to receive a license to begin clinical research, and then the clinical trial can begin.

The vaccine is protein-based, which employs recombinant versions of the spike protein and tutors the immune system against the virus by producing antibodies.

According to the proposed protocol, 13 volunteers will receive the vaccine through the first phase, and then 120 people enter the research in four different groups.

Normally, if the first phase is successful, the acceptable dose of the vaccine will be determined, and based on the results of phase one, the second phase will begin with 500 people.

In all stages, the National Committee for Ethics in Biomedical Research and the senior experts will supervise the project.

Mass vaccination by next 2 months

On Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani said the government is trying its best to start mass vaccination against the coronavirus by the next two months with the priority given to medical staff and high-risk individuals.

The COVAX vaccines will be provided to the country by the end of the current [Iranian calendar] year (March 20) or at the beginning of the next [Iranian calendar] year, Rouhani said at a meeting of the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control.

Other vaccines have also been purchased which will be available soon, he noted, adding, a co-produced vaccine called "Pasteur" will also be mass-produced during the spring.

Referring to the homegrown vaccines, he announced that two domestic vaccines that have been licensed for the clinical trial will also be available by the next summer.

Homegrown vaccine

Production of COVID-19 vaccine was followed by 16 Iranian companies since the beginning of the outbreak, and so far 12 companies applied to produce the vaccine, of which eight are operating, one of the companies have entered the human trial phase, and two more companies will soon test the vaccines on human, Kianoush Jahanpour, head of the Information Center of the Ministry of Health, said on January 10.

COVIRAN BAREKAT, the first coronavirus vaccine made by Iranian researchers of the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, was unveiled and injected into three volunteers during a ceremony on December 29, 2020.

On January 11, the second dose of the vaccine was injected into the three volunteers.

So far, 14 people have received the first dose of the vaccine, and this number should reach 56 people in the clinical study phase.

After the results of the study are determined, the second stage begins with the injection in 500 people, and after 28 days, the third phase begins with mass production.

Hojjat Niki-Maleki head of the information center of Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, said by the next six months, vaccine production will reach up to 12 million doses per month.

COVID-19 daily new cases and mortalities

In a press briefing on Monday, Health Ministry spokesperson Sima-Sadat Lari confirmed 5,806 new cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total number of infections to 1,336,217. She added that 1,125,499 patients have so far recovered, but 4,348 remain in critical conditions of the disease.

During the past 24 hours, 83 patients have lost their lives, bringing the total number of deaths to 56,886, she added.

So far, 8,580,126 COVID-19 diagnostic tests have been performed in the country.

Lari noted that currently, 10 cities are in high-risk "red" zones, and 23 cities are in the orange zone and 163 in low-risk "yellow" zones.
The airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, plans next week to begin screening passengers for symptoms of covid-19 before they go through security, implementing a first-of-its-kind plan that was on hold for months while federal officials reviewed its funding.

The top executives of Eastern Iowa Airport wanted to use coronavirus relief money to check passengers for symptoms and won approval from local authorities in July. But airport revenue is strictly regulated, and the officials did not want to move forward without approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

In late December, the agency gave its approval. The decision opens the door for the nation's 500-plus other airports to implement screening programs.

"We're excited to get this launched," said Marty Lenss, the director of the Cedar Rapids airport. "We've been working on it for a while. We have always looked at it as one more layer in a multilayered approach in restoring passenger confidence."

On Tuesday, Lenss said that fixtures for the screenings were being installed, and that staffers were being shown around before Monday's launch. The cost will be covered by a portion of the $23 million the airport received in coronavirus relief funding.

The mandatory screening would build on efforts by airlines to try to keep sick people off flights. Airlines typically require self-declarations and mask-wearing by passengers but do not conduct professional health screenings or require coronavirus testing of domestic passengers.

The United States on Jan. 26 is to require passengers arriving from other countries to have evidence of negative coronavirus testing, adopting a measure that has been in place in many countries for months.

And after the Trump administration moved Monday to end restrictions on travel from Brazil and much of Europe that day, Jen Psaki, the incoming White House press secretary, said the Biden administration had a different plan.

"On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26," she wrote on Twitter. "In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19."

In Cedar Rapids, screeners from a local health-care group, Mercy Medical Center, will ask travelers questions about their health and potential exposure to the coronavirus, and will take their temperatures. The first step should take 10 seconds.

Anyone who fails the initial screening will be subject to a second review, which Lenss said in a few weeks could include rapid testing. Those who seem sick would be urged not to travel and be referred back to their airline, which would make the final decision.

Tim Sagers, Mercy's medical director, said the program could be a model for other communities.

"We've seen that travelers around the country may be apprehensive about air travel," he said. "Our aim in this partnership is to provide further assurance that those who fly are as safe as possible."

In at least two cases, people have died of covid-19 aboard planes in the United States, and thousands are suspected of having been exposed to the novel coronavirus, the pathogen that can cause the disease, during air travel.

The value of screening people for the disease has become less clear because it can be readily spread by those who are infected but not displaying symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shut down screenings for some international passengers in September after detecting nine cases among 766,000 people who were screened.

Lenss said he recognizes that the program will not be perfect.

"I'm sure we're going to learn something," he said. "We've never seen this as a silver bullet by itself."

The FAA determined that the screenings would be a legitimate use of airport revenue as long as they were conducted by trained medical personnel and not offered to the public at large.

"Airports may voluntarily choose to take such actions in an attempt to jump-start and support the recovery of airport operations and airport services," the agency wrote in a guidance document.

Eastern Iowa Airport is relatively small, not ranking among the 100 busiest in the nation in a typical year. But it is served by three of the four major carriers, as well as by two low-cost airlines. American Airlines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air expressed support for the program.

Hilarie Grey, a spokeswoman for Allegiant, said, "We look forward to seeing how it will work in the operational environment in the coming weeks."

In the new guidance, the FAA said airports should get the support of airlines and local health authorities before setting up screening programs.

Pramod Dwivedi, the director of public health for Linn County, where the Iowa airport is located, said authorities supported the program as a way of reducing the spread of the virus through air travel, saying in a statement that it is "instrumental in reducing air travel related COVID-19 transmissions."
Joe Bidens long-awaited inauguration as the 46th President of the United States takes place today (20 January)

After the rollercoaster ride of the previous administration, Joe Biden's long-awaited inauguration today (20 January) could signal more stability for an apparel industry that has been through the mill over the last four years.

President Donald Trump's stance on international trade policy and climate change did little to instil confidence in the apparel and textile industry as he embarked on a trade war with China  the largest US apparel supplier  withdrew from major trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and renegotiated others, like the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade pact. Not to mention the risk to America's long-held reputation.

The industry may now be able to breathe a sigh of relief as it looks forward with more confidence to a government that appears to be less erratic and aggressive in its decision making, and one that will likely take a more measured and predictable approach to trade policy.

Fresh trade policy

Plans by Biden to appoint Katherine Tai as US Trade Representative are welcome, although it is unlikely that a change in leadership will soften the US stance on China. But with Tai's experience as trade lawyer and advisor on international trade matters, not to mention being fluent in Mandarin, a fresh and more peaceful approach to policy may ensue.

She has said she will "pursue trade policies that place the humanity and dignity of every American  and of all people  at the heart of our approach."

An ongoing priority will also be addressing "stiffening competition from a growing and ambitious Chinawhose economy is directed by central planners who are not subject to the pressures of political pluralism, democratic elections, or popular opinion."

The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will also be high on the agenda, Tai has said. She helped secure bipartisan congressional approval of the trade deal, which she described in a recent speech as being "notable for incorporating groundbreaking labour and environmental provisions."

Dr Sheng Lu, associate professor at the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, believes apparel sourcing executives still need to keep a close watch on US trade policy in 2021. But he says there are likely to be fewer news headlines about trade and more "behind the door" advocacy and diplomacy.

"We all know the [China-US] relationship is at its low-point, but the fact is many US fashion companies still treat China as one of their most promising markets," he wrote in just-style's Outlook 2021 sourcing report. "China also continues to expand its role in the Asia-based textile and apparel supply chain. In a nutshell, more than ever, apparel executives need to care about what is going on in geopolitics. Hopefully, tough times can breed positive outcomes."

After the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was reached in November 2020, there are growing calls for the new Biden administration to consider rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in some format to showcase the US presence in the Asia-Pacific region. RCEP brings together the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, with members responsible for half of the world's textile and apparel exports, worth around US$374bn. Many are also key apparel sourcing bases for US fashion brands.

"2021 will be a critical time for all stakeholders, including the apparel sector, to debate various trade policy options that could shape the future trade architecture in the Asia-Pacific region," Dr Lu warns.

And while the punitive tariffs on Chinese goods may not go away anytime soon, Lu believes there could be a fight over whether the new Biden administration should continue to grant certain companies exclusions from Section 301 punitive tariffs. Two new Section 301 investigations on Vietnam are being closely watched.

"The case is pending, but the stakes are high for fashion companies  Vietnam is often seen as the best alternative to sourcing from China and already accounts for nearly 20% of total US apparel imports," Dr Lu says.

Climate challenge

The significant difference in leadership between Biden and Trump is their position on climate change, with the US set to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement on day one of the Biden administration, driving much needed economic growth and job creation across every sector.

However, there is likely to be more pressure on apparel and textile companies to disclose climate risks and greenhouse gas emissions in their operations and supply chains. But businesses could benefit from a substantial US$400m investment Biden has pledged to make in clean energy research and innovation, which is expected to reach all industries from textiles to machine tools. His ambition is to create "the industries of the future" by incentivising the deployment of clean technology and low carbon manufacturing to aggressively reduce emissions.

His ambitions don't stop in the US either. In his climate pledge, Biden has again shown signs of the pressure America is expected to continue to place on China.

The incoming President has said he will "pursue strong new measures to stop other countries from cheating on their climate commitments," and "not allow other nations, including China, to game the system by becoming destination economies for polluters, undermining our climate efforts and exploiting American workers and businesses."

The new administration has also pledged to impose carbon adjustment fees or quotas on carbon-intensive goods from countries that are failing to meet their climate and environmental obligations. It will also condition future trade agreements on partners' commitments to meet their enhanced Paris climate targets.

Biden has promised to convene a climate world summit to directly engage the leaders of the major carbon-emitting nations of the world to persuade them to join the US in making more ambitious national pledges.

Priorities

First and foremost, however, the new leader's initial focus will be his Covid rescue plan. Mending broken relations and addressing trade policy will inevitably follow. The apparel industry should now be looking forward to more responsible and effective policies that remove barriers and benefit business and workers.

In a message yesterday (19 January) ahead of his inauguration, Biden said: "We don't have a second to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face as a nation. That's why after being sworn in tomorrow, I'll get right to work."
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Joe Biden is sworn in as U.S. president during his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Biden Sworn In as 46th President of the United States

Joe Biden took the oath of office at noon on Jan. 20 to become the 46th president of the United States.

The inauguration took place amid unprecedented circumstances. The president delivered the inaugural address standing before a virtually empty National Mall, due to security concerns stemming from the breach of the U.S. Capitol two weeks earlier. Instead of the customary crowd, organizers planted thousands of American flags on the mall.

Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts administered the oath. Vice President Kamala Harris was sworn in shortly before Biden.

Biden, 78, succeeds President Donald Trump, who skipped the inauguration. Vice President Mike Pence attended the ceremony alongside former Presidents Barack Obama, George Bush, and Bill Clinton.

Well press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain, Biden said.

The inaugural address, though not formally a policy speech, offered a glimpse into Bidens priorities. After addressing the pandemic, Biden touched on the issues of racism, climate change, domestic terrorism, and white supremacy. He then called for unity.

My whole soul is in this, bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation, and I ask every American to join me in this cause, Biden said.

Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness, and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things.

Biden, who campaigned on undoing much of Trumps legacy, was expected to sign a list of nearly two dozen executive actions later in the day, including an order stopping the construction of Trumps signature border wall, rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, and canceling the travel ban Trump put in place to protect the nation from radical Islamic terrorism.

Earlier in the day, Trump delivered a farewell address at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One en route to Florida. The president told supporters he will be back in some form.

Biden, accompanied by his wife First Lady Jill Biden, descended the steps to the balcony of the Capitol just over 40 minutes prior to noon. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) delivered the opening speeches. Lawmakers from both chambers of Congress and Supreme Court justices attended the ceremony. Pop singer Lady Gaga performed the national anthem.

Biden, a Democrat, took office amid the ongoing CCP virus pandemic. More than 400,000 Americans are reported to have lost their lives to the virus. All of the attendees, with the exception of the speakers, wore masks. A portion of the seating was arranged with social distancing in mind.

The Democrats will control both the House and Senate during at least the first two years of Bidens term. A preview of the presidents first actions suggests hell take advantage of the Democratic advantage to enact a list of left-wing priorities. His first legislative request, a CCP virus relief bill, featured the $15 minimum wage mandate long promoted by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a Democratic socialist. Biden sent an immigration bill proposal to Congress ahead of the inauguration that would afford legal status to millions of illegal aliens.

Executive Actions

Ahead of the inauguration, Bidens transition team previewed a list of executive actions the president was scheduled to sign later in the evening. The actions largely focus on undoing former President Donald Trumps achievements, addressing the pandemic, and reorienting the government around Bidens vision of equity.

The president was expected to reengage the World Health Organization (WHO). Trump quit the organization after alleging it helped the Chinese regime cover up the outbreak of the CCP virus.

Biden was also expected to sign a series of executive actions and letters addressing the pandemic and the related economic problems. The actions include: a mandate for masks to be worn on all federal properties, an order creating the position of COVID-19 response coordinator, the restoration of the National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense, as well as a request for federal agencies to extend moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures and the pause of federal student loan payments.

The presidents first-day executive actions also include a presidential memorandum canceling his predecessors deregulation mechanisms, which included a requirement that two existing federal regulations be slashed for each new regulation. Trump has often lauded the deregulation framework he put in place as the single biggest reason for the resurgent economy. Bidens White House chief of staff, Ron Klain, issued a memo freezing all new Trump-administration regulations so they can be reviewed.

Biden was expected to sign an order directing the federal government to review all regulatory actions taken by the Trump administration, including a specific list of environmental actions. The president was expected to sign a separate executive order focusing on the environment, which features the cancellation of the presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, among other actions.

Another first-day executive order defines what equity is and orders the federal government to work toward equity for allincluding people of color and others who have been historically underserved and marginalized.

On the cultural front, the first-day agenda included the cancellation of Trumps 1776 commission, which sought to counter negative narratives about the founding principles of the United States. Biden was also expected to rescind the ban on critical race and critical gender theory training for federal employees and contractors. Such training is based on a Marxist theory that reinterprets society and history based on the concept of struggle, pitting races and sexes against each other by labeling them either as oppressors or oppressed.

On immigration, Biden was expected to withdraw Trumps order on excluding noncitizens from the census count, to direct the government to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programwhich granted temporary immigration status to children brought to the United States illegallyand to rescind a Trump directive that gave the Department of Homeland Security a broader scope for detaining and deporting illegal aliens.
And each and every one of us can see them using nothing more than a smartphone or a laptop.It is the case of a crash that occurred a year and a half ago in Indiana. Captured by the Google Maps Street View car, the collision happened on 2801 English Avenue in Indianapolis, with a police car rapidly arriving at the scene, as seen in the photos (also embedded in the photo gallery).As we can all see in the images dates August 2019, the two cars are now stopped in the center of the intersection, and while some people are around them, its not clear who exactly are the drivers and whether any people got injured following the fender bender.One thing is for sure, though: given this is an intersection controlled by traffic lights, theres a chance one of the two ran a red light, and its now up to the police, and to the netizens, of course, to decide who is the one to blame for the whole thing.As for what weve said in the intro, in case youre wondering just how much Google Maps cars are being driven to capture the world in all its beauty, some late 2019 statistics shared by Google itself provide us with a clear picture about the whole thing.The Street View cars surpassed 10 million miles (thats more than 16 million kilometers for our European readers), Google said more than a year ago, enough to circle the planet for more than 400 times.
WASHINGTON - Following a request from President Joe Biden, the Education Department said Wednesday it would extend the suspension of federal student loan payments through Sept. 30.

The move arrived days before the moratorium is set to expire at the end of this month. It makes good on Biden's pledge to give borrowers some breathing room as the economy struggles to find its footing.

"Too many Americans are struggling to pay for basic necessities and to provide for their families," the Education Department said in a statement Wednesday. "They should not be forced to choose between paying their student loans and putting food on the table.

In the statement, the acting secretary of education said the agency would extend the pause on federal student loan payments and collections and keep the interest rate at 0 percent.

Biden's request for the extension was part of a series of actions he took on his first day as president.

To that end, consumer advocates and liberal lawmakers had hoped Biden would use executive authority to cancel some portion of the $1.6 trillion in outstanding student debt. Deese said the administration supports forgiving up to $10,000 in debt per person through congressional action.

The Democratic-controlled House passed legislation last year affording cancellation to borrowers through a stimulus package shelved by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., the incoming majority leader, has been unwavering in his support for debt cancellation and could clear a path forward. That would be a formidable challenge given the slim majority Democrats will have in the Senate, but advocates say it's not impossible.

In the meantime, about 41 million Americans will continue to benefit from the federal government's pause of student loan payments.

"This is really important," said Jessica Thompson, associate vice president of the Institute for College Access & Success."It allows borrowers to take a sigh of relief, [and] get out of this cycle of being reliant on the current politics of the day determining whether they're going to have to start paying again."

When the Education Department approves Biden's request, all borrowers with student loans from the Education Department will see their payments automatically suspended until Sept. 30 without penalty or accrual of interest. Each month until then will still count toward loan forgiveness for borrowers in public-service jobs. It will also count toward student loan rehabilitation, a federal program that erases a default from a person's credit report after nine consecutive payments.

Collections on defaulted, federally held loans are still halted, and any borrower with defaulted federal loans whose wages are being garnished will receive a refund. However, the directive still excludes more than 7 million borrowers whose federal loans are held by private companies or universities.

The Trump administration in March gave borrowers the option of postponing payments for at least 60 days as the coronavirus pandemic battered the economy. Congress later codified the reprieve in the stimulus package, known as the Cares Act, and made it automatic. The Trump administration twice extended the moratorium before leaving office.

Thompson said the latest extension will give the Education Department, the administration and Congress time to figure out how to successfully transition millions of borrowers back into repayment.

"It's going to take a fair amount of thought to do this well, to do it carefully and to make sure we aren't setting people up for failure or default when we try to kick-start payments," Thompson said.

While many borrowers might have an easy time resuming payments, some will struggle to get back on track with their payments. Consistent and accurate information from the department and its contractors about options for people facing hardships will be essential to avoid a wave of defaults, Thompson said.

The Education Department reported a spike in people defaulting on their federal student loans in 2019 after exiting forbearance provided in the wake of natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey and the California wildfires.

- - -

The Washington Post's Laura Meckler contributed to this report.
Wrexham man jailed after spitting at rail staff

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jan 20th, 2021

A Wrexham man who threatened and spat at a member of rail staff at Holyhead railway station has been jailed for a total of 26 weeks, following a British Transport Police investigation.

Christopher Jones, 52, and of Victoria Road, Wrexham, was found guilty of common assault and a section 4 public order offence at Llandudno Magistrates Court on 13 January.

At 10.15pm on Monday 11 of January, Jones was challenged by a member of rail staff when he began to cough and spit at Holyhead station. Taking offence, Jones threatened the member of staff saying, Ill get you killed.

At around 4.20am, the following morning (12/01), a member of rail staff at Holyhead railway station asked Jones for his ticket for inspection. Jones became extremely aggressive and spat at the member of staff when he was unable to produce a valid ticket.





An officer witnessed the incident and arrested Jones at the scene.

BTP Investigating Officer Jon Liptrot said: Violent behaviour towards members of rail staff will absolutely not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Nobody should be afraid of being assaulted at work, especially in such a disgusting manner.

I am grateful to the courts for the sentence imposed on the defendant and hope it serves as a strong reminder that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated on the railway.

Thank you to our colleagues at North Wales Police for their assistance with this incident.

If you experience any issues on public transport, contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 at any time. If youre in immediate danger, always call 999.
The Trump administration has joined oil companies arguing to the Supreme Court that suits by dozens of local governments, including San Francisco and Oakland, seeking compensation from the fossil fuel industry for rising seas and temperatures caused by climate change, should be transferred from state courts to federal courts, which are less likely to award damages.

The question of a nationally regulated industrys responsibilities for the impact of its actions cant be subjected to potentially conflicting regulations by every state and city subject to global warming, Justice Department attorney Brinton Lucas told the court.

Likewise, attorney Kannon Shanmugam, representing 21 fossil fuel companies, argued that federal law, not the laws of individual states, governs claims alleging injuries caused by worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

Victor Sher, a lawyer for the city of Baltimore, countered that the lawsuits allege fraud, deception, denial and disinformation, all traditional state concerns.

The courts ruling in the Baltimore case will apply to similar suits filed elsewhere, including San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, Santa Cruz, Imperial Beach (San Diego County), and the counties of San Mateo, Marin and Santa Cruz.

The local governments say they are not suing the companies for emissions caused by oil and gas production, but for what the governments describe as a 50-year campaign to conceal their impacts. The California suits invoke the states public nuisance law, which allows damages for private actions that harm the public health. The companies say the local suits would intrude on federal regulation of their industry.

But the courts ruling, due by June, seems unlikely to determine, at least for now, whether those cases can ultimately be heard in state court. The eight justices spent much of the hearing discussing possible further review of that question in lower federal courts. Justice Samuel Alito is not participating, apparently because he holds stock in oil companies.

In the Baltimore case, as in the Bay Area case, the oil companies sought to transfer the suit from state to federal court for one of the reasons spelled out in federal law: that their fuel production was based on the actions of federal officials, who had approved their leases. A federal judge found no basis for the transfer, and the companies then sought to appeal on broader grounds: that climate change is a subject of federal law.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

But appellate courts ruled in both cases, and in two others elsewhere, that federal law allows such appeals only on the narrow issue of federal officials action and not on the question of whether the companies overall conduct is federally regulated. Tuesdays hearing focused mostly on that issue.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett said the court would be fairly aggressive if it decided at this point whether the suits should be heard in state or federal court, but she indicated further appeals could proceed. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch said federal law appeared to allow appeals on broader grounds to determine whether a suit was challenging federal regulation and belonged in federal court.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor read the law differently and said allowing the open-ended federal appeal that the companies seek could open the floodgates of federal litigation in the appellate system.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
"New Yorkers have a right to know where he plans to make these cuts to help close the gap in the deficit. We need to come up with a realistic backup plan should we not get the full aid that will best help New York's financial situation get back on track."

Assemblyman John Lemondes, who represents the city of Auburn and several towns in central and southern Cayuga County, questioned the lack of details in Cuomo's presentation about how to address New York's structural financial problems.

One change Lemondes, R-LaFayette, is advocating for is the repeal of the Scaffold Law, which levies an absolute liability penalty against companies when employees suffer gravity-related injuries. New York is the only state that has such a penalty.

Lemondes has previously said that the law contributes to the high costs of doing business in New York.

"We need to try to work on that," he said. "I'm personally going to try to work with the Democratic representatives to solve this problem."
A new gene therapy has been shown to reverse some of the effects of ageing in mice and extend their lifespans by up to a quarter.

Chinese researchers used CRISPR-Cas9, a powerful gene-editing tool, to inactivate a gene called KAT7, which is a key contributor to cellular ageing.

An injection of a viral vector encoded for KAT7 reduced what is known as cellular senescence  the end of cell division, which organisms need to grow and replenish tissue.

Although experiments were conducted with mice in the lab, the experts think their findings may one day contribute to similar treatments for humans.

They believe there is a lack of investigation on the intervention of genes to treat ageing and age-related diseases.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have shed new light on the regulation of ageing. They say there is a lack of systematic investigation on the intervention of these genes to treat ageing and aging-related diseases

WHAT IS GENE EDITING? Genome editing enables scientists to make changes to DNA, leading to changes in physical traits. Scientists use different technologies to do this. These technologies act like scissors, cutting the DNA at a specific spot. Then scientists can remove, add, or replace the DNA where it was cut. The first genome editing technologies were developed in the late 1900s. More recently, a new genome editing tool called CRISPR, invented in 2009, has made it easier than ever to edit DNA. Source: US National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Advertisement

The specific therapy they used and the results were a world first, said co-supervisor of the project a specialist in ageing and regenerative medicine from the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

In the lab experiments, all mices lives were extended by 25 per cent on average.

'These mice show after six to eight months overall improved appearance and grip strength and most importantly they have extended lifespan for about 25 per cent,' study author Professor Qu Jing from the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences told Reuters.

The team of biologists used the renowned genome editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9, which is used for making precise edits in DNA.

CRISPR-Cas9 has been likened to a pair of genetic scissors, allowing for tiny snippets of DNA to be removed and replaced.

For this study, the method was used to screen thousands of genes for those with particularly strong drivers of cellular senescence.

Cellular senescence is thought to impair tissue function and predispose tissues to disease development. Despite a few previously reported ageing-associated genes, the identity and roles of additional genes involved in the regulation of human cellular ageing are yet to be fully explained.

CRISPR is a DNA-editing technique in which scientists can programme a molecule to target and 'snip' a specific section or element of someone's genetic material (illustrated in stock image  not to scale)

CELLULAR SENESCENCE Cellular senescence involves the cessation of cell division. Cells become resistant to growth-promoting stimuli, typically in response to DNA damage. The hallmark of cellular senescence is an inability to progress through the cell cycle. Senescent cells accumulate during ageing and have been implicated in promoting a variety of age-related diseases. Cellular senescence is thought to impair tissue function and predispose tissues to disease development. Advertisement

Researchers identified 100 senescence-promoting genes out of around 10,000 and KAT7 was the most efficient at contributing to senescence in cells.

KAT7 is one of tens of thousands of genes found in the cells of mammals.

Researchers inactivated KAT7 in the livers of the mice using intravenous injection of a lentiviral vector.

Lentiviral vectors have been described as 'vehicles' for gene transfer in mammalian cells. Lentivirus is simply a type of virus.

Intravenous injection of a lentiviral vector encoding KAT7 reduced the proportions of senescent cells and proinflammatory cells in the liver, and extended healthspan and lifespan of aged mice.

The results suggest that gene therapy based on inactivation of a single gene may be sufficient to extend mouse lifespan.

KAT7 depletion reduced cellular senescence, whereas KAT7 overexpression accelerated cellular senescence.

'We just tested the function of the gene in different kinds of cell types, in the human stem cell, the mesenchymal progenitor cells, in the human liver cell and the mouse liver cell and for all of these cells we didn't see any detectable cellular toxicity,' Qu said. 'And for the mice, we also didn't see any side effect yet.'

Despite this, the method is a long way from being ready for human trials, according to Professor Qu.

'It's still definitely necessary to test the function of KAT7 in other cell types of humans and other organs of mice and in the other pre-clinical animals before we use the strategy for human ageing or other health conditions,' she said.

She hopes to be able to test the method on primates next, but it would require a lot of funding and much more research first.

'In the end, we hope that we can find a way to delay ageing even by a very minor percentage in the future.'

The study is detailed further in Science Translational Medicine.
[January 20, 2021] Lido Expands Client Offering and Team Members, Paving the Way Toward Future Growth

Lido Advisors, LLC (www.lidoadvisors.com) - a full-service, independent, registered investment advisory (RIA) firm - is pleased to report on a year of remarkable growth and industry achievements in 2020. In addition to reaching $7.36bn in assets under management (AUM) reflecting an increase to more than 35% from $5.3bn, Lido closed on major deals and earned high industry recognition. Most important, Lido celebrates the extraordinary people who recently joined the firm and those who have been onboard for years, working tirelessly to provide the industry's highest level of client services and expertise. "In what has been an extremely volatile year, our talented and experienced team rose to the occasion-hitting all the marks in 2020 and often times exceeding them," says Lido Advisors President Jason Ozur. "This was not achieved by luck or chance but rather a very deliberate approach that included hiring outstanding people, adding more client offerings, and closing on major deals, including the acquisition of First Western Financial's Fixed-Income Team and Sterling Bancorp's Quantum Capital Management Wealth Management Business. I congratulate a stellar group of people who are skillfully tenacious and thank our clients and partners."



Lido Advisors' industry recognition and accolades included the following: Named #52 on Barron's Top 100 RIA Firms

Listed among Financial Times (News - Alert) Top 300 Registered Investment Advisors (7 th year)

year) Ranked #1874 on Inc. 5000 list for a 3 rd time

time Ranked #40 on Los Angeles Business Journal's (LABJ) list of Fastest Growing Private Companies

Greg Kushner, Jason Ozur and Alyssa Weinberger named Leaders of Influence, Wealth Managers by LABJ

Evan Levy, Jefferey Westheimer and Greg Kushner named Five-Star Professionals

Michael Karsa named among Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors by Forbes

Jason Lee recognized as Leader in Law by LABJ In 2020 Lido Advisors brought the following diverse group of top talent to its growing team:

Executive Management

Roberto Paredes, EVP, Head of Distribution Investment and Analytics Team

Gina Sanchez, Chief Market Strategist

Andrew Parmet, Senior Vice President Advisors

Hedieh Bolour, Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor

Dani Comart, Vice President

Colin Grover, Vice President

Susan Kim, Vice President

Shawn Moran, Vice President

Marc Ordona, Vice President

Ann-Marie Sandquist, Vice President Estate & Tax

Jenna Glassock, Esq., Trusts and Estates

William Coughlan, Vice President, Tax Specialist "We look forward to another year of growth and expansion," adds Mr. Ozur. "With a solid team in place, we are ready for anything." To learn more, visit: www.lidoadvisors.com About Lido Advisors, LLC: Lido Advisors, LLC, is a nationally recognized wealth advisory firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and with offices across the U.S. It executes innovative and comprehensive investment and wealth strategies designed to grow, protect, and maximize its clients' legacies. Lido Advisors is focused on creating an elegant, effective, and responsive client experience that exemplifies its commitment to excellence. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005631/en/

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Guardians of a Rhode Island moped driver who was sent into a coma with a head injury after he crashed while being followed closely by a Providence police cruiser filed a federal lawsuit on his behalf alleging brutality and excessive force.

Kendra Thibault and Tia Tribble, identified as legal guardians of Jhamal Gonsalves, 24, allege civil rights violations, negligence, assault and other offenses in the lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. It seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Gonsalves was among hundreds of people riding dirt bikes, ATVs and other vehicles, some street-illegal, through the city Oct. 18.

The women argue that Gonsalves was operating his moped safely when police led him to lose control, cross the sidewalk and hit a wall in the Oct. 18 crash. The officer following him turned his cruiser in a negligent and reckless manner onto the sidewalk, hitting a stop sign and Gonsalves, according to the women.

The defendants include the city, Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare, and several other officers.

Pare said that he had no comment and that the department would respond to the lawsuit in court. A spokesperson for Mayor Jorge Elorza said the city does not comment on pending litigation.

Attorney General Peter Neronha said last week that investigators determined the officer following Gonsalves did not directly strike Gonsalves or his moped, as witnesses have said, and no criminal charges were warranted. The officer was suspended for two days for not driving safely and not wearing a seat belt.

Gonsalves remains unconscious in a New Jersey rehabilitation facility, his family said last week.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits
She has walked the runway for some of the biggest brands in fashion, including Victoria's Secret and Givenchy.

And Joan Smalls managed to look just as cool as she arrived at Milan Airport on Wednesday.

The supermodel, 32, cut a casual figure in a tie-dye pink and blue hoodie which she paired with black joggers for added comfort.

Casual chic: Supermodel Joan Smalls, 32, cut a relaxed figure in a tie-dye pink and blue hoodie as she arrived at Milan Airport on Wednesday

She added a touch of biker chic to the off-duty look by wearing patent combat boots as she posed beside her suitcases.

The Puerto Rican bombshell styled her dark tresses in a sleek low bun and wore a black protective mask.

Recently, Joan showcased her iconic lithe figure in a lace corset which she captured on social media.

She rocked the statement piece by La Perla, complete with panelling and sheer fabric that wrapped around her midriff.

Stylish: The Puerto Rican bombshell looked effortlessly cool as she wore a face covering when arriving into the Italian airport

Joan styled her brunette locks in an effortless wave and rocked a timeless red lip, while appropriately captioning the post: 'Classic'.

During summer 2020, the beauty appeared to confirm she is dating Henry Junior Chalhoub - a year after the pair were presumed to be 'just friends'.

The previous August the pair were snapped on a luxury yacht looking incredibly cosy, but it was said their relationship was platonic.

Sizzling: Joan showcased her iconic lithe figure in a lace corset which she captured on social media recently

However, at the end of July, they stepped out in Portofino, Italy, holding hands and enjoying a romantic stroll, seemingly clarifying their romantic status.

The Lebanese businessman, 34, is a consultant based in Luxembourg, with previous residency in the United Arab Emirates.

In 2013, the accomplished model appeared on Forbes magazine's Highest-Paid Model List, she ranked at number eight with more than $3 million annual earnings.

Two years earlier, Joan also became the first Latina to model for the cosmetic company, Estee Lauder.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) is currently reviewing details of the CARES Act Unemployment Extension (H.R. 133) Congress recently passed and President Donald Trump signed into law.

TDLWD will provide claimants additional information regarding the next steps they need to take to receive the modified federal unemployment benefits listed in HR 133 once it has the program rules from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL).



TDLWD must wait on program guidance from the USDOL before it can begin the implementation of H.R. 133. There is no firm timeline as to when states will receive this guidance from the federal government. The state cannot pay benefits until it receives rules for these modified programs. Once that happens, TDLWD will work to implement the changes as quickly as possible to provide these much-needed benefits to eligible claimants in Tennessee.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

Will provide up to an additional 11 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 50 weeks.

Weekly certification will be required.

Claimants will be required to provide documentation of eligibility to qualify for PUA beginning Jan. 31, 2021.

PUA will be available until the week ending March 13, 2021 (no new applications after that date), with an allowance for three additional weeks of benefits for those who have not reached the maximum number of weeks through the week ending April 3, 2021.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

Will provide up to 11 weeks of an additional $300 weekly benefit to eligible claimants.

A claimant must be eligible through a separate unemployment program to receive FPUC.

Once implemented, FPUC will be available to cover weeks of unemployment between Dec. 27, 2020, and the week ending March 13, 2021.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
If anything, her husband taught children how to become better bullies. Other than mentioning it in a speech here or there, she can point to little, if anything, substantial that her Be Best campaign did to address the opioid crisis. And whatever she said to give voice to children in foster care, for the most part, went unheard.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it may exclude elderly people with critical illnesses from the list of people who could receive Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine. This possibility was raised after 23 elderly patients in Norway reportedly died days after receiving the US pharmaceutical giants COVID-19 vaccine.

Possibly, magkakaroon po tayo ng (we could have) guidelines that will limit the use of the vaccine in very old, very sickly or very frail individuals, FDA Director General Rolando Domingo said in a briefing.

Domingo said they have reached out to Pfizer regarding the reported deaths in a nursing home in Norway. Doctors in the European country are looking into the possibility that the adverse reactions to the Pfizer's vaccine "may have contributed to a fatal outcome in some frail patients, CNN reported Tuesday.

Pfizer's vaccine's side-effects are rare and usually mild similar to common vaccine reactions. But Domingo said it is possible that the weak bodies of very old, sick patients could not handle mild adverse reactions from the Pfizer vaccine.

Domingo said once they confirm that Pfizers jab contributed to the deaths of some individuals in Norway, they will revise the conditions for its use in the Philippines. Current guidance from the FDA states that Pfizers vaccine cannot be administered to those under 16 years old and individuals with a history of allergies.

Any time that we get new data  we can always incorporate it in the EUA and revise the conditions for use, he said.

EUA can be revoked any time

The FDA chief also said a manufacturer can lose its emergency use authorization once safety concerns are identified.

Kapag mayroon tayong safety concern na makikita sa ibang bansa or dito rin sa atin, the FDA can revoke the EUA at any time, he said.

[Translation: Once we see safety concern abroad or here, the FDA can revoke the EUA at any time.]

Pfizer is the only manufacturer that has so far received FDA's EUA for its anti-coronavirus shot. The company said use of its vaccine been authorized in over 40 countries, including the United States and the European Union. Its phase 3 clinical trial showed that it was 95% effective in preventing infection after a person received two anti-coronavirus shots.

The EUA application of British firm AstraZeneca, Russian company Gamaleya Research Institute and Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech are pending at the agency.

Domingo said US-based Moderna, India-based Bharat Biotech, and Serum Institute of India have also expressed interest to apply for emergency use of their COVID-19 vaccines in the Philippine
(Natural News) Anyone who still believes that Joe Bidens presidency is going to be one hallmarked by moderate policies, unity, and equal opportunity for all can now officially drop that fantasy.

Because that isnt going to happen.

Not only is his administration going to be filled with corporatists (yes, the left loves corporations, too), people with ties to big tech (so no, censorship of conservatives isnt going to end), big government worshippers, and bona fide racists  like Kristen Clarke.

For years, Clarke, who is black, has been promoting an absurd theory that blacks have brains with large amounts of neuromelanin, which makes them far superior to whites physically, mentally and spiritually (and yes, if a white person had said something like this, you can only imagine the left-wing minds that would explode; that person would be canceled in record time).

And now, she is Bidens pick to run the civil rights division at the Department of Justice. Who expects white people  and Asians, and Hispanics, and any American who isnt black  to be treated fairly? (Related: GOP rep: If we had strongly prosecuted BLM-Antifa rioters, Capitol riot may not have happened.)

In 1994, Clarke wrote a letter to the Harvard Crimson as president of the Black Students Association (we know for certain there is no similar White Students Association) to explain her extremist views on racial science:

Please use the following theories and observations to assist you in your search for truth regarding the genetic differences between Blacks and whites [sic]. One: Dr Richard King reveals that the core of the human brain is the locus coeruleus, which is a structure that is Black, because it contains large amounts of neuro-melanin, which is essential for its operation.

Two: Black infants sit, crawl and walk sooner than whites [sic].

Three: Carol Barnes notes that human mental processes are controlled by melanin  that same chemical which gives Blacks their superior physical and mental abilities.

Four: Some scientists have revealed that most whites [sic] are unable to produce melanin because their pineal glands are often calcified or non-functioning. Pineal calcification rates with Africans are five to 15 percent [sic], Asians 15 to 25 percent [sic] and Europeans 60 to 80 percent [sic]. This is the chemical basis for the cultural differences between blacks and whites [sic].

Five: Melanin endows Blacks with greater mental, physical and spiritual abilities  something which cannot be measured based on Eurocentric standards.

While today Harvard  like every other Ivy League and top-level university  is so woke that drivel wouldnt cause so much as a ripple, but back in 1994 it was too much for the schools administrators. When they pushed back on Clarke, she explained that she didnt necessarily believe in the theories herself, which was a lie, of course; her behavior, comments and actions since bear that out.

While obviously having a problem with whites, shes also got anti-Semitic qualities too, because doesnt every left-wing Democrat these days? A month after she wrote her letter to the Harvard Crimson, she invited infamous Trinidadian anti-Semite Tony Martin to speak on campus. His views on the subject of being Jewish were encapsulated in a self-published manifesto titled, The Jewish Onslaught, in which he discussed the escalating Jewish onslaught against blacks.

Kristen Clarke, Biden's choice to lead the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, has some truly wild theories about racial differences: "Melanin endows blacks with greater mental, physical, and spiritual abilities  something which cannot be measured by Eurocentric standards." pic.twitter.com/l0W4gteGFL  August Takala (@AugustTakala) January 12, 2021

Clarke has since defended her views on programs like Fox News Tucker Carlson, telling him just a few years ago that skin color, not necessarily ability, ought to be a predominant deciding factor when considering people for jobs  like doctors, airline pilots, and others who really need to be very good at what they do.

I advocate for defunding policing operations that have made African Americans more vulnerable to police violence and contributed to mass incarceration, while investing more in programs and policies that address critical community needs, she wrote in a Newsweek column last year as BLM rioters were destroying American cities, WND reported.

Is this really someone who we want deciding who is and is not worthy of enjoying civil rights?

See more reporting like this at RaceWar.news.

Sources include:

WND.com

Chaos.news
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An online tool meant to establish identity is creating a temporary barrier for some New York city residents trying to schedule an appointment for a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine at AdvantageCare Physicians.

AdvantageCare Physicians -- which has three locations on Staten Island in Annadale, Sunnyside, and New Springville -- uses Experian, a credit monitoring company, to establish identity as part of the vaccine appointment-booking process.

A spokesperson for AdvantageCare Physicians told the Advance/SILive.com the healthcare group uses Experian to establish identity, not to credit match, in an effort to prevent identity theft, medical record theft, and prevent bots from scheduling appointments.

We need to make sure that people are who they say they are, the spokesperson said.

The process, though, has the potential to prevent or discourage residents from getting vaccinated -- particularly people who are credit invisible.

The spokesperson said they have not received any complaints about the registration process.

PROBLEM FOR NON-ESTABLISHED PATIENTS

Individuals who are not established patients of AdvantageCare Physicians are asked to create an online profile to make an appointment.

After filling out basic information  name, address, and telephone number  the Advance/SILive.com received a message that said Experian was unable to verify our identity because there wasnt enough credit history.

(Screenshot)

Users are then asked a series of questions to further attempt to establish their identity. If unsuccessful, users are asked to validate their identity by either calling the AdvantageCare HelpDesk or waiting up to three business days to receive an activation code after a human is able to establish identity.

The spokesperson said identity can be established that day on the phone and rarely takes three business days.

Like every other medical practice weve seen an influx because of volume, so this is another reason why we do this to make sure that bots dont take down the whole portal, the spokesperson said, adding AdvantageCare Physicians has opened its vaccination appointments to non-patients.

CREDIT INVISIBILITY DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS BLACK, BROWN PEOPLE

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, nearly one in 10 adults -- or approximately 26 million Americans -- are credit invisible.

Additionally, consumers who are Black, Hispanic, or living in low-income neighborhoods are more likely to have trouble accessing credit due to an unscorable credit record or no record at all.

Credit invisibility is also higher in adults who have less access to technology and the internet, the report found.

When asked about the appointment process potentially furthering the digital divide and preventing access to vaccinations, the spokesperson said that preventing a barrier to care is absolutely not who AdvantageCare Physicians is, adding the healthcare system, which is owned by Emblem Health, has many locations in low-income areas.

WILL THERE BE ENOUGH VACCINES?

City residents have also complained about the city and states appointment-making processes.

Residents have said the multiple websites  the city Department of Health (DOH), Health + Hospitals, and private websites such as physicians offices  complicates the process of making an appointment.

The websites do not feed into one central data bank and users must create individual accounts for each website in order to schedule an appointment.

Although appointments on Staten Island and across the city are filling up rapidly, many residents may find themselves rescheduling their appointments.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday that the city has only 92,000 doses of the COVID-vaccine to last for seven days and without another supply, it will run out of vaccines before Thursday and be forced to cancel thousands of appointments citywide.

We will hit zero by Friday. We will have literally nothing left to give. If we dont get a new supply of vaccines we will have to cancel appointments and no longer give shots after Thursday for the remainder of the week at a lot of our sites, de Blasio said.

The federal government is shipping 50,000 less doses to the state going forward, further shortening the citys allotment, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said last week.

Cuomo and de Blasio have repeatedly called on the federal government, as well as Pfizer and Moderna, to increase to vaccine shipments to meet the demand.

FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER.
Samsung has released on of the toughest Galaxy Tab on its lineup that has a "military-grade" rating for its toughness and rugged design, featuring a waterproof body and drop protection that is available to the public. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 was initially unveiled last September 2020, but only sees a release date four months after.

The South Korean consumer electronics company, Samsung, was known to release several variants among its lineup to be rugged and featuring military-grade ratings, that can be used to different industries and even home. The tablet is practical for manufacturing industries, retail, home (where kids mostly throw gadgets), and the military itself.

The features of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is for its touchscreen to work despite wearing gloves, and cater to the different needs of a tablet in an active workplace such as factories. Samsung initially released military-grade versions of their smartphones and tablets in the past years, becoming a hit as one of the toughest offers on gadgets until now.

Read Also: Nvidia RTX 3060 Pre-Order Now Available: Price, Specs, and Everything You Need to Know!

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3: Military-Grade Rating for Rugged Conditions

According to The Verge, Samsung offers the 8-inch tablet to have an MIL-STD-810 military-grade standard rating, which is a rare specification and rating given to a gadget for commercial distribution. The new tablet aims to cater to specialized activities that involves hard labor jobs, adventurers, and home use that often beats up the use of gadgets.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 offers an opportunity and option for consumers to equip themselves a durable gadget that can be used anywhere and still feature the best offers of technology. Most tech releases nowadays are presenting the elegant body that is also fragile because of its glass finishes and designs.

The Active 3 tablet is built for 23 environmental conditions which Samsung has tested and said to pass with flying colors.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3: Specs and Features

According to Samsung, the best feature that the new tablet brings is its durable and tough design, that is ready for most rugged adventures. The Galaxy Tab Active 3 brings forth some of the top protection for gadgets that are present, starting with the IP68 Water and Dust-resistance rating, and a body + case design that can withstand a drop of up to 1.5 meters.

The rugged tablet has two programmable physical buttons for ease of use, along with a 5-megapixel front facing camera, and a 13-megapixel rear camera. It also features a 5,050mAh removable battery, which is a fairly large one for the tablet to last the entire day.

It also has 4G LTE capabilities for its cellular network variant, Android 11 ready, and a 64 GB or 128 GB choice with expandable memory via a microSD card slot. An S Pen would also be included with the tablet, but it would not be attachable to the body, rather its case that comes with the package.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3: Price, How to Order, Release Date

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3 is now available in Samsung's physical, retail, and online stores. The WiFi version of the tablet with 64GB starts at $489.99, while its WiFi + LTE version with 64GB starts at $589.99.

Related Article: Samsung S21 Ultra 108MP Image Sensor Addresses S20 Major Camera Issues-Autofocus, Low Light Images, and MORE!

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Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
For the second year in a row, Karnataka has bagged the top rank in Niti Aayog's Innovation Index.

In the second Innovation Index released by Niti Aayog, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala also made it to the top five, while Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar were ranked at the bottom.

Demonstrating the Governments continued commitment towards transforming the country into an innovation-driven economy, I joined my colleagues in the launch of the #IndiaInnovationIndex2020. This is a major step in the efficient evaluation of the nation's #innovation ecosystem. pic.twitter.com/t3mQ4sdubS  Rajiv Kumar  (@RajivKumar1) January 20, 2021

Among Union Territories, Delhi topped the chart, while in the North-Eastern and Hill States category Himachal Pradesh occupied the top spot.

"Amongst major states, the average innovation score is 25.35. Karnataka tops at 42.5, which is attributable to its strong number of venture capital deals, registered GIs (Geographical Indications) and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) exports. Karnataka's high FDI inflow has also enhanced the innovation capabilities of the state," the India Innovation Index 2020 said.

Augmenting innovation has been at the forefront of our @makeinindia & #AatmaNirbharBharat resolve. By proving a thrust on innovation,  can scale up manufacturing & scale up export competitiveness: @amitabhk87 at the launch of #IndiaInnovationIndex2020https://t.co/7KZHalL88j pic.twitter.com/3Qod4V0L3G  NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) January 20, 2021

Maharashtra was ranked second with an innovation score of 38, while Bihar finished last at 14.5.

"The case for the southern states as the top performers has also become stronger as four of them occupy the top-five spots within the major states," it added.

Niti Aayog

According to the index, the North-Eastern and Hill states achieved an average innovation score of 17.89, with Himachal Pradesh as the best performer with a score of 25, followed by Manipur (22.77) and Sikkim (22.28), respectively.

"With 31.9 per cent of its total employment generated being knowledge-intensive, Himachal Pradesh benefits from a high number of knowledge workers," it said.

The Index noted that the innovation score of Union Territories and city states averages at 26.01. Delhi was the best performer among all groups.

Among UTs, after Delhi, "Chandigarh follows second with a score of 38.57, whereas Lakshadweep and Jammu and Kashmir occupy the last two positions in the group respectively," it said.

Niti Aayog

The India Innovation Index 2020, ranks the states and union territories based on their relative performance of supporting innovation, and aims to empower them to improve their innovation policies by highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.

The states and union territories have been divided into 17 'major states', 10 'North-Eastern and hill states', and 9 'city states and Union Territories', for effectively comparing their performance.

Niti Aayog

Overall, the framework of India Innovation Index 2020, consists of 36 indicators, which include hard data (32 indicators) and four composite indicators.
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Honor was expected to announce its new V40 5G flagship on January 18, but the announcement date was pushed back to January 22. The company claimed that it had venue scheduling and equipment issues for as cause of the delay, but some speculation leads to believe that Honor could have postponed the event so it could ship the devices with Google Play Services out of the box. This is according to insiders that told Lenta RU.

Since the Huawei US ban from May of 2019, the phone maker would not be allowed to package Google Play Services with the new device, which hurt its sales in Western markets. This also applied to Honor smartphones since the brand was owned by Huawei. Huawei sold off the Honor brand and assets and the newly formed company would no longer be held under the sanctions against Huawei.

The Honor V40 was in the pipeline during the sale of the smartphone brand, so it appears that in the last couple of months, Honor was able to secure a license to ship the newest 5G smartphone with Google Play Services - allegedly, of course.

The V40 will be announced in China on January 22 with Western market availability happening some time after that where it will be known as the Honor V40 View. Although the event was postponed, Honor promised the phone would become available for sale in China on the 22nd. The phone is expected to arrive with a 6.72-inch OLED screen running the 120Hz refresh rate. The Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ chipset will be the brains of all operation.

The quad-camera will consist of a 50MP main camera sensor and the phone will support 66W fast charging by wire, and 55W wireless charging.

If Honor does indeed bring back Google Play Services, it still leaves more questions than answers. Will the Honor brand still use Magic UI (based on EMUI and pre-frameworked for Harmony OS)? Will existing Honor phones be able to get Google Play Services now? It will be interesting to see Honor as a valid option once again in markets where Realme, Redmi, and POCO have become comfortable without Honor and Huawei dominating sales.

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This is the moment a man is grabbed by police and pepper sprayed in the face during an altercation about 'breaking lockdown'.

The incident, which took place in Ashford, Kent, allegedly began after officers stopped the man on his way home from a food shop because he had multiple occupants in his car.

During the exchange, officers can be heard threatening to arrest him on suspicion of stealing the vehicle.

The disturbing footage was shared online last Wednesday by Callum Clements, who was among those pulled over by police.

Callum was fined 200 for being in breach of lockdown restrictions as he was with more than one household.

The 31-year-old man in the video was arrested but due to his aggressive behaviour and failure to comply with officers' requests, confirmed Kent Police.

The incident comes amid a nationwide police clampdown on people flouting lockdown restrictions, which has resulted in a number of traffic stops to question if people have broken the rules

Footage shows police officers grapple with a man and subdue him with pepper spray after stopping the vehicle 'because there were multiple occupants in the car'

People cannot currently leave home without 'good reason' and members of different households are banned from mixing together.

Government guidance also says people should not travel outside their local area.

Fines start at 200 and can be doubled up to 6,400 for repeat offenders.

There have been dozens of incidents where police have stopped people in cars to question their reasons for travelling.

In a separate incident caught on film police stopped a packed car during a 160 mile lockdown road trip - and discovered a man travelling in the boot.

In Wednesday's incident, Callum can be heard on the footage giving his details to one of the police officers while another questions the driver of the vehicle.

The two exchange in a heated argument with the officer asking the unknown man: 'Have you stolen it?'

Offended, Callum's friend retorts: 'You can't just ask me that, because you are now accusing me of driving a stolen vehicle.'

During the exchange on film, officers can be heard threatening to arrest the man on suspicion of stealing the vehicle

The other officer who was taking Callum's details can be heard saying: 'At the moment mate we don't know who you are do we.'

Standing his ground, the man says: 'It is mine, run the plate and you'll find out. You can't arrest me unless I have committed a crime or broke the law yeah? I have done none of the above.

'You are just accusing me of driving a stolen car.'

The officer who was engaging with the man then steps forward to grab his hands in an attempt to cuff him.

The man stands back and the other officer says: 'We don't know whose car it is and we don't know who you are. I am going to nick you on suspicion of theft of that car.

The man comes back with: 'Suspicion? You are going to nick me on suspicion?'

The officers then both grab hold of the man who again says: 'I have not committed a crime, can you let go please. There's no need for this, can you just run the plate and be done with it.'

Callum then attempts to intervene, but is pushed away. His friend manages to escape the clutches of the officers and backs away from the pair and yells in pain, claiming the officer 'nipped' him.

Suddenly, an officer then grabs him and appears to tackle him to the ground after using his pepper spray.

When the man insists the car is not stolen the situation escalates and police lunge for him. Disturbing footage of the incident was shared online last Wednesday by Callum Clements, who was among those pulled over by police

The officers pin him down with their knees as they urge Callum to get away.

As the clip ends, his friend can be heard wailing in agony as Callum exclaims: 'You guys are police brutality.'

Callum then decided to share the footage on Facebook, saying: 'Police are brutal for no reason. Just going to Sainsbury's to buy stuff for our household.'

Met Police chief Cressida Dick says public should report 'persistent' flouters for having house parties and breaking rules Britain's most senior police officer has urged the public to report 'persistent' Covid rule flouters to police. Met Police chief Dame Cressida Dick revealed police in London are receiving 'hundreds of calls a day' from concerned people reporting their neighbours for flouting lockdown restrictions. She said there is a 'small minority' of people failing to comply with the national lockdown with people still holding house parties, and keeping restaurants, pubs and cafes open despite the huge number of daily Covid cases and deaths. Speaking on an LBC radio phone-in, Dame Cressida said: 'The last thing I'm going to say on national radio is everyone should be shopping everybody. I don't think that. 'What I do think is, if you do have concerns that somebody is persistently not complying with the restrictions, with the regulations, then, yeah, you should talk to us. 'If you feel comfortable to do so, then talk to us.' Advertisement

Speaking today, he said: 'The police approached because they saw us driving with three people in the car.

'We went shopping me, my friend and my other friend, for a disabled woman all from the same estate.'

He added: 'I was fined 200 for being with more than one household and he was not arrested for anything.

'They wouldn't let me get him any milk or water to stop the burning.'

A spokesperson for Kent Police told Mail Online: 'Officers on patrol in Ashford stopped a car in Sotherton, Willesborough at 3.35pm on Wednesday 13 January 2021, after suspecting that the vehicle's four occupants were breaching Government rules designed to stop the spread of Covid-19.

'A 31-year-old man was arrested but due to his aggressive behaviour and failure to comply with officers' requests, PAVA spray was used during his detention.

'Following concerns raised on social media regarding the officers handling of the arrest and the suggestion the suspect was choked in some way, a review of the officers body worn video from the incident has taken place and has established no issues concerning the conduct of the officers or any evidence of choking of any kind.

'Furthermore, no formal complaints against the attending officers have been received.'

It comes amid a rash of other traffic stops which have seen people fined for breaching lockdown restrictions.

In another incident caught on film, a vehicle was seized and the passengers fined after police stopped a packed car during a 160 mile lockdown road trip - and discovered a man travelling in the boot.

Officers also arrested one of the men after it was discovered he was wanted for alleged indecent exposure.

The officers made the odd traffic stop in Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, after finding the car was not taxed and did not have an MOT.

Thehe six passengers in the vehicle did not have a valid reason for being 160 miles from home so officers handed them each a fine for breaching lockdown.

The bizzare incident was caught on camera, with footage showing the moment the man climbs out of the cluttered boot.

An officer can first be heard asking one of the car passengers: 'What is in the back here, owt or nowt?'

Police officers stopped the car in Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, after finding the car was not taxed and did not have an MOT

After speaking to the five passengers they discovered another man travelling in the car's boot

The man replies 'Nothing', before the officer goes to open the boot. He can be seen struggling with the latch before opening the back door to find the sixth passenger hiding inside.

The cop is clearly surprised to find the man and simply says, 'oh hello', before calmly asking him to 'jump out' onto the snow covered road.

The unusual traffic stop comes amid a nationwide crackdown on lockdown rule flouters.

Britain's most senior police officer said there is still a 'small minority' of people flouting lockdown restrictions.

Met Police Chief, Dame Cressida Dick, encouraged the public to report 'persistent' rule breakers to police.

She said yesterday: 'If you do have concerns that somebody is persistently not complying with the restrictions, with the regulations, then you should talk to [police].'

The national clampdown comes amid rising Covid cases with the UK yesterday recording its deadliest day of the pandemic so far.

The bizzare incident was caught on camera, with footage showing the moment the man climbs out of the cluttered boot

Thehe six passengers in the vehicle did not have a valid reason for being 160 miles from home so officers handed them each a fine for breaching lockdown

The incident in Leeming Bar near Northallerton happened when police noticed that the vehicle did not have MOT or tax.

When the six travellers were questioned none of them had a valid reason to be 160 miles away from their homes during lockdown.

All the men were given fixed penalty notices for breaching Covid regulations and the vehicle was seized.

Further checks revealed one of the men was wanted over an alleged indecent exposure and failure to attend court so he was arrested at the scene.

Police reminded everybody to stay at home and if your travel is necessary, please do not travel in the boot.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: 'After speaking to the five men in the car, the officer checks the vehicle over and finds a sixth man laying in the boot!

'After calmly asking him to jump out, none of the men could really explain why there were six of them in a car 160 miles from home during lockdown.

'So all six were given fixed penalty notices for breaking covid regulations.'

They added: 'Thank you to everyone who continues to stay home, stay local, stay safe.

'And if your journey is essential, please travel carefully and not in the boot.'
Scott Morrison has refused to criticise Donald Trump on his final day as U.S. President, saying the Capitol riot was a continuation of political violence spearheaded by Black Lives Matter.

The Prime Minister declined to directly criticise Mr Trump for the Washington riot which caused five deaths, despite being impeached by Congress over claims he incited the protest ahead of lawmakers certifying the presidential election result.

'It has been very, very disturbing what we've seen, particularly around Capitol Hill, but it's been a year full of violence in many ways last year in the United States,' Mr Morrison told Sydney radio 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley on Wednesday.

Scroll down for audio

Scott Morrison has controversially likened Washington's deadly Capitol Hill riots (pictured) to the Black Lives Matter demonstrations - just like his embattled deputy

Mr Morrison's comments echoed those of Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack who also drew parallels between the Capitol Hill riots and the violence of the BLM movement, which arose after the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer in May 2020.

Mr Morrison had a message for those slamming him for not directly criticising the outgoing Republican president, who leaves office on Thursday morning, Australian time. Scott Morrison is pictured with Donald Trump in Washington in September 2019

'It is unfortunate that we have seen the events at Capitol Hill, that we've seen in recent days  similar to those race riots that we saw around the country last year,' Mr McCormack said.

Mr Morrison had a message for those slamming him for not directly criticising the outgoing Republican president, who leaves office on Thursday morning, Australian time.

'It's the most important relationship we have. And if people want to have a crack at me because I worked with the President of the United States, that reflects more on them than me,' he said.

In a foreign policy speech on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese suggested Mr Morrison was reluctant to criticise Mr Trump because he didn't want to offend right-wing Coalition MPs who have peddled the unproven theory the US election was stolen by President-elect Joe Biden, a Democrat.

'Recently, unlike most world leaders, Scott Morrison refused to disavow President Trump's incitement of the storming of the Capitol,' Mr Albanese said.

The BLM movement was sparked by the May death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer. Pictured is a New York demonstration in September

'He remains afraid of the far-right extremist fringe dwellers who make up the bedrock of his personal support  and who he cultivates through the avatars of Trumpists and conspiracy theorists like Craig Kelly and George Christensen.'

Mr Albanese, from Labor's left faction, has mischaracterised Mr Morrison's support base within the Liberal Party.

Mr Morrison became prime minister in August 2018 with the support of moderate and centre-right Liberal MPs who had supported his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull.

More right-wing MPs, including Mr Kelly, openly supported Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in the party room ballot.

Mr Christensen is a Nationals MP and therefore didn't have a say in the Liberal Party leadership more than two years ago.

Mr Morrison's defence of his reluctance to criticise Mr Trump was also an apparent reference to a tweet by the Labor Party on January 7 which showed a photo of Mr Morrison meeting President Trump with the caption: 'It's the company you keep.'

Joel Fitzgibbon, who late last year quit the Labor frontbench, condemned his own party's social media page.

'I'm a proud member of the Labor Party and remain committed to its ideals and objectives but I do want to be associated with this tweet,' he said.
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Laws designed to end the legal witch-hunt of British troops will not protect them, a former director of Special Forces warned last night.

Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lambs comments came ahead of a debate in the House of Lords today on the Overseas Operations Bill, which ministers claim will protect troops from historic prosecution.

It comes after dozens of soldiers were hounded over their actions in the Iraq and Afghan wars.

In a foreword to a Policy Exchange report, Lt Gen Lamb said the bill does nothing to address the issue of repeat investigations and does little to address the application of human rights or negligence law to the battlefield.

Former director of Special Forces Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb (left, speaking to General Sir Mike Jackson in in Basrah, Iraq) has said the Overseas Operations Bill designed to end the legal witch-hunt of British troops will not protect them

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer said the bill will provide greater, not less, protection.

The Policy Exchange report, by Prof Richard Ekins and John Larkin QC, the former Attorney General for Northern Ireland, recommends the introduction of a rule forbidding further investigations after a decision not to prosecute has been made unless cogent new evidence has arisen.

It also suggested obtaining an exemption from the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to overseas operations and amending the Human Rights Act 1998 to limit sharply its extraterritorial application.

The new Bill aims to protect troops from historic prosecutions and comes after dozens of soldiers were hounded over their actions during the Iraq and Afghan wars.

But it has already come under strong criticism from MPs on all sides of the House.

John Healey, Labours shadow defence secretary, has previously described the Bill as dishonest and damaging, and argued it was not in the best interests of troops.

Tory MPs including former cabinet minister David Davis, an ex-member of the territorial SAS, have also criticised it.

Mr Davis said last year that the Bill would make it almost impossible to bring torture claims to court and also stop the sort of civil claims that exposed issues such as the poorly protected Snatch Land Rover in Iraq.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer (pictured) says the bill will provide greater, not less, protection to troops

The Bill introduces a triple lock designed to stop veterans being relentlessly hounded years after incidents overseas.

It includes a statutory presumption against prosecution that will make it exceptional for prosecutions once five years has elapsed after an alleged incident.

It also states the Attorney General must give consent before a prosecution can go ahead.

In addition, prosecutors must give particular weight to certain matters in reaching decisions in such cases.
Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard were assigned to the Kadima at Luzerne nursing home in Drums to assist in a COVID-19 situation.

Army Lt. Col. Keith Hickox, public affairs officer at Fort Indiantown Gap, confirmed that the Guard arrived Sunday and were expected to stay until Friday.

The assisting team of 14 Guard members contains both medical and general purpose personnel, Hickox said.

He noted that the staff assistance mission will help replace a variety of Kadima staff members who are not available due to COVID-19 quarantines or other reasons.

Our medical personnel are able to help with non-acute care, such as taking vital signs of residents, and our general purpose personnel can assist with many daily operations such as delivering meals or cleaning the facility, Hickox explained.

A message for Kadimas nursing home administrator was not immediately returned to the Standard-Speaker.

According to information from the Department of Health, between one and four residents and one and four staff members have positive COVID test results. The department doesnt make specific numbers available until the count reaches five or more. Its latest online data noted that no deaths have been attributed to the virus there.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which also requires nursing homes to report data, have no information on Kadima. CMS fined the Drums facility $650 in December for failing to report the data.

Hickox noted that the Guard has assisted nearly 100 long-term care facilities across the state with nearly 40 staff assistance missions like the one ongoing at Kadima.

In mid-November, National Guard soldiers and airmen were assigned to Ridgeview Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Shenandoah Heights. A month earlier, they were stationed at the Shenandoah Senior Living Community.

The connection between the National Guard and the affected facilities is not a direct one but comes through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the state Department of Health, Hickox said.

Hickox said many wrongly assume the Guard is called in to assist when case numbers surge, but in most instances it has to do with staffing issues at the facility.
A group of Houstonians brought their calls for Ted Cruz's resignation to the senator's doorstep.

The "pallbearers for Cruz," a self-described group of anarchists unaffiliated with any specific organization, carried three coffins to Cruz's Houston home before placing them on the lawn.

BEFORE INAUGURATION DAY: Abbott slams 'offensive' increased vetting of National Guardsmen

According to a statement, each coffin respectively represented those that died during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Cruz's career, and the Texas senator's call to reject electoral votes based on President Donald Trump's repeated disproven claims of widespread election fraud, which the group said has damaged American democracy.

Paul Beyer

"Ted Cruz was elected to office as a 'constitutional conservative' and has broken his oath to defend the constitution to pander to his base," the group said in a statement. "His lies have cost American lives. It is time for Ted Cruz to retire and allow someone who will defend the constitution to represent the State of Texas. Today, Ted Cruz should resign."

Cruz has faced widespread calls for his resignation since Jan. 6, when a pro-Trump mob stormed and breached the U.S. Capitol, resulting in the deaths of five people and delaying the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Cruz was one of the most vocal challengers of certifying the results and ultimately voted to object to Arizona and Pennsylvania's vote counts after the riot.

Several have said that Cruz's vocal dissent to the election results spurred the mob. New Yorker reporter Luke Mogelson captured on video one rioter rifling through a lawmaker's papers in the Senate chamber, saying, "I think Cruz would want us to do this, I think were good."

Cruz has maintained he bears no responsibility for the attack on the Capitol and condemned the violence.

What I was doing and what the other senators were doing is what we were elected to do, which is debating matters of great import in the chamber of the United States Senate," Cruz told KHOU. "I joined with 11 other Senators and we proposed to the Senate that Congress should appoint an electoral commission.
Goldman Sachs office in New York / EPA-Yonhap



Korea might extend temporary short-selling ban for another three months



By Park Jae-hyuk



Goldman Sachs appears to have suffered more from the temporary ban on short-selling on the Seoul bourse than two other top-tier global investment banks  JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley, according to industry officials, Wednesday.



Short-selling refers to a method in which an investor sells borrowed shares in the belief that the price will fall and they will be able to buy the shares back at a discount, keeping the difference and returning the borrowed shares.



Before the financial authorities temporarily prohibited the practice last March to counter the stock market plunge in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Goldman Sachs was one of the foreign brokerage houses that had most frequently used short-selling on the KOSPI and Kosdaq markets, along with Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse, according to data from the Korea Exchange.



The temporary measure apparently took away Goldman Sachs Seoul branch's opportunity of raking in handsome profits in commissions from short-selling.



"After the enforcement of the temporary ban, the volume of short-selling through Goldman Sachs has declined sharply," a high-ranking foreign bank executive familiar with the issue said on condition of anonymity. "This could affect the revenue of its Seoul branch."



JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse appear to have managed to cover their losses from the short-selling ban last year by actively serving as advisers and underwriters for large acquisition deals and initial public offerings (IPOs) in the Korean market.



Data given by the Financial Supervisory Service to Rep. Kim Byung-wook of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea showed the cumulative incomes of the local branches of JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse during the first three quarters of 2020 outstripped their annual incomes for the previous year.



JPMorgan earned 81 billion won ($73 million) here in the first three quarters, up from 53 billion won during all of 2019. Morgan Stanley's net income during the first three quarters was 53.9 billion won, up from 37.6 billion won; while Credit Suisse posted 72.4 billion won, up from 68.1 billion won.



In contrast, Goldman Sachs, which earned 38.8 billion won in 2019, achieved 29.6 billion won in net profit during the first three quarters of 2020. Mid-tier Merrill Lynch, with a higher reliance on the retail sector, earned 16.6 billion won, far lower than the previous year's annual income of 41.8 billion won.



Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the impact of the short-selling ban on its earnings.



The government and the ruling party reportedly began discussions over extending the ban for another three months, raising the possibility that the U.S. investment bank could continue to see profits decline in Korea.



The government extended the temporary ban for another six months last September.



The Financial Services Commission (FSC) hinted at lifting the ban starting in March this year, despite sharp criticism from retail investors. But the regulator took a step back recently and said nothing has been decided yet.



Industry officials said the further extension of the short-selling ban and the recent revision of a law that could lead to the imprisonment of illegal short-sellers could trigger an exodus of foreign investors, most of whom are customers of foreign brokerages, including Goldman Sachs.



According to the FSC, some foreign investors complained about the strict measures during a Financial Development Council meeting earlier this week, in which Goldman Sachs' in-house lawyer Kim Seong-eun participated as an expert from the private sector.


Veteran service organizations, or VSOs, are more than cheap beer and pieces of flair on a hat. They're the transitioning veteran's greatest resources.

Benefits of membership are extensive, with vets helping each other with family issues, health care issues and -- most importantly for those getting out of the service -- employment and education issues.

While the groups may seem kind of antiquated by today's standards, each one is worth your investment in time and money. These are the people who banded together to lobby for improved veterans benefits -- and to keep them.

And because they helped create and maintain the laws that provide separating veterans with job training, education, home loans and other valuable resources, they are also the ones best-equipped to navigate you through getting those benefits.

Veterans in transition or planning on separation have a lot on their plates, and the biggest problem is usually finding that all-important first job or deciding how to pay for school.

Among the many, many other legacies the veterans who came before us left behind, the VSOs should be what we all know and trust. One of the oldest and most effective is the American Legion, which has been at the veterans benefits game for more than a century.

The Legion boasts many legislative achievements for vets. Chief among them: It is the reason there's a Department of Veterans Affairs in the federal government in the first place. Aside from Military.com's Veteran Jobs website, it's probably one of the first stops any separating veteran should make.

Not only will the Legion help you navigate filing a VA disability claim, its 55 departments -- one in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines -- regularly hold job fairs and career opportunities open to all veterans and military members. Events for spouses are also posted often, and you can find it all on the Legion's education portal.

For those not going right into the civilian workforce but opting to further their education, the American Legion is still a good starting point.

On the Legion's education portal, separating vets can find benefits at both the federal and state level for veteran education, along with third-party nonprofits that can help ease the transition into school life.

For those who know where they're going and what they want to study, the Legion also offers help navigating Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, finding the schools that best serve veterans and more.

If all of this seems overwhelming to someone getting out of the military, the Legion even offers direct, personal help from a service officer whose sole job is getting veterans out of the military and into a classroom.

In many cases, you don't even need to be a member of the American Legion; it's just something the Legion does. But separating veterans who get help might show their appreciation by joining -- it was strength in numbers that secured these benefits in the first place.

On top of all that, you get cheap beer and a cool hat at your local Legion post.

-- To contact Blake Stilwell or make fun of his American Legion hat, email him at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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WASHINGTON  On Tuesday, Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense nominee, took another step toward becoming the first Black U.S. Secretary of Defense. But his path to confirmation by Congress is a bumpy one, facing opposition from Republicans and some Democrats as well.

Austin, 67, served four decades in the military, rising up through the ranks of the U.S. Army to head U.S. Central Command, which overseas strategy and operations in the Middle East and Central and South Asia.

He needs waivers from both chambers of Congress to assume the role because he retired from the military less than seven years ago, in 2016. The head of the Department of the Defense is traditionally a non-uniformed civilian; the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the nations highest ranking military official.

The Connecticut congressional delegation is split over whether to back a waiver for Austin, although all believe him to be highly qualified for the job. Some delegation members will support a waiver for Austin, although four years ago they voted against the same waiver for President Donald Trumps first secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, an esteemed Marine general.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he will vote against a congressional waiver, calling it a matter of principle.

The waiver puts many in Congress in a bind. Some feel strongly about civilian control of the Pentagon, but they like Austin and dont want to oppose a waiver for the first Black nominee as its chief. Some Republicans will support a waiver for Austin, but may not support his confirmation in the Senate  a step that would follow the waivers.

Blumenthal had a one-on-one meeting with Austin last week. He said he likes and supports Austin, but believes firmly in following the law that one must leave the military seven years prior to becoming head of the Pentagon.

Civilian control of the military is a bedrock constitutional principal that we need to uphold strongly, Blumenthal said in an interview, noting that he also opposed a waiver for Mattis.

Among other Democrats, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a veteran who lost her legs in combat in Iraq, will also vote against a waiver, she told the Washington Post.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., also voted against a waiver for Mattis in January 2017, when Trump first took office. Murphy said Monday he would support a waiver for Austin, however, because he thought there was much less reason to be fearful of a recently retired general running DoD under Biden.

The immediacy of the threat to our country requires DoD to have leadership in place without delay, Murphy wrote on Twitter. A general at DoD was especially worrying under Trump. Trump had zero foreign policy experience, a penchant to glorify violence, a total neophyte Secretary of State, and an unstable, war mongering former general as [director of the national security agency]... All of this is different under Biden.

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a congressional waiver for Austin on Thursday, before the Senate votes.

In 2017, all of Connecticuts Democratic House members voted against a waiver for Mattis.

Reps. John Larson, D-1, and Rosa DeLauro, D-3, will support a waiver for Austin, their staff said Tuesday. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4, is undecided, his spokesman said. Other members of the delegation did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Speaking to the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, Austin vowed to empower civilian leaders in the DoD and submit to oversight from the Congress. He promised to work hand-in-glove with State Department to maintain foreign relations, to ensure DoD is doing everything it can to help distribute COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. and to root out sexual abusers, racists and extremists from the military. He said he would deter war and protect national security.

While I did not seek this job, I consider it an honor, Austin said.

Blumenthal, who questioned Austin during the hearing, pressed Austin to investigate white supremacy in the military, respond to Russian cyber attacks and address contamination of soil and water on military bases.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
COVID potion in Sri Lanka puts a minister, who publicly drank it, in the hospital. This made a self-styled Sri Lankan holy man's supposed healing potion turn sour.

Last month, thousands defied public gathering restrictions to swamp a village in central Sri Lanka to get Dhammika Bandara's COVID potion.

"Herbal remedies are widely available in Sri Lanka, and at least 15,000 people turned up at the man's home over four days of sales in December, a local official said," the report explained.

Piyal Nishantha de Silva, Minister of Women and Child Welfare, was among many politicians who ingested the concoction and drank the COVID potion. Still, on Tuesday, parliamentary officials said he had tested positive for coronavirus since then and had taken it to a treatment center.

Despite taking the COVID potion, the family members of another politician in Sri Lanka, who hailed from Bandara's village, were also infected. The pro-government media gave Bandara widespread attention, alleging that Kali, a Hindu goddess of death and destruction, had revealed the formula to him.

Honey, nutmeg, coriander, and other herbs were used in the COVID potion and were sold for the equivalent of $13 a bottle.

Over four days of sales in December, at least 15,000 people turned up at the man's place, a local official said. The holy businessman, local media reported, had also sold his miracle cure to businesses and temples.

He had given the lawmakers and ministers a sample, too. According to the DPA news agency, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi also took the potion, even though her ministry had not approved it as a medication. The opposition legislators blamed her for spreading false hope and urging people to en masse the holy man.

The government has been scrambling to distance itself from Bandara, whose preparation was accepted by the official indigenous medicine unit as a food supplement.

"Although some parliamentarians took it, the government does not endorse it," said Keheliya Rambukwella, minister of mass media.

With the number of cases and deaths going from 3,300 and 13 in early October to 53,750 infections and 270 dead now, Sri Lanka is in the grip of a coronavirus surge.

The Sri Lanka government has nonetheless made an effort to assist its people in the scientific development, COVID-19 Emergency Response. Health Systems Preparedness Project supports the government's 'pandemic management strategy of test, track, isolate and treat 'by providing a steady supply of critical medical necessities, testing kits, and personal protective equipment (PPE), supporting touch monitoring efforts, and maintaining 32 quarantine centers. It is also working to improve the health system so that health crises can be handled correctly in the future.

READ MORE: Man With Unauthorized Inauguration Credentials and Loaded Handgun Arrested by US Capitol Police

Activities to improve the National Emergency Operation Unit and its island-wide network were also initiated. Selected hospitals are now being established as medical centers for present and future pandemic situations for better preparedness, and the current laboratory infrastructure is being reinforced. The project also aims to establish infection prevention and surveillance systems for the country and facilitates epidemiological research on transmission dynamics and community response and actions. This research will underpin long-term pandemic management plans and strategies.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Using single cell genomics to help children who need bone marrow transplants

Scott Furlan, pediatric oncologist

Dr. Scott Furlan, a pediatric oncologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, believes he was drawn to bone marrow transplantation because of the sheer complexity of the challenge. In pediatric transplant, each patient has a dizzying array of complex problems, each of which often has multiple solutions Furlan said. To treat his young cancer patients, he has to sort through raft of possibilities and options, while helping parents navigate the frightful choices that lie ahead of them. In pediatrics, we have the opportunity to develop long-lasting relationships and extraordinary connections with patients and families. I still talk with many patients and their parents a decade later, Furlan said. His journey to pediatric medicine spanned the globe. He was born in New Zealand, his mothers home country, where his American father went to university. When his father rejoined the U.S. Navy as a submarine training officer, Furlan went to high school in Bremerton, Wash., a ferry ride from Seattle. Furlans medical and scientific training took him to New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Dallas before he returned to his home in the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Scott Furlan Robert Hood / Fred Hutch

As a physician scientist at Seattle Childrens Research Institute, he became engaged in a growing network of partnerships with Fred Hutch immunologists and computational biologists. Just before COVID-19 upended research throughout the country, he accepted a post as assistant professor in the Hutchs Clinical Research Division, and he was among the first assigned to set up a lab in the historic, Steam Plant building that opened in October 2020.

There, he is keen to work in the collaborative, cross-disciplinary culture with both bench scientists carrying out molecular biology experiments and computational biologist who seek patterns in the mountains of data generated from patient care and laboratory studies alike. I am drawn to complexity. Thats why I like genetic data and systems biology. Furlan said. His own special passion is single-cell genomics  the use of sophisticated devices for separating specimens into units of individual cells and subjecting these single cells to high-throughput genetic sequencing to reveal how diseased cells differ from healthy ones. We have a lot of projects in the single-cell space, he said. They involve studies in transplantation, graft-vs.-host disease and genetic variations within tumors.

My ultimate goal is to lead a translational research program that is able to bridge the gaps between scientific discoveries in immunotherapy and the children who would benefit from them.



In his clinical practice, Furlan has treated many children who have contracted graft vs. host disease after bone marrow transplantation  a harrowing condition where the donated cells (the graft) treat the patients (the hosts) own tissues as foreign and attack them. That has led him to the use of single-cell technologies to understand, with an unprecedented level of detail, how transplanted immune cells respond to their new biological surroundings. One technology he is using, single-cell transcriptomics, sorts through the biological record of transcripts. Transcripts are coded snippets of RNA  DNAs close cousin  that are left behind like a pile of receipts to show which genes inside individual cells were activated or shut down in response to pathogens, tumors or drugs. Whether it is transcriptomics or genomics, these sophisticated technologies generate enormous amounts of data. Answers lie within that data, but it takes a special set of skills such as advanced mathematics, machine learning and statistics to find them. That is exactly the laboratory culture being nurtured at the Steam Plant, where clinicians, immunologists and computer science experts work side by side. Furlan aims to add to the steady improvement in outcomes for stem cell transplants and emerging T-cell therapies for children. My ultimate goal, Furlan said, is to lead a translational research program that is able to bridge the gaps between scientific discoveries in immunotherapy and the children who would benefit from them.  By Sabin Russell, Dec. 7, 2020


Supreme court judge Lord Hamblen said the FCA had substantially won its case.

Hiscox Ltd ( ) said todays ruling by the UK Supreme Court on the eligibility of thousands of small businesses for coronavirus cover would cost it an additional US$48mln.

The insurer added that it welcomed the clarity provided by the final judgment and that settlement of eligible cases had begun.

Hiscox added that the ruling confirmed that fewer than one-third of its 34,000 UK Business Interruption policyholders can claim.

The 1.2bn dispute between the insurers and policyholders centred on whether their business interruption policies covered the disruption when the first lockdown came into force in March.

Financial regulator the FCA brought a test case against eight insurers including Hiscox and RSA after thousands of small business policyholders were told they needed specific cover to lodge a claim.

After an initial ruling in September, both sides agreed to fast track an appeal to the Supreme Court for a final judgement.

After that judgment, Hiscox said it expected the cost of claims to be less than 100mn net of reinsurance.

Supreme court judge Lord Hamblen said the FCA had substantially won its case.

Lord Briggs, another of the judges, added; "On the insurers' case, the cover apparently provided for business interruption caused by the effects of a national pandemic type of notifiable disease was in reality illusory, just when it might have been supposed to have been most needed by policyholders.

The judgment, which covers 50 insurers and 400,000 policyholders, represents the final outcome of the Industry Test Case, and there can be no further appeals, Hiscox added.

Richard Leedham, who represented the Hiscox Action Group - told the BBC: "This is a landmark victory for a small group of businesses who took on a huge insurance player and have been fully vindicated."

Sheldon Mills, from the FCA, added: Today's judgment decisively removes many of the roadblocks to claims by policyholders.

"We will be working with insurers to ensure that they now move quickly to pay claims that the judgment says should be paid, making interim payments wherever possible."

Shares in Hiscox, which is valued at 3.35bn, rose 3.5% to 1,000p.
India will start exporting COVID-19 vaccines from January 20, paving the way for many mid- and lower-income countries to get supplies of the easy-to-store Oxford/AstraZeneca drug, of which it plans to ship millions of doses within days.

Serum Institute of India (SII), the worlds largest vaccine producer, told Reuters last week it soon expected emergency use authorisation from the World Health Organization (WHO) for that vaccine, which SII has been licensed to make.

The foreign ministry said shipments would start on January 20, following requests from neighbouring and key partner countries. Officials said the first doses would go to Bhutan and Maldives.

Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and the Seychelles will also get supplies in this weeks first phase, the ministry said.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry said it expected to receive a gift of two million doses on January 21. The country of 160 million, which is yet to start its vaccination programme, has ordered a further 30 million doses, officials said.

The vast majority of the production of the three most widely approved COVID vaccines globally has so far been hoovered up by developed nations, raising concerns at the WHO and elsewhere that poorer countries could face a long wait for supplies.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is widely viewed as their best option because the other two, manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech and by Moderna, need to be stored at very low temperatures.

WHO emergency authorisation for the Astra-Oxford vaccine would additionally allow SII to begin supplying it to the WHO-backed COVAX initiative aimed at fairly distributing COVID-19 shots across the world.

India, which has the worlds second highest COVID caseload, has said it needs to balance its domestic requirements with international demands.

It began giving shots of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, as well as another developed by Bharat Biotech, to domestic health workers on Saturday.

The country plans to start exporting Bharat Biotechs vaccine at a later stage.

The foreign ministry said Astra-Oxford vaccine supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius would begin soon after those countries regulators cleared the drug.

Pakistan is alone among Indias neighbours where it has no plans to send vaccine doses, and a government in New Delhi source said no request had come from there.

(With Reuters inputs)
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Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Windy with rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High near 50F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
(TNS)  In the wake of a breach into the Butler County, Ohio, Sheriff's computer systems, the county is giving attention to cyber security for all of its IT systems.A malware attack over the holidays disrupted the Computer Aided Dispatch system and other parts of the sheriff's department operations. As a result of the breath, Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer told thethey have taken many measures to make sure no other malware is lurking, which has caused other inconveniences."We went into ultra-safe mode. We basically disconnected everything and went back to redo our complete system," Dwyer said. "Whenever you get malware there's always a chance of it re-infecting something. So we were ultra cautious, we took everything offline and the technical services guys touched every computer in the agency and every computer that touched our system, to wipe them clean."He said most systems are working correctly, but the email system needs more work. They are able to send and receive internal emails but are using kiosks and cell phones to access outside messages. They are still working with third-party security experts to make sure no sensitive information was compromised. "I'm not seeing anything that's terribly concerning, but we're still working through that," Dwyer said. "That's a longer term process."When the hack happened, officials took the CAD system down completely and dispatchers were using paper and looking at charts and maps to know where to send emergency units. Ross Twp. Police Chief Burt Roberts said CAD was down for about a week, but departments adjusted.He said dispatches happened normally, but officers couldn't complete forms from the field."We haven't always had computers when it came to doing this stuff," Roberts said. "It really wasn't anything too astronomical to maintain operations. Our tickets are handwritten, our reports were always handwritten, so it wasn't that big of a deal."The sheriff's office system is separate from the main county system so there was no broad impact. County Administrator Judi Boyko told thealthough county technology wasn't corrupted, "every challenge is an opportunity to continuously improve.""I don't think we are tremendously vulnerable in so many areas but there are certainly things that we can look at," Boyko said. "These bad people are sitting around trying to find ways ... they are businesspeople trying to identify ways to get better at their business. When you have someone with ill intent completely devoted to finding a way, eventually they're going to find a way."Butler County Job and Family Services Executive Director Bill Morrison said his agency keeps highly sensitive information about clients, but all four arms of his operation  Children Services, public assistance, child support enforcement and workforce development  are almost exclusively on the state computer systems, which have not been compromised.The county IT department did a security assessment last year and are working on implementing some of the recommendations. IT Director Eric Fletcher said he is hoping to fill a cyber analyst position this year  he divided the work with no dedicated person previously  and implement other cyber defense mechanisms."Obviously cyber is an ever changing event and the federal government even has challenges with it," Fletcher said. "Security-first culture is something we have to practice now, not just us but all governments. It does take changes in the culture, it takes changes with technology and we're looking to move what we've done in the past forward to 2021."
Mumbai, Jan 20 : Actress Amrita Puri features in the upcoming web series Jeet Ki Zid alongside Amit Sadh, and she says she was looking for an opportunity to reunite with the actor. The two actors had worked together in the 2013 film, Kai Po Che!.

"We stayed in touch since 'Kai Po Che'. In that film, we did not have many scenes together but we always wanted to work together. So, when the makers of the show called me, though I did not know them well, the moment I heard that I will be cast opposite Amit, I was partially saying yes to the project. Then, after hearing the story, it was a no-brainer. But yes, initially, I said yes because Amit was the only one I knew and trusted, I hadn't met the director or the producer before," Amrita told IANS.

The series follows the true story of Special Forces officer Major Deep Singh who was left paralysed waist below during the Kargil War, but his relentless attitude help him bounce back in life. Amit Sadh is cast as the protagonist while Amrita plays his wife.

"I played the character of Jaya Singh, wife of Deep. Jaya met Deep once in her life and got engaged to him, before he left for the war and came back injured. Since doctors declared that Deep would remain wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life, he said to Jaya not to marry him because there was no future. The interesting part is what Jaya did after that -- she decided to marry him. She said, 'what if it had happened after marriage? I would have not leave, so why now?' Jaya loved Deep and married him. She encouraged him not to give up," Amrita said.

The series directed by Vishal Mangalorkar also features Sushant Singh, Ali Goni, Mrinal Kulkarni, and Gagan Randhawa. Jeet Ki Zid drops on Zee5 on January 22.
Text of Joe Bidens inaugural address Wednesday, as provided by CQ Transcripts:

Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris.

Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, and my distinguished guests, my fellow Americans, this is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a Crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.

Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause. The cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

So now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitols very foundation, we come together as one nation under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.

As we look ahead in our uniquely American way, restless, bold, optimistic and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be. I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart and I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation, as does President Carter who I spoke with last night who cannot be with us today but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.

Ive just taken a sacred oath each of those patriots have taken. The oath first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not in any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. On we, the people who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, weve come so far, but we still have far to go.

Well press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.

Few people in our nations history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we are in now. Once in a century virus that silently stalks the country has taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II.

Millions of jobs have been lost. Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

The cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear. And now a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy. Unity. Unity.

In another January, on New Years Day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. When he put pen to paper, the president said, and quote, If my name ever goes down into history, it will be for this act and my whole soul is in it.

My whole soul is in it.

Today on this January day, my whole soul is in this. Bringing America together. Uniting our people. Uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment, and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness.

With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs. We can put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus. We can reward  reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all. We can deliver racial justice, and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep, and they are real, but I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is perennial, and victory is never assured.

Through Civil War, the Great Depression, world war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of these moments, enough of us, enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward, and we can do that now.

History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature.

For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury, no progress, only exhausting outrage; no nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge and unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America.

If we do that, I guarantee you we will not fail. We have never ever ever ever failed in America when we have acted together, and so today at this time in this place, lets start off fresh all of us. Lets begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another, show respect to one another. Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesnt have to be a cause for total war, and we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. America has to be better than this, and I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol dome as was mentioned earlier completed amid the Civil War when the Union itself was literally hanging in the balance.

Yet we endured, we prevailed. Here we stand, looking out on the great mall where Dr. King spoke of his dream. Here we stand where 108 years ago, at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote, and today we mark the swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Dont tell me things cant change. Here we stand across the Potomac from Arlington Cemetery where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace, and here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen; it will never happen, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever.

To all of those who supported our campaign, I am humbled by the faith you have placed in us. To all of those who did not support us, let me say this hear me out as we move forward, take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree, so be it, thats democracy, thats America. The right to dissent peaceably within the guardrails of our Republic is perhaps this nations greatest strength. Yet hear me clearly disagreement must not lead to disunion, and I pledge this to you I will be a president for all Americans, all Americans.

And I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

Many centuries ago, St. Augustine, a saint in my church, wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love defined by the common objects of their love. What are the common objects we as Americans love that define us as Americans? I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honor, and yes, the truth.

In recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit, and each of us has a duty and a responsibility as citizens, as Americans and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Look, I understand that many of my fellow Americans view the future with fear and trepidation. I understand they worry about their jobs. I understand like my dad they lay at bed staring at the night  staring at the ceiling wondering can I keep my healthcare, can I pay my mortgage? Thinking about their families, about what comes next. I promise you I get it, but the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who dont look like  look like you or worship the way you do or dont get their news from the same source as you do.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban or rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts if we show a little tolerance and humility and if we are willing to stand in the other persons shoes as my mom would say just for a moment stand in their shoes because heres the thing about life, theres no accounting for what fate will deal you.

Some days when you need a hand, there are other days when we are called to lend a hand. That is how it has to be, and that is what we do for one another, and if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future, and we can still disagree.

My fellow Americans in the work ahead of us, we are going to need each other. We need all of our strength to preserveto persevere through this dark winter. We are entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation, one nation.

And I promise you that this as the Bible said weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning. We will get through this together, together.

Look, folks, all of my colleagues I have served with in the House and the Senate up here, we all understand the world is watching, watching all of us today, so here is my message to those beyond our borders. America has been tested and weve come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again, not to meet yesterdays challenges but todays and tomorrows challenges.

And well lead not merely by the example of our power, by the power of our example.

Well be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security.

Look, you all know weve been through so much in this nation. And in my first act as president, Id like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer, remember all those who we lost this past year to the pandemic, those 400,000 fellow Americans, moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

We will honor them by becoming the people in the nation we know we can and should be. So, I ask you lets say a silent prayer for those whove lost their lives and those left behind and for our country.

Amen.

Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis, Americas role in the world. Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways, but the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with a  one of the gravest responsibilities we had.

Now were going to be tested. Are we going to step up, all of us? Its time for boldness for there is so much to do. And this is certain. I promise you we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era.

We will rise to the occasion is the question. Will we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children?

I believe we must. Im sure you do as well. I believe we will. And when we do, well write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America, the American story, a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me. Its called American Anthem. Theres one verse that stands out at least for me, and it goes like this.

The work and prayers of century have brought us to this day. What shall be our legacy? What will our children say? Let me know in my heart when my days are through America, America, I gave my best to you.

Lets add  lets us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation. If we do this, then when our days are through our children and our childrens children will say of us they gave their best. They did their duty. They healed a broken land.

My fellow Americans, I close today where I began, with a sacred oath. Before God and all of you, I give you my word I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. Ill defend our democracy. Ill defend America. And I will give all, all of you, keep everything youI do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not of personal interest but the public good. And together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear; of unity, not division; of light, not darkness; a story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness.

May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us, and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history. We met the moment. Democracy and hope, truth and justice did not die on our watch but thrived, that America secured liberty at home and stood once again is a beacon to the world. That is what we owe our forbearers, one another, and generation to follow.

So, with purpose and result, we turn to those tasks of our time, sustained by faith, driven by conviction, devoted to one another in the country we love with all our hearts. May God bless America and may God protect our troops.

Thank you, America.
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WASHINGTON - U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams resigned at President-elect Joe Biden's request on Wednesday, as the incoming president sought to make a symbolic break with his predecessor's covid-19 response.

"Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great Nation, as this has been the honor of my life," Adams wrote in a departure note posted to Facebook. " . . . I hope in 2021 and beyond, we can focus more on what unites us, and rise above what divides us."

The Washington Post first reported that Biden was planning to ask for Adams' resignation on Wednesday. Adams, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, was sworn in as surgeon general on Sept. 5, 2017, to serve the office's standard four-year term, which was set to expire this September.

The anesthesiologist and former Indiana health commissioner - a political independent who crafted a close relationship with then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence - had emerged as a key spokesman for Trump's coronavirus response, regularly appearing on national TV and using social media to advocate for public health measures such as social distancing. However, Adams's visibility also made him a target last spring for Democrats, who accused him of defending Trump's statements.

Biden has nominated Vivek H. Murthy, surgeon general under President Barack Obama and a close adviser of the president-elect, to be the nation's new surgeon general, but Murthy first needs to undergo Senate confirmation hearings, which have yet to be scheduled.Three people with knowledge of the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it said the incoming Biden administration would choose an acting surgeon general as soon as Wednesday, bypassing Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz, a career civil servant.

Schwartz, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps who had served as the Department of Health and Human Services' point person for the transition between the Trump and Biden administrations, is planning to retire as a result of being passed over, the people said.

Reached by The Washington Post, Adams declined to comment. Schwartz did not respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Biden referred to Murthy's pending nomination as surgeon general.

A top Trump administration official told The Post that Schwartz is retiring.

"RADM Erica Schwartz, a career HHS official, served our country with honor and distinction for more than two decades," said Adm. Brett Giroir, HHS assistant secretary for health. "It is unfortunate that the American people will no longer have her expertise and dedication as we continue to battle the covid-19 pandemic and prepare the Commissioned Corps for 21st- century challenges."

A person with knowledge of HHS Secretary Alex Azar's thinking said the outgoing secretary was "extremely disappointed" that Schwartz had been bypassed for the role, given her "hundreds of hours of work" on the transition.

Often referred to as the "nation's doctor," the surgeon general has a bully pulpit to call attention to serious public health problems, but limited ability to make policy. He or she oversees the U.S. Public Health Service, more than 6,000 uniformed public health personnel who work in various parts of the federal government.

Some surgeon generals have served across multiple administrations, including David Satcher, who served out a four-year term that began under President Bill Clinton and ended under President George W. Bush.

However, Trump in April 2017 dismissed then-Surgeon General Murthy - an Obama appointee - in the third year of Murthy's term, drawing the ire of Democrats.

"The Surgeon General must remain independent and free from political pressure," seven Senate Democrats wrote to the White House in May 2017, after Murthy was abruptly pushed out.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The Gaza Strip recently managed to take advantage of the latest technologies used to produce potable distilled water, thanks to Israeli cooperation.

In early January, Damour for Community Development, a nongovernmental organization based in Ramallah in the West Bank, brought into the besieged enclave two atmospheric water generators that turn air into water using solar power. The machines are produced by Watergen, an Israeli branch of a US company that obtained the patent for this device in 2015. Watergen paid for half the cost of the two devices, while three families residing in Europe donated the other half. The two machines cost about $61,000 each.

The first generator was placed in the municipality of Abasan al-Kabira while the second was installed in the municipality Khan Yunis, in the south of Gaza. Meanwhile, the Arava Institute for Environmental Research in Israel donated a third generator that was placed in Abdel Aziz Rantisi Specialized Hospital for Children in the Gaza Strip.

The representative of Damour for Community Development in Gaza, Fathi Sheikh Khalil, told Al-Monitor that the device generating water from air uses a heat exchanger to cool the air and condense water vapor into fresh drinking water. The generator relies on several sand and mineral filters to purify the air and capture humidity. Then the heat exchange process begins, with water absorbed and distilled, and the necessary minerals injected into it, he added.

Sheikh Khalil said that this cutting-edge technology provides a cheap solution for finding a renewable source of pure water in Gaza. The production capacity varies according to the generators size and filters and depending on the temperature and humidity. The generator in Abasan al-Kabira produces 800 liters [211 gallons] of water per day at a cost not exceeding $10,000 provided the humidity level is 75%. The generator in Khan Yunis produces 6,000 liters [1,585 gallons] per day at a cost of $70,000 when humidity is close to 90%, he noted.

He added that the two generators need only a very small surface as opposed to desalination plants that require large areas for their construction, not to mention their need for a water source and electricity supplies. Desalination plants have a high production capacity ranging between 20,000 [5,283 gallons] and 100,000 liters [26,417 gallons]. The generated water can be used for agriculture and domestic consumption and not only as drinking water, while Watergen generators are only used for drinking water.

Sheikh Khalil noted that the generators are now three months into a six-month trial phase aimed to assess their operation and quality. We are currently conducting a preliminary study on their economic viability, as solar energy was used instead of electricity to run the generators. We were able to install panels generating 100 kilowatt of solar energy for the generator in the municipality of Khan Yunis to reduce the cost of electricity, which is exorbitant in Gaza. The generators certainly will not solve the water crisis in Gaza, but they will raise the awareness of Gaza residents about the existence of this technology, which can be the solution to secure clean water.

He said that Damour for Community Development managed to work in Gaza without dealing with the Hamas-controlled government institutions, given its relationship and work with the Israeli Wadi Araba Institute concerned with the environment and alternative energy. The role of [the Hamas-run] institutions is limited to receiving generators from the Palestinian side, and they do not coordinate with the Israeli side, he added.

Anis Abu Hamad, a member of the Development and Investment Department at Abasan al-Kabira municipality, praised the generators high production capacity compared to its price. Gaza has never been provided with water as clean as that produced by these generators. It is not possible to compare this water to that of the desalination plants widespread in Gaza. These plants are depleting the groundwater, he told Al-Monitor.

He said that Gazans buy drinking water from water tank trucks. This water is extracted from groundwater and subject to treatment processes, but is not examined and tested for compliance with health standards, he explained. The water produced from air is used by the general public  especially kidney patients  due to its low salinity. It may well be a solution to the water crisis in Gaza. The generators that were brought in were large in size. If more solar panels are added, the operating cost would be zero and the generators would be highly economically feasible.

Economic analyst Mouin Rajab told Al-Monitor that the Gaza Strip suffers a scarcity of potable water. The United Nations had warned in a 2012 report that Gaza would be unfit for life by 2020 if nothing was done to ease the ongoing blockade imposed in 2006.

In 2017, the United Nations issued another report calling for action when it comes to water in the Gaza Strip. The report stated that more than 95% of the water in Gaza is not suitable for drinking. Rajab said that similar reports contributed to delaying the water scarcity crisis. The European Union and several international institutions intervened to construct water desalination projects and plants in the Gaza Strip. Also, the rainy season recently improved leading to an improvement of groundwater.

He said that Gaza suffers a severe water crisis due to its reliance on desalination plants, adding, Groundwater is being desalinated and the extracted salts and impurities are repumped into the sewage or the sea, which further complicates the water problem in Gaza. The enclave needs unique, environmentally friendly projects that provide clean potable water that meets environmental standards.

Rajab praised the benefits of large desalination plants but pointed to their many environmental problems and their exorbitant construction cost. Desalination plants require huge spaces and equipment to generate enough water. The generator producing water from air does not waste water and has no negative impacts on the environment, he said.

Despite the scarcity of water, poor electricity supply and soaring unemployment, the population in Gaza is steadily rising. The population in the besieged enclave, estimated now around 2 million, is expected to reach 3.3 million by 2030. This requires innovative and qualitative initiatives to preserve life in Gaza.

We do not have economic or political independence, so why should we not receive donations from Israeli parties? Rajab said, commenting on the donation of the water generators by an Israeli company.

He concluded, Until the Palestinian government can rely on itself and find an alternative, we will not [refuse] donations from Israel. The citizens interest and health are above any political outbidding.
NORWAY, MI  A man wielding two knives held a woman hostage inside a home and refused to negotiate with police officers on Tuesday night, WLUC reports.

The standoff ended when police officers fired non-lethal gunshots, the TV station reports.

Norway City Police officers responded around 10 p.m. to a report of domestic violence at a home on 15th Avenue in the Dickinson County city, the report said. A 33-year-old man armed with two knives was threatening to harm a woman, the caller, and would not allow her to leave.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers entered the home and attempted to negotiate with the man. He did not comply with officers commands and refused to negotiate, the report said. The Critical Incident Response Team was called to the scene; the suspect continued to refuse to negotiate. The suspect was eventually subdued with non-lethal gunshots, taken into police custody and transported to the Dickinson County Jail.

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Ukraine must vaccinate at least 20 million people.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Assistance and Health Insurance Mykhailo Radutsky says vaccination against COVID-19 in Ukraine is to start during the second week of February 2021.

The Servant of the People Party announced this on Facebook.

Read alsoUkraine to create COVID-19 vaccination register, issue immunity e-passports

"Ukraine must vaccinate at least 20 million people. According to [Health] Minister Maksym Stepanov, the vaccination will begin during the second week of February," he said.

At the moment, Ukraine has an agreement on 8 million doses of a vaccine via the COVAX Facility.

Also, President Volodymyr Zelensky set a task for the diplomatic corps and the government to increase this quota from 8 million to 16 million doses.

In addition, the president asked the EU countries to allocate additional doses of the vaccine.

"To date, the Health Ministry has contracted 1.9 million doses of Chinese-made Sinovac, but we expect the manufacturer to prove its effectiveness as Ukrainian legislation says we cannot buy a vaccine whose proven effectiveness is below 70%. The supplier has provided bank guarantees, and if its effectiveness is not proven, the vaccine will not be procured and the money will be returned to the budget of Ukraine. The same supplier promises to ship about 5 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine on a commercial basis," he said.

He says he hopes that the Health Ministry will fulfill its task of providing at least 50% of the population with a vaccine against COVID-19 free of charge.

COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine

In February-March 2021, Ukraine expects the delivery of a vaccine against COVID-19.

The first batch of a vaccine via the COVAX Facility will include 8 million doses, which will be enough to vaccinate 4 million people (two shots per person required). First to get vaccinated will be healthcare workers, the elderly, and seriously ill patients.

On December 24, 2020, Health Minister Stepanov said that his ministry was working out a plan to increase the COVAX vaccine quota from 8 million to 16 million doses.

On December 30, Ukraine signed a contract with China's Sinovac for the supply of 1.9 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

On January 8, 2020, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Ghebreyesus said that rich countries have the majority of the supply of a COVID-19 vaccine from the manufacturers Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca.

On January 13, Health Minister Stepanov said that his ministry planned to sign contracts in the coming days with new companies that produce the coronavirus vaccine.

According to the WHO, 170 experimental vaccines are currently at the stage of preclinical trials, 65 are undergoing clinical trials, of which 15 are at the third, last stage.

Reporting by UNIAN

"I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices  because that's what you elected me to do," Trump said in a prerecorded video made public on his final full day in office.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed Decision No 70/QD-TTg on the establishment and issuance of operational regulations of the Thai Nguyen high-tech agricultural zone.



The zone will be set up in Tien Phong commune, Pho Yen town, Thai Nguyen province, pning 154.36 ha.



It is to host research activities and pilot hi-tech production models in farming, forestry, aquaculture, and farm produce preservation and processing, among others.



The zone will also specialise in training and technology transfer serving the agricultural sector of the province, the region and Vietnam as a whole.



The provincial Peoples Committee has been asked to steer the construction, assessment, and approval of planning for the zone in keeping with regulations.



The province has previously set up large-scale agricultural production zones of high economic value. Of particular note, it is among the largest tea-growing areas in Vietnam, being home to over 22,400 ha.
Workforce

For feds, mask mandate, diversity training reversal on Day 1 of Biden presidency

President Joe Biden's Day 1 to-do list includes several federal workforce policies, although it notably does not include the reversal of Trump's controversial Schedule F executive order.

Feds can expect an executive order requiring masks and physical distancing for federal employees and contractors, and in all federal buildings and on all federal land, according to a release from the Biden-Harris transition team.

The first day is also expected to include an order that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the federal government.

Biden is planning on reversing various Trump-era policies. The White House Chief of Staff is set to issue a regulatory freeze memo pausing new, "midnight regulations" to give the new administration can review them. The new president is also set to reverse some Trump-era regulatory process executive orders.

Biden is also going to reverse an executive order created by his predecessor that severely constrained diversity and inclusion training for federal employees, grant recipients and contractors.

Not on the first day agenda: the reversal of Trump's controversial executive order that created a new category of federal employee not covered by traditional civil service protections called Schedule F.

The Office of Personnel Management recently approved the reclassification of 400 positions in the Office of Management and Budget, according to a letter from Reps Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, and Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations. The Government Accountability Office informed them about the development last week.

Although it doesn't appear like the reclassification of those positions will be fully put into place today, the exact administrative process for moving the positions back to the schedules they were previously classified under is unclear.

Employees at OMB will likely be able to continue reporting to work as usual, said Jason Briefel, the director of policy and outreach at the Senior Executives Association.

As far as the omission of the order's reversal from Biden's day-one priorities goes, the "primary reason to keep it open for any amount of time" would be to "try to reverse any of the impact" and "deal quickly with any employees who may have been reclassified," Briefel said.

The new schedule takes away many of the hiring and firing protections typically afforded to civil servants. Good governance groups, public sector unions and lawmakers have lobbied for the new administration to reverse the order. Democratic lawmakers have pursued various means to block the implementation of the order, most recently via a new bipartisan bill introduced last week.

The recension of a series of 2018 executive orders centered on public sector unions and discipline procedures for feds also didn't make the schedule for the first day.

Biden previously has spoken about his intentions to reverse these 2018 orders, writing in an answer to a presidential candidate questionnaire from the American Federation of Government Employees that he would "restore federal employees' rights to organize and bargain collectively, restore their right to official time, and direct agencies to bargain with federal employee unions over non-mandatory subjects of bargaining" on his first day in office.

Biden's first-day blitz of executive orders, memos and directives does include the provision of an ethics executive order for executive branch appointees.

On Trump's last day in office, the outgoing president issued an executive order loosening ethics requirements for his former employees. The new order released administration members from an ethics pledge they signed near the beginning of his term. The pledge included a five-year lobbying ban for employees' former agencies.

About the Author Natalie Alms is a staff writer at FCW covering the federal workforce. She is a recent graduate of Wake Forest University and has written for the Salisbury (N.C.) Post. Connect with Natalie on Twitter at @AlmsNatalie.



The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment about what the Biden-Harris team plans to do about Schedule F.
Neste and Avfuel have announced a strategic partnership to create an efficient, continuous supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the US.

Neste will provide Avfuel with SAF in volumes able to meet the growing demands of Avfuels customers, including fixed base operators (FBOs), airports, flight departments, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and commercial operators. Avfuel will be a branded SAF distributor for Neste, and will sell it under the brand name Neste MY Sustainable Aviation FuelTM.

The strategic partnership positions Avfuel as one of the first US companies able to supply its customers with SAF on a continuous basis. Monterey Jet Center (KMRY)  an Avfuel-branded FBO in Monterey, California  will be the first customer to receive a consistent supply of SAF.

With the first delivery scheduled for Q1 2021, Neste and Avfuel will work with Monterey Jet Center to ensure that the supply chain, from production through invoicing, functions smoothly before rolling the program out to a larger customer base.

This strategic partnership is an exciting development for the industrys sustainability initiative and a natural next step in response to aviations growing demand for SAF. It combines Nestes leading SAF production and marketing expertise with Avfuels leading distribution logistics and branding proficiencies for our global network of FBOs and fuel consumers. Together, we are able to support aviations sustainability goals and enhance supply availability at a commercial scale, filling an immense gap in the industrys supply chain. Avfuel is proud to partner with the Neste team, who demonstrate a deep commitment to aviation and sustainability efforts for a brighter, cleaner world, said Craig Sincock, President and CEO of Avfuel.

This collaboration is about so much more than just creating a supply chain. We are really providing passengers a meaningful way to reduce their carbon footprint when traveling on a business or private aircraft, said Chris Cooper, Vice President, Renewable Aviation, North America, Neste.

Thanks to great partners like Avfuel, travelers who care about the health of our planet will be able to choose to board an aircraft flying on SAF. Tradearabia News Service
New Delhi, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/19/2021 -- Tula Digital Pvt. Ltd has pushed the boundaries of weighing technology with an inventive and problem-solving mindset. The company has been around since the year 1997, manufacturing electronic weighing scales, weighbridges and weight-based systems for all industries requiring accurate measurements. Sold under the 'Swift' brand, the products are efficient, reliable, accurate, cost-effective and readily available in India, Nigeria, Malawi, Ethiopia and other African markets. Tailored weighing solutions are also provided to meet every application and budget. Proactive technical support is delivered throughout the product's life-cycle to help clients breathe easy.



The spokesperson at Tula Digital recently stated, "With close to 25 years behind us, Tula Digital understands the industry and the customer just too well. That speaks for an extensive product selection, including, but not limited to weighbridges, retail scales, precision balances, tabletop & platform scales and tank weighing. We are the best weighbridge manufacturers in Delhi or for that matter India, offering a variety of options like Steel Pit-less, Steel Pit Type, Concrete Pit Type and Concrete Pit-less. We leverage relentless R&D, the best practices and cutting-edge technologies to design and manufacture products that deliver on quality and prices."



Tula Digital is the first Indian company to build fully Concrete Platform Weighbridges in India. The company's fully electronic weighbridges and conversion kits are working perfectly across multiple industries and public weighbridges across every nook and cranny of India and abroad. Tula Digital continues to be the measuring technology partner for some of the most recognized brands, such as SUPERTECH, BIKANERWALA, BHEL, ISRO, ICGEB, NV Group, HAVELLS, ICICI Bank, Hero Honda, Max Healthcare, Pepsi and MOD. Tula Digital has put together a robust after-sales service setup with factory trained engineers to deliver quality service in low response times.



On weighbridges, the spokesperson further stated, "Tula Digital has a pioneering presence in the weighbridge niche segment. Our concrete and steel platform weighbridges come with both, analogue and digital loadcells. Analog and digital loadcells deliver similar overall performance and functionality. But digital ones have an edge over their analogue counterparts when it comes to security, accuracy and ease of use. The digital loadcells are capable of converting an internal analogue signal to digital, making them tamper-proof. Plus, they are self-calibrating, and hence, can do away with corner adjustments, bring down commissioning time, and ensure accuracy."



The digital load cells also ensure better diagnostics and a higher level of error reporting for the weighbridge system, hedging the system from deliberate tampering. They are also known to bring down the overall load distribution error across the weighbridge. Tula Digital can deliver the best weighbridges while restricting overheads and mark-ups. Buyers who want to know 100 ton weighbridge price in India can contact Tula Digital's customer support or leave an inquiry through the website. The company would respond at the earliest.



About Tula Digital

New Delhi based Tula Digital has been the leading weighing systems company since the year 1997. The company is associated with some of the best Weighbridges, Retail Scales, Precision Balances, Table Top & Platform Scales, and Tank Weighing. Over the years, Tula Digital has been the top source for anyone wanting to find weighing machine with label printer.



Contact Information:



Tula Digital (India) Pvt. Ltd

Head Office:

A-12, Naraina Industrial Area Phase 1,

New Delhi  110028, India

Telephone:

+ (91)-11-4141 1058

+ (91)-98100 33681

+ (91)-98731 99235

(Mon-Sat 9:30 AM  6:00 PM)
Mining the nematode brain map

The study was co-led by Bishal Upadhyaya, a former technician in Bais lab, and Dr. Ithai Rabinowitch, previously a postdoc on Bais team and now a faculty member at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.

Nematodes are a brain-mappers dream come true: Each tiny worm has exactly the same number of cells, including nerve cells. Because of this, scientists have been able to create an incredibly detailed map of nematodes neural networks: They know how many nerve cells there are, which other neurons each connects to, as well as each neurons primary function.

Neuroscientists like Bai use nematodes to understand the link between brain and behavior because their neural circuits are as simple as they come. In people, whole brain areas work to create perception and behavior based on incoming sensory information; in a worm, the same circuit is made up of just a few neurons, making it much easier to study.

Information flows along neurons in the form of electricity, and connections between neurons come in two flavors. Electrical synapses are simple connections between neurons that allow an electrical pulse to flow from one nerve cell to another. Chemical synapses convert chemical information, transmitted between neurons in the form of molecules like neurotransmitters, into electrical information.

Bais team chose to use the simpler electrical synapses to forge new connections between nerve cells. They took advantage of the fact that a protein called innexin forms electrical synapses in invertebrates like worms, while a completely different protein, called connexin, forms these synapses in vertebrates like humans. Worms can be genetically reprogrammed to produce vertebrate connexin; if the neurons expressing connexin are close enough, they form new electrical synapses.

Rabinowitch had previously shown that neural information can flow between nematode neurons connected by vertebrate connexin. Using these synthetic synapses to link previously unconnected neurons, Bai and his team had been able to modify worm behavior, including making worms move toward chemicals they usually avoid.

Now, he, Rabinowitch and Upadhyaya wanted to see if their synthetic electrical synapses would allow neuronal information to bypass a damaged point in a neural circuit. Other strategies to circumvent damage in a neural circuit, such as to improve motor rehabilitation in paralyzed patients, have used connections to computers to reroute information flow. Instead, the team wanted to try a genetic approach, prompting specific neurons to forge new connections with each other.

Synthetic synapses help reroute odor information

The team focused on a well-characterized neural circuit that nematodes use to smell and move toward attractive odors in their environment. To tantalize worms in lab dishes, scientists use chemicals that give almonds and bananas their characteristic scents. Once the circuits odor-sensing neuron detects one of these chemicals, it signals to several intermediary neurons. These intermediary neurons, or interneurons, ultimately direct the information that a scent has been detected to the motor neurons that tell the worms muscles to move toward the odor.

The odor information mostly flows from the odor-sensing neuron through a first interneuron called AIA and then to another interneuron called AIB. However, odor-sensing neurons do make some direct connections to AIB neurons.

Rabinowitch and Upadhyaya genetically manipulated worms to force the AIA neurons to die off. Worms whose AIA neurons have withered away become very bad at moving toward attractive odors. Next, the researchers wanted to see if strengthening the connection between the odor-sensing neurons and AIB interneurons could bypass damaged AIA neurons and restore worms ability to respond to appealing odors. They genetically manipulated worms such that the odor-sensing neuron and AIB neurons both produced vertebrate connexin. The connexin brought the neurons together in new ways, creating many new connections through which electrical information could pass between them.

The scientists found that when they added synthetic connections between the odor-sensing neuron and AIB interneurons in worms with damaged AIA interneurons, their ability to respond to the odors in their environment was restored.

Just as Bai commutes along a highway to get to his Seattle-area Hutch office, neural signals also travel along major routes.

If Im driving along I-5 to my office, if theres traffic somewhere, I cant get to the Hutch, he said.

But like cars that exit the highway for side streets, neural information can also flow along minor routes. The synthetic connections that Bais team used helped turn these information byways into information highways, allowing the circuit to bypass a blockage.

Amplifying signals also restores odor-sensing behavior

Upadhyaya, Rabinowitch and Bai also discovered that the synthetic synapses can restore odor-sensing behavior in worms with damaged AIA neurons even when neural information flow continues along its usual routes.

Unexpectedly, Bai and his team found they could restore some odor-sensing behavior in worms by making either the odor-sensing neuron or the AIB neuron produce connexin. But how could the circuit be circumvented if the synapses werent creating a new information highway between the odor-sensing neuron and AIB?

As it happens, though worms have no arms or legs, they do have right-hand and left-hand versions of each neuron (a phenomenon also seen in many animals and humans). The team found that connecting a neuron to its mirror self (either odor-sensing neuron to odor-sensing neuron or AIB to AIB) amplifies weak electrical signals in those neurons.

This makes it possible for connected odor-sensing neurons to send a strong-enough signal to AIB neurons to make up for loss of AIA neurons. And if AIB neurons are connected to each other, they can amplify the weak signal received from odor-sensing neurons. In these cases, amplifying the electrical signals passing along neurons can correct the worms damaged odor-sensing behavior even if the signals are still moving along informational byways.

A tool to study perception

While the studys results show the feasibility of bypassing neural damage by forging new connections between nearby neurons, Bai is interested in even more basic questions.

The most fundamental question in the field is, 'How do you generate perception?' Bai said. If we think about the human mind, it's a bridge between our environment and all things. But that's so fundamental to all animals: They all have to make decisions based on the information that they collect.

His synthetic synapses could allow researchers to manipulate how worms sense  and respond to  anything from odor to temperature, and provide insights into how neural circuits process incoming information. Right now, the electrical synapses allow electrical signals to flow in both directions between neurons. To understand information processing in neural circuits, researchers will first have to develop synthetic synapses that only allow information to flow in one direction, he said.

Neuroscientists have done a lot to identify the molecules that carry information along neural networks, Bai said.

But if you ask somebody how our mind really generates what is attention, what is distraction  I think it's very hard for anyone to have any explanation for that, he said.

The ability to engineer synthetic synapses in living animals expands scientists toolbox as they seek answers, and, Bai said, "may eventually help us understand how the brain produces behavior, and what we understand to be the mind."

The study was funded by the National Institute of General Medicine, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the Hartwell Innovation Fund and the Israel Science Foundation.
COVID-19 has been spoiling parties ever since it arrived in Manitoba, but its especially heart-breaking when the birthday girl is poised to turn 100.

COVID-19 has been spoiling parties ever since it arrived in Manitoba, but its especially heart-breaking when the birthday girl is poised to turn 100.

Friends and family had been planning to rent the community hall in Notre Dame de Lourdes for a huge celebration to mark beloved resident Martha Sala hitting the century mark on Feb. 2.

Along with having five children, 19 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, Martha is renowned for being a tireless volunteer in the small community 120 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, driving the "older ladies" to Bingo  even though theyre all younger than her  possessing an irrepressible sense of humour, and having more energy than people half her age.

SUPPLIED Five generations: Martha Sala (right), who is turning 100, is joined by grandson Kelly Rudnicki (from left), great granddaughter Alexis Rudnicki, with great-great grandson Bentley, and daughter Charlotte Rudnicki.

With plans for the 100th birthday party on ice, her granddaughter is appealing for Manitobans to pay tribute to this inspiring centenarian, who was orphaned along with her nine siblings as a child, with an old-school "Friendly Manitoba" gesture  sending birthday cards and greetings.

"I would like as many people as possible to send her birthday cards. With COVID-19, we cant buy cards, but send a greeting or have your kids make a card and pop it in the mail. My grandmother will absolutely love that and appreciate the effort," Josee Sala-Giesbrecht said.

(You can send cards and notes to Mrs. Martha Sala, PO Box 257, Notre Dame de Lourdes, MB, R0G 1M0.)

Sala-Giesbrecht, who lives in Winnipeg, posted her appeal on Facebook, where it has been shared more than 200 times already. The cards and notes are already starting to trickle in, she noted.

SUPPLIED Martha married Charles Sala on May 14, 1940.

"My grandmother is a total social butterfly," she said. "It (the pandemic) has been hard for her because she hasnt had the family visits and the friend visits. I think the cards will give her a sense of being loved and people thinking about her. She didnt have that all her life so its really important for her to know how much shes loved and appreciated."

Martha was born Feb. 2, 1921, in Ashern, and she and her nine siblings spent their early years in an orphanage after their mother died young and their father was unable to care for them. They were eventually split up and bounced around foster homes until, at the age of 12, Martha was placed in Notre Dame with Alphonse and Leoncie Badiou.

"That was her last and best foster home," Sala-Giesbrecht recalled. "They taught her about love, trust, family values and hard work. I dont know where she would be without those people."

In her late teens, Martha married the love of her life, Charles, and the couple raised five children on a family farm just west of the community. Her husband died at the age of 53, but Martha remained on the farm for 80 years until moving into the local retirement home last summer.

SUPPLIED Martha Sala lived on this farm west of Notre Dame des Lourdes for 80 years.

Along the way, she became a local legend, famed for her skills in the kitchen, prowess with knitting needles, and being a tireless volunteer for the 4H Club, the local newspaper, and the Golden Age Club, to name just a few.

"She has volunteered countless hours," her granddaughter said. "For quite a few years she was Mrs. Claus for the kids in school. If she finds out someone has broken a hip, shes always there when they get home to bring them meals and help them get dressed.

"When she goes out, she chats everybody up and shes always telling jokes. Shes very quick-witted. Thats how shes gotten out of a few speeding tickets. She has a bit of a lead foot."

Sala-Giesbrecht laughingly recalled riding with her grandmother a few years ago when they were pulled over by a local constable for exceeding the speed limit.

SUPPLIED Josee Sala-Giesbrecht is hoping for a flood of cards and well-wishes for her grandmother, Martha Sala, who turns 100 on Feb. 2.

"Do you know why I pulled you over?" the officer asked, politely.

Which prompted this impish reply from Martha: "It must be my good looks."

Friend Edith Hague, a retired schoolteacher, said everyone in town knows and loves this kind-hearted woman, who is still driving on the cusp of becoming a centenarian.

"She has an 80-year-old son in town," Hague noted. "Imagine youre 80 years old and your 100-year-old mother is still driving around town."

SUPPLIED Martha Sala with great-granddaughter Gabby.

In a telephone interview from her retirement home, Martha conceded it was a bit disheartening to have plans for her big party put on hold by the pandemic.

"I cant even celebrate," she said, laughing. "It (Feb. 2) is Groundhog Day, of course  We planned a big bash, you know. But well have it later on, even if Im 105. As soon as it (COVID-19) goes away, were going to have a big party."

Cards and letters for her big day have started to arrive, and she trots down to the post office to fetch them. "I just went out to the mail," she said. "I had 13 cards on Saturday. I got them from people I dont even know. I love to help people and do things for them. Even though Im turning 100, Im healthier than they are."

Martha said shes not going to let something as small as a global pandemic slow her down.

"Every day I go for a big walk," she noted. "I lost five pounds doing that and Im not a big person. I even danced last year, too, but Im getting a bit stiffer now; not enough exercise."

Shes not fond of sitting alone in her room or wearing a face mask, but she still knits, bakes and keeps up on current events.

"I just finished knitting a sweater for my little great-great grandson. I like to watch TV," she said. "I like the news. I watched Trump getting beat. Oh, I loved that! I didnt like him. Hes not my type."

Asked her secret to a long, happy life, Martha laughed and replied: "I dont know if I should tell you. You dont think about getting old. You take it a day at a time and try not to be alone too much. Ive had a lot of problems in my life, a lot of sadness, but you have to forget and start anew."

doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca
Posted Tuesday, January 19, 2021 5:54 pm

A different take on Gov. Jay Inslees capital gains tax, less broad and friendlier to small family-owned businesses, will likely be introduced later in this years legislative session.

We are considering proposals similar to what the House has considered in years past, said Rep. Noel Frame, D-Seattle. So, for instance, the filing threshold has been higher in the past House versions, so that's one major difference. Also what we have had the last several years is an exemption for bona fide family owned businesses.

Frame emphasized the goal of any tax she and fellow Democrats propose is not to raise the burden on the general public, but to make sure those who are wealthiest pay their fair share.

Low income people pay six times more in taxes of the share of their income than the wealthiest Washingtonians, Frame said. So, our great hope is that any new tax policies that we're having is good policy and it's taking us a step toward making the tax code more equitable.

The bill as originally presented received a harsh reception from small business owners and Republicans.

It proposed a 9% tax on profits realized from selling investments such as stocks and bonds and other property. A capital gains tax is the revenue centerpiece in Gov. Jay Inslees proposed budget.

As originally proposed, Senate Bill 5096 would take effect Jan.1, 2022 on all capital gains over $25,000 for individuals, and over $50,000 for joint filers.

At its first hearing Jan. 14, some said the bill was a disingenuous attempt to implement an income tax, which is not allowed under Washingtons constitution.

Our budget is balanced right now, there's no need to raise any taxes or create new ones,

said Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver. The problem with this income tax is that it's an income tax and its not an excise tax. Washingtonians have said six different times that they do not want an income tax.

Long-term capital gains are reported on federal income taxes, but typically are taxed separately from other income and at lower rates.

If the bill is passed in its current form, Wilson said it almost certainly will be challenged in the courts.

If they don't change their precedent from the 1930s when they came out and said income is property, then it should be ruled unconstitutional, Wilson said. Every other states revenue departments tell us that they count this as income tax, so I don't know how we could be an outlier in one state trying to claim that it's an excise tax.

Additionally, Wilson stated that she believes if this tax passes as proposed, it would create the structure for eventually implementing a traditional income tax on citizens.

While Democrats say the bill is mostly intended to tax the sale of long-term stocks and bonds, the selling of businesses and non-residential real estate are not exempt from the tax, leaving many worried about unintended consequences.

It's funny that when they talk about that, This is a tax on the rich. I'm sorry but I don't feel rich, Lois Cook said with a laugh after testifying on the bill.

Cook has run Americas Phone Guys, a small business telecommunications retailer, with her husband since 2004. She was among the more than 100 people who testified on the bill at its first public hearing on Jan. 14.

At the hearing, Cook expressed concerns that were echoed through the night. In its current form, small business owners and landlords who are relying on the eventual sale of their business or property for retirement are worried about how the tax could impact their future.

Cook admitted she and her husband have already discussed moving to a more tax friendly location, and if the tax is passed unamended, they would likely move out of state.

She also said that she likes the concept behind the tax, and would support it if there were exemptions for small business sales.

Current exemptions in Inslees proposal include residential dwellings, assets held in a retirement account, livestock, timber and capital assets for a trade or business of a sole proprietorship among several other examples.

Jacob Vigdor, faculty legislative representative and professor of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington, was among those who voiced support. He did so on behalf of the more than 4,500 members of UW faculty.

Something that comes up perennially is this notion that we're worried about the regressive nature of taxation in Washington state...I think it's just important for us to sort of make it known that we understand that support from the state is part of what makes the University work, and, you know, if we had our druthers, we would have that support be funded by a more progressive tax system.

Vigdor also said worries about a slippery slope with more taxes immediately following is mostly unfounded.

Given the difficulty of passing progressive legislation, and given the ballot propositions that can pop up when something passes, I don't see a slippery slope, Vigdor said. I mean, if there is a slope it's not slippery, it's more like sandpaper.



The Washington State Journal is a nonprofit news website managed by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.
A Linn County employee was arrested in connection to an embezzlement investigation of the Planning and Building Department involving more than $200,000 over eight years.

The Linn County Sheriffs Office reported Angela Adams, 48, the departments office manager, was arrested Tuesday and booked in the Linn County Jail on charges of theft and aggravated theft.

After an employee tip in March, the Linn County Administrative Office requested a financial audit of the Planning and Building Department, revealing financial discrepancies, according to the sheriffs office.

A subsequent criminal investigation by the Linn County Sheriffs Office found about $235,000 of cash payments to the Planning and Building Department had not been deposited with the treasurer in the past eight years.

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Matt Wilcox at 541-967-3950.

-- Jaimie Ding
ARTMS Inc. (ARTMS) and Isotopia MolecularImaging (Isotopia) are pleased to announce the successful radiolabeling of Isotopias prostate cancer imaging kit product, PSMA-11, with over 2 Ci of cyclotron-produced Gallium-68 (68Ga) using ARTMS proprietary Quantum Irradiation System (QIS) solid target system.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210119005044/en/

The specially designed Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) kit for the preparation of 68Ga-PSMA-11 (a radiopharmaceutical targeting PSMA for the imaging of prostate cancer using Positron Emission Tomography (PET)) was radiolabeled with high activity cyclotron produced 68Ga following irradiation times of less than two hours. The Isotopia kit was radiolabeled with between 500 mCi and just over 2900 mCi of 68Ga following multiple successful 68Ga production runs utilizing the QIS and ARTMS high performance 68Zn solid targets. The resultant product demonstrated 6-hour stability and radiochemical purity, which met or exceeded all regulatory standards. Cyclotron produced 68Ga combined with a kit solution will give radiopharmacies near unlimited access to this diagnostic product and a cost effective solution.

The demand for 68Ga radiolabeled products will soon exceed the supply coming from 68Ge/68Ga generators. ARTMS QUANTM Irradiation System (QIS) allows for the high activity and high quality 68Ga production the Molecular Imaging community requires to properly serve their patients. The QIS multiple-curie per hour 68Ga production is one of the few true game changers I have seen during my career in Nuclear Medicine. We are very excited to bring on-demand 68Ga doses to clinicians and patients in collaboration with our partners, says Charles S. Conroy, Chief Executive Officer of ARTMS.

Isotopia is focused on developing diagnostic and therapeutic tools that best serve our patients. We see 68Ga as a better diagnostic tool to pair with Lu177 treatments. Isotopias high activity PSMA kit is a major step forward in how the global imaging community diagnoses prostate cancer. Multi-dose vial preparation will allow pharmacies to provide unit doses and allow clinicians to image patients with little to no restrictions. In addition, a 5 minute preparation and more than 95% radiochemical purity will enhance efficiency and save the radiopharmacies time and money. We aim to keep introducing to the market kit-based solutions for 50 and 100mCi Generators, cyclotron produced 68Ga, and Lu177 labeling, says Dr. Eli Shalom, CEO of Isotopia Molecular Imaging.

ARTMS recently announced the approval for its cyclotron produced 99mTc product by Health Canada. ARTMS will continue the development of cyclotron-based products including 68Ga with a focus on optimizing production potential and satisfying regulatory requirements for use in radiopharmaceutical kits.

About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide. In 2018, 1.3 million men were diagnosed with prostate cancer for the first time. Despite advances in treatments, prostate cancer still accounts for a significant number of deaths. In 2018, more than 365,000 men died from the disease. Rates of diagnosis are increasing, and the highest levels of prostate cancer are found in the US, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

About ARTMS

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, ARTMS Inc. is the global leader in the development of novel technologies and products which enable the high-quality and high-yield production of the worlds most-used diagnostic imaging isotopes. ARTMS flagship product, the QUANTM Irradiation System (QIS), enables decentralized, cost-effective, large-scale production of important medical isotopes such as gallium-68 (68Ga), zirconium-89 (89Zr), technetium-99m (99mTc) and copper-64 (64Cu) using pharmaceutical distributor and hospital-based medical cyclotrons, empowering users to control their supply chain. ARTMS commercializes these award-winning and proprietary Canadian inventions on a global basis and has the prospect of revolutionizing the nuclear medicine industry.

For more information on the QUANTM Irradiation System and ARTMS, please follow us on Twitter @Quantm99 and LinkedIn and visit http://www.artms.ca/.

About Isotopia

Isotopia Molecular Imaging Ltd. is a collaboration between The Metrontario Group and some of Israel's leading scientists in the field of radiopharmaceuticals. The Isotopia development team is a multidisciplinary team consisting of nuclear pharmacists, radiochemists, nuclear engineers, and physicists. The experienced Isotopia team, together with its radio-nuclear pharmacy, cyclotron facility, 177Lu production site and sterile manufacturing, are a well-established platform for development. Isotopia creates collaborations between the scientific and medical community to further develop and experiment with new markers for imaging applications and molecular therapy.

For more information on Isotopia, please visit www.isotopia.co.il.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210119005044/en/
The recent approval of a number of Covid-19 vaccines all over the world has meant thousands of journalists are having to report on vaccines and scientific investigations. With audiences hungry for any information to better understand the vaccines and the way out of the devastating impact of the Covid-19 crisis, journalists have too often had to work to keep citizens informed on a fast-moving and complex story without prior experience of the science, logistics and potential concerns about the vaccination process.

In parallel, theres a wave of misinformation and sensationalism about the vaccines that needs to be tackled. Misinformation around COVID-19 has been rampant since the beginning of the pandemic, but now, with the beginning of the vaccination campaigns in some parts of the world, it has become an even greater threat to public health.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) believes that now, more than ever, journalists are making a huge effort to explain the global and local context of the vaccines while scrutinizing pharmaceutical companies and demanding transparency of the governments vaccination policies and programs. And many of them are doing it without prior expertise or guidance on health reporting.

To help journalists face this challenge ahead of them, the IFJ is publishing a set of guidelines, tips and resources to help improve media coverage on vaccines and the vaccination strategies.

Dont trust data automatically

Authorities and pharmaceutical companies may be tempted to release attractive and impactful data. Journalists must always request the raw data where possible, include the details of the research and clarify what the news means and what it does not. Avoid simply relying on company or government press releases.

For example, when reporting on a paper or a pharmaceutical study, journalists must look carefully into the data, such as the age of the participants in the study and specify the size, numbers tested, and time period of the trial.

Use trusted and reliable sources

Accessing the correct sources is essential. The World Health Organisation or the European Medicines Agency or academic institutions and universities are some of sources recommended by experienced health journalists -see the list below-. Always follow the principles of the IFJ Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists .

Understand whats known and what is not about vaccines

The process of developing a vaccine is long and complex and doesnt end with its approval. Journalists must follow the ongoing studies and consult vaccine experts to understand the implications of potential new findings such as the immunity durability of vaccines, its effectiveness, possible secondary effects, if a vaccinated person can still spread the virus or not or if they will work if the virus mutates.

Explain in detail scientific vocabulary

What does it mean that a vaccine has 95% efficacy? Is efficacy the same as effectiveness? What does immunity mean? From when do we start having it? What does it mean to achieve herd immunity?

According to health experts, these are some of the questions journalists have to understand and be able to clearly communicate to their audience. Using clear and familiar language will also help your audience to understand the information you are conveying. Check the WHO vocabulary glossary to fully understand the concepts you will need to explain in your coverage.

From global to local

Understanding and explaining how the global process of the vaccines, the scientific research and its approval from the authorities is to be applied is essential; but so too is to explain it from a local perspective. Local audiences trust local news the most, and local journalists will play a critical role in informing the public on vaccination sites, eligibility criteria and other practical information.

Avoid sensationalism and click baiting

Journalists must inform the public truthfully about the potential side effects they may feel after vaccination without falling into sensationalism or creating unjustified alarm, especially in headlines. Clearly explaining the possible side effects of any given vaccine will educate the public and ease their reservations.

Educate on the importance of vaccines

Vaccines have saved millions of lives throughout human history and so will the Covid-19 ones. Journalists can tackle misinformation about vaccines by reporting on facts and figures on vaccine efficacy and the importance they have had in ending pandemics in history. Understanding and clearly explaining the possible side-effects of vaccines is critical in places where mistrust over vaccines is higher.

Collaborate!

This is the most important tip of all. Collaborate with other journalists and media outlets and learn from other health journalists coverage around the world. Competition among journalists will only speed up the spread of misinformation as the fight to publish the fastest breaking news is more likely to lead to inaccurate and sensationalist coverage.

Recommended information sources:
Google has released another Chrome update for Windows, Mac and Linux, adding some personal security features that should keep users a little safer online. If you use Chrome's built-in password manager  which isnt our recommendation, but its better than using the same password everywhere  youll now have some extra options. You can check if you have any weak passwords, for instance, by selecting your profile picture in the browser, followed by the key icon. (Alternatively, you can type chrome://settings/passwords in your address bar.) Select check passwords and youll see a breakdown of accounts that need updating.

In addition, Google is giving users a single place to update all of their Chrome-managed passwords. You may want to update multiple usernames and passwords easily, in one convenient place, the company explained in a blog post. Thats why starting in Chrome 88, you can manage all of your passwords even faster and easier in Chrome Settings. The feature should be available now on desktop and iOS, ahead of an Android roll-out in the near future.

As How-To Geek notes, a bunch of smaller features have also been introduced with Chrome 88. If you have dark mode enabled on Windows 10, various Chrome-built pages, such as Bookmarks and History, should now have darkened scroll bars. FTP support has been fully removed, including the hidden Flag setting, along with support for macOS Yosemite. Google is continuing to test light and dark themes on Chromebooks, which can be enabled at chrome://flags/#dark-light-mode, along with a Tab Search feature for Windows, Mac and Linux users, which is accessible via chrome://flags/#enable-tab-search.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Joe Biden took the oath of office just before noon today to become the 46th president of the United States, taking the helm of a deeply divided nation and inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors. This is the latest on Bidens presidential inauguration (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

President Joe Biden has entered the White House for the first time as chief executive after walking an abbreviated parade route, still wearing his protective mask amid sounds of Hail to the Chief.

The 46th president and first lady Jill Biden walked through a military cordon lining the White House driveway with the flags of U.S. states, leading the first couple to the main entrance under the North Portico on Wednesday.

Biden was expected to immediately begin working, with a stack of executive orders on immigration and other matters awaiting his signature.

The final ceremonial flourish completed an abbreviated inaugural afternoon unlike any Washington has seen, with Biden being seen in person by only a relative smattering of Americans given security lockdowns after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and public health protocols amid the ongoing pandemic.

3:35 p.m.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says he hopes Donald Trump will continue to be the leader of the Republican Party after his election defeat and second impeachment.

The Republican senator said Wednesday during an interview on Fox News that if youre wanting to erase Donald Trump from the party, youre going to get erased.

Over the course of Trumps one-term presidency, Graham went from being one of his fiercest critics to being one of his most prominent allies in Congress.

Graham said it was inappropriate for Republicans in Congress to try to overturn President Joe Bidens victory and called Trumps comments ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot a big mistake. But he says ultimately that it wasnt a crime and that he blames the people that came into the Capitol, not him.

He said he thinks there would be a lot of support for Trump if he ran again in 2024.

He added: But Im not worried about 2024. I want to help Biden where I can, I want to get this country back on track.

3:25 p.m.

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton says it really lifted her heart to see Joe Biden sworn in as president on the same platform that supporters of President Donald Trump climbed when they attacked the Capitol two weeks ago.

Clinton and her husband, the former President Bill Clinton, attended Wednesdays inauguration of Biden. Afterward, she told The Associated Press that she was relieved and grateful to see Biden sworn in with a peaceful transition of power.

Thats been taken for granted in the U.S. for over two centuries. But two weeks ago, hundreds of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from formally certifying Bidens election victory over Trump.

The House impeached Trump a week later on a charge of inciting an insurrection.

Clinton says she thinks it was meaningful to many Americans to see Biden take his oath of office where, just a few weeks ago, marauders and terrorists had been attempting to stop democracy.

Trump defeated Clinton for the presidency in 2016.

3:15 p.m.

The highest-ranking Black member of Congress says former President George W. Bush lauded his role as a savior in helping get President Joe Biden elected to the White House.

U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Wednesday on a call with reporters that the Republican former president told him ahead of the inaugural ceremony that, if he had not given Biden the boost he did ahead of South Carolinas primary, we would not be having this transfer of power today.

Clyburn says Bush went on to say that Biden was the only one who could have defeated the incumbent president, Donald Trump. Trump and the Bush family didnt get along.

Clyburns pivotal endorsement ahead of South Carolinas Democratic primary helped propel Biden to the nomination. Biden won South Carolina by a margin of nearly 30 points.

Clyburn, South Carolinas only Democratic representative in Congress, is the dean of the states Democrats and the third-ranking member of the U.S. House.

3:05 p.m.

President Joe Biden has spent a few of the first moments of his term at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring fallen veterans with three former presidents and their families.

The president, first lady Jill Biden, and newly sworn-in Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, presided over a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Wednesday.

After cannon fire rumbled in the distance, Biden saluted as a military band played the national anthem.

Biden and Harris later briefly touched the wreath before bowing their heads in prayer. The president also made the sign of the cross, then he and Harris stood somberly for the playing of taps.

Joining them at the ceremony were former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura and former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary.

Former President Donald Trump flew to Florida before Biden was sworn into office.

2:35 p.m.

President Joe Bidens team has started moving into the White House.

The building began humming again with activity a few hours after Bidens inauguration Wednesday as staff for the new president started moving into their offices, unpacking belongings and getting the badges that grant them easy access to the property.

New press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that she was in the building and ready to get to work. Psaki has scheduled the new administrations first White House press briefing for later Wednesday.

Biden plans to sign a flurry of executive orders, some overturning actions by former President Donald Trump, once he gets to the Oval Office.

The White House had been largely emptied out of staff after Trump flew to Florida on Wednesday morning, skipping his successors swearing-in.

2:15 p.m.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have taken part in the traditional inaugural military tradition of Pass in Review.

Biden, Harris and their spouses stood Wednesday on the East Front steps of the U.S. Capitol to observe the procession of ceremonial military regiments.

Several groupings passed by the steps, with military members saluting the newly minted president and musicians playing traditional patriotic tunes.

The inaugural parade that typically follows was to be replaced by a virtual parade later in the day because of concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the procession, the couples climbed into vehicles to travel to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They were to be joined by the former presidents who attended the earlier inaugural ceremony.

1:50 p.m.

Congressional leaders have presented President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with a variety of gifts, including a pair of flags flown over the U.S. Capitol during the inauguration.

The presentations to the officials and their respective spouses happened Wednesday in lieu of a congressional luncheon that typically follows the inauguration ceremony.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said Lenox had crafted a pair of commemorative vases for Biden and Harris, each weighing 32 pounds (14.5 kilograms).

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell gifted them with a pair of U.S. flags that were flown over the Capitol during the inauguration. McConnell noted that both Biden and Harris served in the Senate and skipped the House altogether.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer presented photos from Wednesdays ceremony.

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri noted that the Smithsonian had loaned a painting titled Landscape with Rainbow by a notable Black painter from around the time of the Civil War.

1:40 p.m.

Vice President Kamala Harris has now taken on a role that would have typically been performed by the outgoing president.

Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, stood on the U.S. Capitol steps Wednesday to bid farewell to her predecessor, former Vice President Mike Pence, and his wife, Karen.

The two couples stood and chatted for a few moments, even laughing, on the steps before the Pences got into a vehicle and were driven away.

President Donald Trump typically would have performed the sendoff for his second-in-command but opted to skip Wednesdays inaugural festivities.

Trump and his wife, Melania, went straight from the White House to Joint Base Andrews earlier Wednesday. He gave a campaign-style farewell speech before boarding Air Force One for a final time as president and traveling to his home in Florida.

Pence opted not to attend that event, instead attending Bidens inauguration.

12:50 p.m.

Calm prevailed outside heavily fortified state capitol buildings across the U.S. as Joe Biden was sworn in as president.

The FBI had warned of the possibility for armed demonstrations leading up to the inauguration after President Donald Trump repeatedly and falsely claimed the election was stolen from him.

Fewer than a half-dozen demonstrators showed up outside the capitols in Concord, New Hampshire, and Lansing, Michigan. A lone protester wearing a Make America Great Again hat stood outside a chain-link fence surrounding the California Capitol in Sacramento, as dozens of police officers and National Guard troops guarded every entrance.

Three protesters were outside the Nebraska Capitol in Lincoln, one waving a flag that read Biden is not the president.

Dump trucks, prison buses and other government vehicles were used to barricade streets around the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta, though no protesters were there.

Michigan lawmakers canceled a session scheduled for Wednesday out of caution. But in Wisconsin, legislators planned to move ahead with a committee hearing that was to be open to the public.

12:45 p.m.

The official swearing-in ceremony for President Joe Biden have concluded, but more events are planned throughout the day.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden departed the platform at the U.S. Capitol following a ceremony that included Biden taking the oath Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States. Vice President Kamala Harris also took her oath of office, becoming the nations first female vice president.

The day included musical performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks. Celebrated poet Amanda Gorman read a piece noting that, while democracy can be permanently delayed, it can never be permanently denied.

Following his departure from the platform, Biden was expected to sign paperwork in the Presidents Room within the U.S. Capitol. Afterward, he reviews troops outside the Capitol before departing and traveling to Arlington National Cemetery for a ceremony with former presidents in attendance.

Later Wednesday, Biden is expected to make his first official arrival at the White House as president before a virtual inaugural parade.

12:40 p.m.

Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman summoned images dire and triumphant as she called out to the world even as we grieved, we grew.

Gorman is 22, by far the youngest inaugural poet since Robert Frost read for John F. Kennedy in 1961. She quoted biblical scripture and echoed the oratory of Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. among others as she recited her poem at President Joe Bidens inauguration on Wednesday.

She referred to the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump, an event that she said helped inspire her to finish her poem, The Hill We Climb.

12:30 p.m.

Garth Brooks has sung a gospel-tinged and beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace at President Joe Bidens inauguration.

The country superstar took off his black cowboy hat and kept his eyes closed for much of the powerful song, performing it a capella and without strain.

He offered a few dazzling smiles as the sun broke through the crowd and asked the audience to sing a verse with him. He said, Not just the people here, but the people at home, to work as one united.

After it was over, Brooks shook hands with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Brooks performed during the inaugural celebration of President Barack Obama in 2009. He turned down a chance to play for President Donald Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict.

12:20 p.m.

More than a hundred people stood in the cold waiting to get through a security checkpoint to reach Pennsylvania Avenue, where they hoped to catch a glimpse of the presidential procession.

People watched the inauguration ceremony on their phones Wednesday, cheering as Vice President Kamala Harris, then President Joe Biden took the oath.

I feel so hopeful, so thankful, said Karen Jennings Crooms, a D.C. resident waiting in line with her husband. It makes us sad that this is where we are but hopeful that democracy will win out in the end. Thats what Im focusing on.

Her husband, Vernal Crooms, who attended Howard University at the same time as Harris but didnt know her, said he was happy to see the Donald Trump era end.

He said, Weve turned the page. Light prevailed and the lie didnt last.

12:10 p.m.

President Joe Biden is calling on Americans to overcome their divisions, declaring in his first address in office that without unity, there is no peace.

Biden also pledged during his inaugural address Wednesday that he would be honest with the country as it continues to confront difficulties, saying that leaders have an obligation to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

He asked even those who did not vote for him to give him a chance. He said, Hear me out as we move forward.

As he did frequently during the campaign, Biden pledged that he will be a president for all Americans and will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

He added, We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue.

Noon

President Joe Biden says democracy has prevailed in a country reeling amid a pandemic and a violent melee two weeks ago at the U.S. Capitol.

In his first remarks as president, Biden said Wednesday that his swearing-in marks a day of history and hope.

Biden said in his inaugural address that the country has learned again that democracy is precious.

He added, The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

Biden also thanked his predecessors from both parties for attending Wednesdays ceremonies. Former Vice President Mike Pence was also in attendance, while former President Donald Trump skipped the festivities and headed to Florida earlier in the day.

11:50 a.m.

Joe Biden has officially become the 46th president of the United States.

Biden took the oath of office just before noon Wednesday during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The presidential oath was administered by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Biden was sworn in using a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was used during his swearing-in as vice president in 2009 and 2013. The 5-inch thick Bible, which could be seen on a table next to Bidens chair on the dais, has a Celtic cross on its cover and was also used each time he was sworn- n as a U.S. senator.

Bidens late son, Beau, also used the Bible for his own swearing-in ceremony as attorney general of Delaware and helped carry the Bible to his fathers 2013 ceremony.

11:45 a.m.

Kamala Harris has been sworn in as the nations first female vice president.

The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and becomes the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

She was sworn in Wednesday by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for President Donald Trump, was sitting nearby as Lady Gaga sang the national anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.

11:40 a.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump has pardoned Al Pirro, the ex-husband of Fox News Channel host and Trump ally Jeanine Pirro.

The pardon for Al Pirro is in addition to the 143 pardons and sentence commutations that Trump announced earlier Wednesday. Pirros pardon was announced just after Trump landed in Florida after leaving the White House and before Joe Biden was inaugurated as the nations 46th president.

Jeanine Pirro hosts Fox News Channels Justice with Judge Jeanine.

Al Pirro was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion charges and sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2000.

11:35 a.m.

President Joe Biden has chosen career diplomat Daniel Smith to serve as acting secretary of state until his pick for top diplomat, Antony Blinken, is confirmed by the Senate.

Smith currently runs the Foreign Service Institute that trains U.S. diplomats and is a former ambassador to Greece.

Current and incoming U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday of his temporary appointment, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement. Biden is set to be sworn in at noon as the 46th president of the United States.

Blinken had a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, and his confirmation is not expected to face obstacles. He would succeed President Donald Trumps secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.

11:15 a.m.

Joe Bidens presidential inauguration ceremony has begun.

Biden swears the oath of office at noon Wednesday, becoming the 46th president of the United States. The Democrat is preparing to take the helm of a deeply divided nation and inherit crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

History will be made at Bidens side, as Kamala Harris becomes the first woman to be vice president.

The ceremony in which presidential power is transferred is a hallowed American democratic tradition. And this time it serves as a jarring reminder of the challenges Biden faces: The inauguration unfolds at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago, encircled by security forces. Its devoid of crowds because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol.

Former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are attending.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend.

11:10 a.m.

Three Supreme Court justices are absent from President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, citing health risks from the coronavirus pandemic.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito did not join the others on the west front of the Capitol Wednesday. Breyer is 82, the oldest member of the court. Thomas is 72 and Alito is 70.

Supreme Court spokesperson Kathy Arberg says some members of the court elected not to attend the inauguration ceremony in light of the public health risks posed by the COVID pandemic.

The justices have begun receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is not clear if they all have received both doses.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the other appointees of President Donald Trump, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh were in attendance Wednesday, along with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Roberts was to swear in Biden, while Sotomayor was giving the oath of office to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

11:10 a.m.

Vice President Mike Pence has arrived at the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.

Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were announced at inaugural festivities at the U.S. Capitol about one hour ahead of Bidens expected swearing-in ceremony.

Pence is representing the outgoing Trump administration at Bidens inaugural. President Donald Trump is skipping the festivities, departing Washington earlier in the day for the last time as sitting president.

Aboard Air Force One a final time, Trump landed in West Palm Beach, Florida, just before Pences arrival at the inaugural platform.

During remarks before his departure, Trump hinted at a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years, telling supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland We will be back in some form.

11:05 a.m.

A Capitol police officer hailed as a hero for his actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol is accompanying Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the inauguration of Harris and President-elect Joe Biden.

Officer Eugene Goodman confronted the insurrectionists and led them away from Senate chambers moments after Vice President Mike Pence was escorted from the Senate chamber as the rioters stormed the Capitol.

Goodman is a Black man and was facing an overwhelmingly white mob. He is the only officer seen for a full minute on widely circulated footage captured by a news reporter. Goodman stands in front of the rioters and walks backward as the group follows him to a second-floor hallway, where other officers finally assist him.

A police spokeswoman says Goodmans plainclothes assignment to accompany Harris is a ceremonial role.

11 a.m.

Former Republican leaders and lawmakers are among those gathering at the Capitol for President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was attending the Wednesday ceremony to honor the process after a year that he said tested the nations institutions. He said he was there out of respect for the peaceful transfer of power.

Former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona says its too bad that outgoing President Donald Trump did not attend for that handoff that the world can see.

Flake is a Trump critic. He says he hopes its a moment of renewal for the nation. He says he thinks Americans will sleep easier knowing that we have a more steady hand in the White House.

10:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in Florida after leaving the White House for the final time as president.

Trump said farewell to Washington early Wednesday, leaving before President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

Trumps plane flew low along the coast as Bidens inauguration played on TV on Fox News Channel.

Trumps family was on the plane with him. He spent some of the flight meeting with flight staff, who went up to say goodbye.

Trump has hinted about a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years.

Trump spoke to supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where he walked across a red carpet and boarded Air Force One to head to Florida. He said: So just a goodbye. We love you. And the 45th president added, We will be back in some form.

Trump departs office as the only president ever impeached twice, and with millions more out of work than when he was sworn in and 400,000 dead from the coronavirus.

10:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden has arrived at the U.S. Capitol ahead of his inauguration as the United States 46th president.

Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived at the complex on Wednesday morning, about 90 minutes before his noon swearing-in ceremony. They were accompanied by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and were greeted by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

The president-elects motorcade wound its way through a mostly deserted Washington following a morning church service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Streets that would typically be lined with thousands of inaugural onlookers were ringed instead with a massive security presence to include military vehicles and armed troops.

About 25,000 National Guard members have been dispatched to Washington following the violent melee at the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago.

Biden paused to wave from the Capitol steps before entering the building.

10:25 a.m.

All of the former U.S. presidents attending President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration have arrived at the U.S. Capitol.

George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were first to arrive at the complex on Wednesday morning, several hours before Bidens swearing-in ceremony.

Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton followed shortly thereafter, with each couple arriving in separate motorcades.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend Bidens inauguration. Carter and his wife, 93-year-old Rosalynn Carter, have largely spent the coronavirus pandemic at their home in Plains, Georgia.

Carter had been the first former president to confirm that he was attending Donald Trumps inaugural in 2017.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump departed Washington earlier Wednesday, skipping the Biden inaugural festivities and heading straight to their home in Florida. Trump is the first president since Andrew Johnson not to attend the inauguration of his successor.

10:20 a.m.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are showcasing American designers at their inauguration.

The president-elect is wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat by Ralph Lauren. Jill Biden is wearing an ocean-blue wool tweed coat and dress by American designer Alexandra ONeill of the Markarian label.

Aides say Harris is wearing Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson. Both are Black designers, Rogers from Louisiana and Hudson from South Carolina.

Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, wore a Ralph Lauren suit on Wednesday.

9:50 a.m.

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will resign when President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office.

The Justice Department says Rosens resignation goes into effect at noon Wednesday.

Rosen has run the department since former Attorney General William Barr resigned on Dec. 23. He was previously the deputy attorney general and deputy transportation secretary.

Rosen has kept a low profile since he assumed the top job at the Justice Department. He has not held a press conference or addressed the press corps since he took the role, even after a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. He has only released pre-recorded videos discussing the matter and issued statements.

Longtime Justice Department official Monty Wilkinson is expected to assume the role of acting attorney general while Judge Merrick Garland awaits confirmation by the Senate.

9:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump has followed at least one presidential tradition.

The White House says the Republican president left behind a note for his successor, Democrat Joe Biden.

Deputy press secretary Judd Deere declined to reveal what Trump wrote to Biden or to characterize the sentiment in the note, citing privacy for communication between presidents.

Trump has refused to publicly concede to Biden and did not mention the Democrat by name in a pair of farewell addresses.

Trump interrupted many traditions of the presidency, including by not attending Bidens inauguration on Wednesday. Trump also did not invite Biden to the White House for a meeting after Biden was declared the winner of Novembers presidential election

Trump left the White House for the final time as president on Wednesday morning, saying, Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.

9:05 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he thinks the new administration will have great success and claims to have laid the foundation for it.

Trump says the new administration has the foundation to do something really spectacular. He made brief farewell remarks at Marylands Joint Base Andrews before he boarded Air Force One for a flight to his Florida home.

Trump did not mention President-elect Joe Biden by name during his Wednesday remarks.

Trump told cheering, chanting supporters hell be watching and listening from a distance. He promised he will be back in some form and wished the crowd a good life before he and his wife boarded the plane.

Trump wanted to be in Florida before Biden becomes president at noon.

8:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden is attending church ahead of his inauguration, a traditional step taken ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

Biden and incoming first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday are attending a service at Washingtons Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. With them are incoming Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff.

At Bidens invitation, the first couple is joined by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, including all four top-ranking members of congressional leadership.

That includes both Senate leaders, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Many presidents have chosen St. Johns Episcopal Church, sometimes called Church of the Presidents, for the inaugural day service. Biden is the second Catholic U.S. president, and St. Matthews is the seat of the Catholic archbishop of Washington.

Biden spent Tuesday night at Blair House, a traditional move ahead of a presidents inauguration.

8:15 a.m.

Donald Trump has left the White House for the final time as president.

Trump emerged from the building Wednesday morning and strode across the South Lawn to board Marine One. He said, Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.

Trump now heads to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, where hell have a military sendoff. A red carpet has been placed on the tarmac for Trump to walk as he boards the plane. Four U.S. Army cannons are set up for a 21-gun salute. Trump then flies to Florida, where hell stay at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump is leaving Washington just hours before Joe Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th president. Its the first time in more than a century that a sitting president has rejected the tradition of attending his successors inauguration.

7:45 a.m.

Two of the Biden administrations top communications officials are describing the incoming presidents inaugural address as a forward-looking speech that will make little to no mention of his predecessor.

Communications director Kate Bedingfield told ABCs Good Morning America on Wednesday that President-elect Joe Bidens address would speak to the moment that we are in, but it will also lay out a vision for the future.

Biden press secretary Jen Psaki tells CNN that Bidens inaugural address is definitely not a speech about Donald Trump and she wouldnt expect to hear about him in it.

Bedingfield says Biden had not had any contact with the outgoing president.

Asked why Biden had invited political opponents including House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to join him at a Mass on Wednesday morning, Psaki said it felt important to him personally to have members of both parties ... and use that as an example to the American public.

Bedingfield says Biden will sign 15 executive orders in some of his first moves as president.

7:35 a.m.

As the sun rose over Washingtons Freedom Plaza between the U.S. Capitol and the White House ahead of Joe Bidens presidential inauguration, clusters of soldiers in full battle fatigues clustered inside metal barriers erected to restrict access to the procession route.

Some yellow placards on the barriers read Biden-Harris 2021, while others carried the seal of the presidency or inaugural insignias. American and District of Columbia flags flapped in high winds.

Traffic has been blocked off nearby in all directions. Revelers have been told to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Most offices in the surrounding buildings are closed, many boarded up with plywood to prevent damage in case violence breaks out Wednesday.

But one tall office building in view of the procession route has been fitted with towering signs reading Welcome, Mr. President and Welcome Madam Vice President, for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

After being sworn in, Biden is set to inspect the readiness of military troops in a traditional pass in review.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EasySend , a no-code platform for building and optimizing digital customer journeys, announced that they're partnering with Sompo Japan , the second-largest non-life insurance company in Japan, to introduce their no-code platform into Sompo's marine insurance accident notification system. This strategic integration marks EasySend's move into the Japanese insurance market.

Due to the recent acceleration in digital transformation and the fast-paced evolution of digital devices, customers' needs have become diverse, complex, and rapidly changing requiring fast and continuous support and advancements. To meet customers' evolving needs and expectations, Sompo Japan has devoted three digital labs  in Tokyo, Tel Aviv, and Silicon Valley. Sompo Digital labs focus on promoting digital transformation, exploring innovative, emerging start-ups, and conducting joint Proof of Concept projects with SOMPO Holding's different business units. Sompo Digital Labs played a key role in introducing EasySend's no-code development platform to Sompo Japan, an introduction that resulted in a commercial agreement between the two companies aiming to improve Sompo Japan's customer experience (CX) and work efficiency.

EasySend provides a cloud-based, no-code development platform to banks as well as insurance and financial service companies in Europe, the United States, and Israel. The company transforms paperwork into digital journeys in a very short period of time. The EasySend platform does not require any programming expertise and allows non-developers to create digital journeys quickly and easily with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and pre-made templates. The platform greatly improves customer experience (CX) and reduces time to market as well as operational costs. By continuously developing digital journeys to improve customer experience and operational efficiency, EasySend enables businesses to flexibly respond to the ever-changing business environment and customer needs.

As a first step, Sompo Japan will implement EasySend's no-code platform into its marine insurance accident notification system. Following this stage, Sompo will seek to apply the platform to respond to additional customer needs. Before using EasySend's platform at-scale  i.e., transitioning from solely utilizing it for claims processing to leveraging its capabilities for customer payments and specific accident data analyses  Sompo will channel its efforts towards standardizing and digitizing accident receipt documents (including images taken with a smartphone) and claims documents. Once that has been achieved, the company will continue to expand its efforts to continue improving its responsiveness to the ever-evolving customer environment.

About EasySend

EasySend is leading the charge for a digital future by empowering insurance carriers, banks, and financial services to transform manual, paper-based processes into powerful digital experiences on any device. EasySend empowers enterprises to deliver new digital journeys faster and improve the customer experience at a fraction of the cost with their innovative no-code development platform. By harnessing AI and machine learning, EasySend enables real-time insights into customer interactions, allowing processes to be optimized quickly and easily. The company was founded in 2016 and has offices in the U.S., Germany, and headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, visit https://www.easysend.io/ .

Media Contact:

Headline Media

Justine Rosin

[email protected]

US:+1 917 724 2176

SOURCE EasySend; Sompo Japan

Related Links

https://www.sompo-japan.co.jp/english/



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Conte, however, lacks the reliable majority he'll need to effectively govern the country with its pandemic-pummelled economy

Rome: Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte squeaked through a crucial Senate confidence vote on his government with enough backing to keep his wobbly coalition afloat for now but without the reliable majority he'll need to effectively govern the country with its pandemic-pummelled economy.

The vote went 156 to 140 in his favour, There were 16 abstentions, thanks to a small but key coalition ally that bolted the centre-left coalition last week, jeopardizing Conte's survival at the nation's helm. Among the yes votes were two defectors from the centre-right opposition party led by ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

An absolute majority in the Senate is 161, so to pass critical legislation, including aid to help Italy's battered economy, Conte faces the unpleasant prospect on likely resorting often on support from outside his coalition.

Noting his win in the Senate, Conte tweeted that now the aim is to make this majority more solid. Italy doesn't have a minute to lose. Right to work to overcome the health emergency and the economic crisis.

Had he lost the confidence vote in Parliament's upper chamber, Conte would have been required to resign. But without absolute command of a majority there, he could still opt to hand in his resignation to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, in a bid to be tapped anew to try to cobble together a revamped, more dependable coalition.

Conte's tweet indicated he wanted to try to forge on, no matter how hobbled his coalition was left by the defection of lawmakers loyal to former Premier Matteo Renzi.

Conte was widely expected to pay a call on Mattarella, possibly on Wednesday, to brief the head-of-state on whether he feels he can still efficiently govern.

In pitching for the Senate's backing, Conte acknowledged his government's survival was in its hands. If we don't have the (vote) numbers, this government goes home, he said.

Italy is rolling out its COVID-19 vaccination program. It must also tell the European Union how it plans to spend more than 200 million euros (dollars) in funds earmarked by Brussels to help Italy's health system, sorely tested by the pandemic, and revive an economy, which was stagnant for years before pandemic lockdowns caused many businesses to struggle to survive.

In the lower Chamber of Deputies, where the 16-month-old government holds a more comfortable margin, Conte won a first confidence vote on Monday.

The political crisis was triggered when ex-Premier Matteo Renzi yanked his two ministers from his small, centrist Italia Viva (Italy Alive) party, in a spat over how much control Conte would hold in deciding how the EU largesse gets spent.

Numbers are important, today even more so. But even more important is the quality of the political project," Conte said in seeking senators' support. We ask all the political forces to help us relaunch with maximum speed and help us repair the damage to citizens' trust that the (political) crisis has produced. Renzi, in replying to Conte in the Senate Tuesday, hammered away at what he contended was the government's less-than-bold response to fighting the pandemic, including in how funds will be spent to revive Italy's battered economy, already stagnant for years before COVID-19 struck.

"In view of the pandemic, there's a need for a stronger government, Renzi added. Among those voting in Conte's favor were the tiny ranks of senators-for-life, who only occasionally come to Parliament to cast votes.

Among them was Liliana Segre, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor and senator-for-life who traveled from Milan to vote for the premier despite not yet receiving a coronavirus vaccination. Segre was made a senator-for-life by Italy's president to honour her work in keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive by speaking to students in schools throughout the nation.

The government crisis heightened demands by the opposition for an election two years early. But President Sergio Mattarella is considered unlikely at this point to choose that option, given the difficulty of organizing a campaign and vote during a pandemic.

Conte has boasted of his efforts to secure pandemic-recovery aid from the European Union. In Brussels, EU officials were following Italian political developments with concern.

EU Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis expressed hope that Italy's political instability would not compromise Italy's already substantial preparation of the recovery plan. He noted that Italy is by far the largest recipient of the pandemic funding.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Democrat Joe Biden on being sworn in as the 46th President of the US on January 20 and vowed to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights.



My warmest congratulations to @JoeBiden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership.

 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2021

Taking to Twitter to congratulate Biden, PM Modi wrote:

He further said: The India-US partnership is based on shared values. We have a substantial and multifaceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages. Committed to working with President Joe Biden to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights.



My best wishes for a successful term in leading USA as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security.

 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2021

PM Modi also extended his best wishes to Joe Biden for a successful term in leading the US as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also congratulated Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris saying:

Here's how some other world leader's reacted to Biden becoming the President of the US.

Congratulations, @JoeBiden, on your inauguration as the 46th President of the United States. Our two countries have tackled some of historys greatest challenges together - and Im looking forward to continuing this partnership with you, @KamalaHarris, and your administration. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 20, 2021

Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa tweeted:



We are ready to work with President @JoeBiden from day one to strengthen EU-US relations, reaffirm the enduring relevance of #NATO and reinforce multilateral responses to issues such as climate change and the defence of democracy and human rights. #EU2021PT  Antonio Costa (@antoniocostapm) January 20, 2021



I congratulate President @JoeBiden on his inauguration. Look forward to working with @POTUS in building a stronger Pak-US partnership through trade & economic engagement, countering climate change, improving public health, combating corruption & promoting peace in region & beyond Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 20, 2021

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted:



Congratulations to @JoeBiden on being sworn in as President of the United States and to @KamalaHarris on her historic inauguration. Americas leadership is vital on the issues that matter to us all, from climate change to COVID, and I look forward to working with President Biden.  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 20, 2021



The United States is back. And Europe stands ready.To reconnect with an old and trusted partner,

to breathe new life into our cherished alliance. I look forward to working together with @JoeBiden pic.twitter.com/gc7HIIg2Z8  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 20, 2021

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs spokesperson said: Joe Bidens victory represents the victory of democracy over the extreme right. Five years ago, we believed without

doubt that Trump was a bad joke. Five years later, we realise that he endangered the worlds most powerful democracy.Irans President Hassan Rouhani said: A tyrants era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign. We expect [the Biden administration] to return to law and to commitments, and try in the next four years, if they can, to remove the stains of the past four years.
Kenmare is a wonderful town, and we look forward to adding a new zest to The Lansdowne whilst still respecting its rich history and unique location, says John Brennan.

John and his brother Francis have acquired the towns Victorian-style Lansdowne Arms out of receivership for an undisclosed sum.

The pair plan to rebrand and reopen the hotel when guidelines permit, in late spring or early summer.

It wasnt on the horizon, but was too good an opportunity to say no to, says John, who also owns nearby Dromquinna Manor with his wife, Gwen.

Read More

The word Id use is charming. They are stripped back, comfortable, very stylish rooms.

"The style were going for is not OTT, but people will go in and say, this is gorgeous. It will maintain the sense of a heritage property.

This is one of the oldest hotels in Ireland, and we look forward to filling it with new life and style which we hope will bring additional visitors to the special place in which we live.

He pitches it as a revitalised Irish town hotel bringing the best of Irish hospitality to a mid-price point market looking for a very personal and warm experience.

On the ground floor, a new Lansdowne Cafe featuring 3fe coffee will open daily from 8am for bites, and The Lansdowne Bar will serve casual, flavoursome local food from 12.30pm daily.

Meanwhile, with the Park Hotel closed since October, the Brennans have been busy steering an enormous restoration job, the fruits of which will be on display when hotels reopen for inter-county visitors.

While hotels are largely shuttered and surviving on Government supports, lockdowns have also been a time to rethink and adapt businesses for a post-pandemic world, adds Margaret Ryan, marketing director for the Park and Dromquinna.

I dont think we are the only ones, she says. Everyone has learned a lot during Covid. They had to stop and take a deep breath, and run their properties differently.

The Brennans also confirmed the next series of RTEs At Your Service will air in September of this year, and there will be another series in 2022.
Japans new envoy to China called on Tokyo and Beijing to break the cycle of ups and downs in their relationship, as Japan undergoes it first leadership change in nearly eight years.

In a written interview with Caixin, Japans new Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi said the two countries should focus on the battle against the coronavirus before holding high-level talks. President Xi Jinping had planned to make his first state visit to Japan in the spring of 2020, but it canceled due to the pandemic.

Tarumi envisions bringing relations between the two countries into a new phase. I believe Japan and China need to graduate from the era where the bilateral relations deteriorate fundamentally immediately after a problem arises or suddenly improve, or where business is affected by the turbulence in the relations," he said.

Observing turbulent Sino-Japanese relations over the past decade, the 59-year-old veteran diplomat said the good and bad times in the bilateral relations come alternately, and we should not overreact in each situation. Tarumi has spent most of his 35-year career working on China issues, and has been previously posted to Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei.

Last September, his ambassadorship was approved by the cabinet of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose tough stance on China was clearer than the current government under Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. The new ambassador arrived in Beijing in late November.

Meanwhile, Tarumi also vowed that Japan will say what it should say in coming dialogues.

As for the prospect on the China-Japan-Korea trilateral negotiations on free-trade agreements (FTA), Tarumi said a trilateral trade pact must be a high-standard agreement that exceeds the level of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which was signed in November by 15 member countries, including China and Japan. It is necessary to first work on the early entry into force of the RCEP Agreement and to assess how it is implemented.

Shortly after the conclusion of the RCEP negotiations, President Xi said China will favorably consider joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a mega-free trade zone initiative promoted by Japan.

Asked about the so-called Quad framework consisting of the U.S., Japan, Australia and India, Tarumi elaborated that the four members are supposed to discuss a wide range of issues to facilitate concrete cooperation on a common agenda, such as high quality infrastructure, maritime security and counter-terrorism measures, in addition promoting the free and open Indo-Pacific concept. He denied it targets any specific country.

Ahead of the inauguration of the new American president, Tarumi expressed Japans expectation for constructive discussions between China and the U.S.

A full text of Caixins interview with Tarumi follows below:

Caixin: In the transition from the Abe cabinet to the Suga cabinet, which element do you think is stronger for Japans China policy, continuity or change? Prior to your appointment as Japanese Ambassador to China, did Prime Minister Suga reveal to you the principles of his China policy?

Tarumi: First, I would like to review Japan-China relations over the past decade or so. For three years, since 2008, I was the head of the China Division of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2008, the Japanese and Chinese leaders held eight meetings in one year, and in 2009, they held seven. This frequency seems unthinkable today. Since then, Japan-China relations have regressed considerably, but with the second Abe administration coming to power in 2012, Japan-China relations returned to the recovery track. And in 2019, through the exchange of visits between Prime Minister Abe and President Xi Jinping, Japan-China relations can be said to have returned to a normal track. Now, some analysts believe that Japan-China relations are heading for difficult times again, partly due to the impact of the recent U.S.-China relationship. However, as I explained, the good times and bad times in Japan-China relations come alternately. I dont think we should overreact to each situation.

Shortly after assuming office, Prime Minister Suga held his first Japan-China telephone summit meeting with President Xi Jinping, in which I also participated. The Chinese side expressed its willingness to continue to develop Sino-Japan relations. And Prime Minister Suga said, stable Japan-China relations are extremely important not only for the two countries, but also for the region and the international community, and hoped that both sides would work together to fulfill responsibilities.

Since taking office, Prime Minister Suga has made it clear that he wants to maintain stable relations with China and other neighboring countries on the basis of the Japan-U.S. alliance. Does this mean that he will follow the default line of America first, China later?

Japan and China play an important role in Asia and are the second and third largest economies in the world, so they need to take great responsibility for regional peace and stability. Stability in Japan-China relations is extremely important, both from the standpoint of Japans national interests and from the regional perspective. I believe it is important to deal with the outstanding issues of concern appropriately and build a stable and constructive Japan-China relationship, thus solving problems one after another.

The Japan-U.S. relationship is an alliance. The Japan-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships for Japan. Also, the U.S. and China are the worlds first and second largest economic powers. At a time when the world is facing the unprecedented problem of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is extremely important for the U.S. and China to build a stable relationship, whether from the viewpoint of Japans national interests or the peace and stability of the international community.

I believe from the viewpoint of our national interests it remains important for Japan to communicate closely with China while maintaining strong relationship of trust with the U.S., our ally, and to work together with China to actively fulfill their responsibilities as major powers toward building a free, open, and fair order based on international rules. We will continue carefully watching the direction of U.S.-China relations after the inauguration of the new U.S. president, and expect that constructive discussions will take place between the two countries.

Although Sino-Japanese relations have gradually improved in recent years, they have stagnated in 2020 and there is no mood for high-level exchange due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other factors. In your opinion, is there still sufficient will on the Japanese side to continue to move forward with upcoming high-level exchanges? If the Japanese side still has the will to work with the Chinese side, when do you expect such an opportunity to arrive?

It goes without saying that high-level dialogue between Japan and China is necessary. At the Japan-China Foreign Ministers meeting in November 2020, we reaffirmed the importance of continued high-level communication. However, considering the current situation, I think we should first focus on abating the coronavirus pandemic.

The Tokyo Olympics will be held in the summer of 2021. The success of the Tokyo Olympics and the quarantine experience will be very relevant to the preparation for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. In order to successfully host these two Olympic Games, is Japan willing to cooperate with China and share the know-how of Covid-19 prevention amid large-scale events?

Asia is expected to host two Olympic and Paralympic Games consecutively  first, the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, and then the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing six months later. In addition, 2022 will mark the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China. We will welcome this milestone year, significantly important from the viewpoint of the history of Japan-China relations.

Both countries have confirmed at a high level that they will continue to cooperate with each other for the success of the two Olympic and Paralympic Games. I myself, in my capacity as a Japanese Ambassador stationed in Beijing, would like to contribute to the success of the Tokyo Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. To this end, I would like to communicate with the Chinese side.

How do you assess the impact on Japan and Japanese companies of the recent economic and high-tech frictions between China and the U.S.? Do you feel any momentum of Japanese companies in China wanting to relocate their production facilities to other countries or return to Japan? The Japanese government has launched a policy of subsidizing Japanese companies to relocate their supply chains. What is the intention of the Japanese government? It appears that the Japanese government intends to expand this budget. How much will this budget increase to?

The U.S. and China are the worlds first and second largest economic powers, respectively. I am aware that there are confrontations between the two countries in the areas of trade and high technology. Considering the enormous impact of the U.S.-China relations on Japan and the global economy, I believe it is extremely important that the U.S. and China establish a stable relationship. We expect that the two countries will advance a constructive dialogue under the next U.S. administration.

In addition, I would like to point out that our program to strengthen the supply chain is designed to encourage Japanese companies to diversify their production bases according to their own judgment in order to enhance the resilience of their supply chains and that the program does not target any particular country or region.

Japan was the first to introduce the Indo-Pacific initiative. With the support of the U.S. and Australia, it is expected that the cooperation among Japan, the U.S., Australia and India will be further deepened. Should China be prepared for the Japanese side to raise views on various international issues that are different from Chinas more frequently than in the past?

It is important to realize a rules-based, free and open order in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure peace and prosperity for the entire region and the world as a whole. In this light, Japan intends to work together with other countries to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The framework of Japan, the U.S., Australia, and India is a forum to promote the concept of free and open Indo-Pacific and discuss a wide range of issues to facilitate concrete cooperation on common agenda, such as high quality infrastructure, maritime security, and counter-terrorism measures, and it does not target any specific country.

On the other hand, a stable relationship with China is extremely important not only for the two countries, but also for the region and the international community. Japan will make use of opportunities of high-level contacts to say what it should say while also working together with China to address common challenges.

Taiwan is a sensitive issue from the perspective of Sino-Japanese relations. Do you think that the Taiwan issue will become a flashpoint between China and Japan during your tenure as ambassador?

With regard to the relationship with Taiwan, the Japanese governments position that it will maintain its relationship with Taiwan on the basis of a non-governmental, working-level relations based on the 1972 Joint Communique between Japan and China has been consistent and has not changed at all.

You are the proposer of the concept of mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests between China and Japan. Do you think the concept is still valid in the China-Japan relations of today? There is an expectation that China and Japan will sign a fifth political document during President Xi Jinpings visit to Japan. How far along is this discussion at this point? If the document does come to fruition, in what direction do you think it will go?

As you know, when the first Abe administration took office, Japan and China agreed to establish a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests, and I was involved in the conception of this idea. The significance of this concept lies in the idea that building a stable relationship with the other side brings strategic benefits to ones own country. I believe that the main spirit of this concept will not change in the future.

However, looking at the current Japan-China relations, it is difficult to say that a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests has been established between the two countries. I believe that it is important to continue to develop exchanges and cooperation from a strategic perspective while properly handing the outstanding issues of concern between the two countries, and to lift Japan-China relations to a new stage.

I believe Japan and China need to graduate from the era where the bilateral relations deteriorate fundamentally immediately after a problem arises or suddenly improve, or where business is affected by the turbulence in the relations. I firmly believe it is important to build a stable relationship between the two countries on the basis of mutual recognition that it is in our strategic interest to stay in touch with each other as neighbors who cannot move.

How do you assess the progress of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Japan-Korea FTA negotiations? Since South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office, mutual trust between China and South Korea has deepened, but Japan-South Korea relations appear stagnant. Do you feel anxious about the proximity of China and Korea?

At the Japan-China Foreign Ministers Meeting held in November 2020, both sides agreed to cooperate for the early entry into force of the RCEP Agreement that was recently signed. The Japan-China-Korea FTA must be a high-standard agreement that exceeds the level of the RCEP Agreement to a considerable extent, including in terms of rules. We believe that it is necessary to first work on the early entry into force of the RCEP Agreement and to assess how it is implemented.

I would like to refrain from commenting on China-Korea relations from the standpoint of the Japanese government. As for Japan-Korea relations, there are always outstanding issues of concern between neighboring countries, and there are indeed various difficult issues between Japan and the Republic of Korea. This is precisely why, the Japanese government would like to further strengthen communication between the diplomatic authorities of the two countries and solve these issues through dialogue.

Since 2018, Japan has not been invited by South Korea and North Korea in the negotiation of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Does Japan intend to seek a seat for itself in the denuclearization process? If so, will Japan cooperate with China in this regard?

The intention of your question is not clear. In any case, there is no change in Japans approach of seeking to normalize its diplomatic relations through comprehensively resolving outstanding issues of concern such as the abductions, nuclear and missile issues as well as settlement of the unfortunate past, in accordance with the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration.

Going forward, we will continue to work closely under the Japan-U.S. and Japan-U.S.-ROK frameworks, while cooperating with China and Russia and the rest of the international community, and seek the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through the full implementation of the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.

In particular, we exchanged views with China on the recent situation in North Korea at the Japan-China Foreign Ministers meeting in November 2020, and agreed to work together for the denuclearization of the Peninsula and confirmed the importance of the full implementation of the relevant UNSC Resolutions.

You are known for your networking skills. Do you have any tips about this? How do you feel about your new assignment? It has been a while since you last worked in Beijing. Is there anything you want to do or places you want to visit in particular this time?

Diplomatic relations or relations between countries are, to put it bluntly, human relations, and there are many human dramas that stem from them. I have been dealing with China for most of my 35-year career as a diplomat. And I would like to continue to engage in China-related matters, in the hope that Chinese society as well as Chinese peoples lives can become better today than yesterday, and tomorrow than today.

This is my fifth time living in China, and I can say that China, especially Beijing is my second home. During my stay in China, I have had the opportunity to experience the various beauties of China through my hobby of photography. For example, the canola fields of Luoping, Yunnan, the snowscapes of Huangshan, and the grasslands of Inner Mongolia were so beautiful that I still remember them vividly.

During this term, I would like to travel all over China to photograph the beautiful scenery of China and introduce it to my Japanese friends and the Japanese people. At the same time, from the beginning of this year, I have started to showcase the photos of the beautiful scenery I took in Japan and in China on the Embassys Weibo and other platforms. Stay tuned.

Contact reporter Chen Lixiong (takehiro.masutomo@caixin.com) and editor Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com)

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Prosecutors said Pasulka went to the womans home under the guise of needing to interview the children, but instead convinced her to speak with him alone in her daughters bedroom. There, he allegedly again began touching her under her clothes, and as she tried to get away he told her not to be so uptight, prosecutors said. When she said no, he gave her his business card and told her if she changed her mind, he could write his custody recommendation report in her favor.
President Donald Trump might argue the calendar is his friend when it comes to a second impeachment trial.

Trumps impeachment last week by the House of Representatives for his role in inciting the riot at the U.S. Capitol set up his trial in the Senate. But theres one potential wrinkle.

In 2019, the last time Trump found himself impeached by the House, he had nearly a year left in his presidency. But on Wednesday, with the inauguration of Joe Biden, Trump will be out of office by the time any Senate trial gets started.

Some Republican lawmakers argue its not constitutional to hold an impeachment trial for a former president, but that view is far from unanimous. Democrats for their part appear ready to move forward with a trial.

On Tuesday, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said she doesnt think a post-presidency impeachment trial is constitutional. But Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, wasnt so sure.

I think theres serious questions about it, he said.

Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal, meanwhile, said it was bogus that a trial after Trump leaves office wouldnt be constitutional, noting that the Senate has held impeachment trials of federal judges after they've resigned.

So whether somebody resigns, or runs out the clock it makes no difference. They can still be held accountable and theres nothing in the spirit, or the letter of the impeachment provisions in the Constitution that argues against it, he said.

Some questions and answers about whether a former president can be impeached.

WHY IS THIS OPEN TO DEBATE?

The Constitution says: The President  shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

But the Constitution says nothing about the impeachment of a former president. The question has also never come up. The only other two presidents to be impeached, Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, were tried while still in office.

WHAT DO SCHOLARS AND HISTORY HAVE TO SAY ON THE TOPIC?

A recent Congressional Research Service report for federal lawmakers and their staffs concluded that while the Constitutions text is open to debate, it appears most scholars agree that a president can be impeached after leaving office. One argument is that state constitutions that predate the U.S. Constitution allowed impeachment after officials left office. The Constitutions drafters also did not specifically bar the practice.

Still, the text of the Constitution could be read to suggest impeachment only applies to current office holders. In the early 19th century, one influential Supreme Court justice, Joseph Story came to that conclusion.

One powerful suggestion that post-office trial is acceptable, however, comes from history. The Congressional Research Service report cites the 1876 impeachment of Secretary of War William Belknap. Belknap resigned over allegations he received kickbacks. The House impeached him after his resignation, and while Belknap objected to being tried in the Senate because hed left office, the Senate heard three days of arguments on the topic and then deliberated in secret for over two weeks before concluding Belknap could be tried. He was ultimately acquitted.

COULD TRUMP CHALLENGE A CONVICTION?

Courts are unlikely to want to wade into any dispute over impeachment. In 1993, in a case involving an impeached former judge, the Supreme Court ruled it had no role to play in impeachment disputes because the Constitution says the Senate shall have sole Power to try any impeachments.

DOES AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF A FORMER PRESIDENT PRESENT OTHER LEGAL ISSUES?

One other issue is who would preside at the impeachment trial of an ex-president. The Constitution says its the chief justices job to preside at the impeachment trial of a president. But scholars offer differing views about whether thats Chief Justice John Roberts job if Trumps trial begins after hes out of office.

The choices for who would preside appear to be Roberts, Kamala Harris, who by then will be vice president, or Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who will be the Senates president pro tem once the Democrats take control of the Senate.

WHATS THE POINT OF IMPEACHING SOMEONE WHO IS OUT OF OFFICE?

The consequence the Constitution sets up for a president who is impeached and convicted is removal from office. Thats not really a concern for a former president. Still, conviction would send a message about Trumps conduct. Moreover, if the Senate were to convict, lawmakers would presumably take a separate vote on whether to disqualify Trump from holding future office. Some lawmakers believe thats appropriate.

We need to set a precedent that the severest offense ever committed by a president will be met by the severest remedy provided by the Constitution impeachment and conviction by this chamber, as well as disbarment from future office, incoming Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said Tuesday.
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A schoolgirl has been found 'safe and well' after two police forces launched an urgent appeal to find her.

Rayah Fathallah, 12, had last been seen on Tuesday morning, in the village of Heath and Reach, near Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire.

But it is believed she may have tried to get to Croydon in south London, which the force says she has links to.

However, Bedfordshire Police have since confirmed she has been found, thanking everyone who assisted in the search for her.

Rayah Fathallah, 12, was last seen on Tuesday morning, in the village of Heath and Reach, near Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire

A public appeal described Rayah as 52, of a slim build, with long black curly hair, and was last seen wearing a black coat.

Rayah was also reported as missing from her Bedfordshire home in November, with police that time suggesting she had taken a train to London.

After growing 'increasingly concerned' for her safety, she was found safe and well eight days later.

Police confirmed on that occasion she was found in Croydon.

It is feared the schoolgirl may have tried to travel 80 miles to Croydon in south London, which the force says she has links to

Yesterday both forces released the following appeal: 'Missing Rayah Fathallah, 12, was last seen at 7.30am today (Tues) in Heath & Reach'

Both Metropolitan and Bedfordshire Police forces have been approached for comment.

Yesterday both forces released the following appeal: 'Missing Rayah Fathallah, 12, was last seen at 7.30am today (Tues) in Heath & Reach.

'52, slim, with long black curly hair, she was wearing a black coat She may be in Leighton Buzzard, trying to get to London.'

Anyone with information about Rayahs whereabouts is asked to contact the police by calling 101 and quoting reference number 35 of 19 January.
Indonesia's leader on Wednesday assured relatives of 62 people killed in a Sriwijaya Air plane crash that they will be compensated. President Joko Widodo was speaking as he visited the command center at Jakarta's international container terminal where tons of plane debris hauled by divers from the sea floor have been recovered by divers.

The Boeing 737-500 crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta on Jan. 9. Widodo witnessed the first three relatives of the victims receiving money from the compensation fund. Sriwijaya Air offered relatives an insurance payout of 1.25 billion rupiah ($89,100), in line with Indonesian law that stipulates compensation must be offered within 60 days of a crash.

In addition, state-owned insurance company Jasa Raharja has provided 50 million rupiah ($3,560) to each family of the victims. A search is still ongoing for the crucial memory unit of the cockpit voice recorder.

Image: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
MONTREAL - Health authorities in Quebec have reported fewer than 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 for four consecutive days  almost two weeks since the imposition of a provincewide curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault shows how he's adapted his mask with knots in the strings to fit his face during a news conference in Montreal, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. Quebec is reporting 1,502 new cases of COVID-19 today and 66 additional deaths linked to the virus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

MONTREAL - Health authorities in Quebec have reported fewer than 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 for four consecutive days  almost two weeks since the imposition of a provincewide curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Premier Francois Legault has suggested the drop in cases may be the result of the curfew, which he said he imposed to reduce COVID-19 transmission, especially to people older than 60. The measure will be in effect, he said, until at least Feb. 8.

Health experts say it's too early to know for certain whether the curfew is behind the significant drop in new daily cases. But they differ on whether the drastic measure should start getting some credit.

Benoit Masse, professor of public health at Universite de Montreal, said it's "very difficult to know" whether the curfew is working because that measure was one of several restrictions imposed to reduce spread.

Quebecers also got a "rude awakening," Masse said, when earlier this month officials reported more than 3,100 cases in a single day, sparking public warnings from doctors who said hospitals were on the verge of rationing care.

Those warnings may have shocked Quebecers into reducing their contacts, Masse explained in an interview Wednesday. But, he added, the curfew may have also played a role in shocking Quebecers into staying home.

Roxane Borges Da Silva, a public health professor at Universite de Montreal who was one of the experts calling for a curfew in early January, said the measure may be having the desired effect.

She said a new study by researchers at the Aix-Marseille University in France indicates that a partial lockdown coupled with a curfew reduced transmission in that country among people aged 20 to 60.

That study, "An Early Assessment of Curfew and Second COVID-19 Lock-down on Virus Propagation in France," which has not yet been peer reviewed, found that the acceleration of viral spread among people older than 60 "decreased notably with curfew measures."

On Wednesday, the Health Department reported 1,502 new cases of COVID-19 and an average of 1,792 cases over the previous seven days, down from an average of 2,385 the week before.

Dr. Matthew Oughton, an infectious disease specialist at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital, said it's difficult to define the impact of individual measures when many are in force at the same time.

"Is curfew the only reasonable explanation for the reduction? Probably not," he said in an interview, adding that he believes the extended school winter break contributed to the reduction in cases.

"Now that (schools) opened up again we may be seeing these numbers start to rise again within the next week or so," Oughton said. "This wouldn't be the first time that we've had these sort of ups and downs during the (second) wave."

Masse also said it's too early to say whether the trend will continue. Quebecers should wait, he added, before they declare victory.

Quebec's high test positivity rate may also suggest there are more cases in the province than recent reporting periods suggest, Oughton said. "There's lots of reasons to believe that our numbers are not fully capturing the extent of community transmission."

A test positivity rate above five per cent is the signal for undetected  and uncontrolled  community transmission, he said. As of Monday, the test positivity rate across the province was six per cent, according to Quebec's national public health institute. It was above 10 per cent in Montreal on Sunday.

The number of tests conducted in Quebec has also dropped recently.

Over the past month, Quebec has conducted an average of more than 30,000 tests a day, according to public health data. On Monday, however, the most recent date for which testing data is available, the province conducted 28,889 tests. On Sunday, 20,412 tests were conducted  the lowest number of tests administered in a single day in the province since Dec. 26.

The Health Department did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday afternoon. Oughton, however, said the number of tests conducted generally drops during the weekend.

The Health Department reported 66 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus Wednesday, including 10 that occurred in the preceding 24 hours. Health officials said hospitalizations dropped by 33, to 1,467, and 216 people were in intensive care, a rise of four.

Quebec has reported 247,236 COVID-19 infections and 9,208 deaths linked to the virus since the start of the pandemic.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 20, 2021.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel listens to Berlin's Mayor Michael Mueller during a press conference following a video conference with the Prime Ministers of the federal states discussing new measures to bring down the numbers of COVID-19 infections, in Berlin on Jan. 19, 2021. (Filip Singer-Pool/Getty Images)

Germany Extends Existing Lockdown Until February

Germany will extend its ongoing COVID-19 lockdown measures until Feb. 14 amid fears of a new virus variant and continued attempts to bring infection rates down. The existing lockdown was supposed to expire at the end of this month.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the countrys state leaders on Jan. 19, deciding to keep most nonessential businesses and schools closed.

Merkel told reporters after the meeting that Germany may consider closing its borders to neighboring countries that dont take action to stop transmission of the CCP virus. The country shares borders with nine European nations.

We need to make sure that everyone around us is doing the same, Merkel said. Otherwise, we have to look at measures such as entry restrictions.,

Additional measures were also added to the lockdown, including corporations allowing their staff to work from home until March 15, and an updated mask mandate, meaning surgical masks must be worn when using public transport or shopping indoors. Cloth masks, scarves, or bandannas will no longer be sufficient.

Disposable surgical masks are packed in boxes at Prestige Ameritech in Richland Hills, Texas, on May 3, 2009. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Calls for stricter mask-wearing come as a result of concerns by scientists that the United Kingdom and South African strains observed in Germany may spread quickly throughout the country, undoing mitigation strategies taken so far to contain the disease.

In addition, a new variant of the CCP virus was found in 35 patients in a hospital in Bavaria that differed from the UK and South African strains, according to Bavarian news outlet BR24.

Lab work on the new variant is still being conducted to find out if the mutation has any clinical significance.

At the moment we have discovered a small point mutation  and it is absolutely not clear whether it will be of clinical relevance, said Clemens Stockklausner, deputy medical director at Garmisch-Partenkirchen Clinic.

Virus mutations arent rare and usually occur faster than scientists can comprehend them. According to Nature, researchers have cataloged more than 12,000 mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genomes since the pandemic began.

SARS-CoV-2 is another name for the CCP virus.

The UK and South African variants have been found to spread much more easily, but it has not been seen to cause a higher percentage of fatalities.

A report (pdf) by Public Health England found no statistically significant difference in hospitalization and 28-day case fatality between the UK variant and the common CCP virus. There was also no significant difference in the likelihood of reinfection between variant cases and the comparator group.

CCP virus cases continue to remain high in Germany in spite of strict lockdown measures implemented since November, with the country recording over 2 million virus cases, 47,263 deaths, and 1.71 million people who have recovered as of Jan. 19, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Al Faris, which claims to have the largest fleet of cranes and other heavy equipment in the Middle East region, has announced the launch of its operation in Iraq with a brand-new fleet of heavy lifting and heavy haulage equipment and a highly experienced team.

With over 10 regional offices and a 3,200-strong workforce, Al Faris currently operates across the Mena region from its head office in Dubai. Besides Iraq, it has corporate offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

With a brand-new fleet of heavy lifting and heavy haulage equipment and a highly experienced team with vast local knowledge and global experience headed by Alberto Pittaluga, Al Faris is ready to fully serve your heavy lifting and heavy transport requirements, said the statement from the group.

An industry veteran, Pittaluga has immense industry knowledge, credibility and over 20+ years of experience in challenging regions including Iraq.

"Al Faris has invested in the latest advanced equipment in our fleet. Our heavy lifting equipment includes Liebherr cranes ranging from 100t to 600t and our heavy haulage equipment includes hydraulic trailers, SPMTs, semi-trailers and low-bed trailers," said the top official.

Pittaluga said the company provides alternative lifting solutions like jacking and skidding techniques in confined spaces.

Al Faris has played an integral role in the construction of numerous iconic projects such as the Dubai Metro, Riyadh Metro, The Dubai Mall, Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Solar Park, and Expo 2021 site including the UAE pavilion and the Burj Khalifa among others.

"We have already successfully completed projects in West Qurna 1, West Qurna 2 and Al Faw in Iraq. For these projects we deployed our key equipments including hydraulic gantries and other modular push-pull skidding systems," revealed Pittaluga.

Founded in 1992, Al Faris is a family-owned business renowned for its operational efficiency and performance results across the Mena region.

With state-of-the-art heavy equipment, integrated services and best practices in QHSE, Al Faris provides safe, innovative, and reliable solutions for heavy lifting, heavy transport and energy projects, he added.-TradeArabia News Service

President Emmanuel Macron has ruled out issuing an official apology for abuses committed in Algeria, his office said Wednesday, as a major report called for a "truth commission" to shed light on France's colonial past.

The French presidency said there was "no question of showing repentance" or of "presenting an apology" for the occupation of Algeria or the bloody eight-year war that ended 132 years of French rule.

Presidential aides said it was more important to end the culture of "denial and things left unsaid" surrounding France's past in Algeria and said that Macron would undertake "symbolic acts" of reconciliation.

Historian Benjamin Stora, commissioned by the president with assessing the progress made by France on confronting its past, in a report Wednesday described a "never-ending memory war" between the former colonial power and colony, locked in "competing (claims of) victimisation".

Stora made a number of proposals, including the creation of a mixed French-Algerian "memory and truth commission" that would hear testimony from people who suffered during the Algerian war and drive efforts at reconciliation.

The atrocities committed by both sides during the 1954-1962 Algerian war of independence continue to strain relations between the two countries six decades later.

Macron, the first president born after the colonial period, has gone further than any of his predecessors in recognising crimes committed by French forces.

But he has drawn the line at an official apology, vehemently opposed by many on the French right who view acts of national repentance as acts of betrayal.

Some of the "symbolic acts" planned by Macron include taking part in three days of commemorations next year marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Algerian war, said a presidential aide, who asked not to be named.

One of the days will mark the crackdown on a demonstration by Algerians in France in 1961. Another will commemorate the "Harkis" -- Algerians who fought alongside French forces in Algeria and who were forced to flee after the war.

The commemorations were among some of the proposals made by Stora, who said that acknowledging past wrongs is more important than offering apologies.

- Legacy of torture -

No other event in France's colonial history had as deep an impact on the national psyche as the Algerian war.

More than one million French conscripts saw service in the conflict, which claimed hundreds of thousands of Algerian lives.

While campaigning for president in 2017 Macron riled right-wingers by declaring that the colonisation of Algeria was a "crime against humanity".

A year later, he acknowledged that France had instigated a system that facilitated torture during the Algerian war, a rare admission in a country where the colonisation of Algeria was long seen as benign.

"In French political culture, anti-colonialism has always been an extremely fringe movement," historian Sylvie Thenault told AFP.

"There is a profound conviction that the French Republic is a force for good that thwarts the possibility of criticising what is done in the name of the Republic," she added.

- 'Truth and reconciliation' -

France's crackdown on the Algerian independence movement, including its liberal use of torture, left a deep well of bitterness and resentment that Macron has linked to the issue of radicalisation among second- and third-generation north African immigrants.

But there are longstanding grievances on other sides too.

After independence hundreds of thousands of European settlers fearing retribution fled to France, a wrenching exodus that sowed the seeds of the anti-Arab sentiment that fuelled the rise of the far right.

Many "Harkis" meanwhile were left to the mercy of lynch mobs after the war, while those who managed to escape to France found themselves interned in World War II camps.

Speaking to Jeune Afrique magazine in November, Macron described France as being "locked in a sort of pendulum between two stances: apologising and repentance on the one hand and denial and pride on the other.

"As for myself I would like truth and reconciliation," he said.

Some of Macron's predecessors had also taken steps to break the wall of silence surrounding France's past in Algeria.

Jacques Chirac acknowledged the massacre of civilians in the town of Setif in 1945 and in 2012 Francois Hollande recognised the "suffering" caused by the colonisation.

Short link:


Lee Ji-hyun, founder and CEO of Chinese language learning application Five Color Chinese / Courtesy of Five Color Chinese



By Jung Da-min



Many people learn foreign languages for different reasons  for studying, traveling abroad or for business opportunities, to list just a few.



For Lee Ji-hyun, founder and CEO of Chinese language learning application Five Color Chinese, learning Chinese as a foreign language was about learning another way to view the world and express herself.



Lee said she learned English in elementary school, as she spent several years in New Zealand. She said she has since been able to access more information and hear different perspectives from people all over the world, even after she came back to Korea.



"I found that learning a foreign language is the very beginning of everything. By learning a language, you can learn about different cultures shared by those who speak the language and also various perspectives that are totally different from your own," Lee said during an interview with The Korea Times in her office in Seoul, Jan. 11. "Learning more information and different perspectives changes you and you can grow through the process."



Lee said she was more attracted to learning Chinese as a foreign language than English, as it was more challenging in that she was learning it in Korea, unlike her previous experience of learning English in New Zealand. She said she studied Chinese using various methods, including taking relevant courses not just at school but at private academies and taking private lessons from tutors.



"Learning Chinese here, I felt that people were feeling pressured to learn the language as they have to deal with advanced reading and grammar. I think it is true that learning Chinese is difficult. But at the same time, I felt that people have a prejudice that learning Chinese would be more difficult than it actually is," Lee said. "I believed that there would be an easier way to learn Chinese which people can enjoy and that was why I launched my own Chinese learning service with my Chinese friend Yu Xiaolin."



Lee and Yu have developed a unique way to learn Chinese, using five colors to mark the five different tones of Chinese characters and a formula helping learners infer the pronunciation of different Chinese characters from the Korean pronunciation of them. Lee said she thought there would be some rules in pronouncing Chinese characters both in Korean and Chinese as there are many Chinese characters used in the Korean language as well. The creators of Five Color Chinese have obtained patents for both of these language learning methods.



First launched in August 2016 as an offline language learning program, Five Color Chinese has now become an online language education service after the application was launched in November 2019.



"The basic goal of learning a foreign language is to express what we think in the language, and I want people to enjoy the process of learning more, rather than feeling pressured," Lee said. "The goal of Five Color Chinese is to help people to change and grow through the process of learning Chinese."


When Australia were on the wrong end of a 2-1 series defeat to India two summers ago, there were seemingly mitigating circumstances. The team remained in limbo following the suspensions handed to David Warner and Steve Smith, and without their two senior batsmen, the Aussies were sitting ducks for a determined Indian side looking to make history by winning a Test series on these shores for the first time.

This time around, there are no such excuses. Warner missed the first two matches through injury and remained hampered by his groin ailment even when available, but that paled into insignificance compared to the long list of Indian casualties, not to mention the absence of superstar and captain Virat Kohli for the last three Tests of the series. As ever, a Test series loss on home soil  including a streak-ending defeat the Gabba  has invoked the national selector in the rank and file. These are the burning questions for the Australian men's team.

Pat Cummins tried in vain throughout the series. Credit:Getty

Where to next?

South Africa, it would seem. An Australian Test tour to the Rainbow Nation  the first since the ball-tampering saga  had appeared in grave doubt because of the COVID-19 pandemic but now seems increasingly likely to proceed next month, even though a departure date is yet to be confirmed. Assuming the tour goes ahead, the Aussies will play three Tests against the Proteas and will stay in a now-ubiquitous bio-secure bubble. At the same time, however, Australia's white-ball stars are due to head to New Zealand for a Twenty20 series, meaning the Australian team will be split in two separate touring parties.
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Aviation Group, has reported a 50 per cent year-on-year rise (y-o-y) in pharma shipments under its specialised PharmaLife product.

The double-digit annual growth comes as the carrier marks its second anniversary of achieving and operating IATA CEIV certification for pharmaceutical and life science logistics (IATA CEIV Pharma), in conjunction with its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Etihad Airport Services  one of only 24 such certified carriers worldwide.

Etihad Cargo currently operates across more than 1,050 IATA CEIV Pharma/GDP certified trade lands which ensure the integrity of products during transportation. Driven largely from a demand for both CRT (+15 to +25C) and COL (+2 to +8C) segments, Etihad Cargo has also received strong growth for ERT (+2 to +25C) shipments, launched towards the end of 2020.

Etihad Cargo has substantial expertise in the global transportation of temperature controlled and time-sensitive pharmaceutical products, including vaccines, operating to stringent manufacturers' requirements, explained Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales and Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group. The IATA CEIV certification has reaffirmed the carriers strength in this sector and strengthened partner trust to deliver a quality product solution across 54 pharma stations with dedicated experts available for advice.

The launch of the Abu Dhabi-based Hope Consortium towards the end of 2020 has contributed to the end of year increase and is expected to support Etihad Cargos pharmaceutical shipment growth through 2021.

Etihad Cargos successful role in the Hope Consortium serves as a significant endorsement of our PharmaLife product, which was the first in the region to attain the IATA CEIV Pharma certification for excellence of product transportation in the sector, Drew added. During December millions of doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine were carried on a chartered Etihad Cargo Boeing 777-300ER, with additional shipments scheduled.

A member of IATAs Time and Temperature Working Group, Etihad Cargo is planning to boost its global pharma sector credentials through an ongoing education programme which has already reached a worldwide audience of over 600 professionals through 30 webinars.

This programme will continue throughout 2021 as Etihad Cargo simultaneously builds its network of certified pharmaceutical trade lanes that meet consistent standards and assure product integrity, added Drew. Additional enhancements this year include the introduction of thermal blankets, cool dollies and digital e-booking for pharma products, as well as securing co-operation with Pharma.Aero, the powerful cross-industry collaboration for pharma shippers, CEIV certified cargo communities, airport operators and other air cargo industry stakeholders.TradeArabia News Service
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MOUNT VERNON (AP)  Ridership on vessels in the Washington State Ferries fleet plummeted in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but officials are looking ahead to more sailings and riders in 2021, including those between Anacortes and the San Juan Islands.

State Department of Transportation spokesperson Ian Sterling said officials were surprised at how popular those routes were last summer, the Skagit Valley Herald reported.





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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 03:35:37|Editor: huaxia

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SKOPJE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The government of North Macedonia decided on Tuesday to extend working hours for bars, restaurants and hospitality businesses across the country till 9 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. local time, starting from Thursday.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev declared via a Facebook post that the decision taken at Tuesday's government session is based on the epidemiological guidelines from health ministry.

"This decision ends the extraordinary limitation of working hours in the catering facilities of gas stations, as well as for the guests accommodated in hotels, motels, hostels and other accommodation facilities, which will be able to work with the regular working hours determined by the law on work of catering facilities," Zaev said.

Last month, new restrictive measures were adopted, including closure of catering facilities from Dec. 18 to Jan. 21, in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the end-of-year and religious holidays.

North Macedonia is expected to receive the first batch of vaccines by February.

Zaev said Monday the neighboring country Serbia will provide North Macedonia with 8,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines against COVID-19.

While the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

Meanwhile, 237 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 64 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Jan. 15. Enditem
NSW has recorded no new coronavirus cases for the third day in a row, as Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged restrictions will most likely be eased next week.

Ms Berejiklian said that, after 19,959 tests were recorded during the latest reporting period to 8pm on Tuesday, the health advice was that restrictions in Greater Sydney should be able to be eased, stressing "relief is around the corner".

Sydneysiders wearing masks outside Redfern Station. Credit:Louise Kennerly

"The best advice is that we should wait another week before we ease restrictions, but I do want to assure the community that the government's intention is to get as close to pre-Avalon conditions as possible next week," the Premier told reporters at Urunga on the Mid North Coast.

Before the Avalon cluster emerged on Sydney's northern beaches in mid-December, 50 people were allowed to gather in a home, and restaurants and pubs could host one patron per two square metres.

The orange-lined maze I was following wound back and forth over the large yellow parking lot at NRG, the place where I had been instructed to appear for my coveted COVID vaccine. The Golden Ticket was in my hand  and this one held more promise for me than any chocolate factory tour. Like so many of my fellow grandparent friends, I had pantomimed hugs to my children and grandchildren and stolen kisses from the backs of their heads for nearly a year now. I wanted this vaccine.

Organized. So well done and organized, I kept mumbling to myself. This was going much smoother and quicker than I thought it would. I already realized that the library book and newspapers I had packed in preparation for a long wait in a long line would not be necessary.

The process had all started the day before, when local KPRC 2 Houston newscasters announced during their 4:30 p.m. report that there were several thousand additional vaccines available through Memorial Hermann for its Jan. 14-17 vaccine distribution at NRG. I nearly fell out of my chair to hurriedly reach my computer and get to the suggested website. There were only a few suggested times available so I quickly grabbed one. I learned a little later that all appointment slots had been taken within a brief amount of time.

Scheduled for 6 p.m. on Jan. 14, I was notified by Memorial Hermann around 4 p.m. via text to come an hour early for the vaccine  they were even running ahead of time!

So there I was, winding my way down the orange-lined trail. Workers met drivers to check required IDs and vaccine invitations. After workers copied the necessary information and received more verbal information from each of us, they pointed out the next labyrinth to travel in route to the next set of white tents, which housed the vaccines and medical personnel administering them.

For at least the third time that day I offered a heartfelt thank you and big smile to the friendly, efficient workers. It always occurs to me minutes later that they cant see the big smile behind the cotton mask. Why am I smiling at them? But a friend of mine who works in public service always reminds me that the smile carries to the eyes, and it can be appreciatively seen by the recipients. I hope so; there are times when a simple thank you doesnt seem quite enough.

I cant wait for the day when broad, happy smiles can be seen first hand again.

I arrived at the final white tent. A friendly, kind masked face  I just know she was smiling under there  was holding a syringe, just for me.

Lets open your door and you relax your arm, she said. And presto  just like that  the vaccine was delivered, and I was told to drive forward to a designated parking area where I would sit in my car for 15 minutes to ensure there were no side effects. Other cars were parked next to me, all individually counting down the minutes until we could each drive away. I heard only one car honking  the signal we were told to make in case we noted any repercussions from the vaccine just administered. Attendants were on hand to check with the occupant of the honking car. One even came by my window: Are you doing okay? she asked. I assured her that I was, and then I followed the last orange-coned path to exit the parking lot.

It was just a simple shot to the arm, but it comes with such mixed emotions. I had anticipated the moment of getting the shot from the instant vaccines were in the news, since scientists and researchers revealed they were working day and night to formulate a viable vaccine for this crazy COVID-19 threat. The day of my appointment was filled with emotion. Now the first dose was in my body.

I was grateful.

And then I felt guilty. So many people are still waiting for that Golden Ticket, but I cant wait for the day when I can feel deep, warm family hugs first hand again.

Yes, at 70, I legally had the right to receive this vaccine, but I knew of others across this city and across the country who should have already received a dose. There were teachers, nursing home residents and people more elderly than me who havent landed an appointment. I personally know of two cancer patients who are waiting. I have friends who have been on four or five waiting lists to receive the vaccine and have yet to be notified.

With both gratitude and guilt, I arrived home that day to tell my family  mostly virtually  that I had received my first dose of the vaccine. And as I tore off my mask, there was a genuine wide grin for all the world to see.

Klopsteck is a Houston writer.
US President-elect Joe Biden plans to kick off his new administration Wednesday with orders to restore the United States to the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization, aides said.

Biden will sign 17 orders and actions hours after being sworn in as US leader to break from policies of departing President Donald Trump and set new paths on immigration, the environment, fighting Covid-19 and the economy, they said.

In first-day moves, he will end Trump's much-assailed ban on visitors from several majority-Muslim countries and halt construction of the wall that Trump ordered on the US-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration.

He will also set a mask mandate on federal properties to stem the spread of Covid-19; restore protections of nature reserves removed by Trump; and seek freezes on evictions and protection for millions behind on their mortgages due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He also plans to send a bill to Congress to revamp immigration policies and give millions of undocumented migrants living in the country a path to citizenship that the Trump administration denied.

Biden "will take action -- not just to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration -- but also to start moving our country forward," the aides said in a statement.

- New approach to Covid -

Many of the actions will take government policies back to where they were on January 19, 2017 -- the final day of the Barack Obama-Joe Biden administration, before Trump entered office and took a wrecking ball to many of their initiatives.

Jeff Zients, the new president's point-man for fighting the pandemic, said Biden would start by establishing an office of Covid-19 response inside the White House.

A 100-day "masking challenge" will be led with a presidential order for wearing masks in all federal properties and activities, setting the standard for private companies, individual states and communities to follow suit, Zients said.

Wednesday "starts a new day, a new, different approach to managing the country's response to Covid-19 crisis," he said.

That includes reversing Trump's decision to leave the World Health Organization.

To underscore Biden's decision, Zients said, leading US coronavirus expert Anthony Fauci will lead a delegation to take part in the WHO Executive Board meeting on Thursday.

"America's withdrawal from the international arena has impeded progress on the global response and left us more vulnerable to future pandemics," he said.

Gina McCarthy, the new administration's chief climate advisor, said returning to the 2016 Paris accord was essential to making fighting climate change a central tenet of Biden administration policy.

-Other actions Biden transition announced-

Biden will reverse Trump decisions to ease emissions and efficiency standards, and rescind the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, a large project that would bring relatively high-polluting Canadian oil into the United States.

"The day-one climate executive orders will begin to put the US back on the right footing, a footing we need to restore American leadership, helping to position our nation to be the global leader in clean energy and jobs," said McCarthy.

Under the Paris agreement, some 195 member countries set their own voluntary emissions-reduction targets, with the goal of keeping global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels. Under Obama, the U.S. had pledged to curb greenhouse gas emissions by 26%-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

Under former President Barack Obama, the U.S. was a driving force behind the formation of the landmark Paris agreement. Now, the Biden administration can play a critical role setting more aggressive U.S. emissions-reductions targets and encouraging other countries to follow suit.

Internationally there will be a expectation that the U.S. brings forward a new, ambitious target under the Paris agreement," said David Waskow, director of the World Resources Institutes international climate initiative. Internationally, its an important way of making clear the U.S. is going to take care of business at home."

Other actions by the new president will require a government-wide, proactive equality effort for minority groups, in hiring, contracting, and service.

"The President-elect has promised to root out systemic racism from our institutions," said Susan Rice, his Domestic Policy Council director.













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A second 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a businessman following a bungled carjacking.

Police arrested and charged a child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, last week after restaurant boss Mohammed Islam was allegedly run over with his own Mercedes C220 on January 8 in Romiley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, as he was making a food delivery.

Mr Islam, 53, was taken to hospital but died two days later after suffering fatal injuries.

His K-registered silver car was allegedly driven off following the robbery and was later found dumped at 8pm on January 11, five miles away.

Attempts had been made to set the car on fire and the car has since been subject to forensic examination.

Now police have arrested a second boy, also 14 and who also can't be named, following the 'horrific' incident which Mr Islam's heartbroken family said left them 'devastated beyond belief'.

Chief Inspector Liam Boden of GMP's Major Incidents Team said: 'This was a tragic incident and my thoughts remain with Mohammed's family and friends as they try to come to terms with their devastating loss.

'Whilst we have made a further arrest, this investigation is still ongoing and I would urge anyone with information about what happened to get in touch with police as soon as you can.'

Two teenagers have been arrested after restaurant boss Mohammed Islam (pictured left and right) was allegedly run over with his own Mercedes C220 last Friday evening in Romiley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, as he was making a food delivery

Popular Mr Islam owned the Marple Spice Indian restaurant in Marple, Stockport

At Manchester youth court last week, the first arrested boy, who lives in Stockport with his mother, appeared in the dock in a dark grey Berghaus hoodie, dark grey tracksuit bottoms and was wearing a white mask.

He was flanked by two dock officers and a social worker attended the hearing along with the boy's mother and father who sat together.

His brother, 17, was removed from the hearing as he was too young to attend a youth court.

The accused boy is charged with murder, causing death by dangerous driving and having no insurance or licence.

He was remanded to secure accommodation pending an appearance before a judge at Manchester Crown Court.

The boy's father appeared to mouth 'I love you' as the teenager was sent back to the cells following the brief hearing. No bail application was made.

DCI Boden said last week: 'As our investigation continues I would like to pay tribute to Mohammed's family who have shown such admirable bravery and dignity this week during the most tragic of circumstances imaginable.

'They and the local community have responded stoically in the last few days and we are doing all we can to support Mohammed's loved ones with specialist officers at this awful time.

'Our priority is to ensure they get the answers they are undoubtedly owed and we urge anyone with information or footage relating this incident to submit to our portal or to contact us via phone so we can ensure we ascertain the full details of this incident.'

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with murder and numerous driving offences

In a statement, Mr Islam's family said: 'Our family cannot begin to describe what losing our father has done to us. The fact he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and was taken from us so early leaves us devastated beyond belief'

He added: 'This is an extremely tragic case which has rocked the community and left a family utterly devastated.

'We believe there may have been others involved in the incident and a number of lines of enquiry are continuing to be carried out in order for us to find those responsible.

'We're still asking the public to come forward with any information that may assist us - even the smallest bit of information can prove vital.

'Anyone who may have seen a silver Mercedes in the area at the time or who may have seen it in suspicious circumstances since is asked to get in touch.

'We're also keen for anyone with any CCTV or dash-cam footage to get in touch.'

In a statement relatives of Mr Islam who owned the Marple Spice Indian restaurant in Marple, Stockport said: 'Our family cannot begin to describe what losing our father has done to us.

'The fact he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and was taken from us so early leaves us devastated beyond belief.

'Dad was everything you could ask for in a parent; a mentor, a role model - our best friend.

'We shared everything with him and there was nothing we couldn't tell him that he couldn't fix.

'He was extremely loyal and nothing came between him and his family. Our Mum is overcome with grief; Dad was her life partner, her best friend and her rock.

'They were inseparable since the day they met and we don't think she will ever be able to move on from this tragedy.

'To our Dad, family and the community was everything. He dedicated his time to helping others and he was loved and respected by everyone who knew him.

'He would give his time and support to anyone who needed it without question, his loss is going to be felt by everybody.

'We as a family have felt overwhelmed and truly humbled by the sheer volume of messages from people everywhere expressing their love and support. It just emphasises how truly special our Dad was.

'It's going to take our family quite some time to come to terms with losing our father so suddenly and in such horrific circumstances. We would appreciate our privacy being respected at this time.

'Hold your family members just that little bit closer tonight, appreciate them that little bit more because one day you never know when that will be your last time.'
Government says it has engaged the British Airways (BA) authorities to rescind their decision on changes in the London- Accra- London flight to Gatwick Airport.



A statement from the Ministry of Aviation on Tuesday said the government of Ghana was not in support of the BA decision to operate "BA Ghana Services from the London Gatwick Airport.



This means that all London-Accra- London BA flights would originate and terminate at London Gatwick Airport."



The Statement said the BA in a same communication indicated that a new schedule was expected to start in the forthcoming summer.



It explained that following that decision, "The Ministry of Aviation convened a meeting at the instance of the then Minister, Mr Kofi Adda to the discuss the matter and to register it's displeasure about the way and manner the decision was being taken without due consultation with the Ghanaian Authorities.



According to the statement, " At the said meeting, the BA team promised to provide further information and data analysis to support their reasons for the changes of their services from London Heathrow airport to London Gatwick Airport and enable government of Ghana to take its final decision on the matter.



It noted that "the BA team is yet to provide any information as promised."



Consequently, the statement said the Ministry of Aviation in a letter to the BA Authorities had rejected the changes and informed them that " for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to accept the changes in the London-Accra flight originating from Gatwick Airport."



It said the Aviation Ministry was engaging the BA to also respect the position of the government of Ghana and the mutual interest of the two countries.



The statement assured the public of updating them on further engagements with the BA on the matter.

Source: GNA









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Featured Video
Carlos Tischler/Getty ImagesSystem of a Down frontman Serj Tankian has shared a statement criticizing the outgoing Donald Trump administration's last-minute deal with Turkey's Minister of Culture.

The agreement was signed on January 19, Trump's last full day in office, and aims to "protect Turkey's cultural property." However, the Armenian National Committee of America criticizes the deal as granting Turkey "legal rights over the vast religio-cultural heritage of the region's indigenous peoples and other minority populations," including that of the Armenians killed in the Armenian Genocide.

"Thanks Trump," Tankian writes in a Facebook post. "In your last minute you decided to grant Turkey my people's indigenous cultural heritage including ancient churches and stone crosses as a reward for them trying to exterminate us."

"Never seen a president suck so much c***," he added.

Tankian and System of a Down have also been vocal against Turkey recently due to the country's involvement in assisting Azerbaijan in its war with Armenia last fall. The conflict led to System sharing two new songs, marking the first time the band released music in 15 years.

By Josh Johnson

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
MANDEL NGAN/Getty

Donald Trump is finally gone. For the time being, at least.

After a half-decade of dominating the news cycles and American and global politics, President Trump is leaving Washington, DC, as the one-term loser he long feared hed become. He leaves behind him a trail of still-rising mass death, scandal, and colossal failure, as well as a legacy of political violence that he giddily encouraged along the way.

On Wednesday morning, hours before Joe Biden was even sworn in, the twice-impeached 45th U.S. president of the United States headed to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for a farewell ceremony and to board Air Force One, perhaps for the last time in his life.

At 8:14 a.m. ET, the president stepped outside the White House, walking on the red carpet that staff rolled out for him, and began boarding Marine One to fly him to deliver his send-off speech. By the time Trump took the stage at the event, with family members and loyalists dotting the audience, the presidents supporters had already been waiting out in the cold for him, with some bouncing along to the Trump-approved playlist, which included the disco group Village Peoples Macho Man, that boomed on the loudspeakers.

We were not a regular administration, Trump said shortly after beginning his remarks on Wednesday morning, making a statement that his political enemies and critics would certainly agree with.

Though he claimed he wish[es] the new administration great luck and great success, Trump also stressed that we got 75 million votesan all-time record, by a lot [for sitting presidents], hinting that he clearly hadnt let go of his stated conviction that he won the 2020 election that he very obviously lost.

He did not mention his role in starting the Capitol riot. He did, however, claim he had good working relationships with the people whose lives he helped imperil on Jan. 6.

We will be back in some form, he said, to applause, during a brief, unremarkable speech that resembled excerpts from his least fiery campaign rallies. Have a good life. We will see you soon.

Story continues

He departed to Y.M.C.A., blaring over the loudspeaker.

By the time he would begin settling into his new Florida home base, Biden would have taken the oath of office without the presence of his immediate predecessor, ever speaking or interacting with him in the days after the election. Trumps inability to break from his persona as a world-historically sore loser not only left him with a lackluster goodbye party; it also left his successor with a sea of National Guard troops, a militarized Inauguration Day, and a slew of threats from his most devout and cultish supporters.

His final full day in office Tuesday was, particularly for him, quiet, and lacking the bang and pomp he once craved when thinking of his official departure from the White House. On Tuesday, Trump was left in an increasingly empty West Wing, with boxes already packed and loaded into moving trucks and cars, and staffers having snapped their farewell group-pics with him, smiling, days ago. On Tuesday, White House officials, Trump allies, and criminal-justice reform advocates had expected the outgoing presidents final slate of pardons and commutations to be publicly released around 12 p.m. ET. However, the finalization of his list ended up dragging on through the whole day, as several advisers and White House attorneys practically begged Trump not to add Steve Bannon, the presidents former chief strategist. In August, Bannon, the former Breitbart honcho, was arrested for allegedly defrauding donors who gave to the We Build the Wall fundraising project.

Trump, who has often exercised his clemency powers to reward political buddies and crooked cronies, did it anyway.

The closing days of Trumps term were also marked by prominent members of his own party effectively disowning him, or at least trying to wash their hands of his brand name after years of enabling and fervently boosting him. Several Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have shunned him or publicly blamed him for the mob violence at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month that had led to a large military presence blocking off much of the nations capital.

Trumps own ever-loyal VP, Mike Pence, who Trump had put in danger during the deadly Capitol Hill riot, wasnt even expected to send off the president at Wednesdays ceremony, opting instead for plans to attend the Biden inauguration. It was a decision for which Trump in recent days has expressed feelings of betrayal and deep annoyance, according to two people familiar with his private remarks. One of these sources said Trump referred to Pence behind his back as a quitter, and someone who was legitimizing a rigged election by attending Bidens big day. (The 2020 election clearly was not rigged, and Biden decisively beat Trump, a reality the soon-to-be former president has yet to truly accept or publicly admit.)

On Tuesday, it did not go unnoticed in Trumps inner circle that Pences farewell Twitter post excluded namechecking the president.

Since the election, I think this president has destroyed much of his legacy because of his actions, Ed Rollins, a longtime Republican strategist who has for years fronted the pro-Trump group Great America PAC, said, on the last full day of the Trump era. I never felt that the election, a day or two after I looked at it was stolen. Look, [Donald Trump] got beat fair and square. But in the last two months or so, hes done everything possible to destroy every bit of his legacy. I wish him well, and I wishfor the sake of the nationPresident Biden well.

But even prior to the riot and Trumps anti-democratic, authoritarian effort to nullify the 2020 election results, the 45th presidents legacy was defined primarily by fiasco, unfulfilled promises, and a relentless stream of scandal and corruption allegations. And Trump has left Biden to inherit a still-raging pandemic, in which the coronavirus continues to kill thousands of Americans each day. On the final full day of Trumps term, the body count in the country had reached 400,000 perished, with an outgoing president who had shown little interest during his last year in office in doing much to lessen the suffering. In fact, he greatly exacerbated it and repeatedly tried to downplay or cover up how horrifying things were getting and how atrociously he and his administration were managing this crisis.

Inside Trumps Pathetic Final Weekend in Office

On Monday, various allies and Trump officials had received email invites from the White House, requesting their attendance at the Joint Base Andrews send-off. For such an event, the invitation was notable for its lack of exclusivity, something Trump has long prided himself on supposedly fostering, at his clubs and in his political and celebrity circles of power. Invitees were allowed to bring five guests, if they wanted.

Several former Trump stalwarts and close associates of the president who received the invitation told The Daily Beast that they were not planning on attending, let alone bringing nearly half a dozen guests along with them. Some didnt think it was worth the hassle. Others wanted nothing to do with the event because of the widespread disgust and public condemnations that occurred over the bloody Jan. 6 MAGA riot that Trump instigated, and for which he still accepts no responsibility.

In what appeared to be an effort to beef up attendance numbers for an event that various professional Republicans are ditching, the White House even invited former Trump officials who have openly trashed the outgoing president or have even called for his removal from office via the 25th amendment. CNN reported on Tuesday that former White House chief of staff John Kellywho recently said he would have voted to remove Trump, were Kelly still in the administrationwas invited to the Wednesday ceremony, anyway.

Michael Short, an ex-spokesman in the Trump White House who tweeted on the day of the Capitol attack that the president recklessly whipped up [the crowd] into a frenzy, also received an invitation, according to an email reviewed by The Daily Beast. He didnt RSVP, either.

Much of the current attitude of conservatives in official Washington mirrored the advice that lobbyist Barry Bennett, who previously served as a senior adviser to Trump during the 2016 race, directed at President Trump earlier this month: Go to Florida and stay.

And because of Trump, the city that he left behind for his Mar-a-Lago club on Wednesday morning looked like a dress rehearsal for a police state. During the week of Inauguration Daytraditionally a celebratory and crowded time in downtown Washingtonmany of the streets and alleys of northwest DC were lined with newly erected barriers, dump trucks, and heavily armed military personnel, all to deter any potential threats from militant Trump fans and right-wing extremists. Caravans of police vehicles zipped around blocks near the White House and Capitol Hill, with thousands of National Guard troops having flooded into the DC area just in case the political bloodshed were to erupt, again. And it was all because of the attack and body count that Trump had largely caused.

As the president left, one soon-to-be former senior administration official messaged The Daily Beast about how sad and defeated he looked as he left the stage and boarded Air Force One.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The number of employees who were working in offices during the same hours, Mondays through Fridays, had been dwindling for years. Then the coronavirus crisis hit, disrupting the office schedules for millions more.

About 90 percent of mostly North America-based human resource leaders plan to allow employees to work remotely at least part of the time, even after COVID-19 vaccines are widely distributed, according to a survey conducted last month by Gartner, a Stamford-based consulting and research firm. Sixty-five percent of respondents said that their organizations would continue to give employees flexibility when it comes to when they work.

In a recent interview with Hearst Connecticut Media, Elisabeth Joyce, vice president of advisory in Gartners HR practice, discussed how companies and employees are adapting to the pandemics transformation of the workplace.

The following is a condensed and edited version of that interview.

Q: How has the pandemic influenced how companies think about workplace arrangements?

Joyce: What weve seen in what I would call the globes largest remote-work pilot is that even where we had biases against remote work, people can be quite successful. And when we layer in other flexibility around not just where do you work, but when do you work and how much you work, we see folks getting even higher levels of performance out of their workforces.

This giant shift is really around the posture of organizations around flexible work  remote being one of the options. It will more likely be a standard part of standard operating procedures in most organizations where youre allowed to work at home in an alternate location based on the work you do, as opposed to what your manager or organization allows.

Youre going to see organizations that will have people come into the office all the time because they like to or because their work requires it, and some that work remotely all the time. But the large majority will be somewhere in the middle.

Q: What do employees now want with their work routines?

Joyce: What it really comes down to is people want flexibility and choice. What they really to do is make choices about where they work, when it fits them best.

I think theres going to be a lot of people who are going to opt into the office at least some of the time. When you start looking into the data, theres still only like 20 percent who are saying they want to work remotely full time.

The larger majority is actually saying I want to work in the office sometimes, but out of the office sometimes. And I want to make that choice.

Theres a lot of value in coming into the office space, and I think people will want to do that when they feel comfortable doing it.

Q: How do you expect companies to continue adapting to the pandemic this year?

Joyce: We expect organizations to have a plan around the vaccinations and to say something about it.

With this entire experience, weve had to course correct basically every day  watching what the scientists are saying, watching what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization are saying.

We adjust and adapt with every day that we find out more information, and I think thats true with vaccinations as well.

I think the organizations that plan to adapt will be the best-positioned to navigate the next few months.

The short term is really around keeping people safe and productive, including from a mental health perspective.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
Potential witnesses or anyone with further information is asked to contact Skokie police at 847-982-5900. Tips can also be sent by texting Skokie and your tip to 847411.
The last Christmas tree needles have been swept up and Groundhog Day is just around the corner, but a group of local dancers is determined to infuse a gray January with some belated holiday cheer. This week, after a series of roadblocks and delays, director Abbie Guisbond of Troy and her eight performers will present the virtual production, Excerpts from The Nutcracker, a reimagined version of the classic ballet.

Having a Nutcracker in January is definitely unique, but Im really excited its actually happening, because it could easily have been cancelled rather than postponed, the 23-year-old dancer/choreographer and first-time director said in an interview last week.

The original plan was to livestream the show on Jan. 17 from the studio at Albany Dance & Fitness (ADF) on Central Avenue, home base for the production. But that was before four performersincluding Guisbondwere exposed to COVID in early January, and a fifth suffered an eye injury. (None of the four were exposed during rehearsals, which were conducted with masks and social distancing, and all have tested negative since.)

With the schedule disrupted and the dancers unable to safely meet in person, Guisbond and Gail Tassarotti, owner of ADF, made a quick pivot to remote rehearsals and a new approach. Each section of Excerptswhich includes seven solos and one pas de deuxis being filmed separately (by Gails husband, Anthony Tassarotti) to minimize the number of people in the studio at the same time, and a video link will be released to ticketholders. All proceeds will benefit the New York State Dance Force and the Capital District Dance Alliance.

Its wrapping up nicely, and Im so glad weve been able to get everything to a point we were happy with, Guisbond said. The dancers have worked so hard and I really wanted it to be a comfortable and fun experience for them.

While this is Guisbonds first time choreographing a Nutcracker and her first time in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy, she has danced nearly every other part. Starting at age 10, she was cast annually in the Moscow Ballets production in her hometown of Syracuse. After graduating from SUNY Geneseo and landing a job in health consulting in Albanyas well as a teaching position at ADFshe still made time for The Nutcracker, appearing in the Saratoga City Ballets 2019 production.

So as 2020 Nutcracker productions were canceled one after another, Guisbond wasnt willing to let it go.

As someone who saw The Nutcracker as a 3-year-old and literally knew I wanted to be a dancer because of that performance, the idea that people wouldnt be able to see it really upset me, she said. Dance has been a part of my life for so long, and I wasnt going to let anything hold me back from that.

With Tassarotti on board, Guisbond put out a call for auditions and cast a group of amateur dancers ranging in age from 15 to 65, with a wide variety of dance experience and personal inspirations. In the role of Clara is Laura Casellini, a 23-year-old who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2011 when the vehicle she was in was hit by a drunk driver, just two days after her graduation from Columbia High School in East Greenbush. Ballet classes at ADF have been an essential part of her recovery process.

Ive been working with Laura on her piece, and its been amazing to see her transform, Tassarotti said. To see that amount of improvement in any student gives me such great joy, but in this case even more so.

The production has given all of the dancers something to look forward to, something to work towards, to take their minds off everything else, said Tassarotti, who started out behind the scenes but ended up dancing in the show as well.

Its the best part of my day, said Albany resident Maria Bortugno, 56, who performs the role of Hot Chocolate, adapted from the Spanish Dance. As a teenager, she dreamed of becoming a professional dancer, but ended up putting ballet on the shelf for years before returning to it at age 39, as a way to heal from a difficult divorce.

When youre dancing ballet, theres no room for anything else, you have to focus so intensely on what youre doing, she said. Being part of the The Nutcracker has strengthened her both emotionally and physically, she added. Im doing turns and jumps that I couldnt have dreamed of doing a year ago. Its the most hopeful experience Ive had during COVID.

For Eric Meichtry, father of three (soon to be four) and owner of Leos Overhead Doors in Troy, dancing is a way to blow off steam and get some exercise while doing something beautiful, says his wife, Valerie, who first introduced him to ballet 15 years ago. It also allows him to tap into what he most enjoyed in his previous career as a cargo pilot.

I loved that movement and freedom, and this is a simpler way to get that feeling, said Meichtry, who plays the Nutcracker in the production.

As for Guisbond, the process, with all its ups and down, has reminded me why I started dancingit makes me who I am and helps me keep going every day, she said. This has turned out to be such a growing and learning experience for me as a dancer, a teacher and an artist.

If you go

When: Video will be released to ticketholders Jan. 29.

Tickets: $5 Info: http://www.albanydancefitness.com/events/excerpts-from-the-nutcracker/
By Lana Tatour

January 19, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - - BTselem, a leading human rights group in Israel, recently released a report concluding that Israel is an apartheid state, with a regime of Jewish supremacy stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

The report found that Israel meets the definition of apartheid under international law, which defines apartheid as inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them.

The report received widespread international media attention and was described as a watershed moment. But it was only a watershed moment for BTselem, which was using the term apartheid for the first time in its three-decade history, and for an international community that is so infatuated with Israeli voices. For Palestinians, none of this is new.

Dominating Palestinians

BTselem is not the first human rights group to call Israel an apartheid regime. In 2009, Palestinian and South African scholars published a comprehensive report that determined Israel was committing the crime of apartheid. Two Palestinian human rights organisations, Adalah and Al-Haq, were part of this initiative.

Two former UN special rapporteurs on human rights in Palestine reached a similar conclusion. In 2007, John Dugard determined that elements of the occupation constitute forms of colonialism and of apartheid. And, a few years ago, Richard Falk co-authored a report finding that Israel has established an apartheid regime that oppresses and dominates the Palestinian people as a whole. The UN secretary-general was quick to distance himself from the report, ordering its removal from the UN website.

Typical of western racism, Israelis are deemed more reliable and esteemed, and their contributions more valid than those of Palestinians who experience apartheid, colonisation and occupation every day.

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Still, the BTselem report is a welcome development. As academic Rafeef Ziadah points out, it comes in the face of an orchestrated silencing campaign, which attempts to foreclose debate before it even begins. In this sense, it is relevant that an Israeli human rights organisation has stated what Palestinians have been arguing for years.

While the use of the apartheid framework in relation to Israel is not new, it is gaining momentum amid the one-state reality. While the occupation paradigm is built on the false assumption of temporariness and sustains a distinction between 1948 and 1967 territories, the apartheid framework recognises that Israel is the effective governing power between the river and the sea, where it enacts a racialised regime.

Crime against humanity

Under international law, apartheid is a crime against humanity - and the evidence clearly shows that Israel is an apartheid state. Throughout the territory between the river and the sea, its political and legal systems are all geared towards ensuring Jewish racial supremacy and domination. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Israel refused to vaccinate the millions of Palestinians who live under its control, while vaccinating Israelis, including Jewish settlers, in the occupied West Bank.

But Palestine cannot be understood merely in terms of apartheid, as this offers only a limited and partial understanding of the situation. Israel is a settler-colonial state that is practising both apartheid and permanent occupation.

The conversation emerging in liberal circuits around apartheid and Palestine fails to recognise settler-colonialism as the overarching structure of the Israeli state. We have seen such dynamics in Peter Beinarts recent call for one binational state, in which apartheid is acknowledged, but not Zionist/Israeli settler-colonialism.

Racial domination is treated as a standalone feature of the Israeli state, disconnected from the settler-colonial enterprise in Palestine. Even when apartheid is acknowledged, there is no reckoning with Zionism as a racial ideology and movement.

BTselems report is a perfect example of this new approach, which is coming to the forefront of liberal progressive critiques of Israel. The report does not mention colonisation or settler-colonialism even once. Paradoxically, one of BTselems board members commented: Change of any kind begins with a proper reading of the reality that one seeks to alter; to look at that reality with open eyes, and to call it by its name.

Apparently, to BTselem, settler-colonialism is not part of this reality.

Limited understanding

The use of apartheid as a sole framework is in line with increasing attempts to limit the understanding of the question of Palestine to rigid legal categories. International law is important, and it should be leveraged to our advantage. But it would be dangerous to let international law alone guide our understanding of the reality in Palestine or the nature of our political claims. The question of Palestine is a political issue, not merely a legal issue.

True, settler-colonialism is not illegal under international law - but this is not a reason to stake our understanding of Palestine on international law alone. By confining ourselves to international law, we risk talking only about racial domination and ignoring colonial domination. We need to talk about both, and we need to recognise that racial domination and Israeli apartheid are part of, and inseparable from, settler-colonial domination.

This is not to say that we should abandon the apartheid framework, but rather that we should be cautious of liberal readings of Israeli apartheid. Palestinians were using the apartheid analogy long before it became a crime against humanity. Comparing Palestine with apartheid South Africa has a long, radical history that predates the recent discovery of apartheid by some Israelis. Palestinians saw South Africa, like Palestine, as a racial, settler-colonial state, and themselves as part of a larger anti-colonial, anti-imperial and anti-racist global movement.

Palestinians have been offering political and intellectual analyses on the question of Palestine for decades. But even when Palestinians use apartheid as a framework for analysis, it does not come at the expense of the settler-colonial framework; it supplements it.

Dismantling settler-colonialism

Israeli organisations, scholars and activists are not - and should not be - the arbiters of what Israel is and is not, or what the solution should be. The erasure of settler-colonialism in the conversation on Israeli apartheid risks displacing decolonisation in favour of liberal projects of equality. It configures Palestine as a liberal question, rather than a colonial one.

Decolonisation is not a metaphor or a buzzword thrown around easily. While it may not be easily defined, decolonisation is certainly not a synonym for liberal projects of equality, even as it is increasingly being co-opted as such. Unlike liberal equality, decolonisation demands the dismantling of settler-colonialism, its institutions and its logics. Our freedom depends on it.
One person was dead after a fire Wednesday afternoon in Woodbridge, a Middlesex County Prosecutors Office spokeswoman confirmed.

The fire broke out at an Inman Avenue residence in the towns Avenel section.

The victim, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, was discovered after personnel arrived on scene, according to a statement released late Wednesday night by the prosecutors office.

Their cause of death remained undetermined pending the completion of an autopsy by the Middlesex County Regional Medical Examiners Office, authorities said.

No firefighters or police officers were injured, the office said.

The Red Cross of New Jersey said its volunteers were assisting a family of five impacted by the fire.

Our hearts in #Woodbridge today. Our volunteers responded to a home #fire on South Inman St., helping a family of 5, providing Red Cross emergency assistance for temporary lodging, food and clothing. Our disaster mental health volunteers remain available for those affected.  Red Cross New Jersey (@NJRedCross) January 20, 2021

Our disaster mental health volunteers remain available for those affected, the Red Cross said on Twitter.

Police and a town spokesperson did not immediately comment on the blaze. Photos from the scene showed the front yard of the structure blocked off with emergency tape.

Anyone with information about the fire was asked to call Detective Jorge Quesada of the Woodbridge Police Department at (732) 634-7700 or Detective Kevin Schroeck of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at (732) 745-4194 or Avenel Fire Official Cory Spillar of the Avenel Fire Prevention Bureau at (732) 855-974.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
Malique Thompson-Dwyer revealed he drove 302 miles from Cornwall to Manchester on Tuesday amid the UK's third national lockdown.

The former Hollyoaks star, 22, shared a snap of himself posing in front of Polean Farm Cottages in Cornwall along with the caption: 'Cant stop wont stop'.

Later, he took to his Instagram Stories and posted a photo from behind the wheel of his car as he drove to Manchester, writing: 'I'll be back'.

Travel: Malique Thompson-Dwyer revealed he drove 302 miles from Cornwall to Manchester on Tuesday amid the UK's third national lockdown

The actor's girlfriend Christelle also shared the same snap to her Stories and wrote: 'Nice long drive home,' and tagged their location as Exeter, Devon.

Polean Farm's website says they are currently closed but notes: 'We are able to accommodate people from Tier 3 areas who are key workers or who need somewhere to live as a main residence or while moving homes, so please get in touch if this is the case.'

Britain's third national lockdown means people must stay at home except for necessary journeys like getting food or going to work while overnight stays are also not allowed except for a 'reasonable excuse' like work.

If found breaking the law, people can be fined a Fixed Penalty Notice of 200 which can be doubled for any further rule breaks up to 6,400.

Lockdown: The former Hollyoaks star, 22, shared a snap of himself posing in front of Polean Farm Cottages in Cornwall along with the caption: 'Cant stop wont stop'

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Malique Thompson-Dwyer for comment.

A representative for the actor told The Sun that he travelled 'for work'.

It comes after the actor faced backlash for attending an illegal rave in Daisy Nook Park, Failsworth in June.

The soap star had filmed himself at the Quarantine Rave which was attended by 2000 people and saw a 20-year-old man die of a suspected drug overdose.

He then posted a now-deleted video from his bedroom in which he said: 'Yo, I've just come on here to give a quick message.

Journey: Later, he took to his Instagram Stories and posted a photo from behind the wheel of his car as he drove to Manchester, writing: 'I'll be back'

'First of all, I apologise to anyone I may have offended, but let me just get one thing straight.

'I've got family members that have actually passed away from this coronavirus. So yo, I am in this as well. So don't go on at me like I am not in this as well.

'But it's funny how everyone is never saying anyone positive about me. It's always bad boy Malique this...

'They never want to say anything positive and it's funny because at least I am not out there p***ing on war memorials. Racist c**ts.'

'Long drive': The actor's girlfriend Christelle also shared the same snap to her Stories and wrote: 'Nice long drive home,' and tagged their location as Exeter, Devon

The day before, Malique had shared clips on his Stories as he walked through the forest at the rave.

He could be heard saying: 'There's a rave going on innit, can you hear the music?'

Malique is best known for playing Prince McQueen in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks Hollyoaks from 2016 to 2019.

A spokesperson for the actor declined to comment further to MailOnline.

'I apologise... but at least I'm not p***ing on memorials': It comes after the actor faced backlash for attending an illegal rave in Daisy Nook Park, Failsworth in June

Mass gatherings remain a breach of the coronavirus lockdown restrictions introduced by the Government in March to stop the spread of Covid-19.

It is claimed thousands of people attended the event, while up to 50 emergency service vehicles are said to have arrived as part of the police effort to break it up.

One witness said it looked like 'a nightclub at kicking out time'.
BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated gloomy news, there is a bright spot in Bay Village.

Rose Hill Museum in Cahoon Park has been closed for nearly a year, but the museum -- operated by the Bay Village Historical Society -- has been a beehive of activity behind its closed doors to ensure that future generations can enjoy its collections.

The museum is located in the former Cahoon family home, which dates to 1818. The Cahoons were early Bay Village settlers.

Under the direction of Cathy Flament, historical society president, Rose Hill volunteers followed COVID-19 protocols as they spent 10 months reorganizing, cataloguing and preserving the museums costume and textile collection.

Flament credited Janet Zavara, former Rose Hill director, and volunteers Marj Elhardt, Sue Jachnick and Diane Pavan for their efforts on the project.

Flament said of the 2,000 items in the collection, many had never been documented. Each item had to be stored in archivally appropriate materials to protect it for the future.

Now that we have professionally preserved the costume and textile collection, it will be much easier to monitor and identify the items, Flament said. Each item has been assigned an appropriate number that has been entered into a museum program, along with its description, source, condition, relation to other items and photograph.

The project averaged 125 mostly volunteer hours each week, she said. About 115 garment bags with tie openings, in addition to padded hangers, were constructed for the hanging garments. Twill tape with the object numbers was hand sewn into each garment, and special partitions were created to house smaller items. Flags were rolled on specially constructed tubes.

The Bay Village Historical Society operates Rose Hill Museum, the former Cahoon family estate, in Cahoon Memorial Park. (Carol Kovach/special to cleveland.com)

Among the unique items in the Rose Hill collection are Aaron Aldrichs baby shoe; William Krumwiedes beaver top hat with original photograph; a black silk bonnet that belonged to Kit Foote; a 1907 Western Star signature quilt; a scarf from the controversial Hayes-Tilden 1876 election; a Bay Village original commemorative 1903 flag; a Bay Village Methodist Church commemorative flag dated 1857; memorabilia from the Revolutionary to Vietnam wars; as well as bloomers, bodices, dresses, fans and more.

Flament thanked the Bay Village Foundation for a grant that partly funded the project.

River Library: Rocky River Public Library invites the community to join in a special reading challenge between now and the end of March: reading 1,000 minutes.

All it takes to reach that goal is reading for 15 minutes daily.

Program participants will earn a raffle ticket at each 100-minute benchmark, plus a prize and special recognition for finishing. In addition, participants can complete bonus family challenges for more chances to enter drawings.

Register or complete a challenge today at rrpl.beanstack.org/reader365.

The library also will offer an online program, Protecting Reputations, at 10 a.m. Jan. 29. The program is part of the librarys Internet Safety Series. Registration ends two hours prior to the event. A Zoom link will be provided to registrants.

Sign up online, visit rrpl.org for more information or call 440-333-7610, extension 5503, for assistance.

Virtual town hall: The Bay Village City Schools and the Bay Village Police Department will host a free virtual town hall from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 for parents and guardians. The webinar will teach participants more ways to communicate with students about social media, the potential risks involved and establishing good online rules.

Martha Patton, the school districts assistant superintendent for special services, will be the moderator. Panelists will be Richard Bogielski, school psychologist; Brian Reynolds, school district technology coordinator; Ben Kitchen, BPD school resource officer; and Detective Jameison Pochatek.

Attendees must register in order to receive the webinar link by email. Advance questions can be submitted for the panelists.

Register at bit.ly/Jan20TownHall.

Porter programming: Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, continues to offer a variety of virtual programming as the pandemic continues. Check westlakelibrary.org or follow the library on Facebook and Twitter (@WestlakePorter) for the latest updates. To register for any of the programs, visit westlakelibrary.org/events.

Parents can pick up supply kits for the next Got Science session, focusing on electricity, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. beginning Jan. 22 at the library. The program is for students in grades 1-2 and a kit is needed to participate. Registration is required to obtain a kit and participate in the program. A Zoom link will be emailed.

Teens in grades 7-12 who are interested in writing can register for the virtual Teen Writers Group program at 4 p.m. Jan. 27 on Zoom. The program allows an hour to write, with the last 15 minutes reserved for those who need group brainstorming. Registration is needed to receive the Zoom instructions.

Connecting for Kids: Connecting for Kids, which provides education and support to families with concerns about their children, is offering a series of virtual programs. The organization serves all families, including those children with and without formal diagnoses. CFK offers educational programs, support groups, a Parent Match Program and many resources.

Registration is required for the programs. Register online at connectingforkids.org/register, by email at info@connectingforkids.org or call/text 440-570-5908.

The next Coffee and Chat at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 will focus on LGBTQ, with support and resources for families: Grief and Pride -- The Emotions of LGBTQ+ Parenting.

The next program in the anxiety and attention series will focus on electronic addiction and distance learning. It will be presented at 7 p.m. Jan. 27. The session is presented in partnership with Westlake Porter Public Library.

How to Communicate Effectively with the School, the next speaker series presentation, will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 28. This program is co-sponsored by the Parent Mentors of the Educational Service Center of Lorain County and is supported by a grant from the Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River -- Sunrise and Noon Clubs, Rotary Club of North Ridgeville, Rotary Club of Westlake-Bay Village and West Shore Rotary. It is for adults only. Participants will learn how to create and use a communication binder and receive free supplies to put together their own binder.

Two more sessions of virtual music therapy are planned for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 23 and 29. The program is supported by a grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and presented in partnership with Westlake Porter Public Library.

The program will teach parents to use music to help with daily living skills, such as getting dressed, following directions and controlling impulses. The therapist will also use music to help in the development of fine and gross motor skills, as well as coping skills. The session will use household items to make music, such as a large bowl to use as a drum and something that jingles, such as bells, keys or a bag of coins.

Ombudsmen volunteers needed: Long Term Care Ombudsman needs volunteers to be advocates who provide a voice for the concerns of long-term care consumers living in their own homes, nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The regional program services Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties.

Volunteers make regular visits, observe conditions and engage residents in conversation to learn about problems or concerns they may have regarding their care and services. They observe conditions and care in assisted living facilities and nursing homes and inform residents about their rights.

For those who choose to receive care in their own homes, the volunteers talk to them about their caregivers and the services they receive.

Ombudsman volunteers provide information to residents, family and staff about the program and resident rights, and they resolve uncomplicated complaints. They also work with Ombudsmen staff to investigate and resolve more complicated complaints and issues, inform and support state and regional policy advocacy, and work with resident councils.

Volunteers receive free certification training. Call 800-365-3112 or 216-696-2719, visit ltco.org or email Barb Prociak at bprociak@lto.org for more information.

Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. from Bay Village, Rocky Riv19er and Westlake for the West Shore Chatter column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com.

Read more from the West Shore Sun.
In the epilogue of his 2017 memoir Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose, Joe Biden laid out his priorities for the rest of his life:

"I want to spend as much time with my family, and I want to help change the country and the world for the better. That duty does much more than give me purpose; it gives me something to hope for. It makes me nostalgic for the future."

Joe Biden with his wife, Jill, at the Democrats' convention in August. Credit:Getty

His wife, children and grandchildren were deeply embedded in the stories he told in his final, successful campaign for the presidency, and now that they're the new first family, none of them are likely to fade from view. Here are the Bidens you need to know.

Jill Biden: Jill Tracy Jacobs met Joe Biden on a blind date, set up by his brother Frank, three years after the tragic death of his first wife Neilia and his one-year-old daughter Naomi in a car accident. After proposing to her five times, the couple eventually married in 1977, with Jill becoming the stepmother to Joes two remaining children, Beau (who died of cancer in 2015) and Hunter. The new first lady obtained her doctorate in 2007, one year before her husband was appointed vice-president under Barack Obama. The doctorate recently became the subject of a sexist opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, in which author Joseph Epstein suggested she drop the honorific because, in his view, it appeared fraudulent. Since 2009, she has been a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College. Now 69, she intends to continue teaching while first lady.
BELDEN, Miss. (WTVA) - Itawamba Community College (ICC) signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday with Advanced Technology Services (ATS) to designate the colleges Belden center as one of five regional hubs for its skilled maintenance training.

ATS is a solutions provider with more than 30 years of experience in industrial maintenance.

According to the agreement, ATS will provide weekly skilled maintenance training at ICC-Belden for its regional team, but will additionally open classes to other surrounding businesses and industries.

ICC will provide space, instructors, and market the classes to other companies to help ATS accomplish its goal.

The Tupelo hub covers 12 ATS sites located in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
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Mumbai: A casting couch racket that forced aspiring actresses and models into prostitution has been busted in Mumbai with the arrest of three persons, including a casting director, while eight models were rescued from a posh hotel, a crime branch official said on Wednesday. Police recovered Rs 5.59 lakh cash, 15 mobile phone handsets, and a car during the raid on Tuesday.

As per preliminary information, the rescued models had worked in various advertisements, movies and in some web series, the official said. Acting on a specific information, the polices Crime Intelligence Unit conducted a raid on the hotel located near the Juhu beach in western suburbs on Tuesday, he said.

During the raid, the police rescued eight models who were being forced into prostitution, the official said. The arrested persons included one Prem, who is a casting director-cum-film producer, and two women pimps, he said, adding that one of the arrested women hails from West Bengal.

The rescued women told police that Prem pushed them into flesh trade by promising them roles in movies and by offering break as models, he said. Clients used to contact the members of the racket through various websites," he said.

The official said a police personnel contacted a given contact number by posing as a customer and deposited Rs 2 lakh in the (bank) account number provided by Prem. As pre-decided, the woman was to come to the hotel in Juhu on Tuesday. A trap was laid by the crime branch team with officials of Social Service branch of police who raided the room and nabbed Prem and two women pimps," he said.

Prems interrogation revealed that at least ten women, including eight models, are part of the prostitution ring, he said. Police have rescued the eight models who, prima facie, had worked in several commercials, movies and also in some web series. The rescued women told the police that the accused persons pushed them into prostitution in return of roles as actors and offering break as models," he said.

Prem and the two women were booked under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) along with various sections of the Indian Penal Code, he said. An FIR has been registered at Juhu police station, he said.
Avast, Electrocomponents and Easyjet are its UK picks in European top 20

If (once) Covid-19 is brought under control, European small caps might be the best place for investors suggests UBS.

Smallcap here is a relative term and most of UBS's picks are very sizeable businesses, but the broker suggests a basket of these sized companies consisting of growth at reasonable value, some cyclicals and deep value stocks is the way to go.

The relative performance of these European stocks vs US peers is also at the lowest level of the past 10 years, which is an attractive entry point it adds.

There is dynamism and growth-oriented opportunities in Europe supporting these businesses, UBS adds, which has chosen its top 20 conviction list using a bottom-up, stock-picking approach.

In the nine months since the 23 March 2020 market low, European smallcaps have rallied by 65%, ranking it the second-highest of the eight post-bear-market rallies in smallcaps over the past 25 years.

This performance clearly refutes the common perception that views them as often (more) vulnerable to macro contractions; says UBS and has come despite relative performance in bear markets having actually been OK for the past 25 years.

UBS adds that since inception in 2006, its Smallcaps Top 20 has outperformed in 11 out of the past 14 years.

UK-listed companies on the list include ( ), easyJet PLC ( ) and PLC ( ).

Choices reflected an assessment of company-specific issues such as the quality of management, the long-term strategy of the company, the controlling shareholders, the company's weaknesses and opportunities, competitive advantages, barriers to entry.

Today, Avast was 0.4% higher at 533p, EasyJet added 3.4% to 797.6p while Electrocomponents eased 0.6% to 918p.
Looking for a unique Valentines Day gift idea for that special Upstate New Yorker in your life? Local and national artisans have created gifts for those who love where they live. Whether Upstate New York is where you met, or where you reside, here are some ideas to shower your someone with local love and pride.

Breakout Press Co. creates an entire line of Upstate New York themed gifts. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

Looking to share your love long distance? Breakout Press Co. based in the Catskills has a whole line of Upstate New York, Albany, and Troy themed gifts to send your Valentine. From cards to bags to sweatshirts to magnets, there is something for everyone.

Artist Katie Vaz from Binghamton, NY has designed a line of hyper local Upstate New York cards and prints. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

Binghamton-based artist Katie Vaz designs greeting cards, pins, and prints, some with Upstate New York themes. Send some hyper-local love with her series of XOXO cards or frame a print of your Upstate NY love.

River Valley Ink's "Adore-rondacks" Upstate New York mug. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

For the Adirondack Mountain obsessed Valentine, River Valley Inks extensive Hudson Valley and Upstate New York apparel and gifts bring us this mug perfect for sipping your coffee while you dream of your next Adirondack Mountain vacation.

CrestField's I Love You From Here to Syracuse and Back custom sign. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

If you want to quantify your love, CrestField has customizable signs to show that your love is going the distance.

Utica Heart Map from Sadie and Junebug. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

Put your heart on the map with an Upstate New York series of hand embroidered vintage maps by Sadie and Junebug.

Adirondack Love Beanie by Northgoods Co. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

New Yorks Northgoods Co. has a full collection of hats, mugs, sweatshirts and more, full of Adirondack Mountain and North Country pride. Keep your love warm with one of these locally made products.

I love Rochester, NY bracelet by Peridot Rising. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

If your love also loves the Flower City, this I love Rochester, NY bracelet embraces local pride with this silver bangle bracelet with the Rochester Flower City logo. Made with stainless steel in Webster, NY by Peridot Rising.

Custom Niagara Falls heart map by Explore Your Heart. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

Commemorate a special time and place with one of Explore Your Hearts custom heart maps. Available with locations of cities all over Upstate New York, the print can be detailed with two names and a special date. Heart maps are available for the following cities:

I'm Falling For You Valentine by Tiny Buffalo Designs Co. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

If the one you hold dear is basking in Buffalo Bills glory this year, Tiny Buffalo Designs Co. has the perfect Valentines Day card. But if your Buffa-love is more wing-based, letting your partner know that you love them more than blue cheese is also covered by this Buffalo based company. Tiny Buffalo Designs Co. also has a whole series of punny and Buffalo themed cards for every occasion.

A handmade Thousand Islands cuff bracelet by December Moon Design. Screenshot from Etsy.com.

Adorn someone with Upstate New York love with one of many printed map cuff bracelets from December Moon Design. Available with maps from the Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands, Adirondacks, Rochester, Schenectady and more, these hand made bracelets have a spot for everyone. Some maps are also available as belt buckles and wall art.

Beekman 1802, based in Upstate New York, offers Salted Goat Milk Caramels, salty goat fudge cookies, Ommegang beer jellies and more. Screenshot from Beekman1802.com.

Beekman 1802 from Upstate New York is bringing back their Schitts Creek Rose Apothecary line for a very limited time. However, they not only offer skincare, but a whole selection of sweet treats for your valentine. Try some of their chocolate covered salted caramels, salty goat milk fudge cookies, or one of their Ommegang Brewery beer jellies for your next charcuterie board.

MacKenzie Childs has designed a series of face masks for sale during the coronavirus pandemic. Screenshot from mackenzie-childs.com.

MacKenzie-Childs has its own line of Valentines Day gifts for the courtly check fan in your life. From mugs to heart shaped boxes to face masks, the love themed gifts are plenty.

NYC-based company Truffleist adds earthy mushroom flavors to salts, mustards, and Finger Lakes honey. Screenshot from uncommongoods.com.

For your foodie valentine, NYC based Truffleist offers a sweet and savory gift pack of condiments like salt, mustard and Finger Lakes honey combined with the earthy flavors of truffles.

Hand embroidered New York pillow by catstudios. Screenshot from uncommongoods.com.

Give your love something to hug with a pillow of New York states famous sites, cities, and cultural icons. From Niagara Falls to the Catskills, this pillow is hand embroidered and celebrates the best of what our state has to offer.

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Valentines Day in Upstate NY: 10 romantic date ideas with Airbnb experiences

This upscale treehouse is the most popular Airbnb in New York State (photos)

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Californias telemetry nurses, who specialize in the electronic monitoring of critically ill patients, normally take care of four patients at once. But ever since the state relaxed Californias mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios in mid-December, Nerissa Black has had to keep track of six.

And these six patients are really sick: Many of them are being treated simultaneously for a stroke and covid-19, or a heart attack and covid. With more patients than usual needing more complex care, Black said shes worried shell miss something or make a mistake.

We are given 50% more patients and were expected to do 50% more things with the same amount of time, said Black, who has worked at the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, California, for seven years. I go home and I feel like I could have done more. I dont feel like Im giving the care to my patients like a human being deserves.

As covid patients continue to flood California emergency rooms, hospitals are increasingly desperate to find enough staffers to care for them all. The state is asking nurses to tend to more patients simultaneously than they typically would, watering down what many nurses and their unions consider their most sacrosanct job protection: a law existing only in California that puts legal restrictions on the nurse-to-patient ratio.

We need to temporarily  very short-term, temporarily  look a little bit differently in terms of our staffing needs, said Gov. Gavin Newsom, after he quietly allowed hospitals to adjust their nurse-to-patient ratios on Dec. 11. Usually, California law requires a hospital to first get approval from the state before tinkering with those ratios; Newsoms move gave hospitals presumptive approval to work outside the ratio rules immediately.

Since then, 188 hospitals, mainly in Southern California, have been operating under the new pandemic ratios: They can require ICU nurses to care for three patients instead of two. Emergency room and telemetry nurses may now be asked to care for six patients instead of four. Medical-surgical nurses are looking after seven patients instead of five.

Nurses have taken to the streets in protest, holding physically distanced demonstrations across the state, shouting and carrying posters that read: Ratios Save Lives. The union, the California Nurses Association, says the staffing shortage is a result of bad hospital management, of taking a reactive approach to staffing rather than proactive  laying nurses off over the summer, then not hiring or training enough for winter.

What were seeing in these hospitals is their just-in-time response to a pandemic that they never prepared for  just-in-time staffing, just-in-time resources, not staffing up, calling nurses in on a shift at the very last minute  to boost profits, said Stephanie Roberson, government relations director for the California Nurses Association. And were seeing how nurses are being stretched even thinner.

But hospitals say this is an unprecedented crisis that has spiraled beyond their control. In the current surge, four times as many Californians are testing positive for the coronavirus compared with the summers peak. As many as 7,000 new patients could soon be coming to California hospitals every day, according to Carmela Coyle, who heads the California Hospital Association.

This is catastrophic and we cannot dodge this math, she said. We are simply out of nurses, out of doctors, out of respiratory therapists.

The state has asked the federal government for staff, including 200 medical personnel from the Department of Defense, and its tried to reactivate the California Health Corps, an initiative to recruit retired health workers to come back to work. But that has yielded few people with the qualifications needed to care for hospitalized covid patients.

Hiring contract nurses from temporary staffing agencies or other states is all but impossible right now, Coyle said.

Because California surged early during the summer and other parts of the United States then surged afterward, she said, those travel nurses are taken.

The next step for hospitals is to try team nursing, Coyle said  pulling nurses from other departments, like the operating room, for example, and partnering them with experienced critical care nurses to help care for covid patients.

Joanne Spetz, an economics professor who studies health care workforce issues at the University of California-San Francisco, said hospitals should have started training nurses for team care over the summer, in anticipation of a winter surge, but they didnt, either because of costs  hospitals lost a lot of revenue from canceled elective surgeries that could have paid for that training  or because of excessive optimism.

California was doing so well, she said. It was easy for all of us to believe that we kind of got it under control, and I think there was a lot of belief that we would be able to maintain that.

The California Nurses Association has good reason to be defensive regarding the integrity of the patient-ratio law, Spetz said. It took 10 years of lobbying and activism before the bill passed the state legislature in 1999, then several more years to overcome multiple court challenges, including one from then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Im always kicking their butt, thats why they dont like me, Schwarzenegger famously said of nurses, drawing broad ire from the nurses union and its allies.

Nurses prevailed in the court of public opinion and in law; rules that put a legal cap on the number of patients per nurse finally took effect in 2004. But the long battle made nurses fiercely protective of their win. Theyve even accused hospitals of using the pandemic to try to roll back ratios for good.

This is the exercise of disaster capitalism at its finest, where [hospital administrators] are completely maximizing their opportunity to take advantage of this crisis, Roberson said.

Hospitals deny they want to change the ratio law permanently, and Spetz said its unlikely theyd succeed if they tried. The public can see that nurses are overworked and burned out by the pandemic, she said, so there would be little support for cutting back their job protections once its over.

To go in and say, Oh, you clearly did so well without ratios when we let you waive them, so lets just eliminate them entirely, I think, would be just adding insult to moral injury, Spetz said.
Egypt and Qatar agreed Wednesday to restore diplomatic relations, Egypt's foreign ministry said, after a three-year-long Saudi led freeze on ties with Doha ended this month

Cairo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ):Egypt and Qatar agreed Wednesday to restore diplomatic relations, Egypt's foreign ministry said, after a three-year-long Saudi led freeze on ties with Doha ended this month.

Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, cut ties and transport links with Qatar in June 2017, alleging it backed radical Islamist groups and was too close to Riyadh's rival Iran -- claims Doha denied.

But in line with the outcome of a recent Gulf regional summit, Egypt and Qatar "have today .

.. exchanged two official documents in which the two nations have agreed to resume diplomatic relations," the statement by the Egyptian ministry said.

A Gulf Co-operation Council summit held in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, on January 5 signalled an end to the diplomatic rift, as the four boycotting countries agreed to lift their blockade.

Ahead of Wednesday's announcement on the formal restoration of ties, flights between Doha and Cairo resumed on Monday, for the first time in over three years.
Meghalaya records highest-ever single-day recoveries of over 900 COVID-19 patients 28 May 2021 | 4:54 PM Shillong, May 28 (UNI) Meghalaya on Friday recorded the highest ever single-day recoveries in the last 24 hours with 941 patients recovered from the contagious COVID-19 infection, pushing the number of recoveries up to 25, 266 so far, health officials said. see more..

Tata Digital logs into Big Basket acquires majority stake in Supermarket Grocery Supplies Private Limited 28 May 2021 | 4:01 PM Kolkata, May 28 (UNI) Tata Digital Limited, 10pc subsidiary of Tata Sons Private Limited has acquired a majority stake in Supermarket Grocery Supplies Private Limited (BigBasket)  Indias largest e-commerce player in the Food & Grocery segment. see more..

HDFC Bank To Set Up Medical Infrastructure For Covid-19 Relief 28 May 2021 | 3:40 PM Kolkata, May 28 (UNI) HDFC Bank, under Parivartan, announced today a slew of measures to set up and enhance medical infrastructure across the country to assist the fight against the pandemic. see more..

OEU Manufactured by CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur may be used for High-Altitude Defence Purpose: Prof (Dr) Harish Hirani 28 May 2021 | 3:34 PM Kolkata, May 28 (UNI) The Director of CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur Professor (Dr) Harish Hirani has emphasised upon the fact that the oxygen therapy if utilised in a synchronised manner may help considerably in reducing the oxygen consumption. see more..
More than six month since COVID-19 stalled its spread within mainland China, new clusters of cases have emerged in and around the capital city of Beijing.

China reported more than 100 new COVID-19 cases for a seventh day on Tuesday.

S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) has gained 0.64% to 6,786 by about 1.55 pm with the index hitting a fresh 11-month high of 6788 earlier this morning.

All sectors have gained with the technology sector rising the most with a 2.3% gain. Afterpay ( ) surged to a new record high of $142.30 earlier today.

BHP iron ore production rises

BHP Group (ASX:BHP) was 1.43% higher after reporting its numbers for the first half of FY2021.

The miners iron ore production was 6% higher at 128.4 million tonnes (Mt) with record production achieved at its WA operations.

FY2021 guidance for iron has also increased to between 245 and 255 Mt as a result of the restart of Samarco in Brazil.

BHPs coal, copper and petroleum production are down compared to the corresponding half a year ago.

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Democrat Joe Biden was sworn in as president of the United States on Wednesday, assuming the helm of a country reeling from deep political divides, a battered economy and a raging coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 400,000 Americans.

With his hand on an heirloom Bible that has been in his family for more than a century, Biden took the presidential oath of office administered by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts just after noon local time (5pm Irish time), vowing to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Biden, 78, became the oldest U.S. president in history at a scaled-back ceremony in Washington that was largely stripped of its usual pomp and circumstance, due both to the coronavirus and security concerns following the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump.

He said in his emotional inauguration speech: The will of the people has been heard. At this hour democracy has prevailed...

"This is a great nation. We're good people, and over the centuries of storm and strife and peace and war, we've come so far, but we still have so far to go.

"There's much to repair, much to restore, much to heal and much to gain."

Expand Close US President Joe Biden with his wife, Dr Jill Biden / Facebook

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President Biden continued to say: Dont tell me things cant change.

Here we stand just days after a rioters mob thought they could use violence to stop the will of the people.

It did not happen, it will not happen not today, not ever.

All those who supported my campaign, Im humbled by your faith in us. To all those who did not support us, hear us out.

If you still dont agree, so be it. Thats democracy. Thats America, the right to disagree peacefully, I will be a president for all Americans.

And I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as those who did.

Many centuries ago, St Agustin, a saint of my church, wrote that people are a multitude defined by the people we love.

Recent weeks and months have taught us a valuable lesson, there is truth and there are lies. Lies told for profit.

He also took a moment to remember those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.

"We can do this, if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. If were willing to show a bit of tolerance and humility.

Heres the thing about life, theres no accounting for what faith will deal you.

If we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future.

My fellow Americans, in the work ahead, were going to need each other

Were entering what must be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and deal with this as one nation, we will get through this together.

All of my colleagues that I serve with in the house and senate up here, we all understand, the world is watching, watching all of us today. America has been tested, and weve come out stronger for it, we will build alliances again and well lead not only be the example of our power but the power of our example.

Weve been through so much in this nation. In my first act of president, Id ask you join me in a moment of silence for all those we lost in this pandemic.

Following Mr Bidens inauguration speech, country singer Garth Brooks took to the stage to perform Amazing Grace. He asked the American public, both those at Capitol Hill and at home, to sing along to the final verse.

The norm-defying Trump flouted one last convention on his way out of the White House when he refused to meet with Biden or attend his successor's inauguration, breaking with a political tradition seen as affirming the peaceful transfer of power.

Expand Close Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, after vacating the White House. Photo: Reuters / Facebook

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Whatsapp Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, after vacating the White House. Photo: Reuters

Trump, who never conceded the Nov. 3 election, did not mention Biden by name in his final remarks as president on Wednesday morning, when he touted his administration's record and promised to be back "in some form." He boarded Air Force One for the last time and headed to his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida.

Top Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence and the party's congressional leaders, attended Biden's inauguration, along with former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, became the first Black person, first woman and first Asian American to serve as vice president after she was sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court's first Latina member.

Harris used two Bibles, including one owned by Thurgood Marshall, the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

Biden takes office at a time of deep national unease, with the country facing what his advisers have described as four compounding crises: the pandemic, the economic downtown, climate change and racial inequality. He has promised immediate action, including a raft of executive orders on his first day in office.

The ceremony on Wednesday unfolded in front of a heavily fortified U.S. Capitol, where a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building two weeks ago, enraged by his false claims that the election was stolen with millions of fraudulent votes.

The violence prompted the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Trump last week for an unprecedented second time.

Thousands of National Guard troops were called into the city after the siege, which left five people dead and briefly forced lawmakers into hiding. Instead of a throng of supporters, the National Mall on Wednesday was covered by nearly 200,000 flags and 56 pillars of light meant to represent people from U.S. states and territories.

Bidens inauguration is the zenith of a five-decade career in public service that included more than three decades in the U.S. Senate and two terms as vice president under former President Barack Obama.

This comes after Donald Trump has left the White House for the final time as president.

Trump emerged from the building on Wednesday morning and strode across the South Lawn to board Marine One.

He said, Its been a great honour, the honour of a lifetime.

Trump now heads to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, where hell have a military send-off.

A red carpet has been placed on the tarmac for Trump to walk as he boards the plane.

Four US Army cannons are set up for a 21-gun salute. Trump then flies to Florida, where hell stay at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump is leaving Washington just hours before Joe Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th president.

Its the first time in more than a century that a sitting president has rejected the tradition of attending his successors inauguration.

The president's refusal to greet his successor before attending the inauguration represents a break with more than a century and a half of political tradition, seen as a way to affirm the peaceful transfer of power.

With only a small number of attendees present, Biden took the oath of office before U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts just after noon (5pm GMT), placing his hand on an heirloom Bible that has been in the Biden family for more than a century.

His running mate, Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, will become the first Black person, first woman and first Asian American to serve as vice president after she is sworn in by US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court's first Latina member.

The ceremony will unfold in front of a heavily fortified US Capitol, where a mob of Trump

He will waste little time trying to turn the page on the Trump era, advisers said, signing a raft of 15 executive actions on his first day in office on issues ranging from the pandemic to the economy to climate change. The orders will include mandating masks on federal property, rejoining the Paris climate accord and ending Trump's travel ban on some Muslim-majority countries.

But he faces calamities that would challenge even the most experienced politician.

The pandemic in the United States reached a pair of grim milestones on Trump's final full day in office on Tuesday, reaching 400,000 U.S. deaths and 24 million infections - the highest of any country. Millions of Americans are out of work because of pandemic-related shutdowns and restrictions.

Biden has vowed to bring the full weight of the federal government to bear on the crisis. His top priority is a $1.9 trillion plan that would enhance jobless benefits and provide direct cash payments to households.

But it will require approval from a deeply divided Congress, where Democrats hold slim advantages in both the House and Senate. Harris was scheduled to swear in three new Democratic senators late on Wednesday, creating a 50-50 split in the chamber with herself as the tie-breaking vote.

Biden will waste little time trying to turn the page on the Trump era, advisers said, signing 15 executive actions on Wednesday on issues ranging from the pandemic to the economy to climate change. The orders will include mandating masks on federal property, rejoining the Paris climate accord and ending Trump's travel ban on some Muslim-majority countries.

Although Biden has laid out a packed agenda for his first 100 days, including delivering 100 million COVID-19 vaccinations, the Senate could be consumed by Trump's upcoming impeachment trial, which will move ahead even though he has left office.

The trial could serve as an early test of Biden's promise to foster a renewed sense of bipartisanship in Washington.

Trump issued more than 140 pardons and commutations in his final hours in office, including a pardon for his former political adviser, Steve Bannon, who has pleaded not guilty to charges that he swindled Trump supporters as part of an effort to raise private funds for a Mexico border wall.

But Trump did not issue preemptive pardons for himself or members of his family, after speculation that he might do so.

McCarthy and McConnell are all expected to attend Biden's inauguration ceremony.

Trump, who has grown increasingly isolated in the waning days of his tenure, has still not formally conceded the November 3 election.

He issued more than 140 pardons and commutations in his final hours in office, including a pardon for his former political adviser, Steve Bannon, who has pleaded not guilty to charges that he swindled Trump supporters as part of an effort to raise private funds for a Mexico border wall.

But Trump did not issue pre-emptive pardons for himself or members of his family, after speculation that he might do so.

For Biden, who long harboured presidential ambitions, the inauguration is the zenith of a five-decade career in public service that included more than three decades in the US Senate and two terms as vice president under former President Barack Obama.

But he will confront a set of overlapping crises that would challenge even someone of his political experience.

The coronavirus pandemic in the United States reached a pair of grim milestones on Trump's final full day in office on Tuesday, reaching 400,000 US deaths and 24 million infections - the highest of any country. Millions of Americans are out of work because of pandemic-related shutdowns and restrictions.

Biden has vowed to bring the full weight of the federal government to bear on the crisis, including a more robust testing and tracing program and a massive vaccination drive. His top priority is a $1.9 trillion plan that would enhance jobless benefits and provide direct cash payments to households. It will require approval from a deeply divided Congress, where Democrats will hold slim advantages in both the House and Senate.

Wednesday's executive actions, by contrast, are intended to advance Biden's priorities without the need for legislation.

The president will establish a new White House office coordinating the coronavirus response, revoke the permit granted to the contentious Keystone XL oil pipeline and end Trump's emergency declaration that helped fund a Mexico border wall, among other orders.

Jen Psaki, the incoming White House press secretary, said Biden plans additional executive orders in the coming weeks, including eliminating Trump's restrictions on transgender troops and reversing a policy blocking US funds for overseas programs linked to abortion.

Although Biden has laid out an ambitious agenda for his first 100 days, including delivering 100 million Covid-19 vaccinations, the Senate could be consumed by Trump's upcoming impeachment trial, which will move ahead even though he has left office.

The trial could serve as an early test of Biden's promise to foster a renewed sense of bipartisanship in Washington.

Lady Gaga performed the US national anthem at Capitol Hill today, after spending the last few months of the campaign helping Biden. Georgia firefighter Andrea Hall later led the pledge of allegiance, saying it in both English and American Sign Language.

Kamala Harris was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as vice president of the United States, as her predecessor Mike Pence watched on.
The DUP's Edwin Poots has revealed that his cancer was discovered during his recent spell in hospital to remove his appendix.

The Agriculture Minister has told the BBC's Stephen Nolan his condition is treatable and the prognosis is good.

However, it's understood that the coronavirus pandemic has delayed his ability to get an operation on the NHS in Northern Ireland and he is considering private health care.

He told the BBC while he was opposed to private health care, believing it should be available to all, he would not risk his life for a political ideology.

It is reassuring to see the lovely comments from across the political spectrum for Edwin. Cancer is indiscriminate & cruel. Has touched so many. I talked to Edwin after he received this diagnosis. He has great determination & is sustained by a loving wife, family & great faith.  Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@ArleneFosterUK) January 20, 2021

Last month Mr Poots spoke to the Belfast Telegraph immediately before he was rushed to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital by ambulance from his home outside Hillsborough, Co Down.

The MLA for Lagan Valley, had an emergency operation to remove his appendix.

While his recovery was said to be good, he later tested positive for coronavirus.

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However, he did not have any symptoms and was soon back at work after isolating.

He was in front of MLAs on Tuesday taking questions on agriculture matters and Brexit.

In an email sent to his party colleagues last night, Mr Poots said it's is "very much business as usual" while he awaits surgery."

He also revealed how his cancer was discovered.

He wrote: "Friends and colleagues. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during my recent spell in hospital. I have recovered well from the surgery and had no significant issues with Covid.

"The morning after surgery the surgeon informed me that the CT scan had shown a suspicious growth on my kidney. I met the consultant urologist whose care I am in last week. He has recommended removal of the kidney and I await that surgery, although most non emergency is not happening currently.

"It is very much business as usual for me, I am feeling well, the surgeon says surgery itself is curative without further treatment and the prognosis is excellent.

"Whilst nobody wants to get this news, I am so grateful that it was found in the scan and all other organs and bloods are normal. I truly believe God's gracious hand is upon me and have an inner confidence that he will see me through this.

"I know you will continue to support me on your prayers and thank you for that," he added.

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson, who himself was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the summer of 2019, added: "Wishing Edwin best of outcomes for his time ahead during a difficult and traumatic period for him and his family. Having been through the trauma of diagnosis, chemo and major surgery a year ago my thoughts are with him."

Mr Poots is a former health minister and also held the environment and culture arts and leisure portfolios.

Social media was awash with well-wishers following the news on Tuesday evening.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill offered her best wishes.

"Thinking of Edwin Poots and his family tonight as he has made public that he is going through a cancer journey. A tough time for any family. Every best wish," she tweeted.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood added: "Very sorry to hear this. Our thoughts are with Edwin and his family as he battles for a full recovery."

The UUP leader Steve Aiken offered his best wishes.

"We wish him a swift recovery - a cancer diagnosis is never good news but Edwin is in our thoughts and prayers."

Justice Minister Naomi Long said she was sorry to hear of the cancer diagnosis.

"My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time and I wish him a full a speedy recovery."

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said Mr Poots was "definitely a fighter and we all hope he wins this battle".

DUP MLA Paul Givan added: "I have known Edwin for over 20 years and he has remarkable strength of character.

"A calm resolve to overcome any challenge and determination to serve his community. I know his deep personal faith sustains him and he is assured of our prayerful support in the days ahead."

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was "reassuring to see the lovely comments from across the political spectrum for Edwin".

"Cancer is indiscriminate and cruel,"she said. "Has touched so many. I talked to Edwin after he received this diagnosis. He has great determination and is sustained by a loving wife, family and great faith."

Last year Mr Poots lost his 90-year-old father Charles.

In an interview with this newspaper, Mr Poots told how he struggled to deal with his grief following the death of his dad, one of the founder members of the DUP.

"I saw him virtually every day in life," he said.

Mr Poots lost his 64-year-old mum Ethel when he was 30.

He will be appearing on the BBC Stephen Nolan show after 9am on Wednesday.

Broadcaster Stephen Nolan tweeted: "Ive been talking to Edwin about this interview for some time-there was never one conversation with me about his cancer when he wasnt talking about cancer affecting others.

"You will hear personal testimony on Nolan in the morning from a man determined and strong because of his faith."
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
For communications strategist Krysten Copeland, the pandemic has been a time of reflection about her work and redefining her purpose.

I broke down my why for every single day for six months, and I realized that why I do (political communications) is beyond winning the race, she said.

Copeland said she embraced her role as a translator  not one that communicates between two languages but someone who can be an effective political communicator to different cultures and communities. She told New York City Council members she could come over and talk to them for free to begin developing those conversations.

The translator piece is something Black women have to handle innately and its something I always think about now as to why I do it as opposed to just doing the work for the heck of it, she said.

Copeland, who led communications strategy for Rep. Yvette Clarke during the June primaries, was one of several Black female political consultants last year who worked as high-ranking members of successful campaigns.

Recent election seasons featured several campaigns that were led by Black female campaign managers. Mayoral candidate Maya Wiley, a former attorney for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, hired Maya Rupert, former campaign manager for Julian Castro, as her campaign manager. Milsa Stein was campaign manager for Chantel Jackson, candidate for state Assembly for the 79th District in the South Bronx. Jachele Walker was campaign manager for state Sen. Brian Benjamins reelection campaign, among others.

The people running for office  and those serving in top roles in their campaigns  have become more diverse in recent years. The diversification of campaign teams for white politicians and politicians of color has inarguably benefited them on the campaign trail, yet Black women still face challenges of being heard and taken seriously when placed in positions of power.

I feel like its my duty to always send the elevator back down. Its all about sending those connections down for other people, especially Black women. - communications strategist Krysten Copeland

You also have this running narrative of people behind these progressive consultants, said Tyquana Henderson-Rivers, president of the government relations firm Connective Strategies. For a long time, Black women were not getting the credit they earned. Even when we were in the rooms, they didnt want our input.

Local politicians in many districts in New York are still overwhelmingly white and male, so more representation from communities of color has the potential to shrink the divide between elected officials and the neighborhoods they serve by making use of that translator piece Copeland mentioned.

When you have white politicians, they dont know what our struggles are at all, Henderson-Rivers said. From 2003, even when I worked for Bill de Blasio in his City Council office, I was the only Black person, and then moving from there into the private sector, I was the only Black person until I brought other Black people into the room.

For Black women working on these campaigns, getting their foot in the door was not an easy task.

Amelia Adams, de Blasios former campaign political director, also recognized the importance of diversity after starting her political career in Albany often being the only person of color in the room. Theres like a sea of people and it felt like it was hundreds of people and they were all white men, Adams said. I was like, I am going to stick out like a fly in milk. It was kind of like a culture shock, like, Wow, am I supposed to be here?

The feeling of being out of place is a common occurrence for Black women working as political consultants and who set out to open new doors of opportunity in politics and government to get the recognition they deserve.

I feel like its my duty to always send the elevator back down, Copeland said. Its all about sending those connections down for other people, especially Black women, but I do think that its getting better. It is, but we have to have more Black women in these rooms.

Theres like a sea of people, and it felt like it was hundreds of people and they were all white men. It was kind of like a culture shock, like, Wow, am I supposed to be here? - Amelia Adams, former campaign political director for Mayor Bill de Blasio

Being present as a Black woman was often not enough for political consultants and strategists to have their voices heard. Along with feeling the need to work harder than anyone else in the room, there is also the pressure of being there alone.

There is an unspoken expectation from a client, an expectation that we work harder than our white counterparts, Henderson-Rivers said. It is hilarious the fact that Black women have to justify their points for messaging to Black women or Black people. Its like I hear what youre saying  but Ive been Black all my life. We are still fighting, every single day. We have to win all the time to be taken seriously.

While Henderson-Rivers was working closely with Queens district attorney candidate Melinda Katz, she remembered it as one of the few instances where there wasnt a fight for space at the table.

Ive had some really good candidates that have been really good at diversifying their staff: Melinda Katz and Jeff Aubry, Henderson-Rivers said. I didnt have to go seek them out but they actually sought me out. On Melindas campaign she always deferred to me, which is something that a lot of candidates dont do.

Lupe Todd-Medina has worked on campaigns in New York and New Jersey, including for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, and now operates her own firm, Effective Media Strategies, from Brooklyn. Consultants like Todd-Medina, Adams and Henderson-Rivers often have had to create their own firms because of the lack of diversity at other firms.

I would say that one of the reasons I decided to open up my own shop was because after Jeffries won his election to Congress, I stepped back, Todd-Medina said. I took a look in the mirror and Im working all these races and seeing success and Im putting money in the pockets of other men. I looked in the mirror and decided its time to open my own thing. So Ive decided to bring my own folding chair to the table like Shirley Chisholm.
Photo: Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission

Environmental and First Nations groups on both sides of the border have renewed lobbying efforts aimed at the provincial government as it considers proposed mineral exploration work just outside Manning Provincial Park.

More than 200 groups and individuals, including 57 elected officials in the U.S., have now signed on in opposition to the exploratory work being proposed by Imperial Metals in the so-called donut hole.

When Skagit Valley was elevated to provincial park status in 1996, the 5,800-hectare "donut hole" was left out due to mineral claims dating back to the 30s.

Back in 2018, Imperial Metals applied for a conventional diamond drilling program that would impact 0.35 hectares within the unprotected area south of Highway 3. The province has, however, sat on the application.

So with a new cabinet in Victoria after the BC NDPs re-election, groups south of the border are renewing their push to have the proposal rejected.

The latest group of letters are intended to ensure that the newly elected Ministers in the BC government are fully aware of the diverse and growing opposition to the pending mining permit in the headwaters of the iconic Skagit River, said Tom Uniack, executive director for Washington Wild.

The potential impacts to two of the most beloved Canadian parks and to downstream values in Washington State are both unacceptable and unnecessary.

In response to questions from Castanet News on why the decision to approve or reject the proposed work has taken so long, the BC Ministry of Mines said the plan remains under review by an independent statutory decision maker.

Statutory decision makers (SDM) have a responsibility to complete a thorough and comprehensive review, and to consider all relevant information and perspectives  including feedback received from First Nations, environmental organizations and the public, the Ministry said in a statement Monday.

The government said the decision maker has the ability to take the necessary time in order to adequately consider the information and feedback provided to support the decision; there is no specific timeline for a decision.

Imperial Metals vice president of exploration Jim Miller-Tait told Castanet in an email earlier this month that a notice of work application typically takes two months to process, not the current 33 months.

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has also come out strongly opposed to the proposal.

"The proposed mining in the Skagit headwaters poses a significant and devastating threat to our inherent Indigenous Title and Rights and the fish, wildlife and natural and cultural resources on which our existence is based," said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip last week.

We call on the British Columbia government to honour their obligation to our people and preserve benefits for all of us who call British Columbia home, and exercise their authority to deny this permit. We need a provincial government that will stand up for the environment and uphold the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In 1984, the B.C. government and City of Seattle ratified the High Ross Treaty, which ended decades of negotiations sparked by the Seattle electricity utilitys plan to raise the water level behind Ross Dam, which would have flooded 5,000 acres of B.C. farmland and recreation space.

Under the treaty, Seattle agreed to not raise the dam for 80 years in exchange for purchasing power from B.C. at a discount. The treaty also formed the creation of the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission, which is co-chaired by an American and a Canadian, in an effort to protect wildlife habitat and integrity of the Upper Skagit watershed. The donut hole sits within the watershed.

In response to pressure from south of the border, the BC government already announced in 2019 that it would stop issuing logging permits within the donut hole.
Ever since reports of Chinese business tycoon Jack Mas alleged missing for nearly two months made news around the world, it also racked up quite a stir, as netizens kept wondering on the whereabouts of Alibaba groups co-founder. The tech tycoons mysterious disappearance for months after his companies were subjected to a harsh crackdown from Chinese regulators worried the netizens. He has also been missing on social media fronts, as his last post was on October 10 last year. However, in the latest spate of events, news of the Alibaba Groups co-founders reappearance made headlines again.

On Wednesday, China's most recognizable entrepreneurs video surfaced online. In a series of tweets shared by Qingqing Chan, Chief Reporter of Global Times News  which is a state-affiliated media outlet  it was mentioned that JackMa not disappear. Chan also added that the tech entrepreneur had participated in a video conference with 100 village teachers.

See it here:

#JUSTIN: #JackMa not disappear, here we go: Ma just had a video conference with 100 village teachers on Wednesday morning, saying: after #COVID19, we'll meet each other again https://t.co/cBm1ryZJQr Qingqing_Chen (@qingqingparis) January 20, 2021

The short video clip shared by Chen shows Ma dressed in a navy pullover, as he stepped out to meet 100 village-based teachers in China through a live video conference. This was his first public appearance since October 2020.

According to a Bloomberg report, Ma said, Working hard for rural revitalization and common prosperity is the responsibility for our generation of businessmen.

Post his appearance in a live-streamed video, the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s stocks soared, however, it also left several questions unanswered about the billionaires future. Ma's reappearance sent ripples across the microblogging site and netizens came-up with their hilarious best on the platform. Here are few Twitter reactions:

One user jokingly wrote that he was hoping for Jack Ma to announce his entrance/comeback whilst performing Lionel Ritchies famous Hello, is it me youre looking for song. But he was content with the tech-tycoons latest video.

Another user termed Jack Mas disappearance and return as LOST & FOUND.

LOST & FOUND. Once Jack ma was Lost, now he is Found #jackmamissing Santanu B. (@shan_calcutta) January 20, 2021

A creative user took help of a movie still from southern blockbuster Shivaji to announce Jack Mas return.

Another user too used a line from the Hindi movie Deewaar's Mere paas Ma hai. Sarcastically quoting that the line, the user mentioned that it now has a new connotation since Jack Mas reappearance.

Mera paas Ma haiHas a whole new connotation#JackMa KN Vaidyanathan (@KNVaidy) January 5, 2021

A Reuters report says that Jack Mas public appearance comes at a time when his company Alibaba is planning to raise USD five billion through the sale of US dollar-denominated bonds this month.
It looks like Baghdad has come to Washington, D.C.

Only Baghdad was a lot livelier.

That was the conclusion of Pat Lang, a former Vietnam Green Beret who lives just across the Potomac in Alexandria, Va. After Vietnam he served as the U.S. attache to the Iraqi military during the Iran-Iraq War.

I used to go to the Green Zone when Saddam was running Iraq, he told me. It was a hell of a lot more friendly than that.

Ive never been to Baghdad. But Ive been to a number of Latin-American countries that were going through civil wars. None put on quite a show of force like what I saw around the perimeter of the exclusion zone that puts the Capitol and the White House off-limits until after the inauguration.

Its not just the heavily armed National Guard troops blocking the avenues with their Humvees. Its the double whammy caused by the COVID crisis. The downtown area is famed for the watering holes to which the D.C. crowd would repair at days end. Now most restaurants are either closed or are doing takeout only.

As for the crowds expected to descend on the capital to either protest or celebrate Joe Bidens swearing-in, there is not the slightest evidence they exist. Only a handful of tourists can be seen strolling past the military checkpoints.

The only evidence of political activity I saw was at a spot called Black Lives Matter Plaza. There, about a dozen activists were displaying banners, making speeches and playing rap music. One of the banners read Biden for President. But I doubt the incoming president would embrace the sentiments coming out of the loudspeaker. The lyrics to the song F--- Tha Police seemed a bit incongruous at a time when the Capitol Police were being celebrated for their heroic stand against the pro-Trump rioters trying to breach the Capitol.

On Tuesday, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker made a short speech to the Senate (see clip below) in which he marked the death of Brian Sicknick, the Capitol Police officer from New Jersey who was killed after a member of the mob hit him in the head with a fire extinguisher.

On January 6, 2021, a violent mob attacked this Capitol, Booker said. He stood in the breach to protect the lives of the members of this body.

Booker, who is a Democrat, concluded, Anyone who has doubts on what happened on Jan. 6 should think of him.

If that sounded like a veiled shot at President Trump, the remarks from Trumps fellow Republican Mitch McConnell were not veiled at all. The outgoing Senate majority leader said that the rioters were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like. But we pressed on, we stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our nation.

McConnell has declared open warfare with Trump. I suspect its a war Trump will lose as people realize just what his mob did on that day.

An interesting perspective on that came from the former Architect of the Capitol, Alan Hantman. Hantman penned an opinion piece in USA Today Tuesday arguing that the Capitol was never designed to be a fortress against the public.

The former head of the 2,200-member body charged with the upkeep and expansion of the Capitol wrote that While security is essential, it should not be gained by sacrificing the openness of the institutions it defends; and, while architecture and physical structures play an important security role, they are only a part of the answer to future threats or attacks. A balance needs to be struck.

Hantman wrote of the many precautions enacted after 9/11, when the Capitol was saved only because of the passengers who thwarted the hijackers of Flight 93.

But through all our security planning sessions with multiple federal security agencies, through all our congressional hearings before House and Senate committees, no one ever raised the specter of a mass insurrection advancing on the Capitol. The possibility of a domestic terrorism mob attack never arose, he wrote.

The Capitol Police have come under fire for the failure to anticipate the attack. But who would anticipate that a rally featuring the President of the United States would end up with an attack on the Capitol? The end result will be even less public access to the seat of government.

As Trump makes that final trip on Air Force One this morning, that will be his legacy.

He did a good job of getting the U.S. out of Baghdad.

But he ended up bringing Baghdad here.

BELOW - SEE BOOKER SPEECH HERE

Trump left himself open to shots like this from Cory Booker. The Donald didnt see to realize that when youre on the side that attacks cops, youre on the wrong side.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) -Chakana Copper Corp. (TSXV: PERU) (OTCQB: CHKKF) (FSE: 1ZX) (the "Company" or "Chakana"), is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of 20,000,000 common shares of the Company at a price of C$0.50 per common share for gross proceeds of up to C$10 million (the "Private Placement"). The Company is reserving the right to increase the Private Placement to issue a total of up to 24,000,000 common shares at C$0.50 per share to raise a total of up to C$12 million.

Pursuant to an agreement between the Company and Gold Fields Nazca Holdings Inc. ("Gold Fields"), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Gold Fields Limited (see news release dated April 19, 2019), Gold Fields has informed the Company that it intends to follow its participation right and to increase its pro rata ownership interest to 19.99% of the outstanding common shares of Chakana from its current position of 16.80% of the outstanding common shares. Based on a C$10 million financing, Gold Fields' participation would be up to C$3.48 million.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for the accelerated exploration and development of the Company's high-grade copper-gold-silver Soledad Project located in the Ancash region of Peru and for general working capital and administrative purposes. Since restarting its 15,000m Phase 3 drill program on August 15, 2020, the Company has announced three new discoveries at Paloma East (news release - October 26, 2020), Paloma West (news releases - November 10, 2020, November 18, 2020, December 3, 2020), and at the Huancarama Breccia Complex where drilling is ongoing (news release - January 12, 2021).

David Kelley, President and CEO commented, "based on the exceptional exploration results our current drill program has achieved, we intend to accelerate both the exploration and resource drilling on the project with additional drill rigs. Since the restart of drilling in August, we have announced three new discoveries with mineralization open in multiple directions and at depth that will require resource drilling. With additional rigs on the project, we will be able to include these new discoveries in the maiden resource for the project in 2021 and to test several new targets."

Chakana may pay a finder's fee on some portion of the gross proceeds of the Private Placement to certain arms-length parties who assisted the Company in introducing subscribers to the Private Placement. The Private Placement is subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Chakana Copper

Chakana Copper Corp is a Canadian-based minerals exploration company that is currently advancing the high-grade copper-gold-silver Soledad Project located in the Ancash region of Peru, a highly favorable mining jurisdiction with supportive communities. The Soledad Project consists of mineralization hosted in tourmaline breccia pipes. A total of 35,553 metres of drilling has been completed to-date, testing ten (10) 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.

The common shares have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or sale would be unlawful.

Forward-looking Statement Advisory: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Chakana to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements or information relates to, among other things, the interpretation of the nature of the mineralization at the Soledad copper-gold-silver project (the "Project"), the potential to expand the mineralization, and to develop and grow a resource within the Project, the planning for further exploration work, the ability to de-risk the potential exploration targets, and our belief in the potential for mineralization within unexplored parts of the Project. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72395
India: Axe-wielding tribal animists attack Christians during worship service, destroy church

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Six Christian families worshiping in Indias Odisha state were attacked by axe-wielding tribal animists who destroyed the believers church structure amid escalating religious persecution in the country.

Morning Star News reports that in December, the Christians, who had converted from tribal animism to Christianity, were worshiping in a wood-and-hay structure in Odisha states Chichima village when they were approached by a mob of about 20 to 25 men, led by an influential man of wealth.

When the leader of the mob asked the Christians why they had abandoned their tribal religion, Elder Burjo Tadinji answered: We have known the true living God; we will not leave him. We used to indulge in fights and speak lies, but we do not do all that now. We like this faith, and that is why we follow it.

Angered by the response, the mob began destroying the church building and manhandling the Christians, Pastor Bibudhan Pradhan told Morning Star News. The church was reduced to rubble, and Tadinjis adjoining home was also damaged. The mob tore the clothes of one Christian and with a stone broke the mobile phone of another Christian who was recording the attack.

They threatened to chase them out of their homes and the village if they reported the matter to the police, the pastor told Morning Star News.

The mob's leader, whose name was withheld to protect area Christians, then warned them not to report the attack to police.

If the police come, we will not let you live in the village and we will chase you away, he said, according to Tadinji.

As a result of the attack, the Christians are afraid to meet: Fear has gripped their minds, and they need much prayer, Pradha said, adding that hes unsure when church services might resume.

Animists worship gods based on ancestors, spirits, and nature. Pradhan said all the villagers are told to sacrifice a chicken to the Hindu deity Shiva every year. In Odisha state, Christians make up less than 2.8% of the population.

It is in the tribal culture to offer a sacrifice of a chicken while buying land, planting seed, harvesting the land, and other occasions, he said. When someone in their homes has fever or illness, they sacrifice a chicken to please the god of nature. They seldomly visit hospitals  only in emergencies. They often visit the witch doctor, who again demands them to perform sacrifice.

Sukanta Naik, a volunteer for the Evangelical Fellowship of India, told the outlet that Hindu nationalist groups have become active in indoctrinating tribal people, seeking to drive a wedge between tribal peoples and Christians. The Hindu nationalists often persuade villagers that those who have left their beliefs and other rituals have betrayed their ancestors, gods, and the country of India.

A recent report from the Evangelical Fellowship of India found that Indian Christians endured at least 327 incidents of persecution in 2020 despite COVID-19 lockdowns.

At least five Christians were murdered and six churches were burned or demolished in religiously motivated attacks. In addition, EFI noted 26 incidents of social boycotts where Christian communities were shunned by their non-Christian neighbors due to their religious identity.

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.

India is ranked No. 10 on Christian support organization Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List of the countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian.

In India, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has encouraged persecution of Christians by sanctioning Hindu extremism, Open Doors research found. The party has told its nation that only Hindus are truly Indian, Open Doors CEO David Curry told The Christian Post. Political leaders have discouraged police from responding to attacks on Christians.

I put the responsibility at the feet of the ruling party, the BJP, which is very nationalistic," he said, adding that their message to the population has been, "we want India to be a Hindu nation."

I have a strong belief that if most Indian citizens knew what was happening in these Christian communities they would vote for different people," he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be the hooded figure named "Bikoy" in a series of videos linking President Rodrigo Duterte and his family to the illegal drug trade, has been ordered arrested for lying in court, a warrant stated.

Advincula's bail is set at 18,000, according to the Jan. 18 arrest warrant issued by the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 17 in Manila.

The order comes after the Department of Justice accused Advincula of committing perjury for falsely claiming that former senatorial candidates Jose Manuel "Chel" Diokno and Lorenzo "Erin" Tanada, as well as former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te were members of 'Project Sodoma', a supposed ouster plot against Duterte two years ago.

Advincula earlier mentioned an alleged meeting at the Ateneo De Manila University among opposition members to discuss the ouster, but the DOJ has resolved that this was an "outright lie" since Diokno and Tanada were there for a different event related to the senatorial elections. Meanwhile, Te only met Advincula after he received a message that someone wanted legal assistance.

"Respondent Advincula's statement against the complainants cannot be believed considering that there was no clear-cut involvement of the complainants in 'Project Sodoma'," the DOJ resolution stated.

Diokno, Tanada, and Te's complaint also accused Advincula of false testimony and a certain P/Col. Arnold Ibay of perjury, but these charges were dropped since Advincula's statements were not entirely false given that some have been indicted for sedition based on his allegations. Ibay was also cleared of perjury and false testimony since the statements he endorsed to the DOJ were only made by Advincula.

It can be recalled that in 2019, several controversial videos in a series entitled "Ang Totoong Narco list" surfaced, alleging the Duterte family has ties to illegal drug syndicates. Advincula later reached out to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and publicly claimed he was the man speaking in the videos while asserting the veracity of their content. He requested for legal assistance from the IBP but was denied after "thorough evaluation of his application."

Advincula later backtracked and instead pointed fingers at the opposition for crafting the script of allegations against Duterte as part of the 'Project Sodoma' ouster plot.

Advincula and ten others, including former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, were later charged with conspiracy to commit sedition for "inflicting libelous imputations" against Duterte. These same charges against Vice President Leni Robredo and 25 other members of the opposition were dismissed.
Foreign diplomats in Vietnam have provided opinions on Vietnams achievements during its period of Doi moi (renewal), most notably its economic development, containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the forward momentum of the country. 

Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang speaks at a meeting on January 18 to inform foreign diplomats and representatives of international organisations in Vietnam about the 13th National Party Congress. (Photo: VNA)

Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang said he was delighted to see Vietnams outstanding development in the 75-year building of socialism, especially the 35 years of renewal, the 30-year implementation of the platform on national construction during the transitional period to socialism, the five-year realisation of the 12th National Party Congresss Resolution and the implementation of the 2016-2020 socio-economic development plan.

Under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the Vietnamese people have gained great, comprehensive, historic achievements, helping to promote the countrys role and prestige in the international arena, he said.

Over the past five years, particularly in 2020, given the rapid, unexpected regional and global situation, plus natural disasters at home, Vietnam has still succeeded in all spheres thanks to the great efforts and high determination of the entire Party, the State and people, he stressed.

The country has been named among the worlds 10 economies with the highest growth in 2020, with its average GDP growth maintained at 5.8 percent over the past five years, the ambassador noted.

It has made marked strides in foreign affairs and international integration, he said, highlighting the countrys ASEAN Chairmanship 2020, AIPA-41 Chairmanship and non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.

Such successes have proven the sound and creative leadership of the CPV, the diplomat emphasised.

Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama speaks at a meeting on January 18 to inform foreign diplomats and representatives of international organisations in Vietnam about the 13th National Party Congress. (Photo: VNA)

The Lao ambassadors views were echoed by Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama, who is also head of the diplomatic corps, and Charge d'Affaires of Cuba Irmina Perojo, who said the successes in COVID-19 prevention and control have enabled Vietnam to organise the 13th National Party Congress, and made diplomats and representatives of international organisations in Vietnam feel safe.

German Ambassador to Vietnam Guido Hildner affirmed that with the thorough preparations, the 13th National Party Congress will be a success.

The congress will set ambitious goals for the development of the country, he said, adding that: I am confident that Vietnam will achieve those goals.

Regarding the bilateral relations, the ambassador said the ties will be enhanced in the time ahead, especially in the economic field.

Lao Ambassador Sengphet Houngboungnuang also lauded Vietnams preparations for the 13th National Party Congress, from documents to the personnel work.

Meanwhile, British Deputy Ambassador Marcus Winsley said he is confident that apart from controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam will help to tackle other major challenges facing the world./.VNA

Intl friends set high expectations for Vietnams 13th Party Congress The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam will take place from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2 in Hanoi.
Andre Moura, 30, died several hours after he was detained by officers on the night of July 6, 2018

The police officers who were filmed arresting a man who later died in custody have asked the coroner to impose an order granting them anonymity.

Andre Moura, 30, died several hours after he was detained by Greater Manchester Police officers on suspicion of breaching the peace on the night of July 6, 2018.

Today, at a pre-inquest hearing into the death of the Portuguese national, it emerged the six police officers, who had been called to reports of a 'domestic disturbance', had asked South Manchester Coroner Alison Mutch to impose an order granting them anonymity.

In footage, which was filmed by a neighbour at the scene in Limeside, Oldham, at around 11.35pm, an officer can be heard telling Mr Moura to 'stop resisting' and 'put his hands behind his back'.

One officer shouts: 'Stop resisting or you're going to get sprayed again!'

Mr Moura can be heard screaming 'help me' before the neighbour asks an officer: 'Hey is he alright there? You just kneed him about several times. It was a little excessive them knees mate.'

The police officer replies: 'Are you stood here scrapping with him? No. Just go back in your house pal.'

Mr Moura shouts 'you hurt me' before the neighbour continues: 'Three of you had hold of him and he kneed him several times.'

Just moments later, more police arrive to the scene and the officer tells his colleagues: 'Tell that lad to do one inside, he's shouting all sorts. He's just mouthing off now.'

Greater Manchester Police were called to the scene in Limeside, Oldham, at around 11.35pm, following reports of a 'domestic disturbance'

In footage that was filmed by a neighbour at the scene, an officer can be heard shouting: 'Stop resisting'

A police officer then approaches the neighbour and asks him to go back inside his property as the neighbour says: 'Can I just tell you one thing? I've been watching, I don't know what's going on but the three of them had him up against the wall like that.'

During the arrest, officers used CS spray to restrain Mr Moura outside his house before he was taken to Ashton-under-Lyne police station, they said, but 'on arrival' Mr Moura was 'found unresponsive in the back of the police van'.

He was then taken to Tameside hospital, where he was declared dead at 1.30am.

In August the Crown Prosecution Service announced that no criminal charges would be brought against individual police officers, although they face internal disciplinary hearings later this year.

At a pre-inquest hearing in Stockport it emerged six police officers have asked South Manchester Coroner Alison Mutch to impose an order granting them anonymity.

The coroner imposed an interim 'anonymity order' until she decides the matter at a hearing in the summer ahead of a full inquest scheduled to take place in January 2022.

The pre-inquest hearing was told six GMP officers had applied for anonymity at the inquest proper where they are also seeking to give evidence from behind screens.

The neighbour tells officers he does not know what is going on but will contact them in the morning

Mr Moura, a Portuguese national who move to the UK around 2013, was described by neighbours as a 'doting' dad to four young girls. Pictured: Flowers laid outside Mr Moura's property

Although the names of the officers were not mentioned during the hearing, the coroner imposed an interim anonymity order saying 'nothing should be published which would lead to the circumventing of any decision I make'.

Five officers referred to the CPS by the Independent Office for Police Conduct have charges against them dropped In August last year five officers from Greater Manchester Police, who were among those who attended the scene of Andre Moura's arrest, had the charges against them dropped. The officers, who are all police constables, were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Speaking at the time IOPC Regional Director Amanda Rowe said: 'We concluded our investigation very recently and I have decided that the actions of five officers should be referred to the CPS. 'We have a responsibility to refer any case to the CPS where there is an indication that a criminal offence may have been committed. 'The CPS will decide whether to prosecute any of the officers referred.' Following an investigation, which involved examining body-cam footage, the CPS said there was insufficient evidence for any manslaughter, assault or misconduct in public office criminal charges. Jenny Hopkins, from the CPS, told the BBC: 'We have concluded there is insufficient evidence for any manslaughter, assault or misconduct in public office criminal charges against any of those officers.' Ten GMP officers remain on restricted duties pending the outcome of internal disciplinary proceedings which are scheduled to be finalised by the end of this year. Advertisement

Peter Edwards, representing the Moura family, confirmed he would be opposing the application, although he said he had not yet seen the officers' supporting witness statements.

He went on that it had not been suggested that any members of the Moura family represented a risk to the officers concerned.

Mark Kelly, who represents one of the officers, said it was 'preferable' the Moura family was given 'redacted' documents from which the identities of the officers were removed.

The court heard it would take about a month to redact documents and edit police body-cam footage to prevent the names of the officers becoming known.

Sam Green, who represents the remaining officers, said he objected to the names of the officers being provided to the families 'at this stage'.

He said if the names were given to the family there would be 'no turning back'.

The coroner decided it was 'the right and proper way forward' to provide the family with a redacted bundle of documents where the officers would be referred to by a letter rather than their name.

Ms Mutch listed another pre-inquest hearing for July 23 to hear final submissions on the anonymity applications before making her ruling.

A Portuguese national who move to the UK around 2013, neighbours have described Mr Moura as a 'doting' father to four young girls.

A neighbour claimed to have seen a police officer knee Mr Moura in the head 'several times' as he was being restrained.

GMP made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following the incident and all ten officers who attended were placed on restricted duties.

Following a 12-month investigation, the watchdog passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service recommending criminal charges against five officers.

One officer was referred for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and misconduct in public office, and four others for misconduct in public office.

But another year later, the CPS has decided not to pursue the charges.

It is understood the decision was made around August 18 and all parties, including the family of Mr Moura, were written to.

It is understood all ten GMP officers remain on restricted duties pending the outcome of internal disciplinary proceedings which are scheduled to be finalised by the end of this year ahead of the inquest proper in January 2022.
PokerStars Ambassadors Arlie Shaban and Lex Veldhuis Find Huge Success in Blowout Series

January 20 2021 Jason Glatzer

PokerStars Ambassadors Arlie "Prince Pablo" Shaban and Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis will remember the inaugural Blowout Series at PokerStars better than most thanks to both players commanding amazing runs during the festival in the last couple of days.

Shaban hit his biggest score thus far in his poker career on Sunday evening while Veldhuis rocked out two deep runs, one of which was his biggest score on stream to date.

Play the Blowout Series at PokerStars

Arlie "Prince Pablo" Shaban Wins the Blowout Series 84-M: $22 NLHE [8-Max, Turbo, Prorgressive KO, Mini Sunday Cooldown SE]

Arlie Shaban

Arlie "Prince Palbo" Shaban navigated through a massive field of 15,572 entrants wo win the Blowout Series 84-M: $22 NLHE [8-Max, Turbo, Prorgressive KO, Mini Sunday Cooldown SE] for $19,707 ($13,399 in prize money + $6,308).

It was one of the quickest Blowout Series events on the schedule taking less than 6 1/2 hours to complete and one of the few times you will see Shaban grinding away from the stream.

Despite Shaban's fans missing out on some incredible action and highlights on Shaban's stream, there was a good reason the PokerStars Team Pro Online member was keeping his thoughts and hole cards to himself.

just setting up my twttr  jack (@jack)

Shaban was already guaranteed the biggest score of his poker career after agreeing to a three-way deal with fellow Canadian "joshdur" and Brazil's "cuco.sebas". There was still plenty of prizes to be played for with big bounties on the final three players before Shaban finished out on top to bring his all-time highest cash up to $19,707.

It took four bullets for Shaban to get on the right path. He shared with the PokerStars blog that he took out fellow PokerStars Ambassdor Lex Veldhuis (we will get into his big Blowout Series run shortly) and felt like he had a shot at winning the event when there were 75 players remaining.

Shaban then went from an average stack to one of the bigger stacks with 30 players remaining after winning a big flip and felt like he had a big chance to win the event after reaching the final table.

"There were some recreationals at the final table so I realized I had a serious shot," Shaban shared with the PokerStars Blog.

Shaban also shared his late game strategy at the PokerStars Blog: "I think a lot of the amateur players who were deep were playing too tight. It was a $22 buy-in and at that stage, there were $500 bounties on peoples heads. You have to call off with wider ranges because the bounties are worth so much. So, I turned up my aggression against players I saw playing very tight."

Blowout Series 84-M: $22 NLHE [8-Max, Turbo, Prorgressive KO, Mini Sunday Cooldown SE] Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize Bounty Total 1 Arlie "Prince Pablo" Shaban Canada $13,399 $6,308 $19,707 2 joshdur Canada $13,122 $3,006 $16,128 3 cuco.sebas Brazil $12,489 $1,959 $14,448 4 youbartonz United Kingdom $6,359 $1,206 $7,565 5 Elvis "Catholovisck" Renan Paiva Goes Brazil $4,533 $969 $5,502 6 MarceloRoya1 Brazil $3,231 $1,364 $4,596 7 chris288 Germany $2,303 $477 $2,780 8 holms99 Russia $1,642 $346 $1,988 9 LuckyEgorka Russia $1,170 $1,202 $2,373

Follow all the latest from the Blowout Series - LIVE! The PokerNews live reporting team is on top of all things Blowout Series. Don't miss a beat! FOLLOW HERE

Two Huge Blowout Series Scores for Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis

Lex Veldhuis

It was quite the Monday evening for PokerStars Team Pro Online Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis. Unlike Shaban, Veldhuis streamed his action on his Twitch channel to thousands of eager fans.

Veldhuis appeared to know that it would be a big day for him as not only did he advance to Day 2 of the $5 million guaranteed Blowout Series: $1,050 NLHE [8-Max, The Big Blowout!] but also advanced to the final table of the $1 million guaranteed Blowout Series $5,200 Side Event with $26,714 locked up with the chance at the $219,546 top prize.

just setting up my twttr  jack (@jack)

The Blowout Series $5,200 Side Event was destined to end first with the final table lasting slightly more than 2 1/2 hours. Veldhuis' run in this event ended a bit sooner with his impressive run ending just short of the podium in fourth place for $97,257.

just setting up my twttr  jack (@jack)

There was no time to rest or celebrate for Veldhuis after his big win as he had a chance to set himself up for an even bigger one in the Big Blowout.

That run came to an end about five hours later after he couldn't get his ace-queen to hold against the ace-jack held by "Tzitzi989" to go out in 30th place.

Veldhuis was able to bank another $14,029 for his deep run to bring his total earnings well into the six-figure range on Monday evening.

Follow along with the dedicated PokerNews Blowout Series Hub to stay on top of all things Blowout.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Palladium One Mining Inc. (the "Company" or "Palladium One") (TSXV: PDM) (FSE: 7N11) (OTC Pink: NKORF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Sprott Capital Partners LP (the "Lead Underwriter"), on its own behalf and, if applicable, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (collectively with the Lead Underwriter, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase for their own account or arrange substituted purchasers, on a bought deal basis, $12,515,000 of securities of the Company (the "Offering").

The Offering will consist of a combination of (i) 34,500,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.29 per Unit (the "Issue Price") for gross proceeds of $10,005,000; (ii) 1,500,000 units of the Company issued on a flow-through basis (the "FT Units") at a price of $0.34 per FT Unit (the "FT Issue Price") for gross proceeds of $510,000, and (iii) 5,000,000 units of the Company issued on a charity flow-through basis (the "Charity FT Units") at a price of $0.40 per Charity FT Unit (the "Charity FT Issue Price") for gross proceeds of $2,000,000. The Units, FT Units and the Charity FT Units shall be collectively referred to as the "Offered Securities". The Units will be offered pursuant to a short form prospectus in the each of the Provinces of Canada except Quebec. The FT Units and Charity Units will be offered in a concurrent bought deal private placement pursuant to applicable prospectus exemptions and hold periods in such jurisdictions.

Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit and Charity FT Unit will consist of one Common Share and one-half of one Warrant, each issued on a "flow through" basis under the Income Tax Act (Canada). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one non flow-through Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.45 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance thereof.

In addition, the Company shall grant the Underwriters an over-allotment option (the "Over-Allotment Option"), exercisable in whole or in part at any time and from time to time, up to and including the date which is 30 days after the closing of the Offering, to purchase up to an additional number of Units as is equal to 15% of the number of the Units issued under the Offering, on the same terms as set forth above, to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes.

In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters will be entitled to a cash fee in an amount equal to 6% of the gross proceeds from the Offering. In addition, the Underwriters will receive warrants (the "Broker Warrants") exercisable at any time prior to the date that is 24 months from the Closing Date to acquire that number of Common Shares which is equal to 6.0% of the number of Offered Securities sold under the Offering at an exercise price equal to the Issue Price.

An amount equal to the gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Units and Charity FT Units will be used to incur, on the Company's directly or indirectly held properties in Ontario, Canadian exploration expenses that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures", as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and that will also qualify as "eligible Ontario exploration expenditures" within the meaning of subsection 103(4) of the Taxation Act, 2007 (Ontario) (collectively, the "Qualifying Expenditures"). The Qualifying Expenditures will be incurred on or before December 31, 2022 and will be renounced by the Corporation to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2021 to the initial purchasers of the FT Units and Charity FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Units and Charity FT Units. In the event that the Corporation is unable to renounce the FT Issue Price and Charity FT Issue Price on or prior to December 31, 2021 for each FT Unit and Charity FT Unit purchased and/or if the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Corporation will as sole recourse for such failure to renounce, indemnify each FT Unit and Charity FT Unit subscriber for the additional taxes payable by such subscriber to the extent permitted by the Income Tax Act (Canada) as a result of the Corporation's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures as agreed.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Units will be used for exploration on the Company's platinum-group-element (PGE)-copper-nickel deposits in Finland, and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

The Offering is expected to close on or about February 18, 2021 or such other date or dates as the Company and the Lead Underwriter may agree (the "Closing Date") and is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the applicable securities regulatory authorities.

About Palladium One

Palladium One Mining Inc. is an exploration company targeting district scale, platinum-group-element (PGE)-copper nickel deposits in Finland and Canada. Its flagship project is the Lantinen Koillismaa or LK Project, a palladium dominant platinum group element-copper-nickel project in north-central Finland, ranked by the Fraser Institute as one of the world's top countries for mineral exploration and development. Exploration at LK is focused on targeting disseminated sulfides along 38 kilometers of favorable basal contact and building on an established NI 43-101 open pit resource.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Derrick Weyrauch"

President & CEO, Director

For further information contact:

Derrick Weyrauch, President & CEO

Email: info@palladiumoneinc.com

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

This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a few assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Statements regarding listing of the Company's common shares on the TSXV are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties normally incident to such events. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future events and that actual events or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions and general business conditions. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those set out in the Company's annual information form dated April 29, 2020 and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72406
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BISHKEK -- Aibek Tokoev, a relative of former Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, has been arrested on corruption charges.*

The State Committee for National Security (UKNK) said on January 19 that the chief of a directorate at the Service For The Fight Against Economic Crimes was arrested for illegally obtaining property in Bishkek and the Central Asian nation's second-largest city, Osh.

According to the statement, a financial police major was arrested after documentation showed he owns properties worth $4 million, an amount not in keeping with his legal income.

The man was identified by his initials, T.A.R., which corresponds to the initials of Tokoev Aibek Rakhmanberdi-Uulu, who leads a directorate at the Service For The Fight Against Economic Crimes and is also a brother of the former first lady Aigul Tokoeva. No other employee at the department has the same initials.

Neither Tokoev, his relatives, nor his lawyer have commented on the charges.

Jeenbekov resigned from his post in October 2020 amid anti-government protests that challenged parliamentary elections.

*CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story reported that the arrested official is a brother of the former first lady Aigul Tokoeva, but at least two sources told RFE/RL on January 20 that Aibek Tokoev is Jeenbekov's distant relative, not his wife's brother.
Prime Minister on Wednesday lashed out atprevious governments, saying the poor had to the bear the brunt of their "wrong" policies and intentions.

He also said that the poor people never believed in the past that the government will help them get a roof above their heads.

"Their (previous governments) policies were wrong and the poor had to bear the brunt of their wrong intentions," he said while releasing financial assistance of Rs 2,691 crore to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

In his 30-minute speech through video conferencing, the prime minister said people of Uttar Pradesh have not forgotten those governments in the past.

Modi also praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the



all-round development in the state and speedy implementation of central schemes, saying it has given it a "new identity".

The prime minister earlier pressed the remote button to release the assistance and interacted with some beneficiaries.

Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Adityanath were present on the occasion.

The assistance includes release of first installment to 5.30 lakh beneficiaries and second installment to 80,000 beneficiaries who have already availed of the first installment of assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G).

Modi had given a call of Housing for All by 2022, for which a flagship programme of was launched on November 20, 2016.

So far 1.26 crore houses have already been built across the country under the scheme, an official release said.

Under PMAY-G, each beneficiary is given 100 per cent grant of Rs 1.20 lakh (in plains) and Rs 1.30 lakh (in hill states/NE region/difficult areas/JK & Ladakh besides Naxal-hit districts besides areas falling under the Integrated Action Plan IAP).

The beneficiaries of are also provided support of unskilled labour wages under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and assistance of Rs 12,000 for construction of toilets through the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G), MGNREGS or any other dedicated source of funding.

The scheme has provisions for convergence with other central or state government schemes for providing LPG connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme, electricity connection and access to safe drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Campbell- impacted by Covid

As we move into 2021, just-food continues to provide daily updates on how the Covid-19 pandemic is still affecting the world's packaged food sector  and how the industry's executives see the market and consumer behaviour taking shape in the months ahead.

Don't subscribe to just-food? Click here for a trial

This article is now closed. These rolling updates built on our previous bulletins, published throughout 2020.

Wednesday 10 March

Campbell expecting sales slowdown as world emerges from lockdown

US food giant Campbell Soup Co. has said it expects its full-year sales to fall as Covid vaccines lead to society opening up again.

It is forecasting fiscal 2021 sales will fall between 3.5% and 2.5% as consumers gradually return to their pre-pandemic lives and, by leaving their homes more regularly, reduce their reliance on ready-to-eat soups and snacks.

Reporting its Q2 results today (10 March), Campbell revealed that net sales rose 5.4% to US$2.28bn in the three months to 31 January, compared to the same period last year, but the company missed estimates of $2.30bn, partly because of declines in its foodservice segment due to the Covid lockdown.

Adjusted EBIT was up 8%, year-on-year, to $393m.

Mark Clouse, Campbell's president and CEO, said: "We delivered another quarter of strong results, with top-line growth in both segments - partly tempered by foodservice and supply constraints caused by Covid-19 - as well as continued growth in EBIT and EPS."

Thursday 4 March

Olymel's Alberta pork plant starts phased reopening

Canadian pork and poultry processor Olymel said its Red Deer plant in Alberta province will resume slaughtering operations today (4 March) as it plans a phased reopening following a temporary 14-day closure due to a Covid outbreak.

Cutting room operations will recommence on Friday, Olymel said in a statement, following inspections on Monday and Wednesday this week by Alberta Health Services (AHS), the Occupational Health and Safety authority (OHS), and the Environmental Public Health department.

"AHS made several recommendations aimed at adjusting and reinforcing certain measures that were already in place and gave the green light to gradually resume operations," the company said.

It added: "The employees that are needed to ensure that the gradual restarting of operations goes smoothly will be recalled in accordance with applicable collective agreement provisions. Since March 3, employee groups have been recalled to take part in training sessions covering all implemented health measures, adjustments and additions made to some of them, and the action plan developed for reopening. The training sessions also focus on the important role information plays in compliance with all the health measures that are in place at the plant."

Olymel, which is majority-owned by the Sollio Cooperative Group, will continue to work closely with AHS and the OHS throughout the entire gradual reopening process."

The processor said "most of the employees" who had Covid-19 have since recovered, while three "have unfortunately passed away".

"Although 1,370 employees at the Red Deer plant have been tested since January 1, 2021, AHS experts will be on site when operations resume and will offer rapid testing to anyone who has not tested positive and wishes to be tested," Olymel said.

--

Wednesday 3 March

Two Hilton workers die from Covid after outbreak at UK seafood plant

Two employees of UK-based Hilton Food Group have died after contracting Covid-19.

The workers were employed within the company's Hilton Seafood division and were based at a processing facility in Grimsby in north-east England.

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B&G to invest in online operations following Covid sales surge

US-based B&G Foods has said it plans to invest in its e-commerce operation this year to build on sales momentum achieved during the Covid lockdown period.

Talking to analysts after the release of its full-year 2020 results, The Green Giant and Clabber Girl brands owner said online sales had grown substantially in 2020,

CEO David Wenner said: "The great majority of our brands grew in fiscal 2020 substantially because of the dramatic effects of Covid on consumer buying and dining patterns. E-commerce was a growing driver of those trends and we invested during the year to follow consumers as they bought more through various online means and we saw sales through those means of buying grow and return.

"Although, there's no precise way to measure this, using IRI and other data sources, we believe that our online sales grew by roughly 150%, albeit from a relatively modest base. We expect that trend to continue in 2021 and are investing further in building out our online presence and on marketing with various retailers on their site so that we can be at the forefront of this new way of selling."

B&G's 2020 net sales were up 18.5% to US$1.97bn, while its adjusted EBITDA was up by 19.4% to $361.2m.

UK government urges regular food industry Covid testing

The UK government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has called on the country's food manufacturers to introduce regular Covid testing for asymptomatic employees.

In a letter to food businesses signed by environment secretary George Eustice, it said: "We now have a roadmap to open up our communities and restart our lives, but we need to remain vigilant and continue to protect our sectors and the workforce as we go forward.

"That means taking all necessary precautions to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection in the workplace."

Defra has called on employers to adopt the government's workplace testing programme.

"Providing the tests is quick and easy, and results are received rapidly. Employers should be aiming to test staff members twice each week," Eustice said in the letter.

The programme of free tests is open to all employers of more than 50 staff and will run until 30 June but firms must register by 31 March.

Tuesday 2 March

Lindt & Sprungli forecasts sweeter sales in 2021

Covid-19 soured Lindt & Sprungli's sales in 2020 but the Swiss chocolate maker is expecting its top line to recover this year.

The Lindor owner saw its sales fall more than 6% on an organic basis last year, with its retail business hit by lockdown-related closures and gift sales hampered by families being less able to get together.

However, Lindt today (2 March) forecast a 6-8% rise in its organic sales in 2021. The upmarket chocolatier added it's "convinced that it will master the current economic downturn and emerge even stronger from this global crisis".

In 2020, Lindt's sales fell 10.9% on a reported basis to CHF4.02bn (US$4.38bn), which equated to a 6.1% decline on an organic basis.

The company's EBIT tumbled to CHF420.3m, contributing to a 37.5% slide in net income to CHF320.1m.

Lindt's EBIT margin was 10.5% and the business today forecast that would return to 13-14% this year.

During 2020, Lindt's online sales doubled to account for around 5% of its business.

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FrieslandCampina profits hit by Covid-19

Dutch dairy major FrieslandCampina said that the coronavirus pandemic has led to it recording a "significantly lower profit" in it full-year 2020 results.

Announcing its results this morning, the dairy revealed its profit has declined by 71.6% year-on-year to EUR79m (US$95m).

Revenue also declined, by 1.4% to EUR11.1bn.

CEO Hein Schumacher said: "The direct and indirect impacts of the corona pandemic that really became evident within the company starting in March, overshadowed the excellent results in the first quarter.

"FrieslandCampina's operating profit was hard hit by this."

He added: "While there is light at the end of the tunnel now that vaccination programmes are getting underway throughout the world, for the next couple of months we are still totally immersed in the corona crisis. In the first half of 2021, the results will therefore still be under pressure."

Monday 1 March

Coming to the crunch during Covid-19  UK snack bars deep dive, part one

On our analysis pages today, Andy Coyne takes a close look at the UK snack bar category and at how it has adapted to the unique trading conditions created by Covid lockdown restrictions.

Many people have assumed the UK snack-bar category would have come under significant pressure over the last year as the on-the-go market has been hammered by the slump in mobility wrought by Covid-19, with a huge chunk of the population working from home, emptying city centres with their express supermarkets and meal-deal outlets.

However, the stats suggest UK snack bar manufactures have adapted to change more successfully than was widely thought.

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Maple Leaf to relaunch plant-based brands after Q4 sales disappointment

Canada's Maple Leaf Foods is planning to relaunch its Field Roast and Lightlife brands after seeing sales from its meat-free division slow  while the company also pointed to the pandemic as a factor in the "category deceleration" it saw.

Friday 26 February

A2 Milk Co. has reacted to pressure on its sales in China, a key market for the New Zealand-based dairy and infant-formula business, and lowered its forecasts for annual sales.

The changes to the forecasts came alongside half-year financial results that included a slide in sales and profits.

In the first six months of the company's current financial year, revenue fell 16% to NZD677.4m (US$491m), with its EBITDA down 32.2% at NZD178.5m. A2 Milk Co.'s net profit after tax stood at NZD120m, versus NZD184.9m a year ago.

A factor in the first-half results was, A2 Milk Co., said "challenges resulting from Covid-19 disruption experienced in the daigou/reseller channel with a flow on impact to the cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) channel".

Wednesday 24 February

Trident Seafoods resumes operations at Alaska facility

US-based Trident Seafoods has resumed operations at its Akutan, Alaska, processing plant following a Covid outbreak-enforced temporary closure.

The outbreak among its employees at the plant, which processes seafood such as crab and pollock, spurred a pause on operations on 21 January but now the facility is back up and running.

Trident said surveillance testing, symptoms screenings, PPE and distancing protocols will remain in place.

It added that additional measures are in place to support a swift response if Covid-19 risk is detected again in the future. These include a redesign of shift and break schedules to limit instances of close contact and capacity limits to allow distancing in all areas outside work stations.

Stefanie Moreland, the company's VP of government relations, said: "The management team on site has been working to make sure these operational changes do not come as a surprise, and to ensure our employees know their safety is our priority."

Monday 22 February

UK food manufacturers respond to roadmap for easing lockdown

After UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson this afternoon (22 February) set out the Government's "roadmap" for removing lockdown measures, the trade body representing food manufacturers in the country has given its response.

A phased timetable includes a plan to allow hospitality venues to serve punters outside from 12 April at the earliest, the Government said.

From 17 May at the earliest, indoor hospitality is slated to re-open. Hotels, as well as indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas, are also lined up to open again from this date.

Next week, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce the country's Budget, which will include details on how the Government plans to support businesses and employees affected by the lockdown measures and the phased lifting of the restrictions.

The measures announced today apply to England but the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are setting out similar plans.

Ian Wright, the chief executive of The Food and Drink Federation, the association representing food and soft-drink manufacturers in the UK, said: "It is disappointing but wholly expected that the Prime Minister's roadmap shows no signs of taking account of any input from business.

"For a great many of the food and drink manufacturers supplying the hospitality and food service sectors, a return to 'business as usual' seems an awful long way off. As such, it is only correct that the Chancellor outlines significant extensions to the furlough and credit insurance schemes as part of his Budget announcement next week. The food and drink industry is the UK's largest manufacturing sector. It will therefore be key to the country's economic recovery, with a footprint in every region.

"Now is the time for government to provide additional support to ensure those businesses most at risk can play their part in putting the country back on its feet."

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Australian rice grower SunRice warns of possible sales pressure

SunRice Group, an Australia-based rice grower, has warned disruption to shipping traffic linked to Covid-19 could impact its sales in the second half of the fiscal year, exacerbating what it says are already "difficult market conditions" driven by the pandemic.

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Olymel shifts production to US after Canada plant closure

The Canada-based pork processor, which has had to temporarily close a factory after a Covid-19 outbreak among staff, has issued an update on the changes it has made to production.

Olymel said its hog production division, which supplies the Red Deer plant in Alberta now closed, will "move a substantial amount of company-owned production" to the United States to create enough plant capacity.

The company, majority-owned by Sollio Cooperative Group, made the comments in a statement framed as a "message to Alberta pork producers".

It said: "The temporary shutdown of Olymel's hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant in Red Deer is affecting the many Albertans hog producers, including Olymel's company owned farms that ship market hogs to Red Deer on a weekly basis. The company understands the strain this has put on their operations as we estimate the backlog to be approximately 80-90,000 animals. The company has implemented several strategies to mitigate the impact as much as possible including a clear path to reducing the backlog as quickly as possible."

The meatpacker added: "With the added capacity Olymel anticipates that the backlog of market ready hogs will be cleared up within 4-5 weeks after the plant is able to resume activities."

Last week, Olymel said its hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant in Red Deer had seen "a resurgence of positive cases of Covid-19 among plant employees".

Olymel said that, despite close collaboration with Alberta Health Services to deal with the problem, it believed the conditions meant it could not continue normal operations in a safe and efficient manner.

The company, which has suspended all pending deliveries at the plant until further notice, has not said how many workers have been affected by the outbreak.

19 February

Fazer assesses staff count again at Finnish candy plant

Finland's Fazer Group is planning another round of potential lay-offs linked to Covid-19 at its confectionery plant in the city of Vantaa, located in the south of the country.

18 February

US meal-kit firm Blue Apron sees sales soar during lockdown

Blue Apron, the US meal-kit firm saw its year-on-year sales increase by 22% in Q4, 2020, to US$115m, partly as a result of stay-at-home consumers ordering its products during the Covid-19 lockdown.

But the company has cautioned that growth levels may dip as lockdown restrictions ease.

The fourth quarter marked the third consecutive quarter of double-digit year-on-year year increase in net revenue for the business.

The company said that there have been changes in consumer behaviour due to the pandemic as customers ordered more frequently and added more meals per order.

"Since late March 2020, Blue Apron has experienced increased demand for its meal kits reflecting, in part, changes to consumer behaviour in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to meet the increased demand, the company continued to focus on increasing capacity at its fulfilment centres, including hiring new employees, increasing wages for frontline workers, and temporarily reducing menu options, which limits the need to change production lines and allows for more time to pack meal kits," it said.

But it added a note of caution.

"Management continues to monitor the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the company's business, including changes to consumer behaviour relating to cooking at home. While the company believes that a portion of the increased demand it has experienced over the last few months can be sustained through the first half of 2021 and potentially beyond, this will likely occur at varying levels as the impact of the pandemic changes over time," it said.

16 February

Canada's Olymel temporarily closes Alberta meat plant

Canadian meatpacker Olymel has announced the temporary closure of its plant in Red Deer, Alberta, following a Covid outbreak

The hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant has seen "a resurgence of positive cases of Covid-19 among plant employees", Olymel said in a statement.

Olymel said that, despite close collaboration with Alberta Health Services to deal with the problem, it believes that the conditions are such that it cannot continue normal operations in a safe and efficient manner.

After notifying the union, Olymel management drew up a temporary closing plan for an indefinite period. Over the next few days, plant management will mobilizs the staff necessary to cease operations and complete the facility closure as soon as possible.

Olymel said it will strongly encourage all staff to get tested before returning to work. In the meantime, it will continue ongoing investigations to determine what may have caused such a large outbreak of Covid-19 cases since 20 January.

Olymel, which has suspended all pending deliveries at the plant until further notice, has not said how many workers have been affected by the outbreak.

15 February

JBS reveals 700 workers vaccinated at US plant

Brazilian meat giant JBS has announced that 700 workers at its Beardstown, Illinois, pork production facility in the US have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

In partnership with the Cass County Health Department, employees were vaccinated on site at the plant in what is understood to be the largest vaccination effort to date at a US red-meat facility.

Bob Krebs, president, JBS USA Pork, said: "We remain committed to providing a safe working environment for our team members and doing all we can to ensure our workforce across the country is given the opportunity to be vaccinated as soon as possible. They have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide food for all Americans, and their access to the vaccine should absolutely be prioritised."

Vaccination at the Beardstown facility is voluntary and all employees who choose to be vaccinated receive a US$100 incentive bonus. Vaccines were administered on site by trained third-party nurses and the second dose of the vaccine will be provided to Beardstown workers in March.

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2 Sisters poultry plant in Devon comes down with cases again

2 Sisters Food Group's Willand plant in Devon, south-west England, has once again seen a number of cases of Covid-19 following a bout of infections at the same site last summer.

The poultry-processing facility in the town of Cullompton, which employs around 1,000 workers, saw a cluster of cases emerge a few days ago.

Local media reported workers as saying a testing centre had been set up in the car park of the plant.

A spokesperson for the 2 Sisters' Cullompton site said in a statement provided to just-food: "Colleague safety remains the number one priority at our Willand site.

"We are currently working closely with external agencies and are offering our colleagues the opportunity of voluntary Covid-19 testing. This testing opportunity further strengthens our Covid prevention measures, which have been in place for almost a year and are regularly independently assessed."

12 February

US baker Flowers Foods sees sales going stale in 2021

Another major US-based food company is, perhaps unsurprisingly, cautioning its sales in 2021 may fall after pandemic-fuelled growth in 2020.

Flowers Foods, one of the country's largest bakery businesses, has forecast a 2-4% decline in its sales in 2021 after a 6.4% rise last year, which was also helped by an extra selling week.

As well as lapping a year when Covid-19 boosted at-home consumption, Ryals McMullian, Flowers' president and CEO, said other factors could also dampen sales.

"Our guidance for fiscal 2021 incorporates our expectation of some mix reversion during the year as the impact of the pandemic dissipates, as well as the potential for a higher promotional environment, back-half commodity headwinds, and investment to implement our digital initiative. Partly offsetting those factors are expected benefits from our brand investments and continued savings from portfolio optimisation and operational efficiencies. We are investing in our business at a time when visibility may be more limited than normal, but it is clear that we are on the right path."

Flowers, home to brands including Dave's Killer Bread and Tastykake, generated sales of $4.39bn in 2020. The company's net income fell 7.4% to $152.3m amid expenses linked to a pension-plan settlement. Income from operations stood at $321.5m, up from $225.4m in 2020.

Expo West goes digital, while Expo East will go ahead in person in September

Expo West, the annual organic food industry event normally held in March in Anaheim, California, will now be held virtually in May after the organisers decided against holding a physical gathering due to Covid-19.

The event had been pushed back to May, but will now be held digitally instead from 24-27 May, Informa Market's New Hope Network, which organises the trade fair, said.

Meanwhile, New Hope is promoting its "enhanced" Natural Products Expo East trade show as an opportunity for people to get together in person, designed to serve both Expo East and Expo West customers. It will be held from 22-25 September in Philadelphia.

11 February

Kellogg expects dip in underlying sales in 2021

With lockdowns seeing most meals switch to being made and eaten indoors, breakfast-cereal giant Kellogg saw its sales rise in 2020  but the US group is forecasting a decline this year.

The Corn Flakes and Coco Pops owner today (11 February) forecast its net sales would fall 1% on an organic basis in 2021, pointing to a comparison with "unusually-strong, Covid-related growth" last year. In 2020, Kellogg's net sales rose 6% in on an organic basis to US$13.8bn.

Kellogg, home to brands including Pringles snacks and Eggo frozen waffles, said a 1% decline would still mean "a two-year compound annual growth of about 2.5%".

The company also said it expects its adjusted operating profit to fall in 2021, forecasting a drop of around 2%, Again, Kellogg pointed to Covid-19 but also said the 2020 fiscal year had 53 weeks.

In 2020, Kellogg's adjusted operating profit rose 2.6% to $1.81bn. The company made a net income of $1.25bn in the year to 2 January 2021, up from $960m 12 months earlier.

10 February

Londoners leading surge in home delivery of snacks during lockdown - research

New research has revealed a surge in the home delivery of snacks in London during the Covid lockdown period.

Analysis firm The NPD Group's research showed that demand for home delivery of snacks and coffee in London was up by 95% in 2020 compared to the previous year.

This is significantly ahead of the 11% increase in orders placed by families across the country as a whole.

Dominic Allport, insights director (foodservice) at The NPD Group said: "The main reason is the greater use of delivery subscriptions such as Deliveroo Plus in the capital, where customers pay a flat monthly fee for unlimited free deliveries.

"As these subscriptions become increasingly common across the country, we expect to see a growth in people ordering snacks and drinks to be delivered to their homes more regularly."

The average amount spent per person on snack delivery increased by 20% nationally in 2020 vs. 2019 to reach GBP5.66. The number of items bought during each snacking occasion in London has increased significantly and is now +18% higher than the national average.

Allport added: "Once lockdown is over, this trend is likely to remain embedded in the population."

Danish Crown closes German slaughterhouse after 13 Covid infections

Meat processor Danish Crown has closed a beef slaughterhouse in Germany for a week after 13 of the approximately 300 workers tested positive for Covid-19.

The facility in the town of Husum, situated in the county of North Frisia near the border with Denmark, has been shut as a precautionary measure to prevent the further spread of the virus, a spokesperson for Danish Crown confirmed.

Danish Crown plans to reopen the site on 14 February subject to prevailing conditions at the time.

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8 February

Covid cases identified at Cargill meat plant in Canada

US agri-food giant Cargill has seen a small number of its employees at a meat plant in Canada test positive for Covid-19.

Some six employees at the company's High River facility in Alberta have tested positive for the virus, Cargill told just-food. They are in isolation and receiving medical care and support.

The High River facility, which employs more than 2,000 people, is continuing to function as normal.

It is the second Covid outbreak at the plant. It was shut down for two weeks in April 2020 because of an outbreak that affected more than 350 of its workers and saw two employees die.

In relation to the newly-announced Covid cases amongst its High River workforce, a Cargill spokesperson said: "We continue to learn how to help slow the spread of the virus and are working with Alberta Health Services (AHS) to add safety measures as they become available to safeguard our valued co-workers."

5 February

2 Sisters recruiting 500 workers as pandemic pushes up poultry demand

2 Sisters Food Group plans to hire hundreds of workers to meet growing demand for poultry products in the UK with consumers confined to the home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With factories situated around the UK, 2 Sisters said it had hired approximately 800 workers over the past 12 months to across the entire business to cater to the increased demand.

But Covid has also taken a toll, with a number of sites seeing staff test positive for the virus.

3 February

Premium Brands-owned Belmont Meats shuts Toronto plant amid Covid outbreak

Belmont Meats, a protein business owned by Canada's Premium Brands Holdings, has seen an outbreak of Covid-19 at its factory in Toronto.

The Toronto Public Health agency said 78 cases of the virus have been confirmed at Belmont's North York site, a district in Toronto, and two of those workers have been identified as having the B.1.1.7 strain of the virus, a variant that first appeared in the UK.

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Baxters to close visitor centre and retail outlet in Scotland

Baxters Food Group, the UK-based soups-to-condiments maker, plans to close its visitor centre, restaurant and retail outlet in Edinburgh, Scotland, as the pandemic curtails foot traffic across the hospitality sector.

The Highland Village centre is located in the same village as Baxter's headquarters in Fochabers, Moray, in north-east Scotland. The site employs around 30 people, according to a media report, all of whom face the prospect of losing their jobs.

2 February

Nestle seeking to help with Covid vaccine rollout

Food giant Nestle is seeking ways to help with the Covid-19 vaccine programme in countries in which it operates.

News agency Reuters reported the Switzerland-based company's chief executive Mark Schneider as saying that while it has already donated to the Red Cross and other organisations to help cover the financial cost of vaccination programmes, it wants to go further.

Schneider told the Forum Horizon event in Lausanne: "We will also try to find ways to either sponsor the payment for the vaccine or sponsor the way it gets applied in communities where we are present.

"The price of a vaccine for an advanced economy is negligible...but to a developing country which has been struggling already with all the impacts of Covid, on top of that to pay for the vaccine and for the services to get it applied is going to be very significant," he said.

Reuters reported that the specific details of how Nestle will help still need to be worked out, according to Schneider, who described the project as a "work in progress".

1 February

US Congress probing meatpackers over Covid deaths

A US Congress panel is investigating three of the country's largest meatpacking businesses in relation to worker deaths at their facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Muller reports fatality at another UK plant

Another UK plant owned by Germany headquartered dairy giant Muller has been affected by Covid-19.

An employee at the facility run by Muller Milk & Ingredients in Droitwich, a town in the English Midlands county of Worcestershire, has died from the virus, although the staff member had been off work since 30 December due to a "personal matter", a company spokesperson confirmed in a statement.

A further 26 workers are currently self isolating out of a total employee count in Droitwich of 607.

"It is important to stress that fresh milk processing is highly automated, ensuring no risk to products," the statement read.

26 January

Greencore's food-to-go revenues slide in Q1 amid lockdowns

Greencore, a major supplier of food-to-go products to UK retailers, has reported an across-the-board drop in revenues for the group and its business units due to Covid-19-related restrictions.

In a trading update this morning (26 January) for the first quarter to 25 December, the Ireland-based private-label manufacturer said reported group revenues fell 15% to GBP312.7m (US$425.9m) and were down 15.1% on a pro-forma basis, "impacted by the reduction in mobility arising from tiered restrictions and lockdowns in the UK".

The food-to-go category saw reported and pro-forma revenues decline 21.7% to GBP188.5m, while other convenience foods fell 2.1% to GBP124.1m.

"[The] latest lockdown significantly impacting demand in food-to-go categories, though not as marked as the initial lockdown in March 2020. Currently, pro-forma group revenue is approximately 20% below prior year levels, with performance in food-to-go categories down approximately 35% on [the] prior year, while other convenience categories remain stable," Greencore said.

"The recovery in demand that was evident at the end of FY-20 was impeded by the tiered regional restrictions on mobility introduced across the UK in October, and then by a subsequent national lockdown until early December, followed by the implementation of tiered regional lockdowns."

Greencore also provided an early assessment of the impact of a free trade deal reached between the UK and the EU on Christmas Eve.

"The operational impact has been modest to date as the group had completed extensive Brexit planning and was well prepared for any near-term volatility in the supply chain.

"The ongoing uncertainty regarding the duration and impact of Covid-19 on the group's trading environment, and in particular on demand in its food-to go-categories, continues to make it difficult to predict FY-21 performance. In this context, the group's financial guidance remains suspended."

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Chocolate maker Godiva to close North America retail outlets

Chocolate maker Godiva, owned by Turkey's Yildiz Holding, plans to close or sell its 128 retail stores in the US and Canada after consumers switched to online purchases during the pandemic.

"Demand for the in-person shopping experience offered through Godiva's brick-and-mortar locations has waned as a result of the pandemic and its acceleration of changes in consumers' shopping behaviour. In response to these market dynamics, Godiva will exit its 128 brick-and-mortar locations in North America, partially through sales and partially through closures, by the end of the first quarter," it said in a statement.

However, Godiva's products will still be available online in those North American markets, along with grocery and drug stores and other retail outlets. Europe, the Middle East and China are not affected by t

25 January

Food companies among UK Covid testing scheme

Meat company Moy Park and sugar refiner Tate & Lyle Sugars are among what the UK says are "dozens" of employers in the country to have signed up to a scheme testing workers without symptoms who cannot work from home.

Lateral flow tests are being used to see if staff have Covid-19 without realising they are carrying the virus. The UK government said around one in three infected people have no symptoms and may be unknowingly spreading the virus.

More than 730,000 tests have been distributed across the UK public and private sectors so far. Frozen-food group Apetito and cheese-products maker Primula are also among the companies to have joined the scheme.

Gerald Mason, senior vice president of Tate & Lyle Sugars, said: "Mass testing has really helped us get one step ahead of the virus by identifying colleagues who were infectious but showed no symptoms. This has been especially welcome over the last few weeks at our east London factories as the levels of virus in the local area have been extremely high."

22 January

Trident Seafoods closes Akutan plant for three weeks

Trident Seafoods, which claims to be the largest vertically-integrated seafood harvesting and processing company in North America, has had to temporarily close a plant in Alaska amid a number of Covid-19 infections.

The first of four cases at the processing facility in Akutan became apparent last weekend with an employee testing positive, and the other infections were discovered when the worker's three room mates were tested. All four had tested negative for the virus two weeks earlier.

In a statement issued yesterday (21 January), privately-owned Trident, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, said it will pause operations for three weeks while it undertakes "comprehensive" testing and to "support a preventative quarantine" for the 700 workers.

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JBS, Pilgrim's Pride offer US workers $100 vaccine incentive

Meat packers JBS and Pilgrim's Pride are offering to give US employees a US$100 bonus if they voluntarily take a Covid-19 vaccine.

"The new initiative is designed to encourage maximum participation in the Biden administration's accelerated pandemic response efforts and ensure that every JBS USA and Pilgrim's team member who wants to get vaccinated can do so as soon as vaccines are made available," the two companies said in a joint statement.

JBS, headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is the majority-owner of US poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride. Both companies have, in the recent past, reported Covid-19 cases at their plants in the US and the UK.

"With nearly 66,000 US team members, we are hopeful this initiative will lead to high vaccination participation rates that will benefit our workforce and the rural communities and cities in which they live and work across America," said Andre Nogueira, the CEO of JBS' US division.

"Throughout the pandemic, JBS USA and Pilgrim's have adopted industry-leading measures to protect our essential frontline workers who continue to provide food for the nation. Our goal in offering this extra pay to our team members is to remove any barriers to vaccination and incentivise our team members to protect themselves, their families and their co-workers."

China confirms first cases of Covid among meat workers - report

China has reportedly detected its first cases of Covid-19 among meat workers, with ten confirmed cases at a poultry factory owned by Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Foods.

The facility in question is located in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province in China's north-east region.

Reuters reported from an official Chinese news briefing that a further 28 employees at the plant, along with three family members, were asymptomatic amid a wider community outbreak in the region. The news agency added that samples taken from inside the slaughterhouse, its cold storage area and the outside of product packaging earlier this week came up positive for the virus.

Officials at Charoen Pokphand's Bangkok headquarters "made no immediate comment", Reuters said.

21 January

Muller hit by Covid-19 infections at UK plant, worker dies

Unternehmensgruppe Theo Muller, the Germany-headquartered dairy giant, has confirmed a slew of Covid-19 infections at one of its UK plants, along with the death of an employee.

20 January

Trident Seafoods reports cases at Alaska plant

Trident Seafoods, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, has reported four cases of Covid-19 at a processing plant in Akutan, Alaska, despite "rigorous preventative measures".

CEO Joe Bundrant, the son of Trident's founder Chuck Bundrant, said in a statement: "Health and safety are our absolute priority. We have said from the beginning of this pandemic that if we have an issue, we're going to shed a light on it. We want to be sure people are aware and know that we are taking this very seriously."

The first case became apparent last weekend with an employee testing positive, and the other infections were discovered when the worker's three room mates were tested. All four had tested negative for the virus two weeks earlier.

One of the workers is currently in hospital, while the three others are self-isolating.

Stefanie Moreland, Trident's vice president of government relations and sustainability, said the company is working to try and establish the source of the infections among the 700 staff at Akutan.

"We have notified the state of Alaska, the city of Akutan and our medical partners and are coordinating with all to conduct further tests, implement protocols and contain exposure," Moreland said.

19 January

Lindt & Sprungli annual sales drop on pandemic-related challenges

Lindt & Sprungli, the premium chocolate maker based in Switzerland, has reported a 6.2% decline in annual organic sales to CHF4.02bn (US$4.53bn).

The drop  minus 10.9% on a reported basis - was put down to "major global challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic", namely the closure of its store network and reduced shopping visits, and also strength in the Swiss franc.

Still, the decline in organic sales was within the company's expectations for a 5% to 7% decrease (Stifel -5.2%), while the company said it notched up market share gains in "practically all countries" in which Lindt & Sprungli operates.

"The global restrictions and regulations to contain the pandemic unfortunately had an impact on important areas of Lindt & Sprungli's business. The restrictions on the foodservice area in North America and the traditional speciality stores in Italy had a major impact on sales. The travel retail business also recorded a sharp drop in sales due to the restricted air traffic," it said in a statement.

Sales in Europe fell 2.9% on an organic basis and were down 6.8% in North America. It was worse in the rest of the world segment, where sales dropped 16.1%, although China and Japan posted growth.

Lindt & Sprungli said the medium- and long-term organic growth targets remain unchanged at 5-7% per year, while the operating profit margin of 10% realised in 2020 is expected to "return to a level of around 15% in 2022".

18 January

UK trade bodies lobby government to support foodservice suppliers

A group of trade associations are pressing the UK government to provide financial support for food manufacturers supplying the out-of-home sector, warning they risk going out of business without some form of aid.

The 18-strong group is led by the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) which have written a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and other government ministers pointing out how pubs, restaurants and cafes have received extended financial support but the businesses that supply them have not.

They are calling for an extension to the 12-month exemption period for local business rates for companies operating in the hospitality and foodservice sector and the introduction of capital and tax break allowances aimed at retaining staff.

The group is also pressing the Government to formalise the deferment of PAYE and NI payments until the end of 2021 for the sector. And to increase the level of funding for the Additional Restrictions Grant and to make the funding accessible, along with providing grants for those companies that have had to dispose of stock because of lockdown restrictions.

BFFF CEO Richard Harrow said: "England's national lockdown, plus restrictions in the UK's other nations, have been devastating for our many businesses supplying the hospitality and foodservice markets and they are facing a bleak winter. Their continued existence will be critical as the economy starts to recover."

14 January

Bakkavor annual revenues decline on pandemic impact  trading update

Private-label fresh food supplier Bakkavor has said revenues fell in the fiscal year through December amid a new round of Covid-19-related lockdowns in the final quarter.

In a trading update today, the London-based business said group revenues were down 4.9% on both a reported and like-for-like basis in the 12 months ended 26 December ahead of the final results on 16 March. The decline was more protracted in the UK, where like-for-like sales fell 5.3%.

On the international front, revenues dropped 21.6% in China, which was the Bakkavor division "most severely impacted by the pandemic", offsetting a 12.7% increase in revenues in the US.

Bakkavor currently anticipates adjusted EBITDA will be in line with the previous annual print of GBP138m (US$188.3m).

CEO Agust Gudmundsson said: "Notwithstanding the ongoing impact of Covid-19, we have a sound business model and solid platform that leaves us well-placed to navigate the current environment and achieve long-term sustainable growth."

11 January

Maple Leaf Foods to acquire facility for plant-based unit Greenleaf

Canadian meat processor Maple Leaf Foods is set to purchase a production facility in the US for its plant-based unit Greenleaf Foods amid challenges to its expansion strategy in the country caused by Covid-19.

8 January

Cases rise at 2 Sisters' Coupar Angus facility in Scotland

2 Sisters Food Group, a UK-based poultry processor, has seen the number of Covid-19 cases rise at its Coupar Angus facility in Scotland.

Earlier this week, the company reported five infections amongst workers at the poultry plant in South Lanarkshire and now, according to NHS Tayside, the number has since climbed to 30.

The same site had to be closed temporarily last August after a number of employees tested positive.

A spokesperson for 2 Sisters said the company had nothing to add to the statement from NHS Tayside when contacted by just-food.

Dr Emma Fletcher, a director of public health for Tayside NHS, said a "comprehensive risk assessment" has been conducted at the facility a noted the safety measures 2 Sisters has put in place to protect workers.

"For several reasons the public should be reassured that it is possible for the factory to remain open at this time as we are in a very different position to when there were Covid-19 cases at the factory last August. The rate of community infection is much higher compared to August's outbreak," she said.

"The factory is continuing to work closely with NHS Tayside's Public Health team and Food Standards Scotland to help manage the situation."

7 January

BMPA urges UK government to prioritise meat workers for vaccines

The British Meat Processors Association is urging the UK government to prioritise "frontline workers in meat factories" for the coronavirus vaccines.

"The risk of more rapid spread of the virus amongst key workers, coupled with expected disruption of food supplies at our ports as the full effects of Brexit begin to unfold, pose a severe challenge to the industry and to the smooth running of the nation's food supply chain," the BMPA said in a statement today.

As well as the meat industry, BMPA members also include some of the major UK supermarkets, food retailers and ingredient suppliers. It said there is an increased risk that meat plants could close as the new strain of coronavirus pushes up absenteeism rates, which could possibly lead to food shortages.

"Given the specialised nature of the meat-processing industry, if absences go above a certain level, it becomes impossible for a plant to continue operations. If this starts happening, plants would be forced to close entirely and a sizeable chunk of food supply would disappear from supermarket shelves," it said.

Nick Allen, the CEO of BMPA, continued: "As the new coronavirus variant takes hold across the whole of the UK, we are hearing widespread reports of rapidly rising absences in the food-supply chain. In some cases, notably in the supermarket sector, companies are seeing a tripling of staff having to take time off work through illness or enforced self-isolation.

"We are therefore calling on Government to include meat-factory workers in the initial roll-out of vaccinations. This would provide much-needed protection and comfort to this at-risk group and the communities in which they live, as well as ensuring that the critical food-supply chain continues to run smoothly."

6 January

Thai Union says all plants operating amid dozens of Covid cases

The seafood giant has issued a statement to say it is "proactively testing" employees in a province south west of Bangkok and confirmed some 69 of its staff at its sites in the region have tested positive for the virus.

Thai Union Group said it had tested 23,630 out of 27,552 employees in the province of Samut Sakhon, with the rest of the workers to be tested by next week.

"We have comprehensive protocols in place in case of positive test results; these protocols include ensuring taking care of the affected employees while isolating them according to government guidelines, identifying and testing close contacts and deep cleaning of visited work areas," Thai Union CEO Thiraphong Chansiri said. "It is very important to note that, due to the extremely small number of impacted employees, all Thai Union's factories currently remain open and operational at capacity."

Samut Sakhon province is one of the regions the Thai government has designated as a "red zone", or area with high infection rates. It is also Thailand's chief hub for seafood production.

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Foster Farms faces lawsuit from workers union over Covid-19 safety

The US poultry processor, has become the subject of a lawsuit filed by the United Farm Workers union, which claims the company "refused" to follow safety guidelines after a number of workers died from Covid-19 at two of its plants in California.

5 January

UK announces grants for retail, foodservice businesses

The UK government has said it will make available "one-off, top-up grants" to the country's retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in the wake of the country's the fresh lockdown measures.

Firms can apply for grants worth up to GBP9,000 (US$12,200), with the Government suggesting the cash will benefit more than 600,000 companies.

"This will help businesses to get through the months ahead  and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen," Rishi Sunak, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, said. "Throughout the pandemic we've taken swift action to protect lives and livelihoods and today we're announcing a further cash injection to support businesses and jobs until the spring."

The UK's furlough scheme had already been extended until the end of April.

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2 Sisters plant operating "as normal" amid Covid cases

The UK food manufacturer has reported a fresh clutch of positive cases of Covid-19 at a plant in Scotland that was hit by the virus during the summer.

2 Sisters said its Coupar Angus facility was "working as normal", with five of its staff having tested positive.

Last August, the site, located in south Lanarkshire, halted production for two weeks to after a number of employees caught the virus.

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Cargill re-opens Covid-hit Canada plant

The US agri-food giant has resumed production at a meat plant in Canada closed before Christmas due to dozens of cases of Covid-19 among staff.

Cargill called a halt to output at the facility in Ontario in the week before the festive period. The company said at the time around 60 of its workers at the site in Guelph in Ontario had been diagnosed with Covid-19 amid a "community spread" of the virus.

Approximately 1,000 staff are employed at the factory, which is located in the city of Guelph. According to the Cargill website, the plant processes 1,500 head of cattle per day and is one of its two beef facilities in Canada. Combined, the plants make up 55% of the beef processing market in Canada, Cargill says.

"The health and safety of our employees continue to be our top priority," Cargill said in a statement on the re-opening of the factory. "In addition to safety measures we implemented at our facilities months ago, we have taken time during the idle to conduct a full, deep-clean of the facility as an additional step to respond to the community-wide impacts of the virus."

Like food manufacturers across the industry, and particularly in the meat sector, Cargill saw its production affected in the early months of the pandemic after positive cases were diagnosed among staff.

4 January

Nestle to expand US site to meet Covid demand

Nestle is to up the production capacity of a plant in the US to meet changes in demand sparked by the virus.

23 December

FDF calls for compensation for exporters following border "chaos"

UK industry association The Food and Drink Federation has called on the country's government to compensate businesses affected by the closure of the border between Britain and France.

21 December

"We see consumer behaviours evolving in ways we think will stick beyond the pandemic"  General Mills' CEO Jeff Harmening on H1 results

General Mills reaped rewards from Covid-19 shopping behaviours in its fiscal first half as organic growth notched up a print of 8% compared to last year's flat performance. And the benefits look set to continue judging by the emergence of a new strain of the virus in the UK and Italy, while the US still grapples to contain the disease. Simon Harvey looks at the key talking points behind the results.

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FDF warns of disrupted food supplies as France closes border with UK

The Food and Drink Federation is warning that supplies of food into the country face disruption as a result of France closing its border with Britain.

18 December

Cargill halts output at Canada meat site amid Covid-19 cases

Cargill has called a halt to production at a meat-processing facility in Canada after dozens of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

The US agri-food giant said around 60 of its workers at the site in Guelph in Ontario had been diagnosed with Covid-19 amid a "community spread" of the virus. Approximately 1,000 staff are employed at the factory.

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Tyson Foods in spotlight over Covid protective measures

Following cases of Covid-19 at a number of Tyson Foods' meat plants since the virus erupted, the comptroller for New York City is calling on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate the company's methods to protect workers.

Comptroller Scott Stringer has criticised Arkansas-headquartered Tyson of "flagrantly misrepresenting its poor pandemic response" to investors.

He has called out Tyson's Form 10-K, a financial results document presented to the SEC annually, for containing scant information on the company's workplace safety measures.

Tyson has been plagued by Covid-19 infections at a large number of plants, some of which have been forced to temporarily shutdown or pause production as the appropriate cleaning and sanitisation processes are carried out. The affected sites have included factories in: Portland, Maine; Waterloo, Iowa; Goodlettsville and Shelbyville, Tennessee; Pasco, Washington; Dakota City, Nebraska; and Longansport, Indiana.

Six workers died from coronavirus at the Waterloo site, which witnessed more than a 1,000 infections.

"There is human cost to Tyson's failures  preventable deaths, hospitalisations and sick workers," Stringer said in a letter to Tyson. "These failures have material impacts on its business operations that carry serious risks for shareholders."

Tyson has yet to respond to just-food's request for comment.

17 December

Tyson Foods sacks seven managers linked to Covid-19 betting pool

Tyson Foods has sacked seven plant management employees at the US meat giant's site in Waterloo, Iowa, following an independent probe into a betting pool linked to Covid-19 infections.

16 December

Greencore's Nottingham factory hit by Covid

Greencore, a food-to-go manufacturer headquartered in Ireland, has a "number" of Covid-19 cases at a UK plant in the county of Nottinghamshire.

In a statement, the ready-meals to sandwiches maker said coronavirus infections in the Bassetlaw district in north Nottingham have been rising and Greencore now has an unspecified number of cases at its Manton Wood facility. All are currently self-isolating.

"We have arranged for testing to be carried out at the site, and have wide-ranging social-distancing measures, stringent hygiene procedures and regular temperature checking in place," the statement read. "We are liaising closely with the Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire County Council and Public Health England. Our thoughts are with all those affected, who are currently recovering at home, and we will continue to monitor their welfare as the situation develops."



Jonathan Gribbin, a director of public health for Nottinghamshire County Council, added in the same statement provided by Greencore: "We have been carefully studying the cluster of cases across Bassetlaw district. We are working with Greencore and Public Health England to provide testing and to understand more about how people are acquiring the infection. Greencore has an extensive range of controls in place, has responded quickly and decisively to the situation and is working closely with us."

Other Greencore sites have seen cases of Covid during the year.

15 December

EU food-manufacturing workers "should be priority for vaccines"

FoodDrinkEurope, the trade body for representing food manufacturers operating in the EU, has called on the bloc's member states to take up a recommendation from The European Commission to include workers in the agri-food sector as "a priority group" for vaccines against Covid-19.

A joint statement issued with European trade union federation EFFAT said the Commission had provided guidelines to member states when developing their vaccination strategies and had included agriculture and food sector workers as one of six priority groups.

"The approval and availability of vaccines against Covid-19 is a huge step forward in the fight against the global pandemic. Vaccinating the entire EU population will take significant time, and due to the limited number of doses available not everybody can be immunised immediately," the statement read.

"Food security can only be ensured when the health and safety of the workers in the food and drink industry is protected and production can run smoothly. This holds true in the workplaces, as well as when considering a vaccination strategy."

Quoting an unnamed German government source, Reuters said The European Medicines Agency is set to issue a positive verdict on the first Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine next Wednesday (23 December).

9 December

Six new Covid cases confirmed at Bakkavor's Tilmanstone plant since Friday

Bakkavor, a UK private-label supplier, has said its salads plant in south-east England where two workers have unfortunately died after contracting Covid-19 has seen a further six new cases since last Friday (4 December), although numbers are declining.

A two-day mass-testing exercise was started at the Tilmanstone site in Kent on Monday (7 December) with 375 staff out of a workforce of "over 900" tested so far. In an update provided by Bakkavor yesterday afternoon, the company said 48 employees are now off work having tested positive, with another 44 self-isolating as a precautionary measure.

The testing programme was due to end at midnight yesterday. The Tilmanstone plant is currently operating at "reduced capacity", the company said, although a spokesperson for the business told just-food it is "a temporary adjustment, [with] no impact on service levels".

Bakkavor said in a statement: "As a business, we have fully followed PHE guidelines for the duration of the pandemic. We are currently working closely with Public Health England (PHE) South East and Kent County Council to monitor the situation and we will take whatever appropriate action is necessary to limit the spread of Covid-19 and to ensure that our staff on site are safe. We will follow PHE advice and, if and when further steps need to be taken, we will communicate any new developments."

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4 December

Bakkavor to test all staff at Covid-hit plant

The UK private-label manufacturer is to test all staff working at a factory in south-east England for Covid-19 in the wake of two employees at the site dying after being diagnosed with the virus.

After talks with local government and health officials this week, Bakkavor will start conducting the tests at the facility, located in Tilmanstone in Kent, on Monday.

On the two members of staff who died, the company said: "We have sadly had two colleagues pass away following positive tests for Covid-19. These were valued members of our team and we are doing everything to support their families during this tragic time. At this early point in our investigation there is no evidence that either case was contracted in the workplace."

More than 900 employees work at the factory, which manufactures salad products. Bakkavor said 59 staff that have tested positive for Covid-19 are off work and a further 54 are self-isolating as a precautionary measure.

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Survey reveals Covid, Brexit outlook for UK hospitality

A UK business survey reveals Covid-19 has "wrecked confidence" among company chiefs in the hospitality industry, with the majority (82%) downbeat on prospects for the coming year.

The poll by Manchester-based research consultancy CGA and Fourth, a provider of cloud-based cost control solutions to hospitality, shows the figure was up from 40% in a similar survey conducted in February.

"Extended restrictions on trading and socialising over the autumn have led more than a quarter (27%) of multi-site business leaders to predict their groups will be unviable within the first six months of 2021 if current levels of support continue. Single-site businesses are at even greater risk of failure," the survey reveals.

Looking at the impact on the hospitality sector when the Brexit transition period ends this month, the majority of company chiefs anticipate a hit to profits (65%) and increased costs on imports (80%).

In terms of investment, the survey of 121 business leaders across management roles, reveals "widespread closures" are expected next year, with 38% having no plans to open new sites. "Substantial market churn, especially in London, where closures of offices, retail and tourist venues has hit footfall, can be expected," the researchers said.

CGA's research and insight director Charlie Mitchell said: "As we near the end of hospitality's toughest year in memory, the bleak picture of the sector will come as little surprise. Suffocating restrictions across Britain will devastate trading in what should be businesses' busiest time of the year.

"Leaders' optimism is at least rising from the rock bottom level of our last survey, and news of a vaccine is a reason for cautious hope of recovery in 2021. However, this week's Tier 2 restrictions in England and strict new limits in Wales could be fatal for smaller business in particular, making the case for more relaxed trading conditions and better government support even more urgent."

3 December

Second Covid death reported at Bakkavor salad plant

A second employee at a UK salad plant owned by private-label major Bakkavor has died after contracting Covid-19.

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PepsiCo 'temporarily closed US plant due to Covid outbreak'

US food and beverages giant PepsiCo is reported to have temporarily closed a Frito-Lay snacks plant in its home market due to an outbreak of coronavirus.

On Tuesday (1 December), media outlets in the US quoted Clark County officials as confirming 17 cases among employees at the plant in Vancouver, Washington State.

Public health officials said the first worker tested positive on 29 October. PepsiCo confirmed in a statement emailed to local media that multiple employees had tested positive for the virus although it did not list a specific number.

It described the decision to close the Vancouver plant as "a precautionary measure and in partnership with the Clark County Health Department". It said that the plant was being sanitised during the closure.

Reports suggested the plant was closed from 25 November but was due to re-open on Tuesday evening.

just-food has asked PepsiCo for an update on the situation at the plant.

1 December

Union calls for mass testing at Bakkavor UK site after Covid outbreak

The GMB trade union has called on private-label major Bakkavor to introduce mass Covid-19 testing at a salad facility in southern England after an outbreak of the virus among workers there.

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BRF plant hit by Covid outbreak cleared to resume exports to China

A plant in southern Brazil operated by meat major BRF has been given the all-clear to resume exports to China following an earlier Covid-19 outbreak.

BRF said on Monday (30 November) its Lajeado pork unit has been authorised to resume exports to China, according to a statement sent to news agency Reuters.

The plant, which saw an outbreak of the virus among workers in May, employs about 3,000 people. The unit should resume exports over the coming days, the statement said.

"After an inspection by the Chinese authorities, it was possible to prove the commitment that all of us at BRF have always had regarding the health and safety of our employees and our products," Reuters quoted BRF as saying.

The news agency reported that least three other Brazilian meat factories remain blocked by China over coronavirus concerns, All are located in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul.

BRF's Lajeado unit had been suspended by China since July.

A 72-year-old man from the state reportedly chose to be arrested and imprisoned to avoid another night outside, spent in the cold.

According to the prison inmate lookout at Sheriff's office, John Keown was booked into Vanderburgh County Jail at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday morning with his bond set at $500.

Based on a number of reports, the 72-year-old man is reportedly facing charges for criminal trespassing after refusing to leave a hospital in the town of Evansville in the middle of the night.

Moreover, on the information gathered by a local news station, Kweon shared that he was not feeling well so he went to the emergency room at a local hospital.

Since Kweon refused to leave the hospital, officers gave him the option of leaving the medical facility or being arrested, wherein he reportedly chose the latter.

In an interview by the local news agency from the county jail, the 72-year-old man who is not able to speak wrote on paper that he was feeling 'fine.'

Based on the footage, Kweon can be seen wearing a grey prison uniform while wearing a facemask.

On the other hand, when a reporter asked him where he lives, the 72-year-old man just shook his head, which indicates that he is homeless.

Keown also shared to the broadcaster that he chose to be arrested instead of spending the night outside, in the cold.

The Indiana Homeless Man also shared that he is a good man and has no idea what his future holds but that he will turn to prayer.

The executive director at Aurora, a non-profit that is working with homeless people in the community of Evansville, Zac Heronemus shared to the local news agency that many homeless individuals like Kweon chose to go to prison so they can get off the streets although this makes it that much harder to find a home when they leave, MSN reported.

Heronemus also shared that at times that when your backs up against the wall, any option out there, while you are experiencing homelessness, is a step up above being out on the streets and being out in the elements.

Executive director at United Caring Shelters, Jason Emmerson, also shared that a white flag which is issued when temperatures are particularly cold and means no one will be turned away had not been put in place the night when the Indiana Homeless Man was arrested.

Emmerson also added that there is a shelter that was at maximum capacity of 50 individuals but believes that they missed an opportunity to help someone after hearing what happened to Keown.

The incident comes as the coronavirus pandemic increased the welfare issues in the United States, including health risks among the homeless and fear of evictions and unemployment, Yahoo! News reported.

Based on statistics, a person's ability to secure employment is highly affected negatively by evictions. This also affects their health and could lead to further poverty in the family.

According to Newsweek, they have already reached out to the Vanderburgh Sheriff's Office and the Evansville Police Department for comments on the incident.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday criticised the takeover of the international airport here by the Adani group, saying it was not for the development of the facility but to protect the interest of monopolies. The move comes at a time when an appeal regarding the transfer of the airport was pending before the apex court, Vijayan told the state Assembly.

The Centre had violated its assurance given to the state government in this regard, he said during the question hour. The CM's sharp reaction came a day after the business giant had signed the concession agreements with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) at Delhi for the management, operations and development of the Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and Jaipur airports.

Airport employees also staged a protest in front of the office of the Director here on Tuesday against the takeover. "The management of the airport is handing over to a group who have no prior experience in it. The union government's stand is to create a special monopoly in this sector according to their interest," he said.

It was sure that this privatisation was not going to help the development of the airport and so the Centre should step back from its move, he said. He also urged the union government to hand over the management and operation of the Thiruvananthapuram airport to the state government which had already proved its expertise in the same.

Besides Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Jaipur airports, the Centre had in February 2019 privatised the Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Mangaluru airports. Vijayan had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the Centre to reconsider its decision.

As the state government had rendered assistance to the airport wholeheartedly, including providing land on various stages, the Kerala government had the rightful claim on the management and operation of Trivandrum International Airport, Vijayan had stated in the letter.

The state government through its SPV, which participated in the bidding process, had expressed the willingness to match the highest bidder. The employees, who had staged protest here, said their Special Leave Petition is pending in the Supreme court and wanted to know the reason for the hurry in signing the agreement by the AAI.

Also read: Why ratings agencies are downgrading Delhi Airport
A newly-revealed Secret Service file on SNL comedian John Mulaney says the agency approached NBC and demanded to speak to his lawyers after he implied that Donald Trump should be stabbed like Julius Caesar.

Mulaney joked about Caesar being stabbed by a group of senators after becoming a 'powerful maniac' - drawing laughs, without naming Trump, by saying 'that would be an interesting thing if we brought that back now'.

The 38-year-old revealed last month that the president's elite protection squad had vetted him after he made the joke on the NBC show last February - with Mulaney insisting the gag was nothing more than an 'elliptical reference'.

Now, the 27-page Secret Service file has come to light, showing the bureau approached NBC attorneys during their inquiry but ultimately closed the case and accepted that Mulaney made no direct threat to Trump.

Comedian John Mulaney (pictured) upset some viewers with an SNL gag implying that Donald Trump should be stabbed like Julius Caesar - and also drew the attention of the Secret Service

Mulaney's joke was broadcast on February 29, the leap day that Caesar introduced in his so-called Julian calendar in around 46 BC.

'Another thing that happened under Julius Caesar, he was such a powerful maniac that all the senators grabbed knives, and they stabbed him to death. That would be an interesting thing if we brought that back now,' Mulaney said to laughter from the audience.

Two days after Mulaney's monologue, law enforcement officials contacted NBC executives to discuss the reference.

NBC's global chief security officer Thomas McCarthy was approached with a view to discussing the joke with Mulaney's attorneys.

The Secret Service file included one report from Fox News, and another from conservative news site Breitbart with the headline: 'SNL: John Mulaney Jokes that Senators Should Stab Trump Like Julius Caesar'.

Federal agents also noted other remarks during the monologue, in which Mulaney continued: 'I asked my lawyer if I could make that joke, he said, let me call another lawyer, and that lawyer said yes.

'I dont want to dwell on politics, but I dislike the Founding Fathers immensely. They're a weird group of guys... I hate when people are like, God has never created such a great group of men as the Founding Fathers.

'Yeah, the '92 Bulls... That's actually a perfect metaphor for the United States. When I was a boy, the United States was like Michael Jordan in 1992. Now the United States is like Michael Jordan now.'

Mulaney's joke was widely taken as a reference to Donald Trump (pictured speaking at Andrews Air Force base before leaving Washington for good today)

The Secret Service opened an investigation after Mulaney's joke last year (pictured, Secret Service agents on the roof of the White House on inauguration day today)

Mulaney first revealed the Secret Service probe in an interview with Jimmy Kimmel last month, in which he said that 'the person vetting me was very understanding that the joke had nothing to do with Donald Trump'.

'It was an elliptical reference to him. I didn't say anything about him,' Mulaney said.

'They were very nice in the interview... in terms of risk assessment no-one who's ever looked at me has ever thought I registered above a one.'

Mulaney said an agent had asked whether there were any 'rants' or 'manifestos' about Trump published in his name online, which he said there were not.

'I said I have been making jokes about him since 2007, so I have been making fun of him for 13 years,' Mulaney said. 'They said OK, well if its jokes, then I am cleared by the Secret Service.'

He added: 'Am I stoked there's a file on me? Absolutely. Did I enjoy it in the moment? Not so much.'

The file obtained by the Associated Press said the investigation was opened in March and closed in December, five days after Mulaney revealed it to Kimmel.

The new file shows the US Secret Service investigated John Mulaney, but found no wrongdoing in a joke the comedian made on SNL

It also appeared to contradict Mulaney's account by stating that the Secret Service had not interviewed the comedian.

However, it supported Mulaney's assertions that he did not make any direct threats towards Trump.

The joke drew some criticism from viewers at the time, with one suggesting it would have been regarded as unacceptable when Barack Obama was president.

'So apparently its funny to joke about assassinating the President of the United States,' one viewer said at the time.

Another woman called the monologue 'disgraceful', saying: 'You want to stab Trump? Think you just stabbed your pathetic career. Never heard of you.'

Reports last month claimed that Mulaney had checked into a rehab center in Pennsylvania to be treated for alcohol and drug addiction.

Mulaney has admitted to drink and drug problems in the past, saying in a 2019 interview that he 'loved cocaine' and 'drank for attention' as early as age 13.
By Mao Pengfei

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 20 -- A new batch of minesweeping equipment donated by China to Cambodia arrived in Phnom Penh on January 19, 2021. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian and first Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) Ly Thuch attended the handover ceremony.

Wang said that China and Cambodia are part of a community of shared future with strategic significance. China has always been concerned about Cambodia's minesweeping cause and the safety of the Cambodian people, and committed to providing minesweeping assistance to Cambodia through material donations and personnel training. Wang hopes that the aid supplies could help Cambodia speed up minesweeping work and achieve the goal of eliminating all types of mines and explosive remnants of war by 2025.

Ly Thuch introduced the latest situation of Cambodia's minesweeping work. He extended his profound gratitude to China for providing the assistance and said that the Chinese friends had made important contributions to Cambodia's mine clearance. Cambodian agencies will make full use of those aid materials to achieve the goal as planned.

Cambodia is one of the most landmine-affected countries in the world. Since 1999, China has provided minesweeping assistance to Cambodia many times through training, donating funds, providing equipment, and sending experts for on-site instructions. This time, the donation includes pick-up trucks, drones, landmine detectors, and demining personal protective equipment, with a total value of eight million yuan (nearly $1.2 million).
The focus of RCIs initial applications is to provide solutions that radically advance precision agriculture, improving the profitability, security and efficiency within the U.S. food supply chain.

Robin.io and Trilogy Networks today announce a partnership through which Robin.io will join the Rural Cloud Initiative (RCI), a unique coalition of more than 60 network and edge innovation partners committed to promoting and accelerating the digital transformation of rural America. Robin.ios cloud native storage and software defined orchestration platform will deploy on Trilogys distributed cloud infrastructure, including its ConEx edge delivery platform, to enable rural operators to access RAN, Core and services in a matter of minutes instead of weeks.

The focus of RCIs initial applications is to provide solutions that radically advance precision agriculture, improving the profitability, security and efficiency within the U.S. food supply chain. Public and private 5G technology is key as the industry begins to deploy advanced applications and services like drones, robotics and intelligent sensors.

Under the Rural Cloud Initiative (RCI), Trilogy is partnering with network operators across rural America to extend the distributed cloud platform to the edge of their network. Through the deployment of a virtualized network, connected to Trilogys nation-wide single network fabric, operators are well positioned to rapidly deploy their 5G networks. Robin.io provides the cloud-native platform and the automation platform on which the RCI applications would be hosted and operated in Trilogy's network fabric.

Traditional cellular network deployments are complex, expensive and takes weeks for even a single cell site activation. 5G networks with fully virtualized and cloud native network functions require bringing together hundreds of software bundles from multiple vendors to operate as a single unit at cell sites, telco edge and at regional hubs. Robin.ios platform orchestrates the installation and life cycle management of RAN, Core, support systems, network management and network security software with zero-touch automation.

The promise of 5G and advanced digital transformation solutions is possible only with ready-to-deploy cloud and network infrastructure with automation and orchestration capabilities that disrupts the traditional cellular network deployment models. Robin.ios platform is hardened and well proven to bring about such a paradigm shift, particularly as it applies to mobile networks in rural areas of the country, said Venky Swaminathan, CTO of Trilogy Networks.

At Robin.io, we are committed to working with mobile network operators to deliver enhanced 5G services faster, easier and with lower total cost of ownership, said Partha Seetala, founder and CEO of Robin.io. To deploy, scale and manage these new data-or network-centric applications, operators in rural America clearly require the type of cloud native, end-to-end automation that Robin supplies. Joining the Rural Cloud Initiative will enable us to make a positive impact on behalf of both operators and end users across America.

About Robin.io

Robin.io, the 5G and application automation platform company, delivers products that automate the deployment, scaling and life cycle management of data- and network-intensive applications and for 5G service chains across edge, core and RAN. The Robin platform is used globally by companies including BNP Paribas, Palo Alto Networks, Rakuten Mobile, SAP, Sabre and USAA. Robin.io is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. More at http://www.robin.io and Twitter: @robin4K8S.

About Trilogy

Trilogy is an established leader in the emerging Edge Compute ecosystem with the deployment of distributed Cloud installations across the United States. Trilogy recently founded the Rural Cloud Initiative, a coalition of network operators and technology providers committed to promoting and accelerating the digital transformation of rural America. In conjunction with network operators and edge innovation partners, Trilogy is utilizing its LinX virtual private network and ConEx service delivery platform to build a unified, distributed cloud capability on a single network fabric to cover 1.5 million square miles. To learn more, please visit http://www.ruralcloud.com or http://www.trilogynet.com.
WINSTED  Jimmy McCarthy worked for the Town of Winchester, Winsted Water Works for 30 years before he died of cancer in 2016. He loved his community and the work that he did. His family and friends, along with the support of Winsted Water Works, have created a scholarship fund in his memory so that young individuals can go to college to earn their water treatment certificate and participate in an internship with the Winsted Water Department.

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who lives in the surrounding area is eligible to apply for this scholarship. Once the grantees have received their water treatment certificate and completed their internship, they will have a competitive edge in this field, according to members.

Jimmy would have been proud to help young adults find a career in water treatment and serve a community such as he had done, members said.

Last year two individuals, Tyler Nelson and Michael Hall, were awarded this scholarship through a competitive application process.

The largest fundraiser for this scholarship is the annual Bad Bass Ice Fishing Tournament. 2021 will mark the third annual Bad Bass Fishing Tournament, which will be held Jan. 30 at Crystal Lake Reservoir. The alternate date, due to unsafe conditions, is Feb. 6.

Prizes will be awarded: First place, $1,000; second place, $600; third place, $400.

Registration begins at 6 a.m. with a shotgun start at 7 a.m. Only 30 teams of four will be allowed to participate. The fee is $400 per team.

To register a team, pick up an application at Northwest Sporting Goods, 178 Rowley Street, Winsted, CT. For further details, call Bridie McCarthy at 860-484-1923 or email Rista Malanca at ramalanca@yahoo.com

To support the scholarship, but not participate in the Fishing Tournament, make a donation of any amount to James McCarthy Scholarship Fund. Donations can be dropped off at Northwest Sporting Goods or mailed to B. McCarthy, P.O Box 472, Winsted, CT 06098.

Bar foundation holding essay contest

The Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellows program is holding its 21st annual Quintin Johnstone Statewide High School Essay Contest. The contest is open to high school students at all public and private schools statewide and invites students to prepare an essay on a timely topic in the law that is relevant to students. The Fellows award the contest winner and two runners-up cash prizes of $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

This years topic, Imitation or Intimidation, asks students to consider whether similar art projects, with very different messages, involve the allowable use of imitation or if the message in one is a form of intimidation in violation of school district policy. Submissions are evaluated by panels that include state and federal judges, law school professors and practicing attorneys. Further information on the Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellows Quintin Johnstone Essay Contest can be found on the Foundations website, www.ctbarfdn.org. The deadline for entries is Feb. 22, 2021.

The Essay Contest Award Ceremony is usually held at the Connecticut Supreme Court. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, special video tributes to the 2019-20 winners were recorded by Supreme Court Senior Justice Christine Vertefeuille, 2019-20 James W. Cooper Fellows Chair, Daniel A. Schwartz, of the law firm Shipman and Goodwin, and CBF Executive Director Natalie S. Wagner. The videos are available on the Connecticut Bar Foundations website at www.ctbarfdn.org/

Scholarship applications now available

HARWINTON  The Harwinton Historical Society will give a $1,000 scholarship to a Harwinton resident or an individual active in the society. Applicants must show an interest in history and/or the social sciences through coursework and/or experiences. Graduating high school seniors and students currently pursuing post-secondary education are encouraged to apply.

Applications are available from the guidance departments of Lewis Mills, Wamogo, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School; or requested on line at harwhistsoc@gmail.com. Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2021.

In Search of Lost Frogs with White Memorial

In Search of Lost Frogs with Twan Leenders, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, will be presented by the White Memorial Conservation Center at 2 p.m. Jan. 30 on Zoom.

From White Memorial: From a young age on, Twan Leenders has been fascinated by tropical rainforests and the exotic plants and animals that inhabit them. Growing up in a small town in The Netherlands, he devoured every relevant book his local library had to offer. While finishing up his degree in Biology and Animal Ecology at the University of Nijmegen in the early 1990s, Leenders spent six months in the rainforest of Costa Rica to study coral snake mimicry and survey the herpetofauna of the rainforest canopy -- from that point on there was no turning back.

After living and working in various parts of Central America for more than a decade, Leenders moved to the U.S. in 2000 where he worked as a researcher in the Division of Herpetology and Ichthyology of Yale University's Peabody Museum of Natural History. Since then, he has worked as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, and returned to the trenches of conservation research and outreach while leading the Science and Conservation Office of the Connecticut Audubon Society. As Senior Director of Science and Conservation of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI), he now applies his experience to Western New York. Leenders returns to Costa Rica and Panama regularly, with or without student researchers in tow, to band migratory birds on their wintering grounds and to study some of the planet's most endangered amphibian populations.

Join Twan on a mid-winter virtual journey to tropical places and enjoy some of the fascinating creatures he encounters along the way. Admission is free for members, guests $10. Pre-registration is required; go to www.whitememorialcc.org A link will be emailed the day before the program.
GOP Reps. Budd, Garcia: Stop Throwing Away Unused CCP Virus Vaccines

House Republicans Ted Budd of North Carolina and Mike Garcia of California want federal health officials to issue new guidance to stop thousands of unused CCP virus vaccines from being tossed into the garbage in New York, Washington state, and elsewhere.

In New York, unused vaccines sat in freezers and some were even thrown away because vaccine providers feared Governor Cuomos mandate on which priority groups should be vaccinated first, Budd and Garcia told Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield in a letter on Jan. 19.

The CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, entered the United States from China early in 2020, and has since resulted in the deaths of more than 400,000 Americans, the vast majority of whom were elderly and suffered one or more co-morbidities such as cancer or flu.

And in the state of Washington, an employee at a multicare facility explained how some unused vaccines were thrown away at the end of shifts because the strict state guidelines made it difficult to vaccinate others outside the designated priority group, the congressmen told Redfield.

These examples are just two of many taking place across our country, Budd and Garcia continued. With hundreds of millions of Americans yet to be vaccinated, its unthinkable that unused doses are going to waste.

The two congressmen encouraged Redfield to issue prompt new guidance on the proper disposal of the vaccines and to ensure that as many Americans are vaccinated as quickly as possible, without having to overcome unnecessary and inefficient bureaucratic obstacles.

Reopening America should be the top priority of our government. In order to do that, we must encourage state and local officials to cut red tape and ensure that unused vaccine doses are not going to waste. We urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that more Americans are able to be vaccinated as quickly as possible. Budd and Garcia said.

A CDC spokesman didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The problem that prompted the letter to Redfield originated in the requirement that the vaccine doses produced by Pfizer must be kept in extremely-low-temperature refrigeration units.

State officials in New York and Washington state have issued inflexible priority groupings of individuals and the order in which they are to receive the vaccines.

When not enough members of each group arrive at their appointed times and places to receive vaccinations, the unused doses cant be administered to other individuals and reportedly are thrown out at the end of the day.

Budd and Garcia pointed out to Redfield in their letter that former Health and Human Resources Secretary Alex Azar decried such disposal practices, saying, There is no reason that states need to complete, say, vaccinating all health care providers before opening up vaccinations to older Americans or other especially vulnerable populations and that states should not leave vaccines sitting in freezers.

Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told NBC News recently that this kind of thing is pretty rampant. I have personally heard stories like this from dozens of physician friends in a variety of different states. Hundreds, if not thousands, of doses are getting tossed across the country every day. Its unbelievable.

The vaccines are being produced by Pfizer and Moderna, with a third vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson thats based on a different approach to preventing the CCP virus expected to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the near future.

President Joe Biden has set a goal of 1 million Americans being vaccinated daily, and he hopes to see 100 new vaccination centers being opened around the country as soon as possible.

But to reach what medical experts consider to be herd immunity, the United States must vaccinate at least 1.8 million individuals daily between now and the end of July.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.com
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Following in the footsteps of a legislative icon is no easy task, but Sen. George Munoz said Tuesday he wont try to be John Arthur Smith.

Munoz, a Gallup Democrat, was appointed as the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and he said he plans to make changes in how the panel operates.

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In (the committee) youll see a lot more transparency and a lot more people informed about the things theyre passionate about, Munoz told the Journal.

The decision to elevate Munoz could rankle some progressive Democrats, as Munoz has voted in the past against bills dealing with expanded firearm background checks and repealing a long-dormant state abortion ban.

He was also one of six Senate Democrats targeted in last years primary election  and the only one of the six to survive such an intraparty challenge.

Smith, the influential former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, was among those ousted.

Despite the election drama, Munoz, a businessman who was first elected to the Senate in 2008, said his focus is squarely on New Mexico and ensuring the state recovers from a revenue downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and lower oil prices.

Im going to be fair to everybody, Munoz said in an interview. The elections are over and I dont have any grudges.

Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said eight senators had expressed interest in the Senate Finance Committee chairmanship, including five current members.

After interviewing most of those interested in the job, Stewart said she ultimately picked Munoz in part because he had been the committees vice chairman.

He was in line, and in the end that was one of the reasons I chose him, Stewart said.

But she also said Munoz understands Senate Democrats priorities and had committed to bringing more transparency to the committees work.

In all, four new committee leaders were appointed in the Senate on Tuesday. The other three were:

 Senate Rules Committee  Daniel Ivey-Soto, D-Albuquerque.

 Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee (formerly known as Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee)  Sen. Benny Shendo, D-Jemez Pueblo.

 Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee  Sen. Shannon Pinto, D-Tohatchi.

The House also made some changes to committee leadership.

Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces, will lead the Transportation, Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee, replacing Patricio Ruiloba, an Albuquerque Democrat who left the Legislature after a paperwork problem knocked him off the ballot.

Democratic Rep. Javier Martinez of Albuquerque will also take over as chairman of the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. He served as co-chair last year with Rep. Jim Trujillo, a Santa Fe Democrat who retired.

Journal Capitol Bureau reporter Dan McKay contributed to this report.
New Delhi: On the important occasion of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's 354th Prakash Parv or birth anniversary, the nation remembered his teachings and paid obeisance. Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th Sikh leader at the tender age of 9, making him the last of the living Sikh Gurus.

The great spiritual master was born as Gobind Rai to parents Guru Tegh Bahadur and Mata Gujri. The Sikh guru was born in Patna, Bihar and he was the only son of his parents.

The divine shrine of Takht Sri Patna Harimandar Sahib happens to mark the site of the house where he was born and spent the first four years of his life. He was a fearless warrior, a spiritual master and a philosopher as well.

The 10th spiritual master lost four of his sons during the Mughal-Sikh warstwo were killed in the battle while the other two were executed by the Mughal army. Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Sikh warrior community - Khalsa in 1699 and established the Five Ks - which hold utmost importance in Sikhism.

The Five Ks of Khalsa Sikhs:

- Kesh (uncut hair)

- Kangha (wooden comb)

- Kara (an iron or steel bracelet)

- Kirpan (a sword or dagger)

- Kacchera (short breeches)

Guru Gobind Singh Ji spread his spiritual teachings to a lot of followers. He wrote many Sikh texts and enshrines Guru Granth Sahib as the ultimate eternal Guru of Sikhism.

Most of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Bani (or sayings) are found in the Dasam Granth or Dasveh Padshah Ka Granth is given utmost importance has is considered to be the second most important religious book in Sikhism after Guru Granth Sahib.

It has all the text by Guru Gobind Singh ji. Some of the popular Shabads by the tenth Sikh Guru are:

  SWAYYA

           

O God, grant me this that I may not hesitate from performing good actions.

            

I may not fear the enemy, when I go to fight and assuredly I may become victorious.

             

And I may give this instruction to my mind and have this tempotration that I may ever utter Thy Praises.

             

When the end of my life comes, then I may die fighting in the battlefield.

Here's wishing everyone a very happy Gurpurab!
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 74F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
To ensure a smooth transition, Mr. Frost will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer until March 12, at which time Mr. Lockard will assume the role. As Weis Markets' Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Lockard will oversee the day-to-day management of the company's accounting, auditing and financial functions. He will report to Jonathan Weis, Weis Markets Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Lockard has more than 25 years of senior-level executive experience in retail, supermarket and supply chain companies, overseeing strategic planning, finance and accounting, information technology and global shared services.

"Michael Lockard is a seasoned financial professional with extensive experience in retail, particularly food retail," said Jonathan Weis, Weis Markets' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "During his retail career, he has helped drive efficiencies and managed large, multi-discipline financial teams that have been a strong business partner to his respective companies' merchant, supply chain and store teams. We are pleased to welcome him to our Company and look forward to working with him."

"We are also grateful to Scott Frost, our retiring CFO, and congratulate him on a successful 42-year career with our company," said Mr. Weis. "As CFO, he led our financial unit and developed a capable team that will position us for continued success going forward. We wish Scott all the best in his retirement."

About Weis Markets

Founded in 1912, Weis Markets, Inc. is a Mid Atlantic food retailer operating 196 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York West Virginia and Virginia. For more information, please visit: WeisMarkets.com or Facebook.com/WeisMarkets.

SOURCE Weis Markets, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.weismarkets.com


TELL us about yourself;

My name is Kane Fox. I moved to Cork City last year after meeting my fiance Liam OLeary. Driving every weekend from Dundalk in Co. Louth to Cork City was fun for the first year but I knew Id have to pick a place to call home. Delighted to say I havent looked back! I work with NRG Store in Little Island as the Operations Manager and looking forward to some exciting announcements we have coming soon, watch this space!

I grew up in a relatively small village in Stabannon, Co. Louth. Music was always a passion for me when I was younger with fond memories of playing at the local Ceili house or completing piano and violin grades with RIAM.

Its something I havent yet made time to pick up again, hopefully I will soon. Ive never really settled on what I want to do with my life but definitely enjoyed the mixed background Ive had to date.

My first job was a hairdresser which came about by complete chance, several years later I moved on to work as a florist and then ended up selling organic produce and olive oil in St Georges Market in Belfast. The next eight years I spent working within the furniture wholesale trade with some amazing memories traveling around Europe and the Far East.

In my spare time I tend to enjoy creative and outdoor pursuits.

The most recent hobby I took up was stained glass making, Im still learning and hopefully will put to good use on a larger project.

Ive been very fortunate to have recently moved to Clonakilty and looking forward to improving my surfing skills, Inchydoney is right on our doorstep so Ive no excuses even if it has been icy cold!

Looking forward to being able to travel again soon, first on the list will be a return to Switzerland for a week of snowboarding.

Where were you born?

In a very small village in Stabannon, Co. Louth. My parents had purchased the old community hall to convert into a home so we had a fairly different way of life growing up. My mother was the local yoga teacher so our sitting room was one large hall normally filled with yoga mats. I generally preferred to be outdoors so we didnt have much need for a sitting room (or a kitchen, but thats another story).

Kane Fox who works for NRG Store in Little Island.

Where do you live?

I currently live in Clonakilty, Co. Cork. I live with my fiance Liam and our dog Donal, hes a beautiful Red Setter and rules the roost! Donal is still learning to swim, hopefully Ill get him on a surfboard soon.

Family?

Im the youngest of two boys, my brother Conn lives in Dundalk near my parents Paul and Miriam and grandmother Anne (or Nancy depending on where you know her from).

Best friend?

My partner in crime and fiance Liam. Id also have to mention my friends Annie, Ian, Sarah, Brona and Kat from Dundalk, obviously due to Covid weve not been able to see each other but looking forward to finally having them all down to Cork when we can.

Earliest childhood memory?

Im not sure what age I was but fairly young I was in a local Irish dancing competition and kicked too high, I just remember landing on my backside and making a run for it. The bowl haircut didnt help either, nor did the bright red waistcoat come to think of it. Ill pretend my fashion choices have vastly improved since then

Person you most admire?

Jack Ma, a Chinese business magnate, investor and philanthropist. He is the co-founder Alibaba. If you have time, I would really recommend watching some videos of his life story. Possibly the worlds greatest successful failure, very inspiring.

Person who most irritates you?

Jeff Bezos, theres too much for me to mention.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Two years ago I decided to travel to Zermatt, Switzerland on my own. This was only my second time snowboarding but now Im hooked!

Kane lives in Clonakilty with fiance Liam.

Favourite TV programme?

Has to be QI.

Im a sucker for useless yet interesting facts!

Favourite radio show?

Im more into podcasts than radio to be honest, current favourite is Criminal.

Your signature dish if cooking?

Liam is normally the chef at home but when I do cook its generally something Thai Ill go with Thai shrimp and green beans. Its much better than it sounds!

Favourite restaurant?

Pilgrims in Rosscarbery. Some of the best food in West Cork. Marks creativity in the kitchen is truly inspiring, and Sadie is a warm and gracious host. Theyre the whole package, will definitely be on the list to re-visit as soon as I can.

Last book you read?

The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson.

Best book you read?

Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value by William Poundstone.

Last album/CD/download you bought?

A Vinyl when we went to Talos in St. Lukes.

Favourite song?

Heat Waves by Glass Animals.

One person you would like to see in concert?

Dermot Kennedy  still have last year's ticket so hopefully this year

Do you have a pet?

Yes, Donal the Dog. Hes an Irish Red Setter who has more facial expressions than most humans.

Morning person or night owl?

Both sleep is something Im still not convinced about.

Your proudest moment?

Its yet to come I would love to join RNLI, when that happens Ill be very proud.

Spendthrift or saver?

Saver most of the time anyway. I have my moments.

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

Its Clonakilty what more could I possibly want!

What makes you happy?

Surfing or swimming in the sea in the rain its indescribable.

How would you like to be remembered?

Thats a really good one Im still working on it.

What else are you up to at the moment?

Honestly a very exciting retailer launch for Irish consumers, sourcing the best in Irish suppliers and much more from around the world.

We are navigating the tricky waters of Brexit, this will ensure Irish consumers can buy 1000s of items without any concerns over customs and duty costs. Where theres a will theres a way!

Im very fortunate to be working with the people around me and wish I could say more but youll see our announcements soon! (Ok! Go on, its going to be called iTrolley  keep an eye out).

I never planned to be so involved in the world of ecommerce, thankfully it found me and hopefully we can change how retail operates in Ireland.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. High near 60F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Rain. Low 42F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
SCHEDULES

GSA drops most drones from multiple award schedules

NOTE: This article first appeared on GCN.com.

To crack down on security risks from unmanned aerial systems, the General Services Administration on Jan. 12 said it would remove nearly all drones from its multiple award schedule contracts.

Going forward, the MAS program will only offer small UAS approved by the Defense Innovation Units Blue sUAS Program, which provides secure small drones to the U.S. government from Altavian, Parrot, Skydio, Teal and Vantage Robotics. All other drones will be removed from GSA contracts.

The drones pose a unique set of challenges and security risks, according to GSA, including surveillance, data theft and possible disruption to federal information networks.

Unsecured drones can become potential cyber targets for collecting information, delivering malicious content or facilitating a kinetic attack, according to the Defense Departments recently released Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Strategy.

Additionally, since many small drones are made in China, buying them may violate existing procurement law, including the Trade Agreements Act and Section 889 of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, GSA said on its Interact blog. It did leave open the possibility that affected contractors may be able to add their drones back to MAS contracts if GSA can identify and deploy an appropriate risk mitigation strategy.

Small, affordable drones have been used by federal, state and local governments for environmental monitoring, bridge inspections, search and rescue, weather prediction and public safety.

NAPLES - Twelve buildings over 200 meters high were built in 2020 in Dubai, marking a new record for the Emirate: three more than were built the previous year, according to the annual report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

"Dubai has always been one of the centres globally for tall buildings and thus this position came as no surprise," said Christopher Seymour, managing director for consulting engineer Mott MacDonald Middle East, to The National newspaper.

"The reason there was an apparent surge in completions in 2020 was down to the upturn in commitment in investment for this type of project around five years ago, aligned with the strong property market at the time - and those projects finally came to completion," he added to the UAE-based outlet.

The tallest building completed in Dubai last year was the 336-metre-high SLS Tower in Business Bay, making it the 11th-tallest worldwide, the website noted.

Others in the top five include the 307-metre-high Amna Tower at Habtoor City and the 303-metre-high Jumeirah Gate.

The last time Dubai topped the global ranking was in 2010, when the Burj Khalifa was completed.

In 2020, Dubai has instead broken the four-year dominance of the sector shown by the Chinese city of Shenzhen, which only built nine buildings over 200 meters high last year.

A total of 106 high-rise buildings were completed in 2020, a 20% drop on the 133 in 2019.

This was the lowest number since 2014 and was partially due to the difficulties of construction linked to COVID-19.
BAMAKO: Malian security forces used tear gas on Wednesday to disperse an unsanctioned protest in the capital Bamako against Frances military presence in the country, one of the rallys organisers said.

France has more than 5,100 military personnel based in Mali and the West African Sahel region to help counter militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, an involvement that is facing increased opposition at home and in Mali.

Malian authorities, who have denounced those opposed to the French military presence, deployed police in riot gear to block around 1,000 protesters from gathering in Bamakos Independence Square, said organiser Adama Diarra.

We demand the departure of French forces. After eight years of intervention its been a total failure," he said by phone.

France deployed troops to Mali in 2013 to help drive out Islamist militants who had occupied the north of the country after hijacking a Tuareg rebellion.

Though the fighters have been pushed from main towns, Mali has failed to stabilise while the militants have regrouped and have carried out attacks in a prolonged insurgency.

The violence has spread to neighbouring states, stoked ethnic and intercommunal tensions, and rendered large swathes of the countrys semi-arid north ungovernable.

On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron said France could adjust its military operations in the Sahel region. Diplomatic and military sources expect a partial French withdrawal to be announced by mid-February.

Interim Malian President Bah Ndaw on Tuesday thanked foreign militaries, including Frances, for continued support.

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
FARMINGTON  State police returned Wednesday with an excavator to a property formerly owned by Fotis Dulos after a New Hampshire man known as the Bone Finder flagged five areas that could be connected with the death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

After state police said they found nothing significant during a search of the 80 Mountain Spring Road property the previous day, they returned Wednesday with excavating equipment based on the findings of Bob Perry, known as the Bone Finder, an expert in mapping unmarked graves and burial grounds.

Connecticut State Police contacted Perry to help with Tuesdays search before the property is sold in the next few weeks. Police have previously searched the property, including shortly after Jennifer Dulos went missing on May 24, 2019.

Just before I left (on Tuesday), they were digging out the spots and we agreed that they would probably have to come back with an excavator, the 73-year-old Perry said.

Using ground-penetrating radar, Perry located four spots along the wood line of the property that appeared to have been disturbed and then covered back up, he said. He found a fifth location inside the house at the base of the stairs, leading to the basement that had been dug up and smoothed over, Perry said.

Its a small space, probably 3 feet wide, Perry said. There was something in the ground there that looks like a vault, but its most likely a pipe. There was a long anomaly, but it was an anomaly you could also see if you were tracking a pipe.

He considered all of the locations low probability for the presence of a body or individual body parts based on his 20 years of experience mapping out cemeteries and unmarked graves through his company, TopoGraphix, which is based in Litchfield, N.H.

Two of the spots were heavy with mud and water, Perry said of the locations he flagged along the wood line. But each of the areas were anomalies that were large enough to bury a body, he said.

Perry said theres a good possibility that the ground had been disturbed at each of the locations he identified. Cadaver dogs brought in to search Tuesday found nothing, Perry said.

In a brief statement to media gathered near the home Wednesday, state Trooper First Class Josue Dorelus said the case is still active and ongoing, but did not say if police had found anything during Wednesdays search.

As many of you are aware, over the past day or so our Western District Major Crimes Squad detectives have been on the property following up on leads and continuing to investigate the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, he said.

He directed requests for further updates to the office of Chief States Attorney Richard J. Colangelo Jr. Colangelos office has declined to comment about the searches.

Our main goal is to work toward giving the family of Jennifer Dulos some sense of closure, which is why were here continuing to investigate the disappearance.

After several hours on Wednesday morning, the excavator left the property. Soon after the digger left, a septic company arrived and began examining the pipeline into the home.

Police think the body may have been dismembered, Perry said.

Attorney Christopher Hug, the administrator of Fotis Dulos estate, also mentioned in Probate Court documents that police indicated that Jennifer Dulos may have been dismembered. However, Colangelo has said he had no evidence that occurred.

Police say Jennifer Dulos was the victim of a serious physical assault in the garage of her New Canaan home when she returned from dropping off her five children at school, according to arrest warrants in the case.

Her remains have not been found, but police believe she could not have survived the attack without immediate medical attention, the warrants state.

Fotis Dulos died Jan. 30, 2020 from an apparent suicide about three weeks after being charged with murder and kidnapping. He was originally charged in June 2019 with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the case.

Four days before he attempted suicide at his Jefferson Crossing home in Farmington, Fotis Dulos received a notice of default on the Mountain Spring Road home from Peoples United Bank, which held the mortgage on the property.

Sources said the Mountain Spring Road property, which was owned by Fotis Dulos real estate development company, Fore Group, is under contract for sale after a judge approved the foreclosure in September.

On the day of his wifes disappearance, Fotis Dulos called his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis and told her to meet him at 80 Mountain Spring Road with cleaning supplies, according to arrest warrants.

He told Troconis to bring a vacuum, a Swiffer mop, paper towels, Clorox spray and garbage bags so they could clean the property in preparation for a client meeting the next morning, arrest warrants said.

They arrived in separate vehicles between 2:15 and 3 p.m., the warrants said. Troconis told police that Fotis Dulos had arrived first and she had to return to his house at Jefferson Crossing to get another vacuum because the one she brought didnt work, the warrants stated.

Troconis told police Fotis Dulos came looking for more paper towels while she was inside the house because he spilled something in a pickup truck that belonged to one of his employees, the warrants stated.

Police said Fotis Dulos used his employees Toyota Tacoma on the day of the disappearance to drive to and from New Canaan, the warrants stated. Police said they traced the Tacoma that day through video surveillance footage, the warrants stated.

The blood of Jennifer Dulos was later found on the passenger seat of the truck after police seized and searched the vehicle, the warrants said.

Jennifer Dulos blood and clothing were also found in bags that police say Fotis Dulos dumped in Hartford on the night of the disappearance, the warrants stated. Fotis Dulos and Troconis were seen in Hartford on video surveillance at around the time Jennifer Dulos was reported missing, the warrants state.

Troconis and Fotis Dulos friend and former attorney, Kent Mawhinney, have each pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder charges. Troconis has also pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. Hot. High 93F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Piers Morgan's wife Celia Walden mocked Donald Trump on Wednesday as he left Washington D.C. for the last time.

Taking to Instagram, the journalist, 45, posted a picture of two edible faces on sticks which appeared to be Trump, 74, and new president-elect Joe Biden, 78.

Celia didn't mince her words as she wrote a typically tongue-in-cheek comment telling Donald to 'suck on that' and said that he is going 'straight in the bin' amid Biden's inauguration.

Mocked: Piers Morgan's wife Celia Walden mocked Donald Trump on Wednesday as he left Washington D.C. for the last time (Piers and Celia pictured in 2018)

The author penned: 'The one on the right is going straight in the bin. Anything that colour's bound to be toxic. #suckonthatdonald #deliverance.'

With Celia's husband and Good Morning Britain presenter, Piers, 55, liking her Instagram post.

Piers married Celia in 2010 and they share a nine-year-old daughter, Elise, and he also has sons Spencer, Albert, and Stanley with ex-wife Marion Shalloe.

Biden and Kamala Harris arrived at the United States Capitol on Wednesday to be sworn in as president and vice president.

Topical: Taking to Instagram, the journalist, 45, posted a picture of two edible faces on sticks which appeared to be Trump, 74, and new president-elect Joe Biden, 78

'Suck on that Donald!': Celia didn't mince her words as she wrote a typically tongue-in-cheek comment telling Donald to 'suck on that' and said that he is going 'straight in the bin' amid Biden's inauguration

Support: With Celia's husband and Good Morning Britain presenter, Piers, 55, liking her Instagram post

Their inauguration is unprecedented in history with the outgoing president absent, no crowd on the National Mall and 25,000 National Guard to secure them.

Biden and Harris entered the Capitol an hour and a half before they will be sworn in to become the 46th president and the first female vice-president.

At the same time, Donald and Melania Trump were in the air to Mar-a-Lago, turning their backs on their successors in a gesture unseen since 1869.

Pictured: Biden and Kamala Harris arrived at the United States Capitol on Wednesday to be sworn in as president and vice president

Snubbed: At the same time, Donald and Melania Trump were in the air to Mar-a-Lago, turning their backs on their successors in a gesture unseen since 1869

Trump had snubbed his successor repeatedly, then left D.C. with a tub-thumping speech pledging 'we will be back  in some form,' as he headed for Florida.

Biden's inauguration is a star-studded affair with Lady Gaga singing The Star-Spangled Banner and performances by J-Lo, Earth, Wind & Fire, John Legend, Garth Brooks and Nile Rodgers throughout the day.

In the evening, actor Tom Hanks will host a primetime TV special featuring performances by Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi and Ant Clemons.

Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman will also read an original poem The Hill We Climb during the celebrations.
EUGENE, Ore.  Eugene police captured a California fugitive last week, authorities say.

The department learned of a suspect tied to an officer-involved shooting who was believed to be targeting law enforcement and stealing firearms.

Garrett Wilson, 39, of Menifee, Califrornia, reportedly broke into the Corning Police Departments parking lot and stole a short-barreled rifle from a secured police vehicle.

On Jan. 15 just before midnight, a Eugene officer reportedly spotted the suspects vehicle driving the wrong way on West 6th Avenue approaching his patrol vehicle. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but Wilson reportedly backed away into a McDonalds parking lot.

Police said the officer got Wilson to stay at the scene while other officers arrived. Wilson was taken into custody and lodged for being a fugitive from justice.

After additional investigation, he was also charged with five counts of first-degree theft, five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, five counts of possession of a weapon by a felon, two counts of unlawful possession of a short-barreled rifle, one count of obliteration of the identification number of a firearm, two counts of importation of a short-barreled rifle, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of his White House term that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.

The last-minute clemency, announced Wednesday morning, follows separate waves of pardons over the past month for Trump associates convicted in the FBIs Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law. Taken together, the actions underscore the presidents willingness, all the way through his four years in the White House, to flex his constitutional powers in ways that defy convention and explicitly aid his friends and supporters.

To be sure, the latest list was heavily populated by more conventional candidates whose cases had been championed by criminal justice activists. One man who has spent nearly 24 years in prison on drug and weapons charges but had shown exemplary behavior behind bars had his sentence commuted, as did a former Marine sentenced in 2000 in connection with a cocaine conviction.

But the names of prominent Trump allies nonetheless stood out.

Besides Bannon, other pardon recipients included Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a scheme to lobby the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund, and Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner who was charged last October with cyberstalking during a heated divorce.

Bannons pardon was especially notable given that the prosecution was still in its early stages and any trial was months away. Whereas pardon recipients are conventionally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, the pardon nullifies the prosecution and effectively eliminates any prospect for punishment.

Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trumps own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Twitter. And if that all sounds crazy, thats because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.

And while other presidents have issued controversial pardons at the ends of their administration, perhaps no commander in chief has so enjoyed using the clemency authority to benefit not only friends and acquaintances but also celebrity defendants and those championed by allies.

Wednesdays list includes its share of high-profile defendants. Among them were rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both convicted in Florida on weapons charges. Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, has frequently expressed support for Trump and recently met with the president on criminal justice issues. Others on the list included Death Row Records co-founder Michael Harris and New York art dealer and collector Hillel Nahmad.

Other pardon recipients include former Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican who served three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges, and former Rep. Duke Cunningham of California, who was convicted of accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. Cunningham, who was released from prison in 2013, received a conditional pardon.

Trump also commuted the prison sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served about seven years behind bars for a racketeering and bribery scheme.

Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of donors who believed their money would be used to fulfill Trumps chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

Bannon did not respond to questions Tuesday.

Trump has already pardoned a slew of longtime associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon  who served in the Navy and worked at Goldman Sachs and as a Hollywood producer before turning to politics  led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps 2016 campaign in its critical final months.

He later served as chief strategist to the president during the turbulent early days of Trumps administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trumps adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart. He and Trump have recently reconciled.

In August, he was pulled from a luxury yacht off the coast of Connecticut and brought before a judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty. When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall.

The organizers of the We Build The Wall group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a big beautiful barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon.

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
[January 19, 2021] Document Security Systems, Inc. Prices $24.0 Million Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE American: DSS) (the Company), a multinational company operating businesses focusing on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, real estate, and securitized digital assets, today announced the pricing of an upsized underwritten public offering with gross proceeds to the Company expected to be approximately $24.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.

The public offering equates to 6,666,666 shares of the Companys common stock at a price of $3.60 per share. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with their existing cash, to fund the development and growth of new business lines, acquisition opportunities, and general corporate and working capital needs. The Company has also granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of shares of common stock offered in the public offering to cover over-allotments, if any, which would increase the total gross proceeds of the offering to approximately $27.6 million, if exercised in full. Aegis Capital Corp. is acting as sole bookrunner for the offering. A registration statement relating to the shares of common stock being sold in this offering was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on January 19, 2021. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained, when available, on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or by contacting Aegis Capital Corp., Attention: Syndicate Department, 810 7th Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10019, by email at syndicate@aegiscap.com, or by telephone at (212) 813-1010. This press release shall not constitue an offer to sell, or a 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 Document Security Systems, Inc. DSS is a multinational company operating businesses focused on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, real estate, and securitized digital assets. Its business model is based on a distribution sharing system in which shareholders will receive shares in its subsidiaries as DSS strategically spins them out into IPOs. Its historic business revolves around counterfeit deterrent and authentication technologies, smart packaging, and consumer product engagement. DSS is led by its Chairman and largest shareholder, Mr. Fai Chan, a highly successful global business veteran of more than 40 years specializing in corporate transformation while managing risk. He has successfully restructured more than 35 corporations with a combined value of $25 billion.

Investor Contact: Dave Gentry, CEO

RedChip Companies Inc.

407-491-4498

Dave@redchip.com Safe Harbor Disclosure This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the Company's ability to complete the financing, its intended use of proceeds and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include: the risk that the public offering of common stock may not close; risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of development activities; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in the section entitled Risk Factors in the prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, our reports on Forms 8-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect managements current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.



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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
After telling police that someone else was responsible for the December stabbing death of a Salem City restaurant worker, Eugene Carr confessed that he killed the man.

Then he went on to declare that a voice in his head named Mafioso was the real culprit.

Details about the voice were shared during a detention hearing Tuesday morning in Superior Court.

Carr, 40, of Salem, is charged with murder, aggravated assault, robbery and weapons offenses in the killing of Sher Bahadar Poppi Khan, 59, who was found dead behind the counter at King Fried Chicken on the afternoon of Dec. 29.

Carr, who was allegedly seen running from the East Broadway business, told police he saw someone else  a man known to him only as Trim Nuts  stabbing the victim, according to court documents. He claimed that this man pushed him away when he tried to stop the assault, then handed him a bloody wad of cash and told him to keep his mouth shut.

Carr was released by police, but admitted the next day that he was the killer.

However, he states that theres a voice in his head that he names Mafioso, who took over his mind, Salem County Assistant Prosecutor Jon Flynn said during Tuesdays hearing.

The defendant told investigators that his mind blacks out when the voice takes over.

Carr states that on the day in question, Mafioso took over his mind and killed Mr. Kahn  while Mr. Carr was blacked out, Flynn said. When Mr. Carr came back to his senses, he had blood on him.

Carr stated that he does not remember what happened, but Mafioso told Carr that he stabbed (Khan). Carr stated that Mafioso told Carr that he did it because they  needed cigarettes.

Carr said that he cleaned blood from his jeans and shoes after the crime.

A customer found the victim on the floor in a pool of blood. He suffered stab wounds to the abdomen and back of his head.

Public defender Eric McKinley challenged probable cause on the first-degree murder charge, arguing that the prosecution hadnt demonstrated that the crime was committed purposefully and with forethought.

There doesnt need to be premeditation, but there needs to be ... evidence of forethought for first-degree murder, the attorney said.

The prosecution jumped to the most serious charge, when this could have been aggravated manslaughter, reckless behavior or even self-defense, McKinley said. We really have no idea what the facts of the case are  we dont really know anything about what occurred inside the establishment.

He also noted that the state has no murder weapon tying Carr to the crime or a witnesses to the killing.

No weapon has been recovered, though Carr was found with the bloodied cash allegedly taken from the victim.

Carr is currently housed in a secure unit at the Ann Klein Forensic Center, a psychiatric facility in Trenton.

He suffers from a battery of very significant, ongoing, severe mental health problems, and was already known to the prosecutors office, McKinley noted.

Carrs lengthy criminal record includes charges of burglary, weapons possession and receiving stolen property and he served multiple stints in prison. Most recently, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity on a robbery charge in 2017 and was released from a treatment facility to a family members care in May 2020, the prosecution noted.

McKinley suggested the primary charge be amended in light of Carrs mental health status and the lack of evidence supporting the first-degree offense.

Flynn argued that the severity of the wounds to the victim demonstrate a clear intent to kill and noted that Carr tried to clean up blood and attempted to pin the crime on others, showing an awareness that what he did was wrong.

Superior Court Judge Mary Beth Kramer found probable cause for the charges as filed and also ordered Carr detained pending trial.

He faces life in prison if convicted on the murder charge.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
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SOLON, Ohio -- City Council welcomed a new director of human resources and wished the outgoing director well in her retirement at its first meeting of the year Tuesday (Jan. 19).

Council confirmed the appointment of Yolanda Guzman, effective March 8. Mayor Ed Kraus appointed her to the position.

Guzman, whose salary will be $90,000, will replace Nancy Stolarsky, who will retire March 1 after seven years as the citys director of human resources.

Kraus said Guzmans 26 years of experience in human resources made her a strong candidate. She has been human resources manager for Cuyahoga County since February 2019. Prior to that, Guzman was a human resources analyst for Cuyahoga County for seven years. She also was human resources manager for The Home Depot for nearly six years.

Shes had a variety of experiences, both in the public sector and the private sector, Kraus said. At the county, she oversees a large human resources department, covering 1,600 employees.

That gave me great insight into how effective she would be in handling our employee issues, even though its on a much smaller scale.

Kraus added that Guzman seems personable and loves working with employees and helping them grow and achieve and find the right career path.

Kraus said he will save his comments about Stolarsky for probably the second council meeting in February.

Nancy was a great hire, city Law Director Thomas Lobe said. She brought forth a vast wealth of experience, and she did an outstanding job on many levels.

She will be sorely missed. I wish her the best now and always in life, and I hope she enjoys her retirement.

Lobe and Ward 4 Councilman Marc Kotora both said Guzman has big shoes to fill in replacing Stolarsky.

Im confident shes up to the task, Lobe said. I know she will be, and I look forward to working with her.

Ward 7 Councilman Bill Russo said Stolarsky has done an outstanding job as our HR director, and frankly Im going to be sorry to see her go.

But I definitely want to welcome Yolanda Guzman, and I wish her much success in her new position, Russo said.

Anti-racism resolution passed

In other action, council passed a resolution condemning racism and committing to improving the quality of life and health of minority residents.

The resolution was introduced to council Dec. 7 and passed on third reading. Ward 1 Councilman Macke Bentley, who proposed the resolution last year, had said he wanted to gather more feedback from residents before council passed it.

I want to say thanks to everyone who did comment on this, said Bentley, the citys first Black council member. I got lots of comments -- some pro comments and some negative comments, as well -- and I appreciate everyones comments.

Through the resolution, council and the administration will launch an internal and community effort to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

This effort, the resolution states, will support the building of the capacity of city leaders to address, engage and lead around issues related to racism and diversity, equity and inclusion more broadly. The goal is a deeper shared understanding of the dynamics of race and racism.

I want to reiterate this (resolution) is to highlight the things that the City of Solon is doing to make Solon a better place, Bentley said. In light of things that are going on around the world, the City of Solon has done a great job of promoting diversity with the DEI program, which is diversity, equity and inclusion.

The fire and police departments really have an aggressive program to help, he continued. The Mobility Task Force (formed to assist employees with transportation issues) is out there, the (Solon) schools are really diverse, and were just really proud of everything were doing here, and this document just highlights that.

Vice Mayor and Ward 5 Councilwoman Nancy Meany thanked Bentley for all of his work on the resolution.

I think were all very proud of the city we have, and I think its important to show what were doing and what we plan on doing, Meany said.

Kraus also expressed his appreciation to Bentley for his leadership on the resolution and thanked council for passing it. He added that by doing so, council provided a boost to Angee Shaker, the citys director of economic development.

Im going to share with you a conversation I had not too long ago with the owner of a very large cybersecurity business in California, Kraus said. Hes of Indian descent, and he had two communities that he was looking at (in which to live): Solon and a community by Columbus.

I asked him what was the difference. He said: Mr. Mayor, my kids are Indian. I wanted to make sure that when they go to school, that theyre going to a school with kids who look like them.

One of the greatest gifts that we have is our large industrial, manufacturing base and how diverse it is, Kraus continued. We have many Indian owners, Chinese owners and African-American owners of businesses.

What that (resolution) says to them is that they want to be in our community, and that will help us continue to grow and attract that business base. So I want to thank all of you for being able to do that.

Deficit less than anticipated

Kraus shared with council that the city finished last year with a net deficit of $1.2 million in revenue -- much less than he anticipated it would be when the coronavirus pandemic began last spring.

So I want to thank all of you for last year, for getting through a very tough year, he said.

Kraus said the citys industry has remained resilient through the pandemic, and our finance numbers showed it.

Were so blessed to have probably the strongest manufacturing base in the state of Ohio in little Solon, Ohio, he said. Well get through (the pandemic), and well rebound because of that.

In an interview, Kraus said the city did not experience a net loss in income tax withholding last year, despite the pandemic.

Where we suffered a loss was we were unable to get program fees, primarily for arts and recreation programs, he said. To a lesser extent, senior services (fees were also lost).

We also saw a significant downward shift in court fees.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.
Press Release

January 20, 2021 Villanueva seeks to institutionalize UP-DND Accord into State U's charter The agreement between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense received a new lease of life after Senator Joel Villanueva has sought to integrate the provisions into the State University's charter. Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Higher, and Technical and Vocational Education, filed Senate Bill No. 2002 on Wednesday afternoon, seeking to incorporate the accord which the Department of National Defense unilaterally abrogated on Jan. 15. Villanueva was joined by Senators Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, and Sonny Angara as authors of the bill. "The UP-DND accord is not a "do-not-enter" sign that bars law enforcement from entering the campus. It is not a wall which obstructs justice or deters the solution or prevention of crime. It is unfortunate that its abrogation is being invoked for the wrong reasons. Implying that it has enabled thinking that is critical to the government is a gross misreading of UP's role as vanguard of independent thought," Villanueva said in the bill's exploratory note. "Our country is facing a number of very important issues where the resources of the military and the police can be more efficiently utilized. We have the West Philippine Sea dispute, the increasing criminality due to POGOs, and extrajudicial killings, among many others. Our law enforcement agencies and the military establishment must set its priorities straight and focus on what really matters," continued the lawmaker, a member of the University Board of Regents. The Villanueva bill institutionalizes the agreement reached by university and DND officials in 1989, after a staff member of the Philippine Collegian, the official student publication of the State University, was abducted, tortured, and coerced to own up to the killing of a US military officer. The measure amends Republic Act No. 9500, the UP charter, to include a provision that would prevent the military, police and other law enforcement agencies from entering the premises of UP campuses nationwide "except in cases of hot pursuit and similar occasions of emergency," or with express permission from university officials specified under the bill. The bill also sets limits in the service of search or arrest warrants to "any UP student, faculty, employee, or invited participants in any university-sanctioned activity." The service of warrants and the like "shall only be done after prior notification is given to the U.P. President, Chancellor, Dean of the regional unit, or respective officers-in-charge." "There is no monopoly of ideology in UP. It remains a big tent that shelters all ideas that can be pursued nonviolently. It is not a rebel recruitment station. On the contrary, it hosts many DDS whose are free to compete in the marketplace of ideas," Villanueva said. "It remains a citadel of excellence where the skills to serve the people are taught. This academic brilliance can only shine under a climate of freedom." "Let us nurture our youth's passion for political and social causes; and prevent any attempt to take away these long-cherished values. It is our hope that this proposed measure will continue to foster these traditions of the country's premier state university," Villanueva said.
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Channel Seven breakfast show Sunrise changed its colour scheme on Thursday to blue - the colour of the Democratic Party - for its special coverage of Joe Biden being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States.

While reporting on inauguration day, the banner colours transformed from the usual bright orange to a patriotic shade of blue, as Donald Trump departed the White House for the final time.

Sunrise had also changed its colour scheme for the U.S. election in November.

Blue for Biden? Channel Seven breakfast show Sunrise changed its colour scheme on Thursday to blue - the colour of the Democratic Party - for its special coverage of Joe Biden being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Pictured: Sunrise co-anchor Sam Armytage (left) and guest commentator Megyn Kelly (right)

Typical: Just a day earlier, Sunrise had its usual orange banner and colour scheme. Pictured: Sunrise newsreader Natalie Barr

A day earlier, on Wednesday, Sunrise had its usual orange banner throughout the broadcast. The show's colour scheme is expected to return to normal on Friday.

Also on Thursday's inauguration day, co-host David 'Kochie' Koch wore a light blue shirt and navy tie with pink floral detail.

Fellow anchor Sam Armytage did not wear blue or white, but instead donned a red leopard print shirt for the occasion.

True colours: On Thursday, co-host David 'Kochie' Koch (right) wore a light blue shirt and navy tie. Sam (left) did not wear blue or white, but instead donned a red leopard print shirt

In June 2018, Sam weighed in on the media's mockery of Trump, saying the incessant ridicule of America's former leader had become 'boring'.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Seven for comment on the colour change.

President Biden, 78, said 'it feels like I'm going home' as he received the keys to the White House on Wednesday.

Change: President Biden, 78, said 'it feels like I'm going home' as he received the keys to the White House on Wednesday

In his first speech as commander-in-chief, Biden vowed to commit his 'whole soul' to uniting the nation and said that together the U.S. can 'write the next great chapter in the story'.

He said this story could 'sound a lot like' the song American Anthem, before he recited his favorite verse from the tune.

'We'll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America, the American story,' Biden said.
Georgia may lift restrictions on international flights in February, said Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava, Trend reports via Georgian media.

"We can not name specific dates, but February will probably be the month when we will lift the restrictions on regular flights. But this does not mean chaotic and uncontrolled entry into the country. Very specific tests, a vaccination document, or other appropriate documents for international travelers will be required," Turnava said.

According to her, the resumption of flights is the first hope for the revival of the tourist season.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  COVID-19 response deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said Wednesday the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases would assess by end of January whether the current age restrictions can be eased.

Dizon was reacting to a report on the proposal of the Trade Department to allow 10-year-old children to go out of their homes to help stimulate economic activity. Current IATF rules permit those aged 15 to 65 years old to stay outdoors. Meanwhile, those covered by the age restrictions could only leave their houses to access essential items and services.

The official said the decision will mainly depend on whether the holidays and Black Nazarene festivities triggered a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases. The Department of Health earlier said it expects to know about the possible impact of holiday gatherings and the Black Nazarene feast celebration this month.

Tingin ko po (I think) by end of Jan. or Feb., it will be reevaluated and we will see if we can ease some more depending on what happens to our cases, Dizon told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

Devotees were earlier allowed to attend mass celebrations in Quiapo Church for the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9. Masses were held in lieu of the Traslacion or grand procession of the Black Nazarene image, which traditionally draws millions of Catholic faithful. Experts have warned of a spike in coronavirus cases which might lead to stricter movement restrictions after up to 400,000 devotees visited the Quiapo area on the eve and on the day of the Black Nazarene feast.

Dizon said they will also consider their experts advice on this matter, noting that most of the IATF advisers are medical professionals.

I think when our medical advisers come to a point where they are comfortable na (that) it will not cause a tremendous risk to the general population, then restrictions on age will be slowly eased as well, he said.

As part of a series of new efforts to help boost the coronavirus vaccination of the state, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced on Monday that their partners Starbucks and Microsoft will assist them on their move against COVID-19.

The Washington Governor revealed in a news conference that the state has already established a public-private partnership, between other businesses, labor leaders, and health care, as it was dubbed as the Washington State Vaccine Command and Coordination Center.

Inslee also shared that the members in the partnership will focus on different aspects of vaccine distribution while coordinating all available resources to administer more vaccines in the state of Washington in the most efficient and the fastest way possible, CNN reported.

For example, Kaiser Permanente will be responsible for helping plan for mass vaccination clinics, while the other company, Starbucks will assist with the operational efficiency of the distribution of the vaccine.

Starbucks CEO and President, Kevin Johnson, shared during the news conference that they are not a health care company.

The governor also mentioned that since Starbucks is operating for 33,000 stores and still serving at least 100 million customers on a weekly basis, they have a world-class team of human-centered design engineers who are working under the direction of health care providers and the state in order to help support the creation of vaccination centers that can scale and amplify the care, comfort, and safety of every individual who will get the vaccine.

Moreover, Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft shared that the company will be providing their expertise which he emphasized that he has confidence that they can bring vaccines to everyone at a faster rate because of the move that they have initiated.

According to ABC via MSN, Microsoft President also mentioned that since the buildings of the company do not all have employees due to the ongoing global health crisis, they will partner with local hospitals in setting up vaccine administrations on their campus and will provide support staff for faster service during the vaccination process.

Smith also added that the goal of the said idea is to make this one of the mass vaccination sites in February,

And he also clarified that the site will not serve as a site for employees of Microsoft but it is going to be a site for every individual in the community.

In addition, other stakeholders in the coalition which includes Costco will also help with the delivery of the said vaccines by pharmacies, as well as employee unions in order to help coordinate volunteer vaccinators.

Secretary of the state's health department, Dr. Umari Shah, emphasized in a statement that this is a huge undertaking, and no one can do it alone, NBC News reported.

Shah also added that together, with the measures Governor Inslee and other partners have announced, they pledge to make the forward progress that the people of Washington deserve, in getting coronavirus under control and protect every individual with this life-saving vaccine.

Related article: Dr. Fauci Gives List of Places To Avoid, Less Chance of Contracting COVID-19

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Its unclear whether there will be any music festivals in Chicago this year as the coronavirus pandemic continues and vaccine rollout lags behind expectations. Dates for Lollapalooza have not been announced, though representatives for Riot Fest have said their festival will happen Sept. 17-19 in Douglass Park with My Chemical Romance, the Smashing Pumpkins, Run the Jewels and other acts set to perform.
Cbb makes 2025 growth plan

ICR Newsroom By 20 January 2021

Chile-based Cbb looks forward to 2025 with optimism, said the companys Corporate General Manager, Enrique Elsaca Hirmas, after a year that saw the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.



In the first nine months of 2020, Cbbs revenues fell 14 per cent YoY to CLP168.986bn (US$229.2m) but while full-year figures are expected to show a decline, this will be below the 9M20 drop.



In addition, the company is completing the implementation of the current US$150m Transforma 2021 plan. A total of US$10m remain to be disbursed, which will be used to boosts Cbbs production capacity.



However, in the short term, Cbb is focussing on expansion in its domestic market of Chile and Peru, particularly through mining projects. The company has started the construction of its US$20m cement plant in Matarani, Peru. It is expected t be completed in six months. In 2020 we tripled our volumes in Peru and we hope to double them in 2021 with the new plant, said Mr Elsaca Hirmas.



The company is currently producing its 2025 plan. The pandemic taught us that it is good to look in the long term and we are making our 2025 plan. But we must take steps one by one. The focus in 2021 is to grow, exceed the levels of 2020 and 2019, and the growth of the next 18 months will come through Peru and in emblematic projects. We are open to seeing other opportunities in Argentina and other countries, such as Colombia and Ecuador, he added.

Published under
Whether Senate Democrats will vote to abolish the filibuster is still an open question. But for now, Democrats plan to circumvent the filibuster through a process known as budget reconciliation, which can be used to pass certain kinds of legislation by a simple majority. The process has provided the mechanism for several major legislative efforts in the past two decades, including tax cuts under President Trump and President George W. Bush, and the final version of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.

The reconciliation process will be overseen for at least the next two years by Senator Bernie Sanders, the new chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, who told The Times that he plans to be aggressive in realizing the progressive program Mr. Biden campaigned on.

As Dylan Matthews points out at Vox, however, budget reconciliation has its limits: It cannot be used for noneconomic purposes, and because it is necessarily tied to yearly budget resolutions, Democrats will have at most three opportunities to take advantage of it before the 2022 midterm elections. Still, Mr. Matthews writes, its plausible that Biden and his allies in Congress can use budget reconciliation to accomplish large swaths of his agenda.

Economic relief: Democrats, including Mr. Biden, campaigned in Georgia on the promise that if they retook the Senate, they would immediately seek to increase the stimulus checks that Congress ordered in December to $2,000 per person from $600, an idea that Mr. Trump supported but that Mr. McConnell refused to put to a vote on the Senate floor.

On Thursday, Mr. Biden announced his proposal for a $1.9 trillion relief package to make good on that promise: On top of the $1,400 direct payments, it includes generous unemployment benefits, federally mandated paid leave at least through September for workers and large subsidies for child care costs, along with more than $400 billion to accelerate vaccine deployment and $350 billion to help make up for state and local governments budget shortfalls.

Mr. Biden plans to unveil another set of spending proposals in February that is said to focus on job creation and infrastructure, clean-energy projects, health care and education.
The Kremlin has reiterated its commitment to extending the New START nuclear arms-control treaty with the United States, saying it would welcome efforts promised by the administration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to reach an agreement on the last remaining major nuclear arms pact between the two countries.

The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) accord, which was signed in 2010 and expires next month, limits the numbers of strategic nuclear warheads, missiles, and bombers that Russia and the United States can deploy. It replaced the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) that went into effect in 1994.

"Russia and its president are in favor of preserving this agreement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on January 20. "If our American colleagues will in fact demonstrate a political will to preserve this pact by extending it, this can only be welcomed."

Biden's nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on January 19 during a Senate confirmation hearing that Washington would seek to prolong the agreement and decide how long an extension to pursue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last year called on Washington to extend the deal for one year without any conditions.

Analysts have said a failure to extend New START could trigger a new arms race and raise tensions between Moscow and Washington.

With reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and TASS
San Francisco, Jan 20 : Outgoing US President Donald Trump on Wednesday granted a full pardon to former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski, who was convicted of stealing trade secrets.

Levandowski worked for Google's self-driving car unit which is now called Waymo. He later founded a self-driving truck company called Otto that was acquired by Uber.

The engineer was among 73 individuals who were granted pardon by Trump, who also commuted the sentences of an additional 70 individuals.

"My family and I are grateful for the opportunity to move forward, and thankful to the President and others who supported and advocated on my behalf," Levandowski said in a tweet on Wednesday.

In August last year, Levandowski was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing trade secrets.

US District Judge in San Francisco, William Alsup, said that home confinement would "(give) a green light to every future brilliant engineer to steal trade secrets. Prison time is the answer to that", according to a report in TechCrunch.

Levandowski also agreed to pay $756,499.22 in restitution to Google's self-driving car unit Waymo and a fine of $95,000, said the report.

However, the self-driving car engineer never began his sentence, as Alsup allowed it to be delayed indefinitely, citing the Covid-19 pandemic, The Verge reported.

According to a statement from the White House, Levandowski's pardon was supported by several people from the tech industry, including controversial billionaire investor Peter Thiel, Thiel Capital COO Blake Masters, Hollywood agent and Palantir advisor Michael Ovitz, and Oculus and Anduril founder Palmer Luckey.

Notably, his sentencing judge called him a "brilliant, groundbreaking engineer that our country needs", said the statement, adding that Levandowski "has paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good".

The case dates back to 2017 when Uber and Alphabet, Google's parent company, locked horns with each other over the latter's accusation on the ride-hailing app of stealing its self-driving technology.

Waymo filed a lawsuit against Uber in 2017, alleging that the stolen information became the technological basis for Uber's self-driving cars.

According to the lawsuit, Levandowski, who earlier headed its self-driving car project, downloaded around 14,000 files from his company-issued computer containing trade secrets related to Waymo's LIDAR technology, circuit board designs, and testing documentation.

The company also alleged that Levandowski tried to remove traces of those actions by reformatting his laptop.

Levandowski joined Uber after his stint at Google, where he shepherded the company's own self-driving car programme. Uber had fired him in 2017 over this case.

Google's parent company Alphabet and Uber agreed on a settlement in 2018 over trade secret theft claims. But Levandowski filed a lawsuit to demand $4.1 billion from Uber in relation to its acquisition of his previous self-driving truck startup Otto, TechCrunch reported.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Textainer Group Holdings Limited (NYSE: TGH) ("Textainer", "the Company", "we" and "our"), one of the world's largest lessors of intermodal containers, today announced that the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Textainer Limited, acquired the 49.9% interest in TAP Funding Ltd. ("TAP Funding") owned by TAP Ltd. Following the acquisition, Textainer Limited owns 100% of TAP Funding. TAP Funding was a joint venture between Textainer Limited and TAP Ltd., a Bermuda based intermodal investment company. TAP Funding owns approximately 80,000 intermodal shipping containers already managed by Textainer with a net book value of approximately $175 million. The share purchase closed on January 19, 2021. Following the closing of the share purchase, Textainer wholly-owns approximately 89 percent of the containers in the Company's fleet.

"This transaction is in line with Textainer's strategy of simplifying our overall corporate structure, focusing on our core container leasing business, and pursuing transactions that add to our net income and return on equity. The acquisition of the shares of TAP Funding we did not previously own provides us with sole ownership of a large seasoned portfolio of containers already under our management at an attractive price," commented Olivier Ghesquiere, President and Chief Executive Officer of Textainer Group Holdings Limited. "We expect this transaction will be immediately accretive to earnings and to contribute to long-term growth in shareholder value," concluded Mr. Ghesquiere.

About Textainer Group Holdings Limited

Textainer has operated since 1979 and is one of the world's largest lessors of intermodal containers with approximately 3.6 million TEU in our owned and managed fleet. We lease containers to approximately 250 customers, including all of the world's leading international shipping lines, and other lessees. Our fleet consists of standard dry freight, refrigerated intermodal containers, and dry freight specials. We also lease tank containers through our relationship with Trifleet Leasing and are a supplier of containers to the U.S. Military. Textainer is one of the largest and most reliable suppliers of new and used containers. In addition to selling older containers from our fleet, we buy older containers from our shipping line customers for trading and resale. We sold an average of approximately 140,000 containers per year for the last five years to more than 1,500 customers making us one of the largest sellers of used containers. Textainer operates via a network of 14 offices and approximately 500 independent depots worldwide. Textainer has a primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TGH) and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: TXT). Visit www.textainer.com for additional information about Textainer.

Important Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements that are not statements of historical facts and include, without limitation, statements regarding: the effective implementation of the Company's strategy and the expected accretive benefits of the TAP Funding share purchase transaction. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results. For a discussion of some of these risks and uncertainties, see Item 3 "Key Information Risk Factors" in Textainer's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2020.

Textainer's views, estimates, plans and outlook as described within this document may change subsequent to the release of this press release. Textainer is under no obligation to modify or update any or all of the statements it has made herein despite any subsequent changes Textainer may make in its views, estimates, plans or outlook for the future.

Contact Information

Investor Relations

+1 415-658-8333

[email protected]

SOURCE Textainer Group Holdings Limited

Related Links

http://www.textainer.com


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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Molasses (Syrups and Spreads) Market in Saudi Arabia - Outlook to 2024; Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics (updated with COVID-19 Impact) under Food category. The Molasses (Syrups and Spreads) 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.

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Molasses - sugar-based liquid sweet spreads which are similar to treacles and syrups. To avoid doubt these will always be termed "molasses" on product labels.

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On Inauguration Day, some members of the Schuylkill County community hope to see a call for unity from President-elect Joe Biden, as well as an effort to address the countrys current political conflicts.

Hugh Reiley, Schuylkill County Democratic Committee chairman, said he expects Bidens main message to be about unity.

Right now, we have a very fractured nation, Reiley said. He has a tough job ahead of him. He needs to find a way to unite our country again.

Reiley said one factor he thinks has contributed to political conflict is social media and its ability to spread misinformation and incite violence.

We need to remember were all human beings and were all Americans, Reiley said. We have always disagreed, and we will always disagree, but we need to do it in a more civil fashion. We have to respect other peoples viewpoints even if we dont agree with them.

Howard Merrick, the Republican Committee chairman, said he hopes Biden will try to heal the nation, but also acknowledge the other side.

He won the election, but there are 70 million people who voted for Donald Trump, Merrick said. Just because he won, doesnt mean he, or the Democratic party, should ignore the people who voted for Donald Trump, what they believe in and what they stand for. The key to that, to me, is compromise.

Merrick said a lot of the current division has developed from disagreements over Trump and his policies. On top of that, Merrick said rhetoric from both political parties and the media has heightened the conflicts.

If you constantly go at each other, people will not compromise, Merrick said. Were always going to have differences on the issues. I dont think in any way its going to be easy. If he wants to be conciliatory, he can be, and I think Republicans will respond.

Todd Zimmerman, Schuylkill County Democratic Committee secretary, said there needs to be a dialogue between both sides, on a national level and within Schuylkill County.

For our area, one of the reasons I supported Joe Biden from the beginning is because I thought that he could relate to blue-collar workers, Zimmerman said. Hes from Scranton, and I think he takes a more moderate approach as a Democrat.

Zimmerman said he hopes Biden addresses issues affecting Schuylkill County, such as bringing in jobs with livable wages. On a local level, Zimmerman hopes to see election reform, after mail-in ballot delays left voters on both sides disenfranchised.

I hope people take a step back and look to see what happened on the 6th, Zimmerman said about the storming of the Capitol. Everyone has different reasons why they vote for a political party, but Im hoping that was a shock to our system.

State Sen. David Argall, R-29, Rush Township, said he would like Biden to address the countrys economic needs in the speech and afterward.

Above all else, I hope he discusses the importance of getting our economy back on its feet, Argall said. After the hardships that we persevered through in 2020, we need to be doing everything we can to support our employers and employees in the coming months. A bipartisan agreement on funding for highway and bridge projects would also be very much appreciated by many of us.

Hypocrisy and compromise

Rich Magnani, of Brockton, a frequent letter to the editor contributor who supports Trump, said there is nothing he would like to hear from Bidens inaugural speech, as he believes the election was rigged.

When they stand up there and take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, theyre already thinking of tearing it down, Magnani said. Theyre looking to rip apart the second and first amendment and take your rights away. Theyre looking to change the whole country into something were not.

Magnani said he wants to see the media tell the truth about the political hypocrisy, such as sending the National Guard for the inauguration after criticism of the use of troops during Black Lives Matter protests.

The hypocrisy is blinding, Magnani said. If you refuse to look at it, then youre not open to the truth.

Thomas K. Noonan, of Barnesville, another frequent letter writer and staunch Trump critic, said he hopes Biden addresses the need for unity, but said achieving it will be a challenge.

The basic problem is the alternative reality that Trump has fostered and encouraged for the past four years, Noonan said. Im not sure how Biden can swiftly address that. It has to gradually fade if it can.

Noonan said one thing Biden should do is form a relationship with Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell and work toward compromise.

Go at it with all you have, because theres a lot to be done, Noonan said.

Schuylkill County Democrat commissioner and Schuylkill Haven businessman Gary J. Hess said the main topic he hopes Biden will discuss is the COVID-19 pandemic.

The top priority, which he has mentioned, is COVID, to tackle the pandemic, Hess said. Also the possibility of making sure future stimulus comes down to helping small businesses and everyday people and nonprofits. Those are the people who really need it. Theyve been hard hit. Weve lost a lot of lives.

Hess said the main outcome he hopes to see from Inauguration Day is a peaceful transition of power.

The attack on the Capitol is something I thought I would never see in my lifetime, Hess said. Now, the turn of power should be peaceful. The election process is over. Were fighting a battle with this pandemic, so thats what we should be directing at, not at each other.

Tend to democracy

Penn State Schuylkill Chancellor Patrick Jones said he wants to hear Biden address the need for civil discourse, informed citizenry, unity, civil rights and racial justice.

We need to have some informed civil discourse that respects differences but brings data and fact to the conversation, Jones said. We need some more civility and civics and a sense of belonging to a community greater than ourselves.

Jones said that informed citizenry is key to upholding our democracy.

Were going through a tough time right now, but its not the first time, Jones said. Our democracy is very precious, and what we saw on the 6th is its very fragile. We need to tend to it.
(Natural News) Signal  the privacy chat app favored by the worlds leading crypto experts  is trending again. In the wake of Twitter and Facebooks MAGA Maidan Internet purge (which was followed by Facebooks announcement that it was gonna start siphoning data off its WhatsApp property), Signal shot up to being the top downloaded messenger app on the planet.

(Article by Yasha Levine republished from Yasha.Substack.com)

The New York Times is writing about it. Edward Snowden is tweeting about it, telling his fans that Signal is the only reason hes able to stay alive (and not the fact that hes being protected round-the-clock by Russias security apparatus.) Hell, Even Elon Musk is out there telling people to go Signal. So many people are flooding the app that its been crashing.

Use Signal  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021

Given that the app is blowing up, I figure its a good time to roll out my periodic public service announcement: Signal was created and funded by a CIA spinoff. Yes, a CIA spinoff. Signal is not your friend.

Here are the cold hard facts.

Signal was developed by Open Whisper Systems, a for-profit corporation run by Moxie Marlinspike, a tall, lanky cryptographer who has a head full of dreadlocks and likes to surf and sail his boat. Moxie was an old friend of Tors now-banished chief radical promotor Jacob Appelbaum, and hes played a similar fake-radical game  although hes never been able to match Jakes raw talent and dedication to the art of the con. Still, Moxie wraps himself in air of danger and mystery and hassles reporters about not divulging any personal information, not even his age. He constantly talks up his fear of Big Brother and tells stories about his FBI file.

So how big a threat is Moxie to the federal government?

This big: After selling his encryption start-up to Twitter in 2011, Moxie began partnering with Americas soft-power regime change apparatus  including the State Department and the Broadcasting Board of Governors (now called the U.S. Agency for Global Media)  on developing tech to fight Internet censorship abroad. That relationship led to his next venture: a suite of government-funded encrypted chat and voice mobile apps. Say hello to Signal.

If you look at Signals website today, youll find all sorts of celebrity endorsements  Edward Snowden, Laura Poitras, and even Jack Dorsey. Youll also find a donate button  which, by the way, you shouldnt press because Signal has plenty of tech oligarch cash on hand these days. What you wont find is an about section that explains Signals origin story  a story that involves several million dollars in seed and development capital from Radio Free Asia, a CIA spinoff whose history goes back to 1951 and involves all sorts of weird shit, including its association in the 1970s with the Moonies, the hardcore anti-communist Korean cult.

Exactly how much cash Signal got from the U.S. government is hard to gauge, as Moxie and Open Whisper System have been opaque about the sources of Signals funding. But if you tally up the information thats been publicly released by the Open Technology Fund, the Radio Free Asia conduit that funded Signal, we know that Moxies outfit received at least $3 million over the span of four years  from 2013 through 2016. Thats the minimum Signal got from the feds.

Three mil might not seem like much these days, especially because Signal recently got a huge infusion of WhatsApp oligarch cash to keep its operation going. But its important to know that without this early U.S. government seed money, there would be no Signal today. And that makes you think: If Signals super crypto tech truly posed a threat to the feds and to our oligarchys power, why would the feds bankroll its creation? And why would Facebook and Google rush to adopt its super-secure protocols? Hmmmmm

As you can see from the way Parler was shutdown last week  when our imperial oligarchy wants to cancel an app, it can do so instantly and with a vengeance. But Signal lives on and thrives, despite it being a supposed threat to the almighty surveillance powers of the United States of America.

Signal was seeded by this Radio Free Asia?

What is Radio Free Asia and the Open Technology Fund? And why would the U.S government fund crypto tech like Signal? On top of that, why would Silicon Valley  built as it is on for-profit surveillance  embrace Signals supposedly unbreakable privacy tech?

Ive written at length about the deeper history of Signals government backers and the way in which crypto fits into Americas imperial machine. In fact, I dedicated two whole chapters of my book to the subject. I wont reprint it here. But if you want to know the whole story, you can pick up Surveillance Valley at your local bookstore. Or you can check out some of the articles Ive

This is a preview of a full letter that is only available to subscribers. To support my work and read the rest, sign up and read it here.

Read more at: Yasha.Substack.com
YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan says the competent state body of Armenia must publish the number of prisoners of the Armenian side who, according to the information at its disposal or in its belief, are currently being held captive in Azerbaijan.

The rule of the law presupposes the presumption of publishing any data of public importance. When rejecting the disclosure of given data, the state must show what legitimate interest it is pursuing. The states decision not to make a relevant disclosure must be grounded in reason.

The Armenian government official announced yesterday through a statement that it did not publish the data on the number of captives of the Armenian side in Azerbaijan, and by way of justification, in its official response, merely stated that the issue is one of a "super-sensitive nature." This is not an acceptable approach.

In fact, the publication of the number of captives held by the Armenian side in Azerbaijan will at least:

1) significantly increase international pressure on Azerbaijan to release and return the captives,

2) provide grounds for additional obligations of Azerbaijan,

3) increase the level of protection of prisoners held in Azerbaijan,

4) demonstrate publicly and emphasize the state's respect for the rights of prisoners and their families,

5) publicly emphasize the state's responsible attitude towards this issue of public importance, and

6) finally, through such a stance, the state will be eliminate or otherwise significantly reduce efforts and any attempts by either side to manipulate and mislead the public with false information.

Therefore, the competent state body of the Republic of Armenia must publish the number of prisoners of the Armenian side who, according to the information at its disposal or in its belief, are currently being held captive in Azerbaijan, the Ombudsman said on Facebook.
The head of the HSE says teams are under "unrelenting strain" in hospitals and the community because of Covid 19.

Paul Reid said anyone who dismisses the seriousness of the illness is spreading "nonsense" which he says is insulting to patients, staff and their families.

Yesterday, 93 additional Covid-related deaths were confirmed along with 2,001 new cases.

Last night, there were 1,897 people in hospital with the disease and 206 confirmed cases are in ICU.

Dr Jack Lambert, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the Mater Hospital, says not enough people are taking the lockdown seriously.

"People are not respecting the lockdown this time as they did in the spring and there is no enforcement of it, no encouragement for it.

"When I went to work in March/April, I got stopped four times. I've been stopped once for 10 seconds [during this lockdown]."

He said that every person needs to take the virus seriously if we want to see restrictions eased.

"The longer the numbers keep on circulating high, the longer it will be for kids to get back to school.

"I have a child in school and there is a consequence to that. It is hard as a parent to see that happening but it is also hard to see our individuals who are in a position of authority ie the Gardai providing lip service but not taking it seriously.

"Everyone needs to take it seriously."

A study on Covid-19 transmission suggests keeping a two-metre distance indoors without a mask is not enough to prevent it from spreading.

Experts at the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London found it is more likely to be caught inside by two people talking rather than someone coughing.

Their study says it is because water droplets released when people speak are so small they linger in the air.

A Monghan GP said Ireland is still "on the crest" of this wave of Covid-19.

Ilona Duffy believes it is likely even more people will require hospital treatment.

"We have locally opened up the Covid hub which is a place where patients with Covid can be seen safely and we're seeing a rapid rise in the numbers.

We are actually seeing more people than we ever saw during the first wave of this disease and many of those are younger and having to be referred to hospital in acute respiratory distress.

"I do think that we are still on the crest of this wave and we are probably going to see a further rise in the number of people being admitted to the hospital.

"Unfortunately, that may mean further deaths."

Dr Duffy said it is time to go back to April-style restrictions with only one person allowed to go for essential shopping.

She said anyone who is on the streets and those who are driving to and from work because they can't work from home can see the difference.

"In March, April and May, towns were like ghost towns. Now there are more people on our streets, on our roads and in our shops.

"While we have to see shops remain open and some businesses are remaining open, I think we have still got to encourage more and more people to work from home, we have got to limit the number of people coming in and moving around shops and perhaps go back to the beginning when one person from a household went to do the shopping."
Sen. Chuck Schumer Becomes New Senate Majority Leader

After Vice President Kamala Harris swore in Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), giving Democrats the majority in the Senate, it means that Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is now the majority leader of the Senate.

As majority leader, President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris will have a partner who is ready, willing and able to help achieve a forward-looking agenda, Schumer said in a statement earlier this month after victory was declared for Ossoff and Warnock.

Harris also appointed Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), her replacement in the upper chamber, after she and President Joe Biden were sworn into office.

Currently, the Democratic caucus in the Senate has 50 seats to Republicans 50, meaning that Harrisas vice presidentis the tie-breaker, thereby giving the Democrats control.

America is turning over a new leaf. We are turning the page on the last four years and to reunite the country, defeat COVID-19, rush economic relief to the people, Ossoff told reporters on Wednesday morning. Thats what they sent us here to do. And, you know, Georgia has sent a young Jewish man and a Black pastor to represent our state in the U.S. Senate. Its a sign of generational and epochal change for our state.

Harris also swore in Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) as Senate pro tempore, a designation given to the longest-serving member of the majority party. Leahy, who is taking over from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), is now third in the line of succession to the presidency.

Earlier this month, Schumer said that his first priority as majority leader will be $1,400 stimulus payments.

One of the first things that I want to do when our new senators are seated is to deliver the $2,000 checks to American families, Schumer told reporters at the time. Its one of the first things we want to do once our new senators are seated. They campaigned on it, he said.

And the New York Democrat said he plans to prioritize the deployment of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccine.

We have an opportunity to work with our House colleagues and a new administration to defeat the virus, provide the relief the American people need, and reunite the country, he said in a recent statement this month.

Republicans will still maintain some power in the Senate due to the filibuster rule, which allows a single member to block a vote unless 60 senators vote to close the debate. No Republicans have expressed support for abolishing the filibuster, while some Democratsincluding Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.)are not in favor of it.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Schumer failed to reach a power-sharing agreement.

Doug Andres, a spokesman for McConnell, said he expressed his long-held view that the crucial, longstanding, and bipartisan Senate rules concerning the legislative filibuster remain intact, specifically during the power share for the next two years.

Discussions on all aspects of the power-sharing agreement will continue over the next several days, Andres said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 22:02:41|Editor: huaxia

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WINDHOEK, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- German airline, the Lufthansa Group on Wednesday announced that in March and April they will add a fourth and fifth frequency between Windhoek and Frankfurt, further strengthening their commitment and ties to the Namibian market.

Lufthansa Group general manager of Southern Africa and East Africa Andre Schulz in a statement said the new frequencies will be serviced by an Airbus A330 and are subject to government approval, however, they are already bookable online as well as via the GDS (Global Distribution System).

"As you may have already experienced, the various entry regulations and restrictions are extremely fluid and ever-changing," he added.

According to Schulz, as of Jan. 14, the regulations for travelers entering Germany from risk areas has been updated.

"Currently Namibia has been identified as a Level 1 risk area by the Robert Koch Institute. This means that all travelers entering Germany from a risk area such as Namibia, are required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test," he said.

Meanwhile, he said passengers who are only transiting through Germany from a Level 1 area, as well as children under 6 years of age, are exempt from the obligation to test or provide proof.

"However, I would like to point out that the Level 1 risk status for Namibia is subject to change at short notice, based on the infection rate per week, and could therefore raise additional measures for entry into Germany," he said.

The entry requirements for passengers travelling to Namibia remain unchanged, he said. Enditem
Managing Editor of Features

Lindsey Hollenbaugh is the managing editor of features for The Berkshire Eagle. A native of upstate New York, she has a journalism degree from Ithaca College. She lives in Pittsfield with her husband and son.
The RWT dataset covers 700,000 unique patient records from a patient population of approximately 470,000 people

The new SRA brings the combined total of anonymised data available for analysis by Sensyne to 6.8 million patients

( ), the UK Clinical AI company, said it has signed a five-year non-exclusive Strategic Research Agreement (SRA) with The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

The agreement will enable the ethical application of clinical AI research to improve patient care and accelerate research into new medicines. The RWT dataset covers 700,000 unique patient records from a patient population of approximately 470,000 people. The new SRA brings the combined total of anonymised data available for analysis by Sensyne to 6.8 million patients.

RWT is one of the largest providers of healthcare in the West Midlands employing more than 10,500 staff covering acute, community and primary care services. The Trust's services cover the population of Wolverhampton, the wider Black Country, South Staffordshire, North Worcestershire and Shropshire. RWT acts as a specialist centre for a number of different services including cancer, stroke and heart and lung services.

Sensyne said research will be undertaken to the highest standards of information governance and data security in accordance with NHS principles, the UK Government Code of Practice and data protection legislation. All data supplied to Sensyne will be anonymised by RWT beforehand and the provision of the data will operate under an agreed Data Processing Protocol under RWT ethical oversight.

RWT will receive 1,428,571 ordinary shares in Sensyne Health representing 0.9% of the existing issued share capital. This brings the total share ownership held by NHS Trusts in Sensyne to 12.6% (as enlarged by the expected issue of shares to RWT, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Wye Valley NHS Trust - the SRAs with George Eliot & Wye Valley remain subject to NHS England approval prior to final closing and issue of shares in Sensyne).

The Trust will also receive from Sensyne an investment of up to 250,000 per year over the 5-year term of the contract for specific investments in NHS information technology to enable the curation and analysis of data under the SRA. It will receive a royalty on revenues that are generated by Sensyne from the research undertaken under the SRA. The financial return RWT receives from Sensyne will be reinvested back into the NHS to fund patient care. The Trust has entered into a lock-up agreement whereby it has agreed not to dispose of any shares for a period of two years from the date the shares are issued.

RWT joins the 9 existing NHS Trusts that Sensyne has SRAs (8 Trusts) and data access agreements (1 Trust) with.

In a statement, Lord Drayson, CEO of Sensyne Health, said "I would like to welcome The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust as a new SRA partner and look forward to working with them. The SRA continues Sensyne's momentum in expanding its anonymised patient data set and deepening the diversity of the therapeutic areas within it. This in turn helps provide Sensyne with the critical mass of data to improve patient care and accelerate medical research".

Sultan Mahmud, Chief Innovation, Integration and Research Officer at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, added: "We are delighted to announce a partnership with Sensyne Health. Their model of collaboration with the NHS and active investment into the NHS is a unique one. Sensyne are currently working with several leading NHS Foundation Trusts and joining this community of practice enhances our ability to test new and innovative ways to use data to drive care processes and contribute to vital health research.

"In this collaboration we will focus on improving prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of illnesses for complex patients so that we can provide anticipatory care. Our clinical teams and informatics colleagues are looking forwarding to working with Sensyne."
Spokesperson Kunal Ghosh admitted that the controversial slogan should not have been raised and blamed it on excessive exuberance of young party workers

Kolkata: A day after a few TMC supporters chanted the slogan 'Bangal ke gaddaro ko, goli maro saalo ko' (shoot the traitors of Bengal) during a rally, the ruling party in Bengal on Wednesday distanced itself from the rhetoric, and rebuked the activists who raised it.

Describing the slogan as "excessive exuberance" on the part of some young supporters, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated that the party does not endorse it.

"Such a slogan should not have been raised from the rally. Those who raised it have not done the right thing. The words 'goli maro' should not be taken literally," he said.

Several TMC supporters had chanted the controversial slogan on Tuesday during a peace rally in south Kolkata, which was also attended by two state cabinet ministers.

A similar slogan 'desh ke gaddaro ko, goli maro saalo ko' (shoot the traitors of the nation), by a BJP leader in Delhi in January 2020 had triggered a massive row in the country, with the TMC among other parties vociferously criticising him.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, recalling the episode last year, said the saffron party, back then, was in the eye of the storm, and now the TMC has raised a similar slogan.

"The TMC has introduced the culture of guns and bombs in state politics. Now they are openly acknowledging it at their rallies," Ghosh said.

Echoing him, BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said this is the culture that is long being pursued by the TMC in Bengal.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty claimed that both the BJP and the TMC are indulging in "destructive politics and hampering peace in the state".

The TMC's peace rally had on Tuesday traversed the route that the BJP had taken a day before during its roadshow, which witnessed clashes between workers of the two political parties.

Accusing the BJP of instigating TMC activists at its roadshow on Monday, state minister Arup Biswas also claimed that the saffron party supporters, in a fit of rage, assaulted common people near Charu Market area.

The BJP, however, claimed that TMC workers, with party flags in hands, brick-batted its supporters.
Click the image above to view slideshow

More than 1000 family, friends and colleagues gathered to say goodbye to Detective Inspector Gary Lendrum, who passed away on December 30 after a brave battle with cancer.

At his funeral at Pukekohe War Memorial Hall on Tuesday, January 12, speakers paid tribute to Gary's leadership, compassion and immense contribution to the communities of Counties Manukau.

Gary joined Police 44 years ago as a member of Section A of the 21st R C Savage Cadet Wing, beginning training on 26 January 1977.

He graduated on 14 December.

After several years policing on the frontline Gary began his training as a detective in 1983, qualifying in 1987.

Detective qualifying course, 1987.

A move to Thames in 1988 saw Gary work as a detective there for a year before returning to Counties Manukau and being promoted to sergeant.

Gary went on to work across the district in a number of roles within the CIB, often tackling complex investigations while also carrying on with his day-to-day role.

In 2002, Auckland was shaken by the murder of 23-year-old Marcus Doig, who was shot during a robbery while working at a pizza delivery company in Pakuranga.

A week later John Vaughan was shot dead at the ASB Bank in Mangere Bridge during a robbery.

One of the largest investigations seen in Auckland was launched and Gary was put in charge of several suspects teams.

It was no coincidence that this key role was entrusted to Gary amid the intense pressure to find the offenders.

I remember Gary being the calm in the chaos that occupied Level 9 of Harlech House where the investigation was based," says Detective Superintendent Dave Lynch.

"He calmly and meticulously got down to work and led the phases that resulted in the arrest of the four suspects.

"He was then tasked with putting together what was one of the highest profile prosecutions of the time. That was a tough trial and the results speak for themselves."

Other high-profile cases Gary worked on and held close to his heart included Operation Kelley, investigating the murder of Otahuhu sex worker Marlene Kelley in 2002; Operation Mahia, into the stabbing of 15-year-old Kelly Lawrence in Manurewa in 2005; and the murder of Shelvin Prasaad in Karaka in 2013.

Gary Lendrum MNZM, with then Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

In 2014, Gary was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). His citation included the 18 homicide investigations he had led by then, other serious crime investigations, his work pioneering the investigative interviewing PEACE model that is now the national standard, and around the CIB role in crime prevention.

That was a special day for Gary and his family, and you could see that Gary was extremely proud of his achievement - but as always just as quick to point out that it was always the team that enabled results," says Dave.

"Garys receipt of that award was also a proud day for Counties Manukau CIB. The support he received was reflective of the feelings of admiration and respect that I know all his Police colleagues have for him."

In 2014, Gary was promoted to Detective Inspector and took the Field Crime Manager role based at the Multi-Agency Centre.

Here he recognised the over-representation of Pasifika families in child protection matters and he became an integral part in the establishment of the Fanau Lelei programme, a partnership with Tongan churches, Oranga Tamariki and the Ministries of Pacific People and Social Development.

Gary recognised the importance of working with community and, along with Tongan Police staff, visited Tongan churches to present on positive parenting. The initiative was an outstanding example of working with the community and was an award winner at the national Problem Orientated Policing Awards in 2018.

In 2017, Gary became District Crime Manager for Counties Manukau.

He was such a wonderful member of the leadership team, says Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent Jill Rogers.

It is so evident that his service to his community has been exemplary, recognised by the two Bronze Merits Awards and MNZM that he holds. I was delighted to see him presented with his 42-year Long Service and Good Conduct award in 2019.

Seeing written in detail the cases that Gary has worked on was a stark reminder to us all just what a contribution Gary has made to our community. His care for others and his understated leadership has made him such a rock of not just the investigations team but to the whole of New Zealand Police and the wider community."

During her eulogy, Jill had one last message to Gary: You were the best of the best, you were our rock. Kind, calm, compassionate, honest; endless common sense, meticulous, respected, loyal, a true leader.

"Gary, you really did have it all. You have done so much and now it is time for you to rest. Rest in peace, my friend."

The final eulogy was given by Dave Lynch. I think it is the finest tribute I can pay to Gary to end by simply saying  you were a great family man, a great cop, a great mate to many and you were the quintessential Kiwi good bastard.

"I am proud to have known you and called you a friend and, like everyone here, will miss spending time with you a lot. Thanks for all you have done for everyone in the Police family and your community. Rest in peace mate."

Gary is survived by his wife Lynette, son Mark, daughter-in-law Kim, daughter Sarah, son-in-law Jonathan and four grandchildren.

-TenOne Magazine.


Photo: David Wylie/okanaganz.com Dutch Love?s Lake Country location

Back when Dutch Love was still known as Hobo, it made history as the first store to open in Kelowna.

Vancouver-based Donnelly Group, which owns the national cannabis retail chain along with numerous pubs, has since opened about 20 stores total.

I recently talked with Harrison Stoker, vice president of Dutch Loves parent company.

He talked about the rebrand, what the company has learned from its experience in the hospitality industry, how they have been so successful in securing licences.

Stoker also discussed his preferred strategy to combat the illicit market, the BC Cannabis Stores online monopoly, how the rebrand from Hobo to Dutch Love has gone, and the impact COVID-19 has had on the company.

Heres an excerpt:

Q: Unlicensed cannabis stores are said to be flourishing throughout B.C. How should we go about combatting the illicit market?

A: Wishful thinking is certainly not enough. We are proactive in conversations with provincial and municipal policy makers and regulators. That perhaps is where some of our relationships are supporting and enabling us to get a little closer to the top on that one.

We have regular meetings with the provincial government; and we actually are continually writing game plans and standard operating procedures and giving them to the province to illustrate potential framework for modern retailer features  things like delivery, shipping, online sales.

Its 2021 after all, but in cannabis retail it feels like 1992, which is bizarre. We dont think that the province and the municipalities are going to be capable of combating it alone. We think they need to lean into the collective cannabis retail network and enable us to have modern features.

We think the best way to combat it is to put ourselves into more of an even playing field with the illicit market.

Give customers more choice to access regulated products.

Right now those prohibitions are really putting those illicit businesses on a pedestal and making them more available to the average customer.

Q: Provincial cannabis stores are the only ones in B.C. who can both take orders online and ship through Canada Post. Is that something private retailers should also be able to do?

A: I believe that wholeheartedly. I dont believe theres cause for any monopoly on online sales. I dont think that a single entity can reach the entire population.

Online retail features are even more relevant today than they were a year ago as we wade our way through this pandemic and really lean into technology more and more, and less physical engagement.

Its wild to think that the province hasnt reacted in kind to this pandemic and said lets be more safe and more responsible in the way that customers transact, and remove elements of physical engagement.

Therefore, you should probably by shipping your product instead of having people come into your stores and potentially putting customers and staff in danger.

Even that hasnt turned the tides in the opinion of the provincial government. Theyre still being stubborn, if you will, and holding on to their monopoly.

Q: You recently opened a store in Lake Country, population 15,000, is there room in that small suburb for more than one store?

A: In British Columbia, specifically, we dont really look to our regulated retail peers as competitors yet. Its the illicit market that is our collective competitor.

The answer to that question really falls to how quickly British Columbia, culturally and from a policy perspective, can truly translate the illicit or legacy market into the regulated market. Right now, its moving at a snails pace.

Today, one might argue that there isnt enough business, but we need to work together to translate the illicit market into the regulated market.

There certainly is enough business in the case that people are accessing cannabis through the regulated market absolutely there is enough business.

Both parts of the Q&A are posted in full on okanaganz.com https://okanaganz.com/oz/features/,

Okanagan-based journalist David Wylie publishes the oz. Email him at [email protected].
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River Discovery Center Hosts Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition

PADUCAH - River Discovery Center Hosts Smithsonian Traveling ExhibitionThe Smithsonians Museum on Main Street, in cooperation with the Kentucky Humanities Council, presents Crossroads: Change in Rural America. The exhibition examining the evolving landscape of rural American opens at the River Discovery Center in downtown Paducah. Crossroads is on exhibit through February 13 from 9:30 am - 5 pm Monday through Saturday. The Center is following safety guidelines recommended by the state of Kentucky.The River Discovery Center and the surrounding community have been expressly chosen by the Kentucky Humanities Council to host Crossroads as part of the Museum on Main Street programa national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. The exhibition will tour seven communities in Kentucky from October 10, 2020 through August 7, 2021Crossroads explores how rural American communities changed in the 20th century. From sea to shining sea, the vast majority of the United States landscape remains rural with only 3.5% of the landmass considered urban. Since 1900, the percentage of Americans living in rural areas dropped from 60% to 17%. The exhibition looks at that remarkable societal change and how rural Americans responded.Americans have relied on rural crossroads for generations. These places where people gather to exchange goods, services and culture and to engage in political and community discussions are an important part of our cultural fabric. Despite the massive economic and demographic impacts brought on by these changes, Americas small towns continue to creatively focus on new opportunities for growth and development.Crossroads allows us to reflect on Paducah history, present and future and we are excited to explore what the future may hold for our community, said Julie Harris, executive director of the River Discovery Center. We want to convene conversations about what makes our community unique and have developed local exhibitions and public programs to complement the Smithsonian exhibition. Due to the COVID pandemic, the status of public programming is uncertain. The River Discovery Center will alert the public when the status of the free programs and the schedule and locations is determined.Designed for small-town museums, libraries and cultural organizations, Crossroads will serve as a community meeting place for conversations about how rural America has changed. With the support and guidance of state humanities councils, these towns will develop complementary exhibits, host public programs and facilitate educational initiatives to raise peoples understanding about their own history, the joys and challenges of living rural, how change has impacted their community, and prompt discussion of goals for the future.The exhibition is part of the Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. To learn more about Crossroads and other Museum on Main Street exhibitions, visit www.museumonmainstreet.org.Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U.S. Congress.SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit www.sites.si.edu.For more information about the River Discovery Center, 117 S. Water St. in downtown Paducah, call 270-575-9958 or visit them online: www.riverdiscoverycenter.orgOn the Net:
Workforce

OPM says federal employee job satisfaction is up

After months of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Personnel released some preliminary findings from the 2020 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey.

The annual survey provides information on employment engagement and satisfaction among feds. This year, OPM also asked employees about their agency's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey is used by the Partnership for Public Service to make the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government Report.

Job satisfaction among federal employees is at 71.6%, up by around three percentage points from 2019 and 5.4 percentage points from 2016, according to the OPM release. Organizational satisfaction, pay satisfaction and employees' readiness to recommend their workplace to others have also risen since 2019.

OPM also highlighted pandemic-related findings. Over three fourths of survey respondents said that "their senior leaders provided effective communications about the COVID-19 pandemic," and 85% of respondents indicated that "their supervisor supported their efforts to stay health and safe during the pandemic."

Michael Rigas, acting director of OPM, said in a statement that, "the Federal workforce remains resilient and motivated to serve the American people through even the most challenging times."

The rollout of the survey was slated for June 2020 before being pushed back twice due to the pandemic. It eventually rolled out in September of last year.

Lawmakers have drawn attention to the delays. Last summer, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said that OPM's reasoning for the second delay in beginning the survey was "conflicting and contradictory." At the time, he requested documents and a briefing from the personnel office.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and feds had six weeks to complete the survey. This year, 44.3% participated, which is over 1.5% more than last years rate.

Agencies are in the process of receiving survey reports, the release stated. The public release of the results is set to be in the early spring.
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A lettering offering the Covid-19 vaccine arrived at the door of one Britain's oldest twins just two days after she died.

Doris Hobday, 96, was described as a 'ray of sunshine,' this morning after news of her death was announced on Good Morning Britain - where she shot to fame beside her twin sister Lil Cox after saying the secret to their old age was 'plenty of sex'.

Today her family have revealed Doris died after a two week battle with Covid-19, with a letter offering her a jab arriving at her home in Tipton, West Midlands, just two days after she died.

In a statement, the family said: 'Doris was only a few weeks away from being safe, with her vaccine letter arriving two days after her death. If you are offered the vaccine, please take it, do not refuse it. Doris did not get this choice.'

Doris and Lil shot to fame last year after saying 'plenty of sex,' was the secret to their long lives

They added: 'We are aware they're both 96-years-old and we've been so lucky to have them in our lives for such a long time. But they were both still going strong before this virus got them and both were determined to live until 100.

'They had so much to live for, it's just so cruel that Covid has stopped Doris like this. Our thoughts go out to all the families who have experienced a loss through Covid and we urge people to take this seriously.'

Twin sister Lil is 'battling hard,' after contracting the virus and was pictured on GMB reading a copy of Piers Morgan's book 'Wake Up'.

Doris Hobday, pictured with her husband Ray, died on January 5 after battling Covid-19 for two weeks. Doris, from Tipton, West Midlands, made up one half of Britain's oldest twins. Her family revealed the 96-year-old received a vaccine letter two days after she died

The presenter paid tribute today, saying: 'It's a very sad day for her family and also particularly for Lil and also for all of us here at Good Morning Britain because they brought such a ray of sunshine to our lives during the first wave of this pandemic with their affectious humour, great laugh and cheekiness.'

Describing the family's tribute as 'incredibly moving,' Susanna Reid added: 'Doris Hobday passed away on Tuesday the 5th of January. She will be laid to rest with her husband who she lost 11 years ago.

'They were married for 65 years and her funeral is taking place on Monday 15th of February.'

The family have asked for donations, instead of flowers, to the The Beacon Centre for the Blind, setting up a fundraising page for the public.

The duo had previously been guests on This Morning, where they discussed becoming social media sensations after joining Facebook in 2019 and amassing 20,000 viewers, and left the nation laughing when they admitted they sometimes wear their drawers inside out.

They made a second appearance on This Morning in September and had viewers in stitches when Lil declared she'd turned down a proposal because she wants 'an old man, about 98, with about six months to live and a big fat cheque book'.

The twins announced they had tested positive on Facebook earlier this month, writing: 'We have said in the past if him up there wants us.... hes going to have to run fast!

Doris and Lil were 'determined,' to make it to 100 together, family revealed today, following the death of Ms Hobday earlier this month

'We took a routine Covid test just before Christmas and it was negative. We have both stayed in over the Christmas period to keep safe and was lucky to have each other for company.

'A few days ago Doris had a high temperature and Lil had a cough, so we took a 2nd test and unfortunately the results came back positive.

'We are both in shock...we have been inside for most of 2020 sticking to all the rules and being careful, now this has happened and we cant work out why or where weve picked it up from.'

They went on to beg people to take the virus seriously, adding: 'COVID is real and its affecting so many lives across the world...dont let it affect yours or your families.

'We are running faster than ever because we both arent ready yet... we still havent met Jason Statham!'
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Jaxon Mining Inc. (TSXV: JAX) (FSE: OU31) (OTC: JXMNF) ("Jaxon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the petrographic and mineral studies of the Netalzul Mountain Project conducted by John G. Payne, Ph.D., P.Geo. of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, and Minghua Ren, Ph.D., from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The studies confirm Jaxon's discovery of intermediate sulfidation (IS) type epithermal Ag-Cu-Au polymetallic deposits at Netalzul Mountain are analogous to both the Blackwater type and Brucejack type deposits. All are set in the same Stikinia Terrane (Figure 1) in northwestern B.C., Canada.







Figure 1. Map of British Columbia showing relevant accreted terranes within the Intermontane and Insular Belts. Modified from Sean P. Tombe (2015)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

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Highlights of Petrographic and Mineral Studies at Netalzul Mountain Project

Samples A0020737 and A0020740 from Daisy North Contact Zone are identified as massive sulfide quartz vein Ag-Cu-Zn-Pb-Sb mineralization within an altered and replaced latite at the contact zone between Bulkley intrusion and Middle to Upper Jurassic Bowser Lake Group. It is a green sericite-pyrite-quartz rocks assemblage, typical in the Stikinia Terrane, which is same as the host rocks at the Blackwater and the Brucejack deposits.

Samples A0027242, A0027244 and A0027245 from Daisy South Adit Zone are sulfide quartz vein Au-Cu-Ag mineralization and contain more gold and copper components than in Daisy North Contact Zone. The general mineral assemblage is similar to that in Daisy North Contact Zone, but with different percentages. It may represent a lower temperature and shallow sections of the epithermal vein system.

Sample A0027521 from Daisy East Zone has been identified as a sulfide quartz vein hosted in a slightly metamorphosed granodiorite which shows quartz-chlorite-sericite-calcite-kaolinite alteration, 0.5 % magnetite and 1-2% pyrite and different amounts of chalcopyrite. It may be an early phase magmatic high hydrous granodiorite with quick cooling down sulfide mineralization veins. The high-grade Cu materials were identified as hematite under microscope but was recognized as an amorphous, solidified colloidal Cu-Fe material or a mixture of amorphous malachite and hematite/limonite based on their geochemical characteristics (Figure 7, Table 5).

Intermediate-sulfidation (IS) deposits typically with stability of chalcopyrite, (Ag)-tetrahedrite-tennantite, Mn-rich calcite and FeS-poor sphalerite, lacking appreciable arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite, all of these features have been found at the Netalzul Mt project (Figure 2-6, Table 2-4). The mineral assemblage of Fe-poor sphalerite, Ag-rich tetrahedrite/tennantite, Mn-rich calcite is typical of an intermediate sulfidation epithermal Ag-Cu-Au-Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit and is an analogue to the Fresnillo Silver deposit in Mexico, the Blackwater/Capoose deposits in central B.C. and the Brucejack deposit in northwest B.C. (Table 6).

Netalzul Mountain project is a typical IS epithermal silver-rich Ag-Cu-Au-Pb-Zn deposit and is potentially related to a deep porphyry system (Figure 8)

Mr. John King Burns, CEO and Chairman of Jaxon Mining, commented, "Jaxon is planning an aggressive 2021 drill program to test Netalzul and then Red Springs. The locations and detailed designs for drilling activity will be announced Q2 of 2021. With two years of systematic and multi-disciplinary work, we have removed the risk and leveraged this drill program. Our targets are fully geologically informed, and we have used our models to generate the vectors for our drill targets."

"76 holes were drilled before Hemlo was taken seriously, and 109 holes before Eskay Creek was recognized as a significant discovery. Our drill program, as designed, when funded, should allow us to drill define more than one equally significant discovery at Netalzul Mt. with fewer than 20 drill holes."

"Jaxon continues to study and accumulate more data from the petrological and lithological examination of the rocks that host our targets. The geochronologies derived from the rock dating and thermometry results confirm Jaxon's understanding of the development of the settings for and the composition of the rocks that make up our targets. We continue to integrate these results and additional data into our conceptual geological models. The results of our geological modeling continue to drive us to selectively expand and connect our claims at Hazelton."

"Jaxon views both Netalzul Mt. and Red Springs as structural traps that collected huge volumes of metalliferous fluids produced during the series of accretionary orogenic, Laramide-like, mountain building events that impacted the Skeena Arch and generated all of our targets at Hazelton. We expect the 2021 drill program to produce dramatic and positive results and to demonstrate that one or both Netalzul Mt. and Red Springs hosts the volumes of structurally controlled mineralization necessary to support the development of economic and responsible Cu, Ag and Au polymetallic mining operations."

During the 2020 field season, Jaxon's geologists discovered three structurally controlled zones with high-grade polymetallic sulfide mineralization at the Netalzul Mt. Project, previously announced October 7, 2020 (https://bit.ly/2NbsbhD).

Seven rock samples from these three mineralization zones were studied using a conventional microscope (Figures 2-5, Table 1). The full petrographic study report is available at https://jaxonmining.com.

As part of the study of the minerals and their chemical compositions, all thin sections were analyzed using Electron Probe Micro Analyzer (EPMA) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Backscattered Electron (BSE) images and quantitative analyses of EPMA and qualitative SEM/EDS data were collected. Sphalerite, tetrahedrite and calcite from samples A0020737 and A0020740, hematite and unrecognized copper minerals (under microscope) from A0027521 were the focus. The study confirms the existence of Fe-poor sphalerite, Ag-rich tetrahedrite/tennantite, Mn-rich calcite at Daisy North Contact Zone and Daisy South Adit Zone (Figure 6, Tables 2-4). The "hematite" under microscope may be the colloid of Fe-Cu elements (or the amorphous mixture of malachite and hematite). The unrecognized black minerals are chalcocite (Figure 7, Table 5).







Figure 2. Sample locations and sulfide quartz mineralization zones at Netalzul Mt. Project.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/881/72350_19627235240399c4_002full.jpg

Table 1: Sample Details from Petrographic and Fire Assay Studies

Sample ID Sample location area Rock types Ag/Au/Cu assay (ppm) Sulfide minerals (%) Alteration Minerals A0027242 Grab sample, Daisy South Adit Zone Sulfide quartz vein 623/5.91

/34570 tetrahedrite/tennantite, 17-20,

galena 7-8, pyrite 0.4, chalco-py 0.2, barite 0.1, sphalerite <0.1 pyrite

barite A0027244 Outcrop, Daisy South Adit Zone Sulfide quartz vein 93/0.73

/7510 chalcopyrite 7-8, pyrite 2-3,

molybdenite 0.5,

tetrahedrite/tennantite 0.1 pyrite A0027245 Outcrop, Daisy South Adit Zone Sulfide quartz vein 90/0.39

/7480 molybdenite 5- 7,

pyrite 2-3, Pyrite A0020737 Grab sample, Daisy North Contact Zone Latite/Massive Sulfide vein 5301/0.45

/33460 sphalerite 20-75,

tetrahedrite/tennantite 3-35,

chalco-py 0.1-2, galena 0.3-3, pyrite -minor chlorite

calcite

sericite A0020740 Outcrop, Daisy North Contact Zone Latite/massive sulfide vein 4577/0.48

/30390 sphalerite 2-25,

tetrahedrite/tennantite 5-30,

chalco-py 1-2, galena 3-15, pyrite -minor chlorite, sericite,

calcite A0027521-1 Grab sample, Daisy East Zone Sulfide quartz vein 75/0.07

/20020 chalcopyrite 40-45, pyrite 8-10, malachite, 3-5, hematite 5-7, mineral A (Chalcocite), 2-3 malachite,

hematite A0027521-2 Granodiorite magnetite 0.5,

chalcocite minor chlorite, actinolite







Figure 3. Sample A0027242, thin section showing quartz (qz), galena (gl), tetrahedrite (tt) and chalcopyrite (cp).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

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Figure 4. Sample A0020737, thin section showing quartz (qz), tetrahedrite (tt), chalcopyrite (cp), sphalerite (sp), calcite (ct) and galena (gl).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

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Figure 5. Sample A0027521, thin section showing pyrite (py), hematite (he), chalcopyrite (cp), malachite (mi), a mineral (chalcocite) and limonite (li).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/881/72350_19627235240399c4_005full.jpg







Figure 6. EPMA BSE image of sample A0020737: sph-sphalerite, gln-galena, teh-tetrahedrite, Cc-calcite and Qz-quartz.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:

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Table 2. Chemical Composition of Ag-rich Tetrahedrite/Tennantite in Sample A0020737

No. 20 22 26 29 31 32 34 36 38 39 43 44 Comment 737-1 5 737-1 7 737-1 11 737-1 14 737-1 16 737-1 17 737-1 19 737-1 21 737-1 23 737-1 24 737-1 28 737-1 29 S 24.37 24.21 24.12 23.90 23.96 24.42 23.84 24.42 24.58 24.26 23.89 23.76 As 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.06 0.01 0.05 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 Fe 0.67 0.42 0.42 0.47 0.41 0.43 0.33 0.43 0.51 0.49 0.51 0.45 Mn 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.02 Cu 36.35 36.03 35.35 35.23 36.50 37.20 35.28 36.23 37.42 37.00 36.02 35.73 Sb 27.20 27.43 27.52 28.82 27.40 26.18 29.40 28.03 26.34 26.13 27.12 27.18 Ag 5.14 5.51 6.29 6.08 4.82 4.35 5.82 5.13 4.07 4.59 5.39 5.98 Au 0.00 0.09 0.07 0.07 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 Pb 0.04 0.09 0.04 0.02 0.00 0.07 0.05 0.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Zn 6.94 7.38 6.96 7.03 7.30 7.29 7.38 7.10 7.40 7.30 7.34 7.23 Hg 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.20 0.00 0.21 0.12 0.12 0.05 0.40 0.00 0.53 Mo 0.54 0.40 0.46 0.48 0.39 0.50 0.36 0.45 0.41 0.40 0.47 0.58 Bi 0.02 0.00 0.15 0.02 0.03 0.17 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Tl 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.02 0.00 Total 101.27 101.59 101.47 102.38 100.86 100.87 102.59 102.08 100.85 100.61 100.78 101.48

Table 3. Chemical Composition of Fe-poor Sphalerite in Sample A0020737

No. 16 23 24 28 41 42 Comment 737-1 1 737-1 8 737-1 9 737-1 13 737-1 26 737-1 27 S 32.66 33.15 32.82 32.86 33.07 32.12 As 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fe 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.68 0.06 0.06 Mn 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.02 Cu 0 0 0 0.74 0.00 0 Sb 0.01 0 0 0 0 0.06 Ag 0 0 0.01 0 0.04 0 Au 0.04 0 0.02 0.03 0 0.05 Pb 0.05 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.06 0.00 Zn 65.61 65.97 65.62 67.74 67.75 66.79 Hg 0 0.07 0.13 0.2 0.12 0.07 Mo 0.59 0.63 0.55 0.64 0.62 0.61 Bi 0.02 0.05 0.07 0.01 0.09 0.03 Tl 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 99.06 100.00 99.34 102.90 101.81 99.81

Table 4. EDS Chemical Composition of Calcite in Sample A0020737

Element Weight% Atomic% Compd% Formula









C 10.90 18.91 39.93 CO2 Ca 36.99 19.24 51.75 CaO Mn 5.14 1.95 6.63 MnO As 1.28 0.36 1.69 As2O3 O 45.70 59.55



Totals 100.00













Figure 7. BSE image of sample A0027521, chry, unidentified Cu-Fe-phase, ch-c, chalcocite; llm, limonite.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit:

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Table 5. Chemical Composition of "Hematite"-Unidentified Cu-Fe phase in Sample A0027521

No. 44 47 52 53 65 Comment 521-1 Fe 13 521-1 Fe 16 521-1 ch-p 21 521-1 ch-p 22 521-1 ch-p 34 S 0.81 0.21 0.54 0.7 1.40 As 0 0 0 0 0 Fe 32.67 41.11 34.5 34.14 15.44 Mn 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.01 Cu 20.69 10.70 18.52 18.46 34.51 Sb 0 0 0 0 0 Ag 0.01 0 0.00 0 0 Au 0.22 0 0.00 0.03 0 Pb 0.02 0.15 0 0 0.00 Zn 0.1 0.37 0.15 0.08 0.17 Hg 0.06 0 0 0.24 0 Mo 0.06 0.09 0 0.07 0 Bi 0.05 0.02 0 0 0 Tl 0 0 0 0.02 0 Si 1.11 4.63 1.58 2.04 9.21 Al 0 0 0.016 0 0 Se 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.04 Co 0.06 0.08 0.08 0.04 0.01 Ni 0 0 0 0.013 0.008 Total 55.87 57.38 55.4 55.87 60.8

The variation of the chemistry from different point indicates this could be a solidified Fe-Cu colloid or a mixture of malachite and hematite/limonite.

Table 6. Comparison of Netalzul Project with Blackwater and Brucejack Deposits

Deposit Blackwater/Capoose Netalzul Mt Brucejack Crustiform/cockade quartz vein, open space fillings Yes Yes Yes Fe-poor sphalerite, tetrahedrite-tennantite, chalcopyrite Yes Yes Yes Elevated Au-Ag-Zn-Cu-Pb-As Yes Yes Yes Scarce arsenopyrite, absence of pyrrhotite Yes Yes Yes Bulkley Intrusion Yes Yes No Green sericite-pyrite-quartz Yes Yes Yes Vertical Extent Mineralization >600m >? >1000m







Figure 8. Conceptual Model of Netalzul Moutain IS Type Epithermal Deposit

To view an enhanced version of Figure 8, please visit:

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Sample Preparation and Analyses

All samples described in this news release were collected by the Company's Qualified Professional Geologists. The thin sections of all the samples were prepared by Vancouver GeoTech Labs of Unit #155 - 11951 Mitchell Road Richmond, B.C., Canada and Van Petro Inc., 8080 Glover Road, Langley, B.C. The thin sections were described by Professional Geoscientist (Ph.D.), John Payne of Surrey, B.C., Canada.

Rock samples were collected in the field by experienced, professional prospectors and geological staff who selected hand samples from outcrop, chip samples, boulder and talus debris samples suitable for slabbing by rock saw. The samples were numbered, described and located in the field for follow-up. Numbered rock sample tags were placed inside each bag and securely closed for transport to the Company's secure cold storage locked facility in Smithers, B.C. Representative sample slabs were cut from large specimens and halved rock samples so that portions of select samples could be saved for the Company's rock library, descriptive purposes and petrographic study. MS Analytical of Langley, B.C. received the Rice Bag shipments after secure transport from Smithers. Samples were prepared by crushing, grinding and pulverizing to a pulp with barren material washing between each sample at the crush and pulverizing stages. Then 20 g of pulp was used for the (IMS-117 code) ultra-trace level ICP/MS AR digestion method, and four acid 0.2 g ore grade ICP - AES method (ICP-240) and for the overlimit gold the FAS-415 method of 30 g fusion Gravimetric method was used to report gold ASSAYS. Overlimit silver is determined by Fire ASSAY 415 method. Laboratory standards and QA - QC is monitored by the Company.

Methodology for EPMA Analyses of Sulfides

Sulfides were analyzed using a JEOL electron probe microanalyzer JXA-8900 (EPMA) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Electron Microanalysis and Imaging Laboratory operated with the following probe conditions: accelerating voltage of 15 kV, beam current 20nA, and focused beam. Au was counted for 80 seconds on peak and 20 seconds on each background. Au La x-ray is selected for Au analysis to minimize the interference from other elements, and the detection limit is around 90-125 ppm. Ag was counted 40 seconds on peak and 15 seconds on each background, and all other elements were counted 30 second on peak and 15 seconds on background. Au, Ag, As, Mo, Bi, Co, and Ni use pure metal standards, other elements use correlated sulfide minerals except Mn, Si and Al. Mn uses ilmenite, Si and Al use plagioclase as their standards.

Qualified Person

Yingting (Tony) Guo, P.Geo., President and Chief Geologist of Jaxon Mining Inc., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and prepared the scientific and technical information and verified the data supporting such scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Jaxon Mining Inc.

Jaxon is a precious and base metals exploration company with a regional focus on Western Canada. The Company is currently focused on advancing its Netalzul Mt. and Red Springs Projects in north-central British Columbia.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JAXON MINING INC.

"John King Burns"

John King Burns, Chairman

For more information please contact:

Investor Relations

Kaye Wynn Consulting

T: 604-558-2630

TF: 1-888-280-8128

E: info@kayewynn.com

Freeform Communications

T: 604-243-0499

E: enquiries@freeform.com

Corporate

T: 604-424-4488

E: info@jaxonmining.com

https://jaxonmining.com

This news release may contain forward-looking information, which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames, or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Neither TSX Venture exchange nor its Regulations 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/72350
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids set the citys well-known Blue Bridge with a red glow Tuesday, Jan. 19 to honor those who have died of COVID-19.

The lighting switch started at 5:30 p.m. and is part of a national memorial for the same purpose.

In Washington D.C., President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris hosted a ceremony to light the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

To participate at home, organizers suggested lighting a single candle in a window or ringing a bell.

More from MLive

Michigan reports 1,738 new coronavirus cases, 41 new deaths

Michigan nurse who went viral to sing at national COVID-19 memorial in Washington D.C.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 06:42:38|Editor: huaxia

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KIEV, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) invested 812 million euros (983 million U.S. dollars) in Ukraine in 2020, Ukrinform news agency reported on Wednesday.

In particular, last year the bank launched a joint initiative with the government of Ukraine to improve corporate governance in the public sector.

Some 450 million euros of funds allocated by the EBRD will be directed to the development of road infrastructure in Ukraine. Other areas of the bank's investments were the transformation of the Ukrainian postal operator Ukrposhta, gas production, agricultural development, support for small and medium-sized businesses, and improving the energy efficiency of social infrastructure facilities.

The EBRD is one of the main international lenders and investors in Ukraine. Since 1993, EBRD has invested 14.5 billion euros to support more than 480 projects in the country. Enditem
702 more people were infected, 20 more deaths last 24 hrs in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Jan 19 (UNI) Twenty more people died from coronavirus in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 7,942.

During the period, 702 more people were diagnosed with the virus, raising the total infection to 5,29,031, the Directorate General of Health Services said in a press release on Tuesday.

Of the total patients, 4,73,855 recovered, with 682 made recovery in the last 24 hours.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday the country would begin the procedure to withdraw from the Open Skies treaty, a pact that allows unarmed surveillance flights over member countries.

"As no progress is made in removing obstacles that hinder treaty functioning in the new conditions, the Russian Foreign Ministry is authorized to announce the beginning of domestic procedures for withdrawing the Russian Federation from the Open Skies Treaty. When the procedures are completed, a notification will be sent to depositories," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The move comes after the United States left the treaty in November.

The treaty, which became effective in 2002, allows its 34 State Parties to conduct short-notice, unarmed reconnaissance flights over the others' entire territories to collect data on military forces and activities.

The United States and Russia have blamed each other for noncompliance with the treaty. Washington and Moscow have each put a few limits on flights over their territories  Hawaii and some other U.S. bases have been off-limits, as has Kaliningrad, among others, according to media reports.
The Daily Beast

REUTERSThe last time an America First MAGA rally was held in Georgia, Republicans lost two U.S. Senate seats, and America lost what might end up being around $6 trillion. The Matt Gaetz-Marjorie Taylor Greene show on Thursday night probably wont cost us as much. Just some time with our familyand our dignity.The event opened with Rep. Jody Hice, who is running a primary against Republican Brad Raffensperger for Georgia secretary of state. The crowd changed Lock Him Up, which was directed at Raffensperger, whose decision to follow the rule of law (though hes wobbling now while running for re-election) obviously put him on the wrong side of the mob. With a warm-up act like that, theres no need for an announcer to say, Lets get ready to rumble! The sentiment is implicit.Gaetz hit the stage first, throwing out a bunch of populist, demagogic rhetoric (forever wars, socialism, rebuild America, worlds policeman, deep state) and pandering (gun control just means we have a steady aim!). He took shots at the Bushes and the McCains and the Romneys and James Comey and Anthony Fauci. He observed that Paul Ryan was giving a speech in California, and added that after Ryan ran for vice president, the party literally needed an autopsy. The upshot? This is Donald Trumps party and Im a Donald Trump Republican, Gaetz declared. One thing he didnt talk about was his wingman Joel Greenbergs guilty pleas for crimes including paying a 17-year-old to have sex with both of them (which Gaetz has previously denied).The Sickening History of Marjorie Taylor Greenes HometownNot to be upstaged, Greene entered the room in a Humvee, before making her way on stage, grinning from ear to ear. But her smile belied the populist anger apparently bubbling up inside her. She called out the Democrats who tear down monuments. You better bet were gonna protect Stone Mountains monument, she said of Americas largest monument to the Confederacy. She feigned the Mexican accent of a supposed cartel leader talking about how much he loved Joe Biden, who she said wants a woke military. She also called the Squad the Jihad Squad and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez OCrazyo-Cortez. Really classy stuff. You see, shes not a politician. Shes just like you. If youre a jerk like that, at least.So why is this happening? First, of course, for attention. Im writing about this, and so are lots of others and for this crew, and especially Greene whos already been booted from her House committees so has nothing left, PR like this is its own reward. Indeed, Gaetz referred to Thursdays rally as the greatest political show on earth.Even during the good old days, conservative politics was probably half Bill Buckley and half P.T. Barnum. We were business up front and party in the back (OK, maybe we didnt party quite as hard as Gaetzwho my Beast colleagues report snorted coke with a model with a no-show government job at a GOP Trump Defender gala in Orlandoand Greene, but you get the point). Today, the entertainment wing has almost completely supplanted the governing wing.As Gaetz told Vanity Fair a while back, If you arent making news, you arent governing. And Gaetz is OK right now with any news that isnt about allegations involving sex-trafficking a minor. Hes flooding the zone (also with headlines about how hes flirting with a 2024 presidential bid if Trump doesnt run) which is a great PR strategy, assuming, you know, he doesnt get indicted.There are other reasons, including the theory that, in todays world, hunkering down and laying low is seen as either a tacit admission of guiltor proof you take the whole thing seriously. Im not sure which one would be more detrimental to Gaetzs brand, but hes avoiding both like the plague.Youve heard of the Big Lie. Well this is the Big Tour. Gaetzs frantic activity is either a sign of innocence or shamelessness. My moneys on the latter, but who knows? And thats the point. He may also reason that the fact that hes on stage with a prominent female may also, psychologically, lend some cover.Speaking of Greene, she has been embroiled in something of her own scandal, having compared the wearing of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to Jews being forced to wear golden stars in Nazi Germany. Once upon a time, these sort of Holocaust comparisons would have spelled the end of a political career, but in todays Republican Party its a feature, not a bug. Greene, having embraced other crazy theories, was able to haul in over $3 million during the first quarter of the year, after all. Sure, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy condemned it in a tweet, but that is probably as severe as the punishment gets. Greene doesnt need to hit the hustings to change the subject from her scandal, shes doing it for the fun of it. To revel in it.Im a Rational Jewish Person. Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Nuts.Thats not to say there isnt some danger to this. Gaetz and Greene might not intend this and Trump may not realize it, but this is the first salvo of what could be a threat to his death grip on the party. Thats because this tour is evidence that anyoneeven two lowly House memberscan co-opt Trumps message, steal his delivery mechanism, and take their show on the road. (Sure, they have played some home games in Florida and Georgia, but they also took their horse and pony show to Arizonaand dont forget Gaetzs trip to troll Liz Cheney in Wyoming).Now, this crowd was minusculeeven compared to the sparsely attended rally Trump held a year ago in Oklahoma. Still, the event encroaches on an innovation that Trump had essentially monopolized for the last five or so years. Trump didnt invent the idea of holding rallies, of course, but he took them to a new level. They werent just for campaigns, they were for governing. Moreover, you didnt need an invitation to speak; you could just throw your own event.Not everyone can pack a stadium, of course, but thats the beauty of teaming up. Gaetz and Greene might not be the Rolling Stones packing stadiums, but maybe they are Styx and Collective Soul doing an arena joint tour.What Im saying is that, over time, Trump is in danger of having what happened to Sarah Palin happen to him. At one point, Palin was the only game in town. She was the hot commodity. But once she left her position as governor of Alaska, she became irrelevant. It took a couple of years, but a generation of younger, more relevant, imitators supplanted her. Now, Trump is a better marketer than Palin and he was, after all, the president. Still, you can see why he has to at least feign a 2024 runand why he has already announced he will be doing more of his own rallies.Gaetz and Greene clearly arent there yet, as the livestream I was watching actually cut off just before the duo came back out to perform a sort of curtain call. The livestream instead switched to something called (Im not making this up), The Right View With Lara Trump.In a more healthy Republican Party, Gaetz would be drummed out of power because of his indiscretions, and Greene would never get within a mile of Capitol Hill. Trump helped create the circumstances where they would flourish. Even if he is ultimately replaced, he has succeeded in creating a generation of Republicans who share his penchant for self-promotion, his preference for populist politics, and, well, his family values.The Matt Gaetz-Marjorie Taylor Greene event was one-third tent revival, one-third rock concert, and one-third circusand it was all a freak show. This is all to say it was a rollicking success in todays Republican Party. Expect other MAGA types to start replicating this idea. The devil(s) went down to Georgia.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

US President-elect Joe Bidens late son Beau Biden was incorporated into his inauguration ceremony on Wednesday 20 January.

Beau, who served as the attorney general of Delaware from 2007 until 2015, died from brain cancer on 30 May 2015 at just 46 years of age.

His funeral was attended by then US President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.

At the funeral, Beau was awarded the Legion of Merit Award for his services in Iraq, while Mr Obama called him an original."

"He was a good man. He did in 46 years what most of us couldn't do in 146.

Read more: Beau Biden: The story of Joe Bidens youngest son

Mr Bidens first son had followed his father into office in Delaware, the state that he served as senator, before the president-elect became US vice president during the Obama administration.

The pair were close, and in 2017 Mr Biden published a memoir, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose, in which he reflected on Beaus illness and death.

With plans for Mr Bidens inauguration now finalised, how has the president-elect incorporated Beau into the ceremony?

New Radicals

New Radicals will reunite for the first time in 22 years to perform their 1998 hit You Get What You Give during the inaugurations virtual Parade Across America event.

In a statement explaining the decision, New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander said: If theres one thing on Earth that would possibly make us get the band together, if only for a day, it is the hope that our song could be even the tiniest beacon of light in such a dark time.

He added: America knows in its heart that things will get bright again with a new administration and a real plan for vaccines on the way. Thats the message of the song this world is gonna pull through.

The single was used on the campaign trail as vice President-elect Kamala Harriss husband Doug Emhoff's walk-on song, but also holds significance for the Biden family.

In his 2017 memoir, Mr Biden revealed that listening to the song served as a daily ritual for Beau while he was receiving treatment for cancer.

During breakfast, Beau would often make me listen to what I thought was his theme song, You Get What You Give by the New Radicals, Mr Biden wrote.

Even though Beau never stopped fighting and his will to live was stronger than most  I think he knew that this day might come.

The words to the song are: This whole damn world can fall apart. Youll be ok, follow your heart, he added.

The performance will be the bands first since 1999. They broke up shortly after releasing You Get What You Give.

In his statement about the performance, Mr Alexander added: Performing the song again after such a long time is a huge honour because we all have deep respect for Beaus military service and such high hopes for the unity and normalcy Joe and Kamala will bring our country again in this time of crisis.

Reverend Silvester Beaman

Reverend Silvester Beaman, the pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware, will give a benediction at the end of the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday.

The pastor and the Biden family have known each other since 1993, and Rev Beaman was asked to deliver the address to close out the ceremony on the steps of the US Capitol by the president-elect.

In addition to forming a tight relationship with Mr Biden, the pastor had a close friendship with Beau.

During his campaign for Delaware attorney general, Beau contacted Rev Beaman, and the two became kindred spirits, the pastor told NBC News.

We became good friends in the trenches dealing with social issues in Wilmington and the state, Rev Beaman revealed.

The pastor participated in the services following Beaus death in 2015. He told NBC that Beaus death, alongside the fatal car crash that killed Mr Bidens first wife and daughter, Neilia and Naomi Biden, makes the president-elect the right person to lead a divided country.

Joe Biden is a man whose life experiences have taught him to seek the face of God, Rev Beaman said.

He added: In these terrible times, if anybody can bring healing and reconciliation to a divided country, if we give him room to work, Joe Biden can be that person.

The Biden familys bible

Every time Mr Biden has been sworn into office, he has rested his hand on a giant bible that has been in his family since 1893.

Mr Biden will once again rest his hand on the bible, which is adorned with a Celtic cross on its cover, when he is sworn in as the 46th US president on Wednesday.

The president-elect was first seen being sworn in with the bible when he became a senator in Delaware in 1973.

Beau, who was just a child at the time of his fathers first election victory, was captured in that image playing with a toy next to the swearing-in ceremony.

The familys bible was also used when Beau was sworn-in as the attorney general for Delaware in 2007.

It's just been a family heirloom on the Biden side of the family, and every important date is in there, Mr Biden told late-night host Stephen Colbert in December.

For example, every time I've been sworn in for anything, the date has been on that and is inscribed on the Bible, he added.

Father Leo ODonovan

Former Georgetown University president, Father Leo ODonovan, will deliver the invocation prayer at Mr Bidens inauguration ceremony on Wednesday.

Mr O'Donovan, who is a longtime friend of the family, was personally asked to deliver the invocation prayer by Mr Biden.

The president-elect formed a friendship with Mr O'Donovan in 1992 while his second son Hunter Biden was attending Georgetown University.

He was then asked to deliver a lecture on his faith at Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution, by Mr ODonovan, with the president-elect saying it was the toughest assignment he's ever had.

Father O'Donovan is also closely associated with Beau, as he presided over his funeral in Delaware in 2015. He was laid to rest at St. Joseph's on the Brandywine in Wilmington, Delaware, where Mr Bidens late wife Neilia and daughter Naomi are also buried.
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The Telegraph

The day after last seasons play-off final, Brentfords players and staff gathered to say farewell to those who were leaving the club. Some of the staff were moving elsewhere, while a handful of players were either out of contract or due to join other teams. The mood was sombre, and the pain of their defeat to Fulham was only just sinking in. As soon as the goodbyes were done, though, the work began. Brentfords coaching staff and recruitment department held a meeting to discuss their strategy for the transfer window, clarifying their plans and setting the wheels in motion. There were only four weeks to go before the start of the new Championship campaign, and only two weeks before the start of pre-season. The wounds of the previous night were still raw, but there was simply no time to waste. Did Brentfords coaches and directors know then, in the midst of all that disappointment, that another play-off final was only nine months away? Of course not. But they did know that the foundations remained in place, and that the structure they had built would at least give them another chance in the coming campaign. When head coach Thomas Frank returned for pre-season a few days later, he saw a renewed hunger and desire at the club. I felt it in my own body, he told Telegraph Sport earlier this season. I wanted to go again. Frank and his players get their chance this weekend, when they compete with Swansea City for the biggest financial prize in football. Premier League promotion is once again within the grasp of little Brentford, a club that continues to punch well above its weight and now feels ready to challenge the biggest teams in the land. Will it be different this year? The sense at Brentford is that the team is a little wiser and a little more experienced than they were last season. For some the mood feels more relaxed than it was in 2020. Last year they were playing their final season at Griffin Park, Covid-19 was ravaging the country and the crucial play-off games were condensed in a way that caused relentless stress. Now there is more space to breathe, although that is not to say that Frank and his players wont be fired up at Wembley. One only had to be within earshot of the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday to know that this club wants promotion with all of its soul. Frank described the 4,000 fans as sounding like 40,000, and the febrile atmosphere was crucial to Brentfords stirring 3-1 win over Bournemouth. It felt typical of Brentfords approach when, a few minutes before kick-off on Saturday, Frank emerged from the tunnel and charged into an unexpected lap of honour around the pitch. Running in his chinos and leather boots, his long hair bouncing behind him, he windmilled his arms towards the supporters, demanding their voices and their energy. It was certainly unusual, but it was also effective. And Brentford have never been afraid to try something different. If anything, their willingness to be different is the main reason for their growth in recent years. After all, a club of their stature cannot compete by doing things the same way as everyone else. Brentford are often pointed to as an example that other sides should follow. This misses the point, though, and there is certainly no one within the club who thinks their strategy should provide a lesson for others. Brentford do what they believe is best for them, in these specific times and in their unique circumstances. The model cannot simply be transferred to another Championship side, and nor would they ever recommend it. Take the decision to close their academy and create a B-team, for example. The academy system did not work for Brentford, given their financial limitations and their highly-competitive location within London, but that is not to say it will not work for other teams. And Franks touchline antics felt right in the moment on Saturday - it came as fans returned for the first time since December, and with no away supporters to heckle him - but it will probably never feel right again. Naturally, there are plenty of clubs who wish they could replicate Brentfords success in the transfer market. Their data-driven model, and heavy focus on player development, remains the envy of sides across the country. How many other Championship teams could sell around 50 million worth of talent (as Brentford did when they said farewell to Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma last year) and then earn six more points the following season? How many Premier League sides could do so? The goalscoring success of Ivan Toney, signed from Peterborough United for an initial 5m, has proved to be yet another masterstroke in the market. The previous season, Brentford replaced 28-goal striker Neal Maupay by moving Watkins into a more central position, from which he scored 26 goals before joining Aston Villa. Toney replaced Watkins as the main attacking threat, and he has scored 32 times so far this season. Brentford would have signed Toney anyway, to play alongside Watkins, if they had secured promotion last year. When they lost at Wembley, they simply pursued the alternative plan instead. Out went Watkins, and in came Toney as the centre-forward. He has been a leader on the pitch and off it. Meanwhile, Vitaly Janelt, signed for around 500,000 from the second division in Germany, has been instrumental in midfield. It almost goes without saying that the last 14 months have provided the most unexpected of tests for football clubs and their people. And yet, even when it came to coping with coronavirus, Brentford found themselves to be prepared. Remarkably, co-director of football Phil Giles had studied pandemics while completing his PhD in statistics. With Giles providing an unexpected injection of pandemic-based expertise, Brentford took a pessimistic view of the coronavirus situation. Staff took pay cuts and the players agreed a significant wage deferral. Later in the summer, after they had sold Watkins and Benrahma, the staff were all paid back - with a small bonus on top. With their progressive playing style, the charisma of Frank on the touchline, the new stadium and the strength of their belief in the overarching strategy, the feeling at Brentford is that they are primed for the Premier League. Promotion would not change the way they operate, yet it would take it up a notch. Fresh challenges lie in store, then, but first there is a match to win. Wembley awaits again.
New York Man Arrested for Threats to Kill Officials, Including AOC, Pelosi, Schumer

Authorities have arrested a New York man who allegedly made repeated threats on social media to murder Democratic members of Congress and urged a violent overthrow of the government.

Brendan Hunt, a part-time actor and filmmaker who sometimes used the alias X-Ray Ultra, was taken into custody in Queens on Tuesday by the FBIs New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Hunt has been charged with threatening to murder a United States official, with the aim of impeding, intimidating, and interfering with them while they were engaged in carrying out their official duties, the criminal complaint against him states (pdf).

Before the assault on the Capitol building, and again after, Hunts alleged online commentary directly called for the assassination of members of Congress, said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney, referring to the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol while a joint session of Congress was certifying electoral votes for President Joe Biden.

To others from this area who still dont get itif you are considering a similar path to take up arms like Mr. Hunt did, that road leads nowhere except a reservation at our building downtown, Sweeney added.

Hunt on Tuesday made an initial appearance in court, where he was ordered detained pending trial.

The complaint alleges that, between Dec. 6 and Jan. 12, Hunt made a series of posts online threatening or inciting others to murder members of Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Hunt allegedly posted a video on Bitchute two days after the Capitol riot, entitled KILL YOUR SENATORS, with the summary line, Slaughter them all, the complaint states.

Theyre gonna come after us, theyre gonna kill us, so we have to kill them first, Hunt allegedly said in the video.

We need to go back to the U.S. Capitol when all of the Senators and a lot of the Representatives are back there, and this time we have to show up with our guns. And we need to slaughter these [expletive], he said, according to the complaint.

[O]ur government at this point is basically a handful of traitors  so what you need to do is take up arms, get to D.C., probably the inauguration  so called inauguration of this [expletive] communist Joe Biden  [T]hats probably the best time to do this, get your guns, show up to D.C., and literally just spray these [expletive], he said, the complaint alleges.

Hunt also called on President Donald Trump to hold a public execution of Ocasio-Cortez, Pelosi, and Schumer, saying that if he does not, the citizenry will.

Start up the firing squads, mow down these commies, and lets take america back! he said, the complaint alleges.

Hunt will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York.


Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen speaks during an event to name President Joe Bidens economic team at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 1, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Yellen Vows to Curb Chinas Economic Abuse by Deploying Full Array of Tools

Janet Yellen, President Joe Bidens pick for Treasury secretary, said Tuesday that the Biden administration will use all available tools to fight Chinas abusive unfair and illegal practices that undercut Americas economy.

Yellen, a former chair of Federal Reserve, made the remarks during her Tuesday confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, at which she called China our most important strategic competitor.

She said China has been undercutting American companies with a raft of mercantilist policies, including illegally subsidizing domestic companies, dumping cheap products into foreign markets, stealing intellectual property, and putting up barriers to U.S. goods.

Were prepared to use the full array of tools to address those issues, Yellen said, although she did not specify what actions the Biden administration would take to combat Chinas economically hostile policies.

Former President Donald Trump took China to task for its mercantilist posture, imposing unilateral tariffs on $370 billion worth of Chinese goods, citing as motivation various anti-competitive and unfair trade practices on Chinas part, including forced technology transfers from U.S. companies, and restricting access to domestic markets.

Other moves by Trump include delisting Chinese telecommunications companies on the New York Stock Exchange, blacklisting some Chinese companiesincluding Chinas largest computer-chip makerand banning transactions with Chinese-connected apps.

Last week, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer urged the incoming Biden administration to keep tariffs on China, while crediting Trump for taking on the regime in Beijing for its spate of actions that have disadvantaged the United States.

We transformed the way people think about trade, and we transformed the way the models are, Lighthizer told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published on Jan. 11. My hope is that that will continue.

Yellen, at the hearing, did not indicate whether the Biden administration would maintain Trumps tariffs, although she did call for a multilateral approach to confront Beijing, in contrast to Trumps go-it-alone approach.

I believe we should try to address unfair trade practices, and the best way to do that is to work with our allies rather than unilaterally, Yellen said.

Yellen also said that the Biden administration would focus on winning quick passage of its proposed $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan, rejecting Republican arguments that the measure is too big and threatens to strain public finances.

More must be done, Yellen said. Without further action, we risk a longer, more painful recession nowand long-term scarring of the economy later.

Democrats have voiced support for the Biden proposal while Republicans questioned spending nearly $2 trillion more on top of nearly $3 trillion that Congress passed in various packages last year.

Yellen, who would be the first woman to be Treasury secretary after being the first woman to be chair of the Federal Reserve, is expected to win quick Senate confirmation.

Saying that she and Biden were aware of the countrys rising debt burden, Yellen said fighting the recession was more important than curbing spending.
Recipient of NAMEPA's 2020 Environmental Innovation Leadership Award

Weston, Connecticut--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2021) - Matson, Inc. A US-owned, Hawaii based transportation service has joined NAMEPA in their efforts to Save Our Seas. Carleen Lyden Walker, Co-Founder and Executive Director of NAMEPA, recognized the significance of welcoming Matson as a dedicated steward of sustainability and environment accountability into NAMEPA's collaboration.

"Matson is a leader in environmental stewardship, as evidenced by their recent recognition by NAMEPA for innovation," expressed NAMEPA's Lyden Walker. "We are pleased they are joining forces with NAMEPA to "Save Our Seas" and supporting our efforts to further illuminate strategies to protect the marine environment."

"Environmental stewardship has long been a priority for Matson, and we look forward to working closely with our fellow members of NAMEPA to achieve our mutual goals of protecting and preserving the marine environment through use of sustainable industry best practices," stated Ron Forest, Matson's President.

Matson's core values focus on being an environmental leader in the industry, having a positive impact on the communities in which they work and live, as well as working collaboratively with other industry leaders to promote positive environmental change in the shipping industry. Impressed by Matson's sustainable dedication and ethical concerns, NAMEPA is proud to welcome them as its newest member of our collaboration and believes that NAMEPA's wide and diverse network will boost Matson's dedication to the environment, communities and the industry itself. Together, NAMEPA believes we will be able to make great strides towards a more sustainable and responsible future.

A U.S. company founded in 1882, Matson (NYSE: MATX) is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services. Matson provides a vital lifeline to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. Matson also operates two premium, expedited services from China to Long Beach, California, provides service to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific, and operates an international export service from Dutch Harbor to Asia. The Company's fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and custom-designed barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson's transportation network throughout the continental U.S. Its integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, Asia supply chain services, and forwarding to Alaska. Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com





Ron Forest, Matson President



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a marine industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. Visit us at: www.namepa.net

Contact Details

Carleen Lyden Walker

+1 203-255-4686

executivedirector@namepa.net

Company Website

https://namepa.net/

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/matson-becomes-newest-member-of-namepa-973212908
The Greater West Dayton Incubator, an initiative envisioned by and developed in partnership between the University of Dayton and community leaders of Greater West Dayton with the support of the Entrepreneurs' Center, has named an advisory council; identified a temporary location; begun building stronger connections between entrepreneurs and opportunities on campus and at the Dayton Arcade; and developed plans for a micro-loan program expected to begin taking applications in the coming months.

Our goal is to be a catalyst for an equitable startup ecosystem by supporting Greater West Dayton entrepreneurs with resources including space, funding, contracts, consulting and student support, said Karlos L. Marshall, manager of the incubator.

The advisory council  which includes company founders, owners and CEOs nominated by fellow Greater West Dayton entrepreneurs and community members as well as representatives from local development organizations, the University and other groups will help foster community impact.

As an entrepreneur and a business advisor, Im excited to add another layer of accessibility and support to entrepreneurs in West Dayton, said LeKeisha Grant, Small Business Development Center advisor at the Entrepreneurs Center. As a Greater West Dayton resident, I can tell you that the talent is present and ready, and this commitment will bring support and resources even closer.

The advisory council also is key in aligning community resources and ensuring equitable opportunities for community members. Opportunities include the chance to win funding through the University of Dayton Flyer Pitch competition sponsored by PNC Bank in both the Greater West Dayton social venture track as well as the startup track. Greater West Dayton startups and organizations also can receive business solutions in partnership with University students through capstone courses that have worked with entrepreneurs like TJ Cartwright and her Whats the Biz with TJ, which highlights stories of local Black-owned businesses. They also can take advantage of the incubator's connection to The Hub Powered by PNC Bank at the Dayton Arcade. The incubator has already assisted Black-owned companies in securing project bids at The Hub, in addition to planned coworking scholarship opportunities and a cafe that will source food and drinks from underrepresented firms in Greater West Dayton.

The incubator also has selected a temporary location, at 1105 W. Third St. in the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood, while it seeks a permanent home.

I think it will be a game-changer, said Tae Winston, Greater West Dayton entrepreneur representative for the incubator and owner of neighboring The Entrepreneurs Marketplace that offers space for pop-up shops, as well as two other businesses serving local entrepreneurs. Its giving hope to more entrepreneurs. Its what the city needs to provide resources and more support to small businesses.

Plans are progressing on the incubators micro-loan program, which will provide Greater West Dayton entrepreneurs with up to $20,000 in capital with low-barrier requirements. Local partners including banks also will provide comprehensive financial wellness education.

The incubator is run through the Universitys Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and with a donor gift and funding from the states Entrepreneurial Services Provider Program through the Entrepreneurs Center. The incubator aligns with the Universitys strategic vision to create deeper community partnerships with greater local impact, and provides students with transformational learning opportunities related to innovation and entrepreneurship.

For more information, contact Marshall at kmarshall2@udayton.edu.

A heroic Washington State police dog has been released from hospital after being shot twice during a high-speed chase.

The three-year-old K-9, named Arlo, was critically injured following the shooting, which took place in Thurston County last Thursday.

A 25-year-old suspect fired twice at the German Shepherd, with one of the bullets entering near the dog's spine, before it chipped his shoulder and lodged near his neck.

Arlo was rushed to Oregon State University's Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine where doctors gave him a 60 percent chance of survival.

In the past year, Arlo has become one of the most famous dogs on TikTok, amassing a whopping 1.5 million followers who fawn over videos of the K-9 helping his handler Dep. Tyler Turpin solve local crimes.

Last Wednesday, the pooch's social media followers waited nervously as he underwent life-saving surgery to remove the two bullets.

A beloved Washington state police dog named Arlo has been released from hospital after being shot twice during a high-speed chase. He is pictured prior to the shooting

Arlo was rushed to Oregon State University's Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine where doctors gave him a 60 percent chance of survival

Dr. Jen Warnock performed the procedure on Arlo and quickly realized the severity of his injuries.

'The C6 vertebra was shattered. The bullet missed an artery that would've killed him by a millimeter. It could've destroyed his carotid artery,' she told Today, Oregon State University's news website.

She addly bluntly: 'It's a miracle that Arlo's still alive'.

The second bullet, located near Arlo's neck, 'dragged hair, dirt and debris deep into the tissue, which required extensive and careful cleaning to minimize the risk of infection'.

Arlo survived the lengthy surgery, which stretched into the night, and has subsequently floored veterinarians with his speedy recovery.

On Monday, the K-9 was released from the hospital with officers from Thurston County Sheriff's Office lining up outside the facility as a show of support.

On Monday, the K-9 was released from the hospital with officers from Thurston County Sheriff's Office lining up outside the facility to support the pooch

Arlo is pictured recovering from his surgery after being released from hospital on Monday

Video of the emotional moment was posted on TikTok, where it has been viewed a staggering 33.7 million times.

The clip shows his handler, Dep. Turpin, leading the limping pup out of the hospital.

Arlo is now likely to suffer from arthritis because of the damage the bullet did to his neck and shoulders.

Because the arthritis could effect Arlo's reaction time, the pooch will not return to active duty.

It's a loss for the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, with K-9 unit supervisor, Sgt. Rod Ditrich, saying: 'He's an amazing dog. He is just always happy, wants to please, just an amazing animal.'

Thankfully, however, Arlo will still appear in videos on TikTok so that he can continue to delight his millions of fans.
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The number of Covid-19-related deaths among patients who picked up the virus in hospital after being admitted for another illness has risen sharply in recent months.

Figures show that 138 patients who caught the virus in hospital during an outbreak died between the start of November and last Saturday.

There were few of these deaths from June to September, but several hospitals have battled outbreaks since autumn  with 25 of these Covid-19-linked deaths in October, data obtained by the Irish Independent reveals.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has raised concern with the HSE at meetings of the National Public Health Emergency Team about the extent of hospital outbreaks.

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He questioned the speed at which they were being detected and asked for a national outbreak control team to be put in place, as well as mass testing.

Asked to comment on hospital outbreaks, Dr Jack Lambert, infectious disease consultant in the Mater Hospital, said: This is a very infectious and unforgiving virus.

He said hospitals are hampered by not having enough single rooms, so patients can be in six-bed wards.

Sometimes patients are wandering around the hospital not wearing masks, although they are advised to. They can go outside the hospital and meet with family members.

We want to minimise outbreaks in hospitals. I wash my hands every time I touch a surface. I can wash my hands 10 times on a ward round. Is every single person doing that? I dont think so.

There are outbreaks in spite of the best of intentions and even when people think they are doing everything to the full.

Clinical microbiologist Professor Kirsten Schaffer of St Vincents Hospital said hospital outbreaks of Covid-19 are an international problem.

It is difficult to keep it out of hospitals. Patients or healthcare workers can be asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. A patient can test negative before admission to hospital but be incubating the virus and later found to be positive, she said.

Healthcare workers may have what they think is a cold and come to work because they dont want to let colleagues down.

We are missing people who are potentially infectious and they bring it into hospital. Several patients can be in a ward and share one toilet.

The situation can be exacerbated by a shortage of staff, she pointed out.

All patients are tested before admission, and those who present to the emergency department are also given a PCR test. If a patient is found to be positive several days after admission then all the staff on the ward are tested, she said.

Prof Schaffer said it would be difficult to test high numbers of staff on a weekly or fortnightly basis because of the pressure it would put on labs at this point.

When it is prevalent in the community, it is difficult to keep it out of hospitals.

However, patients who do not have Covid-19 and need to be seen urgently should continue to present to hospital, she stressed. Emergency departments have Covid and non-Covid sections.

The Department of Health said while each of the patients who died had confirmed Covid-19, the determination of the cause of death of any individual person is complex.

While in some cases Covid-19 may clearly be the principal cause of death, in people who were already seriously ill, the precise contribution of Covid-19 infection to the death can be difficult to determine.

The HSE began tracking cases of hospital-acquired coronavirus infection in June. From June 21 to January 3, 995 patients caught the virus after admission; the vast majority recovered.

There were 274 patient deaths linked to hospital outbreaks between March last year and January 18, 2021.

Meanwhile, 93 deaths were reported from Covid-19 yesterday  the highest since the start of the pandemic. It is unclear if any related to hospital outbreaks.

However, the daily number of new infections fell to 2,001.

Hospitals are struggling with 1,949 Covid-19 patients, 202 of whom are in intensive care.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 03:36:33|Editor: huaxia

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RIYADH, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) in Yemen announced on Wednesday the results of investigations of allegations against some military operations of the Saudi-led coalition.

The JIAT spokesperson Mansour Al-Mansour refuted a number of claims raised by global bodies and international organizations on errors allegedly committed by the coalition forces, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The JIAT responded to the statement of the UN Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen issued in August 2020 about strikes in Al-Jouf governorate, resulting in the death of about nine children, and the injury of seven others.

It highlighted that a truck entered between military targets and hit accidentally in the area of operations, which at the time witnessed clashes between the coalition's forces and Houthi armed militia. Enditem
If you thought 2020 was a surprising year, 2021 will give it a run for its money.

As Joe Biden enters the White House with narrow control in both legislative chambers, his entire legislative agenda hinges on how House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can balance differences between moderate and progressive Democrats and how incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer can keep his Democratic caucus unified while appealing to moderate Republicans.

Given the minuscule margin of error, President Biden must choose policies that advance his campaign promise of Build Back Better wisely in order garner bipartisan Senate support, appeal to House progressives, and line up more wins for the 2022 midterms.

Here are four priorities for 2021 that will likely gain the most bipartisan consensus and least Democratic drama:

Impeachment: Impeaching the same president twice is unprecedented. But the Democrats have issued articles of impeachment  in line with what most Americans support. According to the latest polls, 56% of the public hold former President Trump responsible for the insurrection on the Capitol.

But there are concerns that a Senate impeachment trial to punish Trump for his role in inciting the mob will delay Cabinet confirmations and a stimulus package. Biden and congressional leadership are exploring ways to bifurcate Congress agenda to not have impeachment proceeding stall COVID-19 relief. Some Republicans, including House Republican Conference chair Liz Cheney, are breaking from Trump and voting for impeachment. With bipartisan support, the result may bar Trump from future elected office.

Economic recovery: With more than 375,000 deaths and almost 11 million unemployed Americans, this is the Biden priority. Federal funding for vaccine distribution will receive bipartisan support. But it is the state and local governments that are responsible to provide essential services and maintain personnel to vaccinate citizens without certainty of financial support from Congress.

States, counties and localities may exceed more than $1 trillion in losses combined. Republican heartburn to state and local funding could be alleviated with limited liability protections for businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits. Businesses claim they could be liable for more than $21 billion in damages without a fix.

Domestic terrorism: Growing extremism and white supremacists assaulted our democracy in the Capitol coup. After the firing of the Capitol sergeant-at-arms and the Capitol Police chiefs resignation, theres bipartisan support for congressional oversight hearings into the violent insurrection.

Findings from the Jan. 6 coup may be added to broader police reforms that failed last year. After the murder of George Floyd, police reform became a priority for voters as Americans participated in demonstrations across the country. Theres likely unified Democratic support and a handful of Republican votes in the Senate for a bill that calls for a national database of use-of-force incidents by law enforcement officers and limits on police chokeholds. The House passed a similar bill in June.

Infrastructure: With Biden calling for comprehensive climate change policies across his administration and a need for meaningful economic stimulus, transportation and infrastructure funding has garnered labor and business support. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports an infrastructure bill that would help lead American recovery. Despite business and labor support and the recognized need to invest $4.6 trillion by 2025 to improve the nations infrastructure, past deals have fallen short under the Trump administration.

Biden campaigned for a $2 trillion plan thats going to invest in roads, highways, airports, ports, digital infrastructure and clean tech. Republicans have balked at the past price tag, but expanding broadband and local investment during the pandemic may be enough to get a comprehensive deal in place, especially if its not paid for by a gas tax.

With both parties already eyeing control in the 2022 midterm elections, Biden has little room for unforced errors in his legislative strategy.

But in a political world after Trumps tenure, I wouldnt count out anything in 2021  including bipartisan support for policies that have stalled for years.

Jeff Le is a political partner with the Truman National Security Project; he served as deputy director of external and international affairs and deputy Cabinet secretary to former California governor Jerry Brown. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Authorities identified the man shot to death Monday at Huntsville Place Apartments.

22-year-old Dallis Wolfe was a student at Alabama A&M University, orginially from Florida. Those close to him said he was on a path to success.

Deja Brown is Wolfe's girlfriend. They met on campus. Brown said Wolfe was studying criminal justice with a minor in psychology.

She heard of the news from mutual friends and had to call Brown's mother to hear it from her just to believe it.

"I believe someone did this to him deliberately, and my own question, why?," Brown said.

Brown said he was not a confrontational person. Instead, she said he had a 4.0 and was focused on finishing his degree.

"Dallis was the type of person who would talk to you, who would have a conversation, who would try to address the issues and come to a compromise," Brown.

Dallis also had dreams. She said he wanted to do something to make an impact on those around him.

"He wanted to work with kids, he wanted to make the next generation better, he wanted to be that helping hand that he often felt that he didn't get," Brown said. "He wanted to be that grown-up that he needed as a little boy, in his words."

While she hopes for justice in this ongoing investigation, she wants people to understand Wolfe had a lot to offer to his community.

"He was a gift, he was a gift to the world," Brown said.

Right now, Investigators have not identified a suspect or made any arrests related to this case.

Alabama A&M did release a statement Tuesday. "The Alabama A&M University Family is deeply saddened by the recent loss of fellow Bulldog, Dallis Wolfe.

"Our deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers are extended to his family, as well as to all persons who knew and loved him.

"Because such sudden deaths can be particularly difficult for students, faculty and staff, counseling services are being extended through AAMU's John & Ella Byrd McCain Health and Counseling Center during normal business hours at (256) 372-5601 and after hours at (256) 425-4554.

"Communication has been sent to students stressing the availability of these services and informing them that assistance is readily available to them."
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4site, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indigo Telecom Group Limited, a global provider of telecom and data centre network support services, yesterday announced it will be recruiting more than 100 people, over the next three years, to support its plans for international expansion.

With open-location and office-based roles across Ireland, the roles will span from Fibre Planners, GIS Engineers, Design Engineers, Telecoms Surveyors and Project Managers to business support roles in accounts, sales and operations. Indigo Telecom Group will be recruiting locally from Limerick and the Mid-West in the vicinity of the companys Irish headquarters at Raheen Business Park.



Established in Magor, South Wales in 1997, Indigo Telecom Group employs more than 400 people across 10 offices in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and Netherlands. The company is now focused on expanding its skills portfolio to capitalise on the market opportunities around Fibre to the Home (FTTH), wireless, 5G, data centres, digitisation and telco network services.

In 2020 alone, Indigo Telecom Group welcomed 140 people to the team. 4site works closely with Limerick Institute of Technology and the University of Limerick to create job opportunities for their highly skilled graduates.

Welcoming the news yesterday, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said, "I am really pleased to see that Indigo Telecom Group, through its Irish subsidiary 4site is expanding in Limerick and will be recruiting over 100 people over the next three years. This is in addition to the 140 new staff that Indigo Telecom Group hired in 2020 - approximately 90 of which were here in Ireland - and underlines the companys continued commitment to the Mid-West. This year more than ever we have relied on our communications networks to keep in touch and I welcome the expansion of this sector here. I wish Indigo and 4site every success with the expansion plans."

Chairman of Indigo Telecom Group, Kevin Taylor MBE said, "Were really excited to invest in Ireland, and specifically within the Limerick and surrounding areas. This provides a great opportunity for local staff to join an organisation which is on a high growth trajectory and with plans to expand in 2021 and beyond. For people considering a career in telecoms or a new challenge, there couldnt be a better time to join a sector that is experiencing exponential growth and playing a critical role in the way we all connect with each other."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Northern Ireland's construction industry collapsed by 30% at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report.

However, it found that the sector was actually one of the better performing in 2020 and is expected to remain stable this year despite the duel challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit.

The report, to be published tomorrow by American multinational engineering firm AECOM, found that hospitality, retail and commercial construction were the areas of the sector most affected during the pandemic.

It also suggests the cost of construction here increased by 1.5% in 2020 and is anticipated to increase another 1-1.5% this year. AECOM predicts that following the end of lockdown there will be a "pent up demand" for construction, but that it will eventually slow and there will be a reduction in the costs of labour. The report also suggests that despite global competition for supplies as a result of the pandemic, the new trade deal between the UK and EU should help mitigate against any significant cost increases in materials for the industry here. AECOM Northern Ireland Director Jody Wilkinson said that the construction industry here "demonstrated both its resilience and resourcefulness" throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. "The modest growth figures which have been recorded and the reasonable outlook for 2021 place the construction industry in a favourable position despite the ongoing challenges presented by Covid-19," he said. "The industry did experience a significant shock in 2020 with a reported collapse of 30% in the height of the pandemic. "Hospitality, retail, and commercial development has all but halted in Northern Ireland and, while hospitality and retail should expect a modest recovery in 2021, the future is unclear for commercial construction due to the reduction in demand for office space." Mr Wilkinson said that in October 2020 the construction industry was the strongest part of Northern Ireland's economy and the only sector to report growth in output and orders that month. He said tariffs on steel imports is "worrying" but the impact on 2021/22 output "will depend on if/when it is enforced and if counter-measures are put in place by the government". Mr Wilkinson said he expected housing to be the key for sustained industry growth in 2021.
Scores of New York Police Department (NYPD) officers attacked a picket line of striking Hunts Point Produce Market workers early Tuesday morning, arresting five workers. Video footage, which has spread rapidly on social media, shows the cops, equipped with riot gear, outnumbering pickets by two to one.

The violent provocation comes as 1,400 workers entered the third day of their strike at the worlds largest produce wholesaler. The striking workers, who receive poverty-level wages of $18-$20 an hour, are demanding a modest wage increase of a dollar an hour.

The mobilization of police under the Democratic administration of Bill de Blasio against workers demanding a few crumbs contrasts sharply to the treatment of the fascist mob that was allowed to storm the US Capitol on January 6. As far as the ruling class is concerned, the main danger is not an open assault on democratic forms of rule, but rather the resurgence of working class struggle.

Workers picket at the Hunts Point Market on January 19, 2021 (WSWS Photo)

The immediate aim of the NYPDs show of force was to break up attempts by strikers to block trucks from accessing the market, ensuring that the scabbing operation remains in place. The strike has the potential to cripple food distribution throughout the entire region. The NYPD kept a heavy presence of officers outside the gates of the market throughout the day Tuesday.

But there are far broader concerns as well. After a year of mass death from the pandemic and economic hardship not seen in at least 80 years, social tensions are reaching a boiling point. The Hunts Point struggle signifies that a new period of open struggle is emerging, not just in New York City but around the country and internationally.

Its like were in war, David, a porter, told the WSWS on the picket line Tuesday. Were not getting shot but were dying of other things. David was forced to take time off after the first wave of COVID-19 hit last spring, to avoid risking his grandmothers life, but is now back on the job.

Jason Ruiz has worked at Hunts Point for 18 years, including throughout the pandemic, which has claimed the lives of at least six of his co-workers, but still struggles with basic necessities. I cant afford a car. I got my own apartment and Im backed up three months rent because my wife lost her job during the pandemic, he said Tuesday.

Jason contrasted the federal bailout of the companies at Hunts Point, as well as the trillions funneled to Wall Street, with the situation for workers. All the money goes from the bottom to the few at the top. There already is socialism, but in reverse.

Over the past year, his company has added heavy labor to his job duties, loading 50-pound pallets of produce from freight trains without any additional pay. Its like slave labor, he said.

David, Jason and others all along the picket line expressed outrage at the intransigence of the companies in rejecting their demand for an extra dollar an hour. Itll cover the cost of my Metrocard, thats all Im asking for, Jason remarked. They say we should be happy just to have a job. Its disrespectful. Were sacrificing ourselves to have this job, David said.

The companies, meanwhile, are sparing no expense to break the resistance of workers. In a statement Monday, they touted the hiring of a private security firm and coordination with the NYPD just hours ahead of the assault. The companies have also hired the notorious anti-worker Jones Day law firm, which has close ties to the Trump administration. Jones Day was centrally involved in the conspiracy by then-Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and local Democrats to engineer the bankruptcy of Detroit, loot municipal pensions and privatize city services, and is also representing wealthy bondholders seeking to do the same in Puerto Rico.

Some of the companies have threatened foremen with immediate firing if they refuse to cross the picket line. Theyre deploying their sales force and others to scab on the striking workers.

In the face of the companies vicious attacks, backed by the de Blasio administrations NYPD, the Teamsters unions response has been to keep the striking workers isolated and uninformed. Local 202, which called the strike only because of the demands of workers, has not even called out its members at adjacent Hunts Point food markets to join the strike, let alone made any appeal to other sections of workers to participate in a common struggle. Instead, the Teamsters have rolled out the red carpet for Democratic mayoral hopefuls like multi-millionaire Andrew Yang, who held a photo op on the picket line Monday even as his party was preparing to send the cops to protect strikebreakers and arrest workers.

The Democrats have presided over a catastrophic outbreak of the coronavirus in New York City. In the worlds wealthiest city and the center of the global financial system, more than 26,000 people have died of COVID-19, and health care workers have been forced to wear garbage bags in place of proper PPE. In order to get parents back to work, Mayor de Blasio is spearheading the nationwide rush to reopen schools, with the assistance of the United Federation of Teachers, and Governor Andrew Cuomo rejects any shutdown of nonessential production as being too costly.

The Hunts Point struggle can and must be the beginning of a counteroffensive by the working class against the whole herd immunity policy of the ruling class, which has sacrificed the lives of more than 400,000 people in the US for corporate profit. The first step is for workers to form a rank-and-file strike committee, which is not under the control of the unions and big business politicians, to fight for collective action by workers throughout the city to protect lives and livelihoods.

This committee should issue a call to teachers, transit and other city workers, and workers in the logistics, manufacturing, telecommunications, service and other industries to prepare a general strike to demand the closure of schools and nonessential businesses, with full income to displaced workers, along with full protection and good wages for essential workers.

Millions of workers around the world have gone through the experience of the pandemic, witnessing governments hand over trillions from the national treasuries to ensure the rich get richer while workers struggle for bare necessities. The Hunts Point strike is a sign of the growing mood of resistance. These workers must not fight this battle alone.
The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.

(@FahadShabbir)

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th January, 2021) President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, denounced Turkey's purchase of S-400 air defense system from Russia as "unacceptable" and said tougher measures may be needed to prevent defense cooperation between the two countries.

"I think what Turkey has done as a NATO ally in acquiring S-400 is unacceptable. The idea that a strategic, so-called strategic partner of ours would actually be in line with one of our biggest strategic competitors, Russia, is not acceptable," Blinken told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

The United States has barred Turkey from acquiring US-made F-35 fifth generation fighter jets and imposed sanctions against Ankara under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for purchasing the Russian system. The restrictions targeted four affiliates of the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries, including its head, Ismail Demir.

Blinken called for examining whether sanctions had an effect and whether greater pressure needs to be exerted on Turkey.

"I think we need to take a look and see the impact the existing sanctions have had and then determine whether there is more that needs to be done," he said.
Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, speaks with reporters in New York after pleading not guilty to charges that he ripped off donors to an online fundraising scheme to build a southern border wall. Trump is expected to pardon Bannon, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, as part of a flurry of last-minute clemency action that appears to be still in flux in the last hours of his presidency. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)

President Donald Trump pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of his White House term that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.

The last-minute clemency, announced Wednesday morning, follows separate waves of pardons over the last month for Trump associates convicted in the FBIs Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law. Taken together, the actions underscore the presidents willingness, all the way through his four years in the White House, to flex his constitutional powers in ways that defy convention and explicitly aid his friends and supporters.

Whereas pardon recipients are conventionally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, the pardon for Bannon nullifies a prosecution that was still in its early stages and likely months away from trial in Manhattan, effectively eliminating any prospect for punishment.

Though other presidents have issued controversial pardons at the ends of their administration, perhaps no commander in chief has so enjoyed using the clemency authority to benefit not only friends and acquaintances but also celebrity defendants and those championed by allies.

Besides Bannon, other Trump family allies to get pardons were Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a scheme to lobby the White House to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund, and Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner who was charged last October with cyberstalking during a heated divorce.

Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trumps own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Twitter. And if that all sounds crazy, thats because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.

Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of investors who believed their money would be used to fulfil Trumps chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

Bannon did not respond to questions Tuesday.

Trump has already pardoned a slew of longtime associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon  who served in the Navy and worked at Goldman Sachs and as a Hollywood producer before turning to politics  led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps 2016 campaign in its critical final months.

He later served as chief strategist to the president during the turbulent early days of Trumps administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trumps adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart. He and Trump have recently reconciled.

In August, he was pulled from a luxury yacht off the coast of Connecticut and brought before a judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty. When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall.

The organizers of the We Build The Wall group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a big beautiful barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon.
Members of the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union hold a press conference in front of City Hall in Seoul, Tuesday, to call on the government to increase the number of nurses at the city government-run Boramae Hospital. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



After a year of battling COVID-19 in Korea, nurses and other medical workers are feeling the strain of the extra workload, calling on the central and local governments to increase the number of hospital staff.



The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union (KHMWU) has been staging protests to call for proper action.



"The government was praised for its disease control work, but nurses are suffering from a shortage of staff, despite their continuous calls for adequate measures," the union head Na Sun-ja said in a press conference in front of Seoul City Hall, Tuesday.



Na said nurses are struggling to look after the surging number of patients, as the health authorities hastily increase the number of hospital beds at facilities without increasing the number of medical workers.







Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 11:51:12|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday revealed it had found Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia in desperate need of supplies and services after the Tigray conflict had forced humanitarian workers to withdraw from the region.

A statement from the UN refugee agency, quoting UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch, said that the UNHCR led the first humanitarian mission to Mai Aini and Adi Harush refugee camps to conduct a needs assessment.

The assessment found that "refugees were cut off from any supplies and services for more than two months. Wells were not functional without fuel for the pumps -- leaving refugees to use water from a nearby creek for washing, cooking and drinking, resulting in diarrhea-like illnesses," the statement said.

According to the UN refugee agency, the only assistance the refugees received since Nov. 4, the start of the conflict, was a one-time food distribution conducted by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) almost a month ago.

It noted that plans are underway for a second distribution.

The UNHCR also noted that it has not had any access to the Shimelba and Hitsats refugee camps further north in Tigray since November.

According to the UNHCR, some 5,000 Eritrean refugees have made their way to the town of Shire and "are living in dire conditions, many sleeping in an open field on the outskirts of the town, with no water and no food."

Ethiopia has been home to nearly 200,000 Eritrean refugees, most of whom are mainly sheltered in Tigray and Afar regional states as well as in the capital Addis Ababa, according to recent figures from the Ethiopian government.

Weeks of fighting in northern Ethiopia's Tigray regional state between the Tigray People's Liberation Front and the Ethiopian Defense Forces has left hundreds of people dead, thousands displaced and millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, media reported. Enditem
PHILIPSBURG:--- Not only has the agreement for the country package been signed, but the Government has also announced the organization that it has put in place to guide St. Maarten's part in the agreement. What will follow now is the so-called implementation plans, although items in the country package are already being worked on. Case in point, we see from a meeting of the four ministers of Justice that it has been concluded that matters raised in the country package will be executed. So it is not as if everything is on hold until there are implementation plans. It is therefore paramount that the officially signed documents between the Dutch and St. Maarten Governments be shared with the Parliament of Sint Maarten, stated Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, regarding the Countrys Reform Package.

Wescot-Williams says what she missed in the Governments notification about the St.Maarten's organization is the involvement of all stakeholders in this process - the involvement of the social partners and the larger communities of business, health, education, care, etc. In addition to that, the MP said, the Government of St. Maarten, in making the announcement regarding the agreement and the work organization, refers to the governing program. The Parliament of Sint Maarten is yet to receive a governing program of the current Government. The Parliament is yet to debate the National Development Vision!

We all want a clear picture of where this Government wants to take the country and how exactly the country package of St. Maarten aligns with the NA/UP governing program as well as the national development vision, as announced by the government. It behooves the Government and the Parliament if we are serious about collectively deciding on the future sustainable development of this country to analyze for ourselves how we are going to carry on with this process in the context of the agreement signed with the Dutch Government.



Further Wescot-Williams believes that much of the process towards decision making that should be lead by the Government is now actually in the hands of -as it stands right now- a team of the internal affairs ministry in the Hague and the local government apparatus. Unlike what the government purports, this does usurp a lot of what the Government should be deliberating and deciding. In deciding on these crucial topics, we must get ahead of the curve. Any chatter that St. Maarten can, later on, take a different position at the handling of the draft COHO law is nothing more than wishful thinking because this train has already departed the station and the process based on the agreement has commenced.

If that COHO law is not approved or if there is even the appearance that it will not be approved by St. Maarten, the MP expounded, then the agreement for the country package, etc. no longer stands, with all the dire consequences thereof.

We could have been much further in the process and have some meaningful deliberations on the draft law and the country package, had the Government from the onset not playing hide and seek on the matter. The Government played hide and seek with Parliament in seeking its approval to reject the new entity. So holding off until we have the discussion regarding the draft new entity and thinking that we can then turn things around or in a different direction is an unrealistic and misleading view.
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WASHINGTON  Joe Biden swears the oath of office at noon today to become the 46th president of the United States, taking the helm of a deeply divided nation and inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

The very ceremony in which presidential power is transferred, a hallowed American democratic tradition, will serve as a jarring reminder of the challenges Biden faces: The inauguration unfolds at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago, encircled by security forces evocative of those in a war zone, and devoid of crowds because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stay home, Americans were exhorted, to prevent further spread of a surging virus that has claimed 400,000 American lives. Biden will look out over a capital city dotted with empty storefronts that attest to the pandemics deep economic toll and where summer protests laid bare the nations renewed reckoning on racial justice.

He will not be applauded  or likely even acknowledged  by his predecessor.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump planned to depart Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol. Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, stoked grievance among his supporters with the lie that Bidens win was illegitimate.

Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. On his first day, Biden will take a series of executive actions  on the pandemic, climate, immigration and more  to undo the heart of Trumps agenda. He takes office with the bonds of the republic strained and the nation reeling from challenges that rival those faced by Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Biden will face a series of urgent, burning crises like we have not seen before, and they all have to be solved at once. It is very hard to find a parallel in history, said presidential historian Michael Beschloss. I think we have been through a near-death experience as a democracy. Americans who will watch the new president be sworn in are now acutely aware of how fragile our democracy is and how much it needs to be protected.

Biden will come to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he will be the oldest president inaugurated.

More history will be made at his side, as Kamala Harris becomes the first woman to become vice president. The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

The two will be sworn in during an inauguration ceremony with few parallels in history.

Tens of thousands of troops are on the streets to provide security precisely two weeks after a violent mob of Trump supporters, incited by the president, stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of Bidens victory.

The tense atmosphere evoked the 1861 inauguration of Lincoln, who was secretly transported to Washington to avoid assassins on the eve of the Civil War, or Roosevelts inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a small, secure ceremony at the White House in the waning months of World War II.

Despite security warnings, Biden declined to move the ceremony indoors and instead will address a small, socially distant crowd on the West Front of the Capitol. Some of the traditional trappings of the quadrennial ceremony will remain.

The day will begin with a reach across the aisle after four years of bitter partisan battles under Trump. Biden invited Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leaders of the Senate and House, to join him at a morning Mass, along with Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leaders.

Once at the Capitol, Biden will be administered the oath by Chief Justice John Roberts; Harris will be sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The theme of Bidens approximately 30-minute speech will be America United, and aides said it would be a call to set aside differences during a moment of national trial.

Biden will then oversee a Pass in Review, a military tradition that honors the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander in chief. Then, Biden, Harris and their spouses will be joined by a bipartisan trio of former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama  to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony.

Members of the National Guard stand inside the security fencing at the Capitol ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Washington. (,John Minchillo, Associated Press)

Later, Biden will join the end of a slimmed-down inaugural parade as he moves into the White House. Because of the pandemic, much of this years parade will be a virtual affair featuring performances from around the nation.

In the evening, in lieu of the traditional glitzy balls that welcome a new president to Washington, Biden will take part in a televised concert that also marks the return of A-list celebrities to the White House orbit after they largely eschewed Trump. Among those in the lineup: Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem at the Capitol earlier in the day.

Trump will be the first president in more than a century to skip the inauguration of his successor. He planned his own farewell celebration at nearby Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One for the final time as president for the flight to his Florida estate.

Trump will nonetheless shadow Bidens first days in office.

Trumps second impeachment trial could start as early as this week. That could test the ability of the Senate, poised to come under Democratic control, to balance impeachment proceedings with confirmation hearings and votes on Bidens Cabinet choices.

Biden was eager to go big early, with an ambitious first 100 days that includes a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion virus relief package. On Day One, hell also send an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally.

He also planned a 10-day blitz of executive orders on matters that dont require congressional approval  a mix of substantive and symbolic steps to unwind the Trump years. Among the planned steps: rescinding travel restrictions on people from several predominantly Muslim countries; rejoining the Paris climate accord; issuing a mask mandate for those on federal property; and ordering agencies to figure out how to reunite children separated from their families after crossing the border.

The difficulties he faces are immense, to be mentioned in the same breath as Roosevelt taking office during the Great Depression or Obama, under whom Biden served eight years as vice president, during the economic collapse. And the solution may be similar.

There is now, as there was in 1933, a vital need for leadership, said presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, for every national resource to be brought to bear to get the virus under control, to help produce and distribute the vaccines, to get vaccines into the arms of the people, to spur the economy to recover and get people back to work and to school.
MEP Siegfried Muresan (European People's Party/National Liberal Party- EPP/PNL) called for visas to be lifted for all EU citizens traveling to the US in Wednesday's debate in the European Parliament's plenary session on the inauguration of the new US president and the country's current political situation, according to AGERPRES.

"Today, citizens of Cyprus, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania are still required visas to enter the United States. Let's work together with the new US administration to ensure full visa reciprocity between the United States and the European Union," the MEP was quoted as saying in a press release posted on his website, highlighting an important issue for 30 million EU citizens.

The statement was made on the day of US President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.

Members of the European Parliament, meeting in plenary session this week, held a debate on Wednesday on the future EU-US relations and developments on the indictment proceedings against incumbent President Donald Trump for his role in inciting the Capitol violence of January 6.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 17:34:05|Editor: huaxia

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SHENZHEN, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's southern boomtown of Shenzhen will issue digital currency worth 20 million yuan (about 3.1 million U.S. dollars) as part of a pilot program to promote the application of the new form of currency.

This is the third time the city will issue the currency in "red envelopes," worth 200 yuan each, via a random draw. In the previous rounds, 10 million yuan and 20 million yuan were issued in October 2020 and early January, respectively.

This round was opened for registration on Wednesday to individual businesses and employees of enterprises who stay in Shenzhen during the Spring Festival in the city's district of Longhua, which funded the round.

Winners of the random draw can download a phone app for receiving and using the currency.

The money can be used for shopping in over 3,500 designated businesses with a digital currency transaction system in place in Longhua District from 9 a.m. on Feb. 1 to Feb. 9.

In the second round of the test, about 18.23 million digital yuan were transacted, according to local authorities.

Besides Shenzhen, the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou also issued 20 million digital yuan in December as part of a pilot program.

According to a signed article by Fan Yifei, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), digital yuan will be positioned as legal tender, designed to be treated as M0, meaning cash in circulation such as coins and banknotes.

The digital currency will be issued by the PBOC, the country's central bank, to designated commercial banks which will then distribute it to the public, according to the article published in the Financial News. Enditem
Authorities on Tuesday warned of a wave of scams that use bogus claims of offering coronavirus vaccines and COVID-19 stimulus payments to swindle unsuspecting victims.

In some of the scams targeting senior citizens, con artists promise early access to the coronavirus vaccine in return for money, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni. The fraudsters pose as doctors, insurance companies or other medical facilities with calls that falsely claim a vaccine can be shipped and ask for various personal information to falsely check if a victim can qualify for the shot.

We live in a world where scammers will try anything to get your personal information, medical information, and even your lifes savings using devious tactics, Gramiccioni said in a statement. Please be vigilant  if it seems questionable, then trust your instincts that it is.

Scammers aim to gather information, including social security numbers, Medicare identification, bank and credit card accounts and other sensitive data.

The most important piece of advice during this unusual time is to be overly skeptical of any unsolicited offers of any kind, to stay vigilant no matter how convincing the voice on the other side of the phone may be, Gramiccioni added.

The fraud can also come via social media sites, where criminals use ads to peddle supposed coronavirus vaccines, according to the prosecutor, who urged people to closely guard their personal information.

Just because it is on the internet does not make it safe or true, he said.

Federal authorities too have sounded the alarm over fraud that prey upon financial and health worries brought on by the pandemic. Officials with Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations said they were investigating hundreds of the scams, including those that use the governments latest round of stimulus funds as a trap.

A 2nd round of Economic Impact Payments is on its way. Theres no need for you to take any action: The #IRS will NOT ask you to pay a fee or confirm personal information  watch out for scams: https://t.co/VIwGwaA9Gd #COVIDreliefIRS pic.twitter.com/ScZMaXZbhP  IRSnews (@IRSnews) January 19, 2021

Fraudulent text messages that ask taxpayers to send bank account information under the guise of receiving a $600 stimulus payment and phishing emails that use COVID-19, stimulus and related keywords to trick people into providing the information were among some of the cons, according to officials.

Criminals are taking advantage of the second round of Economic Impact Payments  as well as the approaching filing season  to trick honest taxpayers out of their hard-earned money, a statement from IRS Criminal Investigations Newark field office said.

Other scams include those claiming to provide test kits and bogus medical advice along with fake offers to invest in companies purportedly developing vaccines, according to officials.

Gramiccioni, the county prosecutor, released a series of tips online to avoid falling victim to the scams. Federal officials also asked people to report COVID-19 scams to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 1-866-720-5721 or via its website. The IRS maintains a website with official information about stimulus payments.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany participates in a White House briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on Dec.15, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Kayleigh McEnany Leaves Letters for Biden Press Officials

Outgoing White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Wednesday that she left notes for President Joe Bidens incoming press officials.

Wishing all the best to President @JoeBidens incoming press and communications team, McEnany tweeted on Wednesday, adding she left notes for Biden press secretary Jen Psaki and others.

Sending my prayers as you begin your service to the American People, wrote McEnany, adding she left the notes for senior adviser and chief spokeswoman Symone Sanders, communications director Kate Bedingfield, and principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Psaki on Wednesday wrote on Twitter that she is in the White House.

Follow me @PressSec will still post on personal side here. But for the work of @POTUS and @VP and @FLOTUSBiden and @SecondGentleman will be providing updates from @PressSec, she wrote.

According to outgoing White House spokesman Judd Deere, former President Donald Trump left a note for Biden before he departed the White House this week. The content of the note was not revealed. Former presidents have left behind letters to incoming presidents.

Trump did not appear on Inauguration Day and opted to instead give farewell remarks outside the White House before leaving for Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. The former president wished the incoming administration success.

I will be watching, I will be listening, and I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better, Trump said, adding that should Biden keep some of his policies intact, he will have success.

Trump added, I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think they will have great success. They have the foundation to do something very spectacular.

The former president and his son, Eric Trump, also suggested that the movement Trump built would continue after he left office.


On the eve of Joe Biden's inauguration as 46th president of the United States, Venezuelans remain doubtful on whether the new administration in Washington will improve relations between the two countries.

Christian Suarez, a 37-year-old bus driver, believed Biden's government will mean "more of the same" if Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro remains in power.

Others hoped the end of Donald Trump's term opened the possibility of sanctions being lifted and greater understanding between Caracas and Washington.

"We Venezuelans want the United States to behave and to help us as we can help them," said Richard Rivero.

Officials in Maduro's government say they anticipate a renewed dialogue with the Biden administration while hoping the incoming president abandons the avalanche of damaging sanctions Trump imposed to attempt a regime change.

International politics analyst Giovanna De Michele believed Biden could renew relations with Maduro without necessarily recognizing his legitimacy.

"I believe that the first change comes from the moment that Joe Biden recognizes that although Nicolas Maduro may be qualified and considered by him and his Cabinet as a dictator, he is the one who is effectively exercising power at Miraflores Palace," De Michele said.

Biden was vice president to Barack Obama's administration when the reopening of relations between Cuba and the United States happened, and analysts like De Michele believe Biden's history as a promotor of dialogue can lay the ground for future negotiations and understanding with Maduro's government.

Maduro is beginning his eighth year as president with control of all government institutions and a deep economic crisis amid production of its main resource, oil, at a very low level.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)

Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 19:54:52|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Egypt and Qatar agreed on Wednesday to resume diplomatic ties after more than three years of halt, Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Egypt and Qatar have exchanged two official notes, according to which the two countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations," the statement said.

It added that the move has been taken based on the mutual obligations of the Al-Ula declaration that has been signed at the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Saudi Arabia.

The Al-Ula agreement ended a boycott on Qatar by the Arab quartet, which includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

On Monday, the first Egyptian flight took off from Cairo to Qatar following the milestone agreement. Enditem
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NEUVOGEN, an immunoncology company, announces its novel cancer vaccine strategy to transform how solid tumors are treated. NEUVOGEN's strategy employs a systems approach to discover and develop the next generation of whole cell cancer vaccine immunotherapies. Early data shows that this strategy has produced candidates with the potential to meaningfully improve and extend the lives of patients suffering from a broad spectrum of solid tumors. NEUVOGEN's technology is designed to maximize immune priming against the broadest array of tumor targets ever combined into a single platform. The team at NEUVOGEN has overcome challenges that have plagued past whole cell vaccines and has completed the pre-clinical validation of its technology platform.

"We believe NEUVOGEN's cancer vaccines will deliver the broadest immune-priming ever achieved to transform the way solid tumors are treated. Our novel immunotherapy platform holds the promise of creating better and safer treatment options for patients." said Todd Binder, Chief Executive Officer of NEUVOGEN. "Our team of scientists and clinicians have extensive experience in therapeutic cancer vaccines, and they are now poised to advance our pipeline of compelling candidates into clinical development. We are truly excited to enter this next phase to further demonstrate the promise of our novel whole cell cancer vaccine strategy and ultimately bring game changing products to the immunotherapy market".

ADVANCING IMMUNONCOLOGY THERAPY BY PRIMING THE BROADEST ARRAY OF CANCER TARGETS WITH A ROBUST ADJUVANT

Previous immune priming approaches have typically focused on one or a handful of important targets, but some cancer cells within a tumor may not express these targets leading to immune escape by the tumor. NEUVOGEN's technology directly addresses three key limitations that have plagued past efforts in cancer vaccine development: inadequate tumor target breadth; inadequate immune priming; lack of a systematic approach to overcome immune suppressive mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment.

NEUVOGEN is advancing discovery and development programs that will transform how solid tumors are treated by:

taking full advantage of the breadth afforded by whole cell tumor vaccines to incorporate multiple tumor-targeting strategies in a single platform

simultaneously employing a proprietary combination of genetic modifications to each of the six whole cell tumor lines in each of its vaccines to create a robust immune priming adjuvant effect in order to overcome peripheral tolerance to self-antigens

effectively priming against its broad array of targets in patient populations where cancer vaccine mono-therapy has demonstrated clinical efficacy signals in large studies

"NEUVOGEN has the potential to disrupt the current immunoncology treatment paradigm by turning our technologies into a pipeline of truly novel cancer immunotherapies for various solid tumors." said Kendall M. Mohler, PhD, former CSO of Juno Therapeutics, and now scientific advisor and member of the Board of Directors at NEUVOGEN. "The technology platform is accelerating the investigation of many candidates across a broad spectrum of solid tumors, and the early data is very compelling."

APPLYING THE WHOLE CELL VACCINE TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM

NEUVOGEN's whole cell vaccine immunotherapy platform is designed to simultaneously prime the broadest array of targets, impacting multiple biologic pathways with the goal of directing an immune response against overlapping targets on every cell within a tumor. Based upon decades of whole cell vaccine research, NEUVOGEN has generated multiple solid tumor candidates with the potential to create a potent and durable tumor response. NEUVOGEN's novel whole cell vaccine platform provides powerful immune priming and has certain advantages over other directed cancer-cell-killing modalities including CAR-Ts, Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs), DNA cancer vaccines, and mRNA cancer vaccines.

"The NEUVOGEN whole cell platform has the ability to transform the clinical landscape of how we treat patients with solid tumors." said Mark Bagarazzi, Chief Medical Officer at NEUVOGEN. "Our scientists have been able to employ multiple direct killing mechanisms of cancer therapeutics and we are confident that NEUVOGEN's systems approach will maximize immune priming while minimizing immune escape of solid tumors. NEUVOGEN will generate potentially safer and more effective therapies with the goal of targeting all of the cells within the tumor, thereby driving sustained remissions and eliminating cancer recurrences."

BUILDING AN ACCOMPLISHED WORLD CLASS TEAM

NEUVOGEN is led by a team of highly accomplished biotech leaders with deep experience in immunoncology and cancer vaccine development. The team has collectively advanced many therapies in the area of immunoncology  experience it will use to develop its pipeline of novel therapeutic vaccines.

Todd Binder , MBA, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member

Mark Bagarazzi , MD, Chief Medical Officer

Sarah Korman , PhD, JD, General Counsel

Cyrus Arman , PhD, MBA, Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy

Bernadette Ferraro , PhD, MPH, Head of Immunoncology

Jian Yan , PhD, Head of Design and Innovation

"NEUVOGEN has emerged as a leader to watch in the immunoncology space" said Gordon Binder, former CEO of Amgen, strategic advisor and Chairman of the Board to NEUVOGEN. "Given my experience in oncology treatments, NEUVOGEN's management team has made impressive progress. The Board and I look forward to working with this team to grow the company and turn the compelling science into novel cancer vaccines that treat and meaningfully extend the lives of patients suffering from cancer."

The company's Board of Directors has decades of biotech management experience. In addition to Gordon Binder, the Board includes:

Todd Binder , Chief Executive Officer

, Denny Lanfear , Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Coherus BioSciences

Kendall M. Mohler , PhD, Chief Development Officer, Accelerator Life Science Partners, former SVP Research, Juno Therapeutics

About NEUVOGEN

NEUVOGEN, Inc. is an immunoncology company focused on whole cell cancer vaccine therapies. NEUVOGEN's immunotherapies have the potential to deliver the broadest ever combination of tumor antigens to prime immune response. Based in San Diego, California, NEUVOGEN's goal is to bring to market a pipeline of therapeutic cancer vaccines that activate the body's immune system to eradicate solid tumors and meaningfully extend the lives of patients while limiting side effects generally associated with traditional cancer treatments. To learn more, visit www.neuvogen.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and NEUVOGEN, Inc. (the "Company") intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor created thereby. These forward-looking statements might include statements regarding the Company's future plans, targets, estimates, assumptions, financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, and assumptions and predictions about research and development efforts, including, but not limited to, preclinical and clinical research design, execution, timing, costs, results, future product demand, supply, manufacturing, marketing, and pricing factors. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "contemplates," "targets," "continues," "budgets," "may," and similar expressions and such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) future research plans, expenditures and results, (ii) potential collaborative arrangements, (iii) the potential utility of the Company's proposed products, (iv) reorganization plans, and (v) the need for, and availability of, additional financing. The forward-looking statements included herein are based on current expectations and beliefs that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions regarding the Company's business and technology, which involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future scientific, economic, regulatory and competitive conditions, collaborations with third parties, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the Company's control. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the Company's objectives or plans will be achieved. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, regulatory policies or changes thereto, available cash, research and development results, competition from other similar businesses, interest of third parties in collaborations with the Company, effects of pandemics or other widespread health problems such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and market and general economic factors. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to update any forward-obligation to update any forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any statements to reflect new information or future events or developments.

SOURCE NEUVOGEN Inc.

Related Links

http://www.neuvogen.com


Rishi Sunak is poised to extend the 20-a-week boost to Universal Credit after a Tory backlash.

The Chancellor is said to be 'resigned' to continuing the uplift, despite warning it will cost 6billion a year.

The U-turn, which is set to be confirmed at the Budget in March, came as former government poverty tsar Dame Louise Casey claimed the Conservatives risked regaining their reputation as the 'nasty party' if they ended the benefit boost while the pandemic was raging.

Dame Louise said it would be 'too punitive' to cut 20 a week from family budgets at the end of March. Downing Street rejected the 'Nasty Party' jibe, pointing out that the Government has poured 280billion into Covid support.

Rishi Sunak is poised to extend the 20-a-week boost to Universal Credit after a Tory backlash

But Whitehall sources acknowledged that the Universal Credit boost was now set to continue. Other Covid support, including the furlough scheme, which is due to finish at the end of April, could also be extended if the pandemic keeps sections of the economy in lockdown.

But decisions on that will not be taken until closer to the Budget on March 3.

The 'temporary' 12-month increase in Universal Credit was put in place last year as part of the wider package to support people through the pandemic.

In recent weeks Mr Sunak has been fighting a rearguard action against calls to extend it beyond March when it is due to finish.

He warned Tory MPs that any extension could become permanent, blowing another 6billion-a-year hole in the public finances  a gap equal to adding 5p to fuel duty. Mr Sunak also argued that there were 'better ways' to tackle unemployment and low pay than increasing benefits.

Mr Sunak also argued that there were 'better ways' to tackle unemployment and low pay than increasing benefits. Pictured: Labour leader Keir Starmer visits a food bank distribution centre in London on January 18

But he failed to head off a Tory revolt, which included backbench MPs and Cabinet members. A Treasury insider last night conceded the battle was lost, adding: 'We gave it a good shot.' But the source warned that extending the uplift would only postpone the argument, saying: 'Unless you are prepared to make it permanent, with all the costs and signals that would involve, you are going to come to another cliff edge later.'

A decision on how long to extend the benefit boost for has not yet been taken.

Boris Johnson ordered Tory MPs to abstain on a Labour motion on Universal Credit this week, cutting a rebellion by Conservative MPs to just six.

But behind the scenes, ministers have faced a growing revolt. The 50-strong Northern Research Group of Conservative MPs said this week that ending the boost now would be 'devastating' and called for it to be extended until restrictions are lifted. And Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey let it be known she is opposed to cutting Universal Credit at a time of rising unemployment.

In a BBC interview, Dame Louise said while she understood the Chancellor's reluctance, he needed to consider the effect it would have on people's lives. 'To remove that 20 a week  it's too punitive, it's not the right thing to do, and I think they just go back to being the nasty party,' she said.

The PM's press secretary Allegra Stratton said: 'There is no way that this party and Government can be called the nasty party when you look at the 280billion support put in place during the pandemic. When you crunch that money you will find a lot of it has gone towards the less well-off in society.'

This summer, 75-150 children of military-connected personnel will attend a weeklong camp at Steele High School courtesy of a Department of Defense grant received by the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District.

SCUC is one of only 10 school districts across the nation, and the only district in the Southwestern region, to receive the grant, according to Dee Thomas, SCUC DOD educational activities grant director.

STEMKAMP  Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for Kids of Active Military Personnel  will engage students in grades 3-8 in a host of activities during the June 7-11 camp.

More than 40 percent of the students who attend SCUC ISD schools are military-connected, Thomas said. The grant continues the districts effort to reach out to those specific families and students.

Whats so great about this grant is that they are providing stipends for teachers, and the curriculum and all the resources. This is a big deal, Thomas said. We love doing things like this, but we cant pay the teachers. We just dont have the funds.

The three-year grant is part of a $2.7 million grant awarded to Goshen Education Consulting and iBIO EDUCATE by the DOD to design and implement novel educational experiences for up to 3,750 children in military families. SCUCs share totals $230,000 for the three-year venture.

Children of military service personnel often experience stress related to the many unknowns involved in their parents occupations. This includes changing school districts often, which can make it difficult to adjust to new schools with differing curriculum, instructional methods, cultural norms and climate, according to the Goshen Education Consulting owner.

As the father of two daughters who have flourished in the STEMgirls and STEMfamily camps, I saw the positive impact on my children and in my family, said Matt Feldmann, Goshen principal researcher and owner. It is a privilege to be able to bring STEMKAMP to children in military families nationwide. I am confident that they will benefit greatly through the hands-on approach to learning.

STEMKAMP will partner with 10 military-connected school districts across the U.S. to implement the five-day summer camps, helping young students connect critical thinking and problem-solving skills to a wide variety of STEM careers through hands-on experiences with STEM concepts and access to STEM professionals.

Thomas said SCUC is the only district in the Southwestern United States to receive one of the grants. While registration dates have not yet been released, Thomas knows the basic design of the camp.

Monday through Wednesday they will come and perform actual STEM activities by grade level, she said. On Thursday, they go on a trip to somewhere they normally cant go, like a Toyota Plant or Amazon, somewhere you couldnt just buy a ticket and walk in.

Fridays conclusion brings the campers families to the school.

In the morning, their families come and do activities and get to see what the kids have done. They have a barbecue lunch, and theres a speaker. Its a very cool thing and were so happy to have been selected to be a part of this, she added.

Goshen Education Consulting is a STEM educational evaluation and research center located in Edwardsville, IL. Since its founding in 2009, Goshen Education Consulting has conducted more than 60 educational evaluation and research projects.

The Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO) is a life sciences industry association that represents the nearly 88,000 life sciences employees at member companies, universities, service providers and venture firms. iBIO EDUCATE delivers industry-led STEM programs for teachers and students, hoping to inspire the next generation of innovators and helping to restore Americas leadership in technology education.

jflinn@express-news.net

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Richard Conti had a math problem. The assessor of the city of Taunton, Mass., is required by state law to inspect every property once every 10 years to make sure the values are accurate. But there are, well, a lot of properties in Taunton.Of the 19,532 parcels, Ive got 10,706 single family homes, Conti said. So just the single family homes alone is a big challenge, and by getting in my car and driving around Im lucky if I can do 25 sites a day.So Conti, like many assessors, found himself perpetually lagging. In the years it would take him to visit the same house twice, an owner might have added a deck in the back yard, or a swimming pool, or a shed, or renovated their kitchen. If they didnt get a permit, the assessor wouldnt find out about it. Thats taxable value the city would miss out on, often until the house went onto the market for sale.These days, things are looking easier for Conti. In September, he started using a service from the company Nearmap that gives him subscription-based access to aerial imagery of the properties in his city. Its captured with planes and available at a 3-inch resolution, and the company even offers AI-powered object recognition to make it easier to find things like swimming pools and decks.Its also updated about twice a year.Now the math has changed; Conti estimates he can inspect five properties in 15 minutes. Over three days in January, he found new property additions worth about $107,000 in taxable dollars, which translated to about $1,500 worth of taxes for the city.Theyre little things  its not like you find a house that you didnt know existed, he said. Its not $250,000 (or) $300,000, its never that. In fact, $35,000 is an exception. You know, usually its $1,000 or $400 or $1,500. Its all these little things. But holy mackerel, over 10,706 properties that really starts to add up.But its not just the benefit of finding taxable property faster. Its also about preventing in-person contact during the COVID-19 pandemic . And its about the cost of sending people out into the field for work they can now perform from their computers The physical inspection portion of an assessors job responsibility is the most expensive cost in an assessing department, because youve got manpower out there looking at houses and not sitting here doing what theyre supposed to be doing, he said.The use of aerial imagery that leads to increased tax bills might chafe some, but its an extension of what Conti has always done. In fact, the city used to use images from a state-owned plane that would provide aerial imagery every other year. And hes no stranger to looking over peoples fences when he would visit in person.Its his job. And while he knows people dont like paying more in taxes, he focuses on the benefits the city can provide to residents with their tax dollars.When I became an assessor, I wasnt trying to win a popularity contest, he said. You know  being an assessor is like being an IRS agent. Nobody likes you.Hes also not the only one in Taunton using Nearmap. Its found users in the police department, the fire department, public works, planning and conservation, engineering and the mayors office. And hes been fielding calls from other assessors in Massachusetts who are interested in using it as well. According to a spokesperson for the company, Nearmap has about 300 government customers in the U.S. with several thousand users.Its spreading like wildfire  this is the new way assessors are going to do their job, especially because of the pandemic, Conti said. I mean, I dont want to go into anybodys house. Nobody wants me in their house. So what options do I have?
Greece, N.Y.  A mother watched in horror Monday night as two men slipped through a window into her Rochester-area home.

The woman had walked the front of her Greece residence after hearing a loud crash on the first floor, police said. She was investigating the sound when she saw two ski-mask-wearing men smash a window and break into her home, police said.

The womans seven foster children  all under the age of 11  were upstairs. The suspects kidnapped two of the kids: Shekeria Cash, 3, and Dimitri Cash Jr., 5.

The young Cash siblings were abducted around 8:40 p.m. from their foster familys 805 English Road home, said Greece Police Chief Andrew Forsythe. An Amber Alert has been issued for the children, who are considered in imminent danger of serious harm or death.

We believe, based on the investigation, that this was a planned and targeted abduction, Forsythe said.

Police are working to identify the suspects.

Signs along highways across the state, including the New York State Thruway and Interstate 81 in the Syracuse area, are urging travelers to check out the Amber Alert.

READ MORE: Amber Alert issued for boy, girl kidnapped from Rochester area by men wearing ski masks

Forsythe has implored the public to help find the two children. He shared details about the case Tuesday morning during a news conference broadcast by WROC.

Im not going to stand up here and say that we know where these guys are, these beautiful little children, the police chief said. We dont. And we need the help of the public to find them.

Forsythe gave the following account of what happened after the two suspects entered the home:

When she saw the two masked men the foster mother screamed. Two of her foster children, startled by her screams, came downstairs to see if she was OK.

The woman pulled the two kids close and wrapped her arms around them. The suspects bound the three together with duct tape  placing tape over the womans mouth to muffle her screams.

One of the children, a boy, suffered a cut lip.

The men then went upstairs and found the Cash siblings. After forcibly taking Shekeria and Dimitri from the home, the suspects stole the foster mothers van and drove away with the kidnapped children.

Using GPS, police later tracked the stolen van to White Hall Drive. The van was empty and abandoned.

Police from multiple agencies are working to find the children. Forsythe said investigators are gravely concerned for the childrens well-being.

While no suspects have been identified, the police chief said investigators want to speak with Dimitri Cash, Shekeria and Dimitri Jr.s father. So far, police have not been able to find the siblings biological father or mother.

Shekeria and Dimitri Jr. had been with their foster family for about two years, Forsythe said.

Dimitri Cash, of Rochester, was arrested last January and charged with forcibly taking Dimitri Jr. from his elementary school, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. The case against him is pending.

Heres how the missing children were described in the Amber Alert:

Shekeria, a Black girl, has brown eyes and braided black hair. She is about 4 feet tall and weighs about 40 pounds. Shekeria was wearing panda pajamas when she was taken.

Dimitri, a Black boy, has short black hair and brown eyes. He is about 4 feet tall and weighs about 50 pounds. When he was taken, Dimitri was wearing either fire truck or dinosaur pajamas.

The suspected kidnappers were wearing matching outfits, troopers said: flannel shirts, Dickies work pants, black ski masks and black knit hats. Heres how troopers described the suspects:

The first suspect, a Black man, is about 6 feet, 1 inch tall. He weighs around 175 pounds and has facial hair. His age is unknown.

The second suspect, a Black man, is about 6 feet, 1 inch tall. He weighs about 200 pounds. His age is unknown.

Anyone with information about the kidnapping has been asked to contact the Greece Police Department at (585) 428-6666. Troopers asked anyone who spots the children to call 911.

Staff writer Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel puts on a face mask after a news conference on further coronavirus measures, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via AP)

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that Germany is extending its pandemic restrictions, including the closure of schools and stores, until mid-February amid concerns that new mutations of the coronavirus could trigger a fresh surge in cases.

Germany's infection rate has stabilized in recent days, indicating that existing restrictions may have been effective in bringing down the numbers. On Tuesday, the country's disease control center reported 11,369 newly confirmed infections and 989 deaths, for an overall death toll of 47,622.

"All our efforts to contain the spread of the virus face a serious threat," Merkel told reporters in Berlin, noting that experts have linked surging infections in Britain and Ireland to the appearance of a more contagious virus variant there.

"Now is the time to guard against the danger posed by this mutated virus," she said.

While individual instances of new variants have been found in Germany, scientists have said it isn't dominant yet, she added.

"There's still time, so to speak, to contain the risk," said Merkel.

In addition to extending the closure of restaurants, most stores and schools until Feb. 14, Merkel and the governors of Germany's 16 states agreed to require people to wear the more effective FFP2 or KN95 masks on public transport and stores. Employers will also be ordered to let staff work from home, wherever possible, to avoid office-driven infections.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for a news conference on further coronavirus measures, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via AP)

Merkel said the goal remains to have fewer than 50 new coronavirus cases a week per 100,000 inhabitants. Germany's nationwide average is currently 131.

The governor of the eastern state of Saxony, which until recently had the highest rates of infection in the country, said it was important to drive the number of new cases down further.

"We're currently seeing in Britain what happens when a mutation occurs, when the numbers explode," he told news channel n-tv. "We can't remain at this level."

Medical workers have been demanding an extension or toughening of the shutdown since many hospitals are still on edge, with intensive care wards and even crematoriums reaching their limits in some areas.

"The current measures on limiting social contacts seem to be showing an effect," Susanne Johna, the head of the physicians' association Marburger Bund, told the dpa news agency, adding that the measures should continue to be upheld to further reduce new infections.

A man and his son walk in downtown Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. German politics decides about further Coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a news conference on further coronavirus measures, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via AP)

After receiving her vaccination against the novel coronavirus, 90-year-old Odores H. sits under the domed roof of the vaccination centre in the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. This is where thousands of people usually gather for concerts and trade fairs, and where the state of Hesse operates one of its vaccination centers. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)

After receiving her vaccination against the novel coronavirus, 90-year-old Odores H. sits under the domed roof of the vaccination centre in the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Jan.19, 2021. This is where thousands of people usually gather for concerts and trade fairs, and where the state of Hesse operates one of its vaccination centers. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)

People stay in the new open Erika-Hess-Eisstadion vaccine center in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. (Kay Nietfeld/Pool via AP)

A pharmacist holds a vial of Pfizer-Biontech's Corona vaccine at the opening of the vaccination center in the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Jan.19, 2021. The state of Hesse operates one of its vaccination centers where thousands of people usually gather at concerts and trade fairs. (Boris Roessler/dpa via AP)

A man stands on a small balcony of his office in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, the day when the German government will discuss further coronavirus restrictions. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel takes off a face mask as she attends a news conference on further coronavirus measures, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via AP)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a news conference on further coronavirus measures, at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool via AP)

"We urgently need further relief," Johna said.

Merkel acknowledged growing concern in Germany about the impact that the restrictions are having on students, who face a further four weeks of home schooling.

"It's a big strain for schools, the eight weeks," she said. "But if we had conditions like in London then ... we wouldn't be talking about schools anymore, we'd be talking about ambulances and overflowing hospitals. And we have to avoid that at all cost."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

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Editor's Note: Due to a clerical error by the Department of Justice, this story was updated to reflect that 32 Texans are facing charges in connection with the Capitol Riots on Jan. 6.

Forty-one Texans have been arrested in connection with the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C., and are facing a variety of charges.

EXPRESS-NEWS APP: Breaking news, Spurs scores, COVID updates and more  at your fingertips

Ryan Scott Zink

FBI

The 32-year-old was arrested on Feb. 4 after a tipster provided the FBI with screenshots of his Facebook page that had photos from the riot, according to a statement of facts.

Zink is a musician and the owner of Pressure Clean Oil, Gas, and Wind in Lubbock, court documents said.

His Facebook page also included numerous videos of Zink inside the Capitol, including one in which he can be heard saying We knocked down the gates! Were storming the Capitol! You cant stop us!, according to the court documents. In a private Facebook message, Zink also told someone he had "taken two flash bangs" and had been hurt, the court docs continued.

Charges: Obstruction of an official proceeding; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and engages in any act of physical violence against any person or property in any restricted building or grounds.

Sean David Watson

FBI

The Alpine man was arrested on April 28 after showing his coworkers videos of himself at the riot, according to a statement of facts.

Witnesses told FBI agents that Watson was showing the videos on his cell phone, saying "I fd st up," court documents said. When questioned by agents, Watson initially denied being in the Capitol despite photo, video and cell phone evidence showing he was there, the FBI said.

The FBI also said Watson sent texts on Jan. 6 admitting that he was at the Capitol, including one that said "We made history today. Proudest day of my life!"

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Samuel Christopher Montoya

FBI

The San Antonio man was arrested on April 13 after a family member sent a tip to the FBI about a 44-minute video he shot while inside the Capitol, according to the FBI.

Montoya, who allegedly works for Infowars, took video of himself inside the Capitol as well as recorded the shooting of Ashli Babbitt, the woman who was shot and killed by Capitol police, a statement of facts said. In one of the videos, Montoya allegedly turns the camera on himself and says "It feels good to be in the Capitol baby!," according to the court documents.

He also described his experience inside the Capitol in multiple interviews on an Infowars show.

Charges: Entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol building

Daniel Ray Caldwell

The Colony man was arrested on March 22 after video captured him allegedly assaulting federal agents inside the Capitol.

Video footage uploaded to Twitter showed Caldwell spraying a mist, believed to be pepper spray, at officers who were trying to stop protesters from getting into the Capitol, a statement of facts said. A video uploaded to ProPublica shows Caldwell describing the events and saying he sprayed 15 officers after he was sprayed first, according to court documents.

Charges: Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and violent entry and disorderly conduct

ANDREW JACKSON MORGAN JR.

The Maxwell man surrendered to the FBI on April 6 after officials found YouTube videos of him at the Capitol, according to court documents.

Morgan was recording other protestors and can be heard in the video, that was later uploaded to YouTube and other sites, encouraging protesters to enter the Capitol and fight with police, a statement of facts said.

He told the FBI that he wanted to go to the Capitol "as a chameleon" because he is an "independent journalist and civil rights auditor," court documents said.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; obstruction of an official proceeding; and aiding and abetted

Grady Douglas Owens and Jason Douglas Owens

FBI

The father and son from Blanco were arrested for allegedly attacking police officers during the riots.

Grady was arrested in Florida on April 1. Body camera footage showed Owens hit a Metropolitan police officer with a skateboard as the officer was trying to push through the crowd, a statement of facts said. The officer sustained a concussion and hand injury.

Footage also showed Jason shoving another officer during the altercation, the FBI said.

The FBI said it pulled fight information that shows the two traveled from San Antonio to Washington, D.C. GPS tracking from their phones also put them at the Capitol, according to court documents.

Charges: Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and violent entry and disorderly conduct

Christian Cortez

FBI

The Seabrook man was arrested on March 26 after video footage showed him squaring off with police before going inside the Capitol atrium with his former classmate Benjamin Larocca, the FBI said.

Cortez was in the group of rioters who were trying to break through the metal barricades into the Capitol as police attempted to push them back, a statement of facts said. As police tried to close the doors, Cortez started advancing on the officers and yelling before he was sprayed with pepper spray and fire retardant, court documents said.

When interviewed by the FBI, he initially said he was trying to help the officers and disagreed with the other protestors ramming open the doors, but retracted his statement when he was shown the video of him yelling at the officers, according to court docs.

Charges: Assaulting a federal officer; civil disorder; obstructing an official proceeding; unlawfully entering a restricted building to disrupt government; and disorderly or disruptive conduct on restricted grounds

Benjamin Larocca

FBI

The Pearland man was arrested on March 26 after video footage showed him inside the Capitol atrium with his old classmate Christian Cortez, the FBI said.

Video footage posted to LaRocca's Instagram page showed him and Cortez inside the Capitol, chanting "Our house," according to the FBI. When interviewed by the FBI, LaRocca, who now lives in Pearland, said there were no police at the Capitol entrance stopping them from going inside and that they had just joined a tour group going through the Capitol, a statement of facts said.

Charges: Obstructing an official proceeding; unlawfully entering a restricted building to disrupt government; and disorderly or disruptive conduct on restricted grounds

Jalise and Mark Middleton

FBI

The Forestburg husband and wife were arrested on April 21 after allegedly assaulting Capitol police officers while trying to breach the Capitol.

The Middletons were allegedly part of a group that was trying to overpower the police blockades to get into the Capitol, a statement of facts said. As the rioters pushed against police, body camera footage caught Mark grabbing an officer's wrist and trying to pull him into the crowd before Jalise started "grappling with and striking" two of the officers, the FBI said.

Officials identified the couple after multiple tipsters provided videos from the Middletons' Facebook pages talking about how they were "on the front lines" and helped pushed down the barrier before getting pepper sprayed, the court docs said. When a follower asked why they fought with police, Jalise responded To get in the Capital to send them bs a clear message that this wont be tolerated, the court documents said.

Charges: Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; obstruction of Justice/Congress; knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; violent entry and disorderly conduct

Elizabeth Rose Williams

FBI

The life coach from Kerrville was arrested on March 23 after tipsters identified her and a man from photos on social media that show them inside the Capitol Crypt and in the gallery of the Senate Chamber during the riot, the FBI said.

On social media, Williams describes herself as a life coach, natural health enthusiast and musician. Her blog, "Life with Rose," has since been deleted.

The FBI said the man she was with frequently posted on social media about QAnon conspiracy theories on his Facebook and Parler accounts.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of government business or official functions; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

David Judd

FBI

The FBI is accusing the Dallas man of pushing officers and throwing lit objects at them during the riots. He was arrested March 26.

Judd was allegedly a part of the group of rioters who were involved in an "intense and prolonged clash between protesters and law enforcement" at the Lower West Terrace, a statement of facts said. As the group of rioters was pushing the officers, cell phone footage captured Judd yelling "ready, heave" and later yelling at the crowd to pass back riot shields that had been stolen from the officers in order to make a "shield wall," the FBI said.

Soon after, footage shows Judd lighting something on fire and throwing it toward the line of officers before turning and walking out of the tunnel, officials said.

According to the FBI, Judd spent over an hour near the tunnel, encouraging people to enter the Lower West Terrace tunnel.

Officials said they identified Judd after a witness showed FBI agents an ad Judd posted on social media asking for a ride to the rally.

Charges: Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees; and civil disorder

Kevin Blakely

FBI

FBI officials said the McKinney man's phone pinged him inside the Capitol building during the time of the riot. He was arrested March 23.

In a photo on his Facebook page, Blakely was wearing the same Figueroa Mountain Brewery sweatshirt that he was seen wearing in Capitol surveillance footage, a statement of facts said. He was also seen in Instagram and video footage taken by others at the Capitol, the FBI said.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; knowingly engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct in any restricted building or grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Richard Franklin Barnard and Jeffrey Shane Witcher

FBI

The two Marine veterans from Austin were arrested on Feb. 25 after Witcher admitted to FBI agents that he and Barnard went into the Capitol to "take part in civil disobedience which he felt was necessary," the FBI said.

A tipster told the FBI that Witcher sent them videos from inside the Capitol. Witcher, however, deleted the footage before he was interviewed by authorities, a statement of facts said. He told authorities he "saw what was happening on the news and felt the videos would be self-incriminating" but insisted he wasn't destroying evidence.

According to the FBI, agents were able to retrieve the videos from Witcher's iCloud account that show him and Barnard inside the Capitol, chanting "our house" and telling officers "Don't forget your oath! You are us!"

While inside, Barnard and two others attempted to shield police with their bodies as others shoved the officers, the FBI said.

Charges: Obstruction of an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building

Joseph Barnes

FBI

The Austin man was arrested on Feb. 10 after multiple witnesses told authorities they saw Barnes in the TV coverage of the riot.

In the footage, Barnes could be heard saying "This is our house! This is our country!" a statement of facts said. While attempting to identify Barnes, authorities said they found a Facebook page titled "Joseph Barnes Art" that showed him standing in front of artwork, pointing an assault-style rifle at the camera with a caption that said A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither.

Barnes is the vice president of an Austin-based real estate company.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; obstruction of Justice/Congress; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Luke Coffee

FBI

The Dallas man was arrested Feb. 25 after he was seen on video and in photos hitting Capitol police officers with a crutch during the riot, the FBI said.

Officials said Coffee was captured in videos in the Lower Terrace steps around the time several Metropolitan police offers were injured in violent confrontations with rioters, a statement of facts said. Coffee grabbed a crutch nearby, held it in the air while approaching the police line and then used it to push into the officers, according to the FBI.

Officers were able to push Coffee off of them before he charged at them again with the crutch, the FBI said.

Coffee was identified after a former college classmate, who happens to be a Special Agent with the FBI, recognized him, a statement of facts said. Authorities said they also have screenshots of Coffee's social media posts wearing the same brown cowboy hat and camouflage jacket he was seen wearing inside the Capitol.

Charges: Assault of federal law enforcement officer with dangerous weapon; interference with law enforcement officer during civil disorder; obstruction of an official proceeding; unlawful entry on restricted grounds; disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Wilmar Jeovanny Montano Alvarado

FBI

The Houston man was arrested Jan. 26 after he admitted to a Houston news station that he participated in the riots, according to the FBI.

He told the reporter that he was at the edge of the Capitol building barricade when people started pushing past it so he "joined in." However, a video later posted on YouTube showed Alvarado battling with police at the entrance of the building, a statement of facts said.

He was hit multiple times by a police baton and pepper sprayed as well as being hit by a speaker thrown by someone in the crowd, the FBI said.

Charges: Restricted building or grounds; violent entry or disorderly conduct; civil disorders; assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers of employees; and obstruction of official proceedings

Treniss Jewell Evans III

The Canyon Lake man was arrested after a tipster told the FBI that Evans was allegedly taking shots of Fireball inside House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office during the Capitol riot, the FBI said.

A friend of the Evans family told the FBI that Evans had taken videos on his cell phone at the Capitol. Surveillance footage later showed Evans entering the Capitol through a broken window and staying inside for about 20 minutes, the Express-News reported.

Charges: Obstruction of an official proceeding; unlawfully entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; violent entry or disorderly conduct.

Katherine Staveley Schwab

FBI

The Colleyville real estate agent was arrested on Feb. 2 after surveillance footage showed Schwab in the crowd inside the Capitol, according to the FBI.

According to a statement of facts, Schwab flew on a private plane from Denton to Washington, D.C., with Jason Hyland and Jenna Ryan, both of whom have also been arrested in connection with the riot. On Facebook, Schwab described what it was like inside the Capitol and said rioters only "raised hell" once Capitol police shot and killed a woman, according to the FBI.

When the FBI interviewed her, she said that, because of her "small stature," she was pushed into the Capitol by the crowds.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds

Jason Lee Hyland

FBI

The 37-year-old Colleyville man was arrested on Feb. 2 after surveillance footage showed Hyland inside the Capitol, the FBI said.

According to a statement of facts, Hyland flew a private plane from Denton to Washington, D.C., with Katherine Staveley Schwab and Jenna Ryan, both of whom have also been arrested in connection with the riot. Hyland told investigators, he asked a Capitol police officer if he could go inside the building and the officer replied "everyone else is," the FBI said.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds

Daniel Goodwyn

FBI

A self-proclaimed member of the Proud Boys from Cornith was arrested on Jan. 29 after appearing on another suspect's livestream video, according to a criminal complaint

Officials said Goodwyn can be seen and is called by name in a video taken by Anthime Joseph Gionet, also known as "Baked Alaska." Gionet has also been arrested on charges stemming from the Capitol riots. Goodwyn was escorted out of the Capitol, calling the officer who escorted him out an oathbreaker and yelled for rioters to take the officers badge number as he left, the criminal complaint said.

On Instagram, Goodwyn said he was inside the Capitol but only stayed for a few minutes and didn't break anything.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds

Nolan Cooke

FBI

The 22-year-old man from Savoy was arrested on Jan. 21 after three people informed the FBI about Snapchat photos that showed Cooke "helped lead the charge of rioters breaking through the police gates," officials said.

Cooke recorded the incident on a GoPro around his neck before posting video to Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, an arrest affidavit said. He also posted photos of himself and an unnamed girlfriend with the caption I wouldnt want anyone other than you with me to take on the revolution," the affidavit said.

He told officials that he went to the Capitol because he wanted to be heard, according to the affidavit.

Charges: Acts during civil disorder; entering/remaining on restricted buildings or grounds and disorderly/ disruptive conduct in or near restricted buildings or grounds; unlawful activities on Capitol grounds

Tam Dinh Pham

FBI

Pham, a Houston police officer, was arrested on Jan. 20 after telling FBI agents that he only went into the Capitol to "see history," not to vandalize or be violent, according to a statement of facts.

The 18-year veteran initially told officials that he went to Washington D.C. for business reasons. When officials asked to look through his phone, they found deleted photos and videos of him inside the Capitol, the court documents said.

He told officials he only looked at the art in the Capitol, took some photographs and left after 15 minutes, according to the court documents.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds

Joshua Loller

FBI

The Spring man was arrested on Jan. 15 after a tipster showed police photos and video from Loller's Facebook account of him inside the Capitol confronting Metropolitan police officers, a statement of facts said.

An officer's body camera footage also shows Loller on the front lines fighting with police to enter the Capitol, according to the court documents.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds; obstructing or impeding law enforcement officer during civil disorder and obstructing federally protected functions

Christopher Ray Grider

FBI

The Bruceville-Eddy man and owner of Kissing Tree Vineyards was arrested Jan. 21 in Austin after telling a Waco TV station that he was in the Capitol during the riots. He told reporters that he was within feet of Ashli Babbitt, the woman was who killed by Capitol police outside the House chambers, an arrest affidavit said. During his TV interview, Grider said "The president asked people to come and show their support. I feel like it's the least we can do, it's kind of why I came from central Texas all the way to D.C."

Officials also believe Grider handed a man a black helmet that was then used to break the glass doors of the Capitol in which Babbitt eventually attempted to jump through. Video footage shows Grider trying to push and kick the doors open, the affidavit said.

He was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service and taken to Washington D.C. for arraignment.

Charges: Government property or contracts; knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds

Chance Anthony Uptmore and James "Sonny" Uptmore

FBI

The San Antonio father and son were arrested Jan. 26 after a tipster told the FBI about comments and photos on Chance's Facebook page detailing his time inside the Capitol. Chance had posted that the violence was "minimal" and that he was trying to help the police stop other rioters, a criminal complaint said. Images of him inside the Capitol were captured by news coverage of the event.

Chance later admitted to authorities that he and his father James entered the Capitol because they were "caught up in the crowd and it was a once in a lifetime event," according to court documents.

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and impeding or disrupting official functions; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds

Daniel D. Phipps

FBI

The Dallas-area man was arrested Jan. 26 after a witness told Fort Worth police about a photo Phipps posted on Facebook inside the Capitol with an American flag draped over his shoulder, a criminal complaint said. Under the photo, Phipps wrote a comment that he was in Washington, D.C., and "helped take the Hill."

Charges: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and impeding or disrupting official functions; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds

Nicholas DeCarlo

FBI

The 30-year-old Burleson man was arrested on Jan. 26 after he gave an interview to the Los Angeles Times on Jan. 13 in which he admitted to being in the Capitol with another man named Nicholas Ochs, who has also been arrested by the FBI, a statement of facts said. DeCarlo said the two men were working as journalists but neither are listed as a credentialed reporter with the House or Senate Periodical Press Gallery. In a photo from Jan. 6, DeCarlo is wearing a shirt that says "Murder the Media," standing next to the same message etched into a Capitol wall, court documents said.

According to court documents, photos were posted to Twitter that showed him smoking in the Capitol with Ochs. Additional videos were posted on Twitter of Ochs and Decarlo speaking about how they were able to "stop the steal" by storming the Capitol, the FBI said.

Charges: Obstructing or impeding any official proceeding; knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; parading or demonstrating on Capitol grounds

Garret Miller

FBI

Miller was arrested Jan. 20 after surveillance footage purportedly shows the Dallas-area man was part of the group that first stormed the U.S. Capitol, a statement of facts said. Miller also detailed his activities inside the building on social media, including a video posted to his public Twitter account and photos on Facebook with "just wanted to incriminate myself a little lol" as a caption, according to officials.

Miller also made threats on Twitter, saying it was "hunting season" and called for the assassination of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, officials said. He also threatened the officer who fatally shot a rioter inside the Capitol, saying supporters should "hug his neck with a nice rope," according to officials.

CHARGES: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry or disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; obstructing or impeding any official proceeding; certain acts during lawful civil disorder

Matthew Carl Mazzocco

FBI

The 37-year-old San Antonio man was arrested Jan. 17 after purported videos of him at the Capitol appeared on TikTok.

Multiple tipsters led officials to Mazzocco after he posted photos from the Capitol on Facebook, including in a group for a youth sports league. Twitter users also tagged the San Antonio FBI account with videos of Mazzocco inside the Capitol, where he was "telling others not to take or destroy anything, and that they were probably going to get in trouble for what they were doing," a statement of facts said.

CHARGES: Entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry or disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Larry Rendall Brock

FBI

The Grapevine man was arrested Jan. 10 after his ex-wife called the FBI to say she recognized him in a photo inside the Capitol building wearing a patch and pilot wings from his military service.

A YouTube video showed a man resembling Brock's driver's license photo walking out of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office wearing a military-style helmet, body armor and holding flex-cuffs, according to the criminal complaint.

CHARGES: Entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry or disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Jenny Louise Cudd and Eliel Rosa

FBI

Cudd and Rosa were arrested Jan. 12.

Officials said the two were seen on surveillance footage entering the Capitol and taking photos of the rotunda before walking around outside the upper House doors. Cudd streamed a live video and Rosa posted pictures on Facebook from inside the Capitol, the FBI said. Cudd also participated in an interview with a Texas TV station in which she described what happened, saying we the Patriots did storm the U.S. Capitol," documents said. Later, when questioned, the FBI said Rosa admitted to entering the Capitol.

CHARGES: Entering a restricted building or grounds; violent entry or disorderly conduct

Anthime Joseph Gionet

Gionet, known as "Baked Alaska" on social media, was arrested in Houston on Jan. 15 after livestreaming his time inside the Capitol.

Gionet livestreamed for 27 minutes and posted on social media sites DLive, YouTube and Twitter, documents show.

CHARGES: Entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry or disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Daniel Page Adams

FBI

Adams was arrested Jan. 16 in East Texas after posting about the riot on Facebook, the FBI said.

Adams and his cousin Cody Page Carter Connell posted video on social media showing them pushing toward a line of Capital police officers and Adams "physically engaging with officers," documents show. Adams was clubbed and shot with rubber bullets, the FBI said.

CHARGES: Assaulting a federal officer; obstructing law enforcement engaged in official duties; incident to civil disorder; knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry or disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Alex Kirk Harkrider and Ryan Nichols

FBI

Harkrider, 30, of Converse and Nichols, 32, of Longview were identified by friends on Facebook.

Witnesses shared photos and videos from Nichols' Facebook page and Snapchat account that showed the two inside the Capitol. One photo depicts them standing in front of smashed windows at Pelosi's office, a criminal complaint said.

Nichols was carrying a can of pepper spray and a crowbar while Harkrider carried a baton, the FBI said. Nichols also pepper-sprayed law enforcement, according to the FBI.

They were arrested Jan. 18 in East Texas.

CHARGES: Conspiracy and unlawful entry with a dangerous weapon; violent entry or disorderly conduct; assaulting a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon; aiding and abetting

Guy Wesley Reffitt

FBI

Video from Reuters and Fox News show the Wylie resident being pepper sprayed by police.

According to an arrest affidavit, Reffitt's son told officials he took his gun to the Capitol to "protect the country." His son also told officials that Reffitt said he "would have no option but to do what he had to do" and threatened to shoot his family if they turned him into the authorities, the FBI said.

He was arrested Jan. 18.

CHARGES: Entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry or disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; obstruction of justice

Troy Anthony Smocks

Smocks posted on the social media platform Parler that he would be at the Capitol and planned on returning Jan. 19 with far-right groups that would "come in numbers that no standing army or police agency can match," FBI documents show.

According to the FBI, Smocks also told his social media followers they needed to "hunt theses cowards down like the traitors that each of them are." He also said to target certain groups, including democrats.

He was arrested Jan. 15.

CHARGES: Threats in interstate commerce

Jenna Ryan

FBI

The Frisco real estate agent, who took a private plane to Washington, D.C., was arrested Jan. 15 after livestreaming herself at the Capitol calling it the "best day of her life," the FBI said.

One video posted before the riots, Ryan is talking to a bathroom mirror saying "We're going to go down and storm the Capitol. They're down there right now and that's why we came and so that's what we are going to do. So wish me luck," a statement of facts said. Later, as she was inside the Capitol, she said "Y'all know who to hire for your realtor, Jenna Ryan for your realtor," the court documents said.

After her arrest, she asked Trump to pardon her, CBS11 reported. She told the news station "I dont feel a sense of shame or guilty from my heart. I feel like I was basically following my president."

CHARGES: Knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
PORTLAND, Ore. - Plans for a major West Coast liquified natural gas pipeline and export terminal hit a snag Tuesday with federal regulators after a years-long legal battle that has united tribes, environmentalists and a coalition of residents on Oregon's rural southern coast against the proposal.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Plans for a major West Coast liquified natural gas pipeline and export terminal hit a snag Tuesday with federal regulators after a years-long legal battle that has united tribes, environmentalists and a coalition of residents on Oregon's rural southern coast against the proposal.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled that energy company Pembina could not move forward with the proposal without a key clean water permit from the state of Oregon. The U.S. regulatory agency gave its tentative approval to the pipeline last March as long as it secured the necessary state permits, but the Canadian pipeline company has been unable to do so.

It had appealed to the commission over the state's clean water permit, arguing that Oregon had waived its authority to issue a clean water certification for the project and therefore its denial of the permit was irrelevant.

But the commission found instead that Pembina had never requested the certification and that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality "could not have waived its authority to issue certification for a request it never received.

The ruling was hailed as a major victory by opponents of Jordan Cove, which would be the first such LNG overseas export terminal in the lower 48 states. The proposed 230-mile (370-kilometre) feeder pipeline would begin in Malin, in southwest Oregon, and end at the city of Coos Bay on the rural Oregon coast.

Jordan Cove did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment and it was unclear what next steps the project would take.

Opposition to the pipeline has brought together southern Oregon tribes, environmentalists, anglers and coastal residents since 2006.

"Thousands of southern Oregonians have raised their voices to stop this project for years and will continue to until the threat of Jordan Cove LNG is gone for good, said Hannah Sohl, executive director of Rogue Climate.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who has opposed the project, said in a statement on Twitter that she was pleased with the ruling.

At every stage of the regulatory process, I have insisted that the Jordan Cove LNG project must meet Oregons rigorous standards for protecting the environment, or it cannot move forward, she wrote.

The outgoing Trump administration has supported energy export projects and in particular Jordan Cove. It had proposed streamlining approval of gas pipelines and other energy projects by limiting states certification authorities under the U.S. Clean Water Act.
Amritsar: Police have seized a large consignment of arms and drugs from the Gharinda area of Amritsar on Tuesday. He has seized 5.2 kg of heroin, an AK-47 (sub-machine gun), magazines, 13 live cartridges, and a pistol from the area. SSP Dhruv Dahiya of Amritsar (Gramin) informed that an FIR has been lodged under the NDPS Act and Arms Act.

According to local media reports, the consignment was sent from Pakistan, which was sent by Bilal Sandhu, a notorious smuggler living. The consignment of arms and heroin was kept hidden near the barbed wire and sought by a smuggler living in India. Police are engaged in the detection of smugglers and their entire network and are conducting raids in different places.

According to reports, Maninder Singh, in-charge of the Gharinda police station, was informed about the smuggling of arms and heroin from Pakistan, after which the action has been taken. It was reported that the consignment was kept hidden near the barbed wire in the BOP Dauke. The search operation was followed and the consignment was recovered.

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HSE chief Paul Reid has said he is disappointed that family of staff in two hospitals received the vaccine ahead of frontline workers.

He said that such stories are not doing the programme any good.

Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne this morning, Mr Reid said while the stories relate to a small number of cases, he appreciates that it has caused significant distress among the public.

He said that the plan for sequencing was in place from the start and it was clear in terms of prioritising frontline healthcare workers.

"I don't think anybody needed further guidelines in terms of being clear about what work first should be done, what was the priority - it was made very clear in the sequencing document from the very start."

Despite the clear guidelines already in place, a further document was issued on January 12 which set out clearer principles and further detail on micro-level of sequencing and how to prioritise healthcare workers.

"Those examples have happened, they shouldn't have happened. They did happen. Everybody needs to learn from what happened."

Mr Reid said the important thing to do now is to really make sure the guidelines are clear and that there be a stand-by list of the right workforce.

"Plan in advance, have a back up in case some of your prioritised workforce doesn't show up on the day or you have extra vials.

"So it is really set out very clear for them - the system, don't waste vials, do prioritise those people who should be prioritised, do have a stand by list."

However, the chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) Professor Karina Butler told Claire Byrne the vaccination centres setting up did have lists and backup lists in case people didn't turn up.

We knew that we didn't want to waste any vaccine, the centre didn't want to waste any vaccine - if someone for any reason that was scheduled, suddenly wasn't going to be able to get it, maybe became ill, for any reason - there would be people on call.

"Already people were aware we didn't want anything to be wasted. The recommendations were to try to go through the prioritisation list, she explained.

If there weren't people available I know that they reached out to the community for some GPs and NIAC's recommendation would always be to go through the prioritisation list to try and find people who would be suitable to get the dose.

Professor Karina Butler, Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.

Prof Butler said part of the issue with the extra doses of the vaccine at hospitals last weekend was because careful administration had meant that a seventh dose had been possible from each vial.

I want to explain what happened, it was over a weekend - in one of the hospitals in question they suddenly realised that not only had they gotten six doses out of a vial but because of their skill, because of the needle type syringes they were using, there was actually enough for a seventh dose, she said.

The question was, could they use that seventh dose or would they just leave it because the recommendations were just to give six doses - that prompted some discussions and it was late in the evening - this vaccine has a very short life once it's drawn.

It wasn't an authorised dose and so you felt that anyone getting that dose had to understand the context in which it was drawn up and if they were willing to take it on that basis, then that was fine.

Prof Butler said she understood that stories such as the ones from Dublin and Kerry are distressing for people.

I know when stories like that come out it is very distressing, particularly for people who are waiting in the wings and perceive that it is some way delaying the vaccine that they are due.

"I can't explain every episode and every explanation I give might not account for maybe slippages that have been seen in some ways.

I can explain some of it, allay fears and help people realise that actually, everyone involved in the campaign is trying to get the vaccine to the right people, the right arm at the right time.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said the controversies have raised question marks.

Nobody would be happy to hear that any vaccine is wasted, thats the last thing we want to see, Ms McDonald told RTEs Today With Claire Byrne show.

But the idea that there are spare vaccines that could be dispensed in accordance with just the judgment of an individual, and that in some cases those vaccines would go to family members, it isnt acceptable.

In fairness, the master of the Coombe has acknowledged and has apologised. This cant happen again.

The wider concern is the necessity for very, very clear guidance in a timely fashion so that all those who are charged with dispensing these vaccines, safely and in an order of priority, are very clear what the instruction is.

It raises just a question mark as to why that wasnt clear and why that wasnt there from the get go.

Were not dealing with the vast, vast quantities as of yet of vaccines.

Were dealing with a very limited supply, so it is astonishing, therefore, that the clearest of guidance wasnt available to everybody, given that this is such a scarce and such a precious resource at this point.

Read More Nursing home calls in army but hits out at social media commentary

Despite the controversy this week, Mr Reid said the vaccine rollout has gone primarily to plan.

"The pace at which the programme is rolling out is very significant, we are meeting every level of supply that we get in."

About 1.9% of Irelands population has been given the Covid-19 vaccine.

According to the Health Minister, by Sunday night, 94,000 vaccines were administered, with 71,000 frontline healthcare workers and 23,000 of residents and staff of long-term care facilities inoculated.
EU 'also to blame' for migrant crisis in Bosnia, Amnesty Muslim aid org arrived to help Red Cross after IOM left in Dec.

(ANSAmed) - SARAJEVO, JANUARY 20 - The current migration crisis in Bosnia is the consequence of decisions made by local authorities but also of EU policy, Amnesty International said in a recent statement.



The organization urged European instititions to collaborate with Bosnian authorities to solve the problem.



"The EU's responsibility is clear - the current humanitarian crisis is also a consequence of EU's policy of fortifying its borders that has left thousands of people stranded on its periphery or in the neighbouring countries,'' it said in the statement.



The organization warned that another crisis may occur next winter if the issue is not given the attention it deserves now.



The mayor of Bihac has said that there are approximately 900 people currently in the Lipa camp, 400 each in the Borici and Sedra camps - both in Bihac - and 1,000 refugees in the Moral camp in the nearby Velika Kladusa.



UNHCR has stated that an additional 700 to 1,000 people are sleeping in abandoned buildings and woods as close as possible to the Croatian border.



According to the border town mayor, the migration crisis in Bosnia has been in place for three years and has steadily worsened over that time.



After the International Organization (IOM) withdrew from Lipa in late December, the Muslim humanitarian organisation Merhamet arrived to help the Red Cross. (ANSAmed).




A man sought in deadly 2020 Montgomery shooting was captured in Florida.

The Escambia County Sheriffs Office Warrants Division and U.S. Marshals arrested 27-year-old Pierre Tremore Woods on Tuesday, sheriffs officials posted on Facebook. The fugitive was taken into custody at a home in the 2700 block of Massachusetts Avenue without incident.

Woods is charged with murder in the Nov. 5 slaying of 27-year-old Joshua Thompson.

Montgomery and Prattville police, Montgomery County sheriffs deputies and fire medics were dispatched at 2:52 p.m. that day to the area of Highway 31 at River Bridge after receiving a report of a body found. The body was taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for autopsy, which revealed the victim had been shot.

Through their investigation, detectives learned that Thompson had been killed in a different location and dumped at River Bridge. A motive has not yet been released.
Washington: US President Donald Trump has granted clemency to former top adviser Steve Bannon as part of a wave of 143 pardons and commutations issued during his final day in the White House.

With just hours remaining until Joe Biden's inauguration, Trump pardoned Bannon, who ran his successful 2016 presidential campaign during its final months. The 67-year-old was charged last year with defrauding Trump supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the president's wall on the US-Mexico border.

Bannon and Trump fell out during the first year of his presidency but the two men recently rekindled their relationship as Trump sought support for his unproven claims of voter fraud.

Trump issued a list of 73 pardons and 70 commutations on Wednesday (AEDT), continuing a tradition of presidents issuing a swathe of such last-minute decisions before leaving office.

ROMULUS, MI  Two people accused of attacking two Spirit Airlines gate agents have been charged with several misdemeanors related to the incident.

Jameel Murphy, 30, and Raymonique Williams, 29, both of Detroit, are each charged with aggravated assault, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace, according to a news release from Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

On Jan. 17, the couple was attempting to board a Spirit flight from Detroit to Atlanta when an argument broke out between them and the gate agent concerning fees for their carry-on luggage, the release said. Murphy and Williams allegedly attacked the agent, striking him in the face, and attempted to open the boarding gate. When another agent intervened, he was allegedly struck in the head by Williams and Murphy; he was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later released. Murphy and Williams were arrested at the scene.

Murphy and Williams were arraigned on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Wayne Countys 34th District Court in Romulus before Judge Brian Oakley, the release said. They were granted a $1,000 personal bond. A pre-trial hearing is set for March 17.

The couple was also banned from Spirit Airlines flights.

RELATED: 2 arrested for attacking Spirit Airlines agents, sending 1 to hospital

Its hard to imagine that we are living in a civilized society these days, Worthy said in a statement. This case represents what we have lost today: collegiality, waiting your turn, following the rules, being good to your fellow citizen, and above all, being kind and patient. Everything you learned in kindergarten.

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Farmers' Protest: Farmers are not being allowed to come to Bengaluru, says DK Shivakumar

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 20: Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Wednesday claimed that farmers coming to Bengaluru to participate in the anti-farm laws protest called by the party were being stopped by the police. Shivakumar also urged farmers to stop wherever they were, "block highways" and protest in support of the farmers protesting in Delhi since November.

"I got several phone calls that farmers coming to Bengaluru from other districts are being stopped by police and not being allowed to come to Bengaluru. I urge farmers to stop wherever they are, block highways, roads and protest in support of farmers," Shivakumar said.

Farmers' Protest: Centre-farmers to hold tenth round of talks today

"I know the BJP govt is trying to stop farmers at any cost and is not letting them participate in the protest. I request protesters to come to Sangolli Rayanna statue and participate in the massive protest rally," he added.

On Tuesday, the KPCC chief said that it would "lay siege" to the Raj Bhavan against the three laws. He also announced that pick-up vehicles will be arranged at the Bengaluru city railway station for farmers coming to Bengaluru from other districts to participate in the protest.

Supreme Court to hear on Centre's plea seeking injunction against farmers' tractor parade today

Also, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi released "Kheti ka Khoon" booklet to highlight pitfalls of the farm laws, in Delhi. Gandhi also remarked that the country's image was being tarnished as lakh of farmers have been compelled to protest in biting cold.

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

Protests against the farm laws, the implementation of which was stayed by the Supreme Court till further orders, entered day 56 on Wednesday. Also on the day, the apex court will hear Delhi Police's plea seeking injunction of the proposed Republic Day tractor march; the hearing was adjourned on Monday.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 10:59 [IST]

Obviously, I dont want to do anything that might negatively impact the baby, but at the same time, I want to protect myself as much as possible, and the baby as much as possible, she said. It increases my anxiety for sure.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGate

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency board met this week, recommending that sections of Page Street, Shotwell Street and Sanchez Street become permanently car-free. The three streets are part of the citys Slow Streets program, enacted in April to ensure safer corridors for essential travel and social distancing amid the pandemic.

In the summer and fall, SFMTA surveyed more than 2,850 residents of and visitors to Lake, Page and Shotwell streets, and the results found that 86% of residents support the program and 92% of visitors report a positive experience along a slow street.

An impasse in Parliament has stymied a push to investigate banks and insurance companies that consider climate change as a factor in major deals, with Nationals MP George Christensen struggling to get the numbers for the inquiry.

In a test for the government, Mr Christensen has failed twice to secure a majority vote for a review he vowed to pursue last year out of concern banks were refusing to lend to coal and gas projects.

Nationals MP George Christensen is struggling to get the numbers for the inquiry. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Liberals are seeking to change the terms of reference after Mr Christensen blew his top at a meeting in December when Labor refused to vote for the inquiry and a key Liberal MP, Katie Allen, could not attend.

The objections are a setback for Resources Minister Keith Pitt, who asked the committee to set up the inquiry, and Nationals colleagues who have railed at banks for questioning projects like the Adani coal mine in Queensland.
TORONTO - A defamation lawsuit by the worlds largest fast-food operator against Canada's public broadcaster over a report on the chain's chicken sandwiches can proceed, Ontario's top court has ruled.

A Subway fast food restaurant's sign is shown in New York on Oct. 24, 2016. A defamation lawsuit by the worlds largest fast-food operator against Canada's public broadcaster over a report on the chain's chicken sandwiches can proceed, Ontario's top court has ruled. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Mark Lennihan

TORONTO - A defamation lawsuit by the worlds largest fast-food operator against Canada's public broadcaster over a report on the chain's chicken sandwiches can proceed, Ontario's top court has ruled.

In setting aside a ruling that dismissed Subway's $210-million suit without a hearing on its merits, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled the untested claim was far from frivolous and deserved a thorough airing.

"Allowing this action to proceed to a determination on the merits gives appropriate weight to the public interest in seeing harm arising from defamatory statements remedied and the public interest in protecting the type of expression in which CBC engaged," the Appeal Court said.

The CBC television show "Marketplace" in 2017 asserted about half the DNA in Subway chicken was in fact chicken and the other half soy. The report was based on testing done at Trent University.

A Subway expert on DNA methods and food testing said the tests were seriously flawed and their results inaccurate. It maintained its own tests found no more than one per cent soy.

Subway sued CBC, "Marketplace" host Charlsie Agro and others who worked on the show. It also sued Trent for defamation and negligence, arguing the testing was careless.

The company argued the program was false, had unfairly damaged its reputation, hurt sales and caused huge financial losses.

CBC argued in Superior Court that the defamation suit ran afoul of a so-called anti-SLAPP legislation, which bars legal action when the purpose is to shut down discussion of issues in the public interest. In November 2019, Justice Edward Morgan sided with the broadcaster.

Morgan also ordered Subway to pay CBC $500,000 in legal costs and another $178,000 in fees and disbursements.

On appeal, Subway argued Morgan had made several errors. Among them, the company argued the judge was wrong to find CBC had a valid defence and that the public interest in protecting free expression outweighed the harm caused.

The higher court agreed with Subway, faulting Morgan among other things for finding CBC had done enough due diligence before going to air.

"There was no urgency to the dissemination of the information," the Appeal Court ruled. "Had more due diligence been conducted before its dissemination, the information could have been verified."

The Appeal Court also found Morgan was wrong to decide the public interest outweighed the potential damage to Subways reputation and financial interests.

"At the heart of the action is CBCs ability to rely on the defence of responsible communication," the Appeal Court ruled.

"The continuation of the action should not deter others from expression, but should deter others from making remarks without first taking reasonable steps to substantiate the veracity of those remarks."

A lawyer for Subway did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but CBC spokesman Chuck Thompson expressed disappointed with the decision.

"(We) stand by our journalism and are now considering next steps," Thompson said.

The Appeal Court, in a parallel ruling, rejected Morgan's decision that Subway's negligence claim against Trent could proceed. The appellate court set aside the $220,000 Trent had to pay Subway and instead ordered the company to pay the school $45,000 for the costs of the appeal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2021.
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Kamala Harris' childhood best friend has told how the kindness of the Vice President- elect's family 'changed the trajectory of her life' when they took her in as a teenager.

Wanda Kagan, an administrative agent from Montreal, met the Harris after they both joined Westmount High School in Quebec and said the pair 'instantly bonded'.

Before graduating in 1981, Wanda confided in Kamala that she was facing abuse at the hands of her stepfather, and Kamala's mother Shyamala Gopalan insisted that she come to live with the family for her final year of high school.

Appearing on Lorraine today, she told how living with the family had a 'huge impact and influence' on her life, and that Kamala has been 'paving the way' for change since she was a teenager.

Kamala Harris' childhood best friend has told how the kindness of her family 'changed the trajectory of her life' when they took her in as a teenager. Pictured, Kamala and Wanda together in the 1980s

Later today, Joe Biden will officially be sworn in as the President of the United States with Kamala (pictured in January this year) taking up the role of Vice President

Speaking of being taken in by the family, Wanda said: 'That's a special bond that we will always have, when we catch up talking with each other.

'There were troubling times, but it was over shadowed by the very good times. Her mother was a very strong independent woman.

'She was a huge influence in her life and in my life. Living with them in that structured, studious environment - hanging out in her room with her, playing music, going to dance practice, studying together - had a huge impact and influence of my life and changed the trajectory of my life, that I went on to college and then university.'

Wanda Kagan (pictured), an administrative agent from Montreal, appeared on Lorraine today to speak about her friendship with Kamala

She told host Lorraine Kelly (pictured left) they both joined Westmount High School in Quebec and said the pair 'instantly bonded'

While Kamala was born in California, she and her sister moved with their mother to Montreal, Quebec when she was 12.

Wanda said that Kamala has always been keen to change 'the culture' for women, making a 'statement' by inviting girls who had no dates to attend the school prom in a group.

'Back then Kamala and I were finding there were girls who were upset they didn't have a date, they were feeling pressure', said Wanda.

'Back then it wasn't even acceptable to go alone, but we decided to change the culture and back then she was paving ways. It was like "a group of us will go together", and that was a strong statement back then, almost 40 years ago.'

Before graduating in 1981, Wanda confided in Kamala that she was facing abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Pictured, the pair together during high school

Kamala's mother Shyamala Gopalan insisted that she come to live with the family for her final year of high school. Pictured, the pair together during high school

The pair lost touch after graduating high school, but reconnected after Kagan reached out when Wanda saw a profile of the then San Francisco district attorney in 2005.

In September, Kamala revealed on Instagram that it was the abuse of her high school friend that has inspired her to fight for women.

She penned: 'When I was in high school, I learned my best friend was being molested by her father. Once she told me, I said to her: "Well, you have to come stay with us". And she did.

'A big part of the reason I wanted to be a prosecutor was to protect people like her and change the system.'

In September, Kamala revealed on Instagram that it was the abuse of a high school friend that has inspired her to fight for women. Pictured, Harris speaking at a memorial for victims of the coronavirus yesterday

Later today, Joe Biden will officially be sworn in as the President of the United States with Kamala becoming the first female Vice President, and Wanda predicted its 'just the beginning' for her childhood friend.

When asked whether she thought Kamala could eventually become president, she said: 'It could happen, I believe it could happen.

'I think this is just the beginning. I was reflecting a lot over the past couple of days on times we were together, her strength her leadership.'

She added: 'Anyone can make history, but it takes a great woman to write history and that's what she's doing.'
A perfectly preserved midcentury modern home in Portland, OR, featured in the TV show Shrill has come on the market for $639,000.

Dont bet on it selling at that price, which seems like a bargain basement rate compared to homes in California of a similar era.

After only a week, the famous home has already been scheduled for 70 showings and has multiple offers, according to the listing agent, Lori Fenwick with Premiere Property Group.

Fenwick says that the amount of attention from potential buyers is probably due to the show, where the property features as the home of the parents of the main character, Annie, played by Aidy Bryant.

Its unlike what a lot of people see in Portland, she says.

In addition to its star turn on the Hulu show, the four-bedroom home, built in 1959, has a prestigious pedigree. Known as the Wedgwood Home of Tomorrow, the 1,650-square-foot residence was designed by the architect William Fletcher.

Its futuristic features include an open floor plan and built-in appliancesfrom the sound system to the kitchen blender.

Decorative room dividers are another eye-catching feature of the home. Theres also a built-in scale, which might raise an eyebrow from Bryant's character, Annie.

The home also garnered attention when it was featured on Restore Oregon's architectural tour, as well as by the magazine Portland Monthly, according to Fenwick.

The current owners bought the property in 2015 for $450,000 and have also offered a guest suite in the home on Airbnb.

Live like a Jetson! Private suite and courtyard, the listing beckons.

The show-stopping design features floor-to-ceiling windows, a one-of-a kind floating fireplace, and cork floors. An atrium and courtyard help add to the sunny and serene space. Outside, the quarter-acre lot offers a covered patio, lawn, and landscaping.

"Shrill," set in Portland, just wrapped its third season. It's based on a memoir by Lindy West.

We wanted the parents to have a lot of personality and not feel hyper buttoned-up or suburban, Bryant told Architectural Digest, in discussing the choice of the home.

We were scouting houses and looked at so many cool midcentury modern houses. And when we saw that one, we felt right away that it had a personality, she added.

You could feel that life had been lived thereyou could feel the decades. Thats what we loved about that space.

Potential buyers may want to keep in mind that the home may remain in the spotlight, as fans of Shrill search it out. Perhaps new owners may want to keep the income flowing with the Airbnb rental.

The owners love the home, but have decided to move on to a new project, Fenwick notes. While they lived there, they spruced it up, installed new cork and vinyl flooring, and added a back deck. They were careful to keep the elements in tune with the original era.

Its just such a special home all around, Fenwick says.

The post See Inside the 'Shrill' House: Midcentury Marvel Attracts a Huge Audience appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
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NEW MILFORD  A proposed affordable housing development is under review by town officials, but some residents have raised concerns over the propertys wetlands and effect on neighboring houses.

Nelson DaSilva Jr., who owns property on Crawford Road, has proposed building five multifamily buildings that include 27 housing units over his 10 acres. The housing would be developed in three phases, according to the proposal, which DaSilva is putting forward because he thinks the town needs more housing.

Rent is getting too expensive, I think affordable housing is going to help the community, DaSilva said.

DaSilva worked with engineer Jason Edwards from J. Edwards and Associates to develop the three-phased plan. The first and second phases aim to construct two buildings housing 12 townhouse units on the northern and eastern portions of the property in eight to 12 months per phase, the proposal said.

The third and final phase  estimated at lasting eight months  on the southwest section of the site would produce the fifth structure containing three single-floor units accessible to the handicapped. Each of the five buildings will have separate septic systems and driveways, according to the proposal.

The proposal is before the Inland Wetlands Commission, which has raised concerns about wetlands on the property and in the surrounding area. Additionally, several residents have also voiced concerns, writing letters to the commission about how the development might affect traffic, drainage, woodlands preservation and home values should the affordable housing plan move forward. A petition calling residents to say no to the construction has circulated on social media.

Tammy and Tom Reardon  homeowners across the street from the Crawford Road property has repeatedly had to reconstruct her driveway due to flooding in the area, they said. They fear the towns current drainage infrastructure cannot handle the increased water flow from the development and may make matters worse.

DaSilva, however, said the towns runoff is being dumped onto his property from Park Lane, running down the lower side of the site and often overflowing over the catch basin at the end of the road causing flooding. Edwards suggested constructing an underground pipe to manage the runoff and direct it to the basin while avoiding future flooding.

In a letter, the towns consultant, Ryan McEvoy, advised the commission of DaSilvas proposal needing revisions detailing further plans for drainage alternatives, groundwater control measures and the potential septic systems among other regulatory concerns.

DaSilva said he is working with engineers to address the commissions concerns and prevent flooding. The commission is scheduled to revisit the proposal on Feb. 11, DaSilva said.

Saga today became the first travel group to insist on all passengers being vaccinated before embarking on their cruises.

The firm, which mainly caters to over-50s based in the UK, today wrote to passengers saying they must be inoculated at least 14 days before travel and take a Covid test at the terminal.

It is pushing its restart date for cruises back to May 4 to allow passengers to receive two vaccine doses in time for their holiday.

The UK government has now decided to delay the time between jab doses to 12 weeks, so passengers would have to receive their first dose within the next few weeks to hit the May deadline.

The Spirit of Adventure ship will host Saga's first cruise since the start of the Covid pandemic

The Spirit of Discovery will be next to leave harbour on June 2. All passengers will need to have received two Covid jabs

Nick Stace, chief executive of Saga's travel arm, told customers: 'Given that many of our customers are in the priority age range and we've done calculations based on what government has said, we think shortly after beginning of May almost all of customers will have received a second vaccination.

'To allow our customers time to get vaccinated, we are moving the restart date for our travel businesses to May.

'Our new vaccination policy will be in addition to the detailed arrangements we have already put in place for when cruises and other holidays restart.'

Given that Saga will swab passengers at the terminal, this suggests they will use rapid lateral flow tests rather than the more accurate, but slower, PCR tests.

The cruise line will also introduce social distancing on its ships, double its onboard medical teams and use a 'state-of-the-art' air conditioning system to circulate fresh air.

Ken Hughes receives an injection of a Covid-19 vaccine at an NHS vaccine centre in Birmingham

The first ship to depart will be the Spirit of Adventure on May 4 and the Spirit of Discovery on June 2.

It came as Boris Johnson today insisted the UK is still 'on track' to hit the target of vaccinating the 14million most vulnerable people by mid-February despite rising alarm at a slowdown in progress.

The PM warned that 'constraints on supply' were making the situation harder as he was grilled by MPs in the Commons this afternoon, after alarm that the daily rate had fallen for a third consecutive day.

'We are on track to deliver our pledge, though it is very hard because of constraints on supply,' Mr Johnson said.

The intervention came amid mounting confusion about the source of the problems, with just 204,000 people given their first dose on Monday, down from 225,000 on Sunday, 277,000 on Saturday and a high of 324,000 on Friday.

In order to meet the target the government must average more than 350,000 doses a day from now until February 15, with the previous bullish tone from officials abruptly getting more anxious.

However, in a more optimistic development this afternoon NHS England released provisional data showing it had administered 301,362 more doses in 24 hours.

Boris Johnson stressed the scale of the challenge as he was grilled by MPs in the Commons this afternoon, after alarm that the daily rate had fallen for a third consecutive day

Pfizer's supplies have been dented by a factory upgrade which will continue into next month. Government sources have flatly dismissed claims there are 21million doses of vaccines already in the country, although they refused to give details of stocks saying it would be a security risk.

Officials say there are 'a lot of moving parts' contributing to the slowdown, with 'intermittent' deliveries of supplies, as well as difficulties contacting the remaining over-80s and covering care homes among the factors. However, there are hopes in Whitehall that today's numbers will go up again.

MPs have also voiced frustration at the way supplies have been divvied out across the UK. In London the allocation is believed to have been based on takeup of last season's flu vaccine, which was relatively low.

Meanwhile, there are complaints that the system is descending into a 'free for all' with council staff being given jabs before 70-somethings in some areas.

The chaos has fuelled fears that lockdown measures will have to last longer, with suggestions that the earliest timetable for a significant easing has slipped 'beyond Easter'. Sir Patrick Vallance cautioned this morning that infection numbers are 'nowhere near where they need to be' to consider loosening measures.

At PMQs, Mr Johnson played up the achievements of the rollout and indicated he is determined to stick with the priority list set out by the JCVI vaccines experts.

Pushed on whether frontline workers such as police, firefighters, carers, and teachers would be given priority in the next phase, Mr Johnson said: 'We must rely on what the JCVI has to say, the priorities that the experts have decided, but of course we want to see those groups that he mentions vaccinated as soon as possible.

'I am very pleased that in spite of all the difficulties we gave 1.5 million people their first dose, up half a million on the week before.'
SANTA ANA, CA and ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / January 20, 2021 / Allied Universal, a leading security and facility services company in North America, recently announced the acquisition of SecurAmerica - a privately held, Atlanta, Georgia-based security company with 49 offices located throughout the United States. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

SecurAmerica was founded by Frank Argenbright, a Georgia entrepreneur who, over the past 40 years, has built both security and facilities management companies with operations around the world, beginning with Argenbright Security in 1979. In 2005, Argenbright launched SecurAmerica with the goal of becoming the first US-based, privately held security company to compete globally. His company now operates in over 100 markets with revenues exceeding $467 million and more than 13,500 employees.

"I have personally known Frank for over 20 years," said Steve Jones, Chairman & CEO of Allied Universal. "He has accomplished so much in the security industry and to have an opportunity to bring SecurAmerica into Allied Universal is a huge personal achievement and a major strategic goal for the organization. SecurAmerica is a demonstrated leader in the security industry and their people and culture will fit perfectly into Allied Universal and our long-term organizational plans."

In 2015, SecurAmerica acquired American Security Programs, a wholly-owned subsidiary that services cleared commercial and government contracts. The company's government division provides a wide range of asset protection and security services to the governmental sector and commercially clear clients and possesses top levels of federal security clearances and has strong relations with government agencies.

"SecurAmerica experienced great growth since the company's inception in 2005," said Argenbright. "SecurAmerica looks forward to partnering with Steve Jones and his team. It is my belief that becoming part of an organization with the scale, technology focus, and depth of service that Allied Universal offers will afford SecurAmerica enhanced opportunities for success in the future."

About Allied Universal

Allied Universal, a leading security and facility services company with more than 265,000 employees and revenues at nearly $9.5 billion, provides unparalleled security services and technology solutions. With offices located throughout the nation as well as internationally (Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom), Allied Universal is responsible for protecting more than 50,000 client sites covering multiple specialty sectors such as higher education, healthcare, retail, commercial real estate, government and corporate campuses, etc. Supported by vast experience gained from being in business for over 60 years, Allied Universal provides proactive security services and cutting-edge smart technology to deliver evolving, tailored solutions that allow clients to focus on their core business. Through world-class customer service, highly advanced systems and cohesive technology solutionsAllied Universal is There for you. For more information, please visit www.aus.com.

About SecurAmerica

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, SecurAmerica is one of the largest privately-held security services firms in the United States. The company provides superior security services with expertise in high-tech facilities, hospitals, manufacturing/industrial, distribution and logistics centers, major federal agencies, commercial cleared contracts, retail and shopping malls, data centers, utility/energy, sporting events, stadiums and arenas in addition to upscale residential communities and commercial real estate campuses and buildings. Additional information is available at www.securamerica.com

. Media Contacts :

Vanessa Showalter, Allied Universal/PR Manager Phone: 714-619-9744 Email: Vanessa.Showalter@aus.com

Nancy Thompson, Vorticom Public Relations Phone: 212-532-2208 Email: nancyt@vorticom.com

SOURCE: Allied Universal

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/624980/Allied-Universal-Acquires-Atlanta-Based-SecurAmerica
Rachel Levine is Joe Bidens selection for Assistant Secretary of HHS. She will be the first transgender nominee to a Senate-confirmed position (or maybe just the first known one). I dont care. Do you?

What I care about is Levines record as Pennsylvanias Health Secretary. It is sickening, as Ed Morrissey shows:

While Levine ran the Pennsylvania health department, she followed the example of Andrew Cuomo in ordering nursing homes to readmit residents who tested positive for COVID-19. Levine then made sure to get her own mother out of the nursing home to avoid the consequences of that decision.

(Emphasis added)

Good call for mama. Bad call for public health. Six of the 10 long-term care facilities with the most coronavirus deaths nationwide are in Pennsylvania.

Even Democratic politicians in Pennsylvania have acknowledged the folly of ordering nursing homes to accept recovering coronavirus patients.. And, of course, Levine recognized it when she pulled her mother from one of them.

Levines scandalous behavior was widely reported at the time. Team Biden must have known about it. Nonetheless, it tabbed her for a top health job.

Ed thinks Levines nomination might have been the result of a breakdown in the vetting process. Alternatively, he suggests that maybe identity politics trumped the obvious problem of Levines coronavirus double standard. Im inclined to go with that explanation, but who knows?

Will Senate Democrats balk at the nomination who put tens of thousands of people at risk of dying in nursing homes and then pulled her mother out of the death trap she (Levine) had imposed? Maybe, but Im not counting on it. Senate Dems are no less enthralled by identity politics than Bidens team.

I suspect that Levine would have to be an ax murderer before they would reject the first transgender nominee blah, blah, blah.
Biden to Rely on Executive Orders, Appointees to Push Progressive Agenda

News Analysis

While former Vice President Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 as the nations 46th president and the Democrats will control both chambers of Congress, that doesnt assure smooth sailing for his policy agenda, according to experts on both sides of the partisan aisle.

Bidens problem is the numbers: His party controls the Senate by one vote, that of Vice President Kamala Harris, but only when theres a split among the upper chambers 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans.

That means if, for instance, Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia goes against the grain of his partisan colleagues, Harris wont be called on to break a tie on the issue at hand.

In the House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) presides over a Democratic majority of only 10 votes, but, with three vacancies still to be filled, the advantage easily could slip to single digits.

That might be bad news for the Democratic socialist policies favored by Bidens far-left supporters such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), including steeply higher corporate and individual tax rates, the Green New Deal, Obamacare expansion, open borders immigration policies, a nationwide minimum wage of $15 or higher, defunding the police, free college tuition and student loan forgiveness, and universal free preschool.

It also means Biden will have to rely upon executive orders (EO), rather than legislative action to turn key pieces of his agenda into federal policy.

Relying on EOs is exactly what Maggie Thomas, Bidens choice as chief of staff for the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, reportedly is encouraging the incoming president to do on his first day in office.

If Biden follows Thomass advice, that first-day EO will create a government-wide environmental justice initiative thats designed to put the lefts social justice issues front and center in environmental policy.

Biden can also be expected to spend much of his first few days in office repealing EOs signed by his immediate predecessor, President Donald Trump, and reinstituting many from Trumps predecessor, President Barack Obama.

Legislative Agenda

But for much of the Biden agenda, Congress simply cant be bypassed, with the result, according to Republican strategist Brian Darling, that President Bidens legislative agenda will be a bit dialed back  Biden will be able to do quite a bit through executive actions, but not nearly as much in Congress unless he enlists Republicans to support his agenda items.

Darling, who has worked in and around Congress for more than two decades, said, There are moderate Democrats in the House and Senate who like elected office and dont want to risk losing their jobs in 2022, therefore, they will resist the most extreme elements of the Biden agenda.

Similarly, when Democratic campaign strategist Robin Biro was asked by The Epoch Times what he would tell Biden if he was a White House legislative strategist, he said, what I would tell him is there are more conservative Democrats than there are liberal Republicans, and that we need to acknowledge that and be pretty realistic about what were putting before Congress, for that reason.

Biro, who is based in Atlanta and was a regional political director for President Barack Obamas 2008 campaign, said he senses a renewal of common sense in Bidens decisions to not lift President Donald Trumps tariffs on Chinese imports or tear down the 460 miles of new wall he built on the U.S. border with Mexico.

Looking through Bidens various proposals, Biro said there are a lot of good things here for the first 100 days, but there are some things that are going to be a stretch for this divided government that weve got.

Kevin Chavous, another Democratic strategist, told The Epoch Times that he thinks Biden is well-prepared for dealing with an evenly divided Congress, having been there once before under such conditions.

Hes managed a 5050 tie in the Senate before when George W. Bush was president, so I think he will be able to get things done, Chavous said. He knows how to make the connections to get things done.

Chavous was referring to May 2001 when Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont left the Republican Party to become an independent and caucus with Democrats, thus forcing the replacing of Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) with Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) as Senate majority leader. At that point, Biden had been in the Senate since first being elected in November 1972.

Chavous also noted that Biden continuously served there either as a senator, or in the vice presidents role as the Senates presiding officer from 1972 until 2017. That means Biden has more legislative experience than any previous occupant of the Oval Office and should perhaps not be underestimated in terms of his ability to gain congressional approval for controversial proposals.

Even so, Chavous expects Biden to push hardest in his opening days in the Oval Office for the $1.9 trillion CCP virus relief package, but to delay at least for a while an expected push to persuade Americans to continue wearing masks.

Another one that is definitely going to be very controversial is the mask mandate, requiring people to wear themnot everywhere, but in federal buildings, said Chavous, who is based in the nations capital.

It will be a win if he rejoins the Paris climate accord. He can say he did that, and maybe hosting a big summit on climate change, Chavous said, showing that it is a priority and that hes trying to take steps to address it.

But Chavous expects some time to pass before Biden pushes a more comprehensive package of reforms akin to the Green New Deal favored by the most left-wing of Democrats such as Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

I think that is something that will be delayed, because his advisers will tell him that is something that doesnt need to be tackled right away because it will be so controversial, Chavous said.

Appointment Headaches

In the meantime, Pelosi may be wondering why, with such a small Democratic majority, Biden has announced three of her charges for major appointments in the executive branch.

The three include Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Rep. Debra Haaland (D-N.M.) as Secretary of the Interior, and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) to head the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Presidential appointments are already proving troublesome for Biden, especially with the prospect of difficulties in Congress for securing confirmation of his top appointees.

All presidents gain leverage in intra-party battles through their power to make appointments, but, with questionable prospects for getting Congress to go along with radical left-wing programs, handing out positions in government will be even more vital for Bidens ability to keep the progressive wing of his party in line.

But doing so also brings with it more than a few headaches and political risks, as with Bidens nomination of Kristen Clarke to head the Department of Justices Civil Rights Division.

Clarke, a proponent of Critical Race Theory (CRT)the ideological view that American society and institutions are irredeemably racisthas a long record of controversial race-based statements. She is currently president of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Even as a student at Harvard University in 1994, Clarkes views on race and American society were causing controversy. In a letter she co-wrote with another student to the Harvard Crimson, Clarke claimed that melanin endows Blacks with greater mental, physical and spiritual abilitiessomething which cannot be measured based on Eurocentric standards.

More recently, Clarke reportedly described Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan as the GOAT, or greatest of all time, which reignited another scandal from her student days, her invitation of an anti-Semitic speaker while leading the Black Students Association.

Alejandro Mayorkas, Bidens pick as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), also brings baggage from his past. After leaving the Obama administration in 2016, Mayorkas represented multiple controversial corporate clients while he was a partner at the Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr law firm.

One of those, Mission Support Alliance, was charged in 2019 with paying more than $1 million in bribes while seeking a Department of Energy contract.

As director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency in 2015, Mayorkas also was singled out for sharp criticism by the DHS inspector general for exercising improper influence on behalf of influential Democrats such as then-Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

Another Biden appointment may also hint at something of a political tin ear problem. Former Obama White House communications chief Anita Dunn was forced out of that position in 2009 when it was learned she had once called Mao Zedong one of her two favorite political philosophers.

But more recently, Dunn was a key damage-control public relations adviser to embattled Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein prior to his trial last year on rape charges. A longtime high-dollar donor to Democrats, Weinstein was convicted and sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Dunn was not paid for her advice to Weinstein, according to SKDKnickerbocker, the communications and lobbying firm of which she was a co-founder.

Costly Policies

Regardless of the congressional obstacles that Biden may encounter, two veterans of the conservative policy advocacy community told The Epoch Times they expect the new administration to push progressive policies and programs of unprecedented scope and cost.

The incoming Biden administration could be one of the most progressive administrations in the history of the country, said David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.

In particular, raising the corporate tax rate and instituting a nationwide $15/hour minimum wage would weaken the economy and be disastrous for taxpayers, businesses, and consumers, Williams said.

Another area of concern is what could happen at the individual agencies where excessive regulations could make a comeback, further hamstringing the economy.

In other words, Williams said, it is going to be a very difficult four years if Biden moves forward with a progressive agenda. The deficit and debt will continue to skyrocket, and America will lose its global competitiveness. Individuals may not flee the country, but businesses and capital surely will.

Tom Schatz, who has led Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) as its president since 1992, told The Epoch Times he believes the Biden administrations radical far-left agenda will result in the largest and most intrusive government in history. Economic recovery from the [CCP virus] pandemic will take longer than expected due to higher taxes, increased regulations, and higher costs of doing business.

Schatz also expects some of Bidens proposals, like a $15 minimum wage, will disproportionately hurt the people that the administration allegedly wants to help the most. For example, restaurants, if they are in business at all, are being forced in most states to operate at 50 percent capacity. They can barely pay rent, let alone hire workers at higher wages than they paid before the pandemic.

The bottom line, according to Schatz, is that Biden, like so many other elected officials in Washington, believes that solving problems can only be done by spending money and promulgating regulations, because otherwise they would have nothing to do.

If an existing program or regulation is ineffective, inefficient, and duplicative, rather than making them work better, they just create a new program, which costs money but doesnt solve anything. And the Biden administration will do all of that quite well.

Schatz also expects Biden to back Democratic congressional efforts to bring back earmarks, the costly practice of designating federal funds for projects that benefit a members family, friends, campaign donors, or former staffers.

In his last two years as a senator, Biden sought 140 earmarks costing $226.7 million, according to Schatz, who said data wasnt available for the prior years.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.com
Joe Biden has delivered his inaugural speech in Washington.

U.S. President Joe Biden has pleaded for unity in his inaugural address, promising to "be a president for all Americans."

Read alsoZelensky invites Biden to Kyiv (Photo)"I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did," he said in his inaugural speech in Washington on January 20.

"To all those who supported our campaign, I'm humbled by the faith you've placed in us. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree so be it. That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent, peaceably, the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength," the president added.

"Yet hear me clearly: disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you, I will be a president for all Americans. All Americans. And I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did," he stressed.

Biden's inauguration

The 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, took the oath of office in Washington on Wednesday, January 20.

Kamala Harris was also sworn in as the 49th vice president of the United States.

Ambassador to the United States Volodymyr Yelchenko officially represented Ukraine at Biden's inauguration ceremony.

Reporting by UNIAN
The Moms Co., Indias leading toxin-free & natural mom & baby care D2C brand has launched a new nationwide cross-platform digital campaign, #MaaKaExpertPartner to promote its expert range of baby care products. Conceptualised by The Glitch & produced by All Of The Above, the campaign film features actress Genelia Deshmukh. The campaign draws insight from a moms desire to choose only the safest and best products for her baby after seeking help from experts.

Actor, Mom and Producer Genelia Deshmukh was a natural choice for the brand as she is a loving mom of two boys, vegan and supports conscious living. Her beliefs match with the brand that makes natural, toxin-free and dermatologically-tested products for moms and babies. On the association, Genelia Deshmukh commented saying, I have been a conscious mom since I was expecting my first child. Becoming a mother was the best thing that happened to me but it comes with its set of struggles especially when youre a new mom. With everyone giving advice on the best products to choose for your child, it often becomes confusing & overwhelming. I personally have always relied on experts who help me with safe & natural solutions. The Moms Co. has been my personal favourite when it comes to picking personal care products for my boys, says Deshmukh

An award-winning entrepreneur, Malika Sadani launched The Moms Co. in 2017 when she realised that there was a gap in the Indian market for products that mothers could trust. Commenting on the launch of the new campaign, Malika Sadani, Founder & CEO, The Moms Co. said, Ive spent several years interacting with moms and understanding their concerns. Being a mom of two, I empathise with a moms journey, her problems and the reluctance to make any compromise when it comes to the safety of her child. Since inception, we at The Moms Co. have strived to partner in moms journey to provide the best personal care products for herself and her babies. Our range of products are extensively researched and constantly improved, to keep our little ones out of harms way, just like mothers do. We work with researchers from Australia, Switzerland and India to create the best-in-class natural products that are safe for both the mom and the baby. With this campaign, we aim at becoming the #MaaKaExpertPartner in her journey to motherhood by providing natural, safe and effective products for her babies.

Commenting on the launch of the film, Virat Khanna, Head of Marketing, The Moms Co. adds, "Our latest campaign #MaaKaExpertParter is conceptualised to position India's leading and fastest-growing mom & baby care as an expert partner in every mom's journey. With our first campaign of the year, the aim is to showcase how a mother makes the choices for her baby by seeking expert advice while also highlighting the safety of the brand's baby care range. We are delighted to be driving the conversation about The Moms Co. being every mom's expert partner through Actor Genelia Deshmukh who resonates well with our brand proposition."

The Moms Co. has a range of natural products for baby care that cater to their every need. Right from tear-free bathing solutions to diaper care, moisturization, massaging and skin protection, The Moms Co. has 13 products that are made with the safest natural ingredients and are Australia-certified toxin-free, hypoallergenic and dermatologically-tested. In a matter of only three years, this Made In India D2C start-up has crossed over one million loyalists. The brand has also diversified its offerings across categories of face care, hair care, baby care and others, with over 35 products that help women care for many of their concerns.
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Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Yenin met with Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Partha Satpathy to discuss the development of political contacts between Ukraine and India in 2021, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service has reported.

During the meeting, the diplomats discussed the development of political contacts between Ukraine and India in 2021, and agreed to hold political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries in the near future.

The interlocutors noted the dynamic development of bilateral trade and investment cooperation. The parties discussed the possibility of involving Indian companies in the implementation of transport, energy and infrastructure projects in Ukraine.

Yevhen Yenin and Partha Satpathy stressed the importance of holding a meeting of the Ukrainian-Indian Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation in 2021, which will promote comprehensive cooperation between Ukraine and India.

In addition, the issue of cooperation between the two countries in the field of education was raised. Yenin spoke about the creation of an electronic platform for organizing the educational process of foreign students in Ukraine.

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The eyes of the world will turn towards the White House at 4.30pm today as the inauguration ceremony starts for Joe Biden to officially become the 46th President of the United States.

While for those 80m people who voted for Biden, it will be a joyous day of celebration, euphoria and fresh hope for the future of the beleaguered country, many in Ireland will also be raising a quiet glass to the new President while watching events unfold.

Much has been made of the greening of the White House when it comes to key figures in his administration with a strong Irish-American coterie of colleagues including Walsh, McDonough, OMalley-Dillon, Sullivan, Power, McCarthy and Donilon.

But not since JFK have we had an American President with such strong, genuine connections to this country.

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In fact, we even have a tussle between Mayo and Louth as to which county can boast of the strongest familial ties to the incumbent President.

His maternal ancestors migrated from Mayo in the 1880s while his great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan emigrated from the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth during the Famine.

Whether it was quoting James Joyce in his farewell speech in his home state of Delaware this week or proudly telling a BBC reporter that he was Irish, Biden has nailed his green colours to the mast from the outset.

His Irish links will be strongly reflected in todays inauguration at the Capitol, with a performance by one of our most acclaimed musicians to the opening prayer being done by Washington-based Jesuit Fr Leo ODonovan.

Starting off the private mass will be concert violinist Patricia Treacy who will be playing for president-elect Joe Biden and his family before his inauguration.

The Louth musician was directly invited by the Biden family to take part in todays historical event and will perform The Proclamation composed by Patrick Cassidy.

Playing a 315-year-old Stradivarius violin which is estimated to be worth $4m, she said she felt both honoured and privileged and obviously super excited.

During the mass, she will also join Soprano Renee Fleming for On Eagles Wings Schuberts Ave Maria and the Celtic Alleluia.

But this is not the first time she has performed for Biden; she also entertained him with a musical medly during his 2016 visit to Louth.

However, one Irish band who missed out on their chance to perform today were The Chieftains, with band member Paddy Moloney saying that due to travel restrictions, they couldnt travel over.

Biden stated back in 2012 that the trad music group were his favourite band and his dream would be to sing Shenandoah with them. They also performed previously for Biden when he visited a bar owned by band member Matt Molloy at Westport, Co Mayo four years ago.

Well known for his love of Irish literature and culture, Biden even quoted Heaney in his Presidential campaign as he makes the most of his Irish-American roots.

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The crisis engulfing two influential countries in the Horn of Africa is in danger of turning into an avalanche, threatening an already fragile security situation in the region.

Somalia and Kenya have been engaging in a row for almost two years now since differences between the two countries peaked when they both claimed ownership of huge offshore gas deposits in disputed territories of the Indian Ocean.

As early as 2019, Somalia presented a map of the area at an international conference in London with a view to exploring for oil and gas fields off its coast and identifying blocks for future bidders. The step enraged Kenya, which recalled its ambassador from Mogadishu, Somalias restive capital.

While things later seemed on the cusp of getting back to normal, beneath the surface they were not, and Somalia expelled the Kenyan ambassador in Mogadishu last November and recalled its ambassador from the Kenyan capital Nairobi. It also levelled charges against Kenya, claiming that it had been undermining Somalias sovereignty through interfering with the electoral process in Jubbaland, an autonomous region that borders Kenya and that contains the port of Kismayo, once administered by the Al-Shabab terrorist group.

In March this year, Kenya announced that it would open a consulate in Somaliland, a self-declared nation that controls both Hargeisa, a significant trading hub in the region, and the port of Berbera, which is now getting off the ground and represents a challenge and a competitor to another Horn of Africa country, Djibouti.

Somalia sees Kenyas support for these break-away regions as infringements of its sovereignty, particularly as these two regions, and mainly Somaliland, are aspiring for a more influential regional role that could undermine that of Somalia itself.

Al-Shabab, though still active in Somalia, has lost much of its influence in the country, thanks mainly to an early Kenyan military intervention within the framework of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) that managed to recapture Kismayo some eight years ago.

The current row is as old as Kenyas refusal to withdraw its troops from Somalia after peace was relatively restored in the country in 2015, citing issues of national security and the threats posed by Al-Shabab against Kenyan military outposts. Kenyan officials said they needed to maintain a heavy presence in Somalia even after AMISOM had finished its job, which in turn was seen by Somali officials as a sort of occupation of the area.

In October 2020, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta refused to set a deadline for the withdrawal of his troops from Somalia. Al-Shabab is still attacking Kenyan military and civilian targets, banking on the support of Somali recruits based in Kenya. Kenya is home to some quarter of a million Somali refugees in the Dadaab Refugee Camp, one of the largest in the world, and Eastleigh, known as Little Somalia, in Nairobi.

Al-Shabab, for many years in control of Somalia, along with other extremist groups have struck a chord among some Somalis, who have come to believe that troops affiliated with the African Union (AU) mission were in effect crusaders in the region. This narrative has stonewalled African efforts to deracinate terrorist and extremist groups in the country, particularly as millions of Somalis have, unfortunately, embraced radical views as part of their version of the Islamic faith.

Lacking essential teachings by moderate Muslim institutions, particularly Al-Azhar in Cairo, some Somalis have embraced a strict version of Islam that has been seen by many as one reason behind the slowing down of progress in the battle against extremists in the country. Al-Shababs capability to recruit militants has exploited such support among the Somali public, and some Somali girls aged seven or younger have been seen wearing the Islamic headscarf or hijab even though it should not be worn at that age even among girls who choose to do so.

The terrorist group has also succeeded in getting some Somali teenagers to carry guns, instilling in their minds that they are the real champions of Islam.

The Kenya-Somalia dispute is a major threat to stability in the Horn of Africa, particularly as both countries control major ports crucial to the movement of goods and peoples among many landlocked countries in the region. Kenya is East Africas biggest economy, and it has sustained huge losses as a result of its military intervention to restore order in its eastern neighbour. The latter has almost ceased to be a real nation since the US military intervention there in the 1990s, seen at the time by some as a means of enforcing American-style democracy and an indecent style of life and regrettably leading to the rise of extremist groups that saw each and every foreign intervention as a means of washing away Islamic faith in the region.

Meanwhile, the AU looks unable to provide African solutions for African problems, the catchy slogan usually included in its press statements, while other crises across Africa, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia and the rising terrorist influence in Mozambique, have made many Africans distrust the organisations ability to deal firmly with them.

There is thus a crying need for the AU under the upcoming presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo to change its tune and to engage key regional powers such as Egypt in finding ways to restore normal ties between Somalia and Kenya, particularly as Somalia is a member of the Cairo-headquartered Arab League and Kenyas military presence in Somalia will be instrumental in quelling any attempt at a comeback by Al-Shabab and its affiliates.

In effect, with the departure of US troops from Somalia after outgoing US president Donald Trump ordered them out of the country, this serious threat should be met with appropriate responses from the region.

The possible comeback of Al-Shabab and other terrorist groups is a direct threat to countries in the region. No one should ignore the fact that acts of piracy by such groups off the coast of Somalia have disrupted trade and severely afflicted businesses not only in Africa but also in the wider world, including trade going through Egypts Suez Canal. Stability in the region should not be jeopardised as a result of tension between Kenya and Somalia. Should the AU, thus far ineffective under South Africas chairmanship, be unable to contain the differences between the two countries, other African powers need to step in and take the initiative in order to find a made-in-Africa solution to the crisis.

The cost of the African countries failure to find homegrown solutions to the crises they are experiencing means that other non-African powers, with Turkey as an example because of its rising leverage in Somalia, will likely take such disputes to another level. In the case of the Horn of Africa crisis, this could see a military escalation in which the peoples of the region would be the losers.

The writer is a former press and information officer in Ethiopia and an expert on African affairs.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The IFJ has interviewed Ronny Suarez, the deputy health editor of El Tiempo, one of the main newspapers in Colombia, who has more than 10 years of experience in health journalism and explains the key concepts when reporting on the Covid-19 vaccines.

1. How would you describe the current media coverage of vaccination programs?

Journalists are constantly learning. We are facing an unprecedented situation and witnessing unprecedented scientific developments, and we are learning how all of this works from a technical point of view, what are its social implications, what are the best ways to communicate the overwhelming amount of information that arises every day. "Overwhelming" would be the word to describe what we are experiencing.

We know that there are many things at stake, not only for our profession but for society and for the lives of thousands of people, so it is a very defining moment for those of us who are closely covering the vaccines and the pandemic.

2. The pandemic has forced non-specialist journalists to cover vaccines. What would be your main recommendations when covering this issue?

The first thing is to get expert advice, to ensure a reputed consultant who can be asked all the necessary questions and who can be, almost full time, helping us in the process of publishing a news article. Journalists covering the vaccines also have to analyze in detail the implications of what is being said, that is, to understand the potential that their information has and how it can impact readers.

Likewise, another recommendation is to read as much information and as many sources as possible to get a greater context of the situation. As we all know, contextualised journalism is much more useful, it has more value and it is more appreciated by audiences.

3. We are witnessing a huge campaign of misinformation about the vaccine. How can journalists better filter out false news while scrutinizing pharmaceutical companies?

Ideally, they should go to reliable sources of information. In the midst of this rigorous exercise and with the support of health experts, it is vital to choose carefully your sources of information and obviously, always verify and question all the information. I also recommend working as a team. With this, I am not just referring to cooperation among co-workers, but with journalists from other media, to create a network of collaboration with people who cover the same kind of stories. This helps a lot when covering the most complex and difficult news.

4. What advice can you give to journalists to avoid s-called yellow journalism and sensationalism in vaccine coverage? In your opinion, what are the most accurate and reliable sources?

First, we must stress every day the importance of journalism in society. When journalists understand how essential our role is in society, there will be a greater responsibility with what we publish. Our duty is not just about clicking on a news piece, but being aware of what happens when people read the information we are disseminating.

There are clear examples of what happens when we mishandle information. In Colombia, for example, during the vaccination campaign against the human papillomavirus in Carmen de Bolivar, a municipality located in the north of Colombia, the misinformation about some episodes of alleged adverse reactions to the vaccine caused the vaccination rates to drop dramatically because of the alarm created. Later on, it was proven that those reactions were unrelated to the vaccine. Everything we report on could have a huge impact on society.

Therefore, we must avoid the so-called yellow journalism. For a badly-earned click, we are going to lose credibility, and there is nothing more important than that for us. Finally, good information sources can be scientific magazines. We must be aware of everything they publish. Journalists should also have direct contact with scientific associations, which are great sources of information. We should also have a look at the best media coverages from other media and get inspired by them.

For his work during the pandemic, Suarez won the Rosalynn Carter scholarship for mental health journalism, awarded by the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Foundation for the New Ibero-American Journalism, for a proposal that seeks to make visible the mental health status of Colombian health workers who are on the first and the second line of response to COVID-19 during the current health crisis.
India plans to export skilled professionals, including health workers, to 12 friendly countries mainly in Europe and Asia, on the lines of a manpower-supply pact with Japan.

The workers will go to these countries not as permanent immigrants but as employees in sectors where there is demand and a demographic challenge", ministry of skills Development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) authorities said. The opportunity for India to link its labour market with those of other friendly countries is immense. We are now targeting at least 12 countries," said Praveen Kumar, secretary of skill development and entrepreneurship.

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The governments plan to make it easier for skilled professionals to work abroad will not only boost foreign remittances to India but also create job opportunities for those willing to work abroad.

According to the World Bank, Indians working overseas sent back an estimated $76 billion in 2020, a 9% drop from the previous year, as the pandemic resulted in job losses and pay cuts across the world. India is the worlds largest recipient of foreign remittances.

The pandemic has, however, also created opportunities for Indian nurses, paramedics and other health workers.

Another government official, who declined to be named, said post the pandemic, we have realized that healthcare is a sector where India can score big by supplying not just well-trained nurses but also several allied health service personnel. Similarly, skilled workers for construction, automobile manufacturing, hospitality, and industrial machinery sectors can be provided to different countries as apprentices and as employees for fixed tenures.

To achieve this, India is working on mapping jobs, skills-gap analysis, recognition of each others vocational degrees and a joint certification where required and streamlining the legal immigration issues related to employment, the official said.

On the healthcare front, we have held discussions with several countries like Saudi Arabia, the UK, Australia and Germany," the official said.

Globally, there were 703 million people aged 65 or more in 2019, according to a report of the United Nations. Over the next three decades, this could rise above 1.5 billion, the data shows. The rise in the elderly population is likely to generate demand for health workers.

We have a great potential but doing the right kind of homework and understanding the need, mapping the jobs demand will be beneficial in multiple ways for both India and concerned countries," Kumar said, adding that his ministry is working with the external affairs and labour ministry on this.

According to documents prepared by the skills ministry, in the UK alone, there is a requirement of about 42,000 nurses in the next two years, about 40,000 community healthcare givers and 85,000 health professionals in allied space".

The specifications and entry criteria involve training to the UK standards, basic degree qualifications, a computer-based test and an English language test. Many applicants fail to clear the language proficiency test, the document said. It further underlined that new immigration rules have opened new opportunities to work or study in the UK from 1 January, and the new rules treat EU and non-EU citizens equally and aims to attract people who can contribute to the UKs economy".

The document also says there is a demand for over 300,000 healthcare workers up to 2022 in nine countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Sweden, UK and the US. Besides, three moreQatar, Saudi Arabia and Singaporehave been identified for manpower-supply opportunities.

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 Inaugural rhetoric about freedom and liberty in prison nation | Main | The Obama Administration moves forward (on-line) with its "change" agenda for criminal justice 

January 20, 2009

Is it too early to start demanding President Obama use his clemency power?

Barack Obama has been President of the United States for barely an hour, but he has already issued his first official proclamation. Here are some notable snippets:

On this Inauguration Day, we are reminded that we are heirs to over two centuries of American democracy, and that this legacy is not simply a birthright -- it is a glorious burden. Now it falls to us to come together as a people to carry it forward once more. So in the words of President Abraham Lincoln, let us remember that: "The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature." NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2009, a National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation, and call upon all of our citizens to serve one another and the common purpose of remaking this Nation for our new century.

Sounds good to me. And if the new President really is committed to renewal and reconciliation, if he is really committed to the belief in the ability of everyone, even those who have committed crimes in the past, to be "again touched ... by the better angels of our nature," he ought to celebrate today by using his clemency power aggressively to help many of the offenders who got an undeserved cold shoulder from former President George W. Bush.

January 20, 2009 at 01:02 PM | Permalink

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Doug, do you really think that Barack Obama is dumb enough to put his agenda at risk by releasing bunches of criminals into society? What, pray tell, do you think happens if one of those guys decides to kill someone? Obama gets blamed, and it will impact his agenda. That's the reality, and you know what, it is fair to hold the executive accountable for pardons.

I agree that the pardon/clemency power is not used enough. But there are political realities to its use, and you cannot be blind to them. Governor Ehrlich of Maryland was a good model. Perhaps Obama can learn from him.

Posted by: | Jan 20, 2009 1:10:07 PM

There are thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of federal offenders in prison for non-violent offenses who may be less likely than many readers of this blog to kill anyone. Notably, President Obama's proclamation speaks of "the courage and decency of the American people," and I think he could and should show a little courage and decency by finding at least one of those offenders he can trust to show just a hint of mercy today. I would like to believe our new President is smart enough to understand that there are people right now in prison who have done less terrible things that the President himself admitted to doing in his autobiographies.

Posted by: Douglas A. Berman | Jan 20, 2009 1:18:43 PM

Doug is absolutely correct. The alleged political "risk" of clemency is almost certainly overstated. I know of several clemency recipients of Reagan and Clinton who reoffended after receiving a commutation or a pardon. One benighted person actually murdered his wife, albeit 20 years after Reagan commuted his sentence for a bank robbery conviction. The fact that you've likely never heard about these cases makes my point. The Willie Horton episode was simply a deplorable and dishonest campaign tactic. It's become a part of the "received wisdom" and should be put in proper context.

If the Pardon Attorney's Office does its job properly, and actually makes an effort to single out deserving cases, we would have about as much reliability as is reasonably possible, accepting that no human process is going to be perfect. Prosecution and sentencing decisions aren't perfect either, but I don't see anyone wringing their hands about that.

The best way for Obama to take the political sting out of the pardon process is to make it a routine house-keeping part of the presidency. I would agree that he shouldn't start by, say, commuting thousands of drug cases at once. But he could restore public confidence in the pardon system by regularly and responsibly exercising the power in deserving cases.



Posted by: anon | Jan 20, 2009 1:38:27 PM

George W. Bush reduced or eliminated sentences of persons already serving prison sentences in just 11 instances over eight years (the remaining cases simply removed the collateral effects of felony convictions already fully served). It is safe to guess that Obama will ultimately be more generous.

Posted by: ohwilleke | Jan 20, 2009 2:46:52 PM

Doug, when you say "non-violent", you probably cover up for a lot of sins. In any event, I think you should be forthright in that regard.

Putting that to one side, Doug, you hit the nail on the head when you talk about the numbers. Lets say Bush, instead of reducing sentences in 11 instances did so in 150 instances. That would certainly make you guys think him better, but the reality is that it would be a drop in the bucket. It wouldn't fundamentally alter our incarceration policies one bit, nor, on the macro scale would it change things much--there would still be thousands in the pokey.

What you're looking for, unless you are satisfied with tokenism, is a muscular use of the clemency power to deal with those thousands of "non-violent" offenders. And if you think for a second that Obama would not suffer politically for what these guys do, you are simply naive.

I am of the firm opinion that a prison bed is a scarce resource and that clemency has a role in maximizing the value we get from that scarce resource. But there are political realities that need to be considered. And making a meaningful dent in the incarceration of thousands presents a lot of risk. Why this is a hard concept is beyond me.

Anon talks about Willie Horton--can someone please explain why a first-degree murderer should be given weekend furloughs in the ordinary course?

Posted by: | Jan 20, 2009 3:36:17 PM

My husband along with thousands of other first time non violent offenders inmates were hopeful and filed for commutation from President Bush, only to have their hopes dashed one again.

I cannot understand how you can serve 55 years in prison for a small amount of marijuana or be sentenced to 8 years one month in prison for lobster tails as my husband did. He has already been in prison going into five years . It's obsured.

I am happy for the "border agents" that President Bush commutated them . I feel their sentence was not just either. But their families are not the only ones suffering. We all are. Because we don't have the connections to contact the US pardon Attorney directly like the "border agents" lawyer did I do not feel that this is fair or right either. For all of you who comment and feel like all first time non violent offenders deserve to be in prison. i hope that you are never the target of proscution, because you will know first hand what the stystem is really llike.

Posted by: | Jan 20, 2009 4:36:54 PM

3:36:17 PM,

I think you're correct that Obama would pay a heavy political price if he suddenly commuted thousands of sentences, but no one is being naive about this. I advocated a measured case-by-case approach to clemency precisely to reduce the risk inherent in clemency. I never supposed that this would "fundamentally alter our incarceration policies" by itself. But it could be used as a tool to illustrate the need for legislative change, and a powerful one at that, if Obama wants to take on the issue of criminal justice reform. That is not merely "tokenism."

Posted by: anon | Jan 20, 2009 4:47:03 PM

Anon, I wrote that one. When I said "tokenism", I was talking about releasing a few people out of the thousands. And since Doug said the number was in the thousands, then I think you're naive if you believe that Obama is going to do anything but a few symbolic clemencies. Most people agree that the crack-powder distinction is too much. Having lived thru the crack epidemic, I am not sure that a 1:1 ratio is the right answer either. Crystal meth and crack seem to be about the same on the destructiveness scale--is there much of a disparity between the two?

I believe 4:36:54 was talking about a Honduran named McAn. His case was deserving of executive clemency. It's unfortunate that did not happen. Hopefully, President Obama will see fit to release him.

Posted by: federalist | Jan 20, 2009 5:20:19 PM

For the record, 3:36:17 PM, for right now I would be quite "satisfied with tokenism." In light of all the forces that push toward sentencing severity, even a clemency token --- dare I say a token of sentencing justice --- would be a welcome symbol that the "politics of fear" really might get replaces with the "practice of hope" in the operation of the federal criminal justice system.

Posted by: Douglas A. Berman | Jan 20, 2009 5:26:46 PM

4:36:54 PM, you don't seem to be taking advantage of the most selfish amendment, the First Amendment. Gather up the kids if you have any, get your local reporter to stop by and pull the heart strings. The story has to be about 90% emotional and you have good cause. No kids? Figure another angle. The story has to "have legs," meaning it has to develop a momentum of its own. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. It has to have just the right touch to kick it off, so if the first or second reporter doesn't do the trick, try a third. Try contacting Huckabee and getting on his show. He's a real Republican. Try contacting Nancy Grac... no, skip that.

The media has to have conflict and drama. Give them a story. Send brief but effective letters to the editors saying what your wrote here. Make this tragedy the talk around water coolers.

Posted by: George | Jan 20, 2009 8:02:15 PM

You want to make a REAL systemic impact? Instead of pardoning/commuting a hundred or so offenders or sentences, go ahead and increase the good time rate for federal inmates (retroactively, of course). Double the rate from 54 to 108 days, and you effectively cut ALL (or at least the vast majority) of sentences by another 13 or so percent. It would result in the immediate release, most likely, of a few hundred offenders, (who would not be pardoned, but would immediately begin serving their terms of supervised release) and have a long term dampening effect on the 200,000 figure we've become accustomed to in federal prisons. In my humble opinion, it's a MUCH more politically palatable (i.e. possible) resolution than large-scale pardons.

Posted by: | Jan 20, 2009 10:56:49 PM

For a start - release non violent marijuana offenders over 60. This would soften the "Willie Horton" fear.

George is right. when all else has fails you still have the right to launch a first rate PR campaign. It's just pathetic that that's the only way to justice. I'm familiar with 4:36 husband's case and it is painful. He should not be in prison.

Posted by: beth | Jan 21, 2009 12:11:20 AM

federalist,

With all due respect, if you think it wouldnt have been a big deal if Bush had granted 150 commutations, then you are the one who is being politically naive. It would have been a huge deal. It would have given the reform movement an incredible shot of momentum by illustrating, in a vivid way, the problems with the current punishment system. I think we all more or less agree that systematic legislative reform is the ultimate answer. The question is how to make that happen, and I think clemency can be a trigger. So, no, Obama isnt going to solve the problem of mass incarceration with a relatively few commutation grants. By the same token, its cynical rather than realistic to suggest that the responsible use of the clemency power would be merely symbolic in its effects.

I would also remind everyone who worries (reasonably enough) about the Willie Horton syndrome that the opposite is also possible. For example, at least thus far, recent federal commutation grantees have acquitted themselves quite well. To my knowledge, none have reoffended and many are flourishing. My personal favorite is Serena Nunn, who was commuted by Clinton in 2000 after spending about a decade in prison for a non-violent drug offense. She has since finished college, started a family, hosted a talk radio show, finished law school, and recently sat for the bar. Was her grant a meaningless drop in the bucket merely because there are thousands of others who might also deserve a second chance? How many lives do you think her commutation has effected in a positive way? As Hugo Bedau put it, The underlying principle ought to be this: It is better to risk some social cost in order to extend mercy to an offender than to risk unnecessary punitive deprivations by withholding mercy.



Posted by: anon | Jan 21, 2009 2:39:49 AM

My point, which seems to have been lost, is that, as a practical matter, if one thinks that there are thousands or even tens of thousands of prisoners languishing in federal prisons, it is naive to think that a president is going to risk his presidency on reducing that number in a significant amount via the pardon power.

There is little doubt that Barack Obama is sympathetic to criminals. His commentary on the Jena Six removes all questions about that. A six-on-one racially motivated stomping of an unconscious victim was described by Barack Obama as a "schoolyard fight". (One wonders, of course, if the races had been reversed whether Obama would have been quite so charitable to the assailants.) But Obama is also sympathetic to a lot of other people, and is smart enough to realize that letting lots of criminals go can have a lot of political fallout if some of them wind up causing significant harm.

Clinton's grant obviously was a good one, and I think I;ve made myself clear that I think that the clemency power can be a tool to ensure that we are making the best use of a scarce resource. I also think that there are people who are suffering needlessly cruel sentences, and executives should use the pardon power to deal with these issues. However, different people have different views on the subject.

I wonder if Mr. Bedau has to live in areas where there are a lot of ex-cons.

Posted by: federalist | Jan 21, 2009 11:22:03 AM

federalist,

Your crack about Bedau is a cheap shot. And, for the record, I'd rather have Serena Nunn as my neighbor than someone with a smug attitude of moral superiority.

Moreover, you are being deliberately obtuse when you suggest that we seem to have missed your point. Rather, your argument is a non-sequitur, because no one is disagreeing with you on that particular point. For the third time, you are correct that Obama isn't going to throw open the prison doors via the pardon power, for just the sorts of reasons you suggest. But it doesn't follow that the pardon power can't be used as a tool in shaping sentencing policy, in addition to providing relief in individual cases.

Posted by: anon | Jan 21, 2009 12:25:00 PM

It wasn't intended as a cheap shot. It was intended as a means to evaluate Bedau's statement. It's easy to be "enlightened" with other people's safety.

And maybe you'd rather live next door to Ms. Nunn than me, and that's cool. But that's not really the issue. I have zero issues with the pardon, and I suspect that most people would agree with me. Would you rather live next door to a random drug crime pardonee?

With respect to my being obtuse. I suggest you re-read the original post. Doug was talking about "many" of the offenders who got a cold shoulder from Bush--that's not an insignificant number.

In the spirit of not talking past each other, I'll leave you with this. On the macro level, when it comes to pardons, there necessarily isn't going to be a whole lot of "delta" between Bush the parsimonious and Obama the generous. You guys are looking, it seems to me, at symbolism. I am saying that symbolism aside, if you think that thousands of people are unjustly imprisoned, whining about Bush's parsimony really misses the point.

Posted by: federalist | Jan 21, 2009 2:47:23 PM

It was a cheap shot. Bedau is a respected scholar who has written about these issues for many years. To speculate that he is a hypocrite (i.e., do as I say, not as I do) is unfair. If you intend to "evaluate" his statement, then make an argument. With respect to the average pardonee convicted of a drug crime, I've met several and I'd be comfortable living next door to any of them.

Posted by: anon | Jan 21, 2009 5:20:59 PM

The question is not the current pardonee, the process is tight enough that anyone who gets through on merit is likely to be highly deserving. Instead the question is how comfortable you would be if that process were made looser.

Also, I doubt that 150 commutations spread over 8 years would have made any difference to how people view the federal CJ system. 150 a year perhaps, but not 20.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Jan 22, 2009 12:32:57 AM

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Stead's work includes Millennium Clock in Edinburgh and oil industry memorial chapel in Kirk of St Nicholas

Property was due to go on open market, but trust has revealed target has been hit to buy house from Maggy

Tim Stead Trust had almost given up hope of raising cash needed to buy The Steading - the late artist's home

Furniture maker Stead died in 2002 and his widow Maggy Stead, 71, now owns house in the Scottish Borders

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The stunning home of master woodcrafter and sculptor Tim Stead has been saved for the nation - after an 11th-hour fundraising campaign helped raise 450,000.

The Tim Stead Trust had almost given up hope of raising the cash needed to buy the late artist's home, which is furnished in sculpted wood made by Stead himself and widely regarded as his most important work.

Furniture maker Stead died in 2002 at the age of 48 and his widow Maggy Stead, 71, now owns the house in Blainslie, Scottish Borders.

Prince Charles once paid tribute to Stead, describing him as a 'true and gifted artist' and expressing hope that, once open to the public, the artist's home will 'act as a source of great inspiration to those who visit'.

The Steading was due to go on the open market, but the trust has revealed the target has now been hit to buy the house from Maggy.

The dining area in The Steading, which is furnished in sculpted wood made by Stead himself and widely regarded as his most important work. The Tim Stead Trust had almost given up hope of raising the cash needed to buy the late artist's home

One of the bedrooms in The Steading, with a four-poster bed and chairs made from sculpted wood. The home was due to go on the open market, but the trust has revealed the target has now been hit to buy the house from Maggy

The conservatory inside the home in Blainslie, Scotland, with wooden beaming, doors, walls, benches and a table. Stead was a keen environmentalist, raising funds to create the UK's first community woodland in the Scottish Borders

The Steading in Blainslie, Scottish Borders, which was home to master woodcrafter Tim Stead, who died in 2002 at the age of 48. The home has been saved after an 11th-hour fundraising campaign helped raise 450,000

Prince Charles once paid tribute to Stead (pictured above), describing him as a 'true and gifted artist' and expressing hope that, once open to the public, the artist's home will 'act as a source of great inspiration to those who visit'

Stead's work included the Millennium Clock at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and the oil industry memorial chapel in the Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen.

He was also a keen environmentalist, raising funds to create the UK's first community woodland in the Scottish Borders.

The trust was refused a grant by the National Heritage Memorial Fund in November, but a major benefactor stepped forward and pledged matched funding up to 250,000.

This was swiftly followed by offers of support from a number of private donors.

The target was finally hit with the help of a Crowdfunder campaign, launched last week, which raised more than 23,000 through donations from more than 240 people.

The cash will allow the trust to purchase The Steading and begin ambitious plans to transform into a place where people can see and touch the wonderful craftsmanship.

A wooden spiral staircase and bookshelves inside The Steading. Nichola Fletcher, chair of the trust, said: 'We are overwhelmed by the speed of this response, and with the enthusiasm that our project has sparked'

Stead, pictured above, was born the youngest of four brothers in Helsby, Cheshire. He attended The Leys School in Cambridge and achieved first-class honours in fine art at Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham

Stead's work included the Millennium Clock at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and the oil industry memorial chapel (pictured above) in the Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen, Scotland

The King's Carver, sculpted by Stead, in 1986. He founded the Borders Community Woodlands - the UK's first community woodlands - and was awarded an MBE in the New Year honours for his work on the millennium forest of Scotland Tim

Chairs sculpted by Stead for Cafe Gandolfi in Glasgow in 1979. His son Sam, a trustee, said: 'The amazing support from friends and fans of my father's work has been truly heartwarming'

Stead pictured with the tall chairs he sculpted for Cafe Gandolfi - a restaurant in Glasgow, Scotland which opened in 1979. The sculptor was asked to make tables and chairs for the restaurant more than 30 years ago

A landscape coffee table created by Stead in Iroko in 1979. Prince Charles previously said: 'He was a remarkable woodcraftsman; a true and gifted artist who created wonderful furniture and sculptures'

Maggy said: 'It is a huge relief to me to know that my Tim's work will now be preserved and used in such a creative way.

'He would have loved that.'

Son Sam, a trustee, said: 'It is fantastic that we have managed to get to the point where The Steading can be bought by the trust and start working on opening it up for the public.

'The amazing support from friends and fans of my father's work has been truly heartwarming.'

Nichola Fletcher, chair of the trust, said: 'We are overwhelmed by the speed of this response, and with the enthusiasm that our project has sparked.

'We are so grateful to our supporters, who have given so generously. The past two months has turned me into a fund-raising junkie so I'm not stopping now.

Stead pictured with his artwork 'Axes for Trees' in Blainslie, Scottish Borders, in 1986. Stead studied as a postgraduate at the School of Art in Glasgow, where he met his future wife Maggy, a student from Luxembourg

Stead's work pictured at St Nicholas Kirk Aberdeen. The furniture was commissioned in 1989. According to the Trust, the 'initial letters of the woods used in the chair backs spell out the simple but poignant We remember yew'

Peter Reeve and Stead pictured playing chess in 1975, using a chess table, chairs and pieces made by the sculptor himself. The work was started at Trent Polytechnic and finished at Glasgow School of Art

The chess table, chairs and pieces created by Stead in 1975. The sculptor was a very keen chess player and made several distinctive chess sets during his lifetime

Stead (pictured on a large chess set at Blainslie Village Hall in 1998) sidestepped from any substantial work due to illness after his Botanic Ash exhibition in Edinburgh in 1933, and instead played a major role in founding the Woodschool in Monteviot

'We have urgent restoration work to do and, of course, we have ambitious plans for The Steading.

'So now the real work begins, of fundraising for Phase 2 of the project, which will allow us to realise our dream of developing The Steading into a major centre for creativity and education.'

Prince Charles previously said: 'Tim Stead created a place of extraordinary artistic interest at 'The Steading'. He was a remarkable woodcraftsman; a true and gifted artist who created wonderful furniture and sculptures.

'He had a unique understanding of the sustainable management of woodlands and the use of indigenous hardwoods and he did so much to encourage local sourcing and to educate people about wood and woodcraftsmanship.

'I have long admired this beautifully crafted woodwork and I can only commend the Tim Stead Trust for seeking to preserve it for public access.

'I hope that, once open, 'The Steading' acts as a source of great inspiration to those who visit.'
Photo: RCMP

News broke this week that a pair of grocery stores in the Central Okanagan received millions of dollars worth of pure cocaine within a banana shipment back in 2019.

The find was shocking for the workers of the undisclosed grocery store, ostensibly a large chain with stores in both Kelowna and West Kelowna that received the shipment on Feb. 24, 2019.

But cocaine bananas are not uncommon, and regularly make headlines across the world.

In August 2019, all 144 Safeway stores on the American West Coast searched their banana boxes after three stores received large shipments of cocaine. In all, police seized 56 kilos, the largest seizure the King County Sheriffs Office had ever seen. Those bananas were processed through the same central warehouse in Auburn, Wash.

Kelownas cocaine bananas originated in Colombia, RCMP said Tuesday, but did not reveal the shipments origins beyond that. Police believe the cocaine was not intended for the Okanagan, but was simply lost in transit.

Fruit and vegetable shipments are a common place for smugglers to hide drugs.

In November 2019, Italian port authorities seized 1,176 kilos of cocaine hidden in a shipment of bananas destined for Germany. The fruit had come from Latin America.

In 2018, a Texas prison received a shipment of $18M worth of cocaine with its bananas.

Similar seizures are frequent throughout the globe.
The Bethlehem Area School District is starting its 2021-22 budget process with a $10.7 million funding gap that will likely require a tax hike.

But the school board indicated Tuesday night it does not plan to ask the state for an exception to exceed the districts 3.7% cap on annual property tax increases.

The board is scheduled to vote next week to commit to staying below its Act 1 Index, a move that gives the district more time to fine tune its budget before voting on it later this spring.

School board President Michael Faccinetto said the district is going to have to trim down that $10 million as much as it can in the coming weeks.

We need a tax increase this year. We discussed the 1% last year and ultimately didnt do it, which I still think was a mistake, because ... we find ourselves in a very difficult situation, Faccinetto said. I think economically people in the area are going to be in worse shape for an increase this year than they would have been last year.

The district has passed a no tax increase budget for the past two years, relying on its savings to close budget holes.

The districts fixed costs continue to outpace its revenue growth as the coronavirus pandemic causes local revenues to drop as the district spends more to teach in the age of COVID-19 while charter and pension costs rise, said Stacy M. Gober, district chief financial officer.

Yet, we want to continue to focus on providing excellent services and opportunities for all of our students, she said.

State funding remains flat and doesnt cover the costs of mandated programs, she said. And it remains to be seen how long the pandemic and its economic effects last.

Gober emphasized the districts own spending went up 2% including contracted raises, but once again employee pension payments and charter school tuition jumped by about $1.7 million each. The district expects to spend $40.6 million on employee pension contributions.

The district projects spending $33.9 million on charter school tuition in its next budget, almost its entire state basic education funding allocation. The remaining $33,000 isnt even enough to pay a full-time teacher.

Charter schools are independent public schools funded by taxpayer dollars funneled from each enrolled students home district. Tuition payments are calculated based on school spending, so as the budget grows the tuition payment grows, Gober said.

Since the 2008-2009 budget, pension and charter school costs have risen by $64.6 million. And special education costs are up almost $18 million from 2013-14.

After spending years trying to tamp down its charter school enrollment growth, the district saw its cyber charter enrollments jump by 159 students this year, which grew tuition costs. A big question is: will those students return next year for in-person learning, Gober said.

Superintendent Joseph Roy noted the district managed to reverse enrollment losses to brick-and-mortar charter schools before the pandemic. It is frustrating to now see cyber charter enrollment grow as the district offers its own cyber academy and its eClassroom option, he said.

The cost of the cyber charters is about twice or more the cost of the BASD Academy and definitely more than the eClassroom, Roy said.

The growth in special education costs highlights a major flaw in the states charter school funding law, Roy said. Bethlehems population of extremely high-needs students has grown  there are 14 children receiving services that cost more than $79,000 a year for each child. This increased student spending in turn drives up the charter school special education tuition the district pays, he said.

They get a raise on the raise, so it is a compounding effect, Gober said.

Districts pay a flat tuition for every charter school special education student, regardless of student need. Bethlehem pays around $25,000 a student, Roy said, yet charter school filings show their special education costs are generally much lower.

This is a well known issue, inequity in the charter funding around special education, the superintendent said, vowing to fight for reform. Everyone knows it. There was a commission on it a few years ago that identified it and yet, we havent fixed it yet.

The district is estimated to receive $12 million to $17 million in new COVID-relief funding, but all of that is one-time temporary money, Gober emphasized.

We want to be very careful how we use COVID-related federal money so we dont create a bigger hole for ourselves in the future, Roy said.

Using the federal coronavirus relief dollars to pay teachers is akin to using your savings to pay your water bill, Gober said. Eventually that money runs out leaving you without savings and no way to pay your bill, she said.

Thus far, relief fundings gone towards things like purchasing Chromebooks for students, cleaning, teacher training and remote instruction expenses.

Faccinetto suggested the district could use some of the money to balance the budget instead of pulling it out of fund balance as it has done in recent years.

But other than that, it has to be spent as one-time expenses, because as you heard that $10 million deficit this year, next year all of a sudden is $20, $25, $30 million depending on what happens, he said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
Local, state and federal law enforcement leaders Tuesday stood united with federal and state prosecutors in their call for a peaceful transition of power on Inauguration Day.

They said theyll work together to deny unlawful occupation of any government or private buildings in Oregon, keep opposing protest groups separated as much as possible and deter violence or property damage.

Oregons U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said he was disgusted by the siege of the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago and declared that any similar or copycat acts of violence in Oregon or elsewhere will be prosecuted with the same urgency for anyone planning on engaging in criminal conduct.

You are forewarned, Williams said during a live media briefing posted on YouTube. Criminal acts will come with a price. Political violence is not going to be tolerated.

Portland police have canceled days off, and crowd control teams from multiple agencies will remain on standby in Oregon throughout Inauguration Day to guard against outbreaks of violence, top officials said.

Portland police will work with the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office in Portland, while state police are expected to concentrate on the state Capitol in Salem.

Oregon State Police are committed to keeping the peace over the next 48 to 72 hours, Superintendent Terri Davie said.

She encouraged those interested in protests or rallies to assemble peacefully but to not harass others, block roads or commit vandalism.

The number one mission for the Oregon State Police is the continuity of government, Davie said.

Oregons new FBI special-agent-in-charge Kieran Ramsey said the FBI hasnt picked up any information about credible threats on what he called soft targets, such as government buildings, minority organizations or houses of worship.

Given the events of the past couple of weeks its obvious that the FBI is operating in a heightened state of alert, he said. Specifically were working to investigate and identify anyone that may be trying to incite others to violence or who may be planning criminal activity.

Ramsey started this week but said he was in Portland for part of last summer when the city was roiled by nightly demonstrations to protest police violence and demand social justice after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Federal Protective Services officers and U.S. Homeland Security agents will work to safeguard federal buildings from the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in downtown Portland to the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement field office in South Waterfront.

Gabe Russell, regional director of the Federal Protective Services, said people have caused $2 million in damage to five federal buildings from protests in the past year -- the federal courthouse, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office, the Edith Green-Wendall Wyatt Federal Building, Pioneer Courthouse and Gus J. Solomon Courthouse.

The inauguration that were going to have tomorrow is one of our most sacred and important traditions in our system of representative government, Russell said. The peaceful transition of power is one of the most beautiful inspiring things that happens, and what we really hope for tomorrow is, you know, a series of peaceful, even vigorous events that celebrate that. And that said, we know theres certainly the potential for criminal acts, and well be prepared to work through those with our partners.

The Oregon National Guard has been activated and will go out where needed to support law enforcement agencies in the case of civil unrest, Adjutant General Michael Stencel said.

Port of Portland Police Chief Jason Wallis said his officers will focus on aviation security at Portland International Airport.

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said the Police Bureau knows of no specific threat of violence and urged demonstrators to stay peaceful.

The Police Bureau, the chief said, will work to deter opposing groups from feuding in the citys streets and try to prevent violence and property damage in the city, though the bureau hasnt had a lot of success in doing either in the past year.

Criminal activity will be addressed as swiftly as resources allow, Lovell said in a statement.

The Police Bureaus goals for Wednesday and any upcoming protests are, Lovell said, are to protect peoples constitutional right to assembly and free speech; maintain peace, protect life and respond to acts that threaten life; prevent or stop violence and prevent or stop property damage; discourage opposing groups from converging to prevent violence; ensure follow-up investigation of criminal behavior.

Lovell asked the public either to use online reporting or wait until Thursday to report non-emergency matters to police, so we have every resource possible for tomorrow.

In Salem, city police will assist Oregon State Police outside the Capitol and Capitol Mall, said Salem Police Lt. Treven Upkes. Salem police will activate their mobile response team, which does crowd management. The department brought in extra patrol officers to work and will have Marion County sheriffs deputies available for any response, Upkes said. The departments SWAT team also will be available if needed, he said.

Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack sought to assure the public that his force stands neutral as it seeks to protect peoples free speech rights yet act to halt unlawful actions.

Salem police dont have a lot of information about what to expect, Upkes said, noting that most of the demonstrations publicized are happening in Portland.

Were ready though, Upkes said.

In Portland, an amorphous group of anti-government demonstrators has advertised an afternoon J20 protest starting at 2 p.m. at Revolution Hall with a poster showing a capitol building in flames and decrying police, the state and Biden. Past calls to gather have ended in extensive property damage  smashed windows and other vandalism  in downtown and along shopping districts elsewhere in the city. Others are promoting a vigil in the morning for ICE detainees and then an evening Abolish ICE gathering.

A separate group has advertised a Rally to Inaugurate Justice from 4 to 7 p.m. at Irving Park with a to-do list that includes defunding police, coronavirus relief, Medicare for all and immigration protections.

The FBI will provide agents, bomb technicians, an evidence response team, tactical teams and intelligence units to support investigations and work to counter any threats the Oregon Capitol, federal buildings or individuals, according to Ramsey.

Nationwide, 99 federal prosecutions had been filed as of Tuesday against people tied to the Jan. 6 takeover of the U.S. Capitol. No one from Oregon at this point has been charged in the siege.

Every level of law enforcement and the National Guard are working around the clock here in Washington, D.C., to provide safety and security for Inauguration Day, Acting U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen said in a statement.

In addition, Rosen said, federal, state, and local law enforcement all around the country are doing the same in our state capitols and government buildings across all fifty states.

As Americans, we all should seek to have a safe and peaceful Inauguration Day, and if we hold fast to our countrys Constitution and traditions, we will,' he said.

The Portland Police Bureau asked organizers of demonstrations planned in Portland to connect with the bureaus liaison team of officers at PPBLiaison@portlandoregon.gov or through the Twitter account, @PPBLiaison.

They also said people can send in tips via email if they hear about plans to do violence to CrimeTips@portlandoregon.gov.

The FBI asked the same thing and said people can call in tips to (503) 224-4181 or send to tips.fbi.gov. People also can call 1-800- CALL-FBI or 911 for an immediate emergency.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Subscribe to Facebook page
Two Gresham parents are facing 18 counts related to child abuse after authorities say the pair starved their two young children.

The Multnomah County District Attorneys Office said Mena Kamel, 33, and Marina Zaki, 28, are facing four counts of assault and 14 of criminal mistreatment. All of the accusations are linked to the parents failing to provide their children with food or adequate medical care.

The investigation began in late June after police and medics came to their Gresham home to attend to one of the children, who had suffered a critical injury.

Court documents did not specify what kind of injury the child had or whether the parents caused the injury, but reports indicate that after the child was taken to the hospital for treatment, medical workers discovered the child was starved and malnourished.

Court documents say both children are younger than the age of 6.

According to court documents, Kamel and Zaki withheld food and medical attention from their children between September 2018 and June 2020.

Neither Kamel nor Zaki has any previous criminal charges in Oregon.

According to the district attorneys office, both children are receiving medical attention, and Kamel and Zaki are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.

-Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR
Donald Trump used his final hours as president to issue a slew of 143 pardons and commutations of sentence to friends and allies as he prepared to reluctantly hand over power to his Democratic successor Joe Biden.

A meeting with his inner circle at the White House on Sunday saw Mr Trump finalise the clemency list, a source told CNN.

Despite much speculation, he ultimately decided against issuing pre-emptive pardons to himself or members of his family or to the likes of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange or Tiger King star Joe Exotic.

He did excuse his estranged ex-chief strategist Steve Bannon, however, as well as the rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black.

Others on the list included Republican fundraiser Elliot Broidy, ex-Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Death Row Records co-founder Michael Harris, New York art dealer Hillel Nahmad and ex-Republican congressmen Rick Renzi and Duke Cunningham.

Follow live: Biden signs orders to undo Trumps work

The latest list follows Mr Trump issuing almost 50 presidential pardons and commutations last month to former criminals, Republican politicians, aides who lied to the FBI during the Russia investigation and state department contractors convicted over a massacre in Iraq.

Below is a comprehensive list of the allies he absolved of wrongdoing during his tenure.

Steve Bannon

The former Breitbart editor turned podcaster, a nationalist and outsider conservative, was dismissed as the presidents chief strategist in the wake of Charlottesville in August 2017 since which time relations between the two men have been acrimonious, not least because Mr Bannon was quoting attacking the presidents children in Michael Wolffs book Fire and Fury.

Recommended Donald Trump pardons controversial former adviser Steve Bannon

He was charged last year with swindling the president's own supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the Trumps wall on the US-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Bannons pardon was especially notable given that the prosecution was still in its early stages and any trial was months away. Whereas pardon recipients are conventionally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, the pardon nullifies the prosecution and effectively eliminates any prospect for punishment.

Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trump's own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for, Democratic congressman Adam Schiff commented on Twitter. And if that all sounds crazy, that's because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.

Elliot Broidy

The Republican fundraiser pleaded guilty last autumn in a scheme to lobby the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund.

Ken Kurson

A friend of Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, Mr Kurson was charged last October with cyberstalking during a heated divorce.

Kwame Kilpatrick

The former mayor of Detroit has served about seven years behind bars for a racketeering and bribery scheme.

Lil Wayne

Five-time Grammy Award winner Lil Wayne, whose legal name is Dwayne Carter Jr, appeared to support Trump on the campaign trail ahead of his re-election bid when Carter said he backed the presidents criminal justice reform programme and economic plan for African Americans.

But Mr Carter, whose 2016 single No Problem won the Best Rap Performance Grammy, pleaded guilty last month to illegally possessing a loaded, gold-plated handgun when his chartered jet landed in Miami in December 2019. He faced a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Kodak Black

Mr Black, 23, who was born Bill Kahan Kapri, is in federal prison for making a false statement to buy a firearm and released the album Bill Israel from behind bars.

He pleaded guilty in August 2019 and three months later was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison. He was seeking compassionate release and his commutation was supported by religious leaders, other rappers and athletes.

Michael Harris

Mr Trump commuted the prison sentence of hip hop mogul Michael Harry-O Harris on drug-trafficking and murder charges.

Hillel Nahmad

Nahmad founded the Helly Nahmad Gallery in Manhattan, New York, in 2000, which holds several fine art exhibitions every year featuring work by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Francis Bacon.

In 2014, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison, serving four, after pleading guilty to a federal charge of operating an illegal gambling business.

Rick Renzi

The ex-Arizona Republican congressman has served three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges.

Duke Cunningham

The ex-California representative was convicted of accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. Cunningham, who was released from prison in 2013, received a conditional pardon.

Roger Stone

Former Trump campaign adviser and confidant Roger Stone was convicted in November 2019 on seven charges related to the Russia investigation.

The Republican lobbyist was pardoned by Mr Trump last week after the president commuted his sentence in July, a week before he was due to report to federal prison. Stone had been sentenced to 40 months which he will no longer serve.

Michael Flynn

The former national security adviser pleaded guilty after lying about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the US.

Flynn was the only White House official to be convicted by special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, links between the Trump campaign and Russian officials, and the presidents alleged obstruction of justice.

Paul Manafort

Paul Manafort, the presidents one-time campaign chairman, was pardoned after having his sentence commuted earlier this year.

Manafort was found guilty of eight financial crimes including filing false tax returns on tens of millions of dollars in Ukrainian political consulting income.

Alex van der Zwaan

Alex van der Zwaan, a Dutch lawyer, was sentenced to 30 days in prison for lying to investigators during the Mueller investigation.

The president has repeatedly taken aim at Muellers investigation, which considered Trump campaign ties to Russia, and convicted aides including van der Zwaan in the process.

George Papadopoulos

George Papadopoulos was the second person convicted in the Russia investigation, which handed the former Trump campaign advisor a 14-day prison sentence.

He pleaded guilty to lying about a conversation he had with Russians, who had told him they had dirt on Hillary Clinton, Mr Trump's 2016 Democratic opponent.

Duncan Hunter

Duncan Hunter, a former Republican congressman from California, was sentenced to 11 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing $150,000 from campaign funds to spend on vacations and personal luxuries.

He was to begin his sentence in May 2020 but had it pushed back to January 2021 due to the pandemic.

Chris Collins

Chris Collins, another Republican included in Mr Trumps pardons, was sentenced to two months imprisonment after he admitted to helping his son and others dodge $800,000 in stock market losses when he passed on information about a pharmaceutical company to them.

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The former New York congressman was among the first to endorse Mr Trump for president.

Steve Stockman

Steve Stockman, the former Republican congressman from Texas, was convicted of misusing charitable funds of $775,000.

The White House said that Stockman had contracted coronavirus while in prison. He served more than two years of his 10-year sentence, and will still be required to serve time on supervised release along with paying about $1m in restitution.

Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard

The four men were contractors working for the US state department in 2007 when they opened fire on unarmed civilians in a crowded square in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital.

They killed 14 civilians, including two children, one who was just nine years old. The massacre led to lengthy prison sentences.

Alfonso Costa

Alfonso Costa, a former Pittsburgh dentist and close friend of Housing Secretary Ben Carson, was convicted of healthcare fraud.

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He pleaded guilty and served two years on probation, along with being ordered to pay $300,000 (224,000) in fines and restitution.

Alfred Lee Crum

The 89-year-old pleaded guilty to helping his wife's uncle illegally distill moonshine in 1952, when he was 19 years old. He served three years of probation and paid a $250 fine.

The White House said Crum, of Oklahoma, had maintained a clean record, had four children and been married for nearly 70 years. He has also attended the same church for 60 years and regularly participated in charity fundraising events.

Philip Esformes

Philip Esformes, a wealthy Miami businessman and former health care executive, was responsible for one of the biggest healthcare fraud schemes in US history, worth $1 billion.

His prison sentence was commuted by the president on Tuesday, but other aspects of his sentence, including supervised release and millions in restitution, remained intact.

Otis Gordon

The pastor, convicted of drug possession charges, was issued a full pardon, supported by Trump ally and South Carolina senator Tim Scott.

Weldon Angelos

Weldon Angelos was 24 years old when he was given a 55-year prison sentence in 2004 for marijuana dealing while in possession of weapons. It was his first conviction.

Recommended Judge dismisses Michael Flynn case following Trump pardon

Utah senator Mike Lee had petitioned former president Barack Obama to grant clemency to Angelos, a music producer. He was instead released from prison after receiving a sentence reduction in court.

Igancio Ramos and Jose Compean

The two former US Border Patrol agents were convicted of shooting and wounding a Mexican drug smuggler near El Paso, Texas, in 2005.

They were released in 2009 after then-president George W Bush commuted their sentences - 11 and 12 years respectively.

Phil Lyman

A Republican from Utah who currently serves as a state representative, served 10 days in prison after he led a motorbike protest through a Native American canyon, which was banned at the time. The rules were later undone by the Trump administration.

Crustal Munoz, Judith Negron and Tynice Nichole Hall

Munoz, Negron and Hall had their cases championed by criminal justice reform activists. All were commuted last week.

Crystal Munoz was serving a 20-year prison sentence on a drug conspiracy charge. Negron had been serving 35 years for health care fraud. And Hall was serving 18 years for drug charges.

Joe Arpaio

An anti-immigration hardliner who was elected five times as sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona, he was the first pardon issued by Mr Trump.

Arpaio was charged with criminal contempt for defying a court order to stop detaining people.

Conrad Black

A former businessman and Trump associate was pardoned more than a decade after he was sentenced for fraud and obstruction of justice. He was released in 2012.

The former Chicago Sun-Times, Jerusalem Post and Daily Telegraph owner went on to write pro-Trump op-eds.

Kristien Saucier

Saucier was discharged from the US Navy and sentenced to one year imprisonment for photographing a submarine.

Mr Trump often cited Sauciers claims that he was punished more harshly than Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server as US secretary of state.

Lewis Scooter Libby

Libby served as senior adviser to vice president Dick Cheney in the George W Bush administration. He was convicted on four charges including the obstruction of justice and perjury in 2007.

His case later found favour with Mr Trump, who issued a pardon.

Jack Johnson, Susan B Anthony, Zay Jeffries

Three people have received posthumous pardons from Mr Trump, including the former professional boxer Jack Johnson, who was sentenced in 1913 for transporting a white woman across state lines.

Susan B Anthony, the womens suffragist, was arrested and fined for voting illegally in 1872. She was pardoned by Mr Trump on the 100th anniversary of voting rights being extended to women.

Zay Jeffries, a General Electric vice president who was convicted in 1948 for antitrust violations related to his work on artillery shells used in the Second World War. Pardoned by Mr Trump seven decades later.

Dinesh DSouza

Dinesh DSouza, a conservative commentator, was pardoned by Mr Trump after pleading guilty to making illegal campaign contributions. He had blamed his conviction on his political opposition to president Obama.

Rod Blagojevich

The former Democratic governor of Illinois - and contestant on Mr Trumps Celebrity Apprentice show - was pardoned after being sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2011 for trying to sell or trade the senate seat vacated by Mr Obama.

Dwight L Hammond and Steven D Hammond

A father and son who were convicted of committing arson on federal land in 2012. Their sentences sparked protests against federal land management in Oregon and other states - and sympathy from Mr Trump.

Michael Behenna

A former US Army lieutenant who was sentenced to twenty years in prison for the murder of an Iraqi man in US custody in 2008.

When Mr Trump pardoned him in 2019, the White House said that Behennas case had attracted broad support from the military, Oklahoma elected officials, and the public.

Patrick Nolan

A former Republican lawmaker who served 26 months after pleading guilty in 1994 to soliciting for illegal campaign donations. He went on to become an advocate for criminal justice reform.

Paul Pogue

A former Texas construction company businessman who was pardoned after being sentenced for tax charges. He donated to Mr Trumps re-election bid.

Ariel Friedler

A former tech company executive who was pardoned after pleading guilty to conspiring to hack a competitor, and had his case championed by former New Jersey governor and Trump ally Chris Christie.

Michael Anthony Tedesco

Convicted of drug trafficking and fraud three decades ago, Mr Tedesco was pardoned by Mr Obama and then Mr Trump, whose 2019 pardon corrected an administrative error with the previous pardon.

Roy Wayne McKeever

Pleaded guilty to charges of transporting marijuana from Mexico to Oklahoma in 1989 and was sentenced to one year in prison. MrTrump pardoned him last year.

A White House statement at the time, called him an active member of the Sheriffs Association of Texas.

John Richard Bubala

Pardoned after being sentenced for improper use of federal property in 1990 when he transferred automotive equipment for maintenance, for which the White House said was to help the town of Milltown, Indiana.

Chalmer Lee Williams

An airport baggage handler who was convicted on several charges in 1995 that were related to the theft and sale of weapons. Williams was said to have behaved impeccably in prison and accepted responsibility.

Rodney M Takumi

Mr Takumi was convicted of working at an illegal gambling parlor in 1987 and went on to run a tax preparation franchise within the Navajo Nation, before being pardoned.

Jon Donyae Ponder

Ponder pleaded guilty to bank robbery in 2005 and went on to start a nonprofit organisation helping former prisoners, after serving four years in prison.

Mr Trump pardoned him on the second night of the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Bernard Kerik

Kerik, the former police commissioner for New York City and ally of Mr Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, was pardoned after pleading guilty to tax fraud and seven other charges in 2010. He served four years in prison.

David Safavian

Arrested for his involvement in political lobbying fraud, Safavian was former president George W Bushs top federal procurement official.

When Mr Trump pardoned him, the White House said Safavian had been active in criminal justice reform after his release from prison.

Michael R Milken

Milken was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1990, having pleaded guilty to securities fraud and conspiracy charges. The former Wall Street financier went on to do charity work, and was pardoned by Mr Trump.

Angela Stanton-King

The Republican author and television personality served six months of home confinement in 2007 for her role in a stolen-vehicle ring.

After her pardon by Mr Trump, she went on to run for a seat in Congress in 2020, citing the extreme Q-Anon conspiracy theory.

Clint Lorance, Mathew L Golsteyn, Edward Gallagher

Three former members of the US military who were accused or convicted of war crimes, but praised by some Republicans, and then pardoned by Trump.

Clint Lorance, a former Army lieutenant, had been serving a twenty year sentence for murdering two civilians in Afghanistan.

Edward DeBartolo Jr

The former owner of the San Francisco 49ers was charged in 1998 after he pleaded guilty to concealing an extortion plot involving the then governor of Louisiana.

He avoided prison at the time, and was suspended for a year by the NFL, before Mr Trump pardoned him.

Alice Marie Johnson

When Mr Trump issued the pardon, Johnsons case was brought to the publics attention by reality television personality Kim Kardashian West.

He previously commuted her sentence for conspiracy to possess cocaine and money laundering.

Charles Kushner

The real estate executive and father of Mr Tumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, was sentenced to two years in prison for tax evasion, witness tampering and illegal campaign donations.

His pardon was among the latest issued by Mr Trump, despite ally Chris Christie calling the case "one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes" he investigated when attorney general for New Jersey.

Margaret Hunter

The wife of former Republican congressman Duncan Hunter, who was also pardoned by Trump last week.

She was convicted alongsider her husband of conspiracy to misuse campaign funds and was sentenced to three years of probation.

John Tate and Jesse Benton

Two top staffers on the 2012 Republican presidential campaign for Ron Paul, who were afterwards convicted of reporting false campaign financial reports.

They tried to hide payments to former Iowa Senator Kent Sorenson for his endorsement of Paul, whose son, Senator Rand Paul, supported the pardon.

Stephanie Mohr

The former Maryland police officer was sentenced for releasing her police dog on a homeless man in 2001 and went on to serve 10 years in prison before being pardoned.

Gary Brugman

During an encounter with a group of people who illegally crossed into the US from Mexico, the former Border Patrol agent struck one of the men, who later filed a complaint.

Mr Brugman, whose case received support from Republican lawmakers and commentators, served 27 months in prison before being pardoned.

Mary McCarty

Ms McCarty, a former Florida county commissioner who was found to have personally enrich[ed] herself through a series of municipal transactions.

Former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi and Christopher Ruddy, the CEO of pro-Trump news outlet Newsmax, supported the pardon.

Mark Siljander

A former Michigan congressman who was convicted on charges of money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in 2008.

He allegedly lobbied for the removal of an Islamic charity from a list of organisations suspected of funding international terrorism, after taking funds from the group.

Republican lawmakers advocated for the pardon, after Siljander went on to do charitable work in the Middle East and Africa, the White House said.

Christopher II X, previously Christopher Anthony Bryant

An activist from Kentucky who was previously convicted on federal drug charges, before becoming a local community leader in Louisville.

The White House said he was a powerful example of the possibility of redemption.

Robert Coughlin

Another official who was convicted for his involvement in the lobbying fraud scandal surrounding former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Joseph Occhipinti

Occhipinti was an agent with the US Immigration and Naturalization Service when he was convicted in 1991 of conspiracy to violate civil rights.

His sentence was commuted after seven months in prison by president George HW Bush, before being fully pardoned by Mr Trump.

Rickey Kanter

A former businessman who was convicted for selling shoes that did not meet Medicare requirements and mail fraud.

Daniela Gozes-Wagner

Convicted for conspiring with others to bill Medicare and Medicaid for millions of dollars worth of medical tests that were either unnecessary or never carried-out.

The president commuted her sentence with the support of several former US attorneys general, having served less than a year of her 20 year prison sentence.

Mark Shapiro and Irving Stitsky

The pair were convicted and sentenced to serve 85 years in prison after they defrauded more than 250 people with a $23 million real estate scam.

The White House praised the men as model prisoners, who had earned support and praise from other inmates.

Topeka Sam

Ms Sam was convicted of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and served three years of a more than 10-year prison sentence.

She went on to become a criminal justice advocate, and work with the Trump administration on reforms.

James Batmasian

A real-estate investor in Florida who pleaded guilty to cheating the federal government out of more than $250,000 by failing to pay federal taxes for employees at his company.

He served an eight-month prison sentence before being pardoned.

Cesar Lozada

Lozada, originally from Cuba, was granted a full pardon after starting a pool cleaning business near Miami, Florida.

Recommended Roger Stone personally thanks Trump for pardoning him

He was previously convicted of drug charges and served a 14-month sentence.

Joseph Martin Stephens

Stephens served 18 months in prison and was issued a full pardon after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2008, a federal offense.

Andrew Barron Worden

Wordon, who runs an investment firm and a solar energy company, was convicted of fraud in 1998.

The White House said he made mistakes in running an investment firm he founded.

John Boultbee and Peter Atkinson

As executives at Hollinger International and associates of media tycoon Conrad Black, the two men were found guilty of three counts of mail fraud and each served a year in prison.

Rebekah Charleston

She was arrested for tax evasion in 2006 and the White House said she is a victim of sex trafficking who was forced into prostitution, before volunteering to help other victims.

Her pardon was also supported by a law enforcement agent who arrested her.

William Plemons Jr

The White House said Plemons was convicted of various financial crimes in the late 1990s and early 2000s and served 27 months in federal prison.

Recommended Indicted Giuliani associate seeks White House communications

Officials said he served in the Air Force and supported several charitable organisations.

James Kassouf

Mr Kassouf pleaded guilty in 1989 to a federal tax offence. The White House said that since his conviction, he has been devoted to his church, fire department and works with charitable organisations.

Christopher Wade

The White House said Wade was convicted of multiple cyber-related offences and has shown remorse and sought to make his community a safer place before his pardon.

Russell Plaisance

A posthumous pardon issued after Plaisance was convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine in 1987.

Prosecutors involved in the case did not object to pardon, the White House said.

Sholom Rubashkin

Mr Rubashkin, an American businessman and the former CEO of Agriprocessors, was the first person to have their sentence commuted by Mr Trump.

He was sentenced to 27-years in prison for fraud, but following the pardon, was released with supervision.

Ronen Nahmani

An Israel-born Florida resident who was convicted in 2015 of conspiracy to distribute synthetic drugs acquired from China and was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment.

Mr Trump pardoned Mr Nahamani four years after.

Ted Suhl

Mr Suhl was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2007 on four counts of bribery, having been in charge of a behavioural health company that had increased fees for Medicare.

His sentence was commuted by Mr Trump.

Lenora Logan, Rashella Reed, Charles Tanner, John Bolen and Curtis McDonald

Five individuals whose sentences for drug and federal crimes were commuted by Mr Trump, having been advocated by Alice Marie Johnson.

Ms Johnson was fully pardoned for her own charges related to drug trafficking and went on to become an advocate for criminal justice reform.

Additional reporting by AP
A historic day. Congratulations, President Biden and Vice President Harris. I look forward to building a strong partnership and tackling the many challenges ahead, together.

Today I attended the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies for President Biden & Vice President Harris. I look fwd to working w them on behalf of the ppl of Iowa. @ United States Capitol https://t.co/7sG9NWnnih

. @KamalaHarris , the first African American, Asian American, and woman to become Vice President, is sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina on the Supreme Court. This is what breaking the glass ceiling looks like.

When I first came to the Senate, Kamala was one of the first people to reach out to me in real friendship. She made me pasta and bucked me up. She is warm, strong, smart.

Our grandson Ari will never know a world where a woman cant be Vice President, or President.

 Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) January 20, 2021
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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
KALAMAZOO, MI  The Kalamazoo City Commission will talk about investigating the departure of the citys former public safety chief, who city officials said retired in September. An investigation by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette later revealed former Chief Karianne Thomas was actually fired.

The Kalamazoo City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday, Jan. 19, to place the topic of investigating Thomas departure on the next meetings agenda, along with a second item to address accountability concerns related to the handling of the chiefs termination.

Kalamazoo City Commissioner Eric Cunninghams motion at Tuesdays meeting, which was unanimously approved, will add the two items to the citys next meeting agenda.

The motion came near the end of the meeting, during discussion of the former chiefs termination and the commissions role in accountability, amid talk about improving transparency.

Related: Kalamazoo commissioners will test out public meetings to replace closed-door sessions

Commissioner Erin Knott said on Tuesday that she received the proposed motion to accept City Manager Jim Ritsemas apology about an hour before the the Dec. 21 city commission meeting, and was stunned.

There was a resolution, no discussion, and bam it was voted on. I was stunned. I didnt say anything because I couldnt believe how quickly things moved, Knott said.

Knott and Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin were the only two commissioners who voted against the resolution to accept Ritsemas apology in December, and they havent stopped advocating for action on the issue at public meetings since.

Knott advocated for an investigation of Thomas departure, including conversations with Thomas, as well as the current public safety chief, director of human resources and others.

I want an opportunity to do an investigation, Knott said, adding that she has told other commissioners that one-on-one. The commissioner said she has already received some comments from city staff about the chiefs departure.

Commissioner Eric Cunningham advised commissioners to come up with an alternative or a different conversation if they feel the issue has not been addressed.

We can change anything, Cunningham said, which could include having a deeper dialog or other actions.

Knott also asked for more information about the city managers ability to hire and fire department-level positions, and pay bonuses. She asked about the citys policy and said she wants to ensure bonuses are given out equitably.

Griffin said she was clear in previous meetings about wanting to have a conversation about the chiefs departure. She said Tuesday that she previously asked others on the commission who voted to accept the apology what their plans are for moving forward in the issue, and she continued to ask it again Tuesday.

Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin speaks during a public press conference about what occurred at the protests overnight in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. The city of Kalamazoo imposed a 7 p.m. curfew that will last until 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 3. The Michigan National Guard will be deployed in town to assist local law enforcement. Joel Bissell

There is too much important work thats going to be done specifically on antiracism, Griffin said. If you cant deal with accountability issues, I dont know how were gong to push forward as an antiracist city.

During discussion of a Committee of the Whole meeting format, Griffin and Knott both questioned the point of changing a meeting format, if elected officials wont take the chance to create accountability when they have a chance to.

The Kalamazoo Gazette first asked Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain in an email on Sept. 18 if Thomas was forced to resign, or asked to resign and for an explanation of why she resigned. The city managers office chose not to answer questions about what, at the time, was called a retirement.

Meanwhile, the Kalamazoo Gazette requested through the Freedom of Information Act a copy of Thomas contract. The terms of the contract indicated she would only receive severance if she was terminated without cause. Another document the Kalamazoo Gazette received by FOIA was an email that showed Thomas would receive severance pay.

The Gazette asked again on Dec. 3, with an email inquiry sent to Chamberlain on Dec. 3, including the question Did the city managers office terminate the chiefs contract without cause? The question was asked again in a Dec. 10 email to the city managers office.

The one-word answer, Yes, was among responses the city sent back to the Gazette at about 5 p.m. on Dec. 14.

Read more:

Kalamazoo commissioners will test out public meetings to replace closed-door sessions

Kalamazoos police chief, who retired in September, was actually fired

Kalamazoo City Hall lit in amber to honor COVID-19 victims

Commissioner grateful to citizens who shared stories about police responses in Kalamazoo

Former Stamp Farms owner sentenced to prison, ordered to pay $23M in restitution
Millions of Australians will no longer be forced to wear masks and they will be able to have more visitors at home as a host of coronavirus restrictions are pared back.

Residents in Greater Brisbane subjected to mandatory face coverings and limits on gathering sizes will see a return to pre-lockdown life come Friday.

But families hoping to be reunited with loved ones in parts of New South Wales will have to wait with no immediate changes made to border rules.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the three-day lockdown imposed earlier this month helped prevent an explosion in cases numbers.

Millions of residents in Greater Brisbane will no longer be required to wear masks under a major easing of coronavirus restrictions from 1am on Friday

More people will be allowed in places such as restaurants, cafes and bars with the one person per 4sqm rule slashed to 2sqm

EASED RESTRICTIONS - 50 people allowed to gather in homes; 100 people outdoors - One person per 2sqm in indoor spaces such as restaurants, cafes and museums - Up to 200 people at funerals and weddings (all guests can dance at weddings) - 500 people at indoor events; 1500 people at outdoor events - 100 per cent capacity at seated, ticketed indoor events and at open air stadiums - Dancing is allowed at all indoor and outdoor venues - Masks not mandatory in indoor spaces, only in airports and on airplanes Advertisement

'A short, sharp lockdown was successful in keeping the movement of people and the virus to a minimum,' Ms Palaszczuk said on Thursday.

'We've been able to ease restrictions faster because we've had a strong response to tackling Covid.'

Friday has been set as the date for restrictions to be stripped back following 14 days of no community transmission.

Greater Brisbane will be brought back into line with the rest of the state after having restrictions imposed following the snap three-day lockdown earlier this month when a Covid cluster emerged at the Hotel Grand Chancellor.

Four returned travellers staying on level seven of the hotel while in mandatory quarantine tested positive to the highly-infectious UK strain of coronavirus, along with a cleaner working at the facility and their partner.

The number of people at weddings and funerals will be doubled to 200, while 50 people will be allowed in a home and gatherings of 100 people in outdoor spaces will be permitted.

Indoor premises such as restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, places of worship and museums currently subjected to the 4sqm capacity rule will be able to have more people through their doors.

Capacity will be boosted with the one person per 2sqm rule coming into effect.

Standing hospitality will once again be allowed.

There can be 500 people at indoor events under the eased restrictions, with 1500 people at events held outdoors.

Residents in Greater Brisbane are in for an easing of coronavirus restrictions on Friday as the city continues its run of no locally acquired cases of the virus. Pictured, Brisbane residents

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) said authorities were able to ease restrictions from 1am on Friday because of its snap three-day lockdown

Ticketed events and open air stadiums will be back to 100 per cent capacity but those attending are still encouraged to wear masks.

Masks will only be required in airports and on airplanes, in line with national guidelines. They are recommended on public transport and where social distancing is not possible.

Dancing will be allowed in all indoor and outdoor venues, subject to the one person per 2sqm rule.

The changes will come into effect from 1am on Friday, with confirmation made on Thursday morning.

Residents are still being urged to come forward for testing after the virus was detected in sewage on the Gold Coast and in Cairns North.

'It's really important that if anyone is sick to just come forward and get tested,' Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said.

There will be no immediate changes to border restrictions, however. Pictured, a border checkpoint at Coolangatta

Queensland has shut its borders to Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast. Locals returning to the Sunshine State from a hotspot must isolate.

New South Wales has recorded three consecutive days of zero locally acquired cases of coronavirus.

The Sunshine State is set to review their border closure rules for Greater Sydney residents at the end of January - giving New South Wales authorities just over a week to link each case to a known source.

Under the Queensland rules, the border restrictions will only be removed once there has been 28 days of zero unlinked cases.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has called on other state premiers to open their borders, accusing them of 'inflicting pain and suffering' on millions of Australians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated this week in a videoconference of heads of state hosted by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. He was joined by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

The Jan. 18 meeting was the sixth of its kind. The forum was founded last April by Kurz to share best practices in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, with the intention of including countries that dealt succesfully with the first coronavirus wave. Netanyahu has been supportive of the Austrian initiative since its beginning.

Addressing the six leaders, Netanyahu presented Israels mass vaccination drive, encouraging the leaders and their health ministers to get vaccinated in order to give the public confidence in the process. He also recommended to his peers that logistically, the goal should be as many vaccines as possible, as quickly as possible. Mitsotakis and Babis have been vaccinated, Solberg has said she'll wait her turn and the others are promoting vaccine drives in their countries, though Morrison is treading more cautiously.

After describing the successful Israeli campaign drive, Netanyahu proposed the formation of an international corporation that would bring together governments to work both on the coronavirus and in future pandemics.

"We're seven countries, with the largest population  Australia. Most of us have populations of five to 12 million. Why don't we seriously talk about forming a conglomeration for research? We all have research and scientific capabilities. We all have technological capabilities. We have to develop this capacity. We cannot be at the mercy of market forces.  I think that in order to get reasonable scale of economic scale and scientific scale, we should seriously look at pooling together our efforts. We must join forces and seriously begin to talk about both scientific research and production and supply, first to our respective countries and then to everyone else. Let's already plan for the years ahead," he argued.

Israel participated last June in a global virtual coronavirus summit organized by the World Health Organization. While it did not pledge specific financial donations, it committed to global cooperation to ensure access to vaccines, treatments and testing, with a special focus on Africa. It was also one of the 80 countries that submitted non-binding expressions of interest this summer to the Gavi-coordinated COVAX Facility, an initiative for equitable access to coronavirus treatment and vaccines for developing countries. It is unclear whether Netanyahu's new initiative would operate within the WHO international research framework or apart.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Malaysias king asked politicians in the country on Tuesday to set aside their differences after lawmakers across the spectrum questioned his decision to declare a national emergency to contain escalating coronavirus cases.

Meanwhile, Malaysia extended a lockdown over most of the country amid consistently elevated rates of COVID-19 cases daily, a day after the prime minister announced a multi-billion-dollar stimulus package to shore up the pandemic-battered economy.

This is the time for us as Malaysians to put aside our political differences, races and religions and show our loyalty, humanity and solidarity in fighting the pandemic, King Al-Sultan Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said in a statement.

With all the support and cooperation from all, we can flatten the curve and ease the burden carried by our frontliners. With Gods grace, we can break the chain of infection in the country effectively, the king said.

On Jan. 12, he declared an emergency in the country  on the advice of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin  citing the increase in COVID-19 cases.

On Tuesday, the government expanded a lockdown to most of the country, after the country reported 3,631 new coronavirus infections and 14 virus-related deaths.

A day earlier, the government announced a U.S. $3.7 billion package to mitigate the economic impact of the lockdowns and the surge in coronavirus infections.

Rising criticism of emergency

The emergency declaration was criticized by a raft of political parties, many of which said an emergency was not needed to contain the coronavirus surge. Muhyiddin used the worsening pandemic as a pretext to cling to power after he had lost majority support in parliament, others said.

On Monday, a former member of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO)  a key partner in the ruling bloc  said he was filing a lawsuit against Muhyiddin for requesting the king to declare an emergency.

My main intention in filing this  [case] is to seek the judiciarys views on whether a prime minister who has lost the support of the majority has the locus standi to advise His Majesty for an emergency proclamation in our country, Khairuddin Abu Hassan said in a statement.

He noted that Muhyiddins government had lost a majority after two UMNO MPs withdrew support to the government in quick succession earlier this month.

The king declared the emergency on the same day that support for Muhyiddins coalition fell to 109 among 220 MPs. It is slated to end Aug. 1, unless the king is advised to end it an earlier date.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday that the emergency removes the last vestige of democratic rights of the people.

This government has now lost its majority and therefore the right to rule.  Through the proclamation, this minority government has now gained absolute power to rule, he wrote on his blog.

Non-political groups have also criticized the emergency proclamation.

On Sunday, 10 former presidents of the Malaysian Bar said in a letter that the pandemic wasnt a reason to declare an emergency.

[I]t is very troubling that the government has set a dangerous precedent for the use of Proclamations when the requisite conditions are not met under the Constitution.  It is therefore imperative that both the Proclamation of Emergency and the Ordinance be laid before Parliament, as soon as possible, said the letter published in the Malay Mail newspaper.

Last week, two medical association said the emergency declaration should be used responsibly and the health system shouldnt be politicized.

Analyst: Kings power cannot be challenged

Meanwhile, constitutional expert Shamrahayu Aziz said that lawmakers had no constitutional right to ask the king to reconvene parliament.

According to the constitution, it is clear that courts have no jurisdiction to review the proclamation, and in the literal sense it means members of parliament also have no right to press the king to ensure parliament meet, Shamrahayu, of the International Islamic University of Malaysia, told BenarNews.

Furthermore, parliament is still suspended according to Section 14 of the Emergency Ordinance, so the Emergency Ordinance itself prohibits parliament from sitting. So in my view there is no basis for the MPs to appeal to the king to call for parliament.

Economic package for political survival

The new $3.7 billion COVID-19 assistance package announced on Monday is the fifth such one since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in Malaysia. The government last year announced 305 billion ringgit ($ U.S. 75 million) in pandemic aid.

This new package, which includes wage subsidies and cash aid, is anchored on three main objectives, Muhyiddin said in his speech announcing the initiative.

First, combating the COVID-19 outbreak; second, safeguarding the welfare of the people; and third, supporting business continuity, the PM said.

[T]he government understands that during MCO [lockdowns], all types of businesses face various challenges including difficulties in managing cash flow as well as utility and rental payments. As such, the Government will endeavor to reduce the business sectors burden through several measures.

Economist Nazari Ismail said that the government could ill afford the new COVID-19 economic package but needed to introduce it for political reasons.

The government cannot really afford it since the debt level is already too high, but since people expect government assistance like the previous time, the government has to come up with the package for its political survival, Nazari, from Universiti Malaya, told BenarNews.
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By Emilio Parodi and Stephen Jewkes ROME (Reuters) - Italy is considering legal action against Pfizer Inc after the U.S. drugmaker announced a further cut in coronavirus vaccine deliveries, the country's COVID-19 special commissioner Domenico Arcuri said. Pfizer is facing criticism across Europe over its surprise move to temporarily delay vaccine shipments to countries that fear disruptions could throw their inoculation campaigns into disarray. The company told Italy last week that it was cutting its deliveries by 29%. On Tuesday, it said it was not in the position to make ...

Families in the Cy-Fair area are struggling to keep food on the table while staying clear of the COVID-19 virus.

Nonprofit and community organizations in Cy-Fair, such as Northwest Assistance Ministries and Cypress Assistance Ministries, have worked to fill in gaps for local families with food, school supplies, financial assistance and mental health services for all ages.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Cypress Creek Watershed Partnership releases draft of Watershed Protection Plan

Food Assistance

Cypress Assistance Ministries, a nonprofit for low-income families in need of assistance is seeking donations and volunteers in order to continue providing for the local community.

In order to serve the people who find themselves in crisis we need the money to help them with their rent, mortgage or utilities, plus money to continue to pay the rent and utilities on our buildings and personnel costs, said Janet Ryan, director of development for Cypress Assistance Ministries. The community continues to be generous in their donations of food. CAMs greatest need at this time is money and volunteers.

Anyone receiving food from CAM will need one of the following documents: SNAP, social security benefits, disability benefits, veterans benefits, proof of free lunch or breakfast through CFISD, Medicaid, CHIP or an award letter from a government funding program.

Individuals not currently participating in one of these assistance programs must make an appointment with a client assistance counselor to determine eligibility, Ryan said. This is more in line with how we operated prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Local reps discuss the Texas Legislative Session and COVID-19 priorities

CAM is also in need of financial donations to help clients with bills and food.

Families in the 77065, 77095, 77429, 77433 and 77084 ZIP codes can receive free food with an ID and proof of residence at the food pantry from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Those who would like an appointment can schedule one for Monday-Wednesday from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. ESL and GED classes are also now registering students.

The CAM food pantry is located at 11265 Huffmeister Rd. in Cypress.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/cypressassistance.

Cy-Hope is a nonprofit benefiting low-income students in Cy-Fair ISD. Cy-Hope is in need of volunteers for bagging food each month. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CyHopeTx.

Cy-Hope is in need of volunteers for their backpack program. Sign up can be found here.

Cy-Fair Helping Hands, a nonprofit dedicated to homeless and low-income communities, is also providing food for Cy-Fair area families. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and the first and third Saturdays of the month Cy-Fair Helping Hands provides perishable and nonperishable foods from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a drive-thru model.

We have a crucial need for Spanish bilingual volunteers each of these days and bilingual Vietnamese volunteers are needed on Thursdays and Saturdays, Patricia Hudson, executive director of community outreach for CFHH, said.

Volunteer hours are 8:45 am - 12:45 pm., from Thursday to Saturday for the bilingual volunteers.

For more information, including how to donate, visit www.facebook.com/CYFAIRHELPINGHANDS.

Northwest Assistance Ministries, or NAM, serves hundreds of in-need families a week through their onsite food pantry with both nonperishable and perishable foods and is using a drive-thru model.

NAM is providing food assistance Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at their main building and accepting donations between 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

NAM is in need of food and financial donations. Frozen meat, fruit and vegetables, and canned and dry goods are needed for the food pantry.

Northwest Assistance Ministries has seen a consistent increase in requests for rent and food assistance, Carr said.

Related: Local restaurant community raises more than $27,000 for Cy-Fair Helping Hands

NAM is located at 15555 Kuykendahl Rd. in northwest Houston. For more information, visit www.namonline.org.

Financial services

NAM also provides financial assistance for clients needing help with bills or other expenses after losing their job due to COVID-19.

Because of the way our funding is structured, our advice to our clients is to use the unemployment (payments) for your utilities, for your prescriptions, for some groceries and allow us to subsidize the rent because we can make that one payment to the landlord and get that caught up, Carr said.

NAM has launched an online application process for rent and mortgage assistance, where applicants can submit all appropriate documents without visiting the nonprofit.

The training and learning center is also registering students for spring 2021 online classes. To check qualifications for a scholarship call 281-885-4523.

NAM is providing free flu immunizations for children between the age of 2 and 18 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Feb. 4 and March 4. Appointments must be made at 281-885-4649.

The Family Violence Center at NAM is hosting videos and tools for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month beginning on Feb. 1. The information will be posted at namonline.org/family-center.

For more information, visit www.namonline.org.

The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce has a community resources page, www.cyfairchamber.com/wearecyfair, where small businesses can apply for SBA loans, catch up on the most recent mandates on COVID-19 from the state government and individual instruction for navigating loan and benefits application.

For more information, visit www.cyfairchamber.com.

Mental health assistance

Shield Bearer counseling sessions are being held through remote teletherapy sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nonprofit works with different financial situations to provide counseling for a variety of mental health challenges including grief, abuse, addictions and relationship issues.

According to the organizations Facebook page, Shield Bearer has experienced an increase in the demand for mental health services and is seeking financial donations to help the organization continue meeting clients needs.

For more information, visit www.shieldbearer.org.

Senior Pastor Floyd Smith with Igniting Gods Vision Ministry , a 19-year-old ministry in the Cy-Fair area, said the ministry has continued to operate the recently launched Turning Peer Pressure to Peer Power program and counseling for the local community.

Weve launched this ministry enough to where were already dealing with the issues they are struggling with, he said. Our goal is to save money to get our own building or land so well be able to bring them and go through the counseling process. My concern is on the counseling side and what people are going through at this time not only with the teens but also with the pandemic.

Cy-Hope also offers counseling and speech therapy both in-person and through telehealth. In-person appointments require clients to wear a mask, practice social distancing and wait in their car until the beginning of the appointment.

To schedule an appointment, call 713-466-1360. For more information, visit www.cy-hopecounseling.org.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
With the third executive order of his new administration, President Joe Biden said the US will rejoin the Paris Agreement. Initially finalized in 2015, the climate change accord saw 143 countries, including the US, agree to limit global temperature increases to less than 2 degrees Celsius. The US, under then President Obama, joined the agreement without a vote from Congress, which left the door open for his successor to abandon the treaty in the same way.

And thats exactly what the President Trump did when he announced the US planned to withdraw from the accord back 2017, calling it unfair at the time. In 2019, the administration began the formal process of leaving the agreement. The timing of everything worked out such that the process wouldnt be complete until the day after the 2020 election, allowing another president, if elected, to rejoin the agreement.

White House:

ACCEPTANCE ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., President of the United States of America, having seen and considered the Paris Agreement, done at Paris on December 12, 2015, do hereby accept the said Agreement and every article and clause thereof on behalf of the United States of America.

Done at Washington this 20th day of January, 2021.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
Malaysia is the worlds second largest producer of palm oil. (Photo: Reuters)

Kuala Lumpur  Malaysia has recently filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the European Union (EU)s rules affecting the consumption of palm oil-based biofuels.

In the complaint, dated January 15, Malaysia charges that the EU, particularly its member states such as France and Lithuania, had imposed restrictive measures on the use of palm oil that violate international trade agreements.Malaysia holds that the bloc and its members confer unfair benefits to EU domestic producers of certain biofuel feedstocks such as rapeseed oil and soy, and the biofuels produced therefrom at the expense of palm oil and oil palm crop-based biofuels from Malaysia.The EU has embarked on a major plan committing its members to build a carbon neutral economy by 2050, including by promoting the use of biofuels. However, it has deemed that palm oil production is not sustainable and palm oil-based biofuels cannot be counted towards EU renewable targets.Malaysia, the worlds second largest producer of palm oil, baulked at EU efforts to phase out the use of palm oil as a biofuel, and has requested consultations to help resolve the dispute.
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Digital Editor

Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 22:52:31|Editor: huaxia

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by Martina Fuchs

GENEVA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- China has managed to control the COVID-19 pandemic "very well" as the country is contributing to efforts in global vaccine development and the mass immunization of populations worldwide, an international public health expert has said.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) called it agile, aggressive and ambitious, the three characteristics of the way China dealt with the pandemic," Therese Hesketh, a professor of global health at the University College London (UCL), told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The professor, who is also the director of the Center for Global Health at China's Zhejiang University, recalled that she was actually in China from October through December last year, and at that time in China life had returned to normal and that "I had the experience of the post-COVID time."

"They had a very strong track-and-trace," which is "extremely efficient," keeping track of people's movements and closing borders, she said.

The expert also said that China has acted immediately to control the situation following the most recent emergence of some local outbreaks.

"In China things happen quickly. No one is sitting around deciding what to do, they just get on with it," she said.

"I think we can learn a lot about what China has done in terms of this outbreak, in terms of the control of any pandemic in the future," she said. Enditem
The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled last month that an online poker company must pay more than $1 billion to the state for illegal gambling losses in a court battle that began a decade ago.

The ruling from the states high court reinstated a Franklin Circuit Court judgement against PokerStars.com after the state appeals court rejected the collection of the gambling losses in 2018. At the time, the total stood at $870 million, plus interest.

Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news release that the total amount that would be ordered recovered was nearly $1.3 billion.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky has losses due to PokerStars illegal internet gambling criminal syndicate, the court wrote in its ruling. The amount recovered in this case may not cover the actual cost suffered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

It is illegal to play online poker for money in Kentucky. A state law says people who lose $5 or more in illegal wagers have six months to file a lawsuit to recover the money. If they dont, the law says any other person can sue to recover the money.

The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet filed the lawsuit in 2010. From 2006 to 2011, the state said, about 34,000 Kentucky residents lost more than $290 million wagered on PokerStars website. The company later blocked Kentucky residents from using the site.

In 2015, Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate agreed with the cabinets suit and ordered the company to pay back $290 million. Wingate then tripled that amount against the company for making what he said was a calculation that breaking the law was good for business.

Beshear said that the state would take aggressive steps to collect the judgment for the benefit of all Kentuckians.

An emailed statement from Dublin, Ireland-based Flutter, the company that merged with PokerStars parent The Stars Group, said it was wholly surprised by [the] ruling and strongly disputes the basis of this judgement which, it believes, runs contrary to the modern U.S. legal precedent.

The statement said PokerStars gross revenues generated in Kentucky from 2006 to 2011 were around $18 million. The company said it is confident any amount it is ultimately liable for will be a limited proportion of the reinstated judgement.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Training Development Kentucky

The Supervisory Board of JSC Mahistralni Gazoprovody Ukrainy (MGU) has appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with a proposal to start negotiations on amendments to the agreement on the purchase of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) LLC from NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy.

The Supervisory Board recalled that MGU purchased a 100% share in the authorized capital of GTSOU from JSC Ukrtransgaz, with the terms providing for the initial payment and dynamic component of the price, valid for 15 years.

"The MGU Supervisory Board has repeatedly expressed our concern over the reasons for inclusion and the application of the dynamic component of the price and officially communicated our position. The effective Agreement makes it impossible to make installment payments to JSC Ukrtransgaz, and the necessary and sufficient investments into the modernization of the gas transmission system to fulfill the program approved by the Regulator (NEURC)," the company said in a statement.

The Supervisory Board of MGU addressed the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine regarding entering into the negotiations to seek possible ways of resolving these issues and amending the agreement.
Joe Biden Takes Oath as 46th U.S. President

By The Associated Press





WASHINGTON - Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, taking the helm of a nation that appears deeply divided.Biden's inauguration came at a time of national tumult and uncertainty, with the ceremonial American tradition taking place just two weeks after protesters surged into the U.S. Capitol before electoral votes could be certified by Congress. The chilly Washington morning was dotted with snow flurries, but the sun emerged just before Biden took the oath of office. Instead of crowds witnessing the event, it was encircled by security forces due to the previous unrest and the coronavirus pandemic.The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden said. "This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.Biden then pivoted to challenges ahead, acknowledging the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States. Biden looked out over a capital city dotted with empty storefronts that attest to the pandemics deep economic toll and where summer protests laid bare the nations renewed reckoning on racial injustice.We have much to do in this winter of peril, and significant possibilities: much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain, Biden said. "Few people in our nations history have more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time were in now.His predecessor, Donald Trump did not attend. Instead, he departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the event. Though three other former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama  gathered to watch the ceremonial transfer of power, Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, instead flew to Florida.Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. Biden did not mention Trump by name in the early moments of his inaugural address but alluded to the rifts his predecessor had helped create.I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh, ugly reality of racism, nativism, fear, demonization that have long torn us apart, Biden said. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward and we must meet this moment as the United States of America.Biden came to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he was the oldest president inaugurated.More history was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became the first woman to be vice president. The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.The two were sworn in during an inauguration ceremony with few parallels in history.Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, Biden said. "To stop the work of our democracy. To drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today, not tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever.The tense atmosphere evoked the 1861 inauguration of Lincoln, who was secretly transported to Washington to avoid assassins on the eve of the Civil War, or Roosevelt's inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a small, secure ceremony at the White House in the waning months of World War II.The day began with a reach across the aisle after four years of bitter partisan battles. At Biden's invitation, congressional leaders from both parties bowed their heads in prayer in the socially distanced service just a few blocks from the White House.Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts; Harris was sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for Trump, sat nearby as Lady Gaga, holding a gold microphone, sang the National Anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.Biden oversaw a Pass in Review, a military tradition that honors the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander in chief. Later, Biden, Harris and their spouses were to be joined by that trio of former presidents to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony.Still later, Biden was to join the end of a slimmed-down inaugural parade as he moves into the White House. Because of the pandemic, much of this year's parade was to be a virtual affair featuring performances from around the nation.In the evening, in lieu of the traditional glitzy balls that welcome a new president to Washington, Biden will take part in a televised concert that also marks the return of A-list celebrities to the White House orbit after they largely eschewed Trump. Among those in the lineup: Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda.Biden has plans for an ambitious first 100 days that includes a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion virus relief package. On Day One, hell also send an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally.He also planned a 10-day blitz of executive orders on matters that dont require congressional approval  a mix of substantive and symbolic steps to unwind the Trump years. Among the planned steps: rescinding travel restrictions on people from several predominantly Muslim countries; rejoining the Paris climate accord; issuing a mask mandate for those on federal property; and ordering agencies to figure out how to reunite children separated from their families after crossing the border.
By Ron Paul

January 19, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - - With the mainstream media still obsessing about the January 6th violent coup attempt at the US Capitol Building, the incoming Biden Administration looks to be chock full of actual purveyors of violent coups. Dont look to the mainstream media to report on this, however. Some of the same politicians and bureaucrats denouncing the ridiculous farce at the Capitol as if it were the equivalent of 9/11 have been involved for decades in planning and executing real coups overseas. In their real coups, many thousands of civilians have died.



Take returning Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, for example. More than anyone else she is the face of the US-led violent coup against a democratically-elected government in Ukraine in 2014. Nuland not only passed out snacks to the coup leaders, she was caught on a phone call actually plotting the coup right down to who would take power once the smoke cleared.



Unlike the fake Capitol coup, this was a real overthrow. Unlike the buffalo horn-wearing joke who desecrated the sacred Senate chamber, the Ukraine coup had real armed insurrectionists with a real plan to overthrow the government. Eventually, with the help of incoming Assistant Secretary of State Nuland, they succeeded - after thousands of civilians were killed.

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As we were unfortunately reminded during the last four years of the Trump Administration, the personnel is the policy. So while President Trump railed against the stupid wars and promised to bring the troops home, he hired people like John Bolton and Mike Pompeo to get the job done. They spent their time clarifying Trumps call for ending wars to mean he wanted to actually continue the wars. It was a colossal failure.



So its hard to be optimistic about a Biden Administration with so many hyper-interventionist Obama retreads.



While the US Agency for International Development (USAID) likes to sell itself as the compassionate arm of the US foreign policy, in fact USAID is one of the main US regime change agencies. Biden has announced that a top humanitarian interventionist  Samantha Power  would head that Agency in his Administration.



Power, who served on President Obamas National Security Council staff and as US Ambassador to the UN, argued passionately and successfully that a US attack on the Gaddafi government in Libya would result in a liberation of the people and the outbreak of democracy in the country. In reality, her justification was all based on lies and the US assault has left nothing but murder and mayhem. Gaddafis relatively peaceful, if authoritarian, government has been replaced by radical terrorists and even slave markets.



At the end of the day, the Bush Republicans  like Rep. Liz Cheney  will join hands with the Biden Democrats to reinstate American leadership. This of course means more US overt and covert wars overseas. The unholy alliance between Big Tech and the US government will happily assist the US State Department under Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Assistant Secretary of State Nuland with the technology to foment more regime change operations wherever the Biden Administration sees fit. Finish destroying Syria and the secular Assad? Sure! Go back into Iraq? Why not? Afghanistan? Thats the good war! And Russia and China must be punished as well.



These are grave moments for we non-interventionists. But also we have a unique opportunity, informed by history, to denounce the warmongers and push for a peaceful and non-interventionist foreign policy.
[January 20, 2021] Pattern Appoints Jason Beesley as Chief Financial Officer

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pattern, the premier platform for global e-commerce, today announced the appointment of global finance leader Jason Beesley as the company's chief financial officer (CFO). Beesley joins Pattern with more than 20 years of global finance, operations, and strategy experience with public companies, overseeing billions of dollars in revenue for businesses globally. "Jason will play a critical role in our continued and rapid expansion," said Pattern CEO David Wright. "Jason's vast experience guiding the growth and diversification of multinational corporations will make an immediate impact as we continue to expand. We're excited to have Jason on board as we enter our next phase of growth." Beesley joins Pattern after serving as CFO in London for NBCUniversal's International division, a Comcast Company. While there, he led a global team of hundreds of people and worked on the $36 billion acquisition and integration of Sky. He previously held multiple senior financial leadership roles at NBCUniversal and General Electric, based in the United States and overseas. Beesley graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in economics. "Patter is accelerating global e-commerce for brands on a massive scale," Beesley said. "The company is uniquely positioned to help brands command their maximum share of the global marketplace with an unrivaled combination of proprietary technology and smart services. I'm excited to help build on the company's momentum while capitalizing on new opportunities as part of Pattern's global expansion."



Beesley joins Pattern at a time of rapid growth for the company. During the past year, Pattern has closed a Series A round of funding , been recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in Utah and the U.S. , acquired an award-winning industrial design agency , and experienced international revenue growth of more than 300 percent ahead of a possible future IPO. About Pattern

Pattern is the premier platform for global e-commercehelpings brands command their maximum share of the exploding $6 trillion market. Founded in 2013, Pattern uses its proprietary technology platform, industry expertise, and global distribution, logistics, and fulfillment services to help brands attain profitable e-commerce growth on their websites and on hundreds of global marketplaces - including Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Google, Tmall, JD, and MercadoLibre. To learn more, visit www.pattern.com or email hello@pattern.com .

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pattern-appoints-jason-beesley-as-chief-financial-officer-301212028.html SOURCE Pattern

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Next week, a small airport in Iowa will become the first to implement a program to screen passengers for coronavirus symptoms before they enter security.

Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the plans created by the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids.

If proven to be successful at deterring sick passengers from boarding flights, the program could be carried out across America's more than 500 airports.

It comes months after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) canceled its own program after detecting just nine cases and the U.S. launched an effort to screen all international travelers by having them provide a negative test before entering the country.

A first of its kind screening program is being launched next week at Eastern Iowa Airport (pictured) in Cedar Rapids

Passengers will have their temperature taken by a technician from local health care group, Mercy Medical Center, and fill out a questionnaire. Pictured: Travelers are screened and have their temperature checked by airline employees as they check in luggages at Los Angeles International Airport, November 24

'We're excited to get this launched,' Marty Lenss, director of the Eastern Iowa Airport told The Washington Post.

'We've been working on it for a while. We have always looked at it as one more layer in a multilayered approach in restoring passenger confidence.'

Currently, airlines requires passengers to fill out a questionnaire during check-in that they have no symptoms and to wear a mask.

The new plan take efforts a step further by having a professional health screening.

The plan involves all passengers meeting a screening technician from local health care group, Mercy Medical Center immediately before entering a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint.

They will fill out a questionnaire about their health and have their temperatures taken.

Lenss told The Post that screeners would be able to determine within 15 sections if passengers can enter the checkpoint.

If they fail the initial screening, passengers will be taken to a separate area where they will be connected with a physician remotely.

In a few weeks, Lenss said this step may include rapid testing.

Depending on answers to the physician's questions, the passengers may be advised to not travel and told to visit their airline's check-in desk.

If they fail, they will be taken to a separate area where they will be connected with a physician remotely and advised not to travel. Pictured: A traveler receives a a temperature check before checking in for a China Airlines flight at Los Angeles International Airport, December 22

The CDC recently launched a program requiring all international travelers showa negative COVID-19 test. Pictured: Travelers wait for their luggage at Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, November 21

The airline will make the final determination on whether or not passngers are allowed to board their flight.

The CDC initially launched a program to screen passengers between late January and early September.

However, it was shut down after just nine cases were detected among more than 766,000 travelers.

'I'm sure we're going to learn something,' about the new program, Lenss told The Post.

'We've never seen this as a silver bullet by itself.'

The U.S. already requires all international travelers coming into the US to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to enter the country.

Passengers are required to get tested no more than three days before their flight and show a negative result to the airline before boarding.

The CDC then recommends getting tested again three to five days after arrival and staying in one location for seven days post-travel.

Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump announced he was lifting coronavirus-related travel restrictions for Europe, the UK, Ireland and Brazil, effective on January 26.

However, a spokeswoman for President Joe Biden said that despite the order, the new administration will not be lifting the restrictions.

'On the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26,' Press Secretary Jan Psaki wrote on Twitter.

'In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19.'

A judge told a defendant that the court was not Airbnb when he asked to be remanded in Limerick prison rather than in Cork.

Judge Patricia Harney had refused Thomas Connors application for bail after hearing evidence that he had fairly egregious breaches of his bail conditions.

Mr Connors said he had stopped drinking alcohol and would give up his passport to be allowed back on bail.

Mr Connors was before Mallow District Court for breaching his bail conditions while awaiting a court hearing on three burglary charges. He had been granted bail with certain conditions attached at Fermoy District Court on September 11.

His bail conditions included a curfew, to sign into a Garda station, and to be contactable on a mobile phone at all times.

Mr Connors was accused of breaking his curfew five times. Garda Brian OConnor said he was also uncontactable by phone and he had not signed into a Garda station since November 21.

Mr Connors has four children and a wife in Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, but his bail conditions involved being at his mothers address in Tipperary town.

His solicitor, Charlie OConnor, said any breach of bail conditions was to meet his wife.

When he was caught breaching bail conditions, he was within three miles of her home, Mr OConnor said.

Mr Connors would say all breaches were to meet with his wife, Mr OConnor said.

Mr Connors requested that his bail address be moved to Pallasgreen so that he could be with his wife and children in Limerick and he promised to stick to his bail conditions and not to commit any crimes while on bail.

Ill give my passport up, Mr Connors said. Im an alcoholic, I lost my phone. Ill stop drinking."

When asked why he had failed to sign into a Garda station as per his bail conditions, Judge Harney said its because you went on a bender.

She refused his bail application and remanded him in custody, to appear in court in Cork via video link on Monday, January 25.

As he was leaving court yesterday, Mr Connors asked that he be remanded in Limerick rather than Cork, to which Judge Harney replied that the court was "not Airbnb".
UFC superstar Conor McGregor has been hit with a multi-million pound lawsuit by two women, days before he is set for a return to the sport.

The Irishman vowed on Wednesday to fight the personal injury and assault lawsuits brought against him by the women over events that allegedly took place in 2018.

McGregor, 32, has denied all wrongdoing after High Court proceedings were initiated in Dublin yesterday by the women, believed to be a mother and daughter.

One is suing the Dublin-born fighter over an alleged assault. The other is taking a personal injury action against him.

The nature of the allegations against McGregor cannot be disclosed for legal reasons. A second defendant is also listed on the court filing.

Irish police had previously investigated the allegations against McGregor, but no action was taken.

McGregor, 32 (pictured) has denied all wrongdoing after High Court proceedings were initiated in Dublin yesterday by two women, believed to be a mother and daughter

'After an exhaustive investigation conducted by the Gardai which, in addition to interviews of the plaintiff, included interviewing numerous sources, obtaining witnesses' statements, examining closed circuit footage and the cooperation of Conor McGregor, these allegations were categorically rejected,' Mr McGregors spokesperson Karen J Kessler said in a statement.

'The plaintiff knows the facts contradict the assertions in this lawsuit. Mr McGregor will dispute any claims and is confident that justice will prevail.'

The women now have a year to file papers against McGregor, with their lawyers - Coleman Legal Partners - declining to comment publicly on the case.

The law firm specialises in personal injury and medical negligence, according to their website.

McGregor is currently in Abu Dhabi training for an up-coming fight against Dustin Poirier on Sunday morning, his first fight in around a year.

The former UFC champion has faced a range of other criminal and legal charges in recent years, during which he has left and returned to the sport a number of times.

He pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct after he threw a metal dolly at the window of a moving bus carrying other UFC fighters in April 2018.

He was found guilty and sentenced to five days of community service, and was ordered to take between one and three anger management classes.

In March 2019, he was arrested in Miami Beach and was accused of breaking a man's phone. The case was dropped, as was another lawsuit after McGregor reached an out-of-court settlement with the man.

McGregror also pleaded guilty to assault in November 2019 for punching a man in a Dublin pub, and was fined 890.

At the time, the court heard that the fighter had 18 previous convictions, the majority of which were related to road traffic offences.

Last September, McGregor was arrested after an alleged sexual assault and indecent exposure in a bar on the island of Corsica. He has denied all wrongdoing in the case, and was released from custody without charge.

Conor McGregor vowed on Wednesday to fight the personal injury and assault lawsuits brought against him by two women over events that allegedly took place in 2018. Pictured: Conor McGregor celebrates after a fight win on January 18, 2020

After a period out of the sport, McGregor returned to fighting in the UFC, only to lose to bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.

He then took a 15-month hiatus, before returning to the ring again 12 months ago to fight Donald Cerrone, who he beat inside just 40 seconds.

If he defeats Poirier - whom he last faced in 2014 - he could get another shot at the title either against champion Nurmagomedov, or the next available contender if he retires.

McGregor has a long term partner, Dee Devlin, whom he has been with since 2008. The pair share two children together.
Trump pardons 73 people, including Steve Bannon, on last day

WORLD: US President Donald Trump today (Jan 20) pardoned 73 people, including his former aide Steve Bannon and other allies, just hours before he was due to leave office.



By AFP

Wednesday 20 January 2021, 03:08PM

Former aide Steve Bannon was one of 73 people pardoned by US President Donald Trump on his last day in office. Photo: AFP.

The list of those pardoned - as well as 70 others whose sentences were commuted - was released by the White House in a statement during the early hours.

Neither Trump nor his relatives were on the list.

Bannon had been charged with defrauding people over funds raised to build the Mexico border wall, a flagship Trump policy.

He was Trumps campaign manager during the 2016 election, before becoming a senior adviser to the president.

Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen, the statement read.

US media earlier reported that the president made his last-minute decision after speaking to Bannon by phone.

Former Trump fund-raiser Elliott Broidy was similarly pardoned, after pleading guilty last year to conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws.

The rapper Lil Wayne, who last month pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and faced 10 years in jail, also made the list.

The star, listed as Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of foodbanks, the release added.

President-elect Joe Biden, who beat Trump in an election in November last year, was due to be sworn in as his successor later today.

Until then, the incumbent retains the power to issue further pardons.

Trump was due to skip the inauguration ceremony, flying from the White House to his Florida home.

He is yet to personally congratulate Biden on his win, and did not invite him for a customary visit to the Oval Office.

Tensions have soared of late on Capitol Hill, where the Senate is expected to soon put Trump on trial following his record second impeachment by the House of Representatives over a riot by his supporters in the Capitol building.

The spectacle will clash with the opening days of Bidens tenure, as the new president seeks to swiftly confirm his Cabinet picks and push through aggressive legislation including a US$1.9 trillion package to rescue an economy buffeted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Developers have already connected 3 MW of capacity in what is purportedly destined to be the world's largest PV array on a coastal tidal flat. The project, which is particularly challenging due to tidal fluctuations, will feature PV components designed to cope with salt and water damage.Sinohydro Bureau 12, a Chinese infrastructure construction specialist, is overseeing the development of a 300 MW solar project on tidal flats in Xiangshan County, in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. Chinese inverter supplier Ginlong, which is supplying components for the project, said that the plant will ...

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.
Over a million people in southern Madagascar are facing potentially life-threatening shortages of food, water and health assistance.

The United Nations said Tuesday that $76 million was urgently needed to help over one million people in southern Madagascar facing potentially life-threatening shortages of food, water and health assistance. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA issued its so-called flash appeal after the impoverished island country in eastern Africa saw its agricultural season ruined by the worst drought in a decade. At the same time, the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns implemented to halt the spread of the virus have amplified the hit from the drought  the third in a row, it said.

"These compound crises have driven people to the brink of survival," OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva. "One in three people in the south are now severely food insecure," he said.

More than 1,35,000 children under the age of five are now projected to be suffering from acute malnutrition in the south of the country in coming months.

Farming families usually get through droughts by sending members into cities to seek temporary work.

But OCHA said such coping strategies had been made impossible by the COVID-19 lockdowns, which have included months-long bans on travel between regions.

Just a week ago, the UN's World Food Programme appealed for $35 million in emergency aid to help fight hunger in the region.

Laerke said Tuesday the flash appeal was meant to complement Madagascar's own national response and was focused solely on "the most urgent life-saving and life-sustaining needs of communities in the Grand Sud during the peak of the lean season."

The assistance would help improve food security for 1.1 million people, provide water access for over 400,000 people and give nutritional support to 300,000 children under the age of five, he said.

It would also help provide essential health services to nearly a quarter of a million people.
Like every senior executive of India Inc, Harsh Pati Singhania, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of JK Papers, and President of All India Management Association, is keenly awaiting the upcoming Union Budget 2021-22.

Singhania has also been the President of industry body FICCI in the past. In the last role especially, he worked closely with policymakers and hence concedes that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in presenting a post-pandemic budget.

Speaking exclusively to Moneycontrol, Singhania says that while the Centres economic response to the pandemic has been satisfactory on the supply and welfare side, more needs to be done on the demand side.

In his budget wishlist, Singhania lists out infrastructure push, support for smaller businesses and informal sector, an urban jobs programme, push for divestment, and a focus on growth rather than fiscal targets. Excerpts:

How do you think the government has handled the economic response to the pandemic in 2020?

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

Let us understand this was a pandemic, which induced as a collateral an economic crisis. Now, this is not unique to India, it has happened with each and every country. Nobody knew what would happen. So you couldn't have thought out a package response. And based on how fast things were moving along, the government came out with several measures and the finance minister made several announcements over a course of a few months of various responses. So if I look at it overall, I think the focus of the government's response was more directed towards sort of the bottom of the pyramid and facilitating the urban and rural poor, which is actually right. However, the only difference between what the government of India did, and perhaps some other countries have done is really on the demand side.

I would say the response was measured and calibrated. And I would also say that it was very well supported by the Reserve Bank of India's initiatives. So actually, if you look at the response in totality, there was a great measure of what we would call a monetary response. Whether it was a guarantee for MSMEs, easing of credit, a whole lot of other easing measures. So it was the Reserve Bank's response on the monetary side. On the fiscal side, it was, as I said, a supply thing. So I think overall, the response was good. However, to be frank, I think it left many people wanting more from the demand side of the equation. We want money in the hands of the consumers, whether they are business consumers, or individuals because that will bring back the engines of growth for the supply side.

What are the three things that you would really like the Finance Minister to announce in the budget?

I think the Finance Minister has an extremely, extremely tough job. For this budget in particular. No budget making is easy, but this one is unique and particularly challenging, because she has to revive the economy, and at the same time find resources to spend. On one hand, she would like to spend money, but where is she going to get the money to spend it? So it is going to be a very big challenge. And therefore the budget will have to balance out both the revival side as well as the resources side.

I would only urge the Finance Minister and the other policymakers that we lay down the issue of fiscal deficit and be bold to say that it doesn't matter if we are going to have a higher fiscal deficit. It doesn't matter if there are other risks involved with that higher fiscal deficit. We but we want to go back on the path of growth and therefore demand revival is really the key.

Then I would say, coming up of some kind of an urban job guarantee scheme. When the pandemic broke out and the government went on, there was a migration that happened from the open cities to the rural areas. We had MGNREGA which was almost fully utilised, the demand was very great and that became a very big support at that time for people who are gone. Now, what we are realising perhaps consciously is the importance of the urban informal sector.

Then, there is a need for an infrastructure push. I saw recent statistics and saw encouraging figures in terms of railway spending, some other government agencies spending. And there has also been a fair amount of spending, which has happened from the PSUs. So, when we talk of infra push or spending there with infra, it means there are many other industries associated. So, if you're going to build roads and railway lines, we're talking about steel demand for a whole lot of other industries, and then that gets into their own ancillaries.

A fourth one would be a special emphasis on small businesses and MSMEs. And by small businesses, I don't mean only manufacturing, take smaller enterprises, somebody who's running a small eatery or a shop. That is very important, because that is where a lot of the damage is, and frankly, a lot of that is not visible, because a lot of that is not captured in the formal economic data.

If I can expand also beyond that, the government should very aggressively push on the disinvestment programs, on privatisation, or even market offerings. Today, the stock market is booming. So you take advantage of that.

Do you think MSME and the rural sector need more support, or industry and manufacturing, in order to create jobs?

On the priority, I would again vote more in terms of the smaller MSME. And I want to include the informal sector, as MSME by connotation still means an organised manufacturing. Now, whether it's a workshop repairing cars, or a foundry, or a larger enterprise, producing something. I want to include the informal sector. A large number of jobs are created in the informal sector. And if they get their incomes, they will become the consumers. So, I would say if we had to prioritise between, I suppose that is where we would have to be there. Having said so, of course, the larger businesses will have to get some relief or support. Because at the end of the day, they are very large contributors to the GDP.

Do you see a sharp recovery in 2021 or a slow and gradual one?

It's a complete alphabet soup out there. Everybody has been talking about U, V, K. The real thing is that I think it will be a more gradual kind of recovery. However, it may be a little see-saw. We saw a burst of pent-up demand and festive spending recently. So, if let's say in the budget, the government comes out with certain incentives, you might see a spike towards that area where it is directed. But till the whole demand cycle kicks in the whole process a steady sustained recovery. So I would think that is going to be more gradual recovery.

There are many factors. On the positive side, there is inoculation of vaccination that has now started globally. But the new strains of the virus mean those economies which had opened have gone into shutdown mode, many countries in Europe, including the UK have announced more lockdowns. So, our efforts towards exports, and a whole lot of other things are also uncertain.

So, I would think that the recovery is more likely to be gradual and also, it is going to be sector-specific. Some sectors are seeing a good patch. In fact, some sectors are probably seeing as good as it was. But there are others which are negative. Take the paper industry, for example - with the closure of education, with a whole lot of companies working from home, and a lot of other things, the industry has taken a hit. Now, for the moment, they will come back. So, all of that has an impact on the consumption of paper. And similarly, there may be many other businesses.
The Lenox Corporation, headquartered in Bristol, Pa., designed the official inaugural gifts from the American people that were given to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris today.

Lenox, a maker of crystal and fine china, said it has designed the official inaugural gifts for nine inaugurations since President George H.W. Bush in 1989.

Biden and Harris were given one-of-a-kind engraved crystal vases.

It is a good thing I dont have to hand them to you personally. They each weigh with a base 32 pounds, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a member of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, said as she presented the vases as part of gift-giving traditions Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C.

Lenox said its chief creative officer, Fawn Ostriak and glass-cutter Peter ORourke worked for months to create a gift that encapsulates the spirit of the American people and the new presidency. Fawn Ostriak handed over the stunning pieces of craftsmanship to the [Joint Congressional Committee for Inaugural Ceremonies] in preparation for the gifting ceremony.

Lenox said it used archival illustrations to design the vases.

The Presidents vase features an illustration of the White House set within a classic scrollwork cartouche. For the Vice President there is an image of the Capitol also set within a classic scrollwork cartouche.

Both vases feature deep cutting and polishing techniques and are crafted entirely by hand in Pennsylvania by master craftsman, Peter ORourke. The vases are made of lead crystal and stand at a stately 17 tall and will be placed on top of cherry wood bases that bear an inscription of the date and occasion engraved into silver-plated plaques.

Lenox Corporation is honored to have been the first American china to be used in the White House and to have been selected as the designer and manufacturer of choice for the past 29 years. And this year we are especially proud to produce the Inaugural Commemorative Gift for the President and the very first female Vice President of the United States of America, said Mads Ryder, CEO of Lenox Corporation.

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Farmers protest: Govt ready to suspend laws for 18 months; next meeting on Jan 22

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 20: The government on Wednesday proposed to suspend the three contentious farm laws for one and half years and set up a joint committee to discuss the Acts to end the stalemate, but farmer leaders did not immediately accept the proposal and said they will revert after their internal consultations.

The next meeting has been scheduled for January 22, a day after the farmer unions hold their internal discussions on Thursday, farmer leaders said after the 10th round of talks ended at Vigyan Bhawan here after nearly five hours of talks, including two breaks.

'The government proposed to suspend the farm laws for one and a half years. We rejected the proposal but since it has come from the government, we will meet tomorrow and deliberate over it,' Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said.

Another farmer leader Kavitha Kuruganti said the government also proposed to submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court for suspending the three farm laws for a mutually-agreed period and set up a committee.

The leaders said unions are firm on their demand for a complete repeal of the laws, but they will still discuss the government's proposal and give their final decision in the next meeting.

Farmers' Protest: Farmers are not being allowed to come to Bengaluru, says DK Shivakumar

During the meeting, the government also offered to amend the three laws but farmer leaders stuck to their demand and alleged that the Centre was avoiding discussion on a legal guarantee for MSP.

Farmer leaders said there was no breakthrough in the first two sessions as both sides were stuck on their stated positions vis-a-vis the three farm laws and there was little hope of any outcome other than fixing the date for the 11th round.

Sources said the government proposed to keep the three farm laws suspended for a fixed time period and form a committee comprising of farmer union leaders and government representatives.

The ministers proposed that the laws would remain suspended till the committee gives its report and urged farmer unions to suspend their agitation too till that time, sources added.

The laws have already been stayed till further orders by the Supreme Court, which has formed a committee to resolve the deadlock. The committee, which had its first meeting on Tuesday and will begin its consultations with various stakeholders on Thursday, has been asked to give its report in two months.

Farmer leaders also raised the issue of NIA notices being served to some farmers, alleging it was being done just to harass those supporting the agitation, to which the government representatives said they will look into the matter.

The two sides took a break after around one hour of discussions when farmer leaders had langar food.

The meeting began at around 2.45 pm with the three ministers greeting farmer leaders on the occasion of Gurupurab. The meeting resumed at around 5.15 pm after a lunch break, but the two sides took another break at around 6 pm during which the farmer leaders discussed the government proposal for suspending the laws for a fixed period of time.

Kuruganti said the meeting began with the NIA issue, followed by unions' demand for a repeal of the laws.

The farmer leaders presented multiple Parliament replies given by the agriculture minister where he had stated that agriculture is a state subject, while one reply mentioned even agri-marketing as a state subject.

She said the discussion did not appear progressing anywhere.

'The government offered to carry out some amendments, but farmer leaders maintained they do not want anything less than a complete repeal of the laws,' Tikait said.

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, are holding the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

Before the meeting, the three ministers also met senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The tenth round of talks was initially scheduled on January 19, but later got postponed to Wednesday.

In the last round of talks, the government had asked protesting farmers to prepare a concrete proposal about their objections and suggestions on the three farm laws for further discussion at their next meeting to end the long-running protest. But, unions stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three Acts.

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. Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

On January 11, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.

Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.

Under attack from protesting unions for their 'pro-government' public stand on three contentious farm laws, the members of the committee said that they would keep aside their own ideology and views while consulting various stakeholders, even as they indicated a complete repeal won't augur well for much-needed agriculture reforms.

Earlier in the day, a group of farm union leaders met top officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police to discuss the route and arrangements for their tractor rally on January 26 to protest against the three farm laws.

But the unions rejected a suggestion by police officers to hold their rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway instead of Delhi's Outer Ring Road, sources said.
Hyderabad, Jan 20 : Telangana has still not rolled out Covaxin, developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, apparently due to fact that the Centre has allowed its use in clinical trial mode as its phase 3 trials were still continuing.

During the three days of vaccination so far, the state authorities administered only Covishield. Nearly 70,000 public health workers in the state have taken the jab.

While state health officials maintain they will start giving Covaxin once they receive sufficient number of doses, it is the current format prescribed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which is delaying the rollout of the local product.

Health minister Eatala Rajender during a video conference with union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on January 16 admitted that it was difficult to administer Covaxin in the format prescribed by ICMR.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCG) has authorised the restricted use of Covaxin under clinical trial mode.

Those receiving Covaxin will have to sign consent forms that assured compensation if any adverse effect was found linked to the vaccine.

Rajender also urged the central minister to provide more doses of Covishield. "We request you to send more doses of Covishield. The vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech may be used later," he had said.

Earlier, the state government had sought additional doses from the Centre, citing the manufacturing of vaccine in Hyderabad.

However, the health authorities anticipated higher reluctance if Covaxin was also rolled out along with Covishield.

During three days, more than 25,000 targetted beneficiaries refused to take the vaccine, though only Covishield was administered.

A section of health care workers including doctors serving in leading government hospitals in Hyderabad have declined to take the vaccine. While some of them questioned the efficacy of the vaccine, others cited reports of side-effects. They informed the higher-ups that they will wait for few days for taking the jab.

The top health officials said while taking vaccine is an individual's choice, they are trying to convince all health workers that they should take the jab for their protection. They have reassured the staff that both the vaccines are totally safe.

The officials pointed out that no case of serious/severe AEFI (adverse effect following immunisation) were reported.

On the third day on Tuesday, 51 AEFI cases were reported. Out of these three required hospitalisation and they are stable.

A 42-year-old health worker, who had taken the jab on Tuesday, died early Wednesday in Nirmal district. The officials, however, said the death seems unrelated to vaccination.

Telangana has received 3.64 lakh doses of Covishield and 20,000 doses of Covaxin.

Director of public health and family welfare G. Srinivasa Rao had stated before the launch of vaccine programme that as per Government of India guidelines consent will be taken from those who will be receiving Covaxin shot. Their health status will examined and scrutinised before giving the vaccine and after vaccination they will be monitored for seven days for any adverse events. Similar process will be followed after the second dose which will be given after four weeks.

"We should be proud that Covaxin has been developed indigenously and that too on the soil of Telangana. Nobody should have any worries. If necessary I will take Covaxin in coming days," he had said.

However, the department is still undecided on rolling out Covaxin. It is likely to wait for a few days.

Meanwhile, the health experts feel that people should have no apprehensions about both the vaccines as they were cleared by the drug regulator after it found them totally safe.

"Both vaccines are equally effective. There should not be any doubts in the minds of people," eminent breast cancer surgeon Dr P. Raghu Ram told IANS "AIIMS director who is the main force leading the drive against the pandemic and all the staff in AIIMS have taken Covaxin. This speaks volumes," added Dr Raghu Ram, who is the director of KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases and founder-CEO of Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation.

Dr Riyaz M. Khan, CEO, Continental Hospitals believed that misinformation may be creating reluctance among some people.

"Both the vaccines have gone through a robust testing programme and these are stable technologies. The inactivated technology used for Covaxin is the same technology used for almost all other vaccines. Covishield is based on vector-based technology. These technologies have gone through trials. To say that one is safe over the other may not be safe comparison," he said.

Dr Khan said that technologies and development of vaccines is a complex process which a common person cannot understand. He pointed out that there are people who are against vaccination itself and even the polio vaccination had faced opposition.

"It's natural tendency to oppose anything which is new. Even the scientific opinion always remains divided when new technology comes in because there is no one definite way of finding a solution," he added.

Dr Khan pointed out that vaccine development normally takes at least couple of years and because of pandemic everything was fast-tracked. "All the Covid vaccines being administered in the world today have been approved for emergency use and none of them has complete data," he said.
New Delhi: There seems to be no respite for filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar, who directed the recently released 'Tandav' web-series. After Lucknow, a fresh FIR has been filed against the makers and actors of the show in Mumbai's Ghatkopar.

The FIR has been registered under section 153 (A) 295 (A) 505 of the IPC. The complaint addresses five people including director Ali Abbas Zafar, Himanshu Mehra, Gaurav Solanki, Aparna Purohit and Amit Aggarwal.

The FIR has reportedly been registered on BJP MLA Ram Kadam's complaint.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam reacted to the Tandav controversy and told ANI, "FIR has been registered against the makers of the web series. But we want to ask Maharashtra government, were they sleeping for over 100 hours? Our fight doesn't end at FIR, all these people should be jailed. We want summons should be sent to Saif Ali Khan and others by today evening. These showbiz celebs deride gods and goddesses for cheap publicity.

The political drama Tandav released on OTT giant Amazon Prime Video and has been at the receiving end ever since.

After the filmmaker released an official statement on behalf of Tandav cast and crew, seeking an apology for unintentionally hurting the sentiments, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has reacted to the whole fiasco.

On Tuesday, Ali Abbas Zafar released a fresh statement saying the team has decided to implement changes in 'Tandav' web-series in order to address the raising concerns.

Previously, an FIR was registered at Lucknows Hazratganj Kotwali against Amazon Primes India head of original content, Ali Abbas Zafar, producer of the show Himanshu Krishna Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki and others for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

Tandav stars Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Gauahar Khan, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Kumud Mishra amongst various others in pivotal roles.


New York, NY, Jan. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UNITED NATIONS, New York, 19 January 2021  UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, Chair of the Board of the UN Global Compact, today announced a new three-year strategic plan to increase and accelerate corporate sustainability and principled business.

"The United Nations Global Compact is uniquely positioned to support companies on their journey to align their practices to a sustainable and inclusive future. The Ten Principles on human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption offer a blueprint for businesses seeking to be part of the collective effort to build back stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Now is the time to scale up the global business communitys contributions to the 2030 Agenda and the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change. That is the overarching goal of the Global Compacts strategic plan for 2021 through 2023.

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO & Executive Director, UN Global Compact said: More must be done by businesses globally to accelerate corporate sustainability and responsible business practice. Our strategy and ambition are to grow and take our participants on a journey of demonstrated continuous improvement in the impact that they create.

With the pandemic and ongoing climate crisis undoing much of the progress the world has achieved since adopting the SDGs in 2015, the new UN Global Compact strategy calls on the global business community to increase its contribution to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. The strategy outlines five key shifts to boost business action and impact:

Accountable companies: UN Global Compact will strive to move its participant companies faster and farther than others in demonstrating progress on corporate sustainability and responsible business practices through specific, measurable targets within an enhanced reporting framework.

Balanced growth of local and regional networks: Local UN Global Compact networks will be empowered to effect change and build more dynamic national ecosystems for business sustainability. This effort should lead to the launch of new national and regional Global Compact networks with a focus on the Global South, China and the U.S.

Measurable impact in prioritised areas: UN Global Compact programmes, co-created with local networks and delivered through them, focus on the Ten Principles to lead and shape action on five Sustainable Development Goals: Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Climate Action (SDG 13), Peace Justice and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) and Partnerships (SDG 17) while adapting to each countrys unique context.

Harnessing the collective action of SMEs: Accounting for most of the worlds businesses and employers, UN Global Compact will establish targeted and cross-cutting SME programmes that leverage digital tools and value chains to reach scale.

Strong and active engagement with the UN and its partners: UN Global Compact will enhance collaboration at the global and national levels with UN agencies and UN country teams to accelerate its reach and its ability to advance responsible business practice globally.

Our goal is to raise expectations of how businesses will embed all Ten Principles. These are intrinsic to a company and serve as the enabler for contributions towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. The five key shifts articulated in this strategy reflect our ambitions for global growth, prioritization and impact at scale, Sanda Ojiambo said. Together, we will be One Global Compact uniting business for a better world.

About the United Nations Global Compact

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Our ambition is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change.

With more than 12,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 69 Local Networks, the UN Global Compact is the worlds largest corporate sustainability initiative. One Global Compact uniting business for a better world.

For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at unglobalcompact.org

Media contacts

Dan Thomas: +1 917 225 1913, Email: communications@unglobalcompact.org

Alexandra Gee: +44 7887 804594, Email: alex@mackworthassociates.com
WASHINGTON  It wasnt the celebration theyd envisioned, their bodies pressed up against a concrete barrier three blocks from a fenced-in Capitol, standing face-to-face with riot police. But at noon on Jan. 20, as people turned to their phones to watch an inauguration so close yet still out of sight, there were cheers and smiles.

Ill remember this moment for the rest of my life, said Victoria Schmitz, 19, who cast her first vote for Joe Biden and drove from Michigan to see him inaugurated as president of the United States on Wednesday. Its just so exciting. Things are going to go back to at least a sphere of normal.

This is a beautiful day in America, said Carlos Soto, who stood nearby after flying in from San Antonio.

Mary Russell, who traveled from California to stand outside the Capitol with her brother, said that outgoing President Donald Trump was just promoting so much hate in this country. We have a big family, and our family is divided. I feel a need to be a part of something like this.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bidens inauguration team had asked people to stay away from Washington even before an attack on the Capitol sent the city into lockdown. Most supporters heeded those warnings and celebrated at home, but a few revelers came out in person.

Downtown Washington was unrecognizable, both to residents and those who attended previous inaugurations  an eerie, desolated version of the city that every four years hosts one of the countrys most cherished democratic traditions. Roadways were blocked, and armored vehicles and national guardsmen choked intersections. The National Mall was off-limits, so small groups gathered around sections of barriers where they could catch a view of the Capitol dome.

Enterprising vendors sold I WAS THERE: Inauguration 2021 T-shirts to the few who milled outside the extensive security perimeter.

 READ MORE: Scenes from Washington and Pennsylvania on a historic Inauguration Day | Photos

Some said the unprecedented security measures made them feel safe. Others lamented the scene exactly two weeks after Trump supporters mounted a violent insurrection at the Capitol.

Im angry the people who came down [on Jan. 6] made this even more difficult, said Albert Elliot, who carried a Black Lives Matter flag. It shouldnt have been like this.

Ian Carr, a research scientist at the Food and Drug Administration who lives in Washington, came to see the bizarre circumstances a few hours before Biden took the oath of office. Carr said he was very much excited for the Biden administration  partly because he disagreed with Trumps politics but also because he longed for a return to normalcy in his city.

It is weird to pass through parks that you hang out in and now theyre being occupied by the National Guard, said Carr, 29, who lives in the citys Columbia Heights neighborhood. The crescendo of [the insurrection]  just felt like the culmination of the whole thing.

Rick Zeak, from Millville, N.J., drove to Washington early Wednesday morning. He was undeterred by the Capitol attack, he said, determined to show that were not going to be intimidated by thugs and were going to support our president.

Zeak watched President Biden address the nation on his phone, near a crowd gathered to listen on a speaker. Hes all about unity and trying to bring the country together, which is really what we need right now, Zeak said.

Snow fell briefly around noon as Biden was sworn in, but quickly gave way to sun and blue skies. A woman hopped up on a concrete barrier draped in a Biden flag, and the crowd cheered until a police officer told her to get down.

Shruti Agarwal, a medical researcher who came to the United States from India in 2011, was proud to witness the inauguration of Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Indian descent.

I can relate to the pains of people who came here to do something better, and not just in their life.  When they excel, they make the community better, and that strengthens America, she said. Thats the best way to promote that dream.

The meager turnout wasnt great news for W.J. Drew, who sells merchandise at large events like inaugurations and had unloaded only about a dozen of the Biden-Harris T-shirts he was hawking for $20 by the time Biden became president. But Drew, 68, said it was still a good day because Trump was leaving office.

I dont want to mention his name, Drew said of the former president.

The back of his T-shirts proclaimed, Happy days are here again.

Despite warnings of extremist violence two weeks after the attack by Trump supporters ended with five people dead, only a handful of his backers were seen in the area.

A man named Billy, who declined to give his last name, stood outside the security perimeter with a sign that said, Investigate ballot malarkey. A woman next to him held a sign reading, Impeach 46, referring to Biden, now the 46th president.

 READ MORE: Welcome to the presidency, Joe Biden. Please solve all these crises.

Billy said he considers Bidens presidency illegitimate because of what he called irregularities in the 2020 election, repeating many of the debunked false claims of fraud and election rigging that Trump and his supporters have spread for months to undermine the results.

He took a train to the inauguration from New York.

Trump had so much protest at his inauguration. I think Biden should have some protest at his inauguration, too, he said.

Roy Larry, 67, from Sacramento, Calif., said the shared grief of the pandemic could be a unifying force for the country in time.

Four hundred thousand people died. Do we understand the magnitude of that? he said. Were gonna bring the 74 million people who voted for Trump back in this historical moment in time.

Charles Russell, 35, who lives in Washington, paused during the revelry to reflect on the pandemic and all Biden will now inherit. But at least for a moment, on Wednesday at 12:05 p.m., Russell felt a weight had been lifted.

I work in mental health, and the past four years have been unbelievably stressful for so many people, he said. I think weve shared a traumatic experience for four years. Its been a lot to carry.

Staff videographers Astrid Rodrigues and Lauren Schneiderman and staff photographer Tim Tai contributed to this article.




Pine scent in the air, snow falling, a loving family and a horse named Nellie. It doesnt get more seasonal than that.

Sherrill Silberling, retired Pottsville Area High School English teacher, has published River of Gifts, a collection of short stories set during Christmas and New Years. It is a tribute to what Silberling calls the three Ls  family love, loyalty and laughter  and offered a dose of joy and warmth during an unusually difficult and lonely time.

The uncertainties of (2020) and the pandemic itself have changed me from a procrastinator to a doer, Silberling said. The time for this book felt right.

Set in Schuylkill County in the 1920s, River of Gifts brings to life the family stories that Silberlings mother, Florence, used to tell her. Her mother died in 2015 at 104.

Florence was a woman who loved life and approached it with energy, Silberling said. Florence remembered frightening and sad and painful experiences. Sometimes she told stories about them, but mostly she chose to remember joy.

Silberling remembers her mothers Welsh cooking  roast turkey, coleslaw, filling and homemade pie. Florence also made potato kugel and rice pudding for her Jewish husband every Hanukkah.

The setting is as true as I could make it, reconstructed from research and details my mother remembered and shared with me, Silberling said. The schoolhouse description, the coal stove, the fruit trees, the layout of the house and its furniture.

River of Gifts, published through Amazons Kindle Direct Publishing, tells of a family that doesnt have much but loves each other enough to make up for it. It takes place during childhood, a time where every sight, smell and taste is magical and larger than life.

Several (readers) have told me they wanted to be one of those children, Silberling said. I used to teach my students that readers bring to literature something of themselves and their own experiences. In the past few weeks, I am seeing evidence of that lesson.

Silberling described the stories as a combination of fiction, memoir, historical fact and fantasy and truth as (Florence) remembered it.

Memories are shaded, I think, as a result of later experiences we have, Silberling said. Perhaps none of us really know how accurate our memories are. However, the final story seemed a clear and constant memory, as did the descriptions of (Florences) childhood home and surroundings.

The book also is based on the history and heritage of Schuylkill County, where Silberling has lived for her entire life. One story describes falling into the charcoal-colored waters of the Schuylkill River in winter.

I have experienced the goodness of its people and the beauty of its scenery, she said.

Her great-grandfather died in a mining accident when her grandfather was a baby, and her grandfathers only brother died in the mines when he was a teenager.

The book also includes illustrations from local artist JoAnne Doyle, done in pen and ink to represent the simplicity of the familys lifestyle. Because of COVID-19, Doyle and Silberling collaborated without ever meeting in person.

There were a lot of trials and errors and back-and-forth communication until final results were achieved, Doyle said.

Silberlings former coworkers, Pat Hauptly Kramer of Reading and Cindy Barto Lucia of New York, also contributed. Silberlings childhood friend, Donna Schultz Van Fleet, who lives in Texas, edited the book. Retired PAHS math teacher Don Schneider of Minersville designed the cover.

The title was the finishing touch, coming to Silberling near the end of the writing process.

Once I had it, I knew it was what I wanted, she said. Each of the four stories is about gifts  tangible and intangible. Within the stories are also small gifts that can be almost overlooked like the extra candy from the store owner and the dry blanket from the rescuer. During this time of unrest and COVID-19, gifts keep flowing  sunny days, delicious fruit crops, spectacular foliage, electronic connections with friends and family. Gifts just keep coming. They flow like a river. The Schuylkill, of course.

River of Gifts is available on Amazon and at the Schuylkill County Historical Society in Pottsville, the Pottsville Free Public Library and the Arts Barn in Orwigsburg.
United States' Vice President-elect Kamala Harris

US Senator Kamala Harris is all set to be sworn in as the first-ever female Vice President of the United States of America.

The Democratic party nominee had a landslide win in November 2020, a win which current outgoing President Donald Trump refused to acknowledge for the longest time. On 20th January, (US Time) she'll be sworn in as the first ever female vice president of USA.

Even as Harris is all set to make history, Indians have a different concern: Does she have kids?

A Google Trends search with India as the location over the last 7 days showed the top result was 'Does Kamala Harris have children' followed by 'Kamala Harris children' 'Kamala Harris husband' 'Kamala Harris step-children.' Even the search term 'Kamala Harris nude,' saw a 300% spike in searches.

Kamala Harris' Google search trends in India (Image Source: News18)

The answer to the search terms is yes, Kamala Harris does have children, but not biologically. Harris is married to Doug Emhoff, who has two children from her earlier marriage. For 16 years, he was married to Kerstin Emhoff, with whom he shares Cole, 26, and Ella, 21, named for John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald.

Harris has special significance to Indians - along with being the first woman as VP, she's also the Black woman and first woman of South-East Asian origin (Indian) to be in the position. Harris' mother, Shyamala Gopalan is from Chennai, Tamil Nadu in India. During her campaigning and her subsequent victory, India celebrated as if one of our own won. Harris also has a lot of memories in India, which she has regularly shared.

Residents of Thulasendrapuram village in Tamil Nadu are infact enjoying a vegan celebration ahead of Kamala Harris' inauguration as the next US Vice President on Wednesday, as PETA India has sent baskets of vegan biryani and Proteiz chunks from GoodDot, flavoured oat milk from Good Mylk, vegan sweets, and other tasty goodies to every family in Thulasendrapuram, where Harris' grandfather was born. The village panchayat and its volunteers are delivering the baskets on PETA India's behalf.

In fact, whether Harris would be wearing a traditional Indian saree also has been the buzz of the Internet. In an interview to CNN, fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra said that it would not be a surprise if Kamala decides to wear a saree for the inauguration ball. According to him, it is important for madam VP that she uses her saree as a tool to bring people together.

Kamala was asked a question about saree by a person from the audience during her campaign speech. She was asked if she would be wearing the traditional Indian dress saree if she wins the election. Back then, Kamala had then said, Lets first win.

Bibhu believes that Kamala can use the garment as a healing gesture at this time when the new administration has the task of unifying the country. He also believes that Kamalas picture in a saree that had previously surfaced on social media has made him and others relate to her more than before.

The picture in question is from her maternal home in India where Kamala can be seen wearing a bright pink coloured sari.
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Wednesday, pledged a N500 million donation for the rebuilding of a burnt market in Sokoto State.

Mr Wikes pledge, on behalf of the Rivers State government, is coming at a time his administration is yet to resolve a lingering dispute over the non-payment of pensions and gratuity to thousands of retired civil servants in the oil-rich state.

The money, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is for the rebuilding of the Sokoto Central Market destroyed by fire on Tuesday.

NAN reported that Muhammad Bello, a media aide to the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, disclosed in a statement that Mr Wike visited the scene of the fire incident barely 24 hours after.

Mr Wike was said to have expressed shock and dismay over the incident.

The Rivers governor said part of the N500 million was to support the victims of the fire incident.

He said whatever affected Sokoto State was of concern to Rivers State, adding that his administration would ensure the market was reconstructed and made functional again.

Mr Tambuwal, while conducting the Rivers governor around the fire scene, said 60 per cent of the 16,000 shops in the market have been destroyed by the fire.

Mr Tambuwal said firefighters were called in when the fire broke out.

Mr Wike and his entourage later visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, in his palace where he condoled with the Sokoto State Government, the Sultanate Council and the people over the death of the states commissioner for Home Affairs, Abdulkadir Abubakar, the Sultans younger brother.

In his response, the Sultan noted the age-long relationship between Sokoto and Rivers, and thanked Governor Wike for his visit and support to the state.

Mr Wike , a few days ago, confirmed the receipt of N78 billion refund from the federal government, being money the Rivers government spent on repairing federal roads in the state.

I have not touched a dime yet. I will use it for project execution, the governor said of the N78 billion.

Wike yet to pay pensions since he became governor  Rivers pensioners

Pensioners in Rivers State have repeatedly cried out that Mr Wike administration has not paid them their gratuities, pension arears since the inception of the administration in 2015.

The Chairperson of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners in the state, Collins Nwankwo, last December, threatened to lead his members into the street for a protest against the state government over the unpaid pensions, according to a report by Punch newspaper.

Mr Nwankwo said the pensioners had made several pleas to Mr Wike, and that the governor was just insensitive to their plight.

It is very pathetic that the usual payment of gratuities, pension arrears and death benefits which hitherto was a thing of joy, has become a source of punishment to our living pensioners and the survivors of the deceased ones.

Since the inception of the present administration in 2015, no dime has been paid in this direction and all efforts towards getting our government to consider the need to address them are never admitted. At a point, when all these efforts fail, we will embark on the protest. We will have to talk to those who will be able to walk, Mr Nwankwo said.

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Mr Nwankwo told PREMIUM TIMES, Wednesday, that the pension union would issue a fresh statement next week on the issue.

I need money for my eye drop, blood pressure and diabetes drugs

Edward Abibo, a retired civil servant, is a former chairperson of the pension union in the state.

Mr Abibo, apparently angry with Mr Wikes attitude towards pensioners, told PREMIUM TIMES, Wednesday, Rivers State government is even praying that the pensioners should die.

He condemned Mr Wikes pledge of money to Sokoto State and said the governor, regrettably, was behaving like his predecessors in office.

He is throwing money about, trying to get Tambuwal to be a presidential candidate, so he can become his running mate.

(Rotimi) Amaechi did a similar thing, (Peter) Odili did a similar thing, they did not succeed. Odili was giving cars to emirs. Amaechi sponsored Benue governor, sponsored Akwa Ibom governor. Amaechi didnt do anything in his second term. Now, this man is doing the same thing, Mr Abibo said.

I have not been paid my pension increases since 2003 till date. I am collecting N20,000 whereas it should have increased to N30,000 or N35,000. And that is someone who retired on level 13 and served over 35 years. I am going to be 76 years old by July.

My eye drop alone is N12,000 every month, my BP drugs and diabetes drugs are over N10,000 every month, he said.

This is not the first time Governor Wike has embarked on outrageous spending, while pensioners in the state are begging the government to pay them their entitlement.

The governor, in 2017, purchased SUVs worth hundreds of millions of naira for the 16 National Assembly members from the state, even when it appeared the lawmakers, with other cars in their possession, did not really need the governors gifts.

The Commissioner for Information in Rivers, Paulinus Nsirim, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comment.

Wikes relationship with Tambuwal

Mr Wike, one of the most influential governors in Nigeria, has some grip over his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He is said to have campaigned, albeit unsuccessfully, for his friend and political ally, Governor Tambuwal, to become the PDP presidential candidate for the 2019 election.

Mr Wike, in a 2018 interview with PREMIUM TIMES, however, said he did not support Mr Tambuwal.

He said Mr Tambuwal was his friend, just like other presidential candidates then like Bukola Saraki, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ahmed Makarfi.

He nevertheless said he supported Mr Tambuwal to become the tenth speaker of the House of Representatives, against the stance of the PDP when Goodluck Jonathan was the president.

It is unclear, for now, if Mr Tambuwal would want to run for president again, in 2023, and if he would have Mr Wikes backing.

There is also an ongoing debate on the need to zone the presidency to the countrys south, after President Muhammadu Buharis tenure.
(Natural News) Texas is reportedly preparing for lawsuits against Joe Bidens incoming administration, the San Antonio Express-News reported Friday.

(Article by Amy Furr republished from Breitbart.com)

During his first 100 days in office, President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to roll back the Trump administrations immigration crackdown, push policies addressing climate change and potentially forgive student debt for thousands of Americans, the article stated.

Biden has also said he will advocate for a mask mandate and wants Congress to pass another huge stimulus package.

And in the longer term, Biden has talked about rewriting the tax code to raise taxes on the rich, the report continued, adding that Texas is almost certain to fight him every step of the way:

The state is about to be back on the front lines battling against the federal government, a long tradition for its Republican leaders, from former Gov. Rick Perry to Gov. Greg Abbott  who as the states attorney general famously said, I go into the office, I sue the federal government and I go home.  As Biden takes office next week, many expect the state to pick up where it left off after suing the Obama administration dozens of times to stop initiatives such as the Clean Power Plan, scrap protections for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children and end the Affordable Care Act.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Gov. Abbott shared the Express-News article, commenting, Texas will take action whenever the federal government encroaches on states rights, or interferes with constitutionally rights, or private property rights or the right to earn a living.

Meanwhile, a recent national survey indicates that a majority of Republicans want congressional leaders to challenge Biden on important issues.

Nearly six in 10 (59%) Republicans questioned in a Pew Research Center poll urge GOP leaders in Congress to stand up to the incoming president, even if its harder to address critical issues facing the country, Fox News reported.

Robert Henneke, general counsel at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) told the Express-News that Litigation challenging unconstitutional action from the Biden administration will be a central issue.

Where the new administration seeks to go out of bounds of what powers have been delegated to it, or enacts policies and rules that arent supported by data and science, I expect that well be chief among those challenging those type of policies, he concluded.

Read more at: Breitbart.com

India dispatched the first consignment of 1,00,000 doses of Covishield vaccines from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Male in the Maldives on January 20.

The flight will first arrive in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and then leave for Male.

With this, Male, along with Bhutan, has become the first recipient of India's gift of the Covishield vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

Covishield

India has also sent a consignment of 1.5 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield to Thimphu, Bhutan.

Mohamed Nasheed, Maldives Speaker of People's Majlis (parliament) tweeted, "Today, an Air India plane will land in Male'' with 1,00,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine - a gift from India. For the Maldives, it's the beginning of the end of this terrible virus. During the tsunami, ''88 coup, water crisis or corona pandemic, India has been our first responder and dependable friend".

Today, an Air India plane will land in Male' with 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine - a gift from India. For it's the beginning of the end of this terrible virus. During tsunami, 88 coup, water crisis or corona, India has been our first responder and dependable friend.

Today, an Air India plane will land in Male with 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine - a gift from India. For  its the beginning of the end of this terrible virus. During tsunami, 88 coup, water crisis or corona ,  has been our first responder and dependable friend.  Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) January 20, 2021

India's decision to send vaccines as gifts to help neighbouring countries has been applauded:

Maldives is happy to receive as grant, 100,000 doses of Covishield developed by Serum Institute of India - among the first countries to receive vaccines from India.



As always, India stands strong & steadfast, by our side, as 1st responder in any crisis#MaldivesIndiaPartnership pic.twitter.com/Pdi99YxBr1  Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) January 20, 2021

  :

May all be free from disease



India dispatches 1.0 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine to the Maldives. The shipment has been transported from Mumbai to Male on Air India. pic.twitter.com/AQnw8nusIT  MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) January 20, 2021





This vaccine diplomacy of India is yet another testament to its Neighbourhood First policy, in which the Maldives occupies a special and central place. This is reciprocated in full measure by the ''India First'' policy of the Government of Maldives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Maldives in June 2019 rightly said ''Neighbourhood First is our priority; in the Neighbourhood Maldives is a priority''.

Since the Maldives has a population of about 5,00,000 the donation will cover the vaccination requirement of a significant percentage of the population. In addition, Maldives proposes to purchase 3,00,000 doses of vaccines from SII at commercial rates.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 13:48:10|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday proposed several changes to the Trump administration's foreign policy after taking office.

During his confirmation hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Blinken said that the incoming Biden administration would seek to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, if Tehran returns to compliance.

President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in May 2018 and slapped harsh sanctions against Iran. In response, Tehran has gradually dropped some of its JCPOA commitments since May 2019.

"The President-elect believes that if Iran comes back into compliance, we would too," with an intention to seek a "longer and stronger agreement," he said.

The incoming secretary of state indicated that the objective of a new agreement with Iran would involve Iran's missile program and its activities in the region, while underlining "we're a long way from there."

Blinken, Jewish, voiced his support for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, a policy stance that was backed by successive U.S. governments for decades but was largely abandoned by the Trump administration.

"What would be important is to make sure that neither party takes steps that make the already difficult proposition even more challenging," he said.

Blinken questioned the designation of Yemen's Houthi group as a terrorist group, which was announced last week by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to double down the pressure campaign against Iran.

He added that the incoming administration would extend a key arms control treaty with Moscow.

"I think we're going to seek an extension," Blinken said when asked if the Biden administration would extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty expiring on Feb. 5.

The treaty stipulates limits to the numbers of deployed nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems by both, and can be extended by a maximum of five years with the consent of the two countries.

Blinken, 58, served as Deputy National Security Advisor and Deputy Secretary of State under former President Barack Obama. A close aide to Biden for nearly two decades, Blinken was one of Biden's first cabinet picks. Enditem
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OTTAWA - Controversial MP Derek Sloan was kicked out of the Conservative caucus Wednesday, a move party leader Erin O'Toole said was due to a "pattern of destructive behaviour" that had become a distraction.

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Conservative MP Derek Sloan arrives to a meeting in Ottawa on September 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Controversial MP Derek Sloan was kicked out of the Conservative caucus Wednesday, a move party leader Erin O'Toole said was due to a "pattern of destructive behaviour" that had become a distraction.

O'Toole's acknowledgment that Sloan's dismissal was not solely over a donation he'd taken from a white nationalist came after hours of heated debate within caucus that saw MPs castigate both Sloan for his record and O'Toole for how he'd handled the issue.

Sloan said he will now sit as an Independent and will continue to fight for conservatives voices.

"No matter how ugly  how undemocratic  the events of the last two days have been, always remember that the Conservative Party of Canada is not the personal property of Erin OToole, nor is it the personal property of the cabal that surrounds him," he wrote.

O'Toole had formally triggered the effort to boot Sloan after revelations Monday that Sloan accepted a donation last year from a known white nationalist, news that broke one day after O'Toole declared there's no room in his party for far-right extremism or racism.

Sloan claimed he was not aware of the donation previously, and as soon as he learned of it, asked the party to return the money.

But Sloan's extreme socially conservative views had been a thorn in the party's side and there had been mounting pressure on O'Toole to kick him out.

During his 15 months as an MP, Sloan has faced accusations he's racist, drawn condemnation for his views on LGBTQ rights and for his anti-abortion stance, all leading to periodic calls he be tossed from the party's benches.

"Ive worked well with many social conservatives in our party over the years. They are welcome in our party, but Derek Sloans behaviour is not," wrote former Conservative cabinet minister John Baird on social media this week.

That O'Toole initially billed the decision to oust him as being based on the donation was a source of frustration for many MPs. Any one of them, in theory, could have accepted and overlooked a similar contribution as vetting the pedigree of each contributor would be impossible.

Several told O'Toole during the meeting he had to come clean about why Sloan was getting the boot, otherwise he was setting too high a bar for them all.

"The Conservative caucus voted to remove Derek Sloan not because of one specific event, but because of a pattern of destructive behaviour involving multiple incidents and disrespect towards the Conservative team for over a year," O'Toole said in his statement after the meeting,

"These actions have been a consistent distraction from our efforts to grow the party and focus on the work we need to do. Events of the past week were simply the last straw and led to our caucus making the decision it did today."

O'Toole won leadership of the party, however, partially on the strength of Sloan's supporters, and he took pains Wednesday to try to assuage concerns the move was meant as a swipe at them.

I did not vote to remove Derek Sloan from our caucus because he is a social conservative. We have members of Parliament of deep compassion and unmatched character, who like many Canadians, draw strength from their faith," he said.

"The Conservative party is a big tent that is reflective of all Canadians."

But the most recent knock against Sloan was his effort to mobilize supporters to participate in a Conservative policy convention in March.

The party is investigating whether his use of robocalls to get people to register for the convention runs afoul of telecommunications regulations. His use of the party's membership list to encourage delegates to register also ruffled feathers and is under review and the party has said he's been unco-operative in that process.

While socially conservative groups are traditionally quite active at Conservative conventions, their ranks swelled during the leadership race, given both Sloan's and Leslyn Lewis's campaigns explicitly targeted those constituencies.

With strong enough numbers, resolutions they want to advance have a better chance of passing, including one that would delete a policy pledging that a Conservative government will not regulate abortion.

That in turn would jeopardize O'Toole's efforts to present the party as more centrist.

In his email Wednesday, Sloan urged his backers not to give up, a spirit echoed by the Campaign Life Coalition, which accused O'Toole of trying to deflate people's enthusiasm.

"Don't give O'Toole exactly what he wants," the coalition's Jack Fonseca wrote in the email.

"We are so close to winning at the convention that even if Derek gets expelled, we need to stay engaged in the convention to make the party more socially conservative in its policy declaration."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 20, 2021.
A Las Vegas headquartered online security firm that claims it was hired by Dubai investors to audit Xinja says it found significant problems with the fallen neobank's technology that left customers vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Defensury director Luca de la Torre said his firm was enlisted by Abu Dhabi based World Investments to discreetly probe Xinjas digital infrastructure ahead of finalising a $433 million lifeline payment announced in March.

But after detecting "red flags" with the neobanks technology infrastructure, Mr de la Torre recommended World Investments withhold from providing any capital before encouraging a complete overhaul of the app.

World Investments confirmed it had engaged Defensury as part of its due diligence when contacted by The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. Xinja denied any knowledge of the company.

Mr de la Torre claims his security audit was the main reason the Emirati investor's money never materialised, contributing to Xinjas shock decision to exit banking.
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WASHINGTON : Vice President Kamala Harris broke the barrier Wednesday that has kept men at the top ranks of American power for more than two centuries when she took the oath to hold the nation's second-highest office.

Harris was sworn in as the first female U.S. vice president  and the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold the position  in front of the U.S. Capitol by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

The moment was steeped in history and significance in more ways than one. She was escorted to the podium by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, the officer who single-handedly took on a mob of Trump supporters as they tried to breach the Senate floor during the Capitol insurrection that sought to overturn the election results. Harris was wearing clothes from two young, emerging Black designers  a deep purple dress and coat.

After taking the oath of office, a beaming Harris hugged her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and gave President Joe Biden a first bump.

Her rise is historic in any context, another moment when a stubborn boundary falls away, expanding the idea of what's possible in American politics. But it's particularly meaningful because Harris is taking office at a moment when Americans are grappling over institutional racism and confronting a pandemic that has disproportionately devastated Black and brown communities.

Those close to Harris say she'll bring an important  and often missing  perspective to the debates on how to overcome the many hurdles facing the new administration.

In many folks' lifetimes, we experienced a segregated United States," said Lateefah Simon, a civil rights advocate and longtime Harris friend and mentee. You will now have a Black woman who will walk into the White House not as a guest but as a second in command of the free world."

Harris  the child of immigrants, a stepmother of two and the wife of a Jewish man  carries an intersectional story of so many Americans who are never seen and heard."

She will address the nation later Wednesday at the Lincoln Memorial.

Harris, 56, moves into the vice presidency just four years after she first came to Washington as a senator from California, where she'd served as attorney general and as San Francisco's district attorney. She had expected to work with a White House run by Hillary Clinton, but President Donald Trump's victory quickly scrambled the nation's capital and set the stage for the rise of a new class of Democratic stars.

After Harris' own presidential bid fizzled, her rise continued when Biden chose her as his running mate last August. Harris had been a close friend of Beau Biden, his elder son and a former Delaware attorney general who died in 2015 of cancer.

The inauguration activities included nods to her history-making rise and her personal story.

Harris used two Bibles to take the oath, one that belonged to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the late civil rights icon whom Harris often cites as inspiration, and Regina Shelton, who helped raise Harris during her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area. The drumline from Harris' alma mater, Howard University, joined the presidential escort.

After the ceremony, she and Emhoff escorted former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, out of the Capitol, a gesture that would normally be performed by the incoming and outgoing presidents, but Trump did not attended the inauguration. Harris, Pence and their spouses spoke for several minutes before the Pences departed.

To celebrate the occasion, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the nations oldest sorority for Black women, which Harris joined at Howard University, declared Wednesday as Soror Kamala D. Harris Day. Members of the sorority watching the celebrations across the country were clad in pearls, as was Harris, and the sorority's pink and green colors.

There is a pride I cant put into words," said Elizabeth Shelby, a member of the sorority's Alpha Psi chapter, who watched the inauguration from her home in Nashville, Tennessee. It is such a joy to see her rise to this place in our country. It is such a joy to know that she is one of us, that she represents us."

Biden, in his inaugural address, reflected on the 1913 march for women's suffrage the day before President Woodrow Wilson's inauguration, during which some marchers were heckled and attacked.

Today, we mark the swearing in of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris. Don't tell me things can't change," Biden said.

Harris' swearing-in holds more symbolic weight than that of any vice president in modern times.

She will expand the definition of who gets to hold power in American politics, said Martha S. Jones, a professor of history at Johns Hopkins University and the author of Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All."

People who want to understand Harris and connect with her will have to learn what it means to graduate from a historically Black college and university rather than an Ivy League school. They will have to understand Harris' traditions, like the Hindu celebration of Diwali, Jones said.

Folks are going to have to adapt to her rather than her adapting to them," Jones said.

Her election to the vice presidency should be just the beginning of putting Black women in leadership positions, Jones said, particularly after the role Black women played in organizing and turning out voters in the November election.

We will all learn what happens to the kind of capacities and insights of Black women in politics when those capacities and insights are permitted to lead," Jones said.

__

Ronayne reported from Sacramento, California. Associated Press journalist Christine Fernando in Chicago contributed.

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The aunt of a blind cheerleader who was allegedly thrown off a high-rise balcony by her boyfriend has revealed why her heart breaks when she visits the court every day.

Breeanna Robinson died when Jayden Moorea allegedly tossed the 21-year-old off the 11th floor of the H20 building in Southport on the Gold Coast on January 29, 2013.

The cruise ship entertainer formerly known as Daniel Shearin faces a committal hearing at the Southport Magistrates Court for one count of murder.

On the second day of the hearing on Wednesday, Ms Robinson's aunt Janine Mackay made a heartbreaking video detailing why she find it hard just to show up.

Pictured: Breeanna Robinson with her ex partner Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Daniel Sherin.

Standing in the car park outside the courthouse, Ms Mackay said in a shaky voice: 'Let me share with your all one of the hard things about being here.'

She then moved the camera to show the H20 building nearby: 'That's the building where she died. It's very hard to be in this area.'

Ms Mackay arrives in court each day carrying a pink rose because it was her niece's favourite colour.

She broke down as she told reporters on Tuesday that she will continue to turn up for the 21-year-old because 'someone has to be here for her'.

Police took almost four years to get a statement from one of the paramedics who treated Ms Robinson at the scene, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Janine Mackney, the aunt of alleged murder victim Breeana Robinson, poses with a petition she later handed to Queensland Leader of the Opposition Deb Frecklington in 2019

Gordon Cassidy, a security guard who was working at the H2O apartment block that night, told the hearing her heard Ms Robinson fall and saw her after she landed on a glass awning outside the foyer

Andrew Busby told the court that other paramedics were treating the young woman when he arrived, but claimed she was lying on her back.

He said he could not remember any other details about how she was lying.

The positioning of her body has been a point of contention, with some saying she was perpendicular to the building, some saying she was parallel, and others having no recollection.

Like Mr Busby, paramedic Dean Gamblin told the court they moved her away from the edge of the glass when they arrived.

He said she was lying parallel to the building, but could not remember if there were marks on her throat or face.

H20 building resident Ashlee Horvath said she was looking at the balcony from her couch when she heard a scream and saw a woman's body drop.

'I heard the loud bang and saw she landed on the glass petition under my balcony,' he said.

She broke down as she told reporters on Tuesday that she will continue to turn up for the 21-year-old because 'someone has to be here for her'

Moorea's former boss Jacqueline Lowein said he sounded 'scattered and disjointed' in a series of phone messages he left on the night Ms Robinson died.

'He was saying something like "oh my God, Jac, Bree's jumped and thrown herself off the balcony",' she told the court.

Ms Lowein said they exchanged a series of voicemails on the night but never actually spoke.

Defence barrister Angus Edwards asked why she did not think Morea's statement was genuine.

'It just sounded odd I just remember thinking it was odd,' she said.

Moorea was charged six years after the tragedy because the coroner postponed the inquest into her death in 2017.

Moorea (right), a cruise ship entertainer formerly known as Dan Shearin, is accused of throwing Ms Robinson (left) from his balcony

Pictured: ayden Moorea arrives at the Southport Watch House on the Gold Coast, February 7, 2019

On the first day of the committal hearing on Tuesday, former neighbour Julie Carroll, who was watching a movie in her 11th floor apartment, said she heard screaming and crying on night of the tragedy.

'I could hear the man, he was loud, yelling, and a woman was crying,' she told the court, adding that the voices got louder the Daily Telegraph reported.

She testified that she did not see Ms Robinson, but heard a 'high-pitched scream' that stopped abruptly soon after the argument died down.

Pictured: Breeanna Robinson, 21, who died in 2013

Defence barrister Angus Edwards asked if the scream could have been cut off so suddenly because the woman hit a glass awning.

'That's what I believe is what I heard,' Ms Carroll replied.

Dr Rebecca Adams lived a few floors above the couple and said thought someone had been hit by a car when she heard a loud noise and a thump.

When she looked over the railing, along with multiple others, she saw 'blood pooling' around Ms Robinson's head.

The couple's next-door neighbour Lisa Dunscombe insisted she heard no arguing, but heard a thud and what she described as a 'release of breath' while sitting inside her apartment.

'Because it was a foreign noise I went out to investigate  it wasn't a normal traffic noise,' she told the court.

Ms Dunscombe initially thought the young woman's body was a mannequin, as though someone was playing a sick joke.

She also said Moorea seemed upset when he got in the elevator, struggling to do up his pants and use his phone.

Alan Walker was sitting on his balcony and heard an 'oh no' as an 'object' plunged past him.

The committal hearing will allow the magistrate to determine whether there is enough evidence to send Moorea to trial at the Supreme or District Court.

Moorea denies the charges.
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MONTREAL, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brunswick Exploration Inc. ("BRW" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its planned exploration program for 2021. The Company's projects include the highly prospective Fundy Gold Project and the Bathurst Mining Camp (BMC) Option both located in New Brunswick as well as the Waconichi VMS Project located near Chibougamau in Quebec.



New Brunswick

Fundy Gold Project - Gold-Silver-Copper

Ongoing prospecting across the entire property . Since consolidating this grass-roots project in late 2020, BRW began a prospecting program targeting high priority areas along the Fundy Shear Zone, a major deep-rooted fault corridor hosting multiple showings of gold-silver-copper vein mineralization. The prospecting and sampling program will be expanded in 2021 to cover the entire 45 kilometres strike length of the project area. The first set of results, comprising of 130 grab samples, are anticipated by the end of the month.

. Since consolidating this grass-roots project in late 2020, BRW began a prospecting program targeting high priority areas along the Fundy Shear Zone, a major deep-rooted fault corridor hosting multiple showings of gold-silver-copper vein mineralization. The prospecting and sampling program will be expanded in 2021 to cover the entire 45 kilometres strike length of the project area. The first set of results, comprising of 130 grab samples, are anticipated by the end of the month. Results from soil sampling at Rogers Lake and trenching at Little Lepreau expected in the next three weeks. Both areas were optioned by BRW in October 2020 (see press release dated October 27 2020). At Rogers Lake, 2,000 soil samples were taken (every 25m with a line spacing of 100m) covering an area of 500 hectares. The soil geochemical program covered the highly prospective Seven Mile Lake mylonite along the Belleisle Fault. Additional trenching, mapping and prospecting at Lepreau and Rogers Lake identified more veining that resulted in the collecting of 92 channel samples.

BMC Option- Base Metals

Borehole EM survey at Key Anacon. In early January 2021, the Company began a five hole, 4,800m down hole EM survey targeting the deep portions of the Key Anacon Titan Deposit. The existing resource at the Titan Deposit (0.29 Mt grading 4.36% Zn, 1.57% Pb, 0.65% Cu and 38.80 g/t Ag in the indicated category and 0.98 Mt grading 4.12% Zn, 1.62% Pb, 0.78% Cu and 42.90 g/t Ag in the inferred category) is constrained from surface to a depth of approximately 550 meters. Of note, historical drill hole KA-01-15B, one of the holes to be pulsed, intersected mineralization (10.03% ZnEq over 13.00m) roughly 550m below the current resource boundaries of the Titan Deposit.

In early January 2021, the Company began a five hole, 4,800m down hole EM survey targeting the deep portions of the Key Anacon Titan Deposit. The existing resource at the Titan Deposit (0.29 Mt grading 4.36% Zn, 1.57% Pb, 0.65% Cu and 38.80 g/t Ag in the indicated category and 0.98 Mt grading 4.12% Zn, 1.62% Pb, 0.78% Cu and 42.90 g/t Ag in the inferred category) is constrained from surface to a depth of approximately 550 meters. Of note, historical drill hole KA-01-15B, one of the holes to be pulsed, intersected mineralization (10.03% ZnEq over 13.00m) roughly 550m below the current resource boundaries of the Titan Deposit. Drilling along the Brunswick Belt in late Q2. The new lithological model along the Brunswick Belt from Brunswick No.12 to Gilmour South has generated new target areas that are completely unexplored. Many of these target areas were unknown to previous operators and represent the culmination of extensive compilation work over the previous three years. This model will be wireframed in Q1 and includes 50 geological sections spanning 3-4 kilometers over a strike length of 22 kilometers. Many of the targets have coincident resistivity, electromagnetic, magnetic, gravity and/or geochem anomalies.

Quebec

Waconichi VMS Project - Base Metals

Airborne gravity gradiometry survey to be completed in H1. BRW has identified a number of promising EM targets across the property and will utilize the gravity survey to further prioritize targets across the project.



Mr. Killian Charles, President of BRW, commented: "With the closing of two over-subscribed financings in late 2020, we are well positioned to advance a robust exploration program across all our projects in Eastern Canada. I look forward to see the results from our 2020 soils, channel, and prospecting programs at our Fundy Gold Project. Since the initial staking in October 2020, we have increased the Fundy Gold Project land package to roughly 53,000 hectares. This area has many hallmarks of well-endowed gold camps but has seen very limited exploration work. We expect 2021 to be rich in catalysts, as we explore for the next precious and base metals discoveries in Eastern Canada.

About Brunswick Exploration

The Company, formerly Komet Resources Inc., is part of the Osisko Group of companies and is a Montreal-based mineral exploration venture listed on the TSX-V under symbol BRW. It is in the process of selling all of its African assets and is now focused on exploration and development of gold and base metal properties in Eastern Canada. Current projects include gold-polymetallic vein systems in southern New Brunswick (Fundy Gold Project) and base metals VMS in Northern New Brunswick (Bathurst Mining Camp) and in the Chibougamau region of Quebec (Waconichi).

Investor Relations/information

Mr. Killian Charles, President)

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets; inflation; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in the Corporation's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Corporation believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. 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 news release.

WASHINGTON : Outgoing U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen attended the inauguration of new President Joe Biden on Wednesday after skipping both a farewell ceremony for Donald Trump and the usual protocol of welcoming his successor to his home at the Naval Observatory.

Pence, whom some of Trump's supporters during the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol had threatened to hang for refusing to try to overturn Biden's Electoral College win in Congress, applauded the next vice president, Kamala Harris, as she arrived at the U.S. Capitol. Trump skipped the inauguration.

Pence, the Republican former Indiana governor, and his wife on Wednesday will fly home to Columbus, Indiana, where they will be greeted by a group of supporters and friends, according to a source familiar with the plans. The couple plans to move back to Indiana later this year.

Pence was a loyal lieutenant throughout Trump's four-year term. But he found himself shunned by the outgoing president for days for not supporting his quest to overturn Biden's victory based on false claims of widespread voting fraud and irregularities, although the two men sought to repair their ties before leaving office.

Pence spoke with Harris last Thursday, marking the highest-level contact between the outgoing and incoming administrations.

The father of a Marine Corps F-35 pilot, Pence and his wife thanked troops for their service during a final visit to U.S. troops at military bases in California and New York over the weekend. Pence also met with National Guard troops guarding the Capitol, vowing to ensure a safe transition of power.

Anita McBride, who served as chief of staff to former first lady Laura Bush, said Trump's refusal to participate in Biden's inauguration was a "sad break with tradition" that would leave Trump and his family - and his supporters - without closure.

McBride praised Pence for his actions in recent weeks.

"He did what was right for the country despite intense pressure, and he did not buckle," McBride told Reuters.

Pence, who certified Biden and Harris's electoral win in Congress last week after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in attempt to stop the process, has not publicly spoken directly about the siege or the subsequent impeachment of Trump by the U.S. House of Representatives for inciting an insurrection.

But on Sunday, in his final speech as vice president, Pence praised the resilience of the American people, adding, "I have faith that the day will come where we put these challenging times behind us."

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Will Dunham)

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Ferry service to and from Manhattan took a significant step toward setting sail after Carteret received a $5 million state grant to build a ferry terminal on the Arthur Kill waterfront located between the borough and Staten island.

The grant is part of the state Department of Transportations NJDOTs Smart Move Program intended to provide congestion relief. Ferry service is seen as a way to reduce congestion on the nearby New Jersey Turnpike. The DOT grant is added to earlier federal grants to buy a ferry boat.

The proposed ferry terminal would be located on a 10-acre site next to Waterfront Park that was cleared in 2018. It includes a terminal building, a 700-space parking lot, a 20-foot-wide elevated pedestrian boardwalk between the ferry terminal and parking lot. The grant also funds construction of floating docks, handicapped access ramps and other infrastructure.

The ferry terminal is seen as the cornerstone for developing a mixed-use community with condominiums, office and retail space, and boardwalk shops, officials said.

The commute from Carteret to Manhattan will soon take even less time with a new direct ferry route from the Borough to Midtown and Wall Street, said Mayor Dan Reiman. Thank you to Governor Murphy and (Assembly) Speaker Craig Coughlin, (D-Middlesex) for stepping up and providing funding that will make this vision a reality in the near future.

Carterets ferry is planned to be a regional service that would serve nearby Union and Somerset counties in addition to Middlesex County, Reiman said in an earlier interview.

The borough has agreements with developers of condos and townhouses that have been built or are proposed to fund a jitney bus to and from the ferry terminal, so borough residents wont have to drive there, he said.

In May 2018, the Federal Transit Administration award a $6 million grant to NJ Transit to purchase a 299-seat ferry for the proposed Carteret to Manhattan route. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez joined officials Waterfront Park that year to talk about the $6 million grant to buy a boat and how it could help redevelopment of the borough.

Studies determined Carterets waterfront along the Arthur Kill Channel, separating Middlesex County and Staten Island, to be a viable location for ferry service to Manhattan. Larger commercial ships already use the waterway.

The ferry also is seen as making Carteret a destination as its downtown redevelops.

The ferry terminal is part of a larger plan to make the borough a destination as new residential development has been built across the street from Waterfront Park and the proposed ferry terminal. Other redevelopment, including a hotel and performing arts center could also help attract visitors to the borough, who could reach it by ferry, officials said.

The proposed Marriot Courtyard hotel is still in the planning stages while the performing Arts Center recently finished construction and will open in the coming months, said Jon Salonis, a borough spokesman.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
The First Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam took place from March 27-31, 1935, marking the restoration of party organisations from the central to local levels, from home to abroad and at the same time unifying revolutionary movements.

Nguyen Ai Quoc (pseudonym of President Ho Chi Minh) chairs a conference to unite communist organisations into a single party organisation, the Vietnamese Communist Party, Hong Kong (China), January 6 - February 7, 1930. ( Photo: Archives/VNA)

The Nghe-Tinh Soviet Movement in 1930-1931 under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam marks the fact that our Party clearly showed its role, bravery, prestige, fighting strength, and great ability in leading, unifying, and mobilizing the people for the first time although the revolutionary Party was very young. It is considered a large-scale drill for the August Revolution in 1945. (Photo: Archives/VNA)

Southern Resistance Campaign is launched in southern provinces, November 23, 1940. It is considered the second drill for the August Revolution in 1945 (Photo: Archives/ VNA)

On January 28, 1941 President Ho Chi Minh returns to the country from China to lead Vietnams revolution, which eventually liberates the nation (Photo: VNA Archives)

On December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Propaganda Unit of Liberation Army, the forerunner of the Vietnam Peoples Army, was established in Tran Hung Dao forest, Nguyen Binh, Cao Bang province, led by comrade Vo Nguyen Giap. The force plays a pivotal role, deciding the success of the August Revolution. (Photo: VNA )

On August 19, 1945, Hanoi citywide is filled with national flags. Tens of thousands of people in Hanoi and neighboring provinces gather at the Hanoi Opera House square to attend the unprecedented grand rally of the revolutionary masses, responding to the general uprising to take power. (Photo:VNA)

People in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City now) revolt to seize power on August 25, 1945. (Photo: VNA)

Crowds of people gather at Ba Dinh square to listen to President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945 (Photo: VNA)

The Provisional Government holds its first meeting presided over by President Ho Chi Minh on September 3, 1945 to discuss and set forth urgent tasks, determined to fight the enemies of hunger and illiteracy and urgently prepare for the universal general election as soon as possible and drafting a constitution for the newly-established Democratic Republic of Vietnam. In the photo: President Ho Chi Minh and members of the Provisional Government Council of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam present after the first session on the morning of September 3, 1945. (Photo: VNA)

On January 6, 1946, Vietnamese citizens aged from 18 across the country vote for the National Assembly deputies for the first time, marking the birth of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. In the photo: A view of the opening session of the first session of the first National Assembly (March 2, 1946). (Photo: VNA)

The visit to France lasting more than four months (May 31 to October 20, 1946) of President Ho Chi Minh as head of state of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam is one of many important external affair activities of the Vietnamese governments in 1945-1946 to maintain peace amidst the French colonialists determination to invade Vietnam again (Photo: Document / broadcasted by VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh meets with the Party Central Standing Committee to decide to open the Border Campaign (September 16-17, 1950). This is the first campaign in which the Viet Minh troops actively attack the French, making a massive change on the battlefield. This campaign is of great significance, considered as the turning point of the war. (Photo: Document/ VNA Archives)

VNP/VNA

Vietnam ready for 13th Party Congress Vietnam has made an impression on the international community as a safe country with great economic potential, and its success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and maintaining economic growth has been miraculous, a Japanese expert has said.
Jennifer Lopez looked simply stunning as she left her Washington DC hotel with fiance Alex Rodriguez wearing all white on Wednesday.

The native New Yorker was the image of sophistication as she made her way to the Capitol Building ahead of performing at President Elect Joe Biden's inauguration celebration.

Lopez, 51, wowed in white, wearing the hue as a tribute to first female Vice President Kamala Harris as well as the suffragettes who fought for women's right to vote.

Wowing in white: Jennifer Lopez stunned in head-to-toe white as she made her way to President elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday

Practice look: Jennifer looked equally gorgeous during practice, seen donning an elegant houndtooth ensemble with a ruffled blouse

She evoked old Hollywood beauty while donning a delicate beret and wrapping herself in a handsome white coat.

Underneath, you could get just a hint of the triple-threat's awe-inspiring outfit as wide trousers and a high-necked blouse peeked out from below.

Jennifer wore a strand of pearls around her wrist, also a nod to the legacy of the suffragettes and VP Kamala Harris' history-making moment.

She rounded out her accessories with a small clutch and a dazzling ring on her right index finger.

Never one to miss a moment for glamour, the star had her hair styled smoothly and played up her natural good looks with a bit of makeup.

Historic: The triple-threat wore the hue as a tribute to first female Vice President Kamala Harris as well as the suffragettes who fought for women's right to vote

Pure elegance: She evoked old Hollywood beauty while donning a delicate beret and wrapping herself in a handsome white coat

Pinch me! She made sure to mark the once-in-a-lifetime moment, snapping a photo on the steps of the Capitol Building

She was in high spirits after rehearsing on Capitol Hill the day before her performance of This Land Is Your Land and America The Beautiful.

Jennifer looked equally gorgeous during practice, seen donning an elegant houndtooth ensemble with a ruffled blouse.

And she made sure to mark the once-in-a-lifetime moment, snapping a photo on the steps of the Capitol Building.

During rehearsals Jennifer also paid tribute to America's brave servicemen and women, cuddling up to a group of National Guards for a selfie.

A. Rod had a feeling Lopez was going to hit it out of the park with her performance, declaring 'J. Lo is ready!' while sharing a behind-the-scenes snap of one of the diva's favorite accessories: a bedazzled coffee cup.

Real heroes: During rehearsals Jennifer also paid tribute to America's brave servicemen and women, cuddling up to a group of National Guards for a selfie

Custom: A. Rod had a feeling Lopez was going to hit it out of the park with her performance, declaring 'J. Lo is ready!' while sharing a behind-the-scenes snap of one of the diva's favorite accessories: a bedazzled coffee cup

Eye spy: J. Lo's star power appeared to have no end as fellow celebrity Chrissy Teigen was captivated after catching a look at Jennifer and Alex heading to the event while Teigen continued to get ready in her hotel room above

But this was no regular cup, but a custom design bearing the seal of the 2020 inauguration.

J. Lo's star power appeared to have no end as fellow celebrity Chrissy Teigen was captivated after catching a look at Jennifer and Alex heading to the event while Teigen continued to get ready in her hotel room above.

Using her best news anchor voice, the Cravings cookbook author said: 'Breaking news! Breaking news! It's J. Lo and A. Rod.'

Jennifer joins an all star group of performers set to entertain at Wednesday's inauguration.

Lady Gaga kicked off the festivities with the National Anthem while stars like Garth Brooks, Eva Longoria, Tom Hanks, Kerry Washington, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, poet Amanda Gorman, The Foo Fighters, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and more are set to take the stage later.

Icon: Lady Gaga kicked off the festivities with the National Anthem while stars like Garth Brooks, Eva Longoria, Tom Hanks, Kerry Washington, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, poet Amanda Gorman, The Foo Fighters, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and more are set to take the stage later

Preparations continue one ahead of the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden at the US Capitol in Washington

A general view of the National Mall on the eve of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, in Washington

This year's oath of office will be different from years past.

Instead of a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, there will be a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery and in place of balls, there will be Zoom parties.

Hundreds of thousands congregating on the Capitol grounds and on the National Mall have been replaced by thousands of National Guard members.

The measures reflect restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus and heightened security after a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol two weeks ago, sending lawmakers into hiding and leaving five people dead, including a police officer.

Tens of thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed in the U.S. capital after law enforcement warned some extremist Trump backers were calling for more violence.

And law enforcement officials are contending not only with the potential for outside threats but also with rising concerns about an insider attack by troops with a duty to protect him.
People wearing protective face walk in front of the Reichstag building on January 18, 2021, in Berlin amid the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. AFP



The European Union is aiming to inoculate 70 percent of its adult population against the coronavirus before the end of August, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas told a media conference on Tuesday.



That aim, agreed in a meeting of all EU commissioners, comes as most member states are struggling to achieve liftoff with their vaccination programmes.



The bloc started jabs three weeks ago and has so far approved two vaccines  from BioNTech/Pfizer and from Moderna  with others soon expected to follow.



But its pace of vaccination trails behind countries such as the US, Britain, Israel and the United Arab Emirates.



Health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said that the EU's joint-buying strategy meant there were already enough doses to vaccinate 80 percent of the EU's population of 450 million.



She admitted, though, that "vaccinations need to speed up".



Schinas said: "We also propose that by summer, this year, member states should have vaccinated a minimum of 70 percent of the adult population."



Later, He explained that that meant "by the end of summer", which he said in Europe runs from June to the end of August.



EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement that meeting the goal of 70 percent could be "a turning point in our fight against this virus".



- Vaccine 'bottleneck' -






The City's last open outcry trading ring - at the London Metal Exchange (LME) - could close after 144 years.

The site where traders shout at each other across the floor to set the world's metal prices has been shut since Covid struck in March.

But bosses at the LME now believe it is the 'right time' to permanently close the open outcry structure - known simply as 'The Ring'.

While closed due to the pandemic, the Finsbury Park-based exchange has modernised trading to keep in line with social distancing measures.

Under the plans the LME will move away from open outcry trading and towards an electronic system - like those used in other industries such as share trading.

The famous open outcry trading ring at the London Metal Exchange (pictured) - The City's last - could close after 144 years

Under the plans the LME will move away from open outcry trading (pictured) and towards an electronic trading system - like those in other industries such as share trading

No slovenly behaviour or throwing projectiles and fines for standing: The rules which govern trading in The Ring Traders must abide by strict rules in the ring. The LME bans chewing while dealing, reading newspapers or magazines in the trading area, 'slovenly, overzealous and drunken behaviour' and the throwing of projectiles. Traders also must observe a formal dress code. Those who breach the codes can be fined up to 100,000 for doing so. Examples of acts of misconduct include: Failure to observe the Exchange Dress Code; Failure to observe the Exchange Food/Beverages Code; Chewing whilst dealing by open-outcry; The use of foul and abusive language; Reading newspapers or magazines etc. in the Dealing Area; Unacceptable behaviour such as slovenly behaviour, overzealous behaviour and drunken behaviour; Sitting down in the Dealing Area (other than when dealing in the Ring or using the seat provided in each member's booth); Smoking on Exchange premises at any time; Excessive noise from behind the Ring whilst dealings are in progress or the Official Prices are being announced. Advertisement

However metal brokers are likely to resist any changes  with many enjoying the rowdy trading and claiming it is the best way to set LME's complex system of futures contracts.

Many say it serves the industry as well today as it did in Victorian times, doing 38billion of trades a day.

And the announcement of the plans come as experts predict a global boom for the metal trading industry.

A spokesperson for the LME said: 'We believe it is the right time to consider the permanent closure of the Ring and a move to an electronic pricing structure

'This shift is expected to benefit the market by broadening direct participation during the price discovery periods and increasing overall transparency.'

LME chief executive Matthew Chamberlain said: 'The Ring is a greatly treasured aspect of the LME's rich 144-year history, and its closure is not a decision we or our market will take lightly.

'However, the LME has stood the test of time precisely because of its ability to adapt to the evolution of market dynamics and trading behaviour.

'For the last 10 months, the Ring had to be temporarily closed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

'We have been clear that we will not use the pandemic as a pretext to close the Ring, and we remain committed to this.

'However, it is fair to observe that this period of electronic pricing has served the market well, with consistently high volumes of activity in the pricing window, easily observable by all stakeholders, and more participants with direct access.

'Given the data, and our industry's continued move towards digitisation and greater transparency, we believe it is now time to consider the long-term future of pricing at the LME  with the intention of providing certainty, which will allow all customers to make their future business decisions with confidence.'

City commentator David Buik said: 'Tragic but with the advent of technology, the LME has done well to hang in there for so long.'

In the trading pit  the Ring  brokers huddle together on circular red sofas to decide the final price. But it has been criticised for being outdated and not female-friendly

Traders operate in the Ring, the open trading floor of the new London Metal Exchange (LME) in central London on February 18, 2016. The exchange famously has strict rules on dress code and conduct, which includes keeping your top button fastened, your jacket on and hair presentable. Members are also banned from chewing gum

A trader at the LME buys and sells metals on the floor in the City of London in 2003

Traders are fined thousands for standing Traders from nine of the 11 floor-dealing firms, including JPMorgan and Societe Generale, were fined more than 1,000 in 2014 after they were caught 'standing in the Ring'. The LME said it, 'operates a ring, not a pit' and dealers that stand create an unfair advantage and might obstruct the view of other dealers and LME pricing committee members. Traders must sit on red leather sofas arranged in a 20-foot diameter ring. In 2011, nine traders had to pay a total of 13,750 and one was suspended for two days because it was his second offence in three months. The ancient rule against standing was established to ensure that dealers line of sight is never obstructed during the five-minute trading sessions. Advertisement

In the trading pit  the Ring  brokers huddle together on circular red sofas to decide the final price.

But it has been criticised for being outdated and not female-friendly.

Closing the floor instead pits them against sophisticated algorithmic traders and big banks.

City commentator David Buik said: 'Tragic but with the advent of technology, the LME has done well to hang in there for so long.'

Meanwhile, Nick Fellowes, managing director of Amalgamated Metal Trading Ltd, told Bloomberg: 'It's the end of a very long era and a very sad day.

'We still have serious concerns about how the exchange will continue to operate efficiently during periods of illiquidity and uncertainty.'

The LME is owned by HKEX, the owner of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, which bought it for 1.4billion in 2012.

The exchange famously has strict rules on dress code and conduct, which includes keeping your top button fastened, your jacket on and hair presentable.

Members are also banned from chewing gum.

Those who breach the codes can be fined up to 100,000 for doing so.

Metal brokers are likely to resist any changes  with many enjoying the rowdy trading (pictured) and claiming it is the best way to set LME's complex system of futures contracts
There are six cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation to report in New Zealand since Monday.

One of these cases is classified as historical and deemed not infectious, says a statement from the Ministry of Health.

There are no new cases in the community.

Fourteen previously reported cases have now recovered. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 76. Our total number of confirmed cases is 1911. 

The total number of tests processed by laboratories to date is 1,472,326.

On Tuesday, 4451 tests were processed. The seven-day rolling average up to yesterday is 3447 tests processed.

As indicated on Monday, genome sequencing results from the latest sequencing run by ESR are due today, says the MOH.

A separate website update will be provided once this is received.

All travellers arriving into New Zealand - excluding Australia, Antarctica, and some Pacific nations - are now required to have both pre-departure and 0/1 tests and stay in their rooms until the result is known.



New border case details

Arrival date From Via Positive test day/reason Managed isolation/quarantine location 26 Dec South Africa United Arab Emirates Around day 24/contact of a case Auckland Note: The above case is within a travel bubble of a previously confirmed case reported on 31 Dec. The above case has been in the Auckland quarantine facility since the contact case was detected. 29 Dec UK United Arab Emirates Around day 12/routine testing Auckland 9 Jan Zimbabwe United Arab Emirates Around day 9/routine testing Auckland 9 Jan To be determined United Arab Emirates Around day 9 /routine testing Auckland 14 Jan USA Around day 3/routine testing Auckland 18 Dec Russia Singapore Around day 0/routine testing in transit n/a Note: This person was part of an international fishing crew which left New Zealand via ship on 18 December. Previous history of overseas COVID-19 like illness in family members and a weak positive test resulted in a clinical assessment it is a historical case.



NZ COVID Tracer

NZ COVID Tracer now has 2,453,070 registered users.

Poster scans have reached 155,876,751 and users have created 6,299,397 manual diary entries.

The Ministry would like to remind all New Zealanders to keep each other safe and use the COVID Tracer app to scan QR codes and turn on Bluetooth functionality.

Using the Bluetooth functionality will allow you to receive an alert if you have been near another app user who tests positive for COVID-19.

Find out more here.
The Ministry of Health and Vietnam Medical Association signed the MoU on January 19

The signing ceremony was hosted at the Ministry of Health (MoH) and chaired by Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, together with representatives from relevant departments and key hospitals.

The Deputy Minister said: 5-10 years ago, over 70 per cent of breast cancer patients visited hospitals and got treated at a late stage. In recent years, thanks to the communication campaigns, especially the national project on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases including cancer, the rate of cancer patients getting medical examination and treatment in the early stage gradually increases.

The implementation of the project will contribute to the overall goal of the National Strategy on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, including cancer in 2015-2025. As this project is implemented nationwide with the cooperation between all levels of health departments and agencies, it is expected to bring positive and sustainable changes, leading to the improvement of Vietnam's capability to respond to cancer, he added.

The project aims to increase the rate of early breast cancer detection among women and improve access to advanced therapies for high-risk breast cancer patients. To achieve this goal, the MoH and Vietnam Medical Association will cooperate on the following areas:

(1) Increasing early detection of breast cancer through raising public awareness, screening for breast cancer, developing policy and professional guidance on breast cancer screening;

(2) Strengthening capabilities of medical system for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment;

(3) Develop real-world data system on breast cancer and optimise current data;

(4) Conduct general research on cost-effectiveness and policy on breast cancer screening status, survey drug use in treatment of high risk breast cancer patients.

This is the first time a specialised breast cancer project implemented nationwide with close-knit cooperation with stakeholders from all levels of government including the MoH, Social Insurance, Vietnam Health Insurance, professional medical agencies, hospitals including K Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, Hanoi Oncology Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital and the private sector, with Roche Vietnam playing the role of main sponsor for this project.

This signing ceremony demonstrates strong commitment among the government and healthcare departments to synchronise resources and provide simultaneous solutions to reduce the burden of disease on society.

Girish Mulye, chief representative of Roche Vietnam added: As a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, Roche is committed to working with Vietnam to address healthcare challenges through a variety of activities. Roche Vietnam is honoured to accompany Vietnam Medical Association and the MoH in this meaningful project, bringing new hope to breast cancer patients in Vietnam.

Breast cancer is the top cancer of women in both developed and developing countries. Breast cancer incidence is on the rise in developing countries due to longer life expectancy, rapid urbanisation and changes in lifestyle. According to the Global Cancer Observatory 2020, in Vietnam, breast cancer ranks first among all types of womens cancer, the number of new cases is 21,555 people, accounting for 25.8 per cent of cancer incidents in both genders, taking third place (after liver and lung cancer). The average age of breast cancer incidence in women is 34.2 per 100,000 people. In both genders, breast cancer mortality rate ranks fourth (with 9,345 cases) after liver cancer, lung cancer, and stomach cancer. The age-standardised mortality rate of breast cancer is 13.8 per 100,000 people.

While certain risks of breast cancer can be reduced through prevention, this strategy cannot eliminate the majority of developing breast cancers in low and middle-income countries, where breast cancer is diagnosed at a very late stage. Therefore, early detection to improve breast cancer treatment outcomes and survival are the cornerstone in controlling breast cancer. At the same time, improving access to innovative therapies is crucial in breast cancer control and management.
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
The Countess of Wessex has admitted hearing the stories of sexual violence survivors has taken her to 'some very dark places' during her work to raise awareness about their plight.

Sophie - who is celebrating her 56th birthday today - spoke candidly about 'tears dripping off your chin' during a London School of Economics webinar discussing promoting peace after conflicts.

The countess, based at Bagshot Park, Surrey, told the online event, staged on Tuesday, about meeting survivors of sexual violence, admitting she 'wept for them'.

She confessed: 'To hear their stories, you know when you've got tears dripping off your chin, I mean you just, you can't help but weep with them because they are so terrible, these stories.'

The Countess of Wessex (pictured) has admitted hearing the stories of sexual violence survivors has taken her to 'some very dark places' during her work to raise awareness about their plight

She added: 'It really is heartbreaking and I've gone to some very dark places, you know, internally.

'But I'm not living it and therefore if they can survive, if they can put one foot in front of the other, then for goodness' sake of course I can.'

Sophie publicly committed herself to supporting the UK's work helping victims of rape, sexual violence and exploitation in war in 2019.

Sophie shared the discussion with Sri Lankan peace activist Visaka Dharmadasa, Abir Haj Ibrahim, co-founder of Mobaderoon - a network of activists that train community development projects and civil society organisations in Syria, and Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, director of the London School of Economics centre for Women, Peace and Security (pictured together)

She has also been working in other fields to promote women, having founded the Women's Network Forum in 2014 which she chairs, and bringing together a cross-industry group of senior figures to promote gender balance and equality in the workplace.

Sophie also highlighted the importance of local 'women peacebuilders' in trying to resolve conflicts.

She shared the discussion with Sri Lankan peace activist Visaka Dharmadasa, Abir Haj Ibrahim, co-founder of Mobaderoon - a network of activists that train community development projects and civil society organisations in Syria, and Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, director of the London School of Economics centre for Women, Peace and Security.

The countess (pictured), based at Bagshot Park, Surrey, told the online event, staged on Tuesday, about meeting survivors of sexual violence, admitting she 'wept for them'

The countess said: 'I think we just have to listen more and engage with more local people and it's very difficult because obviously the international world gets involved with conflict resolution.

'But I think local resolution (has) really got such a more important part to play and sometimes I think it is underplayed, and isn't given the air that it perhaps should have.'

Sophie spent her birthday working and during the morning delivered the opening remarks at the Lincolnshire General Practice Nursing and Healthcare Assistant Conference by video link.

In the afternoon, the countess virtually attended a social club run by Brendoncare, in her role as patron of the organisation which runs care homes and tackles social isolation through its friendship and well-being clubs.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States and China should boost cooperation on global challenges such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the competitive elements of their bilateral relationship, a U.S. business leader has said.

"Such collaboration would be probably very productive, particularly over the longer term," U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) President Craig Allen told Xinhua in a recent video interview.

On climate change, Allen noted that decarbonization is a massive job for both China and the United States. "I think that, were we two work together on this, that it would make it much more safe for our children and our grandchildren," he said.

On COVID-19, the U.S. business leader noted that there is a lot of corporate collaboration right now. "But at the national level, I think greater collaborate, and (at) the multilateral level, greater cooperation, would benefit everyone," he said.

"If we are to value the global commons and try to improve the situation, not only in Asia, not only in America, not only in China, but globally, the two have to work together," he said.

Allen told Xinhua that American companies are not leaving China amid the pandemic, as all USCBC member companies recognize that China will produce approximately 30 percent or more of global growth for the next 10 years.

"We want to be a part of China's global growth. We think that we can contribute to China's global growth, make it more balanced, employ a lot of people, bring good products," he said.

"Almost all of our companies are doubling down in China, we are in China for the long term. Nobody is pulling out of China at all," said the U.S. business leader, whose organization represents over 200 American companies doing business with China.

Allen said all USCBC member companies welcome Chinese investment in the Unites States, as Chinese investment employs Americans, and brings in new brands, new software and new technologies into the U.S. market.

"Both countries have legitimate national security concerns, but for the 95 percent of GDP that is outside of national security, free trade and investment flows make us both better and richer countries," he said. "We should embrace the opportunity to expand trade and investment."
Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan during his Three-day visit to Qatar called on Chief of Staff Qatar Armed Forces, General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al-Ghanem and Commander Qatar Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Abdullah Hassan Al-Sulaiti

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan during his Three-day visit to Qatar called on Chief of Staff Qatar Armed Forces, General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Al-Ghanem and Commander Qatar Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Abdullah Hassan Al-Sulaiti.

During the meetings, various matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation came under discussion, said a PAF press release received here on Wednesday.

The Air Chief also met Commander Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Major General (Pilot) Salim Hamed Eqail Al-Nabet, at Al-Udaid Air Base.

On his arrival at the base, the Air Chief was received by Commander Qatar Emiri Air Force, where a smartly turned out contingent of QEAF presented him with the Guard of Honour.

Commander QEAF acknowledged the support of PAF towards training of QEAF personnel.

He also praised the successful progress of JF-17 program. Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan commended the remarkable operational preparedness of Qatar Emiri Air Force and assured his counterpart of PAF's full support; especially in the domain of training.

Both the commanders agreed to further reinforce bilateral cooperation.
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Former chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah , Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar and other party leaders were detained while marching towards Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru to protest against farm laws enacted by Central government in September last year.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and others were stopped by police when they tried to march towards Raj Bhavan, after addressing a huge rally of farmers at the Freedom Park this afternoon.

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar has accused the state government of stopping the protesters from reaching the state capital.

He appealed to those who were prevented from proceeding to the city, to hold protest by blocking the highways.

"I heard and got several calls that farmers who are coming to Bengaluru from other districts are been stopped by police and not letting them come to Bengaluru. I urge farmers to stop wherever they are and protest, block the highways, roads and protest in favour of farmers. I know Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is trying to stop farmers at any cost and not letting them to participate in protest. I request protesters to come to Sangolli Rayanna statue and participate in massive protest rally," Shivakumar said in a video message.

Reacting on opposition's claims, BJP's state unit alleged that the Congress, which had been responsible for the farmers' suicide throughout its regime, was staging a drama by opposing the pro-farmer laws introduced by the Centre.

"From 2013-18, thousands of farmers committed suicide in Karnataka under CM Siddaramaiah's misrule, BJP Karnataka said in a series of tweets.

Since 2014, the Narendra Modi government has gone about reforming the agriculture sector step-by-step, BJP Karnataka added.

"Farmers are the soul of our nation. They are our Annadaatas. But the Congress under the Nehru dynasty always betrayed them by consistently telling lies to them. Our poor farmers were suppressed for decades," BJP added.

The tenth round of talks between farmer unions and the Central government over the three farm laws took place at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year 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.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Malwarebytes was struck by the same lighting that attacked SolarWinds's system in 2020, being one of the most scandalous hacks in the past year that affected several of the United States' government who were clients. There is no mention of the Russians taking part in the recent hack to Malwarebytes, but SolarWinds who initially suffered the attack was taken by the "Cozy Bear."

The popular anti-malware security software and multiplatform application, Malwarebytes, recently revealed that they have been attacked by an application created by the same attackers that targeted SolarWinds in 2020. The attack is known to be the Russian APT29 (advanced persistent threat) "Cozy Bear" and its creators, now dubbed as "Dark Halo" or UNC2452.

The notorious hack upon SolarWinds last year has alerted the country's departments, as it were the company's top-class clients, with several branches of the government including Treasury, Defense, Homeland Security, etc. The Orion platform suffered one of the most painful hacks of all time, effectively rendering the system vulnerable on its update where hackers saw an opportunity.

Read Also: 'Battlefront 2' Crossplay: Redditors Demand Cross Platform Gameplay-What Does EA Say About This?

Malwarebytes Hack: 'Dark Halo' Is Similar to SolarWinds Attack Last Year

According to ZDNet, not only is the attack similar, but the creators of the "Dark Halo" security threat are the ones suspected to be responsible for the SolarWinds attack towards the end of 2020. The same group who are responsible for the compromise of five US government agencies and 18,000 clients makes another successful attack.

And again, this involved another cybersecurity agency, with Malwarebytes being one of the most popular companies that specialize in a more advanced version of a computer virus, the malware. The US government pointed fingers at Russian hackers to be working behind the attack, accessing confidential emails in the Treasury and Homeland Security's systems.

Now, the hackers breached its networks via an Office 365 email protection product which remained dormant within its systems. The company said that once it learned and detected the suspicious activity, it immediately began an investigation and evaluated its systems for what it suffered and what was taken.

Malwarebytes Hack: No Products are Affected by the Hack

According to Malwarebytes' blog post from co-founder and CEO, Marcin Kleczynski, the company's products were not affected by the recent hack, and its services and offers are still operational for all its uses. The CEO said that it already has a read on the hackers which "poisoned" SolarWinds' Orion platform that used the "Sunburst" malware unto its systems.

The attack on SolarWinds became a great example and lesson for Malwarebytes, which immediately led them to check on its source code, and the different processes on its software and systems. In the SolarWinds attack, the alleged Russians used a "supply chain nature" on their attacks which targeted systems without alerting its security.

Malwarebytes said that they detected the attack last December 15, and already took action as soon as its systems detected the breach. The company did not hesitate and has been working on strengthening its systems ever since.

Related Article: Netflix Users Receive Fake Billing Message! Here's What Experts Say You Need to Do to Avoid the Massive Scam

This article is owned by Tech Times





Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

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(Natural News) The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is looking into whether foreign organizations, individuals and governments helped fund the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Included in the FBIs investigation are payments of $500,000 in bitcoin from a French national to key groups and figures prior to the attack. The payments were documented and posted on the internet this week by a company that analyzes cryptocurrency transfers. Bitcoin payments can be traced because they are documented on a public ledger.

Bitcoin is being used to fund extremism

While the Russians were being considered a potential source of fund of the Capitol rioters, an unnamed FBI official told NBC News that the bureau did not necessarily suspect that Russia was involved in the Bitcoin transfers. French media reported that these were made by a French computer programmer, who reportedly committed suicide on Dec. 8, after triggering the transfers.

The payments prompted the bureau to examine whether or not the money was used to fund illegal acts. If this is the case, then it raises the possibility of money laundering and conspiracy charges.

Cryptocurrency transfer analysis company Chainalysis reported on Dec. 8 that the donor sent 28.15 bitcoin ($522,000 at the time of transfer) to 22 separate addresses, many of which belonged to far-right activists.

Bitcoin has become a popular means of crowdfunding extremist groups in recent years. As a cryptocurrency, bitcoin exists only virtually and is not controlled by a central bank or administrator and is beyond any government control. But its open ledger has also made it easy for law enforcement to track bitcoin transactions, as is the case in the current investigation. (Related: The government is coming for your Bitcoin.)

During a press conference on the investigation into the Capitol riot Jan. 12, acting U.S. Attorney General Michael Sherwin stated that the scope and scale of this investigation in these cases are really unprecedented.

Were looking at and treating this just like a significant international counterterrorism or counterintelligence operation, he said. Were looking at everything: Money, travel records, looking at disposition, movement, communication records.

Foreign countries taking advantage of the situation in the US

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies have noted that following the Capitol attack, actors influenced by Russia, Iran and China have seized the opportunity to amplify narratives that further their interests.

One unclassified intelligence report said that Russian state and proxy media outlets have amplified themes related to the violent and chaotic nature of the Capitol Hill incident, impeachment of President Trump and social media censorship.

The same report said that Chinese media has seized on the story to denigrate U.S. democratic governance, casting the United States as broadly in decline  and to justify Chinas crackdown on protestors in Hong Kong.

This examination of possible foreign influence on the Capitol riot came years after what current and former FBI officials say is mounting evidence that foreign adversaries have sought to secretly support political extremists on both the far right and far left.

In February 2020, a paper by law enforcement and terrorism experts published in JustSecurity stated that there has been a mutual affection between the Russian government and Western extremist groups.

The reports raised concerns among some senators who inserted a requirement into the 2021 defense bill requiring the Pentagon to provide a report to Congress on the extent of Russian support for racially and ethnically motivated violent extremist groups and networks in Europe and the United States.'

Sources include:

NewsMax.com

NBCNews.com

Yahoo.com
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Killeen, TX (76540)

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Isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Food-industry veteran Cooperhouse set up BlueNalu in 2018

BlueNalu, a US firm developing cell-based seafood, has secured fresh funding  with one of the world's largest seafood groups among the backers.

Thai Union Group, owner of brands including Chicken of the Sea and John West, is among a number of investors to have taken part in a round of debt financing at BlueNalu, the fledgling California-based firm that is looking to launch its first product later this year.

BlueNalu said it had raised US$60m in debt financing, based on convertible notes. Venture-capital firm Rage Capital  which has also invested in animal-free egg ingredient business Clara Foods  led the financing. Privately-owned US food giant Rich Products Corp., which invested in BlueNalu last year, also took part.

Among the investors also listed as backers in the round was Thai Union, the Thailand-based seafood major that is one of the world's largest processors of conventional seafood.

Thiraphong Chansiri, Thai Union's president and CEO, said, "Thai Union is an industry leader in innovation and sustainability, and cell-based seafood perfectly aligns with both of these goals. BlueNalu and its experienced team is at the forefront of cell-based seafood technology, with strong process capabilities to scale-up seafood in a sustainable manner. We are excited to work with them and look forward to exploring collaboration opportunities."

BlueNalu, which has raised more than $24m across seed and Series A financing, said the fresh investment would be used to help the company complete its pilot production facility and secure regulatory approval to launch its first product on a test basis in US foodservice establishments. The company is aiming to get a mahi mahi product on menus later this year.

CEO and co-founder Lou Cooperhouse said he was "thrilled" BlueNalu was "the first investment that Thai Union has made in the cell-based foods sector", adding: "We look forward to exploring various ways in which we will complement Thai Union's position as one of the largest seafood operators globally."

Speaking to just-food, Cooperhouse said BlueNalu expected to get regulatory clearance in the US this year. "We're both learning from each other. The FDA [US Food and Drug Administration] is learning about how this gets done too, as are we. It's a highly iterative approach ... that we knew from the very beginning would probably take 12, 18 months and we're in the last third of that process."

Cooperhouse said BlueNalu would launch "limited-time offerings" at US establishments in order to learn which products fared best.

"What we're doing here is a bit like an incubator," he said. "Our facility will try this out in different kinds of foodservice establishments, in LTOs as I call them  limited-time offerings. We'll launch for three months at this restaurant, three months at that one and really test it out in fast-casual, white-tablecloth, quick-service, East Coast, West Coast, at more of an iconic seafood restaurant, more of a high-end, more of a casual restaurant.

"It's all about getting some great experiences, understanding how well does mahi mahi sell. Then, when we launch bluefin tuna, learning about how this could be best positioned, as an appetiser, or an entree? How do you identify the early adopter; would they most likely try this at lunch or dinner? In what form of the product?

"We're extraordinarily confident we will have great interest and we've already seen that from the research we've done we feel we can be building factories in a matter of years here  so we're really using this new facility to give us that market insight, so we can be as smart as possible and identify the right customers and how people think about one species with another when it comes to cell-based. This is a brand new world here and it's all about quick learning."

BlueNalu's previous funding rounds have also included Japan-based Sumitomo, the owner of global fresh-produce supplier Fyffes, the South Korean tofu maker Pulmuone Co., US ingredients major Griffith Foods and Netherlands-based animal nutrition business Nutreco.

just-food interview, June 2020  A bigger fish? BlueNalu CEO Lou Cooperhouse on the prospects for cell-based seafood
In his first official acts as US president, Joe Biden is signing executives orders on a broad range of issues, from the coronavirus pandemic to climate change and immigration, to fulfil campaign promises.

Here are some highlights of the actions Mr Biden is taking on Wednesday:

 The coronavirus pandemic

 Mask requirement: Mr Biden is requiring the use of masks and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors.

Consistently wearing a mask is a practice that science has shown to be effective in preventing the spread of the coronavirus, particularly when social distancing is difficult to maintain.

He is challenging all Americans to wear a mask for the first 100 days of his administration. That is a critical period, since communities will still be vulnerable to the virus even as the pace of vaccination increases in pursuit of Mr Bidens goal of 100 million Covid vaccinations in 100 days.

 World Health Organisation: Mr Biden also is directing the government to rejoin the World Health Organisation, which Donald Trump withdrew from earlier this year after accusing it of incompetence and bowing to Chinese pressure over the coronavirus.

Symbolising Mr Bidens commitment to a more prominent global role, White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients announced that Dr Anthony Fauci will deliver a speech on Thursday to the WHO as head of a US delegation. Dr Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, will lay out how the administration intends to work with the WHO on reforms, supporting the coronavirus response and promoting global health and health security

Expand Close Joe Biden will sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate accord (Thibault Camus/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Joe Biden will sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate accord (Thibault Camus/AP)

 Climate

 Paris climate accord: Mr Biden will sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate accord, fulfilling a campaign pledge to get back into the global climate pact on day one. Mr Trump, a supporter of oil, gas and coal, had made a first priority of pulling out of global efforts to cut climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions.

It will take 30 days for the US to officially be back in.

 Reviewing Trump rollbacks: Mr Bidens day one plans also include a temporary moratorium on new Trump administration oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, moving to revoke a presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline and reviewing a Trump administration freeze on vehicle mileage and emissions standards. Mr Biden also is setting in motion an evaluation of another Trump move that cut boundaries and protections for some national monuments.

Agencies will be directed to consider impact of climate change on disadvantaged communities and on future generations from any regulatory action that affected fossil fuel emissions, a new requirement.

Expand Close Donald Trump tours a section of the US-Mexico border wall earlier this month in Alamo, Texas (Alex Brandon/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Donald Trump tours a section of the US-Mexico border wall earlier this month in Alamo, Texas (Alex Brandon/AP)

 Immigration

 Ending travel ban: Mr Biden is ending what is variously known as the travel ban, one of the first acts of the Trump administration. Mr Trump in January 2017 banned foreign nationals from seven mostly Muslim countries from entry into the country. After a lengthy court fight, a watered-down version of the rule was upheld by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision in 2018.

The new administration says it will improve the screening of visitors by strengthening information sharing with foreign governments and other measures.

 Border wall: Mr Biden is immediately ending the national emergency that Mr Trump declared on the border in February 2018 to divert billions of dollars from the Defense Department to wall construction. He also is halting construction to review contracts and how wall money might be redirected.

Despite Mr Trumps repeated promises that Mexico would pay for the wall, US Customs and Border Protection says Americans have committed 15 billion dollars for more than 700 miles. It is unclear how many miles are under contract and what penalties the government would have to pay for cancelling them.

The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments on February 22 on the legality of Mr Trumps diverting Defence Department funds for counter-narcotics efforts and military construction projects to wall construction.

 DACA: Mr Biden will order his Cabinet to work to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, which has shielded hundreds of thousands of people who came to the country as young children from deportation since it was introduced in 2012.

Mr Trump ordered an end to DACA in 2017, triggering a legal challenge that ended in June when the Supreme Court ruled that it should be kept in place because the Trump administration failed to follow federal rule-making guidelines in undoing it. But DACA is still facing legal challenges.

In his presidential proclamation, Mr Biden is calling on Congress to adopt legislation that gives DACA recipients permanent legal status and a path to citizenship. There are currently about 700,000 people enrolled.

 Deportations: Mr Biden is revoking one of Mr Trumps first executive orders, which declared that all of the roughly 11 million people in the country illegally are considered priorities for deportation. The Department of Homeland Security will conduct a review of enforcement priorities. Mr Bidens campaign site says deportations will focus on national security and public safety threats.

The order says nothing about a 100-day moratorium on deportations that Mr Biden promised during the campaign. Susan Rice, who is tapped to run the White House Domestic Policy Council, says any decision on moratoriums would come from Homeland Security.

 Census: Mr Biden is reversing a Trump plan to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted in the 2020 Census. The once-a-decade census is used to determine how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets, as well as the distribution of 1.5 trillion dollars in federal spending each year.

Mr Bidens team says the new administration will ensure the Census Bureau has time to complete an accurate count for each state and that the apportionment is fair and accurate.

Expand Close Support for President-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris outside the California state Capitol in Sacramento (Rich Pedroncelli/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Support for President-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris outside the California state Capitol in Sacramento (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

 Legislation

Mr Biden is also proposing legislation that would grant green cards and a path to citizenship to anyone in the United States before January 1 2021, an estimated 11 million people.

Most would have to wait eight years for citizenship but people enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme for young immigrants and with Temporary Protective Status for fleeing strife-torn countries would only wait three years.

Other provisions lessen the time that many people have to wait outside the United States for green cards, provide development aid to Central America and reduce the 1.2-million-case backlog in immigration courts.

 Student debt

Mr Biden is asking the Education Department to extend a pause on federal student loan payments through to at least September 30, continuing a moratorium that began early in the pandemic but was set to expire at the end of January.

Borrowers, who owe a collective 1.5 trillion dollars, would not be required to make payments on their federal student loans, their loans would not accrue any interest, and all debt collection activity would halt through September.

Congress paused student debt payments last March as part of a virus relief package, and the Trump administration extended it twice.

Mr Bidens order does not include the type of mass debt cancellation that some Democrats asked him to orchestrate through executive action. He has said that action should come from Congress.

 Housing foreclosures

Housing foreclosures and evictions would be delayed until at least March 31 2021. Almost 12% of homeowners with mortgages are late on their payments, while 19% of renters are behind, according to a Census Bureau survey of households.

The federal moratoriums would ensure that people could stay in their homes even if they cannot afford their monthly bills. Mr Biden is also calling on Congress to extend assistance to renters. While the moratoriums have aided several million Americans during the pandemic and helped to contain the disease, they have also meant that billions of dollars in housing costs have gone unpaid.
Survey Finds Proposals Favored by Bipartisan Supermajorities

Americans are deeply divided on many major issues facing the country, although a new national survey finds six big proposals are favored by super-majorities in both political parties.

The research clearly shows that these are the policies that an overwhelming number of Americans, regardless of political party, want, George Barna, director of the Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University, said in a statement accompanying the release of the survey.

There is a clear path to unity and healing in these common-ground issues.

The survey interviewed a demographically balanced sample of 1,000 adults immediately following the Nov. 3, 2020, election. The margin of error for the survey is 3 percentage points.

The six issues that attracted the support of at least two-thirds of respondents who identified as Republicans and Democrats included the following:

Increasing manufacturing jobs within the U.S.: More than four out of five Americans (83 percent) support the idea of expanding the domestic manufacturing base. This idea has strong and nearly identical levels of bipartisan support, with 87 percent of those who voted for Donald Trump and 84 percent of those who voted for Biden in favor.

More than four out of five Americans (83 percent) support the idea of expanding the domestic manufacturing base. This idea has strong and nearly identical levels of bipartisan support, with 87 percent of those who voted for Donald Trump and 84 percent of those who voted for Biden in favor. Restore the nations infrastructure: Four out of five adults (81 percent) support the notion of heavily investing in improving the national infrastructure. This commitment draws lofty and equal levels of support from Trump voters (83 percent) and Biden voters (84 percent).

Four out of five adults (81 percent) support the notion of heavily investing in improving the national infrastructure. This commitment draws lofty and equal levels of support from Trump voters (83 percent) and Biden voters (84 percent). Make Social Security and Medicare financially solvent: Restoring financial solvency to both Social Security and Medicare is another win-win proposition, with 8 out of 10 adults backing such a concept. More than three-fourths of Trump voters (78 percent) and an even higher proportion of Biden voters (86 percent) see virtue in pursuing this outcome.

Restoring financial solvency to both Social Security and Medicare is another win-win proposition, with 8 out of 10 adults backing such a concept. More than three-fourths of Trump voters (78 percent) and an even higher proportion of Biden voters (86 percent) see virtue in pursuing this outcome. Reduce federal debt: An increasing number of citizens are worried about the future economic effects of the rapidly rising U.S. government debt. The idea of significantly reducing the federal governments debt has widespread support: Three-quarters of all adults (77 percent) approve of the idea, spread evenly between pro-Trump (82 percent) and pro-Biden (78 percent) voters.

An increasing number of citizens are worried about the future economic effects of the rapidly rising U.S. government debt. The idea of significantly reducing the federal governments debt has widespread support: Three-quarters of all adults (77 percent) approve of the idea, spread evenly between pro-Trump (82 percent) and pro-Biden (78 percent) voters. Reduce federal income taxes for individuals: Three-quarters of adults (73 percent) want a decrease in their personal income taxes imposed by the federal government. While Trump voters were slightly more excited about this possibility (79 percent), almost three-quarters of Biden voters (72 percent) expressed their support, as well.

Three-quarters of adults (73 percent) want a decrease in their personal income taxes imposed by the federal government. While Trump voters were slightly more excited about this possibility (79 percent), almost three-quarters of Biden voters (72 percent) expressed their support, as well. Increase school choice: A large majority of Americans (73 percent) want to give parents more school choices for their children. That desire is equally strong among Trump supporters (75 percent) and Biden backers (72 percent).

Another four issues gained majority support from respondents in both parties, but not quite supermajorities:

Reducing racial discrimination through legal means drew support from 62 percent of voters who said they backed Trump, compared to 87 percent of those who favored Biden. Overall, the proposal drew support from 74 percent.

drew support from 62 percent of voters who said they backed Trump, compared to 87 percent of those who favored Biden. Overall, the proposal drew support from 74 percent. Developing and enforcing more stringent environmental standards was backed by 53 percent of Trump voters and 85 percent of Biden supporters. The overall national figure was 69 percent support.

was backed by 53 percent of Trump voters and 85 percent of Biden supporters. The overall national figure was 69 percent support. Strict enforcement of existing immigration laws attracted the backing of 84 percent of Trump supporters and 54 percent of Biden voters. Nationally, the proposal drew the support of 64 percent of respondents.

attracted the backing of 84 percent of Trump supporters and 54 percent of Biden voters. Nationally, the proposal drew the support of 64 percent of respondents. Substantially reducing the number of federal government regulations found support among 74 percent of Trump supporters and 58 percent of Biden backers. Overall, 62 percent of those surveyed expressed enthusiasm for the proposal.

At the other end of the results, repealing the U.S. Supreme Courts 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion received support from just 50 percent of Trump voters and 38 percent of Biden supporters.

Similarly, increasing the number of members of the high court, as advocated by many liberal Democrats, only generated support overall from 47 percent of the respondents, although 61 percent of Biden voters liked the proposal.

In a separate statement, CRC said its survey results reflect an emerging trend in American public opinion, in which respondents often express support for conflicting policies.

The research shows that the people want an active governmentone that will take action and get things done in a variety of life dimensions (education, economics, government process, etc.), it said.

Yet, government action never happens in a vacuum: Changes in the law and public policy always come at a cost. The implications of many of the desired changes identified by the survey respondents [are] that those actions will conflict with some of their expressed desires, such as having fewer government regulations, the elimination of federal government debt, a balanced budget for the feds, and lower personal income tax rates.
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
In the epilogue of his 2017 memoir Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose, Joe Biden laid out his priorities for the rest of his life:

"I want to spend as much time with my family, and I want to help change the country and the world for the better. That duty does much more than give me purpose; it gives me something to hope for. It makes me nostalgic for the future."

Joe Biden with his wife, Jill, at the Democrats' convention in August. Credit:Getty

His wife, children and grandchildren were deeply embedded in the stories he told in his final, successful campaign for the presidency, and now that they're the new first family, none of them are likely to fade from view. Here are the Bidens you need to know.

Jill Biden: Jill Tracy Jacobs met Joe Biden on a blind date, set up by his brother Frank, three years after the tragic death of his first wife Neilia and his one-year-old daughter Naomi in a car accident. After proposing to her five times, the couple eventually married in 1977, with Jill becoming the stepmother to Joes two remaining children, Beau (who died of cancer in 2015) and Hunter. The new first lady obtained her doctorate in 2007, one year before her husband was appointed vice-president under Barack Obama. The doctorate recently became the subject of a sexist opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, in which author Joseph Epstein suggested she drop the honorific because, in his view, it appeared fraudulent. Since 2009, she has been a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College. Now 69, she intends to continue teaching while first lady.
Louth Senator Erin McGreehan has offered her congratulations to new US President Joe Biden and Vice-President, Kamala Harris following their inauguration in Washington DC this afternoon.

Senator McGreehan, who lives in the Cooley Peninsula, where President Bidens great-great grandfather was born, commented, I congratulate President Joe Biden following his inauguration today.

"I, like many other Irish people, cannot wait to have him visit Ireland soon.

President Biden visited the Cooley peninsula back in 2016 and I hope he can make another visit to the Wee County during his term in office.

Senator McGreehan added: This is a proud day for Ireland and also a proud day for Louth, President Biden has a deep connection to Louth and it really means so much for us all here.

"We have a small bit of ownership of his story and that is really incredible.

"A true friend and ally, Ireland's relationship with the United States will only benefit from Joe Biden's presidency.

"Kamala Harris becoming the first female Vice President is a wonderful moment in history.

"As a woman in politics, it shows us all that the glass ceiling is being shattered.
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Rumours of alleged reduction of passing marks by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for Class 10 and 12 Board exams in 2021, has been floating on WhatsApp and social media. In a tweet on Wednesday, the Press Information Bureau fact-checking team clarified that the post claiming the CBSE has reduced the passing mark from 33 per cent to 23 per cent is fake, adding that central government has not made any such decision.

:-             10  12  2021,         33     23     #PIBFactCheck:-     @EduMinOfIndia        pic.twitter.com/Tp5bnqTBdi PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) January 19, 2021

However, the CBSE has reduced the syllabus for this year's board examination for both Class 10 and 12 by 30 per cent. This is in consideration of the difficulties faced by students and teachers during online classes being held amid the coronavirus pandemic. Students will also have 33 per cent internal choice this time.

Last month, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced the dates for CBSE board exams 2021. The Class 10 and 12 exams will be held from May 4 to June 10 and the results for the same will be declared by July 15. It is not just CBSE, several state education boards have also decided to reduce 30 per cent of their syllabus for this year's examinations.

In his announcement, Pokhriyal also mentioned that there could be an alternative to practical examinations considering the pandemic situation. However, the exam will be held in the offline written mode. The exam dates have been shifted from their usual months in February, March, April to May, June after states, students, parents, and teachers appealed to the government to give students some extra time for some offline interaction with their teachers before appearing for the exams. The move is expected to provide some respite to struggling students who might have faced a loss of learning due to technical problems during online classes.
DUBLIN'S Lord Mayor has said she was surprised to see a builder being granted planning permission for a co-living development on the site of Kielys pub in Donnybrook considering a ban on such developments has been signed into law.

Dublin City Council granted permission for the project subject to certain conditions, but Lord Mayor Hazel Chu, who had objected to the development, has said she would like to see the matter go before An Bord Pleanala.

The ban on co-living developments, where residents share some living space, was signed into law on December 22 last.

And while Westridge applied for its planning permission before that date, Hazel Chu said in her opinion the development should not have been given the green light because construction had not yet started on it.

The ban should mean that no co-living development should be built after that date, not just ones that are applied for after that date, Ms Chu told the Irish Independent.

If a decision has been made that such accommodation models are not suitable then why should we allow any to be built if they have not already been started? she asked.

We do have a lack of supply of housing, and we do need to build more homes, and that can include this site, but we need to build good-sized units for individuals and families and I dont think the co-living model provides that, she added.

And the Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that such a model is not suitable in the future either, said Ms Chu.

Councillor and former Lord Mayor Dermot Lacey said he would also like to see the matter go before An Bord Pleanala, and he is aware of plans by a local group in Donnybrook to prepare such an application.

The developer might have the upper hand in relation to the law, in that they applied for permission before the law banning such future developments came into place, he said.

But An Bord Pleanala is obliged to follow Government policy on matters, so the minister may have some input, he added.

Im not actually opposed to co-living on a certain level, and I think there is room for a debate on it, but on the scale proposed for this site it is too much, said Mr Lacey.

On the scale that the developer proposes it is not housing, it is a proposal to aid the developer rather than the local community. I am in favour of housing, and a four-storey building with maybe 20 apartments would be more suitable for this site, he added.

Dublin City Council gave the scaled-down plan by Westridge the green light despite more than 100 objections being lodged against it.

Westridge bought the landmark pub for more than 5m in 2019.

The original plan was for a seven-storey development of 100 shared living units.

But revised plans lodged in response to council concerns over the scale of the project included a reduction in the height to six storeys and the number of shared living units to 91.

In its decision however, the council has ordered that the number of shared living units be reduced to 85, and that all of the rooms have a minimum width of 3m which will lead to the omission of more shared living units from the proposal.

The planner in the case stated that the council has included this condition after the developer failed to increase the width of the rooms to a level which is considered to provide for a reasonable quality of residential amenity.

The council stated that the developers proposed size of the shared living units was "restricted.
Advertisement

A website built by the University of Cambridge has been created to reveal the risk of infection from coronavirus in indoor spaces.

The app has various customisable settings which include level of ventilation, number of occupants and the level of activity and mask wearing.

Anyone can use it to find out the level of risk they are taking while in a room of virtually any size or type.

For each set of parameters the site produces a graph showing the chance of infection over a set period of time, with the default being 9am to 5pm.

The site is called Airborne.cam and can be accessed here.

A website built by the University of Cambridge has been programmed to reveal the risk of infection from coronavirus in indoor spaces, and is being used by the university to vet locations and make them ore Covid-secure (stock)

The online tool shows that in an office of 30 people which is 100 square metres with three metre high ceilings, the risk of a person catching the virus from 9am to 5pm if one person is infected and nobody is wearing masks is 6.06 per cent (pictured)

The graph it creates showing an individual's risk of infection is calculated by a series of scientific equations described in a new study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A.

Users can determine the room's occupancy, mask type and activity level. Mask settings include no mask, surgical masks, N95 masks or coverings made of cloth.

Activity level can also be altered, from sitting/breathing through to heavy exercise.

Ventilation can also be altered, with six options ranging from poorly ventilated through to the industrial ventilation of hospitals.

The academics have also built in room dimensions and a time period which is factored into the equation.

As part of their research the scientists found that two people chatting freely in a poorly-ventilated space while not wearing a mask poses a larger risk of infection than if one of them was to cough.

In the same office and with consistent settings, if everyone wears a surgical face mask all day and takes an hour lunch break outside, this drops to just 2.13 per cent (pictured)

Pictured, the various settings which can be altered by users to calculate a specific level of individual risk for a space via the Airborne.cam website

Wearing face masks DOES stop the spread of Covid-19 Wearing face masks is an effective way to stop the spread of the coronavirus, a landmark study has found. Researchers in the US have found a 10 per cent rise in self-reported mask wearing is associated with a three-fold increase in the odds of keeping the R number below 1. R is the number of people that one infected person will pass on the virus to, on average. When the R value is less than 1, it means the epidemic is shrinking. However, the scientists warn that while face coverings can help control Covid-19 transmission in the community, they should not be a replacement for other coronavirus measures such as social distancing. The US-based experts said their findings, published in the journal Lancet Digital Health, suggest that communities with high reported mask-wearing as well as physical distancing are the most likely to be able to control transmission. The scientists found the odds of this happening go up 3.53 times if there is a ten per cent increase in population mask wearing, irrespective of what the baseline is. Advertisement

This, they say, is because speaking leads to exhalation of small droplets called aerosols which float around a confined space.

Without adequate ventilation they can linger in the air, increasing the risk a person will inhale them and subsequently get infected.

However, a cough produces large droplets which are much heavier and likely to plummet to the nearest surface and not stay suspended in the air.

'Our knowledge of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has evolved at an incredible pace, when you consider that it's been just a year since the virus was identified,' said Dr Pedro de Oliveira the paper's first author.

'There are different ways to approach this problem. In our work, we consider the wide range of respiratory droplets humans exhale to demonstrate different scenarios of airborne viral transmission  the first being the quick spread of small infectious droplets over several metres in a matter of a few seconds, which can happen both indoors and outdoors.

'Then, we show how these small droplets can accumulate in indoor spaces in the long term, and how this can be mitigated with adequate ventilation.'

The free online tool shows that in an office of 30 people which is 100 square metres (1,076 square feet) with three metre (9.8ft) high ceilings, the risk of a person catching the virus from 9am to 5pm if one person is infected and nobody is wearing masks is 6.06 per cent.

If everyone in the office wears a surgical face mask all day and takes an hour lunch break outside, this drops to just 2.13 per cent.

But if three people are working in a an average-sized dining room (18 sq metres/193 square feet) that has poor ventilation, and one person is infected, the risk of catching the virus over eight hours is 48.73 per cent.

The calculations are based on the assumption that 'hands are washed and that individuals are far apart from each other  i.e. there is no risk of short-range transmission by droplets/aerosol'.

The tool is now being actively used by the University of Cambridge which has made it a prerequisite for high-risk spaces at the institution which will allow staff to put in mitigating factors, such as reduced capacity or increased ventilation.

'The tool can help people use fluid mechanics to make better choices, and adapt their day-to-day activities and surroundings in order to suppress risk, both for themselves and for others,' said co-author Savvas Gkantonas, who led the development of the app with Dr de Oliveira.

A similar tool was previously created by researchers across the Atlantic Ocean at MIT.

The tool reveals that the size or type of the room doesn't matter all that much - but what types of masks the people occupying it are wearing, and the ventilation system it's equipped with can dramatically drive risks up or down.

In a standard room with 8ft tall ceilings and each wall measuring around 15ft long, 10 fit young people all diligently wearing surgical face masks could safely sit there talking normally for two hours if the windows were shut due to the cold temperatures outside.

But, for a family of ten, of which some are elderly, in a standard dining room for dinner where nobody is wearing a mask because they are eating and the windows are closed because it is cold outside - and there's a few heated discussions with raised voices - the tool reveals the safe limit is slashed to just three minutes.

Its developers say the online site allows people to calculate risk with more nuance than the simple, and often vague, guidance to form 'bubbles' or socially distance.

Calculations which inform the site were published by authors John Bush and Martin Bazant on the pe-print server medRxiv.

The MIT tool's settings for homes, school's and restaurants suggest that a couple of people in any are likely safe for days in a home with more space, or hours in a restaurant - but once the rooms are more densely occupied, the risk goes up
Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

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Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

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His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

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ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

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Disasters in high-risk industries can have catastrophic environmental, financial and human safety consequences. One way these industries help prevent and mitigate disasters is formal procedures designed to standardize how work is done. These procedures typically come in the form of a written document workers use while performing a task.

Camille Peres, associate professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, said that there are two models of safety companies usually follow to varying degrees, whether they realize it or not. Safety model one "is very much a control paradigm," Peres said. "The idea the company has is that if they control absolutely everything that's going on, then they will be safe." This narrow, rule-following approach does not account for unexpected circumstances and broader system issues, such as safety climate.

Safety model two focuses on procedures as a tool for the worker, and the worker being sufficiently trained to know how and when to adjust to unforeseen circumstances.

"Safety model two involves empowering the workers to understand the risks and be able to adapt when necessary to unexpected situations," Peres said. "There is an acknowledgment that things don't always go according to plan, and there is constant feedback between workers and superiors about how best to accomplish workthis often means improving procedures in an efficient and effective way."

Although safety model two seems like an effective way to prevent incidents from occurring, there has been little empirical evidence for it in the workplace. To fill this research gap, Peres and colleagues, including Joseph W. Hendricks, research associate at the School of Public Health, recently conducted a study to investigate how both safety models one and two influence safety in the workplace through individual and system-level characteristics.

Individual characteristics include amount of work experience, attitude toward procedure utility (or usefulness), and attitude toward procedure compliance. System-level characteristics include worker subjective judgments of procedure quality, safety climate, the efficiency of the procedure change process and the impact of procedure improvement.

The researchers' main findings were that the better the worker's attitude toward compliance and the utility of procedures, and fewer years' experience, the less likely they are to deviate from and actually use procedures.

Further, the researchers found that of the individual-level characteristics, attitudes toward procedure utility were found to be the best predictor of incidents and near-misses, suggesting that the better workers' attitudes regarding procedure utility, the fewer incidents and near-misses they were involved in per year.

"To have utility associated with incidents and near misses is a big deal," Peres said. "This tells industry that it's not enough to have high quality proceduresyou have to have procedures that help workers do their jobs." Specifically, they found that utility was the best predictor of procedure use, even after accounting for procedure quality.

As found in other studies, procedure quality was found to be important. The better the quality of the procedure, the fewer deviations there are, resulting in fewer incidents and near-misses per year.

This study is unique in that it demonstrates procedure quality to be a better predictor than all other predictorsincluding individual characteristics. This supports the safety two model, as it suggests that the characteristics of the workers are not what is most predictive of procedure use, procedure deviation, incidents and near misses.

Peres said the study is not advocating for the abandonment of safety model one, but rather for the two models to be used together so that individual and system-level factors can be taken into account to design more effective procedural systems.

Further studies are needed to compare workers' performance in different experimental conditions. It will also be necessary to conduct longitudinal studies to determine how these variables change over time. Peres and Hendricks are working with industry partners as part of the Next Generation Advanced Procedures Consortium to conduct these studies.

Explore further Neuroendovascular procedures linked to patient back pain

More information: Joseph W. Hendricks et al, Beyond human error: An empirical study of the safety Model 1 and Model 2 approaches for predicting workers' behaviors and outcomes with procedures, Safety Science (2020). Joseph W. Hendricks et al, Beyond human error: An empirical study of the safety Model 1 and Model 2 approaches for predicting workers' behaviors and outcomes with procedures,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105016
The boyfriend of the Irish-Thai woman who was racially harassed at a Dublin Starbucks outlet was wrongly accused himself of making a "racial slur during the incident by a Dublin Starbucks witness, it has emerged.

Craig Porter was with his girlfriend, Suchavadee Foley, at the Starbucks outlet in Tallaght on January 12, 2020, when Ms Foley was racially harassed after an employee at the Starbucks outlet drew slanty eyes on her matcha tea latte cup.

This week, Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudication officer Kevin Baneham ordered Atercin Liffey Unlimited, trading as Starbucks Tallaght, to pay Ms Foley 12,000 compensation after finding that she was racially harassed under the Equal Status Act.

Mr Baneham found that the Brazilian Starbucks employee did not intend to harass Ms Foley but it was clear that the drawing had a degrading and humiliating effect on Ms Foley who moved here from Thailand with her parents when she was aged five or six.

The drawing by the employee and the WRC findings against the Starbucks Dublin outlet has been reported around the world in media outlets in the US, the UK and Australia.

At the hearing, a legal representative for the Dublin Starbucks outlet requested that the parties not be named because of the disproportionate impact this might have on the business but Mr Baneham turned down the request stating that there was no basis to do so.

In making the 12,000 award to Ms Foley, Mr Baneham said he took account of the incorrect allegation concerning the racial slur made against Mr Porter at the WRC hearing.

The allegation was made by a witness at the hearing who was the Starbucks supervisor on the day of the incident.

The supervisor was no longer employed by the Starbucks company when he made the allegation at the WRC hearing on October 9 last.

Mr Baneham said the allegation made at hearing was that Mr Porter in a racial slur called the employee a f****** black c*** or a black c***.

He said: I find that no such slur was made in Mr Porters interactions with the supervisor.

Mr Baneham said the supervisor had adopted a professional approach handling the incident and was calm when dealing with Ms Foley.

However, finding against the allegation that Mr Porter uttered the racial slur, Mr Baneham noted the absence of any contemporaneous documentary evidence regarding the racial slur.

He stated: "One would expect to see an incident report where there is racial abuse directed at or concerning a member of staff. There is no incident report. There is no mention of the racial slur in any of the respondents replies to the complainant."

Mr Baneham also said he had regard to Mr Porters direct evidence at the hearing where he denied making the statement but accepted that he may have mentioned the employees race in explaining the effect the drawing had on Ms Foley.

Mr Baneham also took into the CCTV evidence when reaching his finding that no racial slur was uttered.

He said: Taking these factors and inferences into account, I find that the complainants boyfriend did not use the words attributed to him, i.e. black c*** or f****** black c***.

At the hearing, the Dublin Starbucks outlet outlined that the claim about Mr Porter making a racial slur had not been mentioned before the hearing as it did not want to get into vulgarities.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque refused to respond to a challenge and question about honor and excellence posted on social media in relation to the Defense Department's move to terminate its 1989 accord with the University of the Philippines.

In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Source on Wednesday, Roque was asked for a response to a tweet by journalism professor Danilo Arao, who challenged top government officials who graduated from UP to denounce Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's letter about the pact's termination.

"UP faculty and alumni who are Duterte's top-level officials should denounce Lorenzana's letter terminating the 1989 accord. This disregards everything that UP stands for. Should they remain silent, a six-word question: Where is your honor and excellence? Arao wrote on Twitter.

Roque is an alumnus and former professor of UP.

Directly reacting to the question, he said he would be asking Lorenzana and UP President Danilo Concepcion to "sit down" for a talk about the issue. "I have offered my good offices to facilitate this meeting," Roque noted.

But after a television commercial break, Roque voiced out his concern that he found it "unfair" to be asked the question, adding he's not duty-bound to follow Arao's challenge.

"I have to highlight the fact that I think the question on Arao was unfair. In the first place, why am I duty-bound to follow anything that Professor Arao says?" Roque said.

"You made it appear as if it's compulsory for me to follow him," Roque told anchor Pinky Webb. "I spent more time in UP than him. It was not a fair question. I'm not duty-bound to follow anything that Danny Arao says.

Webb had clarified that she was only asking for a reaction about Arao's tweet.

Watch the full video below:

In a January 15 letter addressed to UP officials, the DND moved to unilaterally terminate the 1989 agreement, which bars the unauthorized entry of security forces into the university campuses. The agency cited the supposed "clandestine recruitment" of students in communist organizations, and stressed the need "to protect the rights of the majority" of Filipinos.
The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Josepha Madigan TD have this evening confirmed that a to in-school learning on Thursday 21 January, will not be possible "owing to a lack of co-operation by key staff unions in the primary sector"

According to a statement released this evening - "After unprecedented engagement with primary and special education stakeholders it had been hoped that a shared objective to support children with special educational needs return to in-school learning, could be reached. This included consistent, frequent and ongoing engagement at Ministerial and official level with education partners including teacher and SNA unions over the last two weeks, since the initial pause was requested by stakeholders. This built upon the very significant engagement which has taken place with stakeholders throughout this pandemic."

This evening, Minister Foley said: It is hugely important to provide in-person learning to this vulnerable cohort of children, and I regret that that this has not been possible. The needs of this group of students are such that no-one should be in any doubt of the importance of this goal, and its urgency. We all understand how vulnerable these children are, and how much they need to be in school.

The concerns and fears of teachers and SNAs have been well articulated, and I, along with my officials have listened carefully at every stage of this process. I have full confidence in our public health advice which, at all times, has underpinned our approach to keeping schools safe. This means that we know that with the appropriate measures in place, we can support the re-opening of special schools, special classes and in-person learning for certain children with special educational needs in mainstream schools.

Ireland is an outlier in the European Union in not having in-person provision available for students with special educational needs at this time. We have addressed the concerns raised in relation to safety, including making public health officials available to education partner representatives, and subsequently facilitating three of the most senior public health officials in the country to communicate directly with teachers and SNAs.

This is the first time that unions have refused to accept the advice provided by public health specialists. We have provided guidance on how special schools can operate at 50 per cent capacity, to offer these students a return to learning, knowing that the vast majority of these students cannot engage in any way with remote learning.

We have provided guidance and flexibility in relation to staff members who are at high risk of Covid-19, to ensure their safety. We have put in place flexibility for schools to manage this situation and return to in-person learning over the coming days, to organise and manage their staffing in this context.

The INTO represents teachers both here and in Northern Ireland. Many schools in the North are currently providing in-person teaching to children with special educational needs. It is regrettable that similar cannot be achieved here.

The Government has sought to agree an approach balancing the need to support our most vulnerable children while addressing the concerns of staff. We will now need to consider how best to proceed in the interests of children and their families. The needs of our most vulnerable young people are at stake here, and I will continue to pursue every avenue to ensure that they can be restored to the in-person learning that they need as immediately as possible.

Minister Madigan said: I am very disappointed that work to support students with special educational needs at this difficult time has not been able to proceed. Over the past year, we have all seen how vital in-person education is for students with special educational needs.

This matter has been highlighted not only by the families of the students themselves, but also by all the partners in education and representative groups, in regular meetings with department officials. Everyone recognises that distance learning does not work for every child.

Recent weeks have seen intense and regular engagement with partners to seek a solution to this, while providing necessary assurances to everyone in our education system. If special educational setting can remain open as essential services in other jurisdictions, including in Northern Ireland, there is be no reason why it should not possible here.

The ministers also noted - "As teachers and SNAs are essential workers, they will continue to have access to childcare facilities, in line with the arrangements set out by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth.
ALBANY  New Yorks rollout of its plastic bag ban last year was so muddled and confusing that a judge awarded court fees to the plaintiffs who had sued over the prohibition.

Acting state Supreme Court Justice Gerard Connolly ordered the state to pay despite ruling the ban was legal.

Saying that the Department of Environmental Conservations early directions on the ban were incorrect and frivolous, Connolly ordered the agency to pay part of the legal fees and court costs in a suit brought by a bagmaker PolyPak Industries as well as a consortium of corner shops, small business owners and a grocery store that opposed the ban.

The lawsuit filed last year Albany County asked to overturn the ban, which, court papers in the case showed, sowed confusion over which types of reusable plastic bags were barred.

Initially, the ban regulations developed by DEC lawyers included exemptions for heavier plastic bags or bags that could be used 125 times. DEC at first also said that heavier bags of polystyrene or polypropylene were going to be exempt, but not the more common thin film plastic bags that PolyPak made and most grocery stores used.

Related: N.Y. plastic grocery bag ban starts March 1, some fear confusion, loopholes

Enforcement of new plastic bag ban is on hold

Amid court delay, plastic bag battle continues

But as the legal challenge worked its way through the court, environmentalists in October complained DEC listed the supposed exemptions on its website. After the complaints, the listing was removed.

Connolly in his decision earlier this month made it clear that the ban pertained to all plastic non-cloth bags.

Reusable bags may not be distributed if they contain plastic of any kind, barring some further action by the Legislature, Connolly wrote in his decision.

The DECs confusion and about-face were so egregious the agency should pay the court costs, the judge ruled.



It wasnt immediately clear how much it will cost. The plaintiffs have a month to tabulate court costs and document the expenses.

But the fact that the plaintiffs were awarded court costs, in a losing case, demonstrates what bag-ban supporters said early on: DEC caused confusion by including and then removing exemptions.

This is quite significant that the judge is requiring DEC to pay attorneys fees, said Judith Enck, a former regional EPA administrator and founder of Beyond Plastics, which aims to remove plastics from the waste stream.

It is because DEC did not put out accurate information, she said. The law bans plastic bags. Full stop.

Changes to the bag ban remains an open issues. Gov. Andrew Cuomos 2022 budget proposal released on Tuesday calls for legislation that would exempt from the ban some of the same types of bags that were at issue in the lawsuit.

Exemptions would classify as reusable bags made of materials like polypropylene or polystyrene and which could be used at least 125 times and carry 22 pounds for 175 feet.

In a prepared statement, DEC said the proposal was put in the budget plan to try and clear the confusion. "In response to the Courts decisions, the budget proposal serves to clarify certain exempt bags and what constitutes a reusable bag, including examples of the types of fabric in reusable bags and examples of commonly used reusable bags that contain some plastic content, including polyester, woven polypropylene, and nylon bags, among other examples," they said.

The development received just a half-hearted welcome from an industry spokesman who still believes the entire ban was ill-conceived.

Proposing changes to the ban underscores what we have long said: Its current form is broken and unworkable. Unfortunately, the changes dont make the law more workable, said Zachary Taylor, director of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance.

He believes the Legislature should reconsider the ban.

Enck disagrees, saying the recent court decision affirms the existing ban. She said she hoped lawmakers turn down the exemption request as the budget is finalized later this year.

They are going to try to get legislative permission to do what they tried to do last time, said Enck.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU

CAVE JUNCTION, Ore.  Following multiple rescue attempts, crews from the Oregon National Guard were able to airlift an injured hiker who was stranded on Grayback Mountain overnight.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office says that it received a report about the injured hiker just before 6 p.m. on Monday. Two hikers had gone up Grayback Mountain, but one of them  a 42-year-old woman  was hurt and unable to get down. The other hiker was able to call for help.

Search & Rescue volunteers from Josephine County tried hiking up to where the two hikers were stranded, about one mile from the Grayback cabin. However, Sheriff's Office said that "extreme conditions" kept search teams from reaching the pair.

RELATED: Couple rescues man stranded on Grayback Mountain (2018)

That night, a Coast Guard helicopter responded to the area, dropping off a paramedic with supplies to get them through the night.

"Due to darkness and weather conditions, retrieving personnel from the mountain was not an option," the Sheriff's Office said.

The next morning, a helicopter crew from the Oregon Army National Guard flew out to the area to pick up the two hikers and the paramedic. Even with the benefit of daylight, poor weather conditions caused more difficulties for the rescue crew.

Only after multiple attempts did the crew manage to retrieve the hikers and the paramedic, bringing them to the Medford Airport. According to the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, the 42-year-old woman is being evaluated for her injuries.
[January 20, 2021] Resource Center Receives $750K for LGBTQ-Friendly Housing in Dallas

Veritex Community Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) have awarded a $750,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidy to Resource Center of Dallas (Resource Center) to build affordable apartments that are welcoming and affirming for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) older adult residents. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005593/en/ NEW HOME: This artist's rendering shows the current concept for an affordable housing apartment complex in Dallas that is welcoming and affirming for older adults who are members of the LGBTQ community or affected by HIV. CREDIT: Perkins & Will Resource Center has partnered with Volunteers of America to develop the $20.5 million project. It will provide 84 units of high-quality affordable rental housing for residents above the age of 62, with a further goal of creating a supportive environment for members of the LGBTQ community and individuals affected by HIV in Dallas. It will be located near Maple Avenue and Mockingbird Lane in Dallas. "With this project, North Texas' LGBTQ older adults, including the LGBTQ community, will have access to a safe, affordable and welcoming place to call home," said Resource Center CEO Cece Cox (News - Alert) . "We are thnkful for Veritex Bank's and FHLB Dallas' funding toward making this a reality."



To date, more than $1 million has been raised in Resource Center's $4 million capital campaign for the project. Additional funding will come from state and federal sources along with private mortgage financing. "We are proud of our long-standing relationship with FHLB Dallas and appreciate the opportunity to partner with them and Resource Center of Dallas to provide affordable housing to older adults. Working with leaders like the FHLB Dallas, Resource Center and its partners is an example of how we are dedicated to serving our community," Veritex Community Bank's Vice President of Community Lending Lorrie Cantrell said.

AHP funds are intended to assist FHLB Dallas members in financing the purchase, construction and/or rehabilitation of owner-occupied, rental or transitional housing and housing for homeless individuals. AHP funds must be used to benefit households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the median income for the area. For 2020, FHLB Dallas awarded $19.3 million in subsidies to 38 affordable housing projects. The funds will help create 2,749 new or rehabilitated housing units. Included in that total is $10.2 million in subsidies for 1,475 units of housing in Texas. Since the AHP's inception in 1990, FHLB Dallas has awarded more than $323 million in AHP and Homeownership Set-Aside Programs and has assisted more than 57,000 households. "This project will provide high-quality rental units in a supportive and nurturing environment at a time when the supply of affordable housing is critically short," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. For more information about the AHP, visit fhlb.com/ahp. About Veritex Community Bank Veritex Community Bank is a mid-sized community bank serving its customers with a full suite of banking products and services. The bank has over 40 branch locations in Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, with total assets of over $8 billion. The bank, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, specializes in providing depository and credit services to small- to mid-size businesses, which have been largely neglected by national banks. The name "Veritex" is derived from the Latin word "veritas," meaning truth, and "Texas." About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $66.3 billion as of September 30, 2020, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005593/en/

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A biotechnology startup is poised to go public with a roughly $10 billion price tag a year before it begins human clinical trials for its drug candidates. That isnt as crazy as it sounds.

Sana Biotechnology, which is developing cell-engineering platforms that it says could change the way many diseases are treated, plans to sell $150 million of stock in a coming initial public offering, the company said in a securities filing last week. While it is unknown how many shares it plans to sell, investors are expecting a valuation of between $9 billion and $12 billion.

The Sana IPO is arriving as biotech stocks are near records. A broad index of small and midsize biotech firms has rallied about 60% in the past year. And Sana wont be delivering on its promises anytime soon: Clinical trials in humans for its drug candidates wont begin until 2022.

That backdrop will understandably scare some investors. Ambitions to tackle cancer, diabetes and central-nervous-system disorders under one roof arent cheap. While Sana has $459 million in cash and equivalents on its books, it spent $153 million on research and development in the first nine months of 2020, up from $80 million over the same period in 2019. Expenses tend to grow as drug programs advance to later stages. Furthermore, stocks with a long-dated potential payoff, like speculative biotechs, are likely to underperform should the Federal Reserve choose to tighten monetary policy. And of course, drug development is notoriously uncertain, and there is a chance that a Sana drug candidate never reaches the market.

That logic, however, would have caused investors to eschew Moderna when it went public in late 2018 at a $7 billion valuation, which at the time was a record for a biotech IPO. Those who bought and held have enjoyed a sevenfold return on their investment in just over two years. That trade wasnt merely a lucky speculation, either: The company expects at least $11.7 billion in revenue this year from government-purchase agreements for its Covid-19 vaccine, and its success in developing an effective vaccine so quickly bodes well for its other programs in development.

As for Sana, management has a proven track record of generating shareholder value that justifies taking a risk. Chief Executive Officer Steve Harr is a former executive at Juno Therapeutics and a former director at Loxo Oncology. Those companies were sold to Celgene and Eli Lilly, respectively, at lofty prices.

Cell engineering is an unproven technology, but its implications for medicine could be significant. Cell death leads to the manifestation of many common and serious diseases, and Sana believes the ability to replace or repair cells, while evading the bodys immune system, could lead to treatment breakthroughs in several high-value disease categories.

And while Sana will likely need to tap capital markets in the future to meet its ambitions, promising biotech projects arent having any trouble attracting financing. Biotech companies raised $41.1 billion in 256 follow-on offerings last year, according to SVB Leerink.

Despite the sticker shock, there is a method to this valuation madness.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text

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Amanda Gorman has become the youngest ever poet to read at a presidential inauguration, with a message of unity at the swearing-in of Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

At age 22, the artist has made news before, previously being named the first Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles in 2014 and later becoming the countrys first National Youth Poet Laureate.

She has appeared on MTV; written a tribute to Black athletes for Nike; published her first book, The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough, as a teenager; and has a two-book deal with Viking Children's Books. The first work, the picture book Change Sings, comes out later this year.

The Los Angeles resident has written for everything from a 4 July celebration featuring the Boston Pops Orchestra to the inauguration at Harvard University, her alma mater, of school president Larry Bacow.

I have kind of stumbled upon this genre. Its been something I find a lot of emotional reward in, writing something I can make people feel touched by, even if it's just for a night, Gorman told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

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As she read on Wednesday, she continued a tradition  for Democratic presidents  that includes such celebrated poets as Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. The latter's On the Pulse of Morning, written for the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton, went on to sell more than 1 million copies when published in book form. Recent readers include poets Elizabeth Alexander and Richard Blanco, both of whom Gorman has been in touch with.

The three of us are together in mind, body and spirit, she said.

Gorman said she was contacted late last month by the Biden inaugural committee. She has known numerous public figures, including former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former first lady Michelle Obama, but says she will be meeting the Bidens for the first time. The Bidens, apparently, are already fans: Gorman says the inaugural officials told her she had been recommended by the incoming first lady, Jill Biden.

Her poem was called The Hill We Climb. Gorman says she was not given specific instructions on what to write, but was encouraged to emphasise unity and hope over denigrating anyone or declaring ding, dong, the witch is dead" over the departure of President Donald Trump.

The final length ran to about six minutes.

In other writings, Gorman has honoured her ancestors, acknowledged and revelled in her own vulnerability ("Glorious in my fragmentation," she has written) and confronted social issues. Her poem In This Place (An American Lyric), written for the 2017 inaugural reading of US Poet Laureate Tracy K Smith, condemns the racist march in Charlottesville, Virginia ( tiki torches string a ring of flame) and holds up her art form as a force for democracy, reading:

Tyrants fear the poet.

Now that we know it

we cant blow it.

We owe it

to show it

not slow it

Gorman has rare status as a poet, and has dreams of other ceremonies. She would love to read at the 2028 Olympics, scheduled to be held in Los Angele. In 2037, she wouldn't mind finding herself in an even more special position at the presidential inauguration  as the new chief executive.

I'm going to tell Biden that Ill be back, she said with a laugh.
Archbishop-elect of Dublin Dermot Farrell welcomed the publication of the 'Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes' following its release last week.

"I welcome the publication of the report into the Mother and Baby Homes," Archbishop-elect Farrell stated.

"This report, and those like it, which explore our painful past make for extremely disturbing reading. They reveal deep wounds, and bring to light the profound injustices perpetrated against the vulnerable in our society over a long period of time  against women and children whose lives were regarded as less important than the lives of others.

"The silence which surrounded this shameful time in the history of our land had long needed to be shattered. The pain of those who were hidden away must be heard; those once largely without a voice now can speak clearly to our world, and we need to listen, even when what we hear pierces to the heart.

"I welcome, therefore, the actions of our Government and of the Commission that has made this possible. These voices must be heard, but hearing, while important, is not enough. The grievous failures of our past have been laid bare. A genuine response is required: ours  as a Church and a society  can only be a full apology, without any reservation.

"There should never have been a time for avoidance and facile solutions. This country, the Church, our communities and families are better places when the light of truth and healing are welcomed. May the Lords compassion be the touchstone of our response. May the light of Christ bring healing to all."
The Court of Appeal has overturned an award of 56,000 damages to a woman who was scalded when a 10 glass jug bought by her in Dunnes Stores shattered when she poured hot water from a kettle into it.

The three judge appeal court found no evidence to support the conclusion of the High Courts Mr Justice Kevin Cross that Dunnes was negligent in selling the jug to Eva Cekanova, a native of Slovakia.

Ms Cekanova (31), Windmill Terrace, Clonsilla, Dublin, sued Dunnes over the accident with the jug which she bought at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Dublin in December 2015.

It was claimed, when she poured hot water into the jug to make tea, it suddenly, and without warning shattered, showering her legs.

Dunnes denied negligence and pleaded Ms Cekanova failed to heed a warning sticker on the jug which, it claimed, specifically states not to use hot water in it.

Mr Justice Cross found Dunnes was 75 per cent negligent in not having a warning label attached to the jug against using it for hot liquids and he accepted Ms Cekanova would not have purchased it if it had such a label.

Dunnes ought to have known people in Ireland from foreign countries will use a glass jug and pour hot water in it, he said.

He held Ms Cekanova was 25 per cent negligent in that she ought to have known that tea here is not made in glass jugs and she had some obligation to check if the jug was suitable before putting hot water into it.

He said Ms Cekanova suffered a significant injury and has been left with scarring.

Total damages were assessed at 75,844 but, because of the 25 per cent contributory negligence finding, were reduced to 56,883.

Allowing Dunnes appeal on Wednesday, the three-judge appeal court's Mr Justice Seamus Noonan said it is universally known by reasonable adults of normal intelligence that boiling or very hot water has the potential to shatter an ordinary glass vessel.

While Ms Cekanova had given evidence the first time she heard of the phenomenon of thermal shock was in her solicitors office, that was at the least, a somewhat surprising proposition.

Her evidence the water was not boiling when she poured it into the jug, and was rather at 80-90 degrees Centigrade, was very difficult to account for in the absence of some understanding of the effects of boiling or very hot water on ordinary glass.

The judge disagreed with Mr Justice Crosss finding the jug was meant to have a label warning against using it for hot liquids.

While Ms Cekanova gave evidence that in her native Slovakia we normally use a big glass jug for making tea, there was absolutely no evidence for Mr Justice Cross finding that Dunnes knew, or should have known, that Slovakian nationals might buy glass jugs for such purposes, he said.

On the contrary, Ms Cekanovas evidence was she was well aware people here use teapots to make tea.

If using glass jugs for tea was a well-known custom of which Dunnes should have known, it was surprising, having sold more than 11,000 of these jugs, some of which had no labels, no other complaints of a similar nature were received, he said.

If such a safety warning was required or necessary, it would have to be permanently engraved on the jug as a label would be washed off after the first use of the jug, he remarked.

On foot of those and other findings, he allowed Dunnes appeal and dismissed Ms Cekanovas cross appeal against the finding of 25 per cent contributory negligence on her part.

Mr Justice Noonan said his provisional view was Dunnes would be entitled to its legal costs in the High Court and COA against Ms Cekanova but she had 14 days to consider whether to argue for an alternative costs order.
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Administrators of a big COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Salem closed it for three of its first 12 days in operation, underscoring the challenges that may await an even bigger endeavor set to open Wednesday in Portland.

Through Saturday, the Salem Health-led clinic at the Oregon State Fairgrounds had administrated 18,700 doses of COVID-19 vaccines during nine days of operations, or roughly 2,078 doses per day.

That equates to 223 vaccinations per hour, less than the hourly goal of 250 Oregonians that Gov. Kate Brown said could be inoculated at the site. And the facilitys limited hours, averaging just nine a day excluding the three days it was closed, come as states like Arizona operate two clinics that are in operation 24/7. (A New York Times analysis, however, indicated Arizona has a larger share of unused doses than Oregon as of last week.)

The Salem clinic closed Jan. 11, four days after it opened, due to limited inventory and fears the clinic would have to turn away people whod traveled to be vaccinated. It closed again Jan. 17 and 18 for rest and planning purposes, officials said.

Michael Gay, a Salem Health spokesperson, said last week that the hospital group is working well for a new initiative. When everything is running smoothly, we can vaccinate as many as 410 per hour, but this depends on a number of different factors including volume of vaccine seekers, how many people use MyChart and the stability of our technological tools, he said last week.

Until this week, the Salem clinic has been Oregons largest, followed by a smaller effort by Salem Health in Polk County. At Salem alone, the vaccination volume equaled nearly one of every ten vaccinations reported by the state through Saturday, although the states vaccination numbers lag.

A similar  and potentially significantly larger  effort will begin Wednesday at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Itll be operated by Portlands four largest healthcare entities  Providence Health & Systems, Legacy Health, Kaiser Permanente and Oregon Health & Science University.

Mike Foley, a Kaiser spokesman who is speaking for the collaborative effort, said the healthcare giants went to the fairgrounds to learn what Salem Health was doing but declined to provide specifics.

Foley said Kaiser also held its own, smaller-scale clinic last weekend to prepare and as is pleased with the results. The effort at its Tualatin offices vaccinated about 3,000 people over two days.

Foley said the new convention center clinic will be by appointment only, and he expected to release more information Wednesday.

Foley confirmed the healthcare groups are in contact with school districts, whose employees have been prioritized over senior citizens by Brown and state health leaders. Vaccinations for teachers are set to begin Monday under Browns schedule.

Its not immediately clear what enforcement mechanisms will exist at the Portland clinic. In Salem, the clinic has worked essentially under an honor system, with some notable inconsistencies in eligibility.

The Salem clinic is open to anyone in the states Phase 1A group, which includes health care workers and residents in long-term care, among others, but those people are not required to provide any identification showing they qualify. Gay said the self-attest eligibility system wont be perfect and does rely on the integrity of Oregonians to honor phasing guidelines.

Gay said Salem Health cant specify how many people have gamed the system, and he didnt respond on whether the healthcare group cares if people are being inoculated earlier than is allowed. Anyone who received a first dose is eligible to receive a second one, he added.

The Salem Reporter documented several examples of lax screening, enabling people to obtain the vaccine. In one case, a music instructor in his 60s from Chemeketa Community College was able to receive a vaccine with no questions asked.

In response to questions about flaws in the process, Gay responded via email: Through careful planning and timing in drawing doses, particularly toward the end of the vaccine clinic hours, no vaccine doses have been wasted. Due to self-attestation, we cannot quantify the number of people who may have fallen outside of the current OHA Phase 1a tier.

The Salem clinic has leaned on National Guard workers to help meet demand, a request that was made by healthcare leaders and later touted in a news conference from the governors office.

Stephen Bomar, director of public affairs for the Oregon Military Department, said the National Guard will remain on site in Salem and elsewhere in coming months.

Gay said the National Guard is still helping administer vaccines and the clinic will be open as long as there is vaccine available.

Its been fun, and encouraging to see people filled with hope, Gay said in an email. Tears have been common.

 Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen
New coronavirus SOPs in Goa by Saturday, says Chief Minister Pramod Sawant

Possibility of mid-term polls in Goa ruled out by Sawant

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Panaji, Jan 20: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of mid-term Assembly polls, claiming that the current BJP government in the state will complete its entire tenure.

The tenure of Goa Legislative Assembly ends in February, 2022.

Responding to a question on the possibility of mid- term Assembly polls, the chief minister said there is no reason to go for an early election in the state.

Goa city corporation elections postponed

"The BJP-led governments in both the state and Centre have been executing several developmental works in Goa. Few projects will be completed in the next few days," he said.

Sawant said the state government under his leadership "is doing well and is stable".

"We don't need to go for early elections. We will complete our tenure and go to polls at the right time," he said, asserting that the next government in Goa will again be of the BJP.

The last Assembly elections in Goa were held in February, 2017, following which the BJP had formed an alliance government under the leadership of late Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar died of pancreatic cancer on March 17, 2019, following which Sawant was sworn in as the chief minister.

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

At present, the BJP is the single largest party in the state Assembly with 27 MLAs, followed by the Congress with five MLAs, three Independents, three belonging to the Goa Forward Party and one each from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and NCP.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 15:05 [IST]
The SDLP's Nichola Mallon captured the moment in the Assembly last week when she spoke frankly about the DUP and Boris Johnson. Insightfully, she said: "Boris Johnson has lied to them so often and so publicly and consistently that it's painful.

But the truth, regardless of the deflection tactics, is that this is a self-inflicted wound. Brexit, the NI Protocol, the trade deal and the sea border, all of it belongs to the DUP, lock, stock and barrel."

It was a scathing, but forensic, analysis of the DUP's gross mishandling of Brexit. All of it was patently avoidable.

As Nichola Mallon has aptly implied, the DUP are in a hole over the outworkings of Brexit. The advice normally given to any politician stuck in a hole is to stop digging.

But not only have the DUP ignored that sound advice, they seem determined to dig an even bigger hole for themselves. So big, in fact, that they are in danger of being buried in it up to their necks.

They have only themselves to blame, as they are authors of their own misfortune, having foolishly championed Brexit on an emotional political binge, without considering its serious economic and political consequences for Northern Ireland.

They arrogantly dismissed not just the sound political arguments of the SDLP, Alliance and Sinn Fein, but also the well-intentioned warnings of the Irish government, in particular Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.

He, more than anyone else, tried to negotiate a better, softer, Brexit deal with then-Prime Minister Theresa May. He, with his Brussels colleagues, achieved agreement on a draft deal with May, which included the much-maligned backstop that protected the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Ireland's position within the EU.

The DUP also dismissed with contempt the equally valid, non-party-political, warnings from independent business and trade organisations here, who expressed legitimate economic concerns against Brexit, especially a hard Brexit, as supported by the DUP.

Central to Theresa May's draft agreement with Brussels - and of crucial importance to NI Plc - was the inclusion of the whole of the United Kingdom in the EU's customs union, just like Turkey. But the DUP, in their pivotal role at Westminster, blindly dismissed Europe's innovative plan to avoid a hard Brexit and protect the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement and supported the hard Brexiteers on the Tory Right-wing.

These untrustworthy, whacky Euro-sceptic allies eventually undermined Theresa May and brought about a coup which put Boris Johnson in command in Downing Street.

The DUP need to be forcefully reminded that it was themselves that put their trust in Prince Boris Johnson and enthusiastically welcomed him as Prime Minister.

It was Boris Johnson, as the new Prime Minister, who then renegotiated Theresa May's deal with the European Union which produced the NI Protocol, now the latest bete-noir for the DUP. With hindsight, the DUP may well now consider May's deal as a more benign deal for this region.

The more the DUP rail against the NI Protocol, the more they keep reminding people that it was they who were the midwives of its birth.

Lord Empey, the Ulster Unionist peer, is not wrong to keep pointing his accusing finger at the DUP and reminding them of their initial complicity in October 2019, welcoming Boris Johnson's new deal with Europe.

They may have subsequently resiled from its provisions, but it was their initial assent that heralded it into acceptance at Westminster.

All of this puts Arlene Foster, as leader of the DUP, in an extremely precarious position.

While she has openly expressed her distaste and opposition to the NI Protocol and its application here, she has taken a pragmatic view that she has to reluctantly live with its application, on foot of the Brexit deal with Brussels.

Her MPs, in particular Sammy Wilson and Ian Paisley, have adopted a crankier and aggressive position, expressing in vitriolic terms their contempt for the recent Brexit deal and its outworkings.

Ian Paisley, in an angry outburst in the House of Commons, exclaimed, that the DUP had been "screwed over" by the Conservatives.

Despite his colourful turn of phrase, his conclusion was correct. The pity is, whenever he was posing for photo-shots with Boris Johnson in Ballymena, he didn't realise then that he was being taken for a ride by the unreliable Johnson.

The DUP were warned time after time about their dangerous dalliance with the Tories. Flattered by their kingmaker role in Parliament and the avid attention they got from their Tory suitors, they brushed away those warnings.

With a humiliated DUP now in disarray, it is time for Arlene Foster to assert her leadership and call her MPs to order.

Clearly, the Brexit chickens have come home to roost.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A man arrested for a knife threat is sentenced to probation.

Ryan Daniel Snyder, 26 of Mason City, pleaded guilty to 1st degree harassment and was ordered Wednesday to spend two years on supervised probation.

Snyder was accused of pointing a knife at someone on November 13, 2020, and saying "if you call the cops I will be the only one of us two walking out of this apartment."
The owners of Heights Hospital said a third-party management company, hired by a creditor, is behind a lockout that has left doctors caring for patients and performing COVID-19 tests in a parking lot.

The lockout appears related to the default on a $28 million construction loan by 1917 Heights Hospital, a subsidiary of AMD Global, a Houston commercial real estate company that bought Heights Hospital in 2017. Dharmesh Patel, chief executive at AMD Global, said Tuesday that his company had not given permission to the creditor, Arbitra Capital Partners of Nevada, to bar its tenants from accessing their offices and clinical spaces.

The owners of 1917 Heights Hospital real estate do not condone that acts of Arbitra, which have caused an interruption of necessary medical services to the community in Houston, Patel said Tuesday.

Patel said the loan on the building at 1917 Ashland Street was due at the end of 2020. During negotiations to extend the loan and not evict tenants, the lender sold the note to Arbitra, Patel said.

CHECKS COMING?: A Texas hotel group received $68 million in PPP loans. Other businesses waited weeks for $1.

Arbitra filed a suit in Harris County court on Jan. 8 in connection to the loan, asking for more than $3 million in accrued interest from Patel and James Robert Day, a former Heights Hospital executive, who had guaranteed the payments, according to court documents. The lawsuit also alleged that 1917 Heights Hospital has failed to pay crucial management and maintenance expenses for this property, including invoices for utilities, elevator repair and even property insurance  and that as a result insurance has been canceled.

Arbitra then hired a third party, Tidal Management Company, to lock out tenants, Patel said. But the problem is the doctors were not responsible for back rents for office and clinical spaces that Arbitra claims it is owed, Patel said. Arbitra and Tidal Management did not respond to requests for comment.

Who runs the hospital?

Despite having hospital in the name, Heights Hospital is essentially a multi-specialty clinic where patients could see primary care doctors and specialists under one roof. When the hospital filed for insurance reimbursements, doctors took a smaller cut and the excess cash would go to rents on the space, said Dr. Felicity Mack, a family physician who operated out of Heights Hospital.

All of us in this clinic have taken less money to benefit our community, Mack said.

The hospital also had space for an emergency and operating rooms, she said, and the owners had planned to open those for business before COVID-19 hit. But Heights Hospitals hospital license  which allows it to legally offer emergency treatment and diagnostic x-rays  expired in September, according to state records.

Stephen Myers, who is listed as the CEO of Heights Hospital on its website, also left the organization in early January, said Dr. Latisha Rowe, who owns a telemedicine practice that operated in Heights Hospital. Myers did not respond to requests for comment.

1917 Ashland Venture, a company created by Day, is one of the major tenants in the building and the parent company of the medical practices. The company fell behind on rent soon after COVID-19 hit last March and patient visits plummeted, Patel said.

AMD Globals affiliate, 1917 Heights Hospital, allowed the company to fall behind on payments with the expectation that they would be made up as the pandemic eased. Its other tenants, a rehab clinic and diagnostics company, stayed current on rent.

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Experts say its tough for an independent practice to survive in Houston. Without the backing of a big health system and their financial resources, most new practices flop, said Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy.

It sounds like they were in the process of converting (to a hospital), COVID hit and it was game over, Ho said.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, whose Heights office is just across the street from the hospital, said she had asked Arbitra to allow the doctors to continue providing medical care there for 45 days while the clinicians figure out where they will go next.

A constable allowed doctors and medical staff to enter the building briefly on Tuesday morning to get personal belongings, COVID-19 test swabs and other medical supplies. But patients who hadnt heard the news were still coming to the facility for care and COVID-19 tests  with one patient driving in from Beaumont. Doctors scurried to treat them in the parking lot or reschedule appointments for a later date.

No ones taking responsibility and were just caught in the crossfire, Mack said.

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com

twitter.com/gwendolynawu
There will be at least one new Auburn city councilor sworn into office at the start of 2022.

Two-term incumbent Councilor Debby McCormick this week informed the Cayuga County Democratic Committee that she has decided against running for a third four-year term. At the same time, Virginia "Ginny" Kent, a former Auburn school board member, told the committee of her intent to run for the seat.

McCormick issued a statement Wednesday morning explaining her decision.

"Seven years ago I ran for city council because I could see the extremely difficult times Auburn was facing if change didnt happen," she said. "We were at a crossroads. Decisions were being made that were not in the best interest of Auburn. I knew we could do better for Auburn and I think we have come a long way since. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be part of Auburns amazing growth and renaissance."

McCormick and Councilor Terry Cuddy, who will seek reelection, flipped control of the five-member council, which also includes the mayor as a voting member, to the Democrats with their 2013 victories. Two seats are up for election this year.
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New Delhi, Jan 20 : Indians are willing to risk worsening ties with China on the issue of human rights in Tibet, as per the findings of the IANS C-Voter Tibet Poll.

This is the most significant finding of this survey. Almost two-third of Indians want to support the issue of Tibet even at the cost of worsening relationship with China. The brand equity of China has taken a beating over last one year and majority of Indians have further become anti-China in their perceptions.

Ironically, the state of human rights in Tibet is not that well formulated among the respondents, as per the survey. Hence, people are unaware of something but want the Indian government to take a strident stand over it.

The very fact that majority of the Indians said they do not know anything about the human rights violations by China in Tibet should be a cause of concern, as per the survey.

Other surveys reflected that majority of them knew about the human rights violations of Muslims in the Uyghur region in China and Hong Kong in general, indicating much better media coverage of the issue and international information campaigns.

But it is ironical to see that the world is not finding the cause of Tibet important enough to be mentioned along with Uyghur or Hong Kong.

There is better than merited opinion of international human rights bodies. In sharp contrast to meddling in Kashmir, most organisations are silent on Tibet. Every third Indian feels they are not doing enough on this front, as per the survey.

Two-third of respondents acknowledged the Dalai Lama as an important cultural and spiritual influencer of modern India. In fact, the qualitative response from the samples suggests that a huge number of them consider the Dalai Lama as an Indian spiritual leader, and not as a foreigner.

On one hand, this could be considered a great achievement of assimilation, but on the other hand it also tells that not being aggressive on the China front has diluted the Tibetan brand identity of the Dalai Lama.

Therefore, a similar number support the conferment of highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, on the Dalai Lama. This emotion is just an extension of the emotions expressed by the respondents in previous questions.

The survey included a sample size of 3,000 people spread across the country.

A Thai woman identified as Anchan Preelert talks to journalists as she arrives at a Bangkok court before being sentenced to more than 43 years for sharing online posts criticizing the royal family, Jan. 19, 2021.

A Bangkok court sentenced a Thai woman to a record 43 years in prison Tuesday after she pleaded guilty to sharing audio clips on social media that were deemed as insulting the monarchy and violating Thailands harsh royal defamation law.

The sentencing stemmed from a case dating to 2014 and 2105, but came amid a spate of recent arrests of pro-democracy protesters charged under the law known as Lese-Majeste.

The defendant, a former Revenue Department official identified by media reports as 63-year-old Anchan Preelert, was initially sentenced to 87 years after her plea to 29 counts of Lese-Majeste. But the punishment was cut in half because she pleaded guilty, according to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, an NGO that represented her in court.

What she did was she uploaded files on YouTube and shared them on Facebook. She pleaded guilty, lawyer Pawinee Chumsri told BenarNews. This is the harshest sentence the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights has ever documented.

In a statement, the lawyers group said: The court found Anchan guilty of insulting, defaming or threatening the late King Bhumibol, then former Queen Sirikit and their heir, by sharing the clips of Banpot, referring to an underground online DJ who created the original audio clips.

The court sentenced her to 87 years in jail but commuted it to 43 and a half years, it said.

Pawinee said Anchans sentencing was closed to the public. The lawyer said the Bangkok Criminal Court declined to consider a bail request but would allow the Court of Appeals to decide within the next two or three days, adding that Anchan was remanded to prison.

Speaking to reporters before entering the courtroom, Anchan said she was employed as a civil servant at the revenues department at the time and did not realize she had committed a crime.

The clips were shared widely and I did not think they were illegal, she told reporters.

Anchan said she originally was tried by a military court where she pleaded not guilty. In 2019, she changed her plea to guilty after the case was transferred to a civilian court because she hoped that court would give her mercy.

Spine-chilling signal

Reacting to Tuesdays sentencing, New York-based Human Rights Watch said the government sent a message in an effort to ward off youth-led protests against the monarchy.

The severity of todays court verdict is shocking and sends a spine-chilling signal that not only critics of the monarchy wont be tolerated, but they will also be punished to the extreme, Sunai Phasuk, a senior Thai researcher for HRW, wrote in a text to BenarNews.

Thai authorities are seemingly using Lese-Majeste prosecution as their last resort measure in response to the youth-led democracy uprising that seeks to curb the kings powers and keep him within the bounds of constitutional rule.

He said the verdict was likely to make political tensions go from bad to worse.

Those demanding democracy are not afraid. Instead they are reacting by making more direct and blunter criticisms about the monarchy, he said.

Starting in mid-July 2020, student-led anti-government protesters have focused on three demands: that Prayuth, the prime minister and ex-junta leader, resign; the military-backed constitution be revised; and laws empowering the monarchy be reformed.

Since November, after Prayuth promised that all pertaining laws would be used against protesters, about 50 people have been charged with violating Lese-Majeste, which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years, according to iLAW, an online legal advocacy group.

Arnon Nampa, a human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist leader, has said the protests would continue in 2021, but possibly in a different format to adapt to changing circumstances.

Arnon last week received the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights from the South Korean-based May 18 Memorial Foundation. The prize is presented annually to international human rights activists, according to Thai media.

Meanwhile, Piyarat Toto Jongtep, another leader of the movement, said the looming threat of more people being charged with Lese-Majeste would not stop the protesters.

Im not intimidated to be charged under Article 112, he told BenarNews last week. I still have faith that leaders and the people are not scared to be charged with Lese-Majeste. We are seeing more resistance to this law.
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JIZZAX, Uzbekistan -- The deputy governor of the eastern Uzbek region of Jizzax, Akram Rahmonqulov, who was detained last week on suspicion of neglecting his duties after being criticized by President Shavkat Mirziyoev, faces new charges.

An official at the regional prosecutor's office told RFE/RL on January 19 that in all, Rahmonqulov now faced four charges, including embezzlement and the violation of construction regulations.

"If convicted, he may face up to 20 years in prison. I cannot say anything else, as the case materials are classified," the official said, adding that about 10 other people had been charged with various misdeeds in the case.

Rahmonqulov was arrested on January 15, four days after Mirziyoev harshly criticized him and publicly accused him of "betraying presidential politics" over the collapse of a high-rise residential building under construction in the regional capital, Jizzax, and allegations that Rahmonqulov-affililated companies had been involved in public procurement projects in the region.

Some members of the regional council and other officials told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that Rahmonqulov was being made "a scapegoat" by local authorities who are trying to avoid responsibility for the collapsed building.

Rahmonqulov, who has served as the Jizzax region's deputy governor responsible for industrial development, construction, and communications since 2018, is believed to be the highest-ranking official facing criminal charges since Mirziyoev came to power in 2016 following the death of his predecessor, Islam Karimov.
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The supermajority threshold of today flies in the face of the framers intent. They wanted the Senate to be a place where debate was thorough and thoughtful, but limited, and where bills passed or failed on majority votes when it became clear to reasonable minds that debate was exhausted. Originally, Senate rules included a provision allowing a majority to end debate, and an early manual written by Thomas Jefferson established procedures for silencing senators who debated superfluous, or tediously. Obstruction was considered beneath them.

The reason the framers set the threshold at a majority is that they wrote the Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation, which they saw as a disaster because it required a supermajority of Congress to pass most major legislation. As Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist 22, the idea that a supermajority encouraged cooperation had proven deceptive: What at first sight may seem a remedy, is, in reality, a poison. Rather than encourage cooperation, he prophesied, the effect of requiring more than a majority would be to embarrass the administration, to destroy the energy of the government, and to substitute the pleasure, caprice or artifices of a minority to the regular deliberations and decisions of a respectable majority.

For all of James Madisons embrace of minority rights, he saw the complex system of government itself  not a Senate supermajority threshold  as the minoritys protection. Even without the filibuster, the United States government ranks high on the number of veto players, or checks on untrammeled majority rule, among modern democracies. Within this system of checks and balances, Madison believed, decision points on governing should be majority-rule.

The filibuster did not emerge until after the framers died. Its leading innovator was the South Carolinian John C. Calhoun. Seeking to protect slave owners against abolitionism, Calhoun envisioned a Senate where this powerful pro-slavery minority would have not just the voice Madison intended but a veto  or as he put it, a negative on the others.

To advance his vision, Calhoun forged the talking filibuster of popular imagination, marrying lofty defenses of minority rights with long-winded speeches. Radical as it was, the talking filibuster could only delay bills, since its practitioners eventually had to yield. Votes remained majority-rule into the 20th century. Many historic compromises on far-reaching legislation passed on majority-rule votes: the Missouri Compromise passed by just four votes; the Constitution itself hinged on majority-rule votes; the Great Compromise that created the Senate and saved the Constitutional Convention passed by a single vote.

The supermajority threshold now associated with the filibuster emerged in the Jim Crow era, when Southern senators used it to stop civil rights (and only civil rights) legislation. In 1917, the Senate created Rule 22 to terminate successful filibustering, giving a supermajority (today 60 senators) the ability to bring closure (or cloture) to a filibuster. Majority-rule votes remained the norm for all other legislation, but filibustering Southerners made this step of cloture  and its supermajority threshold  the standard for the dozen or so civil rights bills that passed the House and came before the Senate. So although Rule 22 was enacted to bring some constraint to filibusters, it ended up being wielded by Southerners as an effective veto of civil rights legislation.

Southerners inflated the minoritys right to unlimited debate with soaring oratory backed by intimidation from their monopoly of the Senates all-powerful committees, which controlled the prospects for legislation as well as senators careers. (At the time, most Southern members of Congress were Democrats, and they were sometimes in the majority of the chamber but in the minority on civil rights legislation, which had broad support.) Unlimited debate was a sacred principle only on civil rights; on the vanishingly rare occasion other issues faced filibusters, Southerners voted to end them. From the end of Reconstruction until 1964, the filibuster killed only civil rights bills.
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Donald Trump made a farewell speech on his final day as president of the United States, and in typical fashion, made a number of false statements in the process.

The US president, who was speaking from Joint Base Andrews outside Washington DC shortly before taking off for Florida, told a small crowd of family and associates that his presidency was amazing by any standard.

Among those absent from the send off was the outgoing vice president, Mike Pence, who will instead attend Joe Bidens inauguration.

We were not a regular administration, said Mr Trump, who claimed that his administration oversaw such good job numbers that were absolutely incredible.

However, unemployment has almost doubled while he has been president, with 6.7 per cent of Americans currently without work. That number reached 14 per cent in April last year - the highest since the Great Depression.

And in December, the American economy lost more jobs than at any point since April - at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic last spring.

Had we not been hit by the pandemic, we wouldve had numbers that never would have been seen, Mr Trump continued.

Already, the numbers are the best ever if you look at what happened until February a year ago. Our numbers were at a level nobody had ever seen before.

Addressing the pandemic, which he called the China virus, Mr Trump said it was a horrible thing that was put on to the world. We all know where it came from, but it's a horrible, horrible thing.

The US was hit so hard, just like the entire world was hit so hard, he added, as he appeared to deflect blame for more than 400,000 American deaths - the worlds highest toll.

Mr Trump continued, and claimed that almost 300 federal judges were appointed during his time in office, something for which he said were very proud of and was a record breaking number.

Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Show all 83 1 /83 Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Outgoing US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump descend Marine One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland AFP via Getty Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures First Lady Melania Trump speaks before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland AFP via Getty Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures The "Field of flags" is seen on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol building ahead of inauguration ceremonies REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President Donald Trump (R) and U.S. First Lady Melania Trump board Air Force One during a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania are greeted by Ivanka Trump (2nd R), husband Jared Kushner (R), their children, Eric (C-R) and Donald Jr. (C-L), Tiffany Trump and other Trump family members on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President Donald Trump addresses guests at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President-elect Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attend a church service before his presidential inauguration REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Lady Gaga arrives for the inauguration POOL/AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Scenes from the U.S. Capitol REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures U.S. National Guardsmen look on in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Security is set up along Pennsylvania Avenue before the 59th Presidential Inauguration AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Donald Trump gestures as he and first lady Melania Trump depart the White House to board Marine One REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Eric Trump and his wife Lara arrive for outgoing US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's departure at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Riot equipment lays ready AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures A supporter of President Donald Trump waits for the motorcade on the road to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Palm Beach estate AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President Donald J. Trump (R) and US First Lady Melania Trump board Air Force One EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrives at the U.S. Capitol AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is seen on the phone EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Doug Emhoff, U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Jill Biden and President-elect Joe Biden wave as they arrive on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, right, and his wife, former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, arrive at the East Front of the U.S. Capitol AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Donald Trump Jr., executive vice president of development and acquisitions for Trump Organization Inc., left, and his partner Kimberly Guilfoyle, arrive to a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Supporters of US President Donald J. Trump wave American flags prior to a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Ivanka Trump, senior adviser to President Trump, Jared Kushner, senior White House adviser, and their children arrive to a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President-elect Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff arrive at the steps of the U.S. Capitol for the start of the official inauguration ceremonies AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Flags decorate the "Field of Flags" at the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Heidi Forte, middle, with other supporters of President Donald Trump wait for the motorcade on the road to Mar-a-Lago AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former U.S. President Bill Clinton arrive for the inauguration REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Members of the National Guard patrol the streets ahead of the inauguration Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President Donald Trump, left, and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Supporters of President Donald Trump, Jennifer Aiello, left, Ron Raven dance as they wait for the motorcade on the road to Mar-a-Lago AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence arrive at the inauguration Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Former U.S. President George W. 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Bush and Laura Bush arrive in the Crypt of the US Capitol EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Vice President-elect Kamala Harris greets former U.S. President Barack Obama ahead of the inauguration REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Buttons of President-elect Joe Biden are pictured ahead of his inauguration REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures U.S. President-elect Joe Biden gestures as he arrives for his inauguration REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Guests attend the inauguration Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff arrive for the inauguration REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Finnegan Biden (R) hugs Michelle Obama (L) as they arrive for the inauguration EPA Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Lady Gaga arrives to sing the National Anthem Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President-elect Joe Biden greets Father Leo J. ODonovan Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem during the inauguration of Joe Biden REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Kamala Harris is sworn in as U.S. Vice President as her spouse Doug Emhoff holds a bible REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Joe Biden is sworn in as U.S. President during his inauguration Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures U.S. President Joe Biden hugs Jill Biden and daughter Ashley Biden Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Vice President Kamala Harris bumps fists with President-elect Joe Biden after she was sworn in during the inauguration AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Jennifer Lopez with Vice President Kamala Harris REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - 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In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President Donald Trump gestures to supporters en route to his Mar-a-Lago Florida Resort AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures A general view of the Capitol during the inauguration REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Edwina Rose from California fights back tears while listening to U.S. President Joe Biden's inauguration speech Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump exit Air Force One at the Palm Beach International Airport on the way to Mar-a-Lago Club Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President Joe Biden hugs his son Hunter Biden and daughter Ashley Biden Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures REUTERS Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures People raise champagne glasses to toast to new U.S. President Joe Biden AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Tiffany Trump (R) and Michale Boulos exit Air Force One at the Palm Beach International Airport Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Supporters of President Joseph Biden celebrate as they listen to him speak during the presidential inauguration Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President Joe Biden signs three documents including an inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations in the President's Room at the US Capitol after the inauguration ceremony AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures President Joe Biden supporters dance in the streets AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures People watch the Inauguration Day ceremony on television at Manuel's Tavern in Atlanta AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures From left, first lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff stand on the steps of the U.S. Capitol AP Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Joe Biden embraces his wife Jill AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Utah National Guardsmen arrive at the Utah State Capitol building to provide security in Salt Lake City, Utah AFP via Getty Images Bidens Inauguration Day 2021 - 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In reality, the departing president oversaw 234 new appointments to federal courts, which was 27 judges fewer than former president Jimmy Carter, who made 261 appointments while in office.

Despite summarising his presidency as amazing, Mr Trump leaves office on Wednesday as the most unpopular American president in recorded history, according to Gallup pollsters.

Melania Trump, who he described as being so so popular with the people, so popular, also leaves the White House as the least popular first lady in recorded history.

A fitting end to the Trump presidency. A speech full of puffery and lies, said CNNs Jake Tapper after Mr Trump concluded the remarks. We don't have to grade [it] on a curve. It was an embarrassment that he did not even mention the name of his successor, Joe Biden."

Follow live: President admits his administration was not regular as son Barron skips farewell party

Before his speech, Mr Trump took off from the White House for one final time as the nations capital, currently under the protection of more soldiers than those currently on deployment to the Middle East, prepared to oversee the inauguration of his successor, Mr Biden.

The security measures were put in place after Mr Trumps supporters stormed the US Capitol on 6 January - spurred on by his own false allegations of an election that was stolen from him.

Those claims were among 30,558 false or misleading statements the outgoing president made during his time in office, according to Washington Post analysis.
RICHMOND, Va. - The state Senate took action Tuesday to sanction a Republican member who praised the U.S. Capitol rioters as "patriots," and two GOP members of the House of Delegates complained that their punishment for seeking to "nullify" the state's slate of presidential electors amounted to stifling free speech.

A day before President-elect Joe Biden was to take office in Washington, the impact of President Donald Trump's attempt to hold on to power and his followers' attack on the U.S. Capitol this month continued to reverberate a two-hour drive down the road in Richmond.

In the state Senate, Democrats have sought to censure Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, who gave an inflammatory speech at the Jan. 6 Trump rally in Washington and later praised the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol.

On Tuesday, the censure proposal cleared a committee vote, and the full Senate voted to strip Chase of her lone committee assignment. Last year, Chase was removed from three other committee posts after her decision in late 2019 to quit the Senate Republican Caucus to protest the reelection of caucus leaders who had criticized her after a string of controversies, including cursing at a Capitol Police officer over a parking spot.

Chase objected to Tuesday's move, threatened legal action and called it an effort to undermine her bid for this year's GOP gubernatorial nomination.

While fellow Republicans did not support the censure effort, saying it infringed on her right to free speech, they did support revoking her committee assignment and criticized her in floor debate.

"Do you represent the people of your district, or do you represent your personal ambitions?" said Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg.

The conflict is the latest example of friction within the General Assembly over support for Trump's baseless claims of election fraud and the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol that left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer.

Although Biden won Virginia by 10 points, a trio of Republican delegates wrote to Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 5, urging him to nullify the state's electors and conduct an audit of the vote tally. Last week, House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, responded by stripping a committee assignment from each of the three delegates, with her spokesman saying the three were trying to "disenfranchise" Virginia voters.

Two of the delegates - David LaRock, R-Loudoun, and Ronnie Campbell, R-Rockbridge - wrote to Filler-Corn over the weekend and demanded to be reinstated. LaRock said Tuesday that he is considering legal action.

"It is an abuse of power to retaliate against an act of free expression," LaRock said in an interview. "I'm in consultation with lawyers as to how best to proceed."

Filler-Corn's office dismissed the challenge.

"Delegate LaRock and Delegate Campbell continue to exhibit exceedingly poor judgment and a lack of contrition for their actions. In light of a deadly riot, spurred by the falsehoods they helped to peddle, this is the last time one should be leveling threats," Filler-Corn spokesman Kunal Atit said in an emailed statement.

LaRock, who attended the Jan. 6 rally in the District of Columbia but did not take part in the violence at the Capitol, had written a letter to Pence that was also signed by Campbell and Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania.

"Should you, as Vice President, announce a winner based on a tally of unconstitutionally and fraudulently elected Presidential Electors, it would create a rent in the fabric of the nation," the letter stated.

Shortly after the House convened its 2021 session on Wednesday, Filler-Corn announced that she had removed LaRock, Campbell and Cole from one committee each. That leaves each delegate serving on two panels instead of the more customary three.

"Their attempt to cast doubt on our elections process in order to impede the peaceful transfer of power between one President to another is an affront to our democracy and violates the public trust," Atit, Filler-Corn's spokesman, said last week in a prepared statement.

LaRock had said shortly after being removed from the House Transportation Committee that he would not contest the action.

But LaRock said Tuesday that after he saw Filler-Corn's justification, he decided that his removal had been improper.

"If I had been taken off the committee and given no reason, that would be within her power," LaRock said. "Being removed from a committee as retaliation for exercising my freedom of expression" is a different matter, he said.

House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, on Tuesday accused Filler-Corn of using a double standard by acting against the GOP delegates but ignoring Democratic delegates who participated in protests against police brutality over the summer, including at least one who was pepper-sprayed during a confrontation with police.

"If she's going to punish people for behavior that she views as inconsistent with the expectations of this body, then she should treat everybody fairly, and she hasn't done that," Gilbert said. "This was purely a political retribution meant to satisfy her side and her base."

Asked whether he stood by the trio's letter to Pence, Gilbert said "they were merely asking for a delay so some of the discrepancies so prominently displayed all across the country could be investigated."

Cole, who did not sign LaRock's letter to Filler-Corn, told the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star last week that he was not surprised at losing the committee assignment.

"I figured they would do something," he said. "It is what it is. The speaker's free to do whatever she wants to do."

Campbell could not be reached for comment Tuesday. He wrote in a Facebook post last week that Filler-Corn had acted "arbitrarily" and "in retaliation" for his statements in the letter.

He defended his position as part of his "sworn duty to uphold Virginia's Constitution," claiming that changes to state elections policy enacted last year by the General Assembly had been handled improperly and caused him to doubt the election results.

LaRock, too, has stood by his claims that the presidential election was improper, and that allegations of voter fraud nationwide were not investigated, even though dozens of federal judges and Republican elections officials have found no substantial evidence.

Asked Tuesday whether he recognized Biden as the president-elect, LaRock said: "I'm not going to answer that question at this time."
When Joseph R. Biden Jr. was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, it was a moment of political triumph that had been decades in the making. His long career in public office spanned eight presidents, from Richard M. Nixon to Barack Obama, but the nations highest office always eluded him. Now, Mr. Biden, 78, finally joins their ranks.

The story begins with an Irish Catholic family in northeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Biden was born in 1942, the eldest son of Joseph Robinette Biden Sr. and Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden. He was also a son of Scranton, Pa., which would become central to his political identity. The Biden family moved to Delaware when he was 10 years old.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. at age 10 Biden family

Mr. Biden, back right, with his younger siblings James and Valerie. Biden family

Mr. Biden attended Syracuse University College of Law. Biden campaign

After graduating from law school, Mr. Biden got his start in local politics in Delaware, winning election to the New Castle County Council in 1970. Two years later, at just 29 years old, he challenged a well-known Republican incumbent, Senator J. Caleb Boggs, a former Delaware governor. Mr. Biden won in a major upset.

1970: During the New Castle County Council campaign. Biden campaign

Nov. 1972: Celebrating his 30th birthday with his wife, Neilia, and their children. Bettman, via Getty Images

Jan. 1973: Mr. Bidens son Beau in a hospital bed. Brian Horton/Associated Press

Weeks after Mr. Bidens victory, his wife, Neilia, and their 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, were killed in a car accident. Mr. Biden considered giving up the Senate seat that he had just won but was persuaded to serve. He was sworn in at the hospital where his sons were treated for injuries from the crash.

Dec. 1973: At Union Station in Washington. Bettman, via Getty Images

As a senator, Mr. Biden commuted to Washington by train, a routine that allowed him to return home to his children each night. In the 1970s, he was a vocal opponent of busing, and decades later, he would come under fire after recalling working with segregationist senators during his early years in the Senate. As time went on, he gained clout in the chamber, becoming the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee and then the panels chairman.

Feb. 1978: With President Jimmy Carter at a fund-raiser. Associated Press

Feb. 1981: Serving on the Foreign Relations Committee. George Tames/The New York Times

In 1977, he married Jill Jacobs; they would later have a daughter, Ashley.

Jan. 1985: His second wife, Jill, left, and their children at a swearing-in ceremony. Lana Harris/Associated Press

Aug. 1986: On the Judiciary Committee with Senators Strom Thurmond, third from the left, and Edward M. Kennedy, center. Lana Harris/Associated Press

June 1987: A campaign kickoff rally in Wilmington, Del. Keith Meyers/The New York Times

In 1987, Mr. Biden began his first presidential campaign, aiming to win the Democratic nomination the following year. The 44-year-old candidate presented himself as representing a new generation and declared, We must rekindle the fire of idealism in this country. But his bid was derailed by a plagiarism scandal, and he dropped out of the race months before the first nominating contest.

June 1987: Trains became a part of Mr. Bidens political identity. Keith Meyers/The New York Times

June 1987: The 1988 Democratic presidential candidates included Al Gore, third from right; the Rev. Jesse Jackson, third from left; and Michael S. Dukakis, second from left, the eventual nominee. Charles Tasnadi/Associated Press

Sept. 1987: Announcing the end of his campaign. Jose R. Lopez/The New York Times

His presidential hopes dashed, Mr. Biden faced a far graver kind of peril in early 1988: a life-threatening brain aneurysm that required emergency surgery. Not long after that, he had another operation for a second brain aneurysm. Later that year, he returned to the Senate after a seven-month absence.

Sept. 1988: Returning to the Senate after recovering from brain surgery. Ron Edmonds/Associated Press

As the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr. Biden presided over confirmation hearings for six Supreme Court nominees, including Robert H. Bork, whose nomination Mr. Biden succeeded in defeating, and Clarence Thomas. The memory of the Thomas hearings would linger for decades as Mr. Biden faced criticism for his handling of Anita Hills testimony before his committee.

Oct. 1991: Mr. Biden, left, swearing in Anita Hill. Shutterstock

Mr. Biden also left his mark on consequential legislation, playing a leading role in passing the 1994 crime bill, which would become associated with mass incarceration. The Violence Against Women Act, one of Mr. Bidens top legislative achievements, became law as part of the crime bill.

July 1994: A news conference on the Violence Against Women Act. John Duricka/Associated Press

Jan. 1999: With Attorney General Janet Reno, left, and President Bill Clinton at a community policing event. Paul Hosefros/The New York Times

Oct. 2002: President George W. Bush signed the authorization of force against Iraq. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Mr. Biden immersed himself in foreign policy during his decades as a senator, rising to serve as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In 2002, he voted to authorize the war in Iraq, a vote that he later called a mistake.

Aug. 2005: A Foreign Relations Committee hearing with Senator Barack Obama. Brendan Smialowski/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

Two decades after his first presidential bid imploded, Mr. Biden decided to try again in the 2008 election. Now in his 60s, he ran as a leader steeped in foreign policy, but he stumbled immediately when he described Mr. Obama, then a fellow senator and presidential rival, as the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. Mr. Bidens campaign never caught on with voters, and he dropped out after finishing in a distant fifth place in the Iowa caucuses.

Aug. 2007: The Democratic field included Mr. Obama and Hillary Clinton, the former first lady who was then a senator from New York, right. Keith Bedford for The New York Times

Oct. 2007: Meeting with voters in Iowa. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Jan. 2008: Signing a campaign button in Iowa. Joshua Lott for The New York Times

Jan. 2008: Leaving a caucus site in Des Moines. David Lienemann/Associated Press

After Mr. Obama won the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, he selected Mr. Biden to be his running mate. The choice added a dose of foreign policy experience to the ticket and began a close political partnership between the two men. As vice president, Mr. Biden oversaw the implementation of the 2009 stimulus package and later headed the administrations cancer moonshot program.

Oct. 2008: Campaigning as Mr. Obamas running mate. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Jan. 2009: Marching in the inaugural parade with his wife, Dr. Biden, and their children, Hunter, Ashley and Beau. Doug Mills/The New York Times

June 2009: During a meeting about the stimulus program at the White House. Doug Mills/The New York Times

A skilled retail politician, Mr. Biden is known for his tactile, backslapping style, embracing one-on-one interactions on the campaign trail and elsewhere. His touchy-feely nature came under scrutiny in the #MeToo era, with a number of women saying he had touched them in ways that made them feel uncomfortable.

Sept. 2012: Campaigning for re-election in Ohio. Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press

Jan. 2013: Beau Biden at the inaugural ceremony. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

Decades after losing his first wife and daughter, Mr. Biden faced another family tragedy in 2015: His son Beau, who followed him into politics and served two terms as Delawares attorney general, died of brain cancer at 46. Mr. Biden cited his sons death, and the grieving that followed, when he announced he would not run for president in 2016.

June 2015: At Beau Bidens funeral. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Sept. 2015: Announcing he would not run for president in 2016. Carlos Barria/Reuters

After leaving office as vice president, he published a memoir and gave paid speeches, earning millions of dollars. He campaigned for Democratic candidates ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

Dec. 2018: At a book event in Vermont. Hilary Swift for The New York Times

In the first months of 2019, the Democratic presidential field grew larger and larger, and Mr. Biden showed no urgency to declare his candidacy. He finally jumped into the race in late April, denouncing President Trump as a threat to the nations character.

May 2019: A campaign kickoff event in Philadelphia. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

June 2019: With a portion of the Democratic candidates at the first debate. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Despite his stature as a former vice president, Mr. Biden struggled to attract some primary voters who were turned off by his moderate brand of politics and his septuagenarian status  a far cry from his days as the 29-year-old Senate candidate. Mr. Biden fell flat in the first nominating contests, finishing in fourth place in Iowa and fifth place in New Hampshire.

Despite his early difficulties in two overwhelmingly white states, Mr. Biden counted on receiving strong support from Black voters in later contests. A big win in South Carolina turned his campaign around, and after picking up a series of key endorsements from former primary opponents, he defeated a more progressive rival, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, to win the Democratic nomination.

Feb. 2020: Connecting with voters in Iowa. Jordan Gale for The New York Times

March 2020: At a campaign event with two former presidential candidates, Senators Kamala Harris, center, and Cory Booker. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

June 2020: A socially distant meeting with community leaders in Wilmington, Del. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

The coronavirus pandemic upended the presidential race, and Mr. Biden limited himself to campaigning virtually for much of the spring as the outbreak raged. He eventually began making occasional in-person appearances, and in August, he chose Senator Kamala Harris of California as his running mate.

Aug. 2020: Ms. Harris was announced as Mr. Bidens running mate. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Mr. Biden confronted an extraordinary general election that played out as the pandemic continued to disrupt American life. He repeatedly condemned Mr. Trumps handling of the crisis, while the president and his allies tried to portray Mr. Biden as a tool of the far left.

The first general election debate quickly devolved into a headache-inducing brawl, as Mr. Trump repeatedly interrupted his opponent. Just days after sharing the stage with Mr. Biden, the president announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Sept. 2020: The first debate with President Trump. Doug Mills/The New York Times

In his visits to battleground states, Mr. Biden held carefully arranged events with mask wearing and social distancing. Eschewing the packed events with big crowds that are a staple of presidential campaigns, he held a string of drive-in car rallies where voters beeped their horns to cheer him on.

Oct. 2020: Supporters at a drive-in rally in Des Moines. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Oct. 2020: Mr. Obama joined Mr. Biden at a campaign rally in Flint, Mich. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Nov. 2020: Celebrating the win with Ms. Harris four days after the election. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Nov. 2020: After twice falling short, Mr. Biden succeeded in his third presidential campaign. Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Election night stretched deep into the week as ballots were counted in key states. Four days after polls closed, Mr. Biden was declared the winner. In the weeks that followed, he rolled out a diverse slate of cabinet picks and prepared to take office.

Nov. 2020: Introducing members of his national security team. Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times

Dec. 2020: Receiving the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Amr Alfiky/The New York Times

Mr. Biden received the Covid-19 vaccine and promised to step up vaccinations across the country, setting a goal of getting 100 million shots into the arms of Americans in his first 100 days in office.

Jan. 2021: Campaigning with Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock in the Georgia Senate runoffs. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Early January brought a major boost to his hopes of passing his legislative agenda. Democrats won both runoff elections for Georgias Senate seats, putting their party in control of the chamber.

Jan. 2021: Arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Jan. 2021: Attending a memorial for victims of the coronavirus at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Doug Mills/The New York Times

Mr. Bidens inauguration on Wednesday took place 48 years after he first arrived in Washington as one of the youngest people to be elected senator. With his swearing-in, he became the oldest president in American history.

Jan. 2021: Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. delivered the oath of office to Mr. Biden. Erin Schaff/The New York Times
P Chidambaram

Ahead of the tenth round of talks between the Centre and agitating farmers, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday urged the ruling dispensation to start afresh and keep the past aside.

Nine rounds of talks have taken place between the government and agitating farmer unions without any concrete resolution, while the tenth round is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

"'Start on a clean slate' is the only way forward," Chidambaram tweeted.

"The government should offer to begin afresh and hold talks on what needs to be done and what needs to be avoided," he said.

The Congress leader also wondered how one could expect a positive outcome when the government refuses to keep the past aside.

"How can we expect any positive outcome when government refuses to keep the past aside and start on a clean state," he said on Twitter.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting on Delhi borders for almost two months against the Centre's three new farm laws enacted in September last year.

The farmers have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.
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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
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WHITE PLAINS  Leaders at the New York Power Authority on Tuesday agreed to shoulder the $342 million long-term budget liability for retirees from its subsidiary state Canal Corporation. Some retirees of both NYPA and the Canal Corp. get free health care coverage.

This is really the best alternative that we found, Adam Barsky, NYPAs CFO said during the meeting of NYPA trustees and Canal Corp. directors.

The liability, or potential cost going into future years, is being shifted from the Canal Corp. to NYPAs special trust created in 2007 to handle post-retirement benefits other than pensions.

NYPA has put $340 million in the trust since then.

By using a trust, the costs dont show up on NYPAs regular balance sheet, which allows the authority to borrow more money for capital improvements. Consolidating the benefits funds also saves money on administrative costs.

The Cuomo Administration in 2017 shifted ownership of the money-losing Canal Corp. from the state Thruway Authority to the Power Authority, which typically brings in a lot of money thanks to the sale of their hydroelectric power generated in western and northern New York.

The Canal Corp., which runs the state canal system running from Buffalo to Waterford and north toward Lake Champlain, has long required subsidies to stay afloat financially.

While officials have said the Power Authority is a better fit for the Canal than the Thruway, the changeover also occurred as the state was constructing the now-completed Mario M. Cuomo, or new Tappan Zee Bridge spanning the Hudson River downstate. The nearly $4 billion bridge is operated by the Thruway Authority.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU

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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
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[January 20, 2021] Todd Bonner responds to false and misleading press releases from Axion Ventures Inc.

BANGKOK, Jan. 20, 2021 /CNW/ - Todd Bonner issues this press release to respond to the two press releases issued by Axion Ventures Inc. (Axion), on January 14 and 15, 2021. First, contrary to Axion's January 15, 2021, Axion has not appointed Mana Prapakamol to Axion's board, nor has Axion changed the composition of its audit and other committees as described in the release. Despite Mr. Bonner's repeated attempts to convene a board meeting, Axion has not held a board meeting since July 14, 2020, and Axion's board has passed no written resolutions during that time. The purported appointment of Mr. Prapakamol to Axion's board is a nullity. Axion's shareholders should have grave concerns about the fact that certain Axion board members have attempted to unilaterally change the composition of Axion's audit committee without calling a board meeting. Such conduct is not permitted under Axon's articles of incorporation or under BC corporate law.



Second, Mr. Bonner is aware of the contents of the lawsuit described in Axion's January 14, 2021 press release and disputes them vigorously. Axion's purported claim against him and the other defendants is rife with false statements and is an unfortunate attempt to damage Mr. Bonner's reputation in order to gain leverage over Mr. Bonner in the context of the ongoing dispute between Mr. Bonner and certain of Axion's other directors. Mr. Bonner takes specific exception to the allegation that he or his affiliates in any way misappropriated in-game advertising technology from Axion, which is patently false and contrary to Axion's own public disclosure. Axion and its principals are fully aware that any such allegation is false, but have chosen to make these allegations in a misguided attempt to claim property rights Axion does not have and further damage Mr. Bonner's reputation.

As Axion's shareholders are no doubt aware, Axion's last annual general meeting was held December 30, 2019. Axion did not hold an AGM in 2020 as required by the British Columbia Business Corporations Act, and has announced no plans for holding an AGM to date. On December 28, 2020, Mr. Bonner asked Axion to commit to holding an AGM by no later than March 31, 2021. The company refused. Mr. Bonner intends to use all available recourse to cause the company to comply with its statutory obligation to hold an AGM in a timely manner so that the conflict between Axion's directors may be resolved by Axion's shareholders and the company can stop diverting its scarce resources to funding spurious litigation and focus on its core business. SOURCE Todd Bonner

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Press Release

20 January 2021

JOHANNESBURG & PORT LOUIS, Mauritius - Funds advised by Kasada Capital Management today announced the first transaction made through the debut fund, Kasada Hospitality Fund LP ("Kasada"), acquiring a portfolio of Sub-Saharan African Hotels from AccorInvest.

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The landmark deal is one of the largest cross-border hospitality M&A transactions in Africa and will see Kasada take control of eight fully operational hotels across three countries - Ivory Coast, Senegal and Cameroon - comprising 1,602 hotel rooms focussed on servicing intra-regional business travel in Africa.

In taking on full ownership and management of the portfolio, Kasada, a game-changer for hospitality in Africa, has committed to implementing new standards in terms of local management teams and environmental footprint while ensuring guest satisfaction levels continue to develop. It sits at the core of the firm's strategy to become a solution provider for the sustainable growth of the hospitality market in sub-Saharan Africa.

The transaction was executed during one of the most challenging periods for the African hospitality sector and is a reflection of Kasada's continued commitment to the region and belief in the prospects for its post-Covid-19 recovery. The three countries' economies have been growing at a steady pace, a trend that is expected to continue in the medium term. Tourism is one of the most dynamic sectors in the region, representing 10%, 8% and 7% of Senegal, Ivory Coast and Cameroon's GDP respectively - significantly contributing to economic development. While the travel disruptions caused by Covid-19 have impacted international travel, the portfolio will focus on serving intra-regional business travel, which has begun to grow over recent months.

AccorInvest is owner and operator of a property portfolio of more than 880 hotels, owned and leased, located across 28 countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia. The sale of the portfolio of hotels in Sub-Saharan Africa to Kasada marks the refocusing of its investment strategy on Europe, positioning Kasada as the market leader in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Commenting on the transaction, Olivier Granet, Managing Partner and CEO, Kasada, said: This is an outstanding portfolio of hotels covering all market segments and fully aligned with Kasada's strategy. We look forward to working with the fantastic teams running the portfolio and to help drive the growth of the hospitality sector in this promising region. As long-term investors we are committed to implementing new ESG and guest satisfaction standards across our portfolio to ensure the sector sustainably grows to match the expectations of our guests. We believe we can have a positive impact by providing much-needed capital at a critical time."

David Damiba, Managing Partner and CIO, Kasada, said:"Despite the challenging global macro-economic conditions, Kasada intends to invest and support the African hospitality sector as it begins to adapt to a new market. The Kasada team's deep-rooted regional and sector expertise meant we were well placed to execute this complex transaction, one which spans multiple jurisdictions across West Africa."

The transaction relates to the Pullman, Novotel, Ibis Plateau and Ibis Marcory hotels in Abidjan, Ivory Coast; the Pullman, Novotel and Ibis hotels in Dakar, Senegal and the Ibis hotel in Douala, Cameroon.

Kasada was advised on the transaction by Lazard Freres, Ashurst, Dentons, Okan and KPMG.

AccorInvest was advised by Jones Lang LaSalle, De Pardieu Brocas Maffei, Mazars and Ernst & Young.

About AccorInvest

AccorInvest owns and operates a portfolio of over 880 owned and leased hotels, located in 28 countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia.

The Group consolidates and adds value to its real estate portfolio through hotel acquisitions, renovations and developments in Europe in the economy and midscale segments.

Building on a long-term partnership with Accor, manager and owner of world-renowned brands such as Ibis, Novotel, Mercure, etc. AccorInvest benefits from its expertise in the hospitality sector. This privileged partnership ensures the operational excellence, the attractiveness of its hotels and customer satisfaction.
Cycle track to enrich sustainable tourism offer at lake near Rome.

The Lazio region has given the green light to a plan to build a 33-km cycle path around Lago di Bracciano, a lake located an hour north of Rome.

The project, which will connect the three lakeside towns of Anguillara Sabazia, Trevignano Romano and Bracciano, will receive funding of 300,000 from the Lazio region.

The president of the Parco di Bracciano - Martignano, Vittorio Lorenzetti, described it as "an ambitious project aimed not only at residents, but also at enriching the offer to tourists, attracting and promoting sustainable tourism.

The track is to intertwine with a series of other paths, including the ancient pilgrimage route to Rome, the Via Francigena.

The project involves the creation of a two-lane cycle and pedestrian path, with works reportedly set to begin in 2022.

Lago di Bracciano is a lake of volcanic origin, located 32 km northwest of Rome. It is the second largest lake in the Lazio region, after Lago di Bolsena.

Photo credit: leoks / Shutterstock.com.
Staff at special schools in Northern Ireland, which are remaining open during the current Covid-19 lockdown, are living in fear after it emerged pupils who have a relative at home who have tested positive for the virus are still able to attend.

Stormonts Education Committee was hearing evidence from teaching unions on the state of education during the Covid lockdown on Wednesday morning.

The committee was told that staff at one special school are absolutely distressed after learning of a case where the pupil is still attending.

Justin McCamphill of the NASUWT informed the committee that Public Health Agency guidance allows for a child whose parent has tested positive for Covid to attend school after ten days of no symptoms, even if another family member tests positive.

This is extremely stressful for staff, said Mr McCamphill. As a union we are calling on the PHA to publish their scientific evidence which says this is safe.

Two metre social distancing is near enough impossible to manage in these school environments. Staff are working under immense pressure.

This is having a big impact on mental health and wellbeing.

The Irish government has abandoned its timetable to reopen schools for primary pupils with special needs later this week after unions rejected the plans, while schools in Northern Ireland remain open, though one school, Fleming Fulton in Belfast, has moved to a two day week for pupils.

Caroline McCarthy of the Irish National Teachers Organisation told the committee that teachers are battered at the minute beyond belief, exhausted, frightened, desperate to help, desperate to step-up.

The Department of Education and the Education Authority have no idea of the mitigation that is required to keep them safe, she said.

Parents are concerned about the health and well being of pupils and sometimes the family as a whole.

There is limited, if any action coming out of meetings the department is having with school leadership and the unions.

Justin McCamphill added that all teachers and education staff should be prioritised to receive the Covid-19 vaccinations.

Teachers are doing their best to deliver the curriculum online, but that is never going to replace face-to-face teaching, he said.

We believe it is right and proper that teachers in special schools are treated in the same way as those who work within health and social care as they are putting themselves at high risk for the greater good and to ensure vulnerable young people have respite.

There was universal acknowledgement that teaching staff should be prioritised for vaccination.

Scott Naismith, principal at Methodist College Belfast told the committee: Like everyone else, we look forward to public health guidance being able to confirm that its safe for pupils, staff and the community for schools to reopen.

That should only happen when its absolutely safe to do so.

We are supporting the calls for education staff, all education staff in schools to be prioritised for vaccinations as soon as possible, said Mr Naismith.

Sinn Feins Karen Mullan said she it was absolutely beyond acceptable that there is not a confirmed plan for the vaccination of all school staff.

DUP committee member Robin Newton said: The committee fully agrees with the body on the issue of vaccinations for those involved in the teaching profession at all levels and that they should be should be included in the priority list.

The committee also addressed the issue of transfer tests, though both examining bodies, AQE and PPTC declined invitations to attend.

Daniel McCrossan MLA and Justin McCamphill from NASUWT both accused the bodies of avoiding responsibility.

Mr McCrossan asked the witnesses how they see the fairest way to carry out post-primary transfer.

Jacquie White of the Ulster teachers Union said that in order to make it fair, schools should take a step back, to revisit their criteria and to leave that to the side and revisit it at a later date.

Its highly regrettable that ideological differences stood in the way of actually focusing in for a resolution for the children, she said.

Primary school principals are being left in a very, very difficult position. They are fielding many questions from parents that they cant answer as they have no clarity.

Schools hold informative data and data that enables them to move forward with their teaching. Different schools use different tests, but due to the pandemic, some schools wont have been able to hold tests.

This data is not comparable and not reliable in this context.

Justin McCamphill added that the problem is were dealing with a system thats not fair to begin with.

With schools still scheduled to re-open on February 15, attention was also turned on how they can do so safely.

Mark Langhammer from the National Education Union referred to a number of Covid-19 related studies and says there is a clear link with closing schools and controlling the virus.

We think, first of all, that there must be and should be fewer people in schools, in particular, we think class sizes should be significantly lower, he told the committee.

We should be looking at 1 to 12 teacher to pupil ratio, something like that.

The NEU representative also called for better enforcement of social distancing and a review of social bubbles.

Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler added: I think that the Minister needs to invoke his coronavirus powers to do something solution-focused here and take the responsibility off teachers and schools.

The Lagan Valley MLA said more information from the unions on the issue of school restarts and the use of alternative venues was needed.

Justin McCamphill from NASUWT replied that was the original plan from 19 June, however the minster decided towards the end of August that schools would come back on a full return.

The approach of having more space could have been done, said Mr McCamphill.

Getting extra building space would not have been an issue, but additional staffing would have cost money and resources.

Committee chair Chris Lyttle said schools need extra staff, extra space, extra cleaning, blended learning capacity, contact tracing capacity and that requires extra resource funding and extra capital funding.

Methody principal Scott Naismith said a return to school would require additional qualified staff at additional cost.

Schools have been underfunded for over a decade, he said.

Sinn Feins Nicola Brogan added her support to calls for teachers and school staff to be prioritised for vaccination, as well as staff in childcare facilities.

She also said she has now written to the Education Minister about access to remote learning devices for children.

Jackie Bartley from St Genevieves High School replied that there is a vast inequality in relation to the amount of access that some pupils do have for that access to education online.

Our C2K system is 20 years old now and it really needs to be look at whether it is fit for purpose.
Trump urges nations to 'stop persecuting people of faith' in Religious Freedom proclamation Biden says US gov't must 'ensure that no one feels afraid to attend a religious service'

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In one of his last presidential proclamations before leaving office, President Donald Trump called on Americans to cherish the "fundamental human right of religious freedom" and urged the nations of the world to "stop persecuting people of faith."

Trump signed a proclamation Friday recognizing Jan. 16 as 2021's Religious Freedom Day. He contended that faith and religious freedom were "deeply embedded in the heart and soul of our nation" before illustrating the role of religious freedom in U.S. history.

"When the pilgrims first crossed the Atlantic Ocean more than 400 years ago in pursuit of religious freedom, their dedication to this first freedom shaped the character and purpose of our nation," he wrote. "Later, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, their deep desire to practice their religion unfettered from government intrusion was realized. Since then, the United States has set an example for the world in permitting believers to live out their faith in freedom."

The president proceeded to outline his administration's record on the issue of religious freedom at home and abroad. He cited his signature of an executive order promoting free speech and religious liberty designed "to ensure that faith-based organizations would not be forced to compromise their religious beliefs as they serve their communities" and his work to protect "healthcare providers' rights not to be forced to perform procedures that violate their most deeply-held convictions" as examples of his work on behalf of religious freedom.

"We have ended the misguided policies of denying access to educational funding to historically black colleges and universities because of their religious character and of denying loan forgiveness to those who perform public services at religious organizations. Throughout this difficult year, we have continued these efforts, cutting red tape to ensure houses of worship and other faith-based organizations could receive Paycheck Protection Program loans on the same grounds and with the same parameters as any other entity," he added.

"We have also aggressively defended faith communities against overreach by state and local governments that have tried to shut down communal worship. Together, we have honored the sanctity of every life, protected the rights of Americans to follow their conscience and preserved the historical tradition of religious freedom in our country," Trump continued.

Additionally, the president discussed the actions taken by his administration to hold "foreign governments accountable for trampling  in many cases, egregiously so  on religious liberty.

"The United States will never waver in these efforts to expand religious liberty around the world and calls on all nations to respect the rights of its citizens to live according to their beliefs and conscience.

"On Religious Freedom Day, we honor the vision of our Founding Fathers for a nation made strong and righteous by a people free to exercise their faith and follow their conscience," he concluded. "As Americans united in unparalleled freedom, we recommit to safeguarding and preserving religious freedom across our land and around the world."

The president closed his proclamation by urging Americans to celebrate Religious Freedom Day "with events and activities that remind us of our shared heritage of religious liberty and that teach us how to secure this blessing both at home and around the world."

President-elect Joe Biden, slated to take office Wednesday, issued his own statement in honor of Religious Freedom Day on Saturday. The incoming 46th President of the United States repeatedly touted the nation's religious diversity and vowed to "be vigilant against the rising tide of targeted violence and hate at home and abroad, and work to ensure that no one feels afraid to attend a religious service, school, or community center, or walk down the street wearing the symbols of their faith."

"Ensuring freedom of religion remains more important than ever," Biden added. "Our government must safeguard these bedrock protections  never favoring certain faiths or discriminating against particular religions, and never imposing religious tests for citizenship, public office, or entry into our country."
Although, the Supreme Court has barred Sasikala from contesting elections for six years, it will be interesting to note whether Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), the party of which VK Sasikala is President and AIADMK will have a merger.

Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaas close confidante Sasikala is likely to be released from Parappana Agrahara prison, Bengaluru on 27th January. She was sentenced for four years in February 2017 in a disproportionate assets case. Sasikala is set to be released on the same day Jayalalithaas memorial is scheduled to be inaugurated by CM Palaniswami in Chennai.

Questions on whether Sasikala will be rejoining politics have been doing rounds. Although, the Supreme Court has barred Sasikala from contesting elections for six years, it will be interesting to note whether Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), the party of which VK Sasikala is President and AIADMK will have a merger. Sasikala was removed from the post of General Secretary of AIADMK after she was jailed. According to reports, AIADMKs ruling alliance BJP is in the favor of joining in with Sasikala as her comeback might possibly strengthen the party.

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However, CM Palaniswami has clearly stated that there is no chance of that happening. While addressing the media he said, No chance for that. She is not in the party at all she is not in the party. 100 per cent she will not be admitted. AIADMK is now functioning after clearly deciding on this. There is no different opinion on this.

Palaniswami is the most powerful member in the party and has also been announced as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the upcoming elections. His disinclination towards the merger might play a big role in its occurrence.
A further 1,610 people have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test  the highest number recorded on a single day since the pandemic began.

It takes the total number of Covid-related deaths in the UK to 91,740, and the total number of confirmed cases to 3,466,849.

Announcing the new record, Public Health England (PHE) also said that, as of 9am on Tuesday, there had been an additional 33,355 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.

Tuesdays figure is 46 more than the previous high on 13 January, when 1,564 deaths were reported. It is also a significant rise from the death figures released on Monday, which showed 599 further fatalities.

The positive case rate was, however, lower on Tuesday than the previous day, where PHE reported 37,535 lab-confirmed cases.

Separate figures, showing deaths where Covid-19 had been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, revealed there have now been 108,000 deaths involving coronavirus in the UK.

In the same announcement, PHE said 4,266,577 people in the UK had now received the first dose of a Covid vaccine  an increase of 204,076 from figures released on Monday.

Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director at PHE, said: Whilst there are some early signs that show our sacrifices are working, we must continue to strictly abide by the measures in place.

She added that reducing contact with others and staying at home would cause a fall in the number of infections over time.

The bleak announcement comes after it was revealed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday that at least one in eight people in England had had coronavirus by December last year.

Figures from the ONS suggested that a total of 5.4 million people, or 12.1 per cent of the population, would have returned a positive result if tested for antibodies last month.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA UK news in pictures 11 April 2021 A pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the Fox on the Hill pub on Denmark Hill in London EPA UK news in pictures 10 April 2021 The Death Gun Salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the The Tower of London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2021 A man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 8 April 2021 Cousin Pascal ridden by James King clears the chair on their way to winning the 4:05 Pool via REUTERS UK news in pictures 7 April 2021 Deliveroo riders from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain outside Deliveroo headquarters in London, as they go on strike in a dispute for fair pay, safety protections and basic workers rights PA UK news in pictures 6 April 2021 Waves crash over the walls next to Seaham Lighthouse in Durham PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2021 Lusamba Katalay (third from left), the husband of Belly Mujinga joins activists at a vigil at Victoria station in London to mark the first anniversary of the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga who died with Covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at London's Victoria station PA UK news in pictures 4 April 2021 People spend Easter Sunday at Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth Jake McPherson/SWNS UK news in pictures 3 April 2021 A woman looks into the camera as she attends a 'Kill the Bill' protest in London EPA UK news in pictures 2 April 2021 Members of the Bamburgh Croquet club play a game following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Northumberland, Britain Reuters

The NHS is now under even more pressure to complete vaccinations among care home staff and residents  in time to meet the governments target this Sunday  after deaths in care facilities jumped by 46 per cent in the last week.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi described the inoculation rollout as a race against deaths on Monday.

Meanwhile, NHS England has said 400 military personnel, a mix of combat medical technicians and soldiers, are now working alongside doctors and nurses in hospitals across London and the Midlands to help alleviate some of the stress caused by the pandemic.

They are said to be performing general duties including helping on wards, operating as family liaisons between clinical teams and patients relatives, as well as estates and porter duties.

Thanking the military for its assistance, NHS England said in a statement: The NHS has 50,000 more staff now working in the health service than a year ago, all working round the clock to respond to unprecedented pressure on the NHS.
Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, speaks at a National Prayer Rally on the National Mall in Washington on Dec. 12, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Mike Lindell on Cancel Culture: We Have to Make a Stand and Not Back Down

Mike Lindell, founder and CEO of MyPillow, told NTD on Tuesday that some groups are forcing retailers to delist his products and that Americans have to stand up against cancel culture.

Kohls, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Wayfair recently notified Lindell that they wont continue carrying his products. He said the actions came after groups such as Sleeping Giant pushed companies to stop doing business with him.

These are groups that were hired to attack and crush my companies to cancel MyPillow out. And theyre attacking these people, like Bed Bath & Beyond, Lindell said. They succumb to the pressure. And you know, thats their choice. But you know what, this is the time we all have to stand up against this.

Sleeping Giants, a leftist activist group, has ongoing campaigns to pressure companies to drop conservative and right-leaning websites, such as Breitbart News and Fox News. On Twitter, it trumpeted the news that Bed Bath & Beyond and Kohls dropped MyPillow, claiming Lindell played a part in motivating the breach of the Capitol by questioning the results of the 2020 election.

Lindell, who says his products are in the top three in box stores across the country, said that companies are afraid their business will suffer and have therefore tried to distance themselves from him and his company.

Im not backing down. Our countrys at stake here. I grew up in this country with the American dream. And Im the American Dream on steroids, said Lindell, who created the MyPillow in 2004 and built the business in Chaska, Minnesota. Were the greatest country in the world.

Bed Bath & Beyond told The Epoch Times via email that their decision to stop carrying MyPillow is data-driven, customer-inspired and are delivering substantial growth in our key destination categories.

We are continually improving our product assortment, which includes plans to offer an array of unique and exclusive Owned Brands from Spring 2021. As previously announced, we have been rationalizing our assortment to discontinue a number of underperforming items and brands. This includes the MyPillow product line. Our decisions are data-driven, customer-inspired and are delivering substantial growth in our key destination categories, a spokesperson said.

Lindell called on Americans to stand up to cancel culture.

This is the time we have to make a stand. We have to make a stand and not back down to media and cancel culture, he said. We cant live in fear this time. We got to all stand together. And Im not talking politics. Im talking people.

Zachary Stieber and Allen Zhong contributed to this report.

Washington: US President Donald Trump has granted clemency to former top adviser Steve Bannon as part of a wave of 143 pardons and commutations issued during his final day in the White House.

With just hours remaining until Joe Biden's inauguration, Trump pardoned Bannon, who ran his successful 2016 presidential campaign during its final months. The 67-year-old was charged last year with defrauding Trump supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the president's wall on the US-Mexico border.

Bannon and Trump fell out during the first year of his presidency but the two men recently rekindled their relationship as Trump sought support for his unproven claims of voter fraud.

Trump issued a list of 73 pardons and 70 commutations on Wednesday (AEDT), continuing a tradition of presidents issuing a swathe of such last-minute decisions before leaving office.
It's one of the raciest trends of the last 30 years - but the exposed thong is firmly back in the fashion spotlight.

Stars including Cardi B, Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner have been snapped with the strap of their barely-there underwear peeking out above the waistbands of their jeans and plunging backless dresses in recent months.

The latest celebrity to embrace the 90s look is British pop star Dua Lipa, 25, who stunned in a daring cut-out 'thong-dress' as she shared a series of sexy images from her recent trip to Mexico on Instagram.

But how do the A-listers pull off the style and make it appear fashionable? Celebrity stylist Rochelle White has told FEMAIL how everyday women can embrace the look 'without appearing trashy'.

Her tips include avoiding bright colours and garish patterns and wearing an exposed thong for appropriate occasions, such as on a night out or for a day at the beach.

She also suggests keeping to comfortable fabrics and styles that you would usually wear.

Dua Lipa, 25, from London, stunned in a daring cut-out 'thong-dress' as she shared a series of sexy images from her recent trip to Mexico on Instagram earlier this month (pictured)

But she's not the only celebrity to sport the '90s look, with Cardi B (pictured) flaunting her bright pink thong teamed with matching wide-set leather trousers in a social media snap posted earlier this month

Keep your thong just peaking through

Why are exposed thongs back in style? Celebrity stylist Rochelle White said popular social media pages dedicated to sharing throwbacks from the '90s and early 2000s should be largely credited for keeping the trend in fashion. 'But, also TikTok,' she added. 'I feel that a lot of the TikTok creators (US based) have been slowly bringing back things like Von Dutch, glitter and now thongs on show. 'Also, the catwalk brought back the trend in 2020. Designer Maximilian Davis brought it back in her SS2021 London Fashion Week show. 'Not to mention British-Indian designer Supriya Lele and Donatella Versace also did the same.' Advertisement

Celebrity stylist Rochelle White said: 'Exposed thongs are making their comeback and are becoming more visible than ever. If you want to get involved in this trend as set by Dua lipa recently, look for thongs that suit your style.

'Look for styles that sit comfortably either on your trouser line or slight higher so that it is peaking through.

'If you fancy making a bit of a statement, the higher the better. Look for more high waisted thongs that sit higher than the trouser line and complement your hips.'

Avoid bright shades and match the colour with your outfit

Rochelle explained: 'When it comes to making it stylish, keep it neutral, basic and simple.

'Match the colours with the outfit that you are wearing and stay away from bright colours and garish patterns.

'Treat it as part of your overall outfit and how you would want it to be perceived as not everyone will want to see.

'However, if they do get a glace or peak, make it pleasing to the eye.'

Stick to comfortable fabrics like cotton

'What to look for when picking your thong style is comfort above everything else,' insisted the celebrity stylist.

'Look for comfortable fabrics like cotton, that is not only breathable but is great for all day wear. The key here is finding non irritating material.

'As thongs come in a range of styles from the itty bitty thong, G string thong, a good old retro high waisted thong to the everyday lacy thing, pick the one that best suits you and the outfits you wear or are planning on wearing.'

American model Bella Hadid (pictured) has also boasted the look, teaming white jeans and a matching top with a g-string

The Kardashian family also appear to be huge fans of the trend, with Kim Kardashian (pictured left) sporting the look towards the end of last year and Kendall Jenner showcasing an exposed thong back in February (pictured right)

Embrace lace styles to keep it classy

The stylist said: 'The best fabrics I would recommend for a classy look would be lace, nylon, and spandex and cotton.

'However, a mix of soft cotton and elastane can also be a good mix. Ones to avoid would be pure nylon or any material that is harsh on the skin and intimate area.'

Only wear the style to beach resorts, festivals or trendy bars

'Really think about where you are going to be when planning on rocking your thong on show,' said Rochelle.

'If you are planning a nice, posh meal or family restaurant or family holiday hotel or resort, maybe it is not a good idea. However, a trendy bar, night out with the girls or a partner, a beach location or even a festival/event, then go for it.

'It is important that while this may be a trend, it's not a trend that everyone wants to see and experience. Be mindful in your thong and outfit choice.

Ahead of the curve, Kylie Jenner donned this daring look in 2019. She teamed bright green underwear with light blue jeans

Bella Hadid walks the runway at the Versace fashion show during the Milan Men's Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020, pictured left, and Hailey Bieber attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, right
A 15-year research and advocacy effort to make microwave ovens safer has led to a change in national manufacturing standards that will make microwaves more difficult for young children to open, protecting them from the severe microwave-related burns that scar hundreds of kids under 5 years old in the United States each year. Researchers at Rush University Medical Center and other leaders of the campaign, who worked diligently to document the frequency and severity of these injuries and young children's vulnerability to them, published the results of their efforts in The Journal of Pediatrics on Jan. 20.

"The efforts we have made over the last 15 years have recently led to a change in how microwaves are made. In 2023, manufacturers will be required to incorporate two distinct actions into opening the door of a microwave oven," said Kyran Quinlan MD, MPH, a professor of pediatrics and the director of the Division of General Pediatrics at Rush University Medical Center. Quinlan and fellow Rush pediatrician Gina Lowell, MD, worked closely with colleagues from the University of Chicago Medical Center Burn Unit to achieve the goal of child resistant microwave doors.

"We believed that if young children were less able to open microwave oven doors, they would be less likely to be able to remove the heated items, such as liquids and noodle soups, and they would therefore be less at risk for severe burns," Quinlan added. 'These burns are terribly painful, require burn unit care, and can be life-changing because of the permanent scarring that often results."

An abstract presenting the results from the advocacy effort was chosen as the Program Description Abstract of the Year during the annual conference of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids in December 2019.

According to the American Burn Association, 22.5% of the patients in burn units across the United States are children, and most of the children are admitted for scalds rather than burns suffered in fires.

The researchers' 15-year journey began with documenting the issue, and learning how microwave ovens are regulated and how to effectively advocate for child-resistant microwave oven doors. In 2008, the researchers published an analysis of three years of burn unit data that found that a significant percentage of burns involved young children opening a microwave themselves and removing and spilling the oven's heated contents.

In that report, the youngest child burned was 18 months old, and nearly half of the cases required skin grafts -- a process of removing skin from one part of the body to cover the section of skin that was burned.

The researchers then evaluated and documented the abilities of healthy young children ages 15 months to 4 years to use microwave ovens. They recorded whether the children could open the microwave oven door with either a push mechanism or a pull mechanism, turn on the microwave and remove its contents.

The study revealed that children as young as 17 months could open both a push- and a pull-open microwave oven door, remove what was in the microwave, and even turn it on. Nearly all children were able to perform each of these tasks by the age of 2.

The researchers then worked to submit a proposed change in the design requirements of microwave oven doors to make them more difficult for young children to open. Quinlan and Lowell worked with the child product safety advocacy group Kids in Danger to enlist college engineering students to design child-resistant microwave doors to demonstrate their feasibility. The team also presented their research at national meetings and created a short video to put a face with the statistics about microwave-related childhood burns.

Eventually, Quinlan and Marla Robinson MSc, OTR/L, assistant director of therapy services at University of Chicago Medical Center and a partner in the advocacy campaign, became voting members of the Underwriters Laboratories Standards Technical Panel for microwave ovens, which sets the standards required for any microwave sold in the United States.

After previous failed attempts to change the standard for microwave oven doors, the panel passed the change by a single vote in September 2018. The new microwave ovens also will be required to include labels warning families of the risk of severe scalds to young children.

"Early on, we felt that making microwave oven doors harder to open would truly protect young children from these burns, which were frequently severe," Quinlan said. "This took longer than we expected, but it was so worth it.

"We knew we had work to do to share this idea and to provide enough information to convince others who could be a part of the change we sought, but ultimately, our idea was a good one, and with persistence we realized our goal."

###
The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 election, John Dramani Mahama, has filed a new motion at the Supreme Court asking the Electoral Commission (EC) to furnish him with all 275 original copies of constituency collation forms for the presidential election.



Mr. Mahama filed the motion through his lawyers on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.



This comes on the back of the dismissal of his earlier motion seeking to ask the EC some 12 questions.



Aside from the request for the constituency collation forms, also known as pink sheets, Mr Mahama's motion has five other requests of the EC including the originals of the Constituency Presidential Election Results Summary Sheets and the Regional Presidential Election Results Collation Forms.



Mr. Mahama also requested for the records of the alleged update to the purported declaration of presidential election results on 9th December 2020.



According to the motion, Mr. Mahama wants:



The originals of the Constituency Presidential Election Results Collation Forms (Form 9) for all constituencies in Ghana;



The originals of the Constituency Presidential Election Results Summary Sheets (Form 10) for all constituencies in Ghana;



The originals of the Regional Presidential Election Results Collation Forms (Form 11) for all regions in Ghana;



The originals of the Regional Presidential Election Results Summary Sheets (Form 12) for all regions in Ghana;



The original of the Declaration of the Presidential Results Form (Form 13);



The records of the alleged update to the purported declaration of presidential election results on 9th December 2020, of the results of four Constituencies in the Greater Accra Region.



At the core of his case, Mr. Mahama argues that neither he nor President Akufo-Addo attained a clear majority during the 2020 polls.



This is because of the omission of the Techiman South constituency from the declaration of results.



Mr. Mahama is now asking the Supreme Court to order a re-run of the presidential election for him and the incumbent.



According to the EC, President Akufo-Addo garnered 51.59 percent of the votes while Mr. Mahama got 47.37 percent.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Provisional data released by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on Wednesday showed 10.11 lakh net subscribers in November, 2020.

The pension fund body stated that 6.41 lakh new members have joined EPFO and roughly 3.70 lakh net members exited and then rejoined EPFO, indicating switching of jobs by subscribers within the establishments covered by EPFO.

Exited members rejoining also indicate that workers are returning to their jobs with decline in active Covid-19 cases in India, EPFO said.

Age-wise analysis indicates that during November 2020, the age-bracket of 22-25 has registered highest growth in subscriber base with around 2.72 lakh net enrollments. This was followed by 18-21 age-bracket with around 2.21 lakh net enrollments. The 18-25 age-group members can be considered as fresh hands in the labour market and have contributed roughly 48.72 percent of the new subscriber additions for November, 2020, the pension fund body said.

Across the States, comparison of payroll figures reveals that states of Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka continue to remain at the forefront of the employment recovery cycle with adding approximately 53 percent of the total net payroll addition during the current financial year 2020-21 (from April to November, 2020) across all the age groups.

Gender-wise analysis for the month of November 2020 shows that the share of females in new enrolment has increased from 21.64 percent in October, 2020 to 22.40 percent in November, 2020, as per the November payroll data.

Out of total 6.41 lakh net subscribers joined the EPF Scheme in November, 2020, total 1.43 lakh were female workforce.

Age-wise analysis indicated that maximum numbers of new additions during November 2020 were from the 22-25 age bracket with 2.72 lakh net enrollments., followed by followed by 18-21 age-bracket with 2.21 lakh net enrollments.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, EPFO has added around 45.29 lakh net subscribers base in the current financial year (from April to November, 2020), the fund body said.
(Photo : Which Aspects Are Important When Choosing a Web Host Provider?)

There are manifold features and factors which are important to be noticed while hosting a website and looking for a fitting provider. Because each website has its security system, web-space, many other factors, and features. The needs differ according to the purpose of the website. First of all, you have to find a web host service that is reliable and offers the package you need. Here are a few aspects that should be taken into consideration.

Read Customer Reviews:

The best option to select a website with a real story is to get a view of the customer's reviews. You have to perform a Google search for that company. Then you have to do a search on different resources or on social media to check out the company's review. You will find out the features they provide you or about the problem faced by the customers. It will help you a lot.

Stay Focused:

When selecting the package for your website you have to focus on your requirements and on the services, which are provided by the web host service. You need to be sure what you want to do with your website. There are different need depending on the purpose of a web site. A web shop and a personal blog are two things with huge differences. You can find the reviews and recommendations around the internet. The weakness and the strength of the web host will be cleared by reading these reviews.

Important Features:

While focusing on the review you also have to focus on that thing that makes the hosting company special. What features are provided to host your site? The privacy domain, hosting, backup features, everything according to your needs and requirements. The energy-saving practice, data center, or additional feature should be according to your requirements. Consider the specific information for your selection. When you know what you are interested in, you should have a look at a provider like IONOS and select the service that satisfies you the most.

Usability and Updates:

The usability is a point where a human interacts with a computer with the help of s device. This includes PC mice, keyboards, and even smartphone screens. It should be possible to use everything to control the own web site. It might be useful to have a mobile application to access and change things on the go. In general, the way in which users interact with an application or a website has to be easy and accessible.

It is important to stay up to date according to new technology and devices. While setting up a website you have to take different aspects into account. These include installing systems such as WordPress, or setting up an email server. Remember to keep everything up to date or pay attention that your provider does that for you.

Hardware and Service:

You need to do a proper research while reading the comments or blogs about the providers. You need to find out what devices and systems the different providers use and provide to the user. Moreover, it can be helpful to know the server locations.

It is also interesting to take a look at the service hours and contact options. Can I contact the provider at night or on holidays if I have problems?

The main key point on which all the things are dependent. The performance of hardware should be good and manage your work adequately. Many also offer cloud services and back-ups.

Packages should be expandable

Sometimes one's own demands change. It could happen that more visitors come to the website or that you need to manage more data such as videos etc. on it.

Every provider should have some dynamics in their offer, so that you can expand or reduce packages at any time.

Tools provides by the web host service

It is very helpful to take a look at the corresponding tools and building kits that a web host has on offer. If you want to extend your website with additional functions or offer new services to your visitors, it is helpful to have an overview. For example, one provider may offer its customers the option of integrating plug-ins, another may allow you to register a domain, and yet another may provide all services.

Take this into consideration and you find a fitting web host service.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday urged incoming US President Joe Biden to "strengthen" a long-standing alliance between the two countries, partly to confront the "threat" posed by Iran.

"I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran," Netanyahu said.

The Israeli leader was speaking in a video congratulating Biden moments after he was sworn in as US president, replacing Donald Trump.

Netanyahu, who has referred to Trump as the "best friend" Israel has had in the White House, noted Wednesday that he had "a warm personal friendship going back many decades" with Biden.

Under Trump, the United States withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and imposed tough new sanctions on the Islamic republic, Israel's arch foe.

Israel welcomed the moves and encouraged Europe to follow suit.

But Biden's nominee for Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said Tuesday the incoming administration was ready to return to the deal as long as Iran respects its commitments.

Israel has also reached a series of normalisation agreements with its Arab neighbours under the Trump administration.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Shocking footage shows a disabled woman being heckled by her neighbours as she is accused of being a benefits cheat in a BBC2 documentary which detailed the harrowing disability hate crimes in Britain.

Targeted: The Truth about Disability Hate Crime from Richard Butchins, which aired tonight, featured testimonies from a group of disabled people, sharing how being victims of name-calling, physical violence and intimidation has affected their daily lives.

Former NHS nurse Ailsa, from Northern Ireland, became wheelchair-bound following a road accident, and was forced to flee her home after being relentlessly accused of being a benefits cheat.

Ailsa had end her career as a nurse after the accident left her unable to walk - but for reasons unbeknown to her, soon faced further torment when her local community accused her of 'faking' in order to claim disability benefit.

The documentary shows footage of neighbours continuously berating Ailsa telling her she had 'brought on the bullying herself' and calling her a 'f****** scumbag'.

Scroll down for video

Former NHS nurse Ailsa, from Northern Ireland, became wheelchair-bound following a road accident, and was forced to leave her home after being relentlessly accused of being a benefits fraud

In October 2019, Ailsa (pictured) was forced to leave her home due to intimidation and attacks on her house

Working with the NHS and doing something productive,' she said, 'I loved what I did helping other people.

'I would rather have none of this, having people calling you a cheat, having people insinuating that Im faking my disability and getting something for nothing. I would happily give up what they think I have to have my life back as it was.'

In October 2019 she was forced to leave her home due to intimidation and attacks on her house, including neighbours repeatedly blocking her driveway and 'relentlessly stoning' her property with concrete rocks.

'I dreaded going to my home', she said, 'I could not sleep because I was constantly alert as to what would happen next'.

Neighbours would throw eggs, cigarette butts, yoghurt and flour bombs at her home and Ailsa told how some would spread rumours that she was a paedophile.

Alisa had tried talking to neighbours with no avail, insisting: 'There was no way I was going to be allowed to live in peace, the taunting, the nasty jibes, I wasn't respected at all.'

Elsewhere in the show, Andrea, from Yorkshire, has dwarfism and was left with a perforated eardrum and fractured skull when she was kicked in the head in an unprovoked attack

Hannah, from London, with cerebral palsy, has experienced countless bouts of verbal abuse and says she regularly receives abuse about the way she walks

Alisa said the last few weeks in her home were the worst: 'I knew it had a different sense to it than all the other times, that this would never stop and they were going to do whatever they had to to get me out of my home'.

In one terrifying incident, neighbours surrounded Alisa's car to stop her from driving away, filming her while calling her a 'pathetic liar' - forcing her to later leave her home under the cover of night with a police escort.

'Another crowd had gathered and were starting to attack police, more people were coming and I was petrified, the chanting and the roaring I could hear it while I was trying to get basic things from my house'.

Alisa teared up as she explained how she was taken to a hotel before being moved into temporary accommodation 10-months ago, still technically homeless as a result of the abuse.

Also appearing on the programme, Andrea, from Yorkshire, has dwarfism and was left with a perforated eardrum and fractured skull when she was kicked in the head in an unprovoked attack.

Elaine, from Buckinghamshire, had to leave her local area after losing her sight when she became a 'target' for muggings

Meanwhile, Hannah, from London, with cerebral palsy, has experienced countless bouts of verbal abuse, and Elaine, from Buckinghamshire, had to leave her local area after losing her sight when she became a 'target' for muggings.

Dan, from Devon, who has autism, was left with suicidal thoughts after being victim of mindless brutal assaults.

Andrea, who has faced unprovoked verbal and physical attacks as a result of her dwarfism, said it was 'rare' for her to be able to leave her home without some form of abuse.

She told of one occasion while taking her dog for a walk, when she heard a man behind her say to one of his friends: 'I dare you to go and kick that midget in the head.'

She added: 'As I looked over, a man was already almost in front of me and he kicked me in the head, in the face, and then ran off.

'I stumbled, I didn't fall, and looking back I think I was in shock, I sat on the sofa for the rest of the evening, I didnt speak to anyone, I didn't tell anyone or do anything I think I was in shock.

'As the shock was wearing off I felt angry, I was very angry, like how dare you do that to me, what have I done wrong, I dont even know you, I would never do that to anyone.

Disgusted by the incident, Andrea's partner encouraged her to phone the police, who advised her to go to hospital where she discovered she had been left with a perforated ear drum and fractured skull.

Andrea has faced unprovoked verbal and physical attacks as a result of her dwarfism, and said it was 'rare' for her to be able to leave her home without some form of abuse

The incident was not a rare occurrence for Andrea, who recalled a parent calling her a 'freak' after she confronted the woman's son for taking an unauthorised photo of her, and school bullies who would 'push her around' and steal from her.

Hannah has cerebral palsy, and has experienced countless bouts of verbal abuse - left so afraid to leave the house she moved back in with her parents.

She recalled going clubbing with her two sisters, when a man began shouting at her because of the way she was walking, before throwing his drink on the group and punching her little sister in the face.

The group were about to leave a club and were queuing for the cloakroom when the man began verbally abusing her. Hannah told: 'This man starts just pushing me, laughing in my face.

'My younger sister saw and she came up to him and said "What are you doing" and he said "Why she walking like that".

One of the men's friends asked whether he could buy the group a drink to apologise for their friends behaviour.

'They dashed the drink all over all three of us and punched my younger sister in the eye, said Hannah.

Hannah has cerebral palsy, and has experienced countless bouts of verbal abuse - left so afraid to leave the house she moved back in with her parents

She recalled going clubbing with her two sisters, when a man began shouting at her because of the way she was walking, before throwing his drink on the group and punching her little sister in the face

Dan, who has autism, told he gets 'targeted a lot' due to his condition, with the public often mistaking him for being a 'drug addict'.

People are so quick to judge they profile me', he said, 'They mistake my autism for being a drug addict or something. I get targeted a lot, I get socially outcast and Im easily treated as a social reject.

He recalled an attack from a woman in a nightclub, who began punching and kicking him after he accidentally bumped into her - an incident which led to Dan being arrested.

'I accidentally bumped into girl in a night club', explained Dan, 'To her it might have been a horrible barge, but it didnt feel like it to me.

'She chased after me, attacked me, she punched me kicked me - I punched her back once, I was handcuffed and they were ready to take me away.

'They were expecting me to be the aggressor but it was the other way around, they had a look at the CCTV and saw I was innocent.

He was sent into a deep depression after another violent assault, which saw two thugs dislocate his shoulder after attacking him at a bus stop.

'Someone started shouting abuse', said Dan's father, 'Two of them charged into him and started throwing multiple punches, chased after him, tripped him over started kicking him.'

Dan, from Devon, who has autism, was left with suicidal thoughts after being victim of mindless brutal assaults

When asked about the impact of the attack, Dan said: 'It was a huge, extreme depression, I was suffering in pain and had countless suicide thoughts.

In 2013, Elaine lost all sight in her right eye, while vision in her left eye is like looking through a 'frosted window'.

When she lost her sight, Elaine was still working on a local Buckinghamshire estate, with her accommodation provided by her employer.

She was first mugged while working '300 yards from her front door', with a lack of evidence meaning the case was thrown away by the Crown Court before despite police having a suspect.

She was mugged again on her way to work shortly after, recalling: 'I was coming out from the underpass and someone jumped out from the left hand side and stood in front of me and started really shouting at me, give us your money, you're phone and everything.

Elaine was first mugged while working '300 yards from her front door', with a lack of evidence meaning the case was thrown away by the Crown Court before despite police having a suspect

'He sort of grabbed hold of my hand and with the other hand he grabbed this screwdriver and stabbed me. The police said due to your disability, it does look like youre becoming a target in the area.

Her employer allowed her to move off-site, however she eventually made the difficult decision to terminate her employment as her job alone meant she would still be a target.

After quitting her job she sought accommodation from the council, who told her she did not qualify for help as leaving her job meant she had technically 'made herself homeless'.

'Just finding the confidence to go out with a white cain, you feel vulnerable as it is, said Elaine, 'Then to be assaulted and attacked it was soul destroying. It got to the point where I thought seriously, is it worth living?.

Targeted: The Truth about Disability Hate Crime is available on BBC iPlayer.

If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
Pelosi Not Concerned About Contents of Laptop Stolen From Office

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said shes not concerned about what was on a laptop computer stolen from her office when protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Im not concerned about that particular laptop, Pelosi told MSNBC in an interview broadcast on Tuesday.

But that doesnt matter. It could be any laptop. And anytime a constituent writes to a member of Congress its confidential, that is personal with that person conveying their concern, their own situationwhether it relates to Social Security or immigration, whatever it isits a secret, its confidential. So for them to take that is a violation not only of my office but of my connection to my constituents, she added.

A Pelosi spokesman earlier this month said a computer was stolen from the speakers office. He said it was only used for presentations.

Pelosi said in the new interview that the computer happened to be one that we used for Zooms and stuff like that, I think. I dont know what other information could be on there.

Trying to sell the computer to a hostile foreign power could jeopardize all kinds of information, she said.

The FBI is probing an allegation that a Pennsylvania woman stole Pelosis computer with plans to sell it to Russia. That woman, Riley June Williams, was arrested on Jan. 18.

Protesters stole numerous items while inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, including a nameplate from the Speakers Lobby, at least one other computer, and mail. Nearly 100 have been hit with federal charges.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Parliament approved with an overwhelming 101 votes in favor at first reading a bill authored by MP Rustam Bakoyan (representing the Yazidi community) from the ruling My Step bloc on introducing the Republic of Armenia National Minorities Day in the calendar of public holidays.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

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...
However, in recent years, this small root featuring a penetrating aroma and slightly spicy flavor has emerged as one of the products with the greatest potential in Peru's exports offer, even more so considering its medical benefits such as the strengthening of the immune system.

"Around the world, Peru is very well positioned in this sense. In fact, we share the first places in the production of organic ginger around the world , because we held the fourth position as a producer in 2020," she told the official gazette El Peruano.
For three decades, each departing U.S. president has left his successor a short note wishing him well as he takes office. But whether Donald Trump will leave such a note for President-elect Joe Biden is not known.

Past presidents have left their notes in the ornate Resolute Desk in the White House Oval Office, where the new chief executive will find the good wishes immediately upon starting his four-year term.

Republican Ronald Reagan started the tradition in 1989. In his note, Reagan told his former vice president and incoming president George H.W. Bush: "George, I treasure the memories we share and wish you all the very best. You'll be in my prayers."

Four years later, Bush graciously offered good wishes to the Democrat who had defeated him in the November election, Bill Clinton. "Your success now is our country's success. I am rooting hard for you," he said.

After two terms in the White House, Clinton told his successor, George W. Bush -- George H.W. Bush's son -- in 2001, "You lead a proud, decent, good people. And from this day, you are president of all of us. I salute you and wish you success and much happiness."

After eight years as president, Bush offered Democrat Barack Obama his good wishes in 2009. "There will be trying moments. The critics will rage. Your 'friends' will disappoint you. But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me."

As he left office four years ago after two terms in office, Obama wished Trump well, even though he had campaigned in 2016 for Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"Congratulations on a remarkable run," Obama wrote to Trump. "Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure. Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you embark on this great adventure, and know that we stand ready to help in any ways which we can."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) Ahead of the much-anticipated inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden, the Philippine government said it is looking forward to fostering "close and friendly" relations with the incoming administration.

"We congratulate again the incoming President. And we look forward to having close and friendly relations with the Biden administration," Harry Roque, spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte, told CNN Philippines' The Source on Wednesday  hours before the slated inaugural ceremonies in Washington.

Biden is set to take his oath of office on Wednesday (Thursday morning Philippine time) at the US Capitol in what is expected to be a scaled-down Inauguration Day amid the COVID-19 pandemic. CNN reported there will be no public parade to the White House, and that celebrations would be mostly virtual.

Malacanang earlier said it is not expecting major changes in its bilateral relations with the US even under Biden's leadership, and likewise promised to "work closely" with the new US President.

RELATED: Duterte congratulates Joe Biden as PH gov't vows to 'work closely' with new US admin

Meanwhile, outgoing US President Donald Trump has said he would not attend his successor's swearing-in ceremony.
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.
New Delhi: National security Adviser (NSA), Ajit Doval completes 75 years on Wednesday (January 20). Ajit Doval was born in the year 1945.

Ajit Doval is 1968-batch Indian Police Service (IPS- retired) officer. He joined the service in the Kerala cadre as the Kottayam ASP. He had an impressive career in the Intelligence Bureau, where he served as the director of the IB from 2004-05. Ajit Doval is the fifth NSA to the Prime Minister of India.

Ajit Doval is one of the most instrumental personalities in Indian intelligence. He was an undercover agent in Pakistan for a period of 7 years. He is often called the Indian James Bond.

Ajit Doval played a significant role in Indian Army's surgical strike against Pakistan and revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

On his birthday, Twitter is flooded with birthday wishes for him. let's take a look at some of the tweets:

A tweeter user wishes Ajit Doval on his birthday and calls him Indian James Bond.

Wishing the warmest greetings to our service and nations pride , Hon. NSA Shri #AjitDoval ji on his birthday today. Pray to God to give him the best health and long life.  Dr. Satya Pal Singh (@dr_satyapal) January 20, 2021

Dr Satyapal Singh, BJP MP from Baghpat has also extended his warm regards, he describes Ajit Doval as the pride of the nation.

Happy Birthday #AjitDoval sir wish you Healthy life ...

Salute to the Most amazing person Ajit Doval sir .... Lived in Pakistan as Spy For 7 yrs .... Wishing you a long and healthy life ahead pic.twitter.com/kNzgpK86wm  Vaishali (@Vaishal67273846) January 20, 2021

Another user gives a list of operations and exceptional work of Ajit Doval in her tweet.

Ajit Doval was born on January 20 1945, in Pauri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A cop believed to be from a Staten Island precinct sidelined a busload of NYPD officers who were sent to be security for the presidential inauguration after he tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) following his arrival in Washington D.C., according to the New York Post.

A police spokesman said the officer was feeling fine over the weekend and previously had a negative test result but realized Tuesday  a day before the inauguration  that he could not taste or smell his food.

A subsequent rapid test was given, which came back positive, the spokesman said.

The New York Post initially reported the cop traveled to the U.S. Capitol with a group of 50 other officers on an NYPD bus; however, a police spokesman said that while the bus can carry 50 people, only 21 were seated due to coronavirus protocols.

The entire bus was tested following the discovery, according to the spokesman, and only one other person has returned a positive result so far.

This morning, 200 of your officers begin their journey down to the U.S. Capitol, to represent the NYPD and assist with security for Wednesdays Presidential Inauguration. pic.twitter.com/BL2nKjJlC1  NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) January 18, 2021

The department sent 200 officers to the U.S. Capitol ahead of Wednesdays inauguration to assist the approximately 25,000 National Guard troops who were dispatched to Washington, D.C. following the violent melee at the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago.

The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Coombe hospital has ordered an independent review to be conducted into how family members of its staff received coronavirus vaccines.

The board of the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital said that given the serious nature of the matter that arose at the hospital on January 8 it would commence a review.

It emerged earlier this week that 16 relatives of employees at the Dublin hospital received vaccine doses on January 8 after 1,100 frontline workers including GPs and community health staff were vaccinated.

The hospital said that of the 16 recipients, nine were over 70 and the other seven were of varying ages, and that the doses would have been thrown out if they had not been administered.

A spokeswoman for the board of the Coombe hospital said: Given the serious nature of the matter the Board has made the decision to commence an independent review.

It expects this review will be completed within a number of weeks.

The Board has also taken the decision to task a senior clinician from within the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital to lead and take full responsibility for the next stage of its vaccination rollout until it is completed.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has asked bosses at the Coombe hospital for a full account of the incident and said he would speak to the chairman of the board about the matter.

He said trust in the vaccine programme was of critical importance and what happened should not have happened, adding that frontline healthcare workers and residents and staff of long-term residential care facilities were at the top of the priority list for the vaccination.

On Monday, the master of the Coombe hospital, Professor Michael OConnell, said the decision was made to ensure that not a single reconstituted vaccine was wasted.

He added: Had they not been used, they would have been discarded.

I was keenly aware of that and, throughout the evening and from 9.30pm onward, I personally made every effort to prioritise and identify additional frontline workers and followed all measures available to me at the time.

In hindsight, as master, I deeply regret that family members of employees were vaccinated and for that I wholeheartedly apologise.

It was also revealed on Monday that two family members of staff at the Rotunda Hospital received Covid-19 vaccines which it said would have been wasted otherwise.

A total of 37 people received the vaccine from remnants of vials delivered to the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin which were intended for its staff.

The incidents at the hospitals happened before the HSE put in place standby lists of healthcare workers, available at short notice, to ensure doses of Covid-19 vaccines that are about to expire are used.

The HSEs guidance, which was issued on January 12, says centres should consider establishing standby lists of other healthcare workers (provisional vaccine allocation group 4) who are available at short notice and are randomly selected from the lists for vaccination if for any reason frontline healthcare workers are not available and the alternative is that vaccine dose expires.
UW Research Explores Funding Mechanism for Large-Landscape Conservation Adjacent to National Parks

Bison roam a Grand Teton National Park hillside. New UW research explores funding strategies for large-landscape conservation adjacent to both Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. (UW Photo)

Wildlife is a key attraction for visitors to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, but some animals range widely beyond park boundaries and bring management expenses to surrounding areas, according to a new paper from research scientists, including the University of Wyoming.

According to the research, while local governments and communities near national parks compensate ranchers for livestock depredation by large carnivores, build highway crossings and wildlife-friendly fences for migrating wildlife, and secure conservation easements on private land, the more than 4 million people who visit the two parks annually present a potential revenue source for conservation. A recently published paper by scientists from UW, the University of California-Berkeley, Arizona State University and the University of British Columbia explores potential mechanisms for park visitors to share wildlife management costs with local governments and landowners, with Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks as a case study.

Arthur Middleton, who earned his doctoral degree in ecology from UW, was the lead author of the paper, titled Harnessing visitors enthusiasm for national parks to fund cooperative large-landscape conservation. Middleton is now an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California-Berkeley and leads a field research program at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody.

The greater Yellowstone is where the concept of ecosystem management was first introduced, yet its been a largely unfunded mandate for many decades, Middleton says. The time is overdue for asking park visitors to chip in.

The paper recently was published in the journal Conservation Science and Practice and is available online at https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.335. A summary is available on the UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources website at www.uwyo.edu/haub/research/research-briefs.html.

As proposals for generating conservation funding from national park visitors have come forward, we saw a need to take a closer look at how this might work legally and economically, says Temple Stoellinger, an assistant professor of law and environment and natural resources at UW, and a co-author of the study. Our team of researchers wanted to provide some background assessment to support putting these ideas into action.

The researchers investigated two ways that states could tap national park visitors to help pay for wildlife conservation beyond park boundaries:

-- Partner with the national parks to charge a conservation fee to visitors at the gate, which would be returned to the state and earmarked for nearby wildlife conservation. The Wyoming Legislature passed a bipartisan resolution supporting this idea in 2018 that was introduced by Rep. Albert Sommers (R-Sublette County).

-- Increase state sales tax or a lodging fee that would be applied only within the national parks, and direct revenue to protecting and mitigating impacts to wildlife and the public outside of the park boundaries.

The overall goal of any such effort would be to shift some of the costs for wildlife conservation from states and surrounding communities onto the visitors who enjoy seeing wild animals in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. An earlier study found park visitors are willing to compensate ranchers for wolf predation on livestock in order to protect the wolves.

I think the next step is for interested groups and policymakers in the three states -- Wyoming, Montana and Idaho -- to get together and really think about this, Sommers says. We are in a time of fiscal crisis, so how can we be creative and find some new funding to preserve our wildlife and mitigate wildlife conflicts?

The concept of a conservation fee also has met with some interest in Montana, where legislators are introducing a resolution closely modeled after the one Wyoming passed.

Its important that Montana, Wyoming and Idaho come together behind this initiative and work together with Yellowstone and Glacier national parks so states and federal agencies are partnering up. Many, many wildlife species dont recognize park boundaries but need habitat in and outside of the parks to survive and thrive, says Montana state Rep. Tom France (D-Missoula). I thought the resolution Albert Sommers introduced in 2018 was a really good idea. The fact that the Wyoming Legislature passed it overwhelmingly lent his idea a lot of credibility.

Other countries have similar mechanisms. For example, tiger reserves in India funnel visitor fee revenues to human-wildlife conflict mitigation efforts, and park entry fees in Uganda support local communities. Though this approach has not been applied in the United States, the concept of using park visitation to fund largelandscape conservation  appears promising for systems with significant crossboundary conservation needs and high visitation rates, the researchers wrote.

For Yellowstone National Park, the researchers estimated that a conservationfee approach -- charging $1 to $10 per vehicle -- could raise more than $500,000 to $13 million annually. Taxbased approaches could raise from nearly a million dollars for a $1-a-night lodging fee to $22 million for a 2 percent annual sales tax increase. Varying combinations of taxes and fees would have potential to raise even more funds as well as leverage additional state, local or private conservation money.

The researchers found that current federal law might not permit the use of park entrance fees beyond park boundaries and suggest one path forward would be new federal law creating a pilot program limited to the greater Yellowstone ecosystem over a fixed time. While an increase in a state-imposed sales or lodging tax would face fewer legal hurdles, the researchers recommend with this approach establishing a board of stakeholder representatives to ensure that funds are directed to meaningful wildlife conservation actions.

The researchers suggest surveying the public and key stakeholders along with creating a pilot proposal as important next steps.

For more information, call Emilene Ostlind, UWs Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources communications coordinator, at (307) 314-9505 or email emilene@uwyo.edu.
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German company Bilfinger SE decided to not to participate in the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project due to the threat of U.S. sanctions, the Bild tabloid reported on Tuesday with reference to the company's letter.

Earlier, according to the newspaper, Bilfinger SE signed several contracts worth 15 mln euro with Nord Stream 2AG, the projects operator, in particular "for the development, supply and maintenance of security systems", as well as for the supply of a heat generating unit.

Bild reported that Bilfinger SE had already notified the American side that they were not going to fulfill those contracts.

Swiss insurance company Zurich Insurance Group said via email Monday that it "is committed to fully comply with any applicable sanctions regulations."

On Tuesday, US Treasury Department announced introduction of sanctions against the Fortuna vessel, which is involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, and its owner, the KBT-Rus company.

The sanctions were imposed in the framework of the CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). Inclusion in the sanctions list means asset freezing in the United States and the ban for US citizens or firms on engaging in business with persons in the list.
Former state cabinet minister Marlene Kairouz has been asked to explain why she shouldn't be expelled from the Labor Party, after she was implicated in a branch-stacking scandal that ultimately cost her and two other ministers their jobs on the Andrews government frontbench.

Ms Kairouz is the most high-profile Labor figure to be issued with a show-cause notice by party elders Steve Bracks and Jenny Macklin tasked with reforming the ALP, stamping out branch stacking, and purging fake members by January 31.

Former cabinet minister Marlene Kairouz needs to tell the Labor Party why she should not be expelled. Credit:Nine

If Ms Kairouz is unable to adequately respond to allegations of impropriety, she will be expelled from the party and be forced to sit on the crossbench as an independent MP, which is likely to end her career in politics after the next election.

A senior Labor source aware of the investigation, first reported and uncovered by The Age columnist Jon Faine, said the former ALP powerbroker responded to the show cause notice but had not addressed all the issues it had raised. The source said she had denied any impropriety.
NEW YORK, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury Nail Polish brand Madam Glam has officially been certified vegan by Vegan.org becoming the only nailcare brand with the coveted title. The 2-step certification process verified over 350 of Madam Glam's gel polishes which will now bear the certification mark.

Madam Glam Madam Glam

The Certified Vegan Logo is distributed and recognized globally. It is administered by the Vegan Awareness Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about veganism and assisting vegan-friendly businesses. Madam Glam's certification with Vegan.org speaks to their passion for creating formulas that are non-toxic and harmless to the environment, further setting them apart from competitors as well as cementing their ongoing efforts in abolishing animal cruelty and mistreatment within the beauty industry which also aligns with their long-time support of PETA and Leaping Bunny.

"We are proud to have most of Madam Glam's gel polishes certified by Vegan.org. After having our products certified as Cruelty-Free by PETA and Leaping Bunny 3 years ago, it is a new milestone for our company to keep offering the healthiest products in the industry and show the world our continuous commitment to sustainability," said Youri Vaisse, General Manager of Madam Glam.

With the Vegan.org certification, customers can feel confident that they are using a healthy product that does not contain animal by-products. Madam Glam's formulas also use strengthening components without the use of harsh chemicals that break down the nail barrier, to ensure healthy growth while maintaining the integrity of your nails. Always transparent, the team works around the clock to create products with ingredients that are straightforward and easy to comprehend. Customers can shop the newly certified polishes on www.madamglam.com which retail from $9.98-$19.95.

About Madam Glam:

Since 2014, Madam Glam has created salon-quality products at an affordable price points for beauty addicts and beginners alike. Madam Glam offers Vegan Gel Polish, Hema-Free Gel Polish, Cruelty-Free Gel Polish, 21-Free Gel Polish, Palm Oil Free and Gluten-Free nail and gel polishes. Featuring over 1,800 gels, 800+ shades to choose from, and new shades available each month. Their mission is simple: "To offer beautiful and salon-quality products at an affordable price".

For more information, please contact Ericka Spears at [email protected] .

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After enduring the devastation of WWI, a fatal pandemic and economic depression, Americans began to let loose in 1920.

The global catastrophes that ended just before the new decade began, had irreversible effects on society, culture, and fashion.

Many predict that a second 'Roaring 20s' is likely to happen post COVID-19. What fashion trends will follow? Daily Mail asked 10 modern day designers what we can expect.

Happy days: Many predict that a second 'Roaring 20s' is likely to happen post COVID-19.

Style: The Jazz Age is often remembered for its glitz and glamour, with the most memorable style being the "Flapper look"

A look back:

The Jazz Age is often remembered for its glitz and glamour, with the most memorable style being the "Flapper look".

The term "Flapper" was given to young progressive women with a modern sense of style.

Hemlines rose and mini dresses made of luxurious fabrics like chiffon or satin and embellished by beads, sequins and shimmer were favored.

Silhouettes featuring dropped waists allowed for ease of movement to dance the night away.

Additional flare came in the form of decorated headbands, jeweled hair combs, headdresses, and cloche hats.

Underlying the opulence of the decade 20s, however, was a move toward simplicity in dress (bye-bye corseted constrictions!) that had not previously been seen in women's fashion.

It girls: The term "Flapper" was given to young progressive women with a modern sense of style

2021

Retrofete: New York-based high contemporary brand for modern day revelers and fashion 'It' girls with renegade style

'Im not sure if there will necessarily be a revival, but I do think that people will grow tired of wearing only loungewear (even at home) and will want to dress up again, said Ohad Seroya, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Retrofete.

'Clothes have the power to change the vibe, to create a positive energy through color, so people will start to gravitate towards special pieces that make them feel confident, beautiful and sexy.'

While Ohad reveals that people have still been purchasing novelty pieces during the pandemic, he believes there will be a stronger desire to stand out and feel glamorous again post COVID.

'I think for fall/winter 2021 well continue to see clothing thats joyful but easy, that isnt so serious or confined to norms.

'I believe that people will want to dress as if it were their last day. That idea really plays into our fall collection - we want to push on peoples feelings, we want them to shine in our clothes. Lets just say youre not going to see a tie dye set from us.'

Step out: 'Im not sure if there will necessarily be a revival, but I do think that people will grow tired of wearing only loungewear, even at home, and will want to dress up again, said Ohad Seroya, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Retrofete

Be you: 'I think for fall/winter 2021 well continue to see clothing thats joyful but easy, that isnt so serious or confined to norms

Pamella Roland: American fashion designer most known for her exquisite evening wear

'The Roaring 20s were also spurred by a pandemic that fueled peoples desire to live life to the fullest, celebrate, and dress up for EVERYTHING,' said Pamella.

'Once were in full recovery from this pandemic, people will be looking for revelry and occasions to get glamorous.'

For fall/winter 2021, the New York-based designer believes there will be a return to creativity and formal dressing.

'Seeing an ending to this pandemic in sight with the help of the vaccines, I feel like our customer is looking towards the moment where she can travel, party and attend live events again.'

Get ready: 'The Roaring 20s were also spurred by a pandemic that fueled peoples desire to live life to the fullest, celebrate, and dress up for EVERYTHING,' said Pamella Roland

Express yourself: 'Once were in full recovery from this pandemic, people will be looking for revelry and occasions to get glamorous'

Bibhu Mohapatra: New York-based fashion designer and costume designer with an appreciation for sumptuous fabrics

'I feel and hope we will go through a major reconstruction period in fashion,' said Bibhu.

'This pandemic has reset everything around us in every literal sense. It has been extremely tough for business, small and large.

'Jobs lost, fabric mills shuttered, resources dried up and supply chain broken down in a massive way.

'Experiencing all these and my own personal reflections over the past year, I feel we will enter into an optimistic period of rebuilding a new landscape of global fashion business.'

Bibhu believes the industry can prosper by understanding the power of the consumer and the development of technology, all while being mindful of community.

'After going through this pandemic and lockdowns, like in post war America, we will be back with force with new energy and strategy.'

On the fall 2021 runways the India native believes we'll see relaxed luxury and timeless fashion in optimistic colors and environmentally conscious materials.

A new day: 'I feel and hope we will go through a major reconstruction period in fashion,' said Bibhu Mohapatra

Moving forward: 'After going through this pandemic and lockdowns, like in post war America, we will be back with force with new energy and strategy'

Veronica Beard: Blending cool, classic and chic styles, Veronica Beard features the latest trends in women's designer clothing

Im really hoping well have a similar fashion revival to the 20s,' said Veronica Miele Beard.

The label's co-founder is looking forward to all of the weddings and receptions that were postponed.

'If we keep things casual, it doesnt mean our jeans cant sparkle or our shoulder pads cant be big.

'Fashion is a sign of the times, so cheers to a hopeful mega fashion moment when this is all over and we can celebrate together and dress up for events again!'

Her partner and sister-in law Veronica Swanson Beard adds: 'I think were going to see a lot of experimentation when people start dressing for social gatherings and work again.

'Thats not to say we wont still see influence from lifestyle and loungewear, but I think that our jackets will become more important because a blazer style immediately upgrades your look even if youre wearing jeans or a sweat set.

'I also think people will start dressing with purpose again, wearing dresses and moving from sneakers to heels.'

Party time: 'Im looking forward to all of the weddings and receptions that were postponed,' said Veronica Miele Beard

Expression: 'I think were going to see a lot of experimentation when people start dressing for social gatherings and work again,' shared Veronica Swanson Beard

Tanya Taylor: New York-based brand striving to bring colorful confidence and high-energy happiness to all womens wardrobes, founded by Tanya Taylor

'I think we will have a Roaring 20s resurgence of life, meaning freedom to do things that make people happy such as socialize, travel and shop but I believe consumption will be tempered and questioning the value of fashion will continue,' shared Tanya.

'People will have a renewed desire to buy things and participate in experiences that they love but there will be an editing of fashion and experiences that just fills time and space.'

Tanya believes that moving forward we can expect to see more storytelling behind collections and versatility in silhouettes and styling.

'I think we will continue to see a focus on elevated comfort that reflects reality while continuing to inspire.'

Out and about: 'I think we will have a Roaring 20s resurgence of life, meaning freedom to do things that make people happy such as socialize, travel and shop but I believe consumption will be tempered and questioning the value of fashion will continue,' shared Tanya Taylor

Meaning: Tanya believes that moving forward we can expect to see more storytelling behind collections and versatility in silhouettes and styling

Lisa Von Tang: Street-luxe fashion label fusing east and western influences into powerful statement pieces for every day

Founder and Creative Director Lisa Von Tang believes we will see a revival of Jazz Age in style this year but that it will be kept in check by sustainability.

'In Singapore, we've been extremely lucky with the pandemic, and while there's been a lockdown and carefully phased re-opening of the country, we've been turning up the decadence - at least behind closed doors.

'Private parties, kept intimate by our ability to only invite eight guests over, are becoming more inventive than ever: Black tie dinners, concert pianists performing in your living room, pool parties with DJs, popping champagne and slurping oysters.

'The travel budget saved in 2020 has been put to other leisurely uses - fashion being one of them.'

Future: Founder and Creative Director Lisa Von Tang believes we will see a revival of Jazz Age style this year but that it will be kept in check by sustainability

Post pandemic Lisa trusts that people will be safely socializing and this will call for a fresh wardrobe.

'Fashion after all is transformative. And we need an energy shift.

'That being said, sustainability is at the forefront of most of our minds right now. The fashion brands that will grow the fastest in this new Roaring Twenties, will be ones that see themselves as inseparable to the eco-systems that they live in, source from, produce in, and sell to.'

Moving forward Lisa believes there will be a great emphasis on comfort, but done in beautiful premium ways.

'Workwear will continue to be disrupted, and blur the boundaries with day/night wear. Gender lines will be exaggerated as well as ambiguated.

'There may be a showdown between eco-friendly luxury brands and radical vegan brands, with the former being okay with up-cycled or ethically sourced wool and cashmere, or using non chemical dyed silk or leather, but, the latter preferring that humans wear fibers that don't involve animals.'

Disposable income: 'The travel budget saved in 2020 has been put to other leisurely uses - fashion being one of them,' said Lisa Von Tamg

L'agence: Women's ready to wear brand chock full of feminine classics with a timeless aesthetic

Designing for the modern woman, Jeff Rudes, LAGENCE CEO and Creative Director tells the Daily Mail that the there are a few styles in their fall collection inspired by the twenties.

'The iconic slinky slip dresses which embodies the LAGENCE DNA are here to stay,' he said.

With a sprinkling of design elements (such geometric prints and fringe detail) that speak to the 20s free spirited mood.

As the Roaring Twenties introduced more relaxed silhouettes, Jeff believes easy knit tops and dresses, cardigans and robe-like soft jackets injected with vibrant colors and textures will make their way to women's wardrobes.

'Conversational motif prints and intarsia bring a whimsical touch.'

Roaring Twenties inspired: 'The iconic slinky slip dresses which embodies the LAGENCE DNA are here to stay,' said Jeff Rudes, LAGENCE CEO and Creative Director

Everyday elegance: As the Roaring Twenties introduced more relaxed silhouettes, Jeff believes easy knit tops and dresses, cardigans and robe-like soft jackets injected with vibrant colors and textures will make their way to women's wardrobes

ChoCheng: Womenswear designer label found by Cho Cheng synonymous with 100% natural materials and a whimsical interpretation of traditional British tailoring

'The Roaring 20s was one of the most inspirational periods in fashion,' declared New York-based designer Cho Cheng.

'Hedonistic and optimistic, it provided that magic touch of romantic escapism so crucial to living life.'

The designer that only uses sustainable materials believes we'll inject that elation into our lives in 2021.

Empower: 'The Roaring 20s was one of the most inspirational periods in fashion,' declared New York-based designer Cho Cheng

Positivism: 'Hedonistic and optimistic, it provided that magic touch of romantic escapism so crucial to living life

Pologeorgis: New York-based furrier founded by Greek immigrant Stanley Pologeorgis

The most iconic 1920s coat was the fur collar wrap coat.

Tapping into the Roaring Twenties revival, 'we are also designing into more opulent long fur coats  think wrap coats with extra big collars and oversized double fur hoods,' shared Jenny Roberts, Pologeorgis Director of Public Relations.

'We are revisiting the fur cape which feels very current but also has a nod to the past. We will offer both long and short versions.'

Jenny believes furs stoles in all shades will gain popularity thanks to the '20s influence.

As well as 'luxurious sable wraps to wear over velvet dresses. classic long boas that can layer over coats and outwear, as well as wrap coats with oversized collars and exaggerated cuffs.'

What women want: Tapping into the Roaring Twenties revival, 'we are also designing into more opulent long fur coats  think wrap coats with extra big collars and oversized double fur hoods,' shared Jenny Roberts, Pologeorgis Director of Public Relations

Pologeorgis style: 'We are revisiting the fur cape which feels very current but also has a nod to the past. We will offer both long and short versions'

Miansai: Handcrafted accessories for men and women

'The pandemic has shifted an already changing industry,' said Michael Saiger, Creative Director and CEO of Miansai.

'When I think of the term revival and the state of the world now, I foresee a resurgence in designers fine tuning classics with emphasis placed on high quality fabric, materials, design and sustainability that make a deeper connection to the buyers needs than in past years.'

Michael believes that moving forward consumers will desire well-made sustainable clothing that will last.

And he's not the only one. Many businesses have noticed a shift in demand for investment pieces as opposed to fast fashion.

'At Miansai weve begun reworking iconic pieces from past collections, curating mens and womens fine jewelry, reworking classic chains, and adding modern details to historical pieces like the signet ring seen in the 70s.'

Evolution: 'The pandemic has shifted an already changing industry,' said Michael Saiger, Creative Director and CEO of Miansai
Between the coronavirus pandemic and the violent attack on the Capitol just two weeks ago, plans for the inauguration were kept deliberately small. Family members of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris gathered with former presidents and government officials on the balcony of the Capitol while members of Congress and their guests sat below. The National Mall was covered in a display of flags to represent the people who would usually be attending. But even with all of the protocol and extra security, some people still came out for the historic moment. Slate reporters Christina Cauterucci and Molly Olmstead were on the ground to talk to them.

A Former Republican Who Sat Out the 2016 Election

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Laurie Munoz of Temple, Texas, was a lifelong Republican voter until 2016, when Donald Trumps lack of morals and poor debate performance convinced her to vote for Clinton. In the beginning, I was a Trump supporter, but after seeing him spewing all this hate and divisionits just not somebody you want leading the United States, she said.

Her daughter, Isabella Donoso, 25, bought them both flights to D.C. as soon as Biden was projected the winner in November, as a birthday gift for Munoz, who turned 50 earlier this month. Unfortunately, theres all this security, but Im just honored to be here for this historical moment, Munoz said.

Donoso didnt vote in the 2016 election; she didnt like either candidate and thought Trump couldnt win. When he did, she was shocked, and disappointed with herself for not voting. She made sure to do so in the 2018 election, supporting Beto ORourke for Senate. I watched [Trump] even divide our own family, she said, recounting holidays that were canceled because of family disagreements about the president.

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Bidens not my favorite, Donoso said, but shes excited for a new beginning for the country and happy to have an excuse to visit D.C. for the first time.

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Shes also ecstatic about the first woman vice president. That was the big deal for me, Donoso said. In second grade, her teacher would tell her that she could be the first woman president. And I remember thinking, I dont even see a woman getting elected to the White House at all, she said. So when [Harris election] happened, that was a game changer. Munoz called Donoso crying with joy over Harris when the election results came in.

The women were buying Biden-Harris hats and tote bags just outside the security fencing by the White House, where activists, holding a rainbow American flag and a Racism Is a Pandemic sign, had set up large speakers to stream Bidens inaugural address to a sparse crowd of reporters, tourists, and vendors.

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My grandpa is the biggest Trump fan. He walks around in his [MAGA] hat, Donoso said. He knew they were at inauguration and simply asked them to be safe. When he sees these on our heads, Donoso said, pointing to their new beanies, thats when hes gonna be like, get out of my house!

We might be Facebook blocked, Munoz laughed.

Christina Cauterucci

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The Inauguration of a Personal Hero

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A group of high school friendsnow in college, but mostly at different schoolscame together to watch the inauguration. All supporters of the new president and vice president, they wanted to see just how close they could get to Biden. One of the four, Carter, has a stutter and felt connected to Biden. As a kid with a stutter, Biden is kind of a personal hero, and so its super cool to see, he said.

Molly Olmstead

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sisters Out for Harris

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Standing outside a National Guard blockade near the White House, a group of women in town from New York, Florida, and North Carolina said they refused to let the hassles of the excess security spoil their day. We wanted to be here for history. The first Black female presidentI mean, vice president, said Ayisha Scales, 39, with a laugh. We didnt want to miss that.

The group planned their trip just last week, a few days after the Capitol riot. We didnt care about that. We were not going to let that deter us, Scales said.

All the more reason to be here, added Doreen Sterling, 48. She was excited to help get Harrisa member, like Sterling, of the historically Black Alpha Kappa Alpha sororityinto office. And Biden, of course.

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Scales, an alumna of the historically Black Livingstone College, said she finds it particularly meaningful that Harris attended Howard University. She was also moved to bring her sister, Aysia Anderson, 14, to D.C. to see history made.

Its nice to see someone with the same color skin as you become the vice president, Anderson said. The women specifically chose to stay at the St. Regis Hotel for its location on Black Lives Matter Plaza.

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Though the military lockdown and pandemic have posed challenges to the typically celebratory mood of an inauguration in D.C., the women are making the best of it. They had drinks and pizza in their hotel room on inauguration eve and ate a bundled-up breakfast outside a restaurant north of the militarized zone this morning. After attempting to get as near to the Capitol as possible today, were definitely going out tonight, Scales said.

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Christina Cauterucci

[Trumps] Ideas Will Not Survive

Outside an entry point for the general public, theres a celebratory mood. Someone was walking around with sage to cleanse the air of the Trump administration. People are having a good time.

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I spoke to one woman, Karen Jennings, who said shes lived in D.C. for 30 years and has attended a number of inaugurations. She said she felt hopeful that the nation would move on and that Trumps ideas had been defeated. Im sad they put us in the position in terms of destroying the sacredness and sanctity of this transition. But youve got to be hopeful. Their ideas will not survive.

She feels like Biden and Harris are the perfect fit for the moment facing the country. Its like the universe put them in the place they need to be right now.

Molly Olmstead

First-Time Voters Spot President Biden

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After attending a Catholic church service in downtown D.C., President-elect Joe Biden rode down Connecticut Avenue on his way to the Capitol for his inauguration. Waving furiously from the sidewalk were three visitors in town from Tennessee. They were en route to the Capitol, too, and had the good luck of stumbling across the motorcade by chance.

He saw us, he saw us! said Yessica Leon, 33, who had voted for Biden in November in her first U.S. election. Leon, who was wearing a spangled Biden-Harris mask and holding a matching flag, is originally from Mexico City. I just got my citizenship last year, she said. I was like, uh, first time voting and my candidate won?! So it was a big deal for me.

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Leon supported Biden for his positions on immigration. Her parents, who have lived in the U.S. for 19 years, stand to benefit from Bidens proposed plan to offer pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Leons sister, a DACA recipient, will qualify for Bidens plans to shore up the program and allow recipients to apply for green cards immediately.

Leon was joined by her son, 13-year-old Balian Sanders, and her cousin, 19-year-old Bryan Godinez. Back in November, Godinez, whod also voted for Biden in his first election, had asked Leon if she wanted to go to D.C. for the inauguration. Its his fault, Leon said. He texted me, Hey, are we going? and I was like, Why not?  The trip was also planned as a celebration for Leons birthday, which was Tuesday.

I didnt actually believe she was going to want to go, Godinez said. His immediate family will also benefit from Bidens immigration proposals.

The three briefly reconsidered their plans after the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6 but decided, since they already had their tickets, theyd take as many safety precautions as possible and keep their trip on the books. Their plans for a tour of the monuments were foiled by the militarized blockade of federal property in the city, but theyd rented Capital Bikeshare bikes and set a full agenda for the day.

Were just gonna try to follow [Biden] around, Leon said. Weve got his schedule.

Christina Cauterucci
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WASHINGTON  After the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and the swearing in of three new Democratic senators, Sen. Charles E. Schumer gave an audible exhale before starting his first speech as Senate majority leader Wednesday.

"I need to catch my breath, so much is happening, he remarked.

While the spotlight shone on Biden on Wednesday  and Schumer wanted it that way  the inauguration also marked a pivotal day in his career: the Brooklynite became the first Senate majority leader from New York.

"That I should be the leader of this new Senate majority is an awesome responsibility  awesome in a biblical sense like the angels that trembled in awe before God," Schumer, 70, said. "Today, I feel the full weight of that responsibility, the sense of reverence and awe at the trust placed in me."

Schumer takes the helm of a Senate divided 50-50, with the Democratic majority coming from the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris. The Senate has rarely been split this way. It will require unusual amounts of power-sharing between Democrats and Republicans at a time of deep national conflict and polarization.

Schumer's first tasks will include leading the Senate through a second impeachment trial for former President Donald J. Trump, while negotiating legislation and approving Biden's cabinet.

"This will be an exceptionally busy and consequential period for the United States Senate, Schumer said.

Hours before assuming his new title, Schumer was feeling excited but cognizant of the challenge ahead of him, said Carol Kellerman, Schumer's close friend and chief of staff from 1992. She dined with him Tuesday night.

As he always is with challenges, I think he is energized by it, but its a lot of pressure right now, Kellerman said.

Becoming majority leader wasn't a lifelong goal for Schumer, but over the past four years, as he lead Democrats in the minority, it became Schumer's aspiration to flip the chamber blue again, Kellerman said.

Schumer learned he would become majority leader on Jan. 6 when Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were declared victors in their Georgia run-off U.S. Senate elections. It was the same day that supporters of Trump broke into the U.S. Capitol, forcing lawmakers into lock-down and leading to five deaths.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., congratulated Schumer for the first time on his promotion while the pair were hiding out in a secure location together, as protestors ransacked the building, according to an aide familiar with the conversation.

McConnell and Schumer have begun the work of creating a new organizing resolution for the Senate  a key document that will outline the rules in the 50-50 Senate and the powers afforded to each party. They met for 30 minutes Tuesday and discussed "a whole lot of issues," Schumer said after the meeting. McConnell and Schumer are expected to use a template from 2001  the last time there was a 50-50 Senate  for their agreement.

Schumer will also work with Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to advance a Democratic agenda, passing as a first priority more COVID-19 relief. Schumer and Biden have a close 30-year relationship stemming to when Schumer served in the U.S. House of Representatives and Biden was a senator from Delaware. Schumer attended mass with Biden and other top congressional leaders Wednesday morning before the inauguration.

Schumer has spent nearly his whole life in politics. After graduating from Harvard Law School, he served in the New York Assembly from 1975 to 1980, before being elected to the House in 1980 and then ascending to the U.S. Senate in 1999. He's led the Senate Democratic caucus since 2017.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Schumer will lead the majority like he did the minority  with a firm, experienced hand.

"Hes talented, hes tough, he can be a street fighter," Graham said. "He can put a deal together. I saw him on immigration: he really pushed himself and the party. Theres that side to him. There's take no prisoners."
LATEST Jan. 20, 10:45 a.m. Cal Fire said it hopes to have seven small wildfires burning in northern Santa Cruz and southern San Mateo counties contained by the end of the day Wednesday amid favorable weather conditions.

"That's contained, not controlled," Cal Fire spokesperson Cecile Juliette said. "We hope to have all of them controlled by this weekend. Contained is when they're able to get a fire line around the entire fire, so they can keep it within a certain area. Controlled is when they have the line around the fire and all the hot spots within the perimeter are out."

Two of the blazes that started during the Monday and Tuesday wind event triggered evacuations: the Freedom Fire and the Panther Ridge Fire.

"We are formulating a plan to repopulate those areas," Juliette said. "We don't want to put a time on it as we don't want to disappoint people, but we are working in that direction.

Here's what we know about all seven fires as of 10 a.m.

-Bloom Fire: Eight acres and 50% contained with no evacuations. The blaze is off Little Basin Road and Upper Bloom Grade Road, 4 miles northwest of Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County.

-China Grade Fire: Twenty acres and 95% contained with no evacuations. The fire is off China Grade Road and Foxglove Lane, 4 miles northwest of Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County.

Cal Fire said they were "mopping up," a term used to describe extinguishing residual fire to make sure it doesn't continue to spread outside of an established containment area.

-Empire Fire: Six acres, fully contained. No structures threatened and no evacuations ordered. The fire is off Alba Road at Empire Grade in Bonny Doon in Santa Cruz County.

-Fanning Fire: The blaze is 18.81 acres, 95% contained. It's off Fanning Grade and Harmony Hill roads, east of Ben Lomond in Santa Cruz County.

-Freedom Fire: Thirty-seven acres and 50% contained with an estimated 100 homes evacuated. First reported at 8 a.m. Tuesday on Freedom Boulevard north of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said evacuations were ordered for Nunes Road and Gillette Road in Watsonville. The sheriff's office said at 11 a.m. Tuesday that Willow Heights was also being evacuated. "White Road at Freedom and Larkin Valley is closed due to #nunesfire," the California Highway Patrol shared on Twitter.

-North Butano Fire: Ten acres, 95% contained. No threat to any structures. The blaze is off of Old Womans Creek Road south of Loma Mar in San Mateo County.

Firefighters finally accessed the fire Tuesday evening after cutting their way through fallen trees and debris, Cal Fire said.

-Panther Ridge Fire: 25 acres, 70% contained. The fire is on Stapp Road east of Highway 9 in Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County. An estimated 20 homes were evacuated by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

You can find updates on these fires from the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit Twitter page.

Cal Fire CZU

Jan. 20, 7 a.m. Seven small wildfires spread across northern Santa Cruz County and southern San Mateo County have consumed about 100 acres as of Tuesday evening. Firefighters worked through the night to build control lines around the blazes that broke out amid a high wind event.

Cal Fire is expected to give an update on the incidents and containment later Wednesday morning.

Here's what we know as of 6:30 a.m.:

-Bloom Fire: Five acres and 0% contained with no evacuations. Located off Little Basin Road and Upper Bloom Grade Road, four miles northwest of Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County.

-China Grade Fire: Twenty acres and fully contained with no evacuations. Located off China Grade Road and Foxglove Lane, four miles northwest of Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County.

Cal Fire said they were "mopping up," a term used to describe extinguishing residual fire to make sure it doesn't continue to spread outside of an established containment area.

-Empire Fire: Six acres, fully contained. No structures threatened and no evacuations ordered. Located off Alba Road at Empire Grade in Bonny Doon in Santa Cruz County.

-Fanning Fire: 18.81 acres, 95% contained. Located off Fanning Grade and Harmony Hill Roads, east of Ben Lomond in Santa Cruz County.

-Freedom Fire: Thirty-seven acres and 20% contained with an estimated 100 homes evacuated. First reported at 8 a.m. Tuesday on Freedom Road north of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County.

The Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office said evacuations were ordered for Nunes Road and Gillette Road in Watsonville. The sheriff's office said at 11 a.m. Tuesday that Willow Heights was also being evacuated. "White Road at Freedom and Larkin Valley is closed due to #nunesfire," the California Highway Patrol shared on Twitter.

-North Butano Fire: Ten acres, 95% contained. No threat to any structures. Located off of Old Womans Creek Road , south of Loma Mar in San Mateo County.

Firefighters finally accessed the fire Tuesday evening after cutting their way through fallen trees and debris, Cal Fire said.

-Panther Ridge Fire: 27.65 acres, 98% contained. Located on Stapp Road east of Highway 9 in Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County. An estimated 20 homes were evacuated by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.

You can find updates on these fires from the Cal Fire San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit Twitter page.

CHP Santa Cruz

Comparing the blazes with the record-breaking fires the state saw in summer, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Isaac Sanchez said, "I dont believe any are significant fires at this point though for the people being impacted, its not insignificant."

Sanchez wouldn't describe the flurry of wildfires breaking out in the middle of winter as a rare event. He said fire season is now year-round and there is no normal.

"These are the conditions we are faced with right now." Sanchez said. "Not only in Santa Cruz, but across the state the fuel out there is still receptive to burning and it doesnt get much to get a fire going and impact the community."

Cal Fire advised people to check Zone Haven for updates on evacuations.

High winds kicked up across the greater Bay Area on Monday night into Tuesday morning, leading to critical fire weather in the middle of winter.

The winds arrived at the tail end of a warm spell, with 10 Bay Area locations breaking same-day temperature records Monday afternoon, including 80 degrees in Santa Rosa, 79 in Oakland, 78 in San Jose, 77 in Napa, and 76 in downtown San Francisco, according to the weather service.

Offshore winds, aka Diablo Winds, blow hot air from inland areas toward the coast and are known for drying out the landscape and essentially sucking the moisture out of the vegetation, leaving it tinder-dry and vulnerable to burning.
The PSNI has been criticised for continuing to arrest people for begging during the pandemic (Brian Lawless/PA)

The PSNI has been accused of targeting some of the most vulnerable in society by continuing to arrest and fine people found begging during the pandemic.

Figures released to The Detail show 21 people were arrested and six fines averaging 75 each were handed out between March and mid-December 2020.

West Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll criticised the PSNIs approach, accusing them of "targeting some of those most isolated and marginalised groups in our society".

"I would strongly urge the PSNI cease from engaging in this disgraceful, counterproductive and damaging approach," Mr Carroll said.

"I will also be raising this with the Justice Minister to ensure this issue is addressed."

Arrests for begging have increased in Northern Ireland in recent years, with more than 320 arrests have been made under the 1824 and 1847 Vagrancy Acts since 2015.

There were 35 arrests for begging in Northern Ireland in 2015, rising to 88 in 2019. The PSNI said that the overall rise in arrests has been "gradual".

The majority (74%) of those arrested were later charged. Over 5,000 of fines were handed out in the same period.

The figures cover those who were taken into police custody, not people who were dealt with through other means such as community resolution notices.

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said Minister Naomi Long was aware of the issue.

Recognising the cross-cutting nature of the issues involved, (the minister) has asked officials to review the use of this legislation, taking account of developments in neighbouring jurisdictions, and to advise her of their findings in the coming months, a Department of Justice spokesperson said.

Police forces in England and Wales have reduced the number of arrests under the Vagrancy Acts, according to data obtained by the BBC. A review of the legislation there is pending.

The majority of those arrested in 2020 were from Northern Ireland, after an increase in the number of arrests of EU nationals in recent years.

Between 2015 and 2019, approximately 60% of those arrested in Northern Ireland were Romanian nationals. Over 25% were from the UK or Ireland. People from Northern Ireland made up the fastest growing group of those arrested over the five year period.

There were concerns about Romanian nationals begging and rough sleeping in Londonderry and the North West region in 2019, the director of operations at First Housing Aid and Support Services Eileen Best told The Detail.

Northern Irelands Housing Executive often has no statutory duty to rehouse migrants, she said, meaning that supporting migrants who are begging or rough sleeping can be complex.

There was a coordinated multi-agency approach to support Romanian nationals in 2019, she said. "There was a genuine concern that people may have been rough sleeping and had no recourse to public funds and no way of getting off the street. It wasn't easy to watch people that were forced to beg on the streets."

Efforts included helping those who wished to do so to return to their home country.

Arresting EU nationals for crimes such as begging can end up putting them at greater risk of homelessness and a criminal record can be a barrier to their right to remain in Northern Ireland.

Chief Superintendent Simon Walls said in a statement that the PSNI "are conscious that issues such as begging are challenging. The answer lies with wider society and policing is only one part of this."

Chief Superintendent Walls said the police consider a range of options before arrest.

"Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams work closely with a range of organisations who are seeking to find meaningful alternatives to begging and rough sleeping," he said.

"Where those people we find on the street are vulnerable and in need of help we will work with our partner agencies to help keep them safe."

As a good gesture of goodwill, India dispatched the first consignment of 1.5 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine to Thimphu in Bhutan from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, in the wee hours on Wednesday.

The flight carrying the first consignment of Covidshield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), will reach Thimphu today.

#WATCH | First consignment of 1.5 lakh dosages of Covishield vaccine being dispatched to Bhutan from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/mKtARLv27T  ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2021

India on Tuesday had announced that it will send Covid-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday and supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances.

India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines.

"First consignment takes off for Bhutan!" Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said on Twitter. "India begins supply of Covid vaccines to its neighbouring and key partner countries."

First consignment takes off for Bhutan! India begins supply of Covid vaccines to its neighbouring and key partner countries. #VaccineMaitri#NeighbourhoodFirst pic.twitter.com/ejofJuCObi  Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) January 20, 2021

The Ministry of External Affairs said India will supply Covid-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner keeping in view the domestic requirements.

In a statement, the MEA said India has received several requests for the supply of Indian-manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries.

Also read  Total 6.31 lakh healthcare workers got Covid-19 vaccine jabs till Tuesday evening: Centre

"In response to these requests, and in keeping with India's stated commitment to use India's vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of humanity fight the Covid pandemic, supplies under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles will begin from January 20," it said.

"In respect of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius, we are awaiting their confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances," it added.

India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

While Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and the Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech.

"India fulfils commitment to give vaccines to humanity. Supplies to our neighbours will start on 20th January.The Pharmacy of the World will deliver to overcome the Covid challenge," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Twitter.

India fulfils commitment to give vaccines to humanity. Supplies to our neighbours will start on 20th January. The Pharmacy of the World will deliver to overcome the COVID challenge.#VaccineMaitri https://t.co/0pEW52ARe5  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 19, 2021

The MEA said it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad.

"Immunisation programme is being implemented in India, as in other countries, in a phased manner to cover the healthcare providers, frontline workers and the most vulnerable," it said.

"Keeping in view the domestic requirements of the phased rollout, India will continue to supply Covid-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner," it added.

It is learnt that Pakistan is unlikely to be benefitted from India's initiative as that country is yet to approach New Delhi.

The MEA said prior to the delivery of vaccines, a training programme, covering administrative and operational aspects, is being conducted on January 19-20 for immunisation managers, cold chain officers, communication officers and data managers of the recipient countries, both at national and provincial levels.

India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries to help them deal with the pandemic.

The MEA said India has also provided training to several neighbouring countries to enhance and strengthen their clinical capabilities, under the Partnerships for Accelerating Clinical Trials (PACT) programme.

"Separately, several training courses have been organized for healthcare workers and administrators of partner countries under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, sharing our experience in dealing with the pandemic," it said.

"In an ongoing effort, India will continue to supply countries all over the world with vaccines. This will be calibrated against domestic requirements and international demand and obligations, including under GAVI's Covax facility to developing countries," the MEA added.

GAVI is a global vaccine alliance.

(With agency inputs)
Gary Barlow, who is celebrating his 50th birthday, is one of the most successful songwriters of his generation (Ian West/PA)

Gary Barlow is one of the most successful songwriters in British musical history, proving wildly popular both as part of Take That and as a solo artist.

Barlow, who celebrates his 50th birthday on Wednesday, developed a love of music thanks to stars including Sir Elton John and taught himself to play his favourite songs on a keyboard.

After a stint on the club circuit in the north of England, super stardom beckoned when he formed Take That.

To mark Barlows birthday, the PA news agency takes a look back at his career so far:

Take Thats early success

Barlow formed the wildly popular group in Manchester in 1990 alongside Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams.

He was the bands creative engine, writing or co-writing many of their biggest hits including Back For Good, Never Forget and A Million Love Songs.

After Williams left to pursue a solo career in 1995, Take That called it a day a year later having cemented their place as one of the most successful boybands of all time.

Solo joy turns sour

Expand Close A young Take That  including Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Robbie Williams and Jason Orange  took the music world by storm (Neil Munns/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A young Take That  including Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Robbie Williams and Jason Orange  took the music world by storm (Neil Munns/PA)

With his prodigious songwriting talent, a successful solo career seemed certain for Barlow and he was touted as the next George Michael.

He got off to a fine start, with his first two singles Forever Love and Love Wont Wait going to number one in the charts. Open Road, Barlows 1997 debut solo album, also topped the charts.

However, while Williams continued to find success on his own, Barlows career entered a lull and he quit singing in 1999 to act as a producer for other artists.

He later admitted to losing confidence and being unable to recapture his gift for songwriting.

Battles with an eating disorder

Barlow said his weight ballooned to 17 stone by 2003 as he struggled to come to terms with his career slump.

He said he had an eating disorder which he claimed stemmed from a subconscious desire to kill off the popstar.

Looking back on his decision to get healthy, Barlow said: There was a lightbulb moment. I realised this is as bad as I want to let it get.

It involved a trip to the doctor who informed me of my weight and that I was in a bad place. I had young kids and it felt highly irresponsible to be in the shape I was in.

The music confidence had gone, now the personal confidence had gone. I needed to change that. 

Take That return more successful than ever

Expand Close After a decade away, Take That reformed in 2005 and the once-estranged Robbie Williams re-joined in 2010 (Yui Mok/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp After a decade away, Take That reformed in 2005 and the once-estranged Robbie Williams re-joined in 2010 (Yui Mok/PA)

A 2005 documentary titled Take That: For The Record brought renewed interest in the once all-conquering boy band and they reunited that year  minus the still estranged Williams.

They hit the road in 2006 for The Ultimate Tour, which proved hugely successful and their comeback album Beautiful World catapulted them back to the top of the charts.

Williams rejoined the band for the 2010 album Progress, which was another smash hit and number one record.

Tax controversy

Expand Close Gary Barlow opened up on his tax controversy during an appearance on Desert Island Discs with presenter Lauren Laverne (Amanda Benson/BBC Radio 4/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gary Barlow opened up on his tax controversy during an appearance on Desert Island Discs with presenter Lauren Laverne (Amanda Benson/BBC Radio 4/PA)

Barlow faced heavy criticism after being caught up in a tax avoidance scandal in 2014.

He later said he had little knowledge of accounts and took full responsibility for the damaging episode.

During his 2018 appearance on Desert Island Discs, Barlow said: You try and do these things under the guidance of other people. I dont know a thing about accounts. I never want to. Its of no interest to me.

He added: I signed those things. Its my responsibility.

Tragedy strikes family life

Barlow has been married to former Take That backing dancer Dawn Andrews since 2000.

The couple have three children and a fourth, a daughter named Poppy, was delivered stillborn in 2012, days before Take That were booked to perform at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics.

Discussing the tragedy, Barlow said: For anyone whos been through anything like this, I think its something you accept that youre going to be dealing with for the rest of your life.

Barlow wrote movingly about the loss in his 2018 autobiography A Better Me.

Success is Back For Good

Expand Close Gary Barlow remains one of Britains most successful musicians (Matt Crossick/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gary Barlow remains one of Britains most successful musicians (Matt Crossick/PA)

Barlow is recognised as one of the most successful and influential songwriters of his generation and in 2012 was honoured with an Ivor Novello award for his outstanding contribution to British music.

He was a judge on talent shows the X Factor and Let It Shine, has written musicals and been made an OBE.

And his talent for songwriting remains as strong as ever.

In December he beat another act spawned in the 1990s  band Steps  to number one in the album charts with his fifth solo record Music Played By Humans.

Responding to the news, a delighted Barlow said: What an honour, what a privilege, I cant believe it. This possibly could mean the most to me than any other before.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams has resigned from his role saying 'I wasnt always right' after the Biden administration asked him to stand down to make way for incoming nominee Vivek Murthy.

Adams announced his departure in a series of tweets and a statement posted online Wednesday, as Joe Biden took the oath of office and was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.

The anesthesiologist and former Indiana health commissioner said it had been 'the honor of my life' to serve as the 20th US Surgeon General and as only the second black male to take on the role.

Adams said he had been asked by Biden's team to step down, as the new president clears the way for his own pick to be appointed.

Murthy, who held the position for two years during the Obama administration and for several months under President Donald Trump, was tapped for the role back in December.

Surgeon General Jerome Adams has resigned from his role saying 'I wasnt always right' after the Biden administration asked him to stand down

'I've been asked by the Biden team to step down as Surgeon General. Its been the honor of my life to serve this Nation, and I will do all I can to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve and maintain health,' Adams said in a tweet early on inauguration day.

In a full statement, Adams spoke of some of the notable events he has worked on since he was nominated by Trump and sworn in September 2017 - from the devastating hurricanes in 2017, to the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic.

'Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great Nation, as this has been the honor of my life,' he said.

'Three years and five months ago, I was confirmed as just the 20th United States Surgeon General - and only the second ever African American male to serve in that role.'

Adams said his 'proudest achievement' was his work to 'increase Naloxone availability nationwide by over 400 percent' during the opioid crisis - a drug designed to reverse opioid overdose.

'This is perhaps my proudest achievement, as my family has been personally impacted my substance misuse, and I firmly believe stigma remains one of our biggest killers and barriers to health,' he said.

Adams confirmed that he had been asked by Biden's team to step down during a tweet he sent out inauguration day morning

The anesthesiologist and former Indiana health commissioner said in a statement it had been 'the honor of my life' to serve as the 20th US Surgeon General and as only the second black male to take on the role

Adams went on to speak of the ongoing coronavirus crisis, which he described as a 'once in a century pandemic', as he admitted he 'wasn't always right'.

'I sought to communicate the rapidly evolving science on this deadly adversary, and arm people with the knowledge and tools they needed to stay safe,' he said.

'I wasnt always right - because no one was, and this virus continues to humble all of us - but I was always sincere in my efforts to speak to every day Americans, and address the terrible health inequities this virus exposed.'

He urged Americans not to forget 'all the other harms Americans face every day' such as suicide, while the nation continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

'We mustnt forget about all the other harms Americans face every day, or the many opportunities we have to improve health, and build more resilient communities,' he said.

'And we mustnt forget that diseases and health risks rarely impact all communities equally.'

Adams closed out by paying tribute to everyone who has supported him and his family through his tenure and saying he hopes for unity for the nation.

'I hope in 2021 and beyond, we can focus more on what unites us, and rise above what divides us,' he said.

'Because Americans working together can overcome any obstacle or adversary.

'I stand at the ready to help in our mutual quest for recovery, resilience, and health, and thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the opportunity to serve.'

Adams tweeted a final reminder for Americans to 'wear masks, wash hands, watch your distance, wait to gather, when its your turn, get vaccinated, and the most important thing love one another. Thats how we really improve health.'

Adams tweeted a final reminder for Americans to wear masks, wash hands and social distance

He thanked the American public and directed them to his personal social media account: 'Thank you America for this privilege. I look forward to our continued work to end this pandemic.'

Adams was sworn in to serve a four-year term which would have ended in September.

But Biden announced Murthy as his nominee for the role back in December.

Murthy, surgeon general under Obama and a close adviser to Biden, will still need to undergo Senate confirmation hearings before he can be sworn in.

It is not clear when these will be held but he is expected to come up against opposition by many Republicans who have criticized him for calling mass shootings a public health crisis.

Sources told the Washington Post Biden may choose an acting surgeon general as soon as Wednesday, bypassing Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz.

Schwartz, who worked on the transition for the Department of Health and Human Services between the Trump and Biden administrations, is said to be planning to retire over the snub, the insiders said.

Biden announced Dr. Vivek Murthy, who served under President Barack Obama, as his surgeon general pick in December

Biden will mostly replace members of Trump's coronavirus taskforce, but will retain Dr. Anthony Fauci, who's served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984.

At one of Trump's final rallies, Trump floated that he would fire Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, if he won re-election.

Fauci had annoyed Trump by being, in Trump's mind, too negative about the virus.

'People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots,' Trump said in October.

'Every time he goes on television there's always a bomb. But there's a bigger bomb if you fire him. But Fauci's a disaster.'

Adams kept his head down and held onto his job - never criticizing the administration's lackluster response to the pandemic that has, so far, left more than 400,000 Americans dead.

Adams, who is black, did speak frankly about the disparities between black and brown Americans and white Americans, with the latter more likely to survive the disease.

Adams' resignation came the same day Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States at the US Capitol in Washington DC

Vice President Kamala Harris bumps fists with President-elect Joe Biden after she was sworn in

But Democrats accused him of defending Trump through his silence and his television appearances speaking about the Trump administration's COVID-19 response.

In one of his final public appearances, Adams accompanied Vice President Mike Pence to get vaccinated, getting a shot in his arm as well to encourage black and brown Americans to follow suit.

Under Obama, Murthy helped lead the national response to the Ebola and Zika viruses and the opioid crisis.

But when Trump took office in 2017 the Republican quickly pushed him to resign with two years remaining of his four-year term - a move criticized by Democrats at the time.

Biden appointed Murthy to the role of co-chair of his Coronavirus Task Force in November just days after he won the election.

During his White House campaign he was one of Biden's closest advisers on medical issues and the pandemic.

On December 7, Biden then announced Murthy as his pick for Surgeon General.
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After months of speculation, Lori Harvey and Michael B. Jordan have gone public as a couple with some stunning Instagram photos. There had been hints that the pair had something going on, but theyd both remained tight-lipped about it until now.

On Jan. 10., both Jordan and Harvey posted some stunning New Years photos on their respective Instagram accounts. While Jordan did not use a caption, Harvey captioned her photos with a single brown heart.

Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey | Aaron J. Thornton/FilmMagic and Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images For Tadashi Shoji

Rumors have been swirling about Lori Harvey and Michael B. Jordan for months

Since her breakup with rapper Future in the summer of 2020, Harvey has focused on her friendships and family. However, eyebrows were raised in November 2020 when TMZ spotted the model getting off a plane with the Creed actor in Atlanta.

Around that time, Jordan had been named Peoples Sexiest Man Alive. He said that he was single and shared what he was looking for in a relationship. A sense of humor, true understanding, because [an actors] life is not conducive to a relationshipits really not, he said. Somebody thats nurturing. Ive got a list. Thats probably why my a** is still single, but yeah, its a list.

In December 2020, The Sun published photos of Jordan and Harvey getting off a plane in Salt Lake City. They both shared snowboarding photos from similar locations on their Instagram stories but didnt acknowledge they were together.

Lori Harvey was reportedly hesitant to go public with Michael B. Jordan

Though she has been linked to celebrities Diddy and Future in the past, Harvey has never been one to share details about her personal life on social media or in the press. In fact, it has been reported that she was in no rush to go public with her relationship with Jordan.

Lori isnt trying to hide, everyone knows shes spending time with him, but she hasnt chosen to put it all over social media, a source told HollywoodLife. She is hesitant to feed into the attention.

But it looks like Harvey and Jordan decided it was finally time to share their happiness with the world.

Now that the influencer and the Black Panther actor have gone Instagram official, fans are desperate to know how they connected in the first place. Though theyve never worked on anything together, Jordan and Harvey have undoubtedly crossed paths at certain events.

It would make sense that they were able to connect over social media or through mutual friends. Though theyve gone Instagram official as a couple, we doubt theyll be sharing too many more details of their life on social media. Jordan told People about his perfect date,

The freedom to go wherever I wanted in public, not worry about paparazzi. Enjoy somebodys company. Go for a drive, dope playlist. Drive somewhere just for dessert. Im definitely a movie guy, and then Id ride the vibe for the rest of the night.
US President-elect and Vice President-elect on Wednesday arrived for the historic inauguration at the West Front of the Capitol.

Biden, 78, will take the oath of office as the 46th President of the United States while Harris, 56, will be sworn in as the 49th US Vice President.

Over 25,000 National Guard troops are guarding the venue and nearby areas to ensure that the nation's transfer of power can take place peacefully.

Biden, who is set to be the oldest president in American history, will succeed President Donald Trump, 74, who has decided not to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Harris will take over the office of the US Vice President from 61-year-old Mike Pence.

The President-elect is wearing a navy suit and a navy overcoat, both designed by American designer Ralph Lauren. His wife Dr Jill Biden is wearing an ocean blue wool tweed coat and dress by emerging American designer Alexandra O'Neil of Markarian.

Harris, the daughter of an Indian immigrant from Chennai, will create history by becoming the first-ever woman Vice President of the United States. She would also be the first female, first Black and first South Asian American vice president.

Her husband Douglas Emhoff, 56, will be the first Second Gentleman' - the first male spouse of a vice president in the US.

Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office to Biden just after the clock strikes 12 (local time) at the West Front of the Capitol - the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies.

The inauguration, which is being held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, will see no large gatherings as the Presidential Inaugural Committee and local law enforcement officials have asked the public not to travel to Washington DC for the event.

The event is being held under the unprecedented security umbrella by elite security personnel, who have transformed the capital into a garrison city, mainly because of the threat of more violent protests by the supporters of Trump.

Trump is the first outgoing president of the US to miss his successor's inauguration since Andrew Johnson, who was impeached in 1869. Trump, however, extended "best wishes" to the new administration in a farewell video address on Tuesday.

Trump has not only refused to concede the elections for more than two months, but also did not invite his successor to the White House as is the custom.

Biden has termed Trump's decision to skip the swearing-in ceremony as one of the few things he and I ever agreed on.

He in the past has said that tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis, systemic racism and climate change will be the top priorities for the incoming administration as they gear up for building back everything "better than ever".

Biden will take the oath on his 127-year-old family Bible, which will be held by his wife, Jill Biden, 69.

He will deliver his first presidential address to the country shortly after taking the oath. The historic speech, with the theme of unity and healing, has been prepared by his Indian-American speech writer Vinay Reddy.

Harris will be sworn in as Vice President of the United States by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court.

Harris will be sworn in on two Bibles - one that belonged to a close family friend named Regina Shelton and another that belonged to Thurgood Marshall - the country's first African American Supreme Court justice.

The ceremony is likely to be attended by former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton. Former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton are also set to attend the event.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Biden and Harris will attend a traditional Pass in Review with members of the military on the East Front of the Capitol, signifying the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander-in-chief.

Biden, Harris and their spouses will visit Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where they will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

After the wreath ceremony, they will head to the White House, where they will get a presidential escort. That will kick off the virtual "Parade Across America," featuring performances from all 56 states and territories.

Biden enters the White House with the top challenge to lift the country from the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 400,000 Americans and thrown millions into economic distress. Revival of the economy, which has been badly bruised by the pandemic, is another challenge that he faces.

Meanwhile, the American capital has been virtually turned into a garrison city, amidst multiple reports of threats and more armed violence by pro-Trump supporters to disrupt the events.

The area in and around Capitol Hill, a large part of Pennsylvania Avenue and the White House has been made out of bounds for the general public with eight-feet high iron barricades being erected.

In addition to converting downtown Washington D.C. into a fortress, security in and around 50 State Capitols has also been put on high alert to ensure a peaceful transition of power.

US defence officials say they are also worried about an insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing Biden's inauguration, prompting the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops deployed for the event.

(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.)
China could eventually blockade Australia by sea within 25 years unless the Communist Party power's territorial aggression is contained, a US intelligence expert says.

Taiwan, a democracy, has been an autonomous nation since 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist forces fled mainland China following a four-year civil war.

Under authoritarian President Xi Jinping, China has been provocatively approaching Taiwanese airspace as part of a practice run of invading the island nation and eventually controlling it.

Military success there could potentially embolden China to assert more control over other nations in the South China Sea like the Philippines and dominate a major global shipping route.

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China could eventually blockade Australia by sea within 25 years unless the Communist Party power's territorial aggression is contained, a US intelligence expert says. Pictured is a Chinese J-15 fighter jet

Unless its territorial aggression was contained Captain James Fanell, a former director of intelligence for the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet, said the People's Republic of China could eventually block sea routes in and out of Australia, cutting it off from major trading partners Japan and South Korea.

'You're in a dogfight right now economically with the PRC,' he told Sky News.

'They're coming after Australia trying to shut you down economically.

'If they have this ability to be able to freely operate their naval forces outside in Taiwan and into the Philippine Sea, there's a real possibility within the scope of 25 years, China could if they wanted to, isolate and blockade Australia.'

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's executive director Peter Jennings said China was likely to provoke a confrontation with Taiwan in coming weeks to test incoming US President Joe Biden, who is being sworn in on Thursday Australian time.

Unless its territorial aggression was contained Captain James Fanell, a former director of intelligence for the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet, said the People's Republic of China could eventually block sea routes in and out of Australia, cutting it off from major trading partners Japan and South Korea

'This gives the Chinese Communist leader Xi Jinping an opportunity to see how far can he push his luck and I would fully expect that we'll see some sort of crisis along the Taiwan Strait in the next few weeks,' he said.

China last year passed new national security laws covering Hong Kong, which contravened a 1984 UK-Sino agreement stipulating the former British colony would be autonomous for 50 years after the 1997 handover.

The PRC now has Taiwan in its sights, having long considered the democratic nation to be part of China.

Australia and the US have diplomatically observed a one-China policy since they both formalised ties with the Communist Party regime during the 1970s.

Nonetheless, they support Taiwan remaining autonomous even if they don't formally have diplomatic relations with this island nation of 23.6million people.

Liberal senator Jim Molan, a former Army major general, fears a war over Taiwan within a decade between the United States and China, would pitch Australia's biggest defence ally against its biggest trading partner.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's executive director Peter Jennings said China was likely to provoke a confrontation with Taiwan in coming weeks to test incoming US President Joe Biden, who is being sworn in on Thursday Australian time. Pictured is a People's Liberation Army military parade

The US National Security Council last week published a declassified document from 2018, made public 30 years earlier than usual, which suggested the US could come to Taiwan's aid in the event of a Chinese invasion.

Outgoing President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien released a statement, titled A Free and Open Indo Pacific, which implied the US would use military force to protect smaller nations from Chinese aggression.

'A free and open Indo-Pacific depends on robust American leadership,' he said.

'The United States has a long history of fighting back against repressive regimes on behalf of those who value freedom and openness.

'As the world's largest economy, with the strongest military and a vibrant democracy, it is incumbent on the United States to lead from the front.'

The US sent troops to the Korea and Vietnam wars during the 1950s and 1960s to fight Communist insurgents invading the southern parts of both nations.

In 2020, China imposed 80 per cent tariffs on Australian barley and 212 per cent import taxes on Australian wine after Prime Minister Scott Morrison in April called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.

New Delhi: Bhutan on Wednesday (January 20, 2021) became the first country to receive "Made in India" COVID-19 vaccines with an Indian Air Force's AN32 landing in the country with 1,50,000 doses of it.

Following the delivery, Bhutan's Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering while receiving the vaccine expressed that it is a gift from a 'trusted friend' who has been with Bhutan all through the decades and in this pandemic too.

PM Lotay also said, "As we celebrate the arrival of the vaccine as the new milestone in our battle to beat the pandemic at home, we applaud the gesture that signifies the compassion and generosity of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, and the people of India for the wellbeing of the humanity."

An AN32 glided its way into the Paro valley around 3.25 pm today, ferrying Bhutan's first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine https://t.co/kwsfUUsjov pic.twitter.com/G4GTTugyVn  PM Bhutan (@PMBhutan) January 20, 2021

The Bhutanese PM pointed out that India reached out despite challenges it faces and said, "It is of unimaginable value when precious commodities are shared even before meeting your own needs, as opposed to giving out only after you have enough."

He added, "It is the display of altruism at best, and an exhibit of India's sincerity in the relationship we cherish. These will all translate into the prayers and prosperity of the people of India, emanating from the grateful hearts of Bhutan."

Bhutan's Health minister Dechen Wangmo, Foreign secretary Kinga Singye and India's Ambassador to the country Ruchira Kamboj was also present on the occasion.

The country received the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine 'COVISHIELD' manufactured by the Serum Institute of India within five days of India launching its massive coronavirus vaccination drive.

An AN32 aircraft just arrived in Paro valley, ferrying Bhutan's first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine from India. Health minister Dechen Wangmo will receive the vaccines from Indian Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj in presence of Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering in a modest ceremony. pic.twitter.com/xATxyn5Pc3  PM Bhutan (@PMBhutan) January 20, 2021

The Indian government has assured to cover the two doses requirement of Bhutan's target population of around 5,33,500 and has committed to deliver the remaining consignments soon.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, India handed over ten consignments of medical supplies, portable X-Ray machine, essential medicines and medical equipment to Bhutan. Prior to the vaccine delivery, India also organised a training programme for immunization managers, cold chain officers, communication officers and data managers from Bhutan, both at national and provincial levels.

Notably, India will be gifting COVID-19 vaccines to six countries -- Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : Upping the ante against the government over journalist Arnab Goswami's purported social media chat leak, the Congress on Wednesday described it as an act of "treason" and demanded an immediate inquiry into the leak of such classified information about the Balakot air strike. It said that the party will raise the issue during Parliament's Budget Session.

The Congress brought out several senior leaders to corner the government over the issue including former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, former Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, former Law Minister Salman Khurshid, Congress Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and party spokesperson Pawan Khera.

Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters Antony said, "The contents of the leaked chats between Goswami of Republic TV and the former CEO of BARC is a serious issue for the entire nation." Antony said that for a very patriotic Indian, it is a shock and a serious matter of concern because it affects national security.

The Congress leader said that it affects the security of the armed forces, and especially in this case the security of the brave air warriors. "And also in the way they (Goswami and BARC CEO) mentioned the martyrdom of 40 CRPF men is all a serious concern for us," Antony said.

He said the people of the country and the political parties might have differences on several issues but are united when it comes to national security cutting across religious and party lines to protect the country.

"But now it is very clear that classified documents that too considering the national security and also considering the most sensitive secret air strikes were available with the people who were not expected to know it, and were not authorised to get these documents," Antony said.

He said "I am very sad and shocked" over the leaked chats between Goswami and former BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta and the language they used while mentioning the martyrdom of 40 CRPF troopers.

Firing a salvo at the government, the Congress leader said, "Three days before the Balakot air strikes, how did one journalist come to know of the details of it? It would have affected the operation and its effectiveness." Only very few people are expected to be in the know of such secret information, to know the details of the military operations. "Even all the Cabinet ministers are not expected to get that as only a handful of people and a few military people are informed about such operations," he said.

"These documents were leaked to the media, but not the entire media but to only one journalist by the people who were in top positions in the government," he alleged.

"Leaking official secrets about the military operation, national security matters, sensitive military operations especially air force strike is treason and anti-national activity," he said.

"It is not only criminal activity, it is anti-national activity and treason. Whoever has done this they must be punished for anti-national activities and treason," he said.

Questioning the silence of the government over the issue, Antony said, "Even till today the government has not said anything on this. I am sure these anti-national activities or leakage of secret military operations was among four or five civilian people. I don't suspect anybody. But one of them is suspect. It needs to be enquired immediately on a war footing. And whoever is guilty should be punished for treason." He added that the journalist who got such secret military operation details has to be punished.

"Urgently the government must order an enquiry. And whoever is responsible and whoever is part of the leakage of military operations should be shown no mercy and he has to be punished," Antony said.

Shinde said that what Goswami has done is not just shameful for the country but also for journalism. "In last several years no media organisation or any journalist has done such act," he said.

He said that the country has seen several wars and governments of different parties, but such an act of leakage of official secrets was never witnessed.

"They were celebrating on Pulwama after our 40 CRPF troopers were killed in a terror attack," the former Home Minister said, referring to the chats of Goswami and Partho Dasgupta.

Shinde said, "We will raise the issue in Parliament's Budget Session." Addrssing the press conference, Khurshid, who had also held the portfolio of External Affairs Minister said, "We have always believed that if we lose faith in judiciary, then nothing will be left." He said that he was saying this as these people were discussing some of the matters which were going on in the judiciary.

Referring to the alleged chats of Goswami with Dasgupta, Khurshid said, "It raises questions that if the talks of such kind were going on, then was there any influence on the judiciary?" "And did any wrong decision be taken due to such pressures. They also discussed a meeting with Law Minister," he said.

Khurshid also questioned if the BJP has let loose people whose mandate is to go to judges to influence them unconstitutionally and illegally? And what would the judges and judiciary do. Will the judiciary turn a blind eye or will it set an example?" he asked.

Khurshid said that he was not saying that the judges may have been ifluenced. Anybody having the audacity to talk about influencing a judge, we stand in assuring the judiciary that we are with them.

Discussing the alleged chats of Goswami and Dasgupra referring to former Finance Minister and veteran BJP leader Arun Jaitley, Khurshid said that he was respected at the bar and in Parliament irrespective of different political lines.

Khurshid recalled that there was a channel of communication and he (Jaitley) was always willing to listen. "He was an important pillar of the parliamentary democracy," Khurshid said.

"The kind of conversation related to Jaitleyji is deeply saddening and hurtful. He was on his death bed," he said.

"It is a cynical hardened mind that says why does'nt he go quickly. What is it that he was saying that government is maintaining him?" Khurshid said, adding that it is extremly painful, if this is how they treat their own people.

Azad said that in 2017, Goswami's channel and another channel by-passed the auction system put in place by Prasar Bharti to gain viewership on DD Free Dish.

He said, "The two channels did not pay the fee to Doordarshan to book slots in the free DTH service with the help of Dish TV, a private DTH service. This violation cost crores of rupees to the public exchequer." Khera also slammed the government over the alleged chats of Goswami with Dasgupta referring to then BJP chief and Union Home MInister Amit Shah and usage of Prime Minister's name, and said, "Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of the biggest democracy." Referring to Goswami as a lobbyist, Khera said, "How can a lobbyist have the confidence of dropping the name of the Prime Minister every second minute to fix rivals within the journalistic profession. The confidence with which he flaunts his proximity to the Prime Minister and his office, it is shocking." Khera also said that Shah became Home MInister later in 2019.

Khera added that before May 2019, Shah's name was used by Goswami with Dasgupta.

Khera that Goswami took Dasgupta to meet Shah. "What all matters were discussed. He talked to fix other media house?" he said.

On Tuesday, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had also slammed the government and said that leaking sensitive information related to national security to a journalist is a "criminal act" and persons behind this should be put in prison.
While the pandemic has wrought havoc on the Sydney theatre scene, new works that embrace digital tools to deliver art are flourishing from the chaos.

This year, Griffin Theatre, who traditionally present works in a bricks and mortar theatre, will present a work wholly online for the first time. Xanthe Dobbie and Harriet Gillies Pleasuredome goes online on January 20.

Harriet Gillies and Xanthe Dobbie, creators of a new digital theatre piece Pleasuredome. Credit:James Brickwood

Pleasuredome is a digital performance that starts in one part of the internet and expands out, says Gillies. It begins as a lecture about hypertext, which is the language that the internet is written in, and finishes as a joint embodied sexual orgasmic orgy.

The genesis of the show came when Gillies and co-creator Dobbie read about Ted Nelson, the inventor of hypertext, who also coined the term teledildonics, the science of internet-assisted sex toys that allow for remote touch between partners.

Previously: Is China Ending Pre-market Animal Testing for Cosmetics?

In order to bypass this criterion, companies worldwide must present a certificate to approved authorities that states the company is conforming to Good Manufacturing Practices, in addition to product safety assessments. Companies that fulfill the criteria for importing "ordinary" cosmetics no longer require animal testing for eye and skin irritation in Chinese laboratories. According to the report, "ordinary" cosmetics make up the majority of personal care products imported into China, versus special cosmetics such as hair and skin coloring products, permanent wave product, sun protection, anti-hair loss and childrens products.

The cosmetics industry is the only one in Europe to have

completely banned animal testing. . ."

Global cosmetic companies and health authorities have attempted to introduce alternatives to animal testing to Chinese authorities, as animal testing has been banned in the EU since 2009. Since June 2014, certain cosmetic products such as shampoos, shower gels and makeup manufactured and marketed in China no longer required animal testing, although domestic special-use products and all imported cosmetic products still mandated it.

Featured: Unilever + 484 Stakeholders Urge EU Officials: Uphold Cosmetic Animal Testing Ban

In France, the Agence Nationale de Securite du Medicament, or National Agency for Medicines Safety (ANSM), can issue the Good Manufacturing Practices certificate to cosmetic manufacturers. Since January 12, 2021, the ANSM has created a platform to download the documents necessary to receive this certificate, which reportedly allows all French cosmetic manufacturers to export products to China without being animal tested upon arrival.

Most multinational corporations have factories set up in China but the animal testing requirements for other foreign beauty players have kept companies from exporting directly to the country; until now. Often, cruelty-free companies have opted to sell products to Chinese consumers via e-commerce websites. Reportedly, this is because pre- and post-marketing testing requirements in China have not applied to beauty products ordered by consumers through a e-commerce websites if the site itself and fulfillment locations were outside of mainland China, and if the products were sent directly to a consumer in China.

We are delighted with this progress, which rewards several years of efforts made with the Chinese authorities, said Patrick OQuin, president of the FEBEA, in a statement from the report. The cosmetic industry is the only one in Europe to have completely banned animal testing and we are happy to continue changing regulations in other parts of the world. This agreement will also allow French cosmetic companies to export more fluidly and quickly to China. This country is now our second-largest trading partner.

Related: China to Accept Animal-alternative Test Data Under These Conditions
New York City was forced to reschedule 23,000 vaccine appointments this week alone, Mayor Bill de Blasio said as he warned that the city would run out of doses altogether by Friday.

De Blasio heightened alarm about the city's dire shortage of vaccines and called for something to be done to free up more doses at a press conference on Wednesday.

At his own press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo acknowledged shortages around the state and but shifted blame toward the federal government.

Cuomo said that the state currently has just 145,780 doses remaining and warned that the supply would run out in a maximum of three days.

'What is clear now is we're going to be going from week to week - and you will see a constant pattern of, basically, running out, waiting for the next week's allocation and then starting up again,' he said. 'We're trying to smooth it out, but we're also trying to get it out as fast as possible.'

The seven million New Yorkers currently eligible to receive vaccines are currently facing wait times of three months or more to get appointments.

Cuomo has projected that it could be six months before all of those currently eligible get their jabs if the federal government doesn't step in and increase supply.

Just under 908,000 people in the state have received their first doses of the vaccine to date, representing 84 percent of the supply already provided by the federal government, Cuomo said.

New York City was expected to surpass 500,000 vaccinations on Wednesday, de Blasio said, out of more than 940,800 delivered.

It comes as New York reported 9,273 hospitalizations statewide - the highest number since May 4 and a 50 percent increase from a month ago.

New York City was forced to reschedule 23,000 vaccine appointments this week alone, Mayor Bill de Blasio said as he warned that the city would run out of doses altogether by Friday. Pictured: People wait in line to receive vaccines at the Jacob K Javits Center

De Blasio heightened alarm about the city's dire shortage of vaccines and called for something to be done to free up more doses at a press conference on Wednesday (pictured)

It comes as New York reported 9,273 hospitalizations statewide on Wednesday - the highest number since May 4 and a 50 percent increase from a month ago

During Wednesday's presser de Blasio said he is hopeful that the vaccine will help bring hospitalization rates down as he boasted that the pace of inoculations in the Big Apple 'is gaining every day', but said: 'We need the vaccine to go with it.'

A new distribution hurdle emerged on Wednesday, he said, when deliveries of 103,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine were delayed.

'We already were feeling the stress of a shortage of vaccine. Now the situation has been made even worse,' he said.

The city is aiming to reschedule appointments for the 23,000 people who had theirs canceled this week within the next week, Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said. He noted that no second dose appointments were rescheduled, only first doses.

De Blasio went on to criticize the vaccine rollout plan, saying: 'We need to rethink the approach in this moment and be agile and be creative to address the challenge at hand.'

He called for second doses of the vaccine to be released from reserve because: 'We need them now.'

'Look, we know a lot of vaccine is being produced all over this country,' he said. 'We are very hopeful additional vaccines are going to come into play soon, but we've got folks right now who need help, who need to be protected. We need to save lives right now.

'The way to do that is to free up that supply of second doses, to not hold them in reserve for weeks, not keep them in a refrigerator, but put them in people's arms.'

New York City was expected to surpass 500,000 vaccinations on Wednesday, de Blasio said, out of more than 940,800 delivered. Pictured: People line up at a mass vaccination site at South Bronx Educational Campus

De Blasio criticized the vaccine rollout plan on Wednesday, saying: 'We need to rethink the approach in this moment and be agile and be creative to address the challenge at hand.' Pictured: A healthcare worker administers a vaccine in New York City

De Blasio said he has faith that positive changes will be made under the new Biden administration, adding: 'We're going to see a whole different level of production of the vaccine happening.'

He said the city is still determined to meet its goal of one million vaccinations in the next month, especially in light of recent surges in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

New York City added 284 new hospitalizations on Wednesday, bringing the total to just over 3,700 and hospitalization rate per 100,000 people to 5.08. That is the highest rate seen since the city debuted the metric last month.

The city's average daily number of new cases also continued to rise and now stands at 4,692, de Blasio said. The test positivity rate fell slightly to 8.53 percent.

De Blasio said those numbers are 'all too high', but that there is 'a chance to turn that around now that we have a new administration that we know will speed the supply of vaccine to us.'

At his own press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo acknowledged shortages around the state and but shifted blame toward the federal government

At his presser later in the day, Cuomo indicated that he is most concerned with rising hospitalization rates on Long Island and in the Finger Lakes and Mohawk Valley regions.

'That means more people are going to die, that means more elderly people are at risk and that's a function of your behavior,' the governor said.

Statewide, the rolling average for available hospital beds stands at 32 percent. In New York City, the average is 31 percent.

Rolling test positivity rates have continued to decline in recent days, with a statewide average of 6.84 percent as of Wednesday.

Just under 908,000 people in New York have received their first doses of the vaccine to date, representing 84 percent of the supply already provided by the federal government, Cuomo said. Pictured: Cars wait along a roadway outside a vaccination center in Wantagh

New York's struggle to keep up with demand for vaccines is part of a larger trend around the US, as many states complain that they're running out and tens of thousands of people who managed to get appointments for a first dose are seeing them canceled.

The full explanation for the apparent mismatch between supply and demand was unclear, but last week the US Health and Human Services Department suggested that states had unrealistic expectations for how much vaccine was on the way.

The shortages are coming as states dramatically ramp up their vaccination drives, at the direction of the federal government, to reach people 65 and older, along with other groups deemed essential or at high risk.

About half of the 31 million doses distributed to the states by the federal government have been administered so far, though only about two million people have received the two doses needed for maximum protection against the virus.

The US passed a grim milestone of 400,000 deaths on Tuesday, with deaths rising in nearly two thirds of all states.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the US has recorded 24,356,741 total coronavirus cases and nearly 124,000 people are currently hospitalized.
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ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Non-halogenated flame retardants refer to additives widely utilized in polymers to improve fire resistance in case of ignition and decelerate the fire spread. While non-halogenated flame retardants cannot make a polymer non-explosive, they assist in fire resistance and generation of heat in less amount.

The global non-halogenated flame retardants market is expected to clock a CAGR of ~8% across the forecast period of 2019-2027, state analysts at Transparency Market Research (TMR). The market for non-halogenated flame retardants was accounted for ~US$ 2 Bn in 2018.

Request for COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Non-halogenated Flame Retardants Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/Covid19.php

Non-halogenated Flame Retardants Market: Major Takeaways

As halogenated retardants are toxic, there is remarkable shift among many end-use industries toward the use of non-halogenated flame retardants. This is one of the key factors driving the growth of the global non-halogenated flame retardants market. Generally, flame retardants find application as additives in polymers to enhance the fire resistance in case of ignition and during fire accidents.

In recent period, there is remarkable growth in environmental awareness in many developed regions such as North America and Europe . As a result, the government bodies from the countries from these regions are imposing stringent regulations related to the manufacturing as well as import of products with halogenated flame retardants. Several emerging nations such as Malaysia , China , India , and Indonesia are engaged in the export of many end-use products with flame retardant polymers to the U.S. and Europe . Owing to this scenario, the vendors working in the global non-halogenated flame retardants market are likely to gain promising expansion opportunities in Asia Pacific in the forthcoming years.

and . As a result, the government bodies from the countries from these regions are imposing stringent regulations related to the manufacturing as well as import of products with halogenated flame retardants. Several emerging nations such as , , , and are engaged in the export of many end-use products with flame retardant polymers to the U.S. and . Owing to this scenario, the vendors working in the global non-halogenated flame retardants market are likely to gain promising expansion opportunities in in the forthcoming years. The government bodies of many countries across the globe are employing stringent fire safety regulations related to risks of fire hazards in different end-use industries such as electrical and construction sector. This factor is expected to drive demand opportunities in the global non-halogenated flame retardants market.

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Non-halogenated Flame Retardants Market: Growth Boosters

Non-halogenated flame retardants are gaining traction in many end-use industries such as building & construction, electronics, textiles, and transportation. One of the key reasons for this scenario is growth in the use of polymers in these industries. Thus, increased demand from all these industries is likely to boost the expansion of the global non-halogenated flame retardants market throughout the assessment period 20192027.

In recent period, there is remarkable growth in the use of non-halogenated flame retardants integrated with plastics as building materials, as they fulfill the regulations related to fire safety. This scenario highlights that the vendors in the global non-halogenated flame retardants market are likely to gain promising demand opportunities from construction industry.

The companies engaged in the global non-halogenated flame retardants market are growing focus on strengthening their production capabilities. As a result, they are engaging in mergers and acquisition activities. Apart from this, many players in the market for non-halogenated flame retardants are concentrating on manufacturing mineral-based non-halogenated flame retardants including magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. Owing to all these factors, the global market for non-halogenated flame retardants is likely to expand at rapid pace in the years to come.

View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/1273

Non-halogenated Flame Retardants Market: Well-Established Participants

The report profiles following key players working in the non-halogenated flame retardants market:

Israel Chemicals Limited (ICL)

Albemarle

Italmatch

Clariant

Nabaltec AG

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Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals and Materials Industry,

Aluminum Potassium Sulfate Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/aluminum-potassium-sulfate-market.html

Flame Retardant Masterbatches Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/flame-retardant-masterbatches-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

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Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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Tibet was annexed by Chinese troops more than 60 years ago and China continues its brutal occupation of the region till this day. To create an impenetrable security barrier between occupied Tibet and the outside world, China has adopted a strategy of creating Border Defence Villages.

As per reports, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cadres are stationed in these villages to counter infiltration by hostile forces. One of the key focus areas of this plan is developing connectivity infrastructure.

In 2019, the Chinese government constructed a major tunnel and bridge that would connect Tibets capital Lhasa to the Chinese province of Sichuan through a rail link. This new rail link is of great strategic importance to China and is located close to India.

The development of these border villages has serious implications for Indias defence. These 'Border Defence Villages' will change the demography of the border areas over time. The construction of these border villages is especially worrisome for India following the 2017 stand-off between India and Chinese troops on the Doklam Plateau. The plateau is only 9 kilometers away from Yadong county, Tibet. This region is considered strategically sensitive due to its location and its relative proximity from the Indian border.

If China was to increase its influence over the region , it would allow Chinese forces to access the Siliguri Corridor, known as the Chickens Neck. If Chinese forces can exert influence over the Chickens Neck from Yadong, then China can cut off Indias access to the North East completely in times of war or disputes, a source familiar of these developments told Zee News.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has stated that the frontiers of the nation must be governed well to be able to aptly administer to the whole country. Wu Yingjie, the CCP Chief of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) has stated that Tibet is a special frontier ethnic region and therefore is extremely important to the national security of China and forms an ecological security barrier. The plan to create Border Defence Villages in Tibet, near the Indian border is outlined in the Plan for the Construction of Well-Off Villages in the Border Areas of the Tibet Autonomous Region (2017-2020).

The plan was issued back in 2017 and according to it, China would be creating more than 600 of these Border Defence Villages.

The CCP cadres are to be stationed in these villages, and their primary goal is repelling any attempted infiltrations by hostile forces such as the Tibetans loyal to His Holinesses Dalai Lama. By placing faithful cadres at these villages, the CCP hopes that villages will follow or align with Chinese objectives.

These border villages are constructed on the routes that were in the past used by Tibetans to escape the CCPs oppressive regime into Nepal and then into India. Another important role for the residents of these villages is to keep tabs on the movement of population and activities on the other side of the border. Most of the Border Defence Villages are being constructed in key areas such as Nyingtri/ Niyngchi. The region borders the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Border Defence Villages also serve as a center for CCPs ideological campaigns. The villages conduct intensive political education sessions in border areas. These political education sessions include the training of monks in Nyingtri.

Through this method, the monks are taught to go against the Dalai Lamas influence. Penpa Lhamo, deputy head of the Contemporary Studies Institute of Tibet Academy of Science has stated that Nyingtri is vital to Chinese counter espionage operations because of the presence of many military sites in the region. As per Li Wei , an anti-terrorism expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, the temples in Tibet have always been the focus of the Chinese governments plan as they are essential in maintaining the stability of Tibet.

The infrastructure that is closest to the actual border is known as first-line construction. As per Chinese state media, the majority of Border Defence Villages have been constructed on the first line while around 200 Border Defence Villages have been constructed on slightly farther second line. Chinese state media has also revealed that Tibetans are often forcibly relocated and resettled in the border villages.

Zhu Hong, head of the organization department of the Gar County committee while taking about a new Border Defence Village called Demchog in the Gar County has stated that the goal is to turn these villages into party building position and an indestructible battle fortess.

He added that these villages would hold demonstration on the border as well as keep the motherland (Chinese mainland). In addition to passive security roles, these Border Defence Villages also act as outposts that try to identify secessionist elements. Chinese media has reported that the amenities available in these villages like- well constructed houses, paved roads, electricity, TV and internet meant to be seen as attractive to those on the other side of the border.

The construction and development of these Border Defence Villages have been praised by President Xi Jinping . In a letter to two sisters from a Tibetan herding family, Xi stated that he wished for the girls to set down roots in the new village, as well as safeguard Chinese territory . Xi also added that he wished for the Tibetan settlers to develop their hometown. The Chinese have invested vast sums of the developments of these Border Defence Villages.

According to M. Taylor Fravel , the Director of the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology , the local budget for the construction of these border defence villages is approximately 30 billion Yuan or $4.6 billion. Zhuangyan, Deputy Party Secretary, TAR Executive Chairman and the Chief Commander of the Construction Work Headquarters of Xiaokang Villages in March 2018 stated that the primary goal of the construction of these villages is to ensure consolidation of the border areas and to guarantee border security. In these senses, these border villages are similar to Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps farms. They offer the same benefits to China of increasing border control as well as consolidation.

Beijing and the CCP have long believed that it was much easier to control an unruly population when they are settled in and placed in well connected villages. Through the use of modern technology like surveillance cameras and mobile phones, the action of resettled villages can be effectively monitored and controlled. The Chinese government finds it much easier to control these settled Tibetans than keeping track of them while they pursue their nomadic lifestyle.

Construction of these Border Defence Villages is intended for Chinese encroachment of lands of sovereign nations in its neighboring countries. These unilateral actions of the expansionist Chinese President Xi Jinping are in clear violation of the international norms. China has perhaps chosen this time of global health adversary as an opportunity  to push forward its expansionist ideology by accelerating works on setting up Border Defence Villages  seemingly assuming that it would go unnoticed.

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NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The following roundup is a collection of stories dealing with the CES 2021 conference and is appropriate for special sections and for general use.

For each story included in this package, you will find the first paragraph of the release below, as well as its headline linked to the full text.

This is the latest in a series of event-related roundups PRN will carry as part of its regular Cision Roundup News Service.

CES 2021 Cision Roundup

1. SABRE Launches Safety App with GPS Tracking and Alerts and Offers Sneak Preview of Connected SMART Pepper Spray at CES 2021

CHICAGO, Jan. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SABRE, the leading brand in personal safety, is set to revolutionize the personal safety category during the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show with the launch of its Personal Safety App and sneak preview of its new connected SMART Pepper Spray. Designed in partnership with leading safety platform Noonlight, the SABRE SMART Pepper Spray and Personal Safety App combines the ability to send alerts and GPS tracking information to loved ones and local authorities with a maximum strength pepper spray providing both protection and peace of mind for both users and their trusted contacts.

2. The Zephyr Project Selects Parasoft's Functional Safety & Compliance Solution to Validate Safety

MONROVIA, Calif., Jan. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Parasoft, a global leader in automated software testing for over 30 years, today announced joining the Zephyr Project Safety Committee at Linux Foundation. The Zephyr Project Safety Working Group seeking increased automation selected Parasoft embedded testing technology solution to satisfy its safety-critical certification goals.

If you would like a copy of the complete schedule, or if you would care to comment, please email [email protected]. We welcome suggestions. Copies of previous packages will be available for the media. Cision roundups and photos are also available on the PR Newswire Web site.

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The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is likely to protect against a more infectious variant of the virus, which was discovered in Britain and has spread around the world, according to results of further lab tests released on Wednesday.

The encouraging results from an analysis of blood of participants in trials are based on more extensive analysis than those released by the US drugmaker last week.

Last week, Pfizer said a similar laboratory study showed the vaccine was effective against one key mutation, called N501Y, found in both of the highly transmissible new variants spreading in Britain and South Africa.

The latest study, posted on bioRxiv.org but not yet peer reviewed, was conducted on a synthetic virus with 10 mutations that are characteristic of the variant known as B117 identified in Britain.

Among the 11 authors of the study are Ugur Sahin and Oezlem Tuereci, co-founders of BioNTech. Sahin is chief executive and his wife Tuereci is chief medical officer.

It provides further hope as record numbers of daily deaths from COVID-19 are reported in Britain, which is believed to be driven by the more transmissible variant. It also means vaccine development would for now not have to start all over again.

For the test, blood samples drawn from 16 vaccinated participants in prior clinical trials were exposed to a synthetic virus called pseudovirus which was engineered to have the same surface proteins as B117, as characterised by 10 hallmark mutations.

The antibodies in the blood of the volunteers given the vaccine, known as Comirnaty, or BNT162b2, neutralised the pseudovirus as effectively as the older coronavirus version that the product was initially designed for.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Russia on Wednesday urged US President Joe Biden's new administration to take a "more constructive" approach in talks over the extension of the New START treaty, Washington's last arms reduction pact with Moscow.

"We expect that the new US administration will take a more constructive approach in its dialogue with us," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We are ready for such work on principles of equal rights and taking mutual interests into account."

The agreement, which caps the number of nuclear warheads between the two powers, is set to expire on February 5.

The Russian foreign ministry accused the administration of Biden's predecessor Donald Trump of "deliberately and intentionally" dismantling international arms control agreements.

Moscow accused the previous US administration of not planning to extend New START, referring to its "counterproductive and openly aggressive" approach in talks.

The Russian foreign ministry said the treaty should be extended in its current version and "without any pre-conditions," adding that prolonging the arms pact for five years would be "preferable."

"This would allow Russia and the United States to seriously begin a joint search for responses to the issues of international security and strategic stability that are now arising," the ministry said in the statement.

"At the same time the current level of transparency and predictability in relation to New START would remain in place which would be in the interests of security of both our countries and the whole world."

Russian President Vladimir Putin last year proposed a one-year extension on New START.

President Donald Trump's administration had unsuccessfully sought to expand the treaty to bring in China, which has a fast-growing military that remains significantly smaller than those of Russia and the United States.

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WASHINGTON  Troops in riot gear lined the sidewalks, but there were no crowds. Armored vehicles and concrete barriers blocked empty streets. Miles of fencing cordoned off many of the nations most familiar landmarks.

Joe Biden was safely sworn in as president in a Washington on edge, two weeks after rioters loyal to former President Donald Trump besieged the Capitol.

Law enforcement officials contended not only with the potential for outside threats but also with rising concerns about an insider attack. Officials monitored members of far-right extremist and militia groups, increasingly concerned about the risk they could stream into Washington and spark violent confrontations, a law enforcement official said.

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There were a few scattered arrests but no major protests or serious disruptions in the city during Bidens inauguration ceremony.

As Biden put it in his address: Here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever.

After the deadly attack that killed five on Jan. 6, the Secret Service stepped up security for the inauguration early, essentially locking down the nations capital. More than 25,000 troops and police were called to duty. The National Mall was closed. Checkpoints were set up at intersections.

In the hours before the event, federal agents monitored concerning online chatter, which included an array of threats against elected officials and discussions about ways to infiltrate the inauguration, the official said.

In right-wing online chat groups, believers in the QAnon conspiracy theory expressed disappointment that top Democrats were not arrested for sex trafficking and that Trump did not seize a second term.

Twelve National Guard members were removed from the security operation a day earlier after vetting by the FBI, including two who had made extremist statements in posts or texts about Wednesdays event. Pentagon officials would not give details on the statements. The FBI vetted all 25,000 members in an extraordinary security effort in part over the presence of some ex-military in the riot.

Two other U.S. officials told The Associated Press that all 12 were found to have ties with right-wing militia groups or to have posted extremist views online. The officials, a senior intelligence official and an Army official briefed on the matter, did not say which fringe groups the Guard members belonged to or what unit they served in. The officials told the AP they had all been removed because of security liabilities.

The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, confirmed that Guard members had been removed and sent home, but said only two cases were related to inappropriate comments or texts related to the inauguration. He said the other 10 cases were for issues that may involve previous criminal behavior or activities but were not directly related to the inaugural event.

The FBI also warned law enforcement officials about the possibility that members of right-wing fringe groups could pose as National Guard troops, according to two law enforcement officials familiar with the matter.

Investigators in Washington were particularly worried that members of right-wing extremist groups and militias, like the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters, would descend on Washington to spark violence, the law enforcement officials said. Some of the groups are known to recruit former military personnel, to train extensively and to have frequented anti-government and political protests.

In addition to the thousands of National Guard troops, hundreds of law enforcement officers from agencies around the country were also brought into Washington. The increased security is likely to remain in the nations capital for at least a few more days.

___

Associated Press writers Lolita Baldor in Washington and James LaPorta in Delray Beach, Florida, contributed to this report.
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Amid the threat of violence and a raging pandemic, Bay Area residents huddled inside Wednesday to watch the historic inauguration of the first female vice president  one of Californias own  and the successful transition of power to a new president.

As Kamala Harris and Joe Biden raised their right hands in Washington, D.C., many Bay Area residents cheered, breaking into tears and laughter while expressing deep relief that four years of former President Donald Trump had finally ended.

The fear of another Trump term melted away, especially for those deeply affected by his policies related to immigration, LGBTQ rights, racial disparities and climate change.

My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this, President Biden said in his inaugural address. ... Well press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.

Seema Patel and her three daughters, who are from Oakland, watched the inauguration together with relatives in Washington state.

As Harris raised her right hand to take the oath of office, Patels 18-month-old toddled to the television and placed her tiny hand over Harris. Her older sisters, 5-year-old Saathiya and 7-year-old Seva, followed and piled their hands together.

There is so much to be said for them to get to see the first Black woman, the first South Asian woman, the first woman standing up there on that stage  it was really, really a special moment for us, said Patel, an Oakland resident who is South Asian. I hope that because they are so young, they will now see a lifetime of leaders who look like them coming into office.

After Harris and President Biden took office just before 9 a.m. West Coast time, Bay Area politicians such as San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf tweeted their congratulations and joy.

Shamann Walton, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said the inauguration was progress for the country.

Hope still remains for all of us as our democracy still stands in spite of the attempts by Trump and his followers to overthrow this democracy right before our very own eyes, he said.

The ceremony was unprecedented. Much of Washington, D.C., was on lockdown to prevent any semblance of the Jan. 6 mob attack by Trump supporters on the Capitol from disrupting the constitutional requirement to swear in a new president.

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Meanwhile, Bay Area cities braced for related outbursts of violence, with law enforcement agencies across the region on high alert.

Sacramento, as well as San Francisco and other cities up and down the state, had ramped up security for city halls and the state Capitol after the FBI notified officials of plots for violent demonstrations in all 50 states.

There were no signs of protesters or large gatherings in San Francisco or Oakland, and the streets were largely quiet through Wednesday morning.

The El Curtola overpass across Highway 24 near Walnut Creek  a favorite conservative protest site  was empty, save for some fresh paint on the roadway: Trump lost, thank God.

That was the sentiment 13-year-old James Kaplan of Berkeley felt, too.

For a year James has been looking for homes in Canada, showing them to his mom and dad just in case Trump won a second term.

The transgender teen said he can breathe a little easier now.

Its definitely a stress reliever, said James, whose name was changed for this article at the request of his parents to protect his privacy. I know Ill still have basic human rights that arent going to be taken away from me.

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Nearby in Berkeley, a handful of neighbors had gathered on Bancroft Way, outside Harris childhood home.

There, Christine Staples, 60, waved a small American flag as she listened to President Bidens speech on a mobile phone.

Its such a feeling of relief that we can take our country back, take our flag back, she said. Weve been in a pit of deep despair for four years, waking up each morning wondering what the hell happened overnight.

On Wednesday, that trepidation was largely gone as Bay Area residents felt a mix of relief, joy and anticipation  a sense of calm rather than chaos.

In Oakland, Vanessa Mejia, 24, woke up earlier than usual Wednesday, feeling really happy.

The day was especially momentous for Mejia, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient whose aunt brought her to the U.S. from El Salvador at age 8. Trump tried to cut the DACA program, which allows young undocumented immigrants to live and work legally in the United States.

She watched the inauguration with her mom, Connie Mejia, on Univision, the ceremony translated into Spanish.

Its a lot more exciting than what I thought, said the younger Mejia, clapping as she exclaimed, Come on, 46, make us proud!

As the ceremony continued in Washington, D.C., in San Francisco, Ben Robbins was taking his dog, Cleo, to Dolores Park for what he called her first dog walk of the new administration.

Its been a long four years, he said. Its nice to come out of all the dystopia into some semblance of sanity.

Nearby, teacher Analise Heidi was taking her sixth-grade class from Childrens Day School for a walk around the park after watching Bidens inaugural address.

This new guy seems a lot better than the last guy, said Max Talisman, 11. Not self-centered but self-confident.

Im excited about having the first woman vice president, said his classmate Sophie Sahai, also 11. What a change.

Jacki Cannici was also out, wearing a Black Lives Matter face mask while pushing her 8-month-old son up McAllister Street. She had watched the ceremony earlier and felt enormous relief for her son.

Its important for me that he is living in a world where decency can come back to politics, she said, adding he no longer has to grow up in a Trump-filled, chaotic world.

Not everyone was as optimistic.

Sylvia Bulkley, who voted for Trump, listened to Bidens speech before heading to House of Bagels in Walnut Creek.

I would like to believe his speech. It sounded great. But I dont think (unity) will happen, she said. They won, maybe not fair and squarely, but they won.

For Oakland mom Lakisha Young, the inauguration was evidence of how far the country has come. Growing up, she had few examples of what a Black woman could become. Now her daughter, who is 18, gets to watch Harris break barriers.

Kamala Harris becoming vice president, for my daughter, I cant even imagine what she tells herself she can become, said Young, 45. Although I see a lot of diversity happen, its so late. Why are we having so many firsts in 2021?

But Young said she will carry a cautious optimism into the next four years.

I try to lead with hope around what is possible for us in the midst of conflicts, she said. Thats what Black folks have always done.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Ryan Kost, Nora Mishanec and Steve Rubenstein contributed to this report.

Jill Tucker, Tatiana Sanchez, Michael Cabanatuan and Sarah Ravani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com, sravani@sfchronicle.com, mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com, tatianta.sanchez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker, @sarravani, @tatianaysanchez, @ctuan
They surprised fans by announcing they had secretly tied the knot in a small ceremony before Christmas on Tuesday.

And Oliver Proudlock shared another adorable snap of himself and new wife Emma Louise Connolly on their wedding day on his Instagram page on Wednesday.

As part of a collection of images, the Made In Chelsea star, 32, posted a photo of himself 'dipping' Emma at the end of the aisle after saying 'I do'.

Love! Oliver Proudlock shared another adorable snap of himself and new wife Emma Louise Connolly on their wedding day on his Instagram page on Wednesday

Emma looked utterly stunning in a bespoke Pronovias Atelier lace gown, complete with slip dress and dramatic bow detailing.

Oliver, who cut a dapper figure in a three-piece suit, held his bride in his arms while 'dipping' her towards the floor as they held the romantic pose for the camera.

This evidently wasn't the first time the couple had tried out the pose, as Oliver shared a selection of images holding Emma in the same way over the years.

Tradition: This evidently wasn't the first time the couple had tried out the pose, as Oliver shared a selection of images holding Emma in the same way over the years (pictured in Thailand in 2016)

NYC baby! The first snap posted on Oliver's Stories dated back to 2015 during a trip to New York, when the couple visited the city library (pictured)

The first snap posted on Oliver's Stories dated back to 2015 during a trip to New York, when the couple visited the city library.

The following year Oliver and Emma travelled to Thailand, where he 'dipped' his bikini-clad other half in front of an idyllic seascape.

Other images included in Oliver's montage where taken in New Orleans in 2017 and Paris in 2018.

Romantic: Other images included in Oliver's montage where taken in New Orleans in 2017 (pictured) and Paris in 2018

The most recent snap aside from the one taken on their wedding day was captured during a 2019 trip to Porto in Portugal.

Oliver married his long-term girlfriend Emma after the coronavirus pandemic halted their plans three times.

The couple confirmed they married in a church ceremony in Fulham, London, on December 15, by sharing a series of stunning images from their big day on Instagram.

Adorable: Emma and Oliver pulled the pose in front of the Eiffel Tower

Aw! The most recent snap aside from the one taken on their wedding day was captured during a 2019 trip to Porto in Portugal (pictured)

According to Tatler magazine, Oliver and Emma married at St Albans Church, after previously cancelling three wedding dates due to the global crisis in accordance with government restrictions.

Oliver told the publication that they originally planned to host 200 guests at Cowdray Park, West Sussex, in April, however their grand plans were reduced to just 15 people.

Their fourth wedding attempt was almost thwarted when Boris Johnson announced plans to plunge London into Tier 4, meaning that all wedding receptions were banned.

Man and wife! Oliver married his long-term girlfriend Emma after the coronavirus pandemic halted their plans three times

Incredible: The model looked stunning in a bespoke Pronovias Atelier gown lace gown with a plunging white slip dress underneath, teamed with a flowing veil

However before Emma returned home after tearfully listening to the news in the car, her other half had already jumped into action and reorganised their plans so they could wed the following day.

Oliver told the magazine: 'It was like something out of Home Alone, I just started running round calling everyone to see if they could change the date. By the time Emma got home I said "dont worry were getting married tomorrow instead".

Emma said: 'It was an amazing, emotional and intimate day - we were just excited we were finally married.'

Their stylish wedding breakfast was held at hotel and member's club, The Ned, in the City Of London. Although Emma's parents were in attendance, Oliver's mother, who is based in America, had to watch on FaceTime.
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A southern Manitoba resident who skipped town during a mandatory quarantine period after returning to Canada from abroad faces a stiff penalty.

A southern Manitoba resident who skipped town during a mandatory quarantine period after returning to Canada from abroad faces a stiff penalty.

A resident of Plum Coulee has been charged $1,750 under the federal Quarantine Act.

Altona Police Chief Perry Batchelor said officers went to the residents home for a routine checkup, as directed by the RCMP and Canadian Border Services Agency.

"Our officers attended the address during the quarantine period and there was no answer at the door," said Batchelor.

"We did conduct a very small investigation and found out that the person who was supposed to be in quarantine had actually left the province."

Batchelor said the travellers family member revealed that information.

When officers followed up on Jan. 5, the Plum Coulee resident had returned and was issued the fine for failing to comply with the conditions of an order governing re-entry into Canada under the Quarantine Act, Batchelor said.

Generally, Batchelor said there has been "about 98 per cent compliance" with isolation rules in the jurisdiction in which Altona police operate.

"The majority of people do what theyre asked to do and that is commendable," Batchelor said. "If you decide you want to travel, you know what the restrictions will be on you when you come back its important to pay attention to that."

A representative for the province said two federal tickets have been issued in Manitoba in the last two weeks. No further details were provided.

Since the pandemic began in March, the Public Health Agency of Canada has issued 127 contravention tickets and eight summary convictions under the Quarantine Act.

In Manitoba, 125 tickets have been issued to alleged rule-breakers in the past two weeks. The majority of those tickets, 99, went to individuals and were issued by RCMP and other police agencies.

The Winnipeg Police Service said Wednesday its officers issued 20 tickets related to gatherings and two for failing to wear a mask, during the period of Jan. 4 and 17.

A dozen of the 20 tickets related to gatherings were issued at protests and rallies, police said. Officers also issued a 34 warnings to people who gathered in private residences in contravention of public health orders.

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

@jsrutgers

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Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.
KATHMANDU : 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.

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."

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Naidu pays rich tributes to TDP founder N T Rama Rao 28 May 2021 | 2:28 PM Vijayawada, May 28 (UNI) Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National President and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu paid rich tributes to the founder of TDP and former Chief Minister late N T Rama Rao (NTR) on the occasion of the latter's 98th birth anniversary on Friday. see more..

Free COVID vaccine to all, says Governor in customary policy address in Kerala Assembly 28 May 2021 | 1:58 PM Thiruvananthapuram, May 28 (UNI) Kerala promises free, universal and rapid COVID-19 vaccination, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said in his customary policy address at the inaugural session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly on Friday. see more..

K'taka: 60-year-old man trampled to death by wild elephant 28 May 2021 | 1:58 PM Madikeri, May 28 (UNI) A 60 year-old man was trampled to death by a wild elephant near Thithimathi of Deva Macchi on Friday. see more..

Pondy Cabinet yet to be expanded 28 May 2021 | 1:21 PM Puducherry, May 28 (UNI) The Puducherry Cabinet is yet to be expanded even after 21 days Mr N Rangaswamy of the N R Congress sworn-in as the Chief Minister as the N R Congress and BJP were yet to break the deadlock on the issue of the post of Deputy Chief Minister and the number of Ministers each party should share. see more..
For those smaller retailers new to eCommerce technology, shopping and payment apps, and work-from-home technology, retail cybersecurity challenges have become much more of a concern for 2021.

A NYC area retail technology consultant and MSP discusses how retail cybersecurity can adapt to the 2021 new normal in a new article on the eMazzanti Technologies website. Recapping the events of 2020, the author cites a major shift to eCommerce, which brings new cybersecurity challenges for retailers.

After identifying several retail cybersecurity threats, she lists nine retail cybersecurity best practices. She concludes with her #1 retail cybersecurity recommendationhire qualified cybersecurity experts to help the business strengthen its security posture.

For those smaller retailers new to eCommerce technology, shopping and payment apps, and work-from-home technology, retail cybersecurity challenges have become much more of a concern for 2021, stated Jennifer Mazzanti, CEO, eMazzanti Technologies.

Below are a few excerpts from the article, How Retail Cybersecurity Can Adapt to the 2021 New Normal.

2021 Retail Cybersecurity Threats

Trustwaves 2020 Global Security Report found that 24% of all cyberattacks targeted retailers, the most of any industry. Alarmingly, the new normal of eCommerce and work from home (for back office staff) makes retail even more of a target than it was a year ago.

Retailers make attractive targets for cyber-criminals. The shift to eCommerce means that retailers must process and store more customer data. Hackers seek to steal personally identifiable information (PID), including credit card and bank data to profit from selling data on the dark web.

Retail Cybersecurity Best Practices

1. Dont Retain Sensitive Customer Data  Storing sensitive data such as credit card information multiplies your risk by making you more of a target and exponentially increasing the cost of a data breach. If that information is stolen, your reputation suffers long-lasting damage, and you may be subject to fines and litigation.

2. Perform Regular Verified Backups  Be sure to back up your eCommerce website, POS systems and other applications and data at least daily, more often if possible. Periodically test your backups to verify their quality.

Additional Cybersecurity Measures >>

#1 Retail Cybersecurity Recommendation

With numerous possible attack vectors in play, retail cybersecurity is complex. The best thing that a retailer can do to ensure their longevity (survival) in 2021 is to hire qualified cybersecurity experts to evaluate their business security posture.

Keep in mind that the doer should never be the checker. Outside expertise will identify those areas in the business that need improvement. Count on the retail cybersecurity experts at eMazzanti Technologies to help with this all-important task.

Have you read?

Why its Unwise to Pay too Much but Worse to Pay too Little

Rapid Online Retail Growth Drives Small Business Retailers in 2021

About eMazzanti Technologies

eMazzantis team of trained, certified IT experts rapidly deliver increased revenue growth, data security and productivity for clients ranging from law firms to high-end global retailers, providing advanced retail and payment technology, cloud and mobile solutions, multi-site implementations, 247 outsourced network management, remote monitoring and support.

eMazzanti has made the Inc. 5000 list 9X, including eight consecutive years, is a 4X Microsoft Partner of the Year, the #1 ranked NYC area MSP and NJ Business of the Year! Contact: 1-866-362-9926, info@emazzanti.net or http://www.emazzanti.net Twitter: @emazzanti Facebook: Facebook.com/emazzantitechnologies.
(@FahadShabbir)

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 20th Jan, 2021) The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) surveyed 200,967 donums to monitor and track the migration of desert locusts across border regions adjacent to the UAE during 2020.

ADAFSAs control teams sprayed about 85,948 donums of infested regions using the recommended pesticides, to reduce desert locusts impact on crops and production.

For nearly two-and-a-half months, ADAFSAs control teams continued efforts in controlling desert locusts since spotting it in Dalma Islands farms, on February 22nd, 2020. This put ADAFSA on high alert to combat any swarms coming from locust breeding areas in the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea coasts.

Groups of locusts have been detected entering several areas in Al Dhafra (Al-Sila - Ras Mushaireb - Ras Ghamis), Ghayathi (Al Nazrah), and Ghweifat (the border strip with KSA). Meanwhile, control teams also monitored locusts first existence in Al Ain region (border strip with the Sultanate of Oman - Umm Zmul - Al-Dhahirah - Al-Arad - Al-Wagan - Al-Awya - Al-Qou` - Boukariya - Al-Ain Al-Faida). In addition to controlling locusts in the western regions (As-Salamat - Siraa - Al-Anka - Al-Dumtha- Sweihan), ADAFSAs teams also surveyed the northern areas (Umm Ghafa - Al-Hayer - Masaken - Al-Shuwaib).

According to the desert locust situation report 2020, about 107,285 donums were surveyed in Al Ain, accounting for 53.4% of the total surveyed area at the emirate level, while control operations covered 73,930 donums, 86% of the total area on which locusts were combated. Meanwhile, about 83,439 donums were surveyed in Al Dhafra region (41.5%), and locusts were controlled in 74.27 donums (8.6%). For Abu Dhabi regions, the total surveyed area reached 5.1%, while areas witnessed control operations represented 5.4%.

Additionally, 125 engineers and 144 workers participated in control operations, while 72 vehicles used in spraying locusts. Aside from the pre-emptive survey, ADAFSA received 1,813 reports from farm owners to provide assistance in controlling locusts, including 1,618 reports from Al Ain farms, 126 reports from Al Dhafra farms, and 69 reports from Abu Dhabi farms.

In this regard, Mubarak Ali Al Qusaili Al Mansouri, Executive Director of Agricultural Affairs Sector at ADAFSA, said, "Upon the migration of locusts from breeding areas on the coast of the Red Sea, ADAFSA tracked swarms movement to control their spread.

Therefore, ADAFSA has coordinated with various government entities to reduce desert locusts impact on crops and production."

Al Mansouri noted that ADAFSA is just responsible for combating locusts in farm areas, especially across border regions, while Abu Dhabi municipalities conduct control operations in forests and other areas.

He stressed that locusts survey and control operations are carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, the Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center  Tadweer, and municipalities of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

"Desert locusts pose a threat to crops and farm production, as their swarms can devour large amounts of vegetation. Therefore, controlling locusts is a shared responsibility between relevant government entities and farm owners," Al Mansouri stated.

Last year, ADAFSA has succeeded in controlling the spread of locust swarms in cooperation with various relevant government entities, by intensifying control efforts and increasing farmers' awareness about the safe ways to combat these insects, Al Mansouri indicated.

Furthermore, Al Mansouri highlighted the important role played by ADAFSAs 27 agricultural extension centres in controlling locusts, by providing support and technical guidance for farmers to apply the best practices for eliminating such insects. Moreover, the centers have coordinated with relevant government entities in detecting any locust swarms migrating to Abu Dhabi borders.

Al Mansouri added that ADAFSAs control teams supported efforts of about 1,813 farm owners, who reported the existence of locusts in their farms, in controlling these insects. He expressed happiness for farmers confidence in ADAFSAs efforts to protect their farms from locusts and develop the agricultural sector.

Desert locusts come to the UAE from the Red Sea coasts, where they migrate in swarms extending for several kilometers to Saudi Arabia, and then to the UAE, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and India. These insects are characterised by superior ability to fly and move from one continent to another, as they attack agricultural areas during their migration. In addition, locust swarms can devour large amounts of vegetation and crops, thus causing severe crop damage.
The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has expressed its continued support for Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. Meeting in Madrid, its members nominated him to continue leading the United Nations specialised agency for four more years.

At the end of the 113th session of the Executive Council, held as a hybrid event in Spanish capital, members voted in person and in secret for their choice of leader for 2022-2025. Incumbent Pololikashvili won 76 per cent of the votes in a process where Bahrain also put forward a candidate for the position, Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa.

Her Excellency congratulated Pololikashvili on his win and the Government of Bahrain expressed its support for UNWTO, said a UNWTO statement.

The Executive Councils recommendation will be carried forward to the 24th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly, due to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco, towards the end of the year.

In Madrid, both the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, and His Majesty King Felipe VI expressed their support for UNWTO and its leadership. The Secretary-General has also laid the foundations for seizing the momentum of the rollout of vaccines to ensure a harmonised approach to the return of safe and seamless international travel. - TradeArabia News Service
Ripplr has raised $3 million in its Series A round of funding from Zephyr Peacock India Growth Fund along with other investors like Yukti which is the Chand Family Office and existing investors 3One4 Capital.

Ripplr offers a technology platform for authorised dealers of large consumer brands, for tracking their business metrics, finance options, analytics and operational support. While there are multiple players in the supply chain ecosystem for the massive Indian consumer goods business, there is no organised technology player across the various legs of the system. The Bengaluru-based technology player for the logistics and distribution ecosystem intends to become that technology player.

The sector was disrupted majorly by the pandemic and the need for a technology solution to smoothen out last mile distribution was felt by businesses across the spectrum. This has given new business opportunities for players like Ripplr.

FMCG companies and emerging consumer brands will increasingly partner with tech-driven distribution businesses and use their internal resources for branding, marketing, and advertising. Ripplr, which is integrating technology and distribution, is well-positioned to offer distribution as a service and solve for complexities, said Pankaj Raina, managing director, Zephyr Peacock.

The company deploys predictive analytics to manage demand and inventory for both brands and retailers, providing information on sales orders, inventory and delivery status through customized dashboards. Brands can use the analytics to reduce wastage and loss of sale at retail end points.

We have set in place the fundamentals of our tech-enabled business that will emerge as the next generation data-led distribution network. This will also be a great leverage for emerging brands that want to identify and reach their customer cohorts without spending large marketing budgets, said Santosh Dabke, Co-Founder - Ripplr.

Ripplr currently operates in more than six cities and works with around 6000 retailers across the country. The company has some of the biggest consumer brands as its clientele including Dabur, Reckitt & Benckiser, Britannia, McDonalds, Tata consumer Brands, Patanjali, Too yum & Godrej Consumer.
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UK Home Secretary Priti Patel warned against a degree of reluctance towards COVID-19 vaccines among ethnic minority communities in the UK, including some within the Indian diaspora, and hailed the work being done by temples, mosques and gurdwaras to counter disinformation. Speaking at a virtual event organised by the Conservative Friends of India (CFIN) diaspora group on Tuesday evening, the senior Cabinet minister said she plans to get very vocal over the issue to spread the message around the safety and efficacy of vaccines currently being administered as part of the National Health Service's (NHS) largest vaccination campaign in history.

The two vaccines currently being administered among those most at risk of dying from coronavirus in the UK are the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs. "We are seeing a degree of reluctance among some in the ethnic communities to have the vaccine. All sorts of disinformation is out there. I plan to be very vocal about this," said Patel.

"If we step up to assure people within our communities that the vaccine is solid, safe, efficacious, it's not conflicting with our religious values or anything of that nature, we will save lives. From a humanitarian perspective, from a people-to-people perspective, this is so vital right now. It costs us nothing, it's about protecting our friends, family and loved ones be it through our gurdwaras, mosques or mandirs, it is important to relay that message," she said. It is the latest in a series of drives to counter fake news and spread greater awareness around the safety of COVID-19 vaccines across Britain as reports indicated a lower uptake within some ethnic groups amid suspect WhatsApp messages claiming they may contain alcohol or meat.

"I have had meetings with ministers Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi and Minister for Communities Lord Stephen Greenlaugh and we have been assured that all vaccines are safe and suitable for vegans," said Trupti Patel, President of the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB). "There are no questionable ingredients in it from a religious point of view and we want the British Hindu community to have the right information and protect themselves because we know from the data that ethnic minorities are at greater risk from this dangerous virus," added Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary of Hindu Council UK.

Temples, gurdwaras and mosques around the UK have been undertaking drives to better inform community members. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir or Neasden Temple in London, one of the UK's largest temples, said it has been addressing many of the concerns and doubts during its daily live webcasts watched by thousands and through videos translated in Indian languages. While the Sikh Doctors Association (SDA) said it has been running a rolling review of the vaccines to address any concerns over their makeup or side effects, the UK's Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) has been highlighting that the COVID-19 vaccines are halal through dedicated Friday sermons.

A British Indian GP who is heading up the NHS drive against disinformation welcomed the collective efforts in combating fake news and said work is ongoing for more translated material to spread greater awareness. "We need to be clear and make people realise there is no meat in the vaccine, there is no pork in the vaccine, it has been accepted and endorsed by all the religious leaders and councils and faith communities," said Dr Harpreet Sood, NHS England's Associate Chief Clinical Information Officer.

Latest NHS figures show that a total of 4.06 million people have had their jabs to protect against COVID-19, which marks a significant step towards hitting the UK government target of offering vaccines to the top four priority groups of over-80, care home residents and staff, frontline workers and over-70s by the middle of February. The top four priority groups account for 88 per cent of COVID-19 deaths, which hit another massive daily toll of 1,610 this week to take the UK's total from the deadly virus to 97,470.
ASUNCION, Paraguay, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Republic of Paraguay (" Paraguay ") announced today the commencement of an offer to purchase for cash (the " Tender Offer ") its outstanding 4.625% Bonds due 2023 (the " Old Bonds ") such that the aggregate Purchase Price (as defined below) to be paid for the Old Bonds tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer is equal to a maximum purchase amount to be determined by Paraguay in its sole discretion. The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are set forth in the offer to purchase, dated January 20, 2021 (the " Offer to Purchase ").

The Tender Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum participation of Old Bonds, but is conditioned, among other things, on the pricing, but not the closing, of a new issuance of Paraguay's bonds due 2033 and an additional issuance of Paraguay's existing 5.400% Bonds due 2050 (together, the " New Bonds ") in an amount, with pricing and on terms and conditions acceptable to Paraguay in its sole discretion, with pricing terms expected to be announced at or around 4:00 p.m., New York time, on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 (the " New Bonds Offering ").

The Tender Offer will commence at or around 8:00 a.m., New York time, on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 and, unless extended or earlier terminated, (i) expire at 12:00 noon, New York time that same day for non-preferred tenders (the " Non-Preferred Tender Period "), and (ii) expire at 1:00 p.m., New York time that same day for preferred tenders (the " Preferred Tender Period "). The settlement of the Tender Offer is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 (the " Tender Offer Settlement Date "). The purchase price to be paid will be US$1,078.75 per US$1,000 principal amount of Old Bonds tendered and accepted pursuant to the Tender Offer (the " Purchase Price "). Holders whose Old Bonds are accepted in the Tender Offer will also receive any accrued and unpaid interest from, and including, the last interest payment date for such Old Bonds up to, but excluding, the Tender Offer Settlement Date (the " Accrued Interest "). Accrued Interest for preferred and non-preferred Tender Orders (as defined below) will be payable in cash.

During the Non-Preferred Tender Period or Preferred Tender Period, as applicable, a holder of Old Bonds may place orders to tender Old Bonds (" Tender Orders ") only through one of the Dealer Managers (as defined below). Holders will NOT be able to submit tenders through Euroclear Bank SA/NV (" Euroclear "), Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme (" Clearstream ") or the Depository Trust Company (" DTC ") systems. If a holder does not have an account with a Dealer Manager, such holder may place a tender offer through any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, other financial institution or other custodian that it customarily uses that has an account with a Dealer Manager. Your broker must contact one of the Dealer Managers to submit a Tender Order on your behalf.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as the billing and delivering bank for the Tender Offer (in such capacity, the " Billing and Delivering Bank "), will consolidate all Tender Orders and, upon instruction of Paraguay, accept Old Bonds for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer, subject to proration as described in the Offer to Purchase, at or around 8:00 a.m., New York time, on Thursday, January 21, 2021 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Tender Offer is subject to Paraguay's right, at its sole discretion and subject to applicable law, to instruct the Billing and Delivering Bank to extend, terminate, withdraw, or amend the Tender Offer at any time. Each of Paraguay and the Billing and Delivering Bank reserves the right, in the sole discretion of each of them, not to accept any Tender Orders for any reason. Tender Orders by a holder of Old Bonds must be in permitted tender amounts as set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Tender Orders that are not for permitted tender amounts will not be accepted.

There is no letter of transmittal or guaranteed delivery procedure in connection with this Tender Offer. If you hold Old Bonds through DTC, they must be delivered to the Billing and Delivering Bank for settlement no later than 3:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tender Offer Settlement Date. If you hold Old Bonds through Euroclear or Clearstream, the latest process you can use to deliver your Old Bonds to the Billing and Delivering Bank is the overnight process, one day prior to the Tender Offer Settlement Date; you may not use the optional daylight process. Failure to deliver Old Bonds on time may result (i) in the cancellation of your tender and in you becoming liable for any damages resulting from that failure, (ii) in the case of preferred tenders (a) in the cancellation of any allocation of New Bonds in the New Bonds Offering in respect of your related indication of interest and/or (b) in the cancellation of your tender and in your remaining obligation to purchase your allocation of New Bonds in respect of your related indication of interest and/or (iii) in the delivery of a buy-in notice for the purchase of such Old Bonds, executed in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities. Any holder whose tender is cancelled will not receive the Purchase Price or Accrued Interest. Holders will not have withdrawal rights with respect to any tenders of Old Bonds in the Tender Offer. Old Bonds accepted for purchase will be settled on a delivery versus payment basis with the Billing and Delivering Bank on the Tender Offer Settlement Date in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities.

All Old Bonds that are tendered pursuant to Tender Orders placed through a Dealer Manager and accepted will be purchased by the Billing and Delivering Bank in such amounts as Paraguay shall determine and subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer to Purchase. Only the Billing and Delivering Bank will be liable for the payment of the Purchase Price and Accrued Interest for Old Bonds validly tendered and accepted as instructed by Paraguay. Paraguay will not be liable under any circumstances for any payment of the Purchase Price and Accrued Interest to the holders of Old Bonds tendered in the Tender Offer. The Billing and Delivering Bank shall not be liable for payments to any holder of Old Bonds validly tendered and accepted for purchase if such holder fails to timely deliver such Old Bonds on or prior to the settlement of the Tender Offer as described in the Offer to Purchase.

Global Bondholder Services Corporation is the information agent in connection with the Tender Offer (the " Information Agent "), and the Offer to Purchase may be downloaded from the Information Agent's website indicated below or obtained from the Information Agent at the contact below:

Contact information: Global Bondholder Services Corporation Attention: Corporate Actions 65 Broadway  Suite 404 New York, NY 10006 Banks and Brokers Call: +1 (212) 430-3774 All Others Call: +1 (866) 470-4200 website: http://www.gbsc-usa.com/paraguay

, or from any of the Dealer Managers.

The dealer managers (the " Dealer Managers ") for the Tender Offer are:

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 388 Greenwich Street New York, New York 10013 United States of America Attention: Liability Management Group Collect: +1 (212) 723-0859 Toll free: +1 (800) 558-3745 Itau BBA USA Securities, Inc. 540 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor New York, New York 10022 United States of America Attention: Debt Capital Markets Collect: +1 (212) 710-6749 Toll free: + 1(888) 770-4828 Santander Investment Securities Inc. 45 E 53rd St, 5th Floor New York, New York 10022 United States of America Attention: Liability Management Group Collect: +1 (212) 761-1057 Toll free: +1 (800) 624-1808

Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to and the Offer to Purchase may be obtained from the Dealer Managers at the above contact.

Republic of Paraguay

c/o Ministerio de Hacienda

Chile 128

Asuncion 001101

Paraguay

For press inquiries:

Contact: Ivan Haas, Director  Debt Policy

E-mail: [email protected]

Call: +59-521-413-2247

Important Notice

The New Bonds Offering will be made solely by means of an offering memorandum relating to that offering. Before you invest, you should read the offering memorandum for more complete information about Paraguay and such offering. You may not participate in the New Bonds Offering unless you have received and reviewed the offering memorandum related to that offering, and not in reliance on, or on the basis of, this announcement. The New Bonds will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act, and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction.

This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell the Old Bonds. The Tender Offer will be made only by and pursuant to the terms of the Offer to Purchase, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

The distribution of materials relating to the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer, and the transactions contemplated by the New Bonds Offering and Tender Offer, may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Each of the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer is made only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. The New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer are void in all jurisdictions where they are prohibited. If materials relating to the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer come into your possession, you are required to inform yourself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders."

Stabilization/FCA

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, this communication is only addressed to and directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the " Prospectus Regulation ").

This announcement is not an invitation nor is it intended to be an inducement to engage in investment activity for the purpose of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom (the " FSMA "). This announcement is only being distributed to and is only directed: at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the " Order ") or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any New Bonds will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such New Bonds will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents.

SOURCE Republic of Paraguay

Related Links

http://www.gbsc-usa.com/paraguay


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.
Joe Biden's first act as president Wednesday will center around signing a flurry of executive actions undoing much of what Donald Trump implemented through his own executive orders  like stopping border wall construction, implementing a mask mandate and ending the 'Muslim Ban.'

After being sworn into office in his noon inauguration ceremony Wednesday, Biden will put an end to the national emergency declaration at the U.S.-Mexico border, which allowed Trump to divert billions from the Defense Department to construction of the southern border wall.

In a promise to stop the spread of coronavirus, Biden will also issue a mandate ordering mask wearing and social distancing in all federal buildings and by federal employees while they are working.

Biden's team also announced as part of the executive orders spree Wednesday, the incoming president plans to dissolve Trump's 1776 Commission.

Just two days before the presidential election, Trump established the commission by executive order, claiming the goal of the 18-member group is to write a report on the 'core principles of the American founding.'

Trump announced he was establishing the commission following a slew of Black Lives Matter demonstrations  and he blamed the school system, claiming 'the left-wing rioting and mayhem are the direct result of decades of left-wing indoctrination in our schools.'

Essentially the commission was created in a rebuttal to schools implementing history curriculum implying systematic racism in American institutions.

Joe Biden's first act as president on Wednesday afternoon and evening will be signing a series of executive orders essentially undoing much of Donald Trump's legacy

One order is issuing a mask mandate and social distancing requirements in all federal buildings and lands and for all federal employees

Biden will also sign an order stopping construction of the southern border wall  one of Trump's biggest campaign promises to stop the flow of illegal immigration by way of Mexico

Biden will take the oath of office Wednesday afternoon on the steps of the Capitol. The ceremony will not include much of the pomp and circumstance of past inaugurations as Trump flees Washington at 8:00 a.m. and refuses to greet the incoming president.

There will also not be the usual crowd for Biden's swearing in as the pandemic prevails and threats emerged for lawmakers and the incoming administration after the storming of the Capitol earlier this month by a mob of pro-Trump protesters.

After becoming president, Biden will immediately begin work on signing at least 15 executive orders he promised would take priority from the moment he entered the White House.

IMMIGRATION

END THE 'MUSLIM BAN'

'A priority for Biden is nixing the ban on those traveling to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries  one of Trump's first orders as president, which was dubbed the 'Muslim travel ban.'

While Biden plans to reverse the order, his administration vows to improve screening of visitors by strengthening information sharing with foreign governments.

HALT THE WALL

During Trump's presidency, more than 400 miles of border wall have been built, whether that be new portions of the wall or improvements to existing fencing.

Biden will immediately halt ongoing construction of the wall, but will need to review active contracts and how that money could potentially be redirected.

So far, $15 billion in taxpayer dollars have been allocated for more than 700 miles of border wall. It is still unclear how many miles are under contract and what penalties the government would have to pay if they were canceled now.

DACA IS BACK

His orders also seek to fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, a signature effort during the Obama administration that provided hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants protection from deportation and a pathway to citizenship.

CORONAVIRUS

MASK MANDATE

Biden's team has repeatedly promised to take the coronavirus pandemic more seriously and implement more strict public health measures they claim will stop the spread of the disease.

Biden is mandating mask wearing and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors. He is also challenging Americans to wear a face covering for the first 100 days of his administration.

VACCINE MOVES

He also shared in unveiling his coronavirus team that his goal is to distribute and administer 100 million shots in his first 100 days as president.

EVICTIONS, FORECLOSURES STAYED AND STUDENT LOAN PAUSE

On Day One, Biden also plans to extend a moratorium on foreclosures and extend the pause on federal student loan payments, both initiatives started by Trump and extended a few times already in the midst of the pandemic.

One of Trump's first orders of business when he took office in 2017 was signing an executive order banning all travel from seven Muslim-majority countries (pictured). Biden plans to reverse that action

BACK INTO WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

During Trump presidency, he withdrew from several foreign organizations and pacts, which Biden plans to reenter  including the World Health Organization.

The president withdrew from the World Health Organization in 2020 after accusing it of incompetence in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. He also claimed it caved to Chinese pressure over COVID-19 and lamented the U.S. helped fund the group too much.

Biden's incoming White House coronavirus coordinate Jeff Zients announced top infectious disease experts at National Institute of Health, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will deliver a speech Thursday to the WHO.

In the speech as the new head of the U.S. delegation to WHO, Fauci, who often sparred with Trump over the last year, will lay out how Biden's administration plans to work with the group on reforms.

CULTURE WARS

Susan Rice, Biden's incoming domestic policy adviser, said the new president would also revoke the just-issued report of Trumps '1776 Commission' to promote 'patriotic education.'

Trump had set it up last summer claiming that 'progressive' schooling had diminished respect for American heroes, and in reaction to calls to remove statues and memorials to historical figures linked to slavery, either as owners or as promoters of the Confederacy.

CLIMATE

BACK INTO PARIS ACCORD

Trump also withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord, lamenting it wasn't fair that the U.S. was funding much of the program aimed at cutting global fossil fuel emissions while other countries, like China, contribute much more to these emissions.

Biden will sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate accord, fulfilling a campaign pledge to get back into the global climate pact on Day One.

It will take 30 days for the U.S. to officially be back in.

Biden also will reenter the U.S. in the Paris Climate Accord, an organization focused on reducing fossil fuel emissions, and he will revoke a presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline

CANCEL KEYSTONE XL

In an effort to roll back more of Trump's climate-related orders, Biden will also revoke a presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline.

BAN ON ARCTIC DRILLING IS BACK AND EMISSIONS STANDARDS ARE REVIEWED

He also plans to implement a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and review Trump's freeze on vehicle and emission standards.

NATIONAL MONUMENTS ROLLBACK FROZEN

The incoming president also wants to set in motion an evaluation of Trump's cut in protections for some national monuments.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON ALL DECISIONS

Federal agencies under Biden's presidency will also be issued a new requirement to consider the impact that fossil field emissions have on climate change and how that will affect disadvantaged communities and future generations.

GOVERNMENT

ETHICS

A pointed order will compel federal employees to take an ethics pledge that commits them to upholding the independence of the Justice Department.

CENSUS: EVERYONE WILL BE COUNTED

He will revoke a Trump order that sought to exclude noncitizens from the census.

RACE AND ENVIRONMENT MARCHING ORDERS

Biden will order a review of all Trump regulations and executive actions that are deemed damaging to the environment or public health.

He will order federal agencies to prioritize racial equity and review policies that reenforce systemic racism.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tiger King star Joe Exotic and his legal team were so confident the Netflix miniseries star would be receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump, they had a limo waiting outside the prison to take Exotic home.

He never got in.

Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, will remain behind bars after Trump failed to pardon the man known as Tiger King. On Tuesday, Trump pardoned 70 people and commuted the sentences of a further 73 people during the final day of his presidency.

Exotic was sentenced to 22 years in prison for a murder-for-hire plot against Carole Baskin and for violating several wildlife laws.

Tiger King became a pop-culture phenomenon last year when it debuted on Netflix. The docu-series followed the story of Exotic and the establishment of a controversial private zoo in Oklahoma.

Exotics feud with Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Florida, became the series central conflict. The feud led to a murder-for-hire plot which ultimately landed Exotic in jail.

NORTH BEND, Ore.  Members of the Coos County Board of Commissioners are still trying to figure out their next steps as the state prepares to shut down Shutter Creek Correctional Institution for good.

Gov. Kate Brown said they plan to shut down three facilities in 2022, which will save the state more than $44 million.

The governor said she believes the money could be better invested elsewhere, such as early childhood education. On Friday, Brown said she took unilateral action and directed the Department of Corrections to close the three facilities.

However, Coos County Commissioner Melissa Cribbins said the closure is going to leave a huge dent in the community.

Its easy to look at something on paper and say, 'This makes perfect sense, Ill close this down,' she said. But what youre not looking at is the lives you impact.

She said they will need to relocate their law enforcement radio tower on the facilitys property, which could cost the county thousands of dollars.

It will also have an impact on the City of Lakeside, as the facility is their biggest wastewater treatment user, Cribbins said.

However, she said their biggest concern is how many jobs will be lost once Shutter Creek closes. Right now, there are more than 100 people employed there.

Most of those people are married, she said. Their spouses have jobs in this community.

Cribbins said it will also affect people outside of the facility too.

There are many small businesses that rely on Shutter Creek for the business they provide, she said. Like dry cleaning or janitorial services.

One former inmate told KEZI 9 News that it was about time for the prison to shut down. He said he doesnt believe they are providing enough resources to the inmates who are there now.

Its just wasting the peoples time that are in the prison, said Matt Campbell. Theyre not benefiting. The other prisons have a lot of programs they can benefit from.

However, Cribbins said they are doing everything they can to keep the prison from closing. She said the commissioners are working with lawmakers to secure funding for Shutter Creek.

The three facilities Brown plans to close in 2022 includes Shutter Creek, Mill Creek Correctional Facility in Salem and Warner Creek Correctional Facility in Lakeview.

Brown said Shutter Creek will close by January.
Insult: Anchan Preelert arrives to the court before being sentenced to 43 years in jail. Photo: Patipat Janthong/ Reuters

A court in Thailand sentenced a former civil servant to 43 years in prison yesterday for insulting the countrys royal family on Facebook and YouTube.

It is a record sentence under Thailands lese-majeste, which punishes insults to the royal family.

Anchan Preelert, who is in her mid-60s, was convicted of 29 counts of violating the law, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

The case follows months of protests that have seen unprecedented public criticism of the monarchy and calls for an end to the lese-majeste law.

Todays verdict sends a spine-chilling signal that not only criticisms of the monarchy wont be tolerated, but they will also be severely punished, said Sunai Phasuk, of Human Rights Watch.

Actual public criticism of the monarchy had been extremely rare until last year, when youth-led protests demanded reforms to the institution, as well as the resignation of general Prayuth Chan-ocha, the prime minister. At least 40 protesters have been charged under the lese-majeste law since November. Until then, there had been a two-year suspension of the use of the law.

In June 2020, Mr Prayuth announced it was no longer being applied because the king had said he did not want it used.

But on Monday, a freelance writer was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for insulting the late king  the current kings father.

Ms Anchan uploaded audio recordings by a critic of the monarchy 26 times on YouTube and three times on Facebook, according to the Bangkok Post.

I thought it was nothing, she told media as she arrived at court yesterday.
UAE deserves praise for its environment-friendly efforts, especially because it is one of the lowest Greenhouse GAS (GHG) emitters in the oil and gas world, said Frederick Kempe, CEO of the Atlantic Council.

In an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Kempe said that with many leading clean and renewable energy projects in the pipeline, the UAE is significantly contributing to environmental sustainability efforts.

"The UAE is a significant renewable energy developer and has played a leading role in driving costs down for renewable projects. By making green energy competitive, the UAE is setting an example for how to accelerate a transition to a cleaner energy system.

"Renewable and clean energy sources were impacted the least by the pandemic, and, as a result, far outperformed hydrocarbon sources in 2020. The overall outlook for clean energy is strong as major companies and countries continue to make net zero pledges."

During 2020, the UAE announced the discovery of new hydrocarbon sources and gas fields, and when asked how these discoveries impacted the global energy sector, Kempe said: "While it is quite possible there will be a decline in hydrocarbon demand over the next decades, the UAE is one of the lowest cost and lowest GHG emission producers of oil and gas in the world. As a result, the UAE is well-positioned for the energy transition and will be able to provide low-cost, low-carbon energy even as the world transitions to a greener energy system."

Remarking on how the pandemic affected the energy sector, he said that it was quite possible that Covid-19 will lead to changes in the energy system that could be seen by future generations as some of the most consequential impacts of the pandemic.

"The crisis has indelibly altered the global energy system, causing a dramatic drop in demand. At the same time, governments are willing to spend tremendous amounts on revitalising economies, which could lead to critical investments in renewable energy development. As a result, 2020 and 2021 could be an inflection point in the fight against climate change."

Kempe added that the unprecedented economic change due to the pandemic has also impacted the oil and gas industry, saying: "The pandemic led to an unprecedented decline in oil demand, which triggered a price war and led to some of the lowest oil prices in years."

He went on to state that in a world where the future of oil and gas demand is at risk, "the energy industry can best protect itself through robust development of low cost and low carbon sources that will be profitable even if we experience another collapse in prices."

Commenting on the UAE's success in continuing to move ahead with its oil and gas projects during the pandemic, due to its smart/digital business practices, Kempe noted that "The UAE has shown that digitalisation can play a critical role driving down costs and reducing emissions in the oil and gas sector two important components in helping the world meet the goals set in the Paris Climate Accord."

Kempe opened the 2021 Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum on January 20. The fifth annual Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi will convene virtually and will bring together senior government officials, industry executives, energy ministers and recognised thought leaders, to set the energy agenda for the year.

In a first for the event, the Atlantic Councils Global Energy Centre will be releasing The Global Energy Agenda, a comprehensive survey of hundreds of leading energy experts on the impacts of Covid-19 and the long-term outlook for the industry.

The conference will also explore the energy priories for the Biden Administration in the United States, as well as the role of the Middle East in the energy transition, and how major economies are tackling climate change. -- Tradearabia News Service

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Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)

Joe Biden declared that democracy has prevailed after he was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.

Mr Bidens inauguration came at a time of national tumult and uncertainty at a US Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago.

He said: The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.

He continued: Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people.

To stop the work of our democracy. To drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today, not tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever.

There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face. That's why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.  President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2021

The president then turned to challenges ahead, acknowledging the surging coronavirus virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States.

Mr Biden gazed out over 200,000 US flags planted on the National Mall to symbolise those who could not attend in person.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol.

Though three other former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama  gathered to watch the ceremonial transfer of power, Mr Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, instead flew to Florida after stoking grievance among his supporters with the lie that Mr Bidens win was illegitimate.

Expand Close President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wave as they arrive at the North Portico of the White House (AP/Alex Brandon, Pool) / Facebook

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Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanising a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Mr Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. Mr Biden did not mention Mr Trump by name in his inaugural address but alluded to the rifts his predecessor had helped create.

Mr Biden said: I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh, ugly reality of racism, nativism, fear, demonisation that have long torn us apart.

This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward and we must meet this moment as the United States of America.

Expand Close The president and vice president share a fist bump during the ceremony (Carolyn Kaster/AP) / Facebook

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Mr Biden came to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. Aged 78, he is the oldest president inaugurated.

More history was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became the first woman to be vice president.

The former US senator from California is also the first black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

Mr Trump did adhere to one tradition and left a note for Mr Biden in the Oval Office, according to the White House, which did not release its contents. And Mr Trump, in his farewell remarks, hinted at a political return, saying: We will be back in some form.

And he, without question, will shadow Mr Bidens first days in office.

Mr Trumps second impeachment trial could start as early as this week. That could test the ability of the Senate, poised to come under Democratic control, to balance impeachment proceedings with confirmation hearings and votes on Mr Bidens cabinet choices.

Mr Biden and first lady Jill Biden departed the platform at the Capitol following a ceremony that included musical performances from pop stars Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez and country singer Garth Brooks.

Celebrated poet Amanda Gorman read a piece noting that, while democracy can be permanently delayed, it can never be permanently denied.

Expand Close Amanda Gorman recites a poem at the inauguration (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP) / Facebook

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Following the ceremony, Mr Biden entered the White House for the first time as US president after a short walk along Pennsylvania Avenue with a military escort.

Mr Biden and first lady Jill Biden were greeted by a military cordon lining the White House driveway with the flags of US states, leading the first couple to the main entrance under the North Portico.

Mr Biden is expected to immediately begin working, with a number of executive orders on immigration and other key matters awaiting his signature.
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Life in the digital age often throws a curveball when the signalling bars on our mobile phones drop or disappear altogether. Similarly, disruptions in the signalling networks of cells within the body can wreak havoc and lead to disease.

An international consortium led by University College Dublin (UCD) has secured EU Horizon 2020 funding valued at 887,800 to investigate a specific cell signalling process seen across a range of human diseases.

The CRYSTAL3 consortium includes 10 partners (5 academic and 5 industry) located in 7 countries and will be led by Professor Breandan Kennedy from UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science and UCD Conway Institute. The project begins this month and will focus on commercial and research opportunities of a relatively unexplored inflammation-related signalling pathway.

Central to this pathway are powerful molecules called cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) that are involved in the process of inflammation - the body's response to fight injury or pathogens. CysLT signalling receptors are found widely in the body e.g. lungs, colorectum, heart, brain & eye.

Currently, drugs targeting CysLT receptors are prescribed to treat airway inflammation. Recently, CysLT signalling was implicated in regulating cells in cancer, cardiovascular disease and diseases involving the eye and central nervous system.

The CRYSTAL3 consortium will determine how CysLT signalling links to these diseases, then explore potential targeted therapies and how any products and services co-developed can be commercialised.

More than 2.5 billion people suffer from vision impairment according to the World Economic Forum. Ocular (eye) disease places a direct economic burden on European countries of ~20 billion. Brain disorders such as dementia and neurodegeneration account for ~30% of overall disease burden in Europe with a resulting economic impact of ~800 billion annually. There are few effective treatments for these disorders.

The World Health Organisation estimates cancer is responsible for 1 in 6 deaths, and incidence will grow to 29 million by 2040. Global cancer control is a priority. In Europe, cancer healthcare costs ~57 billion. Healthcare costs associated with the cardiovascular disease worldwide are estimated at 100 billion each year.

Commenting on the award,

The CRYSTAL3 consortium is an exciting prospect that will harness multidisciplinary research expertise to develop treatments for diseases that cause enormous individual and societal burden. It also provides a fantastic opportunity to enhance intersectoral training, career development and transnational mobility of researchers in Europe." Breandan Kennedy, Professor, University College Dublin

Professor Kennedy, Dr Yolanda Alvarez and the CRYSTAL3 management team are ideally qualified to lead this consortium having successfully co-ordinated two similar large scale consortia; FP7-IAPP 3D-NET (www.ucd.ie/3dnet) and H2020 RISE 3D-NEO-NET (www.3dneonet.org;). CRYSTAL3 include UCD Conway Fellows, Dr Alison Reynolds, Associate Professor Orina Belton and Dr Derek Costello.

CRYSTAL3 is the acronym for Commercial & Research Opportunity for Cysteinyl Leukotriene Signalling in Ocular & CNS Dysfunction, Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease.

The CRYSTAL3 consortium will combine their resources and expertise in computational drug discovery, genetic engineering, pre-clinical disease models, marketing and commercialisation through research staff exchanges between all the partners.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday called its first witness in the restarted trial of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and six others accused of N544m grass-cutting contract fraud.

A relationship manager in the Sales Department of the Wuse Zone 4, Abuja branch of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mohammed Babasule, tendered the statement of account and account opening documents of one of the companies standing trial along with Mr Lawal and the other defendants on Wednesday.

The trial began afresh before Charles Agbaza, the judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi, Abuja, who recently took charge of the case following the demise of the former trial judge, Jude Okeke.

EFCC had presented some witnesses and tendered documentary exhibits before Mr Okeke died on August 4, 2020.

The defendants comprising, Mr Lawal, his younger brother, Hamidu Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Monday Apeh, and two companies  Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd  were then re-arraigned before Mr Agbaza on November 30, 2020.

The charges

In the amended 10 counts, the prosecution accused them of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and diversion of over N544m belonging to the Federal Government, offences which the anti-graft agency said the defendants committed during Mr Lawals time as the SGF.

They were accused of fraudulently converting the N544million proceeds of the grass-cutting contracts which Mr Lawal, as then SGF, allegedly awarded to the companies in which he had interests.

Mr Lawal, the first SGF appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, was removed from office because of the scandal in 2017.

He and other defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

First prosecution witness testifies

On Wednesday, the first prosecution witness, Mr Babasule, told the new judge, Mr Agbaza, that he was in 2018 assigned the responsibility of managing the FCMB account of Josmon Technologies Ltd (one of the defendants).

The witness, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Offem Uket, tendered some documents relating to the companys account in evidence.

The judge admitted and marked the documents as exhibits.

Among the documents was the companys statement of account, and account opening documents which included photocopies of the passport of Monday Apeh (one of the defendants), and an electricity bill issued by Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

Also, part of the documents was the companys board resolution, two of its letters, its memorandum of association, certificate of incorporation, and receipt of corporate tax payment.

Asked by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Babasule said the documents showed that Mr Apeh (one of the defendants) was the sole signatory to the account.

Cross-examination

The witness was subsequently cross-examined by the defence lawyers comprising, Olumide Olujimi, John Itodo, Napoleon Idenala, Ocholi Okutepa, and Marcel Oru.

Fielding questions from the defence lawyers, Mr Babasule confirmed that the companys account had become inactive for about one year before it was assigned to him as its relationship manager in 2018.

He said it was not part of his work to make any entry into the statement of account and that he knew nothing about the transactions contained in it.

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He said neither him nor the bank issued the electricity bill or Apehs passport tendered as exhibits.

He also agreed that it was not unusual to have inflow and outflow on corporate accounts, adding that there was no cause for FCMB to ever report any unusual transaction on this account to the EFCC.

But he stuck to his claim that the inflows on the account came from the presidency as he earlier stated in his statement which he made to the EFCC on November 16, 2020.

Asked to give the basis for his claim, Mr Babasule said, As a banker, when I go through a statement, I can say some things about the transaction.

From the bank statement, you can see the narration line-by-line as to what the transaction is all about.

He, however, said he neither confronted the company or any of its officials with the claim.

He confirmed that his statement to the EFCC was only made in November 2020 long after the defendants were put on trial in February 2019.

The court adjourned till Thursday for the continuation of trial.
On the occasion of the 176th anniversary of the first arrival of Indian immigrant labourers to these shores, I intend to comment briefly, through a couple of letters to the press, on the current status of Indo-Trinidadians after their presence here for over a century and a half. They may be regarded as ethnic-focused, divisive and contentious, or may be deemed irrelevant and inconsequential in these times.
Computer simulations hold tremendous promise to accelerate the molecular engineering of green energy technologies, such as new systems for electrical energy storage and solar energy usage, as well as carbon dioxide capture from the environment. However, the predictive power of these simulations depends on having a means to confirm that they do indeed describe the real world.

Such confirmation is no simple task. Many assumptions enter the setup of these simulations. As a result, the simulations must be carefully checked by using an appropriate "validation protocol" involving experimental measurements.

"We focused on a solid/liquid interface because interfaces are ubiquitous in materials, and those between oxides and water are key in many energy applications." -- Giulia Galli, theorist with a joint appointment at Argonne and the University of Chicago

To address this challenge, a team of scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Chicago and the University of California, Davis, developed a groundbreaking validation protocol for simulations of the atomic structure of the interface between a solid (a metal oxide) and liquid water. The team was led by Giulia Galli, a theorist with a joint appointment at Argonne and the University of Chicago, and Paul Fenter, an Argonne experimentalist.

"We focused on a solid/liquid interface because interfaces are ubiquitous in materials, and those between oxides and water are key in many energy applications," said Galli.

"To date, most validation protocols have been designed for bulk materials, ignoring interfaces," added Fenter. "We felt that the atomic-scale structure of surfaces and interfaces in realistic environments would present a particularly sensitive, and therefore challenging, validation approach."

The validation procedure they designed uses high-resolution X-ray reflectivity (XR) measurements as the experimental pillar of the protocol. The team compared XR measurements for an aluminum oxide/water interface, conducted at beamline 33-ID-D at Argonne's Advanced Photon Source (APS), with results obtained by running high-performance computer simulations at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF). Both the APS and ALCF are DOE Office of Science User Facilities.

"These measurements detect the reflection of very high energy X-ray beams from an oxide/water interface," said Zhan Zhang, a physicist in Argonne's X-ray Science division. At the beam energies generated at the APS, the X-ray wavelengths are similar to interatomic distances. This allows the researchers to directly probe the molecular-scale structure of the interface.

"This makes XR an ideal probe to obtain experimental results directly comparable to simulations," added Katherine Harmon, a graduate student at Northwestern University, an Argonne visiting student and the first author of the paper. The team ran the simulations at the ALCF using the Qbox code, which is designed to study finite temperature properties of materials and molecules using simulations based on quantum mechanics.

"We were able to test several approximations of the theory," said Francois Gygi from the University of California, Davis, part of the team and lead developer of the Qbox code. The team compared measured XR intensities with those calculated from several simulated structures. They also investigated how X-rays scattered from the electrons in different parts of the sample would interfere to produce the experimentally observed signal.

The endeavor of the team turned out to be more challenging than anticipated. "Admittedly, it was a bit of a trial and error at the beginning when we were trying to understand the right geometry to adopt and the right theory that would give us accurate results," said Maria Chan, a co-author of the study and scientist at Argonne's Center for Nanoscale Materials, a DOE Office of Science User Facility. "However, our back and forth between theory and experiment paid off, and we were able to set up a robust validation protocol that can now be deployed for other interfaces as well."

"The validation protocol helped quantify the strengths and weaknesses of the simulations, providing a pathway toward building more accurate models of solid/liquid interfaces in the future," said Kendra Letchworth-Weaver. An assistant professor at James Madison University, she developed software to predict XR signals from simulations during a postdoctoral fellowship at Argonne.

The simulations also shed new insight on the XR measurements themselves. In particular, they showed that the data are sensitive not only to the atomic positions, but also to the electron distribution surrounding each atom in subtle and complex ways. These insights will prove beneficial to future experiments on oxide/liquid interfaces.

The interdisciplinary team is part of the Midwest Integrated Center for Computational Materials, headquartered at Argonne, a computational materials science center supported by DOE. The work is presented in an article titled "Validating first-principles molecular dynamics calculations of oxide/water interfaces with X-ray reflectivity data," which appeared in the November 2020 issue of Physical Review Materials. This project received support from the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences, a Laboratory Directed Research and Development Award, and the Department of Defense. ALCF computing time was awarded through DOE's ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge.

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About Argonne's Center for Nanoscale Materials



The Center for Nanoscale Materials is one of the five DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers, premier national user facilities for interdisciplinary research at the nanoscale supported by the DOE Office of Science. Together the NSRCs comprise a suite of complementary facilities that provide researchers with state-of-the-art capabilities to fabricate, process, characterize and model nanoscale materials, and constitute the largest infrastructure investment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The NSRCs are located at DOE's Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. For more information about the DOE NSRCs, please visit https:/ / science. osti. gov/ User-Facilities/ User-Facilities-at-a-Glance .

The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility provides supercomputing capabilities to the scientific and engineering community to advance fundamental discovery and understanding in a broad range of disciplines. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Science, Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program, the ALCF is one of two DOE Leadership Computing Facilities in the nation dedicated to open science.

About the Advanced Photon Source

The U. S. Department of Energy Office of Science's Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory is one of the world's most productive X-ray light source facilities. The APS provides high-brightness X-ray beams to a diverse community of researchers in materials science, chemistry, condensed matter physics, the life and environmental sciences, and applied research. These X-rays are ideally suited for explorations of materials and biological structures; elemental distribution; chemical, magnetic, electronic states; and a wide range of technologically important engineering systems from batteries to fuel injector sprays, all of which are the foundations of our nation's economic, technological, and physical well-being. Each year, more than 5,000 researchers use the APS to produce over 2,000 publications detailing impactful discoveries, and solve more vital biological protein structures than users of any other X-ray light source research facility. APS scientists and engineers innovate technology that is at the heart of advancing accelerator and light-source operations. This includes the insertion devices that produce extreme-brightness X-rays prized by researchers, lenses that focus the X-rays down to a few nanometers, instrumentation that maximizes the way the X-rays interact with samples being studied, and software that gathers and manages the massive quantity of data resulting from discovery research at the APS.

This research used resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a U.S. DOE Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
[January 20, 2021] PatientPoint Launches Independently Audited Digital Campaign Success Reporting Initiative for Point-of-Care Network

CINCINNATI, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PatientPoint today announced the launch of a new digital campaign reporting initiative that will provide brands with independently audited monthly activity and proof-of-performance data for every campaign investment in the company's leading point-of-care network. PatientPoint Digital Campaign Success Reports will be issued for every brand campaign running on the company's digital screen products in physician office waiting rooms, exam rooms and back offices. Reports will include audited metrics on ad play activity during total physician office "open days" as well as healthcare provider and location reach over the contract period. These reports will provide sponsors with dynamic, ongoing line of sight to monitor campaigns and maximize campaign performance. This new initiative exceeds point-of-care industry guidelines for both percentage of campaigns measured and frequency of reporting. Specifically, currnt industry guidelines recommend point-of-care publishers to issue reports on 25 percent of all campaigns twice annually. PatientPoint will exceed these industry guidelines by reporting on 100 percent of campaigns on a monthly basis.



PatientPoint Digital Campaign Success Reports are independently audited by the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). AAM is a trusted, reputable leader in cross-media verification for North America's leading media brands, point-of-care media providers and technology platform companies. The AAM certification of PatientPoint Digital Campaign Success Reports follows AAM's recent certification of the PatientPoint digital technology platform. Earning independent AAM digital network certification was the result of a comprehensive, third-party audit confirming the presence and functionality of PatientPoint equipment in healthcare provider offices across the country. "PatientPoint is generating monthly reports audited by AAM for every campaign running on our digital networks. This is an important milestone in our 30-year legacy of going above and beyond to deliver compelling results that marketers can trust," said PatientPoint Founder and CEO Mike Collette. "These automated reports replicate the dashboard reports sponsors receive when running an online digital campaign and can give sponsors the same level of confidence investing in Point of Care as in any other digital media channel."

About PatientPoint

PatientPoint is a patient engagement solutions company passionately committed to making every doctor-patient engagement better. By harnessing the power of technology, our omnichannel platform more effectively educates and empowers patients, caregivers and staff to deliver improved health outcomes and an enhanced patient experience. For 30 years, hospitals, health systems, physician offices and sponsoring brands have trusted PatientPoint and its more than 450 team members to provide a uniquely integrated experience across care settings. By the end of 2020, PatientPoint in-office programs are projected to reach more than 77,000 unique healthcare providers nationwide. Learn more at patientpoint.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/patientpoint-launches-independently-audited-digital-campaign-success-reporting-initiative-for-point-of-care-network-301211758.html SOURCE PatientPoint

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Former Arizona county assessor Paul Petersen who admitted running an illegal adoption scheme in three states involving women from the Marshall Islands is set to report to federal prison on Thursday to begin serving his six-year sentence

A former politician from Arizona must report to prison on Thursday to begin serving the first of three sentences for running an illegal adoption scheme that paid pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to come to the US to give up their babies.

Paul Petersen, a Republican who served as Maricopa County assessor for six years and also worked as an adoption attorney, was sentenced to six years after pleading guilty in federal court in Arkansas to conspiring to commit human smuggling.

Petersen, who has acknowledged running the adoption scheme, is awaiting sentencing in state courts in Arizona for fraud convictions and in Utah for human smuggling and other convictions. Sentencing dates have not yet been set for those cases.

He could face additional time on state charges after he completes his federal sentence.

Prosecutors have said Petersen illegally paid women from the Pacific island nation to give up their babies in at least 70 adoption cases in Arizona, Utah and Arkansas. Marshall Islands citizens have been prohibited from traveling to the US for adoption purposes since 2003.

Peterson, right, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit human smuggling. Petersen also is awaiting sentencing for related convictions in Arizona and in Utah

Peterson, pictured during a court appearance, still faces charges in cases of conspiracy, theft, forgery and fraud schemes

How the adoption scheme worked Pregnant women in the Marshall Islands would contact a 'fixer' who had contact with Marshallese women in the U.S. that Petersen employed.

The employees would connect a woman with Petersen, who would send money and arrange for the woman to get a passport and fly to the U.S.

The woman often would arrive four to five months before her due date and live in a house Petersen owned or rented in Arizona, Utah or Arkansas.

Petersen would pay the woman about $1,000 a month, minus rent and utilities.

Petersen or his employees would help the woman sign up for Medicaid so the government health care system would cover the cost of the baby's birth.

He then charged American families about $40,000 to carry out their adoptions.

Once the baby was born and the adoption was complete, he would pay the woman 'postpartum money' for one or two months and purchase a flight back to the Marshall Islands or to wherever the woman wanted to go within the United States. Advertisement

Petersen will serve his six-year sentence in the Arkansas case at a federal prison near El Paso, Texas.

The judge gave him two years longer in prison than sentencing guidelines recommended, describing Petersen's adoption practice as a 'criminal livelihood' and saying Petersen knowingly made false statements to immigration officials and state courts in carrying out the scheme.

'He subverted what should be a joyous time for everyone into a baby-selling enterprise. The conduct Mr. Petersen engaged in violates public policy. We don't sell babies. That is the public policy of the United States of America,' Judge Timothy Brooks said during Petersen's virtual sentencing hearing last month.

Petersen has appealed the punishment.

In Arizona, he pleaded guilty to fraud charges for submitting false applications to the state's Medicaid system so the birth mothers could receive state-funded health coverage - even though he knew they didn't live in Arizona - and for providing documents to a juvenile court that contained false information.

Petersen has said he has since paid back to the state $670,000 of more than $800,000 in health care costs that prosecutors cited in his indictment.

It was reported in 2018 how Petersen was said to have paid for more than 40 pregnant Marshallese women to live in his four-bedroom home in Salt Lake City, Utah before placing their babies with adoptive families.

Prosecutors said the passports of some birth mothers were taken away to prevent them from leaving the United States and that they were threatened with arrest if they tried to back out of adoptions.

The money Petersen made from the adoption scheme helped pay for his lavish lifestyle, including expensive trips, luxury cars and multiple residences, prosecutors said.

A Utah home that was owned by an Peterson is pictured. It was one of the homes where Peterson would have the women from the Marshall Islands stay

Alanna Mabey holds her grandson in front of her home in West Valley City, Utah. Petersen used homes like this one to lodge pregnant women from the Marshall Islands who were offered money to come to the U.S. to give up their children for adoption

Earlier in his life, Petersen, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christs of Latter-day Saints, had completed a proselytizing mission in the Marshall Islands, a collection of atolls and islands in the eastern Pacific, where he became fluent in the Marshallese language.

He quit his elected job as Maricopa County's assessor last year amid pressure from other county officials to resign. As assessor, Petersen was responsible for determining property values in the county that encompasses Phoenix.

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Buildings right across America were covered in hues of red and amber as a memorial to the 400,000 people who have died in the United States from coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Landmarks such as the Amazon Sphere and Times Square were illuminated by dazzling lights, while beacons of pure white light were shone into the sky behind the Capitol building.

The Empire State Building also became a symbol of remembrance, with pulsating red lights transforming the building into a beating heart.

Additionally, 400 lights were lit along the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to signify the 400,000 lives that have so far been lost.

NEW YORK CITY: The Empire State Building was one of many famous landmarks that were lit up in either red or amber overnight in tribute to the 400,000 Americans who have so far lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic

NEW YORK: The billboards of Times Square, known all around the world, were illuminated in amber last night to support incoming President Joe Biden's Covid-19 memorial

WASHINGTON DC: Beams of pure white light are shone into the night sky behind the Capitol building as part of the national memorial to the 400,000 of have lost their lives to coronavirus

SANTA MONICA: The Pacific Wheel on the Santa Monica pier is lit up in dazzling red as it joins other landmarks around the country remembering the victims of the pandemic

NEW ORLEANS: The Mercedes-Benz Superdome was another landmark lit up in striking red and amber hues to support Joe Biden's Covid-19 memorial

On Tuesday, statistics from the John Hopkins University found that the United States had hit a grim milestone and surpassed 400,000 coronavirus deaths.

That figure is more than the number of Americans who died during World War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined and nearly the same number who died in World War II.

The first known deaths from the virus in the U.S. were in early February 2020, both of them in Santa Clara County, California.

America's death toll is the highest in the world despite the country accounting for less than five percent of the global population.

LAS VEGAS: It wasn't just red and amber lighting used last night to respect the 400,000 victims of coronavirus, outside the Clark County Government Center a number of white spotlights were shone directly into the sky

JOHNSTOWN: More than 300 candles, representing each of the coronavirus victims from Cambria County, were lit along a river wall near the Stone Bridge in Johnstown last night

NASHVILLE: It was announced yesterday that America had hit the sombre landmark of 400,000 deaths related to Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic and in Nashville the AT&T building was illuminated in amber last night in memory of those who had lost their lives

NASHVILLE: Elsewhere in Nashville, Tennessee, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge was also lit up in amber to support Biden's Inaugural Committee's Covid-19 Memorial

More than 24.1 million people have been infected since the pandemic began.

The buildings being lit up was a joint national effort in conjunction with a ceremony held last night by incoming President Biden and his incoming vice-president Kamala Harris to respect the victims of the pandemic.

They both appeared with First Lady-in waiting Jill Biden and Second Gentleman-in waiting Doug Emhoff in a sign of their determination to change the tone from Donald Trumps administration.

The ceremony was held in front of the Lincoln Memorial, to mark the illumination of 400 lights situated around the Reflecting Pool to pay tribute to the 400,000-plus Americans who have now lost their lives to COVID-19.

SEATTLE: Another landmark lit up in support of the National Moment of Unity and Remembrance were the Amazon Spheres in Seattle, Washington

SEATTLE: The T-Mobile Park also took part in the memorial to the 400,000 victims of the coronavirus pandemic, with a band of red and amber seen stretching across the top of the stadium

SAN FRANCISCO: The Grace Cathedral also took part in the Covid-19 memorial, the the church having been lit in amber overnight as well as red and blue lights being seen at the very top of the building

LOS ANGELES: The nation came together last night in support of Joe Biden's Covid-19 memorial to the 400,000 who had lost their lives during the pandemic. The Los Angeles City Hall (pictured) was one of many landmarks across the country to light up in either red or amber

SAN FRANCISCO: The San Francisco City Hall also took part in the Covid-19 memorial by lighting up its exterior in amber lighting

Speaking yesterday, Biden said: 'To heal we must remember. It's hard sometimes to remember. But that's how we heal. It's important to do that as a nation. That's why we're here today.

'Between sundown and dusk let us shine the lights in the darkness, along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all we lost.'

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris also spoke to commemorate those lost to the pandemic.

'We gather tonight a nation in mourning to pay tribute to the lives we have lost,' she said. 'A grandmother or grandfather who was our whole world. A parent, partner, sibling or friend who we still cannot accept is no longer here.'

The nation-wide remembrance display came the day before Biden's inauguration.

LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles US Bank Building also took part in the national display of unity last night, using amber lights to envelop the exterior

SAN DIEGO: The San Diego County Administration Building was another landmark that joined the national effort to display unity overnight

SAN DIEGO: The California Tower in Balboa Park stands proudly lit in red last night as landmarks right across the country were showered in coloured lights in honor of those people who have lost their lives to coronavirus

America Talks: Join us and #ListenFirst in a virtual conversation with another American
Trial requested for 4 Egyptian spies over Regeni murder Friuli-born Cambridge student tortured to death in early 2016

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 20 - Rome prosecutors on Wednesday requested that four Egyptian intelligence-service officials be sent to trial for the 2016 abduction, torture and murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Egypt.



General Tariq Sabir and three subordinates, Athar Kamel Mohamed Ibrahim, Uhsam Helmi, and Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif, are accused of crimes that range from aggravated involvement in homicide to kidnapping and grevious bodily harm.



Rome prosecutors say that Regeni was tortured for days, resulting in "acute physical suffering" by being subjected to kicks, punches, beaten with sticks and bats and cut with sharp objects, and also being burned with red-hot objects and slammed into walls.



The suspects are likely to be tried in absentia in Italy if the indictment requests are upheld.



Egypt's prosecutor general, Hamada al Sawi, has said "there is insufficient evidence to prove the charges".



Witnesses have told the Rome prosecutors that Regeni was picked up by members of the Egyptian security services.



The witnesses, deemed reliable by the prosecutors, say the 28-year-old Cambridge doctoral researcher was abducted by agents of the Egyptian National Security Agency on January 25, 2016, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the uprising that ousted former strongman Hosni Mubarak, and taken to at least two barracks in the subsequent hours.



The young man from Friuli was seen in a barracks near the Dokki metro stop in Cairo, the witnesses said, and later at another barracks where young foreigners are usually taken.



Regeni was found dead in a ditch on the Cairo-Alexandria highway on February 3, 2016, a week after disappearing. He had been tortured so badly that his mother said she only recognised him by the tip of his nose. At various times Egypt has advanced differing explanations for his death including a car accident, a gay lovers' tiff and abduction and murder by an alleged kidnapping gang that was wiped out after Regeni's documents were planted in their lair.



The student was researching Cairo street sellers unions for the British university, a politically sensitive subject.



The head of the street hawkers union had fingered Regeni as a possible spy. Lack of cooperation on the case by Egypt led to Rome's temporarily withdrawing its ambassador from Cairo. Rome recently drew condemnation from Regeni's parents by announcing the sale of two frigates to Egypt. (ANSA).




IRISH Water has been urged to replace the water supply lines in a northside community.

Residents in Brookville Avenue, Clareview, were left without water last week, with the supply reconnected to an old asbestos cement pipe as an interim measure.

However, Sinn Feins northside councillor Sharon Benson has called for a more permanent solution from the State utility, saying that connecting to a pipe like this is taking us back to the last century and alarming to residents.

For its part, an Irish Water spokesperson said asbestos cement pipes are widely used, and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there is no evidence of that asbestos in drinking water poses a risk to health.

But Cllr Benson said the need to replace the pipe has been an ongoing issue for many years.

I have been informed that the council has been urging Irish Water to replace this supply for the past four years. Continuous ad hoc repairs to this line are simply not acceptable, it needs to be replaced, she said.

She has been in contact with Irish Water.

In response to a query from the Limerick Leader, the utility confirmed the outage, which resulted from a burst water main.

Crews from Irish Water and Limerick City and County Council responded immediately to carry out repairs and reroute water in the network so that the water supply was restored for the majority of customers within two hours. We regret any inconvenience caused by this unplanned outage, Irish Water added.

The spokesperson pointed out only 10% of Irish water mains are made from asbestos cement.

Irish Water is focussed on improving service and reducing leaks across Ireland by fixing or replacing old, damaged water pipes, they added.
Tetyana Urbanska

In the Ukrainian segment of social networks, the arrest of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny upon his return to Russia after a long post-novichok poisoning rehabilitation in Germany, eclipsed even a fake story about the alleged "full ban" of the Russian language, spun by pro-Russia pundits.

Some are perplexed over the fact that the "triumphant" return of the "survivor" was accompanied by a quote from a legendary chauvinistic Russian action movie from the early 2000's, Brother-2: "... Bring us some vodka!" the main character's female acquaintance tells a flight attendant and is quoted verbatim by Navalny's wife on a Moscow-bound plane departing from Berlin. Some consider a show-off stunt the move turn oneself in to Russian security forces by someone who has barely survived a poisoning attack by those very agencies. And some are outraged, why anyone in Ukraine should bother to pay attention to the squabbles ongoing beyond the border between their dictatorial government and a toothless opposition.

But this is all worth paying some attention to, though.

This whole foiled poisoning story, on the one hand, screams incompetence as regards the Russian spy community, which some in Ukraine some still consider real pros in their craft. Not only did they fail the mission to eliminate the dissident  they also embarrassed themselves in from of the whole world when their target Navalny duped one of the operatives purportedly involved in the attack into revealing details of the operation. Although, it seems there's nothing surprising in such incompetence following a Salisbury attack and the infamous interview where the two alleged attackers claimed they had visited the UK city as tourists admiring unique spires of a local cathedral.

After all, had they really sought to get rid of the guy, they would've just killed him bluntly as they did with Boris Nemtsov on a Moscow bridge right outside the Kremlin

On the other hand, the Navalny poisoning job could have been intentionally non-lethal from the start. It's just that the Kremlin chief could have needed an incapacitated rival, not a dead one. After all, had they really sought to get rid of the guy, they would've just killed him bluntly as they did with Boris Nemtsov on a Moscow bridge right outside the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, the "bring us some vodka" catchphrase, which triggered many Ukrainians over the pretext implying Russia's imperial claims of Crimea, could well be aimed at the Russian potential electorate. It's those very "other Russians" who are in fact the same kind. And Ukrainians should accept that this has nothing to do with them. All that I want to believe is that most Ukrainians realize that the "vodka" reference is on a par with a "Crimea is not a sandwich" quote (in one of the interviews, to a question "Whose territory is Crimea?" Navalny said Crimea is not a sandwich to be handed over back and forth, suggesting it mustn't be returned to Ukraine). In the end, its time for Ukrainians to stop admiring "them other Russians" and creating another idol for themselves, this time in the face of Alexei Navalny.

At the same time, totally ignoring the developments in Russia would testify to a certain infantilism. Ukrainians need to know what's happening in the country with which they've been at war for the seventh year already. They also need to work  directly or indirectly  to make things worse for Russia internally. If Putin's political opponents are trying to knock support from under his feet, it doesn't mean Ukrainians must necessarily help them, but it would be wrong to not monitor these processes. If those new sanctions, which some European countries are promoting over Navalny's arrest, create additional pressure on the Russian economy and distract the Kremlin from any new escalation in Ukraine, it's important that Ukraine support them and even try to strengthen them.

Even if many see Putin, Navalny, and the rest of Russia with its entire population as a problem for Ukraine, they won't go anywhere simply because Ukrainians want this.

Tetiana Urbanska
The night before Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009, he quietly excused himself from dinner with his family at Blair House to receive a military briefing about the nuclear football - the briefcase containing nuclear launch codes that goes wherever the president does.

"One of the military aides responsible for carrying the football explained the protocols as calmly and methodically as someone might describe how to program a DVR," Obama wrote in his recent memoir. "The subtext was obvious. I would soon be vested with the authority to blow up the world."

But at that moment, the man about to make history as the nation's first Black president was deeply worried someone would try to blow him up.

All inaugurations are, in the lingo of security experts, high-value targets for attack. In President-elect Joe Biden's case, Washington has been transformed into a security fortress because of concern that the right-wing extremists who attacked the Capitol earlier this month will return to wreak havoc, or worse, on the inauguration.

For Obama, the country was still dealing with international terrorism threats in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the ensuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the days before his swearing-in, President George W. Bush's national security team warned Obama that there was credible intelligence about a planned attack on the inauguration by Somali terrorists.

Obama's team, including incoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, scrambled into action, meeting in the White House Situation Room with Bush's advisers, according to a New York Times account of the events. The image of the Capitol or the Mall being attacked while Obama was being sworn in would, even if he wasn't hurt, be catastrophic for the country.

"Is the Secret Service going to whisk him off the podium so the American people see their incoming president disappear in the middle of the inaugural address?" Clinton asked, according to the Times. "I don't think so."

They needed a plan.

Rahm Emanuel, Obama's sometimes-volatile incoming chief of staff, called David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist, on his cellphone.

"Can you call me back right away from a hard line?" Axelrod recalled Emanuel as saying this week for CNN, where he is now a political commentator.

"Rahm sounded a bit agitated, which wasn't entirely unusual," Axelrod continued. "But the fact that he was asking me to call from a landline rather than my cellphone was a tip-off that something was amiss."

"I'm going to tell you something you can't share with anyone," Emanuel told Axelrod. "There is a serious threat on the inauguration."

Emanuel was working on a contingency plan in case of an attack during the ceremony. Obama would need to instruct people how to evacuate and project calm. Emanuel wanted Obama to have a prepared statement to read, but the threat was a closely held secret. Obama had not even told his wife, Michelle.

"I can't read the speechwriters into this, so I want you to write a brief statement for the President-elect," Emanuel told Axelrod. "Meet him right before the ceremony in the Speaker's office and give it to him. He'll put it in his pocket in case it's needed."

So that's what Axelrod did.

"I delivered the remarks to the President-elect, as planned," Axelrod recalled. "He slipped them into his coat pocket without reading them, and we exchanged a few words about the journey on which we were embarking."

Then Obama walked out to the stage, ready to the address the country.

"My fellow citizens," he began. "I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you've bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors."

The threat, it turned out, had been a false alarm.

Obama kept speaking, uninterrupted.

"I felt satisfied that I'd spoken with honesty and conviction," Obama wrote in his memoir. "I was also relieved that the note to be used in case of a terrorist incident had stayed in my breast pocket."
SUV

Adaptive Cruise Control

AWD

For fans of V8-powered muscle cars who want the same level of performance out of a three-row, the Dodge Durango is the only viable option.Out of the diverse lineup, the 475-hp SRT 992 and 710-hp Hellcat are the best performers, but the base prices for these monsters stand at $65,000 and $82,500, respectively.A much cheaper yet still capable option is the R/T, which might not come with SRT badges, high-performance seats, or silver interior stitching but still packs a capable HEMI, has room for seven, and even comes with the same scooped hood for a more muscular look than the standard models - all for a much more attractive price.The HEMI in question is the 5.7-liter V8 that spits out a respectable 360-hp and 390 lb-ft (529 Nm) of torque, more than enough power for a fun driving experience or towing 7,200 lbs (3,266 kg). It comes with variable valve timing (VVT) and the multi-displacement system (MDS), which should improve fuel economy.However, theres nothing economical about any HEMI V8, so dont expect miracles, regardless of the engine tech. According to the manufacturer, the R/T will return 14 mpg (17 liters per 100 km) on the combined cycle. Its still a gas-guzzler but it obviously performs better in this department than its more powerful siblings.Mated to the V8 is the proven ZF eight-speed 8HP70 automatic gearbox that can also be found on the SRT trims and much more expensive models like the BMW F01 7 Series, Maserati Quattroporte, or Rolls-Royce Phantom.On the exterior, weve already mentioned the scooped hood it gets from the SRT, and just like the rest of the 2021 models, the R/T comes with a redesigned bumper and headlights. Its also equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels shod with Pirelli all-season tires.For a more aggressive exterior styling, customers can add the $1,295 Blacktop Package. It brings a set of beautifully designed 20-inch Black Noise aluminum wheels, body-color lower fascia, gloss black badges, and exterior mirrors.Inside, the R/T comes with standard eight-way adjustable and heated leather/suede bucket seats that are more than adequate since the performance seats available on more expensive models are not a spectacular improvement.For only $795, the cabin can be customized in three different colors; for that price, customers also get ventilated front seats and additional leather on the door panels, steering wheel, or armrest.As standard, the interior features a new digital instrument panel and a 10.1-inch central touchscreen with the Uconnect 5 interface that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.The downside of the whole Durango lineup is the lack of standard advanced driver assists. On all models,, Advanced Brake-Assist, Full-Speed Forward-Collision Warning-Plus, or Lane-Departure Warning Plus are only available as part of the $2,395 Technology Group package.Still, with a starting price of $49,400, including the $1,495 destination charge but excluding other possible discounts, the 2021 Dodge Durango R/Tis the perfect choice for a sub-$50,000 muscle SUV that offers enough performance for a thrilling ride and all the room and comfort of a three-row vehicle.Potential customers would have to pay an additional $16,000 for the extra horsepower provided by the SRT 392. That's money they can use to add all the optional packages available and still save up, ending up with an awesome vehicle.
[January 20, 2021] FemTech Company MobileODT awarded prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant

TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MobileODT, a FemTech company producing the latest digital innovation in cervical screening, has been awarded a prestigious Small Business Innovation Research Authority grant of $2.3 million. This grant is presented by the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) to leading companies that are technologically and clinically advanced to support the NCI's goal of reducing suffering and death due to cancer. This grant is a tribute to the groundbreaking advances of MobileODT as an innovative company commercializing a novel cervical cancer screening technology utilizing complex machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. The company's technology offers an alternative screening modality to the current standard-of-care with significantly improved accuracy. It allows for a broader range of physicians, to perform cervical cancer screening, while defining the actual status of the patient and reducing loss to follow-up. The grant was awarded to MobileODT to perform a large-scale clinical trial validating the efficacy of the company's EVA VisualCheck (TM) AI technolog, as a cervical screening Clinical Decision Support Tool at the Point of Care and providing results in under 60 seconds. The VisualCheck AI technology will be compared to standard of care methods such as Pap smear, and visual inspection of the cervix.



"This award offers MobileODT a great opportunity to independently validate it's VisualCheck AI technology against the standard of care check with NIH quality," says David Levitz PhD. Principal Investigator of the study. The trial will commence in Q3 2021 and will be conducted in cooperation with the Basic Health International organization (BHI) on a population of 10,000 subjects. "AI has a lot of potential to revolutionize care for women worldwide. We are excited to test the technology and validate its accuracy and clinical feasibility," says Miriam Cremer MD., MPH, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology from Cleveland Clinic, one of the key researchers who will be leading the trial.

"We are honored to receive such a prestigious grant, especially from National Cancer Institute. It's a recognition of the value that our technology is bringing to women's health," says Leon Boston, MobileODT CEO. "The results of the trial are especially important in light of the World Health Organization's recent global strategic decision to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer. We see these results bringing our technology to the forefront of women's health." About MobileODT Headquartered in Tel Aviv, MobileODT helps clinicians utilize the power of AI on its portable medical devices to enhance women's health. MobileODT's EVA System combines advanced imaging, data and software applications to expand access to quality care in 30 countries and across more than 60 US health systems. The EVA System's smart mobile colposcope is used by clinicians worldwide for colposcopy, general gynecology, telegynecology and forensic imaging. MobileODT is integrating its AI in approved markets to provide powerful clinical decision support to healthcare providers at the point-of-care. The company has received investment capital from Orbimed, Tristel, Tara Health, Laerdal, DAI, and others. visit mobileodt.com. Contact: Olga Rosenman

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Mississauga, ON -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/20/2021 -- AllPennyStocks.com Media, Inc. (https://www.AllPennyStocks.com), a leading penny stock / small-cap information site, released its latest spotlight company Monterey Minerals Inc. (CSE:MREY).



Article Excerpt:



According to Filipino folklore, Japanese General Yamashita Tomoyuki buried a fortune in gold in the Philippines at the end of WWII. Enamored of visions of riches, treasure hunters  some going to great lengths  have never unearthed the war loot, which some historians contest is only a myth anyway. What's not a fable is that the archipelago is actually quite bountiful in gold reserves, with multiple major gold producing districts serving as far more reliable sources for producing not only gold, but silver and base metals as well.



With proven gold reserves of approximately 200 metric tons as of June 2020, the Philippines came in at #23 on the list of countries with the most gold reserves last year. The reserves have held steady, waiting for the next wave of exploration to bolster the total and climb the nation up further in the world rankings.



A complete MREY write-up can be viewed at: https://www.allpennystocks.com/spotlight/1062/monterey-minerals-inc



About AllPennyStocks.com Media Inc.

AllPennyStocks.com Media, Inc., founded in 1999, is one of North America's largest and most comprehensive small-cap / penny stock financial portals. With Canadian and U.S. focused penny stock features and content, the site offers information for novice investors to expert traders. Outside of the countless free content available to visitors, AllPennyStocks.com Pro (premium service) caters to traders looking for that trading edge by offering monthly stock picks, daily penny stock to watch trade ideas, market commentary and more.



As a result of its commitment to journalistic excellence and abundance of information in a particular area of equity investing (micro-cap investing) where there aren't many credible sources of information, AllPennyStocks.com continues to have one of the largest audiences of micro-cap investors on the internet.



With an industry recognized and highly trafficked investment portal, coupled with a substantial email database of members and strong social media following, publicly traded Companies seeking a large distribution channel of North American small / micro-cap retail investors continue to turn to AllPennyStocks.com to utilize its various marketing / advertising channels.



Contact:



AllPennyStocks.com Media, Inc.

Peter Szafranski - President

Phone: (800) 558-4560 Ext: 101

E-Mail: peter@allpennystocks.com

Websites: https://www.allpennystocks.com / http://www.bullishinvestor.com



Note: AllPennyStocks.com has been compensated five thousand dollars from a third-party, Frontier Consulting, Ltd. for its efforts in presenting the MREY profile on its web site and distributing it to its database of subscribers as well as other services. A full disclaimer on MREY can be found at: https://www.allpennystocks.com/spotlight/1062/monterey-minerals-inc.
Two executives involved in the early call of Arizona for Joe Biden on Election Night, angering many conservatives, are no longer employed at the cable network whose ratings took a subsequent nosedive. Both have been lightning rods for conservatives since the election. The Associated Press reports:

Bill Sammon, senior vice president and managing editor at Foxs Washington bureau, announced his retirement to staff members on Monday. On Tuesday, as part of a restructuring of Foxs digital operations, politics editor Chris Stirewalt was let go. Foxs decision to call Arizona for Biden took the networks anchors by surprise and infuriated the White House, which believed the determination was premature. Stirewalt and Foxs decision desk chief, Arnon Mishkin, were the two most visible people defending the decision on the air amidst heat from President Donald Trump and his supporters. Mishkin, who worked the election on a contractual basis, is not a Fox employee. Two days after the call, Stirewalt said on the air that Arizona is doing just what we expected it to do and we remain serene and pristine. He hasnt been on the air at Fox since the post-election period.

The Hill reported Sammons retirement Monday night.

Bill Sammon, Fox News Channels senior vice president and managing editor in Washington, is retiring at the end of the month, a spokesperson confirmed to The Hill. Sammon told staff during a morning meeting on Monday that he is leaving the network, where he has worked since 2008. It is not yet known if the position will be filled. Prior to working for Fox, Sammon worked as a White House correspondent for The Washington Times, where he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He has also worked for The Washington Examiner.

Sammon's high level post as SVP made him likely very influential in setting the tone and substance of FNC's political coverage.

At lower levels, Fox News has been planning staff reductions for months now. The two derpartures are part of a larger pattern.

In September, Fox News announced a restructuring of some of its divisions, with a reduction of its workforce of less than 3%, or about 80 employees. At the time, the network said that they are realigning several functions and restructuring various divisions in order to position all of our businesses for ongoing success. Fox News Digital had increased their employee base for the 2020 election, and the latest cuts reflect a post-election streamlining. The employees will receive enhanced severance and benefits packages. The past year has seen reductions in the workforces at almost all of the other major networks.

Fox News Digital has released a statement:

As we conclude the 2020 election cycle, FOX News Digital has realigned its business and reporting structure to meet the demands of this new era. We are confident these changes will ensure the platform continues to deliver breakthrough reporting and insightful analysis surrounding major issues, both stateside and abroad.

A person familiar with the matter told Deadline that the realignment involved fewer than 20 job cuts.

Stirewalt's position as political editor made him important both on- and off-screen.

Stirewalt worked on the networks Decision Desk in the most recent election cycle. Fox News drew the ire of Donald Trump and his supporters when the desk called Arizona for Joe Biden on election night. That was a signal that Trump would lose the election when all of the votes were counted, but the president insisted that evening that he had won.

Update: A New York Times article by Rachel Abrams and Michael Grynbaum states that Stirewalt was fired, according to 3 anonymous sources:

On Tuesday morning, Fox News fired Chris Stirewalt, the veteran politics editor who was an onscreen face of the networks election night projection that Joseph R. Biden Jr. had defeated President Trump in Arizona, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

But a Washington Post article by Sarah Ellison refers to Stirwalt as being laid off:

...Fox laid off nearly 20 staffers Tuesday, including Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt

The same article offers some anonymously sourced reactions:

While the decision desk is run by a contractor, Arnon Mishkin, who handled the statistical modeling of the desk, it fell to Sammon to determine editorially when Fox was ready to make its projection on air. It was Sammons role that raised eyebrows in the aftermath of the call, Fox staffers told The Post. But it was Stirewalts dismissal that caused more consternation in the building, they said. A major overreaction to Trump and the audience freakout, said one staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

A Fox News spokesperson declined to comment to American Thinkers inquiry on Stirewalt's departure, citing employee confidentiality.

I interpret these two departures as a genuine response to viewer anger, perhaps signaling that further adjustments may be made in staffing or in editorial policies in an effort to win back the viewership that made Fox News the dominant force in cable news. But for its part, Fox News makes no such statement.


The Indian insurance sector will see growth rebounding in 2021 lead by growth in the health and protection segments, according to a report by Moodys Investors Service.

Mohammed Ali Riyazuddin Londe, Vice President-Senior Analyst, Financial Institutions, Moodys Investors Service told Moneycontrol in an interaction that this is not a one-off growth as far as health insurance is concerned.

He added that the health insurance sales saw a spike in 2020 due to a rise in awareness amidst the Coronavirus outbreak. He said that this will see general insurers growth to move to positive territory in 2021.

We expect health premiums to continue growing strongly into 2021, when we anticipate that India's GDP growth will rebound to 10.8 percent, leading to a gradual normalisation of economic activity, he added.

The Moodys report said that India's low rate of insurance penetration (premiums as a percentage of GDP) indicates that there is ample scope for continued premium growth. The overall insurance penetration rate stood at 3.8 percent in 2018, low compared with developed markets such as the UK (10.3 percent) and the US (11.4 percent), and also below large developing markets such as China (4.3 percent).

Economic performance hit affects insurers

Moodys said that India's economic performance is increasingly weak. The report expects real GDP to contract by 10.6 percent in the fiscal year starting April 2020, compared with our previous forecast of a 4 percent contraction.

Londe explained that the economic slump had an adverse impact on the Indian insurance industrys premiums.

In the April to December 2020 period, premium growth slowed to 2.5 percent in general insurance, while life insurance new business premiums fell by 1.7 percent. This compares with growth of 11.7 percent and 20.6 percent for general and life insurance premiums respectively in the previous fiscal.

However, he added that the sustained strong demand for health insurance has slowed the decline. Health premiums rose 13.7 percent in the April to December 2020 period. This was in line with the 13.4 percent growth in the previous fiscal.

The Moodys report said that persistently strong sales of health insurance reflect rising consumer awareness of the product as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, combined with insurers' efforts to develop their digital sales channels.

Moneycontrol had reported how health insurance overtook motor insurance as the largest business segment among non-life insurers.

Solvency pressures may aid M&A, capital infusion

Some Indian insurers solvency remains inadequate due to weak profitability, resulting from the intense competition in the market as per the Moodys report.

Londe explained that the general insurance sector's profitability has been under particular pressure, with a combined ratio of 117.6 percent.

While positive investment results have previously helped compensate for a weak underwriting performance, falling yields have reduced this source of support, he explained.

The government also took steps to ensure that state-run insurers are giving a helping hand to boost their profitability.

On July 8, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi called off a 2018 Budget proposal to merge three state-owned general insurers, National Insurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance.

Instead, the government approved a capital infusion for an overall value of Rs 12,450 crore (including Rs. 2,500 crore infused in FY20) in the three insurers.

We see the capital injection as credit positive as it will allow the insurers to enhance their risk-based pricing and underwriting discipline, helping them generate organic capital growth and attract foreign reinsurance coverage. Given the capital increase is happening for state-run insurers, their focus on underwriting discipline and risk-based pricing will trickle down and benefit the wider market, he added.

In the private sector, he explained that profitability and solvency concerns are driving M&A.

"Capital raising must be accompanied by an increased focus on writing profitable business to put these companies on a sound financial footing in the long term," he said.

The risk-based capital regime that could be introduced in India in the next two years may also lead to some shake-up in the industry. Risk-based capital refers to holding according to the business written by individual insurers and their allied risks.

"The shift to a risk-based capital regime usually brings some shock to the industry in the short term but market will benefit in the longer term. Here, smaller insurance players may face pressure and may look at merger or consolidation in some way," he added.
A man in his 30s escaped injury after a firework was thrown into the living room of a house in east Belfast on Tuesday night.

Detectives are appealing for information following a report of arson at the residential premises in the Chamberlain Street area.

Police received a report that a window of a house in the area was smashed shortly after 6.55pm and a large firework thrown into the living room.

The resident was upstairs at the time, but managed to escape the property.

Damage was caused to the living room and its window

The PSNI said enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident, which is being treated as arson with intent to endanger life.

"It is extremely fortunate no-one was injured as a result of this reckless act," a spokesperson said.

We would appeal to anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area prior to the incident, to contact detectives on 101 and quoting reference number 1416 19/01/21."

A report can also be made online via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/
To the editor:

I would like to bring to everyone attention an article published in the Jan. 13 MDN, page 4A. It was rather small and might have been missed.

As for me it is a very ominous sign as to where we are heading. The article was about how Cumulus Media and Westwood One (owner of 416 radio stations) were censoring their talk show host as to the "outcome" of the 2020 election, using words like "would not tolerate" and "zero tolerance."

I am sure many of the more liberal mindset are saying, as it should be. Let's not forget, censorship, like cancer, tends to grow out of control.

Remember the old adage (updated): First they came for the Jews, I'm not Jewish, I didn't care. Then they came for the Christians, not me, I don't care. Then they came for the conservatives, as well they should. Then they came for me, and no one was left.

THOMAS MYERS

Midland
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.
U.S. President Donald Trump has discussed the possibility of setting up a new political party after his term ends on Wednesday, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

Last week, the outgoing president talked to a number of close aides and allies about forming a new party, which he would like to call the "Patriot Party" in line with his "America First" rhetoric.

This comes after several political figures from the Republican Party criticized Trumps role in instigating the deadly riots at the US Capitol on January 6, which left at least five dead - including one police officer.

In a farewell video message released by the White House, Trump told his steadfast supporters, "the movement we started is only just beginning. Theres never been anything like it."

"I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart and optimistic spirit, and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come," Trump said.
Leitrim pharmacies who backed the Leitrim Observer and Iconic Newspapers #BestShot campaign are delighted to see positive news about the Covid-19 vaccine emerging.

While there are still details to be finalised between the Government and the Irish Pharmacy Union, the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine in communities seems to be edging closer.

Fintan Cox from Cox's Pharmacy in Carrick-on-Shannon pledged his support to the #BestShot campaign last week and is happy to see a "positive deal" emerging from the Government. He said they are still waiting on offical word from the union and there are a number of things to be worked out, such as training for the new vaccine. But he said it is great to see the discussions happening. He said he hopes to see vaccines in his pharmacy in March.

Bryan Cribbin from McDevitt's Pharmacy in Ballinamore told the Leitrim Observer "it is great to hear that the vaccine is getting closer." McDevitt's supported the #Bestshot campaign but did point out a number of issues that needed to be ironed out. Mr Cribbin said these issues have still to be finalised, such as vaccination of staff, training and most importantly "guarantee of supply."

He said he hopes to be better informed on all details next week, and added they have started to get a lot of enquiries about the vaccine from customers.

Diagnostic access to GPs

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has today welcomed confirmation that the HSE is to make available to GPs increased direct access to diagnostic services from this week. The initiative will give GPs across the country the ability to access an additional 94,000 diagnostic procedures, such as X-Rays, CT scans, MRIs, and DEXA.

The Minister for Health said: This new development will have a significant impact on the diagnosis and treatment of patients. It will allow faster access to necessary diagnostic procedures, leading to more timely treatment and improved patient experience.

The new supports will also assist in reducing pressures placed on hospitals and the shortening of waiting lists.

Also read: More Leitrim pharmacies back #Bestshot campaign to roll out Covid vaccines locally
'We have young people ready and available to do apprenticeships'

Matt Garvey

IN July 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a Government incentive scheme that was designed to encourage businesses to recruit new apprentices.

Organisations could qualify for an up to 3,000 cash bonus if they took on a new apprentice before the end of January 2021. In the recent spending review, the deadline was extended to the end of March 2021.

It is surprising that not many employers know about the incentives available to businesses if they take on an apprentice. There is a pot of money available to support and encourage apprentice recruitment as part of the jobs scheme.

Employers already receive 1,000 for each apprentice they take on aged 16 to 18, or under 25 with an education, health and care plan. They will now receive an additional 2,000 if the new starter is aged 16 to 24 and 1,500 if they are 25 or over.

West Berkshire Training Consortium managing director Matt Garvey said: We are very pleased that the Chancellor has decided to extend the incentive schemes for employers.

We are still living in very uncertain times and any support like this that businesses can get is invaluable.

We have young people ready and available to do apprenticeships and we hope that this extension will encourage more businesses to take on a new apprentice.

The incentive scheme is designed to help employers kickstart their recruitment despite the pandemic, and to help recover from the economic impact of Covid-19.

The scheme will also help create new jobs for young people who have been affected by the impact of the last year.

WBTC business development coordinator Rachel Eaves said: This scheme is vital to help young people find their feet after the difficult last year weve had.

By extending the period of the incentive scheme, were hopeful that more businesses will come forward to take on an apprentice and experience the hugely positive impact that apprenticeships can have on an organisation.

To find out more about the incentive scheme and recruiting an apprentice, please visit wbtc-uk.com or call Rachel Eaves on (01635) 35975.
By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump granted clemency to former White House aide Steve Bannon as part of a wave of pardons and commutations issued in his final hours in office, but did not pardon himself, members of his family or lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Trump leaves office on Wednesday, when Joe Biden is sworn in as the nation's next president. White House officials had argued to Trump that he should not pardon himself or his family because it might look like they are guilty of crimes, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Bannon, who was a key adviser in Trump's 2016 presidential run, was charged last year with swindling the president's own supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the president's wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty.

"Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen," the White House said in a statement.

White House officials had advised Trump against pardoning Bannon. The two men have lately rekindled their relationship as Trump sought support for his unproven claims of voter fraud, an official familiar with the situation said.

As part of more than 140 pardons and commutations, Trump also pardoned Elliott Broidy, a former top fundraiser for Trump who pleaded guilty last year to violating foreign lobbying laws, and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was serving a 28-year prison term on corruption charges.

Rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black who were prosecuted on federal weapons offenses, were also granted pardons.

Giuliani, who has been at the forefront of Trump's unsuccessful efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, has not been charged with a crime, but investigators have been probing his activities in Ukraine.

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House last week on charges of inciting the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by the president's supporters. He may face a Senate trial and could be barred from running for president again if convicted.

PROMINENT ALLIES

The pardon power, which comes from the U.S. Constitution, is one of the broadest available to a president. While pardons are typically given to people who have been prosecuted, pardons can cover conduct that has not yet resulted in legal proceedings.

A pardon is not reviewable by other branches of government and the president does not have to give a reason for issuing one. But the pardon power is not absolute; it only applies to federal crimes.

Bannon, 67, is the latest prominent political ally to receive clemency from Trump, who has often used the powers of the executive branch to reward loyalists and punish his enemies.

Trump previously pardoned former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn for lying to the FBI about his conversation with the former Russian ambassador, and he commuted the prison term for Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress during its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The former executive chairman and co-founder of the right-wing news outlet Breitbart, Bannon is credited as being the architect behind the rise of America First right-wing populism. He was a key influencer behind some of Trump's staunch anti-immigration policies in the early days of Trump's presidency, as well as the border wall that was one of Trump's key campaign promises.

He was fired from his post at the White House in August 2017.

Bannon can still be charged with fraud by New York state prosecutors, said Daniel R. Alonso, a former prosecutor now at the Buckley law firm. Fraud prosecutions are frequently brought by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, Alonso added.

Broidy, who was a top fundraiser for Trump during the 2016 campaign, pleaded guilty in October to violating lobbying laws by attempting to influence the administration on behalf of Chinese and Malaysian interests.

Lil Wayne, 38, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., pleaded guilty in federal court in December to illegally possessing a firearm and faced up to 10 years in prison. He has expressed support for Trump's criminal justice reform efforts.

Kodak Black, 23, who was born Bill Kahan Kapri, is in federal prison for making a false statement in order to buy a firearm.

(Reporting by Steve Holland. Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Jan Wolfe. Writing by James Oliphant.; Editing by Mary Milliken and Lincoln Feast.)
Donald Trump pardoned Al Pirro, the ex-husband of Fox News Channel host and Trump ally Jeanine Pirro.

The pardon for Al Pirro is in addition to the 143 pardons and sentence commutations that Trump announced earlier Wednesday.

Pirros pardon was announced just after Trump landed in Florida after leaving the White House and before Joe Biden was inaugurated as the nations 46th president.

Jeanine Pirro hosts Fox News Channels Justice with Judge Jeanine.

Al Pirro was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion charges and sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2000.
Midwife Angeless Kanzara examines a pregnant woman to assess whether she is ready to give birth, in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Jan. 14, 2021. (Tafadzwa Ufumeli/Getty Images)

Coercive Diplomacy: Film Examines Canadas Foreign Aid in Africa

Filmmaker says Canada brought its own definition of feminism to Africa with 'force of money'

The film Obsessed: Canadas Coercive Diplomacy explores the possibility that Canadas foreign aid to Africa may be doing more harm than good, pushing abortion as a key component of sexual and reproductive rights.

The film, which premiered Jan. 17, features a roughly 90-minute conversation between filmmaker Obianuju Ekeocha, who is also an author and a global human rights activist, and David Mulroney, a former Canadian ambassador to China and former associate deputy minister of foreign affairs.

In the film, Ekeocha, a native of Nigeria, said she noted that Canadas foreign policy began to change after the 2015 federal election. She had never seen such a feminist foreign policy before from a Western country.

But what made it terrible, or unfortunate, is that its not only that the Canadian government is bringing in this Western-conceived idea or ideal of feminism, or their own definition of what feminism is, the Canadian government brought it in with a force of money  this thing theyre calling the feminist foreign policy, Ekeocha said.

Mulroney echoed Ekeochas sentiments, noting that Canada has been blatant about this. Canadas foreign aid would be based not on listening mode, but on broadcast mode, he said.

It is importantand historicthat we have a prime minister and a government proud to proclaim themselves as feminists, said Chrystia Freeland in her 2017 message introducing Canadas Feminist International Assistance Policy, when she was the foreign affairs minister. This includes sexual and reproductive rightsand the right to access safe and legal abortions.

Canada could be doing to Africa what China is doing to Canadabeing assertive with its economic clout so as to suppress opposing voicesMulroney said.

We too may be guilty of a form of ideological colonization, he said.

According to Ekeocha, Canada tops the list of countries imposing ideological colonialism on Africa.

When we talk about an initiative that will remove from the population a whole generation of African boys and girls to abortion[we] describe this as a health-care initiative. So that sense that were engaging in coercive diplomacy is stronger in me as a result of my conversation with Uju [Ekeocha], Mulroney said.

Ekeocha also pointed out that abortion is not legal in most African countries. The majority of Africans reject it because of their cultural beliefs, and this is why the new focus of aid from the Canadian government is problematic, she said.

Ekeocha explained how Africans attach a high value to human life and the connection between past and future generationsit goes back to their cultural views and values.

Africans also believe so strongly in the fact that the baby in the womb is already alive. The baby in the womb is human, she said.

Getting Foreign Aid Right

The criteria of good foreign aid, Mulroney said, begins with the donor needing to listen to the needs of the recipient and not slipping into the I know best trap. He added that the donor must approach the process with modesty and humility and have the objective of providing transitional aid, so that the recipients are able to stand on their own two feet in the long run.

In contrast, Ekeochas experience with international aid has led her to say the paternalism is incredible.

They [donors] are really trying to create another  region in their own image and likeness.  They consider us like a cultural vacuum, she said.

Another issue with foreign aid, Mulroney said, is that it can be driven by a targetlike the benchmark 0.7 percent of gross national incomewith the focus primarily on getting money out the door rather than considering how it is spent.

Africa is in dire need of infrastructure, health care, and education. More money is needed for law enforcement and efforts to deal with terrorism. Ekeocha emphasized that abortion is not the solutionespecially when economies are reeling from the pandemicand money spent on what the people do not want or need is wasteful. Canadian taxpayers should demand transparency from the government on this, she said.

She also noted that Africans are not applauding Canadas feminist foreign policy.

The only people applauding the Canadian government, the only people excited about what the Canadian government is doing, are the activiststhe radical activists in the West. And thats because the Canadian government is achieving their dream across the African continent, she said.

Ekeocha encourages Canadians to talk to their MPs and ask how their tax dollars are being spent as a part of foreign aid and the effects achieved.

It would be a shame if your [Canadians] generosity is not really getting to the point of improving lives but rather harming lives in the different parts of the world. We should do better.
As the Biden administration gets ready for Wednesday's inauguration, the President-elect announced a new addition to what is shaping up to be one of the most diverse Cabinets in history.

In a historic first, Joe Biden nominated Dr. Rachel Levine as his pick for assistant Secretary of Health, making her the first openly transgender person nominated for a US Senate-confirmed position.

The current Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, Dr. Levine, if confirmed, would work directly under Biden's nominee for Secretary of Health, Xavier Becerra, and be the highest ranking trans official in the nation. In this position, Dr. Levine would be in charge of overseeing the offices and programs runs by the Department of Health and Human Services, including its regional offices, the Office of the Surgeon General and the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

In a statement, Biden praised Dr. Levine's work handling her state's response to the ongoing pandemic and the more inclusive approach to public health her appointment would signal.

"Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic  no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability  and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond," Biden said. "She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration's health efforts."

The news of Dr. Levine's nomination has been met with praise from LGBTQ+ activists and advocate groups, who, along with the previously announced nomination of Pete Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary, have lauded the incoming administration's concerted effort towards diversity.

Mayor Annise Parker, president and CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute said in a statement, "Our nation is fortunate to have Dr. Rachel Levine nominated for a position so important to ending this pandemic and her experience on the frontlines in Pennsylvania will prove invaluable as Assistant Secretary. Her nomination is groundbreaking and shows the Biden administration will choose the most qualified individuals to lead our nation regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Dr. Levine is making history and will transform Americans' perceptions of trans people when she takes office and begins to work on their behalf."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Research published Tuesday by Pfizer and BioNTech shows further evidence its vaccine is expected to be effective against the more-infectious strain of the coronavirus (COVID-19) that was detected in the United Kingdom and has since spread to the United States.

The study, published on biorxiv.org, relied on a limited number of blood samples from patients against a synthetic version of the new strain and has not yet been published in a scientific journal, but added to growing evidence that Pfizers vaccine would still provide immunity against the mutation, known as the B.1.1.7 variant.

Scientists, who included BioNTechs two co-founders, took 16 blood samples and found antibody data produced by their vaccine and other factors make it unlikely that the B.1.1.7 lineage [U.K. variant] will escape the protection of the vaccine.

Top officials in the U.S. have previously signaled that theres no reason to believe that the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna  both of which have been granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration  will not be effective against the virus.

Experts say that viruses commonly mutate over time, and while This variant has an unusually large number of mutations with 10 amino acid changes in the spike protein, raising concerns that its recognition by neutralizing antibodies may be affected, the study said, the latest research indicates the strain will still fall under the inoculations umbrella of immunity.

The researchers wrote that there was no biologically significant difference in neutralization activity between the vaccines ability against the synthetic U.K. variant and a replica of the version of the virus that first emerged from Wuhan, China.

The alterations in the virus make it more infectious, though it is not currently believed to be more deadly, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported. Multiple cases of the variant have been detected in New York.
Israel will restore ties with Turkey only after Ankara closes Hamas office in the city of Istanbul, an Israeli official has said according to media reports.

[President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan would be happy to return our ambassador to Ankara, but what we are interested in is Hamas activity in Turkey, the official who asked not to be named said.

Turkey cut off ties with Israel in 2018 after the U.S and several countries moved their embassies in the disputed city of Jerusalem.

Ankara has off late presented itself as the leading global country defending Palestinian cause. It in August last year hosted Hamas top political leader Ismail Haniyeh  a move rejected by the U.S.

Israel believes Hamas has an office in the Turkish second largest city of Istanbul and uses a secret facility to launch cyberattacks on Israel.

To Israels conditions for normalization, Turkey Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports, said it has its own conditions.

The relations would normalize if Israel stops its illegal actions such as annexations against the Palestinians, said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Without this, relations would go sideways in any case.
Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia
COLLINSVILLE  Louer Facility Planning, Inc. announces a leadership transition plan, along with celebrating 25 years in business.

Founding President and CEO, Jane Louer, has put the wheels in motion for a gradual buyout and leadership transition to two of the companys key employees, Yvette Paris and April Grapperhaus.

The initial phase of the employee purchase has been completed and the company is pleased to welcome the new owner/partners. Louer remains majority stockholder but her ownership will be reduced each year over the next three years, when Paris will become majority stockholder.

Paris, the firms long-time design director, assumes the role of vice president/design director and shareholder. Paris has been with the company for 15 years.

Grapperhaus, a former office manager for seven years, is now director of operations and a shareholder in the firm.

At the time that Louer started her career, there were few women working in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. After spending a few years working for design/build contractors in St. Louis, Louer was hired in 1980 by The Korte Company to launch that firms interior design and furniture group. In 1984, she became the companys first female vice president. Louers passion for designing, furnishing and construction of the entire interior space for commercial clients in the corporate, financial, government and healthcare industry was evident.

Louer said the company began in 1996, when she was motivated to start a company where she could be in full control of its direction and mission. She saw a definable need in the commercial interiors industry for the integration of interior design, furniture and construction to deliver a seamless project delivery method for creating and fulfilling interior space needs and workplace efficiency. A decade after Louer incorporated, she recruited Paris.

Yvette has truly shaped the company, said Louer. She is responsible for new hires, training and directing the path of Louer Facility Planning. Yvettes creative talents, her dedication to detail and her level of unrelenting customer service has enabled us to retain wonderful clients over the past decade and a half.

Paris says she has learned a great deal from Louer and is grateful to have had her as mentor.

In order for people to grow, they have to be able to grow through and up to the task at hand, Paris said. Im thankful to have had this opportunity to learn an incredible amount from Jane since 2006. And Im excited for this new chapter and all the future holds.

Seven years after hiring Paris, Louer brought Grapperhaus on board. April is adept at following each project diligently and multitasking with ease, said Louer. As our firm has grown and there are more and more parts and pieces to projects and to the operation of the firm overall, April works proactively and makes sure every vendor and client is attended to, so projects remain on schedule.

Like Paris, Grapperhaus has witnessed Louers dedication and ability to continually grow Louer Facility Planning through good times and economic downturns.

Ive had the chance to shadow Jane and learn everything from clerical to accounting, order entry, project management, client support, vendor relations and more, Grapperhaus said. Working for a small company has afforded all of us the opportunity to tap into Janes career-long industry experience and wisdom. Its the reason were where we are today.

Currently, Louer Facility Planning ranks in the top 12 office furniture firms within the St. Louis region, as determined by annual sales revenues. Louer is thankful for the companys longstanding clients, including Anderson Hospital, SIUE and Washington University in St. Louis.

Having had the unique opportunity to start and build my own firm has been incredibly satisfying, Louer said. As we celebrate 25 years in business, were all celebrating a quarter of a century as the regions go-to workplace design resource. Were celebrating 25 years of creating ideal office landscapes that allow companies to grow and prosper.

For more information about Louer Facility Planning, visit Louer Faclity Planning.
An impasse in Parliament has stymied a push to investigate banks and insurance companies that consider climate change as a factor in major deals, with Nationals MP George Christensen struggling to get the numbers for the inquiry.

In a test for the government, Mr Christensen has failed twice to secure a majority vote for a review he vowed to pursue last year out of concern banks were refusing to lend to coal and gas projects.

Nationals MP George Christensen is struggling to get the numbers for the inquiry. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Liberals are seeking to change the terms of reference after Mr Christensen blew his top at a meeting in December when Labor refused to vote for the inquiry and a key Liberal MP, Katie Allen, could not attend.

The objections are a setback for Resources Minister Keith Pitt, who asked the committee to set up the inquiry, and Nationals colleagues who have railed at banks for questioning projects like the Adani coal mine in Queensland.
She is one of many social media influencers who escaped the UK's national lockdown by jetting to Dubai on a 'work' trip.

And Sophia Peschisolido looked like she was having a good time on her getaway as she posed for a series of sizzling lingerie snaps on Wednesday.

The daughter of Apprentice star Karren Brady, 24, showcased her incredible physique as she wore a black two-piece that left little to the imagination.

Wow: Sophia Peschisolido looked like she was having a good time on her Dubai getaway as she posed for a series of sizzling lingerie snaps on Wednesday

The garment featured a pale pink floral print while Sophia styled her blonde locks into loose waves.

Fixing the camera with a sultry stare, Sophia also wore a silver necklace as she displayed her eye-popping curves.

Wearing a light pallet of makeup, the star captioned her snap: 'The best @bouxavenue'.

Tory peer Baroness Brady, 51, was also in Dubai last month, with her daughter.

Sizzling: The daughter of Apprentice star Karen Brady, 24, showcased her incredible physique as she wore a black two-piece that left little to the imagination

She told the Daily Mail she had travelled there for business, leaving Britain on December 18 and returning 'shortly afterwards'.

She said that 'no rules have been breached, by me or any member of my family'.

One picture Sophia put on Instagram from last month showed her walking up the stairs at luxury restaurant Bagatelle Dubai with the caption: 'Mum getting the angles in lol.'

Although it was uploaded on Christmas Eve, Karren explained that 'bears no relation to the dates I was in Dubai or the date the pictures was taken'.

Stunning: The garment also featured a pale pink floral print while Sophia styled her blonde locks into loose waves

After Dubai was added to the travel corridor list in November, it became a playground for influencers keen to escape restrictions at home and seek out photo opportunities for their sponsorship deals.

Many have faced a backlash for posting pictures of themselves sunbathing and enjoying nights out while Covid cases in the UK soared and people faced more and more curbs on their lives.

Sophia has been in Dubai since at least December 22, although there is no suggestion she broke Tier Four rules to fly out.

In November Karren wrote an article for The Sun urging readers to be 'sensible' with regards to visiting family members amid the pandemic.

The multi-millionairess, who took her seat in the House of Lords in 2014, wrote: 'This virus doesn't know it's Christmas. It won't take a week off just so we can get together with our various beloveds.'

Sun-kissed: The 24-year-old has shared scores of pictures of herself wearing bikinis in the Middle Eastern holiday hotspot

She later told the Daily Mail: 'I went to Dubai for business on the 18th and returned shortly afterwards, my children did not travel with me.

'I have not breached any Government restrictions, to suggest otherwise would be totally incorrect.'

Under the current national lockdown, people are banned from going on holiday and can travel internationally only for work or other legally permitted reasons.

The United Arab Emirates has since been removed from the UK's travel corridor list, just days ahead of the decision to close all corridors amid fears of new strains of the virus.

All travellers returning to the UK now need proof of a negative test and must quarantine for ten days, unless they test negative again after five days.
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
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(TNS)  Theres been a long running debate inand the nation over the collection and use of all types of student information, ranging from personal identifiers to academic performance. Schools stress that the information helps them determine which students need the most help. Some parents worry that, in the wrong hands, their children could be exposed to negative consequences. The controversy has come into focus in, in a story that has gone viral. Read on for the latest on that item and moreeducation news.Theschool district has come under fire for sharing student data with law enforcement. Now the chair of theeducation committee has called for an investigation into the practice.The presidential inauguration is today.school district officials made clear that its okay for classes to watch and discuss the event, thereports. More from WLRN.  Across the nation, some schools are refusing to show the inauguration, Education Week reports.School employees have asked for priority access to the coronavirus vaccine. Districts in thearea are working out arrangements to make it happen, starting with those age 65 and older.  Theschool district also will offer vaccine to its older employees, WKMG reports. has adopted a resolution urging the state to prioritize all school employees for the vaccinations, thereports.About 70 Broward County teachers decided to leave before the second semester. The inability to have adequate social distancing inside schools is part of the concern, WPLG reports.Theschool district ended its remote learning program. It now has about 96 percent of students taking classes in person, WMBB reports.Mostarea high schools saw their graduation rates jump in 2020. Pasco Countysdropped by 5 points, to 76 percent. District educators and officials are looking for an explanation.Manyschools are using decade-old technology. The district is contemplating a major upgrade, thereports.Hands-on learning helps. A Leon County Title I elementary school unveiled a new outdoor classroom to give students added experiences, theDemocrat reports.NIMBY. Residents of acommunity are raising concerns about proposed new schools, WINK reports.Let us pray.voted to resume having an invocation before its meetings, thereports.From the police blotter ... Aschool custodian was arrested on accusation of aggravated child abuse. The case was not connected to school, WKMG reports.  Aschool resource officer was arrested on allegations of soliciting sex from a child who was described as a family friend, thereports.Dont miss a story. Heres the link to yesterdays roundup.Before you go ... One of ourlawmakers shared this example of how world cultures cross over with one another, creating in this case something fresh and new thats accessible to even greater numbers. Not a bad message to apply to other parts of society as the nation moves to its next president.

New Delhi, Jan 20 : On the issue of farmer unions terming the Supreme Court-appointed committee as "pro-farm laws", Chief Justice S.A. Bobde on Wednesday made several critical observations, saying that "branding" people and "maligning" their reputation as some don't want them on the committee, has become a cultural thing.

Citing the committee members, the Chief Justice said "their reputations have been torn to shreds." The top court made these observation while hearing an application by Rajasthan-based farmer organisation that cited the pro-farm laws opinions expressed by committee members in the past and also reports in the media highlighting their pro-farm laws stand.

The Chief Justice told the counsel appearing for farmer unions "have you not found anybody in politics when people who had expressed an opinion, change their view once they come across a contrary view?" The top court expressed anguish at the farmer unions and also the self-appointed critics for maligning the reputation of some of the brilliant minds in agriculture who were on the court-appointed committee. The Chief Justice said, "no one has any right to call the experts in the committee biased or prejudiced." He queried "how do you say the members of the committee are biased and hence disqualified?"

The top court emphasised that it has not given any adjudication power to the members of the committee, instead it has been formed to listen to the grievances of the farmer unions against the farm laws and then the committee will submit a report to the court. The Chief Justice asked "How can this make them biased?" Thousands of farmers are protesting against the three controversial farm laws since November at various Delhi borders. The farmer unions have refused to go before the Supreme Court-appointed committee, alleging that its members have a "pro-farm laws" opinion.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Ahead of the tenth round of talks between the Centre and agitating farmers, Congress leader on Wednesday urged the ruling dispensation to start afresh and keep the past aside.

Nine rounds of talks have taken place between the government and agitating farmer unions without any concrete resolution, while the tenth round is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

"'Start on a clean slate' is the only way forward," Chidambaram tweeted.

"The government should offer to begin afresh and hold talks on what needs to be done and what needs to be avoided," he said.

The Congress leader also wondered how one could expect a positive outcome when the government refuses to keep the past aside.

"How can we expect any positive outcome when government refuses to keep the past aside and start on a clean state," he said on Twitter.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting on Delhi borders for almost two months against the Centre's three new farm laws enacted in September last year.

The farmers have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

(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.)
Trump Orders Declassification of Some Crossfire Hurricane Documents

President Donald Trump has ordered the declassification of previously confidential documents related to Crossfire Hurricane, the FBIs investigation of his 2016 campaign.

The move comes on his last night in office.

The materials were not immediately made known to the public.

The Department of Justice provided the White House on Dec. 30, 2020, with a binder of materials related to the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane investigation, portions of which were classified and not released to Congress or the public, Trump said in a memorandum for the attorney general, the director of National Intelligence, and the director of the CIA.

I requested the documents so that a declassification review could be performed and so I could determine to what extent materials in the binder should be released in unclassified form, Trump said in the memo. I determined that the materials in that binder should be declassified to the maximum extent possible.

Trump said that the FBI, in a response letter on Jan. 17, noted its continuing objection to any further declassification of the materials in the binder and also, on the basis of a review that included Intelligence Community equities, identified the passages that it believed it was most crucial to keep from public disclosure.

I have determined to accept the redactions proposed for continued classification by the FBI in that January 17 submission, Trump said. I hereby declassify the remaining materials in the binder. This is my final determination under the declassification review and I have directed the Attorney General to implement the redactions proposed in the FBIs January 17 submission and return to the White House an appropriately redacted copy.

The president added, My decision to declassify materials within the binder is subject to the limits identified above and does not extend to materials that must be protected from disclosure pursuant to orders of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and does not require the disclosure of certain personally identifiable information or any other materials that must be protected from disclosure under applicable law. Accordingly, at my direction, the Attorney General has conducted an appropriate review to ensure that materials provided in the binder may be disclosed by the White House in accordance with applicable law.

The FBIs Crossfire Hurricane counterintelligence investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign was launched in July 2016 to investigate allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, including possible links between Russia and any political campaigns.

The investigation was taken over in May 2017 by then-special counsel and former FBI Director Robert Mueller. By April 2019, he concluded that the investigation found no evidence to establish that Trump or his campaign had knowingly conspired or coordinated with the Russian government to sway the outcome of the election, although the Russian government was found to have interfered in the 2016 election.
Libyan envoys at UN-backed talks in Egypt agreed Wednesday to hold a constitutional referendum before planned elections in the war-torn country later this year, Egypt's foreign ministry said.

Egypt "welcomes the agreement reached today between the Libyan parties in Hurghada in the framework of the constitutional process... and appreciates the efforts that led to the agreement to hold a referendum on the draft constitution in view of the Libyan elections scheduled for December 24, 2021," the ministry said in a statement.

New talks will be held in Egypt next month with a view to settling the "road map for the referendum and elections", it added.

Oil-rich Libya has been torn apart by civil war since the NATO-backed uprising that ousted long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with an array of militias filling the vacuum and civilian bodies struggling to impose their authority.

The UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) is based in the capital, while a House of Representatives which does not recognise the Tripoli administration is based in the east.

A fragile ceasefire between the two sides, agreed in Geneva last October, has largely held despite threats by eastern military strongman Khalifa Haftar to resume fighting.

In the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada, members of the commission drafting a future constitution met with delegations from the House of Representatives and the Tripoli-based High Council of State, which advises the GNA.

The meeting was held to "discuss the constitutional arrangements necessary for the holding of elections on December 24," according to the UN.

In November, elected Libyan officials called for a constitution to be approved prior to holding national elections, but did not challenge the date of the polls.

Short link:


U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and Donna Brazile dont see eye-to-eye on much.

We dont even agree on who should be playing on the Saints offensive line, said Brazile, a former chairperson of the Democratic National Committee who is originally from Kenner.

But Scalise, of Jefferson, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives, has invited Brazile to attend Wednesdays inaugural ceremony as his guest, when Joe Biden will take the oath to become the 46th president under tight security in Washington, D.C.

I thought it would be a good show of unity, said Scalise. Its important we all focus on trying to bring the country back together. We all need to play a role in trying to achieve that.

Im so honored to be a part of this history, Brazile said, referring to Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, becoming the first female vice president. The theme of this occasion is America United, and together we will witness the peaceful transfer of power.

Because of the pandemic, each member of Congress is allowed to invite only one guest.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy is attending with his wife, Laura, according to a spokesman.

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy is going solo, an aide said.

U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, of Baton Rouge, was not planning to attend, a spokesman said. His father, John, died on Saturday.

U.S. Reps. Clay Higgins, of Lafayette, and Mike Johnson, of Benton, did not respond to queries on Tuesday on whether they are attending the Inauguration and with whom.

Besides Scalise, Cassidy, Kennedy, Graves, Higgins and Johnson all are Republicans.

Two seats are vacant in Louisianas eight-member congressional delegation.

The seat for the 2nd Congressional District, which covers New Orleans and Jefferson Parish and extends to Baton Rouge, is open following the resignation of U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, a Democrat, who will serve in the Biden White House.

The seat for Louisianas 5th Congressional District, which sprawls from Monroe through Alexandria and Opelousas to Bogalusa, is vacant following the death of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow last month from COVID-19 complications.

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Gov. John Bel Edwards is traveling to Washington to attend the inauguration and noted that 174 Louisiana National Guard troops would add to the security.

This ceremony will mark a chance for a fresh start, new energy and bold leadership to overcome the many significant challenges facing our country, Edwards said in a statement, which also noted he had worked closely with President Donald Trump and his administration.

Brazile reached out to Scalise several weeks ago to see if he would invite her.

She said she and Scalise have long been friends, and noted she has maintained good relations with Republicans throughout her career, even while chairing the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 presidential election and managing the presidential campaign of then-Vice President Al Gore when he narrowly lost to George W. Bush in 2000.

Brazile said she strongly disagreed with Scalises votes on Jan. 6 not to certify Bidens electors  hours after a mob of Trump followers ransacked the U.S. Capitol and threatened lawmakers  and his vote against impeaching Trump. But she said they know how to put aside their differences to work together.

Hes still in leadership, Brazile said of Scalise. Democrats have a slim majority. In order to get anything done, we still have to reach across the aisle, not only on behalf of my beloved home state but also my country. We know each other. We respect each other. Were both proud grads of LSU. Were both right now still grieving the loss of the Saints [on Sunday]. We talk sports. We talk family. We never let politics get in the way of checking in with each other. Im so honored to be a part of this history.

Said Scalise: The challenge is over, the certification [of electors] is over. Joe Biden won the election and is going to be sworn in tomorrow.

Brazile said she would go straight from the inauguration to Fox News' studios to offer commentary on the event. She is a paid commentator for the network.

How Louisiana's U.S. House members voted on the second impeachment of Donald Trump The U.S. House impeached President Donald Trump on Wednesday for instigating last weeks rampage at the U.S. Capitol to try to overturn his el

Also attending will be Marc Morial, who served as New Orleans mayor from 1994-2002 and is now president and CEO of the National Urban League in New York. He said he has known Biden and Harris for years.

"Its about being there to be supportive," Morial said. "And it's about being there to send a message after Jan. 6 that we will not be afraid and not be intimidated in a very important part of democracy, the peaceful transfer of power, which the rioters and insurrectionists tried to interfere with. This is a new start for the nation."

Former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat who overlapped with Biden for nearly half of her 18 years in the Senate, will be there. Landrieu splits her time between Washington and New Orleans. She didn't respond to a text.

John Breaux, who served as a Democrat with Biden in the Senate from 1987 to 2005, said he will watch the proceedings on TV from his Washington home.

Breaux noted with approval that U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader from Kentucky, will attend church on Wednesday morning with Biden, a former Senate colleague.

Its a sign of being willing to work with both sides of the aisle, Breaux said, and recognize that Biden will be the president over the next four years.
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By Richard Bradford

Bloomsbury. 272 pp. $30

- - -

Patricia Highsmith is a tricky subject for biography, though British academic Richard Bradford is the third in 18 years to try. Tricky, because Highsmith's behavior could be as creepy and unsettling as that of the protagonists in her most famous novels, "Strangers on a Train" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley." She liked to seduce married women or lesbians in committed relationships, and she was flagrantly unfaithful to all her lovers. She was an unrepentant alcoholic, drunk from morning till night, who once toppled into the candles on a dinner table and lay there, her hair on fire, while nearby guests tried to smother the flames. She was a vicious anti-Semite who flirted with Holocaust denial and declared that Jews "love to be hated." She was weirdly fascinated by snails and carried around hundreds of them in her handbag, once opening it at a party to declare that the snails were her "companions for the evening."

There is something compelling about a person so totally indifferent to social norms, but can you make readers care about her?

Bradford doesn't, in contrast to his predecessors. Andrew Wilson aimed to be Highsmith's "imaginary empathetic friend" in "Beautiful Shadow" (2003), to the point of being unduly credulous about the diaries in which she fabricated and altered events in her life. Joan Schenkar, though more critical in "The Talented Miss Highsmith" (2009), displayed considerable affection for the writer in an unusual, thematically organized biography. Bradford appears to dislike Highsmith, characterizing her as a sexual predator and repetitively referring to her "self-loathing." He admires a number of her novels - in particular, the pioneering lesbian love story "The Price of Salt," so radical in 1952 that Highsmith's agent advised her to publish it under a pseudonym - but he goes beyond the consensus that her later novels were weak to describe them as "some of the most dreadful pieces of suspense fiction ever to go into print."

The merit of Bradford's book, for those who can slog through all the sordid details and judgmental appraisals, is the substantive argument he makes that Highsmith deliberately courted emotional violence in her life as fuel for her fiction. She sought out affairs that required subterfuge and lies, then sabotaged them with open infidelities. Bradford repeatedly makes connections between diary entries in which Highsmith chronicles mingled feelings of love and hate for her current partner and the murderous acts she invents for her characters. For Highsmith, he argues, "her real life and its fictional counterpart [were] aspects of the same narrative."

The most intriguing example he offers occurred while Highsmith was working on "Strangers on a Train." She embarked on one of her occasional heterosexual affairs with English novelist Marc Brandel, even going so far as to promise to marry him, and went into therapy with a psychoanalyst who, like all good Freudians in the 1940s, aimed to "cure" her homosexuality. Bradford argues persuasively that Highsmith never intended to marry Brandel and thought her analyst was an idiot. She was manipulating them both, he writes, "because they embodied normality ... She wanted to establish a tension, a dynamic between the world of conventional inclinations and morals and a life of perpetual deviancy." This was fodder for the twisted connection of Bruno and Guy in "Strangers on a Train."

Bradford provides similarly interesting exegeses of autobiographical echoes in other Highsmith novels, but this generally valuable material gets lost in an endless parade of lovers and equally endless litany of Highsmith's appalling personal conduct. Glaringly absent is substantive analysis of the writer's tortured bond with her mother, Mary, to which Bradford devotes perfunctory attention in a brief chapter on her childhood and declines to evaluate in a peculiarly noncommittal three-page account of Mary's cataclysmic 1964 visit to her daughter in London. He dismisses as "huckster psychology" the idea that Highsmith's obsession with betrayal and deception stemmed from being left with her grandparents for a year when she was 12, while her mother reconciled with the stepfather she had promised to divorce. But Bradford fails to offer an alternative interpretation and later quotes without comment the assessment of a lover that "something in her early days" made Highsmith "totally incapable of any kind of relationship." Such remarks suggest that this primal bond deserves more thorough appraisal than it receives here.

Later chapters become a depressing catalogue of bad books and bad health, as Highsmith retreated to Switzerland and became more and more of a recluse. She died on Feb. 4,1995, age 74; the last person to see her alive was her accountant. It's characteristic of this intelligent but alienating text, which works better as literary criticism than biography, that Bradford feels no need to display any compassion for such a sad, lonely end.

- - -

Smith is the author of "Real Life Drama: The Group Theatre and America, 1931-1940."
ORISTANO, JAN 20 - Prosecutors in the northern Sardinian city of Oristano on Wednesday opened Italy's first-ever citizen's advice bureau in a language spoken by a minority, Sardinian. The move is part of a project named, in Sardinian, "Sa lege est aguale pro totus", or "This law is equal for all". Oristano Chief Prosecutor Ezio Domenico Basso told ANSA he hoped the service would be extended to other kinds of offices in future. He said translators from Italian into Sardinian and vice versa had often been needed in local trials. "We are very happy that the advice bureau has now been launched", Basso said. (ANSA).
The Narrowband PLC Chipset Market is forecast to reach $457.2million by 2025, estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2020 to 2025. Narrowband PLC Chipset Market is primarily driven by the growing demand of smart grid and Plug-in electric vehicle. Due the introduction of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The NB PLC chips sets are widely used in smart grid, which is going to boost the NB PLC chip set market. Additionally the use of NB PLC chip set in various others application such as health monitoring, solar panel, light control, is going to provide huge growth to NB PLC chipset market. Moreover the use of NB PLC in measuring the power transferred and State of electric vehicle and the grid is going to boost the NB PLC chip set in automotive Industry

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Key Takeaways

The increasing demand of smart grid is driving the growth of narrowband PLC chipset Market. The PLC chip set helps in real-time measurements, monitoring and control of the generation, which is going to provide huge growth to NB PLC chip set market.

The use of NB PLC chip set in measuring the power transfer between the grid and electric vehicle is going to provide huge growth to NB PLC chipset market.

Highly adoption of smart grid, due to availability of resources is going to boost the NB PLC chipset market in Europe. The countries such as Germany, France are promoting smart grid by imposing new regulations, which is going to provide huge Narrowband PLC Chipset Market in this region.

Application- Segment Analysis Micro-Inverter Systems





The application of Narrowband Power Line Communication (PLC) Chipset in Micro inverter Systemic estimated to provide huge growth to Narrowband PLC Chipset Market during the forecast period. The narrow band PLC chipsets are widely used in Micro inverter Systems no additional connectors and cables needed to enable module-based monitoring, which is going to provide huge growth to NB PLC chip set market .Moreover the increasing use of low voltage (LV), due to rise in Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems is going to provide huge growth to NB-PLC market.





End User- Segment Analysis





Power & energy followed by automotive industry is expected to hold the major market share of Narrowband Power Line Communication (PLC) Chipset during the forecast period. The increasing use of Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) systems in smart grid systems is going to provide huge growth to NB PLC market. The growing demand of AMI systems is going to provide huge growth to NB PLC chipset market. The NB PLC chipset plays major role in increased meter reading accuracy, easier energy theft detection and Others Additionally, NB PLC provides security and guarantees authentication in electric vehicles. The physical association of NB PLC between the vehicle and the supply equipment is going to provide huge growth to Narrowband PLC Chipset Market in Automotive industry.





Geography - Segment Analysis





The Narrowband PLC Chipset Market is dominated by Europe and it is expected to grow at 11.5% during the forecast period. The increasing use of smart grid is going to provide huge growth to NB PLC chip set market in this region. The countries such as France, Spain, U.K and others are imposing strict timeline for the deployment of smart meters, which is going boost the NB PLC chip set market. Additionally in countries such as Germany, is providing ability to monitor and control their electrical appliances in real time with the help of Google and Digital storm which is going to NB PLC chip set market.





Drivers  Narrowband PLC Chipset Market

Increasing Demand AMI Systems

The increasing demand of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)is one of the driving factors Narrowband PLC Chipset Market. NB PLC is widely used in AMI as it utilizes the existing power line network for communication media between smart meters and Data Collector Units (DCU). The NB PLC chip set provides several benefits such as automatic meter reading (AMR), demand side response, and distribution automation, this is going to boost NB PLC chip set market.

Increasing Demand of Electric Vehicle

The onboard communication is one of the major problem faced in electric vehicle, NB PLC helps in overcoming such problems, by utilizing DC power line as a physical medium to exchange messages, according to standard protocol, which is providing huge growth to NB PLC chip set market. NB PLC chipset helps in monitoring the state of grid and electric vehicle. Additionally NB PLC chip set also used in measuring the power transferred between the electric vehicle and the grid. Hence the increasing demand of electric vehicles is going to boost the PLC chip set market.





Challenges  Narrowband PLC Chipset Market

Signal Attenuation

The signal attenuation is acting as one of major hindrance in the growth of Narrowband PLC chip set market. The power distribution transformer causes high signal attenuation, due to location of Power line communication devices in low voltage side and medium voltage side. Additionally the unwanted signals (noise) increases in narrowband due to amplitude modulation, is restricting the growth of NB PLC chip set market.





Market Landscape





Launches, joint venture and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the Narrowband PLC Chipset Market. Narrowband PLC Chipset Market is expected to be dominated by major companies such CHAdeMO, Cypress, ABB, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics and other.





Innovations/Launches
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  There was confusion and panic among New York City parents this weekend, after the city Department of Education (DOE) posted incorrect registration deadlines for the specialized high school exam, according to the New York Post.

The DOE incorrectly shared that the deadline for the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) was Feb. 23, according to the New York Post. Until then, the DOE stated, students could change their school preference order for the eight specialized high schools and resubmit SHSAT registration.

However, testing for the SHSAT is slated to begin on Jan. 27  putting the February registration deadline well past the exam date, according to The Post.

The agency said the error was the result of a coding issue and appeared online from late Friday until Monday afternoon when it was fixed, the New York Post reported. The February deadline only applies to LaGuardia High School auditions, and not the test-based specialized high schools.

The original deadline to apply for the SHSAT was Friday, Jan. 15.

The DOE later wrote on its website that registration has been extended to Jan. 28  still a day after testing starts. This led to more confusion among parents on Tuesday, the media outlet reported.

The DOE reiterated to The Post that the primary testing date remains Jan. 27 for city public school kids.

The Jan. 28 deadline referred to secondary SHSAT dates for charter and private school students, the agency told the New York Post.

We have a dedicated team ready to answer any questions families may have about admissions and apologize for any confusion, DOE spokesperson Katie OHanlon said, according to the media outlet.

REGISTERING FOR EXAM

Students are offered admission to the eight specialized high schools based on their score on the SHSAT.

These schools are: Staten Island Technical High School in New Dorp; Stuyvesant High School; Bronx High School of Science; Brooklyn Latin School; Brooklyn Technical High School; High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College; High School for American Studies at Lehman College; and Queens High School for Sciences at York College.

Heres how to register, according to the DOE: Families should log into their MySchools account and click Get Started. Then click the SHSAT tab. List any and all of these schools in preference order, starting with the top choice as number one. Submit the registration for the test.

Families can apply through a virtual Family Welcome Center  the Staten Island centers email is PetridesFWC@schools.nyc.gov. Applications can also be submitted by calling the Parent Support Line at P311. Just say schools to be routed to the proper person.

After taking the SHSAT, students will be considered for admission to the specialized high schools.

For the one audition specialized high school, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, families should apply by registering their child to audition by Feb. 23, then submitting the audition materials. The SHSAT is not used for admission to LaGuardia.

Families should log into their MySchools account and click Get Started. Then click the LaGuardia tab. There are six programs at LaGuardia High School, and students can audition for just one program, all six, or anything in between. Submit the registration to audition by March 1.

All high school auditions will take place virtually.

Applicants will submit audition files through a new Virtual Audition Submission Tool, which is not yet open. The DOE will notify schools and families when it is accessible. Updated requirements for audition programs are available on the DOEs High School Auditions page and will be posted in the MySchools directory in the coming weeks.

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Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. Hot. High 92F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low near 70F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
Provided by AmeriCorps

Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of only two Americans whose birthdays are celebrated as a national holiday.

King, who was born on Jan. 15, 1928, is celebrated the third Monday of January and its tradition to mark it with a day of service. Thats how AmeriCorps, formerly known as Runningwater Draw RSVP, volunteers spent their holiday.
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Patna, Jan 20 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has slammed the Bihar Police for looking for a scapegoat to save "actual culprits" in the Indigo station manager Rupesh Singh murder case following Bihar DGP S.K. Singhal's remarks.

The top police officer had said Singh's murder is connected to Patna airport parking contract.

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar following Singhal's statement, Tejashwi tweeted "the Home Minister (Nitish also holds the home portfolio) has floated tenders that are supposed to save people on top posts in the government".

Meanwhile, Jan Adhikar Party leader Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav said "a game is on to save actual culprits" and Bihar Police is trying to scuttle the investigation in the case by drawing a connection with the airport parking.

"Do not sale your conscience Mr. DGP. Everything is achievable but not peace. You are also having kids," Pappu Yadav tweeted.

Lok Janshakti Party chief Chirag Paswan also claimed the DGP did not pick his phone calls. Paswan also went to the native village of the deceased in Saran district to console his family.

Singhal had earlier claimed that dispute over the contract of airport parking could be the reason behind Rupesh Singh's murder and the conspirators have hired contract killers from outside the state to eliminate him.

Singh was gunned down by unknown assailants at Punaichak area in Patna on January 12.

The DGP has assured though that the Bihar Police will crack the case soon.

Beshear to Co-Chair Panel on Economic Recovery

By West Kentucky Star Staff

FRANKFORT - The National Governors Association (NGA) announced on Wednesday that Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will lead a bipartisan task force to guide states in their economic recovery and revitalization efforts amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to be asked by the NGA to work on this crucially important issue," the Governor said. "This global health crisis has upended economies the world over, and there isn't a state or territory in the United States that has been spared from its devastating impacts. Here in Kentucky, we have worked to protect our economy and to prime it for success in the coming post-COVID era. I'm looking forward to sharing what we've learned, studying lessons others have to offer and exploring new ways to keep America's workforce and businesses thriving."

Gov. Beshear will co-chair the NGA's Economic Recovery and Revitalization task force along with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. The NGA created two other panels  Pandemic and Disaster Response and Community Renewal  which also are chaired by two governors from differing political parties.

The Economic Recovery and Revitalization panel Beshear will lead is tasked with guiding states on issues including energy, environment, infrastructure, land management, state stabilization and taxes.

Along with helping states and territories make informed decisions to recover from the COVID-19 economic impacts, the task force also will help the NGA focus its efforts as it advocates for governors and states at the federal level.
Courtesy: Rare Beauty

Texas native Selena Gomez was seen on the set of filming Hulu's new series 'Only Murders in the Building' in New York City on Tuesday morning, according to Daily Mail.

The 28-year-old actress will star alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short as they play three strangers obsessed with true crime while working together to solve a murder in their New York City apartment, described on the Hulu website.
NASHVILLE  The Tennessee Equine Health Advisory Commission will meet Jan. 22, 2021 at 3 p.m. CST.

In accordance with Governor Bill Lees Executive Order 71, the Tennessee Equine Health Advisory Commission 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 a report and prioritization of equine issues in the state.

The Tennessee Equine Health Advisory Commission studies the state of equine health, emerging health concerns, and other equine industry issues the commission deems relevant. The commission consists of nine members and is attached to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes.

WebEx instructions:

Click to join the meeting.

Or enter the URL in your browser:

https://tngov.webex.com/tngov/j.php?MTID=m1ce225c46ccbc64a05847f7b14f09940

Enter your name and email and click Join.

The meeting password is 5MNd5BJuFn9.

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 178 437 7678.

AGENDA

Welcome  Dr. Monty McInturff, Chair Roll Call  Matt Smith, Secretary New Business - Equine Issues Report and Ranking of Importance by the Commission

Discussion Adjourn

Video of Tennessee Equine Health Advisory Commission meeting


Democrats officially took control of the Senate on Wednesday when Vice President Kamala Harris swore in three new members after she took her own oath of office, giving her party control of the White House and Congress.

Harris delivered the oath of office to the new Democratic senators: Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Alex Padilla, who replaced her representing the state of California.

She returned to Capital Hill almost five hours after she became the first female vice president to preside over the Senate for the first time. The vice president also serves as president of the Senate.

Senators gave her a round of applause as she sat in the presiding chair.

One of her first duties was to read into the record her resignation as a senator from California.

'Yeah, that was very weird,' she said. She then sworn in the new members, which made Senator Chuck Schumer of New York the new majority leader, giving him joint power in Congress with Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Afterward she told reporters on Capitol Hill it felt 'amazing' to sit in the presiding chair.

Democrats officially took control of the Senate on Wednesday when Vice President Kamala Harris swore in three new members after she took her own oath of office

Harris delivered the oath of office to the new Democratic senators: Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Alex Padilla, who replaced her representing the state of California

The three new Democratic senators make the Senate an even 50-50 split between the parties, but giving Democrats the majority with Harris able to cast the tie-breaking vote.

Harris also swore in Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont as the Senate president pro tempore, which means he's also fourth in line to presidency. Leahy acts as president of the Senate when Harris is not there.

'Today, America is turning over a new leaf. We are turning the page on the last four years, we're going to reunite the country, defeat COVID-19, rush economic relief to the people,' Ossoff told reporters at the Capitol. 'Thats what they sent us here to do.'

Ossoff, a former congressional aide and investigative journalist, and Warnock, a pastor from the late Martin Luther King Jr.'s church in Atlanta, won run-off elections in Georgia on January 5th, defeating two Republicans. Padilla was tapped by California Governor Gavin Newsom to finish the remainder of Harris' term.

Warnock is Georgia's first black senator. Padilla is California's first Latino senator.

Taken together, their arrival gives Democrats for the first time in a decade control of the Senate, the House and the White House, as Biden faces the unparalleled challenges of the COVID-19 crisis and its economic fallout, and the nation's painful political divisions from the deadly Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol by a mob loyal to Donald Trump.

The pandemic has claimed 400,000 American lives, and Biden is proposing a $1.9 trillion recovery package to distribute vaccines and shore up an economy struggling from the virus shutdowns. At the same time, the Senate is about to launch an impeachment trial of Trump, charged by the House of inciting the insurrection at the Capitol as rioters tried to interrupt the Electoral College tally and overturn Biden's election. The Senate will need to confirm Biden's Cabinet nominees as launches the new administration.

Yet as Washington looks to turn the page from Trump to the Biden administration, Republican leader Mitch McConnell is not relinquishing power without a fight.

McConnell is is refusing to enter a power-sharing agreement with Senate Democrats unless they meet his demands, chiefly to preserve the Senate filibuster - the procedural tool often used by the minority party to block bills under rules that require 60 votes to advance legislation.

It's an arcane fight McConnell has inserted into what has traditionally been a more routine organizing resolution, but a power play by the outgoing Republican leader grabbing at tools that can be used to block Biden's agenda.

Vice President Kamala Harris presides over the Senate for the first time

Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York is the new majority leader

Progressive and liberal Democrats are eager to do away with the filibuster to more quickly advance Biden's priorities, but not all rank-and-file Senate Democrats are on board and new Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not agreed to any changes.

Instead, Schumer has proposed an organizing resolution modeled after a 2001 agreement reached between the two leaders the last time the chamber was evenly divided. It allowed equal representation on committees, shared resources for offices and other needs and made no mention of filibuster changes at all.

Talks have hit a stalemate, leaving Senate action uncertain.

Biden has said he wants Congress to press ahead on all fronts, confirming his nominees and considering his legislative priorities, but also holding the former president responsible during the impeachment trial.

Thats a tall order for a Senate under normal circumstances, but even more so now in the post-Trump era, with Republicans badly split between their loyalties to the defeated president and wealthy donors who are distancing themselves from Republicans who back Trump.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to soon transmit to the Senate the House-passed article of impeachment against Trump, charged with incitement of insurrection, a step that will launch the Senate impeachment trial.

It will take unanimous consent among senators to toggle between conducting votes on legislative business and serving as jurors in the impeachment trial. The House last week impeached Trump for having sent the mob to the Capitol to 'fight like hell' during the tally of Electoral College votes to overturn Bidens election.

In his own final acts as majority leader, McConnell made a break with Trump, blaming the defeated president for having 'provoked' the mob. But he also said Bidens election was not a 'referendum' on the new presidents agenda but a mixed result, even as he lost control of the Senate.
Meal-kit service Hello Fresh has told customers here it will deliver directly from its production facility after problems following the introduction of the NI Protocol.

Hello Fresh makes weekly deliveries to households of enough ingredients to make set meals for a certain number of days.

But food products of animal origin are subject to checks as they arrive under the terms of the protocol between the EU and UK to avoid a hard border in Ireland following Brexit.

One customer has said they have had no deliveries from Hello Fresh over the last two weeks. In an email, the company told the customer: "Like many food retailers and suppliers we have experienced some disruption to our distribution into Northern Ireland due to the new requirements.

"We are working with our delivery partners to do everything we can to continue deliveries wherever possible. Whilst it is largely outside our control, we want to apologise to you, our customers, that have not received their deliveries due to these ongoing issues.

"To help improve the service and deliveries scheduled for next week, we have organised a direct delivery from our UK production facility.

"This will help mitigate further disruptions to your deliveries. We recognise the inconvenience caused."

Another customer said he had received one meal delivery over the last two weeks. He said: "Two weeks ago the delivery window kept moving a day at a time and in the end didn't come at all. Last week the delivery moved back a day twice. It looked like it wasn't going to come again and then surprisingly it did arrive."

Earlier this month the company told the Belfast Telegraph it was "in discussions with third party couriers to investigate delivery delays and are working tirelessly to resolve the situation swiftly".

Meanwhile, Dunelm has said issues hitting deliveries here have been resolved. It said it had also reached a longer-term arrangement to operate after a three-month grace period for customer parcel deliveries expires at the start of April.

But department store chain John Lewis said: "We paused deliveries and collections in Northern Ireland at the end of December while we awaited further guidance on the new trading arrangements.

"Along with our carriers, we are currently working through the complexity of the new requirements and hope to resume the service as soon as possible."
Over 750 Soldiers and Airmen with the Tennessee National Guard are part of a 25,000 member National Guard task force supporting the 59th Presidential Inauguration and assisting with security for the U.S. Capitol and other Federal properties in Washington, D.C.

The Tennessee Army National Guard is providing over 700 Soldiers from the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment headquartered in Knoxville, the 194th Engineer Brigade headquartered in Jackson and the 230th Sustainment Brigade headquartered in Chattanooga. These soldiers are assisting civil law enforcement and first responders with crowd management and security for the event.

In addition to the soldiers providing support, roughly 50 airmen with the Tennessee Air National Guard are supporting the inauguration with logistical, communications, food service and religious support. The airmen are from Nashvilles 118th Wing, Knoxvilles 134th Air Refueling Wing and 119th Cyber Operations Squadron. These soldiers and airmen were transported via Tennessee Air National Guard aircraft from Memphiss 164th Airlift Wing and Knoxvilles 134th Air Refueling Wing.

The ability for the National Guard to rapidly alert, mobilize and deploy this size of formation from all 54 states and territories in less than a week is unprecedented and a testament to the commitment to duty of our citizen soldiers, said Major General Jeff Holmes, Tennessees Adjutant General. Furthermore, it demonstrates we are an apolitical organization that is responsive to the needs of our nation in whatever mission is directed by our civilian authorities.

The current number of soldiers and airmen assigned to missions inside and outside the state represent less than 10 percent of available Tennessee National Guard.

The support to our nations capital will not reduce in any way the COVID response support we are currently providing to the Department of Health nor our ability to support other missions within our great statethis is why our more than 12,000 soldiers and airmen wear the uniform, said Major General Holmes.
However, when it came time for him to testify he said he couldnt remember certain information and alleged he was testifying under duress in that members of his family had been threatened by representatives of various government agencies, including drug enforcement and the Internal Revenue Service, records showed.
[January 20, 2021] First Patients Tested with InVisionFirst-Lung in EORTC Sponsored Phase II NSCLC Study

First Patients Tested with InVisionFirst-Lung in EORTC Sponsored Phase II NSCLC Study Inivatas InVisionFirst-Lung is being used for ctDNA testing and monitoring of

patients treated with lorlatinib Study supported by a grant from Pfizer Inc. Research Triangle Park, NC, USA and Cambridge, UK, 20 January 2021  Inivata, a leader in liquid biopsy, today announces that the first patients have been tested using InVisionFirst-Lung as part of the Phase II ALKALINE trial sponsored by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). As part of the study Inivatas InVisionFirst-Lung liquid biopsy will be used to test and monitor ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients initiating treatment with lorlatinib, Pfizer Inc.s third generation ALK inhibitor therapy. The aim of this academic trial, announced in 2019 and being supported by Pfizer, is to examine the resistance to lorlatinib in ALK positive NSCLC patients. While in the past these patients were known to respond well to ALK inhibition therapies, such as lorlatinib, drug resistance in patients has been increasing. This trial is designed to provide insights for clinicians and researchers to better understand resistance mechanisms, and to analyze the correlation between ALK resistance mutational profile and response to lorlatinib. A total of 100 patients will be involved in two study designs run in parallel across 30 participating EORTC sites across Europe. The Phase II study is a single arm, multicenter study. InVisionFirst-Lung will be used to provide data on ALK mutational profile following progression to second generation TKIs, prior to lorlatinib treatment. This mutational profile will be correlated with lorlatinib treatment outcome after 12 months. In addition, each patients response to lorlatinib treatment at te point of disease progression will be monitored using ctDNA profiling for new ALK mutations or other resistance mechanisms. This study will help clinicians to understand which patient populations are more likely to benefit from lorlatinib treatment and may also inform further treatment strategies.



InVisionFirst-Lung is also being used to provide longitudinal assessment for the sub-study selection of patients through the detection of molecular resistance at the time of disease progression to second generation TKIs. This will inform on the time of emergence of ALK and other resistance mutations and the relevance of liquid biopsy monitoring for clinical outcomes. Clive Morris, Chief Executive Officer of Inivata, commented: This is a positive step forward in our collaboration with the EORTC, as we work together to unlock insights which will help us improve patient treatment in cases of drug resistance, an increasing global health challenge. Inivatas involvement in this study highlights the value of the InVision platform in optimizing patient recruitment in trials and providing rapid and repeatable genomic insights to researchers, and more broadly supports the utilization of liquid biopsy technology in clinical settings.

Laura Mezquita, MD PhD, Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, and co-PI of ALKALINE trial, commented: It is of vital importance that clinicians gain a better understanding of the patterns of resistance to drug therapies in cancer treatment, where time is of the essence in ensuring the best outcomes for patients. We hope that this study will not only provide insights on how to adjust existing treatment regimens to make them more effective for patients, but could also assist in the development of combination treatments, which would prevent this build-up of resistance in the first place. Professor Anne-Marie Dingemans, MD PhD, Professor of Pulmonology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam and Senior PI of ALKALINE trial, said: Using Inivatas InVisionFirst-Lung liquid biopsy in this trial will enable us to test and closely monitor patients throughout the course of the study with high confidence in the accuracy of the data. By learning which patients are more responsive to lorlatinib, we hope that the findings of this study will be able to help clinicians to make better informed decisions for their patients. About Inivata

Inivata is a leader in liquid biopsy. Its InVision platform unlocks essential genomic information from a simple blood draw to guide and personalize cancer treatment, monitor response and detect relapse. Inivatas technology is based on pioneering research from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge. Its lead product, InVisionFirst-Lung is commercially available internationally and through NeoGenomics in the US. It offers competitive sensitivity and turnaround, providing molecular insights that enable clinicians to make more informed treatment decisions for advanced NSCLC patients. Inivata has also launched the personalized RaDaR assay  allowing the highly sensitive detection of residual disease and recurrence. Inivata is partnering with pharmaceutical, biotechnology companies and commercial partners in a range of early and late stage cancer development programs. The Company has a CLIA certified, CAP accredited laboratory in Research Triangle Park, NC and R&D laboratories in Cambridge, UK. For more information, please go to www.inivata.com . Follow Inivata on Twitter @Inivata. About EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer)

European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer conducts clinical research in cancer, defining new standards of practice for better treatment and care of cancer patients. EORTC network comprises more than 5300 multidisciplinary collaborators in more than 930 hospitals and institutions in 37 countries. For more information, visit www.eortc.org . Media Contacts:

Consilium Strategic Communications

Chris Gardner/Angela Gray/Sarah Wilson

inivata@consilium-comms.com +44 (0)20 3709 5700, +1 516 503 0271 Karen Chandler-Smith

karen.chandler-smith@inivata.com +44 (0)7900 430235



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Boston Mayor Martin Walshs status as labor secretary nominee for the forthcoming Biden administration means the states largest city will likely have a new mayor a year from now, and its not the only one.

While Walshs expected departure for the national stage creates the most high-profile opening, a handful of other mayors have also announced plans to move on instead of running for re-election this year, setting up open contests for their seats.

Like Walsh, former Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera was set to serve until 2022 but was tapped for a new job. Rivera, first elected in 2013, stepped down on Jan. 8 to become the CEO of MassDevelopment.

Kendrys Vasquez, who had been president of the Lawrence City Council, is now leading the city as its acting mayor, and a home-rule petitionGov. Charlie Baker signed on Jan. 7 waived the requirement that the city hold a special election to fill Riveras term before voters pick a new, full-term mayor in November. Boston city councilors are mulling the possibility of pursuing similar legislation.

Also north of Boston, Newburyport Mayor Donna Holaday told the Newburyport Daily News on Jan. 6 that her third term would be her last, saying the timing felt right after accomplishing many of her desired projects.

Two western Massachusetts mayors -- Northamptons David Narkewicz and Holyokes Alex Morse -- said the time has come for someone new to move into the role, after a decade each in office.

When I was first elected, I expressed the desire to serve for ten years at most a enough time, I thought, to get some key goals across the finish line, and to secure a legacy we could be proud of, Morse, who challenged U.S. Rep. Richard Neal in last Septembers Democratic primary, said in a Dec. 1 statement. I firmly believe that our democracy works best when we create space for more voices and perspectives to influence the public sphere.

Narkewicz said that after more than 20 years in elected and appointed municipal posts, he now wants to step back and let other community members bring their ideas and energy forward to address the important issues and challenges facing our city.

City halls often hold allure for state lawmakers eyeing a new job, presenting an opportunity to stay in politics and public service but with a shorter commute and oftentimes a larger paycheck.

Nine former state lawmakers currently serve as mayors, including Weymouths Bob Hedlund and Melroses Paul Brodeur, both of whom are next up for election in 2023.

Seven legislators-turned-mayors are up for re-election this year: Shaunna OConnell of Taunton and Don Humason of Westfield, Republicans who resigned their respective House and Senate seats last term after successful mayoral campaigns; former Sen. Thomas McGee, Lynns mayor since 2018; Fitchburgs Stephen DiNatale, a House lawmaker from 2007-2016; Mike Cahill of Beverly, who served in the House from 1993 until an unsuccesful 2002 run for treasurer; and Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux, a former representative who told The Sun Chronicle last month hed probably seek a third term.

Walsh is also a former House lawmaker, and current House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz announced last week that he would not be among those vying to succeed Walsh as Bostons mayor.

Pre-established campaign accounts and name recognition can give lawmakers an edge in a mayoral bid, and odd-year municipal elections mean they can jump into a local race without putting their seats on the line.

The road between the State House and the mayors office also, at times, travels the other way: Rep. John Barrett spent 26 years as mayor of North Adams, leaving office in 2009 and then winning a special House election in 2017. When Eileen Donoghue left Beacon Hill in 2018 to become Lowells city manager, it was a recent mayor -- Ed Kennedy, whose fellow city councilors picked him for the post for the 2016-2017 term -- who succeeded her in the Senate.

Most of the cities with mayors will hold an election this fall. According to a Massachusetts Municipal Association list, elections are also set for Nov. 2 in Agawam, Amesbury, Brockton, Chicopee, Easthampton, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Gardner, Gloucester, Haverhill, Leominster, Marlborough, Medford, Methuen, Newton, North Adams, Peabody, Salem, Somerville, West Springfield, Woburn and Worcester.
The first dose of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine is less than half effective as some officials indicated, Israel's top infectious disease doctor claims.

Dr Nachman Ash, one of the medics leading the Covid-19 response in Israel - which is leading the world in the race to vaccinate its population - said the first installment of the jab did not cut infection rates as much as he had hoped.

He told local media Army Radio: 'Many people have been infected between the first and second injections of the vaccine.' It can take 10 days or more for the immunity to kick in.

Reports are sparse, but at least one American has been infected after his first dose of Pfizer's shot, and doctors expect it to happen with some regularity.

Immunity from the first dose kicks in within 12 to 14 days after it's given, rising to a peak then falling, and Israel is waiting the 21 days Pfizer and regulators recommended between doses. After a second dose, the shot is 95 percent effective.

In the UK, health officials are allowing second doses to be delayed up to 12 weeks - a plan being questioned amid Dr Ash's warnings. In the US, experts are still recommending both doses be given on time.

However, with second doses no longer reserved, no national stockpile of shots and states complaining of delayed shipments, some at-risk Americans who got their first doses may be left vulnerable and waiting for the second dose for days or weeks.

This week, Florida health officials revealed that more than 45,000 people who had gotten their first doses of COVID-19 doses were late for their second ones.

Dr Ash's comment comes after Britain's decision to prolong the gap between the first and second doses from three weeks to 12 weeks triggered anger among scientists.

Dr Anthony Fauci is among the US health officials who has been adamant that the US not adopt the UK strategy of delaying second doses to get first doses to more people.

But Americans may still be left waiting for their second doses, and the rollout of first doses is going painfully slowly.

One dose of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine is not meeting the hopes of Dr Nachman Ash, who says it is about half as effective as promised while the UK allows a 12-week gap between doses and the US depletes its stockpile of second shots (file)

Pfizer documents published by the FDA in the US show that rates of Covid-19 among people who receive the Pfizer vaccine (blue line) started to drop below that of an unvaccinated group (red line) about two weeks after the first dose

Dr Nachman Ash, one of the medics leading the Covid-19 response in Israel, pictured when he was the Israel Defence Forces' surgeon general

Only 16.3 million coronavirus shots have been given in the US, to just shy of five percent of the population, according to Bloomberg data tracking.

Releasing previously held-back second doses is intended to speed the US rollout, but could be counterproductive if second doses aren't available and people get infected in the meantime.

At least one nurse in San Diego, California, tested positive for COVID-19 eight days after getting his first dose of Pfizer's vaccine.

Doctors said it wasn't surprising because of the time it takes for the vaccine-triggered immune response to ramp up.

It was nonetheless a sobering reminder that the vaccine is not a 'one-and-done' shield from coronavirus.

Real-world data from Israel's world-beating rollout showed the first dose led to a 33 percent reduction in cases of coronavirus between 14 and 21 days afterwards in people who got the jab. Another of the country's top doctors said it was 'really good news'.

Of the 1.03 million people in Florida who have received at least one shot of the coronavirus vaccine, 45,056 are overdue for their second dose. Pictured: A medical worker administers a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Kathy Veltman at a COVID-19 vaccination site at the Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds in Plant City, Florida, January 13

Pfizer's own data estimates that the first dose prevents about 52 percent of infections.

But the figure is lower than the British regulator's estimate, which said it may prevent 89 percent of recipients from getting Covid-19 symptoms.

FDA, WHO AND PFIZER REFUSED TO APPROVE 12-WEEK DOSE GAP BECAUSE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE US officials - including the FDA and Dr Anthony Fauci - have rejected UK's strategy of leaving up to 12 weeks between doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The World Health Organization and Pfizer and BioNTech, which made the vaccine, refused to give their blessing to Britain's plan to space the two doses of of the jab by more than a month. Officials in the UK decided to use all available doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, which was the first to be approved, to get a single dose to as many people as possible. In the process they will leave people waiting up to 12 weeks, and potentially even longer, for their second jab. Covid cases started to fall around 12 days after people got their first dose in studies but, because everyone got a second shot just 10 days later, scientists don't know how long immunity from the initial jab would last. The WHO said this month that governments should be giving people their second dose within 21 to 28 days of having the first, to make sure the vaccine works long-term. But it did not attack Britain's decision not to do this, admitting the UK had been forced to make a difficult decision because of spiralling infections and deaths in recent weeks. One of the experts said they 'totally acknowledge that countries may see needs to be even more flexible in terms of the administration of the second dose'. In a meeting to discuss how doses are spaced out yesterday, WHO experts concluded that, with the Pfizer/BioNTech jab, people should get their second dose 21 to 28 days after the first, with an 'outer limit' of six weeks. This maximum limit is still only half as long as the UK plans to leave it, with hundreds of thousands of people being told they could have to wait three months. BioNTech said there was 'no data' to prove the UK's strategy would work, the Financial Times reported. Advertisement

An FDA analysis of Pfizer data showed that there were 82 percent fewer infections in the vaccine group after they got the shot compared to the placebo group and was 89 percent effective at preventing severe COVID-19 - perhaps where the British health officials got their figure.

However, the overall efficacy during the 21 days between shots one and two averaged out to closer to 50 percent, according to the FDA documents.

Concerns from Israel bolster US health officials insistence on giving both doses, which was criticized as another way for the nation to drag its heels on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

But Israel's data does not prove anything about possible impacts of the UK's controversial 12-week gap between doses.

The country does not give any more than three weeks between the first and second doses, during which time protection is expected to be minimal at best  and the vaccine is not intended to prevent infection, but severe disease and death.

Regardless of policy, Americans may be left waiting for second shots and underprotected any way.

New York, for example, is set to run out of doses completely by Thursday.

Another shipment is not expected until next week.

Fewer than 5.5 percent of the state's residents have had even one dose of vaccine - a rate that's about in line with the national average.

And while the first dose of Pfizer's vaccine may not be as effective as UK officials indicated, it's certainly more effective than none.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific advisor, defended the strategy, today said he would expect all vaccines to be less effective in the real world than in trials.

He added that Britain should look 'very carefully' at data during the vaccine rollout to see what effect its having.

Pfizer, a US pharmaceutical company refused to endorse Britain's decision to change the dosing schedule, saying there was no proof it would work.

Dr Ash suggests the level of protection after the first dose is even lower than the 52 percent claimed by Pfizer.

Vaccine regulators in the UK have told leaders there that Pfizer's jab appeared to work so well after a single jab that they questioned whether the second was necessary at all.

Dr Ash told Israeli media that the single dose was 'less effective than we thought' and 'lower than [data] presented by Pfizer', i24 News reported.

Israel has burst into the spotlight during the global Covid vaccine rollout because it is getting jabs out faster than any other country in the world.

It has vaccinated 2.7million people in its population of nine million, which is a greater proportion than anywhere else.

The country secured access to large amounts of Pfizer's vaccine by agreeing to provide data about its citizens for the company to track how well the jab works.

But Dr Ash now claims the vaccine didn't work as well after the first jab, despite the country pressing ahead with the recommended strategy of two doses within three weeks.

The fact that people aren't waiting more than three weeks for their second jab  like they are in the UK  means that Dr Ash would only have about one week's worth of data on which the vaccine could be expected to be effective.

Documents provided to the FDA in the US suggest that protection from the Pfizer jab didn't kick in until around two weeks after the first dose in clinical trials.

This appeared to be recreated in real-world data in Israel, where the positivity of coronavirus tests fell by 33 percent in a fortnight among people who were vaccinated.

Dr Balicer, a World Health Organization advisor and top doctor at Israel's largest medical provider, Clalit, said: 'We saw that there was no difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated until day 14 post-vaccination,' Sky News reports.

'But on day 14 post-vaccination, a drop of 33 percent in positivity was witnessed in the vaccinated group and not in the unvaccinated... this is really good news.'

The 33 per cent reduction in positive tests  which are presumed to be an accurate measure of Covid-19 symptoms  is smaller than the 89 per cent the UK's vaccine regulators claimed could be possible from a single dose.

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Report Description

A recent market intelligence report that is published by Data Insights Partner on the global Food Traceability Market makes an offering of in-depth analysis of segments and sub-segments in the regional and international Food Traceability Market. The research also emphasizes on the impact of restraints, drivers, and macro indicators on the regional and global Food Traceability Market over the short as well as long period of time. A detailed presentation of forecast, trends, and dollar values of global Food Traceability Market `is offered. In accordance with the report, the global Food Traceability Market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.64% over the period of forecast.

Market Insight, Drivers, Restraints& Opportunity of the Market:

Food Traceability system is used to maintain the record of the flow of the products which are intended for human consumption throughout the process of manufacture. As food production and distribution is a complicated process the key players of the market regard food traceability system as the most apt apparatus for to solve all the food-related obstructions. In order to reduce food-borne diseases, the dominant players of the food traceability market are now using food traceability systems to help deliver fresh food products to their consumers. In developed first world countries such as the U.S. and the U.K., consumers are ready to pay more for a product having point of origin certificate and food traceability. Advancement of technology and development of infrared, RFID, barcode, biometrics and sensors have made food traceability opportune for the companies in the end use industries. As food production consists of numerous stages, including sourcing seeds and fertilizers, farming, harvesting, processing, storage, transportation and retail sales and there are risks involved in it such as contamination, making food traceability system an essential and indispensible part of production. The procedures involved in the process of food traceability include identification, link, records of information, collection & storage of information and verification.

Request for Report Sample: https://datainsightspartner.com/request-for-sample?ref=714

The key diver of the global food traceability market is the advancement of technologies in the food traceability sector. Food traceability has multifarious applications in a diverse range of sectors which helps the industry grow. The increasing impact of modern retail also propels growth in the industry. Other factors that drive the market of food traceability may include increasing number of product recalls, growing concern and awareness among consumers regarding food safety and rigorous export regulations. The growing demand for advanced technologies such as barcode, RFIS technologies and biometrics in the Asia-Pacific region seems to generate significant growth in the market.

The key restraining factors of growth in the food traceability market are steep cost of equipment required for traceability, privacy issues in sharing of data and clear absence of strict laws in the developing nations.

Food traceability has the power to increase the accuracy of inventory which in turn allows the firm to meet consume demand more proficiently. Product tracing system bear decisions that influence the reputation of the brand as it upgrades food product tracing through refine decision making ability. Food traceability diminishes time to retrieve crucial data in the event of a recall and minimizes the scope of a recall. North America dominates the global market of food traceability by generating maximum revenue. Europe also seems to be contributing a large share in the global market of food traceability. Asia-Pacific region is predicted to manifest expedited rate of growth over the forecast period. India and China are currently exhibiting significant growth.

Segment Covered:

This market intelligence report on the global Food Traceability market encompasses market segments based on technology, end users, application, and country/regions.

By technology, the global Food Traceability Market is segregated into,

RFID technology

GPS

Barcode

Infrared

Biometric

By end users, the global Food Traceability Market is segmented into,

Food manufacturers

Warehouse Food retailers

Government departments

Others (non-profit organization, animal welfare organization, and cooperative organization)

By application, the global Food Traceability Market is also classified into,

Meat & Livestock products

Fresh food produce & Seeds

Dairy products

Seafood products

Beverages

Others (grains, oilseed, and coffee)

By country/region, the global Food Traceability Market has been divided into,

North America (the U.S., Canada),

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and other countries),

Europe (Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Russia, and other countries),

Asia Pacific (India, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand and other countries),

Middle East and Africa (GCC, South Africa, Israel and Other countries).

Profiling of Market Players:

This business intelligence report offers profiling of reputed companies that are operating in the market. Companies such as

Eurofins

Bureau Veritas

Barcode Integrators Inc.

Carlisle Technology Inc.

Mass Group Inc.

Merit-Trax Technologies Inc..

Picarro Inc.

TUVSUD

NSF

Intertek

Honeywell International Inc.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

DuPont

Cognex Corporation

SGS S.A.

Other players have been profiled into detail so as to offer a glimpse of the market leaders. Moreover, parameters such as Food Traceability Market related investment & spending and developments by major players of the market are tracked in this global report.

Report Highlights:

In-depth analysis of the micro and macro indicators, market trends, and forecasts of demand is offered by this business intelligence report. Furthermore, the report offers a vivid picture of the factors that are steering and restraining the growth of this market across all geographical segments. In addition to that, Growth Matrix analysis is also provided in the report so as to share insight of the investment areas that new or existing market players can take into consideration. Various analytical tools such as DRO analysis, Porter's five forces analysis has been used in this report to present a clear picture of the market. The study focuses on the present market trends and provides market forecast from the year 2020-2028. Emerging trends that would shape the market demand in the years to come have been highlighted in this report. A competitive analysis in each of the geographical segments gives an insight into market share of the global players.

Get Request for Table of Contents: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/food-traceability-market/714#tableOfContent

Salient Features:

 This study offers comprehensive yet detailed analysis of the Food Traceability Market, size of the market (US$ Mn), and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR (%)) for the period of forecast: 2020  2028, taking into account 2019 as the base year

 It explains upcoming revenue opportunities across various market segments and attractive matrix of investment proposition for the said market

 This market intelligence report also offers pivotal insights about various market opportunities, restraints, drivers, launch of new products, competitive market strategies of leading market players, emerging market trends, and regional outlook

 Profiling of key market players in the world Food Traceability Market is done by taking into account various parameters such as company strategies, distribution strategies, product portfolio, financial performance, key developments, geographical presence, and company overview

 Leading market players covered this report comprise names such as Eurofins, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, TUVSUD, NSF and many more.

 The data of this report would allow management authorities and marketers of companies alike to take informed decision when it comes to launch of products, government initiatives, marketing tactics and expansion, and technical up gradation

 The world market for Food Traceability caters to the needs of various stakeholders pertaining to this industry, namely suppliers, manufacturers, investors, and distributors for Food Traceability Market. The research also caters to the rising needs of consulting and research firms, financial analysts, and new market entrants

 Research methodologies that have been adopted for the purpose of this study have been clearly elaborated so as to facilitate better understanding of the reports

 Reports have been made based on the guidelines as mandated by General Data Protection Regulation

 Ample number of examples and case studies have been taken into consideration before coming to a conclusion

Reasons to buy:

v Identify opportunities and plan strategies by having a strong understanding of the investment opportunities in the Food Traceability Market

v Identification of key factors driving investment opportunities in the Food Traceability Market

v Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data

v Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential

v Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events

v Identify key partners and business development avenues

v Respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects

v Identify key strengths and weaknesses of important market participants

Full View of Report Description: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/food-traceability-market/714
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  President Donald Trump is not the first president to be impeached  however, he is the first president to be impeached by the House of Representatives twice.

The Senate has yet to vote on the articles of impeachment after the House successfully impeached Trump on Jan. 13, however, even if the Senate did move to convict Trump, it wouldnt be until after he left office.

Although Trump wouldnt be impeached in time to be removed before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, it could prevent him from holding elected office in the future.

Only two other presidents, Bill Clinton in 1999 and Andrew Johnson in 1868, were impeached.

Heres a look at how Staten Islands congressional representatives voted on the respected impeachments:

Just days into her term, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis was faced with a decision on President Donald Trump's second impeachment. (Staten Island Advance)

MALLIOTAKIS VOTES NO ON TRUMP IMPEACHMENT

Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis took part in an impeachment vote during her first week as Staten Island and South Brooklyns congressional representative.

The House voted to impeach Trump for a second time, this time for allegedly inciting violence after a violent protest broke out at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6. It was the most bipartisan impeachment vote in United States history.

Malliotakis, who voted against the resolution, said impeaching a president a week before he leaves office would only further divide the nation.

Instead of creating division and playing political games, Congress needs to come together and prepare to work with the incoming administration to help the American people who have endured the most difficult year in recent history, Malliotakis said.

She previously said she did not support efforts to remove Trump from office after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to overturn the November presidential election on Jan. 6, saying it is time to heal this nation and move forward together to address pressing issues like overcoming this pandemic.

The House voted to impeach Trump on Jan. 13, 2021 by a 232-197 vote.

The Senate has yet to vote on impeachment.

Rep. Max Rose and Trump.

ROSE VOTES TO IMPEACH TRUMP IN 2019

Former Rep. Max Rose, a Democrat, voted yes on two articles of impeachment against Trump in 2019.

A president coercing a foreign government into targeting American citizens is not just another example of scorched earth politics, it serves as an invitation to the enemies of the United States to come after any citizen, so long as they disagree with the president. Embarking on an unprecedented effort to obstruct this inquiry doesnt make the facts any less true, Rose said prior to Trumps call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The two articles of impeachment were abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Initially, Rose said he was opposed to impeaching the president.

He said impeaching Trump wouldnt address any of the issues his constituents were facing and wouldnt stop the administration from being corrupt.

The truth is impeachment will only tear our country further apart and we will see no progress on the enormous challenges we face as a nation. Impeachment will not fix our roads and bridges or lower the costs of drugs. Impeachment will not keep our kids safe from gun violence or end the opioid epidemic. Impeachment will not improve the lives of the hardworking Staten Islanders and South Brooklynites that I fight for every day, Rose said in September 2019.

The House voted 230-197 for the charge of abuse of power and 229-198 for the charge of obstruction of justice.

Trump was acquitted by the Senate on Feb. 5, 2020.

Former Staten Island Rep. Vito Fossella voted yes to impeach then-President Bill Clinton in 1999.

FOSSELLA VOTES TO IMPEACH CLINTON

The impeachment of former President Bill Clinton began in October 1998 when he was charged with lying under oath and obstruction of justice, stemming from his alleged affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and a separate sexual harassment lawsuit.

From the beginning of talks to impeach Clinton, then-Staten Island Rep. Vito Fossella said he was maintaining a wait and see stance, keeping an open mind and listening to all of the facts and articles that were presented to the House.

Ultimately, Fossella, a Republican, voted in favor of impeachment.

There is clear and convincing evidence the president lied under oath and abused office, Fossella said.

Accordingly, I will take the only course of action that the Constitution has mandated me to do  I will vote for impeachment and let the United States Senate conduct a trial to determine the ultimate outcome. The integrity of the judicial system must be maintained regardless of who comes before it. We cannot ignore the rule of law for the president and apply it to ordinary citizens, he continued.

Fossella said he was aware that his vote would not sit well with his constituents, who largely were not in favor of impeaching Clinton.

The House approved two of the four articles of impeachment lodged against Clinton, formally recommending that he be tried in the Senate for committing perjury before a federal grand jury and obstructing justice. Lawmakers rejected two other articles accusing the president of perjury in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit and abuse of his presidential powers.

The final House vote was 228-206 on the perjury grand jury charge, 205-229 on the perjury charge regarding the sexual harassment case, 221-212 on the charge of obstruction of justice and 148-281 on the charge of abuse of power.

The Senate acquitted Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice; the first vote, on perjury, was 55-45 against, with 10 Republicans joining all 45 Democrats voting not guilty. The second vote, on obstruction of justice, was 50-50, with five Republicans breaking ranks to join the Democrats.

An engraving showing President Andrew Johnson in 1868. The House approved 11 articles of impeachment against Andrew Johnson in 1868, arising essentially from political divisions over Reconstruction following the Civil War. After a 74-day Senate trial, the Senate acquitted Johnson on three of the articles by a one-vote margin each and decided not to vote on the remaining articles. (Library of Congress)Getty

ANDREW JOHNSON

The House of Representatives established a resolution of impeachment of President Andrew Johnson in 1868 following Johnsons firing of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton.

Johnsons dismissal of Stanton was seen as a violation of the Tenure of Office Act and the House brought 11 articles of impeachment against him.

Johnson was impeached by the House with a vote of 126-47. The Senate later voted on impeachment but fell short by one vote of the needed two-thirds majority; he wound up serving his entire presidential term.

Staten Island and South Brooklyns 11th Congressional District as we know it today wasnt clearly defined until years later in the 1900s.

In 1868 when Johnson was impeached, Staten Island was a part of the then-1st Congressional District, known as Roslyn and now part of Rockland and Suffolk counties, according to the Digital Scholarship Lab/University of Richmond.

The congressional representative for that district was Democrat Stephen Taber, who voted against impeachment, records show.

At the time, New York Citys other congressional representatives were: John Fox, John Morrissey, Thomas E. Stewart, John W. Chanler, James Brooks, Fernando Wood, Demas Barnes and William E. Robinson.

Records of the 40th Congressional votes during the impeachment proceedings show that all of New York Citys representatives voted no on impeachment with the exception of Robinson, whose name is not shown for a yes or no vote. According to the records, 17 members did not vote.

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The Hamilton County School Board may vote Thursday night on options for getting students back into the classroom.

Most board members stressed the importance of reopening the schools, while also weighing the safety of students and school personnel.

Chairman Joe Wingate said the item was just for discussion at a lengthy Tuesday night school board agenda session. He said "consideration of students back in classrooms" is not yet added to the Thursday agenda.

Options discussed include:

- Remain as is with all students engaging in virtual learning

- Bring back K-5 students to the classes for initially two days a week

- Bring all students back to the classroom

Supt. Bryan Johnson said the COVID-19 Task Force held a call-in meeting earlier in the day, but that is an advisory panel.

He said two physicians on the Task Force are agreeing that in recent days case numbers are down and figures are "trending in the right direction" after an earlier surge that closed the schools after 84 days of staying open to start the year.

Several board members were adamant that schools should reopen for all students.

Rhonda Thurman said, "I have never been so heart-broken in my life than I am now. Kids down in Georgia are going to school, and we are going to have to get it together. These kids need to be in school. They are missing an education. I do not know how they will ever catch up. And the special education students have been the hardest hit."

She said struggling with virtual school is straining families to the breaking point.

Ms. Thurman said she would do away with a formula that determines where there is in-person school at all or, if so, when students go. She said, "It's like 3 Card Monte. This is our job, but sometimes I get cross-eyed. This is nuts."

However, she did say she has "been to four funerals in four weeks" of friends who were COVID victims.

Board member Joe Smith said, "We've got to get these kids back in school. I am scared to death the way we are going. I've been working with kids for 30 years and I've never been so heart-broken. They are getting further and further behind."

Steve Highlander, another board member, said, "I want them back in school as soon as we can as safely as we can." He added, "I hate this virus though. It is killing people we know and we have to keep our community safe."

Tiffanie Robinson said her family has banded together with three others to try to deal with the online learning.

Ms. Robinson said she was "frustrated by the fact that the board is being asked to make an operational decision."

Supt. Bryan Johnson did not give direction on an option favored by the administration. He said the staff would seek as well as possible to make any of the options work. He said he was encouraged by a recent downward trend in cases, though he said they could go right back up.

Chairman Wingate said he felt it was helpful that the board was having the discussion.

Karitsa Mosley Jones counseled proceeding with caution. She said, "We want to make sure what we do is safe for our teachers and others."

She said, "I know nine people who have died from COVID. This is real. It's something that changes and is unpredictable."

Ms. Thurman said she had concerns with some teachers having a "sick out" in the past and possibly in the future.

She also said she was advised that some teachers are conducting their Zoom courses "from places like Florida or Gatlinburg. I was told that one teacher has moved out of Hamilton County."
Sen. Danny Carroll's Legislative Update

By Kentucky State Senator Danny Carroll

PADUCAH -As a state senator, I take pride in staying engaged with the 2nd District. Community engagement as an elected official usually occurs by speaking face-to-face during meetings or community events. These legislative updates provides me a welcomed means of reconnecting with you and others back home.I can confidently say that the Kentucky General Assembly is making the most of the 30-day legislative session. In the first eight days back in Frankfort, lawmakers have already delivered six bills to the governor's desk. I am happy to report that we are moving forward in deliberation but with purpose.The past ten months have been challenging for all of us and the most frustrating of my time in the state senate. The passage of priority House and Senate bills verifies the legislature's commitment to being a co-equal branch of government and ensuring the representative branch of state government has a seat at the table as life-altering decisions are considered.Senate Bill 1  This bill better defines executive authority during a state of emergency. It brings the representative branch of government to the table to be a voice for the communities its members represent. The bill will require legislative authorization before the governor can extend an executive order beyond 30 days if the order places restrictions on various public and private entities. The same requirement would exist for emergency executive orders. Similarly, it would require mutual agreement between the governor and the attorney general to suspend state statute during a state of emergency. Taking a less arbitrary and more targeted approach to addressing a state of emergency, SB1 would allow local officials to request an extension of executive orders only for their area and only for the amount of time they ask. SB1 also places parameters on the seizure or condemnation of property during a declared emergency. Specifically, the added language declares that this can only occur for the duration of the emergency and establishes that the owner of the property shall be compensated at fair market value. Finally, SB1 prohibits the manner of elections from being changed by executive order during a state of emergency.Senate Bill 2  For far too long, governors and their administrations have been able to blur the lines between executive and legislative branch authorities by making law through the use and abuse of the emergency regulatory process. SB 2 enhances this process's legislative and public oversight by requiring an expedited public hearing and written comment period and allowing a legislative committee to review, amend, or find an emergency regulation deficient.Senate Bill 3 appropriately places the Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy under the office of the State Agriculture Commissioner. Each statewide office holds certain responsibilities delegated to it by the Constitution of Kentucky or state statute. It is only appropriate that this office falls under the office most relevant to state agriculture policy.House Bill 1 provides clarity and reassurances amid a state of emergency for businesses, schools, parents, teachers, students, and religious institutions. It provides assurances that businesses, schools, and religious institutions may remain open and operational if they follow a comprehensive operating plan, which details how the business or school will adhere to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines or state guidelineswhichever is least restrictive to ensure safety.Additional legislation that has reached the governor's desk includes:Senate Bill 9, the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, which the legislature passed last year before the governor vetoed it, has been sent to the governor's desk yet again. Unfortunately, last year's veto came after the legislative veto override period, and lawmakers could not override it. The bill ensures that a baby born-alive in any circumstance receives lifesaving medical care.House Bill 2 gives Kentucky's attorney general the authority to seek an injunction and civil or criminal penalties for violations of statutes and administrative regulations guiding the practice of abortion. Current law only allows the attorney general to take action if the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services requests that he or she intervene.House Bill 5 also passed both chambers. It would improve oversight of the reorganization of state boards. Governors have used these boards to fulfill political agendas and favors in the past. In fact, over the last five administrations, there have been over 445 reorganizations of state agencies, cabinets, or boards. The bill would require all executive branch reorganizations and board reorganizations to require a vote of the General Assembly and refine gubernatorial authority when the legislature is not in session.The Senate also passed several budget bills this week  but no firm decisions were made on how to spend tax dollars. The legislative and budgetary processes can be daunting even to a seasoned lawmaker.Here's what happened: The General Assembly jump-started the legislative process of enacting a budget. The keyword in that sentence is "process." We did this by getting four bills dealing with the budgets of the three branches of government and the Transportation Cabinet into what's called conference committees.These committees are where Senate and House members work out their differences on what Kentucky should spend its money on. The compromises agreed upon are then subject once again to approval by the majority of members in each chamber.Why the rush? Because the state constitution only allows us to hold a 30-day legislative session on odd numbered years  even if we have to pass a budget. Legislators usually pass Kentucky's biennial budgets during 60-day sessions held on even-numbered years. That didn't happen last spring due to the economic uncertainty brought on by COVID-19. Therefore, only a one-year budget was passed.The Constitution of Kentucky requires that the General Assembly adjourn following the first part of the session. Wednesday, January 13, was our final day before adjourning in compliance with that constitutional requirement. The legislature will reconvene for the second part of the session on Tuesday, February 2.I am also working on several pieces of legislation I hope to move forward this session. These include SB35, which would increase safety for those living in Assisted Living Communities, SB48, which would protect the personal identifying information of police, fire, corrections officers, judges, social workers and others in the criminal justice system, SB80, which would strengthen the process to decertify police officers who commit certain offenses, 21 RS BR 291, which would provide added protections to communities and first responders during riots. Finally, I'm working with the American Red Cross on a bill that would lift some of the Covid-19 related restrictions on child care centers throughout the state. I will keep you posted on these pieces of legislation as the session moves forward.If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me Danny.Carroll@LRC.ky.gov. Or, you can review the legislatures work online at www.Legislature.ky.gov.
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This article will be updated throughout the week with coronavirus case counts and other need-to-know information about the pandemic in San Antonio.

San Antonio officials reported 16 new deaths from COVID-19 over the past two weeks as the coronavirus maintained its grip on the region. Officials also disclosed Sunday that the virus had been confirmed as the cause of 59 additional deaths between Dec. 4 and Jan. 6. Since it began in March, the pandemic has claimed the lives of 1,967 people in Bexar County.

January 23

COVID-19 updates: The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported 1,684 new coronavirus cases Saturday  563 fewer than reported the day before. The seven-day rolling average stood at 1,806 Saturday, decreasing by 165.

But the health authority also reported 18 new deaths Saturday, after two days of 17 deaths each. In one week, 176 people have died with COVID-19.

January 22

COVID-19 updates: The coronavirus continues to pose a serious threat to San Antonio as local officials reported 2,247 new cases and 17 more deaths Friday. For now, the citys risk level is classified as severe. Thats right below the worst possible level of critical.

January 21

COVID-19 updates: On Thursday, officials reported 2,507 new infections, pushing the seven-day average for daily new cases to 2,063.

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 17 more people in San Antonio, adding to the growing death toll from the latest coronavirus surge. Thousands more are still actively ill with the virus.

January 20

COVID-19 updates: For the first time this year, new COVID-19 cases in San Antonio have fallen to fewer than 1,000. Officials reported 850 new cases on Wednesday  a precipitous decline from the 2,395 cases recorded on Tuesday.

The relentless pandemic continued to exact a grim toll in Bexar County, killing 18 more residents over the last two weeks.

January 19

COVID-19 updates: San Antonio surpassed 150,000 coronavirus cases Tuesday as the winter surge of COVID-19 kills more residents and threatens to cripple area hospitals.

Officials reported 2,395 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, pushing the total since the pandemic began in March to 152,231. Ten more people have died of COVID-19, officials reported Tuesday. The youngest was a white man in his 30s.

January 18

1,281 new cases Monday, three deaths: At the start of January, hospitals were caring for 1,100 patients, 328 of whom needed intensive care and 178 relied on ventilators to breathe. Those figures have soared since then: Hospitals on Monday were caring for 437 patients who needed intensive care and 260 relying on ventilators to breathe.

Patients with COVID-19 now make up nearly 38 percent of all those hospitalized in San Antonio  more than double the 15-percent threshold that triggers the business occupancy restrictions and bar closures.

Area hospitals were caring for 1,520 patients with COVID-19 on Monday  253 more than the record set this summer, when state leaders shut down bars and mandated masks to stave off the virus.
[January 20, 2021]

OASIS Group completes first acquisition of the year

SWORDS, Ireland, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OASIS Group, the largest privately-owned Records and Information Management (RIM) provider in Europe has today announced the acquisition of NETarchief, the archive management division of Van't Net Archiefbeheer B.V.

The Netherlands based storage company, NETarchief, was formed in 1998 to provide archive storage services alongside the established removals business. Under the terms of the agreement OASIS Group will integrate the NETarchief archive management business with OASIS Data & Document Management Netherlands B.V.

"The face of the workplace is changing rapidly. Regulation is becoming stricter, especially with regards to privacy. And with more clients opting to continue to work from home, we felt that integrating our archive services with OASIS Group was the most logical step for us and our clients," said Gerry Hulshoff, Shareholder, NETarchief.

As a specialist provider ofrecords and information management solutions OASIS Group are in a unique position to support clients throughout a records lifecycle.







OASIS Group, which operates across Europe, provides clients with end-to-end records and information management services ranging from; records and document storage, scanning and digitisation, cloud storage, through to shredding and destruction services.

Commenting on this acquisition, Matt Thornton, Director of Corporate Development at OASIS Group, said: "Despite the pandemic the acquisitions team are working in partnership with business owners across Europe who are seeking a smooth transition. We are pleased to have acquired the NETarchief business and their clients, and are looking forward to welcoming them to OASIS."

This transaction marks the 51st successful acquisition for OASIS Group.

About OASIS Group

OASIS Group have been providing clients with secure records and information management solutions since 1999. Established in Dublin, Ireland, OASIS has since expanded internationally and are currently operating across 6 European countries, employing over 1,700 Team Members and servicing over 10,000 clients. Brands within the OASIS Group include OASIS, ArchiDoc and Niche Health. www.OASISGroup.com

Media Contact:

Jade Miles

Group Marketing Manager

jmiles@oasisgroup.com

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Audi's smallest SUV can't be ordered with AWD but does it need it? View 1 related image

Four months ago, Audi AG gave us the first details of a facelift and other revisions for the Q2, exactly four years on from the start of production. Now the revised versions of its smallest SUV are reaching showrooms. How much longer will Mercedes and BMW, never mind Lexus, Volvo, Hongqi, Land Rover, Cadillac and others leave Audi to enjoy all the spoils of this global segment?

Yes, Jeep is present in the 3.9-4.3 m long SUV class but is the Renegade really a premium product? Certainly the brand can be considered so in some countries.

Compared to the smallest Audi crossover, the Renegade is really in a different class. AWD gives it an advantage over the Q2 yet that also makes it more of an SUV, while aside from the new 4xe (PHEV) variants, pricing tends to be lower.

Audi's record year

Audi also offers this model in extended wheelbase and EV forms although that's only in China, these things settings it apart from any potential rival. The model has also just been singled out as a factor in the brand's record worldwide deliveries for any quarter: 505,583 and the first time more than half a million Audis had been delivered in any three-month period. The made-in-China Q2 enjoyed a 34% surge in Q4, helping the marque to achieve record sales in 2020.

Q2 - 100,000+ global deliveries

The little FWD-only model doesn't sell too well in its home market, only 13,251 having been delivered to German customers in 2020. Compare that to the 27,345 examples of its VW equivalent, the T-Cross. And yet, considering how many Q2s were delivered to buyers all across Europe and then adding in China's Q2L and Q2 e-tron, we're talking somewhere more than 100,000 worldwide during what wasn't exactly a great year. Considering that level of success, how can Audi's rivals continue to ignore the B-premium crossover class, particularly when, outside China, there isn't even an electrification option for the model?

Size matters

So what makes the Q2 so appealing? Size has got to be a major factor, the length being only 4,191 mm, not to mention how handily slim it is. What a joy to have any press car which slides so easily into the too-small parking bays of Britain (but yes, agreed, to those who would counter that so very many cars are excessively long and wide). Even though it's in the B segment, to get an idea of the size, a VW Polo, which isn't that small, is 14 cm shorter.

Audi has put the wheels fairly close to the corners and that's allowed the wheelbase to be 2,601 mm long (a Polo's is only 2,564). Which means, combined with the Q2's height, this is an exceptionally roomy crossover. It's also not too heavy (1,380 kg without a driver) thanks to the lack of a rear differential or e-axle, another pay-off being extra space for the shoes of anyone perched on the middle of the back seat. As for the the boot, that's a commodious 405 litres, and up to 1,050 with the backrests flopped. The as-tested car came with a space saver tyre at a cost of GBP125.

Safety bonus - no virtual HVAC controls

Up front, the dashboard is the usual classy affair we can always expect from Audi and bonus, penny-pinching masquerading as newer and better screen-only controls isn't present: there are lots of proper physical controls to prevent eyes being off the road. You even get a real key which slots into an ignition barrel. The electric parking brake works perfectly well, as does the transmission selector, the precise action of which serves as an example to the silent, vague and dangerous limbo which some brands' cars can leave you when shifting from D to N to R and back.

The dimply-covered steering wheel is just the right size and call me spoiled but the press tester's had no heating. Still, the seats can be optionally (GBP310) specified with that luxury.

Does it need quattro drive?

The steering itself doesn't give much kick-back when the throttle pedal is given a firm push so the lack of quattro drive won't be too much of an issue for most owners. The 1.5-litre petrol turbo only develops just 250 Nm so torque-steer would be hard to generate anyway especially with what is a well matched seven-ratio DSG. Power, by the way, is 110 kW or if you prefer, 150 PS.

Sum-up: thumbs up

The Q2 is one of those models which took me a while to warm to but now with the facelift I've changed my opinion of it. Upon seeing one for the first time at the 2016 Geneva motor show I wasn't sure. It was mostly to do with that thick D pillar being silver if the paint was a dark colour. Now, it sort of reminds me of a Citroen IS/DS and that's a very good thing. Plus, the updated range of wheels are an improvement and the car stands out, looking neither derivative (as some accuse the e-tron of being) nor aggressive (much as they appeal to me, the Q7 and Q8 aren't universally loved).

Audi really was clever to create the Q2's segment and deserves the resultant success. Those in charge of other premium brands will likely look back and ask themselves why they took so long to come up with models to challenge the pioneering leader of the class.

What's next for Audi's smallest Q?

We may see the German firm launch a Q2 e-tron in Europe or at least a PHEV to take advantage of the surge in sales of such vehicles. And how about a Q1? Don't rule out a 3.6-3.9 m long crossover for later in the 2020s, even if it's only for China and Europe: the Q2 isn't available in the US or Canada so an even smaller Audi likely wouldn't be either.

The Audi Q2 35 TFSI 150 PS S line S tronic costs from GBP30,420. Combined consumption is 44.8 mpg and CO2 is 144 g/km.
Arestovych says Russia may be endlessly fueling the hostilities.

Spokesman for the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Oleksiy Arestovych says Ukraine and Russia are able to end the war in Donbas in just one day, but this requires the political will of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I clearly see we may be reconciled within one day if only one person in the world  Russian President Vladimir Putin  decides so," he told TV channel Ukraina 24.

Read alsoDonbas war update: Ukraine records two ceasefire violations on Jan 19"He holds the key to resolving the conflict. Yet, Russia is capable of endlessly keeping the war going on in Donbas; it doesn't cost it much. But on the other hand, Putin is not getting younger, and sanctions [against Russia] are being stepped up, and there is pressure from Europe. Now, I hope, there will be pressure from the new U.S. administration, which could become a step towards positive changes," Arestovych said.

Latest developments to bring peace to Donbas

On January 12, Berlin hosted the latest round of talks of political advisers to the Normandy Four leaders. Ukraine was represented by Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, while Deputy Head of Putin's Administration Dmitry Kozak acted on behalf of Russia.

On January 18, this year's first video conference of the TCG's political and humanitarian subgroups took place. The next TCG meeting is scheduled for January 21.

Reporting by UNIAN
ROME, JAN 18 - The iconic Bay of Naples island of Procida was named Italian culture capital for 2022 on Monday. Procida beat nine other candidates for the accolade. These were: Ancona, Bari, Cerveteri , L'Aquila , Pieve di Soligo near Treviso, Taranto , Trapani , Verbania, Lake Maggiore and Volterra. Culture Minister Dario Franceschini, who attended the jury selection, said "today's nomination of the Italian cultural capital for 2022 is a signal for the future for the (post_COVID) recovery." He said that in 2022, "we will have returned to normality and culture and tourism will be once more important and very strong as they were before the pandemic". He said the selection every year "starts a virtuous and attractive process, like for he Oscar candidates". Procida Mayor Dino Ambrosino said "it is a huge joy, Procida is a metaphor for so many communities who have rediscovered their enthusiasm and pride for their area and want to redeem their lands. We are certain that culture can be a detonator for the strategic recovery plan for the recovery". He added: "it is an extraordinary opportunity for a small island, we will work hard to make Italy proud of this choice". Minister for the South Giuseppe Provenzano tweeted "#Procida Italian culture capital for 2022 is great news. Another example of recovery, which, after Matera, arrives in Europe from the South (of Italy)". European Affairs Minister Enzo Amendola tweeted "it is a huge opportunity for the island and (the surrounding) Campania (region)." (ANSA).
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  Vice President Leni Robredo, several lawmakers, and progressive youth groups denounced the Department of National Defense's decision to abrogate its three-decade agreement with the University of the Philippines that bars uniformed personnel from entering UP campuses without notifying school officials.

The Duterte administration's unilateral termination of the deal is clearly meant to silence the government's critics, Robredo said Tuesday, pointing out that the accord simply asks law enforcers to give notice to the university before conducting any security operations inside their campuses.

"This is neither a difficult nor onerous rule... Clearly, then, this is not a practical gesture, but a symbolic one. One designed to sow fear. One designed to discourage dissent. One designed to silence criticism," she said.

The vice president believes that the public will take a stand against the government's disregard for the safeguard established to protect dissenting students.

UP President Danilo Concepcion urged Lorenzana to reconsider his decision and revoke the abrogation.

"I must express our grave concern over this abrogation, as it is totally unnecessary and unwarranted, and may result in worsening rather than improving relations between our institutions, and detract from our common desire for peace, justice, and freedom in our society," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

RELATED: UP accord terminated to protect majority vs 'enemies of the state,' defense chief says

Senator Francis Pangilinan, a former UP Diliman University Student Council chairperson, emphasized the historical significance of the UP-DND accord which was signed in 1989 to prevent student activists in the campus from being arrested.

UP has always been and will always be a citadel of freedom and democracy. Please dont mess with UP, tweeted Pangilinan.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, also a UP Diliman graduate, blasted the Defense Department for ignoring the role of educational institutions in upholding human rights and democracy.

This brazen step signals intensified attacks on academic freedom, and violations of rights of students, faculty, personnel resisting tyranny and fascism, tweeted Elago, while calling for an end to campus militarization.

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, now a professor at the UP Diliman National College of Public Administration and Governance, said the governments act to terminate the pact can worsen the insurgency problem that has existed since the rule of dictator, former president Ferdinand Marcos.

These are the kinds of acts that worsened the insurgency problem during the Marcos regime. We should have learned by now that purely military actions will not solve this very complicated problem, Trillanes tweeted.

The League of Filipino Students said the abrogation of the accord is an attempt by the Duterte administration to attack academic freedom and is a way to enforce the Anti-Terrorism Law that can be used to silence student activists.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang kinakaharap ng mga kabataang estudyante ay hindi nalalayo sa hinarap ng LFS noong rehimeng Marcos. Nasa tungkulin natin bilang mga kabataang estudyante na tumindig at ipaglaban ang karapatan ng mga mamamayang Pilipino, the group said in a video statement.

[Translation: At present, the dilemma faced by students is not too different from what LFS experienced during the Marcos regime. It is our obligation, as students, to stand and fight for the rights of the Filipino people.]

The Samahang ng Progresibong Kabataan also expressed their concern on AFPs unsubstantiated claims that schools like UP are breeding grounds of communist rebels may lead to militarization of educational institutions.

The AFPs demand to militarize UP campuses is an issue that concerns the very basics of our democratic life. Should we let them succeed in UP, the path is open for them to militarize all schools, the organization said in a statement. The relevance of our schools as academic institutions and centers of free conscience and speech is at stake.

The UP Manila University Student Council vowed to fight against attempts by state institutions to curtail academic freedom and democractic rights.

We refuse to cower to the deceptions of a government institution that masquerades as a protector of human rights but in reality, only serves as a conduit for the further curtailment of our freedoms, the council said in a statement.

Akbayan Youth chairperson RJ Naguit appealed to UP President Danilo Concepcion to protect the community from the possible militarization activities brought by the accords abrogation.

We urge President Danilo Concepcion to protect the UP community against President Duterte's latest crackdown or else UP will become a hunting ground for the likes of Debold Sinas and the AFP, he said in a statement.

Hashtags #DefendUP, #NoToCampusMilitarization, and #UPFight trended in social media overnight as several youth netizens reacted on the abrogation of the UP-DND accord.

In a letter, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana informed Concepcion that the UP-DND accord was "terminated or abrogated" as of January 15, 2021. He said this was done so they could perform their mandate to protect the youth from being recruited by the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New Peoples Army.
Legislation could be introduced to stop Welsh house names being changed to English, the Senedd has been told.

Welsh language minister Eluned Morgan told Members of the Senedd she had a great deal of sympathy with those who believed homeowners should be banned from the practice.

Ms Morgan was responding on behalf of the Welsh Government during a debate in the Senedd after over 18,000 people signed a petition calling for a law.

I do think that naming a house against the will of the local populace can feel like actually cutting that tie between ourselves and our community, she said.

Can we say that, rather than asking nicely to individuals to change their minds, can we go further and can we legislate and tighten the guidance that is in place?

I must admit to having a great deal of sympathy with that view.

The petition, which was proposed by Robin Aled Davies, states that little by little, the country is losing its heritage and this must be stopped for the sake of future generations.

In the petition, lodged on the Welsh Parliament website, members are urged to legislate to prevent people from changing their Welsh house names, with it reading: There is a pattern throughout Wales where new owners are changing their house names into English.

While there is no legislation in place to restrict the practice, many authorities implement their own informal measures by urging homeowners not to anglicise the names of their homes or smallholdings.

The petition was presented to the Senedd by Janet Finch-Saunders, chair of the petitions committee, who acknowledged there was not enough time before the dissolution to enact legislation.

This petition itself is very specific, directly concerning only individual house names, she told MSs.

However, it is part of a wider issue, including the names of settlements and other larger places, natural features, farms and large buildings down to individual properties.

At the largest scale, measures such as the Welsh language standards do already provide a degree of protection for our cities, towns and villages, with duties on local authorities, for example, in relation to signage.

Names of historic places have also been maintained in a register since 2017, with statutory guidance in place for public bodies.

She added: I hope that this debate can help us today to take stock of the situation and to consider what more could be done to protect traditional or historic names.

MS Dai Lloyd, who presented a Bill to the Senedd in 2017 seeking to protect historic place names in Wales, said: It was disappointing that the Government voted against the principle of developing legislation in this area, and I still believe that there is more that the Welsh Government can do to protect these names  mere guidance does not do it.

There is currently no legal protection for house names in Wales.

It is clear that there are a range of ways in which the Government could do that, and we know that there are organisations and academics who support further Government intervention in this area.

As I have argued on a number of occasions, encouragement doesnt guarantee the protection of historical house or place names.

Legislation does, which is why the Welsh Government should explore this further.
The 10th round of talks on Wednesday between the protesting and the Central government ended, with the latter offering to put on hold the three disputed farm Acts for around a year and a half.

During the period, a panel comprising representatives of the farmer groups and the government could deliberate on all outstanding issues, including minimum support price.

The farmers unions that participated in the negotiations said they would discuss the offer with other groups and come back in a day or two. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for January 22. The Centre, sources said, was willing to give the offer in the form of an affidavit in the Supreme Court, which is hearing the matter. The farmers, on their part, will have to suspend their agitation.

We have offered to keep the laws on hold for a year and a half, during which time a solution can be reached through mutual dialogue. It seems we are moving towards a solution and a positive outcome could be expected in the next meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who represented the Central government, told reporters.





ALSO READ: Farm laws panel has no power to judge, 'don't cast aspersions': SC

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) President Joginder Singh Ugrahan said: We rejected the proposal but since it has come from the government, we will meet tomorrow (Thursday) and deliberate on it. Another farmer leader Kavitha Kuruganti said the government proposed to submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court for suspending the three farm laws for a period agreed upon, and set up a committee. Sources said as in the previous nine meetings, the Central government, represented by Tomar, Food Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, turned down the demand for repealing the Acts and offered to amend them. The rejected the proposal.

The offered to take up the next issue of legal guarantee for minimum support price, to which the government side said the big issue of the three Acts needed to be settled before moving forward.

Seeing that the negotiations were reaching a dead end, Tomar offered to hold back the implementation of the laws.



ALSO READ: Won't participate in meetings of court-appointed panel: Farmer unions to SC

The laws, meanwhile, have been stayed till further orders by the Supreme Court, which has formed a committee to resolve the deadlock.

The committee, which had its first meeting on Tuesday and will begin consultations with various stakeholders on Thursday, has been asked to give its report in two months.

Farmer leaders also raised the issue of notices being served to some of them by the Investigation Agency, alleging it was being done to harass those supporting the agitation. The government representatives said they would look into the matter.

Before the meeting, the three ministers met Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

In the last round of talks, the government had asked the farmers to prepare a proposal about their objections and suggestions on the three farm laws.

ALSO READ: Other occasions when Centre pulled back on farm issues due to public ire

Bhartiya Kisan Union President Bhupinder Singh Mann has recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.

Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) President Anil Ghanwat and agricultural economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.

Under attack from protesting unions for their pro-government public stand on the three laws, the members of the committee have said they will keep aside their own views while consulting the various stakeholders, even as they indicated a repeal wont augur well for agricultural reforms.

Earlier in the day, a group of farm union leaders met top police officials of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to discuss the route and arrangements for their tractor rally on January 26 to protest against the three farm laws.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the aspersions cast by some farmers unions on the members of the court-appointed committee, saying no adjudicating authority had been given to the experts, who would just hear their grievances and give a report.

A 44-year-old healthcare worker who has pleaded guilty to having 600,000 in organised crime cash was moving the money for a now jailed haulage boss who was trafficking guns, drugs and cash for almost all of Irelands crime gangs.

Catherine Dawson had been arrested as part of an ongoing garda investigation targeting serious organised criminals, where officers of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) intercepted a number of vehicles in Drogheda on May 11 last and uncovered hundreds of thousands of euro in vacuum-packed notes.

She and two men were arrested in Drogheda as part an international investigation into Co Offaly trucking boss Thomas Maher (40), who was jailed for 14 years last month at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to transporting cocaine from the Netherlands to Ireland via the UK and laundering cash.

A joint investigation between the GNDOB and the English National Crime Agency (NCA) found that Maher had arranged for the movement of the 600,000 in cash that was seized in Co Louth last May.

It is understood that the plan was for this money to be moved out of Ireland.

Maher who has been described as a logistics manager for all of Irelands major drugs gangs was busted after police agencies compromised the EncroChat service last year and in December became the first Irish national to be sentenced in the secretive probe.

This was previously a secure encrypted phone messaging service used by international organised crime groups including the Kinahan cartel but international police forces have compromised it.

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At the Special Criminal Court today, Catherine Dawson pleaded guilty to possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit, a blue Nike bag containing 289,770 and 65,025 (70,207) in cash, while knowing that or believing that or being reckless as to whether or not the said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct at Spar, Donore Road, Drogheda, Co Louth on May 11, 2020.

She also pleaded guilty to possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit, a black bag containing 254,840 in cash, while knowing that or believing that or being reckless as to whether or not the said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct on the same occasion.

She is a community supervisor in healthcare who specialises in dementia care and has no previous criminal convictions.

Caroline Biggs SC, representing Dawson, requested that a psychological report be prepared on behalf of her client and this was granted by the court.

"She has no history of mental health issues but she has been on antidepressants as a consequence of these matters," said Ms Biggs.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Flann Brennan, remanded Dawson on continuing bail until March 24, for a sentence hearing.

Dawson's partner, Thomas Rooney (41), also of Betaghstown Wood, Bettystown, Co Meath, was expected to be arraigned before the Special Criminal Court this morning.

However his arraignment has now been adjourned until March 1 and he was released on bail until then.

He is facing the same charges as Dawson as well as an additional charge of possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct, having 7,650 in cash at North Road, Drogheda on May 11, 2020.

Mr Rooney and his partner were first arrested on suspicion of enhancing the ability of an organised crime gang to commit a serious offence.
Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos

In a recent report on connected manufacturing, Ericsson and Swedish tech group Hexagon AB examined five different smart manufacturing applications that may enable manufacturers to conduct their operations more efficiently  autonomous mobile robots, collaborative robots, digital twins, augmented reality, and asset condition monitoring. The report shows that all these cases can pay for themselves in 3-5 years, and when all five are deployed together, payback can occur even within two years.

While the rapid uptake for robotics and overall automation on industry shop floors has been projected for a long time, challenges confronting the sector are manifold. Customers nowadays are increasingly expecting faster delivery and more customised products, which require factories to support flexible production. Supply chain disruption, outdated machinery, data security concerns, and restricted production adaptability also remain some of the long-standing issues.

Connected factories can boost efficiency, safety, reliability, and ultimately profitability with private cellular networks. According to a 2019 survey by Deloitte, a significant majority of manufacturing executives believes smart manufacturing initiatives will drive competitiveness over the next five years.

Manufacturers are increasingly seeing the value of private networks to make their business more agile. Private networks today operate mostly on 4G LTE. Through such networks, enterprises can cut the wires for maximum autonomy on a secured network slice as these networks have the potential to connect and manage entire lifecycles of devices with zero-touch capabilities.

Manufacturing companies are also betting on 5G to deliver ultra-low latency, high bandwidth, and reliable communication. Networks based on 5G are expected to become widely available in 2021 and will play a critical role in bringing about smart manufacturing.

To stay competitive, factories and warehouses must leverage the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and digitalisation to become much more efficient. While industries have automated many processes, secure wireless connectivity empowers factory automation, making industrial automation possible on a much larger scale. By creating a digital foundation, industrial automation will increase productivity and performance. For instance, Ericssons factory in Estonia has demonstrated that with AR troubleshooting, the average fault detection time reduction combined with better ergonomics and faster information sharing, can boost productivity by up to 50 per cent.

Industry 4.0 will help make smart machines even smarter, factories more efficient, processes less wasteful, production lines more flexible, and productivity higher. Built on the foundation of smart, secure, and wireless connectivity are many opportunities to extend machine life through predictive maintenance and supporting rapid material handling while monitoring every detail of the shop floor and leveraging collaborative robots simultaneously with mobile communication. This will help factories realise their goal of becoming fully automated.

Enterprises implementing Industry 4.0 need fast, reliable, secure wireless connectivity solutions, and Ericsson offers global connectivity and device management through the IoT Accelerator as well as on-premise connectivity solutions for industries.

Meanwhile, Ericsson and Audi have been collaborating to expand the horizons of tomorrows factories with 5G technologies. Following on from the first announced collaboration to pioneer 5G for automotive manufacturing in 2018 and from previous developments with both Audi and SICK, where we introduced safe operation of automated guided vehicles over a 5G network, we have now taken factory automation over a wireless network to the next level with 5G Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication.

Cutting the cables is the real game changer in enabling Industry 4.0. With that, Ericsson and Audi successfully tested 5G URLLC capabilities with real-life industrial automation applications at an Ericsson lab last year.

Ericssons cellular technology is empowering manufacturers to create agility by operating with more flexibly, advance operations by allowing efficiency-boosting technologies like AR and autonomous mobile robots, and unlocking intelligence by transforming data into actionable insights that raise productivity.

Here in Vietnam, we are also planning to invest in various smart initiatives, partnering with other Swedish companies as well as our mobile operator customers. Our ambition is further sharpened by the expectation that over two-thirds of global manufacturers will relocate to Asia-Pacific by 2025, with Vietnam clearly attracting a high number of these manufacturing opportunities. At Ericsson, we will support Vietnam in becoming a regional and global smart manufacturing hub.

Ericsson wishes to applaud the Vietnamese government for its strategic leadership in promoting the digital transformation of industries and enterprises, highlighting the importance of technology advancements for Vietnams continued socioeconomic prosperity. We fully support the governments directions to effectively harness opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution with 5G serving as the enabling digital infrastructure to support the rapid and sustainable development of Vietnam.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to a Minnesota man who was convicted of a drug charge in 1992.

John Harold Wall pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

He served five years in prison and four years of supervised release.

Wall was one of several drug offenders pardoned by Trump in one of his final acts as president.

The pardon was supported by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and former Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger.
EUGENE, Ore.  A former teacher at Spring Creek Elementary School in Eugene pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexually abusing a teenage girl, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said.

William Hamann, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a child.

Court documents say Hamann paid a 15-year-old girl for oral sex and recorded her performing sex acts several times between 2018 and July 2019.

Detectives arrested Hamann on July 26, 2019, when he came to meet the girl a fourth time. Evidence was reportedly found on his phone and social media account.

A federal grand jury in Eugene returned a four-count indictment in August 2019 charging Hamann with sexual exploitation and trafficking a child, possession of child pornography and attempted sex trafficking of a child.

Hamann was also charged with multiple counts in Lane County Circuit Court, including sodomy and sex abuse.

He will be sentenced on March 1. The U.S. Attorneys Office said it will recommend a 15-year prison sentence.

As part of the plea agreement, Hamann has agreed to pay restitution in full to his victim.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Eugene Police Department.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 503-224-4181 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Dada Saheb Phalke Should Be Awarded Bharat Ratna For His Contribution To The Industry: Grandson

Filmmaker Dada Saheb Phalke, regarded as the father of Indian cinema, should be conferred the title of Bharat Ratna for his contribution to the film industry, his grandson Chandrashekhar Pusalkar has said. Phalke's 1913 silent film Raja Harishchandra is considered the first full-length Indian feature film. In his career of nearly two decades, Phalke helmed 95 feature-length films such as Mohini Bhasmasur, Satyavan Savitri and Kaliya Mardan.

During a session at the 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Pusalkar said it would be fitting if the cinema legend received the country's highest civilian award. He also hoped that the film industry considers making a biopic on his illustrious career. "The occasion is right as it is the 150th birth anniversary of my grandfather and a befitting recognition would come by conferring upon him the title of Bharat Ratna posthumously. Also, the film industry should seriously think about making a biopic on him. Celebrities will come and go but as long as cinema is there, Dada Saheb Phalke will be remembered," Pusalkar said.

The latest edition of the movie gala is paying homage to Phalke with screenings of his films at the festival. Pusalkar said the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, awarded for lifetime contribution to cinema by the Government of India, has kept the filmmaker's legacy alive. "If the government had not taken such an initiative, my grandfather's work or life would have been ended in two pages, but now people know and respect him for his immense contribution to Indian cinema," he added.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was the recipient of 2018 Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The Prince of Wales has expressed his affection for the inquisitive and delightful character of the red squirrel as he praised the volunteers fighting for the creatures survival.

Heir to the throne Charles, who was marking Red Squirrel Appreciation Day, has written a letter to those working to prevent the decline of the red squirrel population.

The prince, who is patron of Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST), is known for letting the animals run around his Birkhall home on the Queens Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire.

He even leaves nuts in the pockets of his jackets, left hanging on chairs, for the squirrels to find.

Charles heralded the thousands of volunteers, who are part of a network of more than 100 local groups across the UK.

Described by RSST as the eyes and ears on the ground, they are behind conservation projects such as feeding the squirrels, monitoring trial cameras, looking for signs of squirrel pox disease, checking red and grey squirrel populations, and setting up squirrel boxes and also squirrel ropes which allow the creatures to safely cross above busy roads.

The prince wrote in his letter: Without your efforts, we simply could not hope to succeed in the task we have set ourselves.

Generations to come would be denied the pleasure we take for granted in the healthy woods that are now threatened as never before, and of which the red squirrel is both the symbol and, by its presence, the benchmark.

As you will all know so well, these charming and intelligent creatures never fail to delight. I take enormous pleasure in having them around  and in!  the house when I am at home in Scotland.

They are such inquisitive and delightful characters; they have even been known to hunt down a few of their favourite nuts left out in an unguarded jacket pocket!

He added: I am so very grateful to all of you, as volunteers, for the crucial role you play in this ongoing battle to protect and restore a precious part of our natural heritage.

This brings you all my warmest good wishes, together with every possible encouragement for the task ahead.

There are now less than 140,000 red squirrels in the UK and RSST has warned they will be extinct within 10 years without action to protect them.

Stephen Trotter, a trustee of RSST, said the princes continued support helped shine a light on the important work.

It is truly heartening to read of the passion and fondness in which this most iconic species is held, he said.

Mr Trotter added: It is these local red squirrel groups and their volunteers who undertake 80% of the conservation activity which is so critical to the survival of red squirrels on the mainland.

Indeed, it is their hard work and commitment that is largely responsible for saving the species from inevitable extinction in those parts of the British Isles where it still survives despite the presence and expansion of grey squirrels.

Grey squirrels, which arrived from North America in the 19th century, now outnumber native red squirrels by more than 15 to one.

They have out-competed the reds for resources and food, and carry a disease which affects their smaller neighbours.
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On Monday, our nation honored the legacy of slain civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is a timely relief when people from all walks of life can celebrate the life of a man who offered such a profound message of hope even during extreme socioeconomic challenges.

King dreamed of an America that is truly equal for all its citizens. He has inspired generations of people to change the trajectory of that long arc of the moral universe so that it bends toward justice.

From the Montgomery Bus Boycott, to the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, to the eventual signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Kings activism challenged our society to be better and to come together to fight against the evils of racism, poverty and militarism that divides us.

Today, we see the fruits of his labor. We realize the progress that has been made over the past few decades. Separate, but equal, is no longer the law of the land, yet we remain divided. Thus, we recognize that there is much work to be done before we can say that Kings dream has been fully realized.

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Even now, as we try to make sense of the turmoil that has had such a severe impact on our country, we have the opportunity to defer to Kings wisdom and his guidance.

I believe King would be optimistic about our progress.

As a result of historic turnout at the polls, we have elected the first woman of color as vice president of the United States. We have forever changed the political landscape of this country with the election of Raphael Warnock, the first African American from Georgia to be elected to the Senate, and Jon Ossoff, Georgias first Jewish senator.

Conversely, King would be disturbed by the insurgence that unfolded at our nations Capitol on Jan. 6. We should all be saddened by the painful reality of such a shameful attack on our democracy.

Therefore, people of color must continue to denounce all forms of racism and oppression. We must change a system of justice that only works for the few and not the many. The basic human right of every worker to earn a living wage has not been achieved. We cannot continue to sustain a system that takes necessities from the poor to subsidize luxuries for the rich. 

Let us remember the future that King envisioned for our nation, that all men and women are created equal. This can only be achieved through our collective courage, with all of us working together.

My hope is that each of you will take the opportunity to unite around the fundamental values that all Americans share. Let us continue to work to ensure that our laws, our actions, and our words honor the rights and dignity of every human being.

Help make Dr. Kings Dream a reality as we work to end racism and injustice through nonviolence and through community leadership. The words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have never been more relevant: It is no longer a choice, my friends, between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence.
Gonda : , Jan 20 (IANS) A 21-year-old son of an Ayurvedic doctor has allegedly been kidnapped in the Kotwali police circle of Gonda district.

The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of Rs 70 lakh, to be paid till January 22, or else they have threatened to kill the youth.

According to Gonda Superintendent of Police, Shailesh Pandey, the victim, Gaurav Haldar, is pursuing Bachelor of Ayurveda Medical & Surgery (BAMS) from a private college in Haripur locality of Gonda and was living in the campus hostel.

Six teams have been formed to nab the kidnappers, while CCTVs of the stretch near the college were being scanned by the police teams.

Gaurav's father Nikhil Haldar is an ayurvedic practitioner in Bahraich.

Haldar, in his FIR, said that he last spoke to his son on Monday afternoon.

"On Tuesday morning, Haldar thought Gaurav would be attending classes on the college campus. However, on Tuesday evening, Haldar received a call from an unknown number who demanded Rs 70 lakh ransom for releasing his son," the SP said.

The boy's father informed the police later on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, police sources said that Gaurav's last mobile phone location was traced to Lucknow road on Monday evening. Since then, his phone has been switched off.

One of his classmates said that Gaurav had left the campus, late on Monday afternoon, after receiving a call. The call reportedly came from a girl.
DETROIT, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Carbon Fiber Prepreg Market by End-Use Industry (Aerospace & Defense, Wind Energy, Sporting Goods, Automotive, Civil Engineering, Marine, and Others), by Resin Type (Thermoset and Thermoplastic), by Form Type (UD Prepreg and Fabric Prepreg), by Curing Type (Autoclave, Out of Autoclave, and Others), by Product Type (Epoxy, BMI, Cyanate Ester, Polyimide, Phenolic, PPS, PEEK, and Others), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Size, Share, Trend, Forecast and Industry Analysis: 2021-2026.

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today's carbon fiber prepreg market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. The report estimates the short- as well as long-term repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for carbon fiber prepreg at the global, regional, as well as country level. Also, the report provides the possible loss that the industry will register by comparing pre-COVID and post-COVID scenarios. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as formulate growth strategies.

Carbon Fiber Prepreg Market: Highlights from the Report

Carbon fiber prepregs offer excellent performance over other prepregs with numerous advantages such as excellent weight reduction, high strength-to-weight ratio, high tensile and compressive strength, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and high fatigue resistance. Escalating demand for lightweight materials from key industries, such as aerospace & defense and automotive, owing to rapidly changing market dynamics with increased demand for lightweight and durable materials is likely to create new revenue pockets for prepreggers in this product category.

Despite several setbacks in the aerospace and automotive industries in 2019, the prepreg market participants somehow were efficacious in maintaining their growth trajectory in the year. However, the outbreak of the pandemic, which was initially anticipated as a viable hitch, later transformed into an obstruction for survival for many stakeholders of almost all the end-use industries with aerospace and automotive proving to be its biggest victims. Wind energy and marine industries proved to be the shining stars during this trying time, keeping the big guns engaged in business.

The carbon fiber prepreg market is expected to mark a massive decline in 2020. The short-term impact on the market is evident in major players' H1 2020 results with a massive plunge in revenue, huge loss, employee layoffs, cash-burnouts, production halt, etc. Nevertheless, the long-term outlook still seems hopeful with a gradual rebound in aircraft and automobile production, ultimately imprinting a positive impact on the market. Carbon prepreg accounts for more than a mammoth 80% of the total prepreg market. Stratview Research's estimates suggest that the market is likely to pick up pace in the years to come to reach an estimated value of US$ 4.9 billion in 2026. The slumping production rate of composite-rich aircraft, B787 and A350XWB is acting as one of the prime reasons behind the market's delayed recuperation.

Click Here and Run Through the TOC of the Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/1060/carbon-prepreg-market.html

Based on the end-use industry, Stratview research has segmented the market as aerospace & defense, wind energy, automotive, civil engineering, sporting goods, marine, and others. Despite the current glum scenario, the aerospace & defense is expected to push through, maintaining its dominance in the market till 2026. On the other side, the automotive industry is expected to turn the corner, healing at the fastest pace during the forecast period. Unabating demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, owing to rising concerns over environmental pollution and an expected ramp-up in composite penetration in newer aircraft programs are likely to catapult the carbon fiber prepreg demand in the years to come.

Based on the product type, we have classified the market as epoxy prepreg, BMI prepreg, cyanate ester prepreg, polyimide prepreg, phenolic prepreg, PPS prepreg, PEEK prepreg, and other prepregs. Epoxy prepreg is likely to lead the market till 2026, whereas BMI prepreg is expected to grow at the fastest pace in the next five years. Carbon fiber prepregs are generally used with epoxy resin systems for several crucial applications such as aircraft fuselage, wings, control surfaces, engine & nacelles, fan blades, and interiors.

Enquire Here for a Free Sample of the Detailed Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/1060/carbon-prepreg-market.html

All regions are expected to suffer from an enormous decline in 2020. Despite the grave downturn, North America is projected to remain the largest market during the forecast period. The region's dominance is attributed to several factors including a robust supply chain and the presence of major tier players, OEMs, and prepreggers. Aerospace & defense is estimated to remain the biggest demand generator for carbon fiber prepreg in the region's market.

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to log a quick recovery in the market during the forecast period. Upcoming commercial aircraft program (C919), continuous manufacturing shift of sporting goods equipment to China, opening of assembly plants in China by Boeing and Airbus, and an ongoing shift in assembly plants of automotive OEMs in the region are likely to create a healthy long-term demand for carbon fiber prepregs in the region.

Key players in the market are Hexcel, Solvay, Toray, Teijin, Mitsubishi Chemical, Gurit, and Park Aerospace. Formation of long-term contracts, application development, and development of innovative products are some of the key strategies adopted by the major players to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.

Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.

Market trend and forecast analysis.

Market segment trend and forecast.

Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.

Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.

Emerging trends.

Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.

Key success factors.

This report studies the global carbon fiber prepreg market and has segmented the market in six ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the six ways in which the market is segmented:

Carbon Fiber Prepreg Market Size, Share, & Forecast, by End-Use Industry

Aerospace & Defense (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Wind Energy (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Sporting Goods (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Automotive (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Civil Engineering (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Marine (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Carbon Fiber Prepreg Market Size, Share, & Forecast, by Resin Type

Thermoset Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Thermoplastic Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Carbon Fiber Prepreg Market Size, Share, & Forecast, by Form Type

UD Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Fabric Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Carbon Fiber Prepreg Market Size, Share, & Forecast, by Curing Type

Autoclave (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Out of Autoclave (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Carbon Fiber Prepreg Market, by Product Type

Epoxy Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) BMI Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Cyanate Ester Prepregs (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Polyimide Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Phenolic Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) PPS Prepreg (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) PEEK Prepregs (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

, , , and RoW) Other Prepregs (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Carbon Fiber Prepreg Market, by Region

North America (Country Analysis: The USA , Canada , and Mexico )

(Country Analysis: The , , and ) Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , France , the UK, Russia , and Rest of Europe )

(Country Analysis: , , the UK, , and Rest of ) Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan , China , India , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

(Country Analysis: , , , and Rest of ) Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil , Saudi Arabia , and Others)

Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the composites and advanced materials industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports:

Click Here for Other Reports from Stratview Research in the Advanced Materials Industry: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/Advanced-Materials.html

About Stratview Research

Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research, and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas.

We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies.

Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.

For enquiries, please contact:

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Kerala's COVID-19 cases continued to soar with the state recording 6,815 new cases, including two UK returnees, on Wednesday while 7,364 people were cured of the infection,which has claimed over 3500 lives.

Eighteen more fatalities took the toll to 3,524.

Of the positive cases, 6,219 were infected through local transmission and the source of infection of 447 people was not known, Health minister K K Shailaja said.

In the last 24 hours, 61,532 samples were tested and the test positivity rate has shot up to11.08 per cent, So far, 90,81,931 samples have been sent for testing



The COVID-19 caseload has mounted to 8,63,598 while the recoveries so far have touched 7,90,757 and 69,691 people are undergoing treatment, she said in a press release here.

Among the districts, Ernakulam accounted for the most number of cases (1031), followed by Kozhikode 770, Kottayam 704 and Pathnamthitta 654.

Two people who had returned from Britain tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

As many as 65 returnees were detected with the virus and their samples sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for further testing for the new variant, she said.

Nine people have tested positive for the new strain so far.

Of the positive cases,58 are health workers, including 10 from Kannur, 91 had come from outside the state and 6,219 were infected through local transmission.

As many as 2,09,118 people are under observation in various districts, including 11,462 in hospitals.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Credit Suisse Group AG executives ignored warnings from colleagues about troubled steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta as they channeled $1.2 billion of client funds to his businesses, according to people familiar with the matter.Bankers in Credit Suisses commodity trade-finance unit blacklisted Guptas Liberty Commodities Ltd. in 2016 because they suspected some of its deals werent legitimate, the people said. When they learned about two years later that the bank was lending to his companies through a suite of investment funds, which eventually grew to $10 billion, they flagged their worries to leaders in compliance and the division that housed the loans, one of the people said.The disclosure that Credit Suisse may have put clients at risk despite internal concerns over Guptas businesses adds a new twist to the debacle stemming from the March implosion of Greensill Capital, the finance firm at the center of the three-way relationship.Investigations, LawsuitsThe U.K. Serious Fraud Office is now investigating Guptas group of companies for suspected fraud, including in its financing deals with Greensill, according to a May 14 statement. Credit Suisse has sued to force Guptas Liberty Commodities into insolvency and has since shut the funds that made the loans and launched an internal investigation. Investors are staring at losses as the bank confronts embarrassing lawsuits.We are currently focusing our efforts on recovering our investors money, Will Bowen, a spokesman for Credit Suisse in London, said in an emailed statement, adding that the banks internal probe will focus on all of the issues linked to the funds. We are committed to learning the lessons and will share the relevant lessons learnt at the appropriate time.Andrew Mitchell, a spokesman for the Gupta Family Group Alliance, or GFG Alliance, a collective of businesses linked to Gupta including Liberty Commodities, denied any wrongdoing.The Greensill saga represents just one of the two disasters that rocked Credit Suisse in the first half of 2021. Since Greensill began unraveling, the bank has announced a $5.5 billion hit from the blowup at Archegos Capital Management.ApologiesFormer Chairman Urs Rohner apologized to shareholders and his successor, Antonio Horta-Osorio, who arrived at the end of April, has promised a sweeping strategy review.Chief Executive Officer Thomas Gottstein, who was head of the division that oversaw trade finance, wasnt aware of the internal concerns about Gupta that had prompted the bank to cut him off, according to a person familiar with the matter.Employees at the trade-finance unit, which lends money for the buying and selling of commodities, cut ties with Gupta in 2016 after becoming skeptical toward his Liberty Commodities, the people said. They distrusted the documents the company provided, triggering doubts about its transactions, they said. In one example reported by Bloomberg, the company had presented another bank with what seemed to be duplicate shipping receipts. A spokesman for Gupta has denied any wrongdoing.Banking TiesLiberty Commodities pledged assets to Credit Suisse as security for borrowings in 2013 but by early 2016, all such commitments had been extinguished, indicating that the financing relationship had ceased, U.K. Companies House filings show. And while Guptas company listed the Swiss bank as one of its lenders in its 2014 annual report, it didnt in the following years report, which is dated May 2016, according to the filings.Their counterparts at other banks, including Macquarie Group Ltd. and Sberbank PJSC, halted trading with Liberty Commodities around the same time because of similar concerns; Goldman Sachs Group Inc. also stopped in 2016, Bloomberg has reported.Nevertheless, executives at Credit Suisses asset-management division -- which creates investment products for clients and charges a fee for overseeing them -- began arranging a suite of funds focused on supply-chain finance in 2017. The entities bought securitized loans packaged by Greensill, a firm created by Australian businessman Lex Greensill. Much of the debts were linked to Guptas businesses.WarningsOfficials at the commodity trade-finance unit were concerned when they found out about the funds links to Gupta and took their fears to Thomas Grotzer, general counsel for the banks Swiss division. They also warned Luc Mathys and Lukas Haas, the bankers who helped oversee the trades at the asset-management unit.Grotzer was promoted last month to interim global head of compliance at Credit Suisse. He didnt respond to requests for comment. Mathys, head of fixed-income at the asset-management division, and Haas, a portfolio manager, were put on temporary leave in March. Neither responded to requests for comment.The bank pushed ahead with the funds and marketed them to investors as being made up of short-term debt secured on invoices, assets considered so safe that Credit Suisse gave the largest vehicle its lowest rating for risk. Yet part of the loans were linked to mere possible future revenues.Other parts of the bank continued working with Gupta as well. Credit Suisses investment bankers were due to lead an initial public offering for Libertys U.S. steel arm, which was ultimately pulled, according to a statement from the company. Gupta also announced that the Swiss bank would finance his planned acquisition of Thyssenkrupp AGs steel unit, which fell apart earlier this year.Credit Suisse has so far recouped about $5.9 billion of the $10 billion in these supply-chain funds, but it remains unclear how much will be returned ultimately to investors. Loans to Guptas businesses are among a batch of debts that are the principal sources of valuation uncertainty, the bank said earlier this month.Liberty Commoditiess external legal advisors investigated alleged rumors concerning the paperwork it used in 2019, according to Mitchell, the spokesman for GFG Alliance. They found no evidence to substantiate the rumors, nor was the company ever subject to further complaints or proceedings, he said.LCL has ongoing banking relationships with separate financial institutions, Mitchell said, referring to Liberty Commodities. The trade-finance market has been hugely challenging for all but the very largest commodities traders in recent years. Nevertheless, no financial institution has been left out of pocket as a result of lending money to LCL. On the contrary, they have received substantial commercial returns.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 Recovery and Resilience Facility is the best proof of the European Union's ability to learn from past lessons and deliver concrete and operational results despite the current crisis conditions," Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare told the meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) on January 19, 2021, according to AGERPRES.

According to a Finance Ministry release, the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility was one of the main items on the agenda of the ECOFIN meeting held in videoconference. It is to be adopted in February, after which the member states can formally submit National Recovery and Resilience Plans for evaluation and approval.

In this context, Alexandru Nazare underlined the importance of making this facility operational as soon as possible and brought to mind that Romania sent for consultation a draft plan in November 2020, which is currently on the agenda of the European Commission.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate both the German Presidency for reaching agreement on the Recovery and Resilience Facility file and the Portuguese Presidency for furthering the implementation efforts. The facility is the best proof of the EU's ability to learn from the past to deliver concrete, operational results, despite the current crisis' conditions," mentioned Alexandru Nazare.

Also, the Romanian finance minister underlined the fact that the control systems related to the facility should not hinder the implementation, an idea supported by several representatives of the member states.

In his turn, the European Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, said that all the reform plans received so far are in the draft stage, while mentioning the importance of the member states' submitting the final working options as soon as possible.

The EU's Finance Ministers discussed at the ECOFIN meeting also the conclusions of the Report on the 2021 Alert Mechanism, respectively the draft recommendation for the economic policy of the Eurozone. They will be approved later by written procedure.

According to the Finance Ministry, the EIB Group's annual survey on investments and their financing and the non-performing loans action plan completed the ECOFIN agenda.

Tuesday's ECOFIN meeting was the first meeting chaired by the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council, which presented its program and priorities in the field of economic and financial affairs.
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From: Albert Goldson -- Cerulean Council For Immediate Release: Dateline: New York , NY Tuesday, January 19, 2021

The Fifth Column Arises An extremely dark historical deja vu reenactment is being played out present-day in real time that is recreating events in the tumultuous year of 1968. Thousands of American extras are engaged throughout the country in sowing violence & mayhem in a reenactment of the Tet offensive but on American soil potentially at the Inauguration and certainly post-Inauguration. Already the FBI is vetting members of the National Guard brought in from numerous states who are assigned to support local law enforcement against violent protests and any other threats during the Inauguration.  Firstly, it seems an impossible task to vet every one of the thousands National Guardsman thoroughly enough to pass with a high degree of certainty that a member poses no threat during the ceremony.  Secondly, is the FBI vetting local law enforcement from which several members were alleged to be sympathetic to the pro-Trump protestors who laid siege on the Capital building?  Thirdly, and not least, following the old security adage, whos vetting the FBI? Disturbingly neither the National Guard nor local law enforcement in any part of the country have the training and experience in riot-control or have sufficient riot-specific equipment. For this reason to compensate, the temptation to use excessive force, particularly if they feel that their lives are in danger, is extremely high. This is why the alleged pro-Trump plan to protest at 50 state capitals regardless of the size or even non-violent protest is a devious quantitative gambit. The odds of any protest, anywhere devolving into violent confrontation is high and can trigger a cascade of escalations elsewhere thanks to social media. US Homeland Tet Offensive The Vietcong (VC) launched the infamous Tet Offense  the Vietnamese New Year  on January 30, 1968 with simultaneous attacks on 100 towns and cities throughout the country. Their objective was to provoke a popular uprising against the South Vietnamese government. Although despite the ferocity of their efforts the VC failed militarily but won politically in the long run because it decisively turned the American public against the US governments involvement in Vietnam. Jumping off the pages of a Twilight Zone script, a disturbing historical parallel is unfolding domestically in which, according to the FBI, a determined and well-supported armed anti-government movement is threatening 50 state capitals. January | Historical Deja Vu The following are the astonishing historical parallels between the Tet offensive in 1968 and the present-day violence in the US 53 years later in the same month:  The US was deeply divided politically and racially during the 1960s and present-day with violent protests that led up to the furious assault on government buildings.  The VC assault took place during Tet - their Lunar New Year - while the assault on the US Capitol building took place near our political New Year called The Inauguration in the same month of January.  In Vietnam and the US extremist elements surprised governmental forces.  Anti-government forces, VC and pro-Trump extremists, assault the US Embassy in Saigon (then South Vietnams capital) and the US Capitol building in Washington, DC, respectively.  In each assault the VC and extremists breached the outer security perimeter and had the opportunity to breach the inner sanctum to kidnap, or perhaps worse, the US Ambassador and Congressional members, respectively but never did.  In each assault on US territory exactly 5 Americans died.  Throughout Vietnam assaults against US and South Vietnamese forces raged. Present-day potential violent forces are targeting government, corporate and other important buildings. Seizing power through physical confrontation and reversing the election results is impossible. However like the VC, politically pro-Trump supporters can gain more sympathizers by planting the seeds for the GOPs eventual return to the White House in 2024. Because the venues for Inauguration Day are already predetermined pro-Trump supporters may encounter counter-protests at many of these venues. In other words, all hell could break loose throughout the week with the National Guard, law enforcement and citizens caught in the middle of endless riot firestorms. The following chart entitled DC Troop Levels Five Times as High as Iraq & Afghanistan provided by the US Department of Defense, Task & Purpose, The Drive and provided by Statista, an online statistical firm, embarrassingly shows the overwhelming force required to maintain the peaceful transfer of power in the nations capital. Smile! Youre On Candid Camera! | Citizens With Nothing to Lose It may seem odd and ludicrous that the many pro-Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol building not only didnt wear masks but enthusiastically took selfies, were easily identifiable afterwards. This meant that the rioters absolutely knew beforehand that their images would be recorded by security cameras in and around Capital building but didnt care that it would lead to criminal charges, loss of jobs or become nearly unemployable when identified. The aforementioned is the unsettling part because it signifies that these are people who feel that they have nothing to lose and, as the adage goes, makes this group extremely dangerous. Just as the Western media is befuddled about the religious true believers in emerging and developing countries who are willing to risk everything against their respective present-day governments or join violent groups in failed states, the same is being played out domestically. Similar to the Tet offensive, it also means that these protests will not simmer down or burn out over the course of several weeks or months, rather during the entire Biden administration until the climax of the 2024 US presidential election with the tacit support of likeminded powerful elements at the highest levels of every industry. Interestingly theres a stupefying weird perspective of the present-day violent surge of pro-Trump protests. During Trumps 2016 inauguration there was a paucity of these same pro-Trump supporters to celebrate his election victory. Yet theyve emerged from every nook & cranny in the thousands as Trump is about to leave office to fervently support him at his unabashed urging and continue the fight against the Biden Inauguration. Who Are Those Guys? | Mainstream Citizens Going Mad The following chart entitled Anti-Government Extremist Groups in the US provided by the Southern Poverty Law Center and provided by Statista, underscores the continued anti-government groups in the US. Although the number of groups have declined since the Obama administration, many of these present-day extremists  a cross-section of American society from struggling blue workers to highly-paid white collar professionals are radicalized with an unabashed willingness in committing violent acts.

The ominous coalescence of the present-day groups is that they bring a dangerous cross-section of skill sets, experience and insider knowledge from a wide variety of professions to more effectively undermine the incoming administration which makes them far more dangerous than the earlier street thuggish, anti-government groups. Bright Light in a Narrow Tunnel The urgency of the Biden administration is to avoid a Dark Winter 2 in 2021-2022 at all costs. If this spring through early fall Covid cases and deaths fail to abate and supersede inoculations, and medical personnel burn-out with hospitals running out of supplies, equipment & medicine, the US could become a struggling faraway emerging country with enormous resources blocked but by incompetence and corruption. The realpolitik is that Covid has become a sideshow, a political lightning rod for the opposition. Defeating Covid is a matter of scientific power which is slowly being accomplished. The real issue is the faltering real economy which has enslaved millions of Americans into debt and poverty. The citizenry is infuriated because they believe that the decades-old socio-economic-political structure has failed them over the course of many administrations and caters exclusively and rather openly to the elite. To put it bluntly these citizens have many valid points. The government and corporations have the power yet lack the will to make fundamental structural changes for the public good. With opposing sides digging in their heels unwilling to even discuss these matters in earnest, as the song goes Somethings gotta give but may be increasingly decided on the streets, not at the ballot box.  Copyright 2021 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urban security. Political Civil War In a Twilight Zone deja vu there are fascinating yet disturbing historical parallels as Inauguration Day approaches. The shot that killed the US Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt trying to enter the US Capitol building and who now serves as the martyr rallying cry of the pro-Trump extremists, can be eerily compared to the first shot that ignited Americas Civil War at Fort Sumter in 1861, both occurring during a period of a nation deeply divided. For some historical perspective in July 1864 Confederate Lt. General Jabal Early led a battle-hardened, grizzled military force towards Washington DC known soon to be called the Battle of Fort Stevens and almost succeeded in breaching its defenses. Fortunately for the Union, Earlys long march towards the capital under blistering summer conditions and the need to rest for several days upon arrival delayed the main assault by several days. This fortuitous delay enabled the Union Army to frantically muster enough men to carry out a canon bombardment which discouraged a main assault. In January 2021 pro-Trump supporters had far more success with less personnel than Lt. General Early in breaching the Capitol buildings under-manned security, entered the building and came within a hairsbreadth of capturing members of Congress.as hostages Ironically, despite pro-Trump supporters having far less firepower than Lt. General Early, the National Guard will post 20,000 in & around the city for the upcoming 2021 inauguration, slightly less than the 23,000 troops that defended Washington DC in 1864, which powerfully underscores the seriousness of the crisis. Warlord Trumps Werewolves Theres no doubt that this 21st century political civil war is just getting started that will regularly go beyond heated verbal rhetoric. This third surge is undoubtedly a man-made political plague instigated by the proverbial presidential stamp of approval to not only continue rather escalate the fight well after he leaves office. The pro-Trump supporters voted with their military surplus boots in storming the Capitol. They may not have captured members of Congress but their mission was a success beyond their wildest dreams. This has only emboldened and galvanized this new movement. More disturbingly is that this event represents a far-deeper breach into the minds of Americans and despite all its democratic laws and military might, exposes the fragility and vulnerability of Americas democracy. Although Biden clearly won the election with the Electoral College and popular vote it was far from decisive. For this reason this non-decisive victory provides pro-Trump supporters fodder to pursue the stolen election claim, one that was not won beyond a reasonable doubt, a phrase that cannot be defined quantitatively. Only a Biden landslide would have been the coup de grace and pre-empted mass violence at the Capitol. Interestingly the election results indicate considerably more about the weakness of Bidens victory than of Trumps defeat. In war there are often a handful of violent diehard holdouts after a formal surrender encouraged by the defeated or deposed leadership. A similar situation might occur in the aftermath of Trumps election defeat. Trump may be censored on social media yet a multitude of pro-Trump groups have already arisen to communicate his gospel to those who consider our constitutional laws as mere guidelines. In an oft-repeated historical pattern, after regimes were defeated militarily, the ousted government still held powerful political sway in present-day democracies. The US is no exception. The Trump administration and subsequent scorched earth tactics at the US Capitol building is justifiably alarming and reveals the breath & depth of his influence. Trumps charismatic powers run far & deep among his diehard constituency. He received over 74 million votes amongst a wide range of citizens from the unemployed, blue collar disaffected workers to the hidden, albeit wealthy and powerful, not to mention millions of sympathizers all of which represents a daunting demographic. The dramatic violent maelstrom on the Capitol building is confirmation that these 74 million strong voters have his back. One doesnt have to read between the lines of Trumps public statements before, during or after the storming of the US Capitol that hell relish assuming the role of a post-presidential warlord and take advantage of an America, physically, economically and psychologically weakened by the pandemic. The Two Front War The present-day devastating pandemic surge throughout the country is a drain on the economy that threatens to blow past stress test parameters and triggers an economic seizure and possible collapse. The incoming Biden administration, along with the good members of the GOP who support our democratic institutions, face a daunting two front war each of which has equal top priority:  The first is international, the continuing external threat primarily from the emerging troika of China, Russia and non-states, who now smell blood in the water, and intensify their cyber-intrusions.  The second is domestic, the internal threat from the pro-Trump continency who, aside from the violent shock troops, has hidden and powerful supporters at all levels of business and society that could undermine socio-economic recovery efforts. The Biden administration is in an unenviable lose-lose situation that serves merely as a paper stop-gap until the decisive presidential 2024 election that will indelibly determine Americas path in the 21st century. The Sequel | The Security Nightmare The overwhelming attention is focused on a potential replay of violence by pro-Trump supporters not only at the inauguration rather at cities throughout the country and during the rest of this dark winter. What is overlooked or perhaps rarely mentioned, are the equally violent extreme leftist counterparts that are just itching for a pitched battle whether before, on or after inauguration day in any city or town in the US in a perverse re-enactment of the urban pitched battles during the Weimar Republic. These unfolding events were articulated in my article published on 7 August 2020 entitled The Upcoming Phases of Turmoil specifying the intensity of violence before the election, the period between the election and inauguration and post-inauguration. Furthermore the catalysts of violence are the newly inspired lone wolves and anarchists whose sole objective is violence and mayhem> They represent the accelerant that fuels the hatred by hiding under the socio-political banner of either side as they did with the nascent BLM movement. If violent clashes escalate well past the inauguration period, theres the potential for the state or federal government to declare a state of emergency and lockdowns. Further along should these emergency measures fail to quell the violence, they may become codified America. This step of last resort will trigger Americas descent down the slippery and often politically unrecoverable path towards a dak democracy whose constitutional rights are interpreted as privileges to be taken away selectively at the whim of the public/private, corporate/governmental masters in an organically produced domestic real-life version of the dystopian series The Man in the High Castle.  Copyright 2021 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urban security. As approved vaccines are distributed as a priority to essential workers worldwide and soon to the general population, the decimated hospitality industry, many of whom are holding onto their fingertips at the edge of a financial abyss, will try to meet the pent-up demand by travelers whose disposable income during the lockdowns were not adversely affected and who can afford to travel. However there are unique factors in the industry that sets it apart that will make its recovery will be extremely asymmetrical due to non-economic, non-quantitative factors. The Travelers Perspective Vacation plans for tourists, and to a lesser extent for business travelers, are heavily based on word-of-mouth references and recommendations from friends, acquaintances, and business associates. Despite the cutting-edge, marketing cyber-sophistication of the hospitality and related & supporting industries, the core fundamentals of tourism will continue to almost always be grass roots oriented through face-to-face conversations. Travelers use technology as a post-decision tool to secure the cheapest and most convenient way to travel, not to confirm their destination decision. This process was brilliantly articulated in the movie The Matrix Reloaded in which Neo consulted the Oracle face to face. Imagine yourself as Neo talking to your friend the Oracle with respect to where you want to go. In the scene the Oracle explains to Neo, You didnt come here to make a choice. Youve already made the choice. Youre here to understand why you made it.  Firstly because of the extended lockdowns and travel restrictions no one has traveled in almost a year making references and recommendations impossible to come by.  Secondly, because of Covids fury, even older references are suspect because the status of many venues has changed dramatically, many of which have closed permanently. Everything has changed. Once freedom of travel becomes a reality there will be limited travel choices, nothing that all the time and money can overcome which means that theres no way to accurately predict the new tourism landscape. Feast or Famine The vaccines uneven distribution has begun with richer countries getting priority because of money, logistical distribution while developing and emerging markets, highly dependent are at the back of the line. The latter rely almost exclusively dependent on tourism for revenue. Like the dynamics of a funnel vaccinated tourists from rich countries will have difficult traveling to developing and emerging countries may still be banned or have limited access because of on-going high public health risks in developing and emerging countries. For this reason domestic tourism will rebound, even flourish, well before international travel. Furthermore an economy that is opening up is defined differently in each country and open to interpretation such as freedom of movement. Tourist may enter a country but will be restricted to specific resorts that are prison-like, gated-community. For this reason the global hospitality industry recovery will be asymmetrical and contingent on location. Business Travelers Business road warriors are hospitalitys revenue and profit margin bread & butter. Nonetheless even domestically there will be far fewer business travelers all of whom will be on limited budgets with shorter stays and lower entertainment expenditures. The business traveler demographic will probably consist of the business core essentials: C-suite executives and technical/sales personnel. During the lockdowns the effectiveness of teleconferencing has been proven to resolve most issues which eliminates future business travel for mid-level personnel. Present-Day State of Global Tourism Global tourism is a critical component of the worlds economy. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council there are 330 million hospitality jobs worldwide which represent one-tenth of the global work force and 10.3% of the global GDP in 2019. The United Nations World Tourism Organization(UNWTO) chart entitled Covid-19s Crushing Impact on International Tourism provided by Statista, an online statistical service, articulates how the pandemic has adversely impacted the global hospitality industry: Domestically, according to the US Travel Association US travel spending is down 45% from 2019. Already 3.5 million or 40% of the travel jobs have been lost with an additional one million by years end. Their forecast is that pre-pandemic levels wont return until 2024. Even with limited international openings, domestic tourism will far outstrip international tourism because in an increasingly unstable geopolitical world notably Americans will be more comfortable traveling in their own country with the same language, culture, and rapid ease of return travel to their hometowns in case of sudden full lockdown mandates. With respect to the hospitality industry financially, the pandemic has been a crushing blow. The following chart developed by UNWTO and presented by Statista entitled Tourism Back to 1990 Levels as Pandemic Halts Travel powerfully underscores this reality and the difficulty in recovery:

Zero Hour | The Re-Set Of all the components in international tourism airlines are best suited to adapt to the uneven recovery. Historically airlines are far better prepared and adaptable in adjusting to demand with fewer flights, smaller aircraft, re-routing through hubs, etc. maintain competitive pricing while securing a reasonable profit. On the other hand geographically fixed services such as hotels have a fixed costs and fixed number of rooms and do not have the means to reduce the cost of those unfilled rooms. With respect to the international and domestic hospitality industry, the logistical challenges and manufacturing to scale of the vaccine will continue to be problematic and delay global economic recovery through most of 2021. Furthermore the continued global economic recession will depress travel & leisure demand which means that the hospitality industry recovery will be arduously slow and painful.  Copyright 2021 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urban security. The FDA and British government approvals of Covid-19 vaccines marks the beginning for the upcoming Herculean logistical effort required to inoculate billions of citizens worldwide. For this reason a robust global supply chain will be required at each stage from manufacturing to final delivery. This global inoculation effort is unprecedented. Past inoculation efforts have been country-specific or regional to combat epidemics, not pandemics, and not without its share of complexities and inevitable difficulties. Even if one uses those earlier efforts as operational templates, the sheer depth & breadth of the forthcoming global distribution effort is far more overwhelming logistically, economically and politically. Its one thing to have an approved and safe product, its another to manufacture it to scale and safely distribute it globally requiring the most stringent requirements. Just imagine trying to supply vaccines to one city, akin to the 1947 Berlin airlift which took place over many months and saved German citizens from starvation. A similar logistical effort but on a global scale will be required to save the world from economic collapse. For this reason this is why air cargo is a key component in the critical path of this supply chain/distribution process. Investment Opportunities in Air Cargo Transport The major airlines will play a major role in the transport of vaccines worldwide and investment in any specific airline stock will provide a good return on investment based on a growing and long-term sustained demand for worldwide distribution. The following are the types of air companies that will literally do the heavy-lifting: Airlines The following three major US airlines at the forefront to transport the vaccine worldwide are: 1. American Airlines [NASDQ: AAL] 2. United Airlines [NASDQ: UAL] 3. Delta Airlines [NYSE: DAL] Airfreight Cargo The three major airfreight cargo companies who already specialize in transporting pharmaceuticals but now must do it at scale as a priority are: 1. Fedex [NYSE: FDX] 2. UPS [NYSE: UPS] 3. DHL [OTC MKTS: DPSGY] My investment preference is Air Transport Services Group (ATSG: NASDAQ) because of their broad-based worldwide provider of air cargo. According to their website, ATSG is a leading provider of aircraft leasing and air cargo transportation and related services to domestic and foreign air carriers and other companies that outsource their air cargo lift requirements. ATSG, through its leasing and airline subsidiaries, is the world's largest owner and operator of converted Boeing 767 freighter aircraft. Their services encompass four tenets: (1) leasing, (2) operating, (3) maintenance, repair and overhaul and (4) flight & ground support. Furthermore because of their wide range of services they have more aviation logistic partners. However the following are present-day aviation logistical challenges against the background of a strong demand that far exceeds supply: Air Cargo Freighter Shortage Securing the numerous mothballed aircraft configured and certified for air cargo (cargo freighters) is easier said than done. Even if all the available air cargo freighters were in operation right now, their numbers fall far short of what is required for the global transport of the vaccine. To offset this shortage air companies are converting passenger jets to cargo freighters, the best suited being wide-bodied, long haul models. One such example is the conversion of the new but economically disappointing passenger A-380 which has a 50-ton cargo capacity. Furthermore these large aircraft can only fulfill cargo flights between major hubs with long runways that can handle this type aircraft. Smaller air cargo aircraft will be required to transport the vaccine to secondary urban areas, non-urban areas and more remote areas. Qualified Pilot Shortage Another challenge is the severe shortage of pilots. Because of lockdowns and an almost cessation of air travel, many pilots were either furloughed, let go (younger pilots) or offered early retirement packages (senior pilots). The next step is to (re)hire pilots who are experienced flying air cargo freighters and train those who havent. Unlike a truck driver who can learn quickly on a different model truck without passing a regulatory-mandated check ride, pilots must be certified on the particular type of air cargo aircraft. The shortage of air cargo freighters and qualified/certified pilots compounds the problem to distribute the vaccine at scale. The following chart entitled Thousands of US Pilots Face Furlough This Fall provided by CBS News and presented by Statista, an online statistical firm, highlights the challenge of pilot callbacks to meet the surge in demand for vaccine air delivery. What should not be overlooked are the critical support services required including maintenance personnel who are also on furlough. Stress Test for Global Supply Chain Air cargo comprises less than one percent of transported goods with pharmaceuticals being one of those goods that are usually air shipped. Pharmaceutical companies have established supply chains but they are not designed for mass global distribution. For this reason its architectural structure must be heavily modified, expanded and made a priority over the shipment of regular prescription drugs such as those for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and anti-depressants. Early Pandemic-Related Company Investment Recommendations With respect to pandemic-related products & services and stock recommended track record, my earlier SA article entitled SA article 25 March 2020 entitled USA: A Brutal Coronavirus Economic Reset published 25 March 2020, I was extremely bullish and recommended a strong buy for Moderna Inc. [MRNA: NASDAQ] in the biotech section who had just begun developing a vaccine. Present-day their vaccine is on the cusp of FDA approval and their stock price has exploded from $27.13 on 25 March 2020 (the publication date of my article) to $125.73 on 22 December 2020. The logistics and air transport are unlikely to provide the explosive returns as Moderna, I believe that its immediate to long-term prospects for steady growth are excellent. Outlook Because of the aforementioned aviation logistical challenges I forecast that these air transport equipment and professional services shortages will push back the overly ambitious mass distribution and inoculation schedule well into the late summer and fall of 2021. I project that this transportation demand will continue unabated well into 2022 particularly to lesser developed countries and geographically difficult to reach regions. Ironically the approval of additional vaccines in late winter and spring will not ease the distribution problem because they will offset the difficulties in the mass production of upcoming newly-approved vaccines. This will create an even larger ready-to-ship inventory which will outstrip the increased availability of air cargo transport equipment and professional services not to mention the stockpiling of vaccines. For this reason the need for air cargo transport services will continue well into 2022.  Copyright 2020 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urban security.







It is an open secret of the extreme disconnect between the surge in the stock market erroneously labeled as an economic recovery thats underway and the brutal suffering and reality of the common working man and woman. Indeed there is a psychological pent-up demand, a nostalgic desire to return to the old normal in a new normal era. For this reason once the vaccine is widely distributed there will be an economic spike fueled by consumer demand but it will be short-lived as the reality of a continued broken economy and broken personal finances set in. Even your currently employed consumer will realize his limited post-pandemic financial resources because of the changing work dynamics and even pay cut if he decides to continue to work remotely. Small Business Last Stand Some vigilante small businesses, particularly the low profit margin eateries and bars, remain open in defiance of government mandates with respect to indoor and outdoor dining restrictions. Then there are the lucky ones in some municipalities in which the restrictions are on the books yet unenforced. Understandably from the small business perspective its profits over pandemics for the purposes of survival  for the owners, not just the business - because the governmental restrictions, not the virus, represent an existential threat. They know that the cavalry is not coming because government bailouts are only for big businesses. In fact the government is seen not as the rescuing and protective cavalry of the small business owner, rather as rapturous raiders who have historically decimated their profits through capricious regulations and high taxes. For the little guy there are no parachutes. Its go for broke and go down swinging. How It Plays Out The emergence from the Dark Winter of 2020-2021 will ignore the economic rubble with the brief spurt in consumer spending that will give the mainstream media the illusion of a V-shaped recovery underway. This ultra- short-term jump in consumer spending is just that, V-shaped spending but not V-shaped recovery. Recovery is sustainable over many months or years. The mass inoculation gives consumers freedom of movement but because of continued mass unemployment, will be still imprisoned by debt. For this reason the markets will push further into record territory as the black-clad Pied Piper leading investors merrily over the edge because of this misread, and for others who do recognize it, pure greed thinking they can exit before it crashes. As Ive always stated, regardless how quickly you exit is meaningless when the entire building is collapsing. The following chart entitled Service Sector Struggles to Recover Lost Jobs provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and presented by Statista, an online statistical firm, shows the dire situation of the leisure & hospitality sector which has lost almost 3.5 million jobs. The sectors that have suffered the most are the ones that are labor-intensive, difficult to automat and the last ones to make considerable recoveries.

These job losses are far too severe for even the most robust V-shaped economic recovery to bring it back close to pre-pandemic levels even by end of 2021. Mass unemployment, corporate reconfiguration and overhauling 2021 budgets to adapt to a less intense work environment, robotics/automation, high level of flexibility indicate a cautious, uneven, drawn out economic recovery. Corporate financial projections beyond 3 years are not better than using a dart board. Time Compression | Short-Term is the New Long-Term Not only immediate (or near) post-pandemic rather medium-term consumer behavior during unprecedented times. Weve endured three catastrophes in the 21st century in less than a generation: 9/11, the Great Recession and Covid-19, all of which has directly or indirectly affected most of the worlds population. These aforementioned catastrophes mirror the more often occurring once-in-a-century occurrence which has now become a misnomer. Because the intensity of these oft-occurring catastrophes are uncontrollable and unpredictable, its near impossible economically and psychologically to prepare properly for every type of catastrophe. Imagine the possibility of a future far worse pandemic (Covid-19s ease of transmission with Ebolas lethality) or a market crash occurring in short order and longer lasting than their predecessors. For these reasons it may prompt a redefinition of how short, medium and long-term are defined. In broad terms, when people think of long-term one imagines 10, 15 or 20 years. Using the first 20 years of this century as a baseline, short-term may now be one year, medium term 2-5 years and long-term 5-10 years  in other words a time compression outlook. As the impossible has become the plausible, personal, business and government expenditures may take on a new dynamic with a radically different projections and risk assessment models.  Copyright 2020 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urban security. The pandemic has exiled many workers into the cloud  a de facto digital Off-World colony as in the dystopic movie Blade Runner which has redefined how workers communicate. The parallel to the movie, which ironically was released in 2019, the same year in which Covid appeared, is unerring to the present-day crisis. In the movie those who were could not pass the medical remained in a hyper-dense, environmental petri dish. In 2020 those whose professions require hands-on work such as essential workers in the medical field and support services as well as those in retail and blue-collar jobs, must also toil in a viral toxic environment. During the carefree pre-pandemic era, the visual cues at work with respect to body language determined whether the workers body language was (in)congruent with their words. Since the digital world has dominated communications since March and will continue well into 2021, the ability to accurately read body language has greatly diminished. With far fewer visual tells remote work has become literally remote communication in the non-technical sense. We Are All Digital Ambassadors Since March those fortunate to work remotely have communicated via Zoom or similar software. Regardless of their title or positions, the worker has seized the initiative to take advantage in becoming their own movie director and producer by leveraging their home as their Hollywood studio with complete control of what viewers see. Human contact is paramount and provides a modicum of warmth even the most austere and sterile designed office space. Remote work offers a psychological sabbatical for many workers with respect to having total control over their work environment for several reasons. Job satisfaction has been declining for years as management imposes greater demands, longer work hours, greater responsibility but stagnant pay, and limited promotional opportunities particularly for middle age workers who are trapped under the invisible glass of age-discrimination. In other words the digital workplace provides a certain albeit temporary level of empowerment. Inception Meets The Matrix The virtual cloud allows the ability to merge the visual special effects of the movies: The Matrix meets Inception. As a creator the worker creates and customizes his own environment and reality to get ready for his close-up. Because video meetings are usually pre-scheduled, they provide the worker more time to literally set the stage and prepare his work and personal presentation which eliminates the sudden impromptu face-to-face meeting. This allows the worker to gradually develop an Academy Award worthy performance in a familiar and customized setting. Off-screen is out of sight, out of mind but beware the hot mic. In this era of the split screen, a split-personality is the only way to go. Putting this same high-level, on-screen performance in person at the office all day, every day is exhausting. Murphys Law dictates than any slip-up will occur at the wrong place, at the wrong time in the presence of the wrong person or group. Digital Body Language | The New Baseline Determining the new body language baseline in the digital world is far more challenging for several reasons. The primary difficult is that many workers are reinventing themselves on camera because of their remote location in their fortress home and can confidently establish new personas. Although one can use vocal cues such as inflections, tonality, and cadence as a guide, some people verbally communicate somewhat differently in person vs on the phone vs teleconferencing in which older quirks are not visible or suppressed and new ones are accentuated. With respect to visual cues, a considerable component of body language has been removed because one only views the upper body or perhaps only the head of the person on screen. Nervous tics, gestures, and tells can be more easily hidden by creative camera angles, lighting and positioning or simply filling the screen with the persons face. Because of the aforementioned reasons, the digital arrangement forces reading body language far more challenging because the baseline has shifted dramatically. Group View vs Group Think Body language is an important component in the face-to-face business world. However the present-day necessity and convenience of digital communications has eliminated a critical element  the collective group body language - whether internally (in-house) or externally in negotiating with an outside firm. Face-to-face meetings often feature several members of varying seniority of a specific unit, department or division. Each individual provides his own unique specific body language baseline signature. Using these behavioral baselines, tells determine whether everybody in the unit is onboard with an idea. An example could be a managers effusive proposal genuinely supported by his body language yet betrayed by his underlings body language that convey profound reservations. However in remote meetings, theres only one view of each member of a group as separate individuals, not as a collective as it would be in person. To the untrained eye in remote viewing its impossible to determine whether the groups body language moves in harmony or independently. Because of this digital silo effect, monitoring the screens in which this group appears and correctly ascertaining the group dynamic is difficult by the highly controlled environment each person has created for himself for purposes of career/job self-preservation. Remote meetings eliminate the power dynamics of the seating arrangements which provide a strong signal as to which persons have the most influence regardless of official title. On the bright side for workers, remote meetings prevent a senior member from using psychological leverage (aka intimidation or bullying) not only in physical space but also in power settings like their office or an executive conference room. The C-Suite Dilemma | Lost in Translation Executives get paid the big bucks because they are the decision-makers. However because they rely heavily on face-to-face visual cues to determine the level of certainty on information provided, remote communication makes this much harder to assess despite state-of-the-art, computer-driven data. The C-suite needs to know in their gut whether their underlings genuinely believe the figures theyve presented, particularly with group presentations. Because of a fragile economy theres far more at stake than market share and profitability to the point that their decisions will determine if the firm survives. This is why face-to-face meetings are more invaluable further up the corporate command chain. In-Person Meetings On-Demand Some firms in professions that can easily operate profitably with a large portion of their staff working remotely will begin to re-think whether important meetings are best held in-person rather than remotely. In particular in high stakes, highly competitive fields, the savvy C-suite executive may insist that his direct reports be in the office full-time and insist that they in turn do the same for their important internal meetings. The post-pandemic economic landscape is about to get rougher and seeing whether someone sweats or stays cool, calm and collective may make the biggest difference.  Copyright 2020 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urban security.

Hedonistic Death Wish The super-spreaders are the 21st century willing executioners who are knowingly a danger to themselves and others by engaging in self-destructive behavior through underground mass parties and other gatherings without a modicum of guilt. This triggers the vicious cycle of viral surges that compels municipal, city and state governments to tighten restrictions which in turn provokes these same irresponsible citizens to flaunt their independence (and so-called rights) on a larger scale which sometimes explodes into street protests and violence. The irony is that a many of the viral surges are occurring in rural areas with open spaces yet closed minds. These post-presidential election tensions prove that the defiance is (and always has been) unmistakably politically-neutral and against government power whether GOP or Democrat, the latter inheriting an unabated nasty reality. The Democrats are not loved, merely tolerated as a reluctant alternative to a dysfunctional and corrupt GOP. The Defiant Ones This demographic encompasses a broad spectrum of the citizenry as the on-the-cusp of FDA-approved vaccines are distributed. Here are some of the reasons why more people will not ever take the vaccine.  Some mistrust government regardless of their political leanings who have actively and enthusiastically collaborated with private industry on projects which have created an increasingly wide socio-economic chasm heading towards feudalism featuring a tiny elite and everyone else.

 Many believe that FDA and other health agencies have little credibility and are politically compromised and pressure by Big Pharma to fast-track the approval of vaccines which may not be thoroughly scientifically fully vetted particularly those utilizing the unregulated and novel artificially genetically created mRNA technology.

 Others are justifiably paranoid about the Orwellian collaboration between Big Tech and Big Pharma to legally gather a trove of personal information during testing and inoculation.

 Notwithstanding there are those who simply hate needles and will wait for a flavored chewable tablet. The scientific community has bandied about the idea that the population will be reasonably safe if only 70% of the population takes the vaccine. This brings up those defiant ones who have no intention of taking the vaccine and will be sufficiently (but not completely) protected without having to take the vaccine. A vulnerable and increasingly greater part of the citizenry include the psychologically compromised with or without medication who are figuratively dying of cabin fever and others who merely need a gentle push to the dark side to engage in over-indulgence and even irresponsible hedonistic behavior. Corporate Psychological Corruption Since the Revolutionary War Americans have carried an anti-authority gene regardless of their origins including those recently arrived and granted citizenship. As Barbara Kellerman, author of the book entitled Followership describes the American anti-authority mindset, Under certain circumstances civil disobedience is more admired than civil obedience. During the past decades corporations have utilized mainstream media and more recently social media as their de facto capitalistic pimps to super-charge, ramp up and brainwash the consumers self-entitled obsession to buy more luxury-labeled stuff with a myriad of products & services all of which are now indelibly ingrained in the American psyche. This generational method of control has backfired spectacularly with government and corporations unable to cage the beast it created as it runs amok with ever increasing numbers of uncompliant Americans. Because instant gratification has become ingrained as a right, citizens are unwilling to comply short-term even if its for the public good with the opinion, I have a right not to follow the health mandates even if it kills me. This is the price corporate and governmental authority pays when one removes the ubiquitous food & circus dogma created to pacify the citizenry. This corrupted reasoning has enabled some citizens to over-ride the public good through bad behavior by ignoring social distancing, discarding masks and eschewing safety practices against an existential threat. The good citizen behavior for the public good for many Americans is nowadays merely an option, not a civic duty. Societal Psychological Side Effects Fueling their ire has been the governments gross incompetence at the municipal, state and federal levels in initially handling the pandemic from communications to providing essential medical equipment to the upcoming vaccine distribution. The physical side effects from the vaccine inoculations may be fleeting but the socio-economic scars will remain long after the virus is defeated. The perverse irony is that Biden-Harris administration faces the American publics wrath as mass unemployment, potential mass evictions, continued food insecurity, and monumental debt underscoring a scorched earth American economy which are not solvable in a one-term administration and could backfire spectacularly in the 2024 presidential election. The present-day Democrats are less incompetent and corrupt than the GOP in handling this crisis which is palatable for the immediate future. However in the long-term, the deeply scarred American economy will not have sufficiently recovered by the 2024 presidential election even with the best & brightest. For this reason the 2024 presidential election will be the most contentious in the 21st century dwarfing the intensity of the 2016 presidential elections and provoke an even larger, aggressive and defiant citizenry.  Copyright 2020 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urban security.




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Wadia Group-owned no-frills airline GoAir has airlifted 15,91,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to various destinations from Mumbai, Pune and Chennai on Wednesday in the second phase of vaccine transportation amid the on-going inoculation drive in the country.

GoAir is operating flights carrying the vaccine doses to Lucknow, Chennai, Cochin, Port Blair and Kolkata on Wednesday, it said.

In the first phase, which started from January 13, the city-headquartered air operator transported a total of 7,20,000 doses to five destinations.

"Vaccine transportation continues our on-going work since the beginning of the first movement to keep critical supply-chain operating, meet the increased level of domestic delivery and ship more than seven lakh across India, GoAir Chief Executive Officer, Kaushik Khona said in a statement to PTI.

According to the airline, it transported 18,000 doses of the vaccine to Goa from Mumbai on its flight G8-308, which landed in Goa at 6.30 am and another flight carrying 94,000 doses arrived at Lucknow from Mumbai at 8.20 am on Wednesday.

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 airline also operated a flight to Chennai from Pune which carried 5,20,000 doses of the vaccine of which 13,500 doses were for Puducherry and the rest for Tamil Nadu. It also operated a service to Port Blair from Chennai with 6,000 doses.

The flight G8 347 operating on the Mumbai-Cochin transported 2,52,000 doses of the vaccine, of which 2,51,000 doses were bound for Kerala and the remaining 1,000 doses for Lakshadweep Island, the airline said in the statement.

GoAirs flight from Pune for Kolkata airlifted 6,99,000 doses for West Bengal, it added. GoAirs flight from Pune for Kolkata airlifted 6,99,000 doses for West Bengal, it added. In the two phases together, GoAir has carried a total of 23,11,000 doses, the airline said.

"During the first phase of the vaccine movement, GoAir had a share of 22 per cent in the total vaccine transportation while in the second phase, in the second phase 36 per cent of the vaccine movement is on our network, the airline said.

"We are moving the lions share of the Covid-19 vaccine in the second phase of ongoing efforts to support pandemic relief. The GoAir network and team are uniquely positioned to deliver on the mission in India, said Khona.

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New York state has an ugly wrongful conviction problem. We rank third in the nation in terms of wrongful convictions, with more than 283 people exonerated since 1989.

This problem is not just historical. A stunning police corruption scandal unfolded in Mount Vernon last year that demonstrated how pressing the issue remains. A whistleblower cop came forward with serious allegations of police misconduct that included planting evidence and framing innocent people. The fallout resulted in Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino losing his reelection bid and at least one officer being suspended without pay. But where does this leave the people who pleaded guilty under the threat of years or decades in prison because of falsified evidence by Mount Vernon police?

Last year, I introduced a bill with Sen. Zellnor Myrie to ensure that wrongfully convicted people have a real chance to clear their names in our state courts.

Under state law, if you plead guilty to a crime, the only way to overturn your conviction is through DNA evidence  even if you are actually innocent. No DNA evidence in your case? No exoneration. The rule stems from the 2018 New York Court of Appeals case People v. Tiger .

In that case, Natascha Tiger, a licensed nurse, was accused of harming her disabled 10-year-old patient after she reported seeing what looked like burns on the childs body during a bath. Facing seven years in prison if she was convicted at trial, Ms. Tiger decided to take a plea deal and instead served four months. It was later revealed the burns were likely a reaction to a medication, not the result of Ms. Tigers actions, and a civil jury found her not liable for the injuries.

Nevertheless, when she appealed her conviction on the grounds that she had been effectively proven innocent in civil court, the Court of Appeals denied relief, citing her guilty plea and lack of DNA evidence  leaving Ms. Tiger with no recourse to clear her name.

Despite its outsized role in the public imagination, DNAs role in overturning wrongful convictions is relatively minor. Between 1989 and 2019, it played a role in only 43 out of 270 exonerations in New York.

When it comes to wrongful convictions, the Central Park Five or Adnan Syed may come to mind. Defendants who steadfastly maintained their innocence, took their case to trial, and lost. In reality, innocent people plead guilty all the time. Faced with harsher penalties if they go to trial and are convicted, many defendants, like Ms. Tiger, make the rational and difficult decision to plead guilty to a crime they did not commit.

In Texas, the states highest criminal court ruled in 2010 that claims of actual innocence are not barred by a guilty plea. Since then, 80 percent of people exonerated in the state had previously pleaded guilty. Yet in New York, where 98 percent of convictions are the result of a plea bargain, not a trial, the vast majority of people who are wrongfully convicted are effectively precluded from relief in our courts.

Despite lagging behind states like Texas, reform is possible. My legislation would overhaul the rules governing wrongful convictions, Criminal Procedure Law 440. This long-overdue change would remove the discrepancy between defendants who are found guilty at trial and those who plead guilty, force judges to fairly consider claims of actual innocence, and create a right to counsel for those with a claim to wrongful conviction. The bill will also allow people with convictions for offenses that are no longer crimes to clear their records if the offense is later decriminalized.

Reforms to New Yorks post-conviction law will ensure that people who have been wrongfully convicted, as in the Mount Vernon case, finally have a legal remedy to have their convictions overturned and their records cleared. If New York cares about protecting the innocent, we must act to reform Criminal Procedure Law 440.

Assembly Member Dan Quart, D-Manhattan, represents the 73rd Assembly District.
W ow, what a speech. In poetry and passionate rhetoric, Joe Biden gave the arrival of a new President the sense of occasion that the world had been waiting for.

Together we shall write an American story of hope not of fear, he told his country. The repeated theme of unity was the core of his address, most of which was aimed at healing a divided domestic audience.

"Let's start afresh, all of us. Let's start to listen to one another again, hear one another... Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war, he said.

Strikingly there was no comfort for Donald Trump but there as an olive branch to his voters. "To all those who did not support this, let me say this: Hear me out as we move forward, take a measure of me and my heart, said Biden. If we still disagree, so be it, that's democracy, that's America."

That was the offer for Americans, but hugely important messages for the world were also woven into his intricate address.

We will repair our alliances...we will lead not by the example of our power but the power of our example, he said. This was his signal that Bidens America will reverse the withdrawal from the world cooperation that Trumpism emblemised, though did not begin.

Biden vowed to make America once again the leading force for good in the world".

On the environment, a Biden passion, he spoke of "the cry for survival that comes from the planet itself. A cry that cannot be any more desperate or any more clear.

That signals an early re-joining of the Paris accord by Washington. It is particularly important to Boris Johnson, who sees multilateral agreement at the Cop 26 summit in Glasgow this autumn as one of the ways that he can harness Bidens energy and momentum for the UKs own influence.

Biden dwelled on the coronavirus pandemic, leading a brief silence for the Americans lost to the disease. It is another opportunity for Johnson who is planning to put health co-operation and disease prevention on the agenda of the forthcoming G7 gathering at picturesque Corbis Bay, Cornwall.

Language matters, which is why Whitehall fell silent during the inauguration speech. Politicos and officials scoured the text for clues about what the next four years will mean for the UK.

Boris Johnson laid out the key words to tick off in a special discussion at yesterdays Cabinet. Climate change. Health. Prosperity. Nature. The ultimate buzzword bingo, with a potential transatlantic relationship as the prize.

The Prime Minister has, by good fortune, two summits to get close to Biden and his sherpas this year. Recovery from the pandemic will top the agenda of the G7, in terms of both health and the prosperity. A successful Cop26 would be a big prize.

Johnson also used the phrase build back better at Cabinet, a term that Biden used in his election campaign. They have common ground on the belief in the power of public investment to found economic success and social stability.

In a statement overnight , Johnson cited other UK - US interests as defence, security and "defending democracy". Team Biden will have been reminded that Johnson took a tough line against Vladimir Putin, a leader that Biden once told (to his face) had no soul. In addition, they will recall that Britain was a key partner in Barack Obamas Iran deal, and that Johnson was among European leaders keen to keep it going even when Trump abolished it. On security issues, Britains well-funded and professional Armed Forces are a massive asset that no US President can ignore.

The Prime Minister told ministers yesterday that he aims to become a pragmatic and problem-solving partner on the world stage. Decoded, the message is simple: If Biden needs backing, Johnson can deliver solutions.

There have been understandable concerns that Bidens administration might prefer to call other leaders, rather than Johnson. Some of the reasons are personal, such as anger that Johnson jibed at Obamas heritage when the then president interfered in the Brexit referendum. That Johnson was later called the Britain Trump by Donald Trump cannot have helped his standing.

Most of the concern is political. Biden is proud of his Irish roots and will make a point of visiting the Republic early. He and his allies in Congress were appalled when Johnson threatened to break international law on the Irish border issue, and the future president even vented his fury on Twitter. To build bridges, No 10 is considering deploying a special Ireland expert to the embassy in Washington.

The other big reason for concern is that Britain stopped being the bridge to Europe when it left the European Union. Will an independent Britain matter if it no longer sits at the EU table? Fortunately, the UK still sits on the UN Security Committee, and the frequent divisions in the EU on foreign affairs could give an opportunity for a smaller but well-armed nation to stand tall.

Tweeting his congratulations as Biden was sworn in, Johnson exuded confidence he can overcome the past and become an essential friend to the new leader of the free world. He tweeted: Americas leadership is vital on the issues that matter to us all, from climate change to COVID, and I look forward to working with President Biden.
During his presidential campaign, Joe Biden vowed to fight for the soul of America. As he formally assumes office as the next U.S. president on Wednesday, Biden now faces the steep task of repairing a nations soul in battered and desperate shape. Few presidents, if any, have taken power in circumstances such as these: a still-raging pandemic claiming lives and shredding livelihoods, a continuing threat of armed insurrection and a defiant former president who faces a U.S. Senate trial charged with encouraging an attack on his countrys capital. A Democrat, Biden will ...
WASHINGTON  Janet L. Yellen, President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.s nominee for Treasury secretary, vowed on Tuesday to pursue policies to help workers whose livelihoods have been upended by the pandemic as she warned lawmakers that the U.S. economy faced a painful stretch before coronavirus vaccines were fully deployed.

Ms. Yellen made her comments at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. A former Federal Reserve chair, she enjoys bipartisan support and is expected to win confirmation. But the hearing underscored the challenges that the Biden administration will face in trying to put its economic agenda into place, with Republican lawmakers drawing early battle lines and voicing opposition to the $1.9 trillion stimulus package that Mr. Biden has proposed, along with other tax and spending plans.

With Democrats holding a slim majority in the House and narrowly controlling the Senate, Mr. Biden may need the support of Republicans to get some of his priorities through Congress. But on Tuesday those lawmakers resurrected concerns about adding to the federal budget deficit to argue against Mr. Bidens plans and expressed continued opposition to several of his priorities, including sending more aid to states and local governments, boosting unemployment benefits and raising the minimum wage.

Were looking at another spending blowout, said Senator Patrick J. Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania. The only organizing principle I can understand, it seems, is to spend as much money as possible, seemingly for the sake of spending it.

The aluminium industry has urged the government to increase the basic custom duty on primary aluminium and aluminium scrap to 10 per cent, eliminate the cess on coal among others as the sector is going through a challenging phase and is under immense threat by rising imports.

In a representation to the government ahead of the Union Budget for 2021-22, the Aluminium Association of India said, "The Indian aluminium industry seeks immediate government support to tide over this challenging phase and look forward for supportive measures in the forthcoming Union Budget 2021-22. In this regard, it said the budget suggestions for aluminium industry are "increase in basic custom duty on aluminium scrap at par with primary metal to proposed 10 per cent, as in line with other non-ferrous metals like copper, zinc, lead, nickel, tin etc...elimination of cess on coal (GST Compensation cess of Rs 400/MT) to support highly power intensive industries like aluminium", among others.

The industry has also sought reduction in basic custom duty and correction of inverted duty structure on critical raw materials for aluminium industry value chain like aluminium fluoride and coal tar pitch. "The Indian aluminium industry is going through a challenging phase and is under immense threat by rising imports, declining domestic market share, increasing production and logistics costs," it said.

These challenges have been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic which has adversely impacted the domestic demand for aluminium. At the same time, the industry is not able to compete effectively in the global markets as the burden of central and state taxes and levies amounting to 15 per cent of aluminium production cost puts the domestic industry in a significant disadvantage compared to its global peers. "In this context, the Indian aluminium industry under representation from Aluminium Association of India urges the Union Government for support," it said.

India is one of the fastest growing economies and fastest emerging markets in the world and aluminium industry plays a vital role in the nation's economy and the country's vision for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Aluminium is an essential commodity for various other industries/SMEs due to its critical role in diversified applications crucial for economy like energy security, national defence, infrastructure, electrification, aerospace, automobile, consumer durables, packaging etc. The Union Budget will be presented on 1 February.

Also read: Serum Institute releases advisory on COVID-19 vaccine; things to know before taking Covishield

Also read: Budget 2021: Infra push can boost economy, improve competitiveness
It is expected to help track complications after vaccination.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Health, Medical Assistance and Health Insurance Mykhailo Radutsky says that a register of people who will get vaccinated against COVID-19 will be created in Ukraine.

The Servant of the People Party announced this on Facebook on January 20.

Read alsoCOVID-19 vaccination in Ukraine to start in mid-February  Health minister

"There are many reasons why a register of vaccinated people will be created. Firstly, we must know the number of the vaccinated, and it will be very difficult without a registry; secondly, we must monitor complications after vaccination; and thirdly, the ministry is looking into the possibility of issuing electronic [immunity] passports for the vaccinated," it quoted Radutsky as saying.

Radutsky also informed that that "the Minister [of Health Maksym Stepanov] promised that the ministry would decide within a week on a supplier of logistics services for the transportation of [COVID-19] vaccines at low temperatures."

COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine

In February-March 2021, Ukraine expects the delivery of a vaccine against COVID-19.

The first batch of a vaccine via the COVAX Facility will include 8 million doses, which will be enough to vaccinate 4 million people (two shots per person required). First to get vaccinated will be healthcare workers, the elderly, and seriously ill patients.

On December 24, 2020, Health Minister Stepanov said that his ministry was working out a plan to increase the COVAX vaccine quota from 8 million to 16 million doses.

On December 30, Ukraine signed a contract with China's Sinovac for the supply of 1.9 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

On January 8, 2020, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Ghebreyesus said that rich countries have the majority of the supply of a COVID-19 vaccine from the manufacturers Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca.

On January 13, Health Minister Stepanov said that his ministry planned to sign contracts in the coming days with new companies that produce the coronavirus vaccine.

According to the WHO, 170 experimental vaccines are currently at the stage of preclinical trials, 65 are undergoing clinical trials, of which 15 are at the third, last stage.

Reporting by UNIAN
A petition calling for the prevention of a historic statue of a Victoria Cross-winning war hero being removed has been signed by thousands of people.

Exeter City Council have been met by a furious backlash after a review concluded a historic statue of General Sir Redvers Buller should be removed from it's prominent position in the city centre.

Almost 7,500 people have signed a petition calling for the statue to be saved, saying: 'We cannot stand by and let historically illiterate people erase our history.'

It comes after calls for the statue's removal were slammed by critics who labelled it 'ridiculous and historical wokery'.

But a council-run review into the continued appropriateness of the Grade II listed bronze statue recommended it was relocated.

Their ruling cited that this was due to the army general's connection to the British Empire.

Councillors also recently voted to erect information boards next to the statue while the council seek planning permission to remove it and the future of the memorial is decided.

Exeter City Council have been met by a furious backlash after a review concluded a historic statue of General Redvers Buller (right) should be removed from it's prominent position in the city centre

Almost 7,500 people have signed a petition calling for the statue to be saved, saying: 'We cannot stand by and let historically illiterate people erase our history'

The statue first triggered public debate following the Black Lives Matter protest.

The demonstrations across the UK in June saw several other statues, such as that of slave trader Edward Colston in Britstol, forcibly removed from their prominent positions.

Their removal also prompted fierce criticism from citics who claimed it constituted an erasure of history.

Who was General Sir Redvers Buller? General Redvers Buller, born in 1839 near Crediton, in Devon, purchased a commission in the British Army in 1858. He has been criticised for his ruthless defeat of the Zulu people while serving as commander of the mounted infantry of the northern British column in 1879 during the Second Zulu War. But he won the Victoria Cross by rescuing two fellow officers during a pitched battle in what is now modern day South Africa. He was later appointed head of the British forces sent to South Africa during the Second Boer War, presiding over Black Week in which it was defeated three times by the Boers with nearly 3,000 men killed, wounded and captured. Upon his return from South Africa, the British Army requested he resign, in part as a scapegoat for the failures of the military command. Despite this General Buller was awarded the freedom of Exeter and presented with a jewelled sword by the County of Devon. A bronze statue depicting him astride his favourite horse was erected St David's Church in Exeter, Devon, in 1905. Unusually the statue, paid for by public subscription, was unveiled while he was still alive. The local newspaper said he was rumoured to have been involved in the introduction of concentration camps in the Boer War but historians have disputed the accuracy of these claims. Advertisement

General Redvers Buller's statue stirred debate partly due to references to colonial campaigns on its plinth.

The stone engraving bears the words 'he saved Natal', that 'sought to advance British imperialist interests in other countries'.

An equality impact assessment undertaken for the review also found the statue would impact anybody who 'does not define themselves in binary gender terms'.

Councillors in Exeter voted in favour of the report's findings.

It has been estimated that relocation from outside Exeter College will cost a minimum of 25,000.

But now nearly 7,500 people have signed a petition calling for the statue to be saved.

It states: 'Exeter City Council has called for a review to remove this much loved statue to a man who was much loved in Devon in his time.

'General Buller VC was a war hero who won the Victoria Cross during the Zulu War, where he carried three men to safety during the defeat at Hlobane.

'The statue was paid for by public subscription, by the ordinary people of Devon.

'The petition to remove this statue states that Buller had a 'major hand' in the establishment of Boer concentration camps, but this is simply not true.

'Though he was the British commander at the outbreak of the Boer War, he was replaced in January 1900 by Lord Roberts.

'And it wasn't until Kitchener then took command in late 1900 that the concentration camp policy was established.

'We cannot stand by and let historically illiterate people erase our history.

'And then there is the bigger picture.

'We are currently seeing our nation's heritage being chipped away on the crest of a small but noisy wave of protest.

'We should not make the mistake of judging history through the lens of our own morality, for nobody would pass that test.

'The silent majority of this country want our public monuments to remain. They belong to us all and represent our heritage.'

It has been estimated that relocation from outside Exeter College will cost a minimum of 25,000

The Grade-II listed bronze statue was erected in 1905 and depicts the general, who won the Victoria Cross, astride his favourite horse Biffen.

The words 'He saved Natal' on its plinth are a reference to General Buller's actions in South Africa.

General Redvers Buller, born in 1839 near Crediton, in Devon, purchased a commission in the British Army and won the Victoria Cross during the Second Zulu War, rescuing a number of comrades while under enemy fire.

He was later appointed head of the British forces sent to South Africa during the Second Boer War, presiding over Black Week in which it was defeated three times by the Boers with nearly 3,000 men killed, wounded and captured.

Upon his return from South Africa, the British Army requested he resign, in part as a scapegoat for the failures of the military command.

Despite this General Buller was awarded the freedom of Exeter and presented with a jewelled sword by the County of Devon. Unusually the statue, paid for by public subscription, was unveiled while he was still alive.

The local newspaper said he was rumoured to have been involved in the introduction of concentration camps in the Boer War but historians have disputed the accuracy of these claims.

Historian Andrew Roberts argued anger at General Buller was misdirected.

He said: 'I think it is important to point out that the general fought against the white regime in South Africa. In the year 1900 every man was a sexist.

'This is ridiculous and historical wokery at its worst. There are reasons why they should not have put up a statue in the first place - he was a bad general.

'But these are really bad reasons. The lot of women was improved by the British Empire.'

In June, protesters in Bristol pulled down a statue of slave trader Edward Colston (pictured)

General Buller's biographer Keith Barker, also previously labelled the suggestion to remove the statue 'utter nonsense'.

'I think the so-called "equality impact assessments" espoused in this report are utter nonsense.

'This man was always a great supporter of and campaigner for the many native communities he came across.

'Buller had a powerful radical, liberal streak. No doubt his views on sex and gender would have been somewhat unorthodox but they would have represented those specifically of the era in which he lived.

'Everything should be understood in its context and to not do so is a historical travesty.'
Federal authorities presented new details on Tuesday about three self-described members of a paramilitary group who are the first to be charged with plotting the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The FBI said a Virginia man, Thomas Edward Caldwell, 65, appeared to be a leader of the effort. Caldwell was arrested on Tuesday in Virginia.

Donovan Crowl, 50, a former Marine, was arrested in Ohio on Monday, as was Jessica Watkins, a 38-year-old Army veteran and bartender.

Jessica Watkins, 38, a bartender from Ohio, participated in the mob that stormed the Capitol

Watkins (left) and Crowl (right) are pictured inside the Capitol during the January 6 riot

Jessica Watkins (left) and Donavan Crowl, both military veterans, are in custody in Ohio

The trio were all charged with conspiracy and other federal counts - the first of more than 125 people arrested in connection with the January 6 assault to be charged with conspiracy.

The chilling details in the case included communications between the defendants and others.

'All members are in the tunnels under the capital,' the FBI quoted a message sent to Caldwell during the Capitol attack.

'Seal them in turn on gas.'

Other messages referred to the legislators as 'traitors' and called for 'night hunting.'

The FBI collected social media messages, photos and video to identify them as part of the Oath Keepers, which FBI agents describe as a 'large but loosely organized collection of the militia who believe the federal government has been corrupted by a shadowy conspiracy that is trying to strip American citizens of their rights.'

Messages included in FBI charging documents had quotes with the three suspects exulting over breaching the Capitol, and Caldwell telling an Oath Keepers leader he was ready to attack Ohio's capital of Columbus.

Watkins (right) is pictured with other rioters and was an organizer of militia groups

'We need to do this at the local level,' he allegedly messaged. 'Lets (sic) storm the capitol in Ohio. Tell me when!'

Details of the documents made public offer some insight to planning and coordination behind the extraordinary attack, which apparently took law enforcement by surprise despite various warnings online.

The Oath Keepers group often recruits current and former military, police or other first responders - like Watkins and Crowl.

It wasn't clear immediately whether Caldwell has military or law enforcement experience.

The FBI said some Oath Keepers members were wearing helmets, protective vests and items with the group's name and motto: 'Not On Our Watch.'

The FBI also said that they seemed to 'move in an organized and practiced fashion and force their way to the front of the crowd gathered around a door to the U.S. Capitol.'

An affidavit filed against Caldwell states that he was involved in the planning and coordinating of the Capitol breach with Watkins and Crowl.

Watkins, who allegedly called herself the commanding officer, and Crowl allegedly belong to the Ohio State Regular Militia, dues-paying members of the Oath Keepers.

In one social media post, the FBI said, Watkins pictured Crowl and called him 'one of my guys.'

Charging documents show messages between Caldwell and the others about arranging hotel rooms in the Washington area in the days before the siege.

In one Facebook message from Crowl to Caldwell, Crowl states: 'Will probably call you tomorrow  mainly because  I like to know wtf plan is. You are the man COMMANDER.'

The FBI wrote that Caldwell is believed to have referenced the leader of the Oath Keepers, Elmer Stewart Rhodes, in a Facebook message to group members in the days before the riot.

'I don't know if Stewie has even gotten out his call to arms but it's a little friggin late,' Caldwell wrote, according to the FBI.

'This is one we are doing on our own. We will link up with the north carolina (sic) crew.'

The complaint reports one male voice is heard on an audio recording near Watkins exhorting: 'Get it, Jess,' and that the Capitol breach is what they had trained for.

'Yeah. We stormed the Capitol today. Teargassed, the whole, 9. Pushed our way into the Rotunda. Made it into the Senate even. The news is lying (even Fox) about the Historical Events we created today,' she allegedly wrote.

Watkins also posted that entry was forced through the back door of the Capitol.

The mob overran the Capitol Police shortly after Trump urged them to 'fight' on his behalf

Trump supporters, egged on by the president himself, stormed the Capitol on Wednesday

Prosecutors have charged 125 people so far and expect to file many more charges

The mostly maskless crowd flooded the halls of the Capitol with little resistance from Capitol Police

Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress

Federal authorities say that Caldwell also sent Facebook messages following the attack.

'Proud boys scuffled with cops and drove them inside to hide,' Caldwell's message said, according to court documents.

'Breached the doors. One guy made it all the way to the house floor, another to Pelosi's office. A good time.'

Authorities said Watkins and Crowl returned to Ohio, then went back to Virginia to stay with Caldwell at his Berryville home for three days through January 16.

The FBI complaint said Crowl and Watkins told police in Urbana, Ohio, they drove back to Ohio after hearing the FBI was looking for them.

All three are charged with counts including conspiracy, conspiracy to hurt an officer, violent entry, obstruction of official business and destruction of government property.

Watkins and Crowl were being held at a county jail in Dayton, after being arrested early Monday.

The Dayton Daily News reported they had separate initial appearances Tuesday before Magistrate Sharon Ovington in Dayton.

Watkins told Ovington she wanted future hearings to be in Washington and Crowl said he preferred to stay in Dayton.

Asked if she understood the charges against her, the Daily News reported, Watkins replied: 'I understand them but I don't understand how I got them.'

The FBI said a search of Watkins' home found personal protection equipment and communication devices, along with instructions for making plastic explosives.
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OCALA, Fla. (AP)  Two members of a Pennsylvania family were killed when the minivan they were in collided with some steel bars that were hanging off the back of a tractor-trailer rig on Interstate 75 in Florida, authorities said.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 27-year-old man driving the van and his 80-year-old grandmother died in the Tuesday night crash south of Ocala. His 82-year-old grandfather suffered critical injuries in the crash, the Ocala Star-Banner reported.

All three were from Leola, Lancaster County, and were headed to Sarasota, the newspaper reported.

Troopers said the rebar went through the vans windshield and dragged the vehicle until the truck came to a stop.

The report did not include the names of the victims.

The 49-year-old truck driver was not injured, troopers said.

More:

5 charged, 4 wounded in shootings in Pennsylvanias Poconos

Man injured in Tuesday afternoon shooting: York police
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Safety, and the importance of effective communication, comes naturally for Amit Singh, a veteran pilot. Also an aviation safety expert, Singh is an avid blogger, who investigates aircraft incidents and accidents, including the Kozhikode air crash in August last year.

That is why when an opportunity came to volunteer for the phase three trial of a COVID-19 vaccine, Singh made the most of it. Based in Bahrain, Singh had in September last year taken part in the third phase trial of Sinopharm, the vaccine from China.

"It was volunteering for a good cause, and is like part of the other things I do around safety. For something that has impacted the globe, this was my way of contributing," says Singh, who is also a Fellow of London's Royal Aeronautical Society.

Bahrain, like other countries in the Middle East, had approved the use of the Chinese vaccine after third phase trial on over 40,000 participants. Singh was one of them.

"It is also good for overall safety, to have antibodies, rather than have nothing. And even though it was a trial, I didn't expect things to go bizarre," says Singh, who runs NGO Safety Matters in India. He was duly informed about the process and the possible side-effects, and was strictly monitored.

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

"I was told I may feel fatigued. But I didn't feel a thing," says Singh. Pilots are not allowed to fly for 48 hours after they get a jab. The process is repeated after the second dose. "There were many swabs taken and blood tests conducted. All parameters were tracked," he says.

Like in any trial, Singh wasn't told if he was given the vaccine or the placebo. But the fact that he didn't get the rudimentary call at the end of the trial - which is done if one hasn't developed antibodies after a shot - Singh understood he has got the vaccine. Once the vaccination drive began, his family too got the doses.

Was the family worried about the adverse reaction incidents related to vaccines across the world, including in India?

"Just like a crash in a million flights doesn't stop anyone from flying, one adverse reaction shouldn't hold anyone back from taking COVID-19 vaccines, says Singh.

In India, however, the vaccination drive has seen many health professionals backing out, with many citing reservations on Covaxin, the vaccine that was approved without completing third phase trial. Some of the volunteers who were part of an ongoing trial alleged they weren't duly informed about the vaccine.

"If the communication is correct and people are well-informed, then they will take better choices," says Singh. Just like clear communication is crucial for a pilot to take sound decisions while in the cockpit and having the controls of an aircraft.

Lack of proper communication may have been one of the reasons that led to the crash of the Air India Express flight in Kozhikode in August 2020, killing 21 people.

"It is also a cultural thing. In India, we don't read the fine print before signing a contract. But in countries such as Singapore and Bahrain, they make sure that one reads and understands everything before signing," says Amit.
Ahead of a change in the US administration, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the country cannot be ignored and strongly believes that no administration can ignore the country.

The Foreign Minister, while speaking to Geo TV, said that a new world is being established out of which new priorities are coming forward. He added that Pakistan and the incoming US administration have a lot of "commonalties".

"Challenges will be there. I'm not saying they won't be there. We have to face the facts, but I believe Pakistan has a lot to offer," said Qureshi, adding that Pakistan is an important country of the region.

"Pakistan cannot be ignored and I do think that that no administration will ignore Pakistan," said Qureshi.

To a question about what Pakistan expects, Qureshi said the people being nominated by President-elect Joe Biden are those who know about Pakistan. He also shared that he had the opportunity to work with them when the Democrats were in power last.

"They understand the region very well," remarked Qureshi.

The foreign minister told the hosts that Biden, during his time as a senator, was a "well-respected" member of the foreign relations committee.

"He has a very clear opinion about Pakistan and South Asia," said Qureshi. He also mentioned that Pakistan and the US have a convergence of interest in Afghanistan.

"There are many areas where the Imran Khan government and Biden government have a common interest," said Pakistan's top diplomat. He shared the examples of climate change and the COVAX initiative.

The foreign minister, when asked about US-India ties, said that the incoming administration will help Pakistan in providing relief to the people in occupied Kashmir.

"There is one silver lining which is that this administration has a clear point of view on human rights," said Qureshi while mentioning the "deteriorating" human rights situation in occupied Kashmir.
Day care shortage creates barriers for working parents

With a labor shortage plaguing the state, working parents are ready to fill these positions. The lack of childcare options creates barriers.
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Demands Law To Censor OTT Content After Tandav Lands In Controversy

Maharashtra Police have received a complaint about controversial web series "Tandav" and formal action will taken in the case as per law, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters here, Deshmukh also demanded the Centre to come up with a law to regulate content on the over the top (OTT) platforms.

After several FIRs were filed in some states against the Amazon Prime Video's political drama "Tandav" for alleged inappropriate depiction of Hindu deities and calls for its ban, its makers on Tuesday agreed to implement changes to the controversial web series.

Deshmukh said, "We have received a complaint. We will register an FIR and take action formally."

He did not specify who has lodged the complaint.

Deshmukh also said the Centre should come up with a law to regulate content on the OTT platforms to ensure no "caste-based discrimination or communal divide" is caused due to any content available there.

The minister downplayed questions about the Uttar Pradesh Police visiting Mumbai in connection with an FIR against the web series.

He said the Maharashtra Police personnel also go outside the state to conduct probes.

"They (UP police) had informed us that an FIR has been registered there and they will be coming here for an investigation," he added.

In Uttar Pradesh, three FIRs have been lodged against the makers and artists of "Tandav" -- in Lucknow, Greater Noida and Shahjahanpur.

The complainants have alleged inappropriate depiction of UP Police personnel, Hindu deities, and adverse portrayal of a character playing prime minister in the political drama.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Tuesday condemned the way "Tandav" actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Saif Ali Khan Khan and its director Ali Abbas Zafar "reacted to our religion and hurt sentiments".

"The Madhya Pradesh government will register a case in this regard," he said in Bhopal.

MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also reacted to the controversy, saying "no one has the right to hurt our faith and insult our deities."

He said "obscenity being served on OTT platforms is not good for our teenagers" and called for close monitoring of these platforms.

Earlier, BJP MP Manoj Kotak from Mumbai North-East and Madhya Pradesh minister Vishvas Sarang were among the politicians who appealed to the Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar to ban the series.

BJP MLA from Mumbai Ram Kadam recently approached the Ghatkopar police here against the web series, alleging that it ridicules Hindu deities.

The cast and crew of Amazon Prime Video's glossy political show "Tandav" on Tuesday said they had decided to implement changes to "address concerns".

In their second apology statement in as many days, the show's team also thanked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for its "guidance & support" in the matter.

"Tandav", a nine-episode political thriller starring Bollywood A-listers Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, started streaming last week.
LT Foods | CRISIL revised its outlook on the long-term bank facilities of LT Foods to 'positive' from 'stable' while reaffirming the rating at 'A-'. The short-term rating has been reaffirmed at 'A2+'.

Consumer food company LT Foods, which owns basmati rice brands such as ''Daawat'' and Royal'', on Wednesday announced acquisition of a 30 percent stake in the Netherlands-based organic speciality food company Leev.nu.

Nature Bio Foods BV, a subsidiary of LT Foods, has acquired 30 per cent stake in Leev.nu, with an option to acquire a further 21 per cent stake at the end of five years, a joint statement said without disclosing the deal amount.

After this deal, Leev.nu will have access to the organic products grown by Nature Bio Foods.

Commenting on the development, LT Foods Chairman & Managing Director Vijay Kumar Arora said, Leev.nu will now have access to 100 per cent organic products grown by Nature Bio Foods Limiteds network of nearly 60,000 plus organic farmers, cultivated in 80,000 plus hectares of certified organic land in India".

Now consumers of the Netherlands will enjoy organic ingredients from India with local distribution in the Netherlands.

"This will further promote the share of Indias organic in EU, he added.

Leev.nu Director Leo Voorwinden said: "From a strategic point of view, it is critical that we build short supply chains. With NBF BV, a subsidiary of LT Foods coming on board, we can source our raw materials directly from organic farmers in India."

Leev.nu has a portfolio comprising breakfast bars, healthy snacks, baking range & gluten free, low sugar products that promote an active & healthy lifestyle.

Further, it is expanding its product portfolio and venturing into organic wholegrains categories such as oats and flax seeds and its products are available in both retail and online stores, it added.

Nature Bio Foods has already set up distribution subsidiaries in USA & Europe and is a preferred ingredient supplier to retail majors which includes Walmart and Carrefour.

LT Foods, a 70-year-old consumer food company, which is in the business of rice and rice-based food brands, operates in more than 60 countries.

The company had consolidated revenues of around Rs 4,184 crore in FY20. It owns brands such as DAAWAT, Royal, Heritage, Gold Seal Indus Valley, 817 Elephant, Devaaya and Rozana.

It has five processing facilities in India, two packaging units and one Ready-to-Heat facility in the US and one processing facility in Rotterdam.

India has given the first dose of covid antidote to almost 800,000 beneficiaries five days into the nation-wide vaccination drive and also tweaked the Co-WIN software to allow on the spot allotment of those already registered in an ongoing session in order to allow maximum possible number of people to get the jab. The health ministry has also decided to give a provisional vaccination certificate to those who receive the first dose of the vaccine followed by a final certificate after the second dose.

The two doses have to be taken within one months gap. The antibodies will have ...
The electrocution of a wild tusker at Khadak municipality in Sapatari district on January 9, 2021, has once again reminded us of the thorny problem of human-elephant conflict in Nepal. Local farmers who live on the fringe of forested areas are destined to face foraging wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), especially during the harvesting season. The said wild animal is reported to have been electrocuted at an electric fence erected by locals to prevent foraging elephants from entering into their crop fields and village.

Every year, we read news about marauding wild elephants causing crop damage and loss of property in villages that are on the fringe of forested areas. At times, such incidents end in the tragic loss of human life or the death of endangered wildlife. Then, the issue is settled and the matter is forgotten. But, for the locals, the conflict with wild elephants is a harsh reality. Villagers, whose crop fields are adjacent to forested areas that are used by resident and migrating elephant herds, are left with no choice but to face the foraging giants on their own to save their crop.

1. Plights of farmers

During the harvesting season, farmers are known to keep their vigil by staying on machans (watch towers) at night and making all sorts of noises such as shouting, beating drums and using firecrackers to discourage the foraging animals from entering their crop fields. In some Indian villages, farmers are also said to use the smoke of burning chilli pepper to thwart crop raid. Locals who live near the forested areas and do subsistence farming are the hardest hit.

The foraging giants are also known to enter deep into human habitation in search of food. Foraging elephants can be a real nuisance and cause damage to property and injure humans. Retaliatory actions by affected farmers sometimes lead to the death of the protected species. There is a provision of compensation for loss of human life or injury or damage to crop or property. Local Inhabitants living on the fringe of forested areas, however, have been continually experiencing the ordeal for decades.

2. A curious paradox

Human-elephant conflict presents a curious paradox. Nepal is internationally committed to biodiversity conservation and the wild Asian elephant is legally protected in the country. The killing of endangered wildlife is punishable by law. Conservationists are often in a dilemma while dealing with the situations relating to human-elephant conflict.

A few years ago, a rogue left a trail of death and destruction in Far-West Nepal before the authorities took the extreme measure and destroyed the problem animal. Conservationists do not want to be in such a situation when they have to make a decision to kill an animal they are professionally committed to protecting.

There is often news on wild elephants wreaking havoc in the eastern district of Jhapa, resulting in the loss of life and property worth millions of rupees. These marauding elephants are known to cross over the Mechi river and enter the Nepali side from the Indian forests across the border. The herds are said to be using the old forest corridor traditionally used by wild elephants during their seasonal movement.

Loss of human life in an encounter with a wild elephant is a great tragedy and human life must be protected at any cost. Park wardens coordinate with local authorities to arrive at such an unpleasant decision when the incidents occur outside the protected area. The fact that foraging wild elephants cover great distances during their seasonal migration makes the matter all the more complicated.

File: Elephants eating various food items during a festival

3. Degradation of elephant habitat

The pristine forests of lowland Terai of Nepal and the contiguous jungles in the north and north-east India once served as one large habitat for wild Asian elephants. Experts say the elephants of the two countries formed one large population. However, following the eradication of malaria in Nepals southern plains and the large scale deforestation for resettlement and agricultural development programmes of the government, there was an unchecked influx of hill people into the fertile land. It resulted not only in the loss of major slice of Nepals forest cover but also the prime wildlife habitat including that of the wild elephant.

Loss of pristine wildlife habitat saw the fragmentation of elephant population into smaller groups. Moreover, it narrowed the range of the long distances they used to traditionally cover in the past and confined them into comparatively smaller areas of degraded forests. Rapidly growing human population and the need for agricultural land for subsistence farming has further aggravated the situation. All these factors have made interface and conflict between locals and wild elephant inevitable.

4. Spatial status of wild elephant

According to a study carried out by Petra ten Velde in 1996-98 with the financial support of WWF, four main populations of wild Asian elephant have been recorded in Nepal, existing along with the eastern, central, western and far-western belts of the country. The eastern herd of 10-15 individuals migrates from West Bengal of India during the harvesting times of corn and rice. After crossing over to Nepal, this herd is known to proceed along the Churia foothills to the Sunsari and Saptari districts, before returning to the Indian side again.

A herd of approximately 25 elephants residing in Parsa Wildlife Reserve forms the central population. This population also uses Chitwan National Park as dispersing area.

The 40-50 resident population of Bardiya National Park forms the western population. This population has become resident since 1993. Likewise, the far-western population of 12-18 elephants lives within the Churiya foothills national forests, occasionally moving to the Indian forests, crossing over the Mahakali river.

There are altogether 208 domesticated (captive) elephants in the country, which are owned by the government, conservation agencies and individuals.

5. Loss of life and property

In terms of conflict and the resultant loss of life and property, eastern Nepal is the most affected. A study carried out by BR Yadav reports migrating wild elephants (from across the border) range from a few individuals to over 100 animals. Incidentally, the forest corridor used by migrating elephants in the area is also highly degraded and fragmented.

According to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (Government of Nepal), an average household in Jhapa district loses up to Rs.30, 000 annually to wild elephants. The report further states that during the period between 2003 and 2007, 20 locals lost their lives in elephant attacks while 12 elephants were killed in retaliatory actions. In recent years, human casualties are said to be on the rise.

A relief scheme has been initiated by the government to compensate for the loss of life or injury sustained in elephant attacks.

Raja Gaj, Bardia, Nepal: considered the largest Asiatic elephant in the 1970s. Source: Nick Wilkox Brown

6. Threats and conservation efforts

Wild elephants use a large area for their seasonal movement. It is said the contiguous forests from Assam of India to Nepals forests were once traditionally used by migrating elephant herds. In Nepal, the major problem lies in the fragmentation and degradation of the ancient forest corridor once used by the wandering terrestrial giants.

Apart from legally protecting wild elephants, the Government of Nepal has prepared an Elephant Conservation Action Plan and implemented the Terai Arch Landscape (TAL) Programme by joining hands with WWF Nepal. The TAL Programme is aimed at improving the chances of long-term survival of this endangered species in their current habitats with the restoration of degraded forest corridors, while also linking the adjacent protected areas of Nepal and India with a biological pathway through restoration and regeneration programmes. It mobilises local communities to achieve the goal through community development initiatives and by providing other incentives.

Wildlife knows no political boundaries and wildlife authorities of the two countries also meet occasionally to deal with problems relating to the trans-border movement of mega terrestrial giants.

7. Initiatives at site level

In order to minimise the conflict, the initiatives taken at the site level include construction of physical barriers such as wildlife watch towers and trenches together with the promotion of traditional deterring methods i.e., building fire and making noises to deter crop raid. Local people also team up with domesticated elephants in the process. Despite the adoption of the said deterring methods, foraging elephants seem to find newer ways of entering into the crop fields.

The government has initiated the erection of electric fences in critical areas by joining hands with local people. Its sustainability is yet to be seen. Local ownership is considered important in this regard.

Wildlife expert Dr Narendra B Pradhan states that retaliatory killing of marauding elephants has not reached a critical level in Nepal if compared with the situations in other South Asian countries. He, however, cautions that the likelihood of affected farmers patience running out could not be ruled out. An amicable settlement of disputes and long-term solution to this knotty problem should be sought before it is too late.
Updated 4:25 p.m.

Turns out, four-time All-Star Michael Brantley has landed back with the Astros for two years and $32 million, according to USA Todays Bob Nightengale.

The Blue Jays reportedly had an agreement with him earlier in the afternoon, but it wasnt enough to put pen to paper.

Updated 1:35 p.m.

The Blue Jays and Michael Brantley dont have an agreement yet, according to ESPNs Jeff Passan.

There is not an agreement in place between outfielder Michael Brantley and the Toronto Blue Jays, according to a source. The Blue Jays are among the teams still in on Brantley, and a deal may eventually get done, but it is not finished.  Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 20, 2021

***

The Blue Jays offense was already scary.

In less than 24 hours, its become downright frightening. And the Yankees have to be a little worried.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Late Wednesday morning, Toronto added sweet-swinging left fielder Michael Brantley on a three-year deal, according to broadcaster Hazel Mae Barker.

Just the night before, it signed center fielder George Springer to a six-year, $150-million deal.

Last season, the 33-year-old Brantley hit .300 with five homers and 22 RBI in 46 Games. Hes a four-time All-Star with a career .297 average.

Earlier in the offseason, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he would have liked to find a way to add another lefty bat to the clubs lineup, which had become too right-handed. But the Yankees were never serious about adding Brantley, a person with knowledge of the teams decision-making told NJ Advance Media.

The Yankees continue to focus on pitching after adding second baseman DJ LeMahieu and starting pitcher Corey Kluber over the weekend. They added LeMahieu on a six-year, $90-million deal and agreed with Kluber on a one-year, $11-million pact.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

A cabinet minister today declared we move on now as Britain was putting the Donald Trump era behind it even before he had left the White House.

Home Secretary Priti Patel told of the exciting agenda ahead for the UK and US under incoming president Joe Biden.

She spoke of the start of a new political era and for the need for the US and Britain to show global leadership together to deal with a series of challenges such as climate change and security.

She stopped short of saying Mr Biden would be better for America than Mr Trump, whose presidency has been blotted by controversy and moves to impeach him twice.

But she highlighted the tasks facing Mr Biden in terms of uniting a deeply divided America and of stepping up to really confront and address many of the global challenges.

Speaking to Sky News, Ms Patel said: We have an incredibly strong relationship wth the United States of America.

Our government will always work with the president and his incoming team.

In terms of the Trump administration, we have worked very strongly with the outgoing presidents administration on a range of issues, not withstanding the fact that a great deal has happened over his tenure as president, all sorts of international events, he has been very robust in terms of particular posture when it comes to parts of the world, such as the Middle East.

But quite frankly we move on now.

She stressed that Boris Johnson had already been in touch with Mr Biden, who will be the 46th president of America.

We have got an exciting agenda as two strong democratic countries, coming together that will be working together on a range of issues, she explained.

As we go into this year, we are holding the presidency of the G7, we are chairing the UN Security Council, we will be hosting the COP (environmental) conference, we have got a whole agenda on climate change.

So for us its very much business as usual with a new team at this very exciting time, this big hand-over, this change in power structures, bases, politics in the United States.

She condemned the storming by Trump supporters of Capitol Hill as thoroughly unacceptable.

She continued: Today is a historic day, its inauguration day in the United States. Its a moment of change with a new administration coming in and you would expect the British Government, the government across the United Kingdom, looks forward to working with president Joe Biden and his administration on a whole range of issues where we have shared interests, on security of our collective countries, the safety and security of the world...in terms of internationalism, bilateral relations, multilateralism going forward.

Theres a lot going on in the world right now.. its important that our two nations come together and show global leadership.

The Lockdown Sessions: What does Joe Biden's presidency mean for Great Britain

Pressed on whether Democrat Mr Biden would be better for America than Republican Mr Trump, she responded: There is a change in presidency but as ever, when administrations change the world changes, the direction of travel...political leaders will always reflect some of the challenges and changes that we see going on domestically and internationally.
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The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, Johnson Fatokun, has been kidnapped.

Mr Fatokun, a professor, was abducted in Nasarawa State on Monday on his way from Jos, where he had gone to attend to family matters.

This was confirmed in a statement signed by the Assistant Registrar, Strategy & Communications, Okesola Sanusi.

Mr Sanusi said contact has been established with Mr Fatokun and he is in good spirits.

The University, in partnership with the nations security agencies, are currently working tirelessly to ensure his release within the shortest time possible, he said.

He said Mr Fatokun, who is a professor of Computational Mathematics and Numerical Analysis, is one of the most valuable staff of the University, who has contributed immensely to academic research for development nationally and internationally.

We wish to extend our appreciation to the Universitys friends and well-wishers who have expressed concern and support for the Institution since the incident took place, he said.

He said well-wishers should join in prayer as they continue to navigate this tough-terrain and hope to share the news of his release in a short while.

Anchor University is owned by the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, one of Nigerias largest Pentecostal churches.
SAGINAW, MI - With schools planning to bring students back to face-to-face learning by March, the Saginaw YMCA is offering a supervised environment to attend remote classes.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer encouraged Michigans school districts to allow some form of in-person learning by March 1, citing effective safety measures in school environments. Families uncomfortable returning their kids to face-to-face classes can attend remote classes in a Virtual Learning Center with upgraded internet access at the Y, 1915 Fordney St. in Saginaw, according to a news release.

Students can study in small classroom pods with air purifiers to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19, according to the release. Children and staff will be given daily health screenings. The Y will also provide activities such as arts, STEM, physical education and more.

As an organization dedicated to youth development, we know how important it is that our children have a safe and enriching environment for learning, Saginaw YMCA President Steve Meyer said in the release. With some parents choosing to continue their childs education virtually this semester, we are reorganizing our facility to provide that environment to children, while also providing essential care for children whose parents need to return to work.

Those interested can learn more or sign up for the virtual learning program by visiting the Ys website here or calling 989-753-7721.

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:

New Michigan marijuana taxes, stock market proposed to boost minority business investment

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to attend Biden inauguration in D.C.

Tuesday, Jan. 19, coronavirus data by Michigan county: 49 counties now below 7% positivity rate

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.



GODFREY  Lewis and Clark Community College will host a virtual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. at noon on Thursday, Jan. 21.

The program is a YouTube premiere event featuring keynote speaker Jonathan Pulphus,students reciting excerpts from famous speeches and letters by civil rights advocates, a dance presentation and a choir performance.

Participants can view the free, educational event on the colleges YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/lewisandclarkcc, and/or log in to participate in a live chat with other viewers.

This program is important because we engage students to participate and by their involvement they are educated, said L&C Student Activities Coordinator Jared Hennings. The keynote is integral because we need to hear a message thats topical to help us better navigate how we can all better meld our differences regarding race moving forward.

Pulphus, of St. Louis, is a writer, activist and currently a Peace Program associate at American Friends Service Committee St. Louis. He also is an outreach worker with Employment Connections Cure Violence St. Louis.

Pulphus graduated from Saint Louis University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. He is involved with the Metro St. Louis Coalition for Inclusion and Equity, Saint Louis Universitys Black Student Alliance and Tribe X.

The virtual celebration will also feature an ensemble dance performance to Four Women, by artist Nina Simone.

My current work has been solely to tell the stories and experiences of black and brown bodies through the art form of dance, said performer, choreographer and instructor Ronnie J. Anderson, Jr.

Anderson is a professional dancer with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism-Advertising, with a minor in dance, from the University of Georgia. He dances professionally in major cities throughout Georgia and the United States.

The program also will pay homage to late U.S. Rep. John Lewis and author James Baldwin. A student will read an excerpt from a letter Lewis left to be read following his death titled Together You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation.

A trailer will be shown from Baldwins documentary, I Am Not Your Negro, highlighting Baldwins call for a higher humanist agenda.

There will also be a performance by The Aeolians of Oakwood University, Alabama. Organized in 1946, they perform a repertoire of choral music which ranges from the Baroque era to the 20th century.

For me, Martin Luther King, Jr. embodies everything we are currently fighting related to racial justice, social and economic rights and the dignity of everyone, said Associate Professor of Speech Mumba Mumba, co-coordinator of the event. His speeches remind me that words and actions matter and that we can all dream and work toward a world where everyone feels included and valued.

This event is co-hosted by the L&C Diversity Council and L&C Student Activities and is open to the general public. To learn more, visit www.lc.edu/diversity and www.lc.edu/campus-life.
In his first official acts as president, Joe Biden is signing executives orders on a broad range of issues, from the coronavirus pandemic to climate change and immigration, to fulfil campaign promises.

President-elect Joe Biden tears up as he speaks at the Major Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in New Castle, Del. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

In his first official acts as president, Joe Biden is signing executives orders on a broad range of issues, from the coronavirus pandemic to climate change and immigration, to fulfil campaign promises.

Highlights of actions Biden is taking Wednesday:

THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

MASK REQUIREMENT: Biden is requiring the use of masks and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors. Consistently masking up is a practice that science has shown to be effective in preventing the spread of the coronavirus, particularly when social distancing is difficult to maintain.

He is challenging all Americans to wear a mask for the first 100 days of his administration. Thats a critical period, since communities will still be vulnerable to the virus even as the pace of vaccination increases in pursuit of Bidens goal of 100 million shots in 100 days.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Biden also is directing the government to rejoin the World Health Organization, which Donald Trump withdrew from earlier this year after accusing it of incompetence and bowing to Chinese pressure over the coronavirus.

Symbolizing Bidens commitment to a more prominent global role, White House coronavirus co-ordinator Jeff Zients announced that Dr. Anthony Fauci will deliver a speech Thursday to the WHO as head of a U.S. delegation. Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, will lay out how the administration intends to work with the WHO on reforms, supporting the coronavirus response and promoting global health and health security

CLIMATE

PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD: Biden will sign an executive orders to rejoin the Paris climate accord, fulfilling a campaign pledge to get back into the global climate pact on Day One. Trump, a supporter of oil, gas and coal, had made a first priority of pulling out of global efforts to cut climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions.

It will take 30 days for the U.S. to officially be back in.

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden are joined by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff during a COVID-19 memorial event at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

REVIEWING TRUMP ROLLBACKS: Bidens Day One plans also include a temporary moratorium on new Trump administration oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, moving to revoke a presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline and reviewing a Trump administration freeze on vehicle mileage and emissions standards. Biden also is setting in motion an evaluation of another Trump move that cut boundaries and protections for some national monuments.

Agencies will be directed to consider impact of climate change on disadvantaged communities and on future generations from any regulatory action that affected fossil fuel emissions, a new requirement.

IMMIGRATION

ENDING BAN ON MUSLIM Travellers: Biden is ending what is variously known as the "travel ban" or the "Muslim ban," one of the first acts of the Trump administration. Trump in January 2017 banned foreign nationals from seven mostly Muslim countries from entry into the country. After a lengthy court fight, a watered-down version of the rule was upheld by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision in 2018.

The new administration says it will improve the screening of visitors by strengthening information sharing with foreign governments and other measures.

BORDER WALL: Biden is immediately ending the national emergency that Trump declared on the border in February 2018 to divert billions of dollars from the Defence Department to wall construction. He also is halting construction to review contracts and how wall money might be redirected.

Despite Trump's repeated promises that Mexico would pay for the wall, U.S. Customs and Border Protection says Americans have committed $15 billion for more than 700 miles (1,120 kilometres). It is unclear how many miles are under contract and what penalties the government would have to pay for cancelling them.

The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments Feb. 22 on the legality of Trumps diverting Defence Department funds for counter-narcotics efforts and military construction projects to wall construction.

DACA: Biden will order his Cabinet to work to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has shielded hundreds of thousands of people who came to the country as young children from deportation since it was introduced in 2012.

Trump ordered an end to DACA in 2017, triggering a legal challenge that ended in June when the Supreme Court ruled that it should be kept in place because the Trump administration failed to follow federal rule-making guidelines in undoing it. But DACA is still facing legal challenges.

In his presidential proclamation, Biden is calling on Congress to adopt legislation that gives DACA recipients permanent legal status and a path to citizenship. There are currently about 700,000 people enrolled.

DEPORTATIONS: Biden is revoking one of Trumps first executive orders, which declared that all of the roughly 11 million people in the country illegally are considered priorities for deportation. The Department of Homeland Security will conduct a review of enforcement priorities. Bidens campaign site says deportations will focus on national security and public safety threats.

The order says nothing about a 100-day moratorium on deportations that Biden promised during the campaign. Susan Rice, who is tapped to run the White House Domestic Policy Council, says any decision on moratoriums would come from Homeland Security.

CENSUS: Biden is reversing a Trump plan to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted in the 2020 Census. The once-a-decade census is used to determine how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets, as well as the distribution of $1.5 trillion in federal spending each year.

Bidens team says the new administration will ensure the Census Bureau has time to complete an accurate count for each state and that the apportionment is "fair and accurate."

LEGISLATION: Biden is also proposing legislation that would grant green cards and a path to citizenship to anyone in the United States before Jan. 1, 2021, an estimated 11 million people. Most would have to wait eight years for citizenship but people enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for young immigrants and with Temporary Protective Status for fleeing strife-torn countries would only wait three years. Other provisions lessen the time that many people have to wait outside the United States for green cards, provide development aid to Central America and reduce the 1.2-million-case backlog in immigration courts.

STUDENT DEBT

Biden is asking the Education Department to extend a pause on federal student loan payments through at least Sept. 30, continuing a moratorium that began early in the pandemic but was set to expire at the end of January.

Borrowers, who owe a collective $1.5 trillion, would not be required to make payments on their federal student loans, their loans would not accrue any interest, and all debt collection activity would halt through September.

Congress paused student debt payments last March as part of a virus relief package, and the Trump administration extended it twice.

Biden's order does not include the type of mass debt cancellation that some Democrats asked him to orchestrate through executive action. He has said that action should come from Congress.

HOUSING FORECLOSURES

Housing foreclosures and evictions would be delayed until at least March 31, 2021. Almost 12% of homeowners with mortgages are late on their payments, while 19% of renters are behind, according to a Census Bureau survey of households.

The federal moratoriums would ensure that people could stay in their homes even if they cannot afford their monthly bills. Biden is also calling on Congress to extend assistance to renters. While the moratoriums have aided several million Americans during the pandemic and helped to contain the disease, they have also meant that billions of dollars in housing costs have gone unpaid.

Associated Press writers Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Ellen Knickmeyer, Ben Fox, Elliot Spagat, Matt Lee and Josh Boak contributed to this report.
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[January 19, 2021] Nium and Cebuana Lhuillier Launch Quikz in Singapore to Expand Remittance Capabilities for Filipino Users

SINGAPORE, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quikz, Cebuana Lhuillier's flagship mobile remittance app in the US, is now available in Singapore, made possible through a partnership between Cebuana Lhuillier and Nium , a global financial technology platform based in Singapore. Quikz will be powered by Nium's trusted Remittance-as-a-service (RaaS) solution and Cebuana Lhuillier's huge network of pay-out locations in the Philippines, allowing thousands of Filipinos based in Singapore to enjoy improved convenience, security, and real-time global transactions. Yogesh Sangle, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Consumer and SME Business at Nium, said, "With millions of Filipinos living and working overseas for their loved ones back home, the convenience and transparency in remittance processes play such an essential role -- especially with continued social distancing measures and lockdowns in place. We are extremely excited that Cebuana Lhuillier, a home-grown Filipino brand, shares a common goal with Nium, and we are proud to co-establish and power this new platform through our enhanced remittance capabilities." For Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO, the expansion of Quikz in Singapore heralded the company's commitment to financial inclusion for every Filipino, regardless of their location. "Cebuana Lhuillier's core of Financial Inclusion always pushes us to provide better micro-financial services to Filipinos, wherever they may be. This new partnership with Nium strengthens our remittances services to ensure that Filipinos around the world have access to fast, reliable, and safe transactions," he shared. The Philippines is one of the world's leading remittance markets. As of 2019, there are an estimated 12 million Filipinos who are working overseas, accounting for one-tenth of the country's population, with Singapore having one of the third-highest share of overall remittances.[1] In that same year, the Philippines saw US$33.5 billion sent back home from those working abroad.[2] The country has made significant efforts to meet the growing demand for a remittance service that is faster, more convenient and efficient in today's cashless society. Cebuana Lhuillier will leverage Nium's global network and digital capabilities, as well as partnerships with leading technology providers like Ripple, to enable instant, reliable and low-cost payments. Recipients in the Philippines will be able to receive the money at more than 2,500 branches located across the Philippines. Ripple leverages innovative technology to deliver a range of financial solutions to a global network of partners. Nium currently operates its Send, Spend and Receive business in over 100 countries, 65 in real-time. For more information about Nium's enterprise offerings, please visit http://www.nium.com .







[1] http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/15/c_138473763.htm [2] https://business.inquirer.net/290734/remittances-hit-all-time-high-of-33-5b-in-2019

About Cebuana P.J. Lhuillier, Inc. (PJLI) is the proud parent company of Cebuana Lhuillier, the Philippines' largest microfinancial services provider that offers pawning, remittance, micro insurance, bills payment, e-load, business-to-business solutions services, and micro savings and other banking services through their banking arm, the Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank. For more than 30 years, Cebuana Lhuillier continuously provides fast, easy, secure, and convenient microfinancial products and services to more than 30 million customers through over 2,500 branches nationwide. The company has also expanded its services into the digital space through the eCebuana App, a product of the Cebuana Lhuillier Rural Bank, and a host of other financial platforms such as Cebuana From Home, ProtectNow.com and the Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry website. Cebuana Lhuillier is committed to its purpose of bringing financial inclusion to the majority of Filipinos, and has remained at the forefront of its industry through its many product innovations and leadership in customer service. Its commitment to excellence has given rise to many countless accolades and recognitions here and abroad. About Nium Nium is a global financial technology platform redefining the way consumers and businesses send, spend and receive funds across borders. The company is continuously innovating to provide the most relevant and agile solutions to meet the needs of consumers and businesses, having evolved from solely focusing on consumer remittance via InstaReM, to also providing fintech solutions for businesses. Nium is regulated in Australia, Canada, European Union, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States of America, and processes billions of dollars a year for banks and payments institutions, the next generation of e-commerce players, OTAs and retail users across the world. Nium's investors include Visa, BRI Ventures, Vertex Ventures, Vertex Growth, Fullerton Financial Holdings, GSR Ventures, Rocket Internet, Global Founders Capital, SBI Japan, FMO (Netherlands Development Finance Company), MDI Ventures, Beacon Venture Capital and Atinum Investment. For more information, visit: http://www.nium.com . Media Contact: Mira Millane

+61 420 716 982

Mira.millane@nium.com Melanie Suzon

0966-389.9464

mmsuzon@pjlhuillier.com SOURCE Nium

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Mexican gray wolves Kawi and Ryder, and their seven pups are off to school.

The pups were born at the ABQ BioPark Zoo last May. The tight-knit family is now headed to a wilding school south of Mexico City, where they will learn to hunt and survive in the wild before being released into their native range in northern Mexico.

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Were excited and sad at the same time, BioPark Zoo mammal curator Erin Flynn said. Its a zoos dream to directly help a wild population like this. Its even more powerful and touching for us that its our beloved lobo that were helping.

The relocation and release is part of a breeding program involving the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Mexican Wolf Species Survival Plan and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The goal is to restore genetically diverse Mexican gray wolves to their native Southwest territory in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and northern Mexico.

The BioPark Zoo has partnered with the USFWS since 1983 on Mexican wolf conservation and, since then, 79 wolf pups have been born there, Flynn said, adding that others have been wolves placed at the zoo after being injured, and in need of medical treatment and rehabilitation.

The trip to Mexico is something of a homecoming for mother wolf Kawi, who was born at the Zoologico de San Juan de Aragon in Mexico. She arrived at the ABQ BioPark Zoo in 2016. Ryder joined her at the zoo in 2018. Their first three pups were born the following year and included current zoo resident Archer, who is not currently recommended for breeding, but is expected to be part of a new pack at the zoo.

Despite the large number of pups born at the zoo, the successful breeding of wolves slowed significantly, and Ryder and Kawis 2019 litter was the first born there in 15 years, Flynn said.

The Mexican gray wolf, also known as the lobo, remains listed as an endangered species, Flynn said, and, since 1976, has been protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The rarest subspecies of gray wolf in North America, the Mexican gray wolf was once common throughout Mexico and the Southwest United States. It was nearly eliminated in the wild by the 1970s. The USFWS initiated efforts to conserve the species starting in 1977.

According to the latest numbers available from the USFWS, as of March 2020, there were 163 Mexican gray wolves in the wild. Mexican conservation authorities estimate there are 300 wolves living in the Sierra Madre mountain range.

Conservation and reintroduction efforts have been an ongoing source of conflict with ranchers, who raise concerns about livestock predation.

In the wild, Mexican gray wolves can live up to 13 years, though the average lifespan range is from six to eight years, according to several online wolf conservation sites. In captivity, they can live up to 15 years.

Mexican gray wolves are about the size of a healthy German shepherd, weighing from 50 to 80 pounds at maturity, standing 28 to 32 inches at the shoulder, and measuring about 5 feet long from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail; females are at the smaller end of the spectrum.
Jan. 20, 1981

Reagan sworn-in; Iran hostages released

As thousands gathered at the U.S. Capitol to witness the inauguration of Ronald Reagan as our nations 40th president, another historic event happened half a world away. That event was the release of the Iran hostages from their 444 days in captivity.

The release of the hostages came after an agreement was reached by unfreezing Iranian assets.

Among the 52 hostages who were released was Michael Metrinko of Olyphant. In an interview with the Scranton Times, Metrinkos parents, Harry and Alice, told of how they learned that their son had been released.

The Metrinkos said they received a call from Henry Precht of the U.S. State Department. Mr. Metrinko said, Henry, whats the news this time? There was pause, and Mr. Metrinko said, weve been waiting for this.

Mrs. Metrinko then got on the line and they heard the happy news, Its official, theyve been released.

Hearing the good news, students from the Mid-Valley Secondary Center walked to the Metrinkos Delaware Street home waving American flags and holding signs of support. Once at the home, the students sang the national anthem.

Also on hand were neighbors and friends who showed their support by singing a traditional Ukrainian folk song.

Back in Washington, Reagan in his inaugural speech told the nation, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage and our strength. Let us renew our faith and our hope. We have every right to dream heroic dreams.

Brian Fulton, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribunes expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or 570-348-9140.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Mexico & Banderas Bay Area News



DIF Continues to Support Vulnerable Vallartans



The Social Work area of the Municipal DIF System provides Puerto Vallarta's most vulnerable sectors with comprehensive support that promotes family development and the overall well-being of society in general. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Every day DIF President Candelaria Tovar de DAvalos reaffirms her commitment to helping the city's most vulnerable sectors survive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.



With the aim of continuing to provide quality care to the people of Puerto Vallarta who need it most, the Social Work area of the Municipal DIF System provides vulnerable Vallartans with comprehensive support that promotes fmily development and the overall well-being of society in general.



The Social Work coordinator, Ileana Luna, commented that the main function of this area of DIF is to investigate the situation that each person presents, and thus be able to make a diagnosis that allows establishing an intervention plan, according to the problem that each family manifests.







With the solidarity and collaboration of the local companies and people with big hearts who make in-kind donations, nutritional and other supports are distributed daily to the vulnerable families, from different neighborhoods of the municipality, who ask the organization for assistance.



During the last two weeks of January, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday, on-call personnel will attend to the needs of those presenting a copy of their INE, birth certificate and proof of address, giving priority to vulnerable sectors such as the elderly, people with disabilities and single or pregnant mothers, following all Covid-19 safety and hygienic measures.



Source: Puerto Vallarta Municipal Government news bulletin translated and edited by MarAa Francesca for BanderasNews.com. - Every day DIF President Candelaria Tovar de DAvalos reaffirms her commitment to helping the city's most vulnerable sectors survive the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.With the aim of continuing to provide quality care to the people of Puerto Vallarta who need it most, the Social Work area of the Municipal DIF System provides vulnerable Vallartans with comprehensive support that promotes fmily development and the overall well-being of society in general.The Social Work coordinator, Ileana Luna, commented that the main function of this area of DIF is to investigate the situation that each person presents, and thus be able to make a diagnosis that allows establishing an intervention plan, according to the problem that each family manifests.With the solidarity and collaboration of the local companies and people with big hearts who make in-kind donations, nutritional and other supports are distributed daily to the vulnerable families, from different neighborhoods of the municipality, who ask the organization for assistance.During the last two weeks of January, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Friday, on-call personnel will attend to the needs of those presenting a copy of their INE, birth certificate and proof of address, giving priority to vulnerable sectors such as the elderly, people with disabilities and single or pregnant mothers, following all Covid-19 safety and hygienic measures.



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An explosion tore through a building in central Madrid on Wednesday, leaving at least three people dead and 11 more wounded, Spanish officials said, as rescuers scrambled to treat the injured.

The mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, told local news outlets that the explosion appeared to be the result of a gas leak, and the Interior Ministry said later that it was investigating the cause.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain acknowledged the explosion in a post on Twitter, and shared a warning from the police urging residents to stay away from the scene.
[January 20, 2021] Wiztopic and Euronext Corporate Services Sign a Commercial Partnership

Wiztopic, the cloud-based provider of software solutions for corporate communications, public relations and investor relations professionals, today announced a commercial partnership with Euronext Corporate Services, a subsidiary of Euronext, providing companies with innovative solutions and tailor-made advisory services in the areas of governance, compliance, communication, and investor relations. This strategic alliance will simplify the access to highly complementary solutions for their respective customers. The combination of Euronext Corporate Services and Wiztopic's solutions constitutes a suite of best-in-class digital communication solutions to satisfy the increasingly sophisticated needs of time-poor corporate communication, PR and IR professionals. Euronext Corporate Services' clients will benefit from Wiztrust's blockchain certification platform to secure their financial communications and avoid fake news.



"This partnership solidifies Wiztrust as the European platform for certifying corporate information" said Jerome Lascombe, Wiztopic's President. "Today 20% of the information from the CAC40 and SBF120 is certified with Wiztrust and distributed with Wiztopic. We are happy and proud to work closely together to accelerate our growth in the European markets." In addition, Wiztopic will ensure an efficient and measurable dissemination of this reliable communication on the web and social media. From Company Webcast studios, to its player and the news section of the corporate website, companies will seamlessly control their communication and IR activities. Finally, IR.Manager will provide the ultimate investor relations workflow and targeting tools to empower communication towards the investor community. Wiztopic's investors and media rooms combined with Euronext Corporate Services' webcasting and investors' CRM will provide an unrivaled solution for IR and PR departments in Europe.

"We are delighted to be partnering with Wiztopic in order to create high value-added joint offers across our portfolio of services with newsroom and press release certification solutions. Communication has been one of our four main pillars ever since Euronext Corporate Services was founded, and we are convinced that Wiztopic's technology will support our issuer customers in accelerating the digitalization of their communication in a secured environment", Mathieu Caron, Head of Euronext Corporate Services. Many IR and PR teams already leverage Wiztopic as the control tower of their daily tasks, including corporate news releases, newsrooms and IR rooms, annual results publications, financial press reviews, performance management. Integrating Euronext Corporate Services' solutions into Wiztopic, like webcasting and real-time financial data creates a seamless platform that will further simplify the job of communications teams. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210119005957/en/

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Four years and a day ago, I boarded a bus with what felt like half of my journalism school class and traveled to Washington, DC, for the inauguration of Donald Trump and the Womens March the day after. Id arranged to cover the events for Pacifica radio and ended up writing a short dispatch for my hometown paper back in the UKmy first real bylines. I woke up early for the inauguration, anticipating a long wait to get onto the Mall, but the line was relatively short and there was plenty of space inside to rove around and interview Trump supporters. (So much for the biggest inaugural crowd ever.) I spoke to the Naked Cowboy, and to young families and kids on school trips; I steered clear of a group chanting Lock Her Up, but never felt threatened myself. I think its kind of ridiculous not to go to the inauguration, a student wearing a Hillary Clinton lapel pin told me, when I asked him why he was there. Its a testament to American democracy to have one president leave peacefully and another come in. The sentimentand the number of friendly, first-time political participants I spoke with, at the inauguration as well as the Womens Marchstuck with me. Despite my initial sense of foreboding, I wrote in my dispatch, the proceedings may, just, have buttressed the foundations of a shaking democracy.

Today, Joe Biden will be sworn in as president, and there will be no crowd on the Mallthe consequence of a deadly viral pandemic that his predecessor refused to try to tame, and an attempted coup that his predecessor encouraged. Reporters will not be strolling around town unencumbered, recording vox pops. Due to the violenceboth general and targeted at members of the press, specificallyduring the insurrection and the threat of the same today, various newsrooms have provided their reporters with gas masks, helmets, and body armor; theyll report in teams for added safety, and some will travel with assigned security guards. Yesterday, Capitol Police told reporters that they would not be allowed to enter the secure area surrounding the Capitol while wearing their protective gear; in response, news organizations wrote to the Secret Service urging a rethink, or at least further clarity. As the New York Times reports, several outlets have assigned journalists with combat experience to cover the inauguration. (The Nation is sending Andrew McCormick, a military veteran and recent CJR fellow.) Press groups have issued advisories warning reporters of potential threats, including aggressive policing, arson, and the potential for a vehicle attack on an assembled crowd.

New from CJR: The daily grotesque

The contrast between the threats of today and the calm of inaugurations past has been held up, by some, as a neat metaphor for the damage the Trump era has wrought, both on the press and the country as a whole. Such yardsticks can indeed be useful points of comparison. Still, while they may mark the messy rush of history, they dont always structure itand Trumps presidency clearly cannot be seen as a straight line from harmony to discord. This week, I listened back to my reporting from Trumps inauguration, and it hit me with a contradictory mix of emotions and questions. I felt proud that Id produced coherent audio with no professional experience, but also cringed at framing that channeled various tropes Ive since come to hate: the invocation of Americas divisions as an actor in their own right; the whiff of bothsidesism; the general optimistic tone, which now comes across as complacent. To what extent was the latter attributable to my youthful naivete, or my white privilege, or my Britishness? To what extent was it inherited from the canons of conventional political journalism that I aspired back then to emulate?

Most difficult of all to answer: to what extent was I actually wrong? Theres no question I had blindspots back then, and still do, but I dont remember feeling complacent about the dangers Trump posed at the time. (Then again, I find that its hard to recall exactly how I felt without the weight of everything that has happened since crowding my memories.) The excitement I heard from children attending the Womens March was exhilarating; the Trump supporters I asked for interviews were generally friendly and happy to talk to me; the peaceful transition was a relief. Its tempting to now view all this as a lie: in 2017, Trump and his most militant supporters were assuming institutional power without the need for violence; wasnt it inevitable that they would deploy it when their grip on power was threatened? Perhaps. But history does not proceed on the principle of inevitability, and the last four years have been marked by a series of inflection points at which Trump and his many enablers could have chosen differently and steered America off its present path. Inevitability can obscure accountability.

At the same time, we know that the fundamental nature of Trump the man hasnt changed. Theres a broader lesson for the press in this. To the extent reporters have erred in covering this presidency, it hasnt exactly been in any failure to predict the specific tumult of its climax; prognostication is not our job. Rather, the failure came in insufficient honesty about all the threats to democracy that were already apparent; in the relentless optimism, among many influential journalists, that meaningless fluctuations in Trumps public behavior constituted a pivot, a change of tone, or newly presidential conduct; in the insistence that old-school journalistic practicescrafted by older white men and policed primarily by political good faithwould be enough to hold a reliably faithless president and his co-partisans to account. As my CJR colleague Pete Vernon and I wrote in a recent, detailed critique of Trump coverage, the basic rhythms of our industry have conspired, time and again, to downplay demagoguery, let Trump and his defenders off the hook, and drain resources and attention from crucial longer-term storylines. The challenge, as I wrote last week, is to let the shock of this moment shake loose our old bad habits.

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Thinking back to Trumps inauguration, it struck me, too, how strange it is that this period would prove to be the launchpad for my journalism career; for all that my perspective has changed and broadened these past four years, I do not know what it is like to write professionally about a president who isnt Trump. Clearly, Im not alone in that. As time goes on, will those of us who cut our teeth in this era stay linked by a common journalistic sensibility? If so, will we prove a force for change in an industry that needs it? Or will its legacyits trauma, evenbe messier than that? (Its not healthy to have to cover any event from behind a bulletproof vest.) As with all the questions swirling in my head this week, the answer may be all the above.

Below, more on the inauguration:



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: The Doctor vs. #MeToo

Update: The reference to Axioss story on the Freedom of Information Act has been updated to clarify that the records in question concern FOIA lawsuits.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the start of a new UK-US chapter on Wednesday under incoming US President Joe Biden, even as his predecessor accused Johnson of abandoning the UK's moral leadership in the world during the tumultuous Trump era.

May, who resigned in 2019 amid turmoil over Brexit, has been critical of Johnson's handling of Britain's exit from the European Union. The open criticism is unusual because both prime ministers represent the Conservative Party.

Writing in the Daily Mail newspaper, May slammed Johnson's threat last year to breach the legally binding Brexit treaty he had signed with the EU, and his decision to abandon a commitment to spending 0.7% of Britain's GDP on foreign aid.

May said to lead we must live up to our values. Threatening to break law by going back on a treaty we had just signed and abandoning our position of global moral leadership as the only major economy to meet both the 2 per cent defence spending target and the 0.7 per cent aid target were not actions which, in my view, raised our credibility in the eyes of the world, May said.

Since Biden won the US election in November, Johnson has tried to shake off criticism that he became too close to outgoing President Donald Trump. The two men's populist, crowd-pleasing styles have often drawn comparisons.

Johnson's supporters argue that all British prime ministers have to forge strong relationships with the occupant of the White House. May was the first world leader to visit Trump after his inauguration in 2017, though their personal relationship was never warm.

Johnson has congratulated Biden and noted that they share priorities, including combating climate change and bolstering institutions.

Johnson told the House of Commons that he looked forward to working with Biden and with his new administration, strengthening the partnership between our countries and working on our shared priorities from tackling climate change, building back better from the pandemic and strengthening our transatlantic security.

President Donald Trump took time to highlight his efforts in support of the military and veterans as he departed Washington for the last time as commander in chief.

"This has been an incredible four years. We accomplished so much together," he said in a brief review of his administration's policies, making no mention of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots that led to his second impeachment by the House. "We rebuilt the U.S. military. We created a new force, Space Force. We took care of our veterans. Our veterans are happy. Our military is happy."

The send-off from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, had the trappings of one of his boisterous campaign rallies. Loudspeakers blared "Macho Man" by the Village People and other hits before Trump arrived aboard the gleaming Marine One helicopter to the cheers of a modest, flag-waving crowd assembled on the tarmac.

Ceremonial military batteries set off a booming 21-gun cannon salute as the president and first lady Melania Trump took a makeshift stage set up before Air Force One, which was waiting to take them to Florida.

Read Next: SecDef Pick Lloyd Austin Pledges to Rid the Ranks of Extremists

"We got tax cuts. I hope they don't raise taxes," Trump said of the incoming Biden administration. "But if they do, I told you so."

He noted that more than 300 judges were appointed to the federal bench during his time in office and cited the work done to develop vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Melania Trump also addressed the crowd, saying, "Being your first lady was my greatest honor. God bless you all, and God bless this beautiful nation."

Trump never conceded that he lost the election but said, "I wish the new administration great luck and great success.

"I can only say this -- we worked hard.  We left it all on the field," he said.

Trump also suggested that he would return to the public arena.

"[The departure ceremony is] just a goodbye. We love you and we will be back in some form," he said. "So have a good life; we will see you soon."

Trump and the first lady then walked hand and hand to the waiting aircraft on a red carpet flanked by troops from all the services.

As Air Force One taxied to the runway, the loudspeakers blared the Frank Sinatra hit "My Way." By 9 a.m., Air Force One was in the sky headed to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Vice President Mike Pence was absent from the departure ceremony but is scheduled to attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: Air Force One Set to Drop Trump Off One Last Time
Telangana government on Monday issued orders to the collectors to stop chicken supplies from Maharashtra until the bird flu cases are brought under control in the neighbouring state.  AFP

HYDERABAD: With prices of mutton shooting up due to bird flu fears in Telangana, the animal husbandry department has stepped into and will regulate the price structure.

Mutton prices have shot up to Rs 1,200 in some areas, especially those in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits. Now the government has decided to fix Rs 600 to Rs 700 per kg and meat shop owners have to strictly comply with the ruling.

According to highly placed sources in the animal husbandry department, minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav held a high-level meeting with officials to regulate sheep prices with immediate effect. Citing bird flu dangers, meat shop owners and butchers increased the prices according to their whims.

In a few areas, what was Rs 650 per kg was being sold for an exorbitant Rs 1,200 taking advantage of customers, in a fix over bird flu, thronging meat shops. The minister asked officials to check the availability of sheep and goat in the state. He ordered them to book cases on shop owners and butchers, who sell for higher prices.

A senior animal husbandry official said that there has been no shortage of sheep and goats. He said that some traders have been deliberately looting consumers.

"We have around two crore sheep and goats in the state, which would be more than sufficient to meet the needs of consumers. We have advised officials to raid shops selling at prices over and above the fixed rates and book cases against them. In GHMC area alone, we have collected Rs 20 lakh as penalty against outlets selling stale meat and at higher prices ", he said.

The official said that the minister would meet Telangana State Sheep and Goat Development Co-operative Societies Federation in a couple of days to fix the price of meat.

"A final decision would be taken after discussing it with the federation. The price would be fixed anywhere between Rs 600 and Rs 700", he added.

Meanwhile, the government on Monday issued orders to the collectors to stop chicken supplies from Maharashtra until the bird flu cases are brought under control in the neighbouring state.

Though there is no case of bird flu in Telangana state so far, confirmed cases of bird flu in poultry have been reported from nine districts of Maharashtra including Latur, Parbhani, Nanded, Pune, Solapur, Yavatmal, Ahmednagar, Beed and Raigad, where affected and suspected birds are being culled.

The state government has directed district collectors of Kamareddy, Nizamabad, Nirmal, Adilabad, Asifabad and Mancherial to be on high alert and restrict the entry of birds from Maharashtra. These districts share the borders with Maharashtra where bird flu cases have been confirmed. They have also sought check posts on border areas and restrict entry of poultry items from Maharashtra.
Indeed, Netflix is among the most prominent online streaming services.

Also, it has an impressive volume of licensed and original content, thereby pulling lots of customers. A lot of exciting and quality content plus new movies and shows are added now and then. This is especially the case with US Netflix, since it contains a comprehensive catalogue of regional content. However, Netflix tends to block most of the content. This makes it inaccessible to users that arent in the United States. But a Netflix VPN comes in handy to make the content accessible.

With the best VPN, you can 'spoof' the IP address. That way, streaming services, including Netflix, will assume you live in the United States. This is regardless of the place you are connecting from across the world. Unfortunately, not every VPN can help you achieve that. Other factors, such as stability and speed, play a crucial role. In this article, youll learn how you can watch US Netflix using the best VPN.

How to Download and Install your VPN

To start using a VPN is easy. There are lots of free VPN options, but they may not be the best for streaming. Some of these VPN options are characterized by a few servers and strict data limits that enhance slower connections. Furthermore, some of them dont go beyond Netflixs geo-blocks.

The good news is that some of todays providers are not only reliable but affordable as well. So, it's worth investing in a good Netflix VPN. It comes with a fast and stable connection as well as better security. Also, it features a comprehensive range of server locations, not to mention that it supports every device you have.

How do I get started?

 First, sign-up with your selected VPN provider (ExpressVPN is the best Netflix VPN in 2021)

 Download and then install the software

 Now connect it to a US server or from whatever country you wish to watch. Most VPN providers provide details about the fastest servers and those with few users. You can use that information to select a stable connection. The number of servers it has across the world can also determine a good VPN. This is because it offers you the opportunity to watch Netflix from several countries. Also, such a VPN has a fast streaming speed.

 You can go to Netflix to view the updated catalogue with new titles. In case you can see it, clear your browsers cookies. Also, you can change to another server and give it another try.

Which Netflix VPN should you use?

Selecting the best Netflix VPN is important. This is because no one wants to invest in something that won't help them. But the best thing is that most VPN providers offer a free trial. So, you can test to see if it works well with Netflix and other streaming services.

The best Netflix VPN is fast, and its user-friendly. Its easy to notice whether you are using it on mobile apps or desktop. It should come with a money-back guarantee and have advanced features ideal for both new and advanced users. Click on the link provided above to see some of the best Netflix VPN in 2021.


Donald Trump began attempts to dismantle the international legacy of Barack Obama soon after arriving at the White House, and ended his turbulent presidency seeking to place roadblocks in the path of Joe Bidens foreign policy.

Trump sought to sabotage one of Obamas landmark achievements by reneging on the Iran nuclear deal and imposing punitive sanctions on Tehran. Israel and Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, were given carte blanche on a range of issues, from Palestinian rights to the war in Yemen.

Trump alienated Americas western European partners with constant attacks on the European Union and Nato while appearing loth to criticise Vladimir Putins Russia. Having threatened to destroy North Korea, Trump allowed Kim Jong-un to continue developing his arsenal of missiles. He started a trade war with China, but also weakened ties with key allies in the region, such as Japan and South Korea.
Ann Diamond, a retired attorney with three children and four grandchildren, has completed her new book The Pink Pearl: a gripping and potent depiction of one young womans life-changing experiences in New York City. Her story is told with a most unusual writing style, almost quirky, with author and character commentaries in each chapter.

The author begins the book with a prologue written from the perspective of the main character to set the tone of the story: Well, the reality is, this is not exactly my book, but it is my story, so I suppose I did not have the final say as to the prologue. That was the authors choice and, in my opinion, far too long, as you will see.

This book is a collaboration between me and the author. Collaboration was a word that the author chose. I would simply call it our working together, to enable me to tell my story.

The author is a very nice woman attorney whom I trusted to tell my story accurately, without any legal or ten-syllable words, and hopefully with a little humor, if you can imagine a lawyer ever being humorous. This lawyer, however, does have a bit of a sense of humor, so I am encouraged in that regard. She is married to a lawyer who has a very good sense of humor, and hopefully influenced his wife not to make my story totally mundane.

Published by Page Publishing, Ann Diamonds charming tale follows Mary Katherine Kennedy, who goes by Kate, a young woman who led a very conservative childhood. When Kate goes off to college, she begins to spread her wings and her life takes off from there. Kate was in a rut and sought some level of greater happiness, so she decides to move to New York City to join her boyfriend, Ari Goldman. When Kate encounters The Pink Pearl, what she thought was her otherwise mundane life turns into a whirlwind of adventures.

Kates journey seeking the goal of a higher meaning in life takes many twists and turns, running the gamut of emotions, sometime hilarious, raucous, sad, and ending in a life-changing decision. Kates story is captivating and complicated. During Kates story, and the authors commentary along the way, the reader is open to interpret whether Kate made the best decisions she could, hopefully opening the door to a new life that would forever bring her an ideal level of happiness.

The author plans two follow-up books that continue with Kates life and anticipates a screen play to bring her life to the screen with a most provocative movie.

Readers who wish to experience this potent work can purchase The Pink Pearl at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.

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.
COMMUNITY FINANCE COMPANY 1 PLC - LEI 213800VZPKVQ7LLB8E76

(the "Company")

The Company hereby announces the resignation of Carl Steven Baldry as director and the appointment of Sean Peter Martin as replacement director. The resignation and appointment are effective from 15 January 2021.

Community Finance Company 1 Plc:

Address: 125 Wood Street, London, United Kingdom, EC2V 7AN

Attention: The Directors

Telephone Number: +44 203 994 7161

Email: spvservices@apexfs.com

20 January 2021
John Donaghy (pictured), 54, from Birmingham, has had treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital cancelled twice due to high influx of coronavirus patients

A distraught father has been told his urgent cancer operation to remove an aggressive tumour in his mouth has been postponed until 'the pandemic eases'.

John Donaghy, 54, from Birmingham, has had treatment at the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital cancelled twice due to a high influx of coronavirus patients.

He was told emergency surgery was needed to cut away the tumour and help prevent further spread from his mouth and tongue.

But the building company boss has been discharged home from the facility and is waiting to hear when he can be treated.

It comes as NHS bosses told medical centres cancer operations must not be delayed due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Meanwhile five private hospitals in Scotland will perform urgent operations and cancer treatments for the NHS to help it maintain patient care.

Earlier this month it emerged hospitals were treating less than half the cancer patients they usually would amid the surge in coronavirus cases.

And a leading charity warned late last year that up to 50,000 cancer cases had gone undiagnosed during the pandemic.

His son Kieran (pictured), 25, a hairdresser, added: 'We understand the pressure the NHS is facing but we are really worried for dad. He is really anxious and we are scared

Speaking from home where he lives alone, Mr Donaghy said: 'I am exhausted and really worried for the future. I don't know what to think. I feel really low.

'The surgical team tried their best to push for this operation but it is out of their hands. It has been the most frightening experience of my life and I am very scared.'

His son Kieran, 25, a hairdresser, added: 'We understand the pressure the NHS is facing but we are really worried for dad. He is really anxious and we are scared.

'He has been discharged even though he is not well at all. We are not the only ones facing this, there must be others going through the same struggle.

'But this is Stage 4 cancer, it is aggressive, it needs urgent treatment, but we feel really hopeless.'

Kieran, who lives in Great Barr, said: 'Dad was fit and healthy, he works hard, he walked his dog every day and this has just come from nowhere'

The alternative treatment offered is chemotherapy, which medics hope will shrink the tumour until an operation can proceed.

The Trust also said in cases where the hospitals' Multi-Disciplinary Team decides surgery is urgent the patient will be prioritised for any available theatre space.

In the event of no capacity in the Trust, they will be escalated via the West Midlands Cancer Alliance Cancer Hub to try to identify spare capacity across the region.

Birmingham hospitals are battling a surge in coronavirus cases, with more than 1,000 inpatients across the Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands and Good Hope hospitals and more than 150 in intensive care.

The hospital trust has cancelled all elective operations at the QE and reduced the number of high priority operations to those deemed 'time critical'.

Cases as severe as Mr Donaghy's might be sacrificed as the squeeze on bed spaces and staff mounts - with a peak in admissions locally not expected for another week.

Kieran, who lives in Great Barr, said: 'Dad was fit and healthy, he works hard, he walked his dog every day and this has just come from nowhere.'

Mr Donaghy first started experiencing problematic mouth ulcers in November and contacted his GP.

It took two phone consultations before he was sent antibiotics, which failed to help the problem.

When the ulcers persisted, he returned to his GP but it was not until the pain increased and he went to A&E over Christmas that his illness became clear.

Kieran continued: 'The A&E doctor said he wished he had not waited so long, but my dad had been trying to get someone to listen.

'He had a biopsy and a scan, then on January 6 I went with him to get the biopsy results. It was terrible.

'They said he had mouth cancer, it was aggressive and was already Stage 4. He had a panic attack and passed out from the news, it was all a blur then really.

'He was admitted and they planned to operate on January 12. Dad had an operation to fit a feeding tube because he was struggling to eat, and in readiness for the operation.

'But that was cancelled on the morning he was due to have it. He had got ready for it mentally so that was hard, but then he was told it would be later in the week.

'Then they told him they were discharging him home as the operation would not be taking place, indefinitely.

'He is just shrinking, he's lost a lot of weight, he's very down, and we are worried about that too. It is a lot to go through.'

Kieran and his elder brother Kyle, 28, are now drawing up a rota to provide home care for him while they wait for an aftercare package to be organised.

He needs major surgery and intensive care support after his operation - which would involve cutting cancerous sections from his tongue and mouth tissue followed by reconstruction using grafts from his thigh and arm.

Doctors who diagnose cancers usually describe them as being at one of four stages - from Stage 1, which usually means a cancer is small and contained, to the most serious, Stage 4, which usually means the cancer is large or aggressive and has likely spread from where it started to another body organ.

Kieran added: 'It's been a rollercoaster of emotions so far. We have to hope it all ends up all right.'

A spokesman for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said: 'Our staff are currently having to have incredibly difficult conversations with patients and their families who have had surgery postponed and we can only apologise to those affected.

Why has the UK's Covid vaccination programme slowed down? The reasons behind the slowdown are not clear  it could be a consequence of the Government focusing efforts and supplies on slow rollout areas so they can get to all over-80s, or it may be a bottleneck in supply. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference last night Mr Hancock said vaccine supply was the 'rate-limiting factor'. 'If you listen to voices on the ground in the NHS, you hear people saying 'give us more supply and we will jab it into more arms',' he said. 'We are shoveling it out as fast as we can.' Pressure is mounting on the Government to dish out coronavirus vaccines 24/7, with Labour saying No10 'must deliver for the British people' because the public 'have sacrificed so much'. But ministers earlier claimed there was 'no clamour' for appointments beyond 8pm. It emerged last week that Pfizer is shrinking and delaying its deliveries to Europe while it expands its factory in Belgium. The company makes one of just two vaccines that are being given to the public in the UK and confirmed that Britain would be affected in late January and February. Countries in the EU have criticised Pfizer for shrinking its deliveries as it emerged Norway would get a batch 18 per cent smaller than expected next week. A spokesperson at the company told the Financial Times: 'Although this will temporarily impact shipments in late January to early February, it will provide a significant increase in doses available for patients in late February and March.' Advertisement

'These decisions are always taken in light of clinical advice and we offer alternative treatments whenever possible, as well as aim to rebook patients for surgery.'

In a message to regional directors, NHS England chiefs have said hospitals must give cancer the same priority as coronavirus patients.

There are fears large-scale delays in cancer operations will lead to an increase in avoidable deaths and a backlash against the NHS.

London has been forced to cancel hundreds of operations a week since Christmas to tackle the influx of Covid patients.

Leaked data showed more than 3,800 cancer sufferers are waiting for more than the 62-day target for urgent treatment the NHS aims for.

NHS England chief operating officer Amanda Pritchard wrote in her letter hospitals need to keep treating as many cancer patients as possible.

The letter said each area must 'ensure that, where local decisions are being taken to redeploy surgical and anaesthetic staff, that provision for P1 and P2 [the most urgent] cancer surgery is prioritised alongside that for patients with Covid'.

P1 is life-threatening surgery that has to be undertaken within 72 hours. P2 is operations that need to take place within a month to prevent loss of life or limb.

Five private hospitals in Scotland are to perform urgent operations and cancer treatments for the NHS to help the service maintain patient care during the coronavirus crisis.

The Scottish Government confirmed the independent hospitals would be carrying out elective care to ensure patients with an urgent need can still be treated.

Urgent care and cancer treatment, including breast surgery, will now be carried out at the Albyn Hospital in Aberdeen, the Kings Park Hospital in Stirling, the Nuffield and Ross Hall hospitals in Glasgow and the Spire Hospital in Edinburgh.

The move was announced as Pam Dudek, the chief executive of NHS Highland, told MSPs on Holyrood's Health Committee that medics at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness were now only carrying out urgent surgeries.

Speaking about the impact that coronavirus had had on the health board, she said: 'We had to step down significantly elective care during wave one and have had to pull back on it in these last two weeks, back to urgent and move away from routine electives in Raigmore, which we hope will only be for the short term.'

Similarly, last week both NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Lanarkshire announced they had been forced to postpone elective surgeries in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases.

In this wave of the pandemic the number of patients needing hospital care has exceeded the peak reached in April, with figures on Monday showing there were almost 2,000 people with coronavirus being treated in Scotland's hospitals.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the additional capacity provided by the independent sector - as well as by the NHS Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank and the temporary NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow - was 'very welcome'.

She pledged: 'The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with health boards to ensure those requiring urgent elective and vital cancer care can be seen as quickly and safely as possible.

Scarlett Coleman, 5, was diagnosed with lymphoma this year after a heart transplant in 2015

'Even as we expand our vaccination and testing programmes, the number of Covid patients within our hospitals remains very high - so it is absolutely vital that people continue to stay home, protect the NHS, and save lives.'

NHS hospitals are treating less than half the cancer patients they usually would amid a surge in coronavirus cases.

Figures released earlier this month showed non-Covid patient numbers had dropped by 10,000 in less than a month - while huge numbers of staff are also off sick.

Dr Tom Dolphin from the British Medical Association, said: 'Hospitals are trying to increase capacity by reducing elective work to almost nothing but it feels that won't be enough.'

NHS England's cancer resilience plan states London hospitals need to treat more than 500 cancer patients each week.

As of two weeks ago, only 122 cancer cases were treated in NHS hospitals, with another 101 attending private hospitals.

Five-year-old Scarlett, from Middlesbrough, developed post-transplant lymphoma disorder

The Telegraph also revealed there were 3,840 cancer patients in London that had waited more than two months for their first treatment.

As of January 5, there were 56,126 non-Covid patients in general and acute beds, compared to 19,878 patients with the virus.

In December there were 65,324 patients without coronavirus in Britain's hospitals and 11,334 with Covid.

Across the country, there are 32,294 patients in hospital with Covid as of two weeks ago.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: 'Clearly, the NHS isn't able to provide the same level of non-urgent and non-Covid care that it has been able to provide at other points.

'When you've got more than 29,000 beds in England occupied by Covid patients you can't use them for other purposes. So what trusts are doing is prioritising on the basis of clinical need.'

Shocking separate figures released in October showed up to 50,000 cancer cases had gone undiagnosed during the pandemic.

A leading charity warned that the NHS's services could take almost two years to recover.

Macmillan Cancer Support added the country was 'at a crossroads' and said shutting down cancer care this winter could cost thousands of lives.

Experts predict the number of patients with undiagnosed cases of the disease could double by October 2021  unless cancer services are protected.

They estimate it will take the NHS at least 20 months to tackle the backlog caused by coronavirus so far.

A further 33,000 cancer sufferers were facing delays in starting treatment because of the pandemic, the report said.
UPDATE: Man who caught couple in his house charged in deadly shooting, cops say

A man is dead and a woman wounded after a shooting Tuesday night in the Poconos, police report.

Stroud Area Regional police responded about 5:30 p.m. to the 2000 block of Paradise Trail in Stroud Township, a news release from Chief Jennifer Lyon said.

They located the homeowner who called 911, as well as a woman with a gunshot wound to the stomach and a man with several gunshot wounds, Lyon said. The woman was flown to an area hospital for treatment and the man was pronounced dead by the Monroe County Coroners Office, authorities said.

Lyon did not name the people who were shot. She said the public is not in any danger because it was an isolated incident. No arrests were announced.

The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to call Detective Robert Transue at 570-421-6800 Ext. 1027 or email him at rtransue@sarpd.com.

Police were assisted by Pennsylvania State Police, East Stroudsburg University police and Suburban EMS, Lyon said.

Reporter Kurt Bresswein contributed to this post.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription.

Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th January, 2021) The Dominican Republic is reviewing the possibility of buying Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, Dominican Ambassador to Moscow Hans Dannenberg Castellanos told Sputnik.

"We have been exploring the possibilities of purchasing the Sputnik V vaccine, we have already talked to the Russian Direct Investment Fund [RDIF], we have held conversations and our health commission in the Dominican Republic is evaluating the possibility of buying the Russian vaccine," the ambassador said.

Dannenberg mentioned that he held a meeting with RDIF CEOs Kirill Dmitriev and Vladimir Primak "to discuss a possible cooperation agreement and to purchase the vaccine, if necessary, as well as to evaluate its registration with the Dominican health authorities.

"

The ambassador also thanked the Russian government on behalf of the Dominican Republic for the assistance rendered to the Caribbean country by Russia to combat coronavirus at the beginning of the pandemic.

The Russian Sputnik V is the world's first vaccine against COVID-19 developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and registered by the Russian Health Ministry on August 11. The vaccine shows an efficacy of 91.4 percent and at 100 percent against severe cases.
The commanding officer of a Navy operational support center in Tennessee was removed from his job on Wednesday after officials lost confidence in his ability to lead.

Capt. Scott Moss, who led the NOSC in Knoxville, was relieved of command by Capt. Dale Maxey, the head of the Navy's Reserve Component Command Southeast Jacksonville, the service announced on Wednesday. Moss the subject of an investigation following an inspector general complaint, Cmdr. Ben Tisdale, a spokesman for Navy Reserve Force, said.

"The Navy Reserve has taken appropriate corrective actions to pursue accountability," he added. "Due to privacy concerns, it would be inappropriate to provide further information on the particulars of the investigation."

The Navy Operational Support Centers around the country are typically responsible for handling training and administrative requirements for reservists and hosting on-site drill periods. They also support families of deployed reservists supporting military operations worldwide.

Read Next: Trump Pardons Vietnam Ace, TOPGUN Navy Legend Who Took Bribes

Moss declined a request for comment through his former command. He has been temporarily reassigned to Reserve Component Command Southeast Jacksonville.

Cmdr. Timothy Trimble has temporarily assumed command of the Knoxville NOSC until a permanent relief is assigned, officials said on Wednesday.

No one else was removed from their positions over the investigation into Moss, Tisdale said.

Moss was commissioned in 1998 as a naval flight officer. He reached the rank of captain in September and reported to the NOSC in Knoxville in July 2019.

He served with several fleet air reconnaissance squadrons before reporting to Navy Personnel Command in Tennessee ahead of his Knoxville assignment.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Navy Fires Commander of Portland Reserve Center over Performance Issues
France sees crops developed using gene-editing techniques as different to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and opposes a European Union court decision to put them under strict GMO regulations, the country's agriculture minister said.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled in 2018 that mutagenesis, among so-called New Breeding Techniques (NBT) based on targeted editing of genes, fall under rules applying to GMOs that incorporate DNA from a different species.

The decision was welcomed by some environmentalists who have long opposed GMOs as a threat to ecosystems, and criticised by seed makers and scientists as penalising Europe's agricultural research capacity.

"NBTs are not GMOs," Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie said in an interview published by several farming news outlets, including Agra Presse on Friday.

"This (NBT) technology allows much quicker development of a variety that could have emerged naturally at some point, and that is a very good thing," he said, calling for NBT not to be regulated like GMOs.

The agriculture ministry confirmed the comments on Monday.

The EU's executive in late 2019 requested a study on the issue that is due to be submitted by the end of April this year.

France is the EU's largest agricultural producer and among EU members to have banned cultivation of GMO crops.

England's farming minister announced earlier this month a public consultation on gene editing in agriculture, saying Britain's exit from the EU allowed it to set its own rules.

The French government is also considering how to respond to a ruling last year by the country's top administrative court requiring it to change its mutagenesis regulations in line with the EU court's decision.
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When the pandemic hit Connecticut and businesses began to close for safety, many art studios in the state flexed their creative muscles, finding ways to keep the artistic outlets they offer available to their customers from the comfort of their own homes.

Although in studio sessions were halted, studios began to expand with take home kits and virtual classes to help the communities they serve, keep busy while socially distancing and staying safe at home. Now, almost a year since the closures and with businesses reopened, the question stands if there is a new need for these virtual classes and if they will last in a post-pandemic world.

The Pottery Factory in Brookfield, which has an additional location in Mount Kisco, N.Y., launched a take home pottery option from their website when the state closed nonessential businesses back in the end of March 2020.

We did close to public access, but we were allowed to do curbside pick-up, we just couldnt interact with people. Owner Dan Feeley said as he discussed some of the changes that were made in the early months of the pandemic. We even did home delivery during the peak of it last March. Here artists were able to choose pieces of pottery and paints, which they could then craft at home. When finished the artist could bring them back to the studio in a drop box to be glazed and fired, for no extra charge.

Virtual painting classes also were a new option offered to artists, where a box of materials is delivered, and artists join a virtual session to follow a teacher through the process of painting. Feeley explains the importance of keeping the Facebook Live events they used to broadcast their virtual classes exciting to the viewers.

We professionally broadcast with a lavalier microphone, so that you can hear well, we use multiple camera angles, so it is a little bit more of a sophisticated production.

But these new options did not come without struggles. Though, the virtual options did expand public interest, even going out beyond Connecticut to states like Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The question, are these virtual classes successful because there is no other option? Do people prefer to be in the studio creating? Feeley believes that is the case.

You are coming in for the experience, thats what these are experiences, Feeley said. There is nothing better than being with people and making it fun that way. So, I dont think this has a long life after the pandemic.

The Pottery Factory has since reopened, offering crafts from pottery painting, candle making, paint classes and seascapes, to name a few. The in-studio time comes with new safety precautions in place to make sure all the patrons stay healthy.

Tables are all separated, plastic dividers where needed, masks all the time, no food and if any drinks are coming in, they have to be in a closed container like a hydro flask or a sippy cup type thing. Feeley said of some of the new measures they have put in place.

Hannah Perry, owner of the Giggling Pig Art and Party Studio with two locations in Bethel and Shelton, shared some of her experiences with the new pandemic world. Perry launched a take home art box six years ago that art students are able to purchase and then follow along with videos online. With the pandemic Perry used it as a way to expand the virtual platform her studio already had and plans to continue expanding her virtual classes once the pandemic ends.

Its given me a chance to develop that part of the business more, so I am not going to stop doing it because now we have people all over the country taking part in live classes, not just locally, Perry said. So, we will definitely be continuing that.

With a large offering from Mommy and Me classes, walk-in pottery painting, birthday parties, cooperative events and camps for kids, they have a little bit of something for everyone.

We are open it both studios, but at a much smaller capacity and we are offering pretty much all of our classes online as well, she said

Perry hasnt run into many negatives when it comes to the virtual classes, but she does miss the in-person interaction with her students.

We miss being able to sit and chat and have that interaction that we are not getting as much anymore Perry said. Whether the virtual classes are only here till the pandemic ends, or they will become a new part of the art studios business, only time will tell. But one thing is for certain, these virtual classes are giving those stuck at home an outlet that is much needed during such a difficult time.

I know that art has really helped some people get through the pandemic, with the little kids when they are creative and can just have that time to be messy and get their feelings out. It is so important, Perry said.

Elizabeth.Phillips@hearstmediact.com

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Capital One, the bank lately dominating the celebrity-featured advertising space in this industry, and claiming to have reimagined banking, has now been fined by the authorities for willful anti-money-laundering failures--for the second time in six months.

The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) fined Americas fifth-largest credit card issuer $390 million for engaging in willful and negligent violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, an anti-money laundering law.

FinCEN said in a statement that Capital One admitted that it failed to file "thousands of suspicious activity reports" and "thousands of Currency Transaction Reports" with respect to a business unit known as the Check Cashing Group

The violations occurred from at least 2008 through 2014 and caused millions of dollars in suspicious transactions to go unreported in a timely and accurate manner, FinCEN added.

Capital One acquired the check-cashing group when it bought New York-based North Fork Bank in 2006 for $14.6 billion and shut it down 8 years later.

Capital One admitted that it did not file any reports of suspicious activity in connection with Domenick Pucillo, who owned numerous check-cashing businesses in the New York area but was also a convicted member of the Genoese organized crime family.

FinCEN said that despite being informed about Pucillos association with criminal activity in 2013, the bank continued to process over 20,000 transactions valued at approximately $160 million.

Still, this wasnt Capital Ones lone case of wrongdoing, nor is this bank the only offender.

Last August, the bank was fined $80 million by the U.S. Treasury Department for careless network security practices after a lone hacker accessed the personal data of the banks more than 100 million customers. The incident is still the biggest data breach ever in the financial services sector.

A 33-year-old software engineer in Seattle, Paige Thompson, hacked into a server holding customer information for Capital One and gained access to 140,000 Social Security numbers, 1 million Canadian Social Insurance numbers and 80,000 bank account numbers.

Even though the Social Security numbers were not affected, the breach did include names, addresses, ZIP codes, phone numbers, email addresses and birthdates of all those who applied for a credit card from the US bank between 2005 through 2019.

Thompson, who pleaded not guilty and is still pending trial, previously worked for Amazon Web Services, which hosted the Capital One database.

In 2018, Bank of America was fined $42 million for misleading its customers into thinking that their stock trades were being done in-house when in reality they were being redirected to third parties.

But its also not the first time Bank of America has been fined for violations. Since the 2008 financial crisis, its paid $76 billion in fines.

A few years ago, Americas fourth largest bank, Wells Fargo, was fined billions of dollars by the U.S. trade watchdog for charging overdraft fees on millions of unauthorized customer accounts.

In total, banks have been fined $243 billion since the financial crisis, according to a list compiled in 2018 by Keefe, Bruyette and Woods. JPMorgan Chase features second on the list, with nearly $44 billion in fines.

By Michael Kern for Safehaven.com

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The funds will be invested into the Striate+ partnering program, progression of CelGro nerve repair regulatory approvals, and to advance the development and commercialisation of Ortho-ATI.

The company has registered Striate+ as the new global brand for the CelGro dental bone and tissue regeneration product

( ) has received a research and development (R&D) tax incentive refund of A$2,394,397 for the financial year 2019/2020 from the Australian Government.

The funds will be invested into the Striate+ partnering program, progression of CelGro nerve repair regulatory approvals and to advance the development and commercialisation of Ortho-ATI.

Further strengthens capital position

Orthocell managing director Paul Anderson said: Following the recent US approval of Striate+, the receipt of the R&D tax incentive refund further strengthens our capital position and enables us to progress the Striate+ partnering program, CelGro nerve repair regulatory approvals and development and commercialisation of Ortho-ATI, delivering significant shareholder value.

The R&D tax incentive is a government program to support Australian companies to undertake R&D activities in Australia, under which eligible companies can receive cash rebates of up to 43.5% of eligible expenditure on R&D activities.

Striate+ gets US FDA approval

Last week, the company received US Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) 510(k) clearance to market and supply its CelGro collagen medical device for dental bone and tissue regeneration procedures in the US.

The company has registered Striate+ as the new global brand for the CelGro dental bone and tissue regeneration product.

With the US, EU and Australian market approval achieved and key opinion leaders (KOLs) actively engaging with the program, Orthocell is well-positioned to secure a distribution partner and establish Striate+ as the best-in-class dental resorbable collagen membrane.

The global peripheral nerve repair market is estimated to be worth more than US$7.5 billion per annum, with around 3 million procedures that could use the nerve repair product each year.
WASHINGTON - During his first moments in the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Joe Biden moved to return the United States to the Paris climate accord and directed federal agencies to begin unraveling Donald Trump's environmental policies - the first step in what Biden has vowed will be a sustained effort to safeguard the nation's air and water, protect endangered species and combat climate change at home and abroad.

Biden's executive order recommitting the United States to the international struggle to slow global warming fulfilled a campaign promise and represented a repudiation of the "America First" approach of Trump, who officially withdrew the nation from the Paris agreement Nov. 4 after years of disparaging it.

Biden also ordered federal agencies to review scores of climate and environmental policies enacted during the Trump years and, if possible, to quickly reverse them. Nearly half of the regulations the new administration is targeting come from the Environmental Protection Agency, on issues as varied as potable water, dangerous chemicals and gas-mileage standards.

"A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear," Biden, who has listed tackling climate change as one of his core priorities, said in his inaugural address Wednesday. Listing the challenges the nation faces, he pointed to "the battle to save our planet by getting the climate under control."

Biden's new national climate adviser, Gina McCarthy, told reporters this week that the moves will "begin undoing some of the harmful actions that happened in the previous administration's watch, so that we can move forward in combating the climate crisis."

McCarthy said Biden would sign "a broad executive order that takes steps that are imperative to address our climate crisis, and will also create good union jobs and advance environmental justice while reversing more than 100 of the previous administration's harmful policies."

Biden is expected to take more action Jan. 27, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post. He plans to sign an executive order elevating climate in domestic and national security policy; direct "science and evidence based decision-making" in federal agencies; reestablish the Presidential Council of Advisers on Science and Technology and announce that U.S. data that will help underpin the Climate Leadership Summit that Biden will host in Washington in late April.

Although incoming presidents often sign executive orders on their first day, the chasm between Biden's agenda and Trump's legacy is one of the widest in recent decades. Nowhere is that contrast more pronounced than on climate change - which Trump largely dismissed - and the environment, where Trump and his deputies scaled back protections to benefit the fossil fuel industry.

Biden comes to office with a sense of urgency about climate change that is unmatched by any previous occupant of the White House, and he is installing throughout the government people who share his views. The regulations he is instructing agencies to review include a recent Labor Department rule preventing environmentally sustainable mutual funds from being default retirement investments and a Transportation Department regulation making it easier to transport liquefied natural gas by rail.

"At this moment of profound crisis, we have the opportunity to build a more resilient, sustainable economy, one that will put the United States on an irreversible path to achieve net-zero emissions economywide no later than 2050," McCarthy said.

That pledge came as welcome news to many in the international community, which has forged ahead with efforts to combat climate change in recent years without cooperation from the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

"The United States is such an important actor internationally. So this day today has been creating a lot of expectation everywhere," Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, said in an interview. "Very few generations have the opportunity to really influence a historical change in the way that humanity evolves. This is one of those moments. So it means a lot to have the U.S. back."

Although many of Biden's actions on Wednesday will take effect over time - the country will again formally become a party to the Paris agreement 30 days from now - his most immediate action will be to rescind the presidential permit Trump granted the Keystone XL pipeline to transport crude oil from Canada across the border into the United States. The project became a flash point for climate activists during the Obama administration, and Biden pledged during the campaign to block it.

Industry executives made it clear Wednesday that they were prepared to work with Biden but warned him against pushing to abolish fossil fuels.

The American Petroleum Institute's chief executive, Mike Sommers, said in a statement that though his members "support the ambitions of the Paris Agreement," the new administration should keep in mind "models show that this agreement between nations cannot be achieved without access to natural gas."

And he took issue with Biden's decision on the Keystone pipeline permit, saying, "Revoking the Keystone XL pipeline is a significant step backwards both for environmental progress and our economic recovery."

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, foreshadowed the opposition Biden's agenda could face in Congress. "In these next four years, it is imperative that Congress aggressively exercises oversight and pushes back on the worst impulses of Washington bureaucrats," she said.

Conservationists lauded the quick push to roll back so many of Trump's policies.

"Today we are feeling the first rays of hope after four dark years where racial violence and injustice, destruction of our environment and disdain for climate science became standard operating procedure for a government that was supposed to represent us all," said Jamie Williams, president of the Wilderness Society.

Dozens of steps that Biden began during his first hours in office will take months, if not longer, to complete.

He is instructing the EPA and the Transportation Department to strengthen fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks, which Trump weakened. He asked two other departments - interior and commerce - to review the boundaries and protections Trump had scaled back for national monuments in Utah and off the coast of New England.

Biden can change the boundaries of a national monument with the stroke of a pen, and though U.S. automakers probably are willing to strike a deal with the new administration on more-ambitious gas-mileage standards for the nation's cars and pickup trucks, reversing other Trump policies will be more challenging.

Biden plans to impose a temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to caribou, polar bears and Indigenous people. On Tuesday, the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) signed and issued nine leases it auctioned earlier this month, spanning 437,804 acres on the refuge's coastal plain.

All but two of the new leases were won by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, an arm of the state government. The sale raised a total of about $14 million, less than 2% of what congressional Republicans projected when they opened the near-pristine reserve to drilling in 2017.

BLM Alaska Director Chad Padgett said Tuesday that the leases "reflect a solid commitment by both the state and industry to pursue responsible oil and gas development on the Alaska's North Slope."

In some instances, Biden is setting the stage for changes that will reverberate throughout the federal government. For instance, he will revive an interagency working group Trump disbanded in 2017 that sets the "social cost of carbon," an estimation of the economic damage caused by the release of a ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Policymakers factor this figure into the cost-and-benefit calculations they make on a host of issues, including permitting new oil wells and imposing stricter pollution controls on coal- and gas-fired power plants. Under the Obama administration's formula, the price per ton would now stand at $52, but Trump officials reduced it to between $1 and $7 per ton.

Many economists suggest that the Biden administration start at $125 per ton to better reflect new research on the economic damage of climate change and market realities.

"It is the one way you can uniformly incorporate the cost of climate change into decisions across all of government," Kevin Rennert, who directs the Social Cost of Carbon Initiative at the environmental think tank Resources for the Future, said in an interview.

Biden's environmental push on Day 1 far surpassed that of any other president, but only time will show how much of his agenda he can achieve - and how successfully he can rebuild the nation's image around the world, particularly when it comes to leading on climate action.

"Rejoining the Paris agreement is only the beginning, and the incoming administration appears to know this," Brandon Wu, director of policy and campaigns at ActionAid USA, said in an email. "In order to make truly meaningful progress towards global cooperation on climate, the Biden administration must follow up with concrete actions. There's simply no reason for other countries to trust our word if we fail, again, to act on our own emissions and use the significant resources at our disposal to support the world's most vulnerable countries."


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A strategic partnership with Microsoft was announced Tuesday by General Motors and Cruise aimed at speeding up the commercialization of shared self-driving vehicles.

In addition, Microsoft will be joining GM, Honda and some institutional investors in adding US$2 billion to Cruise's coffers, bringing the value of the shared self-driving vehicle company to $30 billion.

"The companies in this sector are going to need a long runway before they generate enough revenues to be self-sustaining so another $2 billion in the bank for Cruise is the single most important aspect of this," Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst for e-mobility at Guidehouse Insights, a market intelligence company in Detroit, told TechNewsWorld.

"GM and its investors are trying to scare off competitors," maintained Roger C. Lanctot, director for automotive connected mobility at Strategy Analytics, a global research, advisory and analytics firm.

"This is an intimidation game," he told TechNewsWorld. "There are dozens of robotaxi wannabes, but there are also shuttle bus operators -- like Beep -- throughout the world building revenue-generating businesses around autonomous vehicles operating within narrowly defined, geo-fenced or fixed routes."

"The $2 billion investments buys Cruise more time but it will not magically create a functioning, revenue-generating service," he said.

Mutually Beneficial Pact

Mike Ramsey, a vice president and analyst for automotive and smart mobility at Gartner found it interesting that Microsoft is making a long-tern commitment to a company that's potentially a customer for its wares.

"Microsoft provides services -- like a giant cloud computing offering -- that is used to develop these self-driving vehicles," he told TechNewsWorld.

However, both companies may benefit from the new partnership.

"For Cruise, it may mean greater access to talent and resources from Microsoft; and for Microsoft, it helps to create expertise in high-performance computing related to autonomy, where one of their biggest competitors -- Google -- already has an in-house AV company in the form of Waymo," he said.

Abuelsamid explained that all the companies in this sector are going to have to use cloud providers, whether it be Azure, AWS, Google Cloud or Baidu in China.

"They need the cloud platforms during the R&D phase to handle all the data they're collecting from their test vehicles, to do simulation, to do AI training and all the other things they have to do," he said.

"Longer term," he continued, "if they do start to commercialize, they're going to need cloud platforms to do fleet dispatch and other things. It doesn't make sense for these companies to build their own clouds."

"Once you commercialize it and decide to go to multiple cities and multiple countries, scaling that platform is really hard," he added. "It's something that companies like Microsoft, Google and Amazon know how to do."

Question of Utility

Lanctot acknowledged that cloud resources are required to develop and launch an autonomous vehicle-based robotaxi operation, but added that it's not immediately clear that Azure has any extraordinary advantages over competing alternatives such as Google or AWS.

"While I'd be inclined to suggest that Microsoft has more to gain in desperately needed credibility in the automotive space than GM -- the $2 billion investment has clearly juiced GM's stock."

"So Microsoft gains automotive cred and GM gets a stock boost," he continued, "but it doesn't really move the needle on advancing autonomous vehicles or the actual creation of a robotaxi service."

"Microsoft has some useful cloud-based tools to support automotive vehicle development and operation, but the hurdles standing in the path of AV robotaxis do not reside in the cloud," he added. "They are right here on terra firma."

He added that robotaxis do not offer any clear benefits to consumers.

"If the goal is to deliver a robotaxi -- this is a replacement of an existing and perfectly adequate and affordable solution," he said. " It is not demand driven -- unless they want to make it free."

"Given the $250M quarterly burn rate, I don't see how they will ever be able to offer robotaxis at a competitive price -- at least not in this decade," he added.

Need for Trust

Cruise CEO Dan Ammann noted in a statement that his company's mission to bring safer, better, and more affordable transportation to everyone wasn't just a tech race but also a trust race.

"Microsoft," he said, "as the gold standard in the trustworthy democratization of technology, will be a force multiplier for us as we commercialize our fleet of self-driving, all-electric, shared vehicles."

Cruise self-driving test vehicle on the streets of San Francisco

Abuelsamid explained that before anybody is going to want to ride self-driving vehicles, they have to trust that they're safe.

"These vehicles are all connected," he said. "They have to be connected in order to dispatch them and provide software, map and traffic updates."

"Any device that's connected has attack surfaces for bad actors," he continued. "If you're going to be successful in this business, people have to trust not only the core technology in the vehicle, but that the system is secure and bad actors can't take control of these vehicles and do anything nefarious with them."

"Microsoft is generally considered a trustworthy company, a good partner for this sort of thing," he added.

Lanctot, though, doesn't believe trust is an issue.

"Existing shuttle operators have demonstrated that consumer acceptance of driverless operation is really no big deal," he said.

"A bigger deal is the level of tolerance within cities and regulators for driverless vehicles clogging up already heavily trafficked city streets seeking passengers," he explained. "It's a business model issue."

Bad News for Tesla

GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra praised Microsoft in a statement, noting the high tech company will help drive the auto industry to a future with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.

"Microsoft will help us accelerate the commercialization of Cruise's all-electric, self-driving vehicles and help GM realize even more benefits from cloud computing as we launch 30 new electric vehicles globally by 2025 and create new businesses and services to drive growth," she said.

GM won't be alone in flooding the market with EVs, which isn't good news for the market leader, Tesla.

"Tesla been the dominate player the last several years, but it's been in market that's fairly sparse, without a lot of offerings," explained Abuelsamid.

"In the next 12 to 24 months, there's going to be a lot of new EVs coming to market from almost every automaker," he said.

"Tesla's going to continue to grow," he continued, "but their market share of EVs is almost certainly going to decline."

"Their market share in Europe declined significantly in 2020 because of the introduction of a number of new models from Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz and Audi," he added. "That's going to continue to be the case going forward. They'll probably grow sales, but they're going to have a smaller slice of a growing pie."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.


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Nigeria and other African countries will have to pay between $3 and $10 per COVID-19 vaccine dose to access 270 million shots secured by the African Union.

This is according to a proposal on the plan prepared by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Reuters reported Wednesday.

Although discounted compared to what richer nations pay, there are concerns some African countries may still find the cost burdensome at a time of an economic crisis.

Countries that receive the vaccines and are not able to pay for them immediately, will be covered by a loan, payable in installments over five to seven years, the document showed, according to Reuters.

It quoted the Afreximbank as saying through a spokesperson that the document was a draft and meant for confidential discussion by a team created by the AU to secure vaccines and financing for the continents coronavirus immunisation programmes.

The plan is different from the COVAX global vaccine sharing scheme led by the World Health Organization and the GAVI.

NIGERIA

If the plan goes through, Nigeria may have to pay over $200 million if it takes its full allocation of 42 million doses.

That would be at an average of N3183 per dose.

More than 3.3 million COVID-19 cases and over 80,000 deaths have been recorded on the continent as of Wednesday.

The document showed that talks were underway to secure additional vaccines, including Russias Sputnik V.

The report said AU is troubled that vaccine supplies to be released through COVAX in the first half of the year may not extend beyond the needs of frontline healthcare workers.

A breakdown of the cost showed that 100 million doses of AstraZenecas vaccine may go for $3 each, while Pfizer will provide 50 million doses of its two-shot vaccine at $6.75 each.

The European Union and the United States are paying around $19 per dose, while Israel is paying $30 for the Pfizer vaccine.

The report says the World Bank was in discussions with the African Union and governments throughout Africa to support their vaccine needs but did not provide further details.

Cyril Ramaphosa, South African President, confirmed last week that arrangements had been made with the bank to support member states who want access to vaccines.
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Boris Johnson today insisted the UK is still 'on track' to hit the target of vaccinating the 14million most vulnerable people by mid-February despite rising alarm at a slowdown in progress.

The PM warned that 'constraints on supply' were making the situation harder as he was grilled by MPs in the Commons this afternoon, after alarm that the daily rate had fallen for a third consecutive day.

'We are on track to deliver our pledge, though it is very hard because of constraints on supply,' Mr Johnson said.

The intervention came amid mounting confusion about the source of the problems, with just 204,000 people given their first dose on Monday, down from 225,000 on Sunday, 277,000 on Saturday and a high of 324,000 on Friday.

In order to meet the target the government must average more than 350,000 doses a day from now until February 15, with the previous bullish tone from officials abruptly getting more anxious.

However, in a more optimistic development this afternoon NHS England released provisional data showing it had administered 301,362 more doses in 24 hours.

Pfizer's supplies have been dented by a factory upgrade which will continue into next month. Government sources have flatly dismissed claims there are 21million doses of vaccines already in the country, although they refused to give details of stocks saying it would be a security risk.

Officials say there are 'a lot of moving parts' contributing to the slowdown, with 'intermittent' deliveries of supplies, as well as difficulties contacting the remaining over-80s and covering care homes among the factors. However, there are hopes in Whitehall that today's numbers will go up again.

MPs have also voiced frustration at the way supplies have been divvied out across the UK. In London the allocation is believed to have been based on takeup of last season's flu vaccine, which was relatively low.

Meanwhile, there are complaints that the system is descending into a 'free for all' with council staff being given jabs before 70-somethings in some areas.

The chaos has fuelled fears that lockdown measures will have to last longer, with suggestions that the earliest timetable for a significant easing has slipped 'beyond Easter'. Sir Patrick Vallance cautioned this morning that infection numbers are 'nowhere near where they need to be' to consider loosening measures.

At PMQs, Mr Johnson played up the achievements of the rollout and indicated he is determined to stick with the priority list set out by the JCVI vaccines experts.

Pushed on whether frontline workers such as police, firefighters, carers, and teachers would be given priority in the next phase, Mr Johnson said: 'We must rely on what the JCVI has to say, the priorities that the experts have decided, but of course we want to see those groups that he mentions vaccinated as soon as possible.

'I am very pleased that in spite of all the difficulties we gave 1.5 million people their first dose, up half a million on the week before.'

In more coronavirus developments on another chaotic day:

Chief scientists Patrick Vallance has swiped at Boris Johnson over the timing of lockdowns as he said the government got 'some things right and some things wrong'. 'You've got to go hard, early and broader if you're going to get on top of this. Waiting and watching simply doesn't work,' he said;

A recording has emerged of Ms Patel admitting borders had been shut too late and revealing she argued for earlier action;

Ms Patel has said police and other frontline workers should be among the next priority groups for getting vaccines;

The headline CPI inflation rate rose from 0.3 per cent to 0.6 per cent in December putting more pressure on families.

Boris Johnson stressed the scale of the challenge as he was grilled by MPs in the Commons this afternoon, after alarm that the daily rate had fallen for a third consecutive day

Pfizer's supplies have been dented by a factory upgrade at its plant in Belgium (pictured) which will continue into next month

Ms Patel said factory upgrades and supply chain overhauls would hit the availability of vaccines in the coming weeks

Britons sit socially distanced after receiving a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at Salisbury cathedral today

So what IS holding up Britain's great Covid vaccine rollout? Fears Britain may be lagging behind on the great vaccination rollout was raised yesterday, after the daily rate fell for a third consecutive day. But there is mounting confusion about the source of the problems. Here, MailOnline delves into some of the factors that could be hampering the roll-out. SUPPLY? Officials say there are 'a lot of moving parts' contributing to the slowdown, with 'intermittent' deliveries of supplies' playing a role. Pfizer's supplies have been dented by an upgrade to its Belgian factor, which will continue into next month. Government sources have dismissed claims there are 21million doses of vaccines already in the country, although they refused to give details of stocks saying it would be a security risk. DISTRIBUTION? Sadiq Khan last week accused No10 of not delivering a fair share of the Covid vaccines to London. Ministers and the NHS denied the claims. London's mayor blamed a simplistic formula for the lack of supply, saying the algorithm did not take into account the size of GP practices. The allocation is believed to have been based on take-up of last season's flu vaccine, which was relatively low. CARE HOME FOCUS? No10 sources have also claimed the rollout is being slowed down through difficulties contacting the remaining over-80s. They said that top priority groups get harder to reach when more have been vaccinated already. Advertisement

After the UK recorded its deadliest day yesterday with 1,610 new victims, ministers have been warned that - with the possible exception of schools - there is unlikely to be any relaxation of the lockdown at the first formal 'review point' in the middle of next month.

Reports yesterday claimed that Boris Johnson was targeting Good Friday on April 2 as the earliest date for a significant lifting of the lockdown. According to the Sun, the PM has started 'top secret' planning for millions to meet their families over Easter.

But several sources told the Mail that even this date could look optimistic if the vaccine rollout ran into difficulties.

One attendee at a government summit with business leaders on Monday claimed ministers had warned that heavy restrictions could remain until May or even June. Tory MPs have voiced concerns about 'mission creep', with scientists lobbying for restrictions to stay in place until more categories of the population have been given the vaccine.

In a round of interviews this morning, Home Secretary Priti Patel was asked why the slowdown in doses was happening. 'There remains a long and difficult road ahead... this is the largest mass vaccination programme our country has ever seen,' she told BBC Radio 4's Today.

'But also we are now seeing the suppliers Pfizer and AZ - the suppliers of the vaccine are upgrading their factories changing their supply chains.

'Of course that will inevitably have an implication in terms of the actual supply of the vaccine.

'We will see reconfiguarion of the supply chain. I think that is inevitable because of the demand domestically and internationally.'

Ms Patel said the local variations were down to 'NHS structures'. 'You are going to get the variability. There is not going to be a consistent rollout programme across the country. That will be for logistical reasons, geography reasons, where these vaccine centres are.'

Ms Patel refused to be drawn on the exit strategy, saying: 'This is no time to speak about the relaxation of measures and we're not going to do that publicly yet.'

And in a question and answer session on Sky News, Sir Patrick struck an even more gloomy tone.

'The advice at the moment is vaccines are not going to do the heavy lifting for us at the moment, anywhere near it,' he said.

'This is about, I'm afraid, the restrictive measures which we're all living under and carrying on with those.

'The numbers are nowhere near where they need to be at the moment, they need to come down quite a lot further  we need to make sure we stick with it.

'You go for a walk in the park or something, life looks normal; you go for a walk in a hospital, if you work in a hospital, you will see life not looking normal at all.

'This is a really difficult, dangerous situation we're in, and we need to get the numbers down, so I don't see a release of these measures as being a sensible thing to do in the short term.'

He said it was hoped that as the vaccine took effect and numbers dropped, it would be possible to start a gradual release of some of the measures.

'But I think it's important to recognise this is not going to be a sort of big bang, 'great, take the lid off, everything's fine, we can all go back to normal'.

Council staff 'offered Covid vaccines ahead of 70-somethings' The postcode lottery row over coronavirus vaccines intensified today amid claims council staff have been offered jabs ahead of 70-somethings. Cambridgeshire county council and Peterborough city council have secured vaccinations for children's services staff in secondary schools, even though many are working from home, according to the Telegraph. Under the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority list, only social care workers looking after clinically vulnerable adults and children should be eligible at the moment.

Despite the apparently plentiful supplies in some places, it has emerged that Sandwich in Kent is among areas that have not received a single dose of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine. Fewer than five per cent of people have been vaccinated in London - against one in 12 in the North East and Yorkshire. Advertisement

'This is going to be a slow release, monitoring carefully, understanding the effects.'

Confusion is mounting over the source of the issues in the vaccine rollout.

The Mail was told last week that vaccine materials for 21million jabs were already in the country - easily enough to give the first dose to all those in the four most vulnerable categories.

However, sources insisted today that the number of doses ready to administer was lower than that 'by an order of magnitude'.

Scottish Deputy First Minister John Swinney has hit back at claims that there are more than 400,000 doses north of the border that have not been given to patients.

'We do not have that volume of vaccine in our hands, we cannot distribute that because it has not arrived with us yet,' he said.

'We have had an allocation of that volume of vaccine but it has not yet arrived with us, it has got to go through the checks that are made by the principle distributor, it has then got to be physically distributed to us as a national allocation, and it has then got to be physically distributed to 1,100 locations around the country. And all of that takes time.'

The defence comes after the UK Government had what Nicola Sturgeon branded a 'hissy fit' when she made public the number of doses Scotland expects to receive in the coming weeks and months.

A government source said Pfizer's supplies were already 'very constrained' and fears are spreading through Cabinet that they won't hit the target.

'It's going to be very very tight,' the source told The Times.

Meanwhile the UK maintains the worst covid death rate in the world.

Yesterday's new daily record marked a sharp 30 per cent rise on the 1,243 announced on the same day last week and is almost double the number of victims from a fortnight ago, when there were 860 deaths.

It is the third time in 2021 that the record number of daily fatalities has been broken, as the nation battles with the more infectious Kent strain and hospitals juggle winter pressures.

Soldiers set up a coronavirus vaccination centre in Glasgow today as the drive to get the most vulnerable jabs ramps up

In a round of interviews this morning, Priti Patel was asked why the slowdown was happening

The darkest day in the pandemic prior to today was January 13, when officials declared 1,564 deaths in a single 24-hour period.

Office for National Statistics data also revealed Covid-19 deaths in care homes doubled last week to 1,260 in England.

Patel reveals she pushed for border shutdown Priti Patel has told Tory supporters that she argued for the UK border to be shut to international visitors in March when the pandemic first emerged. The Home Secretary has publicly defended the decision not to enact a full arrivals shutdown. But in comments, to the Conservative Friends of India group, first reported by the Guido Fawkes blog, Ms Patel said: 'On ''should we have closed our borders earlier'', the answer is yes. I was an advocate of closing them last March.' In mid-March, the UK abandoned asking people to quarantine for two weeks after arriving from areas with high infection rates, such as Hubei province in China and Italy. The decision was in contrast to many other countries, such as New Zealand, which has been widely praised for getting the pandemic under control, partly through strict quarantine measures for arrivals. The UK Government introduced blanket quarantine restrictions in June for all international travellers, except those coming from Ireland, while 'travel corridors' with countries deemed to have safe levels of infection were established a month later. Ministers this week suspended all travel corridors and introduced new rules requiring arrivals to produce a negative coronavirus test taken up to 72 hours before departure and to self-isolate for up to 10 days after entering the UK, in a move designed to prevent new strains of Covid-19 entering the UK. Advertisement

The virus was responsible for one in three deaths across the country during the first week of January  6,057 out of 17,751.

But, in another sign that the national shutdown is taking effect, there were 33,355 new infections announced in the past 24 hours, down 27 per cent on the 45,533 last Tuesday and 45 per cent lower than the 60,916 two weeks prior.

Mr Johnson has promised to have care homes vaccinated against the disease by the end of January but, so far, only half of residents, who were supposed to be front of the queue for jabs in December but missed out due to logistical issues with handling the Pfizer vaccine, have been immunised against the virus.

Ms Sturgeon declared yesterday that lockdown in Scotland will be extended to mid-February despite signs cases have flattened off.

Dashing hopes of a loosening from the end of this month, the nationalist said she was being 'cautious' and more evidence was needed that the outbreak was on a 'downward trajectory'.

Mr Johnson, however, remains optimistic he can give Britons an Easter holiday with their loved ones - even if that means meeting them outside.

A source told The Sun: 'It's way too soon to start talking about when, but the work is being done quietly on the how.'

But such hopes depend on the vaccine and another Whitehall source told the Mail that no firms dates had been laid down.

'The mood was very much about things happening later in the spring rather than early on,' the source said. 'Beyond Easter is certainly possible.

'We don't even know what the benchmark will be. It seems unlikely that vaccinating the over-70s will be enough.'

No10 declined to comment on a likely date for the easing of the lockdown. But the Prime Minister told the Cabinet that the scale of the pandemic remained 'very serious'.

Backbench Tories have stepped up demands for the Government to start easing restrictions from the first week of March, when vaccinations should have helped the 15million most vulnerable people develop substantial immunity.

Vallance takes veiled swipe at PM over late lockdown moves The government's chief scientists took a veiled swipe at Boris Johnson today as he suggested lockdowns have come too late. Answering questions from the public on Sky News, Sir Patrick Vallance was asked what could have been done differently to tackle the pandemic from the outset. 'We will have got some things right and some things wrong, and we've learned a lot as we've gone through this, and we know a lot more about the virus today than we did then, for sure,' he said. 'I think there is a very simple series of recommendations which I've been pushing continuously and I'll continue to do so, which is the lesson is: go earlier than you think you want to, go a bit harder than you think you want to, and go a bit broader than you think you want to, in terms of applying the restrictions. 'I'm afraid that's a grim message but that is what the evidence says - you've got to go hard, early and broader if you're going to get on top of this. Waiting and watching simply doesn't work.' He said there were so many cases in the UK by March that restrictions such as quarantining people as they came into the country would not 'have made any difference at that time'. Advertisement

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'Once the most vulnerable have been vaccinated there is no justification for keeping these restrictions.'

In the first lockdown, senior ministers piled pressure on the PM to ease restrictions at the earliest opportunity. But a Cabinet source said Mr Johnson was under much less pressure now, adding: 'No one in the Cabinet is talking about easing restrictions at the moment. The situation is too grave.'

No10 denied reports yesterday that the PM was at odds over the criteria for lifting restrictions with Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, who is said to want any lockdown easing to be conditional on a major fall in Covid cases and hospitalisations.

He is also said to want the lifting to be gradual so the impact of measures, such as reopening schools, can be studied before further steps are taken.

More than 4.26million people have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine through the NHS programme  one in every 16 people in the UK  which makes it one of the best covered countries in the world.

But to hit the Government's target of 13.9million people by February 15, which is the threshold at which officials will consider relaxing lockdown, the UK must manage 360,000 jabs per day from today onwards  2.5million per week.

Last week it averaged 254,000 per day and hit a total 1.77million. The daily requirement will increase for every day that it isn't hit.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Ms Patel told Tory supporters that she argued for the UK border to be shut to international visitors in March when the pandemic first emerged.

The comments, to the Conservative Friends of India group, are contrary to her public defence of the Government's decision not to enact a full arrivals shutdown.

In comments first reported by political website Guido Fawkes, Ms Patel said: 'On 'should we have closed our borders earlier', the answer is yes. I was an advocate of closing them last March.'

In mid-March, the UK abandoned asking people to quarantine for two weeks after arriving from areas with high infection rates, such as Hubei province in China and Italy.

The decision was in contrast to many other countries, such as New Zealand, which has been widely praised for getting the pandemic under control, partly through strict quarantine measures for arrivals.

The UK Government introduced blanket quarantine restrictions in June for all international travellers, except those coming from Ireland, while 'travel corridors' with countries deemed to have safe levels of infection were established a month later.

Ministers this week suspended all travel corridors and introduced new rules requiring arrivals to produce a negative coronavirus test taken up to 72 hours before departure and to self-isolate for up to 10 days after entering the UK, in a move designed to prevent new strains of Covid-19 entering the UK.

How can Covid be decimating care homes AGAIN? Deaths double in a fortnight with 1,260 victims in England last week, official data shows

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows 1,260 Covid deaths in homes, double 661 figure two weeks ago

Virus now accounts for a startling 40% of all deaths in care homes in England, up from a quarter in December

Ministers have been slammed by families and charities for failing to vaccinate care home residents

Coronavirus deaths in care homes have doubled in a fortnight in England, figures revealed today amid a spike in cases across the sector.

An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report found 1,260 residents died of the virus in the week ending January 15, almost twice the 661 fatalities two weeks ago. The virus now accounts for a startling 40 per cent of all deaths in care homes in England, up from just over a quarter at the end of December.

Ministers have been slammed by furious families and charities for failing to vaccinate care home residents  who are first in the queue because they are most vulnerable to the disease. Even though only half of Britain's 400,000 residents have had their jab since the immunisation drive started six weeks ago, No10 has already expanded the scheme to over-70s.

It comes after two-thirds of the elderly residents at a Lincolnshire died following a sudden outbreak of coronavirus in November which killed 17 people over six weeks. There are now questions over whether the spike in cases and deaths is linked to the Government's controversial policy to send Covid patients discharged from hospitals back into care homes. Under the scheme, designed to free up hospital beds and protect the NHS, care homes which passed inspection and were deemed Covid-secure were once again asked to house infected patients.

The scheme was launched by the Department of Health in October in the hope that every local authority would have access to at least one approved site by the end of the month. But only a third of councils in England had an approved setting as of January 5.

It emerged today that No10 will provide indemnity to care homes approved to take Covid patients, amid concerns that not enough homes were signing up because insurance companies refused to cover them. Industry bosses feared they would come under increasing pressure to accept Covid patients, with too few approved settings and rising numbers in hospitals.

Public Health England has also recorded a spike in the number of suspected Covid-19 outbreaks reported in care homes. But it said many of these are be false alarms, although it couldn't say what number turned out not to involve the virus

Joan Willett (left), a resident in a care home in Hastings, East Sussex, receives her first dose of the coronavirus vaccine today. As does John Mason 82, from Blackburn

More than 20,000 care home residents died from Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic and experts say the decision to discharge thousands of untested hospital patients into care homes in spring was partly to blame. MPs accused ministers of throwing care homes 'to the wolves'.

With history threatening to repeat itself, Britain announced another 1,610 Covid deaths today  the highest daily figure since the pandemic began. Health bosses also posted 33,355 cases, with the outbreak continuing to shrink because of lockdown.

ONS statistics revealed the number of Covid-19 deaths in care homes has risen for six consecutive weeks since the start of last month.

There were 444 fatalities registered with the Care and Quality Commission in the seven days to December 4.

But this had tripled to 1,260 by the week ending January 15, the latest date for which data is available.

A separate dataset from Public Health England last week also showed they were receiving more reports of suspected Covid-19 outbreaks than at the start of the second wave.

LINCOLNSHIRE CARE HOME SUFFERS 'WORST OUTBREAK' OF THE PANDEMIC A Lincolnshire care home boss has described the 'absolutely horrendous' ordeal of seeing 18 elderly residents die in a coronavirus outbreak. All residents and 20 staff members at The Old Hall at Halton Holegate, near Spilsby, became infected with the virus in November, with the first resident dying on the 16th. Over the next six weeks another 17 people died from Covid. Most were in their 90s, with the youngest aged 79 and the oldest 99 Some of the deaths were so sudden staff did not have the chance to administer end-of-life treatment or arrange for loved ones to say goodbye. Following an inspection by CQC, the care home regulator, the home was found to have been doing everything it could to prevent the spread of the virus. Diane Vale, the care home's manager, said the situation had been 'absolutely horrendous' and that some deaths were so sudden staff could not administer end-of-life treatment or arrange for loved ones to say goodbye. Advertisement

More than 800 suspected outbreaks with at least one confirmed Covid case were reported in the week to January 10, a hundred more than the previous week.

For comparison, when the second wave began in August fewer than 100 were reported in the space of a week.

A suspected outbreak  or acute respiratory infection incident  is when two or more cases of a virus are thought to have been identified in a home.

But PHE has insisted these don't necessarily represent actual outbreaks, as many turn out to be false alarms  although it doesn't say what proportion of all cases were not actual outbreaks.

There are fears the resurgence of Covid in care homes is the result of ministers' controversial policy to send Covid patients discharged from hospitals into the sector - a move which has worrying echoes of the first wave when hospitals were permitted to discharge patients into care homes without testing them for Covid.

These patients, bosses warned, seeded deadly coronavirus outbreaks in the homes which contributed to the sector's devastating death toll of 19,157 in 2020.

When the plans were announced last autumn, they were met with fury by human rights groups, who described the move as 'like throwing a lit match into a haystack'.

Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International, said: 'The discharge of Covid-19 patients into care homes full of vulnerable residents is widely regarded as one of the biggest and most devastating mistakes of the Government's handling of the pandemic. Yet the same deadly policy from earlier in the pandemic is being pursued, despite the knowledge of how disastrous it was and how many lives were lost as a consequence.'

The scheme, which launched in mid-October, was for patients only to be sent into homes if they produced a negative test upon being discharged. But documents seen by the Guardian last week revealed the NHS - facing its biggest ever winter crisis - is now is asking care homes to start accepting Covid patients directly from hospitals and without a recent negative test, as long as they have been in isolation for 14 days and have shown no new symptoms.

There are no figures yet to show how many patients have actually been sent into homes, meaning it's impossible to know if the wave of infections in care homes is linked to the policy.

The Department of Health reassured that homes selected to house infected patients would be carefully inspected so the facilities would not turn into breeding grounds for the virus. But leaked documents sent by local councils to care homes  seen by Amnesty International  offered no concrete assurances that facilities will be properly Covid-secure, the human rights group said.

It comes as the Government announced it will provide indemnity for care homes in England approved to safely receive Covid-19 patients discharged from hospital, in recognition that insurance issues have led to too few numbers.

Vaccine Deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi has announced a 'time-limited state-backed indemnity' for care homes registered or intending to register as 'designated settings' who are unable to obtain sufficient insurance cover.

These are care homes or alternative sites that have been inspected and approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the rapid discharge of hospital patients with coronavirus.

In mid-October, when the scheme was launched, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it hoped every local authority would have access to at least one approved site by the end of the month.

Figures from the CQC last week show that more than a third of local authorities in England had no approved setting as of January 5.

There have been fears that, with too few approved settings and rising numbers in hospitals, care homes who have not been approved will come under increasing pressure to accept patients.

Mr Zahawi acknowledged that an inability to get sufficient insurance cover has been a barrier for some care homes wishing to join the scheme.

In a written ministerial statement on Monday, he said: 'This is limiting the ability of a small number of local authorities to operationalise designated settings capacity, and in other areas is limiting the expansion of such capacity in response to rising demand.

'Given the severity and immediacy of the pressures facing the NHS, we want to take all possible steps to remove obstacles to sufficient local designated settings provision.

'This includes ensuring that where the creation of designated settings has created barriers to insurance, the Government will introduce a targeted and time-limited indemnity offer to fill gaps in commercial cover.'

The indemnity will cover clinical negligence, employer's and public liability and remain in place until the end of March, with a review in mid February.

Care England said a lack of insurance has been a 'major stumbling block' in care homes agreeing to become designated sites.

Chief executive Professor Martin Green said: 'We are delighted that the Government has listened to Care England about the critical issue of insurance.

'We look forward to working with the Government to make the best of this important decision and will continue to campaign to have the difficulties associated with securing insurance cover extended to the rest of the care home sector who are crippled by sky-high premiums and lack of Covid cover.'

Care England said it expected further guidance from the Government in due course. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said it welcomes the opportunity to work with the Government and supports the scheme's aims.

Director general Huw Evans said: 'The insurance industry remains supportive of the care home sector and will continue to work with the Government on the detail of this scheme and to assist with ongoing insurance provision wherever possible in these most challenging circumstances.'

The National Care Forum welcomed the scheme but said it does not go far enough, calling for it to be extended to the entire social care sector.

Executive director Vic Rayner said: 'Aside from those care homes operating designated settings who have now received indemnity, care providers continue to struggle to negotiate affordable insurance cover  with many seeing substantial increases to insurance premiums, restrictions and exclusions that prevent adequate cover for Covid-19-related claims.

'We have raised this consistently and it is hugely frustrating that it has taken until now for the Government to act.'

The DHSC will also provide clinical negligence indemnity to community pharmacies carrying out vaccinations, up until June 30.

Mr Zahawi said the need for this was 'extremely urgent' as pharmacy-led vaccination centres were not able to start vaccinating people until this was in place. Vaccination has begun at six centres as of Monday, he added.

He said: 'Delaying would have postponed the rollout of this vital aspect of the vaccination programme, restricting access to the vaccine in some areas of the county. We concluded that such a delay was not acceptable and I hope it is clear why this was indeed a case of special urgency. '

Schools are set to reopen at different times across country

By Josh White, Education Reporter for The Daily Mail

Parents and pupils faced fresh confusion last night after it emerged schools were likely to reopen at different times across the country and Covid tests in secondaries could be axed.

Dr Jenny Harries, England's deputy chief medical officer, told MPs a regional approach may be taken on school reopenings  but she left them 'pessimistic' about whether a decision would be made soon.

Appearing before the education select committee yesterday, Dr Harries responded to questions about opening school gates by saying: 'It's likely that we will have some sort of regional separation.'

Parents and pupils faced fresh confusion last night after it emerged schools were likely to reopen at different times across the country. Pictured: A year 7 pupil studies at home as his school in Ashford, Kent closed due to lockdown restrictions

She said there were 'glimmers of hope' in London, where cases fell nearly a third in a fortnight after it was one of the first areas to be affected by the new Covid variant.

Committee chairman Robert Halfon said her responses left him with the impression that schools 'will be closed for quite a few weeks yet' and he felt 'more pessimistic' about a February restart.

Meanwhile, it was reported that plans for mass testing in every secondary school in England could be abandoned amid concerns and confusion over the scheme's safety and effectiveness.

The rollout of the lateral-flow tests, which was interrupted by the closure of all schools, was designed to 'break the chains of transmission' by letting pupils who had been in contact with a confirmed Covid case remain in school rather than have to isolate if they tested negative for the virus.

But the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency watchdog (MHRA) said it 'continues to advise that close contacts... continue to self-isolate' rather than rely on testing, prompting accusations that approval for the scheme was not sought.

Dr Jenny Harries, England's deputy chief medical officer, told MPs a regional approach may be taken on school reopenings  but she left them 'pessimistic' about whether a decision would be made soon. Pictured: School children arriving at Manor Park School on January 4

The Government insists MHRA authorisation was not required, but teachers claim the true position is unclear.

The scheme may be suspended because the Kent variant of Covid-19 is so contagious, The Guardian reported last night.

Suggesting the scheme could be reviewed, Dougal Hargreaves, the Department for Education's deputy chief scientific advisor, told the committee there should be a more 'detailed evaluation' of the use of rapid lateral flow tests for daily checks in schools.

Children's Minister Vicky Ford also appeared to signal a change of position, telling MPs that Public Health England had been asked to provide 'rapid updated advice on daily contact testing in schools'.

The Department of Health said: 'The evidence from these and other evaluations will be used to inform our review of the effect of daily contact testing on breaking chains of transmission and any future plans.'

Scrum and dumber! Hancock has to isolate after park game

By Daniel Martin, Policy Editor for The Daily Mail

Matt Hancock has been told to self-isolate by the NHS Covid app  just days after he was spotted playing rugby in a park.

The Health Secretary said yesterday he had been alerted by Test and Trace on Monday night after coming into close contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus.

The alert also came just a few hours after he led a Downing Street press conference.

In a video, Mr Hancock said: 'Last night I was pinged by the NHS app, so that means I will be self-isolating at home, not leaving the house at all until Sunday.' Because the self-isolation period is ten full days after a brush with the virus, this would suggest Mr Hancock met his contact last Wednesday.

But on Saturday and Sunday, Mr Hancock was seen in bustling Queen's Park, north-west London, playing rugby with his sons. A member of the public said to him: 'You're a bit dirty, mate,' and Mr Hancock replied: 'Bit of a muddy Saturday.' Though he was not breaching lockdown rules, Boris Johnson had urged people to stay home at the weekend and to 'think twice' about leaving the house.

Mr Hancock did not say at what time he received the alert, but a spokesman said it was after Monday's No10 press conference with NHS England medical director Professor Stephen Powis and Public Health England's Susan Hopkins.

Mr Hancock tested positive for Covid-19 last March.


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AUSTIN, Minn. - Minnesota health officials say a handful of Pre-K through 12th-grade educators, staff and childcare professionals could get a COVID-19 vaccine as early as Thursday.

It's all part of the state's new COVID-19 pilot program.

One teacher at Austin High School says she is eager to get the shot.

While some schools are in-person, others are still distance learning.

Photography teacher Robin Brown says she is ready to be back in the classroom full-time.

She says she will definitely get the vaccine when it is available to her.

As she waits to get a shot, Brown says she will continue to follow the safety protocols, doing whatever she can until things get back to normal.

"Once both vaccinations are taken care of, I'm sure I'm going to feel much more comfortable. I still think, for a time, we will be needing to wear masks and I am going to absolutely respect that, but with the vaccinations, I'm going to be very, very hopeful and excited for the future," says Brown.

She says seeing students' eyes over their masks is better than distance learning, but she is excited to be able to see smiles again.
OTTAWA  The Pallister government said it may be forced to halt COVID-19 vaccination appointments a second time after Ottawa announced Canada won't receive any doses from Pfizer-BioNTech next week.

OTTAWA  The Pallister government said it may be forced to halt COVID-19 vaccination appointments a second time after Ottawa announced Canada won't receive any doses from Pfizer-BioNTech next week.

The federal government said Tuesday it was unable to tell provinces how many doses to expect over the next month, but Manitoba said it anticipates receiving half the shipment it was told to expect by the end of January.

The U.S. drugmaker plans to cut production at its facility in Belgium to retool it so it can ramp up the number of doses produced there. The pause means Canada's deliveries will be smaller than expected for the next four weeks, and no doses will be delivered during the week of Jan. 25.

"Our entire shipment is deferred," said Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the Canadian military commander who is co-ordinating the vaccine rollout for the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Canada was to get more than 417,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week and next, but will now get just 171,093 doses this week and nothing next week. Fortin said Canada's shipments will "pick back up again" during the first week of February. He had no specifics yet on that number.

Four days ago, Fortin said Canada didn't expect any reductions this week, and that next week's shipment would be about half of the amount that had been promised.

The office of Manitoba Health Minister Heather Stefanson said it originally expected 18,720 doses to arrive from Jan. 19 till the end of the month. That number was reduced to 10,530 last week. On Tuesday, the number was revised downward again  to 9,360 doses.

"This is incredibly disappointing news for me as the minister, as I know it is for many Manitobans who see the vaccine as (a) ray of hope," Stefanson wrote in a statement.

"The level of uncertainty caused by missed or reduced vaccine shipments will affect our work in the weeks ahead. But please be assured, we are fully equipped to adjust to the changing circumstances."

Dr. Joss Reimer, the medical head of Manitobas vaccine task force, said officials will still book appointments, but might halt the practice if they are unable to guarantee a timely second dose.

"We will not sacrifice safety for speed," she wrote in a statement.

Other provinces are being forced to cancel appointments, or hold off giving second doses longer than they had planned.

Moments before Fortin announced there wouldn't be any shipments next week, Ontario issued an updated delivery schedule saying the province expected its deliveries to be down five per cent this week and 80 per cent next week, but those estimates seem to be out of date.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to put heavy pressure on Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.

"If I was in (Trudeau's) shoes I'd be on that phone call every single day," Ford said. "I'd be up that guy's yin-yang so far with a firecracker he wouldn't know what hit him... I would not stop until we get these vaccines."

Trudeau said his procurement minister, Anita Anand, has been on the phone with the company every day, a fact she confirmed in a briefing Tuesday. But he was less specific about what phone calls he has made himself or whether he has even called Bourla.

"We continue to work every day, reaching out to the top levels of vaccine companies, including myself being involved, to ensure we are getting the doses we need," Trudeau said outside his Rideau Cottage residence Tuesday morning.

Israel, which signed a contract with Pfizer to get vaccine doses more than three months after Canada did, has already received two million doses. Canada has received about 600,000 from Pfizer and 176,000 of a different vaccine from Moderna.

Both vaccines require two doses for full effectiveness.

Israel has signed a deal with Pfizer to share extensive data on how the vaccine works in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has had 17 conversations with Bourla himself, and that Israel expects to vaccinate all citizens over the age of 16 by the end of March.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was on the phone to Bourla Friday when Europe was informed it would also get fewer doses over the next four weeks because of upgrades to the Belgium facility.

Before the weekend was over, Pfizer said Europe would only be affected for one week. Canada, a Pfizer Canada spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday, will be affected for the next several weeks.

Anand said she told Pfizer on the weekend she expected Canada to be treated equitably in terms of shipment slowdowns, and that she was assured that would happen. However the company has not made clear how many other countries are affected, or how those deliveries are being divided.

Fortin said the cuts will affect some provinces more than others because Pfizer's vaccine is delivered in trays of 975 doses each. The product has strict requirements for transportation and storage, demanding it be kept at ultracold temperatures until shortly before it's administered.

The delivery trays can't be further divided easily, which mean some provinces get even less than they were already expecting.

That will be accounted for as soon as the bigger shipments start coming, said Fortin.

Meanwhile, Trudeau also urged Canadians who might be planning an international trip to cancel it.

Trudeau said Canadians have the right to travel but the government could at any time, and without warning, enforce new restrictions on travellers returning to Canada.

New variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 add a level of uncertainty that could affect decisions about how to handle international arrivals. Potentially worrisome variants have been detected in the U.K., South Africa and Brazil.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has documented 183 flights that arrived in Canada from abroad since Jan. 4 alone, on which at least one passenger had COVID-19.

That includes four flights from London since Jan. 6, when a temporary ban on incoming flights from the United Kingdom was lifted.

Trudeau would not say, when pressed, what other measures he is considering, noting only that travellers must currently present a negative COVID-19 test before boarding planes abroad, and must still quarantine for two weeks after arriving in Canada.

 staff, The Canadian Press
There's been a lot of conversation around WhatsApp and its controversial privacy policy over the last couple of weeks. In fact, a lot of people have started switching to other apps already. And now, the government has decided to step in.

Yes, the government has asked WhatsApp to withdraw its controversial privacy policy. Additionally, it has asked the company to respect the "informational privacy and data security of Indian users.

 Unsplash

According to sources, the government has sent a long list of questions to the company on the issue. It has also noted that having a lenient update for Europe while being stringent in India is discriminatory for Indian users. There's been a lot of discussions surrounding that as well, so it's good to see the government bringing it up.



TOI noted that the government has expressed displeasure at how the matter was unveiled by WhatsApp and asked them to take immediate steps to sort it out. What's more interesting is that even a letter has been sent to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart.

The government is said to have expressed strong concerns about the policy that has been proposed by the company. The letter says that the update and data-sharing with Facebook will expose Indian users to "greater security risks and vulnerabilities creating a honeypot of information.

 Reuters

It looks like the government is also strongly against the "all-or-nothing approach" of WhatsApp where it has asked the users to either accept the new T&C or ready to stop using the app and its services. The sources said that "differential and discriminatory treatment of Indian and European users is attracting serious criticism and shows lack of respect for the rights and interests of Indian citizens."



Obviously, it remains to be seen what comes out of this whole debacle and whether or not WhatsApp will pull back its new policy. For now, you still have the chance to accept the new terms and continue using them. The company recently extended the deadline till May 15, and we doubt if there'll further extension. We'd like to know what are your thoughts on this, so be sure to let us know by dropping a line in the comments.

Source: TOI



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No celebration of America's Latin heritage would be complete without some representation from Texas especially South Texas. Enter Eva Longoria and Roma's Nuevo Santander mariachi band from Roma High School.

Both the actress and the band will participate in "Latino Inaugural 2021: Inheritance, Resilience, and Promise."
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Australia's ambassador to the US has heaped praise on Joe Biden as he was sworn in as the 46th president.

Arthur Sinodinos appeared on Sunrise on Thursday morning as Biden made his grand entrance into the White House.

Mr Sinodinos told the breakfast show hosts, Samantha Armytage and David Koch, that Biden's inauguration was 'a calm, dignified, uplifting ceremony'.

'The combination of prayer, poetry, song, Lady Gaga. It was just great, uplifting,' he said.

'Almost like people saying, "let's turn the page and get on with it".

'That is the feeling that came across the audience and I think that is the feeling across the US.

'With all respect to the former president, people have moved on. There is a new commander-in-chief in the US and people are looking to the future.'

Mr Sinodinos said a lot of Americans are 'tired and exhausted' by the coronavirus pandemic, economic contraction and last year's race riots.

'They want to come together. This is a bloke who can do that, I think,' he said.

From an Australian perspective, Mr Sinodinos said 'we had a pretty good run under the previous administration'.

Joe Biden delivers a speech after being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 20

'Australians are well regarded in Washington,' he continued.

'We want that to continue, both administrations, the people we have spoken to want the alliance to be as strong as ever.'

Armytage said trade was a 'major issue' for Australia amid escalating tensions with China and asked if the US would return to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Mr Sinodinos said they are putting 'building blocks' in place and have started preliminary discussions around a new digital trade agreement.

Arthur Sinodinos appeared on Sunrise on Thursday morning as Biden made his grand entrance into the White House. Mr Sinodinos told hosts Samantha Armytage and David Koch that Biden's inauguration was 'a calm, dignified, uplifting ceremony'

'Obviously this administration is very keen to get the domestic economy going before they do other trade agreements,' he said.

'But ultimately, they have to come back into the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

'At the moment, that partnership is a bit like Hamlet without the prince. It's got 11 big Asia-Pacific economies, it needs the US to set the rules and the standards in the region.'

The Trans-Pacific Partnership was a proposed trade agreement signed in February 2016, but Trump withdrew the US in 2017.

Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC on January 20.
The UK and Japan are working together to develop new technologies to safely decommission old nuclear sites.

The 12 million partnership, called LongOps, will focus on developing automated systems for sites including Fukushima in Japan, and Sellafield in Cumbria.

Robots are set to play an essential part in the time-intensive task of decommissioning legacy nuclear facilities faster, in a bid to remove risk to human health.

The collaboration will also allow the two countries to pursue research into fusion energy - a form of power generation that would generate electricity using heat from nuclear reactions.

The 12 million partnership will focus on developing automated systems for sites including Fukushima in Japan (pictured), and Sellafield in Cumbria

Robotics are set to play an essential part in the time-intensive task of decommissioning legacy nuclear facilities faster in a bid to remove risk to human health (stock image)

Long-reach robotic arms will be used at the Sellafield site in Cumbria, as well as the Fukushima Dai-ichi reactors in Japan  which suffered a nuclear disaster in March 2011 after an earthquake and tsunami destroyed key cooling functions.

Developments from LongOps will also be applied to the upgrading, maintenance and dismantling of fusion devices, such as the Joint European Torus (JET), once their lifespans have ended.

A major feature of the LongOps programme will be the deployment of sophisticated 'digital twin' technology

This involves the creation of detailed virtual models of the physical world, allowing engineers to test new technologies in the virtual world and forecast potential maintenance and operational issues before developing real-world applications.

Long-reach robotic arms will be used at the Sellafield site in Cumbria, one of the UK's biggest nuclear waste management sites

The project will also serve as an opportunity for the UK and Japan to pursue research into fusion energy.

Fusion is a form of low-carbon energy whereby the power of the sun is replicated on earth. It promises minimal impact to the environment, long-term reliability and weather independence.

'To unlock the amazing potential of nuclear power, it's critical that the UK works hand in hand with international partners to safely decommission nuclear sites while backing pioneering research into fusion, which could offer a limitless source of clean energy,' Amanda Solloway, UK minister for science, research and innovation, said.

'This innovative research alliance with Japan will ensure we share our expertise in robotics to address complex challenges such as nuclear decommissioning, while helping to secure highly skilled jobs across the country as we build back better from the pandemic.'

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) will foot the funding equally over four years.

Akira Ono, chief decommissioning officer of TEPCO, said: 'It has been almost a decade since the Fukushima Daiichi(1F) accident on March 11 2011.

'TEPCO's 1F decontamination and decommissioning was carried out initially on an emergency response basis, but we now will be entering the stage of taking on challenges in unchartered territory such as fuel debris retrieval (FDR).

'I recognise that the robotics and remote-control technology is one of the most important key success factors for the FDR project.'

Adrian Simper, group strategy and technology director at the NDA, added: 'Robotics offers us new ways to tackle our complex work safely, securely and cost-effectively.

'This unique international collaboration allows us to pool expertise and experience from Japan, working together and investing in cutting edge ways to find solutions to our shared problems and benefit our clean-up mission.'
THULASENDRAPURAM, India (AP)  People in a tiny Indian village surrounded by rice paddies flocked to a Hindu temple, burst crackers and uttered prayers Wednesday hours before its descendant, Kamala Harris, takes her oath of office to become the U.S. vice president.

Groups of women in bright saris and men wearing white dhotis thronged the temple with sweets and flowers, offering special prayers for Harris success.

We are feeling very proud that an Indian is being elected as the vice president of America, said Anukampa Madhavasimhan, a teacher.

The ceremony in Thulasendrapuram, where Harris maternal grandfather was born about 215 miles from the southern coastal city of Chennai, saw the idol of Hindu deity Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva, washed with milk and decked with flowers by the priest. Shortly after, the village reverberated with a boom of firecrackers as people held up posters of Harris and clapped their hands.

Harris is set to make history as the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency. What makes her achievement special in this village is her Indian heritage.

Villagers burst firecrackers and hold placards featuring U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ahead of her inauguration, in Thulasendrapuram, the hometown of Harris' maternal grandfather, south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, India, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. A tiny, lush-green Indian village surrounded by rice paddy fields was beaming with joy Wednesday hours before its descendant, Kamala Harris, takes her oath of office and becomes the U.S. vice president. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)AP

Harris grandfather was born in Thulasendrapuram more than 100 years ago. Many decades later, he moved to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state. Harris late mother was also born in India, before moving to the U.S. to study at the University of California. She married a Jamaican man, and they named their daughter Kamala, a Sanskrit word for lotus flower.

In several speeches, Harris has often spoken about her roots and how she was guided by the values of her Indian-born grandfather and mother.

So when Joe Biden and Harris triumphed in the U.S. election last November, Thulasendrapuram became the center of attention in entire India. Local politicians flocked to the village and young children carrying placards with photos of Harris ran along the dusty roads.

An Indian artist Aejaz Saiyed gives finishing touch to an art work featuring U.S.President-elect Joe Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and Indian freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi, ahead of Biden's inauguration ceremony, in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. The inauguration of Biden and Harris is scheduled be held Wednesday. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)AP

Then and now, villagers set off firecrackers and distributed sweets and flowers as a religious offering.

Posters and banners of Harris from November still adorn walls in the village and many hope she ascends to the presidency in 2024. Biden has skirted questions about whether he will seek reelection or retire.

For the next four years, if she supports India, she will be the president, said G Manikandan, who has followed Harris politically and whose shop proudly displays a wall calendar with pictures of Biden and Harris.

An Indian villager stands in front of a banner displaying photographs of U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Thulasendrapuram, the hometown of Harris' maternal grandfather, south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, India, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. The inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is scheduled be held Wednesday. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)AP

On Tuesday, an organization that promotes vegetarianism sent food packets for the village children as gifts to celebrate Harris success.

In the capital New Delhi, there has been both excitement  and some concern  over Harris ascend to the vice presidency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invested in President Donald Trump, who visited India in February last year. Modis many Hindu nationalist supporters also were upset with Harris when she expressed concern about Kashmir, the disputed Muslim-majority region whose statehood Indias government revoked last year.

-- The Associated Press
"We are excited to share more about ACCESS at Inman Connect Now because we know the tool will be a valuable resource for agents both during the pandemic and beyond, says Krabbe.

In 2020, in-person real estate events had to be swapped for virtual house tours and digital meetings because of Covid-19. To ensure that agents are still able to connect with prospective buyers and sellers in this new world, Agent Image  the California-based digital marketing agency known for creating expertly branded websites to help realtors list and sell homes  is launching a real estate software called ACCESS. The user-friendly, data-driven software will incorporate 3D virtual tours, interactive maps, unlimited property data, and more. Originally created before the pandemic, the platform was designed in conjunction with and beta tested by the Eklund/ Gomes team of Julia Spillman, John Gomes and Million Dollar Listing Star, Fredrik Eklund. ACCESS is designed to be fully branded, customized and shared.

Co-founder and Managing Partner Jon Krabbe of Agent Image along with Vice President of Business Development, Brian Shorr, will be sharing more about the tool at Inman Connect Now, the premier event for the real estate industry. The flagship event will be taking place digitally on January 26-28, as real estate movers and shakers from across the country gather remotely to listen to interactive speakers and network with top residential agents. We are excited to share more about Access at Inman Connect Now because we know the tool will be a valuable resource for agents both during the pandemic and beyond, says Krabbe. The app will give agents a platform to share information and assets with clients in a uniform way. As both a listing presentation tool and a virtual open house experience, Access will put users far ahead of the competition.

Krabbe will share more exclusive information about the product during his speaking session at Inman Connect Now. Agents will be able to sign up first for the software, and additional information about how to do so will be available in the coming weeks .

About Agent Image:

Since 1999, Agent Image has been the leading expert in real estate website design, marketing, and branding for brokerages and agents. Led by digital marketing executive Jon Krabbe, Agent Image has launched over 25,000 industry websites and digital solutions for real estate professionals around the globe. With top-of-the-line buyer and seller tools, Agent Image creates expertly branded websites with industry-leading functionality and lead-generating tools to help real estate experts list and sell homes. Agent Image has been at the forefront in website design and branding for all agents, including industry leaders like The Altman Brothers, Tracy Tutor, Dolly Lenz, and many more. With a commitment to meet every clients needs, Agent Image aims to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Media Contact:

Alexander Ali

The SOCIETY Group

aa@societygrouppr.com

310-991-6368
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With a team of chef instructors and pastry chefs with the same taste for excellence, Ecole Ducasse, the eponymous chefs network of schools, also welcomes external guest chefs and exceptional talents every year. Meilleurs ouvriers de France (MOF), Best French Craftsmen, World Champions, Hospitality Experts - all of them renowned in their field - share their expertise and techniques on a daily basis with the various audiences at Ecole Ducasse: seasoned professionals wishing to improve their skills, high school graduates, career changers or gastronomy and pastry enthusiasts. 2021 is no exception, and the school offers a remarkable selection for its three institutions - Ecole Nationale Superieure de Patisserie (ENSP), Paris Studio and Paris Campus, which opened its doors last November.

Multi-star sponsors for Bachelor courses

Ecole Ducasse is pleased to unveil the names of the chefs chosen to become the sponsors of its 2021 Bachelors programs. These 3-year Bachelors programs are aimed at young students who have just graduated from high school and who wish to become chefs entrepreneurs.

Bachelor in Culinary Arts will be under the guidance of Jacques Maximin, the iconic chef awarded Michelin stars on numerous occasions and Meilleur Ouvrier de France Cuisinier (Best Craftsman of France in cooking category - MOF) 1979. The chef, who joined the Ecole Ducasse group in 2020 as Culinary Advisor and Chef in Residence at the new Paris Campus in Meudon, will share Alain Ducasse's values with students on a daily basis, instil his culinary vision and initiate masterclasses as well as themed dinners. In his capacity as sponsor of the Bachelor of Culinary Arts, he will pay particular attention to the transmission of values that are dear to him such as creativity, excellence, generosity and rigour.

Meilleur Ouvrier de France Chocolatier-Confiseur (Best Craftsman of France in the Chocolate making and confectionery) 2019, Paul Occhipinti, will take on the role of sponsor of the Bachelor in French Pastry Arts. The chef is well known to the institution - after training at Ecole Nationale Superieure de Patisserie, he has been teaching there as a guest chef since 2016. Passionate about confectionery and chocolate from his teenage years, he has developed his talents alongside great chefs such as Christian Camprini, Master Pastry Chef and MOF Chocolatier-Confiseur 2004. Sous-Chef Patissier of Hotel du Cap-Eden-Rocin Cap d'Antibes since 2014, Paul Occhipinti has launched himself into entrepreneurship by creating his own 100% organic brand last August: Nico & les chocolats.

The 2021 Bachelors programs will start on September 6, 2021 and will be taught at Paris Campus and ENSP.

PARIS CAMPUS: master more than cooking

The arrival of the majority shareholder Sommet Education, a worldwide network of prestigious educational institutions specialising in hospitality, has enabled the renowned institution to expand its portfolio of training courses in the Art of Hospitality and customer experience, such as the intensive two-month program, aimed in particular at enthusiasts and people undergoing professional reconversion: the Essentiels des Arts de la Table et de la Sommellerie (Art of Service and Sommelier Essentials). Result of the synergy between Sommet Education and Ecole Ducasse, this program is based on the arts of the table and service, customer experience, and food and wine pairings. The training is given at Paris Campus, notably by Chantal Wittmann, Gastronomic Restaurant Director and Senior Lecturer at Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. Mrs Wittmann, one of the only two women MOFs in the world in the field of service and table arts, officiates at the restaurant Le Bellevue (16 Gault & Millau points and recently entered in the Michelin Guide).

For continuing professional development, Paris Campus has also created a series of encounters: Les invites dAlain Ducasse (Alain Ducasse's guests). Professional chefs will be able to experience the new campus while learning from of one eight exceptional personalities in the world of gastronomy invited by Paris Campus: Adrien Cachot, Christopher Coutanceau, Christophe Raoux and Luc Debove for Cuisine a quatre mains (Four-handed cooking), Jacques Maximin, Chantal Wittmann and Jessica Prealpato, Best Pastry Chef of the World 2019 (World's 50 Best Restaurants) as well as Mathieu Le Feuvrier. This is a two- to four-day vocational training.

ENSP: excellence and expertise at the heart of professional training

The programme developed by ENSP team for professional training focuses on expertise and excellence. Among the chefs invited are : Romain Chalumeau, the school's Chef Instructor for his course Patisseries raffinees, sans gluten ni additifs (Refined pastries, gluten-free and additive-free), running from February; the MOF Chocolatier Paul Occhipinti for his Confiserie moderne (Contemporary confectionary) course in April; and chef and MOF Chocolatier Frederic Hawecker for a professional training course dedicated to Confiserie a la folie (Confectionary madness).

Like Cedric Grolet, Pastry Chef at the hotel Le Meurice and Jerome de Oliveira, World Pastry and Bakery Champion in Cannes, who are also former students of ENSP, many renowned chefs will also come to the Chateau de Montbarnier throughout the year to share their experiences and techniques.

PARIS STUDIO: culinary workshops for all tastes

Every year, Paris Studio develops thematic programs open to all audiences such as:



Initiation enfant a la gastronomie (Initiation to gastronomy for children) for 3 mornings for children aged 6 to 11 years old: this immersion in the kitchen for little ones promises to be a fun activity around cooking and pastry making.

Menu 100% Japon (100% Japanese menu): in spring, Japanese culinary designer Fumiko Kono will challenge participants to create a refined and tasty menu that will delight more than one person.

Gateaux de notre enfance (Cakes from our childhood): also in the spring, the school invites food-lovers to plunge back into the home-made snacks and sweets of their childhood.

Patisser simple, sain et bon (Simple, healthy and good pastry): at the beginning of May, the idea is to explore natural alternatives to make balance and indulgence work in harmony.

Charcuterie patissiere (Delicatessen and pastry): in May, participants will discover the basic techniques of these gourmet dishes that are both emblematic and essential to French culture.

Tout sur les entremets (All about desserts): at the end of May, the school will reveal the techniques needed to make desserts for special occasions.

Glaces et Sorbets (Ice Creams and Sorbets): in June, for a fresh start of the summer, chef Luc Debove will share his techniques and tips for creating ice creams, granitas or sorbets.

Paris Studio has also developed a new digital offer for companies: les Team Buildings connectes (Team Buildings connected). These friendly and fun experiences allow the teams to share good times and make the link between gastronomy and business world by taking part in a digital cooking class led live by one of the Paris Studio Chefs.

Many other courses can be discovered online at http://www.ecolecuisine-alainducasse.com

About Ecole Ducasse

Ecole Ducasse is a network of schools founded in 1999 by multi-starred chef Alain Ducasse, dedicated to the transmission of outstanding French expertise based on excellence in culinary and pastry arts.

Ecole Ducasse runs three schools in France  the Paris Studio, the Paris Campus and the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Patisserie  as well as two international schools (in the Philippines and Brazil). All are united by a desire to share a passion for gastronomy with seasoned professionals as well as food enthusiasts, career changers and students. This broad portfolio of programs aims to meet all training needs: from short programs for experts or food enthusiasts to intensive two-, four-or six-month programs, to three-year undergraduate programs leading to a Bachelors degree in culinary and pastry arts.

Ecole Ducasse is a network of schools belonging to the Sommet Education, a major international education group for hospitality management and culinary arts.

Elise Masurel has been appointed the Managing Director of Ecole Ducasse.

For more information: learn.ecole-ducasse.com
Then-President-elect Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CCP virus pandemic at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 29, 2020. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Texas Set to Bring Volley of Lawsuits Against Biden Administration

As President Joe Biden assumed office and two newly elected Georgia Democrat senators were sworn in on Jan. 20, Texas Republicans prepared to mount a flurry of legal challenges to push back against the incoming administrations progressive agenda.

The Biden administration has signaled a left-leaning agenda on energy, taxes, immigration, health care, and other priorities. Biden has vowed to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and take far-reaching steps on climate change, including seeking to cut greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030 and effectively ending them by around 2050, sparking existential fears from the fossil fuel industry, a key economic pillar in Texas.

Biden has also proposed sweeping immigration reform that would create a pathway to citizenship for more than 11 million illegal immigrants, and plans to roll back Trumps corporate tax cuts and raise income tax.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whowhile serving as the states attorney generalfamously proclaimed, I go into the office, I sue the federal government, and I go home, said on Jan. 16 that the Biden White House can expect a spate of legal challenges from the Lone Star State.

A new crop of Texas-led lawsuits awaits Joe Bidens White House, Abbott wrote in a tweet on Jan. 16.

Texas will take action whenever the federal government encroaches on states rights, or interferes with constitutional rights, or private property rights or the right to earn a living.

The Lone Star State sued the administration of President Barack Obama dozens of times to stop initiatives such as the Clean Power Plan or to end the Affordable Care Act, the signature health plan known as Obamacare.

The conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), which filed the Affordable Care Act challenge that is now before the U.S. Supreme Court, is gearing up for a flurry of legal challenges.

Robert Henneke, general counsel at the TPPF, told the San Antonio Express-News that he expects the Biden administration to pick up where the Obama administration left off.

Litigation challenging unconstitutional action from the Biden administration will be a central issue, Henneke told the outlet. Where the new administration seeks to go out of bounds of what powers have been delegated to it, or enacts policies and rules that arent supported by data and science, I expect that well be chief among those challenging those type of policies.

Meanwhile, a recent national survey shows that most Republicans want congressional leaders to challenge Biden on important issues.

A majority of Republicans (59 percent) want their partys leaders to stand up to Biden, according to the Pew Research Center, while a sizable majority of conservative Republicans (69 percent) favor GOP leaders standing up to Biden, compared with 44 percent of GOP moderates and liberals.
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College of Science Honors Iconic Professors

Eastern Kentucky Universitys College of Science has honored three of its retired faculty members as its first Iconic Professors as part of a new college initiative.

Dr. Sanford L. Jones Sr., Dr. John L. Meisenheimer Sr. and the late Professor Meredith J. Cox are the first faculty members to earn the prestigious honor.

COVID-19 may have forced the cancellation of the ceremony, but it could not stop the recognition, said Dr. Tom Otieno, dean of the College of Science. In addition to receiving a personalized iconic professor medallion, a prominent space in our state-of-the-art Science Building has been named after each of these truly exceptional individuals.

Professor Meredith J. Cox

Mrs. Alice Cox Putman (B.S., Clinical Laboratory Science, 1972) recalled how her late grandfather, Professor Cox, impacted her life: He rescued me from an inadequate rural school system and paid for me to go to a small boarding school in Versailles, Kentucky, that changed my life. I have personally worked for a hospital system that would not fund continuing education for its staff. My granddaddy would be proud that his successors will benefit from this fund. Generations of students will benefit from these professors knowledge and mentorship just like I did. In addition, Dr. Jones and Dr. Meisenheimer were great teachers. I am privileged to have known them.

Dr. Gary Booth (B.S., Chemistry, 1962), also credits Cox for setting him on the path to success. I had a very enjoyable career as an organic chemist  and I give Meredith Cox the credit for steering me in that direction, Booth said. Meredith certainly taught organic chemistry well, but he also, by example, taught something equally important, which was using drama in communication. His classes were an equal mixture of excitement and terror. He paced, he told stories, he abruptly called on students to explain portions of the assignment. Heaven help you if you were not prepared. As a result, everyone prepared. And many got infected with the beauty of organic chemistry.

Dr. Sanford L. Jones Sr.

For Dr. Jones, the Iconic Professor honor prompted fond remembrances of career milestones. I recalled the one-room school building with one teacher for all eight grades and the happy times of walking two miles to school. Even more so, I remember growing up during the Great Depression, the hardship, and values learned living on a farm.

He also acknowledged the contribution of many special individuals to his achievements. The honor of being recognized as an iconic professor has come into being by the support of many persons, including parents, faculty colleagues in the Department of Biological Sciences, the dean of the College of Science, associates, friends and students who enrolled in general physiology and endocrinology courses. In all of everything, our two sons and daughter, and my wife, June Daugherty Jones, were of a oneness of principle in our lifes journey as a family.

Jones celebrated his 95th birthday in September 2020. As a special tribute to mark the occasion, his granddaughter, Margaret, wrote: Many years have been traversed, many minds opened and educated, many moments found in stillness, many days lived in integrity, many learned and taught.

According to Jones, the Iconic Professor recognition emphasizes the significance of the faculty in the process of teaching and research, and the essence of the quality of education provided by Eastern Kentucky University.

Jones considers his military service to his country as one of his greatest accomplishments. During World War II, he served with the 15th U.S. Army Air Force in Italy and flew 35 aerial combat missions on a B-24 Liberator bomber.

Dr. Nelson D. Horseman (B.S., Biology, 1973; M.S., Biology, 1975) recalled: As luck would have it, my first course with Dr. Jones came in my junior year at EKU. I was, to put it mildly, not an accomplished student in my first two years. It wasn't that I lacked desire or talent, but there was so much else to do and learn outside of the classrooms. By the time I took physiology with Dr. Jones, I had figured out both why I needed to study, and how to do the work that was necessary to succeed with such a demanding professor. After a couple of courses with Dr. Jones, I was hooked on endocrinology (the study of hormones). Laboratory work became a passion for me. Dr. Jones, along with other biology professors (Williams, Branson, Schroeder), gave me tremendous support and encouragement in a project that was doomed to fail, but destined to teach me the foundations for the rest of my career in teaching and research. I am so happy and gratified that one of my professor-heroes has been chosen as an Iconic Professor in the College of Science. The honor is richly deserved for his teaching, mentorship and service to the University.

Dr. John L. Meisenheimer Sr.

I have always loved EKU and my wonderful students. It was a great feeling to have that love returned, said Dr. Meisenheimer of the honor. Most of my students were the first in their families to attend college, and they were there to work hard and be successful in their lives. That happened, and I have been very proud of them. The University administrators were very supportive while I was there. They permitted me to do several quirky things in class and lab, such as using the latest chemical separator equipment and identification devices to compare Grandpas moonshine to quality Kentucky bourbon. Some of those students got very good jobs at Kentucky distillery laboratories after that.

Dr. Stephen Wright (B.S. Chemistry, 1968) recalled: Occasionally, someone comes into your life that changes the course of your future. Dr. John Meisenheimer is that person in my life. I went to EKU intending to stay only two years and then leave to attend mortuary science school. I had worked in a funeral home in high school, and my future was to become a funeral director. Dr. Meisenheimer was my adviser and, through his sage advice, convinced me that I had a better future in medicine. Even better, he advised that I could help more people through a medical career. I took his advice and, as they say, the rest is history  at least my history. I am eternally grateful. I am sure there are scores of others with similar stories.

The Iconic Professor program is a collaborative initiative. Members of the College of Science Deans Development Cabinet, the honorees and their families, and many current and retired faculty and staff, and alumni have contributed to the success of the initiative. While honoring exemplary professors who transformed the lives of Eastern students, the initiative also provides an opportunity for former students, other alumni and friends of EKU to help recognize faculty members contributions by making a gift to the College of Science Endowment for Faculty Success Fund, established to support the next generation of iconic professors. The gift can be designated in honor of any of the iconic professors, or contributed without a designation. The gifts will provide a reliable source, in perpetuity, of enhanced support for faculty professional development, research and tools for effective and innovative teaching.

We are so grateful to the donors who celebrate these incredible professors by supporting the College of Science Endowment for Faculty Success Fund, said Betina Gardner, vice president for University Development and Alumni Engagement. Gifts to the endowment ensure that our current and future faculty have the support they need to aspire to the distinction of these iconic professors.

To make a gift or pledge today to honor the legacy of any of the colleges Iconic Professors and challenge and inspire current and future faculty to become professors who likewise change students lives, visit www.alumni.eku.edu/s/1763/index.aspx?sid=1763&pgid=1779&gid=2&cid=4113&ecid=4113&post_id=0.
Derby face having to pay their sacked former captain Richard Keogh around 2million after he won an appeal at a tribunal over his dismissal following a car crash.

Keogh was left with a career-threatening knee injury following the accident and Derby terminated his contract.

But Sportsmail has learned that the former Republic of Ireland centre back has had his appeal upheld by an employment tribunal. So Derby have been ordered to make a financial settlement to Keogh, who had 21 months left on a contract worth 1.3m a year when he was dismissed.

Derby face having to pay their sacked former captain Richard Keogh around 2million after he won an appeal at a tribunal over his dismissal following a car crash

The 33-year-old was a passenger in the crash that also involved team-mates Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett

Derby are understood to be preparing their own appeal against the tribunals verdict, although it has been claimed the club could be stalling due to financial problems as owner Mel Morris seeks to complete a proposed takeover by Derventio Holdings.

There are fears the takeover could collapse as Sheik Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan is reportedly yet to provide proof of funds.

Keogh had his contract terminated by Derby in October 2019 following the car crash that also involved team-mates Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett.

The defender suffered a serious knee injury and did not play for over a year after the crash

The 34-year-old Keogh, who did not play for over a year after the crash in which he was a passenger, had appeals rejected by both Derby and the EFL before his success at an employment tribunal.

Derbys decision to sack Keogh contrasted with their treatment of the drivers of the two vehicles involved in the high-speed crash, Lawrence and Bennett, who were fined six weeks wages and ordered to do 80 hours of community service and rehabilitation.

The pair were also found guilty of drink-driving at Derby Magistrates Court, a verdict which resulted in them being given a further fine, a two-year driving ban and another 180 hours of community service.

Keogh joined MK Dons last year after he was sacked by former club Derby in October 2019

Keogh sustained cruciate knee ligament damage in the smash in which he was in the back seat of Lawrences Range Rover, which crashed into the rear of Bennetts Mercedes before skidding across a roundabout and hitting a lamp-post on the A6 near Allestree, Derby.

His contract was terminated when he did not accept Derbys offer of a substantial reduction on his 1.3m-a-year deal. Keogh had made more than 300 appearances for the club.

He signed for MK Dons on a free transfer last summer and made 18 appearances this season before joining Huddersfield Town on Tuesday. Derby declined to comment.
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora urged state election authorities and citizens to ensure fair, peaceful and Covid safe polls

The Assam Assembly polls will be held keeping in mind the Rongali Bihu festival and the process will be finished before the CBSE Board exams scheduled to begin on 4 May, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said on Wednesday.

The Commission is sensitive towards festivals held in the various states "and we have already taken into consideration this before coming here for the review meetings", the CEC told reporters in Guwahati.

Arora also announced that those excluded from Assams National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be eligible to vote in this years elections since their names are already there on the voters list, according to The Hindustan Times.

The home ministry notification of 29 August, 2019, clearly states that non-inclusion of a persons name in NRC does not by itself amount to him/her being declared a foreigner, Arora said.

By implication, such persons remain on the voter list and shall be eligible to vote until a decision is taken by the concerned tribunal."

The political parties during interaction with the full bench of the poll panel had made a plea to keep in view the Bihu festival while deciding the poll schedule to encourage more voter turnout and also to ensure that the monsoon, which usually arrives early in the state, is avoided.

Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, is celebrated by the people of Assam to mark the Assamese New Year. It is usually observed in the second week of April with the onset of spring.

"The Bihu festival dates will be taken into cognisance and factored in while drawing up the schedule of election dates accordingly," the CEC added.

The commission had meetings with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) officials to decide on the poll schedule framework and "we have decided that the election process will be finished before the board exams begin on 4 May," he said.

The CBSE board exams are scheduled to start from 4 May and end by 10 June.

The term of the 126-member Assam house is ending on 31 May, 2021.

The political parties had also impressed upon the commission to hold the elections with strict COVID-19 protocols and this will be adhered to strictly with the number of auxiliary polling booths increased in the state, Arora said.

The maximum number of electors at a polling station has been reduced from 1,500 to 1000, he said.

Accordingly for Assam, the number of polling stations would go up by about 5,000 and likely to be more than 33,000 for the forthcoming elections, the CEC added.

The CEC said the Bihar Assembly polls were held amidst tight COVID-19 protocols and the officers "literally burnt the midnight oil to ensure its success which was a big leap of faith for us and we plan to replicate it in other states as well".

The political parties, keeping in view the COVID-19 norms for ensuring social distancing, had urged that the number of polling booths is increased and a list of such auxiliary polling booths be made available, in time, so that the parties can organise their booth committees and logistics in time, he said.

The parties had also stressed on the need for adequate security even at the remote polling stations and deployment of commensurate security personnel, he said.

Some representatives drew the attention of the commission to deputing observers from outside the state and there is "an unwritten rule that observers for every election are sent from outside the state after due scrutiny. Among them 99.1 percent uphold the sanctity of the Constitution while the 0.1 percent of the black sheep are ruthlessly dealt with," he said.

If required, special observers will also be deployed in sensitive/critical constituencies/districts to monitor and ensure that elections are conducted in a totally free and fair manner, he said.

Among other issues, some representatives of the political parties wanted that the expenditure limits be hiked, Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) be distributed well in time and the timelines for publishing the criminal antecedents of candidates in media be made more realistic, the CEC said.

Concerns regarding misuse of social media for spreading communal speeches, misuse of government machinery, misuse of money power, and COVID-19 protocol violations were also expressed by some representatives, he added.

All the political parties assured the commission of their full cooperation in ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections, and "we expect them to play a positive role in maintaining harmony and to ensure that the COVID-19 protocols are maintained", the CEC added.

The commission has zero-tolerance on misuse of money power or government machinery and in this regard, a specific meeting was held with the enforcement agencies to crack the whip wherever required.

The increase in the number of polling stations, in turn, would have other logistics and manpower implications and the commission has directed that assured minimum facilities (AMF) including drinking water, toilets, waiting area, and ramps be provided at all polling stations along with voter assistance booth, Arora said.

As an extension of AMFs, all polling stations will ensure social distancing, sanitising, temperature check, gloves and polling personnel will also be provided along with COVID-19 kits.

The special summary revision of photo electoral rolls 2021 exercise has been completed on 18 January with the final publication of the electoral roll.

House-to-house visits were conducted for the facilitation of Form 12D to senior citizens and persons with disability (PwD) electors so that they can exercise their option for the postal ballot if they desire, he said.

This will be made available from the date of announcement till the 5th day following notification of elections, Arora said.

The auxiliary polling stations would be located at ground level and in the vicinity of the main polling station, to the extent feasible, and in consultation with political parties.

The CEC, accompanied by Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar was on a three-day visit to Assam from Monday to conduct an in-depth review of preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state.

With inputs from PTI

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PASCAGOULA, Miss., Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has awarded $99,890 in grants to 26 schools and educational organizations in Mississippi and Alabama for science, technology, engineering and math initiatives.



The educators receiving these awards are innovators and strong advocates for science, technology, engineering and math, Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said. Ingalls remains committed to supporting programs that cultivate talent in these important fields.



Ingalls has awarded more than $1.2 million for local STEM-related educational projects over the past 13 years.



Establishing an early awareness of and interest in STEM is critical for our communities and our future workforce, said Edmond Hughes, Ingalls vice president of human resources and administration. We are pleased to have the opportunity to fund these projects.



2021 Ingalls Shipbuilding STEM grant recipients:



Bay Middle School (Bay St. Louis, Miss.): Students will use a drone to complete various design and multimedia assignments and gain hands-on experience with equipment that is used in numerous diverse fields. $3,500

Students will use a drone to complete various design and multimedia assignments and gain hands-on experience with equipment that is used in numerous diverse fields. $3,500 Central Elementary School (Pascagoula, Miss.): Students will participate in a weekly STEM challenge based on the StoryBook STEM curriculum to expand vocabulary, connect to mathematics and science, build on literacy skills and brainstorm ideas. $3,600

Students will participate in a weekly STEM challenge based on the StoryBook STEM curriculum to expand vocabulary, connect to mathematics and science, build on literacy skills and brainstorm ideas. $3,600 Dauphin Island Sea Lab (Dauphin Island, Ala.): A remotely operated vehicles (ROV) loaner kit program will be created for teachers so that ROVs can be checked out independently or in conjunction with a ROV virtual class. $5,000

A remotely operated vehicles (ROV) loaner kit program will be created for teachers so that ROVs can be checked out independently or in conjunction with a ROV virtual class. $5,000 DIberville High School (DIberville, Miss.): Students will have the opportunity to learn about various careers that use chemistry, and will each give a presentation on a chemistry-related career path to draw interest from the rest of the class. $2,251

Students will have the opportunity to learn about various careers that use chemistry, and will each give a presentation on a chemistry-related career path to draw interest from the rest of the class. $2,251 Gulfport High School (Gulfport, Miss.): 3D printers will allow students to develop CAD models and 3D print them while learning the engineering and design process. $4,798

3D printers will allow students to develop CAD models and 3D print them while learning the engineering and design process. $4,798 Lake Elementary School (Lake, Miss.): Through the purchase of iPads and technology and engineering kits, special education students will have the opportunity to express their inquisitiveness about science, technology, engineering and math while exploring how things are made. $4,127

Through the purchase of iPads and technology and engineering kits, special education students will have the opportunity to express their inquisitiveness about science, technology, engineering and math while exploring how things are made. $4,127 McGill-Toolen Catholic High School (Mobile, Ala.): Students will draw models on paper and scan them into a Glowforge 3D laser printer which can then cut the drawing into cardboard, foam, wood, plastic and more. $4,990

Students will draw models on paper and scan them into a Glowforge 3D laser printer which can then cut the drawing into cardboard, foam, wood, plastic and more. $4,990 Mississippi Council on Economic Education (Jackson, Miss.): The Stock Market Game is a virtual real-world math teaching tool that will be used to enrich students math curriculum by applying math in real world situations involving saving and investing. $4,950

The Stock Market Game is a virtual real-world math teaching tool that will be used to enrich students math curriculum by applying math in real world situations involving saving and investing. $4,950 Moss Point High School Career and Technical Education Center (Moss Point, Miss.): Nursing Skills Slim Kit and Intramuscular Injection Simulators will be used to help students experience sensory impairments both from the patient and the health care worker points of view in order to gain a sense of empathy and sensitivity to the challenges sensory impairments have on daily life. $5,000

Nursing Skills Slim Kit and Intramuscular Injection Simulators will be used to help students experience sensory impairments both from the patient and the health care worker points of view in order to gain a sense of empathy and sensitivity to the challenges sensory impairments have on daily life. $5,000 Ocean Springs Middle School (Ocean Springs, Miss.): Students will be paired together to research the importance of insulating pipes and think critically about how to efficiently insulate a PVC puzzle. They will gain hands-on experience learning directional cuts and logistics for fitting insulation around various angles. $4,034

Students will be paired together to research the importance of insulating pipes and think critically about how to efficiently insulate a PVC puzzle. They will gain hands-on experience learning directional cuts and logistics for fitting insulation around various angles. $4,034 Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School (Ocean Springs, Miss.): Students will use robots that are responsive to touch, obstacles, light, color and sound to compete in coding challenges. $2,700

Students will use robots that are responsive to touch, obstacles, light, color and sound to compete in coding challenges. $2,700 Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School (Ocean Springs, Miss.): Students will choose a house to create using their engineering skills, and will test to see if it can withstand being blown down. $1,567

Students will choose a house to create using their engineering skills, and will test to see if it can withstand being blown down. $1,567 Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School (Ocean Springs, Miss.): UNICEF Kid Power Bands will be utilized to empower students to make local and global impacts while developing 21 st century skills like collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking. $2,169

UNICEF Kid Power Bands will be utilized to empower students to make local and global impacts while developing 21 century skills like collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking. $2,169 Orange Grove Elementary School (Gulfport, Miss.): A 3D printer and 3D pens will be used by students to construct three-dimensional objects to satisfy at least four science standards that require the use of an engineering design process. $4,945

A 3D printer and 3D pens will be used by students to construct three-dimensional objects to satisfy at least four science standards that require the use of an engineering design process. $4,945 Pecan Park Elementary School (Ocean Springs, Miss.): Students will create suspension bridges, airplanes, vehicles and follow blueprints utilizing STEM kits. $3,831

Students will create suspension bridges, airplanes, vehicles and follow blueprints utilizing STEM kits. $3,831 Popps Ferry Elementary School (Biloxi, Miss.): Students will utilize hands-on learning of the coding and programming process through the incorporation of Sphero robots. $2,444

Students will utilize hands-on learning of the coding and programming process through the incorporation of Sphero robots. $2,444 St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School (Ocean Springs, Miss.): Students will utilize virtual headsets to create their own virtual reality expeditions and share panoramas from around the world. $2,392

Students will utilize virtual headsets to create their own virtual reality expeditions and share panoramas from around the world. $2,392 St. Martin High School (Ocean Springs, Miss.): A plasma CNC table and metal fabrication equipment will be utilized to bridge the gap between students designs, and working physical models. $4,432

A plasma CNC table and metal fabrication equipment will be utilized to bridge the gap between students designs, and working physical models. $4,432 St. Martin Middle School (Ocean Springs, Miss.): Students will work in teams and utilize a laser cutter to build a box with joints that interlock without any type of adhesive. $5,000

Students will work in teams and utilize a laser cutter to build a box with joints that interlock without any type of adhesive. $5,000 St. Patrick Catholic High School (Biloxi, Miss.): Students will learn computer-aided design, 3D fabrication of set models and digital video production in a virtual environment. $4,314

Students will learn computer-aided design, 3D fabrication of set models and digital video production in a virtual environment. $4,314 Saint Mary Catholic School (Mobile, Ala.): A greenhouse will be acquired and will serve as a tool for students to perform new tasks in the areas of biology, chemistry and physics. $5,000

A greenhouse will be acquired and will serve as a tool for students to perform new tasks in the areas of biology, chemistry and physics. $5,000 Treehouse Montessori School (Ocean Springs, Miss.): Students will create a virtual tour and podcast series focused on Mississippis natural history to share with other middle and high school students through a network of resource agencies and science educators. $3,417

Students will create a virtual tour and podcast series focused on Mississippis natural history to share with other middle and high school students through a network of resource agencies and science educators. $3,417 Vancleave Lower Elementary (Vancleave, Miss.): Materials will be purchased to construct a STEM station that will allow students to build different types of infrastructure such as the Statue of Liberty, pyramids, barns, playgrounds, bridges and different landforms. $531

Materials will be purchased to construct a STEM station that will allow students to build different types of infrastructure such as the Statue of Liberty, pyramids, barns, playgrounds, bridges and different landforms. $531 Vancleave Middle School (Vancleave, Miss.): Students will have the opportunity to code using robots and an application on an iPad to receive visual confirmation that their lines of code are correct and functioning properly. $4,955

Students will have the opportunity to code using robots and an application on an iPad to receive visual confirmation that their lines of code are correct and functioning properly. $4,955 Vancleave Middle School (Vancleave, Miss.): Virtual reality headsets will allow students to explore the inside of a cell, conduct virtual dissections, explore the planets and look at ecosystems in the ocean. $4,943

Virtual reality headsets will allow students to explore the inside of a cell, conduct virtual dissections, explore the planets and look at ecosystems in the ocean. $4,943 Vancleave Upper Elementary School (Vancleave, Miss.): Students will be introduced to robotics and coding to learn science technology, social studies and teamwork skills. $5,000

About Huntington Ingalls Industries

Huntington Ingalls Industries is Americas largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HIIs Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HIIs Technical Solutions division supports national security missions around the globe with unmanned systems, defense and federal solutions, and nuclear and environmental services. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs more than 42,000 people operating both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit:
In one of his first official acts, President Joe Biden planned Wednesday to return the United States to the worldwide fight to slow global warming and to launch a series of climate-friendly efforts that could transform how Americans drive and get their power.

``A cry for survival comes from the planet itself,'' Biden said in his inaugural address. ``A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear now.''

Biden was to sign an executive order rejoining the Paris climate accord within hours of taking the oath of office, fulfilling a campaign pledge. The move undoes the U.S. withdrawal ordered by predecessor Donald Trump, who belittled the science behind climate efforts, loosened regulations on heat-trapping oil, gas and coal emissions, and spurred oil and gas leasing in pristine Arctic tundra and other wilderness.

The Paris accord commits 195 countries and other signatories to come up with a goal to reduce carbon pollution and monitor and report their fossil fuel emissions. The United States is the world's No. 2 carbon emitter after China.

Biden's move will solidify political will globally, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.

``Not a single country in this world, however powerful, however resourceful one may be, can do it alone,'' said Ban, speaking at a briefing in the Netherlands for an upcoming Climate Adaptation Summit. ``We have to put all our hands on the deck. That is the lesson, very difficult lesson, which we have learned during last year,`` as Trump made good on his pledge to pull out of the global accord.

Biden also will use executive orders to start undoing other Trump climate rollbacks. He will order a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in what had been virgin Arctic wilderness, direct federal agencies to start looking at tougher mileage standards and other emission limits again, and revoke Trump's approval for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline.

Another first-day order directs agencies to consider the impact on climate, disadvantaged communities, and on future generations from any regulatory action that affects fossil fuel emissions, a new requirement. Human-caused climate change has been linked to worsening natural disasters, including wildfires, droughts, flooding and hurricanes.

However, there was no immediate word on when Biden would make good on another climate campaign pledge, one banning new oil and gas leasing on federal land.

After Biden notifies the U.N. by letter of his intention to rejoin the Paris accord, it would become effective in 30 days, U.N. spokesman Alex Saier said.

Rejoining the Paris accords could put the U.S. on track to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 40% to 50% by 2030, experts said.

``There's a lot we can do because we've left so much on the table over the last four years,`` said Kate Larsen, former deputy director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality under the Obama administration.

Biden has promised that the needed transformations of the U.S. transportation and power sectors, and other changes, will mean millions of jobs.

Opponents of the climate accord, including Republican lawmakers who supported Trump's withdrawal from it, have said it would mean higher gas prices and higher electricity prices _ even though wind and solar have become more affordable than coal, and competitive with natural gas, in generating electricity.

``The Paris climate agreement is based on the backward idea that the United States is a culprit here, when in reality the United States is the leading driver of climate solutions,'' said Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican.

Republican senators are expected to introduce legislation that would require Biden to submit the Paris plan to the Senate for ratification. It's not clear whether the narrowly divided Senate would have the two-thirds votes needed to ratify the agreement, which was never approved by Congress.

Supporters say congressional approval is not needed. Most of the pollution-reduction goals set by the agreement are voluntary.

The climate deal is based on each nation setting a goal for cutting carbon pollution by 2030. Other countries submitted theirs by last month. The U.S did not. Saier said America just needs to submit its goal some time before November climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland.

A longtime international goal, included in the Paris accord with an even more stringent target, is to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. The world has already warmed 1.2 degrees (2.2 degrees Celsius) since that time.

As of 2020, U.S. emissions were 24% below 2005 levels, but that reflected the extraordinary economic slowdown stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, said climate scientist Zeke Hausfather, energy and climate director for the Breakthrough Institute.

There are two big areas where climate policy deals with day-to-day American life. One is electricity generation, and the other is transportation.

There's been a quiet transformation, because of market forces that have made wind and solar cheaper than dirtier coal, toward cleaner fuels, and that's expected to continue so that eventually nearly all of the nation's power will be low or zero carbon, Larsen and other experts say.

What happens to cars, trucks and buses will be far more noticeable. Several experts foresee the majority of new cars purchased in 2030 being electric.

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WASHINGTON - Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy resigned Wednesday, he said in a letter to the military's largest branch, capping a term of tumultuous moments that ended with the unprecedented use of the National Guard at home.

His departure also comes amid questions about his role in readying National Guard troops to respond to the U.S. Capitol riot in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, and about whether delays contributed to the disastrous outcome. His responsibilities included overseeing the use of Guard members in the District.

McCarthy's resignation ends speculation about whether the Biden administration may have retained him for further service. McCarthy, a former Army Ranger who served in combat, was one of a handful of early Trump appointees to reach the end of the administration.

"When I was a young officer, I bought into an oath that I would never fail my comrades and continue to believe in that same oath today," he wrote in the letter.

The military's role and responsibility during the Capitol protest, and if delays of soldiers worsened the deadly incident, has come under intense scrutiny.

Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund told The Washington Post that law enforcement colleagues in Congress hesitated to deploy nearby National Guard members as throngs of rioters stormed the building, citing uneasiness about the images of soldiers guarding the halls of government.

In the aftermath, McCarthy told Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., that because local and congressional authorities didn't articulate additional needs ahead of the event, the D.C. Guard was not prepared for other contingencies such as the need to respond swiftly to an insurrection at the Capitol, according to notes on the call that Crow released.

McCarthy also said that because of a lack of coordination and preparation, there wasn't a functioning operations center at the Pentagon to manage the small Guard presence on the streets at the time, according to Crow.

McCarthy's legacy will remain mixed, defense analysts and military experts have said.

His efforts to modernize the force against foes such as China and Russia, and candid assessments about how the Army prioritizes costly programs, have won him praise at a time when defense budgets will remain flat.

But that focus was overshadowed last year by a wave of deaths and disappearances at Fort Hood that revealed systemic leadership failures at the Texas post. McCarthy fired or suspended 14 Fort Hood leaders at the installation following a review of the command there.

The reckoning came after the disappearance and death of Spec. Vanessa Guillen, who was killed by a fellow soldier on the installation in the spring. Her death, which drew attention from lawmakers, activists and celebrities, "shocked our conscience and brought attention to deeper problems," McCarthy said in December.

Critics also said McCarthy has not fully acknowledged the consequences of a mission he approved in June, in which two National Guard helicopters flew low over demonstrators gathered in D.C. to protest the police killing of George Floyd.

One of the helicopters, flying in what experts described as a show of force meant to disperse civilians, descended as low as 45 feet, The Washington Post estimated. An investigation into the incident was launched but has not been publicly released.

McCarthy also oversaw a tremendous activation of the National Guard in 2020 that spilled over into this year.

Troops deployed by the thousands for coronavirus-related missions, to help quell civil unrest and to help fight fierce wildfires that tore along the West Coast. It was the largest mobilization of the Guard since World War II.

More than 25,000 National Guard members mobilized to help protect President Joe Biden's inauguration.

John Whitley, head of Army financial management, will be the Army's acting secretary, the service said Wednesday, until the position is filled by the incoming administration.

- - -

The Washington Post's Paul Sonne and Missy Ryan contributed to this report.
A University of Louisiana Monroe professor has been shot dead by his father-in-law in a suspected murder-suicide, police say.

Joshua Comer, 39, died Sunday night following an alleged altercation with his wife's father, 68-year-old Jack Matthews, at the home they all shared in Mer Rouge.

Matthews then died by suicide, Morehouse Parish Sheriff Mike Tubbs told KLFY.com.

Sheriff Tubbs said the shooting occurred following an altercation but is not known why the two men may have argued.

Comer is survived by his wife - and Matthews' daughter - Cheyanne Comer. It is understood she was at the home, along with Matthews' wife when the incident occured.

Sheriff Tubbs told DailyMail.com: 'When deputies and MRPD arrived they located two females and Mr Comer in a bedroom with the door secured. Officers learned that Comer had been shot by Mr Matthews.

'We were advised by the females present that they heard another gunshot minutes after Matthews left the room. Deputies conducted a search of the residence and located Mr Matthews in another part of the house.

'He had died from a self inflicted gunshot wound.'

Joshua Comer, 39, pictured, died Sunday night following an alleged altercation with his wife's father, 68-year-old Jack Matthews, at a home in Mer Rouge

Comer is survived by his wife Cheyanne Comer. The couple is pictured

On a Facebook account believed to belong to Cheyanne she wrote Monday: 'I am in too much shock to want to see or talk to anyone right now. But thank you for the prayers and offers of help.'

DailyMail.com has contacted the University of Louisiana Monroe for comment.

The Mer Rouge Police Department and the Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office were called to reports of shots fired at 7:30pm Sunday. There they found the two men.

Both Cheyanne and her mom are understood to have been interviewed at the scene, The News Star reports.

The bodies of the two men will now undergo an autopsy.

Assistant professor of communication Comer began teaching at ULM in 2017, the university paper said.

Matthews is said to have owned a wholesale company.
Melania Trump Says Being Your First Lady Was My Greatest Honor in Final Farewell

First Lady Melania Trump gave a brief farewell speech at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before flying back to Florida together with her husband.

Being your first lady was my greatest honor. Thank you for your love and your support, Trump told a cheering crowd.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless you all. God bless your families. And God bless this beautiful nation. Thank you, she continued.

The 51-year-old Slovenian native exited the White House with her husband at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday, heading to President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach hours before President-elect Joe Biden would be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania make their way to board Marine One before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Shortly before the first lady gave her final farewell speech, President Trump described his wife as a woman of great grace and beauty and dignity and so popular with the people.

During the couples stop at Joint Base Andrews, the president also addressed a crowd of supporters, saying: We love you. We will be back in some form.

I will always fight for you. I will always be watching. I will be listening, he added.

Earlier this week, Melania Trump said in a farewell video to the nation released on Jan. 18 that serving in the role has been an honor.

My fellow Americans, it has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as first lady of the United States. I have been inspired by incredible Americans across our country who lift up our communities through their kindness and courage, goodness, and grace, she said. The past four years have been unforgettable.

First Lady Melania Trump speaks before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

As Donald and I conclude our time in the White House, I think of all the people I have taken home in my heart and their incredible stories of love, patriotism, and determination, the first lady continued.

Trump has focused on her Be Best initiative, which encourages children to reach their full potential. One component is trying to address the rise in bullying among kids. Another deals with the opioid epidemic, which has ravaged communities across the United States.

In a few short years, I have raised awareness of how to keep children safe online; we have made incredible progress on our nations drug epidemic and how it impacts the lives of newborns and families, and we have given a voice to our most vulnerable children in the foster care system. Internationally, Be Best has evolved into a platform that encourages world leaders to discuss issues impacting the lives of children and allows them to share solutions. It has been an honor to represent the American people abroad. I treasure each of my experiences and the inspiring people I have met along the way, she said.

A Farewell Message from First Lady Melania Trump pic.twitter.com/WfG1zg2mt4  Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) January 18, 2021

The first lady urged parents to teach their children to do their best, educating them about Americans who worked hard and sacrificed for the good of the country, and teaching them how to lead by example and care for those in their community.

The promise of this nation belongs to all of us. Do not lose sight of your integrity and values. Use every opportunity to show consideration for another person and build good habits into your daily lives, Trump said.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump descend Marine One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

In all circumstances, I ask every American to be an ambassador of Be Best. To focus on what unites us. To rise above what divides us. To always choose love over hatred, peace over violence, and others before yourself. Together, as one national family, we can continue to be the light of hope for future generations and carry on Americas legacy of raising our nation to greater heights through our spirit of courage, goodness, and faith, she continued.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Twelve National Guardsmen were removed from inauguration duties and sent home after security screenings to ensure that none of the troops were involved in extremist activity, according to the Department of Defense officials.

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a phone briefing that two were removed for inappropriate comments or texts, according to an NBC News report.

Hoffman added that they have two individuals that were identified as making inappropriate comments or texts.

Meanwhile, one was removed after fellow troops brought the member's comments to the attention of guard officers.

Hoffman said that the other pulled after an anonymous tip that they received.

The Pentagon spokesman refused to say what was the nature of the comments or if the comments or messages were related to far-right or similar extremist groups.

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said that extremist is not tolerated in any branch of the U.S. military.

The other National Guard members that were pulled out from the duty were removed due to domestic abuse, criminal investigations, and outstanding complaints, according to The Week report.

Hoffman added that U.S. law enforcement authorities were looking back at anything that could possibly flag in a criminal history check and anything that could come up in a database that is being scrubbed by their partners.

Hoffman noted that it is too early if the 12 members would be subjected to disciplinary action or if further probing should be done.

"Any reason that somebody's name is brought to the chain of command, they're being removed from the line," Hoffman was quoted.

Hokanson and other officials noted that most of the National Guard members are dedicated to protecting the United States.

Related story: Rep. Steve Cohen Says National Guard White Male Members Might Be a Threat





Security Concerns

The U.S. Secret Service is the lead agency managing the security inauguration plans. On Friday, the Defense Department deployed up to 25,000 National Guard members in Washington.

Lamont Ruffin, the chief deputy U.S. marshal for the District of Columbia, said his office is planning to use between 3,000 and 4,000 local law enforcement officers across the country, according to an NPR report.

Washington D.C. has also imposed a strict travel restriction across the city in preparation for the inauguration.

Metro is closing 13 rail station inside the security perimeter for the inauguration.

Statehouses across the country also intend to prepare for the increased threats of violent attacks to local government as well.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation field offices in Portland, Oregon; Louisiana; and Phoenix announced that agents are working with local law enforcement to monitor threats in the area.

Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen earlier said that white male service members of the National Guard could be a threat, according to a Breitbart News report.

Cohen cited former India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated by her won bodyguards. Cohen further suggested that any Trump supporters within the National Guard units would come under suspicion.

Cohen did not provide any supporting evidence for his allegations but explained how he would look for those who might be a potential threat, according to a Daily Mail report.

Related story: Up To 21,000 National Guard Troops To Go To Washington To Assist With Inaugural Security

NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QBE North America is proud to announce "Insuring Impact"it's 2021 QBE Foundation grant-giving program, which focuses on helping local communities build resilience, reduce inequalities and fight climate change.

"Together the devastating effects of COVID-19, natural disasters, and social injustice emphasize a critical need for increased community support," said Todd Jones, CEO of QBE North America and President of the QBE Foundation. "'Insuring Impact' exemplifies our dedication to create meaningful change and provide needed resources to help people and communities successfully achieve their ambitions."

The North America QBE Foundation strategy is aligned to a group-wide commitment to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a concentration on SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 13: Climate Action. The activities of the QBE Foundation combine its larger charitable partnerships, with local grants, employee volunteering, matching donations and in-kind giving to maximize impact.

Jones continued, "As an insurance company, we are uniquely placed to assist people in their times of need and our QBE Foundation initiatives reflect this."

2021 QBE Foundation "Insuring Impact" Grant Recipients

Cornerstone Partners

In 2021, QBE North America is focusing its philanthropic efforts and teaming up with two Cornerstone partners to make a deep impact on helping to nourish communities and make them more resilient overtime.

Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization will receive a $250,000 grant.

"Ending hunger in the United States requires an all-hands-on-deck approach," said Lauren Biedron, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. "We are grateful for QBE North America's increased commitment this year when the communities we help serve need it most."

Leading Cities, a nonprofit dedicated to make cities more resilient by sourcing, funding and connecting start-ups solving challenges faced by cities through an accelerator program and public private partnerships will receive $325,000 in funding.

"Cities are facing a global pandemic, sea level rise, and increased urbanization. Through the QBE AcceliCITY Resilience Challenge, QBE has been a global leader and partner to identify and accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions to increase environmental, infrastructure, and human resiliency in cities," said Michael Lake, President and CEO of Leading Cities.

Large Grant Partners

The company has also named six large grant partners for the year in alignment with its focus.

About QBE

QBE North America is global insurance leader focused on helping customers solve unique risks, so they can focus on what matters the most. Part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, QBE North America reported Gross Written Premiums in 2019 of $4.6 billion. QBE Insurance Group's 2019 results can be found at www.qbe.com . Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, QBE operates out of 27 countries around the globe, with a presence in every key insurance market. The North America division, headquartered in New York, conducts business through its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries. The actual terms and coverage for all lines of business are subject to the language of the policies as issued. QBE insurance companies are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best and "A+" by Standard & Poor's. Additional information can be found at www.qbe.com/us , or follow QBE North America on Twitter.

SOURCE QBE North America

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Michael B. Jordan is experiencing a career-high such as few other young actors have enjoyed. The talented star has worked in major film franchises and independent movies alike and has received acclaim for his ability to effortlessly sell any genre.

In 2020, Jordan was named as People Magazines Sexiest Man Alive, earning him even more fans. Still, even Jordans most devoted fans might not know one fun fact about the young star  the unique, fascinating story behind his middle name.

How did Michael B. Jordan become famous?

Michael B. Jordan | Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

RELATED: How Old is Michael B. Jordan?

Jordan was born in California in 1987. One of three children, Jordan and his family moved to Newark when he was very young, where he attended high school.

As a young child, Jordan worked as a child model, appearing in campaigns for major brands such as Toys R Us and Modells sporting goods. In 1999, Jordan began working as an actor, appearing in television shows like The Sopranos.

His first high-profile work was in the hit television show The Wire, which earned him critical recognition. That role led to other big supporting parts, such as in shows like All My Children and Cold Case.

He also appeared in several music videos during the early 2000s, all while developing his acting resume. Over the next several years, Jordan mainly worked in television  but by 2013, he was able to make the transition to film stardom with a prime role in Fruitvale Station.

Michael B. Jordans best roles

RELATED: Is Black Panther Star Michael B. Jordan The Next Superman?

After Jordan received positive press for his work in Fruitvale Station, he began looking for his next major film part. He experienced a brief career setback in 2015, when he appeared in the universally panned movie, The Fantastic Four.

Still, the bad reviews that the movie received didnt put a damper on Jordans career prospects for long, and later that same year, he made waves in the movie Creed, where he played fictional boxer Apollo Creeds young, troubled son. Jordan went on to reprise the role in a 2018 follow-up, Creed II.

Also in 2018, Jordan appeared in Black Panther, one of Marvels biggest blockbusters. Although he portrayed an emotionally conflicted villain, Jordan still became a fan-favorite, cementing his status as Hollywoods next it star.

What is Michael B. Jordans middle name?

RELATED: What Passion Drives Michael B. Jordan To Help People?

Jordan has remained humble, charming, and grateful during his ascent to stardom. The young star frequently makes headlines but doesnt let it go to his head.

Certainly, some of this could be attributed to his upbringing, but Jordans middle name could also be responsible for bringing him some luck as well. According to Popsugar, the B in Jordans middle name stands for Bakari, an African-inspired name that means noble promise.

These days, Jordan is still working hard on his craft, and can be seen next in the high-profile project Without Remorse, playing a Navy SEAL. While COVID-19 has delayed the release of the highly-anticipated film, theres no doubt that fans will be lining up to see Jordan in his latest venture, when it does hit theaters.

Jordans personal life is also looking up  the young star was recently linked to Lori Harvey, Steve Harveys daughter. The two have been going back and forth over Instagram in recent weeks, revealing their deeply personal names for each other, and thrilling fans with their sweet love story.

The future is bright for Jordan, an actor who has proven his talent again and again.
Until very recently, nearly any news out of the Canadian oil sands was certain to be a tale of woe. While Albertas oil and gas industry didnt suffer from lack of demand nor lack of supply, a major pipeline shortage left the industry unable to connect the two. This deficit in transportation infrastructure led to a glut in oil supply, which forced Canadian oil companies to sell their oil at a severe discount. All of this has caused the Canadian oil industry to lose tens of billions of profits per year. But the worst was yet to come. Back in what some are now calling Black April, when the West Texas Crude intermediate benchmark famously plunged below zero for the first time in history, ending April 20th at nearly negative 40 dollars, Canadian oil actually dipped below zero hours before its neighbors to the south.

Unlike in the United States Permian Basin, however, where the pain just keeps coming, it looks like Canadian oil is finally set to turn a new page. In recent weeks and months, news out of the oil sands has changed its tune, and the prognosis for the faltering industry is now one of cautious optimism. According to projections by BMO Capital Markets, Canadian oil prices are set to rise during 2021 thanks to a decrease in competition in crude supply to refineries on the United States Gulf Coast.

Mexican heavy crude exports are down, opening up the market for Canadas own heavy oil. Oil sands producers will benefit from less output of competing crude from Latin America as Petroleos Mexicanos expects to cut exports while Venezuelan supplies remain off-limits due to U.S. sanctions, Bloomerg reported back in October. Pemex, the Mexican state-owned oil company,  is forecasting a reduction of almost 70% in exports of its flagship heavy crude between 2021 and 2023.

Related: U.S. Oil Product Demand Is Set For A Biden Boost In 2021



But thats not the only good news for Alberta. In addition to this boon for Canadian oil, Wall Street is also warming up to the oil sands. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. are the latest firms to point out the industrys ability to generate healthy cash flow next year as a reason to buy stocks like Suncor Energy Inc., Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., and MEG Energy Corp. That follows similar reports from BofA Securities and BMO Capital Markets, World Oil reports.

While all of this bodes well for the long-suffering Canadian oil and gas industry, however, there are still some considerable obstacles for the sector. Perhaps the most considerable of these hurdles is the extreme dirtiness of the oil sands naturally occurring heavy crude bitumen. This thick, sludgy form of crude oil comes at a huge environmental cost. At a time that the world is leaning more heavily than ever into a global clean energy transition, this could be a major liability for Canada, especially if the country delivers on and enforces polluter pays principles.

A new study, however, shows that Canada is already making progress in bringing down the carbon footprint of the Albertan oil and gas industry. Using internal company data from three Albertan oil sands operations, researchers from the University of Calgary, University of Toronto and Stanford University found that these companies greenhouse gas emissions are on the decline. Current emissions at the three sites are 14 percent to 35 percent lower than reported in previous studies, The Globe and Mail reported last week, and new technologies could further decrease those upstream emissions by 14 percent to 19 percent compared with current technology.

That being said, the oil sands ecological footprint will have to continue to diminish, and to do so at a brisk pace, if Canada has any hope of meeting the nations goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. This study is therefore not an exoneration or a permission slip for increasing extraction, but an indication that Canada needs to double down on its decarbonization process.



By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

In Oregon, which went decisively for Joe Biden over Donald Trump in 2020, a huge number of voters and many state leaders are preparing to watch and celebrate the inauguration of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Wednesday morning.

In the Portland area, many people are planning to connect virtually to mark the mornings festivities through social events large and small, since gathering with large groups of people from other households is still risky given the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Portland resident Wendy Schumer plans to hold a sparkling wine toast with friends across the country and around the globe over Zoom while they all watch the inauguration. Since Biden and Harris are Democrats, Schumer stocked up on a blue Italian sparkling wine.

Ive got friends from Norway watching, friends from Australia watching, Ive got friends in Atlanta, friends from California, friends from Texas, Schumer said. And were all gonna cheer and toast  Everybodys pretty excited about it.

In November, Oregonians overwhelmingly voted to reject Trump and usher in a Democratic successor. Statewide, Biden won 1.34 million votes to Trumps 958,000. Biden took 56.5% of the vote in a race with five candidates on the Oregon ballot. Trump landed 40%.

The Portland metro area is even hungrier for Biden to take over. In the three-county area, 69% of voters chose Biden and just 28% voted for the sitting president.

Still, a small segment of Oregons population turned out in Salem to demonstrate against the election result at the same time extremist Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Those events and intelligence gathered by law enforcement caused state leaders to dramatically increase security and temporarily shut down meetings at the state Capitol and nearby public buildings this week.

Turnout from Oregonians unhappy about Bidens imminent taking of office at protests this weekend was miniscule. Still, as many as a million Oregonians wont be delighted to see Biden and Harris sworn in, with the policy and personnel changes that is likely to trigger. The vast majority of Oregonians who voted for Trump accept, however, the peaceful transfer of power that is the nations longstanding tradition.

Oregons new Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, a Democrat, said that ensuring the safety of her staff took precedence in recent days. But, she said, Now that my team is safe, I am determined to enjoy the celebration of this historic day with my family.

My kitchen is stocked with blueberries, strawberries and white chocolate chips for red, white, and blue pancakes for breakfast, wrote Fagan, a mother of two young children, in an emailed statement. We will huddle around the TV and cherish the moment when Kamala Harris takes the oath as first woman vice president. It will be extra special to witness that moment with my aunt and my daughter  the strong woman who helped raise me and the one I am raising myself. My family, like millions of others across our nation, will breathe a collective sigh of relief when Joe Biden takes the oath of office and restores decency and competence to the office of the Presidency.

Fagan will also participate in the Democratic Party of Oregons inauguration party, which will be streamed on the partys Facebook page and at dpo.org/watch starting at 4:45 p.m. Sen. Ron Wyden, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Rep. Peter DeFazio, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and state Treasurer Tobias Read also plan to participate, according to Tim McCann with the Democratic Party of Oregon.

Gov. Kate Brown, also a Democrat, will watch Biden and Harris inauguration but has no plan to celebrate, a spokesperson said last week.

With the state in critical stages of our vaccination and pandemic response efforts, Gov. Browns focus is on addressing the most pressing needs of Oregon children, families, and businesses, Deputy Communications Director Charles Boyle wrote in an email. She will be keeping to her work schedule on Inauguration Day and will watch from Oregon.

In Portland, the new presidents inauguration is not all political insiders will be toasting Wednesday. The Rhythm Nation Inauguration Celebration will have an hourlong public policy panel followed by a live streamed dance party with DJs at Holocene bar and night club. In addition to the inauguration, the event will celebrate several new local laws brought about by citizen initiatives: the statewide decriminalization of small amounts of illicit drugs, legalization of psilocybin therapy and the Multnomah County universal preschool tax measure.

Plenty of Oregonians will doubtless celebrate in low-key and personal ways. Patty Vice, a local reader, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that she will be at the beach watching the inauguration, with treats and adult beverages in hand.

Communities of faith also plan to come together virtually to mark the day. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland is holding a 5:30 p.m. virtual service to celebrate the peaceful transition of power, by reading, among other works, the poetry of Walt Whitman, Maya Angelou and Emma Lazarus and singing Dolly Partons Light of a Clear Blue Morning.

Since ancient times, the Church has gathered to offer prayers for our civic leaders, as the needs and concerns of the world are lifted up and offered to God, the Cathedrals clergy wrote in the order of service. The inauguration of the president of the United States is a particularly significant moment which draws the attention of the citizens of this land.

-- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
President Joe Biden has taken the oath of office in Washington, D.C., officially becoming the 46th president of the United States of America  and the first Syracuse University alumnus to hold the nations highest office.

Biden was sworn in Wednesday in an Inauguration Day ceremony attended by former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Former President Donald Trump left the White House earlier Wednesday morning and did not stay for the transition.

Biden was sworn in using a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was used during his swearing-in as vice president in 2009 and 2013. The 5-inch thick Bible, which could be seen on a table next to Bidens chair on the dais, has a Celtic cross on its cover and was also used each time he was sworn in as a U.S. senator.

Biden, a 1968 graduate of SUs College of Law, has a long history of ties to Syracuse and Central New York. Biden married his first wife Neilia Hunter, an Auburn, N.Y., native and a Syracuse University homecoming queen, in 1966; the couple lived on Stinard Avenue in Syracuse while Biden attended SUs law school and she taught at the old Bellevue Heights School in the city.

Neilia and the couples infant daughter, Naomi, died in an automobile accident in Delaware as she took the kids to pick out a Christmas tree in 1972. Biden had just been elected to the U.S. Senate and was in Washington, D.C., setting up his new office at the time of the crash, which seriously injured sons Hunter and Beau, then 3 and 4.

Biden maintained his ties to Syracuse throughout his political career as he served 36 years as a U.S. senator from Delaware and two terms as VP under President Barack Obama. He returned to visit his late wifes family or Syracuse University dozens of times; gave commencement addresses and other speeches five times at SU; and his son Beau, who died in 2015, also graduated from Syracuses law school.

Bidens ties to Central New York are the strongest since President Grover Cleveland, who spent much of his childhood living in Fayetteville, N.Y. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, from 1884 to 1888, and from 1892 to 1896.

I know these are dark times. But theres always light, he said in an emotional speech Tuesday at the Major Joseph R. Beau Biden III National Guard Center in Wilmington, Delaware. When I came home after graduating from Delaware and then going on to law school in Syracuse, I came home after law school to Wilmington, to our county. And it had gone dark. Dr. (Martin Luther) King was assassinated. Wilmington had been in flames. The National Guard patrolled the streets. That turmoil inspired me to become a public defender: A step I never anticipated would lead me towards this improbable journey.

Kamala Harris also made history Wednesday, becoming the first woman to be vice president. The former California senator is also the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold the VP role.

When 12 years ago, I was waiting at the train station in Wilmington for a Black man to pick me up on our way to Washington where we were sworn in as president and vice president of the United States of America. And here we are today, Biden said Tuesday. My family and I are about to return to Washington to meet a Black woman of South Asian descent to be sworn in as president and vice president of the United States.

75 The Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C. 2021

Joe Biden shouts out Syracuse in emotional speech before inauguration

John Katkos guest at Biden inauguration: A Coleman who runs an Irish pub

Syracuse University grad named chief of staff for Bidens press office

Joe Bidens former Syracuse neighborhood celebrates
Donald Trump has just departed the White House for the last time as US president before his successor President-elect Joe Biden will take the oath of office.



Just after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Trump was filmed with his wife Melania boarding a helicopter to a ceremonial send-off at Joint Base Andrews for his final day in office, becoming the first outgoing president for 152 years not to attend the inauguration of an incoming President.



The couple will speak with gathered supporters before boarding Air Force One for the last time as president, en route to his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida.



Watch the video below.













View this post on Instagram



A post shared by BBC News Pidgin (@bbcnewspidgin)



















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 fossil starfish unearthed in Morocco that dates back 480 million years is a 'missing link' between modern day crinoids and their ancestors, a study has reported.

Experts from Cambridge said that the fossil  uncovered from within the so-called Fezouata shale of the Anti-Atlas mountain range  is the oldest-known starfish.

It dates back to a period in Earth's history  the so-called Ordovician Biodiversification Event  when the life suddenly expanded.

The previous contender for the oldest starfish specimen on record was 50 million years younger, the researchers said.

Given the scientific name 'Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis', the ancient species has an intricate design, with feathery arms still visible in its fossil specimens.

The beautifully-preserved remains will allow palaeontologists to map out the new species' body in detail  and shine a light on how starfish evolved.

A fossil starfish (pictured) unearthed in Morocco that dates back 480 million years is a 'missing link' between modern day crinoids and their ancestors, a study has reported

'Finding this missing link to their ancestors is incredibly exciting,' said evolutionary palaeoecologist Aaron Hunter of the University of Cambridge.

'If you went back in time and put your head under the sea in the Ordovician, then you wouldn't recognise any of the marine organisms  except the starfish, they are one of the first modern animals.'

According to the researchers, C. fezouataensis lacks around 60 per cent of the features of a modern starfish's body plan  looking instead like a hybrid between a starfish and a crinoid, or 'sea lily'.

Sea lilies are wavy-armed filter-feeders that resemble plants in that they are attached to the seabed via a cylindrical 'stem'.

'The level of detail in the fossil is amazing  its structure is so complex that it took us a while to unravel its significance,' said Dr Hunter.

In their study, Dr Hunter and his colleague Javier Ortega-Hernandez  previously also of Cambridge, now based at Harvard University in the US  examined a catalogue of hundreds of starfish-like animals alongside C. fezouataensis.

They indexed all of their bodily features in order to assess how the fossil species was related to other members of the 'echinoderm' family  a diverse group including sea cucumbers and starfish.

Like most modern species, the fossil has a five-fold symmetry  but this ancestral form had broad arms that had almost a pentagonal outline.

The team plan to expand their work in search of other early echinoderms.

Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis dates back to a period in Earth's history  the so-called Ordovician Biodiversification Event  when the life suddenly expanded

According to the researchers, C. fezouataensis lacks around 60 per cent of the features of a modern starfish's body plan  looking instead like a hybrid between a starfish and a 'sea lily'

'One thing we hope to answer in the future is why starfish developed their five arms,' commented Dr Hunter.

'It seems to be a stable shape for them to adopt  but we don't yet know why.'

'We still need to keep searching for the fossil that gives us that particular connection  but by going right back to the early ancestors like Cantabrigiaster, we are getting closer to that answer.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Biology Letters.

'Finding this missing link to their ancestors is incredibly exciting,' said evolutionary palaeoecologist Aaron Hunter of the University of Cambridge. Pictured, researchers hunt for starfish fossils in the Fezouata shale (left) of the Anti-Atlas mountains (right)
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States of America on Wednesday.

Since 1937, January 20, remains the date for swearing-in ceremonies for all American Presidents except if it falls on a Sunday.

The most important part of the inauguration is the administration of oath of office to the President, usually performed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Mr Biden took the oath of office using his 127-year-old family bible.

Consequent upon the inauguration, which is quite unprecedented going by the heavy presence of security personnel  25,000 National Guards troops in Washington DC  Mr Biden, 78, becomes the 46th President of the U.S.

Mr Biden, a former senator and ex-VP to former President Barack Obama, is the oldest President to enter the White House as a first termer in office.

He is also the second Catholic to be elected as President after J. F Kennedy. Incidentally, Mr Biden used the same church as Mr Kennedy for his inauguration service.

Mr Biden, from Delaware, succeeds Donald Trump whose four-year reign came to a turbulent end when mob inspired by his tweets invaded the Capitol Building on January 6 to prevent the American Congress from certifying the electoral victory of Mr Biden.

For his ignoble actions in inciting the mob, Mr Trump was impeached again, for the second time, by the Congress, though the Senate could not debate his second impeachment before the expiration of his tenure.

Also, social media giants  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, blocked Mr Trump indefinitely from using their platforms to incite his thugs to unleash violence.

While delivering his inaugural address, Mr Biden, a Democrat, pledged to unite the American people. I will be a President for all Americans, he said.

Similarly, Ms Harris, the first female VP ever produced in the history of the U.S and first person of colour, was also sworn in.

As VP, Ms Harris will also preside over the American Senate whenever important votes are to be decided.

Prior to her swearing, Ms Harris, an attorney, who was elected senator in 2016, resigned from her seat as senator representing California.

California Governor has already nominated her replacement.

Dignitaries at the inauguration.

Former Presidents W. Bush, Bill Clinton and their wives, in keeping with tradition, attended the swearing-in ceremonies.

Speaker of the Congress, Nancy Pelosi, and other top Congressional lawmakers were also in attendance.

Breaking away from his principal, Vice President, Mike Pence, attended the inauguration.

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Trump, Melania absent

True to his vow not to attend the swearing in ceremony, Mr Trump and his wife stayed away from the inauguration venue.

Mr Trumps absence is neither unusual nor historic. Some five outgoing presidents had skipped the inauguration of their successors for myriad reasons in the past.

Meanwhile, in 2017, despite differences in political affiliation and ideology, Mr Obama and his wife attended the inauguration of Mr Trump as the 45th President of the U.S.

Mr Trumps absence at the inauguration may not be unconnected with his claim that the November 2020 presidential election was rigged against him, a claim that could not be proved.
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A judge, Vincent Nwanchor of Ebonyi State High Court on Wednesday recused himself from the suit filed by the dissolved State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging its dissolution by the partys national leadership.

It was the third time in a row a judge will recuse himself from the case.

Elvis Ngene and the state Chief Judge, Justice Anslem Nwigwe, had earlier recused themselves from the matter some weeks ago.

The suit followed the dissolution of the Onyekachi Nwaebonyi-led state executive by the national leadership of the party in the wake of Governor David Umahis defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.

The judge was to rule, January 18, on an interlocutory application filed by the plaintiff but adjourned it to January 20 following an application by counsel to the defendants, Mudi Erenede, who had filed an appeal on the jurisdiction of the State High court.

At the resumed sitting, Mr Erenede filed another application, asking the judge to recuse himself on grounds that he is a brother to the Deputy Governor of the state, Kelechi Igwe, who is an interested party in the suit.

The lawyer said the judge failed to protect him when counsel to Mr Nwaebonyi threatened to slap him.

After listening to the arguments, Mr Nwanchor ruled that he could not deny the fact that he is of the same community as the deputy governor and therefore recused himself in order to protect the integrity of the court.

He, however, dismissed claims that he did not protect counsel to the defendants, noting that courts intervention during the face-off between the two counsels was corroborated by other lawyers who were present in the court.
January 20, 2021





Online trends appear that there is continuous interest in casino games. This is anticipated as accessibility of mobile casino apps carrying to grow globally especially in the countries including United Kingdom, United States, Italy and China. Now immense techs are used to boost online gambling as it is becoming more famous and attracts players in large numbers.







As most gamblers started to plump for mobile gaming above and getting habitual to play their favorite games on mobile devices, the gambling industry continually invests in refining the platforms. There are five tech innovations that are bound to unconditionally swapping the mobile casino industry and players' experiences.

Cloud gaming technology

In a few years, cloud gaming has made its smudge. It has pinched more audience and attention to the online gaming industry. Before, gamblers need to install a mobile casino app to attain the accessibility to mobile games. Now it has changed due to this unique gaming technology.

Cloud services provide players with an approach to more games without installing any app on their mobile devices. Entire requirement for games is to be kept stored on the internet. Thus, no storage of mobile devices required to play them.

Virtual reality gaming

The virtual reality is anticipated to advance enormously in the coming future. Currently, this Immersive technology has made online gaming more exciting and interactive. Although, almost all VR headsets and softwares are non economical, players still have some reasonable gears.

It allows the users to anchorage the present adoption and consolidation of VT mobile gaming into numerous online casinos and connect to the virtual world through 3V slots and thrilling card games. Tremendously, Virtual reality encourages the assemblage of gaming devices. Also, through mobile gamer's ring, you can be facilitated to play games on your PC on laptops.

Cryptocurrency casinos

Online casinos have approved the cryptocurrency as a retainer paying method. Therefore, most creditable casinos in the United States, UK and other countries are using cryptocurrency including Ethereum, Bitcoin and more. Accepting this method of payment manifests how pliable the casino is and users who value the secure privacy can take benefit of this service.

Cryptocurrency holds the Blockchain technology. Mainly, it keeps all records of transactions made through digital currency. On and all transactions are guarded with cryptocurrency in a decentralized order. Consequently, there is no possibility of fraud and helps to reduce uncomfortability of players.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence has consistently found its course of actions in our routine axtants. Google (News - Alert) and more search engines highly hand on Artificial Intelligence to adjoin their users requirements through personalizing services and ads. For example, a streaming giant known as Netflix completely depends on Artificial Intelligence for its movie recommended directions and other services.

Also, many firms enlist the Artificial Intelligence system to implement services to their clients. They engaged chatbots or mobile virtual assistants as customer services personnel, in result players are facilitated with immediate and quick responses to their interrogations.

Artificial intelligence clears up the problem of paying high wages for customer service staff of the casinos. Consequently, it provides a high quality assistance without provoking much expanses. It is expected for AI to ameliorate the mobile gaming industry substantially.

Live-play mobile casino trends

In this pandemic situation, if you crave to join the actual casino, then you can join it online through a live-play mobile casino. These live to be courseed by the player. Remarkably, the simulated environment takes the player to the actual casinos through live croupiers drop anchoring the play.

When we come to talk about online gambling trends, the UK and US actually lead to all. Now, there are just a few online gambling trends that work with unique online gaming technology. But in coming years, more innovations and trends will step in Live casinos and gambling.
Police called to reports of an illegal 'rave' in Essex arrived to discover queues of pensioners patiently waiting for their Covid jabs.

Three police cars rushed to the Essex Freemasons' Saxon Hall in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, after worried locals reportedly raised the alarm over 'an illegal party'.

But instead of raving revellers, officers found dozens of 80 and 90 year olds queuing for their vaccine shots.

The officers quickly realised the tip off was false and helped manage traffic at the busy vaccination centre.

Three police cars rushed to the Essex Freemasons' Saxon Hall in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, (pictured) after worried locals raised the alarm over 'an illegal party'

The concerned calls from worried neighbours follow a number of illegal parties hosted in Essex.

The 500-year-old Grade II listed All Saints Church in East Horndon was trashed during an unlicensed New Year's Eve rave.

Organisers of the event set up a bar and DJ decks inside the church and hired Portaloos for partygoers.

Three people were arrested and Essex Police said officers had been threatened and had objects thrown at them.

Police in Essex alone issued 18,000 worth of fines over New Year celebrations, breaking up events that included a house party with 100 people attending and a fire dancer performing for crowds.

Dennis Baum, chairman of Saxon Hall, witnessed the bizarre confusion over the vaccination centre mistaken for a rave on Friday.

He said: 'It was really funny when the police arrived as they had been notified that there was a 'rave' taking place at Saxon Hall - only to find 80 and 90 year-olds on wheelchairs, zimmer frames and walking sticks, patiently queueing for their vaccinations.

But when police arrived they instead found scores of penioners queueing for their Covid jabs at the vaccination centre. Pictured: Pensioners previously given the vaccine at Basildon University Hospital, in Essex

'Grumpy old men and grumpy old women were in abundance. Nevertheless, as a balancing act many more very appreciative people couldn't have been more grateful to receive the vaccine and to Saxon Hall and the Freemasons for facilitating it.'

The police quickly realised the mistake and offered assistance with traffic problems.

Met Police chief Cressida Dick says public should report 'persistent' flouters for having house parties and breaking rules Britain's most senior police officer has urged the public to report 'persistent' Covid rule flouters to police. Met Police chief Dame Cressida Dick revealed police in London are receiving 'hundreds of calls a day' from concerned people reporting their neighbours for flouting lockdown restrictions. She said there is a 'small minority' of people failing to comply with the national lockdown with people still holding house parties, and keeping restaurants, pubs and cafes open despite the huge number of daily Covid cases and deaths. Speaking on an LBC radio phone-in, Dame Cressida said: 'The last thing I'm going to say on national radio is everyone should be shopping everybody. I don't think that. 'What I do think is, if you do have concerns that somebody is persistently not complying with the restrictions, with the regulations, then, yeah, you should talk to us. 'If you feel comfortable to do so, then talk to us.' Advertisement

Mr Baum added: 'The police left but then came back in the afternoon to help. The first patient arrived at 7.10am for an 8.30am appointment.

'The Astra-Zeneca vaccine was expected, but the Pfizer one arrived but not until 9.10am and then not in enough quantity - so the congestion commenced, and then got worse when they ran out of vaccine and there was an hour's delay in getting more.

'It was absolute chaos and very cold. The car park became choc-a-bloc with 80 year-old-plus drivers.'

The Queensway surgery in Southend organised the vaccination centre on behalf of eight GP surgeries in the borough.

The confusion over the gathering comes amid comments from Britain's most senior police officer, Dame Cressida Dick, that people should report 'persistent' rule flouters.

The Met Police Chief said there was still a 'small minority' ignoring the lockdown restrictions.

Her comments came on the day that Britain recorded it's highest ever death toll of the pandemic so far.

The number getting the jab fell for the third day in a row on Monday when 204,000 were vaccinated, compared to 324,000 on Friday.

This was despite cases rising, with another 33,355 new infections announced.

The deadliest day on record saw 1,610 new Covid victims, care home fatalities double and vaccinations slump again.

She revealed the force in London is receiving 'hundreds of calls a day' from concerned people reporting their neighbours for flouting lockdown restrictions.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: 'As the good public of Essex know, where we receive reports of people clearly and flagrantly breaking the rules we will respond, but we're also available to help the community when needed.

'Upon receiving reports of congestion at the vaccination centre, a unit responded to offer help with traffic management, and returned later that day to check that everything was progressing smoothly for those getting their jabs.

'No-one wants to see all of our communities getting the jab and being protected more than us at Essex Police, particularly our elderly and vulnerable communities and we will do all we can to support that.'
A desperate search is underway to find a missing teenager who failed to resurface after jumping from a rock face into water with several other children.

Emergency crews were called to Kentlyn Basin, in Sydneys south west, around 2.40pm on Wednesday following reports of a suspected drowning.

Five NSW Ambulance paramedic crews are on scene and rescue helicopter has been called in to find teenager, believed to be a 15-year-old boy.

Emergency crews are searching for a missing teenager who failed to resurface after jumping from rocks into water at Kentlyn Basin, in Sydney's southwest, on Wednesday afternoon

Police have been told four teenagers entered the water and only three resurfaced.

Witnesses contacted emergency services and officers from Campbelltown City Police Area Command attended and commenced a search.

Police have set up a crime scene and their divers are scouring the water.

Kentlyn Basin is a secluded waterhole nestled in the Georges River Nature Reserve in the Campbelltown area.

More to come.
Some Galaxy S21 units only support NFC terminals for Samsung Pay, MST is getting phased out

Some Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra units do not support MST for Samsung Pay. It looks like availability of the feature varies by country  some get it, others do not, and not in a way that makes much sense.

MST allows the phone to work with point of sale terminals that only support old-school magnetic stripe cards. This is a big deal in the US where such terminals are quite common, less so in regions where NFC terminals are abundant.

Unfortunately, the S21 phones sold in the US are in the group that does not have MST. Phones sold in the UK do have it. Is this because of the different chipsets (Snapdragon in the US, Exynos in Europe)?

That doesnt seem to be the case. The spec sheets from the French, Italian and German press releases make no mention of MST. The Dutch one does list MST, as does the Polish, Russian and Indian press releases.

Here is Samsungs statement on the matter when asked by XDA:

Due to the rapid adoption of near field communication (NFC) technology by consumers and businesses, beginning with devices launched in 2021, Samsung Pay will focus its support on NFC transactions, across the Galaxy portfolio. While future devices will no longer include magnetic stripe technology (MST), customers with previous, compatible Galaxy devices will be able to continue using Samsung Pay, including MST.

MST was introduced with the Galaxy S6 in 2015 and has been a staple of high-end Galaxys ever since. Now it has one foot out the door.

Source
Coal mining will continue to generate wealth for Australians for decades to come, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared in a new statement fending off calls to phase out fossil fuels and toughen action on climate change.

Mr Morrison backed the industry during a visit to regional Queensland and said he was willing to visit a coal mine even though such a tour hasnt been on my schedule since he became Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wears a hard hat and face mask during a visit to South32 Cannington Mine in McKinlay, Queensland on Wednesday. Credit:AAP

But he ruled out government subsidies for coal mines and said mining workers knew that things change over time without elaborating on what those changes might be.

These mines have got, you know, 10, 20, 30 years to run, Mr Morrison said of coal mining during a media appearance in McKinlay, a Queensland town east of Mount Isa.
(TNS)  The sponsor of an aerial surveillance proposal at the Board of Aldermen says he's making changes at Mayor Lyda Krewson's request and hopes that indicates she'll sign his bill if it is passed.Alderman Tom Oldenburg, D-16th Ward, said Monday that the mayor is adamant that the Ohio company flying the video-taking aircraft up to 18 hours daily wouldn't get direct access to existing street cameras owned by the city and neighborhood groups.Oldenburg said Krewson also wanted a contract shorter than the three-year length called for in his bill. "We agreed to 18 months, with a city option for another 18 months," he said.He added that the mayor wants stronger wording requiring that the system be paid for entirely by private donors, something he says the bill already does."It's a strong signal she's weighing in," Oldenburg said of his meeting last week with the mayor.Oldenburg said she told him she wouldn't sign his bill "unless they're in there," referring to the proposed amendments. However, he said she stopped short of committing to sign the measure even if they're added and passed.Krewson's spokesman, Jacob Long, confirmed that the mayor and aides met with Oldenburg about "our reservations," including the need for more limits on the company, Persistent Surveillance Systems.Long also said she made no commitments to signing anything."The administration doesn't support PSS having a direct link to tap into real-time crime data (from cameras) that the police department uses," Long said. He said he didn't have details on what else was discussed.Oldenburg last month introduced the bill directing Krewson or her successor as mayor to contract with the company to help the city stem a surge of violent crime.He said he did so to force the issue after no contract was worked out after a nonbinding resolution passed by aldermen last summer urging the administration to negotiate a trial deal with the firm.Krewson's staff previously said the mayor had concerns about privacy issues and the effectiveness of the company's technology, which was tried out in Baltimore for six months last year. Work is underway on a report on the Baltimore pilot project.Oldenburg said if Krewson voluntarily agrees to contract with the company, that would make moot her attorney's position that aldermen don't have legal authority to require that the contract be signed.Meanwhile, two candidates running to succeed Krewson as mayor  City Treasurer Tishaura Jones and Alderman Cara Spencer  are opposing the spy plane proposal."We don't need to be bringing tools of war of any kind to north St. Louis to further traumatize our children," Jones said in an online debate Sunday.Spencer, D-20th Ward, said in the debate that the proposal "should cause us all great concern"  in part because of a lack of data proving the planes' effectiveness cutting crime.The two also cited civil liberties concerns and said they supported a separate pending bill to regulate the city's existing surveillance cameras and any new ones in the future.Another mayoral candidate, Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, voted last summer for the aldermanic resolution but has yet to take a position on Oldenburg's bill.Reed spokeswoman Mary Goodman said Monday that "he's open to anything that would help get shooters off the streets" but wants to review Oldenburg's revised measure.A fourth mayoral candidate, utility executive Andrew Jones, couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
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Joe Biden, in his maiden address to the nation soon after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, would deliver a forward-looking speech built around the theme of unity, advisors close to the President-elect said.

According to the advisors, in his first moments after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts after the clock strikes 12 noon (local time) at the West Front of the Capitol, Biden will speak about the need to bring the country together during an unprecedented moment of crisis.

He will reach out to all Americans, and call on every citizen to be part of meeting the extraordinary challenges facing fellow Americans, his advisors said Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.

Biden's remarks will be a forward-looking vision for his presidency while addressing the moment we are living in as a country. The speech is built around the theme of unity, said the advisors who were not authorized to speak to the press.

The speech is likely to last between 20 and 30 minutes. The theme of the speech is America United.

As the President-elect would often say on the campaign trail, there is nothing this country cannot do when we do it together, the advisors said.

Notably, Biden's speech writer is Indian American Vinay Reddy. Raised in Dayton, Ohio, Reddy was the chief speech writer to Biden during his second term as the vice president of the US from 2013 to 2017. He is the first ever Indian American to be appointed as a presidential speech writer.

According to The Wall Street Journal, people familiar with his plans said Biden has been drafting the speech since the start of his presidential transition in November. Aides have said his speech will be in keeping with the major themes of his campaign, including unity, bipartisanship and optimism, the daily noted.

He wants to use the moment to call Americans to unity, incoming Press Secretary Jen Psaki was quoted as saying by The Wall Street Journal.

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

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 06:39:54|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Hours after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, Biden signed in the Oval Office an executive order that returns his country back to the Paris Agreement on climate change, reversing his predecessor Donald Trump's decision to abandon the deal. Enditem


President-elect Joe Biden plans to sign many executive orders and to propose legislation to Congress in the early days of his administration.

The actions are widely considered an attempt to cancel many of the main policies from the administration of President Donald Trump.

Many of the Biden proposals center around three issues: the coronavirus health crisis and its economic results, climate change and immigration. These are some of the promises Biden has made for changes he wants to carry out mainly in his first 100 days in office.

COVID-19 measures

Last week, Biden proposed spending $1.9 trillion on measures to provide vaccines and economic aid to Americans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement on his plan, Biden set a goal of giving out 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office. He said he would give billions of dollars to speed up vaccination efforts.

Biden also said he would place a requirement to wear a face covering on all federal property and airplanes and buses traveling between the states.

Other measures include assistance with student loan payments and extending the ban on forced removal of those who cannot pay rent.

Biden said he will direct federal agencies to take immediate action to provide economic aid to families affected by the health crisis.

In addition, the United States would return to the World Health Organization (WHO). Last year, the Trump administration withdrew from the United Nations health agency saying it had failed during the coronavirus health crisis. The U.S. is the biggest donor to the WHO.

Climate warming

The president-elect has promised to ban new oil and gas permits on public lands and waters. That would include the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge which was opened by the Trump administration.

In addition to that move, Biden has promised to cancel permission for the operation of a Keystone XL pipeline that would send Canadian oil to the United States.

Also, Biden has said many times that he would return the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement. That deal, signed in 2016, places limits on the release of carbon gasses by developed nations. Trump campaigned in 2016 saying he would pull out of the deal. Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal within months of taking office.

Other environmental measures would include again placing restrictions on the carbon gas methane released by the oil industry. Biden has said he will use government buying power to make properties more dependent on energy that comes from wind, solar or other sources considered clean. He has said the government also will buy vehicles that do not release any carbon gasses.

Immigration and citizenship

Biden has said he would send to Congress legislation that would legalize millions of migrants living illegally in the United States. He also has stated his support for a program to protect Dreamers. Dreamers are people who came to the country as children, but do not have legal permission to be in the country. The program has faced many legal disputes because it was not created by Congress.

In other decisions, Biden has promised that he would change a U.S. policy that separates adults from children when they are caught entering the country illegally.

Restrictions on those seeking asylum in the United States would be lifted. These include requiring migrants passing through Guatemala and Mexico to first seek asylum in those countries before requesting it in the U.S.

In addition to immigration measures Biden would end Trumps National Emergency declaration which permitted him to use federal money to put a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico.

Biden also said he would cancel the ban on almost all travel from some Muslim-majority countries with high levels of terror activity put in place by the Trump administration.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Jarrett Renshaw reported this story for Reuters News Agency. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

rent n. an amount of money a person pays to use property that they do not own but wish to use

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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
In just a few more hours, the United States will get its new President and Vice President. Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the USA, while Indian-origin politician Kamala Harris will take oath as the 49th Vice President on Wednesday. Kamala will also become the first woman Vice President of the USA.

First time Senator Kamala Devi Harris has scripted history by becoming first woman, Black and Indian-American vice president of the United States.

The 56-year-old California Senator is one of only three Asian Americans in the Senate and she's the first Indian-American ever to serve in the chamber.

Harris is known for many firsts. She has been a county district attorney; the district attorney for San Francisco - the first woman and first African-American and Indian-origin to be elected to the position.

From correcting those who mispronounced her name to sharing her favourite recipes online, Kamala Harris has ruled the Indian internet in the last few months.

Kamala Harris on her favourite Indian dishes

In November 2020, just before the elections, Harris had opened up about her favourite Indian dishes. In a video that had then gone viral on social media, Harris had said that any type of tikka and idli with good sambar are her favourites from the Indian cuisine.

Read: 'Idli with Really Good Sambar & Any Kind of Tikka Favourite Indian Dishes': Kamala Harris

When Kamala Harris made comfortable shoes look cool again

In 2020, when Harris was campaigning for the US elections, she was frequently spotted in uber cool Converse shoes which soon became viral. Harris' preference for comfort shoes, over the more conventional stilletos is well-known and has been documented throughout her political career.

There are two things that need to be addressed here. One, of course, Harris' shoes should ideally not be a point of focus given that she is a politician who just embarked on her first solo round of campaigning. In an ideal world, where female politicians would not be judged on the basis of their clothing and their fashion choices are not dissected, the focus would have been on her actions.

But keeping the obvious patriarchy aside, you cannot turn a blind eye to the silent protest and revolution by women politicians of today against what convention dictates they should be dressed like.

Read: Kamala Harris, First Black Woman With Indian Roots to Run for VP, is Going Viral: For Her Shoes

When influential politicians like Harris normalise wearing comfort shoes and sneakers at official events, it echoes what women over the decades have always said - heels, often considered to be a symbol of patriarchal society, are uncomfortable.

Harris' victory speech and her symbolic outfit

Harris' outfit - a white suit reportedly by Carolina Herrera - became the talk of the town after she took the stage for her victory speech after being declared the Vice President of the United States.

There was more to it than meets the eye. It was a tribute to the womens suffragette movement. She also mentioned "her [mother] and about the generations of women, Black women, Asian, White, Latina, Native American women, who throughout our nations history, have paved the way for this moment tonight.

When Harris' walkout song spoke volumes

After being declared the Vice President-elect of the United States, Kamala Harris chose a walkout song that did the talking for her. Her walkout song, "Work That" by Mary J. Blige, was the same song Kamala Harris walked off the stage of the Democratic National Convention to after becoming the first woman of color to be nominated to a major political party's presidential ticket in United States history.

"I hear you been running, from the beautiful queen, that you could be becoming," sings Mary J. Blige in "Work That". "Just because the length of your hair ain't long, And they often criticize you for your skin tone, Wanna hold your head high, Cause you're a pretty woman ... Read the book of my life, And see I've overcome it."

Read: Why Kamala Harris' Victory Speech Walkout Song 'Work That' is Going Viral

A guide to pronouncing her name

What's in a name, you ask? Everything.

Last month, an US Captioning Company published a list of the most mispronounced words recently and no one was surprised to find Kamala Harris on the list. While her surname is fairly easy to pronounce and familiar to the average American, many found it a tad difficult to pronounce 'Kamala' which is a distinctly Indianised name.

Read: 'KAH-mah-lah Harris': A Handy Guide to Correctly Pronouncing the Most Mispronounced 2020 Names

She is the next Vice President of the United States. Now would probably be a good time to learn how to pronounce her name properly. As per the US Captioning Company, Kamala is pronounced as KAH-mah-lah.

When Harris and the 'Second Gentleman' broke stereotypes with their relationship

Apart from Harris, her husband Douglas Emhoff, too, has been drawing a lot of attention, especially after the lawyer got his official Twitter handle with the name 'Second Gentleman.'

The couple appeared for an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning, where they shared several details of their relationships and especially that time when Harris ended up googling her now-husband before their first blind date.

Read: How Kamala Harris and Soon-To-Be 'Second Gentleman' Husband Douglas Emhoff Have Been Breaking Relationship Stereotypes

Emhoff, who had been married to Kristin Mackin for 16 years, met Harris in 2013 whom he wed in 2014. The duo were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend. In a rigid political milieu where portraying emotions haven't always been the strong points of politicians or their spouses, Harris and Emhoff struck a note as the duo have always shown that they are strongly supportive and always in sync with each other.

The Vogue controversy

A few days ago, fashion magazine Vogue landed in controversy for using a photo of Harris where her skin tone appears to be considerably lighter. Kamala Harris Vogue cover was supposed to be a landmark moment: breaking glass ceilings, it was supposed to set an example for all women of colour.

Read: Vogue is Releasing a New Edition of Kamala Harris Cover After Facing Backlash Over Old One

In light of the recent backlash it faced for its latest issue's cover image of the magazine featuring US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Vogue will be releasing a limited print edition of its February issue, it was announced on Tuesday.
Presidential envoy Chung Eui-yong, left, talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a visit to Pyongyang in September 2018. While serving as the chief of the National Security Office, Chung visited Pyongyang twice as a presidential envoy in 2018, both times shortly before inter-Korean summits took place. Cheong Wa Dae highlighted Chung's special record as a negotiator with North Korea as one of the primary reasons for his Jan. 20 nomination as foreign minister. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae



By Do Je-hae



President Moon Jae-in replaced Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha with former National Security Office (NSO) chief Chung Eui-yong, Wednesday, as part of a reshuffle of three ministerial posts.



The replacement of the nation's top diplomat came less than a day before new U.S. President Joe Biden is sworn in.



Replacing Kang, the longest-serving minister in Moon's Cabinet who has been there since the beginning of the administration in May 2017, Moon picked Chung who was his first NSO head.



Cheong Wa Dae underlined Chung's extensive involvement with President Moon's "peace process" and the inter-Korean summits in 2018 and a "deep understanding and insight" into diplomatic and national security issues as the background for the surprise nomination.



"Foreign Minister nominee Chung is noted for a lifetime commitment to foreign affairs and national security," Chung Man-ho, the senior presidential aide for public communication, said during a media briefing at the presidential office. "As national security advisor to the Moon government for three years, Chung negotiated and coordinated all bilateral issues with the U.S., and was among those who were the most intimately involved in the negotiations for the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization."



Chung, who has been serving as a special adviser to Moon since stepping down as chief of the NSO in July 2020, is known to have played a key role in realizing the April 27, 2018 summit between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the border village of Panmunjeom. Prior to this first of three inter-Korean summits that year, Chung met with Kim in Pyongyang March 5 that year as a presidential envoy and also visited the U.S. a few days later to meet with then-U.S. President Donald Trump to mediate a summit between the leaders of the U.S. and the North. The first Trump-Kim summit took place a few months later in June.



"When formally appointed, I will make every effort for the Moon's government foreign policy to bear fruit and ensure that the peace process takes firm root," the foreign minister nominee said in a statement.



Experts said that Chung's nomination reflects President Moon's determination to accelerate his role as a facilitator in resuming diplomacy with North Korea in his final year in office.



"The replacement of the foreign minister coincides with the launch of the Biden administration. This reflects the determination of the current government to consistently pursue its peace process on the Korean Peninsula," Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, told The Korea Times. "He served as a lawmaker during the Roh Moo-hyun administration and has an extensive network with officials involved in Korea policy within the U.S. Democratic Party. This makes him the right person to take on the role of a mediator for the peace process."



Cheong Wa Dae also said it has high expectations for Chung to improve not just the South Korea-U.S. alliance, but also relations with China, Russia, the EU and Japan. "The Biden administration places high importance on South Korea-U.S.-Japan relations. There is a big problem in South Korea-Japan relations right now, so we need to work urgently on this," Shin Yul, a professor at Myonggi University, told The Korea Times.





Kim Hyoung-zhin, new deputy director of the National Security Office (NSO) Yonhap

Later in the day, Cheong Wa Dae also announced the appointment of Kim Hyoung-zhin, a former director-general of the North American affairs bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as second deputy director of the NSO.



He replaces Kim Hyun-chong who has served in the post since March 2019. The former two-time trade minister has been named a special advisor to the President on diplomatic and national security affairs, according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok.



"The replacement of the second deputy of the NSO is to revitalize and reorganize the diplomatic and security team in the final stages of the presidency," a presidential aide told reporters.



Moon also nominated Hwang Hee, a ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker, as culture minister and Kwon Chil-seung, another DPK lawmaker, as a replacement for SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun.





SMEs and startups minister nominee Kwon Chil-seung, a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Yonhap



Park resigned early in the day amid wide expectation to announce her bid to run in the Seoul mayoral by-election in April.



In addition, the presidential office announce several new secretaries and vice-ministers, including Lee Jung-hee, a lawyer, as vice head of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.




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.
My fellow Americans: Four years ago, we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit, and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens. In short, we embarked on a mission to make America great again -- for all Americans.

As I conclude my term as the 45th President of the United States, I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together. We did what we came here to do -- and so much more.

This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck -- a very important word.

Id like to begin by thanking just a few of the amazing people who made our remarkable journey possible.

First, let me express my overwhelming gratitude for the love and support of our spectacular First Lady, Melania. Let me also share my deepest appreciation to my daughter Ivanka, my son-in-law Jared, and to Barron, Don, Eric, Tiffany, and Lara. You fill my world with light and with joy.

I also want to thank Vice President Mike Pence, his wonderful wife Karen, and the entire Pence family.

Thank you as well to my Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows; the dedicated members of the White House Staff and the Cabinet; and all the incredible people across our administration who poured out their heart and soul to fight for America.

I also want to take a moment to thank a truly exceptional group of people: the United States Secret Service. My family and I will forever be in your debt. My profound gratitude as well to everyone in the White House Military Office, the teams of Marine One and Air Force One, every member of the Armed Forces, and state and local law enforcement all across our country.

Most of all, I want to thank the American people. To serve as your President has been an honor beyond description. Thank you for this extraordinary privilege. And thats what it is -- a great privilege and a great honor.

We must never forget that while Americans will always have our disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent, faithful, and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good. We are a truly magnificent nation.

All Americans were horrified by the assault on our Capitol. Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated.

Now more than ever, we must unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor, and forge our common destiny.

Four years ago, I came to Washington as the only true outsider ever to win the presidency. I had not spent my career as a politician, but as a builder looking at open skylines and imagining infinite possibilities. I ran for President because I knew there were towering new summits for America just waiting to be scaled. I knew the potential for our nation was boundless as long as we put America first.

So I left behind my former life and stepped into a very difficult arena, but an arena nevertheless, with all sorts of potential if properly done. America had given me so much, and I wanted to give something back.

Together with millions of hardworking patriots across this land, we built the greatest political movement in the history of our country. We also built the greatest economy in the history of the world. It was about America First because we all wanted to make America great again. We restored the principle that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Our agenda was not about right or left, it wasnt about Republican or Democrat, but about the good of a nation, and that means the whole nation.

With the support and prayers of the American people, we achieved more than anyone thought possible. Nobody thought we could even come close.

We passed the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history. We slashed more job-killing regulations than any administration had ever done before. We fixed our broken trade deals, withdrew from the horrible Trans-Pacific Partnership and the impossible Paris Climate Accord, renegotiated the one-sided South Korea deal, and we replaced NAFTA with the groundbreaking USMCA -- thats Mexico and Canada -- a deal thats worked out very, very well.

Also, and very importantly, we imposed historic and monumental tariffs on China; made a great new deal with China. But before the ink was even dry, we and the whole world got hit with the China virus. Our trade relationship was rapidly changing, billions and billions of dollars were pouring into the U.S., but the virus forced us to go in a different direction.

The whole world suffered, but America outperformed other countries economically because of our incredible economy and the economy that we built. Without the foundations and footings, it wouldnt have worked out this way. We wouldnt have some of the best numbers weve ever had.

We also unlocked our energy resources and became the worlds number-one producer of oil and natural gas by far. Powered by these policies, we built the greatest economy in the history of the world. We reignited Americas job creation and achieved record-low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, women -- almost everyone.

Incomes soared, wages boomed, the American Dream was restored, and millions were lifted from poverty in just a few short years. It was a miracle. The stock market set one record after another, with 148 stock market highs during this short period of time, and boosted the retirements and pensions of hardworking citizens all across our nation. 401(k)s are at a level theyve never been at before. Weve never seen numbers like weve seen, and thats before the pandemic and after the pandemic.

We rebuilt the American manufacturing base, opened up thousands of new factories, and brought back the beautiful phrase: "Made in the USA.

To make life better for working families, we doubled the child tax credit and signed the largest-ever expansion of funding for childcare and development. We joined with the private sector to secure commitments to train more than 16 million American workers for the jobs of tomorrow.

When our nation was hit with the terrible pandemic, we produced not one, but two vaccines with record-breaking speed, and more will quickly follow. They said it couldnt be done but we did it. They call it a medical miracle, and thats what theyre calling it right now: a medical miracle.

Another administration would have taken 3, 4, 5, maybe even up to 10 years to develop a vaccine. We did in nine months.

We grieve for every life lost, and we pledge in their memory to wipe out this horrible pandemic once and for all.

When the virus took its brutal toll on the worlds economy, we launched the fastest economic recovery our country has ever seen. We passed nearly $4 trillion in economic relief, saved or supported over 50 million jobs, and slashed the unemployment rate in half. These are numbers that our country has never seen before.

We created choice and transparency in healthcare, stood up to big pharma in so many ways, but especially in our effort to get favored-nations clauses added, which will give us the lowest prescription drug prices anywhere in the world.

We passed VA Choice, VA Accountability, Right to Try, and landmark criminal justice reform.

We confirmed three new justices of the United States Supreme Court. We appointed nearly 300 federal judges to interpret our Constitution as written.

For years, the American people pleaded with Washington to finally secure the nations borders. I am pleased to say we answered that plea and achieved the most secure border in U.S. history. We have given our brave border agents and heroic ICE officers the tools they need to do their jobs better than they have ever done before, and to enforce our laws and keep America safe.

We proudly leave the next administration with the strongest and most robust border security measures ever put into place. This includes historic agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, along with more than 450 miles of powerful new wall.

We restored American strength at home and American leadership abroad. The world respects us again. Please dont lose that respect.

We reclaimed our sovereignty by standing up for America at the United Nations and withdrawing from the one-sided global deals that never served our interests. And NATO countries are now paying hundreds of billions of dollars more than when I arrived just a few years ago. It was very unfair. We were paying the cost for the world. Now the world is helping us.

And perhaps most importantly of all, with nearly $3 trillion, we fully rebuilt the American military -- all made in the USA. We launched the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces in 75 years: the Space Force. And last spring, I stood at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and watched as American astronauts returned to space on American rockets for the first time in many, many years.

We revitalized our alliances and rallied the nations of the world to stand up to China like never before.

We obliterated the ISIS caliphate and ended the wretched life of its founder and leader, al Baghdadi. We stood up to the oppressive Iranian regime and killed the worlds top terrorist, Iranian butcher Qasem Soleimani.

We recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

As a result of our bold diplomacy and principled realism, we achieved a series of historic peace deals in the Middle East. Nobody believed it could happen. The Abraham Accords opened the doors to a future of peace and harmony, not violence and bloodshed. It is the dawn of a new Middle East, and we are bringing our soldiers home.

I am especially proud to be the first President in decades who has started no new wars.

Above all, we have reasserted the sacred idea that, in America, the government answers to the people. Our guiding light, our North Star, our unwavering conviction has been that we are here to serve the noble everyday citizens of America. Our allegiance is not to the special interests, corporations, or global entities; its to our children, our citizens, and to our nation itself.

As President, my top priority, my constant concern, has always been the best interests of American workers and American families. I did not seek the easiest course; by far, it was actually the most difficult. I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism. I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices because thats what you elected me to do. Your needs were my first and last unyielding focus.

This, I hope, will be our greatest legacy: Together, we put the American people back in charge of our country. We restored self-government. We restored the idea that in America no one is forgotten, because everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We fought for the principle that every citizen is entitled to equal dignity, equal treatment, and equal rights because we are all made equal by God. Everyone is entitled to be treated with respect, to have their voice heard, and to have their government listen. You are loyal to your country, and my administration was always loyal to you.

We worked to build a country in which every citizen could find a great job and support their wonderful families. We fought for the communities where every American could be safe and schools where every child could learn. We promoted a culture where our laws would be upheld, our heroes honored, our history preserved, and law-abiding citizens are never taken for granted. Americans should take tremendous satisfaction in all that we have achieved together. Its incredible.

Now, as I leave the White House, I have been reflecting on the dangers that threaten the priceless inheritance we all share. As the worlds most powerful nation, America faces constant threats and challenges from abroad. But the greatest danger we face is a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness. A nation is only as strong as its spirit. We are only as dynamic as our pride. We are only as vibrant as the faith that beats in the hearts of our people.

No nation can long thrive that loses faith in its own values, history, and heroes, for these are the very sources of our unity and our vitality.

What has always allowed America to prevail and triumph over the great challenges of the past has been an unyielding and unashamed conviction in the nobility of our country and its unique purpose in history. We must never lose this conviction. We must never forsake our belief in America.

The key to national greatness lies in sustaining and instilling our shared national identity. That means focusing on what we have in common: the heritage that we all share.

At the center of this heritage is also a robust belief in free expression, free speech, and open debate. Only if we forget who we are, and how we got here, could we ever allow political censorship and blacklisting to take place in America. Its not even thinkable. Shutting down free and open debate violates our core values and most enduring traditions.

In America, we dont insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes. We just dont do that. America is not a timid nation of tame souls who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom we disagree. Thats not who we are. It will never be who we are.

For nearly 250 years, in the face of every challenge, Americans have always summoned our unmatched courage, confidence, and fierce independence. These are the miraculous traits that once led millions of everyday citizens to set out across a wild continent and carve out a new life in the great West. It was the same profound love of our God-given freedom that willed our soldiers into battle and our astronauts into space.

As I think back on the past four years, one image rises in my mind above all others. Whenever I traveled all along the motorcade route, there were thousands and thousands of people. They came out with their families so that they could stand as we passed, and proudly wave our great American flag. It never failed to deeply move me. I knew that they did not just come out to show their support of me; they came out to show me their support and love for our country.

This is a republic of proud citizens who are united by our common conviction that America is the greatest nation in all of history. We are, and must always be, a land of hope, of light, and of glory to all the world. This is the precious inheritance that we must safeguard at every single turn.

For the past four years, I have worked to do just that. From a great hall of Muslim leaders in Riyadh to a great square of Polish people in Warsaw; from the floor of the Korean Assembly to the podium at the United Nations General Assembly; and from the Forbidden City in Beijing to the shadow of Mount Rushmore, I fought for you, I fought for your family, I fought for our country. Above all, I fought for America and all it stands for -- and that is safe, strong, proud, and free.

Now, as I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning. Theres never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day.

As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation cannot achieve. Our communities will flourish. Our people will be prosperous. Our traditions will be cherished. Our faith will be strong. And our future will be brighter than ever before.

I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit, and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come.

Thank you, and farewell. God bless you. God bless the United States of America.
The farmers' protest has entered its 56th day. (Source: AFP)

The protesting farmers brought up the National Investigation Agency (NIA) notices that were being sent to them during the 10th round of discussion between them and the government on January 20.

According to one union leader, in the first session, the farm unions raised the issue of NIA notices being sent to those supporting the agitation and the arrests of protesting farmers in Haryana, accusing the government of trying to intimidate the protestors, reported The Hindu.

The 10th round of talks was initially scheduled on January 19, but got pushed to January 20. The farmers' protest has entered its 56th day.

On January 12, the Supreme Court ordered a stay on the implementation of the contentious agri reform laws hoping it would end the farmers' protest. However, in their response to what the court called an extraordinary order of stay, the farmer unions made it clear that they would not call off the protest until the three reform laws enacted in September are repealed.


DEARBORN (dpa-AFX) - Automaker Ford Motor Co. is required by the U.S. auto safety regulator to recall around 3 million vehicles to remove potentially defective Takata air bag inflators, multiple reports said.



The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA has also asked Mazda Motor Corp. to recall about 5,800 vehicles from 2006 through 2012 model years for the same issues. The affected Ford vehicles are from 2006 to 2011, including Ford Ranger and Fusion.



The development comes after the agency rejected requests from the automakers to avoid recalling vehicles that comes with potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators.



Takata had used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to fill air bags in a crash. But the chemical can deteriorate when exposed to heat and humidity and explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.



As per reports, Ford and Mazda's vehicles in the potential recall have a moisture-absorbing chemical in the inflators that make them safe. However, the NHTSA disagreed and denied the petition to avoid the recall.



The companies will now get 30 days to give the regulator a schedule to inform owners and begin the recalls.



The airbag inflators have caused the death of around 18 people in the U.S., and injuries to around 400 people. The issues have resulted in the biggest auto recall in the U.S. history, with around 19 vehicle manufacturers recalling millions of vehicles so far.



In November, General Motors was forced to recall 5.9 million vehicles in the U.S. to remove Takata air bag inflators after NHTSA denied its request to exclude certain trucks and SUVs from the recalls.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

FORD-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
The Undoing star Matilda de Angelis appeared in a jovial mood as she filmed scenes for her new movie Across The River And Into The Trees in Venice on Wednesday.

The actress, 25, was joined by her on screen love interest Liev Schreiber, 53, as they shot a water scene on a boat together on Wednesday morning.

Matilda looked typically glamorous for the shoot in a white blouse and knitted vest, which she wore with a leather jacket.

In high spirits: The Undoing star Matilda de Angelis appeared in a jovial mood as she filmed scenes for her new movie Across The River And Into The Trees in Venice on Wednesday

The TV star wore her brunette locks in soft curls and sported a glamorous coat of make-up in neutral shades.

Matilda and Liev were spotted boarding the river boat to film the scene, before the actress began driving the boat while her co-star relaxed at the back.

Earlier Matilda bundled up in a padded navy jacket, which she teamed with a pair of cosy grey sweatpants and brown Ugg boots, as she arrived on set.

On screen love: The actress, 25, was joined by her on screen love interest Liev Schreiber, 53, as they shot a water scene on a boat together on Wednesday morning

Joyful: The cast and crew appeared to be having a great time together while out on the boat

Chilling: Liev appeared at ease as he sat at at the back of the boat

Filming: Matilda was at the steeling wheel of the boat as she was joined by three crew members

Helping hand: Matilda was helped onto the boat by a member of the crew

In character: Matilda looked typically glamorous for the shoot in a white blouse and knitted vest, which she wore with a leather jacket

Glam: The TV star wore her brunette locks in soft curls and sported a glamorous coat of make-up in neutral shades

Taking control: Matilda and Liev were spotted boarding the river boat to film the scene, before the actress began driving the boat while her co-star relaxed at the back

In character: Liev was later seen walking through the streets of Venice with a little boy riding an old fashioned tricycle

She slung a black canvas bag full of her essentials over her shoulder while walking along and chatting to her co-star Josh Hutcherson.

Matila appeared almost ready to take on her role - Italian contessa Renata - judging by her brunette locks which were pin curled and her glam make-up.

Meanwhile, Liev cut a dapper figure in a khaki military uniform as he waved joyfully on the back of the wooden river taxi.

He covered his character's uniform with a hooded coat to stay warm in the chilly climes between takes.

Last minute rehearsals: The actor focused on the camera as the crew prepared for the scene

Venice transformed: Liev's character walked through a market stall complete with geese

Handsome: The actor certainly looked very dapper in his khaki military costume

Direction: Matilda later joined Liev for some talks with the crew

Post WW2: The set was set up to resemble the time period in which Across the River and Into the Trees is set

Stunning: Matilda looked gorgeous in her role as she sported 1940s dress

Bundled up: Earlier Matilda was seen arriving on set to film her new movie Across The River And Into The Trees in Venice

Joyful: She was joined by Liev after he was spotted on the back of a boat travelling to the waterside set

Off-duty style: Matilda bundled up in an oversized padded navy jacket, which she teamed with a pair of cosy grey sweatpants and brown Ugg boots

Co-stars: She slung a black canvas bag full of her essentials over her shoulder while walking along and chatting to her co-star Josh Hutcherson

The breathtaking buildings and bridges of the city provided a dramatic backdrop as the stars got into character for the cameras.

In the film, Matilda plays an 18-year-old Italian contessa called Renata. Liev's character Colonel Richard Cantwell falls in love with her.

Set in post WW2 Venice, US Army Col. Cantwell, haunted by the war, is a hero who faces news of his illness with stoic disregard.

Determined to spend a weekend in quiet solitude, he commandeers a military driver to facilitate a visit to some of his old haunts in Venice.

Tailored: Liev donned black leather gloves as part of his uniform

Stylish arrival: Meanwhile, Liev cut a dapper figure in a khaki military uniform as he reclined on the back of the wooden river taxi

Ready to go? Matila appeared almost ready to take on her character - Italian contessa Renata - judging by her brunette locks which were pin curled and her glam make-up

As Cantwell's plans begin to unravel, a chance encounter with a remarkable young woman begins to rekindle in him the hope of renewal.

Based on the last full-length novel by Hemingway, the movie captures a fleeting moment of immortality where time stands still.

Four years ago The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Pierce Brosnan would play the lead role with his GoldenEye director Martin Campbell at the helm.

However the current director is Spanish filmmaker Paula Ortiz and this September it emerged in Deadline that Liev is playing the colonel.

Crew: He covered his character's uniform with a hooded coat to stay warm in the chilly climes between takes

Easy does it! Liev was spotted stepping onto the boat to film a scene
As if facing Covid-19 restrictions was not bad enough, frontline workers, householders, businesses, and farmers in a North Cork village are at their wits' end due to repeated breakdowns of their water supply.

The plight of people living in Glanworth prompted one of Cork County Council's most senior officials to launch an unprecedented broadside to Irish Water after hundreds of homes were left without a supply for several days and had to rely on buying bottled water or queuing up at tankers.

Local resident Anna Gibberd with her children Amber and Harris before heading off to collect water at Glanworth, Co Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Frontline workers have been unable to take showers, while elderly people who have back boilers in their homes cannot light fires.

The continuing breaks in mains pipes  six in as many days  led assistant county chief executive James Fogarty, who by his own admission does not usually get involved in Irish Water issues, to criticise the utility company over the situation in Glanworth.

I've been on to the county engineer about this and asked him to get on to senior people in Irish Water to impress on them that something needs to be done urgently," said Mr Fogarty. "I feel very strongly about this. The community needs to be supported. Some form of emergency funding needs to be found.

Cllr Frank O'Flynn said many mains pipes serving the area are more than 60 years old. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

He made his remarks after Fianna Fail councillor Frank O'Flynn, who lives in the village, suspended standing orders at a council meeting to highlight the issue.

Mr O'Flynn said many mains pipes serving the area are more than 60 years old and as thin as tissue paper".

He said breaks had become more common in recent years, especially on a 2.5km stretch of mains from the local reservoir into the village.

Read More Engineers hired for radical overhaul of Cork city bus routes

Valerie Dennehy, who looks after her children and elderly mother, has been unable to turn on heating because she has a back boiler.

We're using storage heaters," said Ms Dennehy. "I'm worried that another cold snap is coming. We've a lot of elderly people living around here who are probably in the same situation. This needs to be fixed once and for all.

A water container in one of the estates in Glanworth. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Kate Dunne and her husband James have three young children and an unusual responsibility  24 donkeys.

Their land acts as an additional holding base for the Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll.

Donkeys like water and the Dunnes were barely able to keep them supplied, although they had offers of help from local farmers.

Kate Dunne and her sons Aidan and John with their donkeys, who they were barely able to keep supplied with water. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Whether or not there's a Covid-19 pandemic going on, this is not acceptable in this day and age, said Ms Dunne.

Even when the supply is not broken, poor water pressure is a problem for many neighbours, she said.

Anna Gibberd, a mother of four, is a beautician who cannot work from her home at present due to virus restrictions.

She described the water outages as an absolute nightmare and spent about 30 on bottled water until the tankers arrived.

It's literally like living in a third world country, said Ms Gibberd.

Read More Cork TD criticises 'shocking' Brexit deal as value of fishing rights loss revised

Lizzie Nolan, a mother of one, said she has been complaining about poor water pressure in the village since 2007.

She said it was so bad that when the toilet is flushed, the washing machine stops working.

Glanworth resident Pauline O'Dwyer with the water she collected from the tanker in the village. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Jenny Kiely, who runs The School Around The Corner preschool, said the situation is particularly difficult for her as children need to be washed, toilets flushed, and toys and equipment regularly cleaned because of Covid-19.

Other local councillors have also waded into Irish Water. This has deprived people of a basic human right, said Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawson, while Independent councillor Frank Roche said it was an absolute disgrace".

Fine Gael councillor Noel McCarthy said ageing mains are also breaking in the nearby villages of Ballyhooly and Killavullen. These are just some of more problems coming down the road, said Mr McCarthy.

Water returned to Glanworth yesterday, but many are expecting more outages.

Irish Water said it was working to fix the situation and regrets the inconvenience caused.
For confidential support or advice call the Samaritans on 116 123 for free or visit www.samaritans.org

Montana Brown has paid tribute to her late Love Island co-star Mike Thalassitis on what would have been his 28th birthday.

The reality personality, 25, reposted a picture of Mike on her Instagram Stories, as she shared the sweet post with her 1.3million followers in honour of her friend.

The image of Mike showed him wearing a T-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, which was originally posted to his page in February 2019.

'Thinking of you': Montana Brown has paid tribute to her late Love Island co-star Mike Thalassitis on what would have been his 28th birthday

The caption read: 'Happy birthday you. Thinking of you.'

Mike tragically took his own life in March 2019 - after friends revealed he had been 'in a dark place' in the months leading up to his death.

He was found dead in Edmonton, North London, the Metropolitan Police confirmed at the time - thought to have been struggling to come to terms with the death of his grandmother and dealing with debt.

Tribute: The reality personality, 25, reposted a picture of Mike on her Instagram Stories, as she shared the sweet post with her 1.3million followers in honour of her friend

Montana appeared on This Morning shortly after Mike's death and revealed Mike had texted her prior to his death but she didn't reply.

'I spoke to him two days before. But I'm kicking myself because he text me but I didn't actually reply. I'm really bad on my phone. I wish I had replied,' she said, through tears.

Montana and Mike met on the 2018 edition of the ITV2 show and had formed a close friendship in the months after they left the Majorcan villa.

On the one year anniversary of his death last year Montana led tributes to the star.

Sharing a shot of Mike posing in a powder blue shirt with a navy tie, she wrote: 'Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday.'

Friends: Montana and Mike met on the 2018 edition of the ITV2 show and had formed a close friendship in the months after they left the Majorcan villa (pictured in 2018)

Love lives on: Sharing a shot of Mike posing in a powder blue shirt with a navy tie, Montana wrote, 'Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday'

Jonny Mitchell, who appeared alongside Mike and Montana on the ITV2 dating show in 2017, also paid his respects as he shared shots of the two posing on nights out.

He said: 'Can't believe a whole year's gone by since you left us bro. Still find it difficult to comprehend you're not with us any more. You were too good for this world! Never forgotten Magic Mike.'

Uploading an image of himself with Mike in happier times, Luis Morrison stated: '1 year ago today since we lost you in our lives. There's not a day that goes by I don't think of you and I hope your resting in peace. I love you and will always miss you .'

Joining his co-stars was Sam Gowland, who also shared a snap of himself with Mike, as he wrote: '1 year ago today where does the time go!! Rest easy brother.'

For confidential support or advice call the Samaritans on 116 123 for free or visit www.samaritans.org

Snapshots: Jonny Mitchell, who appeared alongside Mike and Montana on the ITV2 dating show in 2017, also paid his respects as he shared shots of the two posing on nights out

Disbelief: Captioning the images, he said, 'Can't believe a whole year's gone by since you left us bro. Still find it difficult to comprehend you're not with us any more'
Perhaps one reason that the word populist becomes useless is because it describes a wide variety of political actors, spanning the ideological spectrum.

Joining the Dots is a fortnightly column by author and journalist Samrat in which he connects events to ideas, often through analysis, but occasionally through satire.

***

One of the most fractious electoral processes in the history of what is still the worlds most powerful country is scheduled to end in a few hours with the inauguration of Joe Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President of the US. Donald Trump will, at long last, leave the White House after an incendiary campaign to overturn the election results that culminated in an insane attack by a mob of his followers on Americas parliament, the Capitol. His departure will hopefully mark the beginning of the end for others of his ilk ruling countries around the world, who are loosely called populists.

Populist, however, is a useless word. No one can say where exactly popular ends and populist begins. The distinction, such as it is, would probably be lost on practically the entire voting population. This is in contrast to other words such as communist, nationalist, liberal, and fascist that, even when reduced to labels, continue to carry some meaning in ordinary usage.

Perhaps one reason that the word populist becomes useless is because it describes a wide variety of political actors, spanning the ideological spectrum. Political scientists studying it, such as Matthijs Rooduijn of the University of Amsterdam, have found only four characteristics that populists share in common. Firstly, they emphasise the central position of the people. Secondly, they criticise the elite. Thirdly, they perceive the people as a homogenous entity. Lastly, they proclaim a serious crisis.

The trouble is, democracy also emphasises the central position of the people. Criticising the elite is also a characteristic of Leftists in general. Perceiving the people as a homogenous entity is something that the Chinese Communist Party, the Saudi, Iranian, Turkish and Pakistani regimes, and the Hindutva brigade in India, among others, all seem to do. And proclamation of some serious crisis is a staple of every election campaign in which the opposition wants to unseat the incumbent.

What we are up against, in the global rise of what is called populism, therefore, seems to be a deeper crisis in our fundamental ideas than most of us would like to admit. We do not want to see populism as the deepening of democracy or its homogenising impulse as a natural progression in the idea of the nation. Yet it could be argued that this is what it is. Arguably more people at the grassroots are more deeply engaged with politics now than ever before. They are expressing their political opinions loudly and angrily. If they want to drive out immigrants everywhere, or build walls in America and Ram temples in India, isnt that only an expression of the will of the masses?

The answer to this question cannot be found without grasping the nettle of elitism. The core feature of populism around the world is its hatred for old elites and all that smacks of elitism. This was channeled by authoritarian demagogues who rode ressentiment to power. The disdain for political correctness displayed by characters like Trump talking of grabbing women by the p**sy and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines cracking rape jokes in public speeches was them, as sons of the soil, breaking the rules of good behaviour established by elites. Their disgusting talk did absolutely nothing to dent their popularity with their followers.

Nor did their attacks on science, even in the midst of a global pandemic. If the masses in America and Brazil dont want to believe wearing masks does anything to prevent COVID, well then, they must be right. If Hindu masses are associated with a belief in the ability of cow urine to cure everything from cancer to COVID, then science be damned, cow urine will be celebrated as a cure. If evangelical Christians do not believe Darwins theory of evolution because it contradicts the Bible, Darwin must be wrong. If the populist demagogues could, they would probably put the Law of Gravitation to the vote to decide if its right.

This is because the issue is not truth or fact at all. The real issue is pride in ones beliefs. It is about who decides, and how, whats okay to say and whats not, whats respectable and whats laughable. What the populist demagogues discovered was that there existed a vast reservoir of people who did not understand why their beliefs should be considered inferior to any other. They did not want experts deciding the issue by arcane theory and incomprehensible evidence. It was a matter of standing up for the equality of ones beliefs, which are after all a part of identity. Why should the belief in the divine efficacy of cow urine or the theory that God created the world in seven days be inferior to any other? Most people have no way of really knowing; the science is beyond them, and therefore it is a matter of one persons word against anothers.

The modern world, and its institutions and norms, were invented in the 18th and 19th centuries through the diffusion of ideas that spread among new elites created by new systems of education in economies and societies that underwent radical change. Democracy was then not widespread globally. Within the relatively few democratic countries that existed, the franchise was initially restricted to certain sections of the population  usually wealthy and predominantly male. Even in India, where electoral democracy started before independence, it was with a limited franchise and communal representation in the councils of British India. It opened up over time to include the entire adult population. On the whole, this has been an excellent thing, but there has been a noticeable decline in the quality of political leadership over the years.

Where once there was Mohandas Gandhi and Sardar Patel, Gujarats and Indias leaders today are Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. The Dalit leadership has travelled from Dr BR Ambedkar to Mayawati and Ramdas Athavale. Jawaharlal Nehrus Congress is led by Rahul Gandhi. Mamata Banerjee is Bengals leader. Her challenger from the Hindu Right, a position occupied once by Syama Prasad Mukherjee, is Dilip Ghosh. Several of the stalwarts of yore, like the ones now, displayed characteristics that might today be called populist, but they differed vastly from the current crop in education, personality and character.

What accounts for the changing profile of the popular leader?
Defense cost-deal between Seoul, Washington likely to be made soon



By Kang Seung-woo



U.S. State Secretary nominee Antony Blinken hinted Tuesday (local time) that the Joe Biden administration may entirely rethink its policies toward North Korea, claiming that under Donald trump the situation with Pyongyang has deteriorated considerably.





State Secretary nominee Antony Blinken speaks during his confirmation hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. / Reuters-Yonhap

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Port Richmond man, charged with rape for allegedly subjecting an underage girl to sexual intercourse on at least three occasions, has been found mentally unfit for trial.

Franco Zosayaz-Arellano, 47, doesnt understand the charges against him and cant aid in his defense, a recent psychiatric exam determined.

Defense lawyer Mario Romano had requested the court-ordered test.

He did not want to speak with me about the facts of the case, and he could not assist in his defense, said Romano.

The defendant was declared incapable of standing trial at a proceeding on Friday in state Supreme Court, St. George.

Zosayaz-Arellanos alleged crimes date back almost seven years.

An indictment alleges the defendant subjected the victim to sexual intercourse in August 2014 and again in October 2017.

The girl was under age 14 when Zosayaz-Arellano first sexually abused her, the indictment said.

The defendant, whose last name also appears in court files as Zosayas and Zosayasarellano, was indicted on felony charges of second- and third-degree rape.

Under state law, it is unlawful for a person at least 18 years of age to subject a person under 15 to sexual intercourse unless they are married to each other.

Zosayaz-Arellano is also accused of misdemeanor counts of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and endangering a childs welfare.

The defendant denied the charges at his arraignment in March 2019.
President Donald Trump, who has been missing from public view for over a week, finally broke his silence with a farewell address. In a pre-recorded message Trump, for the first time, has extended wishes for a successful term to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President elect Kamala Harris.

"This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck -- a very important word," Trump said on the eve of his departure from the White House for his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

He expressed his gratitude and called his term in office a 'privilege and a great honour.' "Thank you for this extraordinary privilege. And that's what it is -- a great privilege and a great honour," he said.

The pre-recorded video message was released by the White House on Tuesday.

Joe Biden, at 78 will be the oldest president in the history of America. He is likely to make his first Presidential address to the country soon after his swearing in ceremony which will take place today at the Capitol Hill.

The speech is being prepared by Vinay Reddy, a Person of Indian origin, which will be based on unity and harmony.

As many as 20 Indian Americans, including 13 women, will be holding several top positions at the new administration helmed by Biden.
The four soldiers, who suffered splinter injuries, were shifted to the military hospital in Udhampur for treatment

Jammu: Four soldiers of the Army sustained injuries as Pakistani troops opened fire targeting forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector, official sources said on Wednesday.

The ceasefire violation from across the LoC in the Keri Battal area took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, they said.

Four soldiers suffered splinter injuries and were shifted to the military hospital in Udhampur for treatment, the sources added.
In this Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, file photo, an Indian doctor shows a COVID-19 vaccine at a government Hospital in Jammu, India. India started exporting COVID-19 vaccines to its neighboring countries on Wednesday, Jan. 20. To start with, India will send 150,000 shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Bhutan and 100,000 shots to Maldives. Afterwards, vaccines will be sent Bangladesh, Nepal, India's foreign ministry said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand, File)

India began supplying coronavirus vaccines to its neighboring countries on Wednesday, as the world's largest vaccine making nation strikes a balance between maintaining enough doses to inoculate its own people and helping developing countries without the capacity to produce their own shots.

India's Foreign Ministry said the country would send 150,000 shots of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, manufactured locally by Serum Institute of India, to Bhutan and 100,000 shots to the Maldives on Wednesday.

Vaccines will also be sent to Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and the Seychelles in coming weeks, the ministry said, without specifying an exact timeline. It added in a statement late Tuesday that regulatory clearances were still awaited from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius.

India's ambassador to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said Wednesday that New Delhi would supply Nepal with 1 million doses free of charge, with the first to arrive as early as Thursday.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said the government would ensure that domestic vaccine makers have adequate stocks to meet India's domestic needs as it supplies partner countries in the coming months.

"India will continue to supply countries all over the world with vaccines. This will be calibrated against domestic requirements and international demand and obligations," he said.

Indian regulators gave the nod for emergency use to two vaccines earlier this month: the AstraZeneca vaccine and another one by Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech. India kicked off its own massive vaccination drive on Jan. 17, with a goal of inoculating 300 million of its nearly 1.4 billion people.

These vaccines being sent to neighboring countries are being sent as grants and India's Foreign Ministry said the vaccines were not part of COVAX, the U.N.-backed global effort aimed at helping lower income countries obtain the shots.

With nations making their own plans and not waiting for COVAX, some experts fear that India's gesture of goodwill may inadvertently undermine the struggling initiative, which has yet to deliver any of the promised 2 billion vaccines to poor countries. Although COVAX has announced new deals to secure vaccines in recent weeks, it has only signed legally binding deals for a fraction of the needed shots.

WHO said earlier this week it hopes vaccines bought by another global initiative started by the Gates Foundation, GAVI, might start being delivered to poor countries later this month or next. The U.N. health agency's Africa chief, however, estimated that the first COVID-19 vaccines from that initiative might only arrive in March and that a larger roll-out would only begin in June.

Of the more than 12 billion coronavirus vaccine doses being produced this year, rich countries have already bought about 9 billion, and many have options to buy even more. This means that Serum Institute, which has been contracted by AstraZeneca to make a billion doses, is likely to make most of the shots that'll be used by developing nations.

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.
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 20 : Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer Tikkaram Meena has submitted a report to the Election Commission, recommending that the Kerala Assembly election be held by early or middle of April.

Meena while speaking to IANS said "The conduct of elections before middle of April will be ideal as the holy Ramzan month commences by mid-April till May. Also CBSE board exams are on May 4 and we will have shortage of schools which are used as polling stations".

A team of EC officials will reach the state shortly and hold meetings with representatives of political parties, officials and others regarding the conduct of polls.

There are possibilities of a two-phase poll and EC officials will be seeking extensive feedback from the stakeholders including political parties and arrive at a decision, a senior official said.

Meena also said that the EC may announce the dates for elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry and Assam by the end of February.

Kerala has earlier witnessed single-phase Assembly polls with deployment of central forces in sensitive areas of Kasargod, Kannur, Kozhikode and some parts of Thrissur and Malappuram districts.

There are possibilities of the deployment of central forces in these sensitive districts.
Opinion

"ALL in" is a fair description for federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus ORegans approach to all things nuclear.

His plunge into this radioactive rabbit hole has occurred during a time in history when precious funds need to be spent on significant adjustments to our health-care system and energy sources to provide this country with a sustainable future. ORegan has stated that there is no way to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 without nuclear power, which he refers to as clean.

Nuclear is not economical, renewable or in any way clean, and is only a diversion from the goal of net-zero.

One needs only to follow the reports of our local research facility at Pinawa to realize just how dangerous and dirty this industry is. Cleaning up the site has been a challenge for Canadian Nuclear Labs, as the desire to restore the site to a greenfield state has been shelved in favour of removing as much radioactive garbage as possible and leaving the rest in-situ, such as the highly radioactive remains of the WR1 research reactor.

According to CNLs own (2017) annual report, there are bunkers of waste where leaching is occurring, and radioactive materials, including plutonium and cesium, that have somehow entered the sewage lagoon  the same lagoon that is purged into the Winnipeg River twice a year. Requests for information from the regulator have been going on for more than a year.

A Freedom of Information request resulted in 1,400 pages of dated reports and more than 100 pages of questions and answers, none of which pertained to the relevant questions. In colloquial terms, it is referred to as "being snowed." Manitobans have a right to know how these radioactive materials entered the lagoon, and what is being done to prevent them from spilling into the Winnipeg River.

Canadas nuclear industry and its regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), continue to be shrouded in a veil of secrecy.

The ministry of natural resources, which is promoting the expansion of nuclear power in Canada, also monitors and regulates the industry. This clear conflict of interest makes ORegan both the cheerleader for the industry and the referee. Moving the regulator (CNSC) to another department, such as environment, is essential to keep it at arms length, and has been recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

To illustrate how conflicted this relationship is, Michael Binder, former president and CEO of the regulator (CNSC), has recently taken an advisory position with Ultra Safe Nuclear, a company lobbying the ministry he previously led in an effort to sell reactors in Canada.

ORegans action plan for small modular reactors (SMR) was released just before the holidays and will undoubtedly siphon off more than the $20 million the feds put up in October. This is a dangerous distraction from what needs to be done. David Suzuki, when hearing of the investment, said, "I want to puke.  That kind of nuclear development is decades away from becoming anything like the possibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Weve got to act now."

Politically the Bloc Quebecois, NDP and the Greens have made it clear that they do not support SMRs, which could affect ORegans aspirations.

Research from the University of Calgary has shown the cost of wind and solar power is on par with natural gas and, as such, leaves nuclear economically in the dust. Nuclear cannot compete without government to buoy it up. The reactors being proposed wont be ready for sale for a decade, as they are still on the drawing boards.

The key time period is the next 10 years, and in order for Canada to meet its Paris Agreement commitment, the UN has said it will require a 7.6 per cent drop in emissions per year over that decade  and that wont be coming from SMRs.

Another strike against these mini-reactors is that Canada does not have a solution to either its existing stockpile or any new radioactive waste that comes from a mini-reactor. In November, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) announced it would be developing its own strategy at ORegans request.

The NWMO consists of representatives from the waste producers  in other words, the government that subsidized this industry for decades is passing the nuclear waste ball to the producers who will be happy to get it out of sight and out of mind so they can produce more. One of the two top proposed locations is Ignace, Ont., conveniently located on the Lake Winnipeg watershed.

There is nothing natural about these resources ORegan is pursuing. His energies would better serve Canadians if they were spent cleaning up his own portfolio.

Dave Taylor has been a regular contributor to the Winnipeg Free Press on environmental issues for decades.

Dana Stroul is set to become the Pentagons senior policy official solely focused on the Middle East for the Joe Biden administration, two sources familiar with the matter confirmed to Al-Monitor.

Stroul, an Obama-era veteran of the office she has been selected to lead, co-chaired the Syria Study Group set up by Congress while she was a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Her name was among a list of the latest Pentagon appointees first reported by Defense One.

Stroul previously worked on the US drawdown from Iraq and the Obama administrations ties with Egypt amid the Arab Spring while at the Defense Department until 2013, and later joined the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as a lead staffer with responsibility for the region.

She has earned high praise from colleagues, including former Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for the Middle East Michael Mulroy, who called Stroul an excellent choice for the role in a statement to Al-Monitor. Mulroy added that she has the depth of knowledge and the key relationships needed to succeed in the position.

At the Pentagon, Stroul is set to join other veterans of the Obama administration. Brian Katz, a former CIA analyst who led the Syria desk at the office of the secretary of defense from 2016-17, is reportedly set to become special assistant to the undersecretary of defense for intelligence.

Christopher Maier, whose position as director of the Pentagons task force to defeat the Islamic State (IS) was eliminated in the fall, is also slated to return as the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low intensity conflict.

Why it matters: Biden administration officials have not yet articulated how they will fit the remnants of the Mike Pompeo-era Syria policy into a renewed attempt at detente with Iran, but the latest personnel picks provide some clues as to what might happen.

Earlier this month Biden named Brett McGurk, the longtime envoy to the coalition to defeat IS, as Middle East coordinator for the National Security Council. Barbara Leaf, a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and an expert on the Gulf, was named NSC senior director for the Middle East. Robert Malley, former NSC coordinator for the Middle East and current head of the International Crisis Group, is also reportedly under consideration for a lead role on Bidens Iran policy.

Outgoing Trump administration officials have touted supposed strategic successes of their wholesale regional policy focused on Iran, but critics have charged that the approach sidelined other problems in the region, including human rights in the Gulf and lingering Islamic extremists in Syria.

As co-chair of the Syria Study Group, Stroul recommended the United States leave counter-IS forces in Syria to maintain pressure on President Bashar al-Assad and continue support Israels air campaign against Irans proxies, while redoubling political efforts to address the thousands of jihadi fighters and their families detained indefinitely in the countrys northeast.

She and co-chair Michael Singh also advocated peace talks between NATO ally Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers Party to help ensure the survival of the main US local partner militia against IS in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces. Stroul has also pointedly criticized the Trump administration's approach to Iran as ineffectual, lacking direction and potentially risking violent conflict, and advocated for a greater role for US allies in pushing back on Iran's regional influence.

Whats next: President Trump pushed hard against his own top advisers to force US troops out of the Middle East to end what he saw as "endless wars." In Syria and elsewhere, the president's impulse may have reduced Washingtons already insufficient leverage to achieve its goals.

Any increase in US troop presence in the Middle East is likely to remain a politically touchy subject as Biden focuses on extraordinary crises at home, but the possibility shouldnt be discounted during his first several months in office.

Know More: Elizabeth Hagedorn takes a close look at hints about future regional policy from Antony Blinken, Bidens pick for secretary of state, during his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday.
In this file photo, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the National Press Club in Washington DC on Jan. 12, 2021. AFP



On his way out the door, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lashed out anew at China on Tuesday by declaring that its policies on Muslims and ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang region constitute ''crimes against humanity'' and a ''genocide.'' The rarely used designation is sure to provoke an angry response from Beijing.



Pompeo made the determination just 24 hours before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. There was no immediate response from the incoming Biden team, although he and members of his national security team have expressed support for such a designation in the past.



Pompeo's determination does not come with any immediate repercussions although the legal implications mean the U.S. must take it into account in formulating policy toward China. The U.S. has spoken out and taken action, implementing a range of sanctions against senior Chinese Communist Party leaders and state-run enterprises that fund the architecture of repression across Xinjiang.



Many of those accused of having taken part in the repression are already under U.S. sanctions. The ''genocide'' designation means new measures will be easier to impose.



''After careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that since at least March 2017, the People's Republic of China, under the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party, has committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang,'' Pompeo said in a statement.



''In addition, after careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that the PRC, under the direction and control of the CCP, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state.''



Tuesday's move is the latest in a series of steps the outgoing Trump administration has taken against China.



Since last year, the administration has steadily ramped up pressure on Beijing, imposing sanctions on numerous officials and companies for their activities in Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong and the South China Sea.






A childcare worker charged over the death of a toddler who was allegedly left inside the centre's hot minibus for six hours has been cleared of manslaughter.

Dionne Batrice Grills, 34, was one of two employees charged over the death of a three-year-old boy at a childcare centre in Far North Queensland.

Maliq Nicholas Floyd Namok-Malamoo, known as Meeky, was found still strapped in a baby car seat on a minibus at Goodstart Early Learning in Edmonton, near Cairns, in February last year.

Goodstart Early Learning employee Dionne Batrice Grills, 34, (pictured) has been cleared of manslaughter over the death of a three-year-old boy allegedly left on a child care minibus for six hours

Ms Grills appeared in Cairns Courthouse on Tuesday where her manslaughter charge was dropped after Magistrate Kevin Priestly found she did not have duty of care for the child, the Courier Mail reports.

Police had alleged Ms Grills and bus driver and manager Michael Glen Lewis, 45, were both responsible for Meeky as both were allegedly on the bus when he was collected from home and driven to the centre.

But Mr Priestly said a reasonable jury would not find her guilty based on the evidence as there 'was a possibility and probability' she left the bus first, leaving duty of care to Mr Lewis.

Company policies and procedures evidenced in court also indicated the bus driver was responsible for supervision and transferring children from the bus to the centre, Mr Lewis said.

Goodstart Early Learning overhauled its procedures in the wake of the tragedy in Cairns.

Meeky's lifeless body was found in the child care minibus (pictured), almost six hours after he was allegedly collected from his home

'It was not a requirement for additional supervision and therefore the driver was the only supervisor required,' he said.

'The statements which have been attributed to Mr Lewis and Ms Grills upon first hearing about what happened are entirely consistent with this scenario and sequence of events.'

Mr Lewis's case remains before the court.

Ms Grills told reporters outside court she was relieved by the outcome of the hearing but will forever be haunted by the toddler's loss.

'I extend my deepest condolences to Maliks family for their loss,' she told reporters outside of court.
MPs debate and vote on Trade Bill amendments in House of Commons in London on Jan. 19, 2021. (Parliamentlive.tv/Screenshot)

UK Genocide Amendment Narrowly Defeated in House of Commons

An amendment giving UK courts power to revoke trade deals with genocidal countries has been narrowly defeated on Tuesday in the House of Commons despite a Tory rebellion.

The genocide amendment, tabled by Lord Alton of Liverpool, nullifies trade arrangements made under Trade Bill 2019-21 if the High Court of England and Wales makes a preliminary determination that the proposed trade partner has perpetrated genocide.

The amendment was defeated by a margin of 11 votes, with 319 Conservative MPs voting in line with the government to reject it, and 308 MPsincluding 33 Conservative rebels and MPs from all other partiesvoting to support it.

The House of Lords on Dec. 7 voted for the amendment by 287 votes to 161, before it was moved to the Commons.

In a heated debate ahead of the vote on Tuesday, cross-party MPs supporting the amendment argued that it provides a legal basis for the UK government to engage in obligations under the Genocide Convention.

Many of us for years have been frustrated that every time we try and raise genocide in this place, in terms of trade deals, were told its subject to the international courts and therefore vetoed by whatever China, or Russia, or other countries, and Security Council, former Conservative Leader Iain Duncan Smith said.

If we dont pass the amendment today, we will be outsourcing all future decisions on genocide to Russia and China, Conservative MP Nus Ghani said.

We now have an independent trade policy after leaving the EU  Why would we want to use our newfound freedom to trade with states that commit and profit from genocide? she asked.

MPs opposing the amendment argued that it would be a judicial overreach into powers belonging to Parliament.

Its not for the courts to revoke trade treaties, and its a denial of the fundamental supremacy of Parliament, the governments representative, Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands said.

Compromise Amendment

Several MPs proposed a compromise amendment about a week before the debate.

The compromise amendment, which was meant to replace Lord Altons amendment, removed the automatic revocation of trade deals, over which many of the no-voters were concerned.

The amendment states that if a high court in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland makes a preliminary determination that a proposed trade partner is committing genocide, the Lord Chancellor much present such determination to both Houses of Parliament, which will then debate on a motion calling on the Government to take action.

However, the compromise amendment was rejected before the debate.

Duncan Smith, one of the MPs sponsoring the compromise amendment, said the sponsors will bring the amendment back to the House of Lords.
By Sharon Waters

With shows and concerts canceled, the hottest ticket now is an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine. As I hit refresh again and again on vaccination scheduling webpages, I cant help comparing my fruitless search to my past efforts to snag Springsteen tickets. Both hunts require strategy, stamina and endless hope.

Besides hitting my keyboard, Im also seeking information about whether more shows  I mean, doses  might be added. When I hear tales about people cutting ahead of Phase 1a and 1b priority groups, I feel the outrage that hits me when someone shoves their way to the front of the pit. When reports say the rich are pushing privilege to get quicker access to shots, I picture those cushy concert boxes with private toilets and free-flowing booze. When I see a tweet about someone, somewhere who was at a CVS or some-such place as it was closing and scored a shot because otherwise it would have been tossed, I flashback to my decades living in Little Silver and hearing, too late, about Springsteen playing, unannounced, at the Stone Pony or Tradewinds.

Really, the main difference between getting into a vaccination site versus a Springsteen concert is I cant try to scalp a ticket in the parking lot.

Im 52, with no underlying conditions and I dont work an essential job. Im behind 7 million people in New Jersey  651,400 in Essex County  to get the vaccine, according to a vaccine tool posted by The New York Times. As I wait, I count my blessings that Im healthy, young (relatively) and not a front-line worker.

My hunt is to find a slot for the shot for my father, who will be 90 in three weeks and has an underlying condition. The pandemic nixed any party plans for his milestone birthday but maybe I can get him inoculated instead.

Many of my friends are pursuing vaccines for their parents. One pal plans to drive three hours roundtrip to get a relative inoculated in a far-flung corner of the state. Another friends mother, Diane Vaughn in Little Silver, compared the shot search to the quest for a Cabbage Patch doll or GI Joe Headquarters. We persist and create MyChart accounts with Hackensack Meridian Health so we can quickly register a parent if the health systems scheduling site ever stops saying, Sorry, we couldnt find any open appointments.

My father lives in Ocean County where there seems to be a woefully low number of vaccination options, especially considering how many senior citizens live there. While the Ocean County Health Department is listed as offering multiple locations, their website says all vaccination appointments are full and to keep checking back. The other Ocean County options  CHEMED, Ocean Health Initiatives and ShopRite  also say scheduling is unavailable.

With Ocean County booked, can my dad get vaccinated in, say, Monmouth County, where he spent the first 72 years of his life? With no clear guidance, it seems I would have to go to the website for each vaccination site and to try to discern the rules.

The state has four mega-sites in Burlington, Middlesex, Morris and Gloucester counties, and plans to add one each in Bergen and Atlantic counties. I registered my father with RWJBarnabas, which is managing the Edison mega site, and was greeted with a screen saying he is in the queue to receive a scheduling link because of the massive number of vaccine registration forms we have received.

For Gloucesters mega-site, you can only preregister, not register, through the states signup portal.

Virtua manages the Burlington mega-site and requires a cell phone number to register for scheduling. I entered my mobile number but how can this work for an elderly person who doesnt have a cell phone? I was ecstatic when I saw a Feb. 2 appointment available in Burlington, but I needed my fathers social security number and insurance card number to register. By the time I obtained that info, March 30 was the earliest appointment. I took that slot, but am still searching for an earlier appointment.

This isnt about upgrading my dads seat at a concert but protecting his health, his life, by getting him vaccinated as soon as possible, especially as a more contagious strain of the virus spreads.

So I keep hitting refresh on the tabs always open on my laptop: Ocean County Health, CHEMED, Ocean Health Initiatives, ShopRite and Hackensack Meridian. And I keep reloading the states website, which promises that its Google Sheet of locations all over New Jersey is automatically updated every five minutes.

Maybe the state will add another mega-site. Maybe Ocean Countys section of the spreadsheet will be expanded. I can dream, not only of a vaccine appointment for my dad but a time when Ill be using my fancy finger work to find a Springsteen ticket instead.

Sharon Waters is a Bloomfield resident and Springsteen fan trying to get a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for her father John Waters, a Toms River resident.

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Panaji, Jan 20 : The Bharatiya Janata Party is creating a serious threat to the unity of the nation by failing to resolve the farmers' protests against the three controversial farm bills, which were recently passed in Parliament, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here, Pawar also said that the ruling BJP had proved that it had no sympathy for the 65 per cent population of the country " farmers" who are feeding the nation's population.

"The BJP government is creating serious threat to the unity of the nation. India is an agricultural nation. (For the) last fifty days, the whole country as well as (those) outside the country are watching poor farmers sitting in such a cold atmosphere on the streets of Delhi or somewhere near to Delhi," Pawar told reporters.

"But I don't see any sympathy has been shown by the Government of India. They might have begun some discussion, but that discussion has no meaning... 65 per cent population of the country depends on agriculture sector and that sector's sizeable section is fighting for genuine demand for the last 50-55 days," Pawar said, accusing the BJP of apathy towards the farming community.

"Farmers provide food to people of India. The Government of India should speak to them and resolve the issue... It is not right to ignore them," Pawar further said.


The patent gives the company access to the high-value Japanese market  a top-five global economy - for the 12CQ chip. It is also the first step to access global markets.

Archer considers Japan as a critical strategic jurisdiction to protect and commercialise its intellectual property

s ( ) ( ) (FRA:38A) 12CQ quantum computing chip technology has achieved a major commercial milestone with the grant of a Japanese patent, the first granted patent protecting the 12CQ chip.

The patent gives the company access to the high-value Japanese market  a top-five global economy - for the 12CQ chip.

It is also the first step in the companys efforts to access global markets and investors have responded strongly with shares as much as 21% higher to A$0.63 while the company's market cap sits at approximately $122.7 million.

Strategically significant

Archer chief executive officer Dr Mohammad Choucair said: Archers quantum computing chip IP is now well protected in Japan  a major global economy and centre for technological innovation.

The grant of a patent in Japan further validates, and substantially de-risks, our unique technology.

Archer is one of very few companies in the world with a patent portfolio protecting quantum computing qubit processor technology, and this is strategically significant as we rapidly progress in commercialising the 12CQ chip.

Streamlines patent granting process

The successful granting of the patent streamlines the patent granting process and procedures for the additional six international patent applications in the jurisdictions of Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Europe, and the US.

Archer considers Japan as a critical strategic jurisdiction to protect and commercialise its intellectual property (IP).

12CQ is a world-first qubit processor chip technology that Archer aims to build for quantum computing operation at room-temperature and integration onboard modern electronic devices.
NCP president on



Wednesday said the Centre seems to have no sympathy for farmers protesting outside Delhi against new agri laws in extreme weather conditions and favoured talks to resolve the issues raised by them.

Backing the protest, going on for over a month now, against the three farm laws enacted by the Centre in September last year, Pawar said the agitation can not be ignored.

Talking to reporters in Panaji, Pawar pointed out that farmers are protesting outside Delhi in severe cold, but the Centre seems to have no sympathy towards them.

I am supporting the agitation launched by farmers. The central government should have a dialogue with them and resolve the issues raised by them, the former Union agriculture minister said.

"Farmers are sitting in cold temperatures on the streets but I dont see any sympathy for them by Government of India," he said.

The NCP leader said he had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the farm protest.

"I had written a letter to the Prime Minister saying that farmers have raised certain apprehensions (over the new laws).

"So, please sit with them and resolve their issues, Pawar added.

He said farmers feed the country so their issues have to be heard and resolved.

Pawar sad 65 per cent of the people in the country are dependent on the agriculture sector and this fact cannot be ignored.

The Centre and unions representing protesting farmers on Wednesday held the 10th round of talks where the government proposed to suspend the three contentious farm laws for one- -and-a-half years and set up a joint committee to discuss the Acts to end the stalemate.

Farmer leaders did not immediately accept the proposal and said they will revert after internal consultations. The next meeting has been scheduled for January 22.

Farmers are demanding a repeal of the new laws.

(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 20, 2021] Bridge Mutual and Plasma.Finance Partner for Insurance on DeFi

SHERIDAN, Wyoming, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Decentralized insurance provider Bridge Mutual has reached an agreement with DeFi aggregator PlasmaPay and Plasma Finance, allowing both projects to work in close collaboration. With this partnership, Plasma Finance users will be able to directly fund or provide liquidity to Bridge Mutual using the Plasma Finance platform and Bridge ecosystem. In return, Bridge Mutual has pledged to use some of its own liquidity to jumpstart a PlasmaPay insurance pool and integrate shield mining for PlasmaPay so that users providing coverage to the PlasmaPay pool may earn PPAY tokens as a reward. This results in an increased number of participants for Bridge Mutuals decentralised insurance platform, while providing further safety for PlasmaPay and Plasma Finance users. PlasmaPay has a proven track record of attracting users from both cryptocurrency and non-cryptocurrency areas by providing an easy to use fiat ramp. The existing user base and ease of entry provided by PlasmaPay will make way for Bridge Mutuals insurance product to be widely available for purchase. On the flip side, PlasmaPays users can enjoy additional benefits provided by Bridge Mutual. "The main focus of our partnerships is to increase the overall safety of the DeFi space by encouraging users to protect each other. Partnering with PlasmaPay was strategic in that users will be able to easily purchase or provide insurance directly from the Plasma Finance app where they manage all of their assets. In turn,we will make sure that Plasma Pay has an insurance pool ready to go for our launch event," said Mike Miglio, CEO of Bridge Mutual.



This partnership will give both organizations the ability to expand operations into the other's platform, a net benefit for two strong projects looking to optimize the DeFi market as a whole. Ease of use and access to insurance ultimately benefits users. By working together, Bridge Mutual and Plasma Finance take DeFi a step forward towards more reliable financial services on the blockchain, said Ilia Maksimenka, CEO of PlasmaPay.

About Plasma Finance

Plasma Finance is a DeFi platform and dashboard that aggregates all of the most popular DeFi applications in one place. With the goal of simplifying the DeFi market for its users and eliminating some aspects regarding DeFi barriers to entry, Plasma Finance is working to become a cornerstone of the DeFi economy. PlasmaPay is a blockchain protocol developed by Plasma Finance, allowing for fast and efficient cross border payment opportunities for all users.



About Bridge Mutual Bridge Mutual is a decentralized, discretionary p2p/p2b insurance platform that provides coverage for stablecoins, centralized exchanges, and smart contracts. Its platform allows users to provide insurance coverage, decide on insurance payouts, as well as get compensated for taking part in the ecosystem. Having vastly oversubscribed in its private sale, Bridge Mutuals token, $BMI, is primed to have an explosive TGE on January 30th, 2021.

Website | Telegram | Medium | Twitter Media contact: Rob Penington Robert@thronepr.com News via KISS PR Brand Story Newsroom

This news has been published for the above source. Bridge Mutual [ID=16486] Disclaimer: The information does not constitute advice or an offer to buy. Any purchase made from this story is made at your own risk. Consult an expert advisor/health professional before any such purchase. Any purchase made from this link is subject to the final terms and conditions of the website's selling. The content publisher and its distribution partners do not take any responsibility directly or indirectly. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the company this news is about.



Attachment Bridge Mutual



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In January 1838, when Abraham Lincoln was a member of the Illinois state legislature and two weeks shy of his 29th birthday, he delivered what was probably the most prophetic speech of his political career. Its a speech whose time has arrived again in 2021.

The Lyceum Address is named for the Springfield, Ill., association that, according to Lincolns law partner William Herndon, contained and commanded all the culture and talent of the place. It concerns the perpetuation of our political institutions. Why would that matter in the still-young, ever-expanding American republic?

An obvious answer would be the existence and expansion of slavery. Lincolns answer is the rise of the mobocratic spirit and the sorts of leaders who abet it.

In Vicksburg, Miss., (the Sodom of the South, as it was then known), a mob of moralists from the towns respectable quarters had, in 1835, stormed the waterfront, seized five gamblers and summarily hanged them. In St. Louis, Mo., the next year, a free Black man named Francis McIntosh, suspected of killing one police officer and injuring another, was seized by a mob of vigilantes, chained to a tree and slowly burned to death.

Lincoln chooses his examples well. The motive of the Vicksburg mob, in Lincolns telling, is public virtue. The motive of the St. Louis mob is revenge. The high-minded yearning for moral purification and the low-minded lust for blood are, in Lincolns telling, two sides of the same coin, and the effects are the same. McIntoshs lynching soon led to the expulsion and killing of an abolitionist editor. The Vicksburg mob set a precedent for other violent attacks against suspected threats to public order.

Willfully killing the (presumed) guilty rapidly descends to accidentally killing the innocent. The lawless in spirit are encouraged to become lawless in practice. Normally law-abiding people, losing faith in government, are not much averse to a change in which they imagine they have nothing to lose. Men of low scruples and overweening ambitions scout their political opportunities.

Is it unreasonable then to expect, Lincoln asks, that some man possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time, spring up among us?

Donald Trump is not a man of the loftiest genius. Neither is Josh Hawley nor Ted Cruz a lofty genius.

But the three are at least a hazy approximation of what the younger Lincoln most fears  men in the mold of Caesar or Napoleon who would sooner tear down than defend republican institutions in order to slake a thirst for glory. What rougher beasts do Trump, Cruz and Hawley prefigure? For that matter, for what kind of Reichstag fire was the Capitol Hill insurrection merely a test run?

Those questions are timely in our own age of mobocracy. The president who got himself elected by summoning a digital mob through Twitter and Facebook wound up trying to reverse the results of an election by summoning an actual mob to Washington.

The left is hardly blameless, either. The same people who offered high-toned excuses and justifications for months of destruction of public and private property in the name of social justice might think twice before demanding respect for hallowed American symbols, institutions and traditions. They provided more excuses for the Capitol Hill rioters than either side likely cares to admit.

Whats the solution? Lincolns answer in the Lyceum Address is what he calls political religion, built on pillars hewn from the solid quarry of sober reason. Scholars have noted a tension between Lincolns passionate faith in reason and a political faith that must be sustained by passions that reach beyond reason  what he later called the mystic chords of memory.

Thats a tension that cant be resolved but can at least be sustained, in part through an understanding that the space for reasoned debate has to be encased by respect for tradition and reverence for the symbols of government. One of the reasons the images of Jan. 6 were so grotesque is that they exposed how tissue thin and easily torn our sense of tradition and reverence have become in the Anything Goes Trumpian era.

As Joe Biden becomes president, he faces a larger job than ending the pandemic and saving the economy. He will have to exorcise the mobocratic spirit that is Trumps chief contribution to American politics. Summoning the better angels of our nature in his inaugural address would be a fitting tribute to his greatest predecessor.

Stephens is a columnist for the New York Times.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  Senator Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday filed a resolution seeking an inquiry on rising food prices nationwide.

The lawmaker said Senate Resolution 618 aims to determine appropriate measures to stabilize these prices, as well as to ensure adequate and affordable food for Filipinos, whose livelihoods have already been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For the past few weeks, at the start of the new year, the prices of a number of commodities in the market have continued to soar," Pangilinan said in his privilege speech. "Habang tumataas ang presyo ng pagkain, lalo pang dadami ang magugutom [Along with the rise in food prices also comes the rise in the number of people experiencing hunger]."

Pangilinan cited the Department of Agriculture's January 18 report, which showed the prevailing per-kilo price has reached 38 for regular milled rice, 280 for galunggong, 180 for dressed chicken, 450 for liempo, 200 for talong, 230 for cabbage, and 1,000 for siling labuyo.

He noted that the increase in prices is due to the drop in supply caused by the pandemic lockdowns, the successive typhoons last year, the African swine fever, and the closed fishing season due to the cold weather.

Last September, a nationwide survey showed an estimated 7.6 million families experienced hunger. This accounted for a new record-high of 30.7%, surpassing the previous record of 23.8% in March 2012.

"Alam ng mga kababayan natin na gutom ang mas matinding kalaban kaysa sa COVID [Our fellow countrymen know that hunger is a stronger enemy than COVID]," the senator said, detailing how amid the suspension of public transportation during the first month of the lockdown, several Filipinos walked long distances to work and put food on the table.

"These food supply shortages and the resulting hunger may cause greater and long-term devastation than COVID itself," he added.

He also pushed for the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Law, which seeks to improve the lives of farmers and fishermen, who may have been "discouraged from planting after consecutive losses" in the market due to cheaper food imports.

"Let us recall that during the pandemic last year, agriculture was the only sector that grew. If this trajectory continues, agriculture could be a major driver of growth. It would give income to the farmers as well as increase food supply in the market leading to lower prices and food for all. Three birds with one stone," Pangilinan said.

According to Pangilinan, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Senator Cynthia Villar, has already agreed to conduct hearings on his resolution.
Fan favorite and three-time Kona runner-up Lucy Charles-Barclay continues the athlete exodus away from Specialized with a move to German brand CUBE bicycles. She will be riding the Aerium C:68 for no-draft racing, and the Litening C:68X as her road bike.

Charles-Barclay will also change to DT Swiss wheels and Schwalbe tires. Her team replied, when asked about wheels-tires, that, the DT Swiss and Schwalbe match is the perfect combination from what we have tested and been advised. Notables racing on Schwalbe Pro One TT tubeless tires are Sebastian Kienle, Patrick Lange and Boris Stein with Stein (fastest bike split among men during multiple recent Hawaiian IRONMAN races contested) aboard this exact DT Swiss/Schwalbe Pro One TT combo.

The Profile Design cockpit might be on the bikes Charles-Barclay rides, or not. Lucy is free to choose drive train, chain, pedals, saddle, cockpit, [aero]bars, we were told. The bars and hydration on the Aerium C:68 pictured are what comes on the bike as specified.

This is a bold move by CUBE, which has been known as a brand that offers a very good value, but wishes to convince potential customers that its bikes are not simply a value proposition, but a candidate at any price. Signing Lucy Charles-Barclay is a, new direction for 2021 and beyond when it comes to athletes/sponsoring and Lucy is a key part of it, said Andreas Besold, who led the signing for CUBE. CUBE has been not as relevant in triathlon as it could have been over the past 5 years, since Andreas Raelerts second-place in Kona in 2015 on CUBE, although it has some young guns on its bikes: Florian Angert who won IRONMAN Barcelona, and Frederic Funk, winner IM 70.3 Lanzarote 2019.

CUBE has chosen to remain, at least for now, with a rim brake tri bike. The package is extremely fast, said Besold, and he noted that CUBEs tri bike brakes are hydraulic, not mechanical.

To recap, the CUBE tri bike Charles-Barclay are the Aerium C:68 SLT in size XS for tri, and the Litening C:68X Race in size-52 for road. The particular wheels she'll ride are the DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT wheels. According to her team, this includes the specific use of the Pro One TT Tubeless tires on those wheels.

The bike has on it a SRAM RED AXS eTap 1x groupset 12sp AXS but is will be likely to change in race set up. Likewise the Profile Design cockpit, likely to be changed out for something else.

There are no pedals on the bike. Charles-Barclay has been riding Speedplay in recent years, but what pedals she will ride is still not known. Shes riding an ISM PN1.0 saddle but this is subject to possible change as well.



The CUBE brand sold more than 800,000 bikes in 2020 with Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy the brand's direct market. There is a total, according tot he brand, of 2,500 retail outlets in 67 countries selling the CUBE brand. The current product portfolio consists of more than 290 models of mountain, road, cross, triathlon, e- and trekking bikes.
UK Home Secretary Reveals She Advocated for Border Closure Last March to Limit CCP Virus

The UKs Home Secretary Priti Patel revealed on Tuesday that she had argued for border closure in March 2020, soon after the CCP virus epidemic in China became a global pandemic.

In a video call recording obtained by Guido Fawkes, Patel was heard telling the Conservative Friends of India group that she thought the UK shouldve closed its border earlier.

On should we have closed our borders earlier, the answer is yes. I was an advocate of closing them last March, she said.

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK, formally the Brexit Party, said in a tweet: What a pity Boris Johnson didnt listen to Priti Patel.

When asked why he had overruled Patel, the Prime Minister told Parliament that his government instituted one of the toughest border regimes in the world, and its now more important to roll out the vaccines.

We are getting on, Mr. speaker, with tackling this pandemic through the most practical means that are available to us, he said.

The Home Office echoed Johnsons message.

We have strong measures in place at the border, which are vital as we roll out the vaccine, a spokesperson said, in an email to The Epoch Times.

On Feb. 4, 2020, the UK advised against all but essential travel to China, however, commercial airline options for departing [to] China remain available throughout the country, except in Hubei Province.

By March 10, 2020, all travellers from Wuhan city and Hubei Province, China; Iran; Daegu and Cheongdo, South Korea; and areas of Northern Italy were advised to self-isolate after arriving in the UK. Travellers from the rest of China and South Korea, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Burma, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam were asked to self-isolate should they develop symptoms.

The guidance was withdrawn on March 12, 2020, and replaced with a new guidance advising everyone, including international arrivals who develop symptoms to self-isolate for 14-days.

The UK on Wednesday reported a record-high 1,820 deaths within 28 days of a positive CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus test, taking the total UK deaths toll to 95,829.

Taiwan on Feb. 4, 2020, announced that from Feb. 7, 2020, any foreigners who had been in China in the past 14 days would be denied entry. It is the first country that tightened its border control after the CCP virus emerged.

Despite being in close proximity to mainland China, Taiwan has a total of 870 cases of CCP virus infections and 7 deaths.
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A schoolgirl in India who was raped, bludgeoned with a rock and buried alive has survived the ordeal after her parents heard her cries while looking for her.

The 14-year-old was attacked near her home while running errands alone in her village in central Indias Madhya Pradesh region on Monday afternoon, police said.

The teenager was found in a ravine under a pile of thorny bushes and stones by her horrified family who heard her whimpering in agony and rushed her to the hospital.

Police have arrested the alleged attacker, a 35-year-old neighbour, under the suspicion of rape while an investigation is underway, according to reports.

A schoolgirl in India who was raped, bludgeoned with a rock and buried alive has survived the ordeal after her parents heard her cries while looking for her. In this file photo, activists protest against the alleged gang rape and killing of a Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh on Monday

According to the authorities, he threw the girl into the gorge after raping her. He then bludgeoned her with a stone before burying her alive.

Before the incident, the girl had left home to run some errands by herself on Monday afternoon when the attacker approached her in the village.

Her family became concerned and started looking for her after their daughter didnt return to the farm after a few hours.

She had gone out at around 5pm, and when she did not return after a few hours, her family began searching for her, Mahendra Chouhan, officer-in-charge at nearby Sarni police station told The Times of India.

While searching for the teenager in the dark, the parents heard some cries coming from a ravine close to their home.

Under torchlight, they were horrified to find their daughter buried under stones and thorns.

The 14-year-old girls tragedy is one of recent brutal attacks on young girls in Indias Dalit community  formerly known as untouchables. People are seen at a protest against an alleged gang rape on the streets of in New Delhi in October 5, 2020

The family rushed the girl to a nearby medical centre and alerted the police. She was later transferred to a larger hospital due to the severity of her condition.

The teenager was said to be semi-unconscious at the time and told police that she knew the rapist.

A team of officers was immediately dispatched and caught the accused within a few hours.

The teenager is now in stable condition, the police said. The suspect has been arrested for raping and injuring the girl.

The 14-year-old girls tragedy is one of recent brutal attacks on young girls in Indias Dalit community  formerly known as untouchables  who are at the bottom of the countrys strict caste hierarchy, reported The Sun.

However, it is impossible for people to move between different castes in India.

In November, a 16-year-old was raped as she took her little brother to a public toilet in her village in Uttar Pradesh near Delhi.

A month earlier, a 12-year-old girl from Indias western Navsari district was found to be pregnant after being repeatedly raped by three of her cousins.
A bag of cement which usually costs approximately $50 has more than tripled in price at some places since Covid-19 invaded the country in March 2020.

Some people are paying as much as $150 and more for a bag of cement.
Parler, the social network popular with Trump supporters, is trickling back to life.

The social network went offline last week after Amazon booted it from its computer servers for not consistently removing violent posts, an accusation that Parler denied. But after a week in which Parler executives sued Amazon and predicted that their site might never return, they are forecasting it will be back up and running by the months end.

That turnabout is thanks, in part, to a Russian company.

Parler has entered into business with DDoS-Guard, a Russian firm that routes internet traffic and protects websites from cyberattacks. With its help, visitors to Parler.com now find a basic webpage with a promise from Parlers chief executive, John Matze, that our return is inevitable.

But the use of a Russian company is worrying some researchers who study the internet and Russia. If Parler routes its web traffic through DDoS-Guard when its full website returns, the experts said, Russian law could enable the Russian government to surveil Parlers users.

Alina Polyakova, head of the Center for European Policy Analysis, a foreign policy think tank in Washington, said Russia required many internet companies in the country to install technology that feeds the government a copy of much of the data that passes through their computer servers.

The surveillance system, known as the System for Operative Investigative Activities, basically allows the Russian government to intercept any data on Russian territory and provide that data to the FSB, Russias domestic intelligence agency, said Polyakova, who has studied Russias control over the internet. She added that it was unclear if DDoS-Guard would be subject to such surveillance.

The Russian Embassy in Washington and DDoS-Guard did not respond to requests for comment. In an email to CNN, DDoS-Guard said it does not provide any customer information or any other data to the government authorities, excluding cases explicitly stated in the law.

Jeffrey Wernick, Parlers chief operating officer, said in an interview that the concerns were overblown because DDoS-Guard supported only a temporary webpage for Parler. He said Parler would try to find other companies to operate its full social network.

Our preference is to have an American firm, he said. People should not make conclusions that itll be this company. People extrapolate too much and with limited information. They conclude what they want to conclude. I call that spreading misinformation.

But finding willing partners has been a challenge for Parler since the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.

After supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, Twitter and Facebook barred Trump from their services. That sent a flood of new people to Parler, pushing it past 15 million users. Then Apple and Google removed Parlers app from their app stores and Amazon stopped hosting Parlers website on its servers because, they said, Parler was not consistently removing violent posts. In addition to denying those claims, Parler accused the companies of collusion.

Since then, other companies have rebuffed Parler. Matze said in a court filing on Monday that at least six extremely large potential providers refused to take Parlers business because they feared cyberattacks or believed Parler hosted incitements to violence.

Parler is an internet company that cannot get on the internet, Parlers lawyer, David Groesbeck, said in a separate filing Monday. And the longer Parler lies dead, the harder it will be to resuscitate.

Yet in statements to the press, Parler executives are predicting a full return by the end of January. Wernick declined to say how Parler would do that, but he attributed the confidence to a herculean effort by his team.

Were not sleeping, he said. Were working day and night, and every day. There is no weekend for us.

For Parler, the ideal solution would be returning to Amazons servers. The network has accused Amazon of violating antitrust law and asked a federal judge to force it to host Parler. After a hearing last week, the companies are now awaiting a ruling.

Many online observers and journalists have speculated that Parler will eventually be hosted by Epik, a company that has supported other websites that tech companies have rejected, including Gab, another social network popular in right-wing circles.

But Robert Davis, Epiks senior vice president, said in an interview that Epik had only helped register Parlers domain name, a basic function of the internet. While Epik would like to help, he said, Parlers needs are too large.

I would expect Parler to be an amazing force for good in the future, he said. I could see them easily hitting 100 million members or more in 2021 alone.

Davis said he believed that Parler was trying to build its own infrastructure. On Monday, Matze appeared to support that notion in an interview on Fox News, saying, We really need to build our own infrastructure and our own technology.

In a legal filing on the same day, Matze said Parler did not have the technical and security expertise to host the Parler environment on its own, adding, Nor is it feasible for Parler to do so.

He said the computers and other equipment needed to host Parlers site would cost more than $6 million and take weeks to arrive. Simply put, it would not be possible for Parler itself to acquire the necessary servers and related security infrastructure in a commercially reasonable time frame, he said.

Dave Temkin, an engineer who helped lead Netflixs internet-infrastructure team until last week, said he was skeptical that Parler would return soon, given the difficulty of creating its own infrastructure and the reluctance of other companies to help.

He said that even if Parler built its own data center in the United States, it would need to persuade an internet provider like Verizon or AT&T to lay the fiber-optic cables to connect it to the wider internet.

Its like if you have a car with no roads, he said.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
SAGINAW, MI  A Saginaw man is facing a criminal charge after police allege he crashed his pickup truck into an East Side home, killing a sleeping woman within.

Austin M. Losee, 22, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, appeared from the Saginaw County Jail via Zoom before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens. The judge arraigned Losee on one count of failure to stop at a personal injury accident resulting in serious injury or death.

The charge is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The charge stems from prosecutors alleging Losee crashed his black 2010 Chevrolet Silverado into a single-story house at 4102 Pemberton St. at about 2:40 a.m. on Jan. 14.

Responding firefighters located 66-year-old resident Sharon Price deceased under the truck. She had apparently been sleeping on a couch in her living room when the truck crashed into her home, police have said.

Two other adult women and two minors were in the house at the time, police have said.

Losee allegedly fled the scene on foot before police arrived. Officers did locate a passenger who had been in the truck.

The Saginaw Police Departments Crime Suppression Unit located and arrested Losee the afternoon of the crash.

Prosecutors on Wednesday said they are awaiting lab results to determine whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash. Records indicate Losee lives just 0.7 miles from Prices house.

The crash severed a natural gas line, prompting Consumers Energy personnel to respond to the scene.

At the Tuesday, arraignment, defense attorney Ayiteh Sowah said Losee has no criminal record and had never previously been arrested by police. He said he also lives with his mother, whom he cares for.

Sowah asked the judge to free Losee on a personal recognizance or otherwise low bond.

Jurrens set Losees bond at $10,000 cash-surety or 10 percent.

Paradise Funeral Chapel is handling services for Price, with visitation from 2-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Messiah Missionary Baptist Church, 2615 Williamson Road in Saginaw. A celebration of life is scheduled at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the same church.

Read more:

Police arrest man they say crashed truck into Saginaw house, killing sleeping woman

Saginaw woman killed when truck crashes into her house

Man dies after being struck by vehicle in Bay Citys South End
New Delhi, Jan 20 : The names of Galwan braves who were killed in action during clashes with China in Ladakh have finally made it to the National War Memorial in New Delhi ahead of Republic Day. It took almost seven months to make it to the National War Memorial due to bureaucratic delays.

Though the names were cleared, but because of procedural delays they were not put up so far. After it was realised the names would be missing during the Republic Day ceremonies when the Prime Minister pays homage to the fallen soldiers at the national war memorial, the authorities swung into action.

Since last year, tributes have been paid to those who sacrificed their lives in military action at the new memorial on Republic Day instead of India Gate.

The war memorial was built in the memory of those who were killed in action after India's Independence.

In the 'Galwan clash' of June 15, 2020, 20 Indian soldiers died even as the Chinese never made their casualties public.

Speaking on the occasion of Army Day on January 15, Army Chief General M.M. Naravane said the sacrifice of bravehearts of Galwan would not go waste.

The Ministry of Defence in its year-end review stated that in a major skirmish in Galwan, 20 brave Indian soldiers lost their lives while preventing PLA troops from ingressing into our territory. "The Chinese also suffered significant casualties," the ministry has stated.

The standoff between India and China has entered its ninth month as both sides continue with heavy deployment of troops, artillery guns, tanks and armoured vehicles in close proximity.
People who dont know they have the virus that causes COVID-19 are significantly more likely to spread it, accounting for more than 50% of transmissions according to some studies. Early detection is the key to slowing both this pandemic and future pandemics, and a growing number of scientists believe that smart watches  which measure subtle changes in heart rate and temperature  could hold the answer.

Of course, thermometers and methods of taking a patients pulse have existed for centuries and are easily administered by laypeople in their homes. But with COVID-19, the symptoms are so subtle, and the human body so inconsistent, that its easy for its symptoms to be missed.

Apple Watch Series 3

Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS, 38mm) - Space Gray Aluminium Case with Black Sport Band - amazon.com 169 Shop Now

Youre usually told that the normal temperature of the human body is 98.6 degrees, which is wrong, Dr. Michael Snyder, from the Center of Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford, told American Innovation. For like 25% of people, its 94.6 degrees, and for 75% of people, its 99.1.

That means if youre one of the people with a lower than normal body temperature, a fever that increasese your body by 4 degrees Fahrenheit will read as perfectly healthy on a normal thermometer.

An Apple Watch, or other smartwatch, solves this problem by monitoring your health constantly. It will know, hours after you purchase it, your consistent body temperature and how much it fluctuates during a normal day. Once you start moving outside that range, the smartwatch will know far faster than a regular thermometer that something is wrong.

Specific to COVID-19, one of the earliest symptoms is a mild increase in heart rate, which can be as small as two beats per minute. Since the difference comes down to heart rate variability, rather than a steady increase in beats-per-minute, such a change would be almost impossible to detect with a finger to the wrist or even a stethoscope. But various studies have found that you can detect those symptoms as often as 63% of the time.

Apple Watch Series 5

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Our goal was to use tools to identify infections at time of infection or before people knew they were sick, Rob Hirten, an assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, told CBS News.

In Hirtens study, Apple Watches are showing significant changes in HRV metrics up to seven days before individuals had a positive nasal swab.

Apple has not participated in the study, but CEO Tim Cook commented that most of the money in healthcare goes to cases that werent identified early enough. It will take some time, but things that we are doing now  give me a lot of cause for hope.
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In the UK and Ireland, organic sales slipped 2% in the fourth quarter

PLC ( ) said it grew faster than expected in the past quarter thanks to a strong performance in North America.

Revenue rose 7% in the three months to end-December, 2020, the FTSE 100 data collector said, or by 10% if currency swings were ignored.

Chief executive Brian Cassin said is performing very well in the exceptional circumstances created by the pandemic and expects to deliver a strong performance for the financial year.

We remain highly focused on investing to sustain this performance and to take full advantage of the recovery when it comes, he said in the trading update.

He claimed the group played a positive role and that data can be a significant force for good in helping to navigate the crisis, though during the quarter the UK data regulator served Experian with an enforcement notice for breaches of personal data rules.

In the UK and Ireland, which contributed only 15% of group revenues in the last full year, organic sales were down 2% in the past quarter, with business-to-business down 2% and the smaller consumer business up 1%.

North America, which was almost two-thirds of group revenue as had a much larger consumer business, grew organic revenue by 9% in what is the groups third quarter, with consumer services up 18% and business sales up 6%.

The similarly sized Latin America business was up 13%, with its even larger consumer services business again the big contributor, including debt resolution and identity theft protection services. Taking currencies into account, however, and Latin American was down 11% on a reported basis.

s remaining geographies were down 11% on an organic basis or up 21% thanks to a risk management acquisition.

Shares in the company were up 4% in early trade but flat as midday approached, little changed since 12 months ago.

UBS noted that growth in the past quarter included a tailwind from US mortgages but for the final quarter management expect growth of 3-5% as US mortgage becomes a headwind.

Analysts at the investment bank said global consumer growth was impressive", with membership expanding to 38mln in the US, 56m in Brazil and 9m UK, with subscriptions remaining strong and lead generation revenues accelerating.

Analysts at Hargreaves Lansdown were more effusive.  s rise seems unstoppable," they said.

Its core business, credit checks, should be highly cyclical  since when times are hard banks are less willing to lend and customers are less interested in borrowing. Yet its emerging from the pandemic stronger than even management had expected.

In particular, the formerly distressed consumer business is flying under the new free membership model, helped by the Experian Boost which allows consumers to attach non-traditional credit data to their accounts to improve their credit scores."

However, they pointed out that despite a stronger than expected revenue result there was no profit upgrade and given a long-term gripe around the group's profit margins its an issue to watch closely going forward", especially with shares trading for 32 times earnings.

--Adds shares and broker comment--
It rarely ever happens that the student activists and leaders of JNU and the ministers of Bharatiya Janata Party are on the same side of a debate, but it seems that the Amazon Prime Show Tandav has managed to infuriate everyone. Of course, the student activists from one of India's premier institutions - JNU - which is known for its fiery brand of politics, have several different reasons to be miffed at the makers of Tandav.

In the web series, we visit a fictionalized version of JNU which is named Vivekananda National University (VNU). Tandav runs in two simultaneous story tracks: one shows Saif Ali Khan's character, Samar Pratap Singh's Machiavellian schemes to become the next prime minister, and the other follows Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub's character, Shiva, who rises to power in his college campus as a student leader. Despite the disclaimer with which the show begins, it isn't hard to note the similarities between Kanhaiya Kumar and the character of Shiva. The show also refers back to the violent attack that happened in the JNU hostels, during which several students and teachers were brutally beaten up.

Current student leaders of JNU say that the problem isn't that the makers of Tandav have borrowed or 'taken inspiration' from such real incidents and have based the show in a fictional version of JNU but the fact that they have diluted the complexities and nuances of student politics, they did not offer any background for the issues they raised in the show, as well as completely failed to understand the ideological lines that define the kind of politics that play out in their campus.

Saket Moon, VP, JNUSU and a PhD scholar at the Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, told News18, "The show only reinforces the stereotype that exists about JNU politics in the popular mass media. It waters down our kind of politics to some degree to fit in their formula. In the show, there is no explanation or background about the movements the students were engaged in. Student politics has not been depicted with the nuance that is required. As a whole, I didn't find it very entertaining or a well-written TV series."

Dolan from All India Students Association (AISA), and a MPhil research scholar at the Centre for Historical Studies pointed out that while it is obvious that any filmmaker and scriptwriter is going to take liberties in writing a story or depicting an institution, what is hard to reckon with as far as Tandav is concerned is that the makers have 'cherry-picked' situations, incidents and slogans just so that their narrative looks cooler with utter disregard to their background, and historicity.

"They say that they are taking creative liberties, and of course, they are entitled to do that. However, when you use slogans like manuvad se azadi, and use the wall posters, and then name the university VNU, it isn't rocket science for anyone to understand what the filmmakers are trying to show. And, when they take up the task to do that, they should at least show some reality. They can't just cherry-pick the things that they like," she said.

"They liked the idea that a presidential debate happens in JNU, but then they choose not to show anything that actually happens in a presidential debate...It feels like a total betrayal for us because these are things we have fought for so long. Even the right to have elections that we can trust didn't fall on our laps. We worked hard for it," she added.

Another depiction that is far from the reality - for a show that aims to capture the ground realities of India with every headline and trending topic squished into its frame - is the portrayal of the female student activist, Sana (Kritika Kamra).

"They showed the lead female character, Sana, as someone who is a strong woman. Yet, in Tandav, we see her constantly getting manipulated and blackmailed by a police officer who is about to retire. I am not sure what kind of precedence that sets for the feminist movement, or even for women students," said Dolan.

"Rest assured, that any woman in our campus, and especially if she is a woman activist, would not yield to such manipulations. I found that extremely odd. Women of JNU are known to be leaders on the streets, we believe in the idea of bekhauf, bebak azadi and we fight for that... that is what our politics and activism represent. We have surely set precedence for what the society should look like for women, here in our campus. And, in Tandav, we see the exact opposite thing...there was another movie, Raanjhanaa, that too had a horrible representation of the campus as well as that of JNU women. And, in that film too, the woman was represented as the 'bechari' who needed saving. Sorry, we do not need anyone to save us, we can save ourselves," she added.

Dolan pointed out that unlike what has been depicted in the web series, student activists do not have such pronounced ins-and-outs into the mainstream politics and neither are they so gullible or naive to be charmed by a popular leader and give up their beliefs and ideologies."That is plainly unrealistic... that lure that they have shown is not what our politics represents. What we fight for is to change the society," she concluded.

The entire series has been painted in broad strokes, and while that might work for films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and Sultan, it clearly doesn't work for Tandav.

"If I talk from my perspective, I feel that there had been a blatant generalization of student politics. They set the series up with a farmers protests, and refer back to it from time to time. Yet, they do not address the reasons for the farmer's protest or the students' involvement in the process. They don't connect the dots. So, only those who follow student politics closely will be able to understand the representation. But, the general public who don't follow such news closely, might not get it at all, said Shehzad Ahmed, from AISA, a PhD student at Center for West Asian Studies.

"The way they have shown the election process, and how Shiva's character could file for nomination a day before the Presidential debate is also unrealistic. It violates the independence and autonomy of the election committee, and would not happen in real life," he added.

Ahmed, as well as many student activists, said that one of the most objectionable scenes in the show was the one with the remark on a 'lower caste' man dating an 'upper-caste' woman. " They shouldn't have shown that scene. It is outright offensive and wrong," pointed out Ahmed.

Bala, the National President of AISA, and a third-year PhD student said that what student politics upholds, and means is best understood from student leaders themselves. "My suggestion to makers of the web series is that it would have been good if they had spoken to student activists before making the show. There are nuances and complexities which need to reflect onscreen when they delve into issues student politics address."

After the web series premiered on Amazon Prime, BJP leaders asked for a ban on it for allegedly insulting Lord Shiva and hurting religious sentiments. It was followed by an FIR in Lucknow against the makers of the show and criminal complaints before courts in Delhi and Bihar seeking action against Amazon Prime and Tandav makers. Since then, the call for censorship of OTT platforms has become a topic of discussion and debate.

"The freedom of speech and expression must be exercised in a constitutional and responsible manner. Any form of creative expression must be responsible in their depiction of the sensitive issues related to religion, caste and other forms of identities," said Saurabh Sharma, Assistant Professor, JNU.

Sharma, who had been JNUSU Joint Secretary from 2015-16 told News18, "In the recent past, we have seen a number of series on OTT platforms which have not dealt with these issues in an appropriate manner and have tried to justify them in name of creative independence. There is a need for a strong regulatory structure of certification and censorship with respect to the OTT content."

"Tandav has approached student politics with a premeditated mindset," he concluded.

After protests and call for ban were made for 'hurting religious sentiments', the makers of Tandav have issued an unconditional apology and agreed to make changes in the show to 'address the concerns'.
A newlywed police officer is in the desperate fight of her life with a rare and highly aggressive brain cancer which has slim survival odds.

Bianca Amore-Cortez has spent more than 10 years serving and helping the community as a police senior constable, most recently in crime prevention and education.

The mum-of-four, 44, from Townsville in North Queensland is now in need of a helping hand herself as she fights terminal stage four glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive and fastest-growing form of brain cancer.

Patients are given an average 12-15 months to live but a few have lived up to five years.

Ms Amore-Cortez's world was turned upside down last September when she was rushed to the hospital emergency department suffering loss of movement and feeling on the left side of her body and a splitting headache.

An MRI showed a tumour had grown in her right frontal lobe in her brain before she and her family were given the heartbreaking diagnosis she had GBM.

Bianca Amore-Cortez's sons Kaiden 24, Elias 21, Aston 19, recently shaved their own heads in support of their mum's brain cancer battle. Also pictured is her youngest child Alexis, 5,

Bianca Amore-Cortez put her tough cancer battle aside on New Year's Eve to marry long-time partner Tim Nugent. Pictured are the happy couple on their wedding day

Her son Aston, now 19, had his own battle with brain cancer several years ago, which turned out to be benign.

'I was in absolute shock,' Ms Amore-Cortez told Daily Mail Australia.

'I went from being at work one day to not being able to walk the next.'

'I'm just taking it one day at a time at the moment'

The devastating diagnosis came just three months after Ms Amore-Cortez, her partner Tim Nugent and their six children between them moved back into the home which they had rebuild following the devastating Townsville floods in early 2019.

More bad news was to come.

Ms Amore-Cortez was recently dealt the devastating blow that the tumour has since regrown, despite six weeks of intense radiation and chemotherapy.

She has lost all of her hair, promoting her three sons Kaiden 24, Elias 21, Aston 19, to shave their own heads in a heartfelt display of support.

Bianca (left) and her husband (right) are putting on brace faces for the youngest children- Bianca's daughter Alexis 5, (second left) and Tim's daughter Charli, 9, (second right)

Bianca Amore-Cortez has four children- Kaiden 24, Elias 21, Aston 19, and Alexis, 5. Also pictured is husband Tim (back) and Chloe the cat

The cancer diagnosis came as a shock to Bianca Amore-Cortez (pictured in hospital)

Ms Amore-Cortez also often needs a walker to get around.

She and her partner of four years tied the knot just three weeks ago on New Year's Eve on what she described as an amazing day.

'Tim has asked me before to marry him but I thought I wasn't ready,' she said.

'But when things like this happen, you think why would you not? Life is too short.'

Ms Amore-Cortez is in the middle a six month round of double dose chemotherapy, which will continue until late May.

Her youngest child Alexis is just five-years-old.

'She doesn't have a full understanding but she knows Mummy is sick,' she said.

'She's always there whenever I need help and is very resilient for a five-year-old.'

Her husband added: 'My daughter Charli, who's nine, knows it's terminal and of the potential consequences. To see your daughter sobbing over what could happen is absolutely heartbreaking.'

Ms Amore-Cortez's best chance of a prolonged life is radical treatment at the MD Anderson Research Centre in Houston, Texas, which costs more than $US100,000 and not available in Australia.

'The doctors here are very guarded and don't have an awful amount of optimism,' Mr Nugent told Daily Mail Australia.

'But this place in the US has done of a lot of advanced research and had a lot of success with patients.

'We're realistic about the situation in that Bianca has a terminal condition.'

'But we remain hopeful she will be another of those success stories.'

Bianca Amore-Cortez married Tim Nugent in an intimate ceremony in front of friends and family on New Year's Eve. The couple have six children between them (also pictured)- Kaiden 24, Elias 21, Aston 19, Lachlan 17, Charli 9, and Alexis ,5.

Queensland police officer Bianca Amore-Cortez (pictured in hospital with colleagues) is hopeful of returning to work. She has been in the police force for more than 10 years

Bianca was rushed to hospital in September, where a MRI (pictured) showed a tumour had grown in her right frontal lobe in her brain

A determined Ms Amore-Cortez remains upbeat and hopeful of defying the odds stacked against her.

'I want to beat this thing and return to work, which I love,' she said.

Her sister Ilona Dickinson has launched an online fundraiser for Ms Amore-Cortez to head overseas for treatment with the hope of keeping the family together for as long as possible.

'Raising this money would mean that Bianca can focus on her treatment and fighting through this instead of stressing about finances,' Ms Dickinson said.

'We are hoping that raising these funds and getting this treatment will help us beat this horrible disease and let Bianca live a happy long life like she should be.'

'As expected, it has taken its toll emotionally not only on Bianca, but the whole family.

'We all have our good days and bad days emotionally but have to stay strong and push through.'

Ms Amore-Cortez's family has rallied around her, despite her mum Doreen and another sister Sascha being stuck in Victoria due to coronavirus restrictions.

Bianca (right) was finally reunited with her mum Victorian-based Doreen (middle) at Christmas. Also pictured are sister Ilona (left) and son Aston (back)

Bianca's sister Sascha (left) also made to the trip from Victoria to spend Christmas with her terminally-ill sister in Townsville

The pair managed to travel to Townsville for Christmas and attend the wedding a week later before the most recent border closures.

'It took about a month for mum to get approval and go through quarantine to see Bianca,' Ms Dickinson said.

'Not having your mum with you when you are sick, no matter what age you are is hard.

'Fortunately, our father Trevor was able to make it through as he lives in Queensland. Our family has been rallying together to help where we can.

'Our aunty has also been taking time off work to come to Townsville and stay at the house to help support Bianca and Tim.'

The whole family (pictured on Christmas Day) remain hopeful that Bianca (right) will be around to celebrate next Christmas

Bianca is pictured with stepdaughter Charli (front) and daughter Alexis (right)

More than $8000 has already been raised within 24 hours of the GoFundMe page set up by Ms Dickinson.

'After many tears and discussions, we as a family cannot accept that this treatment is the only way to go,' the page states.

'We are all positive that she can fight this, and as a family will support as much as we can.

'The price tag of this venture is in excess of $100,000 US, but in reality, we cant put a price tag on life.

'We have read many success stories coming out of these research centres in the fight against GBMs and hoping that Bianca will also be one of those success stories.

'We are seeking help to raise these funds in hope of being able to have a long and happy life with Bianca a part of that.'

Mr Nugent paid tribute to the overwhelming support from friends and the community during his wife's cancer battle.

'It's put into perspective of what's important and has changed the way we look at the people around us,' he said.

Family and friends have rallied around Bianca as her brave cancer battle continues
HILLSDALE COUNTY, MI  Police investigating a report of a stolen truck in Hillsdale County believe the suspect may be involved in several other auto thefts spanning multiple counties.

Michigan State Police issued a notice Wednesday, Jan. 20, stating they are investigating an incident in which a man stole a pickup from a Hillsdale residence. The man, shown in police surveillance photos, is believed to have stolen several other vehicles in Hillsdale County, Lenawee County and in Indiana, police said.

One of the vehicles recently reported stolen was recovered, but the trailer that was attached to it at the time of its disappearance is still missing, police said.

Additionally, surveillance video recorded the man using a stolen debit card at a gas station, police said.

No arrests have been made and police are asking for assistance in locating the suspect.

The pickup truck has been recovered however the stolen trailer has not been recovered. The subject below is seen attempting to use a stolen debit card. pic.twitter.com/59qK7yIFw3  MSP First District (@MSPFirstDist) January 20, 2021

Anyone with information about the man or the stolen vehicles is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Jackson Post at 517-780-4580.

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As new changes introduced since November at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, which inhibit ride-sharing vehicles from picking up passengers in front of the domestic terminal, has caused major inconvenience to customers, ride-hailing firm Grab proposes a solution where app-based cars pay an extra fee to gain access to a dedicated pick-up lane.

A Grab proposal, which was submitted to the administration body of Tan Son Nhat International Airport at the end of December, suggested a separate lane for all ride-sharing vehicles to pick up and drop off passengers at the terminal gate.

Ride-sharing drivers using this lane will be charged up to VND10,000 before entering the lane, on top of the entrance fee collected at the gate.

Nguyen Thai Hai Van, CEO of Grab Vietnam, also put forward several initiatives to alleviate the inconvenience for drivers and passengers, which include the coordination between ride-sharing firms and the Tan Son Nhat authority to ensure order in the suggested separate lane, as well as a 3-minute time limit for each vehicle to pick up passengers.

As per the current rule introduced on November 14, 2020, only specified types of cars are allowed to use the four internal lanes in front of the domestic terminal.

Lane A, which is closest to the terminal, is restricted for vehicles dropping off departing passengers.

Lanes B and C are reserved for private vehicles picking up passengers after they land, while Lane D, located within the TCP parking structure, is now for taxis.

App-based cars must go to the 3rd, 4th or 5th floors of the parking garage to pick up customers at Tan Son Nhat, which means their customers must cross the internal car lanes and climb up the stairs or wait for the crammed elevators to reach the rides.

Earlier, an insider source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that officials at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Grab were working to tackle the issue.

Leaders of the airport also discussed the issue with Be Group, another ride-sharing company, which is still looking for an optimal solution to orchestrate vehicle flows inside the airport.

Corresponding to Tuoi Tre, Pham Vu Cuong, deputy director of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, said Be Group has devised a plan to manage their vehicles in a separate lane within the airport.

Details of this dedicated lane plan are still being discussed in order to make sure that ride-sharing customers enjoy the same level of convenience as taxi clients.

In a few days, we will meet again to settle on an implementation date for the lane, which is expected to roll out before the 2021 Lunar New Year, Cuong said.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!


British criminal barrister David Perry, appointed as the government prosecutor in the forgery case against feng shui master Tony Chan Chun-chuen, leaves a court in Hong Kong, on May 14, 2012. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)

UK Prosecutor Pulls out of Hong Kong Case Against Pro-Democracy Activists

HONG KONGA British prosecutor hired by the Hong Kong government to lead a case against democracy activists has pulled out after coming under pressure in Britain including disgraceful comments by its foreign minister, city authorities said on Wednesday.

David Perry, a Queens Counsel, was due to lead the case against tabloid media magnate Jimmy Lai and several others, including veteran democracy activists Martin Lee and Margaret Ng.

But Hong Kongs Department of Justice noted growing pressure and criticism of Perry in Britain for taking the case, adding in a statement that he had concerns about such pressures and the exemption of quarantine and indicated that the trial should proceed without him.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Sky TV in an interview on Sunday that Perry had handed the Chinese government a PR coup and had behaved in a pretty mercenary way.

Confirming the details, Hong Kongs Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng objected to such comments being aimed at a very formidable barrister.

The fact that such a very high-ranking official has uttered words such as mercenary is, with respect, disgraceful to such a reputable counsel, Cheng said.

Perry could not immediately be reached for comment. A Hong Kong barrister has been hired in his place, Cheng said.

Under Hong Kongs independent Common Law-based legal system, foreign lawyers are sometimes used by both the defence and prosecution sides in cases.

Lai, 73, owns the Apple Dailywhich has a reputation of being fiercely critical of the city government.

The case that Perry was due to lead relates to protests in August 2019, according to broadcaster RTHK, but Lai has also been charged with offences under the citys sweeping new national security law, which has sparked foreign condemnation.

He is the highest profile figure to be charged under the law that Beijing imposed on the city on June 30 last year after months of pro-democracy protests in the global financial hub.

The law sets out tough punishment for terrorism, subversion, and colluding with foreign forces while allowing some suspects to be taken to mainland China for trial in complex cases.

Critics say the law threatens the vaunted judicial independence in the former British colony.
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Controversy erupted recently when Facebook and Twitter blocked President Trump from their platforms following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, claiming that his posts violated their rules against inciting violence.

Last week, the conservative social media platform Parler was deplatformed by Amazon Web Services, citing posts that clearly encourage and incite violence. Apple and Google joined in blocking the platform.

What do these actions mean for the future of American media? How could they affect evangelical Christians in the coming years? How should we respond biblically to this divisive and urgent issue?

Publishers or platforms?

Lets begin with some background. At the heart of the debate is the question: Are social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook publishers or platforms?

If they are publishers, they are liable for the content they publish. For example, if the New York Times publishes a story that defames a person, it can be sued for libel.

If they are platforms, by contrast, they are not liable for the content published by others on their sites. If someone posts a bad review of a restaurant on Facebook, the restaurant cannot sue Facebook. If it could, social media platforms would be inundated with lawsuits and could cease to function.

However, these platforms can regulate content if necessary without incurring legal liability.

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 states: No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be held liable on account of any action voluntarily taken in good faith to restrict access to or availability of material that the provider or user considers to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected.

This provision allows social media platforms to restrict child pornography, for instance.

Republicans and Democrats have both criticized the way social media platforms have utilized this protection. The former claim that conservative speech is being censored; the latter claim that hate speech and disinformation are being protected and promoted.

The dangerous scope of the issue

Heres the question for us: Will evangelicals be the victims of censorship by social media companies in the future? If they consider our stance on same-sex marriage to be harassing or objectionable, for example, will they block our content?

The issue is larger than social media platforms. Email distributors can decide to block content they find objectionable, which would make it difficult for me to send The Daily Article to our 300,000 subscribers. Conservative voices can be marginalized or blocked by the liberal bias of mainstream media.

This debate goes to the heart of our democratic experiment. Conservative commentator Jonah Goldberg is right: Democracy is supposed to be about disagreements, not agreements. Forced unity, outside of war or some other national emergency, is antithetical to democracy and poisonous to civility. Its become a cliche to say we live in two Americas. If thats true, the people running the media of each nation have an obligation to do more than just live off demonization of the other nation.

Three reasons censorship is escalating

Before we can respond effectively, it is important to understand why this is happening today. Consider three cultural factors.

One: Our nation faces genuine threats. Sex trafficking is rising to horrific dimensions. Child pornography is exploding online. Cyberterrorism is a very real threat. As a result, we can expect escalating calls for media publishers and platforms to regulate content to protect their readers and the larger society.

Two: Many non-evangelicals consider biblical morality to be hateful and prejudiced. For example, they believe the biblical prohibition against homosexual activity to be homophobic. They see our defense of life at conception as a war on womens bodies and rights. If hate speech includes biblical truth, we can expect to see biblical truth censored by some.

Three: Our culture has no objective basis for determining truth. Postmodern relativism has convinced our culture that all truth claims are personal and subjective. As a result, we have limited ability to reason objectively about issues such as the juxtaposition of LGBTQ rights and religious liberty. Writers, editors, and publishers can be expected to do what advances their personal agendas and financial interests.

How should evangelicals respond?

In days like these, it is vital that Christians speak biblical truth with courage, passion, and grace. The more our culture rejects biblical truth, the more it needs to hear biblical truth. The harder it becomes to speak the truth in love, the more we must do both (Ephesians 4:15).

But we cannot give what we do not have. To share the truth of God, we must stay connected to the God of truth.

Jesus declared: If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:3132). Note the order: abide (remain) in his word as his disciples (fully devoted followers), and we will know (experience personally) the truth and be set free by it. Then we will share it with those we influence so they can experience the same freedom in Christ (Matthew 4:19; 1 Peter 3:15).

To this end, I invite you to make this prayer by Scottish minister John Baillie yours: By your grace, O God, I will go nowhere today where you cannot come, nor seek anyones presence that would rob me of yours. By your grace I will let no thought enter my heart that might hinder my closeness with you, nor let any word come from my mouth that is not meant for your ear. So shall my courage be firm and my heart be at peace.

Originally published at the Denison Forum

Will your heart be at peace today?


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Auburn Universitys Overtoun Jenda, assistant provost for Special Projects and Initiatives and professor of mathematics in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, or COSAM, is featured in the upcoming February issue of the magazine Notices of the American Mathematical Society.

Jendaan Auburn professor since 1988 who received the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring last yearis profiled in a four-page feature in an article titled, Overtoun Jenda: A STEM Mentor Extraordinaire. The article in the acclaimed mathematics magazine was written by his colleagues, Ash Abebe and Brittany McCullough from Auburn University, as well as Suzanne Lenhart from the University of Tennessee, and highlights Jendas teaching career, his various study abroad projects and decades of mentorship.

The piecewhich runs from pages 258-261also chronicles Jendas networking efforts, implementation of National Science Foundation grants and collaborations in Southern Africa.

In addition, Jendas Masamu Programa collaboration with Edward Lungu, an international leader in mathematical biology and dean of faculty of science at Botswana International University of Science and Technologyis profiled in a separate article in the February issue. The feature, on pages 262-265, profiles the programs successful efforts to promote mathematics education in Southern Africa and the United States since its creation in 2010.

The feature articles in this issue provide just a sample of the scholarship and breadth of mathematics research being produced today by Black mathematicians, said Robin Wilson, professor of mathematics at California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, in the magazines welcome letter. Their research interests and accomplishments are substantial enough to be highlighted in any issue of the Notices, yet the authors were generous enough to share their work in this special issue. The Masamu Program only scratches the surface of Dr. Jendas work in mentorship and outreach; in this issue, we also highlight his 2020 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring with an article written by his colleagues about the impact he has had.


New impact report reveals that seven out of ten project professionals say the pandemic has negatively affected their ability to do their job, but mental wellbeing has been boosted due to new ways of working

70 per cent of project professionals have been negatively affected in their ability to do their job as a result of the impacts of the pandemic.

The need to balance work with personal responsibilities, difficulty adapting to remote working and cancellations of important meetings and calls cited as main reasons.

67 per cent say their employer has introduced new initiatives during the pandemic to support the mental health and wellbeing of staff.

A new survey by Association for Project Management (APM), reveals the scale of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the project profession.

The research found that the majority of project practitioners (70 per cent) feel their ability to do their jobs has been negatively affected by the impact of the pandemic, and that a quarter (26 per cent) of all live projects are currently behind schedule or on hold.

With England in the grip of its third national lockdown and tight restrictions in place in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the survey of over 1,000 project professionals, carried out for APM by research company Censuswide, reveals the impacts that the pandemic is having on the wider project profession.

The main reasons given by those facing challenges since the start of the pandemic in March include:

Balancing work with other responsibilities such as home schooling and caring for relatives cited by 31 per cent of respondents

Difficulties in adapting to remote working cited by 30 per cent of respondents

Important meetings and phone calls being cancelled for COVID-related reasons cited by 30 per cent of respondents

Challenges of communicating with colleagues and stakeholders cited by 29 per cent of respondents

Despite the findings revealing that the pandemic is having a negative impact in many areas, there have been a few positive effects.

The majority of those surveyed (67 per cent) reported that their employer has introduced new initiatives during the pandemic to support the mental health and wellbeing of staff. These include schemes such as mental health first aiders, dedicated wellness days and increased flexible working.

Debbie Dore, chief executive of APM, said: "These continue to be challenging times, and many people in the project profession have been impacted, for reasons beyond their control. The importance of projects has never been clearer, and it is essential that project professionals are properly supported so that they can deliver positive change for the people, businesses and communities they serve.

"It's encouraging to see that new ways of working can have a positive impact when it comes to mental wellbeing and that employers are taking the mental health of their employees seriously.

"As the chartered body for the project profession, APM has implemented and established new ways of working that are showing benefits to both our staff and the stakeholder groups we interact with. We have been working closely with our corporate partners to encourage them to do the same and share best practice. Working together with Mind we have also published a free-to-access mental health toolkit for project managers and their employers."

The project manager mental health toolkit can be downloaded by visiting www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/toolkit/remote-project-managers/

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Georgias secretary of state on Tuesday certified the runoff election victories of Senators-elect Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, setting in motion the formal legal process that will seat the two Democrats and give their party control of the U.S. Senate for the first time since 2015.

The swearing-in of Mr. Ossoff and Mr. Warnock, which is expected to take place this week, will create a 50-50 tie in the Senate, giving Democrats de facto control of the chamber because the tiebreaking vote will be held by Kamala Harris, who will be sworn in as vice president on Wednesday. The two Georgia Democrats not only further empower President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr., given that his party will now run both chambers of Congress, but also put Democrats in charge of running President Trumps coming Senate impeachment trial.

Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, who like the secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, is a Republican, is required by state law to sign off on the certification of the races. A representative of Georgia state government must then go to Washington to hand the certification documents over to the secretary of the Senate. The two senators-elect must also present their certificates of election and take their oaths of office in an open session of the Senate.

Despite a flurry of recent drama and unfounded allegations of voter fraud in Georgia, there was little doubt that Mr. Raffensperger would eventually certify the results of the Jan. 5 contests, in which Mr. Ossoff defeated David Perdue, a one-term Republican senator, and Mr. Warnock beat Kelly Loeffler, a Republican who was appointed by Mr. Kemp in December 2019.
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Hyderabad, Jan 20 : Telangana's Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao has urged Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan to establish a vaccine testing and certification laboratory and government medical store depot in Hyderabad.

In a letter to the Union minister, Rama Rao demanded establishment of a vaccine testing and certification laboratory on the lines of Central Drug Laboratory in Kasauli.

He stated that Hyderabad is known as the 'vaccine capital of the world', manufacturing more than 6 billion doses each year contributing one-third of the global vaccine output. He wrote that the vaccines manufactured in Hyderabad are being sent to Central Drug Laboratory in Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh for testing and certification.

The logistics and the time involved were constraining the industry in being a more effective and competitive destination, the state minister said.

Rao also mentioned that Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) is establishing the country's largest national animal resource facility for biomedical research in Genome Valley, Hyderabad. "The state government has provided the required land for the project free of cost to ICMR to facilitate the establishment of this facility," he added.

"I am happy to note that this facility already has a mandate of testing and certifying drugs including vaccines, medical devices and to certify them on behalf of the Government of India. I would like to request that the establishment of this facility be expedited, and this institution is strengthened further to conduct testing and pre-release certification of Immuno biologicals meant for human use in India," read the letter.

Rao also stated that establishing a Government Medical Store Depot (GMSD) facility of the Government of India in Hyderabad with state-of-the-art data monitoring and tracking system would go a long way in supporting the vaccine manufacturing efforts in the country. Currently, such facilities are only available in Karnal, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.
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Bills Limiting Beshear's Powers Draw Vetoes

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - Governor Andy Beshear has vetoed bills that would limit his executive powers to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.The Republican-led legislature completed fast-track work on the measures earlier this month. GOP lawmakers have the numbers to override any vetoes when they resume their 30-day session next month.In defending his vetoes, Beshear said the measures would hamstring the states efforts to combat the deadly COVID-19 pandemic until vaccinations become widespread.Republicans accuse Beshear of overreaching with his series of emergency COVID-related restrictions on businesses, schools and individuals. They claim the orders were arbitrary and uneven in application.
The US Department of Energys (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has announced $28.35 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development projects under the Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002404, Advanced Processing of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals for Industrial and Manufacturing Applications.

The US imports more than half of its annual consumption of 31 of the 35 critical minerals (CM). The US has no domestic production for 14 CMs and is completely dependent on imports to supply its demand. CM are used in the manufacture of high-tech devices, national defense applications, and green growth-related industries.

Rare earth elements (REE) are the 15 elements in the lanthanide series shown in the periodic table. Scandium and yttrium are included in the manufacture of cell phones, LED screens, solar panels, energy infrastructure, defense technologies, and other essential high-tech applications. The US currently imports 80% of its REEs directly from China, with remaining portions indirectly sourced from China through other countries.

By creating a sustainable domestic CM and REE supply chain, the United States would reduce its risk of supply disruption for essential domestic and military industries, while producing these needed materials for the emerging clean energy technology market. The current $5-billion global REE market is projected to grow 40% in the next five years, with similar growth anticipated for the CM market.

This FOA seeks to fund research and development projects that will focus on developing innovative midstream processing technologies that will be environmentally benign, and potentially lower capital costs and operating expenses. Phase 1 applications for two areas of interest (AOI) are being sought at this time:

AOI 1: Advanced Process Development for Production of Rare Earth Metals (REM) and Co-Production of Critical Minerals (CM) from Coal-Based and Alternate Resources. Projects selected for Phase 1 will develop a detailed Technical Research Plan that is focused on (1) the development of advanced processes for separation and purification, and ultimate reduction to metals (REM) of mixed rare earth oxides/mixed rare earth salts (MREO/MRES); and (2) the production of critical minerals (CM).

AOI 2: Production of Critical Minerals (CM) (Excluding Rare Earth Elements or REE) from Coal-Based and Alternate Resources. Projects selected for Phase 2 will execute the Recipients Phase 1 Technical Research Plan wherein proof-of-concept (POC) testing will be conducted in laboratory- or bench-scale facilities, addressing the potential viability of advanced innovative processes at costs that are potentially lower (i.e., 20%) than costs for producing these materials using currently available conventional separations and conversion technologies.

Coal and coal by-products include run-of-mine coal, coal refuse (mineral matter that is removed from coal), clay/sandstone over/under-burden materials, ash (coal combustion or gasification residuals), and aqueous effluents such as AMD, and associated solids and precipitates resulting from AMD treatment.

Alternate resources (non-coal-based materials) include placer sand deposits, phosphate mine materials, mineral/metal acidic mine drainage, bauxite legacy impoundment materials, biomass, etc.

This FOA requires project teams of subject matter experts and stakeholders from across the entire CM and REE value/supply chain. This will include experts from the areas of resource assessment and characterization; mining and minerals processing; pilot-scale REE and CM facility developers and operators; advanced separation and purification developers; reduction to metal process developers; and a minimum of one industrial partner whose expertise is in manufacturing and/or production of intermediate and/or end-use products containing REE and/or CM.

A maximum of eight awards is anticipated for Phase 1. Applications must be submitted by 1 March 2021.
NEW HAVEN  Police have identified a man slain Monday afternoon on Dixwell Avenue as a Hamden resident.

Marquis Winfrey, 31, was shot Monday afternoon on Dixwell Avenue between the roads intersections with Elizabeth Street and Cherry Ann Street, Capt. Anthony Duff said in an email.

Duff said previously that officers responded to a ShotSpotter gunfire detection alert and 911 calls about shots fired in that area of Dixwell Avenue around 2:15 p.m. Monday.

A gunshot victim, now identified as Winfrey, showed up at Yale New Haven Hospital via a private vehicle a short time later, Duff said. He later died there.

New Haven and Hamden officers held a crime scene on Dixwell for several hours, Duff said.

He asked anyone with information about Winfreys death to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
An 83-year-old Philadelphia man who was found bound, gagged and beaten after a New Years Eve home invasion has died, turning the case into a murder investigation.

Mauricio Gesmundo was found by his daughter and son-in-law in his home on the 3900 block of North Fairhill Street in the citys Hunting Park neighborhood, Action News 6 ABC is reporting.

Police say he was found bound and gagged and had been struck several times by a fist or a blunt object, reports indicate.

Police confirmed that Gesmundo died Monday night, according to reports.

Im just truly still in disbelief right now, his son, George Gesmundo, told 6 ABC.

According to reports, the suspect or suspects got away with a black safe containing between $30,000 and $50,000, which belonged to Gesmundos sister and brother-in-law, who do business on eBay.

Investigators are not sure if he was specifically targeted but note there was no sign of forced entry, according to reports.

He was not expecting anyone because it was New Years Eve and the whole family, the rest of my family, went to our other sisters house for New Years Eve that night, his son told 6 ABC. Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the time my father does not open the door unless he knows that person.

Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or the people who are responsible, and anyone with information should call 215-686-TIPS.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A focus on comfort and quality of home furnishings has taken on a priority as people spend more time at home because of COVID-19. Consumers shopping for a mattress identified that brand trust was among the most important purchase considerations, according to the Lifestory Research 2021 America's Most Trusted Study released today.

The Lifestory Research 2021 America's Most Trusted Mattress Brand Study identified Tempur-Pedic as the most trusted brand among 12,816 people considering purchasing a mattress. The Lifestory Research 2021 America's Most Trusted Mattress Brand study examines trust among nationally recognized brands, including Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Serta, Sealy, Tuft & Needle, Beautyrest, Select Comfort, Simmons, BeautySleep, Purple, Leesa, Casper, and Spring Air.

Tempur-Pedic received the highest Net Trust Quotient score and earned the #1 ranking of most trusted mattress brands. This is the third consecutive year in which consumers chose Tempur-Pedic as the most trusted brand in the annual America's Most Trusted study conducted by Lifestory Research.

See trust scores, ratings, and ranking from the 2021 America's Most Trusted Mattress Brand study here.

About the America's Most Trusted Study

America's Most Trusted is a consumer-based research program based on thousands of people's opinions actively shopping for products. To identify America's Most Trusted, Lifestory Research conducts an ongoing annual survey in which people anonymously assess the trust they have in brands they encounter during their active search for specific products. Lifestory Research surveys people using well established social science research practices that seek to adhere to the highest quality standards of consumer insight. America's Most Trusted is a registered trademark of Lifestory Corporation. No advertising or promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of Lifestory Research. Learn more. #mostrustedbrands

About Lifestory Research

Leaders, companies, and brands know that great ideas are only useful if they move people toward action. Lifestory Research is an independent, science-driven consumer insights and strategy consulting firm that ignites relationships between companies and their audiences. We are passionate about customers, employees, brands, and the science of influence. We use quantitative and qualitative research to create customer insights, drive innovation, deliver brand strategy, and move people forward. For more information, please visit www.lifestoryresearch.com

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New Delhi, Jan 20 : The Congress has called a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), its highest decision making body, on January 22 to discuss the farmers' issues, the Arnab Goswami chat leak and the Covid-19 pandemic, sources said on Wednesday.

A party source said that the meeting will be held virtually and will be chaired by Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi. The source said that the Congress will discuss Goswami's alleged chat leak related to national security in the meeting. The issues of farmers' agitation and Covid-19 are also likely to be discussed in the meeting.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting against the three farm laws on the borders of the national capital since November 26 last year, demanding that the three laws be repealed.

On Wednesday, the 10th round of talks between the farmers and the government once again remained inconclusive.

On Tuesday, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had slammed the government over the three farm laws, saying they were introduced to destroy the Indian agricultural sector.

Earlier in the day, the Congress fielded former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, ex-Home Minister Sushil Shinde, former Law Minister and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad to corner the government over the alleged chat leaks involving Goswami.

The Congress described the leak of secret information as treason and demanded an immediate enquiry into the matter.

President-elect Joe Biden plans to take immediate steps Wednesday after he is inaugurated to re-engage with the World Health Organization and send top U.S. medical expert Anthony Fauci to speak to the group in a strong repudiation of Donald Trump's snubs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The incoming administration plans to participate in the WHO executive board meeting this week, with Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, heading the delegation and speaking. Once the U.S. resumes its engagement with the WHO, the new administration will work with the body to strengthen and reform the group, according to a fact sheet released by the Biden transition team.

Trump announced in May that the U.S. would exit the WHO because of what he said was its undue deference to China and failure to provide accurate information about the coronavirus. He often blasted the organization and also has publicly belittled Fauci and diminished his role in past months.

In announcing these changes, Biden is underscoring that he intends to set a new science-based tone in seeking to reverse Trump's dismissal of virus mitigation strategies and international cooperation in addressing the pandemic.

The U.S. had been the WHO's largest contributor, providing $400 million to $500 million in mandatory and voluntary contributions, and Trump's decision last year drew sharp criticism in Congress, as well as from allies in Europe. The WHO has been heavily involved in the fight against the coronavirus, especially in poor countries. The Geneva-based group said it looks forward to the participation of the U.S. delegation at Thursday's executive board meeting.

Meanwhile, the president-elect said he would sign an executive order requiring masks and physical distancing in all federal buildings -- including government office buildings -- as well as on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors in an attempt to help stem the spread of the surging coronavirus. He said this will be part of a "100 days masking challenge" to get Americans to wear masks in public.

"This is not a political statement; this is about the health of our families and the economic recovery of our nation," said Jeff Zients, who will be the new administration's covid response coordinator.

Biden is expected to sign another order in coming days requiring masks on trains and planes, which also fall under federal jurisdiction.

The approach represents a reversal of the stance taken by Trump, who clashed with public health officials by at times casting doubt on the benefits of wearing masks and generally refusing to wear them himself.

During the campaign, Biden suggested he'd impose a national mask mandate, citing face coverings' ability to slow the spread of the virus. But there's no clear authority for a presidential order outside of areas controlled by the federal government. Biden later revised his approach to focus on federal property and interstate travel.

Biden faces a challenge in persuading Americans to wear masks after Trump and Republican officials across the country politicized their use.

On Tuesday, as U.S. deaths topped 400,000 in the world's worst covid-19 death toll, Antony Blinken, Biden's choice for secretary of state, signaled that a U.S. rift with WHO may be healing and that the U.S. would join Covax, the 92-nation collaboration seeking to deploy Covid-19 vaccines around the world. While the Trump administration has given some $18 billion to vaccine and drug development through Operation Warp Speed, it declined to participate in Covax.

"The combination of rejoining, taking part in Covax and looking at how we can help make sure the vaccine is equitably distributed is something we're going to take on," Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

The program plans to distribute some 2 billion doses around the world by the end of 2021. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whose agency leads Covax along with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Initiatives and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has expressed concern that drugmakers are prioritizing wealthier countries for vaccine clearances and distribution. That could delay distribution through Covax.

U.S. participation could help shore up the vaccine-equity program. China is one of the partner nations, and although its vaccines are not among those procured by Covax, Chinese drugmaker Sinovac Biotech said it has submitted data on its shot for pre-qualification. The EU is also supporting the plan.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Minaurum Gold Inc. (TSXV: MGG) (OTCQX: MMRGF) ("Minaurum") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with its underlying Royalty Holder ("RH") on the Biricu Project ("Biricu") located in the Guerrero Gold Belt ("GGB"), Mexico. Minaurum has been provided with both a limited time option to repurchase a portion of the NSR along with eliminating the outstanding Bankable Feasibility Study payment on Biricu in exchange for issuing 100,000 common shares to RH.

The Biricu project is surrounded by major mining companies including Equinox Gold, Torex Gold, Agnico Eagle and Osisko Development Corp (see Figure 1). Biricu exhibits typical GGB host rocks cut by intrusive rocks identical to those seen in the neighbouring Los Filos Mine and nearby Media Luna deposit. Work completed to date includes mapping, sampling, VTEM airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey and approximately 9500 metres of drilling. Drilling has focused on 3 principal target areas, the most important of which, Punto Rojo, is an intrusive-diatreme complex with associated hornfelsed and mineralized Mezcala sediments where one hole intercepted 26.98 m grading 1.07 g/t Au (Hole GV2014-011) (see Guerrero's News Release dated January 26, 2014). Diorite and granodiorite dikes, sills, and stocks, and a deep skarn intercept in the Mezcala-Morelos transition zone, were encountered in several holes at Punto Rojo and the system remains largely untested both at depth and in multiple directions. Multiple outlying target areas defined by mapping and geophysics remain untested.

"We would like to thank the Royalty Holder for working with us to improve the viability of the Biricu project," stated Darrell Rader, President and CEO of Minaurum. "We look forward to unlocking the value of our significant but undervalued holdings located in the heart of the Guerrero Gold Belt."

Acquisition Terms

Under the terms of the Amending Agreement, Minaurum will receive a limited time buyback option to purchase one-half of the 2% Net Smelter Royalty (which would result in the Royalty being reduced to 1% of net smelter returns) by way of cash payment as follows:

$500,000 if the NSR Repurchase Option is exercised on or before December 31, 2023;

$750,000 if the NSR Repurchase Option is exercised after December 31, 2023 and on or before December 31, 2024; or

$1,000,000 if the NSR Repurchase Option is exercised after December 31, 2024 and on or before December 31, 2025.

In addition, the existing Bankable Feasibility Study payment of $10 per ounce of gold resource has been extinguished. In exchange for the above concessions, Minaurum will be issuing 100,000 common shares to RH.

Table 1: Gold Deposits of the GGB: (Million ounces "Moz")1

Company Deposit Proven & Probable (Moz) Grade (g/t) Measured & Indicated

(Moz) Grade (g/t) Inferred

(Moz) Grade (g/t) Equinox Gold Los Filos 4.30 1.31 9.77 0.93 2.63 0.83 Torex Gold ELG Complex 2.25 3.04 3.03 3.39 0.59 3.79 Media Luna N/A N/A 1.32 3.27 2.68 2.49 Argonaut Gold Ana Paula 1.02 2.36 1.46 2.17 0.05 1.84 Alamos Gold Esperanza N/A N/A 1.08 0.98 0.02 0.80







Figure 1. Map of the Guerrero Gold Belt1

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3455/72434_abba6690f4f26ad7_003full.jpg

1Table 1 and Figure 1 contain information about other properties including Proven & Probable Reserves, Measured & Indicated Resources, and Inferred Resource classifications in which Minaurum does not have an interest including Alamos Gold Inc (https://alamosgold.com/operations/default.aspxreserves-and-resources), Argonaut Gold Ltd (https://www.argonautgold.com/English/assets/resources-and-reserves/default.aspx), Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd, Equinox Gold Corp. (https://www.equinoxgold.com/operations/reserves-and-resources/), Osisko Development Corp., Torex Gold Resources Inc (https://www.torexgold.com/projects/elg-complex/elg-open-pits; https://www.torexgold.com/projects/media-luna). Information about these properties is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Company's properties. Please click on map image to view in full size.

Biricu Project

Exploration at Biricu has identified magnetic anomalies and conductors that may indicate intrusive bodies at depth, and identified 19 targets, with 4 coincident along a 10 km long zone of elevated magnetization. Only five targets have been drill tested to date.

Biricu is underlain by the same Cretaceous sedimentary rocks and Laramide intrusive rocks that host mineralization in the GGB. Mezcala Formation shale/siltstone sequence overlies the Morelos Formation limestone. Both units are intruded by dioritic to granodioritic stocks of classic GGB affinity. In the Punto Rojo area, an altered and mineralized diatreme and intrusive breccia/stock complex is emplaced into surrounding sedimentary rocks - large rafted blocks of altered and mineralized rocks are locally found within the breccias. Punto Rojo lies at the southern terminus of a 5km NNE trend of scattered intrusions that have seen limited exploration to date. Intrusives of GGB style are present at the Milpillas, and La Curva areas, which have both seen limited exploration. A large magnetic anomaly identified in the southwestern area of the property reveals a large hypabyssal stock that has yet to be explored.

For more information on the Biricu Gold Project: www.minaurum.com

For more information on the Guerrero Gold Belt: YouTube Channel Guerrero Gold Belt

Minaurum Gold Inc. (TSXV: MGG) (OTCQX: MMRGF) (FSE: 78M) is a Mexico-focused explorer concentrating on the high-grade Alamos Silver Project in southern Sonora. With a property portfolio encompassing multiple additional district-scale projects, Minaurum is managed by one of the strongest technical and finance teams operating in Mexico. Minaurum's goal is to continue its founders' legacy of creating shareholder value by making district-scale mineral discoveries and executing accretive mining transactions. For more information, please visit our website at www.minaurum.com and our YouTube Minaurum Video Channel.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Darrell A. Rader"

Darrell A. Rader

President and CEO

For more information, please contact:

Sunny Pannu - Investor Relations and Corporate Development Manager

(778) 330 0994 or via email at pannu@minaurum.com

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

___________________________________________________________________________

2300 - 1177 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC V6E 2K3

Telephone 778-330-0994

www.minaurum.com

info@minaurum.com

Stephen R. Maynard, Vice President of Exploration of Minaurum and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 has approved the disclosure in this News Release. Historical data reported in this news release has not been verified.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof 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" or the negative connotation thereof.

In making the forward-looking information in this release, Minaurum has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on Minaurum's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Minaurum. Although Minaurum considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking information in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Minaurum does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72434

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Country icon Blake Shelton had a chat with RADIO.com and shared insights about his engagement with Gwen Stefani and his milestones in the music industry.

Pacing his Oklahoma backyard in search of a steady phone signal while talking with Katie Neal, Shelton admitted that he had virtually zero conversations in the last few months that did not mention the word "wedding." However, he welcomes all conversations willingly, explaining that he'll "talk about it all day because I'm just as shocked as anybody else."

"As if 2020 couldn't get any weirder, I got engaged to Gwen Stefani!" the "Happy Anywhere" artist added.

He also shared the latest between him and Stefani after being engaged last October 20. "We've talked about when we would like it to be, but at the same time we don't really know how to go about planning it," Shelton told Neal. He explains that they're unsure whether they can really have it because of the pandemic, to which the "The Voice" judge says: "It's just one of those times that I hope we never, ever, ever experience again."

"I don't see any reason why sometime this year we can't get married," Blake added. He explained that they just want to be sure that they can have the people close to them on that day and make sure that they are safe.

As Neal asked Shelton whether he also offers input on the details of the wedding--such as colors and cakes--Blake answered: "Katie, hell no," adding that whatever Gwen likes, he's like "Yes, let's do that."

Blake Shelton on "Minimum Wage" and "Austin"

Blake Shelton has recently released his new country love song "Minimum Wage" following his 28th No.1 track, "Happy Anywhere," which featured Gwen Stefani. Sharing that when he first heard his new song, Shelton said that he has "literally have lived that song" for longer than he would like to believe.

"I just instantly had a smile on my face; fell in love with it," he noted in the RADIO.com interview.

He also admitted to the "Minimum Wage" lyrics speaking to him, especially during this time when "we all need love more than ever." He followed it with a joke about planning to record a more upbeat song, humbly thinking that his performances tend to put people to sleep.

Katie Neal also raised the fact that 2021 marked the 20th anniversary of his first chart-topping single, "Austin," with Shelton describing the milestone as "shocking."

"To know that happened with 'Austin,' and here we are all these years later and I'm still lucky enough to do what I do and make records is unbelievable," Blake shared..

Twenty years from Blake in "Austin" to the Blake in "Minimum Wage," he said that he wouldn't have done anything differently. He shared that "every decision" he made "and even stupid things that I've done" has set him on the path he's currently on.

"I wouldn't trade where I'm at in life right now for anything," Blake added.

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
The Archbishop of San Antonio speaks out about President Joe Biden on Inauguration Day.

In a statement released to mySA.com, Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller offered prayers as Biden takes on the presidency during a "crucial" time in U.S. history.

Below is his statement:

"I offer my prayers and congratulations to President Joe Biden as he begins the important and difficult work of leading the country at this crucial time in history; confronting a daunting health pandemic, economic challenges, and racial distrust," he stated.

"Let us now commit to a new and hopeful chapter. In his inaugural address, the president emphasized that he is ready to lead at this critical moment, and has called upon all of us to join in building unity day by day, leading to a new dawn. Let us pray to God for the new administration and the United States of America."

READ ALSO: LIVE BLOG: Inauguration moments from San Antonians and beyond

On his Twitter account, Garcia-Siller relayed the same message of prayer and hopefulness on Wednesday, writing, "May we, together, rebuild our country."

Garcia-Siller, who's been speaking out during the COVID-19 era, also offered his prayers to the COVID-19 victims Tuesday evening, as there was a national memorial to remember those who lost their lives to the virus.

"In our prayers tonight, let us pray for the 400,000 people dead because of COVID in our country, and the many more in the world," he said. "Their families are in our prayers. Tonight, let us spend a longer time in prayer. God have mercy on us!"

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre

In its final hours the Trump administration signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding between the United States and Turkey, giving Turkey legal rights to the vast religious and cultural heritage of the region's indigenous peoples and other minorities, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reported.

The agreement was concluded in response to a request from the Turkish government over a year ago.

The move was protested by Hellenic American Leadership Council, and In Defense of Christians (IDC) and a host of cultural rights and museum groups including the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), the Committee for Cultural Policy (CCP), the Global Heritage Alliance (GHA), and the International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN), among others.

The Trump Administration  in its final hours  gifted Turkey the legal rights to claim the vast religious and cultural heritage of the regions indigenous peoples and minority populations  among them Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, Jews and Kurds, said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. This reckless and irresponsible move was done over the protests of the ANCA, the Hellenic American Leadership Council, and In Defense of Christians by an Administration well aware that Turkey has openly, unapologetically, and systematically spent the past two centuries destroying minorities, desecrating their holy sites, and erasing even their memory from the landscape of their ancient, indigenous homelands.

In turn, IDC President Toufic Baaklini noted that this Memorandum of Understanding is a shameful sign of American approval of the destruction of Christian cultural heritage in Turkey.

Although the final text of the memorandum has not been made public, Turkey's request calls for restrictions on the import of virtually all works of art from prehistoric to modern times to the United States, ANCA notes.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2021) - American CuMo Mining Corporation (TSXV: MLY) (OTC Pink: MLYCF) ("CuMoCo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that all resolutions put forth at the Company's Annual General Meeting ("AGM") held January 12 were passed and approved by the shareholders of the Company.

The following individuals were re-elected directors of CuMoCo: Dr. John Moeller, Shaun M. Dykes, and Trevor Burns. Due to health reasons, Thomas Conway did not stand for re-election. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Conway for his years of service to the Company and wishes him all the best.

Shaun Dykes, the President and Chief Executive Officer, first thanked the shareholders for their support and continued patience during the past 12 months and provided an update on the progress of the CuMo Project and the current plans to move forward. As a direct result of the announcement of the updated CuMo Preliminary Economic Analysis, the acquisition of the Bleiberg Zinc-Germanium-Lead-Cadmium Mine, and recent significant increases in metal prices, such as copper, silver, zinc, lead, germanium and rhenium, interest in financing the projects has increased substantially, with many unsolicited calls being received from interested parties. The Bleiberg Project adds a diverse group of metals (Zn-Ge-Pb-Cd-F) to the portfolio the Company is exploring. The Company is moving forward with the pre-feasibility study and will include additional optimizations intended to reduce costs and increase the profitability of the CuMo Project. Work will begin examining the large amount of data from the Bleiberg Mine to determine unmined identified resources and exploration targets required to meet the minimum target of a 10-year mine life. Finally, management continues to ensure that any proposed financings will be beneficial to the shareholders of the Company and ignores the several attempts to obtain control of the CuMo asset for far less than its value.

After the AGM, the Board of Directors passed the following motions: (a) Shaun Dykes was re-appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer; (b) John Moeller was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board also appointed Messrs. Dykes, Moeller and Burns to the Audit Committee.

Mr. Trevor Burns stepped down as Chief Financial Officer and the Company wishes to thank him for his services. Mr. Burns remains a director of the Company. The Board has appointed Mr. Greg Powell, CPA-CGA, as Chief Financial Officer and welcomes him to the Company.

Mr. Powell has over 15 years of extensive experience as a senior financial professional with both large- and small-scale international operations in multiple sectors. He has a strong financial skillset, with a focus on operational efficiency and finding cost-savings through smart financial planning. Mr. Powell is a Chartered Professional Accountant - Certified General Accountant ("CPA - CGA"), and in 2012 was awarded Fellowship in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Shaun Dykes, President and CEO commented: "We are very pleased to welcome Greg to the CuMoCo family. His deep experience as a financial professional will both complement and enhance the capabilities of the Company's leadership team."

The Board approved the name change of the Company's majority owned subsidiary, Idaho CuMo Mining Corporation, to "International CuMo Mining Corporation - A Diverse Copper-Silver Polymetallic Mining Company". The new name better reflects the expansion of the Company into Austria and the diverse portfolio of metals.

The Company also announces that it has granted options to purchase up to 10,350,000 common shares of the Company to directors, officers, employees and consultants at a price of CDN$0.065 per share, exercisable until January 18, 2025. The options were priced at a 50% premium to the 10-day moving average of the stock price. The option grant consists of 4,450,000 shares to replace expired options and 5,900,000 new share options.

Mr. Shaun M. Dykes, M.Sc. (Eng), P.Geo., President and CEO of the Company, is the designated qualified person for the CuMo and Bleiberg Projects and has prepared the technical information contained in this news release.

About CuMoCo

CuMoCo is focused on advancing its CuMo Project towards feasibility. Management is continuing to build an even stronger foundation from which to move the Company and its projects forward. For more information, please visit www.cumoco.com, www.idahocumo.com and www.cumoproject.com.

For further information, please contact:

American CuMo Mining Corporation

Shaun Dykes, President and Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (604) 689-7902

Email: info@cumoco.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this new release.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation including, but not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such the Company's ability to move its CuMo Project to feasibility and production, and to become one of the largest and lowest-cost molybdenum producers in the world as well as a significant producer of copper and silver. Forward-looking information is based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including the result of exploration activities, the ability of the Company to raise the financing for a feasibility study and to put the CuMo project into production, that no labour shortages or delays are experienced, that plant and equipment function as specified that the Court will not intervene with the Company's proposed exploration activities at the CuMo Project, and the ability of the Company to obtain all requisite permits and licenses to advance the CuMo Project and eventually bring it into production. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future prediction, projection or forecast expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of molybdenum, silver and copper; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents, including the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the period ended September 30, 2020. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72391
Photo: Contributed

A B.C. couple has no regrets about their decision to spend the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in paradise, far from home.

Neal Van Beers and girlfriend Charmaine Sanchez left for the Maldives in December, after paying for an "unlimited stays" package at Anantara's Veli Maldives Resort.

The price? $30,000 US for two. Or, as Van Beers says by way of email, "almost the same as a one-bedroom apartment monthly in Vancouver."

Included in the package are unlimited stays until Dec. 23, 2021. They left B.C. just before Christmas of 2020, and have rented out their house in Canada while they're away.

The couple is currently staying in an "over-water bungalow," which is essentially a small house on stilts over the Arabian Sea. They enjoy complimentary breakfasts, 25% off all other meals, all the amenities you'd expect from a luxury resort, and a tropical climate where the average temperature in January is 28 C.

Van Beers owns a Dairy Queen franchise in Golden and has been able to work remotely for the past month since they arrived. He identifies as a "working digital nomad," and says the only downside is the 12-hour time difference, which makes it difficult to book meetings.

He says they decided to take advantage of the $30,000 offer because of what he describes as "the ongoing negativity and restrictions" regarding the pandemic in B.C., and that since they arrived they are living "maskless and free."

The couple had originally planned to come back to Canada in March, but are now considering staying the entire year.

B.C.'s provincial health officer has advised that, in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, "non-essential travel should be avoided."

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Maldives has reported 14,582 cases of COVID-19, and 49 deaths.

When asked if they're concerned about the threat of COVID-19, and not having access to the same type of medical care that they would in Canada, Van Beers says that he's not aware of any cases on the island they're staying on, and that "There are always risks in life."


One-third of Europeans do not trust Americans, says think tank survey

BERLIN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-two percent of Europeans no longer believed that Americans can be trusted after electing Donald Trump president in 2016, according to a pan-European survey of over 15,000 people in 11 countries published on Tuesday.

In Germany, 53 percent of respondents said that they strongly agreed or agreed that Americans can no longer be trusted after the 2016 election, the think tank European Council on Foreign Relations found in the survey.

The poll also found 36 percent of Swedish respondents did not believe Americans were trustworthy after 2016.

In addition, a total of 61 percent of respondents believed that the U.S. political system was "completely" or "somewhat" broken. Specifically, 81 percent of British, 71 percent of German and 66 percent of French respondents thought so.

Poland and Hungary were the two countries with the most positive views of the United States, with 56 percent of Hungarians and 58 percent of Poles saying the American political system works well or somewhat well, and only 23 percent of Poles and 19 percent of Hungarians did not trust Americans after voting for Donald Trump in 2016.

Most Europeans rejoiced at Joe Biden's victory in the November U.S. presidential election, but they did not think he could help America make a comeback as a pre-eminent global leader.

Respondents evaluated the European Union and/or their own countries' systems much more positively than that of the United States and looked to Berlin rather than Washington as the most important partner.
Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in Britain have been hit harder by job losses during the coronavirus crisis than white people, researchers have found.

The share of BAME people in employment fell to 67.4% in April from 72.0% in February, researchers have said.

That was a bigger drop than a decline to 79.4% from 81.1% for white people, they said, using data from the long-running Understanding Society survey led by the University of Essex.

It came as ministers hired a public relations firm to encourage more members of ethnic minority groups to take the vaccine after a survey found up to 72 per cent are unlikely or very unlikely to have the jab.

People from ethnic minorities also face higher health risks from COVID-19, previously published research has shown. Black and Asian people in England are up to 50% more likely to die after being infected, an official study said last week.

Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in Britain have been hit harder by job losses during the coronavirus crisis than white people, researchers have found

The report comes as the global protests at the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis have put renewed focus on the wider economic inequalities facing non-white people.

The research, which was first published on June 1, showed that fewer BAME people who reported a decline in hours worked had been put on the government's coronavirus job retention scheme than non-BAME people in the same situation.

That scheme provides 80% of the wages of employees who are temporarily laid off.

'The BAME group is very heterogeneous and many questions remain unanswered,' Paul Fisher, one of the academics who worked on the report, said.

'Which communities are being hardest hit? Can the different types of jobs done by different workers explain the pattern? These are questions which urgently need answering and further research is needed.'

U.S. data published last week showed joblessness among African Americans and Asians rose even as the overall unemployment rate dropped unexpectedly in May.

The study showed bigger increases of BAME people who were in arrears on their bills after seeing their incomes fall, and they were also more likely to have borrowed money as a way to mitigate their earnings losses.

The research showed that people with less education also suffered a bigger fall in employment than people with more qualifications. But the difference was not as marked as between BAME and non-BAME people.

A new study has found that some BAME groups are unsure about having the Covid vaccine

It came as ministers hired a public relations firm to encourage more members of ethnic minority groups to take the vaccine.

Data from the first wave indicates that minorities are up to twice as likely to die from Covid  yet a survey found up to 72 per cent are unlikely or very unlikely to have the jab.

Now the Department of Health has hired MMC, a specialist agency for diverse communities, to boost vaccine take-up. The company, based in London, has begun contacting ethnic minority communities in a bid to tackle misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.

According to their website they have already worked with Public Health England, the Department of Health and Cancer Research UK.

Patricia Macauley, founder and director, said the company had been brought in to help build confidence around the vaccine and give people the facts. The move comes as experts call on the Government to launch a publicity campaign and prioritise high-risk minority ethnic groups for the vaccine as a poll of 12,000 conducted by the UK Household Longitudinal Study found up to 72 per cent of black people were hesitant about getting inoculated.

The shocking truth why 72% of black Britons say they are unlikely to have the Covid-19 jab... and what we must do to make them think again, writes SIR GEOFFREY PALMER

Hurricanes were a feature of life when I was a boy growing up in Jamaica. And in their devastating aftermath, with buildings destroyed and water supplies and sewers damaged, diseases including polio, typhoid and TB often ran rife.

So it was routine for me and my schoolmates to find ourselves queueing outside the church hall to receive our inoculations.

As children, we did not understand the dangers of an epidemic sweeping our island. We never thought to question the church ministers, our teachers or our parents, who assured us the jabs were a necessary precaution.

And why would we argue? We trusted those authority figures. We respected them. They had the best interests of our community at heart.

How different is the situation for so many black people in Britain today, for whom those trusted figures are absent.

Sir Geoff Palmer a Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland

As a result, the crucial message about lifesaving Covid-19 vaccines is going unheard or even being dismissed  something that could prove deadly for many, while hampering the effectiveness of these essential treatments for the whole country.

A survey published this week by the UK Household Longitudinal Study found that 72 per cent of black Britons say they are unlikely to be vaccinated against the virus. Many would refuse to have the jab.

The figures for other minorities in Britain are only slightly better: among Pakistani/Bangladeshi groups, 42 per cent say they are unlikely or very unlikely to be vaccinated.

High levels of so-called vaccine hesitancy can also be seen in Eastern European communities living in Britain.

These figures stand in stark comparison to an average of 82 per cent of all Britons who say they do want the vaccine. Among Britons aged over 75, 96 per cent are in favour.

Yet in my community especially, it is clear there is a terrible absence of trust in government authority, in public health policy and in the science behind the NHS vaccine programme.

And this is all the more serious when people from black and other ethnic minorities have been hit so hard during the pandemic.

According to a review from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, cited by Public Health England last summer, excess deaths due to Covid-19 during the first wave of the virus were 2.5 times higher in black Caribbean populations, 4.3 times higher in black African populations and 7.3 times higher in black populations from elsewhere.

Among Pakistani/Bangladeshi groups, 42 per cent say they are unlikely or very unlikely to be vaccinated. Pictured: A health worker prepares a Covid vaccine

Im 80 years old and Ive lived in Britain since I arrived here aged 14 in 1955.

I havent had the vaccine yet but Im hugely looking forward to next Wednesday, when Im at last booked to receive it.

I earnestly encourage everyone who is offered it to have it: there is no surer way to defeat this pandemic and safeguard lives at the same time  the ultimate win-win.

So what is behind the reluctance of black Britons to accept the virus?

One issue might be that when I switch on my TV to watch the frequent briefings from government ministers and the scientists advising them, I am painfully aware that nobody standing at the Downing Street lecterns looks like me.

Westminster and the Civil Service have long been insufficiently diverse.

They remain a bastion of white, middle-aged former public schoolboys: exactly the people whom black Britons trust the least.

For the sake of Britains public health, it is incumbent on black medical professionals to take the stage now and reiterate the truth that the vaccines are safe and vital.

In the long term, the situation can be resolved by improving educational opportunities for black girls and boys, but we cant wait a generation for this to happen. We cant wait another day.

Meanwhile, it goes without saying that disinformation on social media is a scourge for us all. But it is highly prevalent among BAME communities.

At times, Im sad to say, it is propagated by racists who revel in the idea of encouraging ethnic minorities to make themselves ill  or worse.

But anyone who shares unverified data online is playing a part in misinformation.

Some religious groups in Britain have concerns that the vaccine might modify human DNA or contain gelatine or other animal products that are proscribed under their faith.

These unfounded theories can spread like wildfire, unchecked on networks such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

Why do these theories gain traction? Because people are more likely to believe those they know or trust  and many Britons from BAME backgrounds do not trust the people in charge.

As a result, many Muslim leaders have spoken out to assure the faithful that the jabs are safe.

Dr Habib Naqvi, director of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, has said: We need to be clear to our communities that there is no meat or meat products in the vaccine.

There is no pork, there is no alcohol and it has been endorsed by religious leaders and religious councils.

A fine message. But when I look back at my childhood, I fear the greatest difficulty for Britains black communities today is the lack of authority figures who command unswerving respect.

There are exceptional activists, such as footballer Marcus Rashford and rapper Stormzy.

Marcus Rashford (pictured left) has been campaigning against food poverty. Multi-award winning Grime artist Stormzy (pictured right) has set up a scholarship scheme for young black students in the UK

I know that plenty of black actors, pop stars, athletes and TV personalities would be eager to help.

But these are people outside the bastions of the Establishment, where every spokesman seems to be white and middle-aged.

We need black doctors in front of the cameras, urging people like them to line up for vaccination.

We need black scientists to reassure communities that it is not only safe, but essential.

Hearing the same message time and again from figures who feel entirely remote from the experience of ordinary black people will not help.

This week, the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi, himself born in Baghdad, said he was working with councils to spread the message to hard-to-reach groups that the vaccines are safe.

We can eventually expect, he said, about 85 per cent of Britains adult population to be vaccinated against Covid.

But, the minister went on: If the 15 per cent [who are not vaccinated] skews heavily to the BAME community, the virus will very quickly infect that community.

These men and women, and their families, do not deserve to suffer in this way.

That is why black authority figures need to work fast. Britains return to health might just depend on it.

Sir Geoff Palmer is Professor Emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
Danny Zaragoza, Staff Photographer / Laredo Morning Times

Laredo Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino was hospitalized Tuesday evening, but is doing well and is in good spirits, his primary care physician Dr. Carlos Cigarroa told LMT.

Trevino had a spell of vertigo and was dehydrated, Cigarroa said.
In its latest attempt to infiltrate the ongoing farmer protests, pro-Khalistani secessionist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has urged the people of Delhi to not participate in the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath on 26 January while also threatening to cut off electricity supply to the national capital on Republic Day. The radical outfit appealed to the farmers to target electricity companies allegedly owned by 'Ambanis' in order to 'plunge Delhi into darkness'. SFJ issued a 'stay home-stay safe' advisory while appealing to the people of the national capital to boycott the Republic Day parade at Rajpath.

SFJ has been constantly attempting to malign India and the Centre and has attempted to incite the farmers to propagate their Khalistan agenda. Earlier, SFJ announced a cash reward of USD 2,50,000 for hoisting the Khalistan flag on January 26 at the India Gate on Republic Day. Meanwhile, the Government of India on Wednesday blocked the website shared by Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice in a letter to farmers protesting against Centre's agri laws

READ | Pro-Khalistan Outfit SFJ's June 17 Letter To China Seeking 'help' Against India Surfaces

Another malicious attempt to target Republic Day by Pro-Khalistani SFJ

READ | BKU President Bhupinder Singh Mann Recuses Himself From Supreme Court's Farmers Stir Panel

Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has been actively involved in hijacking the ongoing farmers' protests and recently protested outside Indian Missions in US, Canada, UK and Europe to 'stand in solidarity' with the protesting farmers of Punjab, as stated by the Centre in the Supreme Court. The radical outfit wrote to EAM S Jaishankar and MoS Muraleedharan declaring their support for the Bharat Bandh called on December 8 and alleged that the Indian government was 'unabashedly suppressing and gagging the protesting, criticizing and dissenting voices, with impunity'. Earlier, the SFJ also offered $1 million to farmers who were injured or whose tractors were damaged in the farmers' protests.

Khailstanis have infiltrated farmers protest: Centre tells SC

This comes as the Supreme Court asked the Centre to file an affidavit on its claim that some banned organisations including Khalistanis' have infiltrated the ongoing farmers' protest. Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, claimed that Khalistanis' have infiltrated the protest and he will file an affidavit along with the necessary inputs of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Senior Advocate Harish Salve also alleged that Sikhs For Justice is involved in the protests.

The Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Bobde, in its order, said, "Laudably, the farmers have so far carried on the agitation peacefully and without any untoward incident. But it was pointed out in the course of hearing that a few persons who are not farmers have also joined, with a view to show solidarity with the farmers".

It said that apprehension was expressed that the possibility of some persons creating trouble cannot be entirely ruled out. "In fact, a specific averment is made in an intervention application filed by one Indian Kisan Union, in...that an organisation by name Sikhs for Justice, which is banned for anti-India secessionist movement is financing the agitation. This averment is supported by the learned Attorney General also", it said.

The top court stayed the implementation of controversial new farm laws till further orders and decided to set up a 4-member committee to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers' unions protesting at Delhi borders. However, one member - Bhupinder Singh Mann - recused himself from the committee 'in order to "not compromise with the interests of Punjab and farmers of the country'. The panel has sought to meet the farmers on Jan 21.

READ | Pro-Khalistan Flags At UK Protest Outside Indian High Commission; SFJ Claims It's A Seige

What is SFJ?

As per reports, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) which was formed in 2007, seeks a separate homeland for Sikhs  a Khalistan in Punjab. Its legal adviser - Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had launched Referendum 2020, which seeks to liberate Punjab from Indian occupation. SFJ has announced to hold polling for the referendum in November 2020 which it has planned to hold in Punjab along with major cities of North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Kenya and the Middle Eastern Countries. India has banned SFJ in 2019 in India, as it continues to operate from the US since 2007.

READ | MoS Agriculture Slams SFJ For Republic Day-Khalistani Flag Plot; Urges Farmers Over Jan 26
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani urged U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and lift crippling sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

"The ball is in the U.S. court now. If Washington returns to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, we will also fully respect our commitments under the pact," he said in a televised cabinet meeting.

"U.S. President Donald Trump's political career is over today and his 'maximum pressure' policy on Iran has completely failed," Reuters cited Rouhani as saying.
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The young man was arrested in Strassen following a police raid on a family home in early 2020 and spent 9 months in detention awaiting trial. The investigation looked into illegal possession of fire arms and explosive materials. He is now about to be tried in Sweden.

The man, who has since turned 18, had frequented darknet websites which attracted the attention of a foreign intelligence service who passed on the information to Luxembourg's national intelligence service (Srel).

According to RTL sources, the man was in contact with so-called "eco-fascists". This suspicion has now been reinforced as the man is to stand trial in Stockholm for an alleged arson attack on a mink farm.

Swedish authorities accuse him and a 20-year-old accomplice of carrying out an arson attack on a mink farm in the autumn of 2019. The farm was completely destroyed by the fire.

According to Swedish media outlets, both youngsters also had plans to detonate a bomb in an abortion clinic. They are also said to have discussed an assassination attempt on a convicted sex offender, who they believed to have received an insufficient sentence, and the judge who adjudicated the case. The initial charges for these plans were however dropped by the Swedish prosecution.

Swedish authorities have disclosed that the arson charges rest on intercepted phone calls between both defendants. During said chats the man from Strassen stressed his skills in chemistry which he acquired at school in Luxembourg and which would have enabled him to build a bomb.

Luxembourgs public prosecutors office declined to confirm whether explosive material was found in the raid in Strassen last year. According to RTL sources, however, this was the case.

The authorities did confirm that the man was placed in detention immediately on 23 February 2020, from which he was released in November 2020 on order of the appeal court.

The investigation into the illegal possession of fire arms and explosive material is still ongoing. The prosecutors are also looking into potential breaches of terrorism legislation.

As to the potential punishment of the man from Strassen, the investigation will need to be completed first. Luxembourg and Swedish authorities are working in close conjunction at this moment.

In Stockholm, the trial will look into the contacts of both defendants with other "eco-fascists" and neo-Nazis.

 Parquet Schweden  Parquet Schweden  Parquet Schweden  Parquet Schweden  Parquet Schweden

According to expert websites, the term "eco-fascism" relates to the "blood and soil" ideology that was propagated by the Nazis. The Christchurch assailant and the terrorist who carried out attacks in El Paso  attacks that claimed the lives of 73 people  shared this right-wing extremist and racist ideology.

Police documents state that both defendants in Stockholm are described as "intelligent" or even "highly intelligent".

Both mens counsellors pleaded not guilty. They stressed the youthful naivety of both which led them to discuss these things online.

Documents pertaining to the trial in Sweden were used as a source for this article.
CHICAGO, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A 15-year research and advocacy effort to make microwave ovens safer has led to a change in national manufacturing standards that will make microwaves more difficult for young children to open, protecting them from the severe microwave-related burns that scar hundreds of kids under 5 years old in the United States each year. Researchers at Rush University Medical Center and other leaders of the campaign, who worked diligently to document the frequency and severity of these injuries and young children's vulnerability to them, published the results of their efforts in The Journal of Pediatrics on Jan. 20.

"The efforts we have made over the last 15 years have recently led to a change in how microwaves are made. In 2023, manufacturers will be required to incorporate two distinct actions into opening the door of a microwave oven," said Kyran Quinlan MD, MPH , a professor of pediatrics and the director of the Division of General Pediatrics at Rush University Medical Center. Quinlan and fellow Rush pediatrician Gina Lowell, MD , worked closely with colleagues from the University of Chicago Medical Center Burn Unit to achieve the goal of child resistant microwave doors.

"We believed that if young children were less able to open microwave oven doors, they would be less likely to be able to remove the heated items, such as liquids and noodle soups, and they would therefore be less at risk for severe burns," Quinlan added. 'These burns are terribly painful, require burn unit care, and can be life-changing because of the permanent scarring that often results."

An abstract presenting the results from the advocacy effort was chosen as the Program Description Abstract of the Year during the annual conference of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids in December 2019.

According to the American Burn Association, 22.5% of the patients in burn units across the United States are children, and most of the children are admitted for scalds rather than burns suffered in fires.

The researchers' 15-year journey began with documenting the issue, and learning how microwave ovens are regulated and how to effectively advocate for child-resistant microwave oven doors. In 2008, the researchers published an analysis of three years of burn unit data that found that a significant percentage of burns involved young children opening a microwave themselves and removing and spilling the oven's heated contents.

In that report, the youngest child burned was 18 months old, and nearly half of the cases required skin grafts -- a process of removing skin from one part of the body to cover the section of skin that was burned.

The researchers then evaluated and documented the abilities of healthy young children ages 15 months to 4 years to use microwave ovens. They recorded whether the children could open the microwave oven door with either a push mechanism or a pull mechanism, turn on the microwave and remove its contents.

The study revealed that children as young as 17 months could open both a push- and a pull-open microwave oven door, remove what was in the microwave, and even turn it on. Nearly all children were able to perform each of these tasks by the age of 2.

The researchers then worked to submit a proposed change in the design requirements of microwave oven doors to make them more difficult for young children to open. Quinlan and Lowell worked with the child product safety advocacy group Kids in Danger to enlist college engineering students to design child-resistant microwave doors to demonstrate their feasibility. The team also presented their research at national meetings and created a short video to put a face with the statistics about microwave-related childhood burns.

Eventually, Quinlan and Marla Robinson MSc, OTR/L, assistant director of therapy services at University of Chicago Medical Center and a partner in the advocacy campaign, became voting members of the Underwriters Laboratories Standards Technical Panel for microwave ovens, which sets the standards required for any microwave sold in the United States.

After previous failed attempts to change the standard for microwave oven doors, the panel passed the change by a single vote in September 2018. The new microwave ovens also will be required to include labels warning families of the risk of severe scalds to young children.

"Early on, we felt that making microwave oven doors harder to open would truly protect young children from these burns, which were frequently severe," Quinlan said. "This took longer than we expected, but it was so worth it.

"We knew we had work to do to share this idea and to provide enough information to convince others who could be a part of the change we sought, but ultimately, our idea was a good one, and with persistence we realized our goal."

Provided by Newswise, online resource for knowledge-based news at www.newswise.com

SOURCE Rush University Medical Center

Related Links

http://www.rush.edu


The release of the countrys much anticipated census data offers a chance to look back at past predictions to see what can be gleaned about the future

May 28, 2021 01:39 PM
On the other side of Donald Trump's turbulent presidency, the lawyers are waiting.

Leaving aside his Senate impeachment trial, mounting government investigations include a civil probe by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a criminal probe by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., and a federal probe by acting U.S. Attorney for D.C. Michael Sherwin that may include Trump's role in the catastrophic storming of the U.S. Capitol this month.

But already pending for the soon-to-be South Florida retiree is a trio of lawsuits that allege defamation, fraud and more fraud - all of which are helmed by one attorney.

Roberta Kaplan's clients include writer E. Jean Carroll, who filed a defamation case after Trump claimed she was "totally lying" about her allegation that he raped her a quarter-century ago in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room, and niece Mary L. Trump, who claims that Trump and two of his siblings deprived her of an inheritance worth millions.

"I became the go-to person to sue the president," says Kaplan, 54, with considerable relish.

She is in many ways the ideal legal adversary to take on Trump. Kaplan is a brash and original strategist, with neither a gift for patience nor silence, a crusader for underdogs who has won almost every legal accolade imaginable. Kaplan, says New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo in an email, "has been indispensable in the fight against the cancer of hate and division that Trump spent four years exacerbating."

2 1 of 2 Photo for The Washington Post by Jackie Molloy Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Photo for The Washington Post by Jackie Molloy Show More Show Less



Before the presidency, Trump was often as engaged in legal tussles as he was in real estate, suing and threatening to sue his way out of financial trouble. With a return to private life, "his terror is that he will no longer be protected by the office and will have to deal with these lawsuits," says his niece. Trump faces the prospect of spending considerable time in the role of defendant. Kaplan says she will seek to depose him in all three cases. Trump's lawyers did not respond to requests for comment on the cases in this article.

For much of her career, there was little in Kaplan's professional bio to suggest she would become an attorney suing behemoths. Kaplan, known to all as Robbie, is a self-described "traditionalist," in pearls, pumps and, pre-coronavirus, superior blond highlights, who long worked as a top commercial litigator at Paul, Weiss, one of the nation's pre-eminent firms, where the fees tend to be if-you-have-to-ask-you-surely-can't-afford-us.

But she became increasingly identified as an advocate for liberal causes and outside-the-box legal strategies. She is a lesbian, an observant Jew and a die-hard Democrat for whom 12 hours constitutes a light workday.

"My maternal grandmother always hated a bully," Kaplan says during a series of phone interviews. "One really good job for going after bullies is to be a lawyer."

Since launching her own firm four years ago, Kaplan has initiated a constellation of cases against powerful, often intimidating forces: white supremacists, major Hollywood players, the president of the United States. Legal writer Dahlia Lithwick calls her "an attorney general for the resistance."

Stanford University law professor Pamela Karlan says of their frequent legal conversations: "Robbie's not calling about feelings. She wants to fix it first. She's the least diffident person I've ever met. Plenty of smart people worry about failing. They worry about every little thing. Robbie doesn't worry about that. In a really disarming way, she doesn't care if people view her as hyperaggressive."

In Kaplan's third Trump case, she represents participants in ACN, a multilevel marketing company promoted on "The Celebrity Apprentice." They're suing not ACN, but the former host and his three oldest children, accusing them of committing fraud in endorsing the company as a promising business opportunity.

While Trump billed himself as a populist, Kaplan perceived a consistent disconnect in how Trump University and other enterprises allegedly took advantage of the very people whose interests he claimed to champion.

"Because of his prominence, he marketed his ability to convince unsophisticated, very poor Americans to invest," says Kaplan, who was indignant that Trump "would exploit people like this to line your own pockets."

(In a Business Insider story, a Trump organization spokesperson responded to the suit by saying, "Before enrolling with ACN, every participant acknowledged in writing that they are 'not guaranteed any income.' " In that story, ACN co-founder Robert Stevanovski claimed the plaintiffs were told that Trump was getting paid to endorse the company. "I think it's politically motivated that they're going to sue him and the family and not us," he said.)

Kaplan remains most celebrated for the Edie Windsor case that, in 2013, successfully struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, paving the way with stunning alacrity for the legalization of same-sex marriage two years later to the day.

Among Kaplan's strategic moves - "I don't know where I found the chutzpah to do this" - was to help coax Bill Clinton to publish a Washington Post opinion piece renouncing his 1996 support of DOMA before she appeared before the nation's highest court. United States v. Windsor remains the only U.S. Supreme Court case that she has ever argued.

- - -

"A little girl with a big mouth." That's how Kaplan's grandmother described her, meant with affection. Growing up in Cleveland, she was a rigorous student who designed a plan. Head East to a top school (Harvard), train as a lawyer (Columbia), become a New Yorker.

Five years ago, that plan expanded to landing a top Justice Department position in Hillary Clinton's administration.

So, no.

Instead, in the summer of 2017, Kaplan launched her own boutique firm, still a rarity among female corporate lawyers, creating an unusual model that combines lucrative commercial litigation with a progressive public-interest practice. Free from the agendas of risk-averse institutional clients, Kaplan and her colleagues could take on any case they believed had merit.

One week after the firm moved into its 71st-floor offices in the Empire State Building, the furniture yet to arrive, Charlottesville, Va., erupted.

Believing that Trump's Justice Department seemed unlikely to seriously investigate and prosecute the people responsible for the violence during the "Unite the Right" rally and counterprotest - he infamously claimed there "were very fine people, on both sides" - Kaplan announced, and this was her precise language to friends and colleagues: "I want to sue Nazis."

Because, why not?

Within days, Kaplan and her team flew to Virginia. The firm adopted an outside-the-box approach and sued two dozen avowed neo-Nazis, white supremacists and associated groups, invoking the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act to argue that they conspired for months to commit racially motivated violence, thereby making it more of a challenge for the organizers to adopt free speech as a defense. The case is scheduled for trial in October.

In the wake of Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct revelations, Kaplan co-founded the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, which offers financial assistance for plaintiffs filing harassment cases, and she now serves as chair of the Time's Up organization. Many women who say they have been sexually harassed or assaulted have come to her. The actress Amber Heard sought Kaplan's representation in ex-husband Johnny Depp's $50 million case involving a 2018 Washington Post opinion piece by Heard; he alleges she defamed him by implying that he domestically abused her. (The op-ed does not explicitly name him.) In the complaint, the actor denies any abuse took place.

Heard says of Kaplan, "I'm instantly drawn to the type of individual who can look upon the Goliath and say, 'I think I can take you.' That kind of energy and temerity is rare in the world, especially in the legal world."

Suing the powerful has brought repeated threats. Kaplan has an apartment in Manhattan but requested that her country home's location, where she has spent the pandemic working, go unnamed.

Kaplan says the greatest abuse she's received on social media has come not from neo-Nazis, white supremacists or Trump's true believers, but from Depp's vehement online champions.

A hallmark of Kaplan Hecker & Fink is crafting complaints in layman's language that packs a wallop. The Mary Trump brief is a doozy. "For Donald J. Trump, his sister Maryanne, and their late brother Robert, fraud was not just the family business - it was a way of life," the complaint begins, before alleging three duplicitous schemes, "The Grift," "The Devaluing" and "The Squeeze-Out."

Says Mary Trump, "That brief is literature."

The president's lawyers, in an effort to have the case tossed, claimed that the complaint is "laden with conspiracy theories."

When Carroll first met with Kaplan, the lawyer quickly understood her client's objective. "I don't give two flying figs about an apology," Carroll says. "I am dying to get him in a deposition. I want him to say that I'm not a liar. I just want him to admit that he lied and that, yes, it happened."

The last few years of Kaplan's professional life, with her firm swelling from four to 43 elite lawyers, are inextricably intertwined with Trump. Without his election, Kaplan might not have launched her own firm as quickly or filed three lawsuits against him.

"I'm ready. I'm excited," says Kaplan. In the Carroll case, Kaplan believes that Trump's proclivity for false and misleading statements - with more than 30,000 of them during his White House term, according to The Post - will be tested when he is under oath. During a 2007 Trump deposition, lawyers caught him making exaggerated claims 30 times, according to a 2016 Post investigation.

"When we depose you, you're not going to get away with that," Kaplan says. "He had the mantle of the presidency, and that's now gone."

- - -

Kaplan is celebrated for her candor. She's active in LGBTQ causes, recently serving as the board chair of the Gay Men's Health Crisis. She rhapsodizes about her "big gay Jewish wedding" in 2005 to Rachel Lavine, a liberal activist who serves on New York's Democratic committee.

Yet Kaplan remained in the closet until law school graduation.

"Robbie is one of the most conventional radicals you'll ever meet," Lithwick says.

In 1991, Kaplan came out to her parents at age 25. It did not go well. Her mother walked up to a wall and began banging her head, repeatedly, in dismay. "Which she has apologized for over and over again," Kaplan says. The family remains close.

Kaplan experienced a rare episode of depression, which led her to consult a therapist named Thea Spyer, who referenced her lesbian relationship in an effort to comfort Kaplan - and whose death in 2009 left a punitive estate-tax bill to her partner, Edie Windsor, because their marriage wasn't legally recognized, sparking the Supreme Court case that helped define Kaplan's career.

Why did such an outspoken person hide her true identity for so long?

"I'd never been a burn-down-the-ramparts sort of person. I believed in working in institutions," says Kaplan. "Living a life very much on the margins didn't appeal to me. I really wanted to have kids. I really wanted to be part of the Jewish community. I really wanted to have a career. All of this would have been unavailable in the world I grew up in."

She has all of that - the marriage, a son (Jacob, now 14), a goldendoodle. On Sunday mornings, she participates in a Talmud discussion group with her rabbi and Lithwick.

"Also, I knew when I met Rachel there was no way I was going to be able to be in the closet and be with Rachel," Kaplan says. "Those two things were completely incompatible." Everyone in the New York gay rights movement knew Lavine. Politics, civic engagement and intellectual rigor were part of the attraction. On an early date in a romantic Chelsea bistro, the two argued at length over the comparative power of the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks during the Russian Revolution.

Although known for her fresh legal arguments, Kaplan was comfortable working in a large firm. She seemed unlikely to go out on her own. In many ways, it's the boldest professional move she's made.

"What makes a good litigator and lawyer is being a pessimist and risk-averse because you need to be looking at problems around the next corner," says Karlan, who helped prepare Kaplan for the Supreme Court argument. "Robbie has been as successful as she is because she doesn't appear to be that kind of thinker. She's an optimist."

The firm's high-profile cases have attracted top legal talent, like Joshua Matz, who briefly left the firm last year to help the House Judiciary Committee draft articles of impeachment.

"We've learned that, in presenting options to Robbie, she will presumptively favor the most aggressive option," Matz says. "She is jaw-droppingly strategic and savvy on the one hand, and extremely bold on the other."

It's also a menschy practice. "What's unusual is the sheer amount of contact she has with her clients," Karlan says. Kaplan celebrated Passover with Windsor, who died in 2017. She's available at all hours for phone consultations. Gifts of food are constant. She sent Heard a box of chicken soup, lox and bagels.

Citing logistical challenges that were better served by local counsel, Kaplan's firm no longer represents Heard in the defamation case, which is scheduled for trial in May.

Yet Kaplan continues to offer Heard legal advice on the case and other legal matters. They speak regularly, sometimes daily. "She is the bravest lawyer I have ever met. She doesn't get intimidated or scare easily," Heard says. "The well-behaved woman never interested me. There's a rebellious part of Robbie. I think of her as my Jewish mother."

Kaplan's close friend Sharon Nelles, head of litigation at Sullivan & Cromwell, says: "If you can come at the world the way she does, you are not reined in by whether there are social constructs or boundaries. You can create your own mold. Lawyers for the most part react. Robbie acts."

Nelles recalls a time when Kaplan called to consult on a case. "She's yapping at me on the phone and then lets out a little screech."

Nelles asked what was wrong. "Oh, I'm having a medical procedure," Kaplan said. "Let me call you back when I get off the doctor's table."

Mary Trump hired Kaplan to sue President Trump, his sister Maryanne Trump Barry and the estate of his late brother Robert Trump "because I want justice for my daughter, and for me, and for my dad. If Donald Trump is not going to be held accountable for other things, he needs to be held accountable for this," she says, adding: "Maybe that will start the dominoes to fall. Maybe other people will feel that they, too, have options and will come forward." Kaplan's firm regularly fields inquiries from potential clients who wish to sue Trump.

Carroll cannot wait for her day in court with Trump. She's already picked out her outfit. Black. Armani.

She also views her lawsuit as symbolic, saying, "It's for all the women in the country who have been harassed or assaulted by powerful men, and feel helpless to do anything about it."

So Carroll's doing something about it.

"I don't have to be brave," she says. "Because Robbie Kaplan is brave for me."
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said it would be opening up vaccination appointment slots for night staff from Wednesday evening (Joe Giddens/PA)

Three Birmingham hospitals are to start piloting delivery of 24-hour Covid-19 vaccinations for health and social care staff.

Vaccine deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi previously said pilots of round-the-clock delivery would start probably either (in) London or the Midlands.

A University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust spokeswoman said: We are looking at further options to provide all health and social care staff across Birmingham and Solihull the opportunity to be vaccinated at a time that suits them.

Expand Close Vaccine deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA / Facebook

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From tonight, we will be opening up a number of vaccination appointment slots specifically for our night staff, between 6pm and 8am.

These will be rolled out site-by-site at QEHB (Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham), Heartlands and Good Hope hospitals into the weekend.

Mr Zahawi said previously that the pilots would trial different types of 24/7 delivery to make sure we learn from it and we get it right.

The PA news agency understands that Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in Nottinghamshire, is also due to host a 24-hour vaccine pilot.
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(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:







Alliance Pharma PLC - healthcare company - Expects see-through revenue for 2020 to be down 5% on the prior year at GBP137.5 million from GBP144.3 million reported for 2019, both on a reported basis and on a constant currency basis, reflecting the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Underlying pretax profit for 2020 is expected to be marginally ahead of market expectations. "As we progress into 2021, we look forward to regaining the strong momentum and revenue growth of recent years, and to benefiting from the additional growth opportunities that Amberen brings into the group," said Chief Executive Peter Butterfield. The acquisition of Biogix has brought Amberen into Alliance Pharma, a brand for the relief of menopause symptoms. The acquisition creates scale in the company's business in the US and is expected to be earnings enhancing in 2021 and significantly earnings enhancing from 2022.







IQE PLC - semiconductor wafer products manufacturer - Says revenue for 2020 is expected to be GBP178 million compared to GBP140 million a year earlier. This is consistent with previously issued guidance of at least GBP170 million and represents over 25% year-on-year growth. IQE says trading remained favourable in the final quarter of 2020 and it enters 2021 with positive momentum in both the Wireless and Photonics business units.







Bonhill Group PLC - B2B media business - Delivers a strong second half of 2020, with GBP10.1 million of revenue, versus GBP7.7 million reported in the first half. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of GBP1.6 million in the second half was a swung from a loss of GBP1.7 million in the first half. This was as a result of the swift and positive action taken during the early months of the pandemic, Bonhill explains. Revenue for 2020 is therefore expected to be GBP17.8 million, down from GBP24.4 million for 2019, and adjusted Ebitda of GBP100,000 versus GBP2.3 million the year before. During 2021, the company says it expects to see additional savings from supplier agreements and reduced rental costs - both from the renegotiated lease in the US and from exiting its head office, Fleet House, in June 2021. As a result, Bonhill says it expects to see revenue growth of 12% in 2021 and to report Ebitda of GBP1.2 million, excluding any government support.







Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Income PLC - investment firm - Says as at the end of 2020, the property portfolio was independently valued by CBRE GmbH at EUR430.2 million, an increase of 6.0% on the end of September 2020 valuation of EUR405.7 million on a like-for-like basis. The company says 100% of rent due for the quarter ended December 2020 has been collected. Total rent collection for the entire 2020 is 97% of rent due under original tenant agreements, with the balance consisting of agreed rent deferrals and rent free periods granted in exchange for material lease extensions. The company says it expects its unaudited net asset value per share as at December 31 to have increased materially since the end of September 2020, which was 112.7 euro cents.







Mission Group PLC - marketing communications and advertising company - Says despite challenging backdrop, the strong recovery in trading momentum was experienced in the second half of 2020, reversing the first half losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the company says it now expects full year headline pretax profit to be over GBP1 million, comfortably ahead of market expectations. Reflecting on this strengthened position, the company says it now proposes to reinstate the deferred 2019 final dividend of 1.53 pence per share. This dividend was committed to before Covid-19 and will be payable on March 1, to those shareholders on the share register as at close of business on February 12.







City of London Investment Group PLC - asset management company - Says on a consolidated basis, as at December 31, funds under management were USD11.0 billion. This compares with USD5.5 billion at the company's year end at the end of June 2020. The company says it estimates the unaudited profit before amortisation, exceptional items and taxation for the six months to the end of 2020 to be GBP11.6 million versus GBP6.3 million a year earlier. The unaudited profit before amortisation and taxation for the six months to the end of 2020 to be GBP9.9 million compared to GBP6.3 million the year before. The company says it has decided to increase the interim dividend by 1p year-on-year to 11p per share, which will be paid on March 19 to shareholders registered at the close of business on March 5.







Midwich Group PLC - audio visual distributor - Says trading recovery continued in the second half of the year and, as a consequence of a strong close in November and December. The company says it now expects to report revenue for 2020 in excess of GBP710 million, representing growth of 4% over the prior year. Underlying sales before the effect of in-year acquisitions were 7% lower in the second half of 2020 than in the comparative period, compared with 22% lower in the first half, giving an overall decline of 14% for the year. The company says it now anticipates reporting adjusted pretax profit for 2020 of GBP14 million, significantly ahead of its prior expectations.







Argentex Group PLC - foreign exchange advisory and execution services provider - Says trading has continued to improve since the end of November 2020. Although the full effect of the latest lockdown has yet to be felt, the recent Brexit trade agreement and the successful implementation of the vaccine programme for Covid-19 provides the company with confidence that this encouraging trend, driven by a return to historic client trading behaviour, will continue for the remainder of the financial year to the end of March. In addition, Argentex says it appointed Jo Stent as chief financial officer with effect from February 1. She has been a senior finance professional for 25 years, most recently as CFO of the European Tour and Ryder Cup Europe. She is a former CFO of Vodafone Americas. Also, Carl Jani, joint chief executive, is taking a leave of absence from the business for health reasons with immediate effect. In this interim period, Harry Adams, joint CEO, will assume the role of sole CEO.







Van Elle Holdings PLC - engineering contractor - Reports revenue for the six months to the end of October of GBP38.3 million compared to GBP48.5 million a year earlier. Van Elle reports a swing to loss of GBP700,000 versus GBP900,000 profit a year prior. The company says first quarter of its current financial year was significantly impacted by the downturn in the wider construction market caused by Covid-19 restrictions. More positively, the company sees encouraging recovery in trading during the second quarter, with activity recovering to pre-Covid levels and the company returning to profitability in September and October. Trading in the early part of the third quarter has been in line with expectations, with an order book at January 7 of GBP23.6 million versus GBP21.4 million at the end of April 2020.







Autins Group PLC - manufacturer of the patented Neptune melt-blown material - Says revenue for the year to the end of September 2020 decreased to GBP21.5 million from GBP26.9 million a year ago. Autins says revenue in the second half has been impacted by the pandemic and totalled GBP7.8 million versus GBP13.2 million the prior year. Autins says its loss for the year widened to GBP1.8 million compared to GBP1.5 million a year ago. "Despite the unprecedented challenges faced this year we have still delivered on many of the performance targets we set ourselves a year ago," says Chief Executive Gareth Kaminski-Cook. "The strategy, therefore, does not change. We will leverage Neptune to win market share in automotive, leverage our acoustic and thermal expertise to accelerate growth in non-auto markets and drive down our operational costs."







Craneware PLC - financial software provider - Delivers a strong performance in the first half of the year against the ongoing backdrop of the pandemic and a volatile dollar exchange rate. The increased sales momentum has resulted in growth at both the revenue and adjusted Ebitda levels of greater than 5% compared to the first half of the prior year. Craneware reports revenue for the half-year of USD35.9 million and adjusted Ebitda of USD12.7 million.







Mortgage Advice Bureau Holdings PLC - the company which offers mortgage advices - Says revenue for 2020 is expected to be GBP148 million, representing an increase of 3% on 2019. The total number of advisers at year end had increased by 8% to 1,580 from 1,457 a year ago. The company says its pretax profit for 2020 is expected to be materially ahead of current market expectations. The company says it has started 2021 with a very strong pipeline of both written business and adviser recruitment. In addition, Mortgage Advice Bureau says it appointed Mike Jones as an independent non-executive director, with effect from March 1. Jones will serve on the Audit, Remuneration, Nomination, and Group Risk Committees.







Air Partner PLC - aviation services firm - Says, despite global travel restrictions, the company has performed better than expected and ahead of market expectations in the second half of 2020. Accordingly, the company says it now expects to announce an underlying pretax profit of no less than GBP11.5 million for the full year ending January 31.







MaxCyte Inc - life sciences company - Says 2020 revenue is expected to be USD26.2 million, an increase of 21% compared to the prior year's USD21.6 million, and ahead of market expectations. While Covid-19 had some negative impact, revenue growth continued in the second half of 2020, increasing by 15% over the second half of 2019 to USD15.3 million compared to USD13.2 million. This growth reflects the increasing adoption and use of the company's products and technologies and was buoyed by the launch of an expanded ExPERT range of disposables in 2020, which broadens applications available to customers. Going forward, MaxCyte says it is fully focused on expanding its core business and expects to deliver accelerating revenue growth in 2021.







Deltex Medical Group PLC - oesophageal Doppler monitoring company - Says revenue for 2020 was GBP2.4 million compared to GBP4.3 million reported for 2019. Revenue in the year was adversely affected by the impact of Covid-19 and the associated significant reduction in elective surgical procedures worldwide. In addition, the company says it appointed Tim Irish as a director with immediate effect. Irish's current appointments cover life sciences and healthcare, both public and private, including his board role at NICE where he is vice chair, various European med-tech supervisory board roles, and professor of practice at King's College London's School of Management & Business.







Arc Minerals Ltd - junior exploration company - Reports loss of GBP376,000 for the six months to the end of September compared to GBP872,000 loss a year earlier, as administrative expenses rose to GBP1.1 million form GBP944,000. No revenue was reported for either year. The company also says that the remaining convertible loan note lender has notified that it is converting at the last equity financing price of 3.5 pence per share the remaining balance of the principal debt plus accrued interest, totalling GBP220,275, resulting in the issuance of 6.3 million shares. Following the conversion, the balance of the convertible loan note facility will be nil.







Scirocco Energy PLC - investing company - Notes the positive update provided by Helium One Ltd, in which it was announced that work has commenced to mobilise surface geochemical exploration at the Eyasi project in southern Tanzania. Scirocco holds an interest of 4.3% in the share capital of Helium One, and 1 million share options. The company says fieldwork will focus on evaluating historic seep locations as well as identifying potential new seep locations at the southern end of the project area.







Jupiter UK Growth Investment Trust PLC - investment firm - Agrees the liquidation and rollover terms and says the cash exit will now be the default option and shareholders wishing to rollover their investment into the Rollover Fund will have to elect to do so. The move follows the company's announcement on December 3 that it would be wound up voluntarily.







Target Healthcare REIT PLC - investor in modern, purpose-built care homes - Says, as of Wednesday, the administration of the first dose under the vaccination programme is well advanced in 86% of its care homes, with commencement expected for the remainder of the portfolio prior to the government target of January 31. There are currently confirmed Covid-19 cases in 2.4% of total portfolio beds across 14 care homes, down from the peak of 3.2% suspected or confirmed cases of total portfolio beds across 32 care homes during the third week of April 2020.







Schroder British Opportunities Trust PLC - investment firm - Says its portfolio currently includes twenty-three public equity and three private equity holdings and it is now more than 70% invested. Since launch seven weeks ago, the company says it has participated in two equity offerings and the market has since responded positively to both issuances. The first was Invinity Energy Systems, a manufacturer of vanadium flow batteries, which raised GBP22.5 million in a placing and open offer. The second was Ideagen PLC, a supplier of information management software solutions, which raised GBP48.7 million and has since used part of the proceeds to fund the acquisition of Harmony UK Holdings, a software-as-a-service based secure content collaboration and workflow solution with customers across highly regulated sectors.







Ridgecrest PLC - recruitment consultancy - Says it has been notified by the liquidator of its dormant Australian subsidiaries in Sydney and Melbourne that both liquidations are now being finalised. The company took the decision in 2018 to cease trading in Australia and the Australian subsidiaries were put into two separate liquidation processes at that time.







Starvest PLC - investment company - Notes the change in its share price, down 13% to 25.70 pence. Starvest says the change closely follows the move in the share price of its investee company Greatland Gold PLC, which is down 15% to 28.55p. Starvest says it knows of no other specific reason for the share price movement. Starvest says it remains positive on the outlook for Greatland Gold which is advancing the Havieron gold-copper project with joint venture partner Newcrest Mining Ltd.







Greatland Gold - precious and base metals exploration and development company - Reports results of the first three drill holes completed at its Scallywag licence. Exploration work at Scallywag is focussed on the discovery of intrusion related gold-copper deposits such as Havieron, Telfer and Winu. Greatland says it has completed seven drill holes at Scallywag in the second half of 2020, testing targets at the Kraken, London and Blackbeard prospects. Assay results have been received for the first three holes. The results suggest the holes have intersected prospective target lithologies and pathfinder element anomalism associated with quartz-pyrite vein arrays. In addition, ongoing geological interpretation assisted by drill information and regional aeromagnetics has identified a new target within the Scallywag licence named 'Teach'. Follow up drilling is planned during the 2021 field season to test for further development of brecciated and mineralised lithologies, in particular along strike at the newly defined 'Teach' target.







FastForward Innovations Ltd - investment company - Notes announcement concerning investee companies EMMAC Life Sciences and Yooma Corp. FastForward has a 2.3% interest in the issued stock of EMMAC and an 11% interest in the issued stock of Yooma. EMMAC and Yooma entered into a licensing agreement whereby Yooma will license EMMAC's wellness brands, including Blossom, MYO, Hello Joya and What the Hemp. Under the terms of the agreement, Yooma will have exclusive rights for the distribution and sale of the EMMAC Brands in China, Japan, Taiwan and Australia as well as non-exclusive distribution rights in certain other global markets.







Xtract Resources PLC - metals and minerals producer - Provides further news regarding progress of the first hole in the phase one diamond drilling programme at the Racecourse mineral resource on the Bushranger copper-gold exploration project located in the Lachlan Fold belt, New South Wales, Australia. Xtract says drilling of the first of three planned holes has continued to 1,089 metres in angled drill hole BRDD-20-001. Copper mineralisation was first noted at a depth of 110 metres and the hole has been mineralised continuously over a 940 metres interval to 1,050 metres depth, 235 metres past the original planned finishing depth of the hole. The company says the hole will be extended further to test for possible pick-up in copper grades but will be stopped if significant additional mineralisation is not encountered. The results of this hole will be assessed in the coming days and will feed into planning for the next holes of the programme.







Gunsynd PLC - investment company - Says investee company Eagle Mountain Mining Ltd has announced drilling results from its 2020 programme at its 80% owned Oracle Ridge mine project in Arizona, US. Assay results have been received from holes WT-20-12, WT-20-13, WT-20-14 and WT-20-15. Eagle Mountain has recently commenced its 2021 drilling programme having completed the first drill hole of 2021 with the second drill hole underway. Eagle Mountain has informed the market that zones of mineralisation continue to be logged in the 2021 drill core outside the existing mineral resource estimate.







Shanta Gold Ltd - gold mining company - Reports total group-wide reserves of 625,000 ounces across the company's two projects in Tanzania. Total resources of 3.2 million ounces reported across all three projects in Tanzania and Kenya. Shanta Gold says net reserves increased by 37,000 ounces in 2020, after depletion from production during the year and resource optimization. "Drilling is currently ongoing at all three of Shanta's assets, including at our West Kenya project where a second rig is now operational. We look forward to sharing interim drilling results from West Kenya in March," says Chief Executive Eric Zurrin.







Predator Oil & Gas Holdings PLC - Jersey-based oil & gas company with operations in Trinidad, Morocco and Ireland - Reports results of its Pilot CO2 EOR project in the Inniss-Trinity field onshore Trinidad. The Pilot CO2 EOR programme is designed to demonstrate safe injection of anthropogenic CO2. The objectives of the Pilot CO2 EOR have been successfully achieved, despite the unforeseen Covid-19 pandemic, the company says. During the period of the Pilot CO2 EOR operations, the commercial model has been strengthened by optimising operating costs, the rise in oil price to USD53.02 per barrel on January 15 from USD30.74 per barrel on May 18, 2020.







Cora Gold Ltd - West African focused gold company - Reports further drill results on both the Dako II permit contiguous with its flagship Sanankoro gold project and the Tagan permit adjacent to the north of the Hummingbird Resources PLC's Yanfolila mine, in southern Mali. The Dako II drilling, which lies immediately to the south of Sanankoro, builds on the discovery made there last year. The Tagan drilling is the follow-up of a small rotary air blast programme drilled June 2019. Upon completion of Dako II, the rig moved to drill a short RAB-style air core programme on the Tagan permit in Cora Gold's Yanfolila North project. "We are delighted to have followed up last year's discovery at Dako II with further promising results," says Chief Executive Bert Monro.







President Energy PLC - energy company - Says four well committed drilling programme in Argentina to commence by end March in Rio Negro Province. Three of these wells will target the Centenario formation in the Las Bases Concession and are expected to cost circa USD1.3 million each with a drilling time of 14 days per well. This price includes a mini hydraulic stimulation subject to results of logging. The company also says planning is in progress for potentially drilling and 3D seismic data acquisition in the second half at the Puesto Guardian Concession, Salta, Argentina.







Tirupati Graphite PLC - graphite producer - Says government of Odisha allotted prime industrial land in Bhubaneswar, which is a significant milestone in the advancement and development of its state-of-the-art graphene and technology centre, with detailed construction planning, equipment sourcing, and recruitment initiatives also progressing. The company says it is focused on further optimisation of the material properties of its zero-chemical graphene products, which is likely to further enhance the use and compatibility of the material in various graphene enhanced applications being developed.







Helium One Group Ltd - helium producer - Saays work has commenced to mobilise surface geochemical exploration at the Eyasi project in southern Tanzania. Surface exploration work to commence at the 804 square kilometres Eyasi project, 600 kilometres to the north of the Rukwa project. The company says Eyasi project has numerous geological similarities to the Rukwa project showing potential to host a helium deposit. Fieldwork will focus on evaluating historic seep locations as well as identifying potential new seep locations at the southern end of the project area. "The Eyasi project has potential to add significant volume to Helium One's prospective resource base. The project is not as advanced in its exploration as the Rukwa project, however high-grade helium has been measured at surface and structural leads identified," says Chief Executive David Minchin.







Kropz PLC - African phosphate explorer and developer - Says it has been notified that the hearing against Elandsfontein's valid integrated water use licence has been rescheduled for four days, commencing on February 1. The Tribunal will be resumed following a postponement in March 2020, ordered by the Chairperson of the Tribunal, following Covid-19 concerns. Kropz says it will not be providing further comment on the official proceedings until the Tribunal has announced its decision. The timing of the decision is currently unknown.







Agronomics Ltd - meat producer - Says portfolio company BlueNalu has now closed its USD60 million debt financing in the form of convertible promissory notes from new and existing investors. Agronomics currently holds 192,005 shares of BlueNalu. Agronomics says its convertible promissory notes, and all other convertible promissory notes raised in this round, will convert at a qualified financing, being an equity fundraise of USD50 million or greater. Assuming a qualified financing occurs at a price equal to the agreed valuation cap of the convertible promissory notes, Agronomics will have an equity interest of 5.9% of issued shares following conversion and would value Agronomics' position at GBP13.4 million.







By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Nearly two years after filing charges, the European Union is demanding remedies from Valve and other publishers for geo-blocking games. The European Commission has fined Valve, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media and Bethesda owner ZeniMax a total of 7.8 million (over $9.4 million) for restricting access to some Steam games between EU countries. The move violated competition law barring companies from restricting cross-border sales in the Union, officials said.

There were varying geo-blocking agreements and concerted practices between Valve and the publishers from September 2010 through October 2015, according to the Commission. The publishers saw their fines reduced by at least 10 percent for cooperating with regulators, but Valve is facing a full penalty (over 1.6 million, or more than $1.9 million) for fighting the charges.

The geo-blocking ostensibly prevented people in one EU country from buying cheaper Steam keys in another, cutting into profits. The fines are relatively small for most of the companies. However, they do send a signal that the EU wont tolerate game companies (and other digital goods makers) limiting access to games within its market. Thats generally good news for gamers looking for deals, although it could lead to stores and publishers raising prices in some countries to compensate.

Valve provided us with the following statement:

During the seven year investigation, Valve cooperated extensively with the European Commission (EC), providing evidence and information as requested. However, Valve declined to admit that it broke the law, as the EC demanded. Valve disagrees with the EC findings and the fine levied against Valve.

The ECs charges do not relate to the sale of PC games on Steam  Valves PC gaming service. Instead the EC alleges that Valve enabled geo-blocking by providing Steam activation keys and  upon the publishers request  locking those keys to particular territories (region locks) within the EEA. Such keys allow a customer to activate and play a game on Steam when the user has purchased it from a third-party reseller. Valve provides Steam activation keys free of charge and does not receive any share of the purchase price when a game is sold by third-party resellers (such as a retailer or other online store).

The region locks only applied to a small number of game titles. Approximately just 3% of all games using Steam (and none of Valves own games) at the time were subject to the contested region locks in the EEA. Valve believes that the ECs extension of liability to a platform provider in these circumstances is not supported by applicable law. Nonetheless, because of the ECs concerns, Valve actually turned off region locks within the EEA starting in 2015, unless those region locks were necessary for local legal requirements (such as German content laws) or geographic limits on where the Steam partner is licensed to distribute a game. The elimination of region locks may also cause publishers to raise prices in less affluent regions to avoid price arbitrage. There are no costs involved in sending activation keys from one country to another, and the activation key is all a user needs to activate and play a PC game.

Update, 1:30PM ET: Added a statement from Valve.
The trading ring at the London Metal Exchange (LME) could close after 144 years.

The site where traders shout at each other across the floor to set the world's metal prices has been shut since Covid struck in March.

Since then it has modernised trading in line with social distancing measures and has now proposed the end of 'open outcry'.

The trading ring at the London Metal Exchange (pictured) looks set to close after 144 years

But brokers are likely to resist any changes  they enjoy the rowdy trading and say it is the best way to set LME's complex system of futures contracts.

Many say it serves the industry as well today as it did in Victorian times, doing 38billion of trades a day.

In the trading pit  the Ring  brokers huddle together on circular red sofas to decide the final price.

But it has been criticised for being outdated and not female-friendly. Closing the floor pits them against sophisticated algorithmic traders and big banks.

LME chief executive Matthew Chamberlain said: 'It is the right time to consider the permanent closure of the Ring and a move to an electronic pricing structure.

'Its closure is not a decision we or our market will take lightly.'

City commentator David Buik said: 'Tragic but with the advent of technology, the LME has done well to hang in there for so long.'
Bold Commerce has raised another $35 million to continue its pursuit of more and faster growth as the Winnipeg e-commerce tool developer has its sights set on the next phase of digital commerce.

Bold Commerce has raised another $35 million to continue its pursuit of more and faster growth as the Winnipeg e-commerce tool developer has its sights set on the next phase of digital commerce.

After bootstrapping the company for seven years  meaning they funded the company from their own pockets and actual revenues  the four founders only brought on venture capital partners two years ago, raising $22 million at that time.

This round was led by OMERS Ventures, the transatlantic growth-oriented investment arm of the large pension-fund investor. Toronto-based Whitecap Venture Partners and Round 13 Capital who got in on Bolds first round two years ago also invested again.

Now with additional funds in hand, Bolds CEO Yvan Boisjoli said they will be able to continue to expand their suite of pricing, subscription and promotion checkout tools.

"Anyone in the Canadian ecosystem knows OMERS is a top investor," Boisjoli said. "Were thankful they got excited about the opportunity and the journey were on."

Laura Lenz, an OMERS Ventures partner will join Bolds board of directors.

Since shortly after its inception in 2012 Bold has been the largest third-party Shopify app developer  and remains so  and it was exclusive to Bold until a couple of years ago.

Since then the company  with about 375 employees in Winnipeg and another 25 in Austin, Texas  has been working at being e-commerce platform agnostic. As such its apps are now available on the other platforms including BigCommerce, WooCommerce and Commercetools.

Boisjoli said that does not mean Bolds relationship with Shopify  which is now the largest company in Canada by market capitalization  is any less strong.

"The e-commerce space is massive and the tide is rising," he said. "The opportunity in e-commerce is not going to be owned by one person. We will continue to be partners with Shopify."

In addition to broadening out across the platform spectrum, the company is also developing what is referred to as "headless commerce" applications that would allow customers to interact with brands outside the confines of their websites or mobile apps.

"The transaction is so locked down," he said. "We want to open that up. We want brands to be able to build experiences through the transaction consistent through all their different channels including social media."

In a blog post on Tuesday after the investment was announced, Lenz wrote about the kind of seamless transaction Bold is looking to facilitate.

"Bold aims to address this market by focusing on what it calls transaction experience solutions including: checkout, subscription, and pricing management," she said. "Bolds vision is to help brands let their customers transact wherever they happen to be  a website, mobile app, messenger, smart speaker, or on social media, using its modular... technology."

In an interview, Lenz said when OMERS Ventures invested in Shopify five years ago they thought e-commerce was large but it has become even more massive than even she and her team predicted.

In the third quarter when OMERS was doing its diligence on Bold, U.S. retail e-commerce reached US$210 billion, up 44.5 per cent from the same period a year ago.

"There is still a lot of room to deliver solutions for retailers and brands that are trying to be more agile and more responsive to consumers during pandemic," she said in an interview.

The pandemic has likely accelerated the growth in e-commerce, many believe it will not go away.

Bold needs to add another 100 people to its team in Winnipeg and Austin. Its prior bootstrapped growth  in a smaller city like Winnipeg  has now provided Bold with the kind of bona fides that make it that much more attractive to investors like OMERS.

Last week, another OMERS partner, Brian Kobus, wrote a blog about why you dont need to be based in Silicon Valley or Toronto to build the kind of software fee-generating company like Bold.

Lenz said achieving the kind of revenue growth and scale Bold did before they raised their first round of venture capital financing speaks well of them.

"It puts a cultural mindset into the business, of operating lean, really testing before launch and making sure you retain those really important assets  the customers," she said.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
President-elect Joe Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, pledged to consult with Israel, Gulf allies and Congress when seeking "a longer and stronger" agreement to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions. During his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Blinken said the incoming administration would engage on the takeoff, not just the landing with allies and partners before taking steps to rejoin the landmark nuclear agreement.

"President-elect Biden is committed to the proposition that Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon, Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Iran with a nuclear weapon or the threshold capacity to build one is an Iran that would act with potentially greater impunity than it already is.

If Iran returns to strict compliance under the nuclear pact, Biden has said he will reenter the multilateral pact as a starting point for follow-on negotiations to tighten and lengthen Irans nuclear constraints and address Iran's missile program. Blinken said Tuesday that we are a long way from there," adding that the administration would need to first ensure Iran is making good on its obligations.

Since President Donald Trump exited the pact in 2018 and reimposed harsh economic sanctions, Tehran has gradually increased its stockpile of low-enriched uranium. In a major breach of the deal, Iran announced earlier this month that its scientists are producing uranium metal, a fuel used in nuclear reactors.

Blinken, who was closely involved in the crafting of the original 2015 deal, also promised the committee that the Biden administration would engage in genuine consultations, not notifications with Congress when it comes to its dealings with Tehran.

Blinken, despite a grilling from some members of the committee, is expected to sail through confirmation process. During the hearing, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina called the longtime Biden aide and foreign policy veteran an outstanding choice" for America's top diplomat.

The Foreign Relations Committee is familiar territory for Blinken, who in 2002 took a job working for Biden as the committees Democratic staff director. He later served as deputy secretary of state in the Obama administration and was Bidens chief foreign policy adviser during the campaign.

Blinken on Tuesday also fielded questions on Israel, including whether he supported the recent US-brokered normalization deals between the Jewish state and several Arab countries. Blinken applauded the agreements, but said there are certain commitments that the incoming administration would take a hard look at  a possible reference to the Trump administrations planned $23 billion arms sale to the United Arab Emirates.

Blinkens testimony came the same day controversial terrorism designations against the Houthi movement in Yemen took effect. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have warned that the rebels blacklisting, which was first announced by outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week, could hamper much-needed aid operations in the war-ravaged country.

Blinken said he is concerned that the labeling wont bring the Houthis to the negotiating table as intended, adding that the Biden administration will review the terrorism designation immediately upon taking office.

Blinken also said Washington should review the impact of recent sanctions on Turkey and then determine whether more needs to be done to punish the NATO ally. The Trump administration in December imposed sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act in retaliation for Ankaras multibillion-dollar purchase of Russian-made S-400 defense systems.

The idea that a so-called strategic partner of ours would actually be in line with one of our biggest strategic competitors in Russia is not acceptable, Blinken said.

LONDON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The urgent need for social distancing to contain COVID-19 has given the global telemedicine market a perfect opportunity, assesses Fairfield Market Research. The global telemedicine market is anticipated to reach US$ 152.1 Bn by 2025 from US$ 82.7 Bn in 2020, surging at a CAGR of 19% from 2021 to 2025.

The market holds great opportunities ever since the World Health Organization declared telemedicine as one of the essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic to tackle emergencies. Telemedicine ensured seamless solutions and access to high-quality healthcare services, improved clinical management and essential care delivery during the pandemic, which has presented the market an exponential opportunity. The latest report by Fairfield Market Research indicates that virtual care delivery by healthcare could be a huge step-up in handling remote medical care in the near future.

For more insights into the Market, Request a Sample of this Report @ https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/telemedicine-market/

Global outbreak has bolstered the demand for telemedicine as it assists patients in communicating effectively to their caregivers or doctors. This has reduced the stress on medical professionals by reducing the frequency of hospitalization, room visits, cross-contamination and hospital-acquired infections.

Social Distancing Accelerates Demand for Mobile or Web-based Segment

The mobile or web-based segment will likely dominate the global market as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc. Rising number of people are opting for telemedicine solutions as it provides easy access to medical care from the comfort of home. Furthermore, reduced travel time and waiting period at clinics have proven to be cost-effective and safe, prompting many to opt for telemedicine for consultations. This rise in demand has encouraged service providers and users to develop cloud-based solutions. The high magnitude of demand and quick solutions will act as excellent drivers for the mobile or web-based segments in the global telemedicine market in the coming years.

Consumer Fear Regarding Data Safety to Hamper Market Growth

The market is however is expected to face certain restraints such as safety issues and data privacy. Patients and practitioners are sceptical about adapting to new technology as a breach of privacy and data theft continues to be looming fear amongst end users. The cost of implementing new technology is also high, thus, making it less attractive to many. Additionally, many rural areas cannot access these services due to lack of internet facilities and higher illiteracy, especially in developing parts of the world.

Large Consumer Base and Tech Savvy Industry to Boost Demand for Telemedicine in North America

North America is expected to lead the global market as this region has a large consumer base and well-established healthcare industry that is tech-savvy. Furthermore, the region also boasts key players, which has given it a head start in terms of adoption and application. Currently, there are around 200 networked telemedicine programs in the U.S.A that are allocating telemedicine access to more than 3000 rural sites. This region is also technologically advanced due to hefty investments from government bodies for research and development activities.

Asia Pacific is also expected to rise in the global competition as this region is witnessing technological advancement in digital imaging. Government initiatives such as the recent launch of National Digital Health Mission by the Indian Government will also accelerate the market growth in this region.

Key Players Utilizing COVID-19 Crisis to Introduce Technologically Advanced Services

Key players are actively investing in research and development activities to stay ahead of the competition by introducing technologically advanced services. The market is also expected to witness the rise of new entrants as companies are actively trying to benefit from the COVID-19 lockdown crisis. Companies are focusing on expanding their consumer base by launching cost-effective and quality services.

The key players operating in the global telemedicine market are 2nd.MD, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc, AMD Global Telemedicine, American Well, BioTelemetry, Blue Sky Telehealth, Cerner Corporation, Cisco Systems, Doctolib, Eagle Telemedicine, Honeywell International Inc, iCLiniq, InSight, InTouch Technologies, Koninklijke Philips N.V., McKesson Corporation, MDLive, MeMD, OBS Medical, Polycom Inc., SOC Telemed, Specialist Telemed.

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An Alipay sign is seen at the Shanghai office of Alipay, owned by Ant Group, an affiliate of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, in Shanghai, China, Sept. 14, 2020. REUTERS-Yohap



China's central bank has proposed stepping up antitrust measures for companies in the non-bank payments industry, such as Ant Group's Alipay and Tencent's WeChat Pay.



Under draft rules proposed on Wednesday, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) can advise the state council's antitrust committee to stop companies abusing their dominant position or even break up a non-bank institution if it "severely hinders the healthy development of the payment service market".



So far China has 233 licensed players, with the market dominated by Alipay and WeChat Pay in terms of online transactions, according to a report by consultancy iResearch.



The PBOC's proposed rules coincide with a wider government clampdown on the financial activities of Chinese technology giants amid growing concern over the risk of financial contagion resulting from their empire building.

This heightened scrutiny led to the dramatic collapse of fintech giant Ant's $37 billion IPO in November.



"The finance industry is becoming more and more dependent on information technology, leading to a growing urgency in ramping up antitrust efforts in this sector," said Liu Xu, a researcher at the National Strategy Institute of Tsinghua University.



The PBOC will hold talks with institutions over their market dominance once a single player's market share reaches a third of the total non-bank payments industry or when the market share of two players combined reaches half of the total.



It will also identify institutions as having a monopoly once a single player garners more than half of the market in nationwide electronic payments, which also includes online and mobile banking payments.



Non-bank payment service providers must also comply with the PBOC's anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism requirements. If these are severely breached, the central bank can revoke the player's licence under the new rules.

"The rules will set up a framework for future collaboration between financial regulators and law enforcement bodies," said Liu, who is a long-time advocate for antitrust enforcement.



To fend off systemic risk, the central bank will be obliged to draft new rules to list and regulate systemically important non-bank payment institutions, the draft rules say.



The PBOC last year urged China's antitrust agency to launch an investigation into Alipay and WeChat Pay, alleging that the two companies have used their dominant positions to quash competition, Reuters reported in July.



Reuters has been unable to establish whether any investigation was started by the antitrust agency under the State Administration for Market Regulation.



(Reuters)
Marmorstein: You might soon be living in a million dollar home  unfortunately
Joe Biden ascends to the presidency on Wednesday with an inaugural speech outlining how hell tackle the health and economic crises he inherits while attempting to knit the country back together, just two weeks after the outgoing presidents loyalists waged a deadly riot to block the change of power.

The incoming president will call on the US to abandon the divisiveness stoked by Donald Trump, whose four-year term ends with nearly 400,000 Americans dead of Covid-19, a sharp economic downturn and the worst political crisis since Watergate, after the Capitol attack.

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Bidens address will seek to bridge the nations deepening political divide by summoning support from people who didnt vote for him as well as those who did, according to advisers and allies. To do that, hell have to move beyond his penchant for saying whats on his mind -- such as remarks Friday in which he told Republican lawmakers who refuse to wear masks to grow up."

He believes that we have to bring this country together," incoming White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said on ABCs This Week" on Sunday. You can expect that this will be a moment where President-elect Biden will really work to try to turn the page on the divisiveness and the hatred of the last four years."

His message of unity will also be tested by Democrats impeachment of Trump last week over the riot. Their plans to try the ex-president in the Senate after he leaves office risk overshadowing the early days of Bidens presidency and fanning the very flames of partisanship that Biden seeks to douse.

The inaugural address will be the highest-profile speech of Bidens nearly half century in politics. While he will soberly address the difficult challenges ahead, his remarks are expected to be optimistic, stressing that with the right policies and a glimmer of comity in Washington, the country can find its way to a better position than before the pandemic.

The speech is likely to contrast markedly from Trumps inaugural address in 2017, in which he famously declared he would end American carnage" in the streets of US cities.

If Democrats watched Trumps address in 2017 still dumbstruck that it was him standing there and not Hillary Clinton, Republicans watching Biden might feel that same sense of disbelief as the Democratic leader pleads for unity barely a week after his party impeached Trump. Biden had expressed misgivings about sanctioning Trump over the riots with less than two weeks left in office but could do little to keep lawmakers angered by the attack on the Capitol from forging ahead with impeachment.

He takes office at a very difficult time, perhaps the most difficult time that any presidents taken office since Roosevelt, and he comes into office determined to get to work on these crises immediately," said Ron Klain, the incoming White House chief of staff. Franklin Roosevelt was inaugurated in 1933 with the US still mired in depression and Adolf Hitler on the cusp of taking over Germany.

Klain said Biden will sign more executive actions on his first day than any other president, in part to overturn policies unilaterally adopted by Trump. Theyre expected to include orders to end a ban on travel from some predominantly Muslim nations and to rejoin the Paris climate accord.

Volatile time

Bidens inauguration as the 46th US president will be unlike any other in modern history. Washington, D.C., is now a fortified city, with rings of security around the Capitol, White House and National Mall and thousands of armed soldiers guarding against another attack by Americans who refuse to accept Trumps defeat.

While the outdoor ceremony is certainly our plan," Bidens team is preparing for any scenario" surrounding the inauguration, Bedingfield said. Daily meetings with the outgoing administration as well as security and law enforcement official will begin on Monday, she said.

Unfortunately, you only have to look at the chatter on social media to see that we are in a volatile time," Bedingfield said on ABC. And so we are making preparations."

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris also recognized the unique nature of Wednesdays ceremony, but said Sunday on CBS, we are going to get sworn in, and were going to do the job we were hired to do."

After his speech, before an empty National Mall absent the usual throngs of Americans who attend inaugurations, Biden will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and then proceed to the White House.

This is the most important inaugural address in terms of the health and future of our democracy, and the challenges of bringing us together, since Abraham Lincoln," said Delaware Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat who holds the seat Biden occupied for 36 years.

Someones in charge

The inaugural speech is likely to be positive in outlook and focus on competency, said Matt Teper, Bidens chief speech writer at the beginning of his tenure as Barack Obamas vice president.

People want to know someones in charge, help is on the way, chaos is behind us now," he said. Theres a recognition that things arent great right now, but theres definitely hope that theyre going to get better."

Teper said not to expect the speech to dwell on the past. Theres no way" Biden would invoke American carnage" to describe the problems Trump left behind, he said.

Thats not the tone anyone wants," Teper said. Thats not his way of looking at the world. Its, Were going to fix things and were going to move forward."

Delivering rousing oratory isnt Bidens strength. He overcame a childhood stutter by reciting Irish poetry in front of a mirror, but his struggles with public speaking are still sometimes evident. Always deeply engaged in the speech-writing process, he devoted time to Wednesdays text every few days during the two-month transition, Klain said.

While Biden has a reputation for being long-winded and easily sidetracked in conversations and campaign speeches, hes shown discipline when the moment demands it. When he accepted the Democratic nomination for president in August, Biden delivered a powerful and tightly scripted address in less than 25 minutes.

Hes not going to be tripling whats on paper" when he speaks, Teper said. When he rehearses speeches, Biden uses his own handwritten code of what Teper described as marks and punctuation" to help him visualize words to emphasize and places to pause.

Channel RFK

A Republican strategist, Frank Luntz, said Bidens speech should channel his best Bobby Kennedy. America was hurting in April 1968 when Bobby Kennedy delivered the most amazing five minute off-the-cuff speech full of empathy and understanding. It healed a broken country."

Kennedys historic speech, which followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. the same night, pleaded with Americans to comprehend, and replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand, compassion, and love."

Thats exactly what Biden needs to do," Luntz said.

The speech will be an opportunity for Biden to signal that he plans to abide by the traditions of the American presidency after Trumps chaotic term, as well as a chance for him to lay out his policy goals and to begin pressuring Republicans to cooperate in a time of crisis.

The president-elect last week unveiled a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief proposal that would increase direct financial payments to Americans, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and provide billions in aid to states and local governments.

He will hold narrow majorities in the House and Senate to help him achieve his agenda, though aides have signalled a desire to push for Republican support for the stimulus legislation. Some GOP lawmakers have already said theyre opposed, however. While Klain acknowledged that the proposal is an opening bid, he argued it reflects what the country needs and that anyone who doesnt support it should offer alternative answers."

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Tom Hallberg covers a little bit of everything, from skiing to long-form feature stories. A Teton Valley, Idaho, transplant by way of Portland and Bend, Oregon, he spends his time outside work writing fiction, splitboarding and climbing.
Pennsylvania has officially opened COVID-19 vaccination to everyone over 65 and people 16-64 with chronic illnesses and listed places where they can get a shot.

However, the map, which includes about three dozen locations in Harrisburg region counties, showed ten or more that lacked vaccine Tuesday afternoon.

State officials on Tuesday afternoon acknowledged a limited and uncertain supply.

We are well aware that we dont have enough vaccine to meet the demand at this point, said Cindy Findley, the head of the states vaccine task force. But officials said the vaccine supply and number of locations will grow, eventually including many Rite Aid stores and pharmacies within retailers such as Wegmans, Redners, Weis Markets and Giant Eagle.

Click here if you cannot see the map graphic above.

Opening vaccination to people over 65 and the chronically ill reflects last weeks federal recommendation to make them part of Phase 1A, which is the highest priority group and also includes front line health care workers and nursing home residents.

But it also expands the number of Pennsylvanians in that phase to about 3.5 million, according to Findley. It does so at a time when Pennsylvania has received only about 1.1 million vaccine doses since the federal government began shipping it shortly before Christmas, and as the state strains to finish vaccinating long term care residents and some health care workers.

However, Findley confirmed on Tuesday that non-long term care residents over 65 and over 16 with chronic illness wont have to wait behind anyone  provided vaccine is available.

Meanwhile, pharmacies and health care providers have been flooded with vaccine requests since the federal government recommended expanded eligibility last week. Moreover, a link to a state registration site for health care workers was widely shared among the general public, resulting in many non-care workers registering, according to Findley. She said the state is emailing those people to let them know they did not register for vaccination.

The newly-eligible non-health care workers are being directed to the state map. Findley on Tuesday urged people not to register unless they are certain they meet the requirements of being 65 or older or having a chronic medical condition such as COPD, kidney disease, Down Syndrome, heart problems, HIV or pregnancy. Full information and directions are available at the registration site, including an eligibility quiz to help people figure out if its their turn.

We want to ensure that vaccine is provided to Pennsylvanians in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient  We are asking all Pennsylvanians to know when it is your turn. That way we can get our most vulnerable residents vaccinated now, Findley said.

She said it will take several weeks for Pennsylvania to complete Phase 1 of vaccination, which also includes people such as emergency responders and teachers. State and national health officials said its possible vaccine might be available to anyone who wants it by late spring or early summer.

The vaccine is free although providers can charge an administration fee thats usually covered by private insurance or government programs such as Medicare or Medicaid.
President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)

President Joe Biden returned the United States to the worldwide fight to slow global warming in one of his first official acts Wednesday and immediately launched a series of climate-friendly efforts that would transform how Americans drive and get their power.

"A cry for survival comes from the planet itself," Biden said in his inaugural address. "A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear now."

Biden signed an executive order rejoining the Paris climate accord within hours of taking the oath of office, fulfilling a campaign pledge. The move undoes the U.S. withdrawal ordered by predecessor Donald Trump, who belittled the science behind climate efforts, loosened regulations on heat-trapping oil, gas and coal emissions, and spurred oil and gas leasing in pristine Arctic tundra and other wilderness.

The Paris accord commits 195 countries and other signatories to come up with a goal to reduce carbon pollution and monitor and report their fossil fuel emissions. The United States is the world's No. 2 carbon emitter after China.

Biden's move will solidify political will globally, former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.

"Not a single country in this world, however powerful, however resourceful one may be, can do it alone," said Ban, speaking virtually at a briefing in the Netherlands for an upcoming Climate Adaptation Summit. "We have to put all our hands on the deck. That is the lesson, very difficult lesson, which we have learned during last year," as Trump made good on his pledge to pull out of the global accord.

The current U.N. secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, welcomed Biden's steps, saying the U.S. reentry to the climate agreement means countries producing two-thirds of carbon pollution have committed to carbon neutrality.

Biden signed other directives to start undoing other Trump climate rollbacks. He ordered a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in what had been virgin Arctic wilderness, directed federal agencies to start looking at tougher mileage standards and other emission limits again, and began revoking Trump's approval for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline.

Another first-day order directed agencies to consider the impact on climate, disadvantaged communities, and on future generations from any regulatory action that affects fossil fuel emissions, a new requirement. Human-caused climate change has been linked to worsening natural disasters, including wildfires, droughts, flooding and hurricanes.

However, there was no immediate word on when Biden would make good on another climate campaign pledge, one banning new oil and gas leasing on federal land.

After Biden notifies the U.N. by letter of his intention to rejoin the Paris accord, it would become effective in 30 days, U.N. spokesman Alex Saier said.

Rejoining the Paris accords could put the U.S. on track to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 40% to 50% by 2030, experts said.

"There's a lot we can do because we've left so much on the table over the last four years," said Kate Larsen, former deputy director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality during the Obama administration.

Biden has promised that the needed transformations of the U.S. transportation and power sectors, and other changes, will mean millions of jobs.

Opponents of the climate accord, including Republican lawmakers who supported Trump's withdrawal from it, have said it would mean higher gas prices and higher electricity priceseven though wind and solar have become more affordable than coal, and competitive with natural gas, in generating electricity.

"The Paris climate agreement is based on the backward idea that the United States is a culprit here, when in reality the United States is the leading driver of climate solutions," said Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican.

Republican senators are expected to introduce legislation that would require Biden to submit the Paris plan to the Senate for ratification. It's not clear whether the narrowly divided Senate would have the two-thirds votes needed to ratify the agreement, which was never approved by Congress.

Supporters say congressional approval is not needed. Most of the pollution-reduction goals set by the agreement are voluntary.

The climate deal is based on each nation setting a goal for cutting carbon pollution by 2030. Other countries submitted theirs by last month. The U.S did not. Saier said America just needs to submit its goal some time before November climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland.

A longtime international goal, included in the Paris accord with an even more stringent target, is to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. The world has already warmed 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since that time.

As of 2020, U.S. emissions were 24% below 2005 levels, but that reflected the extraordinary economic slowdown stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, said climate scientist Zeke Hausfather, energy and climate director for the Breakthrough Institute.

There are two big areas where climate policy deals with day-to-day American life. One is electricity generation, and the other is transportation.

Market forces have made wind and solar cheaper than dirtier coal, fueling a quiet transformation toward cleaner fuels, and that's expected to continue so that eventually nearly all of the nation's power will be low or zero carbon, Larsen and other experts say.

What happens to cars, trucks and buses will be far more noticeable. Several experts foresee the majority of new cars purchased in 2030 being electric.

Explore further Five years on, signs that Paris climate accord is working

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Pfizer jab supply worries will make reaching Boris Johnson's target of 15 million people vaccinated by mid-February 'very, very, tight,' a government source warned last night.

The number of Britons having jabs fell for the third day in a row on Monday, slumping to 204,076 - down from 324,000 on Friday.

Pfizer has warned supplies will be dented this month and the next as they revamp their factory in Belgium so they can pump out more doses.

A government source said the supply was already 'very constrained' and fears are spreading through Cabinet that they won't hit their target of 15 million in the four most vulnerable groups vaccinated by February 15.

'It's going to be very very tight,' the source told The Times.

So far more than 4 million people have received their first dose through the NHS - which makes the UK one of the best covered countries in the world - but to reach the target Britain must manage 360,000 jabs per day from Tuesday onward.

Each day that they fall below this figure will compound their woes.

But one government source said he was 'confident' the Government would hit its target, while admitting that the Pfizer supply chain issues would make it more difficult.

Pfizer last Friday warned Britain to expect delays this month and into next month while upgrades were made at their factory in Puurs, Belgium.

This 'temporary impact' will then allow for 'significantly increased' production in the latter half of February and in March.

Why has Britain's Covid vaccination programme slowed down? The reasons behind the slowdown are not clear  it could be a consequence of the Government focusing efforts and supplies on slow rollout areas so they can get to all over-80s, or it may be a bottleneck in supply. Speaking at a Downing Street press conference last night Mr Hancock said vaccine supply was the 'rate-limiting factor'. 'If you listen to voices on the ground in the NHS, you hear people saying 'give us more supply and we will jab it into more arms',' he said. 'We are shoveling it out as fast as we can.' Pressure is mounting on the Government to dish out coronavirus vaccines 24/7, with Labour saying No10 'must deliver for the British people' because the public 'have sacrificed so much'. But ministers earlier claimed there was 'no clamour' for appointments beyond 8pm. It emerged last week that Pfizer is shrinking and delaying its deliveries to Europe while it expands its factory in Belgium. The company makes one of just two vaccines that are being given to the public in the UK and confirmed that Britain would be affected in late January and February. Countries in the EU have criticised Pfizer for shrinking its deliveries as it emerged Norway would get a batch 18 per cent smaller than expected next week. A spokesperson at the company told the Financial Times: 'Although this will temporarily impact shipments in late January to early February, it will provide a significant increase in doses available for patients in late February and March.' Advertisement

They have committed to providing the same number of doses between January and March but said they will be 'phased differently'.

Some 204,076 people in Britain were vaccinated on Monday, falling rapidly from 225,000 on Sunday, 277,000 on Saturday and 324,000 on Friday.

To reach its target, the Government needs to be vaccinating 2.5 million people per week. Last week it averaged 254,000 per day and hit a total 1.77million.

Dr Duncan Robertson, an analyst at Loughborough University, said today: 'The number vaccinated has fallen for three successive days. It would be useful to know what the vaccine supply schedule is over the next weeks and months, and the reason for this decrease.'

The reasons behind the slowdown are not clear  it could be a consequence of the Government focusing efforts and supplies on slow rollout areas so they can get to all over-80s, or it may be a bottleneck in supply.

Ministers repeatedly warned last week that manufacturing speed was the 'limiting factor' and it has emerged that Pfizer, one of the two vaccine suppliers, has delayed its deliveries for the rest of January while it expands its Belgian factory.

It comes amid growing pressure on the NHS to run a 24/7 service after people noticed the number of jabs given out over the weekend was lower than in the week.

No10 was told today it must 'throw as much money as possible' at the NHS to ensure coronavirus vaccine uptake stays high all week.

At a Downing Street press conference last night, Health Secretary Matt Hancock brushed off questions about the lower uptake the weekend, urging people to look at the weekly averages rather than data from individual days.

But think-tanks told MailOnline today that the drop was 'both worrying and unwarranted in the face of the pandemic', and called on ministers to 'put money into it', if it turned out that staffing issues was to blame.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, told MailOnline: 'Throughout this pandemic the Government has consistently over-promised and under delivered. When it comes to the vaccination program, the Government must avoid repeating the failures of our test and trace system and PPE supply chains to the frontline.'

It comes as an NHS trust in London today reportedly sent out an email to staff urging them to just turn up to get Covid vaccinations because leftover doses were at risk of expiring if they weren't used by tomorrow morning.

Health and social care workers are in one of the top priority groups to get vaccinated, and people working in the vaccine supply chain will now also be prioritised to make sure deliveries are not interrupted.

Concerns about the speed of the rollout come as officials in Scotland and Wales have been accused of stockpiling vaccine stores and not using them as soon as possible. Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said yesterday he did not want staff 'standing round doing nothing' later in the month if all supplies of the jabs were used now. Scottish Conservatives said today there are 400,000 doses that have been delivered to Scotland but not used yet.

Department of Health figures published today show that the number of people vaccinated against Covid rose by 204,076 between Sunday and Monday.

The total number of coronavirus vaccine doses dished out  208,641  is higher because some patients were given their second jab.

Data also revealed the number of people vaccinated in England has fallen from 320,894 on Friday to 167,150 in the past 24 hours.

Across Britain as a whole, the total number of people getting jabs daily fell from 324,233 on Friday to 277,915 on Saturday to 225,407 on Sunday.

To hit its target of 13.9million people by February 15, which is the Prime Minister's target before he can start to think about loosening lockdown restrictions in March, the nation must manage 360,000 per day, and this number will increase for every day that the target isn't hit.

The Adam Smith Institute think-tank told MailOnline today there seemed to be a 'lackadaisical approach to Saturdays and Sundays'.

Deputy director Matt Kilcoyne said the blip in figures was 'both worrying and unwarranted in the face of the pandemic'.

'Knowing as we do that every hour counts, every day counts... there is no reason why the UK could not have the same vaccination rollout rate as Israel,' he added.

Chris Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute for Economic Affairs, said NHS staff needed to be congratulated on the 'great job' they've done with the vaccine roll out so far.

But he added: 'The NHS is bit of a five day week service in many ways and if it comes down to staffing then we need to put more money into it. If you give people strong financial incentives it makes people want to work seven days a week.'

Ministers are piloting 24/7 vaccinations after Boris Johnson came under immense scrutiny for claiming there was 'no clamour' for appointments beyond 8pm. But the inconsistencies at the weekend will raise concerns about whether No10 can deliver.

Mr Snowdon told MailOnline 'money should be no object' when it comes to the vaccine rollout because the benefits of immunising the entire country and ending the economically-crippling lockdowns would outweigh any cost.

He said: 'At the moment they're only paying GPs commission on jabs given to care home residents, but they [the Government] should pay commission for every patient.

'It seems that we need more staff, and the staff we've got need to work longer hours, so they have to throw as much money as possible at it.'

Concerns about the speed of the rollout come as leaders in Scotland (Nicola Sturgeon, right) and Wales (Mark Drakeford, left) have been criticised for sitting on supplies of the jabs

Staff at a London hospital are invited for a 'walk-in' jab to use up spare doses Staff at a London hospital were sent an email Tuesday urging them and colleagues to get impromptu Covid jabs because it had doses that were at risk of being 'wasted' if they aren't used by tomorrow morning. 'We still have a large amount of walk-in vaccination appointments available today for FIRST DOSE vaccinations for staff', staff said in an email tweeted by EveryDoctor, a campaign group run by NHS doctors. The email continued: 'This batch of vaccinations need to be used by 8.15am tomorrow or they will be wasted.' Staff were 'actively encouraged' to book in for a walk-in vaccination. EveryDoctor tweeted: 'Covid-19 vaccine doses may be wasted because NHS hospitals are not allowed to give 2nd doses (a full vaccine course) to NHS staff. 'The Government needs to change this now to protect staff and patients.' It comes after local NHS leaders are said to have issued vaccine disposal instructions to doctors organising clinics, despite Professor Chris Whitty saying the UK's roll-out of vaccinations was being held back by delayed deliveries of the Pfizer jab. Some surgeries are taking a stand against the orders, described as 'bordering on criminal', but others fear their supplies will be cancelled if they don't comply. Supply chain uncertainty - particularly around the Pfizer jab which needs to be kept at -70C - means GPs are struggling to book the exact number of appointments for clinics and in some cases patients haven't turned up having been given little time to prepare. The NHS said there was 'no reason' why stocks should be wasted, insisting vaccination sites should make sure a back-up list of patients and staff who can get the jab at short-notice if there are such absences is drawn up. Advertisement

Public Health England last night blamed the lower weekend figures on reporting delays and the Health Secretary insisted the roll-out was a 'full seven-day service' with the Government 'prepared to go 24/7'.

When asked about the drop in figures at the press briefing, Mr Hancock said: 'The vaccine delivery is absolutely delivering a full seven-day service and we are prepared to go 24/7.

'I wouldn't read too much into an individual day's data, I think the best thing to do is look at weekly averages and, as you say, you can see that going up, and up fast.'

Mr Hancock said vaccine supply was the 'rate-limiting factor'. 'If you listen to voices on the ground in the NHS, you hear people saying 'give us more supply and we will jab it into more arms',' he added. 'We are shoveling it out as fast as we can.'

Mr Hancock revealed that 4million Britons have now had a coronavirus vaccine, amid mounting claims that a 'postcode lottery' has left vulnerable people in certain areas unprotected.

With the successful roll-out of a Covid vaccine the only hope ministers have of being able to ease the lockdown restrictions this spring, the Health Secretary told the nation: 'Don't blow it now, we're on the route out.'

The Health Secretary also admitted supplies of the only two approved jabs, made by Pfizer and AstraZeneca, are being prioritised to areas lagging behind in the roll-out.

It comes after another 7million Britons were sent invite letters to receive their coronavirus jabs from yesterday  but only in areas where the 'majority' of over-80s have had it already.

Discussing Britain's growing Covid vaccine postcode lottery, Mr Hancock praised Slough for ensuring all of their care home residents have had their first dose. Newcastle-upon-Tyne has also achieved the feat.

But he said: 'What we're doing now is making sure that whilst they, of course, will be able to move onto the next group, we're prioritising the supply of the vaccine into those parts of the country that need to complete the over-80s.

'But we don't want to stop the areas that have effectively done that job already, we want them to carry on, but the priority of the vaccine is according to the JCVI prioritisation list. The critical thing is to make sure that everybody can get it, that we're putting more supply into the areas that have got more to do.'

Whitehall insiders believe the UK's vaccine rollout is going so well that the wider adult population may be covered by June rather than September, with around 280,000 doses currently being administered each day. Ten new mass vaccination centres opened on Tuesday, to speed up the programme even further.

No10 says all areas HAVE had 'equal access' to Covid vaccines amid 'postcode lottery' row Number 10 has insisted all areas have had equal access to the coronavirus vaccine amid mounting anger over a jabs 'postcode lottery'. The Prime Minister's spokesman dug his heels in on the claims today, saying ministers had 'ensured' everywhere received the same supplies. Matt Hancock yesterday revealed some regions were lagging behind schedule in the rollout to over-80s  despite No10 announcing the scheme was being expanded to all over-70s and adults with underlying conditions. But the Health Secretary hinted supplies have not been equally distributed, as he claimed they were being diverted to areas which were way off target. No10 has yet to confirm whether 'equal' means all regions got the same number of doses, or enough doses to vaccinate the same proportion of over-80s. London's mayor Sadiq Khan said last week he was 'hugely concerned' by the sluggish rollout in the capital, complaining about the city's vaccine supply. Advertisement

Staff at a London hospital were sent an email Tuesday urging them and colleagues to get impromptu Covid jabs because it had doses that were at risk of being 'wasted' if they aren't used by tomorrow morning.

'We still have a large amount of walk-in vaccination appointments available today for FIRST DOSE vaccinations for staff', staff said in an email tweeted by EveryDoctor, a campaign group run by NHS doctors.

The email continued: 'This batch of vaccinations need to be used by 8.15am tomorrow or they will be wasted.'

Staff were 'actively encouraged' to book in for a walk-in vaccination.

EveryDoctor tweeted: 'Covid-19 vaccine doses may be wasted because NHS hospitals are not allowed to give 2nd doses (a full vaccine course) to NHS staff.

'The Government needs to change this now to protect staff and patients.'

It comes after local NHS leaders are said to have issued vaccine disposal instructions to doctors organising clinics, despite Professor Chris Whitty saying the UK's roll-out of vaccinations was being held back by delayed deliveries of the Pfizer jab.

Some surgeries are taking a stand against the orders, described as 'bordering on criminal', but others fear their supplies will be cancelled if they don't comply.

Supply chain uncertainty - particularly around the Pfizer jab which needs to be kept at -70C - means GPs are struggling to book the exact number of appointments for clinics and in some cases patients haven't turned up having been given little time to prepare.

The NHS said there was 'no reason' why stocks should be wasted, insisting vaccination sites should make sure a back-up list of patients and staff who can get the jab at short-notice if there are such absences is drawn up.

Concerns about the speed of the rollout come as Scotland and Wales have been criticised for sitting on supplies of the jabs.

Elderly Britons may be missing invites for Covid jabs because GPs are having to TEXT them due to 'short notice of supply' Elderly Britons may be missing appointments for their coronavirus vaccines because GPs are sending them invites by text, doctors fear. Some over-80s who are next in line for the jab are being contacted on their mobile phones because of the 'short notice of supply'. Dr Ollie Hart, a GP involved in the rollout in Sheffield, said he was concerned it was leading to many missing their jabs. He said: 'The difficulty for us has been the short notice of supply, which has meant we've had to contact most people by mobile phones and by telephone rather than sending letters and having a more staged and planned approach. 'So that has meant if people haven't been in or we haven't been able to get hold of them sometimes we might of missed people.' He urged over-80s still waiting to hear from their surgeries to give them a call to ensure they hadn't missed any calls or text messages.' The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine poses few problems for surgeries because it can be stored in standard fridges for months. But the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine  which was the first to be approved  must be used five days after it is defrosted. Dr Hart said once supplies of the jab are delivered there is usually only three-and-a-half days left, leading to frantic calls to the priority groups to ensure no supplies are wasted. The NHS says most invites are sent as letters  but GP practices can invite their own patients by text. Advertisement

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the Scottish Government has received 717,000 doses of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines  but claimed that well over half of these had not yet been used.

She said: 'We know how many doses of vaccine have so far been delivered to Scotland, we know how many GP practices have agreed to take part in the process. The GPs know who their patients are and they know how to contact them.

'The only thing that's missing is for too many practices across Scotland they have not yet actually received any supplies.'

The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, replied: 'Supplies are allocated to Scotland, they are then drawn down to Scotland, and we vaccinate as quickly as we possibly can. That will continue to be the case.

'In terms of the doses that are in Scotland, many of them have already been put into people's arms.'

Welsh leader Mark Drakeford yesterday came under fire for his strategy of rationing coronavirus vaccine doses to make them last until the next delivery in February, instead of using them as fast as possible.

Mr Drakeford yesterday admitted Wales isn't using up all of its doses of the Pfizer jab, claiming the 'sensible' thing to do is ration supplies so the programme could work steadily until next month and so staff aren't 'standing around with nothing to do' if supplies run out.

But MPs slammed his plan as 'dangerous' and said the point of the programme is to protect elderly people from dying not to keep NHS staff busy.

Welsh Tory leader Paul Davies said: 'You'd have thought from a government's perspective they would've wanted to distribute the vaccines as soon as possible. I was flabbergasted by his comments.

'This is a matter of life and death, and that's why it's so crucial now that they get these vaccines out to people as soon as possible.

'To suggest that vaccines should be rolled out over a period of time so that vaccinators are not standing around with nothing to do is absolutely preposterous.

'If we don't get the vaccines out as soon as possible, and into people's arms as soon as possible, then unfortunately more people are going to die.'



David Jones, MP for Clwyd West said the explanation was 'wholly incoherent'. Mark Harper, MP for the Forest of Dean on the Welsh border, said it was 'dangerous' and that people needed vaccines as soon as was possible. And Stephen Crabb, the MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire, said it was 'deeply, deeply frustrating'.

Up to 2,000 people working in roles in Covid vaccine supply chain will be offered jabs Up to 2,000 people working in roles in the Covid-19 vaccine supply chain will be offered jabs to help ensure the UK gets the doses it needs to protect the most vulnerable, the Government has announced. The move follows a plea from AstraZeneca to protect workers involved with the manufacture of the vaccine to ensure the supply chain runs smoothly. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said staff working for Pfizer and AstraZeneca that are involved in crucial supply chain roles in the UK will be among those eligible for the jabs. The employees will be the first group of key workers outside of the NHS, social care and care home workers to be vaccinated. Highly trained workers who have been identified by the Government as being irreplaceable and crucial to the delivery of vaccine supplies will be offered vaccines. Last week Sir Mene Pangalos, executive vice president of biopharmaceuticals research and development at AstraZeneca, called for people in the vaccine process to be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine. Advertisement

It was also revealed that up to 2,000 people working in roles in the coronavirus vaccine supply chain will be offered jabs to help ensure the UK gets the doses it needs to protect the most vulnerable.

The move  announced by Number 10  follows a plea from AstraZeneca to protect workers involved with the manufacturing of the vaccine to ensure the supply chain runs smoothly.

The Department for Health said staff working for Pfizer and AstraZeneca that are involved in crucial supply chain roles in the UK will be among those eligible for the jabs. The employees will be the first group of key workers outside of the NHS, social care and care home workers to be vaccinated.

Highly trained workers who have been identified by the Government as being irreplaceable and crucial to the delivery of vaccine supplies will be offered vaccines.

Last week Sir Mene Pangalos, executive vice president of biopharmaceuticals research and development at AstraZeneca, called for people in the vaccine process to be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine.

He told the Science and Technology Committee that an outbreak had already occurred in one group working on the vaccine.

'One of the things that I'm worried about is actually maintaining a continuous supply and work on this vaccine,' he said.

'Of course with the outbreak and the pandemic where it is  I feel it's critical to the people that are working on this vaccine are actually immunised.

'Because if you have an outbreak at one of the centres  which we've had actually  or in one of the groups in Oxford (that) is working on new variants, or the people that are working on the regulatory files, everything stops.

'This is a concern that I have and so again we're pushing to try and get our key workers that are working on the vaccine project immunised to try and prevent these outbreaks.'

A racecourse which is hosting a Covid-19 vaccination hub that provides up to 1,500 jabs daily is temporarily halting the service to enable its horse racing to continue. Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire opened its vaccination hub on Thursday last week as part of the nationwide drive to inoculate against the virus

Racecourse hosting Covid vaccine hub is halting its service to allow horse racing to continue A racecourse which is hosting a Covid-19 vaccination hub that provides up to 1,500 jabs daily is temporarily halting the service to enable its horse racing to continue. Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire opened its vaccination hub on Thursday last week as part of the nationwide drive to inoculate against the virus. But less than a week later, the centre will shut for a day on Wednesday for a scheduled race day. Horse racing is allowed to continue under lockdown rules because it is considered an elite sport. The racecourse posted on Twitter on Thursday: 'A heartwarming moment as the first patients arrive at the racecourse to receive the vaccine against Covid-19. Proud to play a small part in this positive moment and our thanks to all @BerksWestCCG & local GP's who are working tirelessly to distribute up to 1500 vaccines a day.' It also posted: 'A decision was taken not to operate on Wednesday to minimise the risk to all participants, but this is being reviewed moving forward.' A spokeswoman for the racecourse said: 'The race day has always been planned and we have made provision for it so it is not hampering the vaccination process. 'The vaccination centre opened last week and the NHS was made aware of the race day. We have an abundance of space but a decision was made we would not operate both the race day and the vaccination centre this week but that is being reviewed so both may be open in the future.' Advertisement

The DHSC said that workers identified as 'irreplaceable and crucial' to the delivery of vaccine supplies will be offered vaccines.

'Highly trained workers who have been identified by the Government as being irreplaceable and crucial to the delivery of vaccine supplies will be offered vaccines,' DHSC said.

Those eligible include staff making the vaccine substance, working on fill and finish and batch testing, as well as those involved in end-to-end coordination who are responsible for getting doses to the right place at the right time.

And in other vaccine developments on Tuesday, a racecourse which is hosting a Covid-19 vaccination hub that provides up to 1,500 jabs daily is temporarily halting the service to enable its horse racing to continue.

Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire opened its vaccination hub on Thursday last week as part of the nationwide drive to inoculate against the virus.

But less than a week later, the centre will shut for a day on Wednesday for a scheduled race day.

Horse racing is allowed to continue under lockdown rules because it is considered an elite sport.

The racecourse posted on Twitter on Thursday: 'A heartwarming moment as the first patients arrive at the racecourse to receive the vaccine against Covid-19. Proud to play a small part in this positive moment and our thanks to all @BerksWestCCG & local GP's who are working tirelessly to distribute up to 1500 vaccines a day.'

It also posted: 'A decision was taken not to operate on Wednesday to minimise the risk to all participants, but this is being reviewed moving forward.'

A spokeswoman for the racecourse said: 'The race day has always been planned and we have made provision for it so it is not hampering the vaccination process.

'The vaccination centre opened last week and the NHS was made aware of the race day. We have an abundance of space but a decision was made we would not operate both the race day and the vaccination centre this week but that is being reviewed so both may be open in the future.'

Newbury has 29 race days scheduled for the year including Wednesday, one in February and four in March.

A spokeswoman for Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group said: 'Local NHS staff are working hard to continue to deliver vaccinations throughout the week and into the weekend, and we are working with Newbury Racecourse so vaccinations can continue to take place safely on race days in future.'
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

EU envoys on Thursday struck preliminary agreement on having antigen tests for COVID-19 carried out in any member country recognised by all 27 countries in the bloc, diplomats told AFP.

The move, to be followed with a written procedure and discussed at an EU leaders' summit on Thursday, aims to make COVID-19 testing more widespread and faster.

Unlike PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests that involve getting a swab from the nasal cavity behind the nose that is analysed in a lab, antigen testing can be done from saliva with a result given on the spot within 30 minutes.

That makes it easier and faster to test large numbers of people, though antigen tests are less reliable in detecting COVID-19 in people who are not showing symptoms.

The European Commission says it could use antigen tests in specific situations to rapidly detect outbreaks or monitor "high-risk" individuals such as frontline workers in the health sector.

Large-scale antigen tests could also be used to screen travellers coming back from countries outside the European Union.

France's European affairs minister, Clement Beaune, said on Sunday that, for example, "between France and Ireland PCR tests work because we use the same ones, but the antigen tests don't because Ireland doesn't yet recognise them".

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
At the Annual Meeting held on 14 December 2020, Andrew Christie was appointed as a Director by Shareholders of Good Spirits Hospitality Limited.

Andrew has a 20-year investment banking career where he worked in London, Hong Kong and Auckland specialising in M&A and debt advisory. He is effectively a 5% shareholder in the Company. He has a strong background in the hospitality sector where he arranged the NZ$27m Nomura leverage loan for GSH and advised Moa Groups $18m acquisition of bar and restaurant group Savor Group.

The Board welcomes Mr Christie to the Company and looks forward to the skills and experience he will bring to GSH.

As previously communicated to shareholders, Geoff Tuttles appointment to the Board was to fill a casual vacancy on the Board after Charles Whitings resignation. The Board thanks Geoff for stepping into this role on an interim basis. Geoff will continue as the Group CEO.

See the link below for more details:

Director Appointment

Source: Good Spirits Hospitality Limited

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World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to approve several COVID-19 vaccines from Western and Chinese manufacturers in the coming weeks and months, an internal document seen by Reuters shows, as it aims for rapid rollouts in poorer countries.

COVAX, a global scheme co-led by the WHO, wants to deliver at least 2 billion COVID-19 doses across the world this year, with at least 1.3 billion going to poorer countries.

But it has so far struggled to secure enough shots due to a shortage of funds, while wealthy nations have booked large volumes of vaccines for themselves.

In the race to deploy shots, regulatory approvals are key to confirming the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, and to boosting output. But some poorer countries rely mostly on WHO authorizations as they have limited regulatory capacity.

The WHO is therefore "expediting" emergency approvals, according to a COVAX internal document, which cites data updated to Jan. 7.

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

Also Read: COVID-19 vaccine update | India announces supply of coronavirus vaccines to six countries under grant assistance

The COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) could be authorized by the WHO in January or February, the document says.

The same vaccine produced in South Korea by SK Bioscience could be approved by the U.N. agency at the end of February, at the earliest, the document says.

As well as vaccines, regulators usually authorise their manufacturing processes in different plants.

SII chief executive Adar Poonawalla told Reuters last week he expected WHO approval "in the next week or two".

Also Read: GoAir airlifts 15,91,000 doses of COVID vaccine to various destinations today

AstraZeneca and the WHO did not respond to requests for comment.

SK said it was not aware of the WHO's approval timeline.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed with Oxford University, has already been given emergency approval in Britain, while decisions in the European Union and the United States are close.

COVAX has supply contracts with AstraZeneca and SII for about 400 million doses and a non-binding deal for many more hundreds of millions, although the timing of possible deliveries is uncertain.

OTHER WESTERN SHOTS

The WHO authorised the vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech at the end of December.

WHO officials have said they are seeking a supply deal with the U.S. pharmaceutical giant, which has already committed hundreds of millions of doses this year to several wealthy nations.

COVAX had not initially included the Pfizer/BioNTech shot in its shortlist for advance purchases.

Pfizer did not respond to a request for comment on whether a deal was close and whether it would involve only a limited number of doses this year.

The COVAX document also shows the WHO is expected to approve Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, which is based on the same messenger RNA (mRNA) technology as Pfizer's, at the end of February.

Also Read: Odisha becomes first state to pause COVID-19 vaccination drive; heres why

Moderna, whose vaccine is already approved in many Western countries including in the United States and the European Union, had no immediate comment.

The vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which has a non-binding agreement to supply COVAX with 500 million doses over an unspecified timeframe, is expected to get WHO approval in May or June at the earliest, the COVAX document says.

J&J has not yet published results of its vaccine's Phase III clinical trials, but the EU has said it expects the company to apply for approval as early as February.

A J&J spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

Also Read: Pharma companies turn to insurance policies to cover 'adverse effects' liabilities

CHINA AND RUSSIA

The WHO is also considering possible quick approvals for two Chinese vaccines, the document shows.

Sinopharm and Sinovac have filed their applications with the WHO, which is reviewing them and could make decisions on both in March at the earliest, it says.

Neither vaccine was shortlisted by the WHO for possible advance purchase deals. WHO approval does not automatically lead to purchases by COVAX. It could also facilitate the rollout in poorer countries that acquire the vaccines directly.

Sinopharm has filed applications for two COVID-19 vaccines, but the possible March approval concerns only the one developed by its Beijing-based affiliate, Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd (BIBP), which has already been widely used for inoculations in China.

Sinovac has yet to release global results of its Phase III trials, but its vaccine has been approved for emergency use in countries including Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey.

Sinopharm and Sinovac did not respond to requests for comment.

There is no provisional timetable yet for the possible approval of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, despite its developers having filed the relevant documentation, the document shows.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the main financial backer of Sputnik V, did not respond to a request for comment.
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Israel's top coronavirus medic has claimed the first dose of Pfizer 's Covid vaccine is less effective than he expected.

Dr Nachman Ash, one of the medics leading the Covid-19 response in Israel, said the first instalment of the jab did not cut infection rates as much as he had hoped.

He told local media Army Radio: 'Many people have been infected between the first and second injections of the vaccine.' It can take 10 days or more for the immunity to kick in.

Real-world data from Israel's world-beating rollout showed the first dose led to a 33 per cent reduction in cases of coronavirus between 14 and 21 days afterwards in people who got the jab. Another of the country's top doctors said it was 'really good news'.

But the figure is lower than the British regulator's estimate, which said it may prevent 89 per cent of recipients from getting Covid-19 symptoms.

However, Israel's data does not prove anything about possible impacts of the UK's controversial 12-week gap between doses. The country does not give any more than three weeks between the first and second doses, during which time protection is expected to be minimal at best  and the vaccine is not intended to prevent infection, but severe disease and death.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific adviser, today said he would expect all vaccines to be less effective in the real world than in trials. He added that Britain should look 'very carefully' at data during the vaccine rollout to see what effect its having.

Dr Ash's comment comes after Britain's decision to prolong the gap between the first and second doses from three weeks to 12 weeks triggered anger among scientists.

Pfizer's own data shows that protection from Covid starts from about 12 days after the first dose but one jab can only prevent around 52 per cent of cases of disease, compared to the 95 per cent reduction offered by two. It does not offer any proof that a single dose works for longer than three weeks.

For this reason, the US pharmaceutical firm refused to endorse Britain's decision to change the dosing schedule, saying there was no proof it would work.

Dr Ash suggests the level of protection after the first dose is even lower than the 52 per cent claimed by Pfizer.

Vaccine regulators in the UK have told MPs Pfizer's jab appeared to work so well after a single jab that they questioned whether the second was necessary at all.

The Pfizer vaccine does not kick in until around 12-14 days after the first dose and Israel gives the second dose after 21 days, so there is only a tiny window in which they might see an effect (Pictured: A person receives a dose of the Pfizer Covid vaccine in France)

Pfizer documents published by the FDA in the US show that rates of Covid-19 among people who receive the Pfizer vaccine (blue line) started to drop below that of an unvaccinated group (red line) about two weeks after the first dose

Dr Nachman Ash, one of the medics leading the Covid-19 response in Israel, pictured when he was the Israel Defence Forces' surgeon general

Patrick Vallance says current crop of jabs should work against the Kent variant Sir Patrick Vallance today insisted that the current crop of Covid-19 vaccines should work against the coronavirus variant that emerged in Kent and has now become the dominant strain in England. Offering hope that Britain's inoculation drive won't be in vain, No10's chief scientific adviser claimed evidence suggests the highly-infectious variant will be susceptible to jabs and natural immunity. But he admitted there were still 'question marks' over the variants first found in South Africa and Brazil. And Sir Patrick added it was 'quite likely' Britons may need to get a Covid jab every winter for 'at least a few years'. His comments come amid fears new variants may have mutated in a way that means they evade parts of the immune system and could reinfect Covid survivors or people who have been vaccinated. The vaccines being rolled out now are based on versions of the constantly-evolving virus studied a year ago, so may become less effective as more mutations occur over time. Cambridge University microbiologist Dr Ravi Gupta yesterday told MailOnline 'the time has come' to start making updated vaccines to tackle common concerning mutations that have cropped up in multiple unconnected variants around the world. Moderna said it was confident its jab will work against the England and South Africa variants and it will carry out more tests on the Brazilian one. Oxford University said it was running checks on its own jab. Pfizer today said the it was 'unlikely' that the B.1.1.7 lineage  the Kent variant  will evade the vaccine. Studies of a lab-made version of the variant was neutralised by antibodies created by the jab. Advertisement

Dr Ash told Israeli media that the single dose was 'less effective than we thought' and 'lower than [data] presented by Pfizer', i24 News reported.

Israel has burst into the spotlight during the global Covid vaccine rollout because it is getting jabs out faster than any other country in the world.

It has vaccinated 2.7million people in its population of 9million, which is a greater proportion than anywhere else.

The country secured access to large amounts of Pfizer's jab by agreeing to provide data about its citizens for the company to track how well the jab works.

But Dr Ash now claims the vaccine didn't work as well after the first jab, despite the country pressing ahead with the recommended strategy of two doses within three weeks.

The fact that people aren't waiting more than three weeks for their second jab  like they are in the UK  means that Dr Ash would only have about one week's worth of data on which the vaccine could be expected to be effective.

Documents provided to the FDA in the US suggest that protection from the Pfizer jab didn't kick in until around two weeks after the first dose in clinical trials.

This appeared to be recreated in real-world data in Israel, where the positivity of coronavirus tests fell by 33 per cent in a fortnight among people who were vaccinated.

Professor Ran Balicer, a World Health Organization adviser and top doctor at Israel's largest medical provider, Clalit, said: 'We saw that there was no difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated until day 14 post-vaccination,' Sky News reports.

'But on day 14 post-vaccination, a drop of 33 per cent in positivity was witnessed in the vaccinated group and not in the unvaccinated... this is really good news.'

The 33 per cent reduction in positive tests  which are presumed to be an accurate measure of Covid-19 symptoms  is smaller than the 89 per cent the UK's vaccine regulators claimed could be possible from a single dose.

Asked about the prospect of this reduced effectiveness in a Q&A on Sky News this morning, the UK's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said: 'We need to look at this very carefully, we just need to keep measuring the numbers.'

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have argued that one dose of Pfizer's vaccine gave an extremely high level of protection in clinical trials.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, the JCVI's Covid-19 vaccination chief, told MPs in Parliament's science committee last week: 'We noted that the vaccine had a very high level of protection after the first dose.

'And we had also considered whether the first dose provided sufficient protection that one eventually might consider using a single dose.

'But we also felt that at that time [before Christmas] there were insufficient data to suggest a single-dose regimen.

'Even now the JCVI's advice is that the schedule is a two-dose schedule, that hasn't changed  we maintain that a two-dose schedule is the right schedule - the difference is that we have been more permissive to when the second dose can be given.'

He reiterated that the JCVI's advice is that the Pfizer second dose is given between three and 12 weeks, and the Oxford second dose is between four and 14 weeks.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific adviser, said he would expect all vaccines to be less effective in the real world than in trials and that Britain should look 'very carefully' at data during the vaccine rollout to see what effect its having

However, Public Health England's Dr Mary Ramsay admitted in the same meeting that the gap could end up being extended even further.

She said that, depending on what data shows about levels of protection from a single dose of the vaccine, officials might be able to be 'more relaxed' about giving out second jabs.

Asked if this could mean people waiting longer than 12 weeks, Dr Ramsay added: 'I think that's unlikely but it's always possible  as you know in the Covid situation everything has changed when new evidence comes around.'

[January 20, 2021] 42% of Small Businesses Plan to Build a Mobile App in the Future, Presenting a New Opportunity to Connect with Customers

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The average American spends five hours a day on mobile devices . Small businesses are taking advantage of their customers increasing dependency on mobile devices and building apps to reach users on the platform they most frequently engage with, according to a new report on Top Design Firms . Most small businesses either already have a mobile app (32%) or are planning to build a mobile app in the future (42%). Ethan Taub, CEO of financial planning company Goalry , chose to build a mobile app to better communicate with customers. "We built our mobile app because we feel like it streamlines our service for customers and makes the information more easily presentable." Taub said. Mobile apps offer another avenue for small businesses to connect with their target audience and provide efficient support. Small Businesses Use Mobile Apps to Improve Customer Experience and Support Branding. Over one-third of small businesses (34%) created a mobile app to improve their customer service efforts or streamline the purchasing procss for their users.



Many small business mobile apps include features that facilitate timely and helpful customer service  the Goalry app is a great example. "The app has a customer support section, allowing customers to contact us without having to email us," Taub said.

Improved support features also leave users with a positive impression of the mobile app's brand, highlighting another benefit of developing a mobile app. Thirty-two percent of small businesses (32%) invested in a mobile app to further develop their brand or build customer loyalty. A strong, high-quality mobile app can separate a small business from its competitors, acting as an extension of the brand's image and increasing awareness. Still, One Quarter of Small Businesses (26%) Are Unlikely to Ever Release a Mobile App. For some small businesses, a mobile app just doesn't fit with their business strategy. "I think product based businesses have huge potential for success with mobile apps," said Laura English, Lead Copywriter at Sonder Digital Marketing , a digital agency. "However I don't think they're as important as we're led to believe and I think if business owners have a limited budget they should focus on a website with perfect responsiveness." Mobile apps are a huge financial investment. Small businesses that are just starting out with limited flexibility in resources should prioritize other growth initiatives before focusing on a mobile app. Top Design Firms' 2021 Small Business Survey included 500 U.S.-based small business owners. Read the full report here: https://topdesignfirms.com/blog/mobile-app-trends/ For questions about the survey, comments on the findings, or an introduction to the sources included in the report, contact Shelby Jordan at shelby@clutch.co . About Top Design Firms

Top Design Firms is a directory of design, marketing, and development companies from around the world. Launched in 2003, Top Design Firms was recently acquired by Clutch, the leading ratings and reviews platform for IT, marketing, and business service providers. Contact

Shelby Jordan

289578@email4pr.com

(202) 350-4344 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/42-of-small-businesses-plan-to-build-a-mobile-app-in-the-future-presenting-a-new-opportunity-to-connect-with-customers-301211692.html SOURCE Top Design Firms

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US President Donald Trump on his final full day in office bestowed a prestigious award on Bahrain's leader.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa received the Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander on Tuesday, according to the state-run Bahrain News Agency and the US Embassy Manama.

The Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander is a rare award given out by the US president to other heads of state. In presenting the award, Trump praised Khalifa for Bahrains establishment of relations with Israel and its hosting of the US Navy's 5th Fleet, the agency reported.

Bahrain has also hosted a US Navy presence for half a century.

Bahrain agreed to normalize ties with Israel in September in a deal brokered by the Trump administration.

The Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander is historically a rare award, although in September, Trump bestowed the award to Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah just before he died. Before that, it was previously awarded in 1991.

Trump, who will leave office Wednesday, was supportive of Bahrain and its allies in the Gulf during his presidency. Bahrain supported the president's efforts to restrict weapons acquisitions by Iran, for example.
Ask and ye shall receive  Converse resident Terry Bourland is well aware of that. After Bourland walked into the Converse Economic Development Corporation office and asked a few questions about maps, the EDC created its new Converse Interactive Map.

Converse is expanding, the city limits are taking in new subdivisions, new acreage and new business, Bourland said. The first place I went with this was to talk to the mayor and asked him, Does the city have a map they can hand out if a person requests one?

Mayor Al Suarez suggested Bourland contact the EDC and its executive director, Jimsi Kuborn, to see what they may have available.

So I went over there and got to talking with the staff, Bourland said. Jimsi (Kuborn) came in and we talked for a good while.

After returning home, Bourland said he got a call from Kuborn about a half-hour later. She said, You know, were going to look into that, he said.

That interaction led to the development of the Converse Interactive Map, which lists the locations, photos, description and address hotlink of businesses and facilities in 14 different categories.

Terry walked into our office right before Christmas, and said, You know what would be great? If we had maps of Converse. I asked what he meant and we kind of talked through it, Kuborn said.

The initial concept, she said, was to expose the citys 348 businesses to its residents.

There are so many assets in the city that people arent aware of, she said. We realized that a tourist map wasnt really the answer, so we thought, what if we could do more?

So we said, OK, Terry, youve got a great idea going. Let us develop it out a little further.

Kuborn said the staff first conducted some internal research to see what they had available and where they could take it.

The existing business directory on the EDC website was just a black-and-white list, she said. It wasnt very visual and not very mobile-friendly or easy to use, as people are accustomed to these days with advancing technology and increasing accessibility.

The staff found MapMe and got to work. We found this and it plugged in very easily with our website. It was a very easy app to use, so its just taken a couple of weeks, she said.

The map is available on the EDCs website at www.chooseconverse.com, under the Map & Directory pulldown.

Once a user clicks on the link, they will find a list of 14 categories, such as medical, retail, food and drink, and fitness and personal care. There are 30 companies listed under personal care, everything from getting your hair cut, to finding a personal trainer, she said.

Other categories are: auto sales and service; education and childcare; church and nonprofit; events and planning; financial; government and municipal facilities; manufacturing; real estate services; services; and grocery and convenience stores.

We hope this is easy for our community members, she said. Each business will have their logo and their address, which hotlinks over to Google Maps. That way they can get directions if, say, youre on one side of town  and want to stop and get something to eat on the way home.

In addition to their logos, businesses can submit two additional photos, a one-sentence description, and a link to their website or Facebook page.

It gives a really good introduction to community members about their business, she said. Its a great benefit for our businesses to be able to have. Its not something were going to charge for, the EDC has it listed under our advertising budget.

Found at the chooseconverse.com website, Kuborn hopes to have the link made available on the citys website as well.

We really want  community members to be aware of this map. We want them to use it a lot. This is available for our community and it is great on your cellphone. I play with it on my cellphone, she said.

Google Analytics allows staff to monitor usage of the map. Weve already had one business call to update their profile. Wed love people to share beautiful pictures of their businesses that we can update, Kuborn added.

The site can also be a source for finding community resources, including city parks, buildings and recreational designations.

The free workout facility in the park is on there. The pool is on there, the new fishing pier is on there, and where all the city buildings and facilities are, is on there, she said. We just want to make this available to our community. We hope they use it and continue to connect with our business community.

jflinn@express-news.net
Campus mourns Gregory Seferian, a graduate student in comparative literature

Gregory Seferian, 33, died Saturday, Jan. 2, in Vestal.

A graduate student in comparative literature, he had been at Binghamton University since fall 2016. Known for his kindness and keen intellect, he received his master's degree in spring 2019, and planned to pursue doctoral studies.

Greg wanted to study and live with purpose, said Luiza Moreira, professor and chair of the Department of Comparative Literature. A warm, thoughtful and generous friend, he was also talented, with interests that ranged far and wide.

He wrote with insight about time in the great novels of the 20th century, even as he also cared deeply about organic farming and the people who work the land, in the U.S., in Armenia, or in Mexico, and learned to speak their languages.

He will be greatly missed by our students and faculty.

Professor Zoja Pavlovskis-Petit, who recently observed Seferian teach a class on the Buddhist classic, The Dhammapada, found his teaching admirable, writing: "It is regrettable that I had no opportunity to attend such a course in my own student days, but even so I was inspired to re-read The Dhammapada and think about its teachings again, to the best of my ability."

Omid Ghaemmaghami, an associate professor of Arabic and near eastern studies, was a close friend and mentor who is devastated by the loss of his student and friend.

"A sensitive reader with an insatiable appetite for knowledge, he possessed a keen intellect that blended a penetrating mind with deep intuition, Ghaemmaghami said. Contemplating a well-known Islamic tradition that speaks of God being a Hidden Treasure who loved to be known, Greg applied his burgeoning study of Arabic into comparing the image and analogy of the mirror in Islamic mystical exegesis and in the writings of Bahaullah. Every one of my encounters with him was marked by his exceeding politeness and unstinting courtesy. He embodied what in Arabic is known as adab, the code of interpersonal etiquette, marked by refinement, decorum, and humaneness, that is the hallmark of Islamicate ethics.

Seferian is survived by his father, Karnik Seferian, mother, Virginia "Ginger" and an older brother, Haig.

Funeral services will be held at the Armenian Church of Holy Martyrs in Bayside at the convenience of the family. The church is limiting attendance to the funeral to 30, which will be taken up by family, and burial will be in the family cemetery.

For those in need of counseling services, the University Counseling Center (UCC), along with the Dean of Students Office and CARE Team, can offer support. To reach someone after hours or for emergencies, students should call 911 or the UCC after-hours counselor by calling 607-777-2772 and selecting #2. During business hours, students who would like to speak to someone should reach out to the UCC by calling 607-777-2772 or the Dean of Students Office and CARE Team by calling 607-777-2804.

Faculty and staff seeking assistance should contact the Employee Assistance Program at 607-777-6655 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. An off-campus coordinator can be reached after hours by calling the 24-hour EAP call line at 1-800-822-0244.

The Binghamton University Interfaith Council is also available to students, faculty and staff via email at buic@binghamton.edu.
When Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff are sworn in as senators from Georgia on Wednesday, they won't just put Democrats in control of the chamber. They'll also make Kamala Harris the most powerful vice president in years - and the most powerful Black or Asian woman in American history. And that power was granted to her by the hard work of Black women in Georgia.

For many years, the prevailing wisdom has been the office of the vice president is incidental to real power in Washington. Because vice presidents do not have executive authority and cannot "legislate" from the bully pulpit the same way presidents can, each administration gets to decide how much, or how little, the vice president is involved in decision-making. Vice President Dick Cheney was the recent exception to the usual rule: He not only served as President George W. Bush's chief adviser but was unapologetic in his advocacy of violence against America's enemies and unafraid of using torture techniques to secure domestic safety. The security apparatus he built remains. His "quiet power" was enabled, in part, because he had a willing co-conspirator in Bush - but also because there was nothing unusual about a White man with a lot of power. For Harris, though, an enormous amount of scrutiny will be coming soon.

Because Harris is the first Black, South Asian, graduate of a historically Black university, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and woman to hold the office, there is a lot of attention on her and the type of executive partner she will be for Joe Biden. The American people have already gotten a glimpse of her in action in Senate hearings and on the campaign trail where her performances were instantly meme-able. She became a sensation, and if her past performance is any indication, she will not be content to simply be the president's cheerleader. It is expected that Harris will be Biden's partner in all things.

Fittingly, it was Black people of Georgia who turned the political world on its axis again. Not only was Black turnout comparable to the general election, Warnock and Ossoff saw their share of the Black vote increase between November and January. In fact, Georgians cast more votes in the 2021 Senate runoff than they did in 2012, when President Barack Obama was running for reelection. And now the person with the power will be a Black and South Asian woman; the child of immigrants holding all of the proverbial marbles. The framers did not provide much in the way of responsibilities for the vice president other than to preside over the Senate. But Article II of the Constitution says the vice president "shall have no vote, unless [the Senators] be equally divided." This power was pivotal when Bush took office in 2001, when Cheney provided the tie-breaking vote in a 50-50 Senate to give Republicans control and ease the Bush agenda's passage through Congress. Harris not only has the opportunity to do the same, but in a moment of even deeper partisan polarization, it is likely she will be called on to break ties in the Senate on a more regular basis than her predecessors.

The specter of this Black woman with all of this power has not been lost on congressional Trump supporters or the partisan opportunists who attempted to use every trick in the book to deny the victory of this historic ticket by disenfranchising voters in heavily Black districts. When that didn't work, they simply threw the book out and weaponized White anger. From the moment it looked like Harris would be Biden's vice-presidential nominee, there have been wild conspiracies that he would simply be a puppet to Harris's "radical agenda." These pernicious falsehoods mirror similar attacks made against other women of color, like "the Squad," who are portrayed as a threat because they're constantly depicted as having outsized power.

Of course, not every Republican went along with the effort, but that is cold comfort for those of us who have seen the machinations of White people too often determine our own life chances. The charade of 2020 - indeed, of the last four years - was never about democracy, election integrity or the protection of our so-called values. It was about keeping people who look like Harris from being able to pull the levers of power. Because a Vice President Harris affirms their deepest fears that they will reap the America they have sown for so many others. We don't yet know what she'll do with the power Georgia voters have given her. But at least we know she won't be the type of vice president who will stand idly by as the Oval Office is abused.

- - -

Carter is the author of "American While Black: Race, Immigration, and the Limits of Citizenship" and an associate professor of political science at Howard University.
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For bird lovers, seeing or hearing an owl can be a magical experience  and thanks to migration patterns, breeding seasons and the starkness of the landscape, winter just so happens to be prime time for some magical owl experiences in Michigan.

For those who might embark on an owling adventure this season, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Audubon Great Lakes are reminding people that there are certain precautions to take when it comes to safe, ethical viewing of these enchanting birds.

For starters, as migratory owls make their way into Michigan, birders and photographers alike should bear in mind that these birds migration journeys have been exhausting, and that creeping up on them to get a closer look or better photo can be harmful to the bird.

Attention-grabbing snowy owls are particularly alluring when they show up in Michigan, in part because their daytime hunting habits can make them easier to spot. But bird fans and photogs should keep a respectful distance from these Arctic beauties  these birds might not seem startled by people, but getting too close to them can disrupt their life-sustaining search for food during an already challenging season.

Snowy owls are often here in Michigan due to limited food resources in their typical range and are likely hungry and searching for food, said Erin Rowan, MiBirds program associate with the DNR and Audubon Great Lakes.

Rowans advice for glimpsing these birds while also keeping them safe?

Watch the owl from a distance, through binoculars or a spotting scope, so as not to disturb it, she said.

Another reason why winter is a good time for owling: Its breeding season for some of Michigans native owl species. Great horned owls start their courtship in January, offering the spine-tingling chance to listen for their sonorous calls to one another on calm nights.

While it might be tempting to use audio recordings to find owls or lure them closer to you, Rowan advises that people refrain from doing so, or to play a recording only once or twice, as hearing another owls call  even a recorded one  can be stressful to them.

For more guidelines, the American Birding Association has a birding code of ethics that outlines basic principles of how to be thoughtful when searching out owls and other birds.

The bottom line, according to the DNR, is to enjoy the magic of Michigan winter owling, but to do so respectfully.

Winter is still kind of a stressful time for these birds, Rowan said. There arent as many food resources available, so if theyre resting or roosting they need to do that to conserve their energy. Its just something to keep in mind.

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The trade union, SIPTU, has called for real solutions not gimmicks to resolve domestic waste issues in Dublin city.

It has called for the remunicipalisation of domestic waste collection services an issue which has been raised at Kildare County Council in the past

The trade union has described an offer of a 50,000 prize by Dublin City Council for innovative solutions for on street storage of domestic waste as a gimmick and a waste of public funds.

SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Adrian Kane, said: The solution to the problem of street storage of domestic waste in Dublin is quite simple and does not rely on the gimmick of a 50,000 prize that is really a waste of public funds.

Mr Kane said:What we must do is adopt the community bin method of waste storage and collection which is in place in other European cities with high density housing. This would mean moving away from the free-market model of waste collection which is currently in place in Ireland, which results in multiple private waste collection services being in operation within a single local authority area.

This system creates a situation where there are numerous bins on our streets and traffic is blocked each morning with different refuse trucks competing for business. Our dysfunctional system also results in a quarter of all households in the country having no domestic waste service, he said.

The ultimate solution is the remunicipalisation of domestic waste collection services. Until this is achieved, legislation governing waste management needs to be amended. This would allow for progressive tendering arrangements to be put in place. Such a system would ensure that the successful provider would need to meet quality service standards, including decent terms and conditions for workers, provision of community bins and allow for a subsidised service for people who cannot afford to pay the commercial rate.

He added: A SIPTU delegation met with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan last week to discuss these issues. The Minister was receptive to the proposals tabled by our union to resolve the problems related to domestic waste collection in Ireland.

The issue of the privatisation of the waste collection was raised at a meeting of Kildare County Council on January 28, 2019.

Many councillors argued that illegal dumping was on the increase and called for increased penalties and monitoring of it.

Others put the increase down to the fact that it cost households money to pay for waste collection. Officials said that more and more resources were going into the policing of illegal dumping.



Former councillor, Brendan Young, said CCTV and traffic wardens were like King Canute trying to hold the waters back. The cause is the privatisation of the waste collection, he said.

Former Cllr Reada Cronin, now a Sinn Fein Kildare North TD, said the council should be going back into the waste business.




Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Wednesday after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, that all Romanians should do it, because that is the only way they can "kiss and hug their parents and grandparents" and move across the border carefree, according to AGERPRES.

"Last month I lost my mother. She did not die of COVID-19, but of another condition. Throughout her professional life, Mom worked in medical research. She often faced dangerous bacteria and viruses and I learned from her and the books I had at home how beneficial vaccines are to public health. I have suffered a lot because of the loss of my mother, but I suffered more the year and before my mother died because I couldn't hug and kiss her, so I ask you all to please decide to get vaccinated, because that way you'll be able to kiss and hug without your parents and grandparents without a worry," Aurescu said.

He added that vaccination provides the only possible way to travel abroad safely.

"That way we will all be healthy and we will be able to travel across borders without a worry and I assure you that, as far as the Foreign Ministry (MAE) is concerned, we will do everything in our power to ensure the smooth travel of Romanian citizens abroad. Thank you and I ask everyone once again to get vaccinated, "Aurescu concluded.

Aurescu got vaccinated at the Carol Davila Military Hospital in Bucharest together with other members of the government.
Britons may need to be vaccinated against Covid every year to keep the disease at bay, Sir Patrick Vallance warned today.

No10's chief scientific adviser said a regular flu-style rollout may be required to 'keep on top' of the virus for the next few years.

Scientists say that mutations on the spike protein  which disease-fighting proteins called antibodies target to stop pathogens triggering an infection  could allow the virus to evade jabs or natural immunity in the future.

Covid vaccines are likely to cost Number 10 upwards of 1billion this year alone, with health bosses understood to have signed a deal in the region of 600million to get hold of 40million doses from Pfizer.

The UK spends around 200million each year on its annual flu vaccine rollout, which sees around 15million people jabbed over the course of the winter.

Experts say around 70 per cent of the population  46million people  will need to be vaccinated against Covid to achieve herd immunity and stop the virus spreading. But immunity can fade over time, meaning that millions may need to be inoculated again.

Sir Patrick said studies have now suggested vaccines will work on the Kent variant, although there are still 'some question marks' over other strains including the South African one.

He added that he would continue to push for tougher curbs if needed, saying Britain's experience of the pandemic has shown going too lightly can easily lead to a resurgence in the virus.

Sir Patrick Vallance told Sky News it was likely regular vaccinations against Covid-19 could be needed to keep the virus at bay

SOME CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS COULD STILL BE IN PLACE NEXT WINTER, TOP ADVISER WARNS Coronavirus restrictions could still be in place next winter despite mass roll out of the vaccine, Sir Patrick Vallance has warned. Although England's third lockdown could be gradually lifted from March, top advisers say, they add some measures - such as social distancing and face masks - could remain in place into next year. The chief scientific officer told Sky News today that despite it being likely the UK would be in a 'better' position by next winter, he didn't think Britons could assume all measures would be lifted. 'It's more likely to be making sure that we wear face masks in certain places, making sure that we keep up with hand washing, making sure that we're sensible about the way in which we interact with people in indoor environment's,' he said. 'That's the sort of thing you might anticipate. 'But this virus has taken us by surprise time and time again, and we just don't know.' He added: 'I'd be very surprised if we go in year-on-year needing to do things more than that but this coming winter I think we need to wait and see how far we get on with the current reduction in numbers that needs to occur.' Advertisement

The current crop of jabs approved for use in Britain are based on versions of the constantly-evolving virus studied a year ago, so may become less effective as more mutations happen over time.

But vaccine technology allows some of the jabs to be tweaked within weeks, meaning boosted versions protecting against new strains can be rapidly made and dished out.

Some 4.6million Britons have received their first dose so far, as the Government aims to get 14million of the most vulnerable vaccinated by mid-February.

Speaking to Sky News, Sir Patrick said: 'I think its quite likely that we are going to need regular vaccination, at least for a few years.

'And I think its quite likely those vaccines may need to change a bit as they do for flu every year.'

But he added that it was not yet certain whether annual vaccinations would be taking place.

'We don't know yet,' he said. 'But that will be planned in the way it is planned for flu as well.

'This virus has taken us by surprise time and time again and we just don't know.'

There are fears mutant strains of the virus could get around immunity triggered by vaccines, although a variant with this ability hasn't been identified.

Sir Patrick told Sky the Government's scientists are now 'increasingly of the view' that the Kent variant 'will be susceptible to the vaccine and to previous immunity'.

'The studies are all pointing in that direction so I think that's good in terms of vaccine effect,' he said.

'[But] for some of the others that are popping up around the world - and they will continue to pop up  we've still got some question marks as to how effective a vaccine will be.'

Boris Johnson imposed demands for everyone arriving in the UK from abroad to have tested negative for coronavirus and quarantine this week, in an attempt to lock out any new variants.

Sir Patrick said he was pushing ministers for a harder approach against the virus, because their experience since March showed that looser measures easily allowed the virus to resurge.

'I think there is a very simple series of recommendations which I've been pushing continuously and I'll continue to do so, which is the lesson is: go earlier than you think you want to, go a bit harder than you think you want to, and go a bit broader than you think you want to, in terms of applying the restrictions.

'I'm afraid that's a grim message but that is what the evidence says - you've got to go hard, early and broader if you're going to get on top of this. Waiting and watching simply doesn't work.'

It comes as the British Medical Association (BMA) criticised the Government over a lack of transparency around vaccine supply which is impacting the speed at which jabs are rolled out.

More than four million Britons have been vaccinated against the virus so far, as the Government tries to inoculate 14million of the most vulnerable by mid-February

GP committee chairman Dr Richard Vautrey said the past few weeks 'has seen an enormous effort on the part of GPs and other healthcare workers to roll out the vaccination to as many people as possible'.

But he added: 'Unfortunately, we are hearing of supply issues which are impacting the speed of the rollout of the vaccine.

'Despite having the staff and resources available, some GP-led sites are not able to vaccinate patients at the rate at which they could if they had continued access to the vaccine.

'As well as accelerating the delivery of supplies to ready and willing sites across the country, the Government needs to be honest both with the public and practices about what supplies are available.'
Donald Trumps youngest daughter Tiffany has announced her engagement on her fathers last full day in office.

A picture posted to Instagram shows Ms Trump, 27, and fiance Michael Boulos standing in one of the White Houses colonnades, with the caption explaining that the couple got engaged at the executive mansion.

It has been an honour to celebrate many milestones, historic occasions and create memories with my family here at the White House, none more special than my engagement to my amazing fiance Michael! Feeling blessed and excited for the next chapter! Ms Trump wrote.

Dressed in a black dress, the outgoing presidents youngest daughter can be seen wearing an engagement ring as she stands with Boulos, described as a billionaire heir by Vanity Fair.

In the comments under the post, Boulos expressed his love for his soon-to-be wife, writing: Love you honey" along with heart emojis.

The 23-year-old also posted the same photo to his own Instagram account, where he included the caption: Got engaged to the love of my life! Looking forward to our next chapter together.

The couple reportedly met in Mykonos, Greece in 2017, with Town & Country noting that they were photographed together for the first time in September 2018 at the Taoray Wang fashion show in New York City.

Boulos is a Lebanese-born businessman who grew up in Nigeria, before moving to London for academic studies. Instagram pictures show him at a graduation ceremony at Regents University in the city.

Read more: Who is Michael Boulos?

In December 2018, they celebrated Christmas together at the White House, with Ms Trump sharing a photo of herself and Boulos standing in front of a Christmas tree to Instagram.

In more recent photos uploaded to the 27-year-olds Instagram, the couple can be seen together in New York and at the presidents Florida resort Mar-a-Lago.

Ms Trump, the only child of the president and his second wife, Marla Maples, was raised primarily by her mother in California. She recently graduated from Georgetown Law School.

Boulos family founded the conglomerate Boulos Enterprises, which does work with vehicles, equipment, retail, and construction" and is reportedly worth billions, according to Vanity Fair.

Following the couples announcement, their posts were flooded with congratulatory messages, with the presidents eldest daughter Ivanka among those sharing her support.

Love you Michael! the 39-year-old wrote on her future brother-in-laws Instagram. On her younger sisters, she commented: So happy for you and Michael! Love you Tiff!

Maples also shared her congratulations, posting the photo of her daughter and her new fiance to her Instagram Stories with the caption: Celebrating Gods endless blessing of love. May Gods blessing and love always light your path. Love you so much, mom.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Ohio Chief Justice Maureen OConnor wants the Rs and Ds removed from judicial candidates names on ballots, arguing that judges have to rule on the specifics of the cases in front of them, and not the values of the Republican, Democratic or other political parties.

OConnor, a Republican who ran unopposed in 2016, told the cleveland.com/Plain Dealer editorial board in a video conferencing meeting Wednesday that there are better ways to judge candidates, such as their records on the bench and their explanation of why they want to move onto a higher bench, such as the Ohio Supreme Court or an appellate court. Judges can explain complicated cases that they were careful about deciding, and educate voters on the potential consequences if they would have been less thorough with the details.

In Ohio, judicial candidates can be nominated by political parties and compete for nominations in primaries. But in general elections, there are no party designations on the ballot. Its the only state with such a system.

OConnor said in 2012, she joined a dissenting opinion over legislative redistricting. The majority opinion largely favored Republicans, and she got some criticism from members in her party for not joining the majority.

I broke away from the mold in some peoples minds, she said. And so again, party affiliation should not  and people have to understand it should not  have anything to do with how a judge does their job, she said.

OConnor has fought the perception that the judiciary is partisan. In September, the Ohio GOP, on Twitter and in a statement, criticized a Columbus judge for a ruling. OConnor shot back: Every one of Ohios 722 judges, 800 magistrates, and numerous active-retired judges should be greatly concerned and voice their dismay at the irresponsible Republican Party allegation that politics controlled the judges decision. This is a blatant and unfounded attack on the independence of the Ohio judiciary.

Removing party affiliation on primary ballots, which OConnor first proposed in 2013 and mentioned in a revised and shortened 2014 document, would require amending the Ohio Constitution.

I have a bully pulpit, but it only goes so far, she said. And I have to work with the legislature on something like this. And its constitutional changes so youd have to convince the public.

Its also unclear whether political parties would stop funding and endorsing their candidates, even if their affiliation isnt on the primary ballot.

OConnor said that shes concerned about the increasing levels of independent funding involved in judicial races. Groups can spend unlimited amounts of money for or against candidates as long as theyre not coordinating with candidate campaigns under the U.S. Supreme Courts 2010 Citizens United decision. Contributors to the third party groups often cannot be traced.

Id love to see Citizens United overturned, so we dont have that status that is bestowed on these political action groups, she said.

More coverage:

Ohio Chief Justice Maureen OConnor blasts her party, Ohio GOP, for irresponsible criticism of judge

Gov. Mike DeWine releases list of fragile health conditions in Phase 1B, cautions of having to slow down age eligibility schedule of COVID-19 vaccine

Ohio reports 6,378 new coronavirus cases: Wednesday update

New feature on state coronavirus website now showing 757 sites for eligible Ohioans to get vaccine

Ohio Supreme Court to decide whether state law requires armed teachers, school staff be trained like school police officers
gettyimagesbank



By Jun Ji-hye



Park Kwang-il, a famous lecturer teaching Korean language to students preparing for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), has been arrested for allegedly posting numerous malicious comments on websites related to cram schools, in a bid to slander rival lecturers.



District prosecutors in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, said Wednesday that Park was arrested on allegations of defamation and obstruction of business.





Park Kwang-il / Yonhap
SAGINAW, MI  Less than a month after absconding from probation, a Saginaw man is accused of robbing  or trying to rob  Saginaw County supermarkets.

The first holdup occurred at 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the Meijer at 3360 Tittabawassee Road in Kochville Township. A man went to the customer service desk and demanded money, intimating he had a weapon.

After obtaining an undisclosed sum of money, the man fled outside and left in a vehicle, prosecutors allege.

The next day at about 2 p.m., a man walked up to the customer service desk within Kroger at 4762 State St. in Saginaw Township and demanded money. The clerk refused to hand over any money and the would-be robber fled, prosecutors said.

Minutes later, the suspect returned to the Kochville Township Meijer store and again demanded cash from the customer service desk. He again indicated he had a weapon, prosecutors said.

The robber again attained money at Meijer and left the scene in a vehicle.

Within about a half-hour, a Saginaw County Sheriffs detective saw a vehicle matching a description of the suspects. Police stopped the vehicle on Tittabawassee Road near the Interstate 675 expressway and arrested 32-year-old Joshua A. Warren, a passenger in the vehicle.

Police also arrested the vehicles driver, a 59-year-old woman.

Warren on Tuesday, Jan. 19, appeared before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens for arraignment on single counts of armed robbery and unarmed robbery, plus two counts of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police. Armed robbery, the most serious charge, is a life offense.

Warren is not facing a third robbery-related charge as the first incident remains under investigation, prosecutors said. Prosecutors are not charging the woman arrested with Warren at this time, they said.

At the Tuesday, arraignment, defense attorney Ayiteh Sowah said Warren has a drug issue and would like to receive rehabilitative treatment for it. Sowah asked for Warren to be freed on a personal recognizance or otherwise low bond.

Jurrens said Warren has a lengthy criminal record. Warren on Nov. 5, 2020, was sentenced to three years probation on convictions of breaking and entering and conspiracy to commit that crime. Warren absconded from probation on Dec. 28, the Michigan Department of Corrections reports.

Jurrens set bond at $50,000 cash-surety or 10 percent in each of Warrens two files.

Read more:

Police arrest man they say tried robbing Saginaw Township Kroger store

Morning shooting leaves Saginaw woman wounded, man in jail

Police arrest man they say crashed truck into Saginaw house, killing sleeping woman
An elementary school speech therapist who was found dead in her home Tuesday is being remembered as a beloved staff member as well as a vibrant and integral part of the community.

According to Wakefield Public Schools Superintendent Douglas Lyons, Pamela Wood worked with many students and families over the years in her role as a speech and language pathologist at Greenwood Elementary School.

It is with great sadness that we are reaching out. Today we were devastated to learn of the sudden loss of one of our colleagues, Pamela Wood, Lyons wrote in a statement. She will be missed by students, families and staff alike. Our hearts go out to her family during this tremendously difficult time.

Police responded around 10 a.m. Tuesday to the womans Otis Street home to perform a wellness check on her after Greenwood Elementary School officials alerted her family she did not arrive at work at 8:30 a.m., according to a statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office.

Woods family was unable to enter the home without a key and requested the wellness check, the statement said.

Authorities pried open the back door of the home, announced their entrance and began clearing the home, according to the statement. Police officers proceeded upstairs, and firefighters headed downstairs, where they found Wood dead with severe trauma in the basement.

Police went downstairs after firefighters called for backup. There, they encountered Woods son, Timothy Martin, who is accused of charging at officers while holding a knife over his head, according to Ryans office. The 23-year-old man lives in New Hampshire and was not expected to be at his mothers home.

Two officers shot Martin as he charged at them while wielding the knife. He was taken to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington after authorities performed life-saving efforts at the scene, officials said.

Martin remains in custody at the hospital. Charges are expected to be filed against him, and an arraignment will be scheduled, according to authorities.

The district attorneys office, which continues to investigate the killing, said five police officers received treatment at nearby hospitals after the incident but did not suffer any serious injuries.

Lyons said the Wakefield school districts administrative team is working to provide counseling support and other resources to students and staff in the wake of Woods death.

Counseling support will be on site at Greenwood tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday, the superintendent noted Tuesday.

Wakefield Public Schools offered families the following resources to help them navigate conversations about the tragic incident with their children:

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected Merck & Co. Inc.s bid to revive a $2.54 billion jury verdict it won against rival drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc. for infringing a patent in a dispute over a blockbuster hepatitis C treatment.

The justices declined to take up Mercks appeal of a lower courts ruling that overturned the massive damages verdict after finding that Mercks patent was invalid.

The case concerns a new generation of highly effective drugs for hepatitis C, a viral infection that can cause serious liver damage, able to cure more than 90% of patients, with few side effects.

New Jersey-based Mercks Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. in 2013 accused California-based Gilead of infringing its patent on a family of compounds with the same basic chemical structure that is effective against the hepatitis C virus.

After a federal court trial in 2016, a jury sided with Idenix, awarding $2.54 billion for Gileads infringement with its drugs Sovaldi and Harvoni. The Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, a specialized patent court, invalidated the patent in 2019 after determining that its claims on the family of compounds were overly broad, in violation of U.S. patent law.

In its appeal to the Supreme Court, Merck said that the Federal Circuits ruling undermined biotechnology breakthroughs in which discoveries often begin with a family of compounds that share a particular property.

A group of intellectual property scholars backed Merck in a written brief, telling the justices that the Federal Circuit ruling made it unreasonably difficult for a pharmaceutical company that comes up with an innovative new class of drugs to protect that class against imitation. That result threatens innovation.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- International Land Alliance, Inc. (OTCQB:ILAL), is pleased to announce its joint venture partner has broken ground and commenced indoor growing operations at its Southern California property, with an anticipated first harvest in approximately 12 weeks.

The Company announced the signing of the joint venture on October 12, 2020. The first phase of the development includes a 1,500 square-foot indoor facility slated for growing, germination, processing and storage, as well as 3 acres of outdoor. Indoor grows can have nearly perpetual harvests if the growing conditions are right and a good cultivation team is in place. Outdoor plants are usually larger and contain more buds in many cases, but with multiple harvests, the yield for indoor plants can be much larger depending on the number of plants, as well as the other factors that can impact output.

"While we continue to remain focused on our core developments in Baja California, we are excited about the successful start of operations by our joint venture partner and project manager and the ability to supplement our consolidated 2021 revenues," said Jason Sunstein, Vice President of International Land Alliance.

As previously announced, the Company entered into a joint venture, which will be owned 50% by the Company and 50% by Grower. The Company's contribution to the Joint Venture will be the use of the 40 acres of land and existing indoor commercial space. Grower will contribute all required capital, consulting services, cultivation equipment, agricultural infrastructure and ability to scale hemp operations.

The Company acquired this property in Q1 2019 for $1,100,000, which included three vacant 20-acre parcels, and one 20-acre parcel with an existing 8,000 square foot event venue currently generating revenue. In Q3 2019, the Company sold one vacant 20-acre parcel for $630,000. After careful due diligence, the Company has determined that this Joint Venture is the best use and return on investment for the remaining two vacant 20-acre parcels without the Company issuing any common stock or expending additional capital.

About International Land Alliance, Inc.:

International Land Alliance, Inc. (OTCQB:ILAL) is an international land investment and development firm based in San Diego, California. As its' core mission, the Company has embraced technology for sustainable and socially responsible solutions, in addition to using proptech and construction tech advanced applications to meet these goals. The Company is focused on acquiring attractive raw land primarily in Northern Baja California, often within driving distance from Southern California. The Company serves its shareholders by devoting considerable time and resources to seeking out the finest sites available and obtaining the necessary development permits to build a compelling portfolio of properties, which provide a diversity of investment and living options. Please visit: www.ila.company.

Safe Harbor Statement

The press release may include certain statements that are not descriptions of historical facts but are forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include the description of our plans and objectives for future operations, assumptions underlying such plans and objectives, and other forward-looking terminology such as "may," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of such terms. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein. Such information is based upon various assumptions made by, and expectations of, our management that were reasonable when made but may prove to be incorrect. All of such assumptions are inherently subject to significant economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies beyond our control and upon assumptions with respect to the future business decisions which are subject to change. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that actual results will meet expectation and actual results may vary (perhaps materially) from certain of the results anticipated herein.

SOURCE International Land Alliance, Inc.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 22:00:37|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump bid farewell to the White House, his residence of the past four years, early on Wednesday morning, ready to head to Joint Base Andrews on Marine One for a send-off ceremony following which he will fly to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

In doing so, Trump, waving hands while embarking on the presidential helicopter with First Lady Melania Trump, intentionally skipped his successor President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration scheduled sometime around noon on Capitol Hill in the nation's capital.

He will be the first sitting president since 1869 to be absent from the incoming president's swearing-in ceremony.

Shortly after, Biden left the Blair House just outside the White House's northern fence to attend a church service, kicking off his Inauguration Day. Enditem
We urge the UN and its member states to take affirmative action against the LTTE fronts who are involved in a plethora of illegal international crimes.

"We are citizens of Sri Lanka comprising Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, and Burgher ethnicities living in a multicultural, pluralistic society with a long history marked by mutual respect for one another and acceptance as well as celebration of difference. Inclusivity has been our hallmark and our glory." said in a petition to the United Nations for urging to take impartial actions against the terrorists and their supporters.

"In May 2009, the Sri Lankan government, with the support of the international community, was able to end this reign of terror whose operational signature included child-abduction, forced conscription, suicide bombs, ethnic cleansing and the assassination of hundreds of politicians, academics, professionals and civilians including two heads of state," it added.

Read the full text of the petition and endorse your support for people in Sri Lanka

To: The United Nations and its Member States

Re: Take Impartial Action against Terrorists and Supporters

We are citizens of Sri Lanka comprising Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, and Burgher ethnicities living in a multicultural, pluralistic society with a long history marked by mutual respect for one another and acceptance as well as celebration of difference. Inclusivity has been our hallmark and our glory. It was this unity that was violently threatened by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a ruthless terrorist organization proscribed in many countries for its genocidal track record as well as multiple criminal activities across the globe including drug trafficking, financial crimes, human and arms smugglings.

Sri Lanka suffered almost three decades of death, destruction, dismemberment and displacement on account of the LTTE. In May 2009, the Sri Lankan government, with the support of the international community, was able to end this reign of terror whose operational signature included child-abduction, forced conscription, suicide bombs, ethnic cleansing and the assassination of hundreds of politicians, academics, professionals and civilians including two heads of state. It must be mentioned that the LTTE in its final days held hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians hostage  its infamous human shield. The Sri Lankan security forces carried out the largest ever hostage rescue operation at great cost to the fighting forces.

It is indeed a travesty of justice that human rights organizations that are either ignorant or have subscribed to some political agenda that has little to do with the suffering of people have chosen to castigate Sri Lanka for the crime of restoring normalcy, bringing peace, ending a war and providing the space for democracy in a region that had only known war and to a people forced to live in fear on account of the pernicious designs of a terrorist outfit. The long history of the war, in particular the brutality of the LTTE and the suffering of all communities, as a result, has been either footnoted or left out altogether from the narrative.

Sri Lanka has been made to paid a huge price, over and over again. The people of Sri Lanka know of the heinous crimes committed by the LTTE. We know how the LTTE killed unarmed innocents, stabbed pregnant women, slaughtered newborn babies, beheaded children on their way to school, crippled farmers working in their fields and exploded bombs in public places, buses and trains killing thousands. All this is documented. None of it is mentioned in the narrative on Sri Lanka. This is wrong. It is unjust.

Therefore, we call upon the United Nations and its member states to:

1. Investigate the legality of the report on Sri Lanka compiled by a panel appointed by the former UNSG Ban Ki Moon since it was a personally commissioned project but is used as the basis for successive resolutions against Sri Lanka. This report was never tabled in the UNGA, UNSC or even UNHRC for Sri Lanka to officially respond. It is moreover full of inaccuracies, exaggerations and accusations but without a shred of evidence to back the same.

2. Investigate all LTTE fronts banned under UNSC Resolution 1373 operating in the countries which have listed the LTTE as a terrorist organization and proscribed it since these organizations have facilitated untold violence by providing material and financial supports to the LTTE operating from foreign shores.

3. Move on the authors of the above-mentioned report to provide the evidence in names and details of all 40,000 or more they claim to have been killed during the final phase of the conflict, since, considering that even after 12 years consequent to the defeats of the LTTE, no one has produced the names of these 40,000 persons supposedly killed and on account of the irreparable damage that this mischievous report scattered with so many errors has done to the reputation of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans.

4. Acknowledge that the conflagration was an internal affair of Sri Lanka where the principal aggressor was a terrorist organization that challenged the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation, sought to overthrow democratically elected governments and which had to be stopped in order to defend the people, the territorial integrity, sovereignty and democracy.

5. Acknowledge that the terrorists massacred not only Sinhala and Muslim people but also Tamils who did not support or approve their fascist agenda.

7. Move to investigate the LTTE trainer Adele Balasingham who from 1970s to the late 1990s motivated and trained Tamil children to kill and pushed them to suicide by encouraging them to carry cyanide capsules, especially since she played a key role in manipulating children to join a terrorist organization and enabled their deployment as human bombs, all of which constitute clear evidence of the war crimes and crimes against humanity by the LTTE.

8. Move to investigate the LTTEs international network about which ample evidence has been documented by the worlds most renowned think tanks, considering that the international criminal nexus include human smuggling, a widespread illegal immigration racket, money laundering, drug trafficking, arms smuggling and credit card scams all of which impact citizens of multiple countries.

9. Recognize that the defeat of the LTTE ushered in a period of peace and a return to normalcy, where representatives could be elected democratically, children could return to school without fear of being abducted and turned into child soldiers and economic development was possible as evidenced by the massive changes that have taken place in the former conflict zones, progress which was but a dream while the LTTE existed.

10. Recognize that it is the moment for the UN and the International Community to help Sri Lanka to design and implement all proactive mechanism to prevent the recurrence of reigns of terror by the LTTE or any other known or unknown violent organizations motivated by genocidal, fascist, extremist ideologies challenging the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

11. Acknowledge that this terrorist menace is not limited to Sri Lanka but has spread to the United Nations and its member countries like a cancer and censure all organizations and/or individuals who directly or indirectly represent this organization and directly or indirectly support its fascist ideologies in the interest of bringing the same to justice.

12. Reaffirm that the LTTE terrorism is a part of global phenomenon which requires constant vigilance and adequate resources with international collaboration to identify and eliminate to safeguard the unarmed civilians of any member state including Sri Lanka.

It is those who suffer who know the depths of grief. We, Sri Lankans comprising Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and burghers, have suffered immensely as a result of this terrorist group and the groups that incite them. The time has come for the United Nations and its member states to look at our suffering without being deceived by those who spread false ideologies to achieve pernicious designs that divide, hurt, maim and make for recurrence of conflict.

Therefore:

We urge the UN and its member states to take affirmative action against the LTTE fronts who are involved in a plethora of illegal international crimes.

We urge the United Nations and its member states to work honestly with the government that came to power democratically to build bridges so Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans could move to real and lasting peace.




By Adam Borowski





When I was reading the news about North Korea three years ago, I stumbled across an organization most of you are familiar with  Freedom Speakers International, formerly known as Teach North Korean Refugees. I thought it would be a good idea to send my B.A. thesis to the FSI. The thesis centered on teaching vocabulary to advanced students of English, so it seemed like a good idea to share my nuggets of wisdom with the FSI. Little did I know that the man on the other side was Casey Lartigue.



Some time later, he suggested that I write an article for the Korea Times. I'd never heard of the Korea Times before but I thought I'd give it a shot. That's how my article-writing adventure started. Casey once said, "I made a suggestion but you walked through the door.'' While it's true I made a great effort to write some 50 articles, I wouldn't have started writing if Lartigue hadn't made me aware of the Korea Times in the first place. My cynicism just couldn't understand it, "Why would a total stranger open the proverbial door for me?'' But then, when I saw my first article, my cynicism gave way to joy.



A few days later, I got a first comment. It was nice to know I'd made someone think. It turned out that someone was a highly educated Korean woman. We had an elaborate exchange of views about sociolinguistics. I even got a flattering e-mail from a Korean student who wished to write like me one day. Many Americans continue to share their views with me. Unsurprisingly, not every message I get is courteous. I have no problem with that. As a Pole, I am used to direct communication as long as there are no caustic comments aimed at me personally.



I'm an experienced global traveler who interacts with people from all walks of life. Well, given the current crisis, I should probably write: "I was.'' Be that as it may, I'm a keen observer of the human condition which makes me a good judge of character. Based on the e-mail exchanges and video chats, it's clear to me Casey is an excellent communicator who talks to intellectuals and simple-minded people with the same ease. Casey helps me navigate the cultural landscape I find both fascinating and frustrating.



When I fly from Warsaw to Seoul, I'm certainly going to remember about Casey and the FSI. I hope to find a way to contribute to the FSI. There's no nobler cause than helping North Korean refugees live better lives. English fluency does just that  it helps North Korean refugees live better lives by giving them access to the world, offering an alternative to terror and brainwashing. As a linguist, I'd even suggest changing the "English language teaching'' to "freedom language teaching.'' Some of you are going to scoff at the suggestion. But words matter. It's fair to say the English language represents freedom to North Korean refugees.



I rest my case. The world needs more Casey Lartigues.





Adam Borowski (adam.borowski1985@gmail.com) is a technical Polish-English translator and an international relations enthusiast. He is the author of an alternate reality novel titled: ''Planetary Entrapment Syndrome. Escaping Hazmat Demons.''




Company Prepares for Commercialization of Revolutionary In-Office Therapy

Neurent Medical, a company pioneering innovative treatments for chronic inflammatory sino-nasal diseases, today announced it has closed a $25 million Series B financing. The round was led by new investor LSP, from its LSP HEF-2 fund, and co-led by Atlantic Bridge, investing from its Growth Fund IV. Fountain Healthcare Partners also participated as a returning investor with strong participation in the round.

The financing will support the expansion of the company's clinical and commercial operations as it prepares for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and U.S. commercialization of its proprietary NEUROMARK Rhinitis Neurolysis Therapy, an innovative in-office treatment for chronic rhinitis.

Approximately one in four Americans suffer from chronic rhinitis,1 a common condition that results in persistent symptoms including congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing and nasal itching. Chronic rhinitis significantly decreases quality of life and can have an adverse effect on sleep quality, mood and daily activities.

The traditional rhinitis patient journey is often full of frustration due to limited treatment options. Many chronic rhinitis patients are treated with a combination of continuously prescribed medications including steroid sprays, decongestant sprays, and oral or nasal antihistamines, with varying and limited effectiveness. In addition to the significant expense, excessive use of these remedies can cause issues such as damage to nasal and bodily tissues, medication dependencies and exacerbated symptoms. Invasive surgical procedures and existing in-office interventions provide mixed outcomes for patients, along with the potential for post-operative complications and pain.

Neurent Medical's proprietary Rhinitis Neurolysis Therapy is a revolutionary treatment option for chronic rhinitis designed to comfortably and safely disrupt hyperactive parasympathetic nerves that drive the underlying inflammation. The NEUROMARK System's unique design, biofeedback monitoring features and advanced algorithmic controls enable the physician to simultaneously treat multiple nerve branches with a high degree of precision, safety and patient comfort.

"We are grateful for the financial support of this group of highly regarded investors, which will enable us to transition to an international commercial-stage company," said Neurent Medical CEO and Co-Founder Brian Shields. "Our technology has the potential to provide an effective, safe and comfortable in-office treatment solution to alleviate the burdensome symptoms of chronic rhinitis, and we are excited that this funding brings us a step closer to offering it to clinicians and patients."

"We are dedicated to nurturing and growing companies with the potential to have a meaningful impact on society, and Neurent Medical is aligned with this mission," said Drew Burdon, Investment Manager at LSP. "The company, with its strong team and pioneering technology, is well-placed to succeed in making a significant difference for the millions of people suffering with chronic rhinitis."

As part of this transaction Drew Burdon of LSP and Gerry Maguire, General Partner, Atlantic Bridge, will join Neurent Medical's Board of Directors.

About Neurent Medical

Neurent Medical is pioneering innovative treatments for chronic inflammatory sino-nasal diseases by targeting and safely disrupting hyperactive parasympathetic nerves that drive underlying inflammation. Its proprietary NEUROMARK Rhinitis Neurolysis Therapy is the world's first multi-point nerve disruption therapy for rhinitis. With a unique design and advanced algorithmic control, physicians can precisely target and safely treat multiple underlying nerve branches in a single procedure to alleviate symptoms and improve patient quality of life. The venture capital-backed company is headquartered in Galway, Ireland. For more information visit www.neurentmedical.com.

About LSP

LSP is one of the largest European investment firms providing financing for life sciences and health care companies. LSP's management has raised over 2 billion ($2.3 billion) and developed more than 120 companies since it started to invest in 1988. With offices in Amsterdam, Munich, and Boston, LSP currently has the possibility to invest from three funds, each having a distinctive investment scope and a dedicated team: LSP 6 invests in private early- to late-stage drug development and medical technology companies; LSP HEF 2 focuses on private late-stage medical technology companies with a health and economic benefit; and LSP Public targets public healthcare companies. Among LSP's signature deals are argenx, Crucell, KuDOS, Movetis, Neuravi, Okairos, Prosensa, Qiagen and Zealand Pharma. In addition, LSP is an active contributor to the life sciences industry through roles as founder and board member of the Oncode Institute, initiator of the Dutch Venture Initiative (DVI), as well as board member of European venture capital associations, technology transfer institutes and government bodies. For more information: lspvc.com.

1 Settipane RA, Charnock DR. Epidemiology of rhinitis: allergic and nonallergic. Clin Allergy Immunol. 2007;19:23-34. PMID: 17153005.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005078/en/

Contacts:

Health+Commerce

Jessica Stebing

260.336.6202

jstebing@healthandcommerce.com

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It was a chilling warning, one week after the insurrection that shook America.

On January 13, federal agencies issued a joint intelligence briefing declaring that this months siege of the US Capitol could end up being a significant driver for further violence by right-wing domestic extremists.

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of US President Donald Trump storm the Capitol building. Credit:Reuters

According to the memo, many of the groups who stormed the Capitol had been emboldened by the breach, fuelling fears of attacks - not just at Joe Bidens inauguration, but in the weeks and months after Donald Trump leaves the White House.

The message was clear: even after Biden is sworn in as the nation's 46th president, angry extremists who believe their election was stolen will remain a threat for a long time to come.


HONG KONG, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) today announced the strategic expansion of the Group's ICT capabilities in Asia with Singapore upgraded as major Asian hub and the introduction of our new Trio-service suite, composed of network connectivity, ICT solutions and local professional support. The vertical expansion leverages HGC's solid global network infrastructure and market presence, offering customised one-stop ICT solutions to help corporates with business diversification and expansion in Asia.

With over 20 years of business and operational experiences in the 15 countries under recently-concluded Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), HGC will fully utilise its synergies and advantages to enable corporate customers to explore the benefits brought by the enormous alliance, which represents roughly 30 percent of the world's GDP and population1.

Trio-service suite: network connectivity, ICT solutions and local professional support

1. Well-established connectivity and IDC network in Singapore

In addition to the extensive network in Southeast Asia as well as 23 offices around the globe, including several hubs in major Asian cities, HGC also collaborates with major data centre clusters, enabling the provision of enhanced connectivity solutions for corporates to set up, expand or reinforce their business in the region. In addition to the 3 major PoPs connection with data centres, HGC recently expanded bandwidth-on-demand capability from Hong Kong to BDx's Data Centre at Paya Lebar, Singapore, offering customers a fast-track highway for streamlined regional business expansion.

2. Enhanced ICT capabilities supported by Macroview Telecom

HGC has acquired Macroview Telecom (Macroview), a Hong Kong-based IT infrastructure and digital technology solutions provider, in 2019. This strategic expansion plan makes use of Macroview's digital solutions and the deep sector knowledge of more than 700 ICT professionals as well as the strong base of long-term collaboration with global technology partners to bring ICT solutions such as managed cloud services, adaptive cybersecurity architecture, smart solution with management platform and more to the market.

a. Managed cloud solutions provide comprehensive data protection to ensure secured data backup and recovery for multiple platforms, disaster recovery and to fulfil requirements of local legal bodies

b. Adaptive cybersecurity service enables companies to monitor, minimize and protect themselves from potential cyber threats in a cost-effective manner via regular consultations, security audits, assessments and security awareness training

c. Smart solution offers specific IoT solutions for various sectors and workplaces to digitalise and streamline the operations. A centralised management platform with AI functionality for multiple digital device enables effective monitoring, alerting, reporting and analysis features

3. New appointment and office expansion to uplift local support and fulfilment

HGC has appointed Wong Hung as the Vice President (ICT Solutions & Partnership) to lead the expanded team in regional offices formed by professionals equipped with strong knowledge of local practices and culture to achieve local fulfilment and accelerate business transformation for companies in search of successful business growth in the region. With over 20 years of experience in the ICT industry as well as a proven record in Singapore and Asian business, Hung will work at HGC's Singapore office, the hub in the region, and bring in his in-depth knowledge and experience to reiterate the group's commitment in the expansion plan.

Ravindran Mahalingam, HGC's SVP of International Business, said, "With the new business model and operational trend in the current era, many companies are seeking opportunities to expand their business to Asia countries. Under our expansion plan we will work hand-in-hand with local operators; together with our full-fledged ICT capabilities and continuous in-country infrastructure-based projects we will synergise and maximize business opportunities. HGC will continue to fortify Hong Kong as the base for our core business while replicating our local success abroad and reinforcing our position as a leading operator in Asia."

About HGC Global Communications Limited

HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international fixed-line operator. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides a broad range of advanced telecommunications and ICT services. Headquartered in Hong Kong and operating 23 overseas offices on five continents, it provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. HGC is one of Hong Kong's largest Wi-Fi service providers, running over 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and adding the latest technologies and solutions. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities and transport in North America, Europe and selected fast-growing economies.

To learn more, please visit HGC's website at: www.hgc.com.hk

SOURCE HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC)

Related Links

http://www.hgc.com.hk/


Wiping away tears, US President-elect Joe Biden bid an emotional farewell to his home state of Delaware on Tuesday before heading to Washington on the eve of his inauguration.

Its deeply personal that our journey to Washington starts here, Biden said after rubbing one of his eyes while addressing dozens of guests at a National Guard base named in honor of his late son Beau.

I only have one regret, that hes not here, Biden said, referring to Beau, who died of cancer in 2015. Because we should be introducing him as president.

Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States at noon on Wednesday, replacing Republican Donald Trump, whose chaotic four-year presidency left an American public bitterly divided.

The 78-year-old Democrat also addressed his own mortality  an unusual direction given he is about to take the helm of the most powerful nation in the world.

Excuse the emotion, Biden said, pausing on his words as he composed himself. But when I die, Delaware will be written on my heart.

Biden mentioned the history-making nature of the election, and how Kamala Harris, a black woman of South Asian descent, will be inaugurated as vice president 12 years after Biden took office as VP to Barack Obama, the nations first black president.

Dont tell me things cant change. They can, and they do, Biden said. Thats America. Thats Delaware.

SOURCE: AFP
Cincinnati, Ohio-based Great American Insurance Group has promoted Kenneth (Ken) R. Bearley to divisional president within its Property/Casualty Groups Bond Division.

Bearley joined Great American in 1994 as an underwriter in the Bond Divisions Pittsburgh office. He became a bond manager and then director before transferring to Cincinnati and has served in various leadership roles with increasing responsibility.

In his most recent role as divisional executive vice president, he oversaw all contract surety business written in the United States and Europe.

Bearley earned a bachelors degree in finance from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Queens University of Charlotte.

Source: Great American Insurance Group

Topics Property Casualty
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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Warning: A photo in this story includes explicit language.

Investigators amended the complaint against Riley June Williams late Tuesday to include allegations that she stole House Speaker Nancy Pelosis laptop after entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

The amendment details how investigators came to connect Williams with the laptop missing from Pelosis office. Williams was previously charged with unlawful entry into the Capitol and violent entry and disorderly conduct but had new charges filed against her which were first discussed in a hearing Tuesday afternoon.

According to federal court records, Williams mother lives in the Harrisburg area and her father lives in Camp Hill. Williams is a 2017 Mechanicsburg Area Senior High graduate, according to yearbooks.

The complaint against Williams, 22, shows that she originally went to the Capitol with her dad but got separated.

The evidence against Williams on the newly filed theft charge includes social media chatter on the platform Discord, which includes her saying she stole from Nancy Pelosi and I DOMT (sic) CARE I TOOK NANCY POLESIS (sic) HARD DRIVES I DONT CARE KILL ME.

Investigators provided these messages in the evidence against Riley June Williams, accused of stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's laptop during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Investigators also referred to a video obtained by ITV that they believe Williams recorded, showing someone wearing a black glove taking a laptop off a table with the text they got the laptop written across the screen.

A screenshot of a video clip investigators believe was taken by Harrisburg area woman Riley June Williams during the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.

They also have video surveillance of Williams going in and out of Pelosis office.

The other new charge against Williams is that she disrupted a session of Congress, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The theft charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

The previous charges only carried a penalty of a year in prison.

Williams is being held at Dauphin County Prison, awaiting a bail hearing that is scheduled for Thursday morning.

Read more on PennLive:
9 London Police Officers Fined for Dining in Local Cafe

Nine Metropolitan Police officers have been fined after they were caught dining in a local cafe, the Met said on Wednesday.

The officers from the South East Basic Command Unit (BCU) have been issued with a 200 ($274) fixed penalty notice (FPN) each for breaching COVID-19 legislation while on duty, the Met said in a statement.

The officers were investigated after photos of them in the cafe emerged online and caught media attention earlier this month.

Police officers are tasked with enforcing the legislation that has been introduced to stop the spread of the virus and the public rightly expect that they will set an example through their own actions, Chief Superintendent Rob Atkin, South East BCU Commander, said.

It is disappointing that on this occasion, these officers have fallen short of that expectation. It is right that they will pay a financial penalty and that they will be asked to reflect on their choices, he added.

England has been under its third national lockdown since Jan. 6. According to the government guidance, cafes and restaurants can only provide takeaway and delivery services.

The officers were having breakfast at 9 a.m. in the Chef House Kitchen cafe in South East London when local resident Brian Jennings spotted them.

Theres a large police depot on the Thames riverside near me. I walk past it a few times a week because its a nice quiet place to take exercise, Jennings said on Jan. 9.

On the neighbouring industrial estate theres a cafe. We noticed in the first lockdown and then we noticed it again today that, regularly, first thing in the morning there will be half a dozen squad cars outside and every table full of police officers having breakfast in there.

Jennings was outraged by the scene because it was soon after wide media reports of two women fined for driving five miles to have a socially-distanced walk with their takeaway Starbuck drinks, which police officers told them counted as an illegal picnic.

You read about people getting fined in the papers and it seems hypocritical as there [was little] social distancing in the cafe, Jennings said.

The Met subsequently said it had launched a local investigation to identify the officers and establish the full circumstances.

The partially deserted shopping high street in Richmond-Upon-Thames during Englands third national CCP virus lockdown in Richmond, London, on Jan. 19, 2021. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The UK government has doubled down on enforcing its restriction measures to curb the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus after a new variant was discovered in England in mid-December and several other new variants were identified around the globe afterwards.

By Jan. 13, almost 45,000 FPN that had been issued for alleged breaches of the governments CCP virus restrictions. Police in England have vowed to increase dedicated patrols to enforce the restrictions.

Some FPNs, including the ones issued to the two women who went for a walk with hot drinks, have been withdrawn after review.

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chief Council, said on Jan. 13 that although some mistakes had been made, he thought the police officers in general have done well while treading the unprecedented territory of CCP virus restrictions, and he would make no apology for the FPNs issued.

The number of CCP virus cases, hospitalisations, and deaths have so far continued to increase, despite the governments measures including stringent lockdowns, rapid testing, and vaccination.

On Tuesday, the UK reported a record-high 1,610 deaths within 28 days of a positive CCP virus test, taking the total UK death toll above 90,000.

Alexander Zhang contributed to this report.
Raised in a 1970s Brady Bunch world, Karen has suddenly stepped outside and found 2021 to be a hostile place where her name has been hijacked and trashed by pop culture. Shes suddenly blamed for the sins of the world, just because her parents once thought Karen was a cute name for their baby girl.

According to Dr. Robin Queen, Professor of Linguistics at The University of Michigan, the new definition of a Karen is a white woman to be wary of because she wont hesitate to wield privilege at the expense of others. In other words, shes a racist witch.

I opened the contact app on my phone and found 14 different friends named Karen and not a single one fits the definition of being racist, pushy or witchy. Its probably because I wouldnt be friends with that kind of person to start with.

Out of my personal list of Karens, Karins, Karyns and Caryn (she had a wild mom), two have actively taken steps in their communities to directly fight racism and the others would definitely chime in with similar beliefs. These women are at the top of their game as college professors, business owners, artists, politicians, published authors and medical personnel. I hang out with confident and positive women who would never act in a derogatory way towards anyone.

The Karens on my list will defend the weak, care for children, volunteer at a womens shelter and then in their spare time, publish a few academic reviews or lead a civic club. They have hearts of gold but are weary of their name being trashed. It seems America would have learned by now that stereotyping never leads to anything good.

Yes, there are women  and plenty of men, who are hateful and obnoxious. During the pandemic, everyone seems to be edgier and angrier than ever before but exploding at someone else isnt normal or decent and shouldnt be tolerated.

Lumping all Karens together to pay for the shocking actions of a few is ridiculous. Karens are our sisters, friends and co-workers. We sang Pat Benatar songs into our hairbrushes with them along with Kathy, Cathy and Catherine. If you label Karens, youre opening the door to typecast all middle-aged women  but be warned. Watching our backs are the Bettys, Almas and Ediths. They may be a little slower these days, but I wouldnt cross them. And if you think youre going to bother the new crop of little faux-Italian girls swarming the playgrounds, the Isabellas, Gabriellas, Sophias and Lunas (whats going on there?), think again. They are our precious daughters and granddaughters, so Id advise against dumping a generalized negative label on them either.

Lazy journalists or aspiring comedians who lump all women of a certain age, race and name together and falsely label them as despicable, are using their platform to belittle others  which is ironically what they are accusing The Karens of doing.

When used in a negative way, the term Karen lessens the sin of the real offender by spreading the blame of a few to millions of innocent women, instead of addressing the actions of the truly guilty. All women of all names, races, and ages deserve better than a label. We deserve to be known for our own merits. And Karen deserves an apology.

You can read more from Leslie Anne on her blog at: https://leslieannetarabella.com
KYODO NEWS - Jan 20, 2021 - 16:20 | All, Japan, World

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will take part in a videoconference between European Union foreign ministers on Jan. 25 to discuss cooperation in realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

It is the first time a Japanese foreign minister will participate in a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, made up of foreign ministers from all member states of the bloc and responsible for its external policies, the ministry said.

Motegi will attend the meeting, at the EU's invitation, to outline Japan's ideas and efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law and the freedom of navigation, the ministry said.

Japan is pushing the concept, coined by then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2016 in the face of China's rising assertiveness to reinforce expansive maritime claims in the region.

Although geographically distant, the European Union's interest in the Indo-Pacific region has grown recently in light of China's rising clout and the region's economic potential, Japanese officials said.
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Group PLC ( ), the foreign currency specialist, said revenues are nearing pre-Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels after bouncing back in the second half of the year to end March 2021.

Second half revenues rose to 16.4mln from 15.2mln and, for the full year, now expects to report 28.1mln against 28.9mln a year ago.

Harry Adams, chief executive, said: "Despite the unexpected and challenging market backdrop, we have continued to deliver our stated growth strategy, albeit at a slower pace in this financial year.

"We are seeing a resurgence in client trading to pre-pandemic levels following the deferral of client activity during the first half and we expect that trend to continue with the arrival of a more positive macro-economic environment.
SPRINGFIELD  While there have been no confirmed threats made against the Illinois Capitol, heightened security measures remain in place out of an abundance of caution after a quiet weekend in the capital city.

State officials said it will remain that way until sometime after the Wednesday inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

Following a riot at the U.S. capitol building on Jan. 6 and an FBI warning about possible armed protests around the nation in the lead-up to Bidens inauguration, Gov. J.B. Pritzker activated 250 members of the Illinois National Guard Friday. Their task is to support law enforcements efforts to secure the city.

Pritzker said he was bringing all resources to bear to protect our residents and our democratic process. He said there were no specific threats necessitating the activation, other than the FBIs Jan. 11 warning about possible armed protests in all 50 states.

There is a general threat, Pritzker said Friday. There are flyers that have been put around the internet to have armed protesters show up at all 50 state capitols, and theres one particular flyer that has all 50 state capitol addresses essentially going to everybody they can reach out to.

All ground-floor windows and entrances at the Illinois Statehouse have been covered with plywood since Friday afternoon, while police closed surrounding streets to vehicle traffic over the weekend. Armored vehicles and uniformed soldiers were seen patrolling state buildings, including the Governors Mansion. The Guard troops are assisting the Illinois State Police, Secretary of State Police and Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Fewer than five protestors who regularly attend events in Springfield without issue were seen on the Capitol Grounds Saturday, according to the State Journal-Register. Henry Haupt, spokesman for the Secretary of States office, said in a statement Monday there were no reported incidents over the weekend.

The Illinois Secretary of State Capitol Police remain vigilant to ensure the Capitol Complex is safe and secure, Haupt said. The Capitol Police continue to work with the Illinois State Police and other law enforcement entities to make sure the complex and surrounding area remain safe.

Haupt said he could not share specific staffing levels or security protocols, but reiterated that Capitol and Illinois State Police continue to monitor the situation closely.

As of Monday afternoon, National Guard troops and police officers remained stationed outside the Capitol Complex, the Governors Mansion and other nearby state buildings.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said in a news release last week that the Illinois National Guard will not interfere with peaceful protestors exercising their first amendment rights, adding, the role of the soldiers is to aide local authorities in enforcing street closures and designated perimeters.

Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, a spokesman for the Illinois National Guard, said Monday that he expects troops to be on orders in support of law enforcement through the inauguration Wednesday.

Beyond that, it is situation dependent, Leighton said.

Last week, Pritzker also activated an additional 100 members of the Illinois National Guard to Washington, D.C. ahead of the inauguration at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense.

According to the Associated Press, about 25,000 National Guard members have been deployed to the nations capital for added security ahead of the Jan. 20th inauguration ceremony.
PANZHIHUA, China, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 5th China Health Industry Development Forum, themed with "What Can the Health Industry Do for a Healthy China", was hosted in the Chinese city of Panzhihua on January 18. At the forum that was organized by the Panzhihua Municipal People's Government, 11 health industry projects reached intentions to sign contracts amounting to a planned investment value of RMB50.68 billion.

The "Panzhihua Municipal Health Industry Standards System" and "Panzhihua Municipal Health Industry Supervision System" were formally published at the forum. Of which, the "Panzhihua Municipal Health Industry Standards System" was jointly developed by Panzhihua and the China National Institute of Standardization, and at present 99 standards have been published, which will serve as a crucial reference for the establishment of a standardized Chinese health industry system and industry institutional innovation.

Since 2014, Panzhihua has successfully held five editions of the China Health Industry Development Forum, which has not only popularized the concept of health preservation but has also effectively brought private capital to gravitate toward the health industry.

As an integral component of the "Healthy China Initiative", the health industry is a manifestation of people's yearning for a healthy and better life. Panzhihua, a city well-known for its sunshine, has emerged as one of the premier destinations in China for health- and leisure-seekers because of the unique advantages demonstrated in its health industry.

Panzhihua, located at the junction between southwestern Sichuan and northwestern Yunnan, boasts unique arid-hot valley climate of the southern subtropical zone. In addition, Panzhihua has the elevation, temperature and humidity that are all highly suitable for a restorative human habitat, an average of 2,700 annual sunshine hours, an average annual temperature of 20.3 degrees centigrade, high forest coverage, superb air quality and winters as warm as springs.

After a trip to Panzhihua in 2016, then Ambassador of Malaysia to China Zainuddin Yahya remarked that "the most impressive memory of Panzhihua is the fresh air and ample sunshine, as well as the picturesque scenery. I am going to miss this place. Panzhihua feels young and vibrant, and it is a fast-growing city".

Relying on its distinct health resources and advantages, in 2010 Panzhihua became the first in the nation to put forth the "health preservation" concept. After a decade of advancement, Panzhihua has achieved notable feats in the development of its health industry. In the first three quarters of 2020, the added value of Panzhihua's health industry registered RMB9.616 billion, accounting for 12.9% of the entire city's gross regional product.

In recent years, Panzhihua's health industry took advantage of its solid existing industrial foundation and developed new pathways, including an integrated industrial model to continuously drive the growth of the health industry, project clusters to promote the upgrade of the health industry, and optimized systems and mechanisms to reinforce the basis for future expansion of Panzhihua's health industry.

Next, Panzhihua will continue to introduce well-known enterprises both at home and abroad, stimulate consumption in the health tourism market, fuel the development of the local health industry, thereby emerging as an international health tourism destination.

SOURCE Panzhihua Municipal People's Government
Stop complaining

Regarding House building its case to try Trump, (A4, Jan. 16): It is clear the Democrats see no value in approaching Donald Trump voters in any fashion. And with Trumps recent actions, that approach is somewhat understandable. But writing off 75 million voters as worthless is a big mistake. In India, with 900 million eligible voters, you could get away with that. But in the United States, 74 million is a sizable portion of the population. Democrats will never be able to placate all of them. But they had better start thinking how to move the country from 50-50 to at least 60-40 or else the current condition will continue indefinitely. Stop complaining about how despicable the Republicans are and start doing something about making them Democratic voters.

Joe Williams, League City

Hope and peace

Regarding Dream deferred: Kings hopes for our country go unfulfilled, (A1, Jan. 18): It was a joy to see Joy Sewings name on this excellent piece. We have enjoyed many of her articles and only recently learned that she is not only an excellent writer but an excellent Black writer and the descendant of a Texas leader. Her writing lifts us up, her success lifts us up and the Houston Chronicles expansion of its staff to include so many top-notch writers of color lifts up the whole community. We are, quite incidentally, a white couple aged 87, who still totally believe that Martin Luther Kings dream coming true is just a matter of time. We join all others in impatience for the day.

Britt and Mary Alice Davis, Katy

Thanks for the well written and timely article about Martin Luther King Jr.s deferred dream.

Sadly, I dont see any meaningful progress towards that dream, much less fulfillment, over 50 years after Kings assassination. Voter suppression is alive and well, discrimination is rampant, health and income for Blacks lag far behind the U.S. average, and Kings lesser known parts of his speech about militarism, poverty and righting past and present wrongs is not even on most peoples radar screens. And I dont even want to talk about systemic racism from the very top permeating our entire society.

So rather than battling all these injustices, its so much easier to placate the concerns of our Black citizens by declaring February (the shortest month) Black History Month, building a monument or two, and creating a King holiday that most businesses do not observe. Mission Accomplished, and moving on. Its just another example of our habit of sweeping problems under the rug rather than confront them.

Michael Waldau, Houston
Gangina is a traditional means of keeping grapes and other fruits fresh for several months, by sealing them in air-tight containers made of wet soil.

Grapes are tricky to keep fresh for long periods of time, even when refrigeration is available, but apparently Afghans have long been using an ancient method of keeping the soft fruits fresh for consumption in the winter months, when fresh fruits are otherwise hard to come by. Called gangina, this ingenious conservation technique involves sealing healthy grapes in a saucer-like container made of two layers of wet soil. The container is left in the sun to dry and then has to be kept in a cool place, away from direct sunlight. If stored properly, gangina containers can keep grapes picked in autumn fresh until next years spring season.

We should remove the broken grapes first, then put them in gangina. If we put the broken ones in gangina, it will spoil all other grapes, farmer Abdul Manan said, adding that it is imperative that only healthy grapes be conserved this way, as a single spoiled grape can otherwise ruin a whole batch.

Gangina containers need to be air-tight and kept in a cool, dark place, to keep the fruits inside fresh. In winter or in spring, when the demand for fruits grows, and with it the price people are willing to pay, farmers like Abdul Manan bring out their stock of gangina-kept grapes and sell them for profit. Each container holds about a kilogram of grapes.

We are keeping lots of grapes in Gangina and will sell it in coming winter or spring, grape farmer Askar told the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture. By this method we will get a good income.

Speaking of ways to keep fruits fresh, did you know about this smart sticker that can keep fruits from spoiling for up to 14 days?
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 20:03:06|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in Asia-Pacific countries as India reported 13,823 new cases on Wednesday while the death toll from coronavirus in the Philippines exceeded 10,000.

India's COVID-19 tally rose to 10,595,660 as 13,823 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry.

According to the official data, the death toll mounted to 152,718 with 162 new deaths.

There are still 197,201 active cases in the country, while 10,245,741 people have been discharged from hospitals after medical treatment. This is the first time in the past several months when the number of active cases in the country fell below the 200,000-mark.

The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 1,274 new cases of COVID-19 in the capital, marking the eighth successive day the daily tally has surpassed 1,000 cases and bringing the cumulative total to 89,188 infections.

The number of patients in Tokyo designated as being in a "serious condition" increased by five to a record 160 patients, the metropolitan government said.

With COVID-19 still showing little signs of abating in the capital and further afield, despite 11 prefectures including the hardest hit capital of 14 million currently under a government-issued state of emergency, the detection a day earlier of three cases of a new coronavirus variant has added to the country's woes.

Bangladesh reported 656 new COVID-19 cases and eight new deaths on Wednesday, making the tally at 529,687 and death toll at 7,950, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

The total number of recovered patients in the country stood at 474,472 including 617 new recoveries on Wednesday, said the DGHS.

According to the official data, the COVID-19 fatality rate in Bangladesh is 1.50 percent and the current recovery rate is 89.58 percent.

The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines reported 64 new COVID-19 deaths, pushing the total death toll to 10,042.

The fatality rate in the Southeast Asian country now is at 1.98 percent, the DOH said in a daily bulletin.

The DOH also reported 1,862 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 505,939.

A total of 765 more patients recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 466,993.

South Korea reported 404 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 73,518.

The daily caseload was slightly up from 386 on the previous day, but it stayed below 500 for three straight days.

Seventeen more deaths were confirmed, leaving the death toll at 1,300. The total fatality rate stood at 1.77 percent.

Thailand reported 59 cases of COVID-19 and one more death, according to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).

Of the new cases, 51 were domestic infections and eight others referred to those who had returned from abroad and tested positive in this country, CCSA spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangsan said.

Thailand has confirmed 12,653 infections, including 9,621 recoveries and 71 deaths, while 2,961 others are currently hospitalized, she said.

Cambodia confirmed seven more imported COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections in the country to 448 to date, said a Ministry of Health statement.

The new cases were detected on Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand recently via land borders, the statement said.

The Southeast Asian nation has so far registered a total of 448 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with zero death and 392 recoveries, the statement said.

New Zealand has reported six more cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation since the last media statement on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health.

The newly reported imported cases came from South Africa, Britain, Zimbabwe, the United States and Russia. There are no new cases in the community.

One of these cases is classified as historical and deemed not infectious, said a ministry statement.

Fourteen previously reported cases have now recovered. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 76, and the total number of confirmed cases is 1,911, it said. Enditem
Police on Tuesday arrested a man who was wanted on a murder charge in the beating and stabbing death of a hunter last month at a South Jersey scout reservation, authorities said.

Shawn Massey was taken into custody without incident around 4 p.m. in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, after a police officer there recognized him as the wanted suspect, the Camden County Prosecutors Office announced late Tuesday.

The arrest came a day after authorities issued a public plea for tips to find Massey, who was accused of killing Joseph Bottino. Police found Bottino dead Dec. 23 at the Pine Hill Scout Reservation on the 100 block of Watsontown-New Freedom Road in Pine Hill.

Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer on Monday said police launched an extensive search for the alleged killer, boosted patrols in the area and received dozens of tips in the case.

Massey, 38, of Gibbsboro, was charged with murder on Saturday, according to the prosecutor. Undisclosed evidence at the crime scene led detectives to identify Massey as their suspect.

Family members reported Massey missing after he reportedly left his parents home on the day Bottino was killed, police said. He was previously said to suffer from diagnosed mental health issues and known to become aggressive, according to a previous missing persons alert.

Bottino, 54, was a married father of two, who often went hunting the Pine Hill reservation, according to his family.

Joe was an incredibly lovely spirit, with an infectious kindness in his heart, which he led with at all times. An enormous heart equates to an enormous loss, which the family is still coming to terms with, a message on a fundraiser for Bottinos family said.

Authorities have not commented on a possible motive for the slaying. Massey was being held at the Bucks County, Pennsylvania, jail ahead of extradition to New Jersey.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
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After enjoying tenure extensions twice, the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Jaafaru Ahmed, is finally about to bow out of office on Thursday, PREMIUM TIMES has exclusively gathered.

Mr Ahmed, 61, took the office in 2016 and was supposed to retire from service in July 2019 but President Muhammadu Buhari asked him to stay on.

The Ministry of Interior, headed by Rauf Aregbesola, in 2019, said it recommended Mr Ahmed for the initial extension due to his track record of innovative reforms in the Prisons Service and the need to consolidate and complete some of the on-going programmes, especially on human rights compliance, reformation and health care, agricultural and education programmes for the inmates.

Going by the extension, Mr Ahmed was supposed to have left the position in July 2020 but that did not happen as the extension was renewed by another year.

Rather, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that he and the heads of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammed Babandede, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Muhammadu, had sought extension of service from their supervising Ministry of Interior.

Their request, which Mr Aregbesola conveyed to the Presidency, was approved by President Buhari.

PRNigeria, a new platform with links to the Nigerian security establishment, had earlier reported that the interior minister was planning to recommend a third tenure extension for the officers.

However, some retired and serving officers in the sector expressed concerns over the plan.

Because the officials have attained the retirement age and exceeded the maximum number of years of service, sources noted that a further extension of their tenures could cause bad blood amongst officers of the paramilitary agencies.

Therefore, the NSCDC boss, Mr Muhammadu, was allowed to bow out of office recently and was replaced by an acting commandant.

Handing over

An internal memo obtained by PREMIUM TIMES Monday indicated that the NCS boss is about to follow suit. The memo said a pulling out parade has been organised for Mr Ahmed, who would have to hand over to another official before appearing at the ceremony.

The memo was signed by the Deputy Comptroller-General of the service, John Mrabure.

The handing-over event is scheduled for Thursday at the organisations headquarters in Abuja.

If no formal successor is announced by then, Mr Ahmed will hand over to the most senior officer, which is the DCG, Mr Mrabure, pending the appointment of the new CG.
GENEVA - The UN on Wednesday reported a shipwreck that had occurred the previous day off Libya in which 43 people lost their lives.



The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR expressed their regret about the incident, which they said was the first known shipwreck in the Mediterranean in 2021.



Ten migrants were rescued after the boat capsized.


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Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Singaporean counterpart Dr Ng Eng Hen chaired the fifth Defence Ministers' Dialogue (DMD) between India and Singapore on Wednesday reaffirming their bilateral ties between the two nations in this sector.

During their virtual interaction, both the ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress of ongoing defence cooperation engagements between the two countries despite limitations imposed by ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, said an official statement.

During the virtual interaction, Rajnath Singh conveyed his compliments on the effectiveness of pandemic mitigation measures implemented in Singapore and the contribution of Singapore Armed Forces in restricting the spread of COVID-19

He also highlighted the role of Indian Armed Forces in combating COVID-19 and various missions undertaken to assist in the repatriation of Indians stranded overseas. "Today's interaction will benefit both countries on many bilateral issues that are being pursued to further strengthen our special relationship," tweeted Singh.

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, Singapore, reciprocated the compliments and exchanged views on the role of Armed Forces in the whole of government's approach towards control of the pandemic. Both the ministers also expressed satisfaction at the growing defence ties between the two countries.

Nepal Foreign Minister Gyawali meets Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Joe Biden nominates transgender woman as assistant health secretary of US

Jio Biden to sign 17 executive actions overturning Trump policies on climate, Covid, immigration
New Delhi, Jan 20 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday did not leave any stone unturned to persuade the farmer unions, agitating against the three farm laws, to talk to the court-appointed committee to resolve the deadlock.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S. A. Bobde and comprising Justices A. S Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian slammed the barrage of criticism unleashed at the committee members for having expressed views on the three farm laws.

"You people unthinkingly cast aspersions on people, someone expressed some opinion in the past, and you find them unqualified," the Chief Justice told counsel appearing for Kisan Mahapanchayat, which sought modification of its order January 12, naming the members on the committee.

The farmers union sought replacement of the existing members, who are perceived pro-farm laws, with persons, who have independent thoughts and views on the laws.

Irked by this criticism, the Chief Justice said: "People should have opinions. Even best judges have opinions, you cannot brand someone like this... a judge can change opinion within hearing. It is a cultural thing: branding people who you don't want and criticising them like this." The bench stressed that its committee has not been given power of adjudication, then what is the issue. "We gave powers to listen and report back to us. Where is the question of bias here," said the Chief Justice.

The bench emphasised that it is wrong to brand people and then malign them, insisting that aspersions should not be cast on the committee.

The Chief Justice added: "We were told this is not a case for us to adjudication, we entered for common people. Don't brand people like that. We are adjudicating a dispute." Kisan Mahapanchayat's counsel, citing media reports, had said that the perception is created that members favour the farm laws.

The bench told the counsel of farmer union that it has serious objection if the committee is termed biased and prejudiced, and cited that the members on the committee are brilliant minds in agriculture today.

As the Chief Justice also asked agitating farmer unions counsel to counsel the litigants to resolve the dispute peacefully, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the eight farmer unions along with Dushyant Dave, asked: "What happens if the top court were to eventually uphold the validity of the laws?" The Chief Justice replied: "If we uphold the law, then start the agitation, counsel them (farmers) appropriately." He reiterated that adjudicatory power has not been conferred on the committee, and its role is to share the grievances of parties impacted by laws. Bhushan and Dave jointly stated that since the farmers' unions represented by them have already decided not to participate in the deliberations of any committee, they have nothing to say on the instant application seeking modification of top court order passed on January 12.

The top court has scheduled the matter for further hearing after two weeks.

Thousands of farmers are agitating against the three farm laws at various Delhi border since November end. The top court stayed the implementation of the three laws on January and constituted a four-member committee to hear farmers grievances.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque is offering his help should there be a possible discussion between the Defense Department and the University of the Philippines on the controversial abrogation of the 1989 accord that bars unauthoried entry of security forces into UP campuses.

Speaking to CNN Philippines on Wednesday, Roque said a conversation between Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and UP President Danilo Concepcion may be the proper course of action to resolve issues surrounding the pact, adding he would even offer his good office should the parties need assistance.

Being a UP graduate and UP professor myself, I even offer my good office if they need assistance in discussing this matter, Roque said in an interview with The Source.

A good office is an offer to be involved in the discussion, hoping that the matter can be resolved by the parties, he explained.

The pact between DND and UP prohibits police and military personnel from entering campuses of the premier state university without prior notice, unless there is "hot pursuit" or an emergency. But through a January 15 letter addressed to UP officials, DND moved to unilaterally terminate the agreement, citing the supposed "clandestine recruitment" of students in communist organizations.

RELATED: UP accord terminated to protect Filipinos vs 'enemies of the state'  Lorenzana

Amid questions on the legality of the unilateral termination, Roque, for his part, said mutuality is not required to end this type of agreement.

This is also an unusual contract; it is an extraordinary contract. It is an act of beneficence of the state in the sense that it suspends the exercise of jurisdiction in a given territory. So I dont think mutuality is required, and Im speaking as a lawyer, Roque said.

The spokesperson also dismissed concerns that the development would heighten tension between UP and government authorities, nor would it stifle academic freedom, stressing that Iskolars ng Bayan (scholars of the state) would never be cowed and would continue to fight for their rights.

As Iskolar ng Bayan, I dont think the UP students will ever be cowed, even by the presence of policemen and the military, Roque said, citing that even during the martial law period, UP students had stood their ground even with military invasion.

They will be undeterred, they will pursue and exercise their rights, and of course, one of the most important rights in a university setting is that of academic freedom, he added.
The man on track to become the first Black defense secretary says he's committed to getting rid of racists, extremists and other problematic military personnel -- a pledge made as federal investigators comb National Guard members' backgrounds for indicators of troublesome ties ahead of this week's presidential inauguration.

Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden's pick for defense secretary, said the military can't win battles if it's fighting enemies within its own ranks. Troops deserve an environment free of discrimination, hate and harassment, Austin told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

It's an issue Austin said he personally experienced during his 41-year career as an Army officer.

"When I was a lieutenant colonel working in probably the finest one of the finest organizations in the Army -- 82nd Airborne Division -- we woke up one day and discovered that we had extremist elements in our ranks," Austin said. "... This has no place in the military, of the United States of America."

Read Next: 12 Guard Troops Sent Home from Inauguration Duty After FBI Flagged 'Questionable Behavior'

Austin's comments, made during his Senate confirmation hearing to lead the Defense Department, come amid high tensions in the nation's capital. Some armed groups have threatened to disrupt Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration, and more than 25,000 National Guard members have been dispatched to Washington, D.C., to secure the city.

Those troops are undergoing background checks after several military members and veterans were arrested after the violent Jan. 6 takeover of the U.S. Capitol.

"We can never take our hands off the wheel on this," Austin said of the possibility that troops with extreme views are serving in the ranks, though he added that he trusts the National Guard to carry out its security mission on Inauguration Day.

Austin faced scrutiny from lawmakers about how he would handle serving in the Pentagon's top civilian leadership spot. The retired four-star general, who led U.S. Central Command until 2016, has not completed the seven-year "cooling-off period" required of former service members to serve as defense secretary.

Several members of the committee -- Sens. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican; Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat; and Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat -- told Austin they won't support the waiver that will allow him to get around that rule.

Austin told senators he has spent nearly his entire carrying out decisions of civilian political leaders.

"In war and in peace I implemented the policies of civilians elected and appointed over me," he said. "... I know that being a member of the president's cabinet -- a political appointee -- requires a different perspective and unique duties from a career in uniform."

Austin declined to comment on several issues -- including whether he supports the Trump administration's aggressive shipbuilding plans or whether sexual assault cases should be handled outside the chain of command -- citing the need to get up to speed on the issues.

He did, however, thank Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., for her work in addressing the issue of military sexual assault, which Austin said he'll begin studying on Day One.

"I take the issue of sexual assault seriously and personally," Austin said. "... If confirmed, I would like to work with the chain of command and very rapidly assess what things need to be fixed or addressed.

Austin also said he supports overturning President Donald Trump's policy barring transgender people from serving in the military.

"I truly believe ... that if you're fit and you're qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve," he said.

Coronavirus relief efforts will be one of Austin's top priorities, he said. More than 400,000 Americans have died of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.

"We have to do everything we can to break the cycle of transmission," Austin said.

That will include looking at everything from vaccine distribution to vaccinating troops, he said, adding he believes there's more the Defense Department can do to address challenges relating to the pandemic.

Few details were offered about how troop posture might change if Austin becomes defense secretary. He referenced the need to deter and check China's aggression, but said the military can't be the only answer.

China presents the biggest threat to the U.S., he said.

"Russia is also a threat, but it's in decline," he said. "It can still do a great deal of damage ... and it's a country we have to maintain a focus on. But China is the pacing threat."

When it comes to the country's longest armed conflict, Austin said he wants to reach a point in which Afghanistan no longer poses a threat to the U.S. Troops who served there made a difference, he added. Their service and sacrifice mattered.

"But I think this conflict needs to come to an end," Austin said.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Biden Hits Back at Criticism Over Choosing Retired General for SecDef
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 11:45:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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HAVANA -- Cuba reported on Tuesday 330 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the national caseload to 18,773 and the nationwide death toll to 175, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

Of the new infections, only nine were imported cases, the lowest number in 15 days, which corresponds to the restrictive measures for foreign entry into the country put in place at the beginning of the year.

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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil registered 1,192 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide tally to 211,491, the Ministry of Health said Tuesday.

Tests detected 62,094 new cases, bringing the national caseload to 8,573,864, it said.

- - - -

LISBON -- Portuguese Economy Minister Pedro Siza Vieira tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the ministry said.

According to members of the government cabinet, Siza Vieira has "some symptoms" and will remain in isolation at home.

- - - -

BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland reported 15 new imported COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 4,545.

Four new imported cases were reported in Shanghai, three in Guangdong, two each in Zhejiang, Sichuan and Shaanxi, and one each in Tianjin and Fujian, the National Health Commission said in its daily report Wednesday.

- - - -

BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 103 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 88 locally transmitted cases and 15 arriving from outside the mainland, the National Health Commission said Wednesday.

Of the locally transmitted cases, 46 were reported in Jilin, 19 in Hebei, 16 in Heilongjiang, and seven in Beijing, the commission said in its daily report.

- - - -

SEOUL -- South Korea reported 404 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 73,518.

The daily caseload was slightly up from 386 on the previous day, but it stayed below 500 for three straight days.

- - - -

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand has reported six more cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation since the last media statement on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

The newly reported imported cases came from South Africa, Britain, Zimbabwe, the United States and Russia. There are no new cases in the community.

- - - -

SANTIAGO -- Chile on Tuesday reported 3,400 new cases of COVID-19 infection and 26 deaths from the disease in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 677,151 and the death toll to 17,573, the Ministry of Health said.

So far, a total of 24,025 people have received an initial dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 8,360 have received the second dose, according to the ministry.

- - - -

ADDIS ABABA -- Ethiopia registered 181 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 131,727, the Ministry of Health said Tuesday.

The death toll from COVID-19 in the country has reached 2,037 as of Tuesday evening, after four new deaths were reported, Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse said on Twitter.

- - - -

BERLIN -- German federal and state governments agreed on Tuesday evening to extend the current COVID-19 measures until at least Feb. 14.

Most shops and schools will remain closed and people will continue to be asked to limit their contacts and stay at home as much as possible for the next few weeks.

- - - -

WASHINGTON -- About 2.5 million children in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, according to the latest report of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children's Hospital Association.

Over 211,000 new child COVID-19 cases were reported last week ending Jan. 14, the highest weekly increase since the pandemic began, according to the AAP. Enditem
At first glance, the stately home with green window shutters could belong to anyone.

But the 128-year-old house at Number One Observatory Circle is the designated home of the vice president of the United States and where Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, are set to live for at least the next four years.

Located about two miles from the White House and adjacent to several embassies, the secluded home sits on a 72-acre plot known as the United States Naval Observatory. It is not open to the public.

Heres what you should know about the residence that seven vice presidents have called home.
Trump Loss Bad for US and Australia

The effort to impeach the US President has grave consequences for Australia, as it will only empower China

Commentary

The effort to impeach the U.S. President has grave consequences for Australia, as it will only empower China.

Whether President Trump is found guilty by the Senate of incitement to insurrection is almost as crucial to Australia as it is to the United States.

He is the first real obstacle to world domination by the sinister multibillionaires who control the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), responsible for the deaths of millions.

With little love for Australians or for that matter the ordinary Chinese people, especially Muslims, Uyghurs, Christians, Falun Gong, the free people of Hong Kong and indeed anyone who does not bend the knee to the Party, a world under their control will be a bleak place.

We Australians have long lived in a world in which a friendly and benign dominant power, first the UK and then the United States, has observed the rule of law and honored fundamental natural rights, prevailing over both Nazis and Soviets.

The problem is that the CCP has applied on a grand scale the realism once attributed to Lenin: Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them.

The CCP has lured a greedy American establishment with the wealth that can be made in a country of almost 1.5 billion.

Appropriately then, the House impeachment hearing was worthy of a Stalinist show trial: no investigation and no evidence.

There was no evidence for the simple fact that there is none.

He had specifically called for his supporters to be peaceful. Had he called for the crowd to storm the Capitol, there would not have been a few hundred, there would have been tens of thousandsmore than could fit in.

Moreover, the FBI warned the police the day before that a planned invasion was likely, which is consistent with emerging evidence that it was encouraged by some police inviting them in as well as by agents provocateurs. The violent behavior of a few was totally inconsistent with thousandsindeed millionsof supporters in every Trump rally.

Nor is Trump a fool.

An invasion would have blocked the very investigation he craved for, an investigation of the mountains of detailed, verified evidence of fraud some very respected lawyers had assembled, as well as of unconstitutional changes to electoral laws. He wasnt going to risk that.

As to fraud, Australians with minimal experience in electioneering will understand the core of his case, that his lead only evaporated when scrutineers were tricked into leaving by a claim that counting had to be suspended in several states.

That no judge, including a Supreme Court majority, would actually hear these reflects badly on the independence and/or courage of the American judiciary.

Admittedly, there had been an eight-month reign of terrorlooting, burning, torching and 30 deaths over eight months in Democrat-run cities, approved by the Democrats, and lavishly so by the Vice President elect.

So why do Democrats and RINOS (Republicans In Name Only) want a Senate conviction which requires the concurrence of two-thirds of the Members present?

If a trial is actually held, it will be when Trump is a private citizen and will thus be of doubtful constitutional validity.

The reason is the elites are terrified of Trump and his support base of over 75 million, so they want him disqualified from standing, and they want this as an example to anybody else who dares try to drain the corrupt Washington swamp. This is, after all, only a continuation of the long campaign to overthrow him through the fiction that he had colluded with the Russians, where they even lied to a special court to wiretap his campaign.

Trump is not one of those politicians who go to the Capitol and are soon multi-millionaires, Joe Biden being a classic example.

And unlike most politicians, Trump spoke in 2016 about real issues that concern rank-and-file Americans; out-of-control illegal immigration; globalism; loss of manufacturing jobs; low wages; going soft on Beijings breaches of international law; aggression and brutal breaches of human rights; the manipulation of international trade rules and the currency with the theft of intellectual property; the global warming dogma, which punishes the United States and advantages Communist China; energy dependence on the Middle East; endless wars; the extraordinarily generous deal with the U.S.-hating Iranian mullahs; freeloading allies; declining educational standards; the large number of African-Americans imprisoned for lengthy terms over relatively minor drug offences; and activist judges making the constitution mean what they want it to mean.

The unusual fact is he honored more of his promises than any president, respecting the limits on his office and federalism.

If he is disqualified, the elites will hope there is less chance of the swamp being drained.

The managed decline of the United States will be resumed and a CCP-dominated world more likely, if not inevitable. And Australia will surely suffer.

David Flint, A.M., is an Emeritus Professor of Law and served as chairman of the Australian Press Council and of the Australian Broadcasting Authority.

This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Anhui posted China's sixth highest growth rate in imports and exports last year, according to local authorities.

The province's foreign trade value stood at 540.64 billion yuan ($83.47 billion) in 2020, up 14.1 percent from a year earlier, Hefei Customs said on Tuesday.

The increase was 12.2 percentage points higher than the national average, bringing the province to the sixth spot in the country.

Exports reached 316.13 billion yuan, up 13.5 percent year on year, while imports rose 15 percent to 224.51 billion yuan.

The provinces imports and exports made up 1.7 percent of the national total in 2020, 0.2 percentage points higher than that in 2019. Meanwhile, they accounted for 4.6 percent of the total in the Yangtze River Delta region, compared to 4.2 percent last year.

Anhuis foreign trade in 2020 featured improvements in the structure of trade, greater vitality in the foreign trade sector, diversified expansion of foreign trade market, substantial increases in imports of integrated circuits and agricultural products, rapid growth of traditionally-competitive exports and fast development of special customs supervision areas, Li Jin, an official with the custom house said.

The provinces foreign trade with the United States, the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations grew 20 percent, 11.9 percent and 14.2 percent year on year, respectively.

In addition, its foreign trade with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative rose 11.8 percent, and that with 14 other countries signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) went up 13.9 percent.




Think of disinformation as akin to weeds that have over-run our gardens and choked many valuable plants. Our immediate instinct may be to focus on weed removal and weed prevention, both of which are important. However, in order for our gardens to thrive once again, we need to also pay attention to rehabilitating damaged plants, growing new ones and perhaps even changing our watering systems to meet our current needs.

In a similar manner, we need to pay urgent attention to investing in community media  local media as well as ethnic media or media of color  to build an ecosystem of reliable and trustworthy news that can serve the needs of our 21st-century democracy. There are some meaningful efforts already underway, such as the American Journalism Project that has an initial fundraising goal of $50 million to provide investments and in-kind support to 35 nonprofit news organizations around the country. Facebook, too, has taken some meaningful steps by committing $25 million in grants to assist more than 200 local news organizations.

New Delhi, Jan 20 : Despite exhortations by Amazon, markets regulator SEBI has approved the deal between Future Group and Reliance Industries. SEBI, in a letter issued on Wednesday, approved the deal subject to a number of conditions in the Composite Scheme of Arrangement.

The BSE on its part said that it has no adverse observations on the transaction.

In August 2020, Kishore Biyani and Future Group had entered into a Rs 25,000 crore agreement with Reliance Retail. As part of the pact, Future Group was to sell its retail, wholesale, logistics and warehouse businesses to Reliance Retail Retail Ventures (RRVL).

SEBI vide its letter dated January 20 has inter alia made the following comment(s) on the Composite Scheme of Arrangement for Future Consumer and Future Retail.

"Company shall ensure that the shares of the transferee entity issued in lieu of the locked-in shares of the transferor entities is subjected to lock-in for the remaining period post scheme," it said.

"Company shall ensure that proceedings pending before SEBI against the entities part of the promoter/promoter group or are directors of the companies involved in the scheme, should be highlighted in the scheme document filed before National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)," SEBI said.

"Company shall ensure that the details of the complaints made by Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC (Amazon), the submissions of Future Retail Limited and the counter submissions of Amazon and all the proceedings pending and completed related to the same in the Delhi High Court Order in CS(COMM) 493/2020, the Award of Emergency Arbitrator in the Singapore International Arbitrator Centre or any other ongoing court/ arbitration proceedings, or any orders issued therein are bought to the notice of the shareholders of the listed entities involved in the scheme while taking shareholder approval on the scheme. Further, the same shall also be brought to the notice of NCLT while filing the draft scheme for their approval," as per the SEBI letter.

It added that "company shall ensure that any future disputes, complaints, regulatory actions or proceedings, or orders issued therein involving the draft scheme if any, shall be brought to the notice of shareholders prior to the approval by NCLT".

"Company shall ensure that as a part of the notice to shareholder seeking their approval on the scheme, the following fact should be suitably highlighted: 74.2% of the Business Value of the Future Enterprises Limited post amalgamation of all the Transferor companies is getting transferred to Reliance Retail Ventures Limited and Reliance Retail and Fashion Lifestyle Limited and these two companies would not be seeking listing post the scheme of arrangement," it said.

"The Company is advised that the observations of SEBI/Stock Exchanges shall be incorporated in the petition to be filed before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the Company is obliged to bring the observations to the notice of NCLT," SEBI said.

"The Company should ensure that suitable disclosure about the latest financials of the companies involved in the Scheme being not more than 6 months old is done before filing the same with the Hon'ble National Company Law Tribunal. In addition, it will ensure that additional information, if any, submitted by the Company, after filing the Scheme with the Stock Exchange, and from the date of receipt of this letter is displayed on the websites of the listed company and the stock exchanges.

"Company shall duly comply with various provisions of the Circular. Company is advised that the observations of SEBI/Stock Exchanges shall be incorporated in the petition to be filed before National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the company is obliged to bring the observations to the notice of NCLT," the regulator said said.

"It is observed that there are certain ongoing litigations/arbitration/legal proceedings against the draft scheme. In view of the same, the company is advised that these comments of SEBI on the draft scheme of arrangement are subject to the outcome of any of the ongoing litigations/arbitration/legal proceeding involving the draft scheme and/or the decision by any competent authority/competent court in this regard," SEBI said.

On January 11, Amazon had written to SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi informing that the regulator should not give no-objection to the Future Retail transaction with Reliance as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has constituted an arbitral tribunal.

In a letter to Tyagi, Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings said, "We write to inform you that the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has constituted the arbitral tribunal in the Arbitration Proceedings initiated by Amazon against inter alia FRL, Kishore Biyani and Rakesh Biyani." "We wish to highlight that in view of the constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal, the Interim Award passed by the EA stands automatically extended for the duration of the Arbitration Proceedings unless it is reconsidered/modified/vacated by the Arbitral Tribunal," Amazon had communicated to Tyagi.
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.
Two international studies confirm that for the majority of patients with respiratory infections who lose the sense of smell, this is due to COVID-19. The disease also often results in both loss of taste and the other senses in the mouth. A researcher from Aarhus University has contributed to the new results.

If you have had COVID-19, then forget about enjoying the smell of freshly made coffee. At any rate, two major international studies document that there is frequently a loss of smell and that this often lasts for a long time in cases of COVID-19

Alexander Wieck Fjaeldstad, is associate professor in olfaction and gustation at Aarhus University, and is behind the Danish part of the study.

The study shows that the average loss of the sense of smell was 79.7 on a scale from 0-100 - which indicates a large to complete sensory loss, says the researcher. In addition, the studies show that the loss of smell is very probably the best predictor of COVID-19 among patients with symptoms of respiratory diseases.

"This emphasizes how important it is to be aware of this symptom, as it may be the only symptom of the disease," says Alexander Wieck Fjaeldstad, who also stresses only around half of patients with a loss of smell have gotten their sense of smell back after forty days.

"This differs from the picture we see with other viral infections and causes long-term discomfort for patients, both in relation to food and social contact, while at the same time causing them worry."

In addition to the loss of the sense of smell, the sense of taste was also significantly reduced, to 69.0 on a scale from 0-100, just as the remaining sense of feeling in the mouth was also reduced, this time to 37.3 on a scale from 0-100.

While the loss of smell in itself removes the ability to sense the aroma of food, the simultaneous loss of the other senses make it difficult to register what you're eating. Putting food in your mouth can therefore become a decidedly unpleasant experience." Alexander Wieck Fjaeldstad, Associate Professor, Aarhus University

A total of 23 nationalities and over 4,500 COVID-19 patients from all over the world have responded to the researchers' questionnaire.

"The study is of interest both to patients suffering sensory loss as well as clinicians and researchers who work with diagnostics and following-up on COVID-19. It shows that the loss of smell is specific to COVID-19, which is both relevant in relation to recognizing the infection, and because it indicates that the sense of smell is closely linked to how SARS-CoV-2 infects the body."

Previously, researchers have based the correlation between COVID-19 and the loss of the chemical senses on smaller studies, while these studies collect large amounts of data from countries all over the world.

"The collaboration on the projects also entails a dialogue between researchers from all over the world, which makes it possible to share knowledge and ideas in order to promote the research field," says Alexander Wieck Fjaeldstad and continues: "The results are in line with our own national studies and pave the way for future studies on risk factors for permanent sensory loss, along with a better understanding of the consequences of these sensory losses for the patients. Among the aspects being studied are which factors are associated with a milder or briefer loss of the sense of smell and how this loss is associated with the rest of the course of the disease. The collection of data is continuing and will result in additional publications with even more participants."

The results have been published in the scientific journal Chemical Senses.

Background for the results

The studies are based on a survey translated into 23 languages and answered by more than 4,500 people infected with Covid-19.

The studies have been carried out in collaboration with the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research.
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.
[January 20, 2021] Nine Mega Trends Radically Accelerated by COVID-19: Opportunities in POCT, Robotics-as-a-Service, Return Logistics-as-a-Service, Zero-waste Manufacturing and Autonomous Private Shuttles and Pods

DUBLIN, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Nine Mega Trends Radically Accelerated by COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Mega Trend Universe encompasses transformative, global forces that define the future world with their far-reaching impact on businesses, economics, cultures, and personal lives. Disruption of the global economy, industry, companies, and investments are making it difficult for companies to prepare for the future.



The emergence of a pandemic has accelerated these disruptions. COVID-19 has impacted multiple facets of our lives, from how we work to the way we conduct businesses and leisure. The underlying technology transformation will augment some of these impacts into trends. In a post-pandemic world, changing consumption patterns will cause the emergence of new Mega Trends while abruptly altering previously established Mega Trends with long term impacts.



While the Mega Trends enforce change in a post-COVID-19 world, they also provide opportunities to build more resilience in the system. Companies should strategize, build, and grow in these times of adversity. Some major opportunities arising from the convergence of Mega Trends in a post-pandemic world include:



Digital point-of-care-testing (POCT): Digital POCT adoption is forecast to speed-up clinical decision-making. AI- and ML-powered digital POCT will transform the way assay results are gathered and analyzed.



Robotics-as-a-service (RaaS): As companies struggle to keep up with the current demand amid the pandemic, they will increasingly use RaaS to enhance productivity while saving capital investments required for buying robots.



Return logistics-as-a-service (RLaaS): E-commerce growth during the pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing challenges in return logistics and the inherent excess waste. RLaaS will create opportunities for connecting point solutions to offer holistic return management.



Zero-waste manufacturing: The manufacturing sector is striving to drive higher profit margins by enhancing existing processes through zero-waste manufacturing techniques to reduce the gap between planned andactual performance.







Autonomous private shuttles and pods: COVID-19 has disrupted most mobility segments. Consumers are moving away from ride-sharing solutions to a more personalized on-demand transit, with improved last-mile connectivity powered by autonomous vehicles. The nine Mega Trends accelerated by COVID-19 are:

Connectivity and Convergence: The pandemic reinforces the need for connectivity and networking in personal and professional settings.

Cognitive Era: AI and automation exhibit high potential to find solutions to the pandemic and will continue to drive innovation.

Future of Retail: Innovation in retail spaces, point of commerce, people, and processes will shape the post-COVID-19 future of retail together.

Smart is the New Green: The pandemic has reinforced governments' need to monitor human social behavior in future smart cities.

Social Trends: Varied impact across generations will trigger distinct changes in customer behavior.

New Business Models: Companies capable of rapidly shifting to new business models have successfully evaded the downturn.

Health, Wellness, and Well-Being (HWW): Telehealth presents a significant growth opportunity post-pandemic. However, telemedicine is underpenetrated and a major obstacle in patient support.

Innovating to Zero: Synchronized sequencing of innovative practices is essential to reach zero COVID-19 outcomes worldwide.

Future of Mobility: Post-pandemic growth opportunities will emerge in e-retailing, digital car platforms, bike-sharing, and in-car HWW features. Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives Why Is It Increasingly Difficult to Grow?

The Strategic Imperative

The Top Three Strategic Imperatives Driving Transformation Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine 2. Growth Opportunity Overview Nine Mega Trends Accelerated by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Key Findings

Mega Trends Convergence Will Form Five Key Growth Opportunities 3. Impact of COVID-19 on Mega Trends Mega Trend 1: COVID-19 Has Amplified Connectivity Needs

1: COVID-19 Has Amplified Connectivity Needs Mega Trend 2: Cognitive Computing Will Drive Recovery

2: Cognitive Computing Will Drive Recovery Mega Trend 3: New Consumer Behavior Will Influence Retail

3: New Consumer Behavior Will Influence Retail Mega Trend 4: Surveillance as a Key Element of Smart Cities

4: Surveillance as a Key Element of Smart Cities Mega Trend 5: Disparate COVID-19 Impact across Generations

5: Disparate COVID-19 Impact across Generations Mega Trend 6: Emergence of New Business Models

6: Emergence of New Business Models Mega Trend 7: COVID-19 Will Accelerate Digital Health Services

7: COVID-19 Will Accelerate Digital Health Services Mega Trend 8: Innovating to Zero COVID-19 Globally

8: Innovating to Zero COVID-19 Globally Mega Trend 9: COVID-19 Will Shape Urban Mobility Landscape 4. Growth Opportunity Universe Mega Trends Convergence to Form Top Five Growth Opportunities

Growth Opportunity 1: Digital POCT Solutions Will Grow as Telehealth Becomes the Mainstream Care Delivery Model

Growth Opportunity 2: Robotics-as-a-Service Will Drive Operational Efficiencies by Reducing Costs and Increasing ROI

Growth Opportunity 3: RLaaS Will Connect Multiple Point Solutions within One Platform to Build a Holistic Circular Supply Chain

Growth Opportunity 4: Self-Optimizing Manufacturing by Integrating End-to-End Processes for Zero-Waste Manufacturing Strategies

Growth Opportunity 5: Autonomous Private Shuttles and Pods for Future Last-Mile Connectivity

Critical Success Factors for Growth For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/asbleu Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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President Donald Trump speaks at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum in Jupiter, Fla., on Sept. 8, 2020. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

Trump Grants Full Pardon to Al Pirro, Former Husband of Fox News Host Jeanine Pirro

Former President Donald Trump, in one of his final acts as commander in chief before ceding power to President Joe Biden at noon Wednesday, granted a full pardon to Al Pirro, former husband of Fox News host Jeanine Pirro.

White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere made the announcement after Trump landed in Florida after departing Washington hours ahead of Bidens inauguration.

Pirro, who once represented Trump as a real estate lawyer, served 11 months in prison after being convicted decades ago of conspiracy and tax evasion after prosecutors said he improperly deducted more than $1 million in personal expenses as business write-offs to reduce his tax bill. He and Jeanine Pirro, who hosts the Fox News show Justice with Judge Jeanine, divorced in 2013.

In the final hours of his presidency, Trump granted pardons to 73 individuals and commuted the sentences of an additional 70.

The full list of presidential pardons and commutations published on the White Houses website includes former White House chief strategist and ex-Breitbart chairman Steve Bannon, as well as rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and former Trump fundraiser Elliott Broidy.

Individuals not on the list of pardons and commutationsbut were frequently discussed on social media prior to the White House announcementinclude WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, former CIA employee and whistleblower Edward Snowden, and Joe Exotic, a former zoo operator who was convicted on charges of animal abuse and an attempted murder-for-hire plot.

The pardon power applies to federal crimes and is one of the broadest powers available to a president. The decision to pardon is not reviewable by other branches of government and the president does not have to provide a reason for issuing a pardon.

Trump in his last week in office did not hold any public events, instead issuing a number of memorandums and executive orders, including ordering the declassification of previously confidential documents related to Crossfire Hurricane, the FBIs investigation of his 2016 campaign.

In his farewell speech on Wednesday morning, Trump said he wished the incoming administration great luck and success.

I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think theyll have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular, Trump said before he departed for Florida.

Trump told the audience that youre going to see incredible numbers coming inreferring to the U.S. economyif Biden leaves his policies untouched.

Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States at scaled-back ceremony in Washington that has been largely stripped of its usual pomp and circumstance, due both to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus as well as security concerns following the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

Well press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain, he said after taking the oath.

After addressing the pandemic, Biden touched on his other priorities, including racism, climate change, and domestic terrorism, before calling for unity.

My whole soul is in this, bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation and I ask every American to join me in this cause, Biden said.

Ivan Pentchoukov, Jack Phillips, and Reuters contributed to this report.
President-elect Joe Biden likes to joke how he had to leave Scrantons Green Ridge neighborhood and move to Delaware because he knew that Casey guy down the street would block his political path in Pennsylvania.

The timelines dont match up, of course. Biden was still a kid when his family moved around 1952 or 1953, and future Gov. Robert P. Casey Sr. graduated from Holy Cross College in 1953, but the joke carries a point.

Maybe other neighborhoods around the world have things to brag about, but Its hard to imagine other neighborhoods with the track record of the nine-block stretch of North Washington Avenue in Scrantons Green Ridge section.

Former and current residents who lived between the 1600 and 2400 blocks include a man set to take the oath of office as president, a vice president, a governor, two state auditors general, a state treasurer, two United States senators, two congressmen, a federal judge, a mayor and two city councilmen.

Their names are Joseph R. Biden Jr., Robert P. Casey Sr., Robert P. Bob Casey Jr., Joseph M. McDade, John W. Murphy, James A. Doherty and Christopher A. Doherty. All but McDade and James A. Doherty held at least two of the elected posts.

Biden served as one of Delawares U.S. senators from January 1973 to January 2009 and as vice president from January 2009 to January 2017.

Robert P. Casey Sr. served as state auditor general from January 1971 to January 1979, and as governor from January 1987 to January 1995. He died in May 2000.

Robert P. Bob Casey Jr. served as auditor general from January 1997 to January 2005, as state treasurer from January 2005 to January 2007, and is serving as one of Pennsylvanias U.S. senators since January 2007.

Joseph M. McDade served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from January 1963 to January 1999. He died in September 2017.

John W. Murphy served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from January 1943 until July 1946, when he resigned to take an appointment as a U.S. District judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, a position he held until he died in March 1962. McDade served as a clerk to the judge.

James A. Doherty served as a Scranton city councilman from January 1964 to January 1980. He died in May 1993.

Christopher A. Doherty, James A. Dohertys son, served as a city councilman from January 1998 to January 2002, and as the citys mayor from January 2002 to January 2014.

Murphy grew up in Avoca and Biden spent his teen years in Delaware, but the others grew up in Green Ridge.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey stands on North Washington Avenue in the Green Ridge section of Scranton on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (Christopher Dolan, Times-Tribune)

Trying to figure out how the street came to develop such a track record is difficult. Undoubtedly, the citys Green Ridge neighborhood, which includes the nine blocks, has always been home to middle- to upper-middle-class families, and some really wealthy people, too. Wealthier families have more free time to engage in community activities and argue about politics. Green Ridges residents closely monitor politics.

Politics regularly came up during kitchen table conversations with older relatives and their friends when he visited his grandparents home in the 2400 block of North Washington Avenue, Biden wrote in his 2007 autobiography, Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics.

These men were educated, informed and eclectic  and they loved to debate, Biden wrote. Theyd argue local politics, state politics, world events, Truman against MacArthur, Truman against the steel companies. They were Truman Democrats, working men or sons of working men.

Tom Bell, one of Bidens close childhood friends, points to a trait common to all seven men. Theyre all from Irish-American backgrounds. In the first half of the 20th century, people of Irish ancestry began getting more involved in politics.

That was the big reason, I think, at that time, that was the time of the Irish, all the politics and they were very, very, very big. And yeah, so that was their turn, Bell said.

They included attorney Alphonsus Casey, Gov. Caseys father, who ran unsuccessfully for a Lackawanna County judgeship in 1947, the first of many political losses the Casey family suffered.

That persistence helped further their careers. Robert P. Casey Sr. lost three previous tries for governor before winning in 1986. Biden ran unsuccessfully for president in 1988 and 2008. Robert P. Casey Jr., better known as Bob Casey, ran for governor in 2002 and lost.

You know, seeing Bob Casey (Sr.) become governor, I remember that like it was yesterday. What a huge deal, said Virginia Doherty McGregor, James Dohertys daughter and Chris Dohertys sister. That was when we finally succeeded, and he had overcome such challenges. But, like everybody, I think, in this community, youre just used to seeing in large families setbacks and then just brushing it off and moving forward. There was always a better day around the corner.

Sen. Casey said his grandfather and father served as models.

One origin of it certainly is what your parents teach you about your obligations and what you can do to help your community, Casey said. For some, that means a great number of years doing nonprofit work or doing work in a community in all kinds of ways to serve. And for others, its involvement in politics and public office, or government generally.  I think, at least for me, it was my parents didnt preach a lot, but they made it very clear  that we had to give back.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey stands next to a historical marker honoring his late father, Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey, on North Washington Avenue in the Green Ridge section of Scranton on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (Christopher Dolan, Times-Tribune)

McGregor and her daughter, Grace McGregor Kramer, still live in the nine-block stretch. They said Green Ridges close-knit neighborhood contributed to the streets track record. Knowing neighbors and living near to close relatives leads to engaging with others and wanting to help the community, they said.

I know from my parents, (they took the attitude that) if you werent going to solve the problem, then who was and  it was expected that you were going to be engaged, McGregor said.

The Caseys, McDade and Chris Doherty all attended Scranton Preparatory School where the Jesuit priests emphasize serving the greater good.

Their whole mantra is you have to be a man and woman for others so you have to put others first. And, your life is going to be defined on how you helped other people, McGregor said.

Even though Biden did not go to Prep, I think he really he lives his faith in that way, Kramer said.

More:

No Mall crowd, no Pennsylvania Avenue stroll, and other ways Bidens inauguration will differ

Donald Trump leaves the White House: Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime

After U.S. Capitol violence, Sen. Bob Casey Jr. calls for President Trump to be removed from office
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President Mnangagwa will today cut his leave to preside over only the third ever double heroes burial at the National Heroes Acre in Harare.

The joint burial is for liberation war stalwarts  the late Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba and the late Zanu-PF Central Committee member Cde Morton Dizzy Paul Malianga.

Acting Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said although the President is on annual leave, he was expected to preside over the burials along with Vice Presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi.

Only a few mourners, including close family members, service chiefs, senior Government and Zanu-PF officials are expected to be in attendance in line with Covid-19 control measures.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Mr Aaron Nhepera yesterday said:

All arrangements are now in place ahead of the double burial of the late national hero Cde Morton Dizzy Paul Malianga and national heroine Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, which is to be conducted tomorrow at the National Heroes Acre.

The interment of the late national hero and national heroine will be held in strict compliance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on the Covid-19 pandemic.

The double burial will be the third ever following the double burials of national heroines Cde Victoria Chitepo and Vivian Mwashita in 2016 and Cde George Rutanhire and Cde Maud Muzenda in 2017.

Formalities like body viewing at Stodart Hall are forgone in keeping with social distancing regulations.

Cde Malianga, who was 91, died after a long illness while Dr Gwaradzimba succumbed to Covid-19 complications.

Cde Malianga was a founding nationalist while Dr Gwaradzimba ended the liberation war as a fighting detachment commander in the south east of the country.

Cde Malianga was founding president of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and after the party was banned in December 1961, he became Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (Zapu) secretary for Public Affairs.

He was appointed Zimbabwe African National Unions first secretary for Youth and Culture at the partys first congress in May 1964.

In 1965, he was arrested by the settler regime and spent 10 years in prison and during his incarceration at Salisbury Maximum Security Prison, Cde Malianga obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in economics, business economics and accounting.

After his release from prison in December 1974, he worked with other members of the Zanu Central Committee in mobilising for the liberation war.

He attended the Victoria Falls talks, the Geneva Conference and the Lancaster House Conference.

After independence, he was appointed senator and became Deputy Minister of Economic Planning and Development in 1981. Two years later, he became Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development.

In the second Parliament, he was elected Member of Parliament for Mutare West and appointed Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce in 1988.

In March 1990 he was re-elected as MP for the constituency and appointed Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce. Dr Gwaradzimba whose Chimurenga name was Cde Shee Tapera, joined the liberation struggle in 1976.

She underwent military training in Tanzania at Nachigwea Military Academy in 1977 and was deployed and operated in the Gaza Province that covered the south-eastern zone between 1977 and 1978 where she rose to detachment command level in the provincial command structure.

After independence, Dr Gwaradzimba rose through the party ranks to be a member of the Zanu PF Central Committee and Manicaland provincial chairperson in the Womens League. Herald
Boris Johnson has defended coronavirus measures at the border after it emerged Home Secretary Priti Patel lobbied for tougher restrictions during the early stages of the pandemic.

Ms Patels comments, made to the Conservative Friends of India group, are contrary to her public defence of the Governments decision not to enact a full arrivals shutdown.

In remarks first reported by political website Guido Fawkes, Ms Patel said: On should we have closed our borders earlier, the answer is yes. I was an advocate of closing them last March.

Mr Johnson was quizzed at Prime Ministers Questions by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer about why he chose to overrule the Home Secretary.

But the Tory leader evaded the question, instead opting to criticise Labours policy on border controls.

Mr Johnson said: I think it was last March that (Sir Keir) along with many others was actually saying that we didnt need to close borders but as usual Captain Hindsight has changed his tune to suit events.

He later defended his approach, insisting the UK now had tough restrictions.

The rules now are designed to stop people coming back into this country and bringing infection back into the country while were getting the vaccination rolled out, Mr Johnson told reporters in Downing Street.

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I think it would be absolutely crazy to be vaccinating our country as successfully as we are, and dont forget were still doing more than any other country in Europe.

It would be crazy to be doing that huge national effort while simultaneously allowing the virus or new variants of the virus to be reimported back into our country.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss disagreed with Ms Patel, insisting that the correct measures were taken with the evidence at hand.

Asked if she agreed with the Home Secretarys remarks, Ms Truss told ITVs Peston: We made the right decisions at the time based on the information available.

In mid-March, the UK abandoned asking people to quarantine for two weeks after arriving from areas with high infection rates, such as Hubei province in China and Italy.

The decision was in contrast to many other countries, such as New Zealand, which has been widely praised for getting the pandemic under control, partly through strict quarantine measures for arrivals.

TRAVEL CORRIDORS:



Due to new variants of COVID-19, all Travel Corridors have now been suspended.



This means that travellers now need to self-isolate for 10 days when entering the UK (a small number of exemptions remain for critical work).https://t.co/6jjFLQkPb6  FCDO Travel Advice (@FCDOtravelGovUK) January 18, 2021

The UK Government introduced blanket quarantine restrictions in June for all international travellers, except those coming from Ireland, while travel corridors with countries deemed to have safe levels of infection were established a month later.

Ministers this week suspended all travel corridors and introduced new rules requiring arrivals to produce a negative coronavirus test taken up to 72 hours before departure and to self-isolate for up to 10 days after entering the UK, in a move designed to prevent new strains of Covid-19 entering the UK.

The Governments decision-making on border controls was criticised in a report published by the Commons Home Affairs Committee in August, with MPs concluding that coronavirus had spread faster in the UK as a result of the failure to bring in quarantine rules for travellers in the early days of the pandemic.

On Wednesday, Ms Patel continued her public defence of the actions taken, telling broadcasters that ministers had followed scientific advice over border controls.

Scientists advised us at the time when coronavirus was incredibly high that it would not have made a difference to have taken border measures Home Secretary Priti Patel

She told BBC Breakfast: Government has listened to a range of advice and followed advice from professionals and advisers  medical and scientific  from day one of this pandemic and there has been collective decision-making across the board.

When it comes to border measures, for example, there was a lot of work that took place last year, both in transport and in the Home Office, but also working with the scientists who advised us at the time when coronavirus was incredibly high that it would not have made a difference to have taken border measures.

Labours shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: This is a shocking admission from the Home Secretary about the Governments failure to secure the UKs borders against Covid.

Priti Patels admission, coupled with the complete lack of strategy for testing of travellers, means that the Government has left our doors open to the virus and worrying mutations.

Ministers now need to  urgently  review and overhaul border policy, whilst taking responsibility for the huge damage their incompetence has done to our national safety and security.

A Home Office spokesman said: We have strong measures at the border in place which are vital as we roll out the vaccine.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Im not going to get into the detail of private conversations, but I would point back to the measures that we have introduced to ensure that we are not allowing the virus to be reimported into the UK given the hard work that the public has undertaken to suppress and try and control the virus.

Mr Johnson still has full confidence in his Home Secretary, the spokesman added.
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!

WASHINGTON: Rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black were among the beneficiaries of Donald Trump`s wave of pardons in his last day in office on Wednesday, befitting a president who made his name in New York`s tabloids and on reality TV.

While the more than 140 people granted clemency included former aide Steve Bannon and major Republican Party fundraiser Elliott Broidy, Trump also used his wide ranging powers to clear people with little apparent ties to his administration.

Bannon was a top adviser on Trump`s 2016 campaign and served as the Chief White House Strategist for roughly seven months. He was arrested and charged last August with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors who contributed to a fundraising campaign for a private border wall.

Five-time Grammy Award winner Lil Wayne, whose legal name is Dwayne Carter Jr., appeared to support Trump on the campaign trail ahead of Trump`s reelection bid when Carter said he backed Trump`s criminal justice reform program and economic plan for African Americans.

Carter, whose 2016 single "No Problem" won the Best Rap Performance Grammy, pleaded guilty last month to illegally possessing a loaded, gold-plated handgun when his chartered jet landed in Miami in December 2019. He faced a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Black, 23, who was born Bill Kahan Kapri, is in federal prison for making a false statement to buy a firearm, and released the album "Bill Israel" from behind bars.

Black pleaded guilty in August 2019, and three months later was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison. He was seeking compassionate release and his commutation was supported by religious leaders, other rappers and athletes.

Despite speculation, the list did not include the subject of the Netflix series "Tiger King", Joe Exotic, who is serving a 22-year prison sentence for plotting to kill a rival and animal cruelty.

Most presidents have issued pardons late in their terms. Usually processed through the Office of the Pardon Attorney, they are intended to address cases in which the punishment is outsized compared to the crime.

Trump, who delivered his first pardon in August 2017, his first year in office, had issued 70 in total before Wednesday, many of which have been given to people who are friendly with his administration.

Trump`s pardons have also included some people tied to celebrities, including Alice Marie Johnson, a woman convicted on drug charges whose case was championed by reality television star Kim Kardashian West.

Trump has gotten involved with criminal justice cases affecting celebrities in other ways as well.

In 2019, Trump sought to intervene when A$AP Rocky was detained in Sweden after a brawl in downtown Stockholm. The rapper, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, and two members of his entourage were charged with assault causing bodily harm.

Mayers said he had acted in self-defense after his bodyguard was attacked and was released from custody in August.
West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress legislator from the Shantipur Assembly constituency in Nadia district, Arindam Bhattacharya, joined the (BJP) on Wednesday.

He joined the saffron brigade at the party's headquarters in Delhi after holding a meeting with BJP national General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.

"Our dream is to create 'Aatmanirbhar' West Bengal and 'Aatmanirbhar' India, which is also the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have joined the BJP responding to the call of Prime Minister Modi," Bhattacharya said.

He added that the young generation in Bengal is not happy, as there are no job opportunities in the state.

"The youth got assurance from the Trinamool Congress government, but they didn't get anything. There is no vision, no future planning, no industrialisation drive in Bengal. The Trinamool government came to power with big expectations, but see the current situation. Nothing is happening in the state," he said.

--IANS

sbn/arm
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Civil supplies department vehicles parked at AR Grounds. For purpose of door delivery, the state government has distributed 9,260 subsidised vehicles to eligible unemployed youth, incurring a cost of Rs. 539 crore. (DC Image)

VIJAYAWADA: In a first of its kind in AP state, YSR Congress government is starting on Thursday door delivery of rations made available under the Public Distribution System. Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will formally launch 2,500 door delivery vehicles in Krishna, Guntur and West Godavari districts at a function being held at the iconic Benz Circle in Vijayawada on the day.

The scheme will benefit 26,39,363 cardholders throughout the state.

Door delivery of rations is part of Jagans promise during his 3,648-km-long padayatra as then opposition leader, when he witnessed the plight of elderly and differently-abled people who had to wait in long queues to get their supplies.

The Chief Minister also promised that quality rice will be delivered to cardholders, thereby removing irregularities within the PDS system.

The door-delivery system will cost the state government an additional Rs. 830 crore per annum.

Civil supplies minister Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao alias Nani said under the Chandrababu Naidu regime, percentage of husk and coloured grains was high in ration supplied to cardholders. But now, they are supplying Swarna variety of rice with zero percent stones and less than one percent of coloured or damaged grains.

Nani said quality rice will be distributed in reusable bags at doorsteps by taking the cardholders fingerprints. Every bag of rice will be sealed and tagged with a unique code, giving zero scope for adulteration. All mobile vehicles will have a GPS system fitted to track PDS deliveries in real-time. Each vehicle will deliver goods for an average of 18 days per month.

For purpose of door delivery, the state government has distributed 9,260 subsidised vehicles to eligible unemployed youth, incurring a cost of Rs. 539 crore.

The quantum of subsidy is as much as 60 percent subsidy under the Employment Guarantee Scheme of various corporations. The value of each vehicle is Rs 5.81 lakh of which Rs. 3.48 lakh is government subsidy.

ST corporation has subsidised approximately 700 vehicles, SC corporation 2,300, BC corporation 3,800, Minorities corporation 660, and EWEB corporation 1,800 vehicles.

Jagan Mohan Reddy government has also started offering ration cards to all eligible people across the state in just 10 days from the date of filing their applications under five categories  issuing of new ration card, division of a ration card, adding members to a rice card, removing members from a rice card and surrendering the rice card. In the process, 4,93,422 new ration cards have been issued from June 2020 till date.
We call on the Secret Service to drop objections to journalists wearing body armor and helmets as they cover the Inauguration tomorrow at the Capitol. Journalists were targeted during the attack on the Capitol Jan. 6. There is significant documentary evidence of the violence toward journalists and their equipment. "Murder the Media" was written on walls of the Capitol.

Journalists know how to protect themselves in war zones around the world. Part of that approach is the decision to wear body armor and helmets. It is a professional and strategic decision. Law enforcement should want all the people they protect to be as safe as possible. These are unusual circumstances and as in any high-risk environment, journalists and their employers must be free to make their own decisions about their personal protection.

We endorse the statement made earlier today by Reporters Committee For Freedom of the Press on this topic.

The National Press Club, founded in 1908, is The World's Leading Professional Organization for Journalists with nearly 3,000 members worldwide. The Club is a strong voice for Press Freedom matters abroad and at home.

The Club's nonprofit, the National Press Club Journalism Institute, promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement.

PRESS CONTACT: Lindsay Underwood for the National Press Club; [email protected], (202) 662-7561

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Parents of twins in Michigan will have to adopt their own children after they were denied legal rights to the babies, who were born via gestational carrier.

The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids has allowed Jordan and Tammy Myers full access to their twins - Eames and Ellison - but the state of Michigan have not recognized them as the legal parents of the infants.

Two Kent County Family Court Judges dismissed an effort by the couple's attorney to establish them as the legal parents for little Eames and Ellison.

'It's just hard. It's really hard,' Tammy Myers said, WOOD-TV reports. '(It's) the most joy we've felt in years and being happy and hopeful to bring these beautiful miracles into the world, and then complete and utter sadness and disbelief and stress and anxiety as the same time,' Tammy Myers said.

The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids has allowed Jordan and Tammy Myers full access to their twins - Eames and Ellison - but the state of Michigan have not recognized them as the legal parents of the infants

The twins were born prematurely on January 11 and have been doing well at the neonatal intensive care unit

The twins were born prematurely on January 11 and have been doing well at the neonatal intensive care unit.

They aren't covered by the Myers' insurance Spectrum Health, as a result, and will have to legally adopt their own children. The insurance company hasn't pressed the family on the financial burden yet as to allow them time to work out legal dealings.

The couple have the full support of Lauren VerMilye, the woman who carried the babies to term for the Myers. She is married and has two children, herself

The couple have the full support of Lauren VerMilye, the woman who carried the babies to term for the Myers. She is married and has two children, herself.

Tammy Myers overcame a five-year battle with breast cancer but was unable to carry children as a result.

The couple, who have an eight-year-old daughter, met VerMilye though a Facebook post they had made looking for a gestational carrier.

'She signed on to do this out of the goodness of her heart,' Tammy said. 'One of her friends had shared our story and she responded within minutes that she had been waiting for an opportunity like this. They wanted so badly to bless a family like ours, and they were on board. Both her and her husband.'

But things went south when the Myers attempted to make themselves the legal parents of the twins in the fall of last year.

Tammy Myers (left) overcame a five-year battle with breast cancer but was unable to carry children. The couple, who have an eight-year-old daughter, met VerMilye though a Facebook post they had made looking for a gestational carrier

'We knew it was going to be a little tricky,' said Tammy Myers.'But we also believed with everything inside of us that there was no way a judge could hear our story and look into our faces and tell us that we do not have rights to our biological children.'

What is Michigan's Surrogate Parenting Act Michigan's Surrogate Parenting Act of 1988 prohibits surrogacy parentage contracts and the ability of surrogates to receive compensation for carrying children. Some judges have looked for loop holes when establishing legal parentage, with pre-birth orders being common. Kent County judges have declined to do so, however. In 2019, one couple had to pay $15,000 to legally adopt their twins in Kent County. The couple also was subjected to extensive visits from an adoption agency who routinely asked invasive questions of the pair and had them fill out loads of paperwork. A state senator did attempt to get a bill in support of legalized surrogacy contracts pushed through in 2018, but that failed. Advertisement

In their dismissal, both judges cited Michigan's Surrogate Parenting Act. The law deems surrogacy parentage contracts 'void and unenforceable as contrary to public policy.'

'While this Court has genuine concerns about the present-day wisdom of the 1988 Surrogate Parenting Act, such concerns are better left to the legislative/political arena,' Kent County Family Court Judge Daniel Zemaitis said.

Court documents continue: 'This court will not ignore by judicial action the clear language of MCL 722.855.'

The couple's attorney, Melissa Neckers, first asked for a pre-birth order in fall 2020 before attempting to establish Jordan Myers as the father of the twins through the Michigan Paternity Act.

That request was dismissed on January 15 by Kent County Family Court Judge Scott Noto.

'What the parties essentially are asking this court to do is validate and enforce a (surrogacy) contract that the Michigan Legislature has expressly declared void and unenforceable as a matter of public policy,' Noto wrote in an opinion. 'The court has no authority to enforce such a contract.'

Jordan Myers called the entire ordeal 'degrading' and demoralizing.'

'It's very difficult to just have to jump through legal hoops and spend a bunch of money (on the adoption process) just because of a law that is archaic and outdated, especially when so many judges are granting these pre-birth orders across the state,' he added.
In a recent study, researchers might have gained new insights into the reason why some people believe that they can hear the dead. The research is based on the largest-of-its-kind survey of the general population and such specialist mediums.

Reuters

Conducted by the researchers at Durham University, the new study has now been published in the journal Mental Health, Religion and Culture. The research paper is a result of an eight-year long study conducted under the project name Hearing the Voice.

The research meant to observe clairaudient communications in subjects, meaning those who say that they can hear spirits. In contrast, clairvoyant means seeing and clairsentient means feeling such spirits around one.

The research concludes that such spiritualists who tend to hear spirits have a strong leaning towards absorption, a release by the University explains. Absorption is a trait linked to altered states of consciousness and the practice of immersing in mental or imaginative activities.

(Image: Stefano Pollio/ Unsplash)

The research also points out that many who experience hearing such voices are often introduced to spiritualist beliefs early in life. This happens in pursuit of the meaning behind the unexplained occurrences.



Such mediums are also less concerned about the opinions of others, the study found. It also mentioned that the mediums are more prone to unusual visual and auditory experiences than other members of the general public.

In the research, the authors recorded eighteen percent of the participants to have clairaudient experiences for as long as they could remember. Meanwhile, seventy-one percent had not encountered spiritualism prior to their first experience.

Spiritualism has been defined in the study as a religious movement based on the concept of souls inhabiting human bodies, that continue to exist after death and can communicate with the living through a medium. The study explains that such spiritualist mediums are possibly more prone to immersive mental activities and unusual auditory experiences early on in life.

The authors of the study highlight that the understanding of such experiences is important to help us tackle distressing or non-controllable experiences of hearing voices.
Eric Trump (L) and Donald Trump, Jr., applaud as their father President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress in Washington on Feb. 5, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Eric Trump: The Best Is Yet to Come

Former President Donald Trumps children Eric, Ivanka, and Donald Jr. were among those to share farewell messages.

Without a doubt, the best is yet to come, said Eric Trump in a statement before President Joe Biden was sworn into office at around noon on Wednesday.

My hope for Americans is that we never tolerate the old norm and take what we have learned in the past four years and we continue to fight for the liberties and pride that allows us to be red, white, and blue, he remarked.

Elaborating further, Eric Trump said that his familybecause of the constant pressure campaign against Trumpcarried tremendous weight through unprecedented resistance and persecution.

He added, No president has sacrificed more. But he (and we) did it for the good and betterment of the nation.

Ivanka Trump, an adviser to the president, posted a message on Twitter and Instagram, saying, The last four years have been an incredible journey.

Thank you for all of the love and support you have shown me. I leave D.C. in awe of the compassion, grace and grit that exists across the nation, she said on social media. I hope and believe that America can move forward in a positive way, acknowledging our differences and find common groundthat is how we will remain the greatest nation.

Donald Trump Jr. shared a brief message: Thanks dad! America owes you a debt of gratitude. He included an image of the former president holding an American flag that has been turned into countless memes.

Tiffany Trump, Trumps child with his second wife, Marla Maples, who has remained mostly out of the limelight, wrote on Twitter: It has been an honor to celebrate many milestones, historic occasions and create memories with my family here at the White House, none more special than my engagement to my amazing fiance @MichaelZBoulos! Feeling blessed and excited for the next chapter!

On Wednesday morning, Trump touted his administrations record for creating jobs, being tough on the Chinese regime, the stock market, and more. And after leaving Washington, Trump headed to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

There has been speculation that Trumps family could start a media company or new political party to connect with his supporters.

There has never been a political figure with more support or energy behind them than my father, Eric Trump said in a statement to the New York Times about the familys future. There will be no shortage of incredible opportunities in real estate and beyond.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Workers across New York would get up to four hours of paid leave to get two doses of Covid-19 vaccine under a proposal from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The idea, part of Cuomos $193 billion budget released on Tuesday.

The legislation would require all employers -- public and private -- to provide up to four hours of paid leave at the workers regular pay rate.

Bosses would also be prohibited from taking retaliatory actions against workers who request the paid leave. But employers can request documentation from workers verifying the need to take time off.

The proposed budget, which includes a temporary tax hike for the richest New Yorkers, relies on $6 billion in coronavirus aid as part of President-elect Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion Covid-19 aid package.

At the same time, Cuomo is asking for much more from Congress and Biden to shore up the $15 billion hole left after the economic fallout from the virus. The governor is hoping Congress will send as much as $15 billion to New York, where more than 33,000 people have died from the virus.

The vaccination paid leave would take effect as soon as the Legislature approves and the governor signs the budget legislation. That likely wont happen until late March. The states fiscal year begins April 1.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
Caregiver A Love Story Dr. Zitters work with this film is so powerful, and Bambi and Rick Fass are both candid and inspiring. We hope clinicians take the opportunity to watch the film.

Caregiver: A Love Story is a new documentary film by Dr. Jessica Zitter, is shining a light on the challenges caregivers face when caring for loved ones. Healthcare providers and content providers can view the film at no cost on Docolas care communication platform from January 23rd through the 26th. They can also attend a live Q&A session with Dr. Zitter on January 26th at 8pm/ET 5pm/PT.

This 24 minute documentary shows whats hidden in plain sight  the physical, emotional, and financial toll caregiving takes. Bambi Fass and her husband Rick take us through the joys and sorrows, and help us ask: how we might better care for family caregivers so they dont become second order patients?

The event is supported by four organizations who are focused on improving healthcare for patients and families. Eran Kabakov, Chief Executive Officer of Docola, says: We are thrilled to host this event. Ive experienced the difficulties of caregiving on a personal level as well as a healthcare provider. Dr. Zitters work with this film is so powerful, and Bambi and Rick Fass are both candid and inspiring. We hope clinicians take the opportunity to watch the film and join the Q&A session to learn more about the challenge family caregivers face.

About Dr. Jessica Zitter, Director

Dr. Zitter is Harvard and UCSF-trained to practice the unusual combination of Critical and Palliative Care medicine. She works as an Attending Physician at a public hospital in Oakland, California. Dr. Zitters work is featured in the Oscar and Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary, Extremis. And she is the author of Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life.

About The Event Sponsors

Docola

Docola believes healthcare is built on trusted relationships and meaningful conversations between providers, patients and families. The Docola care communication platform optimizes and democratizes these interactions, making it easy to e-prescribe information to patients from a high-quality patient education community marketplace. Healthcare providers can find a wide array of patient education resources, easily develop and upload their own videos and resources, create courses, and e-prescribe these to patients and populations. This also makes it possible to track patient participation, comprehension, or to learn about patients goals, values and preferences. The platform is freely available to healthcare providers, patients, and content providers. For more information, visit https://www.doco.la or follow the company on Twitter @docolainc.

Greater National Advocates

Our mission is to wake up the nation to the lifesaving benefits of Independent Patient Advocacy and provide patients and loved ones with immediate online access to a trusted network of qualified practitioners. We use fact-based media to spread awareness and steer patients and their loved ones to https://www.GNANOW.org where they can learn more about Independent Patient Advocacy and find the professional support they need.

Resolution Care Network

We work with your existing medical team and caregivers to provide an extra layer of human-centered support when you or your loved ones are facing serious illness. To learn more visit: https://www.resolutioncare.com/

Active Daily Living

A comprehensive web-based content platform that features interactive assessments, videos and personalized content that gives clients the ability to assist older adults and family caregivers with functional issues, environmental challenges and health related concerns. It utilizes evidenced-based / supported customized content to support population health, social determinants of health, caregiver satisfaction, risk management and the positioning of senior related programs and services. To learn more visit: https://www.activedailyliving.com/
GARDAI have arrested a man in relation to a robbery in the car park of a County Limerick supermarket earlier this week.

An investigation was launched on Monday afternoon when a woman reported that she had been robbed at the car park on Sheehan's Road, Newcastle West.

"She outlined that she had been sitting in her car smoking a cigarette when a man approached her and requested a cigarette. When she refused the man became aggressive and threatened her with what was believed to be a knife. He proceed to grab her cigarettes from the dash board and got into a car which then left the scene," said a garda spokesperson.

The woman was not harmed during the incident which happened at around 12.30pm.

Following an investigation, detectives identified a suspect and yesterday, a man, aged in his 30s, was arrested in West Cork by gardai from Newcastle West.

He was brought to Henry Street garda station in Limerick where he is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
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They say that Tiffany is the forgotten Trump child, the least Trump-y of the broodamong the adult children, anyway. But Tiffany really doesnt get enough credit for the deep streak of Trumpishness that burns within her. For example, she chose the most deranged possible moment to announce her engagement: on the very last day of her fathers presidency. Thats the definition of Be Best.

Yes, Tiffany is engaged to her boyfriend of two and a half years, Michael Boulos, and she chose to share the news on this day, just as her father is being dragged, kicking and screaming, metaphorically but also possibly literally, from the White House. We can speculate endlessly about the timing of this announcement, and we will, but first, a refresher for all those who havent been paying attention to the most beautiful love story of our time: Who is Michael Boulos?

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First of all, obviously, he is a scion. Tiffanys scene is scion-heavy; does she know or speak to anyone who is not a scion? Unlikely. It has previously been reportedand though it has also been denied by a source, we are repeating it anyway, because it is so fun to think aboutthat the two met at Lindsay Lohans beach club in Mykonos, Greece. If they didnt meet there, they definitely met somewhere like therescions dont circulate just anywhere. The thing Boulos is a scion of (is that how being a scion works?) is Boulos Enterprises, a multibillion-dollar conglomerate that makes and distributes vehicles, motors, and other equipment. The company is based in Nigeria, where Boulos grew up, though he was born in Lebanon (both countries Im sure Tiffanys father has never said anything ill-advised about). Boulos attended an international school in Lagos and then university in London, and at 23, he is four years Tiffanys junior. What else, what else? Hes been in the mix at the White House and at Mar-a-Lago over the past couple of years, as have his parents, and his brother is a rapper who goes by the name Farastafari.

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But back to the mystery of it all: Why announce the engagement today of all days? In terms of strategy, its not possible that Tiffany thought this news could at all detract from the negative attention her father is getting for inciting a coup and being impeached for the second time, right? Like the overwhelming swell of well wishes for the wedding of a  beloved daughter could drown out some of the heat? Seems a little delusional. Supporting the delusion theory: On Twitter, some guessed that Tiffany wanted to enjoy the special cachet of getting engaged in the White House, as the presidents daughter. If thats your definition of cachet 

Theres also always the chance that Tiffany timed the announcement in some way to stick it to her father, not that shes ever actually indicated shes anything but supportive of her family and their politics. But pettiness and backstabbing are crucial parts of the Trump ethos that must be factored in.

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The joke with Tiffany is often that her father and the rest of her family forget she exists. This led me to a truly dark thought, which is that Tiffany was afraid that her family wouldnt notice or pay attention to her announcement unless the media covered it. Do they all even follow her on Instagram?

But my final theory for the weirdness of announcing the engagement today is  true love. What if it took Tiffany and Michael witnessing a violent insurrection, watching her fathers administration crumbling around them, imagining some of her family members going to jail, and all the other horrors of the final days of the Trump administration to realize that all they really cared about was each other? If thats not love, I dont know what is.

Daniel Andrews is under pressure to cancel the 2021 duck hunting season and ban the sport altogether in Victoria after a 'damning' survey found just one in every five shooters can tell if a bird is a protected species.

Independent hunting regulator, the Victorian Game Management Authority (GMA), will soon advise the state government on how this year's season should proceed.

Labor MPs, including senior Cabinet Ministers, privately want duck shooting for sport completely banned, according to the ABC.

A hunter holds a dead duck after shooting it, while others swim in the water (stock image). Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is under pressure to cancel the 2021 duck hunting season and ban the sport altogether after a 'damning' survey revealed one in five shooters can't distinguish protected species

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick said it would be 'simply reckless' for Mr Andrews to allow the duck hunting season to go ahead this year.

'A recent survey of hunter knowledge by the government's OWN department shows they don't follow the rules - or in some cases, even know what they are,' Mr Meddick wrote on Facebook.

'When it comes to shooter's knowledge on animal welfare and personal and public safety when using firearms - the results are damning.'

Mr Meddick referred to the GMA's Hunters' knowledge survey report, which found 80 per cent of hunters failed a bird identification test.

Hunters were allowed to kill seven of the eight game duck species but were banned from killing the Blue-winged Shoveler due to dwindling numbers last season.

Those who oppose duck hunting believe the high-failure rate of identifying ducks will put Blue-winged Shovelers in the firing line.

A duck on the Kennett River in Victoria. Hunters were allowed to kill seven of the eight game duck species but were banned from killing the Blue-winged Shoveler due to dwindling numbers last season

Both Labor and the Coalition support duck hunting in Victoria.

Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the Government has no plans to ban duck hunting.

'It's both mine and the GMA's expectation that hunters abide by the conditions attached to their license, and to act safely and responsibly at all times when hunting,'' she told the ABC.

Victoria's 2020 duck hunting season was shortened from May to June after bushfires and drought devastated bird populations.

Around 60,400 ducks were killed during last year's season, which is roughly a quarter of the number shot in 2019.

Duck hunting is banned in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia but remains permitted in South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, output at the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe was at the top end of the company's guidance range

( ) has said its Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe knocked out a record amount of gold in 2020.

Production in 2020 of 57,899 ounces was at the top end of the companys guidance range. Around 15,012 ounces of gold were produced in the final quarter of the year.

Caledonia said gold production for 2021 is expected to fall between 61,000 and 67,000 ounces.

"Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 was a record year for Caledonia operationally, and we are on track for commissioning of Central Shaft to be completed in the first quarter of 2021. In December we also announced that we had entered into option agreements on two properties in Zimbabwe, delivering on our strategy of organic growth, while increasing the dividend for the fourth time at the start of January to 11 cents a share, creating genuine value and returns for our shareholders, said Steve Curtis, the chief executive officer of Caledonia in a statement.
Pandemic or not, its a great time to be a gamer. Sony and Microsoft have brought their next-gen consoles to the market that offer an unprecedented level of price to performance and the PC segment continues to make huge strides to deliver high resolution-high refresh rate experiences. If youve wanted to get on the PC Gaming bandwagon, but were deterred by what can be considered a high entry barrier, Amazon has great deals on gaming laptops as part of their Republic Day celebrations and here are some of them.

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i we are recommending here is powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650. Between the processors 6 cores, the 4GB VRAM on the GPU and the 8GB on-board graphics, you would be able to run most games at playable frame rates, some of them even going on to hit the peak frame rates of 60fps, given that this laptop has an FHD display with a refresh rate of 60Hz. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i also features the fifth generation of Lenovos cooling technology called Q-Control, which puts fan profiles at the tip of your fingerprints. You can buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i from this link.

Acer Nitro 5

The Acer Nitro 5 has been a long-time favourite amongst the entry-level gaming enthusiasts, given that it tends to pack some decently powerful hardware at a relatively low price. The particular model of the Acer Nitro 5 were recommending here is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H, a 6-core 12-thread processor. This is paired with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650Ti, 8GB DDR4 memory (upgradeable to 32GB) and a combination of 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD. The laptop also offers you a 4-zone RGB keyboard, if youre into that sort of thing. You can buy the Acer Nitro 5 from Amazon here.

MSI Gaming Bravo 15

AMD has worked closely with a few OEMs to provide users with an all-AMD experience. The MSI Gaming Bravo 15 is the result of one such collaboration. The MSI Gaming Bravo 15 is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor paired with the Radeon RX5500m graphics with 4GB of VRAM. Both the processor and the GPU are built on the 7nm process and take advantage of AMDs SmartShift technology to maximize performance. The laptop additionally offers 16GB DDR4 memory in dual channel configuration, in addition to a 512GB NVMe drive. Last but not the very least, you also get a FHD IPS-Level display with a refresh rate of 144Hz. If you find this to be the right combination of features for you, then go ahead and purchase the MSI Gaming Bravo 15 from here.

HP Pavilion Gaming

HP has had a pretty successful year with respect to gaming laptops this year, with the Omen series fixing their biggest issue; thermals. The other gaming laptop, the HP Pavilion also garnered a lot of interest thanks to its 16-inch display, packed into a 15-inch form-factor. Other features include an Intel Core i5-10300H processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 GPU and 8GB of RAM, which is upgradeable. The laptop has a rather unique design as well, with interestingly cut mesh grills for improved airflow and angular cuts below the display for aesthetics. If the HP Pavilion Gaming catches your eye, you can pick it up from the link here.

Lenovo Legion 5

The Lenovo Legion 5 has definitely been one of the most popular gaming laptops amongst our readers and viewers. While the Lenovo Legion 5 offers many variants in order to cater to all kinds of budgets and gamers, one of their more powerful variants is up for grabs. The SKU were talking about is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, an 8-core 16-thread part paired with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650Ti. The two combined help push the FHD display with a refresh rate of 120Hz to its most. You also get upgradeable RAM, with 8GB onboard along with a combination of 256GB SSD-1TB HDD. The Lenovo Legion 5 is up for a decent discount and can be picked up from here.

Baton Rouge native Christopher John Rogers designed part of Kamala Harris' outfit for Wednesday inauguration.

The vice president wore a purple suit and coat designed by Rogers and wore shoes made by South Carolina native Sergio Hudson as she took the oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, according to the AP.

The first Black and South Asian woman to be elected vice president, Harris has made it a point to wear clothes made by Black designers during events leading up to Inauguration Day.

Rogers, who now lives in New York City, thanked Harris on Instagram for wearing his design.

"We are so honored and humbled to have played a small part in this historic moment," Rogers wrote.

The purple hue is a nod to the women's suffrage movement, a color that was often worn by women fighting to gain the right to vote in the early 20th Century. Shirley Chisholm, the first Black women elected to Congress, also often wore purple on the campaign trail, and Harris has noted that Chisholm "created a path" for her.

Rogers is a graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School and attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, launching his brand in 2016. In 2020, Rogers won the Council of Fashion Designers of Americas prestigious American Emerging Designer of the Year award in 2020.

April Hammock, a talented visual arts teacher at BRHS who taught Rogers when he was a senior there, said she knew Rogers would be incredibly successful when he was in her class roughly 10 years ago.

"It was like I was able to see his future as a teacher and that was really exciting," said Hammock, 46. "He is a brilliant young man. He was very kind and very intelligent and very talented, so I knew that Chris was a very special student, and I am so pleased to have been a part of his legacy already."

Hammock called Harris' outfit "exquisite" and lauded her former student's work to design the dress and jacket worn during the inauguration.

"I can't imagine being in his shoes and being able to do that, and he absolutely deserves that," Hammock said. "Wow. What a wonderful thing to do, and what a remarkable thing of him to be a part of and be the creator of that dress."

Rogers has designed for other notable figures before, including Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross and Lizzo.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  Thirteen people who came in contact with the Philippines' first known coronavirus case with the new, more transmissible variant have tested positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health said on Wednesday. The list includes co-passengers, household members, and a frontliner who attended to the patient.

A total of 10 passengers on board the flight with the 29-year-old Filipino detected with the UK variant tested positive for coronavirus. Eight of them  who are all Filipinos  tested positive upon arrival in Manila on Jan. 7, while two passengers tested negative upon return to the Philippines but later received a positive result from a swab test.

Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the samples of the infected passengers will be sent to the the Philippine Genome Center to check if they have the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant first detected in the United Kingdom.

Of the 159 passengers on the Emirates EK332 flight from Dubai to Manila, 153 are in isolation. In addition, two have been contacted but not yet isolated, while four other passengers have yet to be reached by authorities for contact tracing.

The patient's mother and girlfriend, meanwhile, also tested positive for COVID-19. The girlfriend, who traveled with the patient, tested negative for the virus upon their arrival in Manila on Jan 7. Health officials, however, conducted on her another swab test as a precautionary measure.

"Ang girlfriend niya initially tested negative. Pero noong nag-reswab tayo, she turned positive. The mother, noong na-swab siya, ang resulta niya rin ay positive. So pinadala na rin for sequencing ang kanilang specimen," Vergeire said in a media forum.

[Translation: His girlfriend initially tested, but turned positive after undergoing another swab test. The mother also tested positive. We have sent their specimen for sequencing.]

A healthcare worker from Quezon City who attended to the patient also got infected with COVID-19, DOH said in a separate statement. Vergeire said the frontliner could be recovering from the disease after contracting the virus back in December, adding the RT-PCR test may have picked up remnants of the virus. Nevertheless, her samples were sent to the genome center, but she will not take another swab test.

Samples to be reviewed to detect new variant

The health official said there are some issues with the samples of the 8 passengers and the mother because they have high Cycle Threshold value or CT value, which indicates a person has a low viral load. The genome center can produce more accurate results if the CT value is below 30, Vergeire said. These patients will be swabbed anew to ensure that samples are optimal for genome sequencing.

"Kapag ang CT value is more than 30, most often than not, hindi siya kayang i-process ng genome sequencing. Kaya ang more than 30, pinapa-reswab namin para matignan natin talaga at ma-verify if positive siya," she said.

[Translation: If the CT value is more than 30, more often than not, it cannot be processed for genome sequencing. If it's more than 30, we will ask them to be swabbed again so we can verify if they are positive for COVID-19.]

The results for the third batch of review from the Philippine Genome Center will be available this week, DOH said.

The patient with the UK variant is in stable condition and nearing the end of his mandatory quarantine, Vergeire said. The patient was immediately placed in a facility-based quarantine center upon arrival in the country.

Coronavirus cases in the Philippines reached 505,939 on Wednesday, while the death toll has reached 10,042.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 09:57:10|Editor: huaxia

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WELLINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand has reported six more cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation since the last media statement on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

The newly reported imported cases came from South Africa, Britain, Zimbabwe, the United States and Russia. There are no new cases in the community.

One of these cases is classified as historical and deemed not infectious, said a ministry statement.

Fourteen previously reported cases have now recovered. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 76, and the total number of confirmed cases is 1,911, it said.

All travelers arriving into New Zealand, excluding those from Australia, Antarctica, and some Pacific nations, are now required to have both pre-departure and day 0/1 tests and stay in their rooms until the result is known, according to the ministry's new rules. Enditem
Chinese students wear masks as they wait to take a train after Chinese New Year break in Beijing, China, on Jan. 31, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

International Students Get Preferential Treatment at Local College in Chinas Guangxi: Leaked Documents

In recent years, preferential treatment for foreign students by Chinese universities has repeatedly stirred up resentment among the domestic student population.

The Epoch Times recently obtained internal documents from a trusted source that revealed a case of preferential treatment for international students at Liuzhou City Vocational College in Guangxi, a Chinese autonomous region bordering Vietnam.

A document, dated July 16, 2020, from the schools Institute of International Education showed that Liuzhou Citys Foreign Affairs Office arranged a trip to Baipeng township, Liujiang district for 14 of the schools international students.

The stated purpose of the trip was mental relaxation as well as learning about the citys accomplishment of constructing the beautiful countryside.

An emergency plan attached to the document included specifics on what to do in cases of student injuries. For students with minor injuries, the supervising teacher was instructed to provide the full accompanying service, including sending the student to the hospital, reporting to the school administration, and communicating with the students parents.

According to student information attached in the document, most of the students come from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Laos and Indonesia.

Another document, dated Oct. 19, 2020, described other measures that the citys Foreign Affairs Office took to create a healthy and harmonious studying environment for international students in Liuzhou city, citing students declining mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The document referenced the July trip where students were taken to see lotus flowers in Baipeng township, and another trip to the opening ceremony of Liuzhous annual water carnival.

The citys Foreign Affairs Office also educated the international students on drug prohibition and AIDS prevention, according to the document.

The case of preferential treatment for foreign students at Liuzhou City Vocational College is not an isolated incident, as there have been many controversies in the past regarding the bias against the countrys own students.

In July 2018, domestic students from Wuxi Institute of Technology in Jiangsu Province alleged that they were forced to move to older dorms with relatively poor living conditions so international students could live in the better dorm, Chinese digital newspaper The Paper reported.

A representative from the university told The Paper that the allegation was the students one-sided perspective, and that moving the students was a regular decision by the university.

The official statement released by the university acknowledged that Fangyuan, the older dorm that the domestic students moved into, could not provide 24-hour hot water for showering, but that the school had public shower rooms that would effectively meet students showering needs.

Then my question is, why not move the international students to Fangyuan? asked a Chinese netizen in a comment left under the article by The Paper.

Shandong University, one of the largest universities in China, received backlash in July 2019 for a buddy program that overwhelmingly assigned female Chinese students to male foreign students. One of the questions in the registration form for the program asked if the foreign student wanted a friend of the opposite gender.

Many netizens questioned the motive behind these pairings, which resembled match-making.

The university apologized for the inappropriate question on the registration form but defended the purpose of the program, which was to help Chinese and foreign students improve their studies and learn each others culture by studying together.

A student, under the alias Zheng Zhi, from Qingdao Binhai University spoke to The Epoch Times in an interview on May 25, 2020 about the double standards applied to foreign and domestic students at his school.

According to Zheng, Chinese students lived in dorm rooms of eight or six, the cheaper ones of which did not even have showers, but foreign students lived in apartments with their own kitchens and bathrooms.

Chinese students were not allowed to dye their hair or wear jewelry, and students of opposite genders could not hold hands, but foreign students could ride electric bikes, motorcycles, and the girls could wear perfume, get a perm, wear jewelry, and dress very liberally, Zheng said.

Zheng also confirmed allegations circulating on social media that the school was making Chinese students clean the apartments of foreign students as well as school bathrooms, libraries, and even construction sites on campus, while the international students did not have to do any cleaning.

According to Chinese state media reports, financial awards to foreign students in 2018 totaled to 3.32 billion yuan (about $512 million), The Epoch Times previously reported. Most of the students came from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road), a transcontinental investment project launched by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2013 which expanded Chinas global influence.
The problems facing employees in the judiciary and the penitentiary system were discussed by the Minister of Justice, Stelian Ion, with representatives of several trade unions.

According to a press release of the Ministry of Justice sent to AGERPRES, Stelian Ion met on Wednesday morning with representatives of the BNS (National Trade Union Block) and PUBLISIND (Federation of Trade Unions of Public Administration), including the Penitentiary Police, clerks, auxiliary staff from prosecutor's offices and courts, as well as probation counselors.

The union leaders presented the main problems to the Minister, and the Minister appreciated their availability for a direct and constructive approach, the same source mentions."The discussions focused on the problems facing employees in the judiciary and the penitentiary system, the Minister expressing his openness to have a permanent dialogue in the future, for the benefit of employees and citizens who benefit from their work," the same press release said.
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China and the European Union were just a week away from missing the year-end target for their sweeping new investment accord when China made a key concession on accepting international conventions on forced labor, EU Ambassador to China Nicolas Chapuis told Caixin in an interview.

China's last-minute commitment to ratify the fundamental conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) cleared away the final hurdle, the French diplomat Chapuis said. Chinese and European leaders announced a political agreement on bilateral investment Dec. 30, opening China to expanded access by European companies. The two sides have since been finalizing the legal text.

Chapuis, who was involved in the intense December negotiations, said the EU was still not ready to come to an agreement just a week before the deadline.

"We were lacking something important for us on the last chapter about forced labor," Chapuis said. "The language that China had given us was not enough."

The Chinese government realized that "if they did not accommodate our concerns on ILO conventions, then there would be no deal ... at least no deal before the end of the year," Chapuis said.

According to the ILO, China has ratified four of the eight fundamental labor conventions, including those on nondiscrimination and child labor. China has been a member of the United Nations' labor watchdog since the formation of the organization in 1919 under the old League of Nations.

There are still four outstanding conventions that Beijing has not ratified, including a 1930 convention on forced labor and a 1957 convention on abolition of forced labor.

It took the Chinese side about a week to tackle the issue and come back to us" Chapuis said.

The European Commission, the EU's executive branch, said in a statement Dec. 30 that China commits to working towards the ratification of the outstanding ILO fundamental conventions and takes specific commitments in relation to the two ILO fundamental conventions on forced labor that it has not ratified yet."

After the Dec. 30 announcement, China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement without elaboration that "the China-EU investment agreement specifically provides for investment-related environment and labor issues."

"The two sides are committed to promoting investment conducive to sustainable development goals, properly handling the relations between attracting investment and protecting the environment and labor rights, and complying with relevant international commitments," ministry said.

"This is something that many people, both in China and in Brussels, thought would never happen," the EU ambassador said. After securing endorsements from EU member states Dec. 28, Brussels then confirmed that a leaders' summit would be possible, Chapuis said. "So we say politically, we are in a partnership between Europe and China."

The legal text is expected to be finalized in the second half of 2021 and possibly be ratified when France holds the rotating EU presidency in first half of 2022, according to Chapuis. He also said the two sides would hold a summit next year, in either Brussels or Beijing.

The EU's goal for the agreement is to "rebalance" the bloc's economic status with China and the U.S. after Beijing and Washington signed a phase-one trade deal, Chapuis said.

Contact reporter Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsimison@caixin.com).

Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  A lawmaker is seeking an immediate House probe into what he described as a "one-sided" termination of the 1989 pact between the University of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense that once barred state security forces from entering the campus grounds without prior notice.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman filed Tuesday House Resolution 1490 urging the House Committee on Human Rights to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the unilateral abrogation by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of the UP-DND accord. A copy of the resolution was made available to the public on Wednesday.

"The one-sided termination comes in the heels of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 whose odious and constitutional infirmities have been challenged before the Supreme Court in 37 petitions, the biggest number of petitions in history assailing a statute," Lagman said in a statement.

The abrupt scrapping of the deal was met with criticisms on Monday, with students, lawmakers, and other members of the UP community noting that it further paved the way for the anti-terror law's tighter crackdown on activists and those tagged as communists.

Lagman stressed that the "baseless" abrogation "red-tags" all UP constituencies, including those established after the signing of the accord. The UP system has a number of campuses including UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Los Banos, UP Baguio, UP Visayas, UP Mindanao, UP Cebu and extension units in Pampanga and Olongapo.

Lagman added that despite Lorenzana's claims that UP campuses are hotbeds for recruitment of students to join the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, students are not in the campuses as face-to-face classes are currently not being implemented.

During his media briefing in the morning, Lorenzana added that he is willing to attend, should Lagman's call for a probe push through.

"Of course, I will welcome this inquiry," he said.

He also noted that he has thought about abrogating the agreement a few years back, but reiterated that he has nothing against the university.

"This is not an attack against UP. We just want to protect students para wala nang masali sa listahan [ng CPP-NPA]," he added. "We want to protect UP and its students."

Meanwhile, lawmakers of the Makabayan bloc filed House Resolution 1491 expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to uphold the accord and the academic freedom of all educational institutions.

"Jurassic ang kanilang cold war mentality. Nakikita nila na lahat ng kritiko ng pamahalaan ay myembro ng CPP-NPA movement," Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate said in a separate briefing.

[Translation: Their cold war mentality is jurassic. They see government critics as members of the CPP-NPA movement.]

Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite expressed a similar sentiment and said there are other ways for the government to address the problems of society, instead of resorting to "militaristic" solutions.

The House resolution was filed by Zarate, Gaite, Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago. ACT-Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, and Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas.
The DUP's Edwin Poots has revealed that his cancer was discovered during his recent spell in hospital to remove his appendix.

The Agriculture Minister has told the BBC's Stephen Nolan his condition is treatable and the prognosis is good.

However, it's understood that the coronavirus pandemic has delayed his ability to get an operation on the NHS in Northern Ireland and he is considering private health care.

He told the BBC while he was opposed to private health care, believing it should be available to all, he would not risk his life for a political ideology.

It is reassuring to see the lovely comments from across the political spectrum for Edwin. Cancer is indiscriminate & cruel. Has touched so many. I talked to Edwin after he received this diagnosis. He has great determination & is sustained by a loving wife, family & great faith.  Arlene Foster #WeWillMeetAgain (@ArleneFosterUK) January 20, 2021

Last month Mr Poots spoke to the Belfast Telegraph immediately before he was rushed to Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital by ambulance from his home outside Hillsborough, Co Down.

The MLA for Lagan Valley, had an emergency operation to remove his appendix.

While his recovery was said to be good, he later tested positive for coronavirus.

Read More

However, he did not have any symptoms and was soon back at work after isolating.

He was in front of MLAs on Tuesday taking questions on agriculture matters and Brexit.

In an email sent to his party colleagues last night, Mr Poots said it's is "very much business as usual" while he awaits surgery."

He also revealed how his cancer was discovered.

He wrote: "Friends and colleagues. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers during my recent spell in hospital. I have recovered well from the surgery and had no significant issues with Covid.

"The morning after surgery the surgeon informed me that the CT scan had shown a suspicious growth on my kidney. I met the consultant urologist whose care I am in last week. He has recommended removal of the kidney and I await that surgery, although most non emergency is not happening currently.

"It is very much business as usual for me, I am feeling well, the surgeon says surgery itself is curative without further treatment and the prognosis is excellent.

"Whilst nobody wants to get this news, I am so grateful that it was found in the scan and all other organs and bloods are normal. I truly believe God's gracious hand is upon me and have an inner confidence that he will see me through this.

"I know you will continue to support me on your prayers and thank you for that," he added.

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson, who himself was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the summer of 2019, added: "Wishing Edwin best of outcomes for his time ahead during a difficult and traumatic period for him and his family. Having been through the trauma of diagnosis, chemo and major surgery a year ago my thoughts are with him."

Mr Poots is a former health minister and also held the environment and culture arts and leisure portfolios.

Social media was awash with well-wishers following the news on Tuesday evening.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill offered her best wishes.

"Thinking of Edwin Poots and his family tonight as he has made public that he is going through a cancer journey. A tough time for any family. Every best wish," she tweeted.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood added: "Very sorry to hear this. Our thoughts are with Edwin and his family as he battles for a full recovery."

The UUP leader Steve Aiken offered his best wishes.

"We wish him a swift recovery - a cancer diagnosis is never good news but Edwin is in our thoughts and prayers."

Justice Minister Naomi Long said she was sorry to hear of the cancer diagnosis.

"My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this time and I wish him a full a speedy recovery."

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said Mr Poots was "definitely a fighter and we all hope he wins this battle".

DUP MLA Paul Givan added: "I have known Edwin for over 20 years and he has remarkable strength of character.

"A calm resolve to overcome any challenge and determination to serve his community. I know his deep personal faith sustains him and he is assured of our prayerful support in the days ahead."

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it was "reassuring to see the lovely comments from across the political spectrum for Edwin".

"Cancer is indiscriminate and cruel,"she said. "Has touched so many. I talked to Edwin after he received this diagnosis. He has great determination and is sustained by a loving wife, family and great faith."

Last year Mr Poots lost his 90-year-old father Charles.

In an interview with this newspaper, Mr Poots told how he struggled to deal with his grief following the death of his dad, one of the founder members of the DUP.

"I saw him virtually every day in life," he said.

Mr Poots lost his 64-year-old mum Ethel when he was 30.

He will be appearing on the BBC Stephen Nolan show after 9am on Wednesday.

Broadcaster Stephen Nolan tweeted: "Ive been talking to Edwin about this interview for some time-there was never one conversation with me about his cancer when he wasnt talking about cancer affecting others.

"You will hear personal testimony on Nolan in the morning from a man determined and strong because of his faith."
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

Trends may come and go, but theres one perennial print that just keeps on giving  leopard. Its a classic wardrobe staple only rivalled by florals, and if every day is feeling like the last right now, get out of those neutrals and slip into this print  I guarantee it will give your mood a much-needed boost.

STYLE-MAKER FAVOURITE

Supermodel Kate Moss knows all about the timeless appeal of leopard  its a print she always revisits. Last year she even donated her favourite vintage coat to raise money for the fight against Covid.

Camilla Ridley-Day shared advice for embracing the leopard print trend at any occasion. Pictured: Shirt, 39.99, mintvelvet.co.uk; trousers, 79, whistles.com; loafers, 225, russellandbromley. co.uk; necklace, 135, monicavinader.com

Designer Roberto Cavalli is another fan, and never produces a collection without it, while Danish brand Gannis leopard-print dress has become a seasonal must-have for fashion influencers everywhere.

The print is always a showstopper at events and, lockdown aside, is rarely off the red carpet.

COLOUR CRAZE

Back in the 1990s, for a post A-level party, I wore a matching shirt and flares, a la Scary Spice, which is probably a bit too zig-azig-ah for 2021.

Today I prefer colourful prints, such as this shirt from Mint Velvet. Its a fresh twist on the trend, and perfect teamed with denim or corduroy basics. It makes me feel energised, even when Im working from the sofa.

PERFECT PIECES

Leopard is always bold and will make a statement however you wear it. Look for a different base tone, such as Dea Kudibals shirt (below) in an eye-catching electric blue. Essentiel Antwerps rainbow top is sure to brighten up your day (or someone elses), and Figleavess swimsuit will have you dreaming of summer.
The conflict in Donbas is not and cannot turn into a frozen one, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde has said.

"I am categorically opposed to calling the conflict in Donbas or Crimea frozen [...] As this will mean that you have surrendered and do not consider it possible to resolve it. And I believe that Donbas is definitely not frozen now. After all, the Trilateral Contact Group or the Normandy format is still in operation, trying to find a solution," Linde said in an interview with Yevropeiska Pravda (European Truth) published on Wednesday.

She said that at the Normandy Four summit in Paris, there was an agreement on a new meeting of leaders under a number of conditions.

"Ukraine has fulfilled all the conditions. Russia, unfortunately, has not yet. Now everything depends on how the negotiations will continue, on how it will be agreed to fulfill these conditions," Linde said.

According to her, there is still a positive result from the negotiations, this is a truce that has been going on since July 27. "And even despite the fact that now we see a worsening of the situation, that a Ukrainian serviceman died a week ago, the situation is still much better than it was a year ago. After all, in 2020, there were 34 victims in January and February alone," the OSCE Chairperson said.

Linde said the priority of her chairmanship is to try to resolve the conflict, or at least take a step towards its solution, without departing from the principle of comprehensive security.

"And, we will, of course, continue to follow the principle of the integrity and unity of Ukraine, which includes the Ukrainian Crimea and Sevastopol. We will try to build on the achievements of the preliminary chairmanships in the OSCE, using both the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group," she said.

When asked whether the OSCE should become a participant in the Normandy format, Linde said it is not, since Normandy is already an established format. She said that it is always worth analyzing what is effective, what works. And the current Normandy format is just working.

"But the OSCE has concentrated its efforts in the Trilateral Contact Group, where our representative Heidi Grau does a very important job. And even if she is criticized in Ukraine, in fact she does a lot to get closer to resolving the conflict, and these efforts deserve support as well as the work of the SMM  the greatest mission of our organization," she said.
Located at 4747 N. 32nd Street in Phoenix, the Campus serves as a hub and main office facilities for Helios Education Foundation as well as College Success Arizona, Achieve60AZ, Expect More Arizona, and Teach for America  Phoenix. In addition, the Campus includes the Vince Roig Convening Center which provides the opportunity to host education-related events and convenings for up to 200 people.

"This Campus is intentionally designed to be a central gathering point to foster collaboration, inspire innovation and allow people to work side-by-side to create opportunities for all Arizona students," said Vince Roig, Founding Chairman of Helios Education Foundation. "This is a place for Helios' partners, including education organizations, policymakers and community leaders, to map out big ideas, long-term strategies and impactful investments to help break down barriers to a quality education."

The collaborative efforts on the Campus will be focused on key education priorities, including:

The accessibility of high-quality early learning environments



Equitable school funding and resources



Supporting high-quality teachers



The need for rigorous, high expectations, college-going curriculum



College and career preparedness and postsecondary degree attainment

"We are grateful for Helios Education Foundation's partnership and support of our organization, and we believe this Campus will have tremendous impact on ensuring more students in Arizona are prepared to succeed in postsecondary education," said Rich Nickel, President and CEO, College Success Arizona.

"We are thrilled to be a part of this collaborative effort to advance educational opportunities in Arizona, and we are grateful to Helios for its partnership to help ensure all children receive an excellent education," said Katie Tennessen Hooten, Executive Director, Teach for America  Phoenix.

"Our community has some big goals and aspirations for education in Arizona and Helios is committed to helping achieve the goals," said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. "We hope this Campus will help us continue to collaborate in new and innovative ways to create a more equitable education system and increase student success."

The Campus represents a long-term commitment to Arizona and is designed with an array of sustainable, energy-efficient and technologically advanced features. It also showcases artwork from Arizona and Florida based artists that reflects the richness and diversity of the two states the Foundation serves.

Due to the safety precautions around COVID-19, the Campus is not open to the public at this time. It is anticipated that the Campus will be open and ready to host events and meetings in the Summer of 2021, but that determination will be made based on the guidelines for public gatherings from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Click here to take a virtual tour of the Campus.

Contact: Rebecca Lindgren

602.828.7061

[email protected]

SOURCE Helios Education Foundation

Related Links

www.helios.org


Abraham Lincolns famous second inaugural address has been cited time and again in recent days: With malice toward none, with charity for all.

But some Americans believe it might be more apt to make comparisons to Lincolns first inaugural, coming as it did as momentum built to the opening salvo of the Civil War.

Such a thought might strike you as too dark, too pessimistic. But those whove seen countries go up in flames dont think so.

Is America on the brink of civil conflict? former war correspondent Lulu Garcia-Navarro asked in an NPR column published in the hours before Inauguration Day. As I discovered in Iraq, if you have to ask the question, you may already know the answer.

When she sent out the story on Twitter, she wrote: This was extremely painful to write. But I felt it has to be said: Ive seen this before and it doesnt end well.

Her colleague Sarah McCammon, noting Garcia-Navarros column, added:

In my recent reporting, Ive heard people on opposite sides of the political spectrum raise the prospect of civil war repeatedly, like at no other time in my 18 years working in journalism in this country.

In his Inaugural Address today, President Joe Biden called for unity and hope while noting the anger, resentment and anger in the country. He pointed out that partisan rancor and divisiveness is not new  and victory is never assured.

All of that is undeniable.

So lets take a quick look at a few 1861 press accounts related to that first Lincoln inaugural, which came in the wake of seven Southern states breaking away from the union (with more to come) over their fears of losing the institution of slavery.

The Inaugural will be found to treat the political crisis in a very positive, matter-of-fact manner, The New York Times reported in the hours before the 16th presidents address. While the President will endeavor to conciliate the Slave States by the most positive assurances of the honesty and firmness of purpose of his Administration, he will in no manner evade the issue nor blink his policy.

The report stated that Lincoln planned to be so firm about maintaining the integrity of the union that some of his friends have attempted to persuade him to tone it down. He replied that he had canvassed the subject thoroughly and had matured his policy in accordance with his best judgment. The bold frankness of the document, which, by the way, is briefer than would be expected, will challenge the respect and confidence of the South, as well as the admiration of the North.

Then, the day after the Inauguration, the Newark Daily Advertiser offered its view -- namely, that it feared for the future of the country:

Mens minds have been completely turned round within thirty years about the character and nature of slavery; and who could have believed till now, that the Declaration of Independence could be voted down in the United States, not by individuals merely, but by whole States  that immortal writing which has for so many years been read in our churches along with the Holy Bible, and prized as second only to it? The abolition of the 4th of July, as the birthday of our countrys liberty, has, of course, followed the repudiation of the instrument, which created it.

The Cleveland Morning Leader, meanwhile, highlighted a key quote from the new president:

Abraham Lincoln's words on assuming the presidency in 1961.

And, finally, the Louisville Courier offered its views in verse, launching the Lincoln administration on a somewhat hopeful note:

A report on the new president.

-- Douglas Perry

dperry@oregonian.com

@douglasmperry
A federal review of National Guard personnel assigned to support the Inauguration in Washington has resulted in 12 Guardsmen being pulled off their duties at the Capitol, but all 500 of the service members dispatched from Massachusetts by Gov. Charlie Baker got the green light from defense officials.

All of our personnel were cleared, Mass. National Guard spokeswoman Col. Lisa Ahaesy said. They were all vetted and cleared and no one was returned. So everyone is ready to serve.

Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller announced the vetting of Guard personnel, assisted by the FBI, on Monday, noting that similar screening processes are routine but in this case the scope of military participation is unique.

The 25,000 Guard members in Washington -- 500 of them from the Bay State -- are supporting security, communications, logistics, and coordination at the Capitol for President-elect Joseph Bidens inauguration Wednesday.

We work very closely with law enforcement and if theres any identification or anything whatsoever that needs to be looked into, out of an abundance of caution we automatically pull those personnel off the line and make sure theyre not part of the mission set, and in certain cases we make sure that we get them sent home, Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the U.S. National Guard Bureau, said Tuesday at a Defense Department press briefing after a dozen Guardsmen were pulled from Inauguration duties.

Capt. Aaron Smith, another Mass. National Guard spokesman, said that morales pretty high. Were really proud to be here. Its definitely an honor, the historic significance of being part of the Inauguration, Smith said. Its great to see this many Guardsmen come together on one mission and be able to chip in and support that peaceful transfer of power. Many of the personnel from Massachusetts are providing security support to the Capitol Police, Smith said, and kind of realize their role in history.
An explosion tore through a building in central Madrid on Wednesday, leaving at least three people dead and 11 more wounded, Spanish officials said, as rescuers scrambled to treat the injured.

The mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, told local news outlets that the explosion appeared to be the result of a gas leak, and the Interior Ministry said later that it was investigating the cause.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain acknowledged the explosion in a post on Twitter, and shared a warning from the police urging residents to stay away from the scene.
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann was among those attending the inauguration of Joe Biden as President on Wednesday.

He said, In 2017 I had the honor of attending President Donald Trumps inauguration and in 2013 I had the honor of attending President Barack Obamas second inauguration. Sadly, this year, I was unable to attend the inauguration of President Joe Biden due to COVID restrictions. I welcome our nations peaceful transition of power  a powerful symbol of the strength of our nation.

It is my sincere hope that President Joe Biden will make good on his promise of unity. However, Bidens actions on his first day in office are worrying  signing 17 executive orders within the first hours of his presidency, with more to come  not the sign of someone who is eager to reach across the aisle.

I urge President Biden, Vice President Harris, and my colleagues in Congress to join me in being leaders in this healing process. We must be able to see each other as Americans, united in a shared love for our nation. We must be able to reach across the aisle, even when its hard, to give all Americans a brighter future.

I look forward to getting to work in the 117th Congress to continue to advocate for the needs of the people of East Tennessee, continuing to champion for our conservative values, and holding the Biden administration accountable.

Senator Bill Hagerty also attended the inauguration. He said, Our nations peaceful transfer of power is at the very bedrock of our republic, but also a clear example to the rest of the world. Today, we celebrate the 59th Presidential Inauguration and wish our new president and vice president Gods blessings. America is the greatest nation in history and I join all Tennesseans in supporting our countrys continued strength and success.




The World Economic Forum (WEF) has warned that infectious diseases, environmental risks, and economic troubles including livelihood and debt crises stand as the highest risks for the next ten years. In its 'The Global Risks Report 2021', the foundation states that the existing trends, like nationally focused agendas to stem economic losses, have been given fresh momentum by the COVID-19 crisis, and this could lead to risks including stagnation in advanced economies and lost potential in emerging and developing markets, among others.

The WEF, in its report, states that risks of job losses, a widening digital divide, disrupted social interactions, and abrupt shifts in markets could lead to dire consequences and lost opportunities for large parts of the global population. These consequences, which could manifest in the form of social unrest, political fragmentation, and geopolitical tensions, will shape the effectiveness of responses to other key threats of the next decade, climate change being paramount among them, along with cyberattacks and weapons of mass destruction, it points out.

"Among the highest likelihood risks of the next ten years are extreme weather, climate action failure, and human-led environmental damage; as well as digital power concentration, digital inequality and cybersecurity failure," the WEF report notes.

ALSO READ: Modi, Xi, among world leaders to address virtual WEF Davos Summit

"Among the highest impact risks of the next decade, infectious diseases are in the top spot, followed by climate action failure and other environmental risks; as well as weapons of mass destruction, livelihood crises, debt crises, and IT infrastructure breakdown," it adds.

Out of these, employment and livelihood crises, widespread youth disillusionment, digital inequality, economic stagnation, human-made environmental damage, erosion of societal cohesion, and terrorist attacks are the most imminent threats to the world that could become critical in the next two years, the foundation says.

Terming the climate crisis as one of the most impactful risks, the WEF report cautions that although lockdowns worldwide caused global emissions to fall in the first half of 2020, evidence from the 2008-2009 financial crisis warns that emissions could bounce back.

"In the 5-10-year horizon, environmental risks such as biodiversity loss, natural resource crises, and climate action failure dominate; alongside weapons of mass destruction, adverse effects of technology and collapse of states or multilateral institutions," the WEF risk assessment says.

Talking about the economic impact of COVID-19, WEF notes in the report that the pandemic led to working hours equivalent to 495 million jobs being lost in the second quarter of 2020 alone, which in turn will immediately increase inequality. An uneven recovery poses a similar threat, it adds.

ALSO READ: India essential in global efforts to combat COVID-19, says WEF chief

Economic risks can take 3-5 years before they fester into becoming global threats, the WEF says, listing asset bubbles, price instability, commodity shocks, and debt crises among such risks. This will be followed by geopolitical risks, including interstate relations and conflict, as well as resource geopolitisation, it further adds.

"Only 28 economies are expected to have grown in 2020. Nearly 60 per cent of respondents to the GRPS identified "infectious diseases" and "livelihood crises" as the top short-term threats to the world. Loss of lives and livelihoods will increase the risk of "social cohesion erosion", also a critical short-term threat identified in the GRPS," WEF says.

With COVID-19 driving digitisation in all walks of life, the Global Risk Report emphasises that digital inequality could become a critical short-term threat.

"A widening digital gap can worsen societal fractures and undermine prospects for an inclusive recovery. Progress towards digital inclusivity is threatened by growing digital dependency, rapidly accelerating automation, information suppression and manipulation, gaps in technology regulation, and gaps in technology skills and capabilities," WEF says.

Amid the economic, environmental, and employment challenges, the global community has largely neglected the risk of youth disillusionment which, WEF states, can become a critical threat to the world in the short-term. Hard-fought societal wins could be negated if the current generation lacks adequate pathways to future opportunities, and loses faith in today's economic and political institutions, the report warns.

ALSO READ: India's early policy response to COVID-19 strong; has power to define global agenda: WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab

"Existing trends have been given fresh momentum by the crisis... The business risks emanating from these trends have been amplified by the crisis and include stagnation in advanced economies and lost potential in emerging and developing markets, the collapse of small businesses, widening the gaps between major and minor companies and reducing market dynamism, and exacerbation of inequality; making it harder to achieve long-term sustainable development," the report notes.

"The response to COVID-19 offers four governance opportunities to strengthen the overall resilience of countries, businesses and the international community: (1) formulating analytical frameworks that take a holistic and systems-based view of risk impacts; (2) investing in high-profile "risk champions" to encourage national leadership and international co-operation; (3) improving risk communications and combating misinformation; and (4) exploring new forms of public-private partnership on risk preparedness," it further adds.
Mohammed Adawulai is a graduate of Bard College at Simons Rock, where he got his bachelors degree, and the University of Hamburg in Germany, where he got his masters degree. He is also the founder of the nonprofit organization The Other Project.
The President HE Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo has appointed Deputy National Security Co-ordinator, Mr. Opare Duncan, to act as National Security Co-ordinator pending the appointment of a substantive Co-ordinator.



In a Facebook post by the Director of Communications at the presidency, Mr. Eugene Antwi, he explained that the National Security Co-ordinator, Mr. Joshua Kyeremeh passed away on Monday, 18th January 2021 as he underwent treatment for COVID-19.



A product of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kyeremeh was a former Director of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), now known as National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).



Peacefmonline sources at the hospital say he died of kidney complications at the hospital where he was being treated.



Kyeremeh was one of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos first appointees in 2017 during his first term. A consummate intelligence professional, he had been holding the position of National Security Coordinator since then.



Over two decades at NIB



Joshua Kyeremeh was at the NIB for about 22 years, where he served at command levels in the Northern, Upper East, Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions.



He also served as head of the Investigations Unit of the Bureau. He rose to become the Deputy Director NIB and ultimately, the Director NIB from 2005 to 2009.



The late Kyeremeh was part of the transition team after the 7 December 2020 elections.



Read Facebook Post Below



The National Security Co-ordinator, Mr. Joshua Kyeremeh, passed away, sadly, on Monday, 18th January 2021. Arrangements for his funeral will be announced in due course.



The President has asked the Deputy National Security Co-ordinator, Mr. Opare Duncan, to act as National Security Co-ordinator, pending the appointment of a substantive Co-ordinator.



Our condolences and sympathies go to his widow and children. May God bless him, and let his soul rest in peace!

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/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.

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WASHINGTON - During his first moments in the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Joe Biden moved to return the United States to the Paris climate accord and directed federal agencies to begin unraveling Donald Trump's environmental policies - the first step in what Biden has vowed will be a sustained effort to safeguard the nation's air and water, protect endangered species and combat climate change at home and abroad.

Biden's executive order recommitting the United States to the international struggle to slow global warming fulfilled a campaign promise and represented a repudiation of the "America First" approach of Trump, who officially withdrew the nation from the Paris agreement Nov. 4 after years of disparaging it.

Biden also ordered federal agencies to review scores of climate and environmental policies enacted during the Trump years and, if possible, to quickly reverse them. Nearly half of the regulations the new administration is targeting come from the Environmental Protection Agency, on issues as varied as potable water, dangerous chemicals and gas-mileage standards.

"A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear," Biden, who has listed tackling climate change as one of his core priorities, said in his inaugural address Wednesday. Listing the challenges the nation faces, he pointed to "the battle to save our planet by getting the climate under control."

Biden's new national climate adviser, Gina McCarthy, told reporters this week that the moves will "begin undoing some of the harmful actions that happened in the previous administration's watch, so that we can move forward in combating the climate crisis."

McCarthy said Biden would sign "a broad executive order that takes steps that are imperative to address our climate crisis, and will also create good union jobs and advance environmental justice while reversing more than 100 of the previous administration's harmful policies."

Biden is expected to take more action Jan. 27, according to a document obtained by The Washington Post. He plans to sign an executive order elevating climate in domestic and national security policy; direct "science and evidence based decision-making" in federal agencies; reestablish the Presidential Council of Advisers on Science and Technology and announce that U.S. data that will help underpin the Climate Leadership Summit that Biden will host in Washington in late April.

Although incoming presidents often sign executive orders on their first day, the chasm between Biden's agenda and Trump's legacy is one of the widest in recent decades. Nowhere is that contrast more pronounced than on climate change - which Trump largely dismissed - and the environment, where Trump and his deputies scaled back protections to benefit the fossil fuel industry.

Biden comes to office with a sense of urgency about climate change that is unmatched by any previous occupant of the White House, and he is installing throughout the government people who share his views. The regulations he is instructing agencies to review include a recent Labor Department rule preventing environmentally sustainable mutual funds from being default retirement investments and a Transportation Department regulation making it easier to transport liquefied natural gas by rail.

"At this moment of profound crisis, we have the opportunity to build a more resilient, sustainable economy, one that will put the United States on an irreversible path to achieve net-zero emissions economywide no later than 2050," McCarthy said.

That pledge came as welcome news to many in the international community, which has forged ahead with efforts to combat climate change in recent years without cooperation from the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

"The United States is such an important actor internationally. So this day today has been creating a lot of expectation everywhere," Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, said in an interview. "Very few generations have the opportunity to really influence a historical change in the way that humanity evolves. This is one of those moments. So it means a lot to have the U.S. back."

Although many of Biden's actions on Wednesday will take effect over time - the country will again formally become a party to the Paris agreement 30 days from now - his most immediate action will be to rescind the presidential permit Trump granted the Keystone XL pipeline to transport crude oil from Canada across the border into the United States. The project became a flash point for climate activists during the Obama administration, and Biden pledged during the campaign to block it.

Industry executives made it clear Wednesday that they were prepared to work with Biden but warned him against pushing to abolish fossil fuels.

The American Petroleum Institute's chief executive, Mike Sommers, said in a statement that though his members "support the ambitions of the Paris Agreement," the new administration should keep in mind "models show that this agreement between nations cannot be achieved without access to natural gas."

And he took issue with Biden's decision on the Keystone pipeline permit, saying, "Revoking the Keystone XL pipeline is a significant step backwards both for environmental progress and our economic recovery."

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, foreshadowed the opposition Biden's agenda could face in Congress. "In these next four years, it is imperative that Congress aggressively exercises oversight and pushes back on the worst impulses of Washington bureaucrats," she said.

Conservationists lauded the quick push to roll back so many of Trump's policies.

"Today we are feeling the first rays of hope after four dark years where racial violence and injustice, destruction of our environment and disdain for climate science became standard operating procedure for a government that was supposed to represent us all," said Jamie Williams, president of the Wilderness Society.

Dozens of steps that Biden began during his first hours in office will take months, if not longer, to complete.

He is instructing the EPA and the Transportation Department to strengthen fuel-efficiency standards for cars and light trucks, which Trump weakened. He asked two other departments - interior and commerce - to review the boundaries and protections Trump had scaled back for national monuments in Utah and off the coast of New England.

Biden can change the boundaries of a national monument with the stroke of a pen, and though U.S. automakers probably are willing to strike a deal with the new administration on more-ambitious gas-mileage standards for the nation's cars and pickup trucks, reversing other Trump policies will be more challenging.

Biden plans to impose a temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to caribou, polar bears and Indigenous people. On Tuesday, the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) signed and issued nine leases it auctioned earlier this month, spanning 437,804 acres on the refuge's coastal plain.

All but two of the new leases were won by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, an arm of the state government. The sale raised a total of about $14 million, less than 2% of what congressional Republicans projected when they opened the near-pristine reserve to drilling in 2017.

BLM Alaska Director Chad Padgett said Tuesday that the leases "reflect a solid commitment by both the state and industry to pursue responsible oil and gas development on the Alaska's North Slope."

In some instances, Biden is setting the stage for changes that will reverberate throughout the federal government. For instance, he will revive an interagency working group Trump disbanded in 2017 that sets the "social cost of carbon," an estimation of the economic damage caused by the release of a ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Policymakers factor this figure into the cost-and-benefit calculations they make on a host of issues, including permitting new oil wells and imposing stricter pollution controls on coal- and gas-fired power plants. Under the Obama administration's formula, the price per ton would now stand at $52, but Trump officials reduced it to between $1 and $7 per ton.

Many economists suggest that the Biden administration start at $125 per ton to better reflect new research on the economic damage of climate change and market realities.

"It is the one way you can uniformly incorporate the cost of climate change into decisions across all of government," Kevin Rennert, who directs the Social Cost of Carbon Initiative at the environmental think tank Resources for the Future, said in an interview.

Biden's environmental push on Day 1 far surpassed that of any other president, but only time will show how much of his agenda he can achieve - and how successfully he can rebuild the nation's image around the world, particularly when it comes to leading on climate action.

"Rejoining the Paris agreement is only the beginning, and the incoming administration appears to know this," Brandon Wu, director of policy and campaigns at ActionAid USA, said in an email. "In order to make truly meaningful progress towards global cooperation on climate, the Biden administration must follow up with concrete actions. There's simply no reason for other countries to trust our word if we fail, again, to act on our own emissions and use the significant resources at our disposal to support the world's most vulnerable countries."

OSCODA, MI - Michigans whole Dam Store is now on the market. You could be the next owner of this party store listed for $550,000.

The Dam Store, located at 1879 W. River Road, has been a staple for residents and visitors to Oscoda for decades. The party store offers gas, beer and wine, lottery tickets, bait and tackle and souvenirs.

Its appropriately named because the store is located a few minutes down the road from the Foote dam.

Its located right on the corner where you can get to the dam, so its in a really heavily-traveled area, said Amy Roznowski of Real Estate One.

The owner has been with the store since his family bought it in 1978. He says its time for a permanent vacation.

I want to retire. Ive been here for over 40 years and Im tired, Bob Lammi, owner of the Dam Store, told MLive. I know Im going to miss it, but I cant do it anymore. Im worn out.

Lammi says the store has been good to his family over the years and he hopes the next owner will continue its legacy.

Its been a great business for many years. The store has supported four families for 40 years. I would really like to see the next owner kind of run it like it is. They can make changes, of course, but this is pretty much a turn-key operation. Id even be willing to stay on to show the next people how to run the place.

Lammi says he remembers going to the Dam Store as a kid, long before his family purchased the place.

I remember my dad bringing us here in the early 60s. The store was smaller then and there was a lunch counter. I actually found the old food menus behind some ceiling panels. Ive been meaning to get them framed. Hot dogs, 30 cents. Chicken noodle soup, 25 cents. These menus are still up there above the ceiling panels. Its cool.

The liquor license is not included with the sale, so the next owner would have to obtain that. The inventory is also not included.

Heres a link to the Dam Store listing. For more information, you can contact Amy Roznowski with Real Estate One at 989-350-2002 or via email.

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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Married At First Sight star Cheryl Maitland has flaunted the results of her new veneers.

The 29-year-old proudly showed off her new pearly whites on Instagram, after getting 'no prep' veneers fitted - meaning her natural teeth remain underneath, should she ever want to remove them.

Besides a before and after picture of her new gnashers, Cheryl wrote: 'New Year calls for new teeth' - alongside a link to the Gold Coast venue where she got her new smile, which costs $4990.

Scroll down for video

Blinding! MAFS star Cheryl Maitland showed off the results of her new veneers on Wednesday - but was met with some criticism fromher followers

However, shortly after posting the photos, Cheryl was met with an abundance of comments from critics questioning her decision - with many saying they 'couldn't even notice' the difference between the two.

Speaking on her stories, the reality star bit back: 'I can tell the difference so that's all that matters.

'It's something I wanted done, and I'm so happy with the results.'

Happy: Beside a before and after picture of her new gnashers, Cheryl wrote: 'New Year calls for new teeth' - alongside a link to the Gold Coast venue where she got her new smile, with prices starting at $4990

Before and after: Cheryl then posted pictures before her new veneers and after - with some critics claiming they 'couldn't even notice' the difference between the two

Explaining why she decided to get the veneers, she added: 'I'm still adjusting on how to smile and speak, because my side teeth were so much smaller than my front teeth.

'Now it's all even, my mouth is still adjusting.

'They were 'no prep' veneers - I haven't even filed down or touched my natural teeth, which I love. But I probably will never go back to my natural teeth because I love these.

Biting back: Speaking on her stories, the reality star bit back: 'I can tell the difference so that's all that matters

Pre-veneer: Cheryl has always had lovely teeth, but wanted to get the procedure because her 'side teeth were so much smaller than her front teeth'. Taken in December 2019

'I'm crazy indecisive, so if I didn't like them I can always remove them and have my natural teeth, but I'm super happy with my results.'

On MAFS, Cheryl 'married' her on-screen husband Jonathan Troughton, but the pair didn't make it past the first commitment ceremony.

The Queensland beauty later met Melbourne plumber Dean Gibbs in March 2017 and the couple have been happily dating ever since.
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Alibaba Group Will Announce December Quarter 2020 Results on February 2, 2021

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA and HKEX: 9988, "Alibaba" or "Alibaba Group") today announced that it will report its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 before the U.S. market opens on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, and will hold a conference call to discuss the financial results at 7:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:30 p.m. Hong Kong Time) the same day.

Details of the conference call are as follows:

International: +65 6713 5330

U.S.: +1 347 549 4094

U.K.: +44 203 713 5084

Hong Kong: +852 3018 8307

China Landline: 800 820 2079

China Mobile (News - Alert) : 400 820 6895

Conference ID: 4649348 (English)

Conference ID: 1047169 (simultaneous interpretation in Chinese, listen only mode)

A live webcast of the earnings conference call can be accessed at https://www.alibabagroup.com/en/ir/earnings. An archived webcast will be available through the same link following the call. A replay of the conference call will be available for one week (dial-in number: +61 2 8199 0299; same conference ID as shown above).







Please visit Alibaba Group's Investor Relations website at https://www.alibabagroup.com/en/ir/home on February 2, 2021 to view the earnings release and accompanying slides prior to the conference call.

About Alibaba Group

Alibaba Group's mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company aims to build the future infrastructure of commerce. It envisions that its customers will meet, work and live at Alibaba, and that it will be a good company that lasts for 102 years.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005164/en/
Hitman 3 Keeps The Seven Deadly Sins Theme Going With 'Season of Pride' Next Week
Protesting farmers at the Singhu border here have started a facility for ironing washed garments to dry them faster as the natural process now takes longer than usual amid the cold weather in and around Delhi.

Sarvan Singh, whose livelihood as an auto-rickshaw driver in Amritsar took a hit as he is helping run the service for the protesting farmers, said it was necessary to be part of the movement even though his children want him back home.

"After the rains we realised that while the clothes were getting washed, they were taking really long to dry. So we thought getting a couple of irons would solve the problem," he said.

Singh arrived at the Singhu border protest site a week ago.

"This protest is for everybody, and I wanted to help in whatever way we can, so when we realised that there was a need for ironing facility, we decided to fill the gap," he added.

The service is being run from a stall at the protest site with three-four men working for over 10 hours daily in four-hour shifts.

Currently they have two irons and as many ironing tables, but they are hoping to get more. Power is supplied from an electricity tower located on the highway, right opposite where they have set shop.

"We have paid for these irons and tables from our own pockets, but it would help if we manage to get more supply," Sarvan Singh said.

He is joined in his shift by Sewa Singh from Ludhiana who actually irons clothes for a living back home.

"We get nearly 200-250 clothes in four hours," Sewa Singh said.

Asked if he was incurring losses in his business back home, the Ludhiana man said there was nothing more important than the protest.

"We are all farmers. Even though we do other jobs to make some income, we work on our fields too, and right now protecting that is our main objective.

"Right now, my brothers are taking care of the shop at home, while I am here," he said.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting on Delhi borders for almost two months against the Centre's three new farm laws enacted in September last year.

The farmers have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

The three farm laws have been projected by the central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector.
The shrewdest political maneuver of the 2020 election cycle may have been made by Lil Wayne.

On Oct. 29, the New Orleans-born rapper tweeted a picture of himself with President Donald Trump that was widely seen as an endorsement.

The president's reelection bid was unsuccessful, but the tweet apparently paid big dividends for Wayne anyway: late Tuesday night, he received one of several dozen presidential pardons issued by Trump in the final hours of his presidency.

Trump granted pardons to 73 individuals and commuted the sentences of 70 others, including rapper Kodak Black.

Wayne, 38, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28 after pleading guilty to a federal charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He faced up to 10 years behind bars.

But after midnight on the morning of Jan. 20  hours before Trump's term was set to end with the inauguration of Joe Biden  the White House press secretary released a list of everyone who had received a pardon or commutation, along with a description of each case.

The rationale behind Wayne's pardon was described in the document as follows:

"President Trump granted a full pardon to Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as 'Lil Wayne.' Mr. Carter pled guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, owing to a conviction over 10 years ago. Brett Berish of Sovereign Brands, who supports a pardon for Mr. Carter, describes him as 'trustworthy, kind-hearted and generous.' Mr. Carter has exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of foodbanks.

"Deion Sanders, who also wrote in support of this pardon, calls Mr. Wayne 'a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a natural giver to the less fortunate, a waymaker, [and] a game changer.'"

On Dec. 23, 2019, Miami police, acting on an anonymous tip, searched the private plane in which the rapper landed at Floridas Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.

They allegedly found a gold-plated .45-caliber Glock handgun and ammunition, as well as small amounts of cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, heroin, pain killers and prescription-strength cough syrup and more than $25,000 in cash.

Wayne wasnt charged with drug possession. The gun, he said, was a Fathers Day gift.

It was also a parole violation.

In 2009, he reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in New York and pled guilty to attempted weapon possession. The felony charge stemmed from a July 22, 2007 incident in which police in Manhattan pulled over his tour bus and allegedly observed him tossing aside a Louis Vuitton bag containing a .40-caliber handgun.

Wayne was then at the height of his career. His 2008 album Tha Carter III debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart and went on to become the best-selling album of the year. It won a Grammy Award for best rap album of 2008.

After pleading guilty, he reported to jail in early 2010 and served eight months at New Yorks Rikers Island before being released in November 2010.

As a convicted felon, Wayne is barred from bearing arms. After police found the golden gun on the plane with Wayne in December 2019, he found himself facing another felony charge.

In a photo included in Wayne's Oct. 29 tweet, he and Trump stand in front of a row of American flags, both smiling and flashing a thumbs-up. The color schemes of their respective attire matched: Trump wore a dark suit with a red tie while Wayne wore a dark sweater with red trim.

In the tweet, Wayne said he had met with Trump and then went on to praise his policies.

"Besides what hes done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership," said the tweet. "He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done."

According to the New York Times, Howard Srebnick, Waynes attorney, said last year after Wayne was charged in the golden gun caper that he was not aware of any attempt by the White House to intervene on Carters behalf in this case.

Various media reports have said that Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and adviser, was among those who lobbied the president to include Lil Wayne in the flurry of pardons.
Prosecutors in Washington also recommended that the office close its investigation into Walid Phares, a former Trump campaign adviser suspected of secretly working on behalf of the Egyptian government in the months before Mr. Trump took office to influence the incoming administration.

Michael R. Sherwin, the acting U.S. attorney in Washington, signed off on closing both of the cases on prosecutors recommendations, according to a person familiar with the investigations. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment.

The conclusion of Mr. Burrs case in particular brings to a close a remarkable and painful period for the Senate itself. Criminal investigations into lawmakers crop up from time to time, but rarely have so many been under scrutiny at once.

Though no one was ultimately criminally charged, news accounts of senators rush of money-saving stock transactions at a time when many Americans were badly hurting set off a debate in the halls of Congress and the campaign trail about conflicts of interest and the efficacy of lawmakers holding financial stakes in companies affected by their work. For an institution that already has dismally low public approval, the saga certainly did not help Congress.

With his name cleared, Mr. Burr could now try to reclaim the top committee post on intelligence or the Republican slot leading the Senates health committee.

Either choice could have a cascading effect on other committee assignments and shift the panels directions. If Mr. Burr moves to the health committee, it would leave Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, a conservative with national political ambitions and less of an appetite for bucking his party, as the top Republican on the intelligence committee. If Mr. Burr tries to return to that post, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, whose clashes with government health officials overseeing the pandemic response has alarmed many of his colleagues, would be next in line at the health committee.

Mr. Burr was one of five senators known to have been investigated by the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission for possible insider trading around the pandemics onset in the United States. Senators Kelly Loeffler, Republican of Georgia; James Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma; and Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, were all cleared in May. An investigation into Senator David Perdue, Republican of Georgia, expanded to include transactions worth more than $1 million in a financial company, where he once sat on the board, before it was closed in August.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  The Department of Health said Tuesday donated COVID-19 vaccines must first receive emergency use authorization from the drug regulator before shots can be given to people.

We will wait for the issuance of an EUA by the Philippine FDA before we accept and administer the donated vaccines. Same thing with vaccines that we will procure, the DOH said in a statement.

The DOH was reacting to the statement made by Food and Drug Administration Director General Rolando Domingo earlier in the day that it is up to the agency to whether they will accept and use the COVID-19 vaccines that China has promised to donate to the Philippines, noting they are legally allowed to do so. China has pledged half a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the country.

Desisyon po nila iyon kung tatanggapin nila at gagamitin nila, Domingo said in a briefing.

[Translation: It is up to DOH to decide whether they will accept the vaccines or not.]

Domingo explained the process is different for COVID-19 vaccines that are for procurement. He said manufacturers of these jabs are required to secure EUA from the FDA.

Pfizer is the only manufacturer that has so far received FDA's EUA for its anti-coronavirus shot. The company said in December that use of its vaccine has been authorized in over 40 countries, including the United States and the European Union.

The EUA application of British firm AstraZeneca, Russian company Gamaleya Research Institute and Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech are pending at the agency.

Domingo assured it will not give preferential treatment to Sinovacs EUA application even if China said it will give free vaccines to the country. He added they have not yet started evaluating Sinovacs EUA application as the company still needs to submit additional requirements, including data from its Phase 3 vaccine trials. Phase 3 trial is a crucial stage where thousands of people are injected with a vaccine to test its safety and efficacy.

Ito po talaga ang pinagbabasehan natin doon sa parte ng safety and efficacy. Without it, talagang hindi po natin siyang kayang ievaluate, Domingo said of Phase 3 clinical trial data.

[Translation: We mainly based the safety and efficacy of vaccine on Phase 3 clinical trial data. Without it, we cannot evaluate their application.]

Sinovac vaccine is being rolled out in countries including Indonesia and Turkey. Late-stage trials in Brazil showed that the efficacy rate of Sinovacs CoronaVac shot was 50.38%, lower than that of the other frontrunners. Vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, for example, have an efficacy rate of about 95%.

The Philippines earlier said it secured 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Sinovac this year, with the first 50,000 shots to be available as early as February. But government officials later clarified this deal is not final until the Sinovac vaccine is approved for emergency use.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-19 23:33:52|Editor: huaxia

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SHIJIAZHUANG, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has inspected north China's Hebei Province, urging swift and resolute actions in curbing the recent resurgence of COVID-19 at several locations in the province.

Sun made the inspection tour to Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital, from Jan. 15 to 18, and visited various locations, including local communities, an elderly care institution, a quarantine site, and a hospital, among others.

At conferences, Sun listened to reports on the current epidemic control situation of several cities in the province, as well as professional opinions from experts.

Sun called on relevant departments and personnel to tighten the control over traffic flow at key locations in and around the province and conduct nucleic acid tests more frequently in medium and high-risk areas. Local communities should also advise residents against gathering. Enditem
New Jersey officials will launch a call center next week to assist people without a computer in making an appointment to receive a coronavirus vaccine.

Live agents will staff the center  which can be reached at 855-568-0545 when it opens for business on Monday.

It will have an interactive voice response platform in both English ad Spanish that provides key information to New Jersey residents on how to register (for a vaccine) as well as how to schedule vaccination appointments as people become eligible, state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said Wednesday.

Currently, New Jerseyans are asked use an online portal to register to get a vaccine. When the user is eligible, they should receive an email from the state with a link to choose a vaccination location and set an appointment.

A week ago, Gov. Phil Murphy opened up vaccine eligibility in New Jersey to more than 4 million residents, setting people off on a frenzied search for an appointment.

But as of Thursday the state had only received 658,800 doses and people have had to jockey for a coveted vaccine appointment. The huge demand, coupled with little supply and few available appointments, has left many frustrated as they try to navigate a complex and chaotic system.

At least 407,064 have been vaccinated in New Jersey as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, with 359,617 of those first doses.

As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, there were 3,547 patients in the states 71 hospitals with the coronavirus or a case under investigation, an increase of 41 from the previous 24 hour-period.

There were 635 receiving critical care and 432 patients on ventilators.

Murphy on Tuesday disclosed 3,761 more COVID-19 cases and 54 additional deaths though he didnt detail when they occurred.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

Heres a roundup of the latest coronavirus news in New Jersey and elsewhere:

Officials sound alarm over wave of COVID vaccine, stimulus check scams: Authorities on Tuesday warned of a wave of scams that use bogus claims of offering coronavirus vaccines and COVID-19 stimulus payments to swindle unsuspecting victims.

In some of the scams targeting senior citizens, con artists promise early access to the coronavirus vaccine in return for money, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni. The fraudsters pose as doctors, insurance companies or other medical facilities with calls that falsely claim a vaccine can be shipped and ask for various personal information to falsely check if a victim can qualify for the shot.

More N.J. schools switching back to in-person or hybrid learning after holidays: More New Jersey students are heading back into classrooms after an increase in all-remote learning before and shortly after the holidays.

As of the end of last week, there were 80 districts with full in-person instruction classes, up from 77 on Jan. 4.

Another 360 districts were offering a hybrid of in-person and remote classes (up from 348), 325 were all-remote (down from 339), and 46 were using a mix remote, in-person, and hybrid learning (down from 47).

Coronavirus closes two more MVC agencies: Two more state Motor Vehicle Commission agencies closed Tuesday after employees tested positive for the coronavirus at each location, bringing the statewide total to seven agencies shut down.

Both the Randolph and Edison Licensing Centers closed Tuesday afternoon, an MVC spokesmen said.

Dozens turned away from N.J. COVID vaccination site after scheduling website glitch: A hospital website glitch over the weekend resulted in dozens of people being turned away from a coronavirus vaccination site in Bergen County on Monday, officials said.

A disruption in the link of Holy Name Medical Centers COVID-19 vaccine registration site allowed people to get most of the way through registration on Sunday  even though appointments had already been booked, according to Teaneck Township Manager Dean Kazinci.

N.J.s coronavirus public-health emergency extended for 11th time: Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday hes extending New Jerseys public-health emergency over the coronavirus pandemic for the 11th time as the state continues to deal with thousands of new cases reported daily.

Murphy signed an executive order extending the declaration another 30 days, running through late January. The order expires after 30 days if it is not extended.

The order gives Murphy the power to keep taking executive action to fight COVID-19s spread. It does not reverse any of the steps the governor has taken to reopen the state or institute any new restrictions, but it does keep the states current restrictions in place.

U.S. cases: At least 401,777 of the approximately 24.2 million to test positive for the coronavirus in the U.S. have died as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Worldwide cases: As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, the coronavirus has led to at least 2,059,921 million deaths associated with the virus in 191 counties, according to the center. More than 96.2 million have been infected since the outbreak started in December 2019. At least 53.1 million have recovered.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Noah Cohen, Brent Johnson, Larry Higgs, Karin Price Mueller and Chris Sheldon, contributed to this report.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.
The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A team of researchers at Colorado State University has designed an AI system to train a dog to obey certain oral commands without human assistance. In their paper uploaded to the arXiv preprint server, the researchers describe the technology that was used to build the system and how well it worked when tested.

Training dogs to obey commands is a skill that humans have to learnmost such training is reward-reinforcement based. A dog is given a treat when it obeys a command but receives nothing when it does not. In this new effort, the researchers in Colorado wondered if it might be possible to create a computer system that could be used to train dogs. To find out, they created an artificial-intelligence-based computer system called the Nvidia Jetson Nano. The system has both hardware and software dedicated to the task of dog training. It consists of AI software, a video camera, a speaker for delivery of commands and a treat dispenser.

The system works by first confirming that the dog is present, if so, it plays a command such as lie down, stand or sit. The camera then records the dogs' reaction to the command. From the video, the AI software can recognize certain dog behaviors such as lying down, or sitting. The AI system then compares the real-time imagery of the dog with training data and decides whether or not the dog has complied with the command (it must sit, stand or lie down for a predetermined amount of time). If the dog has complied, a treat is dispensedif not, no treat is given. Testing of the system showed it to be 92% accurate.

The researchers point out that the prototype they built was completely independent of other systems, so the command list had to be short. They suggest a more powerful system could that relies on remote processing would allow for expanding the number of commands. They also note that they are looking into the possibility of commercializing their system to allow people to train their dogs when they are not even home.

More information: Jason Stock, Tom Cavey. Who's a Good Boy? Reinforcing Canine Behavior in Real-Time using Machine Learning arXiv:2101.02380v2 [cs.CV] Jason Stock, Tom Cavey. Who's a Good Boy? Reinforcing Canine Behavior in Real-Time using Machine Learning arXiv:2101.02380v2 [cs.CV] arxiv.org/abs/2101.02380

 2021 Science X Network
(HealthDay)The tragic milestone was reached before a COVID-19 memorial service began in the nation's capital Tuesday evening: More than 400,000 Americans have now died from the new coronavirus.

"To heal, we must remember," President-elect Joe Biden said during the lighted vigil for coronavirus victims at the Lincoln Memorial. "And it's hard sometimes to remember. But that's how we heal. It's important to do that as a nation. That's why we're here today."

His words came as a chaotic U.S. vaccine rollout seeks to gather steam amid the discovery of new COVID-19 variants that might eventually threaten the efficacy of those vaccines.

Most troubling is a variant that first surfaced in South Africa but hasn't yet been spotted in the United States. A new lab study suggests someone might be able to get infected with the South African variant even if they've had COVID-19 before or have been vaccinated.

"I think we should be alarmed," senior study author Penny Moore, an associate professor at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa, told CNN. Her team's results were published on the preprint server BioRxiv, and have not been peer-reviewed yet.

"Based on Penny's data, it's likely that the vaccine is going to be somewhat less effective, but how much less effective we don't know," David Montefiori, a virologist at Duke University Medical Center, told CNN. "This is the first time I've been concerned about a variant partially evading the immune response and partially evading the vaccine."

Both experts stressed that people should still get the vaccine. It's extremely effective against other forms of the virus, and they think it likely will still give some level of protection against the new variant.

In the study, Moore and her colleagues took blood from 44 people who'd already had COVID-19. Nearly all of their cases were confirmed to have occurred prior to September, before the variant was spotted in South Africa.

The researchers then looked to see whether their antibodies would fight off the new variant.

For about half of the 44 people, their antibodies were powerless against the new variant.

"We saw a knockout," Moore said. "It was a scary result."

For the other half, the antibody response was weakened, but not totally knocked out.

The analysis showed that the strongest antibody response was from those who had suffered more severe cases of COVID-19. The culprits were mutations in two different parts of the spikes that sit atop the coronavirus. The vaccines work by targeting those spikes.

"It was a two-armed escape from the immune system," Moore told CNN.

Her team is now gathering blood from people who've been vaccinated to see if their antibodies can fight off the new variant.

"I think the data on people with prior infection raises all kinds of red flags for the vaccines," she said. "We have to test it to find out."

Still, it may not be time to panic: Montefiori thinks the vaccine will likely take a hitbut probably not a huge one.

"We have to remember, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 95% effectivethat's an extraordinary level of efficacy," Montefiori said. "If it reduces to 90, 80, 70% effective, that is still very, very good and likely to have a major impact on the pandemic."

Biden details massive vaccination effort

President-elect Joe Biden has unveiled an ambitious national vaccination plan that will deliver coronavirus vaccines to far more people and invoke a wartime law to boost vaccine production.

He pledged to ramp up vaccination availability in pharmacies, build mobile clinics to get vaccines to underserved rural and urban communities and encourage states to expand vaccine eligibility to people 65 and older, The New York Times reported. Biden also vowed to make racial equity a priority in fighting a virus that has disproportionately infected and killed minorities.

"Our plan is as clear as it is bold: get more people vaccinated for free, create more places for them to get vaccinated, mobilize more medical teams to get the shots in people's arms, increase supply and get it out the door as soon as possible," he said. "You have my word we will manage the hell out of this operation."

But Biden faces a stark reality: With only two federally authorized vaccines in circulation, supplies will likely be limited for the next several months.

Even if Biden invokes the Korean War-era Defense Production Act, it may take some time to ease vaccine shortages. The law has been invoked already, to important but limited effect, the Times reported. Biden has promised to build mass vaccination sites and develop new programs to serve high-risk people, including the developmentally disabled and those in jail. But those promises will only be achieved if there are vaccines available.

"It won't mean that everyone in this group will get vaccinated immediately, as the supply is not where it needs to be," Biden conceded. But as new doses become available, he promised, "we'll reach more people who need them."

The vaccine distribution plan comes one day after Biden proposed a $1.9 trillion pandemic "rescue" package that includes $20 billion for the vaccine effort. Biden has said repeatedly that he intends to get "100 million COVID vaccine shots into the arms of the American people" by his 100th day in office.

As of Wednesday, nearly 15.7 million Americans had been vaccinated while over 31 million doses have been distributed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Just over 2 million people have received their second shot.

A global scourge

By Wednesday, the U.S. coronavirus case count passed 24.3 million while the death toll passed 401,800, according to a Times tally. On Wednesday, the top five states for coronavirus infections were: California with nearly 3.1 million cases; Texas with almost 2.2 million cases; Florida with nearly 1.6 million cases; New York with close to 1.3 million cases; and Illinois with almost 1.1 million cases.

Curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the rest of the world remains challenging.

In India, the coronavirus case count was over 10.6 million by Wednesday, a Johns Hopkins University tally showed. Brazil had nearly 8.6 million cases and over 211,400 deaths as of Wednesday, the Hopkins tally showed.

Worldwide, the number of reported infections passed 96.3 million on Wednesday, with over 2 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.
Luxury footwear pioneer Professor Jimmy Choo OBE has announced he is launching a 18,000-a-year fashion academy in London.

The fashion designer, 72, will open the doors of the JCA | London Fashion Academy in Mayfair this September, which is on track to become the UK's newest university exclusively dedicated to fashion.

A group of 100 students will study fashion design and entrepreneurship at three levels, foundation diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate, with Jimmy acting as a hands-on guide for the aspiring designers.

Speaking with The Times, he explained: 'London is still home to me, so I'll be in and out. I want to see what they're doing. I want to talk to them, to make sure they come to the academy to study, not because they want to be famous.'

Luxury footwear pioneer Professor Jimmy Choo OBE, 72, has announced he is launching a 18,000-a-year fashion academy in London

The fashion designer revealed the idea of him launching a school came from his children, and said he had been working on the plans for several years.

The idea of the project has kept the 72-year-old busy during the Covid-19 crisis while he has been locked down in his second home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and his wife and family are living in London.

He said he had noticed many designers 'do not know about business', saying: 'My vision for the academy is to teach them my knowledge for design, but also to have a business mind as well.'

He said he had learned his business skills 'slowly' over 'years and years', adding: 'The Chinese always say, "When you drink water, think about where the water came from".'

The Academy's courses combine the latest teachings in contemporary design with the entrepreneurial skills required to set-up and drive successful fashion brands of the future

The Academy's courses combine the latest teachings in contemporary design with the entrepreneurial skills required to set-up and drive successful fashion brands of the future.

Jimmy plans to help nurture students into emerging professional designers through a mentored approach.

The pupils will be provided with a level of access to internationally recognised design leaders unrivalled by traditional colleges and universities.

He explained: 'The Academy has been years in planning, so we are delighted to be opening its doors this September.

Jimmy Choo's brand is beloved by celebrities and royals alike, with the Duchess of Sussex and Duchess of Cambridge regularly stepping out in shoes by the designer

'London is a global fashion hub and has created many of the world's most exciting and ground-breaking designers.

'Rarely though do these designers leave higher education armed with the combined knowledge, skills and resources needed to create, launch and build brands successfully on the global stage.

'The Academy will help bridge those gaps and truly nurture internationally-focused and highly entrepreneurial design talent.'

THE JIMMY CHOO JOURNEY Jimmy Choo Ltd was founded in 1996 by Tamara Mellon, then British Vogue's accessories editor, and Malaysian couture cobbler Jimmy Choo, who ran a successful but small business in the East End of London. Mellon secured a 150,000 loan from her father, businessman Tom Yeardye, to go into business with Choo, with the first products sold under the Jimmy Choo London line. The brand was immortalised in the TV show Sex and the City, when Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie revealed it was her favourite store. In April 2001 Mr Choo sold his share in the ready-to-wear business to Equinox Luxury Holdings Ltd. He now runs a London atelier under the name Jimmy Choo's shoes, and is in the process of setting up a shoe-making institute in Malaysia. Lion Capital acquired a majority shareholding in Jimmy Choo Ltd in November 2004. The company was sold in 2007 to TowerBrook Capital Partners for 225 million, with Mellon retaining a number of shares. In 2010, Mellon was awarded the OBE for her services to business. It was later sold to Labelux, the current owners, for 525.5 million in 2011 with J.Choo Limited remaining the company name throughout. Mellon agreed to stay on in a creative consultancy role but severed all ties in 2011. Advertisement

The JCA | London Fashion Academy has curated a syllabus inspired by Professor Jimmy Choo's experiences in building his own luxury super-brand as well as the multi-faceted skill sets which fashion designers increasingly need in today's ultra-competitive multi-channel global landscape.

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: 'It is brilliant to see new exciting and innovative institutions expanding the boundaries of higher education as a result of Government reforms.

'It is vital that students gain the practical skills and hands-on experience that employers and industries need and the JCA's revolutionary approach can help students hit the ground running into a successful career.'
Three men appeared before Trim District Court this morning after gardai discovered two stolen vehicles in a chop shop scrapyard in Crossakiel, Co Meath.

The three had been arrested earlier and detained by gardai in Kells Garda Station following a search of the premises yesterday.

Detectives from Navan with the assistance of officers from Kells carried out the search of the scrapyard under warrant and identified two vehicles that had previously been reported stolen.

The Stolen Motor Vehicle Investigation Unit were called in and assisted Scenes of Crime Unit Meath with an examination of the scene and the motor vehicle parts found at the site.

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Three men were arrested and conveyed to Kells Garda Station where they were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, gardai said.

The three men have been charged and are scheduled to appear before Trim District Court this morning."

Gardai added that this particular investigation is ongoing.
Day care shortage creates barriers for working parents

With a labor shortage plaguing the state, working parents are ready to fill these positions. The lack of childcare options creates barriers.
Highlights YouTube on Tuesday announced that it is extending the ban on Donald Trumps YouTube channel.

The company said that it will extend the week-long suspension ahead of Joe Bidens swearing in ceremony

Trump was debarred from the social media handles including Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat for encouraging the Capitol Hill rioters.

Google-owned music platform YouTube on Tuesday announced that it is extending the ban on Donald Trump's YouTube channel. The company said that it will extend the week-long suspension ahead of Joe Biden's swearing in ceremony due to the potential for inciting violence. Trump was debarred from the social media handles including Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat for encouraging the Capitol Hill rioters.

"In light of concerns about the ongoing potential for violence, the Donald J. Trump channel will be prevented from uploading new videos or live streams for an additional minimum of seven days. As we shared previously, comments will continue to be indefinitely disabled under videos from the channel," YouTube told AFP inquiry.

YouTube had suspended Trump's channel for seven days and removed a video for violating its guidelines. "After review, and in light of concerns about the ongoing potential for violence, we removed new content uploaded to Donald J. Trump's channel for violating our policies. It now has its 1st strike & is temporarily prevented from uploading new content for a *minimum* of 7 days," said YouTube had said in a statement. The Google-owned platform had also disabled comment section on the channel

Earlier this week, Snapchat had permanently banned Trump's account. The company had earlier suspended his account indefinitely but the ban was later made permanent. Announcing the Trump, Snapchat said in a statement, "Last week we announced an indefinite suspension of President Trump's Snapchat account, and have been assessing what long term action is in the best interest of our Snapchat community. In the interest of public safety, and based on his attempts to spread misinformation, hate speech, and incite violence, which are clear violations of our guidelines, we have made the decision to permanently terminate his account."In 2020, Snap had spotted promoting Trump's video in the Discover Feed.

Trump's accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Reddit were blocked indefinitely after the president was found violating community guidelines. It was found that Trump in his videos had hailed the rioters who invaded the Capitol Building when Biden was being certified as the US President. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg during a conference revealed that the social media giant has no plans to lift the Trump ban. She said the policies of the company are above the US President. In the Reuters Next conference, Sandberg said that she was happy that Facebook banned Donald Trump's Facebook account.
Two men have been convicted for smuggling cash out of the United States, according to court documents.

Manuel Ramirez-Linares and Juan Manuel Herrera-Gonzalez pleaded guilty on Sept. 25 to bulk cash smuggling. Ramirez-Linares also pleaded guilty to smuggling a firearm out of the country.

On Jan. 11, Ramirez-Linares was sentenced to eight months in prison while Herrera-Gonzalez was given time served.

Ramirez-Linares attempted to exit the country on April 29 via the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. He declared he had no weapons, ammo or more than $10,000 in cash. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers referred him to secondary inspection.

CBP officers then found a Ruger .45 caliber pistol and 140 rounds of .45 caliber ammo hidden in the center console. He claimed ownership of the gun and ammo, according to court documents.

He also admitted that he knew it was illegal to export guns into Mexico and that he does not have a license to export firearms, states his plea agreement.

Ramirez-Linares also admitted that he attempted to exit the country via the same bridge on July 16 as part of a convoy that included Herrera-Gonzalez and a third driver. All three were referred to secondary inspection.

CBP officers said they discovered $3,000 and 98,300 Mexican pesos on Ramirez-Linares, $9,060 on Herrera-Gonzalez and $3,000 on the third driver. Overall, CBP officers seized $15,060 and 98,300 Mexican pesos, or about $4,915, according to the agreement.

(Ramirez-Linares) admitted that the money found on the three men comes from the business that he runs with Juan Manuel Herrera-Gonzalez. He also admitted that he knows about the reporting requirement, and when he comes to the border, he distributes the money to members of the convoy to avoid reporting that he has more than $10,000 states the agreement.
A prehistoric reptile that roamed the coasts of Africa 66 million years ago had deadly shark-like teeth that could cut a fish in half with one bite, a study has revealed.

Researchers have discovered the fossilised remains of a new species of mosasaur - an ancient sea lizard from the age of the dinosaurs.

This particular species was found to have shark-like teeth that gave it a deadly slicing bite.

The discovery adds to the diversity of marine reptiles in the late Cretaceous period, and suggests their diversity peaked just before the dinosaur-killing asteroid hit 66 million years ago, according to the researchers.

Researchers have discovered the fossilised remains of a new species of mosasaur - an ancient sea lizard from the age of the dinosaurs

WHAT WAS XENODENS CALMINECHARI? Xenodens calminechari was a species of mosasaur that lived off the coast of Morocco 66 million years ago. This particular species was found to have shark-like teeth that gave it a deadly slicing bite. While the sea lizard was only the same size as a small porpoise, its cutting teeth would have allowed it to attack large fish, cutting them in half and taking large bites. Advertisement

The fossilised remains of the new species, called Xenodens calminechari, were discovered in the Maastrichtian Phosphates of Morocco by researchers from the University of Bath.

Dr Nick Longrich, Senior Lecturer at the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath and lead author of the study, said: '66 million years ago, the coasts of Africa were the most dangerous seas in the world.

'Predator diversity there was unlike anything seen anywhere else on the planet.

'The new mosasaur adds to a rapidly growing list of marine reptiles known from the latest Cretaceous of Morocco, which at the time was submerged beneath a tropical sea.

'A huge diversity of mosasaurs lived here. Some were giant, deep-diving predators like modern sperm whales, others with huge teeth and growing up to ten meters long, were top predators like orcas, still others ate shellfish like modern sea otters - and then there was the strange little Xenodens.

'They coexisted with long-necked plesiosaurs, giant sea turtles, and saber-toothed fish.

While the sea lizard was only the same size as a small porpoise, its cutting teeth would have allowed it to attack large fish, cutting them in half and taking large bites

'The new mosasaur adds another dangerous predator to the mix.'

While the sea lizard was only the same size as a small porpoise, its cutting teeth would have allowed it to punch above its weight, cutting fish in half and taking large bites from bigger animals.

'They're like the knives sold on those old late night TV commercial- they'll slice through anything,' said Dr Longrich.

Mosasaurs lived alongside dinosaurs before the asteroid struck and wiped out 90 per cent of all species on Earth.

A reconstruction of its skull reveals that its teeth were tightly packed, creating a serrated-like effect

However, the new study indicates that the ecosystem wasn't in decline before the asteroid hit, and instead it's likely that marine reptiles were actually expanding in diversity.

Dr Nour-Eddine Jalil of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and Universite Cadi Ayyad in Marrakech, said: 'A mosasaur with shark teeth is a novel adaptation of mosasaurs so surprising that it looked like a fantastic creature out of an artist's imagination.

'Xenodens calminechari is further evidence of the extraordinary paleobiodiversity of the Phosphate Sea.

'It is as if nature is struggling to find all the combinations for an ever finer exploitation of food sources.'
The Park World Excellence Awards were launched by Datateam Business Media, publisher of British theme park magazine Park World, in 2018 to celebrate Europe's most outstanding parks, projects, rides and attractions. This year, the ceremony took place as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The online Park World Excellence Awards ceremony was hosted on the dedicated awards website on Tuesday, 8 December 2020.

In 2018, Glassy, Polin's new transparent composite, was officially previewed at a number of industry trade shows, including the IAAPA Expo in Orlando. As a result of Polin's dedication to innovation, the industry now has its first fully transparent composite waterslide, satisfying the need for a premium quality, function, and price-advantaged solution compared to the transparent acrylic components that most ride manufacturers typically use.

In the middle of the COVID pandemic, Polin Waterparks worked on installations at many parks worldwide, including the one featuring this ground-breaking innovation. Now, as of July 2020, the world's first fully transparent composite Looping Rocket waterslide can be found at Candyland Waterpark, Vogue Hotel, in Bodrum, Turkey.

The Looping Rocket is a high-adrenaline ride that, with the fully transparent Glassy option, becomes even more intense. Riders can expect one of the highest and most adrenaline-filled drops possible to experience.

During the Park World Excellence Awards, Polin Waterparks was nominated in several categories, with its Glassy Looping Rocket ultimately being recognized as winner of the Best Product Innovation Award. Park World isn't the only entity to recognize the uniqueness of Polin's Glassy Looping Rocket, however. Last month, Kirmes & Park Revue magazine awarded the Glassy Looping Rocket as among "Europe's Best New Water Slides."

Polin's Director of Marketing and Communications, Sohret Pakis, said that receiving the award was a great honor for the company.

"Polin Waterparks would like to thank all award-jury members for their support, and we are so proud that they chose to bestow this distinction on our newest innovation. We believe the Glassy Looping Rocket is a breakthrough for the entire aquatics industry, and for it to already be receiving awards simply makes us that much prouder," she noted.

Pakis added that she has been impressed with how quickly the Park World awards have gained esteem within the theme park and aquatic-attractions industry since their inception. "The prestigious acclaim that this award has already risen to makes it that much more important to our company in having received this honor," she said. "We are so happy to be included among the industry's best, and we congratulate all the winners."

Being a trendsetter in the aquatics industry

As an official R&D center and a pioneer in the field of innovative advancement and application of closed-molded manufacturing technology in waterslide development, Polin Waterparks continues to focus on innovation in composite manufacturing technologies.

The core of Polin Waterpark's R&D strategy is its concentration on financial, customer and process perspectives with particular emphasis on learning, dissemination and innovation. Polin proved its dedication to these aspects of R&D when the company pioneered the advancement and application of light resin transfer molding (LRTM) in waterslide manufacturing. In 2006, it converted 100 percent of its fiberglass production to LRTM, a first in the aquatic-attractions industry.

This development raised the bar for the entire waterpark industry. Since then, Polin has regularly introduced new innovations, including the development of special lighting effects, patterned and transparent composite, sound-integrated components, wooden and metallic finishes, three-dimensional waterslides and unique slide designs.

More on Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976 and has since grown into a leading company in the waterparks industry. Today Polin is a world leader in the design, production and installation of water parks and water-play attractions. Polin has completed 3,500 waterpark projects in 109 countries around the world and is the biggest waterslide supplier in Eurasia. Working with a wide variety of clients has helped Polin reach several milestones including installing the first waterparks in many countries and many other award-winning rides at parks with world-renowned reputations.

For more info, visit www.polin.com.tr or contact Sohret Pakis at +90 262 656 64 67 or [email protected] .

Polin Waterparks is a Polin Group Company

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423483/Polin_Waterparks_GLR.jpg

SOURCE Polin Waterparks
Stephen Page, artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, descendent of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh Nation, and lifelong storyteller, is sitting on the headland at Barangaroo Reserve. Behind him, stage technicians are resetting Sydney Festival's open air stage, accompanied by the 'one TWO, one TWO' of a soundcheck. In front of him, the harbour.

"Down here at Barangaroo you just sit here in the reserve by the water, and you look out at Goat Island, which is the island that Barangaroo and Bennelong were married on," Page says. "You start to think about these public spaces and how we can reclaim them from a black perspective, allowing this consciousness for the future, to be fed to the next generation."

Bangarra dancers Kiarn Doyle, Bradley Smith and Rika Hamaguchi rehearsing at Barangaroo ahead of Wednesday's performance. Credit:James Brickwood

Page will bring his own piece of black history to Barangaroo on Wednesday night when, after a 10-month-long hiatus due to COVID-19, Bangarra returns to the stage with Spirit: a retrospective 2021.

A collection of work from across Bangarra's three decades of story-telling, Spirit is set to a haunting score by David Page and Steve Francis. Vignettes from recent works, such as the 2016 show Nyapanyapa, which is inspired by the paintings of Yirrkala artist Nyapanyapa Yunupingu, contrast with the ground-breaking Ochres, first created in 1991. Bush (2003) takes us to North East Arnhem Land, while an excerpt from Walkabout (2002) explores the tensions between the spiritual and social forces that shape Indigenous life.
A round-up of Friday's stories regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK

The current ramp-up of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in the UK may see all over-50s receive the first dose by the end of March.

The government is gearing up to more than double the rollout to half a million inoculations every day.

According to The Times, Whitehall is increasingly confident all 32mln people aged 50 and over will be covered by mid to late March.

We have the supply coming in, a source told the paper. Once we get to the over-60s things will speed up dramatically and distribute at scale through pharmacies.

Meanwhile, Scotland looks to administer 3.8mln jabs next week alone, while the whole of the UK has reached 3mln so far.

The current daily rate is 248,000 vaccinations.

London to receive more jabs

Following the publication of regional figures, it emerged that nearly half of over-80s in the North East & Yorkshire had received one dose, compared to 30% in London.

The capitals mayor Sadiq Khan initially said he was hugely concerned that Londoners were given only a tenth of all jabs.

He then met with vaccines deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi on Thursday night to discuss the situation, where it is understood the government set out to solve the issue.

Over the next two weeks the Department of Health is promising a very significant escalation and uptick, the Evening Standard was told.

The news that the Government has listened and will be scaling up the vaccine supply and rollout across London is welcome.



The situation in London remains critical. If one of your family members is offered the vaccine, please encourage them to take it. https://t.co/VztSQF4vl2  Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 15, 2021

It has been calculated that one in 44 Londoners currently has COVID-19, which is the highest infection rate in the country.

Ban on travellers over Brazilian strain

Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps announced ban arrivals from Portugal and 15 countries in South America after a new strain of the virus emerged in Brazil.

Portugal was blacklisted due to its strong travel links with the South American country, though there is an exemption for hauliers to allow transport of essential goods.

This measure does not apply to British and Irish Nationals and third country nationals with residence rights though they must self-isolate for ten days on arrival.

Aruba, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, Chile, Qatar, Madeira and the Azores were also removed from the travel corridor list, meaning inbound travellers must also quarantine for ten days.
(Newser)  Joe Biden said an emotional farewell to his Delaware hometown Tuesday before departing for Washington, DC. When he next visits Wilmington, he will be President Biden. The president-elect spoke at a National Guard center named after son Beau Biden, who died from brain cancer in 2015, the Guardian reports. A tearful Biden said his one regret was the absence of Beau. "We should be introducing him as president," said Biden, who told the socially distanced crowd that he'll "always be a proud son of the state of Delaware." With his planned Amtrak ride to Washington nixed due to security concerns after the Capitol riot, Biden flew into Joint Base Andrews. He has invited congressional leaders to join him for Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral before his inauguration Wednesday.

story continues below

After Biden arrived in a heavily secured Washington, DC, he took part in a somber sunset ceremony mourning coronavirus victims, the AP reports. The pandemic's US death toll reached 400,000 Tuesday, and there were 400 lights representing victims at the ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. "To heal we must remember," Biden said. " Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights into the darkness ... and remember all who we lost." Vice-president elect Kamala Harris also delivered remarks, saying her "abiding hope" is that "we emerge from this ordeal with a new wisdom: to cherish simple moments, to imagine new possibilities and to open our hearts just a little bit more to one another." CNN reports that hundreds of towns and cities across the US joined the tribute. (Read more Joe Biden stories.)

WASHINGTON - U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams resigned at President-elect Joe Biden's request on Wednesday, as the incoming president sought to make a symbolic break with his predecessor's covid-19 response.

"Thank you for the opportunity to serve this great Nation, as this has been the honor of my life," Adams wrote in a departure note posted to Facebook. " . . . I hope in 2021 and beyond, we can focus more on what unites us, and rise above what divides us."

The Washington Post first reported that Biden was planning to ask for Adams' resignation on Wednesday. Adams, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, was sworn in as surgeon general on Sept. 5, 2017, to serve the office's standard four-year term, which was set to expire this September.

The anesthesiologist and former Indiana health commissioner - a political independent who crafted a close relationship with then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence - had emerged as a key spokesman for Trump's coronavirus response, regularly appearing on national TV and using social media to advocate for public health measures such as social distancing. However, Adams's visibility also made him a target last spring for Democrats, who accused him of defending Trump's statements.

Biden has nominated Vivek H. Murthy, surgeon general under President Barack Obama and a close adviser of the president-elect, to be the nation's new surgeon general, but Murthy first needs to undergo Senate confirmation hearings, which have yet to be scheduled.Three people with knowledge of the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it said the incoming Biden administration would choose an acting surgeon general as soon as Wednesday, bypassing Deputy Surgeon General Erica Schwartz, a career civil servant.

Schwartz, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps who had served as the Department of Health and Human Services' point person for the transition between the Trump and Biden administrations, is planning to retire as a result of being passed over, the people said.

Reached by The Washington Post, Adams declined to comment. Schwartz did not respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Biden referred to Murthy's pending nomination as surgeon general.

A top Trump administration official told The Post that Schwartz is retiring.

"RADM Erica Schwartz, a career HHS official, served our country with honor and distinction for more than two decades," said Adm. Brett Giroir, HHS assistant secretary for health. "It is unfortunate that the American people will no longer have her expertise and dedication as we continue to battle the covid-19 pandemic and prepare the Commissioned Corps for 21st- century challenges."

A person with knowledge of HHS Secretary Alex Azar's thinking said the outgoing secretary was "extremely disappointed" that Schwartz had been bypassed for the role, given her "hundreds of hours of work" on the transition.

Often referred to as the "nation's doctor," the surgeon general has a bully pulpit to call attention to serious public health problems, but limited ability to make policy. He or she oversees the U.S. Public Health Service, more than 6,000 uniformed public health personnel who work in various parts of the federal government.

Some surgeon generals have served across multiple administrations, including David Satcher, who served out a four-year term that began under President Bill Clinton and ended under President George W. Bush.

However, Trump in April 2017 dismissed then-Surgeon General Murthy - an Obama appointee - in the third year of Murthy's term, drawing the ire of Democrats.

"The Surgeon General must remain independent and free from political pressure," seven Senate Democrats wrote to the White House in May 2017, after Murthy was abruptly pushed out.
CHATHAM, Ontario, Dec. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AGRIS Co-operative board President John Nooyen announced today that the co-operative is giving back to the communities in which they serve with a $10,000 donation to the Salvation Armys Red Kettle campaign.



It is important to the AGRIS board of directors that the money raised stays in the communities in which it is given, and the $10,000 donation will be dispersed equally across the Salvation Army zones that are located in our trading area.

Jim Anderson, AGRIS ownership committee chair, stated, The board did not hesitate when wanting to give back to the communities where we farm, work and raise our families. This year especially because of COVID-19, we knew people were having a tough time, and we wanted to help.

AGRIS Co-op, despite the pandemic, had a good year. In March the company was ready with warehouses full of the products needed for farmers to get seeds into the ground. There was no time to waste and AGRIS being farmer-owned, knew the consequences of what COVID-19 could mean to food production. As farming goes, pandemic or not, theres no stopping the planting season. Farmers must do it.

AGRIS Co-ops general manager, Jim Campbell, is proud of what it took to serve farmers in 2020. This year was unlike any other. The COVID-19 pandemic hit us and the world with challenges at every turn. I am proud to say that as a team, we got through the spring and harvest safe and healthy, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our staff and customers; and this is certainly a year to give back.

AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. is a 100 per cent farmer-owned grain marketing and farm-input supply company that serves more than 1,000 farmer owners in 14 locations in Essex, Kent, Elgin, Middlesex and Lambton Counties. It is a leader in precision farming technology, seed, agronomy and petroleum services. The co-operative is a partner of Great Lakes Grain, a grain merchandising company. AGRIS Co-operative is a member-owner of GROWMARK, Inc. and markets products and services under the FS banner.

Visit https://agris.coop and https://fssystem.com for more information.

Media contact:

Jim Campbell

General Manager

AGRIS Co-operative Ltd.

Phone: 519-380-2371

Email: jimc@agris.coop

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3c758c4-5e60-41cc-bba4-28c567226c16
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global natural gas fired electricity generation market demand is expected to reach 70,500.0 MW by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 4.71% from 2020 to 2027. Rising government support, growing energy demand across the world, and a rise in natural gas production are various factors boosting industry growth.

Key suggestions from the report:

Combined cycle technology emerged as the dominating segment in 2019 and is expected to maintain its lead over the forecast period owing to its higher overall efficiency and lower fuel requirement as compared to open cycle technology

Power and utility emerged as the largest end-use segment in 2019 owing to a number of natural gas fired electricity generation power plants under pipeline to fulfill the growing demand from power in their region of operation

North America held a significant revenue share in the market in 2019 owing to the rise in production and availability of natural gas in the region

The Asia Pacific is expected to expand at the fastest growth rate over the forecast period. China , Japan , and Thailand are expected to contribute significantly to the growth of the market in the region

The Middle East and Africa is expected to witness significant growth in the forecast period owing to a number of natural gas fired electricity generation power projects under the development stage in countries, such as Saudi Arabia , Iraq , and UAE.

Read 130 page research report with ToC on "Natural Gas Fired Electricity Generation Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Open Cycle, Combined Cycle), By End Use (Power & Utility, Industrial), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at:https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/natural-gas-fired-electricity-generation-industry

Worldwide power demand is rapidly growing owing to strong economic growth in some of the major countries globally. Furthermore, the growth was powered by countries, such as the U.S., China, Japan, and India, which account for a dominating share in the world's energy demand. Countries are looking to opt for natural gas as a power generation source over coal owing to fewer carbon emissions being emitted by natural gas.

Industry participants are entering into various strategic collaborations with the governments of some of the countries to aid them to renovate and modernize the power sector of the respective countries. Furthermore, vendors are utilizing joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions in order to develop advanced technologies and expand their foothold across various regional markets.

However, the production of natural gas is concentrated in a few countries, which results in the risk of gas supply disruptions owing to geopolitical tensions, eventually affecting trade and supply of natural gas. Furthermore, the rise in adoption of renewable energy technologies is estimated to hamper the growth of the market in the forecast period.

Grand View Research has segmented the global natural gas fired electricity generation market on the basis of technology, end-use, and region:

Natural Gas Fired Electricity Generation Technology Outlook (Volume, MW; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Open Cycle



Combined Cycle

Natural Gas Fired Electricity Generation End-use Outlook (Volume, MW; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Power & Utility



Industrial

Natural Gas Fired Electricity Generation Regional Outlook (Volume, MW; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Europe





Russia



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





Thailand



Middle East & Africa

&

Saudi Arabia





Central & South America





Iraq

List of Key Players of Natural Gas Fired Electricity Generation Market

General Electric

Siemens AG

Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Ansaldo Energia S.P.A.

Find more research reports on Conventional Energy Industry, by Grand View Research:

Oil Storage Market - Global oil storage market size was valued at 1682 million cubic meters in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% from 2020 to 2027.

Global oil storage market size was valued at 1682 million cubic meters in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% from 2020 to 2027. LPG Market - Global LPG market size was valued at USD 116.41 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% from 2020 to 2027.

Global LPG market size was valued at in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% from 2020 to 2027. Gas Turbine Market - Global gas turbine market size was valued at USD 19.6 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2020 to 2027.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

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A man landed behind bars for attempting to transport methamphetamine from Zapata to Mississippi, according to an arrest affidavit.

Patrick Lindsey Graves arrived at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint U.S. 59 near Freer on Jan. 18. He was the passenger of a gray Chevy Impala.

During an immigration inspection, agents noticed some odd tubing that is consistent with drug use and smelled an unusual odor. A K-9 unit allegedly alerted to possible contraband within the vehicle.

Agents then removed Graves from the vehicle. During a pat down, agents asked Graves to place anything that could hurt them on the vehicle.

Graves then placed a small bag with a white powdery substance and another small bag with a green leafy substance on the roof of the vehicle, according to court documents. The substances turned out to be 16.6 grams of meth and 26.5 grams of marijuana.

Drug Enforcement Administration special agents responded to investigate the smuggling attempt. Graves allegedly opted to provide a post-arrest statement. He stated he was aware he was transporting marijuana concealed on his person.

Graves stated that he was recruited by a third party to transport an unknown drug, which was found to be methamphetamine, from Zapata, Texas, to Mississippi, states the affidavit.

Graves was charged with possess with intent to distribute meth.

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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
David Phelps, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems, the parent company of Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, expects more losses in the current fiscal year, but nothing like the company experienced in 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 20:51:18|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- In a year ravaged by the COVID-19 epidemic, China has managed to overcome challenges and maintain its appeal to foreign investors, official data showed Wednesday.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 6.2 percent year on year to a record high of 999.98 billion yuan in 2020, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said.

In U.S. dollar terms, the inflow went up 4.5 percent year on year to 144.37 billion dollars.

A total of 38,570 new overseas-funded enterprises were established last year, meaning an average of more than 100 firms set up every day.

Commenting on the readings, MOC official Zong Changqing said that the country has become a "stabilizer" and "safe haven" for cross-border investment, contributing to the global economic recovery.

In 2020, China's foreign investment inflows reached a record high, posting a faster pace of growth and taking up a larger global share despite market projections for a pandemic-triggered contraction across the world, Zong said.

In a report released in May, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development foresaw global FDI flows to shrink by more than 30 percent in 2020 even under the most optimistic scenario, with developing countries suffering an even steeper decline.

The better-than-expected performance of China in FDI was mainly shored up by its service and high-tech industries.

Foreign investment in the service sector came in at 776.8 billion yuan in 2020, up 13.9 percent year on year and accounting for 77.7 percent of the total.

The high-tech service industry, one of the favored sectors among investors, registered a 28.5-percent increase from the year before, with R&D and design services surging 78.8 percent year on year.

Major FDI sources also remained stable. The top 15 countries and regions investing in China saw their investment expand 6.4 percent year on year, taking up 98 percent of the country's total FDI.

Among the major investors were the Netherlands and Britain, whose investment in China rose 47.6 percent and 30.7 percent year on year, respectively, MOC data showed.

With a heavy blow from the virus, China's FDI contracted in February and March, but soon got back on its feet with a year-on-year growth of 11.8-percent in April, and it maintained an upward momentum till year-end.

Zong attributed the FDI growth to the country's swift actions to contain the virus, which enabled factories to reopen production capacities, thus creating a solid underpinning for foreign investment.

The FDI rise in 2020 did not come easy, and such an encouraging achievement demonstrated foreign investors' confidence in China, said Pang Chaoran, a researcher with an institute under the MOC.

Despite protectionist headwinds, China's opening-up momentum has remained unabated, rolling out measures including cutting its negative list for foreign investors, introducing its master plan for the construction of the Hainan free trade port and further expanding pilot free trade zones in the country.

These pro-investment endeavors have paid off. A recent MOC survey showed that profits of nearly 60 percent of foreign-invested firms in 2020 posted growth or remained flat compared with a year ago, with nearly 95 percent holding an optimistic attitude about future prospects.

Nevertheless, Zong cautioned that challenges will continue for the time being, as the country still faces a complicated and grave situation.

China will continue to expand opening-up, take innovative approaches to encouraging foreign investment and fine-tuning its service system for foreign investors, Zong said.

China's GDP exceeded the 100-trillion-yuan threshold for the first time in 2020 and it is expected to be the only major economy in the world to post positive growth. Enditem
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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
The boss of Superdry has insisted he is optimistic about a post-pandemic recovery on Britain's high streets after his firm warned about its ability to continue trading.

In a bleak update that sent shares tumbling, the fashion retailer posted an 18.9million loss in the 26 weeks to October 24 and said sales in the following 11 weeks, which included Christmas, fell by 27 per cent.

Superdry group revenues fell from 369.1million to 282.7million. It also sounded the alarm about 'material uncertainty' in the coming months.

Superdry boss Julian Dunkerton (pictured with wife Jade Holland Cooper) has insisted he is optimistic about a post-pandemic recovery on Britain's high streets

But Superdry boss Julian Dunkerton said the retailer was in a strong position with 130million to draw on.

'Do you think the world is going to get better or worse in the next 12months, compared to the 12 we have just had?'

Dunkerton said. 'I think it is going to get better.

'But from an accounting point of view we have to say we don't know.'

He predicted there would be 'huge pent-up demand' in stores when the pandemic ends and shops can open once again.

'Shopping is leisure and as such I think it will come back very quickly.'

Shares fell 16.3 per cent, or 39p, to 201p.
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Thomas Butler

A few weeks back, I got curious: What were the French mystic Michel de Nostradamus predictions for 2020? Each year, theres generally a new documentary presenting his vague predictions 500 years ago of cataclysmic events that would unfold in our present day.

Given the sheer number and magnitude of 2020s global emergency events, pinpointing at least some of what the globe is presently dealing with shouldve been a no-brainer for someone with his visions. While interesting, the articles and videos I found were nothing more than so-called news items from unrecognized sources, mostly seeking to bend 500-year-old predictions to support an agenda or conspiracy theory theyre peddling.

As the year concludes, its human nature to wonder if heor anyone elsedid and could foresee whats going on. Its abundantly clear that Americas people, government, businesses and non-profit organizations feel claustrophobic, trapped and victimized by the COVID-19 crisis and all it has wrought. Its a crisis bubble under which much of our society is trapped and against which many feel powerless, with many organizations and their leaders being pushed to the limit.

For my industry colleagues, specializing in crisis communications, were all quite used toand adept atmanaging corporate reputations and the playbook of public actions to take, when serious trouble strikes.

For leaders of business or even government, periods of stress and trouble can be an opportune time to demonstrate true leadership qualities that will matter most and stand out when we eventually emerge from the health and economic crisis.

This article is featured in O'Dwyer's Jan. '21 Crisis Communications & PR Buyer's Guide Magazine

(view PDF version)

Steering through a crisis or two

Long ago, I believed I knew a fair amount about this. In the first dozen years of my PR career, Id worked on crisis control and messaging matters pertaining to countless high-profile litigations, federal investigations, prosecutions, RICO cases, mergers and acquisitions, new product rollouts and even the painful events of the World Trade Center terrorist attack, as spokesperson for New York Citys Firefighters union, as that department lost 343 brave souls on 9/11, while effectuating the largest civilian evacuation on U.S. soil.

While generally considered one event, the New York terror attacks were, in fact, two coordinated strikes, albeit at sites adjacent to each other. As an organizational leader preparing your team to be game-ready, consider what that citys first responder manpower and preparedness capability mightve been if two simultaneous terror attacks were not located together. Like a tsunami, it wouldve likely overwhelmed the resources at hand.

A long-time client, who led a $13 billion pension fund but also had a para-military background, would always preachto his team and in the bylined articles on which would collaboratethe need for organizations and their leaders to always be ready, prepared and capable to effectively manage the potential for two simultaneous crises. To him, this was a real scenario. 2020 is the proving ground.

The 16 years working regularly with this client, a highly adept field general, was perhaps much better guidance and game day preparedness for managing a 2020-styled crisis or even the most telling of Nostradamus poetic quatrain predictions.

For our agency, which is used to guiding clients through major crisis situations and pivoting to a positive reemergence, Id estimate we were tasked with no less than 15 dire business and reputational crisis situations over the pandemic period. We likely offered counsel to a dozen more.

Such a rising tide for emergency reputational and communications guidance illustrates the pressure cooker that business and organizational leaders were forced into this past year.

Last January, when life was simpler, a noted clinician came to us to address an attack by a newbie freelance journalist with an agenda. Our client, advised by prior counsel that he had nothing to lose by taking the interview, had by then recognized his reputation and business were at stake.

With our guidance, the half-baked story withered on the vine, allowing for a rapid pivot to proactively build the clients brand instead. Those were simpler times.

Before the ides of March

Right before Fauci became a single-name phenom, like Cher, Sting or Bono, the Butler team was immediately activated on the communication front lines, with two prominent medical first responder groups.

In early March, the FDNY Emergency Medical Service union, with the New York State Nurses Association, organized a major media briefing for the New York and national press corps, to present concerns of insufficient staffing, preparation, safety precautions and personal protective equipment should the virus medical crisis truly take root. Their prophecies all came to pass.

Only days earlier, our firm had also been activated by a regional micro-brewery whose staff member was among the regions first positive cases, with their county health departments public disclosure only hours away and media conjecture at a frenzy.

As we researched, trained and prepared that clients public remarks, our agency was simultaneously tasked with announcing New York Citys first medical first responder to become infected with the insidious virus. That client, the EMS, wanted to get the news out to communicate the dangerous nature of being front line workers, in a push for better resources to protect lives.

As news cycles boom and bust, the EMS announcement thankfully quenched much of medias appetite for the brewery virus story. That consumer brands crisis, while still needing to be addressed, was relegated to second-tier news in a media market of over 15 million consumers. For competitive PR folks, and for both clients, this was the best positive outcome.

As the crisis field generals managing the message of two important news events, we passed the test, successfully effectuating simultaneous crisis situations, in one case elevating the news and the other deflating it, as the medias hunt for news of the growing contagion was taking over news cycles.

Who could have expected that we would now be in 2021 looking back in this manner?

In a major crisis, organizational leaders can certainly crack under intense stress and pressure, and yes, lose their capacity to effectively function and provide the vision expected of them under normal circumstances.

That is why the skill and capacity of the leaders of our industry, adept and trusted in crisis communications, will continue to be in demand. This industrys capability to demonstrate talent and courage under fire, in these uncertain times, will help write the history for how the story of 2020 will be recorded and recollected for centuries to come. Lets look ahead and look forward to a dynamic 2021.

***

Thomas P. Butler is President of Butler Associates Strategic Communications.
Burma Myanmar Signs Power Purchase Deal with Thai Company

An artist's impression of the power plant project. / Ministry of Electricity and Energy

YANGON  A state-owned enterprise in Myanmar has signed a power-purchase agreement with a Thai-based engineering and construction company which plans to develop a US$685 million (911 billion kyats) power plant in Yangon.

On Wednesday, the agreement was signed by Electric Power Generation Enterprise, which is controlled by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, and TTCL Power Myanmar Company Limited, a subsidiary of Thailands TTCL Public Company Limited. TTCL is a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, which holds a 52-percent stake, and Japans Toyo Engineering Corporation, which holds the remaining 49 percent.

Italian-Thai Development is currently in dispute with Myanmars government over the vast Dawei Special Economic Zone in Tanintharyi Region.

TTCL planned to construct a 388-megawatt liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Ahlone Township, which includes the construction of a natural gas pipeline, LNG terminal and 230-kilovolt transmission line. Construction is due to take about 28 months with a 25-year concession, according to TTCL.

The ministry said TTCL has already completed a feasibility study and environmental impact assessment. The project is one of three LNG plants the ministry opened to bidding from international companies in 2018.

Electricity and energy minister U Win Khaing called on the company to work hard to complete the project within the tight schedule.

He said the company must comply with international and Myanmar regulations at all stages of construction and operation.

The project will power Yangon Region with a more stable supply, the minister said.

Just over half of Myanmars population is connected to the national grid, the lowest proportion in Asean. In 2019 the World Bank said Myanmar needed to invest up to $2 billion (2.7 trillion kyats) annually in its electricity sector to sustain economic growth.

While Myanmars peak electricity production is around 3.5 gigawatts (GW), the World Bank forecast that demand will reach 8.6GW by 2025 and 12.6GW by 2030. The ministry said electricity consumption has increased by 15-19 percent annually in recent years.

Since taking office in 2016, the National League for Democracy has prioritized LNG  natural gas super-chilled to be transported in liquid form  and smaller dams to fulfill the countys demand rather than relying on major hydropower projects, which can be unreliable during the dry season and environmentally damaging.

Although LNG plants can be built faster, Myanmar is unable to produce LNG domestically because of the expense and advanced technology involved. The government since 2018 has called tenders for both short- and long-term LNG projects to meet increasing power demand.

Last year a joint venture between Japans Marubeni, Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsui and Co won a $2-billion, 1.2GW LNG project to be built at the Japanese-backed Thilawa Special Economic Zone in Yangon.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Workers at International Joint-Venture Construction Site Strike for Unpaid Wages

Myanmar Says Thai Firm at Dawei SEZ Breached Contract

Myanmar Secures Second IMF COVID-19 Loan
Scott Morrison has congratulated Joe Biden on his inauguration as President of the United States.

In a tweet on Thursday morning after President Biden was sworn in, Mr Morrison said the US-Australia alliance was more important than ever before.

'Congratulations to President @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris on your inauguration,' he wrote.

'The Australia-US Alliance has never been more important. I wish you both every success for your time in office and look forward to working closely with your new administration.'

Scott Morrison (pictured on Tuesday on a west Queensland farm) has congratulated Joe Biden on his inauguration as President of the United States

Mr Morrison tweeted from his iPhone on Thursday morning as Biden was inaugurated

Joe Biden is sworn in as President during his inauguration on the West Front of the US Capitol

On Tuesday Mr Morrison took a call from outgoing Vice President Mike Pence before he visited a family cattle station near Quilpie in the heart of Queensland.

The pair discussed the US-Australia alliance and shared threats and interests - but did not mention President Trump's refusal to concede defeat to Joe Biden.

The prime minister also said he spoke on Monday to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is tipped to run for president in 2024.

He said the relationship between the two countries will remain strong no matter who is in charge.

'One of the things that will be handed over from the current administration to the new one this week is the stewardship of that very important relationship between Australia and the United States,' he said.

'It's incredibly important for our region. It's incredibly important for Australia's interests. And I say it's very important for the United States' interest as well.'
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and their new administration got to work in a nation besieged by a raging pandemic, economic calamity and deep political divisions. Biden signed 17 executive orders shortly after his swearing-in, dealing with the pandemic, climate change, immigration and other pressing issues that reflected the dramatic divergence of his priorities from those of the vanquished Trump administration.

Latest updates today:

1:56 p.m. Biden immigration bill nixes word alien: In a small but symbolic part of President Bidens proposed sweeping immigration overhaul, the word alien will be removed from US immigration laws, replaced by noncitizen, CNN reports. Its a deliberate step intended to recognize America as a nation of immigrants, according to a summary of the bill. The term illegal alien, long decried as a dehumanizing slur by immigrant rights advocates, became even more of a lightning rod during the Trump era  with some top federal officials encouraging its use and several states and local governments taking up measures to ban it.

1:31 p.m. U.S. seeks nuke treaty extension with Russia: The Biden administration seeks a five-year extension of the New START treaty with Russia, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday. She called the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty an anchor of strategic stability between our two countries. She also said the administration will be fully assessing Russias involvement in the 2016 election and the poisoning Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny.

11:38 a.m. Former NBA player holds solo pro-Trump protest: David Wood, who played two years with the Golden State Warriors in the 1990s, protested President Bidens inauguration Wednesday a few blocks from the White House, according to a report from Yahoo! News, which captured a video interview with Wood. Wood wore a sweater with images of Jesus Christ and carried a Jewish shofar horn and Revolutionary War flag. He parroted baseless election conspiracy theories, saying,This is Gods country. You cant steal Gods country through voter fraud.

11:25 a.m. Biden quickly gains millions of Twitter followers: President Biden quickly amassed more than 5.3 million followers as of Thursday morning, on the @POTUS Twitter account, fewer than 24 hours after he inherited it from Twitter king Donald Trump. Under its new policy on transfer of institutional accounts, Twitter wiped out the 33 million followers that Trump had on @POTUS when he was president. For non-Twitter afficionados, POTUS stands for President of the United States.

11:06 a.m. Trumps Facebook suspension now indefinite, outside board considers his fate: Facebook has extended former President Donald Trumps suspension, which was set to be lifted after President Bidens inauguration. A body the company set up called the Oversight Board will consider the matter. A company executive repeated a call CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made in the past for elected officials to set standards for such decisions, which have been largely left up to private corporations. Get the full story from The Chronicles Roland Li.

10:58 a.m. Biden to keep FBI director: President Biden has confidence in FBI Director Christopher Wray and intends to keep him in his job, according to a tweet from press secretary Jen Psaki. In the Trump administration, Wray replaced fired director James Comey in August 2017 and is in the midst of a 10-year term.

10:54 a.m. Biden, Harris begin 1st full day on job with virtual prayer service: President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris began their first full day in the White House on Thursday by participating virtually in a prayer service, an inaugural tradition dating to George Washingtons presidency. The Washington National Cathedral hosted the service, led by Bishop William Barber II and featuring performances by Josh Groban, Patti LaBelle and The Clark Sisters.

10:43 a.m. Another bank cuts ties with Trump: Floridas Bank United is the latest to close former President Donald Trumps accounts, saying Thursday, We no longer have any depository relationship with him, the Washington Post reports. The bank declined to give a reason, but since the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, several partners, vendors and customers have cut ties with Trumps company, including four banks. The Florida-based bank had held some of Trumps money since at least 2015, according to the former presidents financial disclosures.

10:30 a.m. Freshmen GOP lawmakers tell Biden they can play nice: Seventeen Republican freshman lawmakers in a letter of congratulations to President Biden said they hope we may work together on coronavirus relief, restoring the economy, and other issues. After two impeachments, lengthy inter-branch investigations, and most recently, the horrific attack on our nations capital, it is clear that the partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans does not serve a single American, the letter states. Rep. Peter Meijer of Michigan and David Valadao of Hanford (Kings County), who voted to impeach President Trump last week, were among signatories, as were others who voted to challenge the results of the election that Biden won.

10:05 a.m. Prominent Bay Area Jesuit helped Biden tee up on big day: Santa Clara University President Kevin OBrien, a Jesuit priest and longtime friend of President Joe Biden, officiated a Mass for Biden, who often speaks of his Roman Catholic faith, and Vice President Kamala Harris on the morning of their inauguration. Addressing Biden in his homily, OBrien said the nation has much to look forward to as a country because of your and Kamala Harris leadership. Attending the Mass at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral were family members and congressional leaders, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also a Roman Catholic. OBrien and Biden have been friends for 15 years, since OBrien served at Georgetown University in Washington, Santa Clara officials said.

9:09 a.m. Biden overturns Trumps patriotic education effort: Among his first-day executive actions, President Biden revoked a recent Trump administration report that aimed to promote patriotic education in schools but that historians mocked and rejected as political propaganda. Bidens order disbanded former President Donald Trumps presidential 1776 Commission and withdrew its report that glorified the countrys founders, played down Americas role in slavery, condemned the rise of progressive politics and criticized the civil rights movement. Trump established the group to rally support from white voters and hoped its report would be used in classrooms.

8:59 a.m. Woman accused of stealing Pelosis laptop ordered to home confinement: A U.S. magistrate on Thursday ordered Riley Williams of Harrisburg, Pa., accused in the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, into home confinedment with a GPS monitor pending her appearance in federal court Monday, news accounts said. Williams is accused of stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosis computer allegedly intending to sell it to Russians. Video of the riot appears to show her directing people into the building.

8:53 a.m. Pelosi rejects nice-nice calls to drop impeachment: House speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday pushed back some GOP statements that in the interest of national unity, Democrats should drop holding a Senate impeachment trial of President Trump.The president of the United States committed an act of incitement of insurrection, Pelosi told reporters. I dont think its very unifying to say, Oh, lets just forget it and move on. Thats not how you unify. She added, You dont say to a president, Do whatever you want in the last months of your administration. Youre going to get a get-out-of-jail card  because people think you should make nice-nice.

8:37 a.m. Any lawmakers who aided or abetted rioters will face prosecution, Pelosi says: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said there is no question that some members in this body gave aid and comfort to people who assaulted the U.S. Capitol, with the idea that they were embracing a lie, a lie perpetrated by the president of the United States that the election did not have legitimacy. She told a news briefing that evidence will have to be gathered and If people did aid and abet .. there will be prosecution.

8:18 a.m. Pelosi says she is ready to send impeachment article to Senate: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco declined to say Thursday when she will send the House article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump to the Senate. She said shes speaking to Senate managers about when they will be ready to launch a trial on whether to convict Trump for inciting insurrection in the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol  and that shes ready when they are. She also said she had been in a session about the physical and psychological trauma for Capitol staff and members who endured the assault: The violation of property, with Capitol offices and artifacts smashed and ravaged, she said, was only part of the damage inflicted by the riot.

6:55 a.m. Biden to sign 10 pandemic-related executive orders Thursday: President Joe Biden is expected to sign 10 executive orders and other memos Thursday meant to redirect the countrys efforts to beat back the pandemic, according to The Washington Post. The orders will include directives to expand testing, strengthen data collection and to get more money to states for localized responses.

6:39 a.m. $400 a week? What you need to know about economic relief under President Biden: Nearly 8 million people who have lost work in the pandemic currently depend on Californias unemployment system. Another 181,576 Californians filed claims in the first week of January, a 13% increase from the week before that underscored the damage the resurgent pandemic has done to the states economy.Many of those state residents are wondering what unemployment assistance is available to them now  and what may become available if President Biden persuades Congress to pass a new relief bill, as hes said he hopes to do. The Chronicles Annie Vainshtein breaks down the basis here.

Updates from Wednesday, Jan. 20:

7:55 p.m. To me, words matter, says poet Amanda Gorman after standout Inauguration Day poem: Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet from Los Angeles told CNNs Anderson Cooper Wednesday night that she felt so overjoyed and so grateful and so humble after delivering her inauguration poem at President Bidens swearing in ceremony. She said she wrote it after researching past inauguration poems as well as speeches from healing orators like President Abraham Lincoln. The Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol had a big impact on her process, she said:. It energized me to believe that much more firmly in a message of hope ... To me, words matter, Gorman said, adding the power of words has been misappropriated. in the past few years.

7:30 p.m. Three former presidents urge unity on Inauguration Day: Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton called for unity in a three-minute video in the Celebrating America inaugural special after President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris inauguration ceremony. The bipartisan trio of former presidents all wished Biden well at the helm and touched on the tradition of peaceful transfers of power on Inauguration Day. The fact that the three of us are standing here talking about a peaceful transfer of power speaks to the institutional integrity of our country, Bush said. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, said there would be less division in American society if people would love their neighbors like theyd like to be loved themselves. Bush added that he is pulling for Bidens success in office, saying Bidens success means success for the country. Obama recalled the grace and generosity that Bush showed him and his family during his own transfer of power, saying that It was a reminder, that we can have a fierce disagreements and yet recognize each others common humanity and that, as Americans, we have more in common than what separates us. Clinton said, We are both trying to come back to normalcy, deal with totally abnormal challenges, and do what we do best, which is try to make a more perfect union. Its an exciting time.

6:18 p.m. State Senate GOP leader who retweeted insurrection falsehood is ousted: State Sen. Shannon Grove, who drew criticism after she promoted a conspiracy theory that Antifa activists attacked the U.S. Capitol, will be replaced as the Republican leader in the California Senate. The story is here.

4:13 p.m. Pro-Trump forces in Sacramento disappointed by small showing: Followers of the former president who gathered at the state Capitol on Wednesday hoping to join a final show of support for instead found themselves far outnumbered by counter-protesters and law enforcement officers. The story is here.

3:32 p.m. I will fire you on the spot: President Biden in his first address to his new staff  delivered to them in their remote locations  sternly warned the White House and agency aides that if he ever found them talking down to anyone, I will fire you on the spot. Everyone, he said, must be treated with dignity and decency. Thats been missing in the last four years. After swearing in the governments new workers, he added, As my mother would say, God love you all. Weve got a lot of work to do.

3:25 p.m. Biden puts Cesar Chavez bust in Oval Office: Photos of President Joe Biden sitting at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office reveal that he has placed a bust of the late California farmworker-rights hero Cesar Chavez at the center of a table with family photos right behind him. Across from Bidens desk is a massive portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, an earlier president who entered office facing enormous challenges.

3:18 p.m. Mayor Breed lauds Bidens urgency on Paris Climate Accord: San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Wednesday welcomed President Bidens move putting the nation back into the Paris Climate Accord on his first day in office. We lost precious time in the fight against climate change when the Trump Administration withdrew from the agreement and rolled back critical environmental policies and regulations, Breed tweeted. But cities, including San Francisco, never stopped working towards aggressive greenhouse gas emission reductions. We saw our emissions decline dramatically alongside significant economic growth. A better environment and a strong economy can and must go together.

3:10 p.m. Biden inks order with U.S. rejoining Paris Climate Accord as of today: In one of several executive actions on his first day in office, President Biden signed an order having the United States rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, reversing former President Donald Trumps withdrawal. Were gonna rejoin the Paris Climate Accord as of today, Biden said from behind his desk, a stack of bound executive orders beside him.

3:09 p.m. Biden says Trump left very generous note: President Joe Biden told reporters on his first day in the Oval Office that former President Donald Trump had left him a very generous letter in the Resolute desk. He declined to reveal the contents, saying he would only do that after talking to Trump first. Trump never congratulated Biden on his election victory or even officially conceded his own loss. But when Trump took office four years ago, he spoke glowingly of the eloquent note left to him by outgoing President Barack Obama.

3 p.m. Biden targets hate groups: Signalling the new national priorities his White House will emphasize, President Joe Biden in his inaugural address said, we must confront and we will defeat the racism, nativism, fear, demonization, that propelled an overwhelmingly white, pro-Trump mob who assaulted the U.S. Capitol. They carried symbols and slogans of hate, including the Confederate battle flag and clothing with Nazi death camp insignia. A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us, Biden said. A cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear.

2:37 p.m. Proud Boys organizer arrested: Two Florida men, including a self-described organizer for the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, were arrested Wednesday for taking part in the Jan. 6 violent siege of the U.S. Capitol, the Associated Press reported. Joseph Biggs, 37, was part of a crowd that overwhelmed Capitol Police officers on the steps of the Capitol, according to an arrest affidavit. Authorities said,Jesus Rivera, 37, uploaded a video to Facebook showing himself in the U.S. Capitol crypt.

2:16 p.m. Harris swears in new senators: The U.S. Senate has officially switched to Democratic control, following the swearing-in of Georgias Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff on Wednesday, officially giving Democrats control of the chamber. They were sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, one of her first official acts. Harris, who resigned her Senate seat to be vice president, also swore in her replacement: Democrat Alex Padilla, Californias first Latino senator.

2:10 p.m. Out with the old: As Donald Trump and Mike Pence left office Wednesday, their portraits disappeared from the walls of many federal courthouses, including two in San Francisco. Public information officers at the U.S. District Court building at 450 Golden Gate Ave. and the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at 95 Seventh St. said pictures of Trump and Pence were taken down Wednesday morning. As to their successors, it could be a month or two before the portraits of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris arrive in San Francisco, District Court spokesman Nicholas Jackson said.

1:38 p.m. Clyburn says Bush called him a savior for helping Biden win: As they watched President Joe Biden take the oath of office Wednesday, former Republican President George W. Bush lauded Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., as a savior for helping get Biden elected, Clyburn later told reporters. Clyburn is largely credited with giving Biden the endorsement he needed to win the Democratic primary. Clyburn said Bush told him, youre the savior, because if you had not nominated Joe Biden, we would not be having this transfer of power today. He said Bush added that Biden was the only candidate he felt could have defeated President Donald Trump.

1:32 p.m. Getting to work: Vice President Kamala Harris heard a journalists question shouted as she walked into the White House on Wednesday. Asked what was her priority now, she yelled, Getting to work, CNN reported.

1:20 p.m. Biden prays for pandemic victims: The most powerful moment of Joe Bidens inaugural address was one when he fell silent, The Chronicles Joe Garofoli writes. In what he called his first act as president, Biden asked for a moment of silence to offer a silent prayer for the more than 400,000 Americans who have died of COVID-19.

1:11 p.m. Madam Vice President!: Reporters shouts to get the attention of Vice President Kamala Harris as she walked toward the White House underscored the history-making election of the daughter of Oakland, the first woman and first person of color in the nations second-highest elected office. Madam Vice President! they shouted  for the first time in U.S. history  after she and her family got out of their motorcade and walked the last stretch of the route from the Capitol. Harris waved and grinned behind her face mask at the few spectators along the sidewalks, who were mainly security, journalists and a few dignitaries.

12:51 p.m. Hail to the Chief: President Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden and their extended family stepped out of their motorcade Wednesday for a surprise walk along the last few hundred yards of their route from the Capitol to the White House. A jubilant Biden ran over to greet someone in the media area, and reportedly said, Keep doing what youre doing, a moment that could not more clearly mark the radical turn from the Trump era. Biden also walked over to greet Washingtons Mayor Muriel Bowser along the sidelines before walking up the long driveway along the North Lawn to the White House. He and Jill Biden turned and stood at the door where they were saluted by the playing of the presidential anthem Hail to the Chief.

12:19 p.m. Robot-car expert gets Trump pardon: Anthony Levandowski, a leading expert in robot-car technology who was convicted of stealing trade secrets from Google, was pardoned by Donald Trump in the final hours of his presidency. U.S. District Judge William Alsup said in August that the star engineer had committed the biggest trade secret crime I have ever seen and sentenced Levandowski to 18 months in prison. Levandowski now wont spend a day in prison, as the sentence had been delayed because of the pandemic. Read the story here.

12:15 p.m. Trump directs Secret Service protection to cover extended family: Before leaving office, former President Donald Trump instructed that his extended family get the best security available in the world for six months, at no cost to them the protection of the U.S. Secret Service, the Washington Post reports. Three people briefed on the plan told the Post that Trump issued a directive to extend Secret Service protection to 13 of his family members who were not automatically entitled to receive it. Under federal law, Trump, his wife, Melania, and their 14-year-old son are the only family members entitled to that protection after he leaves office.

12:09 p.m. Jimmy Carter not there, but not forgotten: President Joe Biden saluted former President Jimmy Carter during his inaugural address, saying he spoke to the former president on Tuesday night. Carter, 96, had announced that he was unable to attend the inauguration. Biden thanked the three former presidents who attended, saying, I thank them from the bottom of my heart, and I know the resilience of our Constitution and strength of our nation, as does President Carter, who I spoke with last night, who cannot be here with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.

12:05 p.m. Trump pardoned former Detroit mayor: Before leaving office Wednesday former President Donald Trump on cleared the way for the release of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served more than seven years of a 28-year prison sentence for a series of corruption crimes. The announcement came in a flurry of clemency actions that benefited more than 140 people, including rappers, former members of Congress and other Trump allies.

11:57 a.m. Historic image of Harris gets social media buzz: Among compelling photos of Inauguration Day, historic and meaningful images of Kamala Harris becoming vice president made the rounds of social media, shared widely especially by Bay Area residents applauding the Oakland native. Many snapped pictures of their television screens or computers, sharing emotional thoughts of a historic moment.

11:48 a.m. Biden and Harris lay wreath at military cemetery: President Joe Biden, no doubt thinking emotionally of his beloved late son Beau Biden, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from the capital, as part of Wednesdays inaugural activities. Beau Biden, who served in the military, died of cancer. Biden saluted and Vice President Kamala Harris held her hand over her heart as Taps was played.

11:42 a.m. Harris uses two Bibles for swearing-in: Vice President Kamala Harris placed her hand on two Bibles to take the oath of office. One, the same Bible she used when being sworn in as California attorney general and U.S. senator, was a nod to her upbringing in the East Bay. It belonged to Regina Shelton, a neighbor who became like a second mother to Harris. The second Bible belonged to Justice Thurgood Marshall, the seminal civil rights lawyer and first Black Supreme Court justice.

11:01 a.m. Biden takes over @POTUS account, without Trumps millions of followers: President Bidens Twitter account  @PresElectBiden  transformed into @POTUS following his inauguration Wednesday. Twitter archived former President Donald Trumps account as @POTUS45, without carrying Trumps followers over to Bidens account. Twitter said that gives users a choice of whether to follow the new government accounts. However, former President Barack Obamas folllowers were included when Trump took over the @POTUS account four years ago and Twitter had a different process. Trump preferred to use his personal account @realDonaldTrump as the main funnel for his many grievances and falsehoods  many flagged as disputed by Twitter in recent months  and that account was banned earlier this month after the Capitol riot.

10:34 a.m. Parting truths from enemies of the people: The New York Times marked Donald Trumps White House exit with an exhaustive project documenting every person or entity he had insulted on Twitter before his accounts suspension on Jan. 8. The Washington Post updated its count of lies and misstatements by Trump: 30,534 heading into his last day as president.

10:30 a.m. President Biden sends first tweet on newly-reset @POTUS account: President Biden sent out his first tweet on his new @POTUS Twitter account after his inauguration Wednesday. The president said there was no time to waste in tackling the multiple crises affecting the nation. Thats why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families, he tweeted. Twitter became former President Donald Trumps main method of communicating with his millions of followers, and a funnel for his many falsehoods and personal grievances.

10:15 a.m. Scared off by massive show of deterrent force?: Calm prevailed outside heavily fortified state capitol buildings across the U.S. as Joe Biden was sworn in as president Wednesday, after the FBI warned of possible armed demonstrations following former President Donald Trumps repeated, false claims of a stolen election. The Associated Press reports that fewer than a half-dozen demonstrators showed up outside the capitols in Concord, N.H., and in Lansing, Mich., where lawmakers had canceled a Wednesday session out of caution. A lone protester was outside the Capitol in Sacramento.

10:07 a.m. California poet delivers inaugural poem: Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman of Los Angeles summoned images dire and triumphant Wednesday as she told the world even as we grieved, we grew. In language referencing Biblical scripture and at times echoing the oratory of John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Gorman, 22, read with urgency and assertion, asking Where can we find light/In this never-ending shade? The poems very title, The Hill We Climb, suggested both labor and transcendence. She had told the Associated Press she planned a message of hope without ignoring the evidence of discord and division, and after the siege of the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, and felt a wave of energy to finish the poem. Read more here.

9:57 a.m. Harris champions Black American designer: Vice President Kamala Harris selected an outfit from Christopher John Rogers, a Black designer of Los Angeles, to wear at her official swearing-in on Wednesday. She accented her two-button purple overcoat and dress with a black mask and pointy black heels. Harris husband Doug Emhoff wore acclaimed American designer Ralph Lauren. The nod to American design marked a return to Michelle Obamas celebration of American designers, while Melania Trump often chose foreign couture.

9:51 a.m. Harris sees off Pence: Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff escorted outgoing Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen down the grand Capitol steps in a formal send-off, sharing a laugh with the Republican couple before they drove off to private life. The courtesy goodbye ritual normally features the new president seeing off the outgoing president, but that tradition was upended by former President Donald Trumps refusal to even attend the inauguration in his continued pique over his loss.

9:50 a.m. One Trump supporter at California Capitol: At the State Capitol in Sacramento, a lone Trump supporter wearing a red MAGA hat protested as President Biden took the oath of office Wednesday. Joe, 72 of Brentwood, refusing to give his last name, said he expected more Trump supporters would come later in the day. The way theyve got so many National Guard here, I think a lot of people are nervous, he said. But Im here, thats all that counts. Amid warnings of armed protests, the Capitol building remained under the protection of hundreds of Guard troops and law enforcement officers. The perimeter of the complex was sealed off by a 6-foot chain-link fence. Joe said he was happy to see Democrats worried about possible civil unrest: I like to see the governor nervous. That makes me happy.

9:36 a.m. Bernie makes fashion statement: Sen. Bernie Sanders, never to be accused of haute couture, lit up the Twitter world by showing up for Wednesdays inauguration ceremonies wearing his signature beige parka and what can only be described as a very Vermont-ish pair of bulky, warm-looking mittens in bold black, tan, and white knit. Social media approved, and memes of course ensued.

9:18 a.m. Garth Brooks sings Amazing Grace: Singer Garth Brooks, without his trademark cowboy hat, treated the inaugural ceremony to a moving version of Amazing Grace and called on those present to join in on a last chorus. With everyones face covered by masks, it was impossible to know who complied. Aerial TV shots of the inauguration showed how pared down the ceremony was with a stunning array of socially-distanced chairs for the comparatively few attendees spread below the also-distanced seating where dignitaries sat at the top of the Capitol stairs.

9:15 a.m. Trump pardons Florida man in college admission scandal: A prominent Miami developer and investor who was among a slew of wealthy parents charged with paying hefty bribes to get their children into elite universities was pardoned early Wednesday by outgoing President Donald Trump. Federal prosecutors in Boston accused Robert Zangrillo of paying $250,000 to get his daughter into the University of Southern California in 2018.

9:04 a.m. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge: In a full-throated plea for unity in a nation riven by tumult and political hatred, President Biden on Wednesday called on Americans to meet this moment as the United States of America, to show tolerance, humility, respect and openness to differences of opinion. Lets start afresh, all of us, he said in his inaugural speech. Lets begin to listen to one another again, hear one another ... show respect for one another. He added, Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire. ... Stop the shouting. And in an inferred reference to the many falsehoods spewed by former President Donald Trump, Biden said its time to reject manufactured facts as part of the healing process. My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. America has to be better than this.

9:02 a.m. Acting attorney general resigns following presidential transfer of power: Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosens resignation was effective Wednesday when President-elect Joe Biden took the oath of office, according to CNN. Rosen has led the Justice Department since Attorney General William Barr resigned on Dec. 23. Rosen did not appoint special counsels to investigate false allegations of voter fraud during his nearly month-long tenure despite pressure from President Donald Trump. Monty Wilkinson, a Justice Department lawyer, is expected to be acting attorney general until Bidens nominee Merrick Garland is confirmed.

8:54 a.m. Democracy has prevailed, Biden says: In his inaugural address, President Biden said, The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. He also said, Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. ... At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. On a sunny cold Washington day, he declared from the Capitol steps that the nation will defeat domestic terrorism and white supremacy.

8:50 a.m. So help me, God Biden is president: Joseph Robinette Biden, the former vice president and veteran of the halls of Congress, took the oath of office Wednesday just before 9 a.m., to become the nations 46th president. He was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

8:41 a.m. Pop star J-Lo sings America the Beautiful: J-Lo, singing an America the Beautiful- This Land is Your Land medley at Joe Bidens inauguration, also yelled, Justica para todos!

8:41 a.m. Harris takes oath: Kamala Harris was sworn in Wednesday as the nations vice president, the first person of color to hold the role. She recited the oath with her hand on a pair of Bibles, sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

7 a.m. Gaga sings national anthem: Lady Gaga, in a dress with a voluminous red, full-lenth skirt and a huge dove broach, belted out the National Anthem, from the Capitol inaugural platform, as part of Wednesdays ceremony. Zoomed-out shots of the Capitol showed the how sparsely populated the event was compared to non-pandemic times.

8:27 a.m. Harris wants to focus on the bright side: Despite the horrors of the deadly siege on the Capitol  that shook but did not derail American democracy  Kamala Harris says focus should be on the bright spots. Its like when you see a rainbow, Harris told The Chronicle ahead of her inauguration as vice president.. No one ever looks at a rainbow and then just keeps going. If you have anyone around you, you say, Look at the rainbow, right? Well, look at Jan. 5. when a Black Baptist preacher and a Jewish man were elected to the U.S. Senate from Georgia. Or even bringing it back to me. Look at the fact that in the midst of all that we have seen and experienced over these last few years, that America ... elected on their top ticket a woman for the first time ... who also happens to be a woman of color.

8:22 a.m. Biden, Obama warmth on display: Joe Biden, eyes crinkling in a broad smile behind his black face mask, walked to his former boss, Barack Obama, for a hearty fist bump after he and his wife Jill Biden stepped onto the Capitol inaugural platform where Biden was to become the nations 46th president.

8:11 a.m. Harris enters to cheers: Incoming Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, who will be a historic second gentleman as the spouse of the vice president, received applause and cheers entering the outdoor VIP seating area at the Capitol on Wednesday. In contrast to the horrifying images of the violent pro-Trump mob that breached the Capitol Jan. 6 and tried to disrupt the election certification, many civil rights veterans and scholars say Harris ascendancy as a person of color should be the focus, a bright light for progress and cause for optimism. Read The Chronicles story from Tal Kopan here.

8:05 a.m. Pence attends inauguration: Vice President Mike Pence, as promised and in contrast to his boss Donald Trump, showed up on Inauguration Day to witness the swearing-in of Joe Biden. With his wife Karen Pence, he entered the VIP seating area at the Capitol to bipartisan applause. Pence after the election had echoed Trumps challenges to the validity of the ballotting.

7:45 a.m. Hero Capitol police officer appointed acting House Sergeant at Arms: Eugene Goodman, the Capitol Police officer who led pro-Trump rioters away from the Senate chamber during the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol, was tapped to escort Kamala Harris at the inauguration as the new acting deputy House Sergeant at Arms, according to CBS News. Goodman was greeted by hearty applause when he was announced and entered the VIP seating area Wednesday.

7:53 a.m. Bomb threat called in to Supreme Court building: A bomb thread was called into the Supreme Court building Wednesday, according to CNN. The building was not being evacuated, however.

7:51 a.m. Former presidents enter to applause: Former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and George W. Bush, with their spouses Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, entered the inauguration outdoor VIP seating area to applause from dignitaries on Wednesday. The attendance of the former presidents is a tradition that solidifies the nations confidence and commitment to a peaceful transfer of power and has been a hallmark of U.S. democracy. The absence of a defiant President Trump was made more glaring by the sight of the other presidents mingling in the bipartisan political crowd.

7:46 a.m. Dan Quayle says its important to show up: Former Vice President Dan Quayle, a Republican, arrived for Democrat Joe Bidens inauguration Wednesday, and told Fox News that Its important to show up, to show bipartisanship and for Democrats and Republicans to work for the good of the country.

7:35 a.m. Trump vows to be back in some form: Have a good life; we will see you soon, President Trump told supporters at Joint Base Andrews as he left Wednesday for Florida. Trump spoke off the cuff, discarding a prepared statement and ignoring advisers who thought he should have thanked his successor Joe Biden by name. We were not a regular administration, Trump said, in a truncated version of his self-aggrandizing campaign rally speech, to mostly maskless audience. We will be back in some form, he said. He away from his last appearance as president to the strains of Y.M.C.A. by the Village People, a staple of his campaign rallies.

7:28 a.m. Biden and Harris arrive for swearing-in: Californias Kamala Harris, standing out in a deep purple fitted coat, ascended the grand Capitol stairway Wednesday morning with President-elect Joe Biden, and their spouses, for their inauguration Wednesday. The day marks the nations first swearing-in of a woman vice president, and the first vice president of color. Harris was to be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

7:24 a.m. Warriors present Harris with commemorative jersey: The Golden State Warriors presented Vice President-elect Kamala Harris with her own jersey ahead of Wednesdays inauguration. The back of the jersey read Madame VP, and she was designated as No. 49. The presentation of the jersey accompanied an inspirational video from the Warriors, highlighting Harris rise to the vice presidency as a daughter of Oakland.

7:19 a.m. Pence attends inauguration: Vice President Mike Pence arrived for Joe Bidens inauguration Wednesday morning, entering the Capitol building where just two weeks ago rioters roamed, screaming for his head with shouts of Hang Mike Pence! The mob echoed President Trumps anger with his longtime acolyte who refused Trumps demand that he block congressional certification of Joe Bidens election.

7:14 a.m. Stocks hit highs ahead of inauguration: The Nasdaq and S&P 500 surged to new highs and the Dow approached its previous record as traders looked ahead to Joe Bidens swearing-in as president. Wall Street is expecting a big economic stimulus to be one of the new administrations priorities.

7:03 a.m. Obamas arrive for inauguration: Former President Barack Obama, with his wife Michelle, arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday to witness the swearing in of his former vice president, Joe Biden, the victor over the man who relentlessly excoriated both of them, Donald Trump. Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, who beat Trump in the popular vote but lost to him in the Electoral College count in 2016, also entered the Capitol for the solemn occasion. The arrival of Trumps nemeses for the traditional transfer-of-power contrasted with his own petulant refusal to attend.

6:53 a.m. Trump follows at least one presidential tradition: The White House says President Trump left behind a note for his successor, Joe Biden, whose name he has not publicly uttered as having vanquished him from the presidency. Deputy press secretary Judd Deere declined to reveal what Trump wrote. The traditional note contrasts with Trumps refusal to attend Bidens inauguration or invite the president-elect the White House after Biden won the election, or on Inauguration Day. Trump four years ago gushed about the thoughtful note President Barack Obama had left him as Trump began his presidency.

6:16 a.m. Donald Trump departs White House: The outgoing president left the White House on Marine One Wednesday for the last time as president, leaving behind a legacy of chaos and a bitterly divided nation riven by an ongoing pandemic, the Associated Press reported.

6:13 a.m. Biden promises a return to normalcy. Is America ready to go there?: Many Americans will exhale at 9 a.m Wednesday, relieved to have survived the Donald Trump presidency. Four years of chaos and lies and the presidential encouragement of Americas most malevolent elements will end when Joe Biden takes the oath of office. But is America ready for what Biden promised: a return to normalcy? Read the full story from The Chronicles Joe Garofoli here.

Updates from Tuesday, Jan. 19:

10:30 p.m. Trump pardons Steve Bannon, Elliott Broidy, others before leaving office, reports say: On his last full day in office, President Trump on Tuesday granted clemency to his former chief strategist Steve Bannon, one of his former campaign fundraisers, Elliott Broidy, and scores of others. The pardons come in the tail-end hours of his one-term presidency.

5:55 p.m. Newsom says new day ahead for the U.S.: Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Twitter that, Tomorrow, we take in a big, deep breath of fresh air as we turn the page and welcome our next President Joe Biden on Inauguration Day. Newsom said California has been involved in more than 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration. Clean air, clean water, clean cars, issues related to health, issues of immigration. Across the spectrum our values have been under assault in the last four years, Newsom said. Now, all of those head winds are going to be tail winds. A completely different mindset. Not a closed fist, but an open hand. Not a sparring partner, now a working partner with the new Biden administration, Newsom said. So heres looking forward to tomorrow and a new day for the United States and the state of California.

4:50 p.m. CEO of Santa Clara Countys transportation agency accepts role in Biden Administration: Nuria Fernandez, the general manager and chief executive officer of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has stepped down from her helm to join the Biden Administration in the U.S. Department of Transportation. Fernandezs new role at the department has not been announced. San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said on Tuesday that Fernandezs leadership has prodded the VTA to break out of conventional, rigid thinking, and shes been a wonderfully collaborative and insightful colleague. Im particularly grateful for her work in enabling the BART extension  the largest public works project in our Countys history  to proceed over, through, and around the many obstacles that have been put in the projects path. Liccardo said he was heartened to know that our President Biden can recognize talent and competence when he sees it, and Nuria Fernandez will leave big shoes to fill.

3:40 p.m. S.F. law enforcement beefing up for Inauguration Day: San Francisco sheriffs deputies will have an increased presence on Joe Bidens Inauguration Day, and are set up to protect San Franciscos City Hall, all public buildings and resources, and the people who work in these buildings, officials said. Officials dont expect unrest, but tweeted they are prepared to respond and protect the publics safety as necessary.

3:30 p.m. Trump farewell message says his movement just starting: President Trump on Tuesday released an unrepentant farewell video to the nation, touting his accomplishments, saying we did what we came here to do and so much more. Even as he leaves office with a dismal approval rating, and on a day when the nation crossed the dark milestone of 400,000 coronavirus deaths, he praised his record on dealing with the pandemic. This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous, he said, never mentioning the name of the successor who defeated him, President-elect Joe Biden. As I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning. Theres never been anything like it.

3:22 p.m. Biden urges healing and remembrance of lives lost to pandemic: President-elect Joe Biden, in somber remarks at his Washington, D.C., COVID-19 memorial event, told Americans that To heal, we must remember. Its hard sometimes to remember. But thats how we heal. Standing at the base of the Lincoln Memorial, Biden said, Its important to do that as a nation. Thats why were here today. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness along the sacred pool of reflection and remember all whom we lost.

3:14 p.m. Advisers talked Trump out of pardoning himself, report says: Several lawyers apparently convinced President Trump that the pre-emptive pardons he once hoped to bestow upon his family and even himself would place him in a legally perilous position, convey the appearance of guilt and potentially make him more vulnerable to reprisals, according to CNN. He was also warned that pardoning Republican lawmakers who had sought pardons for their role in the Capitol insurrection would anger Senate Republicans who would determine his fate in an impeachment trial.

2:44 p.m. Empire State Building glows red: The Empire State Building in Manhattan was lit up in red in in conjunction with a unique lighting ceremony that President-elect Joe Biden held at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool to honor the 400,000 U.S. victims who lost their lives to COVID-19. Other buildings throughout the nation, including in the Bay Area, also were participating in the lighting tribute.

2:30 p.m. Harris at coronavirus event in capital calls for new wisdom: Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, at a solemn COVID-19 memorial in Washington with President-elect Joe Biden, called on Americans to open our hearts just a little bit more to one another using the wisdom gained during the pandemic. Tonight we grieve and begin healing together, she said. We the American people are united in spirit. The twilight memorial honoring those who have lost their lives to the coronavirus was held at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool shortly after Biden and Harris arrived in the capital for Wednesdays inauguration.

1:33 p.m. Poll shows positive views of Biden: President-elect Joe Biden will take office Wednesday facing high expectations and 66% approval of the way he has handled the transition, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS. But negative perceptions of how things are going in the U.S. are at the highest level since 2009. Bidens favorability rating has climbed to 59%, from 52% in October. Meanwhile, 70% disapprove of President Trumps combative handling of the transition period, and 66% disapprove of Republicans in Congress. About half (51%) approve of the way Democrats in Congress have handled it.

1:25 p.m. Biden arrives at security-blanketed capital: President-elect Joe Biden flew to Andrews military airbase just outside Washington on Tuesday and boarded motorcade to the fortress-fortified capital city where he will be inaugurated on Wednesday as the nations 46th president. Major roads and bridges around the city were astonishingly empty, blocked off as some 25,000 National Guard troops stood guard and the Capitol, White House and National Mall were wrapped in a maze of barricades and tall fencing.

1:05 p.m. Trump impeachment backers cite 1876 precedent: Defenders of President Trump argue that the Constitution does not allow the Senate to conduct an impeachment trial of him after he no longer holds office  which will be Wednesday. But the Congressional Research Service reports that most scholars who have examined the issue have concluded the Senate could hold a trial, and their leading example is the 1876 Belknap case. Read the details here.

12:45 p.m. A dozen National Guard members now pulled from inauguration: Twelve U.S. Army National Guard members now have been removed from the presidential inauguration security mission after they were found to have ties with right-wing militia groups or posted extremist views online, two U.S. officials told the Associated Press. There was no threat to President-elect Joe Biden, they said. Their removal comes as the FBI worked to vet all of the 25,000 Guard troops called to help secure Bidens inauguration Wednesday.

12:09 a.m. Feinstein defends GOP senators right to object to election: California Sen. Dianne Feinstein defended Republican senators who objected to Electoral College results and downplayed the importance of an upcoming impeachment trial for President Trump, diverging from her Democratic colleagues. The story is here.

12:01 a.m. S.F. chief says no signs of political unrest: Police Chief William Scott said Tuesday that San Francisco has had no credible notifications of major protests or political unrest in the run-up to President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration Wednesday. We will be prepared for everything and anything, he said. At SFPD, we have canceled discretionary days off. We will have additional police deployed. He urged San Franciscans not to gather in large gatherings in public, but to celebrate inauguration day at home, to avoid transmitting the coronavirus.

11:05 a.m. First conspiracy charge levied in Capitol siege: U.S. authorities have leveled the first conspiracy charge against an apparent leader of an extremist group in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol: They arrested an alleged Oath Keeper, Thomas Edward Caldwell, 66, of Clarke County, Va., who is accused of plotting to disrupt the counting of electoral votes confirming Joe Bidens victory and proposing further assaults on state capitols, news accounts say. A charging affidavit says he helped organize a group of eight to 10, including self-styled Ohio militia members apprehended Sunday, who wore helmets and military-style gear and led the move against police lines.

10:30 a.m. Biden pick for intel chief vows politics-free zone: President-elect Joe Bidens nominee to lead the intelligence community, Avril Haines, promised Tuesday to speak truth to power and keep politics out of intelligence agencies. Her remarks implied a departure from President Trumps record of pressuring intelligence officials to shape their analysis to his liking. When it comes to intelligence, there is simply no place for politics  ever, she told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

10:20 a.m. Field of Flags to represent missing inauguration crowd: The Presidential Inaugural Committee has covered Washingtons National Mall with 191,500 flags ahead of Joe Bidens inauguration. The Field of Flags represents Americans who were unable to travel to Washington, D.C. for Inauguration Day due to the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing security threats around the ceremony.

9:43 a.m. The mob was fed lies, McConnell says: Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, in his harshest-yet rebuke of President Trump, said Tuesday that the president provoked the violent mob that stormed the Capitol. The mob was fed lies, McConnell said in remarks to the Senate. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of branch of the federal government, the certification of Joe Bidens presidential victory. He vowed a safe and successful inauguration of Biden on Wednesday. McConnell has not yet said whether he would vote to convict Trump in a Senate impeachment trial.

9:15 a.m. Homeland Security nominee vows Capitol attack wont happen again: In opening remarks at his confirmation hearing, President-elect Joe Bidens nominee to lead Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, vowed to get to the bottom of the horrifying attack on the Capitol. He said if confirmed he would do everything possible to ensure the desecration of the building that stands as one of the three pillars of our democracy, and the terror felt by you, your colleagues, staff, and everyone present, will not happen again. Mayorkas testified before the Homeland Security Committee on the Senates first day back since the violent Jan. 6 Capitol siege.

8:50 a.m. Two National Guard members taken off inauguration security detail: Two U.S. Army National Guard members are being removed from the security mission to secure Joe Bidens presidential inauguration, the Associated Press reports. They were found to have ties to fringe right militia groups, an Army official and a senior U.S. intelligence official said.No plot against Biden was found.

8:25 a.m. Senate Democrats make sweeping democracy reform No. 1 bill: Incoming Senate Democratic leaders said Tuesday that their first bill will be the For The People Act, which passed the House in the previous Congress but stalled in the GOP-controlled Senate. The bill, widely endorsed by progressive and civil rights groups, includes, among other provisions, changes to voter registration requirements, more funding for election security, requirements for presidents and vice presidents to disclose their tax returns and new ethics rules for members of Congress.

7:44 a.m. New poll suggests Bidens political fate rides on pandemic response: Quelling the coronavirus and repairing its economic damage are Americans top priorities by far for President-elect Joe Bidens incoming administration, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Overall, 53% of Americans name COVID-19 as one of the top five issues they want the government to tackle this year, and 68% mention in some way the economy which has been battered by the pandemic.

7:32 a.m. Senate commmittes begin confirmation hearings: Confirmation hearings began in the Senate Tuesday morning for several of President-elect Joe Bidens Cabinet nominees, including those for the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense. After testifying and being approved by commitees, they will need approval in the full Senate to take up their posts in an administration facing a number of urgent must-do priorities.

7:25 a.m. Biden picks transgender person for health post: President-elect Joe Biden has tapped Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine to be his assistant secretary of health: She would be the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017.

7:11 a.m. Intel says far-right may pose as National Guard: The FBI warned law enforcement agencies Monday that far-right extremists have discussed posing as National Guard members in Washington and others have reviewed maps of vulnerable spots in the city  in potential efforts to disrupt Wednesdays inauguration, according to an intelligence report obtained by the Washington Post.

7:01 a.m. Who is Alex Padilla? Californias new senator has broken ground in state politics for two decades: When he heads to Congress as Californias newest senator, it will be a full-circle moment for Secretary of State Alex Padilla. After launching his career as an aide to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Los Angeles Democrat will now serve alongside the woman who gave him his first job in politics. Padilla has risen steadily through local and state elected office in the two decades since then, frequently breaking new political ground. He made history Tuesday when Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed him to fill the seat being vacated by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Padilla will be the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate. Read the full story here, and listen to The Chronicles Its All Political podcast interview with Padilla, recorded in October, here.

6:40 a.m. Giants owner Charles Johnson asks QAnon-backing Rep. Lauren Boebert for refunds: Giants owner Charles B. Johnson, criticized by many of the teams fans for supporting Rep. Lauren Boebert, said Monday night he asked for his and his wifes donations to be returned. In a statement released by the Giants, Johnson said he and his wife, Ann, also will request refunds from others who engaged in similar behavior. Boebert, a freshman House Republican from Colorado, has expressed her support for the QAnon conspiracy-theory group and tweeted about the location of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi amid the Jan. 6 violent attack on the U.S. Capitol building. Read the full story here:

Updates from Monday, Jan. 18:

3:37 p.m. Oakland and Scranton, PA, to raise Unity Flag: The cities where Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and President-elect Joe Biden were born will each raise a flag created by local artists Favianna Rodriguez and Ryan Hnat. The ceremony, happening simultaneously at Oaklands and Scrantons city halls, will be live-streamed on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at @LibbySchaaf and @Scranton_Mayor on Twitter.

2:53 p.m. Defense chief says no intel shows insider threat to Biden inauguration: Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said Monday that law enforcement officials are vetting National Guard troops stationed in Washington, but that authorities have no intelligence indicating an insider threat to President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration Wednesday. As is normal for military support to large security events, the Department will vet National Guardsmen who are in Washington, D.C., Miller said in a statement reported by the Hill.

2:49 p.m. Pentagon rolling out troops, bomb experts amid reports of threats around inauguration: The Pentagon has authorized 750 active-duty troops for security related to President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, to two defense officials told Politico. The service members deployed this week have expertise in chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological and explosive weapons, and include explosive ordnance disposal and medical teams skilled in trauma response, the news outlet said.

2:35 p.m. With Trump offline, falsehoods plummet: Online misinformation about election fraud plunged 73 percent after several social media sites suspended President Trump and key allies, according to San Francisco research firm Zignal Labs, underscoring the power of tech companies to limit the falsehoods poisoning public debate. Conversations about election fraud dropped from 2.5 million mentions to 688,000 mentions across several social media sites in the week after Trump was banned from Twitter, the Washington Post reported.

1:32 p.m. Trumps wont greet Bidens at White House: In the latest snub demonstrating President Trumps now-routine disdain for tradition, he and Melania Trump will leave the White House on Wednesday without inviting their incoming counterparts, Joe and Jill Biden, in for a courtesy get-together, CNN reports. The greeting is one of the more enduring transfer-of-power rituals  the outgoing president welcoming his successor at the North Portico, and then riding with him to the Capitol swearing-in. The Bidens will be greeted instead by a Trump-appointed chief usher, Timothy Harleth.

12:51 a.m. Capitol police only had enough officers on hand for a routine day: On the day that a mob of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol building, Capitol police had only enough officers for a routine day, The Associated Press reported. Several officers the AP spoke to said they were given next to no warning by leadership about what would transpire on Jan. 6.

12:01 p.m. Gun sales spike, but more in spring than after election: More firearms were sold last year than in any previous year on record, the Washington Post reports. Gun sales spiked wildly in 2020, especially amid anxiety about the pandemic, job losses and summer protests. But despite the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol and warnings of subsequent attacks nationwide, government and industry data indicate that purchases soared last March and April, and peaked in July. High sales continued in November and December, but not near those earlier spikes.

11:52 a.m. Video from Capitol riot shows prayer moment: Videos that continue to emerge from the Jan. 6 pro-Trump riot show the angry mob ransacking the U.S. Capitol and, in one clip, a group of men with hands raised and clasped standing at the congressional dias invoking God. One loudly prayed thanks for allowing the U.S. government to be reborn. Videos also show rioters riffling through documents on the desks of members, one man muttering,  Theres gotta be something here we can use against these scumbags.

11:22 a.m. Suspected miltia members charged in Capitol riot: The Justice Department has charged suspected members of the Three Percenters, a militia group that emerged some years ago from the extremist wing of the gun-rights movement, and of the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group founded by law enforcement and military veterans, in the Jan. 6 attack on Congress, the New York Times reports. Donovan Crowl, 50, a former U.S. Marine, and Jessica Watkins, 38, an Army veteran, surrendered to authorities Sunday night in Ohio after publishing photos of themselves on social media wearing combat gear and saying that they had stormed the Capitol.

11:14 a.m. Harris rues two systems of justice: In a San Francisco Chronicle opinion piece as she leaves the Senate to become the nations vice president, Sen. Kamala Harris reflected on her tenure and on the state of the nation. This month, we witnessed something I thought I would never see in the United States: A mob breached the U.S. Capitol, trying to thwart the certification of the 2020 election results. The violence made clear that we have two systems of justice  one that failed to restrain the rioters on January 6 and another that released tear gas on non-violent demonstrators last summer, she wrote. These have not been easy times by any stretch.

9:30 a.m. Celebs join live-streamed Biden parade: A largely virtual, live-streamed parade after President-elect Joe Bidens swearing-in Wednesday will feature performances from all 56 U.S. states and territories, the inaugural committee announced Monday. It will feature actor Tony Goldwyn, who played a fictional president on ABCs Scandal, comedian Jon Stewart; musical acts New Radicals, Earth Wind & Fire, Nile Rodgers, Kathy Sledge and Andra Day; and Olympic athletes Nathan Chen, Allyson Felix and Katie Ledecky.

9 a.m. So-called Christian website said to fund, support extremists: A self-described Christian website, GiveSendGo, has become a refuge of sorts and fundraising site for the Proud Boys and other fringe groups, outcasts and conspiracy theorists promoting debunked claims of a fradulent election, a Washington Post investigation finds. Postings show at least $247,000 has been raised for 24 people  including at least eight members of the Proud Boys  who claimed online that the money was intended for travel, medical or legal expenses connected to Stop the Steal events, including President Trumps Jan. 6 rally that led to the deadly Capitol riot.

8:49 a.m. Github reverses firing of Jewish employee who called rioters Nazis: San Francisco tech firm Github, citing significant errors of judgment and procedure, apologized to an employee who was fired after reportedly posting stay safe homies, Nazis are about in a company Slack during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Some rioters wore Nazi symbols and references on clothing such as Camp Auschwitz. The company said its human resources head resigned on Saturday and it is in communication with the employees representative.

8:31 a.m. Trump said to nix Giuliani for trial: President Trumps personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, is on the outs, at least in terms of being part of Trumps legal defense team for the Senate impeachment trial, a person close to Trump told the New York Times on Monday. Trump told Giuliani the news on Saturday night. It is unclear who will defending Trump, given that many attorneys have privately said they wont represent him.

8:22 a.m. Biden to cancel Keystone pipeline: President-elect Joe Biden on his first day in office is expected to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit  which was rejected by President Barack Obama but approved by President Trump  the New York Times reports, citing someone familiar with Bidens plan. The project to move oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico has been one of the most thorny issues in environmental friction over several years.

8:14 a.m. FBI investigates whether Pelosis laptop was stolen for sale to Russians: An FBI probe is looking into whether a woman stole a laptop or hard drive from House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office during the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol and intended to sell it to Russians, news accounts say. The FBIs claims stem from an affidavit in the criminal case against Riley June Williams, a Pennsylvania woman who allegedly participated in the riot.

8:06 a.m. Seek cover  Capitol complex locked down after fire: The Capitol complex in Washington was locked down on Monday after a fire at a homeless encampment , since extinguished  reflecting the high tension and security precautions amid threats of violence around Joe Bidens presidential inauguration on Wednesday. News accounts report lawmakers got an email alert saying there was no entry or exit from the complex as of 10:30 a.m. Those inside were instructed to stay away from exterior windows and doors. Those outside were ordered to seek cover.

7:56 a.m. Trump campaign staff shown as involved in pre-riot rally: An Associated Press review undercuts claims President Trumps rally that spawned the deadly Capitol riot was a grassroots event. Members of Trumps failed presidential campaign played key roles in orchestrating it, permit documentation shows, listing more than half a dozen people who just weeks earlier had been paid thousands of dollars by Trumps campaign. Other staff scheduled to be on site during the demonstration have close ties to the White House.

7:09 a.m. Biden picks consumer advocate Rohit Chopra to lead Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: President-elect Joe Biden has selected Rohit Chopra, now a member of the Federal Trade Commission, to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Politico reported.

6:45 a.m. GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes Twitter account suspended: Twitter suspended Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes account on Sunday for violating the companys civic integrity policy, NPR reported. That policy was updated in the wake of the Capitol riots and used to take down thousands of accounts amplifying the Qanon conspiracy theory, which Greene has repeatedly endorsed. The suspension was to last 12 hours.

6:28 a.m. Five ways Trump changed California  including one that helped Democrats: Donald Trump leaves office having changed a state that may have fought him harder than any other over the past four years, California. His immigration policies sharply restricted migration to the state and made it harder for Silicon Valley to bring in foreign talent. His rollback of environmental safeguards stalled efforts to fight climate change that threatens coastal cities. His presence rearranged the political scene, leading to California supplying the first woman elected on a presidential ticket and the first Latino to represent the state in the U.S. Senate being named to replace her. Read the full story from The Chronicles Joe Garofoli here:

There were establishment Republicans who didnt like Donald Trump in 2016, and there were right-leaning voters who didnt want to vote for him, but they didnt stop him from becoming president anyway. The party politicians and operatives who refused to endorse him mostly sat out the race rather than endorsing Hillary Clinton instead, and more than five million Americans voted for fiscally conservative third-party candidates Gary Johnson and Evan McMullin.

Almost no one inside the party tried to stop Trump from doing whatever he wanted after he became president, either. Some Republican legislators criticized him publicly, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, and ex-Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker. Some members of his administration disparaged him anonymously, or, like exDefense Secretary James Mattis and exSecretary of State Rex Tillerson, were described by unidentified sources as being alarmed by his unfitness for office. But almost every GOP member of Congress voted for Trumps legislation and nominees, and almost every person in his administration kept their concerns exclusively in the not for attribution zone that exists between on the record and off.

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When pressed, they all espoused a common creed: They knew Trump was ill-informed and dangerous, but they continued to work with him (or for him) in order to advance legitimate conservative interests and prevent his flaws from having disastrous consequences for the country. The pinnacle of this approach was reached when Collins, having just voted to acquit the president on well-documented charges of attempting to extort the president of Ukraine into making false accusations against Joe Biden, said she had done so because she believed Trump had learned a pretty big lesson from the case already.

Several violent fatalities in the halls of Congress have underlined another pretty big lesson: None of that hedging and qualming helped restrain Donald Trump at all, let alone direct him onto a better path.

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What did stop Trump was a landslide vote for Joe Biden, the unwillingness of Republican state officials to overturn Democratic wins, and the extremely overdue defection of Senate Republicans. In Novembers election, Decembers failed efforts to overturn that election, and the upper congressional chambers response to the Jan. 6 Capitol occupation, a blueprint for disempowering Trump became clear. And there is, it turns out, no meaningful way to break with Trump without allying yourself at least temporarily with the other major party in the United States two-party system.

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During the 2020 election cycle, for instance, Never Trump Republicans endorsed and campaigned for the Democrats presidential candidate rather than staying neutral. Ex-Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Secretary of State and Joint Chiefs chairman Colin Powell spoke at the Democratic National Convention, while Romney and McCain operatives at the Lincoln Project spent $49 million on anti-Trump, pro-Joe Biden media. These figures and groups promoted Biden as an alternative to Trump on non-ideological grounds, praising him as a man of patriotism, integrity, and empathy.

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Then Biden won. And while researchers are still compiling the data that will explain his victory at the level of individual voters and issues, we do know he polled better in many traditionally Republican areas than Clinton did. The American Communities Project, which categorizes American counties into 15 community types, finds that two of the areas in which Biden made the biggest improvements on Clintons vote share were Exurbswhite, rural areas near major citiesand Military Posts. Both are home to the kinds of voters that were at the least targeted by Never Trump figures, and in both, Biden beat Clintons percentage of the vote by more than 5 points. Bucks County, Pennsylvania is an exurban county that early November cable-news viewers will remember for being crucial to Bidens victory; El Paso County, Colorado is home to the heavily military-affiliated population of Colorado Springs, which swung further toward Biden (twelve points) than any other city in the country. In the crucial, narrow-margin states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Biden flipped back four heavily white counties Trump won in 2016. And multiple surveys taken before the election, at least, had Biden on track to win more than half of the 2016 third-party voters who planned to vote in 2020.

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After Biden won, of course, he had to win several more times, and a number of crucial blows against Rudy Giulanis attempt to throw out election results were struck by Republican officials who declined to reject their own states vote counts. For their efforts, lifelong conservatives like Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and Michigan state canvasser Aaron Van Langevelde are being harassed, threatened with primary campaigns, and/or removed from office by members of the GOP grassroots. Donald Trump cant be confronted without confronting Republican voters.

He is not, however, invincible. After Sasse and outgoing Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (among others) suggested they will strongly consider voting against him in his upcoming impeachment trial, Trump gave up on his efforts to overturn the election, all but ceded control of the government to Mike Pence, and reportedly abandoned the idea of pardoning himself, his children, and his close advisers. Senate Republicans, after four years, figured out how to get the president to stop doing the kinds of things they always claimed to be urging him to stop doing.

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House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, by contrast, attempted the Susan Collins, criticizing Trumps instigation of the Capitol occupation in mild terms but voting against impeachment. The billionth time was not the charm for this technique: Trump, totally ignoring McCarthys vote and fixating on his criticism, has reportedly been complaining furiously that the minority leader is a pussy. As the saying sort of goes, if you come at the king, you best  actually come at the king? Dont just irritate the king?

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In the end, Republicans performing their disapproval of Trump were mostly useless or actively destructive unless they were voting for, or with, Democrats. The outgoing presidents party, having helped him destroy the fabric of the republic, has now done a tiny bit of good in the effort to redeem their national brand with independent voters and corporate donors. As they consider how to treat Trump and his extended crime family going forward, especially during his impeachment trial, they should bear in mind what the last year has shown: When it comes to both self-interest and the preservation of democracy, votes matter, and words dont.
Canada held its third Express Entry immigration draw of 2021 on January 20.



Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 374 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a minimum score of 741. This cut-off score means that candidates only needed to obtain 141 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for their human capital characteristics. The other 600 points they obtained were by securing a provincial nomination.

Express Entry is the main way Canada welcomes skilled workers who want to obtain Canadian permanent residence. Under the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to welcome an average of 110,000 immigrants under Express Entry per year. IRCC uses Express Entry to manage skilled worker applications for the following three programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

Express Entry is a two step process. In step one, candidates who are eligible under at least one of the three aforementioned skilled worker programs upload their profile onto IRCCs website. They then get a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on their human capital such as their age, education, language skills, and work experience.

In step two, IRCC holds Express Entry draws approximately every two weeks and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates with the highest CRS scores. If a candidate receives an ITA, they can go ahead and submit a permanent residence application to IRCC.

Candidates can receive an additional 600 CRS points if they receive an invitation through an Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This effectively guarantees they will successfully receive an ITA for permanent residence.

The PNP is the second main way Canada welcomes skilled worker immigrants. Most of Canadas provinces and territories operate their own immigrant selection systems through the PNP to welcome skilled newcomers who can help address their local labour market needs. Candidates who meet the selection criteria of an Express Entry-aligned PNP stream are eligible to obtain the additional 600 CRS points assuming they receive a provincial nomination invitation.

Express Entry had a record-breaking year in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic. Canada issued 107,350 ITAs last year and targets are set to increase over the coming years as Canada looks to welcome more immigrants to support its post-COVID economic recovery.

Canada held its first two Express Entry draws of 2021 on January 6 and January 7. These were program-specific draws. The January 6 draw invited 250 PNP candidates while the January 7 draw invited 4,750 CEC candidates. IRCC held program-specific draws at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 with the rationale such candidates were more likely to be able to avoid COVID-related disruptions. However, Canada concluded 2020 with all-program draws which enabled FSWP and FSTP candidates to also obtain ITAs.

IRCC has issued 5,374 ITAs to date, more than the number it issued at the same time in 2020. The figure is poised to increase further with a CEC-only draw anticipated later this week.

Todays draw saw IRCC issue more invitations and reduce the CRS cut-off score compared with the last PNP-only draw that took place on January 6. In that draw, the cut-off score was 813.

The following is a hypothetical scenario of a candidate who received an ITA today:

Alex is 32, single, and a registered psychiatric nurse. He holds a bachelors degree in nursing and received IELTS scores corresponding to CLB 7 in all four categories. He has five years of work experience in Russia and recently received an offer of full-time, indefinite employment with a hospital in Vancouver. British Columbia then nominated Alex as part of its Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) Health Care Professional stream. Alexs CRS score before he received his provincial nomination (PN) was 320, but with the PN he gained an additional 600 points. His CRS score of 920 qualified him for an ITA in todays draw.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Nearly all personnel in state courts are eligible to receive coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations  except judges.

Only those judges and justices age 65 and over or with immuno-compromised conditions can get vaccinated under Phase 1b of the states distribution program, which became effective on Jan. 11.

All court officers are eligible for vaccination under Phase 1b.

So are civilian court staff and personnel regardless of age, according to state court officials reading of the eligibility guidelines.

But not all judges and justices.

In her weekly message on Monday, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said court officials are very pleased that court officers and court staff are now vaccine eligible.

However, they are extremely disappointed judges arent also in that mix.

The chief administrative judge (Lawrence K. Marks) and I have repeatedly urged our state officials to immediately expand the vaccination guidelines, said DiFiore. Failure to include judges in the priority category runs counter to our ability and our efforts to maximize the provision of justice services, and to our central role in protecting public safety and upholding the rule of law.

I assure you that we are persisting in our efforts to have judges included, DiFiore said.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Dennis Quirk, head of the New York State Court Officers Association, said judges need to be vaccinated for everyones safety.

There are many court employees who will be unable to get the vaccine due to existing medical conditions and religious grounds, said Quirk. Excluding judges from the vaccine will endanger these employees.

The governors office did not respond to several emails seeking comment on the eligibility issue.
After a homicide, carjackings, and a police chase that ended in gunshots, Charleston police officers say they made an arrest after "an incident involving" the department.

Chief Luther Reynolds gave few details about the case upon announcing the incident Tuesday night. He said police found a vehicle that had reportedly been carjacked, then chased it from Rutledge Avenue and Maple Street to the corner of Comstock and Spruill avenues in North Charleston.

The chase ended in gunshots, according to Reynolds, injuring the suspect. Reynolds declined to answer any questions and didn't specify who fired the shots, but he said the suspect was the only person who was injured.

According to Reynolds, the suspect was hospitalized and had been responsible for a recent homicide in Georgetown, a carjacking in the parking lot of a Whole Foods in Mount Pleasant, and a second carjacking in Charleston.

Reynolds said officers found a handgun that they believe belonged to the suspect, who wasn't publicly identified.

Several witnesses told The Post and Courier that they heard gunshots on Spruill Avenue shortly before 8 p.m. Officers from the State Law Enforcement Division, South Carolina Highway Patrol, FBI, North Charleston Police Department and Charleston Police Department were at the scene Tuesday night.

Police said they wouldn't release any more details Tuesday. Neither Charleston police nor SLED, which investigates when officers discharge their weapons, have confirmed details of their investigations.
A pan-European human rights watchdog has expressed concern after a Russian court handed a long prison sentence for hooliganism to a university mathematics student who says he was tortured while in custody.

"The allegations we are hearing with regard to this case are certainly of concern, and we will continue to follow its development closely," a spokeswoman at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) told RFE/RL on January 20, two days after 25-year-old Azat Miftakhov was sentenced to six years in prison.

"ODIHR is continually following the human rights situation in all 57 countries of the OSCE region, and frequently raises issues with individual states," Katya Andrusz said.

The press service of the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights organization, on Janaruy 19 said the organization was following the case "closely."

A court in the Russian capital on January 18 found Miftakhov, a postgraduate student at Moscow State University, guilty of being involved in an arson attack on the ruling United Russia party's office in Moscow in 2018.

Miftakhov has denied the charges, which his lawyers say stem from his anarchist beliefs and support for political prisoners.

A prominent Russian human rights organization, Memorial, has declared Miftakhov a political prisoner.

The student was arrested in early 2019 and accused of helping make an improvised bomb found in the city of Balashikha near Moscow.

He was released several days after the initial charge failed to hold, but was rearrested immediately and charged with being involved in the attack on the United Russia office in January 2018.

The Public Monitoring Commission, a human rights group, has said that Miftakhov's body bore the signs of torture, which the student claimed were the result of investigators unsuccessfully attempting to force him to confess to the bomb-making charge.

Others who were detained along with Miftakhov but later released also claim to have been beaten by police.
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Fears Britain's great Covid vaccination rollout had stagnated were sparked yesterday after official data revealed the number of doses dished out had fallen for three days in a row.

And with less than a month to go until Number 10's target of vaccinating 14million of the most vulnerable people expires, pressure is growing on officials to pick up pace.

In order to meet the lockdown-easing goal, the UK must average more than 350,000 doses a day from now until February 15.

Fewer than 210,000 vaccines were administered on Monday but yesterday's figure  which is reported today  is above 300,000 in England alone. Department of Health bosses will provide a UK-wide vaccine update later this afternoon.

Government sources say there are 'a lot of moving parts' which contributed to the slowdown, including constraints on supply, staffing shortages within the NHS and difficulties contacting the remaining over-80s and covering care homes among the factors.

Here, MailOnline delves into some of the factors that could be hampering the roll-out.

IS A LACK OF SUPPLY TO BLAME?

Pfizer  the manufacturer of one of the three Covid vaccines approved in the UK  has warned supplies would be dented this month and the next.

The drug giant is revamping its factory in the Belgian town of Puurs to allow it to pump out up to 38million doses each week. Currently it can manufacture 25million shots each week.

The American firm last Friday warned Britain to expect delays this month and into next month while upgrades were made at its factory, which supplies doses to all of Europe.

Norway was told it would receive 17 per cent fewer doses (36,075 compared to 43,875) this week than expected due to the hold-ups, giving clues about how Britain might be impact by the delays.

However, Britain does not provide details of daily deliveries, so it's impossible to tell how much the scheme is being hampered in the UK.

BioNTech, the German firm partnered with Pfizer to manufacture the vaccine, said that supply would revert to normal levels from January 25. But German health chiefs warned the issues would last for three to four weeks.

Ministers have always said that supply will be the 'constraining factor' in the vaccine rollout.

AstraZeneca said its 2m dose a week target  based on the UK's total order of 100m divided by 52 weeks  was achievable by the end of this month but, again, there is no way to tell if it is meeting that supply yet.

Government sources have dismissed claims there are 21million doses of vaccines already in the country, although they refused to give details of stocks saying it would be a security risk.

Pfizer's supplies have been dented by a factory upgrade at its plant in Belgium (pictured) which will continue into next month

IS AN UNFAIR DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINES TO BLAME?

Data shows huge regional differences in the number of people vaccinated against Covid.

For example, the English region leading the vaccine race, the Midlands, has given 764,557 first doses to its population of 10.6million.

Whereas the number of people being immunised in London was the second lowest in England (423,733), despite cases remaining among the highest in the country.

It has meant areas such as Slough and Newcastle have successfully immunised 100 per cent of their elderly care home residents while London has barely protected half.

The exact reason for the regional disparities has not been explained by No10.

But it has been blamed on a simplistic formula that did not take into account the size of GP practices and the number of patients on their registers.

London mayor Sadiq Khan told the Guardian that 'the governments original distribution formula meant that London missed out on its early fair share of the vaccine'.

He added that the vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi 'assured me that supply and distribution will increase, and an amount of the vaccine that reflects our size, density and the level of need in our city is delivered'.

More than 4million Britons have now had their first dose  but rates vary across the country

IS THE HOLD-UP BECAUSE OFFICIALS HAVE TO TEST BATCHES?

Each batch must be tested for quality by the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), part of the UK's medical regulator. The process takes at least five days.

A sample from each vaccine batch  which can contain hundreds of thousands of doses  is biologically tested for quality and safety.

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says this is essential to ensure each batch is safe and there were no errors in its production.

Manufacturers must also carry out their own tests on each batch before submitting results as evidence to the NIBSC. Delays in providing these details  or any failure to meet standards  can slow the whole process down.

Only once both sets of tests have been completed  and the manufacturer's results deemed acceptable  is a batch released by regulators for use by the NHS.

But as more doses are produced and delivered laboratories face a mounting workload as they handle quality control.

There are yet to be any accusations that the tests are slowing down the distribution of the vaccine, although this may be happening if doses cannot be released fast enough for the NHS to administer.

An MHRA spokesperson said: 'We are working closely with the [Oxford vaccine] manufacturer, AstraZeneca, to ensure that batches of the vaccine are released as quickly as possible.

'NIBSC has scaled-up its capacity to ensure that multiple batches can be tested simultaneously, and that this can be done as quickly as possible, without compromising quality and safety.'

Covid-19 vaccines pictured being tested before they are rolled out for use. These tests can take days, slowing down the delivery of supplies

OR COULD PACKAGING THE FINAL DOSES BE BEHIND THE SLOWDOWN?

While the Pfizer vaccines come pre-prepared, some of the Oxford University ones are filled and packed into vials at manufacturing plants in the UK.

There were concerns over shortages of glass vials as far back as May, but Government sources have insisted this is not the source of the current slowdown.

But experts have warned this could cause issues further down the line, when the UK factories have to start juggling multiple vaccines s well as other non-Covid products.

Only a handful of companies make the specialist vials, which are built using a special chemical to stop them reacting with the vaccine. Schott in Germany is one of the leading producers.

Industry insiders had previously claimed the UK needs to ramp up its own production to stop reliance on overseas companies leading to a shortage.

Dave Dalton, chief executive of the trade body British Glass, said the supply chain 'needs to be strengthened and improved'.

England's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, has also suggested issues with so-called 'fill and finish' materials including those used for the vials could hinder the roll out.

'The only thing that is going to slow us down is batches of vaccines becoming available,' he said during a Downing Street briefing.

'Many of you know already that it's not just about vaccine manufacture. It's about fill and finish, which is a critically short resource across the globe.'

Officials deny that any shortages of glass vials may be triggering a slowdown in the vaccine roll out.
Mayors Donna Holaday of Newburyport, Alex Morse of Holyoke, and David Narkewicz of Northampton are among the city leaders planning to move on from their roles.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-19 18:37:23|Editor: huaxia

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A medical worker receives a dose of the CoronaVac vaccine in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on January 19, 2021. Brazil launched a mass immunization campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic in every state starting at 5:00 p.m. Monday local time (2000 GMT). The initial plan was to begin nationwide vaccination on Wednesday, but the date was moved up in response to the request of state governors, said Minister of Health Eduardo Pazuello. (Photo by Rahel Patrasso/Xinhua)

BRASILIA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Brazil launched a mass immunization campaign against the COVID-19 pandemic in every state starting at 5:00 p.m. Monday local time (2000 GMT).

The initial plan was to begin nationwide vaccination on Wednesday, but the date was moved up in response to the request of state governors, said Minister of Health Eduardo Pazuello.

"The governors asked that as soon as (the vaccines) arrive in the states, they have the freedom to begin vaccination," Pazuello said.

As of Monday afternoon, all states were expected to have received their doses of the CoronaVac vaccine developed by Chinese laboratory Sinovac in collaboration with the Butantan Institute of Sao Paulo, one of the world's leading scientific research centers.

Brazil's health regulatory agency Anvisa on Sunday afternoon authorized the emergency use of CoronaVac and a vaccine developed by British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford.

Currently, only the CoronaVac vaccine is available in the South American country, and some 6 million doses are being distributed.

Nationwide distribution of the Chinese vaccine began early on Monday, under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and with the logistical support of the Brazilian Air Force.

Brazil's west-central state Goias became the first state on Monday to launch its mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19, immediately after receiving doses of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine.

Ronaldo Caiado, governor of Goias and a doctor by profession, vaccinated 73-year-old Maria Conceicao da Silva, who resides in a care home and suffers from hypertension, shortly before 5:00 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) in the city of Anapolis.

By 5 p.m. local time, the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, as well as Goias, received the CoronaVac doses shipped by the ministry.

Teresinha da Coneicao, 80, and Dulcineia da Silva, 59, were the first two Rio residents to receive the CoronaVac vaccine.

"It is the happiest day of my life because now I can go out. I can do what I want. I'm quite fine at the care home, but I want to go out," Teresinha da Coneicao told media.

The patient, who is set to receive the second dose of CoronaVac within three weeks, was given the vaccine jab by Adelia Maria dos Santos, a 71-year-old nurse and a founder of Rio's Immunization Program, who worked on the first vaccination campaigns against measles and poliomyelitis.

"Today is a historical day, when we started vaccination against COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro. With this, we hope to reduce the serious cases and deaths of COVID-19," said Marcio Garcia, an epidemiologist of the health secretary of Rio de Janeiro.

"All vaccines approved in Brazil are effective vaccines, with qualities. We don't care about the brand of the vaccine. The important thing is to vaccinate. Today we started with the CoronaVac, and we are going to expand it with other vaccines for Brazil and for Rio de Janeiro," Garcia added.

Brazil's Butantan Institute said Monday that it has requested Anvisa to authorize the emergency use of all CoronaVac vaccines produced by the Sao Paulo-based institute.

"This morning we submitted the request for emergency use now of all the doses that will be produced at Butantan," said Dimas Covas, the institute's director. "We hope the authorization comes through as soon as possible."

Earlier on Sunday, Anvisa authorized the application of 6 million doses of CoronaVac that arrived ready-to-use from China and have been distributed to states nationwide early Monday for the start of vaccination, according to Covas.

According to the Ministry of Health, some 8,511,770 people in Brazil have so far been tested positive for COVID-19 and 210,299 people have died from the disease.
GNWT/MTS Nunakput This service will provide reliability, value and high-quality fuel services that make the best use of assets by Crowley and the governments.

The U.S. Defense Logistics Agency-Energy (DLA-Energy) has awarded Crowley Solutions a five-year, $15 million contract for fuels transportation and distribution services for the Canada North Warning System locations supporting the nations joint security efforts.

Serving the Canadian arctic region, Crowley will provide ocean transportation of Aviation Turbine, Kerosene Type Jet A-1 w/FSII & CI to stations across the region, leveraging decades of experience in the Arctic. Services will include tanker transport and lighterage-to-barge deliveries at shore  including fuel over-the-shore services.

Crowleys services will operate based on the companys proven capabilities to transport and distribute fuel in austere and remote environments  often with minimum infrastructure -- to ensure reliable energy supply chains for governments critical fuel needs.

Crowley will work in concert with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Marine Transportation Services Division to deliver fuels via barge in the region, as well as in collaboration with indigenous peoples there. The joint operations will leverage economies of scale to provide efficiency and dependability for the governments and the fuel service locations in the North Warning System, serving 21 radar sites spanning the Arctic from Labrador to the Alaska border.

We are honored the governments trust Crowley to provide the highest degree of operational excellence, asset capability and understanding of the Arctic and the North Warning System, said Crowley's Sean Thomas, vice president. This service will provide reliability, value and high-quality fuel services that make the best use of assets by Crowley and the governments.

Our joint effort with Crowley will put to efficient use the Government of the Northwest Territories marine assets to ensure fuel reaches these critical defense stations for both nations within our Northwest region, said John Vandenberg, assistant deputy minister, programs and services. Our modernized tug-and-barge fleet will couple with Crowleys tank vessels and other assets to meet and exceed the growing demands of the Western Canadian Arctic.

The contract award extends Crowleys long history supporting governments and military agencies in the Arctic. Crowley has provided logistics service and marine-based solutions to the U.S. government since 1958 when the company pioneered Arctic transportation through supply operations for the militarys Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line along coastal Alaska.

About Crowley

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Crowley Holdings Inc. is the parent company of the 129-year-old Crowley Maritime Corporation, a privately-held, family- and employee-owned company that provides worldwide logistics, government, marine and energy solutions. Crowley operates with four business units: Crowley Logistics, a supply chain management division that includes logistics and ocean liner cargo transportation services; Crowley Shipping, which encompasses ownership, operations and management of conventional and dual fuel vessels, including tankers, container ships, multipurpose tugboats and barges; sustainable energy solutions for the emerging offshore wind and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors; engineering; project management; naval architecture and vessel construction management; Crowley Fuels, a fuel transportation, distribution and sales division in Alaska; and Crowley Solutions, which focuses on global government services and program management including, ship management, expeditionary logistics, technology solutions, energy solutions and freight transportation and logistics services. Additional information about Crowley, its subsidiaries and business units may be found at http://www.crowley.com.

Despite the pandemic, the brand had a record-breaking year.

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The Czech carmaker SKODA is breaking records in Slovakia. Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and 39 days of production downtime at the parent plant in the Czech Republic, SKODA achieved the highest market share in Slovakia in the last decade. Its 22.4% share puts it in a unique position in the automotive industry in Europe The SKODA FABIA has traditionally been the most popular model for Slovaks, followed by the OCTAVIA. The third SKODA model ranking in this years top five best-selling vehicles is the SCALA hatchback.

Although the coronavirus pandemic affected the domestic market in 2020, with carmakers selling a quarter less (76,305 vehicles in total), the SKODA brand clearly dominated the market with 17,064 vehicles sold. Despite uncertainties, problematic deliveries, and closed stores, the Czech carmaker managed to achieve a fantastic result  every fifth new vehicle in Slovakia bore the winged arrow logo. On top of that, SKODA AUTO Slovensko brought to customers the fourth-generation OCTAVIA model and successfully launched its sale. The popularity of the OCTAVIA model is also evidenced by the fact that it became thesecond most popular car on the marketlast year.

The best-selling vehicle in Slovakia in 2020 was the SKODA FABIA

FABIA on the throne again, SKODA dominating other segments as well

The best-selling vehicle in Slovakia in 2020 was the SKODA FABIA: 4,607 Slovaks bought the hatchback or station wagon version of this popular model. The larger OCTAVIA model, arriving in the brand-new fourth-generation version, was purchased by 3,997 Slovaks. One of the top five best-selling cars this year is also the SCALA hatchback with 2,104 vehicles sold. Other SKODA models dominated as well. KAMIQ, the small urban crossover, introduced to the market at the end of 2019 as a brand-new model, gained a 17% share in the A0 SUV segment. Another model enjoying high popularity is the SUPERB, which has also been rejuvenated. In the middle-size (B) category, it accounted for as much as 43% of sales in its segment.

OCTAVIA became the second best  selling vehicle

Popular with companies

In Slovakia, SKODA has traditionally beenthe leader in sales to corporate customers. Compared to 2019, the brand managed to increase its market share by 1.28% to reach 24.83%, which represented nearly every fourth car sold in this segment. The retail segment was even more successful. It grew not only in terms of market share to 17.53% (an increase of 4.75% compared to 2019), but also in absolute sales figures. While in 2019 SKODA had delivered 4,400 vehicles to retail clients, last year it delivered 4,521. SKODA noticed the growing trend even before the pandemic outbreak. The brand managed to maintain the trend thanks to their attractive offering of new models, strong and efficient measures, an ambitious production plan, and their flexible response to the situation and the proactivity of the whole Skoda Authorised Service network.

TOP in electromobility too

2020 was the year of electromobility in Slovakia. Although we are well behind Western Europe in the sales of electrified models, last year Slovakia saw a great increase in interest in environmentally friendly vehicles.The interest in fully electric vehicles rose by 453%, which means 914 vehicles sold and a total market share of 1.2%.

ENYAQ iV represents a successful start of the electrified models of SKODA

There was a similar growth rate recorded in the plug-in hybrid segment. In total, 861 P-HEV vehicles were sold last year, which corresponds to a market share of 1.1%.Here again, SKODA vehicles were the best-selling models. The fully electric vehicle category was ruled by the CITIGO iV with 165 vehicles sold. The best-selling plug-in hybrid car was the SKODA SUPERB iV with 175 vehicles sold. This trend suggests that in the years to come the electrified car segment should continue to grow the fastest. Before the end of last year, SKODA launched the sale of an electrified version of the OCTAVIA, which is now available in three versions  a mild hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, and an RS version plug-in hybrid. Slovak customers will also receive the first ENYAQ iV vehicles later this year. SKODA is planning to introduce some additional electrified models too. With their approach and the varied iV model range, SKODA shows that it is ready for the new era

Created with the support of The SKODA.

20. Jan 2021 at 10:00
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
WITH people continuing to work from home, the issue of burn out has become very real  with some people not realising how exhausted they are until its too late and theyve hit a wall.

Thats according to Cork business woman Peigin Crowley, who says for 2021 a much stronger value must be put on rest and restoration.

The days of glamorising being so busy are gone. The Slowing has arrived  whether we like it or not, but it is actually a good thing if we welcome it in. I for one needed it.

When the pandemic hit, the award-winning spa consultant was engaged to design two spa projects in new hotel builds  both of which were paused immediately and remain on hold.

It was a terrifying time, seeing all project work drop off. Initially it was difficult to comprehend, our community was in shock, our business is literally hands on so we were very nervous, she remembers.

But for the first time in years, she found she had space and time in her diary, and she embarked on a journey that saw her create her own range of wellness products.

Some of Peigin's products.

A NEW VENTURE

Called Ground, and stocked exclusively in Brown Thomas, its ethos is to remind ourselves to take things softly, slowly, mind ourselves, and the ones we love.

Peigins name is synonymous with the spa industry in Ireland so any product shes putting her name to comes with very strong credentials.

She trained as a therapist on cruise liners over 20 years ago, launched the Elemis spa brand to the Irish market, and went on to develop award-winning spas from Adare Manor to The Merrion. She has worked with the best in the business, including The Cliff House Hotel, The Montenotte and The Old Head of Kinsale.

My passion has always centered around treatment and creating the true spa experience where the guest surrenders into the power of touch and invites relaxation in.

With Ground, I wanted to create a brand that focuses on rebuilding our at home relationship, that helps bring us back to ourselves, and reminds us of what really matters, especially during these unsettling times.

Our calming, restorative products, and grounding rituals  created for men, women, and children  encourage us to tog go bog e and to take it softly.

Our four families of products are designed to be gifted and shared, to ourselves, to supporting family and friends, and to those that impact our daily lives.

The products are created under the headings: reconnect with nature, invite sleep in, to thrive and kindness.

Made from pure botanical vegan ingredients that are pesticide- and herbicide-free, all products are naturally sourced and where possible organic.

Each product is hand-crafted with intention using traditional methods, and made by myself in small batches in Cork, she said.

A GREAT BOOST

Being stocked in Brown Thomas is a great start for the range and one Peigin doesnt take for granted.

If you had told me a year ago this is what I would be doing, I would never have believed you, yet I am so grateful for the opportunity.

Brown Thomas Cork were instrumental in putting me forward to the buying team in Dublin and from the very beginning they could not have been kinder or more supportive in the launch set up pre-Christmas.

Ground products are made from pure botanical vegan ingredients that are pesticide- and herbicide-free, all products are naturally sourced and where possible organic.

It flexed from an in-store launch in Cork and Dublin to an online one when stores closed again in November. We then launched in store in Cork and again the local support was incredible  most lines selling out within that first week.

I would literally come into the store each day, I loved meeting the customers for a few hours and then I would go home in the evenings to make more product. What an exciting and rewarding time!

We were set to launch in store in Dublin this month. Unfortunately that will now be pushed out, but Ill be launching my own online platform in April which Im very excited about.

SUPPORTING OTHERS

Peigin, who lives in Ovens with her husband Shane and daughters Anna Louise, aged 12, and Bella, aged eight, has also played a crucial role in helping spas reopen safely when restrictions were lifted during the pandemic.

Last year she a co-founded a voluntary not-for-profit organisation called the Irish Spa Association to foster growth and professionalism in the wellness industry.

Our work involved tackling critical industry issues such as Brexit, rising insurance costs, understanding how best to treat guests with cancer, recruitment issues, etc, she said.

But when Covid closed the sector in mid-March, they turned their complete attention to equipping themselves to reopen.

Ground products are on sale in Brown Thomas in Cork and Dublin.

We began by reaching out to the NSAI to establish appropriate guidelines for re-opening. Very quickly we were told that it was industry specific and we would be best placed to establish our own.

Which we did, and once complete we hosted virtual calls on risk assessment and business continuity.

At one point there were up to 500 attendees joining our calls from around the world.

The greater hair and beauty community in Ireland came together and in joining forces we took a seat at the table to lobby government and work with Minister Heather Humphries for consideration around our robust guidelines at a government level.

After much campaigning, we were given the green light to open three weeks ahead of the initial government roadmap.

A BRIGHT FUTURE

Peigin now predicts a surge in the wellness and self-care industry: We are a response to the grief and loneliness that people have experienced, she says Spa is no longer pigeon holed as pampering, an indulgent luxury, a treat when you go to a hotel for a night  it has evolved into the space of well-being and preventive health. Where the power of touch is paramount and slowing our lives down to seek balance and care for ourselves is seen as necessary.

HER OWN WELLNESS RITUALS

Shes a firm believer in being a friend to yourself, so we have to ask her to share her own wellness rituals.

I am fortunate enough to have a gifted therapist in Blaithin McDonnell of Taman Spa, Monkstown, where I go twice a month (when not in lockdown) for reflexology. It is my time to ground and rebalance.

I also believe in the bath. Setting the room, pouring the salts and then the comfort of warm water.

When she is overwhelmed, essential oils, through breathing them in and through her skin, are a must, says Peigin.

Essential oils entering a double route through lungs and skin. This is my go-to, even in the summer.

When Im overwhelmed, I focus on my breathing, its a brilliant hack that takes me into the present and allows me to focus on what I can control  my breath. And in doing so I can hear and feel my heart beat, and suddenly I have coherence between my head, heart and lungs and that gives me strength and belief in the next steps.

Lastly, the kids and I love putting on sleep oil at night. Teaching that self-care is a good thing and most necessary for life.

For more see https://groundwellbeing.com/
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(Newser)  Joe Biden swore the oath of office Wednesday to become the 46th president of the United States, during an inauguration ceremony with few parallels in history. He was administered the oath by Chief Justice John Roberts as three former presidentsBill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obamalooked on. The New York Times reports he took the oath with his hand on a family Bible that dates to 1893. It has been present at his prior swearing-ins as senator and vice president, and son Beau Biden used it when he became Delaware attorney general. Biden comes to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy, as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he is the oldest president inaugurated, reports the AP.

story continues below

The theme of Bidens approximately 30-minute speech will be "America United," and aides said it would be a call to set aside differences during a moment of national trial. Biden will then oversee a "Pass in Review," a military tradition that honors the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander in chief. Then, Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and their spouses will be joined by that bipartisan trio of former presidents to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Later, Biden will join the end of a slimmed-down inaugural parade as he moves into the White House. In the evening, in lieu of the traditional glitzy balls that welcome a new president to Washington, Biden will take part in a televised concert that also marks the return of A-list celebrities to the White House orbit after they largely eschewed Trump. Among those in the lineup: Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

(Read more President Biden stories.)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 07:46:48|Editor: huaxia

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Bomb disposal team members exchange information as they handle "explosive" device detected during a joint railroad police emergency drill at a freight hub in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)
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The first time I heard the name, Joe Biden, I wanted to weep.

On December 18, 1972, struggling through Washington traffic to my office at the White House, my car radio reported the deaths of a newly elected senators young wife and baby daughter in Delaware in a horrific collision.

For a moment I forgot that Biden was a political opponent. Instead, as a husband and father myself, I thought of a terribly bereaved human being and choked back tears as I reflected on his grief.

Now, all these years later, the last time I heard the name, Joe Biden, I wanted to weep.

This time it was not merely the Senate to which he had ascended, but the White House. I wept not so much for Biden as for the babies who would die because of his expanded abortion policies, for the speed with which Americas long march to socialism would intensify, and for the men and women and children who would sometimes find their government as the major obstacle to building a traditional family.

But eventually  and above all  I must pull back and view Biden from my perspective as a conservative Christian.

Last year I wrote a book about the presidency titled, Two Men From Babylon (published by Thomas Nelson). I looked at parallels between Nebuchadnezzar, king of ancient Babylon in the age of Daniel the prophet, and Donald Trump, from the Babylon of New York.

Daniels clarity was brightening, while Nebuchadnezzar was sinking into insanity. Finally, the ruler abandons everything, and runs into the wilderness, where he lives for a long stretch like a wild animal.

But there, Nebuchadnezzar encounters the God of Daniel. At the end of that period, Nebuchadnezzar reported later, I ... raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever... (Daniel 3:34)

May Donald Trump raise his eyes toward heaven in his present wilderness, walking daily in the Lords peace and joy.

May Joe Biden see who he is, not just as a political leader, but as a man who has been entrusted with great authority for which he must give an account to the transcendent Giver of all authority at the end of his days. (Romans 13)

Daniel 2:21 reveals that it is the Lord who changes the times and the epochs (seasons); He removes kings and establishes kings... The intentional will of God is that which God mandates will happen. Gods permissive will He allows to happen (and makes possible our freedom). Was Trump president through Gods intentional or permissive will? And what about Biden? I do not know. I just know that God is in charge of history, and removes kings and establishes kings (and presidents).

As I wrote in Two Men From Babylon, the Bible shows that nations play a big role in Gods goal for history, which is the advance and global manifestation of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) in all the nations.

In line with that plan, God raises up through His permissive or intentional will the leadership of nations. Some of these leaders will be unlikely. We see this in Exodus 9:16, which is repeated in Romans 9:17, when the Apostle Paul reminds his readers of Gods word to Pharaoh through Moses: For this very purpose I have raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.

So, did God elevate Donald Trump or Joe Biden to the presidency intentionally, or permissively? I cannot answer that. However, as a conservative Christian I must acknowledge that each is/was in the Oval Office by the will of God.

That doesnt mean that to oppose them would be to go against the will of God. The Lord may use that opposition to bring them to His ways, and/or hold them on track. It also means that the people of God have authority to pray for them.

Amos was a mighty intercessor who also was unafraid to speak against King Jeroboam. Finally, Amaziah, the court priest, told Amos,

Get out of here, you prophet! Go on back to the land of Judah, and earn your living by prophesying there! Dont bother us with your prophecies here in Bethel. This is the kings sanctuary and the national place of worship! (Amos 7 NLT)

Amos refused to stop speaking truth in the Kings palace.

The awesomeness of the presidency and the mystique of the Oval Office cultivates sycophancy. So, I think of Richard Nixon, for whom I worked, and how he might have been saved from disaster had there been an Amos in his life. Donald Trump needed a sharp-tongued prophet, and so does Joe Biden now. But, like Amos, such individuals need to lift up these leaders to God through intercession.

A person whos got your back in prayer has earned the right to also get in your face.

Therefore, as a conservative Christian my first duty toward Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is to pray for them daily. Second, as Daniel resisted Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans, so I must oppose them in a godly, respectful way... third, I must stay in the flow of the big river of Gods will and see the larger perspective... fourth, I must be ready to minister to those who get wounded by a destructive socio-cultural environment, sometimes facilitated by those in leadership.

All this because, before I am an American, before I am a Republican, I am a Christian.
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You sit there and were like, Are you kidding me? You still dont have a plan for how you close down a pod or a school? And now we have more of our members getting infected, Moreno said. ... Youve put human beings in situations, in unsafe situations, to work in the middle of a pandemic where people are getting gravely ill and are dying, and you cant even give an answer to a metric of when somebody gets infected and how you test somebody and how you make sure that people are vaccinated when the vaccines are there already?
01/01/2020 Prof Michael OAoConnell who was inaugurated as the new Master at The Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital outside the hospital on Cork Street, Dublin Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

An independent review has been ordered by the Coombe maternity hospital in Dublin into how the relatives of a number of staff were given the Covid-19 vaccine.

A statement from the hospital said its board had met to discuss the issue which arose late in the evening of Friday January 8 in relation to the vaccine rollout.

Given the serious nature of the matter the board has made the decision to commence an independent review. It expects this review will be completed within a number of weeks.

The board has also taken the decision to task a senior clinician from within the hospital to lead and take full responsibility for the next stage of its vaccination rollout until it is completed, it said.

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Earlier this week it emerged that 16 family members of staff were given the vaccine after vaccinators could find no other health workers to receive leftover jabs.

The hospital said that on Friday January 8 at approximately 9pm 16 vaccine doses, of the over 1,100 administered to frontline staff, GPs and local community health workers, were available and if they were not used, they would have had to have been discarded.

At that time, the HSE booking system and portal was not live, as it came online the following morning (Saturday 9th), and so it was not possible to pre-book vaccinations and therefore be certain of the number of vaccinations required. It is important to note that the HSE booking system and portal is now live, the hospital said in a statement.

The hospital worked throughout the day, reconstituting the vials and making vaccines available to front-line workers. At the time five vaccines were expected from each vial, however throughout the day it was possible to get six doses out of most vials, and in some cases seven.

As a direct result of this operational efficiency, over 120 additional vaccines, over and above what had been anticipated, were made available.

"The team at the hospital proactively contacted the HSE to inform them of the additional available doses and actively sought out front-line workers to vaccinate. The hospital followed government guidelines and focused on the two current priority groups.

That evening there were 16 vaccine doses that had been made up (reconstituted) remaining, and to ensure that vaccines were not wasted they were administered to family members of employees of the hospital.

"Of the 16 recipients, nine were over 70 and the remaining seven were of varying age. It would not be appropriate for the hospital to comment on the individuals involved.

Hospital Master Prof Michael OConnell said: The decision to use the vaccines that had already been made up was made to ensure that not a single reconstituted vaccine was wasted. Had they not been used they would have been discarded.

"I was keenly aware of that and throughout the evening and from 9.30pm onward I personally made every effort to prioritise and identify additional frontline workers and followed all measures available to me at the time. In hindsight as Master I deeply regret that family members of employees were vaccinated and for that I wholeheartedly apologise.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has asked for a report on the matter from the Health Service Executive.

Last week updated guidelines were issued by the HSE saying that during a vaccination session a reserve list of health staff needed to be drawn up in the event of surplus vaccines.
ORANGE VILLAGE, Ohio  The Last Page  an American restaurant serving classic dishes with a crafted beverage menu  is set to open in February at Pinecrest development in Orange Village.

The restaurant will be near Central Park, the grassy verge in front of Silverspot Cinema, and steps from a parking garage.

The restaurants founder is Todd Leebow, president and chief executive officer of Majestic Steel USA. His company, Kind of One Concepts, will run the restaurant, the companys first.

Leebow said in a news release that the idea for the restaurant, which will be hiring as many as 70 workers, has been in the works for two years.

The Last Page will feature handcrafted cocktails, a curated wine list to pair with the dishes and a specialized beer program. Dishes will be American in nature but have a global influence. The culinary melting-pot touch is seen in the menu, which includes a Mediterranean bowl (hummus, cucumber, tomato, feta, roasted pepper), Not Your Grandmas Meatball (red sauce, basil, ricotta) and broken egg fried rice (kimchi, spinach, egg yolk).

Hours will be 11 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday for brunch. It also will offer takeout, curbside pickup and delivery.

Reservations will be taken beginning Monday, Jan. 25. Email thelastpagerestaurant.com or call 216-465-1008.

Last year, Saucy Brew Works opened a dual brew pub-coffee shop concept in the mixed-use district, which includes multiple restaurants with varying cuisine and focus. Pinstripes emphasizes Italian food and offers bocce and bowling. Shack Shake serves up burgers, and Firebirds is American contemporary. Condado Tacos, Duck Donuts and Red the Steakhouse also are within the development.

The Last Page is at 100 Park Ave., suite 128. Pinecrest is at the northeast corner of Interstate 271 and Harvard Road.

I am on cleveland.coms life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, heres a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 a.m. Fridays for Beer with Bona and Much, Much More with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.

Get a jumpstart on the weekend and sign up for Cleveland.coms weekly In the CLE email newsletter, your essential guide to the top things to in Greater Cleveland. It will arrive in your inbox on Friday mornings - an exclusive to-do list, focusing on the best of the weekend fun. Restaurants, music, movies, performing arts, family fun and more. Just click here to subscribe. All cleveland.com newsletters are free.
From brain-training apps to botox, many people will try anything to turn back the clock.

But a new study suggests that the key to slowing the ageing process could lie with certain cells in our immune system, called myeloid cells.

These cells play a vital role in fighting off infections and cleaning up debris, but they often go into overdrive as we age, causing chronic inflammation.

The research indicates that switching these cells off could 'de-age' the brain and delay the onset of several conditions, including heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and frailty.

While the findings are very early stage, the researchers hope they could help drug makers to develop a compound to delay ageing.

Research indicates that switching myeloid cells off could 'de-age' the brain and delay the onset of several conditions, including heart disease, Alzheimer's diseases, cancer and frailty (stock image)

WHAT ARE MYELOID CELLS? Myeloid cells are found in the brain, the circulatory system and peripheral tissues, where they serve an essential role in cleaning up dead cells, providing nutrients to other cells, and watching out for invading pathogens. However, as we age, our myeloid cells begin to dysfunction, inflicting damage to innocent tissues in the process. In the study, the researchers blocked the interaction of a hormone called PGE2 and a receptor on myeloid cells in the mice and human cells in culture. Amazingly, this was enough to restore youthful metabolism, and restore age-related mental decline in old mice. Advertisement

In the study, researchers from Stanford Medicine studied myeloid cells in old mice, as well as myeloid cells in cultures from people older than 65 and under 35.

Myeloid cells are found in the brain, the circulatory system and peripheral tissues, where they serve an essential role in cleaning up dead cells, providing nutrients to other cells, and watching out for invading pathogens.

However, as we age, our myeloid cells begin to malfunction, inflicting damage to innocent tissues in the process.

In the study, the researchers blocked the interaction of a hormone called PGE2 and a receptor on myeloid cells in the mice and human cells in culture.

Amazingly, this was enough to restore youthful metabolism, and restore age-related mental decline in old mice.

Professor Katrin Andreasson, professor of neurology and neurological sciences and senior author of the study, explained: 'If you adjust the immune system, you can de-age the brain.'

PGE2 is a hormone that belongs to a group known as prostaglandins, and does many different things in the body, depending on which cells it binds to.

For example, when PGE2 binds to a receptor called EP2 on myeloid cells, it initiates inflammatory activity inside the cells.

Myeloid cells are found in the brain, the circulatory system and peripheral tissues, where they serve an essential role in cleaning up dead cells, providing nutrients to other cells, and watching out for invading pathogens. However, as we age, our myeloid cells begin to dysfunction, inflicting damage to innocent tissues in the process

In the study, the researchers found that the cells from older mice and older humans had far greater numbers of EP2 on their surfaces, and also produced more PGE2.

Unfortunately, as the hormone binds to these receptors, it leads to an increase in inflammation, causing damage to innocent tissues.

Professor Andreasson explained: 'This powerful pathway drives ageing. And it can be downshifted.'

Using two compounds, the researchers blocked the ability for PGE2 to bind to EP2, and were able to reverse this inflammation, as well as age-related cognitive decline.

Older mice were even able to perform as well on tests of recall and spatial navigation as young mice.

Of particular interest was one of the two compounds, which was found to be effective, even though it doesn't penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

According to the team, this suggests that resetting myeloid cells outside the brain could have a huge effect on what goes on inside the brain.

Unfortunately, the compounds are not approved for human use, and possibly have toxic side effects, according to the researchers.

However, the team hopes they could provide a road map for drug makers to develop a safe compound to give to humans.
Canada-based Giyani Metals is planning to build a solar plant for its manganese mining site in Botswana. Three kinds of projects, with capacities ranging from 14 to 60 MW, are being considered. The power generated by the facility may be either consumed entirely by the mine or also sold to the grid under different scenarios.Giyani Metals Corp, a Canada-based company owning the K.Hill manganese project in southern Botswana, has concluded the feasibility study for the construction of a solar park at the mining site. The company explained the PV plant may be built under three different scenarios: ...

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.
She has a killer body and an underwear line to promote.

And Kim Kardashian did not disappoint her 200M followers as she put them both on display on Tuesday.

Working a black SKIMS bra top and matching pair of waist-high underwear, the reality star, 40, posed delicately inside her vast bathroom.

Working it! Kim Kardashian put her gym-honed body on display as she showcased the newest addition to her SKIMS line, the Jelly Sheer collection, on Tuesday

Kim was giving fans a sneak peek of the latest addition to her SKIMS line, the Jelly Sheer collection, which is set to drop on January 22.

Available in a variety of colors, Kim tried on several of the looks for her fans.

On top of baring her abs and legs in the black set, she tried on a skimpy red bra top and matching biker shorts.

'Okay guys I am so excited about this Jelly Sheer SKIMS collection. It's very sheer. I'm into it,' she said as she showed off the crimson look.

If you've got it! The reality star showcased her body from within her vast bathroom

Ab fab: Standing before the camera, Kim looked relaxed as she showed off the rather revealing outfit for her millions of followers

Standing before the camera, Kim looked relaxed as she showed off the rather revealing outfit for her millions of followers.

The new SKIMS Jelly Sheer collection will be released on January 22, and is available in four different colors and eight styles.

'@SKIMS JELLY SHEER. Introducing a collection of slinky intimates that glide onto your skin & embrace your curves,' Kim tweeted on Tuesday.

'Available in 8 new styles, 4 colors, & in sizes XXS - 4X. Shop Jelly Sheer on 01.22 at 9AM PT, join the waitlist now at SKIMS for early access to shop.'

Red hot: She also showed off another hue from the upcoming collection

Something for everyone: The new SKIMS Jelly Sheer collection will be released on January 22, and is available in four different colors and eight styles

Kim's business ventures surely provide a welcome distraction from the reported marital trouble she is facing with husband Kanye West.

The couple, who married in a lavish ceremony in Florence in 2014, are reportedly on the brink of divorce.

A source has since claimed Kim is at 'peace' with the direction of her life amid her pending split from Kanye.

'She will continue to focus on her business empire,' an insider told Us Weekly. 'Kim has been in individual counseling and is at peace with where her life is headed.'

The couple share children North West, seven, Chicago, three, Saint, five, and Psalm, one, together, and are said to be 'actively negotiating' the divorce terms, which likely includes custody arrangements.

Sizzling: There was no missing Kim and her fiery yet intimate look
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A new bill to increase the retirement age of teachers across the country was on Wednesday approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The bill seeks to increase the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years and also increase the possible years of service from 35 to 40 years.

The bill will now be sent to the parliament for the proper legislative process before it can become law, the education minister, Adamu Adamu, told journalists in Abuja after the FEC meeting.

The Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2020 , seeks to give legal backing to new measures by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to enhance teaching in the country.

This memo that was approved for the Ministry of Education is a giant step towards what we set out to do last year, with the approval of some special packages for teachers by the president. So, at the meeting today, Council approved that a bill which will be called Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2020 be sent to the National Assembly for enactment into law so that all the promises made by the president and all the approvals he had given to me will now begin to be put into effect because this is the legal backing that is required for it, Mr Adamu said.

The essence of the bill actually is to give legal backing for the approval of a new retirement age of 65 for teachers and then the service period being extended to 40 years.

ALSO READ: FG approves new incentives for teachers

Apart from increasing the retirement age and years of service, the bill also seeks to introduce bursary award, special rural posting allowances and other items that will encourage brilliant Nigerians to take to teaching.

The intention is to attract the best brains to the teaching profession and for that, the president approved the reintroduction of bursary awards, improving teacher quality, funding teaching practice form TETFUND, enhanced entry point for teachers. The president also approved that there should be some special allowances, like rural posting allowance and science teachers allowance, the minister said.
PALM BEACH, Fla. - Donald Trump's final act as the 45th president of the United States was announced as his official government motorcade rolled through the palm-lined streets of South Florida one last time: a full pardon for Albert Pirro, the ex-husband of Trump loyalist and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro.

Trump had decided Wednesday morning to grant a final gift of clemency after issuing 143 other pardons in an early-morning spree that included his controversial former chief strategist Stephen Bannon.

His remaining aides had hoped that Trump's departure remarks at Joint Base Andrews earlier that morning - where he thanked his supporters and wished the incoming administration "great success" - would serve as the enduring image of his already fraught exit from the presidency. Instead, they scrambled to explain another whim from their boss.

Away from his twin cravings - the public and the press - the outgoing president announced the Pirro pardon in a brief written statement as much of the world spun forward without him. Many of his once-close Republican allies eschewed his sparsely attended Air Force One farewell to attend President Joe Biden's inauguration instead. Most of Trump's senior aides skipped his final flight as president, instead remaining in Washington. And a smattering of supporters greeted his arrival at the balmy Palm Beach airport.

But if the final hours of Trump's presidency were publicly anticlimactic and relatively sedate, they were characteristically frenetic behind the scenes.

Trump spent his last full day polling a wide range of advisers on whether he should pardon Bannon, who was fired from the White House in 2017. Federal prosecutors charged Bannon last year with defrauding Trump's own donors in a private fundraising effort for construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Aides began preparing the paperwork for a potential Bannon pardon not even knowing if Trump planned to sign the document, although he ultimately did just before midnight over the objections of many advisers and allies.

Trump also rescinded a much-heralded ethics executive order shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday that had hindered federal administration officials from lobbying the government or working for foreign countries after they leave their posts. In reversing the pledge - which he signed to great fanfare in a 2017 Oval Office ceremony - Trump undercut one of his most significant pledges to "drain the swamp," now allowing many of his former employees to lobby agencies for which they once directly worked and to accept foreign government clients.

In his final remarks at Joint Base Andrews, Trump never once mentioned the names of his successors - President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris - despite their names having been written into his prepared script.

"I will always fight for you," Trump said. "I will be watching. I will be listening. And I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think they'll have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular."

For Trump, a consummate showman most comfortable when the focus is squarely on him, perhaps the biggest indignity Wednesday was just how clearly the attention had shifted elsewhere, with much of the nation riveted to the inaugural proceedings back in Washington.

There, Biden addressed what he called "the historic moment of crisis and challenge," offering a glimpse at a governing vision in stark contrast with that of Trump: "Unity is the path forward," he said.

On social media, Trump's favored public forum from which he is now largely banned, the conversation also moved past the 45th president. The new focus included scenes both frivolous and moving - from Harris's purple outfit and pearls to her stepdaughter's Miu Miu bejeweled coat to the powerful performance by national youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman to Michelle Obama's elegant ensemble to how Lady Gaga, who performed the national anthem, looked like a glamorous "Hunger Games" sponsor.

"He's a profoundly lonely man and I think he's on his way to even more profound loneliness," said Tim O'Brien, a senior columnist for Bloomberg Opinion and a Trump biographer who has often been critical of him. "It certainly ended with a bang, with the insurrection on Jan. 6, but it climaxed with a whimper, which is somebody isolated and locked down and divorced from democracy and the pageantry of the office. It was like he was fleeing a crime scene."

Trump, who was impeached for a second time by the House for inciting a deadly riot of supporters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, called around to allies in his final hours in the Oval Office on Tuesday evening and talked about how "good" his poll numbers were and how many people still support him, a person who spoke to him said. He surmised that the prospect of a third party that he would lead - called the Patriot Party - could scare Republican senators into voting against convicting him in an impeachment trial.

And he falsely told one adviser that his Gallup poll numbers were at 51 percent. In fact, his Gallup approval number reached its nadir at the end of his presidency, at 34 percent; his average approval rating of 41 percent throughout his presidency was the lowest Gallup has ever recorded.

Trump did not go into the Oval Office on his final day but greeted some senior aides in the Diplomatic Reception Room before departing. Yet, after months of riling up his supporters with false claims of a stolen election that ended in a deadly Capitol siege, he seemed at peace with leaving the White House, the person who spoke with him said.

A small crowd greeted Trump as he walked across the South Lawn toward Marine One, and a larger but still modest one awaited him at Joint Base Andrews. Trump had hoped to orchestrate the sort of showy military send-off that more resembled authoritarian pageantry than the placid rituals of American electoral democracy.

"We will be back in some form," the outgoing president said. "Have a good life."

Noticeably absent from his farewell were the three elected Republicans who had worked most closely with him - Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. All three instead attended Biden's inauguration - which Trump decided not to attend, bucking the traditional transfer of power - with Pence at center stage applauding Biden's speech.

Trump tried to re-create the rituals of his routine political rallies, veering off script, offering up mistruths and blaring Laura Branigan's hit "Gloria" and the Village People's "YMCA." Air Force One taxied down the runway to the strains of Frank Sinatra's "My Way."

"It ended as absurdly as it possibly could end, with him flying off the tarmac to 'My Way,' which is a song about someone who has no regrets for anything he's done and doesn't care about what anybody else thinks of them," O'Brien said. "It's the most unpresidential anthem imaginable."

Televisions on the flight to Florida were turned to Fox News inauguration coverage for the entire ride, and the final meal was grilled sirloin on a bed of cheesy grits, with an over-easy egg and a buttermilk biscuit.

Trump - who spent some time on the flight talking to the flight crew and pilots - did a flyover of his private Mar-a-Lago Club and the Palm Beach coastline for the last time before the plane landed. Air Force One dipped low as it approached the coastline and surveyed his property, then circled around to land.

No official greeters and little fanfare met Trump as he arrived in Florida. An aide described the moment as a "technical transfer." At 11 a.m., Air Force One stopped rolling, its belly facing a small phalanx of cameras and about 10 supporters. Trump smiled as he exited the plane but did not take questions. He was joined by Melania Trump and soon trailed by his adult children and their spouses. By 11:09 a.m., Trump's motorcade had rolled from Palm Beach International Airport for the final time.

As Trump headed toward Mar-a-Lago, the motorcade periodically slowed down so he could take in his supporters who lined the bridge and dotted the roads for several miles.

Brandi Kraus and her husband drove their three young sons 10 hours from Raleigh, N.C., to wave at Trump's motorcade. Kraus was having her boys practice their salutes while they waited for Trump to pass by.

"We're kind of hoping for a John Kennedy Jr. moment here," Kraus said as 4-year-old Zachary snapped his hand back and forth from his forehead.

Kraus said the trip was worth it to see Trump as president one last time: "We're here to stand up for him, to stand up for the Constitution," she said.

Trump arrived at his private club before noon on Wednesday, when Biden officially became president, and disappeared behind the hedges without a word. He was accompanied by a few aides, officials said, and is expected to play golf in the coming days.

- - -

The Washington Post's Anne Gearan in Washington and Lori Rozsa in Palm Beach, Fla., contributed to this report.
A general view as a resident of a flat that overlooks the course watches the action at Newbury Racecourse on January 20, 2021 in Newbury, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Two Horses Die in Training at Los Alamitos Ahead of License Discussion

CYPRESS (CNS)State regulators will renew their discussion on extending an operating license for Los Alamitos Race Course Jan. 21, a few days after two horses died while training at the Cypress track.

According to the California Horse Racing Boards website, Dont Stop Looking, a 3-year-old filly, and Noor Khan, a 4-year-old mare, died Jan. 17. Details of the deaths were not immediately available.

They were the first deaths to occur at the track since last Dec. 16.

On Dec. 17, the CHRB granted Los Alamitos a license to conduct quarter horse racing in the 2020-21 season, but only for six months instead of the full year track owners had requested.

Los Alamitos had applied to hold quarter horse races from Dec. 23, 2020, through Dec. 21, 2021. But after the board approved new regulations limiting the amount of drugs horses can be given before racing at Los Alamitos, Commissioner Oscar Gonzales introduced a motion to limit the license to six

months so the board could revisit the issue and examine whether the new changes were successful in reducing the number of equine deaths at the track.

Gonzalez cited more than 30 horse deaths that occurred at the track last year. The boards approval of the motion means it is now scheduled to review Los Alamitos safety record at its June meeting, with the option of extending the license beyond its current expiration date of June 30.

The board, however, is scheduled to meet on Jan. 21, and the agenda includes a renewed application by Los Alamitos for a racing license through Dec. 21.

Los Alamitos was briefly placed on probation by the CHRB on July 10, 2020, due to a spate of racehorse deaths. At that time at least 20 horses had died at the track in 2020 after suffering racing or training injuries, and another 10 had succumbed to gastrointestinal and other types of illnesses.

On July 20, the CHRB unanimously signed off on a plan to allow Los Alamitos to continue holding races after track officials agreed to add several layers of oversight. The additional protocols including added another veterinarian to be a roving observer of horses in training, while entering, exiting, or on the track, as well as a security steward who oversees veterinary and barn practices, and an entry review panel of experts who have the authority to scratch horses for races.

After the probation was lifted, at least 10 more horses died, seven from racing injuries and three from causes listed by the CHRB as other.
Posted Tuesday, January 19, 2021 5:45 pm

The state Department of Ecology has denied a request for a shoreline permit required to build a $2 billion Kalama methanol plant that would export the chemical to China.

The permit rejection is a serious setback for a project that would be one of the Pacific Northwest's largest industrial users of natural gas  the feedstock for methanol  and has generated intense controversy since first proposed back in 2014.

Critics have attacked the NW Innovation Works project as a major new source of Pacific Northwest greenhouse gas emissions that would pollute for decades into a future when the imperatives of climate change call for cutting back such pollution.

And Laura Watson, the director of the Ecology Department, cited greenhouse gas emissions from the plant as a reason for rejecting the permit.

"I want to be very clear that a project that would increase greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 5 million (metric) tons annually would not benefit the environment ..." Watson said. "At most, this project would be less harmful than potential alternatives."

The plant's developers have said the project would help displace coal-based methanol in China that produces far more carbon emissions per gallon of product, and thus would be a net benefit in the global struggle to curb this pollution.

A state study released late last year  based on the work of three contractors  found a "high likelihood" that the project would slow the rise in global greenhouse gas emissions in the methanol industry. That savings could equal 5.9 million metric tons of carbon emissions  roughly the amount produced by 1.28 million gasoline-powered vehicles.

That study was cited by developers as they reacted to the permit rejection. "Given the strong scientific findings and multiple reviews over the last six years, it is difficult to understand why the original vision for both economic and environmental security has been bypassed," said Vee Godley, chief development officer for NW Innovation Works.

In interviews last year, state officials cast doubt on those findings, saying they were based on an analysis of future markets that were difficult to predict. In the study, they noted the department's determination that the project's emissions are significant, a conclusion that is required for a permit to be denied.

Watson also cited the uncertainty about how environmental and economic decisions would impact methanol markets with leaving no alternative but to turn down the permit.

She cited the certainty of what she termed "the extremely large" carbon footprint of the project. State officials said that the plant would emit nearly 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions in state and 4.8 million metric tons globally, which would include methane releases during the production of natural gas.

The state Legislature has set a 2050 target of having only 5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions released from the state, which would be down from nearly 100 million metric tons of emissions in 2018.

The permit decision was celebrated by environmental groups. Brett VandenHeuvel, executive director of Columbia Riverkeeper, applauded a decision he said followed "the science and the law." Stephanie Hillman, Northwest representative for the Sierra Club, said construction of the plant made no sense amid a climate emergency.

Officials at the Port of Kalama, where the project would be built, attacked the permit denial, and will be consulting with a legal team to "evaluate next steps."

"It's disheartening that after six years of robust expert review ... unnecessary barriers should continue to be raised. ... It is difficult to see the logic of this decision or the equitable application of state law," said Mark Wilson, the port's executive director.

The project also has been dogged by questions about how the methanol will be used in China.

Developers of the project have said the methanol would be used as a feedstock in the state's chemical industry. But a slideshow presentation to potential investors obtained by Oregon Public Broadcasting  and shown as recently as Jan. 2019  indicated the methanol could also be used as a fuel for industries and transportation.

The state study took all possible uses of methanol into account when determining the project's potential for slowing the rise in global greenhouse gas emissions.

NW Innovation Works will have up to 21 days to appeal the decision to deny the permit to the Shoreline Hearings Board, which is composed of administrative law judges. If that appeal is unsuccessful, the permit decision also could be challenged through a lawsuit.

The high-profile project was once embraced by Gov. Jay Inslee as a project that could provide a boost to the Southwest Washington economy and help reduce global emissions. Then in May 2019, the governor withdrew his on a day he signed a bill banning fracking. In a written statement, he said, "I cannot in good conscience" support the methanol plant as well as a Tacoma liquified natural gas project because they would not accomplish what is necessary to combat climate change. He said that the withdrawal of his support would not affect the regulatory decision-making process.

NW Innovation Works officials also face challenges in getting federal permits. In November, a U.S. District Court judge in Tacoma struck down two Army Corps of Engineers permits because they were not the result of a full review of the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.

___

(c)2021 The Seattle Times

Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
My 8-year-old daughter started writing stories this year in Google Docs. They are thousands of words long, and my favorite one includes both a full brisket recipe and a murder mystery. She experiments with fonts, looks up synonyms and thinks about the plot even when shes away from the computer.

I dont think she would be doing any of this if not for our virtual pandemic year.

While I dont want to sugarcoat the experience  so many children, especially children without access to computers and high-speed internet, are struggling  I do want to point out that there are upsides to online life, and some experts agree.

With the caveat that there is not reliable research on long-term outcomes of this grand experiment, one positive outcome is that our children may be more fluent, earlier, in the technology they need for the 21st century. We all live our lives digitally, so we want these normal academic skills to be contextualized through a digital framework, said Jordan Shapiro, an assistant professor at Temple University in Philadelphia and the author of The New Childhood: Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World.

What this tech fluency means is not just that children are able to make cute slide shows and lead a videoconference by the time theyre 8. It also means that they may be able to pick up on social cues online and the nuances of texted communication in ways adults are just adjusting to now. Theyre still learning social skills, Shapiro pointed out  theyre just learning them in a different way.
It was total bedlam and within that pandemonium, something else very significant and serious happened, but unfortunately, it escaped everyone even the very close constituents.





The events of 7th January 2021 in the Parliament of Ghana when the election of the Speaker during the ungodly hour turned into a freak show would not be forgotten easily.



However, the fact that the discourtesy and maltreatment of a woman within the chaos that has been discussed for the past two weeks have been forgotten so quickly, and not received the strongest of condemnation is quite worrying.



Indeed, the Ghanaian Publisher is talking about the assault on the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.



The seat she was sitting on was violently yanked from under her, which sent her crashing onto the floor with both hands flying wildly for anything to grab for support.



The MP, who landed on her knees did the next best thing to steady herself and perhaps prevent falling in a supine position on the floor of Parliament in the full glare of the world.



She shoved the chair in front of her, which incidentally was then occupied by the MP for Asutifi South Constituency, which sent it spiralling into the space between the row of chairs.



That incident should have featured extensively in the condemnation of the confusion that rocked the Chamber that midnight.



The Ghanaian Publisher cannot comprehend how the various women groups in the country missed that unfortunate incident and why none has issued a statement condemning the maltreatment of Ursula Owusu by some MPs of the National Democrat Congress (NDC) group in the House.



Regardless of whether the Ablekuma South MP left the ranks of her own party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) group to take a seat among the NDC, which brewed some tension because of the already charged atmosphere, snatching the seat from beneath her was uncalled for.



Lest we forget, at that material moment all members in the Chamber were MPs-elect and have not been sworn in. Therefore, no side has been designated to any political party, which left the MP for Ablekuma South to choose wherever she would sit to feel comfortable.



As a country, we have consistently talked about women empowerment and have even discussed the idea of designating a specific number of seats in Parliament for women to ensure more participation in the governance of the country.



The Ghanaian Publisher demands whether this is how we intend to treat the more women we are advocating to take interest in politics and get themselves elected into Parliament.



What happened is a shame and the fact that it received little condemnation, even from the various women groups in the county is more disgraceful.



We must stop paying lip service to that so-called respect and empowerment of women and properly place them on the pedestal that they deserve.



Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful deserves better.













Source: The Ghanaian Publisher









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Featured Video
President Hassan Rouhani has expressed excitement over the departure of Americas President Donald Trump set to make way for President-ele...

President Hassan Rouhani has expressed excitement over the departure of Americas President Donald Trump set to make way for President-elect Joe Biden.

Speaking at a televised cabinet meeting Wednesday, Rouhani called on Joe Biden to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and lift sanctions imposed on Tehran by Donald Trumps administration.

If Washington returns to Irans 2015 nuclear deal, we will also fully respect our commitments under the pact, he said, adding in reference to Trump that a tyrants era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign.

During Trumps reign, Iran and the US almost went to war after the US assassinated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani last January.

With Biden who was a member of the Obama administration which negotiated the original deal entering office Thursday, hopes are high for rapprochement.

At the televised meeting, Rouhani castigated Trump, saying his four years in office bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption causing problems for his own people and the world.
[January 20, 2021] Nationally Recognized Diversity and Inclusion Expert Jennifer Brown to Host "Leading Inclusively in times of Crisis and Beyond"

Jennifer Brown, a nationally renowned diversity and inclusion expert and best-selling author, will host Leading Inclusively in times of Crisis and Beyond, the latest in a series of monthly educational equity webinars hosted by University of Phoenix. Brown, who has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, is known for creating inclusive workplaces. She has also authored several books on the topic, such as Inclusion: Diversity, the New Workplace and the Will to Change and How to be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive. Saray Lopez with the Office of Educational Equity for University of Phoenix says, "Last year, we allexperienced a big shift in the way we live our lives, educate our families, and much more. We also saw an increase in awareness in handling issues of diversity, social justice and equality in our daily lives. We are excited Jennifer Brown will join us to share ideas and successes to help our communities continue to move forward."



Leading Inclusively in times of Crisis and Beyond webinar will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 11 a.m. PST. There is limited space still available for registration. For more information or to register, please login here.

About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses and interactive learning help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. We serve a diverse student population, offering degree programs at select locations across the U.S. as well as online. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005177/en/

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In a surprising turn of events, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will appear on the cover of Vogue not once but twice in the same month.

Allow me to explain. On Tuesday, the venerable fashion bible announced it would print a limited number of redesigned February issues, featuring Harris on the cover in the photo she originally thought was slated for the front page.

Last week, Vogue, and by extension its editor, Anna Wintour, were globally criticised after the magazine allegedly swapped out the more "polished" image of Harris, wearing a powder blue suit and in a pose many regarded as vice-presidential, for a more casual, if awkward, pose of her in jeans and Converse sneakers against a messy backdrop (notwithstanding the fact it was meant to signify her college sorority, it was shambolic). There were reports Harris' team was "blindsided". Many called it disrespectful, while others went as far as to call it racist.

I found myself in the majority camp who liked the casual photo  just not on the cover. Of Vogue. In featuring the more laid-back image of the first black, first female vice-president, Vogue misjudged the moment and immortalised Harris in an image that, while a part of her overall persona (after all, she wore sneakers many times on the campaign trail, ditto jeans), did not pay her adequate gravity.
Swift Current Mayor Al Bridal cuts the ribbon during the ceremony to open the business chamber's new office, Jan. 12. Standing with him is Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce CEO Karla Wiens.
After confusion was blamed for some Connecticut teachers receiving the COVID-19 vaccine too soon, Gov. Ned Lamont brought some clarity to the process on Tuesday.

The governors office has released a new, tiered approach to divide the Phase 1B vaccination group, which includes 1.4 million Connecticut residents.

Phase 1B officially began Monday with the vaccinations of residents 75 and older who are not living in nursing homes.

Connecticut residents between the ages of 65 and 74 will be the next group to be vaccinated, which will likely begin in early February, according to a loose timeline shared by the governors office.

That group will be followed by front-line essential workers and individuals with underlying medical conditions who have an increased risk for severe illness, Lamonts office said.

Lamont said those residents will probably begin receiving the vaccine by around March 1. He said that timeline could change if the state receives more doses of the vaccine, including if one developed by Johnson & Johnson is approved.

Folks 65 and above are 18 percent of the population, but still 88 percent of the fatalities, Lamont said Tuesday during his afternoon media briefing. So I think you can understand why this is going to be a really important priority for us.

The vaccine should become available to the remaining essential workers, known as Phase 1C, sometime in May. The vaccine could be available to the general population sometime in June, according to the governors timeline.

Rolling out the vaccine to a slightly younger segment of the population next is also meant to address how the virus has hit communities of color disproportionately hard.

African Americans are much more likely to suffer fatality in the 70- to 79-year-old group than, say, a non-Hispanic white, Lamont said. And Hispanics are even more likely to suffer fatality in that younger age group, so thats another reason why we focus on 65 and above.

Deidre Gifford, the acting commissioner of the Department of Public Health, said the state will also use data tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine where to place vaccination clinics to ensure the shots reach vulnerable communities.

The governor continued to urge patience and said he believes the incoming Biden administration will put the foot on the accelerator to ramp up vaccination efforts on the federal level, including the use of the Defense Production Act.

On Tuesday, Connecticut reported 2,094 new COVID-19 cases out of 37,033 tests for a daily positivity rate of 5.65 percent. The state reported 27 people have been hospitalized since Monday, increasing the statewide total to 1,141. A dozen more deaths brought the statewide death toll to 6,682.

As of Tuesday, 220,820 vaccine doses had been administered in Connecticut, including 24,067 people who have received their second and final dose, according to the governors office.

Lamonts vaccine timeline announcement came as the president of the Connecticut Education Association says confusion about where teachers are prioritized during the process led to a number of educators getting their shots too soon.

In a joint memo sent Sunday, the state Department of Public Health and Department of Education said some school districts prematurely registered their entire roster of employees in the federal Vaccine Administration Management System.

Once users are uploaded to the web portal, they receive a message from the CDC allowing them to use VAMS to find and schedule a vaccine appointment.

Josh Geballe, the states chief operating officer, said only about a dozen school districts misunderstood the directions. He pointed out there are more than 200 school districts in the state and more than 300 private schools.

The governors office said school staff who made appointments after Thursday had been instructed to cancel them.

School districts are also being told not to upload more rosters of employees into VAMS until notified, according to the Sunday memo.

Gifford indicated teachers have followed their directives. When teachers understand whats being asked, they will cancel their appointment and wait their turn, she said.

East Windsor resident Jessica Wolf, a music teacher in the Somers school district, is among the educators who have already received their first dose of the vaccine. Wolf said she registered through VAMS and received the vaccine Saturday at Rentschler Field.

Yesterday was my birthday, Wolf said. What a present!

Jeff Leake, president of the Connecticut Education Association, said his group has consistently advocated that teachers be a top priority in Phase 1B.

We know that some school districts, either accidentally or purposefully, put educators in the queue, Leake said. We also know that some of you had appointments scheduled, only to have those appointments canceled when the state learned the group was not in the 75-and-older category. We have also been told that there will be glitches and some inconsistencies in any massive public health undertaking of this sort  some folks not in the 75-and-older category have been invited to receive or have received a vaccine even though this is not the stated protocol.

Some teachers in New London were vaccinated when they werent yet eligible because of what officials said was likely a VAMS error.

The states vaccination efforts come as college students have begun returning for the spring semester.

Students returning to the University of Connecticuts Storrs and Stamford residence halls were required to test at home and then again over the weekend when they returned to campus.

The school found 76 COVID-19 cases in re-entry testing, according to UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz. Of those, 56 cases were caught at home, and another 20 students developed the virus between the home test and returning to campus, Reitz said.
Demonstrators carried rifles and wore handguns at protests at some state capitols on Sunday, gatherings that law enforcement prepared for and that remained peaceful.

Preparations have been in place around the Alabama Capitol in Montgomery since last week. Posted with the roadblocks near the Capitol are signs alerting people that Alabama law prohibits carrying firearms at demonstrations.

The law says, It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a law enforcement officer, to have in his or her possession or on his or her person or in any vehicle any firearm while participating in or attending any demonstration being held at a public place. It is found in Section 13A-11-59 of the Code of Alabama.

Violation of the law is a misdemeanor. The firearms ban applies to those with concealed carry permits for handguns, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the attorney generals office.

It has remained quiet around the Capitol in Montgomery over the MLK weekend and leading into Wednesdays inauguration day in Washington. Although the streets in front of the Capitol are blocked to vehicles, foot traffic is open. People can walk part of the way up the Capitol steps before they meet a barrier that was put up a few days ago. As late as Friday people could walk around the Capitol grounds. The Capitol building has been closed to the public for months because of COVID-19.

State trooper vehicles and Montgomery police vehicles are posted near the Capitol.

Amanda Wasden, director of external affairs for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, said today the agency does not know of any specific or credible threats to the Alabama Capitol, elected officials or state property.

ALEA will continue to monitor the national situation and continue to collaborate with our federal, state and local partners, Wasden said in an email. The public is urged to call 911 for life threatening emergencies and to report suspicious activity through the Alabama Fusion Center (at this link.) They can also call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or report the tip here, Wasden said.

Capt. Saba Coleman, public information officer for the Montgomery Police Department, said she is not aware of any protests downtown during the last few days or planned for Wednesday. Coleman said the MPD will continue to keep personnel in place. The street in front of City Hall has also been blocked, and city offices are closed today and Wednesday.
A dramatic wartime account by a member of a lost party of soldiers who were rescued by a heroic British carrier pigeon has been uncovered.

Lieutenant James Leak was one of almost 700 men who became cut off during a major offensive on German positions towards the end of the First World War.

In the six days of being encircled by enemy forces deep in a French forest almost 200 men were killed either by constant German shelling or friendly fire from confused Allies unaware of their true position.

Runners made repeated attempts to get word back to headquarters of the location of the so-called Lost Battalion but each time they were intercepted by the enemy.

The stranded group then tried using carrier pigeons to send messages only to see them shot out of the sky by German snipers.

It was the British bird named Cher Ami that saved them by flying 25 miles in as many minutes to deliver the life-saving message despite being badly wounded.

The heroic exploits of a British carrier pigeon called Cher Ami (pictured)during the First World War have been revealed in archived letters and documents from a soldier who was involved

American soldier Lieutenant James Leak was part of the Lost Battalion which became cut off from other troops in France's forest of Argonne and were surrounded by hostile German forces. Although 200 men were saved after their location was learned, Leak was captured

The documents are being made available for auction and are expected to fetch around 5,000. Pictured: a report of his capture by Leak (L) and a vaccination document belonging to Leak (R)

The 'Lost Battalion' and the battle of Argonne The Lost Battalion is the name given to the nine companies of the 77th Division in the First World War who became isolated during an operation in the Forest of Argonne. In October 1918, the division launched an attack into the Argonne, under the belief that French forces were supporting their left flank and two American units were supporting their right. While the supporting units had got held up, the 77th pushed on unknowingly and subsequently ended up surrounded by German troops. For the next six days, suffering heavy losses, the men of the Lost Battalion and the American units desperate to relieve them would fight an intense battle. Messengers either got lost or ran into German forces and attempts to resupply the division with airdrops also failed. Although repeated attempts to convey their location by homing pigeon were made, it wasn't until the success of Cher Ami that Allied troops were able to rescue the division. Roughly 197 were killed in action and approximately 150 missing or taken prisoner before the 194 remaining men were rescued. Advertisement

The homing pigeon was shot through the breast, blinded in one eye and had a leg hanging only by a tendon but she still managed to complete the mission.

Upon discovering their location, reinforcements managed to push the German forces back and find the Lost Battalion of 194 men.

Cher Ami survived but lost her leg and so a small wooden one was carved for her. She died a year later.

The pigeon was awarded the Croix de Guerre medal with a palm Oak Leaf Cluster for her heroic service.

The man responsible for training and caring for the pigeon in the signal corps, Enoch Clifford Swain, was given an award for his service.

Lt Leak, who served in the American Army's 77th Division, was one of the 150 men captured during the offensive.

Now an archive of letters and documents relating to him has been made available for sale at auction by a militaria collector. It is expected to sell for 5,000.

One of the documents is the officer's hand written account describing his experience in the Argonne Forest and his capture.

In it he wrote how a few days into the operation his platoon became detached from the main force and came under heavy bombardment.

He was struck in the left leg by shrapnel and pretended to be dead as a German patrol came by.

One enemy soldier spiked him with a bayonet and upon realising that he was still alive captured him.

Tom Lamb, military specialist at auctioneers Bonhams, said: 'To read first-hand accounts from a platoon commander of the event is as thrilling as it is shocking.

'The bravery that these men showed more than 100 years ago helps put the world's current situation in a little perspective.

Military sketch map of Lake Constance, in Germany, where Leak was interned after his capture

Leak's Brass shoulder insignia of crossed rifles , Leak's 1st Lt's shoulder insignia and a hand-made brass wired motif of the Statue of liberty, both presumably taken from his uniform

'The men were known as the Lost Battalion and they may have remained lost forever if not for the heroic efforts of a carrier pigeon.'

On September 26, 1917 the Allies attacked the German lines at the top of a hill in the Argonne Forest.

Five days later the American 77th division had orders to advance up the hill and were to have been supported on either side by French and other US forces.

But both of these became bogged down and made little progress. The Germans soon encircled the 700 men and fired upon them in all directions.

As well as shelling, the Germans even poured 'liquid fire' down the hill in the form of lit oil tipped down pipes.

The battalion, which had little food or ammunition, had to withstand a horrific barrage bombing from their own side which obliterated the bodies of scores of already dead soldiers.

The message attached to Cher Ami that was written on onion paper read: 'We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heavens sake stop it.'

Mr Lamb said that because the US only came into the First World War in 1917, such archives and relics are very rare.

Pictured: The archive of letters and documents relating to Lt Leak and the Lost Battalion has been made available for at auction by a collector of militaria. It is expected to sell for 5,000

Pictured: A resolution, signed by the Committee of the Bar of Gregg County [Texas], drawn up on Leaks death on May 4th 1942. It was presented to his widow in commemoration of his life

Lt Leak had been a lawyer before the First World War and joined the American Army in 1917.

He arrived in France in the summer of 1918 and was captured on October 4 and spent the remainder of the war in a PoW camp in Germany.

He returned to the US after the war and carried on practising law before he died in 1942 aged 53.

The timed auction ends on January 29.
This is the Coronavirus Schools Briefing, a guide to the seismic changes in U.S. education that are taking place during the pandemic. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.

The coronavirus pandemic is hastening sweeping changes to the SAT college entrance exam. The College Board, which produces the test, said that to reduce demands on beleaguered students, the general exam would no longer contain an optional essay section. And subject-matter tests will cease in the United States, too.

The pandemic accelerated a process already underway, the organization said in a statement.

Standardized testing  once a given in a college application  has taken a hit since the pandemic started. The College Board tried and failed to quickly create a test that could be taken digitally at home, although it said it was still continuing to work on the project with the aim of offering proctored versions at testing centers. And many colleges dropped the requirement that students take the test, as well as its competitor the ACT  a trend driven in part by concerns about equity that received a boost during the pandemic.

The pandemic has also raised safety concerns about testing. Our colleague Emma Goldberg took the SAT in September, as testing centers closed around her. The airborne virus heightened an already stressful experience.

Normally youd have this foreboding sense that comes from taking a test in a room with 100 other students, a fellow test-taker, Nikola Kasarskis, 17, told Emma. Now, instead, you have this foreboding sense of taking the test in a room with someone who might have a deadly virus. I dont know whats worse.
A Dominion mansion with views of the San Antonio skyline and Hill Country hit the market Saturday.

On New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July, one can watch from the home's balcony as fireworks explode above the city, Fiesta Texas and beyond, according to the listing agent, Natalie Villagomez of Home Team of America.

Villagomez should know. Her parents, Kenny and Hilda Garcia, built the place in 1998.

READ ALSO: San Antonio professor explains why Joe Biden can't bring Peloton to White House

Villagomez, the oldest of five siblings, was in high school when the family moved into 28 Arnold Palmer. The home hosted plenty of gatherings over the years, including lots of Bible studies and two of her sisters' weddings.

"It's been a fun house for a lot of people to enjoy," said Villagomez.

Now, the Garcias  former owners of San Antonio food company Papa Grande Gourmet Foods  are looking to sell the 8,000 square-foot mansion for $1,872,000.

The property has seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and one half bathroom spread out over three levels. The master bedroom and kitchen are on the main floor, with the other bedrooms below.

The second-level balcony, a recent addition, offers over 2,000 square feet of space to take in the panoramic views. Out back, a covered patio leads to a freshwater pool. A palm tree rises out of an island in the middle of the water.

The pool was built around the tree, a family landmark uprooted from from Hilda's grandmother's house before it was sold.

Check out the mansion at 28 Arnold Palmer below.

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Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny is spending his days under strict control in a VIP cell inside one of Moscow's most infamous jails, it has been revealed.

The prison, called Matrosskaya Tishina or Sailor's Silence, occupies a block in Moscow's north-east and has housed high-ranking prisoners the authorities wanted to cut off from the outside world since the Soviet era.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, who spent four years in the notorious jail as its highest profile prisoner of the Putin era, tweeted that Navalny would find it harsh: 'It's tough in the beginning. And not much easier after. You can be killed at any minute.'

Melnikov, who visited Navalny on Monday night, said his cell had a fridge, an electric kettle, TV and hot water.

Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny is being held at Matrosskaya Tishina, a prison that has housed high-ranking prisoners the authorities wanted to cut off from the outside world since the Soviet era

Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny (pictured during his arrest on Sunday) is spending his days under strict control in a VIP cell inside one of Moscow's most infamous jails, it has been revealed

Marina Litvinovich, another member of the monitoring commission, said the prison was famed for its control of inmates. Navalny was being held on an upper floor in a section informally supervised by Russia's intelligence services.

'The motto of this central Kremlin prison is isolation from information. It's about control and isolation,' she said.

She added that lawyers sometimes found it hard to access clients there and that medical attention was sometimes denied to those who refused to cooperate with investigations.

Navalny's mother, Ludmila, complained on Wednesday that prison officials had told her they were unable to accept letters for her son for the time being due to technical problems.

Olga Romanova, head of Jailed Russia, a prisoners' rights group, said housing Navalny at the jail was proof that he 'is a very serious prisoner.'

Navalny, held for now on a 30 day pre-trial detention order for failing to check in with parole authorities over a suspended prison sentence in a fraud case he says was trumped up, is occupying a three-person VIP cell. A view taken on January 19, 2021 shows Moscow's penal detention centre Number 1 (known as Matrosskaya Tishina)

It comes as the 44-year-old Kremlin critic has accused the Russian leader Vladimir Putin of using state cash to fund his secret mistresses and their families, including his 17-year-old love child.

He has also claimed that Putin has a 1billion palace on the Black Sea with a red velvet pole-dancing boudoir and a casino.

The opposition leader - who was allegedly poisoned by a chemical nerve agent planted by an FSB hit squad - was detained on Sunday after flying back to Russia for the first time.

Navalny, held for now on a 30 day pre-trial detention order for failing to check in with parole authorities over a suspended prison sentence in a fraud case he says was trumped up, is occupying a three-person VIP cell.

The pre-trial prison Matrosskaya Tishina where local media report former oil billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky is being held is seen in Moscow February 24, 2009. Khodorkovsky warned Navalny that he would find the prison harsh and 'could be killed any minute'

'I'd read about it (the prison) in books and now I'm here,' Navalny quipped in an Instagram post. 'Russian life.'

He will be held alone for at least two weeks due to COVID-19 precautions, said Alexei Melnikov, a member of Moscow's Public Monitoring Commission which observes treatment of prisoners.

The news comes as Navalny has claimed that the Russian leader - who he labels the world's richest man - uses a 'slush fund' to cover the expenses of his other women and their families including his 17-year-old love child.

This comprises alleged partner Alina Kabaeva, a former gold-medal winning Olympic gymnast, and ex-mistress Svetlana Krivonogikh, who is reportedly the mother of his love child, Elizaveta now aged 17, he alleged in a new video issued after his arrest in Moscow.

The lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner claimed: 'Putin - as befits a person who imagines himself a monarch - has a rich and eventful personal life.'

Navalny, 44, claimed that the Russian leader Vladimir Putin (pictured) - who he labels the world's richest man - uses a 'slush fund' to cover the expenses of his other women and their families including his 17-year-old love child

Vladimir Putin is accused by opposition leader Navalny of using state fund to pay for his alleged partner Alina Kabaeva (pictured right), a former gold-medal winning Olympic gymnast, and ex-mistress Svetlana Krivonogikh (pictured left)

'The needs of our humble president are not at all limited to the Black Sea palace,' said Navalny.

'What about the relatives?

'You do not expect that they, like some ordinary people, will live on a salary?'Everyone needs a place to live. Everyone needs a plane. Everyone needs a yacht.

'All this must be paid for. This means that we need a financial scheme and people who will fill this scheme with money.

'This slush fund.is used by Putin in order to cover the expenses of family members.'

Navalny claims that Putin has a 1billion palace (pictured) on the Black Sea with a red velvet pole-dancing boudoir and a casino

Former cleaner Krivonogikh, 45, 'was just a pretty young girl, but now she has turned into an incredibly rich woman, a shareholder of Rossiya Bank.

'No-one can understand how such happiness fell on Krivonogikh, who once worked as a cleaner.

'Here's the answer.

'Krivonogikh met Putin in the late 1990s, and in 2003, according to Proekt (media), she gave birth to his daughter Elizaveta.'

She then received a number of luxury apartments via oligarch friends of Putin, said Navalny.

Meanwhile, Kabaeva controls major newspapers and TV stations in Russia as chairman of National Media Group, which belongs to another close Putin oligarch Yury Kovalchuk.

'Kabaeva is the best in the world at jumping with a ball and a ribbon, but she would not have been able to manage television companies and newspapers if not for her connection with Putin,' he said.

Her official salary is 7.8 million.

He taunted Putin: 'The life of a polygamist brings not only pleasure, but also problems.'

Putin provided for the mothers of Kabaeva and Krivonogikh via a Gazprom subsidiary called Teplo Invest, he claimed.

Navalny's team were able to create 3D images of the interiors based on the floor plans, which this reading room, which features accents of gold throughout

Navalny has also claimed that a strip club, casino and a theatre are among a series of luxurious rooms inside President Putin's 1billion 'palace'.

Astonishing 3D images of the estate's interior allege 'Putin's palace' features an arcade room with slot machines and a dance mat, a spa and a theatre inside the mansion, along with an underground ice rink and even vineyards in the grounds.

Navalny claims the estate, which also includes a church and strip club fitted with a lap dancers' pole, is 39 times the size of Monaco.

The images are part of a mammoth investigation published on Navalny's blog with a two-hour Youtube video recorded before his arrest.

The opposition figure accused Putin of owning the estate, which he claims cost 1billion and was allegedly funded through an elaborate corruption scheme involving Putin's inner circle.

Navalny claims Putin ordered the poisoning which left him fighting for his life in August, an allegation the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.

The Kremlin opponent on Monday called for his supporters to take to the streets in response to his arrest, with his allies planning rallies in Moscow and in cities across the country on Saturday.

Lawyers Vadim Kobzev (pictured right) and Olga Mikhailova (left) of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speak outside the Babushkinsky district court in Moscow on Wednesday

A Moscow court on Wednesday postponed the start of the trial of detained Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on charges of defaming a World War II veteran, his lawyers said.

Olga Mikhailova, a lawyer for Navalny, told journalists the court pushed back the trial until February 5 because the opposition figure is currently in virus quarantine after returning from Germany on Sunday and being immediately put behind bars.

The court ruled that the 'hearing has to take place with his participation', Mikhailova said, adding that Navalny's allies supported the decision.

Navalny was detained in a Moscow airport after returning for the first time since he was flown to Berlin in August following a poisoning attack.

On February 2, a court will consider whether Navalny's 2014 suspended sentence of three years and six months on fraud charges should be converted to jail time.
The suspect wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a young man in Estepona last November is back in the hands of the Spanish authorities.

The 21-year-old man had fled to the UK after 19-year-old victim, Ulrich, was stabbed through the heart by a car driver after a traffic incident.

The courts in Estepona issued an international arrest warrant and the British authorities arrested the man in December, when he was travelling on the A-58, near Leeds in Yorkshire.

And now he has arrived back in Spain to face the courts after being extradited from the UK.

The events that led to his arrest took place on 18 November in the vicinity of the Diana shopping centre in Estepona. At around 2.30pm, a traffic incident took place between the victim and his alleged assailant as reported by the National Police.

The investigation determined that Ulrich, who lived in an apartment in the Las Acacias complex with his parents and two brothers, was out walking.

When he was going to cross a pedestrian crossing, he was almost run over by the white Mercedes that the suspect was driving. The latter had to brake sharply.

Apparently, the driver left the scene in his car at first, before returning a few minutes later.

The National Police said that the man got out of the vehicle and stabbed the victim, without saying a word, in the heart, which caused his almost immediate death.

Escape to the UK

After the driver fled the scene, the only lead police had was the suspects white Mercedes with a British number plate, which was found when a transport company was preparing to move it from Spain to England.

Police then put a name to the alleged killer. In addition, they found that he had managed to leave the country and take refuge in England.

The National Police force has highlighted the importance of international cooperation in this operation. In the investigation, they had the help of British police authorities stationed on the Costa del Sol.
[January 20, 2021] Worldwide Industry on 5G Video to 2026 - Key Drivers and Opportunities

DUBLIN, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "5G Video Market by Service Provider Type (Carrier and OTT) and Application Type in Consumer, Enterprise, and Industrial Verticals 2021 - 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report evaluates the 5G video market including vendor strategies, solutions, and applications. The report assesses video service delivered by provider type and application type with forecasts for consumer, enterprise, and industrial verticals. The report also analyzes the key technical aspects of 5G video including next-generation radio based on millimeter wave spectrum.



Other than enterprise and industrial use of FWA for general bandwidth needs, video is the obvious application for a variety of purposes including government usage. 5G will replace and/or augment fixed network video. It will allow any time, anywhere video by way of the ease of camera placement - as long as there is line of sight with a 5G antenna, there will be a good signal for high bandwidth and low latency.



We anticipate that smart cities will increasingly become highly surveilled cities. By way of example, there are so many CCTV cameras in the UK that the average Londoner is caught on camera 300 times per day. It is estimated that there is 1 CCTV camera for every 13 people in London, meaning that there are approximately 700,000 cameras in this dense urban environment.



Traditional surveillance solutions are typically overseen by humans and are prone to error. 5G allows for new solutions, including those that are completely automated and can actively blur individual details of those being recorded, while also monitoring their activity for crime or suspicious activity. This is possible due to the processing and analysis of these video feeds being done locally through 5G edge clouds. Therefore, the software's decision making can be done with no human involvement. Key Topics Covered:

1.0 Executive Summary



2.0 Introduction

2.1 Target Audience

2.2 Companies in the Report



3.0 5G Technoogy and Capabilities Overview







3.1.1 LTE Advanced

3.1.2 Peer-to-Peer Communications: LTE Direct

3.1.3 LTE Advanced Pro

3.1.4 Fifth Generation Networks

3.2 5G New Radio and 5G Supporting and Related Technologies

3.2.1 Massive MIMO

3.2.2 Cognitive Radio Capabilities

3.2.3 Millimeter Wave Radio Frequency



4.0 5G Video Market Drivers and Opportunities

4.1 High Return on Investment

4.2 Dramatic Video Improvements

4.3 5G in Smart Cities





5.0 Company Analysis

5.1 AT&T

5.2 Airtel

5.3 BT Group (EE)

5.4 China Mobile

5.5 China Telecom

5.6 Deutsche Telekom AG

5.7 DU

5.8 KT Corporation

5.9 NTT DoCoMo

5.10 STC - Saudi Telecom Company

5.11 SK Telecom

5.12 Sprint Corporation

5.13 Telstra

5.14 Verizon

5.15 Vodafone Group

5.16 Telenor

5.17 T-Mobile USA

5.18 Rogers Communications

5.19 America Movil

5.20 Entel

5.21 Movistar

5.22 China Unicom

5.23 Ooredoo

5.24 Zain

5.25 Swisscom

5.26 Spark NZ

5.27 Telecom Italia

5.28 Orange SA

5.29 KDDI Corporation

5.30 LG Uplus

5.31 Softbank Group

5.32 SingTel

5.33 Telefonica

5.34 Apple

5.35 Facebook (Whatsapp)

5.36 Google

5.37 Microsoft

5.38 Rakuten (Viber)

5.39 Snap Inc.

5.40 Spotify AB

5.41 Tencent

5.42 Amazon Prime Video

5.43 WeChat

5.44 Skype

5.45 Telegram

5.46 Ribbon Communications

5.47 REVE Systems

5.48 Hulu

5.49 Netflix

5.50 Dish (Sling TV)

5.51 Sky Go

5.52 Roku

5.53 Sony (PlayStation Vue)

5.54 Fubo TV

5.55 Philo TV

5.56 ClipBucket

5.57 Muvi

5.58 Contus Vplay

5.59 Quickplay

5.60 Vplayed

5.61 Ooyala

5.62 Vidmind

5.63 Mobiotics

5.64 Nokia Network (Alcatel lucent)

5.65 Samsung Electronics

5.66 Cisco Systems

5.67 LG Electronics

5.68 Huawei Technologies

5.69 Ericsson

5.70 Qualcomm

5.71 Intel Corporation

5.72 NEC Corporation

5.73 ZTE Corporation

5.74 Ciena Corporation

5.75 Cavium Inc.

5.76 Qorvo Inc.

5.77 Fujitsu Ltd.

5.78 Broadcom Corporation

5.79 HPE

5.80 VMware Inc.

5.81 MediaTek Inc.

5.82 Juniper Network Inc.

5.83 Analog Devices Inc.

5.84 MACOM Technology

5.85 Motorola

5.86 Ascom

5.87 Harris

5.88 Hytera

5.89 Cobham Wireless

5.90 Leonardo

5.91 Mentura Group

5.92 Inmarsat

5.93 Zenitel

5.94 HTC

5.95 Airspan

5.96 Alvarion

5.97 Sierra Wireless (Accel Networks)

5.98 Coolpad Dyno

5.99 Mobvoi

5.100 Fitbit

5.101 Misfit

5.102 Asus

5.103 Netgear

5.104 Zyxel

5.105 Alibaba

5.106 D-Link

5.107 UbiFi

5.108 Altair Semiconductor

5.109 SimNet Wireless

5.110 Siretta

5.111 Cradlepoint

5.112 Telit Communications

5.113 Gemalto

5.114 Netcracker

5.115 Texim Europe

5.116 M2M Connectivity

5.117 Eurotech

5.118 RedLinX

5.119 MYCOM OSI

5.120 Colt



6.0 5G Video Market 2021 - 2026

6.1 Global 5G Video Surveillance 2021 - 2026

6.1.1 Global 5G Consumer MNO Provided Video 2021 - 2026

6.1.2 Global 5G OTT Video 2021 - 2026

6.1.3 Global Video Viewing by Application Type 2021 - 2026

6.2 North America 5G Video 2021 - 2026

6.3 Europe 5G Video 2021 - 2026

6.4 Asia Pac 5G Video 2021 - 2026

6.5 Latin America 5G Video 2021 - 2026

6.6 Middle East and Africa 5G Video 2021 - 2026 For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i3o7m4 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact: Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/worldwide-industry-on-5g-video-to-2026---key-drivers-and-opportunities-301211614.html SOURCE Research and Markets

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Vietnam will support and work closely with Brunei as Chair of ASEAN in 2021 so as to successfully realise set targets and initiatives, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said

when talking on the phone with Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof on January 19.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Photo: VNA)

The Brunei minister congratulated Vietnam for excellently fulfilling its term as Chair of ASEAN in 2020, especially leading the bloc to overcome unprecedented difficulties and challenges.

He shared the directions and priorities during the year Brunei serves as Chair of ASEAN in 2021 under the theme We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper, including initiatives on COVID-19 response and post-pandemic recovery which were approved in 2020, the building of a vision for ASEAN after 2025, promoting multilateral cooperation and a rule-based regional order, and people-oriented cooperative ideas.

He affirmed that those priorities and initiatives are developed based on the achievements that ASEAN has reaped in previous years, particularly in 2020 under the Chair of Vietnam.

The two ministers reached consensus that Vietnam and Brunei should intensify coordination to strengthen intra-bloc solidarity and unity, and enhance the blocs resilience and central role for peace, security and prosperity in the region, in the context of complicated developments in the world and tremendous challenges and consequences brought by the COVID-19 pandemic./.VNA
Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma has made his first appearance since Chinese regulators cracked down on his business empire.



His absence had fuelled speculation over his whereabouts amid increasing official scrutiny of his businesses.



The billionaire met 100 rural teachers in China via a video meeting on Wednesday, according to local government media.



Alibaba shares surged 5% on Hong Kongs stock exchange on the news.



Tianmu News, which is backed by the provincial Zhejiang government, first reported that Mr Ma addressed the teachers as part of one of his charity foundations initiatives.



The annual event is usually hosted in the resort city of Sanya, but was held online this year because of Covid-19 restrictions.



We cannot meet in Sanya due to the epidemic, he said in the speech.



When the epidemic is over, we must find time to make up for everyones trip to Sanya, and then we will meet again!



In the video, he was dressed in a blue pullover and spoke directly to the camera from a room with grey marble walls and a striped carpet.



It was not clear from the video or the Tianmu News article where he was speaking from.



Last month, Chinas central bank hauled in executives from Ant Group and ordered a major shake-up of the companys operations.



Mr Ma is a founder and key shareholder of Ant Group, which is Chinas biggest payments provider.



Before ordering the shakeup of the company, regulators had already scuppered Ant Groups listing on the Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges.



The $37bn share market offering was expected to be the biggest of 2020.



Separately, Chinas State Administration for Market Regulation announced an investigation into Alibaba over monopolistic practices.



Suspicions about Mr Mas whereabouts were raised earlier this month when he missed the recording of Africas Business Heroes, a television show on which he was a judge.



Although Alibaba attributed his absence to a scheduling conflict, several media reports said he had not been seen since making comments that were seen as critical of Chinas banking system at a public event in Shanghai in October.

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


By ERONIE KAMUKAMA

The Internet shutdown that started on January 13 has caused huge losses as businesses, government agencies, organisations and web-based operations such as e-tax payments were disrupted for five days.

The State action has been described as inconsiderate due to the modern ways of conducting business through e-commerce.

On the eve of the election, government shut down Internet citing security reasons during the elections for President and Members of Parliament.

The banking and telecom sectors admit their operations were disrupted but most players in various sectors remained tight-lipped on the details of the impact .

It is still very early. We cannot compute that, Airtel Uganda Communications Manager Sumin Namaganda said.

Dfcu Banks managing director Matthias Katamba said: We will compile the impact now that we are back in office. The Internet is back and ATMs were working at the weekend. We will be able to tell full extent in time.

The executive director of Uganda Bankers Association, Mr Wilbrod Owor, could not quantify the impact of the shutdown, saying it will require an audit. Daily Monitor learnt that besides low activity in the banking sector, there is fear of banks losing money at the hand of cyber fraudsters.

Shutting down of the Internet affected payment systems, Real Time Gross transfers and Electronic File Transfers for the large transfers. This is in addition to the 13,000 bank agents who conduct money transfers, Internet banking and the Automatic Teller Machines.

Read more: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/internet-shutdown-stalls-businesses-government-agencies3261392
By the time he tested positive for covid-19 on Jan. 12, Gary Herritz was feeling pretty sick. He suspects he was infected a week earlier, during a medical appointment in which he saw health workers who were wearing masks beneath their noses or who had removed them entirely.

His scratchy throat had turned to a dry cough, headache, joint pain and fever  all warning signs to Herritz, who underwent liver transplant surgery in 2012, followed by a rejection scare in 2018. He knew his compromised immune system left him especially vulnerable to a potentially deadly case of covid.

"The thing with transplant patients is we can crash in a heartbeat," said Herritz, 39. "The outcome for transplant patients [with covid] is not good."

On Twitter, Herritz had read about monoclonal antibody therapy, the treatment famously given to President Donald Trump and other high-profile politicians and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use in high-risk covid patients. But as his symptoms worsened, Herritz found himself very much on his own as he scrambled for access.

His primary care doctor wasn't sure he qualified for treatment. His transplant team in Wisconsin, where he'd had the liver surgery, wasn't calling back. No one was sure exactly where he should go to get it. From bed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, he spent two days punching in phone numbers, reaching out to health officials in four states, before he finally landed an appointment to receive a treatment aimed at keeping patients like him out of the hospital  and, perhaps, the morgue.

"I am not rich, I am not special, I am not a political figure," Herritz, a former community service officer, wrote on Twitter. "I just called until someone would listen."

Months after Trump emphatically credited an experimental antibody therapy for his quick recovery from covid and even as drugmakers ramp up supplies, only a trickle of the product has found its way into regular people. While hundreds of thousands of vials sit unused, sick patients who, research indicates, could benefit from early treatment  available for free  have largely been fending for themselves.

Federal officials have allocated more than 785,000 doses of two antibody treatments authorized for emergency use during the pandemic, and more than 550,000 doses have been delivered to sites across the nation. The federal government has contracted for nearly 2.5 million doses of the products from drugmakers Eli Lilly and Co. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals at a cost of more than $4.4 billion.

So far, however, only about 30% of the available doses have been administered to patients, federal Department of Health and Human Services officials said.

Scores of high-risk covid patients who are eligible remain unaware or have not been offered the option. Research has shown the therapy is most effective if given early in the illness, within 10 days of a positive covid test. But many would-be recipients have missed this crucial window because of a patchwork system in the U.S. that can delay testing and diagnosis.

"The bottleneck here in the funnel is administration, not availability of the product," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, a veteran FDA official in charge of therapeutics for the federal Operation Warp Speed effort.

Among the daunting hurdles: Until this week, there has been no nationwide system to tell people where they could obtain the drugs, which are delivered through IV infusions that require hours to administer and monitor. Finding space to keep covid-infected patients separate from others has been difficult in some health centers slammed by the pandemic.

"The health care system is crashing," Woodcock told reporters. "What we've heard around the country is the No. 1 barrier is staffing."

At the same time, many hospitals have refused to offer the therapy because doctors were unimpressed with the research federal officials used to justify its use.

Monoclonal antibodies are lab-produced molecules that act as substitutes for the body's own antibodies that fight infection. The covid treatments are designed to block the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes infection from attaching to and entering human cells. Such treatments are usually prohibitively expensive, but for the time being the federal government is footing the bulk of the bill, though patients likely will be charged administrative fees.

Nationwide, nearly 4,000 sites offer the infusion therapies. But for patients and families of people most at risk  those 65 and older or with underlying health conditions  finding the sites and gaining access has been almost impossible, said Brian Nyquist, chief executive officer of the National Infusion Center Association, which is tracking supplies of the antibody products. Like Herritz, many seeking information about monoclonals find themselves on a lone crusade.

"If they're not hammering the phones and advocating for access for their loved ones, others often won't," he said. "Tenacity is critical."

Regeneron officials said they're fielding calls about covid treatments daily to the company's medical information line. More than 3,500 people have flooded Eli Lilly's covid hotline with questions about access.

As of this week, all states are required to list on a federal locator map sites that have received the monoclonal antibody products, HHS officials said. The updated map shows wide distribution, but a listing doesn't guarantee availability or access; patients still need to check. It's best to confer with a primary care provider before reaching out to the centers. For best results, treatment should occur as soon as possible after a positive covid test.

Some health systems have refused to offer the monoclonal antibody therapies because of doubts about the data used to authorize them. Early studies suggested that Lilly's therapy, bamlanivimab, reduced the need for hospitalization or emergency treatment in outpatient covid cases by about 70%, while Regeneron's antibody cocktail of casirivimab plus imdevimab reduced the need by about 50%.

But those studies were small, just a few hundred subjects, and the results were limited. "A lot of doctors, actually, they're not impressed with the data," said Dr. Daniel Griffin, an infectious disease expert at Columbia University who co-hosts the podcast "This Week in Virology." "There really is still that question of, 'Does this stuff really work?'"

As more patients are treated, however, there's growing evidence that the therapies can keep high-risk patients out of the hospital, not only easing their recovery but also decreasing the burden on health systems struggling with record numbers of patients.

Dr. Raymund Razonable, an infectious disease expert at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, said he has treated more than 2,500 covid patients with monoclonal antibody therapy with promising results. "It's looking good," he said, declining to provide details because they're embargoed for publication. "We are seeing reductions in hospitalizations; we're seeing reductions in ICU care; we're also seeing reductions in mortality."

Banking on observations from Mayo experts and others, federal officials have been pushing for wider use of antibody therapies. HHS officials have partnered with hospitals in three hard-hit states  California, Arizona and Nevada  to set up infusion centers that are treating dozens of covid patients each day.

One of those sites went up in late December at El Centro Regional Medical Center in California's Imperial County, an impoverished farming region on the state's southern border that has recorded among the highest covid infection rates in the state. For months, the medical center strained to absorb the overwhelming influx of patients, but chief executive Dr. Adolphe Edward said a new walk-up infusion site has already put a dent in the covid load.

More than 130 people have been treated, all patients who were able to get the two-hour infusions and then recuperate at home. "If those folks would not have had the treatment, they would have come through the emergency department and we would have had to admit the lion's share of them," he said.

It's important to make sure people in high-risk groups know to seek out the therapy and to get it early, Edward said. He and his staff have been working with area doctors' offices and nonprofit groups and relying on word-of-mouth.

"On multiple levels, we're saying, 'If you've tested positive for the virus, come and let us see if you are eligible,'" Edward said.

Greater awareness is a goal of the HHS effort, said Dr. John Redd, chief medical officer for the assistant secretary for preparedness and response. "These antibodies are meant for everyone," he said. "Everyone across the country should have equal access to these products."

For now, patients like Herritz, the Mississippi liver transplant recipient, say reality is falling well short of that goal. If he hadn't continued to call in search of a referral, he wouldn't have been treated. And without the therapy, Herritz believes, he was just days away from hospitalization.

"I think it's horrible that if I didn't have Twitter, I wouldn't know anything about this," he said. "I think about all the people who have died not knowing this was an option for high-risk individuals."
As Joe Biden inherits the role of 46th president of the United States, lawmakers across the nation are looking forward to the future under a new administration.

Biden and Kamala Harris  the first woman, as well as the first Black and South Asian person to be elected vice president  were sworn in on Wednesday, replacing Donald Trump and former vice president Mike Pence.

Though the historic event was largely devoid of large crowds due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many lawmakers showed up to welcome the new commander-in-chief.

Congressman John Moolenaar, R-Midland, attended the inauguration with his family, and described it as a "wonderful" ceremony that celebrated the peaceful transition of presidential power, and the importance of the U.S. Constitution.

"I think (Biden) is someone who has a great respect for Congress, having served, and will reach out and try to develop a governing coalition," Moolenaar said. "His message was very positive and aspirational  he draw on the history of our country, and the importance of coming together in challenging times, and working together as Americans."

Moolenaar predicts Biden will have to work to balance his more moderate sensibilities with the demands of a Democratic Party that is moving further to the left.

Biden was serving as vice president when Moolenaar first joined Congress in 2015, and both worked to pass the 21st Century Cures Act, a collaboration between Congress and the White House to fight diseases like cancer and to help accelerate medical product development. Moolenaar considers the Cures Act to be one of the highlights of that Congressional Session, as well as the Obama/Biden administration.

"(The inauguration) really showed the world that in spite of some of the perceptions of the challenges facing our country, we are united by our Constitution in this transition, and we're going to go forward in a resilient way," Moolenaar said.

Dan Kildee, D-Flint, said Wednesday's inauguration begins a new chapter for our country.

"Our country needs their leadership, now more than ever," he said. "While this is a celebratory day, our new president and vice president know that our country faces tremendous challenges that require immediate action."

With the U.S. death toll of COVID-19 recently passing 400,000, Kildee looks forward to the Biden-Harris administration implementing a national strategy to defeat this virus.

"We cannot rebuild our economy until we get the coronavirus under control," Kildee said. "I look forward to getting to work right away with our new president and vice president to end this pandemic and rebuild our economy.

As the number people injured by firecracker increases, doctors are warning people of the danger of 'home-made' fireworks - particularly children.

A patient suffering injuries caused by fireworks is being treated at VietnamGermany Friendship Hospital. Photo hanoimoi.com

Dozens of patients have been treated at the VietnamGermany Friendship Hospital in the past month with burns caused by firecrackers.

In just three days from January 5 to January 8, three people were treated for serious injuries, including a man who was burnt as he was making an explosive device in his home, Ha Noi Moi (New Ha Noi) newspaper reported.

On January 8, a 15-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital with his fingers damaged and fractured bones on his left hand. The injury also caused damage to vision of his right eye.

Earlier on January 5, another student, also 15, from the northern province of Hai Duong was admitted to the hospital with similar injuries.

But one of the most shocking cases was a 14-year-old from Ninh Binh who suffered serious burns to his entire face and body when he and his friends tried to make fireworks following online instructions.

The flame sparked a chemical reaction and a local resident took the children to a nearby clinic for emergency treatment. The boy was the most severe case so he was transferred to Le Huu Trac National Institute of Burns.

The institute said more and more children are being admitted to hospital, particularly in the run-up to Tet.

Nguyen Thi Huong from NIB said it was fortunate that the boy and his friends made firecrackers in an outdoor space, adding that if the firecrackers were made in a closed room, they might have suffered respiratory burns or even death by the explosion.

According to Nguyen Manh Khanh, from Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital, when the firecrackers explode with great destructive power, the victim is susceptible to serious injuries in many parts of the body. It is common to see fingers and hands need to be removed, and it could even cause blindness. In addition, patients are at risks of suffering wound infections and severe burns, which makes treatment long and costly.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health showed that the number of accidents involving firecrackers increased over the past few years.

As many as 321 people were hospitalised due to firecracker-related incidents during Tet (Lunar New Year) last year, compared to 287 cases in 2019 and 197 in 2018.

Doctor Hoang Cuong from the Central Eye Hospital said buying, selling, storing and using firecrackers is illegal. However, with the existence of the smuggled firecrackers from other countries and home-made firecrackers, accidents still occur.

The doctor said authorities needed to tighten the management the sale, transportation and storage of firecrackers of all types. Violations should be strictly dealt with.

Public education should be intensified to increase peoples awareness of the harmful effect of homemade firecrackers.

On the occasion of Tet, the Central Eye Hospital usually receives dozens of eye accidents caused by firecrackers."

If people are injured they are advised to not too panic, but seek immediate medical assistance.

Ngo Tuan Hung from NIBs Emergency Department said in order to celebrate the new year safely and happily, the whole society as well as every family, school and each student should be aware of the dangers of making explosives.

They should strictly abide by Governments regulations on management and use of firecrackers.

Families, schools, local authorities and mass organisations should launch dissemination campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of mixing chemicals, especially in making firecrackers, Hung said.

Using firecrackers during Tet was one of the long-standing traditions of Vietnamese. However, in 1994, Vietnams Government prohibited the production, distribution, use and storage of firecrackers after their rampant use resulted in many deaths, injuries and losses totalling several dozen billion dong every year. VNS

1,126 people hospitalized due to fighting during five-day holiday The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on May 2 informed that up to 1,126 emergency cases were referred to hospital due to fighting during the five-day holiday which lasted from April 27 to May 2.
The Souled Store, a Mumbai based brand known for its merchandise dedicated to superhero and series has awarded its PR mandate to BRANDiT communications. BRANDiT communications will be responsible for handling the reputation management, crisis communication and influencer engagement.

With more than a decade of experience in the industry, BRANDiT Communications led by Manjuu Rangarajan handles clients across three verticals-startups, lifestyle and MNCs. Its a fast-growing PR agency which handles prestigious clients like Assiduus Global, Han Digital, Sportz Village and Body Craft. The Souled Store is a great addition to the same. BRANDIT Communications strategic approach towards communication enables its clients to garner maximum visibility.

Commenting on the win, Manjuu Rangarajan, Managing Partner, BRANDiT Communications said, The Souled Store is a brand for millennials who love series and movie characters. Our experience of working on various lifestyle brands will enable us to position The Souled Store on relevant platforms. We are thrilled to partner with The Souled Store and look forward to create a compelling campaign which will help the brand to meet its business objectives.

Vedang Patel, Co-Founder, The Souled Store shared, We are excited to partner with BRANDiT Communications. Their vast experience in the lifestyle space will enable us to scale new heights. We are confident that this association will enable us to build a strong image among consumers and investors in the market.

The Souled Store merchandise has a vast collection dedicated to various themes like Friends, Spiderman, WWE, Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry and many more.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 18:00:50|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese diplomats are more vocal than before in recent years and they are accused in the West of engaging in wolf-warrior diplomacy. Are they? Check it out in this video. 
Related Sudan troops deployed in Darfur after clashes kill 155

The combined death toll from recent violence in Sudan's restive Darfur region has risen above 200, after medics revised the toll from one set of clashes upwards by over 50.

In a statement, the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors said the death toll from clashes in West Darfur's state capital El Geneina "stands at 159", up from an earlier reported figure of 100, while the number of wounded reached 210.

"Residents and volunteers from the Sudanese Red Crescent are undertaking great efforts to find people who went missing" during the violence, which erupted on Saturday, it noted.

Separate clashes on Monday in South Darfur between members of the Fallata ethnic group and the Arab Rizeigat tribe killed at least 55 people and wounded 37.

The updated figure from West Darfur takes the combined death toll to at least 214, up from 155.

The fighting in the two states came just over two weeks after a long-running peacekeeping mission undertaken by the United Nations and African Union ended operations in Darfur.

The end of peacekeeping patrols sparked protests by fearful Darfuris in late December.

The Darfur region, located in western Sudan, was the site of a deadly conflict that erupted in 2003 pitting African ethnic minority rebels against Arab nomads backed by the Khartoum government under then president Omar al-Bashir.

The conflict -- which killed some 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million -- subsided over the years but inter-ethnic clashes occasionally erupt.

Sudanese authorities in the country's capital, Khartoum, and other states have dispatched troops to the affected areas in a bid to contain the latest violence.

A transitional government, installed after the April 2019 ouster of al-Bashir, has gone to significant lengths to attempt to stabilise the country's far-flung regions that were torn by conflict under his autocratic rule.

In October, the government signed a peace agreement with multiple rebel groups which observers hoped would help end years of conflict including in Darfur.

This week's violence appeared not to involve any signatories to the deal.

Earlier on Wednesday, diplomats said the United Nations Security Council will convene on Thursday to discuss the fighting in Darfur.

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Trump Issues Executive Order to Further Combat Malicious Foreign Cyber Activities

President Donald Trump on his last full day in office issued an executive order aimed at the use of cloud computing products for malicious cyber operations against the United States.

The order addresses the use of United States Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) products, a type of cloud computing, by foreign malicious cyber actors.

IaaS products provide persons the ability to run software and store data on servers offered for rent or lease without responsibility for the maintenance and operating costs of those servers. Foreign malicious cyber actors aim to harm the United States economy through the theft of intellectual property and sensitive data and to threaten national security by targeting United States critical infrastructure for malicious cyber-enabled activities, Trump said in his order.

Foreign actors use United States IaaS products for a variety of tasks in carrying out malicious cyber-enabled activities, which makes it extremely difficult for United States officials to track and obtain information through legal process before these foreign actors transition to replacement infrastructure and destroy evidence of their prior activities; foreign resellers of United States IaaS products make it easier for foreign actors to access these products and evade detection, he added. This order provides authority to impose record-keeping obligations with respect to foreign transactions.

Trump is ordering the Commerce Department to draft regulations that require U.S. IaaS providers to verify the identity of a foreign person that obtains an account.

The order also authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to ban or restrict accounts by any foreign person in a foreign nation found to have any significant number of foreign persons offering U.S. IaaS products used for malicious cyber-enabled activities, or by any U.S. IaaS provider for or on behalf of a foreign person.

The Secretary of Commerce is further authorized to ban or restrict accounts in the United States by any U.S. IaaS provider for or on behalf of a foreign person if such an Account involves any such foreign person found to be offering United States IaaS products used in malicious cyber-enabled activities or directly obtaining United States IaaS products for use in malicious cyber-enabled activities.

National security adviser Robert OBrien said that Trumps action is a major step in giving U.S. network defenders and investigators an advantage in protecting the American people.

Foreign malicious cyber actors threaten our economy and national security through the theft of intellectual property and sensitive data, and by targeting United States critical infrastructure, he said in a statement.

By gaining access to United States IaaS products, foreign actors can steal the fruits of American innovation and prepare destructive attacks on our Nations critical infrastructure with anonymity. Malign actor abuse of United States IaaS products has played a role in every cyber incident during the last four years, including the actions resulting in the penetrations of United States firms FireEye and Solar Winds.

The order comes after a massive hacking campaign in late 2020 that breached federal government networks through inserting malicious code into software updates for SolarWinds Orion network management software. SolarWinds technology is used by all five branches of the U.S. military and numerous government agencies.

U.S. officials have said they believe Russia was behind the cyberattack against SolarWinds, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Mark Levins radio show in December 2020. Then-Attorney General William Barr also said in December 2020 he believed the hacking campaign was carried out by Russian hackers. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.
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 Close Trump: Biden is lying or 'mentally gone on vaccines

Joe Biden said the world can't return to a Cold War with Russia and China and must seek ways to cooperate on global challenges like the Covid pandemic even as the two countries pose security risks to the western alliance.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization while apologizing to European leaders for the last four years under Donald Trump.

That apology came with the Biden administration returning the US to the Paris climate accord, another reversal of Trump-era policies of the past four years.

The focus on foreign policy came as the Biden administration continued to face domestic crises in its first weeks, including unprecedented winter weather that delayed 6 million doses of Covid vaccine.

While Biden toured the Pfizer vaccine manufacturing plant in Michigan, Republican senator Ted Cruz stayed out of the spotlight after coming under intense scrutiny for fleeing Texas for the warmer climes of Cancun.

Congress continued going through its motions, with Democrat Joe Manchin announcing his opposition to the nomination of Neera Tanden to lead the Office of Management & Budget, Neera Tanden.

The White House has refused to withdraw her nomination, hoping instead to convince Republicans to confirm her post.

Trump himself, meanwhile, did things that were terrible when contradicted on the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Anthony Fauci has said in an interview.

Fauci said Trump entirely lost interest in tackling Covid-19 as it became clear he had lost Novembers presidential election.
David Oliver (pictured) is the victim of the stabbing

A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a 74-year-old bed-ridden grandfather to death at his home.

The suspect, who was known to the deceased, was arrested yesterday morning at the property he shared with victim David Oliver and his wife Sue in Mottingham, south London.

Mr Oliver, who had been a handyman and painter and decorator before suffering a stroke three years ago, was pronounced dead at the scene.

He and his wife had apparently taken in the suspect a couple of months ago. But Mr Oliver's health had deteriorated and he was largely confined to his room.

Neighbours today told how the suspect was led out of the three-floor home just after midday yesterday by police.

He is also thought to have his own flat in Kent but had been most recently living with his relates.

The suspect, who was known to the deceased, was arrested yesterday morning at the property he shared with victim David Oliver and his wife Sue in Mottingham, south London

Mr Oliver, who had been a handyman and painter and decorator before suffering a stroke three years ago, was pronounced dead at the scene (pictured today)

A family friend, who asked not to be named, said: 'David was a lovely man, he was a real gentleman and would help you out any way he could.

'He'd not been in the best of health recently after having a stroke about two or three years ago and he was mostly bed-ridden.

'I always suspected that the suspect had suffered mental health issues in the past, although I can't be sure as to whether he was ever treated for them in hospital.

'From what I gather he'd moved into a flat somewhere in Kent but was now living with David and Sue.

'A friend of mine who lives close to them saw him being arrested and put into the back of van late morning/early afternoon yesterday.

'The police are saying that David was stabbed. It was a really nasty attack on someone who was a lovely person.

'I don't know what caused it, I've not heard about a big argument. It's shocking and an awful thing to happen.'

He and his wife had apparently taken in the suspect a couple of months ago. But Mr Oliver's health had deteriorated and he was largely confined to his room

Neighbours today told how the suspect was led out of the three-floor home just after midday yesterday by police

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police were this morning carrying out door-to-door enquiries.

One local resident said: 'I didn't know the man who was killed but from speaking to an officer this morning I gather the victim was living in the same house as the man they arrested.

'This is a very quiet road so to see so many police cars and paramedics outside yesterday was rather chilling. I didn't have much sleep last night thinking about it.'

Another neighbour said: 'David was one of the nicest fellas you could meet. He and his wife Sue were lovely.

'He suffered a stroke a few years ago while putting the Christmas lights up and collapsed on the floor.

'Gradually he became more and more poorly and was bed-bound for a lot of the time. I think he also had COPD. He wasn't a well man.

'Bet despite it all, he always remained a positive person who didn't let his ill health get him down. He maintained a happy-go-lucky outlook on life.'

Scotland Yard said officers were called by paramedics to an address in West Park, Mottingham, at about 11.50am yesterday where they found a 74-year-old man suffering knife wounds.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police were this morning carrying out door-to-door enquiries

He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.25pm. His next of kin are aware.

The 23-year-old suspect, who officers say knew the victim, was arrested at the scene and taken to a south London police station, where he currently remains.

Homicide Detectives are investigating led by Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran.

DCI Kieran said: 'At this very early stage we retain an open mind as to the circumstance surrounding this death, but, I can confirm that we are not seeking any other persons in connection with the incident.'

A crime scene remains in place and officers remain on scene while enquiries continue.

A post-mortem will be scheduled in due course while police await formal identification.
Stormont officials said religious institutions involved in paying redress to victims have been willing to come forward (Niall Carson/PA)

Religious institutions have been willing to come forward to discuss compensating abuse victims, Stormont officials said.

First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill are set to kick off negotiations before the end of next month with Catholic religious orders, the Church of Ireland and childrens charity Barnardos.

More intensive talks will follow with the organisations which ran residential homes where wrongdoing occurred.

Expand Close First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill are set to kick off negotiations before the end of next month (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill are set to kick off negotiations before the end of next month (Liam McBurney/PA)

Executive Office official Mark Browne said: They are meeting with six relevant institutions to emphasise the moral imperative and need to make progress.

The state is covering the cost of payments to victims, which have already begun, but is attempting to recoup much of its outlay from those in charge of operating the institutions.

Another Executive Office official, Gareth Johnston, said: All the institutions have been willing to come forward and engage.

All have recognised that this is a critical issue and all have said that they will continue to engage with us as we enter into discussions and negotiation.

He said they had a critical role to play in giving information to the redress board, which decides the awards, and commitments had been made.

All the early indications from the institutions have been positive Mark Browne

Victims and survivors of abuse were paid 5.7 million between May and December last year.

Mr Johnston added: All institutions are starting to raise a number of issues from their perspective.

One has been the contributions that they have already made in terms of awards and in terms of services.

The scheme became operational at the end of March when a redress board was established as part of recommendations made in the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry.

The HIA inquiry called for payments ranging from 7,500 to 100,000. Thousands of victims are believed to be eligible.

The abuse investigation, chaired by the late judge Sir Anthony Hart, also called for a memorial to the victims and a formal apology.

Mr Johnston said part-payments and annual contributions from the religious institutions could be considered.

A central estimate of the cost of redress is up to 400 million, Mr Browne added.

In the Republic, land was handed over in lieu of cash but then the value subsequently plummeted.

In other cases, old peoples homes were given but the state found them expensive to run and handed them back.

Mr Browne said: All the early indications from the institutions have been positive.

They have been cooperative in terms of providing information, they have been engaged and at this point we would want to proceed in the hope that we will be able to achieve an agreed outcome.
Press release from Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin's office:

The Honorable Mayor Scott Galvin

State of the City Address

City Council Chambers, Woburn City Hall

January 19, 2021

Good evening honorable members of the Woburn City Council, State Representative Rich Haggerty and Members of our State Delegation, School Committee, City Board Members, Department Heads, Staff, Guests and residents at home.

I am grateful and honored for the opportunity to present this years State of the City address to the good citizens of our great City. Thank you to my wife, Eileen and our children for your love and support over the past year.

The past year has been a year like no other. I think back to last Januarys Inaugural Ceremony, which seems like light years ago, and the stark contrast to this years State of the City Address. Last year we had a full house with family, residents, friends and City workers sitting and standing shoulder to shoulder for the Inauguration of our Citys newly elected officials.

Little did we know at the time how drastically our lives would change. A new reality that none of us could have imagined or anticipated. Tragically, the coronavirus was growing and spreading in China as we celebrated the Citys Inaugural exercise last Januarysoon to become a worldwide pandemic.

We have lived through some hard times in the past, but this virus has inflicted an unprecedented crisis on all of us. It has claimed the lives of too many of our dearest citizens and has touched every one of us and every aspect of our lives.

Local business owners have suffered devastating financial losses, their operations severely curtailed or forced to close due to State restrictions to protect the health of our residents. Despite Federal, State and local aid, many business owners will never recover.

It has been said that a crisis builds character, but it also reveals character. As I stand in front of you tonight, I have never been prouder of our City, nor have I ever been prouder to be your Mayor. We are a great City because we are made up of incredibly strong-willed and caring people.



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I have seen neighbors looking after their elderly neighbors; I have seen resident groups forming on social media to support one another and charitable causes for those in need; I have seen residents supporting local businesses and restaurants in an effort to support them in gratitude for their unwavering support of our communitys cherished local traditions and charitable organizations; I have seen people painfully staying away from loved ones during the Holiday season in order to keep them safe and healthy.

Across this City, I have seen so many sacrifices being made for the benefit of others in big and small ways, and it moves me as Im sure it moves all of you.

Our City also remains strong because of our dedicated workforce. Our first responders, health care professionals, and City employees have reported to work continuously each day in service of our communityright from the onset of the pandemic and in spite of the personal risk to themselves and their families.

Our Police Department has done an outstanding job keeping our residents and City safe and always with bravery, compassion and professionalism.

The Woburn Fire Department has worked tirelessly and courageously on the front lines, providing leadership in the faithful delivery of EMS and fire safety services to our residents and businesses as the coronavirus spread in our households and the community they serve and protect.

Our DPW has also continued to go above and beyond. In addition to paving our streets, repairing and replacing water mains and managing numerous public works and building projectsthey serve as vital support to the public safety efforts of our first responders.

City Hall Department Heads and employees have provided uninterrupted service to our residents since the pandemic began. They are dedicated professionals and staff who have been instrumental in implementing innovative best practices that continue to benefit residents and save taxpayer dollars.

The Board of Health staff has worked tirelessly to track Covid cases, follow up with contact tracing, update residents and employees on new CDC guidance, provide support and logistics for free Covid testing and clinics for the administration of vaccines.

Our teachers, administrators, and custodians have met and excelled in the difficult challenge of simultaneously educating our students both virtually and in person. They all deserve a big shout out for their collective commitment to safely and compassionately provide our children with education in the classroom.

With the strong support and approval of the City Council, we have used CARES Act funds to support struggling families and businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, including:

Funding to ensure all students were provided laptop computers to assist with virtual learning; and

Funding to provide daily free breakfast and lunch for Senior Citizens in need; and

Funding for assisted learning centers at the Woburn Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA to allow students in hybrid model to receive additional in-person learning and help parents continue working; and

Funding to provide free weekly Covid testing for all residents and City employees; and

Funding for administrative costs to run free vaccine clinic.

Working together, we were also able to use $3.5 million of our reserves strategically to lower the tax bill for Woburn residents and businesses providing much-needed financial relief.

Although we are experiencing a surge in new coronavirus cases, there is reason to be optimistic and hopeful for better days to come. The approval and rollout of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will stop the spread of the virus and help us return to our normal way of life. Governor Charlie Baker and the Mass Department of Public Health are building out infrastructure across the Commonwealth to ensure the vaccine is available to everyone in a planned, phased approach.

The City of Woburn was approved to administer the vaccine to our First Responders, which we started successfully last week. In addition, we advised Mass DPH that we will continue administering the vaccine to all Woburn residents and employees, in accordance with the Commonwealth's prioritized phased plan.

We continue to expect negative budgetary impacts into FY 22. The Covid-19 global pandemic has created a time of unprecedented financial turmoil for local, state and federal governments. There is significant uncertainty surrounding revenue projections for local and state revenues, as levels for both are expected to be lower than FY 20. In addition, commercial property values are facing strong downward pressure, which will further contribute negatively to reduced revenue.

Although we received federal stimulus funding, distributed by the Commonwealth, those funds could not be used for lost revenue needed to fund the budget. However, they have been helpful in addressing unbudgeted expenses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. We are hopeful that the next round of stimulus funding under the Biden administration will provide revenue relief for anticipated reductions in local receipts, State aid and commercial tax revenue.

On a positive note, our solid financial position, strengthened by years of conservative budgeting, increasing our reserves along with growing our tax base, will serve the City well as we navigate through the crisis. We will prepare a budget for FY 22 that serves our residents and businesses to the best of our ability, maintains essential services and programs, supports educational needs, and makes targeted critical investments to move our City forward.

Yesterday, the nation honored the memory of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service, and on a day at the beginning of a new year and a critical moment of necessary reflection to examine where we are as a nation in terms of creating a more just, humane, equitable and peaceful society.

Tomorrow, we will witness the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. In spite of the unsettling turmoil surrounding this nations critical peaceful transfer of power, there is plenty of reason to be hopeful that this new administration will provide leadership aimed at meeting the challenge and continued hard work of healing divisions for the greater good of our nation.

No matter for whom you voted, we must come together and do our part here in Woburn by respecting one another, treating each other with civility and kindness, and keeping our focus on working together with great ideas to achieve our common goals as Americans and residents of a truly wonderful community.

In the coming year, we will continue to focus on the important issues that strengthen our community and make Woburn an inviting, affordable and desirable place to live, work and raise a family.

That means strong fiscal management, solid schools and learning opportunities, job opportunities, recreational activities and facilities, safe neighborhoods, energy efficiency, sustainability, smart growth, innovation, continued investments in City infrastructure, fostering culture diversity, support and respect for one another and, as always, an open-door policy at City Hall.

Thanks again to everyone across the City for your strength, compassion and perseverance over the last year. We still have plenty of hard work ahead of us, but theres real light as we move together through the winter months and look ahead to better days ahead.

This press release was produced by Mayor Scott Galvin's office. The views expressed are the author's own.



This article originally appeared on the Woburn Patch
A North Carolina man who filmed himself storming the US Capitol and looking for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office during the siege by supporters of President Donald Trump has been arrested by the FBI.

Authorities apprehended Christopher Raphael Spencer, 40, without incident in Kernersville, the FBI said in a statement. Spencer, who is from Pilot Mountain, made his initial court appearance on Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Greensboro, a spokeswoman said.

According to a statement from a task force officer assigned to the FBI, an informant told authorities that Spencer had livestreamed videos to Facebook from inside the Capitol. The informant suggested Spencer may have had a family member with him, one of whom was captured on the posted video, the statement said.

Christopher Raphael Spencer, 40 (left), has been arrested in North Carolina in connection to his alleged role in the January 6 siege of the US Capitol. Spencer is pictured on the right in a screenshot from one of his livestreams from inside the Capitol

As Spencer, sporting a 'Trump 2020' T-shirt, walked through Statuary Hall, said, 'Who wouldve knew the first time I ever come would be to storm,' according to court filings

Federal prosecutors say Spencer livestreamed himself taking part in the attack

A search warrant turned up three livestream videos from Spencers Facebook account, and at different times, he showed himself, the officer said.

According to the FBI, the videos show Spencer, dressed in a 'Trump 2020' T-shirt, in various places inside the Capitol, and he can be heard shouting obscenities at Capitol police, and chanting along with the rest of the crowd, 'Whos House? Our house!' and 'Stop the steal!'

Investigators said that Spencer at one point pulled down his neck gaiter and said, 'Bro, they stormed the Capitol, bro  pushed the cops out of the way, everything  took it over.'

At another point, the video shows him walking into an office hallway as he says, 'Wheres Nancys office?' in apparent reference to Nancy Pelosi, the FBI said. As he walked through Statuary Hall, Spencer said, 'Who wouldve knew the first time I ever come would be to storm,' according to officials.

At another point, a video shows Spencer walking into an office hallway as he says, 'Wheres Nancys office?' in apparent reference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Chaotic scenes from inside the US Capitol as thousands of Donald Trump supporters barged into the building as Congress was certifying Joe Biden's presidential victory

Spencer is among more than 150 people arrested so far on charges related to the January 6 violent insurrection

Spencer was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct on capitol grounds; and obstruction of justice.

Charges against Spencer include knowingly entering restricted building without lawful authority; violent entry and disorderly conduct at Capitol; and obstruction of justice

Following the hearing, Spencer was released on the conditions that he stay away from Washington unless for court hearings or meetings with a probation officer. He is prohibited from interfering or influencing anyone who may be a witness to the siege, and he must report for a virtual hearing on January 25, according to the release conditions.

Spencer must cooperate in the collection of a DNA sample if one is authorized, and he must tell the court or any of its officials of any change of residence or telephone number, the order said.

The FBIs statement did not say if he had an attorney who could comment.

Spencer is among more than 150 people arrested so far on charges related to the January 6 violent insurrection in which a Capitol police officer and four others were killed.

Mallorca's hoteliers have criticised Pedro Sanchez for his statement on Tuesday that Spain will be "better prepared" for receiving foreign tourists by the end of the summer once 70% of the population have been vaccinated.

The prime minister said this during his speech at the meeting of the executive council of the UN World Tourism Organization. The Mallorca Hoteliers Federation and the Association of Hotel Chains believe that his observation was unacceptable and harmful to the tourism industry, to the image of Spain and to the chances of recovery.

On Wednesday, the hoteliers said that the prime minister should be speeding up an effective vaccination programme and have a more coordinated strategy with the regions by providing them with the means for vaccination. If he "truly" believes in the importance of the tourism industry, then he should help businesses to keep going and therefore maintain employment.

It is unacceptable that the prime minister, rather than give "a clear and forceful message" about the recovery of tourism, did not choose his words better in a public setting. The hoteliers argue that real support for tourism does not just involve an extension to ERTE. There needs to be an "immediate" tourism rescue plan, including more flexible regulations to reduce tax burdens.

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Warner Bros has set a release date for long-standing project Wonka, an origin story focusing on the storied chocolate factory owner.

A prequel to Roald Dahls Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, titled Wonka is in the pipeline at Warner Bros. for a while now. But it seems the production house is finally churning its wheels to bring the project to fruition.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wonka has been scheduled to be released on 17 March, 2023 for now. It will be directed by Paul King, director of the two Paddington films and bankrolled by Harry Potter producer David Heyman. Heyman was also the producer for Paddington and its sequel so he will be reuniting with King for the latest project again.

Wonka will set place before the events of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where Willy Wonka was seen as a massive chocolatier who ran the Chocolate Factory. The Hollywood Reporter says that the studio synopsis reads as the story of "a young Willy Wonka and his adventures prior to opening the worlds most famous chocolate factory."

The script is by Simon Rich, who previously served as the writer for Saturday Night Live. Simon Farnaby has co-written the screenplay.

King has been associated with the project for nearly two years now as he was reported to have been at the last stages of negotiations to helm Wonka back in 2018. While production rolled in slowly, it seems like things are finally picking up pace as Variety reports that Warner Bros. is planning to begin casting for the film soon.

The eccentric owner of a chocolate factory who was featured prominently in Dahl's 1964 book and its follow-up, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, remains to be one of the most popular figures in popular culture. The first live-action adaptation of the character saw actor Gene Wilder portray Wonka, creating a legendary image for the fictional character, in 1971.

Years later, Tim Burton directed a reboot of the film with Johnny Depp breathing life into the weird chocolatier in 2005.
A paramedic has revealed how a member of the public 'spat at him in the face' when he attended a call during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stan Baxter, who works for the Welsh Ambulance Service, described the 'pressure' he and his colleagues have been under amid the coronavirus crisis and said the incident even made him question his job.

Speaking to BBC News, Stan revealed that he was assaulted by a member of the public, who horrifyingly spat in his face, during the first wave of Covid-19 last year.

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Stan Baxter (above), a paramedic for the Welsh Ambulance Service, has opened up about getting 'assaulted' by a member of the public during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic

Cameras followed Stan and his colleagues as they responded to call outs in Wales

Stan recalled: 'During the peak of the pandemic last year, I was assaulted by a member of the public where I was spat at in the face. And that's really the only time that I've stopped and gone: "Is this for me?"'

But he was quick to add that the 'vast majority' of people have been 'fantastic' and have even offered to buy himself and his fellow paramedics coffees while on shift.

Meanwhile, Stan's work partner Luke Robinson described how 'frustrating' it was to see people 'having parties' on New Year's Eve while he was responding to health concerns.

The paramedic claimed that while he was working on December 31, he heard large gatherings going on in nearby buildings, making it clear that some people 'aren't listening' to the rules.

Luke continued: 'It's really frustrating because it really hammers home that some people aren't listening to the rules.'

Stan (above) described the 'pressure' he and his colleagues have been under amid the coronavirus crisis and said one incident even made him question his job

He added that he wasn't surprised to see a second wave of Covid-19 occuring after seeing such gatherings at the end of last year.

Ahead of New Year's Eve, Boris Johnson had urged people to stay at home as nearly 80 per cent of the UK was under strict Tier 4 coronavirus regulations.

Jason Killens, the boss of the Welsh Ambulance Service, told the BBC that the service is still under 'extreme pressure' amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

He revealed that at one point 400 staff, which equals 12 per cent of all their workers, were sick or self-isolating, which was exacerbated by high call numbers.

Although he admitted that the pressure was less compared to the end of 2020, which he said was the hardest period of the whole pandemic, he said that more difficult times still lie ahead.

The paramedic revealed that he was assaulted by a member of the public, who horrifyingly spat in his face, during the first wave of Covid-19 last year

In December, Welsh ambulances spent more than 11,661 hours waiting to transfer patients outside ambulances after the service declared a 'critical incident'.

Ambulance delays come as the paramedics have to social distance and clean ambulances and equipment to keep themselves and others protected from Covid.

Patients also have to be tested for the contagious virus before they are admitted to hospital, with the strict measures affecting how quickly crews can respond to calls.

But Mr Killens insisted that he believes the Welsh Ambulance service is on the 'home straight' in dealing with the pandemic due to the vaccine being steadily rolled out.

More than four million people across Britain have been given a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine since the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in December.

The UK has also since allowed the use of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca jab, alongside an inoculation against coronavirus developed by Moderna.
A group of Houstonians brought their calls for Ted Cruz's resignation to the senator's doorstep.

The "pallbearers for Cruz," a self-described group of anarchists unaffiliated with any specific organization, carried three coffins to Cruz's Houston home before placing them on the lawn.

BEFORE INAUGURATION DAY: Abbott slams 'offensive' increased vetting of National Guardsmen

According to a statement, each coffin respectively represented those that died during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Cruz's career, and the Texas senator's call to reject electoral votes based on President Donald Trump's repeated disproven claims of widespread election fraud, which the group said has damaged American democracy.

Paul Beyer

"Ted Cruz was elected to office as a 'constitutional conservative' and has broken his oath to defend the constitution to pander to his base," the group said in a statement. "His lies have cost American lives. It is time for Ted Cruz to retire and allow someone who will defend the constitution to represent the State of Texas. Today, Ted Cruz should resign."

Cruz has faced widespread calls for his resignation since Jan. 6, when a pro-Trump mob stormed and breached the U.S. Capitol, resulting in the deaths of five people and delaying the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

Cruz was one of the most vocal challengers of certifying the results and ultimately voted to object to Arizona and Pennsylvania's vote counts after the riot.

Several have said that Cruz's vocal dissent to the election results spurred the mob. New Yorker reporter Luke Mogelson captured on video one rioter rifling through a lawmaker's papers in the Senate chamber, saying, "I think Cruz would want us to do this, I think were good."

Cruz has maintained he bears no responsibility for the attack on the Capitol and condemned the violence.

What I was doing and what the other senators were doing is what we were elected to do, which is debating matters of great import in the chamber of the United States Senate," Cruz told KHOU. "I joined with 11 other Senators and we proposed to the Senate that Congress should appoint an electoral commission.
CIA Director Gina Haspel arrives for a briefing with members of the U.S. House of Representatives about the situation with Iran, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 8, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

CIA Director Gina Haspel Announces Resignation

CIA Director Gina Haspel resigned on Tuesday, with the agency thanking Haspel for her years of service in the intelligence community.

The CIA workforce thanks Director Haspel for her 36 years of dedicated service to the American people, the agency announced on Twitter. You have broken barriers and empowered the next generation of CIA officers.

It has been the greatest honor of my life to lead this remarkable organization, Haspel said in a statement. I depart deeply proud of the work we have done togetherthe triumphs we have achieved, the threats we have overcome, and the investments we have made for the future.

Haspel did not explain why she is leaving her role. The announcement comes on President Donald Trumps last full day in office.

A career intelligence officer, Haspel joined the CIA in 1985. She became the first female CIA director in May 2018 after being nominated by Trump.

Gina Haspel, the nominee to lead the CIA, testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington on May 9, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

Prior to her role as CIA director, she served as an undercover officer for most of her 30-year-plus career.

In 2002, as the CIA station chief in Thailand, she oversaw one of the secret prisons in which suspected al-Qaeda terrorists were interrogated using procedures that included waterboarding, which simulates drowning. At her confirmation in 2018, she promised that she will never resume a program of harsh interrogations.

She also served in a number of posts including acting director of the National Clandestine Service and chief of staff for the director of the service.

Haspel was inactive from mid 2013 to early 2017. She became the CIA deputy director in February 2017 under the Trump administration, before becoming CIA director.

Top Republicans expressed frustrations in late 2020 over her failure to produce Russia probe documents they requested pertaining to the FBIs investigation of the Trump campaign, codenamed Crossfire Hurricane.
A Covid-19 nurse was allegedly attacked by a man at a drive-through testing clinic after she asked him to put his cigarette out.

The nurse was working at Macquarie Hospital's testing facility in North Ryde last week when she approached a car and was physically and verbally assaulted by the passenger.

The man, 43, was asked to extinguish a cigarette, but he refused and yelled at staff before getting out and throwing a take-away coffee cup at the nurse.

The man, 43, was asked to extinguish a cigarette, but he refused and yelled at staff before getting out and throwing a take-away coffee cup at the nurse (stock image)

The man refused to put his cigarette out and verbally abused staff and threw a take-away coffee cup at the nurse at Macquarie Hospital's testing facility in North Ryde (pictured)

The nurse's colleagues rushed to help her but the car drove off. She suffered a minor laceration under her eye and red marks to her cheek.

The frontline worker reported the incident to Gosford Police Station on Monday.

Police later arrested a man from a home in Dundas Valley, in Sydney's north west.

He was taken to Ryde Police Station and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The man was refused bail and will appear at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday.

New South Wales recorded zero locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, the third day in a row without local transmission.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday promised to ease restrictions in a week's time if cases remain low.

'Please know that if things continue the way they are, by this time next week there will certainly be decisions made around getting us as close as possible to pre-Avalon conditions,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Wednesday.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday promised to ease restrictions in a week's time if cases remain low

The lifting of restrictions depends on good testing numbers and low-to-zero community transmission continuing, she said.

Testing numbers were up after the government's plea for more people to come forward, with 19,959 people getting tested in the reporting period up from 10,621 the previous day.

The premier urged patience, with health advisors warning that if the government moves too quickly it could cause a flare-up.

Three cases were identified on Wednesday, all people in hotel quarantine who had acquired the virus overseas.

Dr. Rachel Levine is no stranger to derision due to her gender identity.

A transgender woman, Levine, Pennsylvanias Health Secretary, in many ways has reflected back undercurrents of transphobic tendencies in this country.

The transgender community has historically fended off personal assails, attacks on its civil rights, and the troubling rates of homicide of transgender or gender non-conforming people. Levine, perhaps unwittingly at times, has served as a role model for the transgender community in Pennsylvania, negotiating hostile attacks even as she tended to the life and death issues of the coronavirus pandemic.

That is one of the main reasons why President-elect Joe Bidens nomination of Levine to be his assistant secretary of health is resounding across the transgender community. Its a recognition and an affirmation of a sexual identity that has historically been assaulted and marginalized - literally and figuratively - both at the mainstream and public official levels.

She will absolutely be a mentor and a positive model for countless trans and LGBTQ people in the country, said Jason Landau Goodman, executive director of The Pennsylvania Youth Congress, an trans advocacy group. She never paid much attention to all these haters. She is laser focused on her mission to help all people live healthy, full lives. Thats what she will remain committed to. Whenever anyone asks her how she is doing with these situations, she says she is focused on her job and thats all that matters, and thats absolutely correct.

Levine, who has emerged as the public face of Pennsylvanias response to the coronavirus pandemic, is poised to become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Dr. Levine is a Pennsylvania treasure and now the nation will benefit from her expertise, Goodman said. As she has in Pennsylvania, she will remain laser-focused on the mission to safeguard the health and well-being of all people. She will continue to provide specific attention to the health of vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ people. Ive known Dr. Levine for over a decade and have always been inspired by her leadership, authenticity, and wisdom.

In recent years, the transgender community has had to push back on a campaign to strip their members of civil rights.

In 2017, just a few weeks into his White House tenure, President Donald Trump rolled back Obama-era guidances on allowing transgender school students to use bathrooms of choice. Last year, amid the pandemic, the Trump administration reversed an Obama-era health protection for transgender patients. Some conservatives argued the rule allowed patients to force doctors to perform gender reassignment surgeries.

On a personal level, Levine experienced an equal measure of transphobic assaults.

In June, the Bloomsburg Fair came under fire after the fairs social media account featured a photo of a man dressed in a flowered dress and wearing a blond wig. The man, who was taking part in a dunk tank fundraising event, was impersonating Levine.

A few weeks earlier, a radio talk show host repeatedly called Levine sir at a press conference, prompting her to tell him, Please dont misgender me.

Then in July, Republican state Rep. Russ Diamond subtly mocked Levine, pilfering the very words the physician used to speak out about anti-trans incidents to prop his opposition to wearing face masks.

For the transgender community, one of the most vulnerable demographics in the country, the incidents leveled on Levine, a transgender woman, were part and parcel of the ongoing assault on their community.

Yet, many in the trans community credit Levines reaction and handling of these incidents, as well as her leadership and poise under fire as inspiration.

Its incredibly important, Preston Heldibridle said of Levines appointment to the federal post. Im very excited about this. Everything we can do at the state level to protect trans lives should be happening at the federal level so trans people no matter where they live can live like everyone else. Having that perspective front and center at the federal leveI, I think is going to be huge.

A state policy associate for the Pennsylvania Youth Congress, Heldibridle, a transgender man, was in high school when the Trump administration four years ago rolled back federal protections for the trans community. That prompted him to attended a roundtable forum chaired by Levine.

He credits Levine directly with his foray into advocacy for the trans community.

Officials dont always have an intrinsic level of understanding of issues, Heldibridle said. With her being in that position we were able to get to direct issues. That was really powerful, certainly for me and everyone in the room to see that when we have a seat at the table, we can get things done to protect our rights and protect the very things that allow us to live like everyone else.

Both Goodman and Heldibridle, who have known Levine for a number of years, say they have never seen her allow the assaults on her identity to rattle her or distract her from her job.

I dont think you can surpass the level of vitriol she has had to deal with, Heldibridle said. She has not let that impede her work at all. Shes very experienced at focusing on tackling the issues and getting things done. Its something I greatly admire about her.

Levine on Tuesday reflected on her service in the state, noting that she has been laser focused on building a healthy Pennsylvania for all.

It has truly been an honor to serve the people of Pennsylvania under the leadership of Governor Tom Wolf, Levine said. He is a tremendous leader with an incredible vision for Pennsylvania, and it has been a highlight of my career to serve in his administration.

Levine noted the departments accomplishments in the areas of the opioid epidemic, the fight against diseases such as HIV, and advocacy for LGBTQ issues.

I am proud of the work we have done as an administration to address health equity, and the work I have done personally to raise awareness about LGBTQ equity issues, Levine said.

A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017, making her one of the few transgender people serving in elected or appointed positions nationwide. She won past confirmation by the Republican-majority Pennsylvania Senate.

A graduate of Harvard and of Tulane Medical School, Levine is president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Shes written in the past on the opioid crisis, medical marijuana, adolescent medicine, eating disorders and LGBTQ medicine.

Wolf on Tuesday congratulated Levine, calling her a highly skilled and valued member of his administration. The governor noted Levines accomplishments throughout her tenure, which in addition to her critical management of the states response to the pandemic, include her role in establishing the states medical marijuana program, bringing national awareness to opioid use disorder and highlighting and promoting the need for adequate medical care and access for the LGBTQ community.

Her work for our commonwealth has been transformational and I appreciate it more than I can say, Wolf said. I and the people of Pennsylvania owe her a debt of gratitude for her leadership, strength and dedication to protecting every persons health amid unprecedented circumstances  and, at times, amid hateful distractions. Dr. Levine is both competent and compassionate, and never lets the anger or fear of others sway her from her goals.

Following up on Wolfs commendation, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman expressed his praise for Levine on Twitter, writing: It must also be acknowledged the cruelty, viscousness, and sheer volume of personal attacks directed at Dr. Levine based *solely* on her identity has been unprecedented.

This hateful rhetoric has *no* place in PA or our nation, Fetterman said. I thank her for her service.

Tesla Taliaferro, president of the board of the Rainbow Rose Center in York, a non-profit advocacy group, stressed that Levines nomination by Biden speaks volumes about her qualifications,

It really does show her credentials as a medical health professional, he said. Its also important to have that representation for the transgender community.

Still, Taliaferro, a transgender man, said Levine is unlikely to use the post to directly advance transgender issues.

Dr. Levine set aside her identity politics in favor of promoting the health and well being of every Pennsylvanian and I know she will do the same thing for the entire American population, he said. While she is very proud of being a trans woman and the trans community is extremely proud and impressed by her, whats more important to her is ensuring the well being of the people.

In a statement released to the press, the Rainbow Rose Center noted that Levines nomination was the perfect example of recognition and advancement based on hard work and education. These are the values our country was founded on and Dr. Levine will actively work to make America better and healthier for everyone in it.

Wolf said Tuesday he hopes to name a replacement for Levine later this week.

World Bank, EU ready to provide technical support for Ukraine to launch farmland reform

A roadmap for further joint work within the Land Reform Steering Committee is expected to be finalized in early February.

Reporting by UNIAN

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DALLAS, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- John B. Billingsley, the founder, Chairman and CEO of Tri Global Energy, a leading developer of utility-scale renewable energy projects, and Sunfinity, a residential and commercial solar provider, is offering the following statement in recognition of President Joe Biden rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement on his first day in office:

"Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement is the right step  but just the first step - toward accomplishing critical environmental goals facing our nation and the world. The threat of climate change remains very real, and a concerted global effort to meet the challenge is essential for success. It is important for the U.S. to be back in a leadership role, and we expect our elected leaders to take this commitment seriously."

The Paris Climate Agreement was adopted by nearly every nation in 2015 to address climate change and its negative impacts, but the United States withdrew from participation under the Trump administration. 2015 was also the year that Billingsley and Tri Global Energy's Chief Financial Officer Henry Schopfer took part in the American Business Act on Climate Pledge organized at the White House under President Obama.

Billingsley added:

"The growth of renewables has been robust over the last few years, despite government policies and the pandemic. Renewable energy can positively impact every American and every citizen in the global community, and we're hopeful that the Biden administration will give us the runway to reach that potential."

Headquartered in Dallas, Tri Global Energy (www.triglobalenergy.com) is a leading wind developer in Texas and is among the top five in the U.S. for projects under construction. Sunfinity (www.sunfinity.com) is listed as the 136th largest solar company in the U.S. by Solar Power World magazine.

SOURCE Tri Global Energy

Related Links

http://www.Triglobalenergy.com


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The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the ratification of Nigerias membership of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the State House after the years first cabinet meeting, presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the endorsement of the treaty would enhance the capacity of agricultural scientists and agricultural production in the country.

This memo which was approved today was a treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The importance of this treaty is for the advancement and enhancement of the agricultural resource base of the member countries, he said.

He said, Nigeria has signed the treaty for a long time but it is only today that the FEC approved the ratification.

The minister said Nigeria would become a full-fledged member of the treaty.

In short, the entire treaty is meant to boost agricultural production in the country as it affects other countries, 167 of them, he added.

The Treaty

In November 2001, the 31st session of the conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) adopted the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The objectives of the pact include, to drive the conservation and sustainable use of all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security.

The treaty, which came into force on June 29, 2004, aims at recognising the enormous contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops that feed the world, with the hope to establish a global system that will provide farmers, plant breeders and scientists with access to plant genetic materials while ensuring that recipients share benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials with the countries where they have been originated.

As of February 2020, the treaty had 147 contracting parties (146 states, 1 organisation).

Commenting to this, Rose Gidado, country director, OFAB, Africa-Nigerian chapter, said it was a right step in the right direction that is capable of ensuring food security.

When we have enough to eat we would be healthy, she added.
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In what could be the longest of legal long shots, several of those arrested for storming the U.S. Capitol are holding out hope that President Donald Trump will use some of his last hours in office to grant the rioters a full pardon.

Longtime advisers to Trump are urging him against such a move but the rioters contend their argument is compelling: They went to the Capitol to support Trump, and now that they are facing charges carrying up to 20 years in prison, its time for Trump to support them.

I feel like I was basically following my president. I was following what we were called to do. He asked us to fly there. He asked us to be there. So I was doing what he asked us to do, said Jenna Ryan, a Dallas-area real-estate agent who took a private jet to the Jan. 6 rally and ensuing riot to disrupt the certification of the election of President-elect Joe Biden.

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Ryan  who prosecutors say posted a now-deleted video of herself marching to the Capitol with the words, We are going to fing go in here. Life or death  told Dallas television station KTVT: I think we all deserve a pardon. Im facing a prison sentence. I think I do not deserve that.

Perhaps the most high-profile rioter, the so-called QAnon Shaman who broke into the Senate chamber and posed at the dais with a spear, wearing a horned fur hat and animal skins, is also pleading for a pardon.

Jacob Chansleys lawyer told The Associated Press that he reached out to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows about a possible pardon on behalf of the Arizona man, acknowledging it might be a reach but that theres nothing to lose in seeking one.

If Chansley is not granted a pardon, attorney Albert Watkins said, it could offer the added benefit of further awakening his client to the fact that his devotion to Trump has not been reciprocated, comparing it to being a jilted lover or even a member of a cult.

The only thing that was missing at the Capitol was the president, our president, stirring up the Kool-Aid with a big spoon, Watkins said.

Dominic Pezzola, a Rochester, New York, man and far-right Proud Boys supporter who was seen in a video using a clear police shield to shatter a Capitol window, also explored seeking a pardon but his attorney said there was not enough time to make it happen.

To believe the president is going to carte blanche issue these pardons is kind of a fantasy, defense attorney Mike Scibetta told the AP. I think it would cast a shadow on his own impeachment defense.

Trump, who has long reveled in suspense, was expected to spend his last full day in office issuing a flurry of pardons to as many as 100 people, two people briefed on the plans told the AP.

But if Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz has his say, the more than 150 rioters arrested so far and the thousands more suspected should not be among them.

Dershowitz, who represented Trump in his first impeachment last year, told the AP he has not been approached by any of the rioters about seeking a pardon but even if he had, it would be wrong to pardon rioters who committed crimes.

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who speaks often with Trump, was among the confidantes urging the president not to go there.

I dont care if you went there and spread flowers on the floor, you breached the security of the Capitol, you interrupted a joint session of Congress, you tried to intimidate us all, Graham said on Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures. You should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and to seek a pardon of these people would be wrong.

He warned that such a move would destroy President Trump.

Pardons normally go through an extensive vetting process within the Department of Justice. The Office of the Pardon Attorney, which handles these reviews, did not respond to a request for comment, but former federal prosecutors said Trump giving clemency to those at the Capitol would be highly unusual.

Such pardons would be a slap in the face to the law enforcement officers who protected the Capitol and our leaders who were inside, said Joe Brown, who until last year was a U.S. attorney in Texas.

Not all of those charged in the Jan. 6 riot are in the market for a pardon. Victoria Bergeson of Groton, Connecticut, who faces charges of violating curfew and unlawful entry wants her case to just go away but sees accepting a pardon as an admission that she knowingly did something wrong, said her attorney Samuel Bogash.

She does not want to do that due to a justifiable fear of how the public would perceive it, he said. She is already being trolled online.

Noah Bookbinder, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog group, said Trumps use of his clemency powers has set up a spoils system for his allies and pardoning the insurrectionists would just be a more extreme version.

That this president might be willing, even to pardon those who rose up against the United States, he said, would be the ultimate statement of his perversion of the purpose behind pardons.

___

Bleiberg reported from Dallas, Mustian from New York. AP White House reporter Jill Colvin contributed to this report.
Seeking closure nearly three years after Sister Angela Miller, I.H.M., went missing, presumed to have been murdered by her nephew, Millers family and congregation are asking the court to declare the missing Scranton nun dead.

I think it will help, particularly her family  her blood family and also for the sisters, said Sister Ellen Maroney, I.H.M., president of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Working with Millers loved ones, Maroney and her attorneys petitioned the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas last month for a decree of death for Miller. Maroney is the trustee of Millers financial assets, said Jenna Kraycer Tuzze, one of the attorneys representing Maroney at Oliver, Price & Rhodes in Clarks Summit.

Judge Vito P. Geroulo will consider the petition at a hearing Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m.

Miller, who was 76 at the time of her disappearance, went missing April 28, 2018, after police believe her nephew, Alan Smith, 49, shot and killed his mother, Rosemary Smith, 72, before ultimately committing suicide. Miller and Rosemary Smith had sought an emergency protection from abuse order against Alan Smith. When police tried to serve it, he fired a shotgun at officers as he set fire to their double-block home at 2114-2116 Washburn St. in Scranton. He died from smoke inhalation and burns during the standoff with police. His death was ruled a suicide.

Investigators recovered both the bodies of Alan and Rosemary Smith in the rubble, but even after extensive search efforts, Millers body was never found. At the time, investigators theorized Alan Smith may have killed Miller and moved her body elsewhere. Authorities found what appeared to be blood in the trunk of Rosemary Smiths vehicle.

Miller is still considered a missing person, although the case is inactive at this time, said Scranton Police Chief Leonard Namiotka.

Maroney said she was grateful for the efforts police made trying to locate Millers body. With no realistic hope that we were ever going to find her body, the IHM sisters worked with Millers family, deciding to move forward with the petition together.

Normally, state law requires a person to be missing for seven years before being declared dead. However, exposure to a specific peril of death can expedite the process, according to the state.

Tuzze believes they should be able to obtain the declaration of death before the seven-year period. The circumstances surrounding Millers disappearance show she hasnt just taken off, she said.

She clearly had a specific peril of death, Tuzze said.

In the petition, attorneys for Maroney wrote that the PFA showed Miller and Rosemary Smith had feared for their safety. Rosemary Smith indicated her son had threatened to kill her, her friends and her neighbors, according to the petition. Miller described him as a sociopath with deep anger issues.

The petition cited Alan Smiths murder of his mother and subsequent suicide, the possible blood found in Rosemary Smiths vehicle and the unsuccessful searches to find Millers body.

Should the court rule in their favor, they will move forward with the standard estate process, Tuzze said. Maroney will be the executor of Millers estate, taking care of her assets through recommendations in her will, she said.

Millers death was difficult for the congregation  probably the most difficult time during her tenure as IHM president, Maroney said.

Its always there, its always part of us as we talk about it. I think as time goes on theres a bit of healing, she said. Its like any loss that any family undergoes, especially in these circumstances, the tragic circumstances, I think it made it much more difficult for all of us.

The IHM sisters faith gives them strength and courage to persevere, she said. Holding a funeral Mass for Miller and her sister also gave the congregation a sense of closure.

Our belief is that she is in heaven with her sister. Thats our faith, Maroney said. It is our faith that gets us through.

[January 20, 2021]

Former Investment Banker and Head of Investment Strategy at Man Group joins Fintech PremiaLab

New senior appointment for the fintech platform dedicated to quantitative investment strategies

LONDON, NEW YORK and HONG KONG, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PremiaLab, has today announced the appointment of Mr. Fest as CFO as part of its expansion global expansion. Mr. Fest served as Head of Investment Strategy at Man Group, and held senior positions at Barclays Investment Bank and Mckinsey.

Previously, Mr. Fest was CFO of Fintech Ebury from May 2019 (majority aquired by Banco Santander) and Molo Tech, the UK's first digital mortgage lender.

Mr. Fest has over 15 years' investment banking experience in asset management, capital markets and Fintech. He will be responsible for further supporting the firm's growth in multiple locations across Asia, Europe and the US.

Adrien Geliot, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of PremiaLab sai: "We are delighted to welcome Martin to the team. His extensive industry expertise will allow us to further structure our business in multiple locations globally and deploy our ambitious growth strategy."







The hire follows multiple senior appointements within PremiaLab including John Macpherson former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, Nomura and Citibank.

Recognized as the reference for data and risk analytics on quantitative strategies, PremiaLab's capital markets infrastructure is used by leading asset managers, insurance companies and pensions funds to accelerate their digitalization to enhance performance and risk controls while reducing costs.

Mr. Fest holds an MBA from INSEAD and a diploma in engineering, finance and controlling from Technische Universitat Braunschweig.

Notes to Editors

About PremiaLab

PremiaLab is an independent platform providing data, analytics and risk solutions on systematic & factor-based strategies in collaboration with leading investment banks and institutional investors globally. Combining intelligent technology with a unique source of information the platform empowers asset allocators to make better investment decisions whilst achieving upmost time and cost efficiency.

With offices in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong and Stockholm, its international team is dedicated to supporting a global client base with the most up-to-date risk premia dataset, advanced portfolio construction, performance & risk analytics. The firm has established strong partnerships with the top 15 investments banks, global asset managers, pensions funds & insurance companies.

For more information please visit: www.premialab.com
President Donald Trump has released a farewell video on his last full day in office, thanking Americans for 'this extraordinary privilege', listing his achievements and wishing the next administration well - although he failed to directly name his successor Joe Biden.

As Biden's chartered plane arrived in Washington DC on Tuesday night, the White House posted the address on YouTube. Trump himself has been temporarily banned from the platform due to his part in spurring on his supporters in the lead-up to the Capitol riots on January 6.

The 45th president began the nearly 20-minute farewell by saying: 'Four years ago, we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit, and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens. In short, we embarked on a mission to make America great again -- for all Americans.'

Trump, who spent months trying to de-legitimize President-elect Biden's win with baseless allegations of mass voter fraud, referenced the 'next administration,' but declined to utter Biden's name as he filmed from the White House Blue Room.

He said: 'This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck -- a very important word.'

President Donald Trump has released a farewell video on his last full day in office, thanking Americans for 'this extraordinary privilege, listing his achievements and wishing the next administration well - although he failed to directly name his successor Joe Biden

As Biden's chartered plane arrived in Washington DC on Tuesday night, the White House posted the address on YouTube

Trump has still refused to publicly concede to Biden, spending the weeks after the election blaming his loss on widespread voter fraud that did not exist.

He has remained largely out of sight since his supporters stormed the Capitol building earlier this month, trying to halt the peaceful transfer of power.

The president spent much of the address trumpeting what he sees as his top achievements, including efforts to normalize relations in the Middle East, the development of coronavirus vaccinations and the creation of a new Space Force.

He thanked his wife first lady Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner, who both served as his advisors. Trump also extended his 'deepest appreciation to sons Barron, Don Jr, Eric and daughter-in-law Lara, adding they 'fill my world with light and with joy'.

He added: 'I also want to thank Vice President Mike Pence, his wonderful wife Karen, and the entire Pence family. Thank you as well to my Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows.'

Trump is set to leave Washington early on Wednesday morning and has been planning a grand farewell 'ceremony' at nearby Joint Base Andrews.

Once there, he will board Air Force One for a final time, flying to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and becoming the first outgoing president in more than a century to skip the inauguration of his successor.

Trump and his wife first lady Melania have refused to take part in any of the symbolic passing-of-the-torch traditions that have been the capstones of the peaceful transition of power from one administration to the next.

He also passed on inviting the Bidens to the White House for a get-to-know-you meeting. And it remains unclear whether he will write Biden a personal welcome letter, like the one he received from former President Obama when he moved in.

Trump said in his address: 'My fellow Americans: Four years ago, we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit, and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens. In short, we embarked on a mission to make America great again -- for all Americans.

'As I conclude my term as the 45th President of the United States, I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together. We did what we came here to do -- and so much more.

'This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also want them to have luck -- a very important word.'

He thanked his wife first lady Melania Trump, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner, who both served as his advisors. Trump also extended his 'deepest appreciation to sons Barron, Don Jr, Eric and daughter-in-law Lara, adding they 'fill my world with light and with joy'

He added: 'I also want to thank Vice President Mike Pence, his wonderful wife Karen, and the entire Pence family. Thank you as well to my Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows'

He continued: 'I'd like to begin by thanking just a few of the amazing people who made our remarkable journey possible.

'First, let me express my overwhelming gratitude for the love and support of our spectacular First Lady, Melania. Let me also share my deepest appreciation to my daughter Ivanka, my son-in-law Jared, and to Barron, Don, Eric, Tiffany, and Lara. You fill my world with light and with joy.

'I also want to thank Vice President Mike Pence, his wonderful wife Karen, and the entire Pence family.

'Thank you as well to my Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows; the dedicated members of the White House Staff and the Cabinet; and all the incredible people across our administration who poured out their heart and soul to fight for America.

'I also want to take a moment to thank a truly exceptional group of people: the United States Secret Service. My family and I will forever be in your debt. My profound gratitude as well to everyone in the White House Military Office, the teams of Marine One and Air Force One, every member of the Armed Forces, and state and local law enforcement all across our country.

'Most of all, I want to thank the American people. To serve as your President has been an honor beyond description. Thank you for this extraordinary privilege. And that's what it is -- a great privilege and a great honor.

'We must never forget that while Americans will always have our disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent, faithful, and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good. We are a truly magnificent nation.

'All Americans were horrified by the assault on our Capitol. Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated.

'Now more than ever, we must unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor, and forge our common destiny.'

President Donald Trump holds up a hat that spoofs his Make America Great Again hat, which reads 'Make Counties Great Again' before signing the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) executive order, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017

Supporters loyal to President Donald Trump clash with authorities before successfully breaching the Capitol building during a riot on the grounds on January 6

Trump added: 'Four years ago, I came to Washington as the only true outsider ever to win the presidency. I had not spent my career as a politician, but as a builder looking at open skylines and imagining infinite possibilities. I ran for President because I knew there were towering new summits for America just waiting to be scaled. I knew the potential for our nation was boundless as long as we put America first.

'So I left behind my former life and stepped into a very difficult arena, but an arena nevertheless, with all sorts of potential if properly done. America had given me so much, and I wanted to give something back.

'Together with millions of hardworking patriots across this land, we built the greatest political movement in the history of our country. We also built the greatest economy in the history of the world. It was about 'America First' because we all wanted to make America great again. We restored the principle that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Our agenda was not about right or left, it wasn't about Republican or Democrat, but about the good of a nation, and that means the whole nation.

'With the support and prayers of the American people, we achieved more than anyone thought possible. Nobody thought we could even come close.

'We passed the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history. We slashed more job-killing regulations than any administration had ever done before. We fixed our broken trade deals, withdrew from the horrible Trans-Pacific Partnership and the impossible Paris Climate Accord, renegotiated the one-sided South Korea deal, and we replaced NAFTA with the groundbreaking USMCA -- that's Mexico and Canada -- a deal that's worked out very, very well.

'Also, and very importantly, we imposed historic and monumental tariffs on China; made a great new deal with China. But before the ink was even dry, we and the whole world got hit with the China virus. Our trade relationship was rapidly changing, billions and billions of dollars were pouring into the U.S., but the virus forced us to go in a different direction.

'The whole world suffered, but America outperformed other countries economically because of our incredible economy and the economy that we built. Without the foundations and footings, it wouldn't have worked out this way. We wouldn't have some of the best numbers we've ever had.'

President Donald Trump with fellow leaders after a photo session at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019

'We also unlocked our energy resources and became the world's number-one producer of oil and natural gas by far. Powered by these policies, we built the greatest economy in the history of the world. We reignited America's job creation and achieved record-low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, women -- almost everyone.

'Incomes soared, wages boomed, the American Dream was restored, and millions were lifted from poverty in just a few short years. It was a miracle. The stock market set one record after another, with 148 stock market highs during this short period of time, and boosted the retirements and pensions of hardworking citizens all across our nation. 401(k)s are at a level they've never been at before. We've never seen numbers like we've seen, and that's before the pandemic and after the pandemic.

'We rebuilt the American manufacturing base, opened up thousands of new factories, and brought back the beautiful phrase: 'Made in the USA.'

'To make life better for working families, we doubled the child tax credit and signed the largest-ever expansion of funding for childcare and development. We joined with the private sector to secure commitments to train more than 16 million American workers for the jobs of tomorrow.

'When our nation was hit with the terrible pandemic, we produced not one, but two vaccines with record-breaking speed, and more will quickly follow. They said it couldn't be done but we did it. They call it a 'medical miracle,' and that's what they're calling it right now: a 'medical miracle.'

'Another administration would have taken 3, 4, 5, maybe even up to 10 years to develop a vaccine. We did in nine months.

'We grieve for every life lost, and we pledge in their memory to wipe out this horrible pandemic once and for all.

'When the virus took its brutal toll on the world's economy, we launched the fastest economic recovery our country has ever seen. We passed nearly $4 trillion in economic relief, saved or supported over 50 million jobs, and slashed the unemployment rate in half. These are numbers that our country has never seen before.

'We created choice and transparency in healthcare, stood up to big pharma in so many ways, but especially in our effort to get favored-nations clauses added, which will give us the lowest prescription drug prices anywhere in the world.

Trump said: 'We proudly leave the next administration with the strongest and most robust border security measures ever put into place. This includes historic agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, along with more than 450 miles of powerful new wall'

'We passed VA Choice, VA Accountability, Right to Try, and landmark criminal justice reform.

'We confirmed three new justices of the United States Supreme Court. We appointed nearly 300 federal judges to interpret our Constitution as written.

'For years, the American people pleaded with Washington to finally secure the nation's borders. I am pleased to say we answered that plea and achieved the most secure border in U.S. history. We have given our brave border agents and heroic ICE officers the tools they need to do their jobs better than they have ever done before, and to enforce our laws and keep America safe.

'We proudly leave the next administration with the strongest and most robust border security measures ever put into place. This includes historic agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, along with more than 450 miles of powerful new wall.

'We restored American strength at home and American leadership abroad. The world respects us again. Please don't lose that respect.

'We reclaimed our sovereignty by standing up for America at the United Nations and withdrawing from the one-sided global deals that never served our interests. And NATO countries are now paying hundreds of billions of dollars more than when I arrived just a few years ago. It was very unfair. We were paying the cost for the world. Now the world is helping us.

'And perhaps most importantly of all, with nearly $3 trillion, we fully rebuilt the American military -- all made in the USA. We launched the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces in 75 years: the Space Force. And last spring, I stood at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and watched as American astronauts returned to space on American rockets for the first time in many, many years.

'We revitalized our alliances and rallied the nations of the world to stand up to China like never before.

'We obliterated the ISIS caliphate and ended the wretched life of its founder and leader, al Baghdadi. We stood up to the oppressive Iranian regime and killed the world's top terrorist, Iranian butcher Qasem Soleimani.

'We recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

'As a result of our bold diplomacy and principled realism, we achieved a series of historic peace deals in the Middle East. Nobody believed it could happen. The Abraham Accords opened the doors to a future of peace and harmony, not violence and bloodshed. It is the dawn of a new Middle East, and we are bringing our soldiers home.

'I am especially proud to be the first President in decades who has started no new wars.

'Above all, we have reasserted the sacred idea that, in America, the government answers to the people. Our guiding light, our North Star, our unwavering conviction has been that we are here to serve the noble everyday citizens of America. Our allegiance is not to the special interests, corporations, or global entities; it's to our children, our citizens, and to our nation itself.

'As President, my top priority, my constant concern, has always been the best interests of American workers and American families. I did not seek the easiest course; by far, it was actually the most difficult. I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism. I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices because that's what you elected me to do. Your needs were my first and last unyielding focus.

'This, I hope, will be our greatest legacy: Together, we put the American people back in charge of our country. We restored self-government. We restored the idea that in America no one is forgotten, because everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We fought for the principle that every citizen is entitled to equal dignity, equal treatment, and equal rights because we are all made equal by God. Everyone is entitled to be treated with respect, to have their voice heard, and to have their government listen. You are loyal to your country, and my administration was always loyal to you.

'We worked to build a country in which every citizen could find a great job and support their wonderful families. We fought for the communities where every American could be safe and schools where every child could learn. We promoted a culture where our laws would be upheld, our heroes honored, our history preserved, and law-abiding citizens are never taken for granted. Americans should take tremendous satisfaction in all that we have achieved together. It's incredible.

'Now, as I leave the White House, I have been reflecting on the dangers that threaten the priceless inheritance we all share. As the world's most powerful nation, America faces constant threats and challenges from abroad. But the greatest danger we face is a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness. A nation is only as strong as its spirit. We are only as dynamic as our pride. We are only as vibrant as the faith that beats in the hearts of our people.

'No nation can long thrive that loses faith in its own values, history, and heroes, for these are the very sources of our unity and our vitality.

'What has always allowed America to prevail and triumph over the great challenges of the past has been an unyielding and unashamed conviction in the nobility of our country and its unique purpose in history. We must never lose this conviction. We must never forsake our belief in America.

'The key to national greatness lies in sustaining and instilling our shared national identity. That means focusing on what we have in common: the heritage that we all share.

'At the center of this heritage is also a robust belief in free expression, free speech, and open debate. Only if we forget who we are, and how we got here, could we ever allow political censorship and blacklisting to take place in America. It's not even thinkable. Shutting down free and open debate violates our core values and most enduring traditions.

Trump said: 'This is a republic of proud citizens who are united by our common conviction that America is the greatest nation in all of history. We are, and must always be, a land of hope, of light, and of glory to all the world. This is the precious inheritance that we must safeguard at every single turn'

'In America, we don't insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes. We just don't do that. America is not a timid nation of tame souls who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom we disagree. That's not who we are. It will never be who we are.

'For nearly 250 years, in the face of every challenge, Americans have always summoned our unmatched courage, confidence, and fierce independence. These are the miraculous traits that once led millions of everyday citizens to set out across a wild continent and carve out a new life in the great West. It was the same profound love of our God-given freedom that willed our soldiers into battle and our astronauts into space.

'As I think back on the past four years, one image rises in my mind above all others. Whenever I traveled all along the motorcade route, there were thousands and thousands of people. They came out with their families so that they could stand as we passed, and proudly wave our great American flag. It never failed to deeply move me. I knew that they did not just come out to show their support of me; they came out to show me their support and love for our country.

'This is a republic of proud citizens who are united by our common conviction that America is the greatest nation in all of history. We are, and must always be, a land of hope, of light, and of glory to all the world. This is the precious inheritance that we must safeguard at every single turn.

'For the past four years, I have worked to do just that. From a great hall of Muslim leaders in Riyadh to a great square of Polish people in Warsaw; from the floor of the Korean Assembly to the podium at the United Nations General Assembly; and from the Forbidden City in Beijing to the shadow of Mount Rushmore, I fought for you, I fought for your family, I fought for our country. Above all, I fought for America and all it stands for -- and that is safe, strong, proud, and free.

'Now, as I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning. There's never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day.

'As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation cannot achieve. Our communities will flourish. Our people will be prosperous. Our traditions will be cherished. Our faith will be strong. And our future will be brighter than ever before.

'I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit, and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come.

'Thank you, and farewell. God bless you. God bless the United States of America.'
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Agence France-Presse

Virtually all global warming since the industrial era is caused by manmade emissions, according to research published Monday that concludes Earth's natural processes contribute only "negligibly" to climate change. Near-surface air temperatures have increased on average around the world just over one degree Celsius since the mid-19th century. That 1 C increase has already seen more frequent and powerful extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, as well as superstorms made more deadly by rising seas.

The 2015 Paris climate accord commits nations to limit global temperature rises to "well below" 2C (3.6 Fahrenheit) and to a safer cap of 1.5C if possible.

An international team of researchers wanted to better quantify how much warming can be directly contributed to human activity  in the form of greenhouse gas emissions and land use change  and how much is down to so-called "natural forcings".

These include phenomena such as large volcanic eruptions and changes in the Sun's energy output, and are often cited as drivers of warming by climate sceptics or deniers.

The researchers examined 13 different climate models to simulate expected temperature changes under three main scenarios: one in which just aerosol affected temperature, one where only natural forcings occurred, and another where greenhouse gas emissions are factored in.

Writing in Nature Climate Change, they found that human activity had contributed 0.9-1.3C to global temperatures  exactly consistent with the 1.1C of warming observable today.

"Our results clearly show that climate warming is primarily caused by humans," Nathan Gillet, from the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis, Environment and Climate Change, told AFP.

Although the pandemic saw planet-warming emissions nosedive by about seven percent in 2020, concentrations of carbon pollution continued to rise.

The United Nations says it would take emissions to fall by similar levels to 2020's every year this decade in order to keep the 1.5C goal in play.

1.5C maybe not achievable

As a result of intensive shuttle diplomacy, the Paris deal isn't explicit in how warming is measured  that is, to what extent it is manmade and against what temperature base line.

But Monday's research found that depending on the range of estimation, manmade warming "may already be close to the 1.5C threshold".

"If human-induced warming is at the lower end of our estimated range, the 1.5C Paris goal is still achievable with ambitious and prompt reductions in emissions," said Gillet.

"If it is at the upper end of the range, the 1.5C goal may not be practically achievable, but prompt and ambitious mitigation action would still allow us to meet the Paris goal of keeping warming well below 2C."

The authors said it was crucial to better quantify historic human-induced warming in order to more accurately calculate Earth's remaining carbon budget  how much more we can pollute without breaching the Paris goals.

Gillet said such estimates "can help guide mitigation policies in individual countries to meet the Paris goals".

YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) responded to the Covid-19 pandemic in Armenia in 2020 with record investment of 167 million for projects in energy, banking and transport and through trade finance support, the EBRD Armenia Office told Armenpress. The Bank helped to address the immediate and longer-term needs of the countrys economy.

Dimitri Gvindadze, EBRD Head of the Yerevan Resident Office, said: The EBRD team worked to help our clients deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our support included the provision of liquidity and trade finance. We invested in energy and transport infrastructure. Our support to the banking sector fostered companies access to finance. In 2021, supporting the recovery is our priority. We work closely with the European Union (EU) in Armenia and we thank our EU partners for this strategically important cooperation in the context of both public- and private-sector projects.

The EBRD stepped up its investment to address immediate needs and to create the foundations for recovery, with a focus on building back better economies in the future. The Bank continued to concentrate its support on the private sector, which accounted for more than 90 per cent of total EBRD investment in Armenia in 2020.

In a pioneering project, the EBRD financed the first utility-scale 55 MW solar power plant in Armenia and in the Caucasus. The project will help boost Armenias supply of clean energy and reduce its reliance on imported fuels.

Keeping vital trade flows going, the EBRD supported a new record of close to 70 million in trade finance transactions in Armenia, involving eight local partner banks, under its Trade Facilitation Programme.

The EBRD further increased its support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with the provision of loans to commercial banks for on-lending to businesses. These loans included Women in Business credit lines.

In the infrastructure sector, the Bank funded the reconstruction and modernisation of the border-crossing point near the town of Meghri to meet modern safety and security requirements. The project received significant grant support from the European Union.

In addition, the EBRD supported Electric Networks of Armenia, which continues to modernise its electricity distribution network.

Advice and policy engagement

The Bank also provided business advice to local SMEs by implementing 80 advisory and consultancy projects (with the help of 70 local consultants), three international advisory activities and 10 market-development activities and training sessions.

The Business Support Office (BSO) launched an innovative initiative in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, providing free access to webinars for local firms on topics to help them deal with the crisis. Based on recommendations developed by the BSO, the National Assembly adopted a legislative package that improves the legal framework of leasing.
The United States is eyeing the sale of stealthy F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates in a side agreement to the UAEs overtures to Israel, an industry insider who was part of the dialogue with government officials said on Wednesday.

A sale, which could reduce Israels military advantage in the Middle East, would come after Israel and the UAE said last week they would normalize diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship under an accord that U.S. President Donald Trump helped broker.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Trump said the UAE was interested in buying F-35 fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin Corp, which Israel has used in combat.

Theyd like to buy F-35s, well see what happens, its under review.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, citing a need to maintain Israeli military superiority in the region, said on Tuesday his country would oppose any U.S. F-35 sales to the UAE.

Any F-35 sale could take years to negotiate and deliver, giving a new U.S. presidential administration ample time to halt the deal. Poland, the most recent F-35 customer, purchased 32 of the jets, but will not receive its first delivery until 2024. Any sale would also need congressional approval.

The industry source said the prospective jet sale was arranged with the help of Trump senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The potential F-35 deal was first reported by Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

The United States guarantees that Israel receives more advanced American weapons than Arab states, giving it what is labeled a Qualitative Military Edge over its neighbors.

Under the accord with the UAE, Israel agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank. The agreement also firms up opposition to regional power Iran, which the UAE, Israel and the United States view as the main threat in the Middle East.

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Tata Communications share price slipped 6 percent in the early trade on January 20 after the company reported its December quarter numbers.

The company in the quarter ended December 2020 has posted a 19.6 percent fall in its consolidated net profit at Rs 309.4 crore versus Rs 384.8 crore in the quarter ended September 2020.

The profit included a one-time loss of Rs 11.4 crore.

Its revenue for the quarter was down 4.1 percent at Rs 4,222.8 crore against Rs 4,401.1 crore in the previous quarter. Other income of the company stood at Rs 8.2 crore versus Rs 76.1 crore.

Government is looking to sell its entire 26.12 percent stake in the company via offer for sale (OFS) to the strategic partner, reported CNBC-TV18.

As per the shareholding data on the BSE, Rekha Rakesh Jhunjhunwala bought 32,00,687 equity shares (1.12 percent) in the company in the quarter ended December 2020

At 09:23 hrs, Tata Communications was quoting at Rs 1,078.05, down Rs 51.00, or 4.52 percent on the BSE.

The share touched its 52-week high Rs 1,168.80 and 52-week low Rs 205.70 on 12 January 2021 and 19 March 2020, respectively.

Currently, it is trading 7.76 percent below its 52-week high and 424.09 percent above its 52-week low.
In late January 1870, the nations capital was riveted by a new arrival: the Mississippi legislator Hiram Rhodes Revels, who had traveled days by steamboat and train, forced into the colored sections by captains and conductors, en route to becoming the first Black United States senator. Not long after his train pulled in to the New Jersey Avenue Station, Revels, wearing a black suit and a neat beard beneath cheekbones fresh from a shave, was greeted by a rhapsodic Black public. There were lunches with leading civil rights advocates; daily congratulatory visits from as many as 50 men at the Capitol Hill home where he was the guest of a prominent Black Republican; and exclusive interracial soirees hosted by Black businessmen, including the president of the Freedmans Savings Bank.

1870-1871 Hiram Rhodes Revels Mississippi

The members of the Senate were eager to meet him, too. Revelss election was the product of newly enfranchised freedmen who had voted 115 Black members into Mississippis Legislature, which then chose him for office in Washington. (Senators were not directly elected by the people at the time.) Mississippis seats in the Senate had been vacant since 1861, when it seceded from the Union and its members resigned  one of whom, Jefferson Davis, gave a farewell address in that august chamber and, exactly four weeks later, was inaugurated as president of the Confederacy.

Listen to This Article To hear more audio stories from publishers like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android

Before Revels could be sworn in and officially seated, Mississippi had to be readmitted to the Union. So he busied himself with visits to his nephew in Baltimore, attending dinners and parties held in his honor and repeatedly returning to the Senate. Word of the new Negro senator quickly spread across the country, with dispatches about the thick-set mulatto, with a decidedly African but pleasant physiognomy, and bland, agreeable manner, as Philadelphias Evening Telegraph described him, filling newspaper columns and American imaginations. The Black press brimmed with praise; Washingtons weekly New Era cited Revelss patriotism for his service in the Union Army and declared him a wonderful improvement, in loyalty at least, upon Jefferson Davis.

Other organs were less charitable. The negro, aside from the disgrace of being such, is an unmitigated scoundrel, wrote The Public Ledger of Memphis, Tenn. The Chicago Republican went further, suggesting that the new senators race brings into prominence, as a practical question of great interest and importance, the issue of his eligibility. It was this specific inquiry  whether Black Americans met the citizenship requirement for service in Congress  that foreshadowed the challenge Revels presented to an adolescent democracy still climbing out from the rubble of the Civil War.

On Feb. 23, Mississippi was formally readmitted to the nation, and Revels could finally take his seat. Just as the chamber was preparing to swear him in, Willard Saulsbury, a senator from Delaware, objected; other senators soon joined, citing the Constitutions requirement that a person must be a citizen of the United States for at least nine years before becoming a senator. The Supreme Courts 1857 decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford determined that Black people could not be citizens, and the 14th Amendment, which established birthright citizenship, had been ratified only in 1868. The recalcitrant senators argued that Revels was ineligible because he could claim, at most, two years of American citizenship. Senator James Nye of Nevada responded to his colleagues by noting they were still fighting the Confederacys cause, pointing out the magnificent spectacle of retributive justice found in a Black mans taking the place of the traitorous former senator Jefferson Davis, who would have preferred his successor enslaved.

The Senate engaged in a fiery debate for three days, with Revels taking in the spectacle from a seat in the chamber while his colleagues carried on about him as if only the furniture were there. Beneath the veneer of competing readings of the Constitution lay the unavoidable question that continues to test Americas first principles: Can a democracy shaped by Black participation be legitimate?

1875-1881 Blanche Bruce Mississippi

On Jan. 6 of this year, on the floor where Revelss citizenship and eligibility were debated in 1870, dissenting senators rose again, during the counting of the Electoral College votes, to call illegitimate the results of the presidential election that would also elevate Senator Kamala Harris to be the first Black vice president. Overnight, and in large part thanks to the same Black voters whose high turnout and overwhelming support delivered the state of Georgia to Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Harris, the Rev. Raphael Warnock won a runoff election to become just the 11th Black U.S. senator in history and only the second Black senator from the South since Reconstruction.

But within a few hours, the news of his victory and its significance was drowned out as a violent horde  seditious rioters led by a veritable lynch mob  attacked the Capitol on President Trumps exhortations to take back our country. In the same building that Jefferson Davis once defiantly exited in order to wage war against the United States, and on the same day the Senate was set to send one Black member to the vice presidency and gain its first Black member from the state of Georgia, an insurrection swelling with white nationalists paraded the Confederate battle flag through the halls of Congress.

Revelss path to the United States Senate coursed through the sacred pulpits of the Black church and the towering bluffs of a military encampment along the Mississippi River. He was born free in North Carolina in 1827, was educated in religious schools and then became a teacher and minister in the Methodist Church. Though he was a free Black man in the era of slavery, his skin color more than his status stamped his American experience. He traveled extensively, teaching and preaching to free and enslaved Black people alike, being careful to avoid language in his sermons that a monitoring white public might interpret as inciting rebellion.

As the nation descended into war, Revels contributed to the Union cause wherever he could, first raising a Black work battalion in Maryland and then an all-Black regiment in Missouri. By 1864, he had joined the Union Army as a chaplain and went to Mississippi to minister to Black soldiers there who had bravely fought in the Battle of Vicksburg, a turning point in the conflict that concluded the day after the Battle of Gettysburg ended. With the war decided and slavery abolished, newly freed Black Americans found the early days of Reconstruction full of hope and trouble.

1967-1979 Edward Brooke Massachusetts

The promise of life free from bondage was quickly met by a fierce resistance to Black agency. Black codes, a set of laws restricting the rights and freedoms of Black people, were enacted across the Southern states as white authorities sought to recapture the racial order that the war disrupted. Vagrancy laws were weaponized to force Black people into exploitive labor agreements and incentivized white surveillance of their movements and activities. And yet states seeking readmission to the Union had to grant freedmen access to political power. The expansion of American democracy to accommodate Black participation was interpreted as a threat to those who considered politics to be the divine and exclusive province of white men.

In the years immediately following the war, Revels returned to Mississippi to lead a Methodist church. Recognized for his intelligence and amiable manner, Revels was elected to his first political office as an alderman in 1868. He landed in the state assembly the next year and at the heart of the debate about Black Americans citizenship 18 months after he entered politics.

On Feb. 25, 1870, Hiram Revels was finally sworn in to the Senate on a party-line vote, with the Republican Party of Lincoln in support and the Democratic Party, then home to white nationalists, opposed. A crowd had assembled in the Senate galleries to get a glimpse of this moment when a Black American took national office  a moment so electric and polarizing that the vice president chairing the session had to reprimand those in attendance for their impassioned manifestations of feeling. The New York Herald described a suffocating anxiety in the room as Revels approached the clerk to take his oath of office, as if the appearance of some monster was expected in the Senate chamber. The Cincinnati Daily Enquirers headline the next day was even more direct: The Mississippi Gorilla Admitted to the Senate.

Revels served just a year in the Senate because of the expiration of the special term to which he was elected, but in 1875, Mississippis Legislature elected another Black man to the Senate. Blanche Bruce, the son of an enslaved Black woman and a white man who considered her his property, is the only American to have gone from slavery to the Senate. His political ascendance paralleled a fracture in the states Republican Party over the issue of Black citizenship  one side divesting from the fight for civil rights and the other increasingly uninterested in appealing to white segregationists. Bruce, imposing and barrel-chested, aligned himself with this second group and won a full term in the Senate, where he fought for benefits for Black veterans, tried to desegregate the Army, was an advocate for Native American equality, opposed the Chinese Exclusion Act and demanded an investigation into the racist hazing of the Black West Point cadet Johnson C. Whittaker.

By the time Bruces term ended in 1881, so had Reconstruction. With federal troops no longer enforcing civil rights protections, white segregationists violent and methodical retaking of the South, where more than 90 percent of Black Americans lived, blocked them by racial terrorism and measures like grandfather clauses, poll taxes and literacy tests from voting booths and elected office, systemically removing Black citizens from the democracy.

1993-1999 Carol Moseley Braun Illinois

It would be more than eight decades before the Senate seated another Black member. As millions of Black Americans left the South in the Great Migration in search of economic and physical security, the political opportunities that slowly became available would include the House of Representatives, but the Senate remained out of reach. The 1966 election of the Massachusetts Republican Edward Brooke to the Senate, after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, was significant not just because of his race but because he belonged to the party that had begun courting disaffected Southern Democrats. At a time when the Black Power movement and a demand for racial equality was replacing the respectability politics of the civil rights movement, Brooke, a World War II veteran, represented a more palatable version of Blackness to a skittish nation.

Brookes politics, an evolution of those practiced by Revels and Bruce a century earlier, would come to be the playbook for those Black senators who came after him. Brooke toed the line on race-consciousness and colorblind conservatism, declaring: I do not intend to be a national leader of the Negro people. I intend to do my job as a senator from Massachusetts. But he was no partisan yes man. He refused to support, or even be photographed with, the 1964 Republican presidential nominee, Barry Goldwater, who opposed that years Civil Rights Act and dog-whistled his way through the South by championing states rights; he shot down two of President Nixons Supreme Court nominees because of their retrograde civil rights stances; and he was the first Republican to call for Nixons resignation following the Watergate scandal.

By the time he left the Senate in January 1979, a political language had emerged that eerily invoked the period after Reconstruction: law and order, often a euphemism for maintaining a particular social and racial order; states rights, as cover for skirting civil rights protections in the Constitution; personal responsibility, an evasion of the systemic economic subjugation of Black Americans. In this way, any policy issue  school desegregation, unemployment rates, housing, criminal justice  could be discussed in colorblind terms while still producing the cumulative effect of removing or complicating Black peoples inclusion and participation. Black electoral power and representation grew significantly in the years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, but the perceived legitimacy of American democracy was still deeply rooted in white leader-ship commanding the mantle.

The Senate has had only seven Black members in the 40 years since the end of Brookes term, three of whom were appointed by their states governor to fill vacancies. All but one have come from states outside the South: South Carolinas Tim Scott is the first since Reconstruction and the only Republican. Illinois has been home to three: Carol Moseley Braun, the first Black woman to be a U.S. senator, Barack Obama and Roland Burris. Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Mo Cowan of Massachusetts, whose appointment to the office lasted just five months, fill out the lonely group. It was only eight years ago that, for the first time in the nations history, the Senate had more than one Black member.

2005 - 2009 Barack Obama Illinois

The progress of the 21st century, however, would run headlong into the haunting racism of the 19th century. The rapid rise of Senators Barack Obama and Kamala Harris to the national stage, accompanied by the growing electoral influence of Black Americans, resurrected white reactionary backlash, manufacturing a crisis of legitimacy by questioning their eligibility for the highest offices in the land. The Senate debate about Hiram Revels a century and a half ago traced out the peculiar contours of the birtherism conspiracy that trailed Obama during his campaign and once he was in office  and which was used by Donald Trump to boost his own political fortunes. Distorted readings of the 14th Amendment challenged whether Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, was eligible to be vice president.

In a noteworthy turn of history, former Senator Joe Biden of Delaware  who served as vice president to the first Black president and will now serve as president with the first Black vice president  occupied the same Senate seat as Willard Saulsbury, the man who first objected to seating Revels in 1870. The echoes of eras past resound in present-day America, where Black Americans participation in the nations leadership is seen by some not as a fulfillment of its founding ideals but as an existential threat to them.

This is the history that Raphael Warnock stepped into when he declared his run for the Senate. His Republican opponent, Senator Kelly Loeffler, accused him of being a Marxist radical, ran a political ad that darkened Warnocks skin and surveilled his sermons to find language supporting the campaigns contention that he harbored anti-American hatred. The day before voters were set to choose between Warnock and Loeffler, President Trump declared, Warnock is the most radical and dangerous left-wing candidate ever to seek this office, and certainly in the state of Georgia, and he does not have your values.

2008 - 2010 Roland Burris Illinois

Cotton, as the old folks say, is hell to pick. When the soft white tufts burst through, they conceal the seeds buried within and the sharp bolls in which they sit. The harvest comes forth in late summer, when the Southern humidity is at its most oppressive. Enslaved Black people often spoke of the pain coming and going  greeting you in the fingertips from the barbed bolls and chasing you in the suns unblinking heat on your back and the fear of an overseers lash. Over time, those hands grew callused and a little bit more resilient. For Black Americans, the picking has often been prickly business.

Warnock summoned this history in the emotional opening moments of his victory speech. Reflecting on his mothers teenage days picking cotton to eke out a living in rural Waycross, Ga., Warnock captured the progress of a people and a nation in a single sentence: Because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody elses cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States senator.

Tim Scott, a lifelong resident of South Carolina, has highlighted the same journey within his own family. He often notes that his grandfather could not read or write after being forced out of third grade to pick cotton but lived to see his grandson elected to both the House and the Senate: Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime. Scott is a loyal member of the Republican caucus in the Senate. Often circumspect, he still manages to talk forthrightly about race at times while signaling to a wary nation that he is not an extremist, in one instant declining to join the Congressional Black Caucus and in the next holding court on the Senate floor for three days in one week on the subject of Black people and law enforcement, sharing how hed been racially profiled by the Capitol Police while wearing the Senate lapel pin that belongs only to members, and how the officer stated, with a little attitude, as Scott recalled: The pin I know. You I dont. Show me your ID.

2013-present Tim Scott South Carolina

2013-2013 Mo Cowan Massachusetts

2013-present Cory Booker New Jersey

Warnock, who grew up in the housing projects of Savannah as the 11th child of Pentecostal preachers, will have to navigate this same troubled atmosphere, balancing a certain sense of responsibility to the race with the prestige of an office still quite allergic to assertions of Black agency. The intrinsically American Puritan work ethic he inherited from his Army veteran father and his deep admiration for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. kept him focused on his education, and he decided to attend Morehouse College, the historically Black all-male institution in Atlanta, just as King did. Warnock leveraged the pulpit of the Black church to advocate for policy. He started out as a youth pastor at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City and ascended to become senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the same house of worship where King preached and is buried. Along the way, he encouraged Black clergy members and others in the community to be tested for H.I.V. when many were especially wary, pressed for criminal-justice reforms and was arrested without incident in a 2017 peaceful demonstration in a U.S. Senate office building for protesting efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Warnock recognized the unique obstacles and hazards that Black politicians and Democrats face in Southern states that have been reliably Republican for decades. He would need to increase Black turnout by making implicit appeals to the benefits of representation, champion a progressive policy agenda to win over white liberals and accentuate his everyday Americanness so as not to trigger the racial sensitivities of a capricious white public. Warnocks political ads featuring an appealing beagle took direct aim at those attempts to cast him as ill-suited to represent Georgia in the Senate, throwing satirical jabs at suggestions that he was incompatible with the culture of real Americans and a danger to democracy.

2017-2021 Kamala Harris California

In one ad, he is seen strolling down a neighborhood sidewalk with the beagle and affectionately cradling the dog while dressed in the uniform of the American suburbs  a blue button-down shirt underneath an outdoorsy vest. I think Georgians will see her ads for what they are, Warnock says of Loefflers attacks, with a genial smile, before he drops a dog-waste bag in a trash can and then turns back to the beagle. Dont you? Political scientists noted that the ads were a subtle but powerful rebuttal to the insinuations about his values and sensibilities  and to the stereotypes and hysteria that shadow Black men, even those who are pastors and hold public office.

2021-present Raphael Warnock Georgia

On the Sunday after his election triumph, and after Trump supporters invaded the Capitol in a deadly threat to politicians, police officers and democracy itself, Warnock delivered a sermon. Just as we were trying to put on our celebration shoes, Warnock lamented, the ugly side of our story, our great and grand American story, began to emerge. Like Revels before him, Warnocks sense of justice and his understanding of the fullness of the Black experience had been crystallized during his time leading congregations, and his religious faith served to bolster his devotion to the American project. The nation had come so far from those perilous years after the Civil War and yet perhaps not so very far at all. As we consider what happened  the ugliness of it all  I want us to recognize that we didnt see in that moment the emergence of violence, Warnock said. I want you to see the ways in which the violence was already there.
Joe Biden's Defence Secretary nominee, Rtd. General Austin said that he planned to strengthen and deepen Indo-US partnership. He talked about focusing on multilateral engagements with India and observed Pakistan's importance for the Afghan peace process as well as shared interests with Pakistan.

Biden administration plans to continue promoting the Indo-US defense partnership, Defense Secretary nominee has told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Retired General Lloyd Austin, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, If confirmed, my overarching objective for our defense relationship with India would be to continue elevating the partnership. Retired General Llyod Austin has been nominated by President-elect Joe Biden, as his Defense Secretary.

He said he would also seek to intensify and broaden the defense cooperation between India and the US through the Quad security dialogue and other regional multilateral engagements. I would further operationalize Indias Major Defense Partner status and continue to build upon existing strong defense cooperation to ensure the US and Indian militaries can collaborate to address shared interests, Austin said in response to a question submitted before his confirmation hearing.

As far as Pakistan is concerned, Austin said his understanding is that Pakistan has taken constructive and encouraging steps to meet US requests in support of the Afghanistan peace process. Pakistan has also taken measures against anti-Indian groups, such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, although this progress is incomplete, he said.

Also read: Countdown for Joe Bidens swearing-in ceremony begins: Take a peak at Bidens cabinet picks

Many factors in addition to the security assistance suspension may impact Pakistans cooperation, including Afghanistan negotiations and the dangerous escalation following the Pulwama terrorist attack, Austin said. In 2018, President Donald Trump had suspended all the financial and security aid to Pakistan, recognizing a lack of cooperation from Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.

Observing that Pakistan is an essential ally in any peace process in Afghanistan, Austin said that if confirmed, he will encourage a regional approach that amasses support from neighbors like Pakistan, while also deterring dissuading any spoilers to the Afghanistan peace process. We also need to work with Pakistan to defeat al-Qaeda and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and to enhance regional stability, he said.

Austin said he will focus on shared interests which include training future Pakistan military leaders through the use of International Military Education and Training funds as well as persuade Pakistan to prevent its territory from being used as a refuge for militants and violent extremist organizations.

Also read: China constructs village in Arunachal Pradesh: India closely monitoring developments
President-elect Joe Biden has a tough task on his hands as he seeks to unite a deep political divide, photo AFP

The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced last week that America United is the theme for President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, already a key message of his campaign that has grown more poignant amid recent events at Capitol Hill.

Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton will attend the inauguration on January 20 with their wives, according to CNN. Donald Trump has said that he will not attend.

This inauguration marks a new chapter for the American people  one of healing, of unifying, of coming together, of an America united, said committee CEO Tony Allen.

Biden ran on a message of hope and unity, urging Americans from the launch of his campaign to band together despite differences that continue to tear at the nation. The inauguration and the traditional events surrounding it, however, will be scaled down because of the health risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tickets to the swearing-in ceremony have been made only on a limited basis, with parade stands near the White House removed to discourage crowds, reported USA Today. Typically popular inaugural balls have also been cancelled, and health officials are urging people to simply not travel in order to attend.

Despite fewer people and virtual events, there will be heightened security after a violent mob stormed the Capitol on January 6. Five people including a US Capitol Police officer died after attackers, many of them armed and waving flags in support of President Trump, rushed the Capitol where lawmakers were formally confirming Bidens victory in Novembers election.

Dozens of people have been charged for the violence and hundreds more cases are expected.

Presidential aims

After winning the presidency in 2016, Trump stood firm with an America first stance while showing hostility towards multilateral organisations, as demonstrated in his decisions to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Human Rights Council, as well as a threat to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The same can be said for climate change, with Trump also removing the US from the Paris Agreement. Biden, conversely, has voiced his support for renewing US support for NATO and continuing membership in the WHO, while also declaring that he would rejoin the Paris climate accord.

The trade war with China was the centrepiece of Trumps trade policy during his first term, according to New York-based finance site Investopedia. He promised to penalise those the US had a high trade deficit with, or nations he believed were unfairly taxing American companies overseas. But experts also noted that Trump had to be careful about angering Beijing, with the overburdened US healthcare system depending on China for medical supplies  it accounts for nearly half of all personal protective equipment imports in the US.

But the domestic arena will be top priority for the new president. As he described in an article for Foreign Affairs titled Why America Must Lead Again, Biden plans to assist with Americas position in the global economy by investing at home in innovation and the middle classes first  promising to do so before entering into any new trade agreements.

The difficulties at home were thrown into starker view a fortnight ago when the Labor Department reported that the economy lost 140,000 jobs in December, ending a seven-month streak of growth after the countrys plunge into recession in the spring.

Biden said there was a dire, dire need to act now. He pledged to move rapidly once he becomes president to push a stimulus package through Congress to provide relief to struggling individuals, small businesses, students, local governments, and schools.

Biden and his aides have not yet finished the proposal or settled on its full amount, but Biden admitted the cost would be in the trillions of US dollars. Further job losses are projected in January due to the continuing carnage caused by the pandemic, along with lockdowns and other restrictions on economic activity.

Biden also pledged to ramp up efforts to slow the spread of the virus, which has recently been claiming 4,000 lives each day, by immediately providing more vaccines when he takes office, breaking sharply from Donald Trumps practice of holding back some shots for second doses  a policy that has also been seen in the UK and elsewhere.

People are really, really, really in desperate shape, Biden said.

On January 20, Biden will officially take responsibility for steering the country through a batch of crises more intense than any that faced by recent predecessors. Its bigger than his presidency  its going to take a generation working on all this, said Rahm Emanuel, President Obamas former chief of staff. Biden will take the first steps, but you dont deal with 20 years of change in a week or two. This is a generations worth of work.

Coalition of allies

Further afield, the sheer number of major issues could slow down any jolts in the relationship with Southeast Asian nations such as Vietnam. The Trump administration largely carried on the work taken out by Obama to foster stronger ties with the region  and any lack of action on US-China tensions may only help countries like Vietnam.

Vietnam has recorded a large trade surplus with the US, which has risen further in the past year. It was in part a reflection of the supply chain advantages Vietnam has mustered due to multinationals diversifying in order to circumvent the States higher tariffs on Chinese-made goods.

Under the Trump administration US-Vietnam trade surged, and the two sides have explored the possibility of upgrading formal relations. Both Trump and Obama considered the country a key ally in the region and a rising economic power, and experts so far have no reason to see why Biden would act any differently.

According to Derek Grossman, a senior analyst at the RAND Corporation, a Washington-based think tank, Vietnam could see a slowdown in foreign investment if the Biden administration were to restore Chinese tariffs to previous levels. However, he added that some analysts see the movement of supply chains away from China, especially by Japan, as more of a natural development than one simply enforced by the US.

Biden previously said the best way to confront China on intellectual property and technology transfers is by forming a coalition with allies and partners, and not through unilateral tariffs. This stance could work to the advantage of Vietnam and ASEAN in general, with Bidens apparent willingness to strengthen the States role in the ASEAN bloc increasing confidence among Asian leaders that Washington will act as a bulwark against China  neither bowing to it nor over-provoking it  as well as a potential source of trade deals.

The new US government can take a more proactive step in engaging ASEAN as a whole in terms of its Indo-Pacific and various other strategies, said Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow with the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

Peng Nian, assistant fellow at a national institute in Chinas Hainan province, also believed proactive behaviour will follow. Biden hopes to regain support from US allies and rebuild global leadership by reviving the bilateral and multilateral alliance network in Southeast Asia. He can be expected to engage again with Southeast Asian states  Vietnam and the Philippines in particular  to compete with China and contain its rise.

In a December perspective report for the Yusof Ishak Institute, a Singaporean socio-political research centre, senior fellow Ian Story and visiting senior fellow Malcolm Cook noted that overall, US-Vietnam relations did very well under Trump, but there were downsides.

Hanoi probably regretted the presidents decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership as Vietnam stood to gain the most from Americas participation, and it has also rejected US accusations of currency manipulation, the report said.

On the upside, the report insisted that bilateral relations are likely to advance over the next four years. Biden will continue to pursue tough policies towards China, although Vietnam does not want to see an overtly confrontational relationship develop between two of its largest trade partners, it continued. But the Vietnamese leadership does hope to see stronger US diplomatic efforts, especially in the Mekong region.
WARWICKSHIRE, England and DALLAS, Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital asset tracking and monitoring provider Everyware Ltd, and enterprise-grade distributed ledger provider Hedera Hashgraph , are working with an initial group of National Health Service (NHS) facilities to monitor the cold storage equipment being used to store the COVID-19 and other vaccines. The initial facilities in the South Warwickshire region adopting the technology include the Stratford Upon Avon and Warwick hospitals, with a wider rollout planned as vaccine distribution progresses.

The various COVID-19 vaccines, including the one developed by Pfizer and now approved for use in the UK, require exact degrees of cold storage at all times in order to maintain their efficacy. While centralized distribution centers and transportation units can store the vaccine at the recommended -70C10C for up to 10 days unopened, they must also be stored at hospitals and other administering centers for five days at refrigerated 2-8C conditions.

Everyware provides asset tracking and monitoring software that can be configured to monitor a number of variables, including temperature, on a 24/7 basis, from anywhere. By leveraging Everyware's asset monitoring solution at the 'last mile', hospitals and healthcare facilities can ensure that vaccines are being maintained at the proper temperature throughout the entire time in their custody, before they are administered to patients. In addition, Everyware enables healthcare facilities to share information with other parts of the vaccine delivery chain  including pharmaceutical providers, centralized storage facilities, and transportation companies, to respond and adjust to any issues as they arise. Everyware's offering already provides this service for a number of other healthcare and pharmaceutical assets, including chemotherapy and other drugs, and blood and plasma, all of which have their own unique storage requirements.

Steve Clarke, Electro BioMedical Engineering Manager at South Warwickshire NHS explained, "Everyware has already demonstrated their capability as a trusted partner, helping us monitor the integrity of a wide variety of clinical applications. As we begin to prepare the roll out of these new COVID-19 vaccines, with the specific temperature requirements, we recognise the importance of utilising their same tracking and monitoring capabilities. This, in turn, will allow us to demonstrate our commitment to providing safe patient care."

Tom Screen, Technical Director for Everyware, said, "Monitoring the ongoing temperature of these refrigeration units is critically important, and ensuring the integrity of that data is an equally important part of maintaining trust in the results, and being able to easily share them across the entire vaccine supply chain. Hedera's distributed ledger technology provides that tamper-proof record-keeping system, making it perfect for recording and validating results efficiently and cost-effectively. Everyware welcomes collaboration with other partners in the vaccine supply chain to ensure end-to-end traceability."

Hedera is a decentralized public platform on which developers can build secure, fair, fast, trusted applications. The platform is governed by a council of the world's leading organizations including Avery Dennison, Boeing, Deutsche Telekom, Dentons, DLA Piper, FIS (WorldPay), Google, IBM, LG Electronics, Magalu, Nomura, Swirlds, Tata Communications, University College London (UCL), Wipro, and Zain Group.

Mance Harmon, Founder and CEO, explained how the Hedera network creates a secure, distributed base network layer for many kinds of supply chain, pharmaceutical, and healthcare services. "Hedera makes it practical and cost-effective for organizations to benefit from the transparency and accountability of distributed ledgers. Asset monitoring and management is a great example of this, and we're so pleased to help bring that data integrity and trust to the important work that Everyware is doing with NHS hospitals in support of their emerging COVID-19 vaccination efforts."

About Everyware

Everyware delivers comprehensive, no-nonsense asset monitoring to customers, to help them connect and monitor their products and assets in real-time. Everyware delivers real-time intelligence, anomaly detection, and decision making for critical assets globally, providing organizations with instant visibility and accountability, accessible from anywhere.

For more information, visit www.everyware.ltd/ , and follow us on Twitter at @EverywareUK, or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/everyware-uk .

About Hedera

Hedera is a decentralized public network on which developers can build secure, fair applications with near real-time finality. The platform is owned and governed by a council of the world's leading organizations including Avery Dennison, Boeing, Deutsche Telekom, Dentons, DLA Piper, FIS (WorldPay), Google, IBM, LG Electronics, Magalu, Nomura, Swirlds, Tata Communications, University College London (UCL), Wipro, and Zain Group.

For more information, visit https://hedera.com/, or follow us on Twitter at @hedera, Telegram at t.me/hederahashgraph, or Discord at www.hedera.com/discord. The Hedera whitepaper can be found at www.hedera.com/papers .

For Media Enquiries

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E: [email protected]

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SOURCE Hedera Hashgraph
New York, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :US authorities ordered Ford to recall three million vehicles containing Takata airbags that show signs of "potential future rupture risk," regulators said Tuesday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rejected an appeal from the US auto giant and mandated recall for six vehicles in model years 2007 to 2012.

NHTSA has confirmed 18 fatalities in the United States due to Takata airbag explosions and hundreds of additional injuries.
The Rangers have signed right-handed reliever Hunter Wood to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, according to a team announcement.

Wood, 27, spent last year with the Cleveland organization, but he did not appear in the bigs. The team designated Wood for assignment and then outrighted him in late July.

Before heading to Cleveland in a July 2019 trade, Wood was a fairly effective part of the Rays bullpen. The former 29th-round pick (2013) debuted in 2017 and has since logged a 3.32 ERA/4.22 SIERA with a 21.6 percent strikeout rate and an 8.0 percent walk rate over 86 2/3 innings, including a career-best 45 1/3 frames in 2019. Wood has averaged about 94 mph on his fastball and has recorded a solid swinging-strike rate of 12.6 percent.
Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts for the full episode.

Before today, there had only been five poets at U.S. presidential inaugurations, the very first being Robert Frost at John F. Kennedys swearing-in. When Richard Blanco performed at President Barack Obamas 2013 inauguration, he was, at the time, the youngest inaugural poet, the first Latinx inaugural poet, and the first gay inaugural poetand hed been selected personally by Obama. As a new administration enters the White House, relieved Americans tuned in to see a new vision of the country as articulated by President Joe Biden and by his inaugural poet, Amanda Gorman, who spoke with Blanco before she performed her poem The Hill We Climb. On Wednesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Blanco about preparing for Obamas inauguration, his view of the U.S. then versus now, and where he thinks we go from here. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Mary Harris: That overall message of unity in your inauguration poem, One Today, Ive been thinking about it a lot over the past few days because its such a powerful and appealing message, but at the same time that unity seems harder than ever to achieve. If you were going to read the inaugural poem this year, would your message change?

Richard Blanco: Somewhat. That poem is already making a statement like, were not really one, we need to check ourselves, and we need to think about what this what this this charge is, what this great experiment is. That means going back to the drawing table and seeing what went wrong. Where has this gone awry? How did we end up here?

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Something I didnt know until I was preparing for this interview is that you actually wrote three potential poems for Obamas inauguration, and the presidents team chose One Today.

Yeah, they asked me to write three poems. Im not exactly sure why. I think they were running a little behind because there was another budgetary crisis. But it was interesting to have the assignmentthose poems each made me think about different things.

One Today, the poem you ended up reading, focused on things that unite us. Then Mother Country was about your mother and her deep attachment to the United States. But the first poem you gave the White House was called What We Know of Country. Its darker.

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Listen to Richard Blanco read What We Know of Country, or read the full poem below.

Those picture books from grade-school days:

Pilgrims in tall hats, their gold-buckled shoes

I wanted so badly. White-wigged men standing

tall in velvet-curtained rooms, holding feathers

in their hands, inked words buzzing off the page

into my hearts ear: Life, Liberty, Happiness for

we, the people, singing of shining seas crossed,

the spacious skies of a God-blessed land when

a song and a book were all I knew of country.

Ive forgotten the capital of Vermont and Iowa,

but I remember my eyes on a map mesmerized

by faraway cities, towns I couldnt pronounce,

or believe the vast body of this land belonged

to me, and I to it: the Rockies spine, blue stare

of the Great Lakes, and the endless shoulders

of coastlines, the curvy hips of harbors, rivers

like my palms lines traced with wonder from

beginning to end, the tiny red dot of my heart

marking where I livedwhen what I knew

of country was only what I read from a map.

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I wanted to live in the house I dreamed from

television: cushy sofas, crystal candy dishes,

mothers who served perfectly roasted turkeys

with instant stuffing, children with allowances

and perfect teeth, fathers driving teal-blue cars

with silver fins to some country club Id surely

belong to someday. Though the gunfire, blood

of war beamed into my bedroom, though I fell

asleep, though our men from the moon landed

on my roof with empty promises from space

fantasy was still all I could believe of country.

I didnt want to change the channel, but I did:

I lifted the shades, let light shine on the carpets

stained with lies Id missed, and saw the dust

of secrets settled over the photos. The house

began to creak, fall apart around me, alone

for years waiting at the kitchen table, the last

to know, asking my reflection in the windows:

How could you, America? With no answer for

all I knew of country was my hurt and rage.

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But home was home: I dusted off the secrets,

cleaned up the lies, nailed the creaky floors

down, set a fire, and sat with history books

Id never opened, listened to songs Id never

played, pulled out the old map from a dark

drawer, redrew it with more colors, less lines.

I stoked the fire, burning on until finally: Okay,

nothings perfect, I understood, I forgive you,

I saidand forgiveness became my country.

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I stayed, you stayed, we stayed for our boys

and girls returning as heroes, some without

legs or arms, for our Challenger and Towers

fainting from the sky, for the terrified lives

of the Big Easy stranded like flightless birds

on roofs, for the sea that drowned our North,

but we swept each grain of sand back to shore,

for the candles we lit for our twenty children

of Sandy Hook, feeling what weve always felt:

to know a country takes all we know of love:

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some days better than others, but never easy

to keep our promise every morning of every

year, of every century, and wake up, stumble

downstairs with all our raging hope, sit down

at the kitchen table again, still blurry-eyed,

still tired, and say: Listen, we need to talk.

Youve called What We Know of Country a braver poem than One Today.

It is a bit braver. Its a little more in your face, so to speak, because it acknowledges that complexity that we have with our country. It takes us through the stages. For example, it begins with when youre a little kid, you know, youre learning about this great country and liberty and justice for all and all these great ideals, and you believe all that. Especially as an immigrant kid, you know, its just the idea that that meant so much to me. Then its high school, college, when you start learning some of the real history of the United States, that were not were certainly not innocent, that theres a lot of blood on our hands. There was a period of my life where I got really angry at America. I was like, how could you do this to me? I think thats one of those line lines in the poem. How could you?

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Youve said that early on in your career you tried to avoid politics, and that was partially because you grew up as a Cuban exile in Miami and you were aware of how polarizing politics could be. I wonder if you can explain that a little bit.

Thats exactly right. Its growing up around so much rhetoric but also realizing, in the history books and the classes, youd read one thing and again, you see it at home or the community as another thing. For example, as we all know historically, for Cuban exiles in general, JFK was a traitormany Cubans turned Republican because of the Bay of Pigs. And then you read in the third and fourth grade history books that hes this great hero. Whos telling the truth, and where is the truth, and what is perspective?

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I cant see that other America that Im supposed to love. I contextualized a lot of that through TV. And thats in that poem. I thought that once you left Miami there was a Brady Bunch is everywhere. I wanted that life to write, and so I described it. And I dont have a real Cuba either. I mean, Miami was Cuban, but it wasnt Cuba either.

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I always describe it as living between two real imagined stories. One is the story of Cuba, this place we came from, this country thats supposedly paradise in some ways, and all this turmoil that is my history that I knew nothing about. And then the other real imagined narrative was this America, that we werent quite there yet either.

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Everything was a blur. And isnt that where art lives? Right in the gray area. Its in that space where I think Ive always found truth.

I think its interesting that in some of your poetry, you tap into the idea that Donald Trump used those familiar television tropes and made the idea that that was somehow the real America. Part of the reason youve talked about why that touches so many people is we all grew up watching that same story play out.

In this new book, in the poem titled Lets Remake America Great, I start critiquing that and realizing that that is actually a fantasy, that it wasnt real. And not only that, but that it was a dangerous fantasy. America was never that great.

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At the time you were selected to read at President Barack Obamas inauguration, you were the youngest inaugural poet ever. And you were fortysomething, right?

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I was 44.

This time the poet, Amanda Gorman, is 22. I heard she was in touch with you.

We got to connect. I got to say shes an ace. Just an amazing human being, amazing spirit.

What did you want her to know?

Mostly what a beautiful experience this is going to be, because on the surface, it feels so terrifying and it can feel like overwhelming. In my case, I had to read in front of a million people. What do you do with that? So I wanted to let her know that its absolutely gorgeous once-in-a-lifetime experience and that she should embrace it, take it all in, and enjoy every second.

I cant be any more pleased with their choice. This country right now needs a young voice. You cant solve a problem with the same paradigm that created it, so to speak. I think we need the input of our youth to help us with this mess weve created.

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The Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, China. [Photo/Xinhua]

By Tao Xinran

The 2021 conference on Taiwan affairs concluded in Beijing on January 18, drawing close attention from the island.

The Taiwan-based United Daily News reported on January 19 that the annual conference on Taiwan affairs is the most important meeting held by the relevant authority of the Chinese mainland, which aims to discuss the situation of cross-Strait ties and make arrangements for work related to Taiwan affairs next year. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), stressed at the meeting that the central government encourages business people from Taiwan to participate in the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the coordinated regional development strategies and supports Fujian Province in exploring a new path for cross-Strait integrated development.

Wang required all regions and departments of the mainland to act while upholding the concept that China is a responsible major country, enhance their political judgment, awareness and enforcement, and effectively put into practice relevant decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee.

The Taiwan-based news portal udnnews.com said that at the conference, Wang reviewed the 2020 conference on Taiwan affairs held last January and noted that the cross-Strait situation is more complicated and grave this year. He also called for upholding the one-China principle and resolutely opposing any secessionist activities by "Taiwan independence" forces. As far as the policy toward Taiwan affairs is concerned, Wang stressed the need to take targeted measures and enhance the effectiveness of policies benefiting Taiwan and its people while vigorously promoting cross-Strait youth exchanges.

In response to the conference, Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council responded on the night of January 18 that it had noticed the mainlands stance toward Taiwan released at this conference and the mainlands plan to take integrated measures to oppose Taiwan Independence and promote national reunification. It hoped that the mainland and Taiwan would carry out constructive cross-Strait dialogue and exchanges without any prerequisite, in the spirit of mutual respect, goodwill, and understanding.

Liu Shing-ren, an associate professor from the Graduate Institute of National Development and Mainland China Studies of Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, recently published an article in the website of Yahoo Kimo News, saying that on the eve of its 100th founding anniversary, the CPC leaves some flexible space in its policy on Taiwan affairs, and Taiwan should avoid misjudgments and misconceptions. For instance,the Taiwan New Constitution Foundation organized its 100 branches across Taiwan to form the so-called united front for new constitution, in an attempt to make new constitution a regular, organized movement. It declared that it would establish branches of the united front across Taiwan. The related movement is not only a serious provocation for Taiwans current Constitution, but will also deteriorate cross-Strait ties and cause the US-Taiwan-mainland relations to face unpredictable risks, Liu said. As long as separatists persist with the so-called Taiwan independence and carry out regular, organized activities to seek internationalization and popularization of such movement, the mainland will tighten its policy toward Taiwan.

Yok Mu-ming, chairman of Taiwan-based New Party, wrote in an article published in China Times that Time is running out for Taiwan, and its time to rethink the One Country, Two Systems principle. The Taiwan authority believes that given Taiwans location of strategic importance, they could borrow the strength of foreign influence. However, they dont know the so-called strategic importance will easily turn Taiwan into a battlefield, and Taiwans strategic value for the US is actually very limited, said Yok Mu-ming. As the article noted, the US is no more than one of our business partners who always attempt to take advantage of us and even exploit Taiwan like a colonial master. In this context, how could Taiwan expect amity with the US? Today, the mainland is an indispensable market for Taiwan. Where will Taiwan go in the future if it maintains political confrontation with the mainland? Joe Biden will soon take office. It will be uneasy for him to deal with the mess left by his predecessor Donald Trump. In this case, how can Biden have time to respond to Taiwans request, noted the article. If Taiwan still rejects One Country, Two Systems, will it continue to woo the unreliable US or wait for the realization of One Country, Two Systems which seems inevitable?

The Hong Kong-based China Review News commented on January 19 that this years conference on Taiwan affairs was held just before elected US president Biden takes office and put forward one judgment and four tasks, indicating that the mainland has full confidence and firm determination in having the cross-Strait situation under control in the future. Despite the changing external environment, the mainland still overcame difficulties and made progress in handling Taiwan affairs last year. Considering that the mainland faces a positive timing and situation in the Taiwan question this year, there is a cautiously optimistic outlook for cross-Strait ties.

(This article is originally published on huanqiu.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn)
A mystery $2million gap has been found during a probe into money-laundering at the Vatican amid a growing financial scandal in the Roman Catholic city-state.

Australian Federal Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that it referred the missing millions, reportedly sent by the Vatican to Australia, to a Victorian anti-corruption commission.

A team of investigators found a gap of $2million in 'legitimate financial transfers' sent from the Vatican to Australia in the last six years, The Australian reported.

It is understood the investigators, including those from Australia's financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, identified $9.5million transferred to Australia by sources at the Vatican since 2014.

But only $7million was believed to be from legitimate expenses, including salaries and travel costs.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw's agency was asked to investigate secret transfers to Australia made by sources at the Vatican worth $2million

Ongoing financial problems at the Vatican have plagued the papacy of Pope Francis (pictured)

AUSTRAC referred several transfers between the Vatican and Australia to the AFP as 'actionable financial intelligence' for further investigation into potential fraud and money laundering.

The agency recently suffered an embarrassing climb down over earlier claims it made that the Vatican secretly transferred $2.3billion to Australia spread out across 400,000 transactions since 2014.

The agency admitted it over-estimated the amount transferred from the Vatican to Australia by nearly $1.5billion.

The Vatican transferred $9.5million to sources in Australia between 2014 and 2020, but only $7million were 'legitimate financial transfers', reports allege

Pope Francis fired Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu (pictured) last year. Becciu was understood to be strongly opposed to George Pell's efforts to clean up Vatican finances

A statement Wednesday from the Vatican confirmed that the actual amount of money transferred since 2014 was $7.35million and that the funds were used for contractual payments and the management of the Holy See's embassy and other resources in Australia.

The Vatican noted a report in The Australian which said the country's financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, had informed the Australian Senate of the mistake.

The miscalculation was believed to have resulted from a computer coding error, reports say.

There have long been unproven claims that funds were provided in hopes of influencing the sexual assault trial of Cardinal George Pell.

Pell was appointment to the Vatican's Secretariat for the Economy in 2014.

In Italy, it was alleged $1.14million was siphoned off from the Vatican in hopes of securing a conviction against Pell, one of the man's rivals.

It is not known whether the payment is included in the scope of AUSTRAC and AFP investigations.

Pell was convicted on five charges of sexual assault in 2018, which were upheld by the Victorian Court of Appeal last year but later quashed by the High Court.

Supporters of Cardinal George Pell (pictured), whose conviction for sexual assault was overturned last year, claims money changed hands in an attempt to convict him

Italian newspapers sensationally alleged that Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who opposed Pell's efforts to clean up Vatican finances, was suspected of involvement.

Cardinal Becciu was dismissed in late 2020 by Pope Francis. His assistant Cecilia Marogna is about to go on trial in Milan for charges of embezzlement. It is understood she had 'accomplices' - who have not been named.

An AUSTRAC spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'AUSTRAC has received and disclosed information related to specific allegations to the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and the Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission.

'AUSTRAC continues to work with Australian and international law enforcement partners on specific operational matters [but] does not comment on operational matters.'

Daily Mail Australia also the Vatican's Australian representatives at the Australian Apostolic Nunciature for comment.

Representative image.

The Committee for Review (CfR) of Motor Insurance Service Provider (MISP) guidelines on January 18 submitted its report to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

In it, the CfR suggested that all automotive dealers may act as one of the distribution channels on a stand-alone basis. This would in turn solicit motor insurance business in a manner similar to insurance brokers.

Earlier in August 2017, IRDAI issued MISP guidelines with an aim to bring orderly conduct in the matter of distribution of motor insurance business through motor dealers.

After this, IRDAI set up the CFR in June 2020 to review the practices under the guidelines.

MISP is an automobile dealer appointed by the insurer or the insurance intermediary to enable distribution or service motor insurance policies of automotive vehicles sold through it.

Explained: How jumping a red light could affect your motor insurance premium

The CFR in its submission noted the motor insurance business sourced by MISPs through brokers and insurers together constitutes around 25 percent of the total motor insurance business or around 11.25 percent of the overall general insurance business.

The panel was also held that there is a need to develop and strengthen the regulatory framework and supervision activities for this distribution channel, given the potential opportunity for motor insurance

business through the MISPs.

It also said that the registration, operational and code of conduct requirements across similar intermediaries remain the same.

What are some of the suggestions the CfR made?

The committee said in its report that in order to develop the MISP as a robust channel of distribution the following suggestions would need to be considered:

-automotive dealers as one of the distribution channel on stand-alone basis soliciting motor insurance business similar to insurance broker representing the customer with conditions like:

-Mandatorily having an agreement with all insurers

-It would be prohibited from collecting premium

-Provide access to customers to make a direct online payment to the insurer.

"Alternatively, the automotive dealer may become a sub-broker or a sub-agent and work for a broker or a corporate agent, respectively," it added.

On how to issuing and modification of policies, the committee said that all insurance companies may be directed to develop a portal or app. It may also use the existing electronic or e-commerce platform through which insurance policies shall be issued.

"The electronic platform or portal shall have no functionality or mechanism built into it that can alter, modify or change the premium quoted by the insurance company," the committee said.

The panel in its suggestions said that the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) should be brought into the regulatory ambit by including OEM in the definition of MISP.

"The OEMs shall be equal to MISP and will be subject to all the provisions of MISP Guidelines. They shall give the list of their authorized-dealers and authorized sub-dealers to Irdai and that list can be uploaded at IIB (Insurance Information Bureau) for generating unique identification numbers of the MISP," the report said.

On the issue of premium payment, CfR suggested the amount must be done through a single check and the customer should make payment to the insurance company directly, which is facilitated by the MISP.

The MISP should not collect the insurance premium amount in its

own account and then transfer the same to the insurance company, it added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  "So many people want to serve this President."

These are the words of Filipino American Irene Bueno as she looked forward to the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden. Currently based in Washington, D.C., Bueno herself was Special Assistant to the President for Bill Clinton from 1999 to 2001.

She's now working on helping Asian Americans land jobs in the Biden administration.

"We've been working with the Asian Pacific Islander American community to really elevate the people that we think can serve in the high-level positions in the White House and in the administration," Bueno told CNN Philippines' Front and Center.

"There are thousands of positions to fill, so we're really in the early stages," she said. "I'm confident that we'll see more Asian Americans in those positions."

Bueno also served as senior adviser for the Filipino Americans for Biden-Harris, which campaigned for the Democrat and his running mate, now Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in 2020.

She believes Filipino Americans will have an amplified voice under Biden's leadership, a far cry from the anti-immigrant rhetoric of outgoing President Donald Trump.

"Not only will we see Filipino Americans serve in the Biden-Harris administration, but we will see them also reaching out to the community and making sure that our voices our heard when policy decisions are made," Bueno said.

Immigration reforms

Bueno is looking forward to reforms in the US immigration system  one of Biden's campaign promises. CNN reported that shortly after Biden takes oath as 46th President of the United States on Thursday, he will send Congress a comprehensive immigration plan that will provide millions of undocumented immigrants with a pathway to citizenship.

According to a highly-placed source, the plan would allow certain immigrants to achieve citizenship within eight years.

READ: Biden administration braces for new wave of migrants as it rolls out new immigration plans

On the contrary, Trump has limited immigration up to his last days in office, extending restrictions on visas that allow immigrants to temporarily work in the US. He pledged to build a wall on the US-Mexico border to prevent undocumented immigrants from coming in. Sources said Biden will issue an executive order to stop the construction.

Rodel Rodis, one of the founders of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, believes Trump's loss in the 2020 presidential elections was "caused by his own racism."

"Trump was able to capitalize on white grievance, the feeling that any achievement by African Americans or minorities lessens the opportunities for whites," Rodis said.

The past four years has been a "very repressed situation" for immigrants and minorities, prompting them to vote in unprecedented numbers, resulting in a Biden win, Rodis added.

The United States, divided

Trump did not easily accept defeat. He baselessly claimed fraud in the elections. On January 6, hundreds of his supporters stormed the US Capitol in a bid to stop the ceremonial counting of the electoral votes that would confirm Bidens victory. Four people were killed in the chaos.

"There are deep divisions within the US," said Nic Robertson, CNN International Diplomatic Editor. "More than 70 million people voted for President Trump and that sends the signal that the support base for his type of politics still exists."

Trump said he will not attend his successor's swearing-in ceremony, which is expected to be scaled-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For Rodis, how the Biden administration handles the coronavirus crisis will be a game-changer. Trump has been criticized for his pandemic response, disregarding the use of face masks and social distancing to control the spread of COVID-19.

READ: US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump test positive for COVID-19

"If Biden is able to deal effectively with the COVID-19 and he's able to vaccinate the American people, the support of the American people will be behind him and the rest of the world will be able to follow the US," Rodis said.

Filipino nurses and healthcare workers were among the over 400,000 people who died of COVID-19 in the US, he noted.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte anticipates "close and friendly" relations with the Biden administration, his spokesperson Harry Roque said.
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Next week, one of the most important issues related to the national economic development is expected to be discussed at the 13th National Party Congress, taking place between January 25 and February 2 in Hanoi  creating a level playing field for all enterprises in all economic sectors to play, especially private firms.

According to a draft political report  the most important document compiled and to be discussed by the Central Party Committee at the 13th National Party Congress  the private economic sector is encouraged for development in all sectors not banned by the law, especially in the sectors of production, business, and services. It is supported in developing private-owned big companies and groups with high competitiveness.

Private enterprises are encouraged to cooperate with state-owned enterprises (SOEs), cooperatives, and households; and to develop joint stock companies with the large participation of all entities, read the draft report. Foreign investment is an important part of the national economy, playing a big role in mobilising investment capital, technology, and modern management methods, and expanding export markets, it added.

Given the countrys increasing integration in the global economy and the increasingly-growing scale of the domestic economy, the private sectors role is all the more enhanced.

Restructuring investment

In a bid to create a wider space for the private sector in the economy, the Party will discuss the sectors role in expanding investment as a big source of fuel for economic growth, which is expected to stay at 6.5-7 per cent annually during 2021-2025.

According to another draft report by the Central Party Committee on assessing the results of the implementation of socioeconomic development tasks for 2016-2020 and socioeconomic development orientations and tasks for 2021-2025, which will also be discussed at the 13th National Party Congress, over the next five years, public investment will be effectively restructured and reduced in the total development capital structure.

Public investment will be focused on key sectors of the economy, key works and projects which have spillover effects and can create socioecomomic development momentum, and create breakthroughs in attracting capital from domestic and foreign private sources under the form of public-private partnership, the report stated. All loans must be strictly controlled in order to invest into socioeconomic infrastructure. Inspection in all public investment activities will continue being launched so as to stay corruption and wastefulness.

Each percentage of public investment rise will create a 0.06 per cent economic growth in Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Finance, as of the end of 2020, nearly VND390 trillion ($16.95 billion), equivalent to 82.8 per cent of the plan allocated, was disbursed, while the figure as of end-November was VND329.9 trillion ($14.3 billion) only, equalling 70.1 per cent. This is the highest ratio of disbursement in 2016-2020  with 80.3 per cent in 2016, 73.3 per cent in 2017, 66.87 per cent in 2018, and 67.46 per cent in 2019. Most of the capital has been invested in infrastructure works.

Under the World Banks calculations, Vietnams main instrument for macro-monitoring has been the speedier implementation of the public investment programme, which has been plagued by slow disbursement in the last few years. As a result, total public investment disbursement increased from VND192 trillion ($8.34 billion) in the first three quarters of 2019 to VND269 trillion ($11.7 billion) during the same period in 2020  an increase of 40 per cent.

Such efforts, principally from the central government, have translated into an increase of investment expenditures from 4.8 per cent of GDP to 6.5 of GDP between the first nine months of 2019 and 2020, supporting aggregate demand through the multiplier effects on suppliers and jobs over time, said an updated World Bank report on Vietnams economy. With any stimulus programme, the role of public investment is not just to directly stimulate the economy, but also to crowd in private investment.

Vietnams economic growth hit 2.91 per cent last year, significantly fuelled by a boost in public investment, which has helped create massive employment and consumed a great deal of materials  increasing the performance of many key products in the economy such as electricity, steel, and cement, according to the General Statistics Office.

State-owned Electricity of Vietnam last week reported that its produced and imported electricity output last year was 247.08 billion kWh, and its commercial electricity output reached 216.95 billion kWh, up 2.9 and 3.42 per cent, respectively, on-year.

In the first 11 months of 2020, its public investment disbursement hit VND521.2 billion ($22.66 million), hitting 73.6 per cent as compared to the initial plan assigned by the government. Of the figure, the capital disbursed for the groups industrial activities was VND191.4 billion ($8.32 million), or 96.6 per cent of the initial plan.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in some huge projects like the North-South Expressways eastern cluster, total disbursed capital as of December 24 was VND9.96 trillion ($433 million) out of VND10.8 trillion ($470 million) for 11 sub-projects in 2020, equivalent to 92.21 per cent.

Several sub-projects (Cao Bo-Mai Son, Cam Lo-La Son, My Thuan 2 Bridge, and two leading roads) in public investment form expensed VND2.64 trillion ($115 million) out of VND2.81 trillion ($122 million) in 2020s plan, equalling 94.18 per cent.

Boosting SOE reshuffle

The Party stated that from now until 2025, so as to further facilitate private sector development, all SOEs will continue being reshuffled, with them investing in only key fields of the economy and in geographical areas important in security and defence, and in the fields not invested by other economic sectors.

Reshuffle of SOEs must be open and transparent, especially in equitisation and divestment. By 2025, SOE reshuffle must be complete, with loss-making groups to be addressed fully, the Partys second report said.

The state will exclusively invest in only four fields  provision of indispensable products and services for the society; service of defence and security; natural monopoly; and large-scale high-tech application with major investment creating momentum for rapid development of the economys other fields.

Raymond Mallon, senior economic advisor from the Australia-Vietnam Economic Reform Programme, told VIR that SOE reforms are needed to accelerate national productivity growth and thus increase incomes and living standards.

Conflicts of interest arise if the state is both the owner and the regulator, and conflicts of interest generate inefficiencies. As has been seen in Vietnam and globally, such conflicts of interests lead to pressures for a state-owning agency to regulate in a manner that is not in the national interest, Mallon said.

For example, by imposing business conditions or other restrictions on new businesses, the state agency can reduce the competition faced by SOEs. Policies and institutional structures that constrain competition are not in the national interest. While constraints to competition can make individual SOEs more profitable, the resulting lack of competition stifles innovation and productivity growth. This hurts consumers because of higher costs and less innovation and variety; hurts workers because reduced productivity growth means reduced growth in wages; hurts other investors whose firms are being constrained, and hurts the government because of increased opportunity for corruption, Mallon explained.

Such reforms can reduce opportunities for misuse of state resources, Mallon added. Substantial state management capacity is needed to effectively exercise state ownership rights in even a limited number of SOEs, with limited state capacity focused on effectively governing institutions that provide essential public services such as health, education, water supply and sanitation, environmental protection, energy, and roads.

In Vietnam the private sector creates up to 40 per cent of GDP and over 50 per cent of economic growth, as well as 30 per cent of the state budget revenue and 85 per cent of the labour force.

Vietnam currently has nearly 800,000 operational enterprises, of which about 98 per cent are of small and medium size. According to the General Statistics Office, in 2020, there were 134,900 newly-established enterprises, with total registered capital of over VND2.23 quadrillion ($96.96 billion) and employing more than one million labourers. This was down 2.3 per cent in the number of registered enterprises, but up 29.25 per cent in registered capital.
Rhea Chakraborty Buys Flowers Ahead Of Sushant Singh Rajput Birthday, Asks To Be Left Alone As Papps Click Away

Rhea Chakraborty was spotted purchasing flowers as she stepped out on Wednesday afternoon, a day ahead of her late boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajputs birth anniversary. The actress who was trailed by the paparazzi during the whole ordeal since she stepped out of her car was constantly seen asking the photographers to stop following her.

The actress who was accused by late Sushant Singh Rajputs family in a case of abetment of suicide last year had to spend a month in judicial custody after the Narcotics Control Bureau got involved in case. Rhea was released on bail in December and since has been spotted outside only on a handful of occasions.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

The actress was particularly hassled last year by the constant glare of the media while she and her family made several visits to the offices of investigating agencies that were investigating Sushants death. She even filed a police complaint against the media constantly at her back to get some reprieve.

Sushant Singh Rajput died his apartment on June 14 and his death became a major controversy engulfed the entire industry in debate as the investigation around his death played out. Rhea who was living with Sushant till a few days before his death became a target after the family filed an F.I.R in Patna.
If we are to be hated, let it be for the right reason

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On numerous occasions, Jesus promised us, His followers, that we would be hated. That is something we should expect and even embrace. Lets just be sure we are hated for the right reasons. Being hated for the wrong reasons is not something to be embraced, let alone be celebrated.

Jesus said, You will be hated by everyone because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved (Matthew 10:22).

But note those words because of Me. We will be widely hated because of our association with Him, because of our preaching in His name and because of our adhering to His values. For this, we will be reviled, rejected, persecuted, and even killed.

Such has been the case throughout Church history, and such is the case worldwide to this moment, as every single day, Christians are murdered simply because of their faith. Great is their future reward.

Jesus also said, If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also (John 15:18-20).

To the extent that we live by a different spirit than the fallen, rebellious world lives by, to that extent, we will be cast out. To the extent we emulate the character of Jesus, to that extent the world will treat us the way it treated Him.

Thats why Jesus said, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:10-12).

The prophets were stoned more than applauded, hated more than celebrated, persecuted more than praised. Jesus said it would be the same for us  because of Him and because of righteousness.

That is part of our lot in life: to be treated just as He was treated (to refresh your memory, He was crucified).

When we are rejected because of Him, we consider it an honor. As Acts records, after the apostles were flogged by the Sanhedrin for preaching in Jesus name, they left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (Acts 5:41).

What an honor and what a joy. The religious leadership was treating them the same way it treated Yeshua. And so the apostles rejoiced because they were whipped in His name, thereby recognized as part of His family, as leaders in His movement. Thats why they rejoiced.

As for the injunction they were given by the Sanhedrin to no longer preach in that name, this was their response: Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 5:42).

With full respect for the governing authorities, they were going to obey God rather than man. They would preach more, not less. We should follow their lead when the government tries to silence us.

But there is more that the Scriptures have to say about suffering persecution and opposition.

Peter wrote, If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name (1 Peter 4:14-16).

There is nothing honorable about being hated because of our self-righteousness (rather than for the sake of righteousness). There is nothing positive about us being reviled and even persecuted because of our hypocrisy and sin. There is nothing praiseworthy about being rejected because we are obnoxious or nasty or mean-spirited or violent.

To repeat the words of Peter, If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler  or, as some translators put it, a troublemaker or a busybody.

Yet some of us think we are suffering persecution for the gospel whereas we are really experiencing the consequences of having big, opinionated, unfiltered, and unrestrained mouths. We think we are being treated like Jesus when, in reality, we are being treated like jerks.

So, by all means, lets stand strong and tall, unashamed of the gospel of Jesus and unashamed of the principles of righteousness, which include standing for the unborn, for the family, for justice, for the poor.

But let us not confuse suffering for Christ with suffering for our carnality. The former is our honor. The latter is our shame.
Li Ya'nan, a volunteer member of the narration team at Fudan University, interprets exhibits for visitors in November 2019. (Photo provided to China Daily)

Just over a century ago, in 1920, Chen Wangdao, the late Chinese scholar and educator, completed China's first translation of The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

Today, 101 years later, a team of 29 members from the Communist Party of China are following in his footsteps to share Marxist theories with the public through an exhibition centered on The Communist Manifesto.

This team was established in May 2018, when the exhibition first opened to the public at the house where Chen, who was the president of Fudan University from 1952 to 1977, used to live.

According to the university, the exhibition was set up to help cultivate talent which can promote the spirit of the manifesto through narration as well as conduct research on the subject. Nearly 60,000 people have visited the exhibition to date.

Volunteers at the exhibition have read books related to The Communist Manifesto, studied the analysis of the manifesto by scholars and experts and passed three rounds of assessmentswritten tests on the history of the CPC, oral exams and a test in which they provide educational services at the exhibitionbefore they are deemed qualified for the job.

"I've developed a deeper understanding of Marxist theory through educating the visitors and learning their feedback. This is especially so when experts and scholars in the field come to visit," says Xu Yayun, one of the team leaders and the tutor of a class of 2019 postgraduates from the Chinese language and literature school at Fudan.

In a reply to a letter from the team which was unveiled in June last year, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, encouraged CPC members to build firm ideals and convictions and strive to fulfill the Party's original aspiration and mission.

Xu says the team has since strengthened its service in many aspects.

"We've expanded our knowledge of the Party's history and conducted interpretation in other venues related to the Party's history across the city," she says.

"To take the visitor experience to a higher level, we are working on online exhibit guidance which will be available for visitors when they scan the QR codes on brochures or flyers. Exhibition interpretation in multiple languages may also be offered in the future."

Chen Zhenxin, son of Chen Wangdao, has shared the story of his father translating the masterpiece with team members as well.

"My father started the translation in a wood storage room at the west side of his home in Yiwu, Zhejiang province," he says.

"There he worked attentively without distraction, although the room was in disrepair, suffering from drafts and leaks," he adds.

According to Chen Zhenxin, references his father kept for translation were the English and Japanese versions of The Communist Manifesto, along with an English-Chinese dictionary and a Japanese-Chinese dictionary.

Chen Wangdao, aided by language skills sharpened during four years of international study experience in disciplines including physics, mathematics and philosophyas well as Marxismat universities in Japan from 1915 to 1919, completed his translation in April 1920.

"I hope the team will continue to tell my father's story and uphold ideals and convictions," said Chen Zhenxin when he attended an activity held by Fudan University to celebrate the 99th anniversary of the Party's foundation in July.
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 
The newly appointed ambassador of the Italian Republic to Ukraine, Pier Francesco Zazo, presented copies of his credentials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

"Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar has received copies of credentials from newly appointed Ambassador of the Italian Republic to Ukraine Pier Francesco Zazo," the ministrys press service reports.

The interlocutors discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation and identified priority tasks for 2021. The parties stressed the importance of the visit of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to Ukraine after the normalization of the epidemic situation.

In addition, the diplomats discussed the implementation of the agreements of the Ukrainian-Italian Council for Economic, Industrial and Financial Cooperation, the involvement of Italian business in investment projects in Ukraine, and an increase in bilateral trade.

The ambassador thanked Ukraine for standing with Italy in countering the COVID-19 pandemic.

ish
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden is moving swiftly to dismantle Donald Trump's legacy on his first day in office, signing a series of executive actions that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden participate in a COVID-19 memorial event at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden is moving swiftly to dismantle Donald Trump's legacy on his first day in office, signing a series of executive actions that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The new president signed the orders just hours after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, pivoting quickly from his pared-down inauguration ceremony to enacting his agenda. With the stroke of a pen, Biden ordered a halt to the construction of Trumps U.S.-Mexico border wall, ended the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, declared his intent to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization and revoked the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, aides said.

The 15 executive actions, and two directives, amount to an attempt to rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office  and each signed just one. But Biden, facing the debilitating coronavirus pandemic, a damaged economy and a riven electorate, is intent on demonstrating a sense of urgency and competence that he argues has been missing under his Republican predecessor.

Theres no time to start like today," Biden said in his first comments to reporters as president.

Biden wore a mask as he signed the orders in the Oval Office  a marked departure from Trump, who rarely wore a face covering in public and never during events in the Oval Office. But virus precautions are now required in the building. Among the executive actions signed Wednesday was one requiring masks and physical distancing on federal property and by federal employees. Biden's order also extended the federal eviction freeze to aid those struggling from the pandemic economic fallout, created a new federal office to co-ordinate a national response to the virus and restored the White Houses National Security Council directorate for global health security and defence, an office his predecessor had closed.

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle during Inauguration Day ceremonies Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The actions reflected the new president's top policy priority  getting a handle on a debilitating pandemic. In his inaugural address, Biden paused for what he called his first act as president  a moment of a silent prayer for the victims of the nations worst public health crisis in more than a century.

He declared that he would press forward with speed and urgency in coming weeks. For we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities  much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain, he said in the speech.

But Biden's blitz of executive actions went beyond the pandemic. He targeted Trump's environmental record, calling for a review of all regulations and executive actions that are deemed damaging to the environment or public health, aides said Tuesday as they previewed the moves.

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden arrive at the East Front of the U.S. Capitol ahead of Bidens inauguration, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. ((Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool Photo via AP)

Another order instructs federal agencies to prioritize racial equity and review policies that reinforce systemic racism. Biden revoked two Trump orders related to the 2020 census. The first attempted to discern the citizenship status of every U.S. resident, and the second sought to exclude people in the U.S. illegally from the numbers used for apportioning congressional seats among the states.

He also ordered federal employees to take an ethics pledge that commits them to upholding the independence of the Justice Department.

The president also revoked the just-issued report of Trumps 1776 Commission that promotes patriotic education.

President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)

Those moves and others will be followed by dozens more in the next 10 days, the presidents aides said, as Biden looks to redirect the country without having to go through a Senate that Democrats control by the narrowest margin and will soon turn to the impeachment trial of Trump, who is charged by the House with inciting the insurrection at the Capitol.

Republicans signalled that Biden will face fierce opposition on some parts of his agenda.

One of his orders seeks to fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, a signature effort of the Obama administration that provided hundreds of thousands of young immigrants protection from deportation and a pathway to citizenship. That's part of a broader immigration plan Biden sent to Congress on Wednesday that would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status.

President Joe Biden signs his first executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The plan would lead to a permanent cycle of illegal immigration and amnesty that would hurt hard-working Americans and the millions of legal immigrants working their way through the legal immigration process, said Chris Hartline, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Even that familiar criticism seemed a return to the normalcy Biden has promised after years of disruptive and overheated politics. Hewing to tradition, Biden started his day by attending church with both Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress. His press secretary, Jen Psaki, held a briefing for reporters, a practice the Trump White House had all but abandoned in the final two months of the presidency. Psaki said she intended to restore regular briefings as part of the White House's commitment to transparency.

I have deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in our democracy and for the role all of you play," she said.

Biden took other steps to try to signal his priorities and set the tone in his White House. As he swore in dozens of political appointees in a virtual ceremony, he declared he expected honesty and decency from all that worked for his administration and would fire anyone who shows disrespect to others on the spot.

Everyone is entitled to human decency and dignity, Biden said. Thats been missing in a big way for the last four years.


Republican Michael Huckabee has raised that former California Senator Kamala Harris can be impeached on the same grounds used for President Donald Trump during an interview with Fox Business last Jan. 16.

"If we're going to impeach Donald Trump for what he said, then we'd better impeach Kamala Harris for saying the things she did last summer about the rioters and the looters, a monetary fund to get them out of jail on bail so they could get back to the riots," Huckabee said in his interview with Fox Business.

To which he added, "If we're gonna play this game, everybody should have a turn."

Trump is the first president in American history who was impeached twice with the latter simply out of allegations that he incited the violent riots that occurred in the U.S. Capitol last Jan. 6.

The Blaze said Monday, Jan. 18, that Trump was impeached "on a single charge for inciting the insurrection" through "a rushed process" that had "no witnesses" and actually "nor hearings held ahead of the 232-197 vote."

As per The Blaze, the impeachment was criticized by a majority of Republicans due to the haphazard way things were done especially since the "Senate was in recess during the House actions" and the "upper chamber returns to session on Tuesday," Jan. 19.

There is no certainty or clarity whether the impeachment trial will progress afterwards especially since Trump will be automatically relieved of his office due to the inauguration of former Vice President Joseph Biden into the presidency. Although the Senate has announced it will conduct the impeachment after the inauguration, a matter national legal counsels and constitutional lawyers have condemned as unconstitutional and illegal.

The Washington Examiner reported that Harris supported the Minnesota Freedom Fund that helped bail out other violent felons and the rioters of the said event by presenting a tweet she made on it last June 2020.

"If you're able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota," Harris said with a link going to the Fund's website.

If youre able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota. https://t.co/t8LXowKIbw  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 1, 2020

This move, as per the Washington Examiner, was made by Harris "following George Floyd's death and the resulting protests and riots over the summer."

Previously, Just The News reported in an interview with them last Jan. 12 that Huckabee criticized Trump for what transpired during the last days of his presidency and also provided him an advice on what to do next especially in the face of his impeachment.

"We have to be honest, the last month has not been a good one for President Trump, he has sullied his own good reputation. And instead of using the last few weeks to celebrate the successes of his administration, and make the country really wish he was still going to be president, I think some of the rhetoric--and some of it wasn't all his fault, but still, he's being blamed, and the net result is people are going to be glad that he's not on the stage, creating the kind of the discord," Huckabee told Just The News.

"So he's gonna have to do some work of repair before he can come back and lead. Could he run again? I don't know. Only if he can sort of show that he can be that above-it-all leader and not just deal with his hurts," he added.

"And I have said to him personally, and I've said this about him, when he is at his best is when he's fighting for the people. When he is at his worst, it's when he's fighting for himself," he revealed. "And that's the Donald Trump, if he comes back, he'll be an important voice."
[January 20, 2021] Cohere Capital Completes Strategic Growth Investment in CCS, a Leading Digital Brand and E-Commerce Retailer

Cohere Capital, a Boston-based private equity firm focused on investing in leading tech-enabled middle market companies, announced that it has made a strategic growth investment in Portland, Oregon-based CCS. CCS is a leading direct-to-consumer digital brand and e-commerce retailer of streetwear and skateboard equipment. This investment will allow CCS to continue to invest in new technology-enabled product and service offerings and accelerate its growth and brand momentum. Founded in 1985, CCS is an iconic skateboarding and streetwear brand that has been highly regarded in the market for decades. The company's original roots are as a mail-order catalog that grew into a market leading website. CCS sells its own branded hard and soft goods in addition to being an e-commerce destination for other leading skate and streetwear brands. Daron Horwitz, CEO of CCS, commented, "CCS is at an exciting inflection point as we continue to expand our product offerings and partnerships with leading third-party brands to meet the demand of the growing skateboard and streetwear markets. We are excited to partner with Cohere for our next stage of growth and plan to strengthen our technology and overall offerings to our partners an customers. We are focused on creating products and curating offerings that meet the needs of our loyal customer base."



Nik Shah, Cohere Managing Partner and Co-Founder, added, "CCS is not only an iconic brand in the market, but also a strong retailer in an emerging e-commerce market segment. We are thrilled to partner with Daron and the CCS team as we believe they have only scratched the surface of the expansion opportunities. The Company's growth has been impressive, and we look forward to being a part of CCS' future momentum." The Cohere team has previously been involved with driving the growth of numerous leading digital marketing and e-commerce companies. About CCS

Founded in 1985, CCS is an iconic skateboarding and streetwear brand that has been highly regarded in the market for decades. The company, based in Portland, Oregon, sells its own line of branded hard and soft goods in addition to leading skate and streetwear hard and soft good brands. For more information, visit: https://shop.ccs.com. About Cohere Capital Cohere Capital is a Boston-based private equity firm focused exclusively on middle market growth companies. Cohere Capital has a flexible mandate across growth markets, but primarily targets recapitalizations and growth investments in rapidly growing technology-enabled services companies. For more information, visit: www.coherecapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005010/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Today, following the elections, unaffected by the assault on Congress, we have millions of people who dont believe our government is legitimate. And believing that those who govern do not legitimately hold power, they are one step away from concluding that they are not bound by the laws of that illegitimate government. Millions of people believe the rioters at the Capitol were protecting democracy. If this progresses, we are heading toward a kind of civil war, something that the most extreme among them are calling for. It will not be North versus South, though Black versus white will be a subtext. Without clear definition, it will be Us versus Them. It will be everywhere, potentially with terrorism and assassination, and with no clear way to end it once it starts.
Google is investigating a member of its 'ethical AI' team and has locked the corporate account linked to that person after finding that thousands of files were retrieved from its server and shared with external accounts, the company said on Wednesday.

AI researcher Margaret Mitchell had been using automated scripts to look through her messages to find examples showing discriminatory treatment of Timnit Gebru, a former employee in the AI team who was fired, a source told Axios late Tuesday.

Gebru, who is black, was a top AI ethics researcher at Google and was fired in December. While Gebru claimed she was sacked for criticizing the diversity efforts within Google's AI unit, the company has disputed it.

Google said of the most recent lockout: 'Our security systems automatically lock an employee's corporate account when they detect that the account is at risk of compromise due to credential problems or when an automated rule involving the handling of sensitive data has been triggered'.

Google is investigating AI researcher Margaret Mitchell (above) who had reportedly been using automated scripts to look for evidence of discrimination at the company

Temnit Gebru was a top AI ethics researcher at Google and was fired in December in a controversial move that drew condemnation from other employees

'We are actively investigating this matter as part of standard procedures to gather additional details,' the Google statement added.

Mitchell did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.

Google's diversity efforts have been questioned by some employees and the most recent lockout action adds to years of some angst, including several resignations and firings in the AI department - raising doubts whether the company's efforts to minimize the potential harms of its services are sufficient.

Mitchell herself criticized Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a tweet on Tuesday, sharing an article about Pichai's plans to meet with leaders of historically black colleges to improve recruiting.

'Say you have a problem with consistently alienating Black women and have caused serious damage in their lives. You could: A) try to undo that damage B) try to find more Black people to like you (the tokenism approach). Good luck.....' wrote Mitchell.

Gebru said of Mitchell in a tweet later on Tuesday: 'She's not fired **yet**. But apparently they've told her she will be locked out for at least a few days.'

Last month, Google faced criticism for firing Gebru, the well-respected co-founder of the ethical AI division, amid a row over publication of a paper she had submitted for a conference.

Mitchell herself criticized Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a tweet on Tuesday, calling Pichai's plans to meet with leaders of historically black colleges 'tokenism'

More than 1,500 Google employees and 2,000 academics, activists and industry experts have expressed concern over the Gebru's exit. Pichai emailed an apology to employees and said he is investigating the incident.

She was among the most high profile black women in the top echelons of a tech company, and was known for her work on bias inherent in AI.

'Dr Gebru is one of the few people exerting pressure from the inside against the unethical and undemocratic incursion of powerful and biased technologies into our daily lives,' wrote the organizers of a petition in support of her, posted on Medium.

'This is a public service, and its importance cannot be overstated.

'Google's retaliation against Dr Gebru, and its move to silence this work, concerns us all.'

The dispute arose when Gebru submitted a paper for publication about the dangers of large language models - a growing trend in AI, as technological advances means that recipes, poetry, and even news articles can be written by AI.

The paper was intended for the Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency, due to be held online in March.

She told CNN there was nothing unusual with the way she had submitted the paper, but Google's head of AI, Jeff Dean, said in an email to all staff that she had not allowed the required two weeks for review.

'Unfortunately, this particular paper was only shared with a day's notice before its deadline - we require two weeks for this sort of review - and then instead of awaiting reviewer feedback, it was approved for submission and submitted,' wrote Dean in his staff email.

Gebru claimed she was sacked for criticizing the diversity efforts within Google's AI unit, the company has disputed it and said she resigned in a huff after a paper that she submitted after the deadline was rejected for a company conference

Gebru was angered by the decision to block her research, and vented in an email sent to Brain Women and Allies, a mailing list for researchers on the company's AI team known as Google Brain.

Gebru described her treatment at Google as dehumanizing.

'Have you ever heard of someone getting 'feedback' on a paper through a privileged and confidential document to HR? Does that sound like a standard procedure to you or does it just happen to people like me who are constantly dehumanized?'

Gebru recounted her most recent experience in the email as an example of why she had given up on advocating for diversity inside Google.

'[S]top writing your documents because it doesn't make a difference,' she wrote.

'[Y]our life gets worse when you start advocating for underrepresented people, you start making the other leaders upset when they don't want to give you good ratings during calibration.'

With the row escalating, Dean said Gebru responded to his withdrawal of her paper with demands that had to be met if she were to remain at Google.

'Timnit wrote that if we didn't meet these demands, she would leave Google and work on an end date,' Dean wrote.

'We accept and respect her decision to resign from Google,' Dean wrote.

He also explained some of the company's research and review process and said he will be speaking with Google's research teams, including those on the ethical AI team 'so they know that we strongly support these important streams of research.'

Gebru told CNN Business that her conditions included transparency about the way the paper was ordered to be retracted, as well as meetings with Dean and another AI executive at Google to talk about the treatment of researchers.

Two days before announcing her firing, Gebru had solicited advice regarding whistleblower-like protections for AI-ethics researchers, tweeting: 'With the amount of censorship & intimidation that goes on towards people in specific groups, how does anyone trust any real research in this area can take place?'

She said that she had been fired: Google insisted she resigned.


THE sentencing of senior Kinahan Cartel mobster Thomas Bomber Kavanagh over a drugs trafficking and money laundering conspiracy has been delayed due to Covid-19.

The veteran criminal and two associates face lengthy jail terms after admitting to involvement in the criminal conspiracy in the UK following a four-year investigation.

Kavanagh (53) is expected to contest certain facts of the prosecutions case against him which could impact on the severity of the sentence he receives.

This had been scheduled to take place at a so-called Newton Hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on February 15 prior to the three men being sentenced.

However, the hearing date has now been vacated due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and a new court date has not yet been confirmed.

Kavanagh and two associates, Gary Vickery (37) from Tamworth in Birmingham and Daniel Canning (41) from Walkinstown in Dublin, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to import Class A and Class B drugs into the UK.

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The three men have also admitted to money laundering charges while Canning pleaded guilty to additional charges of possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The men were arrested following a four-year investigation by the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) in cooperation with the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB).

The inquiry also resulted in a major blow to Kavanaghs crime network in October 2017 when the NCA seized around 5.5m worth of drugs and more than 225,000 (252,000) in cash in raids across the Midlands and Dover.

Thomas Kavanagh is currently serving a three-year sentence for possession of a firearm after a modified pink stun gun was found in his "highly fortified" Tamworth mansion.

His jail sentence is expected to expire for this offence in March due to UK prisoners being entitled to standard remission of 50pc of their sentences, with the remainder to be served on licence.

However, the mobster faces the possibility of a further lengthy jail term over the drugs and money laundering charges.

Last July NCA Deputy Director of Investigations Matt Horne welcomed the guilty pleas of the three accused and said the organisation will be relentless in targeting criminal gangs.

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Todays guilty pleas are the culmination of a four-year investigation into Thomas Kavanagh and his co-conspirators, who were part of a significant international crime network, capable of organising multi-million pound shipments of drugs, Mr Horne said.

We have worked throughout with our colleagues at An Garda Siochana, and I hope these convictions send out a strong message to others who may think themselves to be untouchable.

We will be relentless in our pursuit of those involved in organised criminality, he added.

Bomber Kavanagh has rarely returned to Dublin since leaving over a decade ago after being targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).

However, he was spotted at the funeral of his brother-in-law David Byrne, who was shot dead in the Regency Hotel murder in February 2016.

Kavanagh was also previously named in the High Court as directing an organised crime network in Birmingham linked to the Kinahan cartel.

The statement was made in an affidavit by the CAB as part of their proceedings under Operation Lamp against the Byrne Organised Crime Group, the Dublin network of the cartel.

The Bureau targeted assets belonging to associates of Liam Byrne, the brother-in-law of Kavanagh, totalling 2.7m including properties, high-end vehicles, designer jewellery and bank accounts.
The U.S. imposed on Tuesday sanctions on the Russian pipe-laying vessel that was expected to complete the construction of the gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, while several Western companies are said to have abandoned links to the project for fear of sanctions.

The final stretch of the construction of the controversial pipeline now looks even more uncertain, and even Russian gas giant Gazprom has warned investors that the Nord Stream 2 project could be suspended or entirely discontinued due to extraordinary circumstances, including political pressure.

The U.S. Department of State slapped sanctions on Tuesday on the Russia-based entity KVT-RUS and identified the pipe-laying vessel FORTUNA it owns as blocked property.

Nord Stream 2, if completed, would give Russia the means to completely bypass Ukraine, depriving Ukraine of vital revenues and opening it up to further Russian aggressive actions, while providing the means to use natural resources as a tool of political pressure and malign influence against western Europe. Todays announcement demonstrates that the United States is not afraid to hold accountable those who continue to aid and abet this tool of Russian coercion, the U.S. Department of State said.

Meanwhile, German engineering and construction giant Bilfinger has informed the U.S. and the Nord Stream AG company behind the pipeline that it would quit the project, becoming the first German firm to withdraw from Nord Stream 2, German tabloid Bild reported on Tuesday, citing letters of Bilfinger it had seen.

Bilfinger was contracted to deliver safety and process control systems for the pipeline in an order worth US$18 million (15 million euro), according to Bild.

In another company withdrawal, Switzerland-based Zurich Insurance Group has terminated insurance coverage for Nord Stream 2 that was sanctionable under the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021, Zurich Insurances spokesperson Thomas Baer told Russian news agency TASS on Tuesday.

The widening U.S. sanctions on Nord Stream 2 are a kind of hybrid warfare used by the United States, Vladimir Putins Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said last month. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Peskov said that This international project is still facing crude, illegal pressure from the United States of America, Russian news agency TASS reported.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
(Newser)  The outgoing President Trump did maintain one tradition: He left a letter in the Oval Office for his successor. What it says is unknown, with USA Today reporting a White House rep said only, "It's a letter between 45 and 46." President Biden elaborated slightly Wednesday night while speaking to reporters from the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. "The President wrote a very generous letter," Biden said. "Because it was private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him, but it was generous." CNN spoke with a senior Trump aide who said the "personal note" wished for success for the country and a desire for the new administration to care for it. Mike Pence left a letter for Kamala Harris as well. Politico recaps the fairly short history of the tradition, which dates to the end of then-President Reagan's term.

story continues below

The few lines he left for his own VP, George HW Bush, were penned on the top page of a notepad that UPI reported at the time featured a cartoon of turkeys trying to tug down an elephant on each page. The caption: "Don't let the turkeys get you down." Reagan's 1989 message read, "Dear George. You'll have moments when you want to use this particular stationery. Well, go to it. George, I treasure the memories we share and wish you all the very best. You'll be in my prayers. God bless you and Barbara. I'll miss our Thursday lunches. Ron." When Bush left office four years later, he left for Bill Clinton what Politico calls "arguably the most famous of these letters." The standout lines: "Your success is now our country's success. I am rooting hard for you." (Read more President Trump stories.)
Kroger has cut the Indiana Oath Keepers from its community rewards charity program after it was revealed that the grocery store had unknowingly funneled money to the militia group ahead of the Capitol riots.

A spokesperson for said the grocery chain was 'dismayed' to learn that the extremist group had received donations meant for charities. The move comes amid a flood of companies seeking to distance themselves from the mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6.

'Given the concerning nature of the allegations against this organization, we have immediately removed the group from receiving customer-directed funds,' a Kroger spokesperson said in a statement to The Washington Post.

Scroll down for video

Sleeping Giants revealed that the extremist militia group Indiana Oath Keepers received funds from the Kroger community rewards program

Three members of the Oath Keepers have been arrested and accused of planning and coordinating of the Capitol breach

The supermarket launched its community rewards program in 2013 to help funnel donations to thousands of charities, the outlet reported.

Shoppers with Kroger loyalty cards can select non-profits approved by the Internal Revenue Service to receive donations from the company.

The Indiana Oath Keepers, a local chapter of the national militia group, was granted tax-exempt status as a 'public safety' non-profit by the IRS in 2017.

'We are currently reviewing the list of organizations enrolled in the program to determine if there are additional groups we should remove,' a representative for the company told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Oath Keepers Jessica Watkins and Donovan Crowl appear in paramilitary gear in the Capitol

A Kroger spokesperson told the outlet that the militia received only a 'nominal' amount of money from the company.

However, a representative told the Washington Post that Kroger had not directed and charitable money or corporate grants to the militia.

'Law enforcement and news media organizations observed that members of a paramilitary organization known as the Oath Keepers were among the individuals and groups who forcibly entered the capitol,' a criminal complaint obtained by DailyMail.com shows.

Thomas Caldwell, 65, an Oath Keepers member who is considered to have a leadership role, was arrested by the FBI with two other conspirators and slammed with several charges including conspiracy to impede or injure an officer.

The FBI said that Caldwell, with 38-year-old Jessica Watkins and 50-year-old Donovan Crowl, were involved in the planning and coordinating of the Capitol breach and plotted in advance to kill politicians.

It remains unclear whether any members of the Indiana Oath Keepers were involved in storming the Capitol.

Members of the Oath Keepers provide security to Trump ally Roger Stone the night before groups attacked the U.S. Capitol

'The Oath Keepers are a large but loosely organized collection of militia who believe that the federal government has been co-opted by a shadowy conspiracy to strip American citizens of their rights,' the complaint reads.

The militia, which claims tens of thousands of present and former law enforcement officials and military veterans as members, has been called 'one of the largest radical anti-government groups in the U.S. today.'

'While it claims only to be defending the Constitution, the entire organization is based on a set of baseless conspiracy theories about the federal government working to destroy the liberties of Americans,' according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

What are the Oath Keepers? The Oath Keepers, founded in 2009, describes itself as a 'non-profit association' of current and former first responders and military veterans who seek to uphold their oaths of enlistment. The loosely organized group also allows in 'associate members' who are 'patriotic citizens' that have not served in uniform, according to the nonprofit's website. Military and law enforcement oaths asks those swearing in to 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States against al enemies, foreign and domestic.' 'Oath Keepers come in all colors, shapes, sizes, ages, and backgrounds with one common bond  the oath to defend the Constitution,' the website reads. According to the militia, 'there are oath breakers galore in both major parties.' However, watchdogs that monitor the activity of hate groups and domestic terrorism have repeatedly described the group  which is headquartered in Las Vegas -- as extremist or radical. 'The real goal of these militias, which have since been renamed Civilian Preparedness Teams, is to prey upon the fears and concerns of local communities and revitalize the American militia movement, all under the guise of neighborhood watch and self-sufficiency,' according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Anti-Defamation League has described the group as 'heavily armed extremists with a conspiratorial and anti-government mindset looking for potential showdowns with the government.' Sources: Anti-Defamation League, Southern Poverty Law Center, OathKeepers.org Advertisement

The militia's ties to Kroger were first spotted by Sleeping Giants, a social media activism group which reveals fundraising efforts from far-right groups and aims to persuade companies from advertising with conservative news outlets.

The Oath Keepers are receiving revenue from the Amazon Smile charity program, Gizmodo reported. Shoppers can choose to donate 0.5% of their Amazon purchases to the militia.

An Amazon spokesperson told the outlet last month that charitable organizations would be removed from the program if determined to violate its eligibility terms.

The arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be a game-changer the Taoiseach has declared.

Micheal Martin said he hoped there will be some sort of normality in Irish society by the latter half of this year.

The Oxford-developed inoculation is expected to soon get European Medicines Agency approval, and its arrival in Ireland will be met by the expansion of "vaccine centres around the country, Micheal Martin told TDs.

Read More

The availability of a third vaccine  but this time with fewer transport and storage constraints, and the ability to inoculate against Covid-19 with a single jab  will be met by a ramping up of Irelands effort to protect its population, he said.

The vaccination programme, which to me is the light at the end of the tunnel, which will enable us to get back to some normality towards the latter part of this year, he declared.

Mr Martin said the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was the main instrument to hand and 152,000 doses had arrived into the country, with 142,000 of them already administered.

We are getting the vaccines out as we get them in, he insisted in the Dail.

The next stage would be to involve GPs and pharmacists in administering the jabs on foot of an agreement newly arrived at, he said, while he also foresaw some retired medical professionals being called into action as the rollout gathers pace.

But RISE TD Paul Murphy told him: Your failure to follow the public health advice is responsible for Ireland having the worst rate of Covid infection in the world.

Its responsible for hundreds of tragic deaths  that were avoidable on November 26, NPHET (the National Public Health Emergency Team) wrote to the Government and said unambiguously that it recommends that the hospitality sector remained closed over an eight week period.

Mr Murphy said: The Government broke that advice under the pressure of business lobbying and decided to open pubs and restaurants. At the time I said it was a recipe for seeding the virus across Dublin for a couple of weeks and then spreading it right across the country. The Taoiseach ignored me and other Socialist TDs.

But Mr Martin countered: I would also say that the Government has followed, broadly speaking, Nphet advice from the get-go.

And he appeared to blame the open border for the dramatic worsening of the situation as the mutant Kent variation of the virus was brought into Ireland.

The situation in Northern Ireland is problematic, the Taoiseach said. Even when we banned flights from the UK into the Republic, people flew into Belfast  and the prospect of sealing the border between the North and the Republic is not a reality.

Sealing the border is not something that anyone has suggested we do, and that's the only realistic way that one could have a zero Covid strategy or alternatively, a two-islands approach between the UK and Ireland, he said.

In fact Independent Louth TD Peter Fitzpatrick suggest that the Defence Forces be sent to the border last November, only to have the idea firmly ruled out by the Tanaiste.
PHOENIX, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraCap Management LLC, a privately held investment firm with its headquarters in Naples, Florida, announced today the acquisition of the Anchor Centre for $103,500,000.

TerraCap Management

Anchor Centre is a two-building, 333,000 square foot, Class A office park located on Camelback Road in Phoenix, AZ. The property consists of two fully renovated, multistory office buildings situated in a campus like setting in a highly desirable location near the City of Scottsdale. Located on the intersection of 24th Street and Camelback Road, the Anchor Centre has access to numerous retailers and connectivity to all of metro Phoenix. The property also features its own on-site amenities, such as a newly renovated gym and conference room, structured parking, an on-site deli, and a popular local restaurant. Steve Hagenbuckle, Founder and Managing Partner of TerraCap said, "We are proud to own this well-appointed, iconic office campus in such an ideal location. The property's freeway access and close proximity to high-end retail is advantageous for the tenants." Hagenbuckle continued, "The amount of in-migration and corporate relocations coming from the west coast should assist in keeping occupancy high, allowing us to increase long term value for our investors."

Anchor Centre is currently 93% occupied and features a strong credit tenant roster. Key tenants include Humana Insurance, Northwestern Mutual, and Black & Veatch. "The seller made many strategic improvements with the capital they invested into the project during their ownership, which is reflected in the institutional quality of the tenant roster," said Steve Good, Partner and National Director of Acquisitions for TerraCap. "We enjoyed working with the seller and JLL. They were professional throughout the transaction, and we wish them the best." Good added, "We are excited for the opportunity and are looking forward to growing our investment portfolio in Phoenix.

KBS was the seller, and they were represented by Ben Geelan of JLL. Colony Capital provided debt financing for TerraCap, with assistance from Kevin MacKenzie and Jason Carlos from JLL's debt team. Cushman and Wakefield were hired for the leasing assignment, and CBRE was retained as property manager.

About TerraCap Management LLC

TerraCap Management LLC considers thematic factors such as business formation, employment growth and population growth on a market-by-market basis, as most metros and submarkets have different economic-based industries and therefore move through their economic cycles differently. TerraCap makes moderate strategic overweighting or underweighting to markets, depending on the specific economic drivers influencing supply and demand.

The Investment Manager has been in operation since 2008 with its headquarters located in Naples, FL, the firm also has offices in Tampa, FL, Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO. As operators, TerraCap believes it can make decisions more efficiently while leveraging expertise from property to property. The firm has over seven million square feet of commercial assets within its portfolio, with over one billion dollars of assets under management.

More information can be found at terracapmgmt.com.

For More Information, Contact:

Steve Good

239.898.4454

TerraCap Management LLC

SOURCE TerraCap Management

Related Links

https://terracapmgmt.com/



On the heels of an immense interest in Pompano Park's Super Hi-5 finale on Tuesday night (Jan. 19), director of racing Gabe Prewitt has announced that the Wednesday (Jan. 20) Pick-5 event will have a guaranteed pool of $125,000.

In making the announcement, Prewitt remarked, "This is just another way of expressing our appreciation to our loyal fans across North America by giving them opportunities like this.

"Last night, we had well over 200 winning tickets on our Super Hi-5 finale with its mandatory payout with each 20-cent ticket worth $2,003 and change. This is just another way of saying 'thanks' to our fan base."

The Pick-5 begins in the first race with post time set for 7:20 p.m.

(Pompano Park)
The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO), by the decision of the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv, opened two criminal proceedings in connection with the possible offenses of one of Ukrainian parliamentarians, the press service of the PGO told Interfax-Ukraine.

"The Prosecutor General, in accordance with the ruling of the Pechersky District Court of Kyiv, launched two criminal proceedings on January 11, 2021 on the fact of the possible commission of criminal offenses by the deputy of Ukraine," the press service said on Tuesday.

At the same time, the PGO noted that information was entered into the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations about a possible deliberate tax evasion by the deputy (Part 1 of Article 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and legalization of property obtained by criminal means (Part 1 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The pretrial investigation was entrusted to the central office of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI).

The press service of PGO does not officially name the deputy, but it is about MP of the Servant of the People faction Oleksandr Dubinsky.
What time is Joe Bidens Inauguration? What TV channels are broadcasting Inauguration Day 2021?

Joe Biden will become President of the United States at noon (12:00 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, January 20, (1/20/2021), which, according to the 20th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, is when the outgoing presidents term ends.

The event will not be attended by President Donald Trump or First Lady Melania Trump after a divisive election which Trump refused to concede for months after it was called and certified for Biden. Trump finally admitted he lost the election a day after a violent riot besieged the U.S. Capitol Building and disrupted the official electoral count.

Biden is expected to take the oath of office at noon, with the theme of his inauguration being America United  a message Biden has been focused on since his victory speech in November. The Presidential Inaugural Committee said that the theme reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together, and creates a path to a brighter future.

The 2021 Inauguration will look different than any in history. There will be no parades and huge crowds of supporters turning out to witness the historic event, in part due to concerns over the Coronavirus pandemic, but also due to security concerns following the Capitol riot.

Instead, expect heightened law enforcement and military presence, including 25,000 National Guard troops who have come to Washington, D.C. for security purposes.

A special primetime TV event, Celebrating America, hosted by Tom Hanks, will honor Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris with performances by Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato and Ant Clemons. Biden and Harris are also expected to make remarks, and the program will honor Americas pandemic heroes, like doctors, teachers and other frontline workers.

How to watch Joe Bidens Inauguration Day on TV

TV coverage of Joe Bidens Inauguration Day will be available on every major cable TV news networks, including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, BET and WGN America as well as local ABC, CBS, PBS, Telemundo and Univision channels. Some special coverage will start as early as 6:00 a.m., but the actual oath of office is not expected until noon.

Heres a full TV schedule for Wednesday, January 20:

All times ET.

6:00 a.m.

CNN: Inauguration of Joe Biden (to 8:30 p.m.)

7:00 a.m.

Telemundo: Un Nuevo Dia - Edicion Especial: Biden en La Casa Blanca (to 9:00 a.m.)

9:00 a.m.

Local CBS channels: The Presidential Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden (to 4:00 p.m.)

Local ABC channels: The Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden & Kamala D. Harris 2021 (to 4:00 p.m.)

Telemundo: Noticias Telemundo Especial: Biden en la casa blanca (to 4:00 p.m.)

MSNBC: The Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (to 8:30 p.m.)

10:30 a.m.

Local PBS channels: A PBS NewsHour Special (to 5:30 p.m.)

11:00 a.m.

Univision: Noticias Univision Presenta: Cambio de Mando (to 5:00 p.m.)

BET: 2021 Inauguration (to 2:00 p.m.)

CNBC: The Inauguration Of Joseph Biden (to 1:00 p.m.)

FOX News: Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden Jr.: 46th President (to 5:00 p.m.)

WGN America: NewsNation: The Inauguration (to 1:00 p.m.)

7:00 p.m.

Telemundo: Especial Noticias Telemundo: Biden, Una Nueva Era (to 10:00 p.m.)

Univision: Noticias Univision Presenta: Una Nueva Era (to 8:00 p.m.)

8:00 p.m.

Local CBS channels: One Nation: Indivisible (to 8:30 p.m.)

Local ABC channels: The Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. - An ABC News Special (to 9:00 p.m.)

Local NBC channels: NBC News Special: The Inauguration Of Joseph R. Biden (to 8:30 p.m.)

8:30 p.m.

CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, local CBS and NBC channels: Celebrating America (to 10:00 p.m.)

9:00 p.m.

Local ABC channels: Celebrating America (to 10:00 p.m.)

10:00 p.m.

MSNBC: The Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (to 11:00 p.m.)

How to live stream Inauguration Day 2021 for FREE online

To watch the cable channel coverage above, you can sign up for a free trial of fuboTV, Sling, CBS All Access, Hulu + Live TV or other cord-cutting live TV service and use it to tune into any of the Inauguration Day coverage offerings.

If you already have a cable provider, you can login with your credentials on CNN.com, FOXNews.com, MSNBC.com and the websites of other cable news networks to access free live streams of their current TV broadcast. You can also use associated news apps on mobile devices the same way.

Special free live streams of Joe Bidens inauguration will be available on a variety of websites, including some of TV channels above. Other free sources include:

What is the Inauguration Day schedule of events?

Theres a lot of pageantry expected on Inauguration Day, even without the traditional parades and crowds. Heres what you can expect over the course of the day. Times are currently TBD, but the oath of office is traditionally taken at noon:

Inaugural Ceremonies: President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris will be sworn in on the West front of the U.S. Capitol building at approximately noon. Biden will deliver an inaugural address.

Pass in Review: Next, Biden, Harris, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will perform the traditional Pass in Review of members of the military.

Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery: Then, the first and second families will visit Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They will be joined by Barack and Michelle Obama, George and Laura Bush, and Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Presidential Escort: Finally, Biden will receive a Presidential Escort from 15th Street to the White House with every branch of the military represented in the escort.

Celebrating America TV special (8:30 p.m.): The festivities will return with the Celebrating America TV special later in the evening.

Who is performing at Joe Bidens Inauguration?

The National Anthem will be performed by Lady Gaga. Jennifer Lopez is also expected to give a musical performance. Other ceremonial participants include:

Rev. Leo ODonovan reading the invocation

Andrea Hall, a firefighter from Georgia, leading the Pledge of Allegiance

Amanda Gorman, the first national youth poet laureate, will do a poetry reading

Rev. Silvester Beaman of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware, will give the benediction

Later, during Celebrating America, the list of performers and celebrities includes:
Detectives believe Melissa Caddick is in hiding and reportedly aren't ruling out the possibility she fled across the border to Queensland.

Citing a police source, The Daily Telegraph claimed on Wednesday it's not 'beyond the realm of possibility' that the accused fraudster fled to the Sunshine State.

Ms Caddick vanished on November 12, two days after a Federal Police raid on her $6.1million Dover Heights home for allegedly defrauding her clients.

At that time, the Queensland border was closed to residents of the greater Sydney region.

But the state's borders did open to Sydney on December 1 and remained that way for a few weeks before the Covid outbreak in the city's northern beaches.

The Queensland theory came to light as NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller all but confirmed that investigators believe Ms Caddick is alive and on the run.

Melissa Caddick vanished from her Dover Heights home on or about November 12 last year and hasn't been seen since. The timing was conspicuous, coming two days after she was raided

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said detectives are examining her cars (such as this $300,000 Audi R8) for clues

'We are treating the case as she is still alive,' the commissioner told Radio 2GB's Ben Fordham breakfast program on Tuesday.

Mr Fuller said police are still searching for CCTV footage, doorknocking Dover Heights residents and 'downloading information from her cars (and) computers'.

Ms Caddick's baffling disappearance is just weeks away from crossing a critical threshold in the world of police missing person's investigations.

Ms Caddick is believed to have disappeared from her Dover Heights following an AFP raid over claims she misappropriated tens of millions' in investors' funds.

As of Wednesday, Ms Caddick has been missing for some 68 days.

Should she not be found in 90 days - in three weeks' time - she will be designated a 'long term missing person'.

That means she would likely appear on the Federal Police's nation-wide missing persons' registry. She's already listed on a state-based equivalent.

Mr Fuller, above, noted it is quite difficult to disappear completely in 2021 given peoples' electronic footprints

Last year, police said some 99 per cent of cases were solved before reaching the 90 day mark.

In 2020, only 18 disappearances surpassed that threshold.

Meanwhile, Ms Caddick's husband, Anthony Koletti, is believed to have ditched the family $6.1million Dover Heights mansion and to have shacked up with his in-laws at their Edgecliff unit.

He has been driving a Mercedes rather than his $300,000 Audi R8 recently and has been spotted driving about the eastern suburbs, 'music blaring', an observer said.

Despite the ongoing investigation, a police source told Daily Mail Australia the agency doesn't currently have any of Ms Caddick's vehicles in its custody.

Mr Fuller also alluded to police exploring other avenues for clues.

Ms Caddick's father-in-law, tax agent Rodo Koletti, lashed out at 'innuendo' spread online about his family by wannabe cyber sleuths earlier this month.

Rodo threatened to call in the lawyers over posts on a Facebook discussion group where false claims about the Koletti family have previously been published - including about people with the same last name but who are not at all related to the clan.

Ms Caddick's hairdresser and DJ husband, Anthony Koletti, is believed to have ditched their $6.1 million Dover Heights home to shack up with his in-laws

Ms Caddick, 49, used to live an extravagant lifestyle with her husband (on right, she is wearing a Stefano Canturi necklace she claims was valued at $250,000)

'I feel sorry that Melissa is missing, but also feel very sorry for the innocent people who may have been "defrauded" of their hard earned life savings,' Mr Koletti senior said.

It is not suggested Anthony Koletti - or any of his relatives for that matter - played any role in the disappearance of Ms Caddick, who posed as a financial adviser.

A separate ASIC investigation remains on foot into claims Ms Caddick misappropriated tens of millions of investors' money in her 'financial advisory' firm, Maliver Pty Ltd.

Ms Caddick is accused of doctoring fake CommSec documents showing her clients were making extraordinary returns. One example, revealed by Daily Mail Australia, showed a client reaping a 257 per cent profit.

That CommSec document was not genuine, banking industry sources confirmed, and ASIC has made similar claims of her alleged deception in filings lodged with the Federal Court.

Police were told Ms Caddick may have left her home on a morning run on November 12. Officers said she may have been wearing a black singlet, leggings and silver Nike runners.

'There are serious concerns for the welfare of the missing person,' a statement said.
Lucie Arnaz has defended Nicole Kidman's casting as her mother Lucille Ball in an upcoming movie from Aaron Sorkin.

The rumors about Nicole set off a swirl of online chatter about who would be better-suited to the role, with Debra Messing plugging herself for the role on Twitter.

However Lucie, 69, posted a Facebook video urging fans to 'stop arguing about who should play it  she doesnt look like her, her nose isnt the same, she isnt as funny.'

Making her side known: Lucie Arnaz has defended Nicole Kidman's casting as her mother Lucille Ball in an upcoming movie from Aaron Sorkin

The way they were: Lucie is pictured as a child between her mother and her brother Desi Arnaz Jr. in 1962 two years after her parents divorced

Lucie noted that the public was 'enthusiastically commenting on the choice of casting that was not exactly announced, but sort of leaked the other day through the press. And you know, its a done deal but the contracts arent actually signed, which is why I havent said anything publicly about it.'

She laughed and added: 'But I felt I should just at least try to calm the waters here. There seems to be a lot of discussion about Nicole Kidman."It should be Debra Messing!" It should be Carole Cook!" I dont know.'

Debra relentlessly pitched herself for the role on Twitter last week amid reports that Nicole was in talks to lead the cast of the picture.

She retweeted several of her fans who said that she would be a better choice, citing her tribute to I Love Lucy on the last season of Will And Grace.

Side by side: The rumors about Nicole (left) set off a swirl of online chatter about who would be better-suited to the role, with Debra Messing (right) plugging herself for the role on Twitter

However: Lucie, 69, posted a Facebook video urging fans to 'stop arguing about who should play it  she doesnt look like her, her nose isnt the same, she isnt as funny'

During that tribute Debra got all dressed up as Lucille's sitcom character Lucy Ricardo to recreate some of her bits, including her ad for Vitameatavegamin and her flailing attempts to work the assembly line at a chocolate factory.

However Lucie noted: 'Heres the deal  what you should understand. We are not doing a remake of I Love Lucy. No one has to impersonate Lucy Ricardo, nor do the Vitameatavegamin routine or the chocolate factory routine or any of the silly things.'

She stated: 'Its the story of Lucille Ball, my actual mother, not Lucy Ricardo, and her husband Desi Arnaz, my dad, not Ricky Ricardo. There will be humor in the film but it is a story of the two of them, and how they met, and what went right with finding the show, what went wrong  their relationship, their love affair.'

Lucie added: 'Now of course its gonna have I Love Lucy in it. As a matter of fact Aaron Sorkin has set it on the stage of a filming, one week of rehearsal  rehearsing and filming the show  but all this other stuff takes place during that time. Very little of the show is actually I Love Lucy type stuff.'

Uncanny: On Will And Grace Debra got all dressed up as Lucille's sitcom character Lucy Ricardo to recreate some of her bits, including her ad for Vitameatavegamin

To tell the truth: Lucie clarified that in the new film 'No one has to impersonate Lucy Ricardo, nor do the Vitameatavegamin routine or the chocolate factory routine or any of the silly things'

She went on: 'I dont think you will be disappointed with that, however. Aaron has done a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life, and its just a little soupcon. Its a little slice of life in their journey.'

The showbiz legacy noted: 'Its not the whole story. Its not a biopic from cradle to grave. It is a two-hour feature film about these two people and some of the remarkable things that they lived through.'

She concluded her message by encouraging the fans to 'Just trust us. Its gonna be a nice film. And P.S. the voting is over. I love all of you.'

Aaron Sorkin is writing and directing the upcoming biopic Being The Ricardos for Amazon after his streaming success with The Trial Of The Chicago 7 for Netflix.

Baby mine: Lucy and Desi are pictured in 1952, the year after their iconic sitcom began, helping little Lucie celebrate her first birthday

While Nicole is said to be the pick for Lucy, Javier Bardem is in talks for the role of her husband and co-star Desi Arnaz, Deadline reported last week.

Desi, who played Lucy's bandleader husband Ricky Ricardo on their program, had a tumultuous marriage to her in real life.

She filed for divorce for the first time in 1944, reportedly over his philandering and drinking, but they got back together before splitting up permanently in 1960.

In the meantime they produced two children and the sitcom that etched them into TV legend, running from 1951 to 1957.

Family photo: Lucille first filed for divorce from Desi in 1944 but they reconciled and then had their two children before the couple split up permanently in 1960

They also starred in movies together throughout their marriage, including Forever, Darling and the Vincente Minnelli comedy The Long, Long Trailer.

Despite their divorce, in which she called their marriage 'a nightmare,' Lucy and Desi remained publicly amicable for the rest of his life.

Lucy married Borscht Belt comic Gary Morton in 1961 and stayed with him until her death in 1989, while Desi married one Edith Hirsch in 1963.

Blended family: Lucy married Borscht Belt comic Gary Morton in 1961 and stayed with him until her death in 1989; the couple are pictured with Lucie and Desi Jr. in 1965

Remember when: Aaron Sorkin's new biopic is about a single week spent making an episode of I Love Lucy; Lucille and Desi are pictured on the iconic sitcom which ran from 1951 to 1957

Edith and Desi both died of cancer one year apart - she passed on in 1985 and her husband, who loved cigars from his native Cuba, succumbed to lung cancer in 1986.

Aaron Sorkin's new biopic is about a single week spent making an episode of I Love Lucy during which Lucy and Desi's marriage is shaken.

The turbulent week, reportedly running from the table read to the taping in front of a studio audience, is said to include a professional landmine for the couple as well.
2020 was not just fodder for memes from quarantined creatives. It was an accelerant. Technological trends that we hadn't expected to see filtering into commerce and government for five to ten years rushed to fill the void as existing systems were abandoned in the face of the pandemic. We transferred work to the cloud, experimented with telehealth and online courts, and adapted regulations on the fly, even running simultaneous vaccine trials to speed approval.But despite 2020's technological leaps, government still remains behind the humanity it serves, and so must race to transform. Remember, waiting in the wings are rapidly maturing technologies, from gene editing to self-driving cars. To truly harness these technological advances, government should act quickly, and be both deliberate and flexible.How should government transform? What should government look like five or ten years from now?Given that government has so many missions, departments and varied activities, it's hard to contemplate its broader future through those vertical lenses. To help, in a Deloitte report entitled Creating the Government of the Future my colleagues and I identified five principal domains of government activity that are ripe for technological transformation: service delivery, operations, talent/workforce, policy- and decision-making, and regulation and enforcement. Virtually all government agencies are engaged in each of these domains, albeit in different proportions.In Estonia, taxpayers can file taxes online simply by approving forms auto-populated with their income data . This ease represents the future of service delivery: focused on the user, automated for no-touch government that serves people without them having to fill out long forms. (Think hospital data of a birth triggering a birth certificate, Social Security card and health-care record for the child and family allowance payment to qualifying parents.)Services will more and more tailor to such anticipated life events. Ideally, a single login omnichannel experience provides access to tasks as varied as collecting unemployment benefits to registering to run for office. With once-only government, citizens and businesses need only provide their data once, and it's then shared across departments with appropriate privacy protections.Government operations should take a cue from the private sector, where technologies like data analytics and cognitive automation converge to create serious efficiencies. Operations from HR to procurement can combine in an integrated center office, creating insights from shared, analyzed data about what to expect and how to improve. "As-a-service" acquisition allows contractors to provide basic infrastructure, such as cloud services, leading to faster scaling. To transform operations, strike teams of specialists and subject-matter experts meet in digital factories, using agile processes without traditional bureaucracies. Evidence-based policymaking can identify what approaches produce the best results. With artificial-intelligence-based scenario analysis, machine learning can test the relationship between factors in systemic problems. Potentially, understanding these relationships could allow policy to be self-correcting. Likewise, increasingly sophisticated statistical models will allow government by simulation  a cheap way to A/B test systems like traffic management, disaster response and city planning. Meanwhile, mass-communication tools enable crowdsourced and distributed policymaking, in which ordinary citizens contribute their expertise.The future of this governmental domain is tied to the predictive abilities of AI and analytics . In a form of risk-based regulation , for example, AI can identify factors likely to contribute to a food-borne illness outbreak, helping food inspectors focus energies on restaurants more likely to violate. Modeling systems to identify beneficial behaviors can enable positive enforcement strategies, which reward a business' focus on the big picture and going beyond the bare minimum. Lastly, countries like New Zealand have experimented with legislation written as software code . The bureaucratic effects of the legislation could be simulated ahead of time.Flexibility will be the hallmark of the future public workforce. NASA and other agencies are trying a talent marketplace model , in which some workers have the ability to move from project to project, even between agencies, based on their documented skills. Talent won't go to waste in this just-in-time civil service. Such a talent marketplace would cover an open talent spectrum, from freelancers to career employees.The flexibility goes two ways. Workers may yo-yo between jobs, but will increasingly work in adaptive workplaces  places where they are most productive and engaged, whether in offices, at home or a hybrid of the two. Meanwhile, human-machine collaboration can provide civil servants with AI-enabled tools to be more productive and effective in their jobs.The challenges of 2020 forced a high-volume field test of technological and organizational edge cases. Many survived to become mainstream, while others kickstarted further intersections of technology. As we face a transformed economy with transforming needs, governments must adapt. Can an institution designed in an era of incremental change succeed in an era of transformation? Absolutely.GoverningGoverning
By Yang Chengjun

The French military recently test-fired a new air-launched cruise missile with a range of 500km from a Rafale M fighter. Developed by MBDA and Dassault Aviation, the new air-launched missile is able to carry a nuclear warhead, French media reported. The news has been confirmed by the French Ministry of Armed Forces.

It is learnt that, the test-fired cruise missile is powered by a liquid fuel ramjet engine with the maximal speed of Mach 3 and is fitted with the new TNA 300kt thermonuclear warhead, nearly 20 times as powerful as the atomic bombs dropped by the US at Japans Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Previously Frances air-based nuclear weapons were mostly launched from Mirage 2000N-K3 fighters, but now they will be launched from the new-generation Rafale fighters.

This is the latest decision made by Paris considering the international situation. In the face of the drastically undulating security situation globally, especially in the US, France has what it deems as sufficient reasons to strengthen military development and reinforce its strategic assault capability in the air. Paris must have felt potential military threats from other directions, impelling it to invest hugely in its air-based nuclear strike capability.

This is an important measure to enhance the overall combat force of the French military. While most countries are developing mid-range and long-range weapons, France is developing cruise missiles with only a 500km range. As far as I'm concerned, Paris made the decision based on two considerations. First, the short-range missile is just a transition to make technical preparations for developing the next-generation air-launched nuclear weapon, which will reach a speed of Mach 4-5 and a range of over 1,000km. Second, Paris is ultimately aimed to develop more advanced air-launch platforms or fighter jets to make close-in launches and make up for the short missile range.

This means the threshold of using nuclear weapons is constantly being lowered. By testing new air-launched nuclear missiles to replace older in-service counterparts, Paris aims to improve strike precision, reduce the yield of nuclear weapons, and contain collateral damages, thus further lowing the threshold of using nuclear weapons. After abolishing land-based nuclear weapons in 1996, France only has nuclear capacities on the sea and in the air, so its latest test of new missiles is intended to fortify its nuclear assault capability.

France is a member of the UN Security Council, a chief member of the EU, and one of America's allies. Still, compared with other allies, it maintains a certain degree of independence and doesnt always follow Americas lead. Therefore, we need to keep a close eye on its active testing of air-based nuclear weapon carriers and next-step deployments, carry out necessary observation and analysis.

(The author is a retired researcher of the General Staff of the PLA Rocket Force, Senior Colonel, professor, and doctoral supervisor entitled to the special allowance of the State Council. This article is originally published on mil.ifeng.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.)
President Assad has signed two decrees ordering the dismissal of two judges, but it is not known what violations were committed reports Enab Baladi.

On Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued two decrees to implement the impeachment penalty imposed by the Supreme Judicial Council, against two judges for committing legal violations and other mistakes.

Decree No. 13 of 2021 stipulates the implementation of the dismissal sentence against Judge Mohammad bin Ali Youssef, Counselor at the First Civil Appeals Court in Jableh in Lattakia and stripping him of his rights, according to the laws in force.

Decree No. 14 of 2021 provides for the implementation of the dismissal sentence against Judge Rakan Mohammad Wahiba, Counselor at the Seventh Misdemeanor Appeals Court in Aleppo and stripping him of his rights as per the laws in force, according to what the Ministry of Justice in the Syrian regime published on Jan. 19, 2021.

The two decrees did not elaborate on the violations or legal mistakes that led to the implementation of the dismissal penalty against the two judges.

Prime Minister Hussein Arnous said on Jan. 17, 2021, that the National Anti-Corruption Strategy has been developed with its various pillars, which aim at strengthening the rule of law and equality before the judiciary, in order to ensure the corrupt are punished and to strengthen the role of regulatory agencies and institutions in the effective monitoring of state agencies.

Arnous explained to the Peoples Assembly that the ministries and various bodies have undertaken a set of measures and actions aimed at combating corruption, reducing its occurrence, and addressing its manifestations.

Arnous added that the Ministry of Justice works within the framework of the judicial reform program, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, according to three areas, which are enhancing integrity by amending laws, attending to cases in the courts, and supporting judicial independence while securing the necessary legal infrastructure.

What is behind the new judicial formations?

On Jan. 7, 2021, Minister of Justice Ahmed al-Sayyed, decided to terminate the assignment of some judges and transfer others, without explaining the reasons behind the decision.

In December 2020, the transfer of a number of judges from the Court of Cassation to the Supreme Judicial Council sparked controversy.

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.
Drugs from Cambodia are busted by authorities of Dong Thap Province, January 17, 2021. Photo by Tien Phong Newspaper.

Authorities in Dong Thap Province have impounded around 90 kilograms of trafficked narcotics, the largest amount ever discovered in the Mekong Delta province, leading to three arrests.

Le Van Thai, head of the Thuong Phuoc border guard station between Vietnam and Cambodia, on Tuesday said three people were arrested in Hong Ngu District last Sunday for trafficking the drugs, including heroin, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Nguyen Thuy Vy, 28, Huynh Quoc Dat, 29, and Nguyen Tan Dung, 43, were charged with smuggling heroin and other narcotics from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City at around 2:45 a.m. Sunday. A car was also seized as evidence.

An investigation is ongoing.

Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine face the death penalty in Vietnam. The production or sale of 100 grams of heroin or 300 grams of other illegal narcotics is similarly punishable.

Despite having some of the world's toughest laws, drug busts remain frequent in Vietnam.


Vijayan accused the Central Government of sheltering the 'interest of monopolies' at the expense of the development of the airport

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday criticised the takeover of the international airport here by the Adani group, saying it was not for the development of the facility but to protect the interest of monopolies.

The move comes at a time when an appeal regarding the transfer of the airport was pending before the apex court, Vijayan told the state Assembly.

The Centre had violated its assurance given to the state government in this regard, he said during the question hour.

The CM's sharp reaction came a day after the business giant had signed the concession agreements with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) at Delhi for the management, operations and development of the Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and Jaipur airports.

Airport employees also staged a protest in front of the office of the Director here on Tuesday against the takeover.

"The management of the airport is handing over to a group who have no prior experience in it. The union government's stand is to create a special monopoly in this sector according to their interest," he said.

It was sure that this privatisation was not going to help the development of the airport and so the Centre should step back from its move, he said.

He also urged the union government to hand over the management and operation of the Thiruvananthapuram airport to the state government which had already proved its expertise in the same.

Besides Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Jaipur airports, the Centre had in February 2019 privatised the Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Mangaluru airports.

Vijayan had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking the Centre to reconsider its decision.

As the state government had rendered assistance to the airport wholeheartedly, including providing land on various stages, the Kerala government had the rightful claim on the management and operation of Trivandrum International Airport, Vijayan had stated in the letter.

The state government through its SPV, which participated in the bidding process, had expressed the willingness to match the highest bidder.

The employees, who had staged protest, said their Special Leave Petition is pending in the Supreme court and wanted to know the reason for the hurry in signing the agreement by the AAI.
Pakistan police have dropped an investigation into three Muslim men accused of kidnapping a Christian girl, 12, before abusing her and chaining her up for five months.

Farah Shaheen, now age 13, was abducted from Faisalabad on June 25 and spent over five months in the yard of Muslim man Khizar Hayat, 45, who allegedly raped her.

Police rescued the youngster in Faisalabad on December 5 and found cuts from the shackles on her ankles from where she had been bound and forced to work in the man's yard all day clearing animal dung.

Authorities dropped the charges against the man after the girl testified she willingly married her abductor.

But her family accuse police of fabricating evidence, ignoring their case, and racially abusing them during the investigation.

Farah Shaheen,pictured left and right, spent five months bound in the Muslim man's yard where she would work all day clearing animal dung

Investigators said they had dropped the charges against Hayat after Farah testified that she had agreed to marry him and convert to Islam, according to a report in The Times.

Farah Shaheen was rescued in Faisalabad last month with police finding cuts from the shackles on her ankles

'Ms Shaheen confessed before a magistrate...that she married...of her own will and wants to live with him,' investigating officer Musaddiq Riaz told the publication., adding that a police report suggested the girl was aged 16 or 17.

Farah's birth certificate confirmed her age last June as 12, The Times reported.

The case has been taken up by Christian charities who claim a number of girls are being abducted and forced into marriage in Pakistan.

The girl's father has dismissed the police report as a fabrication, and claimed that officers ignored his report of Farah's abduction for months.

He has appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan for help.

Human rights groups say an estimated 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls are kidnapped each year and forced to convert to Islam.

Pakistan police have dropped an investigation into a Muslim man who is accused of kidnapping a Christian girl before raping her and chaining her up for five months. Above, Pakistani Christians protest against child marriage and forced conversion in Karachi

Aid to the Church in Need said the girl's family made repeated complaints to the police but they were ignored for months.

Her father said: '[She] has told me she was treated like a slave. She was forced to work all day, cleaning filth in a cattle yard. 24-7, she was attached to a chain.'

The family say the girl was abducted on June 12 last year and she was raped multiple times.

Boris Johnson previously said he would grant asylum to Asia Bibi (pictured), a Christian woman in Pakistan who was charged with blasphemy

Despite making multiple complaints to the police, the father was not able to file an official report until September.

He said police even made racial comments about him and threatened to charge him with blasphemy.

Aid to the Church in Need says the case calls into question how Britain is spending its overseas aid, with 302million going to Pakistan.

The charity says the government should do more to tackle Christian persecution abroad rather than support regimes where child marriage takes place.

Boris Johnson previously said he would grant asylum to Asia Bibi, a Christian woman in Pakistan who was charged with blasphemy and spent 10 years on death row.
There used to be a schoolyard card game called Top Trumps, with cards swapped over challenges in various categories, the highest number winning.

Donald Trump's four-year reign has instead involved the bar being set ever lower, with Ireland and the world repeatedly looking on flabbergasted and aghast as he exhibited his ignorance and capriciousness, seemingly sinking lower at every step.

Here are some of the Worst Trumps from his time in office, now guillotined at last by the accession of Joe Biden to the Oval Office.

1) The separation of mothers and babies at the border

Hundreds of children have still to be reunited with their parents after Trump authorised forcible separations of adults and children, aimed at discouraging families from crossing the Rio Grande on the southern US border.

The policy, which was implemented in 2017, was blamed on former attorney general Jeff Sessions and it was exacerbated by the deaths of two children - aged 7 and 8 - who had not been separated from their parents while in US custody.

Trump claimed it was an Obama policy, but he also induced fear in the undocumented Irish by urging ICE, the immigration force, to step up deportations.

2) The Capitol Hill insurrection

Trump might share with Osama Bin Laden the targeting for attack of the magnificent Capitol building - except that the domestic terrorists got through.

The hijackers of United 93, believed to have been headed for the US Capitol, were met by a passenger rebellion that brought the aircraft down in a field outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in September 2001, killing all aboard.

Trump has now been impeached twice, and his Senate trial will hinge on his alleged incitement of the rioters.

3) Urging the injection of bleach to counter Covid

Everyone has seen the footage and the squirming of public health adviser Dr Deborah Birx as the president suggested a jab of Clorox, a brand of liquid bleach, under the skin could cure the virus. Some people followed Trump's advice and became very ill.

By not wearing a mask and failing to encourage social distancing, Trump has probably played a role in the infection of millions of Americans during a pandemic that has claimed many, many lives.

4) Backing Putin over his own intelligence chiefs

At a summit in Reykjavik, Trump humiliated his own security services by saying he was convinced by Vladimir Putin's reassurances that Russia did not try to interfere in the 2016 election that brought Trump to power.

The services, which have recently seen a cyber-attack on the US go without response, also claimed Russia had tried to interfere in the 2018 midterms and influence last November's poll.

Trump's whims in matters of foreign policy are also seen as encouraging like-minded narcissists like Kim Jong-un, who, far from backing off, is now announcing the planned construction and deployment of nuclear submarines.

5) Threatening Ukraine with the ending of defence aid if it did not find dirt on the Bidens

This was the appalling abuse of power that led to Trump's first impeachment, when he told the president of Ukraine that he wanted something in return for defence aid against Russian encroachment into the Crimea and backing for armed breakaway militias in eastern Ukraine, money the Congress had already voted to be spent.

What Trump asked for was dirt on Joe Biden's son Hunter, and a public Ukrainian statement that it was investigating his company.

No such announcement came and the money was eventually paid over when the story leaked, with a related row over the attempted hiding of the transcript of the conversation on a secret secure White House server.

6) Pulling out of the Paris climate accord and Iran nuclear deal

We might as well add 'undermining Nato' to this one.

Joe Biden has promised to instantly reverse Trump's decision to abandon the Paris deal, which was to guard against planetary overheating by 1.5C since industrial times, seen by many experts as the tipping point for irreversible weather chaos and sea rise.

Trump, of course, was trumpeting coal instead. On the far cleaner nuclear power plants and Iran's spinning off of enriched uranium for weaponised nukes, the inhabitant of the Oval Office ripped up years of patient work by his allies. And then assassinated an Iranian general.

7) Referring to 'shithole' countries

Not content with alienating his allies, other countries with potential goodwill were told where to get off by Trump.

This particular remark arose after criticism of his failure to help earthquake- and climate-ravaged countries, including Puerto Rico, a US territory. He told Senators (in a comment later denied): "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?"
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Air Force veteran Isabelle Hyon DuCharme had spent nearly a decade attempting to find her mother's family in South Korea -- but it took just three days for the internet to find her relatives after her request for help went viral.

On Sunday, Isabelle, of Salt Lake City, shared the update in a series of posts to her Twitter account, which included screenshots of video calls with her long-lost relatives.

"We video chatted & saw our ENTIRE family," DuCharme wrote. "I cannot tell you how grateful we are."

The reunion is bittersweet. Isabelle's mother, Hyon Chu DuCharme, is in a medically induced coma after suffering serious injuries during a car accident on Christmas Day. Hyon Chu's condition worsened when she tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, while in the hospital. Doctors have told the DuCharme family that Hyon Chu may not have much time left.

Air Force veteran Isabelle Hyon DuCharme poses with her mother, Hyon Chu, in January 2017. (Isabelle Hyon A DuCharme)

After immigrating to the United States in 1989, Hyon Chu kept regular contact with the sister and two brothers she left behind in South Korea. But, in an email last week to Stars and Stripes, DuCharme explained how losing the family home to foreclosure in the early 2010s led to her mother losing contact with her siblings.

"We were given a short notice to vacate our home and tried to pack in a panic, but ended up leaving most of our possessions behind," DuCharme wrote.

Those belongings included a small notebook in which Hyon Chu kept the addresses and phone numbers of her family in South Korea.

DuCharme turned to Twitter with a message on Jan. 14, and the next day had reaped thousands of responses and more than 51,000 retweets, including by the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Gen. Robert Abrams.

Korean-speaking fans of the K-Pop group BTS translated DuCharme's tweet into Korean; others reposted the message on social networks popular throughout Asia. Isabelle's plea spawned its own hashtag: #HelpForHyon.

"In a matter of days, we somehow helped reunite this family together when they needed it most," wrote filmmaker Aaron Stewart-Ahn, who assisted Isabelle in the search, on Twitter.

One of DuCharme's cousins had also spent several years searching for her American family, Steward-Ahn said.

"My family has been so overcome with gratitude for every last person who has shared our story, commented on our posts, reached out, or even prayed for us," DuCharme wrote in an email to Stars and Stripes. "If [my mother] could see the community that has gathered around her [...] she would be in awe of what is happening."
A renowned Zambian Jesuit priest of Tullamore origin, Fr. Michael Kelly has died at the age of 92.

His death was announced by Fr Leornard Chiti.

"It is with great sadness and grief of the loss of our companion, Fr Michael J Kelly SJ. Eternal Rest grant unto Michael and may perpetual light shine upon him, Fr Chiti stated.

Professor Father Michael J Kelly SJ. was born in Tullamore in 1929.

He was a past pupil of the Christian Brothers, Tullamore, the old school beside the canal. He studied at University College Dublin and was awarded a B.A. in Maths and Mathematical Physics in 1952, both with first class honours.

He went on to receive a licentiate in philosophy in 1955.

He moved to Zambia and has lived and worked here for over 50 years, becoming a Zambian citizen.

He worked for many years as headmaster of Canisius Secondary School is one of the earliest centres of learning in Zambia. It is located at Chikuni Mission about 10 km east of Chisekesi town in Monze.

Father Michael completed his PhD studies in the area of child and educational psychology in 1974 and subsequently became a senior lecturer and Dean of the School of Education in the University of Zambia (UNZA), in 1975.

He served as pro-vice chancellor and deputy vice chancellor and became professor in 1989.

The pioneering work of the Irish Jesuit, as an educator and a campaigner for HIV/AIDS in his adopted home of Zambia.

He is also a renowned speaker and advocate on HIV and AIDS, and has worked tirelessly to educate and promote safe behaviour among youth and those most at risk in Zambia, throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and much further afield.

He was also active in other policy areas, such as strategies for HIV prevention, and human rights.

A prolific researcher and writer, Father Michael has authored 15 books, and many original research articles.

Throughout his long and distinguished career, Father Michael has worked as a consultant to organisations such as the World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, the FAO, UNAIDS, Oxfam, Irish Aid, and many more.

Over the next 60 years, he held a series of appointments across the country, which resulted in his nomination as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zambia in 1980 and a promotion to Professor of Education in 1989.

He worked tirelessly to get rid of the stigma of HIV/AIDS through education and advocacy work across Zambia and further afield.

Fr Kelly was Patron of Power4Good since 2010 and inspired the group's fundraising work for projects in Zambia with children with disabilities.

Volunteers were planning a trip to Zambia in 2020 but due to Covid the trip had to be postponed.

Fr Kelly has been the recipient of many awards, in Ireland and abroad for his aid work. In recognition of his contribution to education in Zambia and worldwide HIV advocacy, the Association of Commonwealth Universities presented him with the Symons Award in September 2003.

In 2013 Fr. Michael was recognised in his home town at a civic welcome and citation at Tullamore town hall in honour of his "International contribution to education and health in the developing world ".

Local charity Power4Good, working to support education for children and adults with disability in Zambia and Malawi, was proud to have Fr. Michael as patron for many years.

He has received several honorary degrees including Doctor of Science (2004), from the University of the West Indies, Doctor of Laws from NUI (2006) and an honorory doctorate from the Royal College of Surgeons (2012).

He received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award from President Michael D. Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain in November 2012, which honours the Irish diaspora in recognition of its sustained and distinguished service abroad.

Describing Fr Kelly as a true hero, President Higgins, in a tribute this week, said: As an academic, writer and educator, Fr. Michael made an immense contribution to improved health outcomes for many people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through his work with Irish Aid and several multilateral organisations, he was an inspirational figure to health workers, aid workers, humanitarians and diplomats from Ireland, Zambia and beyond.

I was honoured to present Fr. Michael with the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad in 2012. In 2018 he received the Order of Distinguished Service Award from President Lungu of Zambia, in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of education, social justice and HIV/AIDS. His image featured last year on a stamp by An Post as part of their series celebrating the achievements of the Irish abroad.

In February 2020 Fr Michael was featured on a stamp, part of a collection produced by An Post, paying tribute to the Irish abroad.

Fr. Michael will be fondly remembered by his family and his many friends in Tullamore and beyond. May he rest in peace.

NYPD officers stand guard in front on Trump Tower on 5th Avenue the night before the presidential election, in New York, N.Y., on Nov. 2, 2020. (Kena BetancurAFP via Getty Images)

After Biden Swearing In, NYPD Reevaluating Security at Trump Tower

New York police officers are reviewing the security presence at Trump Tower following President Joe Bidens inauguration.

From now through the inauguration we will have a robust presence at Trump affiliated locations included Trump Tower on 5th Avenue, the New York Police Department (NYPD) told news outlets in a statement before the inauguration.

After the inauguration we will reevaluate our security posture, the agency added.

NYPD officers helped guard Trump Tower since Trump won the 2016 election. Trump made the tower his campaign and transition offices for a period of time, taking meetings there. Security for the 75 days from Election Day to Inauguration Day hit $24 million, according to the police department. Lawmakers estimated New York City would spend $127,000 to $146,000 a day for the NYPD and $4.5 million annually for firefighters.

Fifth Avenue near the tower included security measures like checkpoints for a while, and the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a no-fly zone over it until Trump was inaugurated. The tower, rising 58 stories, was erected in 1983.

The street became home to a large Black Lives Matter mural in the summer of 2020, on the orders of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat.

Trump left Washington on Wednesday morning for Florida, where he shifted his residency from New York in 2019. Biden was inaugurated around noon.
Maruti Suzuki India commenced export of Suzuki's celebrated compact off-roader Jimny from India. The first shipment of 184 units left from Mundra port to Latin American countries such as Columbia and Peru. The iconic three-door Suzuki Jimny will be exported to Latin America, Middle East and African markets from India.

Known as the 'authentic off-roader', the all-terrain vehicle has a legacy of over 50 years, catering to customers worldwide.

The current generation of Jimny was launched in 2018 by Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan and has emerged as a popular choice globally. Customers like its appeal for city driving too. In this regard, the Jimny was conferred the prestigious World Urban Car Award in the 2019 World Car Awards announced at the New York International Auto Show.

With India as a production base for Jimny, Suzuki aims to leverage Maruti Suzuki's global production stature. As there is a large customer demand worldwide well beyond Suzuki Japan capacity for this model, Indian manufacturing will supplement capacity to meet this global demand.

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New Delhi, Jan 20 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday released financial aid of Rs 2,691 crore to 6.10 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).

The Prime Minister released the amount through video-conferencing during an event attended by Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The assistance would include first instalment to 5.30 lakh beneficiaries and second instalment to 80,000 others who have already availed of the first instalment under the PMAY-G.

After releasing the financial assistance, the Prime Minister said the scheme is going to change the fortune of people residing in villages in the coming days.

Launching a scathing attack on the previous Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh before the incumbent Yogi Adityanath's reign, the Prime Minister said the previous SP government had rejected the central government's request when the scheme was launched in 2016 and it led to major difficulties in implementing the scheme in the state.

"Work is being done for the welfare of poor and destitute. Five years ago, I started PMAY from Agra. This scheme has created confidence among poor that they will get their own houses. UP is among those states where PMAY houses are being created," the Prime Minister said.

"There were faults of wrong policies implemented by the previous governments and poor have to face problems. We had set a target to provide a house to every household in 2016 and decided to complete the target in 2022 when the country will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Independence." Modi said the PMAY-G was launched in 2016 but the scheme faced a lot of problems due to previous government's attitude. "It is the hard work of Yogiji's government that the whole system has changed and lakhs of people have got pucca houses." Over five lakh families in Uttar Pradesh today have got their first instalment for constructing their own houses under the scheme, the Prime Minister said.

Noting that a house is a place which enhances confidence of people, the Prime Minister reiterated that the central government's focus is 'Housing for All by 2022', for which the Centre's flagship programme PMAY-G was launched on November 20, 2016.

So far, 1.26 crore houses have been built across the country under the scheme. Under PMAY-G, each beneficiary is given 100 per cent grant of Rs 1.20 lakh (in plain areas) and Rs 1.30 lakh (in hilly states/north-eastern states/difficult areas/UTs of J&K and Ladakh/IAP/LWE districts).

The PMAY-G beneficiaries are also provided support of unskilled labour wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act Scheme and assistance of Rs 12,000 for the construction of toilets through Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G), MGNREGA or any other dedicated source of funding.

The scheme has provisions for convergence with other schemes of the Centre and states/UTs for providing LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme, electricity connections, and access to safe drinking water under Jal Jeevan Mission.
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A second case of the highly contagious COVID-19 variant has been confirmed in Massachusetts, health officials said.

Health Commissioner Monica Bharel said the viral strain, called B.1.1.7, was identified in the Massachusetts Public Health Laboratory, WBUR reports. Officials did not offer further details.

Officials confirmed the first case of B.1.1.7 on Sunday in a Boston woman in her 20s. The woman had traveled to the United Kingdom, where the virus has been spreading rapidly, and became ill the day after she returned. She had tested negative prior to leaving the UK.

Health officials sent a genetic sample to an out-of-state laboratory as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions surveillance process looking for new variants of the virus.

The individual developed symptoms in early January and tested positive for COVID-19, health officials said on Sunday.

Modeling of the new variant shows the potential that it could grow rapidly in early 2021, becoming the dominant strain in the United States as early as March, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Friday.

Experts believe that the antibodies triggered by the COVID vaccine still prevent the new variant from attaching to cells, injecting its genome and replicating.

So far, it doesnt appear as though the mutated infection causes more severe illness or is linked to increased hospitalization  only that it spreads at a much more rapid pace.

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The RWE Renewables portfolio in North America continues to expand as Boiling Springs, a 148-megawatt (MW) project, located in Woodward County, Okla., has achieved commercial operation. The facility is RWE's first project in Oklahoma and in the Southwest Power Pool.

It is powered by 60 GE turbines, a mix of GE127-2.82 MW and GE 116-2.3 MW generators. Boiling Springs came online in late December after posting an impressive work safety record of no lost time incidents.

"After several years of development, we are thrilled to see this project fully operational in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), a new market for us," said Silvia Ortin, Chief Operating Officer North America. "SPP is a highly-attractive market with considerable potential for working with new customers in the corporate, industrial and utility segments. As always, we appreciate the local support from the community and our landowners to help us bring Boiling Springs from development through construction and now to successful operation."

RWE announced, in September 2019, Boiling Springs signed an agreement with American Honda Motor Co., Inc., for offtake as part of one of the largest-ever renewable energy purchases by the automotive industry. Under the terms of the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA), Honda has contracted for 120 MW of the power and renewable attributes from the 148 MW Boiling Springs Wind Farm.

North America is one of the focus markets of RWE, with a strong development pipeline in the renewables business. The installed capacity in the U.S. accounts for more than one third of the Groups renewables capacity. As one of the largest renewables players worldwide RWE plans a net global investment of 5 billion from 2020 through 2022. Project partnerships have the potential to increase this expenditure considerably to  8  9 billion.

RWE constructs, owns and operates some of the highest performing wind, solar and energy storage projects in the U.S. As an established leader in renewables, RWE has recently entered into a joint venture, New England Aqua Ventus, focused on floating offshore wind in the state of Maine.

For more information, go to americas.rwe.com.

For further inquiries: Matt Tulis



Communication Manager



RWE Renewables



M +1 512 698 4043



E [email protected]



RWE Renewables

RWE Renewables, a subsidiary of the RWE Group, is one of the world's leading renewable energy companies. With around 3,500 employees, the company has onshore and offshore wind farms, photovoltaic plants and battery storage facilities with a combined capacity of approximately 9 gigawatts. RWE Renewables is driving the expansion of renewable energy in more than 15 countries on four continents. By the end of 2022, RWE Renewables targets to invest 5 billion net in renewable energy and to grow its renewables portfolio to 13 gigawatts of net capacity. Beyond this, the company plans to further grow in wind and solar power. The focus is on the Americas, the core markets in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

SOURCE RWE Renewables

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PARIS, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atos today announces it has completed the acquisition of In Fidem, a Canada-based specialized cybersecurity consulting firm, with expertise in cloud security, digital identity, risk management, security operations, digital forensics and cyber breach response. The operation will expand Atos' global client portfolio and expertise in cybersecurity services and will help to further invest in Canadian businesses and digital workforce, adding value for local customers and the local talent pool.

This cybersecurity acquisition joins those of Paladion, digital.security and SEC Consult made over the past few months in various countries and supports Atos' vision of continuous development in strategic markets, reinforcing its position as a global leader within cybersecurity services, consulting and innovation.

"Atos and In Fidem today unite their expertise to bring added value to our digital teams and for our clients in Canada and around the world," said Pierre Barnabe, Senior Executive Vice-President, Head of Big Data & Cybersecurity at Atos. "We are delighted to welcome the more than 100 consultants from In Fidem to continue our strategy of developing and consolidating our cybersecurity expertise and to strengthen our leadership in secure decarbonized digital solutions."

"Atos understands our aim to support our clients with multi-disciplinary teams. They share our corporate vision which is centered on the return of our clients' security investment and trust. Combining our forces, we will enhance our services to our customers," said Matthieu Chouinard, CEO of In Fidem.

Find out more about Atos' cybersecurity solutions for large private and public organizations: https://atos.net/en/solutions/cyber-security.

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 110,000 employees and annual revenue of  12 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 73 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos operates under the brands Atos and Atos|Syntel. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

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MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Two men died after a shootout Wednesday in Maple Heights.

Officials have not yet publicly identified the two men involved in the shootout that happened on Elmwood Avenue near Waterbury Avenue, Maple Heights police said in a news release. Police did not release the time the incident took place.

Police received a call about someone who was shot and might be dead, the release says. Officers found two men, ages 20-years-old and 23-year-old, each with a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Paramedics took the men to University Hospitals where they died from their injuries, the release says.

Investigators learned that the men started shooting at each other. They both got struck once in the chest.

Anyone with information or who was a witness to the incident is asked to call Maple Heights detectives at 216-587-9624 or Detectives@mhpd-ohio.com.

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Pedestrian killed in fatal hit-and-run in East Akron

Akron man fatally shot during home invasion in Cuyahoga Falls, police say

Stow soldier charged with attempting to aid ISIS attack of U.S. forces in the Middle East

Parma man gets life sentence after pleading guilty to beating 94-year-old WWII veteran to death
The Donald Trump administration has been at it for a while now. Silicon Valley and tech companies operating in the US have been in the line of what seemed to be persistent fire of the US administration over the Trump presidency. One decision after the other, one tweet after the other, and it seemed like President Trump was doing exactly what people who have no knowledge about technology often dobe seen trying to take an interest and poking everything they arent supposed to, while not thinking of the repercussions. Thats fine for friends and relatives to do the clueless thing when it comes to technology, perhaps not so much for the US President. Many political watchers believe that the Trump administration has left the new Joe Biden administration with a lot of work to do to, not just in terms of policy but also with Silicon Valley in the US and Chinese tech companies as well.

It all started out in what seemed to be a pretty neat way, akin to a senior citizen in your family seamlessly learning how to use WhatsApp and then can't stop talking about it. Trump formed the American Technology Council in 2017 and regularly interacted with Silicon Valley bigwigs. But when in the summer of 2017, Trump announced that the US was pulling out of the Paris Climate agreement that includes almost 200 more countries, tech companies took a stand. Apple, Microsoft and Google were among the first to reaffirm their support for the climate agreement and said theyd continue to follow the terms in their business operations. Teslas Elon Musk quit the aforementioned Council at this time.

Trumps Action Against Xiaomi: While Trump vs Huawei is something that we are all pretty much abreast with, just a few days ago, the administration blacklisted Chinese tech company Xiaomi as well for alleged military links with the China National Offshore Oil Corp. over the drilling in the South China Sea. The Company reiterates that it provides products and services for civilian and commercial use. The Company confirms that it is not owned, controlled or affiliated with the Chinese military, and is not a Communist Chinese Military Company defined under the NDAA. The Company will take appropriate course of actions to protect the interests of the Company and its shareholders, a Xiaomi spokesperson had told News18 hours after the announcement was made. This is a saga that is ongoing, something that the Joe Biden administration will have to tackle.

Also Read: US Dept of Justice Blacklists Xiaomi, But Will It Affect The Indian Market? Here's What We Know

Huawei Ban And The Second Kick In The Gut: The latest and possibly chapter of the Donald Trump administrations actions against Chinese tech company Huawei sees the revoking of licenses of suppliers to work with the Chinese company. The list includes tech giant Intel. Till now, Intel was among the small group of companies allowed to do business with Huawei. The saga started in 2019 when the Trump administration put Huawei on the so-called entity list, which meant the company was considered a threat to national security. It is believed that Huawei allows access to the Chinese government via backdoors in its software, particularly in telecom equipment. The company has consistently denied these allegations. Trumps order meant that Huawei no longer had access to Googles Android operating system for their smartphones. Huawei has meanwhile returned solid numbers. The revenues for the Chinese tech company were 9.9% higher than the year before while generating $100 billion in revenue in the first three quarters of 2020.

Also Read: Ahead of Biden's Oath, Trump Pushes Final Blow to Huawei through Halt on Suppliers

The 5G Network That Never Happened: The Trump administration had two sides to the cointhe deep mistrust for China and the attempt to push American businesses. Neither always worked out well. In June 2018, the Trump administration proposed the idea of a nationwide and nationalized 5G network, in an attempt to counter a 5G network that may have components from Chinese tech companies. Pretty much everyone with any idea of how things work, shot down the idea. Including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioners. it was also roundly criticised by fellow Republican Commissioner Michael O-Reilly who said the idea was nonsensical. That was the last we heard of it.

Google, Apple, Tesla And Big Tech Unimpressed by Immigration Crackdown: When Donald Trump signed an executive order to launch an immigration crackdown in the summer of 2020, suspending foreign work visas including H-1B and L-1, tech companies including Apple, Google and Tesla were among the first to criticize the move. Like Apple, this nation of immigrants has always found strength in our diversity, and hope in the enduring promise of the American Dream. There is no new prosperity without both. Deeply disappointed by this proclamation, said Apple CEO Tim Cook. Immigration has contributed immensely to Americas economic success, making it a global leader in tech, and also Google the company it is today. Disappointed by todays proclamation  well continue to stand with immigrants and work to expand opportunity for all, said Googles Sundar Pichai on Twitter.

This wasnt the first time. In September 2017, Trump administration announced plans to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) which protected undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US as children, protection against deportation. Silicon Valley criticized the move, and referred to these immigrants as dreamers, many who are employed by tech companies. In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos as well as 300 more tech bigwigs and companies signed a joint letter that was sent to the president as well as the Senate and House leaders, urging the government to protect the immigrants.

Not much changed though, because in the summer of 2018, tech companies were again criticizing Trump for the administrations implementation of a policy that separated family members who cross the border into the US, illegally. This policy was particularly hard for families with children. As a company, Microsoft is dismayed by the forcible separation of children from their families at the border, Microsoft had said in an official statement at the time. It's heartbreaking to see the images and hear the sounds of the kids. Kids are the most vulnerable people in any society. I think that what's happening is inhumane, it needs to stop, Tim Cook reportedly said. It's heartbreaking to see the images and hear the sounds of the kids. Kids are the most vulnerable people in any society. I think that what's happening is inhumane, it needs to stop, tweeted Googles Sundar Pichai.

Donald Trump And The Unfinished TikTok Saga: In July last year, Donald Trump issued an executive order that required ByteDance to sell TikTok, a popular social media platform, to a US company. Else, the platform would be banned in the US. He even gave his informal blessings to a deal which would have included Oracle and Walmart. As Donald Trump exits the White House, TikTok is still going strong in the US. It is expected that the Joe Biden  Kamala Harris administration will drop the matter completely.

Also Read: TikTok Was the Most Downloaded App of 2020 Globally, Surpasses Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram

Twitter, Facebook And The Out Of Bounds Social Media Ecosystem: Finally, earlier this month, tech companies and social media platforms did what many had expected a long time ago. They de-platformed Donald Trump. Twitter finally banned Donald Trumps official Twitter account, and indeed when he tried to circumvent the ban with other accounts, two of those got detected and had tweets deleted@POTUS and @TeamTrump. Facebook meanwhile has said that it is making Trumps ban on Facebook and Instagram indefinite. YouTube removed many videos posted by the Trump channel while Snapchat and TikTok have also removed content posted by Trump supporters that violate terms of service. Google, Apple and Amazon removed the Parler social media platform from their app storesa social media platform which many believe was a megaphone for pro-Trump supporters and played a crucial role in the US Capitol violence earlier this month.

Also Read: Donald Trump and the Internet Saga: All Web Platforms Where Trump Isn't Welcome Anymore

Donald Trump, Facebook and Twitter, Part 2: While the moves are being applauded by many, over the last few years and time and again, Facebook and Twitter have particularly been at the receiving end of criticism for giving Donald Trump and his views platform, free to use as he pleased. Twitter had for long claimed that they dont want to hide important information needed for a healthy debate and insisted that while theyll label tweets by politicians, they would leave them available for viewing. Mark Zuckerberg who has also said that Facebook would rather err on the side of greater expression and defend free speech while speaking at Georgetown in 2019. And then in May 2020 when Twitter did a till then rare fact-check of one of Donald Trumps tweets, Mark Zuckerberg in an interview with Fox News said that social media platforms should not try to become arbiter of truth.

Also Read: Why Did It Take So Long For Facebook And Twitter To Finally Apply The Rules To Donald Trump?
If youre looking for terrorism, you dont have to look across the ocean. You have to look across the street. January 6  two week ago, we (had) thousands descending on the United States Capitol in Washington DC, Durbin, of Springfield, said. You can still see the marks of their terrorist attack today. To walk past the boarded up windows, broken furniture, cracked doors, its hard believing that these violent images were caused by Americans on their own Capitol building. They were incited by the president of the United States  a mob of domestic terrorists stormed into this Capitol. They overwhelmed the police, came within mere seconds of reaching the vice president of the United States and members of Congress. They waved Confederate, Nazi flags in the sanctuary of democracy. They shouted, wheres Nancy? hang the vice president in a frenzied search for the speaker of the House and Vice President Pence. They carried zip ties, or tactical gear. They were prepared for a gruesome and violent siege.
HANOI, Vietnam, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank - Vietnam) announces business results in 2020 with the highest growth rate of the Bank: consolidated profit before tax of nearly USD74.95 million, up 24% compared to 2019, completing 115% of the 2020 plan. Total assets reached USD7.81 billion, increased 14.5%; Total outstanding loans in market 1 rose by USD4.72 billion, up 10.4%; Total mobilization in market 1 reached USD4.91 billion, up 18%; Non-interest revenue reached USD66.3 million, accounts for 33.2% of total net revenue. The cost to income ratio (CIR) is 47.5%; ROA and ROE are 0.81% and 11.06% respectively; NPL ratio is only 1.86%.

In 2020, SeABank completed increasing charter capital from USD406 million to nearly USD 523.9 million, becoming one of the 13 largest commercial joint stock banks in Vietnam and approved to list more than 1.2 billion shares with the stock ticker SSB on HOSE in the first quarter of 2021.

SeABank has also been the 5th bank in Vietnam to complete all 3 pillars of Basel II before deadline and maintained B1 credit rating by Moody's in 2020. This advance allows SeABank to be ahead of the market, thereby meeting the highest international standards and operating the Bank proactively, transparently, and sustainably.

With digital convergence strategy, in 2020 SeABank launched SeAMobile - Smart finance App- offering a unified experience on all electronic devices. SeAMobile is also the only App in the market that features personal finance management with artificial intelligence to help customers automatically manage and forecast personal finances. SeABank has focused on digital and seen great results in online transaction volume, percentage of online users and number of products offered online which lead to a total transformation of the customer journey.

Along with business activities, SeABank has contributed more than USD737,000 for COVID-19 prevention, flood recovery, scholarship packages for disadvantaged children and giving houses to the war victims.

With contributions to the socio-economic development and the community, in 2020, SeABank has been highly recognized by prestigious organizations with 22 domestic awards and 12 national awards, typically: Emulation flag of the Government recognized "Excellent unit in emulation movement in 2019", Vietnam National Brand 2020, Top 50/500 largest private enterprises in Vietnam, Top 30 Best Tech Companies in Asia 2020.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423397/SeABank.jpg
For the first time in his 18 years, Mac Fontaines parents are sleeping through the night.

For the first time in his 18 years, Mac Fontaines parents are sleeping through the night.

The Winnipeg teen took a night-shift job at a grocery store during the pandemic in part so that he could manage his blood-sugar levels on his own. Like many living with Type 1 diabetes, he has to test his blood every three hours. If the glucose levels dip too low  especially while hes asleep  the consequences could be deadly.

That means pricking his fingers at least eight times a day to squeeze out a drop of blood onto a test strip; he and his parents have done it more than 5,000 times since he was diagnosed at five years old.

"Ive done it so much, to the point where I actually dont have fingerprints," he says lightly.

Hes among more than 20 Manitobans  diabetics and their families and caregivers  who are calling on local politicians to experience a day in the life of a Type 1 diabetic by testing their own blood 10 times over the course of 24 hours.

The Great Manitoban Finger Prick Challenge aims to convince political leaders that provincial health-care coverage needs to be expanded to cover the cost of medical technology that automatically and more reliably measures blood sugar.

As of Monday, 12 MLAs  including newly appointed Mental Health Minister Audrey Gordon and opposition party leaders  have agreed to participate. Theyre being asked to use donated test kits on themselves at times when diabetics would typically have to test  such as before eating or exercising  and record the results on video.

Organizers hope MLAs will see the need for Manitobas provincial health plan to start covering continuous glucose monitors, says Trevor Kirczenow, whose nine-year-old son Matthew was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a year-and-a-half ago.

"Some people have private health coverage through their employment, but folks have been losing that due to pandemic job losses, and some people have no coverage at all, some insurance companies just dont include that in their plans, so lots of people are paying out of pocket for it," Kirczenow says, adding it was "heartbreaking" to see many families post in a private Facebook group over the past few months saying theyd lost their private benefits and couldnt afford their usual supplies to manage diabetes.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Mac Fontaine, 18, has to test his blood-sugar every three hours. Hes hoping the Great Finger Prick Challenge will convince politicians of the need for continuous glucose monitors.

The devices, commonly called CGMs, use sensors embedded in the skin to deliver blood-sugar readings every few minutes, and send an alarm to the user or their caregiver as soon as levels drift out of whack. They cost $300 per month, roughly the same price as insulin pump supplies. The pumps themselves cost thousands, and are covered in Manitoba for children until they reach 18.

"Theres a lot of things that people dont see and dont know," about living with Type 1 diabetes, Fontaine says, noting his parents still have to test his blood while he's asleep during the day.

Now that hes an adult, Fontaine is facing the reality of paying those expenses on his own. He doesnt have a CGM, and more Pharmacare coverage would really help, he says.

"Itd be a huge relief financially. Im just 18, I still only work part-time, so I honestly dont make enough money to be able to cover everything that I would need in a year," he says.

His mother, Jenn Fontaine, says shes relieved not to have to wake up at midnight, 3 a.m., and 6 a.m. every day to test her sons blood, but shed worry less if he had a CGM, since blood sugar is affected by so many different factors, even temperature.

"I think most people are under the (impression) that the fluctuations are their fault, like they ate something. They dont understand that hormone fluctuations, anxiety fluctuations, feeling under the weather... all of those things impact them just as much as food," Jenn Fontaine says.

"Its not that he snuck a piece of cake and thats why his blood (sugar level) is not good."

The monitors arent just a "cool gadget," according to Diabetes Canada, which considers them potentially life saving for the majority of people with Type 1 diabetes and some with Type 2. The national organization says Canada lags behind other countries in coverage of these devices. Yukon provides full coverage of CGMs, and there is partial coverage in Ontario and Quebec, while Saskatchewan recently announced plans to cover the cost of the devices.

Even without the monitors, Type 1 diabetics still face annual expenses of up to $15,000 if they dont have coverage and health benefits, says Kimberley Hanson, Diabetes Canadas federal affairs executive director, who noted CGMs have been shown to prevent more expensive health costs for provinces down the line.

"These devices, we believe, can be if not cost-neutral, pretty close to it," Hansen says. "We have to look at it from a bit more holistic of a perspective than I think most jurisdictions have done yet."

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
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The Biden administration enters the Oval Office today in the midst of a pandemic and economic crisis, and with the Democrats in control of both houses of Congress, which means that big policy changes are afoot in the United States.

First, the Biden administration will use the economic crisis at hand to pursue a domestic policy platform that will be the mirror opposite of the Trump administrations free-market, federalist program.

Second, in stark contrast to the Trump administration, which focused on a foreign policy agenda of America first, the Biden administration will pivot to a globalist policy program, also under the guise of COVID-19.

Third, it is highly likely that the Biden administration will seek major structural changes to the federal government that could change the electoral prospects for both parties for a generation.

In other words, the Biden administration will prey upon the economic disarray from COVID-19 to seek to undo the biggest accomplishments of the Trump administration while doubling-down on progressive policies.

One of the first and foremost features of the Biden administration is its penchant for globalism. This will manifest in several ways, namely with regards to climate change.

President Biden has repeatedly said that climate change is an existential threat that will require a global effort akin to World War II. He has already pledged to put the United States back into the Paris Climate Accords, which reduces U.S. competitiveness and undermines our national sovereignty.

The Biden administration is also on-board with the World Economic Forums Great Reset, a radical, anti-capitalist agenda that is using the COVID-19 crisis to upend capitalism. Bidens climate czar, John Kerry, is a staunch advocate for the Great Reset and has already said that he will lobby for Americas involvement.

On the foreign policy front, the Biden administration will also re-enter the United States into globalist bodies such as the World Health Organization.

In general, after a four-year period of the Trump administration pursuing a foreign policy that sought to maximize American interests, the Biden administration will seek to move in a decidedly globalist direction.

Aside from the wholesale changes to foreign policy courtesy of the incoming administration, we should expect big changes on the domestic policy front, too.

Following the Trump administrations pro-growth economic policies, the Biden administration will seek to redistribute wealth via raising taxes, especially on corporations and the so-called wealthy. The Biden administration is already putting together a massive COVID-19 stimulus package that will increase the size and scope of the federal government, expand government dependence and add trillions to the national debt.

Alongside the tax hikes and huge spending programs, the Biden administration will increase regulations and bureaucratic red tape. The Biden team has said it will pursue a plethora of environmental regulations in the name of climate change. It will also more than likely increase regulations on a host of other industries, including the financial, health care and manufacturing sectors.

Because the Biden administration inherently believes that big government can solve most problems, it will also increase the federal governments role in several areas that are better left to state and local governments, such as the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine.

Third, and most ominous, is the likelihood that the Biden administration will seek structural changes to the federal government that could cement one-party rule for years to come.

There are several items on the table that the Democratic leaders of Congress said they will shoot for, such as adding deep-blue Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as states. Although the Biden team has not signaled that it favors this, it has not said it would oppose it.

The Biden administration also could give its nod of approval to ending the centuries-old Senate filibuster rule, packing the Supreme Court, eliminating the Electoral College, or whatever other schemes the Democrat-controlled Congress decides to pursue.

Given the economic and social chaos that has overwhelmed the country in recent months, the Biden administration is entering the Oval Office during a massive crisis, which well could allow them to do things that would seem unimaginable just a few years ago.

The first 100 days of the Biden administration is likely to be a wild ride. Buckle-up America.

Chris Talgo is an editor at The Heartland Institute. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
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PALM BEACH, Fla. - Donald Trump's final act as the 45th president of the United States was announced as his official government motorcade rolled through the palm-lined streets of South Florida one last time: a full pardon for Albert Pirro, the ex-husband of Trump loyalist and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro.

Trump had decided Wednesday morning to grant a final gift of clemency after issuing 143 other pardons in an early-morning spree that included his controversial former chief strategist Stephen Bannon.

His remaining aides had hoped that Trump's departure remarks at Joint Base Andrews earlier that morning - where he thanked his supporters and wished the incoming administration "great success" - would serve as the enduring image of his already fraught exit from the presidency. Instead, they scrambled to explain another whim from their boss.

Away from his twin cravings - the public and the press - the outgoing president announced the Pirro pardon in a brief written statement as much of the world spun forward without him. Many of his once-close Republican allies eschewed his sparsely attended Air Force One farewell to attend President Joe Biden's inauguration instead. Most of Trump's senior aides skipped his final flight as president, instead remaining in Washington. And a smattering of supporters greeted his arrival at the balmy Palm Beach airport.

But if the final hours of Trump's presidency were publicly anticlimactic and relatively sedate, they were characteristically frenetic behind the scenes.

Trump spent his last full day polling a wide range of advisers on whether he should pardon Bannon, who was fired from the White House in 2017. Federal prosecutors charged Bannon last year with defrauding Trump's own donors in a private fundraising effort for construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Aides began preparing the paperwork for a potential Bannon pardon not even knowing if Trump planned to sign the document, although he ultimately did just before midnight over the objections of many advisers and allies.

Trump also rescinded a much-heralded ethics executive order shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday that had hindered federal administration officials from lobbying the government or working for foreign countries after they leave their posts. In reversing the pledge - which he signed to great fanfare in a 2017 Oval Office ceremony - Trump undercut one of his most significant pledges to "drain the swamp," now allowing many of his former employees to lobby agencies for which they once directly worked and to accept foreign government clients.

In his final remarks at Joint Base Andrews, Trump never once mentioned the names of his successors - President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris - despite their names having been written into his prepared script.

"I will always fight for you," Trump said. "I will be watching. I will be listening. And I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think they'll have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular."

For Trump, a consummate showman most comfortable when the focus is squarely on him, perhaps the biggest indignity Wednesday was just how clearly the attention had shifted elsewhere, with much of the nation riveted to the inaugural proceedings back in Washington.

There, Biden addressed what he called "the historic moment of crisis and challenge," offering a glimpse at a governing vision in stark contrast with that of Trump: "Unity is the path forward," he said.

On social media, Trump's favored public forum from which he is now largely banned, the conversation also moved past the 45th president. The new focus included scenes both frivolous and moving - from Harris's purple outfit and pearls to her stepdaughter's Miu Miu bejeweled coat to the powerful performance by national youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman to Michelle Obama's elegant ensemble to how Lady Gaga, who performed the national anthem, looked like a glamorous "Hunger Games" sponsor.

"He's a profoundly lonely man and I think he's on his way to even more profound loneliness," said Tim O'Brien, a senior columnist for Bloomberg Opinion and a Trump biographer who has often been critical of him. "It certainly ended with a bang, with the insurrection on Jan. 6, but it climaxed with a whimper, which is somebody isolated and locked down and divorced from democracy and the pageantry of the office. It was like he was fleeing a crime scene."

Trump, who was impeached for a second time by the House for inciting a deadly riot of supporters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, called around to allies in his final hours in the Oval Office on Tuesday evening and talked about how "good" his poll numbers were and how many people still support him, a person who spoke to him said. He surmised that the prospect of a third party that he would lead - called the Patriot Party - could scare Republican senators into voting against convicting him in an impeachment trial.

And he falsely told one adviser that his Gallup poll numbers were at 51 percent. In fact, his Gallup approval number reached its nadir at the end of his presidency, at 34 percent; his average approval rating of 41 percent throughout his presidency was the lowest Gallup has ever recorded.

Trump did not go into the Oval Office on his final day but greeted some senior aides in the Diplomatic Reception Room before departing. Yet, after months of riling up his supporters with false claims of a stolen election that ended in a deadly Capitol siege, he seemed at peace with leaving the White House, the person who spoke with him said.

A small crowd greeted Trump as he walked across the South Lawn toward Marine One, and a larger but still modest one awaited him at Joint Base Andrews. Trump had hoped to orchestrate the sort of showy military send-off that more resembled authoritarian pageantry than the placid rituals of American electoral democracy.

"We will be back in some form," the outgoing president said. "Have a good life."

Noticeably absent from his farewell were the three elected Republicans who had worked most closely with him - Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. All three instead attended Biden's inauguration - which Trump decided not to attend, bucking the traditional transfer of power - with Pence at center stage applauding Biden's speech.

Trump tried to re-create the rituals of his routine political rallies, veering off script, offering up mistruths and blaring Laura Branigan's hit "Gloria" and the Village People's "YMCA." Air Force One taxied down the runway to the strains of Frank Sinatra's "My Way."

"It ended as absurdly as it possibly could end, with him flying off the tarmac to 'My Way,' which is a song about someone who has no regrets for anything he's done and doesn't care about what anybody else thinks of them," O'Brien said. "It's the most unpresidential anthem imaginable."

Televisions on the flight to Florida were turned to Fox News inauguration coverage for the entire ride, and the final meal was grilled sirloin on a bed of cheesy grits, with an over-easy egg and a buttermilk biscuit.

Trump - who spent some time on the flight talking to the flight crew and pilots - did a flyover of his private Mar-a-Lago Club and the Palm Beach coastline for the last time before the plane landed. Air Force One dipped low as it approached the coastline and surveyed his property, then circled around to land.

No official greeters and little fanfare met Trump as he arrived in Florida. An aide described the moment as a "technical transfer." At 11 a.m., Air Force One stopped rolling, its belly facing a small phalanx of cameras and about 10 supporters. Trump smiled as he exited the plane but did not take questions. He was joined by Melania Trump and soon trailed by his adult children and their spouses. By 11:09 a.m., Trump's motorcade had rolled from Palm Beach International Airport for the final time.

As Trump headed toward Mar-a-Lago, the motorcade periodically slowed down so he could take in his supporters who lined the bridge and dotted the roads for several miles.

Brandi Kraus and her husband drove their three young sons 10 hours from Raleigh, N.C., to wave at Trump's motorcade. Kraus was having her boys practice their salutes while they waited for Trump to pass by.

"We're kind of hoping for a John Kennedy Jr. moment here," Kraus said as 4-year-old Zachary snapped his hand back and forth from his forehead.

Kraus said the trip was worth it to see Trump as president one last time: "We're here to stand up for him, to stand up for the Constitution," she said.

Trump arrived at his private club before noon on Wednesday, when Biden officially became president, and disappeared behind the hedges without a word. He was accompanied by a few aides, officials said, and is expected to play golf in the coming days.

- - -

The Washington Post's Anne Gearan in Washington and Lori Rozsa in Palm Beach, Fla., contributed to this report.
Josephus Davis (pictured) was arrested over the killing of Milan Loncar on Wednesday. He had only been released from prison on bail two weeks earlier

The Philadelphia District Attorney's office has admitted to wrongdoings after it was revealed that a man accused of killing a young college student last week was a serial criminal out on bail despite a slew of serious offences.

Milan Loncar, 25, was shot dead last Wednesday night while walking his dog about a block from his home in the Breweryton neighborhood of the city.

Josephus Davis, 20, has since been arrested over the crime.

Davis had only been released from prison on bail on December 29 while awaiting trial on kidnapping and motor theft charges.

In order to be granted bail, Davis posted a $20,000 bond over those offences.

The bond had been dramatically lowered from an initial sum of $300,000 - after his trial date was delayed eight times.

Joanne Pescatore, with the District Attorney's Office, has now admitted mistakes had been made.

'I'm sure many balls were dropped in this case,' she conceded on Tuesday.

'His bail should not have been lowered, it was lowered to an extremely low level  such a level that he could make that bail. We are looking into the fact of whether or not we filed an appeal,' Pescatore stated.

'Unfortunately we do see this in a lot of cases [lowering of bail], and it is unfortunate for the citizens of Philadelphia but that's what we deal with.'

Milan Loncar, 25, was shot dead last Wednesday night while walking his dog about a block from his home in the Breweryton neighborhood of the city

'I'm sure many balls were dropped in this case': Joanne Pescatore, with the District Attorney's Office (left), and Philadelphia DA, Larry Krasner, both claim they were against the dramatic increase in Davis' bail amount which led to his release

According to News Radio KYWM, 'Davis was convicted of assault charges as a teen and had two robbery convictions as an adult, plus two years of probation'

It has been reported that he had been arrested six times between February 2019 and February 2020.

In February 2020, he was taken into custody and charged with kidnapping, robbing and carjacking an Uber driver in July the previous year.

On that night, the ride-share driver stepped out of his Toyota Prius to urinate and left the motor of his vehicle running.

He was then approached at gunpoint by two males - one of whom was purportedly Davis - who took his phone and ordered that he get back into the car.

They then drove the Uber driver around the city before releasing him and taking off in the Prius.

Detectives tracked Davis through social media posts and phone records, before arrested him.

He was charged with robbery to inflict serious bodily injury, kidnapping for ransom, conspiracy and gun charges.

Davis spent almost 10 months behind bars awaiting trial, before the bond was dropped and he was released.

Milan Loncar was walking his dachshund-chihuahua mix dog named Roo on Wednesday at about 7pm when he was shot dead just one block from his home in the Brewerytown section of Philadelphia. He is pictured with his girlfriend Olivia Gorski

Surveillance video caught the moment when Milan Locar, 25, was stopped by two men who rifled through his pockets and then shot him in the chest

HOW WAS HE OUT ON BAIL? JOSPEHUS DAVIS' RAP SHEET: March 2015: David was charged as a juvenile with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and simple assault. He was found to be an adjudicated delinquent on the assault charge, which is the same as a guilty verdict. January 2019: He was charged with robbery and conspiracy. His bail was set at $20,000. The charges were later dropped but refiled by the DA in August. His bail was revoked the following month. October 2019: He pleaded guilty to both of the charges above and was sentenced to between 6 to 12 months in prison with two years probation. He bail was reinstated. January 2020: He pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy in a separate robbery case from October 2019. He was given them same sentence but the judge ruled he could serve both sentences concurrently. February 2020: He was arrested over a carjacking and charged with robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, kidnapping for ransom and conspiracy related to an incident in July 2019. The victim was believed to be an Uber drive. This time his bail was set at $100,000. He remained in prison for the majority of 2020. September 2020: He was charged with assault for attacking a prison guard or inmate. October 2020: During his assault hearing, his bail was reduced from $200,000 to $12,000. He only had to post $1,200 to get out. December 2020: His bail in the carjacking was then reduced from $100,000 to $20,000. He only had to pay $2,000 to get out. He was able to pay his bond for the carjacking and jail assault cases and was released. Advertisement

He now stands accused of murdering Loncar, a Temple graduate, as he tried to rob him.

Loncar was shot dead just before 7pm local time last Wednesday after being approached by the two men, one of them armed, who were caught on video.

Police said one of the men pointed a gun at Loncar then both reached for his pants pockets before he was shot once in the chest. Surveillance footage captured the deadly encounter.

Loncar was still holding the leash of his dachshund-chihuahua mix dog named Roo when officers found his body.

Later that evening, officers apprehended the driver of a vehicle stopped in connection with a carjacking from the day before.

Four other men fled the vehicle and the captured driver was later identified as Davis, who lives just two streets away from Loncar.

He was charged with murder and related offenses, according to The Inquirer. Police said a second man has been identified in the killing and is considered a person of interest.

Loncar had graduated from Temple in 2019 after majoring in engineering and had been working for a construction management company for about a year.

His mother, Amy Lounsberry, told the Philadelphia Inquirer 'everything was coming together' for 'a beloved sweet boy just starting his life'.

Loncar's sister, Jelena Loncar, 27, said of the man who shot her brother, 'You've taken so much from us, you've hurt the neighborhood. It's not just one life.'

'You've ruined hundreds of lives that you don't even know'.

District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement on Sunday night that his office had opposed the reductions in Davis' bail before the judges but that the sums had been slashed 'over our objections'.

Anyone with details about the shooting is asked to contact the homicide unit at 215-686-3334 or the police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or email tips@phillypolice.com.
The outgoing president of the United States, Donald Trump, on Tuesday, stopped the deportation of thousands of Venezuelan immigrants from the country.

While many have scored the die-minute order a favour to his supporters, the outgoing president said his decision to defer the deportation of over 145 thousand Venezuelans was informed by an alleged deteriorative condition of the country under President Nicolas Maduro.

Mr Trumps decision negates his tough immigration policies.

Associated Press reports that Mr Trump, in his final day in office, also rolled out new financial sanctions targeted at Mr Maduro and his close allies, including Alex Saab, who has been in Cabo Verde detention since June 2020.

The sanction also includes tightening controls to keep spying technology away from the countrys military.

The political feud between Messrs Trump and Maduro administrations have run into years, plunging the latter into economic lack, despite being an oil-rich nation.

The White House intensified the economic sanctions on Mr Maduro-led administration after the latter banned Juan Guaido, Mr Trumps anointed candidate, from participating in the 2018 presidential election.

Not less than three individuals, including Mr Saab, and over ten businesses have allegedly been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for helping Mr Maduro undemocratic government to undermine the economic sanctions.

While Mr Trumps turbulent four years come to an end on Wednesday, the question on whether those economic sanctions on Venezuela would be lifted by Joe Biden presidency is much in doubt.

PREMIUM TIMES assertion of the above was deduced from the statement of Mr Bidens choice of Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who recently promised support for Mr Guaido, the U.S recognized Venezuelan president.

The hard part is that for all these efforts, which I support, we obviously have not gotten the results that we need, Mr Blinken reportedly said.

Trump hates us because we survive without him  Mr Saab writes from detention

The detained Venezuelan diplomat, in a letter obtained by this newspaper, said his detention is nothing but a witch-hunt for helping his people.

He accused Mr Trump of imposing the U.S imperialist ideals to exploit Venezuela of its crude oil, an attempt he said Mr Maduro is bent on thwarting.

I have also had a surplus of time to try to understand why Donald Trump was so committed to attack the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and those of us who work to help the people of Venezuela meet their basic needs.

The answer is simple: Trump grew up hating socialism, Latinos, African Americans, Muslims and pretty much everything that has life, except himself. Voltaire said of love of self that, just like the human reproductive system, it is necessary, it brings us pleasure, and we have to hide it. Trump obviously walked around naked, Mr Saab said in a two-paragraph statement.

While the U.S legal-diplomatic struggles to extradite the diplomat to face alleged financial crimes lingers, Mr Saab has continued to insist on being innocent.

He said Mr Trump-led government economic sanctions have caused Venezuelans more harm than good, a move he admitted he had been working to alleviate before he was arrested in Cape Verde.

He said, You destroy a country by stopping it working with you, stopping selling its supplies, medicines, basic foodstuffs and freezing its assets abroad (USD 70 billion dollars in Venezuelas case).

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You stop lending it money, stop tankers from Venezuela carrying crude oil, bringing food, bringing petrol, expropriating Venezuelan companies abroad, like CTGO, all so that the country goes downhill because no one dare(s) risk going to Venezuela or working with Venezuela.

That way, (you) try to force the change of regime but as Trump himself acknowledges, we hadnt counted on Maduro or the people of Venezuela being so resilient. It is for exactly such a situation that OFAC was created. The ultimate Plan B, the detained diplomat said.
The Covid-19 death toll has crossed 400 with the deaths of 18 more people yesterday.

The death toll now stands at 408, with 96 of those occurring in the last seven days alone.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.
Cory Booker and girlfriend Rosario Dawson were among the A-listers who attended Wednesday's intimate inauguration ceremony for President Joe Biden.

The New Jersey Senator, 51, and actress/activist, 41, both looked thrilled to be at the Capitol Building for the swearing in.

Rosario was radiant as she donned a blue cape and matching tie-dye mask in honor of the Democratic party.

Date for democracy: Rosario Dawson joined her boyfriend, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, at Wednesday's swearing in for President Joe Biden

The Rent star made a statement with her accessories, tossing on a pair of geometric earrings while piling beaded baubles on her wrists.

She let her raven locks sweep over her shoulders while keeping her makeup at a natural glow.

Corey was typically handsome in his usual uniform of a dark suit and blue necktie. Proving he and Rosario were quite the pair, the junior Senator matched his mask to his other half.

The couple, who first went public with their relationship in 2019, were happy to hob-nob with people before things got underway, seen snapping selfies with other attendees.

Then they sat down for the main event, watching Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks perform while Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden were sworn in.

True colors: Rosario was radiant as she donned a blue cape and matching tie-dye mask in honor of the Democratic party

Rosario seems to be head-over-heels for the politician, even going as far as relocating to New Jersey for her love.

'I'm actually in the process of moving, by the way. I'm going to New Jersey. I'm moving to Newark,' Dawson told Kevin Smith while making special guest appearance at the Clerks II director's Pop-Up in Los Angeles last June.

'We were thinking about moving in together anyway, but especially during all of this, it's been really intense,' Dawson said, adding she's 'very excited.'

Booker and Dawson attended an oath of office that was like no other in history.

Unique: Booker and Dawson attended an oath of office that was like no other in history. Long-held traditions had to be adapted in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the recent riots at the Capitol

Different: Instead of a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, there was a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery and in place of balls, there will be Zoom parties

Instead of a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, there was a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery and in place of balls, there will be Zoom parties.

Hundreds of thousands congregating on the Capitol grounds and on the National Mall have been replaced by thousands of National Guard members.

The measures reflect restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus and heightened security after a mob of Trump supporters breached the Capitol two weeks ago, sending lawmakers into hiding and leaving five people dead, including a police officer.

Security: Tens of thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed in the U.S. capital after law enforcement warned some extremist Trump backers were calling for more violence

Tens of thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed in the U.S. capital after law enforcement warned some extremist Trump backers were calling for more violence.

As Biden officially became president, Trump had landed in Florida, heading to his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Leaving the White House for the final time, Trump stopped briefly to speak to reporters, saying it had been the 'honor of a lifetime' to serve as President.

At Joint Base Andrews, he told a crowd of reporters that he would be back 'in some form' and before flying off on Air Force One, he told everyone present: 'Have a nice life.'
Millionaire skincare mogul Zoe Foster Blake is living the good life these days.

Earlier this month, the 40-year-old enjoyed herself on a superyacht on Sydney Harbour with radio host Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and his wife Lisa.

Zoe, who has a net worth of $36million, wore a $330 Zimmerman swimsuit to go swimming during the outing.

Fun in the sun! Zoe Foster Blake enjoyed herself on a super yacht on Sydney Harbour earlier this month

Before sporting the chic swimwear, the Go-To founder covered up in a summery kaftan.

The sun smart star also wore a tan coloured wide brim hat and a pair of orange tinged sunglasses.

She certainly enjoyed herself on the yacht, sipping on champagne and nibbling on what appeared to be a healthy meal for brunch.

Looking good: Zoe, who has a net worth of $36million, wore a $330 Zimmerman swimsuit to go swimming during the outing

Step by step: The skincare mogul made her way down the steps into the water

All smiles: Zoe couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she prepared to jump into the water

Friends in high places! Zoe was joined by radio host Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli for the fun day in the sun

Floating: The brunette also floated in the water on a foam mat

Wippa also enjoyed the water, taking off his shirt and jumping into the harbour.

Lisa and Wippa had their children with them, who made the most of the ocean too.

The mother-of-three looked sensational in a skimpy bikini that showed off her toned physique.

Bursting with joy! Zoe couldn't contain her glee as she soaked up the sun

Jumping jazz hands! Zoe was clearly excited as she stood up on the mat before jumping off

She's fit: The 40-year-old showed off her toned physique in the Zimmerman swimsuit

Strutting her stuff! Zoe strutted across the floating foam mat

Dive in! She did the perfect dive into the watery blue harbour water

Helping hand: Wippa assisted Zoe, who appeared to almost lose her balance at one point

Good times! The cosmetics entrepreneur was having the time of her life with her closest pals

Meanwhile, Zoe and husband Hamish Blake recently found a perfect new family home in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The pair dropped $8.925 million on a property in the upmarket suburb of Vaucluse.

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom estate measures 885sqm and features two sets of garages.

Staring out to sea: Wippa, who went shirtless for a swim, gazed out at the ocean

Chit chat! Zoe and Wippa seemed to enjoy a conversation before Wippa jumped in for another swim

Superstar! Zoe looked like she was ready to explode into a star jump on the raft

The four-level home does not have ocean or harbour views, but, as it was designed by Neil Architecture, it appeared on Grand Designs Australia in 2013.

According to Emerald City, Zoe and her comedian husband, 39, inspected 'a number of properties' across the eastern suburbs before finally settling on the home in Vaucluse.

The address in the affluent suburb is just a short drive from Zoe's Go-To beauty company's head office in Surry Hills.

Stylish: Zoe had a stylish kaftan on, which she wore over the top of her swimsuit

High kick! Zoe playfully kicked some water towards Wippa, who was playing with one of the kids

Mad hatter! Zoe protected her face from the sun with a large hat and sunglasses

Hold on tight! She clung on tightly to the cord to ensure that the platform wouldn't drift too far from the boat

Hamish announced last year that he and his wife, as well as their children, Sonny, six, and Rudy, three, would move to Sydney from Melbourne.

'Exciting times ahead: we are moving to Sydney baby! For a long time I have known that stealing my wife from Sydney would mean one day we'd venture there to live for a while.

'The loose plan is for a few years, but however long it's for, we're excited for this adventure with our little family,' he wrote.

Great fun for everyone! Zoe stunned in her designer swimsuit as she played with her children

Bikini babe: Wippa's wife Lisa showed off her toned bikini body in a teal coloured two-piece

She's fit! The mother-of-three looked incredible in the suit

Family outing: Lisa flashed Wippa a smile as he played on the foam platform with the kids

All together now! Lisa stepped towards her husband and their kids on the floating raft

The couple officially started moving into the new property in December.

The move comes after Zoe made her debut on Australia's 2020 Young Rich List, being worth an estimated $36million after her skincare company Go-To enjoyed a boom in sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August, Go-To's peach-packaged facial oil named Face Hero was crowned the number one skincare product in Australia.

Conversation: Wippa and Zoe enjoyed a spirited conversation on the deck of the yacht

Thirsty? Zoe held a glass of champagne in hand as she walked across the deck barefoot

The thirst is real! Both Wippa and Zoe threw back their drinks on board the luxury yacht

Fabulous at forty! The skincare queen looked incredible in her $330 swimsuit

Healthy choices: the group appeared to be tucking into a healthy meal

Zoe launched Go-To six years ago and the brand made its US debut at Sephora in 2018.

The brand has since expanded into both men's and children's skincare.

The list ranks the richest Australians under the age of 40 and has been published every year since 2003.

White towel: Wippa flung a white towel over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

I had a few stretch goals up to $25,000 but I had no inclination at the outset that wed get close to $42,000. I think it speaks for itself but what it did for me was a huge validation of our music. If the music really sucked and people didnt really like it, then something like that simply wouldnt be possible.
(Newser)  President Biden has entered the White House for the first time as chief executive after walking an abbreviated parade route amid sounds of "Hail to the Chief." The 46th president and first lady Jill Biden walked through a military cordon lining the White House driveway with the flags of US states, leading the first couple to the main entrance under the North Portico on Wednesday, the AP reports. Biden was expected to immediately begin working, with a stack of executive orders on immigration and other matters awaiting his signature.

story continues below

The final ceremonial flourish completed an abbreviated inaugural afternoon unlike any Washington has seen, with Biden being seen in person by only a relative smattering of Americans given security lockdowns after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and public health protocols amid the ongoing pandemic. Donald Trump, meanwhile, was in Mar-a-Lago, where he arrived minutes before the end of his presidency, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. After Trump, the first president to skip his successor's inauguration since Andrew Johnson snubbed Ulysses Grant in 1869, landed in Palm Beach after his final trip on Air Force One, supporters and a handful of protesters lined the route of his final presidential motorcade.

(Read more Inauguration Day stories.)
This collection of limestone stacks in proximity to one another by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria is a popular tourist attraction known as The Twelve Apostles. There were never more than nine of these apostles and that ninth one collapsed in 2005. (Fred J. Eckert)

More Victorian Tourism Vouchers Released Today

Victoria has released tens of thousands of extra regional tourism vouchers to encourage people to holiday at home and boost the economy.

Registration for the latest batch of 40,000 vouchers, allowing Victorian travellers to recoup $200 in holiday costs, opened on January 20.

The initial launch of the program in December crashed the website.

The government says 70,000 vouchers have already been allocated, with the most popular destinations the Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast, Bass Coast, East Gippsland and the High County.

The latest round of vouchers will be redeemable between January 27 and April 1.

Travellers must spend at least $400 on accommodation, experiences or tours during that period.

They can only redeem the voucher afterwards.

Another 40,000 vouchers are expected to be released on March 30, the government says.

By Georgie Moore in Melbourne
The manager, who would not provide his name, said Topaz was seating all its customers in a tent outside the restaurant until two weeks ago when the weather became too cold. To comply with the state guidelines and to ensure adequate ventilation, the tent was not fully enclosed, which meant even with a heater, it was too cold, he said.
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Report Description

A recent market intelligence report that is published by Data Insights Partner on the global industrial hemp market makes an offering of in-depth analysis of segments and sub-segments in the regional and international market. The research also emphasizes on the impact of restraints, drivers, and macro indicators on the regional and global industrial hemp market over the short as well as long period of time. A detailed presentation of forecast, trends, and dollar values of the global market is offered. In accordance with the report, the industrial hemp market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 32.17% over the period of forecast.

Market Insight, Drivers, Restraints & Opportunity of the Market:

Cannabis sativa, also called industrial hemp, has often been known for its psychedelic properties. The plant has been gaining popularity in the pharmaceutical, food, textile and personal care industries as researchers discover more and more about its amazing therapeutic and other multipurpose uses. Industrial hemp is a multipurpose crop which has no to little side effects.

Request for Report Sample: https://datainsightspartner.com/request-for-sample?ref=709

To clear the confusion, industrial hemp and marijuana are not the same. In industrial hemp, the portion of the psychoactive element tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC) is much lower (1%) compared to marijuana (5-20%), and the industrial hemp plant has much higher fibre content. Many parts of the hemp plant can be used for industrial purposes. The fibre, which can grow up to a couple metres metres long, is used to make ropes, paper, stock fodder, animal bedding, hempcrete, artificial sponges, and canvas. Hemp fibre is also used to make bioplastic which is biodegradable and durable, depending on its formulation. The edible seeds can be used to extract oils, milk and powder for health purposes, as they are a rich source of magnesium, vitamins B1, B2, B6 and E, protein and fibre. The plant is quite low-maintenance, as it doesnt require much water or fertilizers to grow, and grows fast. On the other hand, very few plant sources can provide as much protein content as hemp seeds. As these studies come forth, the legalization of hemp can be a great driver for the industrial hemp market.

In many places globally, there are yet quite strict guidelines regarding the legalization of hemp cultivation, mostly due to the lack of knowledge and enough research about the subject. These stringent measures can prove to be quite tiresome for some manufacturers to comply to. The usages of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabidiol (THC) in treating various illnesses have not been explored enough. Trading is complicated as regulations vary from state to state, and this is a setback indeed.

However, it is hopeful that the cultivation of hemp is gaining legalization in many places across the world, given for the right reasons. Studies regarding the nature and use of hemp are still going on which further prove its potential as the fuel of the future. Such biofuels are the upcoming thing as petrol and diesel continue to face price hikes, and people seek alternative fuels to stop global warming. Thus, the application of hemp as a biofuel would save much time and prove to be sustainable in the long run.

Segment Covered:

This market intelligence report on the global industrial hemp market is segmented based on type, source, application, and country/regions.

In terms of type, the global industrial hemp market is segregated into

Hemp seed

Hemp seed oil

CBD hemp oil

Hemp fibre

By source, the global industrial hemp market is also classified into,

Organic

Conventional

By application, the global industrial hemp market is also classified into,

Food

Beverages

Personal care products

Pharmaceuticals

Textiles

Others

By country/region, the global industrial hemp market has been divided into

North America (the U.S., Canada),

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and other countries),

Europe (Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Russia, and other countries),

Asia Pacific (India, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand and other countries),

Middle East and Africa (GCC, South Africa, Israel and Other countries).

Get Request for Table of Contents: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/industrial-hemp-market/709#tableOfContent

Profiling of Market Players:

This business intelligence report offers profiling of reputed companies that are operating in the market. Companies such as

Hempco

Hemp Inc

Hemp Poland

BAFA

MH Medical Hemp

Colorado Hemp Works

Canah International

South Hemp Tecno

Hemp Oil Canada

HempFlax BV

Other players have been profiled into detail so as to offer a glimpse of the market leaders. Moreover, parameters such as industrial hemp market related investment & spending and developments by major players of the market are tracked in this global report.

Report Highlights:

In-depth analysis of the micro and macro indicators, market trends, and forecasts of demand is offered by this business intelligence report. Furthermore, the report offers a vivid picture of the factors that are steering and restraining the growth of this market across all geographical segments. In addition to that, Growth Matrix analysis is also provided in the report so as to share insight of the investment areas that new or existing market players can take into consideration. Various analytical tools such as DRO analysis, Porter's five forces analysis has been used in this report to present a clear picture of the market. The study focuses on the present market trends and provides market forecast from the year 2020-2028. Emerging trends that would shape the market demand in the years to come have been highlighted in this report. A competitive analysis in each of the geographical segments gives an insight into market share of the global players.

Salient Features:

 This study offers comprehensive yet detailed analysis of industrial hemp market, size of the market (US$ Mn), and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR (%)) for the period of forecast: 2020  2028, taking into account 2019 as the base year

 It explains upcoming revenue opportunities across various market segments and attractive matrix of investment proposition for the said market

 This market intelligence report also offers pivotal insights about various market opportunities, restraints, drivers, launch of new products, competitive market strategies of leading market players, emerging market trends, and regional outlook

 Profiling of key market players in the market of industrial hemp is done by taking into account various parameters such as company strategies, distribution strategies, product portfolio, financial performance, key developments, geographical presence, and company overview

 Leading market players covered this report comprise names such as HempFlax BV, South Hemp Tecno, Hemp Oil Canada, BAFA, Hemp Poland and many more.

 The data of this report would allow management authorities and marketers of companies alike to take informed decision when it comes to launch of products, government initiatives, marketing tactics and expansion, and technical up gradation

 The world market for industrial hemp caters to the needs of various stakeholders pertaining to this industry, namely suppliers, manufacturers, investors, and distributors for the market. The research also caters to the rising needs of consulting and research firms, financial analysts, and new market entrants

 Research methodologies that have been adopted for the purpose of this study have been clearly elaborated so as to facilitate better understanding of the reports

 Reports have been made based on the guidelines as mandated by General Data Protection Regulation

 Ample number of examples and case studies has been taken into consideration before coming to a conclusion.

Reasons to buy:

v Identify opportunities and plan strategies by having a strong understanding of the investment opportunities in the industrial hemp market

v Identification of key factors driving investment opportunities in the industrial hemp market

v Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data

v Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential

v Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events

v Identify key partners and business development avenues

v Respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects

v Identify key strengths and weaknesses of important market participants

Full View of Report Description: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/industrial-hemp-market/709
Starting this spring - when the first deliveries are scheduled across Europe and the UK  Mercedes-Benz's most affordable entry into the fully electric EQ family will be the all-new EQA. If it looks familiar to you, its because the new CUV shares a lot of traits with the second-generation GLA. Naturally, the main difference comes in the form of a 140-kW (188 hp/190 PS) zero-emissions powertrain that should enable a range of up to 486 km (301 miles).
Hoaxes, doctored videos and far-fetched rumours are emerging as some of the biggest threats to India's massive coronavirus vaccine drive, with misinformation blamed for sluggish initial take-ups.

There has long been deep distrust of government health programmes throughout the vast nation of 1.3 billion people, particularly among minority communities, making a strong foundation for the proliferation of vaccine "fake news".

Also Read | Why server stacks are the new realty play

Indian authorities are aiming to inoculate 300 million people by July. But medics in New Delhi and elsewhere say signs following the weekend launch of the campaign have not been good.

"People are very scared. We can't force anyone to take the vaccine, it is voluntary," a doctor at a community health centre in neighbouring Haryana state, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP.

On the first day of the rollout in the capital, only 53% of people registered for the vaccine came forward, according to the city's Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

National Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, a doctor, has repeatedly called for state and local authorities to refute "rumours and disinformation campaigns".

To coincide with Saturday's launch of the vaccination campaign, Vardhan changed his Twitter banner to "vaccines work: stay informed, stay safe".

Prominent Bollywood celebrities, including megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, have also spoken out in support of the vaccine rollout on social media.

Like elsewhere around the world, India has endured a torrent of misinformation for the duration of the pandemic.

AFP's fact check team has debunked a vast number of hoaxes circulating on social media over the past year.

Compounding the situation is the scientific backlash against one of the two vaccines being used in the campaign, indigenously developed "Covaxin", which was approved before Phase III trials were completed.

"I read that someone died after being given the vaccine. Although it may be unrelated, it does instil fear still," 54-year-old banker Sushma Ali told AFP.

The other vaccine is Covishield, a version of AstraZeneca and Oxford University's shot made by India's Serum Institute, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer.

Missteps and mistrust

Further highlighting the importance Indian officials are placing on fighting misinformation, the drugs controller general was forced to dismiss as "absolute rubbish" claims that inoculations could cause infertility -- just hours after announcing that two vaccines were approved for use.

False claims about infertility have long haunted India's immunisation efforts, including for polio and measles-rubella, according to leading virologist Gagandeep Kang from the Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory at the Christian Medical College in Tamil Nadu.

Disastrous government policies in the past also did not help.

In some communities where healthcare systems were already weak, the top-down implementation of polio vaccinations in the early 2000s triggered memories of forced sterilisations during emergency rule between 1975-77.

It sparked fears in some Muslim communities in Uttar Pradesh state that the programme was a form of population control.

Similar fears spread in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in 2016-17 over the measles-rubella vaccine.

India's last wild polio virus infection was in 2011 and the country was declared polio-free in 2014.

Experts said the long path to polio vaccination success took the involvement of local religious and community leaders to build trust.

Muslim communities have also felt the brunt of pandemic misinformation.

One example was the outrage against Islamic movement Tablighi Jamaat after its Delhi gathering was identified as a major virus hotspot last year.

This fuelled misinformation that stoked hostility towards the Muslim community, Observer Research Foundation think-tank's governance and public policy expert, Niranjan Sahoo, told AFP.

AFP's fact check team also debunked hundreds of social media posts that falsely targeted Muslims in regards to the pandemic in India, such as fake and dubious videos showing Muslims licking fruit for sale and violating lockdown rules.

The inflammatory rhetoric online had real-world consequences, with cases of violence and anger against Muslims.

One hospital said Muslims would not be admitted without a negative Covid-19 certificate.

The spread of misinformation in turn saw health workers attacked when they visited a Muslim neighbourhood in the central city of Indore, amid "social media claims that they were going to be injected with the coronavirus", Sahoo said.

"We have a history of polarisation through misinformation and this is going to play out during this vaccination process," Sahoo said.

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Kawerau house prices are booming and the towns mayor is not surprised.

Figures released by realestate.co.nz show the average asking price in Kawerau has more than doubled in the past decade  the biggest increase of all districts nationwide.

In 2011, the average asking price for a home in Kawerau was $151,000. By the end of 2020, this figure had increased 132 percent to $351,413.

Mayor Malcolm Campbell says he's not surprised at the news as there were now many new faces in the small town that he didnt recognise.

Im starting to be a stranger in my own town because theres all these new people coming in.

But prices had to go up, didnt they, because we have been well behind for some years. Its all good news.

Campbell says prices in Kawerau have been ridiculously low for many years and these prices are starting to reflect the true value of homes in the district.

He says this began in the 1970s when many people were laid off from the local mill, the largest employer in town, and began to leave Kawerau for jobs elsewhere.

A two-bedroom house was going for $4000; a three-bedroom was $6000 and brand-new homes around River Road were going for $15,000  brand spanking new homes."

I built in the 70s here and that cost me $25,000.

Campbell says it's at this point investors came in and made 47 per cent of the homes into rentals.

Now, first home buyers and retirees are starting to see the value in Kawerau where quality homes on decent sections can still be purchased for a good price.

Many retirees are motorhome enthusiasts and see the town as a home base from which to travel the country.

Campbell says one of the issues now facing the town is that it would find it hard to keep up with its own growth.

Several groups in the community have received multi-million-dollar grants from the Provincial Growth Fund for industry, training, and infrastructure. With this comes an increased demand for housing for people seeking job opportunities.

Campbell says the Kawerau District Council had to be creative when meeting this challenge as it was a small district, the smallest in New Zealand, and landlocked by iwi-owned land.

The council has been making land available for residential subdivision, including a council-owned retirement village.

It is also looking at removing the reserve status from Stoneham Park to make it available for residential development  something Campbell is pushing to happen.

Thats the only land we have now thats available to do something with, he said.

We are working with Whakatane at this time about creating a housing development in the Whakatane district close to Whakatane for workers to come and work here. Thats a big deal. I think some huge progress will happen in the next 12 months.

Realtors in Kawerau have been kept busy as first home buyers and retirees look to move to the town. TROY BAKER / WHAKATANE BEACON.

Harcourts real estate agent Lewis Ramsay has been selling houses in Kawerau for the last 20 years and says the town is proving popular with retirees and first-home buyers.

Kawerau has been undervalued to start with and then suddenly a lot of retirees heard about it, cashed up, and moved in.

Ive seen it, in the last five years there has been huge increases.

Ramsay says consequently, rentals are now scarce in the town and people who have bought homes are working on improving them.

He says the work the council has been doing to tidy up the town has also drawn more people along with new buildings, such as Tarawera High School and the medical centre.

Despite the rise in prices, Kawerau is still the cheapest place to buy in the Bay of Plenty.

Western Bay of Plenty tops the table for highest prices with an average asking price of $992,948.

Tauranga is second with an average price of $893,258.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20) President Rodrigo Duterte was not consulted by the Defense Department prior to the agencys move to terminate its 1989 accord with the University of the Philippines, Malacanang said on Wednesday.

As far I know, he [Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana] did not, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told The Source when asked if the Defense chief had consulted Duterte regarding the decision on the pact, which bars the unauthorized entry of security forces into UP campuses.

It was a decision of the DND as a party to that contract between UP and DND, he added.

The pact between DND and UP prohibits police and military personnel from entering campuses of the premier state university without prior notice, unless there is "hot pursuit" or an emergency. But through a January 15 letter addressed to UP officials, DND moved to unilaterally terminate the agreement, citing the supposed "clandestine recruitment" of students in communist organizations.

Several officials, lawmakers, netizens, and members of the UP community slammed the move, seeing it as an attempt to silence critics and attack academic freedom.

Lorenzana, however, earlier stressed the need to protect the rights of the majority of Filipinos, claiming that the university has become a safe haven for enemies of the state. Roque also dismissed concerns on the academic rights and freedom, saying that UP students would never be cowed even by the presence of policemen and the military.
Cabinet approves investment proposal of Rs. 5281.94 crore for Ratle Hydro Power Project

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 20: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the investment of Rs.5281.94 crore for 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric (HE) Project located on river Chenab, in Kishtwar district of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, by a new Joint Venture Company (JVC) to be incorporated between National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) with equity contribution of 51% and 49% respectively.

Salient Features

Government of India is also supporting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by providing grant of Rs. 776.44 crore for Equity contribution of JKSPDC in the JVC to be set up for construction of Ratle HE Project (850 MW). NHPC shall invest its equity Rs.808.14 crore from its internal resources. The Ratle Hydro Electric Project shall be commissioned within a span of 60 months. The Power generated from the Project will help in providing balancing of Grid and will improve the power supply position.

Union Cabinet approves MoU between India, Uzbekistan for cooperation in field of Solar Energy

Implementation Strategy

Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, to make the Project viable, will extend exemption from levy of Water Usage Charges for 10 years after commissioning of the project, reimbursement of State's share of GST (i.e. SGST) and waiver of free power to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in a decremental manner, i.e., the free power to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir would be 1% in the 1st year after commissioning of the Project and rising @1% per year to 12% in the 12th year.

Objectives

The construction activities of the Project will result in direct and indirect employment to around 4000 persons and will contribute in overall socio-economic development of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Further, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be benefitted by getting free power worth Rs. 5289 crore and through levy of Water Usage Charges worth Rs.9581 crore from Ratle Hydro Electric Project, during project life cycle of 40 years.
In total 7.86 lakh healthcare workers have received COVID-19 vaccine jabs till the evening of the fifth day of the nationwide immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday. It also said that on Wednesday, 1,12,007 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm across 20 states and Union Territories, while adding the final report would be completed by late in the night.

"The cumulative number of healthcare workers vaccinated against COVID-19 has touched 7,868,42 (till 6 pm Wednesday) through 14,119 sessions, as per the provisional report," the ministry said. As many as 2,353 vaccination sessions were held on Wednesday till 6 pm.

The total number of beneficiaries who have been vaccinated till 6 pm on Wednesday include 22,548 in Andhra Pradesh, 38 in Bihar, 262 in Kerala, 36,211 in Karnataka, 16,261 in Maharashtra, 6,731 in Madhya Pradesh, 6,834 in Tamil Nadu and 2,296 in West Bengal, according to the provisional report. On the fifth day of the vaccination drive, 82 adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) have been reported till 6 pm, the health ministry said.

Ten cases of AEFI -- four in Delhi, two in Karnataka, and one each in Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and West Bengal -- have required hospitalisation so far, additional secretary in the Union Health Ministry Manohar Agnani said. Out of the four hospitalised AEFI cases in Delhi, three have been discharged and one is under observation at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. In Uttarakhand, one AEFI case has been discharged, he said. In Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, one case each of AEFI has been discharged. Of the two hospitalised AEFI case in Karnataka, one has been discharged and the other is under observation at Chitradurga district hospital. One in West Bengal is under observation at Sub-Divisional Hospital at Jangipura in Murshidabad district.

On the four deaths reported, one each from Uttar Pradesh and Telangana and two from Karnataka, the official said in case of the death from Moradabad in UP, post mortem confirmed cardio-pulmonary disease and is not related to vaccination. About the death reported from Bellary in Karnataka, post mortem suggested myocardial infarction and it is not related to vaccination. The other death reported in Shivamoga is also a suspected case of myocardial infarction not related to immunisation, Agnani said.

In case of another death reported from Nirmal in Telangana, post mortem is going on, he said, adding, "There has been no case of serious/severe adverse event attributable to COVID-19 vaccination till date." About the enhancements done in the CO-WIN software, the additional secretary said a new feature 'allot beneficiary' in 'ongoing session' has been added to allow maximum possible number of beneficiaries in each session and better coverage. But only pre-registered beneficiary in the database can be added to the session as additional beneficiary over and above the scheduled number of beneficiaries. Also, a person's name can be searched in the database by mobile number.

"We have also said that provisional certificate should be given after first dose and final certificate after second dose," he said. Agnani further said that district magistrates and district immunisation officers have been advised to hold daily review meetings with the session site and cold chain point for taking feedback about overall day's progress, session planning and scheduling for forthcoming days and week among others.
The ICU doctor said she believes that as a whole people are complying with restrictions. Stock image

The country cannot go back to celebrations as we had at Christmas until everyone is vaccinated, said a top ICU doctor.

Dr Catherine Motherway, former president of the Intensive Care Society and current head of ICU at the Mid Western University Regional hospital in Limerick, said the opening of society has to be really really careful.

Speaking on RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland, she said: We cant go back to things like Christmas until every one of us is safe and vaccinated across the world, as well as in this country.

I think there has been a real realisation now that the opening up of society has to be really really careful and we have seen first hand what this can do to our healthcare service.

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The ICU doctor said she believes that as a whole people are complying with restrictions, and that as a community we have discovered that we can no longer socialsie in a discretionary manner while we are not an immune population.

However, she added that as a nation we will be social distancing for quite some time, and the length for how long this will be in place needs to be spoken about in months and not weeks.

"I think we as a community now need to realise that there's going to be a significant restriction on the way we used to live, we all have to continue to social distance for quite some time, for months not weeks, she said.

"We need to stop talking about weeks and start talking about months and if we can roll out our vaccination programme we can hopefully get back to something like what we used to consider normal in this country.

Dr Motherway explained that this surge is different from what we saw in March as significant pressure has been put on the health system.

In March we prepared, we shut and we did it really well, she said.

"This time around we have a lot more staff who are sick and out, its a lot more stretched of a system and as you can see the numbers are much higher this wave than previously because of the amount of viral transmission that occurred over winter because we were indoors and we had the social events at Christmas and indeed the new variant that has emerged.

The ICU doctor added that its an absolute tragedy that her hospital and many others have had to stop providing elective care due to the surge.

She said: We have had to stop providing elective care across the healthcare system which is in my mind an absolutely huge tragedy for an awful lot of people that have been waiting for surgery for quite long times and now they have to wait longer because of the pressure on our healthcare service, so we really need everybody to obey the public health guidance.


Congress The opposition Congress on Tuesday announced a five-party 'Mahagathbandhan' to take on the ruling BJP-led coalition in Assam in the upcoming Assembly elections expected to be held in April-May. Announcing the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), Assam Congress President Ripun Bora said that his party would contest the elections in alliance with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the three Left parties  Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) - and the Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM). He said that regional parties are welcome to join the Mahagathbandhan to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party from power in the state. "The Congress is always keen to oust all communal forces for the best interest of the country. People are ready to vote out the BJP as its misgovernance caused a lot of distress to the people, who have become fed up with the BJP," he said. AIUDF General Secretary Aminul Islam said the Mahagathbandhan is good for Assam as it would fulfil the expectations of the people of the state and throw the BJP out of power. AGM President Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, also a Rajya Sabha member, termed the formation of the grand alliance as a historic moment. He sounded optimistic that the grand alliance would defeat the BJP in the forthcoming elections. Besides the AIUDF, a Muslim-dominated party in Assam, and the Left parties, state Congress leaders had held several meetings in the past few months with the like minded parties'. AIUDF President and Lok Sabha member Maulana Badruddin Ajmal has been stating that the two parties ( Congress and AIUDF) have decided to contest the Assembly polls together since their tie-up for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls held last month. Recently, interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi had appointed three central leaders -- Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh Chief Minister), Mukul Wasnik (AICC General Secretary) and Shakeel Ahmed Khan (Bihar MLA) -- to oversee the election campaign in Assam in close coordination with the AICC general secretaries and the party in-charge for the state. Baghel and other central leaders held meetings with the state party leaders in Guwahati before Assam Congress chief announced the Mahagathbandhan. The Congress had suffered a setback in the recent elections to the BTC and the Tiwa Autonomous Council. Two of its MLAs - Ajanta Neog and Rajdeep Goala - had joined the BJP last month, delivering another blow to the party. In the 2016 Assam assembly elections, the Congress had contested on its own without an electoral alliance with any party, securing 24 seats. After the last Assembly polls, the BJP formed the government in Assam for the first time after winning 60 seats following the formation of an alliance with the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which won 14 and 12 seats, respectively. The ruling alliance also has the support of an Independent MLA. The 126-member Assam Assembly is likely to go to the polls in April-May along with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.




Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-19 23:14:18|Editor: huaxia

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China is further committed to international space exploration, and it's future space missions will be more open, and cooperation among countries will be further encouraged.
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After a desultory first two rounds, Santa Fe MMA flyweight Jerome Rivera mounted a strong finish against Brazils Francisco Figueiredo.

Unfortunately for Rivera, one out of three wasnt good enough.

In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Figueiredo defeated Rivera by unanimous decision Wednesday on a UFC Fight Night card.

Rivera drops to 10-4. Figueiredo, the brother of UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, is 12-3-1.

Figueiredo dominated the first two rounds, easily getting inside Riveras longer reach and three times taking down the New Mexico southpaw.

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................................................................

In the third round, exhorted by veteran Albuquerque cornerman Chris Luttrell, Rivera landed solid shots to the head and the body and had Figueiredo on the defensive for most of the five minutes. But Riveras rally was too little, too late.

All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Figueiredo, who was making his UFC debut.

Each judge scored rounds one and two for Figueiredo, the third for Rivera.
Day care shortage creates barriers for working parents

With a labor shortage plaguing the state, working parents are ready to fill these positions. The lack of childcare options creates barriers.
Scheidler was born in 1927 in Hartford City, Indiana, and served in the U.S. Navy as a military police officer near the end of World War II. He studied to become a Roman Catholic priest at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana, but ultimately decided that God was not calling him to the priesthood, and went on to teach at Mundelein College, according to the Pro-Life Action League.
SpaceX's growing 'megaconstellation' of Starlink satellites got even bigger this afternoon, with the launch of 60 more satellites.

Elon Musk's space firm launched its seventeenth batch of Starlink satellites on board a Falcon 9 rocket at 08:03 EDT (13:03 GMT) today.

The launch brings the number of Starlink satellites in orbit to around 950.

The Starlink constellation is designed to provide a low-latency, broadband internet system to meet the needs of consumers across the globe.

However, astronomers have raised concerns about the mission, and claim the satellites are so bright that they've affected a number of astronomical observations.

In response, SpaceX has started adding a dark sunshade to some of the Starlink satellites to make them less visible in the night sky.

Elon Musk 's space firm launched its seventeenth batch of Starlink satellites on board a Falcon 9 rocket at 08:03 EDT (13:03 GMT) today

STARLINK CONCERNS Astronomers have raised concerns about the brightness of the Starlink satellites in the night sky. In a recent study, researchers led by Stefano Gallozzi, wrote: 'Depending on their altitude and surface reflectivity, their contribution to the sky brightness is not negligible for professional ground based observations. 'With the huge amount of about 50,000 new artificial satellites for telecommunications planned to be launched in Medium and Low Earth Orbit, the mean density of artificial objects will be of >1 satellite for square sky degree; this will inevitably harm professional astronomical images.' Based on the concerns, SpaceX has started fitting some of its satellites with dark sunshades, dubbed DarkSat. Jeremy Tregloan-Reed, a University of Antofagasta astronomer on the observational team that assessed the prototype, said: 'I would not consider DarkSat as a victory but instead a good step in the right direction.' Advertisement

The launch was initially scheduled to take place on January 18, but was pushed back due to poor weather conditions.

It took place from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, and was streamed live on SpaceX's YouTube channel here.

SpaceX said: 'SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, January 20 for its seventeenth Starlink mission, which will launch 60 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center. The instantaneous window is at 8:02 a.m. EST, or 13:02 UTC.'

Following liftoff, the Falcon 9 rocket released the Starlink satellites into orbit, before landing the first stage on SpaceX's drone ship, 'Just Read the Instructions' in the Atlantic Ocean.

This is SpaceX's 72nd recovery of a first stage booster.

This particular Falcon 9 rocket is known as B1051, and has previously carried a range of payloads into space, including an unscrewed Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station in 2019.

The Starlink programme is designed to bring a reliable and low-cost internet service to remote and rural areas.

SpaceX explained: 'With performance that far surpasses that of traditional satellite internet, and a global network unbounded by ground infrastructure limitations, Starlink will deliver high speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable.'

In total, SpaceX plans to fill its constellation with 1,440 spacecraft.

Following liftoff, the Falcon 9 rocket released the Starlink satellites into orbit, before the first stage landed on SpaceX's drone ship, 'Just Read the Instructions' in the Atlantic Ocean

To date, over 1,000 Starlink satellites have been launched, while 60 have deorbited, taking the current total in the fleet to around 950.

However, astronomers have raised concerns about the brightness of the Starlink satellites in the night sky, which can obscure other objects.

In a recent study, published in arXiv, researchers led by Stefano Gallozzi, wrote: 'Depending on their altitude and surface reflectivity, their contribution to the sky brightness is not negligible for professional ground based observations.

The Starlink programme is designed to bring a reliable and low-cost internet service to remote and rural areas

'With the huge amount of about 50,000 new artificial satellites for telecommunications planned to be launched in Medium and Low Earth Orbit, the mean density of artificial objects will be of >1 satellite for square sky degree; this will inevitably harm professional astronomical images.'

Based on the concerns, SpaceX has started fitting some of its satellites with dark sunshades, dubbed DarkSat.

Jeremy Tregloan-Reed, a University of Antofagasta astronomer on the observational team that assessed the prototype, said: 'I would not consider DarkSat as a victory but instead a good step in the right direction.'

In total, SpaceX plans to fill its constellation with 1,440 satellites to bring internet to remote areas

During today's launch, the Falcon 9 rocket took off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, quickly rising in the sky

SpaceX has also pledged to make future satellites as dark as possible.

It said: 'The next generation satellite, designed to take advantage of Starship's unique launch capabilities, will be specifically designed to minimise brightness while also increasing the number of consumers that it can serve with high-speed internet access.'

Aside from the Starlink launch, SpaceX is also rumoured to be launching its Starship spacecraft this week.

Three static fire tests of Starship's Raptor engines were performed last week, leading eager fans to believe SpaceX could launch Starship this week.

Starship is SpaceX's spacecraft that it hopes could one day carry humans to Mars.

Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, and the private space firm has grown from strength to strength ever since

SpaceX explained: ' SpaceXs Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket (collectively referred to as Starship) represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.

'Starship will be the worlds most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the ability to carry in excess of 100 metric tonnes to Earth orbit.'

Unfortunately, SpaceX is remaining tight-lipped about the launch date and time - watch this space!
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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Monday extended till July 4 the time for embattled Sahara chief Subrata Roy to deposit Rs 709.82 crore, out of Rs 1,500 crore which was to be paid by June 15, with a warning that failure to pay the remainder may again land him in jail.

Extending its interim order granting bail to Roy till July 5, a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Ranjan Gogoi said, If the balance amount is not paid by that date, we will be compelled to send the contemnor (Roy) to the custody and we are sure he shall not give rise to such an occasion.

At the outset, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Roy, said that out of Rs 1,500 crore, which was to be paid by June 15, the Sahara chief has deposited Rs 790.18 crore and ten more working days be granted to him to comply with the undertaking given by him on April 27.

Roy, who was present in courtroom on Monday, had told the court that he will pay Rs 1,500 crore on or before June 15 and Rs 552.22 crore exactly a month thereafter.

As the contemnor has deposited Rs 790.18 crore, we are inclined to extend the time by ten working days so that the undertaking can be complied with. The balance amount ie Rs 709.82 crores shall be deposited with the SEBI Sahara Refund Account by 4th July, 2017, the bench noted its order.

Meanwhile, the court allowed Sahara Chief to sell Grosvenor House Hotel by transferring shares of the company to the buyer firm, GH Equity UK Limited.

The bench, however, rejected the plea of Roy that he be allowed to sell land, admeasuring 87.03 acres, in certain villages of Haridwar in Uttarakhand in Rs 109.75 crore as the amount was 62 per cent of circle rate prevalent in the area.

The said amount is 62 per cent of the circle rate and, thereby, less than 38 per cent of the circle rate. Permission is sought to sell the property at that rate. As advised at present, we are not inclined to grant the said permission, the bench said.

We think that the said property shall be put to public auction by SEBI with the assistance of approved agency. In the bid, SEBI can mention 90 per cent of the circle rate, as some time this court had permitted at that rate, it said.

The auction be conducted by the competent authority of SEBI through approved agency on or before July 5, it said, adding that e-auction can be done.

Meanwhile, the court took on record the draft terms and conditions submitted by the Official Liquidator of the Bombay High Court for effecting sale of the Amby Valley properties of Sahara Group.

Vinod Sharma, the official liquidator, submitted that the terms and conditions have been scrutinized by Justice B N Agarwal, a former apex court judge who has been nominated to supervise the refund process.

A copy of the terms and conditions be handed over to the counsel for the contemnor (Roy)...The prayer for approval of the terms and conditions of sale notice shall be considered on the next date of hearing, it said.

Earlier, Roy had appeared before the court which extended his parole till June 19 with a warning that failure to pay Rs 1,500 crore, as promised, may land him in jail again.

The apex court had taken note of an affidavit and a personal undertaking of Roy that he will pay Rs 1,500 crore on or before June 15 and Rs 552.22 crore exactly a month thereafter on July 15.

Also Read: IRDAI takes over management of Sahara Life Insurance, says insurer was 'acting in a manner' harmful to interest of subscribers

The bench had noted in its order on April 27 that Rs 11,169 crore towards principal was due on the Sahara Chief and around Rs 12,000 crore has already been paid.

Earlier, the court was irked over non-submission of money and had decided to sell off Rs 34,000 crore worth of properties of the Sahara Group at the Aamby Valley.

The apex court had on April 6 warned the Group that if it failed to deposit Rs 5,092.6 crore in SEBI-Sahara refund account by April 17 in pursuance of its order, it will be compelled to auction its property at the Aamby Valley.

The court had on November 28 last year asked Roy to deposit Rs 600 crore more by February 6 in the refund account to remain out of jail and warned that failure to do so would result in his return to prison.

Also Read | Sebi-Sahara case: SC warns Subrata Roy to repay or ready to go to Tihar jail

It had on May 6, 2016 granted a four-week parole to Roy to attend the funeral of his mother. His parole has been extended by the court ever since. Roy was sent to Tihar jail on March 4, 2014.

Besides Roy, two other directorsRavi Shankar Dubey and Ashok Roy Choudharywere arrested for failure of the groups two companiesSahara India Real Estate Corporation (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corp Ltd (SHICL) -- to comply with the courts August 31, 2012 order to return Rs 24,000 crore to their investors. Director Vandana Bhargava was not taken into custody.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Senator Lindsey Graham is calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to 'unequivocally' denounce efforts to convict President Donald Trump after he was impeached for an historic second time.

Graham referred to McConnell as a legislative 'street fighter' in an interview with Fox News' Hannity programme on Tuesday, urging all Republicans to 'stand up and fight back'.

Trump was impeached on Wednesday last week over allegedly inciting his supporters to storm the Capitol a week earlier. Five people died in the mayhem, including a police officer killed by rioters.

'What we need right now is Senator McConnell to unequivocally say the second impeachment of Donald Trump after he leaves office is not only unconstitutional, it is bad for the country, Graham said.

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee also praised McConnell for 'everything that he did' to help Trump during his time as president.

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Senator Lindsey Graham is calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to 'unequivocally' denounce efforts to convict President Donald Trump after he was impeached for an historic second time

'Our country needs to heal,' Graham said. 'A second impeachment of Donald Trump after he leaves office won't heal the country, it will further divide the country.'

Graham alleged that impeaching a president who has left office was unconstitutional.

McConnell rejected requests to bring back the Senate early in order to begin impeachment proceedings, meaning they could not take place while Trump was still in office.

Graham claimed that 90percent of Republicans believe the latest impeachment to be unconstitutional and 'unfair' and that the page should be allowed to turn on Trump's presidency.

'We have a chance here for the future of the country to say that there's an end to all of this. Once the person leaves office, we're not going to pursue them,' Graham said.

McConnell (pictured, centre) rejected requests to bring back the Senate early in order to begin impeachment proceedings, meaning they could not take place while Trump was still in office. Graham claimed impeaching Trump after he has left office is unconstitutional [File photo]

Democrats have argued that impeaching Trump is still important as, if convicted, he cannot hold public office in the future.

The move to impeach Trump was hailed as a bipartisan effort, though only 10 Republicans voted in favor.

Graham said the Republican Party's future was at stake if it did not fight the impeachment.

'As to the Republican Party, if we throw in the towel, or are perceived to having thrown in the towel, and not fighting against this impeachment, the Republican Party, as Rand Paul said, will 'crack up,' Graham said, referring to a comment made by the junior US Senator from Kentucky.

Graham's comments came as Trump prepared to leave office early on Wednesday ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden this afternoon.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
This illustration picture shows social media application logo from Parler displayed on a smartphone with its website in the background in Arlington, Va., on July 2, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Russian Company Confirms Its Providing Services to Parler as Website Issues New Update

A Russian company confirmed that it is providing services to social media website Parler.

It was discovered that Parler retained the services of DDoS-Guard, which offers protection against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, provides hosting services, and more. Jeffrey Wernick, Parlers chief operating officer, told the New York Times that DDoS-Guard supports only a temporary webpage, adding that the firm would attempt to find other companies to operate its entire social media network, which as of Wednesday, isnt back online.

Our preference is to have an American firm, he said. People should not make conclusions that itll be this company. People extrapolate too much and with limited information. They conclude what they want to conclude. I call that spreading misinformation.

DDoS-Guard, meanwhile, confirmed to The Epoch Times on Wednesday morning that it began servicing Parler on the night of Jan. 17, adding that Parler does not use the hosting service provided by DDoS-Guard. Some speculated that Parler was not only using its DDoS protection service but also its hosting platform.

DDoS-Guard responsibly keeps customer data without disclosing it to third parties. Moreover, the provider stores only information required for the service and explicitly provided by the customers, the firm, which is based in Russias Rostov-on-Don, said in the statement.

The firms primary service appears to route Internet traffic and provides websites against cyberattack protection.

Some experts, however, expressed worry that because DDoS-Guard is a Russian company, websites it hosts would be subject to Russian laws and restrictions.

DDoS-Guard asserted, however, that it is respectful to the laws of the countries where the company services and by no means endorses any radical organizations, extremism, terrorism, or illegal activities, adding that it responsibly keeps customer data without disclosing it to third parties. Moreover, the provider stores only information required for the service and explicitly provided by the customers.

Parler co-founder and CEO John Matze in Washington on June 11, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

On Tuesday night, Parler included an update from Fox News host Mark Levin, who was a prominent user of Parler. In recent months, a number of conservatives flocked to the Henderson, Nevada-based, social media company out of fears of censorship.

Those who continue to lie about the president by accusing him of igniting or being part of a violent insurrection, supported his impeachment, and now intend to pursue him in a bogus trial once hes out of office, will be judged harshly by history, Levins update said. And the ideological and political purge now underway, striking at virtually all of the fundamental principles upon which this nation was founded, will be condemned as mob rule run amok. I just hope our republic can withstand this onslaught until sensible people and possible statesmen step forward and stem this tyranny.

The activity came after Amazon Web Services (AWS) suspended Parler for what it said was a failure to moderate extremist content. Parler, in a court filing, alleged that AWS broke antitrust laws and broke its own contractual agreementwhich Amazon denied. Parler later said that based on messages between an AWS representative and CEO John Matze, Amazon appeared only to care about whether former President Donald Trump had signed up to the social media service after he was suspended from using Twitter.

Although Matze, in comments to Fox News, suggested that the website could return by the end of the month, lawyers for the firm had more dire predictions.

A lawyer for Parler, David Groesbeck, this week said in a court filing that Amazons actions didnt just put Parler up a creek without a paddle, it banished it up the Columbia River without a boat and made sure no other boats would be willing to come to the rescue  in sum, Parler is an internet company that cannot get on the internet. And the longer Parler lies dead, the harder it will be to resuscitate.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Parler and Amazon for further comment.






Brazilian soy companies commit to zero deforestation



Brazilian soy traders CJ Selecta, Caramuru, and Imcopa have committed to a zero deforestation policy in their supply chains, putting the pressure on major commodity traders to fast-track their environmental commitments, Reuters reported.

The companies' pledge involves a ban on trading soy that has been grown on all Brazilian deforested land from August 2020 onwards. This is beyond a previous agreement between these companies that only covered the Amazon rainforest.

Patricia Sugui, CJ Selecta's sustainability manager, said the three companies are promoting soy sustainability and their pledge "is an answer to demands of civil society". The three companies mainly supply the salmon industry in Norway.

This sustainability commitment is the first among Brazilian soy suppliers, adding pressure on major commodity traders like Cargill and Bunge which exported 5.6 million tonnes of soymeal in 2020 or 23% of total exports.

Cargill said they applaud the initiative of the three companies. Bunge said they are committed to remove deforestation from their supply chains by 2025, the earliest deadline in the industry.

In December, Abiove, a Brazilian oilseeds crushers' group, said it is unfeasible to set 2020 as a cut-off date to ban deforestation and land conversion for soybean areas in the Cerrado savanna, a major hub for Brazil's soy. Cargill and Bunge are part of Abiove.

Caramuru said it will use satellite and government data to enforce their commitment. They exported 817,000 tonnes of soymeal last year.

The Rainforest Foundation Norway said the move by the three companies means the entire European salmon industry will source soy from Brazilian suppliers with 100% deforestation-free soybean value chains.

- Reuters
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Buffalo Coal Corp. (TSXV: BUF) (JSE: BUC) announces that, further to previous communications around the resignation of Mr. Robert Francis as independent non-executive director and Audit Committee Chairman, the Board of directors of Buffalo Coal ("the Board") is pleased to confirm the appointment of Mr. Rory Taylor as independent non-executive Board member and Audit Committee Chairman, with effect from 22 January 2021.

Mr. Taylor, a Canadian resident, is a chartered accountant (South Africa) and seasoned finance executive with a track record of capable financial leadership in mining companies. Over the past 10 years he has held senior finance positions at Banro Corporation Ltd, Aura Minerals Inc. and Endeavour Mining Corporation.

Craig Wiggill, the Chairman, commented as follows: "We are pleased that Rory has accepted our invitation to join the Buffalo Coal Board. Both our Board and management team look forward to working closely with him and taking benefit from both his experience and skills, which are closely aligned with Buffalo Coal's requirements."

About Buffalo

Buffalo is a coal producer in South Africa. It holds a majority interest in two operating mines through its 100% interest in Buffalo Coal Dundee, a South African company which has a 70% interest in Zinoju. Zinoju holds a 100% interest in the Magdalena bituminous mine and the Aviemore anthracite mine in South Africa. Buffalo Coal has an experienced coal-focused management team.

The Company has its primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") and has a secondary listing on the Alternative Exchange ("AltX"), operated by the JSE Limited.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Craig Wiggill

Chairman of the Board

Email: craig@wiggill.co.uk

Registered office:

Greytown Road, Industrial Area

Dundee

Kwazulu-Natal

3000

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72413
Berlin, Jan 20 : Thirty-two per cent of Europeans no longer believed that Americans can be trusted after electing Donald Trump as President in 2016, according to a pan-European survey of over 15,000 people in 11 countries.

In Germany, 53 per cent of respondents said that they strongly agreed that Americans can no longer be trusted after the 2016 election, the think tank European Council on Foreign Relations found in the survey, teh Xinhau news agency reported.

The poll also found 36 per cent of Swedish respondents did not believe Americans were trustworthy after 2016.

In addition, a total of 61 percent of respondents believed that the US political system was "completely" or "somewhat" broken. Specifically, 81 per cent of British, 71 per cent of German and 66 per cent of French respondents thought so.

Poland and Hungary were the two countries with the most positive views of the US, with 56 per cent of Hungarians and 58 per cent of Poles saying the American political system works well or somewhat well, and only 23 per cent of Poles and 19 per cent of Hungarians did not trust Americans after voting for Donald Trump in 2016.

Most Europeans rejoiced at Joe Biden's victory in the November US Presidential election, but they did not think he could help America make a comeback as a pre-eminent global leader.

Respondents evaluated the European Union and/or their own countries' systems much more positively than that of the US and looked to Berlin rather than Washington as the most important partner.
The New Jersey naval contractor who was charged with participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month told federal agents after his arrest that he stormed the government building in order to stop the votes of the election and expected President Donald Trump to accompany the crowd.

In his first appearance in court via videoconference in Trenton federal court, assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek said Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, 30, of Colts Neck, told agents that he entered the Capitol as part of the crowd to halt the election results being certified. He told them he thought there was a strong chance the president would accompany the crowd, Malek said.

Malek said Hale-Cusanelli is seen on video inside the Capitol saying a revolution was coming.

Hale-Cusanelli, who is enlisted in the United States Army Reserves, and also works as a contractor at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck where he maintains a secret security clearance, was charged with unlawfully entering restricted grounds, obstructing a law enforcement officer, violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, demonstrating in a Capitol building and obstructing government business.

Hale-Cusanelli has been barred from the Naval base, and the Army Reserves is reviewing his status with the force, Malek said.

Hale-Cusanelli came onto law enforcements radar after he allegedly told a confidential informant that he drove to Washington, D.C. and entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, while also showing the informant video of him making harassing and derogatory statements toward Capitol Police officers both inside and outside the Capitol building, according to the criminal complaint.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni granted Hale-Cusanelli bail, but ordered him to be held at Monmouth County jail until Friday, keeping him detained during Wednesdays inauguration.

Thereafter, he will be released on a $150,000 unsecured bond, but will not be able to travel outside of New Jersey and will have his computer and phone monitored by pre-trial services.

The government sought to keep Hale-Cusanelli jailed pending the outcome of the case.

Malek said he would be a danger to the community, citing that Hale-Cusanelli described storming the U.S. Capitol as exhilarating and a feeling that could only be recreated through a civil war.

He has this extreme ideology of which he has already acted on once, the prosecutor said. We fear that circumstances may be ripe for him to do so again.

The informant told a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent that Hale-Cusanelli is an avowed white supremacist and Nazi sympathizer who posts video opinion statements on YouTube proffering extreme political opinions, according to the complaint.

In the days leading up to the riot, Hale-Cusanelli wrote on an online forum: Trust the plan, its the final countdown, stay tuned next episode, according to the complaint.

When he was arrested Sunday, authorities recovered white supremacist reading material, like Mein Kampf and The Turner Diaries, a 1978 race war novel that the FBI once deemed the bible of the racist right., according to the complaint.

Hale-Cusanelli is just one of dozens of defendants who have been charged following the riot at the U.S. Capitol of those who were objecting to the November election results.

In a recorded conversation more than a week after the riot with the confidential informant, Hale-Cusanelli allegedly admitted to entering the Capitol and encouraging other members of the mob to advance, according to the complaint. He told the informant that the rioters could have taken over the entire building if they had more men, the complaint alleges.

Inside the building, Hale-Cusanelli allegedly told the informant that he stole a flag and flag pole that another rioter ended up throwing like a javelin at a Capitol police officer, authorities said. He said he intended to destroy or get rid of the flag and flagpole as soon as he could, according to the complaint.

In arguing for bail, attorney Andrea Bergman said her client was not charged with a violent crime and said Hale-Cusanelli is someone who is very willing to abide by the release conditions.

The case will now be transferred to the U.S. Attorneys Office of the District of Columbia where the charges were filed.

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That describes Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, who in a podcast yesterday speculated that Vladimir Putin was behind the intrusion in the Capitol two weeks ago:

Pelosi appeared on a special episode of Clintons podcast, You and Me Both, on Monday to discuss the Capitol riot and the incoming Biden administration. During the roughly 30-minute conversation, Clinton and Pelosi floated a conspiracy theory that Putin was the mastermind behind the riot and that Trump is a Russian puppet. Clinton began: I hope historically we will find out who [Trump is] beholden to, who pulls his strings. I would love to see his phone records to see whether he was talking to Putin the day that the insurgents invaded our Capitol. But we now know that not just him, but his enablers, his accomplices, his cult members, have the same disregard for democracy.

Hillary is deep into mental health territory here. Needless to say, there is zero evidence that Putin or any other foreign leader had anything to do with the breakdown in security at the Capitol. Hillary has skulked through the last four years, muttering conspiracy theories about President Trump and refusing to accept the legitimacy of his election. It is particularly rich that she is still trying to play the Russian card, given that it was she herself who bought and paid for the fake Russian dossier, and she knows full well that it was a fraud. Her fraud.

This, too, from the woman who presented the Putin regime with a reset button early in the Obama administration. Nancy Pelosi was on board with Clintons bizarre theory:

I do, Pelosi responded. To your point of who is he beholden to, as Ive said over and over, as I said to him in that picture with my blue suit as I was leaving, what I was saying to him as I was pointing, rudely, at him: With you, Mr. President, all roads lead to Putin. I dont know what Putin has on him politically, financially, or personally, but what happened last week was a gift to Putin, because Putin wants to undermine democracy in our country and throughout the world.

Actually, I would say that the events of July 6 were a gift to the Democratic Party, but I still wouldnt assert that they were orchestrated by Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi went on to suggest that members of Congress gave tours to rioters ahead of time, to acquaint them with the Capitols layout, and that such members should be criminally prosecuted. This is just one more in a long series of incidents demonstrating that the leaders of the Democratic Party are living in cuckoo land.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan and Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Suren Papikyan will visit Syunik province to get acquainted with the problems which emerged after the recent war.

Next week I, Mr. Papikyan and several deputy ministers will visit Syunik because there are issues connected with pastures, economic activity. Syunik will be under the special focus, Avinyan said during a Q&A session in the Parliament.

He added that the government will adopt a new anti-crisis economic package probably next week, which will suppose new tools for restoring the post-war and the post-COVID-19 economy.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
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With a change of mind and a click of two buttons, I deactivated my Twitter account. At first I thought it braver and more helpful to stay, advocate, perhaps irritate. Aggrieved, I pondered how far I could push the envelope until being kicked off. But, Twitters heavy-handed censorship, along with Europes pushback, (yet none from the Democrats), and Twitters declining stock price convinced me deep-sixing the bird was wiser advocacy.



With the spare time, I started a tab on the amazing things our brilliant president didnt do:

He didnt start a war

He didnt denigrate our military

He didnt censor his opponents

He didnt hide from the press despite receiving over 90%negative coverage from them

He didnt play identity politics

He didnt play a zero-sum economic game

He didnt make minority groups more dependent on government handouts

He didnt treat minority groups as inferior

He didnt give taxpayer dollars to terrorists or terrorist countries

He didnt depend on foreign oil

He didnt stay in international treaties that hurt the American worker or taxpayer

He didnt keep mindless regulations

He didnt hurt the economy

He didnt break his promises to Israel - campaign promises broken by many of his predecessors

He didnt hurt the stock market

He didnt abandon Republican candidates or elected officials

He didnt facilitate illegal immigration

He didnt kick police to the curb because of a few bad apples.

He didnt betray the American people

Do I miss Twitter? Not a chirp. I mean, tweet.



Lynne Lechter is a Philadelphia attorney who can be found on LinkedIn, Facebook, Parler, Clouthub and MeWe

Image credit: logo, fair use, with positional editing
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Pizza restaurants across the state are joining forces to support the Ohio Restaurant Association Education Foundation through Pizza with a Purpose.

The statewide fundraiser aims to benefit the Ohio Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. It will be open Monday, Jan. 25, through Sunday, Jan. 31.

Participating operators are planning to donate $1 per pepperoni pizza sold to the fund, which provides grants to restaurant, foodservice and hospitality workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. More than 100 locations are slated to participate.

Organizers said the number of pizzas sold will be tracked, and the location that sells the most will receive the Golden Pizza slice trophy.

Among participating Northeast Ohio restaurants:

 Angelinas Pizza, Olmsted Falls

 Danny Boys, Broadview Heights

 Master Pizza, Cleveland

 Romeos Pizza, Medina

 Sauced Wood Fired Pizza, Fairview Park

We are so thankful for all of the pizza operators participating to help raise funds for those in need, John Barker, president and chief executive officer of the Ohio Restaurant Association, said in a news release. The need is severe. During the pandemic, weve conducted polls about the health of restaurants across the state to assess the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on the industry. Recent poll numbers reveal that at current capacity, 74% of Ohio restaurant operators believe they will be forced to close within one year and 82% of respondents did not break even in 2020.

Ohios 585,000 restaurant and foodservice employees still struggle to find work due to furloughs, the organization said.

Since its launch in April 2020, the Relief Fund has awarded more than 1,300 grants to use for housing, living and medical expenses, and fundraised over $400,000 for employees in need, said Patty Halper, executive director of the ORA Education Foundation, in a release.

I am on cleveland.coms life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, heres a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 a.m. Fridays for Beer with Bona and Much, Much More with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.

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There comes a point in every young mans life when childish trolling threatens to become not just a mode of expression but a way of being. Most avoid that fate. They mature. They get busy. But a few do not. And then theres Stephen Miller, who by all accounts spent his adolescence blasting right past that inflection point, into his current orbit as the provocateur in chief and petty tyrant of the White Houses anti-immigration crusade, so determined to Stick It to Them that his own boss would play good cop against him and other White House officials would look down when he entered the room. Its impressive! And hes exceptional in another way: Here in the twilight of the Trump presidency, when many of us are still puzzling over the career arcs of Bill Barr or Lindsey Graham or Susan Collins, Miller is in a rarified tier of villainy where armchair psychologizing or how did he get heres no longer apply. The damage he has done is all that matters.

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Of the many things that no longer matter to me about Stephen Miller: that he is the only senior adviser to have survivedthrivedall four years of the term while not having sprung from or married into Trumpian gametes. Or that he was a jerk at Santa Monica High School, or that he capitalized on the Duke lacrosse rape allegations. I dont care about his rapid ascent up the Michele Bachmann and Jeff Sessions staff ladder, or that he (and Jared Kushner) provided the rare sight of a fitted suit and skinny tie in the West Wing. I dont care about the pitch of his voice, or his surprisingly wooden delivery at a podium, or that he got married. Theres much about his brutishly short life thus far that I dont care to evaluate. Theres only one thing to know.

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I found out I was going to be a father a month after Donald Trumps inauguration and 15 months before the administration was revealed to have enacted a zero tolerance policy at the border, separating children from their parents as a deterrent. My son is 3 now and it still surprises me that he started his life at the center of my heart and yet still finds ways to move deeper into it. It falls under necessary cliche that there is a reserve of wholly uncivil white rage embedded in our animal DNA, available for activation at the thought of parents and children being taken from each other. As a parent, its a thing that you feel rather than understand. That mothers and fathers would die or kill for their children transforms from a maxim into a life.

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Who Stephen Miller is doesnt matter, in other words. Because while Stephen Miller was in the White House, thousands of children were forcibly marked with the trauma of being caged away from their parents, and hundreds may never see their parents again. And it happened on a scale far below what hed pushed for. Its difficult to write that dispassionately, and without some embarrassment: One would prefer to discuss federal policy without losing ones shit, and yet no other response feels commensurate or honest.

The hardest thing to resist at times like these is the desire for Old Testament justice, an eye for an eye. Im not saying Stephen Miller should suffer. Stephen Millers foulness is an idea that has been given shape and breath by Stephen Miller the person. And the idea needs to be chased down and stamped out. You are free to perform all manner of medieval torture on an idea! The cruelty, the abuse, the hatredall this must be destroyed with a kind of berserk fervor. But hes also a man. And like all men who commit crimes against humanity, he should be imprisoned by the society he wounded, forever prevented from spreading his pestilence and fear. In a just world, this reckoning would happen right on Jan. 21. It wont. But one way or another, he will have to leave that building and its protection, and its a day that cannot come fast enough.

This is part of a series of goodbyes to Trumpworld figures. Read the rest here.
Louisiana Speaker of the House Clay Schexnayder is closing the State Capitol Wednesday in an abundance of caution because of a possible protest.

The Capitol has been effectively closed to tourists and the public for months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visitors, who must have their temperature taken, have been allowed in to attend legislative hearings and to eat in the lunchroom. Nobody has been allowed to tour the chambers, Memorial Hall, or the hallway where Huey Long was assassinated. The observation deck has been locked since March.

But Schexnayders announcement is aimed at having many of the hundreds of staffers work from home.

The State Capitol has been the scene of scores of protests over the years and police say they have no definite intelligence about a possible protest during Joe Biden's inauguration. But law enforcement and officials are edgy after an angry group raided the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 delaying the certification of Biden as president elect and killing five. Some still contend, without evidence, that Biden won the election through fraud.

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+4 Heavy fortified statehouses around the US see small protests Small groups of right-wing protesters  some of them carrying rifles  gathered outside heavily fortified statehouses around the country Sunda

Biden is being inaugurated at 11 a.m. Central Time on Wednesday.

Barricades have been set up and trash cans have been removed as police prepare for Wednesday.

Security already was tight because of expected anti-Biden protests on Saturday and Sunday. But the crowds turned out to be sparse and nonconfrontational.
More than 100 Amazon employees were evacuated when a fire broke out late Tuesday in a warehouse in Middlesex County.

The fire began about 11 p.m. inside the Amazon distribution center at 22 Hightstown-Cranbury Station Road in Cranbury.

Alarms went off and smoke wafted through the building and supervisors began yelling for dozens of workers throughout the building to head outside, according to an employee in the building. There were no reports of injuries.

We can confirm that there was a fire at our fulfillment center in Cranbury, Jenna Hilzenrath, an Amazon spokeswoman, said in an email.

Theres nothing more important than the health and safety of our employees and were grateful that all our employees are safe and accounted for. We thank our local fire department for their quick response, Hilzenrath said.

Video from the scene showed firefighters on the roof of the facility appearing to break out skylights as large plumes of white smoke drifted from the building.

The nearly 1 million-square-foot warehouse is the largest building on the property and serves as one of Amazons New Jerseys fulfillment centers.

Fire crews from surrounding towns remained at the scene until early Wednesday. Fire officials were not immediately available to comment.

Amazon said employees waited at a designated evacuation point before being sent home with pay. The building was expected to open later on Wednesday, officials said.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
This is the hilarious moment a granddaughter reveals her newly-dyed pink hair to her grandmother who proclaims 'I'm gonna die and you're not coming'.

Sara Louise Kay from Bay Village, Cleveland, Ohio recorded herself ahead of revealing her new hair colour to her grandmother also called Sara, known in the family as GG.

According to Ms Kay: 'My grandma has lived with us for a while so that we can take care of her and worry less about her. We prefer it to having her living on her own so that we know shes safe.'

Sara Louise Kay from Bay Village, Cleveland, Ohio recorded herself ahead of revealing her new hair colour to her grandmother also called Sara, known in the family as GG

Ms Kay's 90-year-old grandmother Sarah, who is known as Gorgeous Grandmother, said she was 'going to die' after seeing her granddaughter's new hair style

According to the footage Ms Kay's grandmother asked her why she was wearing the hat before noticing the shocking pink hair underneath her granddaughters hat.

The 90-year-old woman turns her head towards her granddaughter and says: It looks awfully red a the bottom.

When Ms Kay removes her hat, her grandmothers reaction is immediate.

The grandmother responds: Oh you did not. Well. Im going to die and youre not coming. Ive jus decided Im dying.

The old woman lowers her head and sighs: Aw, that is awful. You just want to rebel.

Ms Kays mother defends her daughter suggesting the 20-year-old student is a bit too old to rebel.

When Ms Kay suggests that dyeing her hair is fun, her grandmother responds: Its not fun to me.

'She just turned 90 years old in November so shes got lots of health issues that come with age but we support and take care of her and love having her in the home.'

Ms Kay said the family call the 90-year-old pensioner GG, which stands for Gorgeous Grandmother.

She said: 'Were very close, I make her a cup of tea every afternoon and sit with her. She loves to listen to the songs I write, and when I had to move back to college for the semester she was very upset to see me go, so Im looking forward to seeing her next.

'I decided to film her reaction because she was born in 1930 - a totally different time where women had very different constraints and were held to a different standard.'

Ms Kay admitted she wanted to shock her grandmother with the new colour.

She added: 'The thought of dyeing your hair an unnatural color like hot pink back then was super unheard of.

'I knew shed be upset because thats just not something shes used to, and loves my natural hair which is usually long and brown. Shes very funny and just as dramatic as me so i knew her reaction would be crazy.'

Ms Kay admitted she wanted to share her grandmother's reaction to her social media fans.

She concluded: 'I have a small following on TikTok and I thought some of my friends and followers would enjoy it and it turns out a whole lot of people did too.'

More than 11,000 people have commented on the hilarious video. One social media user said: At least your mom approves, both my mom and my grandma would have killed me.

Another said: Older folks are so funny without even trying.
Rex deputy chairman John Sharp was probably right this week when he said there had never been a better time to set up a new domestic carrier. That, however, doesnt guarantee success for the latest challenger to the traditional domestic aviation duopoly.

Sharp, writing in The Australian Financial Review, took exception to Qantas boss Alan Joyces recent comment that it was unlikely that both Virgin Australia and Rex would both survive a post-pandemic three-cornered contest in the domestic market.

Sharp cited Rexs profitable history, its low cost base, existing infrastructure and regional operations and the impact of the pandemic as the reasons for his confidence that Rex could transform itself into a highly competitive and viable domestic competitor to Qantas an Virgin.

Rex plans to launch its services on the golden triangle of domestic aviation  the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane routes that are among the worlds busiest and most profitable  on March 1.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 21:04:00|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers are considering a family education law, proposing that parents or other guardians of minors shall not commit violence in family education.

A draft of the legislation was presented on Wednesday to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, for the first reading.

When educating minors, parents or guardians shall not discriminate against minors due to their gender or physical condition, commit violence, or coerce them into criminal acts or social immorality, according to the draft.

Parents or other guardians bear primary responsibility in educating children, the draft says, adding that they shall learn knowledge about family education to enhance capabilities in this regard.

The draft also stipulates the responsibilities and duties of the government, schools and other sectors in improving family education. Enditem

Feinstein Defends Cruz, Hawley Over Electoral College Objections

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Tuesday defended fellow Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) over their electoral objections earlier this month.

I think the Senate is a place of freedom, Feinstein told reporters at the Capitol in Washington.

And people come here to speak their piece, and they do, and they provide a kind of leadership. In some cases, its positive, in some cases, maybe not. A lot of that depends on whos looking and what party they are. But its an important place to have this kind of dialogue. Its probably the highest-level dialogue that you get in an electoral body, she added.

Hawley and Cruz were two of the senators to vote against both Pennsylvanias and Arizonas Electoral College votes on Jan. 6 during the joint session of Congress. Seven objected to Pennsylvanias votes and six objected to Arizonas.

Democrats were incensed by the votes and want to take punitive action against the senators. Some have floated censuring them while others have called for expelling them from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Hawley and Cruz have defended their votes, noting that Democrats in both 2017 and 2005 objected to electoral votes.

Democrats objected after the elections of 2000, 2004, and 2016in other words, every time a Republican has won the White House in the last 30 years, Hawley wrote in a recent op-ed. And they were within their rights to do so. The joint session is the forum where concerns about an election can be raised, debated, and ultimately resolved with a vote.

Cruz told Texas broadcaster KXAS-TV: What I was doing is how youre supposed to resolve issues in this country.

New Delhi, Jan 20 : On the issue of resuming physical hearings in the Delhi High Court, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said it trusts the chief justice of the High Court and he will do whatever is required.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S. A. Bobde and comprising Justices A. S Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian said they also want to resume physical hearings, but it is necessary to ask health authorities before taking a decision. "We are not going to take the opinion of advocates on health things", said the Chief Justice.

The remarks from the top court were made by disposing as withdrawn pleas challenging the Delhi High Court decision to resume physical hearings in the High Court and also the trial court with effect from January 18. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing petitioners, submitted that a meeting is scheduled with registrar general to discuss the issue and sought adjournment of the matter.

However, the Chief Justice told Sibal to withdraw the plea and approach the Delhi High Court. The Chief Justice expressed that they are also keen to resume physical hearings. "We want to get back to action", said the Chief Justice, citing the court has asked for medical opinion on resuming physical hearings. Senior advocate Vikas Singh submitted that common man is not getting justice through virtual hearings. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta replied that courts have not denied access to justice to single citizen.

The bench observed that it is aware of the opinion of Bar, and in fact, it has been hearing it for past nine months.

The plea has been filed by practicing lawyers - Kartik Nayar, Nancy Roy, Sachit Jolly and Amit Bhagat -- contended to continue with virtual hearing procedure and cited they have been appearing before the courts through virtual mode on a daily basis amid the pandemic.

The petitioners argued that advocates, litigants and non-legal personnel should not be compelled to appear before the court, as it may prove hazardous for their health and well-being.

The Delhi High Court on January 14, said it has decided to increase the number of judges for physical hearings from January 18 onwards and also issued directions to the district courts to begin physical courts on alternate days of the week.

The office order issued by Registrar General Manoj Jain cited the decision of the Full Court of the High Court wherein 11 benches -- two division benches and nine single-judge benches - will resume physical hearing January 18 onwards and the remaining benches will continue to take up matters virtually.
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HURON COUNTY  Despite Huron County residents getting the COVID-19 vaccine over the past few weeks, the Huron County Health Department is still urging residents to continue wearing masks and social distancing.

More people need to be vaccinated, said Saturn Dean, a public health nurse for the health department, in a press release. COVID-19 spreads very easily from person to person. It starts in the nose and can become respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, singing, talking, or even breathing. These droplets of virus can linger in the air for minutes to hours, and on surfaces for even longer. Even with the vaccine it is possible that the virus can live in your nose, not causing you illness because you have been vaccinated, but it still could be spread to others.

Dean said people still need to wear masks and social distance until the community reaches herd immunity, which is a level of protection of a population when enough the community is vaccinated for a disease that the few that cannot get vaccinated will no longer be in danger.

The people who are unable to get vaccinated include infants, children who are too young, and those allergic to the vaccines.

Dean said the challenge of determining how many people need to be vaccinated is like a math problem, with the more people who are infected meaning that more people need to be vaccinated.

Polio is pretty contagious and needs 80% of the population to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity, Dean said. Whereas, measles is much more contagious and needs a 95% vaccination rate for it to be eradicated.

While a lot more people need to get vaccinated to reach heard immunity, the health department does not know the exact number. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, estimates that between 70% and 90% needs to be vaccinated for that to happen.

The exact number is still just a guess, but the more, the better, Dean said.

Dean said there is no timeline in place for when herd immunity is achieved, as the health department is at the mercy of the supply chain for getting vaccines. She also said that COVID-19 is not like chicken pox where someone can get it once and be immune for life, people can get infected with it over and over.

The Huron County Health Department had done its first mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic last week at the Bad Axe High School, where nearly 1,000 people got their first doses. They are scheduled to receive their second doses in early February in another mass clinic.

The health department has not confirmed when any other mass clinics would take place, given that the amount of vaccine they receive has been sporadic.
COLLINSVILLE  Louer Facility Planning, Inc. is announcing a leadership transition plan, along with celebrating 25 years in business.

Founding President and CEO Jane Louer has begun a gradual buyout and leadership transition to two of the companys key employees, Yvette Paris and April Grapperhaus. The initial phase of the employee purchase has been completed. Louer remains majority stockholder but her ownership will be reduced each year for the next three years, when Paris will become majority stockholder.

Paris, the firms long-time design director, is assuming the role of Vice President/Design Director and shareholder. She has been with the the company for 15 years. Grapperhaus, office manager for seven years, now holds the title of Director of Operations and is also a shareholder in the firm.

Having had the unique opportunity to start and build my own firm has been incredibly satisfying, Louer said.

As we celebrate 25 years in business, were all celebrating a quarter of a century as the regions go-to workplace design resource, she said. Were celebrating 25 years of creating ideal office landscapes that allow companies to grow and prosper.

Louer said she was motivated to start her own company in 1996 to be in full control of its direction and mission. She said she saw a definable need in the commercial interiors industry to integrate interior design, furniture and construction for creating and fulfilling interior space needs and workplace efficiency.

At the time, Louer said, there were few women working in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. After spending a few years working for design/build contractors in St. Louis, she was hired in 1980 by The Korte Company to launch the firms interior design and furniture group. In 1984, she became the companys first female vice president.

A decade after Louer incorporated in 1996, she recruited Paris.

Yvette has truly shaped the company, said Louer. She is responsible for new hires, training and directing the path of Louer Facility Planning. Yvettes creative talents, her dedication to detail and her level of unrelenting customer service has enabled us to retain wonderful clients over the past decade and a half.

Paris said she has learned a great deal from Louer and is grateful to have had her as mentor.

In order for people to grow, they have to be able to grow through and up to the task at hand, Paris said. Im thankful to have had this opportunity to learn an incredible amount from Jane since 2006. And Im excited for this new chapter and all the future holds.

Seven years after hiring Paris, Louer brought Grapperhaus on board.

April is adept at following each project diligently and multitasking with ease, said Louer. As our firm has grown and there are more and more parts and pieces to projects and to the operation of the firm overall, April works proactively and makes sure every vendor and client is attended to so projects remain on schedule.

Grapperhaus said she has witnessed Louers dedication and ability to continually grow Louer Facility Planning.

Ive had the chance to shadow Jane and learn everything from clerical to accounting, order entry, project management, client support, vendor relations and more, Grapperhaus said. Working for a small company has afforded all of us the opportunity to tap into Janes career-long industry experience and wisdom. Its the reason were where we are today.

Currently Louer Facility Planning ranks in the top dozen office furniture firms within the St. Louis region, as determined by annual sales revenues. Its longstanding clients include Anderson Hospital, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Washington University.

For more information about Louer Facility Planning, see https://louerplan.com/.
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BANGALORE, India, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market is Segmented by Application (Logistics, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Food & Beverages Retail, and Others), Solution (Hardware, Software, and Service), Range (Short Range (<20 km) and Long Range (>20 km)), and Vehicle Type (Aerial Delivery Drones, Ground Delivery Vehicles, and Self-driving Trucks & Vans): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030. This report is published on Valuates Reports in the Mail & Package Delivery Category.

The global autonomous last-mile delivery market size is expected to be valued at USD 11.90 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 84.72 Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 24.4% during the forecast period.

Based on region, North America is expected to be the highest revenue contributor in the Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market, accounting for USD 4.83 billion by 2021, and is estimated to reach USD 39.94 Billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 26.6%. North America's dominance in the Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market can be attributed to ongoing initiatives in the US and Canada to develop next-generation drone and ground-based vehicle delivery technologies.

By vehicle type, the ground delivery bots segment is expected to contribute the highest revenue in 2021, accounting for USD 4.56 Billion, and is estimated to reach USD 34.90 Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 25.5% during the forecast period.

Major factors driving Autonomous Last Mile delivery market size are demand for the fast delivery of packages, rise in technological advancements in delivery vehicle drives, and development of aerial delivery drones.

This study presents the analytical depiction of the global autonomous last-mile delivery market analysis, along with the current trends and future estimations to depict the imminent investment pockets.

Request a Sample Copy of the Report For COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/ALLI-Manu-0J34/Autonomous_Last_Mile_Delivery_Market

COVID-19 IMPACT ON AUTONOMOUS LAST-MILE DELIVERY MARKET SIZE

The COVID-19 outbreak has increased the overall sales of the e-commerce business. This, in turn, has increased the Last-Mile Delivery market size, as more and more consumers prefer ordering online and maintaining social distancing. In addition, during the lockdown period, the use of Aerial Delivery Drones was also increasing for healthcare and pharmaceutical applications.

Based on the predictions of industry experts, a growth of 20% is projected in online retail share by 2023 followed by a 10% growth in the delivery processes followed by the adoption of autonomous vehicles in last mile delivery services by 2024.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE AUTONOMOUS LAST MILE DELIVERY MARKET SIZE

Various R&D is being carried out by leading companies in the development of aerial delivery drones, which can distribute goods and services in geographically challenging areas. This eliminates human involvement in distributing goods and services to remote areas since this can be achieved through aerial drone delivery. In addition, countries such as South Korea are carrying out package delivery experiments in remote areas to improve the lifestyle of people in the country. As a result, the production of aerial delivery drones that operate smoothly in geographically challenging areas is expected to drive Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market size during the forecast period.

An increase in demand for the fast delivery of packages is expected to drive the growth of the autonomous last-mile delivery market size. With the customer's inclination toward buying daily necessity products through an online source, the demand for delivering the products on the same day in the stipulated time has increased. This, in turn, has forced e-commerce companies to develop better means to deliver the products on time.

However, the lack of required infrastructure to support autonomous delivery services operations is expected to hinder the market growth. Proper infrastructure requires a fixed route for land delivery vehicles and self-driving trucks and vans and a separate route for air delivery drones.

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TOP COMPANIES IN THE AUTONOMOUS LAST MILE DELIVERY MARKET

The growth of the autonomous last-mile delivery industry is fuelled by increasing advancements by the top market players. For example, Amazon has introduced the Scout delivery robot, which is the size of a tiny cooler and can roll along sidewalks and deliver products to the customer's doorstep. In the area of autonomous last mile delivery service, this has facilitated Amazon to launch a new model.

Despite the very large technological leap that is expected, the existing players are still very well placed to dominate the bulk of the parcel volumes in deferred, B2B, and - to a lesser extent - the same-day delivery .

The capital-intensive nature of sorting and full-scale logistics networks, large economies of scale, and the need for consumer access are major barriers to entry for new players and will enable traditional players to remain dominant in the centre.

Some of the top companies in the Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market are Airbus S.A.S., Matternet, Flirtey, Drone Delivery Canada, Flytrex, Amazon.com, JD.com, Inc., Marble Robot, Starship Technologies, Savioke, DHL International GmbH, United Parcel Service of America, Inc., and DPD.

AUTONOMOUS LAST-MILE DELIVERY MARKET SEGMENTS

Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market By Application

Logistics

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals

Food & Beverages

Retail

Others.

Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market By Solution

Hardware

Software

Service.

Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market By Range

Short Range (< 20 km)

Long Range (> 20 km).

Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market By Vehicle Type

Aerial Delivery Drones

Ground Delivery Bots

Self-driving trucks & vans.

Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Market by Regions/Countries,

North America

Europe

China

Japan

Southeast Asia

India

Central & South America .

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SIMILAR REPORTS :

-Last-Mile Delivery Market

The global Last-Mile Delivery market size is projected to reach USD 66000 Million by 2026, from USD 39570 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.9% during 2021-2026.

-First and Last Mile Delivery Market

In 2019, the global First and Last Mile Delivery market size was USD 335.3 Million, and it is expected to reach USD 592.4 Million by the end of 2026, with a CAGR of 8.4% during 2021-2026.

The Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest First and Last Mile Delivery Market share as the large population from the region provides a major consumer base for the expansion of First and Last Mile Delivery Market.

-Drone Logistics and Transportation Market

Drone Transportation and Logistics Market size is projected to reach USD 5930.1 Million by 2026, from USD 5308.5 Million in 2020

-Same-day Delivery Market

Same-day Delivery Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( B2B, B2C), By Application (Food, Consumer) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

-Last-Mile Delivery for Large Items Market

XPO and FIDELITONE captured the top two revenue share spots in North America Last-Mile Delivery for Large Items market in 2018. XPO dominated with a 26.76% revenue share, followed by FIDELITONE with a 16.21% revenue share in 2018.

Last-Mile Delivery for Large Items Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( 50 lbs = weight < 100 lbs, 100 lbs = weight < 200 lbs, 200 lbs = weight < 400 lbs, Others), By Application (Home Appliances, Furniture, Sports, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

In 2018, 50 lbs = weight < 100 lbs accounted for a major share of 41% in North America Last-Mile Delivery for Large Items market. And this product segment is poised to reach 3256 M USD by 2024 from 1344 M USD in 2018.

In the North America Last-Mile Delivery for Large Items market, the Home Appliances segment holds an important share in terms of application, and it is expected to reach 3859 M USD by 2024. It means that North America Last-Mile Delivery for Large Items will be promising in the Home Appliances field in the next couple of years.

-Last Mile Delivery for E-commerce Market

The global Last Mile Delivery for E-commerce market size is projected to reach USD 7046.1 Million by 2026, from USD 4043.1 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 9.7% during 2021-2026.

-Last Mile Delivery Transportation Market

Last Mile Delivery Transportation Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( Business-to-Business (B2B), Business-to-Consumer (B2C), Customer-to-Customer (C2C)), By Application (Motorcycle, Commercial Vehicles, Drones) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

-Last-Mile Delivery by Drones Market

Last-Mile Delivery by Drones Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( Hardware, Software, Services), By Application (E-commerce, Logistics Industry, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

-Parcel Delivery Market

Parcel Delivery Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( B2B, B2C, other), By Application (Online trading, Offline trading) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

In 2019, key players include Kerry Express, Singapore Post, City-Link Expres, DHL Express, Gdex, Poslaju, Ninja Van, J&T Express, Skynet, Flash Express, etc. Revenue share of top ten suppliers accounts for more than 26.7% of the total revenue in 2019. Based on regions, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are leading economies in ASEAN Group. They have a technology advantage and a relatively mature consumer market, which leads them to grow fast in recent years. In 2019, Indonesia took the biggest market share, 32.60%, Thailand followed with 17.26%.

-Automated Parcel Delivery Terminals Industry

The global Automated Parcel Delivery Terminals Market size is projected to reach USD 1601.4 Million by 2026, from USD 959.6 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.9% during 2021-2026.

Automated Parcel Delivery Terminals Industry, Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( Indoor, Outdoor), By Application (Government, Retail, Shipping & Logistics, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

-Package Delivery Market

Package Delivery Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( Same-Day Delivery, Regional Parcel Carriers, Heavy Goods Delivery), By Application (Postal Systems, Express Mail, Private Courier Companies, Truckload Shipping Carriers) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

-Contactless Parcel Delivery System Industry Research Report

Contactless Parcel Delivery System Industry Research Report Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( One-side, Double-side), By Application (Residential Area, School Area, Office Area, Others) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

To see the full list of related reports on the Transportation & Logistics

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holy fuck

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At this point, Im sure the children will be better off without her in their lives.



Also, its weird to have two separate surrogates pregnant at once?



Edited at 2021-01-20 04:47 am (UTC)

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Oh wow thank you for this response! That makes a lot more sense now.

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Ty for explaining

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couldn't they just do 2 embryos in one surrogate and have pseudo twins?

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those poor kids. i cant imagine what it will be like for them, growing up knowing their mother hated even the idea of them so much.

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No words...I guess the kids and the dad dodged a huge bullet by not having her in their lifes anymore?

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What a piece of shit

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Oh my goodness. Captain trash heaps all of them.



I am talking about actress and her parents. Sheesh.



Edited at 2021-01-20 04:51 am (UTC)

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this is.....a LOT to process this is.....a LOT to process

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for real the title alone had me thinking for a good 5 minutes

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Triple yikes

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what in the actual lifetime movie fuck?!

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I heard that a lot of pro-surrogacy advocates are also super pissed at her bc she's the walking example that will be used to cite why it should never be legalized. It's clear the children were a narcissistic thing for her, but she didn't want to carry them herself as not to affect her career, etc. etc.



Just a vile person in every sense of the word.

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"she's the walking example that will be used to cite why it should never be legalized."



HA! They're not wrong! I've been somewhat neutral on surrogacy cause I honestly haven't delved too deep into it but this story is a pandora's box of reasons why it shouldn't be legalized for situations like this!



Usually I hear the success stories and the occasional not-so-good stories but the successful ones dominate the news. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE situation cause you're putting the surrogate's life and person at the center of this mess. Like what is their rights and actions?

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one of my friends is having her second surrogate kid soon and i just don't get it - she loves it

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Oh definitely, I've always been against commercial surrogacy, because no matter how you look at it, it's taking gross advantage of a poor woman. And asian countries have been inordinately targeted why white people for this, albeit because of our government.

Non

This proved to me, commercial surrogacy is a bad idea

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Ok.



Before reading the post.

From the tweet.

I thought she was pregnant and decided to take out the fetuses and put them in two different women at first.



And went what the fuck



Real story? Not much better.

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Your assumption.. is that even possible???

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No. If it were, I'm sure half the US would have total abortion bans unless a fetus is being relocated. Some Republican loon in Ohio already tried to make doctors reimplant ectopic pregnancies, which is also impossible.

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were these embryos created from her eggs? because i can't comprehend abandoning your bio kids at the hospital because your relationship failed, even though i know worse has happened.

i hope they never reconcile. how would she explain that? this story is tremendously fucked up from so many angles.

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Yes - they are the celeb couple's biological children.

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i'm not sure if its a common thing in china, but in korea its not unheard of that when a couple divorces they also just kind of get rid of their children rather than sharing custody or being a single parent. sometimes its getting raised by grandparents or other family members and sometimes its full on being sent to an orphanage.

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I hate people.



I hope those babies have a good support system and are okay. Same with the surrogates.

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This is an absolute wild soap opera story, what a shitty human being. Also I'm so confused as to why they had two surrogates carrying two kids at the same time?? Those poor babies, I hope they get shielded as long as possible from finding out the truth

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heretoruinyou gave me a really thoughtful and thorough response to that question above

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Honestly I used to be her stan and Love O2O was one of my all time favorite dramas. I mean this lady is the one who suddenly dropped a bomb at a press conference for another show that she and her costar from their first big drama had actually been secretly dating for years and were considering marriage (and thus completely stole the press conference from the actual lead... power move). Anyway, yikes. This is despicable.

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This is giving me flashbacks to Sherri Shepherd and her ex and their son



The write up on that audio though...oooof

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I forgot about that story, how did that end?

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Walter Ward

Lambert hires Walter Ward as chief of staff. Ward also supports Lamberts family of companies, which includes EQUALSIGN, TiiCKER, Camber Engage and 9thWonder. He joins Lambert from the Washington D.C. office of management consulting firm MorganFranklin, where he most recently served as manager, strategy & transformation. Before that, Ward was manager, corporate strategy & performance management at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. At Lambert, he spearheads the execution of strategic initiatives, works to empower the internal business and finance operation teams, and assists with new business strategy and growth associated with mergers & acquisitions. Walter will be a key voice and decision maker for our growing cross-functional teams as we evolve beyond our PR and IR roots into a landscape of integrated marketing and capital markets expertise, said Lambert founder and CEO Jeff Lambert.

Andreas Kloevekorn

Hill+Knowlton Germany names Andreas Kloevekorn head of its technology team. Kloevekorn joins the firm as managing director, reporting directly to H+K Germany CEO Susanne Marell. Kloevekorn joins H+K from Edelman Germany, where he was chief operating officer. In his new post, he will be responsible for advising all companies in the tech sector. He will also work on the development of new H+K offerings as part of his role in the management team, as H+K continues to elevate its digital profile. Technology is one of the most important sectors and growth drivers at H+K, not just in Germany, but also internationally, says Marell. Andreas will further expand our expertise in this sector, working closely with the technology experts in our global network.

Scott Haber

Hamilton Place Strategies brings on Scott Haber as a director. Haber returns to HPS, where he worked from 2014 to 2016, from the Internet Association, where he was most recently communications director. In his first stint at HPS, he was a senior analyst, supporting clients in the healthcare, transportation and trade industries. Scott's time at Internet Association gives him deep expertise on key issues like net neutrality, intellectual property, and content moderation, and his time as a former senior analyst at HPS means he will be able to deliver immediate impact for our clients, said HPS partner Matt McDonald. HPS has also promoted Meghan Pennington to managing director, as well as Elliott Owensby and Jesse Steinmetz to senior director.

David Gill

Steinreich Communications Group appoints David Gill content manager. Gill comes to the agency from home furnishings trade publication HFN, where he served as senior editor. He previously held editorial positions at The Media Center and Positive Publications. In his new role, Gill will be in charge of creating and drafting press releases, as well as providing mentorship to junior staff on writing and strategic trade media placement. David is a seasoned journalist with a thorough understanding of the issues and trends in the home furnishings business that will be a tremendous asset to our clients and our staff, said Steinreich Communications Group president and CEO Stan Steinreich.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : The government has proposed to defer the implementation of the farm laws for a year-and-a-half in order to break the deadlock between the government and the farmers on the three controversial laws.

After the tenth round of talks with the farmer leaders, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the government has suggested deferring the laws for one-and-a-half years so that the farmer unions can consider them and resolve the issue by forming a committee with government representatives and farmers.

Apart from Agriculture Minister Tomar, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash were also present in the meeting with farmer leaders.

At the beginning of the meeting, Union minister Tomar congratulated everyone on the 354th birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh. He thanked the peasant organisations for maintaining discipline during the agitation and again urged them to end the agitation. The government said till now there has not been a positive discussion on all the three laws related to agricultural reform and all the aspects of MSP. The government also said that we should look at the farmer movement sensitively and make concerted efforts to end it in terms of inclusiveness in the interests of farmers and the country.

Tomar said, "If organisations have reservations about these laws or you want to suggest something, we are always ready to discuss those points with you." The Agriculture Minister urged again that apart from repealing the laws, these provisions can be resolved by discussing them point-by-point.

"Due to the lack of discussion on other options in the previous meetings, no meaningful result was achieved, we urge to make the discussion meaningful. Right from the beginning, the government has been trying with an open mind to discuss with the farmers representatives through options. The government is fully committed to upgrading the agriculture sector and enriching the farmers." Clarifying the confusion about farmers' fears of landgrabbing, Tomar stated that "no one has the power to grab farmers' land in the country under these laws. We are committed to advancing farming and making farmers prosperous. These laws will bring revolutionary changes in the lives of farmers, which will change the direction of the farmers and improve their standard of living." Darshan Pal from Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, one of the farmer unions, said, "We will discuss the government's proposal in detail on January 21 and will convey it to the government in a meeting at Vigyan Bhavan on January 22 at 12 noon. Today's talks were held in a cordial atmosphere."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

As Nigeria battles with the second wave of COVID-19, two top government officials in Osun State have tested positive for the virus.

The development has forced the state governor, Gboyega Oyetola, to mandate COVID-19 test for all his cabinet members.

Although the states commissioner for information, Funke Egbemode, confirmed that two cabinet members have been confirmed positive, she did not disclose their identities.

However, sources within the cabinet confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that those infected with the virus are a commissioner and a special adviser to the governor.

While the commissioner tested positive 13 days ago, the special adviser was confirmed positive 10 days ago.

When contacted, the affected commissioner did not deny being positive to our correspondent. He said he wanted his health confidentiality protected.

He also said it is not a crime to be tested positive. COVID-19 is like malaria and anybody can be tested positive.

The special adviser, who also tested positive, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report as his telephone was not connecting. He is yet to respond to enquiries sent to him by our correspondent.

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, told this newspaper that he honestly did not know the two officials involved.

PREMIUM TIMES, however, learnt the state government had begun tracing of some contacts since the day the duo were confirmed positive.

Compulsory test

The status of the commissioner and the special adviser has forced Mr Oyetola to mandate all his cabinet members to take compulsory COVID-19 test to ascertain their status.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the test has also been made compulsory for all drivers in the governors convoy, domestic staff, and aides attached to senior government officials.

Mrs Egbemode said Mr Oyetolas aim was to lead by example by making the test compulsory as she confirmed that two persons result truly came back positive.

The results have returned and only two people returned positive. They have since gone into isolation and commenced treatment. We can confirm that they are stable, and a repeat test will be conducted in a few days to check their progress.

Citizens are hereby advised to take personal responsibility for their safety and the safety of others, and this now includes taking the Covid-19 test so as to commence immediate treatment if the result returned positive, Mrs Egbemode said.

Fear

Some cabinet members, who preferred not to disclose their names because they have not been authorised to speak with the media, told PREMIUM TIMES that the governor and other officials at the government secretariat are afraid of moving around for fear of interacting with possible carriers of the virus.

In fact, a special assistant to the governor told our correspondent that cabinet members without COVID-19 test result are not allowed to see the governor.

I was to meet the governor last week but I was not permitted until I tendered my COVID-19 test which shows that I am negative before I was allowed to meet him.

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A commissioner also told PREMIUM TIMES that the cases of the two cabinet members made people to be more conscious.

People have been more conscious including with the governor. In fact, your COVID-19 test result is the pass to see the governor now, he said.
Metropolis Healthcare said it has achieved about 23% year-on-year growth in revenue in Q3 December 2020.

The diagnostics company said it achieved positive growth on year-on-year basis in Q3 December 2020 for Non-Covid business in comparison to 85% in Q2 September 2020 and 50% in Q1 June 2020.

The number of patient visits grew by nearly 13% to 2.73 million in Q3 December 2020 from 2.42 million in Q3 December 2019. The number of tests in Q3 December 2020 stood at 5.12 million from 4.78 million in Q3 December 2019.

Metropolis Healthcare said that on-account of continuous efforts towards cost optimization and strong revenue uptick, EBITDA margins in Q3 December 2020 has enhanced in comparison to Q3 December 2019 EBITDA margin of 28.2%.

The company's cash and cash equivalents were over Rs 365 crore at the end of 31 December 2020.

Shares of Metropolis Healthcare were trading 0.04% lower at Rs 2,222.10 on BSE.

Metropolis Healthcare is a leading diagnostics company in India with a widespread presence across 19 states in India. Metropolis offers a comprehensive range of 4,000 plus tests and profiles that include advanced tests in diagnosis of cancer, neurological disorders, infectious diseases, and an array of genetic abnormalities.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In his inaugural address calling for national unity, President Joe Biden turned to Christian teachings, including the Psalms and Saint Augustine, to acknowledge the pain of the current political moment and his desire to bring Americans together around common values.

Despite the adjustments made to this years ceremony, the event offered the typical display of American civil religionprayers and appeals to national aspirationswith nods to Bidens Catholic faith throughout.

In his first remarks as president, Biden continued to use the soul language that was the mantra of his campaign, saying, My whole soul is in this, bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation, and I ask every American to join me in this cause. He acknowledged that, speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real, but told Americans that history, faith, and reason show the way of unity.

Michael Wear, founder of Public Square Strategies LLC and a previous White House staffer, called the inaugural address a soulful appeal for a substantive unity and the best speech of Bidens life.

It drew on the deepest sources of meaning Biden could draw on, including faith, said Wear, who served under President Obama. Biden was honest in the speech, acknowledging that unity would not be found in agreement on every policy proposal, but in shared purpose and affection.

As Biden listed Americas common values, like opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honor, and the truth, he quoted a teaching from Augustinea saint of my churchthat a people are a multitude defined by the common objects of their love.

The church father shared this view in City of God, where he presented love, not law, as the thing that binds a society together. He taught that the soul takes on the character of what it loves, writing, to see what a people is like, we should look at what they love.

Its apropos for him to use this quote because Augustines talking about people as a nation, said Han-luen Kantzer Komline, an Augustine scholar at Western Theological Seminary. Its also kind of a brilliant move to invoke Augustine. Biden is a Catholic, and Augustine is probably the most important theologian for Catholics apart from the apostle Paul himself, but hes also really important for Protestants.

But she points out that Augustine also taught that an appeal to common loves, even good ones, is not enough to foster a virtuous society; that requires love of God above all else.

James K. A. Smith, whose book You Are What You Love is based on Augustines teaching, also celebrated Bidens reference.

In his address, President Biden went on to quote Psalm 30:5, Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Whats remarkable is not that he quoted the psalms. Plenty of presidents have quoted the psalms in their inaugural speeches, from Woodrow Wilson to Barack Obama. Whats remarkable is how doubly apt his choice was, said W. David O. Taylor, author of Open and Unafraid: The Psalms as a Guide to Life. It not only accurately describes the desire of so many Americans, namely that this time of trial come to a certain and swift end; it also aptly describes the story of the psalmist who goes into trouble and comes out of trouble.

Taylor, a Fuller Theological Seminary professor, noted that Psalm 30 is haunted with death imagery before inviting the community to praise God and expect him to turn their mourning into dancing.

At the moment, for us as Americans, this is aspirational language. Were not there yet. But Biden sounds the right note by giving voice to the yearning of every human heart, not just during these trying and troubling times, but at every time and in every place where God has rescued us from death into life, he said.

Biden repeatedly brought up the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, including asking Americans to join him in a moment of silent prayer to remember the lives lost.

The ceremony also included prayers from two members of the clergy: Jesuit priest Leo ODonovan and African Methodist Episcopal preacher Silvester Beamana smaller lineup than the six clergy that spoke at Trumps 2016 inauguration. It was the first inauguration ceremony in nearly fifty years to not include a white Protestant leader. (Bidens cabinet nominees are mainly Catholics, Jews, and nonwhite Christians; Pete Buttigieg, an Episcopalian, is the only white Protestant among them.)

ODonovan, former president of Georgetown University in DC, quoted 1 Kings 3:9 and James 1:5 as he prayed. For our new president, we beg of you the wisdom Solomon sought when he knelt before you and prayed for an understanding heart so I can govern the people and know the difference between right and wrong, he said. We trust in the counsel of the letter of James If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

In a benediction that referenced the place of slaves, indigenous Americans, and immigrants in the US, Beaman charged the country to work against sin and brokenness. We will make friends of enemies. Your people shall no longer raise up weapons against one another, he said. We will lie down in peace, not make our neighbors afraid. In you, O God, we discover our humanity.

Viewers also celebrated the Christian references offered by the young African American poet laureate who read a composition called, The Hill We Climb, written in the wake of this months Capitol attack.

I am no fan of civil religion, but I appreciate that Bidens faith informs his work and that Scripture motivates him, as it also inspired the words of the poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, remarked Dennis Edwards, New Testament professor at North Park Theological Seminary.

Kathryn Freeman, a seminary student at Baylor University, agreed.

The line that stood out the most for me was If we merge mercy with might and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our childrens birthright. We need both. Mercy without might is weak; might without mercy is abusive. According to Micah 6:8, we need both plus humility to what is good in the eyes of the Lord, she said.

Politics is not everything, but it does present an opportunity to right wrongs, to love our neighbor, and bring flourishing for all God's children. Amanda's poem was a beautiful reminder of the best of our American ideals and the hope of an America as good as its promise.
Spains Health Ministry and regional governments are working out the details of the next stage of the coronavirus vaccination campaign. Following a first phase that includes care home residents, healthcare workers and people with severe disabilities who are not in care facilities, next in line to get their shots are the 70-and-older group.

If the current pace of delivery keeps up, this new phase could begin in March, although the start date may be pushed forward or back depending on the speed of shipment deliveries and whether new vaccines get approved, said sources familiar with the situation.

The age brackets are expected to be decided on Wednesday at a meeting of central and regional health officials known as the Inter-Territorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS). Although this is a national strategy, some regional governments such as Andalusia and Navarre have already announced their plans to start vaccinating their older citizens next.

Immunizing healthcare workers is proving to be a fast process, as they are easy to locate, but reaching the general population may prove slower

There are around 6.8 million people over the age of 70 in Spain, although of these, approximately 380,000 live in care homes and are in the process of being inoculated. People included in the next group will be notified by their local healthcare center for an appointment, and those who are physically unable to go will receive a home visit by a nurse.

It will be a very similar process to how the flu vaccine is administered, said a regional source.

Amos Garcia Rojas, president of the Spanish Vaccinology Society and a member of the committee in charge of designing the national vaccination plan, explains that it would make sense to first give appointments to the 90-and-over population, followed by the 80-to-90 group and then those 70 and over.

After them, we would move on to people with high-risk conditions in other age brackets, he said, alluding to a group made up of around eight million people.

According to Garcia Rojas, next in line after that could be essential workers (5.3 million counting educators), although everything will depend on the number of available doses  if there are enough, some groups may overlap.

Vulnerable elders

Priority is being given to elders because of their vulnerability: 66.5% of all official Covid-19 deaths during the second wave were people over the age of 80, even though this age group only accounts for six percent of Spains population. If we add the 70-plus group, the Covid-19 fatality rate shoots up to above 86%, according to figures from the Carlos III Health Institute.

In other words, with similar levels of infection, if this entire population gets immunized, it should lead to almost nine times fewer deaths from coronavirus.

This is why the European Commission (EC) on Tuesday set a March goal for member states to vaccinate at least 80% of health and social care professionals as well as 80% of people over the age of 80. By summer, member states should have vaccinated a minimum of 70% of the adult population, said the EC in a statement.

In Germany and the United Kingdom, inoculations began simultaneously for care home residents and people over the age of 80. In France, citizens 75 and over with a high-risk condition began getting their shots on Monday. But people were in charge of making their own appointments, leading to overburdened systems.

Logistical challenge

Garcia Rojas believes that such a problem can be avoided in Spain. The public healthcare system is strong, and people can be easily located through their medical history. Its true that this is a very complex vaccination because of the size of the population and the logistics involved, which are different from those for the regular vaccines administered routinely in Spain, he said.

Pedro Gullon, of the Spanish Epidemiology Society, noted that immunizing healthcare workers is proving to be a fast process, as they are easy to locate, but reaching the general population may prove slower.

As part of the first phase, which is still underway, the next people in line for shots are healthcare workers who are not on the frontlines, as well as people with severe disabilities who are not living in long-term care centers (those who are have already been vaccinated). Immunizing this latter group will test the logistical capabilities of the healthcare system, as teams of nurses will have to be dispatched to homes to administer the vaccine.

According to the latest Health Ministry data, regional governments have received 1.1 million doses, of which 966,097 (84.5%) have been administered. The goal for the first phase is to immunize around 2.5 million people: 1.7 million healthcare workers, 380,000 residents of care homes, and 367,000 people with severe disabilities who are not in care facilities.

With reporting by Guillermo Abril, Silvia Ayuso and Elena G. Sevillano.

English version by Susana Urra.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Denmark announced Wednesday that it was revising its targets for COVID-19 vaccinations down by 10 percent in the first quarter due the temporary reduction in deliveries of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in Europe.

Denmark, which started inoculations on December 27, has had one of the quickest rollouts of the COVID-19 vaccine per capita in Europe, nearly three percent of the population177,000 peoplehaving received the first dose.

But after Pfizer announced it would reduce deliveries as it tried scale up production, Denmark will now have to slow down.

"This means in practice, that Denmark in the first quarter will administer about 85,000 to 100,000 fewer vaccinations than were originally planned," the Danish infectious disease authority SSI said in a statement.

This would translate to between 42,000 and 50,000 fewer Danes being vaccinated, SSI added.

For the coming week, some 30,000 to 35,000 fewer doses of the vaccine are to be administered than originally planned, much to the dismay of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

"We can't tolerate any further delays on the vaccines," she was quoted as saying by news agency Ritzau on Tuesday.

"It is a matter of life and death at this time. That is why we need to speed up the EU's vaccine rollout."

US drugmaker Pfizer, which developed the jab in collaboration with Germany's BioNTech, said over the weekend that deliveries should be back to the original schedule to the EU from January 25.

It also said it was working to "significantly" scale up production at its plant in Belgium in the second quarter.

According to Denmark's SSI, Pfizer had informed them "that there may be differences in how much individual European countries see deliveries cut in the coming week. It is unclear whether this also applies to the entire first quarter."

For the current week, only half of the promised doses have been delivered, the health agency said.

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Heres a look how the Bible has figured into some of the most pivotal moments in U.S. history: the inaugurations of new American presidents.

Washingtons Bible has been popular with other presidents.

Like much of the pageantry associated with presidential inaugurations, the presence of a Bible at swearing-in ceremonies is steeped in tradition, dating all the way to the nations first president.

During his 1789 inauguration in New York, George Washington used a Bible from St. Johns Masonic Lodge No. 1. The Bible is said to have been retrieved after attendees noticed one was not on hand at Federal Hall, where Washington was preparing to take the oath of office, according to Claire Jerry, a curator of political history at the National Museum of American History.

The Bible represented the agreement Washington was making with the American people, she said.

Having sacred imagery associated with the taking of a covenant is fairly consistent and emphasizes that idea that we, who are witnessing the taking of the oath, and the individual whos taking the oath are entering into a very profound relationship with each other, Dr. Jerry said.

Washingtons Bible has been used in the inaugurations of four other presidents: Warren G. Harding, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and George Bush.

In 2017, President Donald J. Trump used one Bible that had been given to him by his mother when he was a boy and another used by Abraham Lincoln for his inauguration in 1861, just before the start of the Civil War. Barack Obama also used the Lincoln Bible when taking the oath of office, though in 2013, for his second inauguration, he supplemented it with a Bible given to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1954.

Presidents enjoy a variety of perks, among them public housing and transportation. But for President Trump, long accustomed to private aircraft and a South Florida mansion that he often preferred to the White House, the most valuable privilege has been immunity from prosecution.

The end of Trumps presidency at noon Wednesday is also the beginning of much of his legal exposure. While case law and Justice Department policy offer sitting presidents extensive protection from criminal repercussions, it largely disappears once they rejoin the private citizenry. And while custom as well as law and official discretion have protected every sitting and former president from prosecution, Trumps case is as unusual as his presidency. To a degree unmatched by his predecessors, he embodies the danger of deference to norms for which the president himself has no respect.

Trump augmented an already robust potential rap sheet during his last weeks in office by encouraging the deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol, exposing him to prosecution for breaking federal laws against inciting or plotting a riot, insurrection or sedition. The acting U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., Michael Sherwin, has said his investigation of the assault will go beyond the people that went into the building.

The Capitol sacking led to Trumps unprecedented second impeachment for incitement of insurrection with the most bipartisan support in history, triggering a Senate trial that could reveal and highlight more damning information about the breach and the presidents role in it. Trumps recorded efforts days before to bully Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger into conjuring up enough votes to overturn President-elect Joe Bidens victory, also mentioned in the Houses article of impeachment, may have run afoul of state and federal laws against election fraud.

Whether the misconduct that precipitated Trumps first impeachment was criminal is a more complicated question that was summarily dismissed by then-Attorney General William Barrs Justice Department. But the presidents efforts to coerce Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into damaging Bidens campaign might have violated federal laws against official extortion and foreign campaign contributions.

A more developed potential criminal campaign finance case against the outgoing president helped put his longtime fixer, Michael Cohen, in prison. Cohen pleaded guilty to secretly paying off purported paramours of his client in a case in which he and federal prosecutors in New York also implicated Trump, labeled Individual 1, as coordinating the scheme.

The outgoing president faces additional investigations of his business by New York state and city authorities. They could lead to state charges that would be impervious to the presidents pardon power, which he is expected to use further in his last hours.

Trump has already used pardons to undermine the most painstaking criminal investigation he has faced, that of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller. While Mueller scrupulously observed the official Justice Department opinion that a sitting president cant be constitutionally indicted, his team documented 10 possible instances of criminal obstruction of justice by the president and found persuasive evidence of at least four of them.

The extent and gravity of Trumps alleged lawbreaking constitute a powerful counterargument to our long-standing aversion to post-presidential prosecutions. The next attorney general and other authorities must be allowed to independently determine whether he committed a crime that warrants a break with that tradition.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.

New Delhi: An expert panel of the drug regulator CDSCO recommended granting permission for conducting phase 1 clinical trials of an intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, officials said on Tuesday.

The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech is being touted as a game changer in the fight against novel coronavirus infection.

Just one drop of vaccine in each of the nostrils is sufficient and to administer the dose one doesn`t require trained healthcare workers. It eliminates needle-associated risks, is suitable for children and adults.

The Hyderabad-based pharma sought permission from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials of the intranasal vaccine. The matter was referred to the subject expert committee of the CDSCO, who on Tuesday deliberated on the matter and recommended granting permission for phase 1 clinical trial.

"Based on the safety and immunogenicity data of the phase 1 clinical trial, the company would be given permission for conducting phase 2 clinical trial," an official was quoted as saying by PTI.

Earlier, NITI Aayog member (health) V K Paul confirmed that a nasal vaccine candidate had been identified.

"It looks like an exciting development because potentially, yes, this route can be used to deliver the safe antigen against which an immunological response would happen. If it does work it can be a game-changer because it is so easy to use and we look forward to this development. Such a possibility is very plausible scientifically," Paul said told reporters in a press conference.

Krishna Ella, the chairman of Bharat Biotech, had earlier said the company is focusing on the intranasal vaccine as existing vaccines require two-dose intramuscular injections and a country like India needs 2.6 billion syringes and needles which may add to pollution.

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Assisted suicide is a dangerous public policy that hurts the most vulnerable in society. As a physician, I see patients when they are most in need of care. The last thing that patients need, especially now in a global pandemic, is for death to become more accessible.

Assisted suicide subverts the role of the physician as healer, undermines the physician-patient relationship, and ultimately, is a rather blunt weapon for the most serious, complicated situations in a patients life.

It seems that 2,500 years after Hippocrates, assisted suicide proponents are not keeping up with the advances that STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) has brought forth when confronting death; but they have become rather dull, unimaginative and regressive. I urge the New Mexico Legislature to find a better solution to end-of-life concerns instead of institutionalizing death-on-demand.

Assisted suicide fails to address the primary reasons that patients seek it. When justifying assisted suicide, proponents often cite the reasons of incurable pain or suffering. However, these reasons for choosing assisted suicide are simply unsupported by the data.

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In Oregon, where assisted suicide has been legal the longest, incurable pain or suffering does not even make it into the top five reasons that patients seek assisted suicide. The top five reasons that patients seek assisted suicide are existential or disability-related concerns.

These top five reasons include: being less able to engage in activities making life enjoyable, loss of autonomy, loss of dignity, being a burden on family/caregivers, and loss of control over bodily functions.

These reasons are serious and deserve to be treated with the appropriate multi-disciplinary care, not death. Also, it is worth mentioning that there have been significant advances made in palliative and hospice care so that pain can be managed at the end of life.

Assisted suicide is a deadly public policy that targets the most vulnerable in society. Especially now, as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, it is imperative that physicians work to heal, not cause harm.

Assisted suicide threatens the physicians identity as a healer. It turns a physician into a participant in premature death. If the role of the physician is transformed in this way, the physician-patient relationship will be undermined. A patient must be able to trust the physician, but, with death on the table, there can be no trust.

The Legislature should be working to increase access to better medical care and treatment options, not death. It is hypocritical for lawmakers to support bills that legalize suicide for some while they preach prevention of suicides for our teens and veterans. I urge the state Legislature to reject assisted suicide.

When I give treatment options, occasionally death or comfort care is a real possibility, but I would never, ever prescribe medications to a patient so that they could voluntarily take their own life. Who would take their prized car to an auto mechanic who also had a wrecking business next door? How about hiring a defense lawyer who dabbled in prosecuting death penalty cases? A pastor who does part-time divorce lawyering? It is a clear conflict of interest.

Assisted suicide is not medicine. It doesnt take a medical degree to figure out how many Seconal pills you need to commit suicide. If lawmakers want to pass this bill they should have to sign that prescription.

Any lawmaker who truly cares about the well-being of the residents of New Mexico will reject assisted suicide; and the ones who dont should know that it is really their names that ought to be listed on the individual registered voters cause of death.
Uyghurs rally to press the State Department to fight for the freedom of the majority-Muslim Uyghur population unjustly imprisoned in Chinese re-education camps, at the US Mission to the United Nations, Feb. 5, 2019.

Chinas repression of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in its northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), including its use of internment camps and forced sterilizations, amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday.

Chinese policies in the XUAR aim for the forced assimilation and eventual erasure of a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority group, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, announcing a designation that Uyghur exile groups and human rights experts have advocated since the revelation in 2017 of mass re-education camps that have held as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs.

After careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that the PRC, under the direction and control of the CCP, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, he said in a statement.

I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state, said Pompeo on the last full day of the Trump administration.

The outgoing top U.S. diplomat also said that Chinese actions in Xinjiang constituted numerous crimes against humanity  including arbitrary imprisonment or more than a million civilians, forced sterilization, torture of those arbitrarily detained, forced labor, and draconian restrictions on freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement.

The determination could lead to more U.S. sanctions against China, following a series of trade and travel curbs slapped on Chinese officials and companies in the XUAR last year by the Trump administration. President-elect Joe Biden during the election campaign also said Beijings policies amounted to genocide.

Uyghur exile groups who have long lobbied for tougher measures against Beijing said the genocide declaration would make it impossible for the international community to ignore the repression in the XUAR. They urged other states to make their own genocide determinations.

The implications are enormous. Its unthinkable to continue business as usual with a state committing genocide and crimes against humanity, said Omer Kanat, executive director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP).

Whether its the 2022 Beijing Olympics or climate change, governments and companies cant ignore the Uyghurs living nightmare. We have been waiting for this determination for a long time, he said in a statement.

'Historic day'

Authorities in the XUAR are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Muslim minorities in a vast network of internment camps since early 2017, subjecting many to indoctrination aimed at instilling loyalty to the Communist Party and eroding any religious identity.

Under increasing international scrutiny, authorities in the XUAR have begun to send detainees to work at factories as part of an effort to label the camps vocational centers, although those held in the facilities regularly toil under forced or coerced labor conditions.

Authorities in Xinjiang have also sought to curb the growth of the Uyghur population by forcing women to undergo sterilization, according to a 2020 report by Adrian Zenz, a U.S.-based researcher.

Today is a historic day not only for the Uyghur people in East Turkestan but for the entire humanity, said Dolkun Isa, president of the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) exile group, using the Uyghurs preferred name for their homeland.

This determination proves the U.S. isnt just recognizing this as genocide but also taking active steps to prevent it. With this determination, those who are responsible for committing this 21st century genocide will be held accountable.

Scott Harold, a China politics expert at the RAND Corporation, said the genocide would not bring immediate relief to those suffering in the XUAR camps, but would boost awareness of the Uyghur cause and help protect those outside of China.

Unfortunately for the Uyghurs inside China the determination is unlikely to lead to improvements in their situation in the near term, but it does mean that the world has not forgotten them, and they should not give up hope, Harold told RFAs Uyghur Service.

For Uyghurs outside of China, it means that they are better positioned to seek refugee status and/or avoid being returned to China if Beijing is seeking them, and for those China is not trying to have deported it means their family members suffering inside of China have a new and powerful champion, added Harold.

Congress pushed for designation

Last year, the Trump administration leveled sanctions against the quasi-military Xinjiang Production and Construction Corp (XPCC) and two of its current and former officials over rights violations in the XUAR, as well as several top Chinese officials, including regional party secretary Chen Quanguomarking the first time Washington targeted a member of Chinas powerful Politburo.

On Jan, 13, it announced a ban on imports of products made with cotton and tomatoes from the XUAR, citing forced labor concerns, following earlier curbs on hair products from the region.

The designation follows calls from Congress and an annual report released Thursday by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which said there was evidence that crimes against humanity  and possibly genocide  are occurring in Xinjiang.

On Wednesday, members of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee urged Pompeo to designate Chinas policies in the XUAR as a genocide.

Its actions reflect an intent to destroy, whether in whole or in part, this population, the lawmakers wrote in a letter.

In October a group of U.S. senators introduced a resolution to designate Chinas rights abuses against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the XUAR as genocide under the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

Nury Turkel, a commissioner on the bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), said his independent federal government body has long called for the genocide designation, based on forced sterilization and other population control measures.

The incoming Biden administration has the unique opportunity to continue the hard work of confronting Chinas atrocities, he said in statement issued by Turkel and fellow commissioners.

The USCIRF urges the U.S. to push for an independent, international fact-finding investigation of Chinas crimes against Uyghurs, swift and targeted sanctions under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act against the officials responsible for abuses in the XUAR, it said.

The American government must do more to hold China to account and to end this genocide, said the statement.



We urge American and other world leaders and corporations to condemn the genocide and crimes against humanity of the Communist Party of China that have been directed at Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims. The perpetrators must be held to account, it added.

Bidens nominee to be the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told lawmakers during his Senate confirmation hearing that he agreed with the genocide label.

Forcing men, women and children into concentration camps, trying to in effect re-educate them to be adherents to the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party, all of that speaks to an effort to commit genocide, he said.

According to the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the U.S. State Department has made statements that genocide has occurred in five cases since the end of the cold War: Bosnia (1993), Rwanda (1994), Iraq (1995), Darfur (2004), and areas under the control of ISIS (2016 and 2017).

Reported by Alim Seytoff and Mamatjan Juma for RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
Thank You, President Trump

Commentary

We should be watching your second inauguration ceremony today, and toasting the continuation of a presidency that is aligned in underlying competence, stated policy, and actual deed with the interests of the United States, the prosperity of the American people, and the continued defense of freedom and democracy, not only in the United States, but also around the world.

Instead, we say thank you for all that you have done for the United States and the world as president during your first term, for the superhuman perseverance you have continuously demonstrated in the face of relentless and irrational opposition, and for answering the call to serve when you knew that the time to do so had arrived.

You didnt set out to become President of the United States, but it seems to have been your destiny. You possessed the keen intellect, innate drive, and family support to confidently pursue fortune, fame, and an outsized American dream that has captured the worlds imagination. And, where so many others with similar qualities have failed, you succeeded.

You could have chosen to be content with your success and ride off comfortably into the sunset. But, as the decades passed, you could no longer countenance standing by as the hard-earned foundations of Americas wealth and power were continuously chipped away for the unaligned benefit of special interests and an ossifying political class.

You were born in 1946, just as the United States had become a global superpower following our victory in World War II. You had a dynamic upbringing in New York City, where you honed your ability to interact with and relate to people from a variety of backgrounds, from captains of industry to construction workers, and you moved comfortably among them all. To paraphrase Rudyard Kiplings poem If, you have walked with kings, but have never lost the common touch.

As a new graduate of the New York Military Academy and the University of Pennsylvania, you saw the United States drafting our young people into the military to serve as fodder for foreign adventurism in Vietnam, where they were cut down in their prime and severely wounded, both physically and psychologically. These young people, many your own age, had hopes, dreams, and talent that went unfulfilled as a result. You never forgot them, and when you became Commander in Chief, you were judicious in your deployment of our armed forces, not entangling the United States in new wars, and drawing down our once staggering military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan to less than 6,000 total troops in the wake of costly and misguided intervention spanning well over a decade.

As an up-and-coming entrepreneur, you saw your older brother, whom you had looked up to and admired, slide into alcoholism, which slowly took away his looks and his life. You never forgot him, or what substance addiction does to someone, and have worked tirelessly to secure our borders and stop the flow of drugs that have ruined the once bright futures of so many young Americans and killed so many who were once so full of life.

As a bona fide business mogul and television star who had become an international household name, you saw authoritarian China allowed into the World Trade Organization, despite prescient warnings from many against this, and observed the decades of deceit and systematic abuses of good faith and free trade that China has continuously perpetrated upon the United States to the detriment of our economy and our workers. You stood up to these blatant abuses with the principle of reciprocal trade, by raising tariffs on Chinese goods, and by actively working to repatriate factories back to the United States.

As a result of your work, unemployment levels in the United States fell to 50-year lows, stock markets reached all-time highs, and our economy was firing on all cylinders before Chinas CCP virus spread around the world and entered the United States. You helped further awaken Americans and the rest of the world to the fact that authoritarian China continues to pose the greatest external threat to the United States and to global freedom, democracy, and human rights.

You had already made billions and won international fame, and chose to donate your presidential salary back to the U.S. government with the same nonchalance as an average American adding tips for the baristas at their local coffee shop over the course of a year.

You didnt need the presidency. But, for the sake of its future success, the United States needed your leadership.

You spoke and acted on common sense and noble principle in a way that others wished that they had the strength to, and you stood firm against endless clouds of slings and arrows that others would have retreated from long ago. When accepting the nomination as the Republican presidential candidate in 2016, you told the American people, I am your voice. You made good on these words by showing usthrough your actionsyour unwavering allegiance to the interests of the United States and American citizens.

In your speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention you said, Every day, I wake up determined to deliver a better life for the people all across this nation that have been ignored, neglected, and abandoned. I have visited the laid-off factory workers, communities crushed by our horrible and unfair trade deals. These are the forgotten men and women of our country. And they are forgotten. But theyre not going to be forgotten long. These are people who work hard, but no longer have a voice. I am your voice.

We used our voices and our votes to elect you to a second term, but our voices and our franchise as voters may have again been taken away through alleged election fraud, as outlined in a series of reports completed by Trump adviser Peter Navarro. Now that our countrys laws and constitution have been trampled upon, many new questions have arisen.

How will we continue the renewed trajectory of national ascent that you initiated during your first term? How long can the United States withstand continued plunder by a corrupt political class that too often doesnt take the countrys best interests as its top priority? And, given the possible fraud that we have witnessed in the 2020 presidential election, how can we be certain that future elections will be held with integrity and result in fair outcomes?

These are issues that we will all be grappling with in the coming months and years but, for now, basic guidance can be taken from the title of one of your books, which reads simply, Never Give Up. We know that you have never given up on our country and its future, and have full confidence that you never will. The American people wont give up either and, today, after all that you have done for us these past four years, we again want to say something that should have been said more often during your first term: thank you, President Trump.

Adam Michael Molon is an American writer and journalist. He holds a masters degree in journalism from Columbia University and undergraduate degrees in finance and Chinese language from Indiana University-Bloomington.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Chinese Communist Party Is Trying to Use All Means to Pressure Biden

Commentary

In the new year, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has taken several actions to openly provoke conflictin an attempt to pressure the incoming Biden administration.

North Korean regime leader Kim Jong Un recently threatened that the country would expand its nuclear arsenal, citing the United States hostile policies. He also disclosed a list of high-tech weapons systems that were being developed.

Four years ago, Biden was the vice president. Now, the North Korean nuclear issue appears to be back in Bidens hands. The Chinese regime is North Koreas biggest backer politically and economically. Eager to pressure Biden and improve the China-U.S. relationship, the CCP has once again played the same trick with North Korea, trying to force Biden to negotiate with it as soon as possible, and, of course, hoping to defuse China-U.S. tensions.

Iran, which also is driven by the CCP, is ready to help the CCP get out of trouble. On Jan. 4, Iran announced that it increased its uranium enrichment to 20 percent. Authorities also said it seized a South Korean oil tanker.

On Jan. 6, Chinese state-run media Xinhua published an article titled Is Irans current policy going anywhere? The article publicly revealed the relationship between the CCP and Iran. The article said that Irans former top Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by U.S. forces about a year ago, should not be forgotten, and Iran must retaliate.

It also stated that Iran wants to exert pressure on the Biden administration by increasing the abundance of uranium enrichment.

The CCP not only tried to tell Iran what to do, but also tried to make decisions for Biden. The article further added that Biden and his team have repeatedly stated publicly that the United States will return to the Iran nuclear deal. President Donald Trump announced the United States withdrawal from the dealwhich limited Irans uranium enrichment levelsin May 2018, calling it a one-sided transaction.

Bidens pick for national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has previously said he wished the 2015 deal could be salvaged.

The Xinhua article called the 2015 deal a diplomatic political legacy of [former U.S. President Barack] Obama, with President-elect Biden as his deputy.

Then, on Jan. 6, a South Korean delegation headed to Iran to seek the release of the tanker and its crew members.

But a Jan. 8 Xinhua article defended Iran and claimed that the South Korean tanker did repeatedly violate laws and regulations related to the marine environment.

The article also claimed that the South Korean delegation was not in Tehran to discuss the tanker but the issue of frozen Iranian assets and funds in South Korea.

The article argued that South Korea should not freeze those funds to comply with U.S. sanctions, and said South Korean authorities froze Iranian assets under empty pretexts.

These CCP tactics not only put pressure on Biden, but also on South Korea. While South Korea doesnt seem to completely align with the United States, it holds a cold attitude toward the CCP. Now, because of the North Korean nuclear issue and Irans seizure of South Korean oil tankers, South Korea has become another target for the CCP to pressure.

The Chinese regime itself is also taking action. The South China Morning Post, citing satellite images, reported that on Dec. 25 last year, Chinas biggest warplane had landed on Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed South China Sea region. Meanwhile, on Jan. 4, Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping issued a mobilization order, calling on the military to begin focusing on preparing for war.

The Chinese militarys official website stated on Jan. 9 that in the early hours of Jan. 8, a Chinese soldier at the China-India border lost himself due to the darkness and the complicated terrain. The website stated that a few Indian media exaggerated the matter, and that India should hand over lost personnel to China, and create positive factors to the current situation on the China-India border.

How can a Chinese soldier be lost at the border due to the darkness and the complicated terrain? The CCPs rhetoric is obviously too far-fetched. Given the Partys strict control of the army, a soldier being left outside the camp alone is impossible. The more likely scenario could be that the soldier was sent out to scout out the other side, and then was captured at the border.

This suggests that the CCP is once again trying to make trouble on the Indian border, and is now trying to create tensions.

The Chinese regime lashed out against South Korea, and it will also do that with India. Both are key U.S. allies.

After 53 former lawmakers and pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong were arrested on charges of violating Beijings national security law, the European Union called for their immediate release.

On Jan. 8, Xinhua published an article titled the Europeans have no right to interfere in Chinas internal affairs. The Party may think it is about to settle its issues with the United States, so it no longer needs to be polite to the EU.

As Bidens inauguration day approaches, the CCP is eager to strike the United States from all sides. But it remains to be seen whether its actions will backfire.

Shen Zhou, a former design engineer for military vehicles, is a China observer who has paid close attention to the Chinese regimes military expansion over the years. He started contributing to The Epoch Times in 2020.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Ride-hailing major Ola on Wednesday said it has partnered with to leverage the latter's technology at its upcoming electric vehicle manufacturing facility in

In December, Ola had announced inking an agreement with the government to invest Rs 2,400 crore for setting up its first electric scooter factory in the state.

"Ola's factory will be built on Industry 4.0 principles and will be the most advanced manufacturing facility in the country. It will have almost 5,000 robots deployed across various functions," a statement said.

As part of the partnership, Ola will have access to Siemens' integrated 'Digital Twin' design and manufacturing solutions to digitalise and validate product and production ahead of actual operations, it added.

A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical product that can help understand and predict the physical counterpart's performance characteristics. Digital twins are used to simulating, predict, and optimise the product and production system before investing in physical prototypes.

"The factory will be artificial intelligence-powered with Ola's proprietary AI Engine and tech stack deeply integrated into every aspect of the manufacturing process, continuously self-learning and optimising every aspect of the manufacturing process," Ola said.

This will provide unprecedented control, automation and quality to the entire operations, especially with Ola's implementation of cyber-physical and advanced IoE systems, it added.

Ola said the entire material handling at its factory would be fully automated for maximum efficiency - right from raw materials to materials movement inside the factory, to the storage, to the finished scooter rolling off the production lines and being loaded onto trucks.

"These advanced technology systems will seamlessly blend with Ola's workforce to provide the perfect synergy of humans and machines working in tandem to build the most efficient production system and deliver the highest quality products for Ola's customers," it added.

The factory is expected to generate almost 10,000 jobs and, with an initial capacity of 2 million units a year. It will serve as Ola's global manufacturing hub catering to its customers in India as well as key markets across Europe, UK, Latin America and ANZ.

"Ola is delighted to partner with to build the most advanced manufacturing facility in the country. This will be our global hub and will set a benchmark in quality, scale and efficiency, demonstrating India's capability to build world class cutting edge products," Ola Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bhavish Aggarwal said.

Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and CEO of India, said the company is a global leader in Industry 4.0.

"We are proud to contribute to Ola's vision of creating a factory of the future using our automation and digitalisation expertise to ensure the highest levels of productivity and quality while enabling an agile and flexible production process," he added.

(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.)
Press Release

20 January 2021

Travel restrictions are affecting Germans' summer vacation plans - Domestic tourism not impacted as severely by the pandemic - Technological innovations, personalised travel services and the current low volume of travel could trigger a resurgence of the travel industry

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2020 stood out in many ways but it was dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The spread of the coronavirus changed the everyday lives of billions, and for many companies it triggered an economic crisis. Nevertheless, there is cause for hope. Despite the crises of 2020, a global decline in arrivals and consequent business losses, according to the forecasts of the Mobility Market Outlook (MMO) released by the data and market research institute Statista. The global travel and tourism market is set to recover fully from the coronavirus pandemic by 2023 and achieve record turnover figures. According to Statista's MMO the global travel and tourism revenue for 2021 is forecasted to increase by over 50% compared to 2020. New revenue records can be expected from 2023 onwards; for 2025 the MMO experts even predict a revenue growth of almost 23% versus the success year 2019.

Statista projects a 55% loss of turnover in the tourism industry for 2020. According to UNWTO figures, between 1950 and 2019 annual international arrivals increased from 25 million to almost 1.5 billion, by a total of 5,744%. By contrast, in October 2020, year-on-year international tourism arrivals fell by 72%. This also impacted the German travel industry, which according to Norbert Fiebig, president of the German Travel Association (DRV), registered a 28 billion euro decline (80%) in turnover in 2020. According to a November 2020 survey by the DIHK, 94% of companies in the German travel sector expected a turnover decline in 2020. No other industry has registered such high losses, and as a result the tourism industry has been particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo: Messe Berlin GmbH

Restrictions due to the pandemic and government policies have severely impacted the travel industry: travel restrictions are affecting Germans' summer vacations plans

Looking back on travel in 2020, the tourism industry has been heavily impacted by the restrictions put in place by national governments due to the pandemic. Various statistics show that those months, in which strict measures were issued to contain its spread, were particularly challenging for the tourism sector. According to UNTWO figures, hotel bookings in Germany declined considerably during spring and autumn - in April German hotels registered a year-on-year drop in visitors of 91%.

During the first half of 2020 it became evident that summer travel in Germany would be different to previous years. According to ZDF-Politbarometer figures from a May 2020 survey of German citizens, the coronavirus pandemic affected the travel plans of more than 50% of those polled. This was also reflected in people's destination preferences. According to a representative survey by Allianz Partners, prior to the global coronavirus outbreak 22% of German citizens favoured long-haul destinations, compared with 6% after the pandemic began. By contrast, the percentage of respondents preferring 'staycations' more than doubled, rising from 30% to 61%. Accordingly, Google search requests for 'vacation / Germany' tripled in late May, compared to the same period the year before.

Domestic tourism has not been impacted as severely by the pandemic as international tourism: domestic tourism is expected to recover as early as 2022

Projections by Statista based on WTTC, WorldData and OECD figures show that domestic tourism markets in Germany and other popular countries have not been impacted as severely by the coronavirus pandemic as international tourism. In 2019 domestic tourism accounted for close to 259 billion euros, 85% of Germany's domestic tourism revenues, whereas for 2020 the share is projected to be 91% (approx. 173 billion euros). Accordingly, turnover in Germany's international tourism market is forecast to shrink by over 60 %, from approximately 45 billion to around 16 billion euros. At the same time domestic tourism is expected to recover as early as 2022, with turnover reaching 2019 levels.

Technological innovations, personalised travel services and the current low volume of travel could trigger a resurgence of the travel industry

Both industry experts and large travel companies expect the market to recover rapidly. Thus, the tour operator TUI recently declared that travel in summer 2021 would be "normal". Due to constantly changing circumstances (e.g., how vaccination progresses, lockdown periods), experts' forecasts must be treated with caution and regularly re-assessed in line with current developments. Nevertheless, it is expected that people will have a desire to catch up on the last few months of missed travel experiences as soon as possible. Furthermore, trends that are likely to take off in the tourism industry in the near future are becoming apparent. Experts at Statista forecast that technological innovations in particular will have a positive impact on the industry, e.g., AI-based, personalised services and innovative forms of presenting tourism services with VR. Thus, the current low volume of travel together with technological innovations could spur a rapid recovery of the industry.

About Statista

Established in 2007, Statista has 900 employees at 12 locations on four continents. Statista is a leading data and business intelligence platform and provides international market and consumer surveys. Statista's Research & Analysis division augments the platform's services by providing individual market research, data research, data analyses and data modelling, as well as graphic data visualisation.

Sources:
Canada Cartage logo This is a tremendously exciting transaction for us, as Stalco and CCLS have highly complementary business models, target markets, and customer relationships, said CCLS Senior Vice President Scott Lane. "The combination of our two companies helps us scale-up capabilities to offer better service."

Canada Cartage, one of the countrys largest transportation and logistics providers, has announced the acquisition of Stalco Inc., a Toronto-based, third-party logistics company specializing in fulfillment and distribution for high-velocity, e-commerce clients in Canada, the U.S. and international markets.

Founded in 1994, Stalco is a full-service solution for clients requiring North American distribution expertise, including order fulfillment, inventory management, importation, warehousing, returns management, and cross-border shipping solutions. Stalco is site-licensed by Health Canada and offers regulatory guidance to their client base, as well as access to their on-demand white label inventory of over 25 popular health and beauty products. Stalcos unique shipping platform provides clients with highly competitive costs and delivery times to reach their customers throughout North America, and helps clients, with products manufactured overseas, to completely eliminate their duty costs when shipping to the U.S.

Stalco is a natural fit with Canada Cartages fulfillment and distribution division  CCLS.

This is a tremendously exciting transaction for us, as Stalco and CCLS have highly complementary business models, target markets, and customer relationships, said CCLS Senior Vice President Scott Lane. Both e-commerce and the natural health products markets are enjoying tremendous growth. The combination of our two companies helps us scale-up our capabilities to offer customers better service and value.

Steven Page, founder and President of Stalco, added that, this transaction offers significant synergies and opportunities, and will provide us with a far-reaching fulfillment and distribution platform to catapult our growth. I am very excited to be part of the Canada Cartage group of companies and look forward to what we can achieve together.

Stalco will continue to operate under the Stalco brand, and all staff and management will be staying on with the company.

For more information about Stalco, visit http://www.Stalco.ca.

About Stalco

Stalco Inc. was founded in 1994 and is a third-party logistics company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Stalcos full-service offering includes fulfillment, inventory management, importation, warehousing, returns management, regulatory expertise, and cross-border and global shipping solutions for high velocity, e-commerce companies. Stalco is site-licensed by Health Canada, and offers clients access to their extensive, on-demand, white-label inventory of the most popular health and beauty products and assists their clients with eliminating all duty costs associated with overseas importation.

About Canada Cartage

Canada Cartage group of companies is one of the countrys largest transportation and logistics companies. Founded in 1914, it provides dedicated contract transportation, general freight, fulfillment and distribution and home delivery services. From small- and mid-size companies to some of the largest and best-known brands in the world, it helps customers to profitably grow their businesses in Canada. For more information, visit http://www.canadacartage.com.

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The two Senate leaders, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer, have failed to reach a power-sharing deal that will put the two parties on equal footing.

During a meeting on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer discussed how to share power in an evenly divided Senate.

According to The Hill report, Schumer said they talked about a lot of issues but did not manage to reach an agreement.

Disagreements on the 60-vote legislative filibuster impeded the talks, and it could drag out the negotiations for several days. McConnell said keeping the filibuster is important and should be part of their negotiations for the Senate's power-sharing agreement.

McConnell's spokesman, Doug Andres, said that in the meeting, the Senate majority leader expressed his long-held view that the crucial, longstanding, and bipartisan Senate rules on the legislative filibuster remain intact, particularly during the power share for the next two years.

"Discussions on all aspects of the power-sharing agreement will continue over the next several days," Andres said in a Daily Mail report.

The upper chamber will be a 50-50 split on Wednesday, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris available to cast a tie-breaking vote for the Democrats. Schumer will then be promoted to majority leader, and Democrats will take over committee chairmanships.

Other issues, such as whether a tied vote in committee will allow legislation or a nomination to come to the Senate floor, would need to be worked out.

Schumer's spokesman Angelo Roefaro told the Daily Mail that Schumer expressed the fairest, most reasonable, and the easiest path forward to adapt the 2001 bipartisan agreement, without drastic changes from either side.

The filibuster is a procedural mechanism that allows the minority to hinder legislation from advancing in the Senate. It could keep debate open on a legislative item until the Senate votes to close it. Instead of the usual 50, closing debate requires 60 votes. You cannot move to final voting until you have 60 votes.

Both Republican and Democratic parties were responsible for killing off aspects of the filibuster over the years, such as the case in non-SCOTUS nominations.

Reports said that McConnell would need it retained to prevent Democrats from pushing through every bill they want.

According to a Fox News report, Schumer noted that they had three things they got to do quickly: the impeachment, nomination, and the COVID-19 pandemic. McConnell said he hopes the House will wait until Thursday to send the impeachment articles to not overshadow the Inauguration Day.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has yet to reveal when Congress will submit the impeachment articles to Senate.

Related story: Warnock Beats Loeffler in Georgia, Ossoff-Perdue Race Too Close To Call

Democratic Senators Changing the Majority

Three new Democratic senators will take office after Georgia Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won the Georgia senate race.

Warnock and Ossoff won the Jan. 5 senate race against Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. Democrat Alex Padilla will also be replacing the Senate seat that Harris vacated.

In January 2001, the Senate was an even split, and it allowed for bills and nominations to advance to the floor, even if they tied in committee votes. At the time, Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote gave the GOP the Senate majority.

Biden will need some of these rules to be put in place as he needs to immediately confirm his cabinet officials.

Read also: Republicans Narrow Democratic Chances for Senate Majority by Keeping Key Gop


YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian sees need for formation of a common agenda of the Armenian side over the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

The conflict has entered into new stage where it is necessary to form a common agenda of the Armenian sides. In this respect the recent visit to Artsakh was very important where we have discussed the necessity of forming a common agenda and coordinating our actions, the FM said during a Q&A session in the Parliament, in response to the question of the ruling My Step faction MP Tatevik Hayrapetyan.

The minister said the contradictory statements of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are condemnable which, he added, prove that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not completely solved.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Astronomers are winding back the clock on the expanding remains of a nearby, exploded star. By using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, they retraced the speedy shrapnel from the blast to calculate a more accurate estimate of the location and time of the stellar detonation.



The victim is a star that exploded long ago in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy to our Milky Way. The doomed star left behind an expanding, gaseous corpse, a supernova remnant named 1E 0102.2-7219, which NASA's Einstein Observatory first discovered in X-rays. Like detectives, researchers sifted through archival images taken by Hubble, analyzing visible-light observations made 10 years apart.

The research team, led by John Banovetz and Danny Milisavljevic of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, measured the velocities of 45 tadpole-shaped, oxygen-rich clumps of ejecta flung by the supernova blast. Ionized oxygen is an excellent tracer because it glows brightest in visible light.

To calculate an accurate explosion age, the astronomers picked the 22 fastest moving ejecta clumps, or knots. The researchers determined that these targets were the least likely to have been slowed down by passage through interstellar material. They then traced the knots' motion backward until the ejecta coalesced at one point, identifying the explosion site. Once that was known, they could calculate how long it took the speedy knots to travel from the explosion center to their current location.

According to their estimate, light from the blast arrived at Earth 1,700 years ago, during the decline of the Roman Empire. However, the supernova would only have been visible to inhabitants of Earth's southern hemisphere. Unfortunately, there are no known records of this titanic event.

The researchers' results differ from previous observations of the supernova's blast site and age. Earlier studies, for example, arrived at explosion ages of 2,000 and 1,000 years ago. However, Banovetz and Milisavljevic say their analysis is more robust.

This time-lapse video shows the movement of a supernova remnant--the gaseous remains of an exploded star--that erupted approximately 1,700 years ago. The stellar corpse, a supernova remnant named 1E 0102.2-7219, met its demise in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way. The movie's opening frame shows ribbons of glowing gaseous clumps that make up the remnant. The video then toggles between two black-and-white images of the remnant, taken 10 years apart, revealing subtle shifts in the ejecta's expansion over time. Credits: NASA, ESA, A. Pagan (STScI), J. Banovetz and D. Milisavljevic (Purdue University)

"A prior study compared images taken years apart with two different cameras on Hubble, the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 and the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS)," Milisavljevic said. "But our study compares data taken with the same camera, the ACS, making the comparison much more robust; the knots were much easier to track using the same instrument. It's a testament to the longevity of Hubble that we could do such a clean comparison of images taken 10 years apart."

The astronomers also took advantage of the sharp ACS images in selecting which ejecta clumps to analyze. In prior studies, researchers averaged the speed of all of the gaseous debris to calculate an explosion age. However, the ACS data revealed regions where the ejecta slowed down because it was slamming into denser material shed by the star before it exploded as a supernova. Researchers didn't include those knots in the sample. They needed the ejecta that best reflected their original velocities from the explosion, using them to determine an accurate age estimate of the supernova blast.

Hubble also clocked the speed of a suspected neutron star--the crushed core of the doomed star--that was ejected from the blast. Based on their estimates, the neutron star must be moving at more than 2 million miles per hour from the center of the explosion to have arrived at its current position. The suspected neutron star was identified in observations with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile, in combination with data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

"That is pretty fast and at the extreme end of how fast we think a neutron star can be moving, even if it got a kick from the supernova explosion," Banovetz said. "More recent investigations call into question whether the object is actually the surviving neutron star of the supernova explosion. It is potentially just a compact clump of supernova ejecta that has been lit up, and our results generally support this conclusion."

So the hunt may still be on for the neutron star. "Our study doesn't solve the mystery, but it gives an estimate of the velocity for the candidate neutron star," Banovetz said.

Banovetz will present the team's findings Jan. 14 at the American Astronomical Society's winter meeting.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C.

Credits: NASA, ESA, and J. Banovetz and D. Milisavljevic (Purdue University)

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Steves experience as a former tenured professor, dean, vice president in education, and as an executive at companies supporting colleges and universities, will allow LearningMate to serve more institutions seeking partnerships to enhance course engagement, student retention, and student outcomes.

LearningMate Solutions, a leading provider of technology, specialty content, and consulting services for the K-12, higher education, professional, and corporate learning communities, announced Steve Ernsts appointment as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for its Higher Education division. In this role, Steve will focus on providing strategic sales and business development direction for higher education partnerships while supporting institutions with their need to scale remote, hybrid, hyflex, and online program initiatives.

LearningMate has experienced a rapid increase in inquiries from colleges seeking partners with a proven track record in providing faculty with the support and tools necessary to enhance the student experience within their courses. Leveraging learning design best practices, data, and the college technology infrastructure, LearningMate has supported more than 50 higher education institutions in their time of need, including traditional programs, competency-based programs, certification, and micro-credentials, said Abhijeet Sethi, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, LearningMate. Steves experience as a former tenured professor, dean, and vice president in education, as well as an executive at companies supporting colleges and universities, will allow LearningMate to serve more institutions seeking partnerships to enhance course engagement, student retention, and student outcomes.

Steve has served the education community for over 20 years and has held numerous leadership roles in businesses supporting corporate training and higher education. His passion for helping educational organizations solve problems drives him to deliver robust and sustainable solutions that impact teaching and learning at scale.

About LearningMate Solutions, Inc.

LearningMate focuses on the needs of next-generation learners. The company builds on a strong foundation of learning design with progressive technology, digital media, and engineering solutions to connect todays learners, educators, administrators, policymakers, and content creators with the information, tools, and solutions they need to be successful. With six consulting offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and India, LearningMate serves a global clientele of education publishers, traditional and nontraditional EdTech companies, K-20 schools, universities and career colleges, government agencies, non-profits, corporate learning departments, and education consortia. For more information, visit learningmate.com.

###

If you would like more information about this release or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Taya Bures at 605.838.8108 or via email at taya.bures@learningmate.com.
Livestream for Inauguration is being set with security measures when a mob of rioters overcame barriers and burst into the Capitol.

Some of them boasted about their live streaming activities as thousands of followers watched in real-time.

After the Capitol's attack and in anticipation of possible protests at the Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, several Livestream networks are now taking measures to clamp down on such broadcasts.

Via Inauguration Day, the Facebook company will block "the creation of any new Facebook events" that are near the White House, US Capitol, and any state capitol buildings.

"We are monitoring for signals of violence or other threats both in Washington, DC and across all 50 states," Facebook said "In the lead up to Inauguration Day, we have implemented a series of additional measures in Livestream to continue preventing attempts to use our services for violence."

YouTube says it has deleted several videos shot during the Capitol attack that seemed to cause violence or display guns carried by Capitol rioters. The firm told CNN that Livestreams and other posts that violate its hate, abuse, and election integrity guidelines would continue to be deleted.

And after the Capitol attack, DLive, a Livestream service popular with gamers, reported that it had suspended seven of its users on January 6 for incitement to violence and illegal activities. Since then, DLive has announced additional steps and said it is blocking all live streams on Inauguration Day from the Washington, DC, area.

Law enforcement official Pete Eliadis, and the founder of Intelligence Consulting Partners, said the Capitol Livestreams offered a forum to spread hatred while enabling those who film them to pander to their followers.

"It's being watched by state actors all over the world. ... If I'm a bad actor, I know the layout of the Capitol ... I can see the defenses, the police response and I can counter that now," he told CNN. "That's a huge challenge on a larger scale platform."

This provides more motivation for the "influencers" to view the narrative through their own eyes, contributing to a dangerous type of control that "enhances the ideology and the movement," said Eliadis.

There are their influencers on all streaming platforms who associate fame with wealth. Cindy Otis, vice president of research at Alethea Group, which monitors misinformation and social media exploitation, said that to stand out, some users indulge in a degree of acting-almost like they're performing in their movies-to gain money.

And the majority of users will flock to sites where their content can be monetized, Otis said. That can mean smaller, fringe outlets for radicals with less stringent content policies and market themselves as homes for "uncensored" expression.

READ MORE: Man With Unauthorized Inauguration Credentials and Loaded Handgun Arrested by US Capitol Police

Extremist ideologies are finding new homes as platforms clamp down on hate speech and incendiary content, says Megan Squire, a professor at Elon University in North Carolina and an expert on online extremism.

Also, on smaller sites like DLive, only a minority of users are made up of extremists.

DLive claims the vast majority of its users, with fewer than 10 percent talking about current affairs or politics, concentrate on gaming. And Squire said that some DLive gamers use the site's group chats to celebrate the Capitol rioters' suspension and share their outrage at being associated with White supremacists.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
[January 20, 2021] Dr. J. Phillip (Jack) London, CACI Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman, Passes Away

CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) announced today that Dr. J. Philip (Jack) London, CACI Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman , who had served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer for 23 years, and Executive Chairman since 2007, has passed away at the age of 83. CACI and the federal government contracting community will remember Jack for more than 50 years of exceptional technology leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship in serving America's most important missions. His patriotism, military service and unwavering support of the nation's veterans were among his many hallmarks. His commitment to good character and values is memorialized in his book Character, The Ultimate Success Factor, reinforcing CACI's dedication to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in serving its customers and the nation. His extraordinary vision, wisdom and guidance, and constant pursuit of excellence, consistently brought CACI to the correct decisions. The founder of modern-day CACI, he leaves a solid legacy of a strong management team to ensure stability and continuity in all aspects of our operations. To effectuate a seamless transition, CACI's Boad of Directors today elected Michael A. Daniels as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mike will support President and Chief Executive Officer John Mengucci in continuing the Company's trajectory.



CACI President and Chief Executive Officer John Mengucci said, "All of us at CACI are deeply saddened by Dr. London's passing. It was our great privilege to know and work with him, and he leaves a legacy of outstanding success and accomplishments. He was a true pioneer in the federal contracting industry, drawing from his military service to set the standard for leading with ethics and integrity. He set the bar high for business leaders across our industry, developing a successful business that continuously excelled and stayed strong through more than 50 years of changes in the federal landscape. Jack London was one of a kind, and all of us at CACI are grateful to have been a part of his life." CACI's approximately 23,000 talented employees are vigilant in providing the unique expertise and distinctive technology that address our customers' greatest enterprise and mission challenges. Our culture of good character, innovation, and excellence drives our success and earns us recognition as a Fortune World's Most Admired Company. As a member of the Fortune 1000 Largest Companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the S&P MidCap 400 Index, we consistently deliver strong shareholder value. Visit us at www.caci.com.

There are statements made herein which do not address historical facts, and therefore could be interpreted to be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in CACI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, and other such filings that CACI makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Any forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon and only speak as of the date hereof. CACI-Misc View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005744/en/

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Marmorstein: You might soon be living in a million dollar home  unfortunately
Active COVID-19 cases continue to decline in Cayuga County, but there were five more virus-related deaths on Monday.

The Cayuga County Health Department said three nursing home residents  two women in their 80s and a woman in her 70s  died after testing positive for COVID-19. One of the women was hospitalized at the time of her death.

The health department doesn't disclose the nursing home where the residents lived, but there have been 44 deaths at The Commons on St. Anthony in Auburn.

Two other county residents, a man in his 80s and a man in his 60s, died. They had tested positive for the virus and were hospitalized before their deaths.

There have been 70 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began in March 2020. January has been the deadliest month for Cayuga County. So far, there are 46 virus-related fatalities this month.

Because of the federal holiday, the health department admitted two cases on Monday. There are 404 active cases, down from 560 one day ago. The number of individuals in mandatory quarantine decreased from 3,606 to 2,046.
HONG KONG, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC), a fully-fledged fixed-line operator and ICT service provider with extensive local and international network coverage, services and infrastructure, today announced the availability of its hyperscale-focused fibre optic network at AirTrunk's latest hyperscale data centre in Hong Kong.

Asia-Pacific hyperscale data centre specialist, AirTrunk opened the doors of its HKG1 data centre in December 2020. Near Tsuen Wan, AirTrunk's 20+ MW facility is strategically located in a key hub for international connectivity. AirTrunk converted an eight-storey industrial building into a world-class hyperscale data centre with a design PUE of 1.35 in record time to support cloud customers ramping up their operations in Hong Kong and the wider region.

HGC's fully meshed and robust fibre connectivity is available to link the new data centre to others in the city and beyond into APAC, through HGC's fast growing fibre network. Reliable service can be brought online within four to six weeks, and between two to three weeks for fast track customers. Leveraging the ubiquitous network and extensive portfolio of services, HGC links its home market with the rest of the world and carries traffic between internationally-dispersed geographies.

Being a major financial hub and technology centre, Hong Kong is one of the Asia's most connected locations. With a healthy data centre landscape and a large portfolio of submarine cables, Hong Kong is set to remain a top choice for deployment by global enterprises.

Think tank house Structure Research estimates the Hong Kong data centre market to grow at a CAGR of 13% to 14%, reaching $1.7 billion by 2023. A key driver behind this growth is the ongoing letting of hosting floor to hyperscale companies, especially large public cloud operators. Hong Kong has one of the highest concentrations of deployments by these players.

Thomas Lee, AVP, Global Carrier Data, International Business of HGC, said: "We have borne witness to rapid mounting demand for data centre to data centre network connectivity services in Hong Kong. The HGC fibre optic grid available at AirTrunk's state-of-the-art facility is a solid and robust infrastructure. It has the ability to be tailored to each client's needs, and has a specially designed SLA for hyperscale companies, including large public cloud companies seeking to expand in the region. With state-of-the-art network infrastructure, far-reaching connectivity and software-based capability, HGC is well positioned to capture widespread market opportunities arising in the digital economy."

About HGC Global Communications Limited

HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international fixed-line operator. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. HGC has 23 overseas offices, with business over 5 continents. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. HGC is one of Hong Kong's largest Wi-Fi service providers, running over 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities and transport in North America, Europe and selected fast-growing economies.

To learn more, please visit HGC's website at: www.hgc.com.hk

SOURCE HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC)

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This is the disgraced mum-of-six who pleaded guilty this week to making her THIRD false rape claim against the same man.

Hannah Harkin, from Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, admitted perverting the course of justice by making a false claim of rape, just over two years ago.

But we can reveal the 58-year-old  whos facing jail when sentenced next month - was convicted three months ago of making two similar claims of rape.

A judge then described her behaviour as reprehensible adding, The stain that can attract can be very hard to repair and very distressing for him, yet this conduct was repeated, and the man was arrested.

When confronted by the Sunday World this week Harkin blamed her addiction to alcohol for her shocking behaviour.

Harkin, who was forced to flee her Omagh home 18 years ago after she was convicted of providing a fake alibi for her killer son, is pictured here for the first time.

Expand Close Sheepish: Our reporter spoke to Harkin this week / Facebook

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For making false allegations and wasting police time in February and then again in May 2020 she was handed two consecutive four month prison sentences last October but both were suspended for three years.

She had contacted the police on both occasions and claimed the man had lured her to her bedroom and raped her but the next day had withdrawn the allegations.

The man had been arrested and strenuously denied the claims.

She was also ordered by a judge to pay 1,000 compensation to her victim for the distress she had caused him.

Now Harkin  whose killer son Gerard Donnell beat to death a defenceless man in 2003 is facing jail after a third rape allegation which preceded the first two phoney claims.

Expand Close Killer: Gerard Donnell / Facebook

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While the allegations last year were dealt with in the Magistrates Court on Tuesday heartless Harkin appeared in the dock of Dungannon Crown Court.

Here she faced the more serious charge of perverting the course of justice and had been due to stand trial when she changed her plea to guilty to the offence which dated back to November 2018.

No details surrounding the case were disclosed during the short hearing, although it was previously heard Harkin made a report to police contending to have been raped by a specific male.

Judge Paul Ramsay ruled pre-sentence reports would be required and remanded Harkin on continuing bail of 500 bail.

On Thursday a sheepish Harkin told the Sunday World she deeply regretted what she had done admitting she had made the false claims against the same man.

Asked why she had done such a thing she replied: I was drunk, I know it was wrong but I felt he was walking all over me and I just couldnt see it.

Of course, I deeply regret what I did but I was battling an alcohol addiction. I had a drink problem.

And she accepted she might be going to jail.

Im very worried about going to jail. All I know is I wont be doing anything like this again. I was angry and drunk when I called the police. Im sorry it happened.

But we can reveal Harkin hides a dark secret after she provided a fake alibi for her son who had just battered a defenceless drinking pal of hers to death.

Her son Gerard Patrick Donnell served just five years for smashing to death 48-year-old Omagh man Andrew Bannon in 2003.

Expand Close Andrew Bannon's family, Sean, Ann-Marie and Grainne / Facebook

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Donnell, who was highly intoxicated himself at the time of the killing, carried out the barbaric act because he thought his mum was involved in some kind of relationship with Mr Bannon.

He was also convicted of GBH with intent on another man and perverting the course of justice in connection with the same incident.

Hannah Harkin was convicted of withholding information after an Omagh bar man heard her along with three others  including her killer son  concocting a false alibi.

The killing shocked the community around Mullaghmore and Hannah was forced out of the area - such was the anger felt towards her.

She was handed a suspended prison sentence after a bar man had overheard her, her killer son and three others openly discussing an alibi in a local pub.

Expand Close Brutal death: Andrew Bannon / Facebook

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When she appeared at court Harkin was asked why she had not notified the police as soon as she became aware of what her son had done to Mr Bannon she replied she regretted not contacting the police at the time before adding, it was a stupid thing to do.

Andrew Bannon, a popular character who was well known throughout Omagh, was brutally beaten by Donnell with a pick-axe handle.

Donnell was originally sentenced to 14 years in 2005 when a murder charge was dropped, and he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

But he appealed his sentence and had it reduced to 10 years and with 50 per cent remission he walked after just five years inside.

Last night Mr Bannons daughter Ann-Marie told the Sunday World Hannah Harkin along with her son, who has almost 500 convictions, had completely disregarded the law for years.

Ann-Marie had set up a support group for victims of violent offenders and she had taken a campaign to Stormont pushing for more support for victims rather than what they saw as too much support for offenders.

Hannah Harkin and her son have shown blatant disregard for the law throughout the years since dads killing, she said last night.

Sometimes we question when is rehabilitation of such offenders a waste of time and taxpayers' money.
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(Photo : Screenshot From The Tesla Space YouTube) Volkswagen Competes with Tesla by Offering Cheaper EV Prices in China

Volkswagen might be having a hard time competing with Tesla until its very first electric vehicles were finally available. The competition between the German automaker and American competitor definitely didn't start smoothly as VW plans to be aggressively competing with Tesla proven by its move over in China. The competition heats up even more with VW ID.4 China release with cheaper prices than Tesla.

VW ID.4 China Release Date and Prices

According to an article by InsideEVs, the VW ID.4 Crozz prices definitely reveal that the SUV will cost less compared to the most affordable Tesla coming from Giga Shanghai. While Tesla charges a whopping RMB 249,900 for its Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus that is made in China. This is equivalent to a whopping $38,571 when converted using the current exchange rate. That car is said to use LFP batteries and even has an NEDC range capable of reaching 468kms or 290.8 miles.

The Volkswagen ID.4Crozz when looking at its most expensive version in China with an impressive range of 550kms or 341.8 miles would only cost RMB 242,888 or a whopping $37,489. There is also reportedly a pricier version for the Volkswagen ID.4 Crozz that will be called the Prime and cost a higher RMB 279,900 or $43,201 but will be capable of reportedly offering a range that surpasses 500 kms or more than 310 miles.

Which is the best electric car in China?

As much as the upcoming EV will be fully loaded when it rolls out, the article by InsideEvs suggests that this is probably not exactly what Chinese customers are currently looking for and that range should be able to play a much more prominent role in this particular choice.

For those that could be happier with reaching 400 km of range, the company Volkswagen actually sells the ID.4 Crozz for a whopping RMB 199,900 or $30,854. There is a massive difference towards what the federal tax credit represents over in the United States.

Read Also: Tesla China offers wrapping services; Elon Musk Tweeted Giga Berlin Will House "World's Most Advanced Paint Shop"

Is Tesla selling in China?

Although the Chinese customers reportedly fancy Tesla as well as its very own Supercharger network, the prestigious Volkswagen still dominates that market ever since it had become the very first carmaker that was able to set foot over in China back during the 1980s. What it had lacked within the EV segment was actually a competitive offering.

Over in Europe, Tesla had seen falling sales back in 2020 when the traditional automakers all started selling EVs as well as seen in the graphics that were demonstrated by the Schmidt Automotive Research. Although China is considered a large electric car market along with many competitors, these particularly aggressive prices for the VW ID.4 Crozz might even prove to be the biggest threat that would come face to face with Tesla as of the moment.

Will the German carmaker be able to take over Tesla over in China? Tesla is one of the top EV companies in China, could Volkswagen do better than them?

Related Article: Elon Musk's Secret Germany Side-Trip Meets with Volkswagen CEO-Is This A New Collab for Tesla and VW?

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

The head of Voice of America's parent agency hired a law firm at a rate of about $500 an hour and spent $2 million in taxpayer funds to compile personnel dossiers on managers he had targeted for removal, according to a complaint filed Tuesday.

The accusation, contained in a whistleblower complaint, is the latest claim of impropriety against Michael Pack, a conservative Trump appointee who has sought to reshape VOA and four other government-funded international news networks since becoming their overseer in June.

During his short tenure, Pack has generated controversy by removing veteran managers, accusing VOA of harboring foreign spies and seeking to influence VOA's news coverage, despite regulations barring political appointees from doing so. A federal judge in November prohibited him from violating the editorial "firewall" and interfering in editorial decisions.

In addition, the District of Columbia's attorney general sued Pack earlier this month, alleging that he had enriched himself by funneling more than $4 million to the private filmmaking company he formerly ran through a nonprofit entity that he also controlled.

The latest allegation comes from the Government Accountability Project, a law firm that represents government whistleblowers, including those at the federal government's U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is run by Pack. USAGM manages VOA, Radio Free Asia and three other entities that report news for international audiences.

It alleges that Pack hired a leading law firm, McGuireWoods, to investigate current and former employees. The law firm has billed USAGM about $2 million over the past three months, according to the complaint, or roughly $500 per hour for 4,000 hours of work.

It called the expenditure "a gross waste of government resources," given that government agencies, including USAGM's own employees, routinely handle such matters.

It also suggested that Pack's intent was to compile evidence to support his own decisions. Pack hired the law firm on Aug. 12, it said - the same day he removed six senior USAGM officials, including its executive director, general counsel and chief financial officer.

Among the law firm's duties was to compile personnel records on the suspended employees and gather information about the Open Technology Fund, an independent nonprofit organization that receives grants from Pack's agency, according to the complaint. Pack has sought to cut funding to the organization and has been engaged in a legal dispute with it.

The complaint names John D. Adams, a McGuireWoods partner, as the lead attorney working for Pack. Neither Pack nor Adams, a former Republican candidate for state attorney general in Virginia in 2017, responded to a request for comment on Tuesday.

The Government Accountability Project, which represents USAGM employees, sent its complaint to House and Senate committees that have oversight of USAGM, and to the federal offices of Special Counsel and Inspector General of the State Department. It urged that they investigate Pack.

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A widow in Ogun State has narrated how officers of the Nigerian Police Force reportedly tortured and detained her for four days despite being pregnant.

Adebimpe Sobowale told the Ogun State Judicial Panel of Enquiry sitting in Abeokuta, on Tuesday, that her husband was killed in police detention over N200 airtime that was reportedly traced to her phone.

Mrs Sobowale explained that she was arrested by police on February 8, 2020, over allegations that she committed fraud with her SIM card and then tortured for four days while carrying a three-month pregnancy.

They (police) asked me to write whatever they dictated to me as a statement. They said I belonged to a gang of fraudsters and claimed that my SIM card was used to collect N200 recharge (card). They said they tracked it at Zain (Airtel) office and it brought my picture.

I told them I dont know what they were talking about and I refused to implicate myself in the statement.

She told the panel that her husband was subsequently arrested and she gained her freedom after spending four days in detention.

They arrested my husband on February 10 and released me the next day, Mrs Apbowale said. Some days later, I was informed that my husband had died in detention.

Asked if she recalls the identity of the officers who perpetrated the act, she said: they were three SARS operatives but I can only identify two by face and one of them is called Inspector Apiah Moses.

She told the panel the death of her husband has made it difficult for her to feed her kids.

Mrs Sobowale said already had a son before her arrest and the pregnancy also produced another baby boy whom she brought before the panel.

Witness

Testifying in support of the widow, Ojo Friday, who was the witness, said he was the one who secured Mrs Sobowales bail.

The panel, however, adjourned the matter till February 4, 2021, for the respondents to produce Mr Moses.
EDWARDSVILLE  A request to put a referendum on the April 4 ballot was shot down Tuesday evening after no board member was willing to make a motion to consider the proposal.

An alternative motion was ruled out of order.

Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler called the special board meeting for Tuesday to consider an advisory referendum to reduce the boards size.

The referendum would have read Shall the number of County Board members be reduced from the current 29 members following the 2020 Decennial Census?

However, no county board member was willing to motion in favor of the referendum, which would have allowed discussion.

The issue comes up now because of reapportionment, or the redrawing of county board seats, which will follow the 2020 census.

All board members terms expire in 2022. At that time members will be elected in newly-drawn districts to either two- or four-year terms.

State law mandates the county board have between five and 29 members. The current board has 29, the maximum allowed by law, which was set by the 1970 Illinois Constitution.

According to Article VII, Section 3A, The number of members of the county board shall be fixed by ordinance in each county within limitations provided by law.

A plan for reapportionment must be completed by this spring, including determining the number of county board members.

Tuesday was the last day a governmental body could approve a referendum for the ballot. According to officials at the Madison County Clerks Office, the only referendum set for the April ballot is a request by Madison County residents of the Bunker Hill Fire Protection District to detach and start a separate district.

Tuesdays special meeting included brief discussion about an alternative motion by board member Mick Madison, R-Bethalto.

We all know the voters will overwhelmingly vote yes, Madison said.

He recommended a motion to table the issue until there was a viable plan to discuss, which would have effectively ruled out an advisory referendum, placing the matter entirely with the board. That would allow for a quicker final decision, he said.

However, Prenzler ruled the motion out of order.

Board Member Erica Conway-Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, also asked for discussion, but board policy doesnt allow discussion on an issue unless there is a motion on the floor.

The proposal died for a lack of a motion and the meeting was adjourned.
The Amazon Prime series, Tandav starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Sarah Jane Dias, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in the lead roles has been in the grapple of several controversies ever since it was released on the OTT platform. Now, the makers and the cast of the show has been slapped with yet another FIR in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar police station. The FIR has been filed on Monday night for allegedly disrupting the communal peace. The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Balbir Azad from the Raunija village under Rabupara police station of Greater Noida.

The complaint has the allegations that Tandav has showcased the police authorities of Uttar Pradesh in a poor light. The complaint further states that shot in Rabapura, the first episode of the Amazon Prime series shows the actors essaying the role of the cop, using foul languages and consuming alcohol. The FIR further accused the show of humiliating the Hindu gods and goddesses and depicting the Prime Minister of disrupting the democratic rules.

Tandav Controversy: Makers Choose To Implement Changes Suggested By I&B Ministry

The complaint stated how the makers wish to destroy the tranquility and peace with the aim of making money. Furthermore, Tandav was accused in the FIR for showcasing dialogues which are humiliating to the Dalit community. The complaint has been filed against the lead actors of the show namely Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub along with director Ali Abbas Zafar, writer Gaurav Solanki as well as Amazon Prime India Head Aparna Purohit.

Tandav Makers Apologise After Receiving Severe Backlash For Hurting Hindu Sentiments

Balbir Azad who is a worker of the Bahujan Samaj Party also stated that instead of just an apology, Tandav should be banned altogether. The makers of the controversial show have faced a second FIR in the form of this one after a similar FIR was filed by the Lucknow Police against the cast and crew.
Patience needed for startup success

Local e-wallet startup MoMo last week completed its Series D fundraising round worth $100 million, including global leading investors Goodwater Capital, Kora Management, and Macquarie Capital. However, not every business has been so fortunate.

Since the pandemic broke out, it has been harder to mobilise capital, said Tran Nguyen Le Van, CEO of Vexere  a local startup offering online bus tickets. Because of the health crisis, fewer people have been travelling by bus, bringing about a pitiful performance for the company.

Van said that startups generally have no assets such as mortgages and so are unable to access bank loans. In the case of Vexere, the startup can only count on investment capital. Travelling restrictions have hampered us from a direct meeting with investors to settle the investment deal. So, we have yet to access the potential capital.

Along with startups, venture capital funds have been on the edge due to the naturally cutthroat selection process. Le Han Tue Lam, director of investment fund Nextrans Vietnam, noted as much at a webinar on COVID-19s warning to startups last year. Many do not have enough money to keep investing in some sectors, leading to the inevitable death of some portfolios, said Lam.

Nextrans itself is also restructuring its portfolio to adapt to the hardships.

Investment funds are looking for startups and sustainable growth potential, as investment flow draining towards startups has faltered. According to Vietnam-based ThinkZone Ventures, the number of successful deals involving startups and investment funds in 2020 in Vietnam was 40, equalling one-quarter of the value seen in 2019 with 123 deals worth $900 million.

The first half of last year saw $129 billion in total global venture US dollars, down from the peak in 2018 of $168 billion, according to global startup database Crunchbase.

In NFX Capitals venture capital and founder sentiment survey last year, 60 per cent of venture capital funds reported that early-stage valuations have fallen by 20-30 per cent. For the founders surveyed, 30 per cent experienced a reduction in revenue.

Meanwhile, 50 per cent of startups in Vietnam admitted that performances have been at a bare minimum. Over 20 per cent of them lost the opportunities for mobilising capital and extending their scale, and another 20 per cent halted their operation, according to data published by the National Business Registration Portal under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Even for MoMo, its executive vice-chairman cum CEO Nguyen Manh Tuong told VIR, The negotiation with the investment funds was not easy at all. It took us at least one year to build trust with them.

Tuong said that the funds would not believe the company in the beginning. After an online meeting, they constantly rechecked our information. Moreover, as COVID-19 restricted travel, their market research on our performance also took more time, resulting in a longer decision-making process.

Carrying out a large-scale deal through online platforms is proving to be a near-impossible task. For major investments, a deal commonly requires at least a face-to-face meeting before completion.

Denis Le, director at Openspace Ventures, said that the cash disbursement has been slower than in previous years due to travelling restrictions. Many deals were planned to be finalised last year but are still delayed because of the unique obstacles.

Some extremely complicated problems are, however, finally being solved by surprisingly simple actions, said Tuong from MoMo. The first was to build trust with investors.

To materialise this, Tuong said, startups should prove their ability to rise from the ashes. Doing well during the pandemic will contribute significantly to startups image in the eyes of investors.

A second factor is creating a wide vision  solving the big issues can make big social impacts, which in turn is a fundamental factor in making profit. And finally, Tuong added, startups should be patient, especially during the current circumstances.

Olivier Raussin, co-founder and managing partner at FEBE Ventures, told VIR that one of the funds focuses in 2021 is to extend its portfolio in e-commerce, AI, blockchain, fintech, and healthtech among others.

The local digital economy will potentially soar by 25 per cent in 2021 overall, and we hope to see a new wave of startups from some C-level companies in Vietnam, said Raussin.

My main expectation is that most of the new generation of talents will start their tech companies in the nation because the early stages always demand a lot of talents, he added.
Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Rockcliff Metals Corporation (CSE: RCLF) (FSE: RO0) (WKN: A2H60G) ("Rockcliff" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that an affiliate of Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") has commenced a Winter 2021 drill program at Rockcliff's Laguna Gold Property ("Laguna") and Lucky Jack Gold Property ("Lucky Jack") in Snow Lake, Manitoba. The planned 2,600 m drill program will focus on areas below high grade surface gold mineralization and northeast trending structures identified in previous work programs. Pursuant to the July 2018 option agreement, Kinross may earn up to a 70% interest in Laguna and the Lucky Jack by spending $5,500,000 over the 6-year term of the option agreement.

The Laguna and Lucky Jack are located in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake Greenstone Belt which is host to volcanogenic massive sulphide (copper-zinc) and primary gold mines and deposits. Laguna hosts the historic Rex-Laguna gold mine, Manitoba's first and highest-grade former gold mine. Discovered in 1914, periodic gold mining up to 1940 produced over 60,000 ounces of gold with an average grade of 16.7 g/t. Laguna includes 28 contiguous mining claims totalling 3,501 hectares.

2020 drill hole gold intercept highlights include:

LG20-001: 4.51 m grading 1.00 g/t

LG20-002: 2.00 m grading 3.53 g/t including 1.00 m grading 6.42 g/t and 3.10 m grading 1.72 g/t including 0.55 m grading 6.38 g/t

LG20-010: 2.00 m grading 5.60 g/t including 1.00 m grading 11.10 g/t

LG20-012: 2.59 m grading 8.90 g/t including 1.00 m grading 20.10 g/t and 4.10 m grading 2.18 g/t including 0.59 m grading 13.50 g/t

LG20-013: 3.99 m grading 2.31 g/t including 1.00 m grading 8.40 g/t

LG20-020: 11.00 m grading 0.77 g/t including 1.00 m grading 5.00 g/t

LG20-021: 3.00 m grading 2.69 g/t including 1.00 m grading 7.68 g/t 22.00 m grading 2.18 g/t including 4.64 m grading 6.70 g/t



Drill Program-2020

Two separate drill programs were completed at Laguna totaling 10,714.31 m in 25 holes. Phase 1 totaled 5,242.6 m in 13 holes (LG20-001-LG20-013) and partial results were press released on August 28, 2020. Phase 2 totaled 5,471.71 m in 12 holes (LG20-014-LG20-025). A comprehensive assay table with significant results from both phases of drilling are highlighted below. Drill intersections are not true thicknesses as additional drilling will need to be completed to determine true thicknesses of the mineralization. Drill holes LG20-003, 006, 007, 011, 014, 015, 017, 018, 025 failed to intersect significant gold mineralization.

HOLE ID FROM (m) TO (m) LENGTH (m) GOLD (g/t) LG20-001 322.49 327.00 4.51 1.00 includes 323.35 324.00 0.75 2.57 LG20-002 29.00 31.00 2.00 3.53 includes 29.00 30.00 1.00 6.42

239.05 242.15 3.10 1.72 includes 239.05 239.60 0.55 6.38 LG20-004 151.00 152.00 1.00 1.46 LG20-005 138.00 139.00 1.00 2.07

445.68 446.16 0.48 1.58 LG20-008 603.00 607.00 4.00 0.94 includes 604.00 605.00 1.00 3.31 LG20-009 393.34 393.84 0.50 4.97 LG20-010 91.00 92.00 1.00 2.88

117.56 119.56 2.00 5.60 includes 118.56 119.56 1.00 11.10 LG20-012 72.75 75.34 2.59 8.90 includes 73.53 74.66 1.13 20.1

214.90 219.00 4.10 2.18 includes 215.41 216.00 0.59 13.50 LG20-013 28.01 32.00 3.99 2.31 includes 29.00 30.05 1.05 8.40 LG20-016 159.00 163.00 4.00 1.30 includes 160.00 161.00 1.00 3.27

313.00 326.00 13.00 0.55 includes 321.50 322.50 1.00 4.02 LG20-019 301.00 312.00 11.00 0.74 includes 311.00 312.00 1.00 2.38 LG20-020 293.00 304.00 11.00 0.77 includes 301.00 302.00 1.00 5.00 LG20-021 81.00 84.00 3.00 2.69 includes 81.00 82.00 1.00 7.68

185.00 207.00 22.00 2.18 includes 196.30 200.94 4.64 6.70 LG20-022 219.95 229.55 9.60 0.70 includes 220.70 221.20 0.50 5.95

340.00 343.20 3.20 1.32 includes 341.80 342.60 0.80 4.21 LG20-023 239.00 241.00 2.00 3.06 includes 240.00 242.00 1.00 5.36

312.00 314.00 2.00 2.90 includes 313.00 314.00 1.00 4.98 LG20-024 293.00 295.00 2.00 2.57

391.00 405.00 14.00 0.58 includes 403.00 404.00 1.00 2.11

Drilling and mapping conducted at Laguna in 2020 was successful in expanding existing mineralized zones, discovering new targets and improving the understanding of the property geology and controls on gold mineralization (Figures 1 and 2). Typical accessory mineralization associated with gold mineralization at Laguna is arsenopyrite which is predominantly associated with strongly sericitized and silicified rhyolite and in quartz veins. The arsenopyrite is predominantly disseminated within the sericitized zones and generally follows along hairline fractures and margins of quartz veins.





Figure 1: Geology plan view of the Bingo and Laguna vein areas highlighting Winter 2020 drill locations

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/72393_330e88c074ddab0c_001full.jpg





Figure 2: Geology plan view highlighting Kiski veins and location of Winter 2020 drill holes

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/72393_330e88c074ddab0c_002full.jpg

Drill Program Underway-Winter 2021

Approximately 14 holes totaling approximately 2,600 m are planned at Laguna and Lucky Jack.

Drilling has commenced at the Lucky Jack (immediately south of Laguna) where 7 holes are planned in the vicinity of surface gold mineralization in quartz veining along strike of the historical Zona Shaft and at the historical Lucky Jack showing. The highest grade assay from Zona was 32.9 g/t gold and the best result from the Lucky Jack area was 4.4 g/t gold. Granodiorite is the host rock to the veining in both areas.

Additional drill testing will be centered on several northeast trending structures recently identified in magnetometer and Lidar surveys at Laguna.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Drill core is logged and sampled in a secure core storage facility located in Snow Lake, Manitoba. Core samples from the program are cut in half, using a diamond cutting saw and are sent to ALS Geochemistry in Thunder Bay, Ontario. ALS North America is accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017. All samples are analysed for gold using standard Fire Assay-AA techniques. Samples returning over 3.0g/t gold are analysed utilizing standard Fire Assay-Gravimetric methods. Certified gold reference standards and blanks are routinely inserted into the sample stream as part of the quality control/quality assurance program.

Information for the 2020 drill program is tabled below.

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Length (m) Azimuth Dip LG20-001 451441 6071760 285 337.6 30 -48 LG20-002 451513 6071833 287 282 304 -48 LG20-003 450863 6071632 278 300 307 -48 LG20-004 450737 6071495 277 228 306 -46 LG20-005 450882 6071316 281 585 305 -52 LG20-006 450472 6070990 278 354 306 -52 LG20-007 450639 6070998 282 525 305 -51 LG20-008 450807 6070992 281 639 305 -55 LG20-009 450673 6070840 279 807 306 -62 LG20-010 450269 6070453 273 159 306 -44 LG20-011 450269 6070453 273 198 306 -65 LG20-012 448715 6067846 274 486 311 -48 LG20-013 448693 6068057 278 342 312 -47 LG20-014 448898 6068337 275 321 312 -48 LG20-015 450369 6070442 276 387 306 -48 LG20-016 450289 6070379 271 327 305 -48 LG20-017 450588 6070022 279 456 306 -48 LG20-018 450231 6069427 273 506.7 307 -47 LG20-019 448790 6067779 275 507 311 -48 LG20-020 448750 6067744 275 516 311 -48 LG20-021 448822 6067819 275 531 310 -48 LG20-022 448856 6067729 275 573 311 -49 LG20-023 448869 6067851 275 357 311 -48 LG20-024 448867 6067750 275 84 309 -44 LG20-024A 448867 6067750 275 618 311 -51 LG20-025 449008 6068522 275 288 310 -47

QP

Ken Lapierre P.Geo., VP Exploration of Rockcliff, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this press release.

About Rockcliff Metals Corporation

Rockcliff is a Canadian resource development and exploration company, with +1,000 tonne per day leased processing and tailings facility as well as several advanced-stage, high-grade copper and zinc dominant VMS deposits in the Snow Lake area of central Manitoba, Canada. The Company is a major landholder in the largest Paleoproterozoic VMS district in the world, hosting high grade mines and deposits containing copper, zinc, gold and silver. The Company's extensive portfolio of properties totals approximately 4,500 square kilometres and includes seven of the highest-grade, undeveloped VMS deposits in the Flin Flon -Snow Lake Greenstone Belt.

For more information, please visit http://rockcliffmetals.com

Youtube: Rockcliff Metals Corporation

Twitter: @RockcliffMetals

Linkedin: Rockcliff Metals Corp

Instagram: Rockcliff_Metals

For further information, please contact:

Rockcliff Metals Corporation

Alistair Ross

President & CEO

Cell: (249) 805-9020

contact@rockcliffmetals.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Rockcliff believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72393

Head of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CC) Oleksandr Tupytsky declares that he is ready to come to receive suspicion notice and asks Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova to provide proper procedural guidance, as well as to appeal to President Volodymyr Zelensky on the cancellation of the decree on his dismissal.

"I am ready to come to participate in the relevant procedural action (serving a suspicion notice to me) at the date and time specified by you or another competent person in the prescribed manner," Tupytsky said in a statement dated January 19, sent to Venediktova on Tuesday.

The statement also contains a request addressed to Venediktova "to ensure proper procedural guidance of the pretrial investigation in criminal proceedings No. 12013110060002990, eliminate violations committed by prosecutors and investigators of the State Bureau of Investigations" and provide an opportunity to exercise his constitutional right to defense. He also asks the Prosecutor General to "take appropriate legal action" in relation to the investigators of the SBI and prosecutors who "committed the indicated violations of the law and official abuses."

Tupytsky also asks Venediktova to appeal to the head of state to cancel his decree No. 607/2020 of December 29, 2020 on his removal from office as a judge of the Constitutional Court.

In addition, the website of the Constitutional Court contains a refutation of the provisions of the statement of the SBI, in particular, that Tupytsky hinders the establishment of the truth in criminal proceedings in which he is a suspect, in particular, by preventing subordinates from providing documents at the request of the pretrial investigation body and the appearance of persons on the investigator's summons.

It is indicated that the presidential decree on the removal of Tupytsky from the office of a judge does not contain any instructions or prohibitions on his admission to the premises of the Constitutional Court, and the state security officers did not allow him to go to court in violation of specific provisions of the Constitution, the law on state security and the Procedure for admission to the premises of the Constitutional Court, which, in particular, explicitly prohibits the servicemen of the security unit from hindering the access of judges of the Constitutional Court to the object of protection or in any other way to interfere with their activities. "At the same time, no explanations, written instructions (orders) were provided by the employees of the said Department [of state security]," the message says.

The Constitutional Court also notes that, in accordance with Part 9 of Article 24 of the Law on the Constitutional Court, the judge of the Constitutional Court must report suspicion of committing a criminal offense to the Prosecutor General or the person exercising his powers, which "makes it illegal to carry out this procedural action by any persons."

Earlier, the press service of the SBI reported that the investigators of the Bureau notified Tupytsky of suspicion of committing criminal offenses under Part 2 of Article 384, Article 386 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (knowingly false testimony combined with artificial creation of defense evidence, bribing a witness in order to refuse testifying).

The SBI also noted that the judge hinders the establishment of the truth in criminal proceedings in which he is a suspect, in particular, by preventing subordinates from providing documents at the request of the pretrial investigation body and the appearance of persons on the summons of the investigator. "Moreover, the head of the CC, after reporting a suspicion, imitates failure of receiving it, non-entry into the status of a suspect, visiting the workplace," the Bureau stressed.

In addition, the SBI said that investigators are taking measures to ensure the implementation of presidential decree No. 607/2020, according to which the head of the Constitutional Court for two months has no right to exercise the powers of a judge of the Constitutional Court and its head and stay in the premises of this court.
As a child growing up in the southern state of Kerala in India, Sindu Gopalakrishnan helped her mother draw kolams with rice powder outside the family abode on festival days. The ancient Indian art form of geometric patterns is a sign of welcome and new beginnings.

In the waning days of 2020, the 43-year-old Phoenixville resident who works in investment banking once again drew kolam (pronounced KOHL-uhm) designs. This time, it was to welcome the new Biden-Harris administration, and particularly Kamala Harris, the countrys first vice president who is a woman, and who has roots in South India.

Along with her 18-year-old daughter, Devika Nair, Gopalakrishnan used markers and paints to color 17 pieces of 12-by-12-inch cardboard as part of a project to create a giant kolam art installation in the nations capital. This is a tradition usually seen in India, she said. We never knew we would be designing kolams here ... for one of the American streets in D.C. Its welcoming a new day.

Known as the 2021 Kolam Project, the grassroots effort celebrates not only Harris heritage, but serves as a way to showcase the multicultural heritage of America, as well as the new administrations promise of a presidency for all, say the organizers on the www.2021kolam.com website. Originally, the 2,500-square-foot, 47-dot kolam was planned as an installation outside the White House, but security concerns made that impossible.

Instead, the group got approval to place the design outside the U.S. Capitol. Then the attack of Jan. 6 happened, and the subsequent lockdown of Washington, D.C., put those plans on hold, with hopes for an installation at a later date. Meanwhile, the project was featured in a nearly five-minute clip during the virtual America United: An Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating Americas Changemakers on Saturday.

At last count, 2021 Kolam Project had received more than 1,800 tiles from people around the country, plus many more submissions through a call for selfies taken with a kolam, said Roopal Shah of Washington, D.C., who is one of the projects volunteer organizers. The selfies will form a virtual mosaic photo that is expected to post to the groups website Wednesday.

Participants, ranging in age from 5 to 95 years old, were encouraged to use the backs of old campaign signs (of any stripe) to create the tiles. Yoga studios, classical Indian dance students, and 10 D.C. public schools, in addition to hundreds of ordinary people, all contributed, incorporating bits of themselves into the designs.

 READ MORE: Kamala Harris follows Kaw Nations Charles Curtis as the second person of color to become vice president

Folks who lost somebody to COVID poured their love and grief into their tiles, Shah said. Folks made a family project, where everybody colored.

The dots and lines that make up a kolam that many women in South India redraw each morning to greet the sunrise is an art form reminiscent of the ephemeral and meditative aspects of Native American sand paintings and Buddhist mandalas. The Inaugural Day kolam was designed using the submissions by Maryland artist Shanthi Chandrasekar, the projects curator, who has described the dots in a kolam as depicting lifes struggles, and the lines drawn around them as representing ways around those struggles.

Its the mosaic of life, Shah said. It manifests the times were living in.

For many Indian Americans, the 2021 Kolam Project also enables us to welcome all of our stories into this new space thats being created in America, Shah says, to be part of the healing, to bring people together, to weave these stories together.

Nair, a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh who is home on break, said making kolams was a way to connect with her heritage and with family. I painted one with a blue background and drew peacocks on it, and it reminded me of the ones my grandma used to draw in India, she said. I also got to hear some of my moms childhood memories.

In addition, Nair said she was excited to be a part of the inauguration celebrations: One of her tiles features the U.S. flag. Im very proud that my cultural heritage will be represented within the government, she said.

For Anita Singh, 40, of Media, participation began as a family activity over the holidays. She, her husband, and their 9-year-old twins joined forces with five other families to create 35 tiles.

It was fun and festive, said Singh, chair of the biomedical engineering department at Widener University.

The families got together via Zoom to color the tiles and kept tabs on each others progress over two weeks through a WhatsApp group. Her son, Adi Iyer, an aspiring astronaut, colored his tile with spaceships. Her husband, Sriram Balasubramanian, wrote Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on his tile in the scripts of seven Indian languages.

While Singh is disappointed that the installation has been postponed, she says the joy of creating the tiles more than made up for that. Before she sent the 35 tiles to the 2021 Kolam Project, she laid them out.

That moment, Singh said, really symbolizes us coming together as a community, as a country.

Contact at LKadaba@gmail.com. Follow @KadabaLini.

(TNS)  Nearly 700 dockworkers at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have contracted COVID-19 and hundreds more have taken virus-related leaves, raising fears of a severe slowdown in the region's multibillion-dollar logistics economy.A growing longshore worker infection rate, which parallels the surge of the virus across California, is exacerbating a massive snarl at the two ports due to a pandemic-induced surge in imports of general goods. Port executives, union leaders and elected officials are mounting an urgent campaign to initiate dockworker vaccinations, fearing that a labor shortage could force terminal shutdowns."We've got more cargo than we do skilled labor," said Eugene Seroka, executive director of the Los Angeles port, in an interview. "We are told 1,800 workers are not going on the job due to COVID right now. That can [include] those who are isolating through contact tracing or awaiting test results. Or maybe [those who] fear ... going on the job when a lot of people are sick."Workplaces across California, from behemoth warehouses to neighborhood businesses, face soaring coronavirus cases while trying to stay afloat amid continually seesawing restrictions. As the pandemic has worsened, containing the virus has become more difficult, especially among the L.A. region's essential workers  who include dockworkers as well as grocery store clerks and nurses.In the first months of the pandemic, container volume at the Port of Los Angeles plunged nearly 19 percent, but in the second half of 2020 it rose nearly 50 percent. "We're not buying airplane tickets or going to ballgames and movies," Seroka said. "We're spending money on retail goods."That has led to a backlog at the ports that is now colliding with a COVID crisis. On Tuesday, 45 vessels were anchored outside the twin ports waiting to unload, part of a months-long bottleneck not seen since a work slowdown six years ago."Without immediate action, terminals at the largest port complex in America may face the very real danger of terminal shutdowns," Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan (D- San Pedro) and Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D- Long Beach) wrote to California and Los Angeles County health officials on Jan. 15. "This would be disastrous not only for the communities of the South Bay, but also the entire nation which relies upon the vital flow of goods through these ports."The warning from the two members of Congress came days after Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and other local officials wrote Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mark Ghaly, California's health and human services secretary, urging them to speed up the vaccination of Southern California's 15,000 dockworkers "as soon as possible."The ports, they wrote, "are deemed critical infrastructure for national security purposes and medical supplies for the pandemic." Pandemic equipment imports from Asia, including masks, sanitizer and ventilators for hospitals and other businesses across the nation, flow mostly through the Los Angeles and Long Beach complex.Seroka, the port director, said private logistics companies, the state's port directors and officials with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union "have worked every angle possible" since December to get help with testing and vaccinating dockworkers. "We haven't seen a longshore worker get a vaccine yet."Last week, Newsom announced vaccinations would open to Californians 65 years and older. Los Angeles County officials this week said they would make COVID-19 vaccine appointments available to residents 65 and older beginning Thursday. But the county has yet to receive enough doses to meet the demand.So far, Los Angeles County vaccinations are limited to healthcare workers, first responders and residents and staff in skilled nursing facilities. About 450,000 healthcare workers still need to be vaccinated and the next phase of vaccinations will not begin until those workers have received their shots  probably not until early February.Port executives, union leaders and local elected officials want dockworkers to be next in line for vaccines after medical and other front-line workers.The Los Angeles County health department did not respond to a request for comment on plans to vaccinate dockworkers.Longshore workers report infections through a joint portal operated by the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Assn., which represents terminal employers. According to the ILWU, of the 694 dockworkers reporting COVID-19 infections as of Jan. 17, 12 have died. In a letter this week to the maritime association, three presidents of Southern California ILWU locals said a single terminal, Fenix Marine Services, out of the twin ports' 12 terminals has reported an outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic, involving 15 workers.Under Los Angeles County regulations, if a workplace has three or more confirmed COVID-19 cases in 14 days, the employer must immediately notify the county public health department, the letter noted. "This is not being done by terminal operators at the San Pedro Bay port complex," the representatives wrote. "The vast majority of terminal operators are failing to report at all."James McKenna, president and chief executive of the maritime association, said: "There's probably a chance that [terminals] have underreported." After receiving the letter, he added, his group "reiterated with them they need to report on an ongoing basis and a timely basis."McKenna disputed the number of dockworkers currently idled by the pandemic, saying that the total of 1,800 cited by the ILWU, port executives and elected officials represents a total for all California ports and includes workers on leave for other illnesses.According to the union, the positivity rate, which measures the prevalence of infections when compared with the number of tests, is 65 percent for the Port of Los Angeles and 71 percent for the Long Beach port. But McKenna said those percentages are unreliable because workers with negative tests may not be entering their information in the portal.Neither Seroka nor Mario Cordero, executive director of the Port of Long Beach, said they expect any imminent shutdown of port terminals. "But I don't want to wait until it's too late and then say, 'Now we've got to shut this thing down,'" Seroka said. "We got to keep it rolling."In an interview, Cordero endorsed the congressional letter's urgency. "If we don't do something fast," he said, "we are jeopardizing the fluidity of the movement of cargo."
Image courtesy of William & Mary/Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Irbys previous role was that of Harriss senior policy advisor in the US Senate, covering climate, environment, energy, transportation, and infrastructure. Irbys academic credentials make him impeccably suited for his job.

In 2017 he earned a PhD in marine science at William & Marys (W&M) Virginia Institute of Marine Science, where he studied the effectiveness of environmental regulations in the face of climate change. The focus of his prize-winning dissertation was the development of a model to investigate how climate change and reduced nutrient levels affect the waters of Chesapeake Bay. Irbys model is used by the Environmental Protection Agency in its efforts to restore water quality in the Chesapeake. Irby also has a masters in public policy from W&M.

The climate crisis is the challenge of our time, and I look forward to continue fighting for climate and environmental justice.

After majoring in geology at Bowdoin, Irby was set to join the Peace Corps, but those plans were derailed when his loan company went underthis was during the financial crisis in 2009and he found himself unable to defer payments on his undergrad loans. Instead, Irby taught science at a prep school in Missouri for three years before heading to graduate school.

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World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee has criticised Australia's plan to force Google to pay for news content as 'unworkable' and said it undermines the 'fundamental principle' of the internet.

Canberra is pursuing world-first laws that would require digital giants including Google and Facebook to compensate Australian news organisations, or pay millions of dollars in fines.

The aggressive move to check the tech giants' power has prompted blowback from the US firms, with Facebook warning Australians could be blocked from sharing articles on its 'News Feed', while Google has been experimenting with hiding local news in searches.

Canberra's initiative has been closely watched around the globe, as news media worldwide suffer in an increasingly digital economy where big tech firms overwhelmingly capture advertising revenue.

World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee has described Australia's plan to force digital giants to pay media outlets for news content as 'unworkable'

Berners-Lee, a computer scientist who created the web in 1989, said in a submission to an Australian Senate inquiry he is 'concerned that the code risks breaching a fundamental principle of the web by requiring payment for linking between certain content online'.

'The ability to link freely - meaning without limitations regarding the content of the linked site and without monetary fees - is fundamental to how the web operates, how it has flourished till present, and how it will continue to grow in decades to come,' he wrote.

In the submission dated January 18, Berners-Lee said he supports the need for publishers to be 'properly rewarded' for their work but 'constraints on the use of hypertext links are not the correct way to achieve this goal'.

The aggressive move to check the tech giants' power has prompted blowback from the US firms, with Facebook warning Australians could be blocked from sharing articles on its 'News Feed'

'If this precedent were followed elsewhere it could make the web unworkable around the world,' he wrote.

'I therefore respectfully urge the committee to remove this mechanism from the code.'

The Office of the US Trade Representative has also urged Australia to abandon its 'burdensome' plan, saying there could be 'long-lasting negative consequences' for consumers and companies.

The planned legislation has received widespread support from Australian media organisations, many of which have been hit hard by a drop in revenue during the coronavirus pandemic.

The move has prompted Google to experiment with hiding local news in searches

The digital giants have also made submissions to the inquiry, with Facebook urging a return to the voluntary code of conduct first mooted by Canberra.

'Facebook remains willing to pay Australian news publishers for news content made available on Facebook, as long as it is subject to genuine commercial considerations,' it said.

Google has said some revisions to the draft proposal have improved the law but called for several further amendments to the rules.

Australia plans to introduce the new rules this year, with the Senate committee set to hold public hearings from Friday.
New Delhi: Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has been summoned by the Juhu police in relation to the defamation case filed by veteran writer Javed Akhtar. She has to appear before the police on Friday (January 22).

Akhtar had filed a crimnial complaint against Ranaut for allegedly making defamatory comments against him in television interviews.

Earlier, a magistrate court in Mumbai on January 17 allowed the police time till February 1 to file a report of their enquiry into the defamation complaint, as per PTI report. In December 2020, the court had asked the Juhu police to investigate the matter and submit its report on January 16, 2021.

Akhtar had in November, 2020 filed a criminal complaint against Kangana before the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate.

In his complaint, Akhtar alleged that Kangana dragged his name while referring to a "coterie" existing in Bollywood, speaking at an interview after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June, 2020. It also stated that Kangana had said that Akhtar had threatened her to not speak about her alleged relationship with actor Hrithik Roshan.

The complaint stated that her statements garnered views in lakhs, which led to tarnishing of Akhtar's public image.

Kangana has been embroiled in several controversies and many cases have been filed against her for her statements and tweets.
MP Manoj Kotak said the makers of Tandav deciding to make the changes is 'only a step forward'

The cast and crew of the Amazon Prime Video series Tandav deciding to implement changes is only "one step forward", local BJP MP Manoj Kotak said on Tuesday, adding he will "strive" for regulation of content on OTT platforms.

Read the tweet below

Makers of Amazon Prime Video series "Tandav" deciding to implement changes to political drama is only "one step forward", will strive for regulation of content on OTT platforms: BJP MP Manoj Kotak  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 19, 2021

The Mumbai North-East seat on 16 January wrote to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, seeking a ban on Tandav, alleging it ridiculed Hindu deities.

The makers on Tuesday said they have decided to implement changes to the political drama to address concerns.

Read on Firstpost  Tandav row: MP govt demands ban on Amazon Prime Video India show for 'hurting religious sentiments'

Tandav, a nine-episode political thriller starring Bollywood A-listers Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, started streaming last week but the show landed in a huge controversy over its depiction of Hindu deities.

At the centre of the row is a scene with Zeeshan Ayyub, in the role of college student Shiva, playing the Hindu god Mahadev in a theatre production.

In an official statement, the team reiterated that they had no intention to hurt anyone's sentiments. The statement comes amidst multiple FIRs and effigy burning in several parts of the country.

"We have the utmost respect for the sentiments of the people of our country. We did not intend to hurt or offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead.

"The cast & crew of Tandav have decided to implement changes to the web series to address the concerns raised towards the same," the statement read.

The team also thanked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the guidance and support in the matter.

"We once again apologize if the series has unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments," the statement said.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India)
A total of 1000 doses of Covishield vaccine have got spoiled at a hospital in Assams Cachar district as the covid shots were stored in sub-zero temperatures.

The incident that happened at Silchar Medical College and Hospital was reported to the health department on January 16, and came to light on Monday night, according to a report in Times of India.

Also read: UK Covid-19 Strain Detected in at Least 60 Countries, Says WHO

Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that incident might have occurred due to the lack of training as the officials concerned could not store the vaccine properly. The minister informed that senior officials will go to the hospital to review the lapses.

I was informed that some doses had frozen in the cold storage. But the Covid vaccine storage system is very new. Maybe there was a lack of training for the officials for which the incident happened. But if we find that someone has done it deliberately, such officials will be punished, Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The district immunization officer informed that the vaccine which were to be stored at 2 to 8 degrees were partially frozen at -5 to -6 degrees.

Also read: Govt Urges Healthcare Workers to Get Covid-19 Vaccine, Says Concerns over Adverse Effects Unfounded

The vaccines have to be stored at a temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius, whereas the temperature of the ILR at SMCH went down to minus 5-6 degrees Celsius. Because of this, the vaccines were partially frozen, district immunization officer Arund Debnath reportedly said.

The officer further informed that the vaccinator gets a signal from the ILR about the status of temperature every evening. However, on the day that the vaccines got damaged the vaccinator didnt get any signal on his mobile. A probe has been launched in the matter.
Zlatko Sikorsky, 37, (pictured) was allegedly bashed to death by a fellow inmate at Wolston Correctional Centre in November

The maximum security prisoner who allegedly bashed a teenage girl's suspected killer to death in jail has been revealed for the first time.

Isaac James Martin, 26, was charged with one count of unlawful striking over the death of fellow inmate Zlatko Sikorsky during an alleged altercation at Queensland's Wolston Correctional Centre in November.

At the time of his death, Sikorsky, 37, was awaiting trial for the alleged torture and murder of his 16-year-old girlfriend Larissa Beilby south of Brisbane in June 2018.

Martin didn't appear via videolink when his case was briefly heard in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

His lawyer Jon Ide asked the court for a brief of evidence, which Magistrate Michael Quinn ordered to be available by February 23, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported.

Zlatko Sikorsky was awaiting trial for the alleged torture and murder of teen girlfriend Larissa Beilby (pictured) when he died in November

Martin's case has been adjourned until March 15.

Martin struck Sikorsky in the head an alleged altercation at Wolston Correctional Centre on November 10, according to court documents.

Sikorsky was rushed to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital suffering critical head injuries, where he spent 10 days on life support before he died on November 20.

'Our condolences go out to the man's family and friends,' a Queensland Corrective Service statement read.

Sikorsky had been awaiting trial in Brisbane Supreme Court accused of murdering and torturing 16-year-old Larissa almost 18 months prior.

Larissa was last seen in the north Brisbane suburb of Sandgate on June 15 2018 and was reported missing 12 days later by her father Peter.

Police were at a house in Buccan making inquiries into her disappearance when Sikorsky, who was at the property, got into a black ute and fled.

Zlatko Sikorsky (pictured following his arrest on June 30 2018 ) spent 10 days on life support in hospital before he died from his critical head injuries

It's been two-and-a-half years since Larissa Beilby (pictured) was allegedly tortured and murdered by her boyfriend, who recently died while awaiting trial

Sikorsky dumped the ute at a gated community in Stapylton, where Larissa's body was found shoved into a barrel on the tray.

The teen was also gagged, causing cuts to the inside of her mouth and raising the possibility she died by asphyxiation.

Armed with weapons, Sikorksy eventually holed himself up at the Sunshine Coast apartment block and began making demands of police.

After a 24-hour siege, he surrendered and was charged with murder, torture and deprivation of liberty and interfering with a corpse.

'With a broken heart shattered into more than a million pieces our family is utterly destroyed to inform you all that Larissa has been taken from us,' Larissa's older sister Deanna posted on Facebook at the time.

'Our beautiful girl has been reunited with our beloved wife and mother.'

'Fly high our darling angel, until we see you again Rissy.'

The girls' mother Karen died 14 years earlier.

Court documents allege Isaac James Martin, 26, struck fellow prisoner Zlatko Sikorsky during an alleged altercation at Wolston Correctional Centre (pictured)

During his trial, the doctor who examined Larissa's body said her injuries were unlike anything she had ever come across.

'I have done over 7,000 autopsies and I have never seen anything like this,' Dr Dianne Little told Brisbane Supreme Court in 2018.

While the June 23 anniversary of her death is difficult each year for Larissa's grieving family, her sister said June 30 will always be etched into her memory.

'The confirmation of identity day,' Deanna explained on the two year anniversary of her younger sister's death last June.

'Nothing will ever amount to the level of pain this day brought... It will forever be more difficult than June 23, because we had no idea... at that point.

'Our world literally crashed.'

'My world has been indescribably altered and I'm rebuilding my entire heart and life.'

If you or anyone you know needs confidential support, call the 24-hour domestic violence hotline 1800RESPECT or MensLine on 1800 600 636.

Larissa Beilby (pictured) would be 19-years-old if she was still alive today
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
The coronavirus is having a crushing effect on Japan's tourism industry. The number of foreign visitors in 2020 fell nearly 90 percent from the previous year.

Officials at the Japan National Tourism Organization estimate the country received about 4.11 million visitors last year. That's down 87 percent year-on-year.

The biggest group was travelers from mainland China, followed by Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

By month, visitors in January numbered about 2.66 million, but plunged to 1,663 in May due to the spread of the virus.

The figures had begun showing a recovery, but industry watchers believe the trend is unlikely to continue.

The government tightened entry restrictions as it declared a second state of emergency earlier this month. Officials have suspended an earlier measure that admitted businesspeople from 10 countries and Taiwan. Foreign entrants are now only allowed entry for such purposes as attending funerals. - NHK
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks at the Major Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in New Castle, Del. AP



Joe Biden was set to be sworn in as the new U.S. president Wednesday, ending the Donald Trump presidency and facing a series of daunting challenges, including how to reunite a badly divided nation and deal with the coronavirus pandemic and a saber-rattling North Korea.



Biden will take the oath of office as the 46th U.S. president on the steps of the U.S. Capitol at around noon in an inauguration ceremony involving a minimum number of participants and little or no spectators due in part to the pandemic but also security concerns caused by a recent riot.



Biden and his transition team had noted the need to keep this year's ceremony at a minimum, stressing the need for people to keep social distance as a way of preventing the spread of the new coronavirus, which has already claimed more than 400,000 American lives.



The need to keep it small and simple became more apparent after a large group of violent protesters breached the Capitol two weeks ago on Jan. 6, just as the U.S. Congress was ready to certify Biden as the winner of the latest presidential election.



Areas near the White House and the Capitol have since been under a lockdown, with tens of thousands of National Guard soldiers expected to safeguard the areas until after the inauguration.



Ceremony organizers have said the traditional parade that follows the inauguration of a new president will also be held virtually this year.



Also making the ceremony different from previous events, Donald Trump has said he would not attend Biden's swearing-in ceremony, which would make him the first sitting U.S. president since 1869 to boycott a presidential inauguration.



Earlier reports said former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, along with their wives, will be present at Biden's inauguration "as is custom."



Trump, on the other hand, is scheduled to leave early in the morning for Florida, according to the White House.







The companys technology enables traditional brick and mortar retail clients and global enterprise partners to maintain or accelerate their leadership positions by easily accepting cryptocurrency payments

The move comes as cryptocurrency prices are reaching record highs, with Bitcoin currently valued at over US$37,000

Loop Insights Inc ( ) ( ) announced Tuesday the final integration of major cryptocurrency payments like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin into its contactless payments platform.

The move comes as cryptocurrency prices are reaching record highs, with Bitcoin currently valued at over US$37,000. Loop had originally planned to integrate the cryptocurrencies in 2018 but put the move on hold as prices languished before breaking out this year.

In a 2019 patent application, Loop laid out a unique method of performing cryptocurrency payments with the companys principle of not requiring POS integration to facilitate and verify the transaction.

The companys technology enables traditional brick and mortar retail clients and global enterprise partners to maintain or accelerate their leadership positions by easily accepting cryptocurrency payments.

In a statement, Loop CEO Rob Anson told shareholders that the Vancouver-based company is staying ahead of the cryptocurrency trends.

Whereas many companies try to use cryptocurrencies as a buzz word, Loop has been way ahead of this global paradigm shift to the delight of our customers and partners who want be ahead of what we anticipate being a parabolic growth decade for cryptocurrency transactions and payments, Anson said.

Loops Fobi device creates a unique QR code that can be printed or displayed to a customer, allowing them to send payments through a mobile wallet application that can support leading cryptocurrencies. The platform communicates with the retailer, depositing the sum in either cryptocurrency or local FIAT currency. Customers may use whichever cryptocurrency they prefer.

Our Fobi device is already configured to accept leading cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, providing retailers with new long-term opportunities for growth and Enterprise partners with an even stronger value proposition that already includes our world-leading artificial intelligence-driven, real-time transaction technology, Anson said.

Loops chief technology officer Casey Matson-DeKay added: Through the power of Loops Fobi device, we are able to instantly process cryptocurrency payments, confirmed by the retailer through our platform, allowing consumers to use contactless payment options such as cryptocurrencies at additional retail locations.

Vancouver-based Loop is an Internet of Things (IoT) technology company that delivers transformative artificial intelligence automated marketing, contact tracing, and contactless solutions to the brick and mortar space.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
Washinton, Jan 20 : The Trump administration's incompetence in handling Covid-19 has drawn harsh criticism from the academia as the country's death toll from the disease topped another chilling mark of 4,00,000 on Tuesday.

Never before in the recent century has an American President witnessed such a tragic loss of lives. The number is fast approaching the 4,05,000 US fatalities during World War II and the pandemic is among the deadliest events in the country. The 1918 flu pandemic killed 6,75,000 Americans and at least 50 million worldwide, the Xinhua news agency reported.

"What's so troubling about this loss of life is it was preventable," but "we did not mount a response to wage war against this virus," said Steven Woolf, director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Thomas Whalen, an associate professor at Boston University and an expert on the American presidency, launched a more scathing attack on the President, saying Donald Trump repeatedly downplayed the public severity of the pathogen.

"He knew this was a threat and really did not do what was necessary to respond to it in a thoughtful and resourceful way," Whalen said of Trump.

Surging infections in the North American country still show no sign of abating, averaging more than 2,30,000 new confirmed cases and 3,000 deaths per day in January.

President Joe Bidens inaugural address contained a mere 74 words on the topic of foreign policy, and, under ordinary conditions, they would be seen as boilerplate, if they were noticed at all. But in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection and the four years of Trump that incited it, those words pose one of the greatest challenges Biden will face.

So heres my message to those beyond our borders, the brief passage began.

America has been tested, and weve come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once againnot to meet yesterdays challenges, but todays and tomorrows challenges. And well lead not merely by the example of our power but by the power of our example. Well be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security.

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The problem, as Biden stressed in different contexts elsewhere in the speech (and as everyone in the world plainly sees), is that the power of our example has been drastically devalued. Some of our allies, especially in Europe and the Pacific, will return to our orbit with relief after Trumps constant dissing and indifference because of the example of our powerthe recognition that they could not defend themselves from attack without U.S. military leadership. But they will return with reluctance, suspicious of our reliability over the long haul, aware that Americas dark sidethe thuggish nativism that has always lingered in our discourse but rarely swaggered forth with such dominancemight well reemerge in another four, eight, or 12 years.

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In other words, our allies may not be so eager for repairthey might be skittish about embracing us as a strong and trusted partner for their securityunless Biden succeeds in his call to end our own uncivil war.

Back in July 2019, then-candidate Biden declared that, as president, he would organize and host a global Summit for Democracy, to renew the spirit and shared purpose of the nations of the Free World. Eighteen months later, its clear that the only such forum an American president has any business convening right now is a summit for democracy at home.

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The only way Biden can rally other global leaders to join us in battling global challengespandemics, climate change, terrorism, and myriad sources of instabilityis to demonstrate that the United States is a country worth following. The question, which is now more unsettlingly open than ever, is not just whether our democratic values are worth emulating but whether our democratic government can even function.

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This is the question Biden posed in much of the rest of his often-stirring speech. With his usual optimism, he answered in the affirmative. (We have never, ever, ever, ever failed in America when weve acted together, he said for the umpteenth time in his career.) But he knows he will need to inspire, persuade, or neutralize many Americansincluding Republican lawmakerswho followed Trump down the grievance-strewn path to disunity and dysfunction. And he must know that many allies and adversaries have doubts that he can do this.

If the United States can no longer be trusted as a dependable ally or admired as a model of governing, then those beyond our borders will seek other allies and other models. And then Americas strength and possibly democracys futurewhich have always depended on alliances, a fact that Trump never understoodwill diminish.

Bidens call for civility and competence is, most obviously and urgently, a matter of life or death for hundreds of thousands more Americans who might fall prey to the coronavirus. Its a matter of a livelihood or poverty for millions who are suffering from the economic fallout. Its a matter of justice or continued indignity for those long victimized by racial discrimination. But its also, for years or decades to come, a matter of national security.
Pune, India, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global sickle cell disease treatment market size is expected to reach USD 7.71 billion in 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period. The unmet needs of patients and lack of novel therapies has resulted in research grants from governments, which, in turn, will promote the growth of the market, states Fortune Business Insights, in a report, titled Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Market Size, Share & Covid-19 Impact Analysis, By Treatment Modality (Bone Marrow Transplant, Blood Transfusion, Pharmacotherapy (Hydroxyurea and Branded Drugs (Endari, Adakveo, Oxbryta, Zynteglo, CTX001, Mitapivat, and FT-4202))), By End User (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027. The market size stood at USD 1.35 billion in 2019.

The entire world is fighting with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely disrupted trades across the globe. The authorities of several countries have initiated lockdown to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. Such plans have caused disturbances in the production and supply chain. But, with time and resolution, we will be able to combat this stern time and get back to normality. Our well-revised reports will help companies receive in-depth information about every market's present scenario so that you can adopt the necessary strategies accordingly.





Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/sickle-cell-disease-treatment-market-101009





The sickle cell disease treatment market highpoints a comprehensive study of the market. It also offers essential facts about prominent players, besides revealing data about central regions in the market. The report includes key drivers and trends prevailing in the industry. Significant development, along with COVIDs impact, is covered in the study.

FDA Product Approval to Intensify Business

The introduction of innovative drugs and therapies to treat sickle cell diseases can spur lucrative opportunities for the market. For instance, in 2017, FDA approved Emmaus Life Sciences product Endari to treat patients with sickle cell disease aged five years and older. Moreover, the approval of three products by the regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EMA will foster the market's healthy growth. For instance, Oxbryta (Global Blood Therapeutics), Adakveo (Novartis AG), and Endari (Emmaus Life Sciences) are being utilized in the treatment of the disease. Oxbryta has been approved ahead of its statutory deadline. Moreover, products such as Zynteglo, CTX001, Mitapivat, and FT-4202 are expected to receive approval in the forthcoming years, which, in turn, will enable speedy expansion of the market. For instance, CTX001 has been granted EMAs priority medicines (PRIME) designation in Europe.





To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on this market, please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/sickle-cell-disease-treatment-market-101009





Postponement of Surgeries to Diminish Product Demand Amid Coronavirus

Delay in non-urgent surgeries has resulted in a major drop in the number of BMT and blood transfusion procedures. The pandemic severely affected the demand and blood donor base. Moreover, lockdown and travel restrictions have led to a decline in the number of donors and the cancellation of numerous blood drives worldwide. For instance, U.S. blood centers witnessed a 30% decline in blood drives scheduled for the rest of the year, leading to about 250,000 missed donations. Furthermore, according to American Red Cross Blood Services, more than 50,000 blood drives have been canceled or moved due to the pandemic. These aforementioned factors reveal the enormous loss encountered by the sickle cell disease treatment industry during the coronavirus.

Novartis AG to Dominate the Market

Novartis AG accounted for the maximum share in the global market. The company entered the market with the approval of Adakveo in 2019. The drug can reduce the sickle cell pain crises by 45% in the clinical trials and hence is. Therefore, increasing demand for Adakveo among patients is expected to reinforce the companys position.





Quick Buy - Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/101009





Strong Government Support to Support Growth in the U.S.

The U.S market size stood at USD 0.71 billion in 2019 and is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period. The growth in the region is attributed to improving access to SCD treatment and potential pipeline candidates. The strong government support in the U.S. will further foster the healthy development of the market. According to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, in 2017, 157 hematopoietic cell transplants were performed in 2017 in the U.S for SCD. The number of BMT increased by 35.3% during 2013-2017. These factors together are expected to favor growth in the region.

Key Development:

September 2020: Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. signed an exclusive agreement with Biopharma-MEA to distribute Oxbryta in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.





The Report Lists the Key Players in the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Market:

Novartis AG (Basel, Switzerland)

Global Blood Therapeutics Inc. (California, U.S.)

Emmaus Medical Inc. (California, U.S.)

Addmedica (Paris, France)

Medunik USA Inc. (Pennsylvania, U.S.)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (New York City, U.S.)

Other prominent players





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Table of Contents:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Overview of Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Services Reimbursement Scenario  For Key Countries/ Regions Overview of Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Policies  For Key Countries Technological Advancements in Sickle Cell Disease Treatment State of Telehealth Adoption  For Key Countries/ Regions Major Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Service Providers  For Key Countries Internet Users & Penetrations Statistics Growth in Usage of Telehealth Technology Among Physicians Key Industry Developments - Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Impact of COVID-19 on Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Market

Global Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Treatment Modality Bone Marrow Transplant Blood Transfusion Pharmacotherapy Hydroxyurea Branded Drugs Endari Adakveo Oxbryta Zyntelgo CTX001 Mitapivat FT-4202 Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End User Hospitals Specialty Clinics Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Geography U.S. Europe Rest of World







TOC Continued.!





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SECONDARY RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED TO DERIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

Details such as revenues, market share, strategies, growth rate, product & their pricing by region/country for all major companies

Details in relation to prevalence, incidence, patient numbers, distribution of patients, average price of treatment, etc.

Number of end user facilities by region/country and average annual spending or procurement of devices by type of end user facility

Number of procedures and average price of procedures

Replacement rate and pricing of capital equipment

Market dynamics in relation to the market under focus  Drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities

Market & technological trends, new product developments, product pipeline.





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It was an extraordinary task for Gorman, the youngest by far of the poets who have read at presidential inaugurations since Kennedy invited Robert Frost in 1961, with other predecessors including Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Alexander. A native and resident of Los Angeles and the countrys first National Youth Poet Laureate, Gorman told The Associated Press last week that she planned to combine a message of hope for President Joseph Bidens inaugural without ignoring the evidence of discord and division. She had completed a little more than half of The Hill We Climb before Jan. 6 and the siege of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
Appeal to find missing Phuket man, 43, last seen heading to cockfight

PHUKET: Officials at the Damrongdhama Center of Phuket (Phuket Provincial Ombudsmans Office) have posted an appeal in the hope of locating a 43-year-old Phuket man who has been missing for more than a month.

Safety

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 20 January 2021, 09:48AM

Mr Naruenat has not been seen snice heading to a cockfight in Kathu on Dec 20. Image: PR Phuket

Phuket resident Vas Luelan notified the Phuket Ombudsmans Office on Dec 31 that his son, Naruenat Luelan, had not been seen since Dec 20.

Mr Vas had reported his son missing with the Phuket City Police, but his son remained missing.

Mr Naruenat left a house in Soi King Kaew, Rassada, on his red Honda Wave samlor (motorbike with sidecar) to sell pork and shellfish at a cockfight venue and the surrounding area in Kathu, as he did normally, Mr Vas told Lt Col Udom Phetcharat when reporting his son missing to police.

Mr Naruenat did not return home.

I am worried about him. The cockfight normally closes at about 8pm, Mr Vas said.

I have no idea where he may be. There has been no telephone contact at all. I worry he might be in danger, Mr Vas explained.

Mr Naruenats motorbike bears a licence plate with the number 661 Phuket.

Any persons who believe they have information that may help locate Mr Naruenat are urged to call Mr Naruenats father at 086-6859768 or his mother at 091-0756873.

Summer Atlantic Capital Ltd. is proud to announce a new set of strategic agreements with three information technology companies to enhance business processes and automation for our Joint Ventures. A partnership with Jinan Minshang IT Co, Ltd will grant access to their AI driven technology platform for enhanced business decision making. Jinan Minshang IT Co., Ltd.s proprietary AI enhances a businesss efficiency from many aspects including sales, supply chain, and customer service. Their platform is currently being used in China in medical, manufacturing, and financial industries in order to maximize customer satisfaction and sales. The main customers of Jinan Minshang Information Technology Co., Ltd. includes FAW Volkswagen, FAW Group, Minsheng Bank and more than 300 logistics enterprises.

Furthermore, partnerships were signed with Aoke Xingyun Technology Development Co, Ltd, a business accelerator platform driven by digital innovation, and Ten Billion of Industrial Institute (TBII), a professional and academic collaboration for scientific research and development of cutting-edge technologies. These partnerships are based on mutual collaboration efforts to share best practices and access to each others client base and rolodex.

Sebright Chen, Chairman & CEO of Summer Atlantic Capital Ltd. addresses the importance of the agreements:

Summer Atlantic prides itself on its ever expanding network of highly qualified professionals in a variety of industries, these partnerships will further expand our network. Consequently, our new Partners will gain access to our database of both political and business leaders.

All of our partnerships are geared towards maximizing the success of our Joint Ventures and their investors by giving them an operational edge through access to our new Partners technology, and potentially pairing them with better suited strategic investors and/or operating partners. We are always looking at every possible avenue in order to optimize the effectiveness of our JVs.

About Summer Atlantic Capital

Summer Atlantic Capital is a Hong-Kong based entity with a sister company, Summer Atlantic China (our private equity group) based in China, and a North American marketing arm, Summer Atlantic US. We focus on discovering companies with advanced technologies that are beneficial to the Chinese market. We work with the owners of these technologies to structure JV partnerships with strategic Chinese entities or individuals that have expertise in the respective field. In addition, Summer Atlantic arranges for the necessary capital to finance the joint ventures, which could include direct participation by our sister company, Summer Atlantic China, private individuals, business entities, or even state-owned funds. Summer Atlantic evaluates the feasibility of these technologies and how they could potentially enhance the Chinese consumer while at the same time simultaneously adding GDP growth into the Chinese economy. Summer Atlantic takes an active role from the formation of the JV all the way up to and including operations and the development of an exit strategy for the JVs shareholders. Summer Atlantic Capital consists of a growing core team of over 25 executives with C level experience across a wide range of industries interacting with some of the worlds largest corporations. Our Executive team prides itself on their proven track record and rolodex of relationships throughout industry and government.

http://www.Summeratlantic.com / http://www.SummerAtlantic.us

About Jinan Minshang Information Technology Co., Ltd.

Jinan Minshang Information Technology Co., Ltd. is an advanced AI business tools application and data solution provider for companies, located in Beijing, China. Jinan Minshang Information Technology Co., Ltd.s proprietary technology helps companies achieve a higher level of efficiency through increased information, decreasing management's decision making time, improving efficiency and productivity.

About Ten Billions of Industrial Institute (TBII)

Founded in 2013, it relies on top universities at home and abroad, Scientific research institutions, together with well-known academicians, experts and scholars, entrepreneurs, investors, practitioners of professional institutions, and other high level talents, to collaborate on the transformation of cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements, incubate and accelerate regional development.

About Aoke Xingyun (Beijing) Technology Development Co., Ltd.

A global enterprise directly initiated by Tsinghua University. The company is a digital technology innovation platform with the brand of Aoke accelerator TM. Relying on the cross regional and cross industry digital technology innovation cloud independently developed by the core team of academicians of the school of information of Tsinghua University, the company has realized the standardization, modularization and digitization of high-quality investment banking services integrated with law, Finance and investment with risk control as the core.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesBy JOANNE ROSA, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, who is running for New York City mayor, appeared Tuesday on "The View" and responded to criticism about a comment he made surrounding his living situation in Manhattan.



Like many New Yorkers, Yang, his wife and their two young sons have not remained in the city full-time since the coronavirus pandemic began.



In a Jan. 11 interview with the New York Times, Yang detailed his experience balancing working from home at the same time of his childrens virtual schooling while living in America's largest city amid the global pandemic.



Weve spent more time upstate than in the city over the last number of months, but I also spent time in Georgia, as you know, I spent time in Pennsylvania campaigning for Joe and Kamala, he said to the New York Times.



We live in a two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan," he continued. "And so, like, can you imagine trying to have two kids on virtual school in a two-bedroom apartment, and then trying to do work yourself?



Yang later faced backlash over his remarks, which some saw as tone-deaf because many families throughout NYC's five boroughs cope with similar or worse situations.



Tuesday on "The View," co-host and native New Yorker Sunny Hostin told Yang that for many New Yorkers, the experience he conveyed "is exactly what they had to deal with" and "many families don't even have that much space."



In his response, Yang said his remark "does seem tone-deaf" but was ultimately "taken out of context," adding that the quote looks "much different in isolation."



"Most New Yorkers know that I spent most of the pandemic either campaigning for Joe and Kamala to try and get Trump out or in Georgia helping Rev. [Raphael] Warnock and Jon Ossoff win," Yang continued. Boasting about Georgia's Democratic wins in the runoff election, he called it "tremendous for New York" because of Sen. Chuck Schumer's rise to Senate majority leader.



"We're gonna get tens of billions of dollars in aid for the people in New York City and New York state and around the country," Yang said. "I was doing what I could at that time, and I'm actually really, really excited about what we got done."



Noting Yang's success, Hostin also pointed out that he's never held political office and pressed him about never casting a vote in any of New York City's mayoral elections.



"I certainly would count myself among about 87% of New Yorkers who had not voted in local elections because many of us took the city's government for granted," Yang said. "Those were during the good times and right now ... we're in the midst of a historic crisis."



Co-host Joy Behar responded to Yang, saying, "You know, Andrew, just to the -- with your answer, I think people need to vote in the good times and the bad times. I'm hoping going forward, you'll be voting in the good times, too. Are you going to?"



"For sure," Yang said. "I agree the folks who have been engaged, all the credit to them. And the fact is more of us need to follow in their lead."



Yang's run to succeed Mayor Bill de Blasio began right before Christmas when he filled out paperwork with the New York City Campaign Finance Board indicating he had formed a mayoral campaign committee, Yang for New York, Inc. On Jan. 13, he formally announced his run for NYC mayor on Twitter.



"I moved to New York City 25 years ago. I came of age, fell in love, and became a father here. Seeing our City in so much pain breaks my heart," he wrote in his tweet. "Lets fight for a future New York City that we can be proud of  together."



Co-host Meghan McCain asked Yang about de Blasio's success as NYC mayor. "You're running to succeed the absolute dumpster garbage fire that is Bill de Blasio. To say he's been a polarizing mayor is putting it lightly," she said, adding that expressing disappointment in de Blasio is "the one thing that's always safe for conservatives and liberals to talk about."



"Why do you think he's done such a terrible job?" McCain asked. "What can you do to fix the absolute mess that is New York City right now?"



Yang said on "The View" that de Blasio was "dealt a very, very tough hand."



"There are real problems here in New York City," Yang said. "When I talked to New Yorkers, they say they don't feel as safe as they did a number of months ago. It's a real issue and it's real. You know, we have to get businesses reopened in part because it's going to end up stimulating environments, where folks will feel like when they're walking down that street, the lights are on, people are there."



"That's the kind of environment that we need to restore here in New York," he added.



A survey from Public Policy Polling on Dec. 23 found Yang was the top choice among potential Democratic mayoral candidates in New York City. When potential voters were asked who they would vote for, 17% chose Yang. Eric Adams, the borough president of Brooklyn, scored 16% of support.

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street in London to take part in the weekly session of Prime Minister Questions (PMQs) at the House of Commons on Jan. 20, 2021. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images)

Uyghur Repression: UKs Johnson Says Genocide Attribution Judicial Matter

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday deflected criticisms of his governments stance on the plight of Chinas Uyghur Muslim minority and said the attribution of genocide is a judicial matter.

On Tuesday, Johnsons government instructed lawmakers from the ruling Conservative Party to vote down an amendment to the Trade Bill that would have given UK courts power to revoke trade deals with countries responsible for genocides.

The amendment was defeated by a margin of just 11 votes, with 319 Conservative MPs voting in line with the government to reject it, and 308 MPsincluding 33 Conservative rebelsvoting to support it.

At Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, Ian Blackford, the Scottish National Partys Westminster group leader, said Johnsons position on the so-called genocide amendment had left his claims about the UKs global leadership less believable.

Genocide isnt a matter of history, it is happening in our world right now. The international community has stood idly by as Uyghur Muslim men, women, and children are forced into concentration camps in Chinas Xinjiang province, he said in the House of Commons via video link.

Noting that the outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo had officially declared Beijings repression of Uyghurs a genocide and Bidens team agrees with his view, Blackford asked, Is the prime minister prepared to follow that lead? Is he prepared to stand up today and clearly state that genocide has been committed against the Uyghur population in China?

Johnson responded by saying, The attribution of genocide is a judicial matter, but I can say for myself that I regard what is happening in Xinjiang and whats happening to the Uyghurs as utterly abhorrent.

He said the government had taken steps against what is happening, including measures to prevent British commercial engagement with goods that are made by forced labour in Xinjiang.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced last week that the UK would take a series of measures to ensure UK businesses and public bodies do not allow goods produced with slave labour in Xinjiang in their supply chains.

But lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties said the measures were inadequate and that targeted Magnitsky sanctions should have been imposed on Chinese officials responsible for the abuse in Xinjiang.

In July 2000, the UK government introduced new sanctions to target individuals involved in human rights abuses or organised crime. But so far it has not used the new policy tool to target Chinese officials.

On Tuesday, the Trump administration declared that the Chinese regime has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghur Muslims.

Last July, the United States imposed sanctions on four Chinese officials involved in human rights abuses against Uyghurs, including the Xinjiang regions Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, who is a member of the Chinese Communist Partys powerful Politburo.

Lily Zhou and Cathy He contributed to this report.
There is calm at the Supreme Court as petitioners, respondents and their supporters await the hearing of the pre-trial of the Election Petition.



The atmosphere is relaxed, serene and devoid of visible acrimony.



Few police officers are manning the main entrance while their colleagues, some armed, others plain, join their military counterparts to provide security around the law courts.



Most parties in the trial have arrived ahead of the proceedings and have taken their seats.



Officials from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) include Former President John Dramani Mahama, the Petitioner, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Vice Presidential Candidate of the party, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, and Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Chairman of NDC.



From the New Patriotic Party (NPP), there are Mr Peter Mac Manu, the 2020 Campaign Manager of the NPP, Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Mr Freddy Blay, the Chairman of the Party, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and Nana Henry Boakye, the National Youth Organiser of the party.



The Former President Mahama is at the Supreme Court seeking an annulment of the Presidential election results and a re-run of the election between him and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, second Respondent in the petition.



The petition is also seeking an injunction directing the First Respondent, the Electoral Commission to proceed to conduct a second election between the petitioner and the Second respondent as the candidates, as required under Articles 63 (4) and (5) of the 1992 constitutions.

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
A Joe Biden visit to Ireland is likely during his presidency, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said

A visit by Taoiseach Micheal Martin to the White House is a key objective of the Governments St Patricks Day plans, Independent.ie can reveal.

As Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US President, it can be revealed advance planning is underway by Government officials and diplomats to ensure Mr Martin can travel to Washington to meet his counterpart in March.

Under the plans being discussed a small delegation will travel to Washington for a scaled back State visit to coincide with St Patricks Day.

Read More

Details of the visit are still at a planning stage but a Government source said a meeting between Mr Martin and Mr Biden in the Oval Office is a key objective for those planning international events linked to Irelands national holiday.

There is a desire that the bilateral meeting between the Taoiseach and President Biden goes ahead as scheduled and detailed discussions are taking place, the source said.

Central to the proposed visit will be a meeting in the Oval Office between the two leaders and their advisers.

There are doubts over whether the famous Shamrock Ceremony in the East Room of the White House can be held but consideration is being given to holding the event.

However, it is unlikely that other major events such as the Ireland Fund dinner and a traditional function hosted by the Irish Ambassador to the US will go ahead.

Last week, Mr Martin said: "When I invited President-elect Biden to Ireland he just said try and keep me out so it wont be any lack of enthusiasm.

"But I think we'll be practical about it. Its early days yet. "Obviously Covid will have a significant impact on all bilateral relations, contacts and meetings in the coming while, he added.

In the Dail today, Mr Martin indicated a visit by President Biden to Ireland was likely.

We look forward to welcoming him to Ireland during his presidency, Mr Martin said.

He said he wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate incoming President Joe Biden on behalf of the Government and to wish him the very very best as he begins his journey as President of the United States.

Mr Biden has a very long record as a Friend of Ireland and has made no secret of that affection for this country, he said.

We look forward to welcoming him to Ireland during his presidency.

Labour Party spokesman Aodhan O Riordain echoed the Taoiseachs sentiments, calling Mr Biden one of our own.

Mr O Riordain made a speech four years ago denouncing outgoing President Trump as a racist - a video that was picked up the US media and which speedily racked up more than 100 million views on social media.

Read More




New Delhi, Jan 20 : The CBI has arrested its own DSP R.K. Rishi, inspector Kapil Dhankad and advocate Manohar Malik in connection with a corruption case, a CBI official said on Wednesday. All of them were sent to five-day police custody by a court here.

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) source related to the development told IANS: "The agency arrested Rishi, Dhankad and Malik on Tuesday. He said that the CBI follows a policy of zero-tolerance towards corruption.

The three arrested persons were sent to five days' police custody by a court here.

Earlier in the day, the CBI carried out searches at two places in Uttar Pradesh's Roorkee and Saharanpur that are linked to Deputy Superintendent of Police Rishi.

The source said that multiple CBI teams searched the residential premises of Rishi in Roorkee and Saharanpur's Deoband.

The CBI has also registered a corruption case against four of its officials and a few private persons.

In the FIR, the CBI alleged that the four officials booked for corruption had received bribes to extend favours to at least two private companies under probe for bank fraud.

Besides Rishi, Dhankad and Malik, the CBI had booked another DSP R.K. Sangwan, stenographer Samir Kumar Singh, another lawyer Arvind Kumar Gupta, Mandeep Kaur Dhillon, additional director of Shree Shyam Pulp and Board Mills Private Ltd, and Sujay and Uday Desai, directors of Frost International Private Ltd.

On January 14, the CBI had carried out searches at 14 premises of the accused in Delhi, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, Meerut and Kanpur.

According to the CBI FIR, in the case of Shree Shyam Pulp and Board Mills, previous Investigating Officer Sangwan offered and paid Rs 10 lakh on behalf of the company's Additional Director to the inspector who in turn shared confidential information related to the probe with Sangwan.

The FIR said that in January last year, the CBI had registered a case against Frost International and 14 others for alleged bank fraud involving about Rs 3,600 crore.

"Rishi paid Rs 10 lakh to the Inspector on behalf of the Desais for favours," it alleged.

It also claimed that Rishi received Rs 15 lakh twice through the two advocates to get favours for a Chandigarh-based company probed in a corruption case.

Dhankad received Rs 2.5 lakh from Gupta twice, for having brokered the deal through Rishi, the FIR read.

The accused stenographer had also allegedly shared details of the investigation in many other cases, including confidential notes and directions, with the two accused DSPs, for monetary gains.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTHI) -- 2020 was a year of struggles for everyone around the world, but in Governor Eric Holcomb's state of the state, he talked about all of the great things Indiana did last year and looked ahead to the future.

Indiana's infrastructure, education, and of course COVID -19 are all things Governor Holcomb addressed in his state of the state Tuesday night.

"Because of you our state of the state is resilient and growing," he said.

While Indiana and the rest of the country have faced many hardships and challenges in 2020, Governor Holcomb highlighted things the state has excelled in.

"Indiana's infant mortality rate has now declined for 3 years in a row," Governor Holcomb said. "Indiana was recognized as being the number 1 state in the nation for increased adoptions from foster care."

He also talked about the next steps for his outlined plan in the next level agenda. Including, cultivating a strong and diverse economy, maintaining and building the state's infrastructure, education, training, and workforce development, and public health.

Governor Holcomb said even with the COVID-19 pandemic Hoosiers pushed through and forward.

He says he is excited to see what the future holds for the state.

"This has been a year unlike any other," he said. "For Indiana, the future is now and the world continues to hear Indiana's engines roar."

Governor Holcomb said Indiana needs to keep moving forward. He also said one of the most important things for him is to get everyone vaccinated from COVID-19.
WASHINGTON: The United Arab Emirates has signed an agreement with the United States to purchase 50 F-35 jets and up to 18 armed drones, people familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday.

Although the UAE and the United States were working to ink a deal before President Joseph Biden took office on Wednesday, the new president has said he will re-examine the agreements.

The UAE, one of Washingtons closest Middle East allies, has long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets made by Lockheed Martin and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal when it agreed to normalize relations with Israel last August.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
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This is an opinion column.

Id not been to the exact spot. The spot where she died. The spot where she was shot in the back by a Birmingham police officer. For the crime of being in the wrong place and the fatally wrong time.

Most Birmingham residents know of Bonita Carter. For many years white residents heard and believed one story, Black residents another.

White residents believed she mustve done something wrong or she shouldnt have been in the car.

The 20-year-old resident of the Kingston neighborhoodjust out of the shadow of the Birmingham/Fred L. Shuttlesworth Airport in East Birminghamhad ridden her bike to Jimmys Convenience store on June 22, 1979. Ridden there with friends when a kerfuffle over almost nothing between a store clerk and a guy in the neighborhood Carter knew broke out.

The guy was irritated over having to pay for gas before filling his tank (it had just become a thing), jawed with the clerk, went home, came back with a gun, fired a shot, and ran.

Amidst the chaos, Carter, jumped in the caras a favor, offering to drive it back to the guys home. Her friends begged her not to.

Police Officer George Sands and partner happened by Jimmys just about then, amidst the chaos, and heard about a robbery in progress. At the very place.

Sands ran towards the car, gun drawn. People in the crowd shouted, Theres a girl in the car!. Not the guy they wanted.

Sands fired anyway, with the car partially driven out of the convenience store parking lot.

A monument honoring the young woman was erected near the intersection of Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard and 45th Street North in October 2019, near the spot where she died. I didnt make the ceremony that day and never made it there.

Until Monday. Until I participated in a neighborhood cleanup that began at the intersection where Bonita Carter was killed.

The cleanup was one of many held throughout the city as part of a day of service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King. Donning yellow vests and wielding pick-up tongs and garbage bags, Birmingham residents of all stripes gathered to beautified streets and alleys, parking lots, and vacant lots.

Organizers of our cleanup said it was inspired by Unjustifiable, the six-part podcast series I co-hosted with AL.com colleague (and Pulitzer Prize winner) John Archibald. A Birmingham native, John reveals during the podcast that he was one of those white residents whod always heard Carter must have done something wrong. That her shooting was justified, just as it was deemed at the time.

Now, we know better.

Our cleanup began at Stockham Park. Several dozen volunteers were disbursed to three routes not far from the park. Before embarking, I was asked to say a few wordsI called Carter a bright light in her neighborhood who was extinguished too soonand lead a moment of silence.

The spot doesnt look like much; you could almost miss the sign, in fact, sitting along 45th Street North. It bears the only photo of Carter that seemingly survives herthe black-and-white image of her smiling and wearing a knitted cap.

Theres no real reason I hadnt been there beforeunlike, most likely, almost everyone else on the cleanup. I didnt grow up in the city and had not even heard her name until John mentioned her in the newsroom one day.

The convenience store is now, nearly 42 years after the tragedy, called 10th Ave Deli. The owner graciously allowed us to utilize his parking lot.

I took a moment after leaving my car. I walked to the sign Id never seen up close, read its inscription, and looked around, envisioning what transpired on that spot.

Our group cheerfully honored Carter by cleaning a few blocks north and south of the spotsocially distanced of course.

An even greater honor would be for folks toits no fun saying thisstop discarding trash so recklessly. Please. In Kingston/Stockham and other neighborhoods Im sure were left cleaner Monday by a phalanx of volunteers.

As gratifying as the day was, it was equally disheartening to see so much waste thoughtlessly strewn abouton streets and curbs, on church lawns and empty lots. It was as if so many didnt even try to properly dispose of unwanted sneakers, empty beer bottles (Michelob seems the neighborhoods preferred brand), and all manner of garbage in between.

Our neighborhoods deserve betterAll of our neighborhoods.

Most especially the one surrounding the spot where Bonita Carter died.

Hear the story of Bonita Carter on #Unjustifiable from Reckon Radio: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../reckon-radio/id1420215603

Unafraid to start uncomfortable conversations, Roy is a voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond). His column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj

Groups that converged to create the Stockham/Kingston Martin Luther King/Bonota Carter cleanup included Empowered Citizens of Birmingham, City of Birmingham AmeriCorps Vista, City of Birmingham, Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Park and Recreation, 95.7 Jamz, and 98.7 Kiss FM
The fire broke out in a shed on the Scarva Road in Banbridge

Police are investigating an overnight fire at sheds containing gas cylinders in Banbridge which forced residents to be moved from their homes.

The Scarva Road between Peggy's Loaning and Grove Meadows was closed for several hours as firefighers tackled the blaze.

It was reported at 3:10am that two sheds at the rear of a property were on fire.

Police attended the scene where 27 NIFRS officers were dealing with the incident.

The sheds contains acetylene cylinders and local residents were evacuated as a precaution.

A PSNI spokesman said: "The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and we would appeal to anyone who may have noticed anything unusual in the area between 2:30am and 3am to get in touch with us by calling 101."

The Scarva Road was closed for some time as emergency services dealt with the fire, but has since re-opened.

A number of homes were also evacuated as a result of the blaze, however, all residents have now been allowed to return home.

The spokesperson added: We would like to thank all the residents who had to leave their homes for their patience as the fire was being dealt with.

"Wed also like to thank the local Council for opening a rest centre to accommodate those impacted.

Information can also be given on the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/

An NIFRS spokesperson confirmed that it received a call at around 3am to a fire involving three sheds on Hockley Terrace in Banbridge.

Four appliances from Dromore, Lurgan and Banbridge fire stations attended the incident alongside an aerial appliance from Portadown, a water tanker from Warrenpoint and a command support unit from Lisburn.

They added: A cordon was established and local residents were evacuated for their own safety to Banbridge Leisure Centre as some of the sheds were used to store gas cylinders.

This was a challenging incident and firefighters worked well, with our partners, to make the area safe as quickly as possible. Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used two jets, two hose reel jets and the water tower from the aerial appliance to extinguish the fire.

"The incident was dealt with by 9.09am and the cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate ignition.
Billionaire Aussie Miner Andrew Forrest Contracted CCP Virus on Renewable Energy Tour

Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, during a global tour to seek out renewable energy projects.

After returning home to Perth in Western Australia, Forrest told the Australian Financial Review he had no regrets travelling the world during the height of the pandemic.

Despite being hospitalized with high-level care in a Swiss hospital for several days, he managed to complete his four-month tour, which lasted from August to December and spanned 47 countries.

He spent the journey with a core team of 41 people searching for hydro, solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects. Forrest said his intentions were to commit his Fortescue Metals Group to an investment worth billions, to surpass the success of the companys iron ore production.

Forrest contracted the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus (novel coronavirus) from a Russian interpreter and expert who accompanied him on his trip. After she tested positive in Uzbekistan, he immediately postponed his trip as the whole team flew back to their travel base in Croatia.

At their base, Forrest was the only one to test positive and underwent isolation before being transferred to a Swiss hospital.

I would rather have not caught COVID but it hasnt harmed me. Im still as fit as a fiddle but the big thing is that it enabled us to put together a suite of assets to create a supply of renewable fuels and products which could rival the fossil-fuel sector, Forrest said.

Forrest was fortunate enough to not need a respirator and continued his work while being hospitalized. After being cleared to travel by Swiss authorities, Forrest rejoined his team and continued his tour.

Throughout his journey, luck would have him narrowly miss more life-threatening events.

His postponed plan to visit Kyrgyzstan saved him from the violence caused by protesters that occurred at the presidential palace, where he wouldve been staying.

While negotiating deals with First Vice-President Amrullah Salehin in Afghanistan, he narrowly avoided a deadly terrorist attack which claimed the lives of at least 10.

Forrest intends to shift Fortescue operations to focus more on renewable energy in the future and aims to be one of the worlds biggest energy providers.

In May, Forrests fortune declined by $900 million (US$693.4 million) due to the pandemic. China was the biggest buyer of Fortescues iron ore.

Forrest has been a vocal critic of Australias call for an inquiry into the source of the CCP virus, a move which has attracted criticism from China experts.

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
A Wayne County man facing weapon and drug charges stemming from a case in which he allegedly fled from Auburn police was denied bail in Cayuga County Court Tuesday.

William B. Collier III, 40, of 1438 Van Dyne Spoor Road, Savannah, is currently being held in the Wayne County Jail serving a sentence on unrelated crimes.

He was arraigned in court virtually in front of Judge Mark Fandrich on charges of third-degree possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony; second-degree possession of a firearm, a class C felony; two counts of third-degree possession of a weapon, class D felonies; as well as four misdemeanors.

Rome Canzano, Collier's attorney, entered "not guilty" pleas for all of the charges, but said he would like "reasonable bail to be set in this case such that he may get credit upon the expiration of his sentence, it doesn't otherwise appear that we're going to be able to try this case any time within the next six or eight months." Canzano also asked for a pretrial conference in around 30 days.
Nearly 300,000 worth of grants will be awarded to nine crofting businesses located in some of Scotland's most remote and marginal communities.

The Croft House Grant scheme aims to attract people to rural communities while allowing them to achieve the potential of croft.

The scheme aims to improve their housing or build new homes, which is then hoped will generate economic activity.

Since the scheme was launched in 2007, more than 21.8 million has been awarded to 1,023 families and individuals in rural and island communities.

The latest round of funding sees grants worth 289,920 awarded to nine crofters.

Scottish government's rural economy secretary, Fergus Ewing said crofters had been 'working hard' through the pandemic by contributing to the sustainability of rural areas.

We need to ensure the continued availability of good quality housing to help attract and retain more people to these areas," he added.

"I have seen first-hand the impact the Croft House Grant has had across rural Scotland and I am glad that we can continue to provide this support.

"In the last year we have awarded over 1.4 million in grant funding to help build and improve homes for 49 crofters and their families

"I am determined to continue helping people in crofting areas, which the Croft House Grant has a proven track record of doing, Mr Ewing said.
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.
BLAKESLEE, Pa., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Ridge Real Estate Company (OTC Pink: BRRE) announced today that the Company closed on the sale of 284 acres of land located along Route 940 in Blakeslee, PA (the "Property") to Exeter Industrial Drive Route 940 Land LLC ("Exeter") for the construction of a logistics and distribution center in Carbon County. The proceeds from the sale are to be used for general corporate purposes. "This sale is part of Blue Ridge's strategy of unlocking the value embedded in the Company's natural resource portfolio and accretively redeploying capital to maximize shareholder value," said Bruce Beaty, Blue Ridge's President and Chief Executive Officer.

About Blue Ridge Real Estate Company

Blue Ridge is engaged in real estate development and land sales. At October 31, 2020, the properties of Blue Ridge and its subsidiaries consisted of approximately 9,700 acres of land located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Income is derived from these lands through leases, selective timbering by third parties, sales and other dispositions. For additional information on Blue Ridge, please visit the Company's website at www.brreco.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The statements in this news release state the Company's and Management's intentions, beliefs, expectations or projections of the future and are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, (i) general adverse economic and local real estate conditions, (ii) financing risks, such as the inability to obtain equity, debt or other sources of financing or refinancing on favorable terms to the Company, (iii) the Company's ability to successfully attract and enter into transactions with real estate developers and manage relationships with real estate developers going forward, (iv) the Company's ability to raise capital by selling its assets, (v) changes in governmental laws and regulations and management's ability to estimate the impact of such changes, and (vi) the impacts of pandemics or other health crises, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forward- looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company's filings with OTC Markets Group, Inc. ("OTC Markets"). Copies of each filing may be obtained from the Company or OTC Markets.

The Company refers you to the documents filed by the Company from time to time with OTC Markets, specifically the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Financial Report for the year ended October 31, 2019, as may be updated or supplemented in the Company's Quarterly Financial Reports and the Company's other filings with OTC Markets, which discuss these and other factors that could adversely affect the Company's results. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact: Bruce Beaty, President and CEO, [email protected], 570-443-8433

SOURCE Blue Ridge Real Estate Company
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra listens to a speech at a protest held for and in honor of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Friday, May 29, 2020, at the Hays County Historic Courthouse.



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With all this, and because of it, I think that most Americans  including those of us who disagree with Bidens policies  pray for peace and for him and for the nation, hoping that this 78-year-old career politician is strong enough for the job.
A West Shore man struck a deal Tuesday to plead guilty to molesting an 11-year-old girl in return for a 5- to 10-year prison sentence.

Cumberland County Judge Christylee Peck accepted that deal as Travis Reale, 24, of East Pennsboro Township, entered his pleas to felony charges of indecent assault and corruption of minors.

Reale could have faced an even harsher prison term had he been convicted at trial on more dire child-sex charges, including rape of a child and aggravated indecent assault, that were filed against him by police in East Pennsboro and Hampden townships.

The most severe charges Reale faced were to be dropped under the terms of the plea agreement negotiated between defense attorney Casey Shore and Assistant District Attorney Lauren Perchinski.

Travis J. Reale

East Pennsboro Township police arrested Reale in August 2019. They said they learned of the molestation while handling a missing person case involving the pre-teen girl. Hampden Township police charged Reale with child-sex crimes last year for offenses against another child they said occurred in 2015.

All of the charges in the Hampden case were to be satisfied by Reales guilty pleas to the indecent assault and corruption minors counts in the East Pennsboro case.

Perchinski said both victims and their families agreed with the plea deal offered Reale. The prosecutor said the guilty pleas will require Reale to register with state police for life as a sex offender.

Peck also ordered that Reale be evaluated to determine whether he should be deemed a sexually violent predator, the most dangerous type of sex offender. She scheduled his sentencing for April.
With VND10.7 trillion, Nguyen Duc Thuy, known as boss Thuy, will become the 12th richest stock billionaire. Two months ago, his stock assets were worth less than VND1 trillion.

Getting rich quickly

Thaiholdings shares saw prices soar from VND80,000 per share in mid-November 2020 to VND133,100 per share on December 3, 2020.

Nguyen Duc Thuy, or boss Thuy

With 10.78 million shares, boss Thuy had 10.78 million stock options. He recently registered to buy 2.896 million options more to raise total stock options to 13.676 million.

The options will allow him to buy 75.13 million Thaiholdings shares, worth VND751 billion.

If transactions succeed, boss Thuy will own 85.91 milion shares. The shares are being traded at VND10,700, which means that Thuy will have stock assets of VND10.7 trillion, making him the 12th richest stock billionaire.

Vietjet CEO to buy more aircraft

While international flights have been suspended since last March, domestic flights have resumed with strict requirements to ensure safety for passengers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reuters reported that the low-cost carrier Vietjet is planning to buy more aircraft and upgrade facilities this year after reporting a profit in 2020.

Speaking to Reuters on January 9, CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said Vietjet is looking forward to receiving more new aircraft models and will continue making investments in facilities for aircraft maintenance as well as training facilities. The investment in 2021 will be higher than 2020.

Vietjet said they had successfully arranged $28 million worth of capital through bond issuance last month and the amount of money would be reserved for development plans in 2021. Vietjet declined to give more details about bond issuance.

Vietjets cargo transporation in 2020 grew by 75 percent compared with 2019, which was the major growth engine of the company in a tough 2020.

Bamboo Airways to fly to the US

Bamboo Airways President Trinh Van Quyet said the air carrier has officially received a license from the US Department of Transport to carry passengers, cargo and mailers between Vietnam and the US.

Bamboo Airways is considering flights to Los Angeles or San Francisco.

This is one of the most important conditions for us to plan to provide routine non-stop flights between Vietnam and the US, a market with great potential, with 700,000 passengers a year, he said.

Quyet revealed that Bamboo Airways workforce, facilities and equipment are ready.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has reported that Bamboo Airways was the carrier with the highest on-time rate in the aviation industry in Vietnam in 2020, for the second consecutive year.

The cost to lease aircraft, pay workers and develop personnel are lower than before the pandemic. This is a great opportunity for Vietravel to build a carrier the way it wants at the lowest possible cost, Nguyen Quoc Ky, president of Vietravel Airlines

Third private airline

Vietravel Airlines officially presented itself before the public on December 26 after it received an AOC (air operators certificate), the last condition for commercial flight operations.

The airline plans to put tickets for sale from early January 2021 and begin commercial operations from mid-January. The airfare will be between that of Bamboo Airways and Vietjet Air.

As a hybrid airline, Vietravel Airlines will have only one-class tickets with 17 different price levels. Passengers can choose services based on their demand.

At first, Vietravel Airlines will focus on domestic routes, including eight routes connecting Hanoi/HCM City to Hue/Da Nang/Nha Trang/Phu Quoc/Van Don.

When the pandemic ends, it will provide international flights. The first international air route will be to Bangkok. Later, it will fly to Singapore and Northeast Asia.

After 15 years, Nguyen Quoc Ky has succeeded in developing Vietravel into the No 1 travel firm in Vietnam. And now he has a new role  president of Vietravel Airlines.

The cost to lease aircraft, pay workers and develop personnel are lower than before the pandemic. This is a great opportunity for Vietravel to build a carrier the way it wants at the lowest possible cost, Ky said.

Challenges for new Vietnam Airlines CEO

Le Hong Ha, who has been deputy CEO of Vietnam Airlines since 2012, will take office as the new CEO of the carrier.

Ha will replace Duong Tri Thanh, while Dang Ngoc Hoa will replace Pham Ngoc Minh. All of them are veteran managers who gained great achievements during the development of Vietnam Airlines.

Both the new chair and CEO are facing serious challenges. In 2020, the combined revenue of Vietnam Airlines exceeded the plan, but the loss was estimated at over VND14.4 trillion.

This was a record loss in the history of Vietnam Airlines. The loss is expected to decrease by VND2.8 trillion when the carrier completes the procedures to adjust depreciation, and allocation of expenses on repair and maintenance in accordance with the governments policy to help it overcome current difficulties.

Bui Thanh Nhon finalizes deal

Novaland, a real estate developer, has announced that its president Bui Thanh Nhon has registered to sell 12 million NVL shares out of total 216.8 million (21.99 percent) of shares he is holding.

The transactions are expected to be carried out through order-matching or put-through modes, slated for January 12 and February 10.

Bao Anh

Mystery businessmen pours VND150 billion into ITA, Dang Thi Hoang Yen makes surprise move The ITA shares of the Tan Tao Group unexpectedly witnessed an impressive trading session with a record high trading volume.
Parents of children with special needs are heartbroken after it was announced last night that schools will not be reopening.

In-person education for children with special and additional needs was due to recommence tomorrow however, Education Minister Norma Foley has conceded that the phased return cannot go ahead because of lack of co-operation.

It follows a decision by the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and Forsa, representing special needs assistants (SNAs), to reject proposals for reopening.

Emma Harris, a single mother-of-three living in Limerick, said her head was fit to burst over the uncertainty on whether her eight-year-old son Dylan, who has autism, would return to school on Thursday.

Dylan attends a special needs unit attached to a mainstream school and was due to return on Thursday along with one other student.

Read More

"My head is fit to burst because in the news theres always something being said about it and everyone is saying something different and everybody wants something different, Ms Harris told Independent.ie.

"Nobody knows what the right thing to do is and it does get to you. It gets to a point where you try not to think about it because when you start to think about anything you get angry, you cry, every emotion.

Ms Harris explained that it is incredibly difficult to home school her other children, aged six and 11, as Dylan requires so much care.

The mother-of-three said she doesnt think anyone can really understand how hard it is unless they are going through it themselves.

I dont think they could ever understanduntil they understand my position, a single mum with three kids and one that cant talk, one that I cant leave alone.

I cant really leave him alone and he floods my sinks, hes unpredictable, but thats autism for you, autism is unpredictable.

"I really have to try and keep strong and keep it together and try and do my best because I know thats all I can do.

"Im trying not to read things now, I wont believe that schools are open until that bus turns up because they already gave me that glimmer of hope and to take it away was really hard for me.

Despite desperately wanting schools to reopen for children with special needs, Ms Harris said she can understand teachers and SNAs being worried.

"I do feel for teachers, I dont think anybody should be forced to do anything they dont want to do right now in this world, she said.

Aisling McNiffe, whose 15-year-old son Jack has special needs, said she will not be sending him back to school if it reopens. However, she thinks the option should be there for those who need it, explaining that its not a one-size-fits-all situation.

Expand Close Aisling McNiffe, her son Jack and his companion dog Beth. Photo by: Tom Honan / Facebook

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My son is in the minority who will probably not be going back to school because he hasnt been in since March because he is very medically complexed, she said.

"As much as I am advocating for schools to reopen its not for me personally because he wont be able to go back until hes vaccinated.

The mother-of-two said she believes teachers and SNAs should be treated as frontline workers and be higher up on the list for vaccination.

She added: For children with special needs school is more than just education for them, its socialisation, its therapy and its respite for families.

"Our children cant learn online, its just not possible. There might be a small cohort that can but in general, its not a possibility, so they should be open.

"Its a small cohort of all the children in Ireland and if the teachers and SNAs and all people that work in schools were treated as frontline staff or essential workers then things could move along and open safely.

A spokesperson for four advocacy organisations, AsIAm, Down Syndrome Ireland, Family Carers Ireland and Inclusion Ireland, has said that children with special educational needs, and their families and carers have been almost completely forgotten about in the conversations between stakeholders over the partial re-opening of schools.

They added: The manner in which this issue is being dealt with  with U-turns, mixed messages and false dawns, needs to stop.

"The department and education stakeholders need to get this sorted once and for all. Our most vulnerable students  children with disabilities and special educational needs, their families and their carers have been almost completely forgotten about in this row.
Albany, N.Y.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants the state to spend $130 million to aid small businesses, restaurants and arts organizations devastated by Covid-19.

Cuomo today proposed several tax credits for those groups as part of his $193 billion state budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Restaurants were hit particularly hard by the economic collapse the pandemic brought about, Cuomo said during his budget address in Albany.

READ MORE: Cuomos budget would cut Syracuse aid by $3.6M, hike taxes on millionaires

Even when other businesses reopened, we still restrained restaurants because of the social gathering aspect of the business, he said. They cooperated, but now its our responsibility to work with them to restore their businesses.

Under the proposed budget, small businesses and restaurants would both be eligible for tax credits up to $5,000 per employee hired by the end of this year. Businesses and restaurants could claim up to $50,000 total, said Robert Mujica, state budget director.

To be eligible, businesses and restaurants would have to show they lost at least 40% of their revenue due to the pandemic. Thats meant to ensure the credits help those affected the most, Mujica said.

The restaurant credit is meant to help businesses that saw extended shutdowns, he added. It will be aimed specifically at eateries in the states red and orange coronavirus cluster zones, where indoor dining had been banned, and in New York City, where restaurant closures lasted longer than other regions.

Restaurants will also be able to get the cash from the credit in advance, before filing their taxes, Mujica said. The idea is to help restaurants that need money quickly.

The budget sets aside $50 million for the restaurant credit and another $50 million for the small business credit.

The budget proposal also includes up to $25 million for tax credits aimed at musical and theatrical productions in New York City. And it extends a tax credit for musical and theatrical productions outside New York City for four years and doubles it to $8 million.

The tax credits will cost over $130 million total if approved by the state Legislature.

Cuomos overall budget would cut money to local governments, slightly increase school aid and temporarily raise taxes on New Yorks highest earners.

The city of Syracuse would lose $3.6 million in aid under the proposal.

The plan assumes the state gets at least $6 billion in coronavirus aid as part of President-elect Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion Covid-19 aid package.

At the same time, Cuomo is asking for much more from Congress and Biden to shore up the $15 billion hole left after the economic fallout from the virus. Cuomo is hoping for enough federal aid to fill that hole completely.

The tax credits for businesses are a priority, even if New York doesnt get as much from Congress as it wants, Mujica said. Getting restaurants and other businesses open again ultimately helps the states economy in the long run.

The faster it happens, it helps the states revenue numbers, but more importantly, it gets people back to work, Mujica said.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
She is said to her split from her model boyfriend of three months Charlie Edwards due to the difficulties of starting a relationship in lockdown.

And Emily Atack was certainly pining for sunnier climes as she took to her Instagram stories on Tuesday to post a throwback holiday snap in a yellow and pink swimsuit.

The TV star, 31, told her followers she was missing sipping a beer on a beach before sharing a mirror selfie flashing her toned abs.

Throwback: Emily Atack was certainly pining for sunnier climes as she took to her Instagram stories on Tuesday to post a throwback holiday snap in a yellow and pink swimsuit

Emily looked every inch the beach babe in the throwback holiday snap as she sat on a purple towel making the most of the sunshine.

But the star had to make do with showing off her figure in the mirror of her London flat.

Emily raised her arm to flaunt her toned stomach in a black crop top and flared pinstripe trousers, which the actress said she 'loved'.

Toned: The TV star, 31, told her followers she was missing sipping a beer on a beach before sharing a mirror selfie flashing her toned abs

It comes amid reports Emily has parted ways with her model boyfriend of three months Charlie after the ongoing coronavirus pandemic put pressure on the pair's budding romance.

The comedian is said to have split from the model, who is nine years her junior, after her hectic work schedule and Covid-19 rules made it difficult for them to see each other.

It was first revealed that the pair were an item back in October, but the couple have now ended their romance after just three months, according to The Sun.

A source told the publication: 'Emily's work schedule has been busy lately and she's had to really focus on making that work.

'She was really into Charlie, who is obviously very handsome, and there was a good spark there, but it's definitely over.'

Parted ways: It was revealed that Emily and Charlie were an item back in October, but the couple have now ended their romance after just three months

The source, who is said to be 'close' to the actress, also added that Emily and Charlie tried to make it work, but found it 'impossible' due to coronavirus regulations.

Emily's representatives declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

The Celebrity Juice star was said to have been 'totally taken with' the tattooed model after they met through mutual friends.

A friend previously told the publication: 'Emily seems totally taken with Charlie and he's really into her. They met through a mutual friend.'

Their romance was revealed in October after they were spotted packing on the PDA during a night out in London.

Dating: Emily dipped her toe into the dating pond since she split from film producer Rob Jowers in September 2019 after just six months of romance (pictured in May 2019)

Friends told The Sun at the time that the Inbetweeners star was wooed by Charlie, who also works as a tattoo artist, on Instagram before they started dating.

Her romance with Charlie came after reports that Emily was linked to Missguided social media executive Joe Caro, after they were seen on a boozy date in early July.

Emily split from film producer Rob Jowers in September 2019 after just six months of romance.

The pair became an item after they met at Jack Whitehall's BRITs after-party and he offered to buy her a drink.
(Natural News) A progressive activist and Antifa-Black Lives Matter rioter from Utah has been arrested and charged for his participation in the riot at the U.S. Capitol a week after he uploaded footage of the attack on YouTube.

John Earle Sullivan, 26, informed alternative news outlet Just The News that he was present at the riot. He also admitted entering the Capitol as a journalist, saying that he was there just to record the events that were going down. (Related: Suspected agent provocateur John Sullivan filmed instigating Capitol protesters to commit crimes.)

Sullivan was charged with being on restricted property, civil disorder and violent entry or disorderly conduct. Charges were filed Wednesday, Jan. 13, in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Daphne Oberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah ordered Sullivans release from jail Friday, Jan. 15, despite objections from government prosecutors.

According to the Department of Justice, Sullivans defense holds no merit. The memo they released on Thursday, Jan. 14, regarding his arrest stated: John Earle Sullivan was charged by complaint with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and one count of interfering with law enforcement engaged in the lawful performance of their official duties incident to and during the commission of civil disorder.

Sullivan was arrested on that same day.

FBI agent Matthew Foulger also alleged in an affidavit that rather than being a legitimate member of the press, Sullivan was actually complicit in the riots. Foulger asserted that the evidence shows he knowingly and willfully joined a crowd of individuals who forcibly entered the U.S. Capitol.

Foulgers affidavit further stated that in the video footage Sullivan took, he could be heard cheering on the rioting crowd and urging them to push deeper into the Capitol by saying things like: Lets go. This [expletive] is ours and Lets burn this [expletive] down.

Judge releases Sullivan under strict conditions

Oberg ordered the release of Sullivan pending his trial, but under strict conditions. Sullivan is barred from social media and from attending protests while his electronic devices will be subjected to monitoring and searches. He must also wear a location monitor and remain at his residence in Sandy, a city to the South of Salt Lake City.

The judge also barred Sullivan from possessing any firearms and ordered him to find a job outside of Insurgence USA. Any violation of those conditions would not be taken lightly, according to Oberg.

Sullivan, who is also facing separate criminal charges related to the Provo protest he organized in June, founded Insurgence USA  a left-wing social justice group that calls itself an anti-fascist organization and has organized protests against supposed incidents of police brutality.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Reeves tried to argue that Sullivan should remain in jail pending the resolution of the case, saying that the latter thrives at inciting chaos.

He also cited the fact that the FBI has reported the possibility of armed protests at all 50 state capitols and in Washington, D.C. ahead of the presidential inauguration. Reeves argued that Sullivan intends to return to the Capitol for Inauguration Day, and believes that he will do so if he is not in jail.

Reeves also pointed out the fact that Sullivan recently traveled to Portland, Oregon where he urged local Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioters to resist the police. The prosecutor added that Sullivan has a reckless disregard for the court and for the welfare of innocent people.

Learn more about Sullivan and the other people and organizations responsible for the riot at the Capitol by reading the latest articles at Rioting.news.

Sources include:

JustTheNews.com

Deseret.com

Justice.gov
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  The Philippines is set to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the first quarter of 2021 after the approval of its participation in the global COVAX facility, the Department of Health announced on Wednesday.

The facility is an initiative by the World Health Organization, along with the vaccine alliance Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. It seeks to provide over 150 participating countries equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. previously appealed to COVAX to include the Philippines among countries to be given early access to vaccine doses. With this latest development, the country could receive vaccines from US firm Pfizer as early as February.

Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said this means the Philippines can receive subsidized coronavirus vaccines from COVAX that will be enough for 20% of the country's population, but that will not be the amount of initial delivery.

"They have committed to provide us with 20% of our need for the population. But as initial, they might be providing the first 3% only. So this COVAX facility has committed that they might be able to provide us with vaccine this first quarter of the year," she told CNN Philippines on Thursday.

The national government is expected to secure145 million COVID-19 vaccines from different manufacturers by the end of January.

The country has so far cinched deals with India's Covovax, China's Sinovac, and the UK's AstraZeneca.

The Food and Drug Administration recently granted Emergency Use Authorization to the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 23:24:30|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A migrant boat capsized in rough seas off the coast of Libya on Tuesday claiming the lives of at least 43 people, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday.

This was the first shipwreck in 2021 in the central Mediterranean. The two agencies said that ten survivors have been rescued and brought to shore.

The boat, which embarked in the early hours of Tuesday from the city of Zawya, reportedly capsized when its engine stopped just a few hours after departure, the IOM and UNHCR said in a statement released on Wednesday.

Survivors, mainly from Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana and Gambia, reported that those who had perished were all citizens of West African countries, the statement said.

The IOM and the UNHCR reiterated their call on the international community for an "urgent and measurable shift in the approach to the situation in the Mediterranean."

"This includes ending returns to unsafe ports, establishing a safe and predictable disembarkation mechanism followed by a tangible show of solidarity from European states with countries receiving high numbers of arrivals," their statement said. Enditem
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In November 2014, four people were killed at the DuPont chemical plant in La Porte after being exposed to toxic gas. Here are the top six things you should know about the disaster and its aftermath:

1. Around 3 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2014 close to 24,000 pounds of deadly methyl mercaptan, a flammable gas, was released through two valves in a poorly ventilated insecticide production unit at the facility, killing three operators and a shift supervisor. It was the deadliest accident at a chemical plant in the Houston area in more than a decade.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021

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Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 74F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Community foundation awards $57K to 18 local organizations

Somerset County organizations received $57,749 in grants for environmental efforts, art and music programs, feeding programs and other projects.
Laredo City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to request from the governor several COVID-19 mitigation measures that supersede his current order.

Under Gov. Greg Abbotts order, businesses like restaurants, bars and shops can remain open at a 50% capacity in the Laredo area. The City of Laredo cannot enforce any restrictions on businesses beyond this.

But as Laredos hospitals have become overrun with COVID-19 patients, council voted to petition the governor to cap restaurants occupancy at 25% or limit them to take-out only, and ban all family gatherings outside of ones own household. They requested that both of these measures stay in effect for two weeks in order to break the virus cycle.

Council also discussed strengthening enforcement efforts at local businesses.

Councilman Marte Martinez noted that many restaurants have not spaced out their tables enough to allow for appropriate social distancing. He made a motion that if restaurants and bars have not allowed for proper spacing, that the city enforce the violation and revoke the business certificate of occupancy. Council approved this motion.

Health Director Richard Chamberlain, citing contact tracing efforts, noted that the No. 1 area of transmissions in Laredo are in public places like shops and restaurants. The No. 2 source of transmission is family gatherings, he said.

Council went back and forth on how best to maximize enforcement beyond what Laredo police and code enforcement officers are now doing. City management mentioned that they have been working outside the courts and revoking business certificates of occupancy if they are in violation.

Believe me, were going to produce some results Police Chief Claudio Trevino said.

Council did not finish its agenda or hear public comments on Tuesday. They recessed their meeting and will reconvene at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Dr. Maurice Click attended Tuesdays meeting in place of Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino who had been admitted into the emergency room Tuesday evening.
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WageForward.org highlights the benefits of the Enforceable Brand Agreements (EBA) and Worker-driven Social Responsibility (WSR) approach

Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), and the Worker-driven Social Responsibility Network (WSRN) have joined forces to launch a new website that outlines a new approach for an enforceable, binding agreement between global brands and unions on the payment of living wages to garment workers.

The groups represent a broad coalition of unions, advocacy groups and NGOs and say that by launching the public website, all actors can provide input and suggestions, and engage in discussions as well as offer support and endorsement.

"It's about time that a credible proposal is made in which brands are truly held accountable for the dreadful circumstances under which workers and their families have been living for decades while they, the brands, were making gigantic profits," says Anannya Bhattacharjee, president of the Garment and Allied Workers Union. "Brands' CSR reports are full of promises regarding wages. Now it's time for them to put their money where their mouth is."

Brands are the primary profit accumulators in the garment supply chain, dictating what prices are being paid while "barely abiding by minimum wage standards," AFWA, CCC, and the WRSN say. Because of the extremely low prices brands pay for labour, most workers are forced to work overtime hours in order to make ends just meet, it adds, noting voluntary brand or multi-stakeholder initiatives have thus far failed miserably to address this core issue of the garment industry and not led to any wage increases for workers and certainly not to payment of a living wage.

WageForward.org highlights the benefits of the Enforceable Brand Agreements (EBA) and Worker-driven Social Responsibility (WSR) approach. Just as the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh and the Fair Food Program have dramatically improved the safety and living conditions of supply chain workers, EBAs within the garment industry hold real promise for addressing the crises caused by poverty wages, according to the founding organisations.

The central element of the proposal is the payment of a living wage contribution on every order signatory brands place with any supplier. This contribution directly goes to workers and is largely based on the gap between statutory minimum wages and estimated living wages.

Unions in many production countries have set concrete living wage demands and a regional living wage formulation, the Asia Floor Wage, was developed by a group of trade unions in Asia who demanded that brands pay this gap. Analysis of these and other credible living wage benchmarks confirms that wages on average need to triple.

The calculation of the living wage contribution then factors in variations per country as well as wage increases reached through collective bargaining and translate this into a percentage to be added to the price paid by the brand.

The proposed agreement will also include protections for workers' right to organise and the guaranteed access to a 24-hour complaint mechanism to report violations to the agreement. Grassroots unions, brands, and labor rights groups will be signatories to the agreement and signatory brands will be required to terminate business with suppliers that violates the agreement. If they fail to do this, it is said they will face legal action as the agreement is legally binding.



WageForward.org has launched during a time in which many workers' main concern has shifted from the lack of payment of a living wage to sometimes a lack of any payment whatsoever as the Covid-19 pandemic has hit the sector.

Ineke Zeldenrust, international coordinator of the Clean Clothes Campaign says: "Brands' behaviour during the pandemic has once again shown us the complete ruthlessness of brands towards the people making the products they are selling. Workers are bearing the brunt of this crisis. Their wages are deferred or simply not paid. This happened on a massive scale since March and is unfortunately still ongoing."

Theresa Haas, director of transnational strategies, Worker-driven Social Responsibility Network, adds: "The fact that these workers have been paid poverty wages all along means that they do not have savings to fall back on. Had they been paid a living wage over the past couple of years, it would have been a very different, less ugly picture."

WageForward.org highlights how immediate action is required from brands to ensure workers receive full wages and benefits, including severance, during the pandemic.

"Proposals have been developed for an enforceable Severance Guarantee Fund, a Wage Assurance, and a Supply-Chain Relief Contribution. The remedy for workers' immediate needs must be combined with these types of enforceable measures in order to prevent future human rights violations in the global garment industry," the group says.
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors filed conspiracy charges in relation to the January 6 storming of the US Capitol in Washington D.C. The unsealed complaint alleges that three members of the pro-Trump paramilitary group Oath Keepers planned in advance of the fascist insurrection to break into the building, seize and likely kill elected officials as part of an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying the election victory of Joe Biden and block his inauguration.

A leader of the Oath Keepers, Thomas Caldwell, a 65-year-old Navy veteran from Virginia, was taken into custody early Tuesday morning. Caldwell has been charged with four counts, including conspiracy to commit an offense, unlawful entry of a restricted building and attempting to disrupt the activities of the US Congress.

Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021, file photo, (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

An affidavit submitted to the US District Court of the District of Columbia accuses Caldwell of organizing a group of eight to 10 people who led the crowds charge through barricades manned by Capitol Police to force their way into the building.

These individuals were captured on camera and observed to be wearing Oath Keeper patches. In the video they move in an organized and practiced fashion and force their way to the front of the crowd gathered around a door to the US Capitol, the affidavit states.

The video also identifies Army veteran Jessica Watkins, a commanding officer in the so-called Ohio State Regular Militia, a dues-paying arm of the Oath Keepers. Also identified and charged is Donovan Crowl, a former Marine who is also a member of the Ohio State Regular Militia. According to the affidavit, Crowl sent a Facebook message to Caldwell on January 1 referring to him as Commander and saying he would call the next day to discuss their plans.

Caldwell was instrumental in booking a hotel room in the capital for Oath Keepers to stay. He noted that the location would allow for us to hunt at night.

Court documents include communications between Watkins and an unnamed man, who tells her, Arrest this assembly, we have probable cause for acts of treason, election fraud.

In the charging papers, the FBI asserts that during the storming of the Capitol, Caldwell received Facebook messages updating him on the location of lawmakers. When he posted a single-word message, Inside, he received directions concerning tunnels, doors and hallways. This strongly suggests that Caldwell was receiving insider information from sources linked to either the police or Republican lawmakers, who were complicit in the attempt to overturn the election and impose a presidential dictatorship under Trump.

One message read, All members [of Congress] are in the tunnels under capital seal them in. Turn on gas.

In the course of the insurrection, Caldwell sent a Facebook message describing how the Proud Boys had forced the Capitol Police back into the building, adding, We need to do this at the local level. Lets [sic] storm the capitol in Ohio. Tell me when!

This is the first step toward identifying and understanding that there was some type of concerted conspiracy here, a senior official in the US attorneys office for Washington D.C. told the Washington Post .

Over the weekend, federal authorities arrested several other people with alleged ties to far-right groups, including the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys and the Three Percenters. In his September debate with Biden, Trump called on the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by should Biden be declared the winner of the November 3 vote.

Of these fascist paramilitary groups, the Oath Keepers is known for seeking to recruit former military personnel and police. On January 16, founder and leader Stewart Rhodes published a statement on the Oath Keepers website calling for Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act and lets [sic] get to work arresting and removing them all, and putting them all on trial for their crimes.

The information provided by federal prosecutors is part of an ever expanding body of evidence demonstrating that the Capitol assault was not a spontaneous event, but rather a planned and coordinated coup attempt. The conspiracy is not limited to the mainly middle-class and lumpen elements facing economic ruin who have been whipped into a frenzy by Trump and his co-conspirators, but also high-ranking forces within the state, the corporate-financial elite, the Republican Party and Trumps inner circle.

Ali Alexander, a leader of the pro-Trump Stop the Steal campaign, said in several live stream videos that he planned the January 6 rally with Republican congressmen Andy Biggs of Arizona, Paul Gosar of Arizona and Mo Brooks of Alabama. The latter preceded Trump at the speakers rostrum on January 6 and declared, Today is the day that American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.

Alexander has also been in close contact with Trumps fascistic ally Roger Stone, stating on Periscope that This is something Roger and I have been planning for a long time. And finally hes off the leash.

Stephen Bannon organized 400,000 automated text messages encouraging people to attend the rally, according to the Daily Beast. On his War Room podcast of January 5, Bannon told his listeners, speaking of the following days events in Washington, All hell is going to break loose.

He elaborated: Its not going to happen like you think its going to happen. OK, its going to be quite extraordinarily different. And all I can say is, strap in You have made this happen and tomorrow its game day. So strap in. Lets get ready.

This unprecedented political crisis and breakdown of American democracy will not end with the inauguration of Biden on January 20. It will continue and intensify. The crisis within the state is indicated by the fact that Army National Guard commanders have thus far removed 12 members of the massive armed force occupying large parts of Washington D.C. for the inauguration and beyond due their connections to far-right organizations.

The response of Biden and the Democratic Party is to step up their efforts to cover up the scale of the conspiracy and the danger to the democratic rights of the population. Biden calls for compromise and unity with the Republicans, a party that serves as the incubator for the growth of a fascist movement. Neither Trump nor his co-conspirators in the Republican Party, the police and the military are prosecuted and thrown into jail where they belong.

The Democrats are instead putting together a right-wing government that will continue the drive to reopen the schools and businesses in the midst of an out-of-control pandemic, provide no serious relief for the millions who are unemployed, hungry and facing eviction, continue the bailout of Wall Street, and intensify the economic and military confrontation with China and Russia. These anti-working class policies, sugar-coated with empty talk of healing and decency, will only create more favorable political conditions for the growth of fascism.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Following the discovery of the letters KKK on a street in Cambridge last week, police continue to search for those responsible for the racist graffiti, authorities said.

An officer responded to a report about the graffiti in the area of Huron and Aberdeen avenues around 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 11, according to a Cambridge Police Department report.

The letters were found in the left turn only lane on Huron Avenue at Aberdeen Avenue, the police report said.

A person or multiple people spray painted KKK on two spots on the street, according to the report.

White supremacy exists and has been emboldened, even in #CambMA, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui said in a tweet Tuesday. I hope @CambridgePolice find those involved and hold them accountable.

White supremacy exists and has been emboldened, even in #CambMA. I hope @CambridgePolice find those involved and hold them accountable. Thank you to @CambridgeDPW for painting over the racist graffiti found on Huron Ave. If you have any information, please contact CPD https://t.co/fwHE61Sc9R  Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui (@MayorSiddiqui) January 20, 2021

The responding officer took several photographs of the graffiti. The Cambridge Department of Public Works was then notified and painted over the letters, according to police.

A spokesperson for the Cambridge Police Department told MassLive on Wednesday officers have not been able to identify any video or witnesses associated with the graffiti.

Anyone with any information related to the incident has been urged to call Cambridge police at 617-349-3300.

Those who wish to provide information anonymously can do so by dialing the Cambridge Police Anonymous Crime Tip Hotline at 617-349-3359 and leaving a message. To send anonymous tips via email, visit www.cambridgepolice.org/tips.

A man was kicked out of his home by his mother and became homeless after being caught ordering 24,000 of cannabis online, a court has heard.

Anthony McDonald (22) was arrested after customs officials intercepted the package containing the drugs which he had ordered online under the name Mr Smith.

McDonald of Amiens Street, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at his former address of Cromcastle Court, Kilmore, on August 24, 2019. He has no previous convictions.

Garda Peter Morris told Maurice Coffey SC, prosecuting, that customs officials intercepted the package which had been ordered from the United States. The package was to be delivered to his then home address to a Mr Smith.

Gda Morris said that on the date in question, gardai set up a controlled delivery where a garda posed as a delivery man and brought the package to the address. McDonald signed for the package as Mr Smith and was arrested.

The total value of the drugs was 24,000. Bagging material and weighing scales were found during a search of the address.

In interview with gardai, McDonald admitted ordering the drugs and said he planned to break them down in order to sell them. He said he hoped to make 7,000 by selling the cannabis.

Gda Morris agreed with Dean Kelly SC, defending, that his client was living with his mother at the time and she threw him out after this offence. He agreed McDonald became homeless for a time and now lives in hostel type accommodation.

The garda agreed with counsel that his client was a decent enough young lad. He agreed that while McDonald has come to adverse garda attention since this offence, it was nothing to the scale of this conviction.

Mr Kelly described the purchasing of herbal cannabis over the internet as the most middle class of interests and not something that smacks of organised criminality. He said McDonald has one son from a previous relationship.

Counsel said his client has completed a detox programme for Benzodiazepines and is on the waiting list for a place in a residential treatment centre. He said his client's relationship with his mother is improving as he addresses his drug taking.

Judge Pauline Codd remanded McDonald on continuing bail and adjourned the matter for finalisation on May 4, next.
Malaysia expands the scope of the "Motion Control Order", the oxide powder market loses vitality

On January 19, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin (former) inspected the COVID-19 isolation treatment center located at the Serdang Agricultural Exhibition Hall near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In view of the continuous increase in new confirmed cases of new crowns in some states in Malaysia that have not implemented strict epidemic prevention and control measures, the Malaysian government announced on the 19th that it will expand the scope of the "movement control order" to most parts of the country.

Affected by the COVID-19 Vaccine, the oxide powder market is changing rapidly. These changes are indicators of market loses vitality. This year-on-year upward trend in the market indicates that the next February 2021-2026 will show an oval but steady growth. If you are looking for oxide powder or buy oxide powder in bulk, please send an email to: sales1@nanotrun.com

The price of oxide powder continues to be affected by factors such as market growth momentum, various opportunities and challenges. However, during the forecast period from 2020 to 2026, the global oxide powder sales market is expected to continue to be above average. The growth rate will continue to increase. It is expected that from today to next week, the price of oxide powder will increase to a certain extent.

Due to changes in consumer demand, import and export conditions, and various investigations on the development of oxide powder, the cost of oxide powder is constantly changing. Taking into account the current market macroeconomic parameters, value chain analysis, channel partners, demand and supply, the cost of oxide powder will also be affected to a certain extent. It is estimated that the cost of oxide powder will increase slightly from today to next week.

However, TRUNNANO provides high purity oxide powder with steady price. In order to feedback to old customers, the company is still in full operations to provide oxide powder with competitive price. said Olina, sales manager of TRUNNANO.

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The former head of construction at Bloomberg LP an alleged leader of a major kickback scheme was sentenced Tuesday to three years and two months in prison for evading taxes on more than $1.45 million, federal prosecutors said.

Anthony Guzzone, 51, of Middletown, pleaded guilty on September 29 to a single count of tax evasion for the tax years 2010 through 2017, Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. Guzzone was also ordered to pay restitution of $574,005 in unpaid taxes.

Prosecutors have said Guzzone was part of a broader pay-to-play scheme involving 13 other people  including a construction company executive and several subcontractors  that bilked Bloomberg out of more than $15 million for construction work at its Manhattan offices.

Those implicated in the scheme took kickbacks  in the form of cash payments they would refer to as sandwiches and lunch, vacations and home renovations  from subcontractors and vendors who then inflated the bills they sent to Bloomberg for work at buildings on Park Avenue and Third Avenue where it keeps offices, authorities said.

The scheme ran from 2011 until October 2017, when state police searched Bloomberg headquarters, Turner Constructions offices and the homes of some defendants, prosecutors said. Bloomberg, which hadnt been aware of the alleged scheme until then, fired Guzzone and three other implicated employees, authorities have said.

Guzzone, the alleged mastermind, took in millions of dollars in cash and items for his palatial New Jersey home, including stainless steel appliances, ironwork for the gates and a fancy barbeque, officials said. Other personal expenses included his receipts of several sets of Super Bowl tickets, worth approximately $8000 per ticket, authorities said.

The side business he allegedly helped set up, Litespeed Electric, was run by employees of Bloombergs former electric contractor, gave no-show jobs to relatives of Bloomberg workers and coordinated with a competitor to divvy up kickback-laden work at the company, prosecutors said.

Co-conspirator Michael Campana, 34, of Tuckahoe, New York, a subordinate construction manager at Bloomberg, was sentenced on July 24, 2020 to 24 months in prison, for evading taxes on more than $420,000 in the same scheme, according to Tuesdays statement.

Ronald Olson and Vito Nigro, 59, of Middletown, two managers of a construction contractor that performed projects for Bloomberg, have separately pleaded guilty to evading taxes on more than $1.4 million and $1.8 million in bribes that they respectively received in the same scheme, federal prosecutors said.

Bribery and tax evasion impose hidden, unfair costs on the law-abiding public, Strauss said. The type of criminality uncovered in this case imposes that burden widely, on customers, on employers, and on fellow taxpayers. It is intolerable in a just society.

This article contains material from the Associated Press

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.
Jammu, Jan 20 : After a promising performance against prominent parties in the recent District Development Council (DDC) elections, the Jammu & Kashmir Nationalist People's Front is marching ahead to contribute more constructively to the state.

The members of the party inspired by 'The Art of Living' founder and spiritual leader, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, organized a confluence of prominent Muftis, Maulvis and Khatibs on Wednesday at the Gujjar Charitable Trust Hall, Channi Himmat Bypass, Jammu.

"We all have the responsibility of bringing peace to every nook and corner of the world," says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. "Unless every member of our global family is peaceful, our peace is incomplete." The conference was inaugurated by Lt Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha, who was also the Chief Guest and the keynote speaker.

"While we have controlled radicalisation with all of your collective efforts, it still needs attention because of the pace at which it is spreading with the help of technology," Manoj Sinha said.

"It will be a mistake to associate it with a community. If we look at it like drug addiction then we can follow the right direction in my opinion." He said, "This programme has been organised in view of national integrity, to bring collective energies of the citizens together, self-introspect and take citizens in the right direction, and I appreciate this effort." Sinha underlined the need for messages from prominent figures like Abdul Salam, Maqbool Shervani, Salim Malik, Israr Ahmed to be included in chapters of peace and harmony in school and madrasas curriculum.

He shared the widely acknowledged example of Tamil Nadu, where significant courses on deradicalisation were introduced with a focus on counselling and making children understand the true meaning of Islam.

"The voice for peace has risen from this platform and we want to send this message to all of Kashmir, across the border that in this world we are brothers and will coexist peacefully like this together," said Sheikh Mujjaffar, President, Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist People's Front.

The conference on deradicalisation opened with addresses by Mufti Ajaz Sahib, Mufti Noorani, Mufti Muzafar and Nazir Ahmad Soibug Badgaum.

"A Momin (believer in Allah/Islam) is one who understands the real essence of Islam. Once we have understood what it means to be a true Momin, then we will also know that ours is a religion of peace because our basic Taleem (education) is of Aman (peace)," said Mufti Muzafar.

"(Imaan and Ehsaan) to do good to others and be honest, can also happen only in peace. Momin is one in whose presence everyone feels safe, irrespective of their religion." The topic of the post lunch session was 'Duties of Muslims towards country as per Quranic verses'. The Shahi Imam of Jammu and Mufti Anayat Ulla Quadmi spoke on the topic, followed by Mufti Lal Udin and Mufti Nazir Quadmi.

Several Kashmiri Pandits also attended the conference. The religious leaders spoke on the unfortunate exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits and the need to move ahead together and bridge the trust deficit.

Youth leaders of Jammu also joined the conference. The discussion included measures to bridge the divide in Jammu region and the Kashmir valley.

Sanjay Kumar, a social activist and programme director (J&K) of Art of Living, also addressed the gathering. The concluding address was by J&K NPF (Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist People's Front).

Coronavirus is continuing to rampage across northern Syria, with more deaths announced and warnings that there is a lack of facilities and equipment reports SY 24.

The death toll due to the coronavirus has increased in northern Syria, after new cases were recorded Monday.

The Epidemiological Surveillance Laboratory Network confirmed one death and 22 new coronavirus cases in northern Syria, bringing the total number to 20,867 cases and the number of deaths to 379.

On Monday, Dr. Hossam Karah Mohammad, the doctor in charge of the coronavirus file in the Idleb Health Directorate, said in a statement to SY 24 that, there is no real decrease in the number of cases. The number of cases is still very large.

He added, warning, Unfortunately, all community isolation centers (CICs) no longer receive support, and this is not good, especially as we are expecting a second peak.

He continued, Most of the efforts made are to restore the shortage of isolation centers and to redistribute [centers] according to the respective needs of the regions. We have incoming support for the centers that were previously closed, so that we can cover the needs of the various regions.

People in regime-controlled areas have been suffering from the deliberate neglect of the hospitals and medical authorities concerned with limiting the spread of the virus. The Ministry of Health announced nine deaths and 96 new cases, stating that the number of cases in the areas it controls had risen to 13,132, in addition to 841 deaths.

The Health Authority of the Autonomous Administration revealed that 23 new cases were recorded in the areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which raises the total number of cases to 8,363, while no new deaths were recorded, keeping the number at 284.

Save the Children International warned, at the beginning of this year, that the coronavirus pandemic is still out of control in Syria, highlighting the shortage of equipment necessary to prevent and limit the spread of the virus, especially in northern Syria.

The increase in coronavirus infections throughout Syria, which have reached more than 43,000 cases, coincides with the announcement by some countries, including Turkey and Russia, of the arrival of a vaccine and the start of vaccinations.

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.
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

A man charged previously in connection with a high-profile 2016 homicide is behind bars again after allegedly robbing at least three postal workers at gunpoint over the past three months in Albuquerque.

Cisco Casaus-Alires, 20, is charged in federal court with robbery of a mail carrier, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, mail theft and bank fraud. It was not clear Tuesday whether he had an attorney.

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In 2018, Casaus-Alires was sentenced in state District Court to supervised probation after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery in the death of 18-year-old Aliyah Garcia. Garcia was shot in May 2016 while sitting in her boyfriends vehicle in the South Valley.

Casaus-Alires told deputies that the group he was with planned to steal marijuana from a person who lived close to where Garcia was parked. When the plan failed, some members of the group shot up the house.

Casaus-Alires brother, Carlos Alires, and three others were sentenced to more than a decade in prison in the case.

Since then, Casaus-Alires has been arrested on child abuse, battery, stolen gun and drug charges.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court:

Casaus-Alires came to the attention of authorities in late December after robbing a postal worker around 1:30 p.m. in the university area.

The postal worker told authorities a man with Jeremiah tattooed over his eyebrow robbed him with a gun as he was delivering mail. The postal worker said the robber took his wallet, phone and keys before stealing packages from the mail truck.

The postal worker told authorities the robbers vehicle was already full of packages and mail, and the robber asked him where all the good stuff gets delivered before fleeing.

A confidential informant tipped agents off to Casaus-Alires, who has Jeremiah tattooed over his eye, and said he had robbed other postal workers. Soon after, Casaus-Alires was caught on security cameras using the postal workers stolen credit card to make purchases at Lowes and Target.

When agents arrested Casaus-Alires on Jan. 14, he allegedly told them he had robbed two other postal workers at gunpoint, incidents which were already being investigated by the U.S. Postal Service.

Casaus-Alires told agents the first happened around 5 p.m. Nov. 7 when he robbed a postal worker of his wallet, phone, and all the packages and mail in his truck.

Then, on Dec. 26, Casaus-Alires said he robbed another postal worker, taking the mail and packages from his truck, his keys and a lunch box.
Representative Image

India has started exporting COVID-19 vaccines from January 20, paving the way for many mid-and lower-income countries to get supplies of the easy-to-store Oxford/AstraZeneca drug, of which the Centre said it plans to ship millions of doses within days.

According to the foreign ministry officials, the first doses would go to Bhutan and Maldives. Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Seychelles will also get supplies in this week's first phase, the ministry said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the vaccination drive with healthcare workers at the frontline of India's COVID-19 battle getting their first jabs on January 16.

Indias drug regulator has approved two vaccines -- Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and Covishield from the Oxford/AstraZeneca stable being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India -- for emergency use in the country.

According to the government, the shots will be offered first to an estimated one crore healthcare workers and around two crore frontline workers, and then to persons above 50 years of age, followed by persons younger than 50 years of age with associated comorbidities.

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

Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic

A total of 6.31 lakh beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for COVID-19 through 11,660 sessions held till the evening of the fourth day of the immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry.

States Total Beneficiaries Delhi 12,441 Bihar 42,085 Assam 7,418 Karnataka 80,686 Kerala 23,855 Madhya Pradesh 18,174 Tamil Nadu 25,251 Telangana 69,405 West Bengal 42,093 Gujarat 17,581 Uttar Pradesh 22,644

On January 19, 1,77,368 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm through 3,800 sessions, the ministry said. Here is the state-wise vaccination on the day:

Here are all developments related to the COVID-19 vaccine in India:

> At least 13,693 frontline health workers received the Covishield vaccine on January 20 at 200 centres in West Bengal, a senior health department official said. Eleven cases of adverse events following Immunisation (AEFI) were reported, of which 10 cases were minor while only one person in Jhargram was undergoing treatment at the district hospital there, he said.

> The Maharashtra government said that 14,883 healthcare staffers, or 52.68 percent of the targeted beneficiaries for the day, were administered COVID-19 vaccine doses across 274 centres in the state as the inoculation drive resumed after two days.

> An expert panel of India's drug regulator CDSCO has recommended granting permission for conducting phase 1 clinical trial of an intranasal vaccine against COVID-19 developed by Bharat Biotech, official sources said.

> On the third day of the nationwide inoculation drive in Kerala, as many as 8,548 healthcare workers have taken the Covishield vaccine, taking the total vaccinated in the state to 24,558, state health minister KK Shailaja said.

> A total of 232 healthcare workers were vaccinated for COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh on the day, Special Secretary (Health) Nipun Jindal said.

> SpiceJet has said it transported 122 boxes of COVID-19 vaccine, weighing total 4.1 tonnes, from Pune to five cities across India. This was the second round of COVID-19 vaccine transportation flights operated by SpiceJet, said the airline's spokesperson in a statement. The first round took place on January 12 and 13.

(With inputs from PTI)

Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here

Joseph R. Biden Jr. is taking on more than the presidency of a beleaguered, polarized nation on Wednesday. The nations second Catholic president has to save his beleaguered, polarized American Catholic Church as well, says church historian Massimo Faggioli.

His new book, Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States (Bayard) releasing on Inauguration Day, describes Biden as a weekly-Mass-attending, hymn quoting, Vatican II-style believer who is animated by values of solidarity, compassion and human dignity. It also describes the political and social buzz saws in the path of his presidency.

A professor of theology and religious studies at in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University, Faggioli has written extensively on Vatican II and the papacy. His new book draws many parallels between challenges facing Biden and those facing Pope Francis, who frequently takes fire from conservative Catholic voices in the U.S.

PW talked with Faggioli about Biden, Francis and what the historian writes is the age of anger all over the world.

(This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.)

Your book describes America as a case study of the convulsions in the global church. Why is this moment, and Bidens presidency, so significant?

Studying Joe Bidens Catholicism is a way to study America. Until recent times, it was a matter of confessional identities, religious identities. It was clear what it meant to be a Catholic, a Protestant, or a Jew in public life. What happened in recent years is that ideology and politics have become decisive in shaping what kind of Catholic, Protestant, or Jew you were. And this is important for Biden because Catholicism is more incredibly divided in the United States than ever before and more divided here than anywhere else.

You ask yourself a question in the book: Do churches, including the Catholic Church, still have the capacity to reconcile with pluralist democracy and to nurture American democracy? Whats your answer? How does this all connect to the impact of the Vatican II reforms?

The work of the Second Vatican Council stood in the context that Catholicism must live in a multicultural, multi-religious world and that showed without question in all the documents it issued. And this idea is very much at the center of Pope Francis messages and encyclicals. But if you look at those who reject Vatican II, their arguments are rejecting that basic idea. They have even tried to unseat a legitimately elected pope. This is a period of what I call a soft schism  one step before a civil war in the church and the rejection of the idea that Catholicism can co-exist with an America that is becoming less European, less white.

Your book traces the differing experiences of Al Smith (defeated in a presidential run plagued with rampant anti-Catholicism); John F. Kennedy (who assured Protestants his faith was a private one, not a hotline to the pope); John Kerry (confront by U.S. bishops who declared he was unfit to receive Communion because he was pro-choice), and Biden, whose election was greeted with dismay by the bishops in a re-launch of the culture wars. Yet the strongest comparisons you make are between the experiences of Biden and Francis. Why?

They have much in common, not just generationally but because the opposition they face is very similar if not the same. It is the same ultra-conservative religious culture shaped entirely by the culture wars. They were elected mostly because they are very different from their predecessors in style and mission. And they both represent a globalist, multilateral, progressive humanism.

What do you mean when you say the presidency is a role that is political but also moral and religious.

G.K. Chesterton said America is a nation with the soul of a church. It is much more than a state, it is a project with a role in the world and a U.S. president is like a pope or a constitutional king with a limited term and a religiosity that must be inclusive for all faiths. America is a religious idea and it is fitting and fascinating that a Catholic has been called to repair the moral damage that has been done to the presidency.

Who do you see as the audience for this book?

Someone said you should write something always too popular for academic and too academic for a popular audience. This is a book that comes out of academic experience but also tries to fill a gap in knowledge for most people who want to know more about Bidens faith. Im surprised this is the first book on this and I expect there will be more looks at Biden who is too liberal for some and too centrist for others.
The Licensing Board was able to work with the Italian restaurant's owner and the building commissioner to keep the eatery operating.

Pittsfield's Trattoria Rustica Granted 30-day Inspection Certificate

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  A miscommunication between a local restaurant owner and the city almost led to a larger problem.

There were two issues, late payment for liquor license fees and a delinquent building inspection.

At Thursday's Licensing Board meeting, the owner of Trattoria Rustica Davide Manzo was granted a temporary 30-day building inspection certificate by Building Commissioner Jeffrey Clemons. Manzo's eatery is due for an inspection of the sprinkler system and he hasn't been able to get hold of building owners Cavalier Management on the matter.

At the time of the meeting, Ranzo had already paid his licensing fees and a receipt for the transaction was provided in the agenda packet.

Police Capt. Thomas Grady was notified by the Licensing Board clerk that Trattoria Rustica did not pay the license fees due Jan 1. On Jan. 9, Lt. Jeffrey Bradford went into the restaurant while on patrol after seeing it was open. Bradford introduced himself and notified Manzo that he was going to have notified Grady and the Licensing Board that there were a few patrons drinking wine in the establishment.

Chairman Thomas Campoli explained that serving alcohol without a license is a situation that is covered by criminal law in Massachusetts and punishable by fines no less than $100 and no more than $1,000 or by prison for no more than a year.

"What I'm saying is, that's a criminal violation and frankly, we don't even have any authority to do anything pro or con for you in this particular situation," he said. "We are talking to you because we understand that you have an iconic restaurant in the city that is right in the heart of the city and it would be a shame if that restaurant was no longer, but what will happen if you continue to attempt to serve alcohol without a license is the police will end up getting a criminal complaint against you and you can face those criminal sanctions."

Campoli wanted Manzo to know that this was a serious matter and had he continued to serve alcohol without paying the fine, it would jeopardize any hope of having a license in the future.

Manzo said he was under the impression that he could postpone the payment, as his nephew tried to pay the fees with a credit card and was not able to.

"I had no money, I am doing 25 percent of business I had no money at all," he said. "You know me, everybody knows me, I am a one-man-band, I try the best I can."

Thankfully, Manzo received grant money that made him able to pay the fees, but he said he has remortgaged his house and is doing everything he can to stay afloat during these unprecedented times.

The restaurateur also said he is doing mostly takeout sales for which alcohol is not offered.

In regard to the building inspection, Manzo feels that the situation is out of his hands as he has called building owner Cavalier Management, who is responsible for the sprinklers' inspection report, and has not received a response.

Clemons agreed that Cavalier is responsible for providing the reports prior to inspection, as it is the owner's responsibility to get the sprinklers inspected in the whole building.

Apparently Cavalier contracted out those inspections to a company that recently stopped doing them without notification; they are expected to be completed by February.

The board asked that Clemons' office try to get ahold of the management company to put pressure on this issue, as he may have better luck.

"I would think that they shouldn't be allowed to operate the building at all and maybe that would put some pressure on them," board member Dennis Powell said. "I mean why should restaurateur suffer?"

Clemons agreed to this and was hesitant to issue a temporary 30-day inspection certificate, but was thanked by the board after agreeing to it.

"I hesitate to do that," he said in regard to the temporary permit. "But I understand the dilemma in this atmosphere of COVID in that everybody's having difficulties and were trying to work with people ourselves."

Manzo will return to the Licensing Board on Monday when he is asked to have everything in place for his yearly building inspection certification.
CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Oregon State University will be holding a panel on Jan. 21 to discuss the current political environment.

The panel is called "Divided States of America: Sedition, the Inauguration, and the Unfolding Crisis in American Democracy," and will include experts from OSU and other universities. The speakers will explore historical, political, and philosophical underpinnings of today's national climate, including the recent U.S. Capitol insurrection and presidential transition.

"This panel was already in planning stages before the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol Building, and that event only increased the importance of having a deeply informed conversation among experts about the conflicts and dangers surrounding the transition of presidential power," said Amy Koehlinger, an associate professor of history and religious studies in OSU's College of Liberal Arts and the moderator of the panel.

The panelists are:

Alison Gash, associate professor of political science at the University of Oregon

Sylvester Johnson, professor of religion and culture and founding director of the Virginia Tech Center for Humanities

Christopher McKnight Nichols, OSU associate professor of history and director of the Center for the Humanities

Joseph Orosco, OSU professor of philosophy

Christopher Stout, OSU associate professor of political science

The panel is free and open to the public and will be at 6 p.m. via Zoom. You can register here.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 49F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 36F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks to media at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Graham Calls on McConnell to Unequivocally Denounce Trump Impeachment

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) should condemn the fresh effort to impeach President Donald Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said late Jan. 19.

What we need right now is Sen. McConnell to unequivocally say the second impeachment of Donald Trump after he leaves office is not only unconstitutional, it is bad for the country, Graham, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said during a virtual appearance on Fox News Hannity.

Stand up and fight back, he added.

McConnells office didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump last week over alleged incitement of insurrection. Democrats and some Republicans claim Trump incited the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol during his speech that day on The Ellipse. Trump has called his remarks totally appropriate, and a timeline shows that the violence at the Capitol started before Trump finished speaking.

Graham, a leading voice among Republicans condemning the new impeachment, said on Jan. 19 that America needs to heal.

A second impeachment of Donald Trump after he leaves office wont heal the country, it will further divide the country, he said.

As to the Republican Party, if we throw in the towel, or are perceived to having thrown in the towel, and not fighting against this impeachment, the Republican Party, as [Sen.] Rand Paul said, will crack up.'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)

Paul (R-Ky.) last week said Republican senators backing a conviction of Trump would destroy the Republican Party.

If Republicans go along with it, it will destroy the party, Paul said. A third of the Republicans will leave the party.

A conviction requires a supermajority; the Senate will soon be 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats. The Senate voted last year to acquit Trump in his first impeachment trial.

McConnell has said the Senate will hold an impeachment trial and that he may vote to convict Trump.

While the press has been full of speculation, I have not made a final decision on how I will vote, and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate, McConnell wrote last week in a letter to colleagues, part of which was made public by the senators office.

McConnell didnt agree to pressure from Democrats to start the trial on Jan. 13, saying a fair or serious trial couldnt conclude before Trump leaves office on Jan. 20.

The trial cant start regardless until the House transmits the article of impeachment. It still hasnt done so, Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said Jan. 19.
Turkey and Russia discussed their cooperation in the area of health in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

"After a meeting with Russias ambassador to Turkey Aleksey Yerhov, we evaluated our cooperation with them in the field of health, especially the Sputnik V vaccine," Koca said on Twitter.

He thanked Yerhov for Russias receptiveness to bilateral cooperation.

Koca also met with Chinas ambassador to Turkey Liu Shaobin at the ministry. He thanked the ambassador for Chinas support and friendly role in Turkeys vaccination program.

"We will continue to work together for the common good of humanity," Anadolu Agency cited him as saying.

Turkey reported over 6,800 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, according to Health Ministry data. Turkey's overall case count is over 2.39 million, while the nationwide death toll reached 24,328.

Last Thursday, Turkey kicked off a mass COVID vaccination campaign, starting with healthcare workers along with top officials to encourage public confidence in the vaccines.

So far, over 900,000 health care workers in the country have received their first doses of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine, according to the Health Ministry.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Public safety data shows crime reported on University of Michigan campus has been on a steady decline over the years.

Sexual harassment complaints, on the other hand, have seen a sizable jump in reports.

The university recently released its annual Safety and Security report covering campus crimes and recorded complaints from 2017 to 2019.

Reported crimes in general related to sexual misconduct and property crimes like theft all decreased from a combined total of 905 reports in 2017 to 842 in 2019, data shows.

Additionally, the data shows the most common infraction on campus are alcohol related offences, largely minor in possession citations.

In 2019 alone, the university handled 1,044 alcohol-related offences on campus, 1022 of which occurred within the residence halls. Police refer those cases to the university for disciplinary actions.

Sexual harassment reports went from 45 complaints reported in 2017 to 89 in 2019, almost doubling in a three-year span.

University officials attribute the jump in sexual harassment complaints to the university providing increasing education and awareness campaigns about inappropriate conduct.

Each awareness effort typically brings more reports -- and thats a good thing, University of Michigan spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said. The first step in addressing misconduct is being aware of the misconduct. For example, we added a quick link at the very top of the UM gateway website for reporting misconduct.

In the universitys annual Title IX report for 2019, the report notes the number of sexual misconduct complaints reported to the Office for Institutional Equity involving students as well as faculty, staff and third parties, increased dramatically from 2017 were likely a result of the #MeToo movement.

The number of reports had increased so dramatically in the previous year as to be unlikely to again increase significantly this year (2020), the report states.

The Annual Title IX report for 2020 has not been released yet, though it is believed the volume of complaints will be low as, due to COVID-19 restrictions, campus was without a large student population living on campus throughout much of the year.

For more information about the University of Michigan Title IX reports, click here.

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Ed Henry, a former Alabama state lawmaker who pleaded guilty in 2019 to a charge stemming from a Medicare fraud case, was among 73 people granted an 11th-hour pardon by President Trump early Wednesday morning -- the last day of Trumps presidency.

Henry, a Republican who represented north Alabama in the state House of Representatives and led the charge for impeachment against then-Gov. Robert Bentley, was sentenced to two years probation for his role in the health care scheme.

Prosecutors said doctors improperly waived co-payments for Medicare patients who enrolled in chronic pain management services provided by Henrys company. Prosecutors said that meant Medicare paid for services patients did not need or would have otherwise refused.

Henry pleaded guilty in January 2019 to aiding and abetting theft of government property. He told the judge that he was unaware at the time that waiving the payments constituted a crime.

The White House said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., supported a full pardon for Henry.

The former lawmaker was among 73 people who received either a full or partial pardon from Trump in the last hours of Trumps presidency. The president also commuted the sentences of another 70 people.
The Iranian army began a military drill in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday. Iran's military has conducted several military exercises in the last few days at a time of heightened tensions with the United States.

The drill involved the armys ground forces and took place on the Makran coast in southeast Iran. This area is in the Gulf of Oman across from the eponymous country. The exercise utilized paratroopers, motorcycles and rocket launchers and tested the armys combat readiness, according to the state-run Press TV.

Iran has carried out several military drills recently. Last Wednesday, the country carried out a naval exercise also in the Gulf of Oman. On Friday, the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps held a drones and missiles drill.

The flurry of military activity comes at a time of heightened tensions with the outgoing Trump administration. US President Donald Trump has continued to add harsh sanctions on the Islamic Republic in his final days in office. President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on Wednesday, has vowed to engage diplomatically, which could defuse tensions.

Even if Tehran and Washington make amends under Biden, Iran may continue to flex its military might. Israel and its allies in the Gulf remain adamantly opposed to Iran's military gaining strength in the region.
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Seafood exporters will receive extra funding of 23million to help them cope with the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit.

Boris Johnson's trade deal has posed challenges for the fishing sector, which has suffered increased delays due to new export requirements.

The industry is also facing lower market prices and demand due to the pandemic.

Seafood exporters will receive extra funding of 23million to help them cope with the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit

The fund will be targeted at fishing export businesses which can prove a genuine loss in trading fish and shellfish with the EU.

Support will be available immediately and paid to cover losses incurred since January 1.

It will be targeted at small and medium sized firms and the maximum claim available will be 100,000.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: 'This 23million scheme will provide crucial support for fishermen and seafood exporters, who have experienced delays and a lack of demand for fish from the restaurant industry in the UK and Europe.'

Boris Johnson's trade deal has posed challenges for the fishing sector, which has suffered increased delays due to new export requirements

He added that the Government is working with the fishing sector and seafood farmers to make sure they are supported.

Steve Barclay, chief secretary to the Treasury, said the funding was on top of the 100million already announced.

He said: 'This further 23million package of support will help our hard-working fishing sector navigate the challenges of the next few months.

'It is vital that no community nor region... is left behind as we continue to support British jobs and build back better from the coronavirus pandemic.'
A millionaire businessman was today fined more than 4,000 for flying his private plane into Prince Williams's former military airfield - so he could enjoy a day at the beach.

Richard Wood, 60, stepped out of the 2milllion jet in sunglasses and shorts when he landed at RAF Valley in Anglesey during lockdown in May last year.

A court heard 'arrogant' 375,000-a-year Wood initially planned on flying to visit his elderly mother in Yorkshire after leaving his 4m Chelsea home.

But he instead flew his 12-seater Pilatus PC-12 almost 300 miles from Fairoaks Airfield in Surrey to the closed military base in Wales for the lockdown trip to the seaside.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Dudley-Jones said Wood landed at the base - where Prince William was based with his RAF Sea King team - on a Bank Holiday Monday despite not having permission from the controllers in the tower.

She said: 'The aircraft N412MD took off from Fairoak Airport near Woking in Surrey and the pilot Richard Wood had sought and been given permission to fly from the airport and had stated his intention was to fly to Yorkshire and back that day.

A businessman - named as Richard Charles Priestley Wood of London, - has been accused of illegally landing a 2m private plane at Prince William's former RAF base because he wanted 'to go to the beach' during lockdown. (Above, the plane after it landed at the base last May)

'Ordinarily when RAF Valley is open civil aircraft will be expected but permission must be obtained 24 hours prior to arrival.

'On 25 May 2020 the airfield was closed and a NOTAM had been issued to that affect.

'The airfield was closed due to it being a public holiday and requests for civil aircraft to land at RAF Valley had been refused and there was no air traffic control available.

'In any event there was a ban on civil aircraft landing due to Covid-19 restrictions and military aircraft landing themselves were severely restricted.'

Miss Dudley-Jones, representing the Civil Aviation Authority, said fire officer Keith Roberts saw the plane above the base and assumed it was 'in distress and this was an emergency'.

She said: 'He raised the alarm and fire crews were deployed.'

Pictured: Richard Wood, 60, on the steps of the plane after landing at RAF Valley, Anglesey

The keen amateur pilot flew 300 miles from Surrey to the fighter pilot training base at RAF Valley (pictured) in Anglesey, Wales. He was arrested by military police after he touched down

When the Pilatus plane touched down on the runway fire crews parked up alongside it and Mr Roberts indicated to Wood to shut down the engine and exit the 'expensive' plane.

She said: 'The pilot was a white man around 6ft 6ins and somewhat thin. He was dressed in shorts, a thin kagool jacket and glasses and short greying hair.

'Mr Roberts asked him why he had made the unscheduled landing at RAF Valley and the pilot replied: 'I wanted to see the beach'.

'Mr Roberts told him he landed at a military airfield and without authorisation but the pilot said he called the tower numerous times without reply.

'The pilot was asked where he had come from and he replied 'London'.

'When Mr Roberts told him Covid-19 restrictions were in place in Wales the pilot replied 'it's ok I had Covid-19 two months ago.

'Mr Roberts described his attitude as initially flippant and arrogant but it changed when he realised the seriousness of the situation.'

RAF police were dispatched and Wood was asked to remain at the base until the airfield reopened the next morning so he could obtain proper permission to leave.

Pilot set off from Fairoaks Airfield in London to Anglesey in the Swiss-made 12-seater with the plan of a Bank Holiday day out at the beach but landed at RAF base without permission

However, the court heard Wood chose to fly out just an hour after landing.

He had also explained later that he had recently moved back to Britain from Canada and he took his responsibilities as a pilot 'seriously.'

Caernarfon Magistrates heard Wood was the owner of the Swiss-built 12-seater plane that was registered through a US company.

The court heard he initially planned on flying to Yorkshire to visit his elderly mother but changed plans and headed to Wales after she told him she was 'busy'.

The court heard he had more than 2,200 hours of flying experience and held licences in Canada and the United States.

The prosecutor said he hadn't educated himself on UK flight procedures before making his mistake and 'missed various clues.'

Wood admitted illegally landing and taking off from the base.

He did not attend the hearing and was not represented but the court heard he had an annual income of 375,000 and more than 1million in savings.

The Duke of Cambridge spent three years at base in Anglesey between 2009 and 2013 where he worked as a search and rescue helicopter pilot. (Above, Prince William at the base in 2011)

In a letter to the court he said: 'I have learned from this experience, have taken many hours of training and flight testing since this day and now have my full UK licence.'

He described himself as 'an experienced pilot who sees flying as a great privilege to be taken seriously.'

Wood, of Chelsea, London, was fined 3,400 and ordered to pay 750 costs and a 190 surcharge and told he must pay within 28 days.

Magistrates chair Alastair Langdon said: 'These were very serious offences.'

Security is tight at the base which is home to the No 4 Flying Training School which trains fighter pilots and crew for maritime operations.

The Duke of Cambridge spent three years at the base in Anglesey, North Wales, between 2009 and 2013, where he worked as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.

He completed his last shift at the base in September 2013 almost two months after wife Kate Middleton gave birth to son Prince George.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 21:04:11|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) has welcomed on Wednesday "the important progress" that has been reached in light of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) for selecting a mechanism of a unified executive authority.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced on Tuesday that the LPDF has approved a method of selecting a new transitional government.

In a statement, AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit hailed the move as "important for implementing the plans that have been approved by the LPDF in November for settling long years of Libyan crisis."

He called on the Libyan sides to continue their endeavors and enjoy patriotic soul for agreeing upon the remained executive steps to end the crisis.

The statement stressed that the pan-Arab body commitment to continue its support and cooperation with the international players to reach a political solution and prevent foreign intervention.

During the LPDF held on Nov. 7 to 15, 2020 in Tunisia's capital Tunis, 75 Libyans representing the social and political spectrum of the Libyan society discussed a political roadmap to achieve lasting peace in war-torn Libya and agreed to hold general elections in the country on Dec. 24, 2021. Enditem
Following the news of the U.S. Capitol riot, and talking to people Ive met since then in Curacao and Aruba, it seems to me that a great many others reacted as I did. We were shocked by those images, and deeply concerned with what has happened to democracy in America.

One lesson Ive learned from these recent events in my country is that we must never take democracy for granted. Democracy is not an immovable, indestructible rock; it is a living thing that needs our constant scare and attention.

For its roots to be healthy, democracy needs to be grounded in the truth.

To learn the truth we need a free and vibrant press, to seek out the facts and present them without fear. We need to respect others opinions and accept that our own is not the only valid point of view. But opinions are not facts and we need to know the difference. We need to beware of efforts to mislead us, and not take as fact everything we read or hear, even if it happens to agree with our opinion.

To grow straight and strong, democracy needs respect for the rule of law, and for the separation of government powers.

Democracy allows protest as a legitimate form of seeking change but it is most effective when done peacefully. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose memory we celebrated earlier this week, never gave up on his hope for a democracy. He never gave up on his country and he never gave up on peace despite the beatings, lynchings, and violence he witnessed.

In order to survive, democracy needs a judicial branch which is fully independent, and judges who earn their position by virtue of a mastery of the laws, not adherence to a party line. Fortunately, we saw examples of this independent judiciary in the repeated affirmations in our courts that the results of the November elections were sound.

To survive, democracy also needs a legislative branch that will rise above partisan politics to provide reliable checks and balances to the power of the President. We have seen some examples of this as well in recent days. After the Capitol riot, a freshman Republican Congressman from Michigan called for accountability. He explained that he was crossing party lines to vote for impeachment after January 6 as "a call to action for us to reflect on these events and seek ways to correct them. Several of his fellow party members joined him.

I was moved by the actions rather than words of another Congressman, a Democrat from New Jersey. After fulfilling his Constitutional duty and voting to certify the presidential election on the night of the riot, he emerged from the House chamber. Appalled at the vandalism he had witnessed at the Capitol that day and the wreckage it had left, he immediately picked up a trash bag and started cleaning up the garbage on the floor of those historic halls. The Peoples halls.

And the most importantly, we the people all have a duty ourselves to care for and sustain this precious experiment of humanity called democracy. We as individuals need to stop and think what we can do  inform ourselves, vote responsibly, and translate our care for democracy into action in our own way, in our homes and communities. This work is urgent and enormous, but I want to be a part of it.

Since arriving in Curacao Ive been enjoying learning Papiamentu. During my studies I discovered the wonderful haiku of Elis Juliana. Reading them, and thinking over the situation in America, I was inspired to try writing one. At the risk of exposing my poor skills - I have a long way to go, I know - I wanted to share the following with you:

Demokrasia

No ta baranka firme

Ta palu bibu.

Remie Willem J. US Consulate.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were inaugurated on Jan. 20, and several Texas politicians are reacting to the entrance of the Biden-Harris administration.

A NEW ADMINISTRATION: Wondering what Trump wrote in his parting note to Biden? You're not alone

Sen. Ted Cruz was present for the ceremony and tweeted several photos and videos, including one of Biden taking the oath to become president.

Sen. John Cornyn released a statement to the media soon after Biden officially became president, where he criticized Biden's plan to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline permit. He retweeted the statement on his Twitter account.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement on Twitter as well, congratulating Biden and promising to Texans that he would "fight against the many unconstitutional and illegal actions that the new administration will take" and "serve as a major check against the administration's lawlessness."

Paxton was a vocal supporter of former president Donald Trump and has been accused of inciting the pro-Trump mob that breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, resulting in the deaths of five people. In October 2020, top aides of Paxton asked authorities to investigate allegations of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other possible crimes against the Texas attorney general.

Houston-area representatives Sheila Jackson Lee, Lizzie Fletcher and Sylvia Garcia congratulated the new president and vice president on their respective Twitter accounts.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw commented on and criticized some of Biden's planned moves for his first day in office.

Former Democratic presidential candidate and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who ran against Cruz in 2018, congratulated Biden and Harris and shortly followed with a tweet criticizing Cruz for his previous objection to certifying the election of Biden, even after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) held a press conference from his congressional office in Washington D.C. on Tuesday as he spoke about what could be expected from Wednesdays inauguration and the ensuing first 100 days of Joe Bidens presidency.

President Biden will appeal for our unity. He will also be asking Americans to raise their sights and lower their voices, so we can work together to restore this country back again, Cuellar said. We are going to work with President Biden to turn this chapter  very dark chapter that we have seen  and try to set out on a more positive and optimistic vision.

The congressman also focused on what he expects for Biden to do in his first hundred days in office.

According to the congressman, one of the main things that can be expected is a national movement to distribute vaccinations faster all over the country in efforts to quell the pandemics increasing and alarming trends. Bidens plan calls for the distribution of about 100 million vaccines being distributed during his first 100 days in office.

The second major expectation that the congressman noted about the new incoming president is that he expects a renewed push for more stimulus monies in the first hundred days as well, which he hopes this time will feature more Republican support.

There will be another stimulus check for $1,400 in addition to the $600 to make it $2,000, Cuellar said. There would be a push to add monies for cities, counties and states. As you know, we the Democrats wanted that, but unfortunately Mitch McConnell (as Senate Majority Leader) did not want to do this on the Senate side. But now with a majority of 50-50 and the vice president (for Democrats in the Senate), we hope that we can do this for the counties and the states.

The congressman also briefly touched on the fact that several lawmakers and the president-elect have called for the minimum wage to increase to $15 an hour. According to the congressman, this is something he would support more in a phase-by-phase manner rather than having the wage limit increase suddenly, so businesses and other stakeholders could play a role in how this would work out.

I wish we could do it in a phased manner to get to the $15 and not do it overnight, Cuellar said. Of course, some of my Democrat friends want to do it overnight, but to keep the small business owners (in mind), I hope that we can take them in phases and do this in a separate bill and not with the stimulus bill. Look at the unemployment numbers and see who has been hit the hardest, and that is why we are doing PPP.

Cuellar noted that various executive orders could be expected on Day 1 of the Biden presidency and within the first hundred days as well.

According to the congressman, who has already spoken with the new White House staff, some of the things that Biden is expected to sign into executive action include doing away with President Donald Trumps emergency declaration for the southern border, fortifying the DACA program and other actions regarding immigration reform.

As discussed within several past administrations, Cuellar noted that a push to finally pass a comprehensive immigration bill is another thing that the new president expects to help pass as well during his tenure. The comprehensive immigration bill would address the faith of Dreamers, farm worker programs and other immigrants who have lived in the shadows, as well as raising the caps for visas to have more people come legally into the country for work and tourism.

The passage of comprehensive immigration reform is something that Cuellar said is important because it will stop the continued caravans to the southern border to enter the United States.

This is important, because we are seeing that caravan that is trying to cross into Guatemala, and personally I am thankful that Guatemala is doing their jobs, Cuellar said. And if some cross into Mexico, we expect Mexico to do the same thing as well. We also have got to ask the country of Honduras to do more, so we can keep things safe there.

The congressman stated that one good thing to do for asylum seekers is to find a system in which they could be told of their status or possible entry into the country without having to come in large caravans to the border. Bidens push for having more immigration judges getting hired is something that he believes will help make this process much easier.

The congressman also pointed out that Biden is ready to focus on his plan of not fortifying the border with a wall but rather by making it smarter by using more technology and boots on the ground to stop the illegal crossings of people and narcotics. He says that his brother, Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, agrees on the idea of a smart border to make a dent in these crimes.

Cuellar also touched on the fact that Trump would not attend the inauguration of his successor and that it was the first time in 152 years that this has not happened.

He said the last president who snubbed his successors inauguration was Andrew Johnson, comparing him to Trump as the former was also impeached while president, and that caused friction when it came time for the new president to take the mantle.

Its unfortunate that he wont be here, because it is important for the symbolism for the transition from one president to the other, Cuellar said. But we will move on at that time.

And taking some time away from national topics, Cuellar also congratulated the Roma Independent School District mariachi band as the group performed virtually for the inauguration party hosted internationally on Tuesday night prior to the Inauguration Day festivities and the swearing in of Biden.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
Anne Hegerty has opened up about her autism - crediting it for making her a better quizzer.

Star of The Chase Anne, 62, is taking part in The Chaser's Road Trip: Trains, Brains And Automobiles which sees her and co-stars Mark Labbett and Shaun Wallace pit their wits against extraordinary competition as they try to answer the age old question 'Are we really as smart as we think we are?'

In first-look clips from the show, Anne shed light on her own intelligence, and links it to the developmental disorder that affects communication and behaviour.

Shedding light: Anne Hegerty has opened up about her autism - crediting it for making her a better quizzer

'Intelligence is being able to figure stuff out, and being able to get my head around a new situation,' she says in one clip. 'It might well be argued that is something I have trouble with.

'I think I'm a better quizzer because I'm autistic. I think autism makes it easier for me to remember stuff.'

In another clip, she is seen at a barn dance, with music blaring. But Anne takes herself off to sit on her own for a while.

She explains: 'One of the things that goes along with autism is certain sensory issues.

Honest: In first-look clips from the show, Anne shed light on her own intelligence, and links it to the developmental disorder that affects communication and behaviour

'It's about not really liking noise to come out at me - especially if I am feeling a bit tired or stressed.

'Sometimes I need to just take myself away, have a bit of quiet, jump on the WiFi, do a bit of online quizzing and I'm fine...'

In the brand-new three part series the brainboxes travel the globe to take on child geniuses, great apes, and the latest AI and robot technology.

They journey to America to pit their wits against Kanzi, a Bonobo ape who is able to communicate with humans by using a series of pictures and symbols on a Lexigram, and in addition to this is also thought to be one of the first Apes to show an understanding of spoken English.

Hitting the road! Star of The Chase Anne is taking part in The Chaser's Road Trip: Trains, Brains And Automobiles which sees her and co-stars Mark Labbett and Shaun Wallace pit their wits against extraordinary competition

Musing: 'Intelligence is being able to figure stuff out, and being able to get my head around a new situation,' she says in one clip. 'It might well be argued that is something I have trouble with

They also meet a chimpanzee memory wizard, a 25 year old gamer orang-utan called Katie and that well-known genius of the ocean, the dolphin.

The Chaser trio confront the moral challenge: that if humanity fully understood animal intelligence, would we treat them differently?

Travelling the UK, they go head-to-head with child geniuses in order to weigh up to what degree intelligence is innate or can be developed.

She added: 'I think I'm a better quizzer because I'm autistic. I think autism makes it easier for me to remember stuff'

Adventures: In the brand-new three part series the brainboxes travel the globe to take on child geniuses, great apes, and the latest AI and robot technology

But, while some of the UKs brightest kids impress Anne, Mark and Shaun, they are shocked to learn that they themselves have something surprising in common, which could unlock the mystery to the trios amazing memories.

And finally, in Japan, they encounter some of the worlds cleverest computers and the very latest in artificial intelligence in an attempt to find out if humans are heading for a Utopian future or are destined to be taken over by robots.

The Chaser's Road Trip: Trains, Brains and Automobiles Thursday 21st January 2021 at 9PM on ITV.
Rescue operations are continuing at Qixia in Chinas Shandong Province after 22 miners were trapped underground on January 10 following an explosion in the Hushan gold mine. The blast cut all communications, which were partially restored with 12 miners this week. The fate of the other 10 workers remains unknown.

The mine is owned by Shandong Wucailong Investment, a subsidiary of Zhaojin Mining. Wucailong had obtained the mineral rights to the site in 2016, but full-scale mining operations were yet to start. Construction was taking place, including of the shaft where the blast occurred.

Oceania Gold Mine Htachi EX3600 (John Welsh/Flickr)

The state-owned Xinhua news agency reported last Sunday that some miners were still alive. Tapping had been heard on a pipe being drilled into the mine by rescuers. A wire was sent down, followed by food, pain killers, paper and pencils.

A handwritten note sent back up declared: Dont stop trying to reach us. We hope the rescue continues. We remain hopeful. The note said four of the miners had been injured and three had high blood pressure. Telephone communication has since been established.

Chen Fei, deputy secretary of Shandongs Yantai city, told a press conference on Monday the miners were very weak. Water levels were rising, the underground smoke-filled air was stifling, and medications were running out.

Speaking to China Daily on Monday, Du Bingjian, chief engineer of the National Mine Emergency Rescue Centre, said rescue teams faced a perilous task in drilling rescue shafts to reach the trapped men. This mine has the hardest rock I have ever known, along with two strata that contain water, which hinders the drilling, he said.

Some 500 rescuers are involved in driving six shafts to reach different parts of the mine. The 12 miners are trapped about 600 metres below the surface and the other 10 are believed to be another 100 metres further down.

The accident provoked public concern after it became known that the mining company did not report the disaster for more than 30 hours. Chinese laws mandate that all major mining accidents must be reported within an hour. The hashtag Qixia gold mine incident has been viewed 130 million times on social media site Weibo.

In a bid to deflect attention from the underlying causes of mine deaths, the state-owned media has focused attention on the late reporting of the explosion. Xinhua described those responsible for the delay as enemies of the people. The broadcaster CCTV said late reporting of accidents was a taboo for safe production that could not be tolerated.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) apparatus has begun its usual search for scapegoats. The Qixia party secretary and mayor have been sacked and several unit leaders blamed for the reporting delay have been taken into custody.

Provincial authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the blast. According to the local emergency management bureau, a dynamite explosion occurred in an area where no miners were working, and the trapped miners were in sections further down.

Just 26 days before the explosion happened, the bureau had conducted a safety check-up at the gold mine. No details of its report are publicly available.

Chinas lucrative gold mining industry is the worlds largest. Most of the mines are small to medium in size, but developments in technology have paved the way for deep prospecting.

Zhaojin Mining, the countrys fourth largest gold miner, is headquartered in Zhaoyuan, Shandong, which is sometimes referred to as Chinas gold capital. It was listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in December 2006.

The drive for production and profits inevitably leads to the compromising of safety and consequent accidents.

In March 2017, 11 mine workers were killed in two separate incidents in neighbouring gold mines in Henan province. A fire in the Qinling gold mine owned by China National Gold GroupChinas largest gold minerkilled nine workers, while a similar accident in a nearby mine resulted in another two deaths.

At the time, Xinhua reported that the Chinese government aimed to lift annual gold production from 450 to 500 tonnes by the end of the decade. A wholesale restructuring of the industry was projected to close unproductive mines, reducing the number from 600 to around 450.

The drive to open the large Hushan gold mine was part of this push for increased production.

Chinas coal industryalso the worlds largesthas long been notorious for its high death toll. In December, 23 miners in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing died from breathing carbon monoxide gas. The accident in the Diaoshuidong coal mine occurred while workers were dismantling underground mining equipment.

Sixteen workers were killed at the Songzao coal mine on the outskirts of Chongqing in September after a conveyor belt caught fire and the resulting blaze produced dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. The mine had previously been cited for safety violations, according to the Chongqing Coal Mine Safety Administration. Just two weeks before the disaster, the company had been fined after inspectors found that monthly safety checks had not been conducted.

More than 400 mining accidents were reported last year, resulting in 573 deaths, the National Mine Safety Administration said on January 11.

In a cosmetic response to the latest disaster at the Hushan gold mine, authorities ordered a spate of inspections.

The Shandong government said officials throughout the province had been told to immediately conduct safety inspections of mines and other major industries, and to focus in particular on any rushing of deadlines in the lead-up to the annual Spring Festival holiday in February.

According to the Peoples Daily, China's National Mine Safety Administration has ordered a comprehensive inspection of non-coal mines, which will run until the end of March. There are 32,000 non-coal mines in China, most of which are small. They use outdated technology and equipment, and have poor safety management, the newspaper said, citing an administration official.

None of this will address the root causes of deaths, which lie in the relentless drive to boost production at the expense of the health and lives of workers.
The first supplies of vaccines to combat the covid-19 pandemic from India will be sent to Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Seychelles from 20 January, the Indian foreign ministry said on Tuesday. Consignments will be sent to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Mauritius once regulatory clearances from these countries are received.

The move, which comes within days of India beginning its own immunization programme, underlines New Delhis primacy in the South Asia region, besides reinforcing its image as the pharmacy" of the world. India is seen as one of the largest manufacturers of vaccines and generic drugs in the world.

The Indian government will also conduct a two-day training programme, covering administrative and operational aspects for those involved in the immunization process, from cold chain, communication and data managers, to those involved in the immunization programmes of the recipient countries, the foreign ministry said.

Also Read | Why server stacks are the new realty play

Responding to requests from neighbours and partner countries and in keeping with Indias stated commitment to use Indias vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of humanity fight the covid-19 pandemic, supplies under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Seychelles will begin on 20 January 2021", it said.

A consignment containing 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccines will reach Male on 20 January. Maldives and Bhutan will be two of the earliest recipients of Indias assistance in providing the vaccine manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII). Bhutan will get 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccine

Indias vaccine diplomacy is yet another testament to its Neighbourhood First policy, in which Bhutan and Maldives occupy a special and central place. In respect of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius, we are awaiting their confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances," the ministry said.

Keeping in view the domestic requirements of the phased roll-out, India will continue to supply covid-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner. It will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad," the foreign ministry said.

India is deeply honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community. Supplies of covid vaccines to several countries will commence tomorrow (20 January), and more will follow in the days ahead," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

India started its massive vaccination campaign on Saturday aiming to initially cover 30 million frontline workers, such as healthcare professionals. With the highest number of coronavirus infections after the US, India plans to vaccinate around 300 million people with two doses within six to eight months. Frontline workers will be followed by people 50 years or more, and high-risk population with pre-existing medical conditions aggregating to 270 million. So far, Indian drug regulators have approved the Oxford-AstraZenecadeveloped and SII-manufactured Covishield and Bharat Biotech International Ltds Covaxin in its mass immunization programme.

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global UV sanitizer travel wand market size is anticipated to reach USD 209.9 million by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 12.6% from 2020 to 2027. The increasing rate of infectious diseases in hospitals, low power consumption, and ease of portability for cleaning small objects in the home and commercial spaces are major factors driving the product demand. Increasing usage of the product in order to prevent cross-contamination and reduce pathogens, bacteria, and germs on objects is acting as a major driver for the market.

Key suggestions from the report:

The residential application segment dominated the market with a share of 63.1% in 2019

The online distribution channel is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 13.6% from 2020 to 2027

Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period with a revenue-based CAGR of 13.9% from 2020 to 2027

Read 80 page research report with ToC on "UV Sanitizer Travel Wand Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Residential, Commercial), By Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/uv-sanitizer-travel-wand-market

Companies in the market are focusing on gaining market share by increasing expenditure on advertising via social media and introducing new products in the market. For instance, in June 2020, Spark Innovation LLC launched a new UV travel wand with a light wavelength of 240-280nm and is certified by FCC, CE, and RoSH. Additionally, to save power and improve safety, the travel wand has a smart auto timing off in 180 seconds and an extra thoughtful Child lock to avoid kids' misuse. This factor is acting as a major driver for the market.

The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is estimated to increase the adoption of UV sanitizer travel wand among consumers. In terms of application, the residential segment held the largest share in 2019 and is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment from 2020 to 2027. Rising awareness among consumers pertaining to a number of infectious bacteria present on the daily used objects is acting as a major driver for increasing the adoption of UV sanitizer travel wand. The commercial segment is estimated to witness growth in the coming years owing to rising demand from the healthcare sector. As per Shenzhen UVLED Optical Technology Co. Ltd., from January to February 2020, the company's brand 59S has sold over 8000 units per day and 1000+ hospitals were using the company's brand 59S UV travel wand owing to the recent outbreak of Covid-19 in China.

The offline distribution channel dominated the market with a revenue-based share of 69.3% in 2019. Brick and mortar is the most preferred distribution channel due to their provision of detailed instructions about usability by the product specialists. Many consumers in the market prefer purchasing from the stores to find the right fit as per their convenience and get the right product as per their needs.

North America dominated the market with a revenue-based share of 40.5% in 2019. Demand in the region is high as consumers in the region are more aware and willing to spend on innovative and value-added products. Mature and higher expenditure power of the healthcare sector in this region is resulting in increasing adoption of products to reduce the number of hospital infectious diseases.

Grand View Research has segmented the global UV sanitizer travel wand market based on application, distribution channel, and region:

UV Sanitizer Travel Wand Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Residential



Commercial

UV Sanitizer Travel Wand Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Online



Offline

UV Sanitizer Travel Wand Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



Germany





U.K.





Italy



Asia Pacific



China





Japan



Rest of the World



Brazil

List of Key Players of UV Sanitizer Travel Wand Market

Shenzhen VH Technology Co., Ltd.

Shenzhen UVLED Optical Technology Co. Ltd.

Verilux Inc.

UV Sanitizer Direct

The UVlizer

SterilizerNow

SmartChoi4U

Life Safety Services

Steri-Wand

ANPEI smart medical device technology ( ShenZhen ) Co., Ltd.

Find more research reports on Electronic & Electrical Industry, by Grand View Research:

Electronic Weighing Machines Market  Global electronic weighing machines market size was valued at USD 3.7 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% from 2020 to 2027.

Global electronic weighing machines market size was valued at in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.1% from 2020 to 2027. Smart Home Appliances Market  Global smart home appliances market size was valued at USD 32.30 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1% from 2020 to 2027.

Global smart home appliances market size was valued at in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1% from 2020 to 2027. Smartphone Sanitizer Market  Global smartphone sanitizer market size was valued at USD 105.1 million in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8% from 2020 to 2027.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

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Trump reflects on his presidential record in farewell speech, extends best wishes to Biden

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In a farewell video released Tuesday, outgoing President Donald Trump reflected on his four years in office and assured his supporters that while his administration is coming to a close, the movement he started will continue for the foreseeable future.

Four years ago, we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens, he recalled. We did what we came here to do and so much more.

As I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning, Trump said. Theres never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead, only grow stronger by the day. As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation cannot achieve.

While the president did not mention his successor, President-elect Joe Biden, by name, he did extend well wishes to the incoming 46th president. This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes and we also want them to have luck.

Giving special thanks to his family, Vice President Mike Pence and his family, his cabinet, the Secret Service, the White House Military Office, the United States Armed Forces as well as state and local law enforcement, Trump thanked the American people for the opportunity to serve as president: To serve as your president has been an honor beyond description. Thank you for this extraordinary privilege.

We must never forget that while Americans will always have our disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent, faithful and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good. We are a truly magnificent nation, he added.

The president also condemned the assault on the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago, describing political violence as an attack on everything we cherish as Americans, adding, It can never be tolerated. He urged the American people to unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor and forge our common destiny.

After summarizing his achievements in the White House  passing "the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history," record economic growth, replacing NAFTA with the USMCA, achieving record-low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women, wage growth, setting stock market records, expanding the child tax credit, rebuilding manufacturing, criminal justice reform, developing two COVID-19 vaccines, lowering prescription drug prices, allowing veterans to see doctors outside of the VA system, giving terminal patients the right to try unapproved treatments, filling three U.S. Supreme Court vacancies and appointing nearly 300 federal judges, building more than 452 miles of the border wall, creating the Space Force, negotiating Abraham Accords and not starting any new wars  Trump warned that the greatest danger we face is a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness.

He added, A nation is only as strong as its spirit, we are only as dynamic as our pride, we are only as vibrant as the faith that beats in the hearts of our people. No nation can long thrive that loses faith in its own values, history and heroes.

These are the very sources of our unity and our vitality. What has always allowed America to prevail and triumph over the great challenges of the past has been an unyielding and unashamed conviction in the nobility of our country and its unique purpose in history. We must never lose this conviction, we must never forsake our belief in America.

Contending that the key to national greatness lies in sustaining and instilling our shared national identity, Trump stressed the importance of focusing on what we have in common, the heritage that we all share. He referred to a robust belief in free expression, free speech and open debate as the center of our heritage.

Only if we forget who we are and how we got here could we ever allow political censorship and blacklisting to take place in America, the president asserted. Shutting down free and open debate violates our core values and most enduring traditions. In America, we dont insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes.

Trump rejected the notion that the U.S. was a timid nation of tame souls who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom we disagree. Additionally, he described the U.S. as a republic of proud citizens who are united by our common conviction that America is the greatest nation in all of history.

As his speech concluded, Trump remarked that I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come.

The speech came weeks after the social media app Parler, a platform that many Trump supporters and conservatives had begun using in addition to Twitter, was taken down by Amazon, Apple and Google following the Jan 6. riot at the Capitol. These big tech companies accused Parler of allowing those who were at the rally to communicate on its platform. The riot broke out at the Capital as Trump was delivering his speech at the Save America March held at the Ellipse near the White House, over a mile away from the Capitol, that was peacefully attended by hundreds of thousands of his supporters.

After his speech, thousands walked to the Capitol where a separate planned rally was to be held that afternoon. That event, however, never took place because the riot had already ensued.

Those who died at the Capitol include an unarmed woman who was shot by Capitol police as she attempted to climb through a smashed door pane into the House chamber, a woman who was trampled on by the crowds, and Capitol police officer Brian D. Sicknick who died on Jan. 7 after he suffered injuries while responding to the breach. Another Capitol police officer who responded to the riot died by suicide. Its unknown whether the riot and aftermath contributed to his decision to take his own life.

Trump's social media accounts were also suspended on Facebook and Twitter indefinitely following the riot, which his critics argued was spurred by his speech. Similarly, Twitter also removed statements Trump posted on the @POTUS account.
Conservative MP and former Secretary of State David Davis is pictured in London on Feb. 6, 2019. (Tolga Akmem/AFP via Getty Images)

Precious Free Speech in UK Universities Under Threat From Cancel Culture: Former Secretary of State

The UKs former Secretary of State told British lawmakers on Tuesday that free speech is under severe threat in the countrys universities from the cancel culture movement.

Today theres a corrosive trend in our universities that aims to prevent anybody hearing ideas that groups disagree with or would be offended by, said Conservative MP David Davis while introducing his Freedom of Speech (Universities) private members bill to the House of Commons.

Today the cancel culture movement think that its reasonable to obliterate the views of people they disagree with, he said.

He said that the primary reason the United Kingdom can be called a great nation is summed up in a single wordthe word freedom, which he subdivided into several specific freedoms.

A cyclist travels past the Radcliffe Camera Oxford University building in Oxford city centre on Oct. 8, 2009. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

These include, he said, freedom of action, freedom of assembly, freedom of thought, freedom of belief, freedom of speech, freedom under the law.

But he said that among those the freedom of speech which was preserved by Parliaments Bill of Rights back in the late 1600s was by far the most important.

Of all these freedoms, the most precious is freedom of speech, he said.

Its been fundamental to the development of our culture, our society, our literature, our science, and our economy, he added.

Davis also said that the right to the free exchange of ideas had fostered the nations wealth even more than the exchange of goods and that democracies around the world had long followed the UKs example in upholding it.

He quoted Article 19 of the Declaration of Human Rights which reads that Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Students walk through Cambridge University in Cambridge,England, on March 14, 2018.(Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

However, he said that the rights enshrined in Article 19 are under threat in the very institutions where it should be most treasuredour universities.

In support of the need for his bill, Davis cited research published in December last year by open discussion advocacy organization, Civitas.

The research shows that in the period from January 2017 to August 2020, all of the 137 universities it looked at had allowed free speech to be censored.

The censorship had occurred, according to Civitas, in controversies around free speech that took place on or near campuses, within universities restrictive policies, Codes of Conduct and society groups, and under influence from external pressure groups.

The research (pdf) found that the 48 (35 percent) of the universities studied fell into the most restrictive category of censorship.

This group included the top three in Britains elite Russell Group universities, namely Oxford, Cambridge, and St. Andrews.

The Russell Group did not respond to a request for comment.

Civitas found that a further 70, (51 percent) of the universities it studied had curbed free speech in moderately restrictive ways and the remaining 19 (14 percent) had permitted some restrictions to free speech in its actions and regular policies.

Davis characterized the curbs in universities as disastrous and said if not tackled the impact on academic freedom will be catastrophic.

He said the proposed bill is needed despite laws already being in existence protecting free speech.

While in the UK we theoretically have laws protecting freedom of speech, in practice theyre buried in education acts, resulting in protections not being widely known and universities not always upholding their duties, he said.

Old College at the University of Edinburgh, which was founded in 1852, making it the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world. (Kim Traynor/Public Domain)

While the bill would not protect those who for example incited violence, Davis said, it would make it incumbent upon universities to ensure that speech that was merely controversial, challenging, or unpopular was not censored.

He said free speech was needed to preserve democracy: The right to free speech is the foundation stone of our democracy. To stand idly by while this foundation is being eroded is a dereliction of duty. This bill makes it the absolute duty of every university authority to protect the most fundamental of our freedoms, the right to free speech.

The issue of censorship in Britains universities came under the spotlight in 2020 when, amid Black Lives Matter protests across the country, the University of Edinburgh for example bowed to pressure.

Due to perceived connotations of racism in remarks made 260 years previously by its namesake David Hume, one of Scotlands most lauded philosophers, it renamed one of its campus buildings.

Earlier that year Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson said that if Britain as a nation is to prosper, it needs a vibrant, academically curious, and intellectually diverse university sector.

Writing in The London Times at the time he said that every university should promote unambiguous guidance on academic freedom and free speech explicitly recognising that this may sometimes cause offence.

If universities dont take action, the government will, he said.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
The press and assorted Democrats were rubbing and wringing their hands with glee: Trump would issue late-hour pardons. He'd pardon the rioters. He'd pardon his relatives. He'd pardon Rudy Giuliani. He'd pardon Julian Assange, Reality Winner, and Edward Snowden. He'd pardon himself, which was what really got them going.

Headines ran like this:

Ex-Prosecutor Worries Trump Could Pardon Capitol Rioters as Pardon Power Extends to DC Cases -NBC

Impeachment and Removal Come to the Forefront as Lawyers Brace for Possibility That Trump Would Issue Blanket Pardon to His Rioters -Law & Crime

Trump Prepares Pardon List for Aides and Family, and Maybe Himself -Bloomberg

Trump Is Said to Have Discussed Pardoning Himself -New York Times

Talk of Trump Family Pardons Swirls as Washington Debates Removing Trump -Newsweek

Edward Snowden asks Trump to pardon Wikileaks founder Julian Assange -ZDNet

CNN's Jake Tapper seemed close to taking bets, tweeting:

Get your pardon predictions in ASAP below  Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 19, 2021

Turns out the pardon list was pretty anti-climactic. Here's the list.

No pardon for Ivanka. No pardon for Jared Kushner. No pardon for Assange and Snowden. No self-pardon for Trump. The press had been beating its wings for weeks about the dreadfulness of it all and all Trump gave them was ... nothing.

All they got was thin gruel from the pardons that did happen, typical pardons, the kinds of pardons all presidents make, sometimes of friends, sometimes for mildly politically useful reasons. All of them, every one.

Among Trump's there were very few to glom onto.

An odd crony, Steve Bannon, whom Trump doesn't seem to have spoken to in years, somehow got one, and seemingly not for a very good reason - he had been accused of defrauding investors in his wall project, which apparently never happened. Not a nice picture. News reports said there was a lot of back and forth. But perhaps that prosecution was dubbed politically motivated by Trump, same as the other ones of former Trump officials who clearly were prosecuted for process crimes for political reasons. Gen. Michael Flynn, George Papadopoulos, a few others, who fell in that category. Verdict on this? Nothing unusual.

Another eyebrow raiser, done as a favor for Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, was that of Aviem Sella, the Israeli spy who recruited Jonathan Pollard. In light of Trump's friendship with Israel, it's perhaps understandable.

Others, of rappers Lil Wayne and a couple of others, for lowlife-style crimes, was clearly Trump's signal that he had no intention of burning bridges with the black young men who vote, and who consider some these musicians their heroes. Again, not perfect, but understandable, and certainly not the worst thing on the pardon front we've seen. Snoop Dogg said he was impressed, and that's fine. These people, after all, aren't Marc Rich.

But there were no relatives pardoned, no Rudy Giuliani pardoned, and no self-pardon, which the press was so obsessed about. None of these people had committed crimes. And while it's true that the far left and all its deep state operatives may try to come after them, a pre-emptive pardon is probably not going to help, not with what they are capable of. Far more likely, a pre-emptive pardon would draw their attention to the idea that they might have actually done something wrong, and there is no sign they did. Trump's kids and other relatives sacrificed a lot to help their father, and some of them were unusually useful. Jared Kushner, who forged some of the most glittering Middle Eastern peace agreements, can take a bow, for one. Far from pardon, Kushner deserves a presidential medal of freedom.

The remainder were mostly low level crooks, people who'd been overpunished, and other sad sacks, receiving the benefit of presidential mercy, which in terms of justice, is far better than the terrorists, drug dealers, and pay-for-play acts that presidents Obama, Clinton and other Democrats have done.

While we are at it, let's look at numbers on just straight pardons.

Jimmy Carter: 534

John F. Kennedy: 472

Ronald Reagan: 393

Gerald Ford: 382

Barack Obama: 212

George W. Bush: 198

George H.W. Bush: 74

Donald Trump: 70, plus, apparently the new list of 73.

That's a pretty tight record, compared to nearly all of the others.

One thing is sure, too: Joe Biden is likely to top it. Anyone want to take bets on Hunter Biden? It's a presidential privilege, and if we don't like it, we can ask Congress to change it. Given the number of congressional miscreants who get them from presidents on both sides of the aisle, well, good luck with that.

While the press was left empty with no Trump self-pardon, for those who get them, it's a huge relief. Trump may have been kind of stingy with pardons, but he did extend another act of clemency, sort of like a pardon, that was extremely generous and heartening:

This, from Politico:

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he will offer Venezuelan exiles protection from deportation, a move he has considered for years but refused to do until his last full day in office. Trump is using the little-known Deferred Enforced Departure program, or DED, to offer temporary legal status to Venezuelans fleeing the humanitarian crisis brought on by Nicolas Maduros regime. DED, similar to Temporary Protected Status or TPS, protects recipients from deportation and allows them to get work permits. However, it is granted directly by the president instead of the Department of Homeland Security.

It was sort of like extending a hand to a friend - Venezuelan-Americans after all voted for Trump in Florida in droves, they're known as MAGAzolanos in those parts, and with many still bringing family members in to save them from starvation, they needed a helping hand on deportations. LIke the pardons, Trump was helping his friends. And it made sense. They were, after all, people who fled a socialist hellhole, so the protection extended is a standing rebuke to all those in Congress and the press, who tell us socialism is just dandy. Besides socialism, they also fled election fraud -- Venezuela has famously rigged elections. It's not as if they've been voting for this socialist mess as some refugess from other places have -- they've been voting and seeing their votes cancelled. That alone puts them in empathy with President Trump and the sentiment has been returned.

Sure, the left will try to exploit the clemency as reason to allow in all comers from Central America, Africa, and Asia. But they were already planning to do that, no act or non-act from Trump was going to change their mind. And heck, they didn't intend to offer merely protection from deportation, they intended to offer full blown citizenship, plus free health care, stimulus checks, and benefit packages. Protection from deportation, for them, and to all the world, including places where the locals just keep voting socialist, is just a start.

But Trump got there first, and offered the protection, not Joe Biden. Venezuelans, therefore, are going to remember, and stick to, Trump. That works a lot better than letting Joe Biden do it. Trump's pardons are small in number, but they aren't selfish, they aren't corrupt, and they aren't the juicy "relatives and self" stuff to excite Jake Tapper. They just extend mercy where it's needed, which is the only thing that can be said of this small parting Trump list.

Image: White House screen shot // public domain
New Delhi, Jan 19 (UNI) The first meeting of the Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court to deliberate with concerned stakeholders on the recently-notified three Farm Laws, was held on Tuesday.

The three-member committee consists of Agriculture Economist Ashok Gulati, leading Agricultural Scientist Dr Pramod Kumar Joshi and Shetkari Sanghatana president Anil Ghanwat.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Bhupinder Singh Mann, however, had recused himself from the panel last week.

The Supreme Court had, on January 12, suspended the implementation of three farm laws until further orders and constituted the four-member committee, to understand the ground situation and get a clear picture about the laws.

Dr Gulati, former Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices; Mr Ghanwat, President of Shetkari Sanghatana and Dr Joshi, former Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute, participated in the meeting.

The committee discussed the road map of activities for the Committee for two months to prepare their recommendations after discussion with farmers, farmers' bodies, farmers' unions and other stakeholders.

Addressing the media, Mr Ghanwat said as per the direction of the Supreme Court, the Committee will hold discussion with farmers and farmers' bodies in the country, who are both pro and against the Farm Laws.

It will also hold discussions with State Governments, State Marketing Boards and other stakeholders, such as Farmer Producer Organisations, and Cooperatives.

The Committee will soon send invitations to the farmer unions and associations, to discuss their views on Farm Laws. Even individual farmer can submit his/her views on the portal, to be notified soon, he added.

Mr Ghanwat said the Committee was keen to understand the opinion on the subject of all concerned, so that it could give suggestions, which would definitely be in the interest of farmers of India.

Talking to the media after the meeting, Mr Joshi said they will approach the farmer unions to know their views on these three agriculture Bills on January 21.

The tenth round of talks between the Centre and the agitating farmers to end the logjam over the three farm laws, which was to be held on Tuesday, will now be held on January 20.

According to sources close to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, the meeting will now take place on January 20.

The farmers' protest over the three farm laws entered the 55th day on Tuesday, as the protestors continued their stir at various entry points of the National Capital region.

The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) on Monday had asserted repealing of three Acts and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (EB 2020) as the only agenda, to begin the meaningful dialogue.

The ninth round of talks between the Centre and the striking farmer unions on January 15 failed to resolve the deadlock over the three farm laws.

Meanwhile, Mr Tomar on Monday had said that the Government has boldly enacted new agricultural reform laws.

Addressing a national conference on agricultural reforms, the Union Agriculture Minister said the reforms will prove very helpful for the farmers and they will raise their standard of living.

UNI NY RJ 1952

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Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Peace Economics Perspective

"In war, truth is the first casualty." Ancient Greek philosopher Aeschylus said. If war starts the lying, empire makes it much worse and can institutionalize lying. Just as military spending increases drive down manufacturing jobs and economic growth, it drives up crime and murder rates and general corruption. The corruption of empire hurts our health, mental health, and captures control of our politics. The general decay of empire is reversible if you can reverse the military budget (there is hope), hence empire decay is not inevitable, just all too likely. The Republican party is drunk with the power of military spending, locally and long term. Both parties fail to see the trade-off with manufacturing, although it is obvious in the jobs' statistics. The international financial service sector booms with a global economy (tenfold % GDP growth since the seventies) as the technology loaded manufacturing sector withers at home. Lies have emerged as one strategy to help white nationalists win despite the looming non-white national majority. Lies are part of the corruption of empire in America since the 1945 war of empires. In research, the truth is my North Star.

Public Relations Industry

John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton wrote Toxic Sludge is Good for You and started the Center for Media and Democracy (1993). John cites World War I as the beginning of the modern public relations industry. David Brock wrote The Republican Noise Machine (2004) and according to Brock and Wikipedia "conservative and Republican strategists 'concoct smears, distortions, and outright lies', and then disseminate the product as 'talking points' to right-wing radio and Fox News, which Brock says set a narrative echoed by more mainstream news sources. Heritage Foundation (founded 2-16-1973) is cited as the leading think tank on the right. CATO Institute (founded 1974) and ALEC (1973) were founded by the Koch brothers. Following the 1971 Powell memo, this begins the modern conservative reaction after the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements of the 1960s. Manhattan Institute (1977) and Bradley Foundation (1943) and Hoover Institute (1919) all founded in war or postwar all contribute to conservative propaganda today. Note that five of the ten dates were in the seventies, the strong anti-Vietnam reaction that elected Ronald Reagan and doomed the middle class ever since 1980. When do the lies stop? Never.

Extremism and Democracy

US Senate Filibuster was an accidental development in the early nineteenth century and only used about once a two-year congress in the middle of the 20th century. But since the arrival of Mitch McConnell as Republican leader in 2007 the filibuster has been abused by Republicans to the point of constant use for all major legislation, today. This is an absurd change from majority to 3/5ths majority rule at a time when tolerance and forbearance, key necessities for a healthy democracy have all but disappeared. Like the Roman Empire's evolution from a republic to a dictatorship, excessive militarism is steadily destroying the democratic fabric of American society. The engine of this development is the propaganda media of the right wing developed from the 1987 repeal of the equal time doctrine that once required equal time to both sides of an issue. Never mind that there are more than two sides to many issues, the right to outright lie and radically distort information has gone too far without some check and balance mechanism. Free speech does not extend to the right to holler "fire" in a crowded theatre, and normal TOLERANCE for other points of view and FORBEARANCE from taking advantage of power to use any means necessary to reach your goals must be parts of democracy; that without those two attributes democracies die. Trump and today's Republican Party have "jumped the shark" in that respect. The sedition caucus operates today in today's Senate and House Republican Parties. Finding new ways to dominate the other side is a recipe for fascism. Demanding unconditional surrender may have been necessary to win World War Two, but it shows a disastrous tendency of intolerance for the other side in a healthy democracy drifting deeper and deeper into a state of empire, dictatorship, and the "Big Lie" tactic of Donald John Trump (26,000 lies and 400,000 COVID-19 deaths).

End the Filibuster

The US Senate is no longer the world's greatest political body, it has almost been destroyed by extremism on the right as they pack the courts. Before our democracy completely dissolves, the left must take this opportunity to correct course on democracy. The start is to repair the voting rights act by outlawing irresponsible states from employing all manner of voter suppression measures without pre-clearance from the Justice Department. It is time to guarantee the right to vote once and for all. It is time to end gerrymandering, like the locked in majority for a decade Republican legislative control of the Wisconsin Legislature since 2010. Several times the shift back to Democratic Party and voter control have been thwarted in the last ten years, with the extreme example of the Supreme Court refusing to correct on a pretext of "standing". DC needs to become a state, not governed by a committee in the national legislature, not thwarted from asking for reinforcements from Maryland for 90 minutes when the capital was under siege January 6th. Finally the Secretary of the Army approved national guard and special police. Two more blacks in the US Senate would make the Senate look more like America. A 51-star flag would be symmetrical (eight nine eight nine eight nine). Sixty votes would make a farce of such plans to restore democracy. Red states already have eighteen more Senators and Electoral College votes, two Senators would give better balance desperately needed.

Seventeen Key Findings About Military Spending and Long Cycles:

https://www.academia.edu/37217512/Findings_and_Special_Claims_November_2017_2_pages

Please cite this work as follows: Reuschlein, Robert. (2021, January 20), "Where Do 'Lies' Come From?" Madison, WI, Real Economy Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/Where-Do-"Lies"-Come-From?,2021241343.aspx

Dr. Peace, Professor Robert Reuschlein, Real Economy Institute, Nobel Peace Prize nominee 2016-2020 with accelerating interest from the deciding Norwegians. A consistently growing pattern shows intense interest in my work on my expertclick.com website, daily "hard looks" per year have gone from 2 to 3 to 48 to 128 to 200 to double last year's pace (83/41) so far, this 102 days.

Contact: bobreuschlein@gmail.com Info: www.realeconomy.com
Call to "work with determination to promote the conditions necessary for a world without nuclear weapons". "To pray means to fight for unity. Yes, to fight, because our enemy, the devil, as the word itself says, is the divider. The devil always divides, it is convenient for him.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pray for that unity of believers in Christ which was "we could say his spiritual testament" and for which "diplomatic efforts and academic dialogue are not enough. They must be done, but they are not enough, instead we need to pray.

In the current Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis dedicated the catechesis for the general audience - still held in the private library - to "invoking from God the gift of unity to overcome the scandal of divisions among believers in Jesus".

At the end of the meeting, Francis, recalling that the Treaty for the production of nuclear weapons enters into force on January 22, launched an appeal to "work with determination to promote the necessary conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, contributing to the advancement peace and multilateral collaboration, which humanity needs so much today.

Previously, in his catechesis, Francis first of all emphasized that Jesus " did not command that His disciples be united. No, He prayed to the Father for us, so that we might be one. This means that we are not able to achieve unity with our own strength. Above all, unity is a gift, it is a grace to be requested through prayer."

Already St. Paul, the Pope later observed, realized that he had in himself "felt a painful conflict within himself: wanting the good but inclined toward evil (see Rm 7:19). ". "The root of so many divisions that surround us  between people, in families, in society, between nations and even between believers  and inside us." As the Council also said.

Therefore, the solution to these divisions is not to oppose someone, because discord generates more discord. The true remedy begins by asking God for peace, reconciliation, unity. This is valid, first of all, for Christians. Unity can be achieved only as a fruit of prayer. Diplomatic efforts and academic dialogue are not enough. Jesus knew this and opened the way for us by praying. Our prayer for unity is thus a humble but trusting participation in the Lords prayer, who promised that any prayer said in His name would be heard by the Father (see Jn 15:7)."

" At this point, we can ask ourselves: Do I pray for unity? It is Jesuss will but, if we inspect the intentions for which we pray, we would probably realize that we have prayed little, perhaps never, for Christian unity. And yet, the worlds faith depends on it; in fact, the Lord asked that we be one so that the world might believe (Jn 17:21). The world will not believe because we will have convinced it with good arguments, but because we will have borne witness to that love that unites us and draws us near to everyone. During this time of serious hardship, this prayer is even more necessary so that unity might prevail over conflicts. It is urgent that we set aside preferences to promote the common good, and so our good example is fundamental: it is essential that Christians pursue the path toward full visible unity.

" In the last decades, thanks be to God, there have been many steps forward, but we still need to persevere in love and in prayer, without lacking trust or tiring. It is the path that the Holy Spirit gave rise to, and from which there is no turning back. To pray means to fight for unity. Yes, fight, because our enemy, the devil, is the one who divides, as the word itself says. He fosters division everywhere and in any way, while the Holy Spirit always joins in unity. In general, the devil does not tempt us with high theology, but with the weaknesses of our brothers and sisters. He is astute: he magnifies others mistakes and defects, sows discord, provokes criticism and creates factions. Gods has another way: He takes us as we are, different, sinners, and nudges us towards unity. We can evaluate ourselves and ask ourselves if, in the places in which we live, we nurture conflict or fight for an increase of unity with the tools that God has given us: prayer and love."

"The theme of this Week of Prayer specifically regards love: Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit (see Jn 15:5-9). The root of communion and love is Christ who makes us overcome our prejudices to see in others a brother or sister to be loved always. Then we will discover that the Christians of other confessions  with their traditions, with their history  are gifts from God, they are gifts present within the territories of our diocesan and parish communities. Let us begin to pray for them and, when possible, with them. We will thus learn to love and appreciate them. Prayer, the Council reminds us, is the soul of every ecumenical movement (see Unitatis redintegratio, 8). May it be the point of departure to help Jesus make His dream come true: that they all may be one.

A thought and a prayer "for those suffering from the pandemic, especially in Manaus, in the north of Brazil" were finally remembered by Francis in his greeting to the Portuguese-speaking faithful.
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Australia's richest man was able to skip quarantine in Covid-19 strict Western Australia after returning from a trip where he tested positive for coronavirus.

Mining billionaire Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest, who owns Fortescue Metals Group, contracted the deadly virus while travelling through Asia last year.

The 59-year-old flew back to New South Wales before Christmas and spent 14 days quarantining there under police supervision.

Mr Forrest was allowed to avoid a second stint of self-isolation after flying in a private jet back home to Western Australia having been granted an exemption.

At the height of the pandemic, Mr Forrest, who is worth an estimated $23billion, was granted exemptions to travel extensively, both interstate and abroad.

Ordinary Australians have been banned from going abroad in all but exceptional circumstances since the border was shut on March 20, with all returning travellers made to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine.

Mining billionaire Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest (pictured) was able to skip quarantine in Western Australia after arriving from New South Wales following his return from a trip overseas

Mr Forrest flew back into Western Australia on his private jet, avoiding having to go into quarantine on arrival (pictured, passengers exiting Perth's domestic airport)

Fortescue Metals Group chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said Mr Forrest and every one of his travelling group returned negative test results prior to returning to Australia from Asia.

'Fortescue Chairman Dr Andrew Forrest AO undertook a formal supervised 14-day quarantine period in New South Wales. The quarantine period was completed on January 3 and certified by the NSW Government,' Ms Gaines said.

'While in quarantine Dr Forrest had zero contact with any persons from NSW, including the supervising police, and received an exemption from the Western Australian State Government to return to WA without an additional quarantine period.'

Ms Gaines said Mr Forrest and those he was travelling with strictly adhered to national quarantine requirements.

Travellers from NSW are not allowed to enter Western Australia unless they have been provided with an exemption.

Normally, if permitted entry they must quarantine at suitable premises for 14 days.

Mr Forest caught the virus from a female Russian interpreter after she joined his travel crew on a four-month tour in 2020 spanning 47 countries.

The purpose of the tour was to pursue potential renewable energy projects for his company.

Mr Forrest (pictured) contracted Covid from a female Russian interpreter while travelling through Central Asia last year

Western Australia has banned travellers from New South Wales. Only those with an exemption are allowed in and they must quarantine for 14 days at suitable premises. Pictured, passengers entering hotel quarantine in Perth

The unnamed woman, who was introducing Mr Forrest to government leaders as well as acting as an interpreter abroad, tested positive herself in Uzbekistan.

After Mr Forrest showed signs of infection, the tour was postponed, with the Fortescue crew returning to its travel base in Croatia.

No other crew members tested positive for Covid, with Mr Forrest spending three days in a specialist respiratory clinic in Switzerland as a precaution.

'I'm grateful that our apparatus, systems technologies and precautions kept my team safe,' Mr Forrest told the Australian Financial Review.

'I would rather have not caught Covid, but it hasn't harmed me, I'm still as fit as a fiddle.'

After his short stint in the Swiss hospital, Mr Forrest made a full recovery.

Mr Forrest started his first mining company, Anaconda Nickel in 1994. Almost a decade later, he founded Fortescue Metals Group, which mines and ships iron ore to China.

If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement on Wednesday that is not sitting well with many of his constituents.

Paxton, who is under federal investigation, congratulated President Joe Biden but also said he will continue to fight against the many unconstitutional and illegal actions the new administration is going to take.

"(I will continue to) challenge federal overreach that infringes' on Texas rights, and serve as a major check against the administration's lawlessness," Paxton said in his statement he released on Twitter. "Texas First! Law & Order always!"

READ ALSO: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg 'hopeful' on Biden Inauguration Day

The statement comes after his name was absent Wednesday from a last-minute list of pardons in the waning hours of Donald Trump's presidency. Paxton is accused of committing bribery, abuse of office and other crimes, according to the Associated Press.

His top deputies reported him to the FBI in September, accusing him of using his position to help an Austin real estate developer. Paxton has not been charged in federal court, so any pardon would have been preemptive. He has broadly denied wrongdoing.

Paxton also brought a legal challenge asking the U.S. Supreme Court to effectively reverse Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election, prompting speculation that Paxton was angling for a pardon. Trump joined the suit and praised Paxton's effort to subvert the election, but legal experts dismissed it as frivolous even before the court tossed the case.

READ ALSO: Archbishop of San Antonio offers his prayers to President Joe Biden

Many in the comments of Paxton's statement are bringing up his investigation and how he didn't receive a pardon from Trump.

"Feeling the 'unity.' May justice be swift and harsh for you," @kim_mahoney69 wrote.

"Gonna be hard to do all that from jail. Buena suerte," @LibLawyerMom said

"Imagine having the nerve to say this after being indicted for 5 years and being investigated by the FBI b/c your OWN aides accused you of bribery and abuse of office," @ProgressTX commented.

However, some of Paxton's supporters agreed with his statement.

"You rock AG Paxton!" @GfleischerC wrote.

"Thank you AG Paxton. We Texans are counting on you at this critical moment to hold the line. We will be watching," @Fauxfrenzi commented.

Paxton's full statement is below:

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
(Newser)  Well, never mind. The Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, will still be dynamited, but you won't be able to bid for the chance to do the honors. The city was planning to auction off the chance to press the button for the demolition, but now the auction house involved has called it off after the owner of the casino, conservative billionaire Carl Icahn, sent it a cease and desist letter. The auction was going to raise money for the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City, and Icahn says he will donate $175,000 to the organization instead, NBC Philadelphia reports. The auction house had hoped to raise $1 million.

story continues below

Demolition has long been in the cards for the empty casino in heavy disrepair, but Icahn says the "spectacle" involved in the auction could endanger people, with debris possibly hitting any crowd that might gather. A new date for the implosion has yet to be announced, the AP reports. Donald Trump cut most of his ties with Atlantic City in 2009, beyond leaving his name on three casinos in the gambling haven for a 10% fee. The Trump Plaza closed in 2014, and Icahn took ownership of the former Trump casinos out of bankruptcy court in 2016, the year Trump was elected president. (Read more Atlantic City stories.)
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Windy with rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High near 50F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Upcoming political events in the Bay Area. Events take place online unless otherwise noted:

MONDAY

Rep. Ro Khanna: East Bay Democrat holds a town hall meeting. Noon. Submit question in advance here; join meeting here.

TUESDAY

History of racism: Tyler Stovall, history professor and dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Fordham University, traces the relationship between freedom and race from the Age of Revolution to today. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 3 p.m. More information is here.

Dolores Huerta and Luis Valdez: A conversation with United Farm Workers civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, and playwright, Luis Valdez, on the history, land and people of the Santa Clara Valley and greater California. Hosted by the Peninsula Open Space Trust. 7 p.m. More information is here.

THURSDAY

Series on Race: Fremont Democratic Rep. talks with Clayborne Carson, director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University, as part of Khannas livestream Series on Race. 3 p.m. More information is here.

How to Make a Slave: Jerald Walker on his new book about being a Black man in America, How to Make a Slave and Other Essays. Hosted by KPFA-FM. 7 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 3

Jennifer Siebel Newsom: Californias first partner and filmmaker discusses the documentary The Great American Lie with student filmmakers whose work looks at social justice and gender equity issues. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 3 p.m. More information is here.

Mothers of civil rights movement: Anna Malaika Tubbs discusses her new book, The Three Mothers, about the mothers of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 6 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 4

Racial justice: The Rev. William Barber II of the Poor Peoples Campaign and his daughters, social epidemiologist Dr. Sharrelle Barber and Rebekah Barber, a public policy masters student and fellow at the Institute for Southern Studies, discuss racial justice and how the coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately affected communities of color. Hosted by Mother Jones. 11 a.m. More information is here.

Black womens history: Historians Daina Ramey Berry of the University of Texas and Kali Nicole Gross of Rutgers University discuss their new book, A Black Womens History of the United States. Hosted by KPFA-FM. 7 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 10

Fighting disinformation: An online conversation about the future of journalism and the movement to push back on the spread of disinformation through social media. With Geeta Anand, dean of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, and Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist and star of the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. Hosted by Cal Performances and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. 7 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 12

Anita Hill documentary: Screening of Freida Lee Mocks 2013 documentary, Anita Speaking Truth to Power, on Anita Hills testimony against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas confirmation during 1991 Senate hearings. Hosted by the Mechanics Institute. 6 p.m. More information is here.

To list an event, please email Chronicle politics editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch..

Tonight

Showers with a possible thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low near 55F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
CorVel Corp., a third-party administrator that is coping with a growing share of workers compensation claims caused by COVID-19, is now offering at-home COVID-19 testing kits for its customers employees.

CorVel has contracted with 1health.io to provide test kits to workers who suspect they have been exposed to the novel coronavirus. The 1health tests use saliva instead of the so-called brain tickler tests that require nasal and throat swabs. Employees deposit a small amount of saliva in vial that is sealed in a biologically safe envelope and returned to a testing laboratory.

David Lupinsky, vice president of digital health and innovation, said his companys nurse triage line gets 300 calls a week from employees seeking access to COVID-19 tests. He said his company has been searching for an efficient method of testing large numbers of patients almost since the pandemic began.

Weve been looking at this for awhile, he said. There was no sense its doing home testing if youre going to get 50% false positives.

Lupinksy said his company has about 400 customers, which include self-insured employers and insurance carriers. He said the testing will be especially valuable to grocery stores chains and convalescent hospitals where employees are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. He said up until now, CorVel was forced to refer employees seeking a COVID-19 test to their own health care providers.

Confidence in saliva testing got a boost on Jan. 15 with publication of an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine that reviewed 16 studies on efficacy rates. The study found saliva tests identified people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 83.2% of the time  compared to 84.8% for tests done with nasopharyngeal (nasal and throat) swabs. The tests correctly identified persons who were negative for the virus 99.2% of the time, compared to 98.9% for nasopharyngeal tests.

1health, based in San Francisco, says on its website that it was the first company to receive an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration that allows it to distribute a COVID-19 test that uses saliva. The company says its testing-as-a-service business model allows it quickly distribute test kits and return the results within 72 hours.

CorVel said in a statement that it chose 1health because of the accuracy of its COVID-19 tests. Dr. Madelynn Azar-Cavanagh, medical director for CorVels telehealth program, said quality-control studies showed virtually no false positives and fewer false negatives than most of the other home testing kits. CorVel said in most cases, tests results are delivered in 36 hours.

Cavanagh said she took a COVID-19 test herself using 1health test kit. She said the kit contains a small vial and a funnel-like device that is used to extract saliva. After extracting a small amount of spit, the patient places the funnel in the vial and screws the cap back on. A gentle shake releases a reagent into the solution. The patient then seals the vial in a bio-bag that is placed in a return envelope that is sent via overnight delivery to one of 1healths partner laboratories.

The nice part of this tests is that it does pick up the variants  all of the variants so far, Cavanagh said. She explained the 1health test keys into a specific protein that is common to all of the mutant strains of the SARS-CoV-2 that have been detected.

1health said in a press release that as of October it had contracted with more than 100 partners to provide its home testing kits. Customers include telehealth providers, hospital systems, corporations and government agencies, consumer brands and public health departments, the company said.
SAGINAW, MI - On Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021, Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States of America.

In February 2010, though, he was serving his first term as vice president to Barack Obama when he met with area business leaders and officials at Fuzzys Restaurant, the longtime Saginaw diner and ice cream shop.

The Secret Service told the restaurant about Bidens visit about a week in advance, but they werent allowed to say anything until about a half hour before his arrival, said Michelle Ecker, who has been the manager at Fuzzys for the better part of two decades. Biden didnt hide behind his agents during his visit, taking time time to speak with everyone in the restaurant, Ecker recalled.

Vice President Joe Biden was one of the most personable people Ive ever met in my life, Ecker said Wednesday, Jan. 20. He was a very, very approachable person.

Biden ate the cinnamon French toast during his visit and was quite a fan, Ecker said, even taking some cinnamon bread to go. For some customers, his name stuck to the meal after the visit.

To this day, people will come in, sit down at the table, and say Ill take a Biden, refer to the cinnamon French toast as a Biden, Ecker said. Not many establishments or people in a lifetime are going to be able to experience having the vice president, but now that vice president is the president of the United States.

While its exciting to have had a president visit the restaurant, Ecker said she hopes anybody will be able to come have a Biden in the near future.

While many of the restaurants regulars are diligently ordering takeout, its hard to miss talking with customers that have become an extended family. Some have even passed away since indoor dining closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, Ecker said. State officials expect restaurants will open to indoor dining once more starting Monday, Feb. 1.

I just want to look out into the dining room and see our customers instead of these empty chairs, Ecker said. Were doing the best we can to stay afloat with takeout, but its not the same, and you miss your customers. In an establishment like ours, your customers become your family and your friends. We have so many regular customers.

Read more:

Indoor dining at restaurants remains on track to reopen Feb. 1

Local Eats: Family atmosphere returns to Fuzzys as regulars again dine-in

Earley, Crary meet with Biden over lunch at Saginaw diner
Abu Dhabi, Jan 20 : An hour's drive southeast of Abu Dhabi is the world's largest single-site solar plant. Located at Sweihan in Abu Dhabi, Noor Abu Dhabi (which means 'light' in Arabic) features 3.2 million solar panels. The clean, renewable energy produced here will power the daily lives of 90,000 families in the emirate.

A video released on Wednesday by Abu Dhabi Media Office offers a stunning look at the plant that will eventually replace existing conventional gas-fired power plants, the Khaleej Times reported.

With the capacity to reduce Abu Dhabi's Co2 emissions by one million tonne, the plant will be looking at an environmental impact equivalent to taking 2,00,000 cars off the roads.

The UAE is diversifying its energy mix and aiming to meet 44 per cent of its needs through clean energy by 2050.

"It's actually interesting to have a solar power plant in a country that's rich with oil and natural resources like gas," said an official associated with the project. "Solar energy is the future and that's how we see it," he said.

In July last year, Abu Dhabi announced the construction of yet another solar power plant intended to surpass the Noor Abu Dhabi project.
The Government has been forced to abandon plans for a partial re-opening of schools in the face of union opposition.

Education Minister Norma Foley has conceded that the phased return for thousands of vulnerable pupils cannot go ahead because of lack of co-operation.

She said it was regrettable.

It follows a decision by the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and Forsa, representing special needs assistants (SNAs), to reject proposals for reopening.

The move comes as a major blow to parents of children with special needs, the pupils who lost out most during the schools lockdown in 2020 .

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It also makes a full return to school on February 1 increasingly doubtful if Covid infection rates remain high.

At the heart of the unions opposition are high Covid infection rates and what school staff see as a conflict in asking them to go back to work when the general public is told to stay at home.

Last night Ms Foley said it was the first time that unions had refused to accept the advice provided by public health specialists.

She said Ireland was an outlier in the EU in not having in-person provision available for students with special educational needs at this time.

The minister also noted that the INTO represented teachers both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland and many schools in the North were currently providing in-person teaching to children with special needs.

It is regrettable that similar cannot be achieved here, she said.

Junior Minister for special education Josepha Madigan also picked up on that point, saying: If special educational setting can remain open as essential services in other jurisdictions, including in Northern Ireland, there is be no reason why it should not possible here.

Ms Foley said it was hugely important to provide in-person learning to this vulnerable cohort of children, and I regret that that this has not been possible.

She said her department had been seeking to support in-school provision for just over 23,000 children  4pc of those who would attend during a full re-opening  the children who experience the greatest difficulty with remote learning.

The needs of this group of students are such that no-one should be in any doubt of the importance of this goal, and its urgency.

She said the concerns and fears of teachers and SNAs had been well articulated, and she and her officials had listened carefully.

We have addressed the concerns raised in relation to safety, including making public health officials available to education partner representatives, and subsequently facilitating three of the most senior public health officials in the country to communicate directly with teachers and SNAs."

As part of efforts yesterday to meet the concerns of union leaders and their members, they were offered more flexible arrangements for staff who wanted to take unpaid or parental leave instead of returning to work immediately, along with stretching the phased re-opening over a week, up to January 27.

But in a joint statement after separate meetings of their executives, the INTO and Forsa said efforts had failed and they called for a postponement of the partial re-opening. They want further discussions on how to achieve improved safety measures including Covid testing, leading to the resumption of all school services.

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With more and more professionals taking on remote work, people are deciding they dont have to necessarily stay in bigger tech hubs like Silicon Valley and New York City. The spotlight is shining brightly on regional tech hubs that offer remote workers a better quality of life and potential access to more career opportunities.

As a result, talent is on the move. If you run an established business or startup, you may want to start looking for remote team members in these U.S. tech hubs.

Related: Make Sure to Ask Yourself These 3 Business Questions for 2021

1. Boise

Boise, Idaho is fast-becoming one of the hottest tech towns in the U.S. Homegrown startups are popping up, many focused on robotics, engineering and online software. These startups are growing thanks to a good source of tech talent already available in the city and surrounding area. Boise and its suburbs are known for beautiful parks and a wide variety of museums and restaurants.

Ive met numerous founders who packed up and left the San Francisco Bay Area with an eye on Boise, and many other Idaho cities and towns, such as Coeur d'Alene, Missoula and Twin Falls.

2. Reno

Reno, Nevada, and the nearby city of Sparks has been gaining interest in recent years and attracting talent from all over the country, especially after Elon Musk chose the area for the first Tesla Gigafactory.

New and relocating companies have drawn talent to fill thousands of jobs. Just north of Lake Tahoe and Carson City, Reno has a business-friendly tax structure (like the rest of Nevada), government assistance and collaboration for startups, natural beauty and numerous outdoor activities, and affordable housing.

3. Portland

Portland, Oregon, and its suburb Vancouver, Washington are part of a massive tech corridor that runs along the I-5 from northern Oregon, through Tacoma and Seattle, up to Vancouver, Canada. More tech firms are moving to the region, drawn by an outdoor lifestyle, tech talent, a focus on sustainability and public sector support of the tech sector.

A married couple I know well who work in tech moved there in the middle of the ongoing crisis. They exchanged their tiny San Francisco Tenderloin apartment for a spacious three bedroom in Portland's Pearl District. They're not coming back.

4. Bend

Bend, Oregon is a three-hour drive over the mountains to the southeast of Portland, and its highly popular with California expatriates now too. A doctor friend who moved there chastised me for including it in this post, because she didnt want her secret to get out.

Bend offers some things that make the Pacific Northwest so attractive. Its affordable, offers amazing outdoor activities, better balanced work-life potential and startup support. Organizations in the city need developers and other talent, so they actively seek remote workers.

Related: 9 Ways to Support Your Local Economy During a Crisis

5. Spokane

Lets stay with the Pacific Northwest and go to Spokane next. Its a 30 minute drive across the state line from Idahos Coeur dAlene. Although all eyes have been on Seattle for many years due to companies like Microsoft and Amazon, smart talent has quietly moved to the more affordable, growing tech hub on the other side of the state.

Spokane is affordable, offers good job opportunities and gives numerous perks for startups or established enterprises that want to set up shop there.

6. Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada and its suburbs have spent decades filling out the massive valley they sit in. Smart tech workers from everywhere now make Sin City home.

No mention of Vegas is fair if it doesnt include Tony Hsieh and his online shoe and clothing retailer Zappos. He moved the company to nearby Henderson in 2004, then downtown in 2013. It revitalized the area.

Vegas is known for affordable commercial and residential real estate, cheaper housing and numerous startup incentives. The city has been named one of the top 10 places in the U.S. where tech talent is moving, with Google, Amazon and many other tech companies joining in.

7. Phoenix

The fifth largest city in the country, Phoenix, Arizona is rising on the list of top spots for tech talent. Local universities report more tech degrees than jobs, with talent eagerly looking for opportunities with small and medium-sized businesses. Professionals from California have been slowly streaming in over the last decade or more.

This large metropolitan region, which also includes Chandler, Scottsdale, Mesa and Glendale, offers competitive wages, affordable housing, hot weather and a lower cost of living than neighboring California.

8. San Diego

San Diego, California has been the home of major tech companies for many years and has long given Silicon Valley a run for its money, especially in biotech. Along with Amazon, other startups in gaming, esports and software have helped the city develop into a formidable tech hub.

Other features like university research facilities, beautiful weather, international access and lifestyle make it an attractive place to find talented tech workers.

Related: How to Keep Work and Home Life Separate as You Work Remotely

9. Kansas City

As part of Silicon Prairie, Kansas Citys tech scene has grown in recent years by adding more talent partly through a significantly lower cost of living than the coastal tech hubs. One of my best friends who moved his family to the Kansas City suburb of Olathe, Kansas happily remarked that he bought a big home for less money than he paid living in an Oakland, California apartment.

10. Omaha

Omaha, Nebraska is another tech hub considered part of Silicon Prairie. Business leaders there have worked hard to attract more tech talent and startups in recent years. The city is renowned for its museums, zoos and schools. Its also famous for being the home of Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway, along with some of the worlds biggest construction companies and financial/insurance firms.

Along with Lincoln, these Nebraska cities provide talented tech graduates an affordable and high quality of life. Public and private initiatives continue to attract existing and new companies.

11. Dallas-Ft. Worth

According to a report by real estate investment firm CBRE, Dallas-Ft. Worth is rapidly adding tech talent and attracting startups and companies in the process. Theres a high number of local university graduates and an extensive millennial population eager to get to work.

Dallas is a world-class city that is deeply loved by the huge, talented workforce that calls it home. The North Texas area offers business incentives, tax breaks, affordability for businesses and talent. Its known as a national leader in multiple industries, including IT services, food manufacturing and telecommunications.

12. San Antonio

Everyone wants to talk about Austin these days, but just a 90 minute drive from it is another industrious Texas city that thousands of tech workers call home. My cousin who recently moved there from California loves using the third bedroom in his new house as an office. His commute is now gone and he has more time to play with his kids.

A 2020 survey by Zillow also ranked San Antonio sixth among up-and-coming tech hubs in the country. Zillow based the rankings on economic strength, pool of tech workers, commute time and internet quality, among other factors. San Antonio is also listed as the second-largest cyber hub in the U.S. along with a growing tech district.

13. Minneapolis

Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota are burgeoning tech hubs. The Twin Cities are drawing talent and entrepreneurs focused on making a difference and who have a social purpose in mind. Public, private and civil organizations work together to create and offer incentives for businesses and talent.

14. Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has fast become a hotbed of tech companies, including Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Zoom, Google, Facebook and more. On the comeback trail after the fall of steel, the city is attracting startups with a diverse array of talent, investors and technology councils and associations.

15. Miami

One of the hottest tech hubs these days, Miami, Florida is attractive as a diverse location with no sales tax and good weather. Thousands of workers from New York City and the Northeast have moved to the city in recent months. This past year, even one of my longtime San Francisco friends packed her bags and moved to Miami (where her Mom is), then settled down with a guy and had a baby.

Miami also has a strong investor presence and positive local incentives for startups and existing businesses to looking to make a move.

Related: How to Build Your 2021 Business Strategy in the Face of Uncertainty

16. Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia is carving out a niche in the payments and logistics sectors along with related technology segments. The ATL offers a competitive cost of living, access to incubators and investors, and a strong base of college graduates. Atlanta is also making a name for itself through a focus on diversity for a more inclusive business environment.

17. Raleigh

Raleigh, Charlotte and Durham, North Carolina make up the Tech Triangle, a long-flourishing tech hub. The region continues to distinguish itself with an impressive graduate talent pool, favorable tech hiring conditions, excellent infrastructure and local support for startups and companies. These cities have a large, growing millennial population along with low-cost, balanced living.

18. Huntsville, Alabama

Huntsville, Alabama is gaining traction as part of the countrys Southern Silicon Valley. Its one of the highest performing cities in the country related to available technology jobs, especially in biotech and aerospace. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is located there. Along with a low cost of living, Huntsville is projected to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. in the next few years.

Related: If Running Your Business Feels Hard, You're Doing it Right. Here's Why

19. Tampa

CBRE named Tampa the top tech city in Florida in 2020. This hub has a sizable number of tech jobs along with the talent to fill those positions. Entrepreneurs and talent like Tampa for its affordability, lifestyle and location. Theres a strong university, research and investor environment to fuel continued growth.

20. Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee is a leader in small tech markets based on its concentration of millennials and growing population of new city inhabitants. Both demographics are drawn to housing affordability, lower cost of living, music and nightlife and a focus on quality living. Amazon is currently ramping up its Nashville operations as it builds an East Coast logistics hub there. Overall, tech recruitment and employment has grown steadily over recent years.

Other top tech hubs with talent

If youre hiring remotely, the whole country is your oyster now. Whether its Cincinnati, Louisville, Jacksonville, Honolulu, Long Beach, Boston, Fayetteville, Arkansas, or Provo, Utah, almost any growing city is a good place to hire. Theres almost no limit to the extraordinary opportunities to build a strong team of remote workers to drive your startup or expand your existing business.

Related: 4 Ways to Determine If Now Is the Right Time to Launch Your Business

Related:

The Top Three Priorities That Businesses Must Get Ready For In 2021

3 Reasons Why 2021 Is The Best Time To Start Monetizing Your Passion

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Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Germany's producer prices rose for the first time in eleven months in December, defying expectations for further decline, data from Destatis showed on Wednesday. The producer price index rose 0.2 percent year-on-year in December, after a 0.5 percent decrease in November. Economists had forecast a 0.3 percent fall. Excluding energy, producer prices rose 0.3 percent annually in December. Energy prices fell 0.1 percent. Among other components, durable consumer goods prices gained 1.6 percent annually in December. Prices for capital goods and intermediate goods surged 0.9 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, prices of non-durable consumer goods fell 1.8 percent. On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 0.8 percent in December, following a 0.2 percent increase in the previous month. Economists had forecast a 0.3 percent increase. On an annual average, producer prices fell 1.0 percent in 2020. 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.
While America has stolen the limelight for the most in flux country during 2020, the U.K. and Europe have had enough of their own drama to put an episode of Gossip Girl to shame.

Brexit was finalised with a whimper, not a bang in December. This involved heavy break up negotiations between London and Brussels. We can leave the jilted lover analogies for another time, however, because whats of interest to Australians is how Brexit is going to affect their next European jaunt.

Granted: given Australias Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, told ABC News Breakfast earlier this week the widespread opening of international borders in 2021 is highly unlikely, that jaunt could still be a way off.

But  provided we dont become a hermit kingdom  over the next two or three years, Australians should be able to, politicians willing, start making quarter-life crisis pilgrimages to London and greater Europe once again.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by London | Travel community (@londoncityworld)

There will be one crucial difference, however. Now, if you are going to be in the U.K. for less than 90 days (anything longer than this will require a full visa), you will need to apply online for a visa waiver before you go.

Australian citizens travelling to the E.U. will require a visa waiver for Europe from Australia as of the end of 2022, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) website states. From that date onwards it will be obligatory to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver for business or leisure purposes once the program is fully implemented in late 2022.

This European visa waiver for Australian citizens permits Australians to visit the country for short stays of up to 90 days at a time.

The new security system is being implemented to reduce illegal immigration and to better protect against terrorist threats. Australians will be eligible to travel to European countries but will require travel authorization for Australian citizens to do so from the 2022 launch date, the ETIAS website also states.

This new system, however, permits Australians to travel to all 26 Schengen member states. This includes 22 EU member states such as France, Germany, Spain, and Italy in addition to 4 non-EU Schengen nations: Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland.

For more information on how to apply, check out ETIAS.

As Executive Traveller reported yesterday, Costing 7 (A$11), the ETIAS will be applied for and issued online, be valid for three years, and cover an unlimited number of business and leisure visits.

Obtaining approval to travel via the ETIAS system will be mandatory for all visa-free travellers, including those from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, and all other visa-waiver countries.

Travellers who possess a formal Schengen visa (and European passport holders) will not be required to get the ETIAS visa waiver.

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The Chinese Communist Party faces growing international condemnation of its repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang, as the incoming Biden administration backs the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's decision to label it a genocide.

In a series of appearances before US Senate confirmation hearings on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT), three of US-President elect Joe Biden's top officials, Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken, incoming intelligence chief Avril Haines and treasury secretary Janet Yellen all threatened further action against the Chinese government over human rights abuses.

President-elect Joe Biden with Secretary of State nominee Tony Blinken. Credit:AP

"I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state," Pompeo said in a statement ahead of the hearings.

Asked by Republican legislators if he agreed with the assessment, Blinken responded: That would be my judgment as well".

This years general election ballot presents the voter with a dilemma. We have wrestled with this years choices, as we imagine many voters have. Up and down the ticket we are faced with choices in political ideologies, personalities, backgrounds and governing styles.
Produced by ITV Studios division World Productions, the true crime mini-series is adapted from the true crime book The Pembrokeshire Murders, written by Senior Investigating Officer Steve Wilkins and ITV news journalist Jonathan Hill. It follows the cold-case pursuit of the most notorious serial killer in Welsh criminal history when two unsolved double murders from the 1980s cast a shadow over the work of the Dyfed Powys police force.In 2006, newly promoted Detective Superintendent Steve Wilkins decided to reopen both cases. Employing pioneering forensic methods, Wilkins and his handpicked team found microscopic DNA and fibres that potentially linked the murders to a string of burglaries committed in the 80s and 90s. The perpetrator of those robberies was nearing the end of his prison sentence, but if Steve Wilkins was right, he was also a serial killer. The police team battle to find enough forensic evidence to charge their suspect before he was released to potentially kill again.The overall audience includes catch-up viewing of the first episode on ITV Hub, non-TV devices and repeats. The audience is the biggest new ITV Drama launch since detective series Lewis in 2006.The Pembrokeshire Murders series is now available in full on the ITV Hub. It will be available on BritBox in the UK after a period of exclusivity on ITV/ ITV Hub and Virgin Media Ireland It is distributed internationally by ITV Studios, and was pre-sold to 20 countries ahead of its launch on ITV. These include Australia (Network Seven), USA & Canada (BritBox), Germany (Deutsche Telekom Pay VOD, ZDF Free TV), Spain (Telefonica), Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong (BBC Asia Player), KT Corp (Korea), TVNZ (New Zealand), Poland (Canal+), Belgium (VRT), The Netherlands (NPO) Denmark (DR), Finland (YLE), Norway (NRK), Sweden (SVT), Greece (Cosmote), Ireland (Virgin Media Ireland).
Pune : , Jan. Jan 20 (IANS) This is one New Year challenge announced by a Pune restaurateur that is driving foodies and bike-lovers crazy.

On Jan. 1, when Atul Waikar, the young owner of Shivraj Hotel on the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway threw the gauntlet, people rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

Five brand new, gleaming Royal Enfield Bullet bikes - each costing around Rs.1.70 lakhs - were up on the firing line outside the eatery, with a poster proclaiming the 'Bullet Thali' challenge, grabbing eyeballs, by the 30-year-old Waikar, himself a bike aficionado.

"The offer is simple. If you want to win a free Royal Enfield Bullet bike, then gobble up my yummy non-vegetarian 'Bullet Thali' in 60 minutes flat," Waikar told IANS.

Akin to the Bullet bike, the Bullet Thali is not for the weak-tummied, smiled Waikar, as the challenge was poised to set the cash registers roaring after the long Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

It is a massive 'thaal' (platter) with 16 starters and main dishes comprising a mouthwatering gourmet of fried surmai, pomfret, chicken in tandoori and masala, dry and grey mutton, prawn biryani, kebabs, several salads and other accompaniments - all whipped up by a battery of over 4 dozen cooks.

Many came, saw, and ordered the 'Bullet Thali' but were knocked down the table half-way, though the reputation of the challenge has spread far and wide now.

"Yes! I also heard it this week... I am now practicing to eat like a Bakasura, and then go for the challenge," a young Pune medico, Dr. Reeana F. Irani - a foodie-cum-bike lover, enthusiastically told IANS.

On learning of Shivraj Hotel, retired Mumbai Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashok Jadhav patted his slim middle and wishfully told IANS: "I am going for the challenge... Hope to own one of the bikes there!" Waikar who invested fully in the new bikes, is pleased with the response and is currently doling out over five dozen 'Bullet Thalis' to customers - who eat less but ogle more - at the two-wheelers displayed outside.

However, last week, there was an unassuming, roly-poly customer who sauntered in, casually ordered a 'Bullet Thali' - and to the shock and surprise of the entire packed restaurant- rode away on one of the Bullets! "The lucky winner was Somnath Pawar of Solapur... He completed the 'Bullet Thali' in under an hour and we formally gifted him a bike of his choice," Waikar said.

Besides 'Bullet Thali', Shivraj Hotel has a gluttonous menu for his ravenous patrons - a Bakasur Chicken Thali, Sarkar Mutton Thali, Special Ravan Thali, Pahelwan Mutton Thali, and Malvani Fish Thali, each costing around Rs.2,500.

Waikar, who started the eatery 8 years ago after his middle-college, regularly comes up with such innovative ideas to keep the customer and cash inflow steady.

In an earlier competition, the hotel challenged four people to finish the staggering 8 kg Special Ravan Thali - with a prize of Rs.5000 and the bill generously waived off.

Nestled in a corner of the lush green hills of the Western Ghats, the restaurant has virtually become a landmark for its thalis, with many from Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Satara, and other places trooping in even for Sunday lunch/dinner tagging along relatives and friends, Waikar said.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 18:46:46|Editor: huaxia

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A water canal is pictured in Kama district of eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, Jan. 21, 2021. Afghanistan's Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development has completed the construction of a water canal in the eastern Nangarhar province, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development has completed the construction of a water canal in the eastern Nangarhar province, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The 350-meter canal was constructed at a cost of 4.9 million afghani (62,669.56 U.S. dollars) financed by the ministry, the statement said, adding it took 2,348 days to build the canal which benefits 2,800 people, besides irrigating hundreds of hectares of lands in Kama district.

Similarly, with the financial support of the ministry, two bridges have also been built in Farkhar district of the northern Takhar province that connects several villages to health facilities in the district center.

ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstLight, a leading provider of fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud, and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast, and mid-Atlantic announced today that Keller Products, Inc. has selected FirstLight for its disaster recovery data backup solution.

Keller Products, part of the Keller Group of Companies, is a New Hampshire-based plastics extrusion company manufacturing specialty plastics for the aerospace, healthcare, military, automotive, and electrical industries, among others. Some of their specialty designs include biodegradable plastics, specialty tubes, customized nanotechnology, and glow-in-the-dark KelBrite.

FirstLight has been providing voice and Internet services to Keller Products for several years. According to Sean Donnelly, IT manager for Keller Products, Keller had an existing relationship with a disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) provider but wasn't pleased with the speed of data recovery. Additionally, Keller needed to ensure data backup recovery for four different locations, so it turned to FirstLight.

"Plastics make the world go 'round, and many of our customers require just-in-time delivery, so any kind of manufacturing stoppage is a big deal," explained Sean Donnelly, IT manager for Keller Products. "Since our manufacturing operation relies more and more on technology and data, we need to ensure that in the event of any kind of system downtime, whether caused by ransomware, a power outage or surge, or natural disaster, that we have the ability to get back up at moment's notice. FirstLight provided a demonstration of their solution, and it was just what we needed."

FirstLight's low-latency network, coupled with its Veeam-powered DRaaS solution, is used by numerous companies that require data replication and recovery times of just minutes.

In addition to providing Keller Plastics with a DRaaS solution, FirstLight also recently added a redundant fiber connection to Keller's backup cloud storage at FirstLight's Brunswick, Maine Data Center. Keller is also exploring the possibility of purchasing additional products from FirstLight.

"I don't think there's another IT provider that can supply us with the diversity and quality of IT solutions that FirstLight offers," added Donnelly. "Our disaster recovery plan and redundant connectivity provide us with additional confidence to meet our customer commitments despite disruptions that may come our way."

"Because manufacturers are increasingly dependent on data and end devices, they are more vulnerable to downtime events," explained Kurt Van Wagenen, FirstLight President and CEO. "Disaster recovery is a must-have solution for companies that require their automated operations to be operating at peak performance with limited disruption. We take the trust that companies like Keller Products place in FirstLight very seriously, and we make it our mission to safeguard their data and ensure they're operational as quickly as possible in case of a downtime event."

About FirstLight

FirstLight, headquartered in Albany, New York, provides fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, cloud and voice services to enterprise and carrier customers throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic connecting more than 9,000 locations in service with more than 30,000 locations serviceable by our more than 20,000-route mile network. FirstLight offers a robust suite of advanced telecommunications products featuring a comprehensive portfolio of high bandwidth connectivity solutions including Ethernet, wavelength and dark fiber services as well as dedicated Internet access solutions, data center, cloud and voice services. FirstLight's clientele includes national cellular providers and wireline carriers and many leading enterprises, spanning high tech manufacturing and research, hospitals and healthcare, banking and financial, secondary education, colleges and universities, and local and state governments.

To learn more about FirstLight, visit www.firstlight.net, or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Maura Mahoney

[email protected]

About Keller Products

Keller Products is a leading plastic extrusion manufacturer based in Manchester, N.H., and is part of the Keller Group of Companies that includes Kalwall and Structures Unlimited. For more than 40 years, the company has been manufacturing plastic extrusions, plastic extruded products, coextrusions, hollow profiles, recycled profiles, custom profiles and more.

SOURCE FirstLight

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New Delhi [India], January 21 (ANI): India and Singapore on Wednesday signed an agreement on submarine rescue support and cooperation between the two navies during the 5th Defence Ministers dialogue held virtually between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Singapore counterpart Dr Ng Eng Hen.

According to an official statement, defence and security engagements between India and Singapore have broadened significantly in scale and scope across all three services of the Armed Forces as well as in the areas of defence technology and industry. Both countries have also found common ground on multilateral fora and engagements.

During their virtual interaction, both the ministers welcomed initiatives to expand bilateral defence cooperation including the implementing agreement on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) cooperation in August 2020 for the two Armed Forces to have closer operational collaboration in response to disasters and capacity-building activities of mutual interest, said an official statement.

During the dialogue, both ministers exchanged views on the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on the defence and security engagements, including the best practices adopted by their Armed Forces. Rajnath Singh conveyed gratitude for the role of the Singapore Armed Forces, in supporting foreign workers, many of whom were Indian nationals, at the peak of the pandemic. Dr Ng also complimented India's successes in bringing down the overall numbers despite challenges of scale in terms of geography and population, the statement added.

Last year in the month of November, the navies of the two countries conducted the 27th edition of maritime bilateral exercise (SIMBEX) and participated in the second editions of maritime trilateral exercise SITMEX with Thailand's Navy.

"The Ministers were pleased that the Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy successfully conducted the 27th edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) and also participated in the second edition of the Singapore India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX), both held in November 2020. These exercises enhance interoperability amongst the navies and underscore the shared responsibility of the countries to work together to keep sea lines of communications open," the statement said.

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Rajnath Singh reaffirmed ASEAN centrality in the regional security architecture and pledged India's support to all endeavours of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus.

According to an official statement, Dr Ng expressed support for India's upcoming co-chairmanship of the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on HADR.

Both ministers were committed to further enhance bilateral defence ties between India and Singapore and supported multilateral initiatives to promote lasting peace and stability in the region, it said. (ANI)
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE built the case that their Covid-19 vaccine will protect against the new variant of the coronavirus that emerged in the UK with results of another lab trial. Like previous work out of the University of Texas Medical Branch, the results published on Wednesday showed that antibodies in the blood of people who had been vaccinated were able to neutralize a version of the mutant virus that was created in the lab.

The study was published on preprint server BioRxiv prior to peer review. Unlike the earlier study, which focused on one crucial mutation, the new ...
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.

TRAIL, Ore.  Deputies have arrested a suspect in an August murder along Highway 227 near Trail, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

On August 24, deputies responded to a 911 call reporting shots fired on Highway 227 north of Trail, arriving to find a man suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim, later identified as 25-year-old Steven Sutton, died at the scene.

The Sheriff's Office activated the Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit (MADIU) to investigate the deadly shooting. Jackson County took lead on the case, with detectives from Ashland Police, Medford Police, Central Point Police, the Oregon State Police Crime Lab, and the District Attorney's Office aiding in the investigation.

On January 15, investigators arrested 47-year-old Tommy Ray Ormsby, the victim's uncle. Ormsby was taken to the Jackson County Jail on charges of Murder in the Second Degree, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, and Criminally Negligent Homicide. His initial bail was set at $1 million.

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Every officer took an oath to uphold the Constitution, and this is a constitutional process, so to work in this kind of capacity, its almost like  there is more meaning now because of the events that happened (Jan. 6), theres more meaning to that oath, said Carroll, who works in the departments news affairs division and is the spokesman for the Chicago officers who were sworn in as special deputy U.S. Marshals for their brief trip.

The financial aid will include releasing first installment payment for 5.30 lakh beneficiaries, and a second installment to 80,000 beneficiaries, who have already availed the first installment

Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lashed out at previous governments, saying the poor had to bear the brunt of their "wrong" policies and intentions.

He also said that the poor never believed in the past that the government will help them get a roof above their heads.

"Their (previous governments) policies were wrong and the poor had to bear the brunt of their wrong intentions," he said while releasing financial assistance of Rs 2,691 crore to 6.1 lakh beneficiaries in Uttar Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

In his 30-minute speech through video conferencing, the prime minister said people of Uttar Pradesh have not forgotten those governments in the past.

Modi also praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the all-round development in the state and speedy implementation of central schemes, saying it has given it a "new identity".

The prime minister earlier pressed the remote button to release the assistance and interacted with some beneficiaries.

Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Adityanath were present on the occasion.

The assistance will include release of first installment to 5.30 lakh beneficiaries and second installment to 80,000 beneficiaries who have already availed of the first installment of assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G).

Modi had given a call of Housing for All by 2022, for which a flagship programme of PMAY-G was launched on 20 November, 2016.

So far 1.26 crore houses have already been built across the country under the scheme, an official release said.

Under PMAY-G, each beneficiary is given 100 percent grant of Rs 1.20 lakh (in plains) and Rs 1.30 lakh (in hill states/NE region/difficult areas/JK & Ladakh besides Naxal-hit districts besides areas falling under the Integrated Action Plan IAP).

The beneficiaries of PMAY-G are also provided support of unskilled labour wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and assistance of Rs 12,000 for construction of toilets through the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G), MGNREGS or any other dedicated source of funding.

The scheme has provisions for convergence with other central or state government schemes for providing LPG connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme, electricity connection and access to safe drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The police have announced the arrest of 25 criminal suspects, including some suspected to be involved in the killings of an Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, Salisu Usman, in Nasarawa State and a six-year-old girl in Kogi State.

The police spokesperson, Frank Mba, made the announcement through a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the statement, one of the suspects, Friday Domozu, 23, from Jarkama in Bassa LGA of Kogi State, allegedly led the gang that kidnapped and killed the six-year old girl, Farida Yahaya.

Miss Farida was kidnapped in the Gabije area of Kogi on November 2, 2020 during which a 14-year old boy, Abdulraheem, escaped from the kidnappers.

According to the police, the kidnappers demanded a huge ransom from the family of the girl but later killed her because the demand was not met.

Efforts by the (police) team to rescue the little girl led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Friday Domozu, who led the police team to a deep forest at Gabije area of Kogi State where the remains of the little girl were recovered, Mr Mba said.

He said the police also found the decomposed body of another victim, Ibrahim Madaki, who had earlier been declared missing.

The remains of the victims have been deposited for autopsy, Mr Mba stated.

He said Mr Domozu claimed he was recruited into the military but had withdrawn five months into the training on medical grounds.

Mr Mba said the police had intensified efforts to track down other members of Mr Domosus gang, still at large.

The police identified another suspect, Halidu Usman of Akwanga, Nasarawa State, as the leader of the gang that killed the immigration officer at Gudi in Akwanga LGA of Nasarawa State on June 15, 2020.

Mr Mba said the suspects stormed the house of the late Mr Usman and killed him and his younger sister, Saadatu Usman, a final year medical student of Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto State.

The killers also abducted the wife of the victim, Asmau Salisu, and collected ransom from the family before her release. The suspect is assisting the police team in the investigations and arrest of other members of the group still at large, Mr Mba said.

Also arrested were four alleged members of a kidnap and armed robbery gang said to be behind the recent kidnapping of some staff of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and their families.

The gang members, Abubakar Aliyu, a.k.a Maigiwa, m 27years; Aliyu Bello m 18 years; Ishaku Kabiru, m 30 years; and Abubakar Yakubu, a.k.a Dogo, m 23years; were arrested following police investigations and rescue operations for the kidnap victims.

The police team on 7th January, 2020 arrested the suspect which led to the arrest of two other gang members; Abubakar Yusuf, a.k.a Ndalati, m 42 years; and Abubakar Ahmodu, m 20 years.

Investigations reveal that Abubakar Ahmodu is responsible for spying on and identifying potential victims of kidnap for the gang.

Mr Mba said Mr Ahmodu provided information to the gang on his own father who they kidnapped and collected a ransom of two million naira from.

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According to the police spokesperson, the suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has commended the Nigerians who provided useful information to the police that led to the arrest of the 25 suspects.

New Delhi, Jan 20 : Indians do not readily associate Tibet as China's integral part, as per the IANS C-Voter Tibet Poll. The survey included a sample size of 3,000 people spread across the country.

Another importat finding of the survey is that 25.3 per cent of the people understan that "Tibet is a state occupied by China". The survey also claimed that 20.8 per cent people believe that "Tibet is a state in India".

Only 6.6 per cent said that Tibet is part of China and, interestingly, 6.2 per cent believe that it is part of Nepal.

Further, 20.4 per cent people have no clue about Tibet. A total 11.7 per cent people believe that it is an independent country.

But going beyond these optimistic lines, the fact remains that almost 3 out of 4 Indians do not have the right idea about the status of Tibet.

Tibet was an independent entity which was taken over by China in 1950. China had sent in thousands of troops to enforce its claim on the region in 1950. Some areas became the Tibetan Autonomous Region, while others were incorporated into neighbouring Chinese provinces.

Currently, India and China are engaged in a bitter border dispute along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladkah for the last nine months. Indian troopers are ready for a long haul along the LAC even as they hope for an amicable solution to the conflict with the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

China had changed the status quo along the LAC at various places, moving inside the Indian territory. India has objected to it and is taking up the matter with China at all levels.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene described the Parkland high school shooting that left 17 dead as a 'false flag' event in a resurfaced Facebook post from 2018.

The QAnon-supporting Congresswoman, who was elected in November, claimed the shooting was a 'false flag' event, meaning it was either faked or planned by someone besides the gunman in a bid to remove people's right to arms.

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in February 2018 left 17 dead, 17 injured and was the fourth deadliest school shooting in US history.

In the post, uncovered by Media Matters, she criticized former Broward County Sheriffs Deputy Scot Peterson who was fired for his inaction in responding to the shooting and received a pension after leaving the department.

A person commented on the post saying the pension was 'a pay off to keep his mouth shut since it was a false flag planned shooting' and Greene responded with, 'Exactly.'

QAnon-supporting Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene described the Parkland high school shooting that left 17 dead as a 'false flag' event in a resurfaced Facebook post from 2018

In the May 2018 post she criticized former Broward County Sheriffs Deputy Scot Peterson who was fired for his response to the shooting and received a pension after leaving the department

A person commented on the post saying the pension was 'a pay off to keep his mouth shut since it was a false flag planned shooting' and Greene responded with, 'Exactly'

Another person commented on the pension: 'Kick back for going along with the evil plan. You know its not for doing a good job.' Greene replied 'My thoughts exactly!! Paid to do what he did and keep his mouth shut!'

This conspiracy theory that the shooting was an orchestrated event with an anti-gun agenda has circulated in right-wing circles.

Another person commented on the pension: 'Kick back for going along with the evil plan. You know its not for doing a good job.' Greene replied 'My thoughts exactly!! Paid to do what he did and keep his mouth shut!'

Peterson, the school resource officer at the time, has been criticized for failing to enter the school building when shots were fired and hiding for 45 minutes while police searched for the gunman.

In a separate Facebook post in 2018 Greene claimed: 'I am told that Nancy Pelosi tells Hillary Clinton several times a month that "we need another school shooting" in order to persuade the public to want strict gun control.'

The Parkland shooting prompted new efforts to pass gun control measures, with students leading the activism effort.

In 2019 before she was elected to Congress she heckled Parkland survivor and activist David Hogg.

Greene is a controversial new member of Congress and is an outspoken supporter of the QAnon conspiracy.

In a separate Facebook post in 2018 Greene claimed: 'I am told that Nancy Pelosi tells Hillary Clinton several times a month that "we need another school shooting" in order to persuade the public to want strict gun control'

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in February 2018 left 17 dead, 17 injured and was the fourth deadliest school shooting in US history. A view of students being evacuated from the school by police above

Scot Peterson, the school resource officer at the time, has been criticized for failing to enter the school building when shots were fired and hiding for 45 minutes while police searched for the gunman. Peterson was charged with child neglect for his inaction in the shooting, pictured in June 2019

Over the weekend she was banned from Twitter for 12 hours for falsely claiming the Georgia Senate elections were rigged.

On Tuesday she shared a lengthy speech on Twitter advocating for guns in schools saying: '"Gun-free" school zones are a FAILURE. Laws that prevent legal ownership of firearms turn schools into targets.'

'As someone who was personally locked in a classroom in 11th grade due to a fellow student who brought guns to our "gun-free" school intent to kill others, Im proud to say Ill cosponsor the Safe Students Act to repeal "gun-free" school zone laws and allow Americans to protect our children,' she wrote.

On Tuesday she shared a lengthy speech on Twitter advocating for guns in schools saying: '"Gun-free" school zones are a FAILURE. Laws that prevent legal ownership of firearms turn schools into targets'

In that post she once again hit out at Scot Peterson, the cop on the scene during the Parkland shooting. 'Scot Peterson allowed children to be left defenseless against an active shooter. When he was supposed to protect them, he was a coward and refused to go in. He allowed 17 people to die...Our children are the most important people in our country and they should be protected by good guys with guns,' she wrote

In that post she once again hit out at Scot Peterson, the cop on the scene during the Parkland shooting.

'Scot Peterson allowed children to be left defenseless against an active shooter. When he was supposed to protect them, he was a coward and refused to go in. He allowed 17 people to die,' she wrote.

'Why in the world would he receive such a lucrative pension after the tragic school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School? Its sickening,' she said.

'Our children are the most important people in our country and they should be protected by good guys with guns,' she added.
Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya will address the United Nations' Security Council this week over an ongoing crackdown on protesters and independent media in her country.

Tsikhanouskaya's press team said on Telegram that she will raise the issue of jailed activists and reporters at an online session of the UN Security Council on January 22.

"Svyatlana will talk about the case against [jailed blogger] Ihar Losik, who has been on hunger strike for more than a month, journalists Katsyaryna Barysevich, Katsyaryna Andreyeva, Daryya Chultsova, [and] media manager Andrey Alyaksadrau," the press service said, adding that Tsikhanouskaya will also talk about "other prisoners of conscience" in Belarus, including Dzmitry Furmanau, Uladzimer Kniha, and Yauhen Raznichenka, who went on trial in Belarus over collecting signatures of Tsikhanouskaya's supporters to nominate her as presidential candidate last year.

Tsikhanouskaya will also raise the issue of launching "an international investigation into the crimes of the [President Alyaksandr] Lukashenka regime and will call for holding a formal session of the UN Security Council to address the crisis in Belarus," the post added.

The address with be Tsikhanouskaya's second to the UN since the beginning of a violent crackdown by Lukashenka's government on protesters who charge he rigged his reelection victory on August 9, 2020.

In her previous online address to the UN in September 2020, Tsikhanouskaya called for sanctions against Belarusian officials involved in human rights violations in Belarus and urged the UN to send an international mission to her country to monitor ongoing mass violations of human rights there.

Thousands -- including media members -- have been detained by law enforcement during the crackdown, with scores injured.

The European Union and the United States have declined to recognize Lukashenkas reelection and have imposed sanctions in connection with the crackdown on protesters.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order approving deportation protections for Venezuelans on his final night in the office.

Under Trump's deportation protections, Venezuelans will be deferred from removal in the U.S. for 18 months, citing conditions in the South American country, reported Reuters.

In a memo, he told the secretaries of state and homeland security that the "deteriorative condition within Venezuela" presented a national security threat to Americans and warranted his deportation protections for Venezuelan nationals who were in the U.S.

However, Venezuelans who committed a felony would be exempted from Trump's order. The Pew Research Center estimated that about 130,000 people from Venezuela were living illegally in the United States in 2017, and the numbers rose from then.

The decision could now provide deportation protections to about 200,000 Venezuelans who are afraid of detention or being sent back to the South American country.

Trump Uses DED to Offer Temporary Legal Status to Venezuelans

Under the order, Trump used the little-known Deferred Enforced Departure program, or DED, for Venezuelans, reported Politico. It provides temporary legal status in the U.S. as they flee the crisis brought by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime.

Related story: DHS Nominee Alejandro Mayorkas Vows to Help Pass Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants

Similar to the Temporary Protected Status or TPS, the DED allows recipients to get work permits. However, it has to be granted by the president instead of the Department of Homeland Security.

Last year, the State Department had already considered the DED to protect Venezuelans. However, talks have been stalled over relief disputes, particularly whether it should be included in Trump's Venezuela strategy.

The move to use the DED instead of the TPS comes as Republicans were concerned that the TPS would lead recipients to a path to a permanent residency in the U.S., unlike the DED where the chief executive can end it without as many procedural hurdles.

This means President-elect Joe Biden, who will take office hours after Trump signed the order, will have the authority to reverse or amend the action at any time.

How the incoming administration wants to handle the situation is still unknown as transition officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Miami Herald noted that Trump Republican allies in Florida had advocated the deportation protections for some time. Even Trump considered it for years but did not act on it until now, added Politico.

Florida Officials Urged Trump to Grant Eligible Venezuelans with DED

Florida leaders had pushed Trump to act on the DED for Venezuelans since October. At the time, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who was heavily involved in the Latin American region's policy, urged Trump to grant the DED to some Venezuelans as a temporary solution.

Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart also pushed the Trump administration to offer temporary legal status to Venezuelans, citing the situation with Maduro.

The party also saw it as a good way to build more goodwill with South Florida's Venezuelan community as elections were drawing near at the time.

The Trump administration spearheaded a "maximum pressure" sanctions campaign to get Maduro out of power and supported the opposition, Juan Guado, as the country's president. However, that campaign fell through, and Maduro now holds all institutions in the country.

Read also: 'We Did What We Came To Do': Trump Stresses Record in Farewell Address

Biden previously vowed that Venezuelans would be given temporary protected status as the crisis unfolds.
Detectives believe Claremont killer Bradley Edwards visited Ciara Glennon's grave three years after her death and left behind an item of her underwear, sparking a covert police operation, according to a new book released on Wednesday.

The garment was found by one of Ms Glennons family members visiting the Karrakatta Cemetery site in late November 2000, 3 years after the 27-year-old became the third woman to be snatched off the streets of Claremont and murdered.

Bradley Edwards has been convicted of murders of Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer.

The underwear, later DNA-linked to Ms Glennon and bearing her handwritten initials on the tag, was suspected to have been a spare pair inside the lawyers missing work bag, which she had with her the night she vanished.

The bag, along with Ms Glennons shoes, jacket and brooch, have never been recovered.
A financier conned a leading anti-apartheid activist and Commonwealth diplomat out of 1.1million by pretending he would invest the money in property, a court has heard.

Maurice Miskelly, 62, allegedly swindled the fortune from Jamaican activist Patsy Robertson.

Ms Robertson served as Director of Information for the Commonwealth Secretariat and Official Spokesperson for the Commonwealth between 1983 and 1994.

Described as 'charming and eloquent', she died from heart failure, aged 86, in August last year.

According to the charges, Miskelly duped the ambassador into handing over the money by pretending he would invest it on her behalf in property schemes between August 2014 and September 2014.

He is also accused of defrauding her daughter, Sarah Robertson, a literary translator, out of 218,000 between December 2014 and March 2016.

Maurice Miskelly, 62, allegedly swindled the fortune from Jamaican activist Patsy Robertson (pictured), who died from heart failure, aged 86, in August last year.

Born in Jamaica in 1933, Ms Robertson was a prominent voice for freedom fighters in South Africa.

She studied at New York University in the US, where she was shocked by the 'horrendous inequality and racism' in the country.

She hosted meetings between anti-apartheid leaders at her stately home in Ebury Street, Belgravia, throughout the 1960s.

In 1964 she married Old Etonian Calum Robertson, with whom she had three children and embraced a coterie of celebrity friends.

Among those in her circle were African-American novelist James Baldwin and Sir Shridath Sonny Ramphal, the Commonwealth secretary general.

An obituary in The Times newspaper, written in September last year, described the campaigner, who was the Commonwealth's spokeswoman for more than three decades, as 'charming, eloquent, regal in bearing and subtly subversive'.

Miskelly, who appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court (pictured) via videolink today, is said to have made false representations to Ms Robertson that he was a financial asset manager

Miskelly, who appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court via videolink today, is said to have made false representations to Ms Robertson that he was a financial asset manager.

He claimed he would invest her money in property schemes with a return on investment of 8% intending to make a gain for himself, the court heard.

Miskelly, of Bluebell Close, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, is charged with two counts of fraud by false representation.

He was bailed ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Southwark Crown Court on February 16.
Rebel Wilson has spent the last few months travelling to a variety of exotic locations, and she touched down in yet another one on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old actress shared a short video of herself stepping off a private jet and onto the tarmac in a post on Instagram Stories.

'Effortless,' she captioned the video, which saw her disembarking the plane via a set of steps.

Frequent traveller: Rebel Wilson has spent the last few months travelling to a variety of exotic locations, and she touched down in yet another one on Tuesday

Rebel looked every bit the Hollywood movie star in a Louis Vuitton scarf, black knit jumper and leather-look tights.

She also wore a pair of camel-coloured flats and a beige coat, and carried her handbag in one hand and a black face mask in the other.

The Pitch Perfect actress also posted a photo of herself from inside the plane, but didn't reveal where she was headed.

Touching down: The 40-year-old actress shared a short video of herself stepping off a private jet and onto the tarmac in a post on Instagram Stories

Up in the air: It comes following months of travelling overseas, after spending the first half of last year at home in Sydney

It comes following months of travelling overseas, after spending the first half of last year at home in Sydney.

In July, she flew out to LA, before travelling to New York City in September, followed by Monaco that same month.

She then enjoyed a stop-off in France, before flying to Ireland in October, and then returning to LA.

Romantic getaway: Later in October, Rebel enjoyed a beach holiday in Cabo San Lucas with her millionaire boyfriend, Jacob Busch

Skating by: In July, she flew out to LA, before travelling to New York City in September, followed by Monaco that same month

Later in October, Rebel enjoyed a beach holiday in Cabo San Lucas with her millionaire boyfriend, Jacob Busch.

She travelled to Austria in November, before returning to New York City in December, followed by a trip to Canada and Christmas in Aspen.

In a cryptic post on Instagram on Sunday, Rebel confessed she'd been having a hard time lately: 'Been a rough week for so many reasons... but I'm so grateful to have such loving friends and family'.
Homelessness is hardly new in Oceanside, but there seems to be a growing intolerance of it.

In recent weeks, longtime residents have repeatedly called for the city to roust the transients from their camps, stop feeding them free meals, and get them out of town.

No more Brother Bennos, resident Donna McGinty told the City Council at a recent meeting, referring to the soup kitchen near the city airport that has fed the homeless since 1983. That has got to go.

She and other speakers said services like Brother Bennos and the Bread of Life Rescue Mission in Oceanside only perpetuate homelessness and allow people to continue lives of crime and drug addiction.

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City officials have responded in recent months by increasing police patrols, adding social workers, pushing for more affordable housing and, in October, approving two emergency resolutions to facilitate temporary emergency shelters and obtain more grant funding.

Despite the residents concerns, the available statistics show Oceansides homeless situation has changed little in recent years.

Its like playing Whac-A-Mole, said Police Chief Frank McCoy, referring to the popular arcade game, during a community meeting Wednesday at the Oceanside Civic Center.

Enforcement efforts tend to shift transients from one part of town to another, he said. Still, the city has had increasing success with prevention and assistance programs.

Outrage over homelessness ebbs and flows in Oceanside.

In 1989, there were as many as 1,000 homeless in the city and many of them were camped along the San Luis Rey River, according to stories in the San Diego Union newspaper at the time.

Despite repeated protests from valley residents, the citys Planning Commission approved a plan that year to install 15 temporary trailers at the San Luis Rey Mission to house some of the homeless families there.

Police issued 300 citations to illegal campers along the river in mid-November 1993 to make way for a state Route 76 construction project. In a few days, nearly all the riverbed squatters had gone elsewhere.

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This year, Oceanside had 483 homeless people citywide, according to the annual one-day Point-in-Time Count in January by the Regional Task Force on the Homeless. That number has been about the same for several years.

But some homeowners challenge the most recent numbers. Long-time residents in the San Luis Rey River valley, near the Oceanside airport and Benet Road, say theyve seen more homeless on the streets and in the riverbed in recent months.

Something has changed, said Dee Keck, adding that she sees transients ride bicycles past her front yard at all hours, and that more cars, garages and homes are being broken into.

On Tuesdays, they get the garbage out of our garbage cans, she said. They just pitch the stuff they dont want and move on.

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Julie Reboulet, an airport area resident for 17 years, said shes seen a lot more transients in her neighborhood for the last year or so.

A lot of times they seem to be high on something, she said. Its not safe for them, its not safe for us, its not safe for anyone.

Both women attended the meeting Wednesday at the Civic Center, where the police chief talked for more than an hour about all the things his department is doing to address homelessness.

We are doing a lot, McCoy said. We are putting a lot of time, effort and money toward this issue.

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Oceanside will spend more than $5 million this year on various services related to homelessness, he said.

Four years ago, the city created a homeless outreach team of two police officers and a sergeant that contacts transients daily to help them get off the streets, he said.

Often, people on the streets dont want any help, he said. But the HOT team keeps going back.

Maybe the fifth or sixth time, they say, Im ready, I want help, McCoy said. We want to get them headed in the right direction to break that cycle (of homelessness).

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The Police Department sends out four separate details a week to issue tickets and clean up encampments. It dispatches crime suppression units as needed, and maintains a downtown resource team to keep transients from sleeping on the beach and sidewalks.

McCoy also tried to dispel some of the rumors heard at City Council meetings and on social media websites.

Ive heard that around the airport area the crime is just going crazy, he said. The numbers at this point dont support that.

Statistics show Oceanside crime overall has declined by 10 percent in the past year, McCoy said.

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People have said other cities are busing their homeless to Oceanside. Again, not so, the chief said.

Many of the people who are homeless here are from this city, McCoy said. They are from Oceanside.

Some people want police to arrest the homeless, but no one can be arrested simply for being homeless, he said. Thats not a crime.

Transients tend to congregate in Oceanside for a number of obvious reasons  the weather, the beach, and the open canyons and riverbeds with brush where people can hide. The city has charitable nonprofit services and helpful government agencies, and it is a transportation hub for buses, trains and ride-hailing services.

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Residents often say the city should clear out the trees and brush that hide the homeless camps. But those areas have native plants and animals that are protected by state and federal laws.

A walk along the riverbed Wednesday morning turned up few camps and fewer occupants.

A homeless camp at the edge of the San Luis Rey River. (Union-Tribune file photo by Eduardo Contreras)

It was easy to see spots where people have camped in the past, marked by flattened brush, piles of trash and old, discarded clothing. But most of those places were abandoned.

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One spot along the river near Capistrano Park was clearly occupied. Pants and shirts were draped over branches, and rolls of toilet paper, buckets, plastic bags of trash, and a battered bicycle were scattered on the ground.

Im sleeping right now, a voice called out from behind the brush, when asked if anyone could talk with a reporter.

Up the river closer to the citys small municipal airport, three or four people were moving around in a cluster of tents north of Airport Road, an area called Tule Canyon.

Only one of them would talk to a reporter. He said his name was John Scott, but people called him Rasta.

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Scott, a wiry man in clean clothes with a gray beard, said he was 73 years old. Hed lived in San Diego County for 35 years. For a while, he worked at a small store in Oceanside, but for years hes been homeless, by choice, camping for a while in the Lawrence Canyon area of Oceanside, also at times in Vista and Encinitas.

For the past eight months, hes slept in a culvert under Airport Road, near Benet Road, he said. He goes to Brother Bennos every morning for food. He can shower there, get some basic help, and he has his Social Security checks sent there.

Brother Bennos is a blessing, Scott said. I call it the breakfast club.

Scott clearly enjoyed talking. He was a U.S. Army veteran and worked in food service at Fort Leavenworth for years, he said. Hes also an artist who paints impressionistic landscapes. He was married four times, and he had a rough bout with cancer. These days, he prefers to live outdoors.

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I just mind my own business and do my own thing, he said. Theres lots of reasons people do what I do.

One problem is the high cost of housing, he said, and, Not everybody can pay $1,500 in rent,

As he spoke, a woman with a frown on her face, probably in her 30s, rode into the camp on a bicycle. She declined to say anything about her circumstances, got off the bike and went into a tent.

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philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
Two months after the cabinet approved the executive regulations of Law 149/2019, ratified by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi in August, the regulations have been published. The law replaces legislation issued in 2017 which was heavily criticised by civil society locally and internationally for restricting the work of NGOs.

The new law and its executive regulations are a result of a process of consultation between different stakeholders, including the ministries of justice, solidarity and interior, the General Federation of Non-governmental Organisations in Egypt, the National Council of Human Rights, public figures, research centres and representatives from 1,164 local NGOs.

The consultations were based on a study of international best practice, with an eye on broadening the role and activities of NGOs in Egypt. The dialogue concluded that the relationship between state and civil society needed redrawing based on the basis of partnership and greater mutual trust.

While the regulations require NGOs to provide extensive data to register with the authorities, including information on founders and planned activities, the new law removed obstacles to the establishment of NGOs contained in the earlier law 70/2017. Section one of the new law allows NGOs to be established following notification, dispensing with the 60-day delay that previously applied, and exempts the newly established entity from registration fees, customs and real estate taxes.

The law places a 25 per cent cap on the number of non-Egyptian directors on the board of NGOs, up from 10 per cent in its predecessor, allowing for greater foreign involvement in civil society.

Licensing a foreign NGO requires Foreign Ministry approval. Egyptian NGOs, however, are allowed to open offices in other countries and receive donor funds. Such funds are restricted to a single bank account, making it easier to track the funding and its sources, except in the case of NGOs with annual revenues and expenses of more than LE5 million, when multiple accounts can be used.

It is estimated that 700 NGOs in Egypt receive external funding from non-governmental institutions such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In order to receive foreign funds NGOs must notify the Ministry of Social Solidarity and demonstrate compliance with combating terrorism and money laundering legislation. The new law mandates a 60-day period, down from 90, for any approval decision on foreign funding, and considers non-response within 60 days as implicit approval.

Existing NGOs have been granted a year to comply with the new regulations.

Between 2014 and 2016 there were several crackdowns on foreign-funded NGOs working in Egypt due to lack of information about their sources of funding. A number of NGOs were closed, their assets frozen, and some personnel jailed. The new act includes provisions to dissolve associations and prosecute those found in breach of the relevant laws, though custodial sentences have been replaced by financial penalties.

There are likely to be structural impediments to implementing the new law. The requirement that all donations be in the form of bank transfers is expected to cause problems given the deficiencies in local Fintech infrastructure.

On the whole, though the new executive regulations of civil society act dealt with deficiencies and shortcoming in the previous act of 2017 and highlight the importance of organising NGOs activities in Egypt and paving the way before them to carry out in a healthy partnership with the state their needed efforts for the social and political good of the whole society.

NGOs working in Egypt are banned by the new law from engaging in political activities.

The writer is a researcher at the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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A dispute that split the Alabama Democratic Party in 2018 and 2019 has surfaced again with a federal lawsuit challenging new bylaws approved in October 2019.

Randy Kelley, former first vice chair of the State Democratic Executive Committee, and Janet May, a former member of the SDEC and the Democratic National Committee, filed the lawsuit.

They claim the bylaws violate a 1991 federal court consent decree intended to ensure that Blacks are represented on the SDEC in proportion to their share of Democratic voters. They claim the bylaws undermine the influence of Blacks in the state Democratic Party.

Barry Ragsdale, a lawyer who represented Democrats who supported the new bylaws and changes in the partys leadership, said the lawsuit is sour grapes. Ragsdale said the claim that supporters of the bylaws sought to undermine Black influence in the party is a vicious lie. Ragsdale noted that Democrats who passed the new bylaws also elected Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa as the state partys first Black chair.

The lawsuit concerns how the state party chooses members of its governing body, the State Democratic Executive Committee. The SDEC has two members elected from each of the 105 state House districts. Most of the House districts are majority white.

The consent decree set up a process to add enough Black at-large members to the SDEC after every presidential election to bring the total membership of the SDEC up to the percentage of Black Democratic voters in the election. Under longstanding rules, the Black members elected from the 105 House districts chose the at-large members.

The 2019 bylaws provide that the entire SDEC, not just the Black members, pick the at-large members. The bylaws also created new minority caucuses for LGBTQ, youth (35 and under), Hispanics, Asian-Pacific islanders, and Native Americans.

The lawsuit alleges the changes reduced the influence of the SDECs Black caucus, diluted Black voting strength, and were adopted for that purpose.

The effect of the October 5 bylaws is thus to dramatically reduce the influence of the State Democratic Executive Committees existing minority caucus and to increase the influence of the Committees members elected from Alabamas state House districts, the lawsuit says. Just as when this case was first filed (1989), African Americans do not have an equal opportunity to elect Committee members from Alabamas state House districts, which are predominantly white. The October 5 bylaws thus increase the impact of white voters at the expense of Black voters and dilute Black Democrats voting strength on the Partys governing bodies.

The lawsuit names as defendants Thomas Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, Alabama Democratic Party Chair England, and the SDEC.

The Plaintiffs are just sore losers, who cant accept their defeat and who now recklessly scream racism because they know that neither the law or the facts support their legal claims, Ragsdale said in a statement. They also cant accept that their side lost after an open and fair election. At its core, this most recent lawsuit is anti-democratic and an attack on the values of inclusion and diversity that guide the Democratic Party.

The current bylaws of the Alabama Democratic Party were thoughtfully crafted and adopted by a clear majority of our Executive Committee, with input from across the State. The bylaws serve to increase  not decrease  Black representation on the SDEC and led to the election of our first Black Chairman. No amount of sour grapes can change those facts.

The SDEC passed the new bylaws in October 2019 and elected England as party chair in November 2019, replacing Nancy Worley. They elected former Rep. Patricia Todd of Birmingham as first vice chair, replacing Kelley.

Perez and the DNC supported the new bylaws and the changes in party leadership, as did former Sen. Doug Jones.

Joe Reed, the longtime leader of the partys Black caucus and the Alabama Democratic Conference, opposed the changes and supported keeping Worley as party chair. Reed is chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference, the predominant organization for Black Democrats in Alabama. Kelley is vice chair of the ADC. The ADC publicized the lawsuit in a press release on Tuesday.

In their lawsuit, Kelley and May ask the court to declare that the new bylaws violate the 1991 consent decree and federal voting rights laws. They ask the court to require the defendants to fix the bylaws and to pay court costs and legal fees.

The split in the Democratic Party grew deep after the August 2018 meeting of the SDEC, when Worley was reelected party chair over a candidate backed by Jones. Some SDEC members filed complaints with the Democratic National Committee about the way the election was conducted.

The DNC said it found irregularities and ordered the SDEC to hold new elections for chair and first vice chair and adopt new bylaws. Jones helped organize the meetings to adopt the new bylaws and elect England and Todd in November 2019.

Worley and her supporters tried without success to block those meetings with a lawsuit filed in state court. Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that he had no jurisdiction to settle a party dispute.
Tandav: BJP MP Calls The Removal Of Objectionable Content From The Web Show One Step Forward

The makers of Amazon Prime Video series Tandav deciding to implement changes to the political drama is only "one step forward", local BJP MP Manoj Kotak said on Tuesday, adding he will "strive" for regulation of content on OTT platforms. The Mumbai North-East seat on January 16 wrote to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, seeking ban on Tandav alleging it ridiculed Hindu deities.

Removal of objectionable content from #TandavWebSeries is only one step forward. Meanwhile, I will continue my strive to have regulated content on OTT platforms & ensure accountability. Unity & Integrity of our nation is supreme.

Thanking @MIB_India for the prompt action. https://t.co/T42CTEdCBE  Manoj Kotak (@manoj_kotak) January 19, 2021

"Removal of objectionable content from #TandavWebSeries is only one step forward. Meanwhile, I will continue my strive to have regulated content on OTT platforms & ensure accountability. Unity & Integrity of our nation is supreme (sic). Thanking @MIB_India for the prompt action," Kotak tweeted.

His tweet came after the cast and crew of Tandav on Tuesday said they had decided to implement changes to the web series to "address concerns", amidst multiple FIRs and effigy burning in several parts of the country. In their second apology statement in as many days, the show's team also thanked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for its "guidance & support" in the matter.

Tandav, a nine-episode political thriller starring Bollywood A-listers Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, started streaming last week but the show landed in a huge controversy over its alleged depiction of Hindu deities.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021

The South Carolina Supreme Court has affirmed in part and reversed in part a conviction obtained after the state Attorney General recused himself

Appellant James H. Harrison, a former state legislator, was convicted and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment in a public corruption probe. The case was prosecuted by David Pascoe, Solicitor of the First Judicial Circuit, who was serving as the acting Attorney General. As recognized by this Court in Pascoe v. Wilson, Solicitor Pascoe's authority to pursue the corruption probe was bestowed on him by South Carolina's current Attorney General, Alan Wilson. The extent of the power granted to Solicitor Pascoe lies at the heart of this appeal. Appellant contends Solicitor Pascoe's authority did not grant the solicitor the power to investigate or prosecute him (Appellant). Conversely, Solicitor Pascoe dismisses any suggestion that his authority was limited, for he contends he had the authority to prosecute public corruption wherever the investigation led. For the reasons we will explain, Solicitor Pascoe had the authority to prosecute Appellant for perjury, but did not have the authority to prosecute Appellant for misconduct in office. Consequently, we affirm Appellant's conviction and eighteen-month sentence for perjury, but reverse the statutory and common law misconduct in office charges and remand to the presiding judge of the State Grand Jury for further proceedings.

This is a difficult case, one that has resulted in a sharply divided Court. This is the lead opinion of the Court. With the Court's three separate writings in this case, there are:

(1)four votes to affirm Appellant's perjury conviction (Chief Justice Beatty, Justice Kittredge, Justice Hearn, and Justice Few); and

(2)three votes to reverse and remand the misconduct charges (Justice Kittredge, Justice Few, and Justice James).

Justice Hearn, joined by Chief Justice Beatty, would affirm all of Appellant's convictions, thus adopting Solicitor Pascoe's position that our decision in Pascoe granted him boundless authority to pursue and prosecute public corruption in South Carolina. Justice James would reverse and remand all of Appellant's convictions based on Solicitor Pascoe's clear lack of authority beyond that spelled out in Pascoe. Despite the fact that both separate writings are concurring dissents, we will refer to Justice Hearn's writing as the dissent and Justice James's writing as the concurrence, because Justice James's writing most closely resembles the lead opinion.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/01/authority-not-boundless.html

Celebrating a birthday during the pandemic isn't always fun.

But Lily Collins didn't let that stop her from brightening up the day of one friend marking another year around the sun on Tuesday.

The actress, 31, beamed with joy as she handed a gift bag to the birthday boy in Los Angeles.

Happy birthday to you! Lily Collins gave a friend celebrating their birthday a gift bag in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Lily handed off a bag full of goodies to her friend in the middle of the road, and though he was wearing a face mask, no doubt he was smiling at the gesture.

The duo had a chance to chat just outside of Lily's car, where they both wore face masks to ensure the interaction was a COVID-compliant one.

Lily gave her friend her undivided attention as she stood by her open car door, playing with her hair.

The Emily In Paris star was a vision of comfort in a button down brown sweater, baggy jeans, and white sneakers.

Special delivery! The masked-up birthday boy graciously accepted the present

Chit chat: The pair caught up by Lily's car, and wore masks to ensure the interaction was a COVID-compliant one

Barely visible was the new engagement ring given to her by fiance Charlie McDowell.

The actress appeared to be wearing a slim gold band upon her ring finger.

The rose-cut diamond was designed by filmmaker Charlie, 37, who collaborated with jewellery maker Irene Neuwirth to create the perfect ring.

Making a virtual appearance on an episode of the US talk show Live with Kelly and Ryan last year, she said of the ring: 'It's a rose-cut diamond. Charlie designed it with Irene (Neuwirth).'

He put a ring on it! Collins became engaged to filmmaker Charlie McDowell in 2020

'I was very surprised by it, but it's exactly what I would've wanted and he knew me so well, obviously.'

She also revealed she knew Charlie - who is the son of actor Malcolm McDowell - was the one 'the second' they met, but she had no idea when he would propose.

'I can't believe I get to call myself a fiancee now. I was very surprised as to when and where it would happen.

'But it was kind of one of those situations where I knew the second that I met him, that I wanted to be his wife one day', she shared during the chat.
Before Apple begins its electric car journey, Microsoft on Tuesday teamed up with Cruise, the self-driving subsidiary of General Motors (GM), to accelerate the commercialisation of self-driving vehicles.

Microsoft will join GM, Honda and institutional investors in a combined new equity investment of more than $2 billion in Cruise, bringing the post-money valuation of Cruise to $30 billion, the tech giant said in a statement.

To unlock the potential of cloud computing for self-driving vehicles, Cruise will leverage Azure, Microsoft's cloud and edge computing platform, to commercialise its unique autonomous vehicle solutions at scale.

Microsoft, as Cruise's preferred cloud provider, will tap into Cruise's deep industry expertise to enhance its customer-driven product innovation and serve transportation companies across the globe through continued investment in Azure.

"Microsoft, as the gold standard in the trustworthy democratisation of technology, will be a force multiplier for us as we commercialise our fleet of self-driving, all-electric, shared vehicles," said Cruise CEO Dan Ammann.

The companies will bring together their software and hardware engineering excellence, cloud computing capabilities, manufacturing know-how and partner ecosystem to transform transportation to create a safer, cleaner and more accessible world for everyone.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that as Cruise and GM's preferred cloud, "we will apply the power of Azure to help them scale and make autonomous transportation mainstream".

In addition, GM will work with Microsoft as its preferred public cloud provider to accelerate its digitisation initiatives, including collaboration, storage, artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.

"Microsoft is a great addition to the team as we drive toward a future world of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion," said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra.

"Microsoft will help us accelerate the commercialization of Cruise's all-electric, self-driving vehicles and help GM realize even more benefits from cloud computing as we launch 30 new electric vehicles globally by 2025 and create new businesses and services to drive growth," Barra added.

Tesla's success has kicked off a race among the tech giants to be part of the growing electric car market. Apple is planning to launch its own electric car in 2024, according to media reports.
Storming of the Capitol Building Hard to Compare to 9/11: John Solomon

John Solomon, senior journalist and founder of Just The News, said on Monday that its hard to compare the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol building to 9/11, but that there were parallels in the impact felt.

Its hard to compare one attack to the other, certainly in terms of loss of life and destruction, the 9/11 was far more devastating, Solomon, the former editor-in-chief of the Washington Times told Jan Jekielek, host of The Epoch Times American Thoughts Leaders program.

Journalist John Solomon speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., in March 2014. (Courtesy Gage Skidmore)

After the Capitol building was stormed on Jan. 6, Democrat leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and mainstream media called the incident a terrorist attack and the people involved in the incident domestic terrorists.

Solomon eye-witnessed the attack on the Pentagon on 9/11, and thinks theres a big difference between the storming Capitol build and the 9/11 tragedy that resulted in over 3,000 deaths, the fall of multiple buildings, and half the Pentagon blowing up.

I think theres a difference in the scope of loss of human life, of damage.

But the idea that one of the most important icons of democracy, the House of the people was so easily violated, has a lot of parallels, we wanted to know, how could it be that the Pentagon and the Twin Towers can be taken down by a bunch of guys in an airplane? I think people want to know: how did this happen? Solomon added.

As a life-time conservative journalist, Solomon said he believes that no matter which side of the political aisle one is on, Americans would easily feel shocked to see the Capitol being attacked, and the fervor to prevent a further attack is similar to 9/11.

Pelosi called the incident on Jan. 6 an insurrection and used the incident to impeach President Trump.

But Solomon and his media called it a riot, since there had to be some effort that the intent and the purpose of this invasion of the Capitol was to overthrow the government. And I dont see that being the case at this moment.

Solomon said there are many questions regarding the Jan. 6 incident, but he knows one fact: top Pentagon officials had asked the Capitol police chief on Jan. 4 if they needed help. Although the police chief said he liked the idea, he was told the powers that be didnt like the optics of having soldiers in the Capitol.

We just dont know what Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell knew and what they [said].

Solomon said with 28,000 troops now in the capital city, Thats five to seven times what is left in Iraq and in Afghanistan, the U.S. troops, so we have one of the largest deployments of U.S. troops in American history to an American city. The city is on lockdown.

Solomon said there is now a high degree of confidence that people in Washington are in as good a security posture as we could ever be, if anyone were to try something and that alone is enough to ward off any serious violence around Inauguration Day.
Seguin, Texas (78155)

Today

Cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 88F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Low 68F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
DARMSTADT, Germany, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Not intended for UK-based media

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced an update on the Phase III [email protected] Lung 037 study and the extensive [email protected] clinical trial program for the potential first-in-class investigational bifunctional immunotherapy bintrafusp alfa, in difficult-to-treat cancers, including biliary tract cancer (BTC) and cervical cancer.

The comprehensive [email protected] program is designed to assess the impact of bintrafusp alfa across distinct cancers and settings where TGF- is thought to play a driving role. TGF- is a cytokine that is known to be associated with tumor propagation and metastatic potential such as local immunosuppression, fibrosis, growth of tumor blood vessels and chemo- or radiotherapy resistance through several mechanisms. Trapping TGF- in the tumor microenvironment on top of PD-L1 blockade is thought to be transformative in different clinical settings.

While reviewing the totality of data from the ongoing clinical trial [email protected] Lung 037 in the first-line treatment of patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that have high expression of PD-L1, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended on January 19, 2021 to discontinue the clinical trial. Based on this recommendation, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has made the decision to discontinue the clinical trial, as the study is unlikely to meet the co-primary endpoint, specifically progression-free survival. The recommendation by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee and the Company's decision is related only to this clinical trial.

"We have pioneered the science behind bintrafusp alfa, and now through a strategic alliance, multiple non-correlated parallel hypotheses are being evaluated across numerous indications in our extensive [email protected] clinical program," said Danny Bar-Zohar, M.D., Global Head of Development for the Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "We remain committed to further evaluation of bintrafusp alfa, and these data from [email protected] Lung 037 will provide important insights that may be applied to future studies."

Ongoing and New Clinical Trials

*Bintrafusp alfa is currently under clinical investigation and not approved for any use anywhere in the world.

About Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC)

BTCs are a group of rare, aggressive gastrointestinal cancers associated with poor outcomes and limited treatment options. There is currently no globally accepted standard of care in the second-line setting and chemotherapy as well as immunotherapies have demonstrated low response rates in BTC. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a hallmark of tumor progression and drug resistance, plays an important role in BTC and has been shown to be triggered by TGF- signaling.

About Cervical Cancer

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for more than 90 percent of cervical cancer cases and is one of the most common and deadliest cancers among women worldwide. The TGF- pathway is frequently dysregulated in HPV-associated malignancies, including cervical cancer, and may contribute to development and progression of cervical cancer and generating resistance to immunotherapy. There is no globally accepted standard-of-care treatment for recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer after first-line systemic therapy.

About Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Non-small cell lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide with low five-year survival rates. There has been significant treatment progress with checkpoint inhibitors, but a majority of patients don't respond.

About Bintrafusp Alfa

Bintrafusp alfa (M7824), discovered in-house at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and currently in clinical development through a strategic alliance with GSK, is a potential first-in-class investigational bifunctional fusion protein designed to simultaneously block two immunosuppressive pathways, TGF- and PD-L1, within the tumor microenvironment. This bifunctional approach is thought to control tumor growth by potentially restoring and enhancing anti-tumor responses. In preclinical studies, bintrafusp alfa has demonstrated antitumor activity both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy. Based on its mechanism of action, bintrafusp alfa offers a potential targeted approach to addressing the underlying pathophysiology of difficult-to-treat cancers.

About the [email protected] Clinical Trial Program

[email protected] is a global clinical trial program investigating the potential co-localized, dual inhibition of TGF- and PD-L1 with bintrafusp alfa (M7824) in multiple tumor types. Current clinical trial information can be found on the [email protected] website at www.intrapidclinicaltrials.com. To date, more than 1,300 patients with various types of solid tumors have been treated globally in the bintrafusp alfa [email protected] clinical development program.

The [email protected] clinical development strategy is comprehensive and is pursuing non-redundant hypotheses grounded in preclinical and early clinical data findings that continue to be explored and may yield clinically meaningful insights to patients in need, including exploring settings where simultaneous, synchronized targeting of TGF- and PD-L1 may offer the key to expanding the potential of immunotherapy (lung cancer program); focusing on opportunities where PD-1/PD-L1 has suboptimal clinical activities and pathogenesis linked to TGF- biology (studies in BTC and in urothelial cancers); and targeting specific tumors with biomarkers with a strong link to TGF- signaling pathway (studies in TNBC and cervical cancer).

All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the EMD Group Website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register for your online subscription of this service as our geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.

About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 57,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices  the company is everywhere. In 2019, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of  16.2 billion in 66 countries.

The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark "Merck" internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials. Since its founding in 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company's technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company.

References

1. Allan S, Braiteh F, Calvo AE, et al. Phase 1 evaluation of bintrafusp alfa (M7824), a bifunctional fusion protein targeting TGF- and PD-L1, in cervical cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2019;29:A72-A73. 2. Strauss J, Gatti-Mays ME, Cho BC, et al. Bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein targeting TGF- and PD-L1, in patients with human papillomavirus-associated malignancies. J Immunother Cancer. 2020;8:e001395.

Your Contact

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SOURCE Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
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Farmers interested in this year's LEAF Open Farm Sunday are being encouraged to start thinking how they can host visitors in June given the current restrictions.

The annual initiative will take place on 13 June 2021, along with a year-round virtual programme of public engagement to support the event.

While Covid-19 regulations on public gatherings and events may change in the future, visitor numbers for events could still be limited this summer.

Host farmers are now being encouraged by organisers LEAF to think about how to maximise outdoor spaces.

"It could be a farm walk, a scavenger hunt or a short show-and-tell in the yard," said LEAF Open Farm Sunday (LOFS) manager Annabel Shackleton.

"It may also be an opportunity to collaborate with other food producers to provide a place for people to buy and try new local foods."

In addition to LOFS on-farm events on the 13 June, LEAF will also be hosting a series of virtual farm visits online.

Two online farm open days will take place this spring and autumn, alongside a programme of monthly live broadcasts running throughout the year.

One of the unexpected positives to emerge from the challenges of lockdown has been the surge in interest in the countryside, and we have seen a higher following than ever, said Ms Shackleton.

This is the perfect moment to capture the publics curiosity and build our outreach to benefit the whole industry.

"Farmers have some important topical messages to share about quality food production, caring for the countryside, plus the economic and environmental benefits of buying British  and we want to help facilitate these conversations.

The two LEAF Online Farm Sunday events will take place on Sunday 28 March and Sunday 26 September.

They will each include an afternoon of live virtual farm tours on Facebook, featuring a range of different farms.
The Queen sent a private message to US president Joe Biden before he was sworn into office, Buckingham Palace has said (Victoria Jones/PA)

The Queen sent a private message to US president Joe Biden before he was sworn into office, Buckingham Palace has said.

The details of the message have not been released, but it is likely the head of state sent her good wishes to Americas new leader.

During the Queens 68-year reign, there have now been 14 American presidents  from Harry S Truman to Mr Biden.

Expand Close Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th president of the United States (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th president of the United States (Niall Carson/PA)

A palace spokesman said: Her Majesty sent a private message to President Biden ahead of the inauguration.

With the world still battling the pandemic and the last state visit by a US president coming less than two years ago, when Donald Trump toured the UK in June 2019, it is unlikely an invitation to visit this year will be extended by the Queen to Mr Biden.

But the two heads of state could meet at some point when the G7 summit is staged in June in Cornwall. It is not thought the two world figures have met before.

Expand Close Harry with President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden in 2017 at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Harry with President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden in 2017 at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The Duke of Sussex has known President Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden for a number of years, with the statesman and his wife supporting the royals Invictus Games for wounded, sick and injured veterans and serving military.

Harry met Mrs Biden at the Washington residence of Britains Ambassador to the US in 2012, and five years later the couple joined the duke at a wheelchair basketball match when the Games were staged in Toronto.

In the run-up to the November presidential election, Harry was accused of political interference after he urged people in the US to reject hate speech and vote in the presidential election.

He has moved to California with wife Meghan and son Archie to start a new life after the Sussexes stepped down as working royals for financial freedom.
The US Ambassador in Bucharest, Adrian Zuckerman, stated in an interview granted to AGERPRES, at the conclusion of his mandate, that Romania's economy has glowing perspectives, but its development is slowed by limited infrastructure.

He stated that in the past year important things were accomplished in what regards the development of Romania's defence capacities, and cooperation from the military perspective with the USA "was never better".

According to him, the Romanian Government has made "important steps" in developing infrastructure and significant progress is being made in the fight against organized crime, against the trafficking of persons.

Adrian Zuckerman added that he USA supports the projects Via Carpathia and Rail2Sea, mentioning that he would have wished for significant progress to exist in this regard, but that due to the pandemic and the two sets of elections, several initiatives did not progress as fast as it were possible in other conditions.

He also mentioned that he is determined to support Romania and all the projects started in the last year, mentioning there are no reasons for which it could not become "a leader in Europe".

R: Romanian President Klaus Iohannis awarded you the Star of Romania medal in the rank of Grand Cross. What does it represent for you?

US Ambassador: It's a great honour for me to receive the medal from President Iohannis. I think President Iohannis was very kind and very generous. It's a very humbling experience for me, and I wish I could have done more than he thanked me for what I did. But I want to thank the people of Romania for what they did, because the people of Romania had the courage to move forward and achieve great things this year (...). So, I am very humbled by the award, very thankful to President Iohannis and to the people of Romania.

R: You said you wish you could have done more. What are your regrets? What did you plan to achieve?

US Ambassador: I don't have regrets, but I always wish we could do more; those people who know me, like these folks here, they know that I tried to do everything as much as I can everyday; I think we could have had more economic development. I think everything we have done we could have done faster so that we could have done more of it. We have achieved great things in terms of military cooperation and development of Romania's military defence capabilities. I think, I was hopeful some of them would have moved faster, and could have been more of it, but it's moving at a great pace; the cooperation has never been better, the Romanian military has never been closer to the US military and to NATO and to the EU. It's a very, very credible defence force to protect Romanian borders' integrity and European integrity.

Economically, a lot of things could been done. Romania is rich in forests, the agriculture, the oil, gas, technology, manufacturing, all of the sectors to be improved; infrastructure projects could be advanced further. Big steps were taken by the Orban government in 2020 to advance infrastructure development. We are assisting, helping to develop Via Carpathia from Constanta to Gdansk and the Rail2Sea, which follows the same basic trajectory, same path. I wish we could have had more progress on that. Unfortunately, because of COVID, because of two sets of elections this past year a lot of projects were not advanced as quickly as that would have been possible. But I have no regrets because we still moved forward and a lot of very, very positive things were achieved.

Similarly, in the judicial area, there were a lot of legislative initiatives set forth. We made great progress in the fight against organized crime, in the fight against human trafficking, setting in motion the undoing of some prior legislation that protected various criminals. All the criminal laws had to be strengthened. So a lot of great things have been done.

We were able to achieve a historic agreement between the Orthodox Church, the City of Bucharest and the Government of Romania to provide shelters in Bucharest for the victims of trafficking - it was never done before. Last week I was in Timisoara and I met with the Metropolitan there, Ioan, to try to create the same type of shelter for victims of trafficking and I believe we will be successful there. I think a lot of very, very good things have happened and I am certain that they will continue this year, in the year afterwards. I am, as they say in the United States, I am very bullish on Romania.

R: You were born here, you left when you were nine years old, do you plan to come back to Romania? If so, how often?

Adrian Zuckerman: I have no specific plans yet, but I have committed to do everything I can to continue to assist Romania in moving forward. It was a great year for me, personally, last year. I had a great reception by the people of Romania, the Government of Romania and I will continue to do everything within my power to help Romania to continue to grow and develop and to become the European leader that it can be. It's a country rich in natural resources, rich in good, educated, intellectual people. There is no reason Romania and the Romanian economy cannot be a leader in Europe and I am fully committed to help it in any way I can.

R: During the hearings you had before being appointed Ambassador, you talked about the fact that you wanted to support the rule of law in Romania. Now that your term in office has come to an end, what do you think about this? Have there been significant changes in Romania?

Adrian Zuckerman: I think so. Although the Citu coalition government and before that, the Orban Government, did not have a majority in the Parliament, during 2020, I think we made tremendous strides forward. The Interior Minister, Vela, as well as the Justice Minister, Predoiu, as well as the (General, ed. n.) Prosecutor Scutea and others in law enforcement made tremendous strides forward. Minister Vela announced a zero tolerance policy against organized crime, against human trafficking. I made numerous calls, last year, for a variety of legislative changes, to assist law enforcement, which unfortunately, were not made by Parliament last year, but hopefully they will be made this year. So I think a lot of positive measures were taken so far, during the last year, in enforcement and applying the existing laws to their maximum degree, so I think a lot was done in that respect.

R: What do you think are the perspectives on short-term bilateral economic cooperation?

Adrian Zuckerman: I think the economy of Romania has a very bright outlook. I think Prime Minister Citu, while he was Finance Minister last year, did a brilliant job. I think he will make sure that continues this year. I think a lot of the Romanian economy is held back by limitations in the infrastructure. As infrastructure starts to improve, I think more and more businesses and companies will come to Romania, more investors will come to Romania, hopefully more from the United States. There are already over 400 American companies doing business in Romania, from some very large ones, like Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola and others to some very small ones, advisory companies that do business all over the world. So I think Romania's economic future is very, very bright, as long as we maintain the rule of law and the equal application of the rule of law to everybody. If that is done, Romania's future is absolutely brilliant. So I'm very, very optimistic on that, because I see that only improving under the new coalition government and we're very happy to see how well the coalition is advancing and the progress they're making. We have only words of encouragement and good wishes for them.

R: Are there perspective for increased US military presence in Romania?

Adrian Zuckerman: We signed in October a ten-year military defence cooperation roadmap. Part of that was the deployment to Romania of an additional number of troops on a rotational basis. A Stryker unit was being considered - I think that is still under consideration and moving forward. Obviously, that is for the new Administration in the United States to review, but as far as I know, it's moving forward. The Romanian military, as I mentioned earlier, is being assisted in every respect and Romania is being provided with the highest technology defence weaponry that the United States has, like Patriot missiles, HIMARS, Piranha vehicles and other equipment to assist it to make sure its border integrity is secure and that it's an absolutely credible defence force against any foreign threat.

R: What is your point of view on the violent events that took place on January 6th at the Capitol and what do they mean for the US geopolitical credibility in the future?

Adrian Zuckerman: We oppose any violence by any political party at any time and at any place. So, it was unfortunate that there was any violence. Unfortunately, in the past year, in America there were various incidents of violence in different cities across America and all such incidents are equally deplorable and they should not occur. They go counter to free speech and all democratic values and, notwithstanding these incidents of violence it is important to note there will be a smooth transfer of power in the government and we're going to move forward and I hope we get beyond this very quickly. It's unfortunate that certain individuals engaged in violent conduct - recently in January - but it's also equally unfortunate that certain individuals engaged in violent conduct over the last year in different cities across the US. Violence from anybody should not be countenanced in a democratic country.

R: The transition from the Trump Administration to the Biden Administration seems to have split the Americans in two. What do you think has caused this fracture in American society?

Adrian Zuckerman: I think Americans believe in free speech and I just want to make sure everybody in Romania and outside of Romania who may be reading this understands that they should not mistake discussions between Americans, during political election seasons, as any kind of insinuations or weakness or problems in America. I think these are like family discussions and that America is still the world's leading democratic nation, I think it will remain so, I think America will have a bright future under the Biden Administration. They will move forward, as we've always moved forward and people should not give more credence to this fracture of the American people who will come together moving forward. America is still the world's leader economically, politically, democratically and it will remains so.

R: After you leave, do you plan to continue your career in diplomacy?

Adrian Zuckerman: I have made no plans moving forward, but I have said publicly, before, that I am committed to continuing to help Romania in any way I can and to support all the advancements and projects that we started this year and to assist with some projects that we never had the opportunity to reach this year because of the pandemic and other issues that delayed us from reaching a number of issues. So, I'm very committed to helping Romania move forward in a positive way.

R: What did you find out about Romania during your mandate? About Romania and about Romanians.

Adrian Zuckerman: Romania is a wonderful country with wonderful people and I want to thank them profusely for making me feel so much at home here. It was a wonderful year for me and I wish I would be here longer. I wish COVID would not have limited some of the opportunities that we could have otherwise had to achieve more things during this past year. But I think Romania is a country filled with beautiful, beautiful people and as an example of that, it is one of the very few number of countries that actually helped the United States this year. They sent a number of doctors to Alabama to help with the COVID crisis, and some other experts with the doctors for which I am just enormously thankful. I know that the President is enormously thankful, and it shows the real charitable and gracious and helpful spirit of the Romanian people and I cannot thank them enough. It was a wonderful gesture.

R: Do you have a message for the Romania people?

Adrian Zuckerman: Thank you very much, it was a wonderful year for me. And I hope, as I said before, to continue my assistance in any regard possible, to help advance Romania to become a leader in the European Union.

***

Adrian Zuckerman has taken over the role of US Ambassador to Romania on December 14, 2019. A lawyer by trade, Zuckerman emigrated to the United States of America from Romania at the age of 10 and is a fluent speaker of Romanian. He replaced former US Ambassador Hans Klemm who served as Ambassador since September 21, 2015.

On January 18, 2020, President Klaus Iohannis decorated Adrian Zuckerman with the National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Grand Cross, during a ceremony that took place at the Cotroceni Palace. According to the decree signed by the Romanian head of state, the distinction was granted to Ambassador Zuckerman as a sign of "high appreciation for the entire activity conducted during his mandate to Romania, as well as for the substantial involvement in the development and deepening of the Strategic Partnership between our country and the United States of America.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : In a mega boost for the 82-km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS), the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has awarded the contract worth Rs 910 crore to design, supply and install the signalling, train and telecommunication system to French railway giant Alstom.

The NCRTC is implementing RRTS, a first-of-its-kind semi-high-speed rail line which will reduce the journey time between Delhi and Meerut to just 60 minutes, compared to the current 90-100 minutes, and with a maximum speed of 160 kmph.

"As leaders in digital mobility, we are thrilled to receive this contract and provide India's first-ever line with the future proof signalling system. Alstom sees huge potential for the technology in the Indian market. We are looking forward to deploying our advanced technologies in a bid to revamp the mainline railway landscape," said Ling Fang, Senior Vice President of Alstom Asia Pacific.

The officials said that Alstom's scope of work includes design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of Signalling and Train Control, supervision, platform screen doors and telecommunication systems for the corridor.

"This line will be the first in India to adopt the European Train Control System (ETCS) hybrid Level 3 signalling system, which is the core signalling and train control component of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS)," Alstom said in a statement.

In October last year, Alstom became the first company in the world to be fully certified for the latest onboard and trackside ETCS 1 standards.

It further said that a key feature of the RRTS is interoperability of all its priority corridors which facilitates seamless commuter movement across the corridors, without the hassle of changing trains for passengers.

"ETCS signalling system will not only facilitate interoperability but will also ensure train movement at quick frequencies, thus reducing the waiting time for passengers," it said.

The contract marks a world premiere for the combination of the latest ETCS standard supported by the latest digital Interlocking and Automatic Train Operation (ATO) over Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio. The integrated platform screen door solution will also provide utmost safety to passengers, the company said.

Alstom's Atlas ERTMS Level 2 and hybrid Level 3 are digital signalling solutions that allows trains to run at higher speeds without physical lineside signals. The company is a major supplier of onboard and trackside ETCS equipment via this solution, representing 70 per cent of the world's onboard rail systems in service and 18,000 kilometres of tracks worldwide.

The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is an 82.15-km-long, under-construction, semi-high speed rail corridor connecting Delhi with Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. It will have a total of 24 stations and will be elevated for around 70.5 kms while 11.5 kms will be underground.

The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor will have two depots, one at Duhai and Modipuram both in Uttar Pradesh.

The full 82 kms of the corridor will be opened for the public by 2025.
Kolkata:

Virtually expressing her partys reservation about the candidature of Ram Nath Kovind, the NDAs pick for the post of president, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that the Bihar Governor was nominated only because he had been a leader of the BJPs Dalit Morcha in the past.

There are other big Dalit leaders in the country. Just because he (Kovind) was a leader of the BJPs Dalit Morcha, they have nominated him, she said in a statement.

The office of President is a key post. Someone of the stature of Pranab Mukherjee or even Sushma Swaraj or (L K) Advaniji may have been made the candidate.

There are other big Dalit leaders in India. He( #RamNathKovind) was leader of Dalit Morcha of BJP, so they have made him candidate: WB CM  ANI (@ANI_news) June 19, 2017

In order to support someone, we must know the person. The candidate should be someone who would be beneficial for the country. The opposition will meet on June 22, only after that can we announce our decision, the West Bengal chief minister added.

Banerjee left for the Netherlands on Monday to speak on the occasion of UN Public Service Day on June 23.

She, however, said, I am not for a moment saying that Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind is unfit for the post of president. I have spoken to two or three opposition leaders, they too are surprised. There are other big Dalit leaders in the country, she said.

Also Read: TRS to support NDA's Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind

The chief national spokesperson of the TMC, Derek OBrien, claimed that the party was not informed of Kovinds nomination by the NDA for the post of president.

The name was announced at a BJP press conference. Thats how we got to know. Not even informed (sic), he wrote on Twitter.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The coronavirus pandemics U.S. death toll has eclipsed 400,000. And the loss of lives is accelerating.

This is just one step on an ominous path of fatalities, said Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University and one of many public health experts who contend the Trump administrations handling of the crisis led to thousands of avoidable deaths.

Everything about how its been managed has been infused with incompetence and dishonesty, and were paying a heavy price, he said.

The 400,000-death toll, reported Tuesday by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of New Orleans, Cleveland or Tampa, Florida. Its nearly equal to the number of American lives lost annually to strokes, Alzheimers disease, diabetes, flu and pneumonia combined.

With more than 4,000 deaths recorded on some recent days  the most since the pandemic began  the toll by weeks end will probably surpass the number of Americans killed in World War II.

We need to follow the science and the 400,000th death is shameful, said Cliff Daniels, chief strategy officer for Methodist Hospital of Southern California, near Los Angeles. With its morgue full, the hospital has parked a refrigerated truck outside to hold the bodies of COVID-19 victims until funeral homes can retrieve them.

Its so incredibly, unimaginably sad that so many people have died that could have been avoided, he said.

President-elect Joe Biden, who will be sworn in Wednesday, took part in an evening remembrance ceremony Tuesday near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The 400,000 dead were represented by 400 lights placed around the reflecting pool. The bell at the Washington National Cathedral tolled 400 times.

Other cities around the U.S. planned tributes as well. The Empire State Building was lit in heartbeat red  the same lighting used last year as a show of support for emergency workers at the height of the virus surge in New York City. The red lights pulsed as a visual heartbeat. In Salt Lake City, the bells at the Utah Capitol were to ring 15 times in honor of the more than 1,500 lives lost to COVID-19 in the state.

The U.S. accounts for nearly 1 of every 5 virus deaths reported worldwide, far more than any other country despite its great wealth and medical resources.

The coronavirus would almost certainly have posed a grave crisis for any president given its rapid spread and power to kill, experts on public health and government said.

But President Donald Trump seemed to invest as much in battling public perceptions as he did in fighting the virus itself, repeatedly downplaying the threat and rejecting scientific expertise while fanning conflicts ignited by the outbreak.

As president he was singularly positioned to counsel Americans. Instead, he used his pulpit to spout theories  refuted by doctors  that taking unproven medicines or even injecting household disinfectant might save people from the virus.

The White House defended the administration this week.

We grieve every single life lost to this pandemic, and thanks to the presidents leadership, Operation Warp Speed has led to the development of multiple safe and effective vaccines in record time, something many said would never happen, said White House spokesman Judd Deere.

With deaths spiraling in the New York City area last spring, Trump declared war on the virus. But he was slow to invoke the Defense Production Act to secure desperately needed medical equipment. Then he sought to avoid responsibility for shortfalls, saying that the federal government was merely a backup for governors and legislatures.

I think it is the first time in history that a president has declared a war and we have experienced a true national crisis and then dumped responsibility for it on the states, said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health care policy think tank.

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tried to issue guidelines for reopening in May, Trump administration officials held them up and watered them down. As the months passed, Trump claimed he was smarter than the scientists and belittled experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top authority on infectious diseases.

Why would you bench the CDC, the greatest fighting force of infectious disease in the world? Why would you call Tony Fauci a disaster? asked Dr. Howard Markel, a medical historian at the University of Michigan. It just doesnt make sense.

As governors came under pressure to reopen state economies, Trump pushed them to move faster, asserting falsely that the virus was fading. LIBERATE MINNESOTA! he tweeted in April as angry protesters gathered at the state Capitol to oppose the Democratic governors stay-at-home restrictions. LIBERATE MICHIGAN!

In Republican-led states like Arizona that allowed businesses to reopen, hospitals and morgues filled with virus victims.

It led to the tragically sharp partisan divide weve seen in the country on COVID, and that has fundamental implications for where we are now, because it means the Biden administration cant start over, Altman said. They cant put the genie back in the bottle.

In early October, when Trump himself contracted COVID-19, he ignored safety protocols, ordering up a motorcade so he could wave to supporters outside his hospital. Once released, he appeared on the White House balcony to take off his mask for the cameras, making light of health officials pleas for people to cover their faces.

Were rounding the corner, Trump said of the battle with the virus during a debate with Biden in late October. Its going away.

It isnt. U.S. deaths from COVID-19 surpassed 100,000 in late May, then tripled by mid-December. Experts at the University of Washington project deaths will reach nearly 567,000 by May 1.

More than 120,000 patients with the virus are in the hospital in the U.S., according to the COVID Tracking Project, twice the number who filled wards during previous peaks. On a single day last week, the U.S. recorded more than 4,400 deaths.

While vaccine research funded by the administration as part of Warp Speed has proved successful, the campaign trumpeted by the White House to rapidly distribute and administer millions of shots has fallen well short of the early goals officials set.

Young people are dying, young people who have their whole lives ahead of them, said Mawata Kamara, a nurse at Californias San Leandro Hospital who is furious over the surging COVID-19 cases that have overwhelmed health care workers. We could have done so much more.

Many voters considered the federal governments response to the pandemic a key factor in their vote: 39% said it was the single most important factor, and they overwhelmingly backed Biden over Trump, according to AP VoteCast.

But millions of others stood with him.

Here you have a pandemic, said Eric Dezenhall, a Washington crisis management consultant, yet you have a massive percent of the population that doesnt believe it exists.
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By GILLIAN FLACCUS

Associated Press

PORTLAND  Plans for a major West Coast liquified natural gas pipeline and export terminal hit a snag Tuesday with federal regulators after a years-long legal battle that has united tribes, environmentalists and a coalition of residents on Oregons rural southern coast against the proposal.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled that energy company Pembina could not move forward with the proposal without a key clean water permit from the state of Oregon. The U.S. regulatory agency gave its tentative approval to the pipeline last March as long as it secured the necessary state permits, but the Canadian pipeline company has been unable to do so.





. . .
(Natural News) In an attempt to get back at the tech giants for censoring President Donald Trump and his supporters, Rep. Randy Fine of Florida is calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to take immediate and formidable action to hit them where it hurts: in the pocketbook.

Since the Sunshine State contributes financially to Big Tech players like Apple, Facebook, Google and Twitter, Fine wants DeSantis to divest all state funding from these platforms due to their relentless attacks on free speech and the First Amendment.

Florida taxpayers should not be forced to do business with entities that censor them, Fine wrote in a letter to DeSantis.

I am deeply disturbed to see the countrys major technology companies use the actions of these few as a pretext to silence tens of millions of good, patriotic Americans, millions of whom live here in Florida.

In lieu of removing Section 230 immunity protections from the tech giants, which would take the cooperation of most of Congress, Fine is hoping to at least get Florida on board in defense of conservatives and Trump supporters who are feeling the wrath of the tech tyrants.

It is clear that Twitter and Facebook are engaged in one-sided viewpoint discrimination on targeting conservatives, Fine warns. These companies allow actual terrorists around the world to use their platforms to target America, Americans, and our allies, without as much as a peep.

And it is not disputed that Amazon, Apple and Google are actively working to eliminate any alternative outlets where conservatives can speak freely.

Fine to introduce legislation banning state and local governments from conducting business with Big Tech

Fine is also planning to introduce legislation that, if passed, would ban state and local governments from conducting business with Big Tech. This would cut away at even more of their profits, hopefully getting their attention in such a way as to bring about change.

They may get to decide who they do business with, Fine says. So do we.

Fines letter and policy proposal come in the wake of numerous affronts to free speech by the tech giants over the past week. These include:

 Facebook banning the president for at least two weeks

 Twitter permanently suspending the presidents account, along with other accounts related to his campaign

 Twitter purging hundreds of thousands of Trump-supporting accounts

 Google removing Parler from its Play Store

 Apple also removing Parler from its App Store

 President Trumps email service banning him and his campaign from sending updates to millions of supporters

 Mozilla, and owner of Firefox, promising to cut off all pro-Trump content at the browser level

 Shopify removing the Trump campaigns online store

 Stripe, a payment processor, banning the president from using the service

 YouTube suspending the presidents accounts

 Snapchat permanently banning the president

By the time this story gets published, there will likely be even more tech companies that take a swipe at the president and those associated with him. Right now it hurts, but in the end these corrupt companies will be sorry they took aim at American patriots who love this country and only want what is best for it.

This is a communist country, wrote one Trending Politics commenter. They control the media, Hollywood, education and through it all they lie to you about what communism is.

Communism is really the big corporations, the super-rich elite who think they are superior, controlling everything that everyone else can do. It is the New World Order and it is working on getting rid of everyone else except 500 million people whom they will allow to live to be their slaves.

More of the latest news about Big Tech censorship can be found at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

TrendingPolitics.com

NaturalNews.com
The leaders of the so-called 'treason caucus,' Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, both showed up Wednesday to President Joe Biden's inauguration.

Hawley and Cruz joined the House GOP effort to challenge Electoral College votes during the January 6 session that was interrupted by the violent MAGA riot.

They contested votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania, delaying the certification for hours - and giving now ex-President Donald Trump's election fraud claims more weight.

Sen. Josh Hawley, one of the ringleaders of the so-called 'treason caucus,' showed up to President Joe Biden's inauguration despite trying to prevent Biden from collecting all of his Electoral College votes

Sen. Ted Cruz (right) also appeared at President Joe Biden's inauguration, after signing onto challenges of Electoral College votes in Pennsylvania and Arizona

Trump's claims - that he had been robbed a second term due to widespread voter fraud - motivated the violent insurrection, in which five people were killed in the incident's immediate aftermath, including a Capitol Police officer.

Even after the mob was cleared and the certification resumed, Hawley still challenged Pennsylvania's Electoral College votes going to Biden, which extended debate an additional two hours, late into the night.

Only a majority vote was needed to kill the challenge.

In both cases Cruz and Hawley voted with the minority to toss out the votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Overall, they were joined by six other Republican senators and 139 Republican House members who wanted to overturn the election results.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was among this group of Republicans.

McCarthy also attended inauguration and attended church with the Bidens Wednesday morning.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell also went to church.

Before the riot, he had gone on the Senate floor to encourage his members not to challenge the Electoral College votes, pointing out that Biden had clearly won and the election wasn't even close.

Sen. Marco Rubio, who didn't support the Electoral College challenges, skipped inauguration anyway, tweeting that he was working to quickly get Biden's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, through the process.

During his inaugural address, Biden went after those who lied about the election, calling them 'lies told for power and for profit.'

He dedicated his speech to American unity.

'We must end this uncivil war,' Biden said, during one of the speech's most powerful moments.
The Government has defended as very good value the decision to pay GPs in Ireland more than double their UK counterparts to administer Covid-19 vaccines.

Cabinet yesterday approved a plan to pay GPs and pharmacists almost 91m to vaccinate 1.5 million people in the coming months.

Under the deal GPs and pharmacists will be paid 25 for administering each dose of the vaccine with an additional one-off 10 processing fee per patient, meaning a GP or pharmacist will get 60 for administering two doses of vaccines and 35 for one dose. GPs working in mass vaccination centres will be paid 120 per hour.

In the UK, the NHS agreed late last year to pay GPs 12.58 (14) to deliver a dose of the vaccine, which amounts to around 28 for two doses.

Read More

The two vaccines approved for use in the Irish market, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, both require two doses as does the easier-to-store Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine that GPs and pharmacists are expected to deliver once regulatory approval is granted later this month.

A Government spokesman said last night that nobody has any issues with the fees, everyones happy and that given the cost to the State and the economy of the pandemic the cost of paying GPs will prove very good value in the long run. He said: It will prove good value whenever we see mass vaccine roll-out.

Dr Denis McCauley of the Irish Medical Organisation said: The fee we agreed is what we agreed for the flu vaccine and there is an extra admin charge until the software is up and running.

Irish Pharmacy Union secretary general Darragh OLoughlin said: The fees being paid to pharmacists are reasonable in the context of the cost of delivering the service.

The HSE has been in talks with groups such as the St John Ambulance about taking part in the vaccination rollout.

It comes as Micheal Martin, Leo Varadkar and Eamon Ryan, and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly are to meet representatives of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee today to discuss the rollout of the vaccine so far.

Amid concern at the pace of vaccinations and anger over relatives of staff being vaccinated in Dublins Coombe Hospital, Mr Donnelly said Ireland was still on target to hit 140,000 vaccinations by Sunday.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD is seeking the publics assistance in locating a 15-year-old boy reported missing from Mariners Harbor.

Davon Gonzalez, a resident of Roxbury Street, was last seen at his home on Sunday at around 8:30 p.m., according to a written statement from the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Gonzalez is described by police as being Hispanic, 5 feet, 6 inches tall and 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing all dark clothing.

The NYPD provided a photo of Gonzalez.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident 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 their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.


KYODO NEWS - Jan 20, 2021 - 21:32 | All, Japan

Japanese advertising giant Dentsu Group Inc. is considering selling its 48-story headquarters building in Tokyo for some 300 billion yen ($2.9 billion), which would make it the highest-priced building to be sold in Japan, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.

The possible sale would come as many of 9,000 Dentsu employees at the headquarters are working from home due to the novel coronavirus pandemic as part of efforts to curb virus infections, and only about 20 percent of them currently commute to the office, the sources said.

Earlier in the month, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency for the second time in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures, later expanding it to include some other prefectures.

There are several candidate buyers for the building, completed in 2002, according to the sources.

Dentsu said in a statement it is considering selling the building as a part of a comprehensive review of its business, but it "has not made a decision yet."

The company also aims to reduce its assets and generate cash to ride out the pandemic-hit sales, according to the sources. The company also plans to downsize the headquarters office and keep it unmoved by renting some floors of the building from a new owner.

Pacific Century Place Marunouchi, a 32-story office building in central Tokyo that a real estate fund bought from a Hong Kong company in 2006, fetched the highest price of about 200 billion yen among the country's commercial real estate transactions, according to real estate agency Jones Lang LaSalle IP Inc.
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The fire broke out in a shed on the Scarva Road in Banbridge

Police are investigating an overnight fire at sheds containing gas cylinders in Banbridge which forced residents to be moved from their homes.

The Scarva Road between Peggy's Loaning and Grove Meadows was closed for several hours as firefighers tackled the blaze.

It was reported at 3:10am that two sheds at the rear of a property were on fire.

Police attended the scene where 27 NIFRS officers were dealing with the incident.

The sheds contains acetylene cylinders and local residents were evacuated as a precaution.

A PSNI spokesman said: "The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and we would appeal to anyone who may have noticed anything unusual in the area between 2:30am and 3am to get in touch with us by calling 101."

The Scarva Road was closed for some time as emergency services dealt with the fire, but has since re-opened.

A number of homes were also evacuated as a result of the blaze, however, all residents have now been allowed to return home.

The spokesperson added: We would like to thank all the residents who had to leave their homes for their patience as the fire was being dealt with.

"Wed also like to thank the local Council for opening a rest centre to accommodate those impacted.

Information can also be given on the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/

An NIFRS spokesperson confirmed that it received a call at around 3am to a fire involving three sheds on Hockley Terrace in Banbridge.

Four appliances from Dromore, Lurgan and Banbridge fire stations attended the incident alongside an aerial appliance from Portadown, a water tanker from Warrenpoint and a command support unit from Lisburn.

They added: A cordon was established and local residents were evacuated for their own safety to Banbridge Leisure Centre as some of the sheds were used to store gas cylinders.

This was a challenging incident and firefighters worked well, with our partners, to make the area safe as quickly as possible. Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used two jets, two hose reel jets and the water tower from the aerial appliance to extinguish the fire.

"The incident was dealt with by 9.09am and the cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate ignition.
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Before ending the term, Donald Trump ordered the release of Crossfire Hurricane Documents to the public. During his campaign in 2016, he was allegedly investigated at the behest of the Obama administration members.

The Crossfire Hurricane papers' content was kept for selected eyes only. Before Trump leaves, the next administration has to deal with his going away presents.

Before Trump became the 45th president of the United States, he was investigated by the FBI during his 2016 campaign. He handily gave the DEMS and Hilary Clinton a defeat, and an outsider won the White House, reported the Epoch Times.

One of his last acts in office, on his last night in the White House. He made the order.

Sources say that the Department of Justice gave the White House last December 30, 2020, all the documents in a binder to the president. All the content pertains to the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Not all of the papers were released to Congress or the public. They were kept classified by officials. This was mentioned in a memorandum given to the attorney general, the director of National Intelligence, and the CIA's director.

The Department of Justice provided the White House on December 30, 2020, with a binder of materials related to the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Portions of which were FBI's Crossfire Hurricane documents, not released to Congress or the public, Trump said in a memorandum for the attorney general, the director of National Intelligence, and the director of the CIA.

Also read: Russia Denies Involvement in US Protests, Insists 'Explosion' Has Been Long Overdue

In the memo, Trump wrote the documents declassified and examined how the materials can be presented as unclassified material. He added that all relevant information be allowed for public view to a maximum intent. The president intends to shed light on the events of the investigation by the FBI.

As a response to the declassifying, Trump impressed ]a letter issued by the FBI sent to the White House. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it objected to extensive declassification of all the DOJ binder contents. Mention that some passages had excerpts from the Intelligence Community equities. Citing some content according to the FBI should not be disclosed to the public. The memo was not agreeable to the FBI.

Trump added that he accepted the redactions that were requested by the FBI about the January 17 submission. He said that the rest of the papers in the binder would be authorized. Saying it was his final opinion on what can be revealed to the public or not and ordered the Attorney General to apply the redactions to the FBI's January 17 submission. The White House will be receiving the redacted copy.

In his final memo, the president specified how the documents in the binder are declassified. Some sections will be protected from public disclosure, according to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. With all applicable laws to allow the White House to disclose the documents authorized for public viewing.

One reason for the Hurricane Crossfire documents is because the 2016 Trump Campaign was investigated in July 2016. There were suspicions that Russia was involved in Trump's election. In April 2019, special counsel and former FBI Director Robert Mueller determined Trump was innocent.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NEW DELHI: In a tragic incident, a private airline pilot died after being hit by a truck coming from the wrong side on the Dwarka Expressway near Chintals Corporate Park. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday night. According to police, the incident took place around 12.20 am when 38-year-old pilot Anmol Verma was returning from the airport to his residence in Sector 109.

The pilot had reached the Dwarka Expressway near Sector-114 when a trailer coming from the wrong direction hit his car from the front. The pilot, who was seriously injured, was rushed to a private hospital by some passersby. The pilots Honda accord car was completely damaged due to the impact of the collision.

Police said that the accident was so terrible that although the airbags of the car worked perfectly, the pilot was injured critically and later died in hospital during treatment. The trailer truck driver abandoned his vehicle and is still on the run. However, the police have impounded the truck carrying Haryana registration plate. A case of rash driving under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at Bajghera police station against the absconding driver, the police said.

Zee News editor-in-chief Sudhir Chaudhary, in his highly popular prime time show DNA, raised the issue of deaths due to wrong side driving and rampant violation of traffic rules by people in India.

The victim was originally from Ambala. The pilot was living in Gurugram along with his mother, wife and two months old son for the last few months. Anmol had joined the Merchant Navy as an engineer and later became a pilot.

The show highlighted how an innocent family will have to bear the loss of Anmol throughout their life due to careless driving by the accused truck driver. One truck ignored traffic rules ... and as a result, a family will now suffer, the Zee News Editor said. This would have passed off as just another case of road accident if the truth had not come to fore. After this accident, when the police began its investigation, it came out that the accident happened due to the truck coming from the wrong side, the DNA report said.

Thes show also highlighted that wrong side driving at high speed and frequent traffic rule violations are the biggest reason for road accidents in the country. Around 5 lakh road accidents take place in India every year. These figures are increasing every year the violation of traffic rules by drivers is proving fatal but still people in India are taking no lessons from it, the show pointed out.

Driving in the wrong direction is also a violation of traffic rules. If the traffic rules are followed seriously then millions of lives can be saved every year.

Live TV
The crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State reached its climax last week with the removal of Bashir Bolarinwa as the caretaker chairman of the party in the state.

The protracted crisis has broken the party into two factions and pitted Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq against the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a struggle for the control of the party.

Mr Bolarinwa, who is loyal to the minister, was removed by the Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni-led national caretaker committee of the party last Tuesday and replaced with Abdullahi Samari.

While the faction loyal to the governor swiftly lauded the development, party members on the side of Mr Mohammed see the hand of the governor in it and have been made even angrier.

The states lawmakers, however, have endorsed the removal of Mr Bolarinwa and decried his public criticism of the state government.

Since APC regained control of Kwara following a sweeping victory in the 2019 general elections in the state, the party has been in crisis.

Background

The defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki in the state was made possible by the coalition of forces of the opponents of the Saraki family.

As a minister and the highest political office holder in the state after Mr Saraki and his loyalists defected to the PDP, Mr Mohammed naturally coordinated the efforts of the coalition.

The APC message in the 2019 general election was a call to Kwarans to end the hegemony of the Saraki family which had installed every elected government in the state.

The call resonated with Kwarans as the APC swept the poll and won every seat and the presidential election. Mr Saraki also lost his senatorial seat in the elections.

Mr AbdulRazaq, a little-known scion of a prominent Ilorin family that has long stood in opposition to the Sarakis, was elected governor on the ticket of the APC.

However, after vanquishing their common enemy, the APC forces immediately turned on themselves.

Following the defection of the Saraki group to the PDP, the APC dissolved the state executive committee led by Ishola Balogun-Fulani and appointed a caretaker committee headed by Mr Bolarinwa.

Some members challenged the appointment of the committee in courts but the courts up to the Supreme Court dismissed the suits.

But some aggrieved members in the faction loyal to Mr AbdulRazaq continued to oppose Mr Bolarinwas leadership of the party.

Mr Bolarinwa escalated the crisis when he began to criticise the governor and his government in public. He alleged that the governor had sidelined the party in his government.

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AbdulRazaq or Mohammed?

The turmoil in the party soon pitted the governor against Mr Mohammed.

The minister is from the southern part of the state and had himself run for governor in 2003 under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), which later metamorphosed into the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the legacy parties that formed the APC.

Mr Mohammed later became the National Publicity Secretary of APC. His status as a national leader of the party and a minister made him a rallying point for party leaders who felt sidelined by the governor.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the aides of the minister and governor for their reactions to the dissolution of the caretaker committee, they declined comments.

Also, Mr Bolarinwa did not respond to requests for his reaction.

Still in trenches

However, the warring groups in the party have maintained their positions in the crisis.

A party leader on the side of the minister, Iyiola Oyedepo, accused the governor of orchestrating the removal of Mr Bolarinwa.

We have resolved to reject the verdict of the National Caretaker Committee on the purported removal of Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, Mr Oyedepo said at a press conference in Ilorin.

He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to save the party from the imminent destruction that the decision can engender in Kwara.

We also appeal to leaders of integrity and goodwill in the party to save it from this deliberate journey to political perdition.

We appeal to our teeming supporters for calm; they should remain steadfast, resolute and continue to support this historical cause once again.

But party leaders sympathetic to the governor welcomed Mr Bolarinwas removal.

Kunle Suleiman, the immediate-past Nigerian Ambassador to Malaysia and member of the Kwara APC Elders Forum loyal to the governor, accused Mr Bolarinwa of leading a gang-up against Mr AbdulRasaq and distracting him from governance.

The state House of Assembly also gleefully expressed support for the removal of Mr Bolarinwa.

The lawmakers conveyed their position through a letter signed by all the 24 members of the party in the assembly, which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.

The lawmakers said the removal of Mr Bolarinwa would bring an end to the embarrassment he constituted to the APC in the state.

The lawmakers described the action of the national leadership in removing Mr Bolarinwa as better late than never.

They said the development was the only antidote that can bring back sanity, trust and loyalty as well as breed positive development to the state through good governance.

Your Excellency, it is better imagined than witnessed, of the absolute anti-party and anti-government activities brazenly and continually displayed by the suspended Chairman, Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa. His activities in reference, appear to be motivated by certain power blocks.

How can a party chairman of a ruling party go public in a radio station to say that he has not seen anything developmental being executed by his governor and yet they continue to accommodate each other?

As a follow up to his own unguarded outburst, a deliberately sponsored weekly (Tuesdays) radio programme, at a politically unfriendly radio station, used to continually and provocatively embarrass and attack the person of Kwara State Governor as well as his government.

The suspended chairman and his cohorts and by their conduct, hobnobbing occasionally with members of the opposition, to further frustrate Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq administration is another anti-party conduct. As concerned legislators, we made several peace moves most of which got aborted either by the suspended chairman himself or his allies.

The suspension of the ex-chairman has relieved us of this unfortunate instigated man-made continual crisis within Kwara State APC. We hereby assure your leadership of our continued support, cooperation and loyalty towards sustaining our party to greater heights.

Peace moves

Meanwhile, in order to resolve the crisis, the party summoned Messrs AbdulRazaq and Mohammed to a meeting on Monday in Abuja.

The meeting had the APC National Caretaker, Mai Mala Buni; Niger State Governor and zonal chairman of the party in North Central, Abubakar Sanni-Bello; and other chieftains of the party in attendance.

After the meeting, Governor Bello spoke with journalists.

We looked at the issues surrounding APC in Kwara State and we had brief submissions from some of the stakeholders and it was resolved that the matter should be taken back to the zone for the zone to look at the issues surrounding the problems and report back to the National Caretaker Committee.

So, I hope that by next week we should be able to resolve the matter at the zonal level and once that is done, we can put our recommendations to the National Caretaker Committee for further action.

The Niger governor continued: It was a very brief meeting which lasted maybe 30 minutes. But I think we have achieved a lot. I can also say that the cause of this conflict is mostly due to communication gap which I hope we were able to resolve. But whatever decision we will take, we will make sure that there is no bias and that it is in the interest of our great party, the APC.

We have no intention to favour any person but to look critically at the situation and to advise the National Caretaker Committee on the necessary steps to take.

Meanwhile, Rafiu Ajakaye, the chief press secretary to Governor AbdulRazaq, said he had nothing to add to the comments by the Niger governor on the matter.

Joe Mutah, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, said he was on leave and had no information about the meeting.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 20:16:58|Editor: huaxia

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Members of a Chinese medical aid team pose for a group photo before their departure at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 20, 2021. A Chinese medical aid team set off on Wednesday from Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. (Xinhua/Chen Qianci)

KUNMING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese medical aid team set off on Wednesday from Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, to Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.

It is the 21st Chinese medical aid team to Uganda and was assigned by the Yunnan provincial health commission. It consists of seven doctors from various specialist departments, as well as a translator and a chef.

The team will provide medical services for residents and train medical personnel in designated local hospitals in Uganda. They will also assist with the country's battle against COVID-19.

"We will serve the local people with dedication and love, and convey the friendship of Chinese people to the African people through our work there," said team-leader Xie Dazhi.

Since 1983, China has dispatched 21 medical aid teams to Uganda to support its medical and healthcare services. Enditem
This afternoon the new president of the United States, Joe Biden, will start signing a raft of executive orders to undo President Trumps legacy, including on climate. In addition to rejoining the Paris Agreement, Mr. Biden intends to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit in his first hours in office.

In the following days, Mr. Biden will issue a series of executive orders that start the process of rolling back some of the Trump administrations significant environmental decisions  like restricting the science that can be used to create new air and water protections  and lay the groundwork for ambitious new policies, people with knowledge of the teams plans said.

Fossil fuel advocates said they have been surprised by the intensity of the Biden teams focus on climate change. I underestimated the level of seriousness that these guys had about this, said one.

A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down the Trump administrations weak rules for coal-burning power plants. The ruling will make it easier for Mr. Biden to impose tighter restrictions.

All Trumps rollbacks: The Trump administration reversed more than 100 environmental rules. Heres the full list.
Join BioLargo, Phunware and Recruiter.com at the Proactive One2One Investor Forum on January 26

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A black American lesbian couple who moved to Bali from Los Angeles are being deported after calling the island 'queer friendly', as the Indonesian government has branded their comments 'unsettling'.

The firestorm started when Kristen Gray tweeted over the weekend that she was enjoying 'an elevated lifestyle at a much lower cost of living' after moving to the island from Los Angeles with her girlfriend, Saundra Alexander, last year.

In the Twitter thread, Gray, a graphic designer and travel influencer, praised the benefits of their move to Bali, said the island was 'queer friendly' and home to a 'black in Bali community'.

The couple now face deportation Wednesday after Indonesian officials said they may have violated several immigration laws including 'intentionally disseminat[ing] unsettling information' about Bali.

Officials also said their actions, including the promotion of an e-book that told people how to bypass strict regulations barring foreigners from visiting Bali, encouraged people to flout COVID-19 rules.

The country's borders are closed to foreigners during the pandemic.

While same-sex relationships are not illegal in most of Indonesia, the country's LGBT community has faced growing pressure in recent years and their rights are limited.

Some on social media said the American couple was ignorant of their plight as gay people in Indonesia, where one proposed bill in the national assembly would declare LGBTQ people a 'threat' to the nuclear family.

A black American lesbian couple who moved to Bali from Los Angeles are being deported after calling the island 'queer friendly', as the Indonesian government has branded their comments 'unsettling'. Kristen Gray and her partner Saundra Alexander

The couple moved to Bali last January and have stayed during the pandemic

Gray said they have not broken any laws and are being sent back to the US because 'I put out a statement about LGBT.'

Gray and Alexander moved to the Indonesian island in January last year and have stayed there throughout the pandemic.

In the now-deleted tweets that quickly went viral, Gray said the couple's dream move was a 'game changer' and that they were working remotely as 'digital nomads' from the island.

'Moving out of America in my 20s has been a game changer. I've been living in Bali, Indonesia for over a year with my girlfriend,' she wrote.

Gray said they first planned to stay for just six months to 'elevate our lifestyle' after spending 2019 'broke.'

'After getting rejected for jobs and living off savings trying to make my business pop, my girlfriend and I decided to book one-way flights to Bali, Indonesia,' she wrote.

She compared their lifestyle back in LA to the lifestyle they were enjoying in Bali.

'This island has been amazing because of our elevated lifestyle at a much lower cost of living.

'I was paying $1300 for my LA studio. Now I have a treehouse for $400,' she tweeted alongside a picture comparing the two homes.

Gray also spoke of their jobs as 'digital nomads' and how she works for herself from the island.

'Being a digital nomad is everything, I was able to successfully transition my graphic design business on road.

'I work 100% for myself; in the beginning it was challenging but I've grown so much as an entrepreneur,' she wrote.

'In March, when the pandemic hit and our 6-month plan went out the window, we decided to stay in Bali to 'wait it out' and we've been here ever since.'

Kristen Gray and her partner, Saundra Alexander, with Indonesian officials

The firestorm started when Kristen Gray tweeted over the weekend that she was enjoying 'an elevated lifestyle at a much lower cost of living' after moving to the island from Los Angeles with her girlfriend Saundra Alexander last year

Gray then listed some 'major benefits of moving to Bali' that included: 'Luxury Lifestyle', 'Low Cost of Living', 'Black in Bali Community', 'Safety' and 'Queer Friendly.'

She also promoted an e-book she was selling that told people how to bypass strict regulations barring foreigners from visiting Bali during the coronavirus pandemic.

The e-book 'Our Bali Life Is Yours' includes tips such as how to get into Indonesia during COVID-19 and contacts for their visa agents.

Alongside the book, she also offered paid consultations on traveling to Bali.

Her tweets went viral and sparked a backlash with the country's LGBT community accusing her of being ignorant of their plight.

For most Indonesians in Bali, 'this is not a 'queer friendly' place,' one activist said.

'Please know that the majority of us Indonesians are still deeply embedded in the closet because of the astounding homophobia we face on a daily basis.'

She also promoted an e-book (above) she was selling that told people how to bypass strict regulations barring foreigners from visiting Bali during the coronavirus pandemic

Others slammed her for boasting of her lifestyle as a Westerner on the island while many locals have been priced out of their home towns to make way for luxury tourism.

The tweets also drew the attention of the Indonesian government.

Justice official Jamaruli Manihuruk, chief of the Bali regional office for the ministry of law and human rights, said Gray and her partner would be sent back to the US.

Manihuruk said at a press conference on Tuesday they are 'suspected of having intentionally disseminated unsettling information' about Bali including that it is 'queer friendly'.

'She stated that she could provide easy access to Bali through the recommended agency and offered the low living costs in Bali, that is comfortable and LGBTQ+ friendly,' Manihuruk said.

Manihuruk said the couple may have violated a number of immigration laws by selling her e-book, which cost $30 with a follow-up consultation for $50, while not having a business visa.

Gray (center) and Alexander (right) with their lawyer Erwin Siregar at the local immigration office Tuesday

Indonesian officials said they may have violated several immigration laws including 'intentionally disseminated unsettling information' about Bali

'She is suspected of carrying out business activities by selling e-books and put a rate for consulting [about] Bali tourism,' Manihuruk said.

The official also said their actions encouraged people to flout COVID-19 rules, while the country's borders are closed to foreigners during the pandemic.

'The Bali regional office of the ministry of law and human rights urges foreign nationals to comply with the current COVID-19 pandemic to comply with health protocols and to follow right procedures regarding visa processing and while in Indonesia,' Manihuruk said.

Gray was on a visitor-stay permit, which was valid until January 24, meaning she did not have a visa to work in the country.

Many foreigners stay in Bali on tourist visas while working for their home nations and paying taxes to their home nations.

Officials said the couple is currently being detained in Denpasar ahead of a flight back to the US Wednesday.

They will also be banned from entering the country for six months.

Gray insisted they have not committed a crime and are being targeted for being gay.

'I am not guilty. I have not overstayed my visa. I have not made money in Indonesian rupiah in Indonesia,' she told Balinese press.

'I put out a statement about LGBT and I am being deported about LGBT.'

While same-sex relationships are not illegal in most of Indonesia, the country's LGBT community has faced growing pressure in recent years and their rights are limited.

While same-sex relationships are not illegal in most of Indonesia, the country's LGBT community has faced growing pressure in recent years and their rights are limited. Bali above

In March 2020, Indonesian lawmakers put forward a bill to force lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to undergo conversion therapy because they said homosexuality is similar to incest.

The Family Resilience Bill would require LGBTQ people to attend government-sanctioned religious rehab centers to 'cure' them of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bill requires the families of anyone who does not attend willingly to report them to authorities.

The draft bill also claims that LGBTQ people are a 'threat' to the nuclear family and likens homosexuality to incest and sadomasochism.

Transgender people are also sometimes subjected to violent attacks in Indonesia with a trans woman, Mira, being burned alive by a group of men in March.

The next month, authorities decided not to bring murder charges against the men.

Meanwhile in September, Indonesian police raided a gay party at a hotel in Jakarta and charged nine men under a pornography law which carries up to 15 years in prison.

Police also set up a task force to investigate alleged homosexual activity.

Indonesia is one of the worlds most populous Muslim nations.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia discusses the programs that will assist the businesses that suffered losses due to the war, ARMENPRESS reports Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan said during parliament-Cabinet Q&A session.

Avinyan noted that during the next week the Government will discuss another post-war and post-coronavirus anti-crisis program.
Senior citizens over the age of 75 were invited to participate in Tuesdays vaccination clinic at the Daphne Civic Center. So, too, were police officers and firefighters.

Everyone else in the second tier? Its a matter of patience, according to state officials.

But the new priority system is rankling other professionals, particularly the states largest association representing public school teachers.

Other organizations representing so-called frontline workers are also hoping the state pays them attention. The Alabama Grocers Association is encouraging state leaders to consider them a priority for the COVID-19 vaccine, while national organizations for transit drivers and school bus riders are reminding governors to prioritize their workers.

To make the issue more perplexing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week it was recommending states expand vaccine eligibility to everyone 65 and older, which is an age group that was originally in the third wave and a lower priority than frontline workers.

The system, some fear, could pit professional occupations deemed essential against each other as pressure mounts to get COVID-19 vaccines distributed to more professionals who encounter the public daily. Leading the charge is the Alabama Education Association, which is sounding the alarm over the delay of getting COVID-19 shots in the arms of thousands of teachers and support staff even as they return for the spring semester.

The Alabama Education Association finds the delay of COVID-19 vaccinations for educators unconscionable, said Theron Stokes, associate executive director with the AEA and head of the organizations legal division. The AEA is the largest education association in Alabama and represents the states public school employees.

Our educators are on the frontlines of this pandemic and have gone above and beyond the call of duty since March of last year, Stokes added. The Alabama Department of Public Health and State Superintendent Eric Mackey must assist in getting a sufficient supply to school districts  and must ensure all employees who want to receive the vaccine can receive the vaccine immediately after healthcare workers and those over 75 years of age.

The Alabama Grocers Association, meanwhile, wants their employees prioritized in the so-called vaccination line. Grocery store workers, according to the groups president, have remained flexible, nimble and resilient throughout the pandemic.

Ellie Taylor, president of the states grocers association, said her organization has been working very closely with the Alabama Department of Public Health, and the governors office to ensure that the grocery industry as part of the earliest priorities for a vaccine.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and state health officials say there is only so many vaccines to go around.

This is not about who is most essential, said Iveys spokeswoman Gina Maiola. This is about protecting some of our most vulnerable like our health care workers and elderly and getting this vaccine into as many arms as possible.

We need the police

"Back the Blue" rallies have occurred in the past year as a way to support law enforcement following the protests and riots that occurred during the summer of 2020. Vicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLiveVicki Vellios Briner | Special to PennLive

Alabama is largely following the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidance in administering its COVID-19 vaccines, although some local agencies have made adjustments. Those protocols divide the allocations into three phases, 1a, 1b and 1c. Since December, Alabama has been administering Phase 1a, which includes frontline healthcare workers and people living in a long-term care facility/nursing home.

Phase 1b, as defined by the CDC, includes a host of occupations and people age 75 and over. This phase includes police officers and firefighters, food and agriculture workers, grocery store workers, U.S. Postal service workers, manufacturing workers, child care employees and teachers and support staff.

People ages 65 to 75 were listed in Phase 1c, behind those groups, but President Donald Trumps administration suggested last week that they be moved to the front of the line immediately. Some states began to vaccinate those 65 and up, some did not. Alabama has not. The state just began to get to 75 and up, as well as first responders, on Monday.

Health officials, and the governors office, are defending the inclusion of police officers and firefighters among those deemed the most essential and at-risk of contracting COVID-19. As opposed to grocery store workers and teachers, police officers and firefighters are unable to obtain the proper safeguards  such as protective equipment like face coverings -- to protect themselves while doing their jobs.

Individuals like our healthcare workers  who are literally on the frontlines fighting this virus  and our most elderly are groups that are considered some of the most vulnerable, said Maiola. Individuals such as law enforcement and firefighters are also some of those on the frontlines, and sometimes by nature, cannot have proper safeguards in place to protect themselves.

Dr. Mark Wilson, health officer with the Jefferson County Public Health Department, said county agencies are aligning their plans with the state and that includes vaccinating people over age 75 and police officers and firefighters first.

Wilson said the addition of police and fire employees as a top priority was a judgement call made by the state. He said called the first responders as critical infrastructure that, if loss through a COVID-19 superspreader event, could put a community at risk.

Throughout this pandemic, weve had times when certain fire departments in Jefferson County were in serious trouble, said Wilson. They had so many people who had it or were quarantined. It was scary. The same with police and law enforcement, where their capacity to respond to emergencies were threatened by the virus.

Alabama statistics show that 158,000 people in Alabama have received a vaccine so far, and less than 500,000 doses of the vaccine have been delivered to the state. Dr. Karen Landers at ADPH said that the number of healthcare workers, first responders (police and fire) and people over age 75 is close to 700,000 people.

Related content: A deadly price: State senators say Alabama could lose out on COVID vaccines

Alabama has lowest COVID vaccine rate in the nation, CDC says

Said Wilson, I think most people can understand the importance of teachers and the importance of education and how critical that is to our children and our future, but we need the police to arrive and we need firefighters to come when we need them. I think most people understand that.

Safe and healthy

Wilson said he spoke with Mackey last week about the loose timetable for teacher vaccinations, which could occur as early as sometime next month. Teachers are already being vaccinated in at least 17 states, including in Arkansas where they became eligible to receive their first shot on Monday.

Teachers in two Alabama counties  Tallapoosa and Marion  are reportedly being vaccinated after nearby hospitals offered unused vaccine doses. As of Friday, only 50% of those school employees are taking the offered doses, which worried State Superintendent Eric Mackey.

Wilson said that for teachers, by the time they complete their two-dose regimen, it will be close to the end of the school year.

That timeline likely wont sit well with the AEA.

Said Stokes, Our educators play a crucial role in providing educational services to students and their families. In order to continue providing these services, they must have access to the needed resources to remain safe and healthy.

Wilson said that schools, for the most part, have been relatively successful with their mitigation practices, that requires face coverings while inside school buildings and remote learning options.

A lot of times for the children, certainly, its almost always been them getting the virus doing something outside the school and not in school, Wilson said. For teachers, its the same story. They got it in their household or somewhere else and it was not acquired in the classroom.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies that are receiving vaccines are seeing somewhat spotty participation. Mobile and Montgomery sheriffs agencies are reporting about a 50% participation rate among those eligible for receiving a COVID-19 shot.

In Baldwin County, Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack said hes received his first COVID-19 shot, but that only half of the departments employees showed interest in getting vaccinated.

We are encouraging employees to take the vaccine not just to protect themselves but to restrict the spreading of the virus due to the multiple public interactions that law enforcement has due to the nature of the job, said Mack.

Politics involved

Elevating Alabamas police officers atop the priority schedule for COVID-19 vaccinations could be related to political preference, according to Dr. Jan Kates, vice-president of the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a San Francisco-based health policy organization that is tracking the COVID-19 prioritization plans for each state.

Alabama and other states led by Republican lawmakers tend to be more supportive of police officers and firefighters, as evidence of Back the Blue campaign signage in cities throughout the state. The states lobbies protecting the interest of law enforcement tend to be among some of the most powerful in Montgomery, where police reform measures like civil asset forfeiture, racial profiling and marijuana legalization often hit political roadblocks.

There are politics involved in some of this, for sure, said Kates. But when it comes to first responders, they were identified as a group facing higher risks and workers who are needed for essential functioning of communities. They dont have the ability to stay at home and telework. They do have to interface with the public. The idea is to get them vaccinated so they are safer since they are being asked to something at risk.

She added, Do you prioritize them before teachers? These are difficult choices everyone is faced with because there is not enough vaccine.

Thomas Shaw, a political science professor at the University of South Alabama, said Alabama doesnt stand out in its prioritizing of police officers and firefighters. Referring to KFF data, Shaw pointed out that some states that are not as conservative as Alabama  such as Nevada and New Hampshire  place law enforcement into Phase 1a, which is higher than the first part of Alabamas Phase 1b.

He pointed out New York also prioritized police.

Im not sure Im completely convinced that there is an ideological motivation behind this variation or there may be multiple motivations, said Shaw. It may be that for states like Alabama, it is somewhat but probably not completely ideological; whereas, someplace like New York may be more influenced by the priority assigned to law enforcement and firefighters in the post-911 world.

Kates said there could be sudden changes in how the vaccines are distributed once President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office. Biden has said his administration plans to manage the hell out of of the vaccination program, and place more of the responsibility in the hands with the federal government.

This is a week-by-week changing thing, said Kates. A lot could change within the next month.

For now, Wilson and others are trying to calm concerned professionals whose employees are interacting with the public.

Im getting a lot of messages from other entities, like public transportation and airport authorities  there are a lot of people who have compelling reasons to say we need the vaccine, said Wilson. We dont have enough.

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People have a picnic in a park in Melbourne on Oct. 18, 2020, as the state government announced a lifting of some COVID-19 restrictions. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)

Why Public Drinking May BeModeratelyEncouraged in San Clemente

Enjoying a glass of wine with a meal is typically a luxury restricted to restaurants and private homes, but given the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, San Clemente is making it easier to indulge elsewhere.

Its city council unanimously decided during a Jan. 19 meeting to extend permission to its residents to consume alcohol in public. The emergency order is meant to enhance outdoor dining, support small businesses, and boost mental health.

San Clementes interim city manager Erik Sund initially enacted the emergency order last Dec. 18, allowing adults to drink alcohol with the consumption of a meal in certain public locations.

The order was set to expire Jan. 19, unless council moved to continue it during its scheduled meeting.

Now that its been extended, it will likely remain in place for the duration of Southern Californias regional stay-at-home order.

The Orange County Sheriffs Department hasnt reported any issues as a result of the order, Sund said, adding that it wouldnt give residents a free pass for public intoxication or disorderly conduct.

There are certain restrictions on where alcohol can be consumed in public, including: within 100 feet of a church or school, inside vehicles, parking lots, and more. Residents can imbibe Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The city said it could benefit from the order by helping restaurants boost takeout sales, which would result in an increase in revenue from sales taxes.
A Muslim man kidnapped a 12-year-old Christian girl and forced her to convert to Islam by marriage before keeping her chained up in his home like a slave.

The Catholic organization Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) said the girl, Farah Shaheen, was abducted by 45-year-old Khizar Ahmed Ali in June 2020. The police rescued her in December 2020.

Farah's father, Asif Masih, told ACN that the girl was greatly traumatized by what she went through in the five months that Ali kept her captive. He said she found it difficult to talk about it, but little by little, she was able to tell him what Ali did to her.

Ali reportedly raped his daughter and allowed his landlords to abuse her.

"She was sexually assaulted by her abductor and raped multiple times by [his] landlords," Masih told ACN.

Ali then kept her as a slave and had her hands and feet shackled in his cattle yard, where he forced her to clean the animals' dung every day.

"She was forced to work all day, cleaning filth in a cattle yard. 24-7 she was attached to a chain," Masih said. Farah's hands and feet were injured by the time she was rescued.

Masih condemned the authorities for their neglect in handling Farah's case and not acting on it immediately.

When Farah had gone missing last year, Masih went to the police to report her disappearance. However, they dismissed his report and refused to open a First Information Report.

He said they also called him a "churrah," which means "filthy." The word is often used as a derogatory term for Christians.

It was only three months later that the police finally opened a First Information Report regarding Farah.

Masih spoke out against the courts and the medical professionals involved in her daughter's case.

To find out if Farah's marriage to Ali was legitimate or not, the court commissioned a medical team to determine Farah's age, even though Masih already showed them his daughter's official birth certificate confirming she turned 12 in June.

The medical report claimed Farah was around 16 to 17 years of age. Masih and his family said the finding was a lie and "an utter fabrication, a travesty of justice and an insult to the independence of the medical profession."

Masih also expressed disappointment that the court did not allow Farah to return home after her ordeal but turned her over to a women's refuge instead. He said Farah should be allowed to come home to help her recover after her traumatizing experience.

"It is urgent that she returns to us for the good of her mental health," he said.

Cases like that of Farah are not uncommon in Pakistan. In April last year, a 14-year-old Christian girl named Maira Shahbaz was abducted by 45-year-old Mohamad Nakash Tariq, who forced her to marry him and convert to Islam.

The girl was able to escape and return home. By then, however, her marriage had already been validated by the court.

She is presently in hiding for fear of backlash from Islamic extremists, who believe that her breaking off her marriage to Tariq is an apostasy.

Various groups are urging U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to grant asylum to Shahbaz.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 20:45:07|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official condemned on Wednesday an Israeli decision to construct 2,572 new settlement units in the Palestinian territories.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian presidency spokesman, said in a press statement that the "Israeli government is racing against the time to destroy what remains any possibility of the two-state solution."

"Israel is insisting on putting further obstacles in the face of the new U.S. administration, which would have its efforts to resume the suspended peace process," he added.

Abu Rudeineh called on the new U.S. administration to adopt an opposite position against the Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli public radio reported that the Israeli government agreed to build 2,572 new settlement units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Abu Rudeineh stressed that all Israeli settlement activities are violating the international law, as well as the international legitimacy resolutions, especially the resolution of 2334, which was adopted by the international community, including the United States. Enditem
US vice president Kamala Harris has broken the barrier that has kept men at the top ranks of American power for more than two centuries.

Ms Harris was sworn in as the first female vice president  and the first black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold the position  in front of the US Capitol by Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor.

She was escorted to the podium by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, the officer who single-handedly took on a mob of Donald Trump supporters as they tried to breach the Senate floor during the Capitol insurrection that sought to overturn the election results.

Ms Harris was wearing clothes from two young, emerging black designers  a deep purple dress and coat. After taking the oath of office, a beaming Ms Harris hugged her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and gave President Joe Biden a fist bump.

Her rise is historic in any context, another moment when a stubborn boundary falls away, expanding the idea of what is possible in American politics.

But it is particularly meaningful because Ms Harris is taking office at a moment of deep consequence, with Americans grappling over the role of institutional racism and confronting a pandemic that has disproportionately devastated black and brown communities.

Expand Close Kamala Harris bumps fists with US President Joe Biden (Greg Nash/Pool Photo via AP) / Facebook

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Those close to Ms Harris say she will bring an important  and often missing  perspective in the debates on how to overcome the many hurdles facing the new administration.

Lateefah Simon, a civil rights advocate and long-time friend and mentee of Ms Harris, said: In many folks lifetimes, we experienced a segregated United States.

You will now have a black woman who will walk into the White House not as a guest but as a second in command of the free world.

Harris, 56, moves into the vice presidency just four years after she first came to Washington as a senator from California, where she had served as attorney general and as San Franciscos district attorney.

She had expected to work with a White House run by Hillary Clinton, but Mr Trumps victory quickly scrambled the nations capital and set the stage for the rise of a new class of Democratic stars.

After Ms Harris own presidential bid fizzled out, her rise continued when Mr Biden chose her as his running mate last August. Ms Harris had been a close friend of Beau Biden, the eldest son of Mr Biden and a former Delaware attorney general who died in 2015 of cancer.

Mr Biden, in his inaugural address, reflected on the 1913 march for womens suffrage the day before former president Woodrow Wilsons inauguration, during which some marchers were heckled and attacked.

Mr Biden said: Today, we mark the swearing in of the first woman in American history elected to national office, vice president Kamala Harris. Dont tell me things cant change.
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Joe Biden, in his first order of business in the White House, signed a series of executive orders Wednesday evening undoing much of Donald Trump's legacy  like stopping funding for the southern border wall and ending the infamous 'Muslim ban'.

He signed three of the 16 orders stacked on the Resolute Desk in front of the press before members of the media were assertively shooed from the Oval Office as he prepared to sign the remaining actions.

'I thought there's no time to wait. Get to work immediately,' Biden told reporters gathered around him.

The first Executive Order Biden signed with the media present to take pictures establishes a mask mandate in all federal buildings and lands and requires those working in those locations to wear face coverings while on site.

He also signed an order demanding equality in the workplace and healthcare system no matter a persons' sexual orientation or gender identity, which paves the way for more rights for gay and transgender individuals.

The third and final executive action signed with press in the room was Biden's commitment to reenter the United States in the Paris Climate Accord, which Trump withdrew from after claiming its structure was unfair.

'In the coming days and weeks we will be announcing additional executive actions that confront these challenges and deliver on the President-elect's promises to the American people, including revoking the ban on military service by transgender Americans, and reversing the Mexico City policy,' new White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

Biden vowed just minutes after he was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States that he will spend his first day in office undoing much of Donald Trump's legacy through executive actions.

Joe Biden signed three executive orders in front of the press as part of his first action as president in the Oval Office Wednesday  but had a stack of more than a dozen other orders he would sign after media left the room

JOE BIDEN'S 15 DAY ONE EXECUTIVE ORDERS 1. Mask mandate requiring face coverings in federal buildings and land 2. Halt border wall construction by terminating the national emergency declaration used to fund it 3. End the 'Muslim travel ban' from seven countries 4. Reversal of Trump's expansion of immigration enforcement 5. Stop the U.S. from withdrawing from the World Health Organization 6. Rejoin the Paris Climate Accord to reduce fossil fuel emissions 7. Reinstate a requirement for non-citizens to be included in the Census 8. Reinforce DACA after Trump sought to end protections for undocumented people brought into the country as children 9. Dissolve the Trump administration's 1776 Commission on history curriculum in schools 10. Cancel construction of the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline 11. Extend the existing pause on federal student loan payments 12. Extend existing moratorium on evictions and foreclosures 13. Prevent workplaces from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity 14. Undo Trump's regulatory approval process 15. Extend deferrals of deportation and work authorizations for Liberians with a safe haven in the United States Advertisement

'There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face,' Biden sent in his first tweet as president. 'That's why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.'

He confirmed to the press while they were escorted out of the Oval Office that he did receive a letter from Trump, claiming it was 'generous.'

Biden said, however, that he would not disclose the details of the letter since it was 'private' and he had not yet spoken to Trump about it.

After laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a tradition for just sworn-in presidents, Biden took a walk down Pennsylvania Avenue before entering the White House for the first time as president  after spending eight years there as Barack Obama's vice president.

Issuing a series of executive orders was always Biden's plan for Day One as he promised to reverse several Trump-era policies implemented through executive action.

One first act was immediately put an end to the national emergency declaration at the U.S.-Mexico border, which allowed Trump's administration to divert billions from the Defense Department to construction of the southern border wall.

In a promise to stop the spread of coronavirus, he also issues his 100-day mask mandate  and in another order stop the U.S. from exiting the World Health Organization.

Indicative of his commitment to mask wearing, all attendees at the inauguration wore masks the whole time other than when they were speaking.

As part of the executive order spree on Wednesday evening, the president also dissolved Trump's 1776 Commission.

Just two days before the presidential election, Trump established the commission by executive order, claiming the goal of the 18-member group is to write a report on the 'core principles of the American founding.'

Trump announced he was establishing the commission following a slew of Black Lives Matter demonstrations  and he blamed the school system, claiming 'the left-wing rioting and mayhem are the direct result of decades of left-wing indoctrination in our schools.'

Essentially the commission was created in a rebuttal to schools implementing history curriculum implying systematic racism in American institutions.

Biden vowed minutes after he was sworn-in Wednesday that he wouldn't waste any time in getting to work for the American people

In his first tweet as president, Biden said: 'There's not time to waste'

Immediately after the ceremony, Biden signed three documents from the President's Room at the Capitol  including the inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations

Biden took his oath of office just before noon on Wednesday on the steps of the Capitol.

The ceremony did not include much of the pomp and circumstance of past inaugurations as Trump fled Washington at 8:00 a.m. and refused to greet the incoming president.

Instead of the usual massive crowd at inaugurations, Biden's swearing in was observed by a much smaller group of lawmakers, former presidents and Washington insiders.

In the midst of the pandemic and emerging safety threats after the storming of the Capitol earlier this month by a mob of pro-Trump protesters, the National Mall was filled with flags rather than people.

After becoming president, Biden immediately began working on signing at least 15 executive orders he promised would take priority from the moment he entered the White House.

Trump did not attend inauguration, instead at the time of the ceremony landing in Palm Beach, Florida on Air Fore One as his term officially ended

One order Biden is issuing Wednesday is a mask mandate and social distancing requirements in all federal buildings and lands and for all federal employees

Biden will also sign an order stopping construction of the famed southern border wall  one of Trump's biggest campaign promises to stop the flow of illegal immigration by way of Mexico

IMMIGRATION

END THE 'MUSLIM BAN'

'A priority for Biden is nixing the ban on those traveling to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries  one of Trump's first orders as president, which was dubbed the 'Muslim travel ban.'

While Biden plans to reverse the order, his administration vows to improve screening of visitors by strengthening information sharing with foreign governments.

HALT THE WALL

During Trump's presidency, more than 400 miles of border wall have been built, whether that be new portions of the wall or improvements to existing fencing.

Biden will immediately halt ongoing construction of the wall, but will need to review active contracts and how that money could potentially be redirected.

So far, $15 billion in taxpayer dollars have been allocated for more than 700 miles of border wall. It is still unclear how many miles are under contract and what penalties the government would have to pay if they were canceled now.

DACA IS BACK

His orders also seek to fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, a signature effort during the Obama administration that provided hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants protection from deportation and a pathway to citizenship.

CORONAVIRUS

MASK MANDATE

Biden's team has repeatedly promised to take the coronavirus pandemic more seriously and implement more strict public health measures they claim will stop the spread of the disease.

Biden is mandating mask wearing and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors. He is also challenging Americans to wear a face covering for the first 100 days of his administration.

VACCINE MOVES

He also shared in unveiling his coronavirus team that his goal is to distribute and administer 100 million shots in his first 100 days as president.

EVICTIONS, FORECLOSURES STAYED AND STUDENT LOAN PAUSE

On Day One, Biden also plans to extend a moratorium on foreclosures and extend the pause on federal student loan payments, both initiatives started by Trump and extended a few times already in the midst of the pandemic.

One of Trump's first orders of business when he took office in 2017 was signing an executive order banning all travel from seven Muslim-majority countries (pictured). Biden plans to reverse that action

BACK INTO WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

During Trump presidency, he withdrew from several foreign organizations and pacts, which Biden plans to reenter  including the World Health Organization.

The president withdrew from the World Health Organization in 2020 after accusing it of incompetence in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. He also claimed it caved to Chinese pressure over COVID-19 and lamented the U.S. helped fund the group too much.

Biden's incoming White House coronavirus coordinate Jeff Zients announced top infectious disease experts at National Institute of Health, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will deliver a speech Thursday to the WHO.

In the speech as the new head of the U.S. delegation to WHO, Fauci, who often sparred with Trump over the last year, will lay out how Biden's administration plans to work with the group on reforms.

CLIMATE

BACK INTO PARIS ACCORD

Trump also withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord, lamenting it wasn't fair that the U.S. was funding much of the program aimed at cutting global fossil fuel emissions while other countries, like China, contribute much more to these emissions.

Biden will sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate accord, fulfilling a campaign pledge to get back into the global climate pact on Day One.

It will take 30 days for the U.S. to officially be back in.

Biden also will reenter the U.S. in the Paris Climate Accord, an organization focused on reducing fossil fuel emissions, and he will revoke a presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline

CANCEL KEYSTONE XL

In an effort to roll back more of Trump's climate-related orders, Biden will also revoke a presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline.

BAN ON ARCTIC DRILLING IS BACK AND EMISSIONS STANDARDS ARE REVIEWED

He also plans to implement a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and review Trump's freeze on vehicle and emission standards.

NATIONAL MONUMENTS ROLLBACK FROZEN

The incoming president also wants to set in motion an evaluation of Trump's cut in protections for some national monuments.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON ALL DECISIONS

Federal agencies under Biden's presidency will also be issued a new requirement to consider the impact that fossil field emissions have on climate change and how that will affect disadvantaged communities and future generations.

GOVERNMENT

ETHICS

A pointed order will compel federal employees to take an ethics pledge that commits them to upholding the independence of the Justice Department.

CENSUS: EVERYONE WILL BE COUNTED

He will revoke a Trump order that sought to exclude illegal immigrants  and other non-citizens who are usually included  from the census.

RACE AND ENVIRONMENT MARCHING ORDERS

Biden will order a review of all Trump regulations and executive actions that are deemed damaging to the environment or public health.

He will order federal agencies to prioritize racial equity and review policies that reinforce systemic racism.
Just a day before the end of Donald Trumps presidency, New Jersey announced a flurry of new environmental lawsuits to counter last-minute policy changes.

The state has filed nine complaints just since Friday against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other offices, officials said.

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to reverse many of Trumps environmental rollbacks. But state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal previously told NJ Advance Media that he couldnt count on Biden acting quickly since the rule-making process was often laborious.

Challenging the Trump administration in court was a more sure-fire way to stop the government from changing how it protects the air and water, he said.

The environmental impacts of the Trump Administrations lame duck rule making will be devastating if all of these rules remain in place, Grewal said in a new statement.

The state has now sued the EPA more than 30 times during Grewals tenure.

An EPA spokeswoman declined comment.

Since losing the November election, the Trump administration has gone on a rule making spree in a final effort to reshape the nations environmental protections.

Six new lawsuits target how the EPA regulates air pollutants, greenhouse gasses from airplanes, ozone standards and the processes it uses to create new rules.

Three complaints directed at other agencies allege the federal government is threatening endangered species, including migratory birds, and is weakening energy efficiency standards for home appliances.

New Jersey has initiated or joined at least 86 complaints against the federal government in the last three years, more than the state filed during the previous four decades, according to an updated NJ Advance Media analysis of court records and state data.

A federal appeals court also ruled against Trump on Tuesday, saying the administration acted illegally when it eased regulation of power plant air pollution.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com.

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Residents in Watergrasshill are being urged to check their EuroMillions tickets today after one lucky player won the 500,000 EuroMillions Plus top prize in last nights draw.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was sold yesterday at Rosss Centra store in the centre of Watergrasshill village.

There were over 46,000 prize winners in Ireland in last nights EuroMillions draw, however, there was no overall winner of the 67 million jackpot.

Ken and Sarah Ross of Rosss Centra in Watergrasshill, Cork celebrate after a winning 500k Euromillions winning ticket was sold at their newly renovated store. Picture: Dan Linehan

Ken Ross has been the owner of the Rosss Centra store in Watergrasshill for the past 16 years and he said that his first big lottery win was well worth the wait to see one of his "deserving" customers picking up a life-altering 500,000 prize.

"This is some way for one of our customers to beat the January blues!

"Its a difficult time of year at the best of times anyway so this win will give the entire community a lovely little lift today knowing that one of them is a half million euro richer after Tuesdays EuroMillions draw.

"Of course, with the travel restrictions in place, we are seeing mostly locals in the store at the moment but we also have quite a number of frontline workers stopping in as they come and go from work.

"Whoever is the lucky winner is, we know for sure that they are most deserving of the win, there will be no doubt about that," he said.

The winning EuroMillions Plus numbers for last night's draw were: 02, 09, 15, 23, 46.

The winning ticket holder is advised to sign the back of their ticket and to get in touch with the National Lottery claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to claim their prize.

Portuguese voters in quarantine to cast ballots from home Thousands to use this method during Sunday elections

(ANSAmed) - LOURES, JANUARY 20 - Thousands of Portuguese voters in quarantine or residing in retirement homes will be able to vote from their homes in Sunday's presidential elections thanks to volunteers that will pick up the ballots.



''We must fight the pandemic but we cannot suspend democracy,'' Loures mayor Bernardino Soares said.



The unprecedented operation is ''a very complicated effort in terms of logistics'' and ''everything was organised at the last minute'', he added.



A total of 13,000 people who cannot leave their homes have filed a request to make use of this method of voting.(ANSAmed).



(ANSA).




WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon as part of a flurry of clemency action in the final hours of his White House term that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress and other allies of him and his family.

The last-minute clemency, announced Wednesday morning, follows separate waves of pardons over the past month for Trump associates convicted in the FBIs Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law. Taken together, the actions underscore the presidents willingness, all the way through his four years in the White House, to flex his constitutional powers in ways that defy convention and explicitly aid his friends and supporters.

See the full list of Wednesday's pardons.

To be sure, the latest list was heavily populated by more conventional candidates whose cases had been championed by criminal justice activists. One man who has spent nearly 24 years in prison on drug and weapons charges but had shown exemplary behavior behind bars had his sentence commuted, as did a former Marine sentenced in 2000 in connection with a cocaine conviction.

But the names of prominent Trump allies nonetheless stood out.

Besides Bannon, other pardon recipients included Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last fall in a scheme to lobby the Trump administration to drop an investigation into the looting of a Malaysian wealth fund, and Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner who was charged last October with cyberstalking during a heated divorce.

+3 New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne granted last-minute pardon by President Donald Trump The shrewdest political maneuver of the 2020 election cycle may have been made by Lil Wayne.

Bannon's pardon was especially notable given that the prosecution was still in its early stages and any trial was months away. Whereas pardon recipients are conventionally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, the pardon nullifies the prosecution and effectively eliminates any prospect for punishment.

Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trumps own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Twitter. And if that all sounds crazy, thats because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.

And while other presidents have issued controversial pardons at the ends of their administration, perhaps no commander in chief has so enjoyed using the clemency authority to benefit not only friends and acquaintances but also celebrity defendants and those championed by allies.

Wednesday's list includes its share of high-profile defendants. Among them were rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both convicted in Florida on weapons charges. Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, has frequently expressed support for Trump and recently met with the president on criminal justice issues. Others on the list included Death Row Records co-founder Michael Harris and New York art dealer and collector Hillel Nahmad.

Other pardon recipients include former Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican who served three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges, and former Rep. Duke Cunningham of California, who was convicted of accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors. Cunningham, who was released from prison in 2013, received a conditional pardon.

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Trump also commuted the prison sentence of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served about seven years behind bars for a racketeering and bribery scheme.

Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of donors who believed their money would be used to fulfill Trumps chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

Bannon did not respond to questions Tuesday.

Trump has already pardoned a slew of longtime associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon  who served in the Navy and worked at Goldman Sachs and as a Hollywood producer before turning to politics  led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trumps 2016 campaign in its critical final months.

He later served as chief strategist to the president during the turbulent early days of Trumps administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trumps adult children. Bannon apologized and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart. He and Trump have recently reconciled.

In August, he was pulled from a luxury yacht off the coast of Connecticut and brought before a judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty. When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall.

The organizers of the We Build The Wall group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a big beautiful barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign. They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon.

By JONATHAN LEMIRE, ERIC TUCKER and JILL COLVIN, Associated Press

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
New senior appointment for the fintech platform dedicated to quantitative investment strategies

LONDON, NEW YORK and HONG KONG, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PremiaLab, has today announced the appointment of Mr. Fest as CFO as part of its expansion global expansion. Mr. Fest served as Head of Investment Strategy at Man Group, and held senior positions at Barclays Investment Bank and Mckinsey.

Previously, Mr. Fest was CFO of Fintech Ebury from May 2019 (majority aquired by Banco Santander) and Molo Tech, the UK's first digital mortgage lender.

Mr. Fest has over 15 years' investment banking experience in asset management, capital markets and Fintech. He will be responsible for further supporting the firm's growth in multiple locations across Asia, Europe and the US.

Adrien Geliot, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of PremiaLab said: "We are delighted to welcome Martin to the team. His extensive industry expertise will allow us to further structure our business in multiple locations globally and deploy our ambitious growth strategy."

The hire follows multiple senior appointements within PremiaLab including John Macpherson former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, Nomura and Citibank.

Recognized as the reference for data and risk analytics on quantitative strategies, PremiaLab's capital markets infrastructure is used by leading asset managers, insurance companies and pensions funds to accelerate their digitalization to enhance performance and risk controls while reducing costs.

Mr. Fest holds an MBA from INSEAD and a diploma in engineering, finance and controlling from Technische Universitat Braunschweig.

Notes to Editors

About PremiaLab

PremiaLab is an independent platform providing data, analytics and risk solutions on systematic & factor-based strategies in collaboration with leading investment banks and institutional investors globally. Combining intelligent technology with a unique source of information the platform empowers asset allocators to make better investment decisions whilst achieving upmost time and cost efficiency.

With offices in Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong and Stockholm, its international team is dedicated to supporting a global client base with the most up-to-date risk premia dataset, advanced portfolio construction, performance & risk analytics. The firm has established strong partnerships with the top 15 investments banks, global asset managers, pensions funds & insurance companies.

For more information please visit: www.premialab.com
Denton, TX (76205)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. High 78F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 62F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
A report from Fast Company enlightened the public with the fact that Google has not updated more than half of their apps present on the App Store since Dec 7.Apple before this had asked all the developers whose applications are present on the app store to provide a privacy report for every application. This means that under each app the developer has to let the public know with full honesty that which of their data is being used and shared. Google had assured Apple that they will start updating the apps on iOS with the privacy labels the same week that is the week of January 4th. However, it still failed to do so completely.It has been over two weeks since Google claimed to have start working on the update and privacy labels and not even Googles most used application like Gmail and YouTube have been updated. The only two applications of Google we can see with the privacy labels are Google Authenticator and Google Translate. Google Authenticator is Googles two step verification app which was last updated on December 7th with the privacy label showing which said that the app will collect location data, user content, identifiers, and diagnostics data from the users while Google Translate has been updated with the privacy label as well.Even though, Apple cleared the fact that they will need privacy labels updated with all the apps on Apple Store a month ago Google has only managed to update two of its applications. While some applications Google Slides and Socratic which is an education app by Google were updated after December 7th with Google Translate being updated on December 14th and Socratic being updated on December 15th neither of the two apps show any privacy information below them. The public is still clueless as to why Google is doing this.Apple wants to be true to its users and hence have asked all the developers to update the privacy information with each app so that the users know which app will collect which of their data and in case they feel like that a certain app is collecting more data than others they have the advantage of deciding whether they want to install or update it. This will give the users transparency about their data collection which in all honesty is actually fair.The reporters from 9to5Mac had some self-assumptions as to why Google is doing this and we might just think they are pretty logical.Well the first reason could be that Google does not update its apps and features during the holiday season and it has also been noticed that Chrome last year did not update anything from December 2019 till February 2020 as most of the workers are off during the holiday season to plan an update, but on the other side Apple had asked for these updates in November 2020 which gave Google a lot of time before the holidays began to update the apps.The second reason could be that Google has assigned the update of privacy label for each app to the individual app team while just providing general guidance itself. It can be possible that the individual apps are being rather slow in updating the privacy information considering Google Translate and Authenticator have already been updated.However, no certain reason is known as of yet and Google has still not commented on this matter.Read next: Google Limits Access To Chrome API For Third Party Browsers And Developers Relying On Chromium
This years general election ballot presents the voter with a dilemma. We have wrestled with this years choices, as we imagine many voters have. Up and down the ticket we are faced with choices in political ideologies, personalities, backgrounds and governing styles.

Examples of 3D point clouds synthesized by the progressive conditional generative adversarial network (PCGAN) for an assortment of object classes. PCGAN generates both geometry and color for point clouds, without supervision, through a coarse to fine training process. Credit: William Beksi, Mohammad Samiul Arshad, UT Arlington

Before he joined the University of Texas at Arlington as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and founded the Robotic Vision Laboratory there, William Beksi interned at iRobot, the world's largest producer of consumer robots (mainly through its Roomba robotic vacuum).

To navigate built environments, robots must be able to sense and make decisions about how to interact with their locale. Researchers at the company were interested in using machine and deep learning to train their robots to learn about objects, but doing so requires a large dataset of images. While there are millions of photos and videos of rooms, none were shot from the vantage point of a robotic vacuum. Efforts to train using images with human-centric perspectives failed.

Beksi's research focuses on robotics, computer vision, and cyber-physical systems. "In particular, I'm interested in developing algorithms that enable machines to learn from their interactions with the physical world and autonomously acquire skills necessary to execute high-level tasks," he said.

Years later, now with a research group including six Ph.D. computer science students, Beksi recalled the Roomba training problem and begin exploring solutions. A manual approach, used by some, involves using an expensive 360 degree camera to capture environments (including rented Airbnb houses) and custom software to stitch the images back into a whole. But Beksi believed the manual capture method would be too slow to succeed.

Instead, he looked to a form of deep learning known as generative adversarial networks, or GANs, where two neural networks contest with each other in a game until the 'generator' of new data can fool a 'discriminator.' Once trained, such a network would enable the creation of an infinite number of possible rooms or outdoor environments, with different kinds of chairs or tables or vehicles with slightly different forms, but stillto a person and a robotidentifiable objects with recognizable dimensions and characteristics.

"You can perturb these objects, move them into new positions, use different lights, color and texture, and then render them into a training image that could be used in dataset," he explained. "This approach would potentially provide limitless data to train a robot on."

"Manually designing these objects would take a huge amount of resources and hours of human labor while, if trained properly, the generative networks can make them in seconds," said Mohammad Samiul Arshad, a graduate student in Beksi's group involved in the research.

Generating objects for synthetic scenes

After some initial attempts, Beksi realized his dream of creating photorealistic full scenes was presently out of reach. "We took a step back and looked at current research to determine how to start at a smaller scalegenerating simple objects in environments."

Beksi and Arshad presented PCGAN, the first conditional generative adversarial network to generate dense colored point clouds in an unsupervised mode, at the International Conference on 3-D Vision (3DV) in Nov. 2020. Their paper, "A Progressive Conditional Generative Adversarial Network for Generating Dense and Colored 3-D Point Clouds," shows their network is capable of learning from a training set (derived from ShapeNetCore, a CAD model database) and mimicking a 3-D data distribution to produce colored point clouds with fine details at multiple resolutions.

"There was some work that could generate synthetic objects from these CAD model datasets," he said. "But no one could yet handle color."

Examples of 3D point clouds synthesized by a progressive conditional generative adversarial network (PCGAN). Credit: William Beksi, Mohammad Samiul Arshad, UT Arlington

In order to test their method on a diversity of shapes, Beksi's team chose chairs, tables, sofas, airplanes, and motorcycles for their experiment. The tool allows the researchers to access the near-infinite number of possible versions of the set of objects the deep learning system generates.

"Our model first learns the basic structure of an object at low resolutions and gradually builds up towards high-level details," he explained. "The relationship between the object parts and their colorsfor examples, the legs of the chair/table are the same color while seat/top are contrastingis also learned by the network. We're starting small, working with objects, and building to a hierarchy to do full synthetic scene generation that would be extremely useful for robotics."

They generated 5,000 random samples for each class and performed an evaluation using a number of different methods. They evaluated both point cloud geometry and color using a variety of common metrics in the field. Their results showed that PCGAN is capable of synthesizing high-quality point clouds for a disparate array of object classes.

SIM2REAL

Another issue that Beksi is working on is known colloquially as 'sim2real.' "You have real training data, and synthetic training data, and there can be subtle differences in how an AI system or robot learns from them," he said. "'Sim2real' looks at how to quantify those differences and make simulations more realistic by capturing the physics of that scenefriction, collisions, gravityand by using ray or photon tracing."

The next step for Beksi's team is to deploy the software on a robot, and see how it works in relationship to the sim-to-real domain gap.

The training of the PCGAN model was made possible by TACC's Maverick 2 deep learning resource, which Beksi and his students were able to access through the University of Texas Cyberinfrastructure Research (UTRC) program, which provides computing resources to researchers at any of the UT System's 14 institutions.

"If you want to increase resolution to include more points and more detail, that increase comes with an increase in computational cost," he noted. "We don't have those hardware resources in my lab, so it was essential to make use of TACC to do that."

In addition to computation needs, Beksi required extensive storage for the research. "These datasets are huge, especially the 3-D point clouds," he said. "We generate hundreds of megabytes of data per second; each point cloud is around 1 million points. You need an enormous amount of storage for that."

While Beksi says the field is still a long way from having really good robust robots that can be autonomous for long periods of time, doing so would benefit multiple domains, including health care, manufacturing, and agriculture.

"The publication is just one small step toward the ultimate goal of generating synthetic scenes of indoor environments for advancing robotic perception capabilities," he said.

Explore further Researchers use machine learning to develop more accurate COVID-19 diagnostic tool

More information: International Conference on 3D Vision (3DV), Nov. 2020, "A Progressive Conditional Generative Adversarial Network for Generating Dense and Colored 3D Point Clouds". International Conference on 3D Vision (3DV), Nov. 2020, "A Progressive Conditional Generative Adversarial Network for Generating Dense and Colored 3D Point Clouds". arxiv.org/pdf/2010.05391.pdf
CLEARWATER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 20, 2021 / Mercury Medical is pleased to announce that they have signed an agreement to become a Certified U.S. Distributor for Intersurgical Incorporated's StarMed CaStar R hood in the Acute Care Market.

The Certified Distributor Agreement recognizes Mercury Medical as a preferred US distributor with a dedicated sales team that is extensively trained on the StarMed CaStar R hood advantages by providing product education and training to Acute Care clinicians.

While new to the U.S. market, the StarMed CaStar R hood has been used extensively for over 18 years in the European market where it has been well received clinically as an alternative interface for CPAP therapy and non-invasive ventilation (NIV). The StarMed CaStar R hood is a comfortable, versatile, and lightweight patient interface. It is well tolerated for extended periods of time and can assist in reducing the risks associated with both endotracheal intubation and face mask use.

Recently, U.S. clinicians have become more aware of the advantages respiratory hoods can provide for their patients. The respiratory hoods have been identified as an optimal tool for reducing the risk of cross infection, due to the semi-closed environment design and the virtually leak-free seal. Most expired gas from the patient is evacuated from the internal volume through the expiratory limb of the hood, which can be fitted with an anti-viral filter. Due to current U.S. market demands for alternatives to Bilevel/CPAP masks, the StarMed CaStar R hood has received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for use in the Acute Care Market.

Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, Mercury Medical is a global provider of airway and respiratory medical device systems for healthcare providers bringing a legacy of innovation with high quality, cost-efficient solutions designed for providing better patient outcomes. For over 55 years, Mercury has been recognized as a US leader in providing technological advances for clinicians with critical care, respiratory, anesthesia, emergency and neonatal solutions - a philosophy that aligns with Intersurgical and the StarMed CaStar R Hood.

John Gargaro, MD, Mercury Medical President and CEO, states, "During this critical time in medical history, as we battle the pandemic, expanding the clinician's respiratory care armamentarium is essential. We believe the StarMed CaStar R Hood does exactly that for respiratory care across the US. Mercury Medical has a rich experience in bringing to market innovative, clinically differentiated medical devices designed for improving patient outcomes. We are extremely pleased to add the StarMed Hood to our product line portfolio. This unique patient interface will assist in improving patient care and clinical personnel safety."

Intersurgical is a global designer, manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of high quality medical devices for respiratory support. For over 35 years, they have provided flexible patient solutions for airway management, anesthesia, critical care, and oxygen & aerosol therapy for use within emergency care, hospitals and in the home.Intersurgical's integrated approach enables them to provide the highest standards in design, manufacture, quality and customer care allowing them to respond quickly and effectively to their customers and consistently meet their requirements.

Edric Smith, Intersurgical Incorporated, Vice President of Sales, states, "Intersurgical is extremely passionate about delivering life-saving technologies, such as the StarMed CaStar R CPAP/ NIV Hood to the U.S. Market. At this unprecedented time in health care, it is essential that clinically beneficial technologies are deployed to the market efficiently, effectively and expeditiously. We believe that a cooperative effort with Mercury Medical augments our ability to accomplish these goals. As a Certified Distribution partner, Mercury Medical will ensure that we are able to reach our mutual customers as quickly as possible and provide the highest level of service and support."

If you would like more information on the StarMed CaStar R hood, please visit the Mercury Medical's website: https://www.mercurymed.com.

For more information please contact: Deb Olson: 727-573-4980 dolson@mercurymed.com

The Intersurgical StarMed CaStar R NIV Hood is authorized by the FDA for the emergency use of ventilators, ventilator tubing connectors, and ventilator accessories under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C.  360bbb-3(b)(1).

Your Need . . . Our Innovation

www.mercurymed.com

SOURCE: Mercury Medical Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625037/IntersurgicalR-Inc-and-Mercury-MedicalR-Inc-partner-in-a-Certified-US-Distributor-agreement-for-the-StarMed-CaStar-R-Hood
The current law on the rehabilitation of offenders in Northern Ireland is being challenged in the High Court.

Article 6 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (NI) Order 1978 states that prison sentences lasting more than 30 months are excluded from rehabilitation. This means such convictions can never become 'spent' and must be disclosed to employers, insurance companies and others.

There is also no mechanism for the person involved to apply for their conviction to become spent, regardless of the passage of time or personal circumstances.

The Human Rights Commission is now supporting the case of an individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, who is seeking to challenge the law and have it reformed.

In the early 1980s, the individual committed an arson offence. No one was injured, although damage was caused to a property. The person was arrested and served a prison sentence. The offence was not paramilitary-related or sectarian in motivation.

Since their release, they have had no further involvement with the criminal justice system and no further convictions.

Les Allamby, chief commissioner at the Human Rights Commission, said he hopes the case will bring about a wider change to the law regarding the rehabilitation of offenders in Northern Ireland.

Expand Close NIACRO chief Olwen Lyner says the limitations of the current legislation have been obvious for many years / Facebook

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Whatsapp NIACRO chief Olwen Lyner says the limitations of the current legislation have been obvious for many years

"In this case, the applicant has not committed any criminal offence for 40 years. People should be entitled to move on and the current blanket approach to the law does not assist rehabilitation," he said.

"The commission recognises that in certain cases the lifetime disclosure of an offence is completely necessary and lawful.

"However, we believe that the current approach that is in place for certain offences is disproportionate and is incompatible with Article 8 (Right to Private and Family Life) of the European Convention on Human Rights."

Mr Allamby added that the need to reform the law on the rehabilitation of offenders was recognised several years ago both in England and in Wales.

The case will be heard remotely at Belfast High Court this afternoon.

Olwen Lyner, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO), which is also supporting the case, said the current legislation was developed to provide people a second chance, but "its limitations have been obvious for many years".

"NIACRO welcomes the case and the potential wider impact it could have. Every day people come to us who are wanting to move on from their offence - they have completed their sentence as handed down by the court," he said.

"However, the current law acts as a barrier and leaves many individuals feeling they can never be rehabilitated in the eyes of the law.

"[The legislation] now needs to reflect current government policy as evidenced by the research."
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Samara Nassor 22 published her opinion piece in the Portland Press Herald and Times Record, advocating for a greater role for fishermen in determining the future of offshore wind energy in Maine. She said she was inspired to to make this argument after independently researching renewable energy and thinking about these projects through an environmental justice lens.

For the assignment, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Government Shana Starobin asks students to compose an editorial on an issue of their choice, as long as it relates to a theme encountered in class.

"I make no endorsements of their particular opinions on an issue and encourage them to stick to the format and write in a way that's consistent with the norms of opinion editorials, including communicating with the editors of their targeted news outlet," Starobin said.

Part of the value of the experience for students is seeing the impact of their words. "I inform students that they ought to anticipate public commentators who may react and respond affirmatively or in the negative," Starobin said. "Past student op-eds have compelled flurries of commentators."

An op-ed by Andrew Meredith 22 that appeared in December in the Brunswick Times Record, "Worry a little less about recycling at the end of 2020," has already elicited another column in reaction to it.

Leif Maynard 23 published his editorial in the Portland Press Herald and Times Record about Chloe Maxmin, a newly elected member of the Maine House of Representatives. "I chose to write about Chloes campaign and deep organizing because I was inspired by how she bridged the divide between local environmental issues in a rural community and the broader existential fight for environmental justice and climate action," he said via email.
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Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia
American environmentalists had targeted the Keystone pipeline as part of their effort to shut down the oil sands, which they say are a particularly dirty energy source. But even with the demise of Keystone, that effort seems out of reach.

There are numerous pipelines between the two countries, in addition to railways, through which Canada sends oil to American refineries. And two other Canadian pipelines serving the United States are currently being expanded, making it likely that production in the oil sands will continue.

Still, the question, Mr. Leach said, is whether these other pipelines are also targets of the new U.S. administration: Is Mr. Biden saying basically we dont want cross-border pipelines, or we just dont want this particular pipeline?

One of the pipelines currently being expanded is in the Midwestern United States. Another links the oil sands to a port in British Columbia that can serve refineries on the United States Pacific Coast by ship and which also has a spur line to Washington State. Both have been targeted by protests.

There is another pipeline  running from Western Canada through the Midwestern United States  whose permit Michigan has proposed revoking for environmental reasons, a move that could choke off much of the pipelines route.

Mr. Bidens announcement to cancel the Keystone XL fulfilled a promise he had repeatedly made on the campaign trail as part of his climate-change agenda, though the president has not announced any plans for the other pipelines shared by Canada and the United States.

In a statement issued Wednesday before Mr. Biden took the action, TC Energy, the company that owns Keystone, said that it was disappointed by Mr. Bidens choice and that it would suspend work on the pipeline while it considered its options.

In a paragraph containing words that were underlined for emphasis, ODP also challenged Sycamore to specifically lay out how it would deal with the antitrust hurdles that it believes would be inevitably raised again by federal officials who rejected a deal on similar grounds five years ago.

With alien-sounding components like polyethylene and polypropylene, among other types of plastic, disposable diapers end up in the worlds landfills or, worse, seas  studies say that a single plastic waste will be completely biodegraded in 450 years.

Gerald Perry Marin is one of the social entrepreneurs actively applying his knowledge to doing something about it.

Rethinking diapers

Marin, 29, is a Filipino scientist and social entrepreneur with further education in food innovation and product design at AgroParisTech in France. Growing up as a little boy in Cabanatuan City, he got so hooked on Si Emang Engkantada at Ang Tatlong Haragan, the childrens storybook about three naughty kids who received unwanted punishment for littering. A few years later, he experienced natures wrath when a strong typhoon hit his province and his family had to plug the holes and entryways with cement.

Co-founder of the NGO Rethink Plastic, Marin saw the diaper waste problem firsthand during fieldwork in Caloocan. Up to that point, the words single-use plastics conjured up mostly images of plastic sachets and bottles. But that trip opened his eyes and nose  to smelly diapers floating in the Tullahan River.

But unlike sachets and bottles, the used diapers could hardly be recycled anymore because of the human waste that clung to them. Diapers are very hard to retrieve from the river since they really get heavy, he explained.

From September to December last year, Rethink Plastics team of social entrepreneurs, plastics and packaging specialists, and academic researchers then started designing a reusable diaper that is more suited for Filipino babies. They also partnered with local seamstresses from the social enterprise Habi, who do the actual sewing and production.

"The outer shell of the diaper is made from PUL fiber, which provides waterproof function to avoid leaking on the bed and on the floor. We also use 100% cotton for the inner lining, [the part that] is in direct contact with the baby," Marin told CNN Philippines Life on a call from London, where he currently resides. "We have two types of inserts, the microfibers and bamboo charcoal, which are used to absorb wetness and can be immediately replaced as needed. And because we do not add chemicals, it does not give babies rashes [which] might be the risk when single-use diapers are used.

The main problem in introducing reusable diapers to a market that is already used to a plastic product is that they cost around 1,500, as compared to cheap single-use diapers that cost from seven to 12 only apiece, Marin explained. But if, say, a mom will switch to using reusable ones, she can save as much as 3,500 units of diapers translating to more than 41,500 per year, which can be used instead for other things  like perhaps adding it to the babys educational fund.

To encourage trial, part of Rethink Plastics campaign is actively looking for donations to produce reusable diaper kits for 300 babies, that can be distributed to socially disadvantaged families.

Eco-friendly period

Another group that takes pains to educate its customers towards a radical change in their choice of consumer goods is Loop. Apart from selling biodegradable cassava containers, metal straws and kraft paper seaweed as an alternative to bubble wrap, the sustainable products store of business partners Poch Espina and Angela del Rosario has gone to market with a menstrual cup.

While they are not the only purveyors of this item, their email marketing stands out in its persistence, a necessity of shifting from primarily a physical store in Quezon City  where its easy to strike up a conversation about unfamiliar products on the shelves  to online operations in the pandemic. In a newsletter sent out to its mailing list (Subject: Bloody Good Wednesday), Loop gets into detail: Menstrual cups act as a basin collecting your menstrual discharge at the bottom of your cervix. To insert, fold the cup, push it fully inside your vagina, and ensure it fully unfolds inside. It proceeds into a full scroll of information about methods of insertion, the length one should get, and how to clean the cup, which is 100% medical grade silicon and washable.

Environment friendly options: 1.) Loop Menstrual Cup, 750, Loop Store ; 2.) Sinaya Menstrual Cup, 1,199, Loop Store ; 3.) Simula PH Menstrual Cup, 300, Simula PH ; 4.) Sati Collapsible Menstrual Cup Set, 899, Sati Cup ; 5.) Intimina Lily Cup Classic, 1,800, Intimina PH ; 6.) Intimina Ziggy Cup, 2,000, Intimina PH ; 7.) Intimina Lily Cup One, 1,500, Intimina PH ; 8.) Comfort Cup Menstrual Cup, 899, Comfort Cup ; 9.) Aunt Flo Menstrual Cup Set, 995, Aunt Flo ; 10.) OrganiCup, 1,450, Katha Lifestyle.

Espina, a Health Sciences graduate, said the concept of menstrual cups has already built a tight-knit community of users. We have a few thousand subscribers [to our newsletter] that was mostly grown during the pandemic. Most of our readers are women among the ages 25 to 34 who are mostly based in Metro Manila, he said. Some are fairly well-versed in the sustainability field whereas others could easily be still figuring things out. Specific to this product, Espina added that they thought they would get more questions, however the response has shown that the local market is wise to this innovation.

A 2019 report, conducted by We Are Social and Hootsuite, reveals that among the 69 million Internet users in the Philippines, 91% are very meticulous in their purchases as they make online searches first before buying anything, and 75% have actually made a purchase of a product or service online. The same 2019 research shows that more women shop online than men, even if fewer women own credit cards.

In parallel with the offline traction in the use of Marins reusable diapers (as of now, 1,358 moms from five coastal communities in Puerto Galera, Palawan, and Bohol have already committed to switching to Rethink Plastics alternative), Espina is proud to say that their menstrual cup has been getting a lot of cheers from users on their website.

The review of one female user, who gave the product a 5 star rating, read: I was thinking of buying a menstrual cup for a year but was hesitant because of the price, kasi what if it's not for me? But having tried this, I can never go back to pads I did have to practice, which is normal.

***

Click here to donate to Rethink Plastics Rethink Diapers drive.

With additional reporting from Anna Canlas and Zoe Sabandal.

Store links: Loop Store, Simula PH
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

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Lauragh native Jane Sullivan who is starring in the new TG4 series, Scealta Gra na hEireann

A young Kerry woman has found the perfect stage to show off her very impressive repertoire of skills as she stars in a new six-part TG4 show which airs on Wednesday nights.

At 18-years old, Lauragh native Jane Sullivan has the world at her feet and by the looks of her latest endeavours, she is determined to seize every opportunity that comes her way.

A talented actress and a harpist, Jane will grace our television screens tonight, Wednesday January 20, at 8:30pm in the new show, 'Scealta Gra na hEireann', which that explores Ireland's most powerful love stories.

The second episode airs tonight and it will focus on the story of Robert Emmet and Sarah Curran; in it, Jane takes on the role of of Sarah Curran, the fiancee and great love of Robert Emmet.

ot only will she be able to show off her acting chops, Jane will be also be demonstrating her substantial skill as a harpist plays 'Bridget Cruise' by Turlough O'Carolan on the harp live in a pivotal scene.

When she's not on our screens, Jane studies Irish harp with Marina Cassidy and concert harp with Ann-Marie Papin at the CIT Cork School of Music. As an oboist Jane performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician, having played alongside the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Irish Youth Wind Ensemble and the Lyra wind quintet.
America's biggest public health effort in more than a century has been a resounding flop so far. Check Kansas City's top ranking politico blaming the Prez for it and hoping the new administration will do better.

Read more . . .
DALLAS, Jan. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The EB-5 Immigrant Investor program was created to stimulate the U.S. economy and create U.S. jobs through foreign investment, at zero cost to the U.S. taxpayer. The EB-5 Program operated for decades with many rules that were up for varying interpretations, which led to significant abuses within the program. Many EB-5 industry stakeholders, including CMB Regional Centers, knew that the EB-5 Program was a valuable tool for the U.S. economy when used properly, and urged Congress and the USCIS to take the necessary steps to reform the program and add strict integrity measures and oversight.

Watch a video from CMB Regional Centers Founder, Patrick Hogan, which discusses why Congress should take the necessary steps to reform, reauthorize and restore Congress intent for the EB-5 program.



Over the years, Congress and USCIS have made significant attempts (and some notable progress) toward improving the EB-5 Program, although there is much left to be accomplished. In November 2019, USCIS implemented new regulations for the EB-5 Program, wherein, among other things, the minimum investment amount in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) was increased from $500,000 to $900,000, and the USCIS took back the authority to declare what qualifies as a TEA from state and local authorities. USCIS through the regulations provided clear requirements for what qualifies as a TEA thus eliminating the previous abuse.



However, the USCIS was unable to accomplish everything through regulation that is necessary to establish improved integrity and transparency requirements for regional centers and regional center operators that align with established industry best practices. These integrity measures, which can only be accomplished through legislation, should:



1. Ensure that bad actors are properly sanctioned,



2. Provide clear rules and reporting obligations on all entities involved in the EB-5 program



3. Eliminate foreign control and ownership of regional centers and regional center projects, especially involving sensitive industries,



4. Provide a level playing field to allow those in EB-5 who are adhering to the rules to create new American jobs and investment in needy communities



5. Continue Congress original intent for EB-5, adding to visa availability, increased adjudication of petitions, for program participants thus creating new jobs and new investment for America



Senators Grassley and Leahy first introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the EB-5 Program as far back as 2015. Since that time, a number of subsequent pieces of legislation have been introduced by Senators Grassley, Leahy and others. Most recently, the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2020 , sponsored and co-sponsored, by Senators Grassley and Leahy, was proposed. Senator Grassley has now taken the stance that it is time to either reform or end the EB-5 Program. While CMB does not agree with ending the EB-5 Program, we agree that the time for reform is now.



A Summary of the bill can be found here on Senator Grassleys website.



The appropriate actions taken by USCIS in 2019 by implementing new regulations have created a clear and level path forward for all participants in the EB-5 Program. Once additional ethics and integrity reforms have been approved by Congress, the EB-5 Program should be given long-term extension, which is needed so that the benefits of the EB-5 Program can be felt by the communities and neighborhoods that are in need of rejuvenation, much needed job creation and investment. Finally, after Congress implements the appropriate integrity measures and long-term authorization for the EB-5 Program, the next necessary step will be to increase the availability of visas for the EB-5 Program.

EB-5 Costs and Challenges

The original intention of Congress in creating the EB-5 program was to create jobs and bring investment to communities that otherwise have a difficult time attracting private investment. 10,000 EB-5 investors each investing $1 million (now $1.8) or in the case of specific targeted needy communities or Target Employment Areas (TEAS) $500,000 (now $900,000) are allowed under the strict requirements of the program to obtain a permanent visa for themselves and their immediate family members. However, under the current implementation of the EB-5 Program it only allows approximately 3,500 to 4,000 individual investors to enter the country per year, as their family members are being counted against the number of allocated visas.



As a result of this disparity, there are literally thousands of families who may wait for many years to receive a visa through the EB-5 visa category, even though they have already made the investment and created new American jobs all within the job creation requirements of the EB-5 program. The job creation and investment impacts to the U.S. economy from the EB-5 Program have been more than impressive and could be multiplied by more than 2.5 times at no cost to the U.S. taxpayer the benefit to the entire country could be very significant if the original intent of Congress were reemphasized and the State Department implemented the policy of not counting derivatives or family members against the original cap of 10,000 investor visas.



Removing the dependents towards the 10,000 visa cap will allow for a reduction in the backlog of petitioners waiting for adjudication due to current oversubscription. This would allow for the expansion of the EB-5 visa category within the original parameters set by congress to meet the demand from prospective immigrant investors from around the world. This would also provide for an EB-5 Program that continues to fully provide the envisioned benefits of job creation and foreign investment. Today more than ever we need a robust EB-5 program that can also help businesses that are in trouble due to covid-19 as this program has provisions for providing investment into those suffering American businesses.



If you would like to learn more about becoming a lawful permanent resident (green card) using the EB-5 Investor Visa, or CMBs current EB-5 offerings, please contact us to schedule a free initial consultation with a CMB Investor Relations Manager.



To stay up to date with CMB and EB-5 News, Subscribe to CMBs Newsletter



CMB engages Prevail Capital, LLC, a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC, to be the administrative placement agent for all CMB EB-5 partnerships.

If you would like to contact CMB Regional Centers please call +1-309-797-1550 or email us at info@cmbeb5visa.com
SALEM  Normally quiet streets around U.S. state capitol buildings have looked more like battlegrounds recently, putting those who live and work there on edge.

More than most people, these Americans will have front-row seats on whether the change of leadership Wednesday in the White House will lead to a lessening of tension that has been afflicting the nation. Theyll be watching what the next chapter brings from storefronts and the porches and stoops of their own homes.

Their sense of foreboding was lightened, just a little, by Wednesdays inauguration. As President Joe Biden was sworn into office, demonstrations at state capitols were scant, with only a few protesters showing up, and some cities, none at all.

Some expect Bidens focus on unity  a word he used eight times in his inaugural address  will have an effect, but they say how the people react will be key.

Jonathan Jones front-row seat to what happens next is his restaurant that is decorated with Black Lives Matter signs and art near the Oregon State Capitol. Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails has been vandalized by a white supremacist. One day, police showed up as Jones, who is Black, and his friends were being accosted by neo-fascist Proud Boys. The police at first confronted Jones group as if they were the threat.

Theres not a person who stood with me that day who didnt think that they might die, Jones said. And the most awful part was not knowing if it was going to come from the police or from the Proud Boys.

Jones watched Bidens inauguration on TV, and in the afterglow called it a beautiful moment.

It was fantastic to see the president of the United States denounce and repudiate white supremacy multiple times and to acknowledge that were long overdue as a country to actually achieve some form of racial justice, Jones said. My hope is that things are dealt with quickly, but my expectation is that it will take quite some time to to see any actual change.

The Oregon State Capitol building in Salem is shown with first-floor windows boarded up on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, ahead of Wednesdays inauguration of president-elect Joe Biden. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Brian Henderson, minister of First Baptist Church of Denver that sits across an avenue from the shuttered Colorado Capitol, was so close to the upheavals of 2020 that he was struck in the left knee with a pepper ball. Henderson had been handing out water from the front steps of his small brick church as thousands battled police during riots over George Floyds killing.

Many neighboring businesses and state government buildings have boarded up their windows and doors in anticipation of possible violence but the church has not, to avoid giving the wrong message.

We cant let fear stop us from doing what we have to do, Henderson said.

Henderson watched the inaugural with church staff and then stepped outside to reflect and bask in the historic moment.

There was this strong breeze. The sun was warm. The sky was blue. The air felt fresh. Its a new day. We have a new president, Henderson said.

In Washington state, a neighborhood next to the Capitol in Olympia boasts mid-century and 100-year-old homes. On normal days, the tranquil scene is one that Normal Rockwell could have depicted in idyllic portraits of American life, residents say.

But in recent weeks, frequent protests involving people in tactical gear and armed with guns have created a climate of fear. People shout into megaphones, loud trucks drive down narrow streets, residents are called names or harassed, media helicopters and police planes fly overhead.

Theres no retreat, because its your house, its where you live. Its been a little jolting, and exhausting, said the woman, who is so afraid for the safety of herself and her family that she spoke to a reporter only on condition she not be identified.

She said she is optimistic that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be able to accomplish many things.

But Im not sure that will change the real divisions weve all seen, she said. People are behaving so differently, openly, that I dont know  moving forward as a country  if well be able to find each other again.

Near the gold-domed statehouse in Boston, Catya Kurban said Wednesday shes looking forward to more stability under Biden but worries about backlash and violence from supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Im also trying to be realistic about changes, she said. I know they wont happen overnight.

Isaac Smith, a 21-year-old Harvard University junior walking across the street, said he voted for Biden and was excited for whats to come.

No matter which way you look at it, its historic. Things are going to change, he said. The previous administration harmed American Democracy, and I think Im with a lot of my fellow Americans in that I hope this administration can start to repair some of the relationships with our allies and the damage hes done in terms of climate change and immigration.

In Washington, D.C., a restaurant named We, the Pizza is located just one block from barricades surrounding the U.S. Capitol, where Biden was sworn in. The pizzeria has been feeding thousands of National Guard troops and other security and first responders, using donations from around the nation.

Manager Rob Earley said a girl around 6 years old brought in a check for $1,000 on Tuesday  money she had raised to feed the soldiers.

I had tears in my eyes, Earley said. Its good to see people that young that are wanting to be so involved in whats going on and wanting to be part of making change.

He believes Bidens new tone will help ease tensions and make things a little bit better. It will help mellow things out a little bit.

Back in Oregon, Jones has been buoyed by people coming out in support of his restaurant, as customers and guardians. On Sunday, Robert Fox, a glass-blowing artist, sat in his sedan parked in front of the restaurant, keeping watch before Jones and his wife, Maura Ryan, showed up to prepare meals, available only for takeout during coronavirus shutdowns.

Im just making sure nothing happens, Fox said as a dozen gun-toting, far-right protesters stood outside the Capitol, three blocks away.

Jones said actions like that give him hope.

I think that in spite of how loud the far right is, I think the bulk of the country is not that, Jones said. And I think that the more that we can embolden people to show that solidarity and be willing to stand up and stand next to everybody and present that unified front, then I think the quicker well get to the end of this.

Associated Press writers Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Washington; James Anderson in Denver; and Philip Marcelo in Boston, contributed to this report.
"The forth coming of your presidency has brought hope to a world that has endured much pain, especially during the last year. Your pledge to global leadership, diplomacy and cooperation could not have come at a better time and even though we acknowledge there is plenty of work in the near future, I firmly distinguish you as an outstanding leader, who will definitely know how to manage every duty", wrote the President of Honduras.

The letter also states, "We acknowledge your commitment with the Alliance for Prosperity and welcome your renewed support for the region."

Hernandez also told him "your plan to build security and prosperity in association with the people of Central America encourages us greatly".

The letter continues saying "We prepared to discuss any plan to stimulate economic growth, reduce inequality, promote educational opportunities, target criminal networks, and work to strengthen governance with institutions that are transparent and accountable, as is prioritized in your Plan.".

In relation to the crisis that Honduras is going through, as a result of the recent passage of two devastating hurricanes, ETA and Iota, less than 20 days apart and that left enormous damage, added to those of the COVID-19 pandemic as well, which represented a loss of almost 11% of GDP. Hernandez told him that there is an urgent need to create opportunities in Honduras.

"We can address this and other challenges effectively working together as we did in the past; for example our fight against drug dealing, that counted with your support as former Vice- President; that began with a Constitutional Amendment that would enable extradition to our nationals, then with the creation of new institutions and foremost with strong political will; the hard work has had the outcome of a decline of 83% of drugs going north to a notable 4% as reported by the Department of State in March last year.", Hernandez reminded him.

Regarding the social programs implemented in the Hernandez administration, the letter communicates "Our social program "Better Life" has reached almost 35 million services with more than million citizens benefited trough 109 programs, we are just starting to develop a new National Comprehensive Transparency Strategy with the technical accompaniment of the United Nations, and other important efforts that match your plan.

"As you state in your Plan, we have a strong and abiding friendship, we share long time history and values, we are bound together. You can count with our sustained commitment and political will to do as much as we can to progress all the priorities for the well-being of our peoples.", Hernandez finished.

SOURCE President of the Government of Honduras
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The finalists for the National Enterprise Awards have been announced today. An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), the National Enterprise Awards Final will take place virtually on the 11th February.



Now in their 22nd year, the awards celebrate small businesses and includes awards that recognise excellence in exporting, sustainability and innovation along with 8 regional awards and an overall National Enterprise Awards winner.

The Finalists, who will compete for a 50,000 prize fund, include businesses in Virtual Reality training (VRAI), Artisan pizza production (Pizza DaPiero), international TV and film design and production technology (Odyssey Studios), mobile canning (Bevcraft), e-learning and online management (Dulann), inflammation fighting ferments (Spoonful Botanical), online restaurant ordering and fulfilment (Armour Interactive), energy efficient building (Lidan Designs) and an international online college (5Global).



This year also sees the addition of two new award categories that reflect the challenging business conditions that companies have faced in 2020. The Pivot Award will be presented to a company who has successfully pivoted their business in the face of challenging conditions in the last 12 months. The Brexit Ready Award will be presented to a company who have excelled in their preparation for Brexit particularly where it would have created specific challenges for them as a business.



Speaking this week, Chair of the National Enterprise Awards Committee with the Local Enterprise Offices, Breda Fox said, "It has been a challenging year for small businesses so this is a chance to highlight positive stories and businesses who have excelled in the face of unprecedented challenges. These businesses have been through a rigorous process of judging, auditing every aspect of their business and this in itself can be a huge benefit to them as they plan for the future."

Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English added, Through the National Enterprise Awards we celebrate the very best in small local companies who are leading in their field of business expertise. Over the past 20 years the awards have been the benchmark for excellence in micro-enterprise across the country. Looking at the list of winners, finalists and participants through the years it is easy to be inspired by our talented businesses and people who are the backbone of outstanding Irish entrepreneurs, many of whom are trading successfully across the globe."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
LOS ANGELES  In another sea change to the standardized testing industry, the College Board announced Tuesday that it planned to scrap the SAT subject tests and optional essay, saying the pandemic had accelerated the push to reduce and simplify demands on students.

The nations leading standardized testing organization also said it was developing a more flexible SAT that would be streamlined and delivered digitally.

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of being innovative and adaptive to what lies ahead, the College Board said in a statement. We are committed to making the SAT a more flexible tool, and we are making substantial investments to do so.

The changes will have little impact on students applying to the University of California, which has led the way in limiting the use of standardized testing  in particular the SAT and ACT  which critics have opposed as biased based on race, income and parent education level. UC has already eliminated requirements for subject tests and is moving to phase out the general SAT and ACT; in addition, a court order has banned their use for current high school seniors. The UC Board of Regents will meet this week to discuss a new recommendation to permanently eliminate standardized testing as an admission requirement.

Nationwide, more than 1,000 colleges and universities have dropped testing requirements. The pandemic has accelerated that move away from the tests, as three-fourths of U.S. colleges made them optional for admissions this year because of limited testing opportunities.

The College Board is simply acknowledging the economically inevitable: the number of colleges and universities requiring either the SAT Essay or Subject Tests ... was rapidly declining pre-pandemic and was essentially zero in the current admissions cycle, said Bob Schaeffer, public education director for FairTest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing.

As a result, registration volumes for both exams were plunging. After significant revenue losses from multiple rounds of test cancellations over the past 10 months, it made no financial sense to continue trying to market its ever-less-popular products, he said.

The College Board said the SAT subject tests could be supplanted by its AP tests, which students choose to take typically after completing a college-level course in subjects ranging from chemistry to history during high school. The testing organization said the expanded reach of AP and its widespread availability for low-income students and students of color meant the subject tests were no longer necessary.

AP provides students rich and varied opportunities to showcase their knowledge and skills through college-level coursework, the College Board said. Courses like AP Computer Science Principles ... provide the type of hands-on learning experiences and practical, real-world work that colleges want to see from students.

The College Board also said there were other ways students could demonstrate their mastery of essay writing but that the general SAT would continue to measure writing and editing skills.

Students can take the SAT with essay through the June 2021 SAT administration. The College Board also said it would open opportunities for students in the class of 2022 to take the SAT this year by giving them seats that would otherwise go to those taking subject tests and possibly expanding capacity and test administrations this fall.

Theres still a clear demand from students to take the SAT as a way to show their strengths to colleges, the College Board said.

___

Teresa Watanabe of the Los Angeles Times wrote this story.

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Even though she had the votes lined up, Mimi Stewart held off on moving into the Senate president pro tems office on the first floor of the Roundhouse until the official tally was taken Tuesday.

But the Albuquerque Democrat could breathe a sigh of relief  and start unpacking  after winning election to the influential post on the opening day of the 60-day legislative session.

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It feels like Ive got the caucus behind me, Stewart said in an interview shortly after Tuesdays vote.

A retired educator, Stewart had been nominated by fellow Democrats, who hold a 27-15 majority in the Senate, to serve as president pro tem in November.

But that did not guarantee she would be elected to the post by a full Senate vote.

Thats because, for more than a decade, New Mexicos Senate president pro tem has been a Democrat elected by a coalition of Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

Its a new day in the Senate this year, however, after five incumbent Democrats were ousted in last years primary elections, including ex-Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces. In all, there are 11 new members this year  or more than one-quarter of the chamber.

Senate Republicans did nominate GOP floor leader Greg Baca of Belen for the pro tem post Tuesday, but Stewart ultimately prevailed on a party-line vote.

In her first remarks on the Senate floor after being elected president pro tem, Stewart called for compromise amid recent civil unrest and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

These threats have shown us, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if we define the stakes as winner-take-all, no one wins, Stewart said.

But some Republicans could be wary of Stewarts call for unity, as Stewart led Senate Democrats election efforts  including their legislative caucus committee  during last years election cycle.

However, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, described Stewart as a respectful policy wonk who has proven to be an effective legislator over her 26 years in the Legislature  20 in the House and six in the Senate.

Its clear she has the skill set to be able to set the tone for the entire chamber, Wirth told the Journal.

As president pro tem, Stewart will have a large say in Senate committee chairmanships and assignments.

She has already said she expects greater transparency on the part of committee chairs, especially during a legislative session thats expected to be largely conducted remotely.

Much of her time during this years session will be spent making sure the technology for remote committee hearings is in place so members of the public can testify on bills, as well on Roundhouse security issues, Stewart said Tuesday.

I need to help the Senate function well, she said.

However, Stewart said she also plans to introduce several bills dealing with education and environmental issues during the just-started session.

Some of those bills could be heavy lifts, including proposals to increase taxpayer-funded contributions to New Mexicos teacher pension fund and keeping funding levels flat  for one year  for public schools that have seen a pandemic-related enrollment drop.

COLLINSVILLE  A Riverbend couple is opening their second Smoothie King, this time in Collinsville.

Erica and Nathan Davis opened their first Riverbend Smoothie King in September 2019 at 317 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton. They now also are operating a second site at 1104 Collinsville Crossing Blvd. in Collinsville.

The business offers in-store purchases, online ordering, delivery and curbside pick-up. Smoothie Kings menu features 70 purposefully-blended smoothies tailored to each guests needs, all of which fit into one of four purpose categories: Fitness, Slim, Wellness and Break Time.

Nathan Davis has a background in medical sales. Erica Davis has a background as an elementary teacher.

Were happy to not only provide the community with a great place where they can find a convenient, great tasting nutritious option, but also increase job opportunities in the area, said Nathan Davis.

Smoothie King is an incredible brand to be a part of and grow within the area, he said. Residents can find a number of great tasting smoothies, whether it be to fulfill a fitness goal or simply enjoy a great tasting, guilt-free treat.

Last year Smoothie King implemented its Clean Blends promise as part of its mission to be more transparent about what ingredients go and dont go into each smoothie. The business now uses more whole fruits and organic vegetables to blend smoothies. The Clean Blends promise also means zero added sugar in many purpose blends and a menu with absolutely no artificial preservatives, flavors, colors and other ingredients on the brands No No List.

The couple said that, as part of their pandemic efforts, extra cleaning precautions are done throughout the day and masks will be required for patrons entering the store.

Smoothie King Collinsville is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Smoothie King Franchises, Inc., based in Dallas, now has more than 1,000 units worldwide. It was founded in 1973. For more details visit www.smoothieking.com or www.smoothiekingfranchise.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmoothieKing and Instagram at www.instagram.com/SmoothieKing.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky instructed Deputy Head of the President's Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko to conduct a full audit of existing tariffs in Kyiv and all regions of Ukraine, compare pricing for different periods of time, and receive comprehensive clarifications from relevant field managers on tariff policy.

According to the President's website, such an instruction was given, "due to appearance in public space of various speculative statements on the formation of tariffs at the level of cities and villages of the country, as well as baseless attempts by some local authorities to justify to society a further increase in tariffs above the level, which already raises significant questions in terms of fairness."

It is primarily about tariffs for heating, domestic gas and the use of passenger transport. The initiative also concerns tariffs for car evacuation and use of public space. "Particular attention should be paid to such specific non-transparent tariff projects of individual city leaders as the collection of funds for the evacuation of cars, for the use of public parts of public space and the like," the statement said.
A new festival aims to generate support for small businesses struggling in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Scranton Area Community Foundation.

Ice sculptures will be on display outside of downtown businesses for the inaugural Scranton Ice Festival the weekend of Feb. 5-7.

Any and all remaining proceeds from the festival and its sponsorships will go toward the Scranton Small Business Relief Fund at the foundation to assist small business owners and employees.

The free, largely outdoor festival came together through a group of volunteers in partnership with First Friday Scranton, Scranton Tomorrow, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and the Community Foundation.

Ice sculpting demonstrations, musical acts and other activities are being planned. The festival's opening coincides with First Friday.

Email scrantonicefest@gmail.com for more information.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 20, 2021 / Mike Ionita, the founder of Crux Video Game Design in Vancouver, shared his expert insight on the topic of how businesses can successfully adapt from an offline (brick-and-mortar) to an online (e-commerce) model in a recent article with Market Business News.

Within the past year, COVID-19 lockdowns and other government-mandated restrictions have led to the permanent closure of countless retail stores and restaurants due to lockdowns and other ongoing restrictions. If businesses want to succeed, they should consider moving some or all of their operations online, Mike Ionita advised in the article.

Ionita explained that the coronavirus pandemic drove many people to shop online due to business closures and worries over catching the virus. He believes this trend is likely to continue even after the situation has improved, even with vaccinations and the vast population having more immunity to the virus.

When building an e-commerce store, businesses should always consider price, convenience, and variety in order to increase sales and rise above the competition.

"There is a great deal of competition online, so stores keep their prices lower than brick-and-mortar locations. Having a lower price point means that online stores need to move more product at a lower margin, but buying and selling in bulk provides an advantage," said Ionita.

"Customers like to shop online because it is more convenient than going to the store and there's a huge variety of items."

To succeed with an online model, businesses first need to develop a strong, working website and a payment system that is accurate and easy-to-use, as having a website that does not look or feel professional may lose credibility among the public and result in lost sales.

Even if your business is currently operated exclusively in-person, there could be ways for you to safely continue providing services online, advised Mike Ionita.

For example, many retail companies and restaurants have developed e-commerce stores as a result of the pandemic and are offering curbside pick-up or contact-free service. With these services and measures, businesses can continue to operate even under demanding pandemic conditions, shared Ionita.

Ultimately, by integrating e-commerce into their business model and remaining current with the ongoing technological changes, businesses will experience positive growth and resilience in the face of the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic.

"Businesses that want to increase their online success have to move with the times. It is necessary to keep up with all of the technological changes in their industries and beyond. When businesses adapt to an online model, they will be able to meet today's challenges with creativity," said Mike Ionita.

For more information, please visit https://mikeionita.com/.

About Mike Ionita

Mike Ionita was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and attended Vancouver Film School. Excelling at everything from sketching to digital painting and animation, Mike was fortunate enough to be hired following graduation. Working at various animation studios around Vancouver, he found his passion when he started producing his own storylines, characters, and landscapes. Driven by his personal passion for creation, Ionita founded Crux Video Game Design. Crux Video Game Design produces video games for clients as well as original content exclusive to their growing online community. Their first game was transposed more than 250,000 times within its first week and the company has been steadily growing ever since.

Contact:

Mike Ionita

Email: connect@mikeionita.com

SOURCE: Mike Ionita

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625098/Mike-Ionita-Speaks-Out-on-How-to-Adapt-from-a-Brick-and-mortar-to-an-Online-Business
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 20)  The countrys rice inventory slid in December last year from the same month in 2019, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed.

Rice stocks during the month stood at 2.77 million metric tons (MT), down by 10.7% from December 2019. The figure is also lower by 12.4% than the 3.16 million MT logged in November last year.

The report did not specifically state how long this figure would last the country, but based on the countrys average daily consumption of 32,000 MT, the latest rice stocks figure is enough to last at least 86 days.

Inventory in commercial warehouses and NFA depositories shrank by 21.3% and 26.6% year-on-year, respectively. Households, meanwhile, saw a slight 0.7% growth in their rice stocks.

However, all three sectors saw declines compared to Novembers figures. Commercial warehouses suffered the worst inventory contraction at 17.5%, followed by households at 10.5% and NFA depositories at 8.5%.

Households stocks comprised the biggest chunk of the countrys total rice inventory at 58.5%. Commercial warehouses followed with 28.7%, then NFA depositories at 12.8%.
President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office at midday on Wednesday at a ceremony in the US capital Washington DC, BBC reported.

In some ways, the inauguration will be much the same as previous onesBiden will take the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol and then make his way to the White House.

But with the event happening just two weeks after supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the Capitoland coming amid a global pandemicthere will be lots of differences.

National Guardsmen began arriving at the Capitol last week and eventually around 25,000 are expected to be involved in security efforts. There were 8,000 at Trump's inauguration in 2017.

The Pentagon has given its approval for some of those troops to be armed, with many stationed around the Capital being pictured with handguns or rifles.

Access will be closely guarded, with only residents or businesses allowed to move around the outer "green zone" while the "red zone" will be limited to just authorized vehicles.

More than a dozen subway stations have also been closed.

With pro-Trump protesters expected to attempt to arrive in the city from across the country, travel companies have also put some special measures in place.

Home rental firm Airbnb has cancelled bookings in DC for the period around the inauguration, as have several local hotel chains.

Airlines and airports have also stepped up security, with many of the major carriers banning passengers from being able to travel with guns checked in with their luggage, while some of those present at the Capitol riots earlier this month have been added to a no-fly list.

Amtrak, the US railway company, also said it was limiting its services in the region and passengers would see more police officers on its trains and at stations.

Incoming presidents are usually keen to boost the number of people at their inauguration ceremonies, but that's not the case this year.

Even before the attack on the Capitol on 6 January, Biden's inaugural committee had asked supporters to stay at home because of fears that the traditional large gathering on the National Mall would turn into a coronavirus super-spreader event.

There will be no mass of supporters stretching down the National Mall for Biden to look out on either, in stark contrast to the crowd of two million that gathered to see President Obama sworn in for his first term in 2009.

The National Park Service announced last week that the entire space would be closed to the public because of security concerns. Instead, a display of 200,000 flags will fill some of the space.

Images of the stage on the west side of the Capitol being prepared show how different the event will look, with around 100 chairs spread over the space to allow the few guests there to keep socially distanced from one another.

Those guests will be wearing face masks and will also be required to have had a negative Covid-19 test shortly before the event.

The Capitol building itself looks more like a fortress than the home of America's politicians at the moment, with a ring of fencing around its perimeter that Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy described as "non-scalable". Similar fencing has also been erected around the White House.

After they are sworn in, President Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris will head to the east side of the Capitol where they will take part in the traditional "pass in review" ceremony in which the new commander in chief inspects the troops.

This would normally have kicked off the traditional parade along Pennsylvania Avenue, with a motorcade carrying the new president 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) to the White House as crowds cheer from the side of the road. That's off the cards this year because of Covid and the high risk of violence.

Biden will instead travel across the Potomac River to take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Cemetery, the country's largest military burial ground.

He is expected to be accompanied by former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clintonbut not Donald Trump, who has broken with tradition to skip all of the inauguration day events.

When Biden is finished in Arlington, the motorcade carrying the 46th president of the US will make its way through the roadblocks to the White House, where he will begin his term in office.

The building has seen several outbreaks of coronavirus in the last 12 months, with President Trump himself being admitted to hospital with the virus back in October.

This means everything from handrails to elevator buttons to bathroom fixtures will be wiped and sanitized before the Biden administration moves in, according to the federal agency that oversees the housekeeping effort.

With the building being spread over six floors and containing 132 rooms, it will take a mammoth effort to disinfect everything in the time between the last member of Trump's staff leaving and the arrival of President Biden and his team.

Once Joe Biden is in, he'll have a more relaxed evening schedule than is normal for a new president. Thanks to Covid and the security concerns, the traditional balls and after-parties have been scrapped this year and replaced with a virtual concert hosted by Tom Hanks.
Almost half of Australias top 20 universities appear to have no protection in place for hackers impersonating their domain to trick people into giving them sensitive information and taking over their computer systems.

Only two of the universities are proactively blocking fraudulent emails from reaching students, alumni and faculty staff, raising concerns they are leaving themselves open to attack.

Australia last year experienced a wave of cyber attacks from a sophisticated state-based actor. Credit:Kacper Pempel

Australia's cyber security agency, the Australian Singals Directorate, recommends government departments and the private sector use domain authentication to catch out fraudulent emails.

The revelations have sparked concern Australian universities are still leaving themselves open to "phishing" attacks, which have been the main source of hacks on the higher education sector in recent years. A crippling attack on the Australian National University's computer system in 2018 began with a "spear-phishing" email targeting a senior staff member - delivering a malicious code without the person needing to download an attachment or open the email.
Many people with increased health risks are eager to get their chance to get the coronavirus vaccine.

Pregnant women are considered to be in Phase 2 of the state's allocation plan, but vaccine research is rather limited.

Even with the limited research, Cassie Harbin told WAAY 31 she is just waiting for the day she's eligible to get the vaccine. She hopes she'll be able to get it before her baby girl is born in June.

The second I see it I'll sign up. Definitely," said Harbin.

Harbin said she is overall healthy, but her pregnancy is the only thing putting her in the high-risk category.

She's a stay-at-home mom, and her husband and brother both work in high contact environments. So, she could be potentially exposed to the coronavirus daily when they come home.

If it was any other time I'd probably be like Ill wait until Im not pregnant, but no. Its not worth the risk to me. Im more worried about getting COVID than I am about getting a vaccine," said Harbin.

The CDC says pregnant women are at an increased risk of getting severely sick from COVID-19. That's why Huntsville Hospital OB/GYN,

Dr. Whitney Dunham, thinks it's important pregnant women think about getting vaccinated.

Their immune system is different when theyre pregnant than when theyre not pregnant. So, if they are considering not getting the vaccination, they should probably rethink that," said Dunham.

There's limited information on pregnant women receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, and Harbin acknowledges it.

I feel like with anything thats unknown, especially when youre pregnant, its scary," she said.

Dunham wants to stress the importance of speaking with your doctor about whether or not you should get the COVID-19 vaccine once you're eligible to.
A top Army doctor in Scotland was so desperate to avoid a posting in England that he tried to leave the forces - and then fraudulently booked flights home when he was told he had to serve south of the border, a court heard today.

Lt Col Chris Baird-Clarke, who earned a six figure salary, was moved from his job in Scotland to a role in Wiltshire assisting new recruits but was unhappy with the posting.

The 46-year-old father of four said he was 'distraught' to learn he would either have to move his family from the house they owned in Aberdeenshire or fly home every weekend to see them.

A court martial heard that after he was told he could not claim an allowance for flights he continued to book the travel through the Army without telling his superior officers.

Lt Col Chris Baird-Clarke, 46, was so desperate to avoid a posting in England that he tried to leave the forces - and then fraudulently booked flights home when he was told he had to serve south of the border, a court heard today

Giving evidence today, he told the court he had seen 'horrible' situations where soldiers had 'lost control' and suffered ill health due to a posting they didn't want.

Lt Col Baird-Clarke had been working as the head of Defence Occupational Medicine for the Army based in Edinburgh until June 2019.

He, his wife and four children lived in Cornhill, in Aberdeenshire in the North Eastern corner of the country.

In the spring of 2019 he was told he would be required to move almost 600 miles to Upavon, Wilts to assist with the medical assessments of new recruits.

After an unsuccessful appeal against the decision Lt Col Baird-Clarke even tried to seek early release from the army as he couldn't bear the thought of moving to England, but was refused.

He faces two charges of fraud but admits three counts of failing to perform a duty. He admits making flight bookings but claimed he did not realise he was unable to do so. Pictured: Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire

Lt Col Baird-Clarke, who has done tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, said: 'In my job I have seen and discharged multiple soldiers and officers who have developed ill health due to posting and situations where they have lost control and it ends horribly.

'I knew I didn't want to do that and then you only have one road, which is to leave.'

The court heard Lt Col Baird-Clarke also requested a job-share arrangement that would allow him to carry on working at weekends as an Army doctor in Scotland and therefore have his flights home paid for as he would be travelling for 'service reasons'.

Prosecutors allege he was told that as the work could be done remotely, he would need to pay for travel himself if he wished to return home.

Bulford Military Court, Wilts heard that the Lt Col was in 'significant debt' and after 'obligatory payments' only had 600 left a month.

As an Army doctor of senior rank, his minimum salary would have been around 120,000. However, it is likely he earned more because of his qualifications.

In total, he booked 19 flights between Scotland and England, but only took seven and was forced to cancel the remaining 12 after being told again by his commanders in England that he was not to make any more trips at the taxpayers' expense

His commanding officer in Upavon, Colonel Andrew Griffiths, OBE, told the court he had decided to reject the job share and remote working proposals because he had to put 'the needs of the army first'.

Lt Col Baird-Clarke said: '[I was] distraught and upset and angry and felt completely let down...'

He told the court that he after being turned down by Griffiths, he spoke to his superior officer in his old unit, Surgeon Captain Mark Henry, about continuing to work for the Scottish branch and claimed he was given the ok.

He continued: 'The end outcome was to facilitate both goals. Yes, I wanted to save money but by providing that service it allowed authorised travel, by Captain Mark Henry, that saved that money.'

In total, he booked 19 flights but only took seven and was forced to cancel the remaining 12 after being told again by his commanders in England that he was not to make any more trips at the taxpayers' expense.

The total cost of the bookings and cancellations reached 2,200.

In cross examination Lt Col Bilal Siddique, asked him if understood he was in the army and had been given a direct order to work in Upavon.

Lt Col Baird-Clarke replied he was used to his superiors in the medical profession being 'compassionate and understanding' and he felt he was a 'doctor in a green uniform'.

Lt Col Baird-Clarke faces two charges of fraud but admits three counts of failing to perform a duty. He admits making the bookings but claimed he did not realise he was unable to do so.

He has since left the Army and works as an occupational health physician - but retains his title. He previously served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Canada and Ulster.

The trial continues.
A glamorous personal trainer spiralled into a heroin addiction following the death of her father before going on a year long crime spree, a court heard.

Madeleine Campbell, 32, from affluent Melbourne suburb Hampton, admitted to stealing credit cards, gifts, handbags, clothes, taxi fares and IDs between October 2019 and November last year.

On Christmas Day in 2019, the gym junkie along with her co-accused stole $1,000 worth of children's gifts from a parked car in a suburban street, including phones and a speaker.

Just hours later, they stole the driver's credit card and bought more gifts and cigarettes from local petrol stations.

Campbell pleaded guilty to 30 charges including theft and possessing cannabis while at the Moorabbin Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, the Herald Sun reported.

Madeleine Campbell, 32, pleaded guilty to 30 charges including theft on Tuesday after going on a lengthy crime spree from October 2019 to November last year

After the death of her father, Campbell became dependent on heroin and benzodiazepines in 2016, the court heard.

On one occasion in 2019, the 32-year-old went on another stealing rampage in Chadstone, using stolen credit cards to make fraudulent orders.

When police raided Campbell's home in January last year, they found car keys, designer sunglasses and several loyalty cards.

During another search in May, the former personal trainer tossed multiple IDs and medicare cards out her window.

After the death of her father, Campbell became dependent on heroin and benzodiazepines in 2016

On Christmas Day in 2019, the gym junkie along with her co-accused stole $1,000 worth of children's gifts from a parked car in a suburban street, including phones and a speaker

While on bail last year, Campbell stole a woman's handbag and ran from a taxi after it dropped her to the police station as part of her bail condition.

She has spent 65 days in detention at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre where the court heard she has been keeping active and teaching other inmates exercises.

Her lawyer said she was determined to find a job upon her release.

'It's a complicated matrix of drug abuse and committing offences to feed drug habit,' Campbell's lawyer said.

The former personal trainer will appear in court again for sentencing on February 3.

A South Carolina mom who won Season 20 of Food Network's 'Worst Cooks in America' was arrested with her husband over the death of their three-year-old daughter.

Ariel Robinson, 29, and her 34-year-old husband Jerry Robinson were picked up on Tuesday by officers with the Simpsonville Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Cops responded to a call about an unresponsive child at their Sellwood Circle home around 2.25pm on January 14, according to a press release.

The child, identified by the Greenville County Coroner's Office as Victoria Rose Smith, 3, was transported to an area hospital where she died.

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Ariel Robinson, 29, and Jerry Robinson, 34, were arrested by Simpsonville police on Tuesday for the death of their daughter

Cops said that the Robinsons 'did commit child abuse by inflicting a series of blunt force injuries, which resulted in the death of the victim.'

The coroner's office confirmed that the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, WHNS reported.

The Robinsons each face a charge of 'homicide by child abuse' and, if convicted, face sentences of 20 years to life in prison, cops said.

Ariel and Jerry Robinson are being held at the Greenville County Detention Center without bond, jail records show.

Officials charged the Robinsons with 'homicide by child abuse' after Victoria Rose Smith died at a local hospital

Ariel Robinson won a $25,000 grand prize after competing on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America in August

The Robinsons face 20 years to life in prison, if convicted

The arrest proves a mighty fall for Ariel Robinson who won a $25,000 grand prize after competing on Food Network's Worst Cooks in America in August, WHNS first revealed.

The mother-of-five told the Greenville News last year that she had adopted three children, who moved in with her family in March.

It remains unclear if the victim was biologically her child and if any of the other children in the home had been abused.

Robinson planned to use her winnings from the show to plan a fun trip with her large family, she told the outlet.

'I want to take them to a waterpark resort or the beach. A vacation, so we can do one big thing as a family this year,' she said.

Before her arrest, Ariel Robinson remained active with posting cooking videos to her YouTube channel  including a video just four days ago.




US President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned 73 people, including his former aide Steve Bannon and other allies, just hours before he was due to leave office.







"President Donald J. Trump granted pardons to 73 individuals and commuted the sentences of an additional 70 individuals," the White House said in a statement.







The president and his children were not on the list.







Bannon was granted clemency having been charged with defrauding people over funds raised to build the Mexico border wall that was a flagship Trump policy.







"Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen," the statement added.







US media earlier reported that the president made his last-minute decision after speaking to Bannon by phone.







Former Trump fund-raiser Elliott Broidy was similarly pardoned, after pleading guilty last year to conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws.







Rapper Lil Wayne, who last month pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and faced 10 years in jail, also made the list.







President-elect Joe Biden, who beat Trump in an election last year, was due to be sworn in as his successor later Wednesday.







Before that, Trump will fly to his home in Florida, skipping the inauguration ceremony. (AFP)


WASHINGTON  President Biden unleashed a full-scale assault on his predecessors legacy on Wednesday, acting hours after taking the oath of office to sweep aside President Donald J. Trumps pandemic response, reverse his environmental agenda, tear down his anti-immigration policies, bolster the sluggish economic recovery and restore federal efforts aimed at promoting diversity.

Moving with an urgency not seen from any other modern president, Mr. Biden signed 17 executive orders, memorandums and proclamations from the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon. Among the steps the president took were orders to rejoin the Paris climate accord and end Mr. Trumps travel ban on predominantly Muslim and African countries.

Individually, the actions are targeted at what the president views as specific, egregious abuses by Mr. Trump during four tumultuous years. Collectively, Mr. Bidens assertive use of executive authority was intended to be a hefty and visible down payment on one of his primary goals: to, as his top advisers described it, reverse the gravest damages done to the country by Mr. Trump.

Well press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, Mr. Biden said during his Inaugural Address at the Capitol, delivered to a crowd shrunken by coronavirus risks and threats of violence. Much to repair. Much to restore. Much to heal. Much to build, and much to gain.
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The former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, who is being prosecuted for N2billion money laundering charges, on Wednesday, asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant him fresh bail on health grounds.

The trial judge, Okon Abang, had in October last year, revoked Mr Mainas earlier bail after the defendant fled to Republic of Niger, to evade his trial.

The judge issued an arrest warrant against Mr Maina, an order which led to his arrest in the Republic of Niger and his subsequent extradition to Nigeria.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) produced him in court to continue facing his trial on December 4 with the judge ordering his remand in prison for the remaining period of his trial.

At Wednesdays proceedings, Mr Mainas lawyer, Anayo Adibe, informed Mr Abang that he had filed a fresh bail application on behalf of his client.

Mr Adibe said the fresh the application became necessary because of Mr Mainas worsening health condition in detention.

The judge, who said it was not convenient for him to hear the application on Wednesday, adjourned till February 1.
The government is being pressured by the United States to crack down on Iranian weapons shipments being allowed to cross the border into Syria at guarded border crossings. The weapons shipments are often hidden from view by legitimate cargo, but it does not take much effort to reveal that deception. These weapons shipments are guarded by Iran-backed PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces) militias. There are fewer of these militiamen because their primary reason for being in an Iran-backed militia is the extra pay. The PMF brigades are paid by the Defense Ministry as if they were another part of the armed forces. The additional pay from Iran is increasingly necessary to keep militiamen in the service of Iran. The economic sanctions on Iran forced cuts of about fifty percent on what Iran spends on PMF militias. Apparently, further reductions are on the way. In part that is because all those billions of dollars going foreign wars rather than to the needs of the Iranian people has caused a lot of problems for the Iranian government. Corruption and mismanagement by the Iranian religious dictatorship crippled the economy even before all the revived American sanctions hit with full force in 2018. The longer those sanctions are in effect, the fewer pro-Iran PMF militiamen there are in Iraq. Iran has never been very popular among Iraqi Shia Arabs and Iran has become less popular since 2014 when the Iranian offer to help form Iraqi Shia militias to deal with the ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) invasion. That help turned out to be an opportunity for Iran to build its own pro-Iran Shia militia and use it to threaten the elected government and any foreign (especially American) troops in Iraq. The threats backfired and Iran is on the defensive in Iraq. With less cash for bribing key people and paying militiamen, Iran is less able to influence events in Iraq. Worst of all, Iranian influence is declining to the point where pro-Iran gunmen are seen as an internal criminal problem rather than an historically troublesome neighbor.

There are several other trends that are annoying Iran and perhaps the worst of these is the growing commercial relationships between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Such economic links are not unknown but, in the past, they existed only because Iraq was ruled by its Sunni Arab minority. Then the era of Sunni minority rule ended in 2003. The new Shia government initially saw the Saudis as an enemy and the Saudis considered this new Shia dominated Iraqi government as a tool of the Iranians. Over the last decade attitudes have changed. The Saudis have come to understand the Shai Arab majority in Iraq is more Arab than Shia and the Saudis were willing to live with that. Iran has never been able to win over the Arab Shia, in large part because inside Iran their own Arab minority is despised and mistreated. Always has been and as far as most Arabs are concerned, that centuries old attitude is not going to change. Despite that Iran and Iraq have a lot of commercial relationships but even these are being threatened as Iraq does more business with the Gulf Arab states. Even the religious connection has been lost as the most senior Iraqi Shia clerics renounce any loyalty to Iran.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are competing to win the most popular support possible in Iraq. The Saudis are offering billions of dollars worth of economic investments, much of it aimed at improving the Shia south and the Shia majority city of Basra. This is the heartland of the Iraqi Shia. While Shia Arabs live throughout Iraq, most are down south where they are very much the majority. Most Iraqi Shia are dissatisfied with Iraqs Shia dominated parliament and government. Lots of government investment has gone to the south and much of it got stolen or pays for sub-standard work. Corrupt Shia politicians were responsible for this and since 2018 there have been anti-corruption demonstrations in the Shia south and Shia neighborhoods in Baghdad.

The Saudis point out that they also have a corruption problem but have learned how to control it and have been reducing the corrosive impact of corruption on their economy. They are obviously successful and so are other Arab states in the area. In the latest global corruption survey, those at the top of the list are all more successful because they have the least corruption. Down at the bottom are the more and most corrupt. The Saudis are at 52 out of 180 nations while Iraq is 162. The UAE (United Arab Emirates) is at 21, ahead of the U.S. at 23 and Israel at 35. Iran is at 146. The Iraqis have been getting more advice and economic assistance (trade and investment) from the Sunni Arab oil states while all they get from Iran is offers of alliance, more Iranian military advisors and threats of violent retaliation if Iraqi politicians do not comply.

Economically, Iran has not got much to offer. Their latest proposal is a military/defense treaty with no Iranian cash attached. These Iranian treaties and aid packages once included generous bribes for key politicians. Since the Americans regained its status as the global leader in oil production, Iran had a lot less cash for their foreign subversion efforts. Thats because the American production had driven oil prices down and Iranian exports are subject to seizure. Iran has a lot less cash for terrorism.

Iran still has many thousands of loyal and fanatic Iraqi Shia on their side but back in 2016 they had a lot more. It was downhill from there because Iran has not been able to improve the lives of Iraqi Shia and Iraqis have noticed. It has also been noticed that Iran has been trying to enrich Iranian manufacturers by driving Iraqi competitors out of business. No such threat from the Sunni oil states.

With the Sunni terrorist threat from al Qaeda and ISIL much diminished, the Iranians feel they have lost a valuable asset in Iraq. Trying to demonize the Americans never worked very well because U.S. troops took the lead in fighting the Sunni Arab terrorists and still do. Since 2014 most of the American military aid has been from the air, with over 13,000 airstrikes and many more surveillance missions. There are only 3,000 U.S. troops in Iraq right now and the American goal is to get them all out. Despite that Iran continues to insist that the Americans are the Great Satan and a dangerous enemy of Islam. Four decades of preaching that has not reflected well on Iran. This assessment is shared by most Iranians as well.

The U.S. and Iraq are deadlocked over how to move against Iran-backed Iraqi militias. In late September the U.S. threatened to bomb pro-Iran Iraqi militias unless Iraq eliminated the threat first. The American position was that Iran was at war with Americans in Iraq and said so frequently and publicly. All the major Iraqi Shia religious leaders have called for the disbanding of all PMF militias, in part because Iran was still trying to turn the PMF into an Iraqi version of the Lebanese Hezbollah organization called Kataib Hezbollah. Founded in the 1980s with Iranian help, the original Hezbollah still takes orders from Iran and has dominated Lebanese politics for over three decades. Most Lebanese want Hezbollah gone but a heavily armed militia with enormous economic power in Lebanon is difficult to disband. Iraqis want Kataib Hezbollah gone now and cannot understand why their prime minister does not act. Fear probably has a lot to do with the delay. In Lebanon Iran had several senior Lebanese politicians assassinated for being too openly hostile to Hezbollah. The personal danger for the Iraqi prime minister is based on fact, not just speculation.

In response to the American threat against them the Iran-backed militias, especially Kataib Hezbollah, agreed to a temporary halt to attacks against Americans. Not all the pro-Iran factions agreed, but most did and there have been far fewer attacks lately.

The new Iraqi prime minister (Mustafa al Kadhimi) is decidedly hostile to Iran and calls for easing the Iranians out and not giving them any justification to get more violent. Kadhimi had already ordered the removal of many pro-Iran commanders in the security services and disbanded some units that were dangerously pro-Iran. Kadhimi went to the U.S. in mid-2020 to meet with the American leader and discuss improving U.S.-Iraq relations. Such a meeting was important because Kadhimi is the first post-Saddam (2003) prime minister that is not heavily influenced/controlled by Iran.

Oil, Power And Poverty

For most of 2020 t he government has not been able to the pay salaries on time for most of the eight million recipients of monthly government payments. This crisis was expected because lower oil prices and quarantine restrictions caused by covid19 were no secret and the government had much less revenue. The largest government expense is monthly payments to 4.5 million government employees, 2.5 million retirees and a million welfare recipients. Increasingly the money was not there and borrowing was unable to cover the shortfall for long. The obvious solution was to reduce payments and implement long-delayed reforms. This would include eliminating those who were being paid several times, usually fraudulently. For example, a retiree might still have one or more government jobs. The eight million payments were not going to eight million individuals. Many paychecks, no one is sure how many, go to one person, usually a senior official who controls multiple jobs and secretly collects the monthly payments for himself. The armed forces were long considered the worst offender in this area but the Americans introduced biometric IDs when American aid was paying for most of the defense budget. That made it much more difficult to create phantom soldiers. But not impossible and soon the government was wasting billions of dollars a year paying people who did not exist. Reducing the phantom payroll would be a major political and legal undertaking and so far, it has not been enough of a priority for government to take on. Another lucrative cost-cutting target is the size of payments for senior officials, including retired ones. These people often get several hundred thousand dollars a year each and over a hundred thousand dollars a month when they retire.

The financial situation is also dependent on oil income, which fluctuates depending on the sale price for oil and how much Iraq can produce. In August 2020 there was $3.52 billion in oil sales, versus $3.49 billion in July. Oil sold for $43 a barrel compared to $40 in July and $34 in June. Iraq had to cut production to about three million BPD (Barrels Per Day) for the rest of the year, from the 3.8 million BPD in August. This being done to maintain its membership in OPEC (the oil cartel) and to make up for several instances of overproduction since late 2019. Iraq is more dependent on oil income than any other Gulf nation. Because of lower oil prices and lower oil demand the Iraqi GDP is expected to shrink at least ten percent in 2020. The monthly government payroll is $4.5 billion and in 2020 oil income has only been able to cover about half of that. Until September the government managed to borrow money to cover the monthly shortfall. But after that the government was out of credit and millions of Iraqis were not getting paid on time. The situation improved a bit at the end of the year when oil income for December was $4.23 billion because that oil solid for $48 a barrel. The 2021 government has not got major reductions and depends on higher ($60 a barrel would be nice) oil prices to work. That is seen as a more realistic solution than taking on the corruption problems with who gets paid what by the government.

January 19, 2021: The government announced that the June national elections would be delayed until October for technical reasons. Chief among these is implementing measures to ensure the voting is free and fair. Iran has been the main offender in subverting the election process, seeking to prevent the election of anti-Iran candidates. There are a lot more anti-Iran candidates this time and Iran has less money for bribes is seen as relying more on threats and violence instead. Iran is not the only offender; other neighbors will seek to use cash to get cooperative candidates elected. This time around Sunni Arab oil states are the usual suspects but those foreigners are not trying to take control of Iraq.

South of Baghdad, in an area controlled by the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah , an explosion took down some electricity supply pylons and caused power outages. Initially it was though that the explosions were from an American airstrike on Kataib Hezbollah , which has long backed attacks on Americans, especially troops, in Iraq. The Americans said it was not them and Iraqi police examining the site noted that the cause appeared to be explosives placed on the towers to quickly bring them down. Moreover, there were no civilian casualties. Locals suspected ISIL, which has been fighting with Kataib Hezbolla h, but ISIL did not claim credit for this action. One reason Kataib Hezbollah was popular in this area was because they drove out ISIL cells operating in the area and ISIL has not been able to reestablish a presence in the area which once was largely Sunni Arab. ISIL sought to protect the remaining Sunni Arabs and failed. There are other possible suspects; Sunni Arabs who once lived in the area and are angry at the government for not helping them. Another suspect might be gangsters trying to export money from the power company, which is under a lot of popular pressure to improve service. At the moment the culprit is unknown.

January 18, 2021: The government announced that it had arrested those responsible for recent rocket attacks on the Baghdad Green Zone, where the American, and other embassies, are. The government also tried to persuade Iran to use its influence to discourage such attacks. While most of the recent attacks were not carried out by Iraqis paid by Iran, they often were Iraqis who agreed with the Iranian description of America as the Great Satan and enemy of all Moslems. That view was once very popular in Iraq but since the Americans overthrew the hated dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003 and played a key role in defeating Sunni Islamic terrorists from trying to reimpose Sunni rule on Iraq (where Sunni Arabs were never more than a fifth of the population), the average Iraqi is much less hostile towards the Americans. The recent rocket attacks on the Green Zone were amateurish and rarely hit the large American embassy compound. Instead, it is Iraqi civilians who are getting killed and wounded by the rockets. This made it easier to catch those responsible because more Iraqis were eager to see that happen and cooperated with police.

January 17, 2021: In the north, outside Mosul, six policemen and one civilian were killed by an ISIL bomb left behind when ISIL was driven out of the area in 2017. There are a lot of these bombs still undiscovered and very dangerous. Such locally made bombs were set to detonate if anyone tried to disable them. There are trained and experienced police and army bomb disposal teams but these devices are still very dangerous and unpredictable.

January 15, 2021: The U.S. confirmed that it had reduced its forces in Iraq to 2,500 troops.

January 13, 2021: The U.S. announced sanctions on the chief-of-staff of the Iraqi PMF militias, declaring the PMF official a supporter of international terrorism and loyal to Iran, not Iraq. This is the second PMF official to be so designated in the last week. Many of the PMF gangs, especially the Iran-backed ones, are concentrating on making money rather than making Iraq safe for Iraqis. The criminal militias often make money via smuggling or providing guarded border crossings where smugglers can pay a fee to get past. This works best on the Syrian border because there are a lot of Iran-backed militias in Syria. This smugglers gate scam works less well on the borders of Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Turning partisan militias into military and political instruments is an ancient tactic and one that Iran favors. After of in part because Iran was rapidly turning the entire PMF into an Iraqi version of the Lebanese Hezbollah organization called Kataib Hezbollah. Founded in the 1980s with Iranian help, the original Hezbollah still takes orders from Iran and has dominated Lebanese politics for over three decades. Most Lebanese want Hezbollah gone but a heavily armed militia with enormous economic power in Lebanon is difficult to disband. Iraqis want Kataib Hezbollah gone now and cannot understand why their prime minister does not act. Fear probably has a lot to do with the delay. In Lebanon Iran had several senior Lebanese politicians assassinated for being too openly hostile to Hezbollah. The personal danger for the Iraqi prime minister is based on fact, not just speculation.

January 11, 2021: In the west (Anbar province) just across the border in Syria (Deir Ezzor province) unidentified UAVs fired eight missiles at Iranian forces near the Syrian side of the Al Bukamal crossing into Iraq. Night attacks by unidentified jets and UAVs in this area are believed to be the work of the Americans. These attacks, which no one takes credit for, have been more frequent in the last few months.

January 7, 2021: In the west (Anbar province) just across the border in Syria (Deir Ezzor province) an unidentified UAV fired at least one missile at a truck transporting about ten members of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia. The vehicle was crossing the border on a road near the Al Bukamal border crossing. Four men in the truck were killed and several wounded.

January 6, 2021: A military parade was held in the Baghdad Green zone to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Iraqi Army. There was a flyover of 23 Iraqi F-16s and new military equipment including newly arrived South Korean Promoter 4x4 armored truck for police patrols in hostile territory.

January 5, 2021: Israel is sending an Iron Dome battery to its Red Sea coast and may deploy other anti-missile systems there as well. Israel believes that an Iranian attack from Yemen or Iraq is more likely than one from Syria, where the Israeli military is free to attack Iranian military preparations.

December 31, 2020: A Greek oil tanker at anchor off Iraq was found to have an Iranian limpet mine attached. The mine was attached to the hull by a diver dropped off at night from one of the armed Iranian speedboats that move through the area at all hours. Another Iranian speedboat then came along and picked up the diver. Iran has been using these tactics since 2019 when the Iranians were caught using limpet mines and other weapons against tankers entering the Persian Gulf. Iranians were caught on camera placing and removing the limpet mines on tanker hulls. These mines use magnets to remain on the hull and are detonated by timer or remote control. More armed guards are being hired to scan for such mines and to stand watch at night and fire on any small boats that approach a tanker at night. Iran denies they are using these mines but the video and past performance say otherwise.
Please, people of Trinidad and Tobago, I beg you to take Covid-19 very seriously. I dont want anyone of you to feel the pain I feel.

The weight of that tearful plea from Indian restaurateur Gautam Khanna ripped the heartstrings from the body in one forceful pull, on a quiet Wednesday morning in Arima.
Russian lawmakers take stride to ban officials from holding dual citizenship

 Moskva city news agency, Sergey Vedyashkin

14:28 20/01/2021

MOSCOW, January 20 (RAPSI)  The State Duma passed a Presidential bill prohibiting state and municipal officials to hold dual citizenship in the first reading on Wednesday, according to the official website of the lower house of parliament.

The bill was introduced by President Vladimir Putin in furtherance of the national Constitution on November 30, 2020.

The draft law envisages that state officials will be obliged to report about termination of their Russian citizenship and obtaining of documents confirming their rights to reside abroad; otherwise they could be dismissed from their posts.




The coronavirus pandemic has proven that Australia's 'bin chickens' can survive without relying on rubbish left behind by humans.

The tough lockdown laws that emptied usually bustling city streets left ibis birds unable to fulfill their usual side hustle - sticking their heads in overflowing rubbish bins.

An ibis, also known affectionately as a 'bin chicken', are adaptive scavangers that use their long beaks to catch worms, bugs and occasionally rubbish.

The Australian white Ibis, affectionately know as a 'bin chicken' (pictured) are known scavengers found in rubbish bins

The ibis birds adapted to the lack of foot traffic in city areas during the tough pandemic lockdowns (pictured: empty street in Brisbane)

Griffith University urban ecologist Darryl Jones, said despite the birds notorious rubbish bin antics, it is not their main source of food.

'When you see them going through bins and things, what they're actually doing is getting a little snack,' Mr Jones told the Brisbane Times.

When the pandemic reduced foot traffic across the nation's cities, the birds were forced to adapt to the changing environment.

'One of the big revelations we've had over the last few years is discovering just how sophisticated they are, they're treating cities as yet another habitat alongside things like forests and wetlands,' he said.

The 'bin chickens' are known to scavenge for food in bins, but human scraps are simply a 'snack' for the birds (pictured: white ibis in a bin)

Despite the lack of people in the city, the ibis bird is far safer saying in urban areas due to lack of predators (pictured: emmpty Brisbane shopping street)

The birds defied the assumption they would struggle without humans, as the animals simply 'worked around it'.

'We now know that the food available from human sources is a really minor part of the equation.'

Even without the usual foot traffic, the benefits of living in urban city areas far outweighs consistent access to rubbish.

In city areas, the scavenger birds are safer due to less predators and access to more available places to nest.

The white ibis (pictured) uses their long hooked beaks to search for worms, mussels and fish in rivers
Editor

Darren Marcy, a journalist since 1992, is the editor of the Manchester Journal. A New Mexico native, he previously worked for newspapers in the Land of Enchantment before moving to Vermont in 2004. He joined the Journal in October 2018.
CAIRO  Khartoum has recently escalated its position on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis, with Sudanese officials rejecting the Ethiopian positions on the dossier.

On Jan. 10, Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Omar Qamar al-Din announced that Sudan expressed objections with Ethiopia and the African Union (AU) because of Addis Ababas resolve to continue filling the GERD without reaching an agreement with Sudan and Egypt. He said that his country will not continue with this vicious cycle of negotiations on the Nile dam.

Dins statements came as the AU resumed tripartite negotiations on the GERD on Jan. 10, before they collapsed amid Sudans call for a change in the negotiations mechanism and a greater role of AU experts.

Ibrahim Nasser, a Sudanese researcher specialized in international affairs, told Al-Monitor that the essence of the Sudanese-Ethiopian dispute lies in Sudans insistence on a binding legal document for all parties to the crisis regarding potential disputes or disagreements over the dam.

Nasser said that Sudan escalated its stance in the face of the stalling and obstinacy of Ethiopia toward the downstream countries  Egypt and Sudan. Besides, Ethiopia rejects any legal document claiming it violates the principle of sovereignty, which is not true, he added.

According to Nasser, Sudan realized that Ethiopia wants to gain more time and drown the other parties in sporadic and ineffective negotiations. Ethiopias ignorance of Sudans repeated calls for a binding agreement and for not taking unilateral decisions to fill the dam prompted Khartoum to escalate its stance against Addis Ababa to expose the latters scheme of gaining time and taking unilateral decisions in the GERD issue to the world, he added.

Sudanese journalist Mesaab al-Hadi said the stalled GERD negotiations stem from Ethiopias refusal to reach binding international agreements for all parties. Ethiopias rejection of the US brokerage [in February 2020] to solve the points of contention constituted clear proof of its disrespect of international treaties and documents. This step alarmed Sudan and pushed it to pause and revisit its past stances.

He said, If Ethiopia does not take action to break the current status quo, it will face international isolation. Sudan is likely to escalate its stance further by resorting to the UN Security Council to anticipate any controversial step that Ethiopia might take.

Hadi added that the border dispute between Sudan and Ethiopia is now tightly linked to the GERD issue, in a desperate attempt from Ethiopia to threaten with war in exchange for the dam, as a show of power. Sudan strongly refuses this because the disputed area is purely Sudanese and no truce or negotiations are needed.

Amid the stalled GERD negotiations, the Sovereignty Council of Sudan arranged a series of visits in early January to Eritrea and South Sudan. On Jan. 14, a high-level Sudanese convoy also visited Cairo and met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egyptian officials, mainly the chief of the Egyptian General Intelligence and the Egyptian minister of foreign affairs.

Salah Halima, former assistant to the Egyptian minister of foreign affairs, told Al-Monitor over the phone that the timing of the Sudanese visit to Cairo is key as it comes following the failure of the recent negotiations round and the stalemate in the GERD issue. The visit also underlines the importance of talks between the two countries, not just at the level of bilateral relations but also in the GERD issue and the border conflict between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Halima said that Ethiopia is violating all customs and international treaties, adding that Sudan is escalating its stance amid its concerns over the GERDs impact on its own dams and cities, and on its agricultural and animal wealth. For Egypt, however, the matter is one of life and death, he said.

Halima explained that Egypt and Sudan are demanding their legitimate rights under international treaties and their historical rights in the Nile waters. He expected Sudan and Egypt to resort to the Security Council to solve the GERD crisis and prevent any risks threatening their peoples.

Wael Mahmoud, a Sudanese political analyst and researcher at the Sudanese Center for Strategic Studies, said that Sudan has changed its stance because its old one no longer achieves its interests. Sudan would benefit from being a partner in managing the GERD and preventing the opening of the dams gates, which could lead to floods, he said. However, Ethiopia refuses such partnership, according to Mahmoud.

Lately, the GERD issue overlapped with the border dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan in light of the aggression of Ethiopian militias on the Sudanese al-Fashqa area, and the civil war in the Tigray region.

Mahmoud pointed to the Sudanese concerns over the many risks related to the GERD, the safety of the dam and whether it is compliant with specifications, as the collapse of the dam would be a major disaster for Sudan. He stressed that filling the dam must be accompanied with an agreement with Sudan to avoid last years floods that devastated Sudan.

He warned that opening the gates of the dam without an agreement with Sudan will put pressure on the Sudanese dams and could lead to their collapse, which would drown Sudanese cities overlooking the Nile, in addition to damaging the Sudanese farms by flooding them.
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(CNN)  Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Monday a series of new efforts to help boost the state's Covid-19 vaccinations, including partnerships with companies like Starbucks and Microsoft.

Inslee revealed in a news conference the state has established a "public private partnership" between the health department and other business, health care and labor leaders, dubbed the "Washington State Vaccine Command and Coordination Center."

Members in the partnership will focus on different aspects of vaccine distribution, the governor said, and will "coordinate all available resources to administer more vaccines in the state of Washington in the fastest and most efficient way possible."

Kaiser Permanente, for example, will be responsible for helping plan for mass vaccination clinics, while Starbucks will help with operational efficiency.

"Now, we are not a health care company," Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson said during the news conference. "But Starbucks does operate 33,000 stores at scale, serving 100 million customers a week and we have a world class team of human-centered design engineers who are working under the direction of the state and health care providers ... to help support the creation of vaccination centers that can scale and ... amplify the comfort, care and safety of every person who gets vaccinated."

Microsoft President Brad Smith said they will provide technology expertise, adding he has "confidence that we can bring vaccines to everyone faster because of this initiative."

Smith added that since the company's buildings don't all have employees because of the pandemic, they will partner with local hospitals to set up vaccine administrations on their campus and provide support staff.

"The goal is to make this, in February, one of the mass vaccination sites," Smith said, clarifying that "this is not going to be a site for Microsoft employees, this is going to be a site for people in the community."

Other stakeholders in the coalition include Costco, which will help with vaccine delivery by pharmacies, as well as employee unions to help coordinate volunteer vaccinators.

"This is a huge undertaking -- no one can do it alone," Dr. Umair Shah, secretary of the state's health department said in a statement.

"Together, with the measures Governor Inslee and others have announced, we pledge to make the forward progress the people of Washington deserve to get COVID-19 under control and protect everyone with this life-saving vaccine," Shah said.

Governor announces more initiatives

Among other new efforts, the governor said "effective immediately," people 65 and older and people 50 and older who live in a multigenerational households will now be eligible to receive the vaccine.

"The reason for this is clear," he said during a news conference. "About 80% of all Covid deaths in the state of Washington have occurred to individuals who are 65 and older. So, our vaccine prioritization obviously reflects the need to protect these most vulnerable Washingtonians."

Inslee said the state will also establish mass vaccination sites with the help of the National Guard and has also launched a new Phase Finder -- an online tool that helps residents determine their eligibility for Covid-19 vaccinations.

Following the announcement, the state's health department announced so many residents were visiting the tool that officials were "getting reports that it's crashing for some folks."

Health officials urged residents on Twitter to "keep trying" to access the tool and try taking a break and coming back "a bit later."

"We're heartened by the sheer number of people in Washington who have logged on to 'find their phase' using our tool -- this overwhelming interest demonstrates that, collectively, people are ready to get their #CovidVaccine and help us end the #COVID19 pandemic as soon as possible," the department wrote on Twitter.

Inslee says the goal is to eventually be vaccinating 45,000 residents daily. That goal, he said, is higher than the state's current vaccine allocation by the federal government by "several fold."

"We want to establish an ambitious goal of building capacity to vaccinate 45,000 people and the reason for this is we always want our capacity for vaccinations ... to match or exceed the number of doses we actually are getting from the federal government," he added.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Washington state announces partnership with companies including Starbucks and Microsoft to boost vaccinations."
New Delhi, Jan 20 : Around two-third of Indians acknowledge Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama as an important cultural and spiritual influencer here, according to the IANS C-Voter Tibet Pall.

In the survey, which included a sample size of 3,000 people spread across the country, 68.5 per cent of the respondents agreed that the Dalai Lama has played a significant role in reviving ancient Indian culture.

The survey suggested that a huge chunk of the population considers the Dalai Lama as an Indian spiritual leader, and not as a foreigner.

The spiritual leader found more acceptance among the female respondents with around 66 per cent of them agreeing to the query posed.

The 14th Dalai Lama also remained most popular in the age group of respondents above 55 years with 68.5 per cent of them concurring with the query asked in the survey.

The survey outlined that the Dalai Lama has garnered more approval as an Indian religious icon among upper caste Hindus. Around 70 per cent of the respondents belonging to this group voted in favour of him.

However, the survey also found that the Dalai Lama's popularity reached only half the population of Muslims with only 55 per cent of them agreeing upon reckoning his identity as a spiritual leader simultaneous to Tibet here.

Surprisingly, the Northeast region, which seems to be the most influenced by the Buddhist culture, least recognises the Dalai Lama as India's spiritual icon, as compared to other regions of the country with 57 per cent of the respondents approving him as an important cultural and spiritual influencer in India, as per the survey.

However, the respondents from the Western part of the country gave the Dalai Lama an approval of 68 per cent. As per the 2011 Census, the region with the highest Buddhist population in the country was Maharashtra, which falls in the Western part of India.

The findings of the survey have suggested contradictory outcomes. On one hand, it could be considered a great achievement of assimilation, but on the other hand it also tells that not being aggressive on the China front has diluted the Tibetan brand identity of the Dalai Lama.
HARRISBURG  Could coffee be what brings the world together?

At Little Amps Coffee Rosters near the state Capitol, they believe its possible.

David Forkkio has seen protesters from all sides, as well as the police, come in and enjoy a cup of coffee without any significant problems.

I do remember moments when we had antifa people in the shop, as well as Stop the Steal people, said Forkkio, who works at coffee shop on State Street. You could tell they were staring some daggers at each other, but, in general, most people coming in werent causing any problems. They just wanted their coffee.

His hopeful assessment comes as many streets in Harrisburg are blocked off to traffic. Some downtown businesses are temporarily closed. Police officers in riot gear stand watchful at the barricaded Capitol while the National Guard helps fill out the ranks of police officers.

It has been that way since Sunday after the FBI warned of possible violent demonstrations at state Capitols around the country in the lead up to todays Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Residents and businesses downtown are breathing a sigh of relief that, so far, there has been no violence.

Mike Dillman, who has lived in Harrisburg for about 10 years, and moved downtown in August, said he actually has a sense of relief from the National Guard and increased police presence near his home.

Its been reassuring with them here, he said. Before that, There was a lot of stress and concern, worrying about what is going to happen during all of this. Seeing them out here in force like this is reassuring.

He said he has been very uncomfortable with the presence of guns at some of the demonstrations over the last year.

A lot of times, its very scary with armed protests around, he said. Its worrisome for me and my family.

Many residents like Dillman are thankful that there have been no problems in the last few days.

Its been very quiet here in downtown, and were hoping that continues, said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns numerous apartments in the downtown area of Harrisburg. Were hoping to get back to more pressing concern of getting out of this pandemic.

Through the coronavirus pandemic, many downtown residents have been working from home, as many people have. Theyve been in their apartments, overlooking the Capitol, through months of demonstrations from both sides of the political aisle.

Luckily, the demonstrations have not been violent, for the most part, and have stayed centered around the Capitol, not directly affecting any of the properties, Jones said. One exception was a clash between police and demonstrators during a May 30 protest over the death of George Floyd.

But it has been a rough year. People who live downtown do so because they like to get out, walk around and mingle. They like to shop at the local businesses, grab a bite to eat at the corner restaurant and get in some use exercise along the river. Much of that has been hampered by the pandemic.

Businesses have taken a hit, as well.

Robert Warner, who cuts hair at Razor Ryans Barbershop at Court and Walnut streets, said business has been down about 50%, but once the pandemic passes, he hopes things get back to normal.

Most of the customers here were state workers, he said. Since most of them are not working downtown right now, its had an impact.

But the increased security over the last week hasnt really diminished business any further, he said, and he tries not to let it affect his life. He said he focuses on the important things, like his family.

And people who threaten violence have personal issues in their lives that they need to deal with, Warner noted.

Whats going on personally that you feel like you need to walk around with a gun just to prove a point? he asked. Every action starts a chain reaction. Because youre out here walking around, the cops have to pull away from their duties.

With the Inauguration today, hes hoping the threat of violence is nearing its end, and I just hope people do whats right.

And so far, with no violence reported, that has been the case.

At Little Amps, Forkkio said Sunday was an extremely busy day. Not with demonstrators, though. The coffee shop was packed, instead, with journalists, police officers and soldiers.

Were a business thats been lucky enough to have a solid base and still do well in the middle of all this, he said. Its sometimes tense, but, We dont run into too many problems with people coming into the shop. Our customers are pretty nice.

Most are regular customers, many of whom live or work downtown, and theyre all great and supportive, he said.

And, like the businesses, residents are just hoping for a return to normalcy.

I dont mind peaceful protests at all, but when youre coming armed and ready for a battle, thats problematic, Dillman said.

The next step is getting through the pandemic, and Jones knows Harrisburg can do that. Even after nearly a year of the pandemic and many months of demonstrations, he said there is still a great demand for commercial and residential property in Harrisburg.

And hope for a bright future.

Thats encouraging and exciting, he said.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 20 : Fr Alexander Kurien was appointed as the Deputy Associate Administrator, a member of the US government Senior Executive Services (SES I), for the Office of Government-Wide Policy in September 2014. He is responsible for developing and implementing effective government-wide policies and guidance to provide a structured framework for agencies to achieve economical and effective management processes for government asset.

Kurien joined the US Department of State in 1998 as the Director of the Office of Strategic Planning of all United States Government Embassies and Consulates across the world. He has travelled to 147 countries. He has served five US Presidents and he spoke to IANS on the current transition of power in the United States.

Q: What will be the key areas of focus for the Biden administration? A: The newly elected US President Joe Biden is facing a global health crisis and worsening economic conditions in the US. He is swiftly pushing forward a legislative package aimed at coronavirus recovery and a burst of executive orders designed to signal an immediate break from President Trump.

President Biden is planning to return the United States to the Paris climate accords, and repeal the ban on US entry for citizens of some majority-Muslim countries. The new president will launch a 10-day governing sprint that will include executive actions to help schools reopen, expand coronavirus testing and establish clearer public health standards. President Biden will take action - not just to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration - but also to start moving our country forward.

Biden frequently talks about the need to use the first 100 days, which have typically been a honeymoon period for new presidents, to make significant progress on the challenges facing the country.

Based on my years of expertise in Washington, I expect the pace of change to be fast at the beginning with early activity in the form of presidential directives, approximately 10 plus executive orders to be signed on January 20 right after the inauguration and significant leadership turnover at most federal agencies, launching the Biden administration's policy agenda focused on Covid-19, the economy, climate change and racial inequality.

With the latest election wins in Georgia, the US Senate is evenly split, 50-50, between Democratic and Republican senators. Vice President Kamala Harris will cast any tie-breaking votes. With this, Democrats will have control of the White House, House of Representatives, and Senate - for the first time since President Barack Obama's first term. This is going to significantly assist President Biden and Vice President Harris to expeditiously implement their administration's priorities and changes to their foreign policies.

Q: What will be the key priorities of the new US President? A: On COVID-19, free testing for Americans, ramped-up personal protective equipment (PPE) production while ensuring future American manufacturing of PPE, and "equitable" vaccination. Controlling the pandemic and mitigating its accompanying economic fallout are the top priorities for the new administration, and the rest of Biden's policy and governing agenda will ultimately depend on whether the country can successfully emerge from the health and economic impacts of the virus.

President Biden will formalise the formation of the transition's COVID-19 advisory board, a "team of leading public health experts who will advise" and inform his administration's response. My office will be assisting the President in legally formalizing this advisory board.

Biden is expected to push for Congressional action on additional stimulus in the amount of $1.9 trillion to provide relief or other response legislation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. But any loftier initiatives will have to be put on hold; more than 400,000 people in the US have died and unless the virus is slowed down through various actions, the death toll is expected to reach 1 million by January 2022 from coronavirus, with nearly 11 million Americans receiving unemployment benefits.

The plan includes $400 billion plus to be used for the vaccines to slow the virus' spread and reopening schools, $20 billion toward a national vaccination program, $50 billion for testing and contact tracing and $30 billion for supplies and protective equipment. He is also seeking money to provide paid sick leave to encourage people to stay home if they are feeling ill, and he called for hiring 100,000 public health workers, nearly tripling the current number.

President Biden believes that climate change is the number one issue facing humanity. Biden may call for a clean energy revolution that would reach a 100 per cent clean energy economy and net-zero emissions no later than 2050. Biden supports the pursuit of new technologies to benefit the environment and create American jobs, improve the nation's infrastructure and allow the US to export technologies. His action will most probably include: 1) Rejoin the Paris climate accord and urge its signers to increase their domestic climate targets, 2) Call to move to 100 per cent clean energy and zero-emission vehicles in the federal transportation fleet, 3) Roll back Trump executive orders such as those permitting new coal leases on public lands, eliminating flood standards for federal infrastructure projects.

On immigration, President Biden is expected to announce a legislation package to provide a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the United States illegally. This really does represent a historic shift from Trump's anti-immigrant agenda that recognises that all of the undocumented immigrants that are currently in the United States should be placed on a path to citizenship.

President Biden will liberalise immigration to the US, welcoming immigrants. This could be game-changing for Indian-Americans, who have been disproportionately affected by Trump's H-1B visa ban and Green Card suspension. At present, the total annual cap on Green Cards available for Indians is 20,000, leading to wait times that stretch across decades.

Q: What will be President Biden's policy towards China? A: The new President is likely to continue a "tough on China" policy. It is possible that President Biden could seek a more multilateral approach to confronting China, but the overall tone and direction of China policy is not expected to change. Tariffs, nearshoring and strict limitations on outbound and inbound investments, particularly around critical supply chains and technology, will likely continue for the near term. We expect continued advancement of policies that focus on US capital market access and investor protection. This includes scrutiny of Chinese companies listed in the US and the financing of US economic activity domestically in addition to the technology and data controls mentioned above.

Racial equity - Police violence, COVID-19, and climate change are all life-and-death issues which have a grave, disparate impact on people of color. There are undoubtedly racist policies which facilitate these racial impacts and that need to be replaced with antiracist policies. Ensuring access for people of colour to jobs, homeownership, higher education, retirement savings, and other necessities.

Q: What will be the new US President and his team's moves towards India? A: Although President Donald Trump deeply damaged the United States at home and many of its interests abroad, US-India relations surprisingly thrived during his tenure. While India suffered some economic pain, bilateral strategic ties prospered as Trump's administration gave India pride of place in US national security thinking, offered it previously unavailable advanced military equipment, and supported it comprehensively in its crises with Pakistan and China. President Biden's approach to US-India trade disputes is unclear. India seeks reinstatement of its privileged access as a developing country to the US market.

Vice President Kamala Harris, being the first woman as well as the first Asian/African-American Vice-President, will make a positive impact on the US-Indian partnership. India's strong alliance with United States is really based on bipartisan support. Former President Barack Obama and Biden clearly "values a strong India-US strategic partnership. Biden promised that he will stand with India and confronting the threats it faces in its own region and along its borders; expanding greater two-way trade that opens markets and grows the middle class in both our countries; taking on big global challenges together like climate change and global health security and strengthening our democracies where diversity is our mutual strength.

Q: After President Bush and President Clinton, US policies toward Pakistan has been one of love-hate.Your comment? A: This is pure speculation on my part. Post 9/11, Pakistan became an important ally of the US in the war on terror, receiving military and civilian aid. But the alliance has since soured with Washington repeatedly accusing Pakistan of supporting and harboring terrorists and with Islamabad cozying up with Beijing in recent years. Pakistan can anticipate some relief when it comes to aid money that President Donald Trump suspended in 2018 over Islamabad's failure to take action against militant groups. Pakistan can also expect to have more functioning, coordinated, and enhanced cooperation on military training programmes under Biden. Islamabad can expect to get appreciation from the Biden administration for its cooperation in the Afghan peace process. It is likely that Pakistan will attempt to keep the Afghan peace process at the forefront of its cooperation with the US under Biden.

Q: All said and done, Donald Trump will go down in history as the only US president who did not send his troops to any foreign land. Will there be a reversal? A: The US has about 3,000 troops in Iraq to fend off terrorist threats like ISIS, protect American facilities including its embassy, and more. Former President Barack Obama also moved to end US involvement there in 2011, but challenges like the rise of ISIS and continued anti-US activities by Iranian-backed militias in the country kept the US militarily engaged. President Trump clearly took actions to reduce the US presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Trump did not end any wars, but he has moved on from the endless-wars mindset.

President Biden seems to have come closer to Trump's view on this. "It's past time to end the forever wars, which have cost us untold blood and treasure and staying entrenched in unwinnable conflicts drains our capacity to lead on other issues that require our attention, and it prevents us from rebuilding the other instruments of American power," President Biden said in early 2020.

Q: You are a priest and a high ranking US official. How are you juggling both the jobs? What was your experience in having served five US Presidents? A: I am a senior priest of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church (Indian Orthodox Church) and hail from Pallipad, Kerala. I came to the US as a young immigrant after high school at the age of 16. I am leading a well-balanced spiritual and secular life. In addition to the day-to-day priestly responsibilities, I began my journey in the private sector as a senior management consultant for 14 years before joining the US Department of State as the Director of the Office of Strategic Planning, the first person of Indian origin to ever sit in the chair from 1978 to 2014.
Thousands of 'probable' cases of Covid caught in hospitals in NHS England have been excluded from official figures.

Health officials calculating the rate of cases in hospital settings omitted instances where patients contracted coronavirus between seven and 14 days after admission - despite the fact the virus has an incubation period of up to six days in 95 per cent of cases.

This practice goes directly against official advice to staff to categorised these cases as 'hospital onset' infections, and allowed NHS England to claim that its 'nosocomial rates - referring to Covid patients infected in hospital - are down to as little as 7.7 per cent.

Its calculations were based on those who had 'definitely' caught Covid in hospital - which is defined as patients who tested positive more than 14 days after they were admitted - and thus excluded thousands of patients who spent less than two weeks in hospital.

Some 17.5 per cent of Covid patients caught in the virus in hospital, according to a Telegraph analysis based on those described in NHS spreadsheets as 'probably hospital-acquired infections'. This means more than 11,000 people caught Covid in hospital in the month to January 5.

Jeremy Hunt, chairman of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, accused NHS England of 'artificially suppress[ing] the true rate of hospital-acquired Covid cases'.

NHS England defended its calculations, claiming that it was based on 'the agreed European definition for 'definite nosocomial' infections' as set out by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. A spokesman for the ECDC said that the 14-day cut off was 'based on incubation time'.

Paramedics wearing PPE wheel a patient from an ambulance outside the emergency department of the Royal London Hospital in London

An NHS spokesman said: 'Based on the European definition, hospital infection rates in England are currently 7.2 per cent but for day to day operational purposes, the NHS actually uses a tougher definition so that infection rates can be easily monitored and action can be taken quickly when required.'

It comes as internal Health figures show more than 25,000 patients have caught coronavirus in hospital since the second wave of the pandemic began in September, with officially just one in six Covid patients infected while being treated for other conditions.

In other coronavirus developments:

Concerns have been raised that the vaccine drive might be slowing down after 201,330 more jabs were reported today - the third day in a row the number has fallen, although the NHS pointed to a reporting lag;

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries told MPs it is 'likely' there will a regional approach to restarting face-to-face lessons for millions of children when England comes out of the latest shutdown, and hinted closures will remain in place after February half-term;

New figures showed around one in eight people in private households in England had been infected with coronavirus by December;

Matt Hancock has announced he is self-isolating until Sunday after being 'pinged' by the NHS coronavirus app;

Ministers are desperately trying to quell anger over a 'postcode lottery' in vaccinations, with 70-year-olds getting jabs before over-80s in some areas;

Government scientists advising Boris Johnson fear that many people will 'probably abandon' social distancing and lockdown rules once they have had the jab;

The South African coronavirus variant may slip past parts of the immune system in as many as half of people infected with different versions in the past, scientists fear.

So far this month, 5,684 Covid-positive in-patients out of 44,315 - about one in eight - were infected after being admitted for other conditions.

An intensive care consultant in the Midlands said that he took a 'snapshot' of all the patients in his unit on one day last month and found that 40 per cent of them had been infected in hospital.

A specialist Covid nurse treating people at home said many of her patients had contracted the virus in hospital and were re-admitted when their conditions worsened.

Medical workers bring a patient out of an ambulance outside Royal London Hospital

Susan Colborne, 52, claims Pamela Clifford would be alive today if Royal Stoke Hospital had delayed her cancer surgery

An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report found 1,260 care home residents died to the virus in the week ending January 15, almost twice the 661 fatalities two weeks ago

Daily Covid testing in English schools is halted just weeks after 78m 'milestone' programme was announced as regulator says rapid kits were not approved Daily coronavirus testing in England's secondary schools are expected to stop after teachers warned that the Government policy had not been approved by the UK's medicines regulator. The Department for Education will announce it is putting a halt to the daily testing of pupils and teachers after receiving new health advice - just five weeks after the 78million scheme was unveiled as a 'milestone moment' in the fight against Covid-19. The Government is expected to say it has received updated advice from Public Health England on daily contact testing and that it will be 'paused' across England except for a handful of trials. But experts have questioned No10's programme of mass testing in schools and colleges, which was at centre of the 'Operation Moonshot' scheme and its strategy for fully reopening schools after the February half-term. Concerns were also raised by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) about the use of rapid lateral flow tests to allow those who test negative to avoid self-isolation if they have come into contact with someone known to be infected. Advertisement

The nurse said one elderly lady, originally admitted after breaking a rib in a fall, was now critically ill and had passed the virus on to two close relatives while at home.

And a daughter has lodged an official complaint over her mother's death. Susan Colborne, 52, claims Pamela Clifford would be alive today if Royal Stoke Hospital had delayed her cancer surgery.

The 72-year-old oesophageal cancer sufferer had health complications that put her at risk of Covid-19, Mrs Colborne said. The hospital has launched an investigation.

Sage, the Government's scientific advisory group, highlighted the problem last month.

'It can be clearly seen that the proportion of infections that were acquired in hospital steadily increased throughout October and November,' its pandemic modelling sub-group noted.

An NHS spokesman claimed that in-hospital infections have now fallen to 7.7 per cent.

He added: 'High community infections and crowded hospitals - in some cases with over half their beds occupied with Covid patients - increases the risk, so the overriding goal has to be to bring community transmission back under control.'

Separate figures showed that the majority of coronavirus deaths are still among the elderly.

Jason Oke, from Oxford university's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, found the median age at which people had died from Covid-19 in October was 82.4.

He said this has barely changed, and now stands at 82.3 across the pandemic. The median age for all other causes of death since March is 81.4.

Figures from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre show that the age of patients needing intensive care for Covid has also increased.

The median figure has risen from 59 in the first wave to 62 for the period from September.

Dr Oke said: 'The figures suggest that if the Government meets its target of offering a vaccine to everyone over 70 by mid-February, we should expect a huge dent in the numbers of people dying.'

The Medical Research Council also confirmed that the chances of surviving the disease have significantly improved, thanks to a wider range of treatments.

Public Health England has also recorded a spike in the number of suspected Covid-19 outbreaks reported in care homes. But it said many of these are be false alarms, although it couldn't say what number turned out not to involve the virus

Ministers have been slammed by furious families and charities for failing to vaccinate care home residents despite the immunisation programme launching six weeks ago and already being expanded to over-70s

Has Britain's great Covid vaccine rollout ALREADY stalled? Daily figures drop for third day in a row as critics tell No10 to 'throw as much money as possible' at NHS to ensure jab uptake stays high The number of Brits getting vaccinated against Covid in the UK has fallen for the third day in a row, raising fears that the rollout has stalled over the weekend. Some 204,076 people in Britain were vaccinated yesterday, January 18, with the total slumping from 225,000 on Sunday, 277,000 on Saturday and a high of 324,000 on Friday. More than 4.26million people have received their first dose of a Covid vaccine through the NHS programme  one in every 16 people in the UK  which makes it one of the best covered countries in the world. But to hit the Government's target of 13.9million people by February 15, which is the threshold at which officials will consider relaxing lockdown, Britain must manage 360,000 jabs per day from today onwards  2.5million per week. Last week it averaged 254,000 per day and hit a total 1.77million. The daily requirement will increase for every day that it isn't hit. Advertisement

It estimates the proportion of people infected who will die has fallen from 1.3 per cent in the first wave to 0.94 per cent.

Meanwhile, coronavirus deaths in care homes have doubled in a fortnight in England, figures revealed amid a spike in cases across the sector.

An Office for National Statistics (ONS) report found 1,260 residents died of the virus in the week ending January 15, almost twice the 661 fatalities two weeks ago.

The virus now accounts for a startling 40 per cent of all deaths in care homes in England, up from just over a quarter at the end of December.

Ministers have been slammed by furious families and charities for failing to vaccinate care home residents - who are first in the queue because they are most vulnerable to the disease.

Even though only half of Britain's 400,000 residents have had their jab since the immunisation drive started six weeks ago, No10 has already expanded the scheme to over-70s.

It comes after two-thirds of the elderly residents at a Lincolnshire died following a sudden outbreak of coronavirus in November which killed 17 people over six weeks.

There are now questions over whether the spike in cases and deaths is linked to the Government's controversial policy to send Covid patients discharged from hospitals back into care homes.

Under the scheme, designed to free up hospital beds and protect the NHS, care homes which passed inspection and were deemed Covid-secure were once again asked to house infected patients.

The scheme was launched by the Department of Health in October in the hope that every local authority would have access to at least one approved site by the end of the month.

But only a third of councils in England had an approved setting as of January 5.

It emerged today that No10 will provide indemnity to care homes approved to take Covid patients, amid concerns that not enough homes were signing up because insurance companies refused to cover them.

Industry bosses feared they would come under increasing pressure to accept Covid patients, with too few approved settings and rising numbers in hospitals.

More than 20,000 care home residents died from Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic and experts say the decision to discharge thousands of untested hospital patients into care homes in spring was partly to blame.

MPs accused ministers of throwing care homes 'to the wolves'.
My first thought on turning on the TV Wednesday morning was that the Capitol looked more breathtaking than usual, gleaming in the sun and decked out for the stately occasion. Im quite sure my reaction was tinged by the fact that, just two weeks ago, it was the scene of a crime against our democracy.

As the morning progressed and President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris inauguration got underway, though, it seemed to transform into something else: a symbol of survival, resilience, and continuity of government.

The insurrection of Jan. 6, egged on by now-former President Donald Trump in his narcissistic quest to pressure Congress to overturn Bidens win, is already part of the American story. Wednesday it took its rightful place in Bidens unity-themed address as one more stress test survived.

We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed, he said. From now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago, violence sought to shake the Capitol's very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible to carry out the peaceful transfer of power, as we have for more than two centuries.

The theme was also palpable from the cast of characters assembled to help launch the new administration: Barack and Michelle Obama, George W. and Laura Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Mike and Karen Pence, but nobody named Trump. It was an unspoken affirmation that the chain remains unbroken, no matter that the most recent link had already sulked off to Florida.

A few other thoughts:

 I also couldnt help but wince at some other faces in the crowd. There was U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, cheering Biden on as if he hadnt played a key role in challenging the election certification  and then hadnt doubled down on the lie of the allegedly rigged election even after the onslaught. There was House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, hosting locally-raised Democratic operative Donna Brazile as a gesture of unity after he too had voted against recognizing Biden's victory.

I hope they really do plan to work with the new administration, but acting as if its time to move along simply doesnt cut it. Too much damage was done to the nations trust in the integrity of our system, and the people who played a part need to own up.

Yes, Biden did call for unity, and he is a conciliator by nature. But he also said this:

Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

 Several Louisiana Republicans issued statements acknowledging the new president, but U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy was first to offer his best wishes. Cassidy, of course, was also the only member of the states GOP delegation to publicly accepted Bidens victory back in November, and to vote to certify the Electoral College results following the Capitol attack.

I look forward to working with the Biden administration to create more and better paying jobs for Louisiana workers, to lower the cost of health care, to improve the lives of Louisiana families, and to drive our country forward, he wrote.

Thats boilerplate language, but his behavior since the election suggests he means it. With the Senate closely divided, Biden will be seeking out common ground with open-minded Republicans. And Cassidy has long taken an interest in some possible areas of overlap, including paid parental leave. So its worth keeping an eye on this potentially fruitful relationship.

 Bidens speech included many memorable sections, but this one in particular was aimed at people who, like the majority of Louisianans, did not vote for him.

Hear me out, Biden said. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree so be it. That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent, peaceably, the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength.

In other words, unity doesnt mean agreeing on everything, it means approaching potential adversaries with open minds. And disagreement does not have to  should not  lead to uncivil war between entrenched political factions.

Through civil war, the Great Depression, world war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of these moments, enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward. And we can do that now.

So there you have it. From American carnage to better angels" in four short years.

Or four very long ones.
A New York court worker has been arrested after allegedly calling for public executions of several prominent Democrats.

CBS reports Brendan Hunt, a 37-year-old assistant court analyst for the New York State Office of Court Administration, was charged Tuesday with making online threats calling for the murder of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Hunt was not at the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection, but allegedly posted a video online two days later titled Kill Your Senators that referenced President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

[T]hats probably the best time to do this, get your guns, show up to D.C., and literally just spray these [expletive]... he allegedly said. What you need to do is take up arms, get to D.C., probably the inauguration... If anybody has a gun, give me it, Ill go there myself and shoot them and kill them.

According to the New York Post, the Queens resident was a supporter of President Donald Trump and posted content under the alias X-ray Ultra, plus on a Facebook account using his actual name.

Trump, we want actual revenge on democrats. Meaning, we want you to hold a public execution of pelosi aoc schumer etc, he posted on Dec. 6. And if you dont do it, the citizenry will. Were not voting in another rigged election. Start up the firing squads, mow down these commies, and lets take america back!

On Facebook, Hunt allegedly encouraged killing police officers who enforce Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, writing that they deserve nothing less than a bullet in their f---ing head! Including cops!

Court papers show Hunt also used Parler and Bitchute and allegedly made references to a ZOG government, a white supremacist acronym for Zionist occupied government.

Hunts home was raided Tuesday morning and he is in custody, according to The Daily Beast .

The New York State court system also confirmed that Hunt, who worked in the attorney registration unit, has been suspended without pay.
Faron will be working directly with the 59th Medical Wing of the US Air Force

Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy ( ) (First North:FARON) has noted that the US Department of Defense (DoD) is the surprise source of funding for a trial being carried out by researchers from the company, which is developing a drug to treat people hospitalised with coronavirus (COVID-19).

The DoD has selected the phase II/III HIBISCUS study in the States to receive US$6.1mln under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act.

Faron will be working directly with the 59th Medical Wing of the US Air Force.

Its treatment, Traumakine, an interferon beta-1a drug delivered intravenously, was developed initially to treat acute respiratory and severe acute respiratory distress.

"IFN beta-1a has previously demonstrated a compelling argument as the body's first line of defence against viral infection, said the companys chief executive, Dr Markku Jalkanen in a statement.

Deficiency of either IFN beta or the activation of its receptor have been associated with severe COVID-19 and poor outcome. This validation from the DoD represents important progress for both our science and intravenous IFN beta as a potential treatment for severe COVID-19 patients, he added.
(Natural News) A former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes that only around a third of the population of the United States  around 120 million people  are willing to receive the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb served as the commissioner of the FDA from May 2017 to April 2019. In an interview with mainstream media outlet CNBC Tuesday, Jan. 19, he shared his concerns regarding the current rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Gottlieb believes that there is a strong possibility many younger people who have strong immune systems will decline to get vaccinated.

Demand for coronavirus vaccines is still high because the main demographic being vaccinated are older Americans. Gottlieb believes that, since age factors in greatly to whether or not people get a severe case of the coronavirus, these Americans would naturally be more willing to take the vaccine.

Theres going to be a lot of intense demand even in younger cohorts, but I think once we get to 100 million, maybe 120 million vaccines, the demand is going to get soft, said Gottlieb, who based his forecast on the number of adults who received flu shots in the past year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that about 12.3 million Americans have already received their initial dose of the coronavirus vaccine as of Friday morning, Jan. 15  way short of the goal set by federal officials, which is to give at least 20 million people their first shot before the end of 2020.

The federal government said on Friday, Jan. 15, that it had delivered around 31.2 million doses of vaccines to states, territories and federal agencies. (Related: Vaccine makers express confidence that their shots can take on new mutant strain of the same coronavirus their colleagues engineered in the first place.)

I think we need to also work on the demand side of this equation, said Gottlieb. We cant lose sight of that and just take for granted that everyone wants this vaccine.

Watch this special episode of Brighteon Conversations with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he has an illuminating conversation with cancer researcher, health freedom advocate and vaccine skeptic Ty Bollinger. During this interview, the two natural health experts rip apart the global conspiracy being woven to justify the mandating of COVID-19 vaccines.

Resistance to coronavirus vaccines still high

According to Gottlieb, the number of people who got vaccinated for the flu last year was at a record high. Unfortunately, this record high number was still only around a third of the U.S. population. He believes that when the country reaches this number, demand for the coronavirus vaccine will decrease drastically.

Weve talked about access being the real challenge right now, and now were talking about supply because were starting to get to a steady state of supply and its hard to increase the supply in the near term, said Gottlieb. At some point, demand is going to become an issue. We cant lose sight of that and just take for granted that everyone wants this vaccine.

Many other sectors of American society have expressed their intention to not get vaccinated, including around a third of nursing home workers in New York State. In some long-term care homes, the number of workers who refuse to be vaccinated is greater than the number of workers who are willing to be or have already been vaccinated.

Around 46 percent of workers in Long Island have declined the vaccines while only 34 percent have received at least the first shot. In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine noted that around 60 percent of nursing home workers have declined to be vaccinated.

A poll from Pew Research also suggests that only around 60 percent of the country is willing to be vaccinated. This is actually an increase from a previous survey done in September that showed only 51 percent wanted the vaccine.

Only around half of those people reluctant to get vaccinated have stated that they are willing to change their mind provided they are given more evidence regarding the vaccines safety.

Biden plans to vaccinate 100 million people in first 100 days

Sources report that Democrat Joe Biden, who is expected to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, has pledged to vaccinate 100 million people during his first 100 days in office.

Biden has said that the Trump administrations current vaccination efforts are not sufficient to quickly vaccinate the populace. This is why, according to his plan, Biden will use the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard to construct coronavirus vaccine clinics across the country.

According to Gottlieb, Bidens strategy to vaccinating the populace is an all-of-the-above approach, and then see whats working.

Biden is trying to reassure the American public about the supposed safety and efficacy of coronavirus vaccines. Back in December, he received his first shot of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on live television, saying afterward that there is nothing to worry about.

It is still unclear how either the live vaccination or the mass vaccination campaign are expected to ease the anxieties of people who would rather not receive a shot.

Learn more about the ongoing rollout of coronavirus vaccines in the United States and other parts of the world by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

CNBC.com 1

NYTimes.com

CNBC.com 2

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IN town last Wednesday, with half an hour to kill while my new phone was being synched up, I decided to pop into St Peter and Pauls Church to light a candle for my late parents.

Although not religious, Ive taken to calling into churches for this purpose. And besides, Cork city is a ghost town these days with most retail outlets shut. So, with no opportunity to browse through rails of clothes, I was taking the spiritual route.

But then I backtracked because the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes had just been published. How could I darken the door of a Catholic church given the appalling litany of abuse meted out by nuns (in cahoots with priests) on vulnerable young women whose crime was to become pregnant outside of wedlock. (The State was complicit too, beholden to well-heeled bishops who wielded enormous power.)

It has always rankled with me that while priests promoted the conjugal rights of husbands and encouraged big families (all the better to keep the church in new generations), sex was always the big sin.

But it was a wifes duty to have sex whenever her husband wanted it, with no regard for her wellbeing, health and bodily autonomy.

You might think a Catholic couple with ten children only had sex ten times (because sex is solely for procreation in church teaching) but in reality, husbands did what they wanted and sometimes raped their wives.

They would never be held up for this because marital rape wasnt considered a crime in the (recent) bad old days.

And so, under this Taliban-like organisation (because thats what the Catholic church was in the last century), women were collateral damage.

The misogyny was breathtaking. It still exists. But the church is a busted flush. Its power has waned.

In 2011, 84.2% of people here described themselves as Catholic whereas five years later, in 2016, that figure dropped to 78.3%.

Thats still a lot of people identifying with what started out as an idealistic movement under Jesus Christ. But it transmogrified, in this country, into a narrow-minded, wealth-accumulating organisation that treats women badly.

Young women today have no idea what life was like in Ireland as recently as the 1970s, when contraception was illegal. They should ask their mothers about those dark days.

It took a mother of four children, who was told that another pregnancy would endanger her life, to change the law.

Mary McGee attempted to import a spermicidal jelly for her personal use. However, the package was stopped by customs and a letter was sent to her, stating this.

On the grounds of her right to marital privacy, Mary took a case that went to the Supreme Court. As she said decades later, she had to do something. People wanted children but they also wanted a life, she told the Irish Times.

The Supreme Court ruled that the McGees had a constitutional right to marital privacy. This led to the legislation to allow the sale of contraceptives.

But it took years of acrimonious debate before the Health and Family Act of 1979, which allowed married couples to purchase birth control on prescription from a doctor. You had to be married.

And it wasnt until 1992 that the sale of condoms was fully allowed. How dare the church  or any organisation  try to dictate what goes on in bedrooms between consenting adults.

But ironically, sex was what brought the church down, with the revelations of sexual abuse of children and women by priests.

While the nuns largely were not sexual abusers, many of them abused pregnant girls and women, emotionally and physically, in the mother and baby homes.

Weve heard the horrendous stories of nuns refusing pain relief to women going through childbirth. All the better to punish them for their immoral ways was the way the thinking went.

Unmarried mothers were forced into having their infants adopted and birth certificates were forged to hide the real identity of children. Some children were trafficked to the U.S. Grubby money played a role in this scandal.

The church in Ireland has always been good at acquiring money with a vastly valuable land and property portfolio. It should be made to relinquish it for a financial redress scheme for the survivors of the mother and baby homes following the Governments commitment to compensate those abused.

Its all too much for me to go into a church, even to just light a candle in memory of my parents. How do the devout feel? Talk about being conned by a behemoth whose tentacles seeped into so many areas of Irish life.

The church is supposed to be about the people. But it became about the powerful. Too much power leads to corruption. Thankfully, the churchs sins have been uncovered.
Politicians prospered  but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nations Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. That all changes  starting right here and right now because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you. It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America.

This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country. What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. January 20th 2017 will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.

Everyone is listening to you now. You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before. At the centre of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighbourhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.

But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealised potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now. We are one nation  and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans. For many decades, weve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidised the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; weve defended other nations borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while Americas infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.

Weve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon. One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind. The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world. But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future. We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.

From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, its going to be America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. I will fight for you with every breath in my body  and I will never, ever let you down.

America will start winning again, winning like never before. We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams. We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation. We will get our people off of welfare and back to work  rebuilding our country with American hands and American labour. We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American.

We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world  but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow. We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones  and unite the civilised world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth. At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.

The Bible tells us, how good and pleasant it is when Gods people live together in unity. We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity. When America is united, America is totally unstoppable. There should be no fear  we are protected, and we will always be protected. We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.

Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger. In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action  constantly complaining but never doing anything about it. The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action.

Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America. We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again. We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow. A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions. It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.

Loading And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator. So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again. Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The views of women and men can differ on important gendered issues such as abortion, gender equity and government spending priorities. Surprisingly, however, average differences in sex on this front are usually small. Many women adopt social and political positions that favor men and many men favor women-friendly positions.

In our latest research we tried to make sense of this "paradox". We did so by understanding how people's politics and practices don't just track what's good for them, but also what's good for their relatives.

Election campaign games

A mere three days after his 2016 inauguration, US President Donald Trump reinstated the Mexico City policy, also called the "global gag rule"which Joe Biden is expected to rescind soon after being inaugurated this week.

The rule denies US health funding to foreign non-governmental organizations that provide abortions, refer patients for abortions, offer abortion-related counseling or advocate for more liberal abortion laws.

It wasn't just Trump's haste to reinstate the rule that galled pro-choice Americans. It was also the supporting cast of men Trump lined up for the photo-op.

Access to abortion is seen as a women's issue as it impinges on women's bodily autonomy and reproductive rights. Had Trump not been appealing to male voters, he could have gathered several prominent anti-choice women to stand behind him instead.

But despite expectations and rhetoric, support for abortion is far more complicated than a simple tussle between the interests of women and men.

Think of the children

Polling conducted in the US by Gallup between 2018 and 2020 found 49% of men and 46% of women identified as "pro-life". A similar gap was observed between "pro-choice" men and women, at 46% and 48% respectively.

"Pro-choice" policies give women options to control their own reproduction and, therefore, an important part of their lives. It would seem rational then for women to support these policies more than men.

Other policies relating to gender equity, sexual harassment, health-care spending and education also impact women and men differently. And while both genders' views on these topics differ, the difference is quite small on averagein the order of 5%.

Variation of social and political views within a sex group is actually far greater. While this is commonly thought to be due to differences in experience, we wanted to know whether the composition of a person's family might change their views.

Our line of inquiry was inspired by a range of studies that have shown a child's gender can change their parents' views.

For instance, firms led by male CEOs with daughters tend to adopt more socially and environmentally-progressive corporate policies. They're also more likely to appoint female directors and hire female partners, with positive effects on firm performance.

On the other hand, male CEOs of Danish firms who fathered a son, rather than a daughter, paid their employees less generously and paid themselves more generously.

A similar pattern emerges in politics. In the US, legislators with daughters are more likely to vote for "pro-woman" laws than those with sons. And in both the US and Canada, parents with daughters favor gender equity more than those with sons.

Sometimes the effects become visible even before offspring have had much chance to experience the world.

In one study, the birth of a son caused parents' voting intentions to swerve immediately to the right, while a daughter prompted a swerve to the left. In another, the effects kicked in as soon as the parents learned their child's sex at a prenatal ultrasound.

How your family's composition can impact you

Research published in 1992 found people's attitudes towards abortion varied depending on how many of their female relatives were in the age group considered "at risk" of unwanted pregnancy.

The more female relatives someone had aged between 1550, the more likely they were to favor pro-choice policies. In turn, the more male relatives they had of a reproductive age, the more likely they were to support pro-life policies.

This study inspired us to consider whether gendered issues might depend not only on an individual's own sex, but also the sex composition of their family. Humans, like other animals, are more invested in their close genetic relatives.

We propose a new metric called "gendered fitness interests". This not only looks at how many genetic relatives of each sex a person has, but also how closely related they are and how many potential reproductive years remain for them.

People with many close, younger female relatives (such as daughters and sisters) have a pro-female bias, while those with plenty of young brothers, sons or grandsons have a bias that favors males.

For her Ph.D. studies at the University of New South Wales, Maleke Fourati gathered data on attitudes towards Islamic veiling practices in Tunisiaspecifically on mandatory veilingwhich provided an early test of our idea of gendered fitness interests.

As predicted, men were more likely than women to support mandatory veiling. But women with more sons were more likely to wear veils themselves and to think other women should too. These mothers, we argue, take this position as it serves their sons over their daughters-in-law.

In our model, sex differences in social and political attitudes are likely to be greatest in young adulthood, when a person's own gender impacts them greatly. However, as an individual's potential to have children diminishes, their current children and other relatives start to have a greater influence. Since most people have a balance of male and female relatives, this means a shift towards the center.

Separating sex from identity

The web of conflicting interests that give shape to our social and political attitudes is never easy to trace and there are always multiple factors at play.

Perhaps the most interesting implication of our proposal is it undermines the idea that the interests of women and men sit at odds with one another. Some individuals' values will align more with the opposite sex than with their own, weakening the importance of gender as a distinct part of social and political identity.

Explore further Talking like a woman in TED Talks is associated with more popularity

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
A West Indian woman in her 80s who is suffering from dementia and living in a care home should be given a coronavirus vaccine despite her son's concerns, a judge has ruled.

The pensioner's son raised concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccine and said testing had been predominantly carried out on 'white people'.

He did not object to vaccination in principle but said medics should wait until more evidence had been gathered.

The man, who said his mother was 'not black' but of 'Spanish, French, Indian and Scottish' descent, wanted 'more data'.

Doctors thought she should be vaccinated and Mr Justice Hayden agreed.

A West Indian woman in her 80s who is suffering from dementia and living in a care home should be given a coronavirus vaccine despite her son's concerns, a judge has ruled

The judge concluded that the woman did not have the mental capacity to make a decision for herself and ruled that vaccination was in her best interests.

Vaccines minister fears low vaccine take-up among ethnic minorities Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi fears black and ethnic minorities may see a lower take-up of the Covid-19 vaccination. There are concerns language and cultural barriers are feeding the spread of false information as the Government scientific advice panel revealed large differences in different communities taking the vaccine. A document released by SAGE last week found a 'marked difference existed by ethnicity, with black ethnic groups the most likely to be Covid-19 hesitant, followed by Pakistani/Bangladeshi groups'. The report said adults in minority ethnic groups were less likely to receive vaccines than those in white groups, by between 10-20 per cent. Mr Zahawi said: 'My big worry is if 85 per cent of the adult population get vaccinated, if the 15 per cent skews heavily to the BAME community, the virus will very quickly infect that community.' Advertisement

He was told that other residents in the care home where the woman lived had tested positive for Covid-19 and said she was at risk of becoming ill and dying.

Mr Justice Hayden said the woman was at 'very high risk' and added: 'The vaccination is in her best interests and, moreover, I consider it should be administered as expeditiously as possible.'

The judge considered the case at a virtual hearing in the Court of Protection, where issues relating to people who might lack the mental capacity to make decisions are analysed, on Wednesday.

He said the woman, a retired secretary who was born in the West Indies and spent much of her life in the London area, could not be identified in media reports.

The woman's son told the judge that he was 'dismayed' by the decision.

'I am not objecting to my mother having the vaccination,' he told the hearing.

'I am just asking for it to be delayed - adjourned until there is more evidence.'

He added: 'Testing has been done predominantly on white people.'

Mr Justice Hayden said he disagreed with the woman's son.

He said there was no evidence that vaccines produced adverse reactions and they were recognised as being effective.

The case comes after a study conducted in November by the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex found that 72 per cent of black people were unlikely to have the coronavirus jab.

Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Eastern European groups also said they were unwilling to take the Covid jab, while women, younger people and those with lower levels of education were also more hesitant than others, the UK Household Longitudinal Study found.

The Government's scientific advisory committee, SAGE, blamed 'structural and institutional racism and discrimination' for vaccine scepticism among Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

Their report said historical issues of unethical healthcare research and systemic racism are key factors for lower levels of trust in Britain's mass vaccination programme.

Mr Justice Hayden said he disagreed with the woman's son

The SAGE report concluded: 'Trust is particularly important for black communities that have low trust in healthcare organisations and research findings due to historical issues of unethical healthcare research.

'Trust is also undermined by structural and institutional racism and discrimination. Minority ethnic groups have historically been underrepresented within health research, including vaccines trials, which can influence trust in a particular vaccine being perceived as appropriate and safe, and concerns that immunisation research is not ethnically heterogenous.'

The findings have sparked concern among GPs who are now calling on No10 to begin a public health campaign that encourages black people in particular to receive a coronavirus vaccine.

Prof Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'We are concerned that recent reports show that people within BAME communities are not only more likely to be adversely affected by the virus but also less likely to accept the Covid vaccine, when offered it.

'As such, where appropriate, we're calling for public health communications to be tailored to patients in BAME communities, to reassure them about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine and ultimately encourage them to come forward for their vaccination when they are invited for it.'

The case comes after a study conducted in November by the UK Household Longitudal Study found that 72 per cent of black people were unlikely to have the coronavirus jab

Concerns have been raised that misinformation spread within some BAME communities plays on religious concerns - that the vaccine might contain gelatine, or other animal products and is not halal, or that it can result in modification of DNA.

Dr Habib Naqvi, director of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, has said language and cultural barriers play a part in the false information being distributed.

He said: 'We need to be clear to our communities that there is no meat or meat products in the vaccine. There is no pork, there is no alcohol and it has been endorsed by religious leaders and religious councils.

'Organisations and officials are working with social Asian role models, community leaders, influencers, religious leaders, to help to debunk some of the myths that are out there.'

Dr Naqvi said is essential for the NHS to tailor its services to meet 'the diverse needs of our communities'.
Today, data.org announced the eight global winners of the $10 million Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge, which aims to address major societal challenges through computer and data science. Among the winners is a project by BASE (Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy) and Empa that aims to give smallholder farmers in India access to sustainable cooling facilities through a mobile app to reduce food waste.

Launched in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, the Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge aims to address society's most pressing challenges and help people and communities thrive by harnessing the power of data science.

BASE and Empa will split $10 million in grants with the seven other awardees and will use the money to further develop an open-access mobile app that gives small farmers in India access to sustainable cooling facilities for their agricultural products. This will ultimately minimize food waste, and farmers will increase their revenues.

India is one of the world's largest food producers, yet 25 percent to 35 percent of the produced food is wasted due to a lack of proper refrigeration and other supply chain bottlenecks. Only 6 percent of the food produced in India currently moves through the cold chain, compared to about 60 percent in developed countries.

Currently, there are barriers that prevent farmers from accessing sustainable cooling solutions to save food. These include high upfront investments costs for equipment; limited access to finance; uncertainty related to new technologies; limited technical know-how of cooling systems and hygrothermal sensor data; limited expertise in postharvest storage practices; and in some cases limited access to electricity.

To address this challenge, BASE and Empa are developing an open access, data science-based mobile app, "Your Virtual Cold-Chain Assistant" to enable smallholders access sustainable cooling facilities and pre- and post-harvest expertise and market intelligence. The application will include various data inputs, including weather and climate data, geographic location data, fresh-produce yields, hygrothermal cold-storage sensor data, forecasted remaining shelf life of produce and real-time market prices.

This will enable smallholders to make decisions on cooling based on lifecycle benefits, rather than upfront costs; have access to easy to use information so that they can make optimal decisions on produce and farm management.

The project aims to break the negative cycle of poverty for smallholder farmers in India - while improving food security, reducing food loss, minimizing the impact of food production on the global climate and increasing smallholder incomes by up to 30 percent.

Lawyers for Tiger King Joe Exotic were so confident that he would be pardoned by President Donald Trump that they had a limousine on standby.

But it was all for naught as Trump granted clemency to 143 people, and the list did not include the star of the Netflix documentary series.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Exotic, 57, whose real name is Joe Maldonado-Passage, became a breakout star thanks to the popularity of the eight-part series Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.

The show documented Exotics business  an Oklahoma zoo where he would keep and show tigers and exotic animals  among other operations owned by fellow tiger enthusiasts, including Carole Baskin of Big Cat Sanctuary in Tampa, Florida.

Joe Exotic's legal team tell me they are "100% confident" Trump will pardon the 'Tiger King' from his 22-year criminal sentence. Here's the 38ft "Monster Ram Truck Limo" they've reserved to pick him up. They plan to grab some McRibs immediately after. pic.twitter.com/mK69eGLiBV  Greg Walters (@thegregwalters) January 19, 2021

For a short while, people seemed to be somewhat enchanted by Exotic. Months later, he was even a trending costume for Halloween 2020.

Yet as people binge-watched the series, Maldonado-Passage was in federal prison, convicted of targeting Baskin in a murder-for-hire plot and violating federal wildlife laws. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

In the show, Exotic accuses Baskin of killing her former husband, Don Lewis.

This stretch limo just arrived at the Fort Worth prison where Tiger King Joe Exotic is expected to be released if he receives a presidential pardon. pic.twitter.com/jpeAF4Nlg6  Annie Vogeler (@AnnieVogeler_TV) January 19, 2021

In addition to a Ram truck stretch limo, which was apparently scheduled to take Exotic to get a McRib at McDonalds, Oklahoma Citys KOCO News reported that the Tiger King subjects legal team had hair, makeup and wardrobe ready for his potential release from prison in Fort Worth, Texas.

Celebrities who did benefit from Trumps clemency on the eve of Joe Bidens inauguration include rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, who were convicted on weapons charges in Florida, the Associated Press reports. Lil Wayne was pardoned and Kodak Black was granted a commutation.

Social media received the news of Exotics failure to be granted a pardon by posting Tiger King GIFs, references and limo jokes.

joe exotic when he finds out ol donnie didnt pardon him after all #tigerking pic.twitter.com/zTmOvQ1Q6F  Nicole (@nicolesteff_) January 20, 2021

Joe Exotic was hoping for a Trump pardon and even had a limo waiting, but it was a stretch.  George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 20, 2021

I hear Joe Exotic missed out on a Presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Pretty sure i know whose fault that was. pic.twitter.com/ttYXcEiS97  Gerry Johnston (@gjsportsblog) January 20, 2021

Carol Baskin looking at the pardon list.... 



Sorry joe exotic #TigerKing pic.twitter.com/idV6SF8sDS  MichaelBMagic (@MichaelBMagic1) January 20, 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.
Donald Trumps departure from the White House must have prompted a sigh of relief from his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani, who declared the outgoing US leader dead and the Iran nuclear deal alive and more kicking than ever.

Addressing a Cabinet meeting Jan. 20, Rouhani said that the ball is now in Washingtons court to abide by its obligations under the 2015 accord from which Trump walked away in May 2018, reinstating a set of onerous economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Since 2019, in response to the US pullout as well as the perceived failure of European sides to make good on their promises, Iran has been on a phased commitment reduction process viewed by the deals Western signatories as provocative breaches. Those measures have seen Iran raise its nuclear enrichment level to 20% and augment its uranium stockpile well beyond constraints agreed upon under the accord.

Rouhani once again declared Irans readiness to reverse those steps if the administration of President Joe Biden honors its commitments with honesty.

But which side comes forward to reinstate the deal appeared to be the sticking point, as the very same condition set in Tehran is also demanded by the other side in Washington.

If Iran comes back into compliance, we would too, Bidens pick for secretary of state Tony Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday. A new agreement, according to the incoming top US diplomat, could address Irans missile program and its regional activities.

Reacting to those comments, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made it clear following the Wednesday Cabinet meeting that the US government must return to the nuclear deal without any need for negotiations. As for the Iranian missile program and regional activities, Zarif noted that the nuclear deal signatories had agreed from the outset to keep the two issues out of the accord.

Despite Western concerns, Iran has repeatedly insisted that its missile power is not up for negotiations. To Tehrans adversaries, its regional activities including a military presence in Syria and Iraq are a destabilizing factor. The Islamic Republic, nonetheless, argues that the policy has been devised at the behest of regional sovereign governments.
A new business in Murrells Inlet, a possible reopening on Restaurant Row and plenty of accolades to go around in this week's business roundup.

Myrtle Beach natives to bring new energy to Inlet Square Mall with juice bar, shop

MURRELLS INLET  A brother and sister duo from the Burgess community have opened Juice N Tingz  a juice bar and cultural items shop, some of which were handmade locally.

We wanted to bring a grand opportunity to our community because we are natives of this area for generations, said Jon Smalls, who runs the business with his sister, Dana Armstrong. Our family has always been pioneering things and doing things like farming, so we wanted to give back to the community by giving them an oasis inside a cultural desert.

We know Horry County is rich in history, but a lot of times we dont recognize that. A lot of times we just dont know because we dont have a lot of natives speaking up and doing things.

So they opened Juice N Tingz to bring jewelry, handbags, hair bows and dehydrated dog treats, along with healthy juice items via their location in Inlet Square Mall in Murrells Inlet.

I wanted to bring some healthy options to the community, as well, Smalls said. I wanted to give people the alternative option of drinking juice or having something else to drink besides soda or Kool-Aid. I decided to make cold-pressed juices.

Fruits used for the cold-pressed juices at Juice N Tingz come from around the state and Smalls grows the vegetables the shop uses. He said the cultural items in the shop are shipped from as nearby as Charleston and as far as Africa.

Smalls said the business has relied on word-of-mouth marketing through his familys local connections at area churches, as well as his connections in the fitness world. Juice N Tingz is also on Facebook.

He said they chose to locate at Inlet Square Mall for multiple reasons.

Inlet Square has been close and dear to us for so long and we noticed that a lot of people just pass it by, Smalls said. We wanted to come inside Inlet Square Mall and help rejuvenate it and bring that energy.

The shop will celebrate its grand opening from noon to 5 p.m. Jan. 23. Juice N Tingz is open from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Blackburn-Gay Elected to national public relations position

Denise Blackburn-Gay, chief executive officer of Marketing Strategies, Inc. in Myrtle Beach, was elected a 2021 delegate-at-large for the Public Relations Society of America. She is one of two national members and three international members to be elected to the position.

Blackburn-Gay will serve a one-year renewable term. She, along with the other delegates, were chosen "based on their exemplary ethical conduct, their participation in and commitment to PRSA, and their professional achievements and recognition," according to a press release from the PRSA.

The chosen delegates will communicate with at-large members concerning PRSA events and strategic initiatives, conduct surveys about members needs and interests, and participate in the leaderships online community.

2020 SCRLA finalists announced

The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association will host its 68th annual Stars of South Carolina Hospitality Awards on Feb. 1 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia. Several Myrtle Beach-area hospitality industry workers are finalists for their "exceptional professionalism and outstanding service" in 2020.

Stars of the Industry finalists include:

Lodging Manager of the Year - Tony Lee, Sheraton Myrtle Beach

Lodging Heart of House Employee of the Year - Conrad Cooper, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront

Hotel Bartender of the Year - Phil Sacco, Sheraton Myrtle Beach

Hotel Chef of the Year - Connor Kaiser, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront

Restaurant Front of House Employee of the Year nominee - Dawn Hlavacek, Croissants Bistro

Winners will be announced at the gala in February. More information about tickets can be found at www.scrla.org. Tickets are $40 for SCRLA members and $55 for non-members.

Nakato's aiming for March reopening

Nakato's Japanese Restaurant, a popular spot on Restaurant Row for more than 40 years, announced recently that it is working to reopen as early as March after a 2019 blaze caused it to close.

Nakato's, a family owned Japanese restaurant, recently updated its voicemail message the it plans to reopen in March.

A message with Nakato's had not been returned as of Friday morning.

It's been more than a year since Nakato posted the following Facebook message:

"Nakato will remain closed until we can make the necessary repairs within our building," according to the post. "We would like convey a big 'Thank you' to everyone that has reached out to us to inquire on when we reopen! Please continue to follow us on Facebook and we will update as soon as we have information available. We truly miss all of our guests and hope to see you soon."

Nakato's has been closed since a fire damaged the building in November 2019.

Nakato's has locations in the Atlanta area, Charlotte and Springfield, Mo.

A Subway fast food restaurant's sign is shown in New York on Oct. 24, 2016. A defamation lawsuit by the worlds largest fast-food operator against Canada's public broadcaster over a report on the chain's chicken sandwiches can proceed, Ontario's top court has ruled. (The Canadian Press/AP/Mark Lennihan)

Subway Can Press $210 Million Defamation Suit Against CBC for Show on Chicken Content

TORONTOA defamation lawsuit by the worlds largest fast-food operator against Canadas public broadcaster over a report on the chains chicken sandwiches can proceed, Ontarios top court has ruled.

In setting aside a ruling that dismissed Subways $210-million suit without a hearing on its merits, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled the untested claim was far from frivolous and deserved a thorough airing.

Allowing this action to proceed to a determination on the merits gives appropriate weight to the public interest in seeing harm arising from defamatory statements remedied and the public interest in protecting the type of expression in which CBC engaged, the Appeal Court said.

The CBC television show Marketplace in 2017 asserted about half the DNA in Subway chicken was in fact chicken and the other half soy. The report was based on testing done at Trent University.

A Subway expert on DNA methods and food testing said the tests were seriously flawed and their results inaccurate. It maintained its own tests found no more than one per cent soy.

Subway sued CBC, Marketplace host Charlsie Agro and others who worked on the show. It also sued Trent for defamation and negligence, arguing the testing was careless.

The company argued the program was false, had unfairly damaged its reputation, hurt sales and caused huge financial losses.

CBC argued in Superior Court that the defamation suit ran afoul of a so-called anti-SLAPP legislation, which bars legal action when the purpose is to shut down discussion of issues in the public interest. In November 2019, Justice Edward Morgan sided with the broadcaster.

Morgan also ordered Subway to pay CBC $500,000 in legal costs and another $178,000 in fees and disbursements.

On appeal, Subway argued Morgan had made several errors. Among them, the company argued the judge was wrong to find CBC had a valid defence and that the public interest in protecting free expression outweighed the harm caused.

The higher court agreed with Subway, faulting Morgan among other things for finding CBC had done enough due diligence before going to air.

There was no urgency to the dissemination of the information, the Appeal Court ruled. Had more due diligence been conducted before its dissemination, the information could have been verified.

The Appeal Court also found Morgan was wrong to decide the public interest outweighed the potential damage to Subways reputation and financial interests.

At the heart of the action is CBCs ability to rely on the defence of responsible communication, the Appeal Court ruled.

The continuation of the action should not deter others from expression, but should deter others from making remarks without first taking reasonable steps to substantiate the veracity of those remarks.

A lawyer for Subway did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but CBC spokesman Chuck Thompson expressed disappointed with the decision.

(We) stand by our journalism and are now considering next steps, Thompson said.

The Appeal Court, in a parallel ruling, rejected Morgans decision that Subways negligence claim against Trent could proceed. The appellate court set aside the $220,000 Trent had to pay Subway and instead ordered the company to pay the school $45,000 for the costs of the appeal.

By Colin Perkel
Egypt and German Siemens company signed Jan. 14 a memorandum of understanding to build a high-speed electric railway network that connects Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea coast to New Alamein that lies on the Mediterranean Sea.

According to a statement published on the Egytpian prime minister offices Facebook page, the memorandum was signed by the Egyptian Ministry of Transport, represented by the National Authority for Tunnels and Siemens, in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

According to the statement, the project aims to build a 360 billion Egyptian pound [$23 billion], 1,000-kilometer [621-mile] long high-speed electric train network in Egypt. The construction of the railway that connects Ain Sokhna to New Alamein, passing through the new administrative capital, would start immediately and would include 15 stations to be completed within two years.

Following the signing ceremony, Minister of Transport Kamel al-Wazir said, The agreement is the culmination of lenghty negotiations between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the company's [Siemens] representatives. The two parties agreed to excellent conditions, with a different idea of operation than the old railway network based on the highest specifications in the world with no junctions or crossings, as is the case in the current railways.

He said that the project reflects the strong Egyptian-German relationship, stressing that Sisi is keen to strengthen the bilateral relations at all levels.

During a meeting with CEO of Siemens Joe Kaesar in Cairo on Jan. 13, Sisi discussed the project to establish the high-speed electric train network.

The Egyptian presidency said in a statement following the meeting that the new electric railway would be a valued addition to the transportation network in Egypt, whether for individual or trade movements, since it will connect the Red Sea coast to the Mediterranean coast, passing through the new administrative capital and other major cities. The project will boost development efforts in Egypt and open up promising prospects for improved cooperation between Egypt and Siemens in modern transportation networks.

Egypt has been recently seeking to boost its transportation sector, particularly since dozens of transportation and train accidents happen each year in the country.

On Aug. 13, 2020, the Russian-Hungarian Transmashholding industrial group announced that the Egyptian Ministry of Transport put to use new passenger carriages that Russia had earlier delivered to Egypt.

Transmashholding said in a Facebook post back then that the carriages will run in several Egyptian cities, and that the various designs include an 88-seater carriage and can accommodate standees.

This comes as part of a 16.5 million euro ($20 million) deal signed in October 2018 between the Egyptian Railway Authority (ERA) and Transmashholding. Under the deal, the first batch of 33 passenger carriages, which meet the Russian, Hungarian and Egyptian standards, was delivered to Egypt in July 2020.

Egypt is set to receive another 175 carriages by the end of 2021, bringing the total number provided to Egypt to 1,300 in five different models.

Sayed Salem, former ERA head, said the plans to develop Egypts railway network are not new. He told Al-Monitor that since Wazir took the reins of the Transport Ministry, the plans were accelerated in light of a political will. In addition to the plans to establish high-speed railways and use new passenger carriages, the ministry provided qualified and skilled technicians after identifying the real needs in the technical and engineering fields. He noted that 150 engineers have been appointed to fill jobs in the sector, in addition to efforts to clean the stations and wagons and increase the number of train ticket counters.

On the importance the railway sector has on the national economy, Salem said, The railways are one of the most important transportation means in the world, given the large quantity of goods and individuals transported. This is in addition to the regular train services that cover several parts of a country.

He added that the ERA said the state's plan for the development of railways is based on a strategic vision to develop the transportation network in general, and railways in particular, given the strategic and national importance it holds for Egypt as it connects the countrys ports together.
An Asda shopper was punched in the face by a thug after 'politely asking a woman not to touch the items she wasn't going to buy'.

Police are now hunting for the male suspect, thought to be the woman's friend or partner, after a 38-year-old was left with facial cuts and 'significant' bruises.

Officers have now released CCTV images of a man, seen wearing a blue gilet, who they would like to speak to in connection with the attack at the supermarket branch in Wolverhampton, West Midlands.

West Midlands Police released CCTV images (pictured left and right) of the suspect in relation to the assault on December 21 in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton

The assault took place inside the Whitmore Reans store on Jack Hayward Way at around 2.30pm on December 21.

In a statement, West Midlands Police said: 'Were appealing for information after a man was assaulted after politely asking a woman not to touch items she wasnt going to buy in Asda, Whitmore Reans.

'The 38-year-old was verbally abused and punched in the face by a man wearing a blue gilet.

The Asda store in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, pictured above. Police are hunting for the male suspect, thought to be the woman's friend or partner

'We believe the man responsible for the assault is the womans friend or partner. It happened at the Jack Hayward Way store just before 2.30pm on 21 December.

'The victim sustained cuts to his face and significant bruises, but did not require hospital treatment.

'As part of our investigation weve released CCTV images of the suspect, and were asking for your help to identify him.'

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting 20WV/318359H/20, or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
A senior care home employee all but predicted her facility would have a massive coronavirus outbreak, but her efforts to get managers to act were met with derision and she was forced to resign months before her worst fears came true, according to a whistleblower lawsuit filed Wednesday.

A June outbreak at the Canby facility Marquis Hope Village Post-Acute Rehab became Oregons second deadliest, with 18 deaths and 113 cases. A separate outbreak on the same long-term care campus has since killed an additional three people and infected 36.

Former worker Erica Morenos lawsuit, filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, alleges that the facilitys local and corporate managers repeatedly failed to take action to prevent the potential spread of disease, then punished Moreno for trying to get them to act.

By failing to respond to her concerns, the facility acted with malice and showed a reckless and outrageous indifference to the health, safety, and welfare of residents, staff and the community, Moreno claims in her lawsuit.

All three of Morenos official claims against Hope Village are based on her allegation that the facility retaliated against her for raising safety concerns. The former housekeeping supervisor is seeking $350,000 in damages.

Erica Moreno, a former housekeeping supervisor at the Canby senior care home Hope Village, claims in a lawsuit filed Jan. 20 that managers ignored her concerns about unsafe COVID-19 practices.

As COVID-19 swept through the country in March of 2020, Ms. Moreno consistently reported COVID-related safety concerns to an administrator, Hope Village and the facilitys management company, her attorney, Christina Stephenson, wrote in the suit. And she believed the facilitys practices would result in residents and staff contracting and spreading the virus, but her concerns were met with retaliation and derision.

State inspectors cited the facility in June, after the outbreak began, finding multiple infection-control violations.

Hope Village rehab is one of 23 Oregon homes managed by Marquis Companies, a senior care home business founded about 30 years ago that also has facilities in California and Nevada. One of the companys top executives, Steve Fogg, chairs the board of one of Oregons most powerful lobbying groups, the Oregon Health Care Association, which advocates for businesses that operate long-term care facilities.

A spokesperson for Marquis said the company does not comment on legal matters.

Chief among Morenos allegations was a managers decision to allow some employees to keep working despite showing coronavirus symptoms. According to Morenos lawsuit, one employee allowed to continue working despite showing symptoms was a relative of one of Hope Villages top managers  something Moreno said was a clear conflict of interest.

In another case, managers told an employee who had coronavirus symptoms to keep working, then tried to cover that up when the employee tested positive, according to Morenos lawsuit. Morenos complaint alleges that managers sent out an email to staff on April 15 announcing the employee had tested positive, but assured staff that the person hadnt worked since developing symptoms.

But Moreno heard directly from the employee that the person had worked while sick, according to the complaint. Nobody exposed to the person was tested or asked to quarantine, according to the complaint.

On another occasion, Moreno said the facility held a mandatory all-staff meeting in April, during which employees didnt wear masks or keep an appropriate distance from one another, the complaint claims.

When Moreno brought up the risks of such a meeting with managers, they told her masks and social distancing are recommendations, not requirements, according to the complaint. After getting that response, Moreno broke down in tears from the stress she was experiencing and told the administrators that she knew COVID-19 was going to get really bad at Marquis, according to the lawsuit.

Moreno called the Marquis corporate office April 16 to share her concerns. There, too, she was rebuffed, according to allegations in the lawsuit, with a corporate employee saying Moreno was paranoid and overreacting.

Moreno called the Oregon Health Authority the same day and left a voice message outlining the things she had seen, the lawsuit says. A Marquis corporate manager called Morena the following day and pressured her to quit, according to the complaint, and she did.

The Oregon Health Authority on Wednesday declined to say if it forwarded the voicemail Moreno claims she left to the Department of Human Services, which is responsible for inspecting facilities in response to complaints. State records available online show the state started to inspect the rehab facility weekly starting April 21 and that the first case was reported June 4, six weeks after Morenos suit claims a worker tested positive.

State inspectors eventually cited the facility in June, after the outbreak began, for failing to ensure workers washed their hands between resident rooms and for failing to screen the inspectors for coronavirus symptoms before letting them into the facility, state records show.

The Marquis Hope Village rehab is tied for the second most coronavirus deaths in any long-term care facility since the pandemic began, according to state records. The deadliest outbreak, totaling 39 fatalities, occurred at Healthcare at Foster Creek, prompting at least two lawsuits filed by families who lost loved ones.

-- Fedor Zarkhin; 503-294-7674; fzarkhin@oregonian.com
We need to do this at the local level, he allegedly messaged. Lets [sic] storm the capitol in Ohio. Tell me when! Details of the documents made public offer some insight to planning and co-ordination behind the extraordinary attack, which apparently took law enforcement by surprise despite various warnings online. People wearing hats and patches indicating they are part of the Oath Keepers attend a rally in support of Donald Trump on January 5. Credit:AP The Oath Keepers group often recruits current and former military, police or other first responders. Records show that Donovan Crowl, 50, served in the US Marines. He was arrested along with Jessica Watkins, 38.

Loading Both are residents of Champaign County, Ohio. The FBI said some Oath Keepers members were wearing helmets, protective vests and items with the groups name and motto: Not On Our Watch. The FBI also said that they seemed to move in an organised and practised fashion and force their way to the front of the crowd gathered around a door to the US Capitol. An affidavit filed against Caldwell states that he was involved in the planning and co-ordinating of the Capitol breach with Watkins and Crowl.

Loading Watkins, who allegedly called herself the commanding officer, and Crowl allegedly belong to the Ohio State Regular Militia, dues-paying members of the Oath Keepers. In one social media post, the FBI said, Watkins pictured Crowl and called him one of my guys. Charging documents show messages between Caldwell and the others about arranging hotel rooms in the Washington area in the days before the siege. In one Facebook message from Crowl to Caldwell, Crowl states: Will probably call you tomorrow  mainly because  I like to know wtf plan is. You are the man COMMANDER. The FBI wrote that Caldwell is believed to have referred to the leader of the Oath Keepers, Elmer Stewart Rhodes, in a Facebook message to group members in the days before the riot.

I don't know if Stewie has even gotten out his call to arms but it's a little friggin late, Caldwell wrote, according to the FBI. This is one we are doing on our own. We will link up with the north carolina crew. The complaint reports one male voice is heard on an audio recording near Watkins exhorting: Get it, Jess." Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "We have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan," Watkins, a US Army veteran, said while the breach was under way, according to court documents. "You are executing citizen's arrest. Arrest this assembly, we have probable cause for acts of treason, election fraud," a man replied, according to audio recordings of communications between Watkins and others during the incursion.

"We are in the main dome right now. We are rocking it. They are throwing grenades, they are fricking shooting people with paint balls. But we are in here," a woman, believed to be Watkins said, according to court documents. A man then responds, "Get it, Jess," adding, "This is ... everything we f---ing trained for!" The FBI said it recovered the exchange from Zello, a push-to-talk, two-way radio phone app. Yeah. We stormed the Capitol today. Teargassed, the whole, 9. Pushed our way into the Rotunda. Made it into the Senate even. The news is lying (even Fox) about the Historical Events we created today, Watkins allegedly wrote. Watkins also posted that entry was forced through the back door of the Capitol.

Federal authorities say that Caldwell also sent Facebook messages following the attack. Proud boys scuffled with cops and drove them inside to hide, Caldwells message said, according to court documents. Breached the doors. One guy made it all the way to the house floor, another to Pelosis office. A good time. Authorities said Watkins and Crowl returned to Ohio, then went back to Virginia to stay with Caldwell at his home in Berryville for three days until January 16. The FBI complaint said Crowl and Watkins told police in Urbana, Ohio, they drove back to Ohio after hearing the FBI was looking for them. All three are charged with counts including conspiracy, conspiracy to hurt an officer, violent entry, obstruction of official business and destruction of government property.

It was unclear on Tuesday afternoon whether any had attorneys. A message was left for Caldwell at his home. A message to US Magistrate Sharon Ovington in Dayton, Ohio, seeking attorney information for Watkins and Crowl was not immediately answered. Watkins and Crowl were being held at a county jail in Dayton, after being arrested early on Monday. The Dayton Daily News reported they had separate initial appearances on Tuesday before Ovington. Watkins told Ovington she wanted future hearings to be in Washington and Crowl said he preferred to stay in Dayton. Asked if she understood the charges against her, the Daily News reported that Watkins replied, I understand them but I don't understand how I got them. The FBI said a search of Watkins' home found personal protection equipment and communication devices, along with instructions for making plastic explosives. AP with The Washington Post
Property values increased by 7.6% over the year to November 2020 in the UK (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The average UK house price reached a record high of 250,000 in November  as typical London property values broke through the 500,000 barrier for the first time.

Across the whole of the UK, property values increased by 7.6% over the year to November 2020, marking the highest annual growth rate since June 2016.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which released the figures, said the average house price in London surpassed 500,000 for the first time in November 2020. The typical property price in London lifted to a record high of 514,000.

Within England, London and Yorkshire and the Humber had the joint highest annual house price growth, with average prices increasing by 9.7% in the year to November 2020.

House prices in the north-east of England also finally surpassed their previous pre-economic downturn peak in November 2020.

The North East continued to be the English region with the lowest average house price, which stood at 140,000 in November 2020. But this was higher than the previous peak of 139,400 recorded in July 2007.

Recent price increases may reflect a range of factors including pent-up demand, some possible changes in housing preferences since the coronavirus pandemic started and a response to the changes made to property transaction taxes across the nations, the ONS said.

Londonas average house prices have surpassed A500,000 for the first time https://t.co/ruz3wubz5r  Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) January 20, 2021

Two London boroughs recorded annual price growth of more than 20%.

They were Kensington and Chelsea (28.6%) and Brent (23.9%).

The sharp annual price increase in Brent is partly caused by prices having fallen in the borough a year earlier, the report said.

The ONS said demand for property in inner-London may be particularly responsive to a temporary stamp duty holiday, which ends on March 31, as property prices are high and therefore so is the corresponding tax to be paid.

UK average house prices increased by 7.6% in the year to November 2020, up from 5.9% in October 2020 https://t.co/AwDzZhrM3Q pic.twitter.com/FR6WlGAGa0  Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) January 20, 2021

London also has a relatively high proportion of properties bought for investment, including from cash buyers and overseas investors. As such, demand for property in inner-London is likely influenced by a broader range of factors than the rest of the UK, the report said.

Average house prices increased over the year in England to 267,000 (a 7.6% annual increase), Wales to 180,000 (7.0%), Scotland to 166,000 (8.6%) and Northern Ireland to 143,000 (2.4%).

Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: Come Decembers data, the average property price will have likely broken through the 250,000 barrier.

He said lenders are working flat out to help get deals already agreed completed before the end of March.

Mr Harris continued: That said, there is still good availability of credit, despite demand, with competitive rates and more choice at 90% loan-to-value.

But Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics said: The scenario in which house prices reverse some of their recent gains this year is clear to see.

He said the eventual withdrawal of the furlough scheme, mortgage payment holidays and the return of the stamp duty threshold to its former level likely would leave house prices about 2% lower by the end of the year than at present.

Mr Tombs added: Most of the recent rise in mortgage rates reflects banks repricing for the greater risks of lending in the current environment and so likely will persist, even if demand for mortgages eases. That said, Government policies are not fixed.

Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: Given the length of time it takes for sales to go through, theres every chance that if you make an offer in 2021 you wont have completed the purchase by the (stamp duty) deadline.

This is likely to take some of the urgency out of the market in the first three months of the year.

The average UK house price was A250,000 in November 2020, up from A247,000 in October 2020.



This is A18,000 higher than the same period a year ago https://t.co/DPdue6OFOZ pic.twitter.com/ByxiOnOHOq  Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) January 20, 2021

Nick Leeming, chairman of estate agent Jackson-Stops, said: The market was firing on all cylinders in November and our own branch data reflected this, with completions across our national network up 71% in November in comparison to three months prior.

I do urge the Chancellor to consider how to ease the market out of the stamp duty holiday to avoid the cliff-edge Government has created.

Howard Archer, chief economic adviser to the EY ITEM Club, said: House prices could be around 5% lower than now by the end of 2021.

The EY ITEM Club expects housing market activity to gradually improve late on in 2021, allowing prices to stabilise as the UKs economy establishes a sustained firmer footing and the labour market comes off its lows, supported by the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines.

Very low borrowing costs should also help, with the Bank of England unlikely to lift interest rates from 0.10% during 2021 and for some time thereafter.

Martijn van der Heijden, chief of strategy at online mortgage company Habito said the stamp duty holiday will leave many who are still to get on the property ladder for the first time frustrated by rising prices.

He said: Buyers who are currently in the process are not guaranteed to complete before the tax holiday deadline and we should see this impacting the prices they are willing to pay.
Latest news Madrid blast claims fourth victim

At least three people are dead, eight have sustained injuries and one more remains unaccounted for after there was a powerful explosion at around 3pm on Wednesday inside a building in Madrid, according to a statement made by central government delegate Jose Manuel Franco.

The blast destroyed the top four floors of the structure, located on Toledo street in the city center. Although the cause of the explosion is yet to be confirmed, Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida was at the scene and said the circumstances pointed to a gas explosion. Police sources said the incident took place when technicians were checking the conditions of the buildings gas installation.

PHOTO GALLERY The Madrid blast in pictures

It is still premature, but it appears that there was a technician working on the boiler, although we dont know what kind of work he was carrying out, said Martinez-Almeida. We also know that one of the injured is in very serious condition, and that another one is a priest. We have three deaths to mourn, one of them an 85-year-old man. It is truly a miracle that this gas explosion did not cause more [deaths].

The injured include a 26-year-old man who was seriously hurt and has been taken to La Paz hospital for treatment. Two other men have been hospitalized for minor injuries, and six other people were treated on the spot.

Victims on stretchers following the blast. David Fernandez / EFE

Firefighters are going to check for any damage to the wall between the affected building and the senior care home. Some debris has also fallen into the school yard, said the mayor.

Almeida added that the building is on fire on the inside, but it is not considered prudent at this moment for the firefighters to go in there. If they put out the fire, an accumulation of gas could form that could very severely affect the buildings stability. The mayor said authorities might consider a controlled explosion later on.

Video footage of the aftermath of the explosion in Madrid today.

The building, located at number 98 on Toledo street, in the district of La Latina, was originally said to be a senior care home but has now been reported to be the parish center of the Church of Virgen de la Paloma. It contains office space, a shelter run by the charity group Caritas, a meeting room, a living room and three housing units for priests.

Emergency teams assisting the injured on Toledo street. INMA FLORES / EL PAIS

The explosion took place near a school, the Colegio La Salle-La Paloma, where at least one student sustained minor injuries, according to early reports. The site is also located near a senior residence, Los Nogales, where a spokesperson said that nobody had been injured. They are evacuating all the residents to Hotel Ganivet which is right across the street, said this source. At the time of the explosion there were 56 residents inside the care home.

A woman who had just gotten off a bus at the time of the blast, between 50 to 100 meters from the site, said she saw a body lying on the ground. The witness, a teacher who lives nearby on Plaza Cascorro, was shaking as she went home to start online lessons with her students.

The emergency services aiding people injured in today's blast in Madrid. Jaime Villanueva

I live right across the street. I was cooking in the kitchen when I heard a tremendously loud sound. I looked out towards the living room window and saw the balcony implode into the living room, said Rodrigo Verano, 37, still in shock and amazed to be alive. Rubble and glass shards were lying all over the table where he had been working only moments earlier.

With reporting by Luis de Vega and Victoria Torres.

English version by Susana Urra.
Gaborone (Botswana) Jan 19, 2021 (SPS) - The Ambassador of the Sahrawi Republic in Botswana, Mr. Malainin Lakhal, affirmed that the renewed war in Western Sahara is open to all possibilities after the violation by Morocco of the truce that has prevailed for thirty years and its attempt to attack Sahrawi civilians in the illegal breach of El Guerguerat .

Speaking to the Algerian Press Agency (APS) on Monday, the Saharawi diplomat assured that, with this new aggression, the Moroccan occupier has buried the fragile peace agreement forever and has undermined the three decades of a truce characterized by its intransigence and delay in respecting their commitments.

Our people are determined to continue their resistance and our war against the Moroccan occupation is a war of generations that will not stop until we achieve the final victory ", he asserted and pointed out that" in these moments, there will be no voice louder than the sound of our armed resistance with all the legitimate means to liberate the fullness of the national territory of the Saharawi Republic. SPS

125/090/TRA
We want to use the training forum as an opportunity to continue the dialogue with our clients and learn what else we can do to better support them through reopening and beyond.

To help its clients better navigate the new normal, Maestro has embarked on a training initiative that is helping hoteliers adapt to change and meet the demands of todays vigilant travelers. The provider of cloud and on premises property-management systems to independent and luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups is offering a Training Services Package that gives Maestro users the opportunity to experience the full power of its Browser and Windows Version 5.5 PMS that rolled out across its portfolio in 2020.

Maestro Version 5.5 features the latest mobile and contactless software tools and offers security enhancements to better manage the challenges Maestro users are facing entering the new year. The enhanced solution includes:



A curbside check-in tool utilizing mobile tablet devices to streamline registration and socially distance staff from guests, and guests from each other;

A web/mobile/kiosk/iPad self-check-in module with mobile key integration, express mobile check-out, digital registration card with signature capture, mobile spa provider schedule, mobile intake and waiver forms, and eSignature document management to limit staff interaction with guests and remove high-touch physical documents;

A mobile housekeeping app that protects staff by controlling the availability of rooms and setting a configurable 48-hour time gap between the time a guest departs and the next guest arrives;

Mobile payment integration;

Mobile task management; and

A Guest Engagement Measurement (GEM) tool that provides access to relevant guest feedback, intelligence, and insights to encourage operational excellence, meaningful differentiation, and a sustainable competitive advantage.

Daily we are seeing more and more hotels sign up for this exciting reassurance project, said Wendy Paul, Maestro Training Services Manager. Today 100% of our portfolio is using Maestro Version 5.5, and its packed with a lot of robust tools that operators have not experienced before. No feature should be overlooked; each is vital to the operational success of hotels today. As properties continue to prepare for travel to return to pre-COVID-19 demand  and as many of our healthy clients begin adding properties to their portfolios  this barrier-free, remote training initiative will equip hoteliers with everything needed to be competitive, meet the contactless demands of travelers, and emerge stronger than before.

Training Incentives

To ensure that everyone is leveraging V5.5 to its fullest, Maestro is offering one free contactless mobile tool for one property when one day of training is purchased by the hotel. Operators wanting more training can buy a two-day package and receive a complimentary audit of their front desk configuration to maximize productivity or they can add a third day of training at no cost. Those seeking three days of training will receive the complimentary audit, plus the free contactless mobile tool and a 4th day of training at no cost. Maestro users can choose from one of the following free contactless mobile tools, with installation and set-up included: Digital Signature Capture Reg Card, WebPro Pre-Check In, Mobile Housekeeping, or Express Mobile Check Out.

Most of our clients are opting for the two-day online training package and choosing a free contactless mobile tool, Paul said. Each of the four offerings are proving to be attractive incentives, as more and more of our clients know and understand the importance that contactless technology brings to their hotels today. Based on the popularity of this program, we are considering extending it for another 30 days.

Maestro President Warren Dehan said that providing re-opening assistance to Maestro clients is the companys top priority. The goal through this training initiative, he said, is three-fold: First, we want to see if our clients are optimizing Maestro to its fullest potential (which modules and/or features are they using successfully, and which do they need more orientation on and best practices recommendations), Dehan said. Second, we want to make sure that hoteliers are aware of the many powerful mobile and contactless add-ons available through Maestro that support the services that todays travelers are demanding. Third, we want to use the training forum as an opportunity to continue the dialogue with our clients and learn what else we can do to better support them through reopening and beyond. Some operators have questions about onboarding new employees while others want to learn more about mobile payment integration or mobile housekeeping that protects staff by reducing contact with others. Some want options to transition to our full Web browser version of Maestro and host in the cloud. No matter what their questions are, we want to give everyone the reassurances they need that Maestro is here for them today and with them for the future.

# # #

About Maestro

Maestro is the preferred cloud hosted and on-premises PMS solution for independent hotels, luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups. Maestros PCI certified and EMV ready enterprise system offers 20+ integrated modules on a single database including touchless and mobile apps to increase profitability, drive direct bookings, centralize operations, and enable operators to engage guests with a safe and personalized experience. For over 43 years Maestros Diamond Plus Service has provided unparalleled 24/7 North American based support and education services to keep hospitality groups operational and productive. for more information on Maestro. Click here to get your free PMS Buying guide.
They are to meet their families soon.

Five Ukrainian citizens, crew members of the ARVIN dry cargo ship, which sank off the coast of Turkey's Black Sea province of Bartin on January 17, have arrived in Ukraine's port city of Odesa.

"Five citizens of Ukraine, crew members of the ARVIN dry cargo ship, which sank in the Black Sea on January 17, have arrived home," as reported by the State Service of Sea and River Transport.

Read alsoThirteen servicemen injured in road accident with military truck in Lviv region (Photo, video)The plane landed in Odesa at 09:00 Kyiv time. Now the sailors are on the way to meet their families.

A rescue operation is still underway for another three sailors who are citizens of Ukraine.

ARVIN ship accident

On January 17, the ARVIN dry cargo ship sank in the Black Sea off the coast of the Turkish province of Bartin. On board there were 10 Ukrainians and two foreigners.

At first, it was reported that the vessel was Russian, later it became known that the ship was sailing under the flag of Palau and belonged to a Ukrainian company.

The ship was en route from the Georgian port of Poti to Burgas, Bulgaria.

The incident was caused by bad weather conditions.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, five Ukrainian nationals and one foreigner were rescued; they were rushed to a local hospital, but later discharged.

On January 18, three bodies of the ARVIN ship's sailors were found. Their identification continues.

Reporting by UNIAN
So he did go  and quietly. After all the bombastic rhetoric about fighting to the end, President Trump simply walked out of the White House and on to the helicopter, to be swept into the pages of history.

Being Donald Trump, however, he didnt bow out gracefully. No president has snubbed his successors inauguration since 1869, and no president has ever left Washington in such a state of siege, with thousands of National Guardsmen poised to suppress any unrest from Mr Trumps hooligans.

We were not a regular administration, Trump told a small group of supporters as he departed. And when you survey the wreckage after four extraordinarily turbulent years, who could disagree?

What, though, will future historians make of it all? Will they see method, where most of us see only madness?

The White House has had its fair share of odd characters, of course. But in his narcissism, his bullying and his shameless contempt for the decencies of democracy, Donald Trump was in a league of his own.

Donald Trump, accompanied by Melania Trump, arrives to speak at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US on Wednesday, for his departure ceremony

Air Force One on the tarmac after delivering Donald Trump and Melania Trump to the Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday

Of course, the perma-tanned real-estate developer would never have succeeded had he not tapped into the simmering resentment of millions of ordinary Americans who felt betrayed by globalisation, abandoned by politicians and scorned by the cultural elite.

And yes, its true that his critics could be annoying: strident, hysterical and convinced that Mr Trump was the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler.

But although his presidency was never quite as bad as their most apocalyptic predictions, it was bad enough.

His West Wing court was an utter madhouse, with officials coming and going so quickly he should have had a revolving door.

Then there was the grotesque circus of the Trump family, allegations of corruption hanging permanently overhead like a black cloud.

Instead of providing leadership to the Western world, he cosied up to the dictators of Russia and  of all places  North Korea.

And instead of bringing America together, he gleefully poured fuel on the flames of racial unrest.

Never did I imagine I would watch a sitting president tell a far-Right militia, the Proud Boys, to stand by for action.

Nor did I imagine I would see a president become the centre of the weirdest cult I can ever remember  the QAnon conspiracy theory, which holds that Mr Trump is fighting a heroic battle against a gang of Satan-worshipping paedophiles, operating from a Washington pizzeria.

But two things, above all, will define the Trump presidency in the eyes of the historians.

One was his response to the coronavirus pandemic, the greatest crisis since World War II.

In his farewell remarks yesterday, he insisted his presidency had been undone by something entirely unexpected: the Chinese virus.

However, leaders are judged by their response to the unexpected, and Mr Trump proved an abject failure.

From his ludicrous suggestion that people might be cured with a dose of disinfectant, to his scorn for masks and his disregard for his scientific advisers, he completely failed to rise to the moment.

By the end of his presidency, more than 400,000 Americans had died with Covid-19, the highest total in the world.

The other defining moment was his reaction to defeat.

When future students analyse the Age of Trump, the storming of the Capitol on January 6 will surely loom very large.

Even four years ago, the idea that a sitting president would seemingly incite a mob to attack the halls of Congress would have felt like something from some mad science-fiction fantasy.

Supporters of Donald Trump, including member of the QAnon conspiracy group enter the US Capitol during riots earlier this month

In that moment, Mr Trump confirmed almost everything his critics had ever said about him.

As the Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell  who had defended him for so long  put it this week: The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the President and other powerful people.

For this attack on democracy, Trump will surely go down as the worst president in American history. And whatever your politics, no one who cares about Western democracy should mourn his departure.

But enough of Donald Trump. What of his successor?

By comparison, Joe Biden feels like a proper grown-up. He was a senator for 36 years and Vice President for eight, and knows better than anybody how Washington works.

In an age when baying mobs monopolise the headlines, he is reassuringly moderate.

Hes a loyal Democrat, of course. But in todays America, its hard to imagine a more measured, statesmanlike figure  which is why his partys Left-wing firebrands tried to stop him getting the nomination.

Mr Bidens not perfect, of course. (At 78, hes far too old, for one thing.) However, his elevation is good news for the Western alliance, which means good news for Britain.

He may not have supported Brexit, but he backed us to the hilt during the Falklands War.

Mr Biden has other, more intangible strengths, too. Almost uniquely in todays Democratic Party, he can speak to ordinary blue-collar Americans on their own terms, addressing their fears about their jobs and values.

And unlike many modern politicians, he has faced personal tests most of us can scarcely imagine.

His first wife and one-year-old daughter were killed in a car crash when he was 30.

As a single-parent senator with two small boys, he commuted to Washington every day before hurrying home to put them to bed

And though he later remarried, tragedy still haunted him. His elder son, Beau, died of a brain tumour in 2015; his younger son, Hunter, has spent decades fighting drug and alcohol addiction.

Mr Biden is a serious man, then, for serious times. Since winning the election, his tone has been admirably composed, stressing unity and never rising to the childish provocations of his beaten opponent.

But is it enough? Even if the coronavirus is beaten, America faces enormous challenges.

Its Rust Belt industries are never coming back, while Chinese economic and military power grows by the day.

Once the envy of the world, much of Americas public infrastructure is dilapidated.

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

And the seething racial conflicts of recent years, which Mr Trump so gleefully encouraged, will not easily be resolved.

Can a single man fix all this? No. Changing the tone will make a difference. But lasting change will be more difficult, not least because Mr Biden has only a narrow Senate majority.

And as the strict security at yesterdays inauguration reminds us, there is a deeper, more intractable issue.

Never has America been so divided. Even now, three out of four Republicans still believe the presidential election was stolen  despite their own party leaders saying it wasnt.

Will the gun-toting far-Right militia simply melt away? Or, more worryingly, will they return to haunt Mr Biden?

Above all, there is no getting away from the hulking presence of Mr Trump.

The forces he incarnated, the furies and resentments, have not disappeared. He won 74 million votes in November.

And despite the violence at the Capitol, many of his supporters remain as loyal as ever.

Will he really fade into retirement? Or, more plausibly, will he soon be clamouring to regain his place at centre stage, firing up the crowds with more incendiary rhetoric?

Have a good life, Mr Trump told his supporters yesterday. And then, more ominously: We will see you soon. For Americas sake, I hope not.
Acer Malaysia has officially announced that the AOpen gaming monitors such as the 32HC5QR and 24MV1YP will soon be available in Malaysia for the price of RM839 and RM599 respectively. Both the monitors will be available for purchase at a discounted price as well as free goodies on 21 January 2021 on Lazada from 12AM onwards and on Shopee on 22 January 2021 from 12AM until 9AM.

In terms of the free gifts, you could get a bunch of goodies including a mouse pad, DisplayPort cable, Acer flask, and more until 25 January 2021 if you were to purchase from selected resellers located across Malaysia. As for the tech specs, the 32HC5QR monitors comes equipped with a 32-inch 165Hz AMD FreeSync premium technology while the 24MV1YP comes with the same features except for a smaller 24-inch display.

With all that said, would you be interested in getting either the AOpen 32HC5QR or the 24MV1YP as soon as it is available for purchase in Malaysia? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.
Virginia libraries negotiate new contract with Elsevier

Six members of the Virginia Research Libraries (VRL) recently completed contract negotiations with Elsevier, the largest publisher of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) scholarly journals. Through a new one-year 2021 agreement, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, Old Dominion University, William & Mary, and James Madison University libraries addressed their priorities for affordability, accessibility, and equity.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginias research libraries were moving toward a new contract with Elsevier beginning in 2022. Due to the pandemics negative effect on operating budgets, the group asked to renegotiate its last year of the current five-year contract. VRL appreciates Elseviers willingness to modify the agreement a year early in light of budget needs. The library group will be back at the negotiating table in 2021 to pen a longer-term agreement.

What does this new one-year agreement with Elsevier mean?

Cost savings

Most of the Virginia research libraries involved in the negotiation are experiencing budget shortfalls for 2021 and projecting budget shortfalls for 2022. Each institution involved reduced its overall spend for the year, balancing its COVID-distressed budget for 2021. For W&M Libraries, the Elsevier contract was 12% of its collection budget, making it the libraries largest subscription-based contract. By participating in this re-negotiation, W&M Libraries was able to reduce expected spend for FY21 by more than 55%. The savings will fund alternative pathways to access (Interlibrary Loan and article pay-per- view), and support for open access publishing.

Journal selection criteria

The new agreement frees the institutions from the Big Deal Freedom Collection, allowing for a collection that better suits users needs. The new subscription list includes only titles that are consistently used by our users. Also, we are free to cancel subscriptions at any time if they are not used. This is part of a longer-term effort to realign investments in favor of tools and resources that are more affordable, equitable, and sustainable. And it allows the libraries to build a more tailored collection from more diverse vendors that better service evolving needs of their universities.

The libraries selected titles for the agreement based on download data, article citations by institutional authors, open access availability of articles, articles published by institutional authors, and faculty and library liaison input, while also attempting to reduce duplication of title purchases across institutions. The group also analyzed the projected costs of alternative access to those titles.

Access

Researchers will continue to have access to everything they need to do their research. Subscriptions are just one mode of access to research, and our libraries are committed to helping researchers navigate alternatives.

The Virginia research libraries are confident that they can meet demand through existing subscriptions, backfile content, open access journals and repositories, and interlibrary loan services including article purchase. Recently, the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) invested in an improved interlibrary loan service for all Virginia public institutions that will decrease turnaround time and lower costs.

We have fast and robust networks to borrow and lend content with other libraries through interlibrary loan, said Laura C. Morales, interim associate dean of collections and content services for W&M. When researchers cant wait for interlibrary loan, we will purchase access for them at the article level.

In addition to accessing articles, the new agreement clarified privacy provisions and broadened the university communitys rights to allow for text and data mining of the scholarly materials.

Whats next?

The Virginia research libraries will be working with other big publishers to take similar steps toward a more sustainable scholarly communications ecosystem in the coming year. They will continue watching how resources are used, including the demand for alternative access, and use that knowledge to inform next years negotiations with Elsevier.
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
Highlands Investments, a licensed cultivator of high-quality, low-cost medical grade cannabis, today launches Canna-Tract

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "Canna-Tract is Africa's first cannabis contract cultivation offering. Canna-Tract provides clients looking to grow commercial volumes of medical-grade cannabis the ability to do so without having to obtain a licence or invest the significant capital required to ensure medical grade product. We believe that our cost per hectare model will result in one of the lowest cultivation costs per gram today," says Highlands Investments Managing Director, Mark Corbett.

With its exceptional growing climate and low production cost, Lesotho is an ideal place to grow commercial volumes of cannabis. In 2017, Highlands Investments (formerly Canopy Growth Africa) was granted one of the first and largest licences by the Lesotho government to cultivate, manufacture, supply, import and export medical cannabis products including flower, oil, distillate and isolate.

Highlands has two sites in Lesotho; the main site is at Kolojane. Over $35 million was invested by Canopy Growth, the world's largest cannabis company by market capitalisation, to develop the sites, which are now wholly owned by Highlands. Each site includes state-of-the art growing, processing and packaging facilities that comply to international and local regulations. After three successful harvests, Highlands is now entering its fourth grow season, harvesting will take place in March/April.

With Canna-Tract, companies can cultivate cannabis to their specific requirements under the care of Highland's highly specialised team of agronomists, scientists, pharmacists and engineers, who take full responsibility for the growing, harvesting and processing of the cannabis flower. Clients can select or supply genetics and choose the final product form (flower or extract). The minimum grow commitment is 0.5 hectares. Various payment plans are available. Plants are RFID tagged and grown under net house to GAP requirements. Clients receive monthly grow reports and have access to 24-hour CCTV feed. After harvesting and processing the product is stored at Highlands' warehouse until it is ready to be shipped to its final destination.

About Highlands Investments

Highlands Investments is a diversified cannabis business. We cultivate, process and package high-quality THC and CBD cannabis flower for the production of medical grade cannabis products. The quality of our cannabis has been verified by independent laboratory tests and is produced in state-of-the-art facilities at substantially lower costs than our international peers.

https://highlands-investments.com

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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.
The road south to Umm Qasr, Iraqs only deepwater port, passes the high walls and barbed wire of the infamous former Bucca prison as well gas flares on the horizon from extensive fossil fuel extraction in the countrys southern Basra province.

The Kuwaiti border is just west of Umm Qasr, while the regional capital, Basra, lies almost 60 kilometers (37 miles) north. To the southeast is the Faw peninsula, stretching to the Iranian border and site of a strategic project that has over the years suffered repeated delays but which may now be picking up momentum.

Military forces guard the entrance to Umm Qasr North, one of Umm Qasr's three ports and through which the lions share of traffic passes.

While several smuggling busts occurred there in previous years, port officials told Al-Monitor that only a few drones had been found during an inspection in recent weeks and revenue had increased enormously following anti-corruption measures enforced last summer.

During a Jan. 14 visit, Al-Monitor was shown the electronic system being put in place at the border and granted an extensive, exclusive interview with port director Mohammed Jassim al-Janabi.

The Umm Qasr North Port chief, who noted that he had only in recent weeks been transferred to the port from a border crossing with Iran, told Al-Monitor that the increased military presence and various security measures introduced by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimis government and Border Ports Authority director Omar Al-Waeli had enabled those working at the ports to feel safe from threats from corrupt businessmen and the "parties" many are linked to.

Parties is a term often used in southern Iraq to refer to Shiite armed groups boasting a political faction, such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq and the Badr Organization. In speaking to this journalist during the first months of massive anti-government protests across south and central Iraq beginning in October 2019, protestors and human rights activists often blamed not-better-defined parties for much of the violence they were subjected to but did not want to name any specific ones out of fear of retaliation.

Janabi, who is originally from the Sunni-majority and currently closed military zone further north of Jurf al-Sakr, renamed Jurf al-Nasr after it was retaken from the Islamic State (IS) by Iraqi forces, noted that he had only been to nearby Basra once in his life.

He stressed that his job stopped at the well-protected, now entrances and exits of the port and that those stationed at border ports of entry were now regularly transferred after a few months so as to prevent possible abuses of position.

Kadhimi, who has drawn on his experience and position as head of the national intelligence agency in his efforts to curb the countrys widespread corruption, was sworn in as prime minister on May 6 of last year.

Months of a government void had followed the resignation of the previous government as a result of the massive protests that began in late 2019, which made eliminating the crippling levels of corruption one of their demands.

Janabi claimed that now, with the military guarding the entrances and exits and those manning the port being transferred every few months, corrupt businessmen with links to armed groups had been hit hard.

He noted that the bulk of trade coming through the port was with Asian countries. The vast majority of Iraqs oil, upon which the countrys economy currently relies heavily, is also exported through Iraqs southern ports.

A sharp increase in revenue both from the port itself and from other customs points at the countrys border crossings is being witnessed in official figures.

At Umm Qasr North alone, Janabi said, Revenue went from 42 billion Iraqi dinars in 2019 to 393 billion in 2020.

An increase of about nine to 10 times over the previous year, he noted, despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions and crises linked to it, is enormous.

The port director told Al-Monitor that few attempts at smuggling had been made since the much-publicized military reinforcements and new measures compared with previous years. However, three drones with cameras were found during one inspection.

Janabi said Iraqi nationals were the ones that had been trying to smuggle them through the port. He declined to say where the drones were from or where they were intended to end up, simply noting that an investigation was underway.

Drones have taken on an ever more prominent role in recent years in incidents between the United States and Iran-allied groups in Iraq and in IS attacks.

A government official who asked not to be named as he did not have permission to speak on the matter told Al-Monitor that, meanwhile, discussions were underway between Iraq and the United Arab Emirates about opening a direct shipping line between the UAE and the Umm Qasr Port.

In October, it was announced that the first shipping line between Oman and Iraqs Umm Qasr had also opened.

Meanwhile, the massive project for the Faw Port further southeast near the Iranian border is considered strategic to Iraqs future. When finished, it will be one of the worlds 12 largest ports.

The hope that increased security of the key port will lead to a sharp drop in corruption, coming to the aid of the countrys bleak financial situation and restoring international investor confidence, seems to be bearing fruit thus far.

Janabi pointed out that though outlaw groups may make use of other strategies, striking a blow to even one major income stream could have a significant effect.
A man in Utah stole a donut from a convenience store whilst impersonating a police office.

Daniel Mark Wright, 47, entered a 7-Eleven in Lehi wearing a jacket with the words Sheriffs Deputy on the back. He then proceeded to shoplift a donut, an act which did not go unnoticed by one of the stores clerk.

KUTV reports that Lehi police were notified of the mans thievery, and were told that he had left the convenience store in a white Ford truck. Officers were then able to track down the trucks location by observing surveillance video footage, eventually finding it in a motel parking lot.

Officers knocked on the door and made contact with [Wright] as he opened the door and was asked to step outside, read one of the responding officers official report. A female was also inside of the bedroom and was identified as Christian Olson. While the door was open, I observed the green Salt Lake County Sheriffs jacket hanging in the entry way closet.

It appears that Wrights crimes went far beyond petty fried dough theft, though. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered that the white Ford truck had been stolen, too.

Police have also linked both Wright and Olson to the arrest of Adalberto Ozeta. KUTV additionally reports that Ozeta was taken into custody last weekend after police engaged him in a 100-mile-per-hour car chase. The 30-year-old is suspected to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run, and had also stolen the SUV he was driving.

Wright was eventually arrested on the charges of receiving or transferring of a stolen vehicle, theft, and, of course, impersonating an officer.

China is on an energy-driven venture into the Middle East, and America should be wary.

Given the Middle Easts strategic location, natural resources, and security challenges, the U.S. should guard against a hostile power dominating the region. Yet, while potentially disruptive, Chinas entrance into the Middle East gives America an opportunity to update its strategy in the region.

China receives over a quarter of its oil from the Middle East, giving it a reason to establish its presence in several countries throughout the region. For instance, China formed a 25-year strategic trade, security, and infrastructure partnership with Iran, which will provide China with discounted Iranian oil and increase Chinas leverage in the Persian Gulf. Further, China has an oil-for-infrastructure deal with Iraq that will send a third of Iraqs oil to China in return for Chinese-operated critical infrastructure projects. These are but two countries in Chinas approach to increase its influence in the Middle East.

Chinas rising leverage through its use of economic ties and debt as tools to mute political opposition can be seen in Arab countries silenceand occasional supportfor Chinas internment of over a million Muslims.

Americas primary foreign policy goal should be to prevent a hostile power from dominating regions of crucial political, geographical, or economic importance. Bridging three continents, the Middle East is one of the most strategically significant locations in the world. Global shipping linesthe bloodstream of the international economyrun through it, and its main resourceoilpowers the world and affects Americas economy. Keeping oil flowing from the Persian Gulf also keeps Americas European allies from depending on Russia for energy.

We dont want a hostile power controlling the flows of critical shipping lanes and trade routes of a third of the worlds oil. How then should America counter Chinas rising influence in such an important region?

Americas past attempts to remake the region in its own image through violent, meddlesome methods and constant engagement have brought decades of wars, a sullying of Americas global standing, and igniting terrorist attacks against the homeland.

Its time to change course.

Preventing China from gaining too much influence in the Middle East will involve a reorientation of Americas strategy. Rather than promoting its own domestic values and institutions, America should form a network of alliances to guard against any countrys attempt to dominate the region. Americas recent brokering of trilateral relations between Israel and several Arab states is already diplomatically and economically countering Chinese influence. Strengthening this alliance to counter the China-Iran dyad would be prudent.

Americas Middle East interests can also be accomplished with a smaller military presence. As in the Cold War, America should rely on local powers to balance each other, rather than engage in direct management or attempting to change regional politics. For instance, America could help create a Suadi, Jordanian, Israeli, and other Gulf state coalition to counter Chinese and Iranian influence. America can provide intelligence sharing and training to regional allies, but fighting should be left to them whenever possible.

When a military presence is needed it can be smaller than in the past. A few U.S. naval ships and accompanying fighter jets stationed on an aircraft carrier or bases can keep vital regional shipping lanes open. An emergency response force can be kept nearbylike Americas Rapid Deployment Force in the Cold Warbut held over the horizon until absolutely needed.

America should use alliances and prudent military decisions to prevent a hostile power from dominating the Middle East. This strategy would avoid previous mistakes of nation-building and trying to remake the region in our own image, and instead use the tools America used to win the Cold War.

Jakob Puckett is an energy policy analyst and an associate contributor for Young Voices.

AXIS Insurance, the specialty insurance business segment of AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd., announced the hiring of two additional underwriters within its global Renewable Energy business.

Nicholas Boswell Brown and Claire Whelan will join AXIS in April as renewable energy underwriters and will support the expansion of the companys renewable energy business in Spain, Portugal and Latin America.

Boswell Brown joins AXIS from Aon, where he spent 10 years as a facultative reinsurance broker for Latin American Property and Power Generation risks. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Broker at Guy Carpenter and Aon Benfield in Santiago, Chile.

Whelan joins AXIS from Aviva, where she spent the past four years as a renewable energy underwriter. She was previously an engineering underwriter for Aviva and started her career as an underwriting assistant for D&O and commercial crime.

The hiring of Nick and Claire will enable us to rapidly scale up our business in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, which are some of the fastest-growing parts of the Renewable Energy market, said Richard Carroll, global head of Renewable Energy at AXIS.

Nick brings considerable experience and insights on the evolving risk mitigation needs of Renewable Energy investors, project developers and asset owners in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, and will play a key role in driving new business production for us in those markets. Claires experience both living and studying in Spain will enable us to deliver better and more informed solutions for our brokers and their clients in that region, Carroll added.

Source: AXIS Capital

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Dallas, TX , Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHAT WILL A BIDEN PRESIDENCY MEAN FOR THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Now that Joe Biden has won the Presidential election, it is important for all those interested in federal law enforcement and federal criminal justice to consider how a Biden presidency might affect the landscape. As a long-time former federal prosecutor for the Northern District of Texas and Dallas criminal defense lawyer for both federal and state crimes. I have seen many times how a change in the presidency can change federal law enforcement and criminal prosecution priorities. Below, I will outline the areas where changes are most likely and describe what I foresee.

How Presidents Shape Federal Criminal Justice Policies

First, it is important to remember how a new President can change federal criminal justice. Federal crimes are prosecuted under the authority of the United States Department of Justice. The head of the Justice Department is the United States Attorney General. Below the Attorney General are 93 United States Attorneys. Each United States Attorney is responsible for a regional district. For example, in Texas, there are four United States Attorneysone each for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas. Each of these United States Attorneys leads an office of prosecutors, who are called Assistant United States Attorneys. These are the lawyers who usually represent the United States in court.

The President appoints the Attorney General and each of the United States Attorneys. The President will usually appoint people who have the same general philosophy as the President. President Biden will therefore appoint a new Attorney General and a new group of United States Attorneys who tend to share his views on federal criminal justice.

The Attorney General establishes federal law enforcement and criminal justice priorities for the entire country. The 93 U.S. Attorneys carry out those priorities by directing their offices on how to accomplish them. In addition, federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI and the DEA are part of the Justice Department. They follow the policies and priorities that the Attorney General establishes.

Different presidential administrations have different priorities. Here are the main areas in which I expect the Biden Administrations priorities to change from the Trump Administrations:

1. Immigration .

The Trump Administration made immigration enforcement one of its highest priorities. For example, as a matter of policy, the Justice Department directed federal prosecutors to prosecute criminally all federal immigration crimeseven misdemeanors, such as illegal entry into the United States, under 8 U.S.C.  1326(a). In the past, administrations from both parties had tended not to prosecute these cases criminally. Instead, those caught illegally entering the United States were either deported immediately, or they were allowed to plead guilty the same day they were caught, receive a sentence of time served, and were then deported right away.

Under the Trump Administration, this changed. People caught illegally entering the United States were held in custody and processed through the judicial system. The judicial process alone includes docketing their cases, assigning a prosecutor and often appointing a defense lawyer, having court hearings, preparing presentence reports for the judges, and holding sentencing hearings. In districts near the United States/Mexico border, this put an enormous strain on the federal courts, federal law enforcement agencies, and federal detention facilities.

I expect the Biden Administration will go back to a policy of allowing persons caught illegally entering the United States for the first time to plead guilty immediately and be deported. This will more effectively utilize federal law enforcement and judicial resources.

It is important to understand that, although illegal entry into the United States is a federal misdemeanor, illegal reentry after a prior deportation, under 8 U.S.C.  1326(b), is a federal felony. The difference is that a person can only be charged with the misdemeanor crime the first time they are caught illegally entering the United States, but if they are caught after they have been deported before, they can be charged with a felony.

Prior to the Trump Administration, the Justice Department under Presidents from both parties had generally prosecuted illegal reentry cases only when the person had committed a serious felony crime before being deported. The type of crime that would have normally triggered an illegal reentry prosecution was called an aggravated felony. Those who had not committed an aggravated felony were normally charged with the misdemeanor crime of illegal entry and deported.

As a matter of policy, the Trump Administration aggressively prosecuted illegal reentry cases, even if the accused had not committed an aggravated felony. I expect that Justice Department under the Biden Administration will change this and go back to something similar to the prior policies.

Finally, under the Obama Administration, those who qualified for DACA status (brought to the United States as young children, no significant criminal history), were not arrested and removed from the United States. President Trump threatened to end this policy and to begin actively attempting to deport those with DACA status.

In Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the Univ. of California, No. 18-587 (U.S., June 18, 2020), however, the United States Supreme Court held that the Trump Administration had not followed proper legal procedures for ending DACA protections. The decision would have permitted the Trump Administration to end DACA protections, however, if all proper legal procedures were followed. I certainly expect that the Biden Administration will restore DACA protections and will push for legislation giving DACA recipients a path to citizenship.

2. Drug Crimes .

Another area in which the Trump Administration changed Justice Department policy is the enforcement of federal laws criminalizing marijuana distribution. The Justice Department under the Obama Administration essentially looked the other way at marijuana distribution in states that had legalized marijuana possession. Under the Trump Administration, the Justice Department officially ended this policy, although actual federal prosecutions for marijuana sales that were legal under state laws were rare.

I expect that the Justice Department under President Biden will revert back to the Obama Administration policy of not enforcing federal laws against marijuana distribution if the activity is legal under the law of the state where it takes place. Since such prosecutions were rare under the Trump Administration, the practical effect may be to open up investment and business activity involving marijuana distribution activities that are legal under a states laws, at least to a degree. This is because such a new policy would reduce uncertainty for those engaging in legal activity under relevant state laws. This does not mean, however, that large-scale marijuana distribution is likely to be permitted in states where marijuana is illegal.

3. Civil Rights Investigations of Law Enforcement .

In recent times, we have seen many instances of shootings of unarmed peopleparticularly black men--by law enforcement and those acting like law enforcement. Although the Justice Department under the Trump Administration has not had an official hands off policy on these incidents, it has not exactly investigated them aggressively or made them a law enforcement priority.

I expect this to change under the Biden Administration. First, I expect federal law enforcement to begin working more intensively with local law enforcement to try to prevent these types of incidents from occurring. Second, I expect to see more federal investigations of local police departments that appear to have a problem with systemic racism. Third, I expect more aggressive investigation and prosecution of local police officers who kill unarmed citizens in violation of their civil rights.

Hopefully, these measures will reduce the kind of incidents that have caused massive unrest and will help restore faith in local law enforcement.

CONCLUSION

Each new presidential administration has different law enforcement and criminal justice priorities. They are formulated through federal agencies like the Justice Department, under the direction of the Attorney General. They are implemented through the 93 United States Attorneys around the country and the Assistant United States Attorneys they oversee.

I expect the Biden Administration to make a number of changes from the Trump Administration, including those described above. Hopefully, these changes will meaningfully improve the administration of justice in this country.

Law Office of John M. Helms

https://johnhelms.attorney

Media contact:

R. William

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Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte survived a key parliamentary test this week, yet his coalition government remains in a perilous position as it battles the coronavirus pandemic.

The government was left on the verge of collapse after ex-premier Matteo Renzi withdrew his small Italia Viva party from the ruling coalition.

His move last week has opened up a period of political turmoil as the Covid-19 death toll mounts and Italy must come up with a credible plan to spend 220 billion euros ($266 billion) in EU recovery funds.

"Conte is saved, but you can't govern like this," La Stampa newspaper wrote on its front page after Tuesday evening's knife-edge result in the Senate, the upper chamber.

Here is a look at what is on the horizon.

- Minority government in charge -

Conte survived Renzi's challenge by securing the backing of the Senate, by 156 votes to 140, but fell short of winning the 161 needed for an overall majority

It left him leading a minority government which may struggle to push its agenda in parliament just as it is dealing with the coronavirus and a severe recession.

The ruling coalition, comprising the populist Five Star Movement (M5S), the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and a smaller leftist party, is now trying to beef up its numbers.

It hopes to win over some opposition lawmakers, citing the need to preserve stability and avoid snap elections in the middle of a health crisis that has claimed more than 83,000 lives.

- Courting opposition lawmakers -

Three senators made the leap on Tuesday night, but several more are needed to give the ruling coalition a more solid parliamentary footing.

The Senate vote "is clearly not the end goal, but a starting point", Culture Minister Dario Franceschi, a key member of the PD, told La Repubblica daily.

"A government is strong if it can count on 170 senators. So we must now work to strengthen it," he added, calling on centre-right "moderates" to switch sides.

Story continues

- Reshuffle on the cards -

The ruling parties are keen to avoid snap elections, which opinion polls suggest would hand victory to a right-wing bloc led by Matteo Salvini's eurosceptic League party.

Most opposition backbenchers are also in no hurry to face voters, as recent reform that cut by one-third the number of parliamentary seats reduces their re-election chances.

Conte can offer the incentive of a government job for new arrivals. In his speeches to parliament, he clearly said he was open to a reshuffle in the coming weeks.

- Fresh trouble in July? -

If Conte fails to woo enough opposition forces, his hold on power will become increasingly tenuous, especially once the threat of fresh elections evaporates.

Under Italy's constitution, parliament cannot be dissolved in the last six months of a sitting head of state's mandate, and President Sergio Mattarella's term ends in January 2022.

This means that in six months' time anyone seeking to unseat Conte could trigger a new political crisis without the risk of elections.

A possible outcome could be a grand coalition government to see Italy through the worst of the pandemic. Renzi said he would be open to this.

- What now for Renzi? -

The Italia Viva leader quit after criticising Conte's leadership style, the government's record on the pandemic and its plans for the EU recovery funds.

Renzi has argued that the unprecedented windfall risks being wasted on hand-outs rather than long-term investments.

But critics accused Renzi -- whose party is polling at just three percent -- of seeking to deliberately destabilise the government so he can play kingmaker.

"I will have fun in opposition. I will hold the balance on everything," he told reporters on Tuesday.

aa-ams/ar/bp
As U.S. President Joe Biden assumes office today, many in Afghanistan hope that he can correct course and help their country achieve peace while also helping Washington end the longest war in its history.

Bidens predecessor left him a narrow path to follow in Afghanistan. Under a peace deal with the Taliban last February, the remaining 2,500 troops in Afghanistan are expected to leave the country by May.

But a power-sharing agreement between the Taliban and the Afghan government, a key benchmark for the success of the peace process, is nowhere in sight. Many Afghans officials and international observers remain deeply skeptical of the hard-line Islamist groups ability to fulfill its counterterrorism guarantees, which was another prerequisite for complete U.S. withdrawal.

Such complications project difficult choices for the incoming Biden administration. Senior officials of the new administration are already hinting at reviewing Washingtons approach to Afghanistan as the bloodshed continues unabated in the country at war for more than four decades.

Shahzada Masoud, a former presidential adviser, says he hopes Biden will pay close attention to Afghanistan soon after assuming office. Biden needs to make sure that the American forces depart in a responsible manner, he told Radio Free Afghanistan.

Masoud says Bidens main challenge will be to ensure the Afghan peace process stays the course. With the help of Afghanistans neighbors and countries in the region, he needs to help the peace talks in Doha conclude in a manner that will see lasting peace in Afghanistan, he said.

An Afghanistan 'At Peace With Itself'

Earlier this month, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani alluded that the shared goal of Kabul and the international community to have a sovereign, democratic, united Afghanistan at peace with itself and the region" is still far from a reality.

"If that goal becomes accepted, then we can move forward. But if the objective of the Taliban is to dominate and give us the peace of the grave, then that will have very negative consequences," he said while reiterating his administrations position that sees the Taliban still unwilling to commit to peace.

His deputy, First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, took a starker view. In a recent interview with the BBC, he argued that despite securing a massive concession from the United States, the Taliban has not severed its ties with Al-Qaeda and is unlikely to deliver on their counterterrorism assurances.

The question is not the fate of Afghanistan, he argued. The question is the fate, reputation and standing of the Western civilization. They came to assist a small country to prevail against terrorism -- against radicalism -- against Al-Qaeda affiliates.

They should ask themselves the question. What was the mission? Is it accomplished? he added. If we put a common check list, the mission is not accomplished.

In Washington, Bidens nominee for leading the Pentagon appeared amenable to keeping his countrys options open.

We want to see an Afghanistan in the future that does not present a threat to America, Retired General Lloyd Austin told a confirmation hearing in the Senate on January 19. He, however, made it clear that diplomacy will be the first choice of the new administration. "This conflict needs to come to an end. We need to see an agreement reached," he said.

Antony Blinken, Biden's choice for the top diplomatic slot, indicated he will review Washingtons agreement with the Taliban after assuming office at the State Department.

"We have to look carefully at what has actually been negotiated. I haven't been privy to it yet," Blinken told his confirmation hearing on January 19.

But he said the new administration is still considering Bidens idea of retaining a counterterrorism force in Afghanistan -- something he had advocated as a vice president in the Obama administration.

We want to retain some capacity to deal with any resurgence of terrorism, which is what brought us there in the first place," he said. "We want to end this so-called forever war. We want to bring our forces home.

In what would amount to an optimistic sign for the Afghan government and civil society, Blinken emphasized protecting the gains in the country.

I dont think that any outcome that they achieve -- the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban achieve -- is sustainable without protecting the gains that have been made by the women and girls in Afghanistan during the past 20 years, he said. I dont think it will be easy, but we will work on it.

It is not clear whether Trumps special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, will continue in his post under the new administration or if Washington will appoint a replacement. He recently met with the Taliban leaders in Qatar after visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Reluctant Taliban

The Taliban, however, appears reluctant to renegotiate the deal or make any concessions. Joe Bidens administration needs to be fully attentive to implementing the Doha agreement, which will end Americas longest war and will also protect the people form calamities and help end the war, too, Zabihullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, told Radio Free Afghanistan on January 19.

Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesman in Qatar, said they want the American interlocutors to help with releasing the Taliban prisoners and removing the movements leaders from a UN sanctions list. The IEA mentioned the issue of the release of its remaining detainees and the removal of the Blacklist, which are the text and important items of the agreement, he tweeted on January 17.

This confirms claims by Afghan government negotiators that before discussing anything substantial about power-sharing or a permanent cease-fire, the Taliban want to extract key concessions from Kabul and Washington.

Across Afghanistan, many are hoping the incoming administration can do something to lower violence and protect what the country has achieved from nearly two decades of international attention and aid.

With Kamala Harris going to be Bidens vice president, we hope the U.S. can help in protecting womens rights by giving them a central role in the peace talks, said Fatana Gailani, head of the Afghan Women Council, a nongovernmental organization.

Rohina, a woman living in the southeastern Ghazni city, says she hopes Biden will attend to major issues in her country.

We hope that the new U.S. administration can help in preserving human rights, ending the war, and gaining economic prosperity, she said.

Ikramullah Ikram contributed reporting to this story.
A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal shows the connection between air pollution and premature deaths in many countries in Europe.

The authors of the study had enough reasons to assume that air quality can greatly affect the living conditions of humans.

Not only is crappy air annoying, but it is also deadly.

The study showed that ambient air pollution is a major environmental problem. It can cause severe morbidity and mortality issues around the world. However, the full extent of the health effects of air pollution is still largely unknown.

Based on the findings of the study, a fair number of premature deaths in many European cities could have been prevented annually by an improved air condition. This could be achieved by lowering air pollution concentrations based on the WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines.

Around 50,000 to 125,000 annual premature deaths could be prevented.

The mortality rate varied considerably between each city; the denser concentration of air pollutants, the bigger the number is.

The findings of the study indicate that there need to be more policies directed at the rising concern and those policies should be enacted and enforced immediately. This is not to discredit existing guidelines for pursuing the EU (European Union) 's net zero emission goal but to encourage a more localized approach to reach it.

Direct action is necessary if Europe wants to reduce air pollution and achieve sustainable, liveable, healthier, and more eco-friendly communities.

Related Article: Man Saved From Deportation Over Reason of Air Pollution

Air Pollution

According to the WHO, air pollution-related conditions cause death for more than 7 million people every year. It is recorded as one of the leading causes of sickness and work absences globally.

Ambient air pollution poses both a severe and serious environmental and health problem. It accounts for an estimated 4.2 million deaths per year due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, acute and chronic respiratory diseases.

Case Analysis

Due to air pollution, deaths varied widely, with NO2 levels in Madrid, for example, responsible for 7% of annual deaths there. Cities in the Po Valley region of northern Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic were the highest in mortality burden, with Brescia, Bergamo, and Vicenza's Italian cities all within the top five for PM2.5 concentrations.

Those with the lowest mortality burden included Tromso in Norway, Umea in Sweden, Oulu in Finland, and Reykjavik's Icelandic capital.

Sasha Khomenko, a co-author of the study from ISGlobal, said it was essential to implement local emissions reduction measures in light of the high variability in mortality linked to low air.

"We need an urgent change from private motorized traffic to public and active transportation (and) a reduction of emissions from industry, airports, and ports," she said.

Long Term Solution

It looks like people all over Europe had one thorn lifted off their chests.

The issue of healthier air conditions is one of the primary focuses of the EU, and to combat it, many European countries vow to commit to many projects that promote environmental improvement. Among those is the net zero emission initiative.

ALSO READ: Earth 'Net Zero': The Race to Stabilize Global Heat Spikes

For more environmental news updates, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Margo St. James was an artist working as a waitress and living the Beat life in San Francisco in the 1960s when her home became a counterculture hangout. As she told The Windy City Times of Chicago in 2011, there was a lot of pot-smoking and sex and, you know, whatever.

It wasnt the kind of sex that anyone paid for. But the police saw a lot of people going in and out of her house and concluded that it could be for only one reason, and so they arrested her in 1962 on prostitution charges.

Your honor, she told the judge, Ive never turned a trick in my life.

As far as the judge was concerned, that response sealed her fate. Anyone who knows the language, he told her, is obviously a professional.

Her conviction (she was jailed briefly) infuriated her and prompted her to take the college equivalency exam and enroll in law school. She didnt get her law degree, but acting as her own lawyer she successfully appealed her conviction.
Personal trainer Noel Davis opened Paris Fit Studios on Vine Street in Old City on Jan. 2, 2020. Two months later, as the pandemic raged, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered gyms to close.

Now what?

Davis followed her mantra, Fitness is the future, to motivate her. People were still interested in fitness, perhaps even more so.

We spoke with Davis recently about how fitness has changed during the pandemic and whether those changes will last.

Lets start with your own road to fitness.

My fitness journey began in 2016. I had been in a car accident in 2015 and I wound up with lower lumbar bulges  back pain. At the time I was an archaeologist. I had wanted to be one since I was 12, and I was finally in my field. But the accident was a setback. I wasnt able to do excavations. I couldnt even handle lifting the dirt. I was determined to be able to get back to doing it.

I went to various doctors and rehabilitation. I finally met a doctor who encouraged me to work on my core, which increases your back strength. After doing that for some months, after working and staying consistent, I was able to do sit-ups and to stand for longer periods of time. I was able to lift weights  the 45 pounds I needed to lift for excavations.

In the midst of that, I met a personal trainer. She said, I watched you literally not able to do anything, to being able to do everything you were trying to accomplish. She offered to pay to get me certified as a personal trainer. I started my business as a traveling personal trainer in 2017.

I still do archaeology. I still stay connected with the New Jersey State Museum. And I want to go back to grad school once I have the time. I dont think thats a dream Im ever going to let go. But now fitness is a part of my life, too.

What changed in the fitness world with the pandemic?

A lot of people were afraid. They didnt want to go the gym, even before gyms were closed. So I started to offer training on the internet.

At first, my clients didnt want to do it. They didnt want to be online, or they werent internet savvy. They were used to meeting me at a gym and having equipment. Most didnt have equipment at home. They didnt feel like it was going to be as effective.

 READ MORE: How to create a home gym for under $250

Also, a lot of people were holding onto their cash.

But I had to keep the business alive. I offered complimentary online classes to get more people in the door. We had classes for all ages. We had kid yoga, kid Zumba, a kid dance workout.

A lot of seniors were always at home, so they werent getting the daily physical activity they needed. Some just needed things to do and interactions. So for the seniors, we have a class called Just Move. I have an 87-year-old client who says, this is important to me especially at my age.

Some interesting things happened. For Mothers Day, I told people in my classes to invite their mothers to the class. It was a big hit.

When it came to people losing interest because they didnt have equipment at home, it was my goal to make sure they adapted. I came up with the Gym in a Box. I packed everything they needed into one box  resistance bands, stretch straps, fitness gliders, a jump rope, a timer, and more. Resistance bands help with so many things  muscle memory, strength. You can still get a full workout with simple resistance bands and a mat.

 READ MORE: A full-body resistance-band workout you can do anywhere

The pandemic was such a stressful time. A lot of people dealt with depression, with unwanted feelings. I always tell my clients that fitness is a therapeutic outlet. I think they understood it this time.

Is online training as good as going to the gym?

In some ways, its better. One reason is simply that people are meeting people. You might think the opposite, but before the pandemic, people were busy. They were in class and gone. They didnt stop and connect as much.

Now, they do. They know more about one another. Theyre gaining friends. Sometimes, when Im queuing up the music and they have to wait, I can hear them saying, Hi, Ellen! Hi, Liz! People dont have to have their video on during a class, but most do. So they can see each other.

The online classes are a lot more intense, too. I had to make up for the fact that people didnt have equipment at home, so I did a lot of high-intensity interval training. We did a lot of body weight workouts.

 READ MORE: Tight on time? 8 bodyweight exercises for weight loss

When it came to yoga, we made it more personable. We would add mantras. Or we would sit and talk about our different chakras. With Zumba, the music is always vibrant while were dancing, well talk. We had to add a lot more energy into the online classes to make them more fun. I had to think, how can I do this with a computer?

Do you think any of these changes will last?

Yes. I will say that video fitness is definitely the future.

For one thing, the online classes left no room for excuses. Before the pandemic, I would have cancellations every time it rained, every time it snowed. Everything. Now, a lot of times people can get out of bed, get dressed, and go to the TV or computer and start working out. They dont have to put on a coat and get into the car.

Also, we found that a lot more people feel more comfortable working out in their homes. Even before the pandemic, if I was around a client who had a sick child at home, they could get sick, and I could get sick. After the pandemic, I believe a lot of people are still going to be afraid being around other people. Being online is a lot safer.

Overall, its more convenient. I wish I had started online training years ago. Its so simple, and it allows you to connect with so many people. I have a client now in New Jersey who has private group sessions with her friend in Alabama. I have clients in Italy. I trained someone who was in England. Im able to connect with everyone simply from my phone or computer. Im happy I dont have to drive in bad weather to train anymore. Even when I go back to the studio, Im still going to offer online classes and online training.

Now that were all psyched for fitness, give us some tips and advice for staying motivated.

Start not with exercise, but with nutrition. One thing I always tell people is that abs are made in the kitchen. Whether you want to lose weight, gain weight, or just tone, you have to make sure your nutrition matches what youre doing in the gym. Your energy can be affected.

Also, if you start with the mindset that youre going to eat healthy, working out will be no issue. I feel like its much harder for people to start working out and then you say to them, When you go home, no bread, no cake. Reaching your goal is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise.

As for motivation, my clients motivate me. When they come to me with their goals, I say to them, OK, this is OUR goal now. It allows a more personal connection with my clients.

Before I was a trainer, what made me consistent was trying to get back to the strong person I was before my accident.

Now, there are times when, yes, I do feel unmotivated. But I have to think of the benefits of exercise. My mood is better. I feel better. Its like my senior clients, who say that when they dont exercise, they feel weak, their muscles are aching. I still need to exercise to make sure my lower back is right. If I dont exercise, Ill be in pain.

sandybauers10@gmail.com
ARCHIVED - Illegal migrants continue to enter Spain via Murcia Region



10 migrants were detected in Aguilas on Monday

Although police have dismantled one criminal group transporting irregular migrants to Almeria and Murcia, others continue to operate and this week the gradual trickle of illegal migrants entering Europe via the Spanish coastline continued.

10 illegal immigrants reached the Playa de Levante in Aguilas around seven in the morning on Monday and dispersed before police reached the beach. Some of them were intercepted on the Todosol urbanisation and others heading towards the urban area of the town.

All have been PCR tested and should any be found to be covid positive, then all will be quarantined at the Hotel El Cenajo in Moratalla.



A second boat has reportedly been intercepted near to Cabo de Palos this week, although the Government Delegate to the Region has not issued any formal notifications about the arrival.

Three illegal migrants were reported to have drowned off the Almeria coast at the weekend when their boat overturned and 46 further migrants who were rescued off the Almeria coast, also on Monday, were put into quarantine when three of their number tested positive for coronavirus.

A total of 41,861 iregular migrants arrived in Spain by land and sea between January 1st and December 31st, 2020, 29% more than the previous year, when 32,449 arrived, an increase that is mainly due to a huge increase in arrivals to the Canary Islands.

Last year, 23,023 irregular migrants reached the islands, 756.8% more than in 2019, when the total was 2,687, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior.

This week, illegal migrants have continued to arrive in the Canary Islands.
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) today released its regular weekly Net Asset Value ("NAV") and performance returns on its website, https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/weekly-navs/. The NAV and returns were computed as of the close of business on Tuesday, 19 January 2021.

PSH NAV per share as of close of business on 19 January 2021 was 46.60 USD 34.18 GBP and year-to-date performance was 2.5%.

Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft).

Performance is presented on a net-of-fees basis and reflects the deduction of, among other expenses: management fees, brokerage commissions, administrative fees and accrued performance fees, if any. The performance figure includes the reinvestment of all dividends, interest and capital gains. Depending on the timing of a specific investment, net performance for an individual investor may vary from the net performance as stated herein. Net performance is a geometrically linked time weighted calculation.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All investments involve risk including the loss of principal.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American domiciled companies.

Category: (PSH:WeeklyNAV)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005712/en/

Contacts:

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
GARCHES, France: Jeanne Becart, mayor of the Paris suburb of Garches, said public health officials told her to get ready to administer 1,200 COVID-19 vaccines a week. But for this week, the vaccination centre she set up has only been allocated 420 doses.

I am a bit angry," Becart said inside the vaccination hub off the town square, where over the course of Monday the 15 volunteers, nurses and doctors on duty between them vaccinated 90 patients.

She had a plea for Frances leader Emmanuel Macron. Please Mr. President, buy vaccines whatever the cost."

France is not experiencing problems with the supply of vaccines, according to government officials. They say that, apart from minor fluctuations, France is getting the doses from the manufacturers that were allocated to it.

The problem for France is that demand has exploded and is far outstripping the number of jabs available.

Many French people were initially sceptical, but as they have seen acquaintances get vaccinated with no adverse effects, large numbers decided the benefits outweigh the risks, say health officials.

People have understood now that the vaccination is the solution," said Barbara Thery, head of a vaccination centre in Le Cannet, just outside the Mediterranean city of Cannes.

So the relationship between the number of people who come forward and want to be vaccinated, and the speed at which we can do it, is not what we need," she said.

Her centre has enough doses for 50 vaccinations per day but could easily dispense 200 a day if it had the doses, she said.

France has approved both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for use.

The government ditched a plan to initially give the vaccine only to those in elderly peoples homes, meaning everyone 75 and over - a total of more than 6 million people in France - became eligible for the jab, but without the doses in place to vaccinate them straight away.

Health Minister Olivier Veran said as fast as they were being produced, the vaccines were being shipped to vaccination centres.

A Health Ministry official said the supply was speeding up and the government was on track to meet its target of vaccinating 2.4 million people by the end of February.

In Saint-Denis, on the northern edge of Paris, the local mayors office set up a vaccination centre in a municipal building. For this week, it has been allocated 132 doses.

Unfortunately that does not match the need," said Katy Bontinck, the deputy mayor in charge of health. Because of the limited doses, the centre only opens on weekday afternoons.

(Additional reporting by Eric Gaillard, Matthias Blamont and Richard Lough; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

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 publication of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in Ireland illuminates the disgraceful role that many Offaly institutions and individuals played in our dark and bleak history.

It seemed as if almost everyone conspired to hide away the unfortunate women who became pregnant outside of marriage.

The county home in Tullamore which was located in the workhouse on Arden Road, admitted a number of pregnant women.

"Until 1973 when the Unmarried Mothers Allowance was introduced, most women had no realistic prospect of keeping their child unless they were assisted by their family.

"The proportion of Irish men who acknowledged paternity was low.

According to the report: County homes admitted women with special needs, mental health problems, venereal disease or a criminal conviction, who would be rejected by a number of mother and baby homes. They also accommodated children who had special needs, including the children of married families. The accommodation and care given to these children in county homes was grossly inadequate; some of the descriptions are extremely distressing, the report noted.

Regarding the Offaly county home the report also stated: "While the premises had been improved and the commission described the management as good and sympathetic, sanitary and bathing arrangements should be improved' ".

Offaly County Council was highlighted in the report as a council which consistently ignored pleas from inspectors to board out children from the county home.

The report states, "Despite repeated pleas from the inspector, Offaly failed to advertise for foster parents, leaving it to the assistance officers to identify suitable homes. Having failed to convince Offaly that boarding out was in the best interests of the child, the department inspector suggested that they consider the financial benefits of fostering: it cost substantially less than the cost of keeping a child in an approved school. Nevertheless Offaly persisted in keeping the children of unmarried mothers in the county home for several years, and then transferring them to industrial schools. Girls were generally sent to Lenaboy; boys went to St Josephs, Salthill. The department reminded Offaly, in vain, that children should only be sent to institutions when efforts to place them with a foster family had failed.

In 1965 there were 146 children from Laois and Offaly in institutions, the vast majority of whom appear to have been sent automatically; having spent their early years in the county home or a mother and baby home, these children were then dispatched to industrial schools.

The report gives some examples of the hardships that befell Offaly women who became pregnant outside of marriage.

"In 1951 one woman from Offaly, who was pregnant for the second time (by the same man) was reported to have come to Dublin, where she went to women on stalls at [Nelsons] Pillar for advice. One took her home and gave her her bed.

"When the Offaly county manager refused to accept financial responsibility for a woman, it was suggested that she should be put on a bus to Tullamore and instructed to present herself to the county home.

The file on one baby born in Castlepollard to a woman with an Offaly address noted that her baby was boarded out in Westmeath for 2 5s a month. Two local officials were alleged to have visited the babys mother, who was described as not very sound mentally, and persuaded her to give an undertaking that her sister who worked in Dublin earning 35s a week would contribute 5s a week towards the maintenance of the baby.

This sister contributed 1 a month but Westmeath then demanded an additional 1; the woman claimed that threats were made of making trouble for the babys mother if she didnt pay. The local NSPCC officer was making arrangements for the childs (age not stated) admission to an industrial school. This confrontation probably occurred because the child was boarded out in Westmeath, whereas the mothers home address was in Offaly, the report suggests.

It appears that fostering was not always the answer either.

An inspection in Offaly in the early 1950s described how a foster mother had received 13 the previous month to buy clothing for three foster children but the clothes shown would not have cost half that sum, and the children were dressed in worn-out garments. Some foster parents bought the clothes, but did not let the children wear them - one Offaly foster mother was reported as inclined to hoard clothing, particularly undergarments, for inspection purposes while the child is clad in worn out garments.

An inspection in Offaly in March 1951 prompted several complaints about foster children who were barefoot going to school or around the home. Although the children were eligible for free footwear under a public assistance scheme, many foster children were not receiving this.

"In May 1931 the Department of Local Government and Public Health wrote to the Offaly Board of Health suggesting that the 26 unmarried mothers living in Tullamore county home should be transferred to Sean Ross. In support of the suggestion, the chairman of the board said that the 26 women in question were mere girls and first time mothers and that every effort should be made to teach them how to become self-supporting. While the Offaly councillors did not oppose the suggestion in principle, some raised concerns regarding the cost of hiring staff to take on the work performed by these women in the county home.

The full report is available at gov.ie/report
[January 20, 2021] David Dwyer Joins Academy Securities as Managing Director, Head of Leveraged Finance

Academy Securities, a registered broker-dealer, certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), today announced the addition of David Dwyer to the firm. Mr. Dwyer joins Academy after spending 20 years at J.P. Morgan Securities as a Managing Director in North American Leveraged Finance. Mr. Dwyer is also a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduate. While at J.P. Morgan, he structured and underwrote high yield bonds and leveraged loans for both corporate and financial sponsor clients. "Academy is delighted to add an industry veteran with Dave's talent and capabilities," stated Academy's Chairman and CEO Chance Mims, "While at the same time strengthening the firm's mission of hiring military veterans." Mr. Dwyer commented on joining Academy Securities: "Academy is a special firm. It provides clients professional advice based on a unique strategic perspective while simultaneously fulfilling its social mission by actively supporting the military veteran community. I am extremely proud an excited to be a part of this firm."



Mr. Dwyer graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy and earned his MBA from the Yale School of Management. While in the Coast Guard, he served as an intelligence officer at the Maritime Intelligence Center in Miami, Florida. "We are thrilled to be adding someone with Dave's industry pedigree to our team," said Phil McConkey, President of Academy Securities.

About Academy Securities Academy Securities is a preeminent disabled veteran owned investment bank with strength in capital markets, public finance, and fixed income and equity trading. Leadership and staff have had intensive military training prior to entering and gaining in depth financial services experience in global capital markets. We are mission driven with a high ethical code, a solid sense of accountability and strive for excellence in the pursuit of our clients' success. Intellectual assets, strong visionary leaders and a proud team commitment bring out the best in each other for the benefit of our clients. Academy is our nation's first and only post-9/11 disabled veteran owned investment bank and is certified as a DVBE, SDVOSB, and MBE. The firm has offices in New York, San Diego, Chicago, Los Angeles, Chapel Hill, Sacramento, Atlanta, and Kansas City. Information about Academy Securities is available at www.academysecurities.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005162/en/

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New Delhi, Jan 20 : BJP national general secretary and West Bengal-in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya says Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is feeling afraid. She has decided to also contest from the Nandigram seat since the ground beneath her feet is shaky.

On her decision to contest from Nandigram along with present seat Bhawanipur, Vijayvargiya said people have recognised this and will teach the TMC a lesson. He claimed the BJP will form the next government in Bengal by winning 200 seats. Earlier, as in-charge of Bengal, Vijayvargiya helped the BJP win 18 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

In an interview to IANS on Wednesday, Vijayvargiya said that many more MPs and MLAs from the ruling Trinamool Congress want to come to the BJP, but the party will not include people with a tainted image. Vijayvargiya told IANS, "A lot of people from Mamata's party are in touch with us, but we are not welcoming just anybody. We'll welcome those leaders who are suitable for the BJP. We will not let those leaders join the party who've been a part of the Mamata Banerjee government mafia." Vijayvargiya said that from February 5, the BJP will launch a Parivartan Rath Yatra (journey by chariot to usher in change) in Bengal. "The yatra will travel to all 294 seats in Bengal. Through the yatra, we will convey to the people the failures of the state government and the success of the Modi government at the Centre. It will also reveal how the Mamata government has damaged the image of the state by creating a violent atmosphere." Responding to a question on Mamata Banerjee contesting from Nandigram, he said, "She wants to take the safe option. Mamata has said she would also contest from Nandigram. At the time of the violence, Mamata had told the people of Nandigram she would take the police officers who opened fire to the gallows. But not only did she offer plum postings to the officers but also made them OSDs after their retirement." How credible is the BJP's claim of winning 200 seats in Bengal? On this question, Vijayvargiya said, "The kind of wind that is blowing it indicates that the BJP will definitely form the government by winning 200 seats in Bengal. I'll not be surprised if the BJP wins even more seats than this." He dismissed reports that the BJP cadres in the state are upset with the arrival of several TMC leaders to the party. Vijayvargiya said that the BJP is including only those outsiders with a clean image. There is no problem anywhere.
The outgoing secretary of state attacks the Chinese for the repression of Muslims in Xinjiang. His accusations confirmed by the UN, independent researches and various media. The Chinese respond with irony. Antony Blinken: Trump's "tough" policy towards China corrected.

Washington (AsiaNews) - The repression of Uyghurs and other Islamic minorities living in Xinjiang "is genocide," affirmed outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday. It was his last act before the handover of the Trump administration to the Biden administration, later today.

Pompeo stated the world " we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state". However, his declaration was not followed by the imposition of new sanctions on Beijing.

China is widely accused of having organized a system of internment camps to keep the Uyghur and Kazakh populations under control. According to expert data, confirmed by the United Nations, over a million Uyghurs and other Turkish-speaking minorities of Islamic faith are arbitrarily detained in Xinjiang, which the local population calls "East Turkestan".

Recent press revelations have also highlighted the existence of labour camps in Xinjiang, where hundreds of thousands of Muslims are reportedly employed by force, especially in the cotton harvest. China produces 20% of the world's cotton, most of it in this north-western region.

German researcher Adrian Zenz reported that the Chinese government is also conducting a forced sterilization campaign to control the growth of the population of Uyghur origin. His work is based on official data, government documents and direct testimony.

AsiaNews also collected testimonies on the treatment reserved for Xinjiang Muslims. Last March, Uyghur dissident intellectual Abdurresit Celil Karluk said that the Chinese government had interned several of his family members to silence him: one of his brothers was paralyzed by the torture he suffered in captivity.

The Chinese deny all charges, arguing that the Xinjiang camps are vocational training centres and poverty reduction projects. State media responded to Pompeo's allegations by claiming that the Trump government is responsible for genocide against the US population, having handled the pandemic in a disastrous way.

Other attacks also came from the "wolf warriors", the new and more aggressive Chinese generation of diplomats. Li Yang, consul general of Beijing in Brazil used sarcasm. He called Pompeo the best secretary of state in history, capable of "destroying the image" of the United States and making China even "greater".

The Asian giant will soon realize that the changing of the guard in Washington will not lead to a change in attitude. For analysts, Pompeos exit now puts pressure on Joe Biden, who will have to articulate a concrete political position on Xinjiang. Antony Blinken, the new head of US diplomacy, said he concurred with Pompeo's statement.

During his confirmation hearing in the Senate, he said he believed Trump's harsh approach against China was "right": While the substance is retained, he stressed, the way of doing relations with Beijing will change.
In preparing a farewell to President Donald Trump, I reviewed television footage of him sowing doubt about President Barack Obama's nationality.

"He doesn't have a birth certificate," Trump tells Fox News in March 2011. "He may have one, but there is something on that birth certificate - maybe religion, maybe it says he's a Muslim; I don't know."

The following month, Trump is still at it. "I have people that have been studying it, and they cannot believe what they're finding," he told NBC.

Finally, Obama relents, producing a long-form birth certificate showing that he was born in Hawaii. Trump takes credit for making him cough it up, and for relieving the fears Trump himself had exacerbated.

Well played, as far as con jobs go.

A casino owner with an eye for the easy mark and a deck of cards shuffled for a scam, Trump's birther trick paid off. The publicity helped him grow support for an even bolder race-tinged scheme - a presidential campaign to "make America great again."

Now, four years later, he's been voted out. And what he's done during that time is nothing close to great. More Americans are sick, broke, angry and afraid.

The most severe wounds he inflicted by tweeting insults to women, Blacks, Hispanics and Muslims, fomenting racial resentments and inciting violence for personal gain, could prove difficult, if not impossible, to heal.

With President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris set to be sworn in Wednesday, we can hope for a more competent response to the crises that are uppermost in everyone's mind - the pandemic and its impact on our lives.

But neither of them, nor us, should forget how Trump trashed the nation. Or why he did it.

Two weeks ago, someone placed a gallows near the inaugural bleachers outside the U.S. Capitol. Some in the mob that Trump's rhetoric incited called for the heads of legislators inside. Watching the attack on TV, you could see a Confederate flag being paraded through the Capitol. Trump was watching, too, on a TV at the White House down the street.

The only thing he seemed to find troubling, according to one story in The Washington Post, was that some of the clothing made the attackers look "low class."

His attempts to pit various groups against one another have roots in American history. In 1676, wealthy White settlers were making big profits off their tobacco plantations while poor Whites, indentured servants and enslaved Blacks were suffering. Eventually, the oppressed people came together in revolt and started burning down plantations.

"Bacon's Rebellion demonstrated that poor Whites and poor Blacks could be united in a cause," said Margaret Washington, associate professor of history at Cornell University. The possibility of a rebellion had always been possible, she said, because "we have evidence of them [Blacks and Whites] running away together. We have evidence of them rising against their masters together."

"They lived together," she added. "They slept together. So, yes, there was a possibility of a lower-class surge against the elites. This was a great fear of the ruling class - what would prevent the poor from uniting to fight them? This fear hastened the transition to racial slavery."

Divide and conquer. Make enslavement for Black people hereditary. Make it last for life. Pay White people to go after the enslaved and whatever else it takes to make them feel that they are superior to Black people.

Codify the myth of supremacy into law.

Slavery ended. Civil rights legislation was enacted. But there are those who know America's weak spot is race, and they will do all they can to pit groups against one another so only a few at the top continue to reap the benefits.

For White people who see themselves as falling behind or losing out in a rapidly changing country, Trump was masterful in playing to their fears.

From questioning the legitimacy of the first Black president to hold office, to justifying "good people on both sides" after a deadly protest by white nationalists in Charlottesville, Va., to disparaging a Mexican American judge and implying he couldn't be impartial, Trump gave voice to the aggrieved. He allowed them to sit comfortably in their racism and criticize anyone who called them racists.

There have been occasions when Trump did talk about race without being insulting. At one news conference, he said that a strong economy was the "greatest thing that could happen for race relations." But things never seemed to work out that way for the most disadvantaged.

The opportunity zones that he marketed as a means of helping underserved communities ended up producing more benefits to wealthy investors, some of them his friends.

He said, "Equal justice under the law must mean that every American receives equal treatment in every encounter with law enforcement regardless of race, color, gender or creed."

But he still referred to the Black Lives Matter movement as "hateful" and urged police to be tough on those protesters while refusing to take action when his supporters were attacking the U.S. Capitol.

As president, Trump was dealt a strong hand - one that could have saved lives during the pandemic, pulled the country together at a time when cooperation was our greatest asset.

But he continued with his old tricks - setting one group against another - until the bitter end.

Adios to a man who leaves the presidency with the country more divided than it has been in decades.
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Mali's Transition President Bah N'Daw has warned that "abuses committed against civilians in military operations can in no way be encouraged or tolerated
Spain will play a central role in the last production phase of the British AstraZeneza AZD1222 vaccine, that has been developed in the UK.

The multinational has announced the signing of an agreement with the Spanish group Insud Pharma whereby the latter will produce the vials and fill and package the ampoules of this formula, which will be the third to be distributed in the European Union, after Pfizer-BionTech and Moderna.

Production will begin this February at the Insud plant in the town of Azuqueca de Henares, in Guadalajara.

Spains Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, said this will significantly help the distribution of the AstraZeneca vaccine across the country.

Insud Pharma, which has been dedicated to the development and research of drugs for more than 40 years, has six plants in Spain. The Azuqueca facility is a state-of-the-art plant, opened in 2017, and dedicated to injectable drugs and sterile products.

Enough to immunise 53 million people

On 12 January, AstraZeneca formally applied to the European regulator for authorisation to market its vaccine. The regulator is likely to give scientific approval, probably before 29 January, that will be accompanied almost immediately by the commercial green light from the European Commission.

Last August the European Commission closed a contract with AstraZeneca to buy 300 million doses of the vaccine, developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford, with an option to purchase another 100 million.

According to the agreement Spain will receive a tenth of the injectables, about 30 million ampoules, enough to immunise 15 million people, since the AstraZeneca vaccine, like the Pfizer and Moderna alternatives needs two doses for maximum immunity.

With the arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccine Spain would be allocated a total of 106 million jabs, enough to immunise 53 million people, six million more than the country's population.
A central Pennsylvania man who was under a death sentence for a 23-year-old double murder deserves a new trial because a county judge told a jury it had to convict him even if prosecutors didnt prove he participated in the slayings, the state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

The high court made that decision despite arguments by the state attorney generals office that the York County judges statement was a harmless and unintentional slip of the tongue or that there was simply a typo in the transcript of Noel Montalvos trial.

The Supreme Court rejected both those arguments in an opinion by Justice Debra Todd. Instead, the justices found Montalvos lawyer was ineffective for not objecting to now-retired county Judge Sheryl A. Dorneys misstatements during Montalvos 2003 homicide trial.

The case came to the high court on appeal from a ruling by county Judge Michael E. Bortner ordering a new trial for the now 56-year-old Montalvo on attorney ineffectiveness grounds.

Noel Montalvo

Montalvo and his brother Milton were both under death sentences in connection with the April 1998 slayings of Miltons estranged common-law wife Miriam and a male friend of hers, Nelson Lugo, in Miriams apartment in York City. Lugo was fatally stabbed and a lipstick tube was jammed into his mouth, police said. Miriam Montalvos head was nearly severed and she was stabbed in both eyes.

Milton Montalvos blood was found at the murder scene, police said, and some of his hair was recovered from Lugos dead hand.

Milton Montalvo fled to Florida but was captured in 1999 and convicted and sentenced to death the following year. Noel Montalvo was a fugitive until 2002, when he was found living under another name in New Jersey.

Prosecutors claimed at Noel Montalvos trial that he helped his brother commit the murders. They presented a witness who said she heard the brothers admit to the killings. Under cross-examination, however, the woman said she had been pressured by police.

The Supreme Court ruling doesnt hinge on any of the testimony in Noel Montalvos case, though.

As Todd noted, it is based on just a few words of the instruction Dorney gave the jury before sending it out to deliberate. What the county judge said was, So, if the commonwealth has not sustained its burden to that level, the burden of proving the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, then your verdict must be guilty.

That is the exact opposite of what the law states, Todd noted. She cited the defense attorneys later testimony that he didnt object to Dorneys error because he didnt catch it.

Todd rejected the prosecution argument that Dorneys erroneous statement was harmless. Prosecutors argued that prospective jurors already know they must acquit if there is reasonable doubt of a persons guilt. They also pointed out that Dorney gave a correct reasonable doubt instruction during jury selection.

Wereject the commonwealths argument that the legal principle that, in order to be convicted of a crime, an individual must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is mostly familiar to everyoneand that the jury would not have convicted Noel had it not believed he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, Todd wrote.

She also discounted an alternate scenario posed by prosecutors that the court reporter might have written down Dorneys jury instruction incorrectly.

Besides, Todd noted, the transcript shows Dorney gave two incorrect jury instructions. In the second one, she told the jurors, if you find that the defendant was not involved in this, you should find him guilty of all those charges.

The defense attorney did catch that one. Dorney corrected herself, saying No that was a Freudian slip.

That second misstatement could only have caused the jurors to be prejudiced against Noel Montalvo even further, Todd found. In characterizing her own erroneous instruction to the jury as a Freudian slip, the trial judge conveyed to the jury her belief that Noel was guilty, she wrote.

The trial judges flippant attempt at a correction of her prior misstatements could only have compounded any misunderstanding the jury may have had regarding the proper standard of proof and its application to Noel, Todd concluded.

Milton Montalvo also was granted a new trial, but only on the issue of whether he should receive the death penalty. That grant also was based on erroneous instructions given to the jury during his initial trial in 2000. His retrial is pending in county court.
Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Low near 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Phnom Penh refuses to issue visas so CNRP members can return to appear for their own treason trials.

In a screen grab of a video, Sam Rainsy speaks to supporters from his home in Paris, France, Nov. 4, 2019.

Sam Rainsy, the acting president of Cambodias banned opposition party slammed Phnom Penh Tuesday for refusing to allow exiled opposition officials into the country to defend themselves against treason and incitement charges in their own trials.

Sam Rainsy, who has lived in self-imposed exile since late 2015, tried to return in Nov. 2019, but his plan to enter Cambodia from Thailand was thwarted when he was refused permission to board a Thai Airways plane in Paris.

The first mass trial for former lawmakers, members, or supporters of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) began last week with 59 of an estimated 136 defendants facing what could be 12 years imprisonment and a fine of 4 million Cambodian riels (U.S. $ 990), for their alleged role in Sam Rainsys failed plan to return to Cambodia.

Some of the defendants on trial, however, have not been allowed to return to Cambodia to defend themselves against treason and incitement charges.

On Saturday CNRP Deputy President Mu Sochua and fellow party leaders and activists were unable to board a Singapore Airlines flight to Phnom Penh from Los Angeles, while another CNRP official was denied boarding a flight from Paris to Singapore. The airline said they cannot board passengers without destination country visas.

Government spokesperson Phay Siphan said Saturday that Mu Sochua "is not an ordinary citizen. She is among rebels against the rule of law and suggested she should be extradited to face trial

Phnom Penh had cancelled the Cambodian passports of the exiles and its diplomatic offices have refused to issue visas for those, like Mu Sochua, who hold citizenship in other countries.

We are showing our commitment that we need to return. But the government, which has all the power, is afraid and wont allow us to return. They want to arrest us, but they are blocking us from going back, Sam Rainsy told RFA's Khmer Service.

The international community knows that the government is afraid of Sam Rainsys shadow Hun Sen is a coward and a dictator. He is afraid. He is weak. People want change so he does not want us to return. But the people understand there will be more pressure from the international community.

Sam Rainsy also called for the government to reinstate the CNRP, which has been banned since 2017, and said the party would not participate in the 2022 and 2023 elections unless this occurs.

He also rebuked Kem Monovithya, the daughter of CNRP President Kem Sokha, who recently posted a message on Twitter saying her father intends to lead an opposition party to contest the upcoming elections. The tweet was later deleted after causing an uproar in the CNRP.

We dont value those who speak on behalf of Kem Sokha when he has no freedom, Sam Rainsy said.

Kem Sokha did not make the announcement. Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy are one person. We will have one stance. We dont allow anyone speak on our behalf, and we both dont agree with the government that dissolved our party, he said.

Sam Rainsy said that splitting from the CNRP to lead a new opposition party would be playing into the hands of Hun Sen, and that Kem Sokha would never do such a thing because he is loyal to the people.

The world is changing. It is not up to Hun Sen. A storm of freedom is coming, and this dictatorship will collapse, he said.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Photo: BC Parks

For students looking to spend the summer working outdoors and in provincial parks, the BC Parks Student Ranger Program is the perfect opportunity.

Applications are open now until Feb. 21, with 48 positions available across 12 locations. The program gives young adults a chance to work in conservation, community outreach, and recreation in B.C. parks.

"Our spectacular park system provides exceptional recreational opportunities and plays a critical role in preserving ecology, celebrating culture and honouring history," Environment Minister George Heyman said in a news release.

"The meaningful work completed each year by student rangers has a lasting impact on our parks and protected areas, and is an important part of renewing our BC Parks workforce and capacity."

Positions are open to students between the ages of 18 and 30, who were enrolled in full-time post-secondary programs this past year, and are returning to their studies in the fall.

Applications can be found on the BC Parks website.
The hunt for missing mother Jennifer Dulos continued in Connecticut on Wednesday, with authorities bringing in an excavator and an expert known as 'The Bone Finder' to assist in their search.

An excavator and a team of investigators were spotted at a Farmington mansion once owned by Jennifer's husband Fotis Dulos and his construction company Fore Group, just a day after police had said they were 'following up on old leads'.

Jennifer, 50, vanished in May 2019 in New Canaan and has not been seen or heard from since. Fotis was later charged with her murder but vehemently denied killing his wife.

The couple was in the midst of a bitter custody battle at the time and Fotis was accused of plotting against Jennifer with the help of his then-girlfriend, Michelle Troconis.

In January 2020, he was found unresponsive at his home after gassing himself in his car. He died in the hospital days later.

An excavator was spotted digging up land near Fotis Dulos's Farmington, Connecticut mansion a day after police revisited the scene to 'follow up on old leads'

New Hampshire cemetery geophysics expert, Bob Perry, best known as 'The Bone Finder', assisted authorities in their search Tuesday using ground-penetrating radar

Jennifer Dulos vanished in May 2019 while battling Dulos over their divorce and custody of their five children. He committed suicide in January 2020

Police on Tuesday were seen digging holes in the expansive grounds of 80 Mountain Spring Road, though they did not disclose what prompted the search or if anything was found.

Authorities also enlisted the help of New Hampshire cemetery geophysics expert, Bob Perry, also known as 'The Bone Finder' due to his success in locating unmarked graves and burial sites.

Perry revealed they had detected four areas with 'disturbed soil' but no anomalies were found

Using ground-penetrating radar, Perry and the team combed through a nearby wooded area where they identified four sites with 'disturbed soil.'

'They feel like the body was buried out in the backyard and this is what I do, so, I said sure no problem,' Perry told FOX 61.

'I check for anomalies in the ground or ground disturbance and there were four areas that I checked that had ground disturbance in it.

'I was looking for some sort of indication like a skull or some bones or something like that, that would give off something on the scan and I saw nothing there at all,' he added.

The areas were marked with flags for authorities to later dig into, he said.

An excavator and team of investigators were spotted outside the property Wednesday although it is unclear what prompted the search

A septic truck was also brought in later in the afternoon, according to reports. Police have not commented on the results of the investigation

The exterior of the home at 80 Mountain Spring Road, which was one of many properties owned by Dulos' construction firm, Fore Group

Perry told NBC Connecticut the four areas ultimately showed 'low probability' and there were no anomalies in the disturbances.

He explained they detected one anomaly 'about 18 inches in the ground' that turned out to be a pipe.

'In my personal experience burying someone in the backyard, especially with all the wooded area, I don't think it was there to begin with,' Perry told FOX, adding that he believes 'it was further out.'

Investigators and K-9 units were seen at the sprawling property again on Wednesday as the excavator arrived at the scene. A septic truck was also brought in later in the afternoon.

Information regarding the results of the search was not released by police.

Fotis Dulos committed suicide in January 2020 by gassing himself in his car. He was due to go to court where he feared his bail was going to be revoked

Dulos girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, who he was living with at the time, and his attorney and friend, Kent Mawhinney, are still facing conspiracy to commit murder

'Our main goal is to, again, work toward providing the family of Jennifer Dulos some closure and our detectives will continue to work tirelessly in the direction of doing so,' Connecticut State Police said in a statement.

Jennifer's body has never been found and now Troconis and Fotis's lawyer and friend, Kent Mawhinney, are the only people left to face accusations over what happened to her.

The house had been searched in 2019 in the wake of her disappearance, but police now say they are 'following up on old leads' again.

Fotis was also in the middle of a civil court battle with Jennifer's family when he died.

They say he owed them millions in unpaid loans.

The family had helped him with his construction business when they were first married under an agreement that he would pay back what he borrowed when they were successful.

He was fighting Jennifer's mother in court. Her father died in 2010.
After searching into the early morning, then again after sunrise Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard called off its search Tuesday morning for a 12-year-old Fremont boy who was swept out to sea from a Half Moon Bay beach Monday.

The 12-year-old, his father and his 8-year-old brother were sitting on the sand at Cowell Ranch State Beach when a rogue wave hit them and dragged them into the ocean around 3:42 p.m. The strong surf and churning high waves roughed up the younger boy and the father and tossed them back on the shore while dragging the 12-year-old out to sea.

Friends and family members set up a Facebook page to help in the search for the boy, identifying him as Arunay Pruthi.

Arunays disappearance is the latest in a series of tragic sneaker wave incidents along the Bay Area coast. Since the start of the year, at least four people have been swept to sea from San Mateo County to Sonoma County. Several more have been rescued from the cold ocean waters and waves taller than 20 feet.

Dangerous surf conditions are common along the Bay Area coasts, particularly in San Mateo County. But the waves can be higher and the undertow stronger during the winter months when high surf warnings frequently occur. Rogue waves, unexpectedly large waves also known as sneaker waves, are always a threat.

Its almost become a cliche, said Lt. Toni Pehrson, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. But never turn your back on the waves. It is definitely a good idea to keep an eye on whats happening and to pay attention to your kids.

Search teams from the Coast Guard, the San Mateo County Sheriffs Department, Cal Fire, California State Parks and the California Highway Patrol used boats, helicopters, drones and thermal imaging devices to search for Pruthi until about 1 a.m.

They were out there well into the night, said Rosemerry Blankswade, a spokeswoman for the sheriffs department. But they did not find him.

Pehrson said the search was suspended around 10:30 a.m. and will be resumed if the agency receives any tips.

Arunays family is continuing to search, distributing posters with his image and contact information, and is asking for volunteers who will help comb the coastline on foot or using drones.

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Were looking for volunteers, drone operators, anyone who can help locate him, said his aunt, Seema Sangwan, who was at the beach when the incident happened. Were just hoping to recover him, whatever state he is in.

Authorities said the group was sitting or standing on the beach when an unexpectedly large wave smacked into them and pulled them to sea. Other beachgoers immediately called 911; the father and younger boy were able to struggle back to shore. According to authorities, rescue crews briefly spotted the boy about 100 yards offshore before the waves dragged him under.

Sangwan said the family hopes the Coast Guard will resume the search.

Arunays disappearance was the second on the San Mateo County Coast in a little more than a week. On Jan. 10, a couple fishing were swept from their perch on rocks at Pescadero State Beach. The husband was able to make it back to shore, but the wife is still missing.

A 40-year-old man died earlier this month trying to save his two children who were caught in a sneaker wave in Sonoma County and are presumed dead. A San Jose man in his 30s was rock scrambling in the Marin Headlands on Sunday when he was pulled into the ocean by a sneaker wave and remains missing.

Chronicle staff writer Vanessa Arredondo contributed to this report.

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
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Kamala Harris was sworn in as U.S. vice president on Wednesday, becoming the first woman, the first Black person and the first Asian American to hold the office.

She was sworn in just before Joe Biden took the oath of office to become the 46th US president.

Harris, who is of Indian-Jamaican heritage, initially ran for the Democratic nomination.

But Biden won the race and chose Harris as his running mate, describing her as a fearless fighter for the little guy.

Prior to taking the oath at the US Capitol, Harris paid tribute to the women who she says came before her.

I stand on their shoulders, she said in a video.

SOURCE: AGENCIES
ARTARMON, Australia, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Saluda Medical Pty Limited ("Saluda Medical"), the market leader in the development of closed-loop spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of chronic pain, announced scientific highlights from the 2021 North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS 2021) Virtual Meeting, including real-world European commercial results and sub-analyses of 24-month and 12-month clinical data from the Avalon Australian Study and EVOKE investigational device exemption (IDE) Pivotal Study. Additionally, a record number of posters and presentations at NANS 2021 were focused on evoked compound action potential (ECAP, the patient's unique spinal cord response to electrical stimulation) recordings for spinal cord stimulation (SCS).

"As the pioneers in closed-loop spinal cord stimulation, we are thrilled to see the growing body of clinical evidence demonstrating the power of ECAPs," said John Parker, Founder and CEO. "Through the use of our real-time closed-loop control, we have a deep proprietary pipeline to improve upon the robust results as peer reviewed in The Lancet Neurology."

Saluda was gratified to see posters by a new group presenting preliminary research with ECAPs, which confirmed Saluda's early findings that closed-loop control with ECAPs is needed to cope with physiologic changes that occur in everyday life  such as positional movements, coughing, and heart rate  to reliably and consistently deliver SCS therapy. Saluda's proprietary Evoke System is the only closed-loop SCS system designed to provide real-time customization of waveforms to each unique ECAP, which can be updated more than 100 times a second, designed to deliver consistent therapy within a patient's individual therapeutic window.

The EVOKE Study is the first and only randomized, controlled, double-blind pivotal study in SCS and is the first-ever SCS study to be published in The Lancet Neurology. Published results demonstrated statistical superiority for the closed-loop treatment arm against the open-loop control arm, which used traditional fixed-output SCS.1 Saluda's Evoke is the only closed-loop SCS system to have presented data on devices fully implanted in humans, to date.

"Saluda Medical has invested in rigorous clinical science and engineering development in order to make physiologically controlled SCS possible," commented Lawrence Poree, MD, PhD, MPH, Professor and Director of the Pain Management Neuromodulation Service at the University of California at San Francisco and presenter on closed-Loop clinical evidence during NANS 2021. "The highest bar is needed to validate closed-loop SCS therapies, and I applaud the scientists and clinician researchers who have dedicated themselves to the advancement of new neuromodulation therapies in pain management."

Key Presentation and Poster Highlights from NANS 2021:

Dr. Charles Brooker presented on a new comprehensive analysis of Avalon 24-month data that showed 82.8% of patients reduced or eliminated opioids at 24 months and 41% were on 0 milligrams of morphine equivalents (MMEs). Patients in the study reported an average of 81.2% overall pain relief and 4 out of 5 patients had a clinically significant improvement in quality of life at 24 months. 2

presented on a new comprehensive analysis of Avalon 24-month data that showed 82.8% of patients reduced or eliminated opioids at 24 months and 41% were on 0 milligrams of morphine equivalents (MMEs). Patients in the study reported an average of 81.2% overall pain relief and 4 out of 5 patients had a clinically significant improvement in quality of life at 24 months. Dr. Nagy Mekhail presented a deep dive into the functional improvements and high responder data in the EVOKE RCT at 12 months, which demonstrated high levels of pain relief (89.1% responders) in parallel with high rates of mental health improvement (62% with minimally clinical important difference  MCID), quality of life improvement (86% with MCID), functional disability improvement (80% with MCID), quality sleep improvement (76% with MCID), and voluntary opioid reduction (54.8% reduced or eliminated). 3

presented a deep dive into the functional improvements and high responder data in the EVOKE RCT at 12 months, which demonstrated high levels of pain relief (89.1% responders) in parallel with high rates of mental health improvement (62% with minimally clinical important difference  MCID), quality of life improvement (86% with MCID), functional disability improvement (80% with MCID), quality sleep improvement (76% with MCID), and voluntary opioid reduction (54.8% reduced or eliminated). Dr. Shrif Costandi presented on the Interconnectivity of Sleep and Pain highlighting nearly 2x the MCID in sleep improvement in the closed-loop arm in the EVOKE RCT, which equated to reporting more than 1 hour extra per night. 4

presented on the Interconnectivity of Sleep and Pain highlighting nearly 2x the MCID in sleep improvement in the closed-loop arm in the EVOKE RCT, which equated to reporting more than 1 hour extra per night. During an invited presentation, titled Can Closed-Loop Therapy Obviate Frequent Reprogramming , Dr. Lawrence Poree explained how setting up a feedback loop using ECAP measurement may lead to long-term sustainability of the therapy and reduce the need for re-programming. 5

, Dr. explained how setting up a feedback loop using ECAP measurement may lead to long-term sustainability of the therapy and reduce the need for re-programming. Dr. Harold Nijhuis presented on the European real-world experience from the first patients implanted in the Netherlands and reported 92% of patients were responders long term. 6

presented on the European real-world experience from the first patients implanted in and reported 92% of patients were responders long term. Dr. Rui Duarte and Dr. Sean Li presented on complimentary research and showed ECAP-based SCS health economic evaluations to have HRQoL (health-related quality of life) rates that rival common interventional therapies. 7,8

and Dr. presented on complimentary research and showed ECAP-based SCS health economic evaluations to have HRQoL (health-related quality of life) rates that rival common interventional therapies. EVOKE Study data at 12 months demonstrated pain relief was independent of paresthesia and nearly 30% of patients were below perception. Dr. Timothy Deer presented that ECAP-based closed-loop SCS resulted in high rates of pain relief regardless of paresthesia. 9

presented that ECAP-based closed-loop SCS resulted in high rates of pain relief regardless of paresthesia. Dr. Hunter concluded that maintaining twice the level of spinal cord activation (95.2% CL vs. 47.9% OL), while remaining in the therapeutic window, is the basis for the statistical superiority of closed-loop in the EVOKE Study. He also noted that the therapeutic window in patients treated with open-loop stimulation shrunk overtime as they spent more time subthreshold.10

About Saluda Medical

Saluda Medical is a global neuromodulation company leading the development and commercialization of data-driven, personalized therapies for patients with chronic pain. The company's first product, Evoke, is a closed-loop spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system designed to treat chronic pain, a condition that affects more than 540 million people globally. SCS treats the condition by stimulating the spinal cord and altering the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Evoke is designed to optimize pain relief by measuring and recording each patient's unique response to stimulation, and is designed to make millions of real-time adjustments per day to maintain a consistent level of therapy delivery for each patient and avoid periods of over- and under-stimulation that have historically challenged the performance of other SCS devices. To learn more, visit www.saludamedical.com and connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/saluda-medical/.

CAUTION: Evoke is an investigational device in the United States. Evoke is limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use. It is not available for sale in the United States.

Evoke and Saluda are registered trademarks of Saluda Medical.

Mekhail N, Levy RM, Deer TR, et al. Long-term safety and efficacy of closed-loop spinal cord stimulation to treat chronic back and leg pain (Evoke): a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2020;19(2):123-134.

Presented at the 2021 North American Neuromodulation Society Virtual Meeting ( 15-16 Jan 2021 ): Brooker, C. et al. 24-Month Avalon Study Data Indicates Improved Pain Reduction with Decreased Opioid Use. Mekhail, N. et al. Closed-Loop SCS: EVOKE RCT Long-Term & Secondary Outcomes at 12 Months. Costandi, S. et al. Interconnectivity of Sleep and Pain: Long-Term Objective Sleep Quality Improvements with Closed-Loop Spinal Cord Stimulation. Poree, L. Can Closed-Loop Therapy Obviate Frequency Re-Programming. Nijhuis, H. et al. Early Results of First Patients Treated with ECAP-Controlled Closed-Loop Spinal Cord Stimulation in the Netherlands . Duarte, R. et al. Health-Related Quality of Life Associated with Pain Health States in Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Neuropathic Pain. Li, S. et al. Normalizing Qualify of Life by Achieving High Responder Rates: Sub-Analysis from the EVOKE Study High Responders from the EVOKE Closed-Loop SCS Clinical Trial. Deer, T. et al. Closed-Loop Stimulation Minimizes Anatomical and Physiological Variability in SCS, Leading to improved Long-Term Superiority. Hunter, C. et al. Using Evoke Compound Action Potentials to Determine Therapeutic Window and Maintain Long-Term Stability of SCS.

SOURCE Saluda Medical

Related Links

http://www.saludamedical.com


GM teams up with Microsoft as electric car market revs General Motors, which unveiled a new corporate logo earlier this month, announced that Microsoft was joining its Cruise self-driving venture

General Motors announced an alliance Tuesday with Microsoft on its Cruise autonomous driving venture, combining forces to challenge Tesla and others in an electric car market expected to rev with Joe Biden's environment-friendly administration in the White House.

The companies have established "a long-term strategic relationship," and Microsoft will join GM, Honda and institutional investors in a new $2 billion equity investment round, GM and its Cruise subsidiary said in a press release.

"This is a major shot across the bow from Microsoft to Tesla and Waymo and other EV (electric vehicle) autonomous players that Redmond is on its way," said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.

"There is an arms race in the EV world and this is the latest collaborative deal with many more on there way, speaking to this trillion dollar market over the next decade."

Ives and others think Apple is poised to begin putting its technology to work in self-driving, electric cars although the iPhone maker has remained mum on the subject.

Microsoft Azure is a powerhouse in the cloud computing market, so synching GM electric vehicles with Azure computing and artificial intelligence capabilities promises a boon for the car maker, Ives reasoned.

Microsoft also will provide hardware and software engineering support to GM as part of the alliance, which values Cruise at some $30 billion.

"Our mission to bring safer, better, and more affordable transportation to everyone isn't just a tech race -- it's also a trust race," Cruise chief executive Dan Ammann said.

"Microsoft, as the gold standard in the trustworthy democratization of technology, will be a force multiplier for us as we commercialize our fleet of self-driving, all-electric, shared vehicles."

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the venture will help GM and Cruise to "scale and make autonomous transportation mainstream."

Last week, GM announced plans to build a fleet of new electric vans.

Story continues

- Windscreen-free future? -

The partnership comes on the heels of a series of GM announcements to reposition the Detroit giant to compete with Tesla and other newer players.

"It makes a lot of sense," said Edmunds executive director of insights Jessica Caldwell.

"Microsoft and General Motors, both massive, historical American companies, tackling a problem that companies around the world are working on."

Companies such as GM are still trying to figure out what the self-driving car of the future looks like, Caldwell added.

Perhaps seats will face each other as in train cars, or there will be no need for front windows or driver seats.

Electric vehicle maker Rivian separately said it raised $2.65 billion in a new funding round valuing the Amazon-backed US company at $26.7 billion.

Investors included Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund and Fidelity Management and Research, according to Rivian.

Amazon is set to launch its own electric delivery vans ordered from the startup.

Waymo, the autonomous car unit of Google-parent Alphabet, late last year opened its robo-taxi project to the general public in the US city of Phoenix, becoming the first widely available driverless ride service.

Early last year, Waymo raised $2.25 billion in its first external funding round to accelerate its deployment of autonomous cars and trucks.

- Retrofitted future? -

Global Equities analyst Trip Chowdhry was skeptical of traditional car makers such as GM being able to recreate the mix of technology, manufacturing, logistics, and culture that has been a winning formula for electric car star Tesla.

"You cannot retrofit into the new world," Chowdhry said while discussing the GM alliance with Microsoft.

Accelerating adoption of electric vehicles is expected to be "top of mind" in the Biden administration, being front-and-center in a framework of green initiatives, according to Ives.

"One of the core underpinnings of the Biden platform will be around pushing clean energy and zero-emissions vehicles with hopes of accelerating the deployment of electric vehicles and public charging outlets by 2030," Ives said.

gc/rl
She did a great job, and I think we will all attest that she worked with you, did what was right and became friends of everybody of this board, Dernulc said. Im going to miss her. Shes a good friend; her husband is a good friend. But we will move forward with the work that she has done.

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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday opted not to consider an amended proposal for a controversial $1 billion natural gas pipeline that would traverse across New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley.

In September of last year, the commission issued an environmental assessment of PennEasts amended proposal to split the project into two phases with new interconnection facilities at Church Road in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania.

This assessment, which drew opposition from both state and local officials, determined that with appropriate mitigating measures, the PennEast Pipelines amended proposal would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

The commissions decision to table consideration of the amended proposal comes a day before Wednesdays inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Outgoing President Donald Trump has been a supporter of this pipeline project and others across the nation.

According to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the commission removed its scheduled consideration of the revised proposal on Tuesday after Commissioner Neal Chatterjee cited concerns raised by the foundation and The Watershed Institute. Specifically, the organization said that Chatterjee argued that action on the amendment would contradict the Natural Gas Acts prohibition on modifying or setting aside orders currently before a federal court.

Chatterjee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In November 2019, PennEast asked the Supreme Court to review an appeals decision issued by the Federal Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in September. The lower court had ruled that the PennEast Pipeline could not seize New Jersey-owned land in order to build the gas line under the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity, which exempts New Jersey from condemnation lawsuits initiated by private parties like PennEast.

The Supreme Court in turn requested the Solicitor General for the Department of Justice file a brief on the case, which urged the court to overturn the decision. Earlier this month, the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office filed its own brief challenging this argument and asked the Supreme Court not to hear PennEasts appeal.

Patricia Kornick, spokesperson for PennEast, expressed her optimism in the projects eventual development.

The PennEast Pipeline is essential to allowing families and businesses to access low-cost, clean natural gas vital to reducing energy bills and jumpstarting job creation, Kornick said. PennEast is confident the PennEast Pipeline Project will advance to deliver much-needed energy.

Tom Gilbert, campaign director for Energy, Climate and Natural Resources for the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, said Tuesdays decision rightly stopped (the pipeline) in its tracks.

The outgoing FERC Chairman was clearly trying to ram through a number of fossil gas projects before the change in administration, but PennEast has fatal flaws that even FERC cant ignore, Gilbert said.

We raised strong legal arguments showing why the commission shouldnt consider PennEasts application, and we are happy to see that the commission is seriously considering those legal impediments to acting on this rushed application, said Jennifer Danis, counsel to Columbia Law Environmental Law Clinic.

Danis represents the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and The Watershed Institute in this docket with assistance from third-year Columbia Law students, Jacob Elkin and Alyson Merlin.

Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said that commissions decision was pro-environment, a change in pace for the agency that he believes will continue under the Biden administration.

FERCs decision not to vote on PennEasts request to start construction of its pipeline in Pennsylvania is good news. It also means that this issue wont be taken up until a new administration is in place, Tittel said. This pipeline company has been playing a treacherous and dangerous trick by splitting the project into two phases to put pressure on New Jersey and federal regulators once the Pennsylvania phase is built. Its really one project that PennEast is trying to get around environmental reviews, however they cannot play this game and manipulate FERC.

Tuesdays decision runs counter to actions taken by the commission over the last year. In January of 2020, the agency approved PennEasts petition for an authoritative interpretation of the eminent domain authority issued to certificate holders under the Natural Gas Act. The following month, the agency approved the companys request for a two-year extension to complete the construction of the project facilities and make such facilities available for service.

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Caroline Fassett may be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com.

The ceasefire agreement that stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war on November 10 calls for the unconditional exchange of all prisoners held by the conflicting parties.

So far 54 Armenians have been freed and returned home in prisoner exchanges facilitated by Russia. More than 100 others remain in Azerbaijani captivity.

Pashinian discussed their fate with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during their January 11 talks in Moscow hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. They failed to reach any agreements on the issue.

A joint statement issued by the three leaders reaffirmed instead Armenias and Azerbaijans plans to open their border for cargo and other traffic in line with the truce accord brokered by Putin. Armenian opposition leaders denounced Pashinian for agreeing to that without getting Aliyev to promise to release the remaining Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians.

Lawmakers representing the opposition Bright Armenia Party (LHK) faulted Pashinian for their continuing imprisonment during the Armenian governments question-and-answer session in the parliament.

This proves that you are unable to protect Armenias interests on this important subject in Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations. Why do you continue to serve and why arent you resigning? one of them, Gevorg Gorgisian, told the prime minister.

There have always been Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan, countered Pashinian. More prisoners have been returned to Armenia since November 9 than ever before. So I wonder why this issue had not been raised in this chamber for many years.

Arsen Gharakhanian, a 43-year-old resident of Karabakh who fought in the six-week war, was thought to be among the POWs held in Azerbaijan. His family recognized him in an amateur video posted by Azerbaijani social media users on January 7.

The Armenian government used the video to ask the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to issue an interim measure requiring Baku to provide information about Gharakhanians whereabouts and guarantee his safety.

A Karabakh search-and-rescue team found Gharakhanian shot dead on January 18 in Karabakhs Hadrut district occupied by Azerbaijani forces as it looked for the bodies of Armenian soldiers killed there during the recent hostilities.

According to our information he was killed several days ago, said Yeghishe Kirakosian, the Armenian governments representative to the ECHR. That is to say that he was killed after the [Strasbourg-based] court issued the interim measure.

According to Gharakhanians wife Varduhi, the father of four went missing in early October. He was buried in Stepanakert on Wednesday.
LONDON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aggreko, the world's leading provider of mobile and modular power solutions, has signed a contract with global mining operator Gold Fields to provide a 25.9 MW hybrid system to the Salares Norte open pit gold mine in Chile. This ground-breaking thermal-PV-solution provides power for the entire mine, which sits at an altitude of 4,500m in the Andes mountain range and is 190km from the nearest town. Once complete, it will achieve $7.4m in cost of energy savings over the next decade and a further $1.1m in carbon tax offset over the Aggreko project lifetime in addition to 104,000 tonnes of carbon emissions savings.

The hybrid system will comprise both tailor-made high-altitude performance diesel gensets and Aggreko Solar Power units, optimized for off-grid applications and ready to meet extreme wind conditions. The gensets will each deliver 772kW and will incorporate Spinning Reserve and Cold Reserve units to efficiently manage peaks in demand. This diesel generation system will be integrated with solar units, which, once installed, will provide 9.9MW of cost and emission-free power.

The system will deliver a reliable, modular power supply across all five of the mine's distribution points, whilst surpassing the Chilean government's environmental standards as well as Gold Fields' requirement for a minimum of 20% renewable power generation for mining operations. At full capacity, Salares Norte will produce an average of 450,000oz of gold per year with Aggreko as the sole power provider.

The modular rental solution supports a consolidated CAPEX outlay, allowing for greater cost control and variable commitments whilst ensuring continued operational excellence at the mine.

Commenting on the news, Pablo Varela, Latin America Managing Director from Aggreko said: "As the energy transition continues to gather pace, our customers are increasingly looking for more flexible power solutions which can reliably support operations whilst reducing carbon emissions and lowering costs. Hybrid solutions including solar power enable a reliable and flexible power supply whilst reducing carbon emissions."

The 10-year contract between Aggreko and Gold Fields represents the strong working relationship between the companies, and follows a history of successful collaborations globally, such as the recent installation of one of the world's largest renewable microgrids at Gold Fields' Granny Smith mine in Western Australia.
Ukraine will be glad to receive newly elected U.S. President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

"Watching the inauguration of the new US President in the new office on Bankova St. I'll be glad to welcome Joe Biden in the well-known Kyiv. I'm sure our relations will be enhanced," Zelensky wrote on his Twitter account.

Watching the inauguration of the new US President in the new office on Bankova St. Ill be glad to welcome @JoeBiden in the well-known Kyiv. Im sure our relations will be enhanced   pic.twitter.com/OZNMejEJ3l    (@ZelenskyyUa) January 20, 2021

Biden had visited Ukraine several times during his tenure as U.S. Vice President.

op
Press Release

January 20, 2021 De Lima seeks probe into current COVID-19 diagnostic testing amid new strains of virus Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has urged the Congress to look into the current state of COVID-19 diagnostic testing in the country to assess, recalibrate and enhance the country's testing abilities in light of the emergence of COVID-19 variants. In filing Senate Resolution (SR) No. 612, De Lima said it is imperative to evaluate and assess our current diagnostic testing protocols because the new strains and variants of COVID-19 may affect the quality and reliability of COVID-19 testing results. "There is a need to conduct a Senate inquiry into these matters to ensure that our testing capabilities and results are reliable and up to date in order to preserve the health and safety of the general public and ensure that the health protocols in place are still effective and responsive," she said. "It is better to be proactive than reactive given the uncertainty and imminent threats of these recent developments," she added. Dr. John Wong of the DOH's technical advisory working group studying the coronavirus outbreak in the country warned that the UK COVID-19 variant has the dangerous potential of increasing the cases in the Philippines by 15-fold or around 300,000. Shortly after the DOH acknowledged the risks of the UK COVID-19 variant, the world was struck with the news of more infectious variant, a new variant originating from South Africa and Malaysia, which prompted the health agency to monitor on top of trying to manage the continued increase of the COVID-19 cases in the country. The first case of the UK COVID-19 variant has already been documented in the Philippines last Jan. 13 after samples from a Filipino who arrived from the United Arab Emirates on Jan. 7 yielded positive genome sequencing results. With the evidence of the variant being more contagious mounting, De Lima said the State must gear up in order to be ahead of the situation, lest it becomes too late. "It is vital that we heed the opinion of scientific and medical experts that warn us that SARS-CoV-2 virus can mutate over time, resulting in genetic variation in the population of circulating viral strains," she said. "In recognizing this inevitable event, the State must be ready in combatting new strains that are already here and could arise in the future to avoid further exacerbating our medical frontliners who have been making the ultimate sacrifice in stemming the spread of the virus," she added. While the rollout of the much-anticipated vaccine program is on the way, De Lima stressed that it should not cause a slackened approach to other factors that help mitigate the spread of the virus such as testing. "While investigations and studies are ongoing to clarify the extent of these possible implications, the State must continue to ensure that our testing capabilities are regularly assessed and recalibrated to respond to the times," she said. "It is also prudent to inform the public, through a Senate inquiry, how the DOH and Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) is preparing our health system in the eventuality that new and potentially more infectious variants of COVID-19 are detected in the country and further transmission occurs," she added.
Joe Biden, a former U.S. senator and vice president, will be inaugurated Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States.

Also to be inaugurated will be former U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris as vice president. She is the first woman, first Black and first Asian American to hold that post.

The ceremony will be held in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic under heightened security due to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots by supporters of President Donald Trump, who was impeached an unprecedented second time for inciting the violent protests.

Like at Augusts Democratic National Convention when Biden was nominated, most of the events will be conducted remotely and crowds will be sparse.

Here are some questions and answers about the inauguration.

When will Biden actually become president?

As prescribed by the Constitution, Biden will be sworn in as president at noon on Wednesday. He recites the oath administered by Chief Justice John Roberts: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Harris will be sworn in by Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a trailblazer in her own right as the first Latina member of the high court. Sotomayor also swore in Biden as vice president in 2013.

Biden is expected to arrive at the U.S. Capitol at 11 a.m. and the inauguration program is expected to begin at 11:15 a.m.

Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem, and there will a musical performance by Jennifer Lopez.

Where will the ceremony be held?

The inaugural ceremony traditionally is held at the West Front of the Capitol, the side facing the National Mall and Washington Monument. In the past, inclement weather has forced some ceremonies inside, but it is expected to be sunny and 40 degrees this year, according to weather.com.

Who will be there?

The Presidential Inaugural Committee has urged Americans not to travel to Washington and to participate in the inaugural activities from home.

Those at the ceremony will include members of Congress, outgoing Vice President Mike Pence and former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and other invited guests. Gov. Phil Murphy and first lady Tammy Murphy will be there too.

How can I watch the swearing-in?

Traditionally, all of the major broadcast and cable networks carry the ceremony live.

The ceremony will be streamed at bidenInaugural.org/watch and the Presidential Inauguration Committees social media channels on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch. It also will be carried on Cheddar, Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, Foxs NewsNow, and AT&T U-verse.

Some coverage will begin as early as 6 a.m., and the ceremony is expected to begin at 11:15 a.m.

Will there be a parade?

Not along the traditional route along Pennsylvania Avenue NW to the White House from the Capitol.

Biden and Harris will walk the one block along Pennsylvania Avenue from 15th Street to the White House with a socially distanced presidential escort, featuring every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the drum lines of their alma maters, the University of Delaware and Howard University.

The Biden inaugural committee plans a virtual parade, featuring performances in communities all across the U.S. Actor Tony Goldwyn and New Jersey comedian Jon Stewart will be among the participants.

This too will be similar to the roll call of the states during the Democratic convention, where Gov. Phil Murphy cast New Jerseys votes while standing in front of Convention Hall on the Asbury Park boardwalk with first lady Tammy Murphy and state Democratic leaders John Currie and Peg Schaffer.

New Jersey this time will be represented by the Teaneck High School Flag Twirlers.

The parade begins at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday and will be carried on C-SPAN and streamed at bidenInaugural.org/watch and the inaugural committees social media channels.

How can I hear Springsteen?

There wont be a live, star-studded musical gala due to the pandemic, but Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Ant Clemons, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tim McGraw, and others will be performing at a Celebrating America concert beginning at 8:30 p.m. Biden and Harris are scheduled to give remarks as well.

The inaugural committee said the concert will be carried live on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, and C-SPAN2, as well as bidenInaugural.org/watch and the committees social media channels.online.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant.

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Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

A top British barrister has pulled out of leading a team prosecuting a group of prominent Hong Kong dissidents following growing criticism in the UK, after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called his actions 'pretty mercenary'.

David Perry was announced last week as lead prosecutor in the upcoming trial of nine well-known activists, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai and former lawmaker Martin Lee, on charges of unlawful assembly.

But Perry's involvement sparked a row in the UK about legal ethics, and whether British lawyers should be involved in helping Beijing's ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in the financial hub.

British barrister David Perry has been a favourite prosecutor for Hong Kong's government

On Wednesday, Hong Kong's Department of Justice said 'growing pressure and criticism from the UK community', as well as the city's lengthy quarantine requirements during the coronavirus pandemic, had led to Perry pulling out.

'Mr Perry, QC, expressed concerns about such pressures... and indicated that the trial should proceed without him,' the department said in a statement, calling criticism of Perry's role in upcoming trials 'ill-informed'.

On Sunday, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab led criticism of Perry's involvement as 'pretty mercenary'.

On Sunday, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab led criticism of Perry's involvement as 'pretty mercenary'

'I understand in the case of Mr Perry, in relation to the pro-democracy activists, and of course from Beijing's point of view, this would be a serious PR coup,' Raab told Sky news.

Unlike the opaque, party-controlled legal system on China's mainland, where conviction rates are around 99 percent, Hong Kong maintains an independent common law system which has formed the bedrock of the city's economic success.

It is not unusual for lawyers from other common law jurisdictions overseas to work in Hong Kong, both on defence and prosecution teams, as well as in commercial and contract law; and foreign judges also do stints on the city's top court.

Media tycoon Jimmy Lai is being prosecuted under the new China national security law

Martin Lee is also among the activists and is known as the he father of Hong Kong democracy

QC is 'star individual' David Perry QC is described as 'phenomenally impressive' and a 'star individual' in criminal work in gushing legal praise. Chambers and Partners say of him that he is 'consistently viewed by peers as one of the hardest working and most committed silks at the Bar. Possessed of a very diverse practice, Perry not only handles complex domestic cases but also advises overseas governments and is a top extradition expert'. He has acted for a number of governments, including the UK in European Court of Human Rights cases. Eight years ago in 2012 he teamed up with Lord Justice Scott Baker and Anand Doobay to conduct the Home Office's Independent Review of the UK's extradition arrangements. Advertisement

Perry has been a regular Department of Justice pick to prosecute high-profile cases. He has been described by Legal 500 as 'in the very highest rank' in his field and is regularly instructed to appear in the Supreme Court, Privy Court and Court of Appeal.

As well as Hong Kong, Perry appears in the criminal courts of the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar and Northern Ireland.

He also acts on behalf of the United Kingdom government in cases before the European Court of Human Rights.

Before his appointment as Treasury Counsel, he frequently appeared as defence counsel in serious fraud cases.

His dropping out of this trial illustrates the quandary foreign lawyers and judges can now face in engaging with Hong Kong's legal system, which has come under enormous pressure recently.

Last year, following huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in 2019, Beijing imposed a draconian national security law on Hong Kong which effectively criminalised much dissent in a city supposedly guaranteed key liberties and autonomy.

It also toppled the legal firewall between the two territories, giving China jurisdiction over major national security cases and allowing its security agents to operate openly in the city for the first time.

Nearly 100 people have been arrested since the law came in and could face life sentences if convicted.

The trial Perry was involved in is not a national security prosecution.

Instead it centres on the involvement of nine of the city's most prominent activists on charges of attending or organising some of 2019's democracy protests.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 23:03:44|Editor: huaxia

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NICOSIA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus plans to reopen its airports to visitors from all countries on March 1, Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios told CyBC state television on Wednesday.

"This means that passengers will be able to visit Cyprus without quarantine restrictions, unless they test positive for COVID-19 on arrival," Perdios said.

He said that the 56 countries with which Cyprus has an air connection will be designated colors according to their coronavirus pandemic situation.

Passengers arriving from green category countries will not have to take a COVID-19 test, while those flying in from orange category countries will be obliged to present a negative test certificate before boarding a plane. Passengers arriving from red category countries will have to be tested both before boarding and after arrival.

Perdios said he did not expect any tourists to arrive in the country before March 1 and preferred not to cite an estimate for tourist arrivals this year, saying only that currently all countries are facing a second or third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

"It would be difficult for people to travel either now or even in February and March," he said.

Cyprus' air connections are currently restricted to only a few countries, mainly Greece, Britain, Russia, Lebanon, Egypt and Gulf states.

The Statistical Service of Cyprus has said that flights to and from Cyprus were reduced by 53 percent and tourism plunged by about 80 percent in 2020 year-on-year. In 2019, almost four million people visited the eastern Mediterranean island.

Cyprus is currently under an almost total lockdown, with only essential businesses operating and a night-time curfew in force. A vaccination program is proceeding at a slow pace as a result of limited supplies, but the authorities say they expect most of the people to be vaccinated by early summer.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in Cyprus and some other countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 237 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 64 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Jan. 15.

The scientific team advising Cyprus' government met on Tuesday night to review the situation amid reports that it is poised to suggest a gradual relaxation of restrictions imposed to stem the second phase of the pandemic.

The eastern Mediterranean island managed to bring coronavirus cases down during the first wave, after imposing a total lockdown from mid-March to the end of May.

After opening its airports in early June, 2020, the country started reporting record numbers of both new COVID-19 cases and deaths. Enditem
Met Eireann has warned of widespread heavy rain swept in by Storm Christoph which will put some areas at a risk of flooding.

The forecaster has issued Status Yellow rain warnings ahead of the storm named by Met Eireann's official forecaster in the UK - the Met Office.

Met Eireann says Tuesday will be wet and breezy in the morning with widespread rain. It will be heaviest over the northern half of the country with a continued risk of localised flooding.

The rain will be more intermittent and showery in the south during the afternoon, but there will bd some heavier bursts at times.

It wil be a cold day for Ulster with highest afternoon temperatures of just 3 to 6 degrees, but milder elsewhere, ranging from 7 to 11 degrees. Winds will be moderate to fresh southwesterly over the bulk of the country and strong on coasts, with light northerly winds in the north.

Met Eireann expects outbreaks of rain to continue in many areas overnight, with the chance of sleet over the northern half of the country. However, a clearance will move into the northwest later in the night, with dry conditions over much of Connacht and Ulster by morning. Frost will set in quickly after dark in the northwest, with lows of between -2 and +1 degrees in Ulster and north Connacht. Less cold elsewhere with lows of 3 to 7 degrees. Patches of mist and fog will form in a light northerly breeze.

The forecaster says it will turn colder from Wednesday with rain turning to sleet in the southeast on Wednesday evening. Sunny spells and showers of rain, hail and sleet for the remainder of the week and next weekend, with temperatures a few degrees below normal and a widespread frost each night.



On Wednesday, Met Eireann says rain will be persistent in the east and south. Clearer in the northwest with scattered showers.

A light to moderate northerly breeze will introduce a colder airmass over the country and as temperatures fall through the afternoon and evening, rain in the midlands, south and east will increasingly turn to sleet, with snow over higher ground. A cold day with afternoon highs of just 2 to 5 degrees.

The rain, sleet and snow will clear away eastwards on Wednesday night, with scattered showers in the west and north, turning to sleet on higher ground. Frost will develop in lows of -1 to +2 degrees.
TORONTO, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (TSX: CF) is scheduled to release its third quarter results and supplementary financial information on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 after TSX market close. Interested investors, the media and other stakeholders may review the earnings release and supplementary financial information at www.cgf.com/investor-relations/investor-resources/financial-reports/

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST:

Interested parties are invited to listen to Canaccord Genuity's third quarter results conference call via live webcast or a toll-free number. The conference call is scheduled for Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time, 5:00 a.m. Pacific time, 1:00 p.m. UK time, 9:00 p.m. China Standard Time, and midnight Australia EST. During the call, senior executives will comment on the results and respond to questions from analysts and institutional investors.

The conference call may be accessed live and will also be archived on a listen-only basis at: www.cgf.com/investor-relations/news-and-events/conference-calls-and-webcasts/

Analysts and institutional investors can call in via telephone at:

647-427-7450 (within Toronto )

) 1-888-231-8191 (toll free outside Toronto )

) 0-800-051-7107 (toll free from the United Kingdom )

) 0-800-917-449 (toll free from France )

) 10-800-714-1191 (toll free from Northern China )

) 10-800-140-1195 (toll free from Southern China )

) 1-800-287-011 (toll free from Australia )

) 800-017-8071 (toll free from United Arab Emirates )

Please ask to participate in the Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. Q3/21 results call. If a passcode is requested, please use 5095027.

A replay of the conference call will be made available from approximately two hours after the live call on February 4, 2021 until April 4, 2021 at 416-849-0833 or 1-855-859-2056 by entering passcode 5095027 followed by the (#) key.

ABOUT CANACCORD GENUITY GROUP INC.:

Through its principal subsidiaries, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (the "Company") is a leading independent, full-service financial services firm, with operations in two principal segments of the securities industry: wealth management and capital markets. Since its establishment in 1950, the Company has been driven by an unwavering commitment to building lasting client relationships. We achieve this by generating value for our individual, institutional and corporate clients through comprehensive investment solutions, brokerage services and investment banking services. The Company has Wealth Management offices located in Canada, the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Australia. The Company's international capital markets division operates in North America, UK & Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. is publicly traded under the symbol CF on the TSX.

SOURCE Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cgf.com


A judge has slammed 'nonsensical and very wrong' sentencing laws after he was forced to let off a Spice-addled thug who beat up a boy with a shorter jail term.

Judge Anthony Cross QC had wanted to lock up convicted drug dealer Martin Davies for longer after he attacked the 10-year-old while on the synthetic drug on the day he was freed early from prison.

But Davies's jail term for assault could only run alongside a current 39-month stretch he has to complete for reoffending whilst on parole.

The term cannot be tagged on afterwards due to legal guidelines.

It means Davies, 30, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, who has other previous convictions for battery, burglary and theft, will be back on the streets as early as September next year.

Martin Davies, 30, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, has been jailed for assaulting a 10-year-old boy but legal guidelines means the term can only run alongside a current 39-month stretch he has to complete for reoffending whilst on parole

At Manchester Crown Court, Judge Cross jailed Davies for two years after he admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

But he commented: 'The fact that I cannot pass a consecutive sentence is nonsensical, and something is very wrong.

'The public would look on aghast the someone who has just been released from prison for one offence cannot then serve a consecutive sentence for the new offence.

Judge Anthony Cross QC (pictured) said: 'The fact that I cannot pass a consecutive sentence is nonsensical, and something is very wrong'

'I have to follow the guideline, but if it were up to me this sentence would not start until September 2022.'

He told Davies: 'You loaded a crack pipe with Spice, smoked it and then, whilst hallucinating, you set on a defenceless 10-year-old boy.

'You physically assaulted him in a deranged way, in a scene akin to a horror film. This is a child who has suffered serious psychological harm.

'It is obvious to anyone with any common sense that your actions towards that child would have put them in fear.

'Every type of sentence has been tried in your case from community orders to suspended sentences, but you have failed to respond to them.

'On this occasion you went out and bought spice when your release note setting out the terms and conditions was still in your pocket. You treated it with utter contempt.'

Davies had originally been locked up for 39 months in January last year after he and an accomplice used used Metrolink tram system in Greater Manchester to peddle Spice across the county.

He began selling the so-called 'zombie drug' at South Chadderton tram stop and sent out group texts saying his supply was 'switched on'.

Groups of fifteen or twenty 'customers' would get the tram from Manchester city centre to South Chadderton to pick up Spice.

Davies has other previous convictions for battery, burglary and theft, will be back on the streets as early as September next year

Police who arrested Davies found 50,000 of Spice found stuffed in bin bags.

Davies served 19 months of his sentence including time served on remand before being freed on December 18 last year with 20 months to go of his sentence.

Prosecutor Brian Williams said: 'That evening the defendant was driven to his new flat and the victim's mother and her husband went shopping to get supplies for the defendant.

WHAT IS 'SPICE'? Spice is a synthetic high which falls into a category of drug-like substances that can be bought in shops or online without breaking the law, but which give the body the same artificial rush of endorphins - or 'high' - as illegal drugs such as cannabis or ecstasy. Black Mamba is a variation of Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid which has similar effects to natural cannabis. However it is much more potent and reacts more strongly with the brain's receptors. Regular use can cause a relapse of mental health illness or increase the risk of developing a mental illness especially if someone has a family history of mental illness. In 2017, a global drugs survey found that hospital admissions as a result of taking the herbal substance Spice increased by one-third since 2014. Reported effects include convulsions, shortness of breath, kidney failure and cardiac arrest, as well as hallucinations and irreparable damage to the users mental health. Spice was made illegal in May 2017. Advertisement

'The defendant was left in charge of the victim.

'While out shopping they called the defendant and managed to speak to the victim.

'The defendant said "I f***** up".

'When they returned the victim was upset and bruising was found on him. He and the defendant were crying.

'The victim was described as hysterical and struggled getting his words out.

'He said the defendant had smoked a pipe and then begun to punch him in the face saying "who the f*** are you?".

'The victim ended up hiding in the bathroom.

'The defendant was arrested while still under the influence of spice.

'He was not interviewed.

'The victim was taken to A&E and treated for substantial bruising to his face and lacerations to his neck, back, leg and eyelid.

'The defendant is 29 and has many previous convictions.

'He was released from a 39-month sentence for selling spice on the day of this offence.

'He has two previous convictions for battery in 2012 and 2016.

'This was a sustained assault by an adult on a child who ended up having to lock himself in the bathroom.

'This 10-year-old child must have been affected by what was an ordeal for him.'

In mitigation Davies's defence counsel Anthony Morris said: 'A report on him recognises there has been a significant emotional impact on the child but there is no suggestion it is the most serious type of harm.

'Medical evidence suggests the victim was clinically well and medically fit when he was last seen.

'While the defendant has been a regular spice user this is the first occasion where he has responded with violence.

'He was very, very close to this child and when he is in his cell he thinks about the attack and thinks about how he regrets the attack almost all day, every day.'

Two Maple Shade residents have been charged with causing the death of a Medford man who overdosed on methamphetamine early last year, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office announced Tuesday.

Joshua Lanigan, 39, and Jeanine Hughes, 44, are each charged with strict liability for drug induced death, a first-degree crime, and related drug possession felonies. The associates are accused of selling meth to Andrew Shelley at his Medford Township home in mid February 2020.

The 38-year-old later disappeared from his home and his family reported him missing on Feb. 18, 2020.

About a week later, Shelley was the subject of a New Jersey State Police missing persons bulletin posted on Facebook, which said hed last been spotted leaving a motel on Feb. 16 and riding a bicycle south on Route 206 in Southampton.

On March 17, a hiker found his body just off Route 70 in Medford. The prosecutors office said the investigation into his death broadened after the autopsy determined Shelley died of methamphetamine toxicity.

Detectives later connected the meth that killed Shelley to Lanigan and Hughes, the office said.

Shelly was mourned by his family as a a generous, kind-hearted, fun-loving man who was always up for an adventure and always willing to lend a helping hand. He was survived by his parents, five siblings and four nieces and nephews.

Andrew loved being by the ocean and out in the wilderness, fishing, boating, riding bikes, traveling, and spending time with his family. He will be remembered as an inquisitive, funny, mischievous child who loved playing jokes, his obituary said.

Lanigan and Hughes were arrested this past Friday in Maple Shade and jailed ahead of detention hearings, scheduled for tomorrow. Jan. 20, in Superior Court of Burlington County in Mount Holly.

Medford Township Police Detective William Knecht is the lead investigator.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com.
NEW DELHI : A group of Indian military personnel is leaving for Russia in the next few days to undergo training on key operational aspects of the S-400 air defence systems as Moscow looks at supplying the first batch of the missile to India later this year, officials said on Tuesday.

Russian Ambassador Nikolay R Kudashev interacted with the group at an event in the Russian embassy on Tuesday during which he said the S-400 programme is one of the flagship projects in further boosting military cooperation between the two countries.

He said Indo-Russia military and military-technical ties were based on "ever growing extraordinary mutual interest", coherence, consistency and complementarity.

In October 2018, India had signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions.

India made the first tranche of payment of around $800 million to Russia for the missile systems in 2019. The S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.

Recently, the US imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for purchase of S-400 missile defences from Russia.

Around 100 Indian military personnel are leaving for Russia this month for the S-400 training programme, officials said.

Kudashev said military cooperation has been the main pillar of the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries and that the overall Indo-Russia friendship has become an important factor of stability in the region and the globe, according to a Russian embassy release.

"It is based on mutual trust and reflects the true spirit of our bilateral and multilateral commitments in the framework of our vision towards just and equal relations based on the international law and the UN Charter," he said.

"Coming out of the bipolar world and successfully proceeding through the current establishment of the polycentric order, our partnership is becoming even stronger, experiencing new areas and forms of mutually beneficial and forward-looking cooperation," the ambassador said.

Russia is expected to start delivery of the S-400 missile systems later this year.

Along with S-400 systems project, Kudashev said both sides are successfully moving towards implementation of AK-203 Kalashnikovs contract, the Ka-226 helicopters programme as well as cooperation in the areas of combat aviation including the Su-30MKI project.

He said both sides are also moving forward in several other projects like the main battle tanks (T-90), frigates, submarines and missiles and joint production of "unique Brahmos".

In October 2016, India and Russia had finalised a broad agreement to set up a joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and two Russian defence majors for procuring 200 Kamov Ka-226T choppers for Indian armed forces.

According to the understanding, 60 Kamov-226T helicopters will be supplied to India in fly-away condition, while 140 will be manufactured in India. Russia had agreed to ensure transfer of technologies to India as part of the pact.

India and Russia finalised the deal for manufacturing AK-203 rifles during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Moscow last year. More than 700,000 rifles are to be produced at an Indo-Russian joint production facility in India.

"Looking forward to an early implementation of the spare parts joint production agreement, which also fits well in Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) programmes. Work also is going on the mutual logistics support agreement, strengthening maritime cooperation, including in the Indian Ocean," the Russian ambassador said.

He said Russia intends to be one of the biggest exhibitors at the Aero-India in Bengaluru in February.

"We plan to demonstrate Su-57, Su-35 and MiG-35 fighter jets, helicopters Ka-52, Ka-226, Mi-17B-5, Mi-26 as well S-400 systems and many other new items and equipment," he said.

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The company has tasked the new CEO with implementing its revised strategic agenda, including accelerating the development and optimisation of the companys WA gold assets.

Phillips will replace outgoing CEO Ian Warland, who has resigned to take up a new opportunity.

( ) (FRA:U9V) has appointed Perth-based Simon Phillips as the groups new CEO with effect from February 1, 2021.

Phillips will replace outgoing CEO Ian Warland, who has resigned to take up a new opportunity.

The appointment will coincide with the company relocating its head-office to Perth from Adelaide by the end of the current quarter.

Phillips has been working in a consultancy capacity with TSC since late 2020 and has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services sector, including as an investment advisor and fund manager specialising in WA-focused gold explorers and producers.

He has a Diploma of Financial Markets and Advising from FINSIA and will be responsible for TSCs operational and market communications strategy, with the immediate priority to accelerate the development of the WA Goldfields assets which include the Mt Dimer, Yarbu and Rover projects.

Accelerated exploration the priority

TSCs chairman Rob Scott said: The board is delighted to secure Simons services as CEO, as his extensive experience funding gold explorers and producers, combined with his excellent network across the investment community, provides us with a uniquely blended skillset to drive the companys forward strategy.

Simons first priority will be to oversee an accelerated exploration strategy across our three WA goldfield properties, focusing particularly on Mt Dimer, at which high-grade open pit mining has previously been conducted and significant gold mineralisation since intersected in exploration drilling.

As CEO, Simon will also be responsible for our market and wider stakeholder communications strategies.

We look forward to Simon commencing in the CEO role with effect from February 1, 2021, in tandem with TSC establishing Perth as its new head office and to the commencement of drilling at Mt Dimer [this quarter].

Finally, the board thanks outgoing CEO Ian Warland for his significant contribution to TSC over the past several years and wishes him well with his new business endeavours.

Three WA gold assets core focus

The board has tasked Phillips with implementing its revised strategic agenda, which comprises accelerating the development and optimisation of the companys WA Goldfields assets.

Phillips said: After many years working in the West Australian investment industry, gaining considerable hands-on experience funding gold explorers and producers, I see TSC as an outstanding and challenging opportunity.

The three WA gold assets are high-quality and deliver excellent exploration upside, which is now the boards core focus moving forward.

Im very much looking forward to working with TSCs geology team to further develop our WA assets, especially the Mt Dimer Mining Lease, and creating value for shareholder.
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Specials Updated Timeline: Tracing Militarys Interference in Myanmar Election

Myanmar army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attends a commemoration of 73rd Anniversary of Tatmadaw (Navy) Day at Thilawa Port in Yangon on Dec. 24, 2020. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

YANGON Even before Myanmars voters went to the polls in Novembers general election, the countrys powerful military began flexing its political muscles, criticizing the government for the electoral bodys handling of preparations for the polls and raising doubts over whether the election was free and fair.

Its threats and warnings in the run-up to the election even prompted concerns over the possible threat of a coup. At that time, many were relieved after the military chiefs Senior General Min Aung Hlaing vowed to respect the peoples will on election day.

For the record, Myanmar held its general election on Nov. 8 amid surging cases of COVID-19. Despite criticism of the election body, 71.75 percent of eligible voters [nearly 27 millions of 37 million voters flocked to polling stations and a clear majority of them chose the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD).

Following another landslide defeat at the hands of the NLD, the military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) claimed that the election was marred by massive fraud. The party also filed more than a thousand electoral complaints with the police and election sub-commission.

After its proxy party cried foul over the vote, the military resumed its interference and launched an investigation into the election. As the date grows near when the newly-elected parliament convenes and new government takes office, the military and its proxy party have pressed ahead with attempts to discredit the NLDs victory.

Heres a timeline of the militarys interference over the election, tracing activity from the pre-election period through its ongoing assertions of fraud as recently as this week.

I am brave enough to do anything: Military Chief

August 14, 2020

During the meeting with 34 pro-military parties, including the USDP, in the run-up to the election in which the parties sought assurances from the military chief that they could count on his help if the voting turned unfair, Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said there is nothing that he wouldnt dare to do for the country.

I am brave enough to do anything. Anything that could have a negative impact on the country, the people and the future of the military [is my concern]. Im following everything, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said in the meeting. His choice of words drew concerns that he might be threatening a coup.

First Pre-Vote Attack

Nov. 2, 2020

Six days prior to the election, the military issued a statement about the voting, overstepping its authority by asserting that the Union Election Commission (UEC) was mishandling preparations. The statement issued by the office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services cast doubt on the ability of the UEC, formed by the government, to hold a free and fair election.

Weakness and deficiencies which were never seen in the previous elections are appearing now. They can have adverse impacts on the image of the election, the military said, warning that the government must take responsibility for any mistakes committed by the election commission which it said is legally responsible for the commissions actions.

Military Chief Questions the Credibility of the Vote

Nov. 3, 2020

Following the statement on Nov. 2, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing told a local media outlet that he was dismayed by the UECs mishandling of the situation, saying he had expected a free and fair election.

In 2015 I said that the UEC had the final say on the election results and we would accept it. This time it seems that we have to be very cautious. I dont want it to happen, he said.

The spokesperson for the Presidents Office responded on Nov. 4 that army chiefs election remarks violate the law and the Constitution, making reference to Article 26(a) of the Constitution which states that civil servants, including the military and police, must be free from party politics.

The Presidents Office also slammed the militarys statement on the election as based on groundless allegations by some political parties and individual and unhelpful to efforts to hold a free and fair election but instead instigates concerns and instability.

Military Warns President of Impeachment

Nov. 5, 2020

The military rejected the Presidents Offices comments in a lengthy response saying the government was ignoring its responsibility for the actions of the UEC. It went on to say that government officials took oaths under the Constitution to honestly carry out their duties to the best of their abilities.

It should be noted that the Constitution [provides for] the impeachment of the President and Vice President if he is deemed disqualified or not performing his responsibilities, it added. The military also attempted to justify its interference by saying its involvement in the countrys national politics was in accordance with the Constitution, which labels the military as its guardian.

Military Chief Agrees to Respect Election Result

Nov. 8, 2020

After week of tension with government over the election that led to concerns over post-election chaos and violence, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, however, promised on the election day that he will accept the outcome of the voting.

I will accept an election result that reflects the peoples will, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing told reporters on Nov. 8, after casting his ballot in Naypyitaws Zabuthiri Township.

Military Launches Review of Election Process

Nov. 30, 2020

The military (or Tatmadaw) announced that it would review the electoral process to determine whether it was conducted in accordance with the law after learning of election-related disputes across the country. The announcement came a few days after its proxy, the USDP, cried foul over the election and complained that its calls for a probe of the election and the UEC had fallen on deaf ears.

The military called on the UEC to instruct the respective election sub-commissions to provide the Tatmadaw with copies of election-related documents to facilitate its review, saying its goal was to recognize a free and fair election without suspicion. Depending on the findings of its review, voters from the constituencies in question will file objections to any electoral irregularities discovered, the Tatmadaw said.

The Tatmadaw True News Information Team however said at that time that the military is reviewing the balloting in 218 townships where military personnel and their family member cast votes. That seemed to be an attempt to persuade critics that the Tatmadaw did not intend to interfere in the whole entire process, but merely wanted to ensure that no irregularities occurred in polling stations where military voters voted. That effort at spin was itself controversial. And, in the event, the Tatmadaws examination of voter lists didnt stop with 218 townships and extended to other townships with no military voters.

Public Spat with UEC

Dec. 10, 2020

The UEC rejected as unlawful the militarys call for the agency to instruct its sub-commissions to provide copies of election-related documents to facilitate the militarys review of the Nov. 8 vote.

The military has also cited provisions of the Evidence Act in its request to the UEC that the necessary directives be given to election sub-commissions allowing them to copy the public documents.

The UEC said on Dec. 7 that according to the countrys election laws, the election tribunal should apply provisions of the Evidence Act only when inspections are made [following] electoral complaints. Criticizing the UEC decision, the Tatmadaw True News Information Team said on Dec. 10 that instead of rejecting their request, the UEC should work towards removing all the doubts through transparency, maintaining that its attempt to seize election-related documents was legal.

Making Series of Fraud Claims

Dec. 23, 2020

Regardless of the UEC rejection to provide copies of election-related documents including voter lists, the military continued rechecking the voter lists across the country and on Dec. 23 released its findings of the irregularities starting with four townships where its proxy party suffered heavy defeats.

In less than a month, the military scrutinized voter lists of 314 townships in all states and regions and released the findings. It publicly claimed to have found more than 7. 6 million voter list irregularities that could have led to opportunities to vote more than once and voting malpractice in those townships.

Election sub-commissioners rejected the accusations as exaggerated and absurd and questioned the military source for the voter lists as the UEC had not provided them. The military spokesperson claimed that they had not gathered illegal information online during their review.

Unfair and Dishonest Practices Were Found in Vote: Military Chief Alleges

Jan. 8, 2021

The military chief Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing made fraud claims about the Nov. 8 general election, making the allegation of vote rigging personally in the post-election period and supporting the USDPs claims of mass electoral frauds.

In conducting an assessment after the election, unfair and dishonest practices were found, the commander-in-chief told the Command and General Staff College in Kalaw via video conferencing.

He added that the military is trying to point out these mistakes because they tarnish the countrys image.

Call for Special Parliament Session

Jan. 11, 2021

Few days after the senior generals comments on alleged vote rigging, the military appointees in the Parliament and its proxy party attempted to take their claims to the Parliament.

A total of 203 lawmakers, including 160 unelected military appointees, 36 Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) lawmakers, four Arakan National Party members, two independents and one National United Democratic Party member submitted a proposal calling Speaker T Khun Myat to convene a special session to resolve electoral fraud claims before the new parliament sits on Feb. 1.

The speaker rejected the proposal on Jan. 12, saying the military and USDP attempt to take electoral fraud claims to Parliament is not relevant. He said election disputes are not resolved in Parliament as the Constitution grants the UEC the final decision. He added that alleged malpractices filed with the election sub-commissions will be resolved by the UEC and the process is still taking place.

Military Chief Complains of Alleged Voter Fraud to the Chinese Minister

Jan. 12, 2021

The military chief raised electoral fraud claims at his meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi during a discussion that was supposed to be devoted to issues of bilateral interest, including capacity building for Myanmars armed forces.

The senior general shared the militarys findings in its examination of the voter lists, saying it had uncovered mistakes and inaccuracies that could have led to opportunities to vote more than once and voting malpractice. He claimed the military embarked on the task to ensure that the countrys democracy would not be harmed. He also added the military would continue its effort in accordance with regulations and laws. It is not known how Wang responded to the claims.

Military Condemns Speakers Refusal to Probe Election Fraud Claims

Jan. 14, 2021

Speaker T Khun Myat has come under fire from the military for refusing its request to hold a special parliamentary session to examine the electoral fraud charges.

The Tatmadaw has questioned that whether the rejection of its call for a special parliamentary session before the newly elected assembly convenes is constitutional while insisting that their call for the special session was constitutional.

In reference to the former juntas national convention to draft the Constitution, it said parliamentarians have the right to call the House Speaker to convene a special session and the Speaker has the constitutional duty to convene a session if a quarter of lawmakers make the request.

Lawyers, however, have backed the Speakers decision, saying was in line with the Parliaments law and by-law and constitutional.

Military Demands Proof November Election Was Fair

Jan. 20, 2021

The military has called on either the government, Union Election Commission (UEC) or outgoing parliamentarians to prove the November general election was free and fair so it can accept the results.

Calling the situation a political dilemma in which the military, its proxy party and a few allied parties alleged election fraud, the military declared in a statement that, the government, UEC or parliament should find a way to overcome the political dilemma in the interests of the state and the people.

In the presence of vote-rigging, the will of the people cannot be reflected, the military stated. If the election can be proved free, fair and transparent, it will reflect the true wishes of the people and the Tatmadaw [military] and certain political parties will accept the results, it continued.

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A health impact study has for the first time estimated the mortality burden attributable to air pollution in more than 1,000 European cities. The study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, includes a ranking of the European cities with the highest rates of mortality attributable to each of the two air pollutants studied: fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ). The research project was led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), in collaboration with researchers from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and Utrecht University.

The findings show that 51,000 and 900 premature deaths could be prevented each year, respectively, if all the cities analyzed were to achieve the PM2.5 and NO 2 levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, if all of the cities were to match the air-quality levels of the least polluted city on the list, even more deaths could be prevented. Specifically, the number of premature deaths that could be prevented each year by reducing PM2.5 and NO 2 concentrations to the lowest measured levels are 125,000 and 79,000, respectively.

Mortality rankings

After estimating the preventable premature deaths in each city, the research team ranked the cities by mortality burden for each of the two pollutants studied.

"We observed great variability in the results for the different cities analyzed," commented ISGlobal researcher Sasha Khomenko, lead author of the study. "The highest rates of mortality attributable to NO 2 , a toxic gas associated primarily with motor-vehicle traffic, were found in large cities in countries such as Spain, Belgium, Italy and France."

"For PM2.5, the cities with the highest mortality burden were in Italy's Po Valley, southern Poland and the eastern Czech Republic. This is because suspended particulate matter is emitted not only by motor vehicles but also by other sources of combustion, including industry, household heating, and the burning of coal and wood," added Khomenko.

"The highest percentage of natural mortality that could be attributed to fine particulate matter was 15%, in the city of Brescia. With regard to nitrogen dioxide, the highest percentageup to 7% of natural mortalitywas found in the Madrid metropolitan area," explained Khomenko.

At the opposite end of the ranking are the cities with the lowest rates of mortality attributable to air pollution, a privileged position occupied by northern European cities in both the PM2.5 and NO 2 rankings.

"This is the first study to estimate the mortality burden attributable to air pollution at the city level in Europe," commented Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, senior author of the study and Director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at ISGlobal, a center supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation. "Our findings support the evidence suggesting that there is no safe exposure threshold below which air pollution is harmless to health. They also suggest that the European legislation currently in force does not do enough to protect people's health. Therefore, the maximum NO 2 and PM2.5 levels allowed by law should be revised. We hope that local authorities can use these data to implement urban and transport planning policies aimed at improving people's health."

Online Data Hub

This study forms part of the ISGlobal Ranking of Cities project and is the first in a series of analyses of the health impacts of various environmental factors inherent to urban life, including air pollution, noise, access to green spaces, heat island effects, etc. The website http://www.isglobalranking.org has been created as a hub for the rankings and detailed data on each city. The site is currently available in English, Spanish and Catalan. Data from the project's other analyses and rankings will be added to the site as they become available.

Methodology

The study followed the quantitative health impact assessment methodology, which compares current levels of air pollution in cities with two counterfactual scenarios with improved air quality. Relying on recent scientific evidence on the relationship between air pollution levels and mortality, the researchers calculated the impact that both air-pollution reduction scenarios would have on the mortality burden. Three mathematical models were combined to determine the average levels of each pollutant in each city, taking values from 2015 as a baseline and comparing them to data from 2018.

To perform city comparisons, the researchers assigned a mortality burden score to each city. The scores were calculated using an algorithm that took into account mortality rates, percentage of preventable annual premature deaths and years of life lost for each air pollutant.

Top 10 cities with the highest mortality burden

The ten cities with the highest mortality burden attributable to PM2.5:

1. Brescia (Italy)

2. Bergamo (Italy)

3. Karvina (Czech Republic)

4. Vicenza (Italy)

5. Silesian Metropolis (Poland)

6. Ostrava (Czech Republic)

7. Jastrzebie-Zdroj (Poland)

8. Saronno (Italy)

9. Rybnik (Poland)

10. Havirov (Czech Republic)

The ten cities with the highest mortality burden attributable to NO 2 :

1. Madrid (metropolitan area) (Spain)

2. Antwerp (Belgium)

3. Turin (Italy)

4. Paris (metropolitan area) (France)

5. Milan (metropolitan area) (Italy)

6. Barcelona (metropolitan area) (Spain)

7. Mollet del Valles (Spain)

8. Brussels (Belgium)

9. Herne (Germany)

10. Argenteuil-Bezons (France)

Top 10 cities with the lowest mortality burden

The ten cities with the lowest mortality burden attributable to PM2.5:

1. Reykjavik (Iceland)

2. Troms (Norway)

3. Umea (Sweden)

4. Oulu (Finland)

5. Jyvaskyla (Finland)

6. Uppsala (Sweden)

7. Trondheim (Norway)

8. Lahti (Finland)

9. Orebro (Sweden)

10. Tampere (Finland)

The ten cities with the lowest mortality burden attributable to NO 2 :

1. Tromso (Norway)

2. Umea (Sweden)

3. Oulu (Finland)

4. Kristiansand (Norway)

5. Pula (Croatia)

6. Linkoping (Sweden)

7. Galway (Ireland)

8. Jonkoping (Sweden)

9. Alytus (Lithuania)

10. Trondheim (Norway)

Explore further Nearly half of all childhood asthma cases in Barcelona are attributable to air pollution

More information: Khomenko S, Cirach M, Pereira-Barboza E, Mueller N, Barrera-Gomez J, Rojas-Rueda D, de Hoogh K, Hoek G, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Premature mortality due to air pollution in European cities; an Urban Burden of Disease Assessment. The Lancet Planetary Health, 2021. Khomenko S, Cirach M, Pereira-Barboza E, Mueller N, Barrera-Gomez J, Rojas-Rueda D, de Hoogh K, Hoek G, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Premature mortality due to air pollution in European cities; an Urban Burden of Disease Assessment., 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30272-2
Haja Timbo has indicated she will plead guilty

One of the three women accused of lying on a border declaration pass to enter Queensland and sparking fears of a second wave of Covid has indicated she will plead guilty.

Olivia Muranga, 20, Diana Lasu, 21, and Haja Timbo, 21, are accused of lying on their border declaration forms to avoid quarantining after travelling to Victoria in late July.

The trio were not required to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday as their cases were mentioned for the fourth time since they were charged.

Lawyers representing Timbo applied for a lengthy plea date and indicated she would plead guilty to one count of providing false or misleading documents.

A second charge of fraud is expected to be dropped against Timbo.

Meanwhile Lasu's lawyer Ben Taylor applied for the matter to be adjourned to further discuss the next steps with his client.

Mr Taylor previously applied for access a police notebook and the body-worn footage of his client's arrest after she flew into Brisbane.

He told the court he had not yet received all the materials needed, and the magistrate ordered prosecutors hand it over by February 3.

All three defendants will appear in court again on February 17th, before Timbo is scheduled for a plea hearing and sentencing on March 26th.

The women have maintained a close friendship since the alleged incident, spending New Years Eve together partying at a hotel in Brisbane

All three defendants will appear in court again on February 17th, before Timbo is scheduled for a plea hearing and sentencing on March 26th

The women have maintained a close friendship since the alleged incident, spending New Years Eve together partying at a hotel in Brisbane.

On January 1st, the trio uploaded a short clip travelling in the backseat of a car, smiling and pouting at the camera.

Timbo has several videos featuring Muranga and Lasu, who she describes as her 'sister and best friend', on her Instagram page.

The women regularly share content inside hotel rooms across Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Lasu and Muranga sparked a frenzied state-wide health operation after they dined out at venues throughout Brisbane despite testing positive for Covid.

The women, along with Timbo - who never tested positive to Covid - are accused of lying on official documents to travel back to Brisbane after hosting an illegal Airbnb party in Melbourne as the city was grappling with a devastating outbreak.

Haja Umu Timbo, 21, is accused of travelling with both women but never tested positive to COVID-19

Between them Muranga and Lasu visited 11 different venues in Brisbane while infected with COVID-19

Timbo has several videos featuring Muranga and Lasu, who she describes as her 'sister and best friend', on her Instagram page

Police claim they flew into Brisbane via Sydney to bypass hotel quarantine procedures.

Lasu and Muranga are each charged with one count of fraud and one of providing false or misleading documents.

Timbo's lawyer Jaimee-Lee Jessop said the 21-year-old was hoping for a quick resolution and her case was ready to proceed.

Muranga and Lasu are believed to have triggered southeast Queensland's biggest cluster, which led to outbreaks in the Queensland Corrective Services Academy, Brisbane Youth Detention Centre and Ipswich Hospital.

Genomic testing in August was unable to conclusively prove a connection between all the outbreaks, but chief health officer Jeannette Young said the clusters were of the same virus strain, just 'missing a link'.

Lasu (left) is accused of travelling to Victoria with Muranga (Right) and sneaking back into Brisbane infected with Covid

Footage emerged of Muranga dining out immediately after getting tested for COVID-19. A couple in the venue later tested positive for the virus

Diana Lasu (centre) is now demanding police hand over the body worn footage of her arrest

While Queensland avoided a widespread outbreak, the consequences of the women's actions could have been catastrophic.

Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young called the pair 'reckless' and said she was 'very disappointed' that they'd allegedly made the decision to lie and jeopardise the safety of all Queenslanders.

'They went to extraordinary lengths to be deceitful and deceptive and quite frankly criminal in their behaviour and that is what has put the community at risk,' Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said at the time.

Victoria was in the grips of its second wave - with more than 700 cases identified each day at the peak - while the Sunshine State had almost entirely eradicated the virus at the time.

Olivia Winnie Muranga, 19 (pictured) is accused of lying on her border declarations about where she had been when they arrived in Brisbane from Melbourne via Sydney on July 21

A police source alleged the teenagers threw a party (people leaving the party are pictured) for about 20 people at their accommodation in Melbourne prior to returning to Queensland

But when word spread that the duo had tested positive for the virus, officials feared a second outbreak was inevitable.

Public outrage only intensified when footage emerged showing Muranga casually ordering a drink at the Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar on Brisbane's Southbank with a friend just hours after she was tested for the virus.

The venue was one of 11 visited by the women while infectious.

Before that, Muranga had allegedly gone to work for two days at Parklands Christian College in Park Ridge, south of the city before calling in sick.

She went to the doctor on Saturday and was told to get tested immediately, but she allegedly waited until Monday to do so.

The women could be fined $13,345 or sent to jail for a maximum of five years.

Footage has emerged of Muranga casually entering the Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar on Brisbane's Southbank with a friend and ordering a drink

Victoria Police issued infringement notices to all in attendance at the illegal party after being called to reports of a 'disturbance'
TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945



BOSTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife Investment Management announced today that Scott Greenberg, CAIA, was named managing director of institutional distribution. In the role, Mr. Greenberg will be responsible for business development in the southeast region of the United States and report to Michael Kotarski, CFA, head of direct and institutional distribution in the United States and Latin America. Based in Miami, Florida, Mr. Greenberg will work closely with institutional investors across the territory to offer specialized investment solutions spanning agriculture, timber, real estate, private equity, private credit, infrastructure, fixed income, equity, and multi-asset investments.

"As we continue to strengthen our brand in the United States, we're excited to have Scott's institutional experience to bring our global and full platform of public and private investment capabilities to asset owners across the southeast," said Todd Cassler, head of institutional distribution, United States and Europe, Manulife Investment Management.

"We're looking forward to working with Scott as he is a great addition to our growing sales team. He'll be a terrific resource to the institutional investment community across asset classes as we help investors to prepare for future retirement and investing needs," added Mr. Kotarski.

Previously, Mr. Greenberg was a vice president on the institutional sales team at Nuveen. Prior to joining Nuveen, he was a relationship development associate at GE Asset Management. Mr. Greenberg holds a degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Arizona and an M.B.A. from the University of Florida's Hough Graduate School of Business. He holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and is a chapter executive for CAIA Miami.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 17 countries and territories. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement.

As of September 30, 2020, Manulife Investment Management had CAD$923 billion (US$692 billion) in assets under management and administration. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

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Photo: The Canadian Press

WestJet says it will operate the first commercial flight of the Boeing 737 Max in Canada since the aircraft was cleared to fly again in Canadian airspace.

The flight will take off from Calgary on Thursday and land in Vancouver, where company executives will hold a press event, WestJet says.

Starting Jan. 22, WestJet plans to fly the Max three times weekly between Calgary and Toronto.

The Boeing 737 Max was grounded in Canada for nearly two years following two deadly crashes that investigators said was caused by a faulty sensor system.

The Canadian government lifted its grounding order for the Max on Jan. 20 after approving a number of changes to the airplane's design, including allowing pilots to disable an alarm system found to be central to the crashes.

Max pilots will also be required to undergo additional training in flight simulators before they can operate the plane in Canadian airspace.
Colin Fassnidge has spilled the beans on his former feud with Manu Feildel during their days as co-hosts on Channel Seven's My Kitchen Rules.

The Irish chef, 47, infamously butted heads with the French bon vivant, 46, for years before they joined forces on the popular cooking show.

In scenes set to air on Wednesday's episode of I'm a Celebrity, Colin admitted their rivalry escalated because he 'used to fight everybody in the old days' while trying to make a name for himself in the culinary industry.

Speaking out: Colin Fassnidge (pictured) will discuss his former feud with My Kitchen Rules co-star Manu Feildel on Wednesday's episode of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Speaking to fellow camper Grant Denyer, Colin said: 'Obviously I made my name, but I forgot to stop fighting. We just never stopped fighting.'

The pair's feud infamously flared when Colin mocked Manu's appearance on Dancing with the Stars in 2011, and came to a head when he joined the cast of MKR in 2015.

And as soon as Colin arrived on set, Manu was quick to mark his territory.

Colin claimed Manu's first words to him were: 'Well, buddy, welcome to my home. If there's anything you need, I'll tell you how to do it.'

Not the warmest welcome: The Irish chef, 47, infamously butted heads with Frenchman Manu (pictured) for years before they joined forces on Channel Seven's popular cooking show

During his feud with Manu, Colin also had beef with former I'm a Celebrity champion Miguel Maestre, but it garnered less media attention.

As time went on, Colin decided to apologise to both chefs and the trio are now pals.

'I just went into [Manu's] dressing room and said, "Mate, I apologise for whatever,"' he said.

More feuds: During his feud with Manu, Colin also had beef with former I'm a Celebrity champion Miguel Maestre (pictured), but it garnered less media attention

'He was like, "That's it, buried it." Same with Miguel.'

Colin added: 'Now all the wives hang out, the kids hang out we're like, "Why did we waste so long getting to know each other?"'

I'm a Celebrity continues Wednesday on Channel 10 at 7.30pm

In a final bombshell effort to destroy ties between China and the U.S., the outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made the gravest of accusations against China. Comparing the Chinese government to the Nazis and ISIS, Pompeo said China has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Every person of conscience will be shocked by this accusation. In a State Department media release, Pompeo said: "We do so not because we are compelled to act by any international court, multilateral body, or domestic political concern. We do so because it is right." But if this is an act of moral courage, why is Pompeo doing it hours before leaving the White House in disgrace? Why speak out at the last minute, when there is no time to present evidence, back up the claims with facts, or hear counterarguments?

It is not as if the Trump administration has been shy about smearing China. In May, Pompeo claimed to have "enormous evidence" that COVID-19 originated in a Wuhan laboratory  an assertion found baseless by U.S. intelligence services and scientists, including Anthony Fauci. Pompeo never did present any evidence.

Pompeo has also suggested that China deliberately spread the virus around the world by attempting to "conceal and hide and confuse." This is a classic case of psychological projection. The Trump administration, from the beginning, ignored early warnings from China and the WHO about the approaching danger, downplayed the threat, and undercut the messages of its own public health officials. This week the U.S. surpassed 400,000 COVID-19 deaths.

From COVID-19 to genocide, Mike Pompeo has spewed unfounded, unsupported and unconscionable lies about China over his tenure as U.S.' representative to the world. Throughout his career, Pompeo has been a far-right ideologue with scant regard for the truth. In the face of clear facts, he stays a climate change denier. He has falsely suggested Muslim terrorists had tentacles throughout all parts of the U.S., big and small. He supported Donald Trump's baseless claims the presidential election was rigged, showed no remorse when the president delayed the transition of power and even enabled many of Trump's worst instincts.

A shop in a bazaar in Kashgar, southwest of Xinjiang. /VCG Photo

In another bomb thrown to sabotage the Biden administration just before leaving office, Pompeo said earlier this month: "I would say Iran is indeed the new Afghanistan  as the key geographic hub for al-Qaeda  but it's actually worse." He backed up this statement with no evidence, because there isn't any. But in his final days in office, Pompeo has no compunction about telling a big lie to further a cherished policy goal, in this case making it difficult for the Biden administration to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal.

Pompeo holds a narrow, apocalyptic world-view, seeing himself as good and people who disagree as evil. This week he attacked the Black Lives Matter movement and the idea of diversity with the tweet: "Woke-ism, multiculturalism, all the -isms  they're not who America is. They distort our glorious founding and what this country is all about."

From crowd size to the coronavirus to election results, the hardline Trump administration has proven it will tell any falsehood to achieve its political goals  the bigger the lie, the better. Serious political observers will be able to look closely at Pompeo's genocide claim and see it for what it is: A bogus shameless final attempt to make it difficult for the Biden administration to reverse the Trump administration's hardline fantasy of decoupling from China.

If there's anyone that benefits from the lies and distortion, it is Pompeo himself. He has made tremendous efforts over the past week to secure himself as the heir to Trump's brand of politics and international relationship. As he claims the mental to a disgraced one-term president, Pompeo is laboring mightily to keep his own name relevant in the public's discourse, giving him enough exposure to become a viable candidate for higher offices  AKA the presidency  in the future election cycles.

If the U.S. really believes a genocide is taking place in Xinjiang, it is morally obliged to present evidence to the International Court of Justice in the Hague, not shoot out a politically convenient media statement on the way out the door. The world needs evidence and facts, not fantasies or delusions.
STUDENT nurses have slated the Governments 100 per week pandemic work payment offer as a slap in the face and an injustice.

One student nurse, Tessa Bock (21), said the financial situation facing many student nurses is such that they are left with a choice of paying for their transport to and from hospital or being able to afford to buy a takeaway.

"We had to quit jobs, sacrifice our health and our families health and dive right into the middle of it all," she said.

Ms Bock said they began their nursing courses knowing that there was a risk of bringing an infection home from the hospital. She acknowledged they were fully cognisant that the work would be physically and mentally draining and that it would have to balance it with assignments and exams.

Read More

"We knew that it was for education purposes and this was a part of the course. We didnt know that we would have to do all of this during a global pandemic. Where our physical and mental health have been tested."

Tessa admitted she laughs in disbelief and anger over the fact that the Government are now discussing a 100 a week allowance for people like her.

"Thats roughly 2.80 an hour...the question is, will this really even happen?"

Tessa loves nursing and was very grateful to have the ability to train in an excellent hospital. But she stressed that student nurses have a typical day which needs to be compensated with far more than the "slap in the face" of 2.80 an hour.

"I wake every hour overthinking with panic about what the day before brought and with the nerves of what the day ahead is going to bring. I walk to the bus just to realise my Leapcard isnt topped up because I had to make the decision yesterday if I should eat or not with the few coins I had left in my purse.

I arrive to the hospital already exhausted but perk myself up after chatting to all the other student nurses. I go off to my ward where Im told were short staffed because some nurses are out due to Covid-19. I havent worked with the other nurses before, Im by myself. I receive the handover, two new patients...both Covid-19 positive."

Tess stressed that she loves being of assistance to patients.

"I check on the patients throughout the day and tend to their needs. I help feed the patients who are too weak to feed themselves. I brush the hair and paint the nails of patients whose self esteem has sank so low they cant get out of bed. I read the newspaper and sing songs with patients who have no company and lost their smile.

I hold the hands of patients who are so terribly ill that they cant speak to their family  they rely on me to be there for them. I wipe the tears of patients who dont know when or if theyll ever leave the hospital. I am there 12 hours of the day. I am there when they need me the most. I am there when they are at the most vulnerable. Me. And Im so, so beyond grateful that its me that can be there for them.

I then leave. With the memory of the day forever with me. With the patients Ive met forever in my heart."

Tessa said that she sometimes leaves work to get the bus having forgotten that she hasn't topped up her Leapcard because she doesn't have the money to do so.

"But the lady behind me sees the exhaustion in my eyes that she pays for my fare. I dont get home till 10pm. I shower but I dont hug my dad goodnight. I dont have energy to have a quick bite. I dont sleep till 12 midnight. And then the day starts all over again.

That is a typical day. The majority of the days are not typical; on the wards. Student nurses are asked to go over and beyond their scope of practice. We are hard working students. We dont deserve this injustice.

Read More




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Haiti - Diplomacy : The Ambassador of Haiti defeats the Trump administration





The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was preparing to deport Paul Pierrilus (40) to Haiti, although he had never visited this country in his life. Paul Pierrilus, whose parents are originally from Haiti but have become American citizens, was arrested on January 11 and taken to an immigration office for a routine visit where he learned, to his greater surprise, that the office was holding documents proving that he was a Haitian citizen.



Neomie, Pierrilus's sister, claims the opposite, showing her brother's birth certificate which proves that he was born on the French territory of Saint-Martin. She also provided copies of emails from former Haitian Ambassador Herve Denis, who confirms that her brother is not a Haitian citizen.



Guerline Jozef, Head of the Haitian Bridge Alliance community group, also criticized the Trump Administration's decision to deport Pierrilus to Haiti because of the man's null connection with the culture, language and citizens of Haiti. .



Last minute : "After many interventions of the Embassy of Haiti in Washington Mr Paul Pierrilus was removed from the flight to PAP. We will continue to cooperate with relevant US authorities but within the limit of established principles. Mr Pierrilus isnt a Haitian Citizen & thus cant be sent to Haiti," Haiti Ambassador to Washington D.C. Bocchit Edmond said.



HL/ HaitiLibre



















: The NDA government which is



facing the heat from a section of farmers over new Agri laws, needs to build a consensus among people through discussions, former deputy chairman of erstwhile Planning Commission said here on Wednesday.

In an interactive session with former Reserve Bank Governor Duvvuri Subbarao, organized by Manthan virtually, he said the rising fiscal deficit of the country due to COVID-19 pandemic is one of the major concerns and it cannot be allowed to continue, as it would "not allow enough room for the private sector to grow".

"I think that one general point arises is that when you have reforms that are going to affect people, then discussion and participation et cetera is part of the process of consensus building," Ahluwalia said when asked how the present impasse could be resolved.

Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh, are protesting for nearly two-months at various Delhi borders against the three farm laws enacted by the central government in September 2020.

The government is holding discussions with the protesting peasants.

However there has not been any headway so far.

"I think you need to step back and you have to talk to people.

I dont know what the latest position is, but the good is that talks are continuing.

But nobody is saying that they come to a resolution," the economist said.

According to him, economists are of the view that the country needs to reform agriculture markets and bring in the private sector to give it a fillip.

He also said there was a general perception that the whole exercise of bringing new farm laws was hastened and rushed through Parliament.

"The Covid pandemic...now our fiscal deficit is through the roof.

While my personal view is that in the middle of the pandemic that (high fiscal deficit) is justified.

We will have to bring it down.

Because we cannot continue high fiscal deficit, which do not allow us enough room for private sector to expand," he said on fiscal deficit.

The former bureaucrat advised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government not to raise import tariffs as they may not align with the ASEAN countries with whom India seeks economic cooperation.

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

The government's representative at the Information Ministry, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, says a sub-committee set up to develop a work plan for Covid-19 vaccine deployment in Ghana will be ready with its deployment work plan next week.



Mr Oppong Nkrumah, in a media interview on Tuesday, said the work plan would provide a detailed outline on persons with underlying health conditions, to receive the Coronavirus vaccine when it arrived in the country.



President Akufo-Addo in his 20th nation broadcast assured Ghanaians that his government would not deploy unsafe COVID-19 vaccines that would be injurious to the health of Ghanaians.



President Akufo-Addo last Sunday provided a gloomy situation of the country's Covid-19 spread, saying there was an upsurge in the active cases with infections increasing from 900 to 1,924.



The average daily active infections have risen to 200, with treatment centres that were hitherto empty now full of COVID-19 patients.



The uptick in infections has been attributed to the non-adherence to COVID-19 safety and prevention protocols during the Christmas festivities.



In view of that, the President directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr James Oppong Boanuh, to deploy police personnel to enforce the wearing of nose masks in public places.



He entreated Ghanaians to observe the safety rules to curb the rampaging spread of the virus, adding that failure to do so would perhaps compel him to impose another lockdown in the country.



Meanwhile, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Former Presidential Advisor on Health, has said the country was ready to adopt COVID-19 vaccines and that only vaccines that have been tested and approved by global body the World Health Organisation, and verified locally would be safe for use in the country.

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
Leaving the White House soon, Trump Signs a memo to delay Venezuelans' immediate deportation escaping Maduro's cruel socialist regime. Having the power to help these nationals, he chose to let those who qualify to stay in the US, not returned to the home country.

Venezuela is run by Socialist leader, dictator, Nicolas Maduro who forced these nationals to seek asylum in the US.

Trump Signs Memo

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump issued and approved the deferred orders to deport nationals considered illegal aliens in America. The South American country is experiencing oppression under a socialist regime that exacerbated an economic crisis, reported NTD.

The presidential memo gave instructions to the secretary of state and Homeland Security secretary to initiate all measures to defer all deportees from Venezuela. Included in the order's scope is an alien with no nationality from Venezuela and a list of exceptions that will apply.

Called the grant of a Deferred Enforced Departure, it will apply to those nationals who are presently residing in the United States. All recipients of the memo will legally allow them to live and seek occupations in the US.

According to the president, Nicolas Maduro and his autocratic government has suppressed democracy and freedom. He rules without concern for Venezuela's people, adding that force and fraud are practiced by his regime and has created a humanitarian crisis witnessed in recent times. Maduro, therefore, is an illegitimate leader who is not the choice of his people.

Like Maduro's regime, autocracies have never benefitted the Venezuelans, only those in government, especially those after socialism as a model. Trump Signs Memo as means to help those already in the US.

Venezuela was the world's focus when socialist leader Nicolas Maduro defied the law in early 2019 by not stepping down. Maduro stayed on despite calls to leave power by the international community.

The South American country became an international focal point in early 2019 after socialist leader Nicolas Maduro refused to mounting international pressure.

Crisis in Venezuela

In the middle of January in 2019, Venezuela's duly elected National Assembly called Maduro an illegitimate president who should step down. Trump did not acknowledge the autocratic leader as legitimate because he cheated during elections; he is a fraud.

As far as the international community says, it is Juan Guaido who should be the interim president. The socialist leader still clung to power despite the evidence that he cheated.

He became standoff with the two leaders; one legally voted and the other cheated using electronic means. Countries that were with Guaido is the United States, the UK, Germany, and Australia. In contrast, Maduro got support from socialist and communist regimes, like China, North Korea, and Cuba, who had a poor record with human rights.

Venezuela is getting worse as the politics is so chaotic, with their tattered economy, and making it worse are food and medicine shortages.

One of the reasons why Trump chooses a humanitarian approach despite his critics' charges is all about people. If these Venezuelans were sent packing, then it is not right. Venezuela is a threat to them, and it warrants that Trump signs a memo to affect their deferment from deportation.

Already the Maduro regimes are sanctioned by the Trump administration. No one knows if the next administration will be as tough-Trump signs a memo to give those nationals in the US a chance.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SAN FRANCISCO - Joe Biden became @POTUS on Twitter slightly before noon on Wednesday. But unlike four years ago, when President Donald Trump took over the handle, Biden has not kept the account's current followers.

The account he took over Wednesday midday started with more than 955,000 followers, those who had followed his transition account @PresElectBiden in the last week. Trump's POTUS account became @POTUS45 at the same time. The previous followers of the POTUS account will get a notification about the transfer with the option to follow Biden's POTUS account if they wish.

Biden's digital director Rob Flaherty called Twitter's transition plan "profoundly insufficient" in a tweet last week.

"They're bending themselves over backwards to break with the 2017 protocol they set on the transfer of accounts, and also breaking with every other social platform in providing the new administration a follower base," he added.

The move of accounts between administrations is one of a broader digital transition among social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube taking place after Biden became the 46th president Wednesday.

The social media companies will hand over the keys to the White House accounts to the Biden administration after archiving them on Inauguration Day, ushering in what is expected to mark a different tone and cadence of the accounts after the past four years.

The Biden administration took over the @POTUS account on Twitter, as well as @WhiteHouse, @VP, @FLOTUS and @PressSec. On Facebook, the administration took over accounts for the White House and POTUS, and on YouTube they will inherit the White House channel.

Twitter declined to comment beyond its blog about the decision not to automatically move followers.

"These institutional accounts will not automatically retain the followers from the prior administration," Twitter wrote in a blog post about the inauguration. "People on Twitter who previously followed institutional White House Twitter accounts, or who currently follow relevant Biden or Harris Twitter accounts, will receive in-app alerts and other prompts that will notify them about the archival process, as well as give them the option to follow the new administration's Twitter accounts."

Biden's first tweet as POTUS was sent from the account at 12:36 p.m.

"There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face," the tweet reads. "That's why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families."

Trump's POTUS45 account has more than 33 million followers. It and all its tweets will be archived Wednesday and preserved by the National Archives and Records Administration. Twitter will also create a new institutional account for the incoming administration: @SecondGentleman for Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris and the first male spouse in that role.

Trump has also been suspended "indefinitely" from Facebook, and YouTube confirmed Tuesday that it would extend his suspension there for at least another week. The historic crackdown by the social media companies came after years of increasing tension between the sites and Trump's fiery rhetoric, which often included dangerous misinformation.

The final straw was the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol that Trump failed to immediately condemn, leading the companies to shut down his social media access to try to prevent more violence.

YouTube will transition the White House account to the Biden administration, along with its 1.9 million followers. The videos from Trump's administration have been removed from the page and will be moved to a new channel to serve as an archive, similar to the Obama White House channel.

Facebook and Instagram will archive Trump's POTUS and White House accounts and turn over those usernames to Biden.

People who follow the current White House account will automatically follow it when Biden takes over, and people who follow Joe Biden's current political accounts will also follow him on the POTUS handle. But current followers of Trump's POTUS handle will not automatically follow that account under Biden.

"We're following the same procedures we used during the transfer between the Obama and Trump administrations when President-elect Biden is sworn into office," Facebook spokesperson Dani Lever said before the inauguration.

Biden will be the third president to use Twitter while in office, and he probably will not strike the same tone as Trump's.

"Anyway, the nice thing about Joe Biden is that he truly couldn't care less about Twitter followers. Or Twitter!" Flaherty tweeted last week.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Wednesday took office leading a fractured nation, trumpeting the strength of a democracy tested and calling for Americans to come together, even as his first actions in office sparked tensions with Texas Republicans.

This is a time of testing, Biden said in his inaugural address. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis, Americas role in the world  any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways, but the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities weve had.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: Unity, Biden said.

TEXANS REACT: What theyre saying about Joe Bidens inauguration

The Biden administration  with Kamala Harris taking office as the first woman, first Black person and first Asian-American to serve as vice president  began with an inauguration unlike any other. The swearing in was set before a backdrop of 25,000 National Guard troops from across the nation who provided extra security in a locked-down D.C. after a Trump-inspired mob stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Those in the strictly limited crowd wore masks and sat at arms length to limit the spread of COVID-19. For the first time in decades, the outgoing president was not present.

In a 21-minute address with numerous references to the Civil War, Biden called for an end to this uncivil war that pits red versus blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.

It was a message cheered by Texas Democrats, who declared Wednesday the end of a shameful era and a time to move forward as they pointed to the historic significance of Harris swearing in.

Democracy has prevailed, said U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio.

U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat, tweeted that Wednesday is a new day for our country, our people and our future: Hoy es un nuevo dia para nuestro pais, nuestra gente, y nuestro futuro. The work begins today.

In a separate tweet, Garcia called it an honor to attend the swearing-in of Harris. In 2018, Garcia and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso were the first Latinas elected to represent Texas in Congress.

Even Texas Republicans, who fought for weeks to deny Bidens victory in court and in Congress, were calling for a peaceful transfer of power  though they were already pushing back on some of Bidens first actions just minutes after he was sworn in.

IN-DEPTH: Bidens immigration plan would give 1.7 million Texans a path to citizenship

Biden went to work swiftly, signing a flurry of executive actions aimed at corralling the coronavirus and taking his first steps toward undoing many of the signature policies of Donald Trumps presidency, including Trumps immigration crackdown.

First clash with Texas GOP

Among those first actions, Biden signed executive orders Wednesday canceling the construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement  sparking the new presidents first fight with Texas Republicans.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, called it an opening shot on Texas energy workers.

I hope this isnt a preview of whats to come from the Biden Administration, but rather that hell work with energy-producing states like Texas to find common ground on an all-of-the-above policy, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said in a statement issued shortly after Bidens inaugural speech.

And that is likely only the beginning. Texas oil companies are facing an administration committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, with Biden saying he plans to halt oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters and put an end to industry tax breaks.

With thin Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, Biden will need to win over Republicans if he wants to create a national carbon policy. Momentum for such a move is growing, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday joining the list of companies and trade associations in support of a market-driven approach to climate change, like a national tax on carbon emissions.

At least in Texas, Republicans are showing few signs of endorsing such an approach. In a tweet earlier Wednesday morning, Cornyn summed up what he saw coming from Biden on his first day: Unity themes and divisive actions.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued unsuccessfully to overturn Bidens victory in four battleground states, was promising Wednesday to fight against the many and illegal actions that the new administration will take.

IN-DEPTH: A new crop of Texas-led lawsuits awaits Joe Bidens White House

The president, meanwhile, was also sending legislation to Congress now controlled  albeit narrowly  by his party. Just hours after she took the oath of office, Harris was set to swear in two new Democratic senators from Georgia, giving the party a one-vote majority in the chamber.

The first proposal Biden sent to the Hill was a sweeping overhaul of the nations immigration system that would create a path to citizenship for 11 million immigrants in the country without legal authorization, including more than 1.7 million Texans.

It was an early sign of the presidents priorities  and of the battles hes likely to face, as it was already drawing fierce opposition Tuesday from conservatives in Congress.

On day 1, Biden is making clear that the era of prioritizing regular Americans is over, tweeted U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Houston Republican. Instead, the priorities will be acquiescing to China, ceding energy dominance to Russia and Saudi Arabia, and unfettered illegal immigration. The America First agenda is gone.

Biden acknowledged in his address that his call for unity may sound like a foolish fantasy these days.

I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new, Biden said. Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesnt have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

But his inauguration also provided a reminder of the stark divisions that remain.

Trump  who left the White House for Mar-a-Lago early Wednesday morning  did not attend the inauguration, the first outgoing president to skip since Richard Nixon.

Trump, the first president to be impeached twice, still faces a Senate trial, where Castro and other House Democrats will make the case that he incited the insurrection at the Capitol earlier this month.

In his departing address Wednesday, Trump said his administration left it all on the field as he boasted receiving 75 million votes in his loss to Biden.

I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening, Trump said. We will be back in some form.

Small crowds gather as troops patrol

Much of Washington, meanwhile, was locked down in anticipation of more violence after the U.S. Capitol building was breached by rioters two weeks ago. But the right-wing protests anticipated by law enforcement did not materialize.

Instead the downtown was near silent Wednesday morning, devoid of the hundreds of thousands of people who usually turn out for a presidential inauguration.

Small groups of spectators gathered a block away from Pennsylvania Avenue  the route of the presidential motorcade in typical years. But they were far outnumbered by National Guard that had taken over the downtown.

ON DAY ONE: Biden to propose path to citizenship for 1.7 million Texans

While warned to stay home by authorities, some Biden supporters traveled to Washington anyway, to watch the spectacle of an inauguration like no other.

Waiting in line to get into Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue, with dozens of armed soldiers patrolling around him, Steve Arash, 47, of New York City, said he wasnt worried by the threat of violence.

I like excitement, he said.

Across from the Willard Hotel, reporters and cameramen crowded around Kelly Janowiak, clad in an American flag and Make America Great Again hat, as she waited with her friend, an evangelical preacher from South Africa who claims to have visited the White House in a dream. Janowiak said shed come to support Donald Trump, who had been unfairly maligned by the Russia narrative.

He represents freedom for Americans, capitalism and the way forward, she said. Biden is a tool of the global elite.

Shortly after noon a few blocks from the White House, a bar and cigar lounge broadcast Bidens address onto the street.

Passers by stopped to listen, and when the speech was over, Dave McPherrin, 57, of West Palm Beach, Fla. quietly applauded.

I think the country was in need of a positive statement, he said. Its a relief.

ben.wermund@chron.com

james.osborne@chron.com
WASHINGTON - Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was sworn in Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States, pledging to confront an array of convulsing challenges and bring healing and unity to a deeply fractured nation.

"This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge," Biden said in an inaugural address that called on America to end its "uncivil war" and embrace a united front amid a series of daunting crises. "Unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America. If we do that, I guarantee you we will not fail."

With his hand on his thick family Bible and his wife, Jill Biden, by his side, Biden recited the oath administered by Chief Justice John Roberts . The moment marked the pinnacle of a career in public leadership that began a half-century ago.

Moments before, Kamala Harris took her oath of office, making her the country's first female vice president, and also the first Black American and first person with Asian heritage to hold the nation's second-highest office. She had placed her hand on twin Bibles, one from a family friend and the second belonging to Thurgood Marshall, the first African American justice of the Supreme Court.

Biden replaces outgoing president Donald Trump, whose scandal-plagued single term was constantly dogged by accusations that he failed to uphold his own oath - including in recent weeks, as he refused to concede the election, tried to browbeat his vice president, Mike Pence, into violating the Constitution and inspired a deadly attack by supporters on the U.S. Capitol.

Though Biden largely refrained from mentioning Trump by name, he used his first day in office to tacitly repudiate the outgoing president - signing executive orders that reverse Trump administration measures on issues ranging from climate change to the coronavirus. Biden signed a total of 17 executive orders and actions Wednesday, including a mask mandate for federal property and a move to rejoin the Paris climate accords and World Health Organization after Trump had withdrawn from those and other global forums during his presidency.

Biden did not wait long to begin staffing up his administration, swearing in top White House aides Wednesday in a low-key virtual ceremony and looking toward the Senate's nighttime confirmation of his first Cabinet post - Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.

Biden, who at 78 is the oldest man to be sworn in as president, secured the office by pledging to be the polar opposite of Trump - to cool tempers rather than inflame them. He has promised to undo much of Trump's legacy and restore what he refers to as "the soul of America" by proving that the past four years represented an aberration rather than an enduring rift in the national fabric.

Four years after Trump delivered a dark and abrasive inaugural address pledging to end "American carnage," Biden took office seeking to appeal to the country's more hopeful sentiments and make a plea for unity.

"Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path," he said in his speech, calling on the nation to "start afresh." The 21-minute speech hewed closely to the themes that shaped Biden's presidential run, with several references to unity, comity and a restoration of American leadership on the global stage.

He cited his inauguration as a symbol of the country turning the page after its very democracy was tested like never before. Seated behind him as he spoke were three former presidents: Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, both Democrats, and Republican George W. Bush. After taking their oaths,Biden and Harris appeared alongside those former presidents in a bipartisan tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Va. Trump, who did not participate in the inaugural events, was not present.

Two weeks earlier, the platform on which Biden was sworn in, at the West Front of the Capitol, was overrun by a mob that, incited by an incendiary Trump speech, stormed the House and Senate chambers trying to stop legislators from affirming Biden's election victory. The decision by Biden and Harris to still take their oaths of office outside and at the Capitol was itself an act of defiance in the aftermath of the hours-long riot in which Trump supporters screamed their intention to physically assault top elected officials.

"We've learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile - and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden said during his speech, which made several references to the unprecedented chaos of recent weeks.

Biden promised to confront and defeat the scourge of white supremacy and domestic terrorism, challenges that have taken on fresh urgency in the wake of the insurrection.

"A cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making, moves us," he said. "The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. The cry for survival comes from planet itself, a cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear. And now a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat."

In an emphatic denunciation of the "riotous mob" that tried to block him from becoming president, Biden declared that his inauguration Wednesday at the Capitol was proof that the effort to undermine democracy had failed.

"It did not happen. It will never happen," he said. "Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever."

While Biden described America as a "place of hope and light, of limitless possibilities," during an emotional goodbye ceremony in Delaware on Tuesday, the scene surrounding his inauguration in Washington on Wednesday offered a visceral reminder of the dark challenges he now faces.

The nation's capital remained in a state of partial lockdown, with more than 20,000 members of the National Guard patrolling the streets to prevent a repeat of the Jan. 6 insurrection that left one police officer and four rioters dead.

The National Mall that Biden and Harris faced as they took their oaths was filled not with people but with 200,000 flags, a reflection of the deadly pandemic that is still spiraling nationwide a year after Trump first asserted it was "totally under control."

Later Wednesday, Biden and Harris walked down a short segment of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House in a scaled back version of the traditional parade route. While in-person crowds were largely prohibited - a reflection of the enduring impact of the crisis - a virtual program featuring musicians, actors and other celebrities, organizations and groups streamed online.

More than 400,000 Americans have died of covid-19, and the viral pathogen continues to upend life for millions. Key to Biden's success will be his ability to contain the pandemic and marshal the resources to hasten distribution of vaccines.

Trump, who recently became the first president in American history to be impeached twice, became the first incumbent to refuse to attend his replacement's oath-taking since 1869. An he has continued to claim falsely that he was the rightful victor in November's election.

Trump's falsehoods have helped convince large swaths of the country that Biden is an illegitimate president, effectively stunting his political capital from the outset of his term.

Spurning the traditional handoff, Trump left the White House early Wednesday, still having not spoken to Biden since their last pre-election debate. Shortly before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Trump lauded what he said were his accomplishments and asserted that he had delivered the incoming administration - he did not mention Biden by name - "the foundation to do something really spectacular."

"We will be back in some form," he said. "So have a good life. We will see you soon."

The recent turmoil added to the multiple crises Biden faces: In addition to the pandemic, the country's economy is buckling, and the incoming president has pledged to address climate change and racial justice - two issues that dominated the past year, with huge climate-propelled fires in California and massive unrest in cities and towns over police violence.

"Coming in he's got his hands full, obviously," said Christopher Dodd, a former senator from Connecticut and a close Biden confidant. "Any one of these issues alone would be a major problem. But combining all of them poses some real challenges."

Dodd stressed that Biden's age and his deep experience with national politics and crises over the past half-century will guide him. "There is this expression, 'It's not his first rodeo,' " Dodd said. "There is a wonderful maturity and calm that Joe has demonstrated over these past few months. That's the voice of experience, of confidence, of discipline - you don't become an alarmist. The country wants to see in their leader confidence and assurance."

Biden, a six-term senator before his eight years as vice president, has been trying to court members of Congress as he prepares to pitch an ambitious legislative agenda that includes economic relief tied to the pandemic, an immigration overhaul, infrastructure spending and climate-change initiatives.

Biden's Democratic Party has taken control of the White House and Congress for the first time since 2011, yet it holds only a narrow advantage in the House and the barest majority in the Senate - a 50-50 split driven by two Democratic runoff wins in December that will leave Vice President Harris to break any ties.

Biden, the second Catholic to be elected president, after John F. Kennedy, invited Republican and Democratic congressional leaders to attend Mass with him Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration. The decision by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to attend - and to skip a farewell event for Trump that took place around the same time - offered one sign that Biden's approach may at least take some of the vitriol out of the policymaking process.

But McConnell, who spent years as minority leader frustrating then-President Obama's legislative agenda when Biden was vice president, has not openly embraced the idea of helping the new president pass legislation.

Several prominent GOP lawmakers, including McCarthy, have cast doubt on Biden's legitimacy - voting earlier this month to challenge the results of the election and endorsing Trump's specious fraud claims.

Biden has said he would not question the motives of his political opponents, pledging to find common ground and pass bipartisan legislation despite Washington's bitter polarization. The theme of his inaugural was "America United."

While Biden did not mention Trump by name during the speech, he called out those who peddle misinformation and push "lies told for power and for profit."

"We must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured," he said to applause.

Biden entered the White House later Wednesday and told reporters that there was "no time to waste," before signing a stack of executive actions that included a repeal ofTrump's ban on U.S. entry for citizens of some majority-Muslim countries and a fortification of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program protecting millions of young immigrants from deportation. Trump had tried to end the Obama-era program known as DACA.

After signing some of the orders, Biden told reporters that Trump had left him a "very generous letter" in the Oval Office, though he declined to detail its contents. The new president wore a mask, reversing the typical behavior of his predecessor.

Biden bid an emotional farewell to his home state of Delaware on Tuesday, with tears streaming down his face as he thanked a group that included longtime friends for sticking with him through his circuitous and at times tragedy-laden journey from a middle-class childhood in Scranton, Pa., and Wilmington to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

"You've been there for us in good and bad and never walked away," said Biden, whose failed bids for the White House in 1987 and 2008 make him one of the longest seekers of the presidency to actually obtain it. "And I am proud, proud, proud, proud to be a son of Delaware."

As he left Delaware, where his first Senate election and the tragic death of his wife and daughter in a car accident occurred in quick succession 48 years ago, he sounded a note of optimism.

"Anything's possible," Biden said. "Anything's possible in this country."

Harris, 56, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants and a graduate of Howard University, is set to play a key role in the administration, not least as the potential tiebreaker in the Senate. She was administered the oath by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic woman to serve on the nation's highest court.

Harris's ascension is in keeping with Biden's pledge to assemble an administration that "looks like America." Cabinet nominees on hand for the inauguration, several of whom would be the first of their respective backgrounds to serve in their posts, reflected Biden's promise to have the most diverse administration in American history. The broad tapestry of races, genders and cultures surrounding Biden stood in sharp contrast with the Trump administration's open rejection of diversity and multiculturalism.

But how much Biden is able to achieve with razor-thin Democratic majorities in Congress could depend on his ability to persuade Republicans to turn the page from the combative approach championed by Trump.

The former president has no intention of making his successor's job easier.

Since losing the election, Trump has raised more than $200 million for a new leadership PAC, publicly mused about running for president in 2024 and been banned from major social media sites for inspiring his followers to violently object to Biden's presidency.

Even Trump's pending impeachment trial could upend Biden's legislative agenda, eating up critical time in the Senate that could otherwise be used to confirm nominees and mark up legislation.

While much of Trump's legacy can be undone with a stroke of Biden's pen, his sway over the Republican Party remains rock solid. A Washington Post-ABC News poll published this week found that 57% of Republicans wanted the party's leaders to follow Trump's lead rather than chart a different path. In that same poll, 70% of Republicans said they did not think Biden legitimately won the November election, a view not shared by Democrats and independents.

In a 20-minute video message released Tuesday, Trump touted his accomplishments and claimed to have "built the greatest political movement in the history of our country."

Biden, who has said he decided to run for president in 2017 after hundreds of Trump supporters held a deadly white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, now confronts the ramifications of Trump's ability to amass a tenuous coalition of traditional Republicans, conspiracy theorists, racists and militant extremists.

While their alliance remains fractious, the loosely aligned groups have unified around the goal of opposing Biden's agenda for the country.

Biden also must lead a diverse and anxious Democratic Party with differing opinions about the wisdom of his centrist approach. The energized liberal wing of the party is calling on the new president to take full advantage of unified power in Washington rather than trying to work with Republicans who are intent on obstructing his agenda.

A group of liberal organizations including the Justice Democrats published a memo Monday calling on Biden to pressure the party's congressional leaders to get rid of the Senate filibuster and pass major legislation with a simple majority.

"Biden was elected with a mandate to break gridlock and deliver results. He should use it," the memo said. "Just do it - reform the filibuster and deliver results to the American people."

But the former vice president maintained his pitch to the opposing party even as it sought to delegitimize his presidency before it began.

"We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal," he said Wednesday, adding: "My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we're going to need each other. We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter."
An inquest into the death of Ashley Thomas Horne, who stabbed himself and was Tasered by police twice near his ex-partner's home, will be held in March.

The Coroner's Court of Queensland on Wednesday heard that Mr Horne's former partner had phoned triple zero after she saw the 49-year-old in her backyard in Toowoomba late at night in March 2018. at 11pm on March 30, 2018.

An inquest into the death of Ashley Thomas Horne will be heard in March. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Counsel assisting Sarah Lio-Willie told the court in Brisbane of the events leading up to Mr Horne's death.

She said Mr Horne and his partner separated on March 24, and the woman had told him to stop contacting her.
A bag of cement which usually costs approximately $50 has more than tripled in price at some places since Covid-19 invaded the country in March 2020.

Some people are paying as much as $150 and more for a bag of cement.
(Natural News) New evidence has emerged to show that radical left-wing fanatic John Sullivan, who helped lead the Capitol siege, also tried to egg-on Trump supporters to turn against law enforcement officers following the fatal and gruesome shooting of Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt.

Sullivan, who heads up a far-left extremist group known as Insurgence USA, posed as a Trump supporter while being filmed for a documentary by CNN photojournalist Jade Sacker. After storming the Capitol while trying to incite violence, Sullivan appeared on CNN with Anderson Cooper  watch below:

Babbitts shooting can also be viewed in the below video (WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised):

According to Masako Ganaha, who runs a popular Japanese YouTube channel, the person who filmed Babbitt being murdered by law enforcement while she attempted to climb through a broken window to gain entry into the House chamber is a member of Antifa.

Ganaha says that the man who broke the window in the first place by bashing it with a helmet was a non-Trump supporter who was leading the crowd. Following the incident, he quickly retreated down some stairs to change his appearance and avoid detection.

Sullivan, Ganaha also points out, was also present at the far-left Portland riots where independent journalist Andy Ngo was violently assaulted by left-wing agitators who threw a cement milkshake at his face.

The black man (Sullivan) tried to make Trump supporters upset with police by repeatedly saying that the woman is dead, using a Marxist tactic of agitation to get people to turn against each other, in this case, to get the Trump supporters to turn against law enforcement, writes Pete Baklinski for LifeSiteNews.

The ones who were leading the crowd (man who smashed window with helmet and Sullivan who kept on crying out the woman was shot and dead), or agitating the crowd, were not Trump supporters. I think they had a plan and they played well, Ganaha is further quoted as saying.

John Sullivan, CNN both responsible for Capitol siege

While some of Ganahas claims are refuted by Baklinski, her main claim that a leftist leader, Sullivan, was responsible for inciting the clash between actual Trump supporters and Capitol law enforcement would appear to be accurate and valid.

You can read Baklinskis full analysis of what took place inside the Capitol at this link.

It cannot be stressed enough that CNN was quite obviously complicit in the staged incident, allowing Sullivan to lie on television about who he was and why he was there that day. As it turns out, Sullivan appeared both inside the Capitol and on CNN with Cooper to reinforce his false narrative, and paint Trump supporters as the bad guys in all that took place.

Those who engaged in unlawful activity must be brought to justice, Baklinski writes. The Justice Department is already pursuing 150 suspects.

It is my suspicion that many of the provocateurs, when they are caught and questioned, will turn out to be Trump-haters like Sullivan who seized on an opportunity to inject themselves into an otherwise peaceful rally and co-opt it to pursue their own political agendas, he adds. Any genuine Trump supporters, who fell for the ruse and joined in violent or destructive behavior, made a terrible mistake.

As for Sacker, we now know that she was assigned as the documentary filmmaker to capture Sullivans encounters with law enforcement and Trump supporters. Her apparent purpose is to shape the false flag narrative and further reinforce it to the public.

To keep up with the latest news about the fraudulent 2020 election and the Capitol false flag insurrection, be sure to check out FalseFlag.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
A new genus and species of caimanine alligatorid being named Chinatichampsus wilsonorum has been discovered by a team of paleontologists from Virginia Tech, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Iowa.

Chinatichampsus wilsonorum roamed our planet about 42 million years ago, during the Middle Eocene epoch.

Its partial skull was discovered in 2010 at the Dalquest Desert Research Site in Brewster County, Texas, the United States.

This caiman seems out of place, said Dr. Christopher Brochu, a paleontologist in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Iowa.

Roughly 56 million years ago, Earth was experiencing temperatures so hot and methane levels so high that no polar ice caps could form.

For large cool-blooded reptiles like alligators and caimans, it was their time to thrive and soak up the Sun. In fact, the conditions were so favorable that these early reptiles roamed as far north as northern Canada.

Caimans today are a South American radiation, and data from modern forms, including DNA, would suggest a very simple single origin from a North American ancestor, Dr. Brochu said.

This new form, along with some older North American fossil caimans, suggests a far more complex early history with multiple crossings of the seaway that separated North and South America until fairly recently.

The presence of a fossil caiman about 1,200 km (746 miles) north of where caimans are found today, really says something about how different the climate of West Texas was in the middle Eocene, said Dr. Chris Kirk, a paleontologist in the Department of Anthropology and the Jackson School Museum of Earth History at the University of Texas at Austin.

But one epoch later, in the Oligocene, the entire world was experiencing cooler temperatures, forcing many species that require warm and humid conditions into more restricted geographic ranges.

Any fossil that we find has unique information that it contributes to understanding the history of life, said Dr. Michelle Stocker, a paleontologist in the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech.

From what we have, we are able to understand a little bit more about the evolutionary history of caimans and the alligatorid group, which includes alligators and caimans.

The teams paper was published in the journal PeerJ.

_____

M.R. Stocker et al. 2021. A new caimanine alligatorid from the Middle Eocene of Southwest Texas and implications for spatial and temporal shifts in Paleogene crocodyliform diversity. PeerJ 9: e10665; doi: 10.7717/peerj.10665
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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

Posted Friday, January 15, 2021 8:25 am

Gov. Jay Inslees proposed budget for the upcoming biennium calls for $570 million in new education spending, but many parents and educators have expressed frustration that the governors budget does not adequately fund additional transportation and special education needs fueled by COVID-19.

Of the education spending, the governor proposed $400 million for schools to expand learning opportunities and potentially add instructional time for their students.

Additionally, the budget also includes $79 million to support broadband connections for families across Washington, $32 million for school support staff, such as counselors, $14.8 for paraeducators and $3.2 million for special education.

School buses, especially in rural areas, have been especially crucial to public schools during the pandemic, Ben Ferney, superintendent of Valley School District, located north of Spokane, told Senate Ways and Means Committee members Jan. 12.

Buses are our lifeline to our students, Ferney said. His district provides transportation for itself and three other small nearby districts. Getting food to our students who are spread out over many miles has been critical. We use buses for curriculum delivery. Our issue is not lack of devices, but lack of internet. So we were delivering USBs, hardcopies and returning homework through busing.

Ramona Hattendorf from the Arc of King County, a group that champions disability rights, explained that the pandemic has been especially hard on students with special needs.

The budget does not acknowledge the reality that most of our state's 143,000 students with (individualized education plans) have not been well-served, or served at all during the pandemic, Hattendorf said. When developmental disabilities are present, students need consistent access to these types of supports with skill building and when they don't have it, they regress quite a bit.

Witnesses at the hearing also raised concerns around the need to stabilize funding for enrollment, which is down in almost every school district in the state. Total student enrollment in Washington public schools was down close to 31,000 students this September compared with 2019.

In his inaugural address on Jan. 13, Inslee touched briefly on the struggles students, parents and educators have faced during the pandemic and how the state needs to continue to support them.

I'm looking forward to working with you to remediate the impacts our students have suffered because of this pandemic, Inslee said in the pre-recorded speech. No one today has a single answer, we just have to provide the support these students need; whether it's academic, mental health or nutrition.
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) ("Actinium") today announced that members of its executive team will participate in a fireside chat at the B. Riley Oncology Investor Conference, which is being held virtually from January 20th to 21st. During the event, Sandesh Seth, Actinium's Chairman and CEO, Dr. Mark Berger, Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Dale Ludwig, Chief Scientific and Technology Officer will participate in a fireside chat discussion moderated by B. Riley analyst Justin Walsh.

Fireside Chat Details

Event: B. Riley Oncology Investor Conference

Participants: Sandesh Seth, Chairman and CEO, Dr. Mark Berger, Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Dale Ludwig, Chief Scientific and Technology Officer

Date: Thursday, January 21st

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

In addition, members of the executive team will be available for one-on-one meetings with conference attendees. Those interested in scheduling a meeting may do so by contacting their B. Riley representative or the Company at [email protected].

About Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: ATNM)

Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing ARCs or Antibody Radiation-Conjugates, which combine the targeting ability of antibodies with the cell killing ability of radiation. Actinium's lead application for our ARCs is targeted conditioning, which is intended to selectively deplete a patient's disease or cancer cells and certain immune cells prior to a BMT or Bone Marrow Transplant, Gene Therapy or Adoptive Cell Therapy (ACT) such as CAR-T to enable engraftment of these transplanted cells with minimal toxicities. With our ARC approach, we seek to improve patient outcomes and access to these potentially curative treatments by eliminating or reducing the non-targeted chemotherapy that is used for conditioning in standard practice currently. Our lead product candidate, I-131 apamistamab (Iomab-B) is being studied in the ongoing pivotal Phase 3 Study of Iomab-B in Elderly Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (SIERRA) trial for BMT conditioning. The SIERRA trial is over seventy-five percent enrolled and positive single-agent, feasibility and safety data has been highlighted at ASH, TCT, ASCO and SOHO annual meetings. More information on this Phase 3 clinical trial can be found at sierratrial.com. I-131 apamistamab will also be studied as a targeted conditioning agent in a Phase 1 study with a CD19 CAR T-cell Therapy and Phase 1/2 anti-HIV stem cell gene therapy with UC Davis. In addition, we are developing a multi-disease, multi-target pipeline of clinical-stage ARCs targeting the antigens CD45 and CD33 for targeted conditioning and as a therapeutic either in combination with other therapeutic modalities or as a single agent for patients with a broad range of hematologic malignancies including acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and multiple myeloma. Ongoing combination trials include our CD33 alpha ARC, Actimab-A, in combination with the salvage chemotherapy CLAG-M and the Bcl-2 targeted therapy venetoclax. Underpinning our clinical programs is our proprietary AWE (Antibody Warhead Enabling) technology platform. This is where our intellectual property portfolio of over 130 patents, know-how, collective research and expertise in the field are being leveraged to construct and study novel ARCs and ARC combinations to bolster our pipeline for strategic purposes. Our AWE technology platform is currently being utilized in a collaborative research partnership with Astellas Pharma, Inc. Website: https://www.actiniumpharma.com/

Contacts:

Investors:

Clayton Robertson

Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

[email protected]

Hans Vitzthum

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

[email protected]

(617) 430-7578

SOURCE Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.actiniumpharma.com/


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19) - Voting 212-1-1, the House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading the bill which promotes a new way of gesture in observance of social distancing protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

House Bill 8149 or the "Bating Filipino Para Sa Kalusugan Act" institutionalizes placing one's palm at the center of the chest together with a slight nod as customary Filipino gesture of respect. It is also seen as an alternative to the traditional handshake.

The measure covers all Filipino citizens and other individuals staying in the country.

Under the proposed measure, all government agencies are mandated to disseminate information and to encourage the practice of the new gesture.

The bill also mandates the Department of Health in consultation with the Department of Education, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Philippine Information Agency, and other concerned agencies to formulate and issue the rules and regulations for its implementation.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 16:18:00|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Around 15 percent of Fiji's adult population are suffering from diabetes with the late presentation of patients to hospitals being among the major hindrances in improving the situation.

According to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), Colonial War Memorial Hospital general surgeon Ilaitia Delasau said Wednesday that the prevalence is very alarming, demanding urgent attention.

Delasau noted that one of the major contributors to diabetes in Fiji is the lifestyle including the food eaten on a daily basis.

"Obesity and the lack of exercise is the major contributing factor to developing diabetes so the body can't control the sugar level and not just from sweets, it's from too much input, a lot of food in and not enough exercise," he said.

"So we are having excess stores in our body where the insulin which is the hormone that controls diabetes can't cope with the amount of sugar in our body so hence we develop symptoms of diabetes," he said.

Diabetes-related amputations in Fiji account for 40 percent of all hospital operations, according to Professor of Surgery at Fiji National University, Eddie McCaig.

McCaig said in an earlier interview that half the estimated 60,000 people in Fiji with diabetes did not realize they had the illness because they ignored early signs like thirst and excessive urination.

He added that Fiji can't afford the high cost of the amputations, as well as eye surgery costs.

"We must start educating our kids. It must be introduced in the curriculum and enforced and examined. People must know what to eat, and how to eat," McCaig said.

McCaig said that about half of Fiji's diabetics also needed eye surgery for cataracts or laser treatment for retinopathy and their kidneys were also affected by the disease, he said.

There was about 900 cases each year who need renal dialysis.

Fiji has a population of around 900,000 people. Enditem
On the left is an image of the Jewel Bug Nebula (NGC 7027) captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2019 and released in 2020. Further analysis by researchers produced the RGB image on the right, which shows extinction due to dust, as inferred from the relative strength of two hydrogen emission lines, as red; emission from sulfur, relative to hydrogen, as green; and emission from iron as blue. CREDIT STScI, Alyssa Pagan

Images of two iconic planetary nebulae taken by the Hubble Space Telescope are revealing new information about how they develop their dramatic features

Researchers from Rochester Institute of Technology and Green Bank Observatory presented new findings about the Butterfly Nebula (NGC 6302) and the Jewel Bug Nebula (NGC 7027) at the 237th meeting of the American Astronomical Society on Friday, Jan. 15.

Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 observed the nebulae in 2019 and early 2020 using its full, panchromatic capabilities, and the astronomers involved in the project have been using emission line images from near-ultraviolet to near-infrared light to learn more about their properties. The studies were first-of-their-kind panchromatic imaging surveys designed to understand the formation process and test models of binary-star-driven planetary nebula shaping.

"We're dissecting them," said Joel Kastner, a professor in RIT's Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science and School of Physics and Astronomy. "We're able to see the effect of the dying central star in how it's shedding and shredding its ejected material. We're able to see that material that the central star has tossed away is being dominated by ionized gas, where it's dominated by cooler dust, and even how the hot gas is being ionized, whether by the star's UV or by collisions caused by its present, fast winds."

Kastner said analysis of the new HST images of the Butterfly Nebula is confirming that the nebula was ejected only about 2,000 years ago--an eyeblink by the standards of astronomy - and that the S-shaped iron emission that helps give it the "wings" of gas may be even younger. Surprisingly, they found that while astronomers previously believed they had located the nebula's central star, it was actually a star not associated with the nebula that is much closer to Earth than the nebula. Kastner said he hopes that future studies with the James Webb Space Telescope could help locate the actual central star.

The team's ongoing analysis of the Jewel Bug Nebula is built on a 25-year baseline of measurements dating back to early Hubble imaging. Paula Moraga Baez, an astrophysical sciences and technology Ph.D. student from DeKalb, Ill., called the nebula "remarkable for its unusual juxtaposition of circularly symmetric, axisymmetric, and point-symmetric (bipolar) structures." Moraga noted, "The nebula also retains large masses of molecular gas and dust despite harboring a hot central star and displaying high excitation states."

Jesse Bublitz '20 Ph.D. (astrophysical sciences and technology), now a postdoctoral researcher at Green Bank Observatory, has continued analysis of NGC 7027 with radio images from the Northern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) Telescope, where he identified molecular tracers of ultraviolet and X-ray light that continue to shape the nebula. The combined observations from telescopes at other wavelengths, like Hubble, and bright molecules CO+ and HCO+ from NOEMA indicate how different regions of NGC 7027 are affected by the irradiation of its central star.

"We're very excited about these findings," said Bublitz. "We had hoped to find structure that clearly showed CO+ and HCO+ spatially coincident or entirely in distinctive regions, which we did. This is the first map of NGC 7027, or any planetary nebula, in the molecule CO+, and only the second CO+ map of any astronomical source."

###

In addition to Kastner, Moraga, and Bublitz, the research team involved in the HST imaging work includes Rodolfo Montez Jr. '10 Ph.D. (astrophysical sciences and technology) from Harvard-Smithsonian CfA; Bruce Balick from University of Washington; as well as Adam Frank and Eric Blackman from University of Rochester. Bublitz's international team of collaborators on radio molecular line imaging of NGC 7027 includes Kastner, Montez Jr., and astrophysicists from Spain, France, and Brazil.



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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
10:36 | Lima, Jan. 20.

This was established by Ministerial Resolution No. 013-2021-MIDIS , which was published on Wednesday in the official gazette El Peruano
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President Moon Jae-in looks at a COVID-19 vaccine during his visit to a vaccine production plant in Andong. North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Yonhap



President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday visited a coronavirus vaccine production plant in South Korea and announced that the government could potentially secure additional new coronavirus vaccines for 20 million people from U.S. drug manufacturer Novavax Inc.



"The possibility has opened for us to secure additional vaccines for 20 million people, in addition to the already secured volume for 56 million, amid the pursuit of a deal between Novavax and SK Bioscience Co. recently," Moon said during the tour of SK's coronavirus vaccine production facility in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul.



Moon made the on-site inspection to encourage workers to produce high quality and safe vaccines on the first anniversary of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, according to Cheong Wa Dae. It came as the government was in full preparations to begin public inoculations for COVID-19 next month, beginning with medical workers.



In addition to the already secured volume for 56 million people, Seoul has been eyeing the purchase of additional vaccines from Novavax through a potential deal between the U.S. company and SK. The initially reported volume under negotiation with Novavax was for 10 million people.



Last year, SK inked a separate contract manufacturing agreement with Novavax, as well as AstraZeneca.



Moon said last week that the government will provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all South Koreans starting next month.







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Dr. Rachel Levine will serve as the Department of Health and Human Services' assistant secretary of health, following Joe Biden's announcement on Tuesday.

If confirmed, he would be the first transgender official to be ever appointed to the United States Senate. Born Richard Levine, the openly transgender is currently Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth. He is in charge of the coronavirus pandemic's local response, Breitbart reported.

Biden praised Levine's essential expertise and steady leadership and said, "She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration's health efforts."

Kamala Harris also called him, "a remarkable public servant with the knowledge and experience to help us contain this pandemic, and protect and improve the health and well-being of the American people," the Associated Press (AP) said.

Breitbart further said that, "Levine served as a controversial public official in Pennsylvania leveling business and restaurant lockdowns and bans and defending them as a critical way to stop the spread of the virus." He was criticized for allowing the return of "stable" coronavirus patients' to nursing homes during pandemic who were then blamed for the spike of the facilities' virus cases.

He was also "called out for moving her own mother out of a nursing home facility despite the department's guidance to admit "stable" patients who had contracted the virus."

He publicly identifies himself as female instead of his biological gender as a male, accusing his critics of transphobia. During a press conference in May, he called out a reporter for addressing him as "sir." He has also complained of "multiple incidents of LGBTQ harassment and specifically transphobia."

"I want to emphasize, that while these individuals think that they are only expressing their displeasure with me, they are, in fact, hurting the thousands of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians who suffer directly from these current demonstrations of harassment. Your actions perpetuate the spirit of intolerance and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals and specifically transgender individuals," Levine said.

He further said, "Our children are watching. They are watching what we do, and they are watching how we act. And to all LGBTQ young people it is okay to be you."

Biden immensely supports the LGBTQ community as proven by his policy initiatives in his campaign website. This includes the "Equality Act" which he promises to be enacted during his first 100 days as President, making it a top legislative priority. Further, Biden vows to ensure its full enforcement across all agencies and federal department.

Biden also plans to reinstate the Title IX regulations which was revoked by Trump early on his term in 2017. The federal law which was implemented during the Obama administration aims to allow transgender students use bathrooms or locker rooms according to their gender identity, The Blaze reported.

According to the AP, Levine is a Harvard and Tulane Medical School graduate. The physician is also the president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and has written on the issues of medical marijuana, eating disorders, adolescent medicine, opioid crisis and LGBTQ medicine.
Former adviser tapped as foreign minister



President Moon Jae-in tapped former national security adviser Chung Eui-yong as his new foreign minister Wednesday, replacing Kang Kyung-wha. The nomination is taken to mean Moon's unswerving determination to revive the "peace process" on the Korean Peninsula, which has remained stalled since the collapse of a second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi in February 2019.



Chung is expected to put his top priority on reviving the dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington in close consultation with President Joe Biden's administration, given his abundant experience in leading the process from the start of the Moon administration.



As Moon's inaugural national security adviser, he was deeply engaged in drawing up and implementing inter-Korean policies and mediating denuclearization talks between the U.S. and North Korea.



Riding on the detente mood on the peninsula, prompted by North Korea's participation in the 2018 PyongChang Winter Olympics, he played a decisive role in realizing the meeting among the heads of state of both Koreas and the U.S. On March 5, 2018, Chung visited Pyongyang as a special envoy to convey Moon's personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which led to the historic April 27 inter-Korean summit.



Fresh from his visit to Pyongyang, Chung also met with U.S. President Donald Trump on March 8, brokering a June 2018 summit between Kim and Trump. Against this backdrop, Chung's efforts deserve appreciation with expectation growing over his role as new foreign minister, especially in time with the inauguration of the Biden administration.



Yet the geopolitical situation surrounding the peninsula has drastically changed. Since the failure of the second North Korea-U.S. summit, there has been little progress in bilateral relations with all dialogue channels severed. This is also the reason why Chung's nomination draws expectation regarding his possible leading role in reinvigorating the peace process.



We hope Chung will closely consult with U.S. officials toward the end including Biden's nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and his deputy Wendy Sherman. Blinken said the new administration is planning a full review of the U.S. approach to North Korea. He indicated the U.S. can increase pressure on the North to come back to negotiations; and, if needed, Washington can also provide humanitarian assistance to Pyongyang.



"We do want to make sure that in anything we do, we have an eye on the humanitarian side of the equation, not just on the security side," Blinken said during a Senate confirmation hearing. Chung said he would "make best efforts so that the peace process can take firm root," via a statement distributed to journalists covering the foreign ministry, just after he was nominated as minister.



However, opponents said Chung's nomination reflects the Moon administration's shortage in its human resources pool. Despite such a negative view, Chung is seen as Moon's best pick to serve as foreign minister who can do the difficult job of restarting dialogue between the two Koreas as well as between Pyongyang and Washington after the start of new U.S. administration.




ECU

These days, social media is boiling with clips that show mid-engined Corvettes with twin-turbo kits (no, the factoryhasn't been "cracked" yet, so that boost still can't be put to good use), while earlier today we discussed a GT500 with a sleeved motor, which is aiming for 1,500 hp.Nevertheless, the shenanigan we have here involves stock incarnations of the machines, albeit with the adventure still managing to deliver the said show.Now, the pony and the 'Vette recently got together at the drag strip, which means they not only kept things on the safe side, but also benefited from the prepped surface of the track. Of course, the Chevy, with its midship layout, was easier to get off the line, but the massive muscle advantage of the Ford meant it has the potential to recover throughout the 1,320-feet run.Of course, the winner of such a battle is decided by the Elapsed Time numbers rather than what your eyes tell you. The clock doesn't start ticking until the vehicle gets off the line, so the reaction time of the driver doesn't make a difference.Nevertheless, RearWheelDrive, the YouTuber behind the wheel of the Corvette, was there for the show, which meant that, for him and all those wishing to get some giggles from the video below, the trick was to cross the finish line first. The C8 and the GT500 duked it out on three occasions, with the Mustang claiming the first run. However, the action that followed was quite raw, as you'll notice in the clip (the races take place at the 5:00, 7:00, and 8:55 point of the clip, while you'll find a timeslip comparo for the actual winner at the 10:03 timestamp).
A concise biblical evaluation of Critical Theory

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The issue of Critical Theory (CT) has become the hot-button issue for evangelicals over the past couple of years, as a subset of broader national controversy. Others have helpfully addressed the problems with CT at length, especially the Dallas Statement on Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel; however, a number of people have asked me for a simple explanation of the issue, so I would like to provide a succinct description and biblical evaluation of CT by addressing four questions:

May Christians use systems of thought that do not come from Scripture? What is CT? Is CT compatible with Scripture? Does CT help resolve racism?

Using Extra-Biblical Ideas as Tools

A core question in this debate is whether Christians may use systems of thought, theories, or ideas that do not come from Scripture as analytical tools, to quote Resolution 9. In my opinion, some critics of CT have been incorrect to claim that Christians may never use any ideas that come from outside Scripture. This is simply not true. Christians have always been willing to use ideas outside of Scripture as long as those ideas are consistent with biblical truth.

So the question is not whether CT comes from Scripture; it certainly does not, but neither does calculus, free market economics, or microbiology. The more critical question is whether CT is consistent with biblical truth.

Defining Critical Theory

A central issue causing confusion and misrepresentation is lack of clarity in defining terms, so let me provide a simple definition of CT:

Critical Theory analyzes all aspects of society through the lenses of structures such as race, class, and power, divides groups into categories of oppressors or oppressed, and proposes methods for pulling down oppressors and liberating oppressed.

CT assumes that everything that happens in society, including successes and failures, results from oppression between groups divided by race, class, and power. By definition, according to CT, whiteness, wealth, and power inherently oppress non-white, poor, and weak; therefore, in order to resolve injustice, poor weak non-whites must be elevated, while rich powerful whites must be pulled down.

These assumptions lead, then, to certain conclusions like,

Only white people can be racist. Racism does not necessarily involve individual action; it can exist in systems. Someone can be racist without intending it. Failures by non-white, poor, or weak are always a result of oppression. It is wrong to be color-blind. We must actively elevate non-white and demote whites. Non-white, poor, and weak people cannot succeed when white, wealthy, or powerful are in control.

Is Critical Theory Consistent with Biblical Truth?

Christian advocates of CT argue that it is a helpful analytical tool because since racism is inherently unbiblical (and it is!), CT can help us uncover systemic racism that is buried deep within societal structures and otherwise difficult to recognize, eliminate racism by elevating the oppressed and putting down the oppressors, and thereby enable the oppressed to flourish.

But here is the problem with this line of defense: it is circular reasoning  it already assumes the conclusions of the theory in defending it. In other words, this defense of CT is based on the assumption that whiteness, wealth, and power are inherently oppressive, and poverty and weakness, especially for non-whites, is by definition the result of racism buried deep within society. The very perceived problems advocates of CT are trying to address are already the result of applying the theory, and thus this cannot be a defense.

This is why we must step back and evaluate the underlying assumptions of CT compared with Scripture. Lets assess these assumptions based on a few core biblical truths:

Morality is based on Gods Law.

Put simply, CT assesses goodness or badness based on race, class, and power. The Bible, in contrast, assesses goodness or badness based on conformity of actions to God and his moral Law: And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us (Deut 6:25). Jesus reaffirmed this truth when he said, If you love me, you will keep my commandments (Jn 14:15). Of course, no one can perfectly obey Gods law (Rom 3:23), which is why the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation from Gods just wrath against sin.

But this very fact about the universality of human depravity presents an important problem for CT: sin involves any action that disobeys the Law of God and has nothing to do with race, class, or power. All peoplewhite and non-white, wealthy and poor, powerful and weak  can and do sin, and all people have the potential to act righteously through the regenerating and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

According to Scripture, good or evil have nothing to do with race, class, or power. Good and evil are determined by the individual actions of moral human agents. Therefore, CT is not a helpful tool for evaluating society because it defines morality on the basis of categorizations inconsistent with biblical teaching.

Race, class, and power should never be factors in determining value or devalue.

Because CT evaluates society through the categories of race, class, and power, the theory depends upon dividing people into groups and emphasizing their differences.

Contrary to CT, Scripture demands color-blindness, along with class- and power-blindness. According to Scripture, all people are created in Gods image and should be treated with equal dignity (Gen 1:27); likewise, all people should be judged equally by the Law. If someone who is wealthy oppresses the poor, he should be condemned (Prov 22:16). But just because someone is poor or has been oppressed does not mean he should be treated better than someone who is wealthy or otherwise privileged. Leviticus 19:15 makes this point explicit: You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. All are equal before the Law.

Rather, the Bible teaches that wealth, power, weakness, and poverty are the result of two factors: (a) the sovereignty of God (1 Sam 2:7) and (b) individual choice (Prov 10:4). Certainly some people are poor due to unjust and oppressive acts committed against them, but the biblical solution has nothing to do with tearing down wealth or power, but with judging right and wrong actions. Wealthy or powerful people are never condemned for their wealth or power, but for their actions. Proverbs 28:16 says, A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. Scripture condemns unrighteous poor people with just as much vigor as unrighteous rich people (Prov 28:3).

The matter of race is even more clear. I have been using the commonly-used term race to designate what the Bible more accurately calls ethnicity  common ancestry. Scripture teaches that there is really only one race: the human race (Gen 3:20). Multiple ethnicities exist, but as with class or power, ethnicity is determined simply by the sovereignty of God. This is clear in Acts 17:26: And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.

What Will Solve Division in Society and in the Church?

This leads to my final criticism of CT: Critical Theory actually fuels division rather than unity. CT teaches that in order to elevate the oppressed, we must highlight the ethnic, economic, and social distinctions, elevating non-white, poor, and weak and tearing down whites, wealthy, and powerful.

Based on biblical truth, the way to promote harmony is to emphasize what we have in common as human beings. The way to resolve racial division is to emphasize the unity of the human race; the way to solve poverty is to emphasize that there is nothing fundamentally different between a wealthy person and a poor person; the way to resolve tensions between the powerful and the weak is to promote righteous living by both.

And even more importantly, the Bible is clear that for the NT church the path to unity is to emphasize what we have in common in Christ, not differences in ethnicity, economic status, or positions of power. In the Church, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28). Our identity as Christians is in Christ alone, not in our ethnic heritage, economic class, or position in society. We are one body, For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body  Jews or Greeks, slaves or free  and all were made to drink of one Spirit (1 Cor 12:13).

What pains me most about CT is that its fundamental assumptions depend upon emphasizing differences over unity. Tensions are certainly on the rise in our society and within evangelicalism. CT only exacerbates division.

Conclusion

I remember years ago when I was teaching on the unity of the human race, a well-meaning African American pastor looked at me and said, I dont think the people in my congregation want to hear that.

Behold the divisiveness of Critical Theory.

If racism exists, and it does, CT and Scripture propose opposing solutions:

CT tries to solve racism by emphasizing differences. Scripture solves racism by emphasizing unity.

The problem with CT is not that it is extra-biblical; plenty of extra-biblical ideas are consistent with biblical principles and are helpful as tools for life.

The problem with CT is that it is anti-biblical. It promotes interpreting the realities of life through categories and lenses that are contrary to what the Bible teaches and that actually fuel division rather than encourage harmony.
ORLEANS  Seventy-five years ago, Jack and Laura Johnson of Truro cooked up an idea for a weekly newspaper. Under its second owner, Malcolm Hobbs, The Cape Codder built a headquarters at 5 Namskaket Rd. in with ample space for a printery, including a giant ink tank. The building would shake as a press operator announced each run: Caaaaape Cod-uh!

The press is long gone, stilled and sold by an off-Cape corporation that came to own the paper. Today, the Codder is printed in Auburn, near Worcester, the old printery converted to a fitness and wellness center.

Yet, once again, a Truro inspiration may find its way to Orleans. Yesterday (Jan. 20), Katherine Reed and Josiah Mayo of Truros Chequessett Chocolate were to meet with the site plan review committee changing the use from a fitness center to a workshop, cafe, and fulfillment operation.

Materials submitted for the informal review note that the company has been turning organic cacao beans and organic sugar into single-origin chocolate for more than eight years. We travel the world building lasting relationships with cocoa farmers, and then return to North Truro to craft small batches of high quality chocolate We work directly with cacao farmers in Madagascar, Tanzania, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Columbia and the Dominican Republic...

In 2014, Chequessett opened a seasonal cafe and gift shop in front of its year-round workshop on Highland Road in Truro. With the business growing, the business looked to the 7,400-square-foot former printery in Orleans for expanding our chocolate workshop and fulfillment operations...as well as to create a second cafe and expanded retail shop to better serve the lower Cape and mid Cape areas Additionally, we will be able to present the valuable production view retail experience to cafe and retail customers that has been so successful for us in Truro.

The company is seeking a change of use from fitness center to restaurant and retail. The location is within the General Business district and abuts a residential neighborhood. By a very short distance, it was not included in the current phase of the downtown sewer project, so will need work on its disposal system.

Contingent on obtaining the change of use, Chequessett would close on the property in the spring with plans to open to the public in 2022. The facility that we build will allow us to produce more chocolate, of higher quality and at a lower cost, and it will allow us to satisfy the increased demand that we experience each year, the company stated in submitted documents.

Also on the committees agenda yesterday was an informal review of Agway of Orleanss plans for its Lots Hollow Road campus, including development of a nursery, removal of a pergola, widening of the main entrance, and construction of a new greenhouse.

This uptick in activity comes at a time of renewed focus on economic development by the planning board and the select board.

There is a need for the town to find ways to encourage business development within our business districts, the planning board stated in a Jan. 5 memo to the select board. We have noticed that even before the pandemic, local business did not appear to be as vigorous as in the past. Downtown Orleans is in a transition period. The installation of sewer and relaxed regulations will allow Smart Growth to occur. We want that growth to be positive for the town and its residents, and your help is critical. Just as you jump-started affordable housing over the last two years, with the formation of a housing trust and annual funding, your leadership is needed to take the actions necessary to help the business community.

In the memo, the planning board calls for an overall business development strategy that will foster future vitality of the downtown area for the benefit of residents and visitors alike. This effort will require staff resources, and in our opinion, the services of a professional who can assist the town in understanding its economic strengths and weaknesses, and how best the town can respond to create a prosperous future Before seeking funding, the planning board intends to take more time to gather the thoughts, ideas, and opinions of residents. Planning and Community Development Director George Meservey said a strategic development plan could cost between $50,000 and $60,000.

At a joint meeting of the boards Jan. 13, the select board endorsed with enthusiasm the planning boards intent to focus on economic development. Select board member Andrea Reed urged the planning board to take advantage of state resources, including cultural districts (sleeping giants waiting to be awakened).

This is sort of a permanent role for the planning board to take on, said select board member Mefford Runyon. Noting that the business of tourism has fundamentally changed, he said the town needs to become ready to supply more financial support to the whole process. Other towns are more generous in their support of the chamber of commerce.

Select board member Mark Mathison, who said hed just attended a Cape Cod Commission climate action roundtable meeting with builders and developers, noted that the state is looking to get to net zero (greenhouse gas emissions) by 2050. The implications of that are huge economically as well as ecologically If we try to enhance business development here, we need to make sure were in sync with whats happening with the state and the Cape Cod Commission and the county when it comes to the climate action plan.
Rizwan Ahmed popularly known as Riz MC, is a 38-year-old British Pakistani actor, rapper, and activist.

He's been the recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award and has also been nominated for a Golden Globe and three British Independent Film Awards.

Initially, he did films like The Road to Guantanamo, Shifty, Four Lions, Trishna, Ill Manors, and The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and moreover, he's also known for shows like Britz, and Dead Set.

 Instagram/Riz Ahmed

His breakout role in the film Sound of Metal, follows the life of a heavy-metal drummer's life that is thrown for a toss when he begins to lose his hearing.



Riz had to learn both sign language and drumming at the same time to prep for the role which he pulled off brilliantly in the film.

 Instagram/Riz Ahmed

When it comes to his prolific career as a rapper, as a member of the Swet Shop Boys, he has earned critical acclaim with his albums Microscope and Cashmere, and also is more popularly known for his entry in the Billboard 200 chart with his Hamilton Mixtape, the song that got featured was Immigrants (We Get the Job Done).



This hit single went on to win at the MTV Video Music Awards. Through his verse, he also talks about the ongoing socio-political context.

As an activist, he has raised funds for Rohingya and Syrian refugee children, and advocated representation at the House of Commons.

 Instagram/Riz Ahmed

With his recent projects like the film Mogul Mowgli, he co-wrote and co-produced the script. In the film, Ahmed plays a rapper who is suffering from an autoimmune disease.



Next, his album The Long Goodbye expounds on a metaphor and a situation where he has broken up with by a racist, xenophobic Britain.

Currently, hes in the midst of shooting for his next project, Invasion, a sci-fi thriller that co-stars Octavia Spencer.

Besides, his thriving career in the music and film industry, he's also known for his impeccable style. Case in point:

1. He cleans up well at award shows, clearly.

2. He knows how to layer-up a bomber jacket.

3. He can even make solid colours look great.

4. He's also a low-key sneakerhead.

5. Here's how to make a classic Winter ensemble look rad.
A convicted child abuser has been jailed for two and a half years for sexual assaults on a young boy 18 years ago.

Justice Michael White noted that Kevin Brazil (51) was first questioned about and admitted the abuse of this boy and another victim in 2002 but that inexplicably the then investigating garda did not send the file forward for prosecution.

Brazil molested the 12-year-old in his flat after coaxing him up with the promise of letting him use high end electronic gadgets in the flat.

The victim told gardai that Brazil psychologically tortured him by threatening to tell his friends what had happened in the flat if he didn't come to the flat again and carry out further sexual acts.

The Central Criminal Court heard that in 2002 gardai at Rathmines garda station questioned Brazil and he made admissions. This case and another case were investigated at that time but for some inexplicable reason no file was ever sent to the DPP, Superintendent Barry Walsh said.

Supt Walsh told Anne Rowland SC, prosecuting, that when he began investigating allegations from a third victim years later he discovered the Rathmines cases. He said files on these cases should have went to the DPP for prosecution but he was not in a position to say why this had not happened.

Last July Brazil received a fully suspended prison sentence of three years after he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six counts of sexually assaulting a child in the city on unknown dates between April 1, 2002 and June 30, 2002.

Brazil of Wainsfort Manor Grove, Terenure, Dublin subsequently pleaded guilty to sexual assault of the 12 year old child on dates between May and August 2002 at a place in Dublin city.

Mr Justice Michael White set a sentence of five years but reduced this by half and said he was taking the delay in prosecuting these offences into consideration and the fact that if the case had been prosecuted at the time Brazil would likely have served his sentence by now.

The judge said he was also taking into consideration Brazil's co-operation with the investigation and his guilty plea.

Patrick Gageby SC, defending, told the court that his client had been working in a large supermarket and he lost his job after his convictions were publicised last July.

He has previous convictions for sexual assault of a minor in France on March 7, 1995. In November 2004 he was jailed for two years for sexual assault.

In a victim impact report the victim stated that the abuse has left him with a life altering condition of anxiety and depression.

He said before he met Brazil he was a happy child. He said the depression now impacts on his family life and means he cannot live in the same house as his partner and their children. He said he turned to drug use for comfort after the abuse and ended up in prison.

It's hard to see a time when anxiety or depression won't be a feature of my life, he stated.

Mr Gageby said his client was now a mature man who is full of remorse for the actions he committed 18 years ago. He told the court that it was through no fault of his that the cases were not prosecuted at the time.
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
New York, Jan 20 : Uttering what could be the epitaph for his years in the White House, "We were not a regular administration," President Donald Trump left Washington on Wednesday to face an abyss of uncertainty.

His departure was anti-climactic after some media and pundits speculated that he would not leave the citadel of American power and would have to be forced out. He ultimately accepted the results of the November election after questioning it even two weeks ago.

Hours before his term ends, Trump left the White House on the presidential helicopter Marine One to nearby Joint Base Andrews to board Air Force One jumbo jet for the last time as President and head to Florida, his new home.

He has an impeachment hanging over him for his alleged role in instigating an "insurrection" when his supporters attacked Congress on January 6.

Trump is boycotting the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden in a break with about 150 years of tradition.

"I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think they'll have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular," he said before boarding the plane.

He repeated his campaign line sarcastically: "I hope they don't raise your taxes," Trump said in one of his only references to Biden. "But if you do, I told you so." However, he is reported to have followed the tradition of presidents leaving a secret letter for their successors.

Trump, who had been a resident of New York City, a bastion of the Democratic Party, has shifted his residence to Florida, a Republican-friendly state and will stay at his estate in Mar-a-Lago.

He left a Washington that was turned into an armed camp after the January 6 attack on Congress as it prepared for the swearing-in of Biden and Kamala Harris as Vice President.

For the riot, the House of Representatives has impeached him -- voted a charge sheet for a judicial-style trial by the Senate.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
SUNNINGHILL residents woke up without electricity on Tuesday morning after thieves stole overhead copper cables worth an estimated US$15 000.

Bulawayo has of late been hit by a series of power outages mostly due to copper cables theft, with suburbs such as Hillside, Burnside and Kensington being the worst affected.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) is now in the process of replacing the stolen copper cables. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident that occurred on Monday night.

Police are carrying out investigations of unknown suspected persons who allegedly used an unknown object to cut and steal 250 metres by 35 millimetres overhead copper cables and disappeared, said Insp Ncube.

The total value of the stolen property is estimated at US$15 000 and nothing has been recovered. A report was made on Tuesday and police and ZETDC attended the scene.

Insp Ncube said on the same day Entumbane residents reported at Entumbane police station that some copper cables were found hanging on a guava tree.

Police and ZETDC officials attended the scene and observed that about 50 metres of earth copper cables were cut and stolen from a pole. They also noted that in the same area the unknown accused persons had cut and stolen 100 metres of earth copper cables from a pole. The total value of the stolen earth copper cables is US$3 500 and nothing was recovered, said Insp Ncube.

In both cases accused persons are on the run and investigations are in progress.

Insp Ncube said police are appealing to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the culprits to report at any nearest police station.

Police invite members of the public with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused persons to contact the nearest police station.

We would also like to encourage members of the public to keep on working together with the police to create any environment which is crime free, said Insp Ncube.

Last year, police in Bulawayo arrested two serial copper cable thieves after using sniffer dogs to fish the two men out of a manhole while busy cutting copper cables.

One of the suspects appeared in court and was sentenced to 70 years in jail over the US$20 000 copper theft case. Chronicle
Napa County officials say they are ready to vaccinate 10,000 people a week against COVID-19 as soon as vaccine starts coming to the county in that quantity  but when that might happen is unclear.

The infrastructure and capacity are in place to do so, county spokesperson Janet Upton said on Tuesday. It will depend on whether or not we are allocated the 10,000 doses.

Most of the doses given out this week will be first doses, she said. The county anticipates an influx of second doses to start being administered in just under three weeks.

As of Tuesday, more than 12,000 people had been vaccinated in Napa County, the county reported.

The county has begun vaccinating people 75 and older. It expects to begin vaccinating people ages 65 to 74 late this week or early next week, pending the availability of vaccines, Upton said.

People can go to the countys website at https://bit.ly/2Y8emTH to fill out a vaccination interest form. Those who cannot use the website can call the county at 253-4540 for assistance.
COMPANY NEWS

What Octo CEO's gift to Virginia Tech says about Amazon and innovation

This certainty remains for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region in a period where uncertainty is a catch-all term for anything and everything: Amazon is still coming to town.

More specifically to the portion of Arlington, Virginia now known as National Landing that will host the future HQ2 second headquarters, which many business leaders in the region see as becoming a magnet for more technology companies and talent to follow.

One leader in that group is Mehul Sanghani, founder and CEO of government IT company Octo. Academic institutions are also among the hopeful like Virginia Tech, which is building an Innovation Campus in Alexandria nearly two miles from HQ2.

State officials have cited the campus as a reason Amazon chose Northern Virginia and is partnering with VT.

There is a lot of talk certainly about Amazon and it will be stimulating demand for this market here in D.C., but dont underestimate the fact that D.C. is an extremely attractive market and were going to bring in talent outside the region, Sanghani said when I asked for his broad thoughts about Amazon's arrival here.

Once fully stood up in 2024, the $1 billion Innovation Campus will work toward a goal of preparing 31,000 computer science graduates over the next two decades to fill the pipeline of tech talent. The campus will also be the centerpiece of a 65-acre innovation district.

Both VT alums themselves, Mehul and his wife Hema gave a $10 million gift to the university to support, that effort. The university is in turn renaming a data research center at the Innovation Campus to the Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics.

So there is certainly the personal element for Sanghani, who grew up in VT's home city of Blacksburg, Virginia.

To be able to do something like this and have that type of legacy, and maybe some other kid will long after Im gone see this sign or this plaque and wonder about my impact and how they can have the same impact, he told me.

There is also the business element and this challenge companies like Octo face that he wants to help in -- building out the next and future generations of technology talent.

Artificial intelligence and the adjacent area of data analytics will be two main focus areas for the Innovation Center. Sanghani cited AI as an example of one technology area that is seeing this kind of challenge -- the scope is vast and wide, which means the expertise is distributed across a large organization like a university or inside government.

But at the same time, that expertise could also be siloed in many respects. VT for instance has data analytics courses in its business school, while the biotechnology program also has an AI component. The school of mechanical engineering has a robotics program as well.

All the employers were a little frustrated and challenged with trying to understand the differences in the skill sets, Sanghani said. What this supports is not only the university to consolidate their approach to how they aggregate professors.

Location is also everything for the center and its focus on AI.

Washington is the seat of policy for how AI is going to be leveraged, Sanghani said. You have things relative to policy and ethics, and they want to incorporate elements of that into the program.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Rochester Public School Board is considering a plan to shift middle and high school students back to hybrid learning.

The plan could be implemented as soon as next month if the school board chooses to approve it at its February 2nd meeting.

The proposal calls for students to return to in-person learning two days per week, either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday. Wednesdays would be asynchronous, with in-person supports available by appointment.

Students would also return to a full eight period school day instead of block scheduling.

Teachers, on the other hand, would be able to use three different instructional models, or pathways, which vary how in-person and at-home students engage with their coursework.

RPS Superintendent Michael Munoz says if the plan is implemented, parents should be aware there is an increased risk of students and staff needing to quarantine.

"It's not a matter of if we would have to quarantine some students and staff, it's a matter of when," Munoz told the RPS board. "We had that at the elementary when we did hybrid, so we anticipate we're going to have the same thing at the secondary level. But it's going to impact many more students and staff."

While the decision is ultimately in the hands of the school board, Munoz recommends the hybrid model be adopted once the seven-day rolling average of new coronavirus cases in Olmsted County drops below 50 per 10,000 residents. The rate is currently near 54 cases per 10,000 residents, but Munoz says it appears to be declining.

Syracuse, N.Y.  City leaders say the new countywide high school focusing on arts and sciences could enroll its first students by the fall of 2022.

With 18 months until its expected to open, many questions about costs and curriculum remain. But city officials are starting to sort out those details, as well as how students will apply for 250 slots that will be available each fall.

The $74 million project that will renovate the downtown Central Tech school has been delayed slightly because of the coronavirus, Mayor Ben Walsh said.

The pandemic, he said, has slowed our progress. But we remain 100 percent committed to moving forward with the STEAM project.

The school  which will focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math  is on track for construction to begin this year, the mayor said.

That should mean the first group of about 250 ninth-graders can attend the STEAM school in the fall of 2022, city schools Superintendent Jaime Alicea said.

At the same time, the city is working with dozens of businesses, college staff and experts to create learning tracks that match the employment needs throughout the Syracuse area.

This is going to be a great opportunity for all the kids in Onondaga County, Alicea said.

Still, much planning is needed to open the doors to the citys sixth and newest high school, even its name. For now, the district is calling it the STEAM at Syracuse Central, according to spokesman Michael Henesey.

The school district is paying Jody Manning, the former superintendent at OCM BOCES, $60,000 over the next six months to coordinate the planning, according to the district.

The curriculum for programs like performing arts, architecture and drone technology need to be written. The amount the city will charge suburban districts for each student hasnt been finalized. The size of the schools staff  a mix of current city school teachers and new hires  must be finalized.

And its unclear, at this point, how much the schools operations will add to the districts budget in the long-term. Alicea declined to estimate what the yearly costs of the school would be.

We are still working on that, he said.

Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard talked with Walsh and Alicea about the school. Here are more updates on construction, curriculum and what parents and students can start thinking about as the 2022-2023 school year approaches.

Finalizing three-way lease agreement is key

The STEAM school project is a joint effort from the city, the Syracuse school district and Onondaga County.

Right now, the city owns the building the former Central Tech building, which was designed and built by noted Syracuse architect Archimedes Russell in 1903. It closed in 1975 and has been mostly vacant since, despite several attempts to reopen it.

The STEAM plan is for the city to transfer ownership to the county, which has agreed to borrow the $74 million needed for construction. The state will pay back the borrowed money over time.

The county then will be the landlord to the school district. The state education department is now reviewing that three-way lease, a state education spokeswoman confirmed.

Alicea said he had a meeting with the state about the lease last week and thinks approval will come quickly. Once thats done, the city can solicit bids for construction, Walsh said.

Whos paying for the countywide project?

Ultimately, the state is footing the bill for about 98% of construction and renovation costs, estimated at $74 million. Thats something Albany lawmakers already approved and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed.

But local taxpayers will pay for the schools long-term operational costs.

The city is planning for 60% of the students to come from Syracuse and 40% from suburban districts. Some may also come from outside the county who are part of the OCM BOCES system, Alicea said.

That means each school district will bear the costs for students who enroll in the magnet school.

So if a student from West Genesee or Liverpool ends up at the STEAM high school, those districts would pay a tuition to the city schools, Alicea said.

Its possible, he added, that a school district might not want to send its students  and a slice of the school districts budget  to the city high school. Its voluntary not mandatory, he said of countywide participation.

What will students learn at the STEAM school?

The STEAM school is meant to supplement and enhance math, science and arts programs that other districts dont have, Alicea said.

Its hard for all 19 school districts to replicate all the programs, Alicea said.

The city district, for example, is lacking a robust performing arts program. This new high school  with a theater that seats about 1,800 people  should fill that gap, Alicea and Walsh said.

Some suburban districts  and their students  may have interest in the schools drone technology program, Alicea said. The plan is to teach students how to collect and analyze data from drones. That skill is needed among some Central New York businesses.

The district has had a committee working on the curriculum, Walsh said. The other key piece is engaging the private sector, he said.

Its really about making progress on parallel paths, the mayor said.

The city is meeting this week with area businesses, colleges and business groups to talk more about curriculum and employment needs, Walsh said.

Eventually, some students will graduate from the STEAM school with the ability to walk directly into a job, Alicea said.

The students must still take core classes and Regents exams to graduate, he said.

How can students enroll?

All that is being discussed now, Alicea said.

That might include a mix of looking at grade-point averages, aptitude tests, interviews and even auditions for performing arts, he said.

The plan is to accept applications each year from eighth-graders. That means students currently in the seventh grade would be the first students at the new school.

The city plans to add a new group of ninth-graders each subsequent fall so that by 2026 the schools enrollment will be about 1,000 in a district that already has about 5,700 high school students.

What about transportation?

Students and parents will be responsible for getting to and from school, Alicea said.

They could use Centro, he said. Its possible the districts will come up with a bus system similar to the one used by OCM BOCES.

That, too, is in the planning stages.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.

WASHINGTON (AP)  Joe Biden took the oath of office just before noon today to become the 46th president of the United States, taking the helm of a deeply divided nation and inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors. This is the latest on Bidens presidential inauguration (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

President Joe Biden has entered the White House for the first time as chief executive after walking an abbreviated parade route, still wearing his protective mask amid sounds of Hail to the Chief.

The 46th president and first lady Jill Biden walked through a military cordon lining the White House driveway with the flags of U.S. states, leading the first couple to the main entrance under the North Portico on Wednesday.

Biden was expected to immediately begin working, with a stack of executive orders on immigration and other matters awaiting his signature.

The final ceremonial flourish completed an abbreviated inaugural afternoon unlike any Washington has seen, with Biden being seen in person by only a relative smattering of Americans given security lockdowns after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and public health protocols amid the ongoing pandemic.

3:35 p.m.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says he hopes Donald Trump will continue to be the leader of the Republican Party after his election defeat and second impeachment.

The Republican senator said Wednesday during an interview on Fox News that if youre wanting to erase Donald Trump from the party, youre going to get erased.

Over the course of Trumps one-term presidency, Graham went from being one of his fiercest critics to being one of his most prominent allies in Congress.

Graham said it was inappropriate for Republicans in Congress to try to overturn President Joe Bidens victory and called Trumps comments ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot a big mistake. But he says ultimately that it wasnt a crime and that he blames the people that came into the Capitol, not him.

He said he thinks there would be a lot of support for Trump if he ran again in 2024.

He added: But Im not worried about 2024. I want to help Biden where I can, I want to get this country back on track.

3:25 p.m.

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton says it really lifted her heart to see Joe Biden sworn in as president on the same platform that supporters of President Donald Trump climbed when they attacked the Capitol two weeks ago.

Clinton and her husband, the former President Bill Clinton, attended Wednesdays inauguration of Biden. Afterward, she told The Associated Press that she was relieved and grateful to see Biden sworn in with a peaceful transition of power.

Thats been taken for granted in the U.S. for over two centuries. But two weeks ago, hundreds of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from formally certifying Bidens election victory over Trump.

The House impeached Trump a week later on a charge of inciting an insurrection.

Clinton says she thinks it was meaningful to many Americans to see Biden take his oath of office where, just a few weeks ago, marauders and terrorists had been attempting to stop democracy.

Trump defeated Clinton for the presidency in 2016.

3:15 p.m.

The highest-ranking Black member of Congress says former President George W. Bush lauded his role as a savior in helping get President Joe Biden elected to the White House.

U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Wednesday on a call with reporters that the Republican former president told him ahead of the inaugural ceremony that, if he had not given Biden the boost he did ahead of South Carolinas primary, we would not be having this transfer of power today.

Clyburn says Bush went on to say that Biden was the only one who could have defeated the incumbent president, Donald Trump. Trump and the Bush family didnt get along.

Clyburns pivotal endorsement ahead of South Carolinas Democratic primary helped propel Biden to the nomination. Biden won South Carolina by a margin of nearly 30 points.

Clyburn, South Carolinas only Democratic representative in Congress, is the dean of the states Democrats and the third-ranking member of the U.S. House.

3:05 p.m.

President Joe Biden has spent a few of the first moments of his term at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring fallen veterans with three former presidents and their families.

The president, first lady Jill Biden, and newly sworn-in Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, presided over a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Wednesday.

After cannon fire rumbled in the distance, Biden saluted as a military band played the national anthem.

Biden and Harris later briefly touched the wreath before bowing their heads in prayer. The president also made the sign of the cross, then he and Harris stood somberly for the playing of taps.

Joining them at the ceremony were former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura and former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary.

Former President Donald Trump flew to Florida before Biden was sworn into office.

2:35 p.m.

President Joe Bidens team has started moving into the White House.

The building began humming again with activity a few hours after Bidens inauguration Wednesday as staff for the new president started moving into their offices, unpacking belongings and getting the badges that grant them easy access to the property.

New press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that she was in the building and ready to get to work. Psaki has scheduled the new administrations first White House press briefing for later Wednesday.

Biden plans to sign a flurry of executive orders, some overturning actions by former President Donald Trump, once he gets to the Oval Office.

The White House had been largely emptied out of staff after Trump flew to Florida on Wednesday morning, skipping his successors swearing-in.

2:15 p.m.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have taken part in the traditional inaugural military tradition of Pass in Review.

Biden, Harris and their spouses stood Wednesday on the East Front steps of the U.S. Capitol to observe the procession of ceremonial military regiments.

Several groupings passed by the steps, with military members saluting the newly minted president and musicians playing traditional patriotic tunes.

The inaugural parade that typically follows was to be replaced by a virtual parade later in the day because of concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the procession, the couples climbed into vehicles to travel to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They were to be joined by the former presidents who attended the earlier inaugural ceremony.

1:50 p.m.

Congressional leaders have presented President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with a variety of gifts, including a pair of flags flown over the U.S. Capitol during the inauguration.

The presentations to the officials and their respective spouses happened Wednesday in lieu of a congressional luncheon that typically follows the inauguration ceremony.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said Lenox had crafted a pair of commemorative vases for Biden and Harris, each weighing 32 pounds (14.5 kilograms).

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell gifted them with a pair of U.S. flags that were flown over the Capitol during the inauguration. McConnell noted that both Biden and Harris served in the Senate and skipped the House altogether.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer presented photos from Wednesdays ceremony.

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri noted that the Smithsonian had loaned a painting titled Landscape with Rainbow by a notable Black painter from around the time of the Civil War.

1:40 p.m.

Vice President Kamala Harris has now taken on a role that would have typically been performed by the outgoing president.

Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, stood on the U.S. Capitol steps Wednesday to bid farewell to her predecessor, former Vice President Mike Pence, and his wife, Karen.

The two couples stood and chatted for a few moments, even laughing, on the steps before the Pences got into a vehicle and were driven away.

President Donald Trump typically would have performed the sendoff for his second-in-command but opted to skip Wednesdays inaugural festivities.

Trump and his wife, Melania, went straight from the White House to Joint Base Andrews earlier Wednesday. He gave a campaign-style farewell speech before boarding Air Force One for a final time as president and traveling to his home in Florida.

Pence opted not to attend that event, instead attending Bidens inauguration.

12:50 p.m.

Calm prevailed outside heavily fortified state capitol buildings across the U.S. as Joe Biden was sworn in as president.

The FBI had warned of the possibility for armed demonstrations leading up to the inauguration after President Donald Trump repeatedly and falsely claimed the election was stolen from him.

Fewer than a half-dozen demonstrators showed up outside the capitols in Concord, New Hampshire, and Lansing, Michigan. A lone protester wearing a Make America Great Again hat stood outside a chain-link fence surrounding the California Capitol in Sacramento, as dozens of police officers and National Guard troops guarded every entrance.

Three protesters were outside the Nebraska Capitol in Lincoln, one waving a flag that read Biden is not the president.

Dump trucks, prison buses and other government vehicles were used to barricade streets around the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta, though no protesters were there.

Michigan lawmakers canceled a session scheduled for Wednesday out of caution. But in Wisconsin, legislators planned to move ahead with a committee hearing that was to be open to the public.

12:45 p.m.

The official swearing-in ceremony for President Joe Biden have concluded, but more events are planned throughout the day.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden departed the platform at the U.S. Capitol following a ceremony that included Biden taking the oath Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States. Vice President Kamala Harris also took her oath of office, becoming the nations first female vice president.

The day included musical performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks. Celebrated poet Amanda Gorman read a piece noting that, while democracy can be permanently delayed, it can never be permanently denied.

Following his departure from the platform, Biden was expected to sign paperwork in the Presidents Room within the U.S. Capitol. Afterward, he reviews troops outside the Capitol before departing and traveling to Arlington National Cemetery for a ceremony with former presidents in attendance.

Later Wednesday, Biden is expected to make his first official arrival at the White House as president before a virtual inaugural parade.

12:40 p.m.

Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman summoned images dire and triumphant as she called out to the world even as we grieved, we grew.

Gorman is 22, by far the youngest inaugural poet since Robert Frost read for John F. Kennedy in 1961. She quoted biblical scripture and echoed the oratory of Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. among others as she recited her poem at President Joe Bidens inauguration on Wednesday.

She referred to the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump, an event that she said helped inspire her to finish her poem, The Hill We Climb.

12:30 p.m.

Garth Brooks has sung a gospel-tinged and beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace at President Joe Bidens inauguration.

The country superstar took off his black cowboy hat and kept his eyes closed for much of the powerful song, performing it a capella and without strain.

He offered a few dazzling smiles as the sun broke through the crowd and asked the audience to sing a verse with him. He said, Not just the people here, but the people at home, to work as one united.

After it was over, Brooks shook hands with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Brooks performed during the inaugural celebration of President Barack Obama in 2009. He turned down a chance to play for President Donald Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict.

12:20 p.m.

More than a hundred people stood in the cold waiting to get through a security checkpoint to reach Pennsylvania Avenue, where they hoped to catch a glimpse of the presidential procession.

People watched the inauguration ceremony on their phones Wednesday, cheering as Vice President Kamala Harris, then President Joe Biden took the oath.

I feel so hopeful, so thankful, said Karen Jennings Crooms, a D.C. resident waiting in line with her husband. It makes us sad that this is where we are but hopeful that democracy will win out in the end. Thats what Im focusing on.

Her husband, Vernal Crooms, who attended Howard University at the same time as Harris but didnt know her, said he was happy to see the Donald Trump era end.

He said, Weve turned the page. Light prevailed and the lie didnt last.

12:10 p.m.

President Joe Biden is calling on Americans to overcome their divisions, declaring in his first address in office that without unity, there is no peace.

Biden also pledged during his inaugural address Wednesday that he would be honest with the country as it continues to confront difficulties, saying that leaders have an obligation to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

He asked even those who did not vote for him to give him a chance. He said, Hear me out as we move forward.

As he did frequently during the campaign, Biden pledged that he will be a president for all Americans and will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

He added, We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue.

Noon

President Joe Biden says democracy has prevailed in a country reeling amid a pandemic and a violent melee two weeks ago at the U.S. Capitol.

In his first remarks as president, Biden said Wednesday that his swearing-in marks a day of history and hope.

Biden said in his inaugural address that the country has learned again that democracy is precious.

He added, The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

Biden also thanked his predecessors from both parties for attending Wednesdays ceremonies. Former Vice President Mike Pence was also in attendance, while former President Donald Trump skipped the festivities and headed to Florida earlier in the day.

11:50 a.m.

Joe Biden has officially become the 46th president of the United States.

Biden took the oath of office just before noon Wednesday during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The presidential oath was administered by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Biden was sworn in using a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was used during his swearing-in as vice president in 2009 and 2013. The 5-inch thick Bible, which could be seen on a table next to Bidens chair on the dais, has a Celtic cross on its cover and was also used each time he was sworn- n as a U.S. senator.

Bidens late son, Beau, also used the Bible for his own swearing-in ceremony as attorney general of Delaware and helped carry the Bible to his fathers 2013 ceremony.

11:45 a.m.

Kamala Harris has been sworn in as the nations first female vice president.

The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and becomes the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

She was sworn in Wednesday by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for President Donald Trump, was sitting nearby as Lady Gaga sang the national anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.

11:40 a.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump has pardoned Al Pirro, the ex-husband of Fox News Channel host and Trump ally Jeanine Pirro.

The pardon for Al Pirro is in addition to the 143 pardons and sentence commutations that Trump announced earlier Wednesday. Pirros pardon was announced just after Trump landed in Florida after leaving the White House and before Joe Biden was inaugurated as the nations 46th president.

Jeanine Pirro hosts Fox News Channels Justice with Judge Jeanine.

Al Pirro was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion charges and sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2000.

11:35 a.m.

President Joe Biden has chosen career diplomat Daniel Smith to serve as acting secretary of state until his pick for top diplomat, Antony Blinken, is confirmed by the Senate.

Smith currently runs the Foreign Service Institute that trains U.S. diplomats and is a former ambassador to Greece.

Current and incoming U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday of his temporary appointment, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement. Biden is set to be sworn in at noon as the 46th president of the United States.

Blinken had a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, and his confirmation is not expected to face obstacles. He would succeed President Donald Trumps secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.

11:15 a.m.

Joe Bidens presidential inauguration ceremony has begun.

Biden swears the oath of office at noon Wednesday, becoming the 46th president of the United States. The Democrat is preparing to take the helm of a deeply divided nation and inherit crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

History will be made at Bidens side, as Kamala Harris becomes the first woman to be vice president.

The ceremony in which presidential power is transferred is a hallowed American democratic tradition. And this time it serves as a jarring reminder of the challenges Biden faces: The inauguration unfolds at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago, encircled by security forces. Its devoid of crowds because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol.

Former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are attending.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend.

11:10 a.m.

Three Supreme Court justices are absent from President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, citing health risks from the coronavirus pandemic.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito did not join the others on the west front of the Capitol Wednesday. Breyer is 82, the oldest member of the court. Thomas is 72 and Alito is 70.

Supreme Court spokesperson Kathy Arberg says some members of the court elected not to attend the inauguration ceremony in light of the public health risks posed by the COVID pandemic.

The justices have begun receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is not clear if they all have received both doses.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the other appointees of President Donald Trump, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh were in attendance Wednesday, along with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Roberts was to swear in Biden, while Sotomayor was giving the oath of office to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

11:10 a.m.

Vice President Mike Pence has arrived at the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.

Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were announced at inaugural festivities at the U.S. Capitol about one hour ahead of Bidens expected swearing-in ceremony.

Pence is representing the outgoing Trump administration at Bidens inaugural. President Donald Trump is skipping the festivities, departing Washington earlier in the day for the last time as sitting president.

Aboard Air Force One a final time, Trump landed in West Palm Beach, Florida, just before Pences arrival at the inaugural platform.

During remarks before his departure, Trump hinted at a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years, telling supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland We will be back in some form.

11:05 a.m.

A Capitol police officer hailed as a hero for his actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol is accompanying Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the inauguration of Harris and President-elect Joe Biden.

Officer Eugene Goodman confronted the insurrectionists and led them away from Senate chambers moments after Vice President Mike Pence was escorted from the Senate chamber as the rioters stormed the Capitol.

Goodman is a Black man and was facing an overwhelmingly white mob. He is the only officer seen for a full minute on widely circulated footage captured by a news reporter. Goodman stands in front of the rioters and walks backward as the group follows him to a second-floor hallway, where other officers finally assist him.

A police spokeswoman says Goodmans plainclothes assignment to accompany Harris is a ceremonial role.

11 a.m.

Former Republican leaders and lawmakers are among those gathering at the Capitol for President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was attending the Wednesday ceremony to honor the process after a year that he said tested the nations institutions. He said he was there out of respect for the peaceful transfer of power.

Former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona says its too bad that outgoing President Donald Trump did not attend for that handoff that the world can see.

Flake is a Trump critic. He says he hopes its a moment of renewal for the nation. He says he thinks Americans will sleep easier knowing that we have a more steady hand in the White House.

10:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in Florida after leaving the White House for the final time as president.

Trump said farewell to Washington early Wednesday, leaving before President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

Trumps plane flew low along the coast as Bidens inauguration played on TV on Fox News Channel.

Trumps family was on the plane with him. He spent some of the flight meeting with flight staff, who went up to say goodbye.

Trump has hinted about a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years.

Trump spoke to supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where he walked across a red carpet and boarded Air Force One to head to Florida. He said: So just a goodbye. We love you. And the 45th president added, We will be back in some form.

Trump departs office as the only president ever impeached twice, and with millions more out of work than when he was sworn in and 400,000 dead from the coronavirus.

10:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden has arrived at the U.S. Capitol ahead of his inauguration as the United States 46th president.

Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived at the complex on Wednesday morning, about 90 minutes before his noon swearing-in ceremony. They were accompanied by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and were greeted by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

The president-elects motorcade wound its way through a mostly deserted Washington following a morning church service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Streets that would typically be lined with thousands of inaugural onlookers were ringed instead with a massive security presence to include military vehicles and armed troops.

About 25,000 National Guard members have been dispatched to Washington following the violent melee at the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago.

Biden paused to wave from the Capitol steps before entering the building.

10:25 a.m.

All of the former U.S. presidents attending President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration have arrived at the U.S. Capitol.

George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were first to arrive at the complex on Wednesday morning, several hours before Bidens swearing-in ceremony.

Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton followed shortly thereafter, with each couple arriving in separate motorcades.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend Bidens inauguration. Carter and his wife, 93-year-old Rosalynn Carter, have largely spent the coronavirus pandemic at their home in Plains, Georgia.

Carter had been the first former president to confirm that he was attending Donald Trumps inaugural in 2017.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump departed Washington earlier Wednesday, skipping the Biden inaugural festivities and heading straight to their home in Florida. Trump is the first president since Andrew Johnson not to attend the inauguration of his successor.

10:20 a.m.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are showcasing American designers at their inauguration.

The president-elect is wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat by Ralph Lauren. Jill Biden is wearing an ocean-blue wool tweed coat and dress by American designer Alexandra ONeill of the Markarian label.

Aides say Harris is wearing Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson. Both are Black designers, Rogers from Louisiana and Hudson from South Carolina.

Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, wore a Ralph Lauren suit on Wednesday.

9:50 a.m.

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will resign when President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office.

The Justice Department says Rosens resignation goes into effect at noon Wednesday.

Rosen has run the department since former Attorney General William Barr resigned on Dec. 23. He was previously the deputy attorney general and deputy transportation secretary.

Rosen has kept a low profile since he assumed the top job at the Justice Department. He has not held a press conference or addressed the press corps since he took the role, even after a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. He has only released pre-recorded videos discussing the matter and issued statements.

Longtime Justice Department official Monty Wilkinson is expected to assume the role of acting attorney general while Judge Merrick Garland awaits confirmation by the Senate.

9:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump has followed at least one presidential tradition.

The White House says the Republican president left behind a note for his successor, Democrat Joe Biden.

Deputy press secretary Judd Deere declined to reveal what Trump wrote to Biden or to characterize the sentiment in the note, citing privacy for communication between presidents.

Trump has refused to publicly concede to Biden and did not mention the Democrat by name in a pair of farewell addresses.

Trump interrupted many traditions of the presidency, including by not attending Bidens inauguration on Wednesday. Trump also did not invite Biden to the White House for a meeting after Biden was declared the winner of Novembers presidential election

Trump left the White House for the final time as president on Wednesday morning, saying, Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.

9:05 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he thinks the new administration will have great success and claims to have laid the foundation for it.

Trump says the new administration has the foundation to do something really spectacular. He made brief farewell remarks at Marylands Joint Base Andrews before he boarded Air Force One for a flight to his Florida home.

Trump did not mention President-elect Joe Biden by name during his Wednesday remarks.

Trump told cheering, chanting supporters hell be watching and listening from a distance. He promised he will be back in some form and wished the crowd a good life before he and his wife boarded the plane.

Trump wanted to be in Florida before Biden becomes president at noon.

8:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden is attending church ahead of his inauguration, a traditional step taken ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

Biden and incoming first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday are attending a service at Washingtons Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. With them are incoming Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff.

At Bidens invitation, the first couple is joined by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, including all four top-ranking members of congressional leadership.

That includes both Senate leaders, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Many presidents have chosen St. Johns Episcopal Church, sometimes called Church of the Presidents, for the inaugural day service. Biden is the second Catholic U.S. president, and St. Matthews is the seat of the Catholic archbishop of Washington.

Biden spent Tuesday night at Blair House, a traditional move ahead of a presidents inauguration.

8:15 a.m.

Donald Trump has left the White House for the final time as president.

Trump emerged from the building Wednesday morning and strode across the South Lawn to board Marine One. He said, Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.

Trump now heads to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, where hell have a military sendoff. A red carpet has been placed on the tarmac for Trump to walk as he boards the plane. Four U.S. Army cannons are set up for a 21-gun salute. Trump then flies to Florida, where hell stay at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump is leaving Washington just hours before Joe Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th president. Its the first time in more than a century that a sitting president has rejected the tradition of attending his successors inauguration.

7:45 a.m.

Two of the Biden administrations top communications officials are describing the incoming presidents inaugural address as a forward-looking speech that will make little to no mention of his predecessor.

Communications director Kate Bedingfield told ABCs Good Morning America on Wednesday that President-elect Joe Bidens address would speak to the moment that we are in, but it will also lay out a vision for the future.

Biden press secretary Jen Psaki tells CNN that Bidens inaugural address is definitely not a speech about Donald Trump and she wouldnt expect to hear about him in it.

Bedingfield says Biden had not had any contact with the outgoing president.

Asked why Biden had invited political opponents including House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to join him at a Mass on Wednesday morning, Psaki said it felt important to him personally to have members of both parties ... and use that as an example to the American public.

Bedingfield says Biden will sign 15 executive orders in some of his first moves as president.

7:35 a.m.

As the sun rose over Washingtons Freedom Plaza between the U.S. Capitol and the White House ahead of Joe Bidens presidential inauguration, clusters of soldiers in full battle fatigues clustered inside metal barriers erected to restrict access to the procession route.

Some yellow placards on the barriers read Biden-Harris 2021, while others carried the seal of the presidency or inaugural insignias. American and District of Columbia flags flapped in high winds.

Traffic has been blocked off nearby in all directions. Revelers have been told to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Most offices in the surrounding buildings are closed, many boarded up with plywood to prevent damage in case violence breaks out Wednesday.

But one tall office building in view of the procession route has been fitted with towering signs reading Welcome, Mr. President and Welcome Madam Vice President, for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

After being sworn in, Biden is set to inspect the readiness of military troops in a traditional pass in review.
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Anne Marie White, the mother of Jamal Francique, centre, poses for a photograph amongst her family and friends, during a community barbecue honouring the lives of D'Andre Campbell and Jamal Francique, two black men who were killed by police in 2020, among others, in Brampton, Ont., on Sunday, August 23, 2020. Ontario's police watchdog says there are no reasonable grounds to charge an officer who shot and killed Jamal Francique. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin
Heathrow passengers were subjected to an hour-long queue at passport control today as extra Covid checks stretched staff - as it emerged some travellers were willingly accepting non-compliance fines to avoid giving their details over.

Screams of 'get more staff' rang out as crowds mounted to get through the secure area.

Travellers flying into Britain are having their Covid paperwork checked by both airlines and Border Force officials in an effort to finally halt new strains of the virus.

They are expected to show proof of a negative test or risk being stopped or fined 500.

Occupational therapist Libby Pannett returned to the UK after her mother's funeral in New Zealand today - where there were no cases of coronavirus.

Describing the scene she faced after her long haul flight, the 52-year-old said: 'It was awful coming through Heathrow, the queues are horrific. There were probably 1,000 people in front of me because they aren't doing the fast track, they are not letting kids go through first either so there are all these screaming kids.

Libby Pannett, 52, an occupational therapist, said people were screaming 'get more staff'

Nurse Anila Dominic, 27, said 'there were not enough people' at the passport checks

One of the testing centres at Heathrow airport where passengers can be screened for Covid

'At passport control they have to check all your paperwork, it's awful. There are not enough passport control officers and people were screaming out 'get more staff.' I thought there was going to be a real riot, some people were pushing their kids through saying 'let this baby through'.'

Mrs Pannett, from Berkshire, added: 'We have to have a test to come back to the UK now and that was really difficult because you had to do it in 72 hours. That was hard coming from New Zealand as there is a time difference. It cost me 276, they are ripping people off because they know you need to do it.

'Getting the results was really stressful because I had to fly internally to get to Auckland and they had added in the time, it was running down the clock and it was over a Sunday when nobody works too.

'I was worried that results wouldn't come back in time. Emirates Airlines told me that when I landed in the UK it would be over the 72 hour period so I could run the risk of getting a fine in the UK or stay for another 12 hours and get another test in Dubai.

'I had to make that choice, to risk the fine or stay in Dubai - it was really stressful and I was lucky I got through.'

The Home Office said the claims there were not enough staff at the border were untrue.

'Border Force has the necessary staff needed to fulfil its vital function of keeping the border secure and protecting the public,' a spokesman said.

'Even with the increased Border Force spot checks on arrival, with passengers liable for a fine of 500 for failing to comply with the new rules, the vast majority of people have been moving through the UK border in good time.'

But 27-year-old Salma was another arrival who spoke of the lack of passport control officers.

Landing from visiting her family in Cairo, the doctor said: 'There were not many officers at border control so it took time to get everybody through. There were a lot of people in the queue but hopefully we were maintaining a safe-ish distance. It's not the most comfortable of situations I've been in, it could be better definitely.

Tomas Kotlaga, 50 and Wieslaw Frednczak, 58, both work at sea on a ship and still got tested

Mohamed Akram, 24, adult nursing student, and Athmeeya Rao, 32, Boeing defence employee

Q&A: Do I need to have proof of a negative Covid-19 test when I arrive in Britain - and what standards must it meet? What are the new rules for UK arrivals? All of the travel corridors were scrapped yesterday, so arrivals from every destination will need to self-isolate for ten days, or receive a negative result from a Covid-19 test taken at least five days after they enter the UK. Do I need to get a negative test when I arrive in the UK? Yes, all arrivals into England - including British citizens - must test negative for Covid-19 up to 72 hours before leaving the country of departure. Your test will also be checked by the airline before you board a plane abroad. What will you have to present at the UK border? Border Force officials are carrying out spot checks on those arriving by air, land or sea - but they have so far been checking all arrivals, according to passengers. Your Covid-19 negative test results must be presented in either English, French or Spanish. Translations are not accepted, and you must provide the original certificate. The test result must be provided either as a physical printed document or via email or text message, which can be shown on a mobile phone. This must include: your name, matching it on your travel documents

your date of birth or age

the result of the test

the date the test sample was collected or received by the test provider

the name of the test provider and their contact details

the name of the test device Anyone arriving without a test result that includes all of the above information will be committing a criminal offence which could see them receive a 500 fine. What test must you have? The test must meet standards of 97% specificity and 80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml. The Government says this could include tests such as: a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (Lamp) tests

an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device. Will you have to prove your test meets requirements? Yes. The Government says it is your responsibility to ensure a test meets minimum standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load details - so you must check with your test provider that it meets those requirements. You may need proof in the form of a letter from a test provider detailing its specificity and sensitivity levels. What happens if I don't have the correct documents? New arrivals who flout the rules will face a minimum 500 fine while their flight operator will also be fined. The passenger will then be let on their way without further action, but will still have to quarantine for ten days like everyone else arriving in the UK. Separately, arrivals into England who do not self-isolate can face fines between 1,000 and 10,000. What is the difference between the tests? PCR tests, nasal and throat swab tests normally take between 12 and 48 hours to return results. Lamp tests can return results in two hours, and lateral flow tests can generate results in less than 30 minutes. Whichever test it is must meet the required performance standards listed by the Government. Border Force agents will check that the information required is present on the notification. Provided the test meets the set criteria, then it will be accepted. If it does not, you could be fined - even with a negative test result. What are the concerns over lateral flow tests? There are fears that lateral flow tests might not be as reliable as PCR tests. But Innova makes a lateral flow test which has a sensitivity of more than 95 per cent for high viral loads - meeting UK Government requirements. A trial of one lateral flow test used by the Government found that it detected 79 per cent of cases when administered by a trained professional but only 40 per cent if someone is self-swabbing. This is significantly lower than the more expensive but slower PCR tests which detect 70 to 99 per cent of positive cases. Passengers are responsible for ensuring their test meets requirements and may be asked to provide proof. Is there a specific list of accepted tests? No. The Government does not provide a list of approved providers or tests worldwide. The passenger has to check that the test that they use meets the standards. What are the exemptions? It applies to arrivals who began their journeys in every country of the world, with the following exceptions: Ireland

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Isle of Man

Jersey

Guernsey

Ascension

Falkland Islands

St Helena There will also be an exemption until 4am on January 21 for people who began their journey in: Antigua and Barbuda

St Lucia

Barbados There are also limited exemptions for the likes of hauliers, young children and train crew members. Which countries are subject to travel bans? Travel to and from all of South America, Portugal and Cape Verde was banned from 4am last Friday. British and Irish nationals as well as people with residency rights will be exempt, but will have to self-isolate for ten days with their household on returning from any countries on the banned list. A similar ban was put into place for South Africa on December 23 last year, after another new variant was identified by scientists. On January 9, the rules were also applied to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Angola, Seychelles and Mauritius. What are the rules on travel from South Africa? Anyone arriving into the UK who has been in or transited through South Africa in the previous ten days will not be permitted entry to the UK. But British people will still be able to enter via indirect routes from South Africa. Are there any differences for the US? There are no specific differences for travellers arriving from the US, although it is understood some airlines are placing their own requirements on passengers. The US Embassy in the UK states: 'The test must be a viral test (NAAT or antigen test) to determine if you are currently infected with Covid-19. Travellers should avoid the antibody tests which look for prior infection.' Advertisement

'We had to get a test in Egypt before returning to the UK, I was worried about getting the test on time and that I would miss my flight. I was worried about the test I had, whether it was legitimate enough for them or whether they needed something extra like a government seal on it, that was stuff I had to think about.

'In the space of 18 days I have had two tests and I need to get another one in the next five days so I don't have to self isolate because I need to get back to work, I don't have enough annual leave for that.'

Adult nursing student Mohamed Akram explained that he started running with his luggage after he landed at Heathrow to get ahead of the crowds of travellers heading for border control with their forms.

Having landed from Egypt, the 24-year-old said: 'It was a bit busy on the borders here. I actually jogged from my flight so I didn't have to wait for so long but when I looked back the queue was so long.

'Most people were distancing, at least I did it, that is what matters. It took 48 hours to get my test results and thank God it came out as a negative.'

Returning from an extended trip to see his parents in Bangalore, India, after his flight was cancelled at the beginning of the new year, Athmeeya Rao claimed the mandatory test for UK-bound travellers should have come sooner.

The 32-year-old Boeing Defence employee said: 'I had to have a test in India before flying to the UK, I just went to a hospital and it was quite straightforward. I got the results within six hours or so.

'Once we landed at Heathrow there was a big queue at immigration as there were not that many officers. They were taking longer as they explained to people that they had to quarantine themselves for 10 days and other checks to see they had the right passenger forms.

'I think for kids and families the queue is difficult but it wasn't too crowded as we all had to distance. I think the mandatory tests to get back into the UK should have been done before, sooner than now.

'It started when people were coming from Spain and Italy in the summer last year, they should have implemented it then but it's better late than never.

'There were a couple of passengers in India who did not have the pdf copy of their test, they just had the negative test result on a text message which didn't count. I'm not sure if they were left behind or have to do a test once they got to the UK,' he added.

Queuing outside the Heathrow testing centre with a dozen others were seamen Tomas Kotlaga aged 50 years and work colleague 58-year-old Wieslaw Frednczak.

The pair were awaiting a rapid flow test before their flight back home to Poland today.

They said: 'We booked a fast Covid test at the Heathrow testing centre before our flight departs to Amsterdam and on to Poland today. We should get our results within 30 minutes.

'We don't understand why we must have the test, because we have been effectively quarantining at sea. We work four weeks on the ship and then four weeks at home, we come here often for work.'

Nurse Anila Dominic who had flown from India waited for 45 minutes before she could pass through border control. The 27-year-old said: 'I had to wait nearly 45 minutes. There were not enough people, that is why it took a long time. If there were more people there to check it would be easier for passengers. They were asking for cover test, the passenger locator form and my passport.'

Simlairly, Physics PhD student Megha Emerse - who had travelled from Kerala in Southern India - said: 'I was a little bit tense because I didn't know all of the new rules and procedures but it was fine and everything was explained.

'The queues weren't good, I had to wait an hour. But it was calm and everyone was distancing,' the 26-year-old University of Nottingham student added.

But there has emerged a worrying trend for people just to accept a financial punishment rather than to hand their information to officials.

Lucy Moreton, professional officer for ISU, the union for borders, immigration and customs workers, said she had heard reports of some arrivals choosing to pay the fine because they don't want to give their personal details on the locator form.

But border officials are powerless if it is a British citizen.

She said: 'We have people landing and choosing the fine instead, it's not common but it does happen.

'We can speculate that it is because they don't for some reason want the UK government to have their personal details.

'We can't detain or arrest them if they have a right of entry into the UK. We can only refuse people who don't have right of entry.' Those flouting the rules face fines of between 200 and 6,400.

On Monday there were chaotic scenes as arrivals queued for up to two hours at the border at Heathrow airport before being let through, due to the extra documents border guards need to check.

Ms Moreton said: 'There was a little bit of a moment yesterday when Border Force did allow queues to build up which shouldn't have happened, but when you're seeing documents for the first time with no background it does make it slower and with the urge to try and check everything and keep variant viruses out of the UK, we checked too many.

'But then on the other hand maybe we should be checking all of them.' Fines for not having a proper test are issued as fixed penalty notices and do not stay on a criminal record.'

But they continued to face delays after landing in the UK as officials checked each passenger arriving had a negative test - even though they will have all already been checked by their airline when boarding a flight in a foreign country.

Passengers can be fined a minimum of 500 for not complying with the rules, but the Home Office confirmed today that they are then let on their way - meaning dozens of people with Covid-19 could have been let into the UK since the rules were brought in.

However they must still follow the rules on quarantining for ten days like all arrivals into the UK - and those who breach those regulations can be fined up to 10,000.

The fines for not having a proper test are issued as fixed penalty notices and do not stay on a criminal record.

The Home Office has not yet revealed whether those fined were penalised for having no test at all or for their test certificate not fulfilling the required criteria.

Many passengers were also surprised by long queues, after they had already been checked by their airlines when boarding flights abroad - with some saying the carriers were being the 'strictest' in enforcing the rules in terms of people maintaining social distancing.

While official figures for arrivals at Heathrow are not yet available, tens of thousands of people are estimated to be coming in to the airport every day at the moment - after about 35,000 a day arrived last month.

Queues again built up yesterday in Heathrow's immigration hall with some travellers reporting having to wait up to an hour before their documentation was checked at Terminal Two, and up to 30 minutes at Terminal Five.

All the electronic passport gates were closed forcing overseas as well as British passport holders to undergo a face-to-face check. British and European Union passport holders were funnelled into one queue while other passport holders into another.

Passengers arrive at London Heathrow Airport after the new rules on Covid-19 tests came in

Noelia Moreno (left) and Cristina Torrance (right) both arrived at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five. Ms Torrance said she took a 40 Antigen test before leaving Seville and arriving on a British Airways flight.

Marissa Leo, a student arriving at London Heathrow's Terminal Five from Chicago, said she spent 30 minutes queuing to show her documents to immigration officials. She said: 'I had to show the PCR test and locator form but it was all very smooth'

A passenger leaves Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two this morning with all arrivals having to present negative Covid-19 test

Air passengers wait for a lift in the international arrivals hall at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two this morning

They had to present their passports, a negative test - in most cases a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - and locator form listing where their mandatory ten-day quarantine will take place in Britain.

Staff instructed arrivals to keep a 6ft (2m) distance from each other but passengers said people ended up facing each other and cramming together.

Initially, only four officials were checking paperwork but as queues lengthened an additional four Border Force staff were brought in to help.

Molly Jarvis, who arrived on an overnight flight from Atlanta, Georgia, told MailOnline at Heathrow: 'Lots of people ended up facing each other as they waited.

'I was a bit concerned about the social distancing and glad to get out. All the e-gates were closed and when I arrived there were only four people at the passport checks. Another four came out.'

Ms Jarvis, a US citizen who lives in London, said the official looked at the time and date of her negative PCR test, adding: 'They were very thorough and wanted to check what day I had taken the test.'

Aviation expert Julian Bray told MailOnline: 'It's been flagged up for ages that anybody coming into the country has got to have the right paperwork and has got to have the negative test. I understand the fines they are handing out are as a minimum because I heard earlier that it's anything between 500 and 1,000.

'They can come in but they're going to have to isolate for ten days. They have been told to isolate for ten days so there's no point (in having a test) then because the idea of the pre-flight test, which has to be done 72 hours in advance of the flight, is that it'll give the airline an idea of whether they've had the test or not.

'But it's surprising the airlines didn't pick up on the deficiencies. The ground crews, quite often they're a separate company, and they're hired in. They're not actually airline employees.

'If they're tasked with checking the paperwork, it sounds like there's a deficiency in the paperwork, so they might have had the test but they weren't given the right paperwork, which comes back to the fact that the Department for Transport directions are not that clear. The whole situation has been very shoddy, the way it's been rolled out.'

With far fewer flights arriving at Terminal Five, passengers faced a 30 minute wait to have their documents checked.

A mostly empty London Heathrow Airport Terminal Five departures hall is pictured this morning

A woman walks out of London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five this morning as air passengers continue to arrive

A mostly empty international arrivals hall at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five this morning as people arrive in the UK

Hardly anyone is to be seen in the arrivals hall at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five this morning

London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five is quiet today with air travel having plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic

Marissa Leo, a student arriving from Chicago, said she spent 30 minutes queuing to show her documents to immigration officials.

She said: 'I had to show the PCR test and locator form but it was all very smooth. Fortunately there were not many flights so the queue was not to long.'

Joan Davenport, who flew in from Toronto, said her wait to show her documents was less than 30 minutes. She said: 'There were only about 45 people on the flight, so only a short wait which was fine. It was all good.'

The UK Government has said a PCR, lateral flow and antigen test were acceptable for entry into the UK.

On the five flights from the US passengers interviewed said they had taken a PCR test as this was widely available in America.

Meanwhile, Cristina Torrance said she took a 40 Antigen test before leaving Seville and arriving on a British Airways flight. But to make sure she could guarantee entry to the UK she also took a PCR test.

Ms Torrance, who works at the Natural History Museum in London, said: 'I decided to get the PCR as that is the most accepted and I wanted to make sure I would get into the country and go back to work.

Ms Torrance, a Spanish national who arrived with her friend Noelis Moreno, said they waited 30 minutes to present their paperwork to Border Force officials.

Sally Amoki, who flew into Heathrow's Terminal Two from Ghana, said: 'I didn't mind showing all the paperwork. I had a PCR test and the airline check in asked to see that. At passport control they looked over the papers. It makes sense as you have to be careful. You have to follow the rules.'

Another traveller who gave her name as Debbie was reassured that documents were double checked.

She has had four PCR tests while on an extended holiday to see family in Mumbai, India, and said: 'It is reassuring that everything is being checked and checked again. The airline made sure everyone had a negative test before they could board. It made the flight much safer as you know no one is carrying the virus.'

But Debbie, who lives in London, was less happy with a two-hour wait to clear immigration.

Her Air India flight landed at 12.30pm and she emerged with her bags at 2.40pm. She said: 'There were only two people manning the desks to check passports. It was ridiculous to queue up for over two hours .Most of the desks were empty yet there long queues.'

Anne Lammel, arriving at Heathrow on a flight from Bahrain, was happy to have her documentation for entry into the UK checked twice.

She said: 'You have to show passports when boarding and when you land. It does slow things up a bit, but the flight was pretty much empty so there are less people which means things move quicker.'

All arrivals must show proof of a PCR test and a completed locator form which lists the address where travellers will quarantine for ten days. Few passengers said they would join the test to release scheme which cuts self isolation from ten days to five.

Government guidance states that UK citizens are allowed to be boarded on planes if they cannot get a test at their transit airport and are being blocked from entering the country it is in.

Mrs Walton said her daughter told her three other Britons were also barred from boarding.

However, after several calls to the British embassy in Spain Mrs Walton said her daughter had finally been allowed on an Iberia plane back to Heathrow last night.

In another case, Hannah Holland, 23, from Sheffield, was due to land at Heathrow yesterday but was barred by check-in staff in the US.

She was booked to travel on an American Airlines flight from Philadelphia via Chicago's O'Hare airport, which was due to land in London at 8.20am.

But Chicago check-in staff said her rapid 'lateral flow' test and accompanying health certificate were not acceptable.

Miss Holland, a dual British-American citizen, had been helping her mother care for her grandfather in Philadelphia.

She said: 'I just couldn't believe it... it was a test I had to pay for at a local, well-respected health clinic in Philadelphia and was specifically for people who had flights that needed more urgent results.' She added: 'I was getting really weepy.'

Miss Holland, a volunteer in Africa with the Peace Corps until the pandemic began, managed to get a flight back to Philadelphia and is now considering whether to seek another test to return to the UK or stay there.

An American Airlines spokesman said: 'The certificate did not specify the name of the test device as required, and therefore travel to the UK could not be permitted as per government guidelines.'

A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'Passengers travelling to the UK must provide proof of a negative coronavirus test which meets the performance standards set out by the Government in the guidance published on gov.uk.

'The type of test could include a PCR test or antigen test, including a lateral flow test.

'Anyone who cannot provide the necessary documentation may not be allowed to board their flight.'

As part of the new measures, announced by Boris Johnson on Friday, Border Force have ramped up checks on arrivals at airports and ports.

Arrivals complained that checking all passengers' negative test health certificates was taking too long. The certificate now has to be checked along with a locator form stating where they will be self-isolating for ten days.

Gabrielle Rivers, 31, a research fellow at Oxford University, flew from Washington to London and was stuck in a queue at border control for two hours before showing proof of her negative result and passenger locator form.

She said: 'I was pretty surprised at the length of the queue. I don't know how they would expect old people to cope. They are crowding people together in tight spaces, if we didn't have Covid then, we will now.

'It was very rammed. It was pretty heavily regulated. The airlines are being the strictest.'

Eric Campbell, 23, who arrived in London yesterday from Kampala, Uganda, said hordes of people were cramped together at border control.

His 50 PCR coronavirus test was checked as well as his locator form after an hour's wait. 'It was chaotic, the line was far too long and there were kids running around everywhere,' he said.

'There were only a few people at each desk which is why the border was rammed as they spent a great deal going through each person's document. It defeats the purpose, but I am glad it's being done.'

Avis Agustin, 36, a nurse from Singapore, arrived at Heathrow yesterday and was shocked by the large queues, spending an hour in line before border checks.

She said: 'I was confused at people in the queue not social distancing. They are too easy on people here. In Singapore, if you come, you must stay in a hotel for two weeks which the government tells you to.'

Passengers complained that the closure of the self-scan ePassport gates contributed to delays as some said people were pulled out of the queue and fined over incorrect paperwork.

In Terminal Two, suitcases stacked up by carousels as travellers were stuck at border control but by yesterday afternoon the queues had gone.

New rules scrapping 63 'travel corridors' with countries with low infection rates also came into effect at 4am yesterday, meaning all arrivals from those countries now have to quarantine. The policy will be reviewed on February 15.

On Sunday it emerged the government is considering a further crackdown after ministers asked officials to draw up plans which would see travellers forced to quarantine in hotels upon arrival.
ROSEBURG, Ore.--Roseburg Public Schools announced Tuesday that Pre-K through 5th grade will return to in-person learning on Jan. 25.

District officials said they made this decision based on the new guidelines set out by the Oregon Department of Education. For younger grades, the infection rate must be below 350 cases per 100,000 people. Douglas County's current infection rate is 211 per 100,000 people.

For 6th through 12th grade to return to the classroom, a county's infection rate must below 200 cases per 100,000 people. The county falls short under that requirement. However, the district said, when older students are given the all-clear to return to campus by the Oregon Health Authority, they will return to in-person instruction that following Monday.

Superintendent Jared Cordon said this in a statement:

Since the beginning of the school year, Roseburg Public Schools has strictly adhered to the states mandates and guidance to best protect student and staff health, adjusting our plans as needed, Cordon said. We believe that following the path we have set throughout the year to manage these adjustments has been the safest and most responsible option for our district.

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By Mark Gokavi

Dayton Regional Green invites interested parties to attend a Zoom Hot Topics and Coffee event from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 21.

The topics are So. What is the Green New Deal? and Why Is the Dayton Arcade The Most Transformative Project in America? Registration is free.

DRG says The Green New Deal is a congressional resolution to mobilize every aspect of American society to 100 percent clean and renewable energy, guarantee living-wage jobs for anyone who needs one, and will provide a just transition for both workers and frontline communities - all in the next 10 years.

Fadhel Kaboub, an associate professor of economics at Denison University will discuss The Green New Deal. He also is the president of the Binzagr Institute for Sustainable Prosperity, served as a research associated at the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College (N.Y.), the Center for Full Employment and Price Stability (Missouri), the Economic Research Forum (Egypt), and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

DRG says the Dayton Arcade renovation is "the most transformative project in America." Its described as a daring, innovative and a complex project in the heart of Dayton that is part of a larger plan to bring residents, jobs, and visitors back to the downtown.

Guest speaker Dave Williams will take attendees through the story of the Arcade revitalization to become an economic engine fueled by artistic and innovative activities and how the design process focused on innovative energy and financing systems.

Williams is senior development director at Cross Street Partners overseeing the design, construction, leasing, and financing for the Dayton Arcade project. Prior to joining Cross Street Partners, Williams was vice president of Urban Development at Miller-Valentine Group and also served as director of Downtown Housing for CityWide.

The Arcade Innovation Hub, LLC, a joint venture of UD and The Entrepreneurs Center, has committed to a 10-year lease as anchor tenant for the Arcade, bringing hundreds of UD faculty, staff and students, comprehensive entrepreneurial support services and thousands of square feet of working space for local startups to the massive redevelopment project.

For more sustainability news and information, visit HSIs news blog, the Hanley Sustainability Institute website and the sustainability program website. To sign up for HSIs Sustainability Spotlight newsletter, register here.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the National Press Club in Washington, on Jan. 12, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Pompeo Hopes New US Administration Will Confront Beijing

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Jan. 20 expressed hope that the new administration under President-elect Joe Biden will continue to confront threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

This challenge, the threat from the Chinese Communist Party, is real; it is existential to the United States, said Pompeo in an interview with Fox News, according to a transcript from the State Department.

I am counting on the next administration continuing our work, continuing to build out on the things that we have done in the exact way that the American people will demand, he added.

Pompeo was answering a question about a comment made by National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director Bill Evanina, who told Fox in a separate interview that China is a threat more than any other country.

Evanina said, I think the challenge for the Biden administration will be to understand the scope and scale of some of the Chinese threats in the American landscape, domestically, and what is the best course to defeat that.

The CCP is the central threat of our time. CCP authoritarianism isnt the future the free world wants  but its the future well have if we let our guard down again. pic.twitter.com/ARqmG689ER  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 17, 2021

In the last four years, the Trump administration has confronted the 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 religious minorities and Hong Kong residents.

Pompeo also declared on Thursday that Beijing has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghur Muslims. The announcement marks one of the Trump administrations most severe criticisms against the CCP for its severe human rights abuses in China.

The genocide designation drew applause from many U.S. lawmakers, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

The incoming administration should make the CCP pay for its crimes by continuing to punish the officials and companies responsible for its genocide of the Uighurs. Failing to impose consequences will only embolden the CCP to use the same tactics against more innocent people, stated Cotton according to a press release from his office.

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC), an international organization representing Uyghur exiles, welcomed the U.S. designation and called on other governments to take concrete actions.

Uyghurs have been looking for accountability for years, and this is the first time a government designates the Uyghur crisis as a genocide, stated WUC President Dolkun Isa in a statement.

It remains to be seen how the new U.S. administration will confront the CCP. In a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said that Trump was right in taking a tougher approach to China. However, he added he disagreed with Trump on how the U.S. President went about it in a number of areas.

Bidens critics have expressed concerns that the new administration would be soft on China, as Chinese state-run media have openly stated their preference for Biden.

On Jan. 19, Chinas state-run media Global Times reported that any changes that Biden made will at least be better than Trumps policies, quoting a Chinese researcher from the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

I have great confidence that the American people have come to understand this challenge from the Chinese Communist Party and will expect every leader, whatever political stripe, to continue to protect and secure American freedoms, Pompeo concluded.
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Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and court systems still are seeing some of the impacts from the virus that shut down many businesses and government buildings. Though things are moving forward, holding some necessary processes in a safe way has proved difficult.

In particular, jury trials are posing a difficult task for court systems.

Greene County States Attorney Caleb Briscoe said the county has been working continuously to move forward with its cases, utilizing different safety precautions and technology when possible. Still, there are difficulties when people need to be in the courtroom at the same time, he said.

Like any organization, weve been affected, Briscoe said.We are trying to comply with state mandates and keep things moving. Weve had a lot more people asking to continue (cases) because of COVID-related issues.

Though the county doesnt have a backlog of cases, things are moving more slowly and they are spreading things out more to prevent large numbers of people inside the buildings, he said.

By limiting crowds, wearing masks, and using video conferences for some of the preliminary hearings and meetings, theyve been able to keep things going, Briscoe said.

Numbers complicate things.

Its difficult to bring in 12 people for a trial, he said. We usually bring in 50 (for the jury pool) and we have to keep them socially distanced and safe while we go through the processes.

Any jury trials that were scheduled for January have been moved to March, by which time Briscoe hopes to see an improvement in the virus, he said.

Because Greene County is seeing from 10 to 12 new cases a day, they want to give those numbers time to decrease before trying to move forward with juries, Briscoe said

In Cass County, States Attorney Craig Miller said things are moving forward, as well.

We are not able to do in-person trials at the moment for public safety, Miller said. Things are doable, its just been inconvenient.

The county has been limiting those allowed inside the courthouse to only those necessary. Masks also have been required and cases have been limited to limit the number of people in the building at one time.

Other problems also are facing the system.

Because of the risk of contracting the virus, transportation of inmates for court dates also can be limited.

Places like the (Illinois Department of Corrections) dont want to spread the virus, so they are trying to prevent as much travel as they can, Briscoe said.

Miller also hopes things will be moving forward in March, which is when the countys next pre-trial date is scheduled, he said.

We have to wait and see what comes in March, he said. Its hard to see whats coming  its unknown.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden is moving swiftly to dismantle Donald Trump's legacy on his first day in office, signing a series of executive actions that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The new president signed the orders just hours after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, pivoting quickly from his pared-down inauguration ceremony to enacting his agenda. With the stroke of a pen, Biden ordered a halt to the construction of Trumps U.S.-Mexico border wall, ended the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, declared his intent to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization and revoked the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, aides said.

The 17 executive actions amount to an attempt to rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed. Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office  and each signed just one. But Biden, facing the debilitating coronavirus pandemic, a damaged economy and a riven electorate, is intent on demonstrating a sense of urgency and competence that he argues has been missing under his Republican predecessor.

Theres no time to start like today," Biden said in his first comments to reporters as president.
Navalny Touted, Assange Tortured By Finian Cunningham January 19, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was detained on returning to Russia from Germany for good, legal reason. He had made a mockery of his parole license.

Navalny is a convicted felon, found guilty of fraud and embezzlement by a Russian court in 2014. But his jail sentence had been suspended with the condition that he report regularly to Russias prison authorities. A normal condition. For nearly five months, however, he had sojourned out of the country as a de facto guest of German authorities. Thats a brazen breach of his parole conditions. And the Russian prison service was right in issuing him a warning at the end of last month that violation of his suspended jail term risked the sentence being converted into detention behind bars. Its a sovereign matter of Russian laws that on returning to Russia at the weekend Navalny was arrested and is now in custody awaiting court proceedings in coming weeks on whether to revoke his suspended sentence.

The hue and cry from Western politicians and human rights groups over his arrest Sunday at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport is predictable.

High level officials from the United States, Britain, Germany and France, among others, have all made strident statements demanding Navalnys release.

Britains Foreign Minister Dominic Raab called the dissident figures arrest appalling.

For all these supposedly concerned advocates of human rights there are only two words: Julian Assange.

Assange is languishing in a British torture-dungeon, persecuted by the American and British governments for the crime of revealing to the world the truth about illegal wars and war crimes committed by the United States and Britain.

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In all of the years of Assanges barbaric detention, there has never been a fraction of the official Western public outcry that has been expressed for Navalny.

Thats because Navalny, unlike Assange, is a political asset for a Western agenda to undermine Russia.

There are good grounds to believe the Russian blogger-cum-media-activist is funded and directed by Western intelligence services. Everything about his gadfly campaigning smacks of orchestration as an agent provocateur.

The way that Navalny has coordinated closely with Western media and intelligence outfits like Bellingcat to peddle the story that he was allegedly poisoned with Soviet nerve agent Novichok is strong evidence of his provocateur function. And the way that Western media routinely report the alleged poisoning as if it is fact is demonstration of how such media are totally dominated by propaganda service to geopolitical agenda.

When Navalny was treated in a Russian hospital after apparently becoming suddenly ill on August 20 onboard a flight to Moscow from Siberia, the doctors found no poisons in his system. The medics said the apparent illness was due to metabolic shock from possible misuse of his own medicines for diabetes, depression and perhaps excess alcohol.

Conspicuously, days later after he was airlifted for further hospital treatment in Berlin, then the German authorities announced they had detected poisoning with nerve agent.

No evidence has ever been presented by the German authorities or other NATO laboratories in such a way that is independently verifiable.

Russia has been denied access to any of their alleged data in order to verify, yet Moscow is condemned for not carrying out a criminal investigation into the alleged poisoning.

Not only that but while Navalny was supposedly recuperating in Germany from a super lethal toxin he somehow had the media resources to purportedly set up prank calls to trick a Russian secret service member to confess to an assassination plot, a plot which the artful activist claimed was ordered by the highest Kremlin authorities. Russia has dismissed that media stunt as a fake.

Accusations which were amplified without question by Western media and politicians.

And all the while this dodgy character Navalny is making a mockery of his parole for a suspended jail sentence. Not only that but there is patently supreme arrogance from him and his foreign allies that Russian sovereign laws can be mocked with impunity.

The Western overreaction to his rightful arrest on returning to Russia after five months of orchestrating a hostile foreign media campaign is proof of their arrogance.

And while Julian Assange is languishing in prison that is damning proof of Western deceit, duplicity and hypocrisy.
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'Some sort' of Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock could be held next August despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The hope was expressed by the outgoing Chairperson of the Show Executive, Brenda Kiernan at the body's AGM, held on zoom.

Jim Harrison of the Irish Shows Association predicted it may be possible to hold classes in the FBD National Livestock Show in a scaled down event.

Last year's show made a financial loss of 90,000 after being cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Show Auditor, Michael Kinsella, of the BCA accountancy firm, revealed income for the year was just 21,000 but a number of standing expenses, including office and insurance costs, were incurred.

Tributes were also paid to outgoing Show Operations Manager and long-serving Show Secretary, Freda Kinnarney who announced her retirement in December.

Ms Kinnarney, who has been involved with the show for almost three decades, will remain on as a member of the Show Executive.

The position of secretary will be filled by Chelsey Cox, who has been a member of the show office team for some years as well as being involved as a volunteer.

The new chairperson, award-winning Leamore dairy farmer, Joe Molloy said the Show Executive looked to the future with confidence and was ready to face the challenges ahead.

He said that a decision on whether a show will be held or not, subject to Government and health experts advice, on the second Sunday of August will be taken within the coming weeks.

ISA Secretary, Jim Harrison, from Monaghan, suggested it may be possible to hold a scaled down event with the classes in the FBD National Livestock Show being staged.

Mr Harrison, who is recovering from Covid, expressed the fear that many smaller shows would not survive if they were not able to be staged this year.

In her Chairperson's address, Mr Kiernan said the Show, like all other events of its kind in the country and around the world, was facing into 2021 with the problem of Covid-19 still present.

We must continue to abide by Nphet guidelines, stressed Ms Kiernan adding that all members attending the AGM by zoom knew people who had contracted it.

But it will come to an end, she outlined.

Ms Kiernan said she was delighted to hold the meeting by technology and referred to the virtual show day which was held on what should have been the actual show day last August.

I want to thank all those who helped to keep Tullamore Show alive and hopefully we will be able to hold some sort of show this year, she added.

There is light at the end of the tunnel will the roll-out of the vaccine.

Ms Kiernan thanked all those who had ensured the ongoing success of the event including the hundreds of volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, local landowners and the office team led by Freda Kinnarney.

Paying tribute to Ms Kinnarney, the outgoing chairperson said she had served with distinction over the past 28 years and looked after each and everyone of us.

You brought s along, you helped us whether in the office or on the field.

I know you are staying on the executive in a lesser capacity but you're entitled to a little bit of a rest, said Ms Kiernan.

She said that she had also thoroughly enjoyed her term as chairperson and the wished the incoming chief and the new team every success.

In a brief response, Freda Kinnarney said it had been an honour and privilege to be involved for so many years with the event.

Auditor Michael Kinsella said the show was in a strong place financially thanks to the hard work of the executive and the generosity of sponsors. A financial reserve had been built up, he outlined.

Hopefully looking forward the show will be able to operate in some for in the coming year, said Mr Kinsella.

ISA Secretary Jim Harrison also extended best wishes to Ms Kinnarney from his organisation and all the shows in Ireland.

He said that 2020 had been a very difficult year for show people and said it appeared there would be problems in the coming year running such events.

He said he was a good friend of the health expert Sam McConkey, also from Co. Monaghan, who he revealed had speculated the virus could disappear as quickly as it had arrived.

If we get the vaccine out who knows but a miracle could happen, added Mr Harrison.

But, he said, he couldn't see upwards of 60,000 people attending a show in Tullamore next August.

We could see shows running with certain classes and it would be a no brainer if we could run the FBD National Livestock Show.
Cyber

Trump issues last-minute order targeting foreign cyber threats

Donald Trump issued an executive order on the final night of his presidency aimed at forcing cloud providers to capture more complete records about foreign customers.

"Foreign actors use United States [cloud services] for a variety of tasks in carrying out malicious cyber-enabled activities, which makes it extremely difficult for United States officials to track and obtain information ... before these foreign actors transition to replacement infrastructure," according to a letter from Trump to Congress publicly released in the evening of Jan. 19.

To address those threats, the EO states, the government will move to require cloud providers to keep more complete records of foreign entities that they sell to and potentially require companies to limit "certain foreign actors" access.

The secretaries of commerce, state, treasury, defense, homeland security, the attorney general and the director of national intelligence have discretion on which foreign entities could be barred through the executive order.

Crowdstrike founder and former CTO Dmitri Alperovitch said on Twitter that the policy outlined in the order could have helped the government gather more information in the wake of the SolarWinds Orion breach.In that breach, Alperovitch said, hackers "exclusively used US cloud infrastructure to make it difficult for US intelligence community to track them." Headded that "requirements like this one can go a long way to move these actors offshore and make it easier for [the government] to track them. One potential downside - the requirements can be quite onerous/expensive for smaller providers and may lose them foreign business."

It is not clear whether President-elect Joe Biden's administration will enforce the executive order. Ahead of the inauguration, Biden's transition team published a list of executive orders he'd immediately sign to undo certain Trump administration policies.

The Trump order has a six-month comment period.

This article first appeared on FCW.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 06:48:47|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel's army said on Tuesday night it had attacked Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip after a rocket from the Palestinian enclave hit southern Israel.

In a statement, a military spokesperson said that Israeli tanks fired artillery into Gaza, targeting military posts belonging to Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian movement that runs the Gaza Strip.

The spokesperson said the artillery was "a response" to an incident earlier on Tuesday evening, in which a rocket fired from Gaza hit an area near the community of Nahal Oz, adjacent to the security fence between Israel and the coastal Palestinian enclave.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage on both incidents.

The fire came a day after Israeli fighter jets struck Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip after two rockets were fired from Gaza. The rockets fell in the sea before reaching Israel. Enditem
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Last Prisoner Project, (LPP) a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform, is thrilled to see at least 10 individuals incarcerated on cannabis related offenses will be released from federal prison after receiving executive clemency grants early this morning. Many of these individuals were serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.

LPP, together with other criminal justice-reform organizations, has been working with the White House and the Office of the Pardon Attorney to advocate on behalf of several federal prisoners incarcerated for marijuana offenses. Mercifully,10 of those individuals  three of whose petitions LPP co-sponsored with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) as part of their Trial Penalty Program  were granted commutations and will be released from federal prison.

Sarah Gersten, LPP's Executive Director and General Counsel, said in a statement:

"We are so heartened that our efforts to secure federal clemency for these deserving individuals have finally come to fruition. The clemency power provides a critical opportunity to undo the all-too-frequent injustices in our criminal legal system. It is our sincere hope that today's news will catalyze a systemic shift in the utilization of executive clemency power, and we look forward to working with the Biden Administration to bring relief to the estimated 40,000 individuals still suffering behind bars due to our country's unjust and inequitable policy of cannabis criminalization.

These pardons and commutations, especially when considered in light of the recent momentum behind legalization on the state level, are further evidence of the overwhelming bipartisan support for broad-based cannabis policy reforms. We are excited to work with the incoming administration to create a more formal process for expediting the consideration of similar cases  and look forward to the day when no one is punished for responsibly growing or consuming cannabis."

The Last Prisoner Project is currently working to assist these recently-released individuals with their reentry needs. Follow this link to donate directly to our constituents and their families as they work to rebuild their lives.

ABOUT THE LAST PRISONER PROJECT

The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cannabis-related criminal justice reform. As the United States moves away from the criminalization of cannabis, giving rise to a major new industry, there remains the fundamental injustice inflicted upon those who have suffered under America's unjust policy of cannabis prohibition. Through intervention, advocacy and awareness campaigns, the Last Prisoner Project works to redress the past and continuing harms of these inhumane and ineffective laws and policies. Visit www.lastprisonerproject.org or text FREEDOM to 24365 to donate and learn more.

Follow Last Prisoner Project

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LPP MEDIA CONTACTS

PRESS HERE

Linda Carbone & Katie Leggett

[email protected] // [email protected]

SOURCE The Last Prisoner Project (LPP)

Related Links

http://www.lastprisonerproject.org


Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia
[January 19, 2021] Shift4 Payments Releases Transaction Data Update

Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR), the leader in integrated payment processing solutions, has released its report on merchant transaction activity in December 2020 as part of the company's ongoing series of monthly updates. This comprehensive update provides unique insights into the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on merchants in various industries, based on the company's gateway transaction data which it posts daily on shift4cares.com. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210119006162/en/ Shift4 Gateway (News - Alert) Transaction Activity (Graphic: Business Wire) Overall, the data shows a decline in transaction activity when compared with November volumes. Most notably, hotels and restaurants across the country experienced a 50% and 40% decline respectively in December transaction volume from the prior year. Retail and ecommerce businesses, on the other hand, continued to see positive trends as they grew their transaction count on a year-over-year basis for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. Despite these troubling hospitality statistcs, transaction activity is still meaningfully above the lows experienced by merchants during March and April, signaling that merchants are adapting to the increased lockdowns in creative ways. Perhaps most promising, the number of merchant locations open for business continues to grow each month and is currently just 3% off of pre-pandemic highs.



Unlike in previous months, the negative month-over-month and year-over-year trends were felt across all states, although weather clearly impacted the severity of these declines. States in the southeastern U.S. (NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS) experienced more modest year-over-year declines: ranging from -2% to -16%. California and New York, which collectively share ~22% of the nation's economic activity, were down 55-60%. Shift4's end-to-end platform also experienced a modest year-over-year decline in December volume of 4% despite having 20% more active merchants than December of 2019.

"December was an expectedly challenging month for hospitality merchants across the country," said Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments. "While these statistics are disconcerting, it is important to understand that the overall trends of merchant activity remain quite positive, especially in ecommerce and other segments of the business. Despite the realities of the pandemic, we saw continued payment volume improvement from May through October, with October representing our highest volume month in Shift4 history. It should not be that surprising that November and December would regress given social distancing restrictions, regional lockdowns and colder weather. Trends observed throughout 2020, coupled with the increasing vaccinations across the country, make us very optimistic about the continued recovery for merchants in 2021." About Shift4 Payments Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) is a leading provider of integrated payment processing and technology solutions, delivering a complete omnichannel ecosystem that extends beyond payments to include a wide range of commerce-enabling services. The company's technologies help power over 350 software providers in numerous industries, including hospitality, retail, F&B, ecommerce, lodging, gaming, and many more. With over 7,000 sales partners, the company securely processed more than $200 billion in payments volume for over 200,000 businesses in 2019. For more information, visit shift4.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210119006162/en/

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) listens to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) as US Vice President Mike Pence (C) looks on during a luncheon at the State Department in Washington, DC on September 20, 2019. ( ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Pompeo Affirms Unbreakable Bond During Call With Australian PM

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on a call on Jan. 18, affirming the unbreakable bond between the two countries.

The U.S. secretary of states spokesperson said in a statement that the two talked about their commitment to continue working together to strengthen and broaden the U.S.-Australia alliance.

Pompeo thanked Morrison for his unwavering support in promoting the two nations shared values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and the common strategic interests, even in the face of economic threats from the Chinese regime.

They also noted the importance of the Quad alliances efforts on making the Indo-Pacific region more free and open. The alliance, which comprises the United States, Australia, Japan, and India, share democratic values and are concerned about Chinas security strategy.

Morrison said in an interview that he was pleased to speak with Pompeo as they have closely worked together over the last many years.

The cornerstone of that [relationship] has been an understanding of just how important Australia and the United States are to each other, Morrison said.

Pompeo staunchly defended Australia when the Chinese regime attacked the Morrison government for calling for an independent probe into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

When asked if he expected the Biden administration to defend Australia as strongly as the Trump administration on disputes with China, Morrison said he expected a continuation of policies which would favour the U.S.-Australia alliance.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also thanked his American counterpart, Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin, in a recent Twitter post for their partnership, and wished him well for the future.
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By the time he was 9, Jerome Lamaar had learned how to seize on his hearts desire. I was hoping to get my hands on the Power Ranger Flip Heads, said Mr. Lamaar, a 35-year-old, Bronx-bred fashion designer. I never told anyone, but I wanted these toys so bad. I sat in my room holding this scenario in my head of how I would feel when I got them.

He had, in his New Age-tinctured phrase, launched his dreams into the universe. And, as he tells it, the universe heeded his call. The very next day, my dad got me the Flip Heads, he said. Thats when I realized that there was something to this.

He could not have named it at the time, but Mr. Lamaar says now that he was manifesting  achieving material and psychic rewards through sheer force of mind.
President Joe Biden on his first day in office promised to overhaul U.S. immigration laws, and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez  who played key roles in the two most recent attempts to pass legislation  will be the lead Senate sponsor of the legislation.

Biden on Wednesday sent legislation to Congress that would offer a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants.

It would also increase the use of technology to detect narcotics coming in over the border, develop a strategy to secure the southern border, speed processing of requests, expand procedures to keep families together, and limit a presidents ability to ban immigration on the basis of religion.

The son of Cuban immigrants, Menendez, was one of President Donald Trumps fiercest critics on immigration, saying his policy has broken with the basic standards of decency.

The New Jersey Democrat objected when Trump tried to close the borders to new immigrants, separated parents from their children when they entered the country seeking asylum, and stepped up efforts to deport unauthorized immigrants, even those who had been in the U.S. for years.

The past four years have been traumatic for immigrant communities who have endured relentless attacks from the Trump administration, Menendez said. Today, we turn the page on this dark chapter of our history and begin the hard work of repairing the damage and rebuilding a better union that reflects the values of our nation.

The NJ Politics Newsletter: Because Election Day is only the beginning. Add your email now.



Menendez played a key role in the two most recent bipartisan efforts, as a member of the Gang of Eight whose immigration bill overwhelmingly passed the Senate in 2013 but died when House Republicans refused to bring it up for a vote.

He was involved again in 2017 when Trump rejected a bipartisan offer to trade funding for his southern border wall for protections for the dreamers, those brought to the U.S. illegally as children, because he said he didnt want to admit people from s---hole countries.

I know all too well from my work with the Gang of Eight that passing immigration reform through the United States Congress will be a challenging task, Menendez said. However, there is a moral and economic imperative to get this done.

Olga Armas of Make the Road New Jersey, an immigrant advocacy group, applauded Bidens support of immigration legislation.

Bidens day one bill and executive orders on immigration policy are a dramatic and welcome departure from the racism and xenophobia of the Trump era, Armas said. After years of family separation, living under fear of deportation and being terrorized by our government, we celebrate our resistance, we welcome the Biden administration and together, we turn a new page.

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.
Ayodhya:

Exuding confidence that there will be no hurdles in building a Ram temple in Ayodhya as there is a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has begun stockpiling stones for its construction.



Notwithstanding whatever decision the Supreme Court takes on the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit, the VHP has declared that construction work will begin within a year.



Two truckloads of stones to be used for the construction of the Ram temple arrived here from Bharatpur in Rajasthan on Monday. We need more than 100 truckloads of stones to give final shape to the proposed Ram temple, senior VHP leader Triloki Nath Pandey said.



The trucks were unloaded at the VHP headquarters Karsewak Puram here. The rest of the supplies would come in a couple of days.



Now there is a BJP government in the state. So there will not be any hurdles in the way of the construction of the Ram temple, Pandey asserted.



In 2015, a similar effort to collect stones from all over the country for the construction failed. The then Samajwadi Party government banned further import after two truckloads of stones were brought in by denying form 39 of the commercial tax department.



A month ago, we contacted the officer concerned of the commercial tax department and he immediately issued the form 39 that the department had been holding for over a year, Pandey said.

ALSO READ | Narrow-mindedness of Modi govt behind delay in construction of Ram Temple: Hindu Convention



Reacting to the development, Khaliq Ahmad Khan, a litigant in the case being heard by the Supreme Court, said the stones were brought in to convey a message to the people that saffron forces were serious about building the Ram temple.



It, however, will not affect the ongoing case. We have full faith in the Constitution and the Supreme Court, Khan said.



Roop Rekha Varma, a former vice chancellor of the Lucknow University, said, As the matter is subjudice, such activities are illegal and anti-national. It may give rise to communal tension and disturb the peace and law and order.

ALSO READ | Will build a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya within ambit of Constitution: UP min



(With inputs from PTI)

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First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has made an Instagram post in connection with the 31st anniversary of the 20 January tragedy.

In a post on her official Instagram page, Mehriban Aliyeva says: "I respectfully commemorate the memory of our compatriots-the innocent victims of the 20 January tragedy who gave their lives for the freedom of our people. May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs."

Today, Azerbaijan commemorates the 31st anniversary of the January 20 tragedy.

On January 20, 1990, the Soviet army forces entered Baku to suppress the masses protesting the USSR-supported Armenian aggression based on territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

The result was an unprecedented tragedy for Azerbaijan. Valiant sons and daughters of Azerbaijan put the countrys freedom, honor and dignity above everything else, sacrificed their lives and became martyrs.

On the night of January 19-20, 1990, 147 people were killed, 744 were injured and 841 were illegally arrested after Soviet troops entered Baku. The Soviet troops also destroyed 200 apartments and houses, as well as private and public property.

The January 20 tragedy brought huge losses and death of innocent people. But it also demonstrated the spirit and pride of Azerbaijani nation, which couldn't stand the betrayal of the criminal empire led by Mikhail Gorbachov.

Azerbaijanis gained the independence they were dreaming of, and the country achieved sovereignty.

Despite that many years have passed since those bloody days, Azerbaijanis remember the dreadful night that took many innocent lives and mark the anniversary of the January 20 tragedy every year.

January 20 is immortalized in the memory of Azerbaijani nation as a Day of the Nationwide Sorrow.
It was 5:30 a.m. Wednesday when Gary Hendler shot up in bed in his Ardmore home to scroll through the list of the 73 people President Donald Trump had just pardoned.

Hed given up hope of seeing his name.

Six years ago he filled out a 90-page application to get pardoned for a drug-related crime hed committed in the early 1980s. I didnt think I would get it from Trump. Im not famous. Im not anything. Hendler didnt even vote for Trump.

Then I saw Gary Evan Hendler and I got all choked up. I couldnt believe it, he said, his voice cracking. Its a miracle. He turned to his wife, Marjorie. This must be what it feels like when you hit the lottery.

Hendler, a 67-year-old father of two daughters, has spent the last 38 years helping others recover from addiction. In 1985, he started AA meetings at Main Line Reform Temple and they continue today. He hosts the Clean and Sober Radio show on WWDB and Gov. Tom Wolf recently appointed Hendler to serve on the Pennsylvania Advisory Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

Outside his work in recovery, he has operated his own company, Suburban Real Estate in Ardmore, for the last 26 years.

Almost 40 years ago, the Havertown-reared Hendler saw that his life was spiraling down. After graduating from Temple University with a degree in journalism, he got thrown out of law school his first year at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Fla., for not doing any work, being a troublemaker, and growing a fondness for the sedative quaaludes.

But he had a plan. I brought up three idiot friends from law school to Philly and we figured wed open up a quaaludes clinic, he said. People would pay doctors a certain amount of money to write prescriptions. I thought, What a great business idea! Little did I know it was illegal. I thought since we didnt write prescriptions, we just had a business, it would be OK.

They opened the clinic in West Philadelphia, but Hendler didnt last long. He said his partners tossed him after about three weeks over a money dispute. Thank God I was thrown out, he said.

In 1982, he faced local drug charges and his attorney told him hed look good in court if he went into rehab. A bulb went off and I said Id had enough, he said.

The last time he touched drugs or alcohol was May 3, 1982, he said.

By then, the feds were closing in on the quaaludes clinic. In 1984, he was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances. He was sentenced to three years probation. He believes he got off easy because he didnt make money off the clinic, had been sober for two years, and had started to turn his life around. Still, he was a convicted felon.

After he applied for a pardon, the FBI knocked on his neighbors doors asking what they knew about him, if they had anything bad to say. Everyone apparently vouched for him. Hendler also had the support of former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who grew up in Lower Moreland, and the federal pardon attorney.

I wanted this to write the final chapter of my old days, my bad days, Hendler said. I wanted to close the book on it. The only way to have that closure is for the president to grant you a pardon.

If my mother was alive, shed say, Gary, he did the right thing. Then shed say, I dont want anyone to know about this.

Hendler was one of 144 people who received pardons and commutations from the president early Wednesday during the final hours of his administration. Here is a look at some of the other local recipients:

Dr. Salomon Melgen

A Democratic donor, close friend of Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.), and Florida doctor, Melgen was convicted in 2017 of defrauding Medicare of more than $73 million.

In 2015, Melgen was charged alongside Menendez in a bribery and fraud case that alleged the senator had accepted flights, pricey hotel stays, and other expensive gifts from Melgen. In turn, prosecutors accused Menendez of lobbying government officials to assist the doctor in his dispute with Medicare and helped foreign women get visas to come to the United States to visit Melgen.

Both men denied wrongdoing and their case ended in a mistrial. Melgens pardon application was supported by Menendez and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R., Fla.).

And while Trump commuted Melgens prison sentence to time served, he must still pay the $59,000 in fines and restitution that the judge ordered at his sentencing.

Menendez, a staunch Trump critic, told the Bergen Record on Wednesday that he doubted it was his influence that swayed the president.

I dont pretend to know what motivates President Trump to act, but I am pretty sure its not me, the senator said. Months ago, I was asked if I could offer insight about an old friend, and I did, along with what I understand were more than 100 individuals and organizations, including his former patients and local Hispanic groups familiar with Sals leadership and philanthropy in the South Florida community.

George Gilmore

The former chairman of the Ocean County GOP and one of New Jerseys top Republican power brokers, Gilmore was convicted in 2019 of evading payroll taxes owed by his Toms River law firm and lying on a loan application.

Gilmore had been a fixture in the states GOP establishment since 1996, leading Ocean Countys reliable county-level Republican machine in the reliably blue state.

His pardon application was supported by former New Jersey Govs. Chris Christie and James McGreevey, ex-Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, Trump campaign manager and former Christie aide Bill Stepien, and others.

Eliyahu Weinstein

The Lakewood, N.J., man had served eight years of a 24-year sentence for running a Ponzi scheme that scammed investors out of $200 million. Weinstein, 45, was also convicted of orchestrating a fraud during Facebooks initial public stock offering in 2012.

His pardon was supported by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.), lawyer Alan Dershowitz, and others.

Dr. Frederick Nahas

A Somers Point, N.J., vascular surgeon, Nahas, 74, spent a month in prison in 2003 as part of a case arising from a federal investigation into his billing practices.

The probe uncovered no fraud, the White House said in its announcement, but Nahas did not fully cooperate and ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing justice.

His pardon application was supported by Van Drew.
Suppose Smokey the Bear were to go on a tear and start setting forest fires instead of putting them out. That roughly describes the behavior of certain cells of our immune system that become increasingly irascible as we grow older. Instead of stamping out embers, they stoke the flames of chronic inflammation.

Biologists have long theorized that reducing this inflammation could slow the aging process and delay the onset of age-associated conditions, such as heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and frailty, and perhaps even forestall the gradual loss of mental acuity that happens to nearly everyone.

Yet the question of what, exactly, causes particular cells of the immune system to kick into inflammatory overdrive has lacked a definitive answer.

Now, Stanford Medicine researchers think they have one. If their findings in old mice and in human cell cultures apply to actual humans, they could presage the pharmaceutically managed recovery of older people's mental abilities.

In a study to be published Jan. 21 in Nature, the investigators pin the blame on a set of immune cells called myeloid cells. Katrin Andreasson, MD, professor of neurology and neurological sciences, is the study's senior author. Its lead author is MD-PhD student Paras Minhas.

Myeloid cells, which are found in the brain, the circulatory system and the body's peripheral tissues, are part soldier and part park ranger. When not fighting off infectious intruders, they keep busy cleaning up debris, such as dead cells and clumps of aggregated proteins; provide nutrient snacks to other cells; and serve as sentinels watching for signs of invading pathogens.

But as we age, myeloid cells begin neglecting their normal, health-protecting functions and adopting an agenda of endless warfare with a nonexistent enemy, inflicting collateral damage to innocent tissues in the process.

An effective blockade

In the study, blocking the interaction of a particular hormone and a receptor that abounds on myeloid cells was enough to restore the youthful metabolism and placid temperament of mouse and human myeloid cells in a dish and in living mice. This blockade also reversed age-related mental decline in older mice, restoring their recall and navigation skills to those exhibited by young mice.

"If you adjust the immune system, you can de-age the brain," Andreasson said. Her team's experiments in human cells suggest that similar rejuvenation may be possible in people, she said.

Myeloid cells are the body's main source of PGE2, a hormone that belongs to the family known as prostaglandins. PGE2 does many different things in the body -- some good, some not always so good -- for example, promoting inflammation. What PGE2 does depends on which cells, and which of several different varieties of receptor on those cells' surfaces, the hormone lands on.

One receptor type for PGE2 is EP2. This receptor is found on immune cells and is especially abundant on myeloid cells. It initiates inflammatory activity inside the cells after binding to PGE2.

Andreasson's team cultured macrophages, a class of myeloid cells situated in tissues throughout the body, from people older than 65 and compared them with macrophages from people younger than 35. They also looked at macrophages of young versus old mice.

'A double-whammy'

Older mouse and human macrophages, they observed, not only produced much more PGE2 than younger ones but also had far greater numbers of EP2 on their surfaces. Andreasson and her colleagues also confirmed significant increases of PGE2 levels in the blood and brains of old mice.

"It's a double-whammy -- a positive feedback loop," Andreasson said. The resulting exponential increase in PGE2-EP2 binding amps up intracellular processes associated with inflammation in the myeloid cells.

The investigators showed, in both human and mouse myeloid cells, how this inflammatory hyperdrive sets in: The vastly increased PGE2-EP2 binding in myeloid cells of older individuals alters energy production within these cells by rerouting glucose -- which fuels energy production in the cell -- from consumption to storage.

The researchers found that myeloid cells undergo an increasing propensity, driven by age-associated increased PGE2-EP2 binding, to hoard glucose by converting this energy source into long glucose chains called glycogen (the animal equivalent of starch) instead of "spending" it on energy production. That hoarding, and the cells' subsequent chronically energy-depleted state, drives them into an inflammatory rage, wreaking havoc on aging tissues.

"This powerful pathway drives aging," she said. "And it can be downshifted."

The Stanford scientists showed this by blocking the hormone-receptor reaction on myeloid-cell surfaces in the mice. They gave mice either of two experimental compounds known to interfere with PGE2-EP2 binding in the animals. They also incubated cultured mouse and human macrophages with these substances. Doing so caused old myeloid cells to metabolize glucose just as young myeloid cells do, reversing the old cells' inflammatory character.

More striking, the compounds reversed mice's age-related cognitive decline. Older mice who received them performed as well on tests of recall and spatial navigation as young adult mice.

One of the two compounds the Stanford scientists used was effective even though it doesn't penetrate the blood-brain barrier. This suggests, Andreasson said, that even resetting myeloid cells outside the brain can achieve profound effects on what goes on inside the brain.

Neither compound is approved for human use, she noted, and it's possible they have toxic side effects, although none were observed in the mice. They provide a road map for drug makers to develop a compound that can be given to people.

###

Andreasson is a member of Stanford Bio-X, the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford.

Other Stanford co-authors of the study are Amira Latif-Hernandez, PhD, instructor of neurology and neurological sciences; life science research professionals Aarooran Durairaj and Qian Wang, PhD; postdoctoral scholars Amit Joshi, PhD, Esha Gauba, PhD, and Congcong Wang, PhD; former graduate student Amanda Rubin, JD, PhD; MD-PhD student Joy He; graduate student Miles Linde; medical student Peter Moon; Ravi Majeti, MD, PhD, professor and chief of hematology; Daria Mochly-Rosen, PhD, professor of chemical and systems biology; Irving Weissman, MD, professor of pathology and of developmental biology and director of the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology; and Frank Longo, MD, PhD, professor and chair of neurology and neurological sciences.

Researchers from Princeton University and the Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo also contributed to the study.

The work was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grants R01AG048232, RF1AG058047, R21NS087639, 19PABH134580007, 1P50AG047366, DP1DK113643 and R35CA220434), the American Heart Association, Bright Focus, The Soros Foundation, the Gerald J. Lieberman Fellowship, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, The Stanford Innovation Fund, the Takeda Pharmaceuticals Science Frontier Fund, the Ludwig Cancer Foundation, the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the Scully Family Initiative, the Taube Family Foundation, and the Jean Perkins Foundation.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med. stanford. edu/ school. html . The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visit http://med. stanford. edu .

Print media contact: Bruce Goldman at (650) 725-2106 (goldmanb@stanford.edu)

Broadcast media contact: Margarita Gallardo at (650) 723-7897 (mjgallardo@stanford.edu)
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden plans to quickly extend travel restrictions barring travel by most people who have recently been in much of Europe and Brazil soon after President Donald Trump lifted those requirements effective Jan. 26, a spokeswoman for Biden said.

Trump signed an order Monday lifting the restrictions he imposed early last year in response to the pandemic - a decision first reported Monday by Reuters - after winning support from coronavirus task force members and public health officials.

Soon after Trump's order was made public, Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki tweeted "on the advice of our medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26."

She added that "With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel."

Until Biden acts, Trump's order ends restrictions the same day that new COVID-19 test requirements take effect for all international visitors. Trump is due to leave office on Wednesday. Last week, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed an order requiring nearly all air travelers to present a negative coronavirus test or proof of recovery from COVID-19 to enter the United States starting on Jan. 26.

The restrictions Trump rescinded have barred nearly all non-U.S. citizens who within the last 14 days have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and the 26 countries of the Schengen area in Europe that allow travel across open borders.

The U.S. restrictions barring most visitors from Europe have been in place since mid-March when Trump signed proclamations imposing them, while the Brazilian entry ban was imposed in May.

Psaki added that "in fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19." The Biden transition did not immediately respond to a request to comment on if it planned to expand the countries covered.

Biden, once in office, has the legal authority to reimpose the restrictions.

Last Tuesday, Marty Cetron, director of CDC's global migration and quarantine division, told Reuters those entry bans were an "opening act strategy" to address the virus spread and should now be "actively reconsidered." Airlines had hoped the new testing requirements would clear the way for the administration to lift the restrictions that reduced travel from some European countries by 95% or more.

They had pressed senior White House officials about the issue in recent days.

Many administration officials for months argued the restrictions no longer made sense given most countries were not subject to the entry bans. Others have argued the United States should not drop entry bans since many European countries still block most U.S. citizens.

Reuters previously reported the White House was not considering lifting entry bans on most non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in China or Iran. Trump confirmed Monday he would not lift those.

Also Read:Trump lifts COVID-19 travel curbs on Europe, Brazil
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-19 23:45:31|Editor: huaxia

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by Martina Fuchs

GENEVA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic is increasing disparities and social fragmentation and will threaten the global economy in the next 3-5 years and weaken geopolitical stability in the next 5-10 years, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said in a new report on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, environmental concerns top the list of risks in terms of likelihood and impact in the next decade.

The WEF's "Global Risks Report 2021" warned that the coronavirus pandemic threatens to scale back years of progress on reducing poverty and inequality and to further weaken social cohesion and global cooperation needed to address long-term challenges, such as environmental degradation.

Saadia Zahidi, the WEF's managing director, told Xinhua that a continued and transparent communication by governments and businesses to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, would be critical.

"That is where we saw time and again failures in international cooperation. That is what we need to improve in the second year of this pandemic crisis," she said.

"We know that if the pandemic continues in any part of the world it is something that will continue to pose a threat in other parts of the world. The distribution (of vaccines) has to be fair and equitable and has to be available to developing and developed countries alike."

Among the highest likelihood risks of the next ten years, the 97-page report listed extreme weather events, climate action failure and human-led environmental damage, as well as digital power concentration, digital inequality and cybersecurity failure.

Among the highest impact risks of the next decade, that the report listed infectious diseases at the top spot, followed by climate action failure and other environmental risks, as well as weapons of mass destruction, livelihood crises, debt crises and information technology (IT) infrastructure breakdown.

The report defined as a "global risk" an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, can cause significant negative impact for several countries or industries within the next ten years.

The authors also said that over the past 15 years, the "Global Risks Reports" have been warning the world about the dangers of pandemics and that 2020 saw the effects and long-term risks of ignoring preparations.

IMMINENT AND POTENTIAL THREATS

For the first time, the report, which draws on the WEF's latest "Global Risks Perception Survey" (GRPS), also rates risks according to when respondents perceive they will pose a critical threat to the world.

The most imminent threats -- those that are most likely in the next two years -- include employment and livelihood crises, widespread youth disillusionment, digital inequality, economic stagnation, human-made environmental damage, erosion of societal cohesion and terrorist attacks.

In the 3-5-year timeframe, respondents to the GRPS said the world would be threatened by knock-on economic and technological risks, which may take several years to materialize -- such as asset bubble bursts, IT infrastructure breakdowns, price instabilities and debt crises.

In the 5-10-year horizon, existential threats, such as weapons of mass destruction, state collapses, biodiversity loss and adverse technological advances, dominate the concerns.

Zahidi stressed that a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will be crucial going forward. Just as no one is immune to the pandemic, "no one is immune to climate change," she said.

WIDENING DIGITAL GAP

The report also highlighted that although digital transformation promises large benefits, such as the creation of almost 100 million new jobs by 2025, automation may displace some 85 million jobs.

It said that 60 percent of adults around the world still lack basic digital skills, thereby deepening existing inequalities.

This particularly affects young people, as this group faces its second global crisis in a generation and could miss out altogether on opportunities in the next decade, the report warned.

Zahidi said that while the COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the fourth industrial revolution, ensuring that developing economies have digital access as well as investments in skills was a critical need.

"People need to be able to work with these technologies, not just simply have access to them. That is going to be an important factor in advanced and developing economies alike. That relates to hardware, simply having the ability to access computers. But it also relates to software capability and to actually work with these technologies."

The Geneva-based forum's report precedes its annual flagship event usually held in Davos, a Swiss ski resort and the highest-altitude town in Europe. WEF on Monday announced that its Davos Agenda event would take place virtually on Jan. 25-29 under the theme "A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust." Enditem
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.

The next round of talks between the Central Government and the farmers' unions to end the deadlock over the three farm laws has been scheduled for 22 January

Yielding some ground to end the nearly two-month-long protest by thousands of farmers on the National Capital borders, the Centre on Wednesday proposed to suspend the three contentious farm laws for one and a half years, and set up a committee to look into the future course of action over the legislations. The proposal was made during the tenth round of talks between the two sides.

But farmer leaders did not immediately accept the proposal and said they will revert after their internal consultations, which is slated to be held on Thursday (21 January). The next round of discussions with the Centre has been scheduled for 22 January.

The tenth round of talks was initially scheduled on 19 January but later got postponed to Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre on an application filed by a farmers group seeking the reconstitution of the committee to help resolve the deadlock over the new laws. The court also refused to pass orders on the Centres petition to stop the farmers planned tractor rally on Republic Day.

In the last round of talks, the government had asked protesting farmers to prepare a concrete proposal about their objections and suggestions on the three farm laws for further discussion at their next meeting to end the long-running protest. But, unions stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three Acts.

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. Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

Earlier in the day, a group of farm union leaders met top officials of Delhi Police, Haryana Police and Uttar Pradesh Police to discuss the route and arrangements for their tractor rally on 26 January to protest against the three farm laws.

Centre ready to suspend legislations for one-and-a half years

Briefing media after a nearly five-hour-long meeting that included two breaks, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government has proposed to suspend implementation of the three laws for 1-1.5 years, during which period a joint committee of representatives from the government and farmers' sides can continue their talks and those protesting on Delhi borders in extremely cold weather return to their homes.

The three laws have already been stayed by the Supreme Court till further orders and a committee of experts has been formed to resolve the deadlock. The panel has been asked by the apex court to submit its report within two months after consulting all stakeholders.

The committee held its first meeting on Tuesday and will begin its consultations with farmer groups and others from Thursday.

After the meeting, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said, "The government proposed to suspend the farm laws for one and a half years. We rejected the proposal but since it has come from the government, we will meet tomorrow and deliberate over it."

Another farmer leader Kavitha Kuruganti said the government also proposed to submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court for suspending the three farm laws for a mutually-agreed period and set up a committee.

Kulwant Singh Sandhu of Jamuri Kisan Sabha said, "The government is on backfoot and it has started yielding ground to us."

Earlier during the meeting, the government also again offered to amend the three laws but farmer leaders stuck to their demand for a complete repeal and alleged that the Centre was avoiding discussion on a legal guarantee for MSP.

Farmer leaders said there was no breakthrough in the first two sessions as both sides were stuck on their stated positions vis-a-vis the three farm laws and it was clear from the very beginning that there was little hope of any outcome other than fixing the date for the 11th round.

Tomar, however, said the government was keen to reach a final decision in today's meeting on the auspicious day of Gurupurab, and therefore, it started with greetings for the occasion.

"The government was ready to discuss provisions of the laws with an open mind and a big heart," he said.

Farmer leaders insist on repeal of farm laws

Tomar told PTI that the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere despite some 'naram-garam' moments (softening and hardening of the stand) and farmers remained adamant on their demand for the repeal of the laws. He, however, asserted that some headway was made towards reaching a solution in the next meeting to end the agitation.

"It will be victory for Indian democracy the day farmers' agitation ends and they return to their homes," he said in reply to a question whether it would be a victory for the farmers or the government.

Asked whether the 22 January meeting at 12 pm could be the last one, Tomar said he is hopeful of reaching an amicable solution in the next round of talks.

The minister said the new proposal has been made to allay farmers' apprehensions and instil confidence that the government is ready for discussion with an open heart.

"The Supreme Court has stayed the agri-reform laws for a short duration. Their implementation will not happen for some time. But, we have been telling the unions that it will require more time to consider the laws and to discuss other aspects related to the agitation. The required time maybe six months, one year or one and a half years," he said.

"Therefore, we told the unions that the government is ready to put on hold the implementation of the laws for 1-1.5 years. I am happy that the farmer unions took this proposal seriously on the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh," he said.

Asked whether the proposed committee will continue alongside the SC-appointed expert panel, Tomar said, "The government is committed to the Supreme Court and will remain so. The committee appointed by the apex court is doing its job, but the government also has direct accountability towards farmers and the situation arising out of the protest. Therefore, we are taking forward this discussion while discharging our responsibility."

The modalities of the proposed panel, including the number of members, can be finalised after the two sides reach an in-principle agreement on this proposal, the minister said.

At the meeting, farmer leaders also raised the issue of NIA notices being served to some farmers, alleging it was being done just to harass those supporting the agitation, to which the government representatives said they will look into the matter.

The farmer leaders presented multiple Parliament replies given by the agriculture minister where he had stated that agriculture is a state subject, while one reply mentioned even agri-marketing as a state subject.

"The government offered to carry out some amendments, but farmer leaders maintained they do not want anything less than a complete repeal of the laws," union leader Rakesh Tikait said.

Tomar was accompanied by Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, at the talks with 41 representatives of farmer unions at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.

Before the meeting, the three ministers also met senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

SC issues notice to Centre on plea seeking reconstitution of panel

The Supreme Court Wednesday expressed strong displeasure over the aspersions cast by some farmers' unions on members of the court-appointed committee to resolve the impasse over new farm laws and said it has not given any adjudicating authority to the panel.

"Where is the question of bias in this? We have not given adjudicating powers to the committee. You don't want to appear is understandable, but casting aspersions on someone because he expressed his view is not done. You don't need to brand anybody like this", said the bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.

"Everyone should have an opinion. Even judges have an opinion. This has become a cultural thing. Branding people which you do not want has become a norm. We have not given any power of adjudication to the committee," the bench said.

A controversy had erupted after the apex court-appointed four-member committee featured members who had reportedly favoured the contentious farm laws, following which one of the members recused himself.

Soon after the top court announced the expert committee, the protesting farmers said they will not accept any such panel, and said that all the members are in favour of the new laws.

An article in Mint quoted a statement from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a coalition of farm unions, as saying, "It is clear that the court is being misguided by various forces even in its constitution of a committee. These are people who are known for their support to the three Acts and have actively advocated for the same."

Police should decide on tractor rally, says SC

During the hearing on Wednesday, the Centre withdrew its plea seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally on 26 January after the top court said "it is a police matter".

The police have the "authority" to deal with the issue pertaining to the proposed tractor march in Delhi on the Republic Day, the Bench said.

"We have told you that we will not issue any direction. It is a police matter. We will allow you to withdraw. You are the authority and you have to deal with it. You have the powers to pass orders, you do it. It is not for the court to pass orders," the bench said.

After the observation of the apex court, the Centre withdrew the plea filed through Delhi Police seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor or trolley march or any other kind of protest which seeks to disrupt the gathering and celebrations of the Republic Day.

On 12 January, the top court had stayed the implementation of the contentious new farm laws till further orders and constituted the four-member committee to make recommendations to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers' unions protesting at Delhi borders.

Union leaders reject suggestion of alternative route for 26 Jan rally

Farmer unions opposing the Centre's new agri laws on Wednesday rejected a suggestion by police officers to hold their proposed 26 January tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway instead of Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road, sources told PTI.

Union leaders and officers of the Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana police forces had met at the Vigyan Bhawan to discuss the route and arrangements of the proposed rally on Republic Day.

The sources said that the farmer leaders were suggested by the police officers to take out their rally on the Kundli Manesar Palwal (KMP) Expressway, but they did not agree.

The Outer Ring Road passes through several areas of Delhi such as Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Uttam Nagar, Burari Peeragarhi and Pitampura.

Congress to participate in 25 January 'long march'

The Congress, which is one of the constituents in the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, will participate in the "long march" planned by farmer organisations in Mumbai on 25 January against the three new Agri laws of the Centre.

Former Congress minister Naseem Khan said in a statement that the party will support the upcoming four-day agitation organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha (AIKS), farmers' bodies and NGOs against the "black agri laws", beginning from 23 January in the Maharashtra capital.

He said Congress leaders, including Maharashtra unit president Balasaheb Thorat, will join the long march on 25 January, which will be taken out from Azad Maidan in south Mumbai to Raj Bhavan.

Khan alleged the Narendra Modi government wanted to "uproot" farmers by "enslaving" them to capitalists through these three laws.

He said the Congress party has been opposing these laws from the very beginning.

"These oppressive laws of the Central Government will not be implemented in Maharashtra by the MVA government," he said.

The NCP, the second key constituent in the MVA government, on Tuesday announced Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar will take part in the upcoming protests in Mumbai.

With inputs from PTI
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

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KOCHVILLE TWP, MI  Police have released the name of a Saginaw man shot and killed outside a Kochville Township restaurant where he worked. Meanwhile, his killer remains at large.

About 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19, police from numerous agencies responded to a reported shooting at Hooters, 5538 Bay Road. They arrived to find 38-year-old Donald J. Patrick Jr., 38, deceased near his vehicle in the parking lot, said Saginaw County Sheriff William L. Federspiel.

Patrick was an employee of Hooters and was the only one there when the shooting occurred, Federspiel said.

The shooting was reported by a pizza delivery driver who happened to be driving by when he heard six or seven gunshots, Federspiel said. After hearing the shots, the driver saw a man in a white hooded sweatshirt running toward the nearby Walmart, Federspiel said.

Donald J. Patrick Jr.

A K-9 police unit tracked the shooters scent until it went cold, the sheriff said. He speculated the K-9 lost the trail due to the suspect getting into a vehicle.

Its still under investigation, Undersheriff Mike Gomez said Wednesday morning. We do not have anybody in custody at this time.

Federspiel added that investigators are currently talking to managers of other area businesses in hopes of obtaining surveillance camera footage of the shooting.

Its gonna take some time, Federspiel said. Were working it. Its going to be crucial for us to work it hard in the next 24 to 48 hours. If was someone around, they really need to call us and tell us what they saw.

Those with information related to the killing may call investigators at 989-790-5404.

Patricks death is the fifth homicide to occur in Saginaw County so far in 2021. This figure includes a civilian man being fatally shot by police while executing a high-risk search warrant in Chesaning on Jan. 7 and the Jan. 14 death of a 66-year-old Saginaw woman killed when a pickup truck crashed into her home.

The remaining two homicides are those of civilian men shot and killed in Spaulding Township on Jan. 5 and in Saginaw on Jan. 8.

Throughout 2020, the city had 26 homicides, as well as one justified police shooting that left a Saginaw civilian dead. The city had nine homicides in 2019.

Saginaw County had four additional homicides not within Saginaws city limits. Of those, three were in Buena Vista Township and one was in Saginaw Township.

Read more:

Man dead in Saginaw County after report of multiple shots fired near Hooters

Saginaw man faces felony after his truck crashes into home, killing sleeping woman

Probation absconder charged in robbery spree of Saginaw County supermarkets
NEW YORK - The Fox News executive who oversaw its election-night "decision desk" is retiring at the end of the month, a move due in part to what Rupert Murdoch and other top network leaders viewed as a mishandling of the network's early Arizona projection for Joe Biden.

Bill Sammon, 62, Fox News Channel's senior vice president and managing editor in Washington, told staffers Monday morning about his retirement. His role will be absorbed by existing editorial staffers. A spokesperson declined to comment on the reason for his retirement.

Sammon, who is 62, worked as a White House correspondent for the Washington Times before joining Fox in 2009.

His announcement came as Fox laid off nearly 20 staffers Tuesday, including Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt, who worked on the decision desk with Sammon. Fox declined to comment specifically on Stirewalt, citing employee confidentiality. His departure shocked many inside the building who bemoaned the loss of a respected Washington voice at a time when the conservative-leaning network is navigating its future after the Trump administration.

In response to The Washington Post's queries about the layoffs, a network spokesperson issued a statement saying Fox News's digital arm had "realigned its business and reporting structure to meet the demands of this new era" in the aftermath of the 2020 election cycle. "We are confident these changes will ensure the platform continues to deliver breakthrough reporting and insightful analysis surrounding major issues, both stateside and abroad."

Stirewalt, a regular on-air presence, defended Fox's election night projections after they came under question. "Arizona is doing just what we expected it to do, and we remain serene and pristine," he said after the network made its call - the first strong indicator that Trump's reelection hopes were imperiled after an evening of otherwise encouraging early results for the GOP. The Fox call enraged the Trump campaign and altered the narrative of election-night media coverage.

And while it ultimately proved to be correct, it led to several days of anxiety for Fox as Biden's margin over Trump in Arizona continued to narrow during a vote count slowed by the large number of mail-in ballots last year, and other media organizations held off on a decision.

Fox projected Biden's win in Arizona at 11:20 p.m. on election night when 73% of the vote had been reported. Yet the news was conveyed with little fanfare or preparation for the network's on-air staff. No announcement was made until anchor Bill Hemmer, reviewing the latest status of an electoral map that was looking positive for President Donald Trump, glanced at the Southwest, where the decision desk had left its yellow check mark on Arizona, projecting that the state would go for Biden.

Trump allies publicly voiced their displeasure with the network call while others attempted to pressure Fox to abandon it. Some of Fox's opinion hosts cast doubt on the projection.

The Arizona call became a flash point among Trump supporters, some of whom threatened to abandon the network. As the president continued his baseless attack on the election results, smaller outlets such as Newsmax gained viewers because of the story.

Murdoch, Fox News's co-founder, has told colleagues that the way Fox handled the Arizona call damaged Fox News's reputation and solidified the view among some Trump supporters that the network is aligned against him. Even though Fox's projection ended up being accurate, Murdoch has fretted that it was handled poorly.

Fox recently shook up its evening lineup, replacing former 7 p.m. news anchor Martha MacCallum with a rotating cast of opinion hosts. The move came as Fox's ratings in that time slot had slid.

While the decision desk is run by contractor Arnon Mishkin, who handled the statistical modeling of the desk, it fell to Sammon to determine editorially when Fox was ready to make its projection on the air.

It was Sammon's role that raised eyebrows in the aftermath of the call, Fox staffers told The Post. But it was Stirewalt's dismissal that caused more consternation in the building, they said. "A major overreaction to Trump and the audience freakout," said one staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly.

Murdoch, whose family controls Fox's parent company, has taken a more active interest in its programming after of the election. He was involved in the decision to move MacCallum and is said to be advocating larger changes as the network navigates the Biden era. A Murdoch spokesperson did not respond to emails seeking comment.
Mayor Bill de Blasio weeks ago set an ambitious goal for New York City: one million coronavirus vaccinations by the end of January. The sluggish pace of the vaccines initial rollout muted those hopes.

Now city officials are facing a new obstacle: There are not enough doses. On Tuesday, the mayor warned that the city was on track to exhaust its supply before the end of the week.

We will have literally nothing left to give as of Friday, Mr. de Blasio said. This is not the way it should be.

Here are three things to know about the rollout:

Vaccinations have accelerated, but doses are limited.

More New Yorkers  including police officers, public transit workers and teachers  were allowed to begin receiving the vaccine last week. But as of Tuesday morning, city officials said, only about 116,000 first doses remained in stock.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 18:11:28|Editor: huaxia

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A worker pushes a trolley loaded with boxes of COVID-19 vaccines at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Jan. 21, 2021. One million doses of COVID-19 vaccines supplied by India arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- India will supply one million doses of COVID-10 vaccines to Nepal as assistance, Nepal's Minister of Health and Population Hridayas Tripathi announced on Wednesday.

"The vaccines to be made available by India will arrive in Nepal on Thursday," he said at a joint press meet organized by the ministry and the Indian embassy in Kathmandu.

The Nepali government plans to vaccinate 72 percent of its population aged 15 years and above. On Jan. 15, Nepal's drug regular the Department of Drug Administration had approved this vaccine for emergency use in Nepal.

Health workers, sanitation workers, security personnel and those involved in management of anti-COVID-19 efforts will be first inoculated with the vaccines. According to the health ministry, their number is around 900,000. "All administrative, technical and financial preparations have been completed to start vaccination," said Tripathi.

Dr. Shyam Raj Upreti, coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee under the health ministry told Xinhua on Wednesday that the vaccination drive would start within two weeks after the vaccines arrive in the country. Enditem
[January 20, 2021] AM Best Announces Appointment of Non-Executive Director to Board of A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc.

AM Best has named Martin P. Sheffield as a new member to its Rating Services subsidiary's board as an Independent Director. Sheffield joins the board with numerous years of insurance industry experience in the areas of credit rating analytics and strategic planning, as well as insurance company operations and regulation. The appointment took effect Jan. 1, 2021. Since 2003, Sheffield has owned Sheffield Consulting, an independent consulting firm specializing in financial analysis and management insight for the insurance industry. During the late 1990s, he directed several teams of rating analysts as an AM Best vice president. Sheffield's 40-plus years of experience in the insurance industry also includes serving as president and CEO of the Co-Operative Insurance Company of Western New York, a regional New York mutual copany, before its demutualization in 1994.



Commenting on the appointment, Matthew C. Mosher, President & CEO for AM Best Rating Services, said: "We welcome the appointment of Mr. Sheffield as a Non-Executive Director to the board of AM Best Rating Services, and look forward to tapping into his wealth of experience as we meet the current challenges of increased regulation and the need for innovation amid an evolving insurance market." AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2021 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005539/en/

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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 02:44:54|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday demanded the "immediate and unconditional withdrawal" of U.S. forces from Syria, according to the state news agency SANA.

In a statement, the ministry condemned what it called the "hostile practices" of the U.S. forces in northeastern Syria.

It accused the U.S. forces of "systematic theft" of oil and agriculture resources in northern Syrian in addition to bringing in military reinforcement to that part of the country.

The outgoing administration of former President Donald Trump has destabilized the region and supported separatist movements in a bid to divide Syria and prevent reaching a political solution through supporting the "terrorist groups," the ministry charged.

The ministry, meanwhile, called on the international community to condemn the U.S. moves and occupation of Syrian territories and denounce the "coercive and unilateral" sanctions imposed on Syria.

It's worth noting that the U.S. forces have several positions in areas controlled by the Kurdish militias in northeastern Syria.

The Syrian government has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of the U.S. forces, slamming the U.S. claims that its forces are present in Syria to fight terrorist groups. Enditem
The global frozen fish and seafood market is expected to grow at a CAGR of almost 10% during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. The research report offers a detailed analysis on the pandemic impact, emerging opportunities, and business recovery options for the stakeholders in the consumer staples industry. The pandemic-oriented insights provided in the report also help clients in getting updated with vendor movements, logistics and supply chain operations in the related markets facing direct indirect COVID-19 impact.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210119006212/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Frozen Fish and Seafood Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Learn more about frozen fish and seafood market moving ahead toward the new normal. Request for free sample

Consumer Staples Industry and Market Highlights

Consumer staples industry will have Positive impact due to the pandemic

Frozen fish and seafood market is expected to witness Positive growth during 2020-2024

Consumer staples industry will witness Direct impact while heading toward the new normal

Frozen fish and seafood market demand has increased in 2020 compared to 2019 due to Positive YOY

The growing desire for convenience has been a prominent factor in boosting the market growth during the forecast period. Growing demand for traditional food among consumers will also impact the market as well as food products industry positively in the forthcoming years.

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By distribution channel, the offline segment is expected to dominate the frozen fish and seafood market during the forecast period. The increased focus by vendors on enhancing sales by expanding their presence in local and regional markets is one of the key factors driving the growth of the segment.

By geography, Europe held the largest frozen fish and seafood market share during 2020-2024. The region will contribute to the highest growth due to the increasing internal production of fish and seafood and the growing imports of frozen fish and seafood.

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Vendor Landscape

Technavio's vendor landscape provides a framework to estimate the growth map for various markets in the food products industry. It also categorizes the vendors into pure-play, category-focused, or diversified based on their offerings. All market reports provide the key and contributing players across the value chain based on in-house influence index, developed using multiple industry and market parameters. Some of the prominent players in the market are: Bolton Group Srl, Clearwater Seafoods Inc., Dongwon Group, Empresas AquaChile SA, and High Liner Foods Inc.

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Consumer Staples: Related Reports

Global Crab Market: The global crab market will witness a CAGR of over 3% during 2020-2024, according to Technavio. To get extensive research insights, Download Free Sample

Global Fresh Food Market: The global fresh food market will witness a CAGR of almost 3% during 2020-2024, according to Technavio. To get extensive research insights, Download Free Sample

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

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Did you watch President Joe Bidens swearing-in ceremony today at the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.?

Four celebrity performances were on the agenda -- by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Garth Brooks and Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States -- amid the pomp and circumstance, swearings-in and speeches.

If you werent glued to a TV screen, computer or mobile device during the inauguration event, here are the performances you missed, along with some reaction from fans on social media.

LADY GAGA

Gaga offered a powerful rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. She also made a striking fashion statement, wearing what Harpers Bazaar described as a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture look designed by Daniel Roseberry. The ensemble comprised of a navy, cashmere fitted jacket and skirt in washed red silk faille with a gilded dove of peace brooch.

Lady Gaga performs the national anthem at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden https://t.co/tcmAzrzqTx pic.twitter.com/sQZv08Twjk  CNN (@CNN) January 20, 2021

I am so proud of @ladygagas beautiful rendition of the #NationalAnthem at the #Inauguration ceremony. Afterwards we talked about her familys Wheeling roots and she shared how proud she is of her #WV family. pic.twitter.com/Wbh4cEIaX9  Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) January 20, 2021

https://t.co/hktUc0942v I sometimes get pissed when singers take license with our sacred national anthem. But Lady Gaga can have my driver's, hunting, fishing and marriage licenses. God bless you @ladygaga!  Tom Pitcock (@PitcockT) January 20, 2021

Your beautiful voice and the moment, filled our hearts with hope.  Paolo Masini (@PaoloMasini4) January 20, 2021

We lil monsters are so so so so proud of Lady Gaga. pic.twitter.com/V7ZyvCOL6h  Elle Stefani Park (@LadyElleStefani) January 20, 2021

You absolutely knocked it out of the park. Thank you for class and grace.  Mister Guti (@Pips2118) January 20, 2021

Some commenters on social media thought Gagas dramatic inaugural outfit was a nod to The Hunger Games movies and book series by Suzanne Collins. They even compared the brooch on Gagas chest to a Mockingjay pin worn by main character Katniss Everdeen. Gaga clarified that issue via Twitter.

A dove carrying an olive branch. May we all make peace with each other. pic.twitter.com/NGbgKM9XiC  Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) January 20, 2021

JENNIFER LOPEZ

Lopez sang a patriotic medley that included This Land Is Your Land and America the Beautiful, wearing all-white attire and glittering with jewels. According to Fashionista: Her silk ruffled high-neck blouse, sequined wide-leg pants, long tweed coat, earrings, bracelet and belt were all Chanel -- the blouse and pants from Fall 2019 ready-to-wear collection and the coat from Fall 2020. While the shoes arent at all visible, Jimmy Choos team says shes wearing a pair of platform sandals by the brand.

During her performance, Lopez spoke in Spanish, saying One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

@JLo I was so proud and emotional to see you at the Inauguration of our new President JB and Vice President KH! I cant tell you m, hearing you speak Spanish brought me to my knees!! Full of tears and pride, seeing a Latina so beautiful and proud!! Thank you  belladragonfly (@belladragonfly5) January 20, 2021

Not Latino.. but seeing @JLo up there today was powerful and speaks volumes. I feel hopeful about for the first time in what feel like forever.  Alisha (@_wildcosmia_) January 20, 2021

You make us proud today. Congratulations. God bless America and God bless you!  evelynglez (@evelynglez12) January 20, 2021

@LadyGaga and @JLo singing at the Biden/Harris #inauguration was significant. Think of all the American citizens they represent who've been forced to the fringe of our society for baseless reasons I won't even give voice to here. Their voices were many others' today too. Bravo!  Robert Williams (@TheDrummerSucks) January 20, 2021

I choked up too...When Jennifer Lopez sang in Spanish. Reminded me what I had learned when I was a child.....America is a beautiful melting pot of people...  LeeAnn I prefer socialism over fascism. (@lann111) January 20, 2021

GARTH BROOKS

Brooks performed an a cappella version of Amazing Grace. The country star, dressed in jeans and a black shirt and jacket, tipped his cowboy hat and removed it before starting to sing. He asked everyone listening to chime in for the last verse.

Amazing grace... a cappella, by Garth Brooks, to a quiet crowd with millions at home feeling it in their hearts. Another deeply moving moment.  Dan Rather (@DanRather) January 20, 2021

@garthbrooks Thank you for putting the good of our country first. We appreciate your call to unity. It means a great deal.  Drcowgirl (@1Gadgetgaga) January 20, 2021

A legend full of grace   Patty Rose (@PattyRose137) January 20, 2021

Really nice to see a real American standing up for his country.  Jeff Quin (@jeff_quin) January 20, 2021

I didn't have becoming a Garth Brooks stan on my plan for this year.  Jurassic Liz  #BLM (@Jurassic_Liz) January 20, 2021

AMANDA GORMAN

Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States, recited her original poem, The Hill We Climb. Gormans performance of the work, which was composed for Bidens inauguration, was widely lauded as a highlight of the ceremony.

Her words were emotional and striking, but Gormans outfit also caught the attention of fashion watchers. Fashionista says: Gorman reached for a head-to-toe outfit from Prada, a brand with whom she has worked in the past. For the occasion, the Poet Laureate re-wore a sunny yellow double-breasted coat over a white poplin shirt and a black leather pencil skirt, accessorizing with a fiery-red satin headband and black leather pumps. ... Symbolic touches included a ring with a caged bird, a nod to Maya Angelou, and earrings from none other than Oprah, who wished to continue an inaugural tradition she started with Angelou herself.

Thank you Amanda Gorman. You just saved the NEA budget.

And started our healing.  Paula Vogel (@VogelPaula) January 20, 2021

You were perfect. Perfectly written, perfectly delivered. Every bit of it. Brava! -LMM  Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 20, 2021

I want to live in Amanda Gormans America.



And so, I think, I will. pic.twitter.com/5p8GGN6tjT  Jeremy Rutledge (he, him) (@jeremyrut) January 20, 2021

Amanda Gormans message serves as an inspiration to us all. #InaugurationDay pic.twitter.com/7zkyDoFHaQ  Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) January 20, 2021

I have never been prouder to see another young woman rise! Brava Brava, @TheAmandaGorman! Maya Angelou is cheeringand so am I. pic.twitter.com/I5HLE0qbPs  Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) January 20, 2021

More stars will be in evidence tonight for Celebrating America, a TV special at 7:30 p.m. CT that was organized by the Biden inaugural team. The show will include appearances by Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi, Eva Longoria, Tim McGraw, Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line, Ant Clemons and Kerry Washington. The 90-minute program will feature remarks and performances by the celebrities, according to the Biden inaugural website. Biden and Harris will speak at the event, as well.

According to Variety, the special will air on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC and PBS. Live streams can be found at https://bideninaugural.org/watch/ and via social media accounts for the Biden Inaugural Committee on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Twitch.

If youre looking for music to suit this historic day, theres also an official inauguration playlist, curated by the inauguration committee, DJ D-Nice and Raedio (an audio everywhere company founded by Issa Rae). Its available on streaming services Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music. A total of 46 tracks are featured, by artists ranging from Steely Dan to Dua Lipa.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft presidential decree on the implementation of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council "On the Military Security Strategy of Ukraine."

Government members made a respective decision at a meeting on January 20, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The Military Security Strategy of Ukraine identifies ways to achieve the goals and implement the priorities of state policy in the military sphere, the spheres of defense and military construction, including in relation to the security environment in the context of military security; goals, priorities, tasks and ways of implementing state policy in the field of defense; socio-political, economic and other conditions for the implementation of state policy in the field of defense, military-political and military-strategic restrictions; resource provision of defense needs; a promising model of the organization of defense, the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other components of the defense forces in terms of the set tasks of state defense, strategy and criteria for achieving joint defense capabilities; probable scenarios for the use of security forces and defense forces to perform state defense tasks with the distribution of responsibilities of the components of the security and defense sector for organizing the defense of Ukraine, protecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability; risk management in the field of military security," reads the explanatory note to the draft decree.

According to the report, the implementation of the decree does not require additional funding from the state budget. The document was agreed upon with all ministries and agencies during the preparation phase.

On December 24, 2020, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry submitted a draft Military Security Strategy of Ukraine for consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers, with its further submission to the National Security and Defense Council. In case of a positive decision by the National Security and Defense Council, the Military Security Strategy will be enacted by the presidential decree.

According to Defense Minister Andriy Taran, the Military Security Strategy is designed to replace Ukraine's Military Doctrine. It proposes to secure the concept of comprehensive defense and to involve not only the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but also all components of the security and defense sector and civil society.

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Thulasendrapuram: People in a tiny Indian village surrounded by rice paddies flocked to a Hindu temple, burst crackers and uttered prayers Wednesday hours before its descendant, Kamala Harris, takes her oath of office to become the U.S. vice president.

Groups of women in bright saris and men wearing white dhotis thronged the temple with sweets and flowers, offering special prayers for Harris' success.

We are feeling very proud that an Indian is being elected as the vice president of America," said Anukampa Madhavasimhan, a teacher.

The ceremony in Thulasendrapuram, where Harris' maternal grandfather was born about 350 kilometers (215 miles) from the southern coastal city of Chennai, saw the idol of Hindu deity Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva, washed with milk and decked with flowers by the priest. Shortly after, the village reverberated with a boom of firecrackers as people held up posters of Harris and clapped their hands.

Harris is set to make history as the first woman, first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency. What makes her achievement special in this village is her Indian heritage.

Harris' grandfather was born in Thulasendrapuram more than 100 years ago. Many decades later, he moved to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state. Harris late mother was also born in India, before moving to the U.S. to study at the University of California. She married a Jamaican man, and they named their daughter Kamala, a Sanskrit word for lotus flower."

In several speeches, Harris has often spoken about her roots and how she was guided by the values of her Indian-born grandfather and mother.

So when Joe Biden and Harris triumphed in the U.S. election last November, Thulasendrapuram became the center of attention in entire India. Local politicians flocked to the village and young children carrying placards with photos of Harris ran along the dusty roads.

Then and now, villagers set off firecrackers and distributed sweets and flowers as a religious offering.

Posters and banners of Harris from November still adorn walls in the village and many hope she ascends to the presidency in 2024. Biden has skirted questions about whether he will seek reelection or retire.

For the next four years, if she supports India, she will be the president," said G Manikandan, who has followed Harris politically and whose shop proudly displays a wall calendar with pictures of Biden and Harris.

On Tuesday, an organization that promotes vegetarianism sent food packets for the village children as gifts to celebrate Harris success.

In the capital New Delhi, there has been both excitement  and some concern  over Harris' ascend to the vice presidency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invested in President Donald Trump, who visited India in February last year. Modis many Hindu nationalist supporters also were upset with Harris when she expressed concern about Kashmir, the disputed Muslim-majority region whose statehood Indias government revoked last year.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Shaharazaad Gaffour was looking after the eight-week-old sulfur crested cockatoo

A single mother-of-six was left fighting for her life in intensive care after she caught a deadly disease from a pet cockatoo named Frank.

Shaharazaad Gaffour was looking after the eight-week-old sulfur crested cockatoo for her nephew in December at her home in Sydney's south.

Three days later, she realised Frank was ill and handed it back because it suffered diarrhea all over her living room.

Almost immediately, the disability worker started feeling sick and getting hot fevers.

She was taken to hospital where an X-ray showed 80 per cent of her lungs were filled with fluid, and she was rushed to intensive care.

Baffled doctors worked around the clock to work out what was wrong with the otherwise perfectly healthy mother.

'They basically said to me, "everything's kind of shutting down on you, you need to think really hard what's made you sick because the antibiotics aren't working and we'll have to put you on life support",' Ms Gaffour told A Current Affair.

'At that point I'm thinking, 'I'm dead. I'm not going to make this'.'

Three days later, she realised Frank (pictured) was ill and handed it back because it had with diarrhea all over her living room

It wasn't until one doctor asked if she had any pets that she remembered Frank.

'It just hit me - that cockatoo didn't look right,' she said.

Ms Gaffour was quickly diagnosed with psittacosis - a bacterial infection that is transmitted from birds to humans.

The antibiotics started to work and she was able to leave hospital, eight days after being admitted.

Dr Rob Zammit, a vet surgeon, said psittacosis can causing long-term scarring and even result in lung transplants.

'People have lung transplants because of psittacosis, lung transplants to try and keep them alive,' Dr Zammit told the program.

Pictured: Ms Gaffour in intensive care with a deadly bacterial infection that she caught from Frank

He is convinced the bird gave Ms Gaffour the disease.

'What else could it have been? She's got psittacosis. The bird was sick and had a lot of diarrhea around the place. You've got to be very suspicious that that's what's happened,' Dr Zammit said.

Ms Gaffour said raising six children alone was one of her biggest hurdles.

'I might look okay from the external part, but internally I feel like an 89-year-old woman that's exactly how I would describe myself,' she said.

Frank was sold to a new home but tragically died just days later.

The pet shop owner where Ms Gaffour's nephew bought the bird told the program he was extremely apologetic that the baby cockatoo made her so sick.

After Gov. J.B. Pritzkers drastic change in mitigation, Jacksonville businesses owners and leaders are overjoyed with the potential of more business but not oblivious to the fact that people may still feel leery of being in larger groups and know it may take time to build their social confidence back.

A lot of people are still concerned, Jon Cody, owner of Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home, said about people still staying home. Im hoping we stay at 50 and go from there, he said of not going back to stricter mitigation.

Cody said that he has been busy but realizes that his businesses, and location, lends itself to being able to provide a large stage to allow social distancing. His concern, however, is more for other businesses in Jacksonville.

I have friends in the restaurant business and its hard for me to understand what theyve been through but I do want the best for them, Cody said.

The Bob Freesen YMCA opened its doors to indoor classes at 7 a.m. Tuesday and according to Mary Henry, executive director, it was a pleasure to see so many attend, but still being cautious.

Its so nice to see friends and family, she said. Its going to be wonderful for us and now we can have indoor classes  its like Christmas.

Certain rules still apply but have been amended, according to Henry. For example, people are still required to wear masks but now have the option to remove when in place and working out. Henry said that when she taught her spinning class Tuesday morning she kept 10 feet away and asked members if its okay to remove the mask or they prefer her to keep it on.

Still adhering to the rules and continuing to be safe, Henry said that its so nice to have something positive.

For restaurant and bars, having the ability to open up the doors allowing upward of 50 people is a breath of fresh air for business across Jacksonville. Still requiring masks and social distancing, bars will take what they can get.

Debbie Casson, owner and operator of Barney Pizza on Morton Avenue, understands there are still limitations but its one step closer.

We are so excited about it, she said.

SafeCo Donuts and Bakery has had its doors closed for the majority of the pandemic and switched to pick up only with the hopes of providing safe passage to its customers, and by cutting the lunch menu, to help other businesses that do serve lunch.

Its a bigger piece of the pie for others, Saif Mouilish, SafeCo Bakery owner, said of his reason for stopping lunch allowing other businesses to share the business. We have been doing pick and go this way we can keep our managers and the community safe, he said..

One concern that Mouilish has is the fear of people dropping their guard down when the pandemic is still going on, causing another spike.

Dont get too relaxed, he said.

In addition to restaurants and bars, other essential businesses have felt the ups and downs of the pandemic, but the relief of a light at the end of the tunnel is welcomed.

A Touch of Class Salon and Spa owner Tracie Brust is excited about the new mitigation, but realizes theres still some road to cover getting back to normal.

This is one small step, she said, adding that clients have to feel safe regardless of what restrictions are lifted. Until the clients feel comfortable, theyre not going to come back, she said.

When businesses were allowed to gather in larger numbers last June, Brust said that she was busy, but it was because of existing clients and that new stylists at her salon have been feeling the brunt of trying to build clientele during a pandemic.

Its hard for them to get new business, she said, adding that it has slowed down and business is not back to normal.

Appreciative of how businesses have been the past months by adhering to the many restrictions, Jacksonville Mayor Andy Ezard is elated with Pritzkers decision.

Its fantastic news that our businesses can open back up even though its limited. I certainly appreciate their patience and we all need to support them in some way, Ezard said.

The mayor is also thinking of the continued success of being able to stay open and is still asking people to practice what they have been doing for the past several months, eliminating further restrictions.

I do, however, want to stress we remain vigilant against this virus. The vaccine is here but we must remain cautious and continue wearing masks and practice social distancing, he said. By this time, we have all been affected by a friend or loved one who has been sick or have passed away. Please continue to be very careful. I want to thank our community for taking it serious and doing a good job under difficult circumstances.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As someone whos attended every presidential inauguration since Jimmy Carter was sworn in as the nations 39th president in 1977, Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur can recall details of each ceremony. Carters was so icy that it made Ohios longest serving member of Congress resolve to not attend inaugural balls during inclement weather. Donald Trumps habit of raising his fist to the crowd reminded her of the German and Italian leaders who triggered World War II.

Joe Bidens inauguration as the nations 46th president on Wednesday was like none other because coronavirus-related social distancing requirements and security measures imposed after Jan. 6ths U.S. Capitol riot nixed many of the usual inaugural trappings. There were no inaugural balls or receptions to welcome her constituents to Washington. No crowds watched the ceremony from the Mall. She did not bring a guest because of personal safety concerns.

But Kaptur said attending the event was worth navigating through streets blocked off by National Guard members and police, getting repeated coronavirus tests, and sitting at a distance from many of her colleagues. Once she got into the Capitol perimeter, it was easier to get where she needed to go without all the crowds. Because of her seniority, she got a seat near the ceremony where she didnt have to crane her neck to see what was going on. She was able to hang out with her friend, former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile. And the weather was almost like a spring day.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio took this photo of Joe Biden entering his presidential inauguration ceremony,

Although the wind was cold, as the ceremony progressed, the sun just started shining so brightly, said Kaptur. There were cumulonimbus clouds and blue skies.

Kaptur hopes that good weather will be an omen of restored calm in Washington under Biden, whose inaugural speech spoke of repairing, restoring, healing and building.

This is Americas day. Bidens speech began. This is democracys day. A day of history and hope. Of renewal and resolve.

And shes hoping that Bidens appointments of aides from the Great Lakes region, such as Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge as his housing and urban development secretary, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg as transportation secretary and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as energy secretary, will help move the region forward.

This is the most important moment for our Great Lakes region in my lifetime, says Kaptur. Once they get all their folks in place and theyre all confirmed, we have an enormous task.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio took this photo of Kamala Harris at her inauguration as Vice President.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican who has attended the inauguration of every president since 1988, issued a statement that congratulated Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and pledged to work with the new administration on areas where we agree in order to make a difference in the lives of Ohioans and all Americans.

When we disagree, I will do so respectfully, said Portman. Public service is a noble calling and anyone who serves deserves the respect of the American people, regardless of political affiliation.

A photo of Rep. Marcy Kaptur's inauguration program.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat who watched the inauguration remotely, issued a statement that said he looks forward to working with Biden and Harris to bring the country together and continue fighting for the Dignity of Work.

American workers will finally have someone on their side in the White House, and millions of girls - especially Black and brown girls - all over the country are seeing that there is no limit to their dreams, and they belong in every room where decisions are made, said Brown.

Several other Ohio members of Congress including Republicans Bob Gibbs of Holmes County, Anthony Gonzalez of Rocky River and Troy Balderson of Zanesville also did not attend the event.

Americas the greatest country ever. May God continue to bless us all.  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) January 20, 2021

Bainbridge Township GOP Rep. Dave Joyce released a statement that observed said hes attended five presidential inaugurations, and said they represent the peaceful transition of power that are a pillar of our nations democracy. He invited the Rev. Leah Daughtry, who served as CEO of the 2008 and 2016 Democratic National Convention Committees, to be his guest on behalf of his Democratic colleague, Marcia Fudge. His statement observed that maintaining a friendship with those you dont see eye to eye with politically doesnt require you to stray from your principles or force you to adopt views youre fundamentally opposed to.

For too long we have denied one another the chance to be seen not as a member of a particular political party, but as men and women with values, families and loved ones, and experiences that have shaped who we are and what we stand for, Joyce continued. Im hopeful that as we enter the 117th Congress, we can leave the toxic red team versus blue team mentality at the door and remember how to work together as Americans.

Congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris for being sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States.



Lets get to work!  Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (@RepMarciaFudge) January 20, 2021

Fudge posted statements on Twitter that said Bidens inauguration represents a new day in America, and said Harris made history by becoming the first woman and the first Black and South Asian American to serve as Vice President. This glass-shattering moment shows all women that we now will have a seat at the table.

Lets get to work! Fudge continued.

Niles-area Democratic Rep. Ryan said he has full confidence that Biden will meet this moment and set a clear pathway forward to defeat the coronavirus, restore our economy, and regain faith around the world in the American system of government. He applauded Biden for moving forward to extend nationwide moratoriums on home evictions and foreclosures; continue a pause on student loan payments and begin the process of rejoining the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization.

This is for all of you that are wondering what @ladygaga dress looked like up close. pic.twitter.com/Fe4NQJa1Y2  Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) January 20, 2021

Champaign County Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, who led efforts on the House of Representatives floor to challenge electoral votes from states like Pennsylvania and Arizona that backed Biden, was at the event, as were several other Ohioans who voted against accepting those votes.

This is as close to pageantry as we get in America, Jordan told the events congressional pool. This day  and the State of the Union address. I just think its important that  you attend those events.

See my full statement on the Inauguration of President Biden below. pic.twitter.com/0jPaqpIAMT  Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (@RepAGonzalez) January 20, 2021

Another Ohio Republican who voted against accepting the electoral votes, Miami Countys Warren Davidson, said he appreciated Bidens efforts toward unity in his speech, and said he hoped to find common ground with the administration where possible.

It is my hope that the new administration will make a sincere effort to both reach out to and listen to rural Americans who feel increasingly economically and culturally isolated, added a statement from Marietta Republican Rep. Bill Johnson, who also voted against accepting the electoral votes. America will only begin healing when political, academic, corporate, and media elites understand that until groups that feel left behind are given the opportunity to fully participate in Americas 21st century economy, our nation will remain deeply and bitterly divided.

Read more:

Several Ohio Congress members will skip Joe Bidens inauguration amid unprecedented security measures

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Sen. Rob Portman urges President Trump to address the nation to explicitly urge that his supporters refrain from violence, or bear responsibility

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On Tuesday night, MediaTek launched the Dimensity 1100 and 1200, a pair of smartphone chipsets that aim to challenge the best that Qualcomms Snapdragon smartphone chipsets have to offer.

MediaTek released just two performance benchmarks to support its claims. But the specs of both the Dimensity 1100 and 1200 CPUs match up well against the Snapdragon 888, Qualcomms recent smartphone launch, with even higher clock speeds. Theres a good chance that youll have either one or the other in your next phone.

While Qualcomm tends to dominate the market for smartphone chipsets that cover premium phones, MediaTek is actually the largest smartphone chipset vendor in the world, with 31 percent market share, according to CounterPoint Research. MediaTek passed Qualcomm during the third quarter of 2020, thanks especially to the rise of midrange phones and MediaTeks success in India and parts of Asia. MediaTeks presence was helped by aggressive pricing moves to help the lower the cost of 5G phones, as well as support by phone makers like Xiaomi.

Those phone makers are apparently lining up yet again for the Dimensity 1200 and 1100, as MediaTek recorded support by Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, and realme. The worlds cheapest 5G device, the realme V3, is already powered by MediaTek, Counterpoint noted.

Were going to continue to see 5G coming into all price points and were going to continue to work hard to make 5G available for everybody, Finbarr Moynihan, general manager of corporate sales for MediaTek, said during a briefing with reporters. The new chipsets integrate the companys existing M75 sub-6GHz 5G modem, he said, with support for FDD and TDD technologies and 5G Elevator Mode for smooth handoffs as the phone moves inside a building.

The Dimensity 1200s CPU emphasizes speed

MediaTeks Dimensity 1200 chipset mirrors Qualcomms Snapdragon designs: one ultra core for ultimate performance, plus three super cores for the bulk of the workload and four efficiency cores for low-power tasks. The 1100 foregoes the additional ultra core, balancing the four super cores with an additional four efficiency cores. Both the 1200 and 1100 chips are fabricated on a 6nm process.

MediaTek The Dimensity 1200 and 1100 are designed in a familiar big-little way.

Whats interesting, though, is the Dimensity 1200 runs at higher clock speeds. Qualcomms Snapdragon 888 uses a 2.84GHz X1 core as its ultra or prime core, followed by three 2.4GHz Cortex-A78 prime cores and four 1.8GHz A55 efficiency cores. The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 uses a 3GHz Cortex-A78 as the ultra core, three 2.6GHz Cortex-A78 super cores, and four 2GHz A55 chips as its efficiency cores. Both Dimensity chipsets have a nine-core Arm Mali-G77 GPU, MediaTek added.

The key difference is what Qualcomm calls its X1 core, which the company has said offers 20 percent more performance than the Cortex-A78. Is the Dimensity as powerful as the Snapdragon 888? On paper, its hard to tell: The 1200s increase in clock speed offers just a 6-percent improvement over the Snapdragon 888. MediaTek also characterized the chip as capable of displaying a smooth 90 frames per second in the mobile version of Player Unknowns Battlegrounds.

MediaTek A summary of the two new Dimensity chips, as supplied by MediaTek.

But theres one direct comparison that we have between the two. MediaTek cited GFXBenchs Manhattan test, which uses the OpenGL ES 3.0 API and renders a 1080p scene offscreen, as another gaming benchmark. According to MediaTek, the chip generated 130 frames per second. Though the all-virtual Snapdragon Technology Summit Qualcomm held in December didnt allow for hands-on benchmarking, Qualcomms own numbers (compiled in depth by XDA-developers.com) showed that the Snapdragon 888 recorded a score of 169, or 30 percent faster than the 1200.

According to MediaTek, the Dimensity 1100 can output 60 frames per second with HDR on PUBG, and 120 fps using the Manhattan benchmark.

Theres always a tradeoff between how much you can really get out of pushing the performance of one peak CPU core, versus how much you can use on a more sustained basis, Moynihan said, in explaining MediaTeks CPU design decision. Were trying to balance...peak performance versus sustained performance, and we felt this was a good solution.

Because of the emergence of gaming, especially in Asia where a number of MediaTeks partners primarily sell, the Dimensity 1200s gaming features include support for up to 168Hz displays, for smooth rendering. (The 1100 supports up to 144Hz displays.) MediaTek also designed in a feature that allows the phone to connect to the Internet and continue gaming while the user takes a voice call, Moynihan said.

MediaTek is also adding some raytracing capabilities, but only via a software partnership, Moynihan said, as the Mali-G77 doesnt directly support it.

MediaTek

What the Dimensity 1200 brings to smartphone cameras

Qualcomm has gone to great lengths to pack in features inside of its Image Sensor Processor, or ISP. MediaTek didnt provide that level of detail during its own explanation of the new Dimensity features, but there are still some interesting additions.

Both chips include what MediaTek calls its five-core APU 3.0, capable of capturing up to 200MP images on the 1200 and 108MP images on the 1100. The Dimensity also taps its built-in AI capabilities for various effects, such as its new multi-person bokeh, another name for the portrait mode that can keep the subjects of the photo in focus and blur the remaining background. AI is also used to improve high-dynamic range (HDR) capabilities by 29 percent, Moynihan said. The camera ISP is capable of 10-bit HDR resolution. Finally, AI is also being used for scene detection and enhancement in night shots, Moynihan said.

From a video perspective, the new Dimensity ISP can capture 4K video in HDR, but it can also play back standard 4K video, captured without using HDR, in an AI-enhanced HDR mode. (Microsofts new Xbox Series X does something similar, by using the processor to add HDR to games that dont natively support it.)

From an audio perspective, both the Dimensity 1200 and 1100 both support Bluetooth 5.2, which lets users stream to multiple wireless devices simultaneously, the company said. The chipsets also support ultra-low latency true wireless stereo audio and LC3 encoding.

Will you see MediaTeks new Dimensity in your next smartphone? It's hard to say. But the more MediaTek continues to take aim at the flagship smartphone market, the more likely it may be.
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SPRINGFIELD  Local Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla is among four candidates short-listed to replace outgoing Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, sources have confirmed.

Shukla, 39, has been the head of the Springfield U.S. Attorneys Office since 2019, joining the ranks of prosecutors after several years as a community organizer and housing attorney in New York City, and later as an attorney with anti-discrimination agencies. As a woman of Indian descent, she is the youngest head of the office, the first female and the first woman of color to hold the post.

First reported by the Boston Globe, the short list includes Shukla; Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Serafyn, chief of the civil rights unit in Boston; and Josh Levy, a former assistant U.S. attorney and partner at Ropes & Gray, one of the most prominent Boston law firms.

Shukla declined to comment for this story.

But two local attorneys confirmed they received phone calls recently from members of an advisory panel assembled to vet candidates before they move on to the next step of the process, controlled by U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.

I think she has a high degree of integrity. ... I think she is very honest, said Northampton criminal defense lawyer David P. Hoose, president of Greater Springfield Lawyers for Justice. I think she is open to the idea of change as far as the way things have been done in the past. I dont expect her to be a flaming radical if she is selected, but I think she is open to listening to the defense bar, and to others in terms of a different way to look at things.

Among two Western Massachusetts members of the advisory committee tapped to forward potential successors for Lellings job, Springfield attorney John Pucci also declined to be interviewed for this story. But in a previous interview Pucci also said he welcomed a candidate with an eye for change in the judicial system.

By virtue of geography, Shukla may be a dark horse candidate. Members of the Western Massachusetts bar historically tend to get frozen out of many statewide legal and judicial appointments in favor of Greater Boston candidates. However, Hoose and others say Shukla is very competent and fits the political zeitgeist as a young, progressive woman of color.

To me shes always been reasonable and measured, and not a flame-thrower at all, said Berkshire County defense attorney Lori H. Levinson, who found herself on the other side of the prosecution of former Lee Police Chief Joseph Buffis, convicted of corruption in connection with a charitable childrens Christmas toy fund linked to the police department. I thought she nicely balanced the ticket.

A native of Massachusetts, Shukla graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 2007. Prior to that, she was a tenant organizer in Bronx, New York, then a plaintiffs civil rights lawyer and at the Connecticut Fair Housing Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Shukla also worked at Davis Polk, a large firm in New York City, as a litigation associate.

While in Springfield, Shukla has prosecuted police corruption cases, drug and gun cases, and a terrorism case against Alex Ciccolo, an Adams man apparently wooed by online Islamic State group initiatives and convicted of plotting terror attacks at colleges and other public settings. Law enforcement thwarted those attacks, according to attorneys involved in the case.

Rollins, who has been the most out front in the race for U.S. attorney, got into an alleged road rage incident with another motorist at a mall parking lot on Christmas Eve. A witness said Rollins threatened to write her a ticket as both were attempting to leave the South Bay Mall that evening, according to Boston 25.

Today is not the day to try me! Rollins allegedly told competing motorist Katie Lawson, who filed a citizens complaint with the Boston Police Department.

A timeline to choose Lellings successor is not clear, but those familiar with the process believe it is being accelerated amid the Trump-Biden transition.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.

Mumbai, Jan 20 : Om Shri Satya Sai Baba, biopic of the late godman Satya Sai Baba, is set to release in theatres all over India on January 29. The film starring Anup Jalota in the title role will open in four languages.

"I don't think there is a bigger superstar than Satya Sai Baba. Now not many films are released in theatres but our film is releasing all over the country and the world. There are only 10 to 12 days left for the release of the film, and I feel fortunate that so many people are going to watch our film," said Jalota, about the film, which was earlier said to release on January 22.

In an earlier interview to IANS, Jalota jad spoken about knowing the godman personally. Speaking on Wednesday about the release of the film, he opened up on the subject once again.

"I met Satya Sai Baba for the first time 55 years ago. I was only 12 when I met him in Lucknow, and at that time he heard me and my father's bhajans and blessed us. Since then, I was in touch with Baba. I visited his ashram in Puttaparthi several times to meet him. I had also met him in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Ooty. I think I have been able to do justice to this role because I knew him well. I am one of his followers, so I knew how he used to sit, walk, talk and interact with his followers, because I have seen him doing that all these years," he said.

"Whenever he would meet me, he would call me Chhote Baba. I would ask him why he called me by that name and he told me that one day you will realise that. Now, I realise why he used to call me Chhote Baba -- I think because I was destined to play his role on screen," Jalota claimed.

The Vicky Ranawat film also features Jackie Shroff, Govind Namdev, Sadhika Randhawa, Arun Bakshi and Mushtaq Khan. Bappa Lahiri has given the background music of the film and Sachindra Sharma has written the script.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : On Wednesday, the Centre took its biggest stand ever on the issue of three agricultural laws. The 10th round of talks was very different and more important than previous farmer-government talks. The Centre, while making a big proposal to put the laws on hold for one and a half years, has put the ball in the court of farmer leaders.

Farmer leaders have been compelled to think about the Centre's initiative. That is why they have agreed to sit down together and discuss the government's proposal on Thursday. In the next meeting to be held on January 22, farmer leaders will clarify their stand on the central government's proposal. If all goes well, the farmer agitation could end in the next meeting itself.

Strategy evolved at Home Minister's residence Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal visited the residence of Home Minister Amit Shah before the meeting began on Wednesday at the Vigyan Bhawan at 2.30 pm. A special strategy was evolved for the 10th round of dialogue at the Home Minister's house.

According to sources, it was decided to take the biggest stand ever on the part of the government. It was decided that this is the only way to end the farmers agitation before January 26, to defer the farm laws for at least one and a half years, even as the talks between the two sides continued.

After discussions with the Home Minister, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal placed the proposal before the farmer leaders.

Ball in farmers' court Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told farmer leaders in the meeting that agricultural reform laws can be deferred for one and a half years. In the meantime, farmers' organisations and government representatives can reach a proper solution by discussing the issues in detail.

In view of this big stand of the central government, the farmer leaders have been compelled to talk about the proposal. "The government said in the meeting that we can defer the laws for one and a half years by giving an affidavit in a court," All India Kisan Sabha leader Hannan Mollah told IANS. "In the meantime, we will implement the report that the panel gives. Now, all the farmers ' organisations will discuss the government's proposal on January 21 and give their reply in the meeting on January 22."
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Coronavirus vaccines are in short supply this week, but Onondaga County will schedule about 900 appointments Thursday for people who need a first dose. County officials will post the appointments online sometime Wednesday, at which point people can start signing up, County Executive Ryan McMahon said.

Appointments can be scheduled online at the county vaccine page. Senior citizens or others who are unable to navigate online can call 211.

The county typically lists its new appointments in the mid-afternoon, but officials said they cant promise what time the slots will open up. The best advice is to keep checking, because they will go fast.

Unfortunately, Thursday is likely to be the only day this week that the county administers vaccines, County Executive Ryan McMahon said today. State officials provided the county only 900 doses this week  a one-day supply  compared with 3,600 in previous weeks.

Other Syracuse-area vaccine sites, including the state fairgrounds and several pharmacies, are continuing to provide vaccines this week but generally do not have new appointments to offer, McMahon said.

As of Tuesday, the county had vaccinated more than 12,000 people. But the county has the capacity to administer at least 18,000 vaccines a week at its Oncenter vaccine site, in addition to what other local providers can do, McMahon said. If more doses were available, the county would add a second vaccine site and double that capacity, he said.

So far, there is no sign the supply will increase next week, he said.

This is frustrating,' McMahon said of the shortage. This is very frustrating.'

McMahon said he doesnt know why the federal government is not sending more vaccine to state officials to distribute. He said he hopes the pipeline opens up after President-elect Joe Biden takes office Wednesday.

The outgoing administration dropped the ball completely,' after what could have been a historic success based on the rapid development of vaccines, McMahon said.

After the election, everything just fell apart,' he said. It really is disappointing and disheartening. Its a fresh slate tomorrow.'

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
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 20, 2021 / CopperBank Resources Corp. ("CopperBank" or the "Company") (CSE:CBK) announces that it is mobilizing members of its technical team for a multi-week review at its 100% owned, sixteen square mile Copper Creek Project, located in Arizona's "Copper Corridor" in southeast Pinal County. CopperBank management is executing a multi-phase development strategy for the project with the nucleus of the phase-one plan intended to merge, update, and expand historical exploration proposals with results from the upcoming review.

An historical 43-101 compliant resource was completed by Independent Mining Consultants (IMC) of Tucson, Arizona and was published by the previous operator, Redhawk Copper, on May 10, 2012. CopperBank does not consider this historical resource estimation to be current. Upon completion of the initial phases of the work programs, CopperBank intends to verify the historical 2012 resource by engaging an independent examiner and fulfill the National Instrument 43-101 requirements to update the project.

CopperBank CEO, Gianni Kovacevic comments; "Copper Creek is one of the largest undeveloped copper porphyry projects in the world. The basis of this press release is so that both investors and technical groups can become acclimated to the established parameters of the project, and more importantly, to give guidance as to the numerous areas where the project can be enhanced."

The upcoming field studies are intended to culminate in generating 15-20 conceptual drill holes with an objective to verify and expand historical resources that remain open in all directions. CopperBank's team will incorporate the historical leapfrog model and geophysics and reprocess previous airborne ZTEM and magnetic surveys using independent specialists to enhance and define drill specific targeting.

Collectively, the above-mentioned work programs and potential exploration drilling are anticipated to result in an updated mineral resource estimation in the future.

Targeting for future drill programs will be designated by:

District Greenfields targets focused on near-surface mineralization, specifically areas with hydrothermal breccia bodies and strong hydrothermal alteration and veining as in the RUM, Bluebird, East Creek and Holly areas of the project.

Resource Upgrade and Expansion targets designed to increase inferred resources and convert current inferred resources to indicated resources within the current 0.2% copper equivalent cut-off resource outline and potentially increase overall tonnage and grade of the established historical resource.

Property Greenfields targets focused on new concept discoveries on the property specifically in the Dry Camp and Diabase Ridge areas that are approximately 6km northwest and 4km southeast of the historical resource area on trend to the Resolution and Ray mining complexes.

The Company will also be re-opening its San Manuel, Arizona headquarters, located 15 miles southwest of the project. The 3 acre compound is the location of 220,000 meters of diamond drill core and all of the project data. Most of the project data has also been uploaded to cloud servers enabling remote review. As well, the technical team will be arranging selected core holes for ongoing review and showcase.

For demonstration purposes, a second isometric block diagram will be composed orthogonal to previous diagrams. Existing isometric diagrams provide visualization of the Copper Creek geology, alteration, mineralization, and exploration potential. This second diagram will allow for easier 3D visualization.

Qualified Person

Mark Pfau, of Tellurian Exploration Inc., is a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical portions of this press release. Mr. Pfau is an exploration and resource targeting specialist in the porphyry and related geologic environments.

About CopperBank

CopperBank is a Canadian exploration mining company focused on energy related metal exploration in The United States of America. The Company trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange - CSE- under the symbol "CBK".

On behalf of CopperBank Resources Corp.

"Gianni Kovacevic"

Address: Suite 1500, 409 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

Tel: 604-889-0852

E-mail: gk@copperbankcorp.com

Website: www.copperbankcorp.com

Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this release constitutes forward looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws and necessarily involves risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable law, CopperBank does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management of CopperBank's expectations or beliefs regarding future events. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", 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" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company's ongoing review of its existing portfolio, the involvement of CopperBank in any potential divestiture, spin-out, partnership or other transactions involving the Company's portfolio assets, and the ability of the Company to complete any such transactions, the ability of CopperBank to enter into transactions that will ultimately enhance shareholder value, and potential future work or activities in respect of the Pyramid project or the Contact project. Although CopperBank believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information available to CopperBank. Forward-looking statements are based, in part, on assumptions and factors that may change or prove to be incorrect, thus causing actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking information. Such factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to identify and complete one or more transactions involving the Company's portfolio assets that enhance shareholder value as part of management's ongoing review of strategic alternatives in the current market conditions. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Company will not be able to identify and complete one or more transactions involving the Company's portfolio assets that enhance shareholder value as part of management's ongoing review of strategic alternatives in the current market conditions. Although CopperBank has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For more information on CopperBank and the risks and challenges of its businesses, investors should review the continuous disclosure filings that are available under CopperBank's profile at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: CopperBank Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/624895/CopperBank-Mobilizes-for-Field-Studies-and-Project-Review-at-Copper-Creek

2020  21: My Reflections The turn of the decade proved to be an epic anticlimax. The promise and anticipation of prosperity and growth were undone by a tiny, invisible enemy. 2020 became a blur as frenetic activity on some dimensions erupted in contrast to an eerie, frozen stillness in others.

We will look back at the year not so much for the memories it helped us create, as for the new tangents and angles it forced on the arc of our recent history. 2020 is a year that will only gain in significance when viewed through the perspective lens of time. And therefore, it is ...
New Delhi, Jan 20 : Securities market regulator SEBI on Wednesday imposed a penalty of Rs 25 lakh on Mansoor Rafiq Khanda and Firoz Rafiq Khanda for offering trading tips through WhatsApp messages and internet websites including www.fullonoption.com without being registered with the regulator as investment advisers.

Upon completion of the investigation, the SEBI had issued directions against them in 2016 to impound the unlawful gains of a sum of Rs 5.04 crore.

In June 2018, the SEBI passed an order against the individuals directing them to disgorge the unlawful gains made by them along with interest as determined by the regulator in 2016.

Both the individuals had filed an appeal before the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), which was dismissed in January last year.

"Considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, I hereby impose the monetary penalty of Rs 25,00,000 on the noticees, for not complying with the directions," said the SEBI order.
Kim Thi Bich Tiens love story with her armless husband started out with curiosity that turned into a happy ending.

Tien, a 26-year-old kindergarten teacher, originally from the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, was doing household chores in her rented room in Binh Hoa Ward, Thuan An City, located in Binh Duong Province, approximately 30 kilometers east of Ho Chi Minh City, waiting for her husband to get back home from work.

Their marriage did not come easy, with Tien defying opposition from her own family over her choice of an limbless man, 29-year-old Nguyen Minh Tri.

True love triumphs over adversity

Tien shared she first spotted Tri, who was born without arms, walking in the schoolyard while she was waiting to take a college entrance exam at An Giang University back in 2014.

Not knowing that Tri had no arms, Tien thought he was just pretending to put his arms under his sleeves.

In her second year of college, her roommate turned out to be Tris classmate.

Curious about how an armless man handles food and other things, she asked her roommate to invite Tri out for a meal, Tien recalled with a smile.

When she met him, the sophomore was immediately touched by his extraordinary will and cheerful personality.

Tien was eager to help Tri in his studies and daily life, and the pair became the best of friends.

As time went by, the two got closer and their feelings began to grow.

Tien was more convinced that Tri was the right man for her.

Worried that he might be afraid to express his feelings, Tien was the first one to make her affection known.

Tri, now an information technology specialist, admitted he was surprised that she felt the same way that he did.

The thing that matters is they are passionately in love and are happy together.

Like most couples with one disabled partner, Tien and Tris biggest hurdle was objection from the formers family, especially her father, who by no means wanted their daughter to have the unhappy life they imagined for the couple with the latters disability.

You should end the relationship, or you both will end up in misery, Tien was told.

Tiens mother was more sympathetic.

She wanted to be on her daughters side but kept up a stern attitude over concerns about whether Tri could manage their own family and their children would inherit the condition from him.

Despite being daunted from time to time that their love story would go nowhere, the young couple thought they needed to persuade Tiens family to approve of their relationship and organize a dream marriage.

The young woman then tried to get her mother on her side, without much success.

After failed efforts, Tien was ready to do what it took.

I love Tri with my whole heart. The last thing I want is to disobey you, but I cant fail him either, she recalled telling her parents with all the courage she could muster.

Without your nod, Ill stay single for the rest of my life.

At the same time, the young woman arranged meetings between Tri and her parents so that they would get to know him better.

Her efforts finally paid off.

Her parents no longer stood their ground following the several visits and later came to accept their marriage.

Pure happiness

After six years of continued efforts, there was a happy ending to the fairy-tale love story, with wedding receptions held in both the duos hometown -- An Giang and Binh Duong -- where they currently work, in October 2020.

The news of their wedding came as a surprise to friends and relatives of Tiens parents.

Tien shared that her mother showed everyone a photo of her future son-in-law to get them prepared when she handed them the wedding invites.

She also proudly said that there was not so much that was impossible for her son-in-law, in response to the guests concerns that he might become a burden for her only daughter.

After going steady with him for such a long time, Im fully prepared for our life together ahead and never feel Im suffering any hardship, Tien noted, excitedly pointing to her bridal photo collection.

Among them is one photo capturing the groom singing merrily with the microphone held between his toes at their wedding.

The newlyweds moved to a rented room in Binh Hoa Ward, Binh Duong Province, where they currently work.

Tri was born with no arms but he does not let that stop him from performing daily routines and working.

There are few tasks that Tri has to ask his wife for help.

His routine chores include cooking, cleaning, and washing the dishes.

Im so lucky to marry such an honest, caring man. Despite his imperfections in outside appearance, hes a perfect husband to me, Tien proudly said of her husband.

He always goes straight home from work.

"During meals, he often picks up food for me with his feet and helps me around the house.

Tien also shared good news: her two-month pregnancy.

Were elated and pray that the baby will be healthy and have no birth defects, she said.

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A haulier has said the business has returned to the "Dark Ages" as a result of new complexities following Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The arrangement has introduced new checks and paperwork on goods coming into here from Great Britain.

Delays at ports on the other side of the Irish Sea, combined with a Covid-19 slowdown in imports from the continent in December, have led to gaps on supermarket shelves here.

Speaking to the Infrastructure Committee, Paul Jackson of McBurney Transport said: "I've just had my 40th Christmas in the haulage business and it has been the worst ever period in my life in preparation for Brexit, never mind the Covid situation from March last year."

He said that when starting out in the industry in the early 1980s he had travelled to Co Louth and Newry with customs forms on a regular basis but that the present regime was much worse.

Seamus Leheny of trade group Logistics UK said the situation was "not sustainable".

While lorries were able to leave Northern Ireland with goods for Great Britain, some were having to come back empty at the freight companies' own expense due to a lack of preparedness among firms in Great Britain for sending goods here under the new requirements.

But Aodhan Connolly of the NI Retail Consortium said warnings earlier this month that the supply chain was "days away from collapse" had been "reckless".

He said: "There have been some choice issues but this has to be kept in context. The average large supermarket will have from 40,000 to 50,000 product lines, there's only ever been a few hundred missing, and that picture is getting better.



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"We have seen in the past lockdown, people buy stuff that they can cook at home and freeze, and they stock up. So for example, so far in January, we've got a 30% uplift in the amounts of mince that people are buying."

Mr Leheny said companies needed a further grace period on checks - and that a cliff-edge needed to be avoided on consumers' parcels. Parcels being sent from businesses to consumers are subject to a grace period until the end of March.

The government has set up a Trader Support Service to give assistance with the new regime - and Mr Leheny said 30,000 firms had signed up to it.

He said that lockdown and the closure of non-essential retail meant that items such as white goods were not crossing the Irish Sea in the usual amounts. But he warned: "As we come out of lockdown that volume is going to increase and our industry is going to need all the help it can get to service the economy."

Mr Jackson said crossings from Belfast were working more smoothly than those from Dublin, where a full regime of EU checks is in place.

"Belfast is running smoother in comparison but not if you compare it to where it was in December and 40 years previously.... we are back to the Dark Ages."

SDLP MP Claire Hanna raised the issue of port movements between GB and Northern Ireland at Prime Minister's Questions.

Boris Johnson said "actually there's more transit now taking place between Larne and Stranraer and Cairnryan than there is between Holyhead and Dublin because it's going so smoothly".

However, many Irish hauliers are bypassing routes to Great Britain and instead travelling directly to France using crossings such as Rosslare to Cherbourg. Last week Stena Line moved a new ferry intended for Belfast to Liverpool onto the Rosslare route.
The revolution Ive been warning about for the last ten years has happened. It is not a bloody uprising typically associated with a revolution but rather a peaceful evolution over a prolonged period of time that culminated in the socialists takeover. There should be no illusion; the Marxists are taking power in America seriously and for a long time.

Indeed, communist leaders from Lenin to Brezhnev are sardonically grinning from hell and watching in disbelief as what was impossible for the Soviet Union to accomplish with all its military might and nuclear arsenal is being accomplished by the American people themselves through a dubious electoral process.

Just to be clear, it is not Orwells 1984, it is the Soviet Union of 1937 returned from the hereafter with a human face. There will be no Gulags; millions of people will not be executed. The dissidents will be dealt with humanely. They will be purged from the universities, media, government jobs, and major corporations. The Bolsheviks motto, who does not work does not eat, will be replaced with a new one  who does not obey does not eat."

Dissent will be suppressed by a brute force of government agencies, including the power of the DOJ to bring frivolous lawsuits and bankrupt its victims and destroy their families.

The ubiquitous sentinel of American democracy infamous for its colossal failures, the FBI, will regularly discover plots against the government, find caches of weapons and fabricate preposterous accusations against political opponents. As a deterrent, they will be given harsh sentences. The administration will harness every incident to seize greater control over the nation.

The people and businesses are beginning to fear the all-powerful government that is perfectly willing to deploy a full arsenal of state weaponry, such as DOJ, FBI, IRS, EPA, DOE and its powerful FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), DHS (Department of Homeland Security), DOL (Department of Labor), and other assets we may not know about. The corporations got the massage, ending contributions to the Republican Party.

Marxist doctrine states that in order to control people, the government has to instill fear and hope. The FBI will be the fear and the press, subservient to the government, would offer hope by reporting ideologically nuanced interpretation of events. The process has already begun, the censorship is firmly in place, and will continue at a rapid pace. Websites like this will be shut down.

Anyone who hoped that CNN would keep them honest must be greatly disappointed. The mainstream media, whose opposition to the Republicans and capitalism is a permanent part of the current political landscape, take pride in unmercifully vilifying anyone who genuinely dissented from the socialists views and policies. No lie is too big to tell, no premise too outrageous to promote. Duplicity permits itself no boundaries. Ironically, liberals who for two centuries have fought for the freedom of speech, do not condemn censorship; they enthusiastically support it.

In the words of Bolshevik Nikolai Bukharin,

We asked for freedom of the press, thought, and civil liberties in the past because we were in the opposition and needed these liberties to conquer. Now that we have conquered, there is no longer any need for such civil liberties.

Any notion that the Republicans in this environment may reverse the process by winning the mid-term elections in 2022 is pure fantasy. Unfreedom of the press, suffrage to foreigners, vote harvesting, and mail-in ballots are just a few known elements of the Democrats system for organizing elections. In the next four years, most of the Republican officials running for reelection, governors, senators, state representatives, etc. will be wiped out at the polls and replaced by the Democrats.

The Bolsheviks aphorism: We can only have two parties: one in power, the other in prison will be replaced with one in power, the other a permanent second-tier loser assigned to maintain an image of the two-party system.

Neither education nor life experience has prepared Americans for grasping the epochal shift that took place this November. It is not surprising. From ancient times, the most tragic events of history have been triggered by people who, despite the obvious, failed to forecast the future. Events of the utmost significance, even utterly obvious, are often ignored because they conflict with the prevailing wisdom and the preconception that we are not stupid, it cannot happen to us, to our people, to our country. But people in countries that had firsthand experience with Salvador Allende in Chile, Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, Fidel Castro in Cuba, and communist regimes in the Soviet Union and China, had no trouble deciphering the genuine meaning of the events. The most popular joke in Moscow nowadays is democratic elections are elections in which the vote count continues until the Democrats win.

Heartbreakingly, Americans have watered down their genes and were not able to keep it, in Franklins famous phrase. American idealism is now bankrupt and in decline. The foundation of our democracy is crumbling, and our institutions and guiding principles are falling apart. Our Republic as conceived by the Founding Fathers is now a phantasm. A blanket of tyranny and fanaticism is covering America.

Graphic credit: Pixabay license

Alexander G. Markovsky is a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, a conservative think hosted at Kings College, New York City, which examines national security, energy, risk-analysis and other public policy issues. He is the author of Anatomy of a Bolshevik and Liberal Bolshevism: America Did Not Defeat Communism, She Adopted It. Mr. Markovsky is the owner and CEO of Litwin Management Services, LLC. He can be reached at info@litwinms.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 19, 2021 / Golden Lake Exploration Inc. (CSE:GLM) ("GLM" or the "Company")(OTCQB:GOLXF) wishes to announce the resignation of Vic Bradley as its Chairman and a Director of the Company effective immediately. Management would like to thank Mr. Bradley for his time spent with Golden Lake and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Golden Lake expects receipt of assays of the final 3 core holes drilled in late 2020.

About the Jewel Ridge Property

The Jewel Ridge property is located on the south end of Nevada's prolific Battle Mountain - Eureka trend, along strike and contiguous to Barrick Gold's Archimedes/Ruby Hill gold mine to the north and Timberline Resources' advanced-stage Lookout Mountain project to the south.

About Golden Lake Exploration Inc.

Golden Lake Exploration is a junior public mining exploration company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to acquire, explore and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to aggressively advance its exploration program on the Jewel Ridge property.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Mike England"

Mike England, CEO & DIRECTOR

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Telephone: 1-604-683-3995

TollFree:1-888-945-4770

Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider 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: Golden Lake Exploration Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/624977/Golden-Lake-Announces-Resignation
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Desperate relatives of Covid patients in Brazil have been queuing for hours to fill their loved-ones' oxygen tanks while a new mutant strain of the virus ravages the country.

Amozonas state has been inundated with cases of the new variant and doctors at hospitals in Manaus, the rainforest's largest city, are being forced to decide which patients should get the dwindling oxygen.

From dawn to dusk, family members queued up outside the Carboxi oxygen plant during torrential downpours and sweltering humidity on Tuesday.

They arrived with heavy green tanks to be filled with oxygen and then rushed back to their ailing relatives, laying the colossal cylinders across the backseats of hatchbacks and on truck beds.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro regularly criticises, yesterday dispatched lorries laden with 3.78 million cubic feet of oxygen to help the region.

Even as Amazonas welcomed the support, Bolsonaro lobbed critiques at Maduro.

'If you want to offer us oxygen, we will receive it without a problem,' Bolsonaro said Monday. 'But he could give emergency aid to his people too, right? The minimum wage there doesn't buy half a kilo of rice.'

Brazil has recorded 210,000 deaths from coronavirus, the second-highest toll after the United States.

Desperate family members queued up outside the Carboxi company during a torrential downpour on Tuesday

They arrived with huge green tanks to be filled with oxygen and then rushed back to their ailing relatives, laying the colossal cylinders across the backseats of hatchbacks and in truck beds

Relatives of patients infected with Covid-19 leave after queuing for long hours to refill their oxygen tanks at the Carboxi company in Manaus

A man with a tank of oxygen protruding over the front car seats prepares to take the tank away from the Carboxi company refilling centre

A man waiting to refill a tank of oxygen looks on at the centre on Tuesday

Relatives of patients infected with Covid-19 leave with their filled tank after queuing for hours

The Brazilian health ministry sent seven oxygen generating plants Sunday, which once installed will supply oxygen to 100 ICUs.

Amazonas' government transferred 18 patients by plane to Goias state Monday. The state had already transferred 112 patients to be treated in the Federal District, Brasilia, and other states, according to the state's health secretariat.

Hospitals in Manaus, a city of 2.2 million people, have admitted few new COVID-19 patients, causing many to suffer from the disease at home and some to die.

And many doctors in Manaus have had to choose which COVID-19 patients can breathe while desperate family members searched for oxygen tanks for their loved ones.

The city is receiving an average of four Brazilian air force flights per day to bolster oxygen stocks, along with one shipment per day from the city of Belem near the mouth of the Amazon river, according to officials.

But despite the oxygen shortage, the first doses of the covid vaccine have started to be administered in the state which is home to many of the country's indigenous people.

Amazonas Governor Wilson Lima led a ceremony that kicked off the vaccination campaign on Monday night.

Vanda Ortega, 33, a member of the Witoto ethnicity and a nurse technician, received the first dose of CoronaVac, a vaccine developed by Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company Sinovac.

'I want to thank God and our ancestors,' said Ortega, who is also a volunteer nurse in her Indigenous community.

Brazil on Monday began rolling out its national immunisation program with 6 million doses of CoronaVac in almost a dozen states, and hopes to receive 46 million doses up to April to distribute among states. Amazonas received 256,000 doses.

Jose Pereira Lima gets his shot of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd., during the start of the vaccination in elderly people who live in public shelters, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday

The nursing technician Rosenira Magalhaes receives the vaccine against covid-19 during a ceremony at the Mayor's Office of Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, 19 January 2021

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro regularly criticises, yesterday dispatched trucks laden with 3.78 million cubic feet of oxygen to help the region (pictured: a man wielding one of the big green tanks)

A man lumbers back to his vehicle after filling up a tank of oxygen

The police survey the scene as two men struggle to move one of the oxygen tanks

Relatives of patients infected with Covid-19 leave after queueing for long hours to refill their oxygen tanks at the Carboxi company in Manaus

The state government on Tuesday started distributing the doses to municipalities.

The priority in the first vaccination phase will be health workers, elderly people above 80 years old, and Indigenous people in about 265 villages.

Amazonas has recorded at least 232,000 cases of the virus since the start of the pandemic, according to official figures.

The health system collapse in Manaus, which had already gone through a critical situation last April, generated criticism of the government for allegedly not having anticipated the problems.

Thousands of people protested in cities across Brazil on Friday, the same day that images emerged showing desperate relatives searching for oxygen for loved ones.

Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello admitted Monday that the federal government knew on January 8 that oxygen supply could run out in the Amazon capital, a week before people died in intensive care beds.

The speed of hospitalizations increased significantly in the last days and made the supplier company unable to meet demand, Pazuello said.

Relatives of patients infected with Covid-19 leave after queuing for long hours to refill their oxygen tanks at the Carboxi company in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, on January 19

Relatives of patients infected with Covid-19 queue for long hours to refill their oxygen tanks at the Carboxi company in Manaus

People queuing for oxygen in Manaus on Tuesday

A tank of oxygen is loaded into the back of a truck in Manaus on Tuesday

Two men carry a huge tank of oxygen on their shoulders

A man hefts a tank of oxygen to his vehicle in hot and humid weather in Manaus

A new strain of the coronavirus has been circulating in Manaus. There have been concerns about greater transmissibility or potential for reinfection, although such possibilities remain unproven.

A positive coronavirus test doesn't reveal which variant of the virus the patient has, but some epidemiologists have speculated the new strain has been at least partially responsible for driving Manaus' second wave.

Jesem Orellana, an epidemiologist at public research institute Fiocruz Amazonia, said the rise of deaths in Manaus is not necessarily due to the coronavirus' new mutation.

'Since October, there has been a problem of overcrowding in hospitals. People don't get to arrive early and end up being admitted late to the hospital, in a more deteriorated state,' Orellana told The Associated Press.

'Everywhere there is a chaotic situation, lethality is higher, but not necessarily due to the severity of the infectious agent, but rather due to other factors: there are fewer doctors, health professionals are tired, medications are lacking and ICUs are overwhelmed,' Orellana added. 'All this creates a climate that favors premature death.'
The tenth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Wednesday to break the over-a-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws. 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, are holding the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

The tenth round of talks was initially scheduled on January 19, but later got postponed to Wednesday. In the last round of talks, the government had asked protesting farmers to prepare a concrete proposal about their objections and suggestions on the three farm laws for further discussion at their next meeting to end the long-running protest. But, unions stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three Acts.

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. Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

On January 11, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.

Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.

On Tuesday, the SC panel held its first meeting in the national capital. Under attack from protesting unions for their "pro-government" public stand on three contentious farm laws, the members of the committee said that they would keep aside their own ideology and views while consulting various stakeholders, even as they indicated a complete repeal won't augur well for much-needed agriculture reforms.

Earlier in the day, a group of farm union leaders met top officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police to discuss the route and arrangements for their tractor rally on January 26 to protest against the three farm laws.

Also read: Delhi Police should take decision on farmers' Republic Day tractor rally: SC tells Centre

The province's police watchdog has charged a Manitoba First Nations Police Service officer with assault.

The province's police watchdog has charged a Manitoba First Nations Police Service officer with assault.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba announced Tuesday the officer was also charged with mischief and breach of undertaking under the Criminal Code of Canada, after an investigation that began Nov. 5, 2020.

The IIU laid the charges, saying its civilian director was satisfied there were reasonable grounds a criminal offence had occurred.

No further information was released. In November, the IIU reported an off-duty MFNPS officer had been arrested after Portage la Prairie RCMP responded to an assault call in that community.

Const. Jason Conrad Bushie has been released on an undertaking and will appear in provincial court Feb. 9 in Portage.

The IIU has the authority to investigate and charge police officers it finds have committed offences during the course of their duties or while off-duty.

However, it is rare for a police officer to be charged.

A Free Press investigation in 2018 found in the first four years of the IIU's existence, and after 153 investigations, only eight officers had been charged.

Most are either cleared by the IIU, with decisions on shootings or assaults saying force was justified, while some are concluded with not enough evidence to charge or Crown attorneys reviewing the evidence and not believing there was a likelihood of conviction.

Two RCMP and one Winnipeg police officer were charged by the IIU in June 2019; another eight officers have been charged for various offences since that time.
A Volkswagen Passatt erupted into a cloud of smoke when it tried to tow a 15-tonne lorry along a busy road, footage has revealed.

Ben Fletcher filmed the heavy flatbed Scania lorry being reluctantly dragged by a two-litre Volkswagen along a road in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

The bizarre clip showed the car revving heavily as it initially struggled to move the lorry off the single carriageway.

A metal rope was attached to the car's tow bar and the front of the lorry after it broke down along a busy stretch of road.

Ben Fletcher filmed the heavy flatbed Scania lorry being reluctantly dragged by a two-litre Volkswagen along a road in Coleraine, Northern Ireland

As the car crept forward it was pulled back by the weight of the lorry. The driver had to put his right foot to the floor three times before the lorry started to move

The yellow and green vehicle had its hazard lights flashing to warn drivers there was an issue.

As the car crept forward it was pulled back by the weight of the lorry. The driver had to put his right foot to the floor three times before the lorry started to move.

As the engine was brought to its peak the car's wheels started to burn from intense friction against the road.

The bizarre clip showed the car revving heavily as it initially struggled to move the lorry off the single carriageway

The car brought the lorry onto the side of the road very gradually as relieved drivers sped past. Smoke billowed from the car as the clip ended

Mr Fletcher posted the clip on TikTok on Monday captioned: 'Not bad for a 2.0 litre towing a 15 ton.' Stephen Jenkins wrote under the post: 'I'd drag that and the truck VW power'

The car brought the lorry onto the side of the road very gradually as relieved drivers sped past.

Smoke billowed from the car as the clip ended.

Mr Fletcher posted the clip on TikTok on Monday captioned: 'Not bad for a 2.0 litre towing a 15 ton.'

Stephen Jenkins wrote under the post: 'I'd drag that and the truck VW power'.

Mark Mcgreevy said: 'Totally worth needing two front tyres and a new clutch and flywheel.'

Aaron Platt wrote: 'That will have left its trade mark on the clutch.' Johnny O'Neill said: 'Someone's gonna need a clutch and front tyres lol.'
Tehran has accused Washington of "hostage taking" after an Iranian political scientist was arrested in the United States and accused of being an agent of Iran's government.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh made the accusation on January 20, a day after U.S. authorities announced the arrest of Kaveh Afrasiabi, an Iranian citizen with U.S. permanent residency.

The Justice Department said Afrasiabi was arrested at his home in Watertown, Massachusetts, on January 18 on charges of "acting and conspiring to act as an unregistered agent" of Tehran.

If convicted on both charges, Afrasiabi faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

"For over a decade, Kaveh Afrasiabi pitched himself to Congress, journalists, and the American public as a neutral and objective expert on Iran," John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, said in a statement on January 19.

Demers said that Afrasiabi "was actually a secret employee of the government of Iran and the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations...who was being paid to spread their propaganda."

Khatibzadeh dismissed the accusations against Afrasiabi as baseless and referred to him as a "well-known university lecturer."

The spokesman expressed hope the new U.S. administration, which took over on January 20 following the inauguration of President Joe Biden, would "distance itself" from President Donald Trump's "hostage-taking approach."

News of Afrasiabi's arrest followed reports that Iranian authorities had convicted an Iranian-American businessman on spying charges.

Iranian media reports identified the convict as Emad Sharqi and described him as the deputy head for international affairs at an Iranian venture-capital company called Sarava.

Washington and Tehran have exchanged several prisoners in recent years, during which Iran authorities have jailed several Americans on alleged spying charges dismissed by the United States as baseless.

With reporting by AFP and ISNA
President Trump issued a long list of pardons and commutations as one of his last acts in office early Wednesday.

Trump, who will depart the White House in the morning, pardoned 73 people and commuted the sentences of 70 more.

Among the pardons are Steve Bannon, Trump's former campaign manager, rappers Kodak Black and Lil Wayne, as well as his former fundraiser Elliott Broidy.

The full list includes:

Todd Boulanger: President Trump granted a full pardon to Todd Boulanger. Mr. Boulanger's pardon is supported by numerous friends, as well as by past and present business associates. In 2008, Mr. Boulanger pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. He has taken full responsibility for his conduct. Mr. Boulanger is a veteran of the United States Army Reserves and was honorably discharged. He has also received an award from the City of the District of Columbia for heroism for stopping and apprehending an individual who assaulted an elderly woman with a deadly weapon on Capitol Hill. Mr. Boulanger is known as a model member of his community. In addition, he is remorseful for his actions and would like to leave his mistakes behind him.

Abel Holtz: President Trump granted a full pardon to Abel Holtz. This pardon is supported by Representative Mario Diaz-Balart and friends and business colleagues in his community. Mr. Holtz is currently 86 years old. In 1995, he pled guilty to one count of impeding a grand jury investigation and was sentenced to 45 days in prison. Before his conviction, Mr. Holtz, who was the Chairman of a local bank, never had any legal issues and has had no other legal issues since his conviction. Mr. Holtz has devoted extensive time and resources to supporting charitable causes in South Florida, including substantial donations to the City of Miami Beach.

Rick Renzi, a former congressman who served three years for corruption, money laundering and other charges

Representative Rick Renzi  President Trump granted a full pardon to Representative Rick Renzi of Arizona. Mr. Renzi's pardon is supported by Representative Paul Gosar, Representative Tom Cole, former Representative Tom DeLay, former Representative Jack Kingston, former Representative Todd Tiahrt, former Representative John Doolittle, former Representative Duncan Hunter Sr., former Representative Richard Pombo, former Representative Charles Taylor, former Representative Dan Burton, Larry Weitzner, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, and numerous other members of his community. In 2013, Mr. Renzi was convicted of extortion, bribery, insurance fraud, money laundering, and racketeering. He was sentenced to 2 years in Federal prison, 2 years of supervised release, and paid a $25,000 fine. Before his conviction, Mr. Renzi served three terms in the House of Representatives. His constituents considered him a strong advocate for better housing, quality education, and improved healthcareespecially for the underprivileged and Native Americans. He is the father of 12 children and a loving and devoted husband.

Ken Kurson, a friend of Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner (pictured together) who was charged last with cyberstalking his ex-wife

Kenneth Kurson: President Trump granted a full pardon to Kenneth Kurson. Prosecutors have charged Mr. Kurson with cyberstalking related to his divorce from his ex-wife in 2015. In a powerful letter to the prosecutors, Mr. Kurson's ex-wife wrote on his behalf that she never wanted this investigation or arrest and, 'repeatedly asked for the FBI to drop it I hired a lawyer to protect me from being forced into yet another round of questioning. My disgust with this arrest and the subsequent articles is bottomless' This investigation only began because Mr. Kurson was nominated to a role within the Trump Administration. He has been a community leader in New York and New Jersey for decades. In addition, Mr. Kurson is a certified foster parent, a successful business owner, and is passionate about various charitable causes. Mr. Kurson is an upstanding citizen and father to five beautiful children.

Casey Urlacher: President Trump granted a full pardon to Casey Urlacher. This pardon is supported by his friends and family, and countless members of his community. Mr. Urlacher has been charged with conspiracy to engage in illegal gambling. Throughout his life, Mr. Urlacher has been committed to public service and has consistently given back to his community. Currently, Mr. Urlacher serves as the unpaid Mayor of Mettawa, Illinois. He is a devoted husband to his wife and a loving father to his 17-month old daughter.

Carl Andrews Boggs: President Trump granted a full pardon to Carl Andrews Boggs. This pardon is supported by the Honorable David Lee and South Carolina Department of Transportation Chairman Tony Cox. In 2013, Mr. Boggs pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy. Since his release, Mr. Boggs has rebuilt his company, has employed hundreds of people, and has dedicated countless hours and financial resources to his community.

Jaime A. Davidson: President Trump commuted the sentence of Jaime A. Davidson. This commutation is supported by Mr. Davidson's family and friends, Alice Johnson, and numerous others. In 1993, Mr. Davidson was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in relation to the murder of an undercover officer. Notably, witnesses who testified against Mr. Davidson later recanted their testimony in sworn affidavits and further attested that Mr. Davidson had no involvement. Although Mr. Davidson has been incarcerated for nearly 29 years, the admitted shooter has already been released from prison. Following the commutation of his sentence, Mr. Davidson will continue legal efforts to clear his name. In addition, while incarcerated, Mr. Davidson mentored and tutored over 1,000 prisoners to help them achieve their GED certificates. Mr. Davidson has earned praise from prison officials for his dedication to helping others.

James E. Johnson, Jr.: President Trump granted a full pardon to James E. Johnson, Jr. In 2008, Mr. Johnson pled guilty to charges related to migratory birds. Mr. Johnson received 1 year probation, was barred from hunting during that period, and a $7,500 fine was imposed. Throughout his life, Mr. Johnson has made numerous contributions for the conservation of wildlife.

Tommaso Buti: President Trump granted a full pardon to Tommaso Buti. Mr. Buti is an Italian citizen and a respected businessman. He is the Chief Operating Officer of a large Italian company and has started a successful charitable initiative to raise funds for UNICEF. More than 20 years ago, Mr. Buti was charged with financial fraud involving a chain of restaurants. He has not, however, been convicted in the United States.

Rapper Kodak Black also was pardoned. He has been in prison for making a false statement on a federal document

Bill K. Kapri: President Trump granted a commutation to Bill Kapri, more commonly known as Kodak Black. Kodak Black is a prominent artist and community leader. This commutation is supported by numerous religious leaders, including Pastor Darrell Scott and Rabbi Schneur Kaplan. Additional supporters include Bernie Kerik, Hunter Pollack, Gucci Mane, Lil Pump, Lil Yachty, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, Jack Brewer formerly of the National Football League, and numerous other notable community leaders. Kodak Black was sentenced to 46 months in prison for making a false statement on a Federal document. He has served nearly half of his sentence. Before his conviction and after reaching success as a recording artist, Kodak Black became deeply involved in numerous philanthropic efforts. In fact, he has committed to supporting a variety of charitable efforts, such as providing educational resources to students and families of fallen law enforcement officers and the underprivileged. In addition to these efforts, he has paid for the notebooks of school children, provided funding and supplies to daycare centers, provided food for the hungry, and annually provides for underprivileged children during Christmas. Most recently while still incarcerated, Kodak Black donated $50,000 to David Portnoy's Barstool Fund, which provides funds to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kodak Black's only request was that his donation go toward restaurants in his hometown.

Jawad A. Musa: President Trump commuted the sentence of Jawad A. Musa. In 1991, Mr. Musa was sentence to life imprisonment for a non-violent, drug-related offense. Mr. Musa's sentencing judge and the prosecutor on the case have both requested clemency on his behalf. He is currently 56-years old. During his time in prison, Mr. Musa has strengthened his faith and taken dozens of educational courses. Mr. Musa is blessed with a strong supportive network in Baltimore, Maryland and has numerous offers of employment.

Adriana Shayota: President Trump commuted the sentence of Adriana Shayota. Ms. Shayota has served more than half of her 24 month sentence. The Deputy Mayor of Chula Vista, California, John McCann, supports this commutation, among other community leaders. Ms. Shayota is a mother and a deeply religious woman who had no prior convictions. She was convicted of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, commit copyright infringement, and introduce misbranded food into interstate commerce. During her time in prison, Ms. Shayota mentored those who wanted to improve their lives and demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to rehabilitation.

Glen Moss: President Trump granted a full pardon to Glen Moss. After pleading guilty in 1998, Mr. Moss has been a vital member of his community. Mr. Moss has been committed to numerous philanthropic efforts at the national level, including St Jude's Hospital for Children, Breast Cancer Awareness, and the Colon Cancer Foundation. Within his community, he has contributed to Danbury Hospital and Ann's Place, a community-based cancer support center.

Former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski

Anthony Levandowski: President Trump granted a full pardon to Anthony Levandowski. This pardon is strongly supported by James Ramsey, Peter Thiel, Miles Ehrlich, Amy Craig, Michael Ovitz, Palmer Luckey, Ryan Petersen, Ken Goldberg, Mike Jensen, Nate Schimmel, Trae Stephens, Blake Masters, and James Proud, among others. Mr. Levandowski is an American entrepreneur who led Google's efforts to create self-driving technology. Mr. Levandowski pled guilty to a single criminal count arising from civil litigation. Notably, his sentencing judge called him a 'brilliant, groundbreaking engineer that our country needs.' Mr. Levandowski has paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good.

Aviem Sella: President Trump granted a full pardon to Aviem Sella. Mr. Sella is an Israeli citizen who was indicted in 1986 for espionage in relation to the Jonathan Pollard case. Mr. Sella's request for clemency is supported by the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer, the United States Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, and Miriam Adelson. The State of Israel has issued a full and unequivocal apology, and has requested the pardon in order to close this unfortunate chapter in U.S.-Israel relations.

Michael Liberty: President Trump granted a full pardon to Michael Liberty. Mr. Liberty's request for clemency is supported by Representative Susan Austin, Matthew E. Sturgis, and Anthony Fratianne. In 2016 Mr. Liberty was convicted for campaign finance violations and later was indicted for related offenses. Mr. Liberty is the father of 7 children and has been involved in numerous philanthropic efforts.

Greg Reyes: President Trump granted a full pardon to Greg Reyes. This pardon is supported by Shon Hopwood, former United States Attorney Brett Tolman, and numerous others. Mr. Reyes was the former CEO of Brocade Communications. Mr. Reyes was convicted of securities fraud. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, however, threw out his convictions, finding prosecutorial misconduct. He was later retried, convicted, and sentenced to 18 months in Federal prison. Mr. Reyes has accepted full responsibility for his actions and has been out of prison for more than 8 years.

Ferrell Damon Scott: President Trump commuted the sentence of Ferrell Damon Scott. This commutation is supported by former Acting United States Attorney Sam Sheldon, who prosecuted his case and wrote that he ' strongly does not believe that [Mr. Scott] deserves a mandatory life sentence.' Ms. Alice Johnson, the CAN-DO Foundation, and numerous others also support clemency for Mr. Scott. Mr. Scott has served nearly 9 years of a life imprisonment sentence for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Under today's sentencing guidelines, it is likely that Mr. Scott would not have received such a harsh sentence.

Jerry Donnell Walden: President Trump commuted the sentence of Jerry Donnell Walden. Mr. Walden has served 23 years of a 40-year prison sentence. He is known as a model inmate who completed his GED while incarcerated, as well as various other education classes.

Jeffrey Alan Conway: President Trump granted a full pardon to Jeffrey Alan Conway. Mr. Conway's pardon is strongly supported by his business partners Gary N. Solomon and Ely Hurwitz, members of law enforcement, and numerous other members of the community. Since his release from prison, Mr. Conway has led a successful life and currently runs 10 restaurant businesses that employ nearly 500 people. Mr. Conway is active in his community and in various philanthropic efforts.

Benedict Olberding: President Trump granted a full pardon to Benedict Olberding. Mr. Olberding was convicted on one count of bank fraud. Mr. Olberding is an upstanding member of the community who has paid his debt to society. After completing his sentence, he purchased two aquarium stores, as well as a consulting business to train prospective mortgage brokers.

Syrita Steib-Martin: President Trump granted a full pardon to Syrita Steib-Martin. This clemency is supported by Ben Watson formerly of the National Football League, Judge Sandra Jenkins of the Louisiana state courts, and Sister Marjorie Herbert, who serves as President and CEO of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, among many others. Ms. Steib-Martin was convicted at the age of 19 and sentenced to 10 years in prison and nearly $2 million in restitution for the use of fire to commit a felony. After her release from prison, she became an advocate for criminal justice reform and founded Operation Restoration, which helps transition women prisoners after incarceration by providing education opportunities and job placement. With today's pardon, Ms. Steib-Martin is relieved of the crushing restitution she incurred at such a young age.

Michael Ashley: President Trump commuted the sentence of Michael Ashley. This commutation is supported by Professor Alan Dershowitz, Pastor Darrel Scott, Rabbi Zvi Boyarski, The Aleph Institute, Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi, Gary Apfel, and Bradford Cohen. Mr. Ashley was convicted and sentenced to 3 years in prison for bank fraud. Notably, Mr. Ashley's sentencing judge said, 'I don't have any concern that you are not truly remorseful. I know that you are a changed man.' Since his conviction, Mr. Ashley has spent time caring for his ailing mother and paying his debt back to society.

Lou Hobbs: President Trump commuted the sentence of Lou Hobbs. Mr. Hobbs has served 24 years of his life sentence. While incarcerated, Mr. Hobbs completed his GED as well as various other education classes. Mr. Hobbs is dedicated to improving his life and is focused on his family and friends who have assisted him during difficult times.

Matthew Antoine Canady: President Trump commuted the sentence of Matthew Antoine Canady. This commutation is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Canady had an unstable childhood and all of his prior drug-related convictions occurred during his teenage years. Mr. Canady worked hard to move beyond his challenging circumstances and has demonstrated extraordinary rehabilitation while in custody. He has maintained clear conduct while incarcerated and has notably taken advantage of significant vocational programs, including an electrical apprenticeship. He receives 'outstanding' work reports and is described as 'hardworking' and 'respectful' by the Bureau of Prisons staff. Mr. Canady takes full responsibility for his criminal actions and would like to find gainful employment to help support his children.

Duke Cunningham, a former GOP congressman who accepted $2.4million in bribes from defense contractors

Randall 'Duke' Cunningham  President Trump granted a conditional pardon to Randall 'Duke' Cunningham who was released from prison in 2013. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich strongly supports this pardon. Mr. Cunningham, a former California Congressman, was sentenced to over 8 years' imprisonment for accepting bribes while he held public office. During his time in prison, Mr. Cunningham tutored other inmates to help them achieve their GED. Mr. Cunningham is a combat veteran, an ace fighter pilot, and a member of the Military Order of Purple Hearts. Although combat-disabled, he continues to serve his community by volunteering with a local fire department and is active in Bible Study.

Mario Claiborne: President Trump commuted the sentence of Mario Claiborne. This commutation is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Claiborne is serving life imprisonment and has already served more than 28 years in prison. For more than 20 years, Mr. Claiborne has maintained clear conduct. Mr. Claiborne currently works for a UNICOR facility and has completed rehabilitative programming, including drug education.

Rodney Nakia Gibson: President Trump commuted the sentence of Rodney Nakia Gibson. This commutation is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. In 2009, Mr. Gibson was convicted of trafficking drugs. Mr. Gibson is a first time, non-violent offender who has been a 'model inmate' for more than 11 years in custody. In addition, he has maintained clear conduct and works with other inmates to help them obtain the important benefits of a GED. He has an impressive list of programming accomplishments, including apprenticeships and professional certifications which will readily translate into employable skills upon release. Mr. Gibson accepts responsibility for his actions.

Tom Leroy Whitehurst: President Trump commuted the sentence of Tom Leroy Whitehurst from life to 30 years. This clemency is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Whitehurst led a conspiracy to manufacture at least 16.7 kilograms of methamphetamine and possessed numerous firearms during the course of the conspiracy. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment under the then-mandatory Sentencing Guidelines. Mr. Whitehurst has served nearly 24 years in prison. While incarcerated, he has demonstrated exemplary prison conduct by incurring just a single disciplinary infraction over two decades ago and holding a UNICOR position for much of his incarceration.

Monstsho Eugene Vernon: President Trump commuted the sentence of Monstsho Eugene Vernon. This commutation is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Vernon has served over 19 years in prison for committing a string of armed bank robberies in Greenville, South Carolina. Evidence showed that numerous of these offenses involved him carrying BB guns rather than genuine firearms. While incarcerated, Mr. Vernon has worked steadily, programmed well, and recovered from a bout of cancer.

Luis Fernando Sicard: President Trump commuted the sentence of Luis Fernando Sicard. This commutation is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Sicard was sentenced in 2000 for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He has served 20 years with clear conduct. Mr. Sicard has participated in substantial programming, including a number of vocational courses. Currently, Mr. Sicard works in the camp vehicular factory and previously worked in UNICOR earning 'outstanding' work reports, and he also volunteers in the inmate puppy program. Importantly, Mr. Sicard takes full responsibility for his criminal actions. Mr. Sicard is a former Marine and father of two girls.

DeWayne Phelps: President Trump commuted the sentence of DeWayne Phelps. This commutation is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Phelps has served 11 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. He has served over a decade in prison with clear conduct, has trained as a dental apprentice, participated in UNICOR, and is noted as being a reliable inmate capable of being assigned additional responsibilities. Most notably, Mr. Phelps's sentence would unquestionably be lower today under the First Step Act.

Isaac Nelson: President Trump commuted the sentence of Isaac Nelson. This commutation is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Nelson is serving a mandatory 20 year sentence for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. Following the First Step Act's changes to the definition of serious drug felony, Mr. Nelson would no longer receive a mandatory minimum term of 20 years' imprisonment. Instead, he would likely face a 10-year sentence. He has already served more than 11 years in prison. Throughout his incarceration, he appears to have demonstrated commendable adjustment to custody.

Traie Tavares Kelly: President Trump commuted the sentence of Traie Tavares Kelly. This commutation is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Kelly was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. He has served over 14 years in prison, but if he were sentenced today, he would likely be subject only to 10-year mandatory minimum. Moreover, Mr. Kelly has substantial work history while incarcerated and his notable accomplishments in education and programming demonstrate that he has used his time to maximize his chance at being a productive citizen upon release.

Javier Gonzales: President Trump commuted the sentence of Javier Gonzales. This commutation is supported by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Gonzales was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine in 2005. He has served over 14 years in prison, which is 4 years longer than the 10-year sentence he would likely receive today. He has a demonstrated record of rehabilitation during his incarceration, including steady employment, with substantial UNCIOR experience, and participation in vocational programming and training to facilitate his successful reintegration into the workforce upon release. He also has no history of violent conduct. Mr. Gonzales has actively addressed his admitted substance abuse issues with nonresidential drug treatment and participation in the residential program.

Eric Wesley Patton: President Trump granted a full pardon to Eric Wesley Patton. This pardon is supported by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Patton was convicted of making a false statement on a mortgage application in 1999. In the 20 years since his conviction, Mr. Patton has worked hard to build a sterling reputation, been a devoted parent, and made solid contributions to his community by quietly performing good deeds for friends, neighbors, and members of his church.

Robert William Cawthon: President Trump granted a full pardon to Robert William Cawthon. His pardon is supported by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Cawthon was convicted in 1992 for making a false statement on a bank loan application and was sentenced to 3 years' probation, conditioned upon 180 days' home confinement. Mr. Cawthon has accepted responsibility for his offense, served his sentence without incident, and fulfilled his restitution obligation. His atonement has been exceptional, and since his conviction he has led an unblemished life while engaging in extensive, praiseworthy community service.

Hal Knudson Mergler: President Trump granted a full pardon to Hal Knudson Mergler. This pardon is supported by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Mergler was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in 1992. He received 1 month imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution. Since his conviction, Mr. Mergler has lived a productive and law-abiding life, including by earning a college degree, creating a successful business career, and starting a family. He has made significant contributions to his community and has helped to build a new school for a non-profit charitable organization. He is uniformly praised as a hardworking and ethical businessman and a caring father.

Gary Evan Hendler: President Trump granted a full pardon to Gary Evan Hendler. This pardon is supported by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. In 1984, Mr. Hendler was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and served 3 years' probation for his crime. He is remorseful and has taken full responsibility for his criminal actions. In the 40 years since his conviction, Mr. Hendler has lived a law-abiding life and has positively contributed to his community. He is financially stable and owns a successful real estate business. Most notably, he has helped others recover from addiction. Since 1982, he has organized and led weekly AA meetings. He also has mentored many individuals on their journey to sobriety with his radio broadcasts. His former probation officer noted that Mr. Hendler had become 'integral' in the lives of many members of the community who were dealing with substance abuse issues. Further, his efforts in addiction and recovery have been recognized by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, who recently appointed him to a state advisory council on drug and alcohol abuse.

John Harold Wall: President Trump granted a full pardon to John Harold Wall. This pardon is supported by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the former United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota Andrew M. Luger, and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Wall was convicted of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 1992. He completed a 60 month prison sentence with 4 years' supervised release.

Steven Samuel Grantham: President Trump granted a full pardon to Steven Samuel Grantham. This pardon is supported by Mr. Grantham's friends and family who praise his moral character, Acting Attorney Jeffrey Rosen, former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Grantham was convicted in 1967 for stealing a vehicle. He received 18-months imprisonment, and 2 years' probation. Since his conviction and release from prison, he has demonstrated remorse and accepted responsibility for his crime, which he committed approximately 50 years ago when he was just 19 years old. Mr. Grantham has lived a law-abiding and stable life. Most notably, he stepped in and assumed custody of his grandchild when the child's parents were unable to care for him. He now seeks a pardon for forgiveness and to restore his gun rights.

Clarence Olin Freeman: President Trump granted a full pardon to Clarence Olin Freeman. This pardon is supported by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Freeman was convicted in 1965 for operating an illegal whiskey still. He received 9 months imprisonment and 5 years' probation. Since his conviction and release from prison, Mr. Freeman has led a law-abiding life. He has expressed sincere remorse for his illegal activity and remains mindful of the valuable lesson his conviction taught him. In the approximately 55 years since his conviction, he has built a stable marriage, founded a thriving business, and contributed positively to his community. He has earned a reputation for honesty, hard work, and generosity.

Fred Keith Alford: President Trump granted a full pardon to Fred Keith Alford. This pardon is supported by former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Mr. Alford was convicted in 1977 for a firearm violation and served 1 year's unsupervised probation. Since his conviction, he has established a stable and law-abiding life and earned a commendable reputation in his small town as a man of great skill, dedication, and integrity.

John Knock, right, a marijuana offender who had previously lobbied for a pardon from President Obama

John Knock: President Trump commuted the sentence of John Knock. This commutation is supported by his family. Mr. Knock is a 73 year-old man, a first-time, non-violent marijuana only offender, who has served 24 years of a life sentence. Mr. Knock has an exemplary prison history, during which he completed college accounting classes and has had zero incident reports.

Kenneth Charles Fragoso: President Trump commuted the sentence of Kenneth Charles Fragoso. Mr. Fragoso is a 66 year-old United States Navy veteran who has served more than 30 years of a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense. Mr. Fragoso has an exemplary prison history and has worked for UNICOR for over 20 years, learned new trades, and has mentored fellow inmates.

Luis Gonzalez: President Trump commuted the sentence of Luis Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez is a 78 year-old non-violent drug offender who has served more than 27 years of a life sentence. Under the First Step Act, Mr. Fragoso would not have been subject to a mandatory life sentence. Mr. Gonzalez has an upstanding prison record and has worked for UNICOR for over 20 years producing military uniforms.

Anthony DeJohn: President Trump commuted the sentence of Anthony DeJohn. Mr. DeJohn has served more than 13 years of a life sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Mr. DeJohn has maintained a clear disciplinary record and has been recognized for his outstanding work ethic while incarcerated. Mr. DeJohn has employment and housing available to him upon release.

Corvain Cooper: President Trump commuted the sentence of Mr. Corvain Cooper. Mr. Cooper is a 41 year-old father of two girls who has served more than 7 years of a life sentence for his non-violent participation in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

Way Quoe Long, pictured, had served nearly half of a 50-year sentence on drugs charges

Way Quoe Long: President Trump commuted the sentence of Way Quoe Long. Mr. Long is a 58 year-old who has served nearly half of a 50-year sentence for a non-violent conviction for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana. Mr. Long has spent his incarceration striving to better himself through English proficiency classes and by obtaining his GED. Upon release, Mr. Long will reunite with his family and will be strongly supported as he integrates back into the community.

Michael Pelletier: President Trump commuted the sentence of Michael Pelletier. Mr. Pelletier is a 64 year-old who has served 12 years of a 30 year sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Mr. Pelletier has maintained a clear disciplinary record, has thrived as an artist working with oil paints on canvas, and has taken several courses to perfect his skill while incarcerated. Upon his release, Mr. Pelletier will have a meaningful place of employment and housing with his brother.

Craig Cesal: President Trump commuted the sentence of Craig Cesal. Mr. Cesal is a father of two, one of whom unfortunately passed away while he was serving his life sentence for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Mr. Cesal has had an exemplary disciplinary record and has become a paralegal assistant and a Eucharistic Minister in the Catholic Church to assist and guide other prisoners. Upon his release, Mr. Cesal looks forward to reintegrating back into society and to contributing to his community while living with his daughter with whom he has remained close. Mr. Cesal hopes to be a part of her upcoming wedding.

Darrell Frazier: President Trump commuted the sentence of Darrell Frazier. Mr. Frazier is a 60 year-old who has served 29 years of a life sentence for non-violent conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Mr. Frazier has had an exemplary disciplinary record in prison and has spent his time creating the Joe Johnson Tennis Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that provides free tennis lessons to hundreds of children in underserved communities. Upon his release, Mr. Frazier will have a meaningful place of employment and housing with his mother.

Lavonne Roach, a Native American woman who had served 23 years in prison on drugs charges

Lavonne Roach: President Trump commuted the sentence of Lavonne Roach. Ms. Roach has served 23 years of a 30-year sentence for non-violent drug charges. She has had an exemplary prison record and has tutored and mentored other prisoners. Ms. Roach has a strong family support system to help her transition back into the community.

Blanca Virgen: President Trump commuted the sentence of Blanca Virgen. Ms. Virgen has served 12 years of a 30 year sentence. Rather than accept a plea offer of 10 years, Ms. Virgen exercised her constitutional right to trial and received triple the amount of time the government offered her to plead. She has received countless achievement awards from her educational programming in prison. Upon her release, Ms. Virgen will return home to Mexico to care for her four children.

Robert Francis  President Trump commuted the sentence of Robert Francis. Mr. Francis has served 18 years of a life sentence for non-violent drug conspiracy charges. Mr. Francis has a spotless disciplinary record in prison and has been active in his efforts toward rehabilitation. Upon release, Mr. Francis, a father of 3, will live with his sister in Houston, Texas.

Brian Simmons  President Trump commuted the sentence of Brian Simmons. Mr. Simmons has served 5 years of a 15 year sentence for a non-violent conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana. Mr. Simmons has had an exemplary prison record and upon release will have strong support from his fiancee and his community.

Derrick Smith  President Trump commuted the sentence of Derrick Smith. Mr. Smith is a 53 year-old who has served more than 20 years of a nearly 30 year sentence for distribution of drugs to a companion who passed away. Mr. Smith is deeply remorseful for his role in this tragic death and has had an exemplary record while incarcerated. Mr. Smith intends to secure a construction job, care for his mother and his son, and rebuild his relationship with his two other children.

Raymond Hersman  President Trump commuted the sentence of Raymond Hersman. Mr. Hersman is a 55 year-old father of two who has served more than 9 years of a 20 year sentence. While incarcerated, Mr. Hersman has maintained a spotless disciplinary record, worked steadily, and participated in several programming and educational opportunities. Upon release, he looks forward to transitioning back into the community and leading a productive life with strong family support.

David Barren  President Trump commuted the sentence of David Barren. Mr. Barren is a father of 6 children. He has served 13 years of his life sentence in addition to 20 years for a non-violent drug conspiracy charge. Mr. Barren has maintained an exemplary prison record. Upon release, Mr. Barren looks forward to returning home to his family.

James Romans  President Trump commuted the sentence of James Romans. Mr. Romans is a father and a grandfather who received a life sentence without parole for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Mr. Romans has had an exemplary disciplinary record for the more than 10 years he has served, and has completed a long list of courses. He has already secured job opportunities that will help him successfully re-enter society.

Jonathon Braun  President Trump commuted the sentence of Jonathan Braun. Mr. Braun has served 5 years of a 10-year sentence for conspiracy to import marijuana and to commit money laundering. Upon his release, Mr. Braun will seek employment to support his wife and children.

Michael Harris  President Trump commuted the sentence of Michael Harris. Mr. Harris is a 59 year old who has served 30 years of a 25 year to life sentence for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Mr. Harris has had an exemplary prison record for three decades. He is a former entrepreneur and has mentored and taught fellow prisoners how to start and run businesses. He has completed courses towards business and journalism degrees. Upon his release, Mr. Harris will have a meaningful place of employment and housing with the support of his family.

Kyle Kimoto  President Trump commuted the sentence of Kyle Kimoto. Mr. Kimoto is a father of six who has served 12 years of his 29 year sentence for a non-violent telemarketing fraud scheme. Mr. Kimoto has been an exemplary prisoner, has held numerous jobs, shown remorse, and mentored other inmates in faith. Upon his release, he has a job offer and will help care for his six children and three grandchildren.

Chalana McFarland  President Trump commuted the sentence of Chalana McFarland. Ms. McFarland has served 15 years of a 30-year sentence. Though she went to trial, Ms. McFarland actually cooperated with authorities by informing them of a potential attack on the United States Attorney. Her co-defendants who pled guilty, however, received lesser sentences ranging from 5 to 87 months. Ms. McFarland was a model inmate and is now under home confinement.

Eliyahu Weinstein  President Trump commuted the sentence of Eliyahu Weinstein. This commutation is supported by former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman, former Representative Bob Barr, former U.S. Attorney Joseph Whittle, Professor Alan Dershowitz, Representative Mark Walker, Representative Scott Perry, Representative Jeff Van Drew, Jessica Jackson of the Reform Alliance, The Tzedek Association, Dr. Danny Feuer, and numerous victims who have written in support. Mr. Weinstein is the father of seven children and a loving husband. He is currently serving his eighth year of a 24-year sentence for a real estate investment fraud and has maintained an exemplary prison history. Upon his release, he will have strong support from his community and members of his faith.

John Estin Davis  President Trump commuted the sentence of John Estin Davis. This commutation is supported by Caroline Bryan, Luke Bryan, Ellen Boyer, Amy Davis, Kim Davis, Brandon McWherter, Sheila McWherter, Dr. Jeff Hall, Dr. Brad Maltz, Brent Ford, Mark Lotito, Keri Rowland, Mark Rowland, and Stephen Stock. Mr. Davis has spent the last 4 months incarcerated for serving as Chief Executive Office of a healthcare company with a financial conflict of interest. Notably, no one suffered financially as a result of his crime and he has no other criminal record. Prior to his conviction, Mr. Davis was well known in his community as an active supporter of local charities. He is described as hardworking and deeply committed to his family and country. Mr. Davis and his wife have been married for 15 years, and he is the father of three young children.

Alex Adjmi  President Trump granted a full pardon to Alex Adjmi. This pardon is supported by Haim Chera on behalf of his late father Stanley, Robert Cayre, the Sitt family and numerous other community leaders. In 1996, Mr. Adjmi was convicted of a financial crime and served 5 years in prison. Following his release, he has dedicated himself to his community and has supported numerous charitable causes, including support for children with special needs and substance recovery centers.

Elliott Broidy  President Trump granted a full pardon to Elliott Broidy. Mr. Broidy is the former Deputy National Finance Chair of the Republican National Committee. This pardon is supported by Representative Devin Nunes, Representative Ken Calvert, Representative Jack Bergman, Representative George Holding, Ambassador Ric Grenell, Bernie Marcus, Malcolm Hoenlein, Eric Branstad, Tom Hicks, Saul Fox, Lee Samson, Rabbi Steven Leder, Dr. Alveda King, Father Frank Pavone, Major General Clayton Hutmacher, Lieutenant General Bennet Sacolick, Mr. Bruce Brereton, Rabbi Steven Burg, Rabbi Pini Dunner, Rabbi Meyer May, and Rabbi Mordechai Suchard. Mr. Broidy was convicted on one count of conspiracy to serve as an unregistered agent of a foreign principal. Mr. Broidy is well known for his numerous philanthropic efforts, including on behalf of law enforcement, the military and veterans programs, and the Jewish community.

Stephen K. Bannon  President Trump granted a full pardon to Stephen Bannon. Prosecutors pursued Mr. Bannon with charges related to fraud stemming from his involvement in a political project. Mr. Bannon has been an important leader in the conservative movement and is known for his political acumen.

Douglas Jemal  President Trump granted a full pardon to Douglas Jemal. Mr. Jemal is an American businessman and philanthropist credited with rebuilding many urban inner cities in the United States. In 2008, Mr. Jemal was convicted of fraud. In addition, Mr. Jemal was instrumental to various other charitable causes, including the rebuilding of churches prior to his conviction. Notably, at his trial the presiding judge told prosecutors that he thought it 'inconceivable' to send Mr. Jemal to prison.

Noah Kleinman  President Trump commuted the sentence of Noah Kleinman. Mr. Kleinman is a 45-year old father of two children. The mother of his children unfortunately passed away during Mr. Kleinman's incarceration. Mr. Kleinman has served 6 years of a nearly 20 year sentence for a non-violent crime to distribute marijuana. Mr. Kleinman has had an exemplary prison history and has worked to remain close to his children and his father. Upon release, he looks forward to living with his father, working for the family business, and caring for his children.

Dr. Scott Harkonen  President Trump granted a full pardon Dr. Scott Harkonen. Dr. Harkonen was convicted of fraud based on a misleading caption in a press release with respect to a treatment for a disease. Dr. Harkonen is world renowned for his discovery of a new kidney disease, as well as its cause and treatment. Dr. Harkonen looks forward to returning to medicine.

Johnny D. Phillips, Jr.  President Trump granted a full pardon to Johnny D. Phillips, Jr. This pardon is supported by Senator Rand Paul, the former United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, and numerous members of his community. In 2016, Mr. Phillips was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. Mr. Phillips is known as an upstanding citizen and is a valued member of his community. He dedicates his time to his three young children and is an advocate for Type 1 diabetes research.

Mahmoud Reza Banki was cleared of violating a trade embargo with Iran, but still had convictions for making false statements

Dr. Mahmoud Reza Banki  President Trump granted a full pardon to Dr. Mahmoud Reza Banki. This pardon is supported by many elected officials of stature, including the late Representative John Lewis, Senator Diane Feinstein, and other Members of Congress. Dr. Banki is an Iranian American citizen who came to the United States when he was 18 years old. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, before obtaining a PhD from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2010 Dr. Banki was charged with monetary violations of Iranian sanctions and making false statements. The charges related to sanctions violations were subsequently overturned by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. However, the felony charges for making false statements have prevented Dr. Banki from resuming a full life. In the years since his conviction, Dr. Banki has dedicated himself to his community and maintained a sincere love and respect for the United States.

Tena Logan  President Trump commuted the sentence of Tena Logan. Ms. Logan has served 8 years of a 14-year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. She had an exemplary prison record with extensive work and programming, and has assumed several leadership positions. In addition, Ms. Logan was authorized to work outside the perimeter of the prison, and was granted home confinement under the CARES Act last summer. Today, Ms. Logan lives with her husband and works fulltime at a major retail store.

MaryAnne Locke  President Trump commuted the sentence of MaryAnne Locke. Ms. Locke has served roughly 11 years of a nearly 20 year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. Despite the difficulties of beginning her sentence just 6 weeks after having a Caesarean section, her prison record has been exemplary, with extensive programming and work. Ms. Locke was authorized to work outside the perimeter of the prison, and was granted home confinement under the CARES Act last summer. Today, she lives with her father, is building a relationship with her children, and works fulltime at a major retail store.

April Coots  President Trump commuted the sentence of April Coots. Ms. Coots has served more than 10 years of her 20-year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. Throughout her incarceration, she has been an exemplary inmate, obtained an HVAC license, and completed the PAWS apprenticeship program. During the 18 months before the trial, Ms. Coots started a business, completed her GED, and took two semesters of community college classes. Importantly, Ms. Coots has a supportive family and church community that will help her transition and create a stable network for her post-incarceration.

Caroline Yeats  President Trump commuted the sentence of Caroline Yeats. Ms. Yeats was a first-time, non-violent drug offender who has served nearly 7 years of a 20-year sentence. She has been an exemplary inmate who spends her time training service dogs as part of the PAWS program, mentoring other inmates, and she has been a committed member of her faith community. Upon her release, she plans on spending time with her husband of 30 years who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

Jodi Lynn Richter  President Trump commuted the sentence of Jodi Lynn Richter. Ms. Richter has served 10 years of a 15-year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. Ms. Richter has an exemplary prison record, and spends her time training service dogs in the PAWS program, tutoring other inmates in pursuit of their GED, and learning to operate a range of heavy machinery. Her parents have continued to support her and she has various employment opportunities available.

Kristina Bohnenkamp  President Trump commuted the sentence of Kristina Bohnenkamp. Notably, her warden recommended her for home confinement under the CARES Act. Ms. Bohnenkamp has served more than 10 years of a 24 year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. Ms. Bohnenkamp has been an exemplary inmate, with an excellent record of programming and UNICOR work, and she is authorized to work outside the prison perimeter. Upon her release, she is planning on spending time with her sister and brother-in-law and she has various employment opportunities available.

Mary Roberts  President Trump commuted the sentence of Mary Roberts. Ms. Roberts has served 10 years of a 19-year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. She has maintained an exemplary disciplinary record, and a strong programming and work history, including as a part of the PAWS program, UNICOR and food service, and she is authorized to work outside the prison perimeter. Upon her release, Ms. Roberts plans to spend time with her daughter and enjoys strong support from her family. In addition, she has various employment opportunities available.

Cassandra Ann Kasowski  President Trump commuted the sentence of Cassandra Ann Kasowski. Notably, her warden recommended her for home confinement under the CARES Act. Ms. Kasowski has served more than7 years of a 17 year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. She has been an exemplary inmate and has worked extensively, including as a part of the PAWS program and in UNICOR. Upon her release, she plans to spend time with her son and seek employment.

Lerna Lea Paulson  President Trump commuted the sentence of Lerna Lea Paulson. Notably, Ms. Paulson's warden recommended her for home confinement under the CARES Act. Ms. Paulson has served nearly 7 years of a 17-year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. During her time in prison, she has maintained an exemplary disciplinary record, has worked full-time in UNICOR, and served as a mental health counselor. In addition, she has served an inmate companion as well as a suicide watch companion. She is also authorized to work outside the prison perimeter. Upon her release, she plans on spending time with her family and seek employment.

Ann Butler  President Trump commuted the sentence of Ann Butler. Ms. Butler has served more than 10 years of a nearly 20-year sentence for a non-violent offense. She has an exemplary prison record, with extensive programming and work history and has garnered outstanding evaluations. In addition, she is extraordinarily devoted to her faith. At the time of her arrest, Ms. Butler was caring for five children and held two minimum-wage jobs. Upon her release, Ms. Butler wishes to reunite with her family and seek employment.

Sydney Navarro  President Trump commuted the sentence of Sydney Navarro. Ms. Navarro has served nearly 8 years of a 27-year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. She has an exemplary prison record. In addition, Ms. Navarro obtained her GED, participated in extensive program work, and earned excellent work evaluations. Notably, Ms. Navarro was chosen to speak to at-risk youth in the community through the SHARE program. Upon her release, Ms. Navarro wishes to reunite with her daughter and seek employment.

Tara Perry  President Trump commuted the sentence of Tara Perry. Ms. Perry has served nearly 7 years of a 16-year sentence for a non-violent drug offense. She has maintained an exemplary prison record and has obtained her nursing certification. Ms. Perry also enjoys singing during the prison religious services. Upon her release, Ms. Perry plans to spend time with her mother and seek employment.

John Nystrom  President Trump granted a full pardon to John Nystrom, who, other than this conviction, was described by his sentencing judge as a 'model citizen.' His clemency is supported by Governor Kristi Noem and Senator Michael Rounds. Over 10 years ago, while working as a contractor on a school reconstruction project, Mr. Nystrom failed to alert the proper authorities when he learned that a subcontractor was receiving double payments for work performed. Mr. Nystrom took full responsibility for this oversight and even tried to pay the Crowe Creek Tribe, who was paying for the work, restitution before he pled guilty. Mr. Nystrom has since paid his restitution in full. Mr. Nystrom teaches Sunday school and volunteers for the Knights of Columbus and Habitat for Humanity, among other organizations, and has previously served as County Commissioner.

Gregory Jorgensen, Deborah Jorgensen, Martin Jorgensen  President Trump granted full pardons to Gregory and Deborah Jorgensen, and a posthumous pardon to Martin Jorgensen. Governor Kristi Noem and Senator Mike Rounds support clemency for this family, which has an exemplary record of service to their community. In the 1980's, Gregory and his father, Martin, gathered a group of South Dakota cattle producers to market and sold processed beef. The Jorgensen's marketed their beef under the Dakota Lean brand and sold the premium product as heart-healthy and antibiotic- and hormone-free. When demand outstripped supply, Gregory, Deborah, and Martin mixed in inferior, commercial beef trim and knowingly sold misbranded beef. Since their convictions in 1996, the Jorgensen's have served their community devotedly. Gregory was elected twice to the Tripp County Board of Commissioners and spearheaded infrastructure projects to improve access for Native American communities. Deborah is a lifelong member of a non-profit dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for women. And Martin was named National Beef Cattleman's Association Businessman of the Year. The Jorgensens have shown remorse for their previous action, and in light of decades of exemplary public service, they are well deserving of these pardons.

Jessica Frease  President Trump granted a full pardon to Jessica Frease. This pardon is supported by Governor Kristi Noem, South Dakota State Senator Lynne Hix-DiSanto, the United States Probation Officer responsible for Ms. Frease's supervision, and many in her community. Ms. Frease was 20 years old when she was convicted after converting stolen checks and negotiating them through the bank where she worked as a teller. Upon her arrest, however, she immediately relinquished the stolen funds to the authorities. After serving her two year sentence, she was granted early termination of her supervised release due to her commendable conduct. Currently, Ms. Frease is studying to become an Emergency Medical Technician and devotes her time and energy to raising funds for cancer patients.

Robert Cannon 'Robin' Hayes  President Trump granted a full pardon to Robert Cannon 'Robin' Hayes. The former North Carolina Congressman is serving a 1-year term of probation for making a false statement in the course of a Federal investigation. In addition to his years in Congress, Mr. Hayes has served as Chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and Chair of the National Council of Republican Party Chairs. Senator Thom Tillis and several members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation strongly support clemency for Mr. Hayes.

Thomas Kenton 'Ken' Ford  President Trump granted a full pardon to Ken Ford, a 38-year veteran of the coal industry and currently the General Manager of a coal company. Mr. Ford's pardon is supported by members of the coal mining community, including those with extensive experience in mining operations, safety, and engineering, who describe Mr. Ford as a 'model manager' who conducts himself with the utmost professionalism and integrity. Twenty years ago, Mr. Ford made a material misstatement to Federal mining officials. Mr. Ford pled guilty and served a sentence of 3 years' probation. In the decades since, Mr. Ford has been an upstanding member of his community and has used this experience and his decades of expertise to keep miners safe, including promoting truthfulness and integrity with Federal mining officials, for whom Mr. Ford states that he has the 'utmost respect.'

Jon Harder  President Trump commuted the sentence of Jon Harder, former President and CEO of Sunwest Management Inc., who has served nearly 5 years of a 15-year prison sentence. Notable figures, including the Honorable Michael Hogan who served as the Federal judge overseeing Sunwest's bankruptcy and receivership, Ford Elsaesser who served as counsel to Sunwest's creditors in receivership, and multiple other individuals involved in the litigation support Mr. Harder's commutation. Mr. Harder was serving as president and CEO of Sunwest Management Inc., a large management company overseeing residential senior care facilities, when he misused investment funds during the real estate crisis. Mr. Harder fully accepted responsibility, pled guilty, and cooperated with the government's civil and criminal actions against him at great personal cost. According to former Chief Judge Hogan, Mr. Harder's full cooperation 'against his substantial financial and penal interests' helped secure the sale of the company's assets, ensuring that Sunwest's investors recovered more of their investment, seniors could continue living in their facilities, and employees could retain their livelihoods. Mr. Elsaesser stated that 'of all the financial wrongdoers that [the court and the Government] dealt with during the real estate crash of 2008, Mr. Harder acted more responsibly than any of his 'peers.' President Trump commends Mr. Harder for choosing to put his employees, investors, and the senior citizens residing in Sunwest's homes above himself.

Scott Conor Crosby  President Trump granted a full pardon to Scott Conor Crosby. Mr. Crosby is supported by Senator Martha McSally, the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, and the Bishop of his church, all of whom attest to Mr. Crosby's service to his community and upstanding character. In 1992, Mr. Crosby made a 'spur of the moment' poor decision' to participate in a co-worker's plan to commit a bank robbery. Mr. Crosby was arrested the same day and cooperated with the authorities. Since his release from prison, he has spent significant time volunteering at his church, mentoring youth, and has earned a certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. Mr. Crosby's civil rights were restored by the State of Arizona in 2003, and this action restores his Federal civil rights.

Chris Young  President Trump commuted the remaining sentence of Chris Young. This commutation is supported by the Honorable Kevin H. Sharp, Mr. Young's sentencing judge, former law enforcement officials and Federal prosecutors, and multitudes of criminal justice reform advocates, including Alice Johnson, Kevin Ring, Jessica Jackson Sloan, Topeka Sam, Amy Povah, the Aleph Institute, Mark Holden, Doug Deason, and David Safavian, among others. Mr. Young, who is 32 years old, has served over 10 years of a 14 year sentence for his role in a drug conspiracy. Although initially sentenced to a mandatory life sentence that Judge Sharp called 'not appropriate in any way, shape, or form,' Mr. Young has made productive use of his time in prison by taking courses and learning coding skills. He also has maintained a spotless disciplinary record. Mr. Young's many supporters describe him as an intelligent, positive person who takes full responsibility for his actions and who lacked a meaningful first chance in life due to what another Federal judge called an 'undeniably tragic childhood.' With this commutation, President Trump provides Mr. Young with a second chance.

Adrianne Miller  President Trump commuted the remaining sentence of Adrianne Miller. This commutation is supported by former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman and the Clemency for All Non-Violent Drug Offenders (CAN-DO) Foundation. Ms. Miller has served 6 years of a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a list I chemical. Ms. Miller, who has struggled with drug addiction, has fully committed to rehabilitation while in prison. In addition, she has taken numerous courses including drug education, life management, and has participated in the Life Connections Program, an intensive, multi-phase re-entry program offered by the Bureau of Prisons. She is extremely remorseful, regrets her 'destructive choices' and has taken full responsibility for her actions.

Lynn Barney  President Trump granted a full pardon to Lynn Barney. This pardon is supported by Senator Mike Lee, as well as numerous notable members of the Utah business community. Mr. Barney was sentenced to 35 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon, after having previously been convicted for distributing a small amount of marijuana. Since his release from prison, Mr. Barney has been a model citizen and has devoted himself to his work and children. He is described by his employer as an exceedingly hard worker and a role model to other employees.

Joshua J. Smith  President Trump granted a full pardon to Joshua J. Smith. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Representative Tim Burchett, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Corrections Tony Parker, Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation David Rausch, and numerous other community and faith leaders support the pardon of Mr. Smith. Since his release from prison in 2003 for conspiracy to possess drugs with intent to distribute, Mr. Smith has dedicated his life to his faith and to his community. He is now a successful businessman and has used his financial success to establish Fourth Purpose, a non-profit organization devoted to making prison 'a place of transformation.' He has mentored incarcerated individuals and taught business classes to those in prisonincluding at the prison where he was incarcerated. Mr. Smith has also been heavily involved in mission trips throughout Latin America.

Amy Povah  President Trump granted a full pardon to Amy Povah, the founder of the CAN-DO (Clemency for All Non-violent Drug Offenders) Foundation. In the 1990s, Ms. Povah served 9 years of a 24 year sentence for a drug offense before President Clinton commuted her remaining prison sentence in 2000. Since her release, she has become a voice for the incarcerated, a champion for criminal justice reform, and was a strong advocate for the passage of the First Step Act. Those assisted by Ms. Povah's organization include Ms. Adrianne Miller, whose remaining prison sentence the President commuted.

Dr. Frederick Nahas  President Trump granted a full pardon to Frederick Nahas. This pardon is supported by Representative Jeff Van Drew. Dr. Nahas is a talented surgeon with a practice in New Jersey. In the 1990s, Dr. Nahas became aware of a Federal investigation into his billing practices. Although the 6-year investigation uncovered no underlying billing fraud, Dr. Nahas did not fully cooperate and ultimately pled guilty to one count of obstructing justice in a health care investigation. Dr. Nahas spent 1 month in prison in 2003 and has spent the subsequent 18 years working tirelessly to regain the trust and admiration of his patients, colleagues, and community.

David Tamman  President Trump granted a full pardon to David Tamman. Mr. Tamman's pardon is supported by the Aleph Institute, former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Louis Freeh, and former United States Attorney Kendall Coffey. Mr. Tamman was a partner at a major American law firm when he doctored financial documents that were the subject of a Federal investigation. These actions were done at the behest of a client who was perpetrating a Ponzi scheme upon unsuspecting investors. Mr. Tamman was convicted of his crimes following a bench trial and completed his seven-year sentence in 2019. Mr. Tamman accepts full responsibility for his actions and numerous friends and colleagues have attested that he is a decent man who experienced a terrible lapse in judgment for which he has already paid a significant price.

Dr. Faustino Bernadett  President Trump granted a full pardon to Dr. Faustino Bernadett. In approximately early 2008, Dr. Bernadett failed to report a hospital kickback scheme of which he became aware. Notably, he was not part of the underlying scheme itself, and unaffiliated himself with the hospital shortly thereafter. This conviction is the only major blemish on Dr. Bernadett's record. Although now retired, Dr. Bernadett has spent the past year devoted to helping protect his community from COVID-19, including by: procuring PPE and medical supplies for nurses; advising hospitals on expanding patient capacity and continuing prenatal services; identifying care facilities for first responders and the homeless; providing meals and books to underprivileged students; funding online educational resources for a distressed Catholic elementary school in Dr. Bernadett's neighborhood; and helping to ensure that senior citizens maintain social connections by training volunteer callers to speak with nursing home residents. In addition, Dr. Bernadett has been deeply involved in philanthropic efforts in his community and he has supported numerous non-profits that provide help to underprivileged communities, support medical research, and promote youth education programs. President Trump determined that it is in the interests of justice and Dr. Bernadett's community that he may continue his volunteer and charitable work.

Paul Erickson  President Trump has issued a full pardon to Paul Erikson. This pardon is supported by Kellyanne Conway. Mr. Erickson's conviction was based off the Russian collusion hoax. After finding no grounds to charge him with any crimes with respect to connections with Russia, he was charged with a minor financial crime. Although the Department of Justice sought a lesser sentence, Mr. Erickson was sentenced to 7 years' imprisonmentnearly double the Department of Justice's recommended maximum sentence. This pardon helps right the wrongs of what has been revealed to be perhaps the greatest witch hunt in American History.

Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick

Kwame Kilpatrick  President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. This commutation is strongly supported by prominent members of the Detroit community, Alveda King, Alice Johnson, Diamond and Silk, Pastor Paula White, Peter Karmanos, Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo of the Michigan House of Representatives, Representative Karen Whitsett of the Michigan House of Representatives, and more than 30 faith leaders. Mr. Kilpatrick has served approximately 7 years in prison for his role in a racketeering and bribery scheme while he held public office. During his incarceration, Mr. Kilpatrick has taught public speaking classes and has led Bible Study groups with his fellow inmates.

Fred 'Dave' Clark  President Trump commuted Dave Clark's remaining term of incarceration after serving over 6 years in Federal prison for a first-time, non-violent offense. Mr. Clark's commutation is supported by Professor Alan Dershowitz, Ken Starr, the Aleph Institute, his family of seven children, and former business colleagues and investors, among others. While in prison, Mr. Clark has lead Bible Study and developed a 'Promising People' program to teach inmates technical skills and connect them with faith-based support.

Todd Farha, Thaddeus Bereday, William Kale, Paul Behrens, Peter Clay  President Trump granted full pardons to Todd Farha, Thaddeus Bereday, William Kale, Paul Behrens, and Peter Clay, former executives of a healthcare maintenance organization. Widely cited as a case study in overcriminalization, these men have attracted a broad range of support, including from the CATO Institute, the Reason Foundation, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and various scholars and law professors. In 2008, Messrs. Farha, Bereday, Kale, Behrens, and Clay were criminally prosecuted for a state regulatory matter involving the reporting of expenditures to a state health agency. The expenditures reported were based on actual monies spent, and the reporting methodology was reviewed and endorsed by those with expertise in the state regulatory scheme. Notably, there was no evidence that any of the individuals were motivated by greed. And in fact, the sentencing judge called the likelihood that there was any personal financial motivation 'infinitesimal.' The judge imposed a range of sentences from probation to 3 years' imprisonment, reflecting the conduct as an aberration from these individuals' otherwise law-abiding lives. Messrs. Farha, Bereday, Kale, Behrens, and Clay are described as devoted to their family and their communities, and have weathered their convictions without complaint.

David Rowland  President Trump granted a full pardon to David Rowland. This pardon is supported by Senator Lindsey Graham. Mr. Rowland's asbestos removal license had lapsed when he agreed to remove asbestos found in an elementary school. He completed the work in compliance with all other regulations, but received 2 years' probation for a violation of the Clean Air Act. Mr. Rowland accepts responsibility and is remorseful. In addition, he has given back to his community by continuing to work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation after the completion of his mandatory community service.

Billy Walters, a sports gambler convicted of insider trading

William Walters  President Trump commuted the sentence of William Walters. This commutation is supported by former Majority Leader Harry Reid, former Governor Jim Gibbons, former Representative Shelley Berkley, former Clark County Sheriff William Young, former Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik, numerous professional golfers including Butch Harmon, David Feherty, Peter Jacobsen, and Phil Mickelson, and former 60 minutes correspondent Lara Logan. Mr. Walters was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for insider trading. Since his conviction, Mr. Walters has served nearly 4 years of his prison sentence and has paid $44 million in fines, forfeitures, and restitution. In addition to his established reputation in the sports and gaming industry, Mr. Walters is well known for his philanthropic efforts and was previously named Las Vegas' Philanthropist of the Year.

Lil Wayne received a pardon. The rapper pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.  President Trump granted a full pardon to Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as 'Lil Wayne.' Mr. Carter pled guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, owing to a conviction over 10 years ago. Brett Berish of Sovereign Brands, who supports a pardon for Mr. Carter, describes him as 'trustworthy, kind-hearted and generous.' Mr. Carter has exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of foodbanks. Deion Sanders, who also wrote in support of this pardon, calls Mr. Wayne 'a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a natural giver to the less fortunate, a waymaker, [and] a game changer.'

Stephen Odzer  President Trump granted a conditional pardon to Stephen Odzer. This pardon is supported by former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, Sigmund 'Sig' Rogich, Jason Greenblatt, Michael Steinhardt, Wayne Allyn Root, Salvador Moran, the Aleph Institute, and numerous members of Mr. Odzer's religious community. Mr. Odzer pled guilty to conspiracy and bank fraud, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Numerous individuals testify to his substantial philanthropic and volunteer activities. His philanthropic endeavors include providing personal protective equipment to front-line workers in New York City hospitals; visiting sick children in hospitals; and donating religious materials to prison inmates and U.S. Service Members around the world. He has also dedicated resources to support and build synagogues in memory of his late cousin who was kidnapped and killed by Muslim terrorists while in Israel. The pardon requires Mr. Odzer to pay the remainder of his restitution order.

James Brian Cruz  President Trump commuted the remaining sentence of James Brian Cruz. Mr. Cruz's many supporters include Alice Johnson, Dr. Robert Jeffress, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, Kelly Shackelford of the First Liberty Institute, several former inmates who Mr. Cruz mentored or ministered, Mr. Cruz's work supervisor, and several business owners and managers. Mr. Cruz, who has served approximately half of a 40-year sentence for a drug crime, has truly reformed and has worked to better his life and the lives of other inmates while in prison. Several former inmates credit Mr. Cruz, whom they met while incarcerated, as someone who helped changed their life, as 'a great source of comfort' for many, and one who helps others without looking for anything in return. Mr. Cruz's work supervisor describes him as a dependable and hard-working employee, who has 'gained the respect of many staff workers and inmates alike' and who helps arguing inmates 'make peace.' Mr. Cruz writes that he recognizes the effect drugs have on people, families, and the community, and desires a second chance to 'live life as one who upholds the law, and lives to help others.'

Steven Benjamin Floyd  President Trump granted a full pardon to Steven Benjamin Floyd. This pardon is supported by Representative Mark Green. Mr. Floyd joined the United States Marines Corps at age 17 and earned a combat action ribbon in Iraq. He pled guilty to one count of bank robbery by extortion. Since his release from prison in 2009, Mr. Floyd has exemplified the power of second chances, and is raising a family and owns a successful car repair business. Mr. Floyd's dedication to service includes helping extinguish fires set during the recent unrest and repairing widows and disabled veterans' cars free of charge. President Trump thanks Mr. Floyd for his past military service and for his commitment to his community.

Joey Hancock  President Trump granted a full pardon to Joey Hancock. Senator Roger Wicker, and Mr. Hancock's employer, pastor, and other members of his community all support this pardon. Mr. Hancock was convicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Following his release from prison, Mr. Hancock has been a hard-working employee and active in his church and community.

David E. Miller  President Trump granted a full pardon to David E. Miller. Governor Bill Lee, Mr. Miller's employer, and numerous colleagues support this pardon. In 2015, Mr. Miller pled guilty to one count of making a false statement to a bank. Today, Mr. Miller is the development director for the charitable organization Men of Valor, where he helps previously incarcerated men rebuild relationships with their faith, family, and society. Governor Lee describes Mr. Miller as having 'embraced the ministry's work and [has] committed himself to doing right and serving others.'

James Austin Hayes  President Trump granted a full pardon to James Austin Hayes. Mr. Hayes's pardon is supported by Paula White, Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Motorsports, and NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon. Nearly 10 years ago, Mr. Hayes was convicted of conspiracy to commit insider trading. Mr. Hayes cooperated immediately and extensively and disgorged all profits he earned in a related civil action. Since his conviction, Mr. Hayes has been active in his church and his community.

Drew Brownstein  President Trump granted a full pardon to Drew Brownstein, who, other than this conviction, was described by his sentencing judge as someone who 'goes out of his way to help people that are less fortunate.' This pardon is supported by the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, Makan Delrahim, and several of Mr. Brownstein's friends and family. Mr. Brownstein was convicted of insider trading and has since paid his fines and forfeitures in full. Both before and after his conviction, Mr. Brownstein has volunteered extensively as a youth coach with the Boys & Girls club in Denver and the Jewish Family Services of Colorado.

Robert Bowker  President Trump granted a full pardon to Robert Bowker. Mr. Bowker's pardon is supported by Ann Marie Pallan, Sherriff Butch Anderson, and the late Robert Trump. Nearly 30 years ago, Mr. Bowker pled guilty to a violation the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in wildlife, when he arranged for 22 snakes owned by Rudy 'Cobra King' Komarek to be transported to the Miami Serpentarium. Although he did not ask for any animals in return, he was offered 22 American alligators. After pleading guilty, Mr. Bowker was sentenced to probation. Mr. Bowker has dedicated resources to animal conservation efforts in the intervening decades, including as a member of the Humane Society of the United States, World Wildlife Fund, and Wildlife Conservation Society.

Amir Khan  President Trump granted a full pardon to Amir Khan. This pardon is supported by his adult children and members of the community. Mr. Khan pled guilty to wire fraud. Notably, he immediately paid back the victim more than in full and has demonstrated remorse for his conduct. Prior to the pandemic, Mr. Khan volunteered at the organization 3 Square Meals, and has regularly donated to charities including St. Jude Children's Hospital, Boys Town, Covenant House, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and the Salvation Army.

Shalom Weiss  President Trump commuted the sentence of Shalom Weiss. This commutation is supported by former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese, former Solicitors General Ken Starr and Seth Waxman, former United States Representative Bob Barr, numerous members of the New York legislature, notable legal figures such as Professor Alan Dershowitz and Jay Sekulow, former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman, and various other former elected officials. Mr. Weiss was convicted of racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, for which he has already served over 18 years and paid substantial restitution. He is 66 years old and suffers from chronic health conditions.

Salomon Melgen  President Trump commuted the sentence of Salomon Melgen. This commutation is supported by Senator Bob Menendez, Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, numerous members of Brigade 2506, Col. Mark D. Holten, as well as his friends, family, and former employees. Dr. Melgen was convicted of healthcare fraud and false statements. Numerous patients and friends testify to his generosity in treating all patients, especially those unable to pay or unable to afford healthcare insurance.

Patrick Lee Swisher  President Trump granted a full pardon to Patrick Lee Swisher. This pardon is supported by Representative Dan Bishop, Rick Hendrick, and numerous business associates. Mr. Swisher was convicted of tax fraud and false statements. After his release from prison, Mr. Swisher started a successful business that employs over 1000 individuals. He also is involved in a religious non-profit organization that provides college scholarships to those in his community. In addition, he has mentored former felons and helped them re-integrate into society.

Robert Sherrill  President Trump granted a full pardon to Robert Sherrill. Mr. Sherrill was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Mr. Sherrill has taken full responsibility for his criminal past and received treatment for his drug addiction. He started a commercial cleaning business as well as a non-profit organization that mentors at-risk youth.

Dr. Robert S. Corkern  President Trump granted a full pardon to Robert S. Corkern. This pardon is supported by Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, Governor Phil Bryant, and Dr. Michael Mansour. Dr. Corkern was convicted of Federal program bribery. This pardon will help Dr. Corkern practice medicine in his community, which is in dire need of more doctors as it has struggled to keep up with demand for emergency services. Dr. Corkern served in the Mississippi Army National Guard and has generously provided his services to low-income patients.

David Lamar Clanton  President Trump granted a full pardon to David Lamar Clanton. This pardon is supported by Senator Roger Wicker, Alton Shaw, Mark Galtelli, and Terri Rielley. Mr. Clanton was convicted of false statements and related charges. Mr. Clanton's supporters testify to his contributions to the community, especially with respect to issues surrounding rural healthcare. Mr. Clanton has been active with 4-H Clubs and other organizations in his community.

George Gilmore  President Trump granted a full pardon to George Gilmore. This pardon is supported by Bill Stepien, former Governor Chris Christie, James McGreevey, James Florio, Donald DiFrancesco, John Bennett, Kimberly Guadagno, Thomas MacArthur, Gerald Cardinale, Michael Testa, Jr., David Avella, Joseph Buckelew, Lawrence Bathgate II, Larry Weitzner, and Adam Geller. Mr. Gilmore was convicted for failure to pay payroll taxes and false statements. Mr. Gilmore has made important civic contributions over his career in New Jersey.

Desiree Perez  President Trump granted a full pardon to Desiree Perez. Ms. Perez was involved in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Since her conviction, Ms. Perez has taken full accountability for her actions and has turned her life around. She has been gainfully employed and has been an advocate for criminal justice reform in her community.

Robert 'Bob' Zangrillo: President Trump granted a full pardon to Robert Zangrillo. This pardon is supported by Len Blavatnik, Geoff Palmer, Tom Barrack, Sean Parker, Walid Abu-Zalaf, Medo Alsaloussi, and Kevin Downing. Mr. Zangrillo was charged in connection with the Varsity Blues investigation. However, his daughter did not have others take standardized tests for her and she is currently earning a 3.9 GPA at the University of Southern California. Mr. Zangrillo is a well-respected business leader and philanthropist.

Hillel Nahmad: President Trump granted a full pardon to Hillel Nahmad. This pardon is supported by members of his community. Mr. Nahmad was convicted of a sports gambling offense. Since his conviction, he has lived an exemplary life and has been dedicated to the well-being of his community.

Brian McSwain: The President granted a full pardon to Brian McSwain. This pardon is supported by Senator Lindsey Graham, two former United States Attorneys for the District of South Carolina, and other former law enforcement officers. Since serving his 18 month sentence for a drug crime committed in the early 1990s, Mr. McSwain has been gainfully employed and has been passed over for several promotion opportunities due to his felony conviction.

John Duncan Fordham: President Trump granted a full pardon to John Duncan Fordham. Mr. Fordham was convicted on one count of health care fraud. A judge later dismissed the conspiracy charge against him.

William 'Ed' Henry: President Trump granted a full pardon to William 'Ed' Henry of Alabama. This pardon is supported by Senator Tommy Tuberville. Mr. Henry was sentenced to 2 years' probation for aiding and abetting the theft of government property and paid a $4,000 fine.

In addition, Trump commuted the sentences to time served for the following individuals: Jeff Cheney, Marquis Dargon, Jennings Gilbert, Dwayne L. Harrison, Reginald Dinez Johnson, Sharon King, and Hector Madrigal, Sr.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD released a disciplinary matrix Friday that outlines new penalty guidelines for officers found guilty of a wide range of violations, though experts find the document to have significant shortcomings that could limit its effectiveness in practice.

The 57-page document, which took effect on Jan. 15, took nearly two years to create and establishes clear and consistent presumptive penalties for specific offenses and eliminates the perception of favoritism or bias that can undermine our discipline process, as well as the departments legitimacy in the eyes of the people we are sworn to serve and protect, said NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

The matrix provides a long list of potential infractions, including use of deadly force and application of a chokehold, and delineates penalties for each offense.

However, the guidance notably still rests final determination of any punishment doled out to NYPD officers with the departments commissioner  an issue that has previously been a cause of concern with the civil rights groups.

The development of this disciplinary matrix is long overdue, said Michael Sisitzky, senior policy counsel to the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU).

Its good to have as a document to see what the NYPD views as appropriate disciplinary consequences under their own policy,' Sisitzky said. But, at the end of the day, this is just a policy on paper, and it does nothing to address the core issue, which is that the police commissioner has complete total control over the process.

The disciplinary matrix says, Nothing in these guidelines shall be construed to limit the discretion of the Police Commissioner to impose discipline, adding that the commissioner can modify these guidelines as appropriate to address emerging issues and advance the goals of the disciplinary system described herein.

Even with the final resolution of a misconduct case falling on the head of the department, there is notable nuance in the documents language that will test its applicability in practice.

Specifically, the matrix lays out presumptive penalties for acts of misconduct or violations of the NYPDs policy that serve as a starting point for the analysis of a specific act. However, aggravating or mitigating factors could harshen or lessen the penalty, based on the circumstances of each case.

For example, use of excessive deadly physical force that results in no physical injuries carries a presumptive penalty of termination; however, a mitigated penalty lessens to 30 suspension days, 30 penalty days and dismissal probation.

The factors to grant a mitigated penalty are wide-ranging. One such factor reads, The nature of the event was such that it was unpredictable, volatile or unfolded rapidly not allowing time for deliberate reflection. Another takes into account if the officer was not trained to handle the issue.

The document also leaves the door open for some officers who have been found to have committed acts, such as using hate speech, to resign or retire without losing their benefits, a practice that has frustrated civil rights groups and members of the public.

Recently, embattled Deputy Inspector James Kobel, 50, former head of the NYPDs workplace discrimination office, filed for retirement amid allegations that he posted racist remarks about Eric Garner, various officials and even Jews with coronavirus (COVID-19), the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

Kobel was suspended for 30 days without pay before the 28-year veteran put in his papers.

While the new presumptive penalty for an officer found using hate speech is termination, a mitigated penalty is forced separation  resignation or retirement.

The subjective nature of the mitigation factors raises alarms that the power of the guidelines could fall short of reaching the accountability of the department that civil rights groups have been calling for.

This is a document that exists within a system that is entirely subject to the control and discretion of the police commissioner, so its only as valuable as the police commissioners willingness to apply it for maximum accountability, said Sisitzky. And thats not something that weve seen this police commissioner, or any of the police commissioners in recent years, being really committed to.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the matrix just the start for the progress we will make together as a city in 2021.

Since de Blasio took office in 2013, the NYPD has undergone several attempts toward reform, including the wearing of body cameras, and the implementation of several new training programs.

With this new cutting-edge reform, the Police Department now has clear, fair and just discipline guidelines, said de Blasio. This is about accountability, building trust and ensuring community engagement is centered in our approach.

The Civilian Complaint Review Board, the citys independent watchdog agency, said it will have a meeting to review the matrix on Jan. 29.
Demand for properties is currently outstripping supply

Property prices rose slightly in November as the demand for homes outstrips supply.

Prices were up by 0.2pc nationally in the year to November, new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) for property sales show.

This compares with a decrease of 0.5pc in the year to October.

Prices nationally rose by 0.4pc in the month of November compared with the previous month.

In Dublin, residential property prices saw a decline of 0.9pc in the year to November, while property prices outside Dublin were 1.2pc higher.

Outside Dublin, prices for houses were up by 1.1pc, and apartment prices were up by 1.9pc, the CSO said.

The region outside of Dublin that saw the largest rise in house prices was the South-East at 3pc. The Mid-West recorded a 4.3pc decline.

Statisticians said new properties rose in price in the July to September period, while the price of second-hand properties fell.

Construction of homes was halted during the first lockdown, leading to a shortage of new builds.

In November, 4,236 residential property purchases were filed with Revenue.

This represents a 6.1pc increase compared to the 3,991 purchases in November 2019. It is up 10.2pc compared with the 3,845 purchases in October last year.

The total value of transactions filed in November was 1.3bn.

According to the CSO, Revenue data shows that there were 1,438 first-time buyer purchases in November. This is an increase of 6.1pc on the 1,355 recorded in November 2019. These purchases were made up of 410 new dwellings and 1,028 existing dwellings.

Households paid a median, or typical, price of 258,000 for a dwelling in the year to last November. The Dublin region had the highest median price at 377,500.

Within the Dublin region, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown had the highest median price at 530,000, while South Dublin had the lowest at 350,000.

The highest median prices outside Dublin were Wicklow at 340,000 and Kildare 319,000. The lowest price was 108,000 in Longford.

The national property price index is now 16.9pc lower than its highest level in 2007.

Peak

Dublin residential property prices are 22.2pc lower than their February 2007 peak, while prices in the rest of Ireland are 19.2pc lower than their May 2007 peak.

A number of property experts predict prices will continue to rise this year.

Demand for property has not been hit by the pandemic as most of those out of work were not earning.

It is estimated that around 20,000 housing units will be built this year, but the Economic and Social Research Institute estimates there is demand for 28,000 units.

Economist with Goodbody Stockbrokers Dermot O'Leary said price rise trends were evident across the country, with annualised growth in the three months to end of November at 5pc.

"Alongside relatively robust demand, the supply of properties for sale is now at all-time lows, thus putting upward pressure on prices," he said.

Mr O'Leary said non-households, including local authorities, government-backed housing bodies and private investment funds, are snapping up property. He said 40pc of every new home is being purchased by non-households, rising to 50pc in Dublin.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden has signed a series of executive orders from the Oval Office hours after his inauguration.

Biden wore a mask while seated behind the Resolute Desk with a stack of orders early Wednesday evening. He said there was no time to start like today.

The first order Biden signed was related to the coronavirus pandemic. He also signed an order reentering the U.S. into the Paris climate accord.

While his predecessor Donald Trump broke long-standing practice by skipping Bidens inauguration, he did follow through on one tradition and left behind a letter for Biden.

The new Democratic president said Trump wrote a very generous letter. But Biden said he wouldnt reveal its contents until he had a chance to speak with Trump.

HERES WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON:

5:40 p.m.

One of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeos signature achievements has met an abrupt end as a large placard enunciating his professional ethos was removed from the State Departments main entrance.

Workers removed the giant sign from the departments C Street lobby on Wednesday shortly after President Joe Biden was inaugurated. The placard had been prominently placed near a plaque honoring foreign service staff who died while serving their country, but many career diplomats considered it insulting and filled with unnecessary platitudes.

Department spokesperson Ned Price says, We are confident that our colleagues do not need a reminder of the values we share.

Pompeo unveiled his ethos statement to great fanfare in April 2019 with an eye toward improving morale. But it had the opposite effect, and many complained it was condescending.

Pompeo foes had accused the secretary and some of his top aides of failing to abide by the precepts of the ethos statement themselves, particularly during Trumps Ukraine-related impeachment, when they decided not to publicly defend career diplomats.

___

4:55 p.m.

President Joe Biden has directed that federal agencies halt all rulemaking until his administration has time to review proposed regulations.

White House chief of staff Ron Klain announced the move in a memo to the heads of executive departments and agencies Wednesday afternoon, hours after Biden was sworn in as the nations 46th president.

The regulatory freeze order is a staple of presidential transitions, allowing the incoming administration to review the pending actions of their predecessors.

___

4:50 p.m.

Three new Democratic senators have been sworn in to office by Vice President Kamala Harris. That means their party now has control of the White House and Congress for the first time in a decade.

Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff both won Senate runoff elections in Georgia earlier this month, defeating Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. Alex Padilla was appointed by Californias governor to fill Harris seat.

Wednesday was Harris first time presiding over the Senate.

Warnock is Georgias first Black senator, and Padilla is Californias first Hispanic senator. Ossoff is Georgias first Jewish senator and, at 33, the Senates youngest sitting member.

The Senate is now divided 50-50. Democrats will be in control because the vice president casts tiebreaking votes in the chamber. Democrats have a 221-211 House majority, with three vacancies.

Democrats last controlled the White House, Senate and House in January 2011.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a letter this week to the incoming Biden administration, Gov. Mike DeWine asked for more coronavirus vaccines and increased federal health care funding, among other wish-list items for the new president.

DeWine in a Jan. 18 letter made nine requests of now-President Joe Biden, responding to a request from the Biden team for ideas for feedback on the federal coronavirus response.

Number one on DeWines list: more vaccines, which DeWine, a Republican, wrote was the most important thing the new administration could do. Like other states, Ohio is suffering with a vaccine shortage amid short national supply, and officials arent expecting an increase in vaccine availability until March at the earliest.

In a second numbered point, DeWine said Ohio officials are open to shifting to large-scale vaccination sites, but reiterated thats only if more vaccines are made available.

We are not lacking the infrastructure. We are lacking the vaccine, DeWine said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained through a public records request.

Several other requests from DeWine have to do with federal funding. DeWine asked for Biden, who has called for providing local and state governments with $350 billion in additional funding, to also grant states more flexibility on how the money is used. A previous round of local-government funding contained in last years coronavirus relief bill only could be used on direct virus-related expenditures, and not to fill local governments budget holes that resulted from a loss of tax revenues tied to the related national economic slowdown.

DeWine also asked for the federal government to continue to cover a higher share of Medicaid expenses, the state and federally run health care program for the poor and disabled, throughout the coronavirus emergency. Ohio has seen an increase in Medicaid enrollment amid the pandemic. The program already was the states second-highest single expenditure, behind K-12 school funding.

Other items DeWine mentioned: a national strategy to vaccinate migrant workers who travel across state lines, a national advertising campaign promoting the vaccine, increased federal funding for local and state government public-health programs, increased state flexibility on National Guard deployments and federal support to help make broadband Internet more available in underserved areas, which generally are poor and rural communities.

DeWine told reporters this week the suggestions came in response to outreach from the Biden transition team.

More of these conversations frankly have been more of them listening to the ideas that we have, DeWine said. They were careful to find out from us what were seeing on the ground, how things are moving.

Loren Anthes, who studies Medicaid policy for the Center for Policy Solutions, a Cleveland-based think-tank that advocates for greater funding for social programs, said DeWines letter is a straightforward, nonpartisan response to policies Biden has said he will put into place.

He said the increased federal support for Medicaid in particular would free up the state to fund other priorities and avoid cuts to Medicaid programs, while also helping financially support local health care providers. And he said the vaccine is central to solving every other pandemic-related probem.

My ardent hope is our members of Congress and senators will express support for the governors efforts on this, because a lot of this makes a lot of sense, he said.

The letter is not critical of outgoing President Donald Trump, but Anthes said it implicitly identifies shortcomings in the federal coronavirus response.

So while he may have been reluctant to criticize the federal administration, I think this is an opening salvo to the Biden Administration to say were open, we need your help and we welcome your help, Anthes said.

DeWine ended the letter with a handwritten note to Biden, with whom he served in the U.S. Senate for 12 years.

Your team has been great to work with, DeWine wrote. We appreciate the outreach. We look forward to working with you! My best to you. Mike.

Here is a copy of the letter:
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. (TSXV: AGH.H) (the "Company") announces that the Company has entered into a claims purchase agreement dated January 20, 2021 with an arm's length party (the "Vendor") pursuant to which the Company will acquire a 100% undivided interest in 11 mineral claims units from the Vendor (the "Acquisition"). The claims are located in Carscallen and Whiteside Townships, approximately 5 km north west of Melkior Resources Inc.'s Jowsey discovery on their Carscallen project.

As consideration for the Acquisition, the Company will issue 100,000 common shares in the capital of the Company at a deemed price of $0.06 per share to the Vendor. The common shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance thereof, in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Completion of the Acquisition remains subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Canadian Silver Hunter Inc.

Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on gold and silver exploration in Ontario and Quebec. The Company currently owns two properties: the Silver Centre-Keeley Frontier property, located near Cobalt in Northern Ontario; and the Lac Lachance property, located near Lac Windfall in Quebec, and has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Lost Dog property, located near Timmins in Northern Ontario. For further details about the Company's projects and plans please visit the Canadian Silver Hunter Inc. website at www.canadiansilverhunter.ca.

For more information please contact:

Jeffrey Hunter

President & CEO

(416) 707-4230

jhunter@cshi.ca

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.

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals, and commodity prices. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72447
Press Release

January 20, 2021 DELA ROSA: ALLOW STATE FORCES TO ALSO RECRUIT U.P. STUDENTS, DNP-U.P ACCORD TERMINATION LONG OVERDUE Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa said the abrogation of the decades-long agreement between the government and the University of the Philippines (UP) barring state forces from entering the campuses sans coordination with the university officials is long overdue considering the deceit and undesirable activities of the leftist groups within the university throughout its implementation. Dela Rosa issued the statement following the unilateral termination of the Department of National Defense (DND) on Tuesday, January 18, of its 1989 accord with U on the access of the military and police in the state university's campuses. The senator pointed out that in the past years, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New Peoples Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have been fooling the government forces using the said agreement. "It is long overdue. The government was fooled by the CPP-NPA-NDF in the last 31 years thru that agreement," Dela Rosa, who also once headed the Philippine National Police, said. In an interview, Dela Rosa was asked if he will be pushing for the installation of police and military stations inside the UP campuses now that the accord has been cancelled. The senator vehemently refuted the idea, saying that a fair opportunity for the government and the leftist groups is what should be observed instead. "No. Hindi. I am not pushing for that. Baka sabihin na naman nila na the mere sight of a police or soldier inside the campus is a curtailment of their academic freedom. No, hindi yan! Hindi yan ang ibig kong sabihin. Ang ibig sabihin natin is that sana kung ang CPP-NPA ay libreng libre na mag-recruit ng mga estudyante ng UP para sumali doon sa NPA sa bundok, sana ang Armed Forces at ang pulis pwede rin mag-recruit ng mga taga doon sa UP na sumali sa kasundaluhan o sa kapulisan. Para equal opportunity, di ba? Pagbigyan natin," Dela Rosa explained. The Minadanaoan Senator also questioned why the state university had such an agreement with the government. "Sa akin naman, nakita ko doon sa agreement na 'yun, what is so special with UP? Bakit yung ibang academic campuses like MSU Marawi... walang ganoong agreement? What is so special with UP, bakit sa UP lang bawal pumasok yung sundalo at pulis? Anong ibig sabihin niyan?" Dela Rosa asked. "Hindi naman lahat ng estudyante ng UP ay maka-kaliwa. Hindi naman lahat ng estudyante ng UP ay aktibista. Baka pwede rin naman kami mapag-bigyan na makapag-recruit din para sa gobyerno natin, dahil nga UP is a government institution. Bakit pagbawalan mo yung government na pumasok diyan?" Dela Rosa further noted. Dela Rosa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, led several public hearings in 2019 on the alleged recruitment of minors by leftist groups. In the said hearings, both parents and communist rebel returnees testified that leftist organizations recruited minors as their manpower for their armed struggle against the government. In its report, the committee underscored the need for police visibility around and within the UP premises. "Amidst threats of terrorism, prevalence of recruitment of students as armed combatants, increased criminality rates and reported incidence of drug-related problems within the campus, there is a justified need for the school authorities to occasionally allow the presence of a reasonable number of police forces in the campus at an acceptable designated time," the report read.
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 76F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 52F. SSE winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Syria has been categorical in its denial of any meeting taking place between the Syrian government and an Israeli delegation writes SANA.

Syria has categorically denied the untrue news, circulated by some hired media outlets about the convening of any Syrian-Israeli meetings, affirming that the forces that stand behind these lies are the same ones that rush to seek normalization with the Israeli entity.

The Syrian Arab Republic categorically denies the untrue news marketed by some mass media about Syrian-Israeli meetings, an official source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The statement added that such news is a failed attempt by the financiers of those newspapers to doubt Syrias principled and firm stances towards the Israeli occupation.

The source added, Syria stresses that it was and still is clear in its policy and it takes its decisions in a way that serves the national interest and the just causes of the Arab nation, foremost of which is the Palestinian issue and the liberation of the entire occupied Syrian Golan and the occupied Arab lands in accordance with relevant international resolutions.

It went on to say that Syria affirms that the forces which stand behind those lies are the same ones that seek to normalize with that entity and try to draw the whole region into Western Zionist alliances.

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.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

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 Close Trump: Biden is lying or 'mentally gone on vaccines

Joe Biden said the world can't return to a Cold War with Russia and China and must seek ways to cooperate on global challenges like the Covid pandemic even as the two countries pose security risks to the western alliance.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization while apologizing to European leaders for the last four years under Donald Trump.

That apology came with the Biden administration returning the US to the Paris climate accord, another reversal of Trump-era policies of the past four years.

The focus on foreign policy came as the Biden administration continued to face domestic crises in its first weeks, including unprecedented winter weather that delayed 6 million doses of Covid vaccine.

While Biden toured the Pfizer vaccine manufacturing plant in Michigan, Republican senator Ted Cruz stayed out of the spotlight after coming under intense scrutiny for fleeing Texas for the warmer climes of Cancun.

Congress continued going through its motions, with Democrat Joe Manchin announcing his opposition to the nomination of Neera Tanden to lead the Office of Management & Budget, Neera Tanden.

The White House has refused to withdraw her nomination, hoping instead to convince Republicans to confirm her post.

Trump himself, meanwhile, did things that were terrible when contradicted on the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Anthony Fauci has said in an interview.

Fauci said Trump entirely lost interest in tackling Covid-19 as it became clear he had lost Novembers presidential election.
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Digital Editor

Grant received

Marywood University received a $15,000 2020 Robert H. Spitz Foundation Grant for the universitys S.T.A.R.S (Students Together Achieving Remarkable Success) program, an after-school mentoring program.

The S.T.A.R.S. program offers Latino youth in grades seven to 12 the opportunity to explore long-term academic goals through one-on-one academic assistance and exposure to diversified post-secondary educational paths and careers.

As S.T.A.R.S. enters into its third year, the program has solidified its place in the Latino community of South Scranton, said Emily Coleman, program coordinator. Even though the world has turned virtual, the interest for S.T.A.R.S. continues to grow.

Currently, the program is pivoting to a virtual mentoring and academic empowerment environment until the group can meet face-to-face.

This has not stopped the Marywood student volunteers from creating relationships with the S.T.A.R.S. youth, said Coleman. The volunteers and youth are learning about each other and sharing ways to overcome the struggles and find the successes of virtual learning.

In terms of success, last year three S.T.A.R.S. youth graduated from high school and are now attending college; one at Marywood and a former youth participants is now a college volunteer for the program.

We are so thrilled to see this come full circle, said Coleman.

With the additional funding, Marywood will continue the middle school to college pipeline for underserved and underrepresented Latinx youth through continuous collaboration with their families, school districts, local universities, churches, Marywood Universitys diverse offices and community organizations, according to the institution. The program aims to provide a safe haven to facilitate information, skills, and awareness to the youth and their parents in advance on how to prepare and succeed to access and reach their academic goals.

The Robert H. Spitz Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization that supports initiatives and programs serving the residents of Lackawanna County and Northeast Pennsylvania. The Scranton Area Community Foundation serves as the administrator of the foundation.

For more details about S.T.A.R.S., visit marywood.edu/stars/index.html or contact 570-961-4559.

Lectures scheduled

The Lackawanna Historical Society is continuing its popular Lackawanna Past Times Zoom lecture series this year.

North Pocono Boy Scout Corey Kowalski came to the Catlin House, the societys headquarters, to research Roaring Brook Twp. for his Citizenship in Community merit badge. Corey will present Roaring Brook Township, a lecture based on his research and what he learned in the society library on Jan. 29 at 2 p.m.

Other lectures scheduled include E.J. Murphys examination of Waverlys connection to the Underground Railroad during Destination Freedom on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.; and Gina Aleo Gordon will portray Martha Jefferson and shine light on the more personal side of presidential history during Mrs. Thomas Jefferson on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.

For more details on the society or the Lackawanna Past Times virtual lecture series, contact lackawannahistory@gmail.com. Visit The Lackawanna Historical Society on Facebook for the Zoom login information.
Forty-eight years after he was first sworn in as a U.S. senator just two weeks after his wife and young daughter were killed in a car accident; 33 years after his first presidential campaign dissolved ignominiously; 12 years after Barack Obama gave him the consolation prize of the vice presidency with the understanding that hed never run again; and 14 days after the U.S. Capitol was stormed by a mob determined to keep him out of the White House, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. took the oath of office as the 46th U.S. president of the United States.

This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we've come so far, but we still have far to go, Biden said in a speech that was one long ringing plea for national unity.

Few generations in Americas have faced more daunting challenges than those confronting the nation today, Biden said. And he named them: A once in a century virus that has claimed as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II; millions of lost jobs; hundreds of thousands of businesses closed; and a cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making  a cry for survival comes from planet itself  and now a rise of political extremism.

Overcoming them, said the new president, will take more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy, unity. Unity. Biden recalled that on another January day, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, explaining as he did, If my name ever goes down into history, itll be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.

On January 20, 2021, Biden told his countrymen that his whole soul is in this project: Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause.

The year after the Emancipation Proclamation, as President Lincoln ran for reelection, he suggested to voters that denying him a second term in the middle of a war would be akin to trading horses in the middle of a river crossing, a 19th century aphorism later shortened and adopted by Franklin Roosevelt, Bidens birth president, as Dont swap horses in the middle of a stream.

The analogy is apt for Joe Biden for another reason: The theme of unity wasnt a passing fancy for him. He ran for president on it -- and it may be why he won. In the snows of Iowa and New Hampshire, when it looked as though his campaign had run adrift, Biden stubbornly kept vowing that, as president, he would work with congressional Republicans. Sen. Bernie Sanders and other progressives dismissed Biden as naive for believing political compromise was still possible, or even desirable. But when the primary season migrated to sunnier climes, Democrats in places such as South Carolina warmed to Bidens more soothing message.

During the toxic 2020 general election campaign against Donald Trump, who became the first U.S. president in 152 years to snub the inauguration ceremony, Biden doubled down on this theme. He repeatedly vowed to work as hard for Americans who didnt vote for him as those who did. When this promise generated some sniping from Democrats to his left, Biden doubled down again, repeating the promise in every major speech. It turned out that Biden had his finger on the pulse of the electorate more than his primary opponents, more than an increasingly partisan press, and certainly more than the incumbent president he defeated in November. Joe Biden, the 78-year-old fixture of American politics who now becomes the second Roman Catholic president in U.S. history -- the man who invited Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to join him at an Inauguration Day mass at St. Matthew Cathedral -- was convinced that unity was more than his calling card. It was what a majority of Americans were craving.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days, he said in Wednesdays inaugural address. But then he told Americans why it is not.

Through Civil War, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifices, and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed, he said, invoking Lincoln for the second time. History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity, he continued. We can see each other, not as adversaries, but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature.  If we do that, I guarantee you, we will not fail. We have never, ever, ever, ever failed in America when we've acted together.

He then reprised his familiar refrain: "For all those who supported our campaign, I'm humbled by the faith you placed in us. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree, so be it. That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent peaceably within the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength. Yet hear me clearly. Disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you. I will be a president for all Americans. All Americans. And I promise you, I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did."

History also teaches us that few inaugural speeches are memorable. Lincolns second such speech, FDRs first, John F. Kennedys only inaugural address stand out. George W. Bushs 2001 speech was rated as noble and eloquent, even by Democrats. Whether Joe Biden joins this pantheon remains to be seen, but the environment of Wednesdays ceremony wont soon be forgotten. Guests wore masks. Hundreds, not hundreds of thousands, of people were in attendance as a ghostly quiet continued to envelop Washington, a surreal scene brought about because of exigencies due to the pandemic and even more so to the security lockdown in the wake of the attack on the Capitol. Future generations will note that many more members of the National Guard saw the 46th president take the oath of office in person than did civilians.

Yet, as both political parties did at their summer political conventions, the inaugural committee managed to pull off a spectacular made-for-television event, and one adhering closely to the unity theme of Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Lady Gaga performed The Star-Spangled Banner passionately -- does she sing any other way? Jennifer Lopez punctuated her singing of This Land Is Your Land, Woody Guthries famous progressive anthem, by shouting in Spanish, One nation, with liberty and justice for all! Garth Brooks played against type, but not against the spirit of the day, with a soulful version of Amazing Grace. Afterward, the enthusiastic country star gave impromptu hugs to Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and George W. Bush.

As always, there were minor glitches: Justice Sonia Sotomayor inexplicably mispronounced Kamala Harris first name. A pool camera every-so-briefly caught Bill Clinton napping during Bidens speech. Sen. Amy Klobuchars co-emcee, Sen. Roy Blunt, garbled the title of poet Amanda Gorman. But considering that a couple of weeks ago, the U.S. Capitol was in the control of a raging mob while police fought for their lives, well, such little things seemed of little consequence.

In her original poem, The Hill We Climb, Amanda Gormon put an exclamation point on Joe Bidens and Kamala Harriss day. We are striving to form not a perfect union, but a union with purpose, she said. So we lift our gaze not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.
Albany, N.Y.  New York vaccine distributors have enough shots on hand for just two to three more days of Covid-19 inoculations, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today.

The supply will then be exhausted, although just temporarily. The state is expecting another shipment of 250,000 doses next week, down from the 300,000 doses it was receiving previously.

The supply of the vaccine remains limited, Cuomo said during a press conference in Albany.

Whats clear now is were going to be going from week to week, he said. You will see a constant pattern of basically running out, waiting for the next weeks allocation and then starting up again.

Given the limited supply, vaccine providers shouldnt make appointments for shots unless theyre certain theyll have them, Cuomo added. If providers schedule appointments too far in advance, they could end up having to cancel them.

Cuomo again blamed the federal government for the supply problems. He said officials advised opening eligibility for vaccines to millions more people, but then did nothing to increase the number of shots available.

New York has administered 84% of the over 1.1 million total vaccine doses it has received so far, according to the states online vaccine dashboard.

Central New York has given 87% of its total doses, according to the state. Thats in the middle of the pack statewide.

Percentages range from a high of 99% used in the Southern Tier to a low of 74% in the Mohawk Valley.

Cuomo said he expects more vaccine to start flowing at some point. Manufacturers of the two shots approved so far, Pfizer and Moderna, could increase production, he said.

Additional vaccines could be approved in the coming months.

Whenever the supply does ramp up, the state will be ready, Cuomo said. New York has 1,200 distribution sites up and running now and could add thousands more if needed.

Vaccinating the states hospital workers remains a particularly pressing concern, Cuomo said. Statewide, 65% of hospital workers have been given shots.

Percentages in regions range from a high of 81% in Central New York to a low of 61% on Long Island.

If the nurses and doctors get sick, you lose hospital capacity, he said. No hospital is going to call up and say Im out of beds. No hospital is going to call up and say Im out of ventilators. A hospital will call up and say I dont have enough staff because my staff is sick.

Cuomo has warned hell order the shutdown of all nonessential businesses in any areas of the state where hospitals are in danger of being overwhelmed.

The 65% statewide average of hospital workers vaccinated is an improvement from a bit over 60% last week. But its still not high enough, Cuomo said.

Herd immunity kicks in between 70% and 90%.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

Cuomo calls for paid time off for workers to get Covid-19 vaccine

Covid-closed Syracuse bar wins grant from Barstool Sports: This means we can come back

Cuomo pitches tax credits to help restaurants, small businesses rehire workers

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Supreme Court of India

Why should the new owner of a bankrupt company bear the brunt of the legal problems pertaining to the old regime? Thats a question that haunted the potential buyers of bankrupt companies, making them sceptical about the whole insolvency and bankruptcy code (IBC) process.

But, the Supreme Court has finally brought in much-needed clarity on this question. On January 19, the apex court upheld Section 32A of the IBC granting statutory immunity to successful resolution applicant from prosecution.

A bankrupt company and its assets cannot face criminal proceedings once it is sold to new owners, ANI quoted a bench of the apex court headed by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman.

Imperative needs to attract resolution applicants who would not shy away from offering reasonable and fair value. Legislature thought it is necessary to provide legal immunity to corporate debtor, provision is well thought out, said the court.

Essentially, the courts ruling says that new owners will not face legal troubles or probes linked to the old cases faced by previous promoters.

Both bankers and analysts have wholeheartedly welcomed this move.

This is certainly good news for the IBC mechanism since it will give confidence to new owners, said a senior banker who didnt want to be named. The court has given an assurance which matters to prospective acquirers, said the banker.

As reported by Moneycontrol on Tuesday, this SC ruling may prove to be a breakthrough in cases like Bhushan Steel resolution where promoters are facing legal issues and probes. It could reduce the overall timeframe required for resolution, bankers said.

This confusion (legal immunity to new owners) shouldnt have been there in the first place, said Naresh Malhotra, a senior banking consultant and former SBI executive. Now that the court has said it clearly, it should help in building confidence among every stakeholder in the IBC process, said Malhotra.

A push for IBC

Came into effect in 2016, the IBC mechanism in India is still at early stages. Considered as a major reform in the Indian banking sector, the IBC platform has faced roadblocks in the initial years. Except for a few large cases, there hasnt been major progress in the IBC channel. The number of IBC cases have been increasing over the last three years.

But, with the COVID-19 increasing the stress on the economy, the IBC cases are likely to escalate further. But, this does not mean the stress will go away. Analysts agree that the banking system will face some stress but the extent may be less than initially expected.

As part of the COVID relief package, the government had put all the fresh IBC cases on hold till March.

As part of the economic package, the government had made a few key amendments to the IBC rules. These include increasing the minimum threshold to initiate insolvency proceedings raised to Rs 1 crore, special insolvency resolution framework for MSMEs, suspension of fresh initiation of insolvency proceedings and exclusion of COVID-19 related debts from the definition of default under the code.

Timely resolution of stressed assets is key in the banking system and IBC plays a key part in the resolution of large unresolved corporate debt. Banks try to resolve stress on corporate accounts by offering them relaxations in the repayment terms, which is commonly called loan restructuring.

But, in cases where resolution appears difficult through normal channels, IBC comes to their rescue. This ensures a resolution within a specific timeframe. Hence, strengthening of the IBC mechanism is even more important in the backdrop of a likely surge in the stress in the banking system.

In this context, the SC upholding Section 32A will give more comfort to the banking system with respect to stressed asset resolution.

The SC order will go a long way since new owners will have more confidence in the IBC process, said Jyoti Roy, equity strategist, Angel Broking. This was one of the longstanding demand by the potential acquirers. Hopefully, now Bhushan Steel and power case can be closed, Roy said.

According to Malhotra, more banks are likely to push several cases to IBC post-March on account of the stress in the financial system. I expect an increase in the number of IBC cases and downgrading of loan accounts going ahead, Malhotra said.

But, Roy said the actual quantum of restructured loans could be anywhere less than three percent of total loans as against five percent projected earlier. Banks were expecting around five percent loan recasts (of their book) at the start of COVID.

Initial guidance from banks suggests there are not many requests for restructuring from corporate clients. Most banks have given lower guidance on likely stress on their books. The stress in the banking system is unlikely to be big as against the initial expectations, Roy said.

The RBI expects the gross NPAs in the banking system to rise to 13.5 percent by September this year compared with 7.5 per cent a year ago. In a worst-case scenario, the GNPAs may surge closer to 15 percent of total banking industry loans, the RBI has said. More clarity on the asset quality situation will emerge only after big banks announce the results of the third quarter earnings.

100 years ago  1921

Posters were displayed at the courthouse on Thursday, announcing the proposed sale of the Centennial Hall property on Feb. 26, at 2 oclock in the afternoon.

75 years ago  1946

Fifty Schuylkill County ex-Marines attended a meeting of the Schuylkill Chapter of the Marine Corps League at the Necho Allen Hotel here.

50 years ago  1971

DEER LAKE  The Deer Lake Fire Company appointed Mrs. Mary Jane Moyer and Mrs. Eva Thomas as the committee to purchase new dishes and flatware replacements for the firehouse.

25 years ago  1996

Travel restrictions in Schuylkill County were lifted at 9 a.m. today after a freeze following Fridays pelting rain and melting snow eased widespread flooding. And it was widespread  every corner of the county was affected by high waters that threaten-ed the region from the World Trade Center to Wilkes-Barre to West Virginia. A Klingers-town bridge flood, a Shenandoah Heights roof collapse, a Molino accident and a Schuyl-kill Haven dam overflow were among a multitude of weather-related mishaps in what was being called the worst flooding since Hurricane Agnes struck in June 1972.
Boris Johnson was defended against a blistering claim from his predecessor that he lacks 'global moral leadership' today - just hours before he refused to accuse China of genocide against its Uighur Muslim minority.

Home Secretary Priti Patel leapt to the Prime Minister's defence today after a coruscating broadside from Theresa May.

Mrs May accused her successor of abandoning Britain's 'position of global moral leadership', in a hard-hitting article in the Daily Mail.

The Home Secretary responded by defending the Government's record, saying it 'has been speaking out against regimes complicit in all sorts of dreadful behaviours.'

But just hours later Mr Johnson was invited to follow the United States' lead and accuse Beijing of genocide over its actions in Xinjang province, where it has been accused of ethnic cleansing and using slave labour.

Asked about that decision and whether he would endorse it at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson said: 'The attribution of genocide is a judicial matter, but I can say for myself that I regard what is happening in Xinjiang, and what's happening to the Uighurs is utterly abhorrent.'

The PM's official spokesman rejected Mrs May's claim, telling reporters: 'The UK is and will continue to be an outward looking nation and will continue to be a leading voice on the international stage.

I would point to the work that we have undertaken on issues like climate change, bot home and abroad, where we were the first country to commit to net zero by 2050 and we continue to provide more aid spending than almost any country in the world to ensure we can continue to provide support to communities around the world.

Mr Johnson was invited to follow the United States' lead and accuse Beijing of genocide over its actions in Xinjang province, where it has been accused of ethnic cleansing and using slave labour

Theresa May has issued her most strident criticism yet of Boris Johnson, accusing him of abandoning Britain's 'position of global moral leadership'

Mrs Patel had earlier said she 'fundamentally disagreed' with Mrs May's attack, adding: 'Look at the work we are doing in Hong Kong right now to protect British nationals overseas - that absolutely speaks to actions. Actions speak louder than words'

Mrs Patel had earlier said she 'fundamentally disagreed' with Mrs May's attack, adding: 'Look at the work we are doing in Hong Kong right now to protect British nationals overseas - that absolutely speaks to actions. Actions speak louder than words.

'We are out there constantly when universal rules are being flouted openly when it comes to autocratic activities.'

Writing in the Mail to mark Joe Biden's inauguration as US President, Mrs May, who was replaced by Mr Johnson in July 2019, suggests her successor has failed to honour British values by threatening to break international law in Brexit trade talks and tearing up the foreign aid target.

The former prime minister says the two actions were not ones that 'raised our credibility in the eyes of the world'. If Britain is to lead internationally, she says, we must live up to 'our values'.

In her article, Mrs May says the election of 'decent' President Biden offers a 'golden opportunity' for Britain to play a key role in making the world safer.

But she suggests that her successor, Mr Johnson, will be unable to grasp it unless there is an end to macho diplomacy where a few self-styled 'strongmen' like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin 'face off against each other'.

In a pointed reference to Mr Johnson's vow to 'build back better', she says that 'strong leadership' knows when to compromise.

However, in a statement issued to the Mail last night, the Prime Minister pledged to work 'hand in hand' with the new US President to defend democracy and tackle Britain and America's 'shared challenges'.

He also went out of his way to stress his determination to help Mr Biden build 'international co-operation'.

Mrs May also uses her article today to condemn Mr Trump over the 'whipped up' mob who stormed the US Capitol earlier this month.

May suggests her successor has failed to honour British values by threatening to break international law

Significantly, she draws a parallel between the storming of the Capitol and 'attacks on our own democratic institutions' such as the murder of PC Keith Palmer.

Mrs May has had a series of clashes in the Commons with Mr Johnson since he ousted her 18 months ago. She had a bruising political relationship with Mr Trump when she was in power.

Her intervention comes as Mr Biden prepares to take office later today following a turbulent end to the Trump presidency.

Security is intense in Washington ahead of the inauguration ceremony, with thousands of National Guard reserve soldiers deployed in the wake of the Capitol riot.

The former Prime Minister had a bruising political relationship with Mr Trump when she was in power

In her piece for today's Mail, Mrs May says that 2021 can be a year when Britain 'leads on the world stage' and truly become 'Global Britain'. But she says that for this to be realised there needs to be a 'change in world politics' and world leaders have to act differently - including Mr Johnson.

The former prime minister writes: 'We have been sliding towards absolutism in international affairs: if you are not 100 per cent for me, you must be 100 per cent against me. Compromise is seen as a dirty word.

'We must reject a scene in which a few strongmen face off against each other and instead bring people together in a common cause.'

The UK was well placed to shape a 'more co-operative world' she says, adding: 'But to lead we must live up to our values.'

Mr Johnson had not done so in Brexit talks or overseas aid, she suggests: 'Threatening to break international law by going back on a (European Union) treaty we had just signed and abandoning our position of global moral leadership as the only major economy to meet both the 2 per cent defence spending target and the 0.7 per cent international aid target were not actions which raised our credibility in the eyes of the world.'

Mrs May compares Mr Trump's turbulent exit from the White House to her own dignified acceptance of defeat

Britain cannot rely on history to retain its place at the top table, says Mrs May. It would be judged by its actions  and that meant Mr Johnson had to keep his word on the UK's commitments to other nations.

After resigning from her Cabinet in 2018 Mr Johnson said her Brexit plan would leave the UK a 'colony' of the EU. Mr Trump said that her Brexit stance was 'foolish' and accused her of ignoring his advice.

Mrs May compares Mr Trump's turbulent exit from the White House to her own dignified acceptance of defeat when she was forced to hand over to Mr Johnson in July 2019. 'I know from experience that leaving power is not easy,' she reflects.

She famously broke down in tears in a farewell Downing St press conference. By contrast, the violence in Washington earlier this month was 'an assault by a partisan mob whipped up by an elected president.' Mrs May says when she was prime minister she never knew what Mr Trump would do next: One minute he wanted to be her friend, the next she feared he would stand by her side and denounce Nato.

Mr Biden would be 'more predictable' and help 'make the 2020s a decade in which democracy and decency lead to a brighter future'.

'Only through international cooperation can we overcome the shared challenges,' she argues.

THERESA MAY: Britain threatened to break the law. We abandoned our global moral leadership... we did not raise our credibility in the eyes of the world

This week America inaugurates a new president, and the free world gains a new leader.

In Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, I believe Britain has partners for positive action to make our world a safer place.

The US and the UK share enduring values: respect for human dignity and human rights, freedom of speech and thought, representative democracy, equality and the rule of law. These values have shaped our societies. In the past, we have had common cause to defend them.

In Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, I believe Britain has partners for positive action to make our world a safer place

Today, those values are under threat once again  and once again, the UK has a responsibility to play its part in defending them.

The threat does not just come from countries which reject our democratic values  nations like China, which continues to persecute the Uighur people and infringe the rights of people in Hong Kong, or Russia, where opposition leader Alexei Navalny recently survived poisoning only to face imprisonment.

On January 6, those values came under attack in that bastion of democracy the United States Capitol. The sight of mob violence in the marbled halls of the US Congress, with elected members barricaded in offices and a police officer murdered, are images we thought we would never see. Americans I have spoken to in the aftermath of that event remain profoundly shocked by it.

Sadly, we have known attacks on our own democratic institutions in recent years. I will never forget the terrible day a terrorist struck the House of Commons and killed the brave PC Keith Palmer.

What happened in Washington was not the act of a lone extremist or a secretive cell, but an assault by a partisan mob whipped up by an elected president. I know from experience that leaving power is not easy  especially when you feel that there is more you want to do.

Modern threats come from countries which reject our democratic values like Russia where opposition leader Alexei Navalny (pictured) has been jailed

But anyone who has the honour of serving in such a position must always remember that the office is bigger than the individual.

The peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of any democracy; it is what makes us special. When George Washington, the first American president, willingly stood down from office after two terms and retired to his home at Mount Vernon, it was a genuinely radical act. Already the images of violence from the city that bears his name are being used as propaganda by autocrats who claim that democracy does not work.

The scenes at the Capitol show us how fragile support for democracy can be in a world where lies are spread on social media. It also reminds us of the responsibility which free nations bear to live up to our high ideals.

I set 'Global Britain' as our foreign policy goal because I wanted to ensure that the UK did not turn in on itself or become isolated after Brexit. Instead, I believe a constructive role awaits a self-confident UK  outside the EU but emphatically within the mainstream of western democracies.

The scenes at the Capitol show us how fragile support for democracy can be in a world where lies are spread on social media

With Brexit now achieved but the pandemic still raging and the long-term economic and social impact of Covid to be addressed, it is now even more important that we work together with our allies.

Last year, the UK led a collective effort to fund global work on vaccines. Now, as countries close their borders in response to Covid, we must work collectively to find a way of living with the virus.

This challenge makes the concept of Global Britain even more salient. 2021 can be a year when Britain leads on the world stage. Hosting the G7 and the COP26 climate summit will put Global Britain at the forefront of joint endeavour between nations. For this potential to be realised, there needs to be a change in world politics.

For too long we have been sliding toward absolutism in international affairs: if you are not 100 per cent for me then you must be 100 per cent against me. In this world there is no room for mature compromise. Indeed, compromise is seen as a dirty word. In fact, the opposite is true.

Strong leadership knows when to compromise to achieve a greater good. If the world is to work together to 'build back better' then we must all be willing to compromise.

We must reject a scene in which a few strongmen face off against each other and instead bring people together in a common cause.

The UK is well placed to play a decisive role in shaping this more co-operative world. We have an excellent diplomatic network, a strong military, and enviable soft power. Outside the EU, we are a player again in the World Trade Organisation  as well as a leading member of Nato, the Commonwealth and the UN Security Council.

Donald Trump and Boris Johnson attended the NATO summit at the Grove Hotel in Watford in December 2019

But to lead we must live up to our values. Threatening to break international law by going back on a treaty we had just signed and abandoning our position of global moral leadership as the only major economy to meet both the 2 per cent defence spending target and the 0.7 per cent international aid target were not actions which, in my view, raised our credibility in the eyes of the world.

Other countries listen to what we say not simply because of who we are, but because of what we do. The world does not owe us a prominent place on its stage. Whatever the rhetoric we deploy, it is our actions which count. So, we should do nothing which signals a retreat from our global commitments.

The arrival of President Biden provides Britain with a golden opportunity. He is an experienced hand, having served eight years as a diplomatically engaged vice president. With Donald Trump, I never knew what to expect  from being offered, sometimes literally, the hand of friendship to hearing him question core tenets of the transatlantic alliance.

When a British prime minister walks out for a joint press conference with the world's media unsure if the United States president standing next to her will agree that Nato is a bulwark of our collective defence, you know you are living in extraordinary times. Mr Biden will have his own agenda in pursuit of the US national interest, but he will be a more predictable and reliable partner for Global Britain.

Together, a USA recommitted to international leadership and a United Kingdom guided by our common values can be a powerful partnership. We can lead the world in action to tackle climate change at COP26 in Glasgow. We can galvanise the other great democracies which share our belief in freedom under the rule of law.

Together, we can make the 2020s a decade in which democracy and decency lead the world into a brighter future.
The Irish-born actor soared to fame after appearing in BBC's Normal People last year.

And on Tuesday, Paul Mescal was spotted wearing next to nothing as he filmed his latest project in Sydney - one which is bound to boost his popularity internationally.

The hunky 24-year-old stripped down to his boxer shorts as he shot scenes for the movie adaptation of opera Carmen on Maroubra Beach.

New project: Irish actor Paul Mescal (right) was spotted wearing next to nothing as he filmed scenes for the movie adaptation of opera Carmen on Sydney's Maroubra Beach this week. Pictured with co-star Melissa Barrera

The actor - who is playing the male lead of Aidan, after replacing Fifty Shades star Jamie Dornan - looked effortlessly cool as he held hands with his co-star Melissa Barrera during the flirtatious scene.

Paul was seen flaunting his rippling muscles and tattooed arm as the pair frolicked together by the sea, with Melissa - who plays the titular role of Carmen - sporting a gorgeous yellow shirt and an electric blue skirt.

Melissa, 30, later removed the floaty skirt from her svelte frame, and was pictured walking up the beach in lacy lilac underwear.

The duo's scene was later crashed by their co-stars Elsa Pataky and another mystery male, with the gang chasing each other around on the beach while smiling giddily.

Star-studded cast: Paul is starring in the movie alongside Chris Hemsworth's Spanish actress wife Elsa Pataky (left), but it's not yet been confirmed what her role will be

On-screen lovers: Paul - who is playing the male lead of Aidan, after replacing Fifty Shades star Jamie Dornan - looked effortlessly cool as he held hands with his co-star Melissa during the flirtatious scene

Hunk: Paul was seen flaunting his rippling muscles and tattooed arm as they frolicked together by the sea, with Melissa sporting a gorgeous yellow shirt and an electric blue skirt

All smiles: Paul appeared in high spirits as he spun around with Melissa, unveiling his arrow tattoo on his arm

Coming soon: Carmen is filmmaker Benjamin Millepied's feature directorial debut, and is an adaptation of the beloved opera

Carmen is filmmaker Benjamin Millepied's feature directorial debut, and is an adaptation of the beloved opera.

Benjamin, who is married to American actress Natalie Portman, and arrived in Australia in November, previously shared his excitement at having cast Paul and Melissa in the roles.

'I feel so lucky to have actors as extraordinary as Melissa, Paul and Rossy (Rossy de Palma) with me on this film,' he said in an official statement.

'Melissa is so intelligent and intuitive, both as an actor and as a mover. I know she will bring depths to Carmen I could not even imagine.

'Paul has so much nuance and consideration in his work. I am thrilled to have them bring this romance to life.'

Stunner: Melissa, 30, later removed the floaty skirt from her svelte frame, and was pictured walking up the beach in lacy lilac underwear

Beaming: The duo's scene was later crashed by Elsa Pataky and another male co-star, with the gang chasing each other around on the beach while smiling giddily

Leggy: Elsa looked gorgeous in a floaty green skirt and a low-cut black top

Famous: Paul shot to fame after appearing in BBC's Normal People last year

Popular: Since Normal People, Paul featured in drama The Deceived and will star in The Lost Daughter, opposite Dakota Johnson and Olivia Colman

Loved: Paul's work as a lovelorn student on Normal People alongside co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, also won him a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards

Model behaviour: Chris Hemsworth's wife Elsa wasn't believed to be starring in the movie until recently

Bombshell: Elsa looked effortlessly chic as she left her trailer on set, sporting a cosy striped hoodie and a huge winter coat

While Carmen is set in Spain and tells the story of the downfall of Don Jose, who is seduced by Carmen, this adaptation will follow a Mexican woman's search for freedom in Los Angeles, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Filming, which was originally slated to occur in Mexico and Los Angeles, will reportedly continue in Broken Hill, New South Wales.

Paul's career has gone from strength to strength since debuting as Connell Waldron in Normal People in April last year.

He has since featured in drama The Deceived and will star in The Lost Daughter, opposite Dakota Johnson and Olivia Colman.

Paul's work as a lovelorn student on Normal People alongside co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, also won him a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Normal People is available to stream on Stan in Australia
New York has already started providing the initial round of COVID-19 vaccines for front-line health care providers and first responders, in accordance with the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As we seek to protect individuals who are at high risk, New York and other states should strongly consider prioritizing access to another uniquely vulnerable group: 9/11 first responders and survivors who have developed cancer or respiratory diseases as a result of their exposure to Ground Zero toxins nearly 20 years ago.

These individuals came to Lower Manhattan on 9/11 and in the weeks and months that followed with assurances from the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the air was safe to breathe.

It wasnt.

Today, there are 68 cancers and a wide variety of severe respiratory diseases that have been linked to Ground Zero exposure, where 500,000 people were exposed to hundreds of harmful contaminants, including pulverized glass, benzene, lead and asbestos. All these are known carcinogens.

Thomas Cahill, an air pollution expert and professor at the University of California, Davis, who studied the air quality around Ground Zero, described the perfect storm of environmental toxins that was wildly toxic to humans.

Surviving cancer and chemotherapy has undermined the immune systems of many 9/11 community members. Their respiratory systems are weakened by diseases usually seen only in longtime smokers or coal miners.

These serious immune and respiratory problems correspond with a substantially higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 complications.

Indeed, more than 100 of my law firms clients are 9/11 first responders and survivors  and likely many more as we will learn as death certificates and autopsies are completed  have already died of COVID-19 since March.

In every single instance I have seen, doctors and medical examiners have identified the individuals underlying cancer or respiratory disease as a major contributing factor in dying from COVID-19.

This year, I have spoken with many 9/11 community members who have been quarantining at home for more than nine months, rightly concerned that a trip to the grocery store or a walk around the neighborhood could result in their own death, even if all safety precautions are followed. Some of them have not even had an opportunity to visit their families in person, communicating entirely by FaceTime or Zoom.

We must remember the firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical responders who ran toward danger on 9/11 to save their fellow New Yorkers, as well as the search-and-rescue teams that came from every part of the United States to pull victims from the wreckage at Ground Zero and start the difficult process of rebuilding.

We must also remember the office workers who reopened Lower Manhattan, the students and teachers who came back to the classroom, and the neighborhood residents who returned to their homes.

Through no fault of their own, these first responders and survivors were exposed to deadly toxins and, as a consequence, have developed life-threatening diseases.

Now, with multiple effective vaccines available, we should prioritize access for 9/11 victims with serious illness, protecting them from COVID-19 and allowing them to safely avoid another season of quarantining, often alone, in their homes.

Every year on 9/11, we promise to never forget.

Vaccinating our 9/11 first responders and survivors would honor that promise and help a vulnerable community avoid yet another health catastrophe.

(Michael Barasch is the managing partner of Barasch & McGarry, which represents hundreds of 9/11 first responders and survivors.)
The Daily Beast

REUTERSThe last time an America First MAGA rally was held in Georgia, Republicans lost two U.S. Senate seats, and America lost what might end up being around $6 trillion. The Matt Gaetz-Marjorie Taylor Greene show on Thursday night probably wont cost us as much. Just some time with our familyand our dignity.The event opened with Rep. Jody Hice, who is running a primary against Republican Brad Raffensperger for Georgia secretary of state. The crowd changed Lock Him Up, which was directed at Raffensperger, whose decision to follow the rule of law (though hes wobbling now while running for re-election) obviously put him on the wrong side of the mob. With a warm-up act like that, theres no need for an announcer to say, Lets get ready to rumble! The sentiment is implicit.Gaetz hit the stage first, throwing out a bunch of populist, demagogic rhetoric (forever wars, socialism, rebuild America, worlds policeman, deep state) and pandering (gun control just means we have a steady aim!). He took shots at the Bushes and the McCains and the Romneys and James Comey and Anthony Fauci. He observed that Paul Ryan was giving a speech in California, and added that after Ryan ran for vice president, the party literally needed an autopsy. The upshot? This is Donald Trumps party and Im a Donald Trump Republican, Gaetz declared. One thing he didnt talk about was his wingman Joel Greenbergs guilty pleas for crimes including paying a 17-year-old to have sex with both of them (which Gaetz has previously denied).The Sickening History of Marjorie Taylor Greenes HometownNot to be upstaged, Greene entered the room in a Humvee, before making her way on stage, grinning from ear to ear. But her smile belied the populist anger apparently bubbling up inside her. She called out the Democrats who tear down monuments. You better bet were gonna protect Stone Mountains monument, she said of Americas largest monument to the Confederacy. She feigned the Mexican accent of a supposed cartel leader talking about how much he loved Joe Biden, who she said wants a woke military. She also called the Squad the Jihad Squad and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez OCrazyo-Cortez. Really classy stuff. You see, shes not a politician. Shes just like you. If youre a jerk like that, at least.So why is this happening? First, of course, for attention. Im writing about this, and so are lots of others and for this crew, and especially Greene whos already been booted from her House committees so has nothing left, PR like this is its own reward. Indeed, Gaetz referred to Thursdays rally as the greatest political show on earth.Even during the good old days, conservative politics was probably half Bill Buckley and half P.T. Barnum. We were business up front and party in the back (OK, maybe we didnt party quite as hard as Gaetzwho my Beast colleagues report snorted coke with a model with a no-show government job at a GOP Trump Defender gala in Orlandoand Greene, but you get the point). Today, the entertainment wing has almost completely supplanted the governing wing.As Gaetz told Vanity Fair a while back, If you arent making news, you arent governing. And Gaetz is OK right now with any news that isnt about allegations involving sex-trafficking a minor. Hes flooding the zone (also with headlines about how hes flirting with a 2024 presidential bid if Trump doesnt run) which is a great PR strategy, assuming, you know, he doesnt get indicted.There are other reasons, including the theory that, in todays world, hunkering down and laying low is seen as either a tacit admission of guiltor proof you take the whole thing seriously. Im not sure which one would be more detrimental to Gaetzs brand, but hes avoiding both like the plague.Youve heard of the Big Lie. Well this is the Big Tour. Gaetzs frantic activity is either a sign of innocence or shamelessness. My moneys on the latter, but who knows? And thats the point. He may also reason that the fact that hes on stage with a prominent female may also, psychologically, lend some cover.Speaking of Greene, she has been embroiled in something of her own scandal, having compared the wearing of masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to Jews being forced to wear golden stars in Nazi Germany. Once upon a time, these sort of Holocaust comparisons would have spelled the end of a political career, but in todays Republican Party its a feature, not a bug. Greene, having embraced other crazy theories, was able to haul in over $3 million during the first quarter of the year, after all. Sure, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy condemned it in a tweet, but that is probably as severe as the punishment gets. Greene doesnt need to hit the hustings to change the subject from her scandal, shes doing it for the fun of it. To revel in it.Im a Rational Jewish Person. Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Nuts.Thats not to say there isnt some danger to this. Gaetz and Greene might not intend this and Trump may not realize it, but this is the first salvo of what could be a threat to his death grip on the party. Thats because this tour is evidence that anyoneeven two lowly House memberscan co-opt Trumps message, steal his delivery mechanism, and take their show on the road. (Sure, they have played some home games in Florida and Georgia, but they also took their horse and pony show to Arizonaand dont forget Gaetzs trip to troll Liz Cheney in Wyoming).Now, this crowd was minusculeeven compared to the sparsely attended rally Trump held a year ago in Oklahoma. Still, the event encroaches on an innovation that Trump had essentially monopolized for the last five or so years. Trump didnt invent the idea of holding rallies, of course, but he took them to a new level. They werent just for campaigns, they were for governing. Moreover, you didnt need an invitation to speak; you could just throw your own event.Not everyone can pack a stadium, of course, but thats the beauty of teaming up. Gaetz and Greene might not be the Rolling Stones packing stadiums, but maybe they are Styx and Collective Soul doing an arena joint tour.What Im saying is that, over time, Trump is in danger of having what happened to Sarah Palin happen to him. At one point, Palin was the only game in town. She was the hot commodity. But once she left her position as governor of Alaska, she became irrelevant. It took a couple of years, but a generation of younger, more relevant, imitators supplanted her. Now, Trump is a better marketer than Palin and he was, after all, the president. Still, you can see why he has to at least feign a 2024 runand why he has already announced he will be doing more of his own rallies.Gaetz and Greene clearly arent there yet, as the livestream I was watching actually cut off just before the duo came back out to perform a sort of curtain call. The livestream instead switched to something called (Im not making this up), The Right View With Lara Trump.In a more healthy Republican Party, Gaetz would be drummed out of power because of his indiscretions, and Greene would never get within a mile of Capitol Hill. Trump helped create the circumstances where they would flourish. Even if he is ultimately replaced, he has succeeded in creating a generation of Republicans who share his penchant for self-promotion, his preference for populist politics, and, well, his family values.The Matt Gaetz-Marjorie Taylor Greene event was one-third tent revival, one-third rock concert, and one-third circusand it was all a freak show. This is all to say it was a rollicking success in todays Republican Party. Expect other MAGA types to start replicating this idea. The devil(s) went down to Georgia.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
My fellow Americans   this is Americas day. Singing: And the home of the brave. Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Kamala Devi Harris, do solemnly swear. That I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God. I, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., do solemnly swear. That I will faithfully execute. That I will faithfully execute. The office of president of the United States. The office of president of the United States. So help you God. So help me God. Congratulations, Mr. President. Weve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile, and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. Well press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril, and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain. And here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree, so be it. Thats democracy. Thats America. Yet hear me clearly. Disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you. I will be a president for all Americans  all Americans. Id like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer. Remember all those who we lost this past year to the pandemic, those 400,000 fellow Americans   amen. Together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness. May this be the story that guides us. May God bless America, and may God protect our troops. Thank you, America. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. The chair will administer the oath of office. Mr. Ossoff, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Warnock. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States? I do. Congratulations. (Applause) My first order Im going to be signing here is ... relates to Covid, and its requiring, as I said all along, where I have authority, mandating masks be worn and social distancing be kept on federal property and on interstate commerce, et cetera. This is the first one Im signing.
January 20 : Pulkit Samrat has kicked off the shoot of Suswagatam Khushaamadeed recently. The film is one of his two-project deal that the actor had recently signed with Meta4films and Insite India.

Pulkit had kickstarted shooting for Suswagatam Khushaamadeed on the day of Lohri. Facing the camera after a year, the Pagalpanti actor shot a dance number on the first day of the shoot.

Taking to his Instagram handle today, the actor shared a blue-toned picture from his vanity van, wherein he is seen shirtless as he looked thoughtful. The Taish actor revealed how much he loves his shoot life and his vanity van, which is like a holy place to him as he can be his self in it with no one to see him. The actor craves for his own space, his vanity van, when he is on the sets, where he gets lost amidst his director, producer, writer, choreographer, and many more people around him.

Shoot life. . My vans my holy place. I can cry there. Scream there. Laugh ridiculously, dance like no ones watching and cause no ones watching, I can roam naked too! Its my space that I crave for while am on the set where I belong to the director, producer, writer, choreographer, cinematographer, spots, light men, my fellow actors, dancers, setting team, costume team, production team, assistants, sound people and many many more visitors! When I lose myself in the middle of this sea of talented people, I rush to my van. For grounding, for balance and for the equilibrium thats easy to lose. . My sets my happy place. My vans my holy place. . . #SuswagatamKhushaamadeed on floor now, Pulkits long note read.

Suswagatam Khushaamadeed spreads the message of love, friendship and social harmony. Written by Manish Kishore and helmed by Dhiraj Kumar, the film is set in Delhi and Lucknow.
Junior Minister Josepha Madigan says she apologises "fully for comparing children with special needs not attending school to the Mother and Baby Homes controversy.

Ms Madigan, who is Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, said she in no way intended offence towards anyone who works with children with special needs.

Earlier, the minster sparked outrage with comments she made in an interview with RTEs Claire Byrne while discussing the collapse of efforts to re-open schools partially to allow special needs pupils to return.

She said: We've spent the last week talking about Mother and Baby Homes, where our most vulnerable were left to their own devices in less than satisfactory conditions and we're now allowing further anxiety and upset to be placed on the shoulders of parents whose children desperately need to go back to school."

Ms Madigan came under fire in the Dail while the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) called for an immediate apology for her insensitive comment.

The union said the comment was unhelpful, unnecessary and grossly offensive to our members.

Later, in a statement, issued by the Department of Education, Ms Madigan said: This morning, I made comments on how important it is that our children with special educational needs return to in-person learning.

"As part of these comments, I reflected on how vulnerable people have been entirely let down in the past, and I made a reference to Mother and Baby Homes. I sought to clarify these comments in the Dail today.

I in no way intended offence towards anyone who works with children with special educational needs. I am, as are all involved in supporting these children, passionate about vindicating their rights and in reaching for an analogy I chose poorly.

I apologise fully.

It is the second time in a week that Ms Madigan has had to apologise for remarks relating to children with special needs. Last week, she was criticised for referring to children without special needs as normal, in the Dail.

Initially, she apologised for that last Thursday and today she asked that the Dail record be altered.

She told the Dail: The word was not appropriate. And I did not use it intentionally. This is not what I meant to say, and while I publicly apologised last Thursday, I wish to re-state it, to say on the floor the Dail that I would like to withdraw the remark, and to re-emphasise my commitment as always, to supporting children with special educational needs and their families, particularly at this difficult time.

Read More

Many people took to social media to voice their outrage of the comment made by Ms Madigan this morning.

Education spokesperson and Labour TD Aodhan O Riordain called on the Taoiseach to intervene, saying the situation has spiraled completely out of control.

Taking to Twitter today, Mr O Riordain wrote: Minister was allowed move on from a comment last week when describing non-SEN students as normal. Taoiseach needs to intervene before more damage is done.

Ms Madigan was told in the Dail that both she and Education Minister Norma Foley are now part of the problem over the botched reopening of special needs education.

They both have lost control of the situation and their public comments have proved deeply unhelpful and now put wider school reopenings at risk, the Dail was told.

Mr O Riordain said that quite clearly ministers Foley and Madigan have lost control of the situation.

An announcement was made on schools reopening on January 6 with no consultation with teachers, he noted.

Last Thursday another announcement was made about the reopening of special schools and classes, with again no agreement, he said, followed last Friday evening by a letter sent to every special school in the country.

Even last night we had an extremely ill-advised communication from the Department, with quotes from both ministers in it, pointing fingers all over the place, he said, after the unions involved recommended their members not cooperate.

We have comments from Minister Foley this morning, suggesting the comments made by one of the union leaders was disingenuous, he said.

We also had Minister Madigan making a comparison between this situation and the Mother and Baby Homes  while last week she made a comment about non-SNA students being normal.

He claimed that the entire reopening of schools is now in jeopardy, because of the bad faith have been shown by ministers into public comments.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dail the Government had tried to bounce stakeholders into a resumption of special education because the Minister made a big promise without the ability to deliver it.

She said special education was up and running in Northern Ireland and right across Europe, but had not been managed here.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) called on the minister to make an immediate apology for her insensitive comment.

The union said the comments were unhelpful, unnecessary and grossly offensive to our members. 

The INTO said it was determined to continue working towards a safe reopening of schools and ensure pupils with special needs education return to in-school teaching and learning as soon as possible.

Minister Madigans office has been contacted for comment.
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Leaking of official secret of military operations is treason and those involved must be punished, Congress leader A K Antony said on Wednesday referring to the purported WhatsApp chats of Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami doing the rounds of social media. Addressing a press conference here, he also said that the government should immediately order an inquiry into information leak about the 2019 air strikes.

"Leaking of official secret of military operations is a national security matter and is treason. Whoever is party to this leakage must be punished and those involved deserve no mercy," Antony said. On February 26, 2019, India had launched air strikes on what was said to be Jaish-e-Mohammed's training camp in Pakistan's Balakot.

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U.S. automaker Tesla on Monday delivered its second electrically-powered vehicle made exclusively in China for the Chinese market.

"Model Y deliveries in China have officially begun," the company announced on Twitter.

The Model Y follows the Model 3 as the first Tesla vehicles for sale in China produced at Tesla's $2 billion Gigafactory plant in Shanghai, which opened just two years ago.
WYOMING, MI -- A man crashed his car into a parked vehicle after another person fired shots from a moving vehicle on 36th Street SW, Wyoming police said.

No one was hurt in the incident and police said the shooting was related to an ongoing dispute.

Wyoming police said two adult men in a long-running dispute came across each other in separate vehicles on 36th Street near Jefferson Avenue SW about 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19.

One of the persons pointed a gun out a window and fired multiple shots. The other car was struck several times, but the driver was not injured.

The driver of the damaged vehicle then lost control and crashed into a parked car.

Anyone with information about the incident can call police at 616-530-7300 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
People wearing masks wait next to their suitcases at the Beijing railway station in Beijing on Jan. 27, 2020. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

China Takes on New Rhetoric to Blame the US for Pandemic

Beijing has again peddled the unproven theory that the CCP virus may have originated in the United States.

Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry, said at a daily briefing on Jan. 18 that the U.S. government should invite experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) to conduct origin-tracing in the United States, implying that the source of the virus could be in the United States.

She also called on U.S. politicians to respect science and stop shifting the blame so there would be international cooperation on combating the virus.

Hua made the remarks while criticizing a fact sheet recently released by the U.S. State Department, which stated that the Chinese Communist Party has systematically prevented a transparent and thorough investigation of the COVID-19 pandemics origin, choosing instead to devote enormous resources to deceit and disinformation.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. It originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan but researchers worldwide are still unclear on exactly when and how the virus first emerged.

According to the fact sheet, several researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill with COVID-19-like symptoms in the autumn of 2019, contradicting a claim by a researcher at the institute who said there was zero infection among lab staff and students.

Any credible investigation into the origin of COVID-19 demands complete, transparent access to the research labs in Wuhan, including their facilities, samples, personnel, and records, according to the fact sheet.

Hua denied the claims in the fact sheet and insisted that China was cooperating with virus origin investigations. She also suggested that U.S. labs should be open to WHO investigations.

In early 2020, U.S. experts were continually denied access to Wuhan to conduct research.

The Chinese regime rarely admits its own mistakes and often attributes internal crises to the doing of foreign forces in an effort to rally Chinese people around the Partys rule.

Huas statement was not the first time that Beijing tried to attribute the viruss origin to the United States. Another Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, suggested that it was the U.S. military who brought the epidemic to Wuhan via Twitter in March 2020.

The CCP also tried to pin the blame on Italy. In late 2020, Chinese state-run media claimed the virus spreading around the world was a kind of variant mutating in north Italy, quoting Alexander Kekule, director of the Institute for Biosecurity Research in Germany.

In an email interview with Indian newspaper Hindustan Times last month, Kekule stated that his words were taken out of context from his book and his interview with German television.

The origin of the virus in China is described in detail in my book, and also the Chinese efforts to conceal the magnitude of the outbreak at the beginning. I never stated that the virus originally came from Italy, this is pure propaganda, he wrote to the Indian outlet.

India was also the target of Chinas blame game. Chinas state-run media Global Times published a story on Nov. 29 last year saying that the earliest human-to-human transmission occurred in the Indian subcontinent, several months before the outbreak in Wuhan, quoting from a Chinese study that was not yet peer-reviewed.

The Chinese study, titled The early cryptic transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in human hosts, was conducted by three researchers, one of them affiliated with the state-run Chinese Academy of Sciences. The study, which first appeared on the research paper website SSRN in November last year, was later retracted.

Currently, a team of WHO experts is in Wuhan, waiting for their mandatory quarantine period to come to end before they start work on the ground to investigate the origin of the virus. They arrived in Wuhan on Jan. 14.

On Monday, Garrett Grigsby, director of the office of global affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told the WHOs Executive Board that the expert team should have access to care givers, former patients, and lab workers in Wuhan, according to Reuters.

We have a solemn duty to ensure that this critical investigation is credible and is conducted objectively and transparently, he added.

For Nidal Hozien, a Wayne resident and national board member for Emgage, the largest Muslim-American political advocacy group in the country, Wednesday is an important day. He spent Tuesday night with about 100 other Emgage members from across the country on a Zoom meeting discussing what Wednesdays inauguration of Joe Biden may mean for Muslim Americans.

Theres an elation... that there is a new administration, and a relief that we dont have the same old president who was causing a lot of discourse among my fellow Muslims and across the Muslim-American diaspora, Hozien told NJ Advance Media.

Hozien and many others on the call, which was hosted by Emgage and called Muslim Matters: Ushering in the Biden-Harris Administration and What to Expect Next, repeated a common refrain throughout, better days are ahead, referring to the inauguration Wednesday, and a changing of the guard at the White House.

On his first day in office, President-elect Biden has vowed to overturn President Donald Trumps so-called Muslim ban, which limited travel by nationals of several countries to the United States. Biden made the promise last summer at Emgages Million Muslim Votes Summit.

The Muslim ban was basically a punch in our gut. This president was willing to go below the belt, Hozien, who came to the U.S. from Palestine as a refugee at the age of five, said. I was really very, very upset.

At the time, Biden also said hed work with Congress to pass anti-hate crime legislation, according to CNBC.

In 2016, the year Trump was elected, reported anti-Islamic hate crimes in America increased nearly 20%, according to an FBI report. Some have said the Presidents inflammatory comments about Muslims on the campaign trail was partially to blame.

I think it is important to recognize that Donald Trump didnt create all of this. He didnt create white resentment, said Donna Auston, Professor of American Studies at Rutgers University. He has understood it very well. He has articulated it very well...that, for me, is one of the dangers of shallow optimism.

Auston, who is an African-American Muslim woman, said its hard to paint all Muslim-Americans as the same, when it comes to their political beliefs and expectations from the new administration, but says this country has a history of hatred against Muslims and other minority groups that hasnt been fully addressed.

In terms of race and bigotry and hatred and exploitation of people, these issues are at the root of the American project. And thats something that we havent, regardless of the change in administration, we havent dealt with effectively, Auston said.

According to an Associated Press exit poll, 35% of Muslim voters voted for Trump in Novembers general election, a major increase from 2016.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to be sworn-in as the 46th President Wednesday.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Tennyson Donyea may be reached at tcoleman@njadvancemedia.com.

Scientists have long been puzzled over exactly how the butterfly moves through the air the way it does.

It's long been believed that butterflies ' clap' their large wings to thrust forward, but scientists in Sweden have now determined the motion is far more complex than previously understood.

Rather than just beating them, they flex their colorful wings to create a 'pocket' that traps more air and provides more propulsion.

That extra boost of speed at liftoff may help the majestic lepidopterans avoid predators.

Scroll down for video

Scientists in Sweden analyzed slow-motion video of a silver-washed fritillary in flight and determined the butterfly doesn't just flap its wings. It forms a 'pocket' when they come together, aiding in propulsion

Butterflies are a tasty meal for a variety of animals, including frogs, spiders, lizards and birds.

'If you are a butterfly that is able to take off quicker than the others, that gives you an obvious advantage,' Per Henningsson, a biologist at Lund University, told the BBC.

'It's a strong selective pressure then, because it's a matter of life and death,' he added.

In an analysis published in the journal Interface, Henningsson and fellow biologist Cristoffer Johansson showed that a butterfly's 'clap' generates a jet of air propulsion.

Researchers believe the added thrust at takeoff may help butterflies avoid predators like frogs and birds

They also found that it performs this move 'in a far more advanced way than we ever realized,' Henningsson told AFP.

At the moment the wings beat together, they 'were not just two flat surfaces slamming together.'

Instead, they form a 'pocket' shape that trapped more air.

Henningsson said it wasn't clear if butterflies use the pocket technique while in free flight, 'but in the take-off phase, they definitely do it a lot.'

After viewing slow-motion video of the common silver-washed fritillary in flight, Henningsson and Johansson fashioned two pairs of simple mechanical wings.

One set was rigid, the other flexible like true butterfly wings.

Mechanical wings that were flexible like a butterfly's were 28 percent more efficient and 22 percent better at generating force than rigidwings

The researchers found the flexible wings were 28 percent more energy efficient  a 'dramatic improvement'  and 22 percent better at generating force.

'Although conventionally considered aerodynamically inefficient,' butterfly wings could be ideally suited to form the pocket shape, Henningsson said.

Their findings could be helpful in creating drones that use clapping wing propulsion, he added.

Last year, Cosmos reported engineers at the University of South Australia unveiled a bird-size 'ornithopter,' a flying machine that flaps its wings to generate forward thrust.

'The people that are working on these designs ... should look into this cup-shape behavior, since there [is] lots of efficiency and effectiveness to be gained from it,' Henningsson told the BBC.

The report could also help underscore the importance of research into these beautiful bugs, whose numbers are in serious decline.

A new report from Butterflies Conservation Europe found the butterfly population in the UK has fallen by half since 1976, with almost one in ten British butterfly species has become extinct due to habitat destruction.

In California, the number of western monarch butterflies has plummeted precipitously to fewer than 2,000 butterflies from the tens of thousands tallied in recent years and the millions reported in the 1980s.

Sarina Jepsen of the Xerces Society, which conducts annual counts of the California monarchs, told the AP 'their absence this year was heartbreaking.'
Former Town Bellman, Michael Conway pictured at his 80th birthday party at The Fountain Bar in 2011. He has now just marked his 90th quietly at home and theres no change in him. Photo by John Reidy

Around this time a decade ago, a bar full of family, neighbours and friends at 'The Fountain' wished Michael 'Mikey' Conway a happy 80th birthday and they wished him many more.

They got their wish and now 10 years he's marking his 90th and looking and sounding more like a man half of his age.

There would be one hell of a party but for the bind we find ourselves in now.

However, Mikey has been getting calls from Bradford and Huddersfield and Manchester not to mention those from here at home.

After wishing him well, his callers from across the Irish Sea are also filling him in on the weather they're having over there and it's ranging from really deep snow to serious flooding of streets and houses in their neighbourhoods.

Mikey is one of the most remarkable men you'd meet in a day's walk or on an evening out and I have two solid and verifiable experiences of his mental prowess and retention abilities.

Expand Close Mikey Conway (left) pictured during a trip home to Pound Road from England in 1953 with his neighbour the late Tom Bawn Prendiville. INSET: a Conway camera like the model which was used to take that photo / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mikey Conway (left) pictured during a trip home to Pound Road from England in 1953 with his neighbour the late Tom Bawn Prendiville. INSET: a Conway camera like the model which was used to take that photo

I was sitting in Sheila Prendiville's Bar and Grocery with himself and his son-in-law, Johnny Foran one night and the late Fr. Willie Stack arrived in.

He had been directed to Sheila as one of the most senior citizens in the area at the time in the hope she could solve a question of identity he had received from a police station in London.

There was no secrecy about the inquiry and we all overheard the conversation. Mikey excused himself to Fr. Stack and Sheila by saying he couldn't help but hear the nature of the inquiry.

Believing he may be able to help he asked Fr. Stack what other details he had about the London address he was given.

They had a discussion and Mikey gave Fr. Stack a name and he wrote it down and left us to it.

Some weeks later I met Fr. Stack at an event and out of curiosity I asked him if he had any luck in solving the mystery of the remains in the flat in London and he confirmed that Mikey was on the button.

The second instance reminds me of all the talk these days about separated mothers and babies and it involved a Castleisland woman.

I got an email from a man in London who was hoping to find his mother-in-law on behalf of his seriously ill wife before it was too late. They had been separated at the time of her birth for the very same reasons and the same story we're hearing today applied to them.

After running the appeal and subsequent developments in The Kerryman over a couple of weeks, I met Mikey again at Sheila's one fine evening. Again he asked me for more details and from what I told him he suggested that the woman, a native Pound Roader could be found at a certain address in London.

That woman's other daughter was due in Castleisland the weekend after Mikey's revelations and I was delighted to introduce them.

We met another Pound Roader, Timmy Buckley and they all had a lovely few hours together.

Job done and Mikey came up with the goods again.

Mikey's a great man and the height of good company and he deserves every good wish coming his way today.

Happy Big Birthday Mikey and, like we said with glasses in the air in The Fountain in 2011, many, many more of them. Up the Cuilin!

Soldiers parade from Parliament Hill as they take part in the National Day of Honour in Ottawa on May 9, 2014. Canadas veterans ombudsman is calling on the federal government reverse to restrictions on the provision of mental-health services for the families of retired military personnel. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Ombudsman Slams New Restrictions on Mental Health Support for Veterans Families

OTTAWACanadas veterans ombudsman is calling on the federal government to reverse recent restrictions on the provision of mental-health support to members of veterans families who need treatment because of their loved ones service in uniform.

The demand from ombudsman Nishika Jardine is in a scathing report released Tuesday, one year after Ottawa imposed the restrictions following outrage over Veterans Affairs Canada having paid for Christopher Garniers counselling sessions.

The son of a veteran, Garnier was convicted in 2017 of having murdered an off-duty police officer in Halifax and was in prison at the time his treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder was being covered by the government.

The Liberal government responded to the controversy by ordering Veterans Affairs staff to take a second look before approving funds and services for veterans families, particularly those convicted of serious crimes.

Family members can now only get federal support if their own treatment aids the recovery of a relative who served in uniform, and if the treatment is set up by the veterans doctor. They are also only allowed 25 sessions per year, and cant see more than one professional at a time.

Jardines report suggests the new restrictions have harmed many veterans families, who the ombudsman says face unique challenges such as constant moves and long separations.

There is also the stress that comes from knowing a loved one is deployed on a potentially dangerous mission, and the many difficulties that come from living with someone who has returned and is now suffering from physical and mental injuries.

To be really crystal clear, were talking about when their mental-health issues can be clearly linked to their being part of a military family, Jardine said in an interview.

Weve come to agree to acknowledge that when a military member serves or a veteran has served, that their family serves right alongside them.

The report quotes a disabled veteran whose young child had started having panic attacks after Ottawa cut their support and the wife of a veteran suffering from PTSD and whose children have similarly been able to access support only with federal help.

They did not ask for this, they did not ask for a broken father, all they often want is a dad who is not sick, a normal dad, the report quotes the wife, who is not named.

How do you give this to them? They seek counselling to help them understand via age-appropriate methods and skills that are beyond my scope as a mother.

Some of those quoted also questioned how the government could justify the restrictions when Canadian Armed Forces commanders have repeatedly stressed how supporting military families at home contributes to successful missions abroad.

The ombudsmans report criticizes how the government rolled out the new restrictions without notifying or consulting with families, many of whom found out about the changes from their doctors and psychologists.

It was to those family members to find out that partway through their treatment, that the treatment isnt going to be able to be continued, Jardine told The Canadian Press.

The ombudsman notes that one of her predecessors first called on the government in 2016 to provide more mental-health support to veterans families and describes the issue as a matter of fairness.

The provision of mental-health care to family members is an issue of fair outcomes in that service-related needs are not being met by current programs, the report says.

In a letter to Jardine on Tuesday, Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay suggested the department did not have the authority to offer funding for treatment benefits for a veterans family member in their own right.

While MacAulay left the door open to expanding the departments authority, he emphasized that Veterans Affairs would look at alternative resources? and be as flexible as possible where it canCanadas veterans ombudsman while considering what new measures might be needed.

The letter was provided to The Canadian Press by MacAulays office.

By Lee Berthiaume
The farm on which the iconic Rathcoffey Castle is situated has been sold for over 2m, according to reports.

The 225 acre non-residential tillage outside Rathcoffey was sold by private treaty to an Irish customer in recent weeks.

Locals and tourists regularly stop in the area and take selfies of the Castle to upload on social media.

The property was being sold for a number of years by Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes and had a recent guide price of 2m.

There was a lot of interest from local farmers and landowners and also some potential buyers from abroad.

The castle was built by descendants of the Wogan family who came into ownership of the land in 1417, when a John Wogan was granted the Manor of Rathcoffey.

Although the lands changed ownership many times, it was John Wogan s descendants that built the castle.

The Wogans held ownership up until 1758 when Col. Nicholas Wogan died with no male heir and the estate was divided between his two daughters.

In 1754 Archibald Hamilton Rowan bought Rathcoffey Estate from Richard Wogan Talbot and built a new mansion on the site of the castle incorporating the original Wogan castle into the structure.

It later passed, once again between numerous owners before coming into the possession of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and then being sold to a local farmer in the 1970s.

Rathcoffey Castle and Mansion House is in need of full restoration.
Slovakia ready to be a partner of the US as Biden is inaugurated

Transatlantic ties highlighted.

Ruling politicians in Slovakia have expressed wishes for strong bilateral cooperation after Joseph Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president of the US.

President Zuzana Caputova wrote that with Biden as president, the new chapter of transatlantic partnership has begun. Next to the shared democratic values, she also mentioned environmental protection efforts.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement to congratulate Biden on his inauguration on behalf of Slovakia.

"Slovakia is planning to actively contribute not just to renewing but also to widening the dialogue between the EU and the US," the ministry wrote.

Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok noted that Slovakia is ready to cooperate with the Biden Administration on rule of law, security, ending the COVID-19 pandemic and a green future.

Prime Minister Igor Matovic, who uses Twitter mainly for foreign policy-related messages in English, wished President Biden strength and perseverance and stressed he was ready to be an engaged partner and ally.

Chair of the Za Ludi coalition party, Investment Minister Veronika Remisova, wished Biden courage and strength.

"I wish for the United States that the new president brings them peace and unity," Remisova wrote, and expressed hope that the US and the EU will have a stronger alliance now. "The world needs America to be strong, rational and willing to listen to others."

Parliament Speaker Boris Kollar, the leader of the coalition Sme Rodina, wished Biden good judgment and good decisions.

The Slovak Embassy in Washington greeted President Biden on his inauguration day with a wish for good cooperation.

20. Jan 2021 at 19:00 | Compiled by Spectator staff
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CHICAGO, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Redwood Capital Group (Redwood), a vertically integrated multifamily investment manager, today announced two executive promotions and a new hire to support its strategic plan to double its assets under management over the next five years.

Effective immediately, the company has promoted Bill McDougall to managing director of investments and head of acquisitions, and Field Stern to managing director of investments and head of capital markets. McDougall and Stern are now members of the Investment Committee as well. In addition, Redwood has hired Bill Rose as director of investments in the firm's Dallas-Fort Worth office. Prior to joining Redwood, Rose held positions with leading regional investment sponsors such as JPI Partners, Internacional Realty and StoneBridge Investments.

"This is a period of tremendous excitement, energy and growth for our company," said David Carlson, managing partner and co-founder of Redwood. "Redwood has grown into a fully integrated multifamily investment management firm. With best-in-class construction management, asset management and property management divisions now in place, we are ready to dramatically but strategically expand our presence in the apartment market."

Over the past couple of years, Redwood has expanded its Dallas office and put an increased focus on the Southeast by hiring Ryan Steppe as director of investments in its Atlanta office. Last year, despite all the challenges of the market, the company transacted deals totaling $182 million, including two acquisitions and three dispositions. Redwood plans to double the number of apartment homes it owns, to a total of 20,000 units, by the end of 2025.

"In addition to our acquisition goals, we are committed to expanding our property management division, which grew by 40% in 2020, by another 5,000 units by the end of this year," Carlson said. "We're also working every day to build programmatic capital relationships and become the preferred multifamily destination of institutional and private equity. The promotions of Bill McDougall and Field Stern and the hiring of Bill Rose will position us better than ever to achieve our goals. The impact of the experience, expertise and leadership of these three outstanding executives cannot be overstated."

In his new role, McDougall will continue sourcing acquisitions in select target markets for Redwood and will also oversee all of the firm's acquisition efforts. Since joining the company in 2007, he has been involved in more than 70 multifamily acquisitions totaling more than $3 billion in value

"This promotion is a tremendous honor, and I look forward to playing an expanded role as Redwood pursues its growth," McDougall said. "We believe strongly in the long-term health and viability of the multifamily sector, and with our expertise, commitment to innovation and vertical integration, we are poised to drive value for our growing base of equity investors."

In addition to overseeing the Investments team with McDougall, Stern's chief responsibility is overseeing the company's capital markets activity, with an initial focus on the oversight of Redwood's equity fundraising initiatives with institutional, high-net worth and family office clients. Ultimately, Stern, who joined Redwood in 2017, will manage the company's debt relationships as well.

"I am excited at the opportunity to help steer Redwood's growth," Stern said. "David and [Redwood Managing Partner and Co-Founder] Mark Isaacson have done an excellent job building a best-in-class investment platform, and we have an exciting story to share with the investment community. I'm confident that with Redwood's successful track record coupled with consistent deal flow coming across our desks as a result of our unique sourcing strategies, we will be able to continue expanding our capital relationships across our two investment strategies."

Rose, who brings 20 years of institutional multifamily experience to his new role, is charged with sourcing, underwriting, negotiating and managing new multifamily investments in Texas. Over the course of his career, which includes stints as a broker in the Dallas office of CBRE and in a lending capacity with Bank of America, Rose has been responsible for $1 billion of institutional multifamily acquisitions.

"Dallas-Fort Worth specifically, and Texas and the Southwest in general, are major targets for Redwood, and I'm excited to join the company's growing Dallas office," Rose said. "The visibility of Redwood continues to grow across the apartment industry and across the investment community. It's tremendously energizing to have the opportunity to contribute to the Redwood story and raise its profile even further."

About Redwood Capital Group

Based in Chicago, Redwood Capital Group is an institutionally focused, vertically integrated real estate investment manager concentrated on the multifamily sector, with capabilities in investment, asset, property and construction management. The company employs a highly disciplined investment strategy focused on core-plus and value-add multifamily communities and identifies distinctive opportunities with the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns. As of Dec. 31, 2020, Redwood's portfolio consists of 8,441 apartments across 28 communities throughout the United States with a gross asset valuation of approximately $1.5 billion.

Media Contact

Stephen Ursery

LinnellTaylor Marketing

[email protected]

303.682.3945

SOURCE Redwood Capital Group LLC

Related Links

redwoodcapgroup.com


The Conversation

Editor's Note: As countries across the world begin to purchase and roll out COVID-19 vaccines, a key question is how far the vaccine is from reaching Africa and how accessible it will be for the continent. In this story, Moina Spooner, Commissioning Editor with The Conversation Africa, asked Mosoka Fallah, an expert on infectious diseases for his insights.

What are the options for developing countries?

The last I checked, the cost of the current COVID-19 vaccines (which demonstrated the most efficacy) ranged from $19.50 per dose (Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine) to around $37 per dose (Moderna mRNA vaccine).

This is expensive. By comparison, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is available at US$2.00 per dose. The vaccine is used to protect infants, young children, and adults against disease caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae.

COVID-19 has shattered the already weakened economies of low- and middle-income countries through lockdowns and border closures. This, coupled with massive debt repayment that has handicapped many countries, means that if these nations attempt to buy these vaccines at current market prices, more than half of the world will be plunged into deeper poverty.

Simply put, developing countries cant buy the vaccines outright. The reality is that some contributions will need to be made by the developing country. And a framework for this has emerged, known as COVAX.

In my opinion, this is the best option for developing countries to solve their current dilemma. Another option would be to give countries like South Africa and India intellectual property rights to manufacture the vaccines, a move which was opposed by a number of countries at the World Trade Organisation meeting.

How does COVAX work?

COVAX is co-led by vaccine alliance  GAVI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organisation (WHO). As of now, COVAX has 190 participating economies. The United States has yet to join.

COVAX works by collectively pulling donations from rich developed countries, philanthropists  like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  and private donors together. These pooled funds are used to fund the research, development and manufacture of successful vaccine candidates. Once a vaccine candidate proves to be efficacious, it can be made available to countries irrespective of the financial means to pay.

This method also reduces risk for countries that may have only purchased one or two types of vaccine.

The plan is to make available the first two billion doses to all members of the coalition. While the targeted two billion doses arent enough, they plan to target vulnerable populations as the first line of defence.

So far, COVAX has secured contracts of two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines which will be rolled out when theyre delivered. Most of the pre-orders are from AstraZeneca and the Serum Institute of India.

As it stands there are three categories of country that will greatly benefit from COVAX:

Low-income countries that will access these vaccines they ordinarily cannot afford.

Rich countries that have not signed bilateral agreements with dedicated vaccine manufacturers.

Countries that have signed the bilateral agreements who will be assured of a dedicated pipeline once the vaccines are approved.

Is a collective approach the best way?

The collective approach has been shown to work under different models and it enhances negotiation for reduced pricing.

For instance, over the past 20 years GAVI has successfully procured vaccines using collective contributions from poorer countries, donor countries and donations. This accelerated the immunisation of children from poor countries.

The World Food Programme does collective procurement of food items during emergencies, obtaining commodities at much-reduced prices.

Even with a narrow profit margin, the large market created by a collective approach to COVID-19 vaccinations provides a favourable response from vaccine manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.

Manufacturing companies are in it for profit. At the current cost only a few countries would be able to buy the vaccine, but through COVAX they are assured of funding for more buyers. COVAX also bears the risk if the candidates do not reach final approval by the regulators in a particular country.

What are its shortcomings?

Despite its altruistic and noble intentions, there are a few challenges that need to be overcome if COVAX is to be a success.

First, the projected funds needed to invest in the research, development and manufacture of these potential vaccines has not been raised.

Though theres a lot of goodwill, it must be matched with financial contributions to meet the costs require to get these vaccines ready. COVAX needs at least US$4.6 billion in 2021 to procure doses of successful candidates.

Second, the process of identifying, and then approving, successful vaccines is still in its infancy. Only two  Pfizer-BioNTech and

Moderna  are authorised and recommended to prevent COVID-19. And there are currently more than 50 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in trials, many of which will not be successful. Reports suggest that only seven percent of the vaccines in the pre-clinical trial stages would make it to the clinical trial stage. Then only 20 percent of those candidates will be successful.

This will be a high-risk investment that is racing against time.

The recently reported mutated strain of the virus shows why candidates must be quickly identified. The new variant seems to be covered by the existing vaccines but future new strains might not be.

Finally, the failure of the US to join COVAX could challenge the extent to which the coalition can reach resources and funding.

What are its advantages?

Because it involves a large coalition it has the major advantage of coalescing the best of resources, expertise and goodwill.

It also offers a certain insurance for both low-income and rich developed countries to access the approved vaccine for their population.

Will it deliver?

In spite of all the challenges and the current inequalities created with the approved vaccine candidates, I believe COVAX will deliver.

It will do so because it has built the largest coalition and its in the best interests of everyone to ensure that COVAX succeeds. Unless nations that have procured the current expensive vaccines become isolated islands, they risk reinfections with new mutated strains. This will continue to present a clear and present danger to our world.

History has repeatedly demonstrated that when humanity comes together to defeat a common enemy, we always win.

Mosoka Fallah, Part-time lecturer at the Global Health & Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School and lecturer at the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Liberia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Alexandria Group International is helping American University of Iraq Baghdad contact US government officials, media and opinion-shapers to advance its mission of developing a diverse, tolerant, free and peaceful nation.

The private and non-profit entity aims to educate young Iraqis so they can create a modern nation equipped to handle the challenges of the 21st century.

AUIB, which is funded by tuition payments, corporate/individual contributions and money from Dubai, intends to establish a charitable foundation in the US.

AGI's one-year contract with AUIB is worth $252K.

Managing partner Marshall Harris handles the effort. The US foreign service veteran made news in 1993 when he resigned as special assistant to secretary of state Jim Baker to protest US inaction in Bosnia.

He went on to launch Balkan Action Council, with AGIs John Menzies, to advocate for American intervention to stop the genocide in Bosnia by Serbia.

Harris also was VP at Freedom House and an advisor to former Senate majority leader Bob Dole.
Syracuse, NY -- The federal prosecutor who sent a drug kingpin to prison for orchestrating the murder of a Syracuse police officer expressed outrage Wednesday at President Trumps surprise decision to release him from a life sentence.

Im kind of outraged that President Trump has granted him a commutation, said retired Assistant U.S. Attorney John Duncan, a Republican who handled the trial personally.

23 Syracuse police officer Wallie Howard Jr., murdered in 1990

Duncan wasnt the only local official who blasted the outgoing presidents decision to release the mastermind of the slaying of Police Officer Wallie Howard, one of Central New Yorks most notorious murders.

U.S. Rep John Katko, Syracuse police Chief Kenton Buckner, former police union president Jeff Piedmonte and Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick expressed similar dismay to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard this morning.

All said the evidence proves Jaime Davidson was the mastermind in planning a drug robbery that led to Howards 1990 murder. A federal jury had found him guilty, and years of appeals had gone nowhere.

But Davidson received an 11th hour commutation from Trump overnight, apparently swaying the president that he was innocent of any involvement in the murder. Davidson has remained unrepentant in prison, arguing for years that he was falsely convicted.

Theres no evidence that Davidsons request for a commutation was vetted by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Pardons, which had rejected Davidsons prior attempts to win freedom.

How do you pick someone who murdered a police officer as the one who got out? wondered Piedmonte, the former police union president. Its extremely disappointing and frustrating.

Katko (R-Camillus), a former federal prosecutor and colleague of Duncan at the time, said that Davidson was responsible for a heinous crime.

Jaime Davidson was found guilty of orchestrating the brutal murder of Wallie Howard, a decorated Central New York police officer, Katko said. I completely disagree with the presidents decision to commute the sentence for this heinous crime. Davidson is a criminal who should have served out his life sentence.

Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner said the presidents decision was a sock to the gut.

Theres a wide range of individuals that received a pardon obviously for the Howard family, its disappointing. For me, for the SPD family its disappointing to have that individual out and to receive a pardon for that, Buckner said. That is something that is kind of a sock in the gut to our community.

Buckner said he hopes Davidson takes advantage of the opportunity, but repeated his feeling that the commutation stung.

We respect the presidents right to do so, I would hope that that gentleman would take this opportunity hes given and continue to reform himself or to do some good things that he has promised he wants to do, Buckner said. But it certainly is a sock in the gut.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, who personally prosecuted another man in Howards murder, said Davidson wasnt worthy of mercy.

Lots of worthy candidates for sentence commutation, Fitzpatrick said. Davidson is not one of them. Its stunning. I hope somebody in the White House at least reached out to John Duncan or John Katko to get the full picture of his role in Wallies death.

Duncan told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that neither the White House nor the Justice Department consulted him before Trump signed the order releasing Davidson.

This came quite as a surprise, Duncan said, adding that he spoke early Wednesday with his co-prosecutor in the case, former U.S. Attorney Grant Jaquith. We never would have looked upon that favorably.

Unlike past presidents, Trump has made it a practice to bypass the Office of the Pardon Attorney in the Justice Department, which normally reviews and makes recommendations to a president on requests for clemency.

Davidson was convicted by a jury as part of a drug conspiracy that led to Howards death in 1990. The undercover officer was conducting a drug investigation when he was killed in a botched robbery in a store parking lot in Syracuse.

The shooter, Robert Bam Bam Lawrence, 16 years old at the time, was released from federal prison late last year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles shouldnt be given life sentences.

With the release of Lawrence and Davidson, the two men most responsible for Howards murder are now free, Duncan said.

At the same time, three other accomplices -- who didnt pull the trigger or run the drug ring -- are still stuck in prison for life, he noted. Remaining imprisoned are Juan Pedro Morales and Gary Anthony Stewart, who were at the shooting scene, and Lenworth Parke, who helped get the guns used in the murder.

If thats the kind of rationale the White House is using, its kind of hard to explain or justify, Duncan said.

Piedmonte, of the police union, called both of their releases a slap to the Howard family.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.

Read more:

Wallie Howards friend to Trump: You let a convicted cop killer out of prison?

Trump commutes sentence of drug kingpin behind killing of Syracuse cop Wallie Howard

Outraged, a sock in gut: Prosecutors, U.S. Rep. Katko, police stunned after Trump frees kingpin in Syracuse cop killing

Dozens of judges rejected Wallie Howard killers pleas for freedom. Then came Trump
The Israel Prisons Service said on Jan. 17 it will begin vaccinating all inmates this week, including Palestinians. A statement issued by the IPS said, Following the vaccination of staff  the vaccination of detainees will begin in prisons in accordance with medical and operational protocols established by the Prison Service. According to several publications yesterday, vaccination of prisoners aged 60 and older is rolling out.

The IPS announcement came three days after Health Minister Yuli Edelstein pledged to start vaccinating all prisoners the following week, including Palestinian security detainees. Edelstein stated, We adhere to all of the priority committees guidelines, explaining that the inmates will be vaccinated according to the national vaccination priorities set by his ministry: starting with the elderly and vulnerable.

On the same day that Edelstein made this promise, the IPS published its weekly update on the pandemic in incarceration facilities. It said that as of Jan. 14, 153 inmates held at Israeli facilities have been confirmed to be infected, 41 of them from an incident at the Ketziot prison and 30 from another at Ramon. In a second communique that day, the IPS gave details on treatment at Ramon. It said that the IPS continues to do what is necessary to prevent the spread of the virus within the detention facilities, adding that only official announcements and instructions to the public should be relied upon.

Between the lines of the three announcements could be read a war between Edelstein and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and Public Security Minister Amir Ohana. Edelstein's Jan. 14 announcement in fact overrode objections from Ohana, who is the minister with authority over prisons.

Israel launched its vaccination drive on Dec. 27, before which human rights groups had called for elderly prisoners to be included. Chairman of the PLOs Prisoners Affairs Commission Qadri Abu Bakr told the press he had been informed by the IPS that they would start vaccinating security prisoners within days.

Abu Bakr's statement apparently hit a nerve. In reaction, Ohana instructed prison officials to hold off vaccinating Palestinian inmates until further notice. A statement from his office said hed ordered the IPS to only vaccinate prison staff at this stage and that security prisoners shouldnt be given vaccines without his specific permission. Ohanas ban reportedly included all prisoners, not just Palestinians, reasoning that prison guards should precede prisoners, who will follow only after a larger number of non-incarcerated Israelis are inoculated.

The ministers instructions triggered an avalanche of angry reactions. The Association for Prisoners Rights petitioned the Supreme Court, demanding all inmates over 60 be vaccinated, just like other Israeli residents. Mandelblit warned Ohana in a letter that the government would not defend his position in court. Your injunction suffers from a clear lack of authority and is contrary to the requirements of the law, stated Mandelblit, also noting that Ohanas instructions contrasted with the position of the Health Ministry.

President Reuven Rivlin lambasted Ohanas decision: Preventing life-saving medical treatment from people in prison  whether due to a sentence imposed on them by the court or due to detention prior to sentencing  is inconsistent with our values, the values of the state, Judaism and democracy. The president requested that the matter be resolved as soon as possible in order to maintain the health of the prisoners and the prison service staff.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz also called on Ohana to reverse the ban. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Gantz wrote, A public security minister who has lost it and a prime minister who gave up and let this farce continue  thats the only way to explain not vaccinating prisoners over the age of 60. This is a move that is illegal, politically motivated and life threatening.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  The 2021 Spring Semester is underway at Purdue University. All students were required to test negative for COVID-19 before returning to campus.

As News 18 previously reported, students were not required to return to campus after Thanksgiving Break. The students finished the Fall 2020 Semester virtually.

Purdue University provided an at-home COVID-19 saliva test for students living on campus to take before arriving for the Spring Semester.

Purdue Freshman, Jenna Tapper, said COVID-19 testing has become the new normal.

"The testing went smoothly for me," said Tapper. "This was actually my third time getting tested because we had randomly testing on campus as well."

The students were required to take their saliva test online.

"You log-in to your account and enter a waiting room through Zoom where a nurse practitioner will see you," said Tapper. "They'll ask you to remove the vial you get from the casing and spit into it until it reaches the fill line and then I had to seal it up and put it in the shipping bag."

Purdue University President, Mitch Daniels, says the at-home COVID-19 test was not sent home with every student enrolled at Purdue. They were only given to students who live on campus.

"Particularly those in congregate housing, so that's sororities, fraternities, co-ops, and our university residents halls," said Daniels.

All students were required to test negative for COVID-19. However, the testing process for students living off-campus was not the same for those living on campus.

"Just to be clear every student including the off-campus residents will have to show a negative test," said Daniels. "It's just that they'll have to come get it as they find their way back to town."

Daniels says it was up to the students living off-campus where they wanted to get tested.

"Some chose to do it where they lived or maybe at their own doctor's office," said Daniels.

That's what Purdue student Amous Goh decided to do.

"I went to CVS and got one done real quick," said Goh.

Daniels said no matter where students chose to get tested, the Protect Purdue Health Center is always an option.

"I hope we've been successful in making it (testing) convenient to everyone," said Daniels.

Daniels said if students decided to get tested at the Protect Purdue Health Center, the cost would be taken care of.

"We want to be there to help with the cost in every case we can," said Daniels.

Goh said he knew the Protect Purdue Health Center was an option for testing, but he already scheduled his appointment with CVS.

"This semester they did offer for me to take it at Purdue," said Goh. "It's just that I have already scheduled another test before they sent me that email."

Daniels said the University did not require a pre-test for faculty and staff. However, the Protect Purdue Health Center is always an option.

"The protect Purdue health center is open all the time," said Daniels "Anyone can come in for a voluntary test and if they have symptoms we urge them to come in right away."

Daniels said random surveillance testing will continue for the Spring Semester.

"That means sampling a healthy percentage of students, faculty, and staff on an on-going basis," said Daniels.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (ABC) -- Cheering crowds with hundreds of thousands of people packed shoulder-to-shoulder.

Glamorous galas, luncheons, balls and a parade.

Inaugurations are usually a jubilant celebration of the peaceful transfer of power in the world's oldest democracy.

But not this year.

In the wake of the violent and deadly breach of the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be unlike any other in American history.

Here's what to know:

Unprecedented security and pandemic precautions

An unprecedented level of security is being marshaled for the 59th swearing-in ceremony as law enforcement is on high alert for further possible attacks and unrest.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has asked public officials to discourage spectators from attending the inauguration in an effort to prevent violence during the event.

Thousands of National Guard troops will be in place around the 7-foot non-scalable fence surrounding the U.S Capitol, which is topped with razor wire. The National Parks service will also implement a temporary public closure of the National Mall from Jan.15 through Jan. 21.

Clearly we are in uncharted waters, Bowser said during a press conference Wednesday.

No Trump and Harris makes history

That is not to mention the fact that for the first time in more than 100 years, the outgoing president, Donald Trump, will not be attending the inauguration, a move that Biden said is "good."

Trump plans to leave Washington the morning of the inauguration in a "military-like" sendoff from Joint Base Andrews, from which he will head to Mar-a-Lago, his residence in Florida.

Outgoing presidents generally greet the incoming president and then ride together to the Capitol for the ceremony. Only three presidents did not attend the inauguration of their successor -- John Adams, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Johnson.

Vice President Mike Pence, who refused to subvert the results of the election to keep Trump in power but took 68 days to call his successor, Kamala Harris, will be there.

Harris is set to make history when she is sworn in as the first woman of color to be vice president.

What to watch and how

With the extensive security measures put in place and the need to avoid large crowds to stem the spread of the coronavirus, most Americans will experience the historical ceremony virtually. Here is how you can watch the inauguration on Jan. 20.

ABC News will provide coverage of Inauguration Day, Wednesday, Jan. 20, starting early in the morning for the west coast and continuing into the afternoon.

The Biden campaign and the Presidential inaugural Committee will also livestream Inauguration Day online starting at 6 a.m. PT.

Watch KEZI 9 News and check back here for the latest coverage.

On Jan. 20, the ceremony will feature musical performances from Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez. Lady Gaga, who worked with Biden on a campaign against sexual assault when he was vice president, will sing the national anthem.

Members of the clergy who are close to the Biden family will deliver the invocation benediction and Andrea Hall, the president of the International Association of Firefighters, which has long supported Biden, will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Following Biden's inaugural address, there will be a wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery with other first families. Then there will be a virtual parade featuring performances from across the U.S.

At 8 p.m. ET ABC News will present, The Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. - An ABC News Special, that will provide reporting on the historic moments from the day.

Then, at 8:30 p.m. EST ABC will air Celebrating America, the primetime special previously announced by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, including performances from Bon Jovi and Demi Lovato among others. The event will be hosted by Tom Hanks.
Jovita Carranza, administrator U.S. Small Business Administration, testifies during the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Hearings in Washington on June 10, 2020. (Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images)

Small Business Admin Proposes to Make Faith-Based Organizations Eligible for Relief

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has proposed a rule that would make faith-based organizations eligible for some of the agencys relief programs.

The new rule, which is currently open for a 30-day public comment period, aims to remove restrictions that exclude religious organizations from some SBA business loans and disaster assistance programs.

Specifically, the Code of Federal Regulations currently states that businesses whose principal activity is teaching, instructing, counseling or indoctrinating religion or religious beliefs, whether in a religious or secular setting are not eligible to participate in SBA assistance programs.

Those restrictions, according to the SBA proposal, violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment because they exclude a class of potential participants based solely on their religious status.

The proposed rule, if passed as is, will allow the previously ineligible businesses to take part in seven SBA programs, namely the Intermediary Lending Pilot program (ILP), SBA Business Loan Programs, The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, and the Immediate Disaster Assistance Program.

The SBA also cited President Donald Trumps May 2017 executive order, which states that federal law protects the freedom of Americans and their organizations to exercise religion and participate fully in civic life without undue interference by the Federal Government.

Americas faith-based small businesses and organizations play a vital role in providing employment opportunities, products, and essential educational, training and youth social services that benefit both our local communities and the overall national economy, SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza said in a statement. Todays proposed rule would ensure that these businesses and organizations are not forced to choose between their faith and the SBA financial assistance that they need to continue serving the public and employing our neighbors.

The proposal comes at the end of Trumps first term, which is marked by an effort to give faith-based organizations an equal footing when competing for taxpayer-funded grants against their secular counterparts. This effort is backed by the U.S. Supreme Courts June 2020 ruling in the case Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. In that case, the court held that a state doesnt have to subsidize private education, but once it does, it cannot withhold those money from certain schools just because theyre religious.

The Court correctly concludes that Montanas no-aid provision expressly discriminates against religion in violation of the Free Exercise Clause, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his concurring opinion. And it properly provides relief to Montana religious schools and the petitioners who wish to use Montanas scholarship program to send their children to such schools.
The scarcity of water is a global issue which is worsening at an alarming rate and poses a major threat to future generations. Governments and the non-government organisations are pooling in their resources to battle the crisis. There is a large percentage of population that still does not have drinking water facility in their premises and this is not just limited to the rural areas.

One of the countrys top tier cities, Bengaluru, despite possessing advanced infrastructure, roads and a top tech hub, struggles with the acute shortage of water, especially during the summer season.

A report by Niti Aayog had underlined the severity of the matter saying the city will soon run out of water. At a time as worrying as this, Vishwanath Srikantaiah, a water activist who runs a Bengaluru-based NGO named Rainwater Club, is working tirelessly to conserve the water resources.

Srikantaiah, who gets massive support from the local communities and well-diggers, has been successful in reviving 10,000 wells and aims to recharge 1 million wells in future.

Popularly known as ZenRainMan, Srikantaiah possesses the credentials of a Civil Engineer and an urban planner, who worked for Housing and Urban Development Corporation for about 14 years before dedicating to the cause of water conservation.

Besides recharging wells, Srikantaiah has also designed rooftop rainwater harvesting structures for several households and factories across Karnataka.

He has started a YouTube channel, ZenRainMan, through which he shares his insights and tries to spread awareness on the proper usage of rainwater and provides tips for rainwater harvesting. He has divided the videos into separate playlists that tell about Harvesting Rain Water, Groundwater and Sustainable Sanitation techniques.

The activist has also posted discussions, seminars and demonstrations he has participated in to spread awareness on the issue.

Like the Rainwater Club, there are many other organisations and entities working on the issue of water conservation. One such initiative is the Mission Paani undertaken by News18 in association with Harpic.

Mission Paani was launched on a nationwide scale in which several lawmakers, celebrities, activists and other prominent personalities have joined hands to do their bit for the cause. It is working towards saving water and sustaining water resources for the generations to come. The aim of the campaign is to bring about a behavioural change in the society in order to improve water use efficiency.

The goal of Mission Paani is that every Indian will have clean water and sanitation, when every Indian pledges to conserve water and promote hygiene.

Be a part of the Harpic  News18 Mission Paani campaign, take the Pledge to Save Water and catch all updates to the Waterthon here
(CNN) -- President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris took their oaths of office Wednesday in a historic inauguration.

Harris will be the first female, the first Black and first South Asian vice president of the United States.

After a tumultuous year that began a new chapter of the civil rights movement as Americans took to the streets to protest against racial injustice and police brutality after the police killing of George Floyd, the swearing in was a remarkable achievement for a country that has often struggled to live up to its ideals of equality for all.

Harris took the oath on two Bibles -- one that belonged to former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, one of her heroes who inspired her to pursue a career in the law, and that of Regina Shelton, a neighbor who cared for Harris and her sister Maya when they were growing up and attended church with her, where she was introduced to the teachings of the Bible. Harris has described Shelton as a "second mother to us."

After campaigning on a promise to heal a fractured nation, Biden will begin the work of uniting the country Wednesday when he is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on the West Front of the US Capitol -- a mere two weeks after insurrectionists incited by President Donald Trump stormed the building and tried to overturn the election results based on Trump's lies.

Biden arrived at the Capitol Wednesday morning, after Trump -- the first president in more than 150 years to refuse to attend his successor's swearing-in ceremony -- had left Washington, DC. Vice President Mike Pence, who was in the Capitol when it was stormed by a violent mob earlier this month, and second lady Karen Pence walked out onto the inaugural stands to bipartisan applause.

Live Updates: The inauguration of Joe Biden

More than 25,000 National Guard troops are in place to ensure that the nation's transfer of power can take place peacefully. Trump left the White House as president for the last time Wednesday morning, flying to Florida with first lady Melania Trump before the swearing-in ceremonies, dispensing with the tradition of greeting the incoming President and first lady at the White House and riding with them to the Capitol. CNN's Kate Bennett reported that White House chief usher Timothy Harleth will meet the Bidens later at the White House.

On his way out of the Washington area, Trump -- who was not wearing a mask -- again used the racist term "China virus" to describe the coronavirus, describing it in the past tense, and touted his administration's work on developing a vaccine.

He thanked his staff and family and wished the next administration "great success" but did not mention his successor by name.

"We love you, this has been an incredible four years," Trump said in unscripted remarks at Joint Base Andrews shortly before leaving for Florida. "We've accomplished so much."

"I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening."

After decades in politics, Biden will deliver the most important speech of his life on Wednesday at a time when the nation is gripped by a seemingly uncontrollable pandemic, an economic collapse that has left millions unemployed and deep divisions over issues of racial justice and police brutality. In a speech that is expected to span 20 to 30 minutes, Biden will speak about how he hopes to unite the country, and is expected to reflect on the theme at the root of his presidential campaign: restoring the "soul of the nation."

Biden plans to call on all Americans to meet the extraordinary challenges facing the nation by coming together around the idea that he often mentioned on the campaign trail: that there is nothing the country can't do "when we do it together," according to advisers to the President-elect. He will have his hand on the Biden family Bible, which has a Celtic Cross on the cover and has been a family heirloom since 1893. The President-elect has used the Bible each time he has taken an oath of office, both as a senator from Delaware and as vice president, and his son Beau Biden used the Bible when he was sworn in as attorney general of Delaware in 2007.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris -- who will make history Wednesday when she is sworn in as the first female, the first Black and first South Asian vice president -- will be sworn in on two Bibles, that of former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, one of her heroes who inspired her to pursue a career in the law, and one that belonged to Regina Shelton, a neighbor who cared for Harris and her sister Maya when they were growing up and attended church with her, where she was introduced to the teachings of the Bible. Harris has described Shelton as a "second mother to us."

The task of the incoming president has been complicated by the fact that Trump has still not conceded the election, has impeded the transition between administrations and was consumed in his final days with planning his own departure ceremony and weighing whom to pardon. But Trump left the White House as a disgraced and diminished figure. CNN's White House team has reported that although dozens of current and former officials had been invited to the Wednesday morning farewell ceremony, many declined to attend. Pence said his final goodbyes to Trump on Tuesday.

Biden and Harris attended a service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in DC ahead of the inaugural ceremonies with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, in a show of unity and Biden's intent to work with leaders from both parties.

Honoring the victims of Covid-19

Biden has largely ignored Trump's final slights against the democratic process in the final hours before the inauguration as he demonstrates what a different president he will be.

After a year in which Trump denied the seriousness of the pandemic -- often brushing aside the painful loss of life with erroneous boasts that the US death rate was better than in many other countries -- Biden's first act upon arriving in Washington Tuesday afternoon was to honor the victims of the coronavirus in a solemn ceremony, making it clear that offering compassion and understanding to Americans will be just as central to his mission as preventing more tragedy.

Moments before 400 columns of light were illuminated on the edges of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to honor the lives lost, Biden invited Americans to mourn as he grieved alongside them -- a moment that was extraordinary because there has been nothing like it during the Trump administration. The former vice president has long been defined by his innate ability to comfort strangers he has met throughout his journey in politics, because of his experience working through tragedies in his own life -- from the loss of his first wife and his infant daughter in a 1972 car accident to the death of Beau Biden in 2015.

He encapsulated the lessons of those personal experiences in his tribute to Covid-19 victims on the eve of taking the oath of office: "It's hard sometimes to remember, but that's how we heal," he said at the memorial. "It's important to do that as a nation."

Biden turns his focus Wednesday to his plans to unite the country, to broker compromise with political opponents, and turn the Trump administration's overly politicized response to the pandemic into a functional operation that can accelerate the delivery of vaccines to Americans and right the flagging US economy.

He wants to show that he will move swiftly to undo Trump's legacy, with aides readying about a dozen executive actions that Biden can take as soon as he is sworn into office that include rejoining the Paris climate agreement and ending Trump's ban on travel from predominantly Muslim countries. The President-elect plans to extend the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures for families affected by Covid-19 and to sign an order requiring masks on federal property and during interstate travel.

Inauguration Day looks different this year

Plans for the inauguration itself have been reshaped not only by the pandemic, but also by the stunning security breach at the US Capitol on January 6. There will be no crowds in the streets or on the National Mall as the city remains in lockdown.

Biden plans to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, joined by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, along with their spouses.

But in an empty and heavily guarded city, the rest of the traditional inaugural festivities will be geared toward an audience that will be livestreaming at home.

The inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to honor the incoming administration will be largely a virtual one. Biden and Harris will have a presidential escort from 15th Street to the White House including the US Army Band, a Joint Service Honor Guard and the commander in chief's Guard and Fife Drum Corps. And the drumlines from the University of Delaware and Howard University will join that event to honor the alma maters of the incoming president and vice president.

The parade will be hosted by "Scandal" actor Tony Goldwyn and will feature comedian Jon Stewart, New Radicals and DJ Cassidy's "Pass the Mic" with performances by Earth Wind & Fire, Nile Rodgers, Kathy Sledge, The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, The Washington Chorus and The Triumph Baptist Church Choir.

Several Americans who sought to lift spirits of their neighbors in the midst of the pandemic will also take part, including Dr. Jason Campbell -- a Portland, Oregon, doctor who became known as the "TikToc Doc" with his uplifting dance performances in scrubs from the hospital -- and Jason Zgonc, a 12-year-old trumpeter from Atlanta who played during hospital workers' break times throughout the summer.

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Hospitals have come under sharp criticism for their part in the chaotic COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Thats because in the rush to get the vaccine out quickly, many hospitals were shipped more vaccine than anticipated and fewer staff took it than anticipated. As a result, hospitals accrued a vaccine surplus and offered it to their low-risk grad students and young administrative staff working from home and are now scrambling to figure out what to do with the rest. The answer should be simple: give it to older members of your community, but a recent letter from the American Hospital Association cited a number of important barriers to effective vaccine distribution including a lack of coordination and guidance from federal, state, and local governments.

In trying to figure out how to best steward their vaccine surplus, some hospitals called their states department of health only to be told to simply hold the supply. Most states dont want to deal with the logistic complexity of transferring the supply and, worse yet, many hospitals are now concerned about negative repercussions from states if they speak out against their guidance. Some hospitals are even worried that if they dont use their vaccine supply, that they may not receive more. These petty games are hurting everyday Americans, some of whom are sitting ducks in this war against the virus.

Many solutions have been proposed, including lotteries or one-shot strategies to dispense all available vaccine doses. The incoming Biden administration has also supported efforts to move vaccine as quickly as possible, but there are hurdles at all levels. So what needs to be done to achieve the goal of vaccinating millions of Americans as soon as possible? Here are a few steps we should take right now:

1. Ignore complicated guidance and just immunize seniors

Confusion about complicated tiering of vaccine priority groups is putting hospitals in a decision paralysis. A simple age-based allocation strategy is easy to understand and would translate into a much faster vaccine rollout. Hospitals should be allowed to bypass the complicated CDC, state and local guidance, and immediately offer their vaccine surplus to the oldest and most vulnerable people in the community. In fact, many hospitals have a process in place to offer the flu shot each year to every clinic and hospitalized patient.

2. States should get out of the way

States with a requirement that a nurse must administer the vaccine should immediately change this to any health professional. Pharmacists, medical assistants, and other health care workers should be allowed to vaccinate people.

Some states are wasting too much time pontificating as to whether community immunizations are best performed at pharmacies and grocery stores rather than hospitals. Pharmacies and grocery stores are the ideal setting given their broad experience with mass community vaccinations. But in the meantime, hospitals should act on their vaccine surplus and dispense it wisely. Hospitals should step up and show leadership in helping the most vulnerable members in their communities.

3. Use big data

Hospitals and health systems have the data on whos most vulnerable through their electronic health record infrastructure. They should harness the power of big data to find those with the age and co-morbidities that place them at greatest risk of mortality. The COVID-19 case fatality rate ranges from 0.001% to 20%. Finding those at greatest risk of COVID-19 mortality is a challenge that is difficult for pharmacies and grocery stores to address, but hospitals are in a strong position to solve it. In the same way that hospitals reach out individually to people in their data when its time for their mammogram, colonoscopy or other health screenings, so too can hospitals help identify those at highest risk and hardest to reach.

4. Address vaccine deserts

Regional hospitals should redistribute vaccine doses to eliminate these geographic and socioeconomic disparities in health care. While vaccines were being rolled out, the CDC advisory committee on vaccine prioritization and other similar groups met to consider how best to allocate the vaccine. Sadly, the recommendations were issued late (weeks after the initial authorizations were granted by the FDA), after trucks were loaded with vaccine doses and hospitals had secured freezers for storage. This late guidance encouraged procrastination by hospitals because their plan was Well, lets wait and see what the states say and the states said Well, lets wait and see what the CDC says. States and the CDC had nine months to develop an allocation strategy. Tragically, mired in bureaucracy, the government was two weeks late to the vaccine allocation planning party.

Not only was the formal guidance late, it was flawed. First, it failed to stratify Americas 23 million health care workers, and instead placed someone like a healthy 34-year-old dermatologist specializing in Botox in the same priority group as a 64-year-old ICU nurse with diabetes and asthma. Algorithms that attempted to accurately identify the priority groups backfired, leaving community-based providers and some private practice clinicians in the dark. The chaos of infighting as well as continued stories of wealthy board members and spouses of hospital administrators obtaining access before others has resulted in vaccine deserts (predominantly rural areas where the vaccine is not available or sparsely available for first priority groups). One Texas country club even announced its vaccine signup for club members on Jan. 11, 2021.

5. Show leadership now

Health care is one of the most regulated industries in the world, with incredible oversight and bureaucracy. As a result, many hospital leaders have been overly reluctant to question guidance or challenge authority, but with cases and deaths surging and a burnt-out workforce, now is the time for bold thinking and disruptive ideas. We hope that our hospitals leaders will step up in this trying time. We need bold leadership to replace the timid approach many hospitals are taking in being followers of poor government guidance. Hospitals need to lead, not follow.

Governments and the medical community are notorious for their nuanced debates. But to fix the nations current vaccine rollout debacle, lets stop arguing about the ideal philosophy and be real. Hospitals need to show leadership in quickly developing a pragmatic plan B strategy that works. We need to focus on giving the vaccine to at-risk seniors quickly, starting with the oldest members of our community on down  a simple strategy that would save the greatest number of American lives.

The views of each author do not represent the views of any organization or institution.

Marty Makary M.D., M.P.H. is a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is editor-in-chief of Medpage Today and author of the SABEW 2020 Business Book of the Year, The Price We Pay.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Joe Biden took the oath of office just before noon today to become the 46th president of the United States, taking the helm of a deeply divided nation and inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors. This is the latest on Bidens presidential inauguration (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

President Joe Biden has entered the White House for the first time as chief executive after walking an abbreviated parade route, still wearing his protective mask amid sounds of Hail to the Chief.

The 46th president and first lady Jill Biden walked through a military cordon lining the White House driveway with the flags of U.S. states, leading the first couple to the main entrance under the North Portico on Wednesday.

Biden was expected to immediately begin working, with a stack of executive orders on immigration and other matters awaiting his signature.

The final ceremonial flourish completed an abbreviated inaugural afternoon unlike any Washington has seen, with Biden being seen in person by only a relative smattering of Americans given security lockdowns after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and public health protocols amid the ongoing pandemic.

3:35 p.m.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says he hopes Donald Trump will continue to be the leader of the Republican Party after his election defeat and second impeachment.

The Republican senator said Wednesday during an interview on Fox News that if youre wanting to erase Donald Trump from the party, youre going to get erased.

Over the course of Trumps one-term presidency, Graham went from being one of his fiercest critics to being one of his most prominent allies in Congress.

Graham said it was inappropriate for Republicans in Congress to try to overturn President Joe Bidens victory and called Trumps comments ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot a big mistake. But he says ultimately that it wasnt a crime and that he blames the people that came into the Capitol, not him.

He said he thinks there would be a lot of support for Trump if he ran again in 2024.

He added: But Im not worried about 2024. I want to help Biden where I can, I want to get this country back on track.

3:25 p.m.

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton says it really lifted her heart to see Joe Biden sworn in as president on the same platform that supporters of President Donald Trump climbed when they attacked the Capitol two weeks ago.

Clinton and her husband, the former President Bill Clinton, attended Wednesdays inauguration of Biden. Afterward, she told The Associated Press that she was relieved and grateful to see Biden sworn in with a peaceful transition of power.

Thats been taken for granted in the U.S. for over two centuries. But two weeks ago, hundreds of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from formally certifying Bidens election victory over Trump.

The House impeached Trump a week later on a charge of inciting an insurrection.

Clinton says she thinks it was meaningful to many Americans to see Biden take his oath of office where, just a few weeks ago, marauders and terrorists had been attempting to stop democracy.

Trump defeated Clinton for the presidency in 2016.

3:15 p.m.

The highest-ranking Black member of Congress says former President George W. Bush lauded his role as a savior in helping get President Joe Biden elected to the White House.

U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Wednesday on a call with reporters that the Republican former president told him ahead of the inaugural ceremony that, if he had not given Biden the boost he did ahead of South Carolinas primary, we would not be having this transfer of power today.

Clyburn says Bush went on to say that Biden was the only one who could have defeated the incumbent president, Donald Trump. Trump and the Bush family didnt get along.

Clyburns pivotal endorsement ahead of South Carolinas Democratic primary helped propel Biden to the nomination. Biden won South Carolina by a margin of nearly 30 points.

Clyburn, South Carolinas only Democratic representative in Congress, is the dean of the states Democrats and the third-ranking member of the U.S. House.

3:05 p.m.

President Joe Biden has spent a few of the first moments of his term at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring fallen veterans with three former presidents and their families.

The president, first lady Jill Biden, and newly sworn-in Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, presided over a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Wednesday.

After cannon fire rumbled in the distance, Biden saluted as a military band played the national anthem.

Biden and Harris later briefly touched the wreath before bowing their heads in prayer. The president also made the sign of the cross, then he and Harris stood somberly for the playing of taps.

Joining them at the ceremony were former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura and former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary.

Former President Donald Trump flew to Florida before Biden was sworn into office.

2:35 p.m.

President Joe Bidens team has started moving into the White House.

The building began humming again with activity a few hours after Bidens inauguration Wednesday as staff for the new president started moving into their offices, unpacking belongings and getting the badges that grant them easy access to the property.

New press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that she was in the building and ready to get to work. Psaki has scheduled the new administrations first White House press briefing for later Wednesday.

Biden plans to sign a flurry of executive orders, some overturning actions by former President Donald Trump, once he gets to the Oval Office.

The White House had been largely emptied out of staff after Trump flew to Florida on Wednesday morning, skipping his successors swearing-in.

2:15 p.m.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have taken part in the traditional inaugural military tradition of Pass in Review.

Biden, Harris and their spouses stood Wednesday on the East Front steps of the U.S. Capitol to observe the procession of ceremonial military regiments.

Several groupings passed by the steps, with military members saluting the newly minted president and musicians playing traditional patriotic tunes.

The inaugural parade that typically follows was to be replaced by a virtual parade later in the day because of concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Following the procession, the couples climbed into vehicles to travel to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They were to be joined by the former presidents who attended the earlier inaugural ceremony.

1:50 p.m.

Congressional leaders have presented President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with a variety of gifts, including a pair of flags flown over the U.S. Capitol during the inauguration.

The presentations to the officials and their respective spouses happened Wednesday in lieu of a congressional luncheon that typically follows the inauguration ceremony.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said Lenox had crafted a pair of commemorative vases for Biden and Harris, each weighing 32 pounds (14.5 kilograms).

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell gifted them with a pair of U.S. flags that were flown over the Capitol during the inauguration. McConnell noted that both Biden and Harris served in the Senate and skipped the House altogether.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer presented photos from Wednesdays ceremony.

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri noted that the Smithsonian had loaned a painting titled Landscape with Rainbow by a notable Black painter from around the time of the Civil War.

1:40 p.m.

Vice President Kamala Harris has now taken on a role that would have typically been performed by the outgoing president.

Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, stood on the U.S. Capitol steps Wednesday to bid farewell to her predecessor, former Vice President Mike Pence, and his wife, Karen.

The two couples stood and chatted for a few moments, even laughing, on the steps before the Pences got into a vehicle and were driven away.

President Donald Trump typically would have performed the sendoff for his second-in-command but opted to skip Wednesdays inaugural festivities.

Trump and his wife, Melania, went straight from the White House to Joint Base Andrews earlier Wednesday. He gave a campaign-style farewell speech before boarding Air Force One for a final time as president and traveling to his home in Florida.

Pence opted not to attend that event, instead attending Bidens inauguration.

12:50 p.m.

Calm prevailed outside heavily fortified state capitol buildings across the U.S. as Joe Biden was sworn in as president.

The FBI had warned of the possibility for armed demonstrations leading up to the inauguration after President Donald Trump repeatedly and falsely claimed the election was stolen from him.

Fewer than a half-dozen demonstrators showed up outside the capitols in Concord, New Hampshire, and Lansing, Michigan. A lone protester wearing a Make America Great Again hat stood outside a chain-link fence surrounding the California Capitol in Sacramento, as dozens of police officers and National Guard troops guarded every entrance.

Three protesters were outside the Nebraska Capitol in Lincoln, one waving a flag that read Biden is not the president.

Dump trucks, prison buses and other government vehicles were used to barricade streets around the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta, though no protesters were there.

Michigan lawmakers canceled a session scheduled for Wednesday out of caution. But in Wisconsin, legislators planned to move ahead with a committee hearing that was to be open to the public.

12:45 p.m.

The official swearing-in ceremony for President Joe Biden have concluded, but more events are planned throughout the day.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden departed the platform at the U.S. Capitol following a ceremony that included Biden taking the oath Wednesday as the 46th president of the United States. Vice President Kamala Harris also took her oath of office, becoming the nations first female vice president.

The day included musical performances from Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks. Celebrated poet Amanda Gorman read a piece noting that, while democracy can be permanently delayed, it can never be permanently denied.

Following his departure from the platform, Biden was expected to sign paperwork in the Presidents Room within the U.S. Capitol. Afterward, he reviews troops outside the Capitol before departing and traveling to Arlington National Cemetery for a ceremony with former presidents in attendance.

Later Wednesday, Biden is expected to make his first official arrival at the White House as president before a virtual inaugural parade.

12:40 p.m.

Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman summoned images dire and triumphant as she called out to the world even as we grieved, we grew.

Gorman is 22, by far the youngest inaugural poet since Robert Frost read for John F. Kennedy in 1961. She quoted biblical scripture and echoed the oratory of Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. among others as she recited her poem at President Joe Bidens inauguration on Wednesday.

She referred to the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump, an event that she said helped inspire her to finish her poem, The Hill We Climb.

12:30 p.m.

Garth Brooks has sung a gospel-tinged and beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace at President Joe Bidens inauguration.

The country superstar took off his black cowboy hat and kept his eyes closed for much of the powerful song, performing it a capella and without strain.

He offered a few dazzling smiles as the sun broke through the crowd and asked the audience to sing a verse with him. He said, Not just the people here, but the people at home, to work as one united.

After it was over, Brooks shook hands with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Brooks performed during the inaugural celebration of President Barack Obama in 2009. He turned down a chance to play for President Donald Trump in 2017, citing a scheduling conflict.

12:20 p.m.

More than a hundred people stood in the cold waiting to get through a security checkpoint to reach Pennsylvania Avenue, where they hoped to catch a glimpse of the presidential procession.

People watched the inauguration ceremony on their phones Wednesday, cheering as Vice President Kamala Harris, then President Joe Biden took the oath.

I feel so hopeful, so thankful, said Karen Jennings Crooms, a D.C. resident waiting in line with her husband. It makes us sad that this is where we are but hopeful that democracy will win out in the end. Thats what Im focusing on.

Her husband, Vernal Crooms, who attended Howard University at the same time as Harris but didnt know her, said he was happy to see the Donald Trump era end.

He said, Weve turned the page. Light prevailed and the lie didnt last.

12:10 p.m.

President Joe Biden is calling on Americans to overcome their divisions, declaring in his first address in office that without unity, there is no peace.

Biden also pledged during his inaugural address Wednesday that he would be honest with the country as it continues to confront difficulties, saying that leaders have an obligation to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

He asked even those who did not vote for him to give him a chance. He said, Hear me out as we move forward.

As he did frequently during the campaign, Biden pledged that he will be a president for all Americans and will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

He added, We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue.

Noon

President Joe Biden says democracy has prevailed in a country reeling amid a pandemic and a violent melee two weeks ago at the U.S. Capitol.

In his first remarks as president, Biden said Wednesday that his swearing-in marks a day of history and hope.

Biden said in his inaugural address that the country has learned again that democracy is precious.

He added, The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

Biden also thanked his predecessors from both parties for attending Wednesdays ceremonies. Former Vice President Mike Pence was also in attendance, while former President Donald Trump skipped the festivities and headed to Florida earlier in the day.

11:50 a.m.

Joe Biden has officially become the 46th president of the United States.

Biden took the oath of office just before noon Wednesday during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The presidential oath was administered by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Biden was sworn in using a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was used during his swearing-in as vice president in 2009 and 2013. The 5-inch thick Bible, which could be seen on a table next to Bidens chair on the dais, has a Celtic cross on its cover and was also used each time he was sworn- n as a U.S. senator.

Bidens late son, Beau, also used the Bible for his own swearing-in ceremony as attorney general of Delaware and helped carry the Bible to his fathers 2013 ceremony.

11:45 a.m.

Kamala Harris has been sworn in as the nations first female vice president.

The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and becomes the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

She was sworn in Wednesday by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for President Donald Trump, was sitting nearby as Lady Gaga sang the national anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.

11:40 a.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump has pardoned Al Pirro, the ex-husband of Fox News Channel host and Trump ally Jeanine Pirro.

The pardon for Al Pirro is in addition to the 143 pardons and sentence commutations that Trump announced earlier Wednesday. Pirros pardon was announced just after Trump landed in Florida after leaving the White House and before Joe Biden was inaugurated as the nations 46th president.

Jeanine Pirro hosts Fox News Channels Justice with Judge Jeanine.

Al Pirro was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion charges and sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2000.

11:35 a.m.

President Joe Biden has chosen career diplomat Daniel Smith to serve as acting secretary of state until his pick for top diplomat, Antony Blinken, is confirmed by the Senate.

Smith currently runs the Foreign Service Institute that trains U.S. diplomats and is a former ambassador to Greece.

Current and incoming U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday of his temporary appointment, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement. Biden is set to be sworn in at noon as the 46th president of the United States.

Blinken had a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, and his confirmation is not expected to face obstacles. He would succeed President Donald Trumps secretary of state, Mike Pompeo.

11:15 a.m.

Joe Bidens presidential inauguration ceremony has begun.

Biden swears the oath of office at noon Wednesday, becoming the 46th president of the United States. The Democrat is preparing to take the helm of a deeply divided nation and inherit crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

History will be made at Bidens side, as Kamala Harris becomes the first woman to be vice president.

The ceremony in which presidential power is transferred is a hallowed American democratic tradition. And this time it serves as a jarring reminder of the challenges Biden faces: The inauguration unfolds at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago, encircled by security forces. Its devoid of crowds because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol.

Former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are attending.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend.

11:10 a.m.

Three Supreme Court justices are absent from President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, citing health risks from the coronavirus pandemic.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito did not join the others on the west front of the Capitol Wednesday. Breyer is 82, the oldest member of the court. Thomas is 72 and Alito is 70.

Supreme Court spokesperson Kathy Arberg says some members of the court elected not to attend the inauguration ceremony in light of the public health risks posed by the COVID pandemic.

The justices have begun receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is not clear if they all have received both doses.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the other appointees of President Donald Trump, Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh were in attendance Wednesday, along with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Roberts was to swear in Biden, while Sotomayor was giving the oath of office to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

11:10 a.m.

Vice President Mike Pence has arrived at the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.

Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were announced at inaugural festivities at the U.S. Capitol about one hour ahead of Bidens expected swearing-in ceremony.

Pence is representing the outgoing Trump administration at Bidens inaugural. President Donald Trump is skipping the festivities, departing Washington earlier in the day for the last time as sitting president.

Aboard Air Force One a final time, Trump landed in West Palm Beach, Florida, just before Pences arrival at the inaugural platform.

During remarks before his departure, Trump hinted at a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years, telling supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland We will be back in some form.

11:05 a.m.

A Capitol police officer hailed as a hero for his actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol is accompanying Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the inauguration of Harris and President-elect Joe Biden.

Officer Eugene Goodman confronted the insurrectionists and led them away from Senate chambers moments after Vice President Mike Pence was escorted from the Senate chamber as the rioters stormed the Capitol.

Goodman is a Black man and was facing an overwhelmingly white mob. He is the only officer seen for a full minute on widely circulated footage captured by a news reporter. Goodman stands in front of the rioters and walks backward as the group follows him to a second-floor hallway, where other officers finally assist him.

A police spokeswoman says Goodmans plainclothes assignment to accompany Harris is a ceremonial role.

11 a.m.

Former Republican leaders and lawmakers are among those gathering at the Capitol for President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was attending the Wednesday ceremony to honor the process after a year that he said tested the nations institutions. He said he was there out of respect for the peaceful transfer of power.

Former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona says its too bad that outgoing President Donald Trump did not attend for that handoff that the world can see.

Flake is a Trump critic. He says he hopes its a moment of renewal for the nation. He says he thinks Americans will sleep easier knowing that we have a more steady hand in the White House.

10:50 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in Florida after leaving the White House for the final time as president.

Trump said farewell to Washington early Wednesday, leaving before President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration.

Trumps plane flew low along the coast as Bidens inauguration played on TV on Fox News Channel.

Trumps family was on the plane with him. He spent some of the flight meeting with flight staff, who went up to say goodbye.

Trump has hinted about a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years.

Trump spoke to supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where he walked across a red carpet and boarded Air Force One to head to Florida. He said: So just a goodbye. We love you. And the 45th president added, We will be back in some form.

Trump departs office as the only president ever impeached twice, and with millions more out of work than when he was sworn in and 400,000 dead from the coronavirus.

10:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden has arrived at the U.S. Capitol ahead of his inauguration as the United States 46th president.

Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived at the complex on Wednesday morning, about 90 minutes before his noon swearing-in ceremony. They were accompanied by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and were greeted by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

The president-elects motorcade wound its way through a mostly deserted Washington following a morning church service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Streets that would typically be lined with thousands of inaugural onlookers were ringed instead with a massive security presence to include military vehicles and armed troops.

About 25,000 National Guard members have been dispatched to Washington following the violent melee at the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago.

Biden paused to wave from the Capitol steps before entering the building.

10:25 a.m.

All of the former U.S. presidents attending President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration have arrived at the U.S. Capitol.

George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were first to arrive at the complex on Wednesday morning, several hours before Bidens swearing-in ceremony.

Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton followed shortly thereafter, with each couple arriving in separate motorcades.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend Bidens inauguration. Carter and his wife, 93-year-old Rosalynn Carter, have largely spent the coronavirus pandemic at their home in Plains, Georgia.

Carter had been the first former president to confirm that he was attending Donald Trumps inaugural in 2017.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump departed Washington earlier Wednesday, skipping the Biden inaugural festivities and heading straight to their home in Florida. Trump is the first president since Andrew Johnson not to attend the inauguration of his successor.

10:20 a.m.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are showcasing American designers at their inauguration.

The president-elect is wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat by Ralph Lauren. Jill Biden is wearing an ocean-blue wool tweed coat and dress by American designer Alexandra ONeill of the Markarian label.

Aides say Harris is wearing Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson. Both are Black designers, Rogers from Louisiana and Hudson from South Carolina.

Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, wore a Ralph Lauren suit on Wednesday.

9:50 a.m.

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will resign when President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office.

The Justice Department says Rosens resignation goes into effect at noon Wednesday.

Rosen has run the department since former Attorney General William Barr resigned on Dec. 23. He was previously the deputy attorney general and deputy transportation secretary.

Rosen has kept a low profile since he assumed the top job at the Justice Department. He has not held a press conference or addressed the press corps since he took the role, even after a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. He has only released pre-recorded videos discussing the matter and issued statements.

Longtime Justice Department official Monty Wilkinson is expected to assume the role of acting attorney general while Judge Merrick Garland awaits confirmation by the Senate.

9:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump has followed at least one presidential tradition.

The White House says the Republican president left behind a note for his successor, Democrat Joe Biden.

Deputy press secretary Judd Deere declined to reveal what Trump wrote to Biden or to characterize the sentiment in the note, citing privacy for communication between presidents.

Trump has refused to publicly concede to Biden and did not mention the Democrat by name in a pair of farewell addresses.

Trump interrupted many traditions of the presidency, including by not attending Bidens inauguration on Wednesday. Trump also did not invite Biden to the White House for a meeting after Biden was declared the winner of Novembers presidential election

Trump left the White House for the final time as president on Wednesday morning, saying, Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.

9:05 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he thinks the new administration will have great success and claims to have laid the foundation for it.

Trump says the new administration has the foundation to do something really spectacular. He made brief farewell remarks at Marylands Joint Base Andrews before he boarded Air Force One for a flight to his Florida home.

Trump did not mention President-elect Joe Biden by name during his Wednesday remarks.

Trump told cheering, chanting supporters hell be watching and listening from a distance. He promised he will be back in some form and wished the crowd a good life before he and his wife boarded the plane.

Trump wanted to be in Florida before Biden becomes president at noon.

8:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden is attending church ahead of his inauguration, a traditional step taken ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

Biden and incoming first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday are attending a service at Washingtons Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. With them are incoming Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff.

At Bidens invitation, the first couple is joined by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, including all four top-ranking members of congressional leadership.

That includes both Senate leaders, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Many presidents have chosen St. Johns Episcopal Church, sometimes called Church of the Presidents, for the inaugural day service. Biden is the second Catholic U.S. president, and St. Matthews is the seat of the Catholic archbishop of Washington.

Biden spent Tuesday night at Blair House, a traditional move ahead of a presidents inauguration.

8:15 a.m.

Donald Trump has left the White House for the final time as president.

Trump emerged from the building Wednesday morning and strode across the South Lawn to board Marine One. He said, Its been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime.

Trump now heads to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, where hell have a military sendoff. A red carpet has been placed on the tarmac for Trump to walk as he boards the plane. Four U.S. Army cannons are set up for a 21-gun salute. Trump then flies to Florida, where hell stay at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump is leaving Washington just hours before Joe Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th president. Its the first time in more than a century that a sitting president has rejected the tradition of attending his successors inauguration.

7:45 a.m.

Two of the Biden administrations top communications officials are describing the incoming presidents inaugural address as a forward-looking speech that will make little to no mention of his predecessor.

Communications director Kate Bedingfield told ABCs Good Morning America on Wednesday that President-elect Joe Bidens address would speak to the moment that we are in, but it will also lay out a vision for the future.

Biden press secretary Jen Psaki tells CNN that Bidens inaugural address is definitely not a speech about Donald Trump and she wouldnt expect to hear about him in it.

Bedingfield says Biden had not had any contact with the outgoing president.

Asked why Biden had invited political opponents including House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to join him at a Mass on Wednesday morning, Psaki said it felt important to him personally to have members of both parties ... and use that as an example to the American public.

Bedingfield says Biden will sign 15 executive orders in some of his first moves as president.

7:35 a.m.

As the sun rose over Washingtons Freedom Plaza between the U.S. Capitol and the White House ahead of Joe Bidens presidential inauguration, clusters of soldiers in full battle fatigues clustered inside metal barriers erected to restrict access to the procession route.

Some yellow placards on the barriers read Biden-Harris 2021, while others carried the seal of the presidency or inaugural insignias. American and District of Columbia flags flapped in high winds.

Traffic has been blocked off nearby in all directions. Revelers have been told to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Most offices in the surrounding buildings are closed, many boarded up with plywood to prevent damage in case violence breaks out Wednesday.

But one tall office building in view of the procession route has been fitted with towering signs reading Welcome, Mr. President and Welcome Madam Vice President, for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

After being sworn in, Biden is set to inspect the readiness of military troops in a traditional pass in review.
( ) is well-funded for its 2021 exploration activities after completing a $3.9 million share placement last year as part of its acquisition of Warriedar Mining Pty Ltd.

During the December quarter, TNT signed a binding share sale agreement to acquire 100% of Warriedar - which owns the Eureka Gold Project 50 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie in the Western Australian Goldfields and the Warriedar Gold Project in WAs Murchison region.

Both projects have a history of gold production, are located close to established infrastructure including operating gold mills and demonstrate potential for the rapid delineation of significant shallow high-grade gold resources.

Eureka, which is under granted Mining Leases and is the initial focus of exploration, contains an existing JORC 2012 indicated and inferred mineral resource of 762,000 tonnes at 1.80 g/t gold for 43,100 ounces of contained gold.

Funding Eureka exploration

The placement funds will be used to undertake significant near-term exploration programs at the Eureka and Warriedar projects.

TNT commenced a 10,200-metre reverse circulation drilling program in December at Eureka targeting high-grade extensions below the historic open pit.

The focus is on identifying extensions to existing mineralisation below the historic open pit located on the project tenements and testing structures along strike to the north and south of the pit.

Following completion of that program, the focus of drilling is expected to shift to the Warriedar project area and the Reids Ridge and Mt Laws prospects where a further 5,000 metres of RC and diamond drilling will be undertaken.

Eureka Gold Project location plan and regional simplified geological setting.

East Canyon Project

The recent placement will also fund exploration at the East Canyon Uranium-Vanadium Project in southeast Utah, USA.

The company received encouraging assay results in October 2020 from the None Such and Bonanza prospects confirming the East Canyon Projects potential to host high-grade uranium and vanadium mineralisation in economic quantities.

Results included:

2 metres at 0.52% uranium and 2.87% vanadium (None Such);

0.6-metre at 0.69% uranium and 2.82 vanadium (None Such);

0.6-metre at 0.34% uranium and 1.55% vanadium (None Such);

1-metre at 0.22% uranium and 2.29% vanadium (None Such);

1-metre at 1.27% uranium and 4.53% vanadium (Bonanza);

1-metre at 0.38% uranium and 2.46% vanadium (Bonanza);

1.25 metres at 0.26% uranium and 1.68% vanadium (Bonanza), and

1-metre at 0.20% uranium and 1.89% vanadium (Bonanza).

Planning and permitting for an initial drilling program using information obtained from the mapping and sampling activities is underway.

The first phase drilling program will commence following receipt of all regulatory approvals with the company monitoring and adapting to the evolving COVID-19 situation in the US over the coming months.

East Canyon is a strategic asset in that it is only 50 kilometres from the White Mesa Mill, the only fully licensed, fully permitted and operational uranium and vanadium mill in the USA, via major highway.
Ready: National Guard troops gather in front of the US Capitol ahead of Joe Biden's Inauguration. Photo: Mike Segar/ Reuters

US authorities have levelled the first conspiracy charge against an apparent leader of an extremist group in the January 6 storming of the US Capitol, arresting an alleged Oath Keeper who is accused of plotting to disrupt the electoral vote confirmation of president-elect Joe Bidens victory and proposing further assaults on state capitols.

Thomas Edward Caldwell (65), of Clarke County, Virginia, was taken into custody yesterday morning on four federal charges, including conspiracy to commit an offence against the United States in the attack on the Capitol.

The conspiracy charge is reserved for offences interfering with or obstructing the lawful operation of government.

A charging affidavit says he helped organise a group of eight to 10 individuals, including self-styled Ohio militia members arrested on Sunday, who wore helmets and military-style gear and were seen moving purposefully toward the top of the Capitol steps and leading the move against police lines.

The affidavit cited a January 1 Facebook message in which Mr Caldwell said he had organised accommodation for several others at a Comfort Inn in Ballston, Virginia, about eight miles from the Capitol that would allow us to go hunting at night if we wanted to.

Mr Caldwell sent the message, the affidavit said, to Jessica Watkins, a 38-year-old US Army veteran who was arrested late on Sunday.

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Federal authorities accused her of breaching the Capitol with other members of the Ohio State Regular Militia, a group she founded in 2019.

In an apparent reference to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, the affidavit said, Mr Caldwell goes on in the January 1 post to say: I dont know if Stewie has even gotten out his call to arms, but its a little friggin late. This is one we are doing on our own. We will link up with the north carolina [sic] crew.

At 7. 47 pm on January 6, Mr Caldwell allegedly sent a Facebook video taken from within the US Capitol, and wrote: Us storming the castle. Please share. Sharon was right with me! I am such an instigator! She was ready for it man! Didnt even mind the tear gas.

Mr Caldwell then added, according to the FBI in the charging papers: Proud boys scuffled with cops and drove them inside to hide. Breached the doors. One guy made it all the way to the house floor, another to Pelosis office. A good time.

Less than a minute later, Mr Caldwell went on: We need to do this at the local level. Lets [sic] storm the capitol in Ohio. Tell me when!

Mr Caldwells arrest comes as the Justice Department has charged more than 100 people in the two weeks following the riot.

Last weekend the FBI arrested several people with alleged ties to the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and Three Percenters, which charging documents suggest were among the more prepared, organised and determined groups in the larger mass of rioters.

FBI Special Agent Michael M Palian Jr wrote in a 15-page affidavit that it was reviewing communications between Mr Caldwell and other known and unknown Oath Keepers members.



Ms Watkins was taken into custody along with Donovan Crowl (50), a former US Marine and another member of the Ohio group, a subset of the Oath Keepers. ( Washington Post)

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 Washington Post
Amanda Gorman (22) made history as the youngest poet to perform at a US presidential inauguration when she recited her poem The Hill We Climb as Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th US President today.

The Los Angeles-born writer, who stole the show from fellow inauguration guests such as Lady Gaga and Garth Brooks, follows in the footsteps of previous inaugural poets including Maya Angelou, Richard Blanco and Robert Frost.

There have only been a small number of inaugural poets in US history, with Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and John F Kennedy being the only presidents who chose to have poems read at their inaugurations.

In the five-minute reading of the poem, Gorman calls for healing and unity in response to the Capitol Hill riots on January 6, which left five people dead.

Read More

"Weve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it / Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy / And this effort very nearly succeeded / But while democracy can be periodically delayed / It can never be permanently defeated," she read.

Gorman is a Harvard graduate who has previously written for the New York Times and has an upcoming book deal with Penguin Random House.

The Presidential inauguration is not the first high-profile event the young writer has been invited to, as her talent has seen her receive invitations to the Obama White House and to perform for Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, Malala Yousafzai, and many others.

In 2014, Gorman was named the first Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles and she became the countrys first National Youth Poet Laureate three years later .

She is also an activist whose work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism and race and her inaugural poem made several references to diversity.

"We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother / Can dream of becoming president, only to be reciting for one, she read.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Gorman said: I wasnt trying to write something in which those events were painted as an irregularity or different from an America that I know.

America is messy. Its still in its early development of all that we can become. And I have to recognise that in the poem.

I crafted an inaugural poem that recognises these scars and these wounds. Hopefully, it will move us toward healing them.

Gorman also revealed her own political aspirations, with plans to run for office in 2036.
Belgrade, Jan 20 (UNI) Serbian victims of the 1999 NATO bombing in Yugoslavia will, for the first time in over 20 years, on Wednesday file lawsuits against the alliance for the use of depleted uranium ammunition during the air strikes, Srdjan Aleksic, the lawyer who is leading the team of legal experts, told Sputnik.

Aleksic and his team have been putting together cases with material evidence for several years. Lawsuits against NATO as a legal entity will be filed on behalf of the victims.

"We are filing lawsuits on Wednesday in courts in the cities of Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Nis and Vranje. We are talking about the highest courts, to which we will file five lawsuits. The victims are natural persons  deceased and sick soldiers and police officers of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, who were in Kosovo in 1999. At the first stage, we want them to be identical cases, as in the Italian military," Aleksic said.

As was the case with Western European servicemen who received high radiation doses while serving in NATO near radioactive ammunition and at the places of their use, the lawyer seeks to win compensation for each of the Serbian victims in the amount of at least 300,000 euros ($364,508). Aleksic is assisted by the Italian lawyer Angelo Fiore Tartaglia, who has successfully represented the interests of the Italian military.

"He has 181 court rulings, which have already entered into force in Europe. He will be a member of my legal expert team. We have more than 3,000 pages of materials, including verdicts, expert opinions, materials of a special Italian government commission. We have collected enough evidence," Aleksic noted.

The next step after the Higher Court in Belgrade admits the lawsuits would be to send a formal notification to the NATO headquarters within six months. The alliance, on its part, will have to respond within 30 days.

NATO airstrikes continued from March 24 to June 10, 1999. The exact number of victims of the airstrikes is unknown. The Serbian authorities say that about 2,500 people, including 89 children, were killed and about 12,500 people were injured in the bombings. According to various sources, the material damage is assessed at between $30 billion and $100 billion.

The military operation was conducted without the approval of the UN Security Council and on the basis of the Western countries' allegations that the Yugoslavian authorities had carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and provoked a humanitarian catastrophe there.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said that the use of depleted uranium weapons during the NATO operation is behind the increase in the number of cancer patients in the Balkan nation. Moreover, Belgrade said it established a special commission to investigate the consequences of the 1999 NATO bombings for the environment and health of the Serbs.

UNI XC-RHK1514
KABUL- Deputy and Acting Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab spoke with EU Special Envoy for Afghanistan Roland Kobia via video conference, Tuesday afternoon.

At the onset, Deputy Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to the EU for its positive and effective role in supporting the legitimate demands of the people and the government and Afghanistan in the peace talks and touched on the latest in the cooperation on combating terrorism and drug trafficking.

Acting Foreign Minister Nab called the NATO Defense Ministers meeting an important opportunity to discuss the peace process in Afghanistan and its links with stability in the region and beyond, and the continuation of cooperation between Afghanistan and its strategic partners, including the European Union and NATO.

The acting Foreign Minister highlighted the reduction of violence, establishment of a ceasefire, and the preservation of the achievements of the last two decades in the country as important and fundamental demands of Afghanistan and its regional and global partners. He listed the practical steps that the Afghan government has taken to ensure success of the peace talks and stated that "Unfortunately, the spread of violence and the continuation of terrorist attacks by the Taliban show that there has been no change in their views, ideas, and strategies".

The EU special envoy while endorsing the Deputy Foreign Minister's views condemned the killings of defenseless civilians, journalists, national figures, and government officials, as well as the continuation of crimes against the Afghan people as a whole. He called for unified decisions by countries and regional and international organizations to condemn these crimes.

Mr. Kobia praised the Afghan government's efforts to build a regional and global consensus in support of the peace talks, especially the support of Islamic institutions and scholars in the Islamic world, and the issuance of declarations regarding the illegitimacy of the current war in Afghanistan. He hoped that countries, regional and international organizations work unitedly and sincerely to prevent the killing of the defenseless people of Afghanistan and support the success of peace talks and the establishment of stability in Afghanistan.
Pedestrians pass in front of Stevens Hall on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus Wednesday afternoon, July 12, 2017.
The terrible ravages of the coronavirus pandemic are evident in every corner of the world, so it should seem self-evident that every effort must be made to find out where and when the virus made its fateful leap from animal to human. That is why a team from the World Health Organization last week arrived in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus was first identified.

Alas, the Chinese Communist Party has consistently demonstrated that it is far more concerned with maintaining some myth of infallibility than with helping find the source of the scourge. In doing so, it is obstructing efforts to prevent other pandemics and endangering all humanity.

Just getting into China has taken the W.H.O.s international team of scientists more than a year, considerably lowering the odds of finding any clues about the origins of the virus. Even after permission was granted for the team to arrive in the first days of the new year, China procrastinated, prompting the director general of the W.H.O., Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to express disappointment  a sentiment that in the politically charged lexicon of the organization amounts to a sharp rebuke.

When the team finally reached Wuhan on Thursday, China promptly planted more obstacles in its way. Two scientists remained in Singapore after they tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, and the remaining 13 were ordered to quarantine for two weeks in Wuhan, though all 15 tested negative for the virus before setting off.


Australian Tourism Will Need Federal Support if Overseas Flights Stop Until 2022: Osmond

Australias tourism industry is seeking additional financial support from the federal government after the former chief health officer Brendan Murphy warned international travel would be unlikely this year even with a CCP virus vaccine rollout imminent.

Murphy, who is the current secretary of the Health Department, told the ABC on Monday that: Even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we dont know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus, and its likely that quarantine will continue for some time.

Then Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy during the Senate select committee on COVID-19 public hearing at Parliament House on May 13, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

This news has prompted concern from the tourism sector with Australias peak tourism body pleading with the federal government to provide financial support to the travel industry for the rest of the year and beyond.

Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond has called on the government and the National Cabinet to agree upon a consistent protocol for state restrictions.

She said there is no hope that the tourism industry recovering with international borders closed as the domestic holidaymakers expenditure does not fill the $250 million a day void left by international travel.

Essentially your average Chinese visitor to Australia probably spends $8,500 while theyre here, She said. Your average Aussie who heads off for a holiday is probably spending about $1,500, Osmond told the ABC on Tuesday.

Osmond warned that there needs to be some systemic and strategic thought process on what it will take to keep the industry afloat.

The government is going to have to think very seriously how it supports this industry for the next couple of years, not just the next couple of months if it wants to have a tourism industry when we actually reopen our international borders, she said.

She suggested the federal government consider more stimulus packages for the industry, potentially as an extension of the JobKeeper supplement.

However, federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg signalled on Monday that is unlikely JobKeeper or other cash-based payments will continue beyond March.

Grounded aeroplanes which include Airbus A380s, Boeing MAX 8s and other smaller aircraft are seen at the Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage facility in Alice Springs, Australia on May 15, 2020. (Steve Strike/Getty Images)

I have made it very clear that JobKeeper is legislated to the end of March and it is our intention for the JobKeeper Program to end then, Frydenberg said. He noted though that the government will continue to roll out different types of support to the country where support is needed.

For example, with $100 million-plus program for travel agents, who have been hit hard, as the tourism sector more generally, as well as increased support for the aviation sector, he said.


With a stroke of his pen last Wednesday, Iraqs President Barham Salih approved the parliaments September vote to accede to the Paris Agreement, an international treaty to combat global warming.

As one of the last of the 197 signatory countries to ratify the deal, the move signifies Baghdads intent to transition from heavy dependence on oil to more renewable energy sources. Iraqs oil production has nearly doubled over the past decade and accounts for 99% of exports and more than 90% of central government revenue.

Iraq is heading into a new era, planning on a paradigm shift toward more economic diversity, said Salih at last months United Nations Climate Ambition Summit.

But Iraq faces significant hurdles to transitioning to an economy without oil dependence, and future trends of a booming population, fading oil prices and growing water scarcity will exacerbate those challenges.

Iraqs income is getting smaller and smaller and the demand on its economy is getting bigger and bigger, said Azzam Alwash, the founder of Nature Iraq, an environmental organization that has helped restore drained marshes in southern Iraq.

The Paris Agreement was negotiated in 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to combat global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement allows each state to set a path for climate action.

The accord is formally ratified by 191 of the 197 nations that initially signed the deal. Iran and Turkey are notable exceptions and currently the top global greenhouse gas emitters among the six that have not yet ratified, which also include Libya, South Sudan, Libya and Eritrea. Observers suggest that Tehran and Ankara have been reluctant to ratify the agreement largely because of their dependence on fossil fuels and oil production.

Washington announced its intention to withdraw from the agreement in June 2017. President Donald Trump said he would bring the United States back onboard under more fair terms. Since then, incoming US President Joe Biden, who took office on Wednesday, stated that rejoining the agreement would be a priority for his administration.

Iraq signed the Paris Agreement in 2016 but for years did not ratify it. Reaching its terms wont be an issue as Iraq can largely chart its own milestones.

Advantages to ratifying the deal are twofold. Iraq can now receive funding through the Green Climate Fund that will help with CO2 production and stimulate the economy to jump from oil dependence to other energy sources. Ratifying the deal also encourages other countries to help Iraq make the transition.

But there are concerns that the country isnt ready to quickly absorb such a drastic economic change. Iraq is the worlds fifth most vulnerable country to the effects of climate change, according to the Global Environmental Outlook. The report cited Iraqs extreme temperatures, which will impact food, water, social and health security.

Demands on Iraq's resources will only increase. Iraqs population is about 40 million, and the United Nations estimates it could be as high as 70 million by 2050. Farming communities are also diminishing as a staggering percentage of people are moving to urban areas, especially urban centers like Baghdad. Constricting basic resources further, water is becoming more scarce due to climate change, especially in the Mesopotamian Marshes that are being taken over by seawater.

Addressing the economic transformation begins with prioritizing the management of water and other resources and integrating Iraqs economy with other sectors. However, the country remains largely focused on security and stability as well as preparing for early elections in October.

The solutions are available, Alwash said. What is missing is the political will to implement the solutions.
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Joe Biden Speechwriter Vinay Reddy

As Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the US, a small village in Telangana, India, is in a complete celebratory mood. Not so much for Biden, but more for his speechwriter Cholleti Vinay Reddy.

The villagers of Pothireddypeta in Huzurabad of Karimnagar district have found out that Vinay Reddy's roots are from their own village and this discovery has made them supremely joyous, reported the Times of India.

Suddenly Vinay Reddy has become the talk of the village and everyone is so proud of the success he has gained in life and claimed the ladder to be in such close contact with Biden.

Although Vinay was born in the US, his grandfather Thirupati Reddy was the sarpanch of the village in mid-1980s. The current sarpanch Thatikonda Pullachari was even more elated by hearing this news, as he had worked with Vinay's grandfather in the mid-'90s.

Vinay's family owns nearly four acres of land in the village. His father Narayan Reddy, who is a doctor by profession had migrated to the US. A few months ago he had sent a donation for the construction of a temple in the village as his token of love for his homeland.
One of Brisbane's oldest pubs, which closed its doors unexpectedly late last year, has an uncertain future, as its owners  the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane  mull their next steps.

The Archdiocese purchased the Stock Exchange Hotel, on the corner of Edward and Charlotte streets, in 2019 for a sale price of $29.5 million, property records show.

The Stock Exchange Hotel, on the corner of Edward and Charlotte streets, has been operating since 1863 in Brisbane. Credit:Google Maps

In November last year, operators the Riversdale Group unexpectedly announced the hotel would close, leaving the 157-year-old pub empty.

Built in 1863, the Exchange was listed by Brisbane City Council as a local heritage place in 2009, cited for its age and cultural value as one of the settling city's many pubs offering hotel accommodation to a burgeoning population.
COMMUNITY EVENTS

CARS, COFFEE & CANVAS: Car collection viewings and live paintings by local artists will be part of the Cars, Coffee & Canvas event beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Josh Wingerter Art Gallery, 401 Sala Ave., Westwego. The gallery is organizing the event along with the Big Easy Mopar Association. There will also be a puppy playtime organized by the Metairie Humane Society. Children's activities including a bounce house and face painting will begin at noon.

COALITION TO RESTORE COASTAL LOUISIANA: Cypress plantings to restore and sustain Louisiana wetlands are planned for Buras and Violet during the next few weeks. The Communities Restoring Urban Swamp Habitat (CRUSH) project of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is organizing planting events on these dates:

Friday, Jan. 29, at Fort St. Philip in Buras

Saturday, Jan. 30, at Fort St. Philip in Buras

Friday, Feb. 5, at the Central Wetlands Unit in Violet

Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Central Wetlands Unit in Violet.

For information, visit crcl.org or call (225) 767-4181.

REFORESTING NEW ORLEANS: Volunteers are joining Sustaining Our Urban Landscape in planting native trees in New Orleans on Saturday mornings through January. To date, SOUL has planted 3,500 trees throughout New Orleans. Volunteers are being sought for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 30 in the 7th Ward and Treme. To register as a volunteer, visit soulnola.org/volunteer-opportunities.

NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOURS: The Friends of the Cabildo is organizing a Carrollton walking tour beginning at 10 a.m. Jan. 22 at Le Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe, 601 S. Carrollton Ave. The cost is $25, with discounts for FOC members. To register, visit friendsofthecabildo.org/foc-events-calendar. A South Market District Renaissance tour will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 29, at the Pythian Market, 234 Loyola Ave. The cost is $25, with discounts for FOC members. To register, visit friendsofthecabildo.org/foc-events-calendar.

DONATIONS

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ST. CHARLES PARISH ANIMAL SHELTER: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has awarded a $61,000 grant to the St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter. The money will be used to expand the shelter's disaster preparedness and response capabilities. Shelter supervisor Jena Troxler said the shelter evacuated and rescued more than 300 animals impacted by hurricanes in 2020.

CLASSES

INTRODUCTION TO CODING: A free two-week course for adults interested in learning to code is being offered through Operation Spark, beginning Feb. 1. The Operation Spark Prep class meets Monday through Thursday. Interested candidates must participate in a virtual information session. To register for an info session, go to operationspark.org. Financial aid and tuition assistance is available for continuation into Bootcamp and Immersion programs.

MEETINGS

ST. BERNARD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: The annual awards celebration for the St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce will be Tuesday, Jan. 26. Honors will include business pivot of the year, chamber member of the year and citizen of the year. For details, visit www.stbernardchamber.org/calendar.

VIRTUAL CULINARY BOOK CLUB: "Edna Lewis: At the Table with an American Original" and "The Taste of Country Cooking" will be the topics when the virtual culinary book club of the New Orleans chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International holds a Zoom meeting at 1 p.m. Feb. 20. The meeting will feature special guest Sara B. Franklin, the editor behind the anthology. Attendance is free, but a $5 donation is suggested to support the group. To register, visit www.facebook.com/lesdamesnola. Future topics include "Rebel Chef" by Dominique Crenn on March 20.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds. Hot. High 93F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage:

Data compiled by UW political Professor Jim King was used in a Washington Post article noting that President-elect Joe Bidens transition is far behind schedule compared to his six immediate predecessors, as the Senate proceedings of impeachment of outgoing President Donald Trump could push it back even further.

King said Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheneys vote to impeach Trump is not likely to go over smoothly among most Cowboy State Republican voters, according to a Bloomberg Businessweek article.

The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) interviewed UW economist Rob Godby, who said that earlier reductions of social services by Gov. Mark Gordons budget proposal would have consequences, despite a report last week indicating that a new forecast lowers revenue shortfall for the state.

Wyomings hopes of exporting Powder River Basin coal from a West Coast terminal were dashed when the projects owner filed for bankruptcy and failed to find an interested buyer, according to a CS-T article published by The Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Godby said it is unlikely another buyer will be found.

High Country News quoted Godby for an article on Pinedale residents voting to build a new hospital during a time when Wyoming is seeing severe budget cuts that will affect communities.

The CS-T reported that the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City noted that oil and gas production has rebounded moderately in the region, but still trails pre-pandemic levels. UW economist Chuck Mason was interviewed for the article.

More than 100 UW employees have already had a COVID-19 vaccine dose administered as of late last week. About 350 UW employees are eligible to receive a vaccine during the first phase of the Wyoming Department of Healths priorities, according to a UW release published by Oil City News.

The CS-T reported that UW is assisting Albany County in distributing the COVID-19 vaccine. UW Information Technology is developing a survey and scheduling system for county residents to gauge how many fall into varying priority groups, and then to help schedule those residents for inoculations.

UW begins its spring semester this week with COVID-19 guidelines in place for faculty, staff and students. Sheridan Media and KGAB Radio published UWs release on the announcement.

The CS-T noted that Anne Alexander, UWs interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, told the UW Board of Trustees last week that the university will need to cut $15 million to $20 million from academic programs by July.

The Science Times published UWs release noting that research by UW Assistant Professor Corey Tarwater and her team shows nonnative birds on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, play a greater role in seed dispersal networks. Most of the seeds dispersed on the island belong to nonnative plants. United Press International published a similar article.

A UW Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center report found disproportionately higher homicide and missing person rates among Wyomings Indigenous populations, noted Oil City News. UWs Native student organization, Keepers of the Fire, helped the governor initiate the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Task Force.

360 Law interviewed UW law Professor Michael Duff for an article on a newly launched union by activists that compose a fraction of Googles U.S. workforce. It will test a novel minority model for labor organizing that could spread as frustrated workers forego traditional structures.

A research paper led by atmospheric scientists found that models sometimes overstate the warming effect of wildfire smoke in the atmosphere. Science Magazine and Oil City News published UWs release that featured the study by Associate Professor Shane Murphy. Wyoming Public Radio spoke with Murphy about the research.

Research led by UW Professor Cliff Riebe shows that physical weathering is far more important than previously recognized in the breakdown of rock in mountain landscapes. Wind River Radio Network, Science Daily and Environmental News Network published UWs release.

WalletHub interviewed Sherrill Shaffer, UWs Guthrie Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Banking and Financial Services, for an article on zero percent interest credit cards, which are cards that do not charge interest on purchases for a certain number of months after opening an account.

UWs recent research that tested turning pulverized coal powder into nano-graphite using copper foil, a glass container and a microwave oven was featured by Wyoming Public Radio.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle noted that UW Assistant Professor Caleb Hill received a $600,000 Faculty Early Career Development Program Award from the National Science Foundation to continue his research work.

Wildlife officials have completed their second round of collaring elk in Colorados Routt County to trace their movements, according to The Steamboat Pilot & Today. The project is part of a study between Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and UW.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle featured Jackson photographer Lindsay Linton Buks Women in Wyoming: Portraits and Interviews of Women Who Shape the West exhibition now on display at the UW Art Museum.

UWs Biodiversity Institute plans a series of virtual discussions that focus on the role of science in wildlife management and the importance of hunting and fishing as drivers of conservation in Wyoming. SweetwaterNOW published UWs release on the discussions that run Feb. 10 to March 10.

Oil City News published UWs release noting that Wyomings 860 lichen species are online and accessible through the species list tool of the universitys Wyoming Natural Diversity Database.

IMPACT Casper, a business development program in UWs Business Resource Network, received $50,000 in seed funding from the university for Casper startups, reported Oil City News.

Oil City News also published UWs release on Associate Professor TeYu Chien and his teams research paper, titled Small Energy Gap Revealed in CrBr3 by Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy, that was recently published.

Milan Zlatkovic, a UW civil and architectural engineering assistant professor, was interviewed by WalletHub for an article that focused on the best states to drive in. The article noted that traffic congestion cost U.S. drivers $88 billion in 2019, as well as an average of 99 hours of their time. Wyoming was ranked 24th on the list.
US President Donald Trump, in his farewell address on Tuesday, highlighted his accomplishment as president and offered luck as well as "best wishes" to the incoming administration.

In a 19-minute pre-recorded video, Trump tried to strike a conciliatory tone by condemning the Capitol Hill riots and said that America is a nation of incredible, decent, faithful, and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish.

The address was released a day ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, scheduled to take place on Wednesday noon. During the address, Trump did not mention by his name.

Earlier, Trump has announced that he will not be joining Biden at the inauguration.

It is customary for an outgoing president and other former presidents to sit behind a new president, symbolising the peaceful transfer of power.

"My fellow Americans, four years ago we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens. In short, we embarked on a mission to make America great again for all Americans," Trump began.

"As I conclude my term as the 45th president of the United States, I stand before you truly proud of what we have achieved together," he continued, thanking his supporters for electing him in 2016, describing it as "an honour beyond description."

The outgoing president highlighted some of his biggest achievements, including the Abraham Accords peace deals in the Middle East and his economic legacy and handling of China.

"We restored American strength at home -- and American leadership abroad. We built the greatest economy in the history of the world. We revitalized our alliances and rallied the nations of the world to stand up to China like never before. I am especially proud to be the first president in decades who has started no new wars," Trump said.

"Also, and very importantly, we imposed historic and monumental tariffs on China; made a great new deal with China. But before the ink was even dry, we and the whole world got hit with the China virus. Our trade relationship was rapidly changing, billions and billions of dollars were pouring into the US, but the virus forced us to go in a different direction," he said.

Trump also wished the incoming Biden administration success and called on Americans to unify around their shared values.

"This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes and we also want them to have luck," he said.

The President acknowledged that Biden will replace him as the rightful president and disavowed the violent siege of the US Capitol, which led to him being impeached for a second time.

"We are a truly magnificent nation. All Americans were horrified by the assault on our Capitol. Political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans. It will never be tolerated," he said, calling on Americans to rise above the political rancour.

Trump also thanked his wife Melania Trump and family for their support, and also expressed his gratitude to Vice President Mike Pence.

(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.)
"Our goal is to continuously broaden and improve the accessibility of the ENT and Allergy care we provide, especially for our valued civil service workforce, including those teachers, police and firefighters who rely on Emblem GHI for their insurance needs," said Dr. Robert Green, President of ENTA.

In its continuing effort to provide excellent care to the maximum number of New York residents possible, ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP (ENTA)  the largest and most comprehensive ear, nose, throat, allergy and audiology practice in the country  proudly announces that it has reached an agreement on a provider contract with Emblem Health.

Under the new agreement, Emblem GHI members will once again have access to ENT and Allergy physicians as in-network providers. This includes but is not limited to:



Employees of the Department of Education

New York City Police Department

Fire Department of the City of New York

The City of New York Department of Sanitation

The Correction Department of the City of New York

The New York City Housing Authority

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation

Emblem Health provides benefits to nearly three million members in New York and the tri-state area.

ENTA was able to demonstrate to Emblem that its breadth of services and investment in technology would translate directly into improved care for Emblem members. ENTAs cutting-edge technology both enhances the patient experience and provides quicker diagnoses.

"Our goal is to continuously broaden and improve the accessibility of the comprehensive ENT and Allergy care we provide, especially for our valued civil service workforce, including those teachers, police and firefighters who rely on Emblem GHI for their insurance needs," said Dr. Robert Green, President of ENTA. "This milestone exemplifies our commitment to those goals. Our close collaboration with Emblem, along with the hard work and dedication of both leadership teams, all played a vital role in bringing our vision to fruition."

The Emblem agreement follows on the heels of ENTAs successful negotiation of a three-year provider agreement with MVP Health Care, completed this past October.

We take a collaborative approach to our discussions with managed care companies in order to help ensure mutual benefit and a positive outcome. Most importantly, we are focused on reaching a result that serves the needs of the people of our many communities, says Robert Glazer, CEO of ENTA. This contract is a testament to those priorities and an indication that we are poised for continued organic growth. We are extremely pleased.

To learn more about the benefits of ENT and Allergy Associates, find the office near you or book an appointment, please download our app "ENT and Allergy Associates", or visit http://www.entandallergy.com or call 1-855-ENTA-DOC.

About ENT & Allergy Associates, LLP:

ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP (ENTA) has over 200 physicians practicing in 40+ office locations in Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as New York City and northern/central New Jersey. The practice sees over 90,000 patients per month. Each ENTA clinical location provides access to a full complement of services, including General Adult and Pediatric ENT and Allergy, Voice and Swallowing, Advanced Sinus and Skull Base Surgery, Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Disorders of the Inner Ear and Dizziness, Asthma, Clinical Immunology, Diagnostic Audiology, Hearing Aid dispensing, Sleep and CT Services. ENTA has clinical alliances with Mount Sinai Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, Northwell Health, and a partnership with the American Cancer Society. To learn more, visit http://www.entandallergy.com.
If youre like many pet parents, bringing your furkid along on a shopping trip would be the perfect way to spend a day. While many big-name chain stores have a "service dogs only" policy, you may be surprised to know that a number of them will in fact allow you to shop with your Shih-Tzu or browse with your bulldog.

Department stores

Several department store chains around the country have been known to welcome pets. Banana Republic is notably dog friendly, with some locations offering treats to canine visitors. The Gap and Old Navy, which are owned Banana Republics parent company, have also been known to allow dogs. Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls allow dogs in at least some of their locations, and Nordstrom has welcomed pooches through its doors for years. Bed Bath and Beyond goes above and beyond at some of its locations by not only allowing pets, but also providing specialty dog carts for them to ride in while their pet parents shop!
Kyushu is said to be the wellspring of Japanese civilization. Yet few tourists visit the southernmost of Japan's main islands. This documentary contrasts modern Japanese cities with traditional customs in the countryside.

The rail journey begins in Fukuoka - a city with a metro population of 2.5 million - and ends at the southern tip of the island, in the city of Ibusuki. As the train rolls along, it travels through time - and reveals the amazing diversity and contrasts of the most southerly of Japan's four main islands. The trip provides spectacular landscape views, as well as deep insight into a foreign culture, and its ancient traditions and modern lifestyles.

In the West, Kyushu is one of the lesser-known regions in the "Land of the Rising Sun." Even for the Japanese, the green, mountainous island is seen mostly as a holiday spot. Europeans rarely visit this part of the country - but there are plenty of restaurants and cafes that have names like "Wolfgang," "Bavaria," or "Cote d'Azur." Travel guides say that these words sound "European" to Japanese.

The family of the emperor, or Tenno, comes from Kyushu as well. This is also where the dynasties of the proud warrior class, the samurai, have their roots.

And there are a number of active volcanoes on Kyushu. One of the most famous is Mount Aso. Its caldera - the cauldron-like hollow at the top -- has a circumference of about 120 kilometers. - DW Documentary


Deepika Padukone's 'audio diary' series on social media is already striking a positive chord with her fans. The actor's very first audio diary had been shared on the occasion of New Year and now, Deepika has shared yet another lovely audio on her social media. The Piku actor stated on the audio that her favourite show during her childhood days was Small Wonder. The show revolved around the character, Vicki The Robot and her family. The actor could be seen sharing how she always looked forward to the show while growing up.

The audio diary has Deepika Padukone sharing how Vicki The Robot was her most loved character on the show because she was intelligent, smart, spunky and emotional. The actor further said that she found it extremely fascinating that even being a robot, Vicki could cry. Deepika added that she would always look forward to watching the show after coming back from school along with her friends, Sneha and Divya. The Chaapaak actor added that she will start rewatching the show and also asked her fans about the show which they miss the most watching. Take a look at her nostalgic post.

The actor recently also conducted a fun chat session with her fans on social media wherein she revealed her love for baking and also sent out warm birthday wishes for one of her fans. On the work front, Deepika Padukone will be seen in Shakun Batra's next, opposite Ananya Panday and Siddhant Chaturvedi. She will also be seen in films like Pathan and Fighter opposite Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan respectively.

Here's Why Deepika Padukone's Mahabharata Is Being Delayed

Deepika Padukone On Husband Ranveer Singh As An Actor: He Is Probably The Best We've Had In A Really Long Time
Donald Trump pardoned New Orleans criminal justice advocate Syrita Steib as one of his last acts in office Wednesday.

The pardon, according to the White House, relieves Steib of paying nearly $2 million in restitution for a crime she was convicted of when she was 19.

Update: From prison to a Trump pardon, the story of a New Orleans woman's path to criminal justice advocacy

She was one of 143 people whom Trump pardoned or commuted their sentences. New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne also was pardoned.

Wayne, 38, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28 after pleading guilty to a federal charge of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He faced up to 10 years behind bars.

+3 New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne granted last-minute pardon by President Donald Trump The shrewdest political maneuver of the 2020 election cycle may have been made by Lil Wayne.

Who is Syrita Steib?

Steib is the executive director and co-founder of Operation Restoration, which helps formerly incarcerated women with education, clothing, healthcare, employment and more. The organization's website said Steib created the program to help others in her situation.

In 1999, when she was 19, she was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, 20 years in state prison and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution for her role in stealing cars and burning down an auto dealership in Tyler, Texas, according to a 2019 story on Essence.com. She was released in 2009 after serving nine years and two months of that sentence.

While in federal prison, Steib began taking community college courses. She felt education was the key to her overcoming anger issues and putting her life back in order.

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

But when she applied to the University of New Orleans, she was denied admission; she believes she was spurned because of her criminal history. Two years later, she reapplied, unchecked the box in which she disclosed a criminal history, and got in.

She later did the research that helped Democratic state Reps. Vincent Pierre, of Lafayette, and Ted James, of Baton Rouge, craft legislation that bans public colleges and universities from asking most applicants about their criminal history. The "ban the box" bill passed in 2017.

The White House, in a press release, said Steib's pardon was supported by former New Orleans Saint Ben Watson, Judge Sandra Jenkins of Louisiana's Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, and Sister Marjorie Hebert, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

The White House cited Steib's advocacy for criminal justice reform in its explanation of the pardon.

"With todays pardon, Ms. (Steib) is relieved of the crushing restitution she incurred at such a young age," the White House statement said.

See the full list of pardons and commuted sentences.

Staff reporters Mark Ballard and Keith Spera contributed to this story.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct Steib's last name.
WASHINGTON  On his first day as president, Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order extending a freeze on evictions nationwide through the end of March, a move aimed at shielding millions of renters struggling during the pandemic.

Biden officials said the new president will on Wednesday approve a raft of executive actions to address issues ranging from immigration to the public health crisis caused by the pandemic.

As part of this Day One action, Biden is expected to sign orders to extend the eviction moratorium and to pause student loan interest payments, while pushing Congress to approve the $1.9 trillion economic relief plan he unveiled last week.

In December, Congress approved a one-month extension of a federal eviction moratorium after President Donald Trump unilaterally extended it this summer. Without further action, that moratorium is set to expire at the end of January, putting between 30 million and 40 million American renters at risk of losing their homes during the winter, according to estimates by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a nonprofit group.

Biden officials will also ask federal agencies to extend their moratoriums on foreclosures of federally guaranteed mortgages.

 READ MORE: Welcome to the presidency, Joe Biden. Please solve all these crises.

Housing advocates have called for the eviction moratorium to be both extended and broadened. The Eviction Lab at Princeton University found that there have been more than 200,000 evictions during the pandemic, including tens of thousands with the moratorium in place. Diane Yentel, president and chief executive of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said that seniors, immigrants and other vulnerable groups are often unaware of the federal protection, and that landlords have found other ways to evict Americans despite the pandemic.

"Extending it is good and important, but on its own insufficient. The existing moratorium is flawed, and many tenants are being evicted in spite of the protections," Yentel said, citing a lack of enforcement of penalties for unlawful evictions. "It needs to be not only extended, but strengthened and enforced."

Biden has also released an approximately $1.9 trillion economic relief plan that he is prodding Congress to pass; it includes additional housing assistance. But it will take time to pass that legislation and get that money  as well as the additional rental assistance funding approved by Congress in December  out the door to local governments. That means protections from the moratorium will need to be extended beyond March, said Paul Williams, a former policy administrator with Chicago Department of Housing.c

Tara Raghuveer, a housing organizer with KC Tenants in Kansas City, Mo., said despite the moratorium, in January alone, about 700 evictions have been scheduled in Jackson County, where Kansas City is located. More than 600 are scheduled for February.

"The existing CDC moratorium is not ending evictions, particularly in states where there are not stronger protections," Raghuveer said. "Because Biden is simply extending the current moratorium, courts like ours in Missouri will continue to force people to the streets."

Biden officials emphasized that the Day One executive orders represent only the beginning of the president-elects actions. Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the administration is approving far more Day One executive actions than his predecessors. Biden will continue to take action over the next 10 days  and over his entire time in office, Psaki said in a statement. In the coming days and weeks we will be announcing additional executive actions.

Biden has also called on Congress to extend the eviction and foreclosure moratorium through September through legislation.

The incoming president will also ask the Education Department to consider extending a freeze on both interest and principal payments for federal student loans until Sept. 30. Congress first approved that freeze when the pandemic took hold in March, and Trump extended it via executive action in July.

Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have called on Biden to cancel as much as $50,000 in student debt without legislation from Congress, an approach Biden has so far rejected. Biden has asked Congress to approve up to $10,000 in student loan forgiveness, in line with his 2020 presidential platform, although this plan was not included in last weeks $1.9 trillion stimulus proposal.

New Delhi, Jan 20 : India and Singapore signed a strategic partnership agreement on Monday, under which both the countries' navies will support and cooperate with each other for submarine rescue missions.

It is one of the major steps taken by the Indian government to strengthen ties with South East/Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

The decision was taken during a defence ministerial dialogue in the national capital. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chaired the fifth India-Singapore Defence Ministers' Dialogue along with Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, Singapore.

During their virtual interaction, both ministers expressed satisfaction at the progress of the ongoing defence cooperation engagements between the two countries despite limitations imposed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Defence and security engagements between India and Singapore have broadened significantly in scale and scope across all three services of the armed forces as well as in the areas of defence technology and industry. Both countries have also found common ground on multilateral fora and engagements.

The ministers witnessed the signing of the Implementing Agreement on Submarine Rescue Support and Cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Singapore Navy.

They also conveyed their full support towards the early conclusion of agreements to facilitate the conduct of live firings and to establish reciprocal arrangements for the cross-attendance of military courses.

Singh conveyed his compliments on the effectiveness of pandemic mitigation measures implemented in Singapore and the contribution of Singapore's armed forces in restricting the spread of Covid-19.

He also highlighted the role of the Indian armed forces in combating Covid-19 and various missions undertaken to assist in repatriation of Indians stranded overseas.

Hen reciprocated the compliments and exchanged views on the role of the armed forces in the whole of government's approach towards controlling the pandemic.

Both ministers also expressed satisfaction at the growing defence ties between the two countries. Both sides reviewed the progress of various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives being pursued over the last year and expressed commitment to further elevate the scale of engagement in areas of defence technology and industry.

"During the dialogue, both the ministers discussed new areas of potential cooperation and articulated their vision in this direction," a joint statement of both the ministers stated.

They further welcomed the initiatives to expand bilateral defence cooperation, including the implementing agreement on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) cooperation in August 2020 for the two armed forces to have closer operational collaboration in response to disasters and capacity-building activities of mutual interest. The cyber agencies of both the armed forces have also stepped up engagements.

The ministers were pleased that the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy successfully conducted the 27th edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) and also participated in the second edition of the Singapore-India-Thailand Maritime Exercise (SITMEX), both held in November 2020.

These exercises enhanced the interoperability among the navies and underscored the shared responsibility of the countries to work together to keep the sea lines of communication open.

Singh reaffirmed ASEAN centrality in the regional security architecture and pledged India's support to all the endeavours of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM). Hen expressed support for India's upcoming co-chairmanship of the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on high availability disaster recovery (HADR).
NewsX was recently joined by Arjun Ananth, CEO of Medall, for an exclusive conversation as a part of its special series, NewsX A-List where he spoke about his company, its work, especially during the pandemic.

Talking about the journey, significant initiatives and achievements of Medall over the years, Arjun said, Medall started 11 years ago and it was funded predominantly by a private equity fund called People Capital. When an entrepreneur called, Raj Venkataraman approached the fund with an idea to consolidate radiology diagnostic assets predominantly in the South. Medall did around 26 acquisitions, rolling up various radiology assets. Around 2015, the company entered the pathology business, which is a blood testing business. Soon after, they won a large contract with the Andhra Pradesh government, to manage the public-private partnership in that state, which gave a huge boost to the blood testing pathology business. Thats how the company evolved and grew overtime. It is still owned by People Capital. Somewhere towards the end of 2018 and early 2019, the erstwhile promoters and CEO decided to take a backseat. Since I was quite intimately familiar with the company, had been on the board for four years prior to that, I decided to step in as the full-time CEO of Medall. This happened sometime around November last year.

Speaking about the presence of Medall in country, Mr. Ananth said, Medall is definitely present in the 5 states in the South, Tamil Nadu, Kerela, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with presence in Pondicherry. In the North, we have a large presence in Jharkhand and have just entered Uttar Pradesh. Speaking on further expansion plans, he added, Going forward, most of our expansion will be in the South. Personally, I see a lot of opportunity and our strategy is to go deeper compared to wider, so youll see aggressively expanding in the South.

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Talking about the associations and collaborations of Medall with industry bodies, Arjun said, Medall has collaborated with various institutes. Right now, we are collaborating with an Artificial Intelligence firms, where we are pushing for some AI initiatives in radiology. During the height of the pandemic, we were involved with the Siddha Institute and all four of their branches. Essentially, we were being used as a diagnostic company to test the efficacy of Siddha drugs for treating Covid. From what Ive heard, they were fairly instrumental in Tamil Nadu in a big way, in preventing the widespread of Covid.

Medall has ICMR approval for testing, speaking about the details of testing, Mr. Arjun said, We got our ICMR approval in May to test for Covid, we have done over 350,000 tests till date. We were the largest testers of Covid in the South during the pandemic. We were the last to enter but we became the biggest in a short span of time. Having tested over 350,000 samples, a couple of weeks ago, we took a fairly sizeable step where we said, lets make this whole business consumer-centric. Lets encourage people to come and test because of the notion that people dont want to get tested because theyre scared of the result. We said lets remove cost as a major factor and we reduced our prices to less than 1000 rupees per test, whereas the competition is still at 2400-2500. We said lets just go ahead and do something for the people.

Medall has contributed quite a lot to the society and the country during Covid. Talking about the contributions made, Mr. Ananth said, We were very closely involved with the government in helping them test, Tamil Nadu was amongst the top three states in total testing. Medall played an instrumental part in partnering with the government and testing those samples. One of the unique features of the core program in Tamil Nadu was also these fever clinics that they ran, they conducted fever clinics in small localities, where they identified people with a symptom and had them tested for Covid. So, Medall partnered with the government in helping them set up these fever clinics as well. So, Medall has been closely involved with the government and even people, as they learn more about Covid, they realise that its not only the RT-PCR test but also the CT scan which is important to understand the extent of which Covid had affected a person. Being an integrated diagnostic player, we had these packages where, a person could have RT-PCR done, also the chest CT scan and a group of blood tests. We made it easy for the hospitals as we dont want to waste more time when people are rushed into the hospitals, and they had a package of information which was readily available at the time of admission. We innovated around some of the aspects. We played a role in removing some of the stigma around testing.

Mr. Ananth the spoke about the Chennai Reference Lab. He explained, Our Chennai Reference Lab is a state-of-the-art lab, it was set up around 4 years ago. It is virtually capable of doing every test that is required on the blood testing side for an individual. We have multiple departments in the lab, biochemistry, dermatology, microbiology and so on. We have experts who have joined us from various other organisations, who work with is very closely in the lab. Its one of those things where, anybody who has stepped into lab has gone away mightily impressed and its something that were extremely proud of. Recently, we enhanced the test menu of the lab and today I can confidently say that whatever test a person needs in this part of the country is available.

Talking about the range of tests offered by Medall, Mr. Arjun said, We offer over a 1000-1500 tests in our test run, so its a very wide range. The few which may appeal to the viewers, we recently launched a package thats aimed at pregnant women. So, we designed the package to help women know what tests to do, when to do and why they should do it. So, its literally like planning the 9 months and you dont have to worry about tests because you can get a reminder of the test and we will come home and do the test for you. Thats something which fairly unique and we are proud of. Otherwise, there are a lots of tests and we do all the advanced tests that any hospital or any medical practitioner may require.

Lastly, Mr. Ananth spoke about what makes Medall different from its competitors. He said, What makes Medall different is the fact that it is an integrated diagnostics company. Ill give a few examples. Most of our competitors of the diagnostic companies offer only an X-ray, CT-scan, MRI or they offer all the blood tests. Medall offers both and I think and as consumers think about preventive health checks and wellness, integrated diagnostics has a huge role to play. An example: if you have to do a master health check, its not sufficient if you just do a panel of blood tests, its important to do an ultrasound to know whether structurally theres something wrong inside any organs. For a woman, its very important to do mammograms, once theyve gone past a certain age. Those are very specific radiology modalities. In addition to all the blood tests, its important to do ultrasounds, mammograms, echocardiograms, TMPs and so on. So Medall has all these facilities under one roof. Its a one-stop shop for all the preventive health needs.

Also read: Gen Z and millennials are driving new-age coffee consumption: Bharat Sethi, Founder of Rage Coffee
"In the near future, we'll essentially have a network of flying computers in the sky, and just like the computers we use today, drones can be hacked if not secured properly," said Amir Husain, CEO and founder of SparkCognition and SkyGrid. "In this emerging environment, traditional anti-malware technology won't be adequate to detect these never-before-seen attacks. SkyGrid is taking a new, intelligent approach by using AI to more accurately detect and prevent cyberattacks from impacting a drone, a payload, or a ground station."

Integrated with SkyGrid's airspace management system, AerialOS, the DeepArmor product can be deployed directly on drone hardware to function even when network connectivity is impaired or non-existent. The AI protection defends drones from zero-day attacks by leveraging models trained on the DNA of malicious files instead of relying on a signature database.

SkyGrid and SparkCognition showcased the DeepArmor product's drone protection in a recent demonstration: https://youtu.be/syX_NevNJX0.

"We leveraged cutting-edge AI research and technology to build the DeepArmor product, which allows it to protect endpoints against 99.9% of never-before-seen threats," said Sridhar Sudarsan, Chief Technology Officer at SparkCognition. "In addition, the product's uniqueness lies in its ability to provide top-rate endpoint protection on the lowest footprint with minimal interference  all in varying degrees of connectivity. This is the true overarching security differentiator from which SkyGrid's customers will see value."

The DeepArmor product suite leverages SparkCognition's patented machine learning technology combined with a defense in depth mantra to provide multiple layers of protection on an endpoint  instead of using known signatures, heuristics, or rules-based approaches. The software protects a wide range of endpoints, with its most recent addition to the product suite, DeepArmor Industrial, launched in collaboration with Siemens Energy and designed to protect operational technology assets across the energy value chain.

SparkCognition's AI-first approach to cybersecurity and the DeepArmor product's advanced threat detection models have been validated by multiple awards, including 2020 Cyber Defense Magazine's award for best endpoint security and CRN's 2020 Security 100 List.

About SkyGrid

SkyGrid, a Boeing, SparkCognition company, is powering the next generation of aviation. As the only airspace management system built on AI and blockchain, SkyGrid is solving the industry's biggest challenges integrating unmanned aircraft in the global airspace and executing autonomous operations. SkyGrid's AerialOS monitors, predicts, and adapts to changes in airspace traffic, environmental conditions, and vehicle health to intelligently route, synchronize, and manage unmanned aircraft. Based in Austin, Texas, SkyGrid is enabling a wide variety of commercial drone operations from package delivery to emergency assistance. For more information, visit skygrid.com , LinkedIn , or Twitter .

About SparkCognition

SparkCognition catalyzes sustainable growth for their clients throughout the world with proven artificial intelligence (AI) systems, award-winning machine learning technology, and a multinational team of AI thought-leaders. Clients are trusted with advancing lives, infrastructure, sustainability, and financial systems across the globe. They partner with SparkCognition to understand their industry's most pressing challenges, analyze complex data, empower decision-making, and transform human and industrial productivity. With leading-edge artificial intelligence productsDarwin, DeepArmor , SparkPredict , and DeepNLPTMSparkCognition's clients can adapt to a rapidly changing digital landscape and accelerate their business strategies. To learn more about how SparkCognition's AI applications can unlock the power in your data, visit www.sparkcognition.com .

SOURCE SkyGrid

Related Links

http://skygrid.com


Think New Orleans, New York, Chicago, and even Washington, D.C, and jazz comes to mind. New Haven? Not so much.

Yet the Connecticut city known more for Yale and pizza has a deep jazz culture that is tragically silent as of late because of COVID-19.

I know several people that are full-timers and theyre really hurting very bad, said Herbert Wilson, a former psychology teacher, behavior analyst and New Haven-based saxophonist.

Wilson experienced the golden era of New Haven jazz, when clubs on Dixwell Avenue attracted musicians from New York and elsewhere to jam and crowds squeezed into the small places to appreciate the music.

There was a famous club on Dixwell Avenue in New Haven called The Monterey, Wilson said. That was one of the first places I went, about 1975 or so. There were two brothers named the Buster Brothers, they were very key figures, they were training everybody in the area.

Getting to jam

The Monterey Cafe was originally a restaurant started by former vaudeville performer Rufus Greenlee in 1934. The name was later shortened to The Monterey and the venue went on to host some of the greatest jazz performers, including Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Charles Parker and John Coltrane, Wilson recalled.

Wilson said top musicians of the time expected the younger generation to know their craft. If they did not, they would not be allowed to play.

In those days when they had a jam session, when I would go there Id be the youngest person there, Wilson said. There were no other people my age, and the gap between the next oldest person would be at least about 10 years.

He had to prove himself in order to participate, he said.

If you got to sit in, they would basically begrudgingly call you up and then they would pick the song they wanted you to play and they would tell you to play it, and if you couldnt play it, you would have to go and sit down, Wilson said. Oftentimes they wouldnt even introduce what the song was, they wouldnt tell you what the key was, they wouldnt tell you anything. It was a very tough training ground.

That rigorous training - common to jazz culture at the time - softened over time as musicians became more welcoming to younger talent, Wilson said.

I remember that same man, his name was Bobby Buster, in 1975 thats the way he trained me, Wilson explained. I remember maybe 20 years later theres a young man who came in for the first time and Bobby said, what do you want to play young man?

Wilson said maybe the masters and mentors were less vigilant as they got older, or maybe they were tired of beating up young musicians.

I dont know, but they were much nicer to young people (in later years), Wilson said.

COVID-19s impact

The New Haven jazz community, like so many others, has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus and efforts to keep the virus at bay. For some, its been detrimental to not only pockets, but emotional and mental health as well.

I started a band in high school and we played basically up until this year when COVID hit, said Casey Urso, a jazz trumpet player and senior game design major at Quinnipiac University. I know of a few bands, including my own, who have stopped playing.

Because of the pandemic, its close to impossible to book any shows, Urso said.

If you talk to any club owners right now, some places are even allowed to have live bands, but theres no way anyones going to put their neck out for a band right now just because its an expense, he said.

Whats most important, though, is keeping a band together through communication and promotion, Urso said.

I think there are tons of things you can do, Urso said. You just have to get creative and keep your name in peoples mouths. But its definitely not ideal, and Ive seen a lot of bands go. Its sad.

Alongside the lack of venues for Ursos band, the Quinnipiac jazz band he was a part of was disbanded, which he considers a loss for the student community.

Ive told many people at Quinnipiac that I think were missing out on music specifically, Urso said. Through surveys Ive found out that a lot of health science majors are interested because theyre involved with music therapy and whatnot, so it doesnt just apply to music majors or minors.

Hope for the future

Though these times are tough for many jazz performers, many are hopeful the local jazz scene will expand in the future.

Until quarantine (the jazz scene) was vibrant, I cant stress that enough, said Nick Di Maria, jazz trumpet player and founder of The New Haven Jazz Underground. We used to have 5-6 series a week... and leading up to the pandemic, it was standing room only.

In normal times, Di Maria provides the platform and scheduling for the most consistent live jazz performances in greater New Haven, tasks he happily pursued for more than a year. But since COVID-19, things changed. People had to adapt. Zoom concerts became a thing, event at The Underground, he said.

Concert schedules and live streams are available through The New Haven Underground Facebook page. Previous live streams and other content is available on the Instagram page and its Youtube channel.

But virtual music isnt the same. Jazz is about improvisation and jamming with other musicians, and The New Haven Underground provided a path for new musicians to show their stuff to the more seasoned performers, Di Maria said.

Jamming is super important, he said. You could practice all you want at home, but if youre not interacting with people, youre never going to be able to hone those skills.

There are apps now that can host virtual jam sessions, he said.

When Im practicing and Im learning a tune I can find a backing track somewhere where I can practice the tune and it sounds like I am with a band, Di Maria said. (However), that will never substitute going to a session and interacting with live musicians.

Despite all the challenges, Di Maria has hope for not only New Haven jazz, but the local community in general.

You cant deny the resilience of the human spirit, Di Maria said. During the COVID era, the big thing we can do is raise awareness for corona, these bartenders, waitresses, waiters, club owners... they know who we are and we know who they are. The least we can do is get on Facebook and say everyone order takeout this weekend, help these places out, so that when we get past this and go back to normal, these places will still be here.

Owen Doody is a journalism student at Quinnipiac University.
Saudi Arabia narrowly beat Russia to hold onto the title of the single largest oil supplier to the worlds biggest oil importer, China, in 2020, according to Chinese government data.

For most of last year, Saudi Arabiathe largest oil exporter in the worldand its key partner in the OPEC+ deal, Russia, were head-to-head in a very close race for the top spot as the biggest crude oil supplier to China.

In the end, Saudi Arabia edged past Russia, shipping on average 1.69 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil to China, according to data from Chinas General Administration of Customs cited by Reuters.

Saudi oil exports to China grew by 1.9 percent year over year in 2020.

Russias exports saw larger growth last year than the rise in Saudi exports, 7.6 percent compared to 2019. Yet, the total average volume of Russian oil sales to China stood at 1.67 million bpd, just around 20,000 bpd on average lower than the Saudi shipments, according to Reuters estimates of the Chinese customs data in tons.

This means that Saudi Arabia was the top supplier to China for a second year in a row, after clinching the top spot from Russia in 2019. In that year, Saudi Arabia significantly raised its crude sales to the worlds largest oil importer, boosting its exports to China by 47 percent and beating Russia for the top Chinese supplier spot for the first time in four years.

In 2020, Iraq was the third-biggest supplier of crude oil to China, while Brazil was fourth, capitalizing on the buying binge of Chinese refiners in the spring and summer when oil prices were at multi-year lows.

Also of note in 2020, China more than tripled its crude oil imports from the United States to 394,000 bpd, after refiners accelerated U.S. crude purchases in the latter part of the year as part of the U.S.-China trade deal. Despite the higher U.S. crude oil shipments, Chinas total purchases of American energy products were just 38.7 percent of the US$25.3 billion target in the deal, according to Reuters estimates.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
U.S. Border Patrol are releasing more information regarding the smuggling attempt of 96 people that occurred on Jan. 15.

Franklin Johnson Jr. arrived at the Interstate 35 checkpoint operating a red Volvo tractor towing a white refrigerated trailer. Johnson stated he was on his way to San Antonio with an empty trailer, according to court documents.

Johnson allegedly gave agents consent to search the trailer. Agents opened the trailer doors and discovered 95 people. An additional person was found inside the tractor cab, according to court documents. Nine unaccompanied juveniles were within the group, according to Border Patrol.

Border Patrol determined that all 96 people had crossed the border illegally. They were from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador and Cuba.

None of the individuals were wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). They were all medically screened and provided PPE.

We continue to see an alarming trend of smugglers placing unaccompanied children inside these dangerous tractor trailer loads, putting the safety of these children at greater risk, said Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew Hudak in a statement.

Homeland Security Investigations special agents took over the case. Johnson invoked his right to an attorney. Johnson then spontaneously said that he was just supposed to give a guy a ride to San Antonio, court documents state.

Johnson was arrested and charged with transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport immigrants who had crossed the border illegally.

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.
Rising violence during the pandemic persists and in this compilation we roundup some of the top stories on deadly crime, gunfire and police action . . .



Kansas City Murdered Corpse Discovered In The Stix

KBI: Man found dead in Arcadia killed in Kansas City Investigators believe a man whose body was found in Arcadia, Kansas, last week was killed in Kansas City, Missouri. The man's body was found Jan. 13 when Crawford County deputies went to property in Arcadia after receiving a tip.

Dead Mans Party Busted

KCMO man killed in shooting over weekend in Warrensburg KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 22-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, man was killed in a shooting over the weekend in Warrensburg, police said. Marcus Brown Jr. was taken to an area hospital after the shooting and pronounced dead early Sunday morning. Two men told officers they attended a party with Brown on West Pine Street in Warrensburg.

Po-Po Update Deadly Hot Mess Double Killing In Raytown

Police identify husband and wife killed in Raytown shooting The Raytown Police Department has identified the couple killed in a shooting inside a home last week. Police said officers responded to a "nature unknown" call at a home at the 8300 block of Hedges Avenue around 1:58 a.m. Wednesday.

Golden Ghetto Youngster Gunfire Scares School

Shawnee shooting briefly places school on lockdown; police investigating by: Karra Small Posted: / Updated: SHAWNEE, Kan. - Police in Shawnee are investigating a shooting that left one person injured Tuesday afternoon. The shooting was reported around 2:40 p.m. near W. 67th Street and Bluejacket. According to police, the shooting happened at an apartment complex.

Kansas City Cant Drive

1 pedestrian hospitalized after being struck by vehicle near 31st, Prospect KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The authorities are investigating after a pedestrian was seriously injured by a pickup in a parking lot. According to the KCPD, the pedestrian was struck this afternoon while walking through the parking lot of a shopping center at 31st and Prospect.

More Deets On Deadly Vengeance In Kansas City

KC woman killed man for revenge in teen brother's murder last week, prosecutors say KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 21-year-old metro woman is charged with murder. The Jackson County prosecuting attorney says it was in retaliation for her 16-year-old brother's death. Tityana Coppage is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Her teenage brother, Jayson Ugwuh Jr., was murdered Jan. 10.

Teen Crackdown Contd?!?

Effort to stop charging 17-year-olds as adults has stalled in Missouri Khadijah Wilson had a bully during her junior year at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles. She told her principal and teachers about the name calling, and how the other girl constantly threatened to beat her up. But no one intervened. It went on for several months.

Developing . . .

He alleged he had never been told in writing of any allegations of misconduct against him relating to his 2006 arrest, the lawsuit said. Now that 12 years have elapsed, and all potential criminal statutes of limitations have long since expired, it is clear that the City of Chicago and its Department of Police will never provide Tom Sherry with a hearing.
(Natural News) 40% of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighters have failed to turn up for voluntary vaccination against the coronavirus, following a pattern of reluctance seen among many front-line health care workers and first responders.

(Article by Joel B. Pollak republished from Breitbart.com)

The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday:

Late last year, firefighters were the first city workers given access to the shots. After an initial burst of activity, the number showing up to get the vaccine has plummeted. This past week, only 143 firefighters visited one of the departments vaccination centers, according to data released by the city Friday night. So far, 1,944 of the agencys just under 3,400 members have been inoculated, leaving 4 in 10 vulnerable to the highly infectious coronavirus. The reluctance of L.A. firefighters adds to the list of healthcare workers in the state who are declining to take the vaccine, a trend that health experts say could have serious public health implications.

The Times added that L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti is considering making vaccination mandatory for firefighters and others on the front lines of the fight against an ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday that the state still has 2 million unused doses of vaccine, with only 38% of the 3.1 million doses delivered to the state actually being given so far.

West Virginia leads the nation in vaccine distribution, largely because it has a simplified system of scheduling vaccinations, the Chronicle added.

Read more at: Breitbart.com and Vaccines.news.
The Made4net WMS provides the tools and flexibility for us to properly manage our flow of inventory from our manufacturing facilities all the way into our DCs, and to provide best of class service to our customers, said Critchlow.

Made4net, a global provider of supply chain execution solutions, announced today that Valvoline, LLC., a leading global supplier of premium lubricants and automotive services, has selected its warehouse management system to drive its national distribution with the first main DC in Cincinnati, OH.

For the past decade, Valvoline was using a barcoding system that supported the basic functions within the operations, but with growth the need for a best of breed WMS was clear and obvious.

The team at Valvoline was looking for the next generation of warehouse management to help us drive and empower our retail and e-commerce distribution channels, said Michael Critchlow, North American Director of Operations at Valvoline.

The Made4net WMS provides the tools and flexibility for us to properly manage our flow of inventory from our manufacturing facilities all the way into our DCs, and to provide best of class service to our customers, said Critchlow.

The Made4net Warehouse Management System WMS uniquely allows Valvoline to adjust processes and business rules around the various product types, customer demand and distribution channels, while orchestrating and synchronizing the operational processes to deliver labor efficiency and inventory accuracy.

"Retail and e-commerce fulfillment are about meeting customer expectations in getting the right product, on time. Our goal is to provide Valvoline with the platform that can drive North America fulfilment to the next level while lowering costs through labor and inventory optimization," said Dan Waters, Vice President of Sales North America at Made4net. "With the Made4net WMS, Valvoline can move past scanning plain receipts to digitizing data such as inventory volume, rotation, expiration, inbound and outbound shipments, and all of the related documents for their distribution centers. Advanced integration tools allow us to provide customers with robust business intelligence that makes it easier to manage inventory, keep customers and shops supplied, and take the first steps to next-gen automation. We look forward to growing with Valvoline. We make it simple and easy for companies like Valvoline to control and optimize their inventory and supply chain.

About Valvoline

Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV) is a leading worldwide supplier of premium branded lubricants and automotive services, with sales in more than 140 countries. Established in 1866, the company's heritage spans more than 150 years, during which time it has developed powerful brand recognition across multiple product and service channels. Valvoline ranks as the No. 3 passenger car motor oil brand in the DIY market by volume. It operates and franchises approximately 1,400 quick-lube locations, and it is the No. 2 chain by number of stores in the United States under the Valvoline Instant Oil Change brand and the No. 3 chain by number of stores in Canada under the Valvoline Great Canadian Oil Change brand.

To learn more, visit http://www.valvoline.com

About Made4net

Made4net is an innovative and leading vendor of WMS and related SCE solutions, such as transportation and delivery management. Made4net was formed with a vision to support the growing demands of distribution and fulfillment operations with a powerful yet affordable integrated suite of products that address distinct parts of the supply chain. Made4net offers a robust "all in one" supply chain application suite, which is built on a single scalable platform, with an SOA and modern technology stack. The SCExpert product suite includes a robust WMS, Route Optimization, Yard Management, Labor Management, and extended Proof of Delivery. Made4net is a global company with corporate offices in North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

For more details, see http://www.made4net.us
Donald Trump intended his final public appearance as president to be a display of vast support from a devoted mass movement  but instead, he was seen off by a thin crowd of well-wishers.

The early morning ceremony, from which Mr Trump flew to Florida on Air Force One, was meant to be an upbeat send-off with a cheering throng of fans. However, in the days leading up to it, reports emerged that even Trump dissenters like former press secretary Anthony Scaramucci were receiving invitations, while others had been offered the chance to bring five guests.

Sure enough, come the morning, the area near the plane was far from full. As a visibly dejected Mr Trump addressed his audience, One commentator, CNNs Jim Acosta, called it definitely the smallest crowd size of the Trump presidency.

Mr Trump notoriously began his presidency by raging at reports that the crowd at his inauguration was smaller than any in recent memory. He sent his then-press secretary Sean Spicer into the White House briefing room to falsely claim that Mr Trumps swearing-in commanded the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe.

This was provably untrue, and immediately drew ridicule from the press and public alike. However, the White House doubled down, with senior aide Kellyanne Conway telling NBC that the administration had simply used alternative facts.

Follow live: Inauguration Day 2021 latest updates

Mr Trumps fixation on crowd size resurfaced periodically throughout his presidency. The most notorious incident was a disastrous rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 20 June 2020, his first major event since the coronavirus pandemic had forced much of the country into lockdown.

The campaign planned the rally of a display of muscle, and was so sure that the arena would be stuffed with supporters that an overflow area was constructed and speakers  including Nigel Farage  specifically booked to address the outdoor crowd.

But in the end, the event was a humiliating washout. The arena was around two-thirds empty and the overflow stage went unused. Upon his return to Washington, Mr Trump was filmed walking sullenly from Marine One to the White House, tie in hand and head hanging.

Once the post-convention campaign kicked into gear, Mr Trump returned to the trail, holding more and more large rallies as election day drew near even as the coronavirus death toll surged in many of the areas he targeted.

Calling crowds the real polls as his numbers tanked in the home stretch, he relentlessly mocked Joe Biden for not drawing comparable crowds and instead campaigning virtually to avoid spreading Covid-19 at large events.

And after the election, as he and most of his top advocates disputed the result, they frequently cited the size of his rallies as evidence that he could not possibly have lost.

As the assembled crowd on inauguration day cheered him, the president offered them a characteristically gnomic farewell.

So just a goodbye, he said. We love you. We will be back in some form Have a good life, we will see you soon.


Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Constitutional Committee, comprising members of the House of Representatives (Parliament) and the High Council of State, has agreed to hold a referendum on the draft Constitution, with the adoption of a voting mechanism for the three regions -- Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan -- provided it is validated by 50 pc of the votes + 1 voice
The occupant of the physical White House has changed  and of the digital one. Heres a look at how whitehouse.gov has been revamped since the Biden administration took over:

Pronouns

The contact form on the website has sections for a persons first and last name, email address, phone number and an optional category to include pronouns. Options include she/her, he/him, they/them, other and prefer not to share.

Climate

The second item on the sites Priorities page, after Covid-19, is climate. President Biden will take swift action to tackle the climate emergency, the site says. The Biden administration will ensure we meet the demands of science, while empowering American workers and businesses to lead a clean energy revolution.

Mr. Biden is bringing with him a large climate team and has installed climate policy experts in the State, Treasury and Transportation Departments.

Espanol

Under the menu, Espanol is prominent in light blue font as a way to navigate the site. From the address, La Casa Blanca 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, to the privacy policy, the sites pages are viewable in Spanish.
A member of the Peoples Assembly has complained on Facebook about not being given the opportunity to address the assembly, while another walked out in protest writes Sowt Al-Asima.

On Monday, some members of the Peoples Assembly exhibited resentment during a session, and one of them published his grievances on Facebook. He complained that he had not been given the opportunity to speak during the session, while another withdrew from the session.

Peoples Assembly member, Suhail Khader, said that his right to speak was violated, under the pretext of ensuring the precious time of the Syrian government is put to good use.

Khader said that what happened in the Peoples Assembly today resembles an episode in a comedy series.

He added, in a post on his Facebook page, that the Presidency of the Peoples Assembly had drawn up a list of names of members to speak before the government, and our right to speak was confiscated.

Kader, a member of what is popularly called the Applause Council, shared his grievance on Facebook, reiterating the issue of fighting corruption, which is the most prominent slogan in the narrative of regime officials.

Khader considered that the government is not serious when it comes to fighting corruption, or is unable to at the very least, and in both cases it can be considered party to it. He added that he has, corruption files that I will present to the right minister, and if accountability is not upheld, I will ask to question the minister under the dome of the Peoples Assembly.

Damascus countryside Deputy, Ali al-Sheikh, entered into a verbal confrontation with the Speaker of the Peoples Assembly, Hammouda Sabbagh, after the latter gave each deputy just one minute to speak.

Sheikh Qubbah left the Peoples Assembly in protest against the number of deputies allowed to speak before the government, and the one-minute time limit.

Yesterday, the Peoples Assembly began its second regular session for the third legislative round, with the governmental presence led by Prime Minister Hussein Arnous.

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.

( ) CEO Gerry Trapasso tells Proactive the cannabis-focused group is looking to launch its 'street-style, urban, hip hop-feel' brand of cannabis into Michigan this year.

Trapasso says the group chose to penetrate Michigan because the state legalized recreational marijuana sales in 2019, and completed more than $1B in sales in 2020.
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Two grizzly bears fighting, a group of bison ploughing through a field of snow and the stars lighting a hiking trail are among the pictures selected as the 20 finalists in a photography competition showcasing images from US national parks.

All 20 images were the winners of the first ever annual Nature's best Photography National Parks Photo competition and were the top 20 placed images chosen from more than 3,000 entries.

One image taken by photographer, Brian Wright of San Diego, California, showed the star trails over the Chesler Park Hiking Trail, Canyonlands National Park, Utah.

'Grizzly bears': This stunning photo by Thomas Vijayan shows the brutality of nature as two grizzly bears duel in Katmai National Park, Alaska

'Bison in Hayden Valley': A group of determined bison slowly make their way through a field of snow in this striking competition entry from Cindy Goeddel. She took the picture in Yellowstone National park, Wyoming

'Star Trails Over Chester Park Hiking Trail': Brian Wright managed to capture this incredible image in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, and his photo was selected as a finalist in the competition

'Snake River Overlook': Kristin Lindsey was selected as a finalist in the photography competition for this incredible landscape shot of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming

'Yosemite Falls': Elliot McGucken, who captured this picture of a waterfall in Yosemite National Park, was selected as one of the finalists

Another stunning picture of bison trekking through the snow at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, was taken by Cindy Goeddel of Big Timber, Montana.

Canadian photographer, Thomas Vijayan's incredible action shot of two grizzly bear siblings having a friendly fight at the Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, also made the final 20 top images.

Kevin Shi of San Diego, California, whose image of Horsetail Falls in Yosemite National Park made the 20 finalists, said: 'The 'Firefall' is one of Yosemite's most well-known, amazing spectacles. Once each year in early February, the setting sun hits Horsetail Falls and illuminates the upper waterfall.

'Hundreds of photographers and tourists gather along the Merced River to witness this phenomenon.

'Second Beach': Harry Lichtman's photograph of a beach reflected in some water on Olympic National Park, Washington, is another of the 20 finalists

'Redwood National Park': A hiker wanders through Redwood National Park, California, in Julia Rao's entry into the competition

'Cadillac Mountain Summit': Harry Lichtman took this stunning landscape picture in Acadia National Park and his photograph has been selected as one of the competition finalists

'Great Horned Owl': Three owls sit perched inside of a tree in this picture captured by Irene F Greenberg in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming

'Double Arch': Kevin Kobinsky's photograph taken in Arches National Park, Utah, is one of the 20 images selected as a finalist in the Nature's best Photography National Parks Photo competition

'To shoot from a different angle, I hiked a trail up into the hills and waited until sunset.

'I was speechless when the light hit the water; the blowing wind made the glow even more incredible.'

Kristin Lindsey of Birmingham, Alabama, was shortlisted for her image overlooking Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

'A four-thirty early morning wakeup call was entirely worth it to capture this sunrise as it unfolded,' she said.

'Little River': Kristan Lindsey's photo, which was taken in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, is another of the 20 competition finalists

'Osprey': Carlos A Carreno managed to take a snap of this family of birds in their nest at Everglades National Park in Florida. His image has been selected as one of the competition finalists

'Potomac River': One of the finalist iages selected in the Nature's best Photography National Parks Photo competition is this shot by Steve Alterman in Great Falls Park, Virginia

'Stockdolager Rapid': Kerrick James managed to capture this action shot while sat on a raft in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

'Red Fox': A red fox's attention has been peaked by something as it stares down off of a rock in Melody Lytle's finalist photograph, taken in lake Clark National Park, Alaska

'As I was en route to this location, I could tell the morning was going to have a beautiful golden glow, and the clouds behind the Grand Teton mountain range would light up and be nothing short of spectacular.

'With the moon setting (seen in far left) and the glow of the morning sun hitting the peaks and lighting up the valley below, I knew my early morning departure had been well worth the effort.'

More information about the finalists and the photography competition can be found at Nature's Best Photography's website.

'Desert Bighorn Sheep': These sheep stand precariously on the side of a cliff in this finalist entry from Garret Suhrie. He took the picture in Zion national Park, Utah

'Elk With Calf': Susan Propper's competition entry captures the beauty of an elk interacting with its calf in Rocky Mountain National Park

'Mesa Arch Sunrise': Yimei Sun took this photograph in Canyonlands National Park and it has been selected as one of the finalists in this year's Nature's best Photography National Parks Photo competition

'Horsetail Falls': This valley in Yosemite National Park, California, was snapped by Kevin Shi and picked as a finalist in the photography competition
Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris will take oath as the first woman Vice President on Wednesday, amidst heightened security concerns after a mob of pro-Trump extremists violently breached the Capitol two weeks ago. Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office to 78-year-old Biden just after the clock strikes 12 local time (10.30pm IST) at the West Front of the Capitol - the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies.

The historic inauguration will be held under the unprecedented security umbrella of more than 25,000 National Guards, who have transformed the capital into a garrison city, mainly because of the threat of more violent protests by the supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump, who is skipping the event. Biden will take the oath on his 127-year-old family Bible, which will be held by his wife, Jill Biden.

Biden, who will be the oldest president in American history, will deliver his first presidential address to the country shortly after taking the oath. The historic speech, with the theme of unity and healing, has been prepared by his Indian-American speech writer Vinay Reddy. Harris, 56, will be sworn in as 49th Vice President of the United States by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court. She will make history as the first female, first Black and first Indian American vice president of the United States. Harris will be sworn in on two Bibles - one that belonged to a close family friend named Regina Shelton and another that belonged to Thurgood Marshall - the country's first African American Supreme Court justice.

The ceremony is likely to be attended by former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton. Former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton are also set to attend the event. President Trump, a Republican, has said he will not attend the inauguration. He, however, extended "best wishes" to new administration in a farewell video address on Tuesday.

In the evening, the President will sign executive orders and other presidential actions in the Oval Office and swear in Day One appointees in a virtual ceremony, which will include a pool spray. The President and the Vice President will then deliver remarks during the "Celebrating America" inaugural program.

Here's the complete programme of the inauguration day (India Time):

7:15 pm (IST): Biden, Harris and her husband and 'Second Gentleman' Douglas Emhoff attend church service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.

9:00 pm (IST): Biden, Harris and Emhoff arrive at the Capitol.

9:45 pm (IST): Biden, Harris and Emhoff participate in the swearing-in ceremony.

10:30 pm (IST): Biden and Harris are sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and 49th Vice President of the United States, and the former delivers an inaugural address.

12:10 am (IST), Thursday: Biden and Harris review the readiness of military troops in a pass in review.

12:55 am (IST): Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Harris and Emhoff participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

1:45 am (IST): Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Harris and Emhoff receive a Presidential Escort to the White House.

3:45 am (IST): Biden signs executive orders and other presidential actions.

4:15 am (IST): Biden swears in Day One Presidential Appointees in a virtual ceremony.

7:18 am (IST): Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Harris and Emhoff attend the "Celebrating America. inaugural program; Biden and Harris deliver remarks.

8:25 am (IST): Joe and Jill Biden appear on the Blue Room Balcony

5:30 am (IST): Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psalci.
River snail rice noodles, a specialty in southwest Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has generated an export revenue of more than 30 million yuan ($4.6 million) last year, 35 times that of the year before.

A bowl of river snail rice noodle is served at a restaurant in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

The export volume has been growing rapidly since March 2020, an employee shared with the customs department of Liuzhou, the cradle of river snail rice noodles.

Weve sold our products to more countries in 2020 than 2019, including Singapore, Germany and Italy. Now, we are targeting Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, said Chen Zihao, the director of the international marketing department of a local river snail rice noodle company.

To expand the export of river snail rice noodles, local companies have improved the quality of raw materials, reduced the reckless use of food additives, and kept logistics unimpeded.

The local customs department has shortened the customs clearance for export companies, allowing them to make appointments in advance and conduct clearance of goods upon their declaration.

In June 2020, Liuzhous bureau of agriculture and rural affairs and the customs department signed a memorandum of cooperation, under which more than 15 production bases for export purposes will be built to provide more convenience for companies to sell their products to overseas markets.
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Cornish Metals (TSX-V: CUSN) intends to list on AIM. The Company is proposing to raise 5m by way of private placement of new Common Shares to advance the United Downs copper-tin project. The Company expects that Admission will become effective in February 2021. The Company's Common Shares will continue to be listed and trade on the TSX-V in Canada.

Small Cap Feast - 19 Jan 2021

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Foresight Group , the award-winning infrastructure and private equity investment manager to IPO on the Main Market (Premium). The Offer will primarily comprise a sale of shares by existing shareholders (c.80% of the Offer) with a smaller offering of new shares (c.20% of the Offer) to be issued by the Company. Details TBA.

Cornish Metals (TSX-V: CUSN) intends to list on AIM. The Company is proposing to raise 5m by way of private placement of new Common Shares to advance the United Downs copper-tin project. The Company expects that Admission will become effective in February 2021. The Company's Common Shares will continue to be listed and trade on the TSX-V in Canada.

VH Global Sustainable Energy Opportunities plc, a closed-ended investment Company focused on making sustainable energy infrastructure investments announced it intends to launch an IPO of shares on the Official List (Premium) of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Due by Early Feb.

Banquet Buffet

201.5p 516m ( )

The developer and manager of residential for rent with a focus on the build to rent (BtR) and purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) sectors announces full year results for the year ended 30 September 2020. Highlights include: Solid financial performance, showing the resilience of the business during a challenging period for the UK economy; revenue down 5.5% for the year, primarily as a result of forward sales of developments being deferred due to COVID-19 uncertainty; robust gross margin for the year of 21.4% (FY19: 21.4%); impact of COVID-19 disruption on operational delivery minimised and additional construction cost substantially mitigated, with FY20 planned deliveries all completed; all Government financial assistance received to support furloughed staff, totalling 0.8m, repaid at the start of FY21; full-year final dividend of 7.35 pence per share proposed, in line with policy of 2.0x cover by adjusted earnings, reflecting strength of financial performance and cash position.

Kape Technologies 208.5p 439m ( )

The digital security and privacy software business provided a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2020. The Company traded strongly throughout the year, substantially growing its customer footprint and building its profile across the consumer privacy and security markets. Revenue for the full year is expected to be c.$122.2m (2019: $66.1m), up 85% and at the upper end of management's forecasted range, with recurring revenue representing c. 89% of total Group revenue. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be ahead of management's expectations at approximately $39.0m (2019: $14.6m), up 168%. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA margin is expected to increase significantly to 31.9% (2019: 22.0%).

Anglo Asian Mining 129p 147.6m ( )

The AIM listed gold, copper and silver producer focused in Azerbaijan, is pleased to announce a new copper-gold discovery, "Zafer", within the central region of its Gedabek Contract Area in western Azerbaijan. This discovery resulted from a regional exploration field mapping programme following the identification of structural trends by the ZTEM geophysics programme. A short report on Zafer can be found at the following link http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0873M_1-2021-1-18.pdf and on the Company's website (www.angloasianmining.com).

Ariana Resources 5.05p 54.3m ( )

The AIM-listed exploration and development company operating in Europe announced the receipt of formal approval from the Competition Authority in Turkey for the completion of its joint venture agreements with Ozaltin Holding A.S. and Proccea Construction Co. as announced on 7 December 2020 and ratified by shareholders on 30 December 2020. Approval received from the Competition Authority, representing the final regulatory condition precedent for the conclusion of the expanded Joint Venture. Expanded Joint Venture with Ozaltin and Proccea involves the partial disposal of the Company's interests in Turkey in exchange for up to US$37.75m in cash before costs and taxation. Ariana and Proccea to retain a 23.5% interest each in the expanded Joint Venture.

Thor Mining 1p 15m ( )

The Company announces an institutional placing to allow acceleration of its gold, copper, and uranium project interests. The Company has raised gross proceeds of 750,000 via the placing at a price of 0.85 pence per Ordinary Share. A London based specialist resources investor to invest 600,000. Artemis Resources Limited ( ), a company with major gold exploration and development projects in Western Australia's Pilbara, of which Thor director Mark Potter is Non Executive Chairman, to also invest 150,000 in the Placing, following up on their initial investment in 2020. Funds raised to be utilised for exploration activities at the Ragged Range, gold & nickel project in the Pilbara Western Australia, copper evaluation at Alford East in South Australia, initial drilling of the uranium and vanadium projects in the USA, and general working capital.

Power Metal 3.05p 30.9m ( )

The AIM listed metals exploration and development company announced the Company has secured an exclusive 60-day option in respect of a potential new acquisition of copper-gold focused exploration interests in the Paterson Province in the eastern Pilbara Region of Western Australia. The Paterson Province is considered highly prospective for gold-copper and base metal mineral systems and is currently of particular focus for resource companies with a significant level of exploration activity underway across the region. This level of interest follows recent high-profile copper and gold discoveries by Rio Tinto at their Winu property and by ( ) with the Havieron discovery2. Notably, several major groups in search of Tier 1 deposits have entered into joint-venture / farm-in deals with junior explorers to expedite exploratory work.

Totally 26.5p 48.3m ( )

The provider of a range of healthcare services across the UK and Ireland, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a number of contract extensions and continued pilot funding worth a total of c. 7.2m. The extensions and continued funding to pilot COVID-19 specific clinical services include 111 Clinical Assessment Services, Urgent Treatment Centre services and GP Out of Hours services across England and have been awarded to Totally's wholly-owned subsidiaries Vocare Limited, and Greenbrook Healthcare Limited, which together form Totally's Urgent Care division.

Trufin 65p 52.5m (LON:TRU)

The Company announces that revenues for the 12 months ended 31 December 2020 are expected to be significantly ahead of market expectations at approximately 14.6m (FY19: 7.3m), representing year-on-year growth in excess of 100%. This has predominantly been driven by strong performance from the console division of Playstack Ltd which, despite the further national lockdowns, has been supported by robust performance across the rest of the Group. Further to the Company's interim results statement on 25 September 2020 and given the strong performances within the Group, TruFin has formally engaged advisers to explore options for Oxygen and Vertus. This may result in the sale of Oxygen and / or Vertus and further return of capital to shareholders, should the board believe it to be in the best interests of shareholders. However, there is no certainty that such sales will occur.

Pantheon Resources 39.25p 227m ( )

The AIM-quoted oil and gas exploration company with working interests of 89.2% - 100% in certain projects located adjacent to transportation and pipeline infrastructure on the Alaska North Slope, has reached agreement with Otto Energy Alaska, LLC, a 100% subsidiary of , to acquire its 100% ownership of Borealis Alaska LLC. Borealis Alaska LLC owns a 10.8% working interest in each of the 16 leases in the 44,463 acre Talitha Unit. Upon completion of the acquisition, Pantheon will own a 100% working interest in the Talitha Unit. By way of an earlier transaction, Otto will retain a 0.5% overriding royalty interest in any future production from the Talitha Unit.

132.5p 101m ( )

The software-led global media technology company that delivers modern TV experiences, announces that Steve Oetegenn has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Group, effective from today. Steve Oetegenn is an industry leader in the online video, pay TV and digital security sectors, with over 30 years' experience, who brings deep expertise of the interplay between software and media. Across his career, Steve has worked with global pay TV providers, government agencies, global banks, Fortune 500 companies and Hollywood studios.

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The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has denied Bharat Biotech permission to simultaneously conduct Phase I and Phase II trials of its intranasal vaccine for COVID-19. Bharat Biotech is developing the intranasal vaccine in partnership with the Washington University School of Medicine and US-based vaccine maker Ocugen.

In a meeting on January 19, the SEC asked Bharat Biotech to conduct Phase I trials for the vaccine and submit immunogenicity data before moving to Phase II trials. The non-invasive, single-dose vaccine will be far easier to administer and will work faster and longer, Bharat Biotech had said, and claimed that it will be eco-friendly.

"An intranasal vaccine will not only be simple to administer, but will reduce the use of medical consumables such as needles, syringes, etc., significantly impacting the overall cost of a vaccination drive," Bharat Biotech Chairman Krishna Ella had said.

He had claimed that one drop of the intranasal vaccine would be "sufficient".

Bharat Biotech's intranasal vaccine is the only such vaccine to reach trial stage in India. The company will have the right to distribute the vaccine in all markets, except US, Japan and Europe, after it is approved by the drug regulators.

Earlier this month, the Drug Controller General of India had given emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Serum Institute of India's Covishield.

Both the vaccines are being administered as part of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign, launched on January 16.

Also read: SEC approves Phase 1 trial of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 nasal vaccine

Also read: Healthcare workers declining COVID-19 vaccine is a matter of sadness: Govt
Massachusetts lawmakers refiled a bill Tuesday afternoon that commits the state to dramatically reducing carbon emissions by 2050, reviving the climate bill proposal that Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed last week.

Key negotiators on the bill unveiled the final version of the bill, known as the conference report, and passed it on Jan. 4, a day before the end of the two-year legislative session. The session was supposed to end after July 31, but lawmakers extended the session because of the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the five-month extension, legislators failed to reach a deal with time to spare for amendments or a potential veto override. Baker has 10 days to act on a bill that reaches his desk, even if that falls after the end of a legislative session. When he vetoed the climate bill last week, the Republican governor lamented that he didnt have time to send back amendments and try to reach a compromise in lieu of rejecting the bill altogether.

Lawmakers, however, vowed to refile the bill. In a joint statement Tuesday, House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka said they were confident they could get it back to the governors desk, as written and passed the first time.

Months of work was exhaustively studied by members of the conference committee, and the result was a bill that rejects the false choice between economic growth and addressing climate change, they said. We must combat climate change while also maintaining a thriving economy and expanding the housing stock that will ensure future, sustainable growth. The legislation sent to the Governor showed how it can be done.

The climate bill commits Massachusetts to reducing carbon emissions to fall by 100% of 1990 levels by 2050, setting a minimum threshold of at least 85% below those levels by the deadline.

The proposal outlines a host of changes to meet those goals. The bill also creates environmental justice communities across the state, requiring that proposed projects in those communities that could affect air quality develop an environmental impact report before being approved.

Other provisions include benchmarks for trapping carbon through natural resources, changes to boost offshore wind energy and upgrades to efficiency standards for home and commercial appliances.

Baker and legislators publicly voiced their support of this net-zero goal as early as January 2020, but they disagree on how to reach that goal.

One reason Baker vetoed the climate bill was he believed some of the provisions slow housing production, essentially undermining efforts to boost housing production goals through the economic development bill. He also took issue with the lack of spending provisions, particularly to bolster cities and towns against present-day natural disasters that can be traced back to climate change.

The Baker administration has promoted its own plan to reduce carbon emissions by 2050, which includes the multi-state Transportation Climate Initiative that is expected to lead to an increase in gas prices for Massachusetts motorists.

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Global economic GDP is forecast to shrink by 4.3 percent by the end of 2020, while advanced economies are expected to remain well below the pre-crisis trend in 2021 despite the unprecedented monetary and fiscal stimulus applied to contain COVID-19s severe repercussions, according to the European Investment Bank.

These forecasts were announced during the annual press conference held by the European Investment Group, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), on Wednesday, attended by Ahram Online, to announce the groups activity results in 2020 and its outlook for 2021.

Outside the European Union (EU), GDP is projected to shrink by 3.8 percent in 2020 followed by a rebound of 4.7 percent in 2021, according to the EIBs estimates.

For the Middle East and Central Asia as well as emerging and developing Europe, GDP is projected to contract by 4 to 5 percent in 2020, followed by a rebound that ranges between 3 percent and 4 percent in 2021, according to the EIB.

During 2020, the European Investment Group signed financing agreements with a total of 76.8 billion, 66.6 billion of which were in the EU and 10.2 billion outside the EU, EIB President Werner Hoyer said.

Hoyer also noted that the total EIB financing signed in 2020 amounted to 66.09 billion, while total EIFs signed financing recorded 12.87 billion.

He added that total investment supported by the EIB in 2020 was worth 270 billion, while green financing (climate action and environmental sustainability financing by the EIB) accounted for 40 percent of total financing.

On raising money in the capital markets, EIB allocated 70 billion for borrowing in 2020, 2 percent of which were extended to the Middle East and North Africa region, according to Hoyer.

For its operational plan in 2021 outside the EU countries, EIB targets levels similar to the current, focused on supporting COVID-19 crisis response measures in developing countries, including short and medium-term support

for the healthcare sector, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) financing and investments, catalysing economic recovery, as well as continuing to finance the fight against climate change, according to Hoyer.

He also added that EIB is committed to the Team Europe initiative and support projects that will help to address the COVID-19 health crisis and contribute to building health preparedness and economic resilience.

For Africa, EIB will focus on private sector development and improved access to finance for SMEs with the aim of creating new jobs and growth in the region, while supporting enabling infrastructure that helps peoples lives and backs the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

In this regard, Hoyer said that Investment outside the EU, and in Africa in particular, is challenging due to the political instability, security problems, the rising debt vulnerabilities of many sovereigns, weak technical capabilities among partners, and gaps in regulatory frameworks.

All of these factors can raise the risk level of operations, particularly those in support of the private sector, and can make project implementation challenging, he added.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 15:38:06|Editor: huaxia

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HEFEI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- In a country with time-honored tea culture, Su Yang (pseudonym), on the contrary, has developed a habit of drinking coffee largely due to the influence of Starbucks.

"It's difficult to start a day without a cup of coffee," said Su, a 29-year-old white-collar worker in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, where the first Starbucks coffeehouse opened in 2011.

In 1999, the first Starbucks outlet on the Chinese mainland opened in Beijing, a pioneering move to nurture a taste of coffee in a tea-drinking culture.

However, purchasing a cup of cappuccino worth 19 yuan (about 2.3 U.S. dollars back then) was way too rare, when the same amount could bring back 10 kg of rice.

The company's initial attempt in the Chinese market failed to generate a profit in the first nine years. "We were not successful in the early years," acknowledged Howard Schultz, Starbucks Corporation's chairman emeritus. "It took us several years to get traction and gain success and loyalty," he said in an interview with China Global Television Network.

With the rapid economic development and expanding middle-class population in China, Starbucks coffeehouses have sprung up all across the country over the past two decades, making China the largest overseas market for Starbucks.

Su's passion for coffee grew as more Starbucks outlets opened in her city. It took the brand only a few years to evolve from a refreshing drink at work to a part of life. "You can spot a Starbucks outlet in almost every shopping mall. I also order Starbucks online when at home," Su said.

Currently, Starbucks has more than 4,800 brick-and-mortar outlets in about 200 Chinese cities, employing nearly 60,000 staff, according to a recent report by the company. In the fourth fiscal season of 2020, a record 259 new outlets opened on the Chinese mainland.

Being a big Starbucks fan, Su enjoys spending time at the U.S. coffee chain, which she calls a "third place" between home and work. The practice is quite opposite to the takeaway custom seen in Starbucks outlets in the United States.

"I usually order a latte and chat with my friends or do my homework here," said Chen Xun (pseudonym), a freshman from Anhui University.

During the winter holiday, the 19-year-old became a part-time barista at a nearby Starbucks coffeehouse, a career he has always wanted to pick up.

"I love working in Starbucks, where music and the drifting coffee aroma permeate the aura," Chen said.

"I believe Starbucks will become increasingly popular in China just like KFC. It will be accepted by different age groups," said Su, who is also into collecting Starbucks peripheral products such as coffee beans, mugs and stir sticks.

As of the end of the last fiscal year, Starbucks had over 13.5 million active members in China, the company said, adding that it aims to expand the number of coffeehouses to 6,000 in 230 Chinese cities by the end of the 2022 fiscal year.

"We have always been confident about the vitality and resilience of the Chinese market. We are embracing the opportunity with further investment and innovation, hoping to contribute more to promote the development of the industry of specialty coffee in China," said Belinda Wong, Starbucks China chairman and CEO. Enditem
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A child was killed when a wall collapsed following heavy rainfall that has blighted the lives of hundreds of displaced families reports SY 24.

A child died as a result of the landslides caused by the torrential rains in one of the informal settlement zones in northern Syria.

SY 24s correspondent said, The child, Abdul Razzaq Adnan al-Jobassi, died when a wall in his house fell on him as a result of the heavy rainfalls in the Tamanna camp, located north of the town of Killi in the northern countryside of Idleb.

Activists circulated on Facebook a powerful visual of a tent in one of the camps, inside of which appears a young child sleeping near the rainwater that flooded a large part of his familys tent. The image was described as one of the harshest photos that represent the tragic reality of the displaced.

The Syria Response Coordinators team, which operates in northern Syria, stated that the number of camps affected by the heavy rains is now 145 camps, and many roads leading to the camps were cut off.

The team explained that the number of totally damaged tents amounted to 278, with 513 partially damaged tents, in addition to extensive damage to roads, which exceeded eight kilometers within the camps and their surroundings. The numbers are still preliminary, as the damage is still being quantified.

The team confirmed in a statement that the rainstorms led to the displacement of hundreds of families, some of which had to move to other locations. A small number were transferred to places of worship and shelters, noting that thousands of civilians spent their night standing or outdoors because rainwater had entered their tents.

The news coming from the displacement camps in northern Syria is a glimpse at the tragic humanitarian conditions that the displaced are enduring due to the cold and stormy weather that struck their camps during the past hours, causing severe material damage.

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.
Antonio Giovinazzi has admitted he didn't take news of Carlos Sainz's Ferrari seat for 2021 "all that well".

The 27-year-old has been retained by Alfa Romeo and remains a part of Ferrari's driver academy, but he admits the Maranello team opting to replace Sebastian Vettel with former McLaren driver Sainz was disappointing.

"Of course I didn't take Ferrari's decision all that well," the Italian told Autosprint. "That seems obvious.

"I am still employed by Ferrari and I thought there would be a chance for me to race for the Scuderia. Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me."

However, Giovinazzi is not yet writing off his chance of racing a Ferrari one day.

"Choosing Sainz doesn't mean that I won't be able to get that seat in the future. A seat at Ferrari will always be my dream," he said.

The Italian said he is not disheartened that his road to the top in Formula 1 is taking time.

"I have never been gifted anything in my career," he said. "I have always had to fight hard to earn my seats.

"At this time I am focused on Alfa Romeo. I want to help my team move forward as much as possible, which is why I would like a podium. To do that, I have to keep improving myself and taking my opportunities.

"Let's see if that works out in 2021."

(GMM)
WASHINGTON  As President-elect Joe Biden prepared to be sworn in Wednesday, Texas Democrats were cheering the historic day as the end of a shameful era and a time to unite  and Texas Republicans who fought to deny Bidens electoral win called for a peaceful transfer of power.

Wednesday was a new day for the nation, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat, tweeted: Hoy es un nuevo dia para nuestro pais, nuestra gente, y nuestro futuro. The work begins today.

In a separate tweet, Garcia called it an honor to attend the swearing-in of the first female vice president, Kamala Harris, along with U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso. Garcia and Escobar were the first Latinas elected to represent Texas in Congress.

ON DAY ONE: Biden proposes path to citizenship to 1.7 million Texans

The sun has set on the horrible Trump presidency for the last time, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett tweeted. At long last.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady tweeted a Ronald Reagan quote cheering the orderly transfer of authority.

In the eyes of many in the world, this every 4-year ceremony we accept as normal is nothing less than a miracle, Brady said.

Even Texas Republicans who sued to overturn Bidens win in four battleground states  and some in Congress who voted against certifying his victory  said during a live-streamed version of the pre-inauguration Black Tie and Boots Ball that it was time to celebrate the transfer of power.

FIGHTING THE FEDS: A new crop of Texas-led lawsuits awaits Joe Bidens White House

In a season of politics like were experiencing in our country, theres never been a better time to unite around our common values as Texans, including love of country, love of family and neighbors and a commitment to ensuring democracy lives on for future generations, said U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, a Lubbock Republican who voted to reject Bidens electoral victory earlier this month.

Here is what other Texas lawmakers had to say:

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz

It is deeply troubling that most of Joe Bidens first acts as president were to protect illegal immigrants and encourage illegal immigration at the expense of American jobs and workers, Cruz wrote in a statement. I will continue to fight for measures to secure our border, reform our legal immigration system, and uphold the rule of law.

Gov. Greg Abbott

I congratulate Joe Biden on his inauguration as president, and pray that he is guided by God and follows the Constitution as he assumes leadership of the greatest country in the history of the world, Abbott tweeted. May we forever remain that way.

George P. Bush, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office

I congratulate President Biden. As he discharges the most important duties of the land, let me be clear: as a part of the loyal opposition, I will fight for Texas values, whether thats standing up against left-wing plans to curtail the energy industry, raise taxes or put identity politics first, Bush said in a statement.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Congrats, President Biden. On Inauguration Day, I wish our contry the best, Paxton said in a statement. I promise my fellow Texans and Americans that I will fight against the many unconstitutional and illegal actions that the new administration will take, challenge federal overreach that infringes on Texans rights, and serve as a major check against the administrations lawlessness. Texas First! Law & Order always!

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Houston

On day 1, Biden is making clear that the era of prioritizing regular Americans is over, Crenshaw tweeted in response to a summary of executive actions Biden plans to sign Wednesday. Instead, the priorities will be acquiescing to China, ceding energy dominance to Russia and Saudi Arabia, and unfettered illegal immigration. The America First agenda is gone.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio

Congratulations to Joe Biden! Castro tweeted. The 46th President of the United States. I look forward to working hard in the years ahead to bring our nation together and build back better. Its a new day in America!

U.S. Rep. Al Green of Houston

The inauguration symbolizes more than our typical quadrennial transference of power, Green tweeted. It represents the end of a shameful, incitive presidency that brought harm to our nation and the beginning of a pivotal opportunity for our nation to build back better.

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess of Pilot Point

Our country is unique that every four years or every eight years were able to witness a peaceful transfer of power,

Former presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke

The will of the people has been heard. Democracy has prevailed. Congratulations President Biden and Vice President Harris. Thank you America, he tweeted.

Former San Antonio Mayor and presidential candidate Julian Castro

Two years ago I asked folks to imagine the day our nation gets to say adios to Donald Trump. Today is that day. This #InaugurationDay. Ill be wearing my #AdiosTrump shirt proudly, hopeful for a brighter future for our nation under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Castro wrote in one of several tweets about the inauguration.

In his 1961 inaugural, JFK declared, In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. Today I have hope knowing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will lead our nation in one of those moments, he said in another.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio

A peaceful transition of power is one of the pillars of American democracy, and I feel grateful to have witnessed it in person today, Gonzales said in a statement. Im ready to work with the new administration on areas of agreement, while standing up against President Bidens policies that send our nation in the wrong direction.

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo

Today is a new beginning for our democracy. In a couple hours, we will have a new administration that reflects America and our values, Cuellar tweeted. Congratulations to President Biden and Vice President Harris! It is an honor to be a part of this historic day. We will work every day to unite our country for the American people.

U.S. Rep. Van Taylor of Plano

President Biden takes office in a time of immense challenge. Americans have lost loved ones, they have lost livelihoods, and many have lost hope that a deeply divided government, and nation, can work together again, Taylor said in a statement.

Just as I have always done with other leaders on both sides of the aisle, I will look for opportunities to work with President Biden to solve the problems facing our country. Great collaboration and passionate debate lie ahead, but today we come together to witness the peaceful transition of power and wish President Biden, Vice President Harris, and their families to very best as they begin this journey.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan of Beaumont

May God give wisdom and grace to President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris, he tweeted. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

State Rep. Matt Krause of Fort Worth

Today one presidential admin ends, and one begins. I'll approach the latter as I've done the former. When Biden does something good, I'll praise & support him. When he does something wrong, I'll criticize the decision. (that part has earned me a lot of backlash the last 4 yrs), Krause tweeted.

And do what I can to help protect TX from any harmful policies that might be pursued in DC. I'll be praying for the health & safety of President Biden & the First Lady. I'll be praying for wisdom & discernment for the President, Vice-President Harris, their cabinet, & Congress.

State Rep. James Talarico of Round Rock

Our long national nightmare is over, Talarico tweeted alongside an image of Bidens swearing-in.

cayla.harris@express-news.com

ben.wermund@chron.com
By Amy Quin

The Trump administration cast its barrage of moves against Beijing, in its waning days, as necessary to stand up to Chinas authoritarian leadership.

Among its final acts, the administration declared that Beijing was committing genocide against Uighurs and other Muslims in a far western region. It held a video conference between a senior U.S. envoy and the president of Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing. And it jettisoned long-standing guidelines limiting exchanges with Taiwanese officials.

But the decision to push through significant foreign policy measures so quickly  and during a time of turmoil in Washington  risks politicizing the issues and undermining their ability to gain global traction.

While some of the decisions were in the making for months, the timing of their rollout makes them easy to dismiss. To Beijing, the moves were a last-ditch effort by the departing administration to needle Chinas ruling Communist Party. And they could potentially box in President Joe Biden by forcing him to either look weak on China by reversing the moves or incur Beijings wrath.

The moves were welcomed by many Taiwanese, Uighurs and other communities whom the Trump administration had said it wanted to support. But some expressed concerns that they  and their causes  were being overshadowed by geopolitics.

There are many people who suspect the legitimacy of this decision, Tahir Imin, a Uighur activist based in Washington, said after the United States declared that Chinas repression of his ethnic group amounted to genocide. But all of the facts show clearly that what is happening is a genocide.

In the short term, these moves by the Trump administration may force the issues to the front of Bidens China agenda, regardless of his own priorities. This complicates the new administrations plans to maintain a combative stance on China over human rights and other issues while finding areas to cooperate and stabilize Washingtons spiraling relationship with Beijing.

Beijing is likely to pressure Biden to reverse at least some of the Trump administrations decisions as a condition of resuming talks on other issues. But reversing any decision too quickly could also send a signal to the Chinese leadership that all of the Trump administrations recent moves are on the table.

Biden has advocated remaining tough on China. He called Chinas human rights abuses in Xinjiang genocide during the election campaign. And Antony Blinken, his pick for secretary of state, said Tuesday that he agreed with Mike Pompeos move in his final days in that role to declare that Chinas repression of the Uighurs constituted genocide.

But the Biden administration has said that it will first focus on domestic priorities. He may not have the bandwidth to maintain the confrontation with China that the Trump administration set in motion, targeting areas like trade, technology and security.

Because all of what has happened with the Trump administration, particularly with the last set of actions, the Chinese are going to want greater predictability, said Bonnie Glaser, a senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. They are going to ask for more concrete commitments from the Biden administration.

Faced with the last-minute barrage from Washington, Beijing has so far demonstrated relative restraint. In recent weeks, the Chinese state media had dismissed Pompeo as crazy and the worst secretary of state in history. On Wednesday, the Global Times, a state-backed nationalist tabloid, relayed comments from Chinese internet users mocking former President Donald Trump as a gravedigger of U.S. hegemony and the first U.S. president to successfully entertain Chinese people while wreaking havoc on the U.S. at the same time.

It remains to be seen whether Beijing will take a confrontational or cooperative approach toward the Biden administration in its first days.

Beijing has made overtures to Biden, calling for a reset and greater cooperation between the two countries. But it has also spread new conspiracy theories connecting a U.S. military lab to the coronavirus and pushed a nationalistic message that in the face of global challenges, time and momentum are on Chinas side.

An editorial published Sunday in the Global Times called on Biden to actively consider abolishing all the diplomatic decisions made by the previous administration in its recent surprise attack.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing, said in a telephone interview that China will want to know which actions are set in stone, which actions have some hope to be mitigated and which actions can be reversed.

Taiwan will be especially tricky. The Trump administration supported it with official visits, pledges of economic cooperation and billions of dollars in weapons sales. The approach, in defiance of Beijings opposition, made Taiwan once again a major point of friction in the relationship between the United States and China.

The Chinese government is likely to pressure the Biden administration to reinstate a set of guidelines meant to restrict interactions between American officials and their Taiwanese counterparts. The guidelines had been in place since the United States broke off ties with Taiwan in 1979 and shifted diplomatic recognition to Beijing.
This summer, 75-150 children of military-connected personnel will attend a weeklong camp at Steele High School courtesy of a Department of Defense grant received by the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District.

SCUC is one of only 10 school districts across the nation, and the only district in the Southwestern region, to receive the grant, according to Dee Thomas, SCUC DOD educational activities grant director.

STEMKAMP  Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for Kids of Active Military Personnel  will engage students in grades 3-8 in a host of activities during the June 7-11 camp.

More than 40 percent of the students who attend SCUC ISD schools are military-connected, Thomas said. The grant continues the districts effort to reach out to those specific families and students.

Whats so great about this grant is that they are providing stipends for teachers, and the curriculum and all the resources. This is a big deal, Thomas said. We love doing things like this, but we cant pay the teachers. We just dont have the funds.

The three-year grant is part of a $2.7 million grant awarded to Goshen Education Consulting and iBIO EDUCATE by the DOD to design and implement novel educational experiences for up to 3,750 children in military families. SCUCs share totals $230,000 for the three-year venture.

Children of military service personnel often experience stress related to the many unknowns involved in their parents occupations. This includes changing school districts often, which can make it difficult to adjust to new schools with differing curriculum, instructional methods, cultural norms and climate, according to the Goshen Education Consulting owner.

As the father of two daughters who have flourished in the STEMgirls and STEMfamily camps, I saw the positive impact on my children and in my family, said Matt Feldmann, Goshen principal researcher and owner. It is a privilege to be able to bring STEMKAMP to children in military families nationwide. I am confident that they will benefit greatly through the hands-on approach to learning.

STEMKAMP will partner with 10 military-connected school districts across the U.S. to implement the five-day summer camps, helping young students connect critical thinking and problem-solving skills to a wide variety of STEM careers through hands-on experiences with STEM concepts and access to STEM professionals.

Thomas said SCUC is the only district in the Southwestern United States to receive one of the grants. While registration dates have not yet been released, Thomas knows the basic design of the camp.

Monday through Wednesday they will come and perform actual STEM activities by grade level, she said. On Thursday, they go on a trip to somewhere they normally cant go, like a Toyota Plant or Amazon, somewhere you couldnt just buy a ticket and walk in.

Fridays conclusion brings the campers families to the school.

In the morning, their families come and do activities and get to see what the kids have done. They have a barbecue lunch, and theres a speaker. Its a very cool thing and were so happy to have been selected to be a part of this, she added.

Goshen Education Consulting is a STEM educational evaluation and research center located in Edwardsville, IL. Since its founding in 2009, Goshen Education Consulting has conducted more than 60 educational evaluation and research projects.

The Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO) is a life sciences industry association that represents the nearly 88,000 life sciences employees at member companies, universities, service providers and venture firms. iBIO EDUCATE delivers industry-led STEM programs for teachers and students, hoping to inspire the next generation of innovators and helping to restore Americas leadership in technology education.

jflinn@express-news.net
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BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Delek US Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DK) ("Delek US") today announced the appointment of Laurie Z. Tolson to the Board of Directors effective January 20, 2021.

"We are pleased to welcome Laurie to our board," said Uzi Yemin, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Delek US. "Laurie's background in technology adds yet another aspect of diversity and perspective to our Board and complements the company's drive to utilize technology to enhance operations. To highlight our recent progress in technology implementation, I would encourage shareholders to view this short video link, also posted to the Delek website, Technology - Leading the Future. We strongly believe technology advancements will lead to progressively improving efficiency, reliability and safety of our workforce and Laurie's background will assist us in our journey. Laurie's appointment, following a careful vetting of candidates over the past few months, builds on momentum toward our commitment of achieving no less than 30% of females or racially diverse Board members by 2022."

Laurie Z. Tolson, age 60, has served on the Board of Directors at Fenix Marine Services, which operates one of the largest container terminals in the Port of Los Angeles. Since March 2020, Ms. Tolson has been the chief executive officer of Tolson Consulting Company, where she advises companies on digital transformation strategies. From 2017 to 2020, Ms. Tolson previously served as the chief digital officer of GE Transportation, a division of Wabtec Corporation (NYSE:WAB), which manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. Prior to that, Ms. Tolson worked at ABB Ltd. (NYSE:ABB), a manufacturer of electrification, industrial automation, and robotics and motion products for customers in utilities, industry, transport and infrastructure worldwide, first as executive vice president of research and development, product management and marketing from 2012 to 2016, and then as global head of the enterprise software group from 2016 to 2017. Ms. Tolson's experience also includes five years as vice president, software, at Dell Inc., a global information technology company, and 13 years as vice president, Java software group, at Sun Microsystems, Inc., a software development and network infrastructure provider. Ms. Tolson attended Point Loma Nazarene University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and economics and minor in computer science, and she holds an MBA from National University in La Jolla, California.

About Delek US Holdings, Inc.

Delek US Holdings, Inc. is a diversified downstream energy company with assets in petroleum refining, logistics, asphalt, renewable fuels and convenience store retailing. The refining assets consist of refineries operated in Tyler and Big Spring, Texas, El Dorado, Arkansas and Krotz Springs, Louisiana with a combined nameplate crude throughput capacity of 302,000 barrels per day.

The logistics operations consist of Delek Logistics Partners, LP (NYSE:DKL) ("Delek Logistics"). Delek US and its affiliates also own the general partner and an approximate 80 percent limited partner interest in Delek Logistics. Delek Logistics is a growth-oriented master limited partnership focused on owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets.

The convenience store retail business operates approximately 253 convenience stores in central and west Texas and New Mexico.

Information about Delek US Holdings, Inc. can be found on its website (www.delekus.com), investor relations webpage (ir.delekus.com), news webpage (www.delekus.com/news) and its Twitter account (@DelekUSHoldings).

SOURCE Delek US Holdings, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.delekus.com/


Equity benchmark closed at new record highs on Wednesday, tracking positive trend from global equities, on hopes of fresh US stimulus measures. Rising for the second straight session, Sensex ended 393 points higher at 49,792 and Nifty gained by 123 points to 14,644. Sensex and Nifty today touched new lifetime highs of 49,874 and 14,666.

Rohit Singre, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities said,"One more positive session along with that index made fresh levels today and closed a day at 14645 with gains of nearly one per cent formed bullish candle for the second consecutive day. Now the good base is created is around 14560 followed 14500 zone holding above said levels index can show some more positive move towards 14700-14750 zone also any dip near 14500 zone will be again buying opportunity. In nifty bank strong hurdle is still at 32700 zone any decisive break above 32700 zone can quickly push the index to 33k zone"

Jyoti Roy - DVP- Equity Strategist, Angel Broking said," ICICI Lombard reported 6.3% YoY growth in net premium earned to Rs. 2,611.4 crore while investment income registered a growth of 31.4% YoY to Rs. 441.9 crore. Total income registered a growth of 9.29% growth YoY to Rs. 3058.9 crore. Operating profit for the quarter was down by 2.7% YoY to Rs. 312.1cr while net profit for the quarter was up 6.60% at Rs. 313.5 crore. The combined ratio for the quarter stood at 97.9% while return on average equity stood at 17.6% as compared to 20.3% in Q3FY20 Overall the company witnessed good traction in fire insurance, health and marine insurance while motor insurance was flat YoY."

Jyoti Roy - DVP- Equity Strategist, Angel Broking said,"L&T Infotech reported a 5.8% qoq growth in revenues to USD 427.8mn which was well ahead of our expectations. In rupee terms consolidated revenue increased by 5.1% qoq to Rs 3152.8 crore while gross profits increased by 5.5% qoq to Rs 1,102.1 crore. Gross margins expanded by ~20bps qoq to 35.0% due to sharp increase in utilization by 210bps qoq to 84.1%. Consolidated operating profit for the quarter was up by 6.7% qoq while margins were up by ~35bps qoq to 23.2%. Net profit for the quarter was up by 13.7% qoq to Rs 519.3 crore. During the quarter growth was driven by India which grew by 30.4% QoQ while RoW witnessed a degrowth of 4.2% QoQ. BFS, manufacturing and other verticals witnessed strong growth while Insurance, Energy & Utilities verticals reported sluggish growth. Overall the numbers were ahead of our expectations on all fronts. Post the Q3FY21 numbers we maintain our positive stance on L&T Infotech and expect strong earnings growth of 24.2% CAGR between FY20-23E, though valuations at 24.5xFY23 earnings are expensive."

CRISIL Research expects total housing loan outstanding to grow at a CAGR of 5% to 6% in Fiscal 2021 and at 8% to 9% CAGR to Rs 26.5tn over Fiscals 2020 and 2023. The market for affordable housing loans logged a CAGR of approximately 12% over Fiscals 2015 to 2020. By Fiscal 2023, CRISIL Research expects affordable housing outstanding credit to increase at approximately 9% to 10% CAGR to Rs 11.9tn. At higher price band (?518), the stock valued at 4.1 (x) 2QFY21 P/BVPS. Factoring the superlative return ratios, ROA/ROE of 11%/3%, we believe that Home First Finance Company is worth subscribing. Thus we recommend SUBSCRIBE.

Ashis Biswas, Head of Technical at CapitalVia Global Research said,"The market witnessed some strong trends and an attempt to overcome the resistance level around the Nifty 50 Index level of 14600. While sustaining above 14600 is the key factor from a short-term perspective, maintain above this level market to gain momentum and open the gate for a movement till 14800/14930. The momentum indicators like RSI, MACD to recover, and market breadth to improve, further strengthening the view of a short-term bullish outlook."

Gaurav Garg, Head Research, CapitalVia Global Research Limited - Investment Advisor said," Market opened on a flatter note at 14538.30 following the mixed global cues and made a high of 14623.55 as market is expecting more stimulus from the government. Investors in Asian markets were poised for gains on Wednesday after Wall Street indexes rose on the back of U.S. Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellens push for a sizable fiscal relief package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Quarterly results of 36 companies are due for today which can result in higher volatility in second half, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv and HDFC Asset Management Company being in major focus. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continue the buying spree in the market and bought shares worth Rs 257.55 crore keeping the market outlook positive."

Globally, markets hit new record highs today, reacting to comments from US Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen, who called for a hefty fiscal relief package to help the economy hit by the COVID-19 crisis. IT stocks also advanced in morning trade on hopes of fresh US stimulus measures, with HCL Tech, Tech Mahindra, TCS and Infosys rising around 1% each. Other index majors like ONGC, Reliance, Maruti, SBI, HDFC, M&M rose by 2% in the afternoon session.

Rising for the second straight session, equity benchmark traded near record highs on Wednesday, tracking positive trend from global equities. Sensex was rising by 415 points to 49,815 and Nifty gained by 128 points to 14,650. Today, Sensex touched a new high of 49, 824.

14:30 IST: Rising for the second straight session, equity benchmark traded near record highs on Wednesday, tracking positive trend from global equities. Sensex was rising by 415 points to 49,815 and Nifty gained by 128 points to 14,650. Today, Sensex touched a new high of 49, 824.

Jan 20, 2021 14:25 (IST) SBI Life stock outlook



Reliance Research said in ite note today,"Over the past few months, the stock has been making higher tops and higher bottoms on weekly charts. Recently, the stock has witnessed minor pullback near to its short-term averages from the recent high. This gives an opportunity to add longs, as the stock is expected to scale all-time high over the next few weeks. In case of decline, the 200-day average (which is placed at Rs818) would act as reversal point (Stop Loss) on closing basis."

14:25 IST:



Reliance Research said in ite note today,"Over the past few months, the stock has been making higher tops and higher bottoms on weekly charts. Recently, the stock has witnessed minor pullback near to its short-term averages from the recent high. This gives an opportunity to add longs, as the stock is expected to scale all-time high over the next few weeks. In case of decline, the 200-day average (which is placed at Rs818) would act as reversal point (Stop Loss) on closing basis."

Jan 20, 2021 13:58 (IST) Global markets In Europe, Germany's DAX returned 0.1per cent, and France's CAC 40 slipped 0.1per cent. The FTSE 100 in London dipped 0.1per cent.



In Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained rose 2.7per cent, the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo gained 1.4per cent and South Korea's Kospi jumped 2.6per cent. Stocks in Shanghai slipped 0.8per cent.

13:58 IST: In Europe, Germany's DAX returned 0.1per cent, and France's CAC 40 slipped 0.1per cent. The FTSE 100 in London dipped 0.1per cent.



In Asian markets, Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained rose 2.7per cent, the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo gained 1.4per cent and South Korea's Kospi jumped 2.6per cent. Stocks in Shanghai slipped 0.8per cent.

Jan 20, 2021 13:40 (IST) Bajaj Finance share trades tad higher Bajaj Finance share was trading marginally higher in afternoon trade today ahead of the firm's Q3 earnings set to be announced today. The large cap stock has risen 5.52% in the last 2 days. Bajaj Finance share trades higher than 5 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages but lower than 20 day moving averages.



The stock has gained 20% in one year but fallen 6% since the beginning of this year.



The share was trading 1.09% or Rs 54.15 higher at Rs 5,015 against previous close of Rs 4,959.15 on BSE.



Market cap of the firm rose to Rs 3.02 lakh crore.



Bajaj Finance share trading higher ahead of Q3 earnings, here's what to expect

13:40 IST: Bajaj Finance share was trading marginally higher in afternoon trade today ahead of the firm's Q3 earnings set to be announced today. The large cap stock has risen 5.52% in the last 2 days. Bajaj Finance share trades higher than 5 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages but lower than 20 day moving averages.



The stock has gained 20% in one year but fallen 6% since the beginning of this year.



The share was trading 1.09% or Rs 54.15 higher at Rs 5,015 against previous close of Rs 4,959.15 on BSE.



Market cap of the firm rose to Rs 3.02 lakh crore.



Bajaj Finance share trading higher ahead of Q3 earnings, here's what to expect

Jan 20, 2021 13:36 (IST) Currency outlook Kshitij Purohit, Product Manager, Currency & Commodities at CapitalVia Global Research said,"All Asian Indices trading in green since strong China's GDP data and sustained inflow of dollar helped emerging market to performed well. Technically, the USDINR Spot open gap up and traded negative throughout the day. It is sustaining below 73.31 levels indicating a negative momentum may continue in the today's session. However, if it breaks the resistance of 73.31 then it may go up toward 73.47. Support is at 73.05-72.90 levels for the spot pair. Resistance for the pair is 73.31. USDINR Jan future will trade in the range of 73.10-73.40 levels."

13:36 IST: Kshitij Purohit, Product Manager, Currency & Commodities at CapitalVia Global Research said,"All Asian Indices trading in green since strong China's GDP data and sustained inflow of dollar helped emerging market to performed well. Technically, the USDINR Spot open gap up and traded negative throughout the day. It is sustaining below 73.31 levels indicating a negative momentum may continue in the today's session. However, if it breaks the resistance of 73.31 then it may go up toward 73.47. Support is at 73.05-72.90 levels for the spot pair. Resistance for the pair is 73.31. USDINR Jan future will trade in the range of 73.10-73.40 levels."

Jan 20, 2021 13:36 (IST) Sensex nears 50K mark Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services said last week, "Looks like Sensex is headed for 50000. But there are bumps ahead. The market is likely to turn highly volatile during the budget. Since valuations are high and investors are sitting on good profits, partial profit booking can be considered at every rise. It is impossible to time the market"

13:36 IST: Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services said last week, "Looks like Sensex is headed for 50000. But there are bumps ahead. The market is likely to turn highly volatile during the budget. Since valuations are high and investors are sitting on good profits, partial profit booking can be considered at every rise. It is impossible to time the market"

Jan 20, 2021 13:11 (IST) L&T's construction arm wins large transmission orders Engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Wednesday said its construction arm, L&T Construction, has bagged large transmission line orders in Bangladesh.



While the company didn't disclose the value of the contracts bagged by the power transmission and distribution business, as per its project classification, large projects have a value of Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 5,000 crore.



"The scope of these packages involves design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of extra high voltage transmission lines on turnkey basis," the company said in a regulatory filing.



L&T's construction arm wins large transmission orders in Bangladesh

13:11 IST: Engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Wednesday said its construction arm, L&T Construction, has bagged large transmission line orders in Bangladesh.



While the company didn't disclose the value of the contracts bagged by the power transmission and distribution business, as per its project classification, large projects have a value of Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 5,000 crore.



"The scope of these packages involves design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of extra high voltage transmission lines on turnkey basis," the company said in a regulatory filing.



L&T's construction arm wins large transmission orders in Bangladesh

Jan 20, 2021 13:03 (IST) Tata Motors share hits 52-week high Tata Motors share rose over 6% today amid a report that the firm has received 98 patents last year under its accelerated drive for engineering excellence and innovation. Share of Tata Motors gained 6.49% to Rs 275.65, a fresh 52-week high, against previous close of Rs 258.85 on BSE.



Tata Motors share has risen 11.11% in the last 2 days.



Tata Motors share is trading higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages. Tata Motors stock has risen 49.46% since the beginning of this year and gained 40.76% during the last one year.



Tata Motors share hits 52-week high, gains 52% in a month

13:03 IST: Tata Motors share rose over 6% today amid a report that the firm has received 98 patents last year under its accelerated drive for engineering excellence and innovation. Share of Tata Motors gained 6.49% to Rs 275.65, a fresh 52-week high, against previous close of Rs 258.85 on BSE.



Tata Motors share has risen 11.11% in the last 2 days.



Tata Motors share is trading higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages. Tata Motors stock has risen 49.46% since the beginning of this year and gained 40.76% during the last one year.



Tata Motors share hits 52-week high, gains 52% in a month

12:47 IST: Indian rupee, the domestic currency appreciated by 7 paise to 73.10 per US dollar on Wednesday's opening trade, as positive domestic equities and weak American currency lifted investor sentiment.



The currency unit opened at 73.11 per US dollar at the interbank forex market and inched 7 paise higher to 73.10 over its previous close.



On Tuesday, the rupee had settled at 73.17 against the American currency.



Rupee rises 7 paise to 73.10 amid weak US dollar, positive equities

Jan 20, 2021 12:45 (IST) Global markets turn mixed Asian markets are trading mixed with a positive bias as they reacted to China's benchmark lending rate, which was left unchanged.



US markets bounced back and closed higher led by technology and semi-conductor stocks. Markets end higher after Janet Yellen called for more fiscal aid to support economy.



European markets fell yesterday as investors searched for measures to support economy battered by the pandemic and recent US Treasury Secretary's speech.





12:45 IST: Asian markets are trading mixed with a positive bias as they reacted to China's benchmark lending rate, which was left unchanged.



US markets bounced back and closed higher led by technology and semi-conductor stocks. Markets end higher after Janet Yellen called for more fiscal aid to support economy.



European markets fell yesterday as investors searched for measures to support economy battered by the pandemic and recent US Treasury Secretary's speech.





Jan 20, 2021 12:07 (IST) Nifty Outlook



Geojit said in its research note today,"The anticipated bullish reversal was in play yesterday, but it is premature to invoke the 15200 view. Dips are favoured today, and it may not be until atleast 14470 before reasonable buying emerges. A consolidation is expected with 14430-14537 seen as the band beyond which, directional moves could gain momentum."

12:07 IST:



Geojit said in its research note today,"The anticipated bullish reversal was in play yesterday, but it is premature to invoke the 15200 view. Dips are favoured today, and it may not be until atleast 14470 before reasonable buying emerges. A consolidation is expected with 14430-14537 seen as the band beyond which, directional moves could gain momentum."

Jan 20, 2021 11:41 (IST) Why Tata Communications share fell 8% Tata Communications share fell nearly 8% in early trade today despite the Tata Group firm reporting a five- fold rise in Q3 profit. The slide in the stock can be attributed to reports that government will sell its entire 26.12% stake in Tata Communications through an offer for sale and strategic sale route in the current fiscal.



The government is expected to rake in Rs 8,400 crore from the stake sale.



The large cap stock has fallen after 4 days of consecutive gain. Tata Communications share opened with a loss of 4.69% today at Rs 1076.95 on BSE.



Why Tata Communications share fell 8% despite five-fold rise in Q3 profit

11:41 IST: Tata Communications share fell nearly 8% in early trade today despite the Tata Group firm reporting a five- fold rise in Q3 profit. The slide in the stock can be attributed to reports that government will sell its entire 26.12% stake in Tata Communications through an offer for sale and strategic sale route in the current fiscal.



The government is expected to rake in Rs 8,400 crore from the stake sale.



The large cap stock has fallen after 4 days of consecutive gain. Tata Communications share opened with a loss of 4.69% today at Rs 1076.95 on BSE.



Why Tata Communications share fell 8% despite five-fold rise in Q3 profit

11:37 IST:



Stocks to watch today on January 20: Tata Communications, Sterlite Tech, Sun Pharma, Ceat, L&T Infotech among others are the top stocks to watch out for in Wednesday's trading session



Stocks in news: Tata Communications, Sterlite Tech, Sun Pharma, Ceat, L&T Infotech

Jan 20, 2021 11:29 (IST) Indigo Paints IPO outlook and view LKP Securities also rated 'Subcribe' to the IPO and said,"Indigo is the fastest growing paint company which has grown at a much faster pace in the last decade than any other paint company in india. The company has adopted a differentiated approach to market and sell its products in the industry which is dominated by the larger players. Indigo has been able to expand its EBIDTA/PAT margins from 6.4%/3.2% in FY18 to 14.6%/7.7% on the back of economies of scale and better raw material sourcing. The companys ROE & ROCE has also improved significantly to be at par with the industry leaders in the last five years."



Indigo Paints IPO opens today: Should you subscribe to the issue?





11:29 IST: LKP Securities also rated 'Subcribe' to the IPO and said,"Indigo is the fastest growing paint company which has grown at a much faster pace in the last decade than any other paint company in india. The company has adopted a differentiated approach to market and sell its products in the industry which is dominated by the larger players. Indigo has been able to expand its EBIDTA/PAT margins from 6.4%/3.2% in FY18 to 14.6%/7.7% on the back of economies of scale and better raw material sourcing. The companys ROE & ROCE has also improved significantly to be at par with the industry leaders in the last five years."



Indigo Paints IPO opens today: Should you subscribe to the issue?





Jan 20, 2021 10:53 (IST) Market indices trade near record highs Market indices continued trading on a bullish note for the second day on Wednesday, amid mixed global equities. Sensex was rising by 183 point to 49, 569 and Nifty gained by60 points to 14,581. Sensex and Nifty today touched intraday highs of 49,694 and 14,617. Yesterday, Sensex added 834 points to 49,398 and Nifty gained 239 points to 14,521. Earlier on January 13, Sensex and Nifty hit fresh lifetime highs of 49,795 and 14,653, respectively.

10:53 IST: Market indices continued trading on a bullish note for the second day on Wednesday, amid mixed global equities. Sensex was rising by 183 point to 49, 569 and Nifty gained by60 points to 14,581. Sensex and Nifty today touched intraday highs of 49,694 and 14,617. Yesterday, Sensex added 834 points to 49,398 and Nifty gained 239 points to 14,521. Earlier on January 13, Sensex and Nifty hit fresh lifetime highs of 49,795 and 14,653, respectively.

10:51 IST: Non-life player ICICI Lombard on Tuesday reported a marginal 6.6 per cent growth in net income to Rs 314 crore for the December quarter, boosted by the massive rally in the equity markets swelling its investment gains.





It had posted a net profit of Rs 294.11 crore in the year-ago period, the company said in a regulatory filing.



Gross direct premium income grew 9.2 per cent to Rs 4,034 crore from Rs 3,693 crore, against the industry's 4.9 per cent growth.



ICICI Lombard Q3 results: Profit jumps 6.6% to Rs 314 crore on equity market rally

Jan 20, 2021 10:41 (IST) Nifty technical support and resistance for today Reliance Research said in its note," NSE-NIFTY bounced post a negative start for the week on back of recovery across global markets. Due to recent rebound in the index, major technical indicators on the near-term timeframe chart reversed from their oversold zone and positively poised. Overall market breadth was in favour of the bulls and positive trend was observed across the sectors. Though the major parameters are in favour of the bulls, near-term consolidation cannot be ruled out before the index breaches its life-time-high of 14,653 convincingly. In case of breakout, the index will move towards 15,000-15,250-levels. On the lower side, the index will find support at around 14,250-level initially and 14,100-level subsequently.



As for the day, support is placed at around 14,399 and then at 14,277 levels, while resistance is observed at 14,595 and then at 14,668 levels."

10:41 IST: Reliance Research said in its note," NSE-NIFTY bounced post a negative start for the week on back of recovery across global markets. Due to recent rebound in the index, major technical indicators on the near-term timeframe chart reversed from their oversold zone and positively poised. Overall market breadth was in favour of the bulls and positive trend was observed across the sectors. Though the major parameters are in favour of the bulls, near-term consolidation cannot be ruled out before the index breaches its life-time-high of 14,653 convincingly. In case of breakout, the index will move towards 15,000-15,250-levels. On the lower side, the index will find support at around 14,250-level initially and 14,100-level subsequently.



As for the day, support is placed at around 14,399 and then at 14,277 levels, while resistance is observed at 14,595 and then at 14,668 levels."

Jan 20, 2021 10:33 (IST) Market opening outlook On markets opening --Manish Hathiramani, proprietary index trader and technical analyst, Deen Dayal Investments said,"We are trading above the 14550 level which is a resistance point for the Nifty. If we can keep above this, our next target should be 14750-14800. Given the strong undercurrent we can possibly stretch towards 15000 too. A strong support now lies at 14200 and hence any dip or correction can be utilised to enter the index for higher targets."







10:33 IST: On markets opening --Manish Hathiramani, proprietary index trader and technical analyst, Deen Dayal Investments said,"We are trading above the 14550 level which is a resistance point for the Nifty. If we can keep above this, our next target should be 14750-14800. Given the strong undercurrent we can possibly stretch towards 15000 too. A strong support now lies at 14200 and hence any dip or correction can be utilised to enter the index for higher targets."







Jan 20, 2021 10:29 (IST) Alembic Pharma Q3 outlook Yash Gupta Equity Research Associate, Angel Broking said,Alembic pharmaceutical reported weak results. Alembic Pharmaceutical Ltd total revenue from operations for Q3FY21 stood at Rs 1,314 crores up by 9% YoY from Rs 1209 crores in Q3FY20. API business has done well for the company which is up by 21% stood at Rs 214 crores in Q3FY21 from Rs 177 crores in Q3FY20 while international formulation business up by 3% in Q3FY21 stood at Rs 683 crores. EBITDA for Q3FY21 stood at Rs 401 crores up by 21% as compared to Rs 332crores in Q3FY20. Profit before tax for the quarter up by 24% at Rs 352 crores in Q3FY21 as compared to Rs 283 crores in Q3FY20. Profit after tax for the quarter up by 25% at Rs 293 crores in Q3FY21 as compared to Rs 234 crores in Q3FY20. Company has reported a weak set of numbers as the USA market degrow by 1% due to the sartan base effect. API business has also come down from Q2FY21 as chinese players are back in the market. Reported numbers are below our expectation. We have a neutral rating on Alembic.





10:29 IST: Yash Gupta Equity Research Associate, Angel Broking said,Alembic pharmaceutical reported weak results. Alembic Pharmaceutical Ltd total revenue from operations for Q3FY21 stood at Rs 1,314 crores up by 9% YoY from Rs 1209 crores in Q3FY20. API business has done well for the company which is up by 21% stood at Rs 214 crores in Q3FY21 from Rs 177 crores in Q3FY20 while international formulation business up by 3% in Q3FY21 stood at Rs 683 crores. EBITDA for Q3FY21 stood at Rs 401 crores up by 21% as compared to Rs 332crores in Q3FY20. Profit before tax for the quarter up by 24% at Rs 352 crores in Q3FY21 as compared to Rs 283 crores in Q3FY20. Profit after tax for the quarter up by 25% at Rs 293 crores in Q3FY21 as compared to Rs 234 crores in Q3FY20. Company has reported a weak set of numbers as the USA market degrow by 1% due to the sartan base effect. API business has also come down from Q2FY21 as chinese players are back in the market. Reported numbers are below our expectation. We have a neutral rating on Alembic.





Jan 20, 2021 10:29 (IST) India's oil imports reach 3-year high in Dec 2020 at 5 million bpd India's crude oil imports in December soared to the highest levels in nearly three years to more than 5 million barrels per day (bpd) as its refiners cranked up output to meet a rebound in fuel demand, data from trade sources showed. India's year-end rush for crude supplies coincided with stronger demand from north Asian buyers during winter, boosting prices and an accelerating de-stocking of floating storage globally.



December oil imports by India, the world's third biggest crude importer and consumer, were about 29% more than the previous month and about 11.6% higher than a year earlier, the data showed, after fuel consumption rose for a fourth straight month to an 11-month high in December.



India's oil imports reach 3-year high in Dec 2020 at 5 million bpd

10:29 IST: India's crude oil imports in December soared to the highest levels in nearly three years to more than 5 million barrels per day (bpd) as its refiners cranked up output to meet a rebound in fuel demand, data from trade sources showed. India's year-end rush for crude supplies coincided with stronger demand from north Asian buyers during winter, boosting prices and an accelerating de-stocking of floating storage globally.



December oil imports by India, the world's third biggest crude importer and consumer, were about 29% more than the previous month and about 11.6% higher than a year earlier, the data showed, after fuel consumption rose for a fourth straight month to an 11-month high in December.



India's oil imports reach 3-year high in Dec 2020 at 5 million bpd

Jan 20, 2021 10:19 (IST) IPO - Indigo Paints



Angel Broking said in its note today,"Company has been gaining market share, we believe it will continue to gain market share in the upcoming years also due to the strong management team, strategies planned by the company and smaller base compared to top four players. Companys revenue from operations have grown at a CAGR of 41.9% between Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2019, compared to the range of 12.1% to 13.1% recorded by the top four paint companies in India. There is further scope left for the company to improve EBIDTA margins due to operating leverage especially in the cost of advertisement expense. Issue is priced at 98.4x PE on a trailing basis in terms of fully diluted EPS, which we believe is quite reasonable by looking at the future growth prospects of the company. We are positive on the long term prospects of the industry as well the company, we recommend "SUBSCRIBE" to the Indigo Paints IPO for long term as well as for listing gains.





10:19 IST:



Angel Broking said in its note today,"Company has been gaining market share, we believe it will continue to gain market share in the upcoming years also due to the strong management team, strategies planned by the company and smaller base compared to top four players. Companys revenue from operations have grown at a CAGR of 41.9% between Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2019, compared to the range of 12.1% to 13.1% recorded by the top four paint companies in India. There is further scope left for the company to improve EBIDTA margins due to operating leverage especially in the cost of advertisement expense. Issue is priced at 98.4x PE on a trailing basis in terms of fully diluted EPS, which we believe is quite reasonable by looking at the future growth prospects of the company. We are positive on the long term prospects of the industry as well the company, we recommend "SUBSCRIBE" to the Indigo Paints IPO for long term as well as for listing gains.





Jan 20, 2021 10:12 (IST) Home First Finance Company India (HFFCI) - IPO





Reliance Research said in its report today," The IPO is valued at 4.8x FY20 book-value and 4.3x FY21 annualized book-value, which look to be ~33% discount to Aavas Financiers (AAVAS) and ~60% premium to Can Fin Homes (CANFIN). Given, earnings CAGR of 122% over FY18-20 as against 64% / 15% by AAVAS / CANFIN during the same period along with companys ability to sustain growth momentum led by huge opportunity and robust capital ratio, premium valuation to CANFIN is justified. AAVAS, which was listed in Oct18, delivered a return of over 130% to its shareholders so far mainly supported by sustained earnings growth. In our view, likelihood of sustained earnings growth augurs well for HFFCI. Hence, we recommend SUBSCRIBE to the issue from the long-term perspective."





10:12 IST:





Reliance Research said in its report today," The IPO is valued at 4.8x FY20 book-value and 4.3x FY21 annualized book-value, which look to be ~33% discount to Aavas Financiers (AAVAS) and ~60% premium to Can Fin Homes (CANFIN). Given, earnings CAGR of 122% over FY18-20 as against 64% / 15% by AAVAS / CANFIN during the same period along with companys ability to sustain growth momentum led by huge opportunity and robust capital ratio, premium valuation to CANFIN is justified. AAVAS, which was listed in Oct18, delivered a return of over 130% to its shareholders so far mainly supported by sustained earnings growth. In our view, likelihood of sustained earnings growth augurs well for HFFCI. Hence, we recommend SUBSCRIBE to the issue from the long-term perspective."





Jan 20, 2021 09:31 (IST) Opening session: Indices trade near record highs Market indices opened on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Sensex was rising by 183 point to 49, 569 and Nifty gained by60 points to 14,581. Sensex and Nifty today touched intraday highs of 49,595 and 14,587, respectively.

09:31 IST: Market indices opened on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive global equities. Sensex was rising by 183 point to 49, 569 and Nifty gained by60 points to 14,581. Sensex and Nifty today touched intraday highs of 49,595 and 14,587, respectively.

Jan 20, 2021 09:24 (IST) Bouyed global markets US stocks climbed on Tuesday as investors reacted to Janet Yellen, President-elect Joe Biden's designated nominee for Treasury Secretary's call for the federal government to enact a large stimulus to help the economy. Further, results from the new earnings season as well as signals for another big stimulus and faster pace of vaccine distribution ahead kept sentiments bouyed.



Overseas, Asian stocks were mostly higher on Wednesday as investors in Asia-Pacific reacted to the release of China's latest benchmark lending rate, that were left unchanged.



Investors also await Biden's inauguration on Wednesday, who last week unveiled his $1.9 trillion plan for economic relief as the country tries to get a handle on the Covid-19 pandemic.





09:24 IST: US stocks climbed on Tuesday as investors reacted to Janet Yellen, President-elect Joe Biden's designated nominee for Treasury Secretary's call for the federal government to enact a large stimulus to help the economy. Further, results from the new earnings season as well as signals for another big stimulus and faster pace of vaccine distribution ahead kept sentiments bouyed.



Overseas, Asian stocks were mostly higher on Wednesday as investors in Asia-Pacific reacted to the release of China's latest benchmark lending rate, that were left unchanged.



Investors also await Biden's inauguration on Wednesday, who last week unveiled his $1.9 trillion plan for economic relief as the country tries to get a handle on the Covid-19 pandemic.





Jan 20, 2021 09:18 (IST) FII action on Tuesday Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 257.55 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net sellers to the tune of Rs 199.30 crore in the Indian equity market on 19 January, provisional data showed.







09:18 IST: Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth Rs 257.55 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net sellers to the tune of Rs 199.30 crore in the Indian equity market on 19 January, provisional data showed.







Jan 20, 2021 09:08 (IST) Earnings Today

Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, HDFC Asset Management Company, Federal Bank, Hindustan Zinc, Havells India, L&T Technology Services, Newgen Software Technologies, Phillips Carbon Black, Sagar Cements, Allsec Technologies, GMM Pfaudler, Sasken Technologies, Agro Tech Foods, Confidence Petroleum India, Dhruv Estates, Everest Industries, G G Engineering, Indo Rama Synthetics, Sterlite Technologies, Syngene International, Tejas Networks, Tinplate Company of India and VST Industries are among 36 companies that are slated to announce their quarterly earnings.





09:08 IST:

Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, HDFC Asset Management Company, Federal Bank, Hindustan Zinc, Havells India, L&T Technology Services, Newgen Software Technologies, Phillips Carbon Black, Sagar Cements, Allsec Technologies, GMM Pfaudler, Sasken Technologies, Agro Tech Foods, Confidence Petroleum India, Dhruv Estates, Everest Industries, G G Engineering, Indo Rama Synthetics, Sterlite Technologies, Syngene International, Tejas Networks, Tinplate Company of India and VST Industries are among 36 companies that are slated to announce their quarterly earnings.





Jan 20, 2021 09:08 (IST) Nifty technicals Ashis Biswas, Head of Technical at CapitalVia Global Research Limited said," Market is aligned to be in a range-bound movement between the levels of 14180-14680. Our research suggests, a decisive breakout above the zone of 14680-14700 could lead to an improvement in market breadth, and a rally till the levels of 14850-14870."



"Going ahead, 14450 and 14320 would now be seen as immediate supports, whereas 14600-14620 would be the immediate range to watch," said Ruchit Jain (Senior Analyst - Technical and Derivatives, Angel Broking.

09:08 IST: Ashis Biswas, Head of Technical at CapitalVia Global Research Limited said," Market is aligned to be in a range-bound movement between the levels of 14180-14680. Our research suggests, a decisive breakout above the zone of 14680-14700 could lead to an improvement in market breadth, and a rally till the levels of 14850-14870."



"Going ahead, 14450 and 14320 would now be seen as immediate supports, whereas 14600-14620 would be the immediate range to watch," said Ruchit Jain (Senior Analyst - Technical and Derivatives, Angel Broking.

Jan 20, 2021 09:07 (IST) Closing session on Tuesday Market benchmarks jumped on Tuesday to trade near record highs, tracking cues from positive global equities. Sensex added 834 points to 49,398 and Nifty gained 239 points to 14,521. Sensex and Nifty today touched intraday highs of 49,499 and 14,546, respectively.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : Airline major IndiGo has transported a total 5,785 kg of vaccine shipments from SII and Bharat Biotech between January 12 and 19, 2021.

The shipment contained 21.60 lakh vaccine doses.

In a statement on Wednesday, the airline said the shipments were moved from Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune to 16 locations, including Vijayawada, Guwahati, Patna, Odisha, Raipur, Bhopal, Thiruvananthapuram, Indore, Imphal, Agartala, Chandigarh and Udaipur, via 21 IndiGo flights.

"We will continue to partake in moving the vaccines from one part of the country to another. We look forward to supporting the nation in its hour of need," said Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo.
Radio presenter Kyle Sandilands' health has been a cause for concern for years, and now it seems his colleagues have a loose plan in place for his untimely death.

His co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson revealed on Thursday they would 'go off the air immediately' if Kyle were to die during a live broadcast.

She admitted on The Kyle and Jackie O Show that she 'often' thinks about what she would do in the event of the 49-year-old's sudden death.

Morbid: Radio presenter Kyle Sandilands' health has been a cause for concern for years, and now it seems his colleagues have a loose plan in place for his untimely death. Pictured in 2015

Jackie, 45, said she 'wouldn't be capable' of continuing with the broadcast, even though Kyle has made it clear he wants a gushing tribute to follow his passing.

Kyle said he wants KIIS FM to air a highlight reel of his greatest moments while Boyz II Men's One Sweet Day plays in the background.

It's unclear if this is actually the network's plan or if Kyle was just making a morbid joke. Daily Mail Australia has contacted KIIS FM for comment.

Elsewhere, the radio hosts revealed that many TV networks already have 'death reels' prepared for Kyle, including Seven, Nine and 10.

Grief: Jackie 'O' Henderson revealed on Thursday they would 'go off the air immediately' if Kyle were to die during a live broadcast. She also admitted she 'often' thinks about what she would do in the event of the 49-year-old's sudden death

Kyle had sparked fears for his welfare on Wednesday when he didn't show up for work at The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

The media titan, who has a history of health problems, offered no explanation for his absence and his colleagues couldn't contact him because his phone was turned off - something he rarely does.

Jackie, his longtime co-host, and newsreader Brooklyn Ross sounded genuinely worried about him when they opened the show at 6am.

Concerns: Kyle sparked fears for his welfare on Wednesday when he didn't show up for work

They explained he hadn't called ahead to say he wouldn't be at work and his phone was dead. Kyle's friend and manager, Bruno Bouchet, also wasn't picking up.

Jackie and Brooklyn sent a KIIS FM producer, John Nicholson, to Kyle's house in Sydney's eastern suburbs to see if he was okay.

John, who was broadcasting the welfare check live on air, arrived at the home Kyle shares with his girlfriend, Tegan Kynaston, at about 6:25am and entered using a spare key.

Kyle's dogs weren't barking and no one responded when John called out.

Worrying: The KIIS FM star, who has a history of health problems, offered no explanation for his absence and his colleagues couldn't contact him because his phone was turned off - something Kyle rarely does

For several agonising minutes, Jackie and the team feared the worst.

But at 6:29am, Kyle's voice could be heard weakly calling out from his bedroom and he confirmed he was alive and well.

'Hello,' he said, seeming surprised to find John in his house.

'Slept in, didn't I? I don't know [if my phone died]. I just woke up. I don't know what happened.'

No joke: Jackie (right), his longtime co-host, and newsreader Brooklyn Ross (centre) sounded genuinely worried about him when they opened the show at 6am

When asked if he was going to work, Kyle said he 'might as well give it a miss, we're halfway through,' even though it was only half past six.

He then agreed to come to the KIIS FM studio in North Ryde to finish the day's broadcast.

Kyle's manager later downplayed the seriousness of the incident.

'We might need to get him a new phone - that Blackberry doesn't seem to be very reliable!' Bruno told Daily Mail Australia.

Welfare check: Jackie and Brooklyn sent a producer, John Nicholson, to check on Kyle (right) at the eastern suburbs home he shares with his girlfriend, Tegan Kynaston (left)

When Kyle eventually arrived at work in his Bentley shortly before 7am, he was met with cheers by a group of producers.

The staff looked visibly emotional and on the verge of tears in an Instagram Live video as Kyle reassured them: 'You thought I was dead? I'm not dead!'

Despite laughing off the situation, it seems many at KIIS FM genuinely feared the radio presenter had died in his sleep.

Relief: When Kyle eventually arrived at work in his Bentley shortly before 7am, he was met with cheers by a group of producers. The staff looked visibly emotional and on the verge of tears as Kyle reassured them: 'You thought I was dead? I'm not dead!'

Kyle, who lived rough on the streets as a teenager before becoming a multi-millionaire media titan, spent decades mistreating his body and makes no secret of his various health problems.

He revealed in an October 2019 interview that he was starting to take better care of himself on doctors' orders, and had stopped drinking excessively and taking drugs.

'Now, if I did one line, I'd be dead in five seconds,' he said at the time.

'I was like a teenage boy my entire life, and that caught up with me... so that had to get sorted out.'

Kyle had used cocaine and marijuana 'on and off' over the years, before deciding to completely cut them out of his life.

'I've still got high blood pressure and I'm still on medication like a mess,' he added.

In May last year, Kyle weighed himself on air and revealed he was 146kg - sixteen kilograms heavier than the last time he'd weighed himself.

Health woes: Kyle, who lived rough on the streets as a teenager before becoming a multi-millionaire media titan, spent decades mistreating his body and makes no secret of his various health problems. Pictured with Henderson on July 23, 2009, in Sydney

'Yep, I've gone up a bit!' he said at the time. 'I've gone from 130kg to 146kg... I haven't done a s**t yet, mind you.'

Back in 2017, Kyle was warned by a psychic that he was 'going to die of a heart attack' the following year.

While the psychic didn't specify that his death would be weight related, she did warn him to get a calcium score test done on his heart.

A calcium score test measures the calcium in your arteries to determine the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

In 2014, obesity specialist Dr Edward Jackowski warned that Kyle would die young because of his weight and lifestyle.

The Kyle and Jackie O Show has dominated the airwaves in Sydney for two decades.

Kyle is widely regarded as one of Australia's most prolific and talented broadcasters and is considered his country's answer to Howard Stern.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 17:31:01|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A fugitive graft suspect, Huang Yide, has returned to China to surrender himself to the authorities, China's top anti-graft authority announced Wednesday.

Huang, former board chairman of two companies in central China's Hunan Province, was suspected of embezzling state assets together with a leading official of a state-owned enterprise (SOE) and fled overseas in February 2019, according to a statement from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China and the National Supervisory Commission.

The anti-graft agency of Zhuzhou, Hunan, started an investigation into Huang's case in March 2019.

The statement said all of Huang's illicit gains have now been frozen in accordance with the law.

His return is a major achievement for China's strengthened anti-corruption efforts targeting its SOEs and for the country's fugitive repatriation work, said an official with the office in charge of fugitive repatriation and asset recovery under China's central anti-corruption coordination group, pledging intensified work in this regard. Enditem


JOE BIDEN'S 15 DAY ONE EXECUTIVE ORDERS 1. Mask mandate requiring face coverings in federal buildings and land 2. Halt border wall construction by terminating the national emergency declaration used to fund it 3. End the 'Muslim travel ban' from seven countries 4. Reversal of Trump's expansion of immigration enforcement 5. Stop the U.S. from withdrawing from the World Health Organization 6. Rejoin the Paris Climate Accord to reduce fossil fuel emissions 7. Reinstate a requirement for non-citizens to be included in the Census 8. Reinforce DACA after Trump sought to end protections for undocumented people brought into the country as children 9. Dissolve the Trump administration's 1776 Commission on history curriculum in schools 10. Cancel construction of the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline 11. Extend the existing pause on federal student loan payments 12. Extend existing moratorium on evictions and foreclosures 13. Prevent workplaces from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity 14. Undo Trump's regulatory approval process 15. Extend deferrals of deportation and work authorizations for Liberians with a safe haven in the United States Advertisement

Joe Biden vowed just minutes after he was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States that he will spend his first day in office undoing much of Donald Trump's legacy through executive actions.

'There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face,' Biden sent in his first tweet as president. 'That's why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.'

After laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a tradition for just sworn-in presidents, Biden plans to take his place in the Oval Office and immediately sign 15 executive orders reversing what Trump implemented through his own orders issued over the last four years.

Among the priorities on Day One, Biden plans to sign orders stopping border wall construction, end the 'Muslim ban', implement a mask mandate in all federal buildings and reenter the Paris Climate Accord and World Health Organization.

Biden will immediately put an end to the national emergency declaration at the U.S.-Mexico border, which allowed Trump to divert billions from the Defense Department to construction of the southern border wall.

In a promise to stop the spread of coronavirus, the mask mandate will require face coverings and social distancing in all federal buildings, lands and and by all federal employees while they are working.

Indicative of his commitment to mask wearing, all attendees at the inauguration wore masks the whole time other than when they were speaking.

Biden's team also announced as part of the executive orders spree Wednesday, the incoming president plans to dissolve Trump's 1776 Commission.

Just two days before the presidential election, Trump established the commission by executive order, claiming the goal of the 18-member group is to write a report on the 'core principles of the American founding.'

Trump announced he was establishing the commission following a slew of Black Lives Matter demonstrations  and he blamed the school system, claiming 'the left-wing rioting and mayhem are the direct result of decades of left-wing indoctrination in our schools.'

Essentially the commission was created in a rebuttal to schools implementing history curriculum implying systematic racism in American institutions.

Newly sworn-in President Joe Biden vowed minutes after he was inaugurated Wednesday that he wouldn't waste any time in getting to work for the American people

In his first tweet as president, Biden said: 'There's not time to waste'

Biden's first act as president on Wednesday will be signing at least 15 executive orders essentially undoing much of Donald Trump's legacy  like stopping construction of the border wall and ending the 'Muslim ban'

Immediately after the ceremony, Biden signed three documents from the President's Room at the Capitol  including the inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations

Biden took his oath of office just before noon on Wednesday on the steps of the Capitol.

The ceremony did not include much of the pomp and circumstance of past inaugurations as Trump fled Washington at 8:00 a.m. and refused to greet the incoming president.

Instead of the usual massive crowd at inaugurations, Biden's swearing in was observed by a much smaller group of lawmakers, former presidents and Washington insiders.

In the midst of the pandemic and emerging safety threats after the storming of the Capitol earlier this month by a mob of pro-Trump protesters, the National Mall was filled with flags rather than people.

After becoming president, Biden immediately began working on signing at least 15 executive orders he promised would take priority from the moment he entered the White House.

Trump did not attend inauguration, instead at the time of the ceremony landing in Palm Beach, Florida on Air Fore One as his term officially ended

One order Biden is issuing Wednesday is a mask mandate and social distancing requirements in all federal buildings and lands and for all federal employees

Biden will also sign an order stopping construction of the famed southern border wall  one of Trump's biggest campaign promises to stop the flow of illegal immigration by way of Mexico

IMMIGRATION

END THE 'MUSLIM BAN'

'A priority for Biden is nixing the ban on those traveling to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries  one of Trump's first orders as president, which was dubbed the 'Muslim travel ban.'

While Biden plans to reverse the order, his administration vows to improve screening of visitors by strengthening information sharing with foreign governments.

HALT THE WALL

During Trump's presidency, more than 400 miles of border wall have been built, whether that be new portions of the wall or improvements to existing fencing.

Biden will immediately halt ongoing construction of the wall, but will need to review active contracts and how that money could potentially be redirected.

So far, $15 billion in taxpayer dollars have been allocated for more than 700 miles of border wall. It is still unclear how many miles are under contract and what penalties the government would have to pay if they were canceled now.

DACA IS BACK

His orders also seek to fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, a signature effort during the Obama administration that provided hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants protection from deportation and a pathway to citizenship.

CORONAVIRUS

MASK MANDATE

Biden's team has repeatedly promised to take the coronavirus pandemic more seriously and implement more strict public health measures they claim will stop the spread of the disease.

Biden is mandating mask wearing and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors. He is also challenging Americans to wear a face covering for the first 100 days of his administration.

VACCINE MOVES

He also shared in unveiling his coronavirus team that his goal is to distribute and administer 100 million shots in his first 100 days as president.

EVICTIONS, FORECLOSURES STAYED AND STUDENT LOAN PAUSE

On Day One, Biden also plans to extend a moratorium on foreclosures and extend the pause on federal student loan payments, both initiatives started by Trump and extended a few times already in the midst of the pandemic.

One of Trump's first orders of business when he took office in 2017 was signing an executive order banning all travel from seven Muslim-majority countries (pictured). Biden plans to reverse that action

BACK INTO WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

During Trump presidency, he withdrew from several foreign organizations and pacts, which Biden plans to reenter  including the World Health Organization.

The president withdrew from the World Health Organization in 2020 after accusing it of incompetence in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. He also claimed it caved to Chinese pressure over COVID-19 and lamented the U.S. helped fund the group too much.

Biden's incoming White House coronavirus coordinate Jeff Zients announced top infectious disease experts at National Institute of Health, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will deliver a speech Thursday to the WHO.

In the speech as the new head of the U.S. delegation to WHO, Fauci, who often sparred with Trump over the last year, will lay out how Biden's administration plans to work with the group on reforms.

CLIMATE

BACK INTO PARIS ACCORD

Trump also withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord, lamenting it wasn't fair that the U.S. was funding much of the program aimed at cutting global fossil fuel emissions while other countries, like China, contribute much more to these emissions.

Biden will sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate accord, fulfilling a campaign pledge to get back into the global climate pact on Day One.

It will take 30 days for the U.S. to officially be back in.

Biden also will reenter the U.S. in the Paris Climate Accord, an organization focused on reducing fossil fuel emissions, and he will revoke a presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline

CANCEL KEYSTONE XL

In an effort to roll back more of Trump's climate-related orders, Biden will also revoke a presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline.

BAN ON ARCTIC DRILLING IS BACK AND EMISSIONS STANDARDS ARE REVIEWED

He also plans to implement a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and review Trump's freeze on vehicle and emission standards.

NATIONAL MONUMENTS ROLLBACK FROZEN

The incoming president also wants to set in motion an evaluation of Trump's cut in protections for some national monuments.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON ALL DECISIONS

Federal agencies under Biden's presidency will also be issued a new requirement to consider the impact that fossil field emissions have on climate change and how that will affect disadvantaged communities and future generations.

GOVERNMENT

ETHICS

A pointed order will compel federal employees to take an ethics pledge that commits them to upholding the independence of the Justice Department.

CENSUS: EVERYONE WILL BE COUNTED

He will revoke a Trump order that sought to exclude illegal immigrants  and other non-citizens who are usually included  from the census.

RACE AND ENVIRONMENT MARCHING ORDERS

Biden will order a review of all Trump regulations and executive actions that are deemed damaging to the environment or public health.

He will order federal agencies to prioritize racial equity and review policies that reinforce systemic racism.
CARACAS, Venezuela  With the clock winding down on his term, U.S. President Donald Trump shielded tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants from deportation Tuesday night, rewarding Venezuelan exiles who have been among his most loyal supporters and who fear losing the same privileged access to the White House during the Biden administration.

Trump signed an executive order deferring for 18 months the removal of more than 145,000 Venezuelans who were at risk of being sent back to their crisis-wracked homeland. He cited the deteriorative condition within Venezuela that constitutes a national security threat as the basis for his decision.

America remains a beacon of hope and freedom for many, and now eligible Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. will receive much-needed temporary immigration relief, Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican of Florida, said in a statement praising the decision.

The last-minute reprieve  in sharp contrast to Trumps hardline immigration policies the past four years  capped a busy final day in office that also saw Trump issue a sweeping new round of financial sanctions targeting the alleged front man of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and tighten controls to keep spying technology out of the hands of the Venezuelan military.

But ahead of Joe Bidens inauguration Wednesday, far greater attention was focused on the president-elects choice to be secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing in Washington showed continued support for Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Blinken, in his first comments on Venezuela, said he would continue recognizing Guaido as Venezuelas interim president and indicated he has no illusions of an eventual dialogue with Maduro, who he called a brutal dictator.

Still, the veteran diplomat expressed frustration with the results of current U.S. approach, which hasnt shaken Maduros grip on power or led to free and fair elections. He said there is room for fine tuning sanctions and better coordination with allied nations to restore democracy to the crisis-stricken South American nation.

The hard part is that for all these efforts, which I support, we obviously have not gotten the results that we need, Blinken said.

The Trump administration was the first of now more than 50 countries in the world to recognize Guaido as Venezuelas president shortly after the young lawmaker rose up to challenge Maduros rule two years ago. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo spoke Monday by phone with Guaido, expressing his personal respect and appreciation to the opposition leader for his commitment to the cause of freedom, the State Department said in a statement.

Venezuela, a once wealthy oil-producing nation, has fallen into economic and political crisis in recent years that has seen a flood of more than 5 million residents flee a breakdown in public services and shortages including a lack of running water, electricity and gasoline.

Most have migrated to other parts of Latin America. But an estimated 350,000 are believed to reside in the U.S., and about 146,000 of them have no legal status, according to the Center for Migration Studies in New York.

More than 700 Venezuelans have been removed from the U.S. since 2018, while 11,000 more are under deportation proceedings, according to the TRAC immigration database of Syracuse University.

For years, Venezuelans, with bipartisan support, have been clamoring for so-called temporary protected status to no effect as Trump has tried to end the program for migrants from six other countries, including Haiti, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

Trumps order provides similar protections, including protection from deportation and the right to work, but was still met by resistance by some Democrats who want Biden to introduce legislation providing additional safeguards.

Our community will not be fooled and used for political games anymore, said Leopoldo Martinez, the first Venezuela-born member of the Democratic National Committee.

In the latest round of sanctions trying to pressure Maduro out, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on three individuals, 14 businesses and six ships. All are accused of helping the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA evade earlier U.S. sanctions designed to stop the president from profiting from crude sales.

The sanctions target people and businesses linked to Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman who U.S. officials say is the front man for Maduro responsible for everything from the importation of food to the export of the nations crude. Saab was arrested on a U.S. warrant last year in the African nation of Cape Verde on what Maduro says was an official mission to Iran to purchase supplies. He is now fighting extradition to Miami, where he faces corruption charges.

Maduros government blasted the sanctions as another act of imperialist aggression aimed at destroying Venezuelas ability to meet its own needs through oil sales after four years of attacks from the Trump administration.

The U.S. Department of Commerce also announced measures Tuesday to block U.S. technology from being used by military intelligence in nations including China, Cuba, Russia and Venezuela.

Such stiff measures have become an almost routine feature of the outgoing administrations hardline approach to Venezuela, which has proven popular with exile Latino voters in Florida.

___

Scott Smith and Joshua Goodman of The Associated Press wrote this story. AP writer Scott Smith reported this story in Caracas and AP writer Joshua Goodman reported from Miami. AP writers Adriana Gomez Licon and Gisela Salomon in Miami contributed to this report.
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In the weeks before and since Donald Trumps January 6 fascist coup attempt in Washington, neo-Nazi circles were trafficking large quantities of weapons in Europe. Stockpiles of weapons seized by police give an idea of the intense paramilitary activity of extreme right-wing forces across the continent. Some are tied directly to senior officials sitting in office.

On Wednesday, January 13, the Paris Banditry Repression Brigade of the police made one of the largest ever national weapons seizures in France. The case involved serving and retired military personnel. They are believed to have supplied weapons to fascist or neo-Nazi groups. A stockpile described as out of the ordinary, containing pistols, revolvers, assault rifles, automatic pistols, ammunition and gunpowder, was seized in the search. The investigation is still underway, but sources close to the case have referred to over a ton of material.

According to Le Figaro, ballistic investigations will be used to determine whether the weapons were used in a settling of scores tied to drug deals. The newspaper added: The network is suspected of having supplied arms to drug traffickers but also to ultra-right-wing sympathizers, sources close to the case have indicated.

(Photo: St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office/Wikipedia)

The judicial police of Paris have arrested 10 people in the Ile-de-France region surrounding the city and in the east and south of France, including two soldiers, one currently employed by the Ministry of Defense, and the other currently stationed at a base in eastern France. There was also a weapons enthusiast sympathizing with the extreme right and another person on state watchlists because of his fascist ties. Also arrested were three retired soldiers, who had gone to work in the private sector, including a high-ranking officer and a former security official.

However, seizures of non-standard weapons of this kind, involving neo-Nazi circles, are expanding throughout Europe.

In mid-December, 100,000 cartridges, 100 firearms, explosives including hand grenades, drugs and cash, and objects of the Wehrmacht (the army of the Nazi regime) were seized in Austria. The stockpile was intended to set up an extreme right-wing network in Germany, Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said at a press conference in Vienna.

In Spain on December 29, Malagas Civil Guard, acting as part of Operation Nongreta, dismantled an international network involved in arms trafficking. A total of 160 firearms were seized, 121 of which were short weapons, along with 22 assault rifles and 8 machine guns. Nearly 10,000 cartridges were also found for different calibers, eight silencers, 273 magazines, and one and a half kilos of military explosives.

Two of those arrested were of German origin, known for their links to neo-Nazi movements; the other was British.

The fact that an employee of the French Ministry of Defense was involved in the trafficking operation only underscores the close links between neo-Nazi armed networks and the armies or paramilitary forces of the European states.

In Germany, according to a Bundeswehr report published in August 2020, at least 60,000 cartridges have gone missing since 2010. The Ministry of Defense reported that the location of 48,000 cartridges and 62 kilograms of explosives belonging to the German special forces KSK is unknown. This unit is known for its links with extreme right-wing networks, which have penetrated it to recruit members to a network led by an ex-KSK member named Andre S, who has prepared lists of political figures to be assassinated inside Germany.

When asked about this, Tobias Lindner, the Green spokesman for Security Policy in the Bundestag, was forced to admit, As such, there should be no loss of ammunition if everyone in the Bundeswehr respected the existing regulations. We are probably dealing with a mixture of negligence and sometimes criminal activity.

Le Monde wondered lamely about the purposes for which the weapons seized in France could have been intended. The facts have yet to be determined by the police investigation underway, but for some of those questioned, the question arises as to whether these weapons could have been used to supply, in some time frame yet to be established, a plan for violent action.

It is not credible to assert that the out of the ordinary seizures of neo-Nazi weapons stockpiles in Europe, a few weeks before the first fascist coup attempt in American history, are a coincidence. Across Europe, fascist networks with connections at the top of the state apparatus are developing and consolidating stockpiles of weapons. It must be assumed that while some of these weapons have been seized by the police; others are not. These can be used for assassinations or political provocations of all kinds.

In the face of the crisis of world capitalism, the capitalist state apparatus feels itself increasingly besieged by popular opposition to its policy of herd immunity and austerity. Sections of the state are beginning to arm fascist gangs violently hostile to the working class. The out of the ordinary quantities of weapons available to the far right make clear that an event akin to Trumps attempted coup could take place in Europe.

Trumps failed attempt involved sections of the military, police, the Republican Party and the presidential office, who wanted to prevent the counting of votes and acceptance of Bidens victory on Capitol Hill. The neo-Nazi rioters were found armed, some of them with hand ties to take hostages among the deputies. The attempted putsch was enthusiastically welcomed by European fascist circles, such as the Spanish fascist party Vox and its supporters among Spanish army officers.

In France, after Macron hailed the fascist dictator Petain as a great soldier at the start of the yellow vests movement in 2017, former General Pierre de Villiers has been agitating for military rule. In Spain, retired and serving officers have written to the king asking him to support them against the Socialist Party-Podemos government. They call for the murder of 26 million people, the number of left-wing voters in Spain, according to them.

In Germany, neo-Nazi networks have drawn up lists of politicians to be executed by death squads. In 2019, conservative politician Walter Lubcke was murdered by a neo-Nazi fanatic following death threats against him by far-right networks due to his actions supporting migrants. The accomplices of the murderer, Stephan Ernst, were released.

In the United States, an extreme right-wing network linked to the Trump administration planned to kidnap several governors and execute them. The FBI also prepared notes that armed groups could carry out acts in 50 American states during Bidens inauguration today.

Like the coup attempt in Washington, events in Europe are a warning that capitalist democracy is rotting on its feet. The only way to defend democratic rights and to put an end to the policies of austerity and herd immunity is to build a strong international movement in the working class for socialism, and against capitalism, nationalism and fascism.
Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Wednesday that herd immunity against COVID-19 in the country could be reached as early as the first half of this year, the RIA news agency cited him as saying.

"We expect collective immunity against coronavirus could be created in the first half of this year," he was cited as saying.

Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Anna Popova emphasized the need to carry out a vaccination campaign in a way to make sure that herd immunity formed before the fall season. According to her, 60% of the countrys population needs to be vaccinated this year.

Meanwhile, Russia confirmed 21,152 COVID-19 cases in the past day, a new low since November 18, the anti-coronavirus crisis centre told reporters on Wednesday.

The total case tally hit 3,633,952. The average growth rate reached 0.6%.

On Monday, a mass coronavirus vaccination campaign began in Russia. Russians willing to be vaccinated can choose between two vaccines, Sputnik V and EpiVacCorona, according to Russian news agency TASS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 13 handed down instructions to move from large-scale vaccination of at-risk groups to mass vaccination. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said that about 2.1 mln coronavirus vaccine doses would be released for civil distribution before the end of January.

Two coronavirus vaccines have been registered in Russia so far. The Sputnik V vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology and EpiVacCorona was created by the Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector. A vaccine made by the Russian Academy of Sciences Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products is going through clinical trials.

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I Flew to War on Pan Am: a gripping and stirring collection of prose poems inspired by one mans experiences of war. I Flew to War on Pan Am is the creation of published author, Stephen Langston, a Vietnam War veteran and a five-time winner of the Editors Choice Awards from The National Library of Poetry.

Langston writes: I came back alive when so many did not. My life forever changed. Not the same man that went to war. My own mother said, What happened to my son? War took a nice boy and turned him into a ghost of who he was and a lost soul forever because politicians care not for anyone but themselves.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Stephen Langstons new book is an exceedingly well-written and profound compendium of verbal sketches recounting one mans experiences of war.

Unlike other books in the genre, Langstons conveys the psychological and emotional horror and trauma of war with startling psychological and emotional immediacy, depicting the experience of conflict in a manner that is both entirely original and jaw-droppingly intimate and tangible.

View a synopsis of I Flew to War on Pan Am on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase I Flew to War on Pan Am at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about I Flew to War on Pan Am, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
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.

In 2020, SeABank completed increasing charter capital from USD406 million to nearly USD 523.9 million, becoming one of the 13 largest commercial joint stock banks in Vietnam and approved to list more than 1.2 billion shares with the stock ticker SSB on HOSE in the first quarter of 2021.

SeABank has also been the 5th bank in Vietnam to complete all 3 pillars of Basel II before deadline and maintained B1 credit rating by Moody's in 2020. This advance allows SeABank to be ahead of the market, thereby meeting the highest international standards and operating the Bank proactively, transparently, and sustainably.

With digital convergence strategy, in 2020 SeABank launched SeAMobile - Smart finance App- offering a unified experience on all electronic devices. SeAMobile is also the only App in the market that features personal finance management with artificial intelligence to help customers automatically manage and forecast personal finances. SeABank has focused on digital and seen great results in online transaction volume, percentage of online users and number of products offered online which lead to a total transformation of the customer journey.

Along with business activities, SeABank has contributed more than USD737,000 for COVID-19 prevention, flood recovery, scholarship packages for disadvantaged children and giving houses to the war victims.

With contributions to the socio-economic development and the community, in 2020, SeABank has been highly recognized by prestigious organizations with 22 domestic awards and 12 national awards, typically: Emulation flag of the Government recognized "Excellent unit in emulation movement in 2019", Vietnam National Brand 2020, Top 50/500 largest private enterprises in Vietnam, Top 30 Best Tech Companies in Asia 2020.

SOURCE SeABank
The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Florida has become America's new 'super-COVID' hotspot, leading the country in known cases.

At least 46 cases of the highly contagious variant first identified in the UK have been found in the Sunshine State, more than double the initial figure of 22.

This occurred just 20 days after the first case was identified on New Year's Eve.

The new strain, B 1.1.7., is feared to be up to 70 percent more transmissible and to spread more easily among children.

It comes on the same day that 13 cases were identified by a North Carolina laboratory, which has not reported any cases of the variant today.

This means nearly 150 Americans have been infected with the strain since the first case was identified late last year.

Recently, researchers from the University of Arizona say it may have been in the U.S. six weeks a little earlier than expected.

The team says the variant may have been behind a cluster of cases in California that were traced back to November 6 and another that occurred in Florida on November 23.

Additionally, a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that 60 counties around the globe are now reporting cases of the variant.

At least 146 Americans in 21 states have been infected with the highly contagious coronavirus variant first detected in the UK

A new WHO report found that B 1.1.7. has been detected in 60 countries (yellow and stripes), 10 more nations than it was seven days ago

There are currently 146 cases in 21 U.S. states, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of federal and state data.

This includes at least 46 cases in Florida; 40 in California; 13 in North Carolina; six in Colorado; five in Minnesota; four each in Indiana and New York; two each in Connecticut, Maryland, and Texas; and one each in Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The North Carolina cases are the most recent ones identified by MAKO Medical Laboratories, which has two location in Henderson and the third in Raleigh.

'Our findings show that the mutation has begun to work its way throughout the United States,' said Steve Hoover, Vice President of Laboratory Operations at MAKO Medical, in statement.

'We are in constant communication with public health leaders to keep them informed and updated.'

Florida, however, leads the nation in cases at 46.

Dr Marco Salemi, a University of Florida professor and molecular biologist, told the Miami Herald is calling on the state and federal government to expand surveillance of the new variant.

'We know it's in Florida,' he said.

'What percent [of cases] is impossible to say. The genomes we have were likely collected before or at the very beginning of the introduction of [the variant] to Florida.'

The Florida Department of Health has only sequenced about 3,000 samples so far.

Last week, the CDC published a report predicting the new variant will become the predominant strain by March 2021.

This led President Joe Biden to call for more funding towards efforts to genetically sequence the virus at the federal level.

Meanwhile, in its weekly update released on Tuesday, the WHO announced said B 1.1.7. is now in 10 more countries than it was seven days ago.

Counties outside of the UK to report cases of the variant include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the U.S.

The WHO report also mentioned close cousins of the variant that were first identified in South Africa and Brazil.

The South African variant has now been identified in 23 countries, three more nations than 10 days ago.

The strain first emerged in southeast England in October in the county of Kent and has quickly become the dominant strain in Britain.

It led to a massive spike in infections with one in 30 Londoners infected with it a and plunging the country into a third lockdown.

In a recent statement, Dr Ashish K Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said urgent aggressive action is needed to limit the spread of new strains as several healthcare systems experience a severe shortage of beds and resources.

'This new, more infectious variant will change the underlying dynamics of the pandemic, with exponential growth in infections making the virus vastly harder to contain and overburdening our stressed healthcare system.

'The U.S. healthcare system is already staggering under the burden of the pandemic caused by the current (old) strain,' he wrote.

But, perhaps most importantly, Jha says nationwide vaccination efforts need to be ramped up

Gigi Gronvall, an immunologist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, concurred.

'I don't believe anyone thinks that this variant is the reason why we've had such terrible numbers in the U.S., but this is not a good indicator when you look at if things could potentially be even worse,' she told the Miami Herald.

'So we've got to get vaccines into arms as expeditiously as possible.
A number of supporters of anti-Covid restriction campaigners Gemma ODoherty and John Waters protested outside the Four Courts today over not being permitted to attend an appeal hearing.

Their supporters gathered outside as numbers attending the proceedings has been limited due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

Ms O'Doherty and Mr Waters have begun their appeal against the High Court's dismissal of their legal challenge against laws introduced by the State due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms ODoherty said she hoped the Court of Appeal would respect the science in relation to an "alleged pandemic" and an "alleged virus".

Measures taken by the State to deal with it were not based on science but on conjecture they claim, adding that public health laws brought in by the State were unconstitutional and flawed.

The High Court dismissed their case earlier this year, as it found they had not put forward facts or expert opinion to support their case.

In his judgment last May refusing leave for judicial review, Mr Justice Charles Meenan said their claims were not arguable and they had not provided any expert evidence or facts to support their view the laws were disproportionate or unconstitutional.

The appeal, which is opposed by the State, is also against the awarding of costs of the hearing against them. It is being heard by the President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham, Ms Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Caroline Costello.

Ms O'Doherty claimed State parties had embarked on a completely new path never tested before in medical and scientific history by locking down the 99% of the population who are healthy.

This was to deal with the "common cold" which, she claimed, is what Covid-19 is.

Ms O'Doherty also claimed that lockdowns, masks, social distancing, contact tracing or PCR testing were measures that were based on nothing more than conjecture.

Accusing the Government of "making up law on the hoof", John Waters compared Ireland's response to the World War II emergency to the current situation.

Court of Appeal President, Mr Justice George Birmingham, suggested he might be better advised to concentrate on the current situation and "leave the past to the past".

In his findings last May Mr Justice Meenan said the manner in which the Houses of the Oireachtas dealt with the laws, introduced by a caretaker government and voted on by an incoming Dail and outgoing Seanad, was not something a court could interfere with.

The hearing of the appeal continues.
Spurred on by Jeff Gural, owner of the Meadowlands, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, and facilitated by the United States Trotting Association, a group of key stakeholders representing various parts of the industry and holding diverse viewpoints will meet in the coming weeks to examine the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act and harness racings potential role within it.

The HISA passed Congress last month as part of an omnibus spending bill that was signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.

The Act authorizes the creation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which will oversee anti-doping/medication control and racetrack safety programs for Thoroughbred racing. An opt-in provision allows other breeds to be included. HISA has been controversial within harness racing, with support coming from the Gural-owned tracks and the Hambletonian Society, and opposition put forth by the USTA and numerous horsemens organizations. The committee aims to bring these competing interests to the table in an effort to find common ground and to help clarify harness racings needs as they apply to the federal legislation.

I think the two things we all agree on is that the current system is not working and the federal legislation needs to be modified for it to work with Standardbreds, said Gural. I look forward to working with the committee and hope to pass any amendments that our industry can support.

USTA President Russell Williams expressed his support.

Jeff is presenting this as the opportunity to including everything that harness racing needs in the new statute, Williams said. I hope to be able to report just such a package to the USTA Board of Directors for approval when the work of this committee is done.

The group is comprised of:

John Campbell  president, Hambletonian Society

Andrew Cohen  senior editor, The Marshall Project, harness racing writer and owner

Stephen Dey, DVM  Heritage Hill Farm

Joe Faraldo  chairman of the board, USTA; president, Standardbred Owners Association of New York

Renee Mancino  executive director, Ohio Harness Horsemens Association

Paul Nolan, DVM  retired regulatory veterinarian for the State of New Jersey.

Andy Roberts, DVM  USTA director

Jason Settlemoir  COO and GM, New Meadowlands Racetrack; VP of racing, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs

David Siegel  past president, TrackMaster; USTA director

Mike Tanner  EVP and CEO, USTA

The as-of-yet unnamed committee is expected to convene virtually for the first time within the next two weeks.

(USTA)
"I will be in the news one day for going off. I will be like a time bomb that is going to explode ... [I'm] a very sadistic person so much that it scares me and will probably put me in jail one day."

Those were the words of Brock Wall, 10 days before he bludgeoned his pregnant girlfriend Fabiana Palhares, 34, to death with an axe and stomped on her stomach.

Fabiana Palhares was 34 when she was murdered in her Gold Coast home.

Wall is serving a life sentence for the murder of Ms Palhares, who was 10 weeks pregnant, in her Varsity Lakes home on the Gold Coast on February 2, 2015. He pleaded guilty in July 2018.

At 1.53pm on February 2, 2015, Ms Palhares called triple zero. She didnt have time to identify herself but said: "please help me".
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.
Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth is set to reprise his role in the latest instalment of the Thor franchise.

And on Wednesday, the 37-year-old opted for a casual cool look as she jetted from his home in Byron Bay to Sydney.

The hulking actor looked jovial as he disembarked a private jet at an airport in Sydney surrounded by tarmac officials.

Action: Chris Hemsworth, 37, (pictured) covered his famously muscular physique in a white T-shirt and shorts as he jetted into Sydney to start filming Thor: Love and Thunder on Wednesday

Chris looked large and in charge as he spoke to the two men while flagged by his longtime personal trainer, Luke Zocchi.

The Marvel star covered his famously bulky physique by wearing just a casual white t-shirt and a pair of black shorts.

Chris finished his look by wearing a cap, sunglasses and a pair of black sneakers.

Ready to roll! Chris looked large and in charge as he spoke to the two men while flagged by his personal trainer, Luke Zocchi (R)

Shooting will soon begin with Hollywood A-listers Natalie Portman, Matt Damon and Chris Pratt all currently in Australia.

Earlier this month, Chris gave his fans a sneak peek at his bulging frame ahead of filming.

The actor flaunted his rock hard muscular arm while enjoying a beach date with his Fast and Furious actress wife, Elsa Pataky.

Casual cool: The Marvel star covered his famously bulky physique by wearing just a casual white t-shirt and a pair of black shorts

Chris happily posed in the rock pool before writing he was 'unaware' a camera was even on him.

'Just one of those truly rare natural moments caught on film where I was completely unaware there was even a camera on me,' Chris joked in the caption.

In April, Chris Thor: Love and Thunder, telling the Philadelphia Inquirer it was one of the 'best scripts' he has read in years.

He's the boss! Chris was followed by his personal trainer Luke. The two men were also flagged by two tarmac officials at the airport

'It's one of the best scripts I've read in years,' he said.

'It's Taika at his most extreme, and at his best. If the version I read is the one we get running with, it's going to be pretty insane.'

In the forthcoming instalment, Natalie Portman will play the hammer-wielding female version of Thor.
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The Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Ossabaw Island Foundation offer their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Eleanor Sandy Torrey West who died on January 17, 2021 at the age of 108. Both the Georgia DNR and the Ossabaw Island Foundation have worked closely with Ms. West over the past several decades.Ms. West served as the matriarch of Ossabaw Island, which is made up of 26,000 unspoiled acres of forest, wetlands and beaches on the Georgia coast in Chatham County.Ms. Wests parents purchased the island in 1924 and in 1978, Ms. West and her family sold Ossabaw Island to the state of Georgia. At that time, an executive order established Ossabaw as Georgias first heritage preserve, which decrees that the island may only be used for natural, scientific and cultural study, research and education, and environmentally sound preservation, conservation and management of the islands ecosystem.Since the purchase of Ossabaw Island by the state of Georgia, the DNR and the Ossabaw Island Foundation have worked to assure that the island is used in accordance with the Heritage Preserve, while striving to maintain Ossabaws valuable ecosystem, its indigenous wildlife, and its cultural and historic resources. Ms. West retained exclusive lifetime use and management of the home that her parents built on Ossabaw in 1924-26, as well as the 23 acres surrounding the Torrey West House. At her death, this 23-acre parcel immediately became part of the Ossabaw Island Heritage Preserve, as mandated by the 1978 sale agreement, and is now under the management of the DNR and the Ossabaw Island Foundation.Officials said, "Both the Georgia DNR and the Ossabaw Island Foundation will continue to work together to honor the legacy left to our state by Ms. West and her family, as we care for and share the island that so many Georgians have enjoyed visiting over the years. Please do not hesitate to reach out to either of the respective offices with any questions about the future of Ossabaw Island. Again, our thoughts are with those close to Ms. West and all who were touched by her spirit, her vision for Georgias coast and for Ossabaw Island. The Ossabaw Island Foundation will direct any donations in honor and memory of Sandy to the Torrey-West Fund to be used for the renovation of her house."For more information, visit www.GADNR.org.
What comes after get modern and get digital? The answer, according to Richard Kay, chief digital officer at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), is get insightful. The organisation is embarking on the third phase of its IT transformation programme by rolling out a comprehensive data and analytics programme in the coming months.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Richard Kay, chief digital officer, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

This comes after a complete overhaul of NZTEs IT capability, which began with changing the IT environment, before deploying new digital channels. As a consequence of that first success in the get modern phase and shifting into the get digital phase, the make-up of my IT team shifted from 90% traditional internal IT people who look after servers, backups, all that sort of stuff to almost 90% customer-facing digital channels now. Its been a radical transformation in that respect, Kay says.

How being digitally enabled helps NZ exporters succeed

NZTEs purpose is to help New Zealand exporters be successful, and it does this primarily by connecting companies with people and organisations that can assist them anywhere in the world. The new digital platforms, which includes customised portals for individual exporters (NZTEs customers), make a range of useful data available on demand.
It was a secret well-kept by a select few, including Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and President Joe Biden.

On the night of Sept. 12, 2019, Biden and nine other presidential hopefuls wrapped up a Democrat primary debate at Houston's Texas Southern University. It was one of several debates before Biden became the eventual Democrat nominee and president.

REACTIONS: Houstonians react to Biden, Harris inauguration

As the candidates were escorted from debate hall, police officers were pursuing men who had allegedly threatened a priest in an armed robbery about a mile away.

Officer Taylor Roccaforte was attempting to arrest one of the men when they began to struggle, police said then. The man grabbed Roccaforte's gun and shot the officer in the gut.

A backup officer then shot the armed man dead.

Roccaforte was rushed to the hospital and survived his injuries. There were charges for the other men who were arrested.

For most reporters covering the story (including me), that was the end.

But after Biden was inaugurated as president Wednesday, Acevedo shared a detail of the story that no one had reported before.

Days after the shooting, Biden called Acevedo and asked to meet Roccaforte in the hospital.

If you think it would be helpful to his spirit and recovery, I would like to visit him at the hospital," Biden said, Acevedo recalled. "No media, I am simply want to lift his spirits.

After some logistic puzzle solving, the two met inside Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Corroborated by those photos, Acevedo said there were smiles all around as Biden offered good will.

He touted Biden for keeping the visit quiet, despite the political opportunity.

"I share this today to illustrate the decency of the man who we now call Mr. President, although he prefers to be called Joe," Acevedo tweeted.
A consortium led by the multinational Bombardier Transportation company has confirmed a deal with the Egyptian government to build two new monorails with a total finance worth 1.7 billion provided by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the largest amount of financing it has ever provided for an overseas infrastructure project, the company announced on Wednesday.

Bombardier is a multinational company that is a manufacturer of business jets, public transport vehicles, and trains.

The announcement came during the Africa Investment Conference, held on Wednesday in the UK, which is its first major international investment conference as an independent trading nation after leaving the European Union.

Trade is an incredibly powerful way to propel growth and create jobs as we recover from the pandemic. This deal shows why we are so determined to get businesses to grasp these opportunities and take advantage of the support available from the Government. One third of our economy is exports. Thats why support from our export credit agency is vital. It can help the UK get a bigger slice of the global economic pie, secure jobs across the country and make the most of our newfound independence as a trading nation, the International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said.

Meanwhile, Matt Byrne, president of Bombardier Transportation expounded that the Cairo Monorail export win, against international competition, shows that that the UK rail sector can fight and win in key growth markets such as sustainable transport.

This is the first UK export since our Derby-built trains were exported to South Africa for the Gautrain project in 2008. Thanks to UKEFs support and those working in Embassies across North Africa, this new deal will bring sustainable benefits to Egypt and create job opportunities in the UK, he added.

Bombardiers consortium was named preferred bidder for the project at the UK-Africa Investment Summit, held in January 2020, and, with UKEFs guarantee, has secured the financing needed to fulfil the contract and start production, according to the statement.

The company also said that it can now invest in its manufacturing centre in Derby where the trains for the Egyptian monorails will be designed and built, adding that it will be the UKs only monorail car production line and will directly support 100 UK jobs at the company and many more in its UK supply chain.

The UK-Africa trade relationship was valued at 35 billion in 2019, with around 54 billion of bilateral investment.

As of January 2021, the trade deal between Egypt and the UK went in force following the UK leaving from the EU.

The deal covers trade in goods, including provisions on preferential tariffs, tariff rate quotas and rules of origin, trade in services, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, intellectual property, and government procurement.

The agreement strengthens UK cooperation in political, security, and foreign matters with Egypt and replicates wider elements of the EU-Egypt Association Agreement such as provisions on political dialogue and other forms of cooperation, including on human rights, according to the UK governments website.

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New Delhi, Jan 20 : Another data privacy concern, another "strongly-worded" letter to Facebook-owned WhatsApp. At a time when countries are taking social media firms to task with heavy fines asking them for real-time actions, India is busy playing the letter game sans a strong personal data privacy law.

There are no changes to WhatsApp's data-sharing practices in Europe from the new policy update (now deferred globally including in India for three months till May 15). Europe has a strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in place since May 25, 2018, that insulates citizens from misuse of their private data by social media platforms and third-party tech companies.

In India, forget the data privacy law, the government has even failed to notify the draft intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules for the last two years.

The government had proposed changes to its intermediary rules that would require the intermediary to inform its users at least once every month, that in case of non-compliance with rules and regulations, the intermediary has the right to immediately terminate the access or usage rights of the users to the computer resource of intermediary and remove non-compliant information.

In the case of upcoming WhatsApp data privacy policy, the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT has asked the messaging platform to withdraw, not defer, the recent change. In its letter to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, the ministry slammed the platform's "all or nothing" approach.

This is not the first time a letter has been dispatched to the Facebook Corporation.

In July 2019, Prasad told Cathcart to enable traceability of messages to prevent untoward incidents. The minister said the top official had assured him of prompt action in these issues of "concern", after fake news circulated on WhatsApp incited mob fury that led to several instances of lynching across the country in 2018-2019.

Amid criticism over the alleged collusion of Facebook India executive Ankhi Das (who has quit the company) and the BJP, Prasad wrote a "hard-hitting" letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, blaming the Facebook India management of alleged bias against people supporting the right-of-centre ideology.

In 2018, WhatsApp was hauled up by the government on its failure to check the spread of fake and provocative content on its platform amid growing lynching episodes.

In another "stern" notice, the Ministry of Electronics and IT asked WhatsApp to come out with more effective solutions. To tackle the spread of false information, WhatsApp limited forward messaging to five chats in India.

Not just Facebook, the same letter game continues with Twitter.

Taking strong exception to the "misrepresentation" of India's map, the government wrote a "stern" letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, saying that any attempt by the platform to disrespect the sovereignty and integrity of India, which is also reflected by the maps, was "totally unacceptable".

The moot question is: Once the global tech giants write back to the government, the matter ends amicably and according to leading experts who are following the data invasion for years, data of crores of Indians are constantly being misused in the absence of a robust mechanism.

According to advocate Virag Gupta who represents Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) and has taken WhatsApp to the court, the IT minister in his fresh letter has raised the issue of legal rights of crores of Indians.

"On that basis, strict action can be taken against WhatsApp as was done in the case of Chinese apps. The Parliamentary Committee and the government are regularly interacting with the Indian officials of tech giants, then why a letter is being written to the global CEO?" asked Gupta.

A WhatsApp spokesperson told IANS on Wednesday: "We wish to reinforce that this update does not expand our ability to share data with Facebook. Our aim is to provide transparency and new options available to engage with businesses so they can serve their customers and grow".

"We are working to address misinformation and remain available to answer any questions".

A petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court against the upcoming WhatsApp changes.

According to Gupta, out of more than 40 crore WhatsApp users, several are government servants/judges and other authorities, who cannot give any consent for such data sharing as per provisions of the Public Records Act, 1993.

"WhatsApp has extended the deadline without staying the data-sharing arrangement. In view of this official admission, the government needs to impose tax on deemed commercial gain to Facebook due to data transfer of 40 crore Indians," Gupta emphasised.

According to Pavan Duggal, one of the nation's top cyber law experts, the present-day situation increasingly refers to a massive policy vacuum that exists in India in the context of protection of privacy and data.

"As of today, India does not have dedicated law on privacy or on cyber security. Further, it still does not have legal framework in place for protecting all kinds of data. The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 is pending consideration before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. Further, India does not have dedicated policy on data localisation," Duggal lamented.

"India further needs to redefine its legal stand on intermediary liability, so as to make intermediaries more responsible and liable in the event of data breaches," he added.

Till then, the letter game continues.

(Nishant Arora can be reached at nishant.a@ians.in)
Autobus Groupe Seguin, a transportation operator headquartered in Laval, Quebec, has ordered 60 LionC electric school buses over a five-year period. Autobus Seguin will integrate the all-electric buses into the companys current fleet of vehicles, one of the largest in Quebec. This order is the single largest to date in the electric school bus industry in North America.





The first 10 buses will be delivered throughout the 2021 calendar year, and will be used from the start of the 2021-2022 school year, through the seven service centers operated by Autobus Seguin. Subject to continued satisfaction of certain conditions, the remaining 50 buses will be delivered through 2026.

Ultimately, our ambition is to electrify our entire fleet of more than 310 school buses by 2030. Stephane Boisvert, President at Autobus Groupe Seguin

A school bus emits 23 tons of greenhouse gases (GHG) per year on average. With this initiative, 1,380 tons of GHG per year will be eliminated by Autobus Seguin.

The support program for the deployment of electric school buses in Quebec, which is part of the Government of Quebecs Transportation Electrification Action Plan, made a significant contribution to the fulfillment of this order.

Lion Electric designs and manufactures all-electric class 5 to class 8 commercial urban trucks and all-electric buses and minibuses for the school, paratransit and mass transit segments.





The LionC, which can carry up to 77 passengers, has a range of 100, 125 or 155 miles, provided by a choice of three battery pack sizes: 126 kWh, 168 kWh or 210 kWh. Its 250 kW, 2500 Nm (about 335 HP, 1800 lb-ft) TM4 SUMO MD powertrain gives the LionC as much or even more power than standard diesel engines in the school transportation industry.
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DONALDSON  When the Frailey Township supervisors held their annual reorganization meeting earlier this month, they elected Donald Allar as chairman, a position he has held for many years.

This year he also accepted the position of secretary-treasurer once again.

Allar has been chairman or secretary-treasurer, or a combination of the two, for more than 40 years.

Ricky Nye Jr., the boards newest member, was elected as vice chairman, followed by Keith Allar, as roadmaster.

Joseph Zerbe, of Derenzo & Zerbe, Pottsville, was appointed the boards solicitor.

During the remainder of the meeting, the supervisors reappointed the same people or companies that had served the township last year, which included Ed Kimmel, fire chief, and Michael Scheib, assistant fire chief.

Following reorganization, Chairman Allar reported the township is still working on an agreement and easement with New Jersey-based developer Viridian for the relocation of East Franklin Road, which comes off Route 209.

Viridian is planning to build Rausch Creek Logistic Center, which will feature large warehouses, on a tract of land off Route 209 near the Big Lots distribution center and not far from Interstate 81 at the Joliett exit.

The day after the meeting, Allar provided information concerning the 2021 budget of $533,330, which the supervisors adopted in late December.

He explained the townships total annual income is slightly more than $832,000, which leaves an excess of close to $299,000.

Whatever the amount, the supervisors will do as they have been doing with money from fees received for hosting CES Landfill.

We have been paying the sewage bills for six months each year for residents of Donaldson, Allar explained. And just recently the supervisors agreed to pay the residents annual trash bill, which costs $1,273 per month (in total) and is expected to increase $250 per month.

Allar noted there are an estimated 170 homes in Donaldson.

Between the sewage and the trash, the township spends $488 per year for each household.

That figure, he said, is more than each home owner owes for his township property tax.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Blue Thunder Mining Inc. (TSXV: BLUE) (OTCQB: BLTMF) ("Blue Thunder" or "the Company") is pleased to provide additional analytical results from the Fancamp drilling program, plus an update on exploration elsewhere on the Company's vast claim holdings. In addition, guidance on the Company's planned 2021 activities is provided.

"We are encouraged with results from the 2020 exploration program, including the Fancamp drilling program, where eleven of the fourteen holes drilled returned gold values ranging between 0.52 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") and 6.91 g/t Au over widths ranging between 0.5 metres (m) and 4.7 m. We are especially excited about the two separate gold zones intersected in hole FAN20-12 at the D-Zone, and the fact that these intervals remain open to the south for 400 m to the B-Zone. These diamond drill hole intercepts support the projected continuity of the gold mineralized structures and our interpretation of a typical Abitibi lode gold target at Fancamp. In addition, we are awaiting initial gold assay results from the first six holes drilled on our Muus claim block, where the company is focused on exploring targets on strike to the Nelligan gold deposit1 (IAMGOLD Corporation/Vanstar Mining Resources Inc. Joint Venture), IAMGOLD's Monster Lake Gold deposit2 and the Philibert property3 (SOQUEM Inc.). Blue Thunder has among the largest aggregate claim holdings comprising more than 51,000 ha in the exciting Chibougamau Gold District (the "District"), where numerous important gold discoveries have been recently made. We are extremely excited about our exploration plans for 2021, which are 100% funded with cash in-hand."

Robert Cinits, President and CEO

2021 Exploration Work Plan and Budget

The Muus Gold Project (the "Project") comprises five non-contiguous claim blocks ("Fancamp", "Muus", "Muus East", "Nisk" and "Embry"- Figures 1 and 2). The Project is not only significant in size, but strategically located in the eastern part of the Archean Abitibi Greenstone Belt and underlain by several key regional structures, including the Guercheville Deformation Zone (GDZ), the Fancamp Deformation Zone (FDZ) and the Philibert-Joe Mann Zone (PJMZ). These structures are associated with many of the known gold deposits and occurrences in the District, including the recently discovered Nelligan and Monster Lake deposits, which occur on adjacent properties and on strike with Blue Thunder claims. The Project is host to numerous underexplored mineralized occurrences that will be further explored during 2021. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's properties.

The main objectives for 2021 exploration are to discover:

metasedimentary hosted disseminated gold mineralization, similar to the nearby Nelligan gold deposit

Abitibi lode gold style mineralization, similar to the nearby Monster Lake and Philibert deposits

volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization with associated copper-zinc-lead-silver and gold mineralization

The Company plans to spend approximately $2.3 million on exploration during 2021 that will include a significant diamond drilling program to test multiple targets underlying the Project. Other studies to be completed include:

property-scale modelling and targeting, including 3-D modelling of multiple datasets

regional soil- and till-sampling programs

regional prospecting, mapping and trenching

induced polarization (IP) ground geophysical surveys over selected targets

The Company expects 2021 to be a pivotal year in the advancement of the Muus Project as we continue to aggressively explore for multiple styles of gold and base-metal mineralization. Our extensive database of historical information will be augmented by new exploration data, including geochemical and geophysical survey results, and by applying the most recent exploration concepts and techniques. Our goal is to make new discoveries.

2020 Exploration Results

1)Fancamp Property (Target Area 1)

The Fancamp Property is host to the Fancamp Gold Zone - a two kilometre long, 30 to 100 m wide, northeast trending zone comprising several subparallel, <1m to 5 m wide gold mineralized structures and veins (the "Vein Corridor"), with four target zones (A-, B-, D- and E-zones) outlined along this trend (Figure 3). The Fancamp Property is underlain by the FDZ, which trends west of, and parallel to the Vein Corridor. The FDZ is interpreted as a regional splay of the GDZ, an important potential source of gold mineralization in the district. A fifth target on the Fancamp Property, the C-Zone, occurs along the FDZ, and has seen very little previous exploration.

The 2020 drilling at Fancamp was designed to confirm and possibly expand gold-mineralized zones discovered by previous companies at the A-, B- and D-zones and marked a historic milestone for Blue Thunder, being the Company's inaugural drilling campaign since going public in early 2020. Fourteen diamond drill holes (2,808 m) were drilled and were completed on time and on budget. Numerous zones of silica-carbonate alteration with varying amounts of quartz-carbonate-tourmaline veining were intersected by drill holes that intersected the Vein Corridor. The drilling successfully expanded the mineralized envelope in some locations and contributed to an improved understanding of mineralization controls and to the modelling of interpreted higher grade mineralized shoots at the A- and B-zones. Our 2020 data suggests that previously unrecognized subtle northwest and west trending structures that intersect the Vein Corridor may play a role in localizing gold mineralization within dilational jogs along the Vein Corridor.

The gold analytical results have now been received for holes FAN20-01 to 14, which represent all of the drill holes completed at Fancamp during the 2020 campaign. Drill results from hole FAN20-01 and the upper part of FAN20-02 were reported on November 5, 2020. Notable examples of the latest results are: 6.91 g/t Au over 0.85 metres in hole FAN20-12 (91.25 to 92.10 m); 2.80 grams per tonne g/t gold Au over 0.80 metres in hole FAN20-10 (69.90 to 70.7 m), within a wider zone assaying 0.84 g/t gold over 4.70 metres (69.9 to 74.6 m); and 2.35 g/t Au over 1.50 metres in hole FAN20-12 (116.50 to 118.0 m), within a wider zone assaying 1.52 g/t Au over 2.7 m (115.3 to 118.0 m). A summary of all significant assay results can be found on the Company's web site: www.bluethundermining.com and in Table 1 at the end of this press release. All noted intersections are down-hole intervals and do not represent true widths.

Multi-element ICP results, providing base-metal and pathfinder element assays are pending for most of the holes and these results will be reported once all are received from the lab and interpreted by our geologists.

In addition to the drilling, trenching and first-pass prospecting programs were carried out on the Fancamp Property during 2020. Full trenching results were reported on October 21, 2020 and November 5, 2020, and the prospecting results are being compiled and interpreted by the Company. In total, 84 prospecting samples were collected during the program. The Fancamp Property remains a high priority exploration target and will continue to be one of the Company's areas of focus in 2021.

2)Muus Property (Target Areas 2 and 3) Update

The Muus property is one of the Company's exploration priorities and hosts Target Areas 2 and 3 (Figure 2). Target Area 2 is underlain by an approximately 18 kilometre long segment of the GDZ, along a sedimentary-volcanic contact, extending west-northwest from the nearby Nelligan gold deposit, currently being explored by IAMGOLD Corp. Recent drilling success by IAMGOLD on the western part of the Nelligan property and by Northern Superior Resources Inc. on their adjacent Lac Surprise property, highlights the potential for Nelligan-style gold mineralization extending to the west, potentially to parts of the Muus property along the GDZ.

Target Area 3 straddles two significant merging deformation zones, the FDZ and the PJMZ in a structurally complex area that is of interest for lode gold style deposits in the Abitibi (Figure 2).

Based on the Company's review of historical data at Target Areas 2 and 3, three smaller areas were chosen for follow-on exploration and diamond drilling. Two of these areas, the Lac des Vents and Lac Bernard grids are located in Target Area 2 along the GDZ, whereas the third target, the Lac Cowan grid, is in Target Area 3 (see Figure 2). IP/resistivity surveys were completed at Lac Bernard and Lac Cowan and an historical survey was re-interpreted at Lac des Vents to fine-tune drill targets (See November 12, 2020 news release for more details).

Following on from the geophysical work, the Company completed a total six diamond drill holes totaling 1,278 meters, with two holes drilled at each of these three areas, for which gold and multi-element ICP analytical results are pending.

During 2020, the Company also completed a program of regional prospecting over parts of the Muus Property and eastern parts of the Nisk Property that included 82 samples from Muus and 21 samples from Nisk. Results of this work are being compiled and will be reported when interpretations are completed.

Private Placement

The Company wishes to correct the disclosure related to the finders fees disclosed in its press release issued on December 11, 2020. In the press release, the Company disclosed that it paid Red Cloud Securities Inc. ("Red Cloud") a cash commission of $103,250 and an advisory fee of $17,500 and issued 935,457 non-transferrable compensation warrants and 162,274 advisory warrants to purchase collectively 1,097,731 common shares at an exercise price of $0.11 for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering. Blue Thunder, as consideration for introducing certain purchasers to the Company in the private placement, paid Red Cloud a cash commission of $103,250 and advisory fees of $17,500 and issued 941,821 non-transferrable compensation warrants and 162,274 advisory warrants to purchase collectively 1,104,095 common shares at an exercise price of $0.11 for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering.

QAQC and Qualified Person

All samples collected from the trenching, drilling and regional prospecting programs have been submitted to Techni-Lab, S.G.B. Abitibi Inc., in Sainte-Germaine-Boule, Quebec, part of the Activation Laboratories Ltd. Group ("Actlabs"), where they were analysed for gold by 50 gram fire assay with an AA finish, and by 50 gram fire assay with gravity finish (for samples >5 g/t Au), and by 4-acid digestion ICP multi-element analysis (58 elements). The Company follows a rigorous quality assurance/quality control (QAQC) program for the sampling programs that includes the regular insertion of standards, blanks and duplicates into the sample stream.

The scientific and technical information that forms the basis for parts of this press release was reviewed and approved by John Langton (P.Geo.), who is a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

COVID-19

On Wednesday, January 6th, 2021, the government of Quebec announced that it would be extending its holiday season lockdown to February 8th, 2021, for several sectors of activity of the Quebec economy; however, mineral exploration companies with prior commitments and essential work to complete will be permitted to continue working. Currently all of the Company's exploration staff and contractors are offsite, working from home and the Company will continue to monitor developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic very closely.

In conformity with guidelines proposed by the Quebec government's "Commission des norms, de l'equite, de la sante et de la securite du travail" (CNESST) the Company has implemented a strict COVID-19 management plan that complies with provincial government directives and guidelines with the main objective to safeguard the health and safety of our workers, stakeholders and local community members in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

____________________

1 Inferred Resource of 97 Mt at 1.0 g/t Au, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Oct 22, 2019, Prepared for Iamgold Corp and Vanstar Mining Resources.

2 Inferred Resource of 1.1 Mt at 12 g/t Au, Monster Lake NI 43-101 Technical Report, Apr 9, 2018, Prepared for Iamgold Corp and Tomagold Corp.

3 Historical resource of 1.4 Mt grading 5.3 g/t Au, SOQUEM Inc., 1991. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as NI 43-101 compliant mineral resources or mineral reserves.

About Blue Thunder

Blue Thunder (TSXV: BLUE) (OTCQB: BLTMF) is a gold exploration company that controls 100% of a large land position near Chibougamau, Quebec. The Muus Project covers approximately 51,000 hectares in five separate blocks of prospective ground in the eastern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The Project is considered particularly prospective for gold mineralization, as a series of prominent ductile and brittle fault-sets transect the Property, including the Guercheville and Fancamp deformation zones, both of which are associated with numerous past and currently producing precious- and base-metal mines in the District.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Robert Cinits

President and CEO

Blue Thunder Mining Inc.

401 Bay Street, Suite 2100, P.O. Box 55, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2Y4

(647) 848-1009

"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."

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, anticipated exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, the ability to complete the required permitting, the ability to complete the exploration program and drilling, 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: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. 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, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. This news release contains information with respect to adjacent or similar mineral properties in the Chibougamau District in respect of which the Company has no interest or rights to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that the Company has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in any such properties, and that mineral deposits, and the results of any mining thereof, on adjacent or similar properties, are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties or any potential exploitation thereof.





Figure 1: Blue Thunder Regional Claim Blocks Located in the Chibougamau Gold District

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6951/72440_7e9b844064524ad4_001full.jpg





Figure 2: General geology of the Muus Property and Target Areas 1, 2 and 3 with Geophysical Grids



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6951/72440_7e9b844064524ad4_002full.jpg





Figure 3: Trenches, Drill Holes, Vein Trends - Fancamp A-, B-, and D-zones

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6951/72440_7e9b844064524ad4_003full.jpg

Note: trench outlines represent areas where outcrop was exposed through excavator-stripping followed by outcrop washing

Table 1: Significant Drill Results (>0.5 g/t Au) - Drill Holes FAN20-01 to 14 (A, B and D-Zones)

Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Drilled

Length2 (m) Gold (g/t) Target Zone FAN20-011 115.2 117.4 2.20 0.52 B-Zone including 115.2 115.7 0.50 1.02



127.0 127.62 0.62 0.56

FAN20-021 33.5 38.85 5.35 1.15 B-Zone including 34.0 35.0 1.00 4.73

FAN20-03 97.1 98.1 1.00 0.62 B-Zone FAN20-04 64.0 65.85 1.85 1.24 B-Zone

78.7 79.3 0.60 1.56

FAN20-05 119.6 120.1 0.50 0.91 B-Zone

123.5 126.9 3.40 0.80

including 126.0 126.9 0.90 1.69



216.2 216.7 0.50 1.05

FAN20-06





No significant Results A/B Zones FAN20-07 62.7 63.3 0.60 0.98 A-Zone FAN20-08 39.0 43.7 4.70 0.72 A-Zone including 43.0 43.7 0.70 1.92

FAN20-09





No significant Results A Zone FAN20-10 69.9 74.6 4.70 0.84 A-Zone including 69.90 70.70 0.80 2.80



79.0 80.0 1.00 0.68



81.80 84.90 3.10 0.63

FAN20-11 48.0 48.5 0.50 0.99 B-Zone FAN20-12 91.25 92.1 0.85 6.91 D-Zone

115.3 118.0 2.70 1.52

including 116.5 118.0 1.50 2.35

FAN20-13





No significant Results D-Zone FAN20-14 89.9 91.6 1.70 0.53 D-Zone

1- drill results previously reported by Blue Thunder - refer to press release dated November 5, 2020

2- True widths are estimated to be approximately 70% to 80% of the drilled length.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72440
The Supreme Court, has by a unanimous decision, dismissed an application by lawyers for former President John Dramani Mahama for leave to serve interrogatories for certain answers from the Electoral Commission (EC) with regard to the presidential election petition.



Mr Mahamas lawyers were seeking permission from the Supreme Court to allow him ask 12 questions that borders on how the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa, arrived at the figures she used in declaring President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the winner of the 2020 presidential poll.



It was one of two legal processes the petitioner was expected to file on Monday. The second process was a request to admit facts, wherein the petitioner wants the EC to either admit or deny certain facts with regard to what ensued on December 9, 2020; the day Mrs Mensa, who is the returning officer for the presidential poll, declared Akufo-Addo as the President-elect.



Moving the motion, lead counsel for Mr Mahama, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata argued that the objective of the application was to narrow down the issues for the trial.



Dismissal of Application (Strictly Bound To Comply With C.I. 90)



But the seven-member panel of the court, presided over by the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah dismissed the application with the view that the crucial issues of relevance had not been established by the petitioner.



The court explained that "reference was made to the 2013 [presidential election] petition in which inter-locutories was granted by the Court.



"However, subsequent to 2013, several statutory amendments have been made by C.I. 99 of 2016 which has restricted the practice and procedure of this court as regards Election Petition.



"Indeed, Rule 69 of the Supreme Court amendment in C.I. 99 directed the expeditious disposal of petitions and sets timeliness for this court to dispose off the petition."



"It implies that even amendments brought here and granted as well as..., subsequent statutory amendments pointed out after the 2013 [presidential election petition], has provided us with new procedural regime and strict timelines."



"We are strictly bound to comply with C.I. 90 and therefore we will not apply Order 22 of C.I. 45 of 2004 in this circumstances."



"We accordingly refuse to grant the application and same is accordingly dismissed," the court said.



Not Ready To File Issues Yet



Minutes after that decision, the petitioners lead counsel requested to have a copy of the ruling to "advise appropriately". He added that he was not ready to file his issues until that is done, since the court had earlier proceeded to ask the lawyers of all three parties on the approach they wanted to use in presenting the issues that are to be laid down for determination.



The filing of issues essentially serves as a guide to the court on what is up for adjudication in the case before the apex court.



Addressing the court, Tsikata indicated that he will require a careful look at the ruling of the Supreme Court with regard to his earlier application seeking an order of the court to direct the Electoral Commission chairperson, Jean Mensa, to provide answers to some 12 questions they have identified, in order to advise himself appropriately.



Exchange Bewtween Tsatsu & Judge Over Jean Mean



Prior to the apex court's ruling on the application for leave to serve interrogatories, Lawyer Tsikata's constant reference to the Chairperson of Electoral Commission rather than the office that conducted the polls, appeared not to have gone down well with one member of the panel; Justice Nene Amegatcher.



The Supreme court judge insisted that the questions should be directed to the office of the Chairperson and not come across as a personal attack on Jean Mensa.



Tsatsu Tsikata (TT): This is a question only one person in this world can answer



Justice Nene Amegatcher (JNA): Why wouldnt you limit your references to the office rather than the personality. It seems to me that your attack is with the personality and not the officeWe will be happy if you just limit it to the office and not the EC because in her absence any of her deputies could step in.



TT: Respectfully my lord, there is only one Returning Officer for the presidential election and that is the EC chairperson.



JNA: lets leave it at that, chairperson of the Electoral Commission and not her person



TT: But my Lord, she is the Chairperson and she has a name, or I am not allowed to mention the name of the Chairperson



JNA: The question should be to the office



TT: I want to understand I am being prohibited from mentioning the name of the Chairperson, is that the issue?



JNA: Reading through your petition which makes constant emphasis on the name, what I am telling you is that we will be satisfied with the designation because in her absence any of her deputies could act in that position



TT: My Lord



JNA: So, it is an election petition and you are challenging the election, it is sufficient that the institution charged with the conducting that election had done their work and the Chairperson who is the head represent that institution and not the personality



TT: With the greatest respect, I believe that the constitutional requirement regarding the returning officer and the particular circumstances do not make it possible step in for the Chairperson, it cannot be like you are envisaging.



JNA: The institution had done the work and not the personality



TT: The particular circumstances that we are dealing with in this case, do not make it possible to have the situation that you are envisaging where you have somebody else step in for the Chairperson.

The constitution makes the Chairperson and only that person the Returning Officer and in the circumstances of this case that Chairperson happens to be the person we referred to in the petition who undertook her responsibility in accordance with the constitution and legal situation that we have. I am not mentioning her name by targeting her individualthat is far from it. I do not target her when I mention her name as the person who declared the results, that is a fact.



JNA: Thank you, you may continue with your interrogatories.



Background



The former President is currently at the Supreme court challenging the verdict of the 2020 elections which declared Nana Akufo-Addo as President.



The EC declared President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) the winner of the 2020 polls, however, Mr Mahama disagrees with the figures put out by the Chair of the Commission.



John Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate is therefore seeking a rerun of the election because he believes no candidate won the polls.



The Supreme Court is expected to conduct a pre-trial conference for parties in the 2020 election petition case.



This is to assist the court and parties organize the proceedings in a manner that will be convenient and also set down the issues for the trial.





Source: Peacefmonline.com/GHANA









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 PS5 has many a great gift to offer those who have the console, like HDR, that is unless you have a Samsung TV.

Some PS5 owners have reported that their Samsung TV would not allow them to utilize both the HDR feature and the 4K resolution play with 120Hz refresh rate. The issue, which is a software-based one, requires users to pick whether they want 4K and 120 frames per second, or HDR. But never both.

Also worth noting though is that this seems to be limited to just Samsung TVs. Other brands of TVs or monitors dont appear to be lumped into the mess. The good news for Samsung TV owners who also have a PS5 is that Sony will be fixing this soon with an update.

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Sony will push out an update in March to fix the PS5 HDR issue on Samsung TVs

If youre one of the users that has both a Samsung TV and a PS5 and you have run into this problem, you wont have to wait too much longer to have it fixed.

Sony plans to push out an update to the console that will contain the fix for this issue. Its scheduled to arrive sometime in March, and when it does youll be able to set the console to display HDR and the 4K/120 fps alongside each other. Instead of having to pick one or the other.

Sony unfortunately doesnt mention when exactly in March the update is coming. Just that itll be in March and that the problem has to do with the console and not the Samsung TVs.

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More fixes to come

This isnt the first issue that the PS5 has come across. And it probably wont be the last one either.

Upon launch, the PS5 had numerous bugs that needed to be patched out. Some may still be an issue for some users. Such as the potential system crash from putting the console into rest mode.

Or the issues with the data transfer while using the back ports. The point is that Sony will more than likely have more to fix in the long run. Especially when you consider that more bugs may pop up after new features are introduced in the future of the consoles life cycle.

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Regardless, keep your eyes peeled for the update to your PS5 as that will be on the way pretty soon. In the meantime youll have to stick with choosing whether you want HDR or 4K/120fps.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 06:37:41|Editor: huaxia

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PANAMA CITY, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Violeta Gaona, a 59-year-old nurse, on Wednesday became the first person vaccinated in Panama against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), following the arrival of the first batch of vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech laboratories.

Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo was on hand for Gaona's vaccination at the publically-run Santo Tomas Hospital in Panama's capital, which was broadcast live on television.

Gaona, who has worked 37 years in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU), said she was a little nervous but positive about getting the vaccine shot, as doctors and nurses were prioritized for immunization.

Those attending the event broke into applause after she received the shot, and Cortizo hailed the contribution of healthcare workers in combating the disease in the lead up to the vaccination campaign.

"I am grateful for the work and effort of many Panamanians, but especially the healthcare personnel and the public (security) force," Cortizo said.

The second phase of the immunization drive will target more than 550,000 people over 60, with vaccination centers set up at schools and college campuses, said the president.

"We have a huge mission that we are going to fulfill," he said.

According to the Ministry of Health's latest pandemic report on Monday, a total of 301,534 people had tested positive for COVID-19 and 4,864 died from the disease. Enditem
The 10th round of dialogue between the government and farmers' representatives began on Wednesday here in the national capital amid expectations of a solution to end the deadlock as the protest by the farmers on the Delhi borders continued for the 56th day.

However, there is no signal from both sides so far indicating any fruitful decision to end the protest as farmers are still sticking to their demands on withdrawal of three contentious farm laws and guarantee on Minimum Support Price (MSP), and the government is adamant not to repeal the agriculture acts enacted in September during Monsoon Session of Parliament last year.

The meeting began at Vigyan Bhawan, the same venue where the previous nine rounds of talks have been inconclusive.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Sigh Tomar, Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Som Parkash participated in the meeting from the side of the government.

Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and other Ministry officials also attended the meeting.

Tomar and Goyal joined the meeting after discussing the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence.

Krantikari Kisan Union President (Punjab) Darshan Pal, Bharatiya Kisan Union's Jagjeet Singh Dalewal and Balbir Singh Rajewal, Jamhuri Kishan Sabha Punjab General Secretary Kulwant Singh, and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Uttar Pradesh) President Rakesh Tikait were among the 41 farm union leaders who took part in the meeting.

The farmers are sticking to their demand for the repeal of three new central farm laws and a legal guarantee for the procurement of crops at MSP whereas the Union government is ready to bring about amendments in these laws.

Before the meeting, Punjab farmer leader Kirpa Singh said that farmer leaders would first like to deliberate on their core demand for the repeal of the three laws during the latest talks.

Punjab-based farmer leader and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said: "In the previous talks, we urged the Union government to discuss the MSP issue. We will again discuss it in this meeting as well."

He also said that the issue of "harassment" of those supporting the farmers' agitation by the National Investigation Agency would again be brought up in Wednesday's meeting.

As for differences between farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Shiv Kumar Sharma Kakaji, Harinder Singh said that the two had buried the hatchet and stand united.

He asserted that all farmer unions and others spearheading the farmers' movement were united and would continue the agitation till their demands were not accepted.

The farmers are demanding the repeal 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 law on procurement of crops at MSP.

The farmers have been sitting on Delhi's borders since November 26, 2020.
Contributed /

A familiar name is back, this time to lead The Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time as managing editor.

Claire K. Racine, who grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, took on the new role Tuesday, replacing Tom Mellana, who served as managing editor, editorial page editor, arts editor and a news reporter since he was hired in 1991. Mellana, who said his goodbyes to staff last week, announced he was leaving at the end of last year.
"He still engaged in that incredibly incendiary language, then told them to go up to (the Capitol) as their last stand, clearly with the intent to try and get them to stop the Electoral College process. There are some concerns his lack of action as the House was being invaded and his delay in reacting. All those things factored into it for me and it led me to the inescapable conclusion, based on the charge, that I had to what I had to do."

Now, Katko is dealing with the political fallout of his vote to impeach Trump. After the impeachment vote, Republican and Conservative Party leaders criticized Katko for supporting impeachment. While they fell short of saying that he lost their support, it was clear they were disappointed with his decision.

Katko said there were "extraneous pressures" before his vote. That pressure, he explained, came from constituents who are Trump supporters. He knew the impeachment vote would upset them, and he was right.
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.
Image: Bottomline Media

Recently, I contributed a chapter to a book called Conversations on When Everything is Missions: Rediscovering the Mission of the Church. Over the next few days on The Exchange, we will be releasing this chapter, which I wrote on recalibrating our thinking on the terms missional and mission. You will find Part One below. The full book is available for purchase here. In addition to the chapter from myself, you will find contributions from other leaders, such as Dr. David Platt and J.D. Payne.

Missional has been the word of the new millennium. People, churches and mission agencies want to be missional, but where does missions fit in? If we are all missional, and everything we do is missional, how do we think about missions around the world?

Defining Missional

The terminology we use matters because terms shape the conversation we have around ideas. Terms are linguistic symbols that we develop in order to make sense of those things most significant to us. Therefore, understanding how we use terms like missional to describe our gospel impetus is of utmost importance for the Christian, and especially for the evangelical.

The first use of the term missional is over 100 years old, but how we use it today is relatively new. Today, it is used to describe engagement in mission activity, a movement of like-minded churches or ones role as a missionary to his or her neighborhood. I once even heard a pastor refer to missional lighting in his church sanctuary.

Sometimes people also use missional in ways evangelicals may find problematic. Some use the term to promote social justice and societal transformation to such an extent that justice overshadows or even replaces a call to personal evangelism. Others too narrowly apply the term to refer to the call to be a missionary to ones local community or neighborhood. While this sounds admirable at first, when not seen as part of the whole, it removes focus from cross-cultural mission work. Still others use missional as a term to describe a different way of doing ministry that shifts the emphasis away from the program and event-based ministry popular in attractional and church-growth churches.

Missional has become an ecclesial Rorschach inkblot test. People see in it what they want, and sometimes miss what they need.

The purpose of this chapter is to help us make sure we dont lose the missions in the mission of God and that missional does not distract us from Gods mission to the nations.

What Mission and its Adjective Missional Get Right

Despite how the term has been used differently throughout the past century and across the theological and ecclesiological spectrums, there is some common ground that can serve as a foundation of understanding. A consensus has developed over the last century and now evangelicals as well as mainline Protestants, Roman Catholics, and to some extent Orthodox Christians believe that mission is a to be more broadly understood as rooted in the identity of God and a part of the call of His people. Or, as evangelicals might put it specifically, 1) God has a mission, 2) Gods mission is rooted in the identity of God Himself, and 3) God sends His people on mission.

This basis of understanding comes from the Bible, but is widely seen as being introduced (evangelicals would say re-introduced) by Karl Barth. And while evangelicals would typically disagree with Barth on many other subjects, here we can agree that God has a mission and He is on mission because mission is inextricably woven into the fabric of who God is. And just as God the Father sent the Son and sent the Holy Spirit as part of His mission, so too He sends the church into the world to proclaim His gospel and raise up disciples in all nations. We see the fruit of Gods mission story in Johns vision in Revelation 7 where the gospel has reached every nation, tribe, people and language. It is for this purpose that God sends His people into the uttermost parts of the world to evangelize the lost.

So while we can agree that God has a mission and that He is on mission, and that His mission is rooted in His own identity, and that He sends His Church on mission, I think we need more information. We need to talk about what we mean when we say mission. We need to talk about what we mean when we say missional. We need to talk about what we mean when we talk about missio Dei. And we need to talk about what we mean when we say missions, because mission and missions are not the same thing. To echo Stephen Neills popular phrase, If everything is mission, nothing is mission. So then, what is mission? What is missional? So that we might understand what these terms mean today, it is important to first look at how mission language has evolved over time.

Getting Our Mission Language Right

While it is undoubtedly true to say that mission is rooted in the identity and character of God and the church is invited to participate in the mission of God (missio Dei), the outworking of this idea has also been destructive to mainline Protestant conciliar mission work (think World Council of Churches). We cannot unpack the full story here, however I (and many others, more eloquently) have walked through the conciliar theology of mission and its ultimate dismantling of cross-cultural mission work.

The movement that started in Edinburgh at the World Missionary Council in 1910 looked remarkably different by the 1960s, as I have written at length elsewhere. And the idea of mission was the driving force for much of these changes.

Thus, it is important to understand that an idea can be both true as well as dangerous. And where things get dangerous is when the term mission is so broadly applied. Stephen Neills words come back to haunt us. Neill was especially concerned about the loss of cross-cultural, traditional missions work and I share that concern today. It is among churches that consider themselves missional that I often find a lack of missions activity. I believe this to be for five reasons:

In rediscovering missio Dei, many have over emphasized the personal obligation to ones personal setting at the expense of the obligation to advance Gods kingdom among the nations. Individualism can easily impede the global impulse. In responding to missio Dei, many have wanted to be more mission-shaped (missional) and have therefore made everything mission (e.g. missional lighting). In relating to missio Dei, many increasingly (and rightly) give concern to the hurting but less to the global lost. Christmas shoeboxes, global orphan projects, and ending human trafficking are all important, but they can inadvertently dim our vision for the salvation of all peoples. In refocusing on missio Dei, many focus on gospel demonstration at the expense of gospel proclamation. One cannot read the Great Commission passages of Jesus or the conviction of Paul without concluding the New Testament compels the Church to tell the world the good news found only in Christ. In reiterating missio Dei, many lose sight of the Churchs mandate to be a global presence with its global mission.

I dont intend to come down hard on Spurgeon or anyone who has reiterated his famous quote. Im sure somewhere Im recorded in the excitement of the moment saying it, too. But if we are going to use clarity in our terms so we can properly nuance what mission means, Spurgeons quote wont do. Its simply too simplistic.

H.L. Mencken was right about this: There is always a well-known solution to every human problemneat, plausible, and wrong. Clarity on the terminology we use is vital. Therefore, Im of the belief that this mission about which we speak is important enough to be nuanced. We should be precise about the language we use because history has shown us that getting it wrong can have dangerous consequences.

So then what are the proper definitions of mission, missions, missional, etc.? Broadly defined we can say that mission is what God is doing in the world, and we join Him in it. Missional is simply the adjectival form of mission33 and describes the mission-shaped life. Missions is a subset of mission. A more substantive way to frame it is like this:

Missio Dei: Missio Dei is God-focused.34 God is on mission to glorify himself. Missio Dei is what God is doing in the world in light of His good character and love for His creation. This is the all-encompassing redemptive disposition of God toward His fallen creation. Missio Dei gives birth to the missio ecclesiae, the mission of the church. God is at work in the world through common grace. Through general revelation and the work of the Spirit, he is preparing hearts for him in missio Dei.

Mission: Mission is everyone-focused. This comprehensive term refers to the entirety of the task for which the Church is sent into the world. Some find it helpful to describe this mission in two complementary movements: centripetal and centrifugal. The Church exhibits a quality that attracts the lost for all the right reasons. At the same time, the Church is sent into the world with a missionary purpose. Together these describe mission as something we participate injoining in what God is doing. If youre a follower of Jesus, youre called to mission by nature of declaring Him as Lord of your life. Luke 4:18-20 describes how Jesus came to serve the hurting, the marginalized and the poor. Luke 19:10 describes how Jesus came to save the lost. Mission is this dual work of gospel proclamation and demonstration.

Missional: Missional is believer-focused. It describes believers and churches who live out the mission through the totality of embracing, embodying and enacting Gods mission in the world. Christians are being missional when, as instruments of His kingdom, they join Jesuss work of serving the hurting and saving the lost.

Note that while in the missio Dei God is at work through common grace, He is not at work in the world salvifically without His people. It is through His missionary agent, the Church through that Churchs proclamationthat He is at work salvifically in the world. The Church is Gods Plan A for advancing His mission in the world. There is no Plan B. Thats part of why we need missions, with the s included.

Missions: Missions is calling-focused. It is the application of mission in a specific, usually cross-cultural response to the calling of God. So while I may engage in mission in my neighborhood, the missionary engaged in missions is responding to the call of God in a cross-cultural context. I prefer to use missions to refer to particular people who pursue a particular calling in a particular context. While there is a sent-ness in the calling of all Christians to live on mission (to be missional), missionaries are those who engage in evangelism and discipleship through cross-cultural ministry. Increasingly the interconnectedness and pluralism of our globalized world makes engagement in missions possible without leaving our own cities. These local missions opportunities will undoubtedly continue to grow. So today, serving in missions could include moving to an unreached people group in another land or moving into a predominantly Muslim community in urban America. In both cases the believer seeks to learn language, culture, and the best means to show and share Christ.

With our working definitions in order, the inevitable question is now what? What do we do with our language so that we might understand how to live on mission with Jesus to reach the lost? Central to our calling as followers of the King is our call to display the glory of God through the redemption of those who are far from Him.
EXCLUSIVE: ABC comedy series Rosehaven has been renewed for a 5th season.

Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola will return to their hit series, set in Tasmanias-own McCallum Real Estate.

Next season Daniel (McGregor) and Emma (Pacquola) are content for things to go back to normal. But Barbara (Kris McQuade) isnt, and she forces them to take on more responsibility for the business. Could this be the year she finally retires? Meanwhile Daniel is regretting breaking up with the love of his life, and Emma finally gets what shes always wanted  a Rosehaven-based nemesis.

The 8 part series will begin filming in coming weeks.

We cannot wait because weve been here for a couple of weeks and I just dont like lying to the good people of Tasmania, who on the street ask, What are you doing here? Celia Pacquola tells TV Tonight from Tasmania.

Returning cast include Kris McQuade, Noela Foxcroft, David Quirk, Sam Cotton, Anthony Morgan, Mick Davies and -after an absence in Season 4- Katie Robertson as Grace.

We are very excited to welcome back the very-missed Katie Robinson, she continues.

Theres yet another new office! Tassie has become very popular in real estate, which is funny. So were moving around a few locations, but the core cast is back.

To be honest, ideally, Season Five will be like Season Four, McGregor explains, in that everythings back to normal, I guess. Even though well be filming with very COVID-safe protocols.

We were deciding on whether to write an episode about COVID, and whether we should acknowledge it in the show. But it was too hard and we didnt know what it would be like at that point in time. We hope the show is an escape for people.

Theres a few tiny nods that crept in, like Staying the course,' says Pacquola.

Or Get on the beers,' McGregor agrees.

Other casting is currently underway but Pacquola & McGregor, who wrote the series during Melbourne lockdown, insist most of the cast are Tasmanian-based. The show draws upon 37 local full-time crew, 16 local casuals, 25 local actors and more than 50 extras.

We wrote it not planning to write anything on borders. We just really wanted to give all of these characters time to build on the relationships -and giving Luke and I a few extra scenes off! Pacquola jokes.

Im very astonished that the scripts have come out with so much joy in them, when a lot of it was a by-product of getting through lockdown.

We didnt have as much of a deadline, so it was more about just writing for fun and to hang out with the characters.

In a boost to the tourism sector, cast and crew will use at least 1,200 accommodation room nights in Hobart and surrounds during production.

In addition to its Logie and AACTA wins Rosehaven has also been successful internationally, screening on Sundance TV.

I want to see it dubbed into a different language, like Mexican or Japanese, McGregor suggests, prompting Pacquola to add, I want to do a real-time episode, or on the Spirit of Tasmania!

Production Credits: A What Horse? / Guesswork Television production presented by Screen Tasmania and the ABC in association with Film Victoria. Created and Written by Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola. Director and Associate Producer, Jonathan Brough. Co-Producer Fiona McConaghy. Produced by Andrew Walker, Luke McGregor, and Celia Pacquola. Executive Producer Kevin Whyte. ABC Executive Producers Todd Abbott and Brett Sleigh.

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Highlights Google has suspended the corporate account of Margaret Mitchell, who helps lead the company's ethical AI team.

Google in a statement noted that its systems detected that an account had exfiltrated thousands of files and shared them with multiple external accounts.

According to reports, Mitchell had been reprimanded by Google's management, but not fired.

Google has suspended the corporate account of Margaret Mitchell, who helps lead the company's ethical AI team, according to online reports. Google in a statement noted that its systems detected that an account had exfiltrated thousands of files and shared them with multiple external accounts. A Google spokesperson told Business Insider that Mitchell's corporate access, including her work email, had been locked. Another source told the website that Mitchell had been reprimanded by management, but not fired.

As per reports, Mitchell had been using automated scripts to look through her messages to find examples showing discriminatory treatment of former Google employee Timnit Gebru, whose controversial exit enraged the employees of the company. Meanwhile, Gebru on Twitter wrote, "Guess what? @mmitchell_ai's corp access is now locked. I'm wondering if she's going to get an email to her personal email accepting her 'resignation.' I have not seen a company that has this little shame in a while."

"Our security systems automatically lock an employee's corporate account when they detect that the account is at risk of compromise due to credential problems or when an automated rule involving the handling of sensitive data has been triggered. In this instance, yesterday our systems detected that an account had exfiltrated thousands of files and shared them with multiple external accounts. We explained this to the employee earlier today," Google in a statement told Axios.

Mitchell on Tuesday highlighted an article that spoke about Google CEO Sundar Pichai's meeting with Black college leaders following racism allegations and wrote on Twitter, "Say you have a problem with consistently alienating Black women and have caused serious damage in their lives. You could: A) try to undo that damage B) try to find more Black people to like you (the tokenism approach). Good luck....."

Last month Pichai in a letter to his employees addressed the exit of Dr Timnit Gebru and noted that he will review her exit. "We need to accept responsibility for the fact that a prominent Black, female leader with immense talent left Google unhappily," Pichai had noted. However, it did not mention Gebru getting fired or is she had resigned.

"This loss has had a ripple effect through some of our least represented communities, who saw themselves and some of their experiences reflected in Dr Gebru's," he wrote. "We need to assess the circumstances that led up to Dr Gebru's departure, examining where we could have improved and led a more respectful process." On December 2, Gebru, in a series of tweets noted that she had been fired.
Tough on law and order???

The Republican president that claimed he was serious on law and order in the US has issued a long, long list of reprieves for criminal friends and those under investigation.

It's not what you know, it's who you know, it seems...

Steve Bannon, former chief strategist, is one of a host of people being either pardoned or commuated by Presdient Trump in his final hours in office.

Steve Bannon is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trumps own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Twitter. And if that all sounds crazy, thats because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.

Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of investors who believed their money would be used to fulfill Trumps chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

Basically, there are lots of criminals, or alledged ones, who Trump has decided should go unpunished or uninvestigated. Unbelievable.

Read more:
Vaccine Information

Local/County Health Departments follow the Missouri State Department of Health and Senior Services phased roll out of the vaccine. While the university is not in the position to mandate that all faculty, staff and students receive a vaccination, we do stress the importance of receiving a vaccination to protect both your individual health and that of our community.

Throughout the country, the vaccine is being distributed in phases with some phases including multiple tiers. The distribution and the flow of the vaccine availability is controlled by county, state and federal health officials, who also decide when a particular group will be able to get vaccinated. Please check the county and state websites for the most up-to-date information about the progress through the priority groups and how they will be defined as supplies become available. The current phased approach in Missouri includes:

Missouri has determined that higher education faculty and staff as a whole will be part of Phase 2 distribution. Most students are expected to be included in Phase 3. However, the university encourages each individual to review the phases/tiers to identify their potential eligibility to join an earlier phase, which may change based on individual job responsibilities or health circumstances.

It is important to note that just because a state has opened a given phase/tier, the supply of vaccines remains limited with many vaccination sites having no active supply.

How to get the vaccine

Individual Initiated: Individuals who believe they are vaccine-eligible in a given phase can make an appointment with a health provider or contact their local health agency (Missouri Directory, Illinois Directory). Note that most local health departments have an online Vaccine Registration Survey allowing them to contact, screen and approve individuals according to phase.

Community Initiated: Individuals may identify a community vaccination event and sign up to be screened and approved according to phases open. UMSL will actively work to hold such an event or series of events on our campus should vaccine supply and distribution allow for widescale vaccination events.

UMSL Human Resources in consultation with the Campus Health Officer may identify positions that meet the criteria in initial phases such as those in healthcare positions and first responders. However, it is each individual's responsibility to review each phase to determine their own eligibility for the vaccination.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to pursue vaccination opportunities within the county/state they reside and work in addition to those within the greater St. Louis region.

Resources

COVID-19 Hotline: (800) 889 3931

Vaccination Sites

Many local pharmacies are also participating in distributing vaccines:

While the vaccine will become an additional tool in the fight against COVID-19, it will take time before it protects the general population. Continued vigilance and adherence to social distancing, face coverings and practicing safe hygiene will be essential throughout the semester.
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A reworked world map has revealed the most popular takeaway choices around the globe - and it's pizza that's the runaway winner.

On the map - generated using Google search data  country names have been supplemented by their residents most-searched-for takeaway cuisine.

Pizza is top in 44 countries, including India and Germany, while Chinese food is second, coming top in 29 countries, including Britain and America. Sushi is third - the most-searched-for takeaway in 10 countries, including Sweden and unsurprisingly, Japan.

A reworked world map reveals the takeaway choices that are most popular around the globe - and it's pizza - coded yellow - that's the clear favourite

THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR TAKEAWAY CHOICES 1. Pizza - 44 (countries it's the most-searched-for takeaway) 2. Chinese - 29 3. Sushi - 10 4. Fish and Chips - 6 5. Fried Chicken - 5 6. Indian - 4 7. Korean - 3 8. Thai - 2 9= Tapas - 1 9= Tacos - 1 9=Malaysian - 1 9= Burritos - 1 9= Pasta - 1 9 = Kebab - 1 Source: MoneyBeach.co.uk Advertisement

The map has been drawn up by insurance website MoneyBeach.co.uk, which used the Google data to establish the average monthly search volume in each country for terms associated with ordering a takeaway.

It says that the most-searched-for takeaway choice was then used as the top takeout cuisine for the country.

Regarding top-ranked pizza, it says: 'Pizza, a beloved comfort food and choice that offers something for everyone, with meat feasts and pineapple toppings to multiple vegan options, proved a clear favourite for everywhere from France to Barbados, and of course the home of pizza, Italy.'

In fourth place is fish and chips, top in six countries, including Canada, while fifth is fried chicken, with Cambodia among the five countries where it is most-searched-for.

In Europe, pizza is the clear favourite - although the Russians favour a kebab takeaway and tapas is top in Denmark

In North America, Americans and Mexicans search for Chinese the most, while fish and chips is top in Canada, St Lucia and Grenada

Topping searches in South America are pizza (Argentina and Peru), Chinese (Chile and Colombia) and sushi (Brazil)

Indian takeaway is sixth and top in four countries including the Netherlands, while Korean food is seventh and the most-searched-for takeaway in three countries, including Jordan.

Eighth and leading the way in two countries is Thai food, while joint ninth is tapas, tacos, Malaysian food, burritos, pasta and kebab - all the most-searched-for in one country each.

As well as a world map, MoneyBeach.co.uk has also drawn-up maps with regional breakdowns of the search data.

In Europe, pizza is the clear favourite - although the Russians favour a kebab takeaway, tapas is top in Denmark and sushi is most-searched-for in Portugal.

In the Oceania region, Chinese is the most-searched-for takeaway in Australia and New Zealand, with fish and chips coming top in Fiji

In Asia, pizza is number one in India, burritos are the takeaway of choice in Thailand and Chinese is top in the Philippines and, of course, China

Across the Atlantic in North America, Mexicans search for Chinese the most, while fish and chips is the takeaway of choice in St Lucia and Grenada.

Moving down to South America, topping searches are pizza (Argentina), Chinese (Chile) and sushi (Brazil).

When it comes to Oceania, Chinese is most-searched-for in Australia and New Zealand, with fish and chips coming top in Fiji.

In Asia, pizza is number one in India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, burritos are what Thais like to order and Chinese is the favourite in the Philippines and, of course, China.

In Africa, South Africans most-searched-for takeaway is fish and chips, Egyptians can't get enough of pizza and sushi is top in Mozambique

And in Africa, South Africans most-searched-for takeaway is fish and chips, Egyptians can't get enough of pizza and sushi is top in Mozambique.

Mike Rees, CEO of MoneyBeach.co.uk, said: 'We recently offered the chance for a lucky person to get paid for taste-testing festive takeout options, and the high levels of interest and 9,000-plus applications we received made us want to look a bit deeper into the world of takeaway food.

'A good takeout has become even more important this year as many have largely been unable to eat out, and it has been interesting to find that two choices (pizza and Chinese food) are head and shoulders above the competition!'
COLUMBUS, Ohio  An Ohio State University graduate student was killed when her head was pinned after her car struck an exit kiosk in an accident at a downtown parking garage.

Police tell WBNS Channel 10 that Victoria Strauss, 23, a Florida native, was leaving the parking garage at about 11:30 p.m. when she apparently dropped a credit card on the ground while trying to pay the fee. She opened the door to the car and leaned out to pick it up.

She accidentally caused the car to accelerate as she was leaning out, police tell WCMH Channel 4. The car collided with the payment machine, which caused her head to be pinned between the door frame and the kiosk, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

Strauss was found at 5:40 a.m. Tuesday by a security guard, reports say. She was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS workers.

WBNS reports police are continuing to investigate the accident.

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The celebration plans for the 125th birth anniversary of Indias legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has sparked another political slugfest between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling-Trinamool Congress in West Bengal ahead of the state assembly elections this year. Boses birth anniversary will be a year-long celebration beginning this January 23.

While the Centre has decided to celebrate Boses birthday as Parakram Diwas (the day of valour), Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Tuesday that the day will be observed as Desh Nayak Diwas (the day of the national hero).

Following her Purulia tour on Tuesday, CM Banerjee said, West Bengal will observe January 23 as 'Desh Nayak Diwas'. Taking a subtle dig at the BJP, riding on the outsider jibe, she said, I don't know the exact meaning of 'Parakram', maybe there are three to four meanings, so I can't discuss now.

ALSO READ | Planning Commission Like Body to be Formed in Bengal to Honour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: CM Mamata Banerjee

Soon after Union Minister announced Prime Minister Narendra Modis plan for Parakram Diwas in Kolkata, the TMC berated the Centres move, dubbing it as a political stunt ahead of the West Bengal assembly polls due this year.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been demanding for years that January 23 be declared as a national holiday and celebrated as Desh Nayak Diwas, which is the appropriate name because Rabindranath Tagore called Bose a desh er nayak (hero of the nation). The Modi government takes all decisions unilaterally, said Saugata Roy, a TMC Lok Sabha member and spokesperson of the party.

The BJP was quick to retort that the Centres decision to name the day Parakram Diwas because Netaji is a symbol of valour and patriotism for the entire nation.

On January 23, PM Modi is scheduled to participate in the first Parakrama Diwas event in Kolkata and inaugurate an exhibition on the grounds of the National Library to honour Bengals one of the most revered freedom fighters and cultural icons.

CM Banerjee has already announced setting up of a national university funded entirely by the state government, which will have tie-ups with foreign universities in the late freedom fighters name and also build a monument in Rajarhat. She has also announced that a number of Netaji's writings would be translated in various languages and that the states planning commission would be named after Bengals one of the tallest freedom fighters.

ALSO READ | Amit Shah to Head Committee for Planning Year-long Commemoration of Netaji's 125th Birth Anniversary

Meanwhile, disenchanted with both the Centre and the TMC, the Forward Bloc, which Netaji founded in 1939, and a section of his family demand that January 23 be observed as Desh Prem Diwas (day of patriotism).

Chandra Kumar Bose, a BJP leader and the grandnephew of Netaji, too, demanded that Boses birthday be observed as Desh Prem Diwas across India. Chandra Kumar Bose, a BJP leader and Boses grandnephew, agreed. #Netajis birthday on 23January is celebrated as #DeshPremDivas across the country by people from all religions, caste & creed as he was the #LiberatorofIndia & their own leader... (SIC), he tweeted.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have set up different committees to chalk out the plan for Netajis birthday. PM Modis committee will be headed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and will include Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a host of other prominent people from the family of historians, authors and people from Netajis Azad Hind Army.

Taking exception of the Centres panel on Netajis birth anniversary, the Forward Bloc had said, Nobody from the Forward Bloc has been included in the committee. We will not be a part of it even if we are invited now.
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WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.  Officials on the Navajo Nation on Tuesday reported 45 new COVID-19 cases, but no deaths.

The latest figures bring the total reported coronavirus cases on the reservation to 26,517 with 922 known deaths.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said in a statement that while people are getting vaccinated, its crucial to keep in mind that another variant of the virus has been found in nearby regions.

The Navajo Department of Health has identified 75 communities with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 from Jan. 1-14.

The five newest communities added to the list were Bread Springs, Hard Rock, Jeesto, Cove and Mexican Springs.

Nez said residents still need to remain vigilant and practice health safety measures like staying home.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Residents of the vast reservation were required to stay home from Friday evening until early Monday morning, except for essential workers and in the case of an emergency.

The number of infections is thought to be higher than reported because many people havent been tested.

Studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

Tribal officials said more than 224,000 people on the vast reservation have been tested for COVID-19 and more than 13,500 have recovered.

The Navajo Nation extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Shillong, Jan 20 : The 69th plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), a regional planning body, would be held in the Meghalaya capital on January 23 with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the chair, officials said on Wednesday.

The NEC, which was set up in 1971, is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the northeastern region comprising Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura and has the Governors and Chief Ministers as its members.

According to the officials, over the last 50 years, the NEC, under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), has been instrumental in setting in motion a new economic endeavour aimed at removing the basic handicaps that stood in the way of normal development of the region and has ushered in an era of new hope in this backward area full of great potentialities.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma likely to meet the Union Home Minister to discuss some pending issues including promulgation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the entire state and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

The delegation of the MDA, in which Bharatiya Janata Party is also a constituent, would also raise issues such as the long-pending boundary dispute with Assam.

Some NGOs are also likely to meet the Home Minister on the same issues.

The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO), an umbrella body of more than 17 organisations, has been spearheading the agitation since 2019 for the introduction of ILP in the remaining part of the state.

The Meghalaya Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution on December 19, 2019 requesting the central government to impose the ILP in the remaining part of the hill state. If the ILP is enforced in the entire Meghalaya, the hill state, like other four northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, would keep itself out of the purview of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 was in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram. On December 11, 2019 it was promulgated in Manipur, to allow for inward travel of an Indian citizen into the ILP enforced areas for a stipulated period with the written permission of the state authority.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Destatis releases Germany's producer price figures for December at 2.00 am ET Wednesday. Economists forecast producer prices to fall 0.3 percent annually after easing 0.5 percent in November. Ahead of the data, the euro traded mixed against its major rivals. While the euro held steady against the yen, it rose against the greenback and the franc. Against the pound, it fell. The euro was worth 126.05 against the yen, 1.0789 against the franc, 0.8895 against the pound and 1.2150 against the greenback as of 1:55 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.

WASHINGTON  President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.s top intelligence, foreign policy and military advisers sought to draw distinctions with the departing Trump administration and lawmakers looked for hints about the new approach, as the Senate opened confirmation hearings for three nominees on Tuesday.

The hearings offered glimpses of what Mr. Bidens national security policies will be  where they will be a resumption of the Obama administrations approach and where they could differ. There was no indication of any sharp break with President Barack Obamas policies, but there were clearly hints of where the new president could take a harder line  on China, and also, potentially, on Iran.

Lloyd J. Austin III, Mr. Bidens pick for defense secretary, must have a waiver approved by the House and Senate before he can get a Senate vote since he is a recently retired general. Democrats had hoped to have in place Avril D. Haines, Mr. Bidens choice as director of national intelligence, but Republicans delayed her hearing originally set for last week. Antony J. Blinken, Mr. Bidens selection as secretary of state, will also not have a quick vote, in part because of scheduling disagreements between Republicans and Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee.

All three nominees pledged to undo what they described as damage done to their agencies by President Trump, stating goals of rebuilding morale and depoliticizing what are supposed to be nonpartisan, or at least consensus, approaches to diplomacy, military strategy and intelligence collection.
Smoke rises from a damaged building after an explosion in Madrid on Jan. 20, 2021. (Susana Vera/Reuters)

At Least 2 Dead After Blast Brings Down Building in Central Madrid

MADRIDAt least two people died and several were injured when a building in central Madrid belonging to the Catholic Church collapsed on Wednesday after an explosion, Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida told reporters.

Initial investigations suggested that the blast in Calle de Toledo, a street leading out from the city center, had been caused by a gas leak, he said.

A police officer and medical personnel assist people after an explosion in Madrid on Jan. 20, 2021. (Susana Vera/Reuters)

Smoke billowed out of the collapsed building and rescue workers evacuated elderly people from a nearby nursing home.

A Church official said one church volunteer was missing.

The building was a complex that provided residential training for priests and also gave meals to homeless people, a neighbor said.

By Nathan Allen and Michael Gore
LONDON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The urgent need for social distancing to contain COVID-19 has given the global telemedicine market a perfect opportunity, assesses Fairfield Market Research. The global telemedicine market is anticipated to reach US$ 152.1 Bn by 2025 from US$ 82.7 Bn in 2020, surging at a CAGR of 19% from 2021 to 2025.

The market holds great opportunities ever since the World Health Organization declared telemedicine as one of the essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic to tackle emergencies. Telemedicine ensured seamless solutions and access to high-quality healthcare services, improved clinical management and essential care delivery during the pandemic, which has presented the market an exponential opportunity. The latest report by Fairfield Market Research indicates that virtual care delivery by healthcare could be a huge step-up in handling remote medical care in the near future.

For more insights into the Market, Request a Sample of this Report @ https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/telemedicine-market/

Global outbreak has bolstered the demand for telemedicine as it assists patients in communicating effectively to their caregivers or doctors. This has reduced the stress on medical professionals by reducing the frequency of hospitalization, room visits, cross-contamination and hospital-acquired infections.

Social Distancing Accelerates Demand for Mobile or Web-based Segment

The mobile or web-based segment will likely dominate the global market as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc. Rising number of people are opting for telemedicine solutions as it provides easy access to medical care from the comfort of home. Furthermore, reduced travel time and waiting period at clinics have proven to be cost-effective and safe, prompting many to opt for telemedicine for consultations. This rise in demand has encouraged service providers and users to develop cloud-based solutions. The high magnitude of demand and quick solutions will act as excellent drivers for the mobile or web-based segments in the global telemedicine market in the coming years.

Consumer Fear Regarding Data Safety to Hamper Market Growth

The market is however is expected to face certain restraints such as safety issues and data privacy. Patients and practitioners are sceptical about adapting to new technology as a breach of privacy and data theft continues to be looming fear amongst end users. The cost of implementing new technology is also high, thus, making it less attractive to many. Additionally, many rural areas cannot access these services due to lack of internet facilities and higher illiteracy, especially in developing parts of the world.

Large Consumer Base and Tech Savvy Industry to Boost Demand for Telemedicine in North America

North America is expected to lead the global market as this region has a large consumer base and well-established healthcare industry that is tech-savvy. Furthermore, the region also boasts key players, which has given it a head start in terms of adoption and application. Currently, there are around 200 networked telemedicine programs in the U.S.A that are allocating telemedicine access to more than 3000 rural sites. This region is also technologically advanced due to hefty investments from government bodies for research and development activities.

Asia Pacific is also expected to rise in the global competition as this region is witnessing technological advancement in digital imaging. Government initiatives such as the recent launch of National Digital Health Mission by the Indian Government will also accelerate the market growth in this region.

Key Players Utilizing COVID-19 Crisis to Introduce Technologically Advanced Services

Key players are actively investing in research and development activities to stay ahead of the competition by introducing technologically advanced services. The market is also expected to witness the rise of new entrants as companies are actively trying to benefit from the COVID-19 lockdown crisis. Companies are focusing on expanding their consumer base by launching cost-effective and quality services.

The key players operating in the global telemedicine market are 2nd.MD, Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc, AMD Global Telemedicine, American Well, BioTelemetry, Blue Sky Telehealth, Cerner Corporation, Cisco Systems, Doctolib, Eagle Telemedicine, Honeywell International Inc, iCLiniq, InSight, InTouch Technologies, Koninklijke Philips N.V., McKesson Corporation, MDLive, MeMD, OBS Medical, Polycom Inc., SOC Telemed, Specialist Telemed.

In Order to Place the Purchase Query Click Here: [email protected]

About Us

Fairfield Market Research is a UK-based market research provider. Fairfield offers a wide spectrum of services, ranging from customized reports to consulting solutions. With a strong European footprint, Fairfield operates globally and helps businesses navigate through business cycles, with quick responses and multi-pronged approaches. The company values an eye for insightful take on global matters, ably backed by a team of exceptionally experienced researchers. With a strong repository of syndicated market research reports that are continuously published & updated to ensure the ever-changing needs of customers are met with absolute promptness.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  One name missing in President Donald Trump's flurry of pardons is Tiger King Joe Exotic.

His team was so confident in a pardon that they'd readied a celebratory limousine and a hair and wardrobe team to whisk away the zookeeper-turned-reality-TV-star, who is now serving a 22-year federal prison sentence in Texas. But he wasn't on the list announced Wednesday morning.

Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in federal prison for violating federal wildlife laws and for his role in a failed murder-for-hire plot targeting his chief rival, Carole Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida. Baskin was not harmed.

Maldonado-Passage, who has maintained his innocence, was also sentenced for killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records. A jury convicted him in April 2019.

In his pardon application filed in September, Maldonado-Passages attorneys argued that he was railroaded and betrayed by others. Maldonado-Passage, 57, is scheduled to be released from custody in 2037, but his attorneys said in the application that he will likely die in prison because of health concerns.

Maldonado-Passage's legal team did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Wednesday.

The blond mullet-wearing zookeeper, known for his expletive-laden rants on YouTube and a failed 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial campaign, was prominently featured in the popular Netflix documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.
Annville

Volunteers are being sought to participate on Jan. 30 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery to pick up the more than 40,000 live balsam wreaths that were placed on every grave during Wreaths Across America Day observed on Dec. 19. Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. on the plaza of the Pennsylvania Veterans Memorial at the cemetery. Volunteers should park at The Community Club/Arrowhead Bar & Grill parking lot, 9-65 Fisher Ave., Annville, and use the shuttle bus service. For more information, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Elizabethville

The Lykens Valley Childrens Museum is seeking volunteers to join its team to continue its mission to bring a fun and educational environment to regional families. LVCM is an all-volunteer-run interactive play and hands-on learning museum at 33 S. Market St. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old and able to acquire necessary clearances. For more information, call 570-809-6379 or email lykensvalleychildrensmuseum@gmail.com.

Hazleton

The Greater Hazleton Concert Series Inc. will feature the Electric Light Orchestra 50th Anniversary Experience in virtual performance Jan. 27-31. For more information, visit www.hazletonconcertseries.org or call Cynthia Currier at 570-579-7110 or Amelia Bergeron at 570-788-4864. The series has Schuylkill County participants.

Mahanoy City

The West End Fire and Rescue Company, 700 W. Mahanoy Ave., will have a Friday food sale this week from 3 to 7 p.m. Advance orders are suggested on sale day by calling 570-773-0870 or 570-778-6118. See the companys Facebook page for the menu.

Pottsville

Yorkville Hose Company will have a drive-thru, curbside-only sale of pot pie at $7 per quart beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Family doctors in Laois have appealed to the public not to call them about vaccination arrangements as it is putting a strain on the running of practices around the county.

The Laois GP group, which includes Laois Faculty of the ICGP and MIDOC out of hours service members, have issued the appeal to the public in a statement in which they thank their patients for the work to date and urge them to stick with the measures to contain the third wave in the county.

"We are heartened to see the day-on-day reduction in case numbers and expect hospital admission to reduce shortly. We would like to thank everyone in our community for their efforts which has most certainly contributed to this reduction.

"However, it is important that we all continue in our efforts to suppress this virus so that we may see a return to normal life in the not-too-distant future. It is vital that we continue to keep our contacts to a minimum & stay at home except for non-essential purposes. The arrival of several vaccines has added to our armoury in the fight against COVID-19," said the statement.

Laois GPs say they are looking forward to assisting in the roll-out of the vaccination programme in our community in the coming weeks.

"The first roll-out of the vaccination programme will involve GPs and their teams vaccinating those patients that are over 70. It is expected that we shall commence with those over 85 in the first instance and then over 80 and so on.

"Each practice will have different arrangements in place to roll this out and will advise their patients accordingly," they say.

But a date for the commencement of community vaccination has not been announced nor as the vaccine to be used by GPs and pharmacists been approved for use in Ireland.

But the doctors in Laois have been inundated with queries. They have appealed for patience and urged the public not to contact them.

"We are receiving a large volume of calls in relation to vaccine queries. Each practice will adhere to the recommended roll out as advised by the HSE and the National Immunisation Committee

"The large volume of vaccine-related queries via phone and email to surgeries is placing additional strain on the administration system of GP practices locally. We ask that you avoid contacting your GP surgery to be put on a list as there are no lists. If you have concerns or are seeking advice in relation to the vaccine, please find below a list of recommended sites where you may find the answer to your query," the say.

The doctors say the HSE site contains information about who should receive the vaccine, its safety, immunity, and side effects. There are also patient information leaflets found on this site.

https://www2.hse.ie/covid-19-vaccine/

The directed people with queries about vaccination and pregnancy to the following link contains the most up to date information.

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/covid19vaccineinfo4hps/qaiogniac.pdf

The following link has a decision-making aid for pregnant women offered the vaccine.

https://rcpi-live-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IMPS-IOG-COVID-Vaccine-Infographic-V130121.pdf


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Scottish seafood companies must now complete up to seven documents just for a single lorry carrying one species to export to the European Union following Brexit, bosses warned today.

The papers that must be filled in are an export health certificate, catch certificate, customs export declaration, endangered species permit, common health entry document, storage document and processing statement.

In an attempt to explain the red tape, the Government's Marine Management Organisation produced a lengthy 33-point flowchart on how British suppliers can export wild-caught marine fish to the EU from January 1.

The introduction of new checks and paperwork since the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31 last year has caused huge disruption to UK exports of fresh fish and seafood to the EU.

Jimmy Buchan, chief executive of the Scottish Seafood Association, told MailOnline today that one supplier with one product such as salmon and one 20-tonne lorry now needs seven different documents to export to the EU.

The Government produced a 33-point flowchart on how British suppliers can export fish to the European Union from January 1

This catch certificate is an example of one of the seven documents that must now be filled in by companies exporting fish

This means exporters with multiple species from different companies now needs dozens of documents. Mr Buchan told MailOnline: 'Therein lies where errors start to happen on a system no one had any experience on.

'It was chaos. But we're week three and we are moving fish. We've known for two years that outside the customs union, there'd be new documents. What the problem was, was that our negotiators negotiated a bad deal.'

What are the seven documents now needed to export fish to the EU? Export health certificate

Catch certificate

Customs export declaration

Endangered species permit

Common health entry document

Storage document

Processing statement Advertisement

Peterhead-based Mr Buchan added: 'The EU has been given six months grace to continue importing in the UK, with no paperwork, no barriers, so there's a huge imbalance. We're having to do documents outward, but they're not having to do them inward.'

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, he said: 'We have had glitches right through the system, everyone included. My own sector the paperwork was probably not adequately filled out.

'Overburden-some bureaucratic rules was the next problem, glitches at border controls was the next problem, and even the French had border control glitches. You put all that into the mix and you've got a motorway crash and we are working through that endlessly to find solutions for the industry and we will get seafood to the market.'

Mr Buchan recently met with fisheries minister Victoria Prentis to try and speed up the process and said 'every day was getting better'.

He told the Mail: 'It's a tedious amount of paperwork. What was expected to take one hour now takes five or six hours. Every fish needs to be weighed and documented. Last year we didn't need these checks.

'Now, for instance, if you have a lorry for one producer just containing salmon, you need seven documents.

'When you start working in groupages, where you might have ten producers and different products sharing the same lorry, you have gone from seven documents to maybe hundreds of documents. Before all this manifested you just had to say what was on the pallet with one document.'

Fishing boats moored at Eyemouth Harbour in the Scottish Borders yesterday as exports are severely disrupted by delays

An almost empty Peterhead fish market in Scotland is seen yesterday as problems continue after the transition period ended

A fishing boat moored at Dunbar Harbour in East Lothian yesterday as exports of fresh fish and seafood are severely disrupted

Speaking about the paperwork, oyster farmer Tom Haward, of Richard Haward's Oysters in West Mersea, Essex, told Byline TV: 'It's very time consuming.

Fisherman, 64, who spent 1million on new boat can no longer sell his catch A Scottish fisherman who spent 1million on a new boat can no longer sell his catch because it has been stuck in transit due to Brexit delays. Alistair Roberts, 64, spent two years having the trawler built to add to his River Clyde fleet, which catches langoustines and prawns to sell in Europe. But three weeks after the vessel went to sea, export hold-ups caused by Brexit regulations meant he could not get his produce out of the UK. Stuck in transit: Alistair Roberts spent 1million on a new boat but can't get his catch out of the UK due to delays The exports of fish and shellfish have been stuck in transit for weeks and had gone rotten by the time they arrived on the continent. Now Mr Roberts, who owns Brora Fishing Company which operates from Greenock, Renfrewshire, has backed industry calls for a six-month grace period to allow firms to get used to the new requirements. He said: 'We can't get stock out of the country. Our boat was the first built on the Clyde for 18 years and is insured for 1million, about as much as it cost to build. Mr Roberts owns Brora Fishing Company which operates from Greenock, Renfrewshire 'Normally our stock would come off the boat fresh and be in France within 24 hours. But this week alone our prices have gone down 20 per cent because our processor is now having to freeze the stock because they can't export it.' The delays have been caused by fishermen needing catch certificates and export health certificates. The new paperwork is taking longer than expected to be processed. Mr Roberts added: 'The procedure at the hubs should take 45 minutes but it is taking up to five hours to clear one lorry. I have a crew of nine men who are all self-employed. Fishermen get paid wages depending on their share of the catch and if we are not fishing, then no one gets any money.' Advertisement

'For the Export Health Certificate, which is basically saying that your product is fit for human consumption, you need one person from local authority, and environmental health officer to sign that, but that alone takes a lot of time and a lot of emails and phone calls.

'We can't do that in the new system because there's no way at 10am that I'd then be able to get hold of my environmental health officer to sign a certificate by the end of the day that day, I wouldn't be able to do it.'

Last night, UK ministers confirmed Scottish seafood exporters will be able to claim up to 100,000 in compensation over Brexit delays - with the industry losing around 1million a day during the crisis.

Officials yesterday said a funding package of up to 23million would be made available for businesses hit by severe delays amid the post-Brexit chaos. Firms have been forced to beg for urgent financial support from the Government amid fears of bankruptcy.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson originally disclosed the Government's intentions after seafood hauliers descended on Westminster on Monday to protest at the terms of the Brexit trade deal which has left them struggling to access EU markets.

And the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs yesterday announced a package of aid for the fishing sector  accepting that it had the 'most significant new requirements' to adjust to after Brexit.

The scheme will be for small and medium enterprise, with operators able to claim a maximum of 100,000. The exports firms must be able to provide evidence of a genuine loss in exporting of fish and shellfish to the EU.

Responding to the Government money, Mr Buchan told BBC Radio 4: 'We do welcome the offer. It's a great step. It shows that the Government of the day, and we did engage with them, understood that there were problems, and have come up with a package that is going to try and help us through this very difficult time.'

Fishing companies will have to prove they have made quantifiable losses, and Mr Buchan was asked if it would be tricky for them to prove what they've lost.

But he replied: 'No, I don't think it will. If you have bought fish at the market, premium, prime fish, and you've paid a premium price, and the return on that goods five days later is less than what you actually bought it for, then I'm pretty sure there's evidence to me that you made a loss.

'Other companies are going to have to prove that they've put that fish to landfill, but I'm confident that the people who have made the genuine losses here will be able to demonstrate through the paperwork trail where the losses were made.'

Mr Buchan added that there was a need for an 'immediate cash injection' for the industry, saying: 'If we look at the whole context here, if you look at the backdrop of a pandemic 2020, then there was the restrictions through the exports to France pre-Christmas, and now we've got these blockages in the first few weeks of January, I would think some of our businesses are in very, very dire straits of needing cash injection.

'I think that given time we can improve and speed up our efficiencies in getting seafood to market. Remember, this was the first day at school for everyone, from the catching, to the processing, to the logistics, to the certifying officers, to the border control force and the French border control force. January 4, first day at school for everyone  it was disarray.'

Mr Buchan was also asked how he felt Brexit had gone, especially as he had backed calls for it four years ago.

He replied: 'We're still working through that. Surely you're not going to context this on two weeks - let's speak about this in two years and then we'll have an answer. But we can't make a snapshot decision in two weeks.'

The money revealed by Environment Secretary George Eustice will be paid immediately and retrospectively covering losses from January 1, 2021. Details of how to apply and eligibility will be revealed in the coming days.

Mr Eustice said: 'This 23million scheme will provide crucial support for fishermen and seafood exporters who have experienced delays and a lack of demand from the restaurant industry in the UK and Europe.

Police inspect the truck of a driver protesting against post-Brexit red tape in the fishing industry in Westminster on Monday

Police speak to Scottish shellfish export truck drivers as they are stopped during their demonstration in London on Monday

Police officers talk to a driver working in the shellfish industry who brought his truck to London for the protest on Monday

'We are continuing to work closely with the fishing and aquaculture sectors to make sure that they are supported, and can continue to fish whilst contributing to the economies of our coastal communities.'

Essex oyster farmer explains how export health certificates work Oyster farmer Tom Haward An oyster farmer has revealed the difficulties of getting a single signature for an export health certificate, which is among the documents now needed to export fish to the EU. Tom Haward, of Richard Haward's Oysters in West Mersea, Essex, told Byline TV yesterday: 'It's very time consuming. 'For the Export Health Certificate, which is basically saying that your product is fit for human consumption, you need one person from local authority, and environmental health officer to sign that, but that alone takes a lot of time and a lot of emails and phone calls. 'We can't do that in the new system because there's no way at 10am that I'd then be able to get hold of my environmental health officer to sign a certificate by the end of the day that day, I wouldn't be able to do it.' Richard Haward's Oysters is based in West Mersea, Essex Advertisement

New customs procedures have led to delays in getting seafood from Scotland to Europe, with firms forced to tie up their boats and tell workers to stay on land.

Seafood firms have warned they are days away from collapsing without an urgent injection of emergency cash  as fishermen have been forced to make 72-hour round-trip journeys to Denmark to sell their catch.

The scheme will be administered by the Marine Management Organisation, with UK ministers set to consult with the industry and devolved nations.

Scotland Office minister David Duguid said: 'This funding announcement is the latest step in the UK Government's continued engagement with the senior representatives of the industry to identify specific problems and to apply rapid solutions. Those conversations are, of course, aimed at addressing immediate concerns, and at finding longer-term, sustainable solutions to the challenges that the industry faces.'

As well as financial support, the Government has pledged to work with businesses to help them adapt to the new export processes  with training and workshop session available.

Scotland's Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said the UK Government must ensure that its compensation package is open to all whose business has been interrupted or harmed by any aspect of the new export rules.

He said: 'As feared and predicted, the new trading relationship with the EU is having a catastrophic impact on Scotland's food and drink export industry. It is very clear that the UK Government should have extended the transition period as we called for, due to the pandemic and lack of progress in the negotiations.

'We have repeatedly pressed the UK Government to act quickly and compensate businesses affected by the ongoing trade issues. I am pleased to see they have finally recognised our calls for compensation but I remain concerned this may be too little, too late for some businesses that have been left to rot as a result of the extensive bureaucracy forced on them by a poor Brexit deal and failing UK IT systems.

'Whilst we desperately need more detail, it does appear almost certain that the vast majority of fishing vessels who land but don't export directly will not be covered by this scheme, which is beyond any rational explanation. The UK Government must step up for all affected businesses.'

Seafood Scotland chief executive Donna Fordyce welcomed the announcement of 'short-term assistance' but said the Government needed to do more to support the sector.

'While we await the full detail of the package, we know that there will be questions around the extent to which it supports the entire supply chain, from fleet to export,' she said. 'Money will offer a much-needed sticking plaster covering the losses over the last few weeks, but to completely staunch the wound, the sector still needs a period of grace during which the systems must be overhauled so they are fit for purpose. '
A man accused of striking a fatal blow which killed his friend on Wednesday denied he had tried to "sugarcoat and underplay" his actions.

As he gave evidence at his trial, Joseph Dorrian (23) said that after being punched by Darren O'Neill at a car park in Tyrella Beach, he pushed his arm out in self-defence.

This claim was rejected by a Crown barrister, who told Dorrian that after being "absolutely furious" with Mr O'Neill for driving his father's jeep and following a physical confrontation "you couldn't resist and you let him have it" with a punch to the jaw.

Dorrian, from Lakeview in Crumlin, is currently standing trial at Downpatrick Crown Court after denying a charge of manslaughter on the grounds of self-defence.

Mr O'Neill, who was 22 and from west Belfast, died two days after the altercation with Dorrian. The pair and two females travelled from the city to the Co Down beach on June 27, 2019.

Several witnesses have already told the jury about seeing the two men arguing and fighting after Mr O'Neill drove the jeep and performed handbrake turns in the car park.

After being called to the witness box, Dorrian was asked about the confrontation he had with Mr O'Neill when the car came to a halt. Saying he was "annoyed" but not angry, the defendant said: "Darren was laughing when he got out of the car and I confronted him to ask him what he was playing at."

Dorrian accepted words were exchanged and that at one stage their heads were touching.

When asked by his barrister Brendan Kelly QC "What happened between you and Darren which led to him falling to the ground?", Dorrian replied: "I noticed a change in his body language.

"I said to him 'what are you going to do Darren, hit me' and he swung a dig and I pulled my head back the ways." Dorrian said this blow glanced off his shoulder and hit his chin.

Mr Kelly then asked his client "once you had been struck, what happened then?", to which Dorrian said: "I just reacted. I was frightened of receiving more punches and I wanted it to stop. I pushed my hand out in reasonable force to give him the indication to stop."

Saying "I didn't intend to hurt him", Dorrian confirmed that when Mr O'Neill collapsed a short time later, he helped to perform CPR.

Under cross-examination by Crown barrister Gavan Duffy QC, Dorrian was accused of downplaying how angry he was about Mr O'Neill driving the jeep, lying to police about the physical confrontation and "sugarcoating" his actions.

Dorrian described the jeep as "my family's pride and joy", and when it was suggested he was "horrified" when his intoxicated friend started doing handbrake turns, and that he wanted to hit him when he got out of the vehicle, Dorrian said: "I don't accept that, that's not true."

Mr Duffy raised accounts given by various witnesses to the altercation. These included people who recounted Mr O'Neill's intoxicated state, and a man who described the punch thrown by him as "limp."

When it was put to Dorrian than several witnesses recalled that it was Mr O'Neill who said 'hit me, hit me' to Dorrian, he said: "I don't accept that, no."

Dorrian was questioned about the different accounts he gave to police - one at the scene which was recorded on a bodycam and a second during an interview the next day.

On the footage, Dorrian can he heard telling an officer he struck out after being told by Mr O'Neill 'hit me a dig back'. The following day, he told police this wasn't the case.

He maintained that Mr O'Neill didn't say those words, that the account he gave at the scene was wrong and at that time he "panicked ... everything was going through my head and I was just spitting words out."

And when it was pointed out that what he said at the scene was the same account given by witnesses - which Dorrian now claims are all incorrect - he was accused of "dumping" his first account and "reconstructing" a version which better suited claims of self-defence.

Mr Duffy accused Dorrian of "goading" his friend into a physical fight after driving the car where slaps were exchanged and that Mr O'Neill was "in a physically vulnerable state and unfit to fight" due to his intoxicated state.

The Crown barrister then suggested to Dorrian "that after he punched you you he immediately realised he had made a mistake and invited you to hit him." Dorrian replied "I don't agree with that."

Mr Duffy continued: "The bottom line, Mr Dorrian, is that you couldn't resist, you just couldn't resist, and you let him have it." Describing this blow to the jaw as "unnecessary and unwarranted", Mr Duffy added "unfortunately for you and more unfortunately for Mr O'Neill, you caused his death."

Dorrian replied "I didn't set out to hurt my best friend. The day was meant to be a fun day at the beach."

At hearing


Saif Ali Khan Calls His Role In Vikram Vedha Remake A 'Refreshing Change'

Saif who is reprising R Madhavan's role from the original film, told the tabloid, "I will play an idealistic cop, so I will have to find a way to make him fun. But it will be a refreshing change to portray the good guy." Reportedly, Aamir Khan was to step into Vijay Sethupathi's shoes for the remake. However, buzz is that the makers have now approached Hrithik Roshan for this role.

Saif Ali Khan Does Not Want To Repeat Himself On Screen

Besides Vikram Vedha remake, Saif will be essaying the larger-than-life antagonist Lankesh in Prabhas' Adiprush. He will also be seen in Bhoot Police which is a horror comedy and Yash Raj Films' rom-com Bunty Aur Babli 2.

On being asked if he gets drawn more to grey characters, the actor told the tabloid, "I have always enjoyed grey roles more than milky white characters. In Adipurush, I am playing the ultimate negative character. But, after a point, it gets depressing if you are constantly being wicked. I also worry about being repetitive. So, I [balance it] by essaying a character like Sartaj Singh [Sacred Games], who is kind and vulnerable. The idea is to channel different energies."

Saif Ali Khan Also Talked About Shooting For Bhoot Police Amid The Pandemic

"Getting back to work was initially scary. The producers did their best to maintain a safe environment," the actor who is currently shooting the last leg of the film, told the tabloid. Bhoot Police also stars Arjun Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez and Yami Gautam in pivotal roles.
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Representative image | Source: Unsplash

A nearly eight percent rise in maize prices in the global market since the beginning of 2021 has helped domestic prices stabilise despite the poultry industry, the primary consuming sector, being hit by avian influenza outbreak across India.

According to Trading Economics website, maize (corn) prices have increased to 520.25 US cents a bushel year-to-date. The commoditys rise month-on-month is 18.30 percent.

The International Grains Council said maize prices free-on-board (FOB) were quoted from USD 256 (Rs 18,700) in the US Gulf to USD 263 (Rs 19,200) in Argentina, a tad lower than last week.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said rising soybean prices had pushed up corn prices while supply concerns in South America have added further fuel.

Argentina, the third-largest maize exporter in the world, capping corn exports till March 1, 2021, at 30,000 tonnes a day to ensure supply of maize for the domestic poultry also led to the price surge in the global market.

Maize prices have gained over Rs 100 a quintal in the last fortnight or so. Rates for maize delivered at Namakkal in Tamil Nadu are currently Rs 1,570 a quintal. Last week, they were ruling at Rs 1,600, said Tamil Nadu Egg Poultry Farmers Marketing Society (PFMS) president Vangili Subramanian.

According to Ministry of Agriculture data, maize prices in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and parts of Maharashtra are ruling between Rs 1,150 and Rs 1,400 currently.

This is against the minimum support price of Rs 1,850 a quintal fixed by the Union Government for the current crop year (July 2020-June 2020).

Maize ex-Nashik is quoted at Rs 1,390 a quintal and Mumbai-delivered is Rs 1,510, said Chennai-based Rajathi Group Director Madan Prakash.

Prices have tended to rise over the last two days, he said.

Maize prices in India have been ruling stable. Prices have not increased in tune with the global spike in view of the spread of Avian influenza or bird flu across the country. But they may not drop from current levels, said Bimal Bengani, Managing Director, Bengani Food Products Pvt, an export house.

Domestic consumers have ample stocks and hence local demand was slow. Everyone is looking towards the Rabi crop harvest due in April, he said.

Prices could increase next month or in March, the Bengani Food Products MD said.

At least 11 States have been affected by the bird flu outbreak in India leading to culling of thousands of poultry birds. The outbreak has affected consumption of poultry products such as egg and meat to some extent.

The culling of birds has resulted in offtake of raw materials such as maize declining. However, the rise in global prices has resulted in Indian maize turning competitive in the export market.

We are witnessing some demand and buyers abroad say it will continue till April-May until the Brazil crop arrives. After May, Indian maize may not be competitive in the global market as domestic prices generally tend to rise after May, said Prakash, whose Rajathi Group exports agricultural commodities.

Bimal Bengani said the rise in global prices has halted during the last couple of sessions, particularly after prices increased from $190 to $260 a tonne.

Also, Bangladesh, which had bought over seven lakh tonnes till November, has stopped buying from India. Bangladesh maize harvest begins in March. So, it is off the market now. But we are shipping out pending orders, he said.

While Prakash said that Vietnam and Malaysia were currently buying maize from India, Bimal Bengani said Sri Lanka was also importing from here.

According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, maize exports have already topped the shipments for the whole of the last fiscal.

During the April-October period of the current fiscal, 11.5 lakh tonnes of maize valued at $234.5 million (Rs 1,713.65 crore) against 3.7 lakh tonnes worth $142.78 million (Rs 1,042 crore) the whole of previous fiscal.

This is the highest volume of exports in a fiscal year since 2014-15 when India exported 28.25 lakh tonnes of maize. The next best was during 2018-19 when 10.51 lakh tonnes were shipped out.

Bimal Bengani said if global prices rise further, then export demand will continue. Prakash said India could export a good volume of maize further.

Since domestic consumption had dropped in view of the avian influenza, exporters say production in the country could meet export and domestic demand.

Last year, the domestic industry had to pay Rs 2,600 a quintal for maize on supply shortage. It led to imports of 3.18 lakh tonnes of maize under the tariff rate quota (TRQ).

India allows import of up to five lakh tonnes of maize under TRQ at a lower Customs duty of 15 percent against the normal 50 percent.

This crop year, the Agriculture Ministrys first advance estimate of production of foodgrains for kharif maize has pegged the crop at 19.88 million tonnes compared with 19.68 million tonnes during last year's kharif season.

(Subramani Ra Mancombu is a journalist based in Chennai, who writes on topics in commodities and agriculture)
Albert Smallwoods knew poverty and hardship as a child.

His father was often unable to work due to illness, so the family had to scrape by on just a few pounds a week.

In the years since then, Albert has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to end poverty and save lives in the worlds poorest countries.

Now aged 83, he has pledged to leave a gift in his Will to Christian Aid.

Albert, who lives in the Waterside, is a lifelong humanitarian, a leading Church of Ireland layman and a stalwart supporter of Christian Aid.

His life of service to his Church and to more than 40 charities was recognised with the award of an MBE.

In fact, Albert has received so many plaudits and awards that his wife has dedicated an entire room of their home to display them.

But his early years were tough.

My father, Joseph, drove a horse and cart, delivering goods from the railway station to shops and offices, he said.

His asthma meant that he couldnt work for many months at a time and often we wouldnt even have the money to buy coal.

My mother, Elizabeth, looked after the home and family. She was very house proud. But she suffered illness for many years and died when she was just 53.

I was the third of four children  Im the only one left.

"We lived in a small house on the Dungiven Road without electricity or running water. There was no bathroom, just an outside toilet.

"I was born two years before the outbreak of the Second World War and I remember the blackouts and the food rationing.

"An air-raid shelter was built immediately outside our front door, so close that it blocked our light and we lived in near-darkness. Times were hard then.

Albert began his career as an apprentice engineer at the local Electric Light Station, aged 15, before moving to Coolkeeragh Power Station where he was engineer-in-charge from 1970 until his early retirement in 1994.

But it was his decades of unpaid work for the Church of Ireland, Christian Aid and dozens of other charities that earned him an MBE in 1992 and saw him named Pensioner of the Year, a decade later.

He has also been made a Knight of the Order of St John and in 2005, he was among eight people from Northern Ireland selected to attend a special reception at Buckingham Palace to mark UK Year of the Volunteer.

A member of Glendermott Church of Ireland near Altnagelvin Hospital, Albert recently completed 50 years' service in a variety of positions in his parish.

His Christian faith and his compassion for those living in extreme poverty led him to become involved with Bishops Appeal  the Church of Irelands world develop- ment committee which raises funds to support the work of Christian Aid and other agencies.

For 40 years, he sat on the board of Bishops Appeal, raising funds throughout the Derry and Raphoe diocese and travelling by train to board meetings in Dublin. And hes proud of his staying power.

I didnt just stay with an organisation for five years, I stayed for 40 or 50 years.

During those years, Albert persuaded churches in the Derry and Raphoe diocese to support Bishops Appeal.

I used to ring them up and make a nuisance of myself. By the time Id finished, 100% of the churches were contributing to Bishops Appeal.

He recalls two fundraising campaigns in particular.

We raised 60,000 for projects in Kenya but then we set ourselves a target to raise 100,000 to buy mosquito nets for Nigeria.

"I doubted we would ever reach that target because the 60,000 for Kenya had been a real struggle but Ken Good (former Bishop of Derry and Raphoe) told me to have faith. In fact, we raised 117,000. Those mosquito nets help to prevent malaria and saved countless lives.

Between 1990 and 1998, Albert also helped to govern Christian Aid Ireland, serving the maximum eight-year term on its board. In 2007, he visited Christian Aid projects in India, an experience that has stayed with him since.

I couldnt believe the poverty. There were no toilets, no running water. Children without clothes or food. Women carrying basins of cement on their heads. You have to see the conditions there to believe them. It was really shocking.

On his return home, Albert spoke in churches throughout the Derry and Raphoe diocese and gave interviews to radio stations and newspapers, inspiring others to support Christian Aids work.

So, why has he decided to leave a gift in his Will to Christian Aid?

I want to carry on my lifes work after Im gone, he said.

Albert has been married to Vivian since 1974. The couple have two daughters, Gillian and Nicola, and four grandchildren.

He said his family were supportive of his decision to leave a gift in his Will.

Ive really enjoyed my life. Im grateful because when I was 19, I had rheumatic fever and a heart murmur. My GP said he doubted I would see 50. I'm now in my 80s, so I feel very blessed.

Deborah Doherty, Christian Aid Irelands former Head of Supporter Engagement, praised the Albert's commitment.

He is a man of great integrity and honesty, and a man of his word. If he agreed to take on a role, he would complete it to the very best of his ability. There was no such thing as attending two meetings out of four; Albert would attend every meeting, even during the Troubles and despite having to travel home late at night - whether or not there was snow on the Glenshane Pass.

I never once saw him lose his temper or raise his voice. He is a very reliable person and a very generous person.

However, Albert saves his last words for his wife of 46 years.

I want to acknowledge that the work Ive done to support charities and my church wouldnt have been possible without the kindness and support of my wife, Vivian.

Shes been my rock throughout and to her I express my heartfelt thanks.


Qatar-based deep technology startup ADGS is creating cutting edge research and development in behavioural data science that will provide a first of its kind tool in the fight against Covid-19.



ADGS was founded with the mission to develop algorithms for computers to ethically reproduce human behaviour. Using this technology, ADGS has developed a product that offers a major advancement in preventing the spreading of Covid-19.



"ADGS technologies address big societal challenges and will likely shape the way we solve some of the most pressing global problems, now and for the future," said Christophe Billiottet, CEO of ADGS.



"These technologies have the power to create their own markets and disrupt existing industries."



With the battle against the current global pandemic and a race against time, decision-makers are led to make decisions without really knowing what will be their human and economic impact, and must wait for outcomes to possibly rectify the shot.



ADGS prioritized development of a forecasting tool to help improve the response to the growing spread of the deadly coronavirus and mitigate these impacts. To that end, ADGS developed Pandexit - the first pandemic predictive system that simulates the broad social dynamics of a country so that, once virus hot spots are known, experts can develop models of how, when, and where people are likely to move and interact.



Then, drawing on that knowledge, Pandexit simulates the infection spreading and test relevant strategic plans for dealing with the virus. The best policy can then be selected and applied without having to wait for -sometimes dramatic- outcomes.



"ADGS is thrilled with the advancements we can offer with our cutting-edge software," said Billiottet. "Pandexit's predictive capability will provide vastly improved efficiencies in the fight against Covid-19." Pandexit is set to be released by the end of January.



ADGS efforts are supported by strong partnerships and bilateral cooperation agreements with renowned laboratories, universities, and foundations around the world. The startup's software serves agencies, organizations, corporations, NGO's, public healthcare organizations, and governments. ADGS raised $2 million through private funding and the Qatar Foundation.



"Deep Technology companies like ours are at the cutting edge of not just technologies to realize society's long-term aspirations but also to help us address today's challenges  and Covid-19 certainly ranks among the greatest global challenge of recent decades," said Billiottet.  TradeArabia News Service
Schouten's TuNo product

Schouten Europe, an alternative-meat business in the Netherlands, has made its first foray into plant-based seafood.

The company has launched TuNo made from wheat and soy protein to replicate tuna.

The family firm, based in the town of Giessen, said it hopes the product will play a part in protecting endangered tuna species.

Product manager Annemiek Vervoort said: "We see that the demand for fish substitutes is increasing. It makes sense that in addition to replacing meat, people also think about replacing fish. We are starting with a plant-based tuna because we thereby contribute directly to a sustainable solution for a global problem.

"All tuna species are heavily overfished and a large number of species are threatened with extinction. Our vegetable tuna has the same bite and taste as real tuna. The product is suitable for eating cold and is therefore immediately ready to eat for anyone who wants to enjoy the taste of tuna in a sustainable way."

Schouten marketing manager Mark van Noorloos told just-food that the company is planning to expand its faux-seafood offering beyond tuna later this year, with products aping cod and salmon the most likely to be launched.

Schouten said its TuNo product, which took more than a year to develop, will be on the shelves of a "large Dutch retailer" at the end of February. The company plans to sell it internationally with western European countries and the US key target markets.

Its products, such as chicken-style pieces and meat-free mince, have until now been sold mainly under private label in supermarkets both in the Netherlands and abroad.

Schouten sells its products in 50 countries with a focus on the US and European markets, especially the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Belgium, France and the Nordic countries.
As Dolly Parton blows out the candles on her birthday cake Tuesday, shes asking for a gift that cant be bought.

This year my wish is a call for kindness, Parton captioned a throwback photo of herself, as she turned 75. We cant just hope for a brighter day, we have to work for a brighter day. Love too often gets buried in a world of hurt and fear. We have to work to dig it out so we can share it with our family, our friends and our neighbors. So today, January 19th, lets get to unearthing love.

Dolly Parton, pictured on Today in 2017, turns 75 on Jan. 19, 2021. (Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank)

Parton, whose message arrives as the country is divided politically and in the throes of a pandemic, has done more than just wish everyone well during a tough time: She donated $1 million to the development of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine. Shes continued to steer her Imagination Library, which promotes childrens literacy by providing books for children under 5.

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The country music legend, who has usually kept her political comments to her songs, also spoke out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and explained dropping the Dixie from the name of her Medieval Times-like dinner attraction, Dolly Partons Stampede, because of its association with the Confederacy.

I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen, Parton told Billboard in August 2020. And of course Black lives matter. Do we think our little white a**es are the only ones that matter? No!

Though Parton has a lot to celebrate on her birthday, shes long joked that she refuses to get any older  and that she doesnt have time for it anyway.

Im just gonna be the best that I can be at whatever age I am, she told Oprah Winfrey on The Oprah Conversation in November 2020. And I bet you Im not gonna look that different at 95 because Im like the Gabor sisters. Im gonna look like a cartoon. Ill have on the makeup. Ill look as young as my plastic surgeons will allow me. And its like all that makeup and lighting and all that. But I think more than anything, its about what comes from inside you.

Story continues

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LANSING, MI - The Michigan State Capitol Commission wont likely revisit a vote on a full gun ban in the building, said the commissions vice-chair, even if the moneys there to implement one.

The decision should be made by elected policy makers, Capitol Commission Vice-Chair John Truscott told MLive on Jan. 20.

Whitmer on Wednesday proposed $5 million included in her budget supplemental request go toward purchasing and installing security equipment to enforce a full firearms ban in the Capitol building. The Whitmer administration announced a $5.6 billion supplemental budget request Tuesday.

Read more: Whitmer unveils $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus response, economic recovery

A spokesperson for the State Budget Office told MLive the proposed spending would come from the states general fund if approved. Budget Director Dave Massaron told MIRS on Tuesday the $5 million would cover the cost of additional security and the equipment necessary to ban people from bringing weapons into the Capitol building.

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, as long as they are concealed. The Commission banned the open carry of firearms on Jan. 11.

The Capitol Commission will not be involved in the debate over a full gun ban, Truscott said, adding that the choice is up to the policy makers. Truscott and Commissioner Bill Kandler said they stopped short of a full ban due to the price tag associated with bolstering security measures.

Commissioner Truscott and I spent a lot of time figuring out how security works and how we could implement things, how security works at other buildings such as the Supreme Court, Kandler said on Jan. 11. After we reviewed all the implementation aspects, we determined the extreme limit of our real authority to actually implement was to implement a ban on open carry. We dont have the infrastructure to do much else at this time.

Police estimated the price tag would be $1.5 million, so the Whitmer budget proposal more than triples that estimate.

Read more: Full firearms ban at Capitol would come with $1.5 million price tag for new security measures

The reason Truscott gave Wednesday for reluctance to pursue a concealed weapons ban was that its a much different legal question... when we get into taking away the legal rights of a (concealed pistol license) holder.

The Legislature or the Governor would be the appropriate decision-maker, he said.

Messages were left with Commission Chair Gary Randall for his comments.

Since Whitmers proposal comes from the states general fund, the appropriation would have to be approved by the Republican-led Legislature. Those prospects are unlikely, as neither Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, nor House Speaker Rep. Jason Wentworth, R-Clare, support a full gun ban in the Capitol building.

Shirkey supported the open carry ban, but has voiced disapproval for the full ban. Meanwhile, Wentworth doesnt even support the open carry ban, as he will be looking at options for handling it in the future, according to a statement from his spokeswoman last week.

The Commissions legal counsel agreed with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels opinion over the summer that the panel can ban firearms inside the building. However, members of the six-member appointed state panel have been hesitant to take action without legislative buy-in.

Read more: Michigan Capitol Commission agrees it can ban guns, but stops short of doing so

Some Senate Democrats, such as Sen. Dayna Polehanki of Livonia, have pushed for a full gun ban in the Capitol building. She and Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-Beverly Hills, sponsored bills last week to that effect.

This $5 million appropriation, if approved by the legislature, means that the Michigan Capitol Commission would have the necessary financial resources to acquire security equipment and hire additional staff in order to implement a full weapons ban at our State Capitol, Polehanki said Wednesday in a statement. By requesting this funding, Governor Whitmer has demonstrated that she has made the safety of legislators, staff, and Capitol visitors a priority and has likewise eliminated any excuses for the Commissions failure to get the job done by moving from a ban on open carry to a ban on all weapons.

The Michigan Legislature is not in session this week due to credible threats from armed protesters. The next scheduled session day for both chambers is Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Read more from MLive:

Live coverage: Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th U.S. President today

Michigan Democrats see hope in Biden presidency as inauguration dampened by unrest

Michigan police on guard for threats to state Capitol surrounding Bidens inauguration

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to attend Biden inauguration in D.C.

In yet another shocking incident of sexual assault, an 18-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped where the accused tried to burn her alive in Madhya Pradeshs Indore district on Tuesday.

Four-five youths abducted the girl while she was walking home from her tuition classes, the accused allegedly gang-raped the survivor, tried burning her alive after stuffing her into a sack and later they threw her on a railway track near Bhagirathpura railway station, the police officials said.

However, the investigating officers in the case remained sceptical about the charges from the girl over lack of corroborative evidence. The incident happened around 9 pm on Tuesday. The survivor told police that while heading back to her home she met one of her friends named Akshay, who was accompanied by his friend. The boys used sedatives to make her unconscious and took her to Bhagirathpura railway tracks.

Later, the duo was joined by three more youths who were present on the spot already. Despite stiff resistance from the girl, the five youths took turns to rape her. The survivor alleged that she was stabbed by a knife after the sexual assault and later the youths wrapped her in a sack and tried setting her on fire.

Somehow, the girl freed herself and called her fiancee who rushed her to a nearby hospital. The youth told the police that she had received a call from the girl late evening and later found her unconscious condition and with the help of a friend admitted her to a hospital.

Police are ascertaining the accounts of events on the basis of statements of the couple. However, there was a twist in the tale as the man named by the girl Akshay Gupta was recovered at his home and pleaded ignorance about the girl's charges. The police also did not find any sack close to the rail tracks as mentioned by the girl in her statement.

The physicians who treated the survivor at the MY hospital claimed that the knife wound seemed a minor injury and not a deep wound inflicted in a murderous assault.

Indore Inspector General of Police Harinarayanchari Mishra could not be contacted for comments on the sensational charges levelled by the survivor.
How can a new president bring together a nation that disagrees about issues as basic as who won the election that brought him to office?

The Standard-Speaker put that question to local residents who are active in business, government and their churches. When answering, residents told what they think divides us as a nation and how President-elect Joe Biden can narrow the gap.

A good start is going to church, Frank Skokoski said after hearing news that Biden, a Democrat, plans to start Wednesday by attending worship with leaders of Congress, including Republicans.

A Democrat and former West Hazleton mayor, Skokoski was in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for the inauguration, even though he expects to watch the ceremony on television because security is so tight.

While walking for miles and taking detours until he finally got sight of the Capitol from blocks away, he talked with police, Secret Service people and National Guard troops. Despite the military presence after a mob entered the halls of Congress on Jan. 6, he said the streets were quiet and thinks the nation will have a civil change in leadership once again on Wednesday.

I probably would say the transition is peaceful, said Skokoski, who met members of the National Guard from Pennsylvania, Alabama and other states.

Young men and women from all over the country are here to protect the Constitution, said Skokoski who previously attended inaugurations for Republicans Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.

Trump doesnt plan to stay in Washington for the ceremonies, but Biden and Congressional leaders who remain will grapple over what to do about the outgoing president.

That wont be easy, Jim Montone, a Democrat and supervisor in Hazle Twp., said.

Im going to be honest, Montone said. I dont know how you go about bringing the unity when the last four years, the current president was under attack every day. Whether you like his policies or not, (Trump) got up in the morning and he was doing something wrong. Then, everyone is calling for unity now? How do you do that?

Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat, a Republican, thinks Biden can help heal a divided country by asking the Senate to halt Trumps impeachment trial.

Obviously, after any election theres a division, Cusat said. Even on the local level, there is a division of the electorate. You expect a leader to win graciously, put the election behind and move forward with what their plans were for the office that they were seeking.

Dr. Frank Polidora, a supervisor in Butler Twp. and chair of the First District of the Republican Party in Luzerne County, believes there was fraud in the election. Of Trumps last day in office, Polidora wondered: Is this our last full day of freedom?

Polidora doesnt expect to hear anything that will unify the country in the inaugural speech of Biden, whom he regards as a career politician.

He does think Christian principles can bring people together over issues such as race.

If I could see the real you, and you could see the real me, we would never hate each other because were made in the image of God, Polidora said.

Rodney Murphy, pastor of Faith Assembly of God, said love of God, love for each other and love for the country can bring healing.

He advised Biden and incoming Vice President Kamala Harris not to blame everything on the outgoing administration.

This will just further divide the country, Murphy said in an email.

From their leaders, Murphy said people want a sense of security and to feel like the concerns that come first are theirs, not the immigrants, international concerns or their own political partys agenda.

But America is a nation of immigrants, said Francisco Torres Aranda, owner of Advanced-Tec Materials in Humboldt Industrial Park and member of the Pennsylvania Commission on Latino Affairs.

Our nation is a multi-ethnic and multi-racial tapestry ... made strong through its diversity, Torres Aranda said in an email. No one leader or movement can turn back the clock on this reality.

He thinks Bidens speech will remind people of the beacon that American has been to the world, a message that reminds us of the many things that we all have in common which unite us.

Biden has said he will be president for all Americans, not just those who voted for him, a theme that Kathy Bozinski, Luzernes Democratic Party chairwoman, expects to hear in the inaugural speech.

Im positive that has to be the overriding message, Bozinski said. Even with an impeachment trial underway, Bozinski believes Biden will implement an aggressive plan during his first 100 days, including an effort to vaccinate 100 million Americans against COVID-19. Thats what you need to reopen things that have been shut down, she said.

State Sen. John Yudichak, an independent who represents the 14th District and lives in Swoyersville, points out that Scranton-born Biden is a son of Northeast Pennsylvania.

I have been fortunate enough to have shared the political stage with President Biden on many occasions, and have come to know him as a man of conviction, faith and family, Yudichak said in an email. His principles are the foundation of his politics, but they are not so rigid and unyielding that they prevent him from understanding the views of those who disagree with him.

Penn State Hazleton Chancellor Gary Lawler said the situation calls for leaders to stop judging others viewpoints and look for shared values.

Respectful and meaningful dialogue is something that higher education has always advocated for as a way to gain better understanding of various viewpoints, Lawler said in an email. We now also need the ability and the will to take collective action to bridge our differences.

The Rev. Jane Hess of Faith United Church of Christ said the issues that divide us are less significant that how we deal with them.

Ive felt since before the election that politics had become a team sport. You have to wear the right colors, say the right things. Somewhere, weve lost the truth, Hess said. Instead of winner takes all, lets have the two get together in a new way, not a compromise. In a compromise, everybody loses. Lets figure out what we can do in a new way.
A Tory politician today denied being part of a seven-hour boozing session at the Welsh Parliament just days after an alcohol ban in pubs.

A solicitor for Conservative Nick Ramsay declared his client 'sat on his own' and 'had a chicken curry' after four other politicians, including Tory party leader in Wales, Paul Davies, were probed for allegedly downing wine in their Parliamentary bar in Cardiff.

Mr Davies, along with his chief of staff Paul Smith and fellow Tory Darren Millar, met with Labour Senedd member Alun Davies on December 8  four days after pubs, bars, and restaurants were banned from serving alcohol in Wales.

But Mr Ramsay's solicitor said he was 'not involved in any gathering' in the Ty Hywel building.

Welsh Tory politician Nick Ramsay today denied being part of a seven-hour boozing session at the Welsh Parliament just days after an alcohol ban in pubs

He said: 'Mr Ramsay did attend the Tea Room on his own at the Senedd, without invitation after work.

'He sat on his own and was socially distanced. He attended the Tea Room at approximately 6pm. He had a chicken curry.

'He left at about 8pm. Others came in whilst he was there but it was not a "gathering" Mr. Ramsay was part of.'

Labour member Mr Davies has been suspended by his party and an investigation has been launched.

The group were served drinks by caterers in the Ty Hywel building which adjoins the Senedd where strict lockdown laws were made.

Officials at the Senedd - Wales' parliament - say they are investigating an 'incident' which 'may have been contrary to public health regulations.'

Mr Ramsay declared that he 'just had a curry on my own' after four other politicians, including Tory party leader in Wales, Paul Davies, were probed for allegedly downing wine in their Parliamentary bar in the Ty Hywel building in Cardiff

Conservatives Mr Davies, Mr Millar and Mr Smith have apologised but insisted they did not break the rules.

In a statement they said they were 'profoundly sorry for our actions'.

They added: 'While we did not break the rules, we recognise that what was part of a day's work would not be seen to be following the spirit of them, especially given the tough time the country has been going through.'

Labour member Mr Davies said: 'I am very sorry if my actions have given the impression that I am in any way not committed to upholding the regulations which I have consistently supported throughout the last year.

Conservative Darren Millar (pictured) met with Tory party leader in Wales Paul Davies and chief of staff Paul Smith met with Labour Senedd member Alun Davies on December 8

Conservatives Mr Davies (left), Mr Millar and Mr Smith have apologised but insisted they did not break the rules. Labour member Mr Davies (right) said: 'I am very sorry if my actions have given the impression that I am in any way not committed to upholding the regulations which I have consistently supported throughout the last year

'The Senedd Commission has already confirmed to me that I did not breach the coronavirus regulations on the consumption of either food or alcohol that were in force at that time.'

Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething refused to be drawn on whether the Tory members should stand down or be suspended.

But he said the Labour group's decision to suspend Alun Davies 'was the right thing' to do.

He said: 'Any sense of people not all being in this together, isn't helpful in terms of message that we all need to follow.'

A spokesman for the Senedd Commission said: 'We are aware of an incident on the Senedd estate last month which may have been contrary to public health regulations in force at the time.

'The Senedd Commission takes the public health regulations in Wales very seriously and is currently investigating the matter in order to establish an accurate account of what took place and to determine whether action may be required.'

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The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India on Wednesday said it has commenced export of its compact off-roader Jimny from India, as its parent Suzuki Motor Corporation looks to make the country a global production hub for the model.

The first shipment of 184 units left from Mundra port to Latin American countries such as Columbia and Peru, Maruti Suzuki India said in a statement. The three-door Suzuki Jimny will be exported to the Middle East and African markets as well from India, it added.

"With India as a production base for Jimny, Suzuki aims to leverage Maruti Suzuki''s global production stature. As there is a large customer demand worldwide well beyond Suzuki Japan capacity for this model, Indian manufacturing will supplement capacity to meet this global demand," the company said.

Commenting on the development, Maruti Suzuki India Managing Director & CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said, "Jimny manufactured at Maruti Suzuki's Gurugram plant shares the same specification as the export models produced at the Suzuki Motor Corporation's Kosai plant in Japan. We are confident with Jimny we will be able to enhance our overall exports."

Jimny has been in the global market for over 50 years. The current generation of the vehicle was launched in 2018 by SMC in Japan and has emerged as a popular choice globally. It was showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo at Greater Noida. The vehicle is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine and comes with 5-speed manual transmission and 4-speed automatic transmission options.
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A savage killer who bludgeoned his pregnant girlfriend to death with a tomahawk fantasised about killing his own mother in his prison diary.

Brock Wall, 40, is serving two life sentences after viciously murdering Fabiana Palhares at her Varsity Lakes home on the Gold Coast in February 2015.

He bashed the Brazilian woman to death using the blunt side of the hand axe as she screamed for help down during a triple-0 call.

The killer carpenter was arrested a few streets away covered in blood and charged with murder and breaching a domestic violence order.

Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley said police failed to save the mother-to-be from her violent, controlling and coercive ex-partner.

Wall told officers the 34-year-old was a 'super b***h' just hours before he killed her and had a long history of domestic abuse.

Brock Wall attacked his pregnant 34-year-old partner Fabiana Palhares (pictured) with an axe in February 2015, bludgeoning her to death

Days before Brock Wall (pictured) killed Fabiana Palhares, 34, and jumped on her stomach to kill their unborn child

The non-inquest findings also revealed a disturbing diary entry saying he would 'love to kill his mother if he got the chance', The Courier-Mail reported.

Ms Bentley said Wall murdered Ms Palhares in the culmination of years of sickening domestic violence.

She said his abuse included 'verbal, emotional and physical abuse including nonlethal strangulation, coercive control, threats to kill her and her family and their unborn child'.

'The history of [domestic violence] by Mr Wall revealed numerous risk factors which were not identified or acted upon by [Queensland Police],' she wrote.

Wall told DV Connect Mensline, a mental health helpline for men dealing with family violence, that he was going to harm his girlfriend but the worker did not record the information or contact authorities.

The coroner said it was impossible to say whether Ms Palhares would have survived if police and domestic violence agencies intervened, but her situation was not dealt with appropriately.

Ms Bentley said Wall murdered Ms Palhares (pictured) following a sustained period of domestic violence

Wall (pictured right) sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court to life in prison with a 20-year non-parole period

During Wall's trial in 2018, the court heard he spoke with police three times in the days leading up to Ms Palhares' death, referring to her in a derogatory way and telling at least two officers he would break the domestic violence order.

Wall spoke to authorities two hours before the homicide and an officer told him that if he broke the DV order, he would be arrested.

Wall replied: 'Looks like police will be coming to arrest me.'

He dismissed the warning and brushed them off when they gave him contact details for counselling and domestic services.

Wall then drove to Ms Palhares' home where he bashed her until she was unconscious.

He then jumped on her stomach so hard the soles of his shoes were later identifiable as bruises on her skin, and fractured her face and skull with the tomahawk.

Ms Palhares was taken to hospital after being found by police on the floor of her bedroom with a faint pulse, but could not be saved.

Ms Palhares' family, including her brother who flew in from Brazil, were present at the sentencing hearing (pictured are paramedics at the scene of the crime)

A week before she was murdered, an initial coroner's report revealed Wall confessed to DV Connect Mensline that he had a 'very negative view of women' and thought about 'harming all women'.

Despite divulging a series of disturbing 'homicidal idealisation' towards the victim, they were not reflected in the helpline's notes.

Wall told the helpline counsellor that he would like to be 'taken off the face of the Earth and have his brain electrocuted or something so he can come back fresh and probably come back and f**ken kill the woman that is pregnant'.

The worker recommended Wall speak to his personal counsellor - a suggestion that he dismissed because she was a 'crock of s**t' and not to be trusted.

'Mr Wall further told the call-handler to "remember this call. My name is Brock and I will be in the news one day for going off. I will be like a time bomb that is going to explode",' the coroner's report read.

He said he often felt great satisfaction from revenge, but his threats were not recorded by the helpline and no one tried to reconnect with him when the call ended suddenly.

The brother of Fabiana Palhares, Raphael Palhares (left), are seen leaving the Supreme Court in Brisbane

On January 30, three days before the murder, an officer spoke to him about the domestic violence order that prevented him from going within 50m of her home.

The day Ms Palhares was killed, he told police she was not a victim but a 'super b***h when he collected the DV order at 12.30pm.

He was reportedly furious about the order, despite saying he understood the conditions

'He stated that Ms Palhares "is pregnant and she is not going to have that baby because she is a slut",' the coroner wrote.

Within the two months before the killing, Wall and Ms Palhares had at least seven interactions with police.

The former house-mate of Fabiana Palhares, Bianca Goeuveia, gives a statement outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane

The coroner said there were recurring issues with police response, including failure to appropriately document, identify, respond to and investigate reports of domestic violence.

'A total of 26 lethality risk factors were present for Ms Palhares and most of these risks were known to responding officers or were reported to police previously and, therefore, accessible through review of the Queensland Police records,' she said.

An average of about 11.2 is the average lethality risk factors for intimate partner homicides in Queensland.

Police responded to each case on an isolated basis, rather than as an escalating pattern of behaviour.

Instead of amending the DV protection order to protect Ms Palhares or hold Wall accountable for violence, responding officers gave the victim the responsibility of managing her own safety.

Wall will be eligible for parole in 2034.
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A TV star locked in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-partner has been ordered to double his child support payments - even though she's refusing to let him see his daughter.

The celebrity single father who cannot be named for legal reasons claims his former partner defied a court order that allows him to see his daughter five nights a week.

The Federal Circuit Court ruled six years ago when their relationship broke down, the two would share custody of the girl.

But the TV personality said he has not seen his child since September last year, after the pair had a heated argument.

The Department of Social Services is now demanding he pay the girl's mother twice as much, given the child is spending more time with her mother.

This is despite the reason for the child staying more with her mother more than before being her alleged breach of the custody order.

A TV star locked in a bitter custody dispute with his ex-partner has been ordered to double his child support payments - even though she's refusing to let him see his daughter (stock image)

'Her mother is being rewarded for (allegedly) disobeying a court order and withholding my child and being paid for the privilege,' the TV personality told The Australian.

An argument between the two broke out in September over which high school their daughter would attend.

Two months later, the girl's mother contacted the Department of Social Services and told them she now has full-time custody of the child.

She requested an increase in child support payments and two weeks later the girl's father was informed his child support costs would double unless he could provide any further information about the situation.

One week later he referred the department to the Federal Circuit Court ruling made six years earlier and explained she had been withholding access to the child.

But on January 4, he was told his child support payments had doubled in light of the new arrangements.

An argument between the two broke out in September over a disagreement regarding which high school their daughter would attend (stock image)

'I haven't gotten to see my daughter properly since the very beginning of September, just before Father's Day, and now her mother is being financially rewarded for (allegedly) defying court orders that we are to share custody of her,' he said.

'There's been no legal change to the care arrangements and if her mother wasn't withholding custody, my daughter would be with me right now and not had to spend Father's Day and the Christmas holidays alone.'

The Department of Social Services said a national joint select committee was established to investigate ways of improving the interaction between the family law system and the child support system.
ALBANY  Pay raises for an estimated 80,000 state executive branch employees may be deferred for more than two years, until April 2023, according to the briefing book for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos proposed state budget.

The annual 2 percent pay increases that had been scheduled for unionized state workers, which were negotiated through collective bargaining with the Cuomo administration, would be expected to then be paid back to workers in 2023.

"The financial plan assumes that the state will continue to withhold planned general salary increases through [fiscal year] 2022, with repayment budgeted in [fiscal year] 2023, the briefing book states.

Mark Kotzin, a spokesman for the Civil Service Employees Association, said the union's understanding is that the deferment until 2023 is the worst-case scenario, and that the Cuomo administration would not take the step if it receives significant help from the federal government in closing New York's multi-billion-dollar budget gap.

CSEA's contract with the Cuomo administration is up in April, and no raise is contractually obligated after that time, but the state is obligated to pay back the raise that was deferred over the past year. CSEA has been lobbying Washington, D.C., along with the Cuomo administration for more federal funding, and the White House, as well as both houses of Congress, will be controlled by Democrats during the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.

At his annual budget address on Tuesday, Cuomo said there is a $15 billion gap between estimated revenue and spending, although others, including state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, peg the deficit as being far less. Cuomo blames the outgoing Trump administration for New York's budget woes. Unless the federal government under Biden restores that budget gap, Cuomo threatened to sue the federal government for missing COVID-19's spread in New York, and the state's ensuing budget problems.

Cuomo's first deferral of scheduled raises was announced in March 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic was peaking in New York and the state began spending tens of millions of dollars on medical supplies and equipment. The raises were then deferred for 90 days to two more times, through the beginning of 2021.

The continued delay in pay raises has rankled many state workers, including those on the front lines of the pandemic response, who have not been granted raises while high-ranking state officials have received pay increases. When the raises were again deferred last fall, some leaders of state public sector unions were publicly critical of the delay.

Cuomo last year hired four veterans of Democratic presidential campaigns at a combined annual cost of $567,000, despite a strict freeze on new agency hires implemented by state budget director Robert Mujica. The paperwork submitted by Cuomos office, seeking to break the hiring freeze, did not follow many of the rules Mujica had laid out for seeking exemptions, but were approved by the Division of Budget anyway.

Cuomo does plan to defer his own scheduled $25,000 raise in 2021.
Geoscientists from the University of Texas Austin and Rice University discover that tiny bubbles tell tales about Earth's most significant volcanic eruptions.

This information was revealed in an open-access study published on the web in Nature Communications.

Research Provides Answer to Long-standing Question

Researchers like James Gardner from the University of Texas along with Helge Gonnermann and Sahand Hajimirza from the Rice University were able to answer a deep-rooted question about highly explosive volcanic eruptions just like the one that occurred at Mount St. Helens in 1980, another at Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, as well as the one at Mount Chaiten in Chile in 2008.

For a long time now, research teams composed of geoscientists have sought to utilize small bubbles in erupted lava and ash in order to remodel some of the conditions like pressure and heat that occur in these explosive volcanic eruptions.

However, there has been a long string of historic disconnects between a large variety of numerical models that attempt to predict precisely how many minute bubbles will form as well as the actual amounts of bubble measured in erupted material.

The geoscientists Gardner, Hajimirza, and Gonnermann worked for over 5 years, in order to reconcile the differences for these eruptions, known as Plinian eruptions.

They are named to honor Pliny the Younger, the Roman author who accurately described the eruption that demolished Pompeii in A.D. 79. Plinian eruptions are known to be some of the most destructive and highly intense volcanic events in history.

According to Hajimirza, a former Ph.D. student and a postdoctoral researcher in Gonnermann's lab at Rice's Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, the intensity of eruptions refers to the precise amount of magma that is erupted as well as how quickly the magma flows or bursts out.

The researcher added that the usual intensity of Plinian volcanic eruptions ranges from about 10 million kg/s to 10 billion kg/s. which is an accurate equivalent to 5,000 to 5 million pickup trucks per second.

ALSO READ - Philippines' Taal Volcano Erupts, Sends Thousands To Flee

Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions Remain a Significant Challenge, Researcher says

One of the researchers' methods to gauge the overall speed of rising magma is by studying the tiny bubbles in erupted lava and ash.

Magma bubbles likened to the bubbles in an uncorked champagne, are created via an incredibly rapid decrease in pressure. In magma, this phenomenon causes dissolved water to escape rapidly in the form of gas bubbles.

Hajimirza made it known that when magma rises, its pressure decreases rapidly, and at a particular point, the magma reaches a pressure at which water becomes saturated. Further decomposition will lead to super-saturation as well as the formation of bubbles.

As water escapes in the form of bubbles, the molten rock, in turn, becomes less saturated. However, if the magma continues to rise, the resultant decreasing pressure will end up increasing saturation.

According to Hajimirza, forecasting volcanic eruptions is one of the long-term objectives of volcanologists. This is incredibly challenging as the direct observation of the subsurface process is practically impossible.

The researcher states that one of the most significant challenges of volcano science, which is outlined by the National Academies in 2017, has to do with how to considerably improve eruption forecasting via better integration of the observational data gotten with quantitative models, just like the one that was developed for this particular study.

RELATED ARTICLE - Sangay Volcano Eruption: 55,000 Hectares of Banana Plantation Covered With Ash

For more news, updates about volcanos and similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Coalition politicians who champion Donald Trumps right to free speech have passed numerous laws making it a serious criminal offence to exercise this right in Australia. Labor parliamentarians have also helped pass laws criminalising speech thats clearly in the public interest or simply innocuous.

When Prime Minister Scott Morrison was invited at a recent press conference to condemn far-right conspiracy theories promoted by government members such as George Christensen, he refused. He also defended another Liberal backbencher, Craig Kelly, who has undermined the governments health message by spreading false information about COVID-19. At the time, Morrison said: Theres such a thing as freedom of speech in this country and that will continue.

The Australian government continues to curtail what you can say online. Credit:Andrew Dyson

In fact, there are severe constraints on free speech in Australia, more so than in North America or Western Europe.

The Coalition governments 2018 security laws make it an offence to leak, receive or report a wide range of "information, of any kind, whether true or false and whether in a material form or not, and includes (a) an opinion and (b) a report of a conversation". Another clause makes it a serious crime to say anything that harms "Australias foreign relations, including political, military, and economic relations". Even if ministers should sometimes be circumspect, other people should be free to criticise any country without resorting to disinformation.
January 20, 2021 / 06:57 PM IST

Joe Biden Inauguration LIVE Updates | Democrat and President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on January 20, assuming the helm of a country battling a raging coronavirus pandemic.

On the eve of his inauguration, Biden, 78, on January 19 led a national mourning ceremony in Washington to pay tribute to those who had died of the novel

The Queen and the Pope led world leaders today in congratulating Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States.

While the contents of Her Majesty's message to Biden were kept private, Boris Johnson heralded the 'step forward' following a 'bumpy period' under Donald Trump.

The triumphal tone was echoed by Germany's Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and other European allies who saw Trump as a political aberration - not least after the deadly riot on Capitol Hill two weeks ago.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called it 'the moment we've been awaiting so long,' while Macron said: 'Welcome back to the Paris Agreement' - taking a dig at Trump's withdrawal from the deal.

Pope Francis urged the devout Catholic Biden to bring about reconciliation in the US and to build a society 'marked by authentic justice and freedom,' while Justin Trudeau called for unity to 'promote inclusion and diversity.'

President Joe Biden speaks at the Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington after being sworn in as 46th President of the United States

Queen Elizabeth II sent a private letter to Joe Biden, Buckingham Palace said (pictured: Her Majesty at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down in October)

The Prime Minister, who watched the inauguration from Downing Street (pictured) said America's leadership is 'vital' to the rest of the world, from tackling the climate crisis to the coronavirus pandemic

Johnson's triumphal tone was echoed by Germany's Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron

Merkel praised the 'true celebration of American democracy,' saying: 'I look forward to a new chapter of German-American friendship and cooperation.'

And the other major players in the EU made plain their feelings about the last four years.

'This new dawn in America is the moment we've been awaiting for so long,' said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, hailing Biden's arrival as 'resounding proof that, once again after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House.'

European Council President Charles Michel said that trans-Atlantic relations have 'greatly suffered in the last four years. In these years, the world has grown more complex, less stable and less predictable.'

'We have our differences and they will not magically disappear. America seems to have changed, and how it's perceived in Europe and the rest of the world has also changed,' added Michel, whose open criticism of the Trump era contrasted with the silence that mostly reigned in Europe while the Republican leader was in the White House.

Canada's Justin Trudeau said he was committed to working with the Biden administration to ensure financial prosperity between the neighbours, while highlighting the importance of unity amid the pandemic.

'Our two countries are more than neighbours  we are close friends, partners, and allies,' Trudeau said.

'Canada and the United States have worked side-by-side to tackle some of the greatest challenges we have faced in our history. We will continue this partnership as we fight the global COVID-19 pandemic and support a sustainable economic recovery that will build back better for everyone.

'We will also work together to advance climate action and clean economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and create good middle class jobs and opportunities for our people while contributing to democracy, peace, and security at home and around the world.'

Britain's Prime Minister Johnson, who had a close but sometimes difficult relationship with Trump, said it was a 'big moment' for the UK-US relationship.

The PM told reporters: 'When you look at the issues that unite me and Joe Biden, the UK and the United States right now, there's a fantastic joint common agenda.

'I really congratulate Joe and Kamala Harris on their achievement, on their inauguration today.

'It's a fantastic thing for America, a step forward for the country that has been through a bumpy period. And for us and America it's a big moment.'

The two men are expected to meet for the first time this summer when the G7 meeting of world leaders takes place in Cornwall.

The first in-person meeting of the G7 in almost two years will be held in June in Carbis Bay, which has a population of just over 3,000.

The Queen could also meet Biden for the first time if he makes that visit.

Mr Biden took the oath of office during a ceremony at the US Capitol this afternoon, taking office at 5pm UK time

Vice President Joe Biden (L) talks with Pope Francis in Paul VI hall at the Vatican April 29, 2016

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formed close ties with Trump, noted a 'warm personal friendship' with Biden (pictured: Trump and Netanyahu together at the White House last year)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formed close ties with Trump, noted a 'warm personal friendship' with Biden.

'I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran,' Netanyahu said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has accused Trump of unfair bias toward Israel with policies like moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, expressed hope for a more even-handed approach from Biden.

He urged 'a comprehensive and just peace process that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people for freedom and independence.'

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose country has had a tumultuous relationship with Washington, having been criticised for aiding the Afghan Taliban, said in a tweet he looked forward to building a stronger partnership through trade, economic engagement and countering climate change.

In Latin America, Biden faces immediate challenges on immigration and the leaders of the two most populous countries - Brazil and Mexico - were chummy with Trump. The Trump administration also took a hard line against governments in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, expanding painful sanctions.

In Venezuela, the government of President Nicolas Maduro urged a renewed dialogue with the Biden administration, while hoping the incoming president abandons the avalanche of damaging sanctions Trump imposed to attempt a regime change.

Common Venezuelans, however, like retired accountant Jesus Sanchez, 79, said he was disappointed to see Trump leave power.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters in February last year

enezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he speaks during a news conference following the ruling Socialist Party's victory in legislative elections that were boycotted by the opposition in Caracas, Venezuela December 8

Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks during an interview in Islamabad on Monday

Trump backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, giving Venezuelans like him hope that Maduro's days in power were numbered.

An estimated 5 million Venezuelans have migrated out of the South American nation in recent years, fleeing shortages of food, medicine and basic services such as running water and gasoline, despite sitting atop the world's largest crude reserves.

Carlos Vecchio, Guaido's envoy in Washington who the U.S. recognizes as Venezuela's ambassador, tweeted photos of himself standing in front of the inauguration ceremony Wednesday.

The invitation to attend was touted by Venezuela's opposition as evidence the Biden administration will continue its strong support and resist entreaties by Maduro to engage in dialogue that the U.S. has strenuously rejected until now.

Cuba's leaders perhaps have a more realistic hope for improved relations. After all, Biden was in the White House for the historic thaw in relations in 2014. Various officials said they were willing to reopen a dialogue with Washington if there was respect for Cuba's sovereignty.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel railed against Trump via Twitter, citing 'more than 200 measures that tightened the financial, commercial and economic blockade, the expression of a despicable and inhuman policy.'

In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who cultivated an unexpectedly friendly relationship with Trump and was one of the last world leaders to recognize Biden's victory, read from a letter he sent to Biden in 2012, calling for a reorienting of the bilateral relationship away from security and military aid and toward development.

He urged Biden to implement immigration reform, and added: 'We need to maintain a very good relationship with the United States government and I don't have any doubt that it's going to be that way.'

Joe Biden addressed the country for the first time as president and declared to the nation that 'democracy has prevailed'  after a chaotic transition where his predecessor Donald Trump denied his election win and never congratulated him.

'The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded,' Biden said on the West Front of the Capitol just two weeks after MAGA riots threatened to stop the counting of the electoral votes for president in its tracks.

He added: 'We've learned again that democracy's precious, democracy's fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.'

After the contentious contest, in which Trump falsely accused him of stealing the election, Biden paid tribute to the peaceful transfer of power and the resilience of American democracy.

'This is America's day. This is democracy's day - a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve, for crucible for the ages America has tested anew and America has risen to the challenge. Today we celebrate not a candidate, but a cause, the cause of democracy,' he noted.

The 78-year-old thanked his predecessors of both parties for being at his swearing-in. Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush attended  making Trump's absence even more notable. Trump skipped the event, flying to Mar-a-Lago after organizing his own pep rally sendoff, telling supporters and family members 'Have a good life, we will see you soon.
In a new study published in Nature Physics, researchers from the B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering at TU Dresden and ESRF in Grenoble describe, for the first time, that structural defects in self-assembling nacre attract and cancel each other out, eventually leading to a perfect periodic structure.

Mother-of-pearl, also known as nacre, is an incredibly strong biomaterial forming the shell of some mollusks. Its strength and beauty comes from its remarkably regular and uniform architecture. Until now, it was unclear how this intricate structure could be built by a multitude of single cells, all secreting materials at different locations at the same time. In a new study published in Nature Physics, researchers from the B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering at TU Dresden and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble describe, for the first time, that structural defects in self-assembling nacre attract and cancel each other out, eventually leading to a perfect periodic structure.

Mollusks build shells to protect their soft tissues from predators. Nacre, also known as the mother of pearl, has an intricate, highly regular structure that makes it an incredibly strong material. Depending on the species, nacres can reach tens of centimetres in length. No matter the size, each nacre is built from materials deposited by a multitude of single cells at multiple different locations at the same time. How exactly this highly periodic and uniform structure emerges from the initial disorder was unknown until now.

Nacre formation starts uncoordinated with the cells depositing the material simultaneously at different locations. Not surprisingly, the early nacre structure is not very regular. At this point, it is full of defects. In the very beginning, the layered mineral-organic tissue is full of structural faults that propagate through a number of layers like a helix. In fact, they look like a spiral staircase, having either right-handed or left-handed orientation, says Dr. Igor Zlotnikov, research group leader at the B CUBE  Center for Molecular Bioengineering at TU Dresden. The role of these defects in forming such a periodic tissue has never been established. On the other hand, the mature nacre is defect-free, with a regular, uniform structure. How could perfection emerge from such disorder?

The researchers from the Zlotnikov group collaborated with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble to take a very detailed look at the internal structure of the early and mature nacre. Using synchrotron-based holographic X-ray nano-tomography the researchers could capture the growth of nacre over time. Nacre is an extremely fine structure, having organic features below 50 nm in size. Beamline ID16A at the ESRF provided us with an unprecedented capability to visualize nacre in three-dimensions, explains Dr. Zlotnikov. The combination of electron dense and highly periodical inorganic platelets with delicate and slender organic interfaces makes nacre a challenging structure to image. Cryogenic imaging helped us to obtain the resolving power we needed, explains Dr. Pacureanu from the X-ray Nanoprobe group at the ESRF.

The analysis of data was quite a challenge. The researchers developed a segmentation algorithm using neural networks and trained it to separate different layers of nacre. In this way, they were able to follow what happens to the structural defects as nacre grows.

The behaviour of structural defects in a growing nacre was surprising. Defects of opposite screw direction were attracted to each other from vast distances. The right-handed and left-handed defects moved through the structure, until they met, and cancelled each other out. These events led to a tissue-wide synchronization. Over time, it allowed the structure to develop into a perfectly regular and defect-free.

Periodic structures similar to nacre are produced by many different animal species. The researchers think that the newly discovered mechanism could drive not only the formation of nacre but also other biogenic structures.

Dr. Igor Zlotnikov is a leader of a multidisciplinary group at the B CUBE, TU Dresden. The group studies the interplay between physics of materials and cellular control. The Zlotnikov group implements state-of-the-art techniques from a large spectrum of fields in life and physical sciences to address the fundamental question of how the nature uses thermodynamic principles to generate complex structures. The group is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF; grant 03Z22EN11).

Reference:

Beliaev, M. et al, Nature Physics (2021).
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GATHERINGS have contributed to the Covid-19 upsurge in Bulawayo amid reports that rapid response teams are overwhelmed and unable to swiftly attend to every call.

The country is under a 30-day lockdown but residents still defy regulations and gather for funerals, oblivious of the risk they put on their lives.

Under new lockdown measures, church services have been banned, funeral gatherings have been limited to 30 people, bars and bottle stores shut down, restaurants closed while intercity and interprovincial movement has been limited to those classified as essential service providers.

Members of the public are expected to shop within a 5 kilometre radius from their homes while essential services employees are allowed to pass through checkpoints after producing exemption letters.

Despite the national ban, members of the public still continue to gather for a number of reasons.Police in Bulawayo have arrested more than 600 people for defying lockdown conditions since the beginning of the year.

The rapid response teams in Bulawayo which are expected to react promptly to suspected cases, assess and assist in stabilising patient, have been struggling to keep up with mounting pressure.

The teams also conduct contact tracing and make follow up visits to affected residents. Ideally, Bulawayo should have at least 10 teams but only three have been created due to resource constraints.

The city has 661 active Covid-19 cases and recorded one death on Monday bringing the total number of deaths to 151 since the outbreak of the global pandemic.

To date 3 550 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the province and experts say half of new infections emanate from people with no symptoms. As of 18 January, Zimbabwe has now recorded 27 892 cases, 17 372 recoveries and 773 deaths.

Bulawayo director of health services Dr Edwin Sibanda said council was struggling to meet demand in the community and called for well wishers to help boost rapid response teams.

He said his office had written to the Ministry of Health and Child Care through the provincial medical director, Dr Welcome Mlilo.

Dr Sibanda said council needed additional nurses, environmental health officers, lab technicians, vehicles and fuel.

He said the public should note the recently ended industrial action had affected the operations of the teams although the major challenge has always been resources.

Most of our infections and possible contacts are emanating from gatherings which we know are currently banned but residents still meet in the name of comforting the bereaved, he said. Let us avoid physical gathering as these are spreading Covid in the city.

He said in a case where residents cannot access the rapid response teams, they should self-isolate while waiting for help so they do not spread Covid-19 in case they are infected.

In an ideal setup, a rapid response team should have three people, a nurse, someone qualified to do a test, a lab technician and an environmental health officer. However, due to resource challenges, we have three teams instead of 10 which I think will not be able to cover the whole city, said Dr Sibanda.

We have written to the Ministry updating them of our resource challenges so that our teams are able to attend to residents at the shortest possible time. We need vehicles and fuel as well to be able to cope with the increasing calls for help.

He said there was a shortage of staffers and council was forced to redeploy its nurses from clinics to join the rapid response teams. Chronicle
Alejandro Mayorkas, president-elect Joe Bidens nominee for head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), testified before the Senate in a confirmation hearing on Tuesday, the day before the inauguration of the new administration and the last full day of the Trump White House.

Mayorkas appeared before the Senate Homeland Security Committee during a process in which, during previous presidential election years, high-level national security nominations of the incoming administration would have been approved weeks earlier. Mayorkas testimony accompanied an announcement by Biden that a new immigration bill would be presented to Congress on inauguration day.

Alejandro Mayorkas (Photo: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services/Wikipedia)

Attempting to address the subject of the fascist assault on the US Capitol two weeks ago and the response of the Department of Homeland Security to it, Mayorkas said, I will do everything I can to ensure that the tragic loss of life, the assault on law enforcement, the desecration of the building that stands as one of the three pillars of our democracy, and the terror felt by you, your colleagues, staff, and everyone present, will not happen again.

In responding to a question from Senator Gary Peters (Democrat from Michigan) about the growth of right wing violence in the US, Mayorkas said, The threat of domestic extremism is one of the greatest threats the Department of Homeland Security confronts, and it has unique capabilities in confronting it.

While Peters focused on the chaos, mismanagement and instability at DHS over the past four years, neither he nor Mayorkas said anything about the role of numerous law enforcement agencies in assisting and sympathizing with the fascist Trump supporters who stormed the chambers of Congress in an attempted coup and threatened to kill Vice President Pence, Speaker of the House Pelosi and others on January 6.

In keeping with the identity politics of the Democratic Party, much is being made of Mayorkas ethnicity as the first Latino and first immigrant secretary of homeland security, as stated by the New York Times. Mayorkas was born in Havana, Cuba in 1959 and his parents, who are both Jewish, brought his family to the US as refugees in 1960 following the Cuban Revolution.

Mayorkas served as Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and then deputy secretary of DHS during the Obama administration between 2009 to 2016. As noted in a previous profile of Mayorkas here on the WSWS, his selection by Biden is an indication to the ruling class that the policies of Obamawho earned the nickname Deporter-In-Chief for deporting more than 2.5 million immigrants from the US between 2009 and 2017will be revived. The Obama administration laid the foundation for the crimes carried out by Trump against immigrants over the last four years.

When asked about Trumps border policies, including the construction of the US-Mexico border wall, Mayorkas said reversing the Republican program, cannot be accomplished with just the flick of a switch on day one, it will take time to build the infrastructure capacity so we can enforce our laws. Mayorkas also said he would maintain Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the primary arm of the DHS used for intimidating, raiding and carrying out acts of violence against immigrants by the Trump administration.

Much of what Mayorkas said during his testimony was designed to appease the politics of extreme nationalism and anti-immigrant hatred pushed by Republicans in Congress. Senator Josh Hawley (Republican of Missouri), who should have been arrested and removed from Congress for his role in the January 6 coup attempt, has indicated that he will move to block any attempt by the Democrats to swiftly move Mayorkas nomination to a confirmation vote.

The Wall Street Journal wrote in December of Mayorkas politics as having garnered endorsements from an unusually broad range of groups, from liberal immigration advocates to conservative-leaning law-enforcement organizations including the Fraternal Order of Police.

Asked if he would dismantle Trumps reactionary border wall, Mayorkas related that when he was deputy DHS secretary, he was told by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officials that a combination of barriers, additional agents and technology and equipment were needed as part of a diverse approach to border security. In other words, Mayorkas thinks Trump was right, the southern border of the US with Mexico needs a wall and should be militarized.

In an effort to conceal the right-wing character of the incoming administration, the Biden team released an outline of its immigration policy on Monday. Dubbed a sweeping overhaul of US immigration laws by the pro-Democratic Party corporate media, the program calls for an 8-year pathway to citizenship for immigrants without legal status and an expansion of refugee admissions, according to the Washington Post .

The Post report reveals the kind of deal that is being worked out between Biden and the Republicans in Congress, where it says that the plan includes an enforcement plan that deploys technology to patrol the border as well as a heavy focus on addressing the root causes of migration from Central America.

There have been numerous recent reports that a migrant caravan of 7,000 migrant workers is making its way to the US border from Guatemala. The New York Times reported on Sunday, Guatemalan migration officials estimated on Sunday that about 6,000 migrants were corralled between Chiquimula and the border with Honduras, most of them Honduran. Hundreds more reportedly eluded the Guatemalan security checkpoints, with some reaching Guatemala City over the weekend, the local news media reported.

Since US imperialism is responsible for the conditions of poverty and violence in Central American countries such as Honduras and Guatemalathat drive workers and their families onto the 2,000-mile journey norththis key part of Bidens foreign policy portfolio can mean only one thing: stopping Central American migrants from ever leaving their countries in the first place.

Although details of the 8-year citizenship path remains sketchy, it is clear that this timeframewhich only applies to those who were already within the US on January 1is terrifically inadequate given the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the US, many of whom have lived and worked in the country their whole lives, and could be reversed or further restricted after just four years.


Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) -Bayhorse Silver Inc. (TSXV: BHS) (the "Company" or "Bayhorse") is pleased to announce that it has executed a Definitive Offtake Agreement with Ocean Partners UK Limited, ("Ocean") for the sale of silver/copper concentrate from its Bayhorse Silver Mine in Oregon, USA.

The initial offtake agreement is for the delivery and sale of 300 metric tons or 15 full container loads of silver/copper concentrate that is being produced from the Company's Bayhorse Silver Mine. Among other conditions, Ocean has the right of first refusal to a 12 month contract extension after completion of the delivery of the first 300 metric tons of silver/copper concentrate.

The terms and conditions of the Agreement are confidential between the parties.

"This Offtake Agreement for silver/copper concentrate from the Bayhorse Silver Mine is a milestone achievement for the Company and demonstrates confidence in the Company's ability to transition from development to commercial operations," states Graeme O'Neill, CEO of Bayhorse. "I congratulate our team for this achievement and look forward to achieving our concentrate production targets utilizing our newly acquired operations site in Payette, ID, USA where we plan to relocate our concentrate processing facilities."

Jay Hemenway, Senior Trader in charge of By-Products, Precious and Minor Metals (USA) for Ocean states, "We are pleased to partner with Bayhorse and look forward to a long-term relationship as Bayhorse further develops its silver mining operations."

The Company is not basing any decision to produce on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and advises there is an increased uncertainty and specific economic and technical risk of failure with any production decision. These risks include, but are not limited to, (i) a drop in price of commodities produced, namely silver, copper, lead and zinc, from the pricing used to make a production decision; (ii) failure of grades of the produced material to fall within the parameters used to make the production decision; (iii) an increase in mining costs due to changes within the mine during development and mining procedures; and (iv) metallurgical recovery changes that cannot be anticipated at the time of production.

This News Release has been prepared on behalf of the Bayhorse Silver Inc. Board of Directors, which accepts full responsibility for its content. Dr. Stewart Jackson, P.Geo., a Qualified Person and Consultant to the Company has prepared, supervised the preparation of, and approved the technical content of this press release.

On Behalf of the Board,

Graeme O'Neill

CEO

company@bayhorsesilver.com

1-866-399-6539

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.

About Ocean Partners

Ocean Partners specializes in the trading of copper, zinc, lead and precious metal concentrates, as well as related by-products and secondary materials. Ocean Partners also provides tolling and toll blending solutions to complex concentrates on a large scale. The Ocean Partners team has spent over 25 years providing successful trading services to miners, smelters, and refiners, and has a strong global network of relationships and contacts in the base metal mining and smelting sector. By applying technical, commercial, financial and political insight, they bring expertise in every aspect of the business. Ocean Partners team members have comprehensive backgrounds in mining, geology, metallurgy, and finance. Ocean Partners operates in a number of countries, including Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Peru, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States, and retains agency representation in Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, India, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Central/Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

About Bayhorse Silver Inc.

Bayhorse Silver Inc. is an exploration and production company with a 100% interest in the historic Bayhorse Silver Mine located in Oregon, USA, and an option to acquire an 80% interest on the Brandywine, precious metals rich, volcanogenic massive sulphide property, located in B.C., Canada. The Company has an experienced management and technical team with extensive mining expertise surrounding exploration and building mines.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72407
WASHINGTON - Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., had been prepping for weeks to defend Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential race, one of four Democrats deputized by leaders for the Jan. 6 debate on the electoral college vote.

Just four days into his second term, Neguse stayed so focused on his brief, as he spoke early that fateful afternoon, that he had no idea what was happening outside. Then security whisked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., from the rostrum, and soon afterward he was hiding under a seat with a gas mask on as rioters started banging on the chamber doors.

He sent a text message to his wife trying to reassure her, even though he wasn't so sure himself: "Told her that I loved her, that I loved my daughter, and that everything was going to be fine."

That harrowing ordeal now sits at the center of the upcoming impeachment trial for outgoing President Donald Trump.

And Neguse, 36, will arrive in the Senate chamber as the youngest lawmaker to ever serve as a manager in an impeachment trial.

He has emerged as one of the most promising stars of the historic class of 2018, a group of more than 60 Democrats that delivered the majority for Pelosi.

He has not received nearly as much attention as some more liberal members of that class, nor as much as his moderate classmates from key swing districts.

But Neguse will get his first share of national attention when he joins a team of nine House managers trying to win a post-presidency conviction of Trump.

The son of African refugees, partly inspired to run after Trump's restrictive policies on refugees, Neguse does not see this trial as a futile or symbolic effort. It's a personal bid to finish his Jan. 6 defense of Biden's clear victory, until a rioting mob broke into the Capitol.

"For me, personally, part of this trial is finishing what we started. I mean, at the end of the day, that the insurrection was meant to disrupt the work that we were doing on the floor, it was meant to stop the peaceful transfer of power," Neguse said in a recent 45-minute telephone interview.

Neguse arrived in Washington somewhat under the radar, because the seat he won has been safely held by Democrats for years. But his victory in Colorado's 2nd Congressional District, anchored around Boulder and small mountain towns, was no small feat.

Just 1% of the district's residents are Black, and he won the Democratic primary by a 2-to-1 margin over a former county party chairman en route to becoming his state's first Black congressman.

He quickly won over his peers, who elected him as the freshman class designate to join weekly meetings of Pelosi's leadership team.

That group spanned the ideological wings of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., to Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Pa., a Marine officer whose special-election win in 2018 became a template for other moderates.

Those two publicly clashed after the November elections, when Democrats lost more than 10 seats amid charges, from Lamb and others from the 2018 class, that Ocasio-Cortez's brand of democratic socialism hurt them in swing districts.

Neguse has threaded this needle better than any other member of that class. He has maintained close ties to Ocasio-Cortez and still counts Max Rose, D-N.Y., one of those who lost his reelection battle, as one of his best friends.

"I did it by never impugning anyone's motives, by always approaching conversations and my interactions, and discussions with my colleagues, in a respectful way, and recognizing that there are folks that might see the world different than I do," Neguse explained.

While he has drifted toward national issues - he played a role in the first impeachment of Trump as a member of the House Judiciary Committee - Neguse learned from others to stay focused on his district.

He had nine bills signed into law, including one to expand the Rocky Mountain National Park that Trump signed two weeks before leaving office, and he introduced 55 bills, tops among the 2018 class, all while holding 46 town halls, according to his advisers.

In June, he won his Democratic primary without any opposition and won reelection in November by more than 25 percentage points.

And in November, he won another unanimous vote to join the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, a group of lower-level members of Pelosi's leadership team that hone the caucus's message.

Pelosi originally formed the DPCC after several disappointing elections, trying to appease a younger generation that wanted more power. Now in the majority, those younger Democrats hold more plum assignments than ever before, yet Pelosi, 80, and her two lieutenants - Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 81, and Majority Whip James Clyburn, 80 - have remained in those positions for 15 years.

But Neguse won't complain about his chances to shine, receiving opportunity after opportunity from Pelosi.

Late last year, the speaker asked him to work with three veteran Democratic legal minds - Reps. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., the lead impeachment manager last year; Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., another impeachment manager; and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a constitutional lawyer who will lead the new managers.

Their task? Defend Biden's electoral college victory of 306 votes, despite unrelenting conspiracy claims by Trump that were wrong. And then, shortly after 2 p.m., the mob crashed into the Capitol and upended all of their work.

A week later, Neguse delivered a speech calling for Trump's impeachment - "inciting a mob that stormed the United States Capitol for the sole purpose of stopping the constitutionally mandated counting of electoral votes" - and on Wednesday he will watch Biden be sworn in.

But the impeachment trial must go on, even if Trump is out of office.

"This is a vindication of the Constitution, right? And at the end of the day, for any number of different reasons," Neguse said, "including to deter any future presidents from engaging in the type of conduct that this president engaged in. To ultimately ensure that this type of insurrection does not take place in the future."

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Founder of the Alibaba Group and Ant Group, Jack Ma, reappeared after vanishing for almost two months. Jack Ma addressed rural educators as part of an annual event which is for recognising their contributions. This comes after the speculation that the entrepreneur might be in legal trouble. He had criticised the regulatory system of China in a speech after which he went missing. However, after being away from the public view for almost three months, the Chinese business giant has come back to the limelight and expressed his interest in education philanthropy at the annual event.

As the 56-year-old businessman has been seen again, let us take a look at five things you should know about Jack Ma:

1. His interest in education is not nascent. The business giant was once a teacher of English and this seems to explain why he wants to work more towards education philanthropy. In fact, the dotcom billionaire claims to not know much about computers as he bought his first computer at the age of 33.

2. Jack Ma was held hostage for 2 days in a Malibu mansion in 1995. He had gone to California to collect money from an American businessman who owed it to a Chinese firm, but the person held him hostage at gunpoint and let him leave only when Jack promised to start an internet venture with him. However, he never contacted this person again.

3. It might be hard to believe but it is true that billionaire Jack once made only 100 Yuan a month which is roughly equivalent to Rs 1100. As a teacher of English at the university, this was his monthly salary.

4. Jack Ma is counted among the most successful businessmen, but before establishing a business, his application to the Harvard Business School was rejected 10 times. He spoke about this in 2015 at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos.

5. The businessman-philanthropist is also an actor and entertainer. He debuted in 2017 with the film named Gong Shou Dao. Not only this, he had dance performances at the 18th anniversary of Alibaba.
Vizsla expands Napoleon further towards surface, to depth and to the North at Panuco Project, Mexico

Posted by Publisher Internet

Vizsla Resources Corp. (TSX-V: VZLA) (OTCQB: VIZSF) (Frankfurt: 0G3) (?Vizsla? or the ?Company?  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/vizsla-resources-corp/) is pleased to provide results from ten new holes at the Napoleon prospect at the Panuco silver-gold project (?Panuco? or the ?Project?) in Mexico.? These results continue to expand the discovery and it remains open to the north and beneath wide intercepts at depth.

Drilling Highlights

NP-20-42

422 g/t silver equivalent (180.1 grams per tonne (?g/t?) silver, 2.27 g/t gold, 0.44% lead and 1.31% zinc) over 11.02 metres (?m?) true width from 149.15 m including;

2,383 g/t silver equivalent (974.8 g/t silver, 13.88 g/t gold, 1.63 % lead and 5.83% zinc) over 1.09 m true width from 163.8 m and,

NP-20-31

569 g/t silver equivalent (181.2 g/t silver, 3.75 g/t gold, 0.59% lead and 1.52% zinc) over 3.54 m true width from 47.05m

NP-20-13

6 g/t silver equivalent (262.3g/t silver, 2.57 g/t gold, 1.26% lead and 2.0% zinc) over 3.23 m true width from 130.35m

Note: All numbers are rounded and widths represent downhole lengths.? Silver equivalent is calculated using the following formula: Silver-equivalent = ((Au_g/t x 52.48) + (Ag_g/t x 0.5289) + (Pb_ppm x 0.0013) + (Zn_ppm x 0.0013)) / 0.5627.? Metal price assumptions are $17.50 g/t silver, $1,700 g/t gold, $0.75 pound lead and $0.85 pound zinc, recoveries assumptions are 96% gold, 94% silver, 78% lead and 70% zinc based on similar deposit types. The Company is disclosing results on a silver equivalent basis due to the overall silver dominant nature of mineralization at the Panuco project.

Vizsla President and CEO, Michael Konnert, commented: ?We continue to grow the area of mineralization at the Napoleon discovery in all directions with drilling. We are particularly encouraged with the wide zones remaining open in the deepest drilling.? The greater Napoleon corridor has significant potential, and the Company continues to expand both the Napoleon zone and the Papayo zone and is adding rigs to systematically explore the entire 2.7 kilometre long vein corridor. Vizsla is well-funded as it continues its aggressive exploration of the Panuco district.?

Napoleon Drilling Detail

Drilling has continued to expand the known extents of mineralization at Napoleon.? The Company has completed a series of shallow holes above the original discovery zone that has extended mineralization towards surface.? Mineralization remains open towards surface and the south in this area.?

Step-out holes have also been completed at the northern end of the zone and towards depth where mineralization remains open.

Deeper drilling is continuing at Napoleon as the Company seeks to define the extent of economic mineralization.? Assays remain outstanding for deeper holes and drilling has recommenced in 2021 with two rigs ? one continuing the deeper drilling and another expanding the zone towards the north.

About the Panuco project

Vizsla has an option to acquire 100% of the recently consolidated 9,386.5 Ha Panuco district in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan.? The option allows for the acquisition of over 75 km of total vein extent, a 500 tpd mill, 35 kms of underground mines, tailings facilities, roads, power and permits.

The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Drill core and rock samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. ?The ALS Zacatecas and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption (?AA?) spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish.

Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company?s quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Qualified Person

The Company?s disclosure of technical or scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Stewart Harris, P.Geo., an independent consultant for the Company. Mr. Harris is a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain ?Forward?Looking Statements? within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and ?forward?looking information? under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words ?anticipate?, ?believe?, ?estimate?, ?expect?, ?target?, ?plan?, ?forecast?, ?may?, ?would?, ?could?, ?schedule? and similar words or expressions, identify forward?looking statements or information. These forward?looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the development of Panuco, including drilling activities; future mineral exploration, development and production; and completion of a maiden drilling program.

Forward?looking statements and forward?looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla, future growth potential for Vizsla and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management?s reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management?s experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla?s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

These statements reflect Vizsla?s respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward?looking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company\-\-s dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company\-\-s mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company\-\-s management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company\-\-s inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company\-\-s interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company\-\-s ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption ?Risk Factors? in Vizsla\-\-s management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward?looking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward?looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

'Godfather' of pro-life movement Joe Scheidler dies at 93

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Joe Scheidler, the man known as the "godfather" of the pro-life movement, has died at the age of 93.

Scheidler died of pneumonia at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, surrounded by his family at his home in northwestern Chicago. He is survived by his wife, Ann, seven children, 26 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

In 1980  seven years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that abortion was constitutionally protected nationwide under the right to privacy in the due process clause in the 14th Amendment  Scheidler founded the Pro-life Action League to equip pro-life citizens to be a voice for the unborn in their communities.

My fathers proudest accomplishment was the pro-life work of those he inspired to take an active role in the fight against abortion, the greatest injustice of our time, said Eric Scheidler, the eldest son of the deceased advocate, who now serves as the Leagues executive director, in a statement to The Christian Post on Monday.

For years, people have been telling me about the talk or protest where they met my father, and how his words and example prompted them to do more than just talk, but to take responsibility for addressing the injustice.

He added that it was "fitting" that his father died on Martin Luther King Day.

Seeing the impact that regular Americans could have by taking action against racial injustice inspired my father to mobilize Americans in the same way in the fight against the injustice of abortion, he said.

Scheidler's decades of activism are told in the 2016 book, Racketeer for Life: Fighting the Culture of Death from the Sidewalk to the Supreme Court.

The longtime advocate earned the title "godfather of the pro-life movement" due to his ultimate victory in the Supreme Court case NOW v. Scheidler, a legal dispute that was protracted over the course of many years.

The high court ruled in its original decision in 1994 that the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) could apply to enterprises without economic motives and pro-life advocates protesting outside of abortion clinics could be prosecuted under the statute. Organizations without economic motives could still affect interstate or foreign commerce and satisfy the law's definition of a racketeering entity, the decision held.

But the lawsuit was contested many times and stretched across many years, resulting in a victory in 2003 for Scheidler at the Supreme Court in an 8-0 ruling. The Supreme Court chastised the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals for disregarding a previous ruling in Scheidler's favor.

Pro-life leaders are mourning the loss of a tireless friend and advocate.

"Joe was our raison d'etre  the only reason and sole cause for the Thomas More Society's coming into existence. His unduly long, litigious persecution on the part of the National Organization for Women and the nation's abortion industry  which lasted over nearly three-decades in a landmark court battle, NOW v. Scheidler  was the crucible in which our Thomas More Society was forged," said Tom Brejcha, the president, chief counsel, and founder of the Thomas More Society in a statement emailed to The Christian Post.

"With the death of Joe Scheidler, the pro-life movement has lost a warrior champion, and we have lost a dear friend. Joe believed in defending the innocent lives of babies in the womb, and this was a lifelong calling that he lived so faithfully to his last breath. We rejoice in the truth that Joe so fully deserved to hear these words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"

Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life advocate whose story was told in the 2019 film "Unplanned," described Scheidler as "a true hero, someone whose opinion mattered."

"He was a giant in my own life and I'm so grateful to have spent time with him and to have listened to his wisdom. There aren't many people who I hope to earn their respect in this life but Joe was one of them," she said.

"I don't know if I ever did earn his respect but I know he always had mine. Not only was he influential in the pro-life movement but he was also a giant in the pro-choice movement, framing many of the decisions they made. My prayers are with his family."

Johnson is also the director of And Then There Were None, a nonprofit organization that helps abortion clinic workers leave the abortion industry and find other employment.
ALTON  Madison County students joined people all over the country Wednesday watching President Joe Biden become the 46th president of the United States.

Many Riverbend teachers watched the inauguration together with their students. Garrett Flowers, History Instructor for Marquette Catholic High School, said that his students were surprisingly interested and well informed in the inauguration.

I have quite a few students who strongly support the president-elect and are very informed on his stances on tax and environmental reforms, Flowers said. On the other hand, many students are strong supporters of President Trump, are conscious of many of the contentious events unfolding, and bring up many of his economic and political stances.

Elizabeth DeCourcey, History Department Chair for Marquette Catholic High School, said she was not able to watch the inauguration live with students on Wednesday. Leading up to the day, she said, students discussed the historic nature of this weeks inauguration:

 Joe Biden will be the oldest president. He also is only the second president who is Catholic.

 Kamala Harris will be the first female vice president as well as the first vice president of color.

I then have an article with 35 interesting Inauguration Day facts and some questions to answer, DeCourcey said.

Derek Forsting, a history teacher for East Alton-Wood River High School, said his class on Wednesday switched back and forth between CNNs broadcast and Fox News broadcast to identify bias in different news sources. He said that, generally, his students are very unconcerned with politics.

There were some female students who were very excited and moved about Kamala Harris, Forsting said. Some conservative male students expressed concern for the Biden presidency and the validity of the election, but when questioned about what facts they had about voter fraud, they had none.

Carla Hilgert, a social studies teacher for Alton High School, said she watched bits and pieces of the inauguration with students. She said their reaction was generally positive.

We talked about the historical aspect of the book used (for Bidens swearing in) and how different presidents in the past had used different things to be sworn in, Hilgert said.

Hilgert also offered her class an extra credit assignment of analyzing Bidens speech.
Just like smoking is responsible for causing cancer in humans, evidence from thousands of scientists across the world has shown that human activities cause climate change.

This overwhelming evidence has been documented in different parts of the world, yet a few Americans aren't sure about its causes. Humans are responsible for burning fossil fuels, producing livestock, and clearing trees, thereby increasing the amount of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.

Climate change and human activities are like the relationship between smoking and lung cancer. Even if we know human activities can be detrimental to our health, we still feel the need to go ahead with it

ALSO READ - Climate Change, the Negative Effect on Human Health

Evidence Gathered From Studies

An article published by American Scientist has confirmed that "Scientists have long been fascinated with the issue of explaining variations in the climate. For at least nine-tenths of the time since the beginning of recorded geological history, the average temperature of the Earth has been higher than it is today."

The article revealed that there were certain periods in the past that the world was ninth-tenth warmer than the earth today. From the time it was first documented, there have been severe periods of glaciation.

Since the early 1900s, available studies have shown that carbon-based materials like carbon dioxide (CO2) are being released into the atmosphere.

There is sufficient data indicating that legislation over climate change began in the 1970s. The Federal Energy Administration,FEA was saddled with the responsibility to collect, assemble, evaluate, and analyze energy information.

Greenhouse gases and CO2 trapped in the atmosphere have been on the rise at an unimaginable level.

The increase is higher than what has been observed tens of thousands years ago. Several chemical analyses of the atmospheric CO2 have been conducted and results have shown that the increase predominantly came from the burning fossil fuels.

Carbon-dioxide absorbs heat thereby causing temperature changes. Therefore, changes in temperature due to the amount of carbon dioxide can cause noticeable changes in the climate.

For example, experts have estimated that a decrease in temperature from 1.5 to 8 degrees can increase the formation of glaciers to a reasonable amount on the surface.

Green House Gas Emission

Greenhouse gas emission is seriously warming the earth and causing ice to melt and sea levels are rising.

When glaciers melt, the volume of seawater increases, and this poses a great risk to water supplies. Also, there are possibilities for destabilization and erosion because glacial waters carve rivers through their melting path.

The heat waves generated by the sun and ocean cycles have been ruled out, but their impact on the climate is being felt.

For instance, the sunlight generates too much rays that can affect the skin. While ocean cycles increase the volume of water in oceans, seas, streams, and so on.

Scientists have since developed computers to study the earth. They use computer models to run experiments of natural versus human-influenced simulations of Earth.

There is a consensus among climate experts that human beings are responsible for ever-increasing levels of global warming.

RELATED ARTICLE - Great Barrier Reef: IUCN Status Now "Critical" Due to Climate Change

For more news, updates about climate change and related stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News!

Press Release

January 20, 2021 Gatchalian seeks institutionalization of effective parenting amid pandemic woes Senator Win Gatchalian is seeking the institutionalization of effective parenting that will build the knowledge and skills of parents and parent substitutes to provide quality care during the critical stages of learners' development. Gatchalian filed Senate Bill No. 1985 or the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) Program Act which aims to empower and capacitate parents and guardians in their roles, especially amid the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed learners to problems of distance learning, psychosocial issues, and increased risks of violence and abuse. Statistics show the parents' dilemma with their children. From January to March 2020, 129 adolescents, some were as young as 10 years old, were diagnosed to have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In 2019, around 500 teenage girls have given birth. Out of the country's population in 2017 of 39.2 million Filipinos aged 6-24 years old, 9.1% represented out-of-school children and youth (OSCY). The proposed measure covers fathers and mothers, surrogate parents, and caretakers of children below 18 years old. The PES, which will be established in every city and municipality, will build on the capacity of parents and parent substitutes in responding to their parental duties and responsibilities. The program also aims to protect and promote children's rights, foster positive early childhood development, and advance children's educational progress. "Ang ating mga magulang ang una nating mga guro at mahalaga ang kanilang papel sa iba't ibang yugto ng edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan. Ngayong panahon ng pandemya, malaking hamon ang kinakaharap ng mga magulang, kaya kailangan ng programang magpapaigting sa kanilang kakayahang gabayan ang kanilang mga anak," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. Included in the PES program modules are the roles and needs of parents and parenting substitutes, the challenges of parenting, child development, keeping children safe from abuse, building the child's positive behavior, health and nutrition, and keeping a healthy environment for the child, among others. Parents' emotional support is positively correlated with test scores based on a Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) discussion paper, citing the dismal results of the Philippines in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). ### Gatchalian: papel ng magulang sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan dapat paigtingin Isinusulong ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang isang programang magpapaigting sa kakayahan at kaalaman ng mga magulang at "parent substitutes" na magbigay ng angkop na kalinga sa mga kabataan pagdating sa kanilang edukasyon. Inihain ni Gatchalian ang Senate Bill No. 1985 o ang "Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) Program Act" upang matulungan ang mga magulang na lalong paghusayin ang pagganap sa kanilang mga responsibilidad, lalo na sa kabila ng mga hamong dulot ng pandemya. Sa panahong ito, maraming mga mag-aaral ang humaharap sa mga suliraning may kinalaman sa distance learning, mga isyung psychosocial, at mas mataas na panganib na makaranas ng karahasan at pang-aabuso. Ibinahagi ni Gatchalian ang ilang datos na nagpapakita ng ilang hamong kinaharap ng mga kabataan at kanilang mga magulang nitong nagdaang mga taon. Mula Enero hanggang Marso 2020, higit isang-daan at dalawampu (129) na mga kabataan ang nagkaroon ng human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Noong 2019, may limang-daang (500) mga babaeng teenager ang nanganak. Noong 2017, halos sampung porsyento (9.1) naman sa halos apatnapung (39.2) milyong mga pilipinong may edad na anim (6) hanggang dalawampu't apat (24) ang kabilang sa mga out-of-school children and youth. Bahagi ng programang PES ang mga magulang, mga "surrogate parents," at tagapangalaga ng mga batang may edad na labingwalo (18) pababa. Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, ang PES ay itataguyod sa bawat lungsod at munisipalidad. Maliban sa paggabay sa mga magulang, layunin din ng naturang programa na pangalagaan ang karapatan ng mga kabataan, isulong ang positibong "early childhood development", at isulong ang edukasyon ng mga kabataan. "Ang mga magulang ang una nating mga guro at mahalaga ang kanilang papel sa iba't ibang yugto ng edukasyon ng mga kabataan. Ngayong panahon ng pandemya, malaking hamon ang kinakaharap ng mga magulang, kaya kailangan ng programang magpapaigting sa kanilang kakayahang gabayan ang kanilang mga anak," ayon sa Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture. Bahagi ng mga modules ng programang PES ang child development, mga hamon ng pagiging isang magulang, proteksyon ng mga bata laban sa pang-aabuso, pagturo ng magandang pag-uugali, kalusugan at nutrisyon ng mga bata, at pagkakaroon ng isang mabuting kapaligiran para sa kabataan. Samantala, sa isang pag-aaral ng Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) sa naging resulta ng 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), ang suporta ng mga magulang ay may kaugnayan sa mga markang nakuha ng mga mag-aaral na lumahok sa pandaigdigang pagsusuri.
Farm laws: Congress leaders detained after trying to lay siege to Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Bengaluru, Jan 20: Senior Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were detained along with scores of others when they attempted to proceed to Raj Bhavan to lay siege to it on Wednesday protesting the contentious farm laws of the Centre.

Several congress workers and farmers from across the state descended on the city following a call given the state unit of the national party to lay siege to Raj Bhavan in protest against the new agri laws and condemn the hike in fuel prices.

India has been a bipartisan success story of our successive administrations says Bidens close aide

Raising slogans, holding the party flag, banners and posters, the protesters took out a march from Freedom Park to the Governor's official residence, but were stopped on the way by police.

Speaking to reporters from inside a police vehicle in which he was taken away from the protest site, Siddaramaiah said, "The Yediyurappa government and the police are trying to disrupt the peaceful protests, which I strongly condemn."

UN assists India's mammoth COVID-19 vaccine rollout on Jan 16

He hit out at the BJP saying the saffron party never had faith in the democratic setup. Elaborate security arrangements were made in view of the anti-farmers law protests and roads barricaded. Commuters faced a harrowing time due to traffic snarls caused by agitations at various places.

Earlier in the day, Congress state chief DK Shivakumar accused the state government of stopping the protesters from reaching the state capital.

"I have been receiving calls saying the police have been stopping farmers and Congress workers since last night," Shivakumar alleged in a video message.

Coronavirus cases: 13,823 fresh COVID-19 cases take India's infection close to 10.6 million

He appealed to those who were prevented from proceeding to the city, to hold protest by blocking the highways. "Reach the Bengaluru Railway station and we all shall go and lay siege to the Raj Bhavan," he added.

Tandav: Trouble mounts as UP Govt plans to take legal action against actors and makers|Oneindia News

Meanwhile, the BJP ridiculed the protests and alleged that the Congress, which had been responsible for the farmers' suicide throughout its regime, was staging a drama by opposing the pro-farmer laws introduced by the Centre. "Farmer suicides would not have escalated if you had been pro-farmer, isn't it?" the saffron party asked in a tweet.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 17:20 [IST]
A man has been arrested as he tried to smuggle $656,000 in heroin through the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Vrayan Jonatan Romero Mier, 25, was charged with import and conspire to import heroin.

He arrived at the bridge on Saturday driving a 2006 Toyota Rav4. Romero Mier was referred to secondary inspection following a computer-generated alert, states an arrest affidavit.

An X-ray of the vehicle yielded anomalies in the driver and passenger side rocker panels and in the floorboard. Further inspection resulted in the discovery of several packages concealed within the passenger side rocker panel and in an aftermarket compartment, according to court documents.

CBP officers then extracted 33 packages that tested positive for 28.92 pounds of heroin. The contraband had an estimated street value of $656,000.

Operational vigilance in border security led to this interdiction of heroin, which helps disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics and prevent them from reaching our communities, said Acting Port Director Eugene Crawford, Laredo Port of Entry.

Homeland Security Investigation special agents responded for investigative assistance. Romero Mier allegedly agreed to provide a post-arrest statement without an attorney present.

Romero (Mier) stated he was in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico when an unknown individual offered him $10,000 to smuggle an unknown illegal substance into the United States. Romero (Mier) said the unknown individual threatened him and his family with physical harm if he did not cooperate, states the affidavit.

He alleged he did not know that he was smuggling heroin into the United States but knew it was an illegal substance, according to court documents. He added he was instructed to take the heroin to Alabama, Georgia to someone he identified as Hector, states the affidavit.
ROME, JAN 20 - The government is having to revise its plan for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines after Pfizer said it was cutting the doses it was supplying to Italy and other EU States. The plan is being revised to make sure no region is unable to administer second doses to people who have had the first. Regional Affairs Minister Francesco Boccia said the government was considering legal action against the pharmaceuticals giant and called on Italy's regions to show solidarity to make sure no area of the country totally runs out of vaccines. (ANSA).

Relentless Church files motion against Redemption Church in ongoing real estate dispute

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An ongoing dispute between the Ron Carpenter-led Redemption Church and John Grays Relentless Church in South Carolina over real estate has escalated after Relentless Church filed a motion in court last week seeking to enforce a settlement reached with Redemption Church last October.

"Last year, Relentless Church and Redemption Church met in good faith and both parties were able to reach an amicable agreement that allowed both churches to focus on their true mission  to serve the spiritual livelihoods of the Greenville community, Relentless spokesperson Anne Torres said in a statement on the dispute to WYFF4.

Gray's attorney, Devon Puriefoy, told Greenville News that "the terms of the mediation are confidential," and he is urging Redemption to comply with those terms so the case can "get through the finish line."

According to Torres, Redemption Church leaders haven't been acting in good faith.

Relentless has made every effort to be a partner in faith to Redemption but unfortunately, this has become a distraction to the work the church has done in the Greenville community and beyond. Simply put, our community and congregations deserve better. It is our hope that Redemption leadership accepts and abides by the terms of our original agreement so that we can all move forward, she said in an emailed statement to Greenville News on Tuesday.

The dispute began shortly after Carpenter and his wife, Hope, moved to San Jose, California, in 2018 and were officially installed as the new pastors of the 14,000-member Jubilee Christian Center, now rebranded as Redemption.

The Carpenters founded Redemption Church in South Carolina in 1991 and led it for 27 years before passing the reins of their Greenville Church to Gray and his wife, Aventer, who rebranded the congregation Relentless Church.

After a slew of controversies concerning allegations of marital infidelity and Relentless Church's purchase of a $1.8 million home for the Grays, the Carpenters issued an eviction notice to Relentless Church from their Greenville facility.

Grays lawyers argued in early 2020 that the dispute is really a fight over church members.

In essence, this is not a dispute as much about leases and occupancy of church buildings, as much as it is a fight over church members. Pastor Gray has come into Greenville at the urging of Ron Carpenter, even moving to be here before school was out for the summer for his children, because Carpenter said he had to leave immediately for California, lawyers for Gray argued in 2020.

In October, Carpenter announced plans to return to Greenville with a new campus in 2021 to provide a spiritual home for former congregants who have been left spiritually homeless by the botched handover of his longtime church to Gray.

Responding to the motion filed by Relentless Church, Redemption Church told WYFF4 in a statement that they are committed to finalizing the settlement reached with Grays operation.

Redemption is fully committed to finalizing the settlement reached at mediation with Relentless and has been working since October to make that happen. Though we cannot discuss specific terms of the confidential agreement, there are necessary actions to finalize the agreement that involve obligations to third parties that have taken more time than any of the parties may have liked, Redemption said. We are very close to finalizing the settlement and are uncertain why Relentless has felt the need to involve the court and the media in something the parties are capable of resolving amongst themselves. Redemption looks forward to doing just that and to being a blessing to the Greenville community long into the future.
Lucknow, Jan 20 : The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has managed to check corruption within the government by mandating that all purchases by its departments and their subordinate institutions be made through the GeM portal.

The process has reflected the transparency and has eliminated the human interface in the purchases, thereby, naturally diminishing the chances of corruption.

According to the government spokesman, the departmental purchases through the GeM portal in the state was Rs 602 crore in the financial year 2017-18 and it increased to Rs 1,674 crore in 2018-19.

In the financial year 2019-20, it was Rs 2,401 crore and in this current financial year 20-21, a total of Rs 2,500 crore has been purchased till December.

In this way, the departments have made purchases worth Rs 7,177 crore from the GeM portal in the last four years.

Navneet Sehgal, additional chief secretary, MSME, said, "The Chief Minister's policy of zero tolerance for corruption is crystal clear. The government is committed to end corruption completely and its efforts are also being appreciated at the national level." The Indian Industries Association (IIA) also feels that the GeM portal is very beneficial for the government and entrepreneurs.

Pankaj Gupta, chairman of IIA, said, "Bringing transparency in government departmental procurement and thus ending corruption is also exemplary for other states. The aim of the government was that the MSMEs get the right rates without any corruption and the right people participate." The MSME department has been made the nodal department and it has formed a Project Management Unit (PMU) team of GeM portal.

The Central government has also honoured the state government with the Best Buyer Award in 2018 and Super Buyer Award in 2019.

At present, Uttar Pradesh is the first state to make maximum purchases through the GeM portal at the national level.

Besides products, manpower outsourcing, taxi and cleaning services are also being taken from the GeM portal from many departments and the portal has a wide range of diverse goods and services with suppliers and vendors.

GeM is a Government e-Marketplace that was started with an objective to transform the legacy procurement system in India.

Over 70,000 vendors are registered on this portal. Being a one-stop portal, it facilitates the online procurement of common goods and services required by various government departments, organisations, and PSUs.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Windy with rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High near 50F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.

CCTV has been released of what prosecution say is the moment a butcher stalked a 21-year-old student before raping and murdering her.

Pawel Relowicz, 26, allegedly lured Ms Squire into his car as she walked through Hull's student area while 'drunk and vulnerable' after a night out.

Footage shown at Relowiczs trial is said to capture the moment the defendant first spotted Ms Squire as she sat on a wall alone on Beverley Road.

He then walked in the shadows in an attempt to avoid raising her suspicions, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

The prosecution say Relowicz 'stalked' Ms Squire from the opposite side of the street before 'darting' over to intercept her.

He then drove Ms Squire to the Oak Road playing fields where he raped and murdered her, the court heard.

Footage shown at Relowiczs trial is said to capture the moment the defendant (in red) 'stalked' Ms Squire (green) from the other side of the road

The prosecution say Relowicz then 'stalked' Ms Squire from the opposite side of the street before 'darting' over to intercept her

According to the prosecution, the 10-minute long footage shows Relowicz 'intercepting' Ms Squire after spotting her at the junction between Beverley Road and Haworth Street.

The footage starts with what is believed to be Relowicz parked in Haworth Street, before stepping out of his Vauxhall Astra at 11.55pm on January 31, 2019, and walking in the direction of Beverley Road.

At 11.57pm, a red arrow (Relowicz) and a green arrow (Ms Squire), allegedly shows the two of them stood near each other at the bus stop at the junction with Beverley Road and Haworth Street.

It is then claimed by the prosecution that Relowicz can be seen walking away from Ms Squire and walking across Beverley Road in the direction of Beresford Avenue.

For the next few minutes, Ms Squire can be seen wandering near to the bus stop and heading towards the nearby Endsleigh Centre.

At 11.59pm, it is claimed Relowicz can be seen emerging from the direction of Beresford Avenue and walking up Beverley Road in the direction of the Endsleigh Centre on the opposite side of the road to Ms Squire.

Ms Squire then disappears into the grounds of the Endsleigh Centre.

At exactly midnight, the figure believed to be Relowicz then crosses Beverley Road towards the entrance to the Endsleigh Centre.

The arrows showing the whereabouts of Ms Squire and the accused disappear, with the student reappearing from the entrance of the Centre at 12.01pm.

Seconds later the red arrow emerges from the Centre's entrance and moves towards Ms Squire, with the pair waiting a second or two then walking towards the bus stop.

At 12.02pm, the CCTV appears to show them near to the bus stop, before they walk down to Haworth Street.

The footage then cuts to CCTV in Haworth Street, where the lights on what is believed to be Relowicz's Vauxhall Astra flash.

Moments later, the prosecution say Relowicz can be seen opening the driver's door of the vehicle. The red ring around the ankle refers to the black stripes on Relowicz's jeans previously discussed by the prosecution.

It is claimed the defendant then sits in the driver's seat with his legs facing to the side and out of the car, with his car door remaining open.

Ms Squire can no longer be seen.

Relowicz, 26, who is accused of raping and and murdering Ms Squire, told police he 'felt sorry for her' after seeing her crying and offered her a lift home in his car, Sheffield Crown Court heard

On Tuesday, the jury at his trial also watched CCTV footage which showed his and Ms Squire's movements on the night she disappeared

At 12.05pm another vehicle drives down Haworth Street, and past what is said to be Relowicz, with him standing up as it drives out of view of the camera. Relowicz then moves out of view towards Beverley Road.

The CCTV angle switches again to show Haworth Street from the opposite direction at 12.06pm. A figure, believed to be Relowicz, can be seen walking near to the top of Haworth Street at the junction with Beverley Road.

Ms Squire can then be seen walking close by to him.

This part of the footage isn't as clear, however the prosecution say it shows the moment Ms Squire is seen getting into Relowicz's car.

At 12.08pm, a headlight can be seen turning on, with the car pulling out and driving in the direction away from Beverley Road.

The CCTV footage then switches back to that in Haworth Street, and back to 12.07pm, where prosecution say Ms Squire can be seen getting into the passenger's side of Relowicz's car.

The red arrow, signalling the alleged movements of the defendant, show Relowicz opening the driver's side door and sitting in the driver's seat. The car's headlights are turned on, and the car drives off away from Beverley Road.

It came as retired detective constable Claire Jackson, of Humberside Police, read a transcript of Relowicz's first interviews after he was arrested on suspicion of the abduction of Ms Squire.

CCTV timeline of the night Libby Squire disappeared Around 11.20pm on January 31 - Ms Squire and her friends are seen arriving at The Welly nightclub on Beverley Road. 11.21pm - footage from inside the entrance to The Welly shows Ms Squire standing to one side speaking to her friends after being refused entry. 11.26pm - Ms Squire's friends are seen walking into The Welly and a taxi, containing Ms Squire, is seen setting off behind them. 11.26pm to 11.52pm - Relowicz drives his silver Vauxhall Astra from Cranbrook Avenue to Haworth Street - with a 20-minute stop in Alexandra Road. Richard Wright QC, prosecuting, said: 'The journey from Cranbrook Avenue to Haworth Street is not an unbroken journey in time. There's a period of time when the vehicle stops again in Alexandra Road.' 11.29pm - CCTV footage shows Ms Squire's taxi turning from Beverley Road on to Wellesley Avenue, where she lived with three other students, the court heard. 11.34pm - Mr Grandidge showed footage of Ms Squire at the door of a house on Wellesley Avenue, near its junction with Beverley Road. The jury has heard that Ms Squire went into this house after one of its residents heard her crying outside. 11.36pm - Ms Squire is seen leaving the house and walking on to Beverley Road. She crosses the road and continues towards the junction with Haworth Street. 11.39pm - Ms Squire is seen falling to the ground. Dashcam footage captured by a passing motorist shows Ms Squire on the pavement, 'very close' to the kerb. 11.40pm - footage shows a silver Citroen Picasso, containing Roland Jacobs and Alan Jones, stopping and Mr Jacobs getting out and walking to Ms Squire. He is seen helping her up off the ground before sitting her on a wall. 11.49pm - Mr Jacobs and Mr Jones drive away in the Citroen. The jury has heard that Mr Jacobs could not understand Ms Squire, who started to swear at him, and they left after trying to help for just short of 10 minutes. 11.52pm - another passer-by, Lorna Allen, is seen approaching Ms Squire. 11.57pm - Relowicz is seen getting out of his car on Haworth Street and walking on to Beverley Road past Ms Squire, crossing the road, and going out of sight into Beresford Avenue. 11.59pm - Ms Squire is seen walking down Beverley Road. Mr Wright described her as 'moving from side to side on the pavement' and Mr Grandidge told the jury she 'stumbled' on to the road at one point. Thirty seconds later, Relowicz leaves Beresford Avenue and walks in the same direction on the opposite side of the road. After around half a minute, he crosses the road and 'intercepts' Ms Squire. They both disappear into the grounds of a former nunnery. 12.01am February 1 - Mr Wright told the jury that Ms Squire and Relowicz are seen emerging from the grounds after 58 seconds and walking back up Beverley Road. 12.02am - one minute and nine seconds later, they reach the entrance to Haworth Street. 12.03am - Relowicz returns to his car and is seen sitting in the driver's seat with his feet outside the vehicle. 12.06am - a Renault Scenic, which has been parked in Haworth Street, leaves and Relowicz is seen standing up and walking towards Beverley Road. The jury was shown enhanced footage from a camera on Haworth Street showing two figures walking across the end of the street before appearing to stand together and then moving towards Relowicz's car. Footage from another camera showed Ms Squire's leg stepping into the passenger side of the car before she enters and sits down. Relowicz is then seen coming to the driver's side and getting into the car. 12.08am - the vehicle leaves Haworth Street and is seen on CCTV footage travelling to Oak Road playing fields. Advertisement

The jury of five men and seven women heard that he was arrested at his home on the evening of February 6 and was interviewed for the first time at 10.13pm that night.

Richard Woolfall, prosecuting, said Relowicz, who worked as a butcher at Karro Foods, in Malton, North Yorkshire, was shown a picture of Ms Squire and asked if she was alive.

Ms Jackson said the defendant replied: 'I don't know? How am I supposed to know?'

When asked where Ms Squire was, he answered: 'I didn't abduct her.'

In his next interview, which took place at 1.59pm the following day, Relowicz told detectives: 'I know nothing and this is the whole truth. I haven't kidnapped anybody, this isn't kidnapping is it?

'I even want to help so that she's found.'

He told police he parked in Haworth Street on the evening of January 31 because he planned to go for a run, but he saw Ms Squire 'sitting crying', the court heard.

He said: 'I feel sorry for the girl because she was crying.'

The court heard that Relowicz told police: 'I walked past the girl and she says to me 'Stop please'. She said 'I need help'. And I was asking 'What's up?'.

'She went 'I need to go home, I need my mother' and she was crying, she was all in tears.'

He added: 'She was drunk and it seems to me that either she had been taking something or somebody had given her something. She was behaving strangely.'

He said he offered to give Ms Squire a lift home in his car and described how she 'nearly walked on to the road, where the cars were coming' and held his hand as they walked, the court heard.

Ms Jackson said he told police he sat in his car to warm it up and, when Ms Squire got in, he fastened her seatbelt for her.

Relowicz told police he asked Ms Squire for directions as he drove and she directed him towards the Oak Road playing fields, where he said he would take his dog and son, the court heard.

But he said he told her to get out of his car because she looked like she might vomit and she fell over in the snow and knelt on the floor, crying, the jury was told.

The court heard that Relowicz told police he drove away and saw Ms Squire walking on the pavement.

He said in his interview: 'I know nothing more about it. I've never seen her since.'

He told police he returned home, sat with his wife, had a bath and watched a film but, at some point, drove to see if Ms Squire was 'lying anywhere', the court heard.

He said: 'I drove but there was nothing lying so I drove round and that was it.'

The trial was adjourned until Wednesday.

Tuesday's exchanges came after the Sheffield court heard witness testimony from the last person to see Ms Squire alive.

Sainsbury's manager Matthew Handisides heard her scream 'don't leave me' just moments before she disappeared, the court heard.

Mr Handisides saidhe was walking home down Beverley Road in Hull when he noticed the drunken student.

He said his attention was initially grabbed by a car with its headlights on before he was drawn to a 'movement in the shadows'.

He said: 'I noticed a young girl or lady on the ground. She was sat with her legs akimbo [with hands on the hips and elbows turned outwards].

'She was yelling, not towards me but to the car or the shadows, 'don't leave me' I made an assessment that she was very intoxicated.

The 'don't leave me' was more angry or cross rather than pleading or anything like that.'

Mr Handisides said he thought the car was of medium size but that he couldn't make out its colour or if anyone was inside it because of the light.

He added he assumed the stricken woman was talking to her partner, although there was no mention of one, and carried on walking home.

'From being a student myself I have plenty of female friends and have seen those kinds of interactions on nights out,' he said.

'Although I didn't see a boyfriend, the way she was saying it was similar to how I'd seen my friends interact with their boyfriends.'

Prosecutor Mr Wright asked if he saw her again, to which the witness replied 'no'. He also replied 'no' when asked if he saw any other man close to her at the time.

The court also previously heard heard evidence from three of Ms Squire's friends who were with her hours before she disappeared on January 31.

Her housemate Amelia Cummins said they began drinking while getting ready at home before going on to a house party and a club.

A detective showed Sheffield Crown Court images of Relowicz and Ms Squire, taken from cameras around Hull, East Yorkshire, on the evening of January 31 2019 and into the following morning

Detective Constable James Grandidge, of Humberside Police, played a number of CCTV clips to the jury of five men and seven women showing the separate movements of Ms Squire and Relowicz and the moments they were seen together

In a written statement read by the prosecution, she said: 'We all had a good time, Libby was happy and funny. She was laughing and generally enjoying herself.

'Libby appeared fine in herself and didn't appear to have anything worrying her or any concerns.'

Ms Cummins said they began getting ready at around 7.30pm and that Ms Squire drunk two large vodka cranberries followed by a vodka coke and a bottle of wine after moving on to a friend's house.

At the house, she chatted with a friend from her philosophy course at the University of Hull called Nathan Murphy, the court heard.

In a statement read about by the prosecution, he said: 'Libby was in good spirits. She was welcoming and friendly.

'Other than being cold and drunk she seemed fine in all other respects.'

Mr Relowicz, of Hull, denies raping and murdering the philosophy student on February 1 2019

Ms Squire left the house party for a club at around 11pm, Ms Cummins said, but that she was 'struggling walking'.

In a statement, Ms Squire's other housemate Chloe Wise said: 'As we walked to the club Libby's level of intoxication became more noticeable.

'I was of the belief that the fresh air might have hit her.'

After being refused entry to the club for being 'too drunk' Ms Cummins and Ms Wise put Libby into a taxi and sent her back to their shared house, the court heard.

The court also heard from two more witnesses who spotted Libby on the street before she vanished.

University of Hull mechanical engineering student Joshua Scott said he was walking home from work at around 11.45am when he saw her.

In a statement read out by the prosecution, he said: 'The female looked really drunk and seemed unable to stand. She was being loud, either singing or shouting, but she didn't seem distressed.'

Mr Scott said by the time he got to the woman she was already being helped by Mr Jones, who the court heard from this morning, so he carried on walking home.
West Bengal: This 22-year-old is helping villagers in the Sundarbans improve their livelihoods

January 20,2021 | Source: Social Story

The 4,000 square miles of dense swamplands that span the India-Bangladesh border  the Sundarbans  are believed to be the largest continuous mangrove forests in the world. The area is made up of an intricate network of waterways, saltwater forests, mudflats, and over 102 islands, many of which are uninhabited except by over 260 bird species, estuarine crocodiles, river dolphins, Bengal tiger, and host of unique flora and fauna. The land of Amitav Ghoshs The Hungry Tide is an evolving landscape where successive cyclones have consumed and birthed new islands. One thing remains a constant  the struggle of the 4. 5 million people who live in the 54 inhabitable islands in the archipelago  to survive amidst these conditions and eke out an income through farming, fishing, and collecting honey. But the outbreak of the pandemic and the damage caused in the wake of Cyclone Amphan saw homes swept away and crops inundated with saline water, further affecting their already sparse living. It was during the efforts to rehabilitate and rebuild the homes of the villagers that 22-year-old Kolkata native Ayush Sarda became involved with collecting funds to build 1,200 homes in eight villages in the locality. Ayushs interest in the voluntary and non-profit sector began in school when he and his friends at La Martiniere collected relief material to send to the victims of the Nepal earthquake in 2015. I started getting involved in social work, and was going out into the field and working with NGOs, victims of sex trafficking, and kids with special needs, Ayush says.



It was while working with villagers in the Sundarbans that he first forayed into social entrepreneurship. Ayush had always believed in working for the uplift of women and children in marginalised communities. But when his team did an analysis of how the funds they were sending were being spent, he realised that the men, too, had stopped working and were listing non-essential items in their list of requirements with NGOs.



Thats when I decided to segue to a social entrepreneurship model where we created work opportunities for both men and women, thereby creating a steady source of income that would also benefit the community at large. Ayush decided to leverage the traditional income stream of the area (Bali village) and created an organic honey brand under which the villagers could sell hibiscus honey. The flower grows in abundance in the area and is a favourite with the bees, owing to its high pollen content. The honey is organic and completely cruelty-free. Most big companies need more honey than the hive can produce so they extract the entire honey and leave nothing for the bees. In the process, they end up killing the bees. The villagers give enough time for the bees to leave the comb before gathering the honey.



He says the locals never harm the trees, animals, and bees because 90 percent of the employment in Sundarbans comes exclusively from farming and beekeeping. The villagers there have their own connection with Mother Nature, he says. Ayush markets the honey under Sweetness of Ethics, a social entrepreneurship model and brand, created as a separate initiative under Ek Packet Umeed  a student volunteer NGO that he founded following the Nepal earthquake. They have set up an eponymous website to market the honey. We undertake a lot of activities as part of the NGO, and did not want Sweetness of Ethics to get lost in that, he says. He says that 70 percent of the proceeds from the sales go back into the community while the remaining 30 percent is used for the marketing of the brand.



Ayush and his fellow volunteers have also been supporting other programmes in the region. The Sundarbans is divided into two parts by the Ganga (river). One side is so remote that we have to use a steamer to get there. The team from Ek Packet Umeed was forced to send a local team to ascertain the damage in the area and find out what kind of support the locals needed. The trees had fallen and even boats could not access the area. After speaking with NGOs, many of whom had been working in the area for nearly 30 years, we made a list of 15 organisations we could reach out to. Ayush started interviewing people who were running these organisations and shortlisted three organisations, including the Sundarban Foundation run by Prasenjit Mandal. The foundation is supporting widows of fishermen, who were killed by tigers, by skilling them, educating their children, offering medical support, including free eye check-ups and distribution of spectacles to those who need them completely free of cost. Students who go to local government schools attend our remedial centre where we ensure that they have understood their lessons. The centre is used for vocational training in the evenings; we teach khadi weaving, electrical work, plumbing, and speaking English so that some can get jobs at nearby hotels. We have planted over 2,000 trees for the womens self-help groups (SHG), and they are growing mango and jackfruit. The Ek Packet Umeed team has connected the SHGs with organic stores who buy all their produce at a fair price.



They have also trained farmers of the village in crop rotation so that the land does not lie unused for a major part of the year. We have created a scenario where both men and women are earning and children are getting an education. Today, the average income of the villagers in Bali village has increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 10,000, Ayush says. The team is planning to introduce a courtyard concept in the village - a school on one side, a vocational training centre on the other, and a health and community centre in the centre. Once we have achieved certain parameters, we will move on to another village as we dont want them to become dependent on us. We plan to help more than 20 villages in the next 10 years, Ayush says.
MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2021 / Quebec Precious Metals Corporation ("QPM" or the "Company") (TSXV:QPM)(OTCQB:CJCFF)(FSE:YXEP) is pleased to inform that Richard Nieminen has been appointed as senior exploration manager. Richard replaces Tony Brisson who has recently accepted the position of President and CEO of SOQUEM. He will be planning, coordinating and controlling all exploration activities of the Company in close collaboration with the technical team of the Company.

Mr. Nieminen has worked in mineral exploration and at mining operations in Quebec, elsewhere in Canada and internationally. He was part of teams that have received the prize of Prospector of the Year Award by the Association de l'exploration miniere du Quebec (AEMQ) for the discoveries of West Ansil (2005) and Bracemac-McLeod (2007). Until recently, M. Nieminen was the Exploration Manager for Radisson Mining Ressources. He is a professional geologist and a member of the Ordre des geologues du Quebec. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology (B.Sc., Earth Sciences) from the Universite du Quebec, Montreal.

"We are pleased to welcome Mr. Nieminen in our team. With 30 years of experience in exploration on a wide variety of projects including gold projects, he will strengthen our expertise to advance the Sakami project and other gold projects in the James Bay region. We also want to recognize the very significant contribution that Tony Brisson has made as senior exploration manager for QPM. Tony participated in the discovery process of the La Pointe Extension at Sakami and Lloyd at Elmer East."

About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

QPM is a gold explorer with a large land position in the highly-prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. QPM's flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPM's goal is to rapidly explore the project to advance it to the mineral resource estimate stage.

For more information, please contact:

Jean-Francois Meilleur

President

Tel.: 514 951-2730

jfmeilleur@qpmcorp.ca

Normand Champigny

Chief Executive Officer

Tel.: 514 979-4746

nchampigny@qpmcorp.ca

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.

SOURCE: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625908/Quebec-Precious-Metals-Appoints-Richard-Nieminen-as-Senior-Exploration-Manager

Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 21:52:12|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif welcomed on Tuesday night his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani's call for dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Iran.

"Iran welcomes my brother FM (Al Thani)'s call for inclusive dialogue in our region," Zarif wrote on social media, official news agency IRNA reported.

Al-Thani said on Tuesday in an interview with Bloomberg that Qatar has urged GCC governments to engage in dialogue with Iran, and offered Doha's mediation.

Zarif further noted in his message that Iran has "consistently emphasized" that the solution to the region's challenges lies in collaboration in order to form a "strong region" which is "peaceful, stable, prosperous and free from global or regional hegemony." Enditem


Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

More than 51 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given around the world, according to an AFP count on Wednesday.

Quarter of Israelis

Israel leads the vaccination race by far in terms of the percentage of population.

More than a quarter of its citizens have had shots, with 2.43 million vaccines given.

More than one in 20 have already received the second dose.

The country secured a huge stock of Pfizer jabs partly by pledging to share impact data quickly with the company.

One privacy specialist described the rollout as "the biggest experiment on humans in the 21st century".

Globally, 51,285,801 doses have been given in at least 61 countries or territories.

Unequal access

The rich countries of Europe, North America, the Gulf and China are hogging most of the vaccines so far.

Just 11 of the 61 nations who have started vaccinating account for 90 percent of the doses given.

Major Latin American countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Mexico have launched campaigns but at a slower pace than other regions.

In Africa only the Seychelles has begun a campaign, while Guinea is running a pilot programme involving a few dozen people.

The World Health Organization hopes to deliver the first vaccines through the Covax scheme to share out shots more fairly by the end of the month or early February.

And the winners are...

The US leads in terms of sheer volume of shots, with 15.7 million doses given to 4.1 percent its population. China has given 15 million doses.

The UK comes in thirdand first in Europewith 4.7 million doses covering 6.3 percent of the population.

Italy and Germany have each administered 1.2 million doses to 1.4 percent of Germans and 2 percent of Italians. France has given vaccines to 585,662 people or 0.9 percent of the population.

More than than six million doses have been given across the EU, with Denmark leading the way with 3 percent of its people getting a first jab, ahead of Malta (2.9 percent), and Slovenia (2.1 percent).

Seven vaccines

There are currently seven vaccines circulating around the world, all designed to be given in two doses.

The vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech (US-German) and Moderna (US) are dominant in North America, Europe, Israel and the Gulf.

Britain's AstraZeneca-Oxford is used in much of the UK and India, with the latter also using a vaccine produced by its pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech.

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has been rolled out in Russia, Argentina, Belarus and Serbia.

China's Sinopharm jabs are being administered in China, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the Seychelles and Jordan, while Indonesia and Turkey are using China's Sinovac vaccine.

China's Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines and Russia's Sputnik V jab have yet to be fully approved by either Beijing or Moscow's health authorities.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2021 AFP
The gist of it is I wanted my wifes legacy and memory to be one of enormous respect. I didnt want to mishandle it, he said. And I have a mission to tell the truth about that time and everything that came from it.

There are parts of Teagues original essay that made it directly onto the screen: the doctors words when he revealed Nicoles diagnosis (Its everywhere. Like somebody dipped a paintbrush in cancer and flicked it around her abdomen), the friendship between Teague and Faucheux, and Nicoles dying wishes (jumping in a downtown fountain with all her family and friends, becoming the grand marshal in her towns Mardi Gras parade). What her life lacked in length, it made up for in height, Teague wrote in Esquire.

The more visceral parts that, in part, made the essay so memorable were omitted: specifically Teagues role in the grotesque art of wound-packing and the physical horrors that accompanied it.

There are things that I can write about in print, and people can absorb and find to be honest, he said. Yet, if you see it onscreen, people are going to throw up their popcorn and run from the theater.

Yet, despite his carefully calibrated work, success in Hollywood is never a guarantee.

The 2019 Toronto Film Festival accepted the film and gave it a coveted opening-weekend slot.

Seated inside the Princess of Wales Theater, Teague was a flurry of nerves, held together only by sheer will and the help of a friend and fellow journalist, Tom Junod, who was also the subject of a Hollywood movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, about his unlikely relationship with Fred Rogers.
But Home Office is considering extending its use beyond six-month time period

harities calling for the site to be shut as they say social distancing is impossible

Priti Patel wants to keep housing asylum seekers at a disused Kent Army barracks despite calls to shut it down amid concerns of a 'major health crisis'.

A coronavirus outbreak has hit the military site in Folkestone, Kent, where hundreds of people are living behind the barbed wire-topped fences.

There have been reports of suicide attempts in the Army barracks and many residents went on hunger strike in protest of the conditions which reportedly include 34 people sharing one shower.

Many of those living at Napier Barracks crossed to the UK from France aboard small boats. Charities are calling for the site to be shut as a result of the 'entirely predictable' Covid-19 crisis as they say social distancing is impossible.

Emergency use of the site was secured for six months in September, and the Home Office is considering extending its use beyond that time period.

Priti Patel wants to keep housing asylum seekers at a disused Kent Army barracks despite calls to shut it down amid concerns of a 'major health crisis'. Pictured: asylum seekers held inside Napier Barracks in Folkestone staging a peaceful protest on January 12

A coronavirus outbreak has hit the military site in Folkestone, Kent, where hundreds of people are living behind the barbed wire-topped fences (pictured: a view of Napier Barracks in Kent)

Emergency use of the site was secured for six months in September, and the Home Office is considering extending its use beyond that time period (pictured: Home Secretary Priti Patel)

Sile Reynolds, senior policy advisor at Freedom from Torture, called on the Government to shut the barracks to save lives.

She said: 'Plans to extend the use of the barracks to accommodate asylum seekers in the middle of this pandemic is another example of this government's reckless disregard for people's lives.

'A major health crisis is unfolding in these ex-military camps. It is a crisis that was entirely predictable. But the warnings of medical professionals and front line charities have fallen on deaf ears.

'The horror taking place inside the camps cannot be overstated - they are unsanitary and not COVID secure. It is impossible for people trapped there to maintain any social distance.

'The government's own evidence shows that those with BAME heritage and low immune systems are at greater risk of this virus than others.

Many people in the camps are vulnerable, having fled torture and persecution, and fall in to this category. This must change. Our message to this government is clear: empty the barracks, close these camps, save lives.'

Local charity Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) also called for the immediate closure of Napier Barracks, saying residents are 'sitting ducks' for Covid-19.

But immigration minister Chris Philp has insisted that conditions are 'safe, suitable (and) Covid-compliant'.

A view of Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, currently being used by the Government to house people seeking asylum in the UK after emergency use of the site was secured for six months in September last year

Several dozen people stood outside the gates of the military facility earlier this month to demonstrate over conditions inside and social distancing concerns

Handout photo issued by Care4Calais of asylum seekers at the barracks conducting a sleep out overnight in protest of the reported cramped conditions

He blamed the coronavirus outbreak on those living at the camp, alleging that a number 'refused tests and have been either refusing to self-isolate or follow social distancing rules'.

Charities have raised concerns about how well residents are able to self-isolate and social distance given the reported cramped conditions.

Pushed on the future of the barracks, the Home Office said it was considering extending its use for housing asylum seekers.

Use of the Ministry of Defence site was initially authorised for six months under emergency provisions as the Government struggled to house thousands of people who had crossed the Channel and claimed asylum last year.

However the Home Office confirmed that a public consultation on continued use of the site beyond March will open 'soon'.

Bella Sankey, director of charity Detention Action, criticised the possible extension, saying: 'Having launched an inhumane and unnecessary refugee camp on UK soil, it's depressingly predictable that Priti Patel's experiment is up for renewal.'

Asylum seekers pictured protesting at the barracks, with one person holding a sign saying: 'In the middle of a pandemic it is not far to be housing more than 400 people in this camp'

Many asylum seekers gathered outside the barbed wire-topped fence at Napier Barracks in Folkestone earlier this month chanting 'freedom!' and waving banners

One man attempted to take his own life on Friday as he was 'unable to cope with the conditions there any more', according to migrant charity Care4Calais

An asylum seeker living at the barracks earlier claimed conditions are 'unbearable' with a 'lack of privacy'.

The resident, who has been living at the camp since September, said: ''I am protesting because the conditions here are not good. Thirty-four of us share one shower and one toilet.

'There is no privacy. At night no one can sleep because there is too much noise. The situation is unbearable. You cannot settle and there is no peace and quiet.'

The resident said they are also worried about coronavirus due to the cramped conditions.

They added: 'It's a military set-up here, it's like being in prison. You can't do anything without someone knowing, everything you do is watched.

'I don't feel safe here, I'm really struggling mentally, the thoughts I'm having are very hard.

'Being here brings up bad memories, particularly at night. I am suffering from nightmares of my memories. I'm not getting any sleep, three or four hours, maybe, each night. I am tired.'

Many asylum seekers gathered outside the barbed wire-topped fence at the barracks on January 12 chanting 'freedom!' and waving banners.

Several dozen people stood outside the gates of the military facility to demonstrate over conditions inside and social distancing concerns.

A group of five migrants slept outside their multi-occupancy housing blocks that night in sub-zero temperatures as part of their demands for better living conditions.

A row of beds at the former disused barracks in Folkestone, Kent, that houses asylum seekers

Handout photo issued by Care4Calais of asylum seekers conducting a sleep out overnight

One man attempted to take his own life earlier this month as he was 'unable to cope with the conditions there any more', according to charity Care4Calais.

Police were scrambled to the barracks in December last year after an Eritrean asylum seeker was said to have 'grabbed a knife and terrified staff'.

A Kent Police spokesman said at the time: 'Kent Police was called at 7.45am on Monday 14 December 2020 to a report that a man had been seen with a knife at an address in Sandgate, Folkestone.

'Officers attended and a 33-year-old man was arrested. A knife was seized and no injuries were reported.

'The man and witnesses were spoken to and the man was later given a caution for assault.'

Care4Calais founder Clare Moseley called conditions 'cramped and unsafe', adding: 'Asylum seekers have fled terrifying dangers, wars and persecution, they need support and protection, instead our Government is treating them with cruelty.'

It follows a former Conservative immigration minister claiming that the Government plans to set up several camps lacking 'mains electricity and water' to house asylum seekers.

Caroline Nokes made the accusation, which has been denied by the Home Office, in parliament last month.

Caroline Nokes (pictured above) previously claimed that the Government plans to set up several camps lacking 'mains electricity and water' to house asylum seekers

It came during discussion of separate proposed changes to the UK asylum system coming into force on January 1, which Nokes said could 'have far reaching implications'.

She said that while the reforms are intended to act as a 'deterrent' to people traffickers, they instead 'create a separate tier of asylum seeker' who will not have their claim considered.

Nokes claimed that the Home Office will seek to return these individuals 'with no mechanism yet to do so'.

Mr Philp countered that the accommodation the Government provides to asylum seekers is 'reasonable' and 'good'.

So far in 2021 at least 206 people have crossed the English Channel aboard small boats after 8,417 crossed last year.

MailOnline has contacted the Home Office for comment.
Santa Coloma de GramenetWe speak with Daniel Lopez Codina, researcher at UPF Biocom-SC, Carme Borrell, manager of the Barcelona Public Health Agency.
Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain: Producer Binaifer Kohli Calls Nehha Pendse Perfect For Anita Mishras Role

The gorgeous Nehha Pendse recently replaced actress Saumya Tandon in Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain as the new Anita Vibhuti Narayan Mishra. The latter quit the show after playing the much-loved character for 5 long years. While fans were sad to see her go, the audience is now excited to see Nehha as Anita Bhabi. Not just fans but even her co-actors Aasif Sheikh, Rohitash Gaud, Shubhangi Atre Poorey and producer Binaifer Kohli are ecstatic to have Nehha as their newest team member.

In a report shared by Spotboye, Binaifer was quoted saying, Though we will miss our dear Saumya, Nehha was the first one to come into the creative's mind. When I suggested they were all excited as she is perfect for the role and she is a wonderful actress. For the uninitiated, Binaifer and Nehha had worked together many years ago in the 2016 show May I Come In Madam as well. Sadly the series went off air a year later.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by tellyyapa (@tellyyapa9)

Talking about Nehha, the producer shared, She is very professional with her work like the other actors. She thinks first for the show like all my other actors do. Once she enters the show it is very important to her and she wants to do great things for it.
A man has been arrested as he tried to smuggle $656,000 in heroin through the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Vrayan Jonatan Romero Mier, 25, was charged with import and conspire to import heroin.

He arrived at the bridge on Saturday driving a 2006 Toyota Rav4. Romero Mier was referred to secondary inspection following a computer-generated alert, states an arrest affidavit.

An X-ray of the vehicle yielded anomalies in the driver and passenger side rocker panels and in the floorboard. Further inspection resulted in the discovery of several packages concealed within the passenger side rocker panel and in an aftermarket compartment, according to court documents.

CBP officers then extracted 33 packages that tested positive for 28.92 pounds of heroin. The contraband had an estimated street value of $656,000.

Operational vigilance in border security led to this interdiction of heroin, which helps disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics and prevent them from reaching our communities, said Acting Port Director Eugene Crawford, Laredo Port of Entry.

Homeland Security Investigation special agents responded for investigative assistance. Romero Mier allegedly agreed to provide a post-arrest statement without an attorney present.

Romero (Mier) stated he was in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico when an unknown individual offered him $10,000 to smuggle an unknown illegal substance into the United States. Romero (Mier) said the unknown individual threatened him and his family with physical harm if he did not cooperate, states the affidavit.

He alleged he did not know that he was smuggling heroin into the United States but knew it was an illegal substance, according to court documents. He added he was instructed to take the heroin to Alabama, Georgia to someone he identified as Hector, states the affidavit.
Kangana Ranaut's online presence is, honestly, a trainwreck that you just cannot look away from, and it has been like that for quite some time.



Once upon a time, she was one of the most admired actors of our time for her strong performances and making it into the super exclusive Bollywood industry as an outsider.

But now, she has become just another Twitter troll whose rants online make us wonder if it's actually her or if she got hacked. Sadly, it's always her.

 Twitter

The self-proclaimed Jhansi ki Rani has a new thing she's angry about every day and looks like people have enough of it as #SuspendKanganaRanaut has been trending on Twitter for hours now.



The trend started after one of her tweets seemed to be inciting violence and spreading hate speech. The now-deleted tweet talked about taking the heads off of left-leaning people. Yep.

 Twitter

Even if she didn't mean it literally, it does come across like that, especially after her sister Rangoli was banned from Twitter for inciting violence as well.



Well, Rangoli was a little direct with her threat as she demanded that 'mullas and secular media' be made to 'stand in a line' and be 'killed'.

 Twitter

People have gone to jail for much less, and here everyone is just asking for her to be removed from Twitter.



I'm honestly curious what she'll do if she actually got suspended.

Anti nationals are trending #SuspendKanganaRanaut .... please do, when they suspended Rangs I came and made their lives even more miserable,now if they suspend me will exit virtual world and in real world will show you real Kangana Ranaut- the mother of all fathers #babbarsherni pic.twitter.com/Msl2PosqDK  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 20, 2021

People want her gone.

Hmm.

No more hate.

People want Twitter to do something.

Kangna called our Farmers terrorist.....she is spreading hate nothing else on @Twitter

Take action @TwitterIndia@_garrywalia#SuspendKanganaRanaut  Vijay Prakash (   ) (@VijayPrakashJi) January 20, 2021

Oops.

Kangana aware she can't sustain long

That's why tweeted

She is shameless

Her Nationalism is same as Arnabs Nationalism. #SuspendKanganaRanaut  Simmi Ahuja (@SimmiAhuja_) January 20, 2021

Okay, then.

Simply I am requesting to @Twitter and @TwitterIndia that #SuspendKanganaRanaut because she is breaking the rule of twitter.

Her tweet is always full of Hate.@_garrywalia  Sindil Saad (@Isindilsaad) January 20, 2021

So many supporters.

#SuspendKanganaRanaut THIS IS ONE TREND I WILL SUPPORT WITH EVERY SINGLE CELL OF MY BODY BECAUSE?#**!$$**#* pic.twitter.com/iJS63H8XiU  Luna Noot in pain // sanatana tankie (@stalynn07) January 20, 2021

Yep.

merely suspending her twitter account won't be enough, she should face serious consequences for attempting to incite violence.#SuspendKanganaRanaut pic.twitter.com/s6qxy9JvWM  bunny (@itzsohamx) January 20, 2021

She's violated so many rules and regulations.

Dear @TwitterIndia the account @kanganaTeam has been violating all the rules n still u all have not suspended the account.#SuspendKanganaRanaut https://t.co/6wUfN4tCWD  RiA (@RiaRevealed) January 20, 2021

What is this Twitter account?

Hating on Muslims and calling punjabi farmers terrorist but had a terrorist mentality herself!! @KanganaTeam#SuspendKanganaRanaut pic.twitter.com/YArOm8HRf1  KanganaLies (@KanganaLies) January 20, 2021

Hmm.

#SuspendKanganaRanaut

Use Sushant Singh death for publicity, then stand in support of BJP, then hate speech, then security from gov & now beheading head on the name of God, isn't the part of inciting people for riots & killing,and no action actions her! pic.twitter.com/QijtWb5bjg  Faisal (@Faisal35491631) January 20, 2021

Sure.
MUMBAI : After the strong rally since April, there is a limited upside in Indian equities and the markets will end 2021 with a low single-digit gain, an American brokerage said on Wednesday.

Bofa Securities said it is not as bullish" and gave a target of 15,000 points for the 50-share benchmark Nifty by the end of the newly started year.

Markets have rallied by 80% since April after a heavy 40% correction following the announcement of the COVID-19-related restrictions. Many analysts, including RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, have raised concerns over the over-heating in the markets.

Also Read | What 2020 did to Indias inequality

The benchmark Nifty was trading 0.6% up at 14,607 points at 1259 hours on Wednesday. We are giving a target of 15,000 on the Nifty, which means there is a limited upside now. We are still bullish, but not as bullish," its India equity strategist Amish Shah told reporters.

He mentioned the strong rally witnessed by the markets in the immediate past for its more conservative view on the markets.

The brokerage is overweight on sectors including financials, metals and steel, and industrial, he said, adding that information technology, energy, consumer discretionary and auto are the sectors on which it is underweight.

Within the financial sector, Shah said the brokerage feels the banks are adequately provided for the possible asset quality reverses and called the prediction of a jump in the dud assets by RBI in its biannual Financial Stability Report as conservative.

He said the valuations of banking and financial companies are also lower from the historical highs which make it an attractive bet, and added that there is also a chance of higher credit growth fueling earnings for select lenders which will make it an attractive bet.

On the metals and steel and industrials sectors, the call is driven more from a likely surge in capital expenditure from the government, real estate and infrastructure sectors which we should be seeing, he said.

The upcoming budget will have an expansionist bias in the fiscal policy while the inventory levels will dip in the realty sector, leading to a surge in new projects, he said.

Shah, however, said that a full private sector capital expenditure cycle recovery is still two years away and it will be select sectors which will be seeing a growth in investments in 2021.

The target on the benchmarks also assumes a net addition of $10 billion to the foreign portfolio flows into the country, over and above the $22 billion in 2020, he said.

The foreign flows will continue on the back of stimulus measures and easy monetary policies in the developed world, he said, adding that Joe Biden will continue with such measures in the US on taking charge.

Shah also said that the government will continue on its reforms agenda in the new year as well and specifically pointed out power sector where there can be greater private sector play in distribution.

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New Orleans police were investigating a fatal shooting in the 2700 block of Marigny Street on Tuesday evening, according to an NOPD spokesperson.

The agency said the body of an adult male, who was shot in the head, was found outside near the back of an abandoned house some time before 5:30 p.m. and pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Several detectives worked into the night at the scene, shining their flashlights around the white, two-story house. But aside from the large police presence, the scene was quiet.

One neighbor returned from work around 5:30 p.m. to find police vehicles parked up and down the block.

Its crazy  that just happened in daylight, said the neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous.

Information on possible suspects or a motive wasn't immediately available.

Stay with NOLA.com for more updates.
Famer Protests: The farmers have remained stoic regarding their demands of revoking the farm bills. Although, the government has stated that a solution can only be reached without repealing the farm laws. The tenth attempt at negotiations between the Central government and leaders of the farmers' protests is set to take place today i.e. January 20.

The tenth attempt at negotiations between the Central government and leaders of the farmers protests is set to take place today i.e. January 20. The general hope is for some consensus to be reached so the protests can come to an end. However, given recent history, it seems quite far fetched. The Supreme Court will also be hearing the farmers appeals just a few hours before the meeting between the Centre and the farmers.

CJI Justice SA Bobde has asked the centre to withdraw its plea regarding seeking an injunction in tractor rally by farmers on Republic day. Supreme Court also asked Advocate Prashant Bhushan to talk to the farmers for an amicable solution and has asked the farmers to cooperate with the committee appointed by the top court.

Scores of people, mostly from Punjab, have remained for nearly two months at Delhi border checkpoints. Although, they take no steps towards blockading the city. They demand that the recently passed farm laws be repealed. The farmers have remained stoic regarding their demands of revoking the farm bills. Although, the government has stated that a solution can only be reached without repealing the farm laws.

Also read: Countdown for Joe Bidens swearing-in ceremony begins: Take a peak at Bidens cabinet picks

Also read: Tandav row: Ali Abbas Zafar and team issue unconditional apology, UP police to question makers today

A commission was set up by the Supreme Court to discuss the differing views of State governments, farmers unions and organisations. The commission has already drawn plans for its work and it is estimated to take two months before presenting its findings.

The commission was asked whether it was established no such surveys weregeld before the bills being passed in Parliament. Member of the commission Pramod Kumar Joshi seemingly evaded the question by saying that they are merely following the decree of the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, at the Singhu Border on the outskirts of Delhi, the police suggested that the farmers would be better off holding their Republic Day tractor parade on the Peripheral Expressways and abstain from entering the city itself.

Also read: China constructs village in Arunachal Pradesh: India closely monitoring developments
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 84F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low near 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
January 20, 2021 Biden Administration's 'New' Foreign Policy Is The 'More Of The Same' Old One Today a new U.S. administration will come in. On foreign policy issues it will be just as disappointing as the leaving one. U.S. foreign policy is dictated by ingrained interests. The mechanisms of policy making in Washington DC guarantee that it is always a continuity and that any changes to it are slow and will only be minor. Donald Trump and his administration were hated by the woke 'libruls' and the media for their style, not for what they were or were not doing. While Joe Biden, who has been warmongering in the Senate for decades, is now being sold as fresh bread, he is bringing no change to the menu. His foreign policy marketing team will only change the package color of the same old product the Trump team has sold. The confirmation hearing of Biden's incoming Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and of the incoming Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines give some hints towards these 'new' policies. The Iranian parliament has ordered the government to end some IAEA inspections and to increase the enrichment level of Uranium starting in mid February unless the Biden administration immediately removes the sanctions on Iran and returns to the nuclear deal. The Biden administration is likely to ignore this opportunity: President-elect Joe Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, pledged to consult with Israel, Gulf allies and Congress when seeking "a longer and stronger" agreement to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions. During his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Blinken said the incoming administration would engage on the takeoff, not just the landing with allies and partners before taking steps to rejoin the landmark nuclear agreement. "President-elect Biden is committed to the proposition that Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon, Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Iran with a nuclear weapon or the threshold capacity to build one is an Iran that would act with potentially greater impunity than it already is. If Iran returns to strict compliance under the nuclear pact, Biden has said he will reenter the multilateral pact as a starting point for follow-on negotiations to tighten and lengthen Irans nuclear constraints and address Iran's missile program. Blinken said Tuesday that we are a long way from there," adding that the administration would need to first ensure Iran is making good on its obligations. Iran does not want nuclear weapons. It wants its rights and respect. It is the U.S. which has broken the deal. Iran has responded to that by expanding its capabilities beyond some of the limits of the deal. This is reversible but only if the U.S. acts first and at a reasonable speed. Lengthy talks with allies and Congress will prevent that from happening. The incoming DNI Haines seems to share that analysis: Republicans questioned Haines on her views about China and Iran, including the Obama administration's Iran nuclear deal that Trump pulled back from. Haines said that while the incoming Biden administration has indicated that it would come back to the table with Iran if Tehran came back into compliance, she noted that "frankly, we're a long ways from that." This summer the people of Iran will elect a new government, likely a conservative one. It will be even less willing to make additional concessions to the U.S. than the current Rouhani government. The conflict will thus fester. There will also be no policy changes towards Tehran's allies. The Biden administration will not rescind but only 'review' the terrorist designation of the Houthi in Yemen even as it is causing a famine: Blinkens testimony came the same day controversial terrorism designations against the Houthi movement in Yemen took effect. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have warned that the rebels blacklisting, which was first announced by outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week, could hamper much-needed aid operations in the war-ravaged country. Blinken said he is concerned that the labeling wont bring the Houthis to the negotiating table as intended, adding that the Biden administration will review the terrorism designation immediately upon taking office. While Trump tried but failed to remove all U.S. troops from Afghanistan the Biden administration is likely to end his peace deal with the Taliban and to reengage in the futile attempt to keep the 'western' aligned proxy government in Kabul in office. This will require more U.S. troops and a further extension of that war. On Syria, Turkey and Iraq Joe Biden's policy will continue to be regime change and is likely to intensify. Biden has hired Brett McGurk who had left the Trump administration in protest when Trump ordered the withdrawal of troops from Syria: US President-elect Joe Biden nominated Brett McGurk, an outspoken advocate of American military presence in Syria and staunch detractor of the Turkish government, as Middle East coordinator on the National Security Council. McGurk, a veteran of the national security establishment who served in various capacities under successive Democratic and Republican administrations, has frequently criticised the Turkish government over its role in Syria and broader regional policies. McGurk quit his role as the US envoy to the international coalition to combat the Islamic State (IS) group late in 2018 over President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from northern Syria. There will be absolutely no change in policy towards Israel: The incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden will keep the US embassy in Israel in Jerusalem, his nominee for secretary of state affirmed at his Senate confirmation hearing. Do you agree that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and do you commit that the United States will keep our embassy in Jerusalem? asked Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Yes and Yes, said Antony Blinken in testimony on Tuesday.

...

The only way to ensure Israels future as a Jewish, democratic state and to give the Palestinians a state to which they are entitled is through the so-called two-state solution, Blinken said. I think realistically, its hard to see near-term prospects for moving forward on that. What would be important is to make sure that neither party takes steps that make the already difficult process even more challenging, he added. U.S policy towards Europe will also not change. The Biden administration will press for more weapon sales to NATO members in Europe. While it may return to the NewStart treaty with Russia it will otherwise uphold the hostility against that country. It will also continue the pressure against German energy policies: The administration of US President-elect Joe Biden will use every persuasive tool to stop the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and will work to convince European partners not to move forward with it, Secretary of State Nominee Antony Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that held a confirmation hearing on Tuesday. He said Joe Bidens strong conviction was that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a "bad idea" and that the administration would use "every persuasive tool" to convince partners, including Germany, to discard the project. Hostility against China will likewise persist: Mr. Blinken gave the Trump administration credit for several pillars of its foreign policy, including taking a more aggressive approach to China, which he agreed had misled the world on the spread of the coronavirus and committed genocide against Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities.

...

China is a challenge to our security, to our prosperity, to our values across a range of issues and I do support an aggressive stance, Ms. Haines said. That is the place we are now and one that is more assertive than where we had been in the Obama-Biden administration. Biden will double down on Trump's failed Venezuela policy: President-elect Joe Bidens administration will continue to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the South American countrys president, Anthony Blinken, Bidens nominee for secretary of state, said on Tuesday. Blinken told members of the U.S. Senate that Biden would seek to more effectively target sanctions on the country, which aim to oust President Nicolas Maduro - who retains control of the country. Blinken said the new administration would look at more humanitarian assistance to the country. The policies towards other 'bad' states, Cuba, Bolivia and North Korea, will also continue to be hostile. The anti-Trump media will sell the foreign policies of the Biden administration as outlined above as fresh and rational approaches even when the do not differ at all from the foreign policies the Trump administration has persued. While Trump had continued the wars the U.S. waged when he came into office he did not start any new ones. Since Joe Biden first entered the Senate 47 years ago he has cheered on every war the U.S. has since waged. It would be astonishing to find four years from now that he did not start any new ones. Posted by b on January 20, 2021 at 12:08 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
Farmers are being urged to prepare for potential flooding after alerts were issued across the country as Storm Christoph approaches.

Forecasters are warning that that storm could bring up to 200mm of rain in parts of the UK.

The Environment Agency has 14 flood warnings - meaning "immediate action" is required - in place across England alone.

The Met Office issued an amber weather warning for rain across the North, Midlands and East.

It warned this amount of rainfall along with melting snow from previous cold weather was likely to cause flooding.

#StormChristoph will bring further heavy #rain to many parts of England and Wales today. An AMBER rain warning is in force. Here are some of the possible impacts ??

Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/QECyvHVr4g  Met Office (@metoffice) January 20, 2021

Craig Woolhouse, of the Environment Agency said: We are expecting flooding to affect parts of northern England today and then northern, central and eastern England on Wednesday and Thursday, which could cause damage to buildings in some communities.

Heavy downpours falling on already saturated ground may also cause flooding more widely across England from today until Saturday for slower responding rivers.

"Localised flooding on roads and land is also likely across central and southern England on Wednesday and Thursday.

Farmers and keepers are being encouraged by the RSPCA to move livestock and horses to high ground and ensure emergency feed and water supplies.

Farmers should also make sure they can be contacted in an emergency, such as attaching contact details to gates so they can be contacted.

In 2020, during Storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge, the RSPCAs flood response team responded to almost 250 calls and helped to rescue sheep caught up in the floodwater.

Water rescue team coordinator, Jason Finch said: Planning an escape route before flooding hits can make a big difference if you find yourself in an emergency situation.

"Flood water can rise very quickly and animals can be extremely vulnerable so its really important that we plan ahead for all eventualities.

Top tips for flooding

Farmers have been issued tips by the RSPCA to ensure safety for themselves and their livestock:

 Plan your escape route and keep contact details of people who can help you move your animals in an emergency.

 Ensure you can be contacted in an emergency - if you have horses or livestock in field attach your contact details to gates so you can be contacted.

 Make sure you have suitable carriers available for small animals and keep a supply of food in case of evacuation.

 Bring small animals inside and, if possible, upstairs, and move food, bedding etc somewhere dry.

 Put important documents in sealed bag along with photo of pet incase they get lost.

 Move livestock and horses to high ground and ensure you have emergency feed and water supplies.

 If you have to leave your animals behind, leave them inside an upstairs room with plenty of food and water. Leave notices on the outside doors to say there are animals inside and contact your local Flood Warden immediately to arrange rescue.

 Stay informed; call Floodline 0845 988 1188.

A glance at some of the day's highlights from the Proactive Investors newswire

( ) has released the results of a scoping study for the Ewoyaa lithium project in Ghana. The group said the study supports the case for a two million tonnes per annum production operation with life of mine revenues exceeding US$1.55bn, and significant potential to extend mine life. During the eight-year mine life the project will produce an average of 295,000 tonnes per year of 6% Li2O spodumene concentrate. The internal rate or return stands at 125%, while the capital cost estimate is USS$68mln. Average underlying earnings (EBITDA) will ring in at US$105mln per annum, the company added.

OKYO Pharma Limited ( ) ( ) said a scientist behind two blockbuster drugs will help spearhead the development of a treatment to tackle and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in people infected by coronavirus (COVID-19). Dr Napoleone Ferrara, head of the companys scientific advisory board, will lead work on the chemerin molecule, which has also been earmarked for use in dry eye disease. The process has begun with the filing of patents covering the use of chemerin and lookalike molecules in the treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Ferrara brings with him a track record of success and is noted in scientific circles as having isolated vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF.

( ) ( ) confirmed it has a new gas discovery on its hands, as partner and Beetaloo project operator Origin Energy submits a formal notification to the Australian authorities. The regulatory confirmation comes amidst further positive findings from the Kyalla 117 well, part of the Beetaloo shale project in Australias Northern Territory. Falcon noted that the Kyalla 117 well had flowed gas unassisted for a period of seventeen hours, following the introduction of nitrogen to lift fluids.

( ) (ASX:THR) said it has raised 750,000 via the placing of just over 88mln shares at a price of 0.85p per share. A London-based specialist resources investor will invest 600,000, while Artemis Resources Limited ( ) will invest 150,000. Artemis has gold exploration and development projects in Western Australia's Pilbara, and shares a director with Thor in Mark Potter. Each placee will receive one warrant for each two placing shares.

( ) said 56 people have been recruited to its phase II/III STAR trial assessing its drug in patients with acute respiratory infections, including those with coronavirus (COVID-19). Specifically, researchers will investigate whether SFX-01 can reduce the severity, or prevent the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in pneumonia patients. SFX-01 stimulates, or upregulates the Nrf2 pathway, which is part of the natural human defence against inflammatory and oxidative stress, such as the inflammation that occurs during severe viral infection. Preclinical work has shown this up-regulation of the Nrf2 pathway has the potential to reduce the severity of ARDS.

( ) shares reversed gains after the AIM-quoted exploration company focused on West Africa, said it had noted the recent and sustained rise in the company's share price and its board confirmed that it is not aware of any specific reason for the increase. The company added that it is not aware of any developments beyond those notified to the market historically and summarised in Monday's update on ongoing work across its African gold exploration portfolio. Oriole said it will provide any updates on the projects as they become available.

( ) expects to report revenue for 2020 that is ahead of market expectations. The provider of real-time, high-performance, distributed denial of service (DDoS) cyber defence solutions said it had a strong second half to the year with increased momentum in order intake and revenue growth. Order intake for the year just ended is expected to be around US$20.9mln, up from US$13.0mln in 2019.

BATM Advanced Communications Limited ( ) said it has enhanced its NFVTime virtual networking solution to enable it to be deployed through public cloud networks such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. NFV, which stands for network function virtualisation, allows network functions to be run in software with a single piece of equipment, rather than requiring multiple pieces of physical hardware. More specifically, NFVTime is an operating system that is licenced by BATM to network operators to allow them to create these virtual networks for their customers.

( ) has said it expects to report revenue growth and full-year results that are in line with market expectations despite what it said was a challenging 2020. In a trading update for the year to December 31, 2020, the company said overall revenues are expected to show an increase of 25% to 1.6mln, within which product and consulting revenues are expected to expand by 39% reflecting its shift to a core of products and consulting sales from software development services.

( ) said it has made a new copper-gold discovery at Zafer, within the central region of its Gedabek Contract Area in western Azerbaijan. This discovery resulted from a regional exploration field mapping programme following the identification of structural trends by the ZTEM geophysics programme. Zafer is situated approximately 1.5 kilometres northwest of the Gedabek processing plant.

( ) said it has received formal approval from the Competition Authority in Turkey for the completion of its joint venture agreements with Ozaltin Holding and Proccea Construction Co, as ratified by shareholders on December 30, 2020. The joint venture with Ozaltin and Proccea involves the partial disposal of the company's interests in Turkey in exchange for up to US$37.75mln in cash before costs and taxation. Ariana and Proccea will retain a 23.5% interest each in the expanded joint venture.

( ) said it produced a record amount of crystalline iodine in 2020, despite being affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Full-year production clocked in at 609.9 tonnes of crystalline iodine, up from 602.7 tonnes in 2019, which itself was a record year. In the second half of 2020, 325.5 tonnes of crystalline iodine was produced, up 14% on the first half of the year.

( ) said it has bolstered its data management security by securing the Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 27001 certifications for its flagship medical messaging app Bleepa. The Cyber Essentials Plus audit is a UK government-backed scheme to enable organisations to guard against a range of common cyber-attacks and demonstrate a commitment to cybersecurity, while ISO 27001 is the international standard that sets out the specification for information security management systems. Feedback said the new certifications will provide customers and clinicians with added confidence in the safety of Bleepa's data security and that it continuously reviews and updates its security to comply with international standards.

( ) has highlighted that it is positioned to grow in 2021, with a twelve-well drill campaign among the slated catalysts. The company said it expects production to be slightly above the 2020 average though there is potential for a higher exit rate and stronger volumes in 2022 subject to results in the appraisal campaign at the Sarta field. Sartas start-up was a key highlight of 2020 as it marked the companys fourth producing operation.

( ) ( ) told investors it has mobilised a second rig for its new 4,000 metres infill drill programme targeting planned 'starter pits' for the La India gold project in Nicaragua. The drill campaign began in December 2020, the company noted in an update. It aims to tighten the drill hole spacing within the planned high-grade starter pits on the principal La India Vein. To date, six drill holes have been drilled in the programme and assay results are pending. The addition of a second rig will soon accelerate progress.

( ) has unveiled two new appointments to support the growth of its LPLDL product and its sales in the Asian market. The life sciences company, which is developing compounds to tackle obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and skin care said Christopher Nother is joining the firm on a part-time consultancy basis to support the growth of LPLDL in pharma, either as an over the counter (OTC) product used by itself or in combination with existing treatments, or a drug biotherapeutic in markets outside the USA. Meanwhile, OptiBiotix said Taru Jain will join the companys management team in March to focus on business development and growing sales in the strategically important Indian and Asian markets.

( ), the freight management services provider, said it has appointed Michael Williamson as chief financial officer (CFO) of the group. Williamson, who is currently the global director of finance & controlling and the regional CFO of Northern Europe for Rohlig Logistics, an international freight forwarder, will join the Xpediator board on March 1, 2021.

( ), one of the UK's leading SIPP providers, has announced the appointment of Jill Lucas as a non-executive director of the company with immediate effect. The group said she has also been appointed chair of Dunstan Thomas, the leading FinTech provider acquired by Curtis Banks in August 2020. The company noted that Lucas is an experienced business leader with a background in technology, having spent over 30 years in various leadership positions.

( ) a leading healthcare technology company that helps achieve digital transformation for hospitals, announced that Shelley Fraser has resigned from her position as its chief financial officer and from the group's board with immediate effect. The company said Fraser will leave the company following a short handover period to ensure an orderly transition of responsibilities to Olly Drake, former CFO of Zesty Ltd, who will be Interim Group CFO. Induction Healthcare noted that Drake previously worked at BDO and was UK Finance Director at . The company said it will commence a search for Fraser's successor during the current quarter.

Holdings PLC ( ), the leading global immunodiagnostics group, has announced that Dr Cheung To has stepped down as a non-executive director of the company, effective from January 19, 2021. The group noted that Dr To remains a director of Genostics Company Limited, part of the Gene Group Holdings Limited (GGH) group, and stepping down is expected to enable him to focus on the continued development of GGH as it prepares for its future corporate and commercial activities. Genostics remains a significant shareholder of and its recent disposal of shares in , bringing its holding to below 10%, was undertaken in line with GGH's preparation for its anticipated corporate activities.

(LONEML), the Moroccan-focused potash development company, announced that it has received notice of the exercise of warrants from Optiva Securities Limited in respect of 389,333 ordinary shares of no par value in the capital of the company at a price of 3p per share. The group said the aggregate gross proceeds of this exercise amounts to 11,649.99.

( ), the leading cryptocurrency miner has announced that it has appointed XMS Capital Partners, LLC, a US-headquartered financial services firm, to assist the company in expanding its relationships with US investors. Peter Wall, chief executive of Argo Blockchain said: "We are delighted to appoint XMS Capital Partners. Following our listing on the OTCQB market earlier this week, we are seeking to strengthen our visibility in the US market and build investor relationships. XMS is perfectly placed to help us achieve our goals."

Argo Blockchain also announced that over the past several days it has received a notice of exercise of certain options and notice of exercise of certain warrants over ordinary shares of 0.001 each in the capital of the company. As a result of the exercise of the options, the company has issued in aggregate 3,006,666 new ordinary shares to the holders - 2,116,666 new ordinary shares were issued at the exercise price of 0.16 each and 890,000 new ordinary shares were issued at the exercise price of 0.07 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds to the company from the option exercise is  400,967. As a result of the exercise of the warrants, the company has issued in aggregate 270,000 new ordinary shares to the holders - 70,000 new ordinary shares were issued at the exercise price of 0.08 each and 200,000 new ordinary shares were issued at the exercise price of 0.16 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds to the company from the warrant exercise is 37,600.

Supply@ME Capital PLC ( ) has said that, following discussions with its advisors and auditors, it is changing its Accounting Reference Date from September 30 to December 31 to align its financial year-end with the Calendar Tax Year, a more standard accounting reference date and one which is more appropriate to the group's current and future operating subsidiaries' trading. It said this change of the Accounting Reference Date will greatly improve the efficiency of the financial reporting process going forward and as a result, the Group's financial reporting calendar. Accordingly, audited accounts for a shortened nine-month period ended December 31, 2019, are currently being finalised and are expected to be published before the end of January 2021; unaudited Interim Accounts for the six-month period ended June 30, 2020, will be published shortly following the audited December 31, 2019 accounts; and audited accounts for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020, are scheduled to be published in April 2021. Thereafter, interim and annual accounts will be published each year for the six months to June 30 and twelve months to December 31 in accordance with the LSE Standard Listing Rules.

The Brunner Investment Trust PLC ( ) has announced that it has renewed its authority to repurchase a maximum of 6,399,639 of its ordinary shares (being its outstanding shareholder authority). Such authority lasts until the next shareholder authority granted, or where expressly revoked by shareholders. The buy-back may be funded from the company's resources (including from sales of investments made by the Company and debt facilities). No maximum consideration payable has been determined by the company, but it is unable to pay a price for any shares pursuant to the buy-back which would equate to a premium on the net asset value. The company has appointed JPMorgan Securities plc to act as its broker in respect of the buy-back.

( ), a pioneering drug discovery company, announced that at its annual general meeting, held virtually on Tuesday at 2.00pm, all resolutions were duly passed.

( ), the UK technology company commercialising hydrogen production from waste plastic has announced that David Ryan, its chief executive officer, and Tim Yeo, its executive chairman, will be presenting at an investor webinar being hosted jointly by Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd and Vox Markets. The event will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 5.30pm.
An Old City man was charged Wednesday with stealing more than $700,000 from two New York City companies by falsely promising to sell them much-needed medical gowns from a factory in China, according to federal prosecutors.

Gauravjit Singh, 26, faces one count of wire fraud for the theft, acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said. Singh was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III during a brief hearing in Newark on Wednesday afternoon.

Singh, through his company Mask Medical, allegedly bilked $712,500 from the companies by promising to broker a deal with a factory in Nanjing, China. But prosecutors say he fabricated brochures and other foreign trade documents to secure the six-figure deposit from his business partners without any ability to deliver the promised product.

Singh used the funds for personal expenses, including credit debts, travel, and a lavish, $1,700 dinner at a Thai restaurant in Florida, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

Singhs attorney, Matthew Weisberg, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Singh is a graduate of Drexel University and founded Dronecast, a drone-building start-up in Center City, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also does business in Florida and New Jersey, public records show, and he has an apartment on Delaware Avenue.

The investigation into Singh began in June, when federal authorities were contacted by the companies that hired him to secure the gowns. Those firms, Brooklyn-based Charber Consultants and Lightstone, also filed a civil lawsuit against him in federal court.

The companies were working with a medical-supply vendor for the City of New York that was contracted to supply the city with 1.5 million medical gowns as COVID-19 cases surged, and turned to them for assistance, according to prosecutors.

Executives from the companies contacted Singh in May. Over the next few weeks, the affidavit said, he provided the companies with videos and photos of the factory in China producing medical gowns, as well as documentation showing the gowns were certified by the Food and Drug Administration.

Satisfied, the group placed an order for the gowns, paying the agreed-upon 10% deposit to Singh. He promised the gowns would arrive days later, a deadline he failed to meet, blaming the factory. The delays continued, even as Singh promised the gowns were on their way, according to the arrest affidavit.

Finally, after being asked to refund the money, Singh provided information about a shipment of gowns en route to the United States, the document said. But the companies discovered that those gowns were entirely different products, and had been ordered by a separate company that had never done business with Singh, the affidavit said.
Noel Hillman Joins KUDO as VP of Sales Noel will be an excellent addition to KUDOs executive team, bringing in a lot of experience in the world of SaaS, business communications, as well as major B-to-C and B-to-B brands, he will ensure the company and the sales team can keep growing.

KUDO inc., the leading Language-as-a-Service platform for online meetings, announced today the appointment of Noel Hillman, as Vice President of Sales.

After a year of accelerated growth due to a global shift to digital meeting platforms, adding a VP of Sales to the KUDO team ensures the company can keep growing in the digital environment which has become the new normal.

In his new role, Hillman will be a part of the senior leadership team and will focus on strengthening the global sales team and further scale KUDOs innovative technology. He will be responsible for the annual bookings and revenue plan, building the go-to-market organization for rapid growth, inclusivity of sales, sales operations, and pre-sales. Additionally, he will be taking charge of the sales pipeline and accelerating a movement towards enterprise level partnerships.

Hillman brings a great deal of experience with him, most recently having been the Head of Sales and Sales Operations for the online financial technology company Kabbage, Inc., where he was responsible for establishing an indirect sales channel, developing the first outside sales team, and opening a brand-new office. Hillman has served in senior sales, IT and finance capacities with major brands such as Home Depot and Georgia Pacific, and business communication technology firms such as PGi.

Noel brings growth and development to each team he leads. In his previous roles he has increased the productivity of sales representatives, improved qualified leads, significantly increased SaaS bookings, and revamped workflows and pipelines for all representative types.

Noel will be an excellent addition to KUDOs executive team, says Fardad Zabetian, CEO and Co-founder of KUDO, Bringing in a lot of experience in the world of SaaS, business communications, as well as major B-to-C and B-to-B brands, he will ensure the company and the sales team can keep growing.

In reference to his new role, Hillman said: I am thrilled to join KUDOs worthy mission to remove language barriers in global collaboration. I look forward helping KUDO scale with a focus on a best-in-class customer experience.

About KUDO

KUDO is a cloud-based collaboration platform that enables web meetings and live conferences with real-time language interpretation. KUDO supports more effective and inclusive meetings by allowing people and businesses to overcome communication barriers and speak their own language. Accessible from anywhere, on any device, KUDO redefines possibilities in global communication. KUDO, Inc. is a New-York based technology startup founded and managed by language and conferencing industry insiders looking to bring people together. More info at http://www.kudoway.com

Press contacts:

Alyson Dutch / Carol Levey

BROWN + DUTCH PUBLIC RELATIONS, INC.

310.456.7151, alyson@bdpr.com, carol@bdpr.com
Dunkin took the Donuts out its name, and now theyre adding salads to their menu  for a few stores, at least.

The coffee and doughnut chain that infamously changed its name to simply Dunkin in 2018 is partnering with Farmers Fridge to offer up some healthier options along with its baked goods and coffee drinks in three New Jersey locations.

The Dunkin locations at 2639 Morris Ave. in Union, 323 North Ave. in Garwood and 315 Central Ave. in Clark are all taking part in the pilot program that will last three months. The healthier offerings will include Greek salads, burrito bowls, pesto pasta, greek yogurt with berries and granola, apple cinnamon oats and pineapple coconut chia pudding among other things.

Salad and pesto pasta are two of the foods Farmer's Fridge is now offering at three New Jersey Dunkin' locations. (Photo courtesy of Farmer's Fridge)

Farmers Fridge prepares and delivers the dishes to the participating Dunkin locations daily.

When it was founded seven years ago, Farmers Fridge focused on distributing its fresh food through a network of smart refrigerated vending machines, now found in airports, universities, office buildings and hospitals around the country, a spokesperson for Farmers Fridge said in a release. But as convenience stores and fast food franchises hope to expand their offering, Farmers Fridge saw a market for a wholesale business.

This is Farmers Fridges first partnership with what it calls a national quick service restaurant brand, though it also offers home meal delivery services.

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Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

[January 19, 2021] Award-winning socially driven startup, CabDost, merges with Dvara Money

- To enable financial inclusion through financial advisory and tax filing, exclusively built for the urban underserved. MUMBAI and BANGALORE, India, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a step towards building financial dignity and accelerating financial wellbeing in the urban underserved, the award-winning socially driven startup, CabDost, that serves the taxi drivers and other gig and unorganised communities to file their taxes and help plan their finances, merges with Dvara Money, a Dvara initiative (formerly IFMR Trusteeship Services Pvt. Ltd.). Dvara Money caters to India's growing urban gig-economy workers and the blue-collar segment. It offers personalised financial solutions based on behavioural insights and helps customers improve their financial wellness. CabDost is a regional tech platform serving the taxi drivers and unorganised communities through tax and other advisory services. Through direct filed engagements and digital initiatives, CabDost has been able to have a large impact in reducing informalities and building credibility by organising financial inclusion drives impacting more than lakh community members across 15 cities offline and 100 cities online. "CabDost has been working relentlessly over the last few years to encourage Taxi drivers in adopting the formal financial system, pay their income tax, in turn making them eligible to plan their finances and access funds from banks, financial institutions and registered fintechs, like Dvara Money. Together, we aim to offer a full-service financial service offering and facilitate the distribution of financial products by leveraging technology and deep customer insights and bring Urban Bharat within the formal financial umbrella," said Samir Shah - Executive Vice-Chair & Managing Trustee, Dvara Trusteeship Services Pvt. Ltd. "CabDost has been doing great work in bringing tax returns to the Urban Bharat segment. Leveraging our expertise in facilitating financial wellness in the form of Spark Account, Dvara Money will empower this segment with financial services, along withother benefits like tax returns, which will enable our customers to be better prepared to face challenges in the present and future. As a combined entity, we will be leveraging a community first approach with data insights from CabDost's previous 50000+ tax filings and deep understanding about the financial services to curate Savings first wealth management advisory, thus nudging them away from risky chit funds," said Pramod Ghorpade, Co-Founder & Director, Dvara Money.



"We started CabDost to bring financial inclusion after our research with 3000 drivers realising that the new age contract workforce is excluded due to credibility issues. We are handholding communities through mass awareness about tax filing, PAN and Aadhaar linking and financial literacy sessions across the country. We have built stress-free assisted mode for tax filing to help plan their finances," said Yamuna Sastry, Founder & Chief Enabling Officer, CabDost. In the last three years, CabDost has been running as a `profit with purpose' startup. The company has partnered with India's leading aggregators, Airport authorities and other businesses with a scalable revenue model. The startup has been focussing on simplifying tax & compliance needs by facilitating audited financial statements while partners apply for loans, registrations & GST filing.

"Most of the revenues have been reinvested for 10000+ free IT-filing campaigns, spreading awareness on financial literacy for both taxi drivers and their spouses, besides organising health camps, sessions about Government schemes and career counselling sessions for gig workforce children," Yamuna said, adding Shafeeque Thazhatheri, co-founder, said, "Together we aim at building India's leading digital platform for financial products exclusively built for the Urban Bharat." About Dvara Money Dvara Money is a Neobank that offers wealth management services and distribution of financial products by leveraging technology and deep customer insights to deliver focused and suitable solutions to urban underserved. It offers personalised solutions based on behavioural insights and nudges to help customers improve their financial wellness. Using 'Spark', a mobile application developed in-house, the company weaves together a customised bouquet of financial products across savings, loans, insurance, investments and tax, helping chart a path towards financial wellness for customers in a user-friendly manner. Know More: https://www.dvaramoney.com About CabDost CabDost is a social-driven regional tech startup that serves the taxi drivers and other gig communities in India to help file taxes and plan their finances. CabDost has been part of India delegation twice at Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 and 2019 organised in Hyderabad and The Hague, Netherlands.



CabDost has received the Women Transforming India Award by NITI Aayog and United Nations India. It was part of the India delegation for a small business exchange opportunity for the Volunteer for Income Tax Assistance Program organised by the U.S State Department. Representatives of CabDost were part of OECD's Tax Morale Conference, Paris in the area of reducing informalities in the unorganised sector.



CabDost was part of Jio Gen Next May 2019 Fintech cohort which was given the special spotlight in the Reliance Industries Annual Report 2019-20 and was the winner of the pitch for Tech Grant at Elevate 100 organised by Karnataka Startup Cell. It was part of Community Slate, an accelerator program for Women-led organisations by We- Hub, Government of Telangana and Australian Aid and INK Lab catalyst program for game changers by INKTalks in association with UCSD. Know More: https://www.cabdost.com





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International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has accepted that Brexit contributed to shortages on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland.

She joined Irelands foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney on Wednesday in acknowledging that the UKs departure from the EU played a part in the disruption, putting her at odds with her Cabinet colleague Brandon Lewis.

Mr Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, has said that the disruption caused by coronavirus before Christmas is solely responsible for the shortages of some food products and is nothing to do with leaving the EU.

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But Mr Coveney told ITVs Peston: I dont think its only to do with Covid-19, though certainly that doesnt help.

The supermarket shelves were full before Christmas and there are some issues now in terms of supply chains. So thats clearly a Brexit issue and its part of the reality of the United Kingdom now being outside not only the European Union but of the customs union and the single market as well.

Northern Ireland of course has special treatment and weve made a huge effort to try and minimise those checks and that disruption but nevertheless its there and very real.

Ms Truss was asked about Mr Coveneys assertion that the shortage of goods is to do with Brexit agreements as well as Covid-19.

Well I think its down to both of those issues, she told Peston.

We were always clear that we are leaving the single market, we are leaving the customs union, there would be processes to be undertaken.

But she said that predictions of armageddon over Brexit simply havent happened and that were now seeing a more rapid flow of goods into Northern Ireland and those supermarket shelves are being stocked.

Of course there was always going to be a period of adjustment for businesses, she added.

On Tuesday, Mr Lewis said shortages of some products in the weeks since the post-Brexit transition period ended on December 31 were due to the knock-on effects of UK trade with continental Europe being temporarily halted due to concerns over the new Kent variant of coronavirus.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Thats actually something weve seen across other parts of the UK as well, nothing to do with leaving the EU, nothing to do with the Northern Irish protocol but actually to do with some of the challenges we saw with Covid at the port of Dover just before Christmas and the impact that had on supply lines coming through.

I have to say supermarket supply lines at the moment are in good fettle.

The Northern Ireland Protocol between the UK and the EU requires health certifications on animal-based food products entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

On Wednesday, Mr Coveney said the Brexit divorce deal agreed with the EU by then-prime minister Theresa May would have caused less separation from Northern Ireland from the UK.

There was an opportunity for a very different kind of Brexit that would have avoided much of the trade disruption that were now experiencing and people chose not to take that opportunity, he said.

Marmorstein: You might soon be living in a million dollar home  unfortunately
OSWEGO, N.Y.  State Supreme Court Justice Scott DelConte has ordered the Oneida County Board of Elections to go through more than 1,000 ballots in the 22nd Congressional District race, more than 70 days after the election was held.

Its the latest turn and the latest delay in the last undecided Congressional race in the country. Its an incredibly close race: Republican Claudia Tenney is ahead of Democrat Anthony Brindisi by 29 votes of 311,695 votes cast for the two candidates.

It comes after the discovery two weeks ago that Oneida Countys elections board failed to process 2,418 voter registration forms from voters who applied on time via the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Those voters would have been told they werent registered when they arrived at the polling place. Hundreds of them likely walked away without voting, and many others went on to file affidavit ballots that were also not counted.

There are 1,028 rejected affidavit ballots in Oneida County that could be from voters who applied on time via the DMV, according to DelContes ruling. Hes ordered the county elections staff to review all of them to determine how many fit in that category.

Those that do fit will be counted, the judge ruled.

Brindisis attorneys had asked DelConte to count 69 of the ballots from these voters, but no more than that. The ballots belong primarily to Democrats, according to testimony.

Tenneys attorneys had argued that, even though it is unfortunate that voters were disenfranchised through no fault of their own, it is not up to the judge to retroactively register those voters.

Neither candidate asked the judge to do what he ultimately ordered: A full review of the 10,28 possible ballots from these voters.

Both candidates press this Court to disregard either some, or all, of the potentially valid ballots because it is strategically advantageous for them in this election, he wrote. ...Both of these arguments ignore the fact that this problem only exists because...the Oneida County Board of Elections failed to comply with (election law) and review its records.

The judges order requires the election board to report the results of its review by Jan. 27.

The judges ruling affects only the ballots from the voters who registered on time via the DMV, not the hundreds of others currently being contested for other reasons.

For those ballots, the candidates attorneys are filing briefs today and will make oral arguments Friday. The judge has not said when hell rule on those ballots.

Contact reporter Patrick Lohmann at PLohmann@Syracuse.com or (315)766-6670.

MORE ON THE NY-22 ELECTION

In NY 22nd, judges suggests there are no great options to fix Oneida County mistake

Whats next in Brindisi-Tenney House race? Appeals, recount, could delay decision for months

700 votes were tossed in Oneida County. Officials ignored state law in latest mess up

Oneida County botched 2,400 voter signups, preventing their votes in Brindisi-Tenney race

At least 63 voters who did everything right could see votes nixed in Brindisi-Tenney race

Court case to decide winner in NY-22 House race to take at least another week

Trump refers to Brindisi-Tenney House race as he pushes baseless voter fraud claims
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A 1,500-year-old plaque that reads 'Christ, born of Mary' in ancient Greek that once sat above a doorway to ward off evil spirits has been unearthed in northern Israel

The phrase was used by Christians to protect themselves against the 'evil eye,' which was an ancient curse from Greek and Roman cultures that would bring misfortune on unsuspecting individuals.

The inscription was uncovered during an excavation of a once-magnificent church that had elaborate mosaic tiling with intricate geometric designs and was built in the Byzantine or Early Islamic period.

The building was discovered during a salvage dig prior to a new road construction project in the area  Israel requires archaeologists and volunteers investigate an area before construction can start.

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A 1,500-year-old plaque that reads 'Christ, born of Mary' in ancient Greek has been unearthed in northern Israel that once sat above the doorway to ward off evil spirits

Christianity became a prominent religion in Israel during the Byzantine era after the Roman Empire took hold of the country.

This siege resulted in numerous Christian churches and monasteries being constructed across the Hebrew nation.

The latest discovery was uncovered in the et-Taiyiba village on the northeast side of Jezreel Valley between the modern cities of Afula and Beit Shean.

Dr Walid Atrash of the Israel Antiquities Authority said: 'This is the first evidence of the Byzantine church's existence in the village of et-Taiyiba and it adds to other finds attesting to the activities of Christians who lived in the region.'

The inscription was uncovered during an excavation of a once-magnificent church that had elaborate mosaic tiling with intricate geometric designs and was built in the Byzantine or Early Islamic period

The inscribed stone is believed to have been a 'recycled' object that was moved from one location to the now-fallen church.

Yardenna Alexandre, an archaeologist at the Israel Antiquities Authority told The Media Line: 'This is a special find because the inscription enables us to recognize it came from a church and not a monastery from that period.'

Churches greeted and blessed believers at their entrance, whereas monasteries did not, so it is clear that the inscription comes from a church.

The building was discovered during a salvage dig prior to the building of a new road construction project in the area  Israel requires archaeologists and volunteers investigate an area before construction can start

'This is a village church, rather than a monastery church, which in general were not open to the public during that period,' Alexandre said.

She explained that the stunning mosaic floors also show symbols used by Christians when decorating, such as crosses and geometric shapes.

According to excavation directors Tzachi Lang and Kojan Haku of the Israel Antiquities Authority, 'The excavation yielded finds from a variety of periods, shedding light on the long settlement sequence at et-Taiyiba in the valley, and on its status among the local settlements.'
Pastor Dwight McKissic says hes leaving SBTC, possibly SBC over critical race theory dispute

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When leaders in the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention rebuked him for supporting missionaries praying and praising in tongues in 2006, prominent Southern Baptist Pastor Dwight McKissic said he almost quit.

After the recent adoption by SBTC leaders of a strongly worded, anti-CRT policy that denounces all aspects of critical race theory last November, McKissic declared in a statement Friday that he is now ending his relationshipwith the SBTC 15 years later.

And if leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention rescind Resolution 9 on critical race theory that messengers passed in 2019, McKissic said he's ready to cut ties with them too.

I remained a member from then until today, simply to not break fellowship over a tertiary issue. I DECIDED TO STAY ON THE BUS FROM 2006 UNTIL JANUARY 2021. But, today, I have decided it is time to get off the bus. I no longer want to ride, and I certainly do not want to drive! said McKissic, who founded and currently leads Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas.

The get off the bus phrase comes from a statement McKissic said the recently retired SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards made in 2006 when he spearheaded a policy preventing missionaries from praying and praising in tongues.

If you have a private prayer language, you may ride on the bus at SBTC, but you will not be able to drive the bus, McKissic recalled Richards saying. I found that statement incredibly offensive as an African American and as one who has been spiritually gifted to pray, praise, intercede and give thanks in tongues, under the inspiration and influence of the Holy Spirit, as is taught in I Corinthians 14.

The policy was reversed in 2015, under David Platt, then president of the IMB.

McKissics announcement comes amid an ongoing exodus of prominent black SBC pastors, such as Ralph West and Charlie Dates, over a decision by the denominations Council of Seminary Presidents to denounce critical race theory and intersectionality as incompatible with their beliefs at their 2020 annual session.

The Council of Seminary Presidents, which is comprised of six seminaries, voted to reject CRT as incompatible with their faith while condemning racism in any form.

Critical race theory, as explained by Purdue University, is a theoretical and interpretive mode that examines the appearance of race and racism across dominant cultural modes of expression. Through this framework, scholars seek to understand how victims of systemic racism are affected by cultural perceptions of race and how they are able to represent themselves to counter prejudice. Scholarship on the theory traces racism in America through the legacy of slavery, the civil rights movement and recent events. Intersectionality is the study of how different personal characteristics overlap and inform ones experience.

The SBC is openly rejecting the collective wisdom of men like Fred Luter, Tony Evans, Marshal Ausberry, The National African American Fellowship of the SBC, hundreds of African American pastors, and her own African American professors by dismissing our claims that there are beneficial aspects to CRT, McKissic said. For these reasons, we are pulling out of SBTC; and if the CSP/SBC policy is ratified in June, we are discontinuing our affiliation with the SBC also. We are getting off the bus!

Danny Akin of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Jason K. Allen of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Jamie Dew of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Adam W. Greenway of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Jeff Iorg of Gateway Theological Seminary, and Albert Mohler of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary are all members of the council.

Last month, Greenway defended the groups statement on critical race theory and intersectionality and dismissed much of the criticism around it as emotional misunderstandings.

I want to make this point as charitably but honestly as I can: misconstruing the CSP statements rejection of CRT/I as being synonymous with or code for the SBC seminary presidents denying systemic racism is bearing false witness, Greenway said. Furthermore, when feelings become all-consuming and paramount in determining courses of action irrespective of the facts contained in plain language, we commit the fallacy of eisegesis, or reading into texts meanings we feel or interpretations we want to impose.

McKissic argued, however, that the dispute with the SBC over the policy isnt just about feelings.

If this CSP statement is adopted in the June 2021 SBC Annual Session, in any form or fashion, thereafter when one addresses the subject of CRT or race from a seminary class, local church pulpit, or Sunday School class, it could be interpreted by the SBC/CSP policy as violating the SBC/CSP statement/policy on CRT, which could make any professor, pastor, preacher, or Sunday School teacher that is judged by this SBC/CSP policy, incompatible with Baptist Faith and Message (BFM), he argued. This could be used as grounds to dis-fellowship that church from the SBC or dismiss professors from their teaching assignments.

He further noted that ratifying the policy would be giving too much power to the seminary presidents.

I am not willing to concede that type of power to the SBC/CSP based on an academic policy that originated with six Anglo seminary presidents, he said. I am not willing to allow them to dictate what the belief systems, definitions and authoritative binding, academic and ecclesiastical decisions regarding how race is to be communicated in the local church or be subject to SBC interrogations and investigations for having spoken outside of the CSP-SBC CRT policy.

We are not willing to sign-off on SBC seminaries and affiliated entities to be able to indoctrinate African American congregations and seminary students regarding CRT. Why? (A) Because this policy was developed without consulting with at least one African American in its origination; and (B) this policy fails to acknowledge that there are beneficial aspects to CRT. To affirm this policy is to affirm a dishonest approach to CRT, he said.
A visit by Taoiseach Micheal Martin to the White House is a key objective of the Governments St Patricks Day plans, Independent.ie can reveal.

As Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US President, it can be revealed advance planning is underway by Government officials and diplomats to ensure Mr Martin can travel to Washington to meet his counterpart in March.

Under the plans being discussed a small delegation will travel to Washington for a scaled back State visit to coincide with St Patricks Day.

Details of the visit are still at a planning stage but a Government source said a meeting between Mr Martin and Mr Biden in the Oval Office is a key objective for those planning international events linked to Irelands national holiday.

There is a desire that the bilateral meeting between the Taoiseach and President Biden goes ahead as scheduled and detailed discussions are taking place, the source said.

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Central to the proposed visit will be a meeting in the Oval Office between the two leaders and their advisers.

There are doubts over whether the famous Shamrock Ceremony in the East Room of the White House can be held but consideration is being given to holding the event.

However, it is unlikely that other major events such as the Ireland Fund dinner and a traditional function hosted by the Irish Ambassador to the US will go ahead.

Last week, Mr Martin said: "When I invited President-elect Biden to Ireland he just said try and keep me out so it wont be any lack of enthusiasm.

"But I think we'll be practical about it. Its early days yet. "Obviously Covid will have a significant impact on all bilateral relations, contacts and meetings in the coming while, he added.

In the Dail today, Mr Martin indicated a visit by President Biden to Ireland was likely.

We look forward to welcoming him to Ireland during his presidency, Mr Martin said.

He said he wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate incoming President Joe Biden on behalf of the Government and to wish him the very very best as he begins his journey as President of the United States.

Mr Biden has a very long record as a friend of Ireland and has made no secret of that affection for this country, he said.

We look forward to welcoming him to Ireland during his presidency.

Labour Party spokesman Aodhan O Riordain echoed the Taoiseachs sentiments, calling Mr Biden one of our own.

Mr O Riordain made a speech four years ago denouncing outgoing President Trump as a racist - a video that was picked up the US media and which speedily racked up more than 100 million views on social media.
Hot on the heels of storm Filomena that wreaked havoc in parts of Malaga province, another weather front is moving in and Spain's national agency, Aemet, has predicted a 100 per cent probability of rainfall this Wednesday.

Although this weather front will be milder than Filomena, which left more than 300mm of rain in Estepona, it will still be significant.

Aemet has issued a yellow weather warning for Malaga, the Costa del Sol and Guadalhorce areas and up to 15mm of rain per hour is expected.

Jose Maria Sanchez-Laulhe, director of the Meteorological Centre, said, It is a moderately active front that will give rainfall throughout the province.

On Thursday morning the snow level will be at an altitude of 1,200 metres on Thursday morning, so it could leave a thin white blanket on the peaks of the Sierra de las Nieves and Tejeda-Almijara.

On Thursday and Friday little rain will fall on the coast and, heading into the weekend, temperatures will rise significantly with early spring-like temperatures.

If amber (medium risk) warnings are issued at some point in Europe, the storm will take the name Gaetan, according to Jose Luis Escudero, an expert in meteorology in Malaga.
Mary Trump has predicted a 'grim' future for her uncle Donald as he tries to 'change the narrative' around his legacy while facing a loss of relevance and legal threats.

The clinical psychologist told CNN that Tuesday, Trump's last day in office was 'probably the worst day of his life'.

Trump will leave the White House early on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden later today.

'This is probably the worst day of his life, because the clock is ticking and he's running out of time,' Mary Trump, who wrote a book about her uncle, told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Tuesday.

'The other thing I just want to point out about that speech, it was reminiscent of a video he made after the insurrection saying the movement is just beginning, which seems like a bit of a threat to me,' Trump said, comparing the video farewell message from the president to one before the siege of the Capitol building two weeks ago.

Mary Trump has predicted a 'grim' future for her uncle Donald as he tries to 'change the narrative' around his legacy while facing a loss of relevance and legal threats

'My hope is that he be as contained as possible. He's going to do whatever he can or believes he can to change the narrative and I think we're going to see that play out with some of these pardons in excess of 100, if I'm hearing that correctly, and some of these pardons will be quite horrific, some of them will be strategic.'

'But the bottom line is he's out of there. I mean, he's been out of there, you know, metaphorically speaking, for a long time. He's not been doing the job.

'As of 12 o'clock or earlier, he's heading down to Florida and he no longer has powers and protections of the Oval Office, and he knows it,' Mary Trump said.

Outgoing President Donald Trump will leave the White House early on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden later today [File photo]

Trump's departure from office comes just two weeks after his supporters stormed the Capitol building, killing a police officer while vandalizing and looting the home of Congress.

The outgoing president was impeached a week later for a record second time over allegations that he incited the riot. He will face a trial some time after Biden takes office.

If convicted, Trump would be barred for life from holding public office, however it remains unclear whether Republicans senators will vote to convict.

Since the riot, Trump has been laying relatively low, with a ban from most social networks including Twitter blocking his preferred means of communication.

Steve Bannon (center), Trump's polemical former adviser, was among the most high-profile pardons Trump issued on his final day in office on Tuesday. Pictured: Bannon waves as he exits the Manhattan Federal Court in August 2020 [File photo]

Rapper Lil Wayne (pictured) was among the 73 people pardoned by Trump. Wayne pleaded guilty to a federal weapons charge last year [File photo]

Trump also commuted the sentences of 70 people including former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (pictured), who was sentences to 28 years in prison in 2013 on racketeering, bribery and extortion charges [File photo]

However in his final hours in office on Tuesday he issued 73 pardons, most notably to his former adviser Steve Bannon who is facing fraud charges and to the rapper Lil Wayne, who pleaded guilty to a federal weapons charge last year.

Trump also commuted the sentences of another 70 people including Kwame Kilpatrick, who was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2013 on racketeering, bribery and extortion charges.

The charges relate to Kilpatrick's time as mayor of Detroit, the subject of the second season of the popular podcast Crimetown.

It is not clear how Trump plans to spend his time after leaving office but he has expressed his desire to make his permanent home at his Mar-al-Lago property.
An MP has claimed over 100 women in Northern Ireland have been refused an abortion with some turning to the internet for pills.

It comes as new Department of Health figures show there were 22 abortions carried out in Northern Ireland during the financial year of 2019/20

That was an increase of eight on the previous year's 14.

Fifteen terminations were carried out on women aged 30 and over, five on a women aged 25 to 29, and two on women aged 24 and under, the figures show. All were women living in Northern Ireland.

Abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in October 2019 following an intervention from Westminster and during the suspension of power sharing.

The Labour MP Stella Creasey - whose was behind the Westminster move - asked about provision in Northern Ireland given legal action on access to services in the Commons on Wednesday. She asked for the government to intervene and uphold the legislation.

The MP said there was "clear evidence" over 100 women had been refused abortions and were forced to buy pills online.

Robin Walker, under-secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, said his office had been engaged in providing services with the NI Department of Health.

He said that while that was the best way to progress the matter through the devolved institutions, his government was considering further legislative action through parliament "at the appropriate time should it be required".

He said the situation was being closely monitored and they recognised the urgency of the matter but also the "huge challenges" facing the departments of health in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart - who opposes abortion - raised concerns the law allowed for "sex-selective" abortion as it could be carried out up to 12 weeks.

Mr Walker said the regulations did not reference "sex-selective" abortion and there was no evidence to indicate this was taking place and statistics would continue to be monitored.

Abortion regulations took effect in March 2020. Since then, health trusts have provided an interim early medical abortion service to ensure access whilst services are commissioned.

This service has been facilitated through Informing Choices NI, which acts as the Central Access Point.

However, a legal action has been launched by Northern Irelands Human Rights Commission against the UK government, the Executive and Stormont's over their provision of services.

While women have a legal entitlement to the early medical abortion service, pressures on funding has seen health trusts cease services, or refuse to take on cases from other areas. The Northern Trust recently resumed services, while the South Eastern Trust is expected to restarts its soon.

Amnesty International has called for the Health Minister to commission services and provide adequate funding.

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In 2017 funding was introduced to allow women from NI to access services in England and Wales. That scheme remains in place.

The latest statistics from Department of Health in London show that for 2019 there were 1,014 abortions for women from Northern Ireland, slightly lower than the 1,053 in 2018. Current levels remain lower than the peak of 1,855 Northern Ireland resident abortions in 1990.

In October last year, it was reported that women in Northern Ireland had been forced to turn to backstreet abortions and some had attempted suicide over the lack of services available for pregnancy terminations.

Making the accusation, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists criticised Mr Swann for failing to commission abortion services despite the Government's legal obligation to do so.

Health Minister Robin Swann has said commissioning abortion services is a controversial issue and must be referred to the Executive for consideration.
ROME, N.Y. -- The Rome City School District falls within the State of New Yorks Yellow Zone. That means 20% of students and staff have to be tested for COVID-19 before opening the schools.

The district plans to open multiple testing sites, along with a centralized evening location at Strough Middle School. Rome Superintendent of Schools Peter Blake is hopeful the schools will remain open.

"People want a sense of normalcy, and at some point and time we do have to try our best to give that to them," said Blake. "I think having gone through Thanksgiving and then the holiday season people in our region saw how quickly this thing can spread, and how dangerous it can be, and we may have learned our lesson the hard way a little bit, but I do think people are much more diligent even than they were back then, and I think thats going to help us stay open and keep on moving forward."

Blake has delayed the return to hybrid and in-person learning by one week to help provide time for testing. He sent a letter to the school community Tuesday to explain the situation.

School was originally going to resume on Jan. 25. The district is now planning on welcoming students back on Feb. 1.

Read Blake's full letter below:
Open Arms to set sail soon as COVID 14-day quarantine over Arrived in Porto Empedocle 4/1

(ANSAmed) - AGRIGENTO, JANUARY 20 - The 14-day anti-COVID quarantine of the Open Arms crew off Porto Empedocle in Sicily ended Wednesday. "We can finally lower the yellow flag,'' the NGO wrote on one of its social media accounts. "It's time to change crew and stock up and return to the sea.'' The Spanish ship had arrived in Porto Empedocle on January 4 after rescuing 265 migrants of sub-Saharan origins in the Mediterranean Sea.



(ANSA).





COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT

20 JANUARY 2021

TRADING UPDATE FOR THE THIRD QUARTER

ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Financial highlights

Sales in the quarter increased by 1% at actual exchange rates and by 5% at constant exchange rates compared to the prior year period, in a continuously volatile environment

Robust sales in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa, both with double digit growth at actual exchange rates, more than offset single digit declines in the Americas and Japan and a marked contraction in Europe

A double digit increase in online retail sales and single digit progression in retail sales compensated lower wholesale sales at actual exchange rates

Strong performance from the Jewellery Maisons; broadly stable or lower performances from the other business areas at actual exchange rates

October- December 2020 m October- December 2019 m Change at constant exchange rates versus prior period (%) Change at actual exchange rates versus prior period (%) Sales by region Europe 982 1 263 -20% -22% Asia Pacific 1 729 1 429 +25% +21% Americas 841 874 +3% -4% Japan 335 341 +1% -2% Middle East and Africa 299 249 +27% +20% Sales by distribution channel Retail 2 288 2 212 +8% +3% Online retail 841 747 +17% +13% Wholesale & royalty income 1 057 1 197 -8% -12% Sales by business area Jewellery Maisons 2 366 2 162 +14% +9% Specialist Watchmakers 758 818 -4% -7% Online Distributors 668 670 +4% 0% Other 436 522 -13% -16% Inter-segment eliminations -42 -16 +180% +163% Total Sales 4 186 4 156 +5% +1%

Review of trading in the three month period ended 31 December 2020 at constant exchange rates versus the prior year period

The quarter under review was characterised by a varied performance across regions, with the continued spread of Covid-19 resulting in a halt in international tourism and temporary closures at points of sales in line with changing local lockdown measures. Sales progressed by 5%, driven by 25% sales growth in Asia Pacific where robust results in China (+80%) and Taiwan (China) (+29%) more than offset declines in other Asian locations. Sales in Europe contracted by 20%, affected by renewed public health protection measures and a halt in tourism. In the Americas, sales rose by 3%, supported by relatively strong domestic sales. The strong 27% sales increase in the Middle East and Africa reflected good performance across channels, resumed tourist spending in Dubai and solid domestic spending, notably in Saudi Arabia. Sales in Japan rose by 1%, benefiting from resilient local demand before public health measures were re-instated in major population centres.

The online and offline retail channels both posted sales growths, more than offsetting a decline in the wholesale channel. The retail channel recorded an 8% sales increase, driven by double digit growth at the Jewellery Maisons, despite the negative impact of temporary store closures. Retail sales were particularly strong in China, Taiwan (China), Russia and Saudi Arabia. With 17% sales growth, the online retail channel posted the strongest relative performance, thus confirming the acceleration in online luxury shopping witnessed in previous quarters. Demand was strong across many locations including China, Japan, the United States and France. Sales in the wholesale channel were 8% lower than in the prior year period, notwithstanding higher sales in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa.

The 14% sales progression at the Jewellery Maisons was supported by good jewellery and watch sales at Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Sales grew in all regions except Europe, and across all channels. The Specialist Watchmakers' sales decreased by 4%, with declines in all regions excluding Asia Pacific where sales grew by double digits, partly sustained by the Watches & Wonders event in Sanya. At the Online Distributors, a competitive pricing environment in online retail limited sales growth to 4%. The Group's Other business area posted a 13% reduction in sales, reflecting challenging trading conditions, particularly in travel retail locations, for our Fashion & Accessories Maisons, except for Peter Millar which recorded growth.

The Group's net cash position at 31 December 2020 amounted to  2.9 billion (2019:  2.4 billion).

Trading in the nine month period ended 31 December 2020

Sales over the nine month period to December decreased by 16% at actual exchange rates and by 14% at constant exchange rates, a marked improvement over the performance in the first six months of the financial year. They are presented in Appendix 1a.

Corporate calendar

The Group's results for the current financial year will be announced on Friday, 21 May 2021, and its annual general meeting will be held on Wednesday, 8 September 2021.

About Richemont

Richemont owns a portfolio of leading international Maisons recognised for their distinctive heritage, craftsmanship and creativity. The Group operates in four business areas: Jewellery Maisons, namely Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels; Specialist Watchmakers, namely A. Lange & Sohne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; Online Distributors, namely Watchfinder & Co. and YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP (NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER, YOOX, THE OUTNET); and Other, primarily Fashion & Accessories Maisons, including Alaia, AZ Factory, Chloe, dunhill, Montblanc, Peter Millar, Purdey and Serapian.

Richemont 'A' shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont's primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index ('SMI') of leading stocks. Richemont South African Depository Receipts are listed in Johannesburg, Richemont's secondary listing.

Investor/analyst and media enquiries

Sophie Cagnard, Group Corporate Communications Director

James Fraser, Investor Relations Executive

Investors/analysts enquiries: +41 22 721 30 03; investor.relations@cfrinfo.net

Media enquiries: +41 22 721 35 07; pressoffice@cfrinfo.net; richemont@teneo.com

Disclaimer

The financial information contained in this announcement is unaudited.

This document contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Richemont's forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's business and performance, the economy and other future conditions and forecasts of future events, circumstances and results. Our retail stores are heavily dependent on the ability and desire of consumers to travel and shop and a decline in consumer traffic could have a negative effect on our comparable store sales and/or average sales per square foot and store profitability resulting in impairment charges, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Reduced travel resulting from economic conditions, retail store closure orders of civil authorities, travel restrictions, travel concerns and other circumstances, including disease epidemics and other health-related concerns, could have a material adverse effect on us, particularly if such events impact our customers' desire to travel to our retail stores.

As with any projection or forecast, forward-looking statements are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Group's control. Richemont does not undertake to update, nor does it have any obligation to provide updates of or to revise, any forward-looking statements.

Appendix 1a: Sales for the nine months ended 31 December 2020

April-December 2020 m April-December 2019 m Change at constant exchange rates versus prior period (%) Change at actual exchange rates versus prior period (%) Sales by region Europe 2 216 3 484 -35% -36% Asia Pacific 4 285 4 158 +5% +3% Americas 1 741 2 221 -18% -22% Japan 700 988 -28% -29% Middle East and Africa 722 702 +6% +3% Sales by distribution channel Retail 5 218 6 020 -11% -13% Online retail 2 049 2 007 +4% +2% Wholesale & royalty income 2 397 3 526 -30% -32% Sales by business area Jewellery Maisons 5 427 5 898 -5% -8% Specialist Watchmakers 1 724 2 385 -26% -28% Online Distributors 1 602 1 849 -12% -13% Other 981 1 463 -31% -33% Inter-segment eliminations -70 -42 +69% +67% Total Sales 9 664 11 553 -14% -16%

Appendix 1b: Foreign exchange rates

Average exchange rates against the euro April-December

2020 April-December

2019 United States dollar 1.15 1.11 Japanese yen 122 121 Swiss franc 1.07 1.11 Renminbi 7.93 7.75

Actual exchange rates for the period are calculated using the average daily closing rates against the euro.

In terms of sales at constant exchange rates, average exchange rates for the year ended 31 March 2020 are used to convert local currency sales into euros for the current three month period, the current nine month period and comparative figures. Exchange rate translation effects are thereby eliminated from the reported sales performance.

Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA

50, Chemin de la Chenaie | Case Postale 30 | 1293 Bellevue | Geneva | Switzerland

Telephone +41 (0)22 721 3500

www.richemont.com
The world's second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum, has soared to a new all-time high following significant investor enthusiasm for Bitcoin alternatives in the nascent digital currency space.

The price of one 'ether' reached $US1430 ($1855) overnight after a surging rally that began days after the new year and saw the digital token grow 82 per cent in under three weeks.

Second-largest cryptocurrency Ethereum has hit a new all-time high. Credit:Bloomberg

Ethereum has now traded higher than in 2017, where a similar end-of-year rally saw the currency reach $US1400. The most recent price movement follows a similar boom in leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin, which hit over $52,000 in early January.

But while Bitcoin's rally was fuelled by retail and traditional investors looking to get a foot in the door, Ethereum's is likely due to those same investors diversifying their portfolio in the cryptocurrency sector.
Defence ministers of India and Singapore on Wednesday held a dialogue virtually wherein the navies of the two countries signed an implementing agreement on submarine rescue support and cooperation, according to an official statement.

Rajnath Singh and his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen conveyed their full support towards early conclusion of agreements to "facilitate conduct of live firings and to establish reciprocal arrangements for the cross-attendance of military courses", said the joint statement issued after the fifth Defence Ministers' Dialogue.

"Both ministers were pleased to witness the signing of the implementing agreement on submarine rescue support and cooperation between the two navies," it noted.

After the dialogue, Singh said on Twitter that it was a productive meeting with Hen and India is fortunate to have a defence partner like Singapore.

"Today's interaction will benefit both countries on many bilateral issues that are being pursued to further strengthen our special relationship," Singh said.

In November last year, the navies of the two countries conducted the 27th edition of maritime bilateral exercise SIMBEX and participated in the second editions of maritime trilateral exercise SITMEX with Thailand's Navy.

The joint statement issued after the fifth Defence Ministers' Dialogue on Wednesday stated that defence and security engagements between the two countries have broadened significantly in scale and scope across all three services of the armed forces, defence industry and technology.

"Both countries have also found common ground on multilateral fora and engagements... The cyber agencies of both armed forces have also stepped up engagements," according to the statement.

During the dialogue, both ministers exchanged views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the defence and security engagements, including the best practices adopted by their armed forces.

According to the statement, Singh conveyed gratitude to the Singapore armed forces for their role in supporting foreign workers, many of whom were Indian nationals, at the peak of pandemic.

Hen also complimented India's successes in bringing down the overall number of COVID-infected persons despite challenges of scale in terms of geography and population, the statement said.

"Both ministers were committed to further enhance bilateral defence ties between India and Singapore and supported multilateral initiatives to promote lasting peace and stability in the region," it added. PTI DSP NSD NSD

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) has located and returned more than $22.8 million to Tennesseans in combinedlife insurance benefits/annuities and monies through its mediation efforts in 2020.

TDCIs figures show:

$10,164,747 was returned to Tennessee consumers last year as a result of TDCIs mediation efforts  a process where TDCI insurance investigators intercede between insurance companies and policyholders to get wrongfully denied claims overturned and paid for policyholders.

$12,707,272was located in 2020 for Tennessee consumers through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Life Insurance Policy Locator Service. Available since November 2016, the Life Insurance Policy Locator Service is a free tool that enables beneficiaries, executors or legal representatives of a deceased person to track down the life insurance policies or annuity contracts of their late family members or friends.

In the midst of last years unprecedented challenges, our insurance team continued to assist hard-working Tennesseans by working to help return money through the mediation process and by answering their questions and providing information regarding their insurance policies, said TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence.

TDCI also highlighted the ongoing growth of the insurance industry in the state, including:

Two new Tennessee domestic insurance companies were licensed in 2020, for a total of 65 total licensed active Tennessee domestic insurance companies.

$27.9 billion in nationwide premium was written by these 65 Tennessee domestic insurance companies. This represents a 20.4% increase in premium volume written by Tennessee domestic insurance companies compared to 2019.

53 new traditional insurance companies headquartered outside of Tennessee were licensed to do business in Tennessee during 2020.

1,907 total traditional insurance companies are actively licensed in Tennessee.

$45.1 billion in premium volume written in Tennessee by these 1,907 insurance companies, making Tennessee No. 16 in the nation for premium volume according to the NAIC.

226,454 insurance agents are licensed in Tennessee in 2020, an 11.8% increase since December of 2019.

A new and more paperless licensing system launched in 2020 to help modernize insurance licensing in Tennessee.

International Paper relocated its captive insurance company from Vermont to Tennessee, establishing Tennessees 700th risk-bearing entity.

For the eighth consecutive year, workers compensation insurance premiums are likely to decline for most Tennessee businesses.

Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance

Topics Trends Market Tennessee
All is quiet in Harrisburg Wednesday as Joe Biden is being sworn in as president hundreds of miles away in Washington, D.C.

Harrisburg police and members of the National Guard stoically stood guard this morning outside Pennsylvanias Capitol, behind orange barricades set up as a precaution against rioters.

Although the FBI warned of a threat of armed protests at all 50 state capitols in the days leaving up to Inauguration Day, there have been no demonstrations or activity around Pennsylvanias Capitol.

We are very pleased that everything is peaceful so far, said mayor Eric Papenfuse via a statement from the city.

Harrisburg police said they will continue patrolling the Capitol through this week.

At this time, as you probably know, there is nothing going on at the Capitol. Hopefully things will continue that way, said Harrisburg Sgt. Kyle Gautsch. But officers will maintain a presence throughout the day to ensure everything remains peaceful. We feel the measures put in place were appropriate based on the unknown circumstances and potential disturbances that we faced.

A small handful of people were standing along the bottom steps of the Capitol, some holding signs.

Saying he was never one to sit home and wish hed done something differently, Matt Convery of Wallingford, Delaware County, came to Harrisburg holding a sign that said Truth over lies and Democracy wins.

I just felt bad about two weeks ago. It sounded like there was gonna be mass protests everywhere and I dont want that to be the only face out here, he said. It makes you sad

David Jordan, of New Cumberland, said he was glad to see things going back to democratic principles.

That should never happen again, he said of the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. We should be better behaved.

Im just so thrilled to have a woman vice president finally, Jordan said. Hopefully well have a woman president soon

Larry Shake, of Dauphin, wearing a Vietnam veterans hat and a gray bathrobe with the phrase Impeach China Joe spelled out in stickers on the back, said he came to Harrisburg today to voice his first amendment rights.

Shake said he thought both the cold weather and the police presence scared people away. People want to protest, but dont want to come out if theres gonna be trouble, he said.

Shake said he was protesting Biden, who he believes won the election illegally, with the help of media and big businesses.

I think Trump will go down in history as one of the best presidents for the American public ever, he said.

Jana Benscoter contributed to this article.

READ MORE: After quiet Sunday at Pa. Capitol, police will maintain presence through this week

Members of Trumps 2020 campaign helped organize rally ahead of Capitol riot, records show

Inauguration Day will come and go; violent domestic extremism may be around for a while
The world's billionaires entrepreneurs do not all see eye to eye

Arnold Schwarzenegger recently put out a video in which he exhorted Americans to get behind President-elect Joe Biden.

He asserted that Trump had been the worst President ever, a sentiment which its not hard to find support for around the world.

Its especially easy to find now, given that conservatives are being driven off social media platforms in droves.

Because, even if stories of the culling of conservative social media accounts are exaggerated - and its hard to know how to measure such a thing - theres no question that after President Trumps de-platforming from Twitter, a widespread perception has arisen amongst conservatives that they have only to speak up and they will be gone from the internet.

President Bolsonaro in Brazil has urged his Twitter followers in Brazil to switch platforms to Telegram, and significant numbers have already done so.

Angela Merkel has also spoken out against Twitters muzzling of Trump.

She, Donald Trump and Bolsonaro all have something in common  they are all duly elected heads of state and they are all alarmed by the immense power and reach of social media.

So, is there anyone of any real significance in the world who isnt?

There might be just one.

And interestingly, his exact political stripe remains unclear.

Is Elon Musk a conservative?

After all, hes a man who markets flamethrowers, has his own tequila brand, and is in the forefront of industrial-scale efforts to tackle global warming. That doesnt sound overly conservative under any standard definition.

Hes also arguably the only major figure in the Western world able to speak completely freely on twitter without fear or favour.

A lot of people are going to be super unhappy with West Coast high tech as the de facto arbiter of free speech, he tweeted earlier this week.

Earlier, hed urged followers to switch from messaging app Whatsapp to more secure rival Signal.

Whether Musks exhortations will actually make any difference to behaviour or practice in the long run is hard to know.

But if it takes being the worlds richest man to be able to talk without inhibition on social media, eventually the worlds electorates are going to get the message. After all, as one commentator said earlier this week, what happens if someone of a different political persuasion succeeds Jack Dorsey at Twitter?

And so the shockwaves of the post-Trump internet revolution are likely to echo down though time, and across the markets.

Section 230? - not too long for this world in the grand scheme of things, both domestically in the US and globally.

The worlds lawmakers dont like being told what they and cant say. And they dont much like being upstaged by a tequila manufacturer with a penchant for Japanese cartoons either.

Just like Standard Oil got broken up at the beginning of the twentieth century, the same fate is now inevitable for Big Tech. Its only a matter of time.

Meanwhile, watch as Elon Musk, whos censoring no-one, corners the market in electric vehicles and creates his own monopoly on the sly  with the bona fide excuse that hes saving the world as he does so.
U.S. President Joe Biden is rescinding the Presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline project on his first day in office, raising concerns about Albertas oil industry and the potential increased dependence of U.S. Gulf Coast refineries on crude imports from OPEC nations.

The day-one executive actions for President Biden include Revoking, revising, or replacing additional Executive Orders, Presidential Proclamations, Memoranda, and Permits signed over the past 4 years that do not serve the U.S. national interest, including revoking the Presidential permit granted to the Keystone XL pipeline, the Biden-Harris transition team says.

Since reports surfaced a few days ago that the new U.S. Administration would kill the cross-border Keystone XL project on day one, top Canadian officials have said the move would weaken the existing U.S.-Canada relationship.

Analysts, as well as Albertas Premier Jason Kenney, say that killing Keystone XL would not diminish demand for heavy crude oil at U.S. refineries in the future. It could, however, raise Americas dependence on crude oil imports from OPEC, instead of imports from Canada, for the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The United States has reduced its dependence on OPEC oil over the last few years, and is now a net oil importer. What crude oil the U.S. does import today mostly comes from Canada, to the tune of nearly 4 million barrels per day. Only 686,000 barrels per day come from OPEC nations.

But all that could change now.

Richard Masson, an executive fellow and energy expert at the University of Calgarys School of Public Policy, told The Canadian Press earlier this week that killing Keystone XL could force U.S. Gulf Coast refineries to import more oil from countries like Saudi Arabia and Iraq, instead of from Canada. Related: U.S. Oil Product Demand Is Set For A Biden Boost In 2021

U.S. crude oil imports fell to just 280,000 bpd in October 2020, and just 121,000 bpd from Iraq, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Scrapping the project will also kill jobsboth in Canada and the United States.

According to Kenney, scrapping the Presidential permit for Keystone would kill jobs on both sides of the border, weaken the critically important Canada-U.S. relationship, and undermine U.S. national security by making the United States more dependent on OPEC oil imports in the future.

As president-elect Bidens green jobs plan acknowledges, Americans will consume millions of barrels of oil per day for years to come. It is in perfect keeping with his plan that the United States energy needs should be met by a country that takes the challenges of climate change seriously, Kenney added.

On Tuesday, Kenney said he had urged the federal government of Canada to do everything possible to convey a clear message to President-elect Biden that rescinding the #KXL border crossing permit would damage the Canada-US bilateral relationship.

Should the incoming US administration abrogate the Keystone-XL permit, Alberta will work with TC Energy to use all legal avenues available to protect its interest in the project, Albertas premier said in his Sunday statement on the pipeline development.

According to Politico, TC Energy could react to the scrapping of the Presidential permit by challenging the move in court or through the new North American trade deal.

If Keystone XL is terminated, Alberta could also sell the pipes from the project to offset some of the funds it had invested in the project, Kenney said at a news conference earlier this week, as carried by Bloomberg.

Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Kathmandu, January 20

Nepal Tourism Board, a public-private partnership body formed to promote tourism in the country, has objected to the health protocol the government has imposed on foreign tourists considering the Covid-19 risk.

The board says the existing protocol tarnished Nepals image in the international market and urges the government to relax provisions.

The board says international media have begun to give a message that Nepal is not open yet for tourism, stating revising the protocol is a must to revive the countrys tourism sector, worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The board says it has made this conclusion after a meeting with stakeholders earlier this week.

Mainly, the board has proposed the following provisions in revising the protocol:
Australian flag flutters in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on April 14, 2016. (Jason Lee/Reuters)

Industry Leader Calls on Aussie Diplomats to Step Up Amid CCP Economic Coercion

A leading Australian industry advocate has called on politicians and diplomats to stand firm and not acquiesce to demands by Beijing amid its aggressive diplomatic tactics and economic coercion, saying Australia risks giving away fundamental values to pacify the communist regime.

Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox, in an op-ed in News Corps The Australian, said industry had watched the declining bilateral relationship between Australia and China for a decade with concern.

He called on foreign policymakers and the diplomatic core to step up and do more to help industry, noting that foreign policy sits at the intersection of Australias economic and national security.

For too long our foreign policy has been too passive when it comes to supporting Australias commercial interests, he said. There are countless examples of ambassadors and others declining to help our companies large and small to make connections or conclude deals which would drive growth and jobs for Australians.

Willox said there was an impression among industry that diplomats viewed commercial diplomacy as a grubby venture that was beneath some in the diplomatic corpsa little bit like getting their hands dirty, he said.

Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham pushed back against Willoxs commentary on Monday saying that diplomats work extremely hard to support exporters.

Our diplomatic network, our Austrade officials around the globe, well and truly have rolled their sleeves up as they always do in terms of helping to find alternate markets, Birmingham said.

Highlighting the excellent result DFAT was able to achieve for barley exporters who had been hit by Chinese trade sanctions, Birmingham noted that they had now secured significant contracts in the Middle East and Asia.

This is an ongoing task for our officials working alongside industry to make sure that Australian goods, if they are no longer wanted or being taxed out of viability because of Chinese regulatory decisions, find new homes elsewhere around the world, he said.

Our network and teams are doing that, and theyll continue to work very closely with the industry groups, to make sure that so far as possible we help Aussie exporters to get their premium quality goods into markets, as theyve done so successfully for so many years, Birmingham said.

Willox called for industry and the government to work together as best they can amidst the current climate to keep talking and trading where possible.

Going forward, he urged politicians to resist the temptation to respond to the jibes of junior diplomats and bloggers.

Responding to such provocation plays into Chinese hands and should be beneath us, he said.

According to Willox, Australia is being harassed and bullied by China in a strategy to tease out who is on what side in the fight for post-pandemic economic and strategic dominance.

He says the implications of the diplomatic tensions are profound not just for the region but also for the Australian economy and way of life. But urged Australia to stay strong to its core values.

China has been endeavouring to economically punish Australia for nearly a year after Foreign Minister Marise Payne called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

The Chinese regime has currently placed sanctions on eight Australian export products, including barley, beef, timber, lamb, coal, lobsters, and wine.
Emily Mieure covers criminal justice and emergency news. She also leads the News&Guides investigative efforts. She has reported for WDRB TV in Louisville, Ky., WFIE TV in Evansville, Ind., and WEIU TV in Charleston, Ill.
It took six months of Zoom parties, texts and phone calls to exes, but now that the latest filing deadline passed on Jan. 15, New York City candidates can finally show off the money theyve been raising and spending. After a quick dig through the massive trove of hundreds of financial disclosures, here are some of the winners and losers.

Winners

Eric Adams & Scott Stringer: The Brooklyn borough president and the city comptroller are exactly where they need to be, at the top of the mayoral pack. Eric Adams has $6.7 million in the bank, and expects to bring in another $982,000 in matching funds at the next payment on Feb. 16. Scott Stringer has $5.8 million on hand, and expects another $1.6 million to come next month. Both electeds were also probably pleased to see that, even though McGuire brought in a ton of money, the former Citigroup vice chair doesnt seem to be on pace to massively outspend them  thanks to the magic of public matching funds.

Ray McGuire: Adams and Stringer have been fundraising for three years for this race. Ray McGuire has been doing it for three months. And he crushed everyone else, bringing in $4.9 million. Sure, the guy is made of money, and so are his friends. But McGuire had to stick to a $5,100-per-person limit, so that total doesnt just represent Wall Street bigwigs, but some small-time voters too. McGuire had 3,709 contributors, and 68% of his money came from New Yorkers.

Maya Wiley: The campaigns increasingly frantic fundraising emails werent just a ploy after all. Maya Wiley brought in some 1,500 donations in the last two days before the filing deadline and cleared the $250,000 matching funds threshold by about $37,000. Nothing is certain until you get approval from the New York City Campaign Finance Board, but it looks like Wiley could be the only new mayoral candidate to join the matching funds club in February, when $2.3 million in matching funds could hit her account.

Andrew Yang: In a week when the top-funded mayoral candidates should have hogged the spotlight, everyone was talking about Andrew Yang. His filing shows he has $0 in the bank, but the political nobody who raised $42 million for a presidential run should have no trouble raising money.

Erik Bottcher: The chief of staff to City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and his heir apparent in Manhattans District 3 is still the only nonincumbent council candidate to break six digits in private fundraising. Erik Bottcher now has a ludicrously high $244,132 in the bank, which would allow him to spend the maximum allowable $190,000 and still have $54,000 for what would likely be a noncompetitive general election.

Losers

Zach Iscol, Shaun Donovan, Kathryn Garcia & Dianne Morales: Reaching the threshold for matching funds is tough. And while these mayoral candidates have been raising solid money  $746,000 for Iscol, $1.6 million for Donovan, $305,000 for Garcia and $336,000 for Morales  none managed to unlock the millions that theyll need to stay competitive with the money leaders. Which means another two months of misleading emails talking about fundraising goals.

Carlos Menchaca & Loree Sutton: These two havent even gotten a whiff of matching funds yet. Theyve been considered among the top tier of candidates, but with Menchacas $15,000 balance and Suttons $398 on hand, their time might be running out. Expect calls for them to drop out to grow louder. Menchaca has said hes politically aligned with Morales, and her growing legion of supporters would love his endorsement.

Harold Heshy Tischler: The Trump-supporting Brooklynite was all over the news in October for making racist comments and inciting violence against a journalist. Hes also a council candidate in District 48, but his three donations for $3,000 in total suggest hes not a serious one.

Mathieu Eugene: The Haitian Sensation is the longest tenured City Council member currently serving, and nothing, not even questions of whether he lived in the district, could stop him from winning election after election. But his lackluster fundraising  leaving him with only $35,000 in the bank  could keep him from being a serious competitor in the race for Brooklyn borough president.

State Board of Elections: The New York City Campaign Finance Board website is about as user friendly as you could ever hope for from a government entity. But the states website is about as bad as youd imagine, and the disclosures for candidates running for state office provide much less information than the reports of those running in the city. Its not just annoying  its bad for transparency.
Lawton, OK (73501)

Today

Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  President Rodrigo Duterte took a jab at senators who favored the vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech after the deaths of some elderly patients in Norway who took a shot against COVID-19.

Ang Pfizer ng mga senador (The Pfizer for the senators)...25 died after receiving their vaccines. There you are, mamili kayo (you choose), said Duterte during his weekly national address on Monday.

He added that China-made Sinovac vaccine is now being used in neighboring countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, as well as in Turkey, Egypt, and UAE, claiming that there were no reported deaths after being vaccinated with it.

Almost everybody na kilala ko are scrambling to buy itong Pfizer (Almost everybody that I know want to buy Pfizer). To me it is a good one. If you want to follow the experience of Norway, go ahead, nobody will stop you, said Duterte.

Duterte defended last week the national governments preference for China-made COVID-19 vaccines, saying that they are as good as those produced by American and European pharmaceuticals.

However, some studies showed that Sinovacs efficacy is only at around 50%.

Senators recently criticized Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's remark that Filipinos should not be "choosy" with the COVID-19 vaccine brand that they will receive from the government.

Several local government units in the country are set to procure vaccines from British drugmaker AstraZeneca. But the president said the national government is not preventing anyone from buying their own vaccines.

READ: LGUs announce signing deals for advance purchase of AstraZeneca vaccines

We never prohibited anybody from buying from government. We are not selling. We are buying for the people, said Duterte.

The government has granted an emergency use authorization for the vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. Its vaccine has shown 95% efficacy. Despite the reported deaths, the Food and Drug Administration said the manufacturer will keep its EUA but it needs to send a report to the agency.

Moreover, Pfizer-BioNTech said in a statement that it is now working with Norwegian health officials to gather more data regarding the incident.

Pfizer and BioNTech are aware of the reported deaths following administration of BNT162b2. We are working with the Norewegian Medicines Agency (NOMA) to gather all the relevant information, read the statement.

Norwegian authorities have prioritised the immunisation of resident in nursing homes, most of whom are very elderly with underlying medical conditions and some which are terminally ill, it added. NOMA confirmed the number of incidents so far is not alarming, and in line with expectations.

Pfizer-BioNTech also said that all reported deaths will be evaluated by the authorities to determine if they are related to its vaccine.

Norway has now changed its use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to consider excluding the terminally ill.
Statement of Sen Risa Hontiveros supporting the passage of the amended Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000 in the House of Representatives

Napakagandang balita ng pagkakapasa ng mga bagong probisyon ng Solo Parents Welfare Act 2000 sa House of Representatives.

Ngayong naghihikahos pa rin ang ating mga kababayan sa gitna ng krisis, triple triple ang dinadanas na pasakit ng ating solo parents. As a solo mom myself, I can empathize with the multiple burdens these solo parents carry in the face of a health and economic crisis.

Especially now that millions of Filipinos are unemployed, single-parent households, compared to those with two adult jobseekers, are at a great disadvantage in the "lottery" for jobs and income sources.

So, I call on my colleagues in the Senate to support the immediate passage of the proposed "Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2020," co-authored by our Senate President Tito Sotto.

We have already identified this as a priority legislation of the 18th Congress, kaya sa kabila ng napakarami nating agam-agam dahil pandemya, sana ay magbigay ng kapanatagan ang panukalang batas na ito.

Let us be champions for our solo parents and our children. They need the full power and protection of the law now more than ever.
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New Delhi, Jan 20 : Supreme Court judge Justice N.V. Ramanna, along with three other judges of the apex court Justice Surya Kant, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud will release "The Law of Emergency Powers: Comparative Common Law Perspectives" authored by Abhishek Singhvi and Khagesh Gautam and published by Springer on January 23.

The book presents a comprehensive legal and constitutional study of emergency powers from a comparative common law perspective. It is one of the very few comparative studies on three jurisdictions and arguably the first one to explore in detail various emergency powers, statutory and common law, constitutional and statutory law, martial law and military acting-in-aid of civil authority, wartime and peacetime invocations, and several related and vital themes like judicial review of emergency powers (existence, scope and degree).

The three jurisdictions compared here are: the pure implied common law model (employed by the UK), implied constitutional model (employed by the US) and the explicit constitutional model (employed by India).

The book's content has important implications, as these three jurisdictions collectively cover the largest population within the common law world, and also provide maximum representative diversity.

The book covers the various positions on external emergencies as opposed to internal emergencies, economic/financial emergencies, and emergent inroads being made into state autonomy by the central or federal governments, through use of powers like Article 356 of the Indian Constitution.

C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, said, "The scholarship and wisdom of this book is essential in understanding the application of the law regarding the interpretation of emergency powers, their application and the impact on Constitutionalism. The deep and rigorous analysis of emergency power in India and the comparison with the US and UK systems will provide insight and is an essential reading for all who want to understand the complexity of emergency powers and their application in the leading democracies of the world." Reflecting on his experience at the Supreme Court Bar, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Senior Supreme Court Advocate said: "This work is the result of many years of hard work and patience. The work you see here today was originally prepared as my doctoral dissertation in Cambridge in 1985.

"The Supreme Court of India is not said to be the most powerful Supreme Court in the civilized world for no reason. Our Court is the only apex court in the common law world that has declared proclamations of emergency to be unconstitutional. It is not an easy thing to do. When examined in a comparative perspective, we can learn much about the manner in which a constitutional power ought to be exercised and the manner in which it is actually exercised. The wealth of citations and references in this work, and the discussion and treatment of specific issues, I hope, would be found useful by all the members of the Bench and the Bar." Highlighting some of the aspects of this work, Khagesh Gautam, Associate Professor, Jindal Global Law School said: "Study of emergency powers in India is limited usually to Article 356 of the Constitution. This work takes a more comprehensive approach. Not only does this work provide a comprehensive discussion of Articles 352 and 356, it finally fills the gap by providing a detailed treatment of Article 360 which is perhaps one of the most academically ignored provision of our Constitution.

"The effectiveness of the Supreme Court's landmark 9-judge bench decision in Bommai has been demonstrated. The discussion of US law on martial law, and UK law on military acting-in-aid of civilian authority has particular significance for us in India." Drawing attention to the comparative nature of this book, Gautam said: "Our friends in South Korea might find this work useful as South Korean Constitution expressly allows a proclamation of 'martial law'. That is not surprising though, since it was drafted mostly by American lawyers."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament demands convening Security Council special session

140 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Acting premier: Our servicemen were abducted from Armenia territory

Armenia MOD announces names of 6 Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijan military early morning

Armenia parliament majority leader to CSTO: Our international partners do not call it like it is

Armenia parliament manages to have quorum in 2nd attempt

World oil prices falling

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan popularity rating consistently drops over the past week

Newspaper: Russia peacekeepers commander does not return from Azerbaijan with encouraging news for Armenia

MOD: 6 Armenia soldiers are surrounded, captured by Azerbaijan military early morning
The city of Sibiu has been nominated, for the second consecutive year, on the list of the best 20 European tourist destinations by the European Best Destinations Association in a competition taking place between January 20 - 10 February, the Sibiu City Hall reported on Wednesday in a press statement, according to AGERPRES.

The ranking will be established according to the votes received by each participating city. Votes for Sibiu can be cast on www.vote.ebdest.in

According to the statement, the Sibiu City Hall entered the city in the competition in order to promote and keep it in the tourists' attention.

Sibiu Mayor Astrid Fodor points out that the presentation of the city on the European Best Destinations website highlighted the historic center, ways to spend time outdoors, the gastronomy of the region and hiking in the area.

"The emergence of the COVID-19 vaccine gives us hope that soon the mobility of the locals, including for tourist purposes, will resume. That is why we must prepare to restart tourism in Sibiu, severely affected by the necessary restrictions for the protection of the public. This year, in the presentation of the city on the European Best Destinations website, we focused on activities tourists can partake that comply with keeping a distance and feel safe. We highlighted the historic center, ways to spend time outdoors, regional gastronomy and hiking in the area, as Sibiu will be this year the European capital of hiking and host of Eurorando, biggest pan-European walking event," Fodor is quoted as saying in the statement.

Among the cities and regions selected along with Sibiu in this competition are Vienna, Paris, Rome, Florence, Lofoten (Norway), Ghent (Belgium), Cornwall (UK), Dordogne (France), Cappadocia (Turkey), Kotor (Montenegro), Soca (Slovenia), Braga (Portugal), Tubingen (Germany), Canary Islands (Spain), Capri (Italy) and Kefalonia (Greece).

In 2020, Sibiu ranked 6th with 30,178 votes cast, ahead of tourist destinations such as Paris, Rome and Cork. The first five places were taken by the cities of Colmar (France), Athens (Greece), Tbilisi (Georgia), Vienna (Austria) and Cascais (Portugal).
The Oregon Department of Education on Tuesday announced relaxed guidelines for school reopenings, carving a path for districts in the Portland area and other coronavirus hotspots to offer in-person instruction for elementary school students.

The new guidelines raise the infection rates amid which the state advises districts can safely reopen for younger children. But they do not alter state mandates on distancing and limiting students contact to a small number of other people during the school week, both of which school officials in the Portland area said hobbled their efforts to allow a meaningful number of students to return.

We all know that in-person instruction provides our children and families with access to an equitable education, state schools chief Colt Gill said in a release. This guidance provides new resources to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and better meet students needs in this time.

Districts were previously advised against offering in-person instruction to students of all ages if countywide infections reached 50 per 100,000 residents or test positivity surpassed 5% over two consecutive weeks.

Districts were warned against bringing back elementary schoolers if rates topped 100 per 100,000 residents or test positivity rose above 8%.

Tuesdays announcement eases the requirements for younger kids, quelling districts concerns they might lose the liability shield the Oregon Legislature provided them during Decembers special session.

Now, a district may offer in-person instruction to children in kindergarten through grade five as long as county infections remain below 350 per 100,000 and test positivity doesnt surpass 10%.

That means every district in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties may offer in-person instruction to their youngest students.

The Department of Educations new rules also allow districts to reopen middle- and high schools for hybrid instruction  a mix of distance learning and on-site access  even if county infection rates surpass 50 per 100,000 residents but remain below 200 if their elementary schools can demonstrate the ability to limit transmission while open.

Schools must also provide on-site COVID-19 testing for students and staffers who show symptoms and those with known exposure to individuals who contracted the disease.

State officials also released a series of guidelines for schools to conduct classes outdoors.

Such classrooms must be open on at least three sides and provide the same 35 square feet of personal space per individual. Department of Education officials cited studies showing very little transmission occurs outside but still said outdoor classrooms must be treated more or less like physical ones  students shouldnt mingle between groups and schools must put physical barriers between groups.

But outdoor sessions could allow much more in-person instruction because they arent limited to two hours per day and schools may teach more than 20 students at a time this way.

For much of the current academic year, districts could not begin offering in-person instruction unless their counties registered infection and test positivity rates below the benchmarks state education leaders rolled out in late October.

Then, effective Jan. 1, 2021, Gov. Kate Brown announced those guidelines were advisory rather than mandatory.

Still, the Oregon School Boards Association cautioned its members that opening when infection rates exceeded the states recommendations could strip districts of the liability shield the Legislature provided them during Decembers special session.

Several districts and their teachers unions also crafted temporary agreements on pandemic working conditions for educators based on state guidance.

In Lake Oswego, the timeline for reopening hinges largely on when Oregon Department Education rules say its safe to do so. Officials anticipated Tuesdays announcement earlier this month and announced a February return for elementary schoolers, drawing the ire of the districts teachers union. Such a return is clearly allowed under the states new guidelines.

Some of the Department of Educations new guidelines mirror demands Portland-area teachers unions made while bargaining their working agreements.

State officials now require districts to provide personal protective equipment for educators and give them two weeks to prepare for the transition between virtual learning and classroom sessions.

In Portland Public Schools, union leaders successfully pushed for the district to reduce the number of students allowed inside a classroom when it begins offering in-person instruction.

The Department of Education caps the number at 36. The Portland Association of Teachers agreement with the district dictates a class cant be more than half size for at least the first two weeks its in-person.

Portland Public Schools officials said during bargaining that virtually none of its classrooms could accommodate more than 12 people per room based on the states distancing rules.

The district will roll out its initial in-person offerings next week.

Metro-area parents were split on how and when districts should invite students back into classrooms in the run up to Tuesdays announcement.

Some argued districts havent done enough to ensure families living in multi-generational households could safely send their children to school. Others said the states lax approach to reopening further exacerbated academic disparities and the pandemics toll on their childrens mental health.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook

Eder is The Oregonians education reporter. Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email ecampuzano@oregonian.com.

A critical piece of NASAs giant moon rocket is in good shape even after a test firing on Saturday was abruptly cut short after just over a minute, space agency officials said on Tuesday.

The officials said it was too early to say whether the test  simulating the firing of the four engines for eight minutes during an ascent to orbit  would need to be repeated. If engineers determine they have learned enough and can skip a second test, NASA would proceed to shipping the booster stage of what is called the Space Launch System to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Its premature right now to say which direction well go, John Shannon, the program manager for the rocket at Boeing, said during a news conference on Tuesday. Boeing built the booster, which is often referred to as the core stage.

An uncrewed test launch is currently scheduled for November, and Kathy Lueders, the associate administrator for human exploration and operations at NASA, did not rule out the possibility that the launch of the rocket, known as the Space Launch System, would still occur in 2021. The program is years behind schedule and has cost billions of dollars to get this far. Each rocket could cost $2 billion to launch and can only be used once.
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The Daily Beast

U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaA federal construction contractor that worked for several U.S. agencies bribed a State Department worker to commit corporate espionage and steer contracts worth more than $100 million to his company in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in cash, federal investigators allege in a newly-unsealed search warrant affidavit.Iranian-born May Salehi, who was assigned to the State Departments division of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), had a security clearance and a mountain of debt, according to the document. To get out of her financial hole, special agents working for the State Departments Inspector General believe Salehi, 65, illegally helped steer what might have amounted to more than $100 million in State business to a Washington, D.C.-based company as part of a multifaceted fraud scheme that spanned several years and at least half a dozen countries.Salehi began working for the State Department in 1996, according to her LinkedIn profile. A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Salehi is still employed there. She does not have a lawyer listed in court records, and did not respond to a message seeking comment. No arrests have yet been made, according to the affidavit.The origins of the case can be traced back to 2014, when Montage, Inc. of Chevy Chase, Maryland, won a $26.1 million State contract to renovate the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. But the project went two years over deadline, and nearly bankrupted the firm, the affidavit states. Thats when something strange happened: Instead of avoiding State Department projects following the Nigeria debacle, the affidavit says Montage transformed its business model so that it relied almost exclusively on State Department projects thereafterindeed, the exact type of overseas, complex, U.S. embassy/consulate project that Montage had just been nearly decimated by.Over the next three years, Montage mysteriously won six major contracts with the State Department to build U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. This seemingly counterintuitive development can be explained by the existence of a State Department insider who had an illegal relationship with Montage, according to the affidavit. From that point on, roughly 95 percent of Montages revenue came exclusively from State Department contracts$106.5 million of $111.4 million to datenearly double what it had taken in previously.Whos the Mole?In September 2020, State Department agents raided Montages offices on suspicion of, among other things, bank fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified materials. There, they seized numerous documents, nearly 40 computers, several cell phones, and a 96-terabyte server.One office was the D.C. headquarters Montage lists publicly as its primary place of business. The second was what investigators describe in the warrant as the companys secret office suite in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The space was purchased through a shell company and had a sign by the door identifying it as the American Society for Addictive Medicine.There, agents encountered Montage founder and principal Sina Moayedi. In the affidavit, Special Agent Christopher Swenson states he told Moayedi that if he happened to have information about a Government insider, that it would be something we would be very interested to hear.Moayedis demeanor and expression changed immediately, as he raised his head and made direct eye contact with me, stating in substance, I think I understand what youre asking: You want to know if Im paying someone in the State Department? the agent recalled.Investigators suspected Moayedi had forged business licenses and credentials for Montage employees he said would be working on government projects. A resume he submitted to the State Department for a project manager on one job claimed the employee had years of full-time complex work in the construction field in various capacities. However, the affidavit states the person had actually sold meat as a door-to-door salesman, was a landscaper, and built swimming pools for several years during the same time period.Agents interviewed two unnamed Montage executives, who blamed the companys troubles on its former CFO, claiming he had embezzled money from the firm. But when they visited the ex-CFO at his home in Maryland, a different story emerged.During the interview, Swenson read the former CFO an email in which a Montage bookkeeper painted him as an alcoholic, and said he had mental health problems. The CFO had covered up his alleged theft by creating an entire phony universe of Quickbooks, payroll, receivables, payables and bank account statements, the bookkeeper claimed in the message, and said the CFO took payroll under assumed names.Upon learning that he was being set up as Montages fall guy, the former CFO turned on Moayedi, describing him as a master forger who electronically altered bank balances, forged resumes, and kept at least four sets of books that Moayedi not only used to dupe lenders but also to significantly reduce his own personal tax burden.Thats when the CFO dropped a bombshell. He told agents that Moayedi had cultivated a career employee at the State Department and paid this person bribes in exchange for intelligence regarding Government contracts, the affidavit states. The CFO didnt remember the State Department insiders name, but recalled that she was a female Iranian friend of Moayedis whom he met through a community group relating to Iranian heritage.The CFO told agents that he had met the insider at a pre-bid conference for a State Department project in Slovenia a few years back. She had also helped Moayedi and Montage win a State Department contract in the Caribbean in exchange for a $60,000 kickback, the CFO said. To hide the transaction, the CFO claimed Moayedi cut a check which the CFO cashed and provided to a middleman, who passed the cash to the corrupt State Department employee. To further obfuscate the truth, the insider was told to give the middleman a $2,000 Persian rug in exchange for the cash in case anyone asked about it.Follow the MoneyA search of State Department travel records identified the insider as May Salehi, an engineer in the State Departments OBO Project Development and Coordination Division. Passport records confirmed that Salehi, who lived less than a mile from Montages secret office, was in fact born in Iran.Salehis position requires a security clearance, so investigators analyzed her official paperwork for clues. One red flag involved Salehis 2007 divorce, which took place shortly after she secured a $1.5 million mortgage for a home in Great Falls, Virginia. The mortgage payments on the house ran approximately $10,000 a monthexceeding Salehis gross salary at the time of $9,333 a month. Another detail that raised agents suspicions was a Porsche Boxster convertible Salehi purchased in 2014, paying off $15,000 of a 60-month, $25,000 loan in a lump-sum the following year. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A review of phone records found that Salehi had significant, sudden telephonic contacts with Moayedi in the precise period that Montages fortunes suddenly changed, the affidavit says. Financial records subpoenaed by investigators turned up numerous transactions, each worth tens of thousands of dollars, including one with a memo line that read, Final payment for Annas house.Investigators then dug into Salehis State Department email account. They found that Salehi likely knew of Montage and Moayedi (in her professional capacity) by 2006, as Montage was bidding State Department projects at that time in New Delhi, India and Abuja, Nigeria, the affidavit says, noting that agents found at least one official document in her email archive listing Sina Moayedi as Montages point of contact. She had also forwarded numerous internal State project documents from her work email to her personal email, all of which pertained to contracts Montage later won. Many of them were sent at odd intervals, furthering investigators suspicions.In particular, forwarding trip reports so long after the conclusion of the trip itself tends to negate any suggestion that Salehi was merely taking her work home with her, and therefore forwarded these emails for the purpose of finishing up State Department business from home, states the affidavit. On the other hand, transferring these documents from her State Department account to Salehi Personal Email Account-1 would have certain benefits for someone engaged in selling Government information. For example, such transfers would allow Salehi to print hard copies for later dissemination without any State Department oversight.A review of Salehis search history on her State Department computer revealed further evidence against her. According to the affidavit, Salehi searched for SCI clearance, herb for anxiety, Kratom herb for anxiety, Montage construction company litigations, what is litigation, YouTube videos about litigation, and Shiva Hamidinia, who was Montages longtime legal counsel. Investigators subpoenaed cell phone records from a Montage employee and found a text from Moayedi that said: Nela please conf call me 1/2 through your meeting with Shiva and May. Agents also discovered Salehis contact info within Moayedis cell phone contacts and his Telegram, Skype, and iCloud accounts.The feds now want to seize further documents they believe will bolster the governments case against Salehi.[A]mong the materials we are requesting permission to seize are Salehis tax-related documents and filings, which are likely to contain either (implicit) admissions of her having received bribe payments, or false statements in an attempt to conceal the bribery scheme, just as she appears to have done in her State Department financial disclosure forms, the affidavit says. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Investigators asked a judge to let them search Salehi herself, including any and all clothing and personal belongings, backpacks, briefcases, purses, bags, and electronic devices that are within Salehis immediate vicinity and control, wherever Salehi is located within the federal judicial district of the District of Columbia.According to court filings, agents executed two warrants at 6:12 a.m. on May 20 and seized Salehis Apple Watch, three iPhones, a Macbook Pro, a micro SD card, a Dell laptop, an iPad, and a letter-size manila folder with a gray folder inside.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
China in Focus (Jan. 19): Secretary of State: Uyghur Genocide Under CCP

The Trump Administration says the Chinese Communist Party has committed genocide against its Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.

The U.S. government gives China tens of millions of dollars every year. But a new report says Trump has slashed that amount by half.

Wuhans Virology Institute reportedly received support from Western countries. Its the same facility that may have close ties to the origin of the CCP virus.

Bidens selection for head of the intelligence community suggests the new administration sees China as a global competitor, instead of an adversary.

And the CEO of one of the biggest firms on Wall Street says the Biden administration will adopt a softer tone toward China.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.

He has for 15 years been a very well-respected small business owner, father, and family man. He has been a positive, contributing member of the Napa community, Raphael said in an email late Tuesday afternoon. He does not belong to any organizations promoting or advocating violence. If he is a fan of Presidents Reagan and Trump, he is of the ranks of many tens of millions of Americans  almost exactly half of the United States.

Kley questioned the bomb possession allegation against Rogers, the owner of British Auto Repair of the Napa Valley on Action Avenue. The objects removed from the car repair shop and later detonated were firecrackers and a cherry bomb he had purchased during a trip to Wyoming last summer, she said outside the shop Tuesday morning.

Were hoping hell be released, Kley said outside the darkened windows of her sons shop. This is just possession; this isnt criminal activity. I dont know anything about this pipe bomb they say he had.

Law enforcement agencies earlier reported that extremists were planning more protests in the days leading to Bidens inauguration, possibly at all 50 state capitols, and up to 25,000 National Guard members are expected to be stationed in Washington for the inauguration.
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain this afternoon. High 56F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 44F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.
Missing Texas Social Media Influencer Died From Strangulation: Autopsy

The missing Texas-based social media influencer whose body was recovered in bushes on the side of a Houston road in November died from strangulation, a medical examiners office announced Tuesday.

Alexis Sharkeys disappearance gained national attention after she was found dead on Nov. 28 on Red Haw Lane in West Houston about three miles from her home.

The 26-year-old womans cause of death was revealed in a statement by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences which ruled her death a homicide, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The report comes more than seven weeks since a City of Houston public works employee reported to authorities he saw feet in bushes along a street a day after Sharkey was reported as missing on Nov. 27 over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Authorities havent identified any suspects in the case since December. Police previously said that Sharkey was found with no visible wounds, though the autopsy report concludes her death was a homicide.

Sharkeys recovery was announced in an emotional statement on Facebook by her mother, Stacey Clark Robinault, who added several pictures of her daughter.

Its with deeply broken hearts that Mike and I want to let you all know that Lexis body has been found, Robinault wrote. We cannot begin to thank you all for your love and the kind words youve extended to our family! Please give us this time to grieve this incredible loss to our family and this world!!! We will miss you, Love!!!!

Sharkeys husband, Tom Sharkey, called the Robinault family on Nov. 28 to tell them his wife hadnt returned home after leaving the house over the Thanksgiving holiday, ABC13 reported.

The social media influencer had a following of about 71,000 and mainly focused on skin care and beauty. On Nov. 28, she was supposed to meet with friends to watch a movie, but when she didnt show up her friends alerted her family.

A friend of Sharkey told KHOU11 in November she spent time with her during a Thanksgiving gathering at her home and last spoke to her around 6 p.m. on Nov. 27, adding that it was very unusual for her not to answer her phone after she was reported missing.

She is attached to her phone. She is a social media queen. She is an influencer. She works from her phone, Tanya Ricardo said.

Sharkeys mother said in a missing person report posted on Facebook that her daughter had moved to Houston, Texas, with her husband earlier this year.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe fundraiser was set up in support of Sharkeys family. The page has since generated over $24,000.

From NTD News
Parties agreed to settle litigation by way of CCAA Plan of Arrangement

VAUGHAN, ON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - CannTrust Holdings Inc. ("CannTrust" or the "Company") (unlisted) announced today that it has entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement ("RSA") with plaintiffs who have commenced litigation in Canada and the United States (the "Securities Claims") asserting claims against CannTrust and others on behalf of a global class of CannTrust shareholders (together, the "Securities Claimants") and their legal counsel. The RSA provides a comprehensive framework for settling the Securities Claims under a Court-approved plan of compromise, arrangement and reorganization ("Plan of Arrangement") pursuant to the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) ("CCAA").

"Today's announcement represents a significant milestone towards the resolution of substantially all of the civil litigation claims that were filed against CannTrust following the Company's non-compliance with certain Health Canada regulations," said Greg Guyatt, Chief Executive Officer at CannTrust. "Although much work remains to conclude the matters contemplated by the RSA, I am pleased that, in addition to relaunching our medical and recreational businesses, we are also making further tangible progress to exit from the CCAA and put CannTrust in a position to be a successful player in the cannabis industry."

The RSA contemplates that the Securities Claims will be settled as part of a broader restructuring of the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to a Plan of Arrangement that will be completed under the CCAA. Implementation of the Plan of Arrangement will be subject to several conditions, including negotiation of mutually satisfactory definitive documentation and approval of the Plan of Arrangement by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the "Ontario Court") in the CCAA proceedings. The RSA requires the parties to negotiate in good faith to finalize the terms of definitive agreements and the Plan of Arrangement on terms consistent with the terms of the RSA and to cooperate in good faith during the mediation ordered by the Ontario Court on May 8, 2020 (the "Mediation"). In addition, the RSA requires the other parties to cooperate with CannTrust to pursue and support the settlement of the Securities Claims in the manner contemplated by the RSA.

The RSA also contemplates the resolution, pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement, of all claims against CannTrust and certain other defendants in the Securities Claims, including Greg Guyatt, Mark Dawber, John Kaden, Robert Marcovitch, Shawna Page, Mitchell Sanders and Cajun Capital Corporation. Upon the implementation of the Plan of Arrangement, CannTrust will, among other things, pay CAD $50 million into a trust that will be established for the benefit of the Securities Claimants. The RSA permits other defendants to elect to join in the settlement of the Securities Claims pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement, subject to certain conditions.

The Company stated that its cash position at January 19, 2021 was approximately CAD $78 million.

CannTrust also expressed its appreciation for the tireless efforts and wise counsel provided to all parties to the RSA by retired Associate Chief Justice of Ontario, Dennis O'Connor, OC, OOnt, who has supervised the Mediation.

CannTrust remains under CCAA protection to facilitate its efforts to resolve its civil litigation claims and complete its review of strategic alternatives, which includes a review of financing options. Aspects of the ongoing efforts remain confidential, and the Company is unable to predict with any certainty either their timing or outcome. In the meantime, the reinstatement of its cannabis licenses and the restoration of its ongoing operations, CannTrust's re-entry into the Canadian recreational and medical cannabis business segments and its entry into the RSA are essential to the Company's focus on rebuilding its franchise. For more information about CannTrust's CCAA proceedings, please visit: www.ey.com/ca/canntrust.

About CannTrust

CannTrust is a federally regulated licensed cannabis producer. We are proudly Canadian, operating a portfolio of brands including estora, Liiv and Synr.g, specifically designed to surprise and delight patients and consumers.

At CannTrust, we are committed to providing an exceptional customer experience, as well as consistent and quality products through standardized processes. Our greenhouse produces Grade A cannabis flower, which is currently sold in dried flower, oil drops and capsule formats. Founded in 2013, our continued success in the medical cannabis market and subsequent expansion into the recreational business, led to us being named Licensed Producer of the Year at the Canadian Cannabis Awards 2018.

CannTrust is committed to research and innovation, investing in developing technologies for new products in the medical, recreational, and wellness markets, while contributing to the growing body of evidence-based research regarding the use and efficacy of cannabis.

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.

The forward-looking information and statements in this news release include statements relating to the expectation that CannTrust will settle certain civil litigation claims and emerge from creditor protection under the CCAA. 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 and other 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.ca/


Melissa Gilbert is known best for her part as Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie. But she began acting as a child and continues to practice her craft to this day. She has a long resume, but only one project had her truly concerned for her safety.

Melissa Gilbert filming Choices of the Heart | Nik Wheeler/Corbis via Getty Images

Melissa Gilbert in Choices of the Heart

Choices of the Heart is a dramatic film that came out in 1983 about a young woman named Jean Donovan (played by Gilbert) who travels to El Salvador to aid the poor in the midst of a civil war. The film is based on a true story.

When Gilbert was approached about playing Jean, she was immediately drawn to this young woman from upper-class Connecticut who answered an inner calling to do relief work with poor, starving people in a war-ravaged country, according to the actors memoir, Prairie Tale. It was easy for her to relate. Acting in the film even made Gilbert consider joining the Peace Corps (she didnt).

The film shot in Mexico City  Im convinced that if God ever gives the world an enema, hes going to put the tube in Mexico City. Despite the conditions, Gilbert writes that she had a great time filming Choices of the Heart.

Melissa Gilberts safety couldnt be guaranteed

At one point during filming, a group of actors attempted to travel to El Salvador. But they ran into one big issue.

Because I was playing Jean, I was looked at, albeit briefly, as a symbol of what she was trying to achieve, wrote Gilbert. It was all a little bit over my head, but I was game. Then word came that the Salvadoran government wouldnt guarantee our safety, specifically mine.

Actress Melissa Gilbert | William Franklin Mcmahon/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images

RELATED: Little House on the Prairie: How Michael Landon Rewarded Melissa Gilbert for [Her] Loyalty

The message jarred Gilbert. Shed dealt with scary, over-zealous Little House on the Prairie fans before, but nothing like this.

I had the hardest time understanding that someone might want to shoot me because a film I did was political in nature, she wrote. I was naive.

Starring in Choices of the Heart taught Melissa Gilbert about politics

Prior to starring in Choices of the Heart, Gilbert described herself as being a wholly apolitical creature. But she learned a lot in Mexico City, particularly from Mike Farrell.

Mike opened my eyes to politics, though to be honest, he was way too wonky and most of it sailed over my head, she wrote. We saw Gandhi with Spanish subtitles, and it was still a moving film.

Impeached. Again. 231-197  Melissa Gilbert (@MEGBusfield) January 13, 2021

RELATED: Melissa Gilbert on What It Was Really Like Hanging Out With the Brat PackI Was Suddenly Part of a Fraternity

Gilberts new sense of politics followed her back to Los Angeles after the movie wrapped sort of. She and her then-boyfriend Rob Lowe attended a political function held by Jane Fonda at her home where Melanie Griffith and Ed Begley Jr. were also in attendance.

Ed convinced all of us to cut up our gasoline credit cards to protest something, wrote Gilbert.

So the Little House actor did just that, but immediately regretted it.

The next morning I called my business manager and asked him to get me a new one, she wrote.

When he asked her why she cut her credit card up if she didnt want to, she said: I dont really know why. Everybody in the room was doing it, so I felt like I should. But I need a new one, please.

Today, Gilberts Twitter bio reads advocate and activist. Shes very passionate about politics, especially compared to her 18-year-old self.


Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of Chinese internet behemoth Alibaba, made his first public appearance in over two months in an online video on Wednesday, ending weeks of speculation about his whereabouts.

Ma -- one of China's richest people with a fortune estimated at around 42billion ($58billion) -- disappeared from the public eye in early November, when he was hauled in front of regulators for an October speech critical of China's outdated financial system.

Shortly afterwards, the record-breaking 27billion ($37billion) IPO of the 56-year-old's financial group Ant was spiked at the last minute by Chinese regulators in a shock move which some saw as retaliation for Ma's outspokenness.

A screenshot of a video released by state-affiliated Tianmu News on Wednesday shows Jack Ma sitting in front of the camera while giving a congratulatory speech to rural teachers

Jack Ma (pictured in 2019) had virtually disappeared from the public eye since November, when he was hauled in front of regulators. He re-appeared in an online video on Wednesday

But a video clip of Ma giving a congratulatory speech to rural teachers as part of an annual awards ceremony organised by his charity was published on social media by Chinese news outlet Tianmu News Wednesday morning.

In the speech, Ma praised China's poverty alleviation efforts, a central target of the Communist leadership, and vowed to dedicate more efforts towards helping rural teachers.

'My colleagues and I... are even more determined to devote ourselves to education and public welfare,' he said, according to a transcript of the full speech published by Tianmu News, an affiliation of state-run Zhejiang Daily Press Group based in Ma's home province.

'China has... entered a new stage of development, and is moving towards common prosperity,' he added.

Jack Ma, one of China's most successful entrepreneurs, criticised the country's financial regulators and its state-owned banks in a speech late October. Ma is thought to have fallen foul of President Xi Jinping personally and had vanished from the public eye since early November

A spokesperson for the Jack Ma Foundation, his charitable arm, confirmed that Ma 'participated in the online ceremony of the annual Rural Teacher Initiative event'.

Shares in Alibaba were up seven per cent in Hong Kong by early afternoon Wednesday.

Since the Ant IPO was quashed, Chinese regulators have launched an anti-monopoly probe into Alibaba.

Both Alibaba and Ant said they would cooperate with regulatory requests.

Bust a move: Jack Ma, China's richest man, appeared in his company's annual party as a mysterious dancer to entertain his 40,000 employees in Hangzhou, China, in September 2017

Ma, a charismatic former-teacher-turned-internet-entrepreneur, retired as chairman of Alibaba in 2019 but has long attracted attention for his outspokenness and flamboyant antics, performing as a rockstar at company conferences.

The continued squeeze on one of China's most influential companies is the latest sign that the leadership is ready to deflate the ambitions of big tech firms in a runaway internet sector.

Beijing has a history of disappearing, investigating and imprisoning financial tycoons who do not toe the party line.

Last year, outspoken real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang was jailed for 18 years on alleged corruption charges, months after penning an essay critical of the Communist Party.
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A teenager is fighting for his life after being stabbed in north London.

Armed police joined paramedics at the scene of the attack, on West Green Road, Tottenham, at the junction with Willow Walk just after 9pm on Tuesday.

The wounded youngster was treated at the side of the side of the road by air ambulance crews before being rushed to hospital, where his condition is described as life-threatening.

There have been no arrests.

A teenager is fighting for his life after being stabbed in north London last night

Armed police joined paramedics at the scene of the attack, on West Green Road, Tottenham, at the junction with Willow Walk just after 9pm

The wounded youngster was treated at the side of the side of the road by air ambulance crews before being rushed to hospital, where his condition is described as life-threatening

Witnesses said a police air support helicopter was scrambled to hunt for the knifeman, who made off from the scene.

Police dogs have also been searching the area to try and find the attacker or the weapon.

A large crime scene has been put in place as enquiries continue into the assault, which onlookers described as 'brutal'.

Met Police officer in Haringey tweeted: 'Police called at 21.10hrs to West Green Road, junction with Willow Walk N15, following reports of a stabbing.

'Officers attended with LAS and found a male, aged in his teens, suffering from stab injuries.

'CPR was administered at the scene before the victim was taken to hospital.

'His condition is being treated as life-threatening. At this early stage there have been no arrests.'

Any witnesses, or those with information, should call police on 101 ref CAD 6899/19 Jan.
US President-elect Joe Biden returned to Washington ahead of his inauguration to mark the national tragedy of the coronavirus pandemic with a moment of collective grief for Americans lost.

His arrival coincided with the news that the US death toll had surpassed 400,000 in the worst public health crisis in more than a century  a crisis which Mr Biden will now be charged with controlling.

To heal we must remember, the incoming president told the nation at a sunset ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial.

Four hundred lights representing the pandemics victims were illuminated behind him around the monuments Reflecting Pool.

Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights into the darkness  and remember all who we lost, he said.

The sober moment on the eve of Mr Bidens inauguration  typically a celebratory time in Washington when the nation marks the democratic tradition of a peaceful transfer of power  was a measure of the enormity of loss for the nation.

During his brief remarks, Mr Biden faced the larger-than life statue of Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War president who served as more than 600,000 Americans died.

As he turned to walk away at the conclusion of the vigil, he faced the black granite wall listing the 58,000-plus Americans who perished in Vietnam.

Expand Close President-elect Joe Biden speaks during a Covid-19 memorial (Evan Vucci/AP) / Facebook

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Mr Biden was joined by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who spoke of the collective anguish of the nation, a not-so-subtle admonishment of outgoing President Donald Trump, who has spoken sparingly about the pandemic in recent months.

For many months we have grieved by ourselves, said Ms Harris, who will make history as the first woman to serve as vice president when shes sworn in.

Tonight, we grieve and begin healing together.
Washington, Jan 20 : US President Donald Trump, who is breaking with a century-old tradition by skipping the inauguration of his successor, Joe Biden, left the White House for the last time early on Wednesday morning.

Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, the outgoing President, whose term ends at 12 noon (US time), flew from the White House lawn on a presidential chopper, Marine One, to the Joint Base Andrews where a small farewell ceremony has been planned, before he uses the presidential jet for one final time - to fly home to Florida's Palm Beach.

He paused to speak to a small group of reporters before boarding the chopper.

Invitations have been sent to several Trump aides, present and former, to attend the farewell ceremony, with each guest allowed to bring five guests in a bid to gather a sizeable crowd. However, with the list comprising many with whom the parting had been acrimonious, it seemed not much attention had been given to vetting it.

Several people, said to be invited, had expressed their reluctance to attend the event.

Top leaders, including Vice President Mike Pence, and leaders of the Republican Party in the Congress, were also slated to give the event a miss. They are supposed to join Biden at the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle for morning mass.
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Edelman, the worlds leading communications and public affairs firm, has been appointed Agency of Record to promote California Pistachios in India, distributed through U.S.-based The Wonderful Company. As of November 1, 2020, Edelman India has been managing an integrated communications mandate comprised of brand communications including influencer engagement, creative content, social media and digital marketing.

The Wonderful Company is a privately held $5 billion company committed to offering high-quality, healthy brands and helping consumers make better choices, every day. The company assigned Edelman a strategic communications mandate to encourage healthy eating with California Pistachios, highlighting the California difference. California Pistachios are available at retailers throughout India.

We are delighted to partner with The Wonderful Company in India. As their communications consultants, we are committed to inspiring people with the healthy choice of California Pistachios, one snack break at a time. We are leveraging our earned-centric mindset to build powerful brand ideas and communication, backed by rich human data, inspired by culture and driven by brand purpose, said Rakesh Thukral, Managing Director, Edelman India.
Senior Pranjal Singh, of Midland, will be riding with the Culver Academies Black Horse Troop and Equestriennes in the Presidential Inaugural Parade Wednesday, for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

The parade will mark the 18th time the Black Horse Troop has participated  albeit, virtually this year  since its first appearance in 1913.

Culver submitted a video of the 48 troopers and 22 equestriennes in parade formation on Jan. 14. The northern Indiana college prep boarding school, the only parade participant from the state, was notified Monday that it will be part of the Parade Across America.

The Presidential Inaugural Parade marks the 108th anniversary of the primary reason the Black Horse Troop made that first trip to Washington, D.C. The mounted unit served as the official escort for Vice President Thomas Marshall during Woodrow Wilsons inaugural parade in 1913 and again in 1917.

"We are honored to be invited to take part in the Presidential Inaugural Parade, the 18th for our school," said Head of Schools Doug Bird. "It is a privilege to continue this prestigious tradition, and it reflects Culver's time-honored values of leadership and service.

The Troopers of Culver Military Academy and Equestriennes of Culver Girls Academy, plus members of the Horsemanship staff, have been practicing for this moment since October. They represent 14 states and six countries.

The Parade Across America will be livestreamed at https://BidenInaugural.org/watch starting at 3:15 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, and on the PICs social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch. The PICs streaming partners, including Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNOW from Fox, and AT&T U-verse (Channel 212/1212 in SD/HD) and DIRECTV (Channel 201), will also carry the program live.

The 2021 inaugural marks the 18th appearance for the Troop and the eighth for the Equestriennes. After the 1917 inaugural parade, Culver went 40 years before returning to Washington in 1957 for President Eisenhowers second term. The Indiana boarding school has been represented by mounted units at every parade since, except in 1993 when an invitation for President Clintons first inaugural parade was not extended.
Shubert did not discuss his vote during the meeting, but in November he told his fellow council members that he had no interest in making changes to the citys zoning laws to allow dispensaries. He added that he was siding with the 40% of voters who said no to marijuana being sold in the city when they voted on a nonbinding Park Ridge referendum on Nov. 3.
Together, we will make America great again. This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period. Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts. Ho ho! Donald Trump has got to go! ... five-year ban that Ive been talking about a lot  its not a Muslim ban  were now putting it into effect. We have confirmed that F.B.I. Director James Comey has been ... ... fired because of the Russia investigation. Hes a showboat. Hes a grandstander. ... the appointment of a special counsel. Mueller will have leeway to run the investigation as he sees fit.  ... and President Trump goes abroad. So, Im going to be very brief. Thank you. [rocket launching] They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. You will not replace us! [loud noise] But you also had people that were very fine people on both sides. Crowd: Dont look! The president has denied these allegations. Fake news! I watched the news this morning, and they were all saying, Will he sign it by Christmas? Tax cuts for American families. Happy New Year, everybody. President Trump is under fire. Quote: Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Was it hush money to stay silent? Yes. The embassy of the United States, here in Jerusalem. ... growing outrage over how the Trump administration treats illegal migrants. Its horrible and tough, but just remember, a country without borders is not a country at all. And then they go after us for a Russian hoax. Its a witch hunt hoax. A witch hunt! It is a total witch hunt. You have these phony witch hunts. Im here because I believe it is my civic duty. This confirmation process has become a national disgrace. Something about when I put this hat on, it made feel like Superman. ... to negotiate with you about how we can keep the government open ... Were going to keep it open if we have border security. The American ... the American ... If we dont have border security, Chuck ... Im with you. Were not going to keep it open. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history continues. The presidents former fixer and lawyer said he and Mr. Trump committed crimes together. He is a racist. He is a con man and he is a cheat. Special Counsel Robert Muellers report on the Russia investigation has just been made available to the American public. No collusion, no obstruction. We decided we would not make a determination as to whether the president committed a crime. We were in Japan for the G20. We came over and I said: Hey, Im over here. I want to call up Chairman Kim. Representative Ilhan Omar ... Crowd: Send her back! Send her back! It was going to hit not only Florida, but Georgia. It could have ... it was going toward the Gulf. Syria ... were bringing our soldiers back home. Thats a big thing. President Trump defending his July phone call with the leader of Ukraine. The call was perfect. There was no quid pro quo. Im announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. Article 1 is adopted. [gavel bangs] The U.S. airstrike has killed Irans most important military commander. Qassim Suleimani ... ending his evil reign of terror forever. This nation is our canvas, and this country is our masterpiece. [applause] The impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, president of the United States. Guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty. Guilty. This is what the end result is. [applause] The outbreak of a mystery virus in China. We have it totally under control. E.R. doctors saying we are on the verge of a medical disaster. It will go away, just stay calm. It will probably go away by itself. If we had a vaccine, that would be very helpful. Our country wasnt built to be shut down. Across this country, two crises have converged, protests over the death of George Floyd and the pandemic. Justice! ... Now! [bang] [sirens] The rise and spread of the QAnon conspiracy ... I understand they like me very much. ... the radical left ... ... shut up, man ... Who would you like me to condemn? White supremacists and ... right-wing militias. Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. And I have a mask right here, you know, when I think I need it. The president of the United States tested positive for the coronavirus. I didnt feel so good. And now Im better. Dont let it dominate you. The wait is over, Election Day is finally here. CBS News projects Joe Biden has been elected the 46th president of the United States. It was a rigged election. The numbers are corrupt. They cheated and they rigged our presidential election, but we will still win it. Lets walk down Pennsylvania Avenue ... U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! ... the most significant breach of the Capitol since the War of 1812. Twitter has permanently suspended President Trumps account. The president of the United States incited this insurrection. Take it down! He must go. The first president in history to be impeached twice.
Actress VJ Chitra's death investigation has taken a big twist, as a police report based on FIR states that the actress died by suicide due to her husband Hemanth Kumar's suspicious nature. According to the report published by a leading TV news channel, cops have submitted the report to the Madras High Court. Reportedly, the court will study the report and will give its verdict on the same.

For the unversed, VJ Chitra who shot to fame with the show Pandian Stores died by suicide in a hotel room in Chennai's Nazarathpettai on December 9, 2020. The Nazarathpettai police officials told The News Minute, "The hotel manager called the police helpline number 100 about 3.30 am on Wednesday. We are currently investigating the cause of her death."

After her death, Chitra's mother told Times of India, "My daughter is not a coward to take her own life. I have raised her as a brave woman. She was extremely talented. I suspect her husband Hemanth married her for her money. I suspect that she was subjected to physical violence. Why would there be marks on her face? He has come as my daughter's Yaman."

On December 15, 2020, Hemanth Kumar was arrested allegedly for abetment to suicide. The Assistant Commissioner of Police Sudarshan told NDTV that he was upset with his actress-wife for enacting a scene in her show.

According to India Glitz, Hemanth had later applied for bail, which was opposed by Chitra's parents. The media portal further reported that Hemanth's bail hearing was held today (January 20, 2021) and he held on to his petition that contrary to accusations, he did not suspect Chitra of infidelity and never harassed her physically or mentally or forced her to quit acting in serials.

The report further said that the advocate who represented Nazarathpettai police alleged that Chitra took the drastic step due to the suspicious nature of her husband and the mental torture she went through due to that. But reportedly, the lawyer who represented Chitra's parents questioned that the wounds on Chitra did not point to suicide. The police then asked for some time, which was accepted by the court.

The next hearing regarding Hemanth's bail will be on February 2, 2021.

Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM.

Also Read : VJ Rakshan Clarifies That He Never Dated Pandian Stores Actress Chitra

Also Read : VJ Chitra's Friend Reveals She Was Dating A Popular Kollywood Actor; Says He Was Threatening Her
Istanbul, Jan 20 : Turkey started vaccinating citizens residing or working in nursing homes against Covid-19 on Tuesday, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting with the provincial health directors on Monday, Koca said the vaccinations would also cover people in disabled care centres and care homes, as well as citizens aged 90 and above, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The minister noted that the program aims to complete the inoculations of this group by the end of this week.

On Jan. 14, Turkey began the mass vaccination process with the Covid-19 vaccines developed by Chinese company Sinovac.

Since then, 8,51,745 of a total of 1.1 million healthcare workers, defined as the first group, have been vaccinated, according to the Health Ministry's data.

The program will move on to people aged 65 and above and those working in specific sectors in the upcoming period.
Everest Group A new set of use cases, such as touchless AI operations, social distancing solutions, and behavior drift analysis have further increased enterprise spend on AI.

Fueled by the pandemic, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is on the rise, with more than 72% of global enterprises having embarked on their AI journey, according to Everest Group. Global spending on AI services is expected to accelerate 32%, from US$25 billion in 2019 to US$95 billion by 2024.

While the transition from AI Proof of Concepts (POCs) to production was already under way, the pandemic further accelerated this shift. Prior to the pandemic, enterprise application of AI was focused on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of enterprise operations; however, during the pandemic, there has been a visible shift towards leveraging AI to improve stakeholder experience. A new set of use cases, such as touchless AI operations, social distancing solutions, and behavior drift analysis have further increased enterprise spend on AI.

However, as enterprises aim to scale the technology, they are presented with numerous challenges. A burgeoning skills gap, the lack of proven return on investment, concerns around privacy and regulations, and the black-box nature of the technology act as journey impediments. Among all, talent continues to remain the key challenge for firms.

To overcome the expanding talent gap, Everest Group recommends that enterprises invest in democratizing AI, ensuring that the technology is accessible to all within the organization. Investments in data and AI literacy, self-service no-code and low-code tools, and automation-enabled machine learning will be key to success. This democratization effort also will require contextualization, change management and governance to ensure responsible and successful use of AI as access expands within the enterprise.

These findings and more are shared in Everest Groups recently published report, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Services  State of the Market Report 2021: Scale the AI Summit Through Democratization. This report assesses AI adoption levels among enterprises, outlining their spend by geography, industry and organization function. The report also highlights the various challenges enterprises face in their AI adoption journeys.

***Download a complimentary abstract of the report.***

Key findings:



Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI); retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG); and healthcare and life sciences lead AI adoption, followed by manufacturing.

North American enterprises contribute nearly 51% of the revenue for AI services, followed by European firms. Asia Pacific (APAC) enterprise spend on AI has been increasing in recent years, led largely by Chinese and Japanese firms, owing to significant government push for adoption.

Enterprise AI spend is highest amongst customer service as well as sales and marketing front-office functions, followed by human resources and finance and accounting in the back office.

About Everest Group

Everest Group is a consulting and research firm focused on strategic IT, business services, engineering services, and sourcing. Our clients include leading global enterprises, service providers, and investors. Through our research-informed insights and deep experience, we guide clients in their journeys to achieve heightened operational and financial performance, accelerated value delivery, and high-impact business outcomes. Details and in-depth content are available at http://www.everestgrp.com/
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U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., put distance between herself and one of her most flamboyant political supporters this week as her campaigns social media account deleted posts highlighting the endorsement of Cowboys for Trump and the groups founder, Couy Griffin.

In September 2019, days before President Donald Trump held a rally in Rio Rancho, Herrell had posted on her campaign Facebook page that Cowboys For Trump is truly one of the endorsements I am most proud of! Keep up the great work, Couy!

But on Monday, the post had been removed.

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Griffin, an Otero Count commissioner from Tularosa, was arrested by the FBI in Washington, D.C., over the weekend on charges stemming from the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Griffin spoke openly about his presence at the Capitol during the riot, including in a video, posted to social media, shot in the midst of the event. An arrest affidavit quotes from another video in which Griffin vowed to return to the Capitol on Wednesday, the day President-elect Joe Biden is to be inaugurated.

In the video, which was posted by the Cowboys For Trump Facebook account, Griffin said, We could have a 2nd Amendment rally on those same steps that we had that rally yesterday. You know, and if we do, then its gonna be a sad day, because theres gonna be blood running out of that building.

The groups Facebook page was removed as of Monday. A Twitter account maintained by the group has also been suspended, though Griffins personal account remained live.

During the Otero County commissioners meeting on Jan. 14, Griffin repeated his vow to return to Washington and added he would be armed: Ive got a .357 Henry big boy rifle  in the trunk of my car, and Ive got a .357 single action revolver  underneath the front seat on my right side. And I will embrace my Second Amendment, I will keep my right to bear arms.

He said during the meeting he would be there on Inauguration Day to take a stand for our country and for our freedoms. In a television interview for Inside Edition, Griffin had stated, There will never be a Biden presidency.

At the time he made his statement at the county meeting, Griffin had already been interviewed by the FBI, according to the arrest affidavit.

He faces a charge of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, for allegedly entering a restricted area at the Capitol during the riot.

Herrell made several appearances with Cowboys For Trump while campaigning for New Mexicos 2nd Congressional District seat, and she was frequently photographed with Griffin, including at the Rio Rancho rally.

On Monday, however, her YouTube account had deleted a video featuring an extended endorsement from Griffin. Griffins video was part of a series of endorsements by members of the congressional district on the theme of the Yvette I know. Others in the series remained available.

When contacted by the Las Cruces Sun-News on Monday, Herrells office issued a brief statement from the congresswoman: What Couy said and did was wrong. I do not support or excuse his comments or actions in any way.
The outgoing Trump administration has declared that the Chinese government is committing genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.

"I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement before leaving office yesterday (19 January).

"The governing authorities of the second most economically, militarily, and politically powerful country on earth have made clear that they are engaged in the forced assimilation and eventual erasure of a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority group, even as they simultaneously assert their country as a global leader and attempt to remould the international system in their image."

While the Pompeo statement puts pressure on China, it will not automatically lead to any fresh sanctions against the country under the new Biden administration.

However, a US genocide declaration does mean increased reputational and compliance risks for companies doing business with the region, as well as raising the spectre of further US penalties against China.

The US has been stepping up its efforts to crack down on forced labour in supply chains, and last week introduced a sweeping regional ban on the import of cotton products from China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

The blanket Withhold Release Order (WRO) announced by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) means that from 13 January, cotton products  including apparel and textiles  will be detained at US ports of entry.

It is the fourth WRO that CBP has issued since the beginning of fiscal year 2021, and the second on products originating in Xinjiang, and has been spurred by mounting concerns over the detention of between 1-3 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs and others in internment camps across China's Xinjiang province  and the forced use of detainee or prison labour in fields and factories.

The move is significant for apparel supply chains because around 80% of China's cotton is produced in the Uyghur region  representing around 20% of the industry's global cotton supply  much of which is made into yarn used in textile and apparel produced in the region, and other factories globally.

It may accelerate the current move of clothing and textile business away from China, exacerbated by that country's ongoing trade war with the United States and the appeal of cheaper competitors like Bangladesh and Vietnam, just-style has been told.

There is also the likelihood of further actions in the future. Two pieces of legislation introduced last year  the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (H.R. 6210) and the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act (H.R. 6270)  would have established a "guilty until proven innocent" blanket standard that would affect any products made in Xinjiang.

China's Foreign Ministry responded by dismissing the State Department's determination "as a piece of waste paper." In September the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China also hit back at allegations over its treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang by saying its actions in the region are focused on counterterrorism and anti-separatism.
Several Jersey City Democratic Committee members are calling for party leadership to condemn and cut financial support to Ward C Councilman Richard Boggiano over his refusal to vote on a resolution calling for President Donald Trumps impeachment.

In a letter to Jersey City Democratic Committee Chair Barbara Stamato and Hudson County Democratic Organization Chair Amy DeGise, seven committee members denounced Boggianos decision to abstain from last weeks City Council vote, which came in response to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

On the night of the vote, Boggiano told his colleagues that while he is against what happened at the Capitol, he abstained from the vote because he doesnt think we have the right to criticize any president no matter who it is.

In his statement on the vote he said that he feels Jersey City Council has no place condemning the President. This is wrong, the letter states. A threat on democracy at the national level is a threat on democracy at every level of government.

The letter also says Boggianos decision to abstain adds to a political career that includes introducing conspiracy theories at council meetings, standing against police accountability, and aligning himself with the All Lives Matter racial grievance movement.

Money raised by the Democratic organizations should not be spent to endorse a candidate whose views are so opposed to the ideals of our party and our community, the committee members wrote.

Kevin Bing, a Ward C committee member who signed the letter, said Boggiano has held positions throughout his tenure that dont align with the Democratic party.

The point of the resolution was to hold people accountable... Bing said. At the local level, it is really fair to highlight positions from local leaders that dont correspond with their community. I am just asking our local Democratic leaders speak up and say something about it.

Bing was joined by Ayana De Novellis of Ward C, Ryan Moser, Marc Devens, Anne Villers and Curt Saeui from Ward E, and Rachel OBrien from Ward F, in signing the letter. The Hudson County Progressive Alliance also co-signed the letter.

The seven committee members hold only a fraction of the 366 committee seats in Jersey City.

The JCDC spent over $200,000 in 2018, according to a New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission report.

Boggiano said Tuesday that he denounces the violence that took place at the Capitol and that those who stormed the building should be in jail, but that he abstained because he doesnt support impeaching Trump.

Americans voted [Trump] out of office, and a drawn-out impeachment trial will only serve to stop the country from moving forward, Boggiano said in a statement. We have a pandemic, economic crisis, and political crisis to recover from. Lets focus on that rather than having the former president leading the news for the next several weeks and months.

Boggiano, a retired police detective, is running for re-election in 2021 on Mayor Steve Fulops ticket, which also includes DeGise, the HCDO chair.

DeGise and Stamato could not be reached for comment.

Devens said if people are going to align themselves with Boggiano, it is an endorsement of [Boggianos] politics. He said even though mayoral and city council elections are non-partisan, they still get funding from the party.

It is about taking a principled stand on this sort of behavior, Devens said. We can try and pretend they are not running as Democrats, but they are still getting funding as Democrats.
The Greek Prime Minister has become an overnight social media sensation after he went topless to receive his Covid-19 vaccine.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 52, received the second dose of the vaccine at at the Attikon hospital, in Athens, on Monday, where political leaders are first in line for the jab.

But rather than rolling up his sleeves, Mr Mitsotakis chose to unbutton his shirt to his naval, revealing his bare chest.

A photo of the moment has gone viral, with social media users left feeling hot under the collar.

Stripping off: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 52, received the second dose of the vaccine at at the Attikon hospital, in Athens, on Monday. But rather than rolling up his sleeves, Mr Mitsotakis chose to unbutton his shirt to his naval, revealing his bare chest. The image has gone viral

Swooning: Social media users were left feeling hot under the collar (above)

British tweeters jokingly asked if Boris Johnson would follow suit, while others compared it to 'doing a Putin', in reference to the famous photo of the Russian president half-naked on horseback.

One tweeted: 'Could he not get his cuff button undone?'

Another wrote: 'I am a straight guy, but even I can see that he's a fine-looking gentleman.'

Another pointed out it could help drive people to get vaccinated, tweeting: 'Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis doing whatever it takes to sell his people on the #COVID19 vaccine.'

Viral sensation: Mr Mitsotakis, a member of Greece's New Democracy party, has been president since 2016 but is likely to have found new supporters thanks to his bold photo op

Mr Mitsotakis, a member of Greece's New Democracy party, has been president since 2016 but is likely to have found new supporters thanks to his bold photo op.

He was among the first people in Greece to receive the first dose of the vaccine in December after the decision was taken that 'state and political leadership' should be included alongside frontline healthcare staff in the first round.

The move drew criticism from opposition leaders.

Following the vaccination of frontline healthcare workers and clinically vulnerable citizens, Greece began vaccinating the 'general population' earlier this month, starting with the elderly.

The government is currently focusing its efforts on people aged 80-84.

According to the latest official figures, Greece has carried out 93,179 vaccinations with at least 92,139 people having received at least one dose.

Earlier this month Mr Mitsotakis put forward the idea of a vaccine passport to allow people who have had the coronavirus jab to travel freely around Europe.

Mr Mitsotakis, whose countrys economy is heavily reliant on tourism, claimed the move would encourage people to get vaccinated.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI  Police have released the name of the man killed in a Parma Township crash last week.

Robert Curley, 39, of Homer, died in the single-car crash at around 11:40 p.m., Jan. 14, on W. Michigan Ave. near Callahan Road, west of Jackson, Michigan State Police said.

1 dead in single-car crash in Jackson County

Curley was the only person in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Curley worked at Napa Auto Parts in Concord, was able to fix basically any computer or phone and enjoyed fixing motors and electronics, according to his obituary.

He is survived by his mother, Bonnie Curley, brother, Chris Curley, and friend Josh Stone, who was like a brother, according to the obituary.

Read more from MLive:

Reed Manor fire was arson, suspect in hospital, police say

Hear the bells toll in remembrance of 188 people who died of COVID-19 in Jackson County

Free meals from Jackson restaurants being passed out through new Consumers Energy program

263 new COVID-19 cases in Jackson County as vaccine rollout moves into next phase

One does not need to study biology to understand the concept of mutation. Reading the New York Times report on Iran is enough. Within two months, Americas self-styled paper of record completely reversed its original Iran narrative.

Consider the January 14 editorial titled Secretary of State Pompeo Leaves No Bridges Unburned. It claims that there wasnt any evidence supporting Pompeos assertion that Al Qaeda, the terrorist organization behind the Sept. 11 attacks, had found a new home base in Iran.

As I read it, I felt pretty sure that, contra the Times, the evidence behind Pompeos assertion was firm. In fact, I was equally sure that I read about it right in the New York Times. Whose memory is failing, mine or that of the Times editors?

For the sake of my sanity, I thought Id find the original article. And indeed, it turns out that it is not I, but the editors and reporters at the Times who suffer from amnesia -- willful amnesia, I suspect, that is intended to pave the way for Bidens upcoming appeasement of Iran.

Two months ago, on November 13, 2020, the Times published an article entitled Al Qaedas No. 2, Accused in U.S. Embassy Attacks, Was Killed in Iran. The article spent several paragraphs delving into the fact that Iran allowed an Al Qaeda leader to live freely in Tehran:

That he [Al Qaedas No. 2] had been living in Iran was surprising, given that Iran and Al Qaeda are bitter enemies. Iran, a Shiite Muslim theocracy, and Al Qaeda, a Sunni Muslim jihadist group, have fought each other on the battlefields of Iraq and other places. American intelligence officials say that Mr. al-Masri had been in Irans custody since 2003, but that he had been living freely in the Pasdaran district of Tehran, an upscale suburb, since at least 2015. [snip] Some terrorism experts suggested that keeping Qaeda officials in Tehran might provide some insurance that the group would not conduct operations inside Iran. American counterterrorism officials believe Iran may have allowed them to stay to run operations against the United States, a common adversary. It would not be the first time that Iran had joined forces with Sunni militants, having supported Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Taliban. Iran uses sectarianism as a cudgel when it suits the regime, but is also willing to overlook the Sunni-Shia divide when it suits Iranian interests, said Colin P. Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Center. (Emphasis added.)

Note the assurance which with the Times speaks of an Al Qaeda presence in Iran.

By January 12, though, in an article entitled Pompeo Says Iran Is New Base for Al Qaeda, but Offers Little Proof, the Times was reporting that there was little proof of synergy between the ayatollahs and Al Qaeda despite Al Qaedas No. 2 being allowed to roam freely in Tehran under their protection. The subtitle was now an attack against Pompeos practical expertise: Secretary of State Mike Pompeos statements were tempered by some U.S. officials, who said there was little new intelligence to suggest that Iran was an active headquarters for the terrorist group.

And finally, a mere two days later, that little proof had mutated into the no evidence standard in the January 14 editorial:

On Tuesday Mr. Pompeo declared that Al Qaeda, the terrorist organization behind the Sept. 11 attacks, had found a new home base in Iran. They are partners in terrorism, partners in hate, he declared without offering any evidence. Current and former officials were quick to temper and even contradict the claim, which provided Mr. Pompeo with a pretext for further demonizing Iran, a leitmotif of the administration, and made any effort by Mr. Biden to resuscitate the Iran nuclear deal more difficult.

In a mere two months, a specific narrative in the New York Times about a relationship between Iran and Al Qaeda had mutated from fact to fiction. One may wonder whether the Times editors read their own paper or whether they forget that Times readers read the New York Times.

Or, perhaps, the Times editors live in Orwells 1984, and practice rules of its Ministry of Truth, altering history to fit the politics of the moment, and genetically engineering their reporting. Biden wants Iran to look nice and clean, peace-seeking, and meek -- not dangerous and aggressive -- allowing him to go back to Obamas Iran deal, and the spin doctors at the Times happily oblige.

IMAGE: Mike Pompeo. Rumble screengrab.

A hospital website glitch over the weekend resulted in dozens of people being turned away from a coronavirus vaccination site in Bergen County on Monday, officials said.

A disruption in the link of Holy Name Medical Centers COVID-19 vaccine registration site allowed people to get most of the way through registration on Sunday  even though appointments had already been booked, according to Teaneck Township Manager Dean Kazinci.

There were people that reached a point in the registration process that was close to complete, Kazinci said Tuesday. They thought they were done, but they didnt have confirmation.

Kazinci said the township received 570 doses of the Pfizer vaccine from the state and opened up an equal number of vaccination appointments at the Richard Rodda Community Center on Colonial Court.

There were 570 doses available on Sunday and we had 570 appointments online, Kazinci said.

But the website  run by Holy Name Hospital  continued to allow people to nearly complete registration, even after the community center was booked solid and no more appointments were available for Monday, Kazinci said.

Those who thought they had signed up online took screenshots of their registration process and came to the community center on Monday hoping to get vaccinated.

That resulted in about 25 to 50 people being turned away, Kazinci said. They didnt have confirmation of their appointment, Kazinci said. We didnt have the doses to give them.

This was the first time we were open and doing this (giving the vaccine), Kazinci said.

Its no different than when any other website has a problem or breaks down. Its no different than the Department of Labor having a problem, no different than the motor vehicle department having a problem, he said. Were just asking people to please be a little patient with us.

Kazinci said Holy Name computer technicians fixed the website issue late Sunday and they hope to be up and running again later this week. The community center was closed on Tuesday as officials wait for more vaccine doses.

Holy Name expects to receive two trays of vaccine equaling 2,000 doses on Tuesday. Kazinci said they are planning to schedule more appointments for Wednesday through Friday at the community center. The COVID-19 vaccine will be given from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the township manager.

If the doses arrive as planned, Kazinci said he will alert the public through the hospital website and Nixle that they can begin registering for the vaccine.

Tell us your COVID-19 vaccination stories, send us a news tip or questions about the vaccination process on our tip form.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on Joe Biden's presidential inauguration (all times local):

Joe Biden has officially become the 46th president of the United States.

Biden took the oath of office just before noon Wednesday during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The presidential oath was administered by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Biden was sworn in using a Bible that has been in his family since 1893 and was used during his swearing-in as vice president in 2009 and 2013. The 5-inch thick Bible, which could be seen on a table next to Bidens chair on the dais, has a Celtic cross on its cover and was also used each time he was sworn- n as a U.S. senator.

Bidens late son, Beau, also used the Bible for his own swearing-in ceremony as attorney general of Delaware and helped carry the Bible to his fathers 2013 ceremony.

---

11:45 a.m.

Kamala Harris has been sworn in as the nation's first female vice president.

The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and becomes the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

She was sworn in Wednesday by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for President Donald Trump, was sitting nearby as Lady Gaga sang the national anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.

---

11:15 a.m.

Joe Bidens presidential inauguration ceremony has begun.

Biden swears the oath of office at noon Wednesday, becoming the 46th president of the United States. The Democrat is preparing to take the helm of a deeply divided nation and inherit crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

History will be made at Bidens side, as Kamala Harris becomes the first woman to be vice president.

The ceremony in which presidential power is transferred is a hallowed American democratic tradition. And this time it serves as a jarring reminder of the challenges Biden faces: The inauguration unfolds at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago, encircled by security forces. Its devoid of crowds because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol.

Former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are attending.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend.

___

11:10 a.m.

Vice President Mike Pence has arrived at the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden.

Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, were announced at inaugural festivities at the U.S. Capitol about one hour ahead of Biden's expected swearing-in ceremony.

Pence is representing the outgoing Trump administration at Biden's inaugural. President Donald Trump is skipping the festivities, departing Washington earlier in the day for the last time as sitting president.

Aboard Air Force One a final time, Trump landed in West Palm Beach, Florida, just before Pence's arrival at the inaugural platform.

During remarks before his departure, Trump hinted at a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years, telling supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland "We will be back in some form."

___

11:05 a.m.

A Capitol police officer hailed as a hero for his actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol is accompanying Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the inauguration of Harris and President-elect Joe Biden.

Officer Eugene Goodman confronted the insurrectionists and led them away from Senate chambers moments after Vice President Mike Pence was escorted from the Senate chamber as the rioters stormed the Capitol.

Goodman is a Black man and was facing an overwhelmingly white mob. He is the only officer seen for a full minute on widely circulated footage captured by a news reporter. Goodman stands in front of the rioters and walks backward as the group follows him to a second-floor hallway, where other officers finally assist him.

A police spokeswoman says Goodman's plainclothes assignment to accompany Harris "is a ceremonial role."

___

11 a.m.

Former Republican leaders and lawmakers are among those gathering at the Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.

Former House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was attending the Wednesday ceremony to "honor the process" after a year that he said tested the nation's institutions. He said he was there "out of respect for the peaceful transfer of power."

Former Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona says it's "too bad" that outgoing President Donald Trump did not attend for "that handoff that the world can see."

Flake is a Trump critic. He says he hopes it's a "moment of renewal" for the nation. He says he thinks "Americans will sleep easier knowing that we have a more steady hand in the White House."

___

10:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden has arrived at the U.S. Capitol ahead of his inauguration as the United States' 46th president.

Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived at the complex on Wednesday morning, about 90 minutes before his noon swearing-in ceremony. They were accompanied by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and were greeted by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.

The president-elect's motorcade wound its way through a mostly deserted Washington following a morning church service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.

Streets that would typically be lined with thousands of inaugural onlookers were ringed instead with a massive security presence to include military vehicles and armed troops.

About 25,000 National Guard members have been dispatched to Washington following the violent melee at the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago.

Biden paused to wave from the Capitol steps before entering the building.

___

10:25 a.m.

All of the former U.S. presidents attending President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration have arrived at the U.S. Capitol.

George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were first to arrive at the complex on Wednesday morning, several hours before Biden's swearing-in ceremony.

Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton followed shortly thereafter, with each couple arriving in separate motorcades.

The other living former president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, previously announced he would not attend Biden's inauguration. Carter and his wife, 93-year-old Rosalynn Carter, have largely spent the coronavirus pandemic at their home in Plains, Georgia.

Carter had been the first former president to confirm that he was attending Donald Trump's inaugural in 2017.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump departed Washington earlier Wednesday, skipping the Biden inaugural festivities and heading straight to their home in Florida. Trump is the first president since Andrew Johnson not to attend the inauguration of his successor.

___

10:20 a.m.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are showcasing American designers at their inauguration.

The president-elect is wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat by Ralph Lauren. Jill Biden is wearing an ocean-blue wool tweed coat and dress by American designer Alexandra O'Neill of the Markarian label.

Aides say Harris is wearing Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson. Both are Black designers, Rogers from Louisiana and Hudson from South Carolina.

Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, wore a Ralph Lauren suit on Wednesday.

___

9:50 a.m.

Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen will resign when President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office.

The Justice Department says Rosen's resignation goes into effect at noon Wednesday.

Rosen has run the department since former Attorney General William Barr resigned on Dec. 23. He was previously the deputy attorney general and deputy transportation secretary.

Rosen has kept a low profile since he assumed the top job at the Justice Department. He has not held a press conference or addressed the press corps since he took the role, even after a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. He has only released pre-recorded videos discussing the matter and issued statements.

Longtime Justice Department official Monty Wilkinson is expected to assume the role of acting attorney general while Judge Merrick Garland awaits confirmation by the Senate.

___

9:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump has followed at least one presidential tradition.

The White House says the Republican president left behind a note for his successor, Democrat Joe Biden.

Deputy press secretary Judd Deere declined to reveal what Trump wrote to Biden or to characterize the sentiment in the note, citing privacy for communication between presidents.

Trump has refused to publicly concede to Biden and did not mention the Democrat by name in a pair of farewell addresses.

Trump interrupted many traditions of the presidency, including by not attending Biden's inauguration on Wednesday. Trump also did not invite Biden to the White House for a meeting after Biden was declared the winner of November's presidential election

Trump left the White House for the final time as president on Wednesday morning, saying, "It's been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime."

___

9:05 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he thinks the new administration will have "great success" and claims to have laid the foundation for it.

Trump says the new administration has the "foundation to do something really spectacular." He made brief farewell remarks at Maryland's Joint Base Andrews before he boarded Air Force One for a flight to his Florida home.

Trump did not mention President-elect Joe Biden by name during his Wednesday remarks.

Trump told cheering, chanting supporters he'll be watching and listening from a distance. He promised he will be back "in some form" and wished the crowd a "good life" before he and his wife boarded the plane.

Trump wanted to be in Florida before Biden becomes president at noon.

___

8:35 a.m.

President-elect Joe Biden is attending church ahead of his inauguration, a traditional step taken ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

Biden and incoming first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday are attending a service at Washington's Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. With them are incoming Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff.

At Biden's invitation, the first couple is joined by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, including all four top-ranking members of congressional leadership.

That includes both Senate leaders, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer, as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Many presidents have chosen St. John's Episcopal Church, sometimes called "Church of the Presidents," for the inaugural day service. Biden is the second Catholic U.S. president, and St. Matthew's is the seat of the Catholic archbishop of Washington.

Biden spent Tuesday night at Blair House, a traditional move ahead of a president's inauguration.

___

8:15 a.m.

Donald Trump has left the White House for the final time as president.

Trump emerged from the building Wednesday morning and strode across the South Lawn to board Marine One. He said, "It's been a great honor, the honor of a lifetime."

Trump now heads to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland, where he'll have a military sendoff. A red carpet has been placed on the tarmac for Trump to walk as he boards the plane. Four U.S. Army cannons are set up for a 21-gun salute. Trump then flies to Florida, where he'll stay at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump is leaving Washington just hours before Joe Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th president. It's the first time in more than a century that a sitting president has rejected the tradition of attending his successor's inauguration.

___

7:45 a.m.

Two of the Biden administration's top communications officials are describing the incoming president's inaugural address as a forward-looking speech that will make little to no mention of his predecessor.

Communications director Kate Bedingfield told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday that President-elect Joe Biden's address would "speak to the moment that we are in, but it will also lay out a vision for the future."

Biden press secretary Jen Psaki tells CNN that Biden's inaugural address is "definitely not a speech about Donald Trump" and she "wouldn't expect" to hear about him in it.

Bedingfield says Biden had not had any contact with the outgoing president.

Asked why Biden had invited political opponents including House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to join him at a Mass on Wednesday morning, Psaki said it "felt important to him personally to have members of both parties ... and use that as an example to the American public."

Bedingfield says Biden will sign 15 executive orders in some of his first moves as president.

___

7:35 a.m.

As the sun rose over Washington's Freedom Plaza between the U.S. Capitol and the White House ahead of Joe Biden's presidential inauguration, clusters of soldiers in full battle fatigues clustered inside metal barriers erected to restrict access to the procession route.

Some yellow placards on the barriers read "Biden-Harris 2021," while others carried the seal of the presidency or inaugural insignias. American and District of Columbia flags flapped in high winds.

Traffic has been blocked off nearby in all directions. Revelers have been told to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Most offices in the surrounding buildings are closed, many boarded up with plywood to prevent damage in case violence breaks out Wednesday.

But one tall office building in view of the procession route has been fitted with towering signs reading "Welcome, Mr. President" and "Welcome Madam Vice President," for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

After being sworn in, Biden is set to inspect the readiness of military troops in a traditional "pass in review."
Siemens Mobility has been awarded a contract from Deutsche Bahn (DB) for the revision of 40 trains of the series 412 ICE 4. This is the largest service order ever awarded to Siemens Mobility by Deutsche Bahn.



The contract also includes an option for the revision of 50 additional series 412 trains. IS 600 revisions are required for new high-speed trains operated by Deutsche Bahn when they have reached a mileage of 1.65 million kilometres. The work will be carried out beginning in mid-2021 in the Expert House service area of the Siemens Mobility Test and Validation Center in Wegberg-Wildenrath, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.



The ICE 4 is the backbone of DBs mainline rail operations. As DBs service partner, we will make a decisive contribution towards guaranteeing the availability and operation of the ICE 4 fleet and ensuring its sustainable performance over the entire lifecycle, said Johannes Emmelheinz, CEO Customer Service at Siemens Mobility.



As part of the IS 600 revision, Siemens Mobility will inspect the central systems and components of the ICE 4 trains and carry out maintenance activities as planned. The maintenance work will cover, among other things, the doors, windscreen washer systems, couplings, running and traction bogies, as well as pantographs, train control systems, and brakes. Maintenance work in the train interior will include fire alarm systems, passenger information systems, bistro equipment, and the sanitary facilities. In addition, the wheelsets will be exchanged on all trains.



Deutsche Bahn has ordered a total of 137 ICE 4 trains from Siemens Mobility since May 2011. A new ICE 4 train is currently joining DBs mainline fleet every three weeks. By last December, Siemens Mobility had delivered 65 of the ordered ICE 4 trains to Deutsche Bahn. The first trains in this series have been in passenger service since 2016.  TradeArabia News Service

The government on Wednesday offered to amend the three contentious farm laws at their 10th round of talks with protesting unions but farmer leaders stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of the Acts and alleged that the was avoiding discussion on a legal guarantee for

Farmer leaders said there was no breakthrough in the first session as both sides were stuck on their stated positions vis-a-vis the three farm laws and there was little hope of any outcome other than fixing the date for the 11th round.

Farmer leaders also raised the issue of NIA notices being served to some farmers, alleging it was being done just to harass those supporting the agitation, to which the government representatives said they will look into the matter.

As the two sides took a break, where farmer leaders had langar food, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) general secretary Yudhvir Singh told PTI, "The stalemate is continuing over the three laws and I don't think any solution will emerge from today's meeting. Both sides are adamant on their position."



He said the government is insisting on first discussing the three laws and wants to take up the (Minimum Support Price) matter later.



"We will insist on a discussion on after the tea break and also try to seek the next date for meeting before January 26," Singh said.

Another farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said, "The government is not ready to repeal the three laws and farmers are not ready for amendments. The government doesn't want to discuss MSP."



"No solution will emerge from today's meeting. We will meet again on the next date," he said.

Tikait also said the union leaders raised the NIA ( Investigation Agency) issue in the meeting, to which the ministers said they will look into it.

The meeting began at around 2.45 pm with the three ministers greeting farmer leaders on the occasion of Gurupurab.

"The government offered to carry out some amendments, but farmer leaders maintained they do not want anything less than a complete repeal of the laws," Tikait said.



ALSO READ: Farm laws panel has no power to judge, 'don't cast aspersions': SC

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, are holding the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

Before the meeting, the three ministers also met senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The tenth round of talks was initially scheduled on January 19, but later got postponed to Wednesday.

In the last round of talks, the government had asked protesting farmers to prepare a concrete proposal about their objections and suggestions on the three farm laws for further discussion at their next meeting to end the long-running protest. But, unions stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three Acts.

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. Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.



ALSO READ: Unions reject alternative route suggestion for tractor rally on Republic Day

On January 11, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.

Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.

On Tuesday, the SC panel held its first meeting in the capital.

Under attack from protesting unions for their "pro-government" public stand on three contentious farm laws, the members of the committee said that they would keep aside their own ideology and views while consulting various stakeholders, even as they indicated a complete repeal won't augur well for much-needed agriculture reforms.

ALSO READ: Other occasions when Centre pulled back on farm issues due to public ire

Earlier in the day, a group of farm union leaders met top officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police to discuss the route and arrangements for their tractor rally on January 26 to protest against the three farm laws.

But the unions rejected a suggestion by police officers to hold their rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway instead of Delhi's Outer Ring Road, sources said.
Vials and boxes of Covivac, Vietnam's second Covid-19 vaccine, January 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Xuan Ngoc.

A Covid-19 vaccine produced by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals on Tuesday received approval from the Ministry of Health for human trials.

Covivac will be the second Vietnamese-made vaccine to be tested on humans after the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC began trials last December of its Nanocovax.

The first phase of the trials will require 120 volunteers aged 18-59 and without underlying health conditions, infectious diseases or allergies, the health ministry said.

The institute, which belongs to the ministry, would coordinate with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi and the Hanoi Medical University to begin recruiting volunteers and prepare equipment and facilities for the trials, Duong Huu Thai, its head, said.

The volunteers would receive the first shot after the Lunar New Year in mid-February.

The second phase is expected to begin in April and the third in July or August.

If things go well, the institute will start mass production of this vaccine and supply six million doses, Thai said.

Trials for Nanocovax began with 60 volunteers split into three groups to be given two doses of 25 mcg, 50 mcg and 75 mcg almost a month apart.

Some have got the second shot, and it has proven safe and immunogenic and produces an immune response four to five times higher than the first, the Vietnam Military Medical University said.

Two other vaccines are under development by the Vaccine and Biological Production Company No. 1 and the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals.

The ministry is in talks with British Covid-19 vaccine developers AstraZeneca and Oxford University to buy 30 million doses. It is also seeking to buy from the U.S. (Pfizer), Russia (Sputnik V) and China.
It was Guru Gobind Singh who introduced the five 'K's that Sikhs abide by

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of the tenth Sikh Guru. The day is observed in honour and remembrance of the great warrior, poet, philosopher and spiritual leader.

Guru Gobind Singh was born on 22 December, 1666 according to the Gregorian calendar. However, his birth anniversary is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. This year, Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti falls on 20 January.

Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna, and was the only son of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Mata Gujri. When he was nine years old, his father Guru Tegh Bahadur was killed by Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam. Following his father's demise, Guru Gobind Ji took over as the leader of the Sikhs and continued his fight against the Mughals.

It was Guru Gobind Singh who introduced the five 'K's that Sikhs abide by. These were Kesh (uncut hair), Kanga (wooden comb), Kara (iron or steel bracelet worn on wrist), Kirpan (sword) and Kacchera (breeches). He also declared the Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib as the permanent Guru of Sikhs. He passed away in 1708.

On Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, devotees offer prayers and join large processions.

On the occasion of Guru Gobind Jayanti or Prakash Purab, devotees offer prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab as well. They also take a dip in the holy Sarovar in the temple premises.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to Guru Gobind Singh on the occasion of Prakash Purab.
(Natural News) Operation Trust was a Bolshevik counterintelligence operation run from 1921 to 1926 aimed at neutralizing opposition by creating the false impression that a powerful group of military leaders had organized to stop the communists takeover.

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

Heres an except on the Trust operation from pages 13-14 of Soviet defector Anatoliy Golitsyns book, New Lies for Old:

The similarities with the Q-Anon Trust The Plan psy-op are remarkable.

One of the more disturbing aspects of the "Qanon" online Trump base pacification hoax is that while it claims to be fighting the "deep state" (permanent security complex) it promotes the rendition of Edward @Snowden and CIA regime change in Iran. pic.twitter.com/WG4jfmvEeG  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) December 13, 2018

More "Qanon" pacification efforts:

Dec 19, 2017: "TRUST SESSIONS"

Jan 14, 2018: "TRUST SESSIONS"

Feb 18, 2018: "TRUST SESSIONS", "2018 will be glorious"

Mar 08, 2018: "TRUST SESSIONS"

Apr 10, 2018: "TRUST SESSIONS"

May 15, 2018: "Do you Trust POTUS? trust SESSIONS"  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) December 14, 2018

"Qanon" pushes for regime change in #Iran, mirroring long held CIA, Mossad and neocon goals. pic.twitter.com/C70T1T7BNF  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 25, 2018

From Wikipedias article on Operation Trust:

Operation Trust was a counterintelligence operation of the State Political Directorate (GPU) of the Soviet Union. The operation, which was set up by GPUs predecessor Cheka, ran from 1921 to 1926, set up a fake anti-Bolshevik resistance organization, Monarchist Union of Central Russia, MUCR, in order to help the OGPU identify real monarchists and anti-Bolsheviks. The created front company was called the Moscow Municipal Credit Association. [] The one Western historian who had limited access to the Trust files, John Costello, reported that they comprised thirty-seven volumes and were such a bewildering welter of double-agents, changed code names, and interlocking deception operations with the complexity of a symphonic score, that Russian historians from the Intelligence Service had difficulty separating fact from fantasy.

That sounds like the Confucius-style nonsense put out by Q-Anon.

Is General Flynn our General Brusliv?

Mike Flynn's sister tweeting out the Qanon hashtag three minutes ago. This tweet was liked by Mike Flynn Jr. pic.twitter.com/xHqhNgU4oD  Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) December 5, 2018

January 5, 2021, General Flynn to Alex Jones: "Donald Trump will continue to be the President for the next 4 years, no doubt in my mind" pic.twitter.com/2PyctIa2cJ  Hedonist (@sellbooze) January 6, 2021

Q-Anon made Trump supporters who were right to be angry over the criminal nature of our ruling class delude themselves with fantasies that White hats in the military were going to save us while Attorney General William Barr was busy covering-up the Jeffrey Epstein case and the Kushner administration was busy pardoning fraudsters who donated to the Aleph Institute and releasing traitor Jonathan Pollard from parole to make aliyah in Israel.

Donald Trump condemned his own supporters and called for them to be prosecuted to "the fullest extent of the law," just days after he chose to pardon "the king of medicare fraud" & release traitor Jonathan Pollard from parole to "make aliyah" in Israel. https://t.co/KGr0Hjylmh  Chris Menahan  (@infolibnews) January 8, 2021

Just as opposition were outed and arrested by Operation Trust, potentially dozens of Q-Anoners were outed and arrested as a result of the march on the Capitol.

FBI Director Wray says more than 100 people have been arrested in connection with the Capitol invasion and more than 200 suspects have been identified. "We know who you are, if you're out there, and FBI agents are coming to find you."  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 14, 2021

Many of the neocons in our government are the literal descendants of Trotskyites, so its not out of the question theyd pull the same trick twice.

This Q-Anon operation has had some blowback  Q-believing Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was horrifically executed in cold blood by a Capitol police officer and turned into a martyr  but the movement has gotten tons of Trump supporters thrown in prison and labeled domestic terrorists.

President-elect Biden on whether Capitol rioters should be treated as domestic terrorists: "Yes  They're a bunch of thugs, insurrectionists, white supremacists, anti-Semites  and they're terrorists  domestic terrorists." pic.twitter.com/BpPnuSmE3L  NBC News (@NBCNews) January 8, 2021

The Biden administration is now plotting to use the events of Jan 6 to justify PATRIOT Act 2.0 which aims to criminalize all dissent as domestic terrorism.

Their neo-Bolshevik revolution is almost complete.

NEW  Dystopic vibes at the U.S. Capitol building in DC.pic.twitter.com/SjTuxcDVuy  Disclose.tv  (@disclosetv) January 12, 2021

The Speaker of the House thanks the men and women of the National Guard for protecting the U.S. Capitol. pic.twitter.com/QwZlpeAWPp  Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) January 13, 2021

Pelosi just went outside and thanked the troops protecting the Capitol, and game them all her challenge coin: pic.twitter.com/VbOhyFxcVj  Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) January 13, 2021

It doesnt require anonymous leaks from secret military intelligence officers to witness the conspiratorial treachery our government is committing out in the open!

Read more at: InformationLiberation.com and Propaganda.news
Emergency triage tents set up outside hospital walls in Orange County, Calif., on Dec. 11, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Orange County Officials Confirm Additional 110 COVID-19 Related Deaths

Orange County health officials reported 110 new deaths related to the COVID-19 virus on Jan. 19, accounting for a two-day tally that includes fatalities from Jan. 18.

The Orange County Health Care Agency confirmed 64 deaths were recorded Jan. 19, when daily cases reached 2,314. With 12,430 tests conducted, the positivity rate was 18.6 percent.

Another 46 deaths were reported Jan. 18, when the daily case count was 1,681. The positivity rate was lower, with 11.3 percent of the 14,853 tested confirmed to be carrying the virus.

Of the 110 deaths reported, 35 were skilled nursing facility residents, while an additional 16 were assisted living facility residents.

As of Jan. 19, there were 523 patients being treated in local intensive care units (ICU).

The Southern California regions ICU availability remained at zero percent.
San Antonios disinfecting robot manufacturer, Xenex, kicked off 2021 by expanding both its facilities and its business.

With sales soaring 600 percent in 2020, due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic, the privately held firm outgrew its old space. But it found a new home in a business park two miles away, near Wurzbach Parkway and San Antonio International Airport.

Weve gone from 30,000 square feet spread across three different offices in the same complex to about 40,000 square feet, all under one roof, CEO Morris Miller said. That includes production, engineering, science, management, sales, marketing, accounting  everybodys together.

While some employees are working from home, others are working in the new space. The smell of fresh paint and new carpet permeated the air Tuesday. Many of the walls are a deep purple.

Somehow we arrived at the robot having a purple color  it just kind of resonated, Miller said. When you think about ultraviolet light, that happens to be purple, and because were the leader in the ultraviolet space, I thought that makes sense.

On ExpressNews.com: Introducing the Spurs new teammates: Germ-zapping robots from San Antonios Xenex

As the company settles into its new digs, it continues to sell LightStrike Robots to hospitals, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, sporting venues and schools around the world.

Last week, the company announced two robots are now helping the San Antonio Spurs sanitize the AT&T center.

Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

And when the 87th Texas State Legislature opened Jan. 12, the Texas Capitol building deployed 12 of the barrel-sized machines that use broad-spectrum, high-intensity ultraviolet light to help protect lawmakers and visitors from pathogens.

The State Preservation Board employs a full spectrum of cleaning and disinfecting efforts to counter the spread of COVID-19 at the Texas State Capitol, said spokesperson Chris Currens in an e-mail. The cleaning robots are one element of that effort, along with other innovative products.

The Capitol building is the first statehouse to use LightStrikes, but they are in numerous federal buildings, including 110 military and Veterans Affairs facilities, around the country, according to Miller.

Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

One key to the robots effectiveness is the companys proprietary technology that allows the machines to deliver ultraviolet light thats 4,300 times more intense than traditional methods, he said. A University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center study found Xenex robots kill 22 times more germs than manual housekeeping alone.

On ExpressNews.com: Fast-growing Plus One Robotics to expand at Port San Antonio

Its just a huge differential in power, and its that power that ends up destroying the pathogen, he said. Our light is on so quickly that it doesnt damage surfaces or materials.

While the machines cost more than $100,000 each, operators can sanitize up to 7,000 square feet an hour, according to Miller. And, theyre not intended to replace housekeeping staffs  theyre meant to augment people, he said.

Its called cobotics  the combination of robots and people cooperating to get things done, he said. A person can put (a robot) in place, disinfect, put it in another place, disinfect  every two minutes moving it around.

That cooperation, that cobotics  it makes it fast, makes it work.

Brandon Lingle writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. brandon.lingle@express-news.net
New Delhi:

Two Pakistan naval officers were killed and three others were wounded after militants opened fire on a Navy vehicle in Jiwani city of Gwadar district on Monday evening, said navy spokesmen.

The naval officers were transporting iftar items during a routine run from Jiwani city when their vehicle was ambushed by four assailants on two motorbikes, the official said.

The injured were shifted to Karachi for treatment, added the spokesman.Such acts from extremist elements will not dent our resolve, said the navy spokesman.The statement added that those involved in the attack will be brought to justice and punished.

ALSO READ: Pakistan: Panic in Rawalpindi girls college after firing reports

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

READ: Blast in Pakistan's tribal belt kills 10, injures 13

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
SELBYVILLE, Del., Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on Global Market Insights Inc.'s report, the Paraffin Inhibitors Market size was estimated at $655.5 million in 2020 and is slated to surpass $915 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 6% from 2021 to 2027. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the top winning strategies, wavering industry trends, drivers and opportunities, top investment avenues, competitive scenarios, market estimations and size.

Global Market Insights Inc.

Paraffin inhibitors prevent wax deposition on cold surfaces such as pipeline walls, lower fluid viscosity, and offer better pumpability. Paraffin is a naturally occurring substance in crude oil, which causes flow challenges in the pipeline during production, storage, and transportation of oil & gas. With increasing crude oil production and rapidly rising industrial production, the use of paraffin inhibitors is expected to grow at a considerable pace.

Request for Sample Report: https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4892

Paraffin inhibitors play a pivotal role in the upstream sector of oil & gas, as they provide superior flowability and enhanced productivity of crude oil. Rising consumption of oil & gas across major end-user industries will create the need for an increase in oil supply by 2027. Globally, crude oil production was projected to grow at a considerable rate from 2016 to 2019. The monthly data for crude oil production in July 2020 indicated around 1.5% growth compared to June 2020. According to estimates of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, & Kuwait have increased their production output in July 2020.

Apart from increasing demand from the end-user industry, advancements and innovations in the sector are also observed to be other driving factors as manufacturers are increasingly coming up with alternatives to reduce carbon footprint. Oil & gas companies spend a significant amount of time and money on technological advancements to improve the overall system efficiency. Increasing government pressure on curbing carbon footprints is driving the need for sustainability in the sector. Major companies are investing in new technologies that promote zero-carbon emissions. Such trends are further driving the need for new materials in the paraffin inhibitors market. Ongoing research activities related to the usage of biodegradable and waste materials may create innovations in the sector.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted crude oil production owing to plummeting demand. Major oil-producing countries had to dial-back their production and refining operations. Due to the contagious nature of the virus, the majority of countries have imposed stringent lockdowns and movement restrictions on domestic & international travel and trade. These restrictive factors have significant impacts on paraffin inhibitor demand. However, the paraffin inhibitors market share is expected to rebound in 2021 with the establishment of strict guidelines and the demand gradually returning to normalcy.

Based on chemistry, the modified polycarboxylate segment will witness over a 4.5% CAGR. These chemistries possess high solid content and showcase excellent performance as wax inhibitors. Many researchers are carrying out experiments to improve its viscosity and strength will increase its popularity in the oil & gas sector, further driving the paraffin inhibitors market segment growth over the projected timeframe.

Request for customization of this report: https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4892

Downstream is expected to showcase over a 3.5% CAGR over the forecast timeframe. Downstream companies are engaged in the refining, purification, and processing of raw crude oil and petroleum products. The companies also utilize inhibitors for removing paraffin from flowlines & pipelines and in refinery clean-up operations. Rising consumption of petrochemical and oil products in the end-user industries is expected to support the paraffin inhibitors market growth from downstream.

The Asia Pacific paraffin inhibitors market size will exceed USD 95 million by 2027. Major countries including India, Japan, South Korea, & Australia rely on imports to meet their domestic consumption of crude oil. Additionally, the region accounts for more than 30% of the world's oil demand, which is majorly contributed to the large population and industrialization. However, Asia Pacific has proven oil reserves of 48 billion barrels, out of which around 50% are located in China. Increasing upstream investments in the region supported by governments' focus on building domestic infrastructure for the oil & gas sector will be driving product penetration post-2027.

Strategic mergers & acquisitions by industry players will increase regional presence. Major players in the paraffin inhibitors industry include BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Chemiphase International, SI Group, Inc., Croda International PLC, Evonik Industries, Champion X, Baker Hughes Company, and Clariant.

Read the latest blog on "Increasing oil & gas exploration activities to enhance the demand for paraffin inhibitors": https://people.partilepep.com/news/261/paraffin-inhibitor-industry/

About Global Market Insights, Inc.

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights, Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision making.

GMIPulse, our business analytics platform offers an online, interactive option of exploring our proprietary industry research data in an easy-to-use and dynamic manner. Clients get to explore market intelligence across 11 top level categories and hundreds of industry segments within them, covering regional, company level and cross-sectional statistics that make our offering a stand-out for decision-makers.

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Major is one of two dogs owned by the Bidens (Joe Biden/Facebook)

The arrival of the Bidens and their dogs Major and Champ at the White House this week marks the return of a longstanding tradition - four-legged furry friends at the 18-acre estate that is home to the US president.

Outgoing President Donald Trump was the first president since Andrew Johnson in the 1860s not to share the presidential digs with a dog or a cat - or even a raccoon, like the one kept by Calvin Coolidge in the 1920s.

Major, a German Shepherd, will be the first rescue dog ever to live in the White House. The Bidens adopted him in November 2018 from the Delaware Humane Association. Champ, also a German Shepherd, joined the family in 2008.

Read More

"From shelter pup at the Delaware Humane Association to First Dog at the White House, Major Biden is barking proof that every dog can live the American dream," said the group, which hosted an online "indoguration" fundraiser on January 17 to celebrate Major's move into the White House on January 20.

Former President Barack Obama was dog-less while campaigning, but promised his daughters Sasha and Malia a puppy during his acceptance speech after winning the 2008 election.

Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog, moved into the White House in April 2009, a gift from the late Senator Ted Kennedy. The Obamas adopted a second dog of the same breed, Sunny, in 2013, according to the Presidential Pet Museum.

George W. Bush's Scottish Terrier, Barney, flew on Air Force One and starred in 'Barney Cam' videos to celebrate the holiday season. "He never discussed politics and was always a faithful friend," Bush said when Barney died in 2013.

The Clintons' Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Buddy, joined cat Socks at the White House; while George H.W. Bush and family had several dogs in the White House, including Millie, the star of a children's book written by Bush's wife Barbara.

About 67pc of all US homes had a pet in 2019, up from 56pc three decades ago, the American Pet Products Association reported last year.

And the pandemic has given pet ownership a further boost. Animal shelter adoptions jumped about 15pc as people turned to furry friends to help them cope with the isolation from lockdown orders.

While the White House will gain two dogs, and as Biden's wife Jill has hinted, perhaps a cat in the near future, the Naval Observatory, which is the home of the vice president, will be saying goodbye to four pets.

Vice President Mike Pence and his family had a cat named Hazel, a dog named Harley, a snake named Sapphira, and a bunny named Marlon Bundo. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband don't own pets.
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Ankit Mehta is the co-founder and CEO of ideaForge.

In 2008, Ankit Mehta and friends watched in horror as the Mumbai terror attacks played out on live television. The mass killing and plight of hundreds trapped inside hotels and the Jewish Chabad house spurred the team to develop unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones, to assist security forces during hostage situations.

Now, more than a decade later, their company, ideaForge, has bagged a $20 million contract from the Indian Army to supply high-altitude drones. Their company was the only one that met the operations requirements of the Indian Army.

Mehta is the co-founder and CEO of ideaForge. The other three co-founders are Rahul Singh, VP, Engineering; Ashish Bhat, VP, R&D; and Vipul Joshi, VP, Operations.

Back in 2008, Mehta, Singh and Bhat, all IIT-Bombay graduates, had been working on drone technology for fun. The 26/11 attacks, however, helped them focus their efforts. In no time, they prepared a prototype for an unmanned drone, giving the world a glimpse of their creation in the critically acclaimed movie 3 Idiots, in 2009.

Since then there has been no looking back. ideaForge, has signed numerous contracts with security agencies and defence forces, culminating with the recent, $20-million deal with the Indian Army for high-altitude drones.

Born and brought up in Jodhpur, Mehtas family runs a business printing on export quality fabrics. In an interaction with Moneycontrol, he spoke about the decision to cater to sectors such as defence and security, about investor interest as well as the challenges in the Indian ecosystem. Edited Excerpts:

Tell us how you bagged the $20 million deal with the Indian Army.

With the requirement for high-altitude surveillance heating up, the Indian Army fast-tracked the procurement of drones to ensure that our troops have real-time on-ground situational awareness. About a dozen domestic and international companies participated in the product trials organised by the Army. The trials lasted for three months and were conducted in the toughest of weather conditions and terrain, which tested the systems to their limits.

Ultimately, it was our SWITCH UAV that met all the operational requirements of the Indian Army and in fact, surpassed expectations. We have a best-in-class flight time of over 120 minutes and an operational range of 15 km. It is man-portable and has the highest time on target compared to any other UAV in its class.

Tell us about some of the features of your UAV.

It is a fully indigenously built system and features a fixed wing VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) hybrid configuration for terrain-independent deployment. Its robust build, 25x optical zoom and ability to operate at an altitude of 4,500 metres along with its class-leading flight time and range make it best-suited for day and night surveillance in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Take us back to the very beginning. How did it all start for you?

We were developing the base technology from 2004 till 2008 but the turning point was the 2008 Mumbai attack. We were working on a technology that could have been useful in that scenario, given that there was lack of visibility from the ground level into the buildings. A drone at the site could have helped to help these hostages. But we didnt have the tech ready at that time. However, it gave us the necessary direction. And we just started building these products for security and surveillance applications.

In 2009, we launched Indias first fully autonomous drone. And you also saw an early prototype of ours in the movie 3 Idiots. It wasnt the exact prototype that we launched as a product but an early prototype of ours because that was the need in the movie. We also launched our first fully autonomous drone in India, a quadcopter (with four rotors).

Since then we have been delivering these drones to various armed forces in the country, be it defence, be it homeland security besides State police for recurring surveillance applications. We also partnered with the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) to get the first set of our systems inducted in various processes. And we have started delivering these products for mapping applications as well to carry out survey-grade mapping. We are able to deliver drones for the SVAMITVA scheme, wherein we are required to map all the 650,000 villages in the country and give property cards to families.

Drones can be used for so many other things. Why did you choose the defence and security sector?

So, think about it. In 2008 the Mumbai attack happened. At that time drones were not even common knowledge even though we were building them since 2004. So, when we started, there was nothing like this. In fact, I can safely say that the consciousness of the country emerged around drones after the movie in that one scene. After that, for the first time, the market actually got introduced to the concept of a drone. And from the point of view of use cases at that time, security and surveillance were the need of the hour because we had just had the Mumbai attacks. And we wanted to create something that is useful. And at that time, nobody had any vision of what to do with these systems. So, that is basically the brief history of why we started in this.

You come from a conventional background. Why did you plunge into the startup space?

So, when we were students we had done so much technology work, unlike what is usual, typically progression to any engineering college where you are focused on coursework and all the extracurricular activities. For us the extracurricular activities were actually technology. So, we had participated in umpteen competitions. We even represented India in one of these competitions. And so we had done a lot of technology activity as a team. In fact, the idea of the drone was an idea that was pretty unique at that time, that we decided we will develop.

Technology was something in our DNA, and then it reflected in our journeys. It was very clear that it is not a privilege that anyone else has, to get invested in it as much as we have been invested in, to work on our own ideas, to get this freedom and confidence that you can develop any technology.

Did you reach out to the defence or police authorities?

We did. One of our first customers was the police force. In 2010, we made the first case for a fully integrated drone. That was to one of the State police forces. I cant disclose the details since they are not in the public domain. Thereafter, we delivered umpteen projects to the defence forces, and have delivered close to a thousand plus drones to various customers already. For security, surveillance and mapping applications. Close to half of the systems we have delivered have been to the defence forces.

ideaForge has a long history of working with Indias defence and homeland security forces. The knowledge and experience gained so far has enabled us to develop products that cater to the most demanding requirements of the armed forces.

Was there just a sense of nationalism that prompted you to get into the defence sector? What about the commercial aspect?

Honestly for us, it was about solving problems, which were relevant. But ultimately your business has to be sustainable. I have a very simple philosophy: you need to be commercially viable because you want to continue developing more and more technology.

Defence is a very niche segment. What has been your experience so far and how do you see entrepreneurship in this area growing?

So, first of all, I think we dont look at defence as the only customer. We deliver to defence, we deliver to homeland security and we deliver to large enterprises. Now, defence is a unique business; it has its own challenges, but it has its own advantages as well. Your money may get delayed but its secure. You will be looking at opportunities that come in a chunk, but when the chunk happens, its a massive chunk. It is a relatively secure business in terms of the government being the customer.

The company raised an external round of funding sometime in 2016. Are you in talks to raise an external round as of now? How are venture capital firms looking at this sector?

We are always on the lookout for investors who are like-minded. Who want to leverage this unprecedented opportunity which the drone industry today presents anybody. This is the best time to actually go behind this industry and we are open to speak to investors who are like-minded.

So, currently what is the status? How are investors responding?

It is very early. But in one sense we just closed this deal with the defence forces.

But this is more like a commercial agreement and not an investment?

Exactly. And thats why it (the contract with the Indian Army) is such a transformative deal, because it makes the opportunity here. Drones have a very high potential opportunity for a really long time. It is early days, but there is (investor) interest. We will get to know a lot more about the depth of that interest in the next few weeks.

What are the challenges an entrepreneur faces while setting up a startup in this segment? What can be done by the government to ensure ease of doing business?

One of the areas that could be better in general for high-tech areas is the procurement process While our systems are tuned towards very high efficiency of utilisation of public money, we are not cognisant of the efficacy of that expense the factor of time impact. Efficiency is not just the factor of the cheapest price for a technology but also about whether you bought it in time or not.
Posted Tuesday, January 19, 2021 5:46 pm

The state has agreed to pay $6.85 million to settle a lawsuit brought by a young man with autism and developmental delays who nearly died in his family's care in Tacoma.

Dustyn Wilson's lawsuit alleged that the state Department of Social and Health services had warnings that he wasn't safe with his family as a child and adult.

Today the 22-year-old is cared for at an adult family home.

"Thankfully, Dustyn has a trusted and capable guardian who was appointed by the court," his attorney, David P. Moody, said in a statement. "The funds will be used to help Dustyn recover, obtain needed services and move forward."

The Department of Children, Youth and Families is the agency that now oversees child welfare in the state.

"In 2018, Washington established a new agency, DCYF, to bring together child and family programs such as Early Learning, Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare under one agency that has responsibility for the state's prevention and intervention work to protect children and strengthen families," DCYF and DSHS said in a joint statement Tuesday. "The lawsuit alleges the plaintiff, a developmentally delayed DSHS client, suffered years of abuse and neglect by their family as a child and as an adult. The circumstances of the case are tragic. DSHS and DCYF leadership hope this settlement ensures the quality care needed for the rest of the plaintiff's life."

Each agency will pay half the settlement.

Wilson's lawsuit, filed in November in Pierce County Superior Court, gave this account of what happened:

Child Protective Services had reports of neglect and abuse throughout Wilson's childhood.

He went to live with a foster family at the age of 11, and soon after his father sought custody.

Wilson had not had a relationship with him since he was 4 and told social workers repeatedly that he was afraid of his father and did not want to see him.

Part of a safety plan authored by a DSHS social worker for Wilson the next year, cited in the lawsuit, said that the father had "not addressed his parental deficiencies and Dustyn would be at grave risk of abuse or neglect if returned to his care at this time."

Wilson still was placed in the home, and in June 2017 social workers noted Wilson looked "very skinny" and had not gotten medical attention in more than a year.

It was in June 2018 that the family called 911 to report that Wilson wasn't breathing.

He weighed 70 pounds when he was taken to an intensive care unit in critical condition.

Wilson was malnourished and "incapable of fighting infection which nearly resulted in his death," a report from medical professionals said.

His stepmother told police she and Wilson's father couldn't properly care for him.

They pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal mistreatment last year in Pierce County Superior Court and were sentenced as first-time offenders to six months of community custody.

"The taxpayers give almost $10 billion to DSHS to protect our most vulnerable," Moody said. "If the Legislature won't hold DSHS accountable, it's up to our court system. Frankly, it's up to all of us."

___

(c)2021 The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)

Visit The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) at www.TheNewsTribune.com

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PRAGUE, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Komercni banka will start a gradual migration to a new software platform from Temenos this year. Syncordis will deliver and implement the system. This is one of Komercni banka's most crucial investments ever; the objective is to achieve the reference level of the digitalisation of banking services in the Czech Republic.

"The signing of the contract with Syncordis and Temenos constitutes for us a strategic investment in our future. It is a crucial milestone in Komercni banka's history, which confirms our digitalisation leadership in the Czech banking market. We regard the opportunity to work with partners who share our approach to innovation and will help us to use the latest technologies for the benefit of our clients as a natural and integral part of our efforts," said Jan Juchelka, Komercni banka's Chairman and CEO, adding: "Growth of our clients' satisfaction and improvement in overall customer experience are some of the primary and natural objectives of this investment."

Pierre Servais, Syncordis's Chief Business Officer EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), noted: "We are delighted to have this opportunity of strategic cooperation with Komercni banka in its drive to transform the main banking operations, and of directing its digitalisation journey. Innovation and the willingness to transform is the key in today's constantly changing world. Thanks to the powerful Temenos technology and Syncordis's extensive expertise in implementation, Komercni banka will be able to leverage the new possibilities of digital banking, and to provide its customers with new experience based on the foundations of a cutting-edge technological environment."

Komercni banka's long-term partnership with Syncordis includes the supply and implementation of the Temenos banking software that will support the bank and its subsidiaries in continuing their digitalisation, in simplifying the range of their products, and in enhancing security and sustainable business.

Komercni banka is Syncordis's very first client in Eastern Europe.

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BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Billionaire and Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma made his first public appearance after nearly three months while delivering a speech to rural teachers in China in a live virtual meeting on Wednesday morning. He has been out of public view since late October, when he made a controversial speech at a Shanghai financial forum.



Today's speech was part of the Rural Teachers Initiative that was established by Ma in 2015 to support teachers working in the Chinese countryside. Generally, Ma invites 100 most outstanding rural teachers to the tropical island of Hainan for a meeting and provides them cash grants to support rural education.



Speculations were rife over his whereabouts as the 56-year old Ma is still seen as the face of China's private business community, despite him retiring from all official roles at Alibaba on his 55th birthday in 2019.



At the meeting in October, Ma had criticized China's financial regulatory system in his speech. His critical remarks did not go down well with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members and regulators, who promptly summoned him.



Ma is said to have admonished China's communist regime for making it difficult for business empires to survive in the country. He has reportedly being facing a regulatory clampdown on his business empire by Chinese authorities since then.



In the aftermath, a $37 billion initial public offering by Alibaba affiliate Ant Group was suspended in early November. The regulators also launched an antitrust probe into Alibaba in late December and restricted domestic media outlets to report on the business tycoon.



After this, Ma is said to have disappeared along with four other Chinese billionaires and have been off the radar of several Chinese run media outlets. This also raised speculations of his well-being. Though Alibaba refused to publicly reveal his location, they said he was well intact and physically sound.



Many speculated that Ma was arrested under China's Secret Detentions Act formed in 2013. Some said it was a 'design' by the CCP for presenting dissenting views against the government publicly.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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DAVIESS COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Every day thousands of cars pass by empty fields in Daviess county. The land sits near a busy interchange. Quietly it sits waiting for new development.

Bryant Niehoff with DaviessCounty Economic Development Corporation explains, "Near the i-69 interchange, near the city of Washington, Daviess county. It's really been a priority area for development for our community for years. And now we're starting to see a lot of that come to fruition."

2020 saw big strides to bring more development to the area. Daviess Driven is pushing to bring the mid states corridor to the interchange. True Rx announced it will bring 90 new jobs to a new expansion.

2021 is starting off with two large areas of land being certified ready for industry.

Niehoff explains, "It removes barriers in the development process. It helps us to remain competitive at the state and national level for new economic development projects."

One site received a gold certification. The other silver. Each designation gives interested industries an idea of what is available. It's a leg up for the community to entice businesses to build and hire in Daviess County.

Niehoff says, "Things do tend to snowball. It's tough to be the first one. To take the dive into the deep end of the pool right? But once you do, you figure out the water is nice right? And the word starts spreading."

The water looks to be nice for over 200 acres of land near I-69. Now it is just a matter of time before that word spreads.

Niehoff says, "I'm very hopeful for some positive things in the next few years. There is a lot of energy behind commercial development along US 50 near the I-69 interchange. Industrial development even some housing and residential."
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 19:34:47|Editor: huaxia

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Johannes Gawaxab (L), central bank governor of Namibia, hands over medical equipment to Namibia's Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula in Namibia's capital Windhoek on Jan. 20, 2021. (Photo by Snow Douglas/Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's economy can ill afford a second COVID-19 lockdown, the country's central bank governor, Johannes Gawaxab cautioned on Wednesday.

Gawaxab during a donation of COVID-19 equipment worth 3 million Namibia dollars (200,000 U.S. dollars) to the country's Ministry of Health reiterated that any lockdown, even if it is contained and partial, could have a severe long-lasting impact on the already ailing economy.

"The damage caused could take years to undo," he said, adding that it is sensible to prevent a further deterioration in the COVID-19 matrix in Namibia by focusing on prevention and containment.

According to the governor, through consultations the donations which include personal protective equipment (PPEs), oxygen machines, among others, are tailored to assist various needs in the hospitals across the country.

Speaking at the handover of the donation, Namibia's Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula said the donation came at an opportune time as cases across the country continue to spike, and health workers are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. Enditem
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Spain has a particular talent to create public museums for private collections, Polo told reporters during a museum presentation last month.

A large portrait of Polo stands at the entrance to the Toledo museum, and the explanatory panels summarize his life and achievements, from his birth in Havana in 1951 through his finance career, in which he helped Citibank set up a fine-arts investment department that the text calls the first of its kind in the history of the banking industry.

But no reference is made to the shadier episodes in Polos past. Once celebrated in the United States as a socialite and cultural patron, in 1988, Polo became a fugitive from justice and the target of a $130 million art fraud lawsuit. He was eventually detained in Italy and spent four years in prison. Polo also divorced his Dominican wife, Rosa Suro, who used to wear jewels that he collected, but whom he later accused of siding against him in the fraud case.

My life is not linear, that of a bourgeois, Polo said during the museum presentation. This legal story happened 30 years ago and I believe in the right to forget.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 16:33:37|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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KAMPALA -- Uganda's Health Ministry on Tuesday registered 449 new COVID-19 cases in the six-day period through Monday, taking the national tally to 38,534.

A total of 322 new recoveries were recorded in the East African country, bringing the nationwide recoveries to 13,405, the statement said.

- - - -

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia on Wednesday confirmed seven more imported COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections in the country to 448 to date, said a Ministry of Health (MoH) statement.

The new cases were detected on Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand recently via land borders, the statement said.

- - - -

ULAN BATOR -- Nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 patients in Mongolia have now recovered, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Wednesday.

Thirty-nine more COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from hospitals in Mongolia's capital Ulan Bator, taking the total recoveries to 1,033, Amarjargal Ambaselmaa, head of the surveillance department of the NCCD, said during a daily press conference.

- - - -

NEW DELHI -- India's COVID-19 tally rose to 10,595,660 on Wednesday as 13,823 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry.

According to the official data, the death toll mounted to 152,718 with 162 new deaths. Enditem
After sitting exposed to the elements outside the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for more than 30 years, the full-scale model of the space shuttle needs a lot of work.

Just how much work is the question.

The rocket center announced Tuesday that the shuttle, known as Pathfinder, is being dismantled to allow engineers the opportunity to inspect the models interior and determine how best to restore it. Its a multi-million dollar project expected to take several years, rocket center CEO Louie Ramirez said.

The space shuttle model, like the towering Saturn V model, is a source of pride for the Rocket City and the museum  Alabamas most-visited tourist attraction. The rocket center two years ago launched a project to restore the Saturn V at a cost of more than $1 million.

Truly the million-dollar question, Kay Taylor, director of education at the museum, said when asked about the cost. Its when we get a look at that orbiter. Its been in place for many, many years. Were in the diagnostic phase. It could range $1 million, $2 million, $3 million. Ill stop there before any of the staff hits their knees.

Its an extensive project. But its iconic for Huntsville and for the state of Alabama.

The shuttle was built at Marshall Space Flight Center at Huntsvilles Redstone Arsenal in 1977 and was used for various tests as the stand-in for the Enterprise shuttle  which was flown throughout the country for demonstration purposes prior to the inaugural shuttle launch into in 1981.

Stacked atop the giant orange external tank, which is flanked by solid rocket boosters, the shuttle stack is the only one of its kind in the world.

The museum last year received a $500,000 federal matching grant from Save Americas Treasures that will be used in the restoration project as well as grants from former Space Camp alum Tim Sheehy, now CEO and Founder of Montana-based Bridger Aerospace; Lockheed Martin Corporation; the late Dr. Joyce Neighbors; and The Daniel Foundation of Alabama matched the grant, allowing the project to begin.

The first phase of the project is budgeted for $1.5 million, the museum said.

Our goal is to return this as a point of inspiration and have it looking as good as possible. As you can see, 32 years in the Alabama sun have taken its toll, Taylor said.

its part of Huntsvilles DNA. As Huntsville is growing and changing and becoming an international city, its important to remember this town has always had such a technological drive. This is amazing and where were headed is amazing. Its always important to remember your touchstones as you look forward.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 20, 2021) asked the Centre to withdraw its plea against the proposed tractor march by protesting farmer unions on Republic Day and reiterated that it will not pass orders against the protest rally.

The top court said the decision has to be taken by the Centre and Delhi Police. The farmers, staging a protest at the various entry points of Delhi against the three farm laws, called for a mega tractor rally on Republic Day.

Notably, the apex court has ordered a four-member committee to resolve the deadlock between the farmers and government as the previous nine rounds of talks between the Centre and farmer unions have failed to bring any results as both sides are firm on their demands.

One of the members, Bhupinder Singh Mann, National President of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, had last week said he was recusing himself from the four-member committee.

On the other hand, farmer groups have already started their preparations for the tractor rally on Republic Day. Thousands of farmers from Punjab and Haryana will start leaving for Delhi on tractors and have started making arrangements for the journey. The farmers union has claimed that their march will be peaceful.

Meanwhile, the farmer unions will hold the 10th round of talks with the Centre on Wednesday. The central government had earlier postponed the 10th round of scheduled talks with the protesting farmers` leaders to January 20.

While at the Ghazipur border, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait said the postponement of the meeting for a day is not going to make any difference as farmers will not leave the borders till the three farm laws are repealed.

"It does not matter that the meeting is delayed. We are here to stay till our demands are acknowledged and laws are repealed. We hope that matter will be resolved through dialogue," he said.

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WASHINGTON  The Latest on Joe Bidens presidential inauguration (all times local):

10:15 p.m.

Fireworks lit up the sky behind the Washington Monument to mark the end of Inauguration Day for President Joe Biden.

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Biden and first lady Jill Biden watched the end of the days events from a balcony in the White House on Wednesday night. The Bidens grandchildren danced and clapped on the balcony.

While the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns in Washington vastly scaled back inaugural events, organizers created a celebratory atmosphere with live and recorded celebrity performances, ending with singer Katy Perry.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, watched the fireworks from the steps of the Washington Monument after Harris delivered brief remarks.

___

HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JOE BIDENS INAUGURATION AS THE 46TH U.S. PRESIDENT:

Joe Biden took the oath of office at noon Wednesday to become the 46th president of the United States. He takes charge in a deeply divided nation, inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

Read more:

 Biden takes the helm as president: Democracy has prevailed

 Bidens first act: Orders on pandemic, climate, immigration

 Biden charts new US direction, promises many Trump reversals

 Vice President Harris: A new chapter opens in US politics

 Analysis: For Biden, chance to turn crisis into opportunity

___

HERES WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON:

10 p.m.

Three former presidents are celebrating the transition of power that saw Democrat Joe Biden enter the White House.

In a pretaped video that aired during Bidens inaugural television special Wednesday night, Republican George W. Bush, along with Democrats Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, wished Biden luck.

Obama said, Inaugurations celebrate a tradition of a peaceful transfer of power that is over two centuries old. But the mere fact that all three felt compelled to come together to address the issue speaks to the fraught moment the country faces.

President Donald Trump repeatedly and falsely insisted for months that the November election was stolen from him, and he whipped up a violent crowd of supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago seeking to overturn the certification of Biden win. He also snubbed his successors inauguration.

In the video, Clinton urged Americans to get off their high horses and reach out to friends and neighbors with whom they may have differences. Bush said he wanted Biden to be successful because his success is our countrys success.

___

9:40 p.m.

Kamala Harris talked about the power of American aspiration in her first speech to the nation as vice president.

With the Washington Monument lit up behind her Wednesday night, Harris called on Americans to remember we are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up.

She also cast her ascension as the first female vice president as a demonstration of the nations character.

Borrowing a line she frequently used on the campaign trail, she said, We not only see what has been  we see what can be.

Harris gave a nod to American scientists, parents and teachers who are persevering through the coronavirus pandemic and encouraged people to see beyond crises. She spoke during President Joe Bidens Celebrating America event to mark the inauguration.

___

8:55 p.m.

Bruce Springsteen sang Land of Hope and Dreams as he stood alone with his guitar in front of the Lincoln Memorial to open Celebrating America, a broadcast special to honor the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

Springsteen said, Good evening, America, to open the 90-minute special airing across several networks on Wednesday night in place of the usual official inaugural balls.

Performing the 1999 song of solace, Springsteen sang, I will provide for you, and Ill stand by your side. Youll need a good companion, for this part of the ride.

Host Tom Hanks, also at the Lincoln Memorial, introduced the show by saying, In the last few weeks, in the last few years, weve witnessed deep divisions and a troubling rancor in our land. But tonight we ponder the United States of America.

Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria are co-hosting the show, which will also include performances from John Legend, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, the Foo Fighters, Justin Timberlake and Jon Bon Jovi.

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8:40 p.m.

Kamala Harris might be vice president, but she doesnt get to enjoy all of the vice presidential perks just yet.

Harris wont immediately move into the vice presidents residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. A Harris aide says the delay will allow time for repairs to the home. The house needs its chimney liners replaced, among other fixes, and its easier to finish the work with the home unoccupied.

The former California senator has a home in downtown D.C. where she typically stayed while in town for work, but its unclear if shell remain there while waiting for the repairs to be completed.

Every vice president since Walter Mondale has lived at the Naval Observatory, and its been the site of visits from foreign dignitaries, events and gatherings hosted by vice presidents past.

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8:05 p.m.

A group of protesters carrying anti-President Joe Biden and anti-police signs is marching in Portland and damaged the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Oregon.

Police say the group smashed windows and spray-painted anarchist symbols at the political party building on Wednesday. It was one of at least four groups planning to gather in the city on Inauguration Day.

Police say officers on bicycles entered the crowd to contact someone with a weapon and to remove poles affixed to a banner that they thought could be used as a weapon. Police say the crowd swarmed the officers and threw objects at them.

Portland has been the site of frequent protests since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May. Over the summer, there were demonstrations for more than 100 straight days.

Mayor Ted Wheeler recently decried what he described as a segment of violent agitators who detract from the message of police accountability and who should be subject to more severe punishment.

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7:40 p.m.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki says President Joe Biden will allow Congress to decide the way forward on the impeachment trial of his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Psaki said Wednesday in the first press briefing of the Biden administration that the president believes members of the Senate should figure out how to proceed with a trial that could consume the opening weeks of his presidency.

Psaki says the administration is instead focused on the pandemic and the economic crisis that have engulfed the country for nearly a year, noting that the Senate can handle multiple issues at once.

Trump was impeached last week on a charge of inciting an insurrection. It was his second impeachment, a record for any president.

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7:30 p.m.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki says President Joe Biden will call Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday, the first call with a foreign leader after Biden took the oath of office.

Psaki said Wednesday at her first press briefing that the subject of the call will be relations between the United States and Canada as well as the status of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, whose permitting Biden revoked in one of his first acts as president.

Psaki says Bidens first round of calls to foreign leaders will be with allies, adding that the new president plans to repair relationships damaged by former President Donald Trumps adversarial approach.

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7:15 p.m.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki is delivering the first news briefing of Joe Bidens presidency, a once standard part of past administrations that was largely sidelined during the Trump era.

Psaki said Wednesday that she will bring truth and transparency to the White House briefing room, a clear reference to her predecessors under President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration took an openly combative tone with the news media. Sean Spicer, who was Trumps first press secretary, set the tenor four years ago by claiming that the audience at Trumps inauguration was the largest in history, despite photographic evidence to the contrary.

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7:10 p.m.

The Senate has voted to confirm Avril Haines as the new director of national intelligence, giving President Joe Biden the first member of his Cabinet.

The 84-10 vote by the Senate on Wednesday came after senators agreed to fast-track her nomination.

Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said it was fitting that Haines was confirmed first. He said the intelligence post is of critical importance to the country.

Haines told the Senate Intelligence Committee at a confirmation hearing Tuesday that China would be an important focus of the Biden administration. She said she sees her role as speaking truth to power and delivering accurate and apolitical intelligence even if it is uncomfortable or inconvenient for the administration.

The Senate was able to vote quickly on the nomination, and bypass a committee vote, after Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton dropped his objection. Cotton had said he wanted to hear from Haines on the Bush-era CIA interrogation program before he agreed to move forward. Haines was a deputy CIA director in the Obama administration.

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6:35 p.m.

The federal government has launched a new website that will serve as a clearinghouse for records from former President Donald Trumps administration.

The National Archives and Records Administration announced the website on Wednesday. Eventually, it will be a repository of archived Trump-era documents, including his White House website and social media accounts. It will also offer information about accessing other records from Trumps tenure.

The agency maintains records going back to President Herbert Hoovers administration, which ended in 1933.

But there are questions about how meticulous the Trump administration was about keeping records. Trump was cavalier about a law requiring their preservation. He had a habit of ripping up documents before tossing them out.

Thats led some historians and archivists to worry that there will be a gaping hole in the history of Trumps tumultuous four years in office.

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6:30 p.m.

President Joe Biden has given the Oval Office a slight makeover.

Biden revealed the new decor Wednesday as he invited reporters into his new office to watch him sign a series of executive orders hours after he took office.

A bust of Cesar Chavez, the labor leader and civil rights activist, is nestled among an array of framed family photos displayed on a desk behind the new president.

Benjamin Franklin peers down at Biden from a portrait on a nearby wall.

Biden brought a dark blue rug out of storage to replace a lighter colored one installed by former President Donald Trump.

One office feature remains: Biden is also using whats known as the Resolute Desk because it was built from oak used in the British Arctic exploration ship HMS Resolute.

Trump used that desk, too.

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6:15 p.m.

President Joe Biden is reminding his federal appointees and staff that we work for the people and is calling on them to be decent, honorable and smart.

Biden swore in nearly 1,000 federal appointees and staff in a virtual ceremony in the State Dining Room at the White House on Wednesday evening. He spoke from behind a lectern, while the appointees appeared at the event via video streams set up on a series of television screens.

Biden said that if any of his appointees treat a colleague with disrespect, he will fire them on the spot. He said that mindset had been missing in President Donald Trumps White House.

The new president also told the group that we have such an awful lot to do and said that containing the pandemic and administering COVID-19 vaccines will be the most consequential logistical thing thats ever been done in the United States.

He said hes going to make mistakes but promised during their swearing-in that he will acknowledge them when he does.

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5:40 p.m.

One of former Secretary of State Mike Pompeos signature achievements has met an abrupt end as a large placard enunciating his professional ethos was removed from the State Departments main entrance.

Workers removed the giant sign from the departments C Street lobby on Wednesday shortly after President Joe Biden was inaugurated. The placard had been prominently placed near a plaque honoring foreign service staff who died while serving their country, but many career diplomats considered it insulting and filled with unnecessary platitudes.

Department spokesperson Ned Price says, We are confident that our colleagues do not need a reminder of the values we share.

Pompeo unveiled his ethos statement to great fanfare in April 2019 with an eye toward improving morale. But it had the opposite effect, and many complained it was condescending.

Pompeo foes had accused the secretary and some of his top aides of failing to abide by the precepts of the ethos statement themselves, particularly during Trumps Ukraine-related impeachment, when they decided not to publicly defend career diplomats.

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5:20 p.m.

President Joe Biden has signed a series of executive orders from the Oval Office hours after his inauguration.

Biden wore a mask while seated behind the Resolute Desk with a stack of orders early Wednesday evening. He said there was no time to start like today.

The first order Biden signed was related to the coronavirus pandemic. He also signed an order reentering the U.S. into the Paris climate accord.

While his predecessor Donald Trump broke long-standing practice by skipping Bidens inauguration, he did follow through on one tradition and left behind a letter for Biden.

The new Democratic president said Trump wrote a very generous letter. But Biden said he wouldnt reveal its contents until he had a chance to speak with Trump.

___

4:55 p.m.

President Joe Biden has directed that federal agencies halt all rulemaking until his administration has time to review proposed regulations.

White House chief of staff Ron Klain announced the move in a memo to the heads of executive departments and agencies Wednesday afternoon, hours after Biden was sworn in as the nations 46th president.

The regulatory freeze order is a staple of presidential transitions, allowing the incoming administration to review the pending actions of their predecessors.

___

4:50 p.m.

Three new Democratic senators have been sworn in to office by Vice President Kamala Harris. That means their party now has control of the White House and Congress for the first time in a decade.

Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff both won Senate runoff elections in Georgia earlier this month, defeating Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. Alex Padilla was appointed by Californias governor to fill Harris seat.

Wednesday was Harris first time presiding over the Senate.

Warnock is Georgias first Black senator, and Padilla is Californias first Hispanic senator. Ossoff is Georgias first Jewish senator and, at 33, the Senates youngest sitting member.

The Senate is now divided 50-50. Democrats will be in control because the vice president casts tiebreaking votes in the chamber. Democrats have a 221-211 House majority, with three vacancies.

Democrats last controlled the White House, Senate and House in January 2011.

___

4:40 p.m.

The New Radicals reunited after more than 20 years to virtually perform their 1998 hit You Get What You Give at the celebration for President Joe Bidens inauguration.

The anthem about social and political issues affecting America at the turn of the millennium raised eyebrows when it was announced for Wednesdays festivities, but has strong connections to the president and vice president.

In Bidens 2017 autobiography, Promise Me, Dad, he wrote that You Get What You Give became the familys theme song when his son Beau was battling cancer. The song was also used on the campaign trail as the theme for Kamala Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, at rallies.

This whole damn world could fall apart/Youll be okay, follow your heart, go some of the lyrics. Dont give up, youve got a reason to live/Cant forget, we only get what we give.

The new administration also was serenaded  virtually, of course  by some of the funkiest artists in American music: Earth, Wind & Fire and Niles Rogers with Kathy Sledge.

Three members of Earth Wind & Fire  Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Ralph Johnson  performed their hit Sing a Song, while Rogers and Sledge combined for a version of Sister Sledges We Are Family.

The performances, interspliced with marching bands, varied performances and stories from Biden-Harris supporters, played on social media and online after the Biden and Harris families concluded the inauguration parade.

___

4:20 p.m.

Vice President Kamala Harris has entered her new office building for the first time in her new role.

Harris was joined Wednesday by her husband, Doug Emhoff, as she entered the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which houses the vice presidents office and is located near the White House.

The marching band of her alma mater, Howard University, helped lead Harris procession.

She was joined by her extended family and held hands with one of her young grandnieces, who was beaming and wearing a fur coat meant to mimic one Harris wore as a child.

Shouts of We love you! greeted her as she walked along the procession route. She waved at White House staffers gathered to watch and gave one final wave to the crowd before entering the building.

___

3:50 p.m.

President Joe Biden has entered the White House for the first time as chief executive after walking an abbreviated parade route, still wearing his protective mask amid sounds of Hail to the Chief.

The 46th president and first lady Jill Biden walked through a military cordon lining the White House driveway with the flags of U.S. states, leading the first couple to the main entrance under the North Portico on Wednesday.

Biden was expected to immediately begin working, with a stack of executive orders on immigration and other matters awaiting his signature.

The final ceremonial flourish completed an abbreviated inaugural afternoon unlike any Washington has seen, with Biden being seen in person by only a relative smattering of Americans given security lockdowns after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and public health protocols amid the ongoing pandemic.

___

3:45 p.m.

President Joe Biden and his family have concluded his inaugural parade by walking a final short distance of the route to the White House.

Biden, his wife, Jill Biden, their children and their grandchildren held hands Wednesday afternoon as they strolled, waving to a mostly nonexistent crowd because of coronavirus social distancing guidelines.

Biden jogged over to the sidelines several times to stop to talk to reporters and spectators.

The first family arrived on the White House grounds with a band playing and press in tow.

Joe and Jill Biden completed the trip by embracing at the entrance to the White House while the band played Hail to the Chief.

___

3:35 p.m.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says he hopes Donald Trump will continue to be the leader of the Republican Party after his election defeat and second impeachment.

The Republican senator said Wednesday during an interview on Fox News that if youre wanting to erase Donald Trump from the party, youre going to get erased.

Over the course of Trumps one-term presidency, Graham went from being one of his fiercest critics to being one of his most prominent allies in Congress.

Graham said it was inappropriate for Republicans in Congress to try to overturn President Joe Bidens victory and called Trumps comments ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot a big mistake. But he says ultimately that it wasnt a crime and that he blames the people that came into the Capitol, not him.

He said he thinks there would be a lot of support for Trump if he ran again in 2024.

He added: But Im not worried about 2024. I want to help Biden where I can, I want to get this country back on track.

___

3:25 p.m.

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton says it really lifted her heart to see Joe Biden sworn in as president on the same platform that supporters of President Donald Trump climbed when they attacked the Capitol two weeks ago.

Clinton and her husband, the former President Bill Clinton, attended Wednesdays inauguration of Biden. Afterward, she told The Associated Press that she was relieved and grateful to see Biden sworn in with a peaceful transition of power.

Thats been taken for granted in the U.S. for over two centuries. But two weeks ago, hundreds of Trump supporters invaded the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from formally certifying Bidens election victory over Trump.

The House impeached Trump a week later on a charge of inciting an insurrection.

Clinton says she thinks it was meaningful to many Americans to see Biden take his oath of office where, just a few weeks ago, marauders and terrorists had been attempting to stop democracy.

Trump defeated Clinton for the presidency in 2016.

___

3:15 p.m.

The highest-ranking Black member of Congress says former President George W. Bush lauded his role as a savior in helping get President Joe Biden elected to the White House.

U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Wednesday on a call with reporters that the Republican former president told him ahead of the inaugural ceremony that, if he had not given Biden the boost he did ahead of South Carolinas primary, we would not be having this transfer of power today.

Clyburn says Bush went on to say that Biden was the only one who could have defeated the incumbent president, Donald Trump. Trump and the Bush family didnt get along.

Clyburns pivotal endorsement ahead of South Carolinas Democratic primary helped propel Biden to the nomination. Biden won South Carolina by a margin of nearly 30 points.

Clyburn, South Carolinas only Democratic representative in Congress, is the dean of the states Democrats and the third-ranking member of the U.S. House.

___

3:05 p.m.

President Joe Biden has spent a few of the first moments of his term at Arlington National Cemetery, honoring fallen veterans with three former presidents and their families.

The president, first lady Jill Biden, and newly sworn-in Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, presided over a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Wednesday.

After cannon fire rumbled in the distance, Biden saluted as a military band played the national anthem.

Biden and Harris later briefly touched the wreath before bowing their heads in prayer. The president also made the sign of the cross, then he and Harris stood somberly for the playing of taps.

Joining them at the ceremony were former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura and former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary.

Former President Donald Trump flew to Florida before Biden was sworn into office.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Karl Dresch, with Trump 2020 banners on his Upper Peninsula home, wasnt shy about his support for the now-former president.

The trouble came when he posted videos, photos and commentary on social media after he allegedly joined the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died in the failed effort to prevent legislators from confirming the electoral vote for Joe Biden.

On Wednesday, Jan. 20, three hours after Biden was sworn in as president, Dresch appeared via Zoom before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Marteen Vermaat in Marquette on a felony charge and two misdemeanors.

The most serious charge, obstruction of official proceedings, carries a penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison. Dresch was also charged with knowingly entering a restricted building, punishable by one year in prison, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, punishable by six months in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Greeley asked that Dresch be held pending trial on the basis that this case involves both a serious risk that the defendant will flee and a serious risk that the defendant will obstruct or attempt to obstruct justice.

Dresch was ordered held pending a detention hearing, likely on Friday in Marquette.

The case will then be sent to the U.S. District in Washington, D.C., for further proceedings unless Dresch agrees to plead guilty in Michigan. Beth LaCosse, an assistant federal defender, was appointed to represent Dresch.

Dresch, a high-school graduate, said he worked in flooring but said work is slow right now.

His own images and words put him in the Capitol, FBI special agent John Fortunato wrote in a search-warrant affidavit. A tipster contacted the FBI a day after the Capitol riot.

The tip indicated that Karl Dresch had posted information describing his own January 6, 2021, entry into the U.S. Capitol Building on his Facebook account, Fortunato wrote in the affidavit.

Dresch was arrested Tuesday in a traffic stop near his house. The FBI had been conducting surveillance when they spotted him.

The FBI used search warrants to seize the defendants Toyota Camry, clothing, cell phone and travel records.

Federal authorities say that a mob stormed the building after attending then-President Donald Trumps rally that morning.

Fortunato provided numerous photo and screen grabs from Dreschs Facebook page to show Dresch had illegally entered the Capitol.

Three days before the insurrection, Dresch allegedly wrote: NO EXCUSES! NO RETREAT! NO SURRENDER! TAKE THE STREETS! TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY! 1/6/2021=7/4/1776.

The crowd started fighting to get into the Capitol around 2 p.m. on Jan. 6, pushing past barricades, breaking windows and assaulting police, the FBI said.

Within 20 minutes, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate and then-Vice President Mike Pence were evacuated from chambers.

At 2:43 p.m., Dresch wrote: Patriots are in the Capitol building now, court records showed.

He said he was inside a minute later.

Read more:

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Border Force officers are to be given new powers to use 'reasonable force' to fingerprint migrants in France.

Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that the law will be changed in a bid to make it easier to remove those who arrive illegally across the Channel.

Border Force officers in the UK have powers to forcibly take fingerprints from illegal entrants  but those working in Calais and Dunkirk do not.

The law change, due to come into force in the spring, will allow border officials to fingerprint clandestine migrants they encounter at the so-called 'juxtaposed controls' where lorries and other vehicles are searched at French ports.

Border Force officers are to be given new powers to use 'reasonable force' to fingerprint migrants in France

A Home Office spokesman said: 'If we have fingerprints that prove someone was in France who is later encountered in the UK that can be key in declaring their cases inadmissible.'

Immigration minister Chris Philp said: 'Today's move builds on steps we have already taken to reform the asylum system, to strengthen border controls and reduce illegal migration.

'It builds on the inadmissibility rules laid before Parliament last month, with fingerprints collected by Border Force at the juxtaposed controls expected to form an important part of the evidence base in determining inadmissible cases.

'These measures will help reduce the strain on asylum staff, allowing them to focus on processing genuine claims from those in need of help.

'This Government is fixing our broken asylum system to deliver a firmer and fairer system.'

However, agreements to return inadmissible migrants have not yet been agreed with France and other European Union countries following the end of the Brexit transition period.

Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that the law will be changed in a bid to make it easier to remove those who arrive illegally across the Channel

Britain was previously able to return migrants who had arrived through EU member states using an agreement known as the Dublin Regulation, of which the UK is no longer part.

Keeping fingerprints on file may allow returns to resume at a later date.

The Channel crisis saw 8,500 migrants arrive in the UK illegally in small boats from northern France last year - compared with just 1,850 in the whole of 2019.

The new powers, to be brought in under secondary legislation, are due to come into force in the spring.
The next president of the United States, Joe Biden. Its June 9, 1987, and then-Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. has just entered the presidential race. Look familiar? The 2020 race is Bidens third attempt at the Oval Office. He first ran for president 32 years ago. For those who may have forgotten or werent around in 87, heres what happened. Biden started off as a strong contender. Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware. But his campaign was marred by some early blunders, like this one. What law school did you attend and where did you place in that class? And the other question is I think I probably have a much higher IQ than you do, I suspect. And he exaggerated his academic record in law school. went back to law school, and in fact ended up in the top half of my class. And then there were moments like this, repeated later during the campaign. When I marched in the civil rights movement, I marched with tens of thousands of others to change attitudes. But he never actually marched in the civil rights movement at all. Ultimately, it was accusations of plagiarism in his speeches I did not know that was a Robert Kennedy quote. My mistake. that forced him to drop out of the race. I made some mistakes. After that, Biden stayed in the Senate, ran again in the 2008 race, became the vice-presidential nominee, and then the vice president, laid low for a little while and now were here. If Im going to be able to beat Donald Trump in 2020, its going to happen here. And certain things, including a handful of Bidens vulnerabilities, havent changed. Hes still leaning into some of the core messages he highlighted during his first presidential run often emphasizing his profile over policy, promising to put the country on the right path after what he sees as the ills of Republican administrations. Here he is in 1987. I tell you today that America is a nation at risk. In 2007. This president is going to be judged, and his administration judged, very harshly by history. And in 2019. Were in the battle for the soul of this nation. But Biden has struggled to project himself as a man in step with the times. And parts of his political history continue to haunt him, like his role in the questioning of Anita Hill in 1991. It is appropriate to ask Professor Hill anything any member wishes to ask her to plumb the depths of her credibility. And more recently, it was his relationship with personal space. The boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset and I get it. Throughout his more than four-decade-long career in politics, Biden has become known for his freewheeling charm and authenticity. Ive been referred to as Middle-Class Joe. Its not always meant as a compliment. But his candor has also gotten him into some trouble. Ive done some dumb things and Ill do dumb things again. As the Democratic front-runner, Biden will be under a microscope. The question is whether he can harness the folksy appeal hes become known for without repeating the mistakes of the past.

President-elect Joe Bidens nominee to be the United States next top intelligence official told Congress today that the incoming administration will provide lawmakers with an unclassified report on the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

During her confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Avril Haines told lawmakers that the Biden administration would absolutely  follow the law and give lawmakers the intelligence communitys assessment on who was behind Khashoggis grisly murder in Istanbul in 2018. The Trump administration has refused to provide the legally mandated report on Khashoggis murder to Congress. The Central Intelligence Agency reportedly concluded that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder.

Why it matters: Haines statement is the latest sign the Biden administration intends to take a different approach when it comes to congressional oversight and US relations with Riyadh.

Haines placed a strong emphasis on the need for US intelligence work to be of a nonpolitical nature in a move to reassure the historically bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee after four years of the Trump administration, which has been widely criticized for excusing the troubling activities of US allies, partners and adversaries.

Lawmakers from both parties pushed the Trump administration to declassify the report, to no avail. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, whose question elicited Haines response Tuesday, led the charge for putting a provision in the 2019 defense authorization bill requiring the reports declassification, although legislators shied away from mandating sanctions on Saudi officials named in the report.

Whats next: If confirmed, Haines has vowed to focus on keeping the intelligence committee in the loop as the Biden administration focuses on major foreign policy challenges, primarily China but to a lesser extent Russia and Iran.

Know more: Sabena Siddiqui explains how Saudi leaders are reorienting their approach to the region in preparation for the incoming Biden administration, while Ben Caspit examines Israeli leaders apprehensions and plans for dealing with the new Biden team.



Narendra Singh Tomar The Supreme Court, in a hearing last week, had ordered a freeze on farm laws that is expected to last for two months while a special committee discusses the issue with all sides. The government ready to put farm laws on freeze for one-and-half years and will convey it to the Supreme Court in an affidavit, sources told NDTV. The farmer unions, sources said, will consider the proposal. The Supreme Court, in a hearing last week, had ordered a freeze on farm laws that is expected to last for two months while a special committee discusses the issue with all sides. The decision came after nine round of meeting remained inconclusive.




New Delhi, Jan 20 : Gala, Baghera, Victor, Tanu, Sparrow, Polo, Helli, Sandy, Anny and Brutus are among many 'Crack K-9 QRT' team members of the ITBP's dog squad who have been tasked with sanitising and securing the area around India Gate and Rajpath for incident-free Republic Day celebrations this year in the capital.

The five- to seven-year-old male and female dogs belonging to three separate expert sniffer and assault dog breeds -- Labrador Retriever, Dobermann and Malinois or Belgian Shepherds -- are being used by the Delhi Police for the last four days in anti-sabotage operations for Republic Day parade security duties.

The Delhi Police have requisitioned the world-renowned 'Crack K9 QRT' unit of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for their deployment to sanitise and secure the area around India Gate and Rajpath.

Four days back, the MHA sent an order to the ITBP following a Delhi Police request and the sniffing dogs pushed for the job, sources told IANS. ITBP K-9 QRT (Quick Reaction Team) rushes to the assistance of Delhi Police whenever there is a requisition.

These dogs will also be used for sanitising Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 26 where 'At Home' function is arranged in the evening for Vice President, Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers, Cabinet ministers, Leader of Opposition and other dignitaries by the President, the sources said.

These ITBP K-9s are some of the highly trained and loyal dogs who will sniff terror with "zero error" to ensure that the Republic Day ceremony held under a very high threat perception goes off without a hitch.

ITBP is the largest contributor of dog teams to the Delhi Police for various assignments since the past one decade.

"All the majestic ITBP K-9s deployed this year are hero dogs who have already had a stint in counter-insurgency grid and are battle hardened dogs whose noses miss nothing," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Pandey told IANS.

Trained for all regions and weather conditions, the official said some of these dogs have been used for anti-Maoist operations and are extremely people-friendly.

He said that these dogs are trained on how to behave with the public and how to react in case of any suspicious activity.

ITBP's serving dog 'Gala' of Malinois breed has done anti-sabotage duty at the all-weather Atal Tunnel inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rohtang in October last year.

ITBP was the first force to deploy Malinois dogs in Maoist-hit areas in 2009 to sniff out hiding insurgents and detecting IEDs, helping the force in saving lives of various security personnel deployed in the region.

Now ITBP has also started scientifically breeding K9s to meet its own demands and provide pups to other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police forces as mandated by the MHA.

Malinois dogs played a key role in hunting down al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, and more recently, Islamic State chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. Also known as Belgian Shepherds, the medium-sized herding dog breed from Belgium is known to be highly intelligent, alert and sensitive.

The ITBP also used these dogs for the security of then visiting US President Barack Obama, as well as for the security of all Indian missions in Afghanistan.

Besides Malinois breed, the ITBP's dog squad have been using Labrador Retrievers and Dobermanns.

The 90,000-strong ITBP, which is one of the seven CAPFs of the country, has the primary task of protecting the 3,488 km India-China border and performs a vital role in other assigned security duties.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)
Rileys quick time to production presents a unique opportunity to capitalise on the current historically high iron ore price and realise significant cash-flow for Venture in the near-term.

Venture remains on track to deliver its first iron ore shipment in the second quarter of 2021.

( ) has completed a share placement to sophisticated, professional and institutional investors to raise A$10 million, fully funding the development of the Riley Iron Ore Project in northwest Tasmania and paving the way for the first iron ore shipment next quarter.

The new funding will enable the company to complete the final stages of the Wet Screening Plant construction and commissioning. It also paves the way for Venture to deliver its first iron ore shipment in the June quarter of 2021.

Transitioning to producer

Venture was focused on financing the construction and commissioning of the Wet Screening Plant through debt, however, the opportunity presented itself to raise equity given the recent strength in the companys share price - a result of exploration success at the Golden Grove North and Kulin projects and sustained increases in iron ore prices.

The board believes the ability to raise equity significantly de-risks the project and the potential impact on the company as it transitions from an explorer to a producer.

Outlook

Rileys short mine life and quick time to production presents a unique opportunity to capitalise on the current historically high iron ore price and realise significant cash-flow for Venture in the near-term.

Iron ore prices have been strong throughout 2020 and into 2021 with the outlook for the rest of the year remaining positive due to continued demand generated by Chinese government infrastructure spending and ongoing supply concerns from Brazil.

In addition, placement funds will be utilised on exploration at Ventures priority exploration project at Golden Grove North Zinc-Copper-Gold Project.

Venture is looking to target extensions to recent drill intersections of up to 7% zinc, 1.3% copper and 2.1 g/t gold at Orcus and other newly identified, strong EM conductors situated along the VMS Target Zone.

Funds will also be utilised at the 100%-owned Kulin Project, with the recent start of a minimum 3000-metre drilling program in Western Australia designed to bring forward a potential new gold discovery.
Aldi to pay U.S. workers who get COVID-19 shot

German supermarket chain Aldi became the latest firm in the grocery sector to offer incentives for U.S. employees getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

A young offenders' institute breached a teenager's human rights by keeping him in solitary confinement for 55 days, the Supreme Court heard today.

The 15-year-old was locked alone in his cell for more than 23 hours a day for at least the first 55 days of his detention at the Feltham Young Offenders' Institution, in west London.

The boy, who had serious mental health problems and is identified in court documents as AB, was held there from December 2016 to February 2017.

He was forced to eat alone, received no education and had no access to a gym, psychological treatment or any purposeful activity.

He was not allowed to have contact with any other children and had only limited contact with adults working in the prison.

The boy, who had been sentenced to a year's detention for assaults on prison officers, is being represented by the Howard League for Penal Reform.

The 15-year-old boy with serious mental health problems was kept in solitary confinement in Feltham Young Offenders' Institution, in west London

What is solitary confinement and how long can an individual be held for? Solitary confinement involves the physical isolation of individuals in their cells for 22 to 24 hours a day. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons' (HMIP) Annual Report 2012-2013 describes how in segregation units '[a]part from a shower and a phone call, most prisoners remained locked in their cells nearly all day with nothing to do'. Segregation can be used as a punishment for adults who break the prison rules, although it is strictly limited to a maximum of 21 days. Prisoners, including children, can be segregated for 'good order and discipline' if it 'appears desirable, for the maintenance of good order or discipline or in his own interests'. There is no time limit for this, although after 42 days the Governor of the prison must seek authorisation from the Secretary of State for it to continue. In 2019, a report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights pointed to evidence that children in detention can 'end up in what amounts to solitary confinement (at least 22 hours per day without meaningful contact) which may be prolonged (at least 15 days' duration)'. The report added: 'This breach of children's rights is not a policy decision by the Government, but it is within the power of Government to prevent it.' In 2018, a report by the Children's Commissioner for England raised serious concerns about the use of segregation and isolation of children in secure penal settings. Earlier that year, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health had issued a joint position statement calling for the solitary confinement of children and young people to be abolished and prohibited. Source: Howard League Advertisement

They charity argues his treatment amounted to 'inhuman or degrading treatment', breaching Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Government is being represented by Sir James Eadie QC, dubbed the 'Treasury Devil'.

In 2017, the High Court ruled that AB's treatment was unlawful and that his Article 8 rights - the right to private and family life - were breached.

But the judge rejected a claim the treatment amounted to a breach of human rights laws which prohibit torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The case went to the Court of Appeal, where AB challenged the High Court's decision on Article 3.

At the same time, government lawyers cross-appealed the High Court's decision on Article 8.

The Court of Appeal dismissed both the appeal and the cross-appeal in January 2019. Two years on, the case has come to the Supreme Court.

Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: 'Every child needs fresh air, education and contact with other people if they are to grow, thrive and lead healthy lives.

'The practice of locking children in their cells for days on end is shocking and shameful.

'This important and upsetting case is among the worst that we have seen.'

Dr Laura Janes, Legal Director at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said solitary confinement can have a 'devastating impact' on children.

She added: 'Awareness of the harm caused has grown since AB's case first began, and there is now a consensus that children should never be kept in such conditions.'

The UK is out of step with a growing international consensus that children should never be placed in solitary confinement.

In the US, the District Court for New York granted an injunction requiring the immediate cessation of 23-hour solitary confinement of children.

The court referred to expert evidence that 'solitary confinement perpetuates, worsens, or even in some cases precipitates mental health concerns that can lead to long-term and often permanent changes in adolescent brain development'.

In 2017, a report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture stated that children in Cookham Wood prison, in Kent, were 'regularly held in conditions akin to solitary confinement for periods of 30 days and some for as long as 60 days or even, on occasion, up to 80 days for reasons of discipline and good order'.
After Georgia elected two Democratic senators who promised to support $2,000 pandemic relief checks for the public, some voters in the Peach State say they feel 'betrayed' that only $1,400 of additional funds are likely to come their way.

Senators-elect Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock both used the phrase '$2,000 relief checks' during their campaigns, with Warnock even sharing a mocked-up image of what a $2,000 check would look like.

But Joe Biden's relief plan foresees the checks as a mere $1,400 supplement to the $600 payments that have already been signed off by Donald Trump, bringing the total to $2,000 rather than sending out a new $2,000.

Some Georgia voters have been left unimpressed by what they see as semantic trickery, with one person who canvassed for Democrats saying he felt he had 'lied to people' when he promised them $2,000 payments.

'I'm a man of principle and morals and I feel like s**t. I lied to them,' Rogelio Linares told Mediaite.

Democratic senators-elect Jon Ossoff, left, and Raphael Warnock, right, campaigned for $2,000 relief checks during their successful runoff bids

Warnock shared this image of what a $2,000 check would look like - but some voters have been angered by the fact that Democrats now see the checks as a mere $1,400 supplement

Ossoff and Warnock won the January 5 runoffs to give Democrats a bare majority in the Senate thanks to the casting vote held by incoming VP Kamala Harris.

The result also confirmed Georgia's new status as an up-for-grabs state after Joe Biden narrowly won its 16 electoral votes in November, becoming the first Democrat to win the state in a presidential race since Bill Clinton in 1992.

But some of those voters now accuse Democrats of 'backtracking'. Accusing the Democratic leadership of a 'betrayal of the working class', Linares said that 'people are very mad about it' after the $1,400 plan was unveiled.

'At the doors, I was literally telling people, $2,000 checks, you can rely on this' he said.

Another voter who supported Ossoff and Warnock, Rachel Kahn, said she felt the $2,000 promise had been misleading.

'In my opinion as a person who does marketing, advertising, and public communications as my job, I would confidently say their messaging implied an additional $2,000, not $2,000 minus $600,' she said.

President-elect Joe Biden, pictured, unveiled a $1.9trillion relief plan last week which includes $1,400 checks to bring the total for December and January to $2,000

Oscar Zaro, another Democratic voter, said many people in his district had turned out for Ossoff and Warnock because of the promised $2,000.

'They really underestimate just how much people are hurting economically,' Zaro said of congressional Democrats.

Warnock used the phrase '$2,000 relief checks' several times in the final days of the campaign, saying on one occasion that Georgians 'need them to survive'.

One Warnock advert had a mocked-up image of a $2,000 check from the treasury, with the caption: 'Want a $2,000 check?'.

Ossoff said on the eve of polling day that 'we can pass $2,000 relief checks for the people, but we have to win this Senate election'.

Biden himself also joined in the campaign for Ossoff and Warnock and similarly implied that the checks would be $2,000 of new funds.

'If you send Jon and the Reverend to Washington, those $2,000 checks will go out the door, restoring hope and decency and honor for so many people who are struggling right now,' he said.

Trump signed a bill including $600 checks into law last month, after initially holding it up and calling for larger payments

But the Biden rescue plan published last Thursday said the checks would be worth $1,400, 'bringing their total relief payment from this and the December down payment to $2,000'.

Some Democratic politicians have also criticized the move, with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling for a full $2,000 extra.

Fellow congresswoman Cori Bush said pointedly that '$1,400 does not equal $2,000', and is calling for the larger checks to be paid monthly.

The original $600 payments were signed by Trump in late December after he had initially held up the bill, called for $2,000 checks instead and complained about other unnecessary spending.

Biden's $1.9trillion relief package also faces opposition from Republicans, some of whom are reluctant to support a further expansion of the budget deficit.

Some GOP lawmakers have also objected to the inclusion of long-term Democratic goals such as boosting the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered state agencies to monitor factory emissions and clamp down on those found to exceed dangerous levels.

Phuc called on provincial and urban authorities to immediately review and evaluate industrial plant, transport and construction emissions.

He asked law enforcement agencies to suspend operations negatively impacting the environment.

The directive mentioned the worsening air quality in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities, affecting socio-economic development and public health. It blamed the low air quality on large-scale construction, emissions from a large number of private vehicles, and intensive industrial activity.

It also said green urban space and water supply remains subpar, with enforcement, implementation and synchronization of air pollution controls a serious dilemma.

Natural Resources and Environment departments were urged to assist production facilities in installing automatic emission monitors, with all collected data evaluated on a daily basis.

Le Vu Tuan Anh, chief inspector of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said Vietnam Environment Administration will be implementing an inspection program of major emission sources around Hanoi should the proposal be approved.
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It was a secret well-kept by a select few, including Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and President Joe Biden.

On the night of Sept. 12, 2019, Biden and nine other presidential hopefuls wrapped up a Democrat primary debate at Houston's Texas Southern University. It was one of several debates before Biden became the eventual Democrat nominee and president.

REACTIONS: Houstonians react to Biden, Harris inauguration

As the candidates were escorted from debate hall, police officers were pursuing men who had allegedly threatened a priest in an armed robbery about a mile away.

Officer Taylor Roccaforte was attempting to arrest one of the men when they began to struggle, police said then. The man grabbed Roccaforte's gun and shot the officer in the gut.

A backup officer then shot the armed man dead.

Roccaforte was rushed to the hospital and survived his injuries. There were charges for the other men who were arrested.

For most reporters covering the story (including me), that was the end.

But after Biden was inaugurated as president Wednesday, Acevedo shared a detail of the story that no one had reported before.

Days after the shooting, Biden called Acevedo and asked to meet Roccaforte in the hospital.

If you think it would be helpful to his spirit and recovery, I would like to visit him at the hospital," Biden said, Acevedo recalled. "No media, I am simply want to lift his spirits.

After some logistic puzzle solving, the two met inside Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Corroborated by those photos, Acevedo said there were smiles all around as Biden offered good will.

He touted Biden for keeping the visit quiet, despite the political opportunity.

"I share this today to illustrate the decency of the man who we now call Mr. President, although he prefers to be called Joe," Acevedo tweeted.
(CNN) -- Joe Biden was sworn in Wednesday as the 46th United States President, taking the reins of a country in crisis. But his task on the global stage will be daunting, too.

World leaders reacted to Biden's inauguration by offering congratulations, jockeying for position at the forefront of his foreign policy agenda, and in some cases pleading for the reversal of his predecessor's policies.

Among most messages was a palpable sense of relief, as the international community embraced Biden's pledge to reenter a series of global pacts and organizations that President Donald Trump cut loose.

Here's what leaders have said so far.

European Union

"Once again, after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday, leaving no uncertainty about her verdict on Trump's relationship with the bloc.

"This new dawn in America is the moment we've been waiting for so long. Europe is ready for a new start with our oldest and most trusted partner," she said in the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

Von der Leyen said Biden's inauguration would "be a message of healing for a deeply divided nation and it will be a message of hope for a world that is waiting for the US to be back in the circle of like-minded states."

On Twitter, she added: "The United States is back. And Europe stands ready. To reconnect with an old and trusted partner, to breathe new life into our cherished alliance."

"It's time to bring back conviction & common sense and rejuvenate our EU-US relationship," Charles Michel, President of the European Council, added later.

Biden has signaled a warmer partnership with Europe than Trump, who frequently criticized the EU on trade during his administration. His attacks on some European leaders led to frosty scenes at a number of summits.

"From our perspective, Trump saw Europe as an enemy," a senior European diplomat told CNN last week. "The lasting impact of 'America First' is the US having fewer friends in Europe."

China

Hours before the inauguration, Beijing expressed hope that Biden would "look at China rationally and objectively" to repair "serious damage" in bilateral ties caused by the Trump presidency.

"In the past four years, the US administration has made fundamental mistakes in its strategic perception of China ... interfering in China's internal affairs, suppressing and smearing China, and causing serious damage to China-US relations," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a press briefing Wednesday.

The Biden administration should, Hua said, "look at China rationally and objectively, meet China halfway and, in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, push China-US relations back to the right track of healthy and stable development as soon as possible."

One of the main planks of Trump's foreign policy platform has been his trade war with China. The Trump administration's 11th-hour declaration that China is committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims will heighten tensions with Beijing, though Biden's nominee for Secretary of State said Tuesday that he agreed with the designation.

"If the new US administration can adopt a more rational and responsible attitude in formulating its foreign policy, I think it will be warmly welcomed by everyone in the international community," she added.

Russia

Russia said it hoped for a "more constructive" relationship between the US and Moscow as Biden took office.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that it wanted to extend the landmark Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the United States for a maximum stipulated five-year period.

The US-Russia arms treaty is currently due to expire just 16 days after Inauguration day.

"We consider it possible to prolong it only in the form in which the Agreement was signed and without any preconditions. An extension for the maximum five-year term stipulated in the Agreement looks preferable," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement released just after Biden was sworn in.

The statement added that Moscow hoped for a "a more constructive approach in the dialogue with Russia and will take into account all the points mentioned above."

It concluded: "For our part, we are ready for such work on the principles of equality and mutual consideration of interests," the statement concluded.

Biden has previously signaled that he intends to take a tough line against potential Russian aggression.

Antony Blinken, Biden's pick to lead the State Department, said Tuesday that Biden intends to seek an extension of the New START Treaty, but suggested he has not made a decision on the length of the extension.

Iran

Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani, called on Biden to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and lift US sanctions on Iran, overturning a key part of Trump's foreign policy program.

"The ball is in the US' court now. If Washington returns to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, we will also fully respect our commitments under the pact," Rouhani said in a televised cabinet meeting.

He also launched a scathing attack on the outgoing President. A "tyrant's era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign," Rouhani said of Trump's departure. "Someone for whom all of his four years bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption and causing problems for his own people and the world."

Biden has said he plans to return to the nuclear deal with Iran, which was signed when he was Barack Obama's Vice President. Biden's national security aides have suggested they would like further negotiations on Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, though Rouhani has said the missile program is non-negotiable.

Germany

The German President said he was relieved that Biden would be sworn in Wednesday, calling it "a good day for democracy."

"In the United States, (democracy) held up against a lot of pressure," Frank Walter Steinmeier said in a statement.

"Despite internal hostility, America's institutions have proven strong -- election workers, governors, judiciary, and Congress," he said. "I am relieved that Joe Biden is sworn in as President today and coming into the White House. I know that this feeling is shared by many people in Germany."

Steinmeier also warned against the populist brand of politics that Trump embraced. "Despite all the joy we have about today, we must not forget that populism has seduced even the most powerful democracy in the world," he said. "We must resolutely oppose polarization, protect and strengthen the public space of our democracies, and shape politics on the basis of reason and facts."

France

French President Emmanuel Macron marked the day with a tweet welcoming the US back into the Paris climate agreement.

"We are together. We will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet. Welcome back to the Paris Agreement," Macron said.

Biden will sign a slate of executive actions in the Oval Office on Wednesday, including one to rejoin the Paris Agreement.

He will sign an instrument that will be deposited with the United Nations later on Wednesday. The US will officially become party to the agreement in 30 days.

The US left the agreement in November 2020 under the Trump administration.

United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was looking forward to a close relationship with Biden's administration.

"In our fight against Covid and across climate change, defence, security and in promoting and defending democracy, our goals are the same and our nations will work hand in hand to achieve them," Johnson said in a statement Tuesday.

Johnson warmly welcomed Trump on his visits to the UK, with Trump once claiming that the Prime Minister was nicknamed "Britain Trump." But the outgoing US leader was unpopular among Britons, and Johnson will be keen to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with Biden.

The new President could end up making two trips to the UK in 2021, with Johnson saying he looks forward to welcoming him to the G7 summit and to the hotly anticipated 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. "Only through international cooperation can we truly overcome the shared challenges which we face," Johnson said on Tuesday.

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, was more blunt in her remarks in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday. Sturgeon wished Biden and Kamala Harris well, adding: "I'm sure many of us across the chamber and across Scotland will be very happy to say cheerio to Donald Trump today."

"I think 'don't haste ye back' might be the perfect rejoinder to him," she added.

Canada

Shortly after Biden swearing-in, Canadian leader Justin Trudeau said he would work with the new US President "to make our countries safer, more prosperous, and more resilient."

"Canada and the United States enjoy one of the most unique relationships in the world, built on a shared commitment to democratic values, common interests, and strong economic and security ties," he said. "Our two countries are more than neighbours -- we are close friends, partners, and allies.

"Canada and the United States have worked side-by-side to tackle some of the greatest challenges we have faced in our history," Trudeau also said.

Mexico

Mexico's President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, wished Biden well ahead of his inauguration on Wednesday.

During his daily briefing, Lopez Obrador outlined three themes as key areas of the bilateral relationship with the US. "Those three themes are very important: pandemic, economic recovery and migration," he said.

Lopez Obrador also said Biden should take steps to settle the immigration status of Mexicans working in the US.

Ireland

"Today a true friend of Ireland Joe Biden became the 46th President of the USA," Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said. "As he said in his speech, it is a day of history and hope and I look forward to forging ever closer ties between our two great nations."

"Also, a historic day as Kamala Harris is sworn in as the first woman Vice President of the USA. I wish her and President Biden every success in meeting the challenges ahead," he added.

Biden has frequently touted his Irish heritage, and his win led to celebrations in Ballina -- the town of just 10,000 in the west of Ireland where his ancestors hail from.

The Vatican

The Vatican published Pope Francis' message to President Joe Biden, the United States' second Catholic President, following his inauguration.

"On the occasion of your inauguration as the forty-sixth President of the United States of America, I extend cordial good wishes and the assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will grant you wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high office," the message says.

"Under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty political, ethical and religious values that have inspired the nation since its founding.

"At a time when the grave crises facing our human family call for farsighted and united responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by a concern for building a society marked by authentic justice and freedom, together with unfailing respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those who have no voice," the Pope wrote.

India

In a series of tweets, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his "warmest congratulations" to US President Joe Biden. Modi said he looks forward to working with Biden and "to strengthen (the) India-US strategic partnership."

"The India-US partnership is based on shared values," he wrote. "We have a substantial and multifaceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages. Committed to working with President @JoeBiden to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights."

Israel

Congratulating President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on what he called their "historic inauguration," Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reminded the new US leader he sees Iran as their number one challenge to confront.

"President Biden, you and I have had a warm personal friendship going back many decades. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

NATO

NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Biden's inauguration "the start of a new chapter for the transatlantic Alliance."

"U.S. leadership remains essential as we work together to protect our democracies, our values and the rules-based international order," he said.

"NATO Allies need to stand together to address the security consequences of the rise of China, the threat of terrorism, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a more assertive Russia."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "World leaders welcome Biden with praise, pleas, and parting shots at Trump"

State health officials have confirmed a case of the highly contagious COVID strain here in Massachusetts, prompting concerns about a potential explosion in new cases.

The positive test was announced Sunday in a Boston woman in her 20s, who had recently traveled to the United Kingdom, where the so-called B.1.1.7 variant has been spreading rapidly.

And now that it has arrived in Massachusetts  and in more than a dozen states across the U.S.  in the middle of a national vaccine rollout, will the immunizations still be effective against the ever-evolving COVID-19 virus?

Experts seem to think so, at least for now.

I dont think the vaccine will be less effective against the new mutant virus, Dr. Douglas T. Golenbock, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at UMass Medical School.

The new strain, which is thought to have emerged in September, now spreading in parts of the U.S. is based on a mutation on the viruss spike protein, specifically the receptor-binding domain  the part of the virus that docks onto the host cell. Experts believe that the antibodies triggered by the COVID vaccine still prevent the new variant from attaching to cells, injecting its genome and replicating.

When a virus undergoes a mutation, the most important parts of the pathogen tend to be preserved, like the spike proteins that give the COVID-19 virus its name (corona virus), Golenbock said.

Proteins really important to the virus tend not to mutate much, he said.

But they can change, which experts say vaccine researchers anticipated. The real question, Golenbock says, is can authorities vaccinate faster than the new strain, which researchers say may transmit up to 50% faster, can spread?

What is the mutation?

Experts say the mutations are very common among RNA viruses, like COVID-19, as they replicate within their hosts. Coronaviruses actually mutate at a slower rate than, for example, influenza and HIV largely thanks to a viral enzyme that fixes some of the changes during replication, experts say.

Mutations are an expected event with viruses, Dr. Davidson Hamer, professor of infectious diseases and medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine. RNA viruses in particular tend to mutate at a fairly high rate.

In theory, its better for the survival of the virus if during mutation it becomes more transmissible, but not deadlier, as it will be able to spread more easily among living hosts, Hamer says. So far, it doesnt appear as though the mutated infection causes more severe illness or is linked to increased hospitalization  only that it spreads at a much more rapid pace.

Modeling of the new variant shows the potential that it could grow rapidly in early 2021, becoming the dominant strain in the United States as early as March, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Friday.

With the health care system already pushed to  and in some places beyond  its limits, federal health officials tout the need for extended and more rigorous implementation of public health strategies, including more genomic surveillance to identify new strains moving forward.

Here in Massachusetts, health officials have acknowledged the potential threat new variants pose to a health care system already under strain following two post-holiday spikes in cases and hospitalizations, urging continued compliance with health and safety protocols.

Given the increased transmissibility of this variant and the number of states and other countries that have found infected cases, the Department expected the variant to arrive in Massachusetts eventually, officials with the Department of Public Health said previously. The public health risk reduction measures remain the same. Individuals must continue to wear masks or face coverings while out in public, maintain 6-foot social distancing, stay home when you are sick, and get tested if you have symptoms or are identified as a close contact.

Hamer says he wouldnt be surprised if authorities identify more variants of the coronavirus through sequencing, including some that may already be spreading in communities. Experts say the U.S. is lagging behind the U.K. in genomic sequencing capability, and that more resources need to be put toward the effort.

This is a call for the DPH and the CDC and other orgs to be ... more aggressive about routinely sequencing viruses, Hamer said. Its expensive, but the cost of sequencing has been coming down.

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday said public health officials are taking the viral mutations very seriously, including the highly contagious strain thats now touched down in more than 50 countries, and other more ominous strains in Brazil and South Africa.

With COVID cases activity remaining elevated but beginning to show signs of slowing in Massachusetts, experts are concerned about what COVID mutations could bring.

If we continue at the current level of restrictions, and if people adhere to them, we could be OK, Hamer said. If things look like theyre worsening, then I think we should close even further.

But it does mean officials need to move faster in rolling out the vaccine, experts say.

The increased transmissibility of the B.1.1.7 variant warrants universal and increased compliance with mitigation strategies, including distancing and masking, the CDC states. Higher vaccination coverage might need to be achieved to protect the public.

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Today

Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm this evening, then some lingering showers still possible overnight. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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Pahlaj Nihalani On Varun Dhawan-Natasha Dalal's Wedding

Pahlaj was quoted as saying by Mid-day, "I have heard that Varun's wedding is happening this weekend. But I have not received an invite yet. David and I talk once in a while, but he hasn't mentioned the wedding to me. I wish the couple all the best."

Will Varun Dhawan And Natasha Dalal Finally Say 'I Do'?

Previously, a source told ETimes that that the wedding is set to take place over five days, from January 22-26 in Alibaug, and was quoted as saying, "It will be dhoom-dhaam for five days!" Reportedly, Bollywood celebrities like Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan and others have been invited to Varun-Natasha's beach wedding. However, there's no official confirmation on this yet.

On the other hand, recently, Varun's uncle, actor Anil Dhawan had reacted to the wedding rumours and told Bombay Times, "Wow, I am surprised. They are marrying this month, and we didn't know? Are they going to invite us at the last moment? Itna secret rakh rahe hai kya (Are they keeping it that big a secret)?"

Earlier, In An Interview, Varun Had Said That Marrying Natasha Is His Priority

"Everyone is talking about this for the last two years. There is nothing concrete right now. There is so much uncertainty in the world right now, but if things settle down, then maybe this year. I mean... I am planning for it definitely soon. But let there be more certainty," the Coolie No. 1 actor had told Filmfare magazine.
We are thrilled to expand on our long-time partnership with Corelation by introducing the innovative features of Tellergy to nearly 140 credit unions on the KeyStone core.

Technology CUSO Wescom Resources Group (WRG) is excited to announce the full and seamless integration of its Tellergy for Verifone teller line software with Corelation Inc.s KeyStone credit union core processing system.

We are thrilled to expand on our long-time partnership with Corelation by introducing the innovative features of Tellergy to nearly 140 credit unions on the KeyStone core, says Kerry Dolan Schiappa, Director Sales & Marketing at WRG.

With advanced features like account identification and lookup, card swipe member authentication, account balance display and transaction confirmation, the Tellergy system utilizes Verifones market-leading retail multimedia terminals to provide members with a colorful, interactive and fully secure teller line banking experience.

Most terminal technologies are deployed to facilitate electronic signatures, says Tim Maron, Chief Revenue Officer of Corelation. Tellergy does much more, including card swipe member authentication with PIN validation, the ability to display custom promotions and updates of member information on the device.

Most importantly, Tellergy provides members with a secure and safe method of validation without verbally stating any personal data. This expedites the member interaction, providing staff with more time for meaningful discussions with members.

As the first credit union to go live with Tellergy on KeyStone, TTCU Federal Credit Union of Tulsa, Oklahoma looks forward to deploying the softwares game-changing benefits.

Tellergy meets our members expectations for a great experience, matching those they have with other types of businesses, says Andy Tripp, Senior VP of Information Technology at TTCU. As a CUSO, WRG understands credit unions. They are familiar not only with operational processes, but also with member needs. WRGs integration over the Corelation Keystone API opens up a new realm of possibilities for the future.

According to Maron, Corelations and WRGs history of working together to solve for credit unions unique needs helped make the Tellergy integration possible.

From our initial partnership with WRG through today, its been a true collaborative experience, Maron says. WRG understands technology and matches our philosophy in delivering solutions in a highly efficient manner.

About Wescom Resources Group

Backed by Wescom Credit Union, one of the nations largest credit unions with over $4 billion in assets and nearly 200,000 members, Wescom Resources Group provides credit unions with advanced technology solutions that increase their competitive edge. With over 75 clients, WRG is a leader in innovative technologies for the credit union industry. WRG offers one of the most robust Managed Services solutions in the credit union industry. In addition, WRGs TellergyTM solution provides branch automation for todays modern credit union. For more information, visit http://www.wescomresources.com.

About Corelation

Based in San Diego, CA, Corelation has been driving innovation in credit union core processing since 2009. Corelations KeyStone core solution leverages state-of-the art system architecture with the bold goal of transforming the way credit unions operate. KeyStone places the member experience front and center through an innovative API that drives both the teller interface and the remote digital channel. Corelation serves nearly 140 credit unions and was recognized as a San Diego Top Workplace in 2019. For more information, visit http://www.corelationinc.com.

WASHINGTON: Prosecutors on Tuesday said three people affiliated with a far-right militia group conspired to breach the U.S. Capitol, the first time they have directly accused people of organizing the violent Jan. 6 uprising that left five people dead.

Thomas Edward Caldwell, 65, of Clarke County, Virginia, whom investigators said has a leadership role in the Oath Keepers group, was named in a criminal complaint as having participated in the Capitol riots by President Donald Trumps supporters.

His fellow members Jessica Watkins, 38, of Champaign County, Ohio, and Donovan Ray Crowl, also of Ohio, were also charged, and the three are accused of conspiring to forcibly storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021," prosecutors said.

Caldwell, Watkins and Crowl are accused of conspiring against the United States and conspiring to prevent the government from discharging its duties, among other offenses.

A federal prosecutor told a judge presiding over Caldwells initial court appearance on Tuesday it was likely" additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues, including rioting and seditious conspiracy. The weight of the evidence here is very much strong," said Christopher Kavanaugh, the prosecutor.

Caldwell, who told the judge he is on disability after retiring from the U.S. Navy, said he looks forward to proving at trial that every single charge is false."

In an amended complaint filed by the government on Tuesday, investigators revealed they had collected messages suggesting the defendants extensively plotted the attack.

In one, Watkins can be heard saying: We have a good group. We have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan.

Another message Caldwell received during the attack said: All members are in the tunnels under capital seal them in. Turn on gas.

After Caldwell apparently verified he was inside the Capitol, he received other messages which read:Tom take that bitch over; Tom all legislators are down in the Tunnels 3floors down."

In other Facebook messages, Caldwell later posted comments about the siege, writing: Us storming the castle. Please share I am such an instigator!"

A federal magistrate judge in the Western District of Virginia said Caldwell should be held in custody, noting the alleged conduct reflects pure lawlessness and contempt" for the countrys laws.

Watkins and Crowl, meanwhile, appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on Tuesday where a judge ordered both will be held in custody pending detention hearings.

None of the three defendants has entered a plea yet.

Asked by a federal judge if she understood the charges against her, Watkins said: I understand what you said. I dont understand how I got them."

Crowl, meanwhile, stifled a laugh when he was asked if he understood the maximum penalties he was facing.

Jon Schaffer, a guitarist for the Indiana heavy metal band Iced Earth who was photographed during the riot wearing an Oath Keepers cap, is accused of using bear spray on police officers as the crowd tried to force its way past them, but was not named in the conspiracy.

As arrests by have mounted since the riot, criminal complaints have revealed that many of the suspects have ties to fringe groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys, another right-wing group.

Others have been characterized as white supremacists and Nazi sympathizers, or believers in QAnon - a far-right conspiracy theory that casts Trump as a savior figure and elite Democrats as a cabal of Satanist pedophiles and cannibals.

In one such case, a federal magistrate judge ordered Army Reservist and alleged Neo-Nazi sympathizer Timothy Louis Hale-Cusanelli to be held in custody pending a detention hearing for his role in the Capitol riots.

In court, the prosecutor said Hale-Cusanellis military and security clearance status are under review, and that the FBI uncovered an assortment of white supremacist and extremist literature at his home, including a copy of Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf.

Another federal prosecutor on Tuesday revealed the government expected to file new charges against Riley Williams, who is accused of stealing a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office during the siege.

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 bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said it had appointed experts in the panel as the judges are not experts on the subject

The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure at the manner in which the farmers unions had cast "unnecessary aspersions on the Committee members" and said that the Supreme Court does not appreciate "branding people like this".

Meanwhile, central government has also withdrawn its petition seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally by farmers on the Republic Day after the apex court said it was police matter.

On the issue pertaining to the apex court-appointed committee, a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said it had appointed experts in the panel as the judges are not experts on the subject.

Where is the question of bias in this? We have not given adjudicating powers to the committee. If you don't want to appear before the committee, we cannot compel you to do so. But casting aspersions on someone because he expressed his view is not done. You don't need to brand anybody like this, PTI quoted the Bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, as saying.

Everyone should have an opinion. Even judges have opinion. This has become a cultural thing. Branding people which you do not want has become a norm, the Bench said.

"They (Committee members) are the most brilliant people in agriculture today. You just malign them for some opinion expressed in past", CJI Bobde observed.

Controversy had erupted after the apex court appointed the four-member committee as some of the members had reportedly favoured the contentious farm laws, following which one of the members recused himself.

Soon after the top court announced the expert committee, the protesting farmers said they will not accept any such panel, and said that all the members are in favour of the new laws. An article in Mint quoted a statement from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a coalition of farm unions, as saying, "It is clear that the court is being misguided by various forces even in its constitution of a committee. These are people who are known for their support to the three Acts and have actively advocated for the same."

The members of the court-appointed committee were  Bhupinder Singh Mann, National President of Bhartiya Kisan Union, All India Kisan Coordination Committee; Pramod Kumar Joshi, Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute; Ashok Gulati, agricultural economist and former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, and Anil Ghanwat, President of Shetkari Sanghatana.

Later, Mann had recused himself from the committee after the controversy.

The court's remarks on Wednesday were broadly on similar lines as those made on Tuesday as well. LiveLaw quoted CJI SA Bobde as saying on Tuesday, "Just because a person has expressed a view on the matter, that is not a disqualification to be a member of a CommitteeCommittee members are not judges. They can change their views."

Police should decide on tractor rally, says SC

During the hearing on Wednesday, the Centre withdrew its plea seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally on 26 January after the top court said "it is a police matter".

The police has the "authority" to deal with the issue pertaining to the proposed tractor march in Delhi on the Republic Day, the Bench said.

"We have told you that we will not issue any direction. It is a police matter. We will allow you to withdraw. You are the authority and you have to deal with it. You have the powers to pass orders, you do it. It is not for the court to pass orders," the bench said.

After the observation of the apex court, the Centre withdrew the plea filed through Delhi Police seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor or trolley march or any other kind of protest which seeks to disrupt the gathering and celebrations of the Republic Day.

On 12 January, the top court had stayed the implementation of the contentious new farm laws till further orders and constituted the four-member committee to make recommendations to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers' unions protesting at Delhi borders.

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  the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act.

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.

With inputs from PTI

Cal launched a three-wide bid into the final turn and narrowly reached in Tuesday's (Jan. 19) featured $6,100 Open Pace at Monticello Raceway.

As heavy favourites Foo Fighter N and KJ Erich wrestled for the lead through a :29.1 quarter, driver Jimmy Devaux was content to rate Cal in sixth. At the :58 half, Devaux moved Cal into a developing outer flow before moving three-deep on the backstretch with a full head of steam. The five-year-old American Ideal gelding ground down Foo Fighter N in upper stretch and barely held off a late charge from runner-up KJ Erich to win in 1:56.4. Whats Goin On rallied out of traffic for third.

Cal, who paid $23.40 to win, is trained by Art Green for owner William Emmons.

Han Solo recorded his third win in a row, taking a $5,200 conditioned pace in 1:57.2. Devaux drove for trainer Sheena McElhiney.

Devaux and Mike Merton both had driving triples on the card, and Bruce Aldrich Jr., who his four victories away from the 8,000-win milestone, notched a double.

(with files from Monticello Raceway)
Day care shortage creates barriers for working parents

With a labor shortage plaguing the state, working parents are ready to fill these positions. The lack of childcare options creates barriers.
The prosecutor hammered at the theme in her summation to the jury, including The Shining image in an accompanying slide show under the all-caps heading ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

This guy looks creepy and hes saying some very unthreatening words, Heres Johnny, the prosecutor said in reference to the image of Mr. Nicholsons character, which had not been shared with the defense or otherwise offered at trial before, as it was shown to jurors. But if you have ever seen the movie The Shining, you know how his face gets through that door.

(The Supreme Court opinion explained in a footnote that the unthreatening words had been used to introduce the star of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years.)

So again, I just point that out to illustrate, the prosecutor continued in summing up her case against Mr. Williams. Its not just the words; its what you do before and what you do after the words that matters. And thats what makes this a robbery.

Mr. Williamss trial lawyer objected, telling the judge that what The Shining image depicted was certainly far more than what occurred in this case.

The judge offered to essentially instruct the jury to disregard the image, but noted that doing so would underscore the prosecutors argument. Mr. Williamss lawyer agreed that it may be best left alone, the Supreme Court wrote, and so it was. The jury convicted Mr. Williams of the more serious charge, and he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Mr. Williams appealed the conviction, and though the Camden County Prosecutors Office, which brought the case, eventually conceded that the images use had been improper, it insisted that the mistake was harmless. An appeals court upheld the conviction, paving the way for the Supreme Court to take up the case and, ultimately, for its ruling on Tuesday.
A Chinese tertiary student will appear before a Sydney court charged with the murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend at an apartment complex in Sydney's south last year.

Weijie He, 21, was put into an induced coma after he was found seriously injured on the footpath in Chisholm Street, Wolli Creek, on the afternoon of June 27, having fallen from the fourth floor of a unit block on nearby Brodie Sparks Drive.

Police have charged a 21-year-old Chinese student with murder over the death of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Liqun Pan. Credit:NSW Police

He was taken to St George Hospital, where he is still receiving treatment.

The following day, police found the body of Liqun Pan, also a Chinese national on a student visa, inside a unit at the complex and investigated her death after deeming it suspicious.

President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, on Tuesday said the incoming administration intends to review the US approach to North Korea.

Speaking at his Senate confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, Blinken said he intends to increase pressure on North Korea to come to the negotiating table over its nuclear weapons.

Blinken told lawmakers that the United States would also look into providing humanitarian help to North Korea if necessary. "We do want to make sure that in anything we do, we have an eye on the humanitarian side of the equation, not just on the security side of the equation", he said.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Belgium on Monday prepared to fight the spread of the British variant of the coronavirus after outbreak reports in schools and retirement homes of the strain believed to be more infectious.

Carl Decaluwe, the governor of West Flanders, which includes the postcard city of Bruges, said he had ordered a massive wave of testing in several schools.

The measures came after about two-thirds of the residents of a retirement home in the town of Houthulst and one third of the staff were infected, a statement said.

Three people died, the De Groene Verte home said.

In all about 130 people tested positive with the British strain, the town's mayor told AFP, with the country now seriously considering tougher restrictions on travel in and out of the country.

An outbreak was also reported in a small town near the port city of Antwerp, where two pupils from a primary school in Edegem were infected with the British variant.

"We have promised and guaranteed that we will not make people feel guilty," the town's mayor Koen Metsu told VTM news.

"But it is effectively the case that if everyone had followed the quarantine rules after returning from a trip, we could have avoided this."

Non-essential travel abroad remains strongly discouraged in Belgium.

But the cross-roads country of 11 million people is tucked between France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands with thousands of people crossing the border everyday.

Reports said the government could decide by the end of the week to reduce the maximum length of stay to avoid testing and quarantine from the current 48 hours to 16 hours or shorter.

Belgium has recorded 678,839 cases of the coronavirus and 20,435 deaths, making it the most bereaved country in the world in terms of population.
An investigation into algorithms used by companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon has been launched today amid fears they are 'manipulating' lives and are used to 'artificially change perceptions' by cherry-picking what news internet users see.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will probe fears whether the software used by tech giants is corrupting lives and livelihoods by limiting choice, bumping up prices and skewing how they consume current affairs.

Algorithms wield enormous power over millions of Britons yet there is little or no accountability for tech firms over the results they produce or what they force consumers to see.

The CMA, Britain's guardian on antitrust and monopoly matters post-Brexit, will now examine concerns they are being used to influence shopping, travel, hotel and food choices, assess job applicants and even manipulate love lives through dating apps.

One of the issues they will look at will be the use of algorithms by Google and Facebook to decide what news is shown to people using their websites. There are also concerns they are used to manipulate the UK's 14billion online advertising market, which is also dominated by Google.

These search results are often based on their previous browsing and links they have clicked on, rather than directing them to publishers offering the closest match to a search. The same criticism has been aimed at YouTube and the videos it suggests users watch next.

The consumer group Which? has also raised concerns that algorithms used by Amazon to give products an Amazon Choice recommendation can skew shopping habits and potentially see people paying more for products. The online giant also predicts what someone might buy based on previous purchases, their gender, whether they have children and what they watch on their Prime player.

Google's use of algorithms will be examined as part of a wider investigations into whether they are being used to manipulate people in Britain

Amazon uses previous purchases and things you have clicked on or watched to sell more goods (pictured)

These so-called 'nudges' on websites 'can be manipulated to reduce choice or artificially change consumers perceptions' and even lead to 'personalised pricing', the CMA said.

What are algorithms and how do they dominate our lives? What is an algorithm? They are mini instruction manuals telling computers how to complete a given task or manipulate given data. Tech companies use them to tailor results to sell more goods or manipulate what they see. What are the main types? The Also-like algorithm: Amazon uses them to predict what users might want to buy. For example a parent who buys nappies online may log on to the website and be met with offers on baby wipes. YouTube uses it to predict what videos someone would like. The filter algorithm: These are used by Google to decide what people view meaning not all search results are the same. These are used for shopping and news. Prediction algorithms: An algorithm used by betting companies allowing them to change odds and predict where people will bet. Regression algorithm: Uses data from opinion polls, age and gender data to predict things such as elections Advertisement

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking evidence from academics and industry experts on the potential harms to competition and consumers caused by the deliberate or unintended misuse of algorithms.

It said: Much of peoples lives is spent online, be it consuming news, socialising, dating, ordering food, or arranging travel. Many of these online activities and the markets that underpin them could not exist without algorithms, often in the form of artificial intelligence, and these have enabled considerable gains in efficiency and effectiveness. However, they can negatively impact consumers in various ways.

Algorithms can be used to personalise services in ways that are difficult to detect, leading to search results that can be manipulated to reduce choice or artificially change consumers perceptions. Companies can also use algorithms to change the way they rank products on websites, giving a higher rating to their own products and excluding competitors.

The dangers of algorithms were laid bare last year when algorithms were dropped following a public outcry after they were used to decide teenagers GCSE and A-level results, which could have had dire consequences on their future.

At the time of the crisis, ministers such as the Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, insisted that the algorithms were the best and fairest way to decide grades.

Director of Data Science at the CMA, Kate Brand, said: Algorithms play an important role online but, if not used responsibly, can potentially do a tremendous amount of harm to consumers and businesses. Which? has raised concerns that the Amazon algorithm can be manipulated by rogue sellers to win an Amazon Choice recommendation, so encouraging people to buy sub-standard products, wasting huge sums of money.

The Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, Rocio Concha, said: Algorithms can help consumers find suitable products and services as well as good deals, but can also be used to track and monitor behaviours in ways they are unaware of, leading to them being manipulated or misled - either accidentally or by design.

From pressure-selling tactics by online accommodation booking sites to unscrupulous sellers using fake reviews to game their way to a valuable Amazons Choice endorsement, too often algorithms can lead to consumers losing out.

The new CMA investigation came weeks after it announced Google's command of Britain's 14billion online advertising market will be probed amid claims it is using Chrome to abuse its position as the dominant power in searches and browsing.

The investigation will assess whether the possible removal of third-party cookies and other functionalities from Chrome could be anti-competitive and further hit UK businesses by decimating their online ad revenues.

The CMA's probe was announced days after it became Britain's guardian on antitrust and monopoly matters after the country fully left the EU and Brussels' influence on UK competition laws formally ended.

Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: 'As the CMA found in its recent market study, Google's 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 Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as we progress this investigation, while also engaging directly with Google and other market participants about our concerns.'

Marketers for an Open Web has repeatedly asked the CMA to block the tech giant's controversial 'Privacy Sandbox' project. The pressure group says that without Government intervention to protect media plurality in the UK their members could see revenues drop by 75 per cent because Google controls up to 98 per cent of UK search engine traffic on PCs, tablets and mobile phones.

Google dominates the UK search market across all platforms, especially in mobile, already faces an antitrust investigation by Britain's competitions watchdog. Recent stats from October show Google's dominance with some claiming algorithms help them

Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority, has already said ministers needed to urgently set up a regulatory regime to counter big tech's monopoly on the search and digital ad markets or it would act alone

What is Google's controversial 'Sandbox' privacy technology and why is it controversial? Google has pointed to the 'large scale blocking of cookies' as part of its 'Sandbox' project. Blocking cookies has become an increasingly popular method of regaining privacy among some users and has arisen as a proverbial selling point for Chrome's competitors like Mozilla Firefox. With its 'privacy sandbox' Google says it hopes to step in and preserve cookies while taking into account a rising demand for greater user privacy. But critics say it also means that Google will keep the customer data about internet users to itself, and away from the businesses serving those people. This could boost its gigantic revenues even further - but the business insists it is about privacy. Advertisement

The UK's competition watchdog will look into how the possible removal of third-party cookies and other functionalities from Chrome could distort competition.

Online publishers such as newspapers rely on third-party cookies to target advertising effectively and fund their content. But the use of these cookies comes with privacy concerns, as they allow consumers' behaviour to be tracked across the web.

Mr Coscelli said last year that ministers needed to urgently set up a regulatory regime to counter big tech's monopoly on the search and digital ad markets or it would act alone.

The cash hoovered up by Google using its advertising algorithms and its extraordinary market power has already put it in the CMA's crosshairs.

Google shook the online advertising world in 2020 as it announced it would phase out third party cookies.

These allowed businesses to use targeted advertising based on websites a customer had visited or ones they had clicked on to browse or buy.

Google insists the changes are primarily to protect privacy - critics say its purpose is to cement Googles control of online advertising markets, because it will deny rivals access to the user data needed to sell ads.

Web browsers such as Mozilla and Apple Incs Safari have already blocked third-party cookies.

There are concerns they are being used to influence shopping, travel, hotel and food choices, assess job applicants and even manipulate love lives through dating apps.

The consumer group Which? has raised concerns that algorithms used by Amazon to give products an Amazon Choice recommendation can skew shopping habits.
The U.S. will not win from slapping sanctions on participants in the project to build the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in an attempt to force European countries to buy American raw materials, Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov said in comments on U.S. unilateral sanctions against the pipe-laying barge Fortuna involved in the construction of the pipeline.

"Washington has long been trying by all means to hinder the implementation of this international commercial project. Several legislative measures have been adopted. Groundless threats are constantly being voiced against Russia and its European partners interested in cooperation in the gas sector," the Russian diplomat was quoted on the embassys Facebook page.

"There is rough pressure exerted on the participants of the Nord Stream-2 consortium," he emphasized.

"The United States went beyond decency in an attempt to achieve its opportunistic goals. They violate the norms of international law, the principles of fair and free trade. They don't even take into consideration the opinion of their own allies," the senior diplomat said.

"All this is nothing more than blatant unfair competition. The desire to create an advantage for itself in the energy market of Europe, to force the countries of the region to buy American raw materials. In the end there will be no winners in this venture," TASS cited Antonov as saying.

The U.S. authorities imposed sanctions against the Fortuna vessel, which is involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, and its owner, the KBT-Rus company, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on its website on Tuesday.

The sanctions were imposed in the framework of the CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). Inclusion in the sanctions list means asset freezing in the United States and the ban for U.S. citizens or firms on engaging in business with persons in the list.
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 74F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 54F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain during the afternoon. High 64F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 48F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.
[January 19, 2021] Swiss Artists And Swisscom Score A World Premiere: First Public Broadcasted, Decentralised Live Music Experiment Was Successful

ZURICH, Switzerland, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- At 6 pm on 13 January, Swisscom was hosting Switzerland Connected, the first decentralised live music experiment in Switzerland, featuring famous Swiss artists BLAY (Bligg and Marc Sway), Flavie Lea and a host of up-and-coming artists. The experiment was successful: Musicians from six locations all over the country were connected virtually over the Swisscom network and created a unique live music experience. On 13 January at 6 pm, BLAY (Bligg and Marc Sway), Flavie Lea and various other up-and-coming Swiss artists were performing together from six separate locations. The world premiere was successful: Swisscom was able to broadcast the song Denkmal performed by Swiss Artists BLAY and various newcomer bands for the first time  decentralized live and synchronized in one livestream. From their respective bases in Bellinzona, Montreux, Klosters, Zurich, Bern and Volketswil, the musicians' voices and instruments came together over the Swisscom network and created a shared and unique live experience. At the press conference prior to the Event Swiss Artist Bligg (BLAY) explained: "The big challenge is bringing everything together at the same time. If the artists in Ticino, for example, are just a beat faster than those in Zurich, you will be able to tell." Exactly this synchronicity has been successful at the live experience. After a long hiatus from live performing, the artists were particularly looking forward to the live music experiment. They were really missing the whole live experience and the audience. The prospect of taking advantage of Swisscom's technological capabilities to join other musicians and create a unique, emotional and live-like moment for everyone was very appealing to them. A shared experience despite the distance Explaining the joint project, Dirk Wierzbitzki, member of the Swisscom Group Executive Board and Head of Residential Customers, said: "We were pushing the limits of Switzerland's network and were hoping to leverage the opportunities of the networked world to bring our community a shared and enjoyable music experience. We are far beyond happy that the experiment succeeded." The live music experiment represented a major challenge for Swisscom's engineers and experts. For physical reasons, the network, transmission from the individual locations and signal processing had different esponse times  so all audio and video signals needed to be perfectly orchestrated to bring the performance together. And it worked out perfectly. As far as Swisscom is aware of today, no similar setup has succeeded worldwide in a public broadcasted event so far, which makes Switzerland Connected a successful world premiere.



Switzerland Connected aimed to ascertain whether and to what extent the digital sphere can create genuine live experiences and shared moments despite physical distance and at the very limits of modern technology. In the Panel Discussion after the event Swiss Artists BLAY, Flavie Lea, member of the Swisscom Group Executive Board and Head of Residential Customers Dirk Wierzbitzki, media psychologists and organisers addressed these questions. Switzerland Connected  aimed to explore what new digital formats will be possible in the longer term and whether one can bring together the best of both worlds in the future. Press contacts

Swisscom

Media Relations

Florian Maag

Tel: +41 (0) 58 221 9804

Email: media@swisscom.com About Swisscom Swisscom, Switzerland's leading telecoms company and one of its leading IT companies, is headquartered in Ittigen, close to the capital city Berne. Outside Switzerland, Swisscom has a presence on the Italian market in the guise of Fastweb. In the first half of 2020, about 19,000 employees generated sales of CHF 5,443 million. It is 51% Confederation-owned and is one of Switzerland's most sustainable and innovative companies. About Switzerland Connected The big moment was streamed live on 13 January 2021 at 6 pm for the whole of Switzerland on the Swisscom network on www.swisscom.ch/switzerlandconnected as well as blue Zoom (TV channel on blue TV) and YouTube. BLAY were premiering their inaugural track Denkmal. The new Swiss music duo was supported by up-and-coming talents Flavie Lea, Make Plain, Andryy, Vibez, Ben Pavlo, Joel Goldenberger and Miss Kryptonite. The event was held under observance of all applicable coronavirus measures. Highlight Movie: https://youtu.be/j0BDg9KL4aQ Technical info If you have ever noticed the slight delay when you listen to yourself on headphones, you will be familiar with the problem of latency. A delay like this can make conversation stilted but it makes music impossible. Delays are a natural consequence of transmitting and processing signals. With 5G, for example, these can be greatly minimised. However, you need to go even further for the perfect orchestration of image and sound, to ensure that everything comes together at the same time. The director in Volketswil used Sonobus software to support synchronising the audio signals from the different locations and then match the sound with a total of eight live camera images again. The final TV signal takes no more than three seconds to produce. A project of this nature depends on an efficient and responsive network such as Swisscom's network for Switzerland. . Swisscom used mobile technologies such as 5G, 4G as well as fibre and landline copper access for the experiment. More about Swisscom's award winning network Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423093/Regie_Volketswil__1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423094/Regie_Volketswil.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423095/Switzerland_Connected_Probe.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280143/Swisscom_Logo.jpg SOURCE Swisscom

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A newspaper ad of Kimchi released in The New York Times, Jan. 18 (local time) / Courtesy of Seo Kyoung-duk's Facebook



By Park Han-sol



Amid the recently reignited debate over China's attempt to appropriate traditional Korean kimchi, academic activist Seo Kyoung-duk announced that a newspaper advertisement promoting the dish has been printed in The New York Times' U.S. and international editions, Jan. 18 (local time).



The controversy over the fermented cabbage dish rose recently when the Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times claimed that the development of an international standard for the kimchi industry had been "led by China" in November last year.



What further exacerbated the spat between the two countries earlier this month were a photo of Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun holding up kimchi posted on his Twitter account as well as a kimchi-making video uploaded by Chinese YouTuber Li Ziqi with the hashtag #ChineseFood. Li's account currently has more than 14 million followers.



In Seo's ad, which has been printed on the fifth page of both editions of the newspaper, the text reads: "The Kimchi making & sharing culture was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013. Historically, this iconic food of Korea and its culture date back thousands of years."



Adding that the fermented food has grown to be loved by people around the world, it ends with the phrase "Kimchi is Korean, but it belongs to everyone."



"Instead of trying to counter every claim made by China over kimchi, we decided the more polished response would be to let the world know of accurate facts about the dish in a concise and visually striking way," Seo told The Korea Times, Tuesday. "That's why we didn't even mention China in the ad. We wanted this to serve as a chance for Korea to develop its own effective PR strategy rather than simply being swept up in anger."



Overall, the creation process for the ad from consulting multiple kimchi and advertising experts to designing the final copy took about a month, he explained.



The professor acknowledged the strength of soft power, especially in the form of digital cultural content, to promote global awareness of kimchi, stating that the image of the ad will also be simultaneously utilized in different social media campaigns.



"We are also planning to release a series of YouTube videos in different languages, with the first episode slated for March, to address the accurate history and culture of the dish."



Sungshin Women's University professor Seo has been responsible for launching various publicity campaigns to raise global awareness about Korean history and culture in the past, notably about the East Sea and the Dokdo islets.


Former Vice President Joe Biden intends to introduce an amnesty bill on the very first day of his presidency, an eight-year pathway to citizenship of United States' 11 million undocumented immigrants. The proposal would radically overturn President Donald Trump's immigration policies that highlight "zero tolerance" for illegal immigration.

Biden's plan will provide illegal immigrants with "one of the fastest pathways to citizenship" of any major immigration laws proposed but excludes provisions for strengthening border security, The Blaze reported.

Biden promised during his campaign that he would "take urgent action to end the Trump Administration's draconian policies" which he said were "grounded in fear and racism" and would put an end to Trump's "zero tolerance" policy. He also vowed to "aggressively advocate for legislation that creates a clear roadmap to legal status and citizenship" for illegal immigrants, the news continued.

"Under the legislation, those living in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2021, without legal status would have a five-year path to temporary legal status, or a green card, if they pass background checks, pay taxes and fulfill other basic requirements. From there, it's a three-year path to naturalization, if they decide to pursue citizenship.

For some immigrants, the process would be quicker. So-called Dreamers, the young people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, as well as agricultural workers and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if they are working, are in school or meet other requirements," the Associated Press (AP) explained.

The Blaze also said that Biden's bill will address the reason behind the migration of people from Central America to the United States and will provide grants for English language learning and workforce development but is expected to face opposition from Republicans due to its exclusion of any provision to strengthen border security.

The Biden administration also aims to provide Central America with a $4 billion foreign aid package to help its governments tackle corruption, develop their legal and educational systems and fight gang and gender-based violence.

"In a closely divided Congress, Democrats will need Republican support to avoid a filibuster and advance any legislation through the Senate. It remains to be seen if the Democratic Party will engage the 'nuclear option' of changing the Senate rules to end the filibuster and prevent the Republican minority from blocking major parts of Biden's agenda, though several Democrats have indicated opposition to that extreme step," the news added.

In another AP article, the news stated that the proposal is heavily opposed both by the Republicans and conservatives.

Marco Rubio said that there are other issues that they can work cooperatively with Biden but is against the issue of amnesty for the people whom he said are in the United States unlawfully.

Mark Krikorian, the Center for Immigration Studies executive director, also opposes the bill.

On the other hand, Sen. Robert Menendez believes that moving the bill will not be easy but thinks it is possible.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris holds the tie-breaking vote of the 50-50 Senate which will be controlled by the Democrats. The House 222-211, with two vacancies, is currently controlled also by the Democrats.
New Delhi: On behalf of thousands of farmers protesting against Centres three controversial farm laws, farmer union leaders and the central government will hold the tenth round of talks on Wednesday to resolve all issues, including the continuance of the MSP system.

The central government had earlier postponed the 10th round of scheduled talks with the protesting farmers` representatives to January 20. Todays meeting will be held at the Vigyan Bhavan at 2 PM.

After the Centre earlier postponed the 10th round of scheduled talks with the representative of protesting farmer unions, demonstrators on the Singhu and Ghazipur borders reiterated that they are here to stay till laws are repealed and said a day`s delay does not affect them.

At the Ghazipur border, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait said the postponement of the meeting for a day is not going to make any difference as farmers will not leave the borders till the three laws are repealed.

"It does not matter that the meeting is delayed. We are here to stay till our demands are acknowledged and laws are repealed. We hope that matter will be resolved through dialogue," he said.

Asked about the meeting of the Supreme Court`s Committee on farm laws, Tikait said the farmers did not approach the apex court and they have nothing to do with it.

"We don`t know, we`re not going (to the first meeting of Supreme Court`s committee). Nobody from the agitation approached the Supreme Court. The government brought laws through Ordinance. They were tabled in the House. They should be repealed through the same route they came from," he said.

Farmers protesting at Singhu border echoed Tikait`s sentiments and said they will not vacate the borders till laws are repealed. Gurdayal Singh, a farmer from Punjab`s Patiala district said he is protesting on Singhu border for nearly two months and will only go back after the laws are repealed.

"The sweet (laws) that the government has prepared for us, we don`t want to eat it, then why are they forcing us to eat it. We will only go back after laws are repealed," he said.

Another farmer Parpur Singh said the government should move beyond talks and take a decision on farmers` demand. "I want to request the government with folded hands move beyond the meetings and talks and give us a clear decision on what we want. They should not delay the matter and give us a clear decision and repeal the laws," he said.

On the other hand, the first meeting of the Committee appointed by the Supreme Court to deliberate with concerned stakeholders on recently notified three farm laws, was held on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Dr Ashok Gulati, former Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Anil Ghanwat, president, Shetkari Sanghatana and Dr Pramod Joshi, former director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute participated in the meeting and discussed the roadmap of activities for the Committee for two months to prepare their recommendations after discussion with farmers, farmers` bodies, farmers` unions, and other stakeholders.

As the ninth round of talks between the central government and farmer unions on January 15 had remained inconclusive, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had said the unions have been asked to form informal groups among themselves and submit a draft to the government regarding their demands.

On January 12, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the Centre`s three farm laws and asked the committee formed by it concerning the laws to submit its report within two months.

The committee has been directed to hold a dialogue with farmers and submit its recommendations pertaining to the farm laws within two months from the date of its first sitting. However, the leaders of farmers` unions rejected the committee, saying their members were already in favour of the farm laws.

Farmers have been protesting on the 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.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 23:10:46|Editor: huaxia

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VALLETTA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Malta is the most enthusiastic country in Europe to take the COVID-19 vaccine, with more than 40 percent of respondents saying they wanted it as soon as possible, a latest Eurobarometer survey has shown.

Only four percent of respondents in Malta said that they would outrightly refuse the vaccine, according to the survey published on Tuesday.

The Irish were the second most keen for the vaccine in Europe, with 37 percent and Denmark with 35 percent. On the opposite end of the spectrum, at least a third of people surveyed in Bulgaria and Slovenia said they would never get vaccinated.

Conducted on Dec. 10-19, about a week before the first vaccine was even approved by the European Medicines Agency and the European Commission, the research surveyed almost 25,000 people across all European member states. The research was carried online except in Malta, where people were called by telephone.

The Maltese also had the highest rate in Europe, 83 percent, for those who were worried of getting infected with the virus. The EU average stood at 54 percent.

According to the latest figures published on Wednesday by the health authorities in Malta, the country has so far recorded 16,129 coronavirus cases and the total number of deaths has risen to 244.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in Malta and some other countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 237 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 64 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on Jan. 15. Enditem
She's celebrating Tuesday night with a mouthwatering spread of swimsuit selfies on her social media.

Kylie Jenner raised the temperature on her Instagram once again, when she posted three bodacious selfies in a super skimpy peach Bikini Lovers two-piece.

The reality mogul, 23, stood in front of a white wall during what appeared to be the sunset hour, as she was bathed in amber sunlight.

Just another Tuesday night: Kylie Jenner raised the temperature on her Instagram once again, when she posted three bodacious selfies in a super skimpy peach bikini

Jenner had one hand up in her incredibly long straight brown hair, and the other resting on her impossibly curvy hip.

Her swimsuit consisted of a ribbed tube top that just contained her ample bust, paired with a barely-there V-shaped thong that plunged all the way down her navel.

Kylie adorned this with a simple silver belly chain.

Her other jewelry included several bangles on one wrist, an assortment of rings and layered necklaces including a crucifix pendant.

Bodacious bod: Jenner had one hand up in her incredibly long straight brown hair, and the other resting on her impossibly curvy hip

Kylie sported a long bright manicure and pouted her lips finished in a matte lipstick effect.

The first two pictures were taken from afar, showing the KylieSkin entrepreneur's shadow cast along the wall.

The third image was closer up, showcasing Jenner's reality-defying figure.

Barely there: Her swimsuit consisted of a ribbed tube top that just contained her ample bust, paired with a barely-there V-shaped thong that plunged all the way down her navel

Soon after: The self-made billionaire added further content to her Instagram, sharing another selfie in the scintillating swimsuit that also revealed a little more of her 'dreamy' surroundings

She chose a Spanish phrase for the caption, 'sol solecito calientame un poquito'.

It seemed to be a reference to a Spanish childrens song from Los Amiguitos, translating roughly to 'the sunny sun warms me a little'.

Soon after, the self-made billionaire added further content to her Instagram feed and stories, sharing another selfie in the scintillating swimsuit that also revealed a little more of her 'dreamy' surroundings.

Sunset girl: Kylie added video showing herself silhouetted against the lovely scene

In the clip: She languidly approached the camera

Kylie was evidently hanging out with her elder sister Kendall Jenner: She made an appearance on Kylie's stories perched on the balcony of their chosen setting for the day

Kylie lounged on a chaise in front of an infinity pool and stunning scenic backdrop, which included rolling green hills and the wide open evening sky.

She also added video showing herself silhouetted against the scene, as she languidly approached the camera.

She was evidently hanging out with her elder sister Kendall Jenner, as she made an appearance on Kylie's stories perched on the balcony of their chosen setting for the day.

Busy: She later went on to share several selfie videos

Wow factor: She wore white bike shorts with a matching sports bra

Scintillating: Her toned torso was on full display

Chill: She hung out by the pool

BFF: Her best friend Stassie Karanikolaou also seemed to be on the trip with the siblings

Wow factor: The social media star also donned a peach-colored bikini

The posts come after Kylies parent Caitlyn Jenner raved about her youngest daughter in a recent interview.

The former Olympian, 71, reflected on their tight relationship as she revealed the pair often enjoy weekly catch-ups over dinner.

KUWTK personality Caitlyn touched on her close bond with the businesswoman  whom she described as an 'open book'  during this week's Dear Media's The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast with hosts Lauryn Evarts and Michael Bosstick.

The retired decathlete shared: 'Kendall's off kind of doing her thing, and Kylie, like, I had dinner last night at Kylie's house. We try to do that once a week, once every two weeks.

Cute as a button: The posts come after Kylies parent Caitlyn Jenner raved about her youngest daughter in a recent interview

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday ruled out any action against his party leader and Maharashtra cabinet minister Dhananjay Munde, accused of rape by a Mumbai woman, till charges against him are proved. Pawar told reporters in Panaji that any action against Munde will be taken only if allegations levelled against him are proved after an investigation.

The BJP, the main opposition party in Maharashtra, has been demanding Munde's resignation. "It has become a fashion for some people to level allegations against a person and seek resignation," the NCP patriarch said.

Allegations should be investigated and the truth brought to the fore. If allegations are true then it becomes our responsibility to take action, he said when asked if the NCP is contemplating any action against Munde. "But it is not fair to take action unless allegations are proved, said Pawar, whose party is a key constituent in the Shiv Sena-led MVA government in Maharashtra.

Munde, 45, the social justice minister, has refuted the rape charges and dubbed them as a blackmail attempt. PTI RPS RSY RSY 01202006 NNNN.
A student who was called 'reckless' for frolicking on the edge of a 1640-foot waterfall has defended the experience as 'liberating'.

Amairis Rose, 25, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was on holiday in Zambia in December last year when she visited the popular tourist attraction Devil's Pool on the edge of Victoria Falls - the world's largest waterfall.

Breath-taking footage shows the 25-year-old masters student holding her arms over the edge as water surges past and down the sheer drop. She said she 'wasn't afraid' and 'it was all very safe'.

Amairis Rose, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was on holiday in Zambia in December last year when she visited Devil's Pool on the edge of Victoria Falls - the world's largest waterfall

Smiling broadly, Amairis managed to get some dramatic photos including one looking up at the camera as the ground disappeared below her, leaving nothing but spray as a background.

While many of her 35,000 Instagram followers were amazed by the stunt, others slammed the behaviour and urged her not to do it 'just to gain followers'.

Amairis hit back that it was 'cool as f*** actually that's why I did it' - and pointed out that it is a tourist attraction.

Tourists can take tours from Livingstone Island across the waterfalls, with a swim in Devil's Pool included and guides taking them to the edge of the waterfall.

The 25-year-old masters student was called 'reckless' by Instagram users but defended the experience as 'liberating' and said she 'wasn't afraid' as 'it was all very safe'

They can swim and get pushed to the edge by the force of the river during low water conditions.

It has a rock lip protruding upwards that tourists use to keep from going over the edge.

Some Instagram useres even accused Amairis of 'influencing young people to put their lives at risk for likes' and demanded she 'grew up'.

The student said: 'I wasn't afraid at all, it was all very safe. If anything it felt very liberating being at the edge of such a huge waterfall.

Smiling broadly, Amairis managed to get some amazing photos including one looking up at the camera as the ground disappeared below her, leaving nothing but spray as a background

'It was simply thrilling. I love to travel and do things that take me out of my comfort zone. It really makes me value life.

'At first I cared about the negative comments but I now understand they don't know any better, and that just sucks for them. Not me, I had a great time, so it's fine.

'I was in Zambia for my 25th birthday and stayed there for 10 days with my aunt and it was the most exciting trip of my life.

'I can't wait to be able to take more holidays as I'm so excited to try and beat this experience.

'Due to work, studying and now COVID restrictions, I haven't been able to visit as many countries as I'd like, but I'm hoping to visit more this summer.'

One person commented on the photos: 'She was reckless just to go viral, and I don't have energy for arguing with nonsense.'

Breath-taking footage shows the 25-year-old masters student holding her arms over the edge as water surges past and down the sheer drop

In response Amairis said: 'Wasn't reckless at all and nothing I did was to go viral TF it's called a tourist attraction. Mind your poor business.' [sic]

Another user said: 'Are you kidding me with these dangerous videos? Your life is worth more than this.

'This person died from doing the very same thing. It is not worth it to your family to do this dangerous stuff. Please stop.

'You are also influencing other young people as your videos have been shared all over. YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN THIS. You are more valuable than the amount of followers and likes you get.

Devil's Pool at Victoria Falls is a popular tourist attraction and tourists can swim and get pushed to the edge by the force of the river during low water conditions

'Do you not care that you are influencing young people to put their lives at risk for likes and follows? Grow up.

'You are the adult here. Im telling you that your life is worth more, whether your parents tell you this or not, youre worth more.

'When a grieving mother contacts her because her 18-year-old daughter died from trying to reenact her video, dont worry, it wont be on you.'

However another user claimed it would not be Amairis' fault if anyone copied her as she 'didn't tell anyone to try it and is not forcing people' to do it.

Tourists can take tours from Livingstone Island across the waterfalls, with a swim in Devil's Pool included and guides taking them to the edge of the waterfall

A third wrote: 'If someone hasnt died doing what youre doing here YET, they sure as s*** will soon.

'That looks dangerous as hell and people die everyday at popular tourist attractions.. Use your common sense and judgment but above all, GET THOSE LIKES.'

Other commenters supported Amairis and her incredible photos.

One commenter replied: 'Just cause youre not an adrenalin junkie doesnt mean she isnt. Let her live to the fulllest.' [sic]

Is the Devil's Pool swim as dangerous as it looks? Devil's Pool is on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, the world's largest waterfall. It is a deep, natural pool which has been created by thousands of years of erosion. The pool has a rock ledge on the lip of the Falls, where the water is only a few centimetres deep. It creates a natural barrier, which allows you to jump into the pool and not get swept over the edge. Livingstone Island opened in 1992 and a company has an operator's licence to conduct tours of the island and of Devil's Pool. Care has been taken to protect and preserve the natural habitat and safety of tourists is a high priority. No Island Tours or Devil's Pool swimming takes place when the water level of the Zambezi is too high and the island is completely closed. As this level drops, the Island Tour opens but the water level remains too high for safe swimming in Devil's Pool and Angel's Pool, which is similar to Devil's Pool but safer in slightly higher water levels. As the water level drops even further, Angel's Pool can reopen for swimming and Devil's Pool swimming resumes once it is even lower. The reverse happens when the water is rising. To swim in Devil's Pool, the water level has to be really low and is normally available from late August to early January. To access the natural pool, you swim slightly upstream in a very slow current with a guide leading you and explaining the route. A safety rope is in place as an added precaution and you climb out on another rocky outcrop close to the edge of the Falls and Devil's Pool. You can lie on the rocky lip at the edge and look into the 103m deep drop with a guide taking photos and videos of you with your camera, if you wish. Advertisement

Amairis said the pictures and video weren't 'to go viral' and pointed out its a 'tourist attraction', with another user saying: 'it's a safe spot look it up they do tours it's like being at the edge of a pool'

Another person wrote: 'It's a safe spot, look it up. They do tours. It's like being at the edge of a pool.'

A third commenter said: 'Folks really ignorant about that site[sic]. There are rocks there damn near making it impossible to go over.'

Some were so stunned by the footage and images that they said they were left 'shaking'.

When one user said the video was 'definitely beautiful but not cool', Amairis said: 'it's cool as f*** actually that's why I did it'

Another user said: 'Are you kidding me with these dangerous videos? Your life is worth more than this'

One commenter said: 'My body is shaking just from watching this! Value your life sister.'

Another person commented: 'Ohhhh my f***ing anxiety.'

A third commenter wrote: 'Is someone holding your legs? This can't be real.'
After four years of a dog-less White House, the Bidens are bringing two pooches with them.

In a historical inauguration which saw Kamala Harris sworn in as the nations first female vice president, and also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency, there was canine history, too.

Major, the Bidens German Shepherd will become the first dog rescued from a shelter to live at the White House, according to USA Today.

Joe Biden's dog, Major, adopted from the Delaware Humane Society.

The Bidens officially adopted Major from the Delaware Humane Association in 2018 after fostering him, which allowed the dog to escape life-threatening toxic living conditions in his previous home.

Today is Majors lucky day! Not only did Major find his forever home, but he got adopted by Vice President Joe Biden &... Posted by Delaware Humane Association on Saturday, November 17, 2018

The Bidens have another German Shepherd named Champ who will also make the move to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

On Sunday, both dogs were honored in a Indoguration ceremony, which was hosted by The Delaware Humane Association and Pumpkin Pet Insurance.

The dogs, however, did not attend the ceremony as they prepared for their move, USA Today reports.

Speaking at the ceremony, Andrew Hager, a historian in residence at The Presidential Pet Museum, said, I think Major being the first shelter dog is also kind of reflective of Americans and our history as well. We are at this point where Americans are much more inclined to adopt a pet now than weve ever been, and the Bidens reflect that change, USA Today writes.

The two German Shepherds were recently featured in a childrens book titled, Champ and Major: First Dogs. You can order the book on Amazon here.

Related Content:
Parler, the social network popular with Trump supporters, is trickling back to life.

The social network went offline last week after Amazon booted it from its computer servers for not consistently removing violent posts, an accusation that Parler denied. But after a week in which Parler executives sued Amazon and predicted that their site might never return, they are forecasting it will be back up and running by the months end.

That turnabout is thanks, in part, to a Russian company.

Parler has entered into business with DDoS-Guard, a Russian firm that routes internet traffic and protects websites from cyberattacks. With its help, visitors to Parler.com now find a basic webpage with a promise from Parlers chief executive, John Matze, that our return is inevitable.

But the use of a Russian company is worrying some researchers who study the internet and Russia. If Parler routes its web traffic through DDoS-Guard when its full website returns, the experts said, Russian law could enable the Russian government to surveil Parlers users.

Alina Polyakova, head of the Center for European Policy Analysis, a foreign policy think tank in Washington, said Russia required many internet companies in the country to install technology that feeds the government a copy of much of the data that passes through their computer servers.
This payment is meant to help those that are struggling to get by as a result of the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, said Cantu. Be wary of any phone calls, emails, or text messages asking for your personal information or offering a deal that seems too good to be true.
There was a slight sense of guilt as I read the headline Affluent actors cast themselves as working-class heroes, earlier this week. Sociologists at the London School of Economics conducted 175 interviews with actors, TV professionals, architects and accountants and found a significant number of those who had a middle-class background claimed to be working class.

There is, according to the research, a symbolic market for downplaying class privilege in these professions, and a pressure to ward off suspicions of hereditary privilege. So, why the guilt?

Im afraid Ive always described myself as working class, feeling really proud of my fathers assertion when I joined the BBC that I had come a long way.

Jenni Murray (pictured) from Barnsley, who described herself as working class when she joined the BBC, reflected on her elevation to being middle class

I believed I had. My grandfathers on both sides had worked at the pit in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

My paternal grandfather was a miner who died in his early 50s as a result of the miners lung disease, silicosis, caused by constant inhalation of dust underground.

My maternal grandfather was a slight cut above, working as a winder on the surface of the mine, winding men up and down to their work.

My father left school at the age of 14, got a job in a local TV repair shop, and he and my mother began married life with my maternal grandparents. Then, when I was three, they got a council house.

It was my mother who orchestrated the changes that brought us to what I must agree was the middle class.

Jenni (pictured) said those who are middle-class and successful shouldn't forget the parents who worked so hard to get them there

Theres nothing so powerful as a pushy woman to force a man to, as my father put it, pull himself up by his bootstraps.

He went to night school, qualified as an electrical engineer, bought a house and made sure there was enough money for me to have elocution lessons, learn to ride and be beautifully dressed.

By the age of four I was a competent reader and desperate for school. The family pooled their resources to send me to the fee-paying convent school. It was the only institution that would take such a young child. I flourished.

Education was central to my parents plans for me. When I passed the 11-plus, I fulfilled their dream of their daughter becoming a grammar-school girl.

A leaflet arrived last week, proclaiming Live Without Fear  Im going Back to Normal and asked us to post it in our windows. My doctor neighbour berated the leafleter for encouraging the flouting of rules, with hospitals at breaking point. If you get one, please chuck it in the bin.

I have no doubt my elevation to the middle class, with an accent that was far from broad Barnsley, helped open the doors to the BBC. Regional accents were unheard of among broadcasters in the early 1970s.

Among the interviewees in the research were women, now working in the acting profession, with similar backgrounds to mine, who claimed they were working class. The study adds: By framing their life as an upward struggle against the odds, they misrepresent themselves as more worthy and more deserving.

So, there we are. No more pretending. I and so many others are middle class and successful, but we must never forget the parents who worked so hard to get us there and Ill try never to describe my mother as pushy again.

Ambitious, determined and proud is what she was, and I thank her for it.

Jenni said Mrs Trump's farewell speech is a clear case of failure to put your money where your mouth is. Pictured: Melania and Donald Trump

I cant say I approve of the planned drama, This Sceptred Isle, about Boris Johnsons first year in office. I have no problems with the dramatisation of his handling of Brexit and the pandemic, but why drag in Carrie, Wilfred, his ex-wife and children and his 11-year-old daughter by former mistress, Helen Macintyre?

After watching The Crown, which portrayed the lives of people who are still very much alive, I think its wrong to parade children who have no choice in the matter to a TV audience of millions.

Good riddance at last to this graceless pair

Donald Trump has left the White House, and in the most ill-mannered way possible. There was no civilised hand-over of power to Joe Biden as tradition dictates.

His wife, Melania, refused to show her successor as First Lady, Jill Biden, around her new home. Mrs Trump had claimed in her farewell speech to the nation that Americans should use every opportunity to show consideration for another person. A clear case of failure to put your money where your mouth is.

The Donald disregarded another tradition: that no executions should be carried out during the transition between Presidents. Thirteen people were executed in the last six months of his presidency. That, Mr Trump, was taking Youre fired to the most cruel and evil degree possible.

Punk icons mum who made me cry on the radio

Only once in my career at Radio 4 was I reduced to tears. I was talking to Deborah Spungen, mother of Nancy, the murdered girlfriend of the Sex Pistols Sid Vicious. No doubt Nauseating Nancy, as she was dubbed, will feature in Danny Boyles drama series about the band.

Deborah wrote a book about her uncontrollable daughter, and told me of the brain damage she felt Nancy had suffered as a result of oxygen deprivation at birth.

Why, I asked Deborah, had she constantly given in to her demands for money which she knew would be spent on drugs. Because, she said, she was my child and I loved her.

And we both wept.

I hope damaged Nancy gets fair treatment in Boyles story.

The Duchess of York has been published by Mills & Boon

Its sexist to snigger at Fergie

Every week my mother and I would go to the library in Barnsley to borrow books. Grandma and Grandpa had a regular order  it had to be six cowboy books for him and six romances for her.

They read all the time, and Grandma endured with equanimity the constant teasing about her his hot breath on her neck taste in reading material.

Now we learn the Duchess of York has graduated from childrens books and been published by Mills & Boon. Good luck to her. I am no longer snooty about the romance novel. They sell like hot cakes and help the publishing industry make enough money to pay for serious, less popular works. And lets not be sexist about it. Just because a woman enjoys a love story doesnt mean she doesnt also have a Hilary Mantel on the go.
Washington  Joe Bidens inauguration Wednesday will include at least two guests who know all about the soon-to-be 46th presidents links to Syracuse and Central New York.

Rep. John Katko, who like Biden is a graduate of Syracuse Universitys law school, plans to attend the inauguration with Gavin Coleman, whose grandfather opened Colemans Authentic Irish Pub in Syracuse in 1933.

Coleman, 42, runs The Dubliner, a landmark Irish pub on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., founded by his father Danny Coleman, a Syracuse native.

Katko, R-Camillus, decided to give Gavin Coleman his only guest ticket to the inauguration after members of Congress were told they would not receive their usual allotment of 175 tickets. The public was encouraged not to travel to the event from out-of-state during the coronavirus pandemic.

I was trying to find someone down here with a Syracuse connection, and the restaurant connection was something I wanted to highlight, Katko said today in an interview from his Washington office.

Most public events surrounding the inauguration went virtual because of the pandemic. Restaurants in Washington have been ordered to close for sit-down dining.

The public will be kept away from the National Mall because of security concerns after an angry mob incited by President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. Streets and subways are shut down for blocks around the Capitol and White House, and most bridges into the city have been closed.

Four years ago, The Dubliner gained national attention before Trumps inauguration. MSNBC broadcast its Morning Joe show live from the pub. The two most powerful Democrats in Congress  Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi  stopped by for interviews.

The Dubliner is a landmark Irish pub on Capitol Hill owned by Danny Coleman, the Syracuse native whose father opened Colemans on Syracuses Tipperary Hill in 1933. (Mark Weiner | mweiner@syracuse.com)Mark Weiner

The Dubliner has served as a home-away-from-home for many Upstate New Yorkers in Washington and has special significance for Katko.

Katkos sister, Cindy, once worked at The Dubliner, where she met her husband, David Hoyne. The couple now own Kitty Hoynes, an Irish pub and restaurant in Syracuses Armory Square.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
New York:

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley on Tuesday lashed out at North Korea over the death of a 22-year-old American student after he was freed by Pyongyang, saying his memory will serve as an indelible reminder of the barbaric nature of the regimes dictatorship.



Countless innocent men and women have died at the hands of the North Korean criminals, but the singular case of Otto Warmbier touches the American heart like no other, Indian-American Haley said in a statement on the death of Otto Warmbier.



Warmbier was a student at the University of Virginia and had visited North Korea during a trip to China.



He was detained at the Pyongyang airport in early January in 2016 and charged with hostile act against the countrys authoritarian government for trying to steal a propaganda poster.



Warmbier was released from a North Korean prison last week and was sent back home in a coma, a condition he had been in for more than a year in a coma. He died yesterday at the Cincinnati hospital.



Haley said while Warmbiers memory will always be a blessing to his family, it will also serve as an indelible reminder to us of the barbaric nature of the North Korean dictatorship.



She lashed out against the decades-long inhumanity of the North Korean regime, saying numerous investigations have been conducted and endless volumes have been written about how that outlaw government has tortured and murdered generations of its own citizens.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The European Commission has fined Valve and five major publishers a combined 7.8 million ($9.4 million) for breaching EU antitrust rules.

The fines have been levied against Valve, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media, and ZeniMax, who were all found to have engaged in "geo-blocking practices" by restricting cross-border sales of certain PC titles based on where players were living within the European Economic Area (EEA).

In doing so, the commission claims the six companies deprived players of the benefits of the EU Digital Single Market and the opportunity the shop around for the best deals in the EU.

The geo-blocking practices themselves were used to restrict the sale of around 100 PC titles, and took the form of licensing and distribution agreements containing clauses that restricted cross-border sales within the EEA, and region-locked Steam activation keys that prevented the activation of certain titles outside Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

"More than 50 percent of all Europeans play video games. The video game industry in Europe is thriving and it is now worth over 17 billion," said European Commission EVP, Margrethe Vestager, who's oversees competition policy.

"Today's sanctions against the "geo-blocking" practices of Valve and five PC video game publishers serve as a reminder that under EU competition law, companies are prohibited from contractually restricting cross-border sales."

A breakdown of the fines for each of the five publishers involved can be seen below, with each company having been granted a reduction based on the extent of their cooperation. Valve, however, refused to cooperate with the Commission, and has such has received a total fine of 1.62 million ($1.95 million).

You can find out more about the long-running investigation, which formally began back in 2017, by reading the European Commission's full report.
A recap on the current therapies available for COVID-19 patients

( ) announced the beginning of the final stage of trials for its COVID-19 treatment days after the UK introduced a new regimen.

The respiratory drug discovery and development company said on Wednesday the first patient was dosed with its inhaled formulation of SNG001, its treatment based on interferon beta, a naturally occurring protein that orchestrates the body's antiviral responses.

The second phase of trials showed that patients who received SNG001 for 14 days had more chances of improvement compared to the placebo.

The last stage will involve 610 patients who require supplemental oxygen in around 20 countries.

UK promotes arthritis drugs

The news comes a week after the UK Department of Health and Social Care added new treatments for COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units.

Results from the government-funded REMAP-CAP clinical trial showed that arthritis drugs tocilizumab and sarilumab reduced the relative risk of death by 24%, when administered to patients within 24 hours of entering intensive care.

Most of the data came from when the drugs were administered in addition to a corticosteroid, such as dexamethasone which is already provided as standard of care to the NHS.

Patients receiving these drugs, typically used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, left intensive care between 7 to 10 days earlier on average, so it is hoped that the new rollout will relieve pressure in hospitals.

The department said it was working closely with Swiss firm Roche, which manufactures tocilizumab, to ensure treatments continue to be available to UK patients.

Whats available for patients?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says optimal supportive care includes oxygen for those severely ill and at risk for severe disease, while the critically ill should receive more advanced respiratory support such as ventilation.

According to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the current therapies for COVID-19 tend to be either antivirals, which prevent the virus from multiplying, and immune modulators, which focus on the bodys natural responses.

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that can help reduce the length of time on a ventilator and save lives of patients with severe and critical illness.

However, reports from the WHOs Solidarity Trial indicated that drugs that made headlines last year, such as antiviral remdesivir and malaria therapy hydroxychloroquine, appear to have little or no effect on 28-day mortality or the in-hospital course of COVID-19.

HIV treatment lopinavir/ritonavir, which is recommended for use in several countries including Italy and France, is also deemed as ineffective following the trial.

The international agency also does not recommend self-medication with any medicines, including antibiotics, which do not work on viruses but only on bacterial infections.

Trials

There are several ongoing trials to test therapies, such as the aforementioned REMAP-CAP and Solidarity.

The UK is also running the worlds largest study, called Recovery, involving 12,000 patients. It is currently investigating low-dose dexamethasone, aspirin, plasma from donors who have recovered from COVID-19, Regenerons antibody cocktail and two anti-inflammatories, colchicine and tocilizumab.

Upcoming treatment news

Over the next few weeks ( )( ) is expected to publish top-line results on Foralumab, a nasally-administered monoclonal antibody.

The AIM-listed firm said last week it had concluded a study in Brazil, where data was positive and suggests that the treatment was well-tolerated.

It added that the scientific approaches used could potentially be effective against SARs, MERS, and all variants of coronaviruses.
London: The University of Leicester will stop teaching the great English medieval poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer in favour of modules on race and sexuality, according to new proposals.

Management told the English department that courses on canonical works would be dropped in favour of modules that "students expect" as part of plans now under consultation.

Geoffrey Chaucer as seen in the early 15th-century Ellesmere Manuscript of The Canterbury Tales. Credit:Alamy

Foundational texts such asThe Canterbury Tales and the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf would no longer be taught, under proposals to scrap medieval literature. Instead, the English faculty will be refocused to drop centuries of the literary canon and deliver a "decolonised" curriculum devoted to diversity.

Academics now facing redundancy were told via email: "The aim of our proposals [is] to offer a suite of undergraduate degrees that provide modules which students expect of an English degree."
The controversial 'goli maro' slogan, first raised by a BJP leader in Delhi, was heard at a TMC rally

A day after a few TMC supporters chanted the slogan Bangal ke gaddaro ko, goli maro saalo ko (shoot the traitors of Bengal) during a rally, the ruling party in Bengal on Wednesday distanced itself from the rhetoric and rebuked the activists who raised it.

Describing the slogan as excessive exuberance on the part of some young supporters, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated that the party does not endorse it.

Such a slogan should not have been raised from the rally. Those who raised it have not done the right thing. The words goli maro should not be taken literally, he said.

Several TMC supporters had chanted the controversial slogan on Tuesday during a peace rally in south Kolkata, which was also attended by two state cabinet ministers.

A similar slogan desh ke gaddaro ko, goli maro saalo ko (shoot the traitors of the nation), by a BJP leader in Delhi in January 2020 had triggered a massive row in the country, with the TMC among other parties vociferously criticising him.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh, recalling the episode last year, said the saffron party, back then, was in the eye of the storm, and now the TMC has raised a similar slogan.

The TMC has introduced the culture of guns and bombs in state politics. Now they are openly acknowledging it at their rallies, Ghosh said.

Echoing him, BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya said this is the culture that is long being pursued by the TMC in Bengal.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty claimed that both the BJP and the TMC are indulging in destructive politics and hampering peace in the state.

The TMCs peace rally had on Tuesday traversed the route that the BJP had taken a day before during its roadshow, which witnessed clashes between workers of the two political parties.

Accusing the BJP of instigating TMC activists at its roadshow on Monday, state minister Arup Biswas also claimed that the saffron party supporters, in a fit of rage, assaulted common people near Charu Market area.

The BJP, however, claimed that TMC workers, with party flags in hands, brick-batted its supporters.
Russia confirmed 21,152 COVID-19 cases in the past day, a new low since November 18, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Wednesday.

The total case tally hit 3,633,952. The average growth rate reached 0.6%.

The lowest growth rates were registered in the past day in the Kostroma Region (0.1%), the Republics of Tuva and Altai (0.2%), the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, the Magadan Region and the Jewish Autonomous Region (0.3%).

Moscow recorded 2,452 daily coronavirus cases, while the Moscow Region registered 994 COVID-19 cases. Over the past day, 3,347 coronavirus cases were confirmed in St. Petersburg, 488 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 389 in the Voronezh Region, 389 in the Sverdlovsk Region and 388 in the Rostov Region.

Currently, 539,416 people are receiving treatment for the coronavirus in Russia, TASS reported.
The highly-infectious 'Kent' coronavirus variant was already in the US six weeks before Britain sounded the alarm, a study claims.

University of Arizona researchers say the B.1.1.7 lineage  as it is scientifically known  was behind a cluster of cases in California that were traced back to November 6.

Another outbreak of the variant occurred in Florida on November 23, according to the scientists.

The UK's top scientific advisers  who called for a lockdown to stop the rapid spread of the variant  only told the Government about the new variant in mid-December.

The team studied the genomes of 50 infected patients whose samples tested positive for the variant, tracing their lineage to estimate when the mutated virus first appeared in the country

This retrospective study has the benefit of genomic analysis and hindsight, and the first actual case of the Kent strain was not diagnosed in an American until December 29.

'It is striking that this lineage may already have been established in the US for some 5-6 weeks before B.1.1.7 was first identified as a variant of concern in the UK in mid-December,' the researchers write.

'And it may have been circulating in the US for close to two months before it was first detected, on 29 December 2020.'

The Kent variant was designated as a variant under investigation by the UK on December 8 and reclassified as a 'variant of concern' on December 18.

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The new variants of the coronavirus have mutations on the spike protein, which are key for the immune system's antibodies to latch onto and destroy it. Changing the shape of them makes it harder for the body to catch the virus

Kent variant timeline September 20 - Variant emerges in a chronically ill Covid-19 patient in Kent November 6 - Infected person takes the new strain to California November 2020 - Spike in cases occurs in Kent and Medway despite national lockdown squashing case numbers in the rest of the country November 23 - Air passenger brings new variant to Florida December 11 - SAGE tells the Government about the new variant December 14 - Authorities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland reported to WHO that new SARS-CoV-2 variant was identified through viral genomic sequencing Matt Hancock tells MPs about the new variant December 18 - SAGE tells the Government they are concerned about the new variant and its transmissibility December 20 - London, South East and East of England go into new Tier 4 restrictions due to spike in cases due to new variant December 21 - More than 40 countries halt flights from UK due to new variant December 29 - First case is spotted in the US All dates are for the year 2020 Advertisement

The study has not yet been peer-reviewed but is available online as a pre-print.

The exact origin of the Kent variant is unknown but it is believed it sprung up in mid-September.

Dr Susan Hopkins, a senior Public Health England (PHE) official said in December that originally there was 'nothing to particularly highlight that this was something of major concern, as variants come and go'.

Mutations in viruses occur all the time, with the vast majority of them being harmless or deleterious to the pathogen.

However, by chance, sometimes the tweaks to the viral code give it a survival edge and increase its success, often by becoming more infectious and easier to spread.

This is what is thought to have occurred in the B.1.1.7 variant, which previous studies have found is more abundant in the upper respiratory tract.

A mutation on the spike protein  which protrudes from the coronavirus and hijacks human cells  made it better at infecting people.

This so-called N501Y mutation is also found on the South African and Brazilian variants which have since been identified.

The Arizona-based researchers found all the California cases share another minor mutation, which is seen in just 1.2 per cent of European B.1.1.7 cases.

This, they say, indicates a single introductory event, likely from international travel, seeded the variant in California where it then spread from person to person.

A similar trend was seen for the Floridian batch of cases, which were very similar to the most common type of B.1.1.7 seen in the UK.

This is a 'strong indication that they too descend from a single introduction event', the scientists say.

At least three major coronavirus variants have been spotted in Britain in recent months  from Kent, South Africa and Brazil  and they appear to be evolving to spread faster and to evade some parts of the immune system, although scientists do not yet think any have yet got so far as to slip past the vaccines completely

New strain of coronavirus is discovered in GERMANY Another mutant strain of coronavirus - different to those originating in the UK, South Africa and Brazil - has been discovered in Germany. Health officials said the variant was identified in Bavarian hospital patients, but it isn't yet known how transmissible it is. Concerns have grown in recent weeks over the spread of the variants, the UK-based version of which forced Boris Johnson to cancel Christmas for millions and plunge the nation into a third national lockdown. Discovery of the new German strain has also seen Angela Merkel take action, with the Chancellor declaring restrictions including the closure of schools and shops will be extended until mid-February. Germany's infection rate has stabilised in recent days, indicating that existing restrictions may have been effective in bringing down the numbers. However, fears are growing after it was found that out of 73 newly infected people at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the southeast of the country, 35 had the new variation. Experts continue to analyse samples after Clemens Stockklausner, deputy medical director at the Charite university hospital in Berlin, admitted it was too early to say whether this virus was more deadly than other variants. He said: 'At the moment we have discovered a small point mutation and it is absolutely not clear whether it will be of clinical relevance. 'We have to wait for the complete sequencing.' On Tuesday, the country's disease control center reported 11,369 newly confirmed infections and 989 deaths, for an overall death toll of 47,622. Advertisement

When the UK Government revealed the variant was probably the reason for a spike in local cases in the UK in mid-December, it plunged the South-East, London and the East of England into Tier 3 restrictions.

The UK Government's scientific advisors proclaimed it is up to 70 per cent more infectious than the previously dominant variant and encourage people to stay at home to prevent transmission.

It is now believed to account for more than 60 per cent of all UK cases but in California, between December 27 and January 2, only 0.4 per cent of cases were of the Kent variant. At a comparable point in the UK, this figure was 1.2 per cent.

'This suggests the dynamics of B.1.1.7 might be somewhat less explosive in California versus its original epicenter in England,' the researchers say.

'Clade 2 in Florida (population 21 million), on the other hand, exhibited more rapid displacement of non-B.1.1.7.,' the researchers write.

Here, it accounted for 0.7 per cent of cases 34 days after it first emerged in the state and 'at a comparable point into the B.1.1.7 outbreak in England B.1.1.7 accounted for about 0.1 per cent of all cases'.

'Hence, while it is evidently younger than the California clade 1 lineage, the Florida clade 2 lineage already accounts for a larger proportion of the Florida SARS-CoV-2 epidemic than clade 1 does of the California SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.'

The B.1.1.7 lineage currently only accounts for 0.3 per cent of coronavirus infections in the US, the researchers say.

The reason for the different rate at which B.1.1.7 is overtaking pre existing stains remains unknown but the researchers provide a few possibilities in their study.

'One possibility is that B.1.1.7's transmission advantage may vary with mitigation intensity,' they say.

'Perhaps this lineage of SARS-CoV-2, with demonstrably higher viral loads in the upper airway than other variants, is able to seed superspreader events with relative ease when mitigation efforts are comparatively lax, but its transmission advantage is less acute when the playing field is leveled by, for example, widespread mask use and indoor crowd avoidance.

'Another possibility is that the non-B.1.1.7 lineages circulating in the US, particularly in California, may be more transmissible than the non-B.1.1.7 lineages in England with which B.1.1.7 has been competing, giving B.1.1.7 less of a transmission advantage and, thus, a slower displacement rate of non-B.1.1.7 lineages.'
The Cabinet of Ministers takes over the management of National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom, Ukrhydroenergo, Nyzhniodnistrovska hydroelectric power plant (HPP), state-run enterprise Eskhar CHPP-2, Kalush CHPP-Nova, Lysychansk CHPP, and instructs to prepare the transfer of NPC Ukrenergo, Mahistralni Gazoprovody Ukrainy (MGU) and Market Operator.

This was announced by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal during a government meeting on Wednesday.

"On behalf of the President, Energoatom, Ukrhydroenergo, Nizhnednestrovskaya HPP and three combined heat and power plants will be transferred directly to the Cabinet of Ministers. At the same time, the Ministries of Economy, Finance and Energy will prepare decisions on the transfer of Ukrenergo, MGU and Market Operator to the Ministry of Energy," Shmyhal said.

He said that this is a very important decision that will contribute to the integration of Ukraine into European power markets.
Israel's cabinet decided on Tuesday to extend by 10 days a weeks-long nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ministers voted in favor of extending the tight lockdown until Jan. 31, according to a cabinet statement.

The cabinet also decided that travelers entering the country will be required to present a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours before their flight, Xinhua reported.

"We are in a close race between the vaccines operation and the surging morbidity in the world due to the mutations," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of the meeting, according to a statement issued by his office.

Israel has seen spiking numbers of new COVID-19 cases despite a fast vaccination rollout, which started on Dec. 19.

The country entered its third lockdown on Dec. 27. Originally, the lockdown was planned to be lifted after two weeks but, instead, the government decided to tighten it and later also extended it.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has objected to a fresh bail application filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the former Chairperson of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.

Mr Maina had earlier evaded trial and fled to Niger Republic.

The defendant, who is being prosecuted on money laundering charges involving alleged diversion of N2billion in pension funds, was extradited to Nigeria on December 3, 2020, weeks after the trial judge, Okon Abang, ordered his arrest.

When Mr Maina was produced in court on December 4, Mr Abang ordered that he be kept in prison till the end of his trial.

The defence lawyer, Anayo Adibe, however, on Wednesday, informed the trial judge that it had filed a fresh bail application on behalf of the defendant whom he said was having worsening health condition in detention.

Mr Maina stated in an affidavit filed in support of his fresh bail application that he was absent during his trial in October 2020 because he had to undergo a medical operation on his knee.

But the EFCC, through its lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, opposed the bail application, saying Mr Mainas claim of ill health was false.

The EFCC said in a counter-affidavit opposing the fresh bail application that Mr Maina, whose passport had been seized by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, where he is being prosecuted on separate fraud charges, had jumped bail and sneaked to Niger Republic to obtain new travel documents at the Embassy of the United States of America (USA) in Niamey to enable him flee back to the USA with his family where he and his family are equally citizens.

The 1st defendant (Maina) did not suffer or undergo any treatment for any health challenge in his knee whether in Nigeria or in Niger Republic, the counter-affidavit added.

Complicated history

Mr Maina had evaded trial for years until the Nigerian security agencies arrested him in company with his 20-year-old son, Faisal, on September 30, 2019.

EFCC subsequently arraigned him before Mr Abang in October 2020.

His son, who has also jumped bail, is standing trial on separate charges before Mr Abang.

Mr Abang has since continued Faisals trial in his absence.

Last year when Mr Maina jumped bail in the middle of his trial and fled to Niger, Mr Abang ordered the remand of his surety, Ali Ndume, a serving senator in detention.

Mr Ndume spent days in detention before the judge later granted him bail.

The senator had in a recent news reports said he would withdraw as Mr Mainas surety.
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Authorities are asking for tips after someone set fire to an occupied tent near a Northeast Portland auto parts retailer.

No one was injured in the Dec. 22 incident, which happened near an AutoZone store on 122nd Avenue north of Glisan Street. The person who was in the tent doesnt know the suspect, who appears to be a woman, authorities said.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon said people can submit tips online or by using the P3 Tips mobile application.

Crime Stoppers offers rewards of as much as $2,500 for information, reported to the nonprofit, that leads to arrests in unsolved felony cases. Tipsters can stay anonymous.

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
Chair of Russias Human Rights Council opposes introduction of COVID passports

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

17:17 20/01/2021

MOSCOW, January 20 (RAPSI)  Chairman of the Presidential Council for Human Rights Valery Fadeyev on Wednesday argued against COVID passports.

According to Fadeyev, such passports can restrict the rights of citizens who have not vaccinated against coronavirus.

Earlier, several Russian regions discussed the possibility of introduction of the so-called COVID passports.

Fadeyev believes it necessary to create a special database of the vaccinated citizens. However, COVID passports may lead to certain human rights violations, he said during a news conference on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russias High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over such passports. She said there were certain categories of citizens, who could not be vaccinated because of their health. There are questions about the protection of the rights of such citizens and the circumstances, under which restrictive measures with respect to them will be removed, Moskalkova observed.




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Washington: US President Donald Trump has granted clemency to former top adviser Steve Bannon as part of a wave of 143 pardons and commutations issued during his final day in the White House.

With just hours remaining until Joe Biden's inauguration, Trump pardoned Bannon, who ran his successful 2016 presidential campaign during its final months. The 67-year-old was charged last year with defrauding Trump supporters over an effort to raise private funds to build the president's wall on the US-Mexico border.

Bannon and Trump fell out during the first year of his presidency but the two men recently rekindled their relationship as Trump sought support for his unproven claims of voter fraud.

Trump issued a list of 73 pardons and 70 commutations on Wednesday (AEDT), continuing a tradition of presidents issuing a swathe of such last-minute decisions before leaving office.
The Ghana School of Railways and Infrastructure Development has finally started operations.



The School of Railways and Infrastructure Development is part of the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa. All programmes being offered by the School are engineering courses.



On January 15, 2021, the first batch of students reported to the School and are currently undergoing orientation.



In 2021, the School is expected to admit some 300 students. Over the next four years, the School is looking to admit about 5,000 students.



The duration of each programme is four years.



For years (2017-2021), the Minister of Railways Development, Hon. Joe Ghartey, spearheaded the establishment of the School.



With the massive investments made in the railway sector by the Akufo-Addo Government, the development of human resource capacity in the sector is expected to record a major boost.



It would be recalled that Hon. Ghartey signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa to develop the Railways Training School into an accredited Institution of higher learning for the award of certificates and diplomas.



The collaboration was also aimed at transforming the Railways Training School into a degree-awarding university.



And after years of hard work by the Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan Constituency and key stakeholders in the railway sector, Ghana now has a Railway School fully operational.



The School is creating employment in Tarkwa, with residents renting their pro properties to students who have moved to the area to pursue courses in railway development.











The School commenced operations in January 2021.



The School exists to among other things, provide quality and practical training in rail transport and logistics, responsive to a vibrant market environment through research and technology to adopt the changing world economy with an innovative and creative mindset to grow the rail business survival.



It also seeks to become a world-class railway institution dedicated to professional excellence in rail transport management.



The successful opening of the Railway University is one of the key legacies of Hon. Ghartey who after his appointment as Minister of Railways Development by President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2017, spearheaded the massive transformation of Ghanas railway sector.



The development of modern, standard gauge railway tracks across Ghana, and several other achievements in the railway sector from 2017 till date, has earned Hon. Ghartey praises from several Ghanaians.



The whole idea of establishing a railway institute for Ghana dates back to 1945 when the Ghana Armed Forces handed over its barracks in Takoradi to the then Ghana Railways and Ports Authority for use by the Railway Central Training Institute for the training of its staff.



The construction of the Railway Central Training Institute in Sekondi began in 1984 and was funded with a World Bank loan. The project was initially started by Messrs Commazzi Contractors Limited but was later completed by the State Construction Corporation and Frednaro Construction Limited with Architectural and Engineering Services Corporation as the Constituency firm.



The Central Training Institute was set up to among other things, provide training in such disciplines as signal and telecommunication engineering, permanent way, mechanical and electrical engineering, and traffic.



The Central Training Institute was an in-house training institute and had gone into complete disrepair by 2017.

Source: Dickson Boadi









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ALBANY  County Democratic officials in the Albany area on Wednesday praised President Joe Bidens inaugural address for its repeated call for unity. They also were excited to watch Vice President Kamala Harris become the first woman to hold that position.

Today's inauguration means more to me, to women, to young girls across our communities than many would assume, Carolyn Riggs, chairwoman of the Greene County Democratic Committee, said in a statement.

Biden was sworn in as president shortly before noon Wednesday, two weeks after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob that left five people dead. His address focused on uniting the nation, calling the inauguration Americas day.

Area political leaders celebrated the inauguration in different ways. Some, like former Albany County Democratic Chairman Jack Flynn, watched from home with their families. Others, like Dutchess County Chairwoman Elisa Sumner, hosted virtual watch parties with members of their party committees.

Keith Kanaga, chairman of the Columbia County Democratic Party, said that Bidens speech was terrific, citing his theme of unity and an end to what Biden called this uncivil war.

I think, especially now, it's something that is so important for this country, said Kanaga.

Sumner said that she cried as she watched Harris take the oath of office. We may not have shattered the final glass ceiling, she said. But we've gotten mighty close.

Flynn said Harris swearing in was a powerful moment for his two daughters. He hopes for the day America can see the first woman president and also a first president of other races.

Gregory Fingar, chairman of the Columbia County Republican Party, appreciated the peaceful transition of power, saying, I wish the Biden administration nothing but success, health and peace.

The Democrats also hope that a Biden administration will provide much needed relief for New York.

Brett Broge, chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party, anticipates that the new administration and Democratic-controlled Congress will enact massive COVID-19 relief packages that provide direct aid for the state.

Broge said the packages should alleviate some of those shortfalls facing New York and other states.

Because of the pandemic and heightened security concerns following the siege on the Capitol, the inauguration was smaller and more subdued than in past years. Everyone wore masks; except for those directly on stage. Members of Congress and other guests were spaced apart. The National Mall was closed to the public.

Margaret Bartley, chairwoman of the Essex County Democratic Party, said she approved of the staging of the inauguration. Having attended previous inaugurations with large crowds, she said the limited audience necessitated by COVID-19 precautions had its benefits.

This was very intimate to me to be able to watch the faces of the people up close, Bartley said. I just got so much more out of it.

Broge commented on the flags placed on the National Mall where the crowd would have normally been, saying it was patriotic to the core.

Ultimately, the county leaders believe that the inauguration of Biden and Harris could bring change to the country if people work together across party lines.

This is the time. This is our chance to come together to do something positive or some things positive, Kanaga said. He's got an amazing agenda. And it's going need a lot of effort not only on their part, but on ours.

Jay Silver is a graduate student in Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
L T Foods announced the acquisition of 30% stake in Leev.nu through its fellow subsidiary Nature Bio Foods BV (NBF B. V.), with an option to acquire a further 21% stake at the end of 5 years.

Nature Bio Foods Limited (NBF), the subsidiary of LT Foods has established itself as a responsible and dependable organic product and ingredient supplier across the globe. The Company has been providing authentic organic products through its holistic, integrated & sustainable business model that inspires, promotes & supports thousands of organic farmers.

The acquisition of a stake in Leev.nu is in line with long term growth strategy of NBF.

Leev.nu is a Netherlands based Organic Specialty Food Company with a portfolio comprising breakfast bars, healthy snacks, baking range & gluten free, low sugar products that promote an active & healthy lifestyle. Further, it is expanding its product portfolio and venturing into organic wholegrains category such as oats and flax seeds. Its products are available in both retail & online stores.

Besides NBF BV, AndersInvest, a private equity investor, & Did-It, a Company that has immense experience in worldwide trading of organic products, have also taken a stake in Leev.nu BV.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[January 20, 2021] VTech to Acquire Mexican Manufacturing Facility from QSC, LLC

HONG KONG, Jan. 20, 2021 /CNW/ -- VTech Holdings Limited (HKSE: 303) today announced that it has signed an agreement with QSC, LLC to acquire its production facility in Tecate, Mexico for manufacturing wood enclosure loudspeakers. QSC, LLC is a globally-recognised leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of award-winning high-performance loudspeakers, digital mixers, power amplifiers, audio processors and digital cinema solutions. The acquisition of its production facility in Tecate, Mexico includes the fixed assets and business in manufacturing wood enclosure loudspeakers for the North American market. In addition to manufacturing QSC's range of wood enclosure loudspeakers, this acquisition will strengthen VTech Contract Manufacturing Services' (CMS) leading position as a manufacturer of professional audio equipment. It also brings new know-how and additional growth potential to VTech. "VTeh CMS is one of the world's leading EMS providers in the field of professional audio equipment. This acquisition will further enhance our expertise and product range in this area," said Andy Leung, CEO of Contract Manufacturing Services. "It is the latest step in our strategic initiative to expand our global footprint by investing in production facilities outside Asia to explore new areas of growth and better serve our customers."



The acquisition will be funded through internal resources. It is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021 and is subject to certain closing conditions in the agreement. About VTech

VTech is the global leader in electronic learning products from infancy through toddler and preschool and the largest manufacturer of cordless phones in the US. It also provides highly sought-after contract manufacturing services. Since its establishment in 1976, VTech has been a pioneer in the electronic learning toy category. With advanced educational expertise and cutting-edge innovation, VTech products provide fun and learning to children around the world. Leveraging decades of success in cordless telephony, VTech's diverse collection of telecommunication products elevates both home and business users' experience through the latest in technology and design. As one of the world's leading electronic manufacturing service providers, VTech offers world-class, full turnkey services to customers in a number of product categories. The Group's mission is to design, manufacture and supply innovative and high quality products in a manner that minimises any impact on the environment, while creating sustainable value for its stakeholders and the community. For more information, please visit www.vtech.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vtech-to-acquire-mexican-manufacturing-facility-from-qsc-llc-301211414.html SOURCE VTech

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 20, 2021 / Gratomic Inc. ("GRAT" or the "Company") (TSX.V:GRAT)(OTCQB:CBULF)(FRANKFURT:CB82)(WKN:A143MR) announces the appointment of Karl Trudeau as a Director of the Company and Head of Namibian Operations.

Karl brings to the Board his unique experiences in building and operating some of the most profitable graphite mines in the Western World. Working for Imerys Graphite et Carbonne, he operated and optimized the Lac-Des-Iles graphite mine to become the most profitable mining operation in Quebec in 2014. An additional significant milestone was achieved with Imerys, through his role as Natural Graphite Operations Leader, where Karl was responsible for the construction and development of the Okanjande Graphite Mine in Namibia, Africa.

As the COO of Nouveau Monde Graphite, Karl made important contributions to the project including his work as a pioneer in the electrification of mining operations. As the world is changing, Gratomic will be a focused leader in making the necessary and important change of establishing carbon neutral operations. Karl brings with him the knowledge from previous projects, which will assist in making the Company's Aukam Graphite Project a carbon neutral operation.

The strength of established working relationships on previous projects with Armando Farhate and Andre Bennet and having a strong track record of delivering to plan will be a key contributing factor to the success of the Aukam Graphite Project.

"I had the privilege of working directly with Karl in other Graphite projects and having him side by side at the Board of Directors of Gratomic will ensure we continue to improve our governance level," said Armando Farhate, COO & Head of Graphite Marketing and Sales.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am very pleased to welcome Karl to the Board. This step solidifies his role with the Company and represents a harbinger of the success to come in Gratomic's future," said Arno Brand, President & CEO of Gratomic Inc.

The appointment of Karl Trudeau as a director is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Gratomic Inc.

Established in 2014, Gratomic is focused on the proposed production of low-cost mine to market carbon-neutral, eco-friendly, high purity vein graphite to be provided to the EV and Energy Storage supply chains. Gratomic is anticipating full operational capabilities in 2021.

Gratomic is in the process of solidifying its plans for micronization and spheronization of its clean Aukam graphite. This significant milestone is a small, additional step in the Company's proposed eco-friendly processing cycle and is intended to allow it to meet ideal North American battery grade standards for use in Li-ion battery anodes.

The Company plans to deliver mine-to-market traceability and guaranteed quality control. This will be accomplished by providing documented tracking on all graphite generated at its flagship Aukam Graphite Project. The tracking will begin at Aukam and will be verified at every stage during transport.

Two off-take purchase agreements are currently held for lump-vein graphite sourced from Gratomic's Aukam Graphite Project in Namibia, Africa. Fulfillment of the contracts is anticipated to begin in Q1 of 2021. The agreements exist with TODAQ and Phu Sumika.

TODAQ is an innovative deeptech company that can containerize assets, transactions & markets, and will partner with Gratomic on its mine-to-market commodity tracking and trading. Containerized assets are verifiably unique, keep an immutable record of who has owned them, have embedded smart logic, can be transferred P2P, and are interoperable with any system. Asset owners enjoy stronger ownership control, value retention when trading, and ability to prove authenticity in seconds.

Phu Sumika is a large global graphite supplier to battery and lubrication companies.

Gratomic Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GRAT, on the OTCQB under the symbol CBULF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol CB82.

For more information: visit the website at www.gratomic.ca or contact:Arno Brand at abrand@gratomic.ca or 416 561-4095

Subscribe at gratomic.ca/contact/ to be added to our email list.

"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."

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: Gratomic Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625011/Gratomic-Appoints-Karl-Trudeau-as-a-Director-Head-of-Namibian-Operations
India says it can increase its production of Covid-19 vaccines to 500 million per month for export, as it fields interest from the U.

K., Belgium, and countries across the Middle East and Africa seeking access to cheaper inoculations. The South Asian nation has the capacity to boost the production of AstraZeneca Plcs vaccine being produced locally by the Serum Institute of India Ltd as well as an indigenously developed shot, on expectations that demand will rise by the end of this week, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified as talks are ...
Mr Peck said Labor, while in opposition, strongly criticised the Barnett government for doing nothing about black cockatoo habitat decline, but had since done no better. Gnangara mound pine plantations across the cities of Wanneroo and Swan. Credit:WWF/Pixel Pilot There have been small revegetation projects: BirdLife Australia has planted 10,000 crowdfunded trees. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has planted 15,000-20,000 seedlings in ex-plantation areas annually for the past five years. But this represented 20-50 hectares a year, Mr Peck said. At the current rate it would take 750 years to revegetate, he said.

The cockatoos will be long gone by then. The government points to the need to recharge the aquifer beneath, which supplies half of Perths drinking water, as the reason for the lack of larger-scale revegetation plans. But Mr Peck says the DBCA models currently in use for smaller scale plantings could work on a larger scale and allow aquifer recharge, while still providing a realistic additional food source within eight years. As they mature they will provide more but there will be a lag and that is why we want it to happen quickly, he said. If we dont do this, the birds will starve and they wont breed. The plan in the desk drawer

The locations of the plantations over the Gnangara mound. Credit:WA government In 2011, the Barnett government launched the Green Growth Plan, or Strategic Assessment of the Perth and Peel Regions, to assess the region as a whole, and allocate all land for protection and development long-term. Finally, in 2015, the draft SAPPR was released with numerous sub-plans  one, a strategy for the Gnangara mound after the final pine harvest. Part of this sub-plan was to replant 5000 hectares of pines as a permanent food source for black cockatoos at 500 hectares a year from 2012. As pines take 10 years to become a viable food source, if completed this would have been producing food for the cockatoos by 2022. It acknowledged that even with this, the impact of pine harvesting on the species would be considerable.

But it was not just a plan for cockatoos. It provided for industrial and residential development, mining, state forest and public open space across the vast area, while ensuring aquifer recharge. There was a sister project to the SAPPR, the 'Perth and Peel@3.5 million' planning frameworks that plotted where the city would accommodate its population to 2050, also launched by the Barnett government. Both projects were behemoths. But while the government pushed through and managed to complete Perth and Peel@3.5 million, the SAPPR floundered, copping forceful criticism from both sides of the development/environment fence during the public comment phase. A revised draft was never released. In April 2018, the McGowan government suspended the project pending a six-month review.

In April 2019, the government told WAtoday a supplementary report would be received mid-2019 and a decision from Deputy Premier Roger Cook would follow. But nothing was announced. In March 2020, the government published a notice on a web page saying the project was suspended indefinitely because of COVID-19. The government quietly published this update in March, nine months after it was due to make a decision. Credit:WA government WAtoday asked the government how COVID-19 could be a reason for suspending a decision due to be made nine months before the pandemic. The government was considering these issues when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the SAPPR work was deferred, a spokesman said.

"Our immediate priority is ensuring Western Australia can recover from the pandemic. Further updates will be provided in due course. Until then, existing state and Commonwealth approvals processes continue to apply and are well understood by industry and conservation groups." Mr Peck said he was told at a meeting last August the project was dead. But he said there was no reason not to revegetate the Gnangara mound. I am told the Department of Water and Environment Regulation has $6 million of offset money, he said. People are queuing up to revegetate Gnangara: Perth Airport, Greening Australia, Main Roads.

We are asking for an announcement of large scale revegetation, a long-term plan. Thousands of hectares over the next decade. Loading A spokesman said the government was looking at community and commercial partnerships to return native vegetation to the former plantation areas with the aim of creating habitat for the Carnabys and other native wildlife. DWER, which administers offset funds, recently announced $2 million from the Offset Fund for Recovery program would be spent on supporting Carnabys cockatoo habitat in Perth. The department is also working on a project to collect native seeds across an area including the Gnangara mound which will be used to revegetate the region. A competitive grant round for these future projects is expected in March or April.
Malta, a sovereign microstate in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, has no shortage of sunny beaches, honey-bricked villages and rugged countryside. Beyond its Mediterranean charm, Malta is home to a geographically and culturally isolated population whose unique genetic makeup, makes this island nation a goldmine for genetics research.

Four years ago, the University of Malta set up a national ALS Registry and Biobank to identify patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and collect data on their residence, occupation, lifestyle and environmental exposures. Blood samples donated by participants will remain stored in high-tech storage facilities at the University over many years.

ALS is a progressive neurological disease that destroys the nerves that interact with the body's muscles. The disease typically leads to complete paralysis of the body, robbing patients of their ability to walk, speak, eat and breathe. There is no cure for ALS, and eventually, the disease is fatal.

Malta's ALS Biobank is providing scientists with an invaluable resource for understanding the causes of ALS. In the first landmark study, researchers have retrieved and scrutinized the DNA from blood samples to discover flaws in genes linked to ALS.

"The DNA results caught us by surprise. The most frequently mutated ALS genes were flawless in Maltese patients," said the study's lead researcher Dr Ruben J. Cauchi, PhD, a senior lecturer at the University's School of Medicine and lead investigator at the University's Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking.

Collaborating with scientists at the University Medical Centre (UMC) Utrecht in The Netherlands, University of Malta researchers found that ALS patients in Malta did not have flaws in the C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP and FUS genes, which are known to contribute to a major number of ALS cases worldwide.

The study nonetheless revealed that compared to other European populations, a higher percentage of Maltese patients with no prior family history of ALS have harmful flaws in their DNA. Intriguingly, these occur in genes that are rarely damaged in Europeans with ALS.

Our results underscore the unique genetics of the Maltese population, shaped by centuries of relative isolation. We also established that genetic factors play a significant role in causing ALS in Malta." Dr Ruben J. Cauchi, PhD, Study's Lead Researcher

Right now, the research team is on the hunt for what triggers ALS in more than half of the study subjects that had no flaws in known ALS genes. Thanks to the participation of patients and healthy volunteers, Malta's ALS Biobank is rapidly growing into a precious treasure trove of data that is expected to unveil more fascinating insights on the causes of ALS in the years to come.
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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
A police officer posed as a 37-year-old mum with a 14-year-old daughter and posted an ad on Craigslist "looking for the right man to experiment with together" on the Gold Coast.

Scott Douglas Bartkowski, 39 at the time, responded and went to meet the undercover officer and her fictitious daughter near the Sofitel Hotel in Broadbeach, where he was arrested.

The sting ended with the arrest near the Sofitel Hotel in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.

Bartkowski was convicted of using electronic communication with intent to procure a person he believed to be under 16 to engage in a sexual act, in Southport District Court on November 21, 2019.

He appealed the conviction, had a hearing in November last year and this week, three judges attached to the Brisbane Supreme Court's Court of Appeal, handed down their decision.
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First, Pennsylvania residents couldnt get through to Pennsylvanias Pandemic Unemployment Assistance by phone or email. Now, the state is struggling to pay the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians anxiously awaiting their extended benefits.

Residents in the Lehigh Valley and elsewhere in Pennsylvania say the delay is jeopardizing their ability to stay afloat. Theyre looking for answers.

One looming question: Is there even a timeline for when residents will receive the extended unemployment assistance plus the $300 supplemental payment that is part of the most recent federal stimulus package? Pennsylvania is among the states that has yet to receive payments and one of the only states with no known payout date.

Bucks County resident Melody Murphy took to Facebook to express her frustration.

I (have) paid for gas in change, Murphy, a hotel worker on severely reduced hours, wrote in a message. That was very embarrassing. Ive had to put stuff back at the grocery store (because) I didnt have enough money.

Dean Webley is a business owner from Philadelphia with similar feelings.

I worked in corporate for 30 years until deciding to open my own business, Webley wrote in a Facebook message. My business just about fell to zero by March and shows no signs of picking up. Psychologically this has taken a toll as I have never not been able to provide for me and my boys. In a way its humiliating to be in this position and then to have to wait.

Webley also wrote that taking a minimum wage job to cover $900 rent on top of other expenses makes no sense to her.

I would much rather be self-sustaining ... but is it too much to ask the government to whom I have paid taxes faithfully to step up and help in a timely manner, she asked.

Allentown resident Kammy Villa wrote on Facebook that shell be unable to pay her bills if this situation isnt fixed.

The state has been working to get the extra $300 payments out ever since Congress approved them in the stimulus package last month. The extension comes as a relief to the two unemployment programs that ended Dec. 26 2020, with the stimulus acting as an additional economic-boost amidst the pandemic.

Once payment comes through, the state will be backdating all payouts to the week ending Jan. 2 to cover the gap between the end of the programs and now. But while an extension may seem like some good news, nobody knows when they will receive their benefits. Some have yet to even receive their second stimulus: the $600 payment that was also part of the package approved by Congress.

Not only was there an excessive number of fraudulent claims being made in 2020, but a lot of people who mistakenly thought they qualified were able to get approved thanks to a lackadaisical 40-year-old computer system. Now, the department has to sort through each claim manually.

The computer system issues date back to 2006, when the Department of Labor & Industry gave IBM a $107 million contract to update its system. However, the contract ended in 2013 when it ran $60 million over budget and 42 months behind schedule. By the end of the contract, the state had spent $153 million, but the computer system was never updated.

While a 2017 audit revealed the state had made numerous improvements to the unemployment compensation program, it also predicted the department would need an estimated $159.5 million between 2017 and 2020 to maintain current unemployment compensation operation of five service centers and a computer system replacement.

The delays come as the department is experiencing a leadership change. Gov. Tom Wolf nominated Acting Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier to replace former secretary Gerard Oleksiak.

In a statement to lehighvalleylive.com, the department blamed the delays on the federal government dragging its feet.

L&I began urging the federal government to extend the unemployment provisions in the federal CARES Act in mid-November to avoid a gap in payments because changes to the programs require time to implement, the statement said. Congress did not pass, and the president did not sign, the bill until late December as the programs lapsed.

The federal Department of Labor did not provide the information that L&I needs until Monday, Jan. 11, increasing the delay. Since then, the department has been working tirelessly to reprogram the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance systems to accommodate changes in the law, such as new verification steps for the PUA program.

We know workers are relying on these payments and we are doing everything we can to expedite the reprogramming to allow for payments to begin again as soon as possible. We will make an announcement when we confirm a date for when payments for the extended programs will begin.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.
President has pardoned former chief strategist as part of a late flurry of clemency action benefiting nearly 150 people, including rap stars and former members of Congress.

The pardons and commutations for 143 people, including Bannon, were announced after midnight Wednesday in the final hours of Trump's White House term.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations, stressed that Trump has flip-flopped repeatedly as he mulls his final actions, and warned the decision could be reversed until it's formally unveiled.

Whereas pardon recipients are generally thought of as defendants who have faced justice, often by having served at least some prison time, a pardon for Bannon nullifies a prosecution that was still in its early stages and likely months away from trial in Manhattan, effectively eliminating any prospect for punishment.

Though other presidents have issued controversial pardons at the ends of their administration, perhaps no commander in chief has so enjoyed using the clemency authority to benefit not only friends and acquaintances but also celebrity defendants and those championed by allies. Critics say such decisions result in far more deserving applicants being passed over.

is getting a pardon from Trump after defrauding Trump's own supporters into paying for a wall that Trump promised Mexico would pay for, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Twitter. And if that all sounds crazy, that's because it is. Thank God we have only 12 more hours of this den of thieves.

Bannon has been charged with duping thousands of investors who believed their money would be used to fulfill Trump's chief campaign promise to build a wall along the southern border. Instead, he allegedly diverted over a million dollars, paying a salary to one campaign official and personal expenses for himself.

Bannon did not respond to questions Tuesday.

Trump has already pardoned a slew of longtime associates and supporters, including his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort; Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law; his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone; and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

A voice of nationalist, outsider conservatism, Bannon who served in the Navy and worked at Goldman Sachs and as a Hollywood producer before turning to led the conservative Breitbart News before being tapped to serve as chief executive officer of Trump's 2016 campaign in its critical final months.

He later served as chief strategist to the president during the turbulent early days of Trump's administration and was at the forefront of many of its most contentious policies, including its travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries.

But Bannon, who clashed with other top advisers, was pushed out after less than a year. And his split with Trump deepened after he was quoted in a 2018 book making critical remarks about some of Trump's adult children.

Bannon apologised and soon stepped down as chairman of Breitbart. He and Trump have recently reconciled.

In August, he was pulled from a luxury yacht off the coast of Connecticut and brought before a judge in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty. When he emerged from the courthouse, Bannon tore off his mask, smiled and waved to news cameras. As he went to a waiting vehicle, he shouted, This entire fiasco is to stop people who want to build the wall.

The organisers of the We Build The Wall group portrayed themselves as eager to help the president build a big beautiful barrier along the US-Mexico border, as he promised during the 2016 campaign.

They raised more than $25 million from thousands of donors and pledged that 100% of the money would be used for the project.

But according to the criminal charges, much of the money never made it to the wall. Instead, it was used to line the pockets of group members, including Bannon.

(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.)
Day care shortage creates barriers for working parents

With a labor shortage plaguing the state, working parents are ready to fill these positions. The lack of childcare options creates barriers.
New Delhi, Jan 20 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a plea seeking action against illegal ashrams run by fake "babas" across the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A. S Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian said: "How will court find out who is a fake baba?" As senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing Dumpala Ramreddy, a resident of Secunderabad, said that the Akhil Bharatiya Akahara Parishad has prepared a list of fake babas in the country, the Chief Justice asked how could they rely on the Parishad's decision on identifying fake babas.

Guruswamy replied that it is the apex body of Akaharas and traces its linage to Adi Shankara. But the bench said: "The list has been prepared without hearing them or how does this list come into force." She cited the conviction of godman Ram Rahim, and the Chief Justice said: "All the more reason not to go to them. Why do you want the SC to intervene?" Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the plea and cited petitioner's habeas corpus petition in the Delhi High Court seeking custody of his daughter, allegedly been kept in illegal confinement by an alleged godman.

The bench observed that it does not want to disrespect any Akhara Parishad. "How can the Supreme Court enter into this realm. Court cannot look into it," said the bench.

"Menaka Guruswamy, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner seeks permission to withdraw this petition. Permission, as sought for, is granted. Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed as withdrawn," the top court said in its order.

In his plea, Ramreddy said: "Though very serious criminal cases were registered against Veerendra Dev Dixit, Asaram Bapu, Ram Rahim baba, etc..., their ashrams are still run with the help of their close associates and the authorities are not verifying the facilities available over there." The plea urged the apex court to direct the authorities to frame guidelines in setting up of 'Ashrams', citing rape accused Dixit, who ran 'Adhyatmika Vishwa Vidhyalaya' at Rohini in Delhi, where his daughter stayed for nearly five years. Following complaints from many girls, this Ashram was raided by a court-appointed panel.
After being sworn in as president of the United States on Wednesday, before a sparse, spaced-out crowd and a mall filled out with American flags instead of people, Joe Biden will sign an executive order requiring everyone to wear masks and social distance on federal property.

Its a small step in the scheme of the pandemic, one that should have been taken back in the spring. But for nearly a year, we have weathered the coronavirus under leadership that actively mocked the use of masks in spite of a consensus among public health experts that they are a crucial, effective tool for keeping people safe. Ive typed out sentences like that so many times over the course of the past several months that the former presidents disdain for basic safety measures has became almost boring, despite its profound and distressing absurdity. Even imagining that the incoming president might ask folks to wear masks in his new home felt novel, let alone that he will take steps to encourage the rest of the country to do the same.

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Biden is doing more than just leading by example. On Wednesday, the new president will do some other very basic things to fight the coronavirus. He will take action to cease the previous Administrations process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization, with Anthony Fauci slated to speak at a meeting there later this week.* To encourage Americans in general to wear masks, he will launch a 100 Days Masking Challenge, which, yes, sounds slightly hokey, but that is who Joe Biden is and frankly, it is great that the president is encouraging people to wear masks. He will start working with Congress on his coronavirus relief package, which includes more stimulus checks, higher unemployment insurance, and a ban on evicting renters until fall.

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These are forward-looking actions, but just as importantly, Biden is centering the people who have died of the coronavirus, too. Tuesday night, he and Kamala Harris and their spouses visited the Washington Monument to remember the 400,000 Americans who have died of COVID-19; during his speech Wednesday, he had a moment of silence for them. Donald Trump, in contrast, once again talked about the pandemic in the past tense when he departed the White House this morning.

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Theres still so much work left to do to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Biden, like all of us, will be stuck inside the consequences of a failed pandemic response for a while yet. But part of whats been so exhausting about this is the simple fact that the now-ex-president constantly framed the pandemic as not that big of deal, and also something he had an excellent handle on. Wearing a mask is not fun. It needs to be a group effort. It was tough to be reminded constantly that people in power were against it, against distancing, against making all the tedious sacrifices that experts are advising we all make.

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Ive had the sensation throughout the pandemic that the only way to stay safe is to endlessly batten down the way I live: that I and my small bubble are pretty much alone in our responsibility for our health, because the virus is running rampant and there is just no one trying to stop it. I know realistically that many, many people were, and are, and that the efforts of so many people in public health have helped make things less awful. But with the president botching things so badly at so many levels, it was easy to feel like coping with the coronavirus was a personal endeavor, not a national project in which we were all engaged. It would be naive to think that were all on the same page, now, as a country, with respect to this awful biological phenomenonnaive to think that it will not still be exhausting. Officials will still mess up, theyll still do things that are a little iffy COVID-safety-wise, like hug people on TV. But it feels like a relief to know that the president is finally going to try.
CEO Jeff Szyperski said the bank embraced a new workflow tool, along with flexibility, resiliency and teamwork to process $77 million dollars in the first wave of the Paycheck Protection Program loans

Szyperski said the bank's total assets increased 27% year-over-year largely due to the pandemic as a lot of the growth can be chalked up to federal funds coming into the community 'through stimulus payments as well as PPP loans'

When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit and shut down entire industries, many feared that community banks would suffer too  tied as they are to their small-business borrowers.

Yet those ties to local companies seem to have worked to their distinct advantage. The lions share of the first wave of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, around 60%, went through community banks.

2020 was a surprisingly good year for community banks despite all of the turmoil in getting there, Chesapeake Bank chairman and CEO Jeff Szyperski told Proactive.

The Paycheck Protection Program, the US governments small-business bailout, brought community banks like Chesapeake new customers and kept current ones in business. Stimulus and unemployment checks also boosted deposits and kept borrowers from falling behind on their loans.

As 2021 kicks off, Chesapeake Financial Shares Inc (OTCQX:CPKF), which operates as the bank holding company for Chesapeake Bank, is on the growth fast track. Founded in 1900, Chesapeake Bank is a lender to small businesses. Headquartered in Kilmarnock, Virginia, it operates 16 community banks in the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, Williamsburg and Richmond region.

Last year, Chesapeake Bank maximized workflow management to process over 900 PPP loans in three weeks, which is more than it did in all the previous calendar year.

Proactive sat down with CEO Jeff Szyperski, a banker for three decades, to learn more about how the bank is gearing up for the next round of PPP loans. The bank has also presided over digital transformation as its customers have come to rely on smartphone apps and digital services.

A thoughtful risk-taker who is bullish on the banking industry, Szyperski has served as a former chairman of the American Bankers Association and the Virginia Bankers Association.

Proactive: Was 2020 surprisingly good to community banks?

Jeff Szyperski: 2020 was a surprisingly good year for community banks despite all of the turmoil in getting there. When the story was written on 2008 banking was pinned as the villain in that story, very unfairly I might add. I think the storyline for 2020 is the exact opposite - banking, especially community banking, was one of the heroes by supporting their communities in uncertain times and quickly and efficiently deploying the Paycheck Protection Program funds coming out of the CARES Act.

I have said many times in the past nine months that if you had asked me in March or April if we at Chesapeake as well as the industry in general would have weathered the pandemic so well, I would not have believed it - and thats coming from someone who is an optimist and bullish on our industry!

How is Chesapeake Bank prepping for the $900 billion pandemic relief bill that was signed into law at the end of 2020?

We are reforming the PPP teams that we pulled together back in the Spring for Round 1 of PPP. We are also updating the internally developed workflow tool we were able to stand up within a few days that allowed us to process over 900 loans in about three weeks. It was an early-pandemic lesson in flexibility, resiliency and teamwork. Were really proud of our ability to meet our community needs during this time. Our tag line in our advertising is Its All About Community and this is totally consistent with our mission.

What is the volume of loans that your bank processed during the first round of the Payment Protection Program and what is the fee income you have earned from it?

We processed over 900 loans for about $77 million dollars in round 1 producing $3 million in fees. Of that three million, we recognized $777,000 into 2020 income with the rest being deferred into 2021 awaiting forgiveness applications from the borrowers.

Would you say that at many banks, problem loans have remained concentrated in a handful of hard-hit industries: hospitality and tourism; bricks-and-mortar retail; and energy. But dire predictions that the pandemic would devastate a wide swath of businesses have not materialized?

I would agree with this statement through the first nine months of the pandemic. I dont know of a banker who is still not girding themselves for future weakness given the fact that we are not out of this crisis yet, but as of now, the dire predictions have not materialized. Since our loan portfolio is exclusively small business, our credit quality holding up is a true testament to the resiliency of small businesses everywhere. They all just found a way to adapt.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic has Chesapeake Bank been successful in increasing its assets?

Our total assets increased 27% year-over-year largely due to the pandemic. A lot of the growth can be attributed to Federal funds coming into our community through stimulus payments as well as PPP loans. Some lesser amount we attribute to an overall increase in savings by our customers.

Can you talk about the digital transformation at Chesapeake Bank?

We developed a comprehensive digital strategy in the Fall of 2018 with the help of an outside consultant. This was approved by our Board in January 2019 and we have been executing on it since. With the term plan your luck in mind, we were further down the digital path when the pandemic struck than a lot of our peers and we are thankful for that. I have relayed to our employees lyrics from an old Rolling Stones song - Im gonna walk before they make me run - and I feel thats what we have done.

Last year, Chesapeake Bank was recognized for the 13th-consecutive year by American Banker as a "Top 200 Community Bank" in the US based on a three-year average return on equity. It was recognized for the eighth-consecutive year by the same industry magazine as one of the "Best Banks to Work For." What is the secret behind your success?

We have focused and placed consistent emphasis on our people and culture. I like to think of it as the opposite of death by a thousand cuts- its more like personal and corporate growth by a thousand actions! Success breeds success and we try to cultivate that with every employee. The Top 200 Community Bank designation is really a by-product of the emphasis we put on our people and culture. I really wouldnt call it much of a secret. Its just an important focus for us through all of the ups and downs of banking.

What makes shares in Chesapeake Financial, which does several things in the financial space, an attractive investment?

Firstly, to mirror my prior comment, the depth and breadth of our employees makes us an attractive investment. Secondly, through our specialty lines of business as well as our strong retail market share in each of our markets, we are well poised for the future even in a low-rate environment. We are earnest in our support of our communities, and we feel a certain amount of reciprocity there. Ultimately, our customers and we are striving for the same thing - the betterment of our communities over the long run. With that as guidepost, we feel confident in our long-term success and thus as a good investment.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
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The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.

Religion and psychology share methods for reducing stress: Univ. of Illinois study

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A new study from the University of Illinois reveals that religious people rely on coping strategies used by psychologists when working through stressful life situations.

The study, titled Religiosity and Resilience: Cognitive Reappraisal and Coping Self-Efficacy Mediate the Link between Religious Coping and Well-Being, was published Jan. 7.

University of Illinois psychology professors Sanda Dolcos and Florin Dolcos and graduate student Kelly Hohl conducted the study, which surveyed 203 young adults, between the ages of 18 and 39, living at or near the University of Illinois campus about how they deal with adversity.

Participants were given a list of methods that people use for coping with difficulty in their lives and used scales of various lengths to indicate how frequently or infrequently they engaged in each method. Using the participants responses, the researchers analyzed the relationship between the use of religious coping mechanisms, an individuals confidence in his or her ability to manage stress and an individuals anxiety and depression.

Assessing the results of the study, Florin Dolcos remarked that 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.

Therefore, he concluded, Science and religion are on the same page when it comes to coping with hardship. Dolcos expressed hope that the study will serve as an example of where religion and science can work together to maintain and increase well-being.

Cognitive reappraisal, where people try to address hardship with a positive attitude, is an example of a coping mechanism used by both the religious and psychological communities. For example, when somebody dies, a religious person may say, OK, now they are with God, while someone who isnt religious may say, Well, at least theyre not suffering anymore, Florin Dolcos said.

Elaborating further on the results of the study, Hohl explained that, 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. 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 graduate student contended that both psychologists and religious leaders can benefit from analyzing the results of the study.

The study should 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, Hohl said.

According to Sanda Dolcos, If we are just looking at the relationship between religious coping and lower anxiety, we dont know exactly which strategy is facilitating this positive outcome. The mediation analysis helps us determine whether religious people are using reappraisal as an effective way of lessening their distress.

We found that if people are using religious coping, that they also have decreased anxiety or depressive symptoms, she added.

Going forward, the authors hope that future studies on this particular matter include older adults and feature a more balanced religious representation. For this particular study, the participants were overwhelmingly Christian, mirroring the religious composition of adults residing in the Midwest. The researchers said that the overwhelmingly Christian sample limits the generalizability of the present findings to religions other than Christianity.

The researchers concluded that use of religious reappraisal and coping self-efficacy, an individuals perceived ability to deal with stress, may have beneficial effects reflected in reduced symptoms of distress and improved well-being and quality of life.

Such positive outcomes are especially relevant when facing a crisis, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as religious individuals may learn and apply helpful emotional regulation and coping strategies from therapy and other faith-based contexts to better manage everyday stress, they added.

jetcityimage/iStockBy TAYLOR DUNN and CATHERINE THORBECKE, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- Amazon sent a letter to newly inaugurated President Joe Biden on Wednesday offering to use its vast resources to assist with federal COVID-19 vaccination efforts.



"Congratulations to you and Vice President Harris on your inauguration," the letter, signed by Amazon Worldwide Consumer CEO Dave Clark, stated. "As you begin your work leading the country out of the COVID-19 crisis, Amazon stands ready to assist you in reaching your goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of your administration."



The letter added that Amazon has over 800,000 employees in the U.S. -- making it the nation's second-largest employer -- and most are essential workers who cannot work from home. It urged that those essential workers, including those at Whole Foods Markets, "should receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest appropriate time" and pledged to "assist them in that effort."



"We have an agreement in place with a licensed third-party occupational health care provider to administer vaccines on-site at our Amazon facilities," Clark added. "We are prepared to move quickly once vaccines are available. Additionally, we are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to assist your administration's vaccination efforts."



Clark added that their scale "allows us to make a meaningful impact immediately in the fight against COVID-19."



The e-commerce giant's offer to help the government notably comes the day Donald Trump departs office.



In October of last year, Amazon revealed in a blogpost that 19,816 front-line employees (out of 1,372,000) had tested positive or been presumed positive for COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and Sept. 19, 2020. The company said it has said it has invested million in its pandemic response to protect its employees, but the response has still courted controversy from some workers.



Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
The United Kingdom which is the sought-after destination for higher education among Indian students may take a backseat amidst the new lockdown and fears of the Coronavirus outbreak.

Overseas education consultants said that students who had earlier opted for a UK degree are now either switching to other countries like US, Singapore and Australia or choosing to stay back in India.

Between 40,000-45,000 students travel to UK from India for higher education purposes each year. For FY20, the figure was 49,844 as per UKs Office for National Statistics which was the highest since 2011.

However, FY21 and FY22 may throw a different picture. Students who were originally supposed to join in September 2020 had postponed their plans to February 2021 in hopes of getting to attend physical classes. Considering the new COVID-19 strain, that is no longer the case.

Chennai-based education consultant TS Rajasekhar told Moneycontrol that while the post-study-work-visa for two years (announced in September 2019) would have been an attractive proposition for Indian students, not many are enthused about studying online.

UK authorities are saying that this work visa will be offered to international students who study remotely also. But students arent convinced, he added.

Introduced in 2019, the new Graduate route was open to all international students --including those from India--who have valid UK immigration status as a student and have successfully completed a course of study in any subject at undergraduate level or above at an approved UK higher education provider. The visa allows eligible students to work, or look for work, in any career or position of their choice, for two years after completing their studies.

What are students saying?

Mumbais Achint Malhotra who was to pursue a course in public policy from a university in London has now decided to stay back in India due to the lockdown extension.

There are online classes available in courses but what is the use of that? I will be paying the same fee despite studying from home. So, I decided to drop out, said Malhotra who had deferred his admission to January.

The fee for his course and living expenses in UK would be Rs 19 lakh per year (excluding administrative expenses and other charges) while a similar programme in India would cost around Rs 7 lakh per annum.

Delhis Danica Maria Lobo told Moneycontrol that while initially she was prepared to go to Cambridge to pursue her Masters in History, the virus strain and new lockdown has forced her to rethink the decision.

UK flights have also only resumed partially and it is high risk to travel right now. I will have to look for accommodation as well and alumni have told me that property owners are also reluctant to rent out to international students right now. It will be of no use if I am doing a course online from Cambridge, added Lobo.

Meanwhile, Lobo has enrolled into a content project with a museum in India and will be applying to universities in India later this year.

UK universities had made it clear that there wont be any fee concessions for the same course being taught online nor will there be any refunds in case a student drops out after one semester.

Chennais Shyam Ekambaram who had enrolled into an Economics course and was pursuing online lessons from a UK university said that he dropped out in December because of the time difference and low engagement.

Pursuing a programme online isnt the same as pursuing a course in a physical classroom. Studying in the campus makes a lot of difference and e-learning had no impact. Despite paying fees partially, I dropped out, he said.

Ekambaram who had paid Rs 2 lakh as an initial payment will lose out on that amount. He also added that students have been unofficially indicated that UK will continue online lessons across institutions till May 2021.

The expert view

Sumeet Jain, co-founder and higher Education expert at overseas education consultant Yocket said that many students who were already enrolled in UK universities have come back to India hoping to go for the next semester.

Many students who were to go in September had deferred their admission to January/February. With the rising number of cases and a complete lockdown, it looks difficult for the students to start their courses. Studying abroad is not just about academics but about the experience that you get on the campus. Most of the Masters course in the UK is for a year and if students are to spend most of it online, it deprives them of the experience, he added.

Jain also explained that there were many students who had kept both US and UK options open. With this complete lockdown and uncertainty, he said that there might be more students choosing to go to the US over the UK.
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UN Security Council discusses Cyprus situation

VNA/VNP

The UN Security Council on January 19 held a routine consultation on the situation in Cyprus and activities of the UN Peacekeeping Force there (UNFICYP).Elizabeth Spehar, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus, reported on the island countrys situation and activities of the UNFICYP in the last half of 2020, particularly COVID-19 developments impact on UNFICYP operations and the peace process.Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Charge daffaires a.i. at the Vietnamese mission to the UN, hailed efforts by Spehar and the UNFICYP to perform their duties amid a number of challenges caused by the pandemics impact.He called on the parties concerned to respect the UNFICYPs functions while voicing support of the UN Secretary-Generals convening an unofficial meeting among relevant sides to seek solutions to the Cyprus issue.Expressing concern over developments in the reviewed period, Anh appealed to the parties to exercise self-restraint so as not to escalate tensions, make efforts to promote the building of trust among the parties and communities, especially amidst the raging COVID-19 pandemic, and support the enhancement of womens participation in processes in Cyprus./
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 11:09:27|Editor: huaxia

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Guests attend the launching ceremony of a global naming campaign for a Mars rover in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, July 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's space administration has unveiled a list of 10 selections for the name of the country's first Mars rover, inviting internet users from across the globe to vote on the candidates before making a final selection.

Netizens at home and abroad can take part in the poll to help decide the name of the Mars rover from Jan. 20 to Feb. 28. The administration will pick the three most popular names based on public voting and the opinions of an evaluation committee.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) releases mid-flight images of Mars probe Tianwen-1 on Oct. 1, 2020. It is the first time that Tianwen-1 took selfies. (China National Space Administration /Handout via Xinhua)

According to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration, the 10 selected names have come out after a global naming campaign that kicked off in late July 2020.

In October, a panel of 32 experts selected 10 semifinalists after evaluating more than 39,000 submissions from 38 countries and regions. The participants ranged from 7 to 95 years old.

These include "Hongyi," which means having a broad and strong mind in Chinese, "Qilin," a legendary animal, and "Nezha," a beloved Chinese mythological figure.

The final name will be announced when Tianwen-1 lands on Mars, the administration added.

A Mars probe is launched on a Long March-5 rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, July 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

China launched its Mars probe Tianwen-1 on July 23, 2020. The spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, is expected to reach the planet around February. 

A health worker receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine from China in Istanbul, Turkey, Jan. 14, 2021. Photo:Xinhua

A video of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic welcoming the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines in the cold wind went viral on Chinese social media platforms over the weekend, touching millions of Chinese netizens who applauded Vucic's strong endorsement of Chinese vaccines, which is of much significance amid fierce smearing from some Western media outlets.

"I went to the airport not only to receive the high-quality vaccines, but to demonstrate the friendship between China and Serbia," Vucic said Saturday according to a video posted by the People's Daily on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo.

Vucic made the remarks at Nikola Tesla International Airport when receiving the first batch of one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines produced by China's pharmaceutical company Sinopharm together with local officials, and the Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, on Saturday, according to the People's Daily.

This batch was said to be the first large-scale arrival of all eight million vaccines Serbia purchased from three different producers.

Serbia has also purchased Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine as well as a vaccine jointly developed by the US' Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech. The country plans to vaccinate 80 percent of its population of seven million, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

In an apparent show of confidence in Chinese vaccines, the Serbian president said that he would get vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine, Xinhua reported.

Vucic is not the only foreign president or senior official who is confident in China's vaccines. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had his first dose of CoronaVac, produced by China's Sinovac on Thursday, the day Turkey kicked off mass inoculations using CoronaVac after the authorities approved emergency use of the Chinese vaccine, Xinhua reported.

At least 20 countries have purchased COVID-19 vaccines developed by Chinese manufacturers including Sinovac, Sinopharm and Cansino, according to the Global Times' calculations, with more planning to purchase Chinese vaccines despite some Western media's intense scrutiny over their efficacy and safety.

China has promised to provide its vaccines as a global public good to lead the worldwide recovery from the pandemic and has also revealed on some occasions it will donate vaccines to certain countries.

On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded a six-day visit to Southeast Asia, during which Wang said China decided to donate a batch of COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar and the Philippines, continuing to help them combat the novel coronavirus, according to Xinhua.

Boosting confidence

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay on Saturday received the first dose of CoronaVac at the Ankara City Hospital, becoming the latest senior Turkish official to take a jab of Chinese vaccines, local media reported.

Previously, Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca received the first dose of CoronaVac live on television on Wednesday, becoming the first one in Turkey to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

More than 675,000 health workers have received the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinovac during the first three days of the country's vaccination program, Xinhua reported Saturday citing the Turkish Health Ministry.

Indonesia and Malaysia have also ordered Sinovac vaccines - 125.5 million and 14 million doses respectively. Thailand and the Philippines are expected to receive millions of doses from China in the coming months, according to Xinhua.

The Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Thursday that Indonesia has already begun mass vaccinations on Wednesday, thanks to sound collaboration with China.

He expressed his confidence in the Chinese vaccine, noting that the Sinovac vaccine has received a license from Indonesian authorities after scientific and technical evaluation.

"Indonesia's trust and confidence in Sinovac's vaccine is reflected in Widodo being the first to receive a jab. We share President Widodo's sentiments," the ambassador said.

The long road ahead

In a BBC report that many in China believe to be aimed at defaming Chinese vaccines on Friday, when the reporter asked a Turkish doctor whether he was worried about the vaccine's efficacy, the answer was an unequivocal "no." The local doctor also noted that clinical trials of the vaccine in Turkey showed more than 90 percent efficacy.

The doctor also admitted in the report that a level of distrust regarding Chinese vaccines is common around the world, maybe even reflecting the image of Chinese products in most people's eyes. "Unfortunately, this is true," said a Chinese vaccine industry insider reached by the Global Times.

The pandemic has put Chinese vaccines under global scrutiny. Large number of overseas purchase has boosted confidence in them. But insiders noted that there is a long road ahead for them to explore the international market, especially given continuous politicization of the vaccines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a great opportunity for Chinese vaccine producers but the challenge remains huge, the insider noted.

Chinese vaccine producers have mostly focused on the domestic market before the COVID-19 pandemic and most of them barely export their products as the domestic market is big enough, a vaccine expert based in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province, told the Global Times on Sunday under the condition of anonymity.

The international vaccine market has been mostly dominated by the big four major pharmaceutical companies, namely Pfizer, Merck, GSK and Sanofi, so there is little incentive or market space to encourage Chinese companies to branch out.

The big four major producers occupy about 90 percent of the international vaccine market, according to a report from Guangfa Securities in March 2020.

"But I can say that Chinese vaccines have no questions," said the anonymous expert, noting that it will take time to establish a reputation in the international market. Chinese companies can treat the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to gradually increase international cooperation.

Smear from the Western media outlets, especially after Brazilian authorities revealed a 50.4 percent efficacy rate in CoronaVac's late-stage trials, is also a huge hurdle that prevents many people in the West from viewing Chinese vaccines in an objective and scientific way, Chinese observers noted.

While hyping up doubt over CoronaVac's late-stage data, mainstream English-language media mentioned little about the deaths of 23 elderly Norwegian people after they were vaccinated with Pfizer vaccines as if those media outlets had already reached a consensus to downplay the incident.

Yang Xiaoming, CEO of leading Chinese vaccine producer Sinopharm's subsidiary China National Biotec Group (CNBG), previously told the Global Times that CNBG had never conducted such large-scale international Phase III clinical trials in cooperation with so many countries before.

CNBG is conducting Phase III clinical trials on two of its inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in 10 countries covering more than 50,000 volunteers, according to Yang.

"We have encountered many difficulties in communication and understanding local cultures and policies," Yang said, noting that the solution to these difficulties is nothing else but communication.

The anonymous expert suggests that Chinese vaccine companies can try to cooperate with Western countries in the future like the US and the EU. It would be easier for the world to accept Chinese vaccines' if they obtain certificates from authorities in these nations.
The United States Capitol is all set for the inauguration ceremony as the "Field of Flags" representing US people has been placed on the ground of the National Mall in Washington, DC. Donald Trump has become the first US President to boycott his successor's inauguration.

The United States President-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as the oldest President and the first female Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021. The United States will mark a historic day on Wednesday as Kamala Harris is also the first US Vice President of black and Indian origin.

Joe Biden, 78, will take oath as the 46th President of United States and Kamala Harris, 56 will take oath as the 49th Vice President of the United States on January 20. In a first, Donald Trump has become the first US President to boycott his successors inauguration.

The event that will be missed by Donald Trump will be held under strict security and Covid-19 protocols. About 1,91,500 US flags will represent the people of the United States as they will not be able to attend the inauguration. The United States Capitol is all set for the inauguration ceremony as the Field of Flags representing US people has been placed on the ground of the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Also read: Tandav row: Ali Abbas Zafar and team issue unconditional apology, UP police to question makers today

Also read: China constructs village in Arunachal Pradesh: India closely monitoring developments

Joe Bidens team on Tuesday hinted on keeping some of Donald Trumps hard-line economic policies towards China. Antony Blinken, Bidens pick for secretary of state said that he agreed with the Trumps administration that Chinas crackdown on Uighur Muslims and other minorities was a genocide.

Have a look at Joe Bidens picks for his administration:

Department of Commerce

Joe Biden on January 7 announced that hed nominate Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to the commerce secretary.

Department of Justice

On January 7, Joe Biden nominated Judge Merrick Garland to serve as the next attorney general of the United States.

Department of Labor

Joe Biden nominated Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for labor secretary on January 7.

Department of Education

Biden nominated Miguel Cardona to head the Department of Education on December 22.

Environmental Protection Agency

Joe Biden on December 19 announced Michael Regan as his nominee to head the EPA.

Department of the Interior

Joe Biden announced Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as his nominee to lead the Department of the Interior.

Department of Transportation

Joe Biden on December 15 nominated Pete Buttigieg to head the Department of Transportation.

Department of Energy

Biden nominated former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as his nominee to head the Department of Energy on Dec. 17.

Department of Defense

On December 8, Joe Biden nominated retired four-star Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to lead the Department of Defense.

Department of Agriculture

Joe Biden announced on December 10 Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as his nominee to serve as his secretary of agriculture.

Also read: Coronavirus inoculation drive day 4: 3.81 lakh vaccinated so far, Bharat Biotech issues fact sheet
A Canton Township man will be charged with a misdemeanor after confessing to forging his daughters signature on an absentee voter ballot in the November 2020 election.

Paul Parana, 47, was sentenced to 90 days probation and ordered to pay court fees of roughly $1,100 by Judge Deborah Thomas in Wayne County Circuit Court Tuesday. Parana faced two felony charges -- impersonating a voter and election law forgery -- but he pleaded to the lesser charge of violating election law.

According to a release from the Michigan Attorney General, Parana filled out an absentee ballot addressed to his daughter that had arrived at his home before the Nov. 3 election. Parana forged her name to the back of the ballot envelope and mailed it to the Canton Township Clerks Office.

The clerks office discovered the fraudulent ballot and reported it to state officials. Paranas daughter provided the clerk a valid signature on an affidavit and was her ballot was ultimately accepted under procedures established by state law.

Attorney General Dana Nessel said this case shows that her office is vigilant in pursuing rare cases of voter fraud. Nessel said countless additional allegations of fraud in the November general election were been made without proof.

This is an example of how my office reviews legitimate claims of voter fraud to discover the facts and prosecute according to the law, she said in a statement.

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Michigan man arrested in Capitol attack posted updates on Facebook, FBI says

Michigan Democrats see hope in Biden presidency as inauguration dampened by unrest

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Agrima Raina

Despite swift advances in healthcare, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) remains a distant dream for India. Affordability of health services is a major hurdle in accessing healthcare in the worlds second-most populous country despite several government programs working towards it. Nearly 55 million Indians were pushed into poverty in 2011-12 due to enormous healthcare costs, which they pay from their meagre savings or by borrowing money. The recently released first phase of the National Family Health Survey, round 5 (NFHS-5) revealed startling trends in out-of-pocket expenditure. The findings reflect the situation before COVID-19 hit and the numbers are likely to be worse now on the back of Indias worst public health emergency this century  the coronavirus pandemic.

NFHS data reveals healthcare costs

The Out-of-Pocket expenditure (OOPE) incurred by people while accessing public health services is on the rise. NFHS V data reveals that average out of pocket expenditure per delivery in a public health facility has risen in 10 states and two Union Territories. Amongst the states for which data was released in the first phase, the average OOPE for delivery in the public facility has increased by more than 10 percent in last five years (from NFHS- IV in 2015-16 to NFHS- V in 2019-20) in India. The steepest rise was of nearly 108 percent in Sikkim, where expenditure rose from Rs. 3,993 (NFHS-IV) to Rs. 8,334 (NFHS- V). The highest average Out of pocket expenditure was incurred in Manipur, which was Rs. 14,518.

According to the National Health Account (NHA) 2016-17, out of pocket expenditure incurred by people was nearly 2.2 percent of GDP. This is higher than the Government of Indias own health spending, which amounts to 1.6 percent of GDP for 2020. Households shoulder the highest share of health expenditure in the country (63.2 percent in 2016-17). Consequently, OOPE is one of the biggest reason for people falling into poverty, leading to a vicious cycle of poor health outcomes and poverty. Moreover, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of good health outcomes - for not just an individual, but society at large.

Government efforts to reduce OOPE

The rising costs of healthcare are something the government recognizes and various schemes aimed at the poor and vulnerable exist.

Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) under the National Health Mission (NHM) aims to make maternal services more accessible and affordable for women at public health facilities.

The Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY) aims to address costs on healthcare.

Other initiatives to address OOPE issues include Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) and NHM Free Drugs Service Initiatives. However, out of pocket expenditure remains high and is still rising as suggested by NFHS V.

Clearly these schemes appear to not be working as efficiently as expected.

Public health infrastructure affects healthcare costs

The benefits under schemes like the JSSK and SUMAN need well-equipped public health infrastructure, where they can access health services under the scheme. However, as of March 2018, only seven percent of functioning Sub-Centres, 12 percent of Primary Health Centres and 13 percent of Community Health Centres met minimum Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms. (They are a set of standards envisaged to improve quality of healthcare delivery.)

Proper equipment, infrastructure, and/or doctors are lacking when, for example, a pregnant woman visits a public health facility for delivery. Even if these basics are notionally available, she would still be forced to purchase other critical services like ultrasound, blood tests, etc. from nearby private health establishments. This makes it impossible for women to avail JSS benefits. Patients also end up buying medicines from private pharmacies, defeating the purpose of reducing OOPE through schemes like NHM Free Drug and Jan Aushadhi Schemes. Medicines constitute the majority share of OOPE in the country.

A swift supply chain should be ensured to safeguard the availability of medicines in public health facilities under NHM Free drug scheme. At the same time, awareness on availability and efficacy regarding generic medicines remains low. Additionally, multiple referrals often increase transportation cost for the patient manifold, if a government ambulance is not available.

Meanwhile, the beneficiary list of Ayushman Bharat- PMJAY is based on the data from Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011, which is dated. As a result, thousands of people miss the opportunity to be supported by this health insurance scheme. The recent Parliamentary standing committee on COVID-19 outbreak has raised concerns on the schemes exclusion criteria, which caused many of those eligible from marginalised sections of the society were not able to get the benefit of Ayushman Bharat; they then had to pay out of their pocket for COVID-19 treatment. Moreover, even when covered by PMJAY, people may have to pay out of pocket due to unavailability of a facility in an empanelled hospital or the five lakh worth insurance cover was utilised during hospitalisation of some other member of the family. Therefore, increasing the insurance cover under PMJAY is also strongly argued.

Right to health: A constitutional guarantee?

Addressing increasing OOPE in public health settings need more rigorous policy formulation and implementation mechanisms. The government must ensure the availability of appropriate infrastructure to cater to Indias health needs. PHCs and CHCs must be adequately available across the country, including in rural, hilly and hard to reach areas. Besides, these public health facilities need to meet the IPHS norms to ensure the provision of quality healthcare. Mechanisms to strengthen the availability of free medicines at all public health facilities like swift supply chain, smoother digital system, and warehouse and transport management should be undertaken.

To ensure state and central governments are constitutionally obligated to provide healthcare, the time has come for India to legislate a Right to Health ensure everyone can access healthcare without risking falling prey to poverty.

The author is a public health professional who works at Oxfam India as a consultant.

Also Read

India need to focus on quality health care for all in the post-COVID-19 era

COVID-19 showed us the importance of access to quality healthcare without financial risks: UN Sec-Gen Antonio Guterres
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Im a markets guy who believes in applying economic principles to situations requiring innovation and the allocation of scarce resources. Which probably explains why I think its so important to also point out the hard limits to markets.

There are big downsides and limits to thinking like an economist.

The COVID-19 vaccine development and rollout is case study for examining what free markets are specifically not useful for.

Health care should be run more like a private business is one of the more misguided statements that well-meaning people like to make  up there with the equally misguided Schools should be run more like a private business.

The miracle of this vaccine development and initial rollout in one years time cannot be understated. This is an unprecedented scientific achievement. It should be understood not as a victory of market-based economics but rather the opposite: the extraordinary application of central government planning. Sometimes, in the good old U.S. of A., we forget this point.

Last spring, the Trump administration made the correct call to directly fund six pharmaceutical companies to research, test and manufacture vaccines. This initial $10 billion federal government investment  called Operation Warp Speed  allocated in March was upped to $18 billion by October.

A seventh company, Pfizer, did not receive funds for research, but it did receive a guaranteed order for 100 million doses.

By guaranteeing demand for hundreds of millions of doses, the federal government induced drugmakers to essentially ignore market signals such as potential risk, profit and loss. The Operation Warp Speed program understood that some vaccine products might not work and that hundreds of millions of manufactured doses could be wasted. And that was OK.

Markets are great for some things. But they would never have achieved this vaccine miracle in one year.

Vaccine development driven by the private sector historically happens in five to 15 years. We obviously did not have that much time. Pharma companies with an unproven product and uncertain demand would never have ramped up to manufacture enough doses by early 2021. The federal government  everybodys favorite punching bag  made the correct choice to pay for it anyway, in the interest of speed.

Now, when it comes to getting shots in arms, again we see the limits of economic thinking.

For the next few months of the vaccine rollout, we face a classic economics problem: too much demand and not enough supply. To vaccinate 80 percent of the U.S. population, we need more than 250 million doses (actually, double that, as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines each require two shots). For now, however, were living the reality of severe shortages, crashing websites and online sign-ups for slots that get filled within minutes of opening. High anxiety.

The vaccine is free. But theres not enough of it. Many of us expect to wait three to six months to get it. In the midst of severe scarcity, it feels like society is on a knifes edge. Were looking for signs that some people are cutting the line. Who is using their money or privilege or network to get what other people need?

The markets solution to a situation like this, in a different context, would be to allow prices to determine who gets the scarce thing. That is clearly a moral monstrosity. In the coming weeks, the media will cover which celebrity, rich person or government official cut the line to get the free, but scarce, vaccine. We all understand that a market-based solution to vaccine rollout  Who can pay the most right now? or Who has power and influence?  is morally abhorrent.

Looking forward a bit to a few months from now  hopefully in three months but possibly six months from now  we will have the opposite economic problem related to the vaccine. Too much supply and not enough demand. Im referring to polls back in December in which only 42 percent of Texans indicated they would sign up to get a vaccine. Soon we will have plenty of vaccine supply. But if a large plurality of Texans and Americans decline to get it, we may be unable to achieve the 80 percent herd immunity that public health experts say is necessary to stop the pandemic.

How would an economist solve that problem? I asked economist Robert Litan of the Brookings Institution, who has argued for substantial payments to get us more quickly to herd immunity. He says we should pay people a lot to get the vaccine.

I think if you tell people $1,000, and then especially for a family of four  thats $4,000  youre talking real money. And I think at $1,000 you could get (anti-vaccine) people to switch, Litan said.

He also proposed that all citizens would be given, say, $200 upfront, with a promise of the other $800 when the United States achieved 80 percent vaccination.

As Litan explained: So what that does is it gives tremendous incentives to tell your friends, whether in real life or on social media, to go out and get the shot, because then we can all get the money.

For my part, I loved his idea. It would get us to herd immunity fast. It uses market incentives as a carrot to induce desired behavior. The $300 billion or so it would cost would be a lot cheaper than the massive and complicated federal bailouts weve already resorted to.

Medical ethicists, however, hate this idea. Although small payments would be appropriate for the sake of convenience  such as transportation or a snack  the large payments suggested by Litan would be considered coercive. It is apparently not OK to ask people to choose between not putting something in their body and taking a payment of $1,000. So there are ethical limits to applying an economic or markets perspective to the conundrum of vaccine rollout.

In sum, when it comes to our health, economic efficiency is not the right watchword.

Fairness and health outcomes are better guides. Enjoy your socialism, everybody.

Michael Taylor is a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and author of The Financial Rules for New College Graduates.

michael@michaelthesmart

money.com |twitter.com/michael_taylor
Doc Martin star Joe Absolom took issue with fans on Wednesday as he suggested they make the village of Port Isaac, 'too touristy', which is where the show is set.

The actor, 42, who plays Al Large on the ITV1 series, looked unfavourably upon tourists who visit the idyllic Cornwall destination to 'have a look at the Doc's house, have a pizza and leave.'

He revealed his family considered living in the once-quite fishing location, until it before a popular destination for Doc Martin fans

Unimpressed: Doc Martin star Joe Absolom took issue with fans on Wednesday as he suggested they make the village of Port Isaac, 'too touristy', which is where the show is set

Speaking to Cornwall Life magazine, the father-of-three said: 'We looked at a house in Port Isaac but I'm glad we didn't buy there because it is quite touristy.

'Doc Martin has brought a lot of people to the village, rightly or wrongly.

'There used to be galleries and quite well-to-do little village shops, and now there's a volume of people that don't want to buy a painting; they want to look at the Doc's house, have a pizza and leave.'

The ITV comedy-drama features Doc Martin, played by Martin Clunes, after he moves from his bustling London practice to the sleepy Cornish town of Portwenn after being unable to perform vascular surgeon due to his fear of blood.

Sightseeing: The actor, 42, who plays Al Large on the ITV1 series, looked unfavourably upon tourists who visit the Cornwall destination to 'have a look at the Doc's house, have a pizza and leave'

His lack of social skills and bedside manner mean he struggles to fit in around the town, but he slowly earns the respect of the neighbours thanks to his success at tending to emergencies.

Joe, who played Matthew Rose in Eastenders from 1997 to 2000, has starred as the local plumber on the medical drama since 2004.

He currently resides in Trebarwith on the north coast of Cornwall, with his wife Liz and children Lyla, 14, Caspar, ten, and Daisy, seven.

Coming to an end: Doc Martin will come to an end in 2021 after 17 years on-screen, as ITV confirmed on Monday that upcoming 10th series will be its last

Doc Martin is expected to come to an end this year following the 10th series and 17-years on-screen.

In an official statement released last year, Martin, 59, and his producer wife, Philippa Braithwaite, 56, explained that they decided to end the drama to allow fans a chance to celebrate the show and it's titular character with a final series.

They said: 'We have loved making nine series of Doc Martin. When we launched the series in 2004 we could never have imagined how much our loyal viewers would take to the grumpy Doc like they have.

'The series has avid fans both in the UK and throughout the world and we are thrilled that Doc Martin has topped the ratings every time.

'However, after sixteen years we now feel that the time has come to say goodbye to Portwenn. We will be making the tenth and final series in 2021 and we are very much looking forward to returning to Cornwall to film it.'

ITV's Head of Drama Polly Hill also paid tribute to Martin, Philippa and the hard-working production team and crew who produce the series.

She said: 'I just want to thank Martin and Philippa and everyone involved in Doc Martin, because it's a brilliant, beautifully made series that has delighted audiences for many years.

'I am pleased that we are making series 10, and sad this will be the last, but respect their decision to bring it to a close.'
Biden's inauguration came at a time of national tumult and uncertainty, a ceremony of resilience as the hallowed American democratic rite unfurled at a US Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago

Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, with his inauguration ceremony ending without any trace of violence feared after the US Capitol siege by pro-Trump rioters just two weeks ago. There were a few scattered arrests, but no serious disruptions in the city during Biden's inauguration ceremony.

The chilly Washington morning was dotted with snow flurries, but the sun emerged just before Biden took the oath of office, the quadrennial ceremony persevering even though it was encircled by security forces evocative of a war zone and devoid of crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

History was created on many counts on Wednesday as Kamala Harris shattered racial and gender barriers by becoming the first woman, the first woman of colour, the first Black person, and the first South Asian to be Vice President of the United States. Also, this was the first time, when the procession to the White House was replaced with a virtual parade due to the pandemic that has killed millions worldwide.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, squeezed in some last minute presidential pardons before flying off to Florida well ahead of the inaugural ceremony, breaching a tradition that has previously been dishonoured only thrice.

Biden takes the helm of a deeply divided America

Unity, racial justice, and democracy were some of the central themes of Biden's inaugural address as he took the helm of a deeply divided nation and inherited a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

"Today we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but of a cause  the cause of democracy. The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," he said in his inaugural address.

The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden said.

"This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.

"Just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground, it did not happen. It will never happen. Not today. Not tomorrow, not ever, not ever.

He also spoke of the wide political divide that has emerged in the US, claiming that his soul lies in uniting the nation. He also promised to fight for the rights of all, irrespective of the divide of "Red versus Blue".

"Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation," he said.

"Uniting to fight the foes we face. Anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness, and hopelessness. With unity we can do great things, important things," he added.

He also thanked his predecessors and acknowledged the responsibility that comes with the office he assumed.

"I have just taken a sacred oath each of those patriots taken. The oath first sworn by Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. On we, the people, who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation. We are good people," Biden said.

And then he pivoted to challenges ahead, acknowledging the surging virus that has claimed more than 4 lakh lives in the United States. Biden looked out over a capital city dotted with empty storefronts that attest to the pandemics deep economic toll and where summer protests laid bare the nations renewed reckoning on racial injustice.

We have much to do in this winter of peril, and significant possibilities: much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain, Biden said.

"Few people in our nations history have more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time were in now, he added.

Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanising a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. Biden did not mention Trump by name in the early moments of his inaugural address but alluded to the rifts his predecessor had helped create.

I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh, ugly reality of racism, nativism, fear, demonisation that have long torn us apart, Biden said.

This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward and we must meet this moment as the United States of America.

Biden came to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he was the oldest president inaugurated.

He has pushed an ambitious first 100 days agenda that includes a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion virus relief package. On Day One, hell also send an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally.

He also planned a 10-day blitz of executive orders on matters that dont require congressional approval  a mix of substantive and symbolic steps to unwind the Trump years. Among the planned steps: rescinding travel restrictions on people from several predominantly Muslim countries; rejoining the Paris climate accord; issuing a mask mandate for those on federal property; and ordering agencies to figure out how to reunite children separated from their families after crossing the border.

Trump gives inauguration a miss

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol.

Though three other former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama  gathered to watch the ceremonial transfer of power, Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, instead flew to Florida after stoking grievance among his supporters with the lie that Bidens win was illegitimate.

So just a goodbye. We love you," Trump told supporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland where he walked across a red carpet and boarded Air Force One to head to Florida.

"We will be back in some form.

Trump departed office as the only president ever impeached twice and with millions more out of work than when he was sworn in and 4 lakh dead from the coronavirus . Under his watch, Republicans lost the presidency and both chambers of Congress. He will be forever remembered for inciting Capitol's insurrection.

Trump never conceded the election, declined to attend the inauguration, upended the tradition of sending a government plane to bring the president-elect to Washington, and didnt extend the usual invitation to welcome his successor to the White House before the swearing-in ceremony.

However, CBS Evening News reported that the one tradition Trump did honour is leaving a note for his successor in the Oval Office. The news channel reported that GOP leader Kevin McCarthy encouraged Trump to leave a letter to Biden in the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, a request to which he complied.

CNN reported that Trump watched the inaugural livestream onboard Air Force One, while on his way to Florida.

Without mentioning Biden's name, Trump wished the new administration great luck and success, which he said would be made easier because he had laid a foundation".

I will always fight for you," he told the crowd. I will be watching. I will be listening.

However, before he bid goodbye to Washington, Trump eked out a few presidential pardons in his final hours in the office. He pardoned former chief strategist Steve Bannon in the final hours of his White House term as part of a flurry of clemency action that benefited more than 140 people, including rap performers, ex-members of Congress, and other allies of him and his family.

The last-minute clemency, announced after midnight on Wednesday, follows separate waves of pardons over the past month for Trump associates convicted in the FBIs Russia investigation as well as for the father of his son-in-law.

Trump did not pardon himself, despite speculation that he would, in the face of potential federal investigations. He had previously asserted that he had the authority to do so. He also did not pardon his children or his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

The final list was full of more conventional candidates whose cases had been championed by criminal justice activists. Even so, the names of prominent Trump allies nonetheless stood out.

Trumps second impeachment trial could start as early as this week. That could test the ability of the Senate, poised to come under Democratic control, to balance impeachment proceedings with confirmation hearings and votes on Bidens Cabinet choices.

Kamala Harris shatters glass ceiling

Harris broke the barrier Wednesday that has kept men at the top ranks of American power for more than two centuries when she took the oath to hold the nation's second-highest office.

The moment was steeped in history and significance in more ways than one. She was escorted to the podium by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, the officer who single-handedly took on a mob of Trump supporters as they tried to breach the Senate floor during the Capitol insurrection that sought to overturn the election results.

The inauguration activities included nods to her history-making rise and her personal story.

Harris used two Bibles to take the oath, one that belonged to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the late civil rights icon whom Harris often cites as inspiration, and Regina Shelton, who helped raise Harris during her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area. The drumline from Harris' alma mater, Howard University, joined the presidential escort.

After the ceremony, she and Emhoff escorted former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, out of the Capitol, a gesture that would normally be performed by the incoming and outgoing presidents, but Trump did not attend the inauguration. Harris, Pence, and their spouses spoke for several minutes before the Pences departed.

To celebrate the occasion, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the nations oldest sorority for Black women, which Harris joined at Howard University, declared Wednesday as Soror Kamala D Harris Day. Members of the sorority watching the celebrations across the country were clad in pearls, as was Harris, and the sorority's pink and green colors.

Harris  the child of immigrants, a stepmother of two and the wife of a Jewish man  moves into the vice presidency just four years after she first came to Washington as a senator from California, where she'd served as attorney general and as San Francisco's district attorney.

She had expected to work with a White House run by Hillary Clinton, but President Donald Trump's victory quickly scrambled the nation's capital and set the stage for the rise of a new class of Democratic stars.

After Harris' own presidential bid fizzled, her rise continued when Biden chose her as his running mate last August. Harris had been a close friend of Beau Biden, his elder son, and a former Delaware attorney general who died in 2015 of cancer.

With inputs from agencies

Ven. Wonhaeng, the leader of the Jogye Order, speaks during an online press conference, Tuesday. Courtesy of Jogye Order



By Park Ji-won



Religious leaders have pledged to promote inter-Korean religious exchanges this year while tackling discrimination against weaker members of society.



Ven. Wonhaeng, head of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist denomination, said Tuesday that he will work hard to push for inter-Korean religious exchanges this year by providing aid to help the North overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, and at the same time promoting joint projects.



"We will push for inter-Korean exchanges in Buddhism by closely working with the Korea Buddhist Federation of the North," Ven. Wonhaeng said during an online press conference.



He said the order will send relief goods to North Korea for coronavirus prevention, and attempt to resume existing inter-Korean projects  which have been halted  such as research for the restoration of temples destroyed during the Korean War, holding joint services in Singye Temple in Kangwon Province in the North, and the release of a joint prayer statement on Buddha's Birthday.



The joint projects had been pursued for years until relations between the two Koreas deteriorated due to a variety of circumstances and incidents. From 1997 to 2011, Buddhist organizations on both sides of the border issued annual joint statements to celebrate Buddha's Birthday. Also, South Koreans traveling to the Mount Geumgang Resort in the North could visit Singye Temple, which was restored by the two Koreas' Buddhist organizations in 2007. However, this was ended after a South Korean tourist to the resort was shot dead by a North Korean soldier.



Also Tuesday, the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), which represents more liberal churches, held an online press conference and said it will also push for the resumption of ties with the North's Korean Christian Federation.



The Buddhist and Christian organizations both vowed to work to get the National Assembly to pass legislation, such as the Anti-Discrimination Act, to tackle all forms of discrimination against members of society whose voices strain to be heard.



"Discrimination against those with disabilities, or by region, race, language and religion still occurs in our society  There is a need for the legislation of the anti-discrimination law, but it has been repeatedly postponed. The order will hold prayer meetings for its legislation, show solidarity with other groups, and negotiate with the government," Ven. Wonhaeng said.



The NCCK reiterated this, pledging to take actions for the weak who are suffering from discrimination amid the spread of COVID-19.



"Hatred, discrimination, and exclusion spread amid the COVID-19 pandemic, pressuring the weak and minorities mentally and economically," the NCCK said in a statement. To spread awareness and seek improvements the council will hold a meeting this month to listen to the voices of irregular workers. The NCCK also stressed that it will take action on climate change issues by holding a symposium, publishing a report on the impact of climate change on its member churches, and releasing a statement detailing its efforts to become carbon negative by 2050.


Together, we will make America great again. This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period. Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts. Ho ho! Donald Trump has got to go! ... five-year ban that Ive been talking about a lot  its not a Muslim ban  were now putting it into effect. We have confirmed that F.B.I. Director James Comey has been ... ... fired because of the Russia investigation. Hes a showboat. Hes a grandstander. ... the appointment of a special counsel. Mueller will have leeway to run the investigation as he sees fit.  ... and President Trump goes abroad. So, Im going to be very brief. Thank you. [rocket launching] They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. You will not replace us! [loud noise] But you also had people that were very fine people on both sides. Crowd: Dont look! The president has denied these allegations. Fake news! I watched the news this morning, and they were all saying, Will he sign it by Christmas? Tax cuts for American families. Happy New Year, everybody. President Trump is under fire. Quote: Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Was it hush money to stay silent? Yes. The embassy of the United States, here in Jerusalem. ... growing outrage over how the Trump administration treats illegal migrants. Its horrible and tough, but just remember, a country without borders is not a country at all. And then they go after us for a Russian hoax. Its a witch hunt hoax. A witch hunt! It is a total witch hunt. You have these phony witch hunts. Im here because I believe it is my civic duty. This confirmation process has become a national disgrace. Something about when I put this hat on, it made feel like Superman. ... to negotiate with you about how we can keep the government open ... Were going to keep it open if we have border security. The American ... the American ... If we dont have border security, Chuck ... Im with you. Were not going to keep it open. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history continues. The presidents former fixer and lawyer said he and Mr. Trump committed crimes together. He is a racist. He is a con man and he is a cheat. Special Counsel Robert Muellers report on the Russia investigation has just been made available to the American public. No collusion, no obstruction. We decided we would not make a determination as to whether the president committed a crime. We were in Japan for the G20. We came over and I said: Hey, Im over here. I want to call up Chairman Kim. Representative Ilhan Omar ... Crowd: Send her back! Send her back! It was going to hit not only Florida, but Georgia. It could have ... it was going toward the Gulf. Syria ... were bringing our soldiers back home. Thats a big thing. President Trump defending his July phone call with the leader of Ukraine. The call was perfect. There was no quid pro quo. Im announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. Article 1 is adopted. [gavel bangs] The U.S. airstrike has killed Irans most important military commander. Qassim Suleimani ... ending his evil reign of terror forever. This nation is our canvas, and this country is our masterpiece. [applause] The impeachment trial of Donald John Trump, president of the United States. Guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty. Guilty. This is what the end result is. [applause] The outbreak of a mystery virus in China. We have it totally under control. E.R. doctors saying we are on the verge of a medical disaster. It will go away, just stay calm. It will probably go away by itself. If we had a vaccine, that would be very helpful. Our country wasnt built to be shut down. Across this country, two crises have converged, protests over the death of George Floyd and the pandemic. Justice! ... Now! [bang] [sirens] The rise and spread of the QAnon conspiracy ... I understand they like me very much. ... the radical left ... ... shut up, man ... Who would you like me to condemn? White supremacists and ... right-wing militias. Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. And I have a mask right here, you know, when I think I need it. The president of the United States tested positive for the coronavirus. I didnt feel so good. And now Im better. Dont let it dominate you. The wait is over, Election Day is finally here. CBS News projects Joe Biden has been elected the 46th president of the United States. It was a rigged election. The numbers are corrupt. They cheated and they rigged our presidential election, but we will still win it. Lets walk down Pennsylvania Avenue ... U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A! ... the most significant breach of the Capitol since the War of 1812. Twitter has permanently suspended President Trumps account. The president of the United States incited this insurrection. Take it down! He must go. The first president in history to be impeached twice.
Hero Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who led a MAGA mob away from the Senate chamber during the January 6 siege, escorted Vice President Kamala Harris on Inauguration Day.

Goodman, 40, has been promoted to Acting Deputy House Sergeant-at-Arms and just two weeks after the violent riot where he potentially saved lives, he was welcomed to the inaugural ceremony with a round of applause.

On Wednesday he escorted Harris as a part of his new duties and was seen trailing behind her in a camel-colored coat and blue scarf, as she was sworn in as Vice President of the United States, making history as the nations first of black and South Asian descent.

A day after the riotm Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced the previous House Sergeant-at-Arms, Paul D. Irving, was resigning in the wake of the massive security breach.

Hero Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who blocked a MAGA mob from entering an unguarded Senate door during the January 6 siege, has been given a hero's welcome and escorted Vice President Kamala on Inauguration Day

Goodman pictured in a camel coat and blue scarf left walking alongside Kamala Harris, her husband Doug Emhoff, Joe Biden and Jill Biden on Wednesday morning

A hero's welcome: Goodman was announced into the inaugural ceremony and received a warm round of applause at the US Capitol on Wednesday

Eugene Goodman, the Capitol police officer who deterred rioters away from the Senate chamber on Jan. 6, is escorting Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at #Inauguration2021. pic.twitter.com/QhUa37rDEP  TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 20, 2021

Goodman has been lauded as a hero for his valor in the insurrection, fending off rioters from entering the Senate chambers.

Video from the siege shows him walking backwards up the steps of the second floor of the Capitol building while trying to keep protesters away.

He then led rioters in the opposite direction the Senate chamber where Vice President Mike Pence and other lawmakers were being guarded, potentially saving lives.

The new position is a significant promotion for him and a group of lawmakers are seeking to award him with the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions.

Three members of Congress, Democratic Reps. Charlie Crist and Emanuel Cleaver II and Republican Rep. Nancy Mace already introduced legislation to award Goodman with the medal.

Video of Officer Eugene Goodman went viral showing him distracting a mob of Trump supporters and leading them away from where VIPs like Pence had just been during the January 6 Capitol riot

US Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman is seen during a dress rehearsal for the Inaugural ceremony on Monday

'By putting his own life on the line and successfully, single-handedly leading insurrectionists away from the floor of the Senate Chamber, Officer Eugene Goodman performed his duty to protect Congress with distinction, and by his actions, Officer Goodman left an indelible mark on American history,' the bill reads.

Two Capitol Police officers died in the wake of the riot.

Capitol Police Office Eugene Goodman when he was serving in the Army

Officer Brian Sicknick, 42, died a day after the riot from injuries suffered while protecting the Capitol and Howard Liebengood died three days later while off duty.

Goodman's friends who have spoken with him in the days after the riot, including two fellow officers and a former colleague, told the Washington Post that he is private and reserved, and is finding the limelight 'a little scary'.

'He said he'd do the same thing again. He's not looking for any accolades,' an anonymous friend and fellow Capitol cop told the Post.

'But the attention is a little scary for him.'

Goodman has reportedly downplayed his label as a hero telling his colleagues he was just doing his job after footage of the incident was circulated worldwide.

'My job is to protect and serve,' he reportedly told them. 'And on that day, I was protecting.'

Goodman, from Southeast Washington, served in the US Army from 2002 to 2006.

He was deployed to Iraq as part of the 101st Airborne Division and was awarded a combat infantryman badge.
Hillary Clinton congratulated Kamala Harris on becoming the nation's first female vice president on Wednesday, as she welcomed the next four years of a Democratic government under President Joe Biden.

The failed presidential candidate celebrated the historic milestone in a heartfelt post on Twitter hours ahead of Harris and Biden's inauguration in Washington.

'It delights me to think that what feels historical and amazing to us today - a woman sworn in to the vice presidency - will seem normal, obvious, "of course" to Kamala's grand-nieces as they grow up,' Clinton tweeted alongside a photo of Kamala and her niece Meena's two daughters.

'And they will be right,' she added.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton arrives with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol

The former Secretary of State also praised Harris as the first woman elected Vice President

The landmark achievement is especially gratifying for Clinton, who was the first female presidential nominee in 2016, and who would have become America's first woman president had she not lost to Donald Trump.

Clinton on Wednesday also extended her congratulations to incoming President Joe Biden and his wife Dr Jill Biden in a separate post.

'So excited to call these two wonderful people "Mr. President" and "Dr. Biden",' she wrote, while sharing a photo of the three together from her presidential campaign.

The former secretary of state was later seen arriving at the inauguration alongside husband and former President Bill Clinton Wednesday morning.

Former presidents Barack Obama and George Bush also followed the longstanding tradition and gathered at the Capitol to watch the new administration be sworn in.

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive at the U.S. Capitol ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday

Mrs. Clint gave a cheerful wave as they arrived at the West Front o the U.S. Capitol.

Like Mrs. Obama, she had on black mask that matched her gloves and shoes.

Hillary posted a pictured on Biden offering his support during her own campaign

Earlier, Obama shared a touching photo of him and Biden during his presidency, showing them walking out of the Oval Office with their hands on each other's backs.

'Congratulations to my friend, President @JoeBiden! This is your time,' he wrote.

George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were first to arrive at the complex on Wednesday morning, several hours before Biden's swearing-in ceremony.

Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton followed shortly thereafter, with each couple arriving in separate motorcades.

Barack and Michelle Obama arriving at Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday

Barack Obama shared this touching picture with his former VP Biden on Wednesday

Obama congratulated Biden just hours before his inauguration

The former First Lady topped off the look with a matching belt featuring a large gold buckle.

President Trump and former President Jimmy Carter, who at 96 is the oldest living president, are not attending.

Carter and his wife, 93-year-old Rosalynn Carter, have largely spent the coronavirus pandemic at their home in Plains, Georgia.

Carter had been the first former president to confirm that he was attending Donald Trump's inaugural in 2017.

President-elect Biden has arrived at the U.S. Capitol at around 10.30am ahead of his inauguration as the United States' 46th president.

Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived at the complex on Wednesday morning, about 90 minutes before his noon swearing-in ceremony.

They were accompanied by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and were greeted by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.
Trump Signs Order for Study of Veterans Who Served at Toxic Base in Uzbekistan

As one of his final acts, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at helping veterans who were exposed to toxic matter at a Soviet-era air base in Uzbekistan after 9/11.

The airbase, known as the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, or K2, came under scrutiny after media investigations revealed veterans faced a range of illnesses after being deployed to the base. These veterans have been self-reporting rare cancers, disorders, and other illnesses they believe are linked to the time they served on the base on a Facebook page run by the Stronghold Freedom Foundation, a group that represents the veterans that were deployed in K2.

McClatchy reported in early 2020 that the base was contaminated by a refined form of uranium, chemical weapon solvents, and pools of fuel that produced a black goo at the soldiers feet. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA), service members who were at K2 may have been exposed to jet fuel, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and dust, depleted uranium, asbestos, and lead-based paint.

The Department of Defense conducted an initial study that was published in 2015 and found that service members deployed to K2 faced a higher risk of malignant melanoma and neoplasms of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues. However, the results could not definitively link each type of cancer with service at K2, the DVA said.

The aim of Trumps study is to determine whether there was any causal link between exposure to any toxic substances at the base and health consequences. The study is also meant to help the secretary of Veteran Affairs decide whether veterans who served at K2 are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care.

U.S. military personnel salute a flag-draped coffin bearing the remains of U.S. Navy Seal Chief Hospital Corpsman Matthew J. Bourgeois onboard an aircraft at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, in this photo released April 28, 2005. (U.S. Department of Defense/National Security Archive via Getty Images)

The order directs the defense secretary to investigate the potential toxic exposure of K2 veterans deployed between Oct. 1, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2005.

The study is to identify any toxic substances contaminating the air base during such period, the exact locations of the toxic substances, the time frames of exposure to the toxic substances, the service members exposed to the toxic substances, and the circumstances of such exposure.

The investigation would also include an epidemiological study to determine any health consequences from such exposure.

The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment.

The K2 veteran issue had received bipartisan support with Reps. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) and Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) introducing legislation in February last year, asking the secretary of defense to recognize Uzbekistan as a combat zone for purposes of medical care.

Green commended Trumps executive order on Tuesday, saying that it was a crucial step toward recognizing K2 veterans service and illnesses.

Two decades have passed since American troops left K2 during Operation Enduring Freedom. And today, K2 veterans who faced devastating exposure to uranium, cyanide, and other toxins while serving their country are finally receiving justice, Green said in a statement.

This executive order, modeled after my bipartisan legislation with Chairman Lynch, is a win for our K2 veterans who have been diagnosed with cancer, reproductive health issues, and neurological illnesses after serving at the base. These heroes fought for us, now we must fight for them and the care they need to survive.

Stronghold Freedom Foundation also responded to Trumps order, calling it amazing news.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Jan. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation hosted the fifth annual National Day of Racial Healing , a virtual afternoon of music, conversation and solidarity featuring community leaders, advocates, artists and influencers engaging in essential and timely discussions of racial healing, equity and justice.

"Today is about people, conversations and action," said La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. "It's about finding connection, sharing our truths and coming together to transform our communities. That's the basis of racial healing."

In her opening remarks, she acknowledged the anti-democratic events of recent weeks have caused many more people to ask, "What will it take for our country to heal?"

She added, "The common element is that racial healing is the first step on every path. It creates a space to acknowledge a person's story. And it begins with a conversation."

The 2021 National Day of Racial Healing sought to bridge divides, affirm our common humanity and inspire action by engaging individuals and influencers leading today's important racial equity and healing efforts. The event included in-depth conversations focusing on righting historical wrongs and repairing the harms of racism, ensuring employment equity, and the impact of racism on the legal system.

Additionally, actor and "artivist" Storm Reid, during her third opening conversation with La June Montgomery Tabron in National Day of Racial Healing events, emphasized the need for ongoing conversations. "Racial healing is not something we're doing in the moment or to get over injustices," she said. "It's about asking, how do we actually come together as a society and fix our core?"

And actor Yara Shahidi said, "Racial healing is integral to setting conditions for continual progress to occur." She joined panelists in a conversation on righting historical wrongs and repairing the harms of racism.

The day also recognized the racial healing work of WKKF grantees in Kalamazoo, MI and Buffalo, NY, two places among several across the U.S. implementing the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) process.

Communities joined the event from cities across the country, and shared their experiences using the hashtag #HowWeHeal. WKKF resources (Conversation Guides, Action Kits and the Business Case for Racial Equity) were downloaded more than 450,000 times in the week before the National Day of Racial Healing.

In closing, Tabron invited the more than 4500 viewers of the premiere to join in this work: "It's the challenge of our time  the important work for children, families and communities that you and I and so many people are being called to right now. And it's simply the path to unity  the way to move towards a common humanity, as so many are hoping we can in the year ahead."

More than 90 events took place to honor the National Day of Racial Healing. Visit www.dayofracialhealing.org for a complete list of events including Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Selma, AL; New Orleans, LA; Buffalo, NY; Baton Rouge, LA; Battle Creek, MI; Flint, MI; Dallas, TX; Richmond, VA, and more.

To watch the recording, please visit: https://youtu.be/H7m0u8jJyN8.

To coordinate an interview with a WKKF spokesperson or National Day of Racial Healing panelist, please contact Aprill O. Turner at [email protected].

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 the 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, the 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.

SOURCE W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Related Links

http://www.wkkf.org


Gurugram, Jan 20 : Gurugram Police Commissioner KK Rao has suspended a Station House Officer (SHO) in the district, transferred another SHO and served notices to five other SHOs for alleged "irregularities" at their respective police stations.

The Commissioner also chaired a crime review meeting with all DCPs, ACPs, SHOs, police chowki incharges and crime units' chiefs. During the meeting, Bilaspur police station SHO Neeraj Kumar was suspended and DLF Phase 1 SHO Ajay Malik transferred with immediate effect.

Rao had held a crime review meeting in October 2020 also and directed all SHOs concerned to maintain law and order, work speedily on public complaints, ensure action against criminals, proclaimed offenders and bail jumpers, and ensure observance of traffic rules across the city.

Serious negligence on part of the SHOs concerned in this regard led to action against them.

"I issued directions to all police officers that dereliction in duty will not be tolerated. It is our responsibility to work effectively so that the common people get speedy justice. It is the duty of DCPs, ACPs and SHOs concerned to ensure law and order and regular patrols to take stock of the situation in their respective areas," Rao said, adding that redress of public grievances was the topmost responsibility of police.

The district police chief warned that punitive action would be taken if police officers did not perform their duties properly.
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1776 Commission Report: Lets Have a Culture War

Jan. 19 , 2021 (EIRNS)The Presidents Advisory 1776 Commission, set up by the Trump Administration, released a 45-page report today. The Commission was established to counter the New York Times-initiated 1619 hoax, which is teaching American children that the nation was not founded on the Declaration of Independence in 1776, but on the basis of the slavery introduced into the colonies by the British Empire in 1619. Had the Commission provided a basis for the United States to return to its roots by restoring the American System of Hamiltonian economics, it would have provided a foundation for uniting the country by means of peace through development, and ending the culture wars launched by the British and American intelligence communities, to facilitate the Americas return to a colonial status under the British Green Finance dictatorship.

Not surprisingly, the report did no such thing. Economics is not mentioned. While praising the natural rights of man stated in the Declarationthat all men are created equal and that governments serve at the consent of the governedand denouncing the identity politics as racist and counter to these concepts, they offer no alternative, no peace through development means to provide for the general welfare through economic progress. The authors go so far as to assert that the Civil Rights Movement essentially achieved its purpose with Martin Luther King, as if his I Have a Dream speech of a society based on equality and character had already been achieved. After King, they write, The Civil Rights Movement was almost immediately turned to programs that ran counter to the lofty ideals of the founders. The implication that the affirmative action policiesgranting special conditions in jobs and education to minorities and womenwere inherently racist, simply denies that there is a problem of inequality in employment and education. While affirmative action will never resolve inequalities, without posing a new paradigm based on growth and development meeting the needs of all members of society, simply denouncing affirmative action can only feed into the spin of those who push identity politics for the purpose of destroying the nation. The British are smiling.

This is to be expected by looking at who wrote the report. The Chairman of the Commission was Larry Arnn. As Stanley Ezrol reported EIR on Jan. 15, in his article, The 1776 Commission that Trump Ordered To Preserve Americas Revolutionary Heritage Is Committed To Crush It, Arnn published a book titled, Churchills Trial: Winston Churchill and the Salvation of Free Government.

Ezrol wrote, He is now the head of Hillsdale Colleges Churchill Project, as well as president of the college for the last 20 years. Arnn has high praise for Churchills relationship with President Harry Truman, including the famous Iron Curtain speech that Truman had arranged for him. This was the speech in which Churchill mandated the Special Relationship between the U.S. and the U.K., under the puppet presidency of Truman. Gone was FDRs intention of ending the British Empire, building the former colonies with American System methods. Indeed, the U.S. was called upon to join the Empire, and, increasingly over the past 75 years, it did.

The report did, as intended, stoke the flames of the culture wars. The Washington Post and like-minded fake-news press are having a field day denouncing the report and calling for all-out confrontation with those whom Hillary Clinton has called Trumps cult followersall 75 million of them. As Lyndon LaRouche understood, the declaration of defending human equality in the American System depends upon the Hamiltonian credit system, addressing the general welfare of all. The Anglophile lunacy of the 1776 Commission report is just as much British propaganda as the identity politics it professes to denounce.
A lawyer for former Houston Police Department officer Tam Pham, who on Wednesday surrendered to federal authorities on charges that link him to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, defended her client as a mere onlooker during the violence.

Pham turned himself over to special agents around 8 a.m., and he was taken into custody. Court records feature photos of Pham in the Capitol building during an attempted takeover as lawmakers gathered to confirm President Joe Bidens win. Special agents stated in documents that Pham initially lied to them about joining the rioters.

His attorney, Nicole DeBorde, contends Pham  who she said is a devout Buddhist  does not share the same political ideology as those who violently breached the Capitol.

He believes that President Biden was elected in a free and fair election, DeBorde said. Hes wanting to dissociate himself with the domestic terrorism that took place.

Phams federal court appearance was delayed because of the presidential inauguration, she said.

The former officer, an 18-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, was charged Tuesday after investigators reviewed his phone and found deleted photos of him in the Capitol with a violent mob. He was suspended from his Westside patrol position once Chief Art Acevedo received a complaint about Phams possible involvement.

The department is now reviewing Phams arrests amid the federal investigation.

We are also auditing arrests made by the former officer to ensure there are no irregularities, Acevedo said in a statement, adding that the review will include his body-worn camera footage from those arrests.

Police officials would not say when Phams last arrest took place.

Acevedo on Tuesday said he was not aware of any other officers participating in the Capitol violence but their review is ongoing. The FBI is helping with a review on employee backgrounds.

Pham initially denied having breached the historic building when federal agents visited his Richmond home. He said he went to the nations capital for business reasons and was there to take pictures. He attended former President Donald Trumps rally and then followed a large crowd to the Capitol building. He said he ignored a group of police officers and crossed a barricade to enter the building.

Hes been cooperating with the FBI since they knocked on his door, DeBorde said.

Photos in court documents showed Pham posing in front of a Trump flag hanging from a statue of former President Gerald Ford in the Rotunda. The photo appeared to have been taken by another individual. Selfies that Pham took also showed him wearing a blue mask with a large crowd of rioters behind him.

He had no other intent but to observe, the lawyer continued.

Last week, Pham told the Houston Chronicle that he regretted his actions at the Capitol and that he was there to take photographs.

A lot of stuff happened that day, Pham said of the riot. I wasnt in the right mind.

nicole.hensley@chron.com

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy - unity. Unity. In another January on New Year's Day in 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. When he put pen to paper the president said, and I quote, 'if my name ever goes down in history, it'll be for this act, and my whole soul is in it'. My whole soul is in it today, on this January day. My whole soul is in this. Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause. Uniting to fight the foes we face - anger, resentment and hatred. Extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness, and hopelessness. With unity we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs, we can put people to work in good jobs, we can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus, we can rebuild work, we can rebuild the middle class and make work secure, we can secure racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world. President Joe Biden talks with former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton after the inauguration: 'I thank them from the bottom of my heart'. Credit:AP I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal, that we are all created equal, and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism and fear have torn us apart. The battle is perennial and victory is never secure.

Through civil war, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setback, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of our moments enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward and we can do that now. History, faith and reason show the way. The way of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbours. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. For without unity there is no peace, only bitterness and fury, no progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge. And unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America. Biden referenced the riots but said: 'We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature.' Credit: If we do that, I guarantee we will not failed. We have never, ever, ever, ever failed in America when we've acted together. And so today at this time in this place, let's start afresh, all of us. Let's begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another. Show respect to one another. Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war and we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured. Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path.

My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. We have to be better than this and I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around. Here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol dome. As mentioned earlier, completed in the shadow of the Civil War. When the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. We endure, we prevail. Here we stand, looking out on the great Mall, where Dr King spoke of his dream. Here we stand, where 108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote. And today we mark the swearing in of the first woman elected to national office, Vice-President Kamala Harris. Don't tell me things can change. Here we stand where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace. Loading And here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen, it will never happen, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever. To all those who supported our campaign, I'm humbled by the faith you placed in us. To all those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear us out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree, so be it. That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent peacefully. And the guardrail of our democracy is perhaps our nation's greatest strength. If you hear me clearly, disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you. I will be a President for all Americans, all Americans. And I promise you I will fight for those who did not support me as for those who did.

Many centuries ago, St Augustine - the saint of my church - wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love. Defined by the common objects of their love. What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans? I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honour, and yes, the truth. Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies. Lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and a responsibility as citizens as Americans and especially as leaders. Leaders who are pledged to honour our Constitution to protect our nation. To defend the truth and defeat the lies. Loading Look, I understand that many of my fellow Americans view the future with fear and trepidation. I understand they worry about their jobs. I understand, like their dad, they lay in bed at night staring at the ceiling thinking: "Can I keep my healthcare? Can I pay my mortgage?" Thinking about their families, about what comes next. I promise you, I get it. But the answer's not to turn inward. To retreat into competing factions. Distrusting those who don't look like you, or worship the way you do, who don't get their news from the same source as you do. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts, if we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we're willing to stand in the other person's shoes, as my mom would say. Just for a moment, stand in their shoes.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. Because here's the thing about life. There's no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days you need a hand. There are other days when we're called to lend a hand. That's how it has to be, that's what we do for one another. And if we are that way our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. And we can still disagree. My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us we're going to need each other. We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter. We're entering what may be the darkest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation, one nation. And I promise this, as the Bible says: "Weeping may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning". We will get through this together. Together. Vice-President Kamala Harris applauds as President Joe Biden is embraced by his son Hunter, First Lady Jill Biden and daughter Ashley: 'We will get through this. Together'. Credit:UPI Look folks, all my colleagues I serve with in the House and the Senate up here, we all understand the world is watching. Watching all of us today. So here's my message to those beyond our borders. America has been tested and we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances, and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday's challenges but today's and tomorrow's challenges. And we'll lead not merely by the example of our power but the power of our example.

Fellow Americans, moms, dads, sons, daughters, friends, neighbours and co-workers. We will honour them by becoming the people and the nation we can and should be. So I ask you let's say a silent prayer for those who lost their lives, those left behind and for our country. Amen. Folks, it's a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy, and on truth, a raging virus, a stinging inequity, systemic racism, a climate in crisis, America's role in the world. Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the greatest responsibilities we've had. Now we're going to be tested. Are we going to step up? Loading It's time for boldness for there is so much to do. And this is certain, I promise you. We will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era. We will rise to the occasion. Will we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we must and I'm sure you do as well. I believe we will, and when we do, we'll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America. The American story. A story that might sound like a song that means a lot to me, it's called American Anthem. And there's one verse that stands out at least for me and it goes like this:

"The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day, which shall be our legacy, what will our children say? Let me know in my heart when my days are through, America, America, I gave my best to you." Let us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation. If we do this, then when our days are through, our children and our children's children will say of us: "They gave their best, they did their duty, they healed a broken land". My fellow Americans I close the day where I began, with a sacred oath. Before God and all of you, I give you my word. I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution, I'll defend our democracy. I'll defend America and I will give all - all of you - keep everything I do in your service. Thinking not of power but of possibilities. Not of personal interest but of public good.
Members of the Taekbae Union hold press conference at the union's office in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on Jan. 15 threatening to launch a strike if parcel-delivery firms do not improve working conditions for delivery drivers. / Yonhap



By Kim Jae-heun



Taekbae Union, representing delivery drivers here, has announced that it will hold a strike next Wednesday if parcel-delivery firms fail to come with measures to improve working conditions.



The threat triggered concerns of a serious backlog in deliveries during the busy Lunar New Year holiday from Feb. 11 to Feb. 14. The government has asked people to send gifts to their family and relatives instead of visiting them in different parts of the country during the holiday to prevent a further COVID-19 spike in the country.



Parcel-delivery firms have promised to hire more workers to divide the work into classifying and loading packages onto vehicles, and delivering parcels to customers. Currently, delivery drivers are responsible for both, which has been cited as a major reason behind long work hours that have been blamed for the deaths of 16 parcel-delivery drivers last year alone.



"Five delivery workers have presumably died from overwork since last December and they were all employees of Hanjin Transportation and Lotte Global Logistics. Not a single worker has been added to replace the five drivers who passed away," a Taekbae Union official said.



"We will make sure we receive a clear promise from the firms before next Monday, when things will start getting busy before the Lunar New Year holiday. Parcel-delivery drivers will undoubtedly suffer when package volume increases and the firms are not offering any measures to deal with the problem," the official added.



The No. 2 logistics firm, Hanjin Transportation, announced last October that it will stop delivering products after 10 p.m., but the union said the pledge has yet to be put into practice.



Hanjin said it employs 300 workers and plans to increase the number to 1,000 by March. The company said, however, that this process will take time.



"We want to hire more people, but distribution centers are located on the outskirts of cities and many people do not want to work far away from their homes," an official at one parcel-delivery firm said.



Lotte also promised to hire 1,000 more workers, but has only hired 100 more so far.



CJ Logistics, the No.1 player in the domestic market, hired 3,000 more workers so far, which is 1,000 short of its promise to hire 4,000 additional employees. It is also facing criticism for handing over additional labor costs to subcontractors and delivery workers.


The co-founders of BioNTech were involved in the study

and BioNTechs vaccine against Covid-19 is effective against the new variant of the disease sweeping the UK, according to new research.

A study whose authors include Ugur Sahin and Oezlem Tuereci, the co-founders of BioNTech, using a synthetic version of the variant identified in the UK found that it was as effective against the newer versions of coronavirus as the type for which it was originally designed.

The results echoed results from a study published by last week that showed the vaccine was effective against a key mutation found in the newer and highly transmissible new variants identified in Britain and South Africa.

While the latest study has yet to be peer-reviewed, it is said to have been based on a more detailed analysis than the work highlighted by .

The UK has been hit by a wave of new infections linked to the new variant with more than 90,000 deaths linked to Covid-19.

Yesterday saw a further 1,610 UK fatalities, the highest daily number so far.

More than 4.26mln people have been inoculated either with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or the ( ) /Oxford University alternative.

BioNTech said it will publish shortly a detailed analysis of the likely effect of its vaccine on the South African variant.

The German group added it would be prudent to be ready for virus mutations though scientists say that an advantage of Pfizer/BioNTech and also Modernas use of mRNA technology is that their vaccines can be adapted quickly to new threats.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were inaugurated on Jan. 20, and several Texas politicians are reacting to the entrance of the Biden-Harris administration.

A NEW ADMINISTRATION: Wondering what Trump wrote in his parting note to Biden? You're not alone

Sen. Ted Cruz was present for the ceremony and tweeted several photos and videos, including one of Biden taking the oath to become president.

Sen. John Cornyn released a statement to the media soon after Biden officially became president, where he criticized Biden's plan to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline permit. He retweeted the statement on his Twitter account.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement on Twitter as well, congratulating Biden and promising to Texans that he would "fight against the many unconstitutional and illegal actions that the new administration will take" and "serve as a major check against the administration's lawlessness."

Paxton was a vocal supporter of former president Donald Trump and has been accused of inciting the pro-Trump mob that breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, resulting in the deaths of five people. In October 2020, top aides of Paxton asked authorities to investigate allegations of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other possible crimes against the Texas attorney general.

Houston-area representatives Sheila Jackson Lee, Lizzie Fletcher and Sylvia Garcia congratulated the new president and vice president on their respective Twitter accounts.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw commented on and criticized some of Biden's planned moves for his first day in office.

Former Democratic presidential candidate and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke, who ran against Cruz in 2018, congratulated Biden and Harris and shortly followed with a tweet criticizing Cruz for his previous objection to certifying the election of Biden, even after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 20, 2021) - Mindset Pharma Inc. (CSE:MSET) ("Mindset" or the "Company"), a drug discovery and development company focused on developing next generation psilocybin-inspired medicines and related technologies, is pleased to announce it has been invited to present at the inaugural KCSA Psychedelic Investor Conference being held on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 9:45 am E.T.

James Lanthier, CEO of Mindset, commented, "Mindset is thrilled to present at KCSA's conference. We are eager to highlight the significant progress we have made in moving forward both our next generation psilocybin NCE program as well as our patent-pending psilocybin manufacturing synthesis technology. We look forward to sharing the Mindset story with attendees and are grateful to KCSA for the invitation."

Registration for the KCSA Psychedelic Investor Conference is available at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_z1mZfdAVS0OsfXuFhuIMow

For further information, on Mindset, along with a video overview of the Company, please visit our website at: www.mindsetpharma.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

James Lanthier

CEO

jlanthier@mindsetpharma.com

Jason Atkinson

VP, Corporate Development

jatkinson@mindsetpharma.com

About Mindset Pharma

Mindset Pharma Inc. is a drug discovery and development company focused on creating optimized and patentable next-generation psilocybin-inspired medicines to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders with unmet needs. Mindset was established to develop next generation pharmaceutical assets that leverage the breakthrough therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs. Mindset is developing several novel families of next generation psychedelic compounds, as well as an innovative process to chemically synthesize psilocybin along with its own proprietary compounds. www.mindsetpharma.com

Forward-Looking Information

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", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT 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/72397
Alabama Republican congressman who voted against certifying Electoral College votes earlier this month, received $262,500 in political contributions during the 2020 election cycle from 20 companies vowing to suspend some or all payments to the politicians voting against the election results.

The 20 companies were identified in a Washington Post piece and AL.com reviewed Federal Election Commission reports of donations from those companies to Alabama Republicans who opposed certification.

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, received the most from the companies vowing to withdraw future political support, at $84,000. The congressional Republican freshmen  U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile ($16,500); U.S. Rep. Barry Moore ($6,500); and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville ($5,000) received the least, according to data compiled from the Federal Election Commission.

Im going to keep focusing on my district and my constituents, Aderholt said. We are two years away from the next campaign and that is not my focus at this time.

Moore, in a statement to AL.com, said hes not beholden to big business, but to his constituents.

Voting a certain way to make sure you dont upset corporate donors is one of the biggest problems we have in Congress, he said. If companies would rather support radical socialists who want the Green New Deal, open borders and single-payer healthcare, have at it.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who represents Alabamas 3rd congressional district in east Alabama, received the second highest total in contributions from the PACs in question, at $69,000. Rep. Gary Palmer, of the 6th congressional district in central Alabama, was third with $41,500. Rep. Mo Brooks, of the 5th congressional district in north Alabama, was just behind with an even $40,000.

Other lawmakers did not immediately respond for comment or could not be reached for comment.

Boeing appears to be the biggest contributor among the companies giving the most money during the 2020 election cycle to the seven Alabama Republicans who voted against certifying the presidential election. The aerospace company, which has operations in Huntsville, donated $35,000 to four of the seven lawmakers, including $10,000 each to Aderholt, Brooks and Rogers.

The only ones in the Alabama congressional delegation to vote in favor of certifying the vote was Republican Senator Richard Shelby and Democrat Rep. Terri Sewell.

Alabama's GOP congressional delegation who voted to oppose certification of the presidential election could lose corporate contributions after a number of large companies vowed to no longer provide financial donations to politicians who voted against the Electoral College count. During the 2020 election cycle, Alabama's GOP lawmakers who voted against the certification, raised more than $260,000 from the corporations that have vowed to withhold future support. (Ramsey Archibald)

Other companies, which are vowing to withdraw political support, and which pumped more than $20,000 from their PACs into the campaign coffers of the Alabama GOP lawmakers include AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, Deloitte, and Raytheon, according to federal records.

Corporations are distancing themselves from politicians who backed the election challenge after a violent mob, fueled by misinformation that the election was stolen from President Donald Trump, ransacked the U.S. Capitol during a riot that left five people, including a U.S. Capitol police officer, dead.

This seems like a broader moment where companies are reconsidering the role of money in politics, said Soren Jordan, assistant professor of political sciences at Auburn University. Through 2020, companies were proactive in managing their response to and encouragement of the Black Lives Matter movement, maybe epitomized by Apples new commitment to diversity and inclusion last week. Suspending donations to lawmakers who promote the disruption of democracy seems like a natural extension of that.

Apple disclosed last week it was spending $100 million on racial equity and justice initiatives, and that more than 50 percent of its new hires in the U.S. are from historically unrepresented groups in tech including women and minorities.

Apple does not operate a corporate PAC that provides to political candidates.

The interesting side to me is that usually, there is no cost to actions like this, he said. So voting not to certify election results was largely seen as symbolic action that could be played up for like-minded constituents in the district or state. But now there seems to be real consequences, at least for donations, so we might see more traditional behavior from legislators since objecting to the democratic process is now considered costly rather than costless.

The amounts given by corporations to the PACs are relatively small because the committees are limited to donating $5,000 per candidate each year. The money is a small fraction of the overall fundraising during a contested political campaign in which individual donors and powerful interest groups can funnel millions into coffers.

For Moore, the money represents about 1 percent of the overall $620,000 he raised during the 2020 election, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Moore, of Enterprise, claimed the open Alabama congressional district 2 seat that was last occupied by U.S. Rep. Martha Roby.

The corporate PAC money represents about 6 percent of the overall $1.3 million raise by Aderholt during the 2020 cycle, according to records. Aderholt, during last years election, raised over $742,000 from PACs between 2019-2020, dominated by the agribusiness, financial, and defense sectors.

David Mowery, a political consultant based in Montgomery, said the biggest concern for politicians is the message the corporations are sending, and the potential for a snowballing effect.

If AT&T or Raytheon is blanket shutting off donations to those who voted against certification, other companies might follow suit, said Mowery.

He said that U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, who is facing fierce backlash for his incendiary comments during the Trump rally preceding the riot, should be worried about the lack of corporate support. Brooks, according to the FEC data, raised $40,000 from the firms vowing to pull back donations.

Mowery said that if Brooks runs for the Senate in 2022, if Shelby retires, he could face mutiny/primary challenge at home and a corporate PAC community predisposed not to support him, said Mowery. A double whammy if you will.

But will the corporate shunning of donations to the Republican politicians be part of the long-term plans?

Thomas Shaw, an associate professor of political sciences at the University of South Alabama, said hes not so sure.

In the case of Alabama politicians, I think that in a couple of instances you may see them lose some revenue from some sources long-term, but as the events of January 6  fade from memory, I suspect that many of these same sources will resume their relationships with the Republicans from Alabama, he said.

Brent Buchanan, a GOP pollster based in Montgomery, said the companies are making a temporary political stance.

He added, They will go back to donating to candidates once the dust has settled.

Mowery said, in the short-term, some lawmakers might be able to use the corporate decisions as campaign fodder.

Youd think that these pols might be cowed by this type of thing, but in reality, they can probably turn it into a win by pointing out these corporations as part of the vast and unknown they aligned against us, he said.

Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
( ) ( ) was one of the ASXs most successful companies in 2020  its shares rose as much as 1,671 per cent across the year, and have ticked even higher less than a fortnight into 2021.

This is largely due to its 100%-owned Julimar Nickel-Copper-PGE Project in Western Australia, where earlier in 2020 it made a nickel-copper-PGE discovery in an emerging new resources province about an hour northeast of Perth.

The company was active even as things slowed down in the lead-up to Christmas  it launched a A$100 million placement targeting institutional investors, followed by a A$10 million share purchase plan for retail investors, both of which commanded significant interest.

In early December it changed its name to Chalice Mining Limited, to better reflect the multi-element discovery it made at Julimar.

Approval for new exploration areas

Just four days into the new year Chalice received approval to conduct initial non-ground-disturbing exploration activities within a previously untouched area of the greater Julimar Complex, immediately north of the discovery.

The new area hosts very large airborne EM anomalies, which have the potential to expand the discovery considerably.

Managing director Alex Dorsch said: This access approval has been eagerly anticipated and is highly significant, as it allows us to finally start to understand the true scale of the Julimar discovery.

We are pleased to be working together with the various state government departments and agencies to facilitate the first-ever ground-based nickel-copper-PGE exploration programs in the area.

But its only the beginning

Dorsch said the company was well-placed to deliver further value for shareholders.

The demand for our capital raise has been incredibly strong, and this is testament to the scale and quality of the discovery at Julimar, but also the potential of the region to become a new world-class base and precious metals mineral province, he said.

This rapid growth trajectory reflects the significance and ever-increasing scale of the Julimar discovery, as well as our rapid and successful de-risking activities on the project.

Chalices market cap now sits at approximately A$1.45 billion, its share price last week hit a new record high of A$4.61 and, at the end of 2020, the company had circa A$140 million in cash and investments.

Gonneville Intrusion

A 6-rig drill program is underway across a ~1.6-kilometre-long section of the 26-kilometre-long Julimar Complex, called the Gonneville Intrusion. This intrusion is host to multiple zones of high-grade PGE, nickel, copper, cobalt and gold mineralisation.

The very first drill hole in March 2020 returned a staggering 33 metres at 6.5 g/t palladium, 0.7 g/t platinum, 0.1 g/t gold, 1.6% nickel, 0.7% copper and 0.1% cobalt from 44 metres depth.

Mineralised core from the Julimar project.

Another intersection in a deeper zone returned 25.7 metres at 3.9 g/t palladium, 2.3 g/t platinum, 0.7 g/t gold, 0.2% nickel, 0.8% copper and 0.02% cobalt from 418.7 metres depth.

Referring to Gonneville, Dorsch said It is shaping up as a world-class discovery of critical metals on its own. Drill results have continued to surprise on the upside as our drill coverage has expanded.

We are also scoping out potential new high-grade zones, and we look forward to releasing more results.

We remain on track to deliver a maiden mineral resource estimate at Gonneville by the middle of the year.

Managing director Alex Dorsch.

Ongoing success

In November 2020 the company announced it had intersected its sixth and seventh high-grade zones of PGE-nickel-copper-cobalt-gold at the Gonneville Intrusion which continue to grow the Julimar discovery into a globally significant deposit. None of the seven high-grade zones are yet to be closed off.

On top of that, a high-grade PGE-gold oxide zone has been defined over an area of 1,700 metres by up to 750 metres and this is open to the north.

Numerous growth opportunities

Dorsch said: The Gonneville PGE-nickel-copper-cobalt-gold discovery continues to grow on multiple fronts, with another round of exceptional drill results extending the known high-grade zones, defining new zones and further reinforcing the numerous growth opportunities across the project.

Given the width and grade of the drill results we are continuing to see over a very large area, the scale of the Gonneville Intrusion itself, and the significant growth potential beyond the limits of the current resource drilling, it is clear that Julimar is emerging as a globally significant deposit of critical metals in Western Australia.

Recently, Chalice secured three private properties at the Julimar project, covering a combined area of 945 hectares. One of these properties covers around 85 per cent of the Gonneville Intrusion.

Securing title to these properties is an indication of the confidence Chalice has in Julimar becoming a mining operation.

PGEs in demand

The platinum group elements are six precious metals clustered together in the periodic table - platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium.

PGEs have many desirable properties and as such have a wide variety of applications. Most notably, they are used as auto-catalysts (pollution control devices for vehicles), but are also used in jewellery, electronics and hydrogen fuel cells.

Palladium is very rare and is currently one of the most valuable precious metals, with an acute supply shortage driving prices to a recent record high of US$2,856/ounce in February 2020. The current spot price is approximately US$2,400/ounce.

And while the Julimar Project has garnered the most headlines this year, it is far from Chalices only prospect.

Nine rigs active

There are nine rigs drilling in total across Chalices key projects, which also includes a >5,000 square kilometre holding in the exciting Victorian Goldfields.

This level of greenfield exploration activity is quite remarkable and speaks to the determination of the company to make significant scale discoveries and cement its status as one of the leading explorers in Australia.

- Daniel Paproth
SILCHAR: Around 1,000 doses of anti-COVID vaccine Covishield were found "frozen" in storage at a government hospital in the Silchar district of Assam. The incident was reported at Silchar Medical College College Hospital (SMCH), one of the premier medical facilities based in the Barak Valley region in Assam.

According to reports, around 100 vials which cumulatively contained 1,000 doses of Covishield, the anti-COVID-19 vaccine developed by Serum Institute of India, were found in a frozen state.

The frozen vials at SMCH were allegedly stored at sub-zero temperature, the report said. After the incident was reported, the States Health Department ordered an investigation into the matter and sent the frozen vaccine doses to a lab to ascertain their efficacy.

It may be noted that both vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin - are required to be stored at a temperature of 2-8 degree celsius.

The two vaccines have got the required approval from the DGCI recently. Assam reported 23 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the state's tally to 2,16,887, a bulletin issued by the National Health Mission said.

The new COVID-19 cases were detected out of 17,586 tests with a positivity rate of 0.13 per cent, it said. The number of active cases in the state now is 1,384. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 1,075 as no fresh fatality due to the disease was reported on Tuesday, the bulletin said. Apart from the 1,075 fatalities, 1,347 COVID-19 patients have died for other reasons, it said.

Meanwhile, a total of 2,043 beneficiaries received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on the third day on Tuesday, taking the cumulative total number of beneficiaries receiving the vaccine to 7,585 so far, it added.

Assam has so far conducted 62,98,494 COVID-19 tests including both RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 15:19:58|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government is set to enhance cooperation with strategic partner countries and development partners over the next five years to lead Laos towards sustainable development.

To ensure cooperation between Laos and its development partners, the government will boost trade facilitation, protection of intellectual property and investments and put in place other important policies, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Wednesday.

According to a draft of the Ninth National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021-25 presented by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the recent 11th national congress of the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Laos will actively and intensively cooperate with ASEAN and other regional partners to achieve socio-economic development goals.

The regional development partners include ASEAN plus six, World Trade Organization (WTO), the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the cooperation framework of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), said the report.

In addition, the government intends to promote integrated socio-economic development of provinces alongside the China-Laos railway project, special economic zones, and cross-border trade with neighboring countries.

Every province that shares borders with neighboring countries will have at least one international checkpoint to boost regional trade, investments and crucial cooperation, said the report.

Laos shares borders with five countries -- China on the north, Cambodia on the south, Myanmar on the northwest, Thailand on the west, and Vietnam on the east.

Laos has no exit to the sea but the country is set to be a land bridge and trade hub, while the four Lao-Thai friendship bridges across the Mekong River and the fifth to be completed in the coming years will contribute to this blueprint.

The bridges not only serve as links between Laos and Thailand but have been key to boosting the regional transportation of goods, logistics, and tourism.

Once the China-Laos railway project is completed and becomes operational, the government is hoping it will contribute to promoting trade, tourism and export of the country's agricultural products to foreign markets, said the report.

Laos is also actively working to improve its business environment and facilitate trade as part of efforts to support the government's policy of improving the ease of doing business through its cooperation with international development partners, according to the report. Enditem
The new site at Whitechapel is the first at street level

( ) has opened two new walk-in recruitment centres to screen potential volunteers for challenge trials in East London and central Manchester.

The new sites, which are part of a planned expansion of trials in 2021, include a repurposed former coffee shop at the street level of Queen Mary BioEnterprise Innovation Centre (QMB) in Whitechapel, East London.

The QMB centre currently houses subsidiary hVIVO's current 24-bedroom quarantine clinic, but the new site is the first to be located at street level where volunteers can walk straight in for screening.

With the new site, the QMB facility can offer 520 volunteer recruitment visit slots per week. The central Manchester site will have the capacity for 100 visits per week.

Open Orphan has seen a big rise in demand for challenge trials as companies and health bodies search for treatments and vaccines for coronavirus (COVID-19) and also just to understand better how the virus affects people.

In a statement, Cathal Friel, Open Orphans executive chairman, said: The current pandemic has forced many businesses to close and we are able to provide another use for these spaces not currently in use. These spaces presented an opportunity for us to open street-level volunteer recruitment centres quickly and efficiently.

The number of volunteers required by hVIVO is increasing rapidly in line with the number of studies the company is running, and these two additional centres will allow us to increase our capacity substantially in the year ahead.

Open Orphan added it is looking for trial volunteers and anyone interested can learn more at: www.flucamp.com/what-is-screening/.
 Flash

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the attack by President Donald Trump's supporters on Capitol Hill was "provoked by the president."





"The last time the Senate convened, we had just reclaimed the Capitol from violent criminals who tried to stop Congress from doing our duty. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people," McConnell said of the mob that stormed the Capitol building on Jan. 6, disrupting Congress's certification of President-elect Joe Biden's election victory and leaving five people dead.





"They tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government, which they did not like," added McConnell.





Tuesday is the first day the Senate was back in session from the recess, and it was expected to hold an impeachment trial over the House's charge of "incitement of insurrection" against Trump.





The remarks by McConnell, who previously said he was undecided as to whether Trump should be convicted in the trial, were a sign that he tried to further distance himself from the president.





McConnell said the Senate was notified by the House of Trump's impeachment, but that the lower chamber has yet to transmit the article of impeachment. The Senate can't start the trial until it receives the article.

"While the press has been full of speculation, I have not made a final decision on how I will vote and I intend to listen to the legal arguments when they are presented to the Senate," McConnell wrote in a note to colleagues last week.





McConnell will become the minority leader later this month when the Democratic Party effectively takes control of the Senate following the swearing in of two Democratic senators-elect from Georgia.





The CNN reported Tuesday that Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, the two incoming senators, are expected to be sworn in by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after Harris assumes the office of the vice president.





The timing is still fluid, though, since Georgia is yet to formally certify the senatorial election results, which should happen before the swearing in.





Harris is also expected to swear in Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who will fill the Senate seat vacated by Harris's departure.




Darren Wick, who describes himself as an alcoholic, blamed a mixture of stress from his high-pressure job and a double hip replacement for his excessive drinking

Channel Nine's director of news and current affairs has escaped jail after being caught driving more than four times over the legal limit.

Darren Wick, who describes himself as an alcoholic, blamed a mixture of stress from his high-pressure job and a double hip replacement for his excessive drinking.

The 58-year-old had a previous mid-range drink driving offence from 2010 after which he had tried to control his stress through exercise, including surfing.

Wick's solicitor told Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday his client effectively worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mr Sutton said Wick had suffered anxiety over the detention of 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown and her crew in Beirut during a bungled attempt to bring two children back to Australia in 2016.

Last year Wick had been faced with the challenges of organising Channel Nine's coverage of major news stories including bushfires and COVID-19.

Mr Sutton said Wick had two hips replaced in 2019, leading to a 'terrible' infection and one of the replacements being removed.

He was without a hip for six weeks and then unable to exercise during his recovery, reverting to consuming alcohol as a crutch.

'He was a functioning alcoholic for a period of time,' Mr Sutton said.

That all came crashing down when Wick, who has been in the top job at Nine's news division since 2012, was pulled over on October 16 with a blood alcohol reading of 0.227.

Nine News Director, Darren Wick attends Hornsby Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to a high-range drink driving following a lunch last year

The 58-year-old had just left a work function at Nine's old Willoughby offices on Sydney's lower north shore when he was stopped in his Jeep Grand Cherokee about 6.30pm.

He had previously been to lunch at a restaurant and caught an Uber back to Channel Nine, where there was a farewell function for a colleague.

'He drank and he drank and he drank,' Mr Sutton said.

Wick had driven about 1.2km to the corner of Mowbray Road and Penshurst Street while on the 20km journey to his Narrabeen home.

Nine Network's national news director Darren Wick pleaded guilty to drink driving

Mr Sutton said it might be asked why someone didn't stop Wick but magistrate Robyn Denes was quick to reject that submission.

'Who's going to stop him?' Ms Denes said. 'If you think of his role in management, who's going to stop him?'

A police statement of facts said Wick had almost fallen onto the road before being arrested.

The facts state police saw Wick's Jeep mount the footpath on Willoughby Road before returning to the bitumen then grazing the gutter as he turned left onto Mowbray Road.

He was stopped, breath-tested, arrested and taken to Chatswood police station.

'In relation to his drinking the accused stated he had consumed one beer and three glasses of white wine whilst at a work function in Willoughby between the hours of 1.15pm and 3.30pm that afternoon,' the facts said.

'The accused said that he consumed snacks consisting of spring rolls and san choy bow.

'It is the opinion of police that the accused was well-affected by intoxicating liquor at the time. This was due to him being unsteady on his feet and needing support to stand or walk on several occasions.

'When the accused was first asked to exit his vehicle the accused almost fell from the vehicle onto the roadway and whilst waiting to enter the police vehicle the accused held himself steady by holding onto a nearby road sign.'

The facts state police saw Wick's Jeep (similar to the one pictured) mount the footpath on Willoughby Road at Willoughby before returning to the bitumen then grazing the gutter

Mr Sutton said by the time Wick was leaving Channel Nine of the day of the offence he was incapable of making a sensible decision.

Ms Denes said Wick's decision to drive was 'incomprehensible' considering his previous drink-diving offence and senior media position.

Since his arrest Wick had accepted his alcoholism, apologised to Channel Nine staff for his actions and media coverage of his drink driving had reached more than nine million people, Mr Sutton said.

'He now calls himself an alcoholic. He understands he's an alcoholic. That has got to be the first stop on the road to recovery.'

Mr Sutton said Wick had made 'tremendous efforts' to draw attention to the dangers of drink driving and towards his own rehabilitation.

'He wants others to learn,' Mr Sutton said.

Wick, who pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving last year, said he had arrived at court expecting to be sent to prison. 'I'm in a position where I do know better and I should have known better,' he said after the hearing

Ms Denes said a custodial sentence was appropriate but it could be served by way of a nine-month intensive correction order. She disqualified Wick from driving for nine months and ordered he complete 100 hours of community service.

Wick, who pleaded guilty to high-range drink driving last year, said he had arrived at court expecting to be sent to prison.

'I'm in a position where I do know better and I should have known better,' he said after the hearing.

'But it comes down to I let an addiction to alcohol get out of control. I didn't respect it for what it was.

'I made a terrible mistake where I could have harmed others.'



In an email sent to staff days after he was arrested, Wick admitted he was seeking help for his alcoholism.

'Sadly, in a moment of unacceptable madness, I've let you down,' Wick wrote.

'Last Friday evening, I stupidly jumped behind the wheel of my car drunk and attempted to drive home. I was pulled over by police in Willoughby and tested positive to high range drink driving, more than four times over the legal limit.

'There was no no rational reason for me to do this. And I've played the events over in my head repeatedly during the past few days. What made me snap?

'The answer is that I have face the reality that I have an addiction to alcohol that I have been struggling to control for some time.'

The email said Wick intended to continue on in his role but might be spending more time out of the office.

He urged his colleagues who might also be struggling with an addiction to alcohol to seek support.

'I want to make this right. If any of you are considering making the same kind of decision I did, please don't. Don't risk it and if you think you have a problem, get help,' Wick wrote.

Darren Wick had just left a work function at Channel Nine's old Willoughby offices in Sydney's north (pictured) when he was stopped in his Grand Cherokee model Jeep about 6.30pm

Wick said after his arrest he would check into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic for 21 days from October 26. He returned to work in recent weeks.

Wick told The Daily Telegraph he was committed to working with counsellors on a 12-month program to better understand an illness that had 'snuck up' on him.

'I need professional help,' he told the newspaper. 'I've got one shot to get things right. I'm not gonna f*** it up.'

Wick's ongoing treatment would require him to attend twice-weekly meetings for the next 11 months.

A Nine Network spokesperson previously told Daily Mail Australia the company would support Wick.

'Darren Wick has done something serious and with significant consequences but we intend to support our friend and colleague as he commits to recovering from this illness and rebuilds his life,' the spokesperson said.
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(Natural News) Agricultural livelihoods and the food security of millions of people in the Horn of Africa and its neighboring countries are in serious danger once again as new swarms of desert locusts are forming in the region, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

In a press release last December, the FAO said that locust infestations are soaring once again in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan, as well as in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, due to favorable weather conditions and heavy rains.

East Africa, where the Horn of Africa is located, went through its worst locust outbreak in several decades last year, causing considerable crop failure and food insecurity in the region. Without action, a new crisis can further exacerbate the situation for struggling communities already beset by recurrent drought, conflict, high food prices and the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAO warned.

New locust swarms overwhelm control measures

The FAO and affected communities have already instituted control measures to curb new formations of locust swarms but extensive breeding has hampered these efforts.

In Ethiopia and Somalia, locust infestations increased over the past month due to favorable weather conditions and widespread seasonal rains. Cyclone Gati in Somalia further brought two years worth of rainfall within two days, transforming a hostile terrain into a favorable breeding ground.

New locust swarms are also threatening to re-invade northern Kenya while breeding is already underway on both sides of the Red Sea, posing a new threat to Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, according to the FAO.

In January last year, a massive locust infestation broke out in east Africa and the surrounding regions, blighting crops and further pushing affected communities to the brink of starvation. The locust outbreak was the worst seen in Kenya in seven decades and the worst for east Africa in 25 years.

Because of this, the FAO and its partner organizations increased surveillance in several affected regional areas and established control operations to minimize the outbreak. The measures were initially successful, helping save around 2.7 million tons of cereal in countries already hard hit by acute food insecurity and poverty.

These efforts, however, were not enough to stop the new generation of locusts swarms this month, especially in war-torn countries such as Somalia and Yemen where control operations had to be ceased due to the ongoing conflict.

We have achieved much, but the battle against this relentless pest is not yet over, said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.

We must not waver. Locusts keep growing day and night and risks are exacerbating food insecurity for vulnerable families across the affected region, added Dongyu. (Related: Massive locust swarms threaten parts of southern Africa.)

Worse food insecurity may result without further action

According to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an African eight-country trade bloc, a typical desert locust swarm contains up to 150 million locusts per square kilometer, traverses around 60 to 90 miles in just a day and destroys as much food crops in a day as is sufficient to feed 2,500 people.

The FAO warned that more than 35 million people in the worst affected countries, namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, are already facing acute food insecurity due to drought, conflict, high food prices and the pandemic. If nothing is done to control the latest outbreak, that number can increase by 3.5 million.

As such, efforts must be scaled up to prevent worsening food insecurity and bolster food production. The organization is looking to raise an additional $40 million to increase surveillance and control activities in the five most-impacted countries this year.

The agency said that without additional funding, control measures may slow down or halt from the end of January 2021. Farmers, whose livelihoods have been impacted, require further support and national capacities in monitoring and responding to desert locusts still need to be strengthened, the FAO stated.

Learn more about the food security crisis in Africa at Starvation.news.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

DailySabah.com

News.UN.org
Andre Moura, 30, died several hours after he was detained on suspicion of breaching the peace on the night of July 6, 2018

Six policemen involved in the arrest of a man who later died in custody have launched a bid to keep their identities secret during his inquest and to give evidence from behind screens.

Andre Moura, 30, died several hours after he was detained on suspicion of breaching the peace on the night of July 6, 2018.

Greater Manchester Police said they were called to reports of a 'domestic disturbance' at around 11.35pm on Seventh Avenue in Limeside, Oldham.

Officers used CS spray to restrain Mr Moura outside his house before he was taken to Ashton-under-Lyne police station, they said, but 'on arrival' Mr Moura was 'found unresponsive in the back of the police van'.

He was then taken to Tameside hospital, where he was declared dead at 1.30am.

In August, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that no criminal charges would be brought against individual police officers, although they face internal disciplinary hearings later this year.

At a pre-inquest hearing in Stockport yesterday, it emerged six police officers have asked South Manchester Coroner Alison Mutch to protect their identities.

The coroner imposed an interim 'anonymity order' until she decides the matter at a hearing in the summer ahead of a full inquest scheduled to take place in January 2022.

The names of the officers were not mentioned during the hearing, in which the coroner said: 'Nothing should be published which would lead to the circumventing of any decision I make'.

Peter Edwards, representing the Moura family, confirmed he would be opposing the application, although he said he had not yet seen the officers' supporting witness statements.

He went on that it had not been suggested that any members of the Moura family represented a risk to the officers concerned.

Mark Kelly, who represents one of the officers, said it was 'preferable' the Moura family was given 'redacted' documents from which the identities of the officers were removed.

Officers used CS spray to restrain Mr Moura outside his house before he was taken to Ashton-under-Lyne police station, they said, but 'on arrival' Mr Moura was 'found unresponsive in the back of the police van'

The court heard it would take about a month to redact documents and edit police body-cam footage to prevent the names of the officers becoming known.

Sam Green, who represents the remaining officers, said he objected to the names of the officers being provided to the relatives 'at this stage'.

He said if the names were given to the family there would be 'no turning back'.

The coroner decided it was 'the right and proper way forward' to provide the family with a redacted bundle of documents where the officers would be referred to by a letter rather than their name.

Ms Mutch listed another pre-inquest hearing for July 23 to hear final submissions on the anonymity applications before making her ruling.

A Portuguese national who move to the UK around 2013, friends described Mr Moura as a 'doting' father to four young girls.

One neighbour claimed to have seen a police officer knee Mr Moura in the head 'several times' as he was being restrained.

GMP made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following the incident and all ten officers who attended were placed on restricted duties.

Flowers were left outside the home of the 30-year-old, described as a 'doting' father

Following a 12-month investigation, the watchdog passed a file of evidence to the CPS recommending criminal charges against five officers.

One officer was referred for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and misconduct in public office, and four others for misconduct in public office.

But another year later, the CPS has decided not to pursue the charges.

It is understood the decision was made around August 18 and all parties, including the family of Mr Moura, were written to.

All ten GMP officers are understood remain on restricted duties pending the outcome of internal disciplinary proceedings which are scheduled to be finalised by the end of this year, ahead of the inquest proper in January 2022.
South Africa is preparing to regulate cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as the number of people investing in crypto assets are rapidly increasing.

The price of Bitcoin has skyrocketed over the last year, increasing from R105,000 in January 2020 to over R600,000 earlier this year.

This has attracted renewed interested in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, with more investors exploring it as a potential asset class.

Many Bitcoin bulls, like Fundstrat managing partner Tom Lee and Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, expect the cryptocurrencys strong run to continue in 2021 as it starts to disrupt gold as a value store.

Others, including Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett and economist David Rosenberg, are sceptical about the value of Bitcoin and its current trading levels.

What is undeniable is that Bitcoin continues to make headlines and is making some investors very rich.

A big concern to South African authorities is that the success of Bitcoin has attracted many scammers as it is an unregulated field.

To address this concern, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) published a draft declaration of crypto assets as a financial product under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS).

What this means, in simple terms, is that cryptocurrency exchanges, advisors, and brokers will have to become registered financial services providers (FSPs).

Financial services providers are subject to regulation under the (FAIS) which is administered by the FSCA.

This is not the only measure in the pipeline to regulate cryptocurrencies. Last year the Crypto Assets Regulatory Working Group (CAR WG) published a position paper which made a variety of recommendations pertaining to the regulation of crypto assets.

Brandon Topham gives further details

Brandon Topham, divisional executive for investigations and enforcement at the regulatory Financial Sector Conduct Authority, said they are concerned about the large number of investors who have taken an interest in crypto assets.

Speaking to Biznews, Topham said most regulators around the world are not comfortable with crypto assets which only exist in cyberspace.

Theres no management, theres no business behind it. Really, the price is driven purely by sentiment, he said.

He said there is, however, no other option but to accept that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies exist and that they have taken the world by storm.

For that reason, weve decided to classify it as a financial asset. So, in the South African legal framework, that would mean that as a financial asset, we would have the ability to issue regulations around the services and the players involved in the sector, Topham said.

After this declaration comes into effect, South Africans will be encouraged by the FSCA to only deal with people that are registered with them when purchasing crypto assets.

We will discourage strongly  with warnings  why they should not use a crypto wallet based, for instance, in Cyprus. Because we have got no control over them and weve got no assurance that they will honour what they say theyre going to do, he said.

Topham added that nothing will really change, because a South African that wants to open up a wallet using an offshore location will still be able to do it.

It wont be unlawful  just as its not unlawful at the moment  but they will definitely have no security that the players they are dealing with are of a reputable nature, he said.

While the new regulations will not completely safeguard crypto dealings, it is a step closer to make sure investors money is looked after.

Topham highlighted that he is against the regulations paving the way for the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in pension funds and unit trusts.

I would hate to think that my pension has too much exposure to a crypto, but I have no doubt that there already have been requests from pension fund managers and collective investment schemes to get more involved with cryptos in their portfolios, he said.

Notice of Publication  Draft declaration of crypto assets as a financial product



Statement in support of the draft declaration of crypto assets as a financial product under the financial advisory and intermediary services act
Louisiana and other U.S. states are in the midst of the major logistical challenge of getting residents vaccinated against the coronavirus.

But patient worries about vaccine safety have the potential to slow the rollout of these lifesaving doses. With cases rising, public health experts are seeking to allay fears, particularly among Black residents and other races and ethnicities with long-standing concerns about how they are treated by the healthcare system.

Have a question? What questions do you have about the coronavirus vaccine? Submit it here and our panel of experts will answer it during Tuesday's live discussion.

To further that goal, The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate will host an online panel discussion with medical experts focused on the vaccines and their importance in eventually ending the pandemic.

The panelists will discuss present-day inequities in health care and their historic roots, data-driven ways to build trust in vaccine-hesitant communities, the science of the coronavirus vaccines and new initiatives to encourage vaccine adoption in Black communities.

+4 Black patients are wary of a coronavirus vaccine. Can Louisiana research fix decades of distrust? In August, Xavier University President Reynold Verret rolled up his sleeve and got a shot as part of a clinical trial for coronavirus vaccines.

Sponsored by LCMC Health and hosted by health reporter Emily Woodruff, the panel will take place at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, and will be streamed on NOLA.com, as well as the newspaper's YouTube and Facebook channels.

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

"Part of our role at the newspaper is to bring together the best thinkers in our community about Covid and the available vaccines," said Martha Carr, managing editor of The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate. "We want residents, who may have questions about the safety and effectiveness of the shots, to hear directly from medical professionals on the front lines."

The panel will include local experts on infectious disease, vaccine distribution and health care in underserved populations. They are: Dr. Princess Dennar, who specializes in internal medicine and pediatrics at LCMC Health and Tulane Medical School; Dr. Christopher Gillard, Pharm.D., who holds positions at Xavier University and the Louisiana State University School of Medicine and is researching how pharmacists can help overcome concerns among vaccine hesitant populations in Louisiana; and Dr. Keith Ferdinand, cardiologist and professor of clinical medicine at the Tulane University Heart and Vascular Institute with experience focusing on communities of racial and ethnic minorities.

The Louisiana Department of Health, in partnership with pharmacies and hospital systems, is currently working to accelerate its vaccination distribution program. As of Monday, 232,131 people in Louisiana had received at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine.

Nearly 36,000 people had received their second required dose.